Chapter 40
Well.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wang Bao reacted and quickly went to get a mirror.
After a moment, Xiao Huan looked in the mirror and suddenly waved his hand impatiently to stop him.
"Forget it, just pretend I didn't say anything."
An emperor should put the country first, how can he pay so much attention to his appearance? How can he be so disrespectful?
Wang Bao: …
Okay, he carefully put the mirror away again, and saw that when His Majesty opened his eyes again, he seemed to have returned to normal.
An afternoon passed, and Xiao Huan summoned the court officials to the Council of State. After dealing with government affairs, he suddenly asked.
"Wang Bao, do you think I am old?"
Wang Bao: …
Wang Bao suddenly choked, and finally understood how Master Xie felt when His Majesty suddenly asked him a question during a meal. Who wouldn't be scared? He looked at His Majesty with mixed feelings, and said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, don't joke."
"You are in your prime."
For fear that His Majesty might be suspicious, Wang Bao didn't even dare to say "middle-aged" and directly changed it to "prime of age".
There shouldn't be any problem this way, right?
Xiao Huan saw through his little thoughts and glanced at him, but he calmed down at this time.
Yes, I am only twenty-nine, in the prime of my life. I train every day and am proficient in martial arts. What is there to worry about?
He comforted himself in his heart, and after a while, he picked up the pen and said, "Keep your mouth shut about what happened today."
"Hey, what is your majesty talking about? I didn't hear anything today." Wang Bao immediately pretended to be deaf and dumb, and Xiao Huan felt relieved.
On the other hand, Xie Ling had no idea that his words almost triggered Emperor Wu's age crisis. He was still memorizing his homework after eating and drinking.
He lay on the couch, thinking of the horrible embroidery, and couldn't help putting the book aside.
"Ah, you said it would be nice if embroidery was as heart-to-heart as schoolwork."
System: It’s quite cultural.
He paused, then said with a stiff upper lip: "After all, it is the host's sincere intention, and the Emperor Wu will give face no matter what."
The host has bewitched the Emperor to such a state that the wound on his finger last night was caused by the host. The system thinks that no matter how ugly it is, the Emperor can accept it.
After all... the one in front of me is a succubus.
Xie Ling reacted with some surprise: When did the system become so emotionally intelligent?
But no matter how much she felt sorry for it, she had to embroider it. The next day when Xie Ling left the palace, she gritted her teeth and finished the last half.
Well, his proficiency level only improved on the last day after two consecutive days of hard work. On the third day, his embroidery was obviously better than in the previous days, but it’s no use talking about this now.
Glancing at the finished pattern, Xie Ling suddenly remembered something.
"Wait, I was so busy embroidering that I forgot to ask your Majesty the size of his nightgown."
How to do this?
When giving something to someone, especially underwear, it would be bad if it is too big or too small.
Fortunately, the fabric was ready and the other things were prepared, so the clothes could be made quickly.
Xie Ling hesitated for a moment and looked at Master Lan: "Master, please wait a moment. I will come out in the evening to decide the size."
Master Lan nodded, and then he saw Master Xie, who seemed to have thought of something, hurried out the door.
Qian Ming was waiting outside in the morning. When he saw Master Xie, he thought it was over. However, he heard Master Xie's embarrassed question.
"Um, Xiao Qian, do you know the size of His Majesty's clothes?"
Qian Ming: Ah?
He was embarrassed for a moment: "Well, I am not serving His Majesty."
"I think only Eunuch Wang and the others know about this, right?"
Xie Ling: I was careless. I guess I have to go find Eunuch Wang.
"Let's go, what are we waiting for, we will go back to the palace immediately."
Qian Ming followed Master Xie back with a question mark on his head. After a while, he saw Master Xie coming back looking a little depressed.
Oh no, I didn’t plan ahead and Eunuch Wang is on vacation today and he’s not here. What should I do?
Tsk.
"Tongzi, I can't go to Qianyuan Palace and steal a piece of Emperor Wu's clothing, can I?"
Then he might, perhaps, be afraid of losing his life.
system:……
"Maybe you could try it."
The host is such a succubus, maybe she can be forgiven.
Xie Ling suspected that the system was being sarcastic, but he had no evidence. Seeing that the agreed time was approaching, tomorrow was His Majesty's birthday. He gritted his teeth and sneaked to the door of Qianyuan Hall before the palace gate was locked. However, as soon as he arrived outside the hall, Xie Ling was discovered.
"Mr. Xie?" The guard on duty bowed slightly after seeing Xie Ling.
"Mr. Xie, is there anything wrong?"
"His Majesty is inside."
It's time for a break, and His Majesty has just returned from Wannian Pavilion and is taking a bath.
Xie Ling smiled awkwardly.
"Well, nothing, I just want to see His Majesty about something, I don't know if it's convenient now."
After much thought, stealing clothes was not realistic, so Xie Ling decided to measure it with his naked eyes.
After all, it should be about the same as what can be seen with the naked eye, right?
But now we need to observe Emperor Wu more accurately.
The guard hesitated for a moment and said, "Sir Xie, wait a moment. I will go in and report."
After a while, the guard who had just spoken walked to the back hall and bowed his head through a door.
"Your Majesty, thank you for your audience, Master."
Wang Bao was not here today, and the eunuchs on duty were all new, so Xiao Huan asked them to wait outside. He paused slightly after hearing the words of the guards.
What are you doing here now?
The age issue this morning was still on his mind. Xiao Huan didn't really want to see Xie Ling, but what if this guy had something to do? Xie Ling had been much busier than usual these days, so it was definitely not just a simple greeting when he came to see him. After thinking for a moment, he raised his eyes slightly.
"Ask him in after an incense stick of time."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xiao Huan waited until the guards left before getting up from the bath. He always bathed and dressed himself, so he picked up the clothes on the hanger and walked out.
…
Xie Ling was just waiting when he saw the guard who had gone in come out. He nodded and said, "Master Xie, His Majesty asked you to wait a moment before going in."
Xie Ling: …
What are you doing? Why do you have to wait a little longer? Although he was a little confused, Xie Ling could only wait.
After a while, when the incense outside the hall had burned out, the guards stepped aside and let him pass.
"Thank you, Master, please go in."
"Thank you, young man." Xie Ling bowed and walked into the hall.
But this time when he entered, he did not see the eunuchs in the hall. The originally empty Qianyuan Hall was quiet, with only a few wisps of ambergris burning.
He walked in and only saw a back through the screen.
"His Majesty?"
Xie Ling pushed open the screen and was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect that His Majesty was... putting on clothes?
Looking at the man in bright yellow pajamas in front of him, his expression froze slightly, and his eyes quickly fell on His Majesty's abdominal muscles and then retracted.
"Your Majesty, forgive me, I didn't know you were changing clothes."
Xie Ling's words were faster than his brain for a moment. Before anything happened, he had already said the words of apology.
Xiao Huan: ...
Did I say anything?
"I know."
Just as Xie Ling was about to give his explanation, he suddenly heard the words of Emperor Wu and choked.
Ahem, Your Majesty knows.
So what should he do now?
Should I turn around and let His Majesty change first? After hesitating for a moment, Xie Ling blurted out.
"Then I'll turn around first?"
Xiao Huan: "No need."
He was just changing clothes, and he was still wearing his pants. There were so many shirtless men in the army, so there was nothing to be ashamed of.
But Xiao Huan didn't expect Xie Ling to be so demanding.
He said there was no need to avoid it, but this guy seemed to have received some permission. He glanced cautiously through the screen at first, and then began to look blatantly.
From the waist and back to...abdominal muscles.
Tsk, he learned these words from Xie Ling.
This guy's eyes were so sharp that it was hard for him not to notice it. However, since he had just said that there was no need to avoid it, Xiao Huan really couldn't regret it and could only let this guy watch as he buttoned his shirt.
Xie Ling felt a little regretful. What a good opportunity it was just now, but it was just a flash. If he had been given more time, he would definitely be able to measure the size of His Majesty with his eyes.
However, seeing that His Majesty had put on his clothes, he had to quickly look away and pretend that he had seen nothing.
Xiao Huan: You’re quite good at acting.
Weren’t you watching it very excitedly just now?
He raised an eyebrow, poured a cup of tea and sat on a chair.
"Why do you want to see me?"
Oh, I almost forgot about that.
Xie Ling had just been engrossed in watching His Majesty changing his clothes, and now he quickly found an excuse.
"Your Majesty, I just want to ask when you are free tomorrow?"
After all, tomorrow is His Majesty’s birthday, and the Ministry of Rites will definitely hold a grand celebration. I don’t know if he will be able to see His Majesty after class. When should the gift be delivered?
This was the excuse Xie Ling came up with when he was waiting outside the palace, and he just blurted it out now.
Xiao Huan frowned. He had waited for such a long time just to ask this? However, thinking that this guy didn't seem to know that I didn't plan to hold a big birthday party, Xiao Huan said calmly, "Everything is the same as usual."
He paused for a moment, afraid that he might misunderstand him if he didn't explain it clearly, and said, "You can come to see me in the evening."
Xie Ling: Ah?
How did His Majesty know that he was coming to see him? Was his intention to give him a gift so obvious?
Although he felt a little strange about what Emperor Wu said, Xie Ling still said, "Thank you, Your Majesty." He pursed his lips and took one last look at him, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Your Majesty, may I come a little closer to express my gratitude?"
Well, after looking at the shoulder-waist comparison, he also wanted to see the legs.
Xiao Huan was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect him to make this request. This guy...could it be that he hadn't seen enough just now?
Xie Ling looked at him obediently, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking at the moment. Xiao Huan looked at the top of his head, but unfortunately he saw nothing and could only drink a sip of tea.
"what ever."
Then he saw that Xie Ling really moved closer.
Their eyes met, and Xiao Huan looked at him suspiciously.
Xie Ling glanced at His Majesty's height and quickly lowered his eyes.
"Then your majesty, I will take my leave first?"
Xiao Huan: ...
He watched this guy come in with a headache, and watched this guy go out. After a while, the guards came to report.
"Your Majesty, Master Xie has left the palace again."
"He said he would be back in an hour."
Normally, people are not allowed to leave the palace at this time. However, Master Xie looked like he had something urgent to do, and since His Majesty hadn't given the order, the guards set a time to let him out.
Xiao Huan nodded: "Send someone to follow him and protect his safety."
"You don't need to tell me anything else."
Anyway, we will see each other tomorrow. Since Xie Ling is so mysterious, I am too lazy to break it. Xiao Huan spoke calmly and continued to deal with government affairs.
While sitting in the carriage, Xie Ling compared His Majesty's figure with his own in his mind and quickly converted the sizes.
The system was surprised to find that this guy actually figured it out.
What a talented person.
Xie Ling raised his eyebrows: "How is it, isn't it amazing?"
System: ...Who was it that was so timid in front of the Martial Emperor just now? Why is it that when it comes to it, the host is so arrogant and not humble at all.
The system turns a blind eye.
Xie Ling stuck his head out and looked outside. It was strange. Why did he feel as if someone was following him? But when he turned his head again, the feeling disappeared again.
Forget it, I'll just make pajamas first. Once I get the size, I'll be able to make it soon.
Lan Fangzhu waited for a long time, and then saw Master Xie went somewhere unknown, and came back after a while. Xie Ling's already beautiful face turned slightly red, and the look on his face was shaken.
"Thank you, sir. The things are still there."
Xie Ling glanced at the time and said, "Please wait for a while, Master."
Because the pattern was already made, Xie Ling was much faster this time. It took exactly one hour, no more, no less, to finish the nightgown according to the height of Emperor Wu.
When he was done he pulled up his clothes and compared them to himself in the mirror.
Not bad, not bad. Everything is perfect except that the two Q-version embroideries representing the deep affection between him and Emperor Wu are a little sloppy.
This style combines ancient and modern styles, so fashionable!
Xie Ling admired herself in the mirror for a long time before taking a box from Master Lan and putting the newly made pajamas in it.
"Thank you, Master Lan."
After successfully settling all the money owed for the past few days, Xie Ling returned to the palace before dark.
The Eagle Guard who followed Master Xie to protect him watched the other party enter the embroidery workshop and come out, wanting to say something but stopping himself, and looked at each other.
"Should I tell His Majesty about this?"
The eagle guard who was protecting Xie Ling hesitated, and Liang Chun glanced at him.
"Tell what?"
"Didn't His Majesty say that it was not necessary?"
Although His Majesty said it was not necessary, Master Xie did go to the embroidery workshop!
But maybe Mr. Xie went to buy clothes, Eagle Guard thought, swallowing the words in his mouth.
Xiao Huan said he didn't ask, and until the next day he seemed not to be curious about Xie Ling's gift. Wang Bao, who came back on duty, couldn't help but glance at His Majesty.
I just feel that your majesty's behavior... seems a little deliberate.
You have been so self-restrained from yesterday until now. It's really unlike Your Majesty who would make an exception when meeting Young Master Xie.
Eunuch Wang shook his head and looked outside. I don't know if it's because His Majesty reprimanded the Minister of Rites before, but today's birthday palace is quiet, except for the red silk on the trees outside, there is no sign that this is the emperor's birthday.
But the only good thing is that the weather is good today.
It has been cloudy these past few days, but today is a rare sunny day, which makes the Imperial Garden look much more beautiful.
Seeing His Majesty lowering his head to read again, Wang Bao paused and asked tentatively: "The weather is nice today, Your Majesty, do you want to go for a walk in the Imperial Garden?"
Xiao Huan glanced at him, knowing that the old servant was trying to guess his thoughts again, and said calmly, "No need."
Alas, it seems that His Majesty is determined to stick to it. Wang Bao smiled, lowered his head, waved his whisk, and stood by the table.
After being busy for a few days, Xie Ling finally had time to rest today. He went to the library to study after waking up naturally in the morning. Well, thanks to his good ability to do two things at the same time, he successfully memorized all the lessons that Zheng Daru randomly checked today.
Zheng Wanyun didn't know that this student had been so busy in recent days. Seeing Xie Ling move his wrist, he was a little surprised. He didn't have much homework recently because of the upcoming exams. Why did Xie Ling's hand hurt from writing?
After looking at Xie Ling's wrist, Zheng Daru thought for a moment.
"If you hold the pen incorrectly, your hand will still hurt when you write."
"The scientific examination lasts for three days. You will need to spend a lot of time writing after entering. You should practice more in the next few days."
The scientific examination environment is harsh. It is unknown how long it will take just to pick up a pen and write. Xiao Xie still needs to adapt in advance.
Xie Ling didn't know how he ended up here, and was slightly confused for a moment, but still nodded and said, "Teacher, don't worry, I will keep practicing these few days."
At this point, even if Xie Ling was a slacker, he had to cheer up. After all, he had studied and reviewed for so long. If he continued to slack off, he might have to take the next imperial examination.
We still have to try harder and try to get ashore.
Seeing that he was concerned, Zheng Wanyun nodded slightly.
Since there was nothing extra to do this time, Xie Ling continued to study hard until the evening when the class was over. Xie Ling originally wanted to have dinner with Zheng Daru, but was suddenly reminded by the system.
"Did you forget something?"
"What?" He was stunned for a moment and didn't react.
The system was very disappointed: "Today is Emperor Wu's birthday!"
Why is the host still dawdling here?
Xie Ling rolled his eyes speechlessly: "I haven't forgotten."
Of course he knew that today was Emperor Wu's birthday. He was not amnesiac. He spent so much time embroidering yesterday, how could he not remember it today?
system:……
"Then why are you still dawdling here?" Everything has been prepared, why don't you go and give the gift now?
Xie Ling shook his head: "What do you know?"
"Today is His Majesty's birthday, and there must be many people coming to see him. I don't know if I can see anyone if I go there now. Even if I do, the box won't stand out among all the birthday gifts."
"You'll have to wait. I'll go a little later and make my final appearance."
Being fooled by the host's few words, the system, which originally thought he was talking nonsense, was no longer sure.
is that so?
Then trust the host again?
Xiao Huan waited and waited, from morning to noon, and from noon to evening. The sun had already set outside the Imperial Garden. He put down his pen slightly, wanting to ask why Xie Ling hadn't come yet. But he didn't want to show that he was actually waiting for him, so he just glanced at Wang Bao indifferently.
Wang Bao: …
"I will go and ask now."
"Maybe Zheng Daru has missed some of his studies."
He turned slightly and walked out quickly.
Xiao Huan pressed his brows and then looked back at the memorial, but this time he couldn't calm down.
What is that guy doing? It’s been such a long time and he hasn’t finished this little homework yet?
His eyes fell on the handwriting on the memorial, and he felt that the memorial from the Ministry of Revenue was particularly unpleasant today. When did the handwriting of the Minister of Revenue become so ugly?
It really hurts my eyes.
Xiao Huan put down the memorial and closed his eyes. He inexplicably thought of Xie Ling again. This guy was so mysterious yesterday. No one knew what he was doing. If he was too extravagant... Emperor Wu, who always disliked extravagance, paused for a moment and thought of Xie Ling's private vault with a few melons and two dates. His eyebrows slightly sank.
Well, I will make an exception and give him some supplies. I can't let someone starve to death in my Qianyuan Palace.
His thoughts flashed through his mind, and at this moment he heard footsteps outside. Wang Bao, who had gone out to inquire, came back.
When Wang Bao thought about the answer he got after asking Qian Ming where Master Xie was, the corners of his mouth twitched.
My dear son, His Majesty has been waiting here for a long time. Why don’t you come back quickly after class and have dinner with Zheng Daru?
Thinking that Master Xie didn't know that His Majesty was waiting for him, Wang Bao asked someone to pass on the message immediately. Then he took a deep breath and walked in carefully.
"His Majesty?"
A slightly awkward voice sounded in his ears. Xiao Huan opened his eyes calmly, and as soon as he saw the old slave's expression he knew something was wrong.
"What's wrong?"
Didn’t you go to ask Xie Ling? Why do you look like this?
There were eyes everywhere in the palace, Wang Bao did not dare to lie, so he could only say: "It seems that Master Xie did not eat much for lunch today, and he was a little hungry after class, so he ate a few more bites at Zheng Daru's place, and then he was ready to come here immediately."
In other words, Mr. Xie was having a meal.
Xiao Huan paused and frowned: I'm waiting for him here, watching the sky getting dark, and he's actually having a meal?
Xiao Huan choked on his breath and almost laughed out of anger.
Wang Bao lowered his head slightly, and heard His Majesty say, "Prepare the meal for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When Xie Ling returned to the side hall to get a gift after dinner, he found that the atmosphere in the palace seemed a little wrong. Why did everyone look so nervous?
What happened?
"System, do you have any idea?"
System: "I stay with you every day, how can I have any clues?"
Really? Xie Ling scratched his head, feeling that everyone was acting strangely. After returning to the bedroom and taking a bath and changing clothes, Xie Ling dawdled for a while before seeing that there was no one around, and he took something out of his arms furtively.
The system is about to go numb: "What else do you want to do?"
Xie Ling: "I have serious business this time."
"I heard that the clothes that have just been made and presented to the emperor must be fumigated with incense. We don't have the conditions here, so I deliberately saved the magnolia incense in my bedroom."
"It's just right to smoke it now."
“Is it looking like the real deal?”
Watching Xie Ling holding incense and fumigating next to the clothes for a long time, the system wanted to say that this was not the way people fumigated incense. But seeing that the host had already started, it had to shut up the electronic sound again.
Forget it, don’t say anything. The host has his own reasons. As a qualified system, all you need to do is watch.
Sure enough, after Xie Ling finished burning incense in a mysterious manner, he finally took action and went to the main hall holding his precious pajamas.
Xie Ling didn't notice that when he left the bedroom, the guards outside breathed a sigh of relief silently.
He's gone. Master Xie has finally left. Eunuch Wang sent people to ask three times within the time it takes to stick of incense when Master Xie will leave. Now he has finally sent him away.
The eagle guard in the dark looked at Master Xie blankly, then looked at His Majesty's bedroom.
"Boss, what's going on?"
Liang Chun: ...
"How should I know?"
The two watched Xie Ling carry the box to the main hall.
It is clearly His Majesty who wants to see Young Master Xie, and it is also His Majesty who is not seeing anyone at the moment.
The eunuch outside smiled awkwardly and looked inside.
"Thank you, Mr. Xie, wait a moment. I'll go in and pass the message on."
Xie Ling nodded, not caring, and started chatting with the system while standing on the steps.
"See, I told you I should be late."
"Look, everyone is busy inside right now."
"I should come before His Majesty goes to bed. Once the things are delivered, His Majesty can put them on and go to bed directly."
"Shut up."
"Someone is coming." The system reminded him and he quickly turned off the computer, not wanting to be tortured by the host anymore.
Tsk, Xie Ling shook his head and looked ahead. The eunuch who had just gone in to pass on the message came out, accompanied by a very familiar person - Eunuch Wang Bao.
"Why did my father-in-law come out?" Xie Ling was still a little confused.
Wang Bao coughed lightly and said, "Master Xie, His Majesty is not in a good mood today. You must be careful when you go in."
Hmm? Not in a good mood? Xie Ling was smart enough to notice the reason. It was his birthday, so why was he in a bad mood? Did someone make His Majesty angry?
Because of Emperor Wu's workaholic nature, Xie Ling first thought of political affairs, and was a little cautious at this time. After thanking Eunuch Wang for his kindness, he walked in.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw Emperor Wu sitting on a chair eating. When he saw him coming, he glanced at him with a smile.
"How come you have time to see me today?"
Xie Ling: ...So weird.
Why are your words so sarcastic, Your Majesty?
He paused and said carefully, "Today is your majesty's birthday. I can forget anything else but this."
"I have come here to present something I made myself to congratulate Your Majesty on his birthday."
Xiao Huan: "What's the good news?"
Xie Ling: Ah?
How can he say this?
Your Majesty is in a bad mood, right?
His face was distorted, and when he was thinking about how to respond, the emperor at the top finally let him go.
Xiao Huan put down his chopsticks and looked at his hands.
"You made this yourself?"
Xie Ling nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, it is absolutely true, I did it all by myself."
During this period of time, Xiao Huan also knew that Xie Ling was preparing a birthday gift for him. Thinking of the wound on his finger that day, he vaguely guessed that this guy had done it himself, but when he heard him admit it himself, his heart was still paused, and the anger that had accumulated for a day strangely disappeared a little.
"Show it up."
He wanted to see what Xie Ling had prepared.
"Why."
Xie Ling blinked, the dimples on her cheeks were sweet, and she held the box in front of her obediently.
There were only two eunuchs left to serve him, and they were all five meters away. Xiao Huan calmly opened the sandalwood box, and after seeing what was inside, he was puzzled at first, and then his expression was stunned for a moment. He reached out to pick up the thin cloth and wanted to take a closer look at what it was. When he realized what it was, he felt like he was burned.
The next moment his expression changed and he quickly closed the box!
Xie Ling had never seen so many expressions appear on Emperor Wu at the same time, and he was a little confused at this moment.
No... Your Majesty, what's wrong? Why are you so exaggerated?
Isn't it just a set of pajamas? It's normal for good brothers to give pajamas to each other, right?
Xiao Huan took a deep breath, his heart beating fast.
If I am not mistaken, this thing is - pajamas.
His throat was extremely dry, and he felt a fire rising from the bottom of his heart. He looked at Xie Ling and said in a hoarse voice: "Do you know... what you are doing?"
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