"Little Li, you know what it should look like, right?"
Eunuch Li had been following Xiao Huaishi for many years. As soon as he saw this piece of amethyst was going to be given as a gift, he knew who it was for. With a beaming smile, he said, "Your servant naturally knows. I'll surely ask the skilled craftsmen to design something special. It'll definitely suit the taste of the imperial concubine."
Satisfied with Eunuch Li's promise, Xiao Huaishi nodded. "You've worked hard, Little Li."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? It's an honor for your servant to serve you. Many people would envy me for this."
"You're such a sweet talker, always trying to cheer me up. I'm no longer the young man I was 20 years ago. I feel I'm getting old," Xiao Huaishi said with a beaming face to Eunuch Li. Maybe after reaching this position, he rarely had a heart - to - heart talk with others.
Xiao Huaishi sighed and waved his hand at Eunuch Li. "Go down first. Let me lie down alone for a while."
Eunuch Li bowed and said his farewell. Then he changed the incense in the censer for Xiao Huaishi, carefully closed the door, and stood guard outside with the imperial guards.
...
Seeing that it was getting quite late, Xuan Yuanjue wondered if Shen Li was already asleep. He was worried that going to see her at this hour might disturb her. After much deliberation, he still decided to visit her. So he immediately set off, moving through the night.
At this moment, Shen Li was still awake. Usually, Xuan Yuanjue would come over shortly after nightfall. But he hadn't shown up today. Moreover, in the past few days, there seemed to be undercurrents in the court. After the flood, a severe drought had left the common people in dire straits. She couldn't help but worry about whether this young prince would incur the emperor's wrath.
Finally, seeing that it was very late and the stars were twinkling all over the sky, she thought Xuan Yuanjue wasn't coming. So she closed the window and sighed. "Well... People are prone to be fickle. You just get used to it easily. It's better to go to bed early."
Just as Shen Li was about to walk to the carved wooden bed, take off her hair ornaments and the heavy and complicated outer robe to go to sleep, a sound of tapping on the window caught her attention. She immediately walked to the window to open the door. She was sure it was Xuan Yuanjue. After all, besides him, no one else could enter the Night Secret Service so skillfully and tap on her window! But after hesitating for a while, she thought better of it and didn't open it. Instead, she asked, "Who is it?"
Xuan Yuanjue was a bit puzzled by Shen Li's question. After all, no one else would come. "It's me, Xuan Yuanjue."
Of course, Shen Li knew it was Xuan Yuanjue, but she just didn't want to open the door. So she said somewhat sulkily, "I know. You can leave."
Xuan Yuanjue was rather confused, but he continued to tap on the window and said softly, "Little one, I have something important. Let me in, okay?"
Shen Li thought she shouldn't keep on acting like this. She had punished Xuan Yuanjue enough, so she opened the window, gave him a sidelong glance, and said coquettishly, "So you finally came."
Hearing this, Xuan Yuanjue knew that Shen Li was a bit resentful towards him because he had come late today. So he smiled and said, "Oh, I see. So you were looking forward to my coming."
Her little girl's thoughts were exposed. Shen Li immediately turned around and was about to close the window. She said coldly, "You can leave. I never said I was looking forward to your coming."
Xuan Yuanjue had to prop one hand on the window sill and the other on the window to prevent Shen Li from closing it. Looking a bit awkward and funny, he said, "Wait a minute. I really have something urgent to tell you."
Shen Li let go of her hand and took a step back. Seeing this, Xuan Yuanjue immediately jumped down and stood firmly in front of Shen Li. Shen Li raised her eyebrows and asked, "What is it? Hurry up. I want to go to bed early."
Xuan Yuanjue looked at Shen Li seriously and said, " Xuan Se said that the envoys from the Western Yue State came to pay an audience today, and they also brought two boxes of gold and silver jewelry."
Shen Li was a bit puzzled. Frowning, she didn't understand the purpose of the envoys from the Western Yue State. "What did you say? Why did the envoys from the Western Yue State come to pay an audience? Are they from the city of Helian?"
Xuan Yuanjue nodded.
"The envoys from the Western Yue State came for peace," Xuan Yuanjue explained.
Shen Li nodded thoughtfully, and some of her doubts were dispelled. "It makes sense for them to visit. Helian Yun's army is growing stronger. If we start a war with them at this moment, the city of Helian will be in a difficult position and won't be able to handle everything at once. However..." Shen Li paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly and shining brightly. "The Western Yue State has such great ambitions. Can they really come for peace? I don't believe it. On the surface, they're here to solve the internal strife, but I think they might be up to some dirty tricks. Maybe they're spies coveting our salt fields in the Eastern Ling State."
Xuan Yuanjue took a step forward, looking at the moon outside the window. "Indeed, I also suspect so. So you must be very careful these days. I heard that the emperor has invited the princess of the Western Yue State. I'm afraid they really have a plot."
Shen Li nodded and said, "I've always been very careful about my safety. Don't worry."
Suddenly, Xuan Yuanjue tapped Shen Li on the head and said seriously, "You've even learned to lie. You used to get into small troubles every three days and get kidnapped every seven days. If it weren't for me, you might have lost your life long ago."
Since what Xuan Yuanjue said was the truth, Shen Li didn't know how to refute. The words she wanted to defend herself seemed to be stuck in her throat.
Seeing Shen Li looking so deflated, Xuan Yuanjue felt his heart melting for her. He gently stroked Shen Li's head. "As long as I'm here, don't worry. I won't let you get hurt."
Immediately, Shen Li showed a happy smile like a little girl. After a moment of silence, she asked Xuan Yuanjue, "Do you know what the envoys from the Western Yue State said to the emperor today? Why did the emperor invite the princess of the Western Yue State?"
Xuan Yuanjue looked at Shen Li carefully for a while, then raised a faint smile. "You'll know later."
Seeing Xuan Yuanjue staring at her so intently and suddenly getting very close, Shen Li immediately pushed him away. "Say it or not. Don't get so close."
Suddenly, there was a faint sound outside the door.
Xuan Yuanjue was stunned for a moment, then smiled and climbed onto the window sill. "Have a good rest. Be careful. Don't think too much. I'll handle everything. I have to go. Otherwise, I'm afraid Shen Yi will come in and beat me up."
Then he left without looking back. Although Shen Li felt warm inside, she still pouted and said, "Fine. You won't tell me anything."