The Imperial Study in the palace was a scene of Mingde Emperor's great fury.
"What does Feng Shihao intend to do! Courting officials, colluding with factions, even Cao Li is speaking for him today! Does he think I truly dare not do anything to him?!"
When his imperial sister was around, he acted so obediently. Now, he's revealing his ambition!
He knew it. The son of the rebellious King An was a traitor at heart. His father had truly raised a wolf in sheep's clothing, look at all the ungrateful wretches he had raised!
"Your Majesty, the court officials are all petitioning for you to choose an empress and establish consorts. Why not take this opportunity to broaden your harem and let them understand who the ruler is," Lei Hua suggested.
Choosing an empress and establishing consorts.
Yes, a year had passed, and the court officials were growing impatient.
Before, he had also thought of asking his imperial sister, who had good taste, to help him choose. But now, she was angry and wouldn't return.
"Fu Lu, summon Ruan Ji to the palace."
Ruan Ji received a letter from the Divine Martial General, and then was summoned to the palace. For officials like them who were closer to the Divine Martial General, the Emperor had eyes everywhere!
He bowed respectfully and offered his greetings.
"Ruan Ji, who sent you the pigeon post?" Mingde Emperor had no patience for beating around the bush.
Ruan Ji dared not conceal anything, respectfully presenting the letter in his hand. "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is a letter from the Divine Martial General."
Fu Lu took the letter and handed it to Mingde Emperor with both hands.
The paper was thin, only one sheet. Ugly handwriting met his eyes. Mingde Emperor frowned. "Did Xiao Shan write this?"
His previous memorials were not written like this.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it was written by the Divine Martial General himself," Ruan Ji replied respectfully.
Truly ugly!
Mingde Emperor carefully deciphered the letter. After reading it, his face was ashen.
"What is he asking?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the General is asking how to win the heart of a maiden whose heart is as pure as a child's, to make her devoted and faithful until old age."
Mingde Emperor was somewhat bewildered. "Why is he asking you this?"
"This, this..." Ruan Ji blushed slightly. "Perhaps, I have more experience."
Mingde Emperor tore the letter to shreds!
"I wasn't asking about this!"
He was asking why Xiao Shan was asking this question! Had he forgotten his imperial sister? Had he fallen for someone else? Was he interested in someone else now?
Then what about his imperial sister?
She would be sad!
Wait, where did he find a woman by his side? Wasn't there only a child?
A child-like woman... Could it be that it wasn't a child, but a dwarf?
He had even destroyed a brothel and a county magistrate for that child!
No, he had to have the secret guards sketch the child's appearance to see what kind of person had captivated Xiao Shan!
It was infuriating. After so long, his imperial sister had no news, yet he was preoccupied with someone else all day.
Ruan Ji secretly bit his tongue. Actually, the Divine Martial General had sent two letters. Another was the complete dossier and all the background information on the former Prime Minister before investigating the Qi Rong spies.
However, the Emperor did not seem to pay much attention, so he did not mention it.
"Report—Urgent report from the Southwest!"
Layers of reports echoed from the palace road. Guards ran all the way to the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, this is an urgent eight-hundred-li report sent by Gu Pei, the Lord of Lizhou City!"
Mingde Emperor was startled. Could it be that Qi Rong was disturbing the border again?
Fu Lu hurriedly brought the letter in. Mingde Emperor opened it and quickly read through it. His originally solemn face gradually relaxed, then broke into a look of great joy.
"Changyun Mountain is suddenly emitting golden light, and the people are worshipping endlessly. Imperial sister, it must be my imperial sister! Lei Hua, quickly arrange for people to investigate! Ensure the divine maiden is brought back safely!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, your subordinate will dispatch people immediately!"
The divine maiden went to Changyun Mountain?
And the Divine Martial General was lingering in Suiye. Could this be possible?
Ruan Ji did not quite believe it. Should he inform the General about this matter?
At this moment, Xiao Shan had been eagerly awaiting Ruan Ji's reply since sending the letter, as Ling Yao had seemed increasingly distant towards him lately.
She was gentle and demure, like a young lady bound by etiquette.
Even when he made physical contact from time to time, like patting her head, her back, holding her hands, or pinching her cheeks, she showed little reaction.
Before, she used to eagerly seek his favor.
Did he no longer have any appeal?
However, she hadn't been constantly complaining about hunger. Every day, he prepared meals with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, feeding her in small portions. After seven or eight days, she had now returned to her normal adult appetite. He wondered if her stomach had shrunk back to its original size.
One day, after finishing their meal at the inn, Xiao Shan went to pay the bill.
Ling Yao sat at the table, looking at the empty plates before her. She really wanted to cry. Didn't they say she wouldn't be hungry if her stomach was smaller? Why was she still so hungry that her vision blurred? She looked at the chicken leg in the hand of the young boy at the next table, who was eating with oil all over his mouth.
She couldn't help but swallow.
The young boy had been paying attention to Ling Yao since he started eating, stealing glances from time to time. Now, sensing Ling Yao's constant gaze, his heart pounded like a rabbit trapped in his chest.
He wanted to marry someone like her when he grew up.
She was so cute.
Even when eating, she took small, elegant bites.
The young servant beside him leaned into his ear, "Young Master, hurry and ask for her name. She seems to want the chicken leg. Quickly offer it to her."
The young boy's fair face turned red, his eyes filled with shyness and uncertainty. "Isn't it too forward?"
"Oh dear, her father will be back soon, and they'll leave. Where will you find her then?"
Yes, he had to ask where she lived so he could visit her often in the future.
A plate of chicken legs landed before Ling Yao.
From a distance, she could only sigh enviously and resist the temptation. Now, with the chicken legs right under her nose, the aroma constantly wafting into her nostrils, her stomach was roaring, her mouth watering, and she was screaming with hunger—hungry, hungry, hungry!
"Take it away." She averted her eyes, her fingers clenched tightly.
She knew her self-control wasn't strong. If this young boy said just one more word...
She glanced back and saw Xiao Shan pointing at the menu hanging on the wall, talking to the innkeeper.
Perhaps she could eat one. Eating just one wouldn't stretch her stomach too much.
"I'm sorry, it was presumptuous of me." The young boy moved the plate away, his face full of apology.
"Forget it. Seeing as you're pitiful, I'll give you face and only eat one!"
Ling Yao directly picked up a chicken leg with her hand and began to gnaw on it quickly.
The young servant's eyes widened. This young lady was skilled in playing hard to get, but she wasn't annoying at all, quite cute, in fact.
The young boy's face lit up with surprise as he watched Ling Yao devour a chicken leg in a few large bites.
She looked back and saw Xiao Shan had finished speaking and was about to turn. She hastily swallowed the food in her mouth, almost choking to death.
"Slow down, slow down. There's plenty more, all for you to eat."
Seeing her face turn red from holding her breath, the young boy quickly stood up and brought her water, even patting her back.
"What are you doing?" a sharp voice bellowed.
Xiao Shan rushed over like a gust of wind. Before the young boy could even turn around, he was grabbed by the collar and thrown to the ground.
"Young Master, Young Master, are you alright?"