Wei Shuxuan thought that since she was bored anyway, she might as well tag along to see what was going on. From the way Emperor Jin Zheng addressed Ge Long'an, it was clear that their relationship was more than just that of an emperor and his subject. But it also seemed as if there was another person involved.
Could that other person be General Wei Tu?
She tossed the medical book aside, got up quickly, and headed to the kitchen to secretly check out what kind of pastries Chief Eunuch Li and his men were preparing.
After Chief Eunuch Li entered the kitchen, he said a few words to an older chef and then left. Wei Shuxuan hid outside the window, watching the old chef busily working inside. She was thinking about how she could sneak into the large entourage when Emperor Jin Zheng left the palace.
She saw a young eunuch running over in a hurry from afar. He was tidying his clothes as he ran. After he trotted into the kitchen, the old chef scolded him severely. Then, with a wronged look on his face, he went to work.
A sly smile curled up on Wei Shuxuan's lips. Hahaha, she knew what to do.
"Step up the pace, everyone! His Majesty's imperial palanquin is about to leave. And you, why are you walking so slowly and sluggishly?" Chief Eunuch Li impatiently urged the young eunuch who was lagging behind. The young eunuch adjusted his slightly tilted hat. His voice sounded a bit strange, as if he was pinching his throat. "Sorry, Chief Eunuch Li."
The young eunuch ran quickly to catch up with the group in front, carrying a basket of pastries in his hand. When the young eunuch blended into the group of eunuchs and maids, a naughty smile appeared on his handsome face.
Actually, this young eunuch that Chief Eunuch Li had called out to was Wei Shuxuan in disguise. Just now, she saw the young eunuch who was in charge of helping in the kitchen running over while still tidying his clothes. So she thought that all the eunuchs' rooms in Fenghe Hall should be in that direction. Then she ran over there, sneaked into the eunuchs' rooms, and secretly took one of the eunuch uniforms and quickly changed into it.
After the old chef finished making the pastries, Wei Shuxuan volunteered to deliver them to Chief Eunuch Li. Chief Eunuch Li inspected them and found no problems, so he allowed her to go with the large entourage to General Long'an's Mansion.
Wei Shuxuan, who was disguised as an eunuch, had to walk with the imperial palanquin to General Long'an's Mansion. She felt a bit depressed. It turned out that being an eunuch or a maid was so hard!
Finally, they arrived at General Long'an's Mansion. Emperor Jin Zheng, supported by the chief eunuch, got off the imperial palanquin. He scanned the surroundings. "Who's carrying my pastries?"
Wei Shuxuan was stunned for a moment and quickly came to her senses. She stepped out of the group and answered in a pinched voice, "Your Majesty, it's this servant."
"Then follow me."
Emperor Jin Zheng felt that the young eunuch's voice was a bit familiar, but the young eunuch always kept his head down. He couldn't see the young eunuch's face clearly, so he let it go.
As soon as Emperor Jin Zheng entered General Long'an's Mansion, Ge Zian came to greet him. Only Ge Long'an was absent. Ge Zian looked at Emperor Jin Zheng with a bit of embarrassment. "I'm really sorry, Your Majesty. My father... said he wouldn't come out to greet you no matter what..."
"It's okay. Anyway, I'm just here to visit you this time. There's no need for any imperial - subject etiquette today. Zian, take me to your father."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wei Shuxuan followed Emperor Jin Zheng to the back courtyard of the general's mansion. She recognized this place. Wasn't this the place where she and Uncle Ge had listened to opera last time? Uncle Ge really loved listening to opera.
"You can just put the basket aside and leave."
"Yes."
Wei Shuxuan had hoped to eavesdrop on their conversation, but unexpectedly, Emperor Jin Zheng and the others cleared the area. She put the basket on the table beside her disappointedly. When she looked up, she met Ge Zian's eyes on the other side. How could Ge Zian not recognize Wei Shuxuan?
He stared at her with wide - open eyes and mouthed, "Why are you here?"
"I just came to have a look."
Wei Shuxuan mouthed back in answer to Ge Zian's question.
However, Ge Zian couldn't help it. He bowed to Emperor Jin Zheng and Ge Long'an. "Your Majesty, Father, I'll go and make some arrangements first. I'll be back soon."
Then, Ge Zian grabbed Wei Shuxuan, who was dressed as an eunuch, and quickly left the back courtyard. He took her to an unoccupied garden. "Xuan'er, why did you dress like this and follow His Majesty here?"
"I just wanted to see how His Majesty would annul the engagement between you and me. Is there a problem?" Wei Shuxuan looked at Ge Zian curiously.
".... It's not that there's a problem, but if His Majesty finds out, it... won't be good... And if my father sees you like this, he'll definitely have objections."
"So, don't tell your father. Do you know? I'm really scared of seeing your father now. Your father is so stubborn and hard to communicate with!" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but pout and complain.
"I won't tell my father. You should go back right away."
"I rarely get out like this! Should I just go back like this?" Wei Shuxuan felt that all her efforts just now had been in vain.
"Then what on earth do you want?" Ge Zian looked at her helplessly.
"Really can't stay on - site?" Wei Shuxuan asked persistently.
"Really not. My father and His Majesty need to clear the area when they're together. I'll have to leave that yard later too. Only some guards will be stationed around the back courtyard."
Wei Shuxuan pouted. Well, forget it. Since she couldn't go, she wouldn't. Since she rarely got out, she might as well go for a stroll.
"Zian, accompany me for a stroll outside. We'll come back later, okay?"
"This..." Looking at Wei Shuxuan's expectant eyes, Ge Zian had no choice but to nod. "All right. I'll go and tell our chief steward first."
"Go and make your arrangements then."
Wei Shuxuan waited outside for quite a while but didn't see Ge Zian come out. She walked inside to check and found that the back courtyard was very noisy, but no one dared to gather around to watch. From afar, she could see Ge Zian in the back courtyard, standing between Emperor Jin Zheng and Ge Long'an. It seemed that these two were arguing. It was obvious that Ge Zian was trying to mediate.
She was a bit curious, so she jumped onto the eaves. It was closer here and she could see more clearly. She saw that both Emperor Jin Zheng and Ge Long'an were red - faced from arguing. The usually lazy Emperor Jin Zheng rarely showed a frustrated expression, and Ge Long'an's expression looked even more terrifying.
Wei Shuxuan pricked up her ears and listened carefully to their conversation.