"No need."
Li Shengyuan couldn't stand seeing Li Zhu too happy.
"Yes." Ji An sounded somewhat disappointed.
Li Zhu wasn't that upset though. Before Li Shengyuan even started eating, she was already making wishes in her heart.
[I wish I could get some Mutton Crystal Dumplings, Salt and Pepper Golden Wings, and Crabapple Cake later. Well… a Sugared Mung Bean Licorice Iced Drink would be fine too.]
[Mutton Crystal Dumplings, Salt and Pepper Golden Wings, Crabapple Cake…]
[Mutton Crystal Dumplings, Salt and Pepper Golden Wings, Crabapple Cake… Heaven bless this faithful woman!]
Li Shengyuan shot Li Zhu a disdainful glance.
How pathetic! Nothing but food in that brain of hers.
Li Shengyuan deliberately went against her wishes, frequently reaching with his chopsticks for the Mutton Crystal Dumplings, Salt and Pepper Golden Wings, and Crabapple Cake.
Li Zhu watched sadly as the dishes on the plates gradually diminished.
Ji An, however, watched from the side with a happy smile – His Majesty had quite an appetite today!
Li Shengyuan accidentally ate a bit too much and felt stuffed, but seeing Li Zhu's drooping eyes and brows, he wiped his hands contentedly and left.
Although she didn't get to share her favorite dishes, Li Zhu was only disappointed for a moment before happily digging into her meal again.
After all, the imperial chef's skills were never bad no matter what!
After the meal, Li Zhu felt sleepy, but since the Emperor wasn't resting, she had to continue standing at her post.
How hard it was to be a working slave!
Before she had even finished digesting lunch, Li Zhu couldn't stop feeling drowsy.
[So sleepy, can't sleep, can't sleep, can't sleep…]
Li Shengyuan listened to her increasingly faint inner voice with great disdain.
This woman's brain contained nothing but eating and sleeping – how was she any different from a pig?
He turned and saw that Li Zhu had already closed her eyes, slightly surprised.
She fell asleep just like that while still standing?
Suddenly, Ji An entered and mentioned a name.
"Let him in."
Li Zhu shuddered and instantly woke up.
Then, Li Shengyuan said to Li Zhu, "You go out first and come back in fifteen minutes."
"Yes."
Li Zhu withdrew along with Ji An. Outside the hall, she saw that man.
Strangely, his clothing wasn't that of a civil official or military officer.
Before he entered, Li Zhu clicked on his exclamation mark.
There wasn't much gossip about him, but Li Zhu learned from it that he was a Dark Guard.
A legendary Dark Guard! This was Li Zhu's first time seeing one.
"What have you found out?"
"Your Majesty, Li Zhu is from Yongzhou Qingyun County. Her parents have passed away and she has no siblings. An San has gone to Yongzhou to investigate more details."
Li Shengyuan nodded. "What about Cui Tianxun?"
"Minister Cui… does indeed have a habit of wearing women's clothing."
An Yi had been fortunate enough to witness this personally yesterday.
Cui Tianxun's cross-dressing appearance could be described as very… eye-searing.
Li Shengyuan thought to himself, so Li Zhu was right after all.
"Then is there any connection between Li Zhu and Cui Tianxun?"
"Your Majesty, there is no connection whatsoever between the two."
Li Shengyuan's expression turned cold and stern. Since there was no relationship between the two, how did Li Zhu know about Cui Tianxun's private matters?
Could Li Zhu be a spy?
That didn't seem right either – what spy would only think about eating all day?
Li Shengyuan tapped the table with his knuckles, thinking carefully.
An Yi knelt on the ground without making a sound.
Li Shengyuan began considering darker possibilities.
Could his sudden ability to hear Li Zhu's thoughts be due to poisoning? And Li Zhu was specifically planted as a spy.
However, this hypothesis still didn't make sense, so Li Shengyuan decided to observe for a few more days.
The Dark Guard withdrew, and Li Zhu entered the hall after counting the time.
"Li Zhu, where are you from? What did your parents do for a living? Do you have any siblings?"
Why suddenly checking household registration?
Li Zhu began answering based on the original body's memories, "This humble maid is from Yongzhou Qingyun County. My parents were merely farmers, and I have no siblings."
"Why did you enter the palace?"
"My parents passed away early. My uncle intended to sell me, but it happened to be during the palace maid selection, and I was fortunate enough to be chosen."
Li Shengyuan nodded; what Li Zhu said matched what An Yi had investigated.
"Can you read?"
"Your Majesty, this humble maid never attended school, but I recognize a few characters."
Li Zhu thought to herself that she was, after all, a university student. Even if she wasn't familiar with traditional characters, she should be able to guess them… right?
Upon hearing this, Li Shengyuan picked up a book from the table and tossed it over.
"Read it."
Li Zhu opened to the first page and was dumbfounded.
She had overestimated herself, but she could only stumble through the reading.
Out of ten characters, Li Zhu could guess two correctly.
Li Shengyuan chuckled, and Li Zhu heard clear mockery in it.
"Hmm, indeed, you recognize a few characters."
Li Zhu blushed.
Although her reading was halting, Li Shengyuan noticed that Li Zhu's voice was quite pleasant.
Her voice was clear and crisp, with a habit of slightly lifting the last character, making it both delicate and soft.
She might be a bit gluttonous, but she wasn't without merits.
"Go find Hong Yu. I give you five days to learn all the characters in this book."
[Why make me learn characters? Does he think my illiteracy embarrasses him? And only five days? Dog emperor!]
Li Shengyuan frowned: Dog emperor? Referring to him?
His hands itched with the urge to wring her neck.
"Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty, but… isn't five days too short?"
"Then seven days."
Li Zhu really wanted to curse.
[What's the difference between five days and seven days!!!]
The corner of Li Shengyuan's mouth lifted slightly. The difference was that seven days were two days longer than five.
Li Zhu took a deep breath, forcing a grateful smile onto her face. "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty. This humble maid will study diligently with Hong Yu."
Li Shengyuan enjoyed seeing her reluctant but forced cheerful gratitude.
"Hmm, I'll check your progress daily."
[He must be so bored he's farting.]
"Yes, I will live up to Your Majesty's high expectations." Li Zhu gritted her teeth.
Li Shengyuan waved his hand, and Li Zhu retreated to the side to continue being a wooden post.
Not long after, Ji An entered.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu has sent someone with lotus seed porridge, and Consort Xian has sent cherry pancake."
"From now on, there's no need to report such matters to me."
Ji An acknowledged the order. He somewhat understood Consort Shu and Consort Xian.
It had been over three months now, and the imperial consorts hadn't even spoken with the Emperor yet. How could they not be anxious?
Since the Emperor didn't visit the rear palace, the consorts could only come to him themselves. Unfortunately, while the ladies were willing, the gentleman was not.
[Cherry pancake sounds delicious!]
[Sigh, but no matter how much they try to please him, it's useless! What can the Emperor do besides drool all over them?]
Li Shengyuan paused. What did that mean?
[The Emperor is impotent—he ultimately can't give them the favor they want~]
Li Shengyuan shut his eyes tightly.
He was impotent? How come he didn't know that himself!
Where did Li Zhu get this information from?!
Although he disliked contact with women, he wouldn't allow such disrespect from others!
For a moment, murderous intent surged in Li Shengyuan's heart.
[But why hasn't Xu Guiyan sent anything? Now that I think about it, I haven't seen this female lead since entering the palace?]
Who was Xu Guiyan?
Oh, right, she seemed to be the legitimate daughter of Yongping Houfu. He forgot what her rank was.
Li Shengyuan furrowed his brow. Did Li Zhu know Xu Guiyan?
And what did "female lead" mean?
Li Zhu was a person shrouded in mystery.
He pondered for a moment, then chose to unravel the enigma over ending her life.
Unaware she had just narrowly escaped death, Li Zhu only felt the Emperor's gaze upon her was somewhat unsettling.
When Li Zhu went out to change the tea, she discovered Hong Yu had actually saved half a plate of Cherry Pancake for her!
It was truly delicious!