From the beginning up to the end, Lin Chujiu didnât know that someone else was inside the bathroom. Even when that person left, she was still unaware.
Lin Chujiu soaked herself a little longer than usual. She reluctantly came out of the bathtub, when the water became slightly cold. As she moved out, the water splashed. Unfortunately, someone left early and didnât see anything.
After wrapping her hair and drying her body, Lin Chujiu put her clothes one by one. She wore her silk clothes as if nothing was wrong in her body. She didnât grimace in pain because of her knees.
However, Lin Chujiu thought, she should give herself some medicine to let the blood on her knees flow smoothly.
Her knees hurt a bit, but it was much better than she was in the carriage before.
*
After putting her clothes, Lin Chujiu, who has a refres.h.i.+ng look walked into the inner room. Shanhu and Manao came forward and diligently helped her to dress. Feicui brought fresh water, while Zhanzhu goes to prepare Lin Chujiuâs meals.
âw.a.n.gfei, Su Gongzi is waiting for you in the study room, he said that he will wait for you. Please go in there.â Lin Chujiu nodded her head, but then said: âIf itâs not too urgent, let him wait for a while.â Sheâs been starving the whole day. She wanted to eat before she goes.
âYes,â Feicui answered back.
After a quarter of an hour, Zhenzhu came back and put down the meals the kitchen prepared: âw.a.n.gfei, these foods are good for digestion. Although the taste is a bit bland, they taste good.â
âYou have the heart.â Lin Chujiuâs hair was still not dry at this time, but no water is dripping. She stopped Manao and Shenhu and said: âI am hungry, Iâll eat first.â
During meal time, Lin Chujiu didnât receive strict education about food etiquette. However, she believes with the saying, when in Rome, do as the Romanâs do. So, she rarely spoke during meal time. But today, she asked while eating: âWhat grievances can you suffer in the palace?â
Although her four maidservants said that they didnât suffer, but it doesnât mean they didnât suffer any grievances. She, a w.a.n.gfei suffered many grievances, so what more a servant girls like them.
The four maidservants looked at each other. In the end, Zhenzhu opened her mouth and said: âThe empressâs people removed our clothes and locked us in the chamber.â As soon as she finished her words, the four maidservantsâ eyes redden.
They didnât say anything about it, because it will only embarra.s.s them.
The food in Lin Chujiuâs hand became cold, just like her voice: âThe Empress is really ruthless.âHer four unmarried maidservants were stripped off with their clothes, only a group of people with perverted minds can think of this punishment.
Lin Chujiu took a deep breath and pressed the anger in her heart: âYou can rest a.s.sured that this account, I will write it down for you. I will make them pay sooner or later.â
âw.a.n.gfei, weâre alright.â The four maidservants said as they wiped the tears in their eyes. They smiled and said: âThe same evening, the palace maidservants in Qinghe Palace came to see us, they brought us foods and blankets. Nothing bad really happened.â If the people in the Qinghe Palace didnât help them, they donât how they will survive that night.
Although it was the early summer and the temperature outside was very high, but in the secret chamber under the palace. It was very cold at night. There was only a faint light inside the secret room. Itâs very impossible to warm their body. But they donât dare to walk around.
âFrom Qinghe Palace, Third Prince Xiao Zian?â Lin Chujiu didnât try to comfort her maidservants with words, some damages cannot be consoled by mere words.
âYes, it is Third Prince Xiao Zian.â The four maidservants said, as they secretly murmured in their hearts: We are sorry, w.a.n.gye. We didnât deliberately put good words for the third prince in front of w.a.n.gfei, itâs just⦠â¦
w.a.n.gye, you know.
âThird Prince Xiao Zian has a heart, I will write it down.â Lin Chujiu gently nodded her head and continued eating. But in actuality, she has no appet.i.te.
*
When Xiao Zian learned that Lin Chujiu had an accident, the thing he wanted most to do was to rescue her. Unfortunately, at that moment, no one dared to get on the bad side of the emperor. Xiao Zian couldnât save Lin Chujiu even if he wanted too. He could only help her maidservants.
When Xiao Zian was doing this, he thought about the consequences, so seeing the eunuch calling him to see the emperor, Xiao Zian was not surprised at all.
âThis son greets Imperial father.â Xiao Zian came in and immediately paid respect.
The emperor looked at Xiao Zian, who was kneeling on the floor. He didnât tell him to rise, he only looked at him with eyes full of disappointment.
Xiao Zian was not surprised, so he just quietly knelt in there. He didnât move when the emperor didnât say anything.
After a long while, the emperor said: âZian, Crown Prince said that you rushed to find him yesterday, asking him to help you save Xiao w.a.n.gfei?â
âYes.â Xiao Zian said without hesitation.
When the emperor heard this, he couldnât hide his disappointment: âZian, do you know why Xiao w.a.n.gfei was imprisoned?â
Xiao Zian heard the dissatisfaction in the emperorâs tone, but he still gave an answer according to his own will: âThis son know, but this son doesnât believe Xiao w.a.n.gfei will harm seventh brother.â
âYou donât believe? Just because you donât believe it, you can be sure that she didnât do it? The emperor contemptuously said with a cold voice.
If it werenât for Princess Fushou Zhangâs actions, Lin Chujiu will be proven guilty from poisoning the seventh prince. She cannot change anything.
âImperial father, if Imperial Aunt really wants to poison seventh brother, she will not do it in the empressâs palace and will not save seventh brother afterward.â If Lin Chujiu really wants to harm the royal princes, she will not save him⦠â¦
Xiao Zian didnât say this but kept it inside his mind.
He believes that neither Xiao Tianyao nor Lin Chujiu has ever thought of harming the lives of their brothers.
The emperor said with a bad mood: âWhat if sheâs only trying to confuse us? She might have done it to wash away the suspicion on her. Canât you see, even if you donât have any evidence, you believed that she is innocent.â
The emperorâs words are justified, but Xiao Zian still insists his belief: âImperial Father, Xiao w.a.n.gfei is not like that.â
Xiao Zianâs continuously defending Lin Chujiu made the emperor very unhappy: âZian, you continuously defending Xiao w.a.n.gfei. Do you think Tianyao will support you by doing this?â
âImperial father, Imperial Uncle Xiao has nothing to do with this, this son has done it voluntarily.â Xiao Zian was an open-minded person and didnât evade mentioning that Lin Chujiu was his life-saving grace: âImperial father, this sonâs life was saved by Imperial Aunt. If it werenât for imperial aunt, this son can only sit on the wheelchair for his entire life. Imperial Aunt met an accident, this son will naturally try to help.â
âYou are trying to save Xiao w.a.n.gfei because she saves your life?â The emperorâs eyes slightly squinted as he looked at Xiao Zian.
Xiao Zian looked at the emperorâs eyes without fear and nodded: âPay kindness with kindness.â
If itâs just to repay, then itâs okayâ¦
The emperor relaxed his eyes and gently said: âIt is a good thing that you know how to be kind, but you canât just do it to anyone. Xiao w.a.n.gfei helps you, but your mother has already repaid this debt. You donât owe her anything. If this thing happened again, you donât need to do anything anymore.â
The emperor doesnât want his beloved son to fell on Xiao Tianyao and Lin Chujiuâs trap because of his kindness.
âImperial father, mother is mother, this son is different. Mother thank Xiao w.a.n.gfei for saving this son, but this son also wants to thank Xiao w.a.n.gfei for saving me.â Xiao Zian refused to give in. No matter what the emperor says, he will stick to what he believes is rightâ¦
âSo you mean to say, in order to repay Xiao w.a.n.gfei from saving your life, you will not listen to zhenâs words?â The emperor said and looked very dissatisfied.
âImperial father, this son doesnât dare. But a real gentleman knows what to do and what not to do. This son has his own insistence.â Xiao Zian didnât give an answer directly, but his meaning was the same.
The emperor released a heavy sigh in anger: âGood, good, good⦠⦠Go and stick with your own idea. But donât get up until you make your mind clear.â
The emperor waved his sleeve and left, leaving Xiao Zian kneeling on the floor⦠â¦