The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 53

Seeing her so stunned, Xiao Chengan laughed even more unrestrainedly. He simply stood up from the dragon throne, walked down the steps, and pulled a dancing girl into his arms. He gave her a hard pinch on her willow-like waist, causing her to flinch. This made Xiao Chengan laugh even more wildly. He then pushed the dancing girl in his arms directly towards Xiao Yu. “This is your reward.”

My reward?

Xiao Yu was stunned, instinctively reaching out to support the dancing girl. As soon as she was steady, the girl, who was as soft as a boneless being, leaned against her again.

“…” What’s going on? Xiao Yu was shocked.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Chengan laughed again. “Look at how timid you are. You get so scared by a woman. You’re useless.” He wondered what his royal father was so afraid of.

With this little courage? Xiao Chengan sneered and continued, “However, I heard you married that sickly girl from Prime Minister Song’s family. That old geezer, who’s almost dead, is still trying to climb the social ladder with the royal family. Only a fool like you would fall for it. Everyone in the capital knows better.”

Xiao Yu’s face immediately turned cold. She said in a deep voice, “I am the one who is high-ranking.”

Xiao Chengan simply assumed she was from a small town and hadn’t seen much of the world. He waved his hand and, holding a dancing girl, returned to his dragon throne. “That’s true. No matter what, the dowry that old geezer prepared is enough for you to live on for a lifetime. You’re not at a loss, not at all.”

Xiao Chengan gestured for a dancing girl to pour him a drink. He took it from her hand and drank it all in one gulp. Although he was seated, his body still slipped down. If it weren’t for the dancing girl beside him, he would have fallen off the throne. He swayed, and with the help of the dancing girl’s waist, he sat up straighter. “Hehe, little beauty, come, give me a kiss.”

The dancing girl immediately fell into his arms, as if boneless. The two of them began to get intimate as if no one else was around. Judging by their familiarity, they probably did this often.

Xiao Yu lowered her head. Watching the emperor’s private affairs so openly—did she have a death wish?

On the other side, Xiao Chengze also looked away with a cold face, his eyes full of disgust.

The rapid panting in the hall, accompanied by the sound of strings and flutes, made even Xiao Yu, a modern person, blush and feel her heart race.

She couldn’t believe her ears were being sullied by this depraved emperor.

Thankfully, it didn’t last long. Xiao Yu felt a wave of contempt. This emperor was truly no good.

After satisfying his lust, Xiao Chengan was still not fully sober. His eyes were hazy with drunkenness as he said to the dancing girl from before, “You go and accompany him.”

“…”

The dancing girl didn’t dare to disobey the order. She twisted her waist and knelt down beside Xiao Chengze.

Xiao Chengze’s face immediately fell. His complexion turned from red to green, then from green to white, a truly magnificent sight. Yet, he couldn’t get angry because the man was the emperor. He could only resentfully accept it and suppress his dissatisfaction, forcing a smile as he thanked the emperor for his grace.

Seeing the male protagonist’s face turn green with rage, yet having to endure it, Xiao Yu almost burst out laughing.

Truly a depraved emperor. His thought process was something else. Just thinking that the male protagonist wasn’t a good person either, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. It would be best if this depraved emperor gave him a hard time.

Xiao Chengan suddenly looked at Xiao Yu again, surprised. “Why are you still standing?”

Xiao Yu: “…”

“Sit…sit…” Xiao Chengan pointed to a seat, his mouth no longer listening to his commands.

Xiao Yu thanked the emperor and took a seat below Xiao Chengze. A palace maid set out the utensils. The dancing girl from before also sat down with Xiao Yu, and her body was about to lean against Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu was quick-witted, using one hand to block her body from coming closer and the other to pick up a wine cup and offer it to her.

The dancing girl didn’t try to get closer. She picked up the wine pot next to her and filled the cup. “Please, young master, have some.”

Xiao Yu’s heart was full of bitterness. Fortunately, the dancing girl in front of her was well-behaved after being rejected. She picked up the wine cup and pretended to take a sip.

“Xiao…Xiao Yu, is that right?” Xiao Chengan seemed to have remembered something and laughed foolishly. “I also heard that your wife is very beautiful. Bring her to the palace with you someday, and let me see what the most beautiful woman in the capital looks like.”

“Haha…”

Xiao Yu’s expression stiffened. She lowered her head, the fingers holding the wine cup turning white from the force.

My temper is flaring. Xiao Yu now wished she could go up and slap him twice.

How dare he comment on her Miss!

This was truly unbearable.

At that moment, her sleeve was tugged. Following the pull, Xiao Yu saw the dancing girl beside her slightly shaking her head, her eyes full of complex emotions. She glanced at the armored guards standing on either side of the hall and slowly suppressed the anger in her heart.

After a while, Xiao Yu nodded to the dancing girl.

Xiao Chengan didn’t care whether she responded or not. The alcohol was now affecting him, his eyes were hazy, and he couldn’t even sit straight. The eunuchs serving him seemed to be used to it and immediately called for palace maids to help him back to his sleeping quarters.

“Drink…I want to drink more…”

“Xiao…Xiao Yu is good…I…I like him. Come, drink more…”

“You guys let me go…”

…

The voices faded into the distance.

The music in the hall was still playing. Xiao Chengze said loudly, “You can all leave.” The musicians immediately stopped what they were doing, bowed their heads, and hurried out of the hall with their instruments.

“Young Master~”

If she hadn’t called him that, it would have been fine, but this one phrase made Xiao Chengze’s temper snap. His face turned green again, and he gritted his teeth, shouting, “Get lost!”

The dancing girl was stunned and immediately turned pale with fright. She knew that the person in front of her was not only a young master but also the emperor’s biological brother. He was not someone she, a mere person, could offend. She stumbled out of the hall.

The dancing girl beside Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Chengze, then at Xiao Yu, and followed the other girl out of the hall.

In an instant, only Xiao Yu and Xiao Chengze were left in the great hall.

Xiao Yu didn’t know whether to stay or go. Who could tell her what was happening now and how she could leave?

Xiao Chengze’s eyes were deep, making it impossible to read his emotions. “How about I escort you out of the palace?”

He would be so kind?

Although this person was the male protagonist in the book, he was very cunning and calculating. He hid his true intentions well, but Xiao Yu still caught the calculation in his eyes.

Right now, she was on his territory. It would be better to go along with him for now and see what he wanted to do.

Xiao Yu narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Then I will trouble you, Young Master.”

“No trouble at all. Young Master Xiao, there’s no need to be so polite. After all, aren’t we both descendants of the Founding Emperor?”

The Founding Emperor?

He wasn’t talking about his identity as a royal descendant, but emphasizing the descendants of the Founding Emperor. What did that mean?

If she remembered correctly, the novel mentioned that the Founding Emperor’s direct lineage was framed by a traitor. The entire crown prince’s party was killed. Later, a loyal guard from the crown prince’s residence risked his life to send the little imperial grandson away, preserving the Founding Emperor’s direct line. Later, the crown prince’s rebellion case was overturned, and although the little imperial grandson was found, the direct line had lost the opportunity to inherit the throne.

The male protagonist suddenly brought this up. It seemed like a very ordinary sentence, but she didn’t believe Xiao Chengze was just trying to be friendly. Xiao Yu was more inclined to believe that the male protagonist was reminding her that they were all descendants of the Founding Emperor.

The key question was, why would the male protagonist say this to her? Was she a threat to him?

If she was a threat, then it would make sense for him to want to kill her. But what threat could she, an ignorant wastrel who had nothing, pose to a royal young master? Was it just because of her identity as a royal descendant?

That was too ridiculous.

If he wanted to be emperor, the one who should be a threat to him was the current emperor, right?

Suddenly, a bad feeling washed over her. Was the male protagonist going to kill all the royal descendants?!

Such things had happened in history. If that were the case, her life might really be in danger. Now the male protagonist was being so kind as to offer to escort her out. Could it be that he was going to make his move in the palace and then frame the emperor for it?

In just a short moment, Xiao Yu’s mind raced through thousands of possibilities.

Why did that depraved emperor have to get drunk now of all times? Wasn’t he just putting her in danger?

Her life was in peril!

“Actually, you don’t need to trouble yourself, Young Master. I can leave on my own.” Xiao Yu steadied her mind. She absolutely couldn’t let him escort her out.

This time, it was unexpected. Xiao Chengze didn’t insist. He smiled and said, “I have something to do anyway. How about I just have a palace servant escort you out? It’s your first time here, and you’re not familiar with the palace.”

Seeing him say this, Xiao Yu was stunned. Could she have been wrong?

But now wasn’t the time to think about that. As long as the male protagonist didn’t escort her, anything was fine.

Xiao Chengze motioned for Xiao Yu to follow him. He stepped out of the hall and called for the palace servant who was waiting outside. Xiao Yu recognized him as the eunuch who had led the way earlier. She felt a slight sense of relief. It was good that he wasn’t one of the male protagonist’s people. “Thank you, Young Master. I will take my leave now.”

“Mmm.” Xiao Chengze nodded. Just as Xiao Yu was about to leave, he called out.

“Wait.” Xiao Chengze stopped her. His gaze shifted to the dancing girl in front of the hall. He smirked. “Since the emperor has rewarded her to you, take her with you. Refusing is a crime of deceiving the emperor.”

“…” Xiao Yu’s mouth twitched slightly. She thought about the scene in the hall. He had clearly seen her secretly laughing. How cunning! He was obviously getting revenge on her.

The dancing girl stepped forward, bowed, and knelt on the ground. “Yuan Niang will serve you well from now on, Young Master.”

“…” Does she need someone to serve her?

Xiao Yu was in a dilemma. The male protagonist in front of her was not a good person. If she refused, he might give her another crime of deceiving the emperor. If she took the girl back and settled her down well, her Miss shouldn’t be too angry, right?

She wasn’t sure.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yu steeled herself. She stepped forward and reached out to help the girl up. The girl was also a pitiful person, and she had helped her in the hall. She would just consider it as repaying the favor.

“Thank you, Young Master,” Yuan Niang said.

Xiao Yu nodded. “Let’s go.”

Xiao Chengze didn’t say anything more. His hands were behind his back, his eyes deep.

After walking for a few steps with the eunuch who was leading the way, Xiao Yu heard Xiao Chengze’s voice from behind her again, with an unreadable emotion. “I heard that Young Master Xiao has gotten into trouble. I have some influence with the Dali Temple. If you need help, you can come to the Prince Chang’s manor to find me.”

Xiao Yu paused. “Thank you, Young Master.” Without a moment’s hesitation, she continued to follow the eunuch. All the way, her mind was thinking about what Xiao Chengze’s last words meant. It was one thing for him to help her, but he knew people at the Dali Temple. When she first came to the capital, her father-in-law had already pulled strings for her at the Dali Temple. Normally, they wouldn’t have suddenly brought her in for questioning and almost tortured her.

If he was one of the male protagonist’s people, it would all make sense.

First, the male protagonist was on bad terms with her father-in-law, and second, he was wary of her identity as a direct descendant of the Founding Emperor.

After leaving the Zichen Hall and passing through the Yiyou Gate, they happened to encounter a team of palace servants carrying a palanquin. The eunuch leading the way hastily bowed and stood to the side, whispering, “Young Master Xiao, don’t run into Concubine Liu.”

Concubine?

Wasn’t she a concubine of the old emperor?

Xiao Yu knew what was important and also stood to the side like the eunuch, waiting for the palanquin to pass.

Who knew, when the palanquin passed by Xiao Yu, it suddenly stopped. A female voice came from above her head. “Lift your head.”

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