Chapter 8, Lan Lu is heavy

As she was secretly calculating, he was gently helping her into her coat. After all, spring had arrived, and she was not dressed heavily; the padded inner garment had already been replaced with one made of white silk with a bamboo leaf pattern. The delicate and understated beauty suited her perfectly. However, the dark purple marks on her chin were somewhat alarming. As he fastened the buttons for her, his fingers lightly brushed over them, "It seems that I will have to send someone to deliver the bruise-reducing medicine tomorrow, Your Highness. It would be better if this area under your throat could heal sooner."

He, however, did not listen, and came forward to support her, while gently saying, "Serving the master is indeed the duty of a subject..." He gazed at her intently and smiled, saying, "Your Highness, are you afraid of me?"

Yin Lou racked her brains to recall, but she truly could not remember when she had interacted with Prince Fu. Raising her eyes to look at Xiao Duo, she noticed he was leisurely examining her feet, which reminded her to lower her skirt. She coughed awkwardly and said, "I do not know His Highness Prince Fu; you haven't rescued the wrong person, have you"

Yin Lou felt her face flush at his slight frown, pondering what he was trying to teach her in the middle of the night, unaware of his true intentions. Having heard much about his notorious reputation, she felt a sense of apprehension and thus spoke with a hint of flattery: "I have taken note of it, but the factory official is different from others; he has granted me a second chance at life, so I will not put on airs in front of you."

Originally intended to change the subject, but Xiao Duo interjected: "He is the brother of the Emperor of the Great Line, His Highness the Prince of Fortune."

"It cannot be wrong; the Empress may not recognize the Prince of Fortune, but it is enough that the Prince recognizes the Empress." He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window. The palace gate was slightly ajar, the latch leaning askew to one side, and two tall palace lanterns illuminated a small patch of ground beneath the gate. He turned back and said, "Even if there is no direct connection, the Empress should have heard of His Highness. The late Emperor's offspring are few, with only the Great Emperor and the Prince of Fortune among them. Now that the Emperor has passed away, the ones who have the opportunity to inherit the great treasure are none other than His Highness and the Prince of Honor." After he finished speaking, he smiled, "These words should not have been spoken to the Empress, but given today's events, it is as if we are in the same boat, and I can no longer stand on ceremony with the Empress. When the Prince of Fortune comes to see the Empress, she will understand the reason behind it. What I mean is, since we are fortunate to have this connection with the Empress, I will do my utmost to support her in the future, and I also ask the Empress to look out for me in front of His Highness. When the Prince of Fortune comes to see the Empress, she will understand the reason behind it. What I mean is, since we are fortunate to have this connection with the Empress, I will do my utmost to support her in the future, and I also ask the Empress to look out for me in front of His Highness. Historically, the inner palace is like the court; only by working together in unity can we share both honor and disgrace, which is the way to longevity."

Outside the window, the night is thick and heavy. By midnight, one is not as alert as during the day; fatigue sets in, and one becomes languid. His expression appears somewhat weary, with a pair of hazy eyes that, if one is not careful, can pierce right into the heart. Yin Lou decided to remain composed and replied calmly: "No, no, it is quite comfortable... Everything is fine, except that Mr. Xiao's condescension makes me feel uneasy. You know, I am not a legitimate master; receiving such generous treatment from you makes me fear I won't be able to sleep soundly at night."

His smile was like a gentle breeze clearing the moonlit sky, especially those eyes, which were deep and tranquil when calm, yet transformed into something captivating when he smiled, long and enchanting, almost soul-stirring. As I leaned in closer, his gentle voice whispered in my ear. A thunderous sound echoed in my heart; I had never realized that the word 'handsome' could be applied to a man until now. It is truly strange why he is only known for his bad reputation, when logically, his fame should be more illustrious.

Yin Lou does not understand the affairs of the court, yet she can incite resentment in everyone; such a person is likely not to be very good. She is also two-faced; although someone saved her, gratitude is only one aspect, and vigilance is still necessary. In this vast harem, there is no love without reason, nor hatred without cause. People are all driven by self-interest; since someone was willing to help her, there must be another story behind it.

"You truly love to joke, my life was saved by you, and I have nothing but gratitude towards you, there is no reason to be afraid." She slightly turned her body, "The factory manager is a good person!"

The situation is utterly bewildering; it is already past midnight. What matters cannot wait until tomorrow? What is the reasoning behind visiting someone in the middle of the night! It would be one thing if Xiao Duo were here, but that Prince Fu is a genuine man, is he not? She is a consort of Emperor Yuanzhen, and it is against the rules for a consort to meet with an outsider. Now, it truly feels like a headless dragon; the prohibitions within the court have become ineffective.

Yin Lou was busy putting on her clothes, preparing to go out, but felt it was rather inconvenient, thus she hesitated, unable to move forward or backward. Xiao Duo was a powerful eunuch; those of higher rank did not even need to refer to themselves as servants in front of the emperor and empress. In the presence of ordinary people, he bore no trace of servility, and even if he did not announce himself, he would still enter boldly, maintaining an air of confidence and ease, engaging in conversation with composure.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Unable to sleep soundly? How could that be! Although I am currently the supervisor of the Eastern Depot, in the eyes of the nobles, I am still a servant. If I were to be arrogant and indulge in favoritism, wouldn't that be a joke! As for what the Empress said about not being a legitimate master, please do not belittle yourself in the future. Since you have received a title, you are justified in your position. Who would dare not to address you as 'Tai Fei'? The rules of propriety would not spare them."

Xiao Duo smiled upon hearing this, "I have mentioned before, it is a matter entrusted to me by others, Your Highness need not take it to heart." He turned to Tong Yun and said, "You may step aside for the time being, I have something to discuss with Her Highness."

He squinted his eyes, and indeed it was a pleasing painting. Han people bound their feet, and a three-inch golden lotus could be easily grasped in one hand, unlike those from the Bu family. The Bu family, whose surname is Bu, originally had the full name Bu Lugen, which was changed to a single character only after they entered the pass with the Long family. The Xianbei people did not practice foot binding, so all the women of the Murong royal family had natural feet. Large feet are good; with big feet, the country is stable. Compared to that fragile and deformed beauty, the unrestrained original appearance is far more appealing.

Xiao Duo could tell that she currently regarded him as a lifeline, simply because he was a eunuch and could not do anything to her. It was truly strange; everyone else avoided him as if he were a plague, yet here was someone relying on him. He smiled, and while it was a curious situation, he did not feel any significant change in his state of mind. Glancing towards the direction of the hall, he saw two palace attendants leading Prince Fu Wang slowly approaching, so he no longer responded to her words and lifted his robe to step down the stairs to greet them.

He is the most considerate person, lifting the quilt to help her put on her shoes. Yin Lou was extremely anxious; a woman's feet should not be seen by men casually. Although he could at most be considered half a man, she was still not accustomed to letting outsiders handle such matters

He flirted with her, and the sound tower was like a young lady in full bloom, trembling violently at the slightest touch. He was astonished to see her blushing, her voice becoming increasingly soft, "Your Highness, what is the matter? Is this subject not serving you well?"

He turned to leave, and Yin Lou took a couple of steps after him, "Xiao Changchen, it's so late now, His Highness the Prince of Fortune is coming at this hour..."

She was anxious and looked around outside the door, calling out for Tongyun in a hushed voice. He raised his hand to stop her, saying, "Your Highness, please be silent. His Highness is only here to take a glance at you and has some private matters to discuss. There is an unrelated person standing nearby, and His Highness has his concerns. If he feels uncomfortable, it may be detrimental to those around you."

She felt that this Lord Xiao held her in too high regard. Just as she was considering finding a way out for herself, a young eunuch outside conveyed through the door curtain: "Returning to the Supervisor, His Highness has passed through the Hundred Sons Gate and is heading towards the Second Palace."

She was bending down to pull off her shoe's heel, her skirt lifted high. Upon hearing the words, she paused there, her small feet not wearing any stockings, with delicate ankles as white as mutton-fat jade, and a red thread tied above.

Prince Fu was a graceful gentleman, wearing a white jade crown during the mourning period, displaying a dignified demeanor even under the weight of filial piety. He waved his hand to dismiss Xiao Duo and sent away those around him, entering the central hall with a steady gaze, not looking aside.

"I can manage on my own, thank you for your kind offer, Factory Minister." She jumped down from the footrest while holding her horse-faced skirt and quickly slipped into her shoes. In a flurry, she organized her things, and her mouth was not idle either, "I forgot to ask earlier, who exactly is the noble person you mentioned? I thought about it for a long time after I returned. The major election was just last month, and being new to this place, I don't have any particularly close friends, so I really can't think of who it might be."

She was still on the kang, wearing only her undergarment, when he unexpectedly entered, causing her to feel flustered. He, however, was unfazed, bowed slightly, and said, "I pay my respects to Your Highness."

Since the person has arrived, one must muster the courage to meet them. She is here, anxious and apprehensive, yet perhaps the other party is quite at ease! Upon this reflection, she feels increasingly out of place, like a mourner during the emperor's mourning period, constantly weeping and keeping vigil. The relatives and ministers nearby are working tirelessly, with day and night turned upside down. Having received a pardon, she can still take care of herself for a day, clearly distinguishing what should be done at what time. To those who cannot close their eyes in the Hall of Vigilance, it all seems the same; everywhere is brightly lit, the palace gates are left unlocked, and one can go wherever they please, not much different from daytime.

The clouds have dispersed, leaving only two people in the room, staring at each other with wide eyes, creating a somewhat awkward atmosphere. In fact, the awkwardness seems to be solely the concern of Yin Lou, while Xiao Duo, well-versed in the world, remains completely unconcerned. Noticing her shift in position, he instead steps forward, saying, "I am here to assist the princess with her change of clothes. In a while, that noble person will come to see the princess, and I am here to perform my duty of notification. I have inquired and learned that the princess comes from a prestigious family; your esteemed father was the Grand Tutor who resigned in the seventh year of Longhua. It seems rather inappropriate to receive guests while sitting in bed."

She felt somewhat awkward, but upon reflection, the person had saved her life. Moreover, he was originally a eunuch, and there were not many taboos regarding his entry into the inner court. Being overly calculative would seem petty. Therefore, she slightly bowed and said: "Xiao Changchen need not be overly courteous. You came to see me late at night; is there something you need?"

Tong Yun was momentarily taken aback. Looking at Yin Lou, who also appeared to be trembling with fear, she still nodded and said, "You may go. If anything arises, I will call for you."

He smiled and said, "If he has come, then he has come; we will meet sooner or later. Your Highness, do not worry; His Highness is very amiable. Serve him well, and in the future, he will certainly not treat you poorly."

Yin Lou was left utterly confused by his words. She was posthumously honored with the title of Jin Tai Fei, her death sentence could be commuted, yet she was to guard the tomb at Tai Ling. The intrigues and deceptions of the harem seemed to have little to do with her. Moreover, regarding that Prince Fu, she had never even seen him, so how could she possibly speak in his presence

Yin Lou was intimidated by him, truly not daring to speak again, only looking at him pitifully, "Xiao Changchen, you won't go far, will you? Are you waiting for His Highness to come out, and then escorting him to the Jinshen Hall?"

Yin Lou swallowed and said, "What Xiao Changchen said is true. " But no one can command him! She shrank back a little, forced a smile, and said, "I wouldn't dare to trouble you; I can manage it myself."

He heard her voice, which sounded like a broken gong, and made a grimace as if his teeth were aching. "The Empress can speak now. After resting for another day, she should go to the Jianji Hall to guard the spirit! The Cabinet has proposed the Empress's title, and I will send it to the Empress Dowager for her review. The Empress Dowager has also approved it. Now, to refer to herself as 'I' seems rather inappropriate." He looked around and said, "These two halls will be renamed the Chonghua Palace in a few days. The Empress is the master of the palace and should refer to herself as 'This Palace' to match her esteemed title."

"Good person?" Xiao Duo rarely found himself lost in thought, shaking his head with infinite melancholy, "No one has ever said that I am a good person. In the eyes of all the civil and military officials, I am a malignant tumor, and everyone is eager to eliminate me."

Xiao Duo made a deep bow to the visibly alarmed Dowager Empress Duan and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has come to visit the Empress at night, please welcome His Majesty."