Would You Like to Have a Drink

The servants in the palace were mostly well-trained, after all, they served the tyrant diligently, naturally knowing what to say and what not to say.

At first glance at the Third Highness’s frosty hair, everyone was surprised, but they dared not show too much and continued to bury their heads in their work.

Early today in front of the Great Witch Temple, His Majesty specifically ordered the servants to receive the wind and wash the dust for the Third Prince. (TL: receive the wind and wash the dust-hosting a banquet to entertain guests from afar to show condolences or welcome)

So early this morning, when the sky was just bright, the Yuchun Palace became busy. The Haunyi Bureau sent the newly made clothes, the servants prepared hot water in the bath, the imperial kitchen was already on standby, even the palace people who were not assigned specific tasks were walking around with incense burners, making the entire Yuchun Palace fragrant. Even the very rare ice, Yuchun Palace also got the most.

(TL: Huanyi Bureau=Washing Clothes Bureau or Laundry Bureau)

The once quiet palace also became lively because of the return of another person.

Before this, there had never been such a scale. Not to mention the issue of favoritism, the Ninth Prince who was previously recognized as the most favored had never been personally asked by His Majesty.

Many palace people who were good at catching the wind and shadows have a premonition in their hearts. Even if the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony had not yet been held, everyone knew it well. (TL: catching the wind and shadows-make groundless accusations or speak on hearsay evidence)

This Yuchun Palace was finally about to welcome its real master.

Because of the eunuch’s message, the imperial report was postponed, Mu Yuanlong and Zong Luo separated at the gate of the palace, one returned to the palace and the other returned to the mansion. The Xuan Cavalry returned to the barracks to put away their equipment, and they all entered a state of rest, waiting for orders at any time.

Although he had made psychological preparations all the way, when he really approached the Imperial City, Zong Luo couldn’t help but panic.

No matter how one said it, being honest about such things was a psychological torture and test in itself. No matter what the reaction of Emperor Yuan would be afterwards, it would take almost a lifetime of courage to say it.

Not to mention that after Emperor Yuan knew about it in his previous life, he wrote that decree in anger.

Zong Luo even felt that he could finally ask for a banishment to the frontier, which was already the greatest kindness of the iron-blooded emperor.

Zong Luo had rarely been so scared.

Even if he knelt down and committed suicide in his previous life, he was not so scared that his fingertips were shaking.

Just now on the Zhuque Avenue, he almost exhausted all his strength to straighten his back, and maintained a stiff smile on his face, never realizing that this road was so long.

Fortunately, when he returned to the court, Emperor Yuan did not come to pick him up like he did when he sent him off, otherwise Zong Luo really doubted whether he could hold back his emotions and not reveal any clues in front of the always sharp Emperor Yuan.

He walked all the way with such trepidation. Only when he heard the eunuch at the gate of the palace say that His Majesty was not in the palace at the moment, did he finally come back to his senses and said a low “okay”.

In an instant, the hanging heart suddenly relaxed. The emotions were ups and downs, just feeling like riding a roller coaster.

“Is the hot water ready?”

The palace maid hurriedly replied. “Hot water, meals, and clothes are all ready, Your Highness.”

When people were most nervous, they usually didn’t want to do anything else.

Zong Luo urgently needed some other methods to relieve his current irritability. Otherwise, he was afraid that when he really stood in front of Emperor Yuan, he wouldn’t even be able to utter a word.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t had it when he was a child. When he was called by the teacher during class, he clearly had a simple question, but he couldn’t figure it out after standing up, so he could only stand awkwardly. Being too nervous really made it easy to do bad things.

Just as Zong Luo was preparing to take a good bath, wash away the dust on his body, and tidy up his mood, Pei Qianxue rushed over in a hurry.

The calm face of the green-robed prime minister was dyed with anxiety, and even the collar and temples were unprecedentedly messy.

As one knew, Pei Qianxue had always been a cold and out-of-the-world, controlling appearance like a deep pool and towering mountains, even Zong Luo had never seen him lose his composure.

“Jin Yu.”

Seeing Zong Luo, Pei Qianxue called out, and then showed a look of astonishment. “Your hair….”

“It’s a side effect of the pill, it’s not a big deal.”

Zong Luo lightly skipped over. “Ah Xue came to find me, is there something wrong?”

Soon, they sat in an absolutely quiet room within the Yuchun Palace.

After entering the door, Pei Qianxue didn’t rush to speak, but first looked around, and after confirming that there was no mistake, he said in a low voice. “Jin Yu, I have something to tell you.”

Actually, this move was really a bit redundant.

The palace of the Great Yuan could be said to be the safest place in the Great Wilderness. Even if the walls have ears, they couldn’t be separated in Yuchun Palace. However, Zong Luo smelled a different smell from his actions.

In fact, it was exactly that.

Since having that dream three months ago, Pei Qianxue had almost tossed and turned every night, unable to sleep.

That night, he thought of going to the palace to find Zong Luo, and for a while he was careless and forgot that the palace had a curfew.

Even if it was the Prime Minister of Great Yuan, without important matters to report, he couldn’t ignore the curfew and enter the palace at night.

Of course, if he had to enter, Pei Qianxue would not be unable to enter.

It’s just that he didn’t want to make a big deal of this matter, especially, he couldn’t let Emperor Yuan know, even if it’s just catching the wind and shadows.

In desperation, he had to return to the Pei Mansion.

However, what no one expected was that the next day, Zong Luo went to the palace to ask for a battle assignment. His actions were swift and decisive. After barely getting the Emperor Yuan’s approval, ended the troop roll call in the afternoon, he quickly led the troops away, and didn’t even stay in the Imperial City for an extra second.

As one could imagine, Pei Qianxue was left empty-handed again.

The problem was that this matter could only be discussed face-to-face and couldn’t be recorded in any way. Even if it was to deliver a secret letter, there was a risk of being intercepted halfway, and Pei Qianxue naturally couldn’t take this risk and put his best friend and the person in his heart in such a dangerous situation.

Of course, he also couldn’t reveal a word of these things to Emperor Yuan.

So, after waiting anxiously for three months, when he heard the news of the Third Prince’s return to court, Pei Qianxue rushed to the palace for the first time.

“Three months ago, I wanted to tell you, but you left too quickly that day, and there was no warning, so it dragged on until today.”

Pei Qianxue was choosing his words.