052 Kneel down
Li Yang did not go directly back to the Sixth Princess's bedchamber.
The awkward scene between the two of them was still fresh in Li Yang's mind, and he didn't know how to face her for a moment.
She never knew that the Sixth Princess had feelings for her that were different from what she thought.
After all, the Sixth Princess had always said that the two were confidantes and friends, and Li Yang had truly regarded her as such. Today, the Sixth Princess suddenly revealed her true feelings, and aside from some embarrassment, Li Yang felt mostly sorry for her.
Previously, Li Yang had only heard her tell stories about the "Sixth Princess" disguised as a man and her bizarre background. Although Li Yang felt sorry and sad for her past, her relaxed tone and the comfortable and free atmosphere when they were together made her feelings not very deep.
But now, at this very moment, Li Yang is in the location of the 'story,' in the place where the Sixth Princess has lived for the past twenty years, witnessing with her own eyes the disguises and efforts she has made to conceal her identity as a man. Li Yang feels that the Sixth Princess's life is full of dangers, and even with the Empress Dowager's protection, she is still in a difficult situation in this deep palace.
Once the man's identity is discovered, it will be a devastating blow to the Sixth Princess.
How careful and cautious must she have been to survive for over twenty years in this deep palace, where everyone is a shrewd and calculating person?
Whenever Li Yang thought of this, his heartache for the Sixth Princess would well up from the bottom of his heart.
But that was just heartache.
It is pity, it is concern.
But it's not that I like it.
She was grateful for the Sixth Princess's feelings for her, but she couldn't reciprocate in the same way.
A wave of guilt washed over Li Yang.
She lingered outside the Sixth Princess's bedchamber for a long time, unable to find the appropriate expression on her face when she finally saw the princess.
When she heard the name "Madam Yuan," Li Yang came to her senses and looked over. She saw Granny Fang walking towards her with a lacquered red carved wooden tray in her hands, and gently asking, "What are you doing here, Madam Yuan?"
Li Yang said, "I'm just taking a casual stroll."
With a smile on her face, Granny Fang spoke as if to comfort her: "This palace is not like other places. You can't just wander around. If you accidentally offend any noble master, it's us servants who will suffer. Especially in our Shou'an Palace, the Empress Dowager prefers quiet and usually doesn't allow palace servants to wander around."
"Yes, thank you for reminding me, Granny." Li Yang replied obediently, seemingly oblivious to the sarcasm in her words.
Granny Fang's lips twitched slightly, and she gestured for her to look at the Sixth Princess's bedchamber next door: "The Sixth Princess had a disagreement with the Empress Dowager this afternoon, and the Empress Dowager is feeling a bit short of breath and hasn't eaten yet. These are some pastries that I made. I'd appreciate it if Madam Yuan could take them in to the Sixth Princess. I won't go in myself, lest the Sixth Princess lose her appetite if she sees me."
The Empress Dowager felt chest tightness because she had a conflict with the Sixth Princess. And the reason for the conflict was undoubtedly the Sixth Princess's insistence on protecting Li Yang and Xiao Taozi.
In short, Granny Fang was blaming Li Yang, both openly and secretly.
Li Yang reached out and took the tray, smiling, "The Sixth Princess should be in the hall. I'll take it to her right away."
Their fingers briefly touched under the tray, and just as Granny Fang withdrew her hand, Li Yang's wrist suddenly went limp for some reason, and the tray fell directly from her hand.
She instinctively reached out to grab it, and the scalding soup in the celadon bowl on the tray was poured out, landing entirely on the back of her hand.
The skin on the back of her hand suddenly felt like it was being steamed and about to crack, and Li Yang hissed as she pulled her hand back. The tray, porcelain bowl and plate crashed to the ground with a clatter, along with various pastries that rolled around and soup that had soaked into the ground. The area under their feet was a complete mess.
Granny Fang was so shocked she almost stammered, "Madam Yuan, how could you... These were all specially left by the Empress Dowager for the Sixth Princess, they were all priceless tonics! Oh dear, oh dear, they've all spilled, what are we going to do now?"
Their commotion finally attracted the attention of the people in the Empress Dowager's bedchamber. A palace maid, who looked to be about twenty years old, came out and looked at the two of them with displeasure: "Granny Fang, what's going on? Why are you making such a fuss? The Empress Dowager just fell asleep and you've woken her up again."
Startled, Granny Fang immediately pulled Li Yang to kneel down and said to the person, "Qiaoli, it's my fault. I thought the Sixth Princess hadn't eaten much, so I made some snacks, but I accidentally spilled them. I didn't hold them properly and disturbed the Empress Dowager's rest. Please forgive me, Empress Dowager."
Qiaoli sized them up twice and said haughtily, "Since you know your crime, then kneel down. We'll talk about it when the Empress Dowager wakes up." After saying that, without waiting for Fang Mama and Li Yang to speak, she turned around, lifted the curtain, and went back into the palace.
Looking at Li Yang kneeling down alongside her, Granny Fang explained somewhat awkwardly, "Qiaoli is very much favored by the Empress Dowager, even this old servant has to give her some respect. I'm sorry, Madam Yuan, it's all my fault, and I've dragged you into this."
Her face was full of sincere apology as she spoke.
“This whole thing is entirely my fault. I’m tough and can kneel for an hour and a half without a problem. Madam Yuan, you’re too delicate to take this kind of treatment. Listen to me, get up and go back. When the Empress Dowager wakes up, I’ll explain everything to her. She’s a fair and just person, and she certainly won’t blame me.” Granny Fang said, supporting Li Yang’s arm and trying to help her stand up.
Using this movement, Li Yang subtly shifted the position of her knees. When Granny Fang had pulled her to kneel earlier, her knees had 'coincidentally' landed on a shard of a celadon bowl. She had been completely unaware at the time, her entire weight pressing down on her knees, so even though the shard was small, the damage it caused to her knees was excruciating.
But the shard felt like it was stuck in the flesh of her leg, and no matter how much she rubbed it, she couldn't get it off.
Left with no other choice, Li Yang had to put all her weight on her other leg. She gritted her teeth and shook her head, saying, "It's not the nanny's fault. I didn't hold the tray properly. Not only did I disturb the Empress Dowager's rest, but I also wasted the nanny's good intentions."
Granny Fang said anxiously, "Madam Yuan, what are you saying? You are the mistress, a guest of the Empress Dowager and the Sixth Princess. How could you be wrong? This old servant is just a maid. Everything is my fault. I shouldn't have tried to be lazy and not personally deliver the pastries. Madam Yuan, you should get up first. If the Sixth Princess sees this, she values you so much, she will definitely blame this old servant. If the Sixth Princess suspects that the Empress Dowager instructed this old servant to frame you and goes to make a scene with the Empress Dowager, then their relationship will become even more strained. That would be really bad."
As she spoke, she reached out and hugged Li Yang's upper body, trying to help Li Yang stand up.
Perhaps because she was not strong enough to hug him, Li Yang's legs were bent, lifted half an inch off the ground, and then she knelt down again.
Back and forth like this, the shard of porcelain bowl on Li Yang's knee kept rubbing against her skin.
Li Yang wanted to resist and break free, but Granny Fang's arms were like thick hemp ropes, firmly binding her arms and entire upper body, making it impossible for her to exert any force.
Knowing that Granny Fang was deliberately making things difficult for her, Li Yang hesitated.
If she makes too much noise and attracts the attention of Qiaoli or the Empress Dowager, then she will be guilty of 'disturbing the Empress Dowager's rest'. But if this continues, her knees will be further injured by Granny Fang.
Just as she was about to make a move, Cui Yu's voice rang out behind them: "Madam Yuan, Granny Fang, what are you doing kneeling here?"
Cui Yu pushed the Sixth Princess's wheelchair around from behind the two of them before noticing the scattered pastries and broken porcelain bowls of medicine on the ground: "What happened on the ground?"
As she spoke, she secretly winked at Li Yang, signaling her to be quiet.
Li Yang turned her head and looked at Granny Fang.
From the moment the Sixth Princess appeared, Granny Fang's imposing manner weakened. Now, being stared at by the Sixth Princess with displeasure, she stammered, "It's...it's this old servant who made some...pastries and tonics, which I wanted to offer to the Sixth Princess to try."
Cui Yu said, "The Sixth Princess never eats food prepared by outsiders. Doesn't Granny Fang know this?"
"I know, I know," Granny Fang explained anxiously, "It was because this old servant was worried about the Sixth Princess's health that I made extra pastries for the Empress Dowager, thinking that since the Sixth Princess and Madam Yuan were getting along well, she might be able to eat something. It was my fault; I was only concerned about the Sixth Princess's health and didn't think things through. Please forgive me, Sixth Princess."
Every word she spoke was for the sake of the Sixth Princess. If Li Yang hadn't known the whole story, she would have applauded Granny Fang's acting skills. Truly worthy of being an old nanny who had lived most of her life in the palace, her little mind worked so fast, and she was so eloquent; Li Yang felt she would never reach that level in her lifetime.
The sixth princess remained unmoved.
She stared silently at Granny Fang, her gaze shifting unpredictably, even carrying a hint of gloom and coldness. Finally, Granny Fang lowered her head further and further until she knelt on the ground.
Seeing the Sixth Princess relax and lean back in her chair, Cui Yu said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Granny Fang, but there's no need for the meal. Granny Fang, just focus on serving the Empress Dowager well. Madam Yuan, the Sixth Princess would like to ask you a question. Do you have time now?"
Li Yang looked at Granny Fang with feigned difficulty and said timidly, "This..."
“Yes, yes, Madam Yuan, please get up quickly,” said Granny Fang.
Li Yang supported herself with her hands on the ground and struggled to stand up despite the pain in her knees.
But as she stood up, the glaring red patch at the knee of her trousers caught the attention of the other three people present.
The Sixth Princess tightened her grip on the armrest of her wheelchair, about to reprimand Granny Fang, but was stopped by Li Yang. She said to the Sixth Princess, "Sixth Princess, Aunt Cui, let's go."
Seeing the restraint in her eyes, the Sixth Princess said nothing more. She looked up and gestured for Cui Yu to push her into the hall.
Li Yang followed closely behind them as they went inside.
Cui Yu pushed the Sixth Princess into the hall and turned to leave. Before she could close the door, the Sixth Princess saw Li Yang walk in and eagerly asked, "Yangyang, come here and let me see your legs."
Li Yang pulled her clothes to cover her legs: "I'm fine, I just got a little chafed, I'll put some medicine on it when I get back."
The Sixth Princess insisted, "This is a joint. If it gets serious and isn't treated in time, it will affect your walking later. I am a doctor now. Don't treat me like Song Xi. I am a doctor. In my eyes, there are only patients, not men and women."
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