Volume 1: Ink and Powder Take the Stage Chapter 21: Ri Cheng's Heart

  "Oh! Poor girl!"

  "It wasn't until several days later that it was discovered, and by then... Alas, I dare not say."

  "How did you find out after all this time?"

  "Sister, you don't know that only the servants who deliver food go to that courtyard, and they just put the food at the gate. The person delivering food did it for several days, and every time they came to collect the bowls, they saw that the food hadn't been touched. At first, they thought she was just not eating because she had just moved in, but after a long time, anyone would think about it - this is unbearable! As a result, they called Lin, the housekeeper, and only when he entered the building did they discover that she had been dead for a long time. I'm telling you, sister, if that servant girl hadn't been so deceitful, things wouldn't have ended up like this. That's why I came today to warn you, so you can be on your guard and not let her get away with it."

  "It's really troublesome for my sister, if you don't tell me, how would I know the hearts of others?! From now on, I'll be more discerning in all things, so as to avoid being caught off guard and unable to move."

  "Sister is clear that's good, then I won't disturb sister anymore. Looking at sister's face already has a tired and weary look, hurry up and rest."

  "Then I won't see my sister off, have a good trip, little sister."

  "Sister is really polite, younger sister has left."

  Alas! Now that Yuanyuan has left, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. It's not because she talked too much, but the fragrance on her body really made me unbearable. My head is killing me now. I got up and opened the window, letting in a gust of cold air, which suddenly refreshed me a lot.

  Is that Xiao Yue? She was only seen flashing out of the yard, has she really left?! Alright, let's verify and we'll know, pushing open Xiao Yue's door, there is no sign of her in the room, opening the cabinet, it's empty, looking around, also didn't see the embroidery basket Xiao Yue often used, indeed she has left.

  Let her go then, I didn't expect her to be very loyal to me anyway. Originally, I thought she could help me with some things, after all, this palace is unfamiliar to me. But now it seems that she's not a simple person either. Someone like her staying by my side can only be an obstacle. However, as for the demon girl, should I say something? At least the problem of food and clothing will be solved then.

  "Xiao Yue, can you help... Master! Is Master okay? Was he hurt?" Almost collided with Wanday Cheng.

  "It's okay, looking for Little Moon? She is not here now."

  ……

  "Do you want me to mend your clothes? Give them to me and I'll help you."

  "It's all right, Master. You can rest now."

  "Ten thousand days of sincerity!"

  "Yes, master."

  "I let you go, how is it?"

  ……

  "I'll let you go, wherever you want to go is fine. Rather than having you follow me like this, it's better for you to leave freely, so you won't see me being uncomfortable."

  "Don't worry, Master. I'm more than happy to stay by your side."

  "If you're worried about 'breaking off but still connected', you can rest assured, it's nothing."

  "Don't worry, master, I'm truly willing."

  "Willingly and gladly, what a willingly and gladly!"

  "To be honest, Xiaoyue was driven away by me."

  My heart aches, Wan Ri Cheng, why can't I see any sincerity in your words when it comes to me? When you heard that I sent Xiao Yue away, the fleeting joy in your eyes, the visible disgust on your face... are you still willing and content with this situation?

  "Master, I beg of you..."

  "Don't push me away, don't, I just want to hold you for a while."

  "Master, this is not in line with etiquette."

  "Get out of my way, I order you, don't push me away, don't..."

  "I'll just hold you for a little while."

  "Do you know? Since I came here, there hasn't been a single happy day. I'm so lonely and miss my family so much. I don't know if I can ever go back in this lifetime or what the future holds. I completely can't grasp it or think it through. I couldn't do 'since I've come, then I'll make peace with it'. I want to leave here, leave this Jing Wang Fu... I...I...I know the taste of being trapped, so Wan Ri Cheng, you go, I'm letting you leave, I order you to leave."

  "Master, I, Wan Daycheng, will be loyal to you until death. So, master, don't worry about this matter anymore."

  Until death! I looked up at him, wanting to find a hint of change, but there was none.

  "Is it because of Master Xiang's jade? I threw it away, otherwise, take it with you, this way, you won't have to follow me, you can..."

  "My lord, I have already made my intentions clear. I once swore an oath in front of Master Xiang to be loyal for life to the one who holds the ink jade, which was entrusted to me by Master Xiang before his death, and this is the command that I will follow for the rest of my life."

  "Master, let me go, if the prince sees this..."

  "I have already seen it."

  My heart skipped a beat, it's over. Wan Ri Cheng immediately pushed me away and took a step forward on his knees. I looked up at the visitor, unable to see his face or guess his expression, and couldn't think of any plan to solve the current problem.

  "I don't know what grievances Madam has, so as to let General Wan come in place of her husband to comfort her."

  "Let's talk alone."

  Before that demon even agreed, I turned around and went back into the house, my heart was racing too much, couldn't let him see my cowardice, so I drank three cups of tea in a row, using my thumb to press hard on my index finger, finally calming down this trembling body of mine. Too scared, don't know how he will deal with me, won't send me to that 'Reflection Tower' right?

  When the demon heard Wanri Cheng get up, he heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and the sound of footsteps getting closer. His heart, which had just calmed down, was stirred up again. He could only pretend to be calm, turn around, and smile.

  "What the king saw just now is not true..."

  "What is fact?"

  "That's what the king is thinking in his heart right now."

  "What does the lady think His Majesty is thinking of at this moment?"

  "This... just now I was feeling unwell, a bit dizzy. Luckily, Wan Rixing supported me in time. So, whether the prince believes it or not, if he wants to punish me, it's up to him."

  "What if I were to kill him?"

  "Whatever you think is convenient!"

  "What does the lady want to say alone?"

  "I suddenly felt annoyed and uncomfortable today, and when I was in a bad mood, I drove Xiao Yue away. Now that my mood has improved, I regret it a bit. Please ask Wang Ye to decide whether Xiao Yue can come back and help me."

  "Xiao Yue is the one I let go." I thought it was me..., I overestimated myself!

  "The king wants to move over and live here." What? What does he mean by this?

  "I don't quite understand what you mean by this, Your Highness."

  "Your Highness, the guest has arrived." The voice of a servant came from outside the door.

  "Just as it seems." The demon turned and left.

  He's as good as saying nothing, is he testing my IQ?! No way, I've got to ask clearly, chasing him to the courtyard, just seeing the scoundrel about to slip out of the Moon Gate.

  "Your Highness, wait."

  "Is there anything else, madam?"

  "I want to know what's behind it."

  "I need an heir born of my wife."

  "Not to mention..."

  "Right!"

  Do I need a legitimate heir?! What's the relationship between these two things? Wanting to lift my foot and go back inside, but it feels like lead has been poured into my feet, unable to move. My thoughts are also like they've been poured with lead, unable to turn. A weight on my shoulders, Wan Ri Cheng put a woolen cloak over me.

  "Ten thousand days of sincerity."

  "Yes."

  "Is this the road that Master Xiang has paved for me?" I asked in a low voice.