Chapter 10 The Emperor Arrives, and All Is Gone Wrong
Zhao Yuanheng swallowed his words of refusal.
Well, it's not too late yet.
The little guy had a guess in his mind: could this woman be a lake demon, the kind with a pure appearance but a seductive nature, who specializes in bewitching minds?
Then he heard Ji Qingwu tilt her head and gently call his name.
"Young master."
Zhao Yuanheng's small body trembled.
He glanced at her, withdrew his hand, turned his head away from her, and pretended to be calm.
"What is it?"
A gust of wind blew by, and Ji Qingwu felt a chill all over his body.
So she stopped teasing him. Now they were both soaking wet, and the wind was getting chilly. If they stayed any longer, they might catch a cold.
Children can develop a high fever if they catch a cold, which was extremely dangerous in ancient times.
This place is closest to the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace.
Ji Qingwu opened his arms and stretched his hand out to the little guy: "Young master, let's go borrow a place to change our clothes."
With his head held high, Zhao Yuanheng resolutely refused, saying, "I can walk on my own, and I don't like touching other people."
Ji Qingwu looked at his short legs and said with a smile, "I'm just so cold. I want to go inside and change my clothes to warm up."
After saying that, regardless of his wishes, she directly pulled him into her arms and held him tightly in her embrace.
Zhao Yuanheng struggled and twisted a few times, but the woman's arm did not budge.
Looking at this delicate woman, how come she's even stronger than the nanny who serves him?
The little guy was quite heavy, much heavier than Qiuqiu when held in his arms, but Ji Qingwu still held him with ease.
She bounced up and chuckled, "Am I just anyone? You fell into the water, and I risked my life to save you. According to the storybook, you should call me your benefactor—no, your heroine. If you weren't so young..."
Zhao Yuanheng added the rest of the sentence automatically, a blush appearing on her fair face.
Ji Qingwu didn't know what was wrong with him today. Seeing the little guy's serious, adult-like appearance, he wanted to tease him a bit.
Zhao Yuanheng secretly lifted his quiet face from her embrace; the woman's arms were just as wet as his.
But it smells so good and it's so soft.
Ji Qingwu was shivering from the cold, but the little one in her arms was like a little furnace, making her chest feel warm.
He twitched his nose, sniffing her scent, looking at her pointed chin, and then staring curiously at her ear and the side of her face.
Just as Ji Qingwu reached the entrance of Cining Palace, he bumped into Shi Xi, who had returned to report.
Shi Xi exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness Yuan Heng!"
Upon closer inspection, she exclaimed in shock, "Why are you all together? Your clothes are soaking wet!"
She had just gone to Guanju Palace when Bitao, the head palace maid serving Consort Wei, said that the young prince was still studying at the Imperial Academy and had not yet finished his studies. As a result, she ran into the young prince just as she arrived at the palace gate.
Upon hearing Aunt Shixi address him as "Your Highness," Ji Qingwu stiffly lowered his head.
This kid is really something else.
This young master is not only a prince, but also the only son of the new emperor of Beili.
Although Zhao Yuanheng was nestled in her arms, he was quite imposing, reprimanding the easily startled Shi Xi in a very serious manner.
"What are you yelling about!"
Shi Xi could only bow his head and apologize, and then took the young prince and Ji Qingwu to the west side hall of Cining Palace to change clothes.
Six palace maids came in to help Prince Yuanheng change his clothes.
Ji Qingwu took the set of clothes and cotton cloth to dry her body and hair from Shi Xi, and went around to change her clothes behind the screen of golden nanmu wood in the Eight Treasures Poetry Screen.
She had just taken off her outer robe when the sounds of palace servants greeting her came from outside.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Upon receiving Shi Xi's message, the Empress Dowager, accompanied by Madam Ji, hurried from the main hall. Prince Yong, upon encountering them, also came along.
She walked hurriedly, calling out urgently.
"Yuanheng, let your grandmother check on you. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Yuan Heng had already changed into his inner garments with the help of the palace servants and was tying the belt of his outer robe.
In fact, when they first learned that the young prince had fallen into the water, the Empress Dowager and Madam Ji exchanged a smile, their joy outweighing their worries. It was as if their words had come true.
She was just worried about not having a reason to bring the young prince from Consort Wei's side to Cining Palace for upbringing, and now the opportunity has been presented to her.
The Empress Dowager called out affectionately, "My dearest grandson, let me see you."
Yuan Heng frowned. Seeing the Empress Dowager's hand approaching, he nimbly dodged to the side, looked at her with calm, dark eyes, and gave a curtsy.
"Royal Grandmother."
His actions were impeccably polite, but devoid of any genuine emotion.
The Empress Dowager's hand awkwardly froze in mid-air.
It's just that she usually doesn't care enough about this little grandson of the emperor, so this time she seems to be overdoing it.
Ji Qingwu wasn't sure who had come in, since she was only wearing a soaked undergarment. The white fabric became transparent when wet, tightly wrapping around her undulating waist. She dared not make any big movements, not wanting her disheveled appearance to attract the attention of those outside.
She only hoped that the Empress Dowager would quickly bring the young prince to the main hall.
The screen is curved and two meters high, so unless someone sitting in the main seat turns their head to look over, they cannot see the person behind the screen.
But Prince Yong, with his keen sense of smell, detected a fragrance that was neither flower nor fruit.
I just smelled that alluring fragrance on one of the beauties in the palace.
He raised an eyebrow and said, "What's that smell in the hall? Open the window and let some fresh air in."
The palace maid beside him responded softly and was about to walk to the window when Prince Yong moved. He strode towards the screen.
Upon hearing Prince Yong's voice, Ji Qingwu grabbed her outer robe and quickly put it on.
If she were only wearing a soaked undergarment and a man saw her, what difference would it make from him seeing her naked? If Prince Yong really saw her like this, wouldn't she really have to marry him as a concubine?
Shi Xi had also thought of this and was about to say something.
A loud voice came from outside, belonging to Li Yuzong, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Ji Qingwu gasped. It would have been better not to change these clothes at all. Now that she was halfway off, she was in a bind.
She hurriedly put on her outer robe, but her inner garment was still soaked and not easy to wear.
Prince Yong stopped in his tracks, narrowed his eyes, and turned to go to the door to greet the emperor.
One after another, the sounds of kneeling and greeting rose and fell.
"This servant greets Your Majesty."
The servants and eunuchs of Cining Palace knelt on the ground in a dense, dark mass.
The tall, imposing figure in bright yellow approached more and more, his steps were composed, his expression dignified, and the aura he exuded was chilling.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Prince Yong and Lady Ji also bowed and greeted him.
Inside the west wing hall, a group of people immediately knelt down.
Yuan Heng had already changed his clothes, but his hair ornament was not yet properly tied. He lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, and said in a respectful tone, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Despite his young age, he is very disciplined in everything he does.
A deep male voice rang out.
"Get up."
The sound stimulated Ji Qingwu's eardrums, like the clanging of a celestial sword from the Valley of Emptiness, cold yet sharp.
Her hand, which was putting on her outer robe, paused, gripping the sash tightly.
After hesitating for a long time, having missed the best opportunity, he could only quietly hide behind the screen.
Should she kneel or not?
I'm not going to kneel anymore; anyway, the people outside can't see it.
Ji Qingwu decided to go all out and do nothing.
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