Chapter 13 [13]
【13】
Fortunately, Xiao Jingting stopped laughing after two laughs, otherwise Lu Zhiwan was really afraid that he would not be able to control the primordial power in his body and would do something like beating up the Dog Emperor.
"Your Majesty, my face is like this, and you're still smiling!" Lu Zhiwan pouted and said aggrievedly, "How can you be so mean?"
Xiao Jingting's smile, which had just stopped, started to rise again. He pressed the corners of his mouth downwards and put on a serious face: "Speak nicely and don't make me laugh again."
How did she make him laugh? Lu Zhiwan rolled his eyes inwardly. No wonder he was still a virgin when others were fathers. If he wasn't the emperor, he would be destined to live a lonely life without anyone to love him!
Having said that, she still restrained her coquettish tone and told the story of the traitor in Lifeng Palace with red eyes.
Later, she bravely took two steps forward, and put her red little face close to Xiao Jingting's eyes, blinking pitifully: "Your Majesty, look, my beautiful face is almost disfigured!"
Xiao Jingting didn't care about her rash approach. He lowered his narrow eyes and glanced at her face lightly.
Her facial features were delicate and exquisite, and even though her skin had turned red and had some rashes, she was strangely pleasing to the eye after looking at her for a long time.
But this woman is really shameless and she doesn't forget to brag about herself even at this time.
Xiao Jingting raised two long fingers and pressed them against her forehead, pushing them back little by little, his expression indifferent: "You're so close, are you trying to give me a nightmare tonight?"
Lu Zhiwan's mouth twitched slightly. Did this man grow up drinking arsenic? His mouth is so poisonous.
The next moment, he heard him shouting outside: "Come, go get the imperial physician."
Lu Zhiwan: “…” Okay, she took back her previous words.
The emperor gave the order, and the Imperial Medical Bureau did not dare to neglect it. Soon, the imperial physician hurried over.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. May your Majesty be blessed with good health."
"Get up."
Beside the long couch bathed in the warmth of the sun, Xiao Jingting placed the memorial in his hand on the flat-top table beside him and raised his eyelids slightly: "Show her face."
Aren't you here to see His Majesty? Doctor Zhang was puzzled. When he looked up and saw Jiaona's figure across from the emperor, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes: "Why is this lady's face like this?"
"Uh, I was caught off guard and was harmed by a villain." Lu Zhiwan angrily recounted the incident with the poisoned rouge. At the end, he anxiously asked the imperial physician, "Is my face supposed to be able to return to its original state?"
Imperial Physician Zhang took another closer look and replied cautiously, "I dare not make a hasty judgment at this moment. Please, Your Majesty, give me the box of poisonous rouge for testing."
Lu Zhiwan also brought the box of poisonous rouge and immediately took it out for Imperial Physician Zhang to examine.
After an inspection, Imperial Physician Zhang's face was solemn. "This is mixed with purple poison grass powder. Using it two or three times will cause facial ulcers, pus and sores. It can be said to be an extremely vicious method."
Lu Zhiwan's heart tightened: "Then what should I do?"
Imperial Physician Zhang soothed her, "Don't be too nervous, Concubine. Although this powder is poisonous, you discovered it in time. Although you have a rash now, you will recover after taking the decoction and applying the ointment."
Lu Zhiwan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Dog Emperor didn't pay much attention to appearance, she did! If this beautiful face was damaged in the slightest, she would never forgive herself.
"As long as it can be recovered."
Without the worry of disfigurement, Lu Zhiwan could focus on playing the victim. After the imperial physician wrote the prescription and left, she pinched her thigh hard, squeezed out two tears, and threw herself into Xiao Jingting's arms: "Your Majesty, you really scared me to death just now! If my appearance was really damaged, I would never have the chance to serve Your Majesty again. What's the point of such a life? Fortunately, God is merciful and can't bear to separate Your Majesty and me..."
Have a lover?
Xiao Jingting narrowed his dark eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the woman in his arms continue to sob, "Your Majesty, you don't know. You've only summoned me twice, and you've already made many people in the harem jealous. You haven't summoned me these past few days, so they just think I've fallen out of favor and are bullying me again. What have I done wrong? I'm just a woman who deeply admires Your Majesty. Is it my fault for falling in love with Your Majesty that I deserve to be murdered by them like this?"
Xiao Jingting's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his eyes to look at the tearful little red face in his arms, and didn't know what to say for a moment.
From childhood to adulthood, there have been countless people who flattered him, but no woman was like her. Every time she got the chance, she would say those corny words like "admiration", "favorite" and "love" to him.
Of course he didn't believe her, but every time she said this, her unrestrained look refreshed his understanding of her bottom line of shame.
He was somewhat curious about her bottom line, so after Lu Zhiwan finished crying, Xiao Jingting spoke calmly, "Since it was because I ignored you that others had the opportunity to harm you, then you should stay in Yangxin Palace to recuperate until the rash on your face heals. As for the person who secretly harmed you, I will find him and punish him."
Hearing this, Lu Zhiwan, who had been sobbing tenderly just a moment ago, forgot to cry. She was stunned for a long moment before she raised her face from the man's broad chest, her eyes full of water: "Really?"
Looking at the little red face blurred with tears in his arms, Xiao Jingting pursed his thin lips and said: "Sir, don't joke. Now you first..." Let me go.
Before he could utter a single word, the little red-faced girl burst into laughter, opened her arms, and rushed toward him again: "Your Majesty, you are so kind! I love you so much!"
This sudden pounce caused Xiao Jingting to fall towards the edge of the couch. If he hadn't supported himself with his arms in time, he would have been pushed to the ground by her.
It's broad daylight, and there are eunuchs and palace maids in the palace. Does this Lu family know anything about propriety, righteousness, and integrity?
His breathing seemed a little disordered, Xiao Jingting gritted his teeth and said, "Get down!"
The person on her body was startled for a moment, then quickly stood up: "Your Majesty, please don't blame me. It's just that I was too happy and couldn't help myself."
Lu Zhiwan stood up dejectedly with a smile on his face, glancing at the man's waist with the gold and silver belt. He couldn't tell that the dog emperor had a pretty good waist. He wondered if he had practiced or was just born with good waist strength?
Before she could even take a second look, a large palm landed on her head, twisting her face to the side like a screw. The man said in a flat tone, "Although I have permitted you to remain in the Yangxin Palace, you must rest in the side hall until your face recovers."
Lu Zhiwan uttered an "ah" and seemed a little regretful: "Your Majesty..."
Xiao Jingting didn't give her any chance to act coquettishly, and signaled Yu Mingjiang with his eyes: "Big Baner, take her down."
Not only did he achieve his goal, but he also unexpectedly got the opportunity to stay with the emperor to recuperate. Lu Zhiwan knew that it was best to quit while he was ahead, so he decided not to stay here any longer.
"Then Your Majesty, please go ahead and take your leave." After politely bowing to the aloof man beside the couch, she followed Yu Mingjiang out.
Outside the Yangxin Palace, within half a day, the news that Concubine Lu stopped His Majesty to file a complaint and was granted permission to stay in the Yangxin Palace to recuperate spread throughout the six palaces in the east and west.
For a moment, some concubines were surprised, some were envious, some were jealous, and of course some were afraid.
Especially when the palace maid in Lifeng Palace who betrayed her master and drugged the women was dragged to the West Lane and beaten to death in front of the eunuchs and maids in charge of various palaces, those who had ulterior motives became even more panicked.
The next afternoon, Yu Mingjiang respectfully presented a "confession" to him: "Your Majesty has ordered this servant to investigate this matter, and I dare not neglect it. This is a confession left by the Changchun Palace beauty Zhao, admitting that she instructed the palace maid Guilan to poison the rouge. Zhao has now committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and her body is still in the side hall of Changchun Palace. I seek your instructions, Your Majesty."
The emperor, dressed in a loose, dark robe, sat cross-legged on the edge of the couch, cradling a snow-white Linqing lion cat. Hearing Yu Mingjiang's report, he glanced briefly at the confession on the tray, not even interested in reading it. He lowered his eyes, his expression indifferent. "Poisoning a concubine is a crime in itself, and committing suicide by hanging is an even greater crime. We will follow the palace rules."
"Your Majesty is right." Yu Mingjiang said, "Should we inform Concubine Gu about this?"
The emperor sneered, his meaning unclear: "Where do you think Zhao got the courage to poison people?"
Yu Mingjiang lowered his eyelids and didn't dare to respond.
"Alright, take this confession to Lu and have a look. This will finally bring an end to this matter."
"Yes," Yu Mingjiang agreed. Before leaving, he remembered something and added softly, "Your Majesty, this Zhao is also from Yuezhou. His father, Zhao Zhiming, is the current governor of Yuezhou."
The palm that was gently stroking the cat's head stopped, and then the emperor's calm voice sounded slowly and steadily: "As a prefect, you have failed to educate your daughter properly. Your virtue is unworthy of your position."
He bent down again and took a deep breath of cat food, as if he had gained great relaxation. A hint of laziness appeared between his thick and handsome eyebrows. "Zhao Zhiming should be stripped of his prefectural title. As for the successor... let Lu's father take the position."
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingjiang crossed his arms and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty's grace is profound. Concubine Lu will surely be delighted to hear this news."
Thinking of the woman's joyful look, Xiao Jingting raised his eyebrows slightly, but his tone did not change: "Go."
"I'll go right away." Yu Mingjiang quickly retreated.
Xiao Jingting leaned calmly against a bright yellow pillow embroidered with auspicious clouds, occasionally stroking the kitten's head. His voice was very soft, "Little Orchid, when do you think she will come to thank you?"
The little white cat who was petted by his owner felt particularly comfortable: "Meow~"
"I guess one stick of incense at the latest."
"Meow!"
"You think so too?"
"Meow."
"Okay, then we'll wait and see. If you guess right, I'll give you two dried fish tonight."
Not long after, Lu Zhiwan really arrived at the Yangxin Palace, even faster than he expected. However, her reaction was completely different from the tears of joy he had expected.
She saluted him politely, then slowly raised her fair face, the rash having faded slightly, and looked at him with a look of sincerity: "I dare to ask Your Majesty to revoke your order and not allow my father to take the position of prefect of Yuezhou!"
Xiao Jingting looked at her, his thick eyebrows knitted together: "Why?"
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