"Master, there’s something I can’t figure out."
Outside Luaxin Pavilion, Donglai saw Shen Quan coming out and went over to chat with him.
"Hmph, there are many things you can’t figure out, and coincidentally I’m in a good mood today, so go ahead and tell me."
"Ah." Donglai smiled as he helped Shen Quan fan himself and asked, "Master, did Hua Yin really push Beauty Zhou into the water?"
"Pa."
"Ow, Master, why did you hit me?" Donglai asked, grimacing as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I hit you because you’re as dense as a block of wood!" Shen Quan was furious and snatched the fan from Donglai’s hands, fanning himself wildly: "How did I end up with a disciple like you, this, this..."
Shen Quan thought for a while, unable to find the words to describe Donglai, and could only angrily hit him again with the fan.
Donglai deftly dodged, "Master, instead of hitting me, why not help me clear my doubts?"
"Let me ask you, what did Lady Li say?"
Fearing Shen Quan might hit him again, Donglai carefully leaned over and whispered, "From what Lady Li said, she thinks it was Han Cai... Han Guiren who pushed Beauty Zhou into the water."
"Hmm." Shen Quan shook the fan; that was a satisfactory answer.
Donglai: ?
Hmm, what does that mean? After pondering for a while, Donglai suddenly widened his eyes: "Master, master, are you saying what Lady Li said is true?!"
Shen Quan glared: "Are you stupid? Does it matter whether what Lady Li said is true or false?"
Donglai: ? Doesn’t it matter?
"How foolish, what matters is if the Emperor believes it or not."
Donglai: ... How does the Emperor perceive it?
If the Emperor thought Hua Yin did it, he hasn’t punished Hua Yin; now Hua Yin is eating nicely with Lady Li indoors. If the Emperor believed Lady Li’s words and thought Han Guiren staged it herself, then why did he promote Han Guiren’s rank?
Seeing Donglai scratching his head in confusion, Shen Quan sighed deeply: "Donglai, I’ll tell you this, for everything that happens inside, no matter how trivial it seems, once you know it, make sure the Emperor is made aware; understand?"
Donglai nodded, half understanding.
Ah, what a silly child, but silly people have their fortunes; perhaps it is due to Donglai’s naive foolishness that the Emperor allows him to serve at his side.
Shen Quan thought to himself.
He leaned against the column, gazing at the blazing sun in the azure sky.
He had been with the Emperor since he was a Prince, and such tactics were not often seen, but he had witnessed them before. Since Han Guiren dared to put herself forward, naturally the Emperor would bring her to prominence.
This way, Lady Li’s limelight was shared, and she wouldn’t be the focus of everyone’s attention.
If Han Guiren was clever, the Emperor was likely to continue supporting her. If she wasn’t sensible—well, it wouldn’t make much difference. Among these concubines, who could truly become a special existence in the Emperor’s heart like Lady Li?
"Pa."
Shen Quan slapped his own forehead with the fan; he was now the Emperor’s servant, how could he fathom the mind of his sovereign?
Deserved to be hit, deserved it, indeed!
It was the hottest time after lunch.
"Emperor, I need to rest; aren’t you going back?" Li Yuyu looked curiously at Yan Xiu, who was walking into the inner chamber with his hands behind his back.
"It’s too hot." Yan Xiu said, lifting his Dragon Robe as he sat on Li Yuyu’s bed.
Li Yuyu turned to look at the ice blocks placed indoors; she found the temperature just right, thinking she might need a blanket when she undressed to sleep. How could he feel it’s hot?