Chapter 010: Boundless Wind and Moon, Shadows of Flowers

Seeing that the Empress was not angry, he hurriedly nodded

Zhang Juzheng clasped his hands in gratitude and said: "Thank you very much for your concern, Madam! My dear brother, if we are to speak of it, you are truly remarkable. The state is well governed, and your household is even more exemplary! It is indeed rare to have such a virtuous wife as Madam, who trusts you so deeply!"

Reluctantly, he hurriedly pulled Wang Sanbao and knelt before Li Guifei, saying: "Your Majesty, we have not governed strictly, and such a serious oversight has occurred! The disaster arose from within, and it is entirely my fault. I implore Your Majesty to punish me!"

Long before the banquet began, Zhang Juzheng casually asked Gao Gong, "Brother Suqing, why do I not see your wife?"

"Then can you tell me why you are doing this now?" The question from Consort Li seemed as if it had been specially trained, with each sentence hitting the nail on the head

... ...

As soon as Consort Li entered the bathhouse, the eunuch quietly reported to her that the young emperor had summoned A Zhu and Xiao Qian to wash his upper body

Thus, she turned and exited from the side hall, intending to check whether her son Zhu Yijun had fallen asleep

Feng Bao readily agreed, arranging for A Zhu and Xiao Qian to attend to the young master as he fell asleep, and then departed.

Zhu Yijun is already very satisfied, so let it be that he washes his upper body.

This mutt! Feng Baoxin suddenly felt an inexplicable hatred, wishing he could tear this "spy" to shreds

Slowly close your eyes, as the fingers of the young woman wander across your body

He suddenly panicked, grabbed a towel and threw it over the area where he was exposed, then turned over and knelt in the bath before Consort Li.

This is actually a "dead space"

"Then let me ask in another way, what conditions would you require to speak up?" This question from Consort Li made him even more conflicted, trembling all over. It seemed that his discomfort was not solely due to the pain of his wounds, but more so from the turmoil within his heart.

The two frequently raised their cups, and as the wine flowed freely, they became increasingly intoxicated with delight. Particularly Gao Gong, who occasionally let his hand wander over the voluptuous beauty, even at one point slipping his hand under her dress, indulging in his playful antics, which left the woman quite embarrassed. Yet, she had no choice but to force a smile and allow him to continue.

Gao Gong, seeing him like this, laughed heartily, and his actions became even more vigorous.

Suddenly, a eunuch's loud call came from outside, "Imperial Concubine Li has arrived"

Zhang Juzheng was no ordinary person either. Seeing Gao Gong like this, he realized that if he remained too reserved, he would only invite ridicule. Thus, he took to drinking and engaged in whispered conversations with the stunning woman beside him. It is unclear what they discussed, but in any case, their conversation was lively and filled with laughter. At the height of their merriment, they even linked arms, fully expressing their joy

Gao Gong deliberately arranged for a stunningly beautiful woman to be by Zhang Juzheng's side, with a delicate waist and dressed in a green skirt, making her exceptionally charming. By his own side, he sat with a more voluptuous woman, who was also extraordinarily alluring, with ample bosom and curvaceous hips, particularly enticing.

Imperial Concubine Li led him to the sleeping quarters, where Feng Bao had long been waiting. He stepped forward and softly said to her: "Your Highness, I have already arranged for someone to deliver food to the 'interrogator' Liu Yiming. He has eaten some and is waiting for tomorrow's further questioning"

Zhu Yijun had never anticipated that the interrogation of the "spy" by Consort Li would proceed so swiftly. Upon seeing Consort Li standing before him, her expression stern as she fixed her gaze on A Zhu and Xiao Qian behind her, her eyes frequently darting towards the bath.

Neither Consort Li nor Feng Bao spoke, and this fellow Gao Gong is truly ruthless! He rarely uses the term "trap," but when he does, it is a trap that leads to certain death, with no way to retreat!

Moreover, losing to Li Gui at m.hetushu.com is not shameful

The two beautiful palace maids seemed to have realized something, yet they still dared not stop. He, however, appeared oblivious, stretching lazily; after a moment of relaxation, he looked so beautiful that he was almost on the verge of falling asleep

What a scene of vibrant colors and fragrant aromas, with boundless romance and beauty

Liu Yiming, who had only uttered the words "wronged" from beginning to end, unexpectedly blurted out a complete sentence after hearing her question: "I recognize you! You are Consort Li! Soon to be Empress Dowager, the biological mother of the current Emperor!"

Beautiful, truly beautiful

... ...

Gao Gong laughed heartily and waved his hand at the steward. The steward understood and, after a short while, several beautiful women came over, sitting beside them. The two of them instantly became the center of attention, surrounded by a dazzling array of flowers.

Concubine Li, seeing her son's disheveled appearance, couldn't help but laugh. She reached out and lightly tapped his head, saying: "Son, this is a critical moment; we cannot make any mistakes. Any minor detail could be seized by the opponent and work against us! You will soon be the emperor, so you must remain calm. As Grand Tutor Zhang Juzheng said, one must be composed and at ease to secure peace in the realm! Do you understand?"

Gently and repeatedly rub the chest, back, armpits, and arms to open the pores and relax the body. Then apply soap powder all over the body and rinse with water. After that, use a damp towel to wipe off the soap suds to prevent the skin from becoming dry

Indeed, around the hour of Hai, a steward came over and said: "Sir! The first lady is feeling fatigued and has already gone to bed! She mentioned that you and the second assistant minister have not gathered for some time, so you should have a good chat! If it gets late, please have the second assistant minister stay in the guest room!"

Of course, at this moment, there was no time to consider these matters; I only hoped that the Empress Mother would not be angry. Thus, I shouted loudly, "Empress Mother, please forgive me. I was just playing around with them. In the future, I will never dare to do it again!"

She nodded, instructed Feng Bao a few words, and then turned around to leave

After pondering for half a day, Consort Li could not come up with any solutions. She looked at Liu Yiming, who was left with only his last breath, realizing that further action was futile. She could only temporarily ease her efforts and wait to see if there would be any turning point in the future

The towels are made of pure white silk cotton, evenly and lightly patted on the body, chest, the gaps between the bones, and along the spine, as these areas are prone to soap accumulation, which can cause skin irritation, thus requiring special attention

Finally, scoop water again to wash the face and soak the hands. Rather than washing, it is more akin to pressing, especially as the hands gently glide across his forehead and both cheeks, applying warmth.

Liu Yiming nodded and then shook his head, clearly caught in a strong conflict of emotions

It is absolutely forbidden according to ancestral regulations for a palace maid to come and give a bath. However, the current Crown Prince Zhu Yijun will soon become the Emperor. The Emperor's words carry great weight, and no one can defy them. I do not know why he is being so outrageous today, but this matter can only be reported to his mother later. For now, we must comply with his wishes, as he is the Emperor

This time, it exposed the white, bare backside completely to A Zhu and Xiao Qian

Zhu Yijun was certainly not asleep yet; he was still in the Eastern Palace bath, eyes closed, enjoying a leisurely soak.

Just as he fell into a deep sleep, the banquet at the Prime Minister's residence was still ongoing

A Zhu and Xiao Qian approached with flushed faces, but they only accepted the large spoon and towel from the two eunuchs responsible for washing the upper body, refusing to take anything for washing the lower body.

This sound startled everyone! What is wrong with this little ancestor today? It has never been like this before

The two eunuchs beside him continuously helped him wash with towels, their movements swift and deft, orderly and silent

The eunuchs and palace maids have no idea that the old palace has been replaced with new faces now

Imperial Concubine Li glanced at the two of them, waved her hand, signaling them to rise. Then her gaze passed over them and fell on Liu Yiming. In a voice that was very light and slow yet very clear, she addressed this home intruder, saying: "You recognize me, don't you?"

There were also two eunuchs specifically assigned to serve the dishes, standing there continuously, handing out towels. The number of towels alone exceeded one hundred, each embroidered with a golden dragon in yellow thread. Moreover, once a towel was used, it was discarded; as soon as a towel was soaked, it was taken out and was no longer allowed to return to the basin for dipping.

However, the years of cultivated composure still kept him from revealing his brilliance. At this moment, the most crucial factor is not who poses the questions, but rather to allow Liu Yiming to speak.

Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but frown: "This child! What a nuisance! Instead of studying properly, he only learns this!"

At that moment, a wicked thought suddenly arose in his mind. He turned to look at A Zhu and Xiao Qian, who were still standing in place holding the dragon robe, and shouted loudly, "Have them come over to help with the washing!"

The two eunuchs holding large ladles were gradually scooping water and pouring it over him, one washing the upper body and the other washing the lower body. The ladles used for washing the upper and lower bodies were also different; the one for the upper body was larger, while the one for the lower body was smaller.

Thus, he stood up and followed his mother out, forgetting that he was still unclothed

Gao Gong raised a cup of wine to toast Zhang Juzheng: "Uncle Da, how do you find your sister-in-law? She is still worried that you might drink too much and have trouble returning home!"

Zhu Yijun changed into his pajamas, lay down, and soon fell into a drowsy sleep.

At this moment, Consort Li's eyes blinked gently, as if they could converse with the books, instantly calming one from a state of agitation. Moreover, she not only possessed a great heart but had also long since calculated her thoughts. She began to fire questions one after another: "Since you know me, you should understand who between the master you currently serve and I is more worthy of your trust"

It is done, what should I do now? Just as I had wiped away the droplets of water from my face, I saw that Consort Li had already approached me.

I, I still cannot speak, the lives of my entire family are in his hands!" As soon as he finished this sentence, he collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood, his breath growing weaker.

Indeed, it is not yet the time for extravagance and indulgence; it is more important to maintain a firm grip on the throne

At the end of the wash, Zhu Yijun felt as if the hands of the two women had eyes of their own, appearing exactly where his body was most sensitive. Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, and a surge of warmth erupted in the water!

Liu Yiming actually replied clearly again: "I know!"

A Zhu and Xiao Qian hurriedly covered his body with a large towel from behind. Unexpectedly, this young master did not appreciate it; he turned around and glared at the two of them. With the queen backing him today, he would find another opportunity to deal with both of you in the future! That glare was particularly fierce, causing the two girls to lower their heads in fear, their faces turning even redder

This sudden turn of events startled him greatly; this is no joking matter! He hurriedly opened his eyes and saw the eunuch beside him, holding a towel, gently saying, "Young Master, Concubine Li has arrived"

Gao Gong blinked and said: "You know her, she doesn't like crowds. I've already told her, and she said we should gather among ourselves. Moreover, she has been saying lately that she is getting older, has started to eat vegetarian, and goes to bed earlier."