Chapter 46 Where are you going to smear it? Shut up!
No matter how much Zhao Liangxu tried to guess, she couldn't fathom the intricate thoughts in An He's mind, which quickly led to a multitude of interpretations.
Fortunately, she's a woman of action.
Seeing that Anhe had pushed her out again, Zhao Liangxu smiled and took Qiu Cheng's ointment instead.
"Eunuch An, the pine resin is ready. Now, shall we use this?"
She seemed to be changing the subject.
Then he can take it as a way out.
Anhe let out a heavy sigh, but still took the plain-looking ointment and casually asked, "Where is it for?"
It's just a matter of applying some more lotion to her hands and other exposed areas.
Qiu Cheng's ointment was probably to help Zhao Liangxu recuperate; perhaps it was an ointment applied to the temples to help calm the nerves?
As Anhe was thinking this, she saw Zhao Liangxu beckoning her closer to listen.
An He leaned over, and Zhao Liangxu whispered in An He's ear, "Your Majesty."
Why did they suddenly start calling him "Nine Thousand Years Old"?
Zhao Liangxu paused for a moment and said a few words softly.
The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible, but it still managed to get into Anhe's ears smoothly.
“...It needs to be wiped in.” Zhao Liangxu’s voice trailed off abruptly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Anhe seemed to be burned by fire and jumped up.
"You! Zhao Liangxu! What are you saying!"
"You did this on purpose, didn't you!"
He pointed at Zhao Liangxu, his usually hoarse voice cracking slightly.
What was she even saying?!
Zhao Liangxu tried to sit up and get out of bed, but An He took a few steps back as if he had been burned.
“Everything I said is true, Your Majesty.”
"Your Excellency, will you help me?" Zhao Liangxu asked innocently again.
"Shut up!"
An He didn't say anything more and turned to leave, almost as if he were fleeing in panic.
Seeing that An He was leaving in a hurry, Zhao Liangxu added, "Your Highness, I don't mind if Your Highness is around me!"
Hearing this before leaving, Anhe's heart skipped a beat, but she still left without looking back.
Zhu Mu saw An He leaving in a hurry in his bedroom, so he went back to Zhao Liangxu's room.
"Princess, what is the Ninth Prince in such a hurry to go?"
"Him? I guess I scared him away."
Zhao Liangxu's eyes curved into a smile. She recalled the look of fear on An He's face as he pointed at her. She had never seen An He like that before.
She immediately lay down on the bed, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
Anhe returned to his study and sat behind his desk, taking a few deep breaths.
Zhao Liangxu! Zhao Liangxu!
What was she even saying?!
What... you want to smear it in...?
Is this what I should say to him?
So Zhao Liangxu completely ignored all his warnings!
Now, when he recalls Zhao Liangxu's sly eyes, he realizes that Zhao Liangxu was simply teasing him.
How could she be so bold!
After drinking a few glasses of water, Anhe calmed down a bit, and the heat on his ears dissipated.
Finally, she said something like "I don't mind," but I don't know if she noticed something and was deliberately targeting him.
Tell him to come back in a sorry state.
Anhe recalled the feel of his hands, the scent of pine needles mixed with the fragrance of Zhao Liangxu, and how Zhao Liangxu was so close, so close that he could pull her into his arms with a single embrace.
If what she said is true, how wonderful that would be?
*
For several days in a row, Zhao Liangxu did not see Anhe again, and she slowly recalled that day.
She had indeed been too casual; when Anhe pulled her close, it really startled her.
Anhe breathed softly in her ear, as if bewitching her.
She's usually a very shy person, but the more she thought about it, the faster her heart beat.
Zhao Liangxu counted the days; there were only three days left until the New Year.
The An family mansion was decorated with bright red lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere. Even An He had been wearing a red python robe more often these past few days, which made him appear especially joyous.
In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, Zhao Liangxu met with Qiu Cheng and Xiao Liu'er. They were also busy preparing for the New Year, so apart from this trip, Zhao Liangxu had been resting at home for the past few days.
After taking several doses of medicine each day, he would read some storybooks in his spare time.
Today was different; Anhe sent Luo Fan to invite her to the study.
Luo Fan readily accepted the task, feeling that he was truly farsighted, believing Zhao Liangxu to be an extraordinary person from the first moment he saw her.
And now it has been proven that he was right.
Everyone in the An family knows that the Ninth Prince values Zhao Liangxu the most. Even when Zhao Liangxu acted recklessly, connecting her residence with the An family mansion, An He reprimanded her a few times but ultimately agreed without any punishment.
When Zhao Liangxu fell ill, the Ninth Prince was very anxious.
She was an extremely special person in the eyes of the Ninth Prince.
Zhao Liangxu was led by Luo Fan to An He's study. This was the first time she had walked through the archway since it was opened.
Walking out of her bedroom, through the archway, and past two unused storerooms in the An family mansion, Zhao Liangxu strolled leisurely and arrived at An He's study in no time.
This is so much more convenient.
"Your Majesty, Princess Zhao has arrived," Luo Fan announced from outside the door, but Zhang Sheng opened the door instead.
Zhang Sheng glanced at Zhao Liangxu with a complicated expression, then bowed respectfully to her, saying, "Princess Zhao, please go in quickly. Your godfather is waiting."
Zhao Liangxu entered the study with an air of nonchalance.
"This study is so warm," was Zhao Liangxu's first thought upon entering.
Zhao Liangxu saw An He sitting behind the desk. His dark-colored casual clothes were not very thick. The study was warm because of the underfloor heating, and An He was dressed lightly.
Anhe tapped her fingers absently on the table without looking up, and simply said, "Princess Zhao, please sit."
As soon as Zhao Liangxu sat down, An He put down his book and asked with a subtle smile that Zhao Liangxu couldn't decipher, "Does Princess Zhao know what I asked Zhang Sheng to do just now?"
How could she possibly know that Anhe had summoned her here for no apparent reason, showing no trace of the panicked state she had displayed just a few days ago?
He even had a slight smile on his face; had something happened that made him happy?
An He noticed Zhao Liangxu's confusion and said, "Princess Zhao, you may try to guess."
What could Zhang Sheng be involved with? Perhaps it's something to do in the palace?
"Is it... about the New Year's family banquet at the palace? Or is it related to the merchant caravan?"
Anhe lowered his head and snorted softly, saying, "The guess is reasonable, but it's not."
"Princess Zhao, please take off your cloak first, it won't be good if you get sweaty."
Instead of continuing the topic directly, he teased us by mentioning something unrelated.
Zhao Liangxu took off her cloak; she also felt a bit hot.
"If Princess Zhao listens, it will offend her ears. Do you still want to listen?" An He did not move, but only stared at Zhao Liangxu hanging the cloak aside.
Zhao Liangxu found it amusing: "Didn't Eunuch An ask me first and let me guess? Now he's asking me to decide whether I want to listen or not? Does Eunuch An think it's quiet before the New Year and wants to make fun of me?"
Despite Zhao Liangxu's sharp tongue, An He showed no sign of annoyance; instead, a smile remained on his lips.
This is really not normal.
Zhao Liangxu thought to herself.
She could even sense a hint of...excitement beneath Anhe's unusual demeanor?
An He's eyes gleamed, his gaze not missing a single change in Zhao Liangxu's expression: "Princess Zhao, you seem to be happy to hear this, so I will tell you."
"You mentioned those two thieves to me earlier, and I thought you were so kind and compassionate, but I can't be that gentle, so..."
Anhe paused for a moment: "Then he sent people to search in the mass grave. It just so happened that winter had arrived, and the meat hadn't rotted much yet."
Zhao Liangxu seemed to understand somewhat.
"We sent Zhang Sheng to handle it, and he had his men do it cleanly and efficiently, which was very well received."
Anhe's voice grew softer and softer until it was as gentle as water, unlike his usual self; it sounded like he was trying to lull someone to sleep.
"So? Do you think our house is scary? Is it different from what you imagined? Isn't it far beyond what you thought?"
His questions were all questions, but his voice was not aggressive or demanding; rather, he was persistently pressing Zhao Liangxu.
"Do you think our family member is a twisted eunuch?"
He kept a close eye on Zhao Liangxu, watching intently for any hint of fear or flinching she might show the next second...
What could he do?
He won't kill her, but he can lock her up.
He had figured it out these past few days. Zhao Liangxu's act was so clever, even saying she "didn't mind him," that it really kept him up at night for days.
Don't you really mind him?
He was initially delighted, but upon further reflection, he couldn't help but worry that it was just Zhao Liangxu's way of trying to please him.
If... she were to reveal her most vulnerable side, could she still keep up the act?
If she can't keep up the act, she'll eventually be too scared to run away, and he will never let her run away.
He rose to the position of Grand Eunuch, and was addressed as "Nine Thousand Years" by the court officials, not through torture and forced confessions.
It was his actions that instilled fear in people.
“Eunuch An is concerned about me. Eunuch An is angry because of me.” Zhao Liangxu did not answer An He’s question directly, but she immediately revealed An He’s initial thoughts.
Yes, he was extremely angry when he heard what Zhao Liangxu said.
Such a good person, yet those people, those people hurt him like that!
How could he not be angry?
Zhao Liangxu walked to An He's side, bent down slightly, and asked, "Is Eunuch An still testing me? Do you want to know how I will react?"
"What kind of reaction does Eunuch An expect from me?"
Zhao Liangxu feigned curiosity, while An He absorbed the sincerity in Zhao Liangxu's eyes.
The evil thoughts he had been suppressing earlier now dissipated, leaving him feeling helpless.
Zhao Liangxu knew what he wanted to ask, but with just a few casual words, she managed to distract him from all those thoughts.
This is Zhao Liangxu.
Just as An He felt a little relieved, Zhao Liangxu suddenly placed her hand on An He's neck.
She had only been in the study for a short while when her hands turned as cold as ice, startling Anhe so much that she instinctively slapped away the icy hand.
Zhao Liangxu lost her balance and was thrown backward by An He, hitting the desk.
She groaned as the hard edge of the table bumped into her waist, and the sound aggravated her still-healing throat ailment.
In winter, a cough is like a switch that's been flipped; the more you cough, the itchier it gets, and the more it itches, the more you cough.
Zhao Liangxu covered her mouth, almost unable to catch her breath.
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Author's Note: Eunuch An is definitely not a good person, but he's also quite innocent in some ways, hmm.
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