Chapter 4
Yet Lu Li said: “Niangniang, His Highness the Crown Prince has already arrived at the Palace entrance. You must hurry.”

Another palace maid hurriedly stepped forward, using a warm towel to clean my face and hands.

“Lu Li, I——”

Lu Li cut me short: “Niangniang, you have to go!”

Yet another palace maid pressed me down into the chair, the maids surrounding me front and back, right and left. One put on my makeup, and another one combed my hair.

I looked for Lu Li from a crack between the bodies: “Lu Li, I——”

“Niangniang! You cannot continue acting so temperamental!”

Lu Li again said, personally holding a golden embroidered phoenix skirt that spilled out from her hands as she waited to the side.

Talking over another woman, are you crazy? As a result, I obediently shut up, allowing them to tidy me up, up and down, inside and out.

When I exited the Palace hall’s door while grasping Lu Li’s hand, I suddenly once again recalled the words that I had wanted to say before being interrupted countless times, thus turning my head to look at Lu Li, wanting to say something but hesitating to do so.

Lu Li promptly asked me in a lowered voice: “Niangniang, do you still have any matters to attend to?”

I only now could finally finish my entire sentence: “Lu Li, please put away my Eight Treasures Congee, when I come back, I’ll continue drinking it.”

The corner of Lu Li’s mouth twitched twice, but in the end, she couldn’t say anything.

I turned my head forward, looking at the crowd of Eastern Palace pinfei, my eyes brightening. Heh! Truly possessing a thousand charms, the most outstanding a!

I tried to suppress the arousal I felt inside and walked forward, putting on a front of virtuousness as I fixed Huang Liang Yuan’s collar, helped Li Cheng Hui arrange the tassels that hung from her waist, and then smoothed out a stray hair in front of Chen Liang Di’s face…… When I was about to bend down to tidy up Wang Zhao Xun’s white flower skirt, Lu Li could no longer bear to watch, stopping me and forcing a smile: “Niangniang, please hurry, His Highness the Crown Prince will arrive at the Palace doors soon.”

(T/N: If you look at these concubines’ traits on glossary and cast, you will get what he doing…)

I looked at Lu Li’s frantic eyes, then turned my head to look at the eyes of the astounded beauties, and gave a resigned nod: “Alright, let’s go then.”

But inside I thought – tofu isn’t something that you can eat in one day, I’ll leave it for now.

(T/N: tofu as a term used to insinuate the intimacy between male and female.)

Leading the group of plump and petite beauties like a parade to the front entrance of the palace, yet I still didn’t see that Crown Prince Qi Sheng’s figure after reaching the gate. I then recalled that women were always a species who have loved to exaggerate, and as such, Lu Li’s words couldn’t be trusted. Thus, I had no alternative but to lead the group of delicate and lovely beauties to wait at the Palace gates. Only after waiting a couple of small hours did I finally see Qi Sheng’s distant figure.

This was the third time that I had seen Qi Sheng. He appeared to be darker than the last time I had seen him, and I suddenly felt less fed up with him. After all, men are more like men if they’re a bit darker.

(E/N: Darker in skin tone)

Leading the beautiful orioles and swallows in a row and saying a few sentences that befit the situation, I turned my body around towards the beauties and saw a deceitful light flashing through their eyes. My mood sunk as I really wanted to properly teach these female compatriots: You all don’t have anything in your heads a! Did you never learn that a man’s inner qualities should be greater than his looks!

At the same time, I couldn’t help but resent that Heavenly Lord Siming. If that guy had set up my spirit in that Crown Prince’s body, how great would that be?

Luckily, Qi Sheng, this guy, no matter toward whom, would always turn a cold face toward them. My heart was feeling no little amount of comfort. After, I heard Qi Sheng say a few words to dismiss all the beauties, and my heart felt even more ecstatic. I couldn’t help but turn my head to shoot a glance at Lu Li, and surprisingly saw that her eyes were also filled with happiness.

I didn’t expect that Lu Li would be a kindred spirit, really making one want to hold both her hands and shout out comrade: As it turns out, you also couldn’t bear to see these beauties fall for Qi Sheng’s evil schemes a!

(T/N: LOL, yea sure, Lu Li is also a lecher like you.)

I couldn’t help but squeeze the hand that Lu Li was using to support me, the edge of my mouth lifting upwards in a smile.

Lu Li returned my smile, squeezing my hand strongly.

(T/N: lmao, so he thinks Lu Li is also lecherous, and smile at her; at the same time, Lu Li was happy cuz the crown prince dismiss other concubines, but make crown princess stay and is like “aww, he starts to care for you now.” Talk about misunderstanding)

Qi Sheng looked at me, his face still holding the same cold expression. When his gaze stopped on the hand that I was using to hold Lu Li’s, the corner of his lip rose coldly, startling me to the point where I almost flung away her hand, almost thinking aloud in order to explain: Your Eastern Palace beauties, I have not touched a single one!

Who would have thought that Qi Sheng instead didn’t say anything, merely turning his body to walk inside the Eastern Palace. When I had watched Qi Sheng walk the entire way into the Palace hall, I only then suddenly realized. Oh shit! This youngster dismissed all those other concubines, perhaps it was to sleep with me?

Lu Li pinched my hand strongly and I turned my head to look at her. The corner of her lip was still raised in a smile. I then again glanced toward the middle of the Palace hall where Qi Sheng was, and Lu Li looked at me encouragingly.

I followed Lu Li’s gaze and saw that Qi Sheng turning around, expressionlessly looking at me as he slowly raised his two arms.

This is wanting me to go over there to give him a hug?

Inside my head, my emotions and my reason intensely battled it out. Finally, I convinced myself, thinking that even Han Xin had to endure disgraces. After that, in front of all the pretty palace maids, I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes, stepping forward to give Qi Sheng a brotherly hug.

[T/N: Han Xin was Liu Bang’s general (Liu Bang was first Han dynasty emperor). When Han Xin’s was very young, he was poor and despised by those that he relied on. He sold off everything to build a good grave for his passing father, short of the sword. Han Xin often seen carrying that sword around even though he was skinny and appear to be weak. A thug saw that and mocked him, said either Han Xin kill him with that sword, or crawl through his legs (crawling between another person legs considered as one of the worst insult). Han Xin didnt want to be a criminal, so he crawled instead. It is insinuate here that Peng Peng convinced herself that she should withstand the insults for now in order to achieve a greater cause].

I really was shameless, I really was greedy for life and afraid of death, I really was a capable person, I really……

Qi Sheng was still not moving, his arms still raised, and his expression still apathetic he said: “Change clothes.”

A? So it turns out that he didn’t want a hug a! I embarrassedly released my arms, wondering if this brother wanted to change his clothes or relieve himself?

Qi Sheng looked down at me, sneering as he asked disdainfully: “So you couldn’t wait?”

I stared blankly, mulling over it for a moment before finally understanding what Qi Sheng meant. I felt my forehead heating up, almost cursing him out loud. I, this great grandfather, have every day stood firm in front of the domineering breasts before my eyes – do you really think that I would be impatient for you?!

Isn’t it you that couldn’t wait, your whole family all couldn’t wait!

Perhaps because she had seen that I was about to lose my calm, Lu Li promptly stepped up from my side, giving a meaningful look toward the nearby palace maids for them to take off his cloak. Upon seeing this, they all came up to surround him, also coming over to help Lu Li, as well as coming over to help me change.

I calmed myself down, understanding the current situation. I was only a mere small and little Crown Princess, and was still too far from the Empress Dowager, without any capital to display my superiority. For the time being, I’ll just endure it.

As such, I learned from Qi Sheng’s manner, moving my two arms up slightly and letting the pretty palace maids take off my clothes.

Hei! I’ll no longer speak. I only need to close my eyes and not think about it, for the sake of my health. Like this it wasn’t so bad!

After changing into a casual dress, the inner servants came from outside to bring in the food. Only then did I suddenly recall my Laba congee, and couldn’t help but turn my head toward Lu Li, mouthing toward her: Did you preserve my congee?

Lu Li was quite helpless, carefully shooting a glance toward Qi Sheng before hurriedly nodding.

My heart finally came down, sitting on my chair in relief and calmly waited for my bowl of Laba congee.

Who would have thought that Qi Sheng would suddenly get up, and with a fling of his sleeves, walk out.

His act of walking off, don’t even mention Lu Li, but even I was staring blankly. It took a while until I slowly came back to my senses, lowering my head to look toward Lu Li, who had knelt by my side, looking up at me, calling with concern: “Niangniang……”

I raised my head and looked at the Palace entrance, and then once again bowed my head to look down at Lu Li, asking in an extremely puzzled voice: “Why is my Laba congee still not here?”

Lu Li: “……”

Even if the Crown Prince walked off, the dishes would still have to be served. In front of me was a table of sumptuous delicacies, and I was super HAPPY as I ate, thinking how I wouldn’t have to sleep together with a man tonight, even drinking another bowl of Laba congee.

However, Lu Li stared at me from the side with red-rimmed eyes, and only when I had handed over my bowl to her so that she could scoop some more food in, did Lu Li drop down kneeling with a plop by my feet, hugging me and crying softly: “Niangniang…… please stop bringing down this suffering on yourself!”

I was silenced by this yatou, and could only use my hand to lightly pat her back, softly saying: “Good Lu Li, you don’t want me to eat too much right?”

However, Lu Li continued to sob: “His Highness, he… there will be a day where he’ll change his mind.”

I once again spoke: “Enough, stop crying, hurry up and bring that plate of spicy chicken closer. Putting it that far, how am I supposed to reach it a!”

Lu Li resolutely wiped away her tears, raising her head to look at me: “Niangniang, we absolutely have to make that slut Jiang-shi live a life worse than death!”

Fine! This is definitely the chicken talking to the duck.

With the end of the year nearing, the Palace also began to busy itself. Ever since that day when Qi Sheng had brushed his sleeves off and left my Palace hall, he had never crossed my hall’s entrance again. Only in the few days during the passing of the New Year did Qi Sheng call for me, bringing me to walk a few times and visit the other concubines for seasonal greetings. Aside from these cases, he didn’t listen to nor question my matters.

Since the boss had released me, I could laugh freely. But Lu Li’s expression got gloomier by the day, until I finally couldn’t stand looking at her anymore, and with no other choice began to preach: “Lu Li a, it’s already the New Year, can’t we laugh a bit? You had on that face filled with bitterness the entire day, was it because you think that I gave you too little in your red envelope?”

(E/N: Red packet – hongbao 红包 – money gift in a red envelope given on New Year’s; now you can ask your parents for your New Year’s hongbao kek)

But no matter what I said, Lu Li only looked at me silently, the sympathy in her eyes clear and easy to see, seeming to say: You don’t have to continue saying anything…… I…… understand everything……

I turned my face toward the sky and with a long sigh, I finally gave up.

Thus, I continued being my free self, and Lu Li continued to be her grieving self.

The day went by just like this, half bright and beautiful and half aggrieved, and only until the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year did Lu Li allow the grief on her face to be swept away. Since waking up in the morning, she had been overturning trunks and boxes in order to find the dress I would use for the dinner party. Looking at her busily working in a cheerful and lighthearted manner, I couldn’t bear to deprive her of this small joy, so I allowed her to do as she will with my face and body.

Actually, us, these great grandfathers, are really frustrated with wearing these red or green clothes, but thinking that New Year’s should be a festive occasion, I thus became well-behaved and obediently put on the crimson palace dress that Lu Li had prepared, and after going outside, also draped a crimson mantle over it all.

In order to lie to even myself, I didn’t even dare to look at my reflection in the mirror, only acting like I was invisible.

I was still worried, so I asked Lu Li: “Today I wore only red, you don’t think that the Crown Prince will wear all green to match with me right?”

Lu Li giggled.

I couldn’t help but follow her lead and laugh as well, quietly saying: “Foolish yatou, it’s the New Year, it’s only right to laugh more.”

Unexpectedly after Lu Li had heard these words, she stopped laughing, merely looking toward the entrance of the Palace before lowering her head and carefully abiding by proper etiquette, calling out: “Crown Prince, Your Highness.”

I turned my head, seeing Qi Sheng. I didn’t know since when he had come, standing outside the door at that moment, silently sizing me up.

I also sized him up, looking him up and down. Fortunately, Qi Sheng didn’t wear an entire body of green, and I was able to let out a large sigh of relief.