“Your Highness, His Majesty is here.” The voice of the maid Sheng Lan came from outside the door.
At the mention of ‘His Majesty,’ Duan Fusheng's eyebrows furrowed, and he flicked his fingers.
Zhou Shengsheng knew that this was a sign of his impatience.
“Tell him to wait outside,” Duan Fusheng commanded in a flat tone, and the person outside quickly left.
In the entire Zhu Kingdom, probably only Duan Fusheng dared to make the current emperor wait outside.
Who could blame him? Liu Xunlan was willing to indulge him. It was hard to say whether Liu Xunlan's eyes were all used up in handling state affairs, but his taste in women was truly questionable. The concubines in his harem were either causing trouble or bringing disaster to the nation, and even included a cross-dressing man.
No wonder, as a monarch, the female lead couldn't stand him and only saw him as a disposable male supporting character, a trophy in the colorful life of the female lead.
【Shengsheng... the antagonist is watching you】
Pang's voice suddenly rang in her ear, and she finally realized that, as a maid, she should now help Duan Fusheng change into clothes for meeting the emperor.
Sure enough, as soon as she looked up, she met Duan Fusheng's slightly displeased gaze. He spread his arms, signaling that he was waiting for Zhou Shengsheng to dress him.
“Can't even remember what you're supposed to do?” Duan Fusheng said sarcastically, then added, as if thinking of something, “Deduct your pay.”
Zhou Shengsheng: !!
Deducting a servant's wages is like killing their parents. Washing the chamber pots was something Zhou Shengsheng didn't find too distressing, but her pay couldn't be deducted!
Seeing her about to cry, Duan Fusheng turned around calmly.
He had bet correctly. She was a money-grubber.
Perhaps the threat of losing her pay had spurred her on, because Zhou Shengsheng, who was usually the slowest in the Qianyi Palace when it came to dressing, today was surprisingly quick and efficient, as if someone were holding a torch behind her, chasing her tail. And she didn't make a single mistake in the process, leaving Duan Fusheng, who had originally wanted to delay things, with no reason to reprimand her.
Although he dressed in women's clothing, he didn't like wearing traditional women's garments. Every piece of clothing he wore was custom-made in a neutral style, with no exposed shoulders or arms, and even most of his neck was covered. He never used rouge or hairpins, and his hair, which reached down to his waist, was always tied up high with a ribbon.
That's why Zhou Shengsheng had never understood why someone like him was mistaken for a woman.
Especially when compared to Liu Xunlan, the emperor.
“My dear, have you lost weight these past few days? I feel so heartbroken,” Liu Xunlan said, holding a bright red, juicy cherry in his hand and looking up at Duan Fusheng, who was leaning on a small table, half-asleep and bored. But he only dared to hold the cherry, not daring to take the next step and feed it to the person who drove him crazy.
Yes, did you notice the keyword?
‘Looking up.’
“Look, Pang, have you ever seen a noble consort who is more robust and taller than the emperor in any TV drama? Originally, Liu Xunlan looked so normal, but next to Duan Fusheng, this humanoid monster, he looks like a little chick that hasn't even finished developing.” Zhou Shengsheng complained to Pang. Finally, after finishing the plot, Pang could come out and keep her company. She had no idea how frustrated she was every day watching this absurd scene.
Duan Fusheng, who had been expressionless and a bit irritable, suddenly coughed. The laughter in his throat was quickly suppressed.
He forgave Zhou Shengsheng for calling him a humanoid monster, really.
“You damned servant! Didn't you see your master cough! How do you serve!” Liu Xunlan, who dared not make a move, very habitually began to vent his anger on Zhou Shengsheng, who was standing beside him.
“Your Majesty, spare me! It's all my fault!” Zhou Shengsheng knelt down and kowtowed skillfully, all while secretly cursing in her heart: “You little dog, always looking for me to take the blame. You don't even dare to climb Duan Fusheng's bed... Wait, could it be that you're... not capable?”
While Liu Xunlan's attention was still on Duan Fusheng, Zhou Shengsheng, with tears in her eyes, sneakily glanced at Liu Xunlan's lower body.
Then she inadvertently met Duan Fusheng's glaring eyes.
Duan Fusheng politely smiled.
Well done. Originally, seeing her tremble every time she saw the emperor, he thought she was very afraid. Who knew she was such a good actress?
Not becoming an actress would be a waste of her talents.
Zhou Shengsheng's plea suddenly stalled, and she almost choked on her own saliva.
Noticing her sudden hesitation, Liu Xunlan also took notice.
Just as he was about to punish this impudent maid with a few strokes of the cane, Duan Fusheng suddenly turned his head, and his exquisitely charming face made Liu Xunlan instantly forget what he was going to say.
“Your Majesty, I understand your intention. I will attend the Spring Festival Banquet, but you should know that you represent the entire Zhu Kingdom, so you should be aware of what you can and cannot say.” Duan Fusheng lowered his long lashes, his voice soft but his words not at all polite.
And Liu Xunlan, who always thought highly of himself, just stared at him blankly, nodding incessantly like a fool.
Hearing the mention of the Spring Festival Banquet, Zhou Shengsheng was startled.
“Pang, if I remember correctly, isn't the Spring Festival Banquet the plot point where the female lead first makes her mark and attracts Song Weiqing and Duan Fusheng, this humanoid monster?”
Duan Fusheng paused.
So there really is a female lead?
Indeed, according to Zhou Shengsheng's words, this world is just a script with protagonists?
It was ironic. He, Duan Fusheng, had fought so hard to survive in this world, only to find out it was just a book? Thinking about how his fate was determined by someone else's pen, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
The main plot was about to begin, but as a cannon fodder character who should have already been eliminated, he was still alive. Thinking of this, Pang's little head began to worry.
【This situation has never happened before. Don't worry, Shengsheng. I'll go back and ask our boss how to resolve it】
Pang's boss was the manager in charge of the operation of various book worlds. It was also him who had given Zhou Shengsheng, who had been a wandering ghost for many years, such an opportunity.
“Burn everything,” the emperor had just left, and the next second, Duan Fusheng's cold, repugnant voice came, and Zhou Shengsheng complied, watching him walk into the inner room.
His back, unusually, revealed a rare weariness and exhaustion.
“Strange, even a humanoid monster can feel emo?” Zhou Shengsheng muttered, then shrugged and began cleaning up all traces of Liu Xunlan's visit.
Duan Fusheng paused: “Let Sheng Lan do it. You go to the Xinzhe Repository to scrub chamber pots for three months. After that, come back.”
Originally just a casual remark, but Duan Fusheng was feeling particularly irritated at the moment. He needed time to sort out his thoughts and didn't want to see Zhou Shengsheng for now.
Zhou Shengsheng was dumbfounded.
He really wants me to go scrub?!
Before she had a chance to protest, as soon as she stepped out, under Sheng Lan's mocking gaze, Zhou Shengsheng was taken to the Xinzhe Repository.
Sometimes she really hated the efficiency of ancient people.
But it was fine. Three months would just miss the key plot, and she was happy to have some peace.
【Shengsheng, I'm back! The boss said you're the only one who can carry the main plot! As a bug, you must ensure the main plot isn't affected!】
Zhou Shengsheng: ......
No, she now hated Pang's efficiency too.
