Chapter 162 Is this person a pervert?
When Li Yuanzhao left, Chen Yanqing had already been guarding the door all night.
His eyes were dark and bluish, and he had a fine stubble on his chin, making him look extremely tired.
Upon seeing Li Yuanzhao, he instinctively straightened up to greet him, his voice hoarse from staying up all night: "Your Highness..."
But when he got to the point, he hesitated and couldn't finish his sentence.
The faint sounds that came from inside the palace last night still lingered in my ears. At this moment, a thousand words were stuck in my throat, and in the end, they could only turn into a bitter greeting.
In this world, it's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines; even he used to think it was perfectly normal.
But ever since he became Li Yuanzhao's consort, he could no longer accept this.
It felt like torture all the time.
How can a person bear to have their beloved's gaze shared with someone else?
Every time he saw Li Yuanzhao with someone else, his heart ached as if it were being pricked by needles.
Even if he was extremely jealous, angry, or aggrieved, he could only swallow his anger and dare not show it in front of Li Yuanzhao.
Li Yuanzhao was in a good mood. Seeing Chen Yanqing's appearance, he casually asked, "What happened to you?"
"It was my fault. I was on night watch for Your Highness last night and forgot to tidy up." Chen Yanqing lowered his eyes, hiding the soreness in them, and replied in a low voice.
Li Yuanzhao raised an eyebrow, seemingly unaware of the odd tone in his voice, and casually said, "Go back and get some sleep. I don't need anyone around me for the time being."
"Is it because of Shen Churong?"
These words were screaming wildly in Chen Yanqing's heart, but he didn't dare to say them out loud.
He clenched his hands, hidden in his sleeves, his nails digging deep into his palms, barely managing to maintain a calm facade as he bowed and said, "Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness."
Watching Li Yuanzhao's departing figure, Chen Yanqing stood still for a long time.
When Li Yuanzhao returned from his martial arts practice, the morning light had already filled the courtyard.
Chen Yanqing had already changed into a clean, moon-white brocade robe, his hair was neatly combed, and his stubble was cleanly shaved. He was preparing breakfast for her.
The table was laden with delicate pastries, warm porridge, and several refreshing side dishes.
Li Yuanzhao, still covered in a light sweat from his martial arts practice, was taken aback by the sight before walking to the head seat without asking any further questions.
Chen Yanqing stepped forward and handed her a warm handkerchief to wipe her hands. After she finished wiping her hands, he picked up chopsticks and served her a meal.
Li Yuanzhao took a couple of bites, then glanced towards the inner room and saw that the bed had been made neatly, and even the bedding had been replaced with new ones.
She asked, "Shen Churong is gone?"
Chen Yanqing's hand, which was picking up food for her, suddenly paused, and the vegetables on his chopsticks almost slipped off.
He quickly steadied himself and replied casually, "Yes, General Shen woke up not long after you left. He waited for you in the room for a while, but when he saw that you hadn't returned, he said that there were important matters in the army and he would come to pay his respects to you later."
Li Yuanzhao nodded, said nothing more, and continued eating.
Chen Yanqing was silent for a moment, then, as if remembering something, he said, "Your Highness, the Second Prince has already entered Kaiyuan Temple to take refuge in Buddhism. The abbot has given him a Dharma name, Chen."
Li Yuanzhao's expression remained unchanged. "Alright, continue to send people to keep an eye on him. Don't worry about what he does in the temple, but if he dares to step out of Kaiyuan Temple, kill him on the spot."
"Yes," Chen Yanqing replied with a bow, but a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.
He had long known of Li Yuanzhao's ruthlessness, but every time he witnessed it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but be terrified.
He had seen before how devoted the Second Prince was to her, but Li Yuanzhao seemed completely indifferent.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow, thinking of himself.
Will I one day be so easily abandoned?
After finishing breakfast, Li Yuanzhao went to take a bath as usual.
When Chen Yanqing helped her change her clothes, he inevitably saw the red marks on her body.
He must know what these things mean.
He suppressed the bitterness in his heart, looked away, and gently wiped her body, afraid of hurting her.
However, whether it was the fumes from the hot water stinging his eyes or the overwhelming questions in his heart, he blurted out, "Your Highness, you..."
He really wanted to ask her if she liked Shen Churong.
What about herself? Does she like herself?
Things he had been absolutely certain of before were now making him doubt them.
However, he stopped talking as soon as he opened his mouth.
He was well aware of his own status and knew Li Yuanzhao's temperament; if he showed the slightest sign of overstepping his bounds, he would surely be punished by her.
Li Yuanzhao looked up at him, "What?"
Chen Yanqing hurriedly changed her words, "Do you feel the water is cold? Do you need some hot water?"
"No need." Li Yuanzhao stood up straight and strode out of the bathtub.
Water droplets rolled off my shoulder and shattered on the bluestone ground.
Chen Yanqing composed himself and hurriedly stepped forward to help her change her clothes.
After Li Yuanzhao finished tidying up and left, Chen Yanqing finally couldn't hold on any longer. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the edge of the bathtub, burying her face deep in the still-warm water.
The water gently enveloped his trembling head.
That's good, then no one can tell whether that scalding salty taste is water or something else.
Upon entering, Shen Churong abruptly stopped in his tracks upon seeing this scene, his eyes filled with astonishment.
When he got up to dress early in the morning, he discovered that his clothes had been torn to shreds by the princess the night before.
Fearing that his disheveled appearance would be impolite, he hurriedly went back to his room to change into something new before rushing back.
Unexpectedly, upon entering the bedroom, I witnessed this bizarre scene.
This person? Isn't he the guard beside His Highness?
How could he have buried his head in Li Yuanzhao's bathtub?
He recognized the bathtub because the two of them had used it together several times the previous night.
Now, whenever he sees it, he can't help but recall what happened last night, and his face unconsciously turns red and hot.
But this person... this action... isn't he a pervert?
Upon hearing footsteps behind him, Chen Yanqing froze and abruptly lifted his head from the bathwater.
He simply forgot that the human skin mask on his face couldn't get wet.
The mask slipped off her cheek and floated lightly on the surface of the bathwater.
Shen Churong then realized that the face in front of him was completely unfamiliar; he had never seen it before.
But the figure of this person was clearly that of the guard named "Chen Yanqing" who usually followed Li Yuanzhao.
His face darkened, and he demanded, "Who are you? What are you doing in the Princess's bedroom?"
Chen Yanqing was stunned for a moment, then touched his smooth cheek before belatedly realizing that his mask had fallen off, and his face turned deathly pale.
Seeing that he didn't answer for a long time, Shen Churong's doubts deepened.
He drew his longsword with a "whoosh," the tip pointing directly at Chen Yanqing's neck. "I'll ask you one more time, who are you? What are you doing here?"
Knowing that he would lose his life if he didn't explain, Chen Yanqing hurriedly said, "General Shen, I am Chen Yanqing, a close attendant of His Highness."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com