Lan Shuang closed her clothes and leaned limply on the couch. Under the dim candlelight, her eyes and eyebrows were filled with an indescribable contentment that made people's hearts flutter.
The Imperial Master sat down beside the couch, holding a wet handkerchief in one hand and pinching her chin with the other. Neither of them spoke, and Lan Shuang naturally raised her face and closed her eyes.
He chuckled softly, "Have I served you well enough? Is Your Majesty pleased?"
"Yeah." Lan Shuang responded lazily.
As the warm handkerchief brushed across her face, Lan Shuang's brows relaxed further and she felt more relaxed.
"Are you here just to have an affair tonight?"
The Imperial Master paused, then helplessly tapped her forehead with his fingers, "Who is having an affair? We are legitimate."
Lan Shuang opened her eyes and glared at him with raised eyebrows: "Isn't it, I——"
She pointed at herself and said, "It's the imperial concubine."
"You—" She pointed at Jiang Lusheng: "You are the Imperial Master."
"We worked together to make Nangong Yi wear a huge green hat." Lan Shuang said and suddenly laughed, "What's the matter with that?"
"If you look at it that way, he's cheated on you countless times, so we're even."
Jiang Lusheng threw the handkerchief aside, holding his chin with one hand and looking at her, "I heard that Nangong Yi went to Xiao Feiyan's place today and stayed all afternoon. When he came out, his steps were brisk and he seemed in a good mood."
"So?" Lan Shuang felt that he hadn't finished speaking yet.
Jiang Lusheng took out a box from his sleeve and placed it in her palm. "Open it and take a look."
Lan Shuang opened it puzzledly and saw rows of pearls inside.
"What did you give me the pearl for?"
Jiang Lusheng smiled but said nothing. "It's getting late. I have to go back and have a good rest tonight. If you have anything, please send a message to me."
"Wait—" Lan Shuang tugged at his sleeve, "Except for Zhishu and Zhili, everyone here is Nangong Yi's people. How can I send you a message?"
"No rush. The eunuch beside you should be replaced. Find a reason to punish him, and I can take the opportunity to insert my own people."
Lan Shuang smiled knowingly, "You've been prepared for this a long time ago."
Jiang Lusheng did not deny it. "Since I said I would use the country as a betrothal gift, I naturally have to make plans early."
He lowered his head and pecked Lan Shuang on the lips, "I'm leaving."
"Um."
After watching Jiang Lusheng leave, Lan Shuang picked up a pearl and looked at it against the light. There seemed to be something dim inside.
She had an idea and broke it with force. The pearl suddenly split in two, revealing a small black pill inside.
"Is this... the antidote?"
Lan Shuang asked 888 to test it, and 888 said, "It is indeed the antidote."
"This guy is really so mysterious."
She tried to close the pearls and found that they still fit together tightly.
An idea struck her, and she suddenly licked it, then her eyes widened, "Sweet?"
888: "Ah? These are not pearls, they are candies?"
Lan Shuang stared at the pearl for a moment, then put it directly into her mouth and chewed it hard. The crispy skin of the pearl broke into pieces, and the sweet taste mixed with the medicinal flavor spread between her lips and teeth. The taste was a bit weird, but acceptable.
She swallowed the pill first, then chewed the candy skin, and the sweetness instantly overwhelmed everything.
She suddenly understood the ingenuity of this medicine, which was similar to modern sugar-coated tablets, minimizing the pain of taking the medicine.
Jiang Lusheng, ah Jiang Lusheng... A warm current spread from the bottom of her heart to every part of her body. Lan Shuang smiled, closed the box, held it in her arms and placed it on the bedside.
…
The next day, Nangong Yi came back on time after court. Seeing Lan Shuang playing chess with him on the couch, he couldn't help but look at her twice.
"My beloved concubine, can you play chess?"
Lan Shuang wore a green silk dress, with her hair casually tied up in a bun and fixed with a hairpin. A strand of hair hung down by her ear, making her look lazy, casual and natural.
She looked up from the chessboard, and when she looked at me, there seemed to be a hook in her eyes.
Nangong Yi paused. From this angle, she did look a lot like Xiao Feiyan, but when she smiled, they didn't look alike anymore.
"I learned a little from my father when I was young. My skills are not very good. I can only barely understand the chessboard. It is perfect for killing time."
Nangong Yi sat down opposite her, glanced at the chessboard, and raised his eyebrows. The black and white pieces on the board were fighting fiercely and evenly matched. They both seemed to be in danger, but no one was willing to take a step back.
The confrontation was tit-for-tat and filled with murderous intent, which made Nangong Yi's eyebrows jump. How could he not know how to do this?
This is obviously something he can do.
And it's a very aggressive style of play.
Nangong Yi looked at Lan Shuang in surprise. This style of chess was too different from her personality.
Could someone really be so divided? He looked at Lan Shuang inquiringly.
Lan Shuang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like this? Is it my fault?"
She frowned in distress. "I learned chess from my father, and he always taught me this way."
She looked confused and innocent, as if she really didn't understand. Nangong Yi felt relieved. It turned out that she learned it from the Duke of Zhenguo. It made sense. After all, the Duke of Zhenguo was a very impetuous person.
"I'm a bit bored too. My beloved concubine, play a round with me. I want to see how the Duke of Zhenguo teaches."
"OK."
Lan Shuang happily pushed the white piece to him and then picked it up from the chessboard.
She knew that Nangong Yi's move was just a test, so she didn't put any effort into it. She acted in a chaotic manner, sometimes aggressive and sometimes cautious. Nangong Yi gradually put his mind at ease and directly closed the net, completely blocking her retreat.
Lan Shuang threw the chess piece away and glared at Nangong Yi in anger, "Your Majesty, aren't you bullying me?"
Nangong Yi laughed and said, "Your chess skills really need to be improved. I will teach you well when I have time."
"That's more like it." Lan Shuang smiled.
Suddenly, Dou Li, the eunuch beside Lan Shuang, came in with a tray and said, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."
The smile on Lan Shuang's lips disappeared immediately, "You want to drink again."
Nangong Yi glanced at him and said, "Give it to me."
"Yes." Dou Li held out the tray to Nangong Yi. Nangong Yi took the medicine bowl and said to Lan Shuang, "You're not feeling well. You still need to take good care of yourself. I've asked the imperial physician, and this is an improved prescription that won't irritate your stomach. Would you like to try it?"
Having said that, how can I not drink?
Lan Shuang looked at Nangong Yi deeply. Nangong Yi picked up the spoon and said gently, "I'll feed you."
"Let me do it myself." Lan Shuang took the medicine bowl, blew on it herself, frowned and drank it all.
"Dou Li, go get me some water to rinse my mouth."
"yes."
Dou Li turned around, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Lan Shuang. Lan Shuang reached out to take it, but the cup suddenly fell over, and some hot water splashed on Lan Shuang's hand.
Lan Shuang screamed, and her delicate skin quickly turned red.
Dou Li was stunned and quickly knelt down to apologize, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! It's my fault for being clumsy."
Nangong Yi stood up suddenly and kicked Dou Li: "What are you still standing there for? Go get some cold water!"
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