Ming Siran arrived that noon, and Zhou Shengsheng's face had already healed significantly.
It was quite strange. That night, when she returned to her room, she found a jade bottle on her desk, with a piece of paper underneath detailing its effects and usage instructions.
She took it to the Imperial Medical Bureau to have a friendly imperial physician examine it.
After learning that it was an excellent ointment for reducing swelling, she felt reassured and started using it.
She guessed it must have been Xiao Pingzi and the others who had sent it. Seeing how thoughtful her subordinates were, she couldn't help but feel that her usual care for them hadn't been in vain.
When Ming Siran arrived, Duan Fusheng mentioned that he wanted Lotus Root and Hibiscus Cakes and instructed Zhou Shengsheng to personally fetch them from the Imperial Kitchen. As a result, she missed Ming Siran.
This led to her surprise when she saw Jiang Zhiyu in Qianyi Palace.
Jiang Zhiyu, the protagonist, also recognized her.
Zhou Shengsheng was quite easy to identify. Her appearance was average, even below average among the palace maids, but a vibrant cinnabar mole under her eye added a touch of color to her otherwise plain face.
Seeing her still slightly swollen face, Jiang Zhiyu gave her a meaningful glance.
Jiang Zhiyu had gone to the restroom to step out; otherwise, Ming Siran, that big pervert, wouldn't have let her leave.
Although she didn't want to get involved with the protagonist outside the plot, Zhou Shengsheng still complied.
"Miss, are you looking for something?" she asked with a smile.
Jiang Zhiyu grabbed her and pulled her along. "I just can't find the restroom. Could you please show me the way, sister?"
The palace maid who had already pointed to the restroom: .....
When they reached a secluded spot, Jiang Zhiyu let go of Zhou Shengsheng's arm.
“Are you alright? That night, I asked the Imperial Noble Consort to save you. I wonder if you ran into each other?”
Hearing the mention of the Imperial Noble Consort, Zhou Shengsheng's eyes widened slightly.
Duan Fusheng had gone to find her?
After the initial surprise, she quickly dismissed the thought.
How could that be? Most likely, he had used the excuse to sneak away and enjoy the breeze.
"Why are you here? Did Ming Siran trouble you that night?" Although she knew that Ming Siran wouldn't do anything to her because she resembled his past love, Zhou Shengsheng still asked politely.
Seeing her address Ming Siran by his name, Jiang Zhiyu understood that this young lady, like her, had no respect for the ruler of Great Yong Empire, especially after what happened last night.
Her cheeks puffed up in anger. "He's a total pervert! He just randomly confined me to his side, wouldn't let me return to my residence, and wouldn't let me smile. He's completely insane!"
Jiang Zhiyu had indeed planned to use the Spring Banquet to find a suitable match for herself, and even initially had her sights set on the emperor. However, her first night in the palace almost got her killed by the Imperial Noble Consort, forcing her to abandon her little schemes.
Running into a random man on the road who turned out to be a foreign emperor was something she initially found exciting, thinking she might have a grand romance like in the storybooks.
But who would have known that the emperor was such a pervert? When someone praised him, he would slap them! His attitude towards her was also inexplicable—he was just insane!
Zhou Shengsheng suppressed her laughter.
In the original book, the protagonist's initial attitude towards Ming Siran was like this too...
What shyly and angrily called him a pervert.
Looking at Jiang Zhiyu's puffed-up cheeks.
Hmm... there was no shyness or coquetry, only real anger.
Hopefully, this wouldn't affect the plot...
Just as she was about to say something to calm the protagonist's anger, Xiao Pingzi's urgent voice came from behind. "Sister Shengsheng! It's time for the meal!"
Zhou Shengsheng's expression changed. "Miss Jiang, let Xiao Pingzi take you back first. I have something to attend to."
With that, she pushed the out-of-breath Xiao Pingzi towards Jiang Zhiyu and quickly ran off, lifting her skirt.
"A-Pang! Is everything ready?"
A plump little panda suddenly flew out from her hair:【Don't worry, leave it to me.】
【But where should I put it?】
--- Yay, the dividing line is here ----
"It has been five years since we last met." Ming Siran toyed with a delicate wine cup, his lips curling into a playful smile as he appraised Duan Fusheng's current attire.
Today, Duan Fusheng wore a black robe with gold embroidery and a dragon design, and even in the harem of a foreign emperor, he still wore a sword at his waist, exuding an air of arrogance.
Ming Siran had mixed ethnicity, with more pronounced features than the average person. His face was strikingly handsome, enough to make anyone blush, but the overwhelming aura of bloodshed on him dulled his striking appearance. Those who saw him first noticed the chilling presence he exuded.
Ignoring his strange gaze, Duan Fusheng nodded faintly. "Indeed."
Jiang Zhiyu sat awkwardly beside Ming Siran, not daring to move.
She was so hungry. How long were they going to talk?
"However, Your Majesty has good taste. It hasn't been long since you arrived, yet you've already found a beauty to accompany you." Duan Fusheng glanced at Jiang Zhiyu sitting beside him, his eyes filled with mockery.
Ming Siran didn't respond, but when he saw the appearance of the palace maid filling the wine, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Feeling his intense gaze, Zhou Shengsheng, a maid of Qianyi Palace, merely lowered her head slightly.
"What are you staring at? Haven't you seen such a stunning beauty before?"
The familiar voice in his mind made Ming Siran immediately recall who this familiar-looking palace maid was.
So she was from Duan Fusheng's palace?
After some thought, Ming Siran decided to pretend he hadn't heard anything.
"Speaking of which, the quality of the servants in your palace isn't very good..."
Duan Fusheng's eyes flickered, and he gave Ming Siran a suspicious look.
"Virtue is the most important quality. Your Majesty places too much emphasis on appearances." He shook his head with a sigh.
Zhou Shengsheng was about to nod but stopped herself.
Wasn't that admitting she was ugly?
"Tail, since the emperor has spoken, shouldn't you withdraw?"
Zhou Shengsheng was momentarily stunned.
"Ah? What about the poison I prepared?"
Hearing the word 'poison,' Ming Siran's violent gaze suddenly shot over, scaring Zhou Shengsheng into quickly making her escape.
"Imperial Noble Consort, have all the dishes in Qianyi Palace been tested for poison?" His voice was low and dangerous, his sharp eyes fixed on Duan Fusheng.
"If Your Majesty is not at ease, then you don't have to eat." Duan Fusheng sneered, his beautiful face showing clear disdain.
His heart, however, was stirred.
Ming Siran could also hear Tail's thoughts?
At his words, Ming Siran indeed stopped using the chopsticks, only drinking wine and watching Duan Fusheng eat alone.
He didn't notice Jiang Zhiyu sitting beside him, looking like she was about to cry.
She wanted to eat!
"That palace maid by your side, I find her quite pleasing to the eye." Ming Siran said casually, as if it were an afterthought.
Duan Fusheng sneered in his heart but put on an expression of surprise on the surface, then revealed a mysterious smile.
"Oh? The Crown Prince of Zhen Kingdom was willing to exchange the entire Jing Province for this palace maid of mine. What does Your Majesty plan to offer in exchange?"
His life, he might consider it.
However, there was still a deal between him and Ming Siran, so he couldn't say it outright.
Clearly surprised by 'Jing Province,' Ming Siran's eyes darkened.
After a long silence, he spoke: "Liu Xunlan's life, how about it?"
