Chapter 02 [2]
【2】
I?
Despite falling into the water and being in a mess, Lu Zhiwan still clearly captured this keyword.
What the hell? Is this guy the emperor?
How outrageous, how ridiculous, why would the emperor appear in this remote cold palace!
Once again, she had no time to think. Her survival instinct made her struggle to maintain her balance, while at the same time she used her energy to grab the man who was sinking beside her.
Swimming is not difficult, but the difficult part is bringing a person who can't swim ashore.
After choking on water several times and enduring the pain of leg cramps, Lu Zhiwan finally pushed the tall man to the shore.
When she climbed ashore dripping wet, her limbs were weak and limp, and she lay on her back gasping for breath.
What did this man eat to grow up? He's too heavy!
When her breathing slowed down a bit, she suddenly realized that there was no movement beside her for a while. Her eyebrows jumped and she looked down hurriedly.
The tall man was soaked through, his thin black robe clinging to his body. The bright afternoon light illuminated the outline of his muscular chest and abdomen clearly.
My gaze moved upwards from his slender body to his face.
One had to admit that this man had an extremely handsome face, with thick eyebrows, a high nose, narrow eyes, slightly upturned corners of the eyes, and thick, long eyelashes that were distinct and watery, adding a sense of fragmentation for no reason.
A flash of surprise flashed in Lu Zhiwan's eyes. He didn't expect the Dog Emperor to be so handsome? In the entertainment industry, he would definitely be a handsome king.
But now was not the time to admire a man's beauty. Thinking of the "kill the entire clan" he said before he fell into the water, she felt a chill on her neck and hurriedly pushed his arm: "Your Majesty? Are you okay? Wake up."
After pushing several times, the emperor did not respond.
Lu Zhiwan's heart was pounding. Could he have drowned?
It's over. If the emperor dies here, her life will be in danger.
"Your Majesty, please don't be in any danger!" He shouted anxiously and took a series of photos of the man's cold face.
Seeing that he still didn't respond, Lu Zhiwan no longer cared about anything else. He took a deep breath, raised his hand to press his throat, and then leaned over to cover him.
The breeze blows gently on the surface of the river, and the ripples are illuminated by the sunlight, creating sparkling blue water.
When Xiao Jingting regained consciousness, he felt two soft and warm lips, and fresh air with a faint fragrance flowed into his mouth.
"Why aren't you awake yet?"
"Hey, please react quickly, or you'll die!"
"If you die like this, it would be too unfair for you."
The warmth on the lips loosened, and the woman's voice was slightly panting. The next moment, two soft hands pressed on the chest and abdomen, pressing continuously.
Through the wet robe, he could clearly feel the warmth and strength coming from the other person's palm.
The one touching him now was a woman.
Or a crazy woman who was chased by wasps and knocked him into the river.
The strange thing is that he has always hated being touched by others, but now this crazy woman is kissing and touching him, but he... doesn't feel disgusted?
Before this crazy woman with strange strength could break his ribs, Xiao Jingting groaned in his throat and slowly opened his eyes: "Ahem..."
"You're awake!"
Lu Zhiwan stared at him with unconcealed joy: "Great, you didn't react for a long time just now, it really scared me to death."
Xiao Jingting lay on his back on the ground, his dark eyes narrowed, and only then could he see the appearance of the crazy woman clearly.
Her long black hair was disheveled and clung to her light-colored dress. A few strands of hair on her forehead were dripping with water, and the crystal-clear water droplets set off her pale face, making her look like a haunting water ghost in a strange story.
However, the water ghost's eyes were bright and enthusiastic, which was completely inconsistent with her appearance.
Very strange woman.
Pingjing's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the two hands still resting on his chest. Xiao Jingting frowned, "Take it away."
Lu Zhiwan was slightly startled, and her heart shuddered as she met the man's narrow black eyes that showed no emotion.
She almost forgot that this was not some handsome passerby, but a feudal emperor who had the power of life and death and could cut her into mutton rolls with a single order.
"Yes, yes, I'll take it away right away." She quickly withdrew her hand and explained bitterly, "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand me. I didn't mean to offend you. You were drowning and unconscious just now, and I was trying to save you."
Does mouth-to-mouth contact is necessary to save people?
Xiao Jingting looked at this shameless woman and said, "So, I should thank you?"
Lu Zhiwan waved his hands repeatedly: "I dare not."
She was the one who knocked him into the pool first. It was magnanimous of him not to ask her for the score. Thank God, how could she dare to take credit for it?
"Just now, a swarm of wasps chased me. In my haste to escape, I didn't realize you were there. I slipped and knocked you into the pond. Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I beg for your mercy and forgiveness..."
"Which palace are you from? How dare you call yourself me in front of me?"
Xiao Jingting sat up and wrung the water from his sleeves: "Before entering the palace, no one taught you etiquette?"
Lu Zhiwan was annoyed and quickly changed her words, "My humble concubine...I am Lu, a talented woman from Liuxiaxuan. I learned etiquette before entering the palace. It's just that I was about to fall into the water, and my mind was still a little confused. I violated the rules. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
"Talented lady Lu?"
Xiao Jingting glanced at her thoughtfully: "I didn't expect that there is a talent like you in my harem."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
Is this a compliment to her or a scolding to her?
"I didn't expect to meet Your Majesty here. If I had known, even if I was stung by a swarm of wasps, I would never have knocked Your Majesty into the river and frightened him..."
As she spoke of this, tears welled up in her eyes, and her tone was filled with self-blame and regret. "Fortunately, Your Majesty is the true dragon emperor, blessed by heaven, and safe and sound. If anything were to happen to Your Majesty, I would be blamed for it. How are you feeling now, Your Majesty? Are you feeling unwell?"
Xiao Jingting looked at the tears flashing in her clear black eyes and narrowed his eyes.
Just as he was about to speak, a gust of wind blew.
Although it is April, wet clothes still make people feel uncomfortable when they stick to their bodies.
Lu Zhiwan also shivered from the wind, but didn't dare to show it too much. He only said to the emperor with great consideration, "Your Majesty, the wind has picked up. It's easy to catch a cold if you wear wet clothes. Why don't you return to the palace first, change into clean clothes, and then see the imperial physician?"
Xiao Jingting didn't like this embarrassed look either. Just as he was about to stand up, a pair of hands reached out to him: "Slow down, I will help you."
Xiao Jingting almost instinctively moved to the side and avoided it accurately.
Lu Zhiwan, who wanted to please the boss, froze his hands in the air awkwardly. When he saw the emperor's furrowed brows, he couldn't help but complain in his heart, "You don't even want to help me out, who do you think wants to touch you?"
But he hates being touched. Is he a mysophobia? Or is he really not interested in women and is he a homosexual?
While he was daydreaming, Xiao Jingting had already stood up, brushing his sleeves.
Lu Zhiwan also got up from the ground. After she stood up straight, she intuitively realized that the person in front of her was not only strong but also tall.
Look at his stature, at least 1.85 meters? As expected of an emperor, he must have good nutrition.
She sighed secretly, but unexpectedly, the person in front of her suddenly lowered his eyes, his gaze fixed on her face: "What happened today must not be spread to anyone else. If a third person knows about it, the consequences will be borne by themselves."
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, and carried a cold and stern majesty that brooked no room for questioning.
Lu Zhiwan's scalp tingled as she repeatedly said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will absolutely keep my mouth shut and not say a single word to anyone."
She really hoped that he would forget what happened today. After all, if he was convicted of a crime of pushing the emperor into the river, he would deserve to be beheaded.
Seeing that Lu Zhiwan understood, Xiao Jingting didn't stay any longer and turned to leave.
Lu Zhiwan stood there still a little confused. He was just... gone?
Another gust of cold wind blew by, and she shuddered, rubbing her arms and coming back to her senses.
It’s better for him to leave. I didn’t expect that the emperor was so tolerant and generous... What’s wrong with being a homosexual? He’s a nice guy.
***
When Lu Zhiwan returned to Liuxiaxuan trembling, the sun high in the sky had gradually faded.
"You're finally back!" Xia He hurried over. Seeing her master's miserable state, she exclaimed in surprise, "What happened?"
"Well, it's a long story."
Lu Zhiwan shook his head and walked towards the yard: "Get some hot water for me to bathe first."
Xia He came back to her senses from her shock and was about to speak up to remind her when Lu Zhiwan had already walked into the yard and was staring at the group of beautiful concubines sitting around the stone table.
"Sister Lu made us wait so long."
Lady Zhao, dressed in a light bean-green satin gown with floral patterns, spoke first. She squinted her eyes at Lu Zhiwan and sneered, "Didn't you say you were going to enjoy the flowers? Why are you looking so miserable? Did the hairpin your mother gave you fall into the pond again?"
Lu Zhiwan didn't say anything, but glanced at the people in the yard. The memories of them bullying the original owner flashed through his mind one by one like a kaleidoscope.
The leader, Concubine Hu, is of the third rank and is the highest-ranking member of the bullying group. She is a noble lady born and raised in the capital, and her father is the third rank Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
It was just because during the selection, the original owner wore a smoky purple dress with a butterfly pattern that was similar in style to hers, and she disliked the original owner ever since - after all, the daughter of a small county magistrate from the countryside actually stole the limelight from her, the daughter of a Beijing official. Who gave her the courage?
The lady who spoke first, Zhao Yue'e, was a fourth-rank official, a fellow villager of the original owner, and the daughter of the prefect of Yuezhou Prefecture.
Originally, when fellow villagers met, their eyes were filled with tears, but when they were in their hometown, Zhao Yue'e was overshadowed by the original owner's beauty and reputation. Later, the man she liked also admired the original owner, so they had a grudge against each other. After entering the palace, she targeted the original owner everywhere.
As for the other minor concubines, they were all followers of Concubine Hu and Lady Zhao, blindly following the evildoers.
Lu Zhiwan didn't want to assume malice towards others, but sometimes, people's malice always came out of nowhere and for no reason.
For example, these concubines in front of us are all beautiful, but they bully their original owners time and time again, forcing an innocent life to death.
Since it’s useless to swallow your anger, Lu Zhiwan clenched his fingers and decided to fight!
At worst, I'll risk my life. Taking one away won't be a loss, and taking two away will be a profit.
After calming herself down a bit, she stepped forward and bowed to the people in front of her. "I wonder what brings you here, sisters? What brings you here?"
Concubine Hu said, "Sister fell into the water and is ill. We are deeply concerned about her. It is a good day today, so we came to visit her."
Lu Zhiwan smiled wryly: "Thank you sisters for your concern. I have recovered a lot."
Hearing her neither humble nor arrogant tone, Hu Jieyu narrowed her eyes.
In the past, he was delicate and timid, and every time he saw them, he was like a mouse seeing a cat. But this time, he seemed like a different person. Although he was still well-behaved and polite, he no longer showed any fear.
She looked at Lu Zhiwan several more times before asking slowly, "How did you get all wet? Did you really go into the pool to grab a hairpin?"
Lu Zhiwan heard the tentative tone in her words, her mind racing, and suddenly an idea struck her. She sighed towards Concubine Hu, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Concubine Hu. Last time I fell into the water, I nearly died. I was in front of the King of Hell's Palace, and the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Guards wanted to torture me. I was so scared by the thick chains that my legs went limp. I knelt on the ground and cried out for justice—"
"When the King of Hell saw me crying so miserably, he asked what grievance I had, and I told him. Although he looked scary, he was very perceptive. He flipped through the book of life and death and found that my life span had not yet ended. I was not destined to die. With a wave of his hand, he released me. For the past two days, I have had dreams at night. In my dreams, the Ox-Head and Horse-Faced Demons lectured me about my ignorance. Even though the King of Hell spared my life, I didn't even say thank you. Today, I feel better and can get out of bed, so I went to the pond to kowtow to the King of Hell and thank him."
At this point, Lu Zhiwan even took out a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes solemnly: "The King of Hell probably felt that my sincerity was not enough, so a gust of wind blew me into the river. I really learned a lesson. Next time, I won't dare to neglect him again."
She said all this in one breath, and Hu Jieyu and others didn't know whether they believed it or not, and their faces looked unhappy anyway.
Finally, Lady Zhao spoke up, frowning and scolding, "I think you've lost your mind! You're talking such nonsense in broad daylight."
"Hey, Sister Zhao, please keep your voice down."
Lu Zhiwan hurriedly looked up at the sky, and with a look of panic on his face, he advised Lady Zhao: "You may think I'm crazy, but I really did go to Hades that day. If you don't believe it, I can't prove it. But as the old saying goes, when it comes to ghosts and gods, it's better to believe in them than not to believe in them..."
Leaving something to chance can actually arouse people's imagination.
Especially since Lu Zhiwan looked so wet and miserable, it was impossible that she jumped into the river by herself, right?
Hu Jieyu and the others had done something wrong. Looking at Lu Zhiwan, who was no longer as weird as usual, an indescribable weird feeling arose in his heart.
When Lu Zhiwan was struggling in the water that day, there was indeed a brief period of time when he sank and remained motionless...
Did she really go to the underworld to plead for justice at that time?
"If you still don't believe me, sisters, I'll see if I can dream of the Ox-Headed and Horse-Faced Devil tonight. If I do, I'll ask them if they can demonstrate their magical powers in front of you to prove that what I say is true."
Lu Zhiwan's face was filled with the sincerity of an honest man, so sincere that even Hu Jieyu's face changed. She said unhappily, "I think you are sick and confused, saying such absurd and weird things! You are not well yet, so you should rest well in the house and don't run around."
Having said that, he didn't stay any longer and hurriedly stood up, holding his handkerchief: "It's getting late, let's go back."
The other concubines hurried to follow.
It was not until she had walked a long way out of Liuxiaxuan that Hu Jieyu stopped and looked back at the deserted and remote Liuxiaxuan. She felt that the overgrown branches and weeds made it look quite eerie.
Lady Zhao asked cautiously, "Sister Hu, what that little bitch just said...is it true or false?"
Hu Jieyu: "Who knows!"
Lady Zhao choked and thought, only God knows.
Hu Jieyu also realized that what she said was a bit inappropriate, and her face darkened: "Don't mention her again in the next two days, it's bad luck!"
Upon hearing this, Lady Zhao and the concubines around her all agreed.
In Liuxiaxuan, after sending the bullying group away, Lu Zhiwan hurriedly changed her wet clothes and wrapped herself tightly in her small blanket.
There were three palace maids and two eunuchs in the pavilion, following a master who had no favor, no money and no power. The two palace maids and eunuchs were not enthusiastic at all in their work and just did things perfunctorily.
Xia He asked them to get some hot water, but they took a long time to do it.
It was not until the sun set that Lu Zhiwan took a hot bath.
"Don't worry, I just said that to scare them." In the steamy tub, Lu Zhiwan, dressed in snow-white skin with a faint peach pink hue, slowly explained to Xia He, "I slipped and fell into the river today."
Xia He exclaimed in shock, "You're already weak, and you've fallen into the water so many times. What if you develop some underlying illness?"
"The sun is strong at noon, and the river water is not too cold."
"Having said that..." The master has been quite unlucky lately.
Xia He thought to herself that she should get some pomelo leaves tomorrow to get rid of the bad luck for her master.
Just as I was thinking about it, there was a noise outside the house.
"What's wrong?" Lu Zhiwan opened his eyes.
"I guess Xiao Shunzi and the others are playing dice again. I'll go and take a look."
Xia He walked out quickly.
Lu Zhiwan leaned lazily against the wall of the bathtub, thinking about what happened by the river in the afternoon, and then thinking about Hu Jieyu and others.
I can scare them now, but after a while, this trick probably won't work. How will I deal with them next time they come to cause trouble?
As she was feeling worried, she heard the sound of a door creaking open from outside the curtain, followed by hurried footsteps.
"Are they really playing dice?"
Lu Zhiwan asked casually, then looked up to see Xia He's face flushed red. He couldn't help but wonder, "What happened? Did they fight?"
"No, no, it's a great joyful event!"
Looking at the beautiful mistress in the tub, her skin white as snow and her features blooming, Xia He's voice cracked with excitement. "Eunuch Yu from the Yangxin Palace has arrived. He said he's been ordered by His Majesty to take the mistress to bed tonight!"
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