Without even raising his eyes, Wen Chu picked up the ivory chopsticks, placed a piece of food into the blue-and-white porcelain dish in front of Xie Huaixiao, and was about to withdraw his hand when Xie Huaixiao said, “I want to eat lotus root slices.”
That plate of lotus root slices was the farthest away from Wen Chu; it would be difficult to reach without standing up from the chair.
For the Emperor to stand while a subject sat what an extreme humiliation!
More than a dozen palace maids and eunuchs waiting in the hall witnessed this entire scene. Afterward, what dignity would Wen Chu have left in the palace?
Xie Huaixiao was deliberately embarrassing and degrading Wen Chu over and over again.
Without a word, Wen Chu stood up in silence and served the lotus root slices to Xie Huaixiao.
Xie Huaixiao gazed at Wen Chu.
The slender emperor stood beside him, his skin smooth as refined lard, his soft, delicate eyelashes lowered, and a stray strand of raven hair falling against his exquisitely beautiful face, making the person before his eyes appear even softer and easier to bully.
Fragments of events that had occurred long ago flashed through Xie Huaixiao’s mind, deepening his dark gaze.
Having finished serving the food, Wen Chu moved to withdraw his hand, but his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Frowning, Wen Chu raised his eyes to look at Xie Huaixiao: “What else do you want?”
As he spoke, he tried to pull his hand back, but it was held even tighter.
Xie Huaixiao’s grip was immense, causing a layer of cold sweat to break out across Wen Chu’s forehead: “Let go of me!”
“Me?” Remembering something, a chill swept across the depths of Xie Huaixiao’s eyes: “Your Wen family will never be able to pay back what you owe me! Wen Chu, I have been far too merciful to you over these years.”
This outburst was completely baffling, leaving Wen Chu unable to make sense of it.
He parted his lips to ask, but beside them, Yu’er let out a wail: “Uncle, Father Emperor, stop fighting! Yu’er is scared.”
The actions of the two men had frightened Yu’er, making him think they were about to fight a battle.
Yu’er was a premature baby and was in poor health; excessive fright could easily cause him a fever. Xie Huaixiao knew this well and hurriedly released Wen Chu’s wrist.
Wen Chu pulled Yu’er into his arms, soothing him gently and coaxingly: “Don’t be afraid, Yu’er. Father Emperor and Uncle are very good friends; we are not going to fight.”
Hearing Wen Chu say this, Xie Huaixiao’s expression darkened, and he stood up and strode out of the hall.
After coaxing Yu’er and accompanying him through his meal, a eunuch brought in a plate of oranges. Catching a meaningful look from the eunuch, Wen Chu picked up the orange sitting at the very top, peeled it, and seamlessly retrieved the note hidden inside.
After Yu’er fell asleep for his nap, Wen Chu changed into casual attire and took a carriage out of the imperial palace.
Of course, Wen Chu knew very well that Xie Huaixiao’s secret guards would be tracking him.
Upon reaching the bustling marketplace, Wen Chu pretended to stroll around for leisure, walking leisurely through the streets until he took advantage of a dense crowd to slip into the bustling throng.
“Where did the Emperor go?” The hidden guards monitoring Wen Chu lost track of him and anxiously began searching everywhere.
Having evaded Xie Huaixiao’s spies, Wen Chu followed the address written on the note and arrived in front of a brothel.
The madam soliciting customers outside was ecstatic when she saw a figure of peerless beauty standing before the entrance, and she aggressively grabbed Wen Chu and dragged him right into the brothel.
Wen Chu was physically weak, lacking even the strength of an ordinary woman. Fortunately, once inside the brothel, someone came to his rescue.
Yuwen Jie led Wen Chu into a quiet, elegant private room.
Wen Chu did not have time to waste. Once seated, he cut straight to the point: “Marquis of Anding, I have come this time to beg”
“Your subject understands,” Yuwen Jie interrupted. “Gu Qingfang has already spoken with me.”
Wen Chu asked, “Then will you agree to help me?”
Yuwen Jie pushed a plate of osmanthus cakes closer to Wen Chu: “I heard that Your Majesty is passionately fond of the osmanthus cakes from Liu’s pastry shop. I specifically bought them for Your Majesty; please have a taste first.”