Chapter 11 Li Ying goes mad at a young age
The incredibly noble child didn't ask Zhao Liangxu to get up. Instead, he scrutinized her for a moment and asked in confusion, "Are you really Zhao Liangxu?"
"You've lost a lot of weight. Is it because you lost your home and can't get enough to eat?"
"I heard from the palace maids and nannies that you, whose family was destroyed, were given to Eunuch An as a gift."
The young emperor's innocent yet cruel question was a perfect example of a spoiled brat. He didn't care at all whether his words hurt others, and he was used to feeling submission and kneeling, things he had been familiar with since becoming emperor.
He didn't think he had done anything wrong.
In short, arrogant and spoiled.
"Wow, you look so different..."
The young emperor Li Ying looked Zhao Liangxu up and down, but found that Zhao Liangxu showed no sign of fear. Suddenly, his expression changed, and he began to question her.
"Why don't you try to please me? Why don't you treat me like an elder brother? Don't you love to put on a humble act for others? I am the emperor now, so why are you silent?"
Back then, Li Ying was just an insignificant prince. Even though an unfavored prince enjoyed wealth and honor, he had no real power and was not someone Zhao Liangxu had tried to please.
"Zhao Liangxu! You're even more repulsive!"
As he spoke, he paced back and forth, then suddenly turned to face Zhao Liangxu and raised his hand.
He wanted to hit Zhao Liangxu.
Zhao Liangxu realized his purpose the moment she saw him walking closer to her, but she was still thinking.
If she had dodged that slap and angered the emperor, no matter how capable she was, how could she have escaped the heavily guarded palace?
But being slapped like that was truly frustrating.
Just as Zhao Liangxu was about to bend down to avoid the slap and pretend to kowtow, a hand grabbed Li Ying's wrist.
"Your Majesty, you must not act rashly."
Anhe smiled and stopped Li Ying's movement, then quietly let go of her hand.
Anhe said to Li Ying, who was looking angry, "Has Your Majesty forgotten? A wise ruler should not be willful. It seems that Your Majesty has forgotten all the lessons you did recently."
He glanced at Zhao Liangxu, then said to Li Ying, "Since Princess Zhao is a gift from the General, I should cherish the generosity of others. Princess Zhao is still recovering, and if she were to suffer His Majesty's wrath, her body might not be able to withstand it."
"Wouldn't that be a complete waste of His Majesty's loyal ministers' good intentions?"
Li Ying clenched his fists, and the dragon robe embroidered with golden dragons rose and fell with his heavy breathing.
He closed his eyes, turned his head and tried to force a smile: "What Eunuch An said is right. Of course, we cannot forget our lessons and teachings because of the influence of others. I want to be a wise ruler."
He wouldn't listen if it weren't for Anhe.
"Mother, is Eunuch An right?"
Li Ying then looked at Zhou Mingxi, who had remained silent throughout.
Li Ying's journey from calm to madness seemed to have no effect on Zhou Mingxi. She rubbed her forehead and smiled as she uttered the first words Zhao Liangxu had spoken to her since they met: "Of course, my son should listen carefully."
The young empress dowager had a beautiful smile. She looked at Li Ying with doting eyes, as if she would agree with whatever Li Ying said.
"Princess Zhao must have been frightened from traveling for many days. Please get up quickly and don't ruin your health."
She stretched out a hand to Zhao Liangxu.
"Come, sit down next to me."
Zhao Liangxu was finally able to get up, and the bed beneath the Empress Dowager looked very soft.
She placed one hand on Zhou Mingxi's hand and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Zhou Mingxi held Zhao Liangxu's hand tightly, and with his other hand brushed a strand of hair from her hair: "Princess Zhao has really suffered."
Her soft eyes seemed to be able to hold water.
But Zhao Liangxu felt a chill.
She was absolutely certain that Zhou Mingxi didn't like her, yet now he was acting as if he loved her so much.
They had never crossed paths before.
This sense of incongruity is unsettling.
But it's okay.
Zhao Liangxu was not a timid or cowardly person.
Zhao Liang grasped Zhou Mingxi's hand, and Zhou Mingxi was startled, instinctively trying to pull her hand back.
But Zhao Liangxu did not let go.
"Your Majesty is a compassionate person. I have never met anyone as kind and gentle as you. You remind me of my late mother who was over fifty years old."
When Zhou Mingxi heard the word "kind," his eyes twitched, and when he heard "over fifty," his breathing became heavier.
Zhao Liangxu appeared touched, but in her heart she understood something.
This empress dowager was very concerned about her age.
How old is she exactly? She already has such a grown son; is she experiencing age anxiety?
Zhou Mingxi's temple twitched. He forcefully pulled his hand back, covered his face, and sighed, "Ah, good child, you've become much more mature after suffering so much. I heard that Princess Zhao was a lively girl not long ago."
"Yes, people always grow up, don't they?"
Zhao Liangxu was not bothered by the veiled sarcasm in the words.
She smiled and stroked her hair, then looked at Li Ying beside her: "It must be because the Empress Dowager spoils His Majesty too much that His Majesty often forgets his studies. His Majesty is also filial, as he came to pay his respects to you as soon as he entered. However, strict teaching in addition to spoiling is also a heavy burden, and it seems that it has to be shifted to Eunuch An."
Zhao Liangxu covered her mouth and chuckled softly, looking exactly like a respectable young woman chatting about interesting things with her elders.
"It is clear that what Eunuch An says is often reasonable, and His Majesty often takes Eunuch An's opinions into consideration."
Your Majesty, you must work harder.
Your son listens to outsiders more.
"you!"
Zhou Mingxi's eyes widened immediately. She never expected that such a criminal would have the audacity to speak so recklessly in front of her and the emperor.
Anhe, standing to the side, dutifully played the role of an ordinary servant and did not interfere with the conversation between the two.
Yes, Zhao Liangxu dared to say that because An T was standing by.
The fact that he hasn't reprimanded Zhao Liangxu proves that what Zhao Liangxu said makes sense and that he finds it agreeable.
Li Ying's desire for Zhao Liangxu to enter the palace was simply to display her current noble status and prestige in front of Zhao Liangxu.
But the Empress Dowager's malice came without cause. Excluding Zhao Liangxu herself, it must have been someone else.
Anhe controlled the emperor, which naturally proved that he also controlled the empress dowager.
The Empress Dowager was hostile to Anhe.
Zhao Liangxu, who survived peacefully in Anhe Mansion, was naturally regarded as a thorn in the side by the Empress Dowager.
Before Zhao Liangxu could finish her sentence, Zhou Mingxi waved his hand, half-covering his face and sighing:
"Sigh, I'm a little tired. Since my son hasn't consolidated his studies yet, let him do so quickly. Eunuch An, please take Princess Zhao away and settle her in."
After saying that, he closed his eyes and ignored everyone.
Zhao Liangxu looked at An He innocently.
Anhe glanced at her sideways and flicked her whisk: "Then Your Majesty, please rest."
Li Ying doesn't seem willing to leave yet.
"Your Majesty, to become a qualified monarch, one must inevitably give up some leisure time."
Li Ying then left reluctantly.
Zhao Liangxu, Anhe, and Li Ying left Yu Yue Palace. Li Ying was even a little reluctant to part with Anhe.
But he still sat in the dragon sedan chair and was served by others.
As the sound of "Lift the sedan chair!" was called out by an old eunuch, and the footsteps faded into the distance, the dull thud of something falling over came from inside Yu Yue Palace.
Someone is smashing things.
Anhe chuckled lightly and ignored him.
Let's go.
A hoarse voice, filled with joy, reached Zhao Liangxu's ears; An He was speaking to her.
"Where do I go? Back?"
"Go back? You're dreaming."
Zhao Liangxu watched Anhe's retreating figure. He walked with the same discipline as the other palace maids and eunuchs she had ever seen.
But it was also different; the servants' backs were bent, their heads were bowed deeply, and they lived in constant fear in the palace.
Anhe, on the other hand, stood very straight.
He had an arrogant and disdainful attitude.
I remember his kneeling figure as punishment; his back was straight, but his head was bent.
Did he once live a life of subservience like other servants in the palace?
Anhe is very happy now.
He seemed to be amused by Zhao Liangxu's actions just now.
Was he happy to see this so-called Empress Dowager get humiliated?
Zhao Liangxu quickly walked to a spot next to Anhe and turned to look at him.
His profile still bore that demonic makeup.
What was this person like before?
Zhao Liangxu truly developed a desire to explore Anhe.
Just as Anhe was intrigued by Zhao Liangxu's initial nonchalant and fearless expression, he chose to keep her alive rather than kill her.
Zhao Liangxu, a soul from the present world, brought stories from the present world, which he found interesting.
She can also make full use of the value of her identity to seek maximum freedom of movement.
Now, Zhao Liangxu really wants to know what kind of person An He, this eunuch, really is.
Where is Anhe? Anhe held up his whisk in front of Zhao Liangxu.
"How dare you walk side by side with us?"
He was in a good mood and there wasn't much blame in his tone.
Zhao Liangxu gently pressed her hand on the whisk and said, "Eunuch An's whisk is really beautiful. I've never seen you hold it before."
The wooden handle of this whisk is carved with patterns, and the end is inlaid with a smooth and translucent jade stone, making it very beautiful.
Anhe scoffed, "You're ignorant."
He pulled the whisk back, and Zhao Liangxu, caught off guard, was pulled along by the whisk, her shoulder bumping into An He.
Anhe's face twitched slightly.
He dislikes others initiating physical contact with him.
Anhe stretched out a finger and pushed Zhao Liangxu's forehead to the side.
He dusted off his clothes and took out a beautifully crafted handkerchief to wipe his hands.
Dead eunuch.
Zhao Liangxu cursed him in her heart again.
While wiping his hands, An He looked Zhao Liangxu up and down. He was in a good mood today and didn't hold it against her: "Considering that your performance today has satisfied me, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll be staying in the palace these days, and you can forget about going back. You'll stay in Consort Lu's side palace."
"What about Zhumu? She'll be very worried if I don't go back."
Zhao Liangxu thought of the bamboo and wood at home that were waiting for her.
"Oh, I didn't realize you were such a caring person, still thinking about your servant whom you've only known for a few days."
He knew that the person inside Zhao Liangxu's body was not acquainted with Zhu Mu.
"I will send someone back to inform them."
Anhe gave Zhao Liangxu an answer, and then impatiently tossed the handkerchief to her.
Hearing this answer, Zhao Liangxu felt relieved. After all, Zhu Mu was very simple-minded. If she hadn't known Zhao Liangxu's situation today, she would probably have been overthinking things.
As a result, she found Anhe more agreeable.
But this handkerchief in her hand, a eunuch's handkerchief... is it right for her to hold it like this?
Anhe casually said, "It's clean, but it gets dirty again after you wipe your hands. You should throw it away."
Zhao Liangxu looked down again. It was a plain handkerchief, not the same one Anhe had used to wipe his hands in the study last night. It was indeed new.
What a waste! I wonder how many handkerchiefs he's already thrown away.
Zhao Liangxu opened her mouth again, but didn't say anything. She did want to ask about the Emperor and Empress Dowager, but it wasn't appropriate to discuss these things openly while walking on the palace road.
As she pondered, she slowed her pace and retreated behind Anhe.
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