Chapter 46

Chapter 46

Naturally, Shengsheng could not say that aloud.

“Your Majesty, this servant is a cheap and lowly person. She is not worthy of speaking.”

There. Choke on that. How dare he call her cheap?

Siran Ming fell silent.

“You have certainly grown bolder.”

Shengsheng had heard that sentence so often that her ears were developing calluses.

“Your Majesty overstates the matter. This servant would not dare.”

Faced with his excessive proximity, she retreated without drawing attention to the movement. Siran advanced with every step she took.

The Zhen Kingdom’s climate must have agreed with the little creature. She had actually grown plumper.

As Siran studied her rounder cheeks, displeasure rose within him.

Did that not prove she had lived perfectly well after leaving him?

Shengsheng was about to remind him that he stood too close when he abruptly turned away on his own.

She had never understood what went on inside Siran’s mind. Sometimes he was even more moody than that cross-dressing menace Fusheng Duan.

Siran tapped one finger lazily against the table as he watched her.

“Where is my birthday gift?”

Shengsheng immediately replied, “This servant is too cheap–”

“Do not use that to fob me off. Or are you angry because I spoke carelessly in the heat of the moment?”

Siran propped up his chin and arched one teasing eyebrow.

Shengsheng covered her mouth in exaggerated shock.

“How could Your Majesty ever speak carelessly? Your Majesty is always right!”

*Got him right where I want him.*

Siran had no reply.

Would it kill her to let him win once?

Still, it had been a long time since anyone left him this thoroughly tongue-tied.

Unsure whether he possessed some masochistic tendency, Siran laughed softly.

*Has he finally gone insane?*

Shengsheng looked at him as though he were an idiot.

Naturally, the instant Siran raised his eyes, she hid the expression.

She could mock him with insinuations, but she could not break character.

“Come here and pour my tea.”

Shengsheng hesitated.

“I am not going to eat you,” Siran said irritably.

*You would. You nearly did.*

Remembering his behavior while he had amnesia, Siran went abruptly silent.

Shengsheng poured him tea anyway. As she offered him the cup, his sharp eyes caught sight of something protruding from her sleeve.

Ignoring the tea, he pinched one corner of the object and pulled it free.

Shengsheng tried to stop him, but he deftly twisted his wrist out of reach.

Studying the scented pouch in his hand, Siran said, “Since you prepared nothing else, this will be my gift.”

He turned it over with obvious fondness.

Then he saw the mangy dog embroidered across the front, and his smile froze.

“Whatever Your Majesty says,” Shengsheng replied, fiercely suppressing her laughter.

*Siran Ming and mangy dogs–together forever!*

*Hahahahahahahahaha!*

Ignoring the chain of booming laughter inside his head, Siran kept the pouch.

Something was better than nothing.

Shengsheng tried desperately to control the curve of her lips. As he watched her, the smile at Siran’s own mouth gradually softened.

This atmosphere was far more pleasant than the strange tension between them when she had left.

Shengsheng clearly realized the same thing.

The room fell silent. For a time, neither spoke.

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Zhen has sent someone.”

Shengsheng’s attention snapped toward the door.

Siran’s face darkened. “What does he want?”

A young man in black entered. After bowing to Siran, he looked at Shengsheng.

She glanced at Siran, then walked over.

Jian Zhang leaned close to her ear.

“Miss Shengsheng, my master accidentally cut his arm on something sharp. He has lost a great deal of blood.”

Shengsheng looked startled.

Weiqing never practiced with swords or weapons. How had he managed to cut himself?

“I understand.”

She turned toward Siran.

“You intend to leave?” he asked.

Shengsheng nodded. “The Crown Prince is still this servant’s present master.”

Siran pressed his lips together without moving.

As a martial artist, his hearing was far keener than that of an ordinary person. He had heard Jian perfectly well.

The door closed in front of him, and Shengsheng was gone.

Siran laughed coldly.

That brat Weiqing Song had done this deliberately, had he not?