Dong Gong Mei

Li Xuanye glanced over with a cold look that was full of intimidation. Cao Rong was startled and broke out in a cold sweat.

He Manzhi woke up at this time, and fell to the ground and begged: "Your Majesty, I...I am living very well in Youlan Palace, and there is no need to mobilize troops to move elsewhere...but, but..."

Her voice was timid, and when it calmed down, it was like a kitten stepping on cotton, which sounded indescribably soft and comfortable. At this moment, she was begging bravely, and anyone who heard her would feel pity for her.

She spoke very softly and slowly: "Your Majesty, Sister Wei just sprained her foot. I want to move here to take care of Sister Wei in person. When Sister Wei recovers, I will move back... Please grant your permission..."

Li Xuanye smiled faintly.

He Manzhi was stunned again. His smile was very nice. She couldn't tell whether it was mockery, indifference, or something else. But she thought, what else could she do?

Even if it was an unpleasant smile, she accepted it. After all, compared to those noble families outside who would always use Qiao to bully her, being smiled at coldly by His Majesty the Emperor was a blessing.

Zhao Xiwei was also stunned and looked at He Manzhi in confusion.

What is this doing?
You've just been promoted, and instead of trying to get close to the emperor, you want to come and live with her?
She was a person awaiting punishment, and the Emperor's attitude towards her was as cold as a stranger. She might be convicted at any time, and it was uncertain whether she would live or die.

If I move in with her, wouldn't that mean I'm going to fall out of favor?
Li Xuanye narrowed his eyes and looked at the hem of Zhao Xiwei's skirt. His tone was calm and he said, "Did you hurt your foot?"

Zhao Xiwei felt a chill down her spine when he looked at her, so she moved her heels and took half a step back.

Li Xuanye smiled again. He Manzhi saw clearly that the smile was cold and indifferent. He was not laughing at her, nor at Zhao Xiwei. He... he seemed to be laughing at himself?
However, He Manzhi didn't have much time to think about this problem, as she was immediately overwhelmed by her own affairs.

The Emperor withdrew his gaze and turned to her. His eyes became unfathomable. He asked, "You have a good relationship with the Zhao family?"

He Manzhi let out an "ah" and didn't react.

Zhao Xiwei quietly tugged at her clothes and nodded slightly.

He Manzhi understood and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I have been taken care of by Sister Wei before. I have always kept this friendship in my heart and I dare not forget it..."

Li Xuanye sneered: "Sisters are indeed very close."

He Manzhi shrank back and dared not speak.

Li Xuanye usually looks stern in front of others, and everyone is a little afraid of him.

At this moment, he was not actually angry, just a little irritated.

The person was right in front of him. She was neither flustered nor sad. She was completely unmoved and let him promote someone else to a higher position.

It was as if there had never been anything between him and her.

After struggling for so long, he thought she would be the saddest and most upset one, but when he suddenly looked back, he found that she was much more cruel than he expected, and let go so cleanly and neatly.

It was a pity that he was still thinking about how to make plans for her and how to let her leave safely and unharmed just a quarter of an hour ago.

He suddenly felt a pricking sensation in his chest. It wasn't very painful, but it made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Suddenly, an inexplicable anger surged up. "Zhao Xiwei." He suppressed his emotions, his voice was tense, and he asked word by word: "What do you want to say?"

Zhao Xiwei was puzzled.

What does she have to say?
He named his beauty, what could she say?
He is the emperor, he can promote the woman he likes, it is his freedom.

Could she still interfere?
It's not that she didn't notice his emotions. On the contrary, as soon as Li Xuanye appeared, she keenly sensed something unusual beneath his calmness.

She thought he was here to accuse her - after all, ever since he intercepted the talisman, he had locked her up in the palace and had never appeared in front of her again.

But what was unexpected was that he did not come to question the crime, but to promote He Manzhi.

Others said that she had been very favored, and when he was still the crown prince, everyone knew how much he favored her - although she couldn't remember how much he favored her, she could guess a bit from the attitudes of the palace maids, guards, eunuchs, and others towards her.

But so what? Those were all things of the past. Would she still cling to the past and jump out to show her jealousy when he was made a concubine?
She wasn't sure if he wanted to see this, but she had a vague feeling that he probably wanted to see some emotional fluctuations in her.

There was also a laugh in Zhao Xiwei's heart.

But afterwards, she was surprised to find that her reaction was very similar to his...

After all, they were people who had slept in the same bed before, and some of their little tempers had become the same.

Zhao Xiwei assessed the situation and felt that she should say something now. Her life was still in his hands, she was isolated and helpless, and her memory was blank. She had to fight for something for herself.

"Your Majesty." She lowered her eyes, her expression calm, "Lady He and I hit it off right away. Although we are not blood relatives, it seems like we were destined to meet in our previous lives, so we once made a promise to each other that we would call each other sisters and take care of each other in this life. I didn't expect that now that I'm in trouble, everyone keeps their distance from me, and only Miss He still remembers this love..."

She raised her eyes, with a bit of excitement and sadness in them at the right time: "Sister He is so affectionate and righteous, Your Majesty really did not make a mistake in choosing her. Your Majesty asked me if I had anything to say, then I only have one thing to say - Your Majesty, please do not let Sister He be implicated because of me!"

Li Xuanye's face suddenly became cloudy, as if a storm was coming.

It was just after noon and the sun was blazing. Someone from His Majesty the Emperor used a green feather fan to block the sun, but the attendants beside him did not, and neither did Zhao Xiwei and He Manzhi.

But even under such scorching sun, no one present felt the heat at all, only cold hands and feet.

Zhao Xiwei also felt a little regretful. He obviously didn't want to hear such words...

But she was also very distressed. What should she say to please him? If she did, would he let her go? Would the case against the Zhao family be settled?
Neither seems possible.

Li Xuanye didn't get angry in the end. He stared at her coldly for a long while, until she felt dizzy and almost couldn't stand it anymore. Then he flicked his sleeves, and his clothes brushed her face. The wind blew directly into her nose, and the glittering light of the golden thread stung her eyes. Then he left like that.

Zhao Xi breathed a sigh of relief, only to feel dizzy and almost fell down.

Although Li Xuanye was angry, he still satisfied He Manzhi's request.

He Manzhi was as timid as a mouse, but his mind was as pure as a baby rabbit. He did not think much about what the intention behind this was, and he moved in happily that afternoon.

The evening meal included two extra servings of steamed milk cakes, made with milk and potato starch, shaped into crystal-clear cat and rabbit shapes, sprinkled with golden osmanthus honey, and served on a sky-blue plate on the table, a feast for the eyes. (End of this chapter)