21 – The Nine Thousand Year Old is Jealous (Revised)
At the third quarter of the Chen hour, the final palace gate of the imperial palace was closed and locked.
Wuhuan hurriedly entered Qingyang Hall from outside. Inside the hall, Wuqing had already been kneeling for nearly two hours.
On either side of the desk, to the left were unread memorials, and to the right were those that had been processed.
Wuhuan entered quietly and reported, “The Emperor has returned to the palace.”
Shang Guanqi’s wrist relaxed, and the vermilion brush made its final stroke. The memorial he had been reviewing for nearly two hours was finally moved to the right side.
Two hours. Jiang Lige and Xie Shu had been together for two hours.
What had they discussed? What had they done that took two hours?
There was no need to think—they were surely plotting how to bring him down.
Was she really so trusting of Xie Shu? They had only just met.
Upon hearing that Jiang Lige had shaken off the tail, Shang Guanqi knew it was Xie Shu’s doing. He could easily have sent someone to capture Jiang Lige or even kill Xie Shu outright to eliminate the threat once and for all. But he was unwilling.
The answer he had failed to find in his previous life—he wanted to know in this life: Why had Jiang Lige not chosen him?
…
The next day happened to be a rest day, with no morning court session.
Jiang Lige slept until she woke naturally. After finishing breakfast, she took out the things she had bought the previous night and distributed them one by one to the servants of Moon Departure Palace.
Each person received something—a box of pastries, some delicate small accessories, or interesting trinkets.
After distributing the gifts, Jiang Lige walked to the large tree in the courtyard and looked up.
Wuqing was crouched on a tree branch, looking down at her, their eyes meeting in a wide-eyed stare.
“Come down,” Jiang Lige beckoned.
Wuqing was taken aback. Seeing there was nothing left to hide, he had no choice but to jump down from the tree.
“Here.” Jiang Lige handed him a mosquito-repellent sachet.
“You crouch in this tree every day. In summer, there are many mosquitoes and insects. This can help repel them.”
Wuqing felt somewhat awkward. “When did you notice me?”
Jiang Lige replied, “Last night. I deliberately jingled the five hundred taels of silver to attract thieves and pickpockets. I saw you chasing them away.”
Wuqing was stunned. When had the little emperor become so clever?
“Take it. It’s just a small sachet.”
Jiang Lige stuffed the sachet into his arms, then led Dahuang to find Li Fu.
After walking a good distance away, Jiang Lige took out another identical sachet from her clothes.
“Dahuang, remember this scent. Next time you smell it, mark the spot by urinating, understand?”
“Woof!” Dahuang barked loudly, as if responding to her.
Jiang Lige happily patted his head. “Dahuang, even though you’re not much to look at, your brain works wonderfully. You’re practically the reincarnation of the Howling Celestial Hound!”
If Dahuang could be trained successfully, she would know where the watchers were and where it was safe.
Her own nose wasn’t reliable, but fortunately, she had Dahuang.
…
Qingyang Hall.
Shang Guanqi finished his morning ablutions early and prepared to go horseback riding at the riding grounds.
Outside the main hall, a crowd had gathered, clamoring as if fighting over something.
At the sound of Shang Guanqi’s footsteps, everyone was startled and immediately stood in two rows with their hands at their sides, not daring to breathe loudly.
Shang Guanqi approached and glanced at the messy pastry crumbs on the stone table. “What is this?”
A eunuch replied, “It was sent from Moon Departure Palace. The Emperor brought back rewards from last night’s outing, and everyone received a share.”
The little thing thinks she can win people over with small favors. She must be tired of living.
“If you like the pastries from Moon Departure Palace, then from today onward, all of you will be assigned to serve in the Moon-Severance Kingdom.”
“Lord of a Thousand Years, we dare not!”The servants were so frightened they knelt on the ground begging for mercy, dropping all the pastries they had scrambled for and not daring to eat another bite.
Shang Guanqi left them behind and headed to the horse grounds.
Wuhuan led out the white jade horse, and Shang Guanqi noticed a new dark-colored tassel hanging from the hilt of his sword.
Wuhuan reported truthfully, “This was given to me by Luzhu this morning.”
Just then, Wuqing came running from a distance, holding a sachet in his hand, and shouted, “Lord of a Thousand Years, Lord of a Thousand Years, the Emperor gave me a sachet! He knows that I…”
Before he could finish, Shang Guanqi’s horsewhip struck him on the head.
Shang Guanqi turned and left the horse grounds. After only a few steps, a large yellow dog burst out from the bushes.
His sharp eyes immediately spotted a brand-new dog collar around its neck.
Even a stray dog had received a gift from Jiang Lige…
“Hmph!”
With a tense expression, Shang Guanqi turned and headed to Longevity Lake.
…
Jiang Lige searched for a long time with the Iris Brew in her arms, finally finding Shang Guanqi drinking on the painted pleasure boat on Longevity Lake.
She looked left and right but didn’t see Wuhuan anywhere, so she had to climb onto the skiff herself and row toward the center of the lake with the boat pole.
But rowing looked simple—in her hands, it was completely uncontrollable. She wanted to move forward, but when she pushed hard with the pole, the skiff drifted backward instead.
After struggling for what felt like ages, her hands sore, the little skiff finally inched its way to the center of the lake.
With victory in sight, Jiang Lige mustered all her strength and plunged the pole into the water. The skiff didn’t move forward or backward—it just spun in place on the lake’s surface.
Panicking, Jiang Lige waved the pole around wildly, but instead of stopping, the skiff spun even more joyfully.
“Utterly foolish.”
Shang Guanqi, watching from the painted pleasure boat, had seen enough. He leaped down onto the skiff, grabbed Jiang Lige by the shoulder, and used his lightness skill to carry her back to the painted boat.
Thud—
Jiang Lige was dropped unceremoniously onto the deck.
Shang Guanqi returned to his seat and continued drinking. Jiang Lige let out a pained “aiyo,” got up from the floor, glanced at the skiff, then back at Shang Guanqi.
Her Iris Brew was still on the skiff, but with Shang Guanqi’s face as dark as thunder, she didn’t dare ask him to fetch it.
“Nine Thousand Years, drinking in the morning isn’t good for your health,” she said with a flattering smile, trying to make polite conversation.
Shang Guanqi clinked his cup loudly and, right in front of her, tilted his head back and downed a large cup.
Jiang Lige fell silent. Drink, then. Drink yourself to death—it’s none of my business.
She stayed quiet, but Shang Guanqi spoke.
“Last night, the Emperor visited Flower-Filled Tower. Were the people there to the Emperor’s satisfaction?”
Jiang Lige thought he was asking about the courtesans at Flower-Filled Tower, and besides, she didn’t want to reveal her secret as a woman.
So she put on a frivolous, playful air and laughed, “Two words: absolutely stunning. I’ve never met someone like that—talented and charming. Truly unforgettable.”
Talented and charming? Unforgettable? Absolutely stunning?
Had Xie Shu captured her heart so easily?
Clang! This time, Shang Guanqi slammed the wine pot directly onto the table. Jiang Lige jumped in fright.
What’s wrong with this damned eunuch today? His low-pressure aura is radiating so strongly.
Uncertain, she decided she didn’t want to stay any longer.
“Nine Thousand Years, I just remembered I haven’t walked the dog yet. I’ll head back to shore. Could you please help me back to the skiff?” Jiang Lige asked meekly.
It was unclear how much wine Shang Guanqi had drunk, but his cheeks were flushed. His gaze shifted toward her, eyes glistening with a damp, almost resentful haze…
“You don’t want to share a room with me? Fine. I’ll leave, then.””Hey, hey, hey, that’s not it…”
Before Jiang Lige could finish her sentence, Shang Guanqi had already grabbed the wine jug and flown away using Lightness Skill.
Left alone on the Painted Pleasure Boat, Jiang Lige looked around at the shoreless expanse and wore an expression even more helpless than Dahuang’s…
Who was going to come and rescue her?