A harsh remark fell from above: "You are so stupid, I don't know why she chose you."
Li Wan was probably too weak and couldn't concentrate. The emperor was still scolding her above her head, but she didn't hear a word. She stared at the emperor's shoes which were spotless and thought in a daze that the emperor's voice was quite nice, but unfortunately not a single word he said was pleasant to the ear.
The emperor looked down from above, solemnly gazing at this thing that was curled up into a ball and was silent and an eyesore no matter how he looked at it. In his pair of noble and beautiful phoenix eyes there was not only cold disgust but also a hint of doubt.
Why hasn't he heard the crying yet?
Cao Yu, who was standing behind the emperor, also felt a little strange and couldn't help but secretly look at Li Wan who was buried underneath.
Normally at this time, she would start sobbing when the emperor said something to her. Why was she so silent today when he scolded her so harshly?
I waited for a long time but there was no movement.
The emperor lost his patience, and said "Kneel down" and walked away.
Cao Yu hurriedly followed and winked at the young eunuch standing in the other corner, asking him to keep an eye on Li Wan.
Qin Lin, who was standing on the other side of the palace gate, also quickened his pace and followed. When he passed by Li Wan who was kneeling on the ground, he just glanced at her lightly and then looked away.
The young eunuch came over and stood by, staring at Li Wan. Those who were chosen to serve the emperor, no matter if they were palace maids or eunuchs, all had very distinctive looks. This young eunuch was also the same. He looked to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, with regular features, thick eyebrows and big eyes.
Li Wan knelt on the ground, slowly raised his head, looked at him for a few times, and suddenly asked: "Where is the emperor going?"
The young eunuch was stunned for a moment, a little surprised, and then he said vigilantly: "I don't know either."
Eunuch Cao explained that this young lady was not on the same page as Gan Dongdian.
They have to be on guard.
The nervousness and vigilance of the young eunuch were evident on her face, and Li Wan could also see that her status in the Gandong Palace was awkward. From Cao Yu's attitude towards her, it could be judged that the emperor was keeping her in the Gandong Palace just as a delaying tactic, and there was absolutely no way he would let her be his concubine.
But if you really want to touch her, you absolutely cannot do that.
Li Wan knelt for a while, calmed herself down, and carefully sorted out the messy thoughts in her mind. After kneeling for less than half a quarter of an hour, she suddenly got up from the ground, brushed the dust off her knees, and stood up.
The eunuch who was in charge of watching her stared at her in amazement and asked in disbelief: "Miss Wan, why did you get up?!"
Li Wan looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
The young eunuch looked at Li Wan in surprise: "The emperor told you to kneel, why did you stand up by yourself?"
Li Wan smiled calmly: "The emperor asked me to kneel, but he didn't say how long I should kneel. I am weak, and if I fall ill again, the emperor will have trouble explaining to the empress dowager. I am also thinking about the emperor."
She knew that the emperor didn't dare to do anything to her. After all, the empress dowager was behind her. If she did anything, she would completely break off relations with the empress dowager, and the time was not right yet.
The young eunuch stared at her with his mouth open, not knowing how to refute for a moment, and could only mutter: "This is against the rules..."
Li Wan smiled and consoled him, "It's okay, I'll just stand for a while, and then I'll kneel down again."
The little eunuch became even more panicked!
He looked bitter: "Miss Wan, this won't do... Miss Wan, please don't embarrass me..."
Everyone serving in the Gandong Palace knew that the young lady sent by the Empress Dowager was a pitiful, fragile and delicate beauty, who was incapable of anything and just shed tears all day long.
When a beautiful woman sheds tears, it is naturally like pear blossoms in the rain, which is very pitiful.
But if a beautiful woman cries all day long, she will not be beautiful anymore.
Miss Wan is such a beautiful girl who cries all day long.
Her eyes are always red and her face always has a pitiful expression.
But today, why is Miss Wan different?
The emperor asked her to kneel, but she dared to stand up!
Is this a disease or confusion?!
Li Wan was idle anyway, and seeing the young eunuch's flustered face, he simply started chatting with him: "What's your name?"
The young eunuch looked at her blankly.
Li Wan repeated, "What's your name?"
The young eunuch said, "My name is Xiao Qianzi."
Li Wan laughed: "Little pliers?"
Xiao Qianzi didn't know what was so funny and looked at her in confusion.
Li Wan then asked, "How many years have you been working here?"
Xiao Qianzi said: "...three years."
Li Wan asked: "How old are you this year?"
Xiao Qianzi gave up struggling completely and said with a bitter face: "I am fifteen."
Li Wan said: "You are so young, when can you enter the palace?"
Xiao Qianzi said: "I entered the palace when I was nine years old."
Li Wan nodded and was about to say something.
Xiao Qianzi in front of her suddenly stared at her back as if he had seen a ghost, his face pale, and then he suddenly knelt on the ground, saying tremblingly: "Your Majesty..."
Li Wan's scalp went numb and her back stiffened. She turned around slowly and saw that the emperor who had just left had somehow returned with a group of people and was standing behind her. He was the master of the world, so he naturally stood in the front. He was tall and had a handsome face, but at this moment his expression was expressionless, and his pair of phoenix eyes fell coldly on her face, scraping her face inch by inch.
Being caught in the act, Li Wan calmly and steadily half-knelt down and saluted: "May the emperor be well and safe."
Cao Yu stared at Li Wan with his eyes wide open, he couldn't believe that this woman was so bold!
Everyone behind the emperor was silent as a mouse, their mouths tightly shut and they dared not make a single sound.
Prince Yu, who was only fourteen years old and came with the emperor, didn't know the whole story so he just looked at Li Wan with curiosity.
It turned out that this was the person the Empress Dowager sent to the Emperor.
She is indeed a graceful, beautiful and charming beauty.
However, isn't it said that this beauty is a delicate and weak beauty? How come, apart from her slender figure and pale face, her demeanor doesn't show any trace of being delicate and weak?
The emperor's icy eyes scraped up and down Li Wan's face several times, and finally sneered: "Li Wan, you are so brave."
The hint of anger in the sneer was frightening.
Li Wan did not move, but the palace servants following the emperor knelt down one after another, each with their heads buried.
Xiao Qianzi, who was kneeling beside Li Wan, was trembling all over.
Li Wan was still squatting steadily, neither standing up nor kneeling, her voice was soft and gentle: "I dare not."
The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly: "You don't dare? I asked you to kneel, who told you to stand up?"
Li Wan said: "The emperor asked me to kneel, but he didn't tell me when to get up. When I saw that the emperor had left, I got up on my own."
Her tone was soft and every word was clear.
After the words fell, there was deathly silence.
Cao Yu, who was kneeling on the ground, looked up at Li Wan in horror, and saw Li Wan squatting steadily with her eyes lowered, and her beautiful face, like a lotus in clear water, was as calm as an ancient well.
The emperor stared at Li Wan with his cold phoenix eyes, his eyes were filled with disbelief, incredulity, and suspicion. Could it be that this woman was sick and confused? !
"Kneel down."
Li Wan knelt down obediently.
The emperor said coldly: "I didn't ask you to stand up, but you just knelt there."
Li Wan lowered her eyes: "I obey your command."
The emperor glanced at her coldly, walked past her and went straight into the palace.
When passing by Li Wan, the fourteen-year-old Prince Yu couldn't help but look at her twice more out of curiosity, then followed her into the palace.
Cao Yu glared at her fiercely and stepped in.
Qin Lin walked to the other side of the palace door and stood upright.
The remaining palace servants stood up tremblingly and retreated.
Xiao Qianzi managed to save his life and returned to his duty station with weak legs.
Li Wan knelt on the ground, his expression seemingly calm, but there was a hint of despair in his heart.
The system task is to conquer the emperor.
Her current identity is a thorn planted by the enemy camp under the nose of the little emperor. The little emperor is full of disgust for her. It is not easy for her to survive with such an embarrassing identity, and she even has to conquer the little emperor. This is too difficult.
The key is that she has to save her own life first.
Because within less than a year, the empress dowager's party failed in their rebellion and the emperor massacred her entire family.
Li Wan's family was also among them.
Li Wan knelt down, concentrating on thinking about a way out.
Inside the palace.
Prince Yu glanced outside the palace curiously, then said to the emperor who had walked behind the desk, "Brother, the outside world has spread rumors that this young lady is a tearful beauty made of water, but today I see that she doesn't look like the rumor at all?"
Prince Yu is only fourteen years old this year and is much shorter than the emperor. Although they are not born of the same mother, their relationship is like that of real brothers.
The emperor ascended the throne at a young age and was mature beyond compare. Although he was only seventeen years old, he already had supreme majesty, and his every move was filled with the dignity of an emperor.
Prince Yu still looks like a naive young boy.
The emperor frowned slightly, and a trace of disgust flashed in his phoenix eyes: "Who knows what tricks he is going to use next."
Prince Yu said with a smile: "Brother, I just saw that this young lady is really a beauty. Aren't you tempted?"
The emperor raised his eyelids and glanced at him: "If you like, why don't I grant her to you as my concubine?"
Prince Yu immediately waved his hands repeatedly: "Brother, I am still young and cannot afford it."
The palace maids served tea.
Prince Yu took a sip and asked, "Brother, do you plan to keep her like this?"
A cold light flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he said calmly: "You can't kill him now, you can only keep him for the time being."
Almost half an hour had passed since Prince Yu finished his discussion with the Emperor.
The two of them walked out of the hall together.
As soon as the two walked out of the hall, they saw Li Wan still kneeling. The two people, one in front and one behind, stopped at the same time and their eyes fell on the suspicious people kneeling by the door of the hall.
If other palace maids were punished to kneel, they would straighten their backs and would not lose their manners no matter what. But she was different. After all, she was a lady from a noble family, but she didn't care about her manners at all. She supported herself on the ground with her hands, buried her head, and arched her back, just to make it easier for her knees.
Prince Yu vaguely saw the veins on his brother's forehead twitching.
The emperor asked coldly: "Why are you kneeling?" As he spoke, he raised his foot as if to kick her.
Li Wan knelt for so long that her knees felt numb and painful. She finally waited for the emperor to come out. Seeing the emperor's foot kicking towards her shoulder, she gritted her teeth and made up her mind. In full view of everyone, she rushed over and hugged the emperor's legs, shouting, "Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please forgive me, my lord."
The emperor was caught off guard by Li Wan's legs. He staggered and subconsciously held onto the palace door to avoid falling. His whole body froze, his pupils constricted, and he stared at Li Wan in disbelief. His voice was filled with shock, anger, and a rare hint of panic: "What are you doing! Let go!"
Prince Yu, who was standing nearby, blinked and was stunned by the scene.
Looking at Li Wan who was clinging to the emperor's thigh tightly, he was stunned. He had no manners at all.
He didn't see any pitiful and fragile look at all.
The palace servants were all stunned.
Cao Yu opened his eyes wide and his jaw almost dropped to the ground.
This Li Wan! Is she really sick and crazy?
Li Wan hugged the emperor's thigh and said, "Your Majesty, if you forgive me, I will let you go."
The emperor was furious: "How dare you threaten me?!"
Li Wan raised her head, her pair of bright black eyes staring at the emperor's angry eyes: "I dare not."
The emperor was stared at by Li Wan, and for no apparent reason, he felt as if something had stung his heart. He said angrily, "I think you are sick and confused!" After he finished speaking, he swept his phoenix eyes towards the palace servants standing there in a daze, and shouted angrily, "Are you all dead? Come here and drag her away!"
The palace servants woke up as if from a dream and hurried forward to capture Li Wan.
Li Wan suddenly let go of the emperor's thigh, stepped back, and knelt down properly again.
The palace servants were at a loss for a moment.
Even the emperor was a little caught off guard. He stared at Li Wan, his handsome face with an unpredictable expression and his eyes were gloomy.
Kill, you can’t kill.
If she gets beaten, I don’t think she can withstand more than a few blows with her small body.
I don't know why she suddenly went crazy.
The emperor seemed helpless about what to do with Li Wan for a moment, and his face looked increasingly darker.
"Royal brother..." Prince Yu was about to say something.
At this moment, Li Wan, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly tilted his body and fainted.
There was another commotion in front of the palace gate.
…
When Li Wan opened her eyes again, she was back to the place where she woke up.
"Miss Wan, you're finally awake! I was so scared!" Cuizhu, the round-faced palace maid who was in charge of taking care of her, saw that Li Wan had woken up, and hurried over to help Li Wan up from the bed, and poured tea for her to drink.
Li Wan leaned weakly against the head of the bed and asked, "What happened?"
Cuizhu said, "It is said that you fainted while on duty. The imperial physician came to treat you just now and said that you are still ill and very weak. You need to rest for a while."
As he was speaking, a voice came from outside the door: "Cuizhu, is Miss Wan awake?"
Cuizhu looked at Li Wan.
Li Wan nodded, and Cuizhu got up and walked to the door. The person outside the door was Xiao Qianzi: "The girl is awake, what's the matter?"
Xiao Qianzi said, "Sister Cuizhu, I have the emperor's order and want to see Miss Wan."
Cuizhu said, "Come in."
”
Xiao Qianzi bowed and entered the room, and called out politely, "Miss Wan." Then he said, "Miss Wan, the emperor has ordered that Miss Wan is still ill and needs to rest, so he has granted Miss Wan ten days off from duty to rest and recuperate." He paused, then continued, "You are not allowed to go out unless summoned."
Li Wan understood that this was openly allowing her to recuperate, but secretly putting her in solitary confinement.
She smiled slightly and said, "I obey your order."
Xiao Qianzi said, "Miss, please rest and recover. I will take my leave now."
Li Wan nodded.
As soon as Xiao Qianzi left, Li Wan fell into deep thought.
She did it on purpose. First, she didn't want to be kicked by the emperor, and she really couldn't kneel any further. If she knelt any further, her knees would be broken. Second, she also wanted to test where the emperor's bottom line was.
Now it seems that he only put him in solitary confinement for ten days, and even used the name of recuperation because he was considering the Queen Mother.
She was not really dizzy at that time, she was pretending to be dizzy in order to give the emperor a way out.
But later I really fainted.
Her current physical condition is too weak. She is the eldest daughter of the family and has been pampered since childhood. She never thought that she would be sent to the palace to be a "slave".
However, her status was different from that of ordinary palace servants. She had a special small courtyard where she lived alone, and there were palace maids who took care of her.
During these ten days, she can plan her next steps carefully.
During these ten days, someone reported to Cao Yu what Li Wan did every day, and Cao Yu reported to the emperor.
First day.
Li Wan slept all day.
the next day.
Li Wan slept for another day.
Day 3.
Li Wan still slept for a whole day.
Day 4.
Li Wan felt better now and was playing Go with Cuizhu in the yard.
The emperor frowned: "Gobang? What kind of chess is that?"
Cao Yu couldn't say it.
Day 5.
Li Wan slept for another day.
Emperor: "Is she the reincarnation of a pig?"
Cao Yu: “…”
Day 6.
The Queen Mother summoned.
Li Wan finally walked out of the small courtyard, but she didn't feel relieved at all. Her aunt, the Empress Dowager, was not a good person.
When the late emperor passed away, the current empress dowager was only 22 years old. She had been in the palace for six years but had never been pregnant. However, because she and the late queen were like close friends when she was alive, her position was promoted quickly.
It has been eleven years since the new emperor ascended the throne. The thirty-three-year-old Empress Dowager was lying on the chaise longue with her eyes closed. She was wearing a light yellow palace skirt, which made her look even younger and more delicate, like a woman in her twenties. At this time, one palace maid was rubbing her shoulders, and another was massaging her legs. The footsteps of the palace maids were silent as they walked, so silent that it was a bit scary.
Just then, Nanny Yu, who was beside the Queen Mother, brought Li Wan in.
Nanny Yu walked over lightly, bowed beside the Queen Mother and said softly, "Queen Mother, the evening girl is here."
The empress dowager lazily opened her eyelids, and her pair of squinting eyes lightly fell on Li Wan.
Li Wan only took a quick look when she entered the room, then lowered her eyes, walked forward, and bowed politely: "Greetings to the Queen Mother."
The empress dowager slowly raised her hand, and with a flick of her fingers, the palace maids who were massaging her shoulders and legs retreated. Nanny Yu stepped forward and helped the empress dowager sit up from the chaise longue.
The Queen Mother stared at Li Wan, who was standing properly, and smiled softly, saying, "Why are you so distant with your aunt? Come closer and let your aunt take a good look."
Li Wan walked closer as instructed, still keeping her eyes downcast.
The Queen Mother looked Li Wan up and down, and suddenly grabbed Li Wan's hand with a pair of soft and boneless hands, sighing, "Wan'er has lost weight again. I heard that you were sick, and I have been worried about you. I thought you should be better these days, so I sent someone to summon you. Good child, it is your aunt who has wronged you."
Li Wan was grabbed by the empress dowager's soft hands that seemed to have no bones. The hairs on her back stood up for some reason. She bit her lip, shook her head, and said obediently, "Aunt, don't say that. It's Wan'er who failed to please the emperor. Wan'er is sorry for your cultivation of her. Aunt, please let Wan'er go home..." As she spoke, tears appeared in her eyes.
There was a hint of impatience in the Queen Mother's eyes, but she still had a gentle smile on her face. She gently stroked the back of Li Wan's hand and said softly, "How could that be? How long have you been with the Emperor? It's not easy to capture a man's heart. You need to be patient and don't mention going home. You just need to stay with the Emperor... and tell your aunt, what has the Emperor done recently?"
Li Wan only talked about some unimportant things.
Not getting any useful information, the empress dowager's face darkened. She stared at Li Wan for a long time and said, "Well, since you look so pale, your aunt won't keep you here. Go back and rest early." After saying that, she leaned back on the chaise longue.
Nanny Yu came over with a smile and said, "Miss Wan, I will take you out."
Li Wan said softly, "Thank you, Madam."
Nanny Yu escorted Li Wan out of Xiwu Palace. Along the way, she told her a lot of things, and Li Wan nodded in agreement.
Coming out of Xiwu Palace, Cuizhu came to meet him.
Li Wan smiled at her, and the two of them slowly walked towards the direction of Gan Zhenggong.
Only after walking for a long distance could Li Wan breathe a sigh of relief.
Cuizhu looked at her nervously: "Miss Wan, what's wrong?"
Li Wan smiled and said, "Nothing." She looked up at the birds flying in the sky above her head. She had never felt how precious freedom was.
…
At this time, in Gandong Palace.
Cao Yu got the news and went into the palace to report: "Your Majesty, Miss Wan has returned from the Empress Dowager."
The emperor didn't even raise his eyelids and asked calmly, "What did she say to the Queen Mother about me?"
Cao Yu said: "She said she cried and begged the Queen Mother to let her go home. She only talked about daily trivial matters. There was nothing else."
The emperor snorted with an ambiguous tone and continued to review the memorials.
…
Li Wan had been locked up in the yard for six days. It was a rare opportunity for her to come out, so she was not in a hurry to go back. On the way here, her mind was full of how to deal with the empress dowager, and she didn't pay attention to the surrounding scenery. It was a good opportunity to take a closer look on the way back.
"Help! Help! The King of Qi has fallen into the water!"
Suddenly, several rapid and sharp cries for help were heard.
Li Wan was startled and subconsciously ran towards the sound of help.
I saw several eunuchs and palace maids on the arch bridge over the artificial lake frantically calling for help.
But no one went into the water, and under the bridge there was a young man in red struggling in the water.
Cuizhu screamed, "It's the King of Qi!"
Li Wan looked around. Perhaps because this place was remote, although the palace servants shouted loudly, no one came for a while. Seeing the young man sinking under the bridge, Li Wan didn't care about anything else and shouted to the panicked Cuizhu, "Go find a long stick!" After that, he stepped over the bridge railing in Cuizhu's horrified eyes and jumped down.
"Miss Wan!" Cuizhu screamed and looked down, only to see Li Wan waving her arms and swimming towards the King of Qi after she fell into the water! She immediately remembered what Li Wan had said and hurried down the bridge to find a stick.
Li Wan was stabbed by the cold lake water and shivered all over. She immediately swam towards the direction of King Qi. King Qi had already sunk. She took a deep breath and dived underwater. She soon found King Qi in red. She kicked her legs and swam over. She held up King Qi's arm from behind and used her legs and free hand to bring King Qi to the surface of the water.
As soon as he came into contact with the air, the King of Qi began to gasp violently, coughing non-stop because of being choked, and his hands began to grasp subconsciously. Li Wan carefully avoided the King of Qi's waving hands, and was accidentally hit in the face by the King of Qi's flailing arms. The force was so great that she suddenly felt a black screen in front of her eyes and a sharp pain in her eyeballs. She gritted her teeth and endured the pain, hooked the King of Qi's neck from behind, and paddled desperately to swim to the shore -
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