Cao Yu looked at the emperor with a little surprise.
The emperor was mature beyond his years, from the day he ascended the throne, he became more and more profound day by day, forcing himself to grow up at a rapid pace. He was much more stable and mature than his peers, but at this moment, he suddenly showed some of the vitality that should be expected at his age.
The emperor had an uncontrollable smile on his lips. He touched the soft little thing curled up in his hand, then raised his eyes to look at Li Wan who was staring at the rabbit in his hand, and was about to show mercy and ask her to touch it.
But Yuan Rong said happily: "Sister Wan, you touch this one!"
It turned out that the Prince of Qi was not angry at all when he saw the rabbit was snatched away by the Emperor. He never got angry with his royal brother. But when he saw that Li Wan had no rabbit to touch again, he went back and took one out of the nest.
Li Wan pursed her lips and smiled, then touched the rabbit in King Qi's hand.
The emperor looked at Li Wan and Prince Qi touching the rabbit together. The corners of his mouth that had been raised fell again. He felt a little unhappy and handed the rabbit to Cao Yu behind him.
"Your Majesty..." Cao Yu held the rabbit in both hands, feeling very confused and at a loss.
The emperor said, "I still have memorials to review, please go back."
The King of Qi had a smile on his face, but when he heard the Emperor say he was going back, his smile suddenly fell and he begged, "Brother, please go back to the palace first and let Sister Wan play with me for a while."
The emperor asked mercilessly: "Have you studied today?"
When the King of Qi heard the emperor mention reading, his head hurt. All his energy and spirit just now disappeared, and he became listless: "No..."
The emperor asked, "Why don't you go back to study?"
The King of Qi looked at Li Wan pitifully, handed the little rabbit to the palace maid next to him, tugged at Li Wan's sleeve, looked at her eagerly and said, "Sister Wan, come and play with me again tomorrow."
Li Wan smiled gently and said, "Okay."
…
The King of Qi reluctantly sent them out of Rongjing Palace.
"Did I say I would bring you here tomorrow?" The emperor glanced at Li Wan and said, "You are good at making your own decisions."
Cao Yu nodded in his heart, that’s right!
Do you really think you are the master?!
Li Wan lowered her eyebrows and said: "I just thought that you would not want to disappoint His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi."
"So, you are still thinking about me?"
The emperor didn't know where his anger came from, but he just felt a suffocating feeling in his chest. He was uncomfortable and didn't want to make others feel better.
But this other person only refers to Li Wan.
Everyone knew that what he said was not a good thing, and the other servants would probably kneel down in fear.
She actually replied, "It is the servants' duty to consider their masters."
The emperor suddenly stopped and turned to stare at her. Li Wan didn't notice that the emperor had stopped. She lowered her head and stared at the road, and bumped into the emperor's chest.
She stepped back unsteadily, and seeing that she was about to fall, the emperor subconsciously reached out his hand, put his arm around her waist and pulled her back.
The woman's waist under my palm was slender and soft, and I could feel it through the fabric.
Her hands were pressed against his chest in panic.
Li Wan looked up in surprise.
The emperor just happened to look down at her, and met Li Wan's dark and moist eyes which were somewhat panicked, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The palace maids and eunuchs present immediately held their breath and lowered their heads.
Qin Lin also lowered his head expressionlessly.
Cao Yu was so shocked that he was stunned, but he immediately scolded: "Li Wan! You are so brave! How dare you offend the master!"
Cao Yu's shout did not scare Li Wan, but it did startle the emperor. He quickly retracted his hand as if it was burned, and pushed the person away. He also leaned to the side uncomfortably and said, "You are so reckless and have no manners at all." After that, he did not say that he would punish her, but just strode forward.
Cao Yu glared at Li Wan before following.
The palace maids also hurriedly followed.
…
That night.
Cao Yu listened to the night watchman's voice, bowed and walked into the study, and said, "Master, it's the second watch, it's time to go to bed."
The emperor behind the desk hummed lightly, frowned somewhat uncomfortably, leaned back on the chair with his head tilted back and closed his eyes to rest.
Cao Yu hurriedly walked up, stood behind the emperor, and massaged his head.
After massaging for a while, Cao Yu said softly, "Master, I feel that Miss Wan is becoming more and more bold now."
When the emperor heard Li Wan's name, his relaxed brows furrowed again: "Hmm?"
Cao Yu said angrily, "Master, don't you think Miss Wan has been particularly strange recently? She became friends with His Royal Highness the Prince of Qi just to please the master, and today she went too far, actually daring to seduce the master in public."
When the emperor heard this, his expression suddenly became strange:
"You said she was on good terms with the King of Qi in order to please me?"
Cao Yu couldn't see the emperor's expression, but when he heard the emperor's question, he immediately became alert: "Isn't it? Master, haven't you noticed that she has been trying to please you? Look at the way she smiles, she is clearly trying to seduce you!"
The emperor's expression became increasingly strange and stiff.
When she smiled at him, was she seducing him?
Suddenly, the image of Li Wan smiling at him these days appeared in his mind. Yes, she often smiled at him recently...
Today, when he was holding the rabbit, he looked at him with such eager eyes...
But she clearly said that she wanted him to let her leave the palace after the matter was accomplished.
Cao Yu said, "Master, you must not be fooled by her. She belongs to the Queen Mother."
When Li Wan talked to him that day, he sent Cao Yu away, so Cao Yu did not hear Li Wan's words of surrender.
The emperor naturally had other plans in mind.
…
The next day.
It was daybreak.
Cuizhu walked quickly into Li Wan's bedroom.
She walked to Li Wan's bedside and gently pushed Li Wan, who was sleeping soundly in the quilt, and even her voice was full of joy: "Miss Wan, wake up, don't sleep anymore, the emperor is calling you to serve him!"
Li Wan was woken up in a daze, and Cuizhu helped her wash and comb her hair. After washing her face, she sobered up a little: "Why did you suddenly ask me to come over and serve you?"
Cuizhu said, "I don't know either. It was Xiao Qianzi who called me." Cuizhu said, and took out a hairpin from Li Wan's jewelry box and inserted it into Li Wan's bun, and said hurriedly, "Okay, young lady, you can go quickly. They are waiting in the East Palace."
Li Wan looked in the mirror and felt that she looked very pale. As soon as she went out, the early morning chill hit her in the face. She shivered. The sky was still dark and the light was not very clear. Li Wan converted the time and found that it was only five o'clock at most. Usually, she could sleep until about half past seven, but today she got up more than two hours early.
Xiao Qianzi was standing in the yard waiting. When he saw Li Wan, he bowed, greeted her, and led Li Wan out.
Li Wan asked him again: "Xiao Qianzi, why did the emperor suddenly ask me to serve him?"
Xiao Qianzi hurriedly said, "I don't know either. It was Eunuch Cao who ordered it." He added, "Young lady, it's a good thing to be able to serve the emperor up close..."
When Li Wan saw Qin Lin standing at the palace gate like a statue as always, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him: "Guard Qin, good morning."
Qin Lin just nodded at her coldly.
Li Wan was used to Qin Lin's coldness and stepped into the hall.
It was still dark outside, but the lights were on in the bedroom. The palace servants who came in and out were all very quiet, their footsteps making no sound on the carpets.
The emperor had already tied his crown and was standing there in his white inner garment. Cao Yu took the outer robe from the young eunuch and was about to put it on the emperor when Li Wan walked in.
Xiao Qianzi whispered, "Your Majesty, Miss Wan is here."
Li Wan lowered his head and walked forward: "Master."
The emperor glanced at her with his phoenix eyes and raised his chin slightly towards Cao Yu.
Cao Yu turned to Li Wan unhappily and said reluctantly, "Come here."
He has been serving the emperor since he was a child, and in all these years, he has never passed through the hands of another person.
Today the emperor actually asked Li Wan to come and serve him. Cao Yu felt very upset.
Cao Yu raised his chin towards Li Wan, motioning her to get her outer robe.
Li Wan took the outer robe from the palace maid and walked behind the emperor: "Master, I will change your clothes for you."
The emperor hummed lightly.
After Li Wan entered the palace, she was specially trained in these servant duties, so she was not awkward in doing them. She helped the emperor put on his outer robe, straightened the back collar, then walked in front of the emperor and folded the loose front. She lowered her eyes, her gaze fixed on the movements of her hands, and she was very natural.
In contrast, the people being served do not seem to have it so easy.
This was the first time that the emperor asked someone other than Cao Yu to help him change clothes. His long, thick eyelashes fell down, and his phoenix eyes drooped slightly, falling on Li Wan's face. She lowered her head and dressed him in a very proper manner.
The palace maid came over holding the belt.
Li Wan took it, then stood closer, stretched out his arm and put the belt around the emperor's lower back.
Although Cao Yu was half a head shorter than the emperor, he had long arms and legs, and he was used to doing it, so it was very easy for him to tie the emperor's belt without even touching the corner of his clothes.
But Li Wan was different. Her arms were not as long as Cao Yu's, and her movements were not as skillful as Cao Yu's. She had to get as close as possible. When she stretched her hands from the emperor's waist to grab his belt, her face was almost touching the emperor's chest.
The emperor was inexplicably nervous and his whole body stiffened. He held his breath and raised his chin unconsciously. The line of his neck was stretched straight at the collar, his prominent Adam's apple rolled back and forth, and his fingers in his wide sleeves were curled up.
The words Cao Yu said to him last night suddenly came to his mind.
This person...could he have done this on purpose?
Obviously, when Cao Yu helped him change clothes in the past, she was not as close as this...
Did she really...really want to seduce him?
The emperor's heart began to beat rapidly for no apparent reason.
Cao Yu watched from the side with his brows tightly furrowed. Look at this Li Wan, she doesn't look like a servant at all. Look how ugly the emperor's face is, he holds his head so high, he doesn't even want to look at her, his whole body reveals disgust.
Li Wan tied the belt for the emperor. The process seemed long, but it only took a short while. She tied the belt and then the jade pendant.
The young emperor wore a golden crown and a dragon robe. His handsome face showed an undisguised sharpness and his phoenix eyes were cold and deep, which made him look indescribably noble.
After changing his clothes and having breakfast, the emperor would go to court.
Li Wan waited for the emperor to go to court, and she went back to catch up on her sleep. Unexpectedly, the emperor glanced at her and said, "Follow me."
Li Wan was suddenly speechless with grievances, and followed the emperor to court with a depressed look.
Knives seemed to be flying out of Cao Yu's eyes, but she didn't even see it.
…..
At first, Li Wan tried hard to listen to what the ministers said, but later, she could only barely hold up her eyelids and force herself to be alert. She could not hear a word of what the ministers said or what the emperor on the dragon throne said. There was only a buzzing sound. Li Wan was too sleepy. The time for the morning court was not fixed. If there was nothing to do, it would be over in half an hour. But if there was a controversial topic, like today, the two groups of ministers expressed their opinions and argued endlessly, and it would take at least an hour or two. Li Wan forced herself to hold on for half an hour, yawning one after another. Fortunately, her position was not bad. She was in a corner and happened to be standing behind the pillars of the hall. The ministers in the hall could not see her, and no one would pay attention to her. Li Wan gradually relaxed, and her eyelids became heavier and heavier...
The emperor, sitting high above on the dragon throne, listened to the ministers arguing below. He seemed to look to the lower right inadvertently, and suddenly the corner of his mouth twitched.
Li Wan was seen huddled behind a pillar, his forehead resting against it, his eyes closed peacefully, and he looked like he was actually asleep.
The emperor called out, "Cao Yu."
Cao Yu bowed and stepped forward: "Master."
The emperor said, "Wake her up and let her go back to sleep. Don't embarrass herself here."
Cao Yu was stunned, turned his head and was immediately shocked, then bowed and retreated.
He walked to the pillar and pushed Li Wan.
Li Wan woke up suddenly. She was as frightened as if she had been sleeping in class and was called by the teacher. She looked at Cao Yu in shock.
Cao Yu lowered his voice and said gloomily: "You are so bold that you dare to fall asleep in the court."
Li Wan subconsciously looked at the person on the dragon throne.
The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, looking straight ahead.
Li Wan stood up straight and said helplessly: "I slept for less than three hours last night."
Cao Yu said, "Okay, Master, please be merciful. Let's go back quickly."
Li Wan was stunned: "Can I leave now?"
Cao Yu gave her a look and walked forward again, bending over.
Li Wan looked at the emperor on the dragon throne and quietly walked away from behind.
He returned to his own courtyard, got on the bed without taking off his clothes, and fell asleep as soon as he touched the pillow.
…
The morning court session lasted until noon.
Many of the ministers did not have breakfast. As soon as the court was over, they ignored everything else and rushed out of the palace to have lunch.
The emperor returned to the Gandong Palace after court. After lunch, he did not see Li Wan. He rinsed his mouth, pretended to glance outside the palace door casually, and asked in a casual tone: "Where is Li Wan?"
"Cuizhu said she was not feeling well and was still lying down." Cao Yu said, "From my perspective, she clearly wanted to be lazy."
The emperor stood up and walked out: "I have eaten too much, I will go out for a walk."
After walking around outside, the emperor said, "Let's go to Li Wan and see if she is really being lazy."
Cao Yu was delighted and immediately said, "I will lead the way for you, my master!"
Cuizhu, who was sitting in the courtyard embroidering, was so shocked when she saw the emperor that she immediately fell to her knees and said, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you!"
The emperor glanced around the courtyard, frowned at how shabby it looked, and asked, "Where is your master?"
Cuizhu, who was kneeling on the ground, trembled: "Master, the master is not feeling well and is still resting inside. I will go to wake the master up now..." As she spoke, she stood up and was about to go inside to call someone.
"No need." The emperor interrupted her and walked straight into the house: "I'll go in and take a look."
Cao Yu followed subconsciously, but was frozen in place by a look from the emperor.
In the emperor's eyes, the courtyard outside was shabby and the room was not much better. He didn't even know that there was such a shabby place in the palace.
He went straight into the inner room and saw a bulge on the bed.
When the emperor walked over, he saw Li Wan, who was wrapped tightly and sleeping soundly.
Her face was rosy, her breathing was even, her brows were relaxed, and the corners of her mouth were even slightly upturned.
He doesn't look like he's feeling unwell at all. He's clearly just being lazy and sleeping in here.
The emperor looked down at her, and as he looked, he poked her face with his hand for some unknown reason, then quickly took his hand back.
Li Wan didn't respond.
The emperor couldn't help but poke it again because of the elastic and delicate touch of his fingertips.
Li Wan frowned and said vaguely: "Cuizhu, don't bother me."
The girl's voice was soft and tender, with a hint of sleepiness.
The emperor was stunned.
stamp--
"Cuizhu!" Li Wan opened her eyes angrily, and met a pair of phoenix eyes looking down at her condescendingly. She was suddenly stunned: "Emperor, Emperor...why are you here?" She sat up from the bed holding the quilt, and looked at the emperor a little guilty.
The emperor was still wearing a dragon robe, exuding an aura of nobility, which seemed out of place in her simple house.
The emperor stood by the bed and stared at her: "I heard that you were not feeling well, but how come I see that you are in good health?"
Li Wan immediately got into the mood, holding the quilt and said weakly: "I am feeling uncomfortable due to excessive fatigue. Master, you also know that I am physically weak."
The emperor did not expose her: "Alright, hurry up and get up. Didn't you promise Yuanrong yesterday that you would go to see him? Why don't you make it count today?"
Li Wan was stunned for a moment: "Now? I haven't eaten yet."
The emperor said, "Why don't you get up quickly? Eat and come to the East Palace to find me."
Li Wan was stunned for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you here?"
The emperor was stunned by the question, and after a pause he said, "I was walking around after lunch, and happened to be near here..." As the emperor spoke, he suddenly realized what was happening, stared at Li Wan with dissatisfaction and said, "Why should I explain my whereabouts to a servant like you?"
As he spoke, he seemed a little angry and embarrassed: "I give you one hour to see me, otherwise you will see how I punish you." After saying that, he walked out.
Li Wan was a little confused by the emperor's temper. She got up and wondered, did the emperor come to wake her up specifically?
See the emperor coming out.
Cuizhu was trembling with fear and dared not look the emperor in the face.
Cao Yu observed the emperor's expression and saw that there was a hint of anger on his face, and he was immediately delighted.
"Let's go." The emperor walked out.
Qin Lin followed with an expressionless face.
Cao Yu and a group of palace servants also hurriedly followed.
The emperor walked out of the courtyard and suddenly attacked Cao Yu: "Cao Yu, how can you be a good official? This place is so shabby, how can people live here? It's so far from the Gandong Palace, how can she be a good official? Find another place for her."
Cao Yu was stunned at first, and then felt very aggrieved. Didn't the emperor ask him to find a place at random, preferably as far away from the Gandong Palace as possible? Why was he being blamed now?
Before he could defend himself, the emperor continued, "Arrange her to live in the West Palace, so that she won't fall asleep when you ask her to come and serve in the morning."
Cao Yu was shocked.
West Hall?
The West Hall is only a few steps away from the East Hall, which is too close.
Could it be that the Emperor wanted to live closer so that he could better monitor her?
After thinking about it, Cao Yu could only come up with this reason.
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