I looked at all those things on the table: "Is this all you do every day? There's so much."
Xie Yuancheng hugged me: "Some things are true. I've already said what I wanted to say. For the next few hours, you'll have to stay in the study with me." Looking at the smile on his face, I knew things were not going well.
When I was having dinner, I had just come out of the bathtub. The food tasted bland, and I just felt sleepy.
Xie Yuancheng, on the other hand, was in high spirits and looked very happy. He even chatted with Bizhu about which dishes had improved.
I can finally sleep. I can fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
When Xie Yuancheng leaned closer, I wrapped myself in the blanket and said, "Stop making a fuss, I'm so sleepy."
He simply covered me with the blanket again: "I won't bother you anymore, go to sleep."
The next morning, I woke up and remembered something. "Yuancheng, don't you need to attend to His Majesty?"
Xie Yuancheng had just finished dressing when he said, "Ying'er, you only just remembered this now? The Emperor is traveling incognito this time, and there are a lot of people taking care of him. To avoid being seen, I only need to go there for a while each day."
"My lord, the princess left early this morning." Meng Anshi's voice rang out from outside. I had just put on my outer robe when Li Zhaole left early this morning.
Meng Anshi added, "They went to the northern suburbs."
Xie Yuancheng dismissed him and, seeing my eager expression, said, "Ying'er, she's taken a liking to you and is looking for a backer."
In the past, I would have been very willing to go back with Li Zhaole, but now I don't want to leave.
"I don't want to go back yet." I really hope for some natural disaster or man-made calamity so I can use it as an excuse to leave.
Xie Yuancheng combed my sideburns: "You want to go back? I won't allow it."
Hmm~ He's got the best ideas, so I'll just stay put. No wonder so many girls get caught up in relationships and can't get out, like the saying goes: "Once a woman is infatuated, she cannot escape!"
Having just changed his clothes, Xie Yuancheng looked unhappy: "Ying'er, you look better in women's clothes."
I tugged at his wide sleeve: "Alright, there's a great Buddha statue in the northern suburbs now, so I'd definitely prefer men's clothing." Besides, I also like the men's clothing of the Great Zhao Dynasty; the light and flowing garments are much easier to walk in than those complicated long dresses and skirts.
I had just touched his lips when a soft voice broke the silence!
"Ying'er, you, you all, are too, too improper." What is Consort Ji doing here so early in the morning?
I quickly distanced myself from Xie Yuancheng: "Your Majesty."
Fortunately, Consort Ji came alone, without any palace maids accompanying her: "You have disappointed me greatly. How could you do such a thing with Marquis Anle? Do you want the Ji family line to end?"
She was indignant, but even if she didn't go with Xie Yuancheng, the Ji family wouldn't have any children. Besides, didn't they already have an older brother? Why should they rely on Ji Ying to carry on the family line?
Xie Yuancheng stepped forward and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty, we are mutually in love, but our feelings are expressed and we remain within the bounds of propriety."
Consort Ji flicked her sleeves: "Hmph, two men together, and they're mutually in love? Marquis Anle, have you forgotten you're already married, or...?"
Xie Yuancheng interrupted her: "Your Majesty!"
Consort Ji was interrupted by his voice and turned her face away, sulking.
Xie Yuancheng asked me to go out first, saying he had something to say to Consort Ji. I felt that the situation was indeed inconvenient to stay, so I left.
As the door closed, I only heard one name: Lvyan.
Who is Lü Yan? Judging from the name, she must be a girl. Things happened so suddenly today, I need to calm down first.
Consort Ji sat in her seat, utterly furious. She had sent Ji Ying closer to Xie Yuancheng in an attempt to win him over, but she never expected the two of them to do such a thing.
Fortunately, she used the excuse of going out to buy things for the Emperor to sneak in today. If outsiders had seen what happened just now, it would have caused a disaster.
I stood by the door listening to the sounds inside. The sounds came and went, and I couldn't make them out. Oh well, Li Zhaole has gone out. I might as well go see Wan'er.
She had a pleasing appearance; she was the first person I met after arriving here, and I always felt a good impression of her. After what happened last time, it was only right and proper that I went to see her.
I asked Bizhu and learned that she had been taken back by Li Zhaole. I hurriedly returned to the west wing and met her in the courtyard.
When Wan'er saw me, her eyes reddened again: "Young Master."
I comforted her and told her not to cry. I looked at her arms, hands, and face, and thankfully there were no signs of being hit.
I helped her sit down: "Did the princess make things difficult for you?"
Wan'er sniffed: "No, he just ignored me and left me standing there. He left at the crack of dawn this morning."
Alas, life was tough for women in ancient times. The hierarchical system was strict, and if you followed the wrong master your whole life, not only would you have no future, but you would also be in danger of losing your life at any time.
Fortunately, Wan'er was open-minded and didn't take it too seriously. She said she would follow me from now on, no matter what Li Zhaole thought.
I'm barely able to protect myself right now, so I don't know how I can protect her. I can only tell her to stop calling herself a servant, and that when no one's around, she's a normal person and shouldn't always belittle herself.
Wan'er served Consort Ji, so she must know something. I asked her about who Lü Yan was.
“Lü Yan? Isn’t that the Prime Minister’s daughter? Young Master, you don’t know her at all. Why would you suddenly ask about her? I remember she’s already married to the Crown Prince.” Wan’er said, wiping away her tears. Why would Consort Ji mention the Prime Minister’s daughter to Xie Yuancheng?
I saw Meng Anshi walk to the door, wink at Wan'er, and signal her to come inside.
After closing the door, I pulled Wan'er into the inner room. She blushed and twisted her fingers.
Sigh, there's nothing I can do for you, I'm just asking around.
I asked Wan'er to sit down, poured her some tea, and lowered my voice to ask, "Wan'er, I don't go out often when I'm in the manor. You used to serve Consort Ji, so you must be well-informed. Do you know anything about Miss Lüyan and Marquis Anle?"
Wan'er was a little flattered, holding the teacup and smiling happily: "Young master, I was originally serving the Empress in the palace, but then she asked me to serve you in the mansion. Who knew that less than half a month after I arrived, I saw you floating on the surface of the pond. Later, the Madam herself went into the water to save you and told everyone not to move. She really has a mother's love for you. She took care of you by your bedside all night until you woke up before letting me in."
Mother Ji, I never imagined there would be this before I came here. Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry.
Wan'er continued, "I've only heard that Consort Ji originally wanted to matchmake Lu Yan and Marquis Anle. They were childhood sweethearts, and I heard that Marquis Anle even personally went to war against Bianlin Kingdom for her sake, and almost lost his life on the battlefield."
I'm furious! Xie Yuancheng said he wanted to marry Ji Ying when he was five, and now he has a childhood sweetheart too.
Wan'er asked softly, "Young Master, your face doesn't look good, what happened?"
I said irritably, "I heard the princess went out early this morning, she must be going to complain."
Wan'er comforted me instead: "Young master, don't worry, no matter what suffering the princess makes me endure, I'll do it willingly." Such a silly girl, yet her eyesight is so bad.
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