Shoutout to Tachibanaswife for the commission!
Looking at Luli’s excited face, I finally understood, there’s a kind of dog that’s born to chase rabbits.
Luli looked left and right, trying to find a stick nearby. I quickly grabbed her and whispered, “Forget it. By the time you find a stick, the opportunity will be long gone.”
Zhao Wang had been gone for a while. I figured even if it was for a big business, he should be coming back by now. I directed Luli to hide behind a thick pillar, while I hid behind another one.
A moment later, I heard footsteps approaching along the corridor. I cautiously peeked out and sure enough saw Zhao Wang, alone, swaying as he walked toward us.
I quickly gestured to Luli to get ready.
Luli still seemed nervous, one foot unconsciously tapping the ground like keeping rhythm. I had a bad feeling, this girl was going to mess things up.
Sure enough, as Zhao Wang got closer and closer, just when he was about to reach us, Luli suddenly shouted loudly and then charged out with the cloak raised.
I covered my forehead with my hand, my intestines turning green with regret. I wished I could slap Luli unconscious, who gives the target a warning before a sneak attack? Luli, we’re trying to knock someone out, not play bandits robbing people!
Sigh! Truly, different trades are like different mountains!
At this point, complaining about Luli was useless. I hurriedly rushed out after her, only hoping that by some miracle, Zhao Wang was so drunk he’d collapse just from being startled.
But how drunk would he have to be for that?
I saw Zhao Wang’s body shift swiftly, dodging Luli’s tiger-like pounce. Then with a hook of his foot, Luli continued flying forward. At the same time, Zhao Wang struck out with a hand chop aimed at the back of her neck.
Seeing this, I was alarmed and shouted, “Spare her!”
Zhao Wang’s hand paused slightly, but still came down, though with much less force. Luli gave a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground.
Good for nothing but ruining things, that’s Luli!
I was both angry and anxious. I rushed forward to check her, first feeling the pulse at her neck, then testing her breathing. Seeing that she had only fainted, I finally relaxed and turned to look at Zhao Wang.
Zhao Wang immediately held his head and leaned against the pillar as if still drunk.
I said, “Enough, stop pretending. Hurry up, this ground is cold. If she lies here too long, she’ll get seriously ill. Come help me lift her.”
Zhao Wang’s body stiffened slightly, but he straightened up and walked over, bending down to examine me with narrowed eyes.
I glanced around, pointed to Wangmei Pavilion not far away, and said, “Over there, it’s warmer.”
This time Zhao Wang was quite straightforward. He bent down, scooped Luli up in both arms, and strode toward Wangmei Pavilion. There were no attendants inside. He laid Luli on a couch, then turned back to me and asked, “Imperial Sister-in-law, shouldn’t you explain what this is all about?”
I ignored him, tucked the cloak tightly around Luli, and turned to leave.
Zhao Wang seemed to pause for a moment before following me out. The two of us squatted together on the steps outside.
For a while, neither of us spoke. We just stared blankly at the winter plum blossoms blooming below the steps. After a moment, I turned and asked, “You want to know what this was about?”
Zhao Wang didn’t speak, just nodded.
I looked at him provocatively. “Nothing much. I just don’t like you and wanted to beat you up to vent my anger.”
Zhao Wang raised his brows, somewhat surprised. “So it wasn’t to take revenge for Wanjiang?”
I let out a snort and shook my head. “Didn’t think that far.”
Zhao Wang stared at me in astonishment. I turned back to gaze at the plum grove again. After a while, he suddenly asked quietly, “Do you know about Yingyue?”
I couldn’t help curling my lips. “She’s in Youlan Hall. I’ve been feeding her delicacies every day, yet she won’t gain a bit of weight. Her stomach really has no conscience!”
Zhao Wang looked even more stunned. It took him a long time to recover before sighing, “I didn’t expect that after nearly drowning once, you’d become so clear-headed.”
I figured Qi Sheng wouldn’t go around telling everyone I was a soul inhabiting another body, so I just gave a faint smile and said, “After a trip through the gates of h*ll, even a stone would turn into a crystal.”
Zhao Wang fell silent again, then suddenly said, “She keeps saying she doesn’t love Third Brother’s power. Tell me, aside from not being the Crown Prince, where am I inferior to him? If our positions were swapped, would she still be like this?”
That was quite a deep question. I thought about it for a long time but couldn’t give a definite answer, so I replied instead, “Have you ever asked a dung beetle why it likes rolling dung balls from birth? Wouldn’t it roll other balls the same way?”
Zhao Wang froze, then burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he fell onto his back on the ground, unable to stop for a long while. Gasping with laughter, he said, “She said she wanted exclusive love, so I dismissed all my concubines. She said love can’t tolerate even a grain of sand, so I showed no favor to any maid by my side. I coaxed her, respected her, and in the end, she asks another man for a lifetime of one-to-one devotion.”
By the end, his voice was choked. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand and paused for a long time before asking again, “Third Sister-in-law, how can there be such a woman in this world? What is she thinking?”
I was speechless. After frowning and thinking hard for a while, I could only answer honestly, “I really don’t understand the life of a dung beetle.”
Zhao Wang burst out laughing again, then sprang up from the ground and stared at me. “Third Sister-in-law, I suddenly realize I quite like you.”
I was startled, but then saw the door behind him quietly open. Luli poked her head out like a thief, holding my cloak, and lunged straight at Zhao Wang.
This time Zhao Wang was unprepared, and since he was squatting on the steps, he was knocked straight over.
Luli ended up straddling him, turning back to me excitedly. “Your Majesty, are we still hitting him or not?”
I froze, looking up at Luli with great admiration for a moment. Then I gritted my teeth, rolled up my sleeves, and went over. “Hit him! Friendship is friendship, fighting is fighting! Luli, hit him hard! We’ve got to avenge Wanjiang no matter what!”
Luli and I punched and kicked at the cloak. From underneath came Zhao Wang’s muffled voice: “Third Sister-in-law, not the head or face! I still have to return to the main hall!”
My anger flared even more. I gave him a few more hard kicks before stopping, clapping my hands and instructing Luli, “That’s enough. We’ve vented our anger. Let’s go!”
With that, I grabbed Luli and strode off.
Back in the main hall, the banquet was still ongoing. I sat back down at my seat, barely having caught my breath, when the “dung ball” comrade beside me coldly asked, “Where did you just go?”
