Chapter 53 Rewards
Seeing her so stunned, Xiao Cheng'an laughed even more unrestrainedly. He simply stood up from the dragon throne, descended the steps, grabbed the dancer's waist, and pinched her slender waist hard, causing her to shrink back. Xiao Cheng'an laughed even more unrestrainedly and pushed the dancer in his arms directly onto Xiao Yu: "This is a reward for you."
A reward for me?
Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, and instinctively reached out to support the dancer. After he steadied her, the woman pressed herself against him as if she had no bones.
"..." What's going on? Xiao Yu was shocked.
Seeing this, Xiao Cheng'an laughed again: "Look at you, so pathetic. You're scared like this by a woman. You're really useless." I wonder what your father is worried about?
Is that all the courage you have? Xiao Cheng'an sneered and continued, "But I heard that you married that sickly son of Prime Minister Song. That old man is almost dead and he still tries to curry favor with the royal family. Only you would be stupid. Look around the entire capital and everyone knows him."
Xiao Yu's face immediately turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "It is I who have presumptuously honored you."
Xiao Cheng'an assumed she was from a small town and had never seen the world. He waved his hand, put his arm around a dancer, and returned to the dragon throne: "That's right. No matter what, the dowry that old woman prepared is enough for you to live on for a lifetime. It's not a loss, not a loss."
Xiao Cheng'an gestured to the dancer to pour wine, and with her help, he tilted his head back and drank it down. After finishing the cup, although he was sitting, his body still slid down. If it weren't for the dancer beside him, he probably would have fallen off the dragon throne. He swayed and helped the dancer sit up straight: "Hehe, little beauty, come and let me kiss you."
The dancer immediately collapsed into his arms, and the two began to kiss intimately, oblivious to everyone else. Judging from their skill, they must have done this kind of thing quite often.
Xiao Yu lowered his head. Was he trying to kill himself by openly watching the emperor's erotic secrets?
On the other side, Xiao Chengze also looked away with a cold expression, his eyes full of disgust.
The urgent breathing in the main hall, accompanied by the sound of string and bamboo instruments, made even Xiao Yu, a modern person, blush and feel his heart race.
I was shocked to find my ears defiled by this tyrannical ruler.
Fortunately, it didn't last long before it ended. Xiao Yu felt a wave of contempt; this incompetent ruler was really incompetent.
Having satisfied his personal desires, Xiao Cheng'an was still slightly drunk and said to the dancer he had just seen, "Go and keep him company."
"......"
The dancer dared not disobey the order, and swayed her hips as she knelt down beside Xiao Chengze.
Xiao Chengze's face immediately darkened, his expression shifting from red to green, then to white—a truly fascinating sight. He couldn't afford to lose his temper, since the emperor was the emperor; he could only accept it resentfully, suppressing his dissatisfaction and forcing a smile as he thanked the emperor.
Seeing the male lead's face turn green with anger but he had to hold it in, Xiao Yu almost burst out laughing.
As expected of a tyrant, his thought process is terrible. Just thinking that the male lead is no good person either, Xiao Yu couldn't help but feel smug. He hoped that this tyrant would give him a good beating.
Xiao Cheng'an suddenly looked at Xiao Yu again and asked in surprise, "Why are you still standing?"
Xiao Yu: "..."
"Sit...sit..." Xiao Cheng'an pointed to the seats, his mouth completely out of control.
Xiao Yu thanked the emperor and took his seat below Xiao Chengze. The palace maids set out the tableware. The dancer who had just been there also sat down with Xiao Yu and tried to lean against him. Xiao Yu reacted quickly, blocking her from getting too close with one hand and taking out a wine cup with the other and handing it to her.
The dancer didn't press any further forward, but instead picked up the wine jug beside her and filled it to the brim: "Please enjoy, sir."
Xiao Yu was inwardly bitter. Fortunately, the dancer in front of her was still quite well-behaved after being rejected. She picked up the wine cup and pretended to take a sip.
"Xiao...Xiao Yu, right?" Xiao Cheng'an seemed to have thought of something and chuckled, "I've also heard that your wife is quite beautiful. Bring her to the palace one of these days so I can see what the most beautiful woman in the capital is all about."
"Ha ha..."
Xiao Yu's expression froze, and he lowered his head. The fingers gripping the wine cup turned white from the force.
With my fiery temper, Xiao Yu wanted nothing more than to slap me across the face right now.
How dare you comment on her young lady!
This is intolerable.
Just then, her sleeve was tugged, and with the force, Xiao Yu saw the dancer beside her shake her head slightly, her eyes filled with complex emotions. She glanced at the armored soldiers standing on both sides of the hall with halberds, and slowly suppressed the anger in her heart.
After a long pause, Xiao Yu nodded to the dancer.
Xiao Cheng'an didn't care whether she returned or not. At this moment, the effects of the alcohol were kicking in, and his eyes were glazed over. He couldn't even sit still. The eunuchs serving him seemed to be used to this and immediately called for a palace maid to help him back to his bedroom.
"Drink...I want more..."
"Xiao...Xiao Yuhao...I...I like it, have some more..."
"Release me..."
......
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
The music continued in the main hall. Xiao Chengze shouted, "You may all leave." The musicians immediately stopped what they were doing, and hurriedly left the main hall with their heads down, clutching their instruments.
"Your Highness~"
It would have been better if he hadn't called out, because this address of "Young Master" almost made Xiao Chengze lose his temper. His face turned green again, and he gritted his teeth and shouted, "Get out!"
The dancer was stunned, and her beautiful face turned pale with fright. She knew that the person in front of her was not only a prince, but also the emperor's own brother. He was not someone she could afford to offend. She staggered out of the hall.
The dancer beside Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Chengze, then at Xiao Yu, and followed him out of the main hall.
In an instant, only Xiao Yu and Xiao Chengze remained in the main hall.
Xiao Yu was caught in a dilemma: whether to leave or stay. Could someone tell her what was going on and how to get out?
Xiao Chengze's eyes were low and deep, revealing no emotion: "How about I, the young master, escort you out of the palace?"
Would he really be that kind?
Although this person is the male protagonist in the book, he is very cunning and scheming. He hides it well, but Xiao Yu still managed to catch the calculation in his eyes.
Since we're currently on someone else's turf, we might as well go along with him for now and see what he's up to.
Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master."
"No problem, Young Master Xiao, you don't need to be so polite. After all, aren't we all descendants of the founding emperor?"
Emperor Taizu?
He wasn't referring to his status as a member of the royal family, but rather emphasizing that he was a descendant of the founding emperor. What does that mean?
If I remember correctly, the novel explained that the direct line of the founding emperor was framed by a villain, and the entire Crown Prince's faction was killed. Later, loyal guards of the Crown Prince's residence risked their lives to send away the young imperial grandson, thus saving the direct line of the founding emperor. Later, the Crown Prince's rebellion was overturned, and although the young imperial grandson was found, the direct line lost the opportunity to inherit the throne.
When the male lead suddenly brought up this matter, it seemed like a very ordinary sentence. However, Xiao Yu did not believe that Xiao Chengze was trying to establish a connection with the family. She was more inclined to believe that the male lead was reminding her that everyone was a descendant of the founding emperor.
The key question is, why did the male protagonist say all this to her? Did she pose any threat to him?
If he was a threat, then it would make sense for him to want to kill him. What threat could he possibly pose to him? The original owner was a penniless spendthrift who could not possibly pose a threat to a royal prince. Was it just because of the original owner's status as a royal prince?
This is utterly absurd.
If he wants to become emperor, the one who poses a threat to him should be the current emperor.
Suddenly, a bad premonition crept into my heart: was the male protagonist going to kill all the royal princes?!
Such things have happened in history. If that were the case, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to save my life. Now the male lead is trying to help me get out of here. What if I try to do something in the palace and then frame the emperor?
Before long, Xiao Yu's mind was racing with thoughts.
That foolish emperor is never drunk, why did he have to get drunk at this time? Isn't he just digging his own grave?
My life is in grave danger!
"Actually, there's no need to trouble you, young master. I can go out by myself." Xiao Yu steadied himself, determined not to let him see him off.
To Xiao Yu's surprise, Xiao Chengze did not insist and said with a smile, "I also have something to do, so why don't you have the palace servants escort you out? This is your first time here, and you are not familiar with the palace yet."
Upon hearing his words, Xiao Yu was taken aback. Had he guessed wrong?
But now is not the time to think about these things. As long as the male lead doesn't give her anything, it's fine.
Xiao Chengze gestured for Xiao Yu to follow, then stepped out of the main hall and summoned the palace servants waiting outside. Xiao Yu recognized them as the eunuch who had led the way earlier, and breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was good that they weren't the male lead's people: "Thank you, Your Highness. This humble subject will take his leave now."
"Hmm." Xiao Chengze nodded, just as Xiao Yu was about to leave.
"Wait." Xiao Chengze called out to her, his gaze shifting to the dancer in front of the palace. He smiled and said, "Since His Majesty has bestowed this upon you, take it with you. Refusing is a crime of deceiving the Emperor."
"..." Xiao Yu's lips twitched slightly. Thinking of the scene in the main hall, he realized that Xiao Chengze had clearly seen him secretly laughing. How clever of him, blatantly seeking revenge.
The dancer stepped forward, bowed, and knelt on the ground: "I will serve you well from now on, young master."
"......" Is she short of someone to serve her?
Xiao Yu was caught in a dilemma. The male lead in front of her was no good person. If she refused, he might accuse her of deceiving the emperor and take her back to settle her properly. The young lady probably wouldn't be too angry, right?
She was unsure.
After weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yu made a tough decision, stepped forward, and helped the person up. She was also a pitiful person, and she had helped him in the main hall, so he would repay the favor.
"Thank you, young master," said Yuan Niang.
Xiao Yu nodded: "Let's go."
Xiao Chengze didn't say anything more, his hands behind his back, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Xiao Yu had only walked a few steps with the leading eunuch when Xiao Chengze's voice, devoid of emotion, came from behind him again: "I heard that Young Master Xiao has committed a crime. I can speak on behalf of the Dali Temple. If you need any help, you can go to the Changwang Mansion to find me."
Xiao Yu paused for a moment: "Thank you, Your Highness." He didn't dare to linger and followed the leading eunuch. All the way, he kept thinking about what Xiao Chengze's last words meant. Helping him was one thing, but he knew people in the Dali Temple. When he first came to the capital, his father-in-law had already helped him make arrangements with the Dali Temple. Normally, they wouldn't suddenly interrogate him, and they almost tortured him again.
It makes sense if he's one of the male lead's people.
First, the male protagonist is at odds with his father-in-law; second, he is wary of his status as a direct descendant of the founding emperor.
As they exited the Zichen Palace and passed through the Yiyou Gate, they happened to encounter a group of palace servants carrying a palanquin. The eunuch leading the way hurriedly bowed and stood aside, whispering, "Young Master Xiao, please don't offend Consort Liu."
Dowager Consort?
Isn't she the old emperor's concubine?
Knowing the importance of the matter, Xiao Yu also followed the example of the leading eunuch and stood aside to wait for the palanquin to pass by.
Unexpectedly, the carriage suddenly stopped as it passed Xiao Yu, and a female voice came from above: "Raise your head."
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