At the third watch of the Yin hour, before the roosters had crowed, Ling Shan got up with her eyes still closed.
This person who had a hard time getting out of bed, in order to save her own life, had no choice but to grumble and suppress her anger as she made her way to the Purple Forbidden Palace.
The sky was pitch - black. The faint stars above twinkled from time to time. The gloomy peach orchard seemed like a bottomless cold abyss.
The cold wind whistled, waking Ling Shan's sleepy mind a bit.
Before she reached the palace gate, she saw that old eunuch Liang Jiusi approaching with a sinister smile on his face, looking like he was watching a little lamb walking into the tiger's den.
"Miss Ling Shan, you've finally come. Go in. His Majesty should be awake by now."
He let out a strange laugh.
To Ling Shan's ears, it all sounded like the cold laughter of a villain, and every word seemed to be saying, "Hurry up and go in and die!"
Ling Shan's slender body trembled slightly in the flickering candlelight under the eaves. She wanted to run away.
However, no one would care about the thoughts of a little palace maid like her.
No one would care about the fear and uneasiness in her heart.
Even less would anyone care whether she would come out alive after going in!
The palace was quiet. Ling Shan passed by the precious artifacts and decorations and walked through the screen. She paused for a moment.
The curtains of the dragon bed were hanging low, and the thin veil fluttered gently in the wind. The candles in the palace flickered on and off, adding a touch of mysterious and eerie atmosphere.
Inside the bed curtains embroidered with a dragon roaming among nine mountains, it seemed as if a dangerous behemoth was sleeping. Just getting close to it made one tremble with fear.
Ling Shan's hands and feet were ice - cold. Before she could muster up the courage in her heart, she heard that malicious voice again.
[I woke up a quarter of an hour earlier on purpose. I'll just close my eyes and pretend to be sleeping. When that stupid goose comes in to disturb my peace, I'll behead her!]
Ling Shan, the so - called "stupid goose", immediately stopped in her tracks with an angry look on her face.
This tyrant not only wanted her life but also insulted her personality?
The uneasiness and fear in Ling Shan's eyes were now all transformed into intense anger.
This tyrant looked like a decent person on the outside but did all kinds of inhumane things!
Ling Shan's angry and panicked face looked a bit strange and distorted in the flickering candlelight, looking extremely eerie.
"Go quickly, Miss Ling Shan. His Majesty is waiting for you. Don't delay."
Liang Jiusi had a smile on his face like that of the Maitreya Buddha. He gave her a push as if he really cared about her.
Ling Shan: "..."
This eunuch was no good either!
[Tsk, why isn't that stupid goose coming yet? How dare she keep me waiting! I'll behead her myself. Half of her body can be used as flower fertilizer, and the other half can be fed to the fish!]
Ling Shan stumbled after being pushed. She didn't turn back to look at the burning, expectant gaze behind her that was waiting for her death.
Step by step, she approached the dragon bed. The anger on her face gradually faded. Her mind was quickly thinking of a way to solve the problem.
She couldn't even die with her body intact, could she?
That would be too tragic.
She was still so young. Who would want to die if they could live well?
What should she do?
As she got closer and closer, Ling Shan could even see Jun Wuyuan's cold, handsome but hateful face through the bed curtains. She cursed him silently in her heart.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and the corners of her lips twitched involuntarily.
Soon, the bed curtains were lifted by a pair of fair hands, accompanied by a soft and delicate scream.
"Your Majesty, this slave... Ah—"
Jun Wuyuan had been closing his eyes and pretending to be sleeping. He could only lock in the slowly approaching aura with his sharp six senses.
When the bed curtains were lifted, he held his breath and waited excitedly as if facing a great enemy. But he didn't expect...
Almost as soon as the sound rang out, Jun Wuyuan detected a faint fragrance wafting towards him. He was greatly shocked and suddenly opened his eyes.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he was almost laughed out of anger by this stupid little palace maid in front of him.
[This stupid goose is so clumsy. How can she even step on the end of the curtain and fall when lifting it? Where on earth did that old hag find this stupid goose? Could it be through some back - door deal?]
There was a loud thud.
The clear sound of impact was very obvious in the silent bedroom.
"Bold!"
Jun Wuyuan watched helplessly as that stupid goose crashed straight into his chest.
[Is this stupid goose's forehead made of steel walls and iron barriers? My chest...]
A flash of smile passed through Ling Shan's eyes. Then her body trembled as she crawled and knelt on the ground.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This slave deserves to die..."
"Please show mercy, Your Majesty. This slave didn't do it on purpose. It's all because this slave is so clumsy and can't do anything well..."
[She is indeed clumsy. She could strip me naked when changing clothes, and now she throws herself into my arms when lifting the curtain. That old hag really picked a shameless handyman (huh)!]
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This slave is so stupid that even if she died ten thousand times, it wouldn't be enough. But Your Majesty's dragon body is the most important. Please take good care of yourself. This slave will have no regrets."
The sound of her kowtowing on the imperial kiln gold - brick floor was even clearer. Her sincere begging for mercy was so moving.
Ling Shan was cruel to herself. Before long, her forehead began to throb with a dull pain as if being cut by a blunt knife.
Jun Wuyuan sat up with a cold look in his eyes. His chest didn't hurt anymore, but he still felt annoyed.
His tall and imposing figure sat on the edge of the couch, looking down at her. Everything was clearly visible.
Her slender body outlined a perfect curve, with well - proportioned bones and a perfect figure.
Although she had a pure and beautiful face, the cinnabar mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of charm that she was unaware of.
Even though there was a swollen bump with a few streaks of blood on her forehead, it didn't affect her beauty at all. Instead, she looked extremely pitiful and charming.
But there was a stubborn determination to survive hidden in her big, bright almond eyes. For a moment, he seemed to see another slender figure.
[Mother, you always said that doing a good deed every day would bring blessings, but you ended up dying young. It seems that kind people are always bullied. I'd rather kill the wrong than let anyone go!]
A sad and gloomy light flashed across Jun Wuyuan's peach - blossom eyes, and it was instantly covered by the surging killing intent.
"Your Majesty, this slave knows she deserves death, but please spare this slave's life for the sake of her usefulness.
This slave sincerely requests to chant scriptures and pray for the late Empress Dowager Jingyi every day. Please forgive this slave's sin!"
Jun Wuyuan was in a daze for a moment. Then his cold eyes fell on Ling Shan, who was lying prostrate on the ground.
After a moment, for some unknown reason, he got out of bed and walked past Ling Shan, who was kowtowing to admit her guilt.
He neither flew into a rage and beheaded anyone as everyone expected, nor did he open his mouth to forgive her.
Liang Jiusi was surprised and confused. He thought he could at least guess two or three points of His Majesty's mind, but this time he was completely at a loss.
In the past, those who came from the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, His Majesty would never even take a second look at them. It was a miracle if they could survive for a single day.
And no one had ever angered His Majesty again and again like this young lady in front of him and still managed to keep their life!
Liang Jiusi was greatly shocked in his heart, but his hands quickly served the cold and fierce emperor.
"Kneel and kowtow for half an hour. If you're still alive when I return from the morning court, I'll let bygones be bygones!"
Ling Shan: "..." Damn it!