Chapter 9
This man's name is Lian Ye. On the surface, he is an ordinary palace servant, but behind the scenes, he has complicated relationships with court officials outside the palace. He is the nephew of the Minister of Justice.
In fact, there are more than one palace maids with backgrounds like Lian Ye. They gave up their good jobs as cousins and entered the palace to serve others. Their purpose was obviously to target Yu Xi.
Yu Xi has been on the throne for seven years, and the harem is still empty. Although the court officials are eager to offer their own children to the palace, they are afraid of Yu Xi's power and dare not do it openly, so they have to resort to this bad idea.
The court officials didn't know whether Yu Xi preferred women or men, so they would do everything they could to bring anyone of suitable age and appearance into the palace. If one day they could catch Yu Xi's eye, their whole family would rise to prominence. However, after so many years, they still couldn't achieve their wish.
Lian Ye was the one with the highest self-esteem and greatest ambition among them. His self-confidence and arrogance weren't entirely unfounded; after all, he possessed the best background and the best looks. His innocent gaze, filled with affection, truly evoked pity.
In his previous life, Lian Ye, driven by jealousy, not only framed Ling Huanchen but also caused Xiao Qi's tragic death. Even with Yu Xi's protection and the redress of his injustice, Xiao Qi's death ultimately became a lifelong regret.
There was a cold look in Ling Huanchen's eyes. He would not sit still and wait for death.
"My lord, he should have been transferred to the imperial kitchen to help in the kitchen." Yun He said.
This makes perfect sense, as Lian Ye was also in the imperial kitchen in his previous life.
Ling Huanchen didn't say anything more about Lian Ye, as if he had already forgotten about this person.
"Master, would you like to order dinner?" Xiao Qi asked with blinking eyes.
Ling Huanchen turned his head to look at the sky outside. Yu Xi was discussing important matters with court officials today, so he might not be able to come.
"Declarate it."
Xiao Qi immediately became excited when he heard this. If the master doesn't want to eat, how can the servant dare to do it? "I'll go right away."
Ling Huanchen shook his head and smiled, seeing through it but not saying it out loud.
He ate even less when he ate alone, and most of the rest was shared with Xiaoqi and Yunhe.
"Your Highness, please use it."
Today, the palace servants serving the dishes were replaced by several new ones, one of whom was Lian Ye, whom I had just met a few days ago.
He stepped forward and became the representative of the imperial kitchen's palace servants, introducing the new dishes to Ling Huanchen one by one.
"Look at this sweet and sour lotus root box. It's made with a new method. It's so tender that it can be pulled into shreds. It melts in your mouth and is sweet but not greasy."
Ling Huanchen's eyes swept over Lian Ye without any expression.
Lian Ye felt embarrassed after he finished speaking, and then lowered his head. "Did I disturb the little prince? If there is anything you want to eat, please tell me, and I will definitely pass on the message."
"Nothing, these are good enough."
Lian Ye bowed and glanced casually at the bottom of Ling Huanchen's clothes.
Xiao Qi was sharp-eyed and quick-tongued, and immediately asked, "What are you looking at?"
Lian Ye shuddered suddenly and knelt down, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I... I am just curious."
Ling Huanchen's face was expressionless, he just asked, "What are you curious about?"
Lian Ye slowly raised his head, eyes wide open, like a curious child. "Your Highness is from the mermaid tribe. Mermaids all have mermaid tails. How did this mermaid tail become a human leg?"
"You want to know?"
Lian Ye hurriedly shook his head and said timidly, "I dare not. I just think that the tail turning into legs is really magical. Although it looks the same as an ordinary person, it is different after all."
He paused, then suddenly leaned forward and said, "I have spoken carelessly, Your Highness, please forgive me."
Ling Huanchen waved his hand, "Everyone go down."
"yes!"
After the palace servants from the imperial kitchen left, Xiao Qi stared at the door and said angrily, "That man is so annoying." Although he couldn't say what was annoying about him, he felt that his words were not good.
"Okay, everyone has left. Come here quickly. We have your favorite bean cakes." Ling Huanchen smiled again at Xiao Qi.
Lian Ye framed him out of jealousy. Rather than waiting for his accumulated jealousy to erupt at any moment, it would be better to lure him out of his hole and strike first.
The next day, when it was time for dinner, Ling Huanchen was leaning against the head of the bed, holding a book in his hand, with no intention of getting up.
Xiao Qi couldn't help but peek inside, and finally ran to the bed, "Master, the king will be here soon."
"Come if you want to." Ling Huanchen was still reluctant to leave the book and didn't care about anything else.
At this time, Yun He entered the room and said, "Master, the king is here."
Ling Huanchen then raised his eyes and saw that the two were staring at him. He smiled and said, "You go and greet the king. If the king asks, just say... I don't have much of an appetite, so I won't eat."
The two looked at each other and hesitated for a while. Only when Yu Xi's footsteps were approaching the door did they bite the bullet and go to pass on the message.
Ling Huanchen put down the book, moved his body downwards, closed his eyes lightly, and let his untied black hair hang loose, with the ends of his hair winding along the edge of the bed, creating a somewhat messy beauty.
Hearing the sound of footsteps approaching from afar, Ling Huanchen slowly opened his eyes, "Your Majesty."
Yu Xi put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down, "Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
"I'm fine, I'm just not hungry."
Yu Xi looked at him for a moment, then said to the person behind him, "Go serve the food, bring some porridge and snacks."
Fu Changshi immediately understood and ordered someone to put a small table next to the couch. The food served did not contain any fish or meat, but was replaced by porridge and snacks.
Several palace servants from the imperial kitchen stood by the wall with their heads bowed, ready to be summoned at any time.
Yu Xi glanced at the round table, "What kind of porridge is this?"
"Your Majesty, this porridge is raspberry porridge. It is light and nourishing to the stomach, sweet and sour in taste, and especially suitable for your Highness when he has no appetite." Lian Ye stepped forward and answered fluently.
Fu Changshi served a bowl of porridge and brought it forward. Yu Xi took it and fed it to Ling Huanchen.
Ling Huanchen glanced at Lian Ye and didn't refuse. He drank a spoonful after Yu Xi fed him.
When the bowl of porridge was empty, Yu Xi observed Ling Huanchen's complexion, her eyes fell on the corner of his lips, and she wiped it for him, "Eat some more?"
Ling Huanchen was stunned for a moment, then he remembered his purpose, "Your Majesty, please don't be so busy with me."
"No problem, it just so happens that I'm not very hungry."
During Ling Huanchen's recuperation, he fed him medicine once. It seemed that the King of Youcheng, who had not fed anyone else for more than 20 years, had become addicted.
As they spoke, the snack was already at their lips. Ling Huanchen lowered his brows and eyes, then opened his mouth obediently. He was possessed by a strange desire to do what Yu Xi had done to him. With a sudden determination, he not only bit the snack, but also Yu Xi's hand. He touched it and then quickly released it, leaving no trace of his teeth, like a kitten playing with its owner.
Ling Huanchen was a little at a loss, lowering his eyes and not daring to look at anyone.
Could it be that Yu Xi had infected him? Why did he do such an indecent thing...
"Your Majesty, I…"
Yu Xi only saw the man's ears flushed red, but he didn't realize that his own condition wasn't much better either. He was in a very good mood and teased, "It's okay, I understand, my dear, you're just hungry."
Ling Huanchen wanted to bluff the trick, but Yu Xi's joke ruined all his efforts, and his ears turned pink again.
After the two finished their meal, Yu Xi waved his hand and the palace servants from the imperial kitchen immediately came forward to clean up.
This fire isn't lit high enough.
"I want to go for a walk outside." As he said this, he made a gesture to get out of bed, but just as he stood up, he couldn't stop tilting and was about to fall off the bed.
Yu Xi quickly pulled him back into her arms, holding him tightly. Her body was a little stiff, but her hand was still gently patting Ling Huanchen's shoulder. "You said you were fine. Go call the imperial physician."
Ling Huanchen hurriedly shook his hand and said, "There's no need to send for the imperial physician. I just lay down all day and suddenly got up and felt a little dizzy."
After saying that, he relaxed his body and leaned closer to Yu Xi. He glanced at Lian Ye and saw that his hands hanging on both sides were clenched into fists, so he knew that his goal had been achieved.
He was just about to leave Yu Xi's arms, but the next moment he was picked up by Yu Xi.
"Your Majesty?" Ling Huanchen reflexively hooked his arms around Yu Xi's neck, his eyes filled with confusion.
"Let's go for a walk outside." Yu Xi still remembered that mermaids tend to get numb legs, so she simply carried the person out.
It’s bad enough that you’re being indecent in the house, but you have to do it outside?
"I can leave on my own, Your Majesty..."
Before he could finish his words, Yu Xi had already carried him out the doorway. Even though the palace servants were staring at the ground, Ling Huanchen's face still flushed with shame. Giving up the struggle, he buried himself in Yu Xi's arms, refusing to look up.
You reap what you sow.
This was the third time Yu Xi carried him around in public. The first time, he was wrapped in a cloak so she could deceive herself. The second time, he was poisoned and unconscious so she could pretend not to know. But the third time, it was open and clear, and he was still awake.
For the next few days, Ling Huanchen didn't leave the house once. Even Ye didn't show up during his days of self-reflection. Everything was normal, like the calm before the storm.
"Master, the flowers in the imperial garden are blooming beautifully. Don't you really want to go and see them?" Xiao Qi asked persistently.
Ling Huanchen held the scroll in his hand and said seriously, "I won't go."
Xiao Qi couldn't help laughing, and laughed out loud for a moment. She quickly covered her mouth. Seeing Ling Huanchen looking at her, she widened her eyes and shook her head repeatedly to prove her innocence.
His master is good in every way except that he is too thin-skinned.
"Xiao Qi." Ling Huanchen said in a deep voice.
Xiao Qi turned around and ran, "Master, wait a minute, I'll go serve the meal."
After a while of silence, all the palace servants from the imperial kitchen came in, led by Lian Ye, who had not been seen for many days.
Ling Huanchen's eyelids twitched, and he thought to himself, this is coming.
Lian Ye finished introducing several new dishes and then took out two objects from behind him. "Your Highness, these are kites that I made. I wonder if you like them."
Ling Huanchen smiled at Lian Ye for the first time, but it was a smile that concealed a hidden needle. "Of course I like it. Xiaoqi, let's go outside and fly a kite after dinner."
When Xiao Qi heard that there was something fun to do, he was happier than anyone else. Although the kite was brought by that annoying Lian Ye, as long as his master liked it, it was fine.
"I'm glad you like it." Lian Ye's face lit up with joy, as if trying to please him. "Can I stay and fly kites with you?"
Ling Huanchen said generously, "Of course, you all can go, and we'll clean up the dishes later."
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See you Monday night~
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