Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Weiqing Song was waiting in yesterday’s restaurant. When Jian Zhang brought Shengsheng Zhou upstairs, Weiqing dispensed with all pleasantries and immediately set out.
Shengsheng almost failed to recognize him.
Was this utterly unremarkable man in rough homespun really Weiqing Song?
“It’s only a paltry disguise. Does Xiaohong intend to stare a hole through me?” The moment he spoke, his voice was as pleasant as a spring breeze, his bearing composed. The brilliance of his presence somehow lent that plain, ordinary face an air of refreshing clarity and cultivated elegance.
*There’s no need. You already have one.*
Thoroughly corrupted by the booklet, Shengsheng answered without thinking.
Weiqing fell silent. She meant the hole he thought she meant, didn’t she?
“Your Highness, ordinary eunuchs do not behave like you,” Shengsheng attempted to correct him.
He was far too conspicuous. Even Xunlan Liu’s chief eunuch, who stood above all but one, did not possess such bearing.
No sooner had Shengsheng spoken than the extraordinary man before her visibly became ordinary.
His back hunched slightly and his head drooped. He now looked no different from any other palace eunuch.
*Good grief! Even the Oscars owe you a statuette!*
Shengsheng marveled.
With acting like that, he should join Zhiyu Jiang in transmigrating to the modern world and conquer the entertainment industry!
Despite being Weiqing’s personal guard, Jian apparently had no intention of accompanying them.
Judging by the looks the two men exchanged, Shengsheng was certain they were plotting something.
Firm in that conviction, she led Weiqing, disguised as a young eunuch, toward the heavily guarded palace gates.
After the two departed, Jian secretly followed them all the way. Only when they stopped did he draw his sword and strike at a particular spot.
Rong Li, who had been taking notes, abruptly sensed killing intent. Years spent fighting for her life drove her to counterattack on instinct.
The two became locked in combat. Midway through the fight, the cloth covering Rong Li’s face accidentally fell, exposing her features.
Jian froze. Rong Li nearly ran him through.
At that same moment, Rong Li finally got a clear look at her attacker.
“You?!” they exclaimed in unison.
Weiqing had noticed long ago that someone was following Shengsheng.
To avoid alerting the enemy, he had instructed Jian to wait for a suitable opportunity to dispose of the person.
What opportunity could be better than this? Yet the person turned out to be someone Jian knew.
“Miss Rong Li, forgive my offense just now.” Since he knew she was a trusted general at the Yong emperor’s side, he could not very well continue attacking.
One careless move, and this could develop into war between two kingdoms.
“But why are you following Miss Shengsheng?”
The instant Rong Li sensed killing intent, she had bundled away her brush and papers. At Jian’s question, she answered without changing expression, “His Majesty ordered me to protect Miss Shengsheng in secret.”
Jian nodded. “I see.”
Yet towering waves surged through his heart.
What a joke. The emperor had sent one of his closest and most capable subordinates to protect a young woman.
Could the emperor of the Yong Kingdom have developed… feelings for Miss Shengsheng?
The thought put him immediately on guard.
This matter was grave. He had to report it to His Highness.
“Since you’re following Miss Shengsheng, you must have a way into this palace. I dare to ask: could you take me with you?”
Rong Li agreed readily. “How difficult could that be? It’s a trivial matter!”
Jian rejoiced inwardly. Wonderful–he would not have to scout the route and evade enemies himself.
Was this what it felt like to live off a woman? It was wonderful!
A true man who goes his entire life without living off a woman at least once has made his journey through this world in vain.
Meanwhile, Shengsheng Zhou and Weiqing Song had joined the line to enter the palace.
When the guards inspected them, Shengsheng calmly handed over the waist token.
The guard took only one look before allowing Shengsheng through.
Weiqing, however, was stopped outside.
Shengsheng showed not the slightest alarm. Her brows shot up at once. “How dare you! You dare stop the Noble Consort’s servant? If you delay Her Highness’s business, your filthy head will roll!”
The guard hesitated. At a meaningful look from his companion, he spinelessly let them pass.
Shengsheng snorted and swept away with her head held high, Weiqing in tow.
It was not that Shengsheng was abusing Fusheng Duan’s power. The public knew two things about him: his beauty, which had Xunlan Liu hopelessly bewitched, and his terrifying reputation.
As mentioned before, no matter how dreadful Fusheng’s reputation grew, Shengsheng always tried to remain “kind and approachable” in public, as though her Noble Consort were the gentlest mistress imaginable.
But if she failed to be fierce when the occasion called for it, people would assume she was easy to bully.
Knowing precisely how to adjust one’s attitude at all times was part of an excellent palace maid’s professional cultivation.
Following behind her with his head lowered, Weiqing had never seen her wear such a cold expression.
Whatever drama unfolded in her head, Shengsheng outwardly maintained the decorous, dignified image of a palace maid at all times. She rarely behaved with such arrogance.
So this was another side of her, he thought.
They returned without obstruction to the familiar Qianyi Palace. Shengsheng was still dressed in ordinary clothes.
Xiaopingzi came out on an errand and spotted her immediately.
“Sister Shengsheng!”
The Noble Consort had said that Shengsheng had been sent outside on business. Thus, Xiaopingzi found nothing suspicious about her current attire.
When Shengsheng saw him, she asked, “Is Her Highness inside?”
Xiaopingzi nodded. “She is.”
After asking, Shengsheng turned toward the “young eunuch” behind her. “You go in first.”
The “young eunuch” nodded meekly, lowered his head, and walked inside.
Finding the face unfamiliar, Xiaopingzi asked an extra question. “Sister Shengsheng, who is that?”
“Just a eunuch,” Shengsheng replied, then asked what errand Xiaopingzi was going to perform.
After he answered, Shengsheng carefully reminded him of several things requiring attention before finally turning to leave.
As she turned, however, a small bottle slipped from her sleeve and rolled onto the ground. Sharp-eyed Xiaopingzi spotted it.
“Sister Shengsheng, you dropped something.”
He picked it up, handed it back to Shengsheng, then left to perform his errand.
Shengsheng put the bottle away, concealing the complicated look in her eyes.
So it truly had not come from Xiaopingzi.
Shengsheng opened the door and went inside.
Two men were already seated opposite each other: Weiqing, who had entered the palace in disguise, and Fusheng Duan.
“This servant greets the Noble Consort and His Highness the Crown Prince.” Shengsheng bowed with her eyes lowered and her expression perfectly disciplined.
*Looking at them side by side, Weiqing is a little slimmer after all. Fusheng definitely ought to be the top.*
Weiqing looked with faint gloom at the “Noble Consort” opposite him, who was even more solidly built than he was, and thought that bastard Xunlan really must be blind.
Meanwhile, Rong Li, who had brought Jian Zhang into the palace, had no idea that outside the capital’s eastern gate, a tall man in black robes was galloping toward them on horseback.
His destination was the capital.
Soon. He would see her very soon.
At the thought, a sickly flush spread across the man’s face, and infatuation filled his eyes.