063, I have wronged you.-From Longtime Steward to Imperial Consort(The Rakish Third Young Master)

At first, I thought Jiang Xuan had grabbed my hand simply out of urgency to stop me, and once he had succeeded, he would let go. But not only did he keep holding my hand—he even squeezed it gently.

What did that mean? Was he feeling my bones?

“How is it that your hand is so soft and delicate, almost like a woman’s?” Jiang Xuan frowned slightly.

I hurriedly pulled my hand back and replied, “I am just small by nature, Your Highness. Since childhood, I’ve never had enough to eat or warm clothes. To have grown this much is already a miracle.”

Jiang Xuan studied me, then finally looked away. “Your hands and feet, even your stature, are smaller than those of other eunuchs.”

“Yes.” I straightened up and began to dry Jiang Xuan’s hair for him. “Let me dry Your Highness’s hair. Please don’t move, lest I hurt you, which I could never bear.”

Jiang Xuan couldn’t help but remark, “Little Xiao, you’re becoming bolder. It seems it’s this prince who has given you the courage.”

Sensing he was not truly angry, I dared to reply, “I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. But you went to such lengths to save me from death—surely you wouldn’t punish me now. Otherwise, all your effort would have been wasted.”

“That’s true.”

After I finished drying his hair, Jiang Xuan said, “I’ll have a room arranged for you. If you need anything inside, just tell me and I’ll have it provided.”

I immediately knelt and pleaded, “Your Highness, please forgive me. I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but I cannot remain in the palace.”

“Why not?”

“I could leave Cuiwei Palace for any reason, but I cannot do so under the accusation of betraying my master for favor. If I carry that shame, I’ll never be able to hold my head high anywhere. And if I stay in Your Highness’s palace, you and Her Ladyship would be implicated, and people will say you and your mother are estranged. I cannot bear such a charge. So, for my own sake and for yours, I must return.”

“You wish to go back to Cuiwei Palace? Don’t you realize that to return is to risk death?”

I raised my brows. “Then I ask Your Highness to save me once more.”

Jiang Xuan replied, frustrated, “I have no intention of doing so.”

I said, “Rest assured, Your Highness. Though my earlier words were meant to save myself, I believe they did have some effect on Her Ladyship. She would not lose a son like you over a mere servant—it would not be worth it. She knows your temperament well. At worst, I’ll suffer some punishment, but she won’t take my life.”

“If my mother knows my temperament, do you know it as well? If you do, then you should also know that I never joke about certain things!”

I was stunned. Was he serious? Would he truly estrange himself from his mother for my sake, even drink poison for me?

Jiang Xuan must be mad, surely just saying it with no real intent.

“Do you have confidence you’ll find evidence to prove Xiao Lu’s guilt?”

“I’ll find a way. The law’s net is wide but never lets anything slip. I’m sure Xiao Lu will show his true colors eventually.”

“No matter what you do, remember, you owe me your life. I haven’t asked you to repay it, so keep it well.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

“Lord Long! Lord Long!” Suddenly, someone called urgently outside. The next instant, the door was shoved—no, kicked—open.

Long Zhan stood in the doorway.

Jiang Xuan rose from the couch and smoothed his robe. “I wonder what brings Lord Long here?”

From the moment Long Zhan entered, his gaze was fixed on me. Even when Jiang Xuan spoke, he still looked only at me.

“Lord Long, His Highness is speaking to you,” I reminded him.

Only then did Long Zhan look away, bowing to Jiang Xuan. “Forgive my intrusion, Your Highness. The matter was urgent, and I overstepped. Please punish me as you see fit!”

“Urgent? You came because of Little Xiao, didn’t you?”

Long Zhan remained with his hands clasped, silent.

“You two can talk outside. I—”

“No need!” Long Zhan interrupted Jiang Xuan. “I have only one thing to say to her. Once I’ve said it, I’ll leave.”

“Then speak.”

Long Zhan turned to me. “Little Xiao, I have wronged you!”

With that, he didn’t wait for my response, but swept his cloak and strode away.

Wronged me?

I pondered Long Zhan’s words carefully. He must have learned what happened to me, and knows why I nearly ended up before the King of Hell. He said it out of remorse for having let Lin Tanwei into the palace banquet.

Suddenly, I recalled the murderous look in his eyes as he left. This was bad—he might do something reckless, just as he once did when he killed Eunuch He.

No, if he dares to harm the emperor’s consort, it will be the end of him.

“Your Highness, I must leave urgently!”

“Go.”

I hurried out. Once past the palace gates, I saw no sign of Long Zhan.

Xiyu Pavilion. Yes, Long Zhan must have headed toward Xiyu Pavilion.

I didn’t have time to think, and ran in that direction. On a long palace corridor, I finally spotted Long Zhan’s figure. His cloak billowed behind him, as if he were an eagle spreading its wings.

“Lord Long! Lord Long!” I called from behind, but Long Zhan acted as if he didn’t hear, striding onward.

“Long Zhan, stop right there!” Out of breath and unable to run further, I stood and shouted.

That shout worked. Long Zhan paused and turned to look at me.

I gasped for air and waved him over. “Come here!”

Long Zhan obediently walked over.

Once my breathing steadied, I asked, “Tell me, where are you going?”

“To do what must be done.”

“What must you do? Lord Long, are you seeking your own destruction? You’ve already barged into the prince’s palace—now are you heading for Her Ladyship’s chambers?”

Long Zhan frowned, clearly surprised I’d guessed it.

“Am I right? You have nothing to apologize for. If she wanted me gone, there were many ways. Isn’t that how the harem works?”

“If she weren’t favored, she wouldn’t have had the chance to harm you.”

“She could refuse your help and find favor with someone else. Lord Long, it’s not all your fault. No one can say she harmed me—it was my own carelessness that led to my exposure.”

“You needn’t say that. I promised to protect you, yet today I almost let you—”

“Long Zhan!” I shouted, desperate to stop his impulsiveness. “What am I to you? I am nothing but an insignificant servant in this palace. How many can you save by being kind? There are rules for survival here—if you break them, you’ll suffer, and my life will be worse for it. So, I thank you, but please don’t do anything for me. About yesterday, I apologize—I spoke out of turn. I am lowly and have no right to speak to you that way.”

“Little Xiao, hearing you say that, I feel even more determined to kill her. Let me show you what you mean to me.”

“Long Zhan, are you insane?” I shouted again. My words, meant to keep him from being reckless, had the opposite effect.

“Can’t you understand? I don’t want you to do anything, especially for me. You’ll only end up dead, don’t you see?”

“Little Xiao, tell me—what am I to you? Am I worthless in your eyes?”

I was speechless, and yelled at him, “Long Zhan, you’re supposed to be a commander, but you’re utterly foolish. I see you as a friend—that’s why I was disappointed yesterday and said those things. I see you as a friend—that’s why I don’t want you to be impulsive and get yourself into trouble. I see you as a friend—that’s why I want you to stay away and not interfere in my affairs. I’m just a eunuch. If you get too close, you’ll end up in trouble because of me.”

Long Zhan was stunned by my outburst and, after a moment, muttered, “Little Xiao, just now you sounded like a shrew scolding in the street.”

You’re the shrew!

“Lord Long, listen to me—don’t go.”

“Should I just let you suffer for nothing?”

“Perhaps soon, perhaps years from now, but I’ll remember. They’ll pay for it someday.”

“Fine, I believe you. If you ever need me, come find me. Consider it a debt I owe you.”

I smiled and asked, “Do you still have those shoes you gave me? These boots are ruined, water seeps in, and my feet are freezing.”

Long Zhan was taken aback, then smiled helplessly. “Last night I stormed off, and now you complain about cold feet.”

“My feet have always been cold. Last night, I wanted you to see some things clearly. If you want to help someone, I won’t interfere. You must have your reasons—I just hope you do no harm.”

“I know what I’m doing. Change your boots at my place tonight.”

“Alright.”

“But I need to ask you something first.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why do you have a foul odor when you talk to me?”

Long Zhan frowned. I froze, then breathed into my hand and sniffed. “There’s still a smell? There’s still a smell? Oh, how embarrassing.”

“What is it?”

I explained, “After drinking poison, His Highness had me drink manure to vomit the poison out.”

“Manure?”

“Yes!”

“Haha—” Long Zhan couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lord Long!” I protested, “That was a matter of life and death. Please take it seriously!”

He kept laughing.

“Still laughing?” I glared at him.

Long Zhan pressed a fist to his mouth, obviously trying to stifle his laughter. “Alright, I won’t laugh anymore.”

“Long Zhan—” Suddenly, someone called out behind us.

We turned and saw the emperor seated on his dragon carriage. We hurriedly knelt.

“Your servant greets Your Majesty!”

“Long Zhan, why are you here? And you must be Little Xiao from Cuiwei Palace?”

Long Zhan stood and replied, “I was just passing through, Your Majesty.”

I answered, “Yes, Your Majesty, I am Little Xiao from Cuiwei Palace.”

“Long Zhan, didn’t I grant you three days’ leave to visit your parents? Why are you still in the palace?”

Long Zhan replied, “I’m just packing, Your Majesty. I’ll leave soon.”

“Good. Go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation—no, go to Xiyu Pavilion. I’ll visit Consort Tan.”

Qiu Ronghai called out, “Prepare the emperor’s carriage for Xiyu Pavilion!”

“Your servant respectfully sends off Your Majesty!”

Once the emperor departed, I said, “Luckily you didn’t go to Xiyu Pavilion, or you’d have been caught by the emperor.”

Long Zhan looked even more worried. “I wonder where the emperor came from just now?”

I turned to look and suddenly understood his concern. The palace corridor was long—if the emperor had come from another route, it would be fine. But if he had come straight down the carriage lane, who knew how much of our interaction he’d witnessed.

I kept Long Zhan’s words in mind—the emperor is not someone to be underestimated!