After walking for approximately two to three hundred metres, she still hadn’t found the entrance of the Laundry Service Bureau but after arriving at a crossroad.
Hm? Eunuch Zhang clearly said that I just have to walk towards the northeast end of the palace. He didn’t mention anything about a crossroad.
The road ahead split in two. Which should I take? While she was hesitating, a tender boy’s voice sounded, “I was thinking that it was a kitten or puppy, but it turned out to be a person. Not just any person either, but even a beautiful woman.”
The boy clicked his tongue. He was clad in a small cyan long gown and wore small black shoes. When he spoke, his cheeks bobbed up and down, appearing extremely adorable.
Su Xi-er looked at this boy who had suddenly appeared in the middle of the night. He doesn’t look like a little eunuch. Who could he be?
“Beauty, which palace are you from?” The boy’s eyes observed her as his hands grabbed onto the hem of Su Xi-er’s sleeves, swaying them left and right.
He’s already casually calling ‘beauty’ at such a young age. I wonder who taught him.
Su Xi-er removed his small fair hands. “I should be the one asking you. Which palace are you from? Why are you running around in the middle of the night instead of resting?”
The boy furrowed his eyebrows slightly. He leaned close to sniff Su Xi-er carefully and a look of disdain appeared on his face. “What is that smell on you? There’s the scent of medicinal herbs and a terrible stench alternating with one another.”
“I scrub chamber pots in the Palace Side Quarters, so of course I will stink. Stay further away from me and quickly go back to your repose palace.” Su Xi-er immediately turned around. I suppose I won’t be able to go to the Laundry Service Bureau today.
However, she had just taken two steps when the boy caught up with her again. Like a sweet, he stuck to her and didn’t let go. He continued to speak in his tender voice, “If your body smells, you just have to wash it. It’s fine as long as you are beautiful. Some people are ugly, and will remain so no matter how much rouge and powder they apply.”
Su Xi-er stopped in her tracks and observed him carefully. Did he come to such conclusions on his own, or did someone else tell him? Just based on his adorable looks, I didn’t expect him to be so mature.
Who exactly is this boy?
“Why are you looking at me like this? Do I look very handsome? You want to promise yourself to me?” The boy grinned. He pouted with his tiny mouth and held his head up high.
“How old are you? You’re only at this age, yet you are already thinking about young ladies. Are you following me like this because you want to return to the Palace Side Quarters with me? Exactly which palace are you from?” Su Xi-er simply hastened her footsteps and tried hard to shake him off.
However, this boy was nimble on his feet. He caught up to her and continued to grab onto her sleeves. “How do I answer you in time if you ask so many questions at once. I’m not going back to the Palace Side Quarters with you, nor do I belong to any palace.”
Su Xi-er stopped again and watched him fixedly.
When the boy was stared at in such a manner, he seemed to feel a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and said in a small voice, “I am a…little eunuch.”
“Really?” Su Xi-er continued to size him up with her eyes.
The boy nodded repeatedly. “Why would I lie to you?”
The boy sensed her gaze before he suddenly blushed as he squeezed his legs together. “Where are you looking?!”
Su Xi-er laughed when she saw how intense his reactions were. “You’re so young, yet you’re already spinning lies. Who taught you?” Then, she suddenly remembered something. In the imperial palace, if there is such a young boy who isn’t a eunuch… it can only be the reigning emperor.
At this point, she immediately sounded him out by bowing deferentially. “This servant pays my respects to Your Majesty.”
Astonishment appeared on the boy’s face before he returned to his cute appearance and waved his hand. “I am not the emperor. Don’t spout nonsense. I am just a…” He was unable to come up with anything after this. I can’t say that I am a eunuch because I have that thing!
The boy’s subtle expression didn’t escape from Su Xi-er’s eyes. “Your Majesty, don’t tease this servant anymore. Please quickly return to your repose palace to rest.”
“I didn’t think that I would be exposed so quickly. Don’t call me ‘Your Majesty’. In the future, you will play with me.” Situ Lin harrumphed, but his voice was still tender.
“This servant has to scrub the chamber pots. How would I play with you?”
Situ Lin snorted. “You’re so beautiful. Why are you scrubbing the chamber pots and getting yourself smelly? It just happens that my wet nurse is over there. I’ll ask her to change your job for you.”
Su Xi-er recalled that she had to change her job before the weather got cold. However, even if she didn’t scrub the chamber pots, she couldn’t play with the emperor and attract gossip from others.
“Are you going to play?” Situ Lin’s eyes were wide open as he looked at her with a face full of hope.
Immediately, Su Xi-er was reminded of her imperial younger brother, Ning Lianchen. When he was young, he would often shout for her to play with him. Before he had fully grown up however, she had already passed away and left him.
“Are you going to play?” Situ Lin asked again and there were even grievances on his face.
Su Xi-er was moved. “I can, but it has to be at night. Furthermore, it can’t be every day. You can sneak into Old Maidservant Liu’s place, but I can’t always leave the Palace Side Quarters.”
Situ Lin raised his head. “I’ll just transfer you to the Dragon Heaven Palace.”
“That won’t do. You can’t do it with great fanfare. Otherwise, I won’t play with you,” Su Xi-er threatened.
Situ Lin lowered his head and replied softly, “Alright then.”
Afterwards, he asked in bafflement, “You were clearly walking forward just now. Where do you want to go? I am familiar with the imperial palace since I secretly slip out at night to play sometimes.”
Now that I have found out his true identity, a child’s innate disposition shouldn’t be bad.
Hence, she told him, “Laundry Service Bureau. Do you know where that is?”
“Laundry Service Bureau, the place where clothes are washed. Of course I will know. In the past, I even went in there and purposely tore the clothes apart!” Situ Lin giggled.
When Su Xi-er heard that, her expression changed. Without saying anything, she pulled at Situ Lin’s face. “The clothes you inadvertently tore will cause someone’s death.”
“Why would that be? I only tore the clothes. It’s not like I asked for a palace maid’s life.” Situ Lin thought nothing of it.
Su Xi-er became very solemn. “If a palace maid in the Laundry Service Bureau damages expensive clothing while washing them, they will lose their heads in a moment’s notice if they get blamed!”
Situ Lin was evidently frightened. “That can’t be true, can it? I don’t want their lives.”
“Later, you will show the way and take me to the Laundry Service Bureau. Speak softly, and conceal yourself once we arrive. We can’t say for sure if there’s a palace maid currently being punished.”
Situ Lin had an incredulous expression, but at the same time, he was afraid that his unintentional actions had harmed someone.
Hence, he obediently gave Su Xi-er directions.
When they reached the palace gate of the Laundry Service Bureau, Situ Lin followed what Su Xi-er said and hid at a covert location.
However, Situ Lin had just hidden himself when he heard the sound of a cudgel thrashing someone. His heart also palpitated with the sound of each impact.
Although he was the esteemed emperor, he didn’t like to punish people.
Su Xi-er made a hush sign in the direction Situ Lin was hiding. Then, she slowly walked forward.
The sound of the cudgel became clearer as she approached until finally, she was able to see the person being flogged in the moonlight. It’s Ruo Yuan!
A slightly older palace maid was thrashing Ruo Yuan ruthlessly. “Look at how fat you are! Even if I hit a hundred times, your skin probably won’t tear right! Fat woman, hideous woman, what meaning is there in you living!”
