Chapter 86: Hard to Part with Each Other

  Luoji and Wanjun stood behind Zhou Song with pale faces, their previous arrogance gone.

  "The queen is the master of the palace, in charge of the affairs of the palace. Anyone who disrespects the queen is disrespecting His Highness. I hope all the ladies will keep their place and if there's anything in the future, please consult with the queen. Also, please let the queen strictly manage all the ladies."

  Xia Tian couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. What did Yuan Longqiao mean?

  Yanji and Yunji exchanged a glance, both seeing relief and awe in each other's eyes. Chunji slowly lowered her eyelids, her mouth gradually pursing into a straight line.

  Suddenly a feeling of weakness surged up, and Xia Tian felt as if she had been punched in the cotton. She waved her hand and said tiredly, "Let's all disperse." Then she led the way out of the pavilion.

  Xiū Niáng and Fèng Lì hastily followed, Zhōu Sòng was stunned for a moment and also rushed back to report to Yuán Lóng Qiāo. Only five madams and their maids were left inside and outside the pavilion. No one spoke or moved, the atmosphere was eerie, making this cold morning even more icy.

  Xiu Niang helped Xia Tian change her clothes while laughing and said, "Today, the prince essentially handed over the power to manage the palace to the princess in front of everyone. It's clear that the prince holds the princess in high regard."

  In the summer, he didn't make a sound, and there was no expression of joy on his face either.

  Observing her expression, Xiū Niáng didn't dare say another word.

  "Miss, have a cup of ginseng tea to warm yourself up." Feng Li handed her a teacup.

  Xia Tian shook his head.

  "Miss, let's drink it while it's still hot."

  "Put it on the table first." Xia Tian turned over and lay down on the bed, "I'm a bit tired and want to take a nap. All of you go out and don't disturb me."

  Xiu Niang put away the changed clothes and asked with some concern: "Is the princess uncomfortable in any way?"

  "I feel a bit cold, can you help me find another blanket?"

  "What's wrong? You must have caught a chill this morning, I'll send someone to summon the imperial physician."

  "It's nothing." Not wanting to talk anymore, Xia Tian lazily closed his eyes.

  Xiū Niáng was unable to do anything, so she found a quilt for Xià Tiān to cover himself with and lit the heater in the room until it was warm. Turning her head, she saw Fèng Liè still holding that cup of ginseng tea, standing there dazedly, and couldn't help but wrinkle her brow. She pulled on her sleeve, indicating for her to go out together.

  Feng Lian jumped in surprise, and with a flustered expression, she put the tea cup on the table and followed Xiu Niang out the door. As soon as the door closed, she couldn't help but turn her head back to glance at the cup of ginseng tea on the table.

  He returned to the Mouwang Pavilion after handling two urgent matters from the Yuwen government, feeling a bit unwell from drinking for several days. After having a cup of tea, he was about to rest when he saw Zhou Song peeking out from behind the screen, which annoyed him and made his temper flare up: "Get in here, what are you sneaking around for!"

  Zhou Song's heart skipped a beat as he hastily ran up, "Your Highness."

  "What's going on with Luo Ji and the others again?" Irritated, he untied the jade belt around his waist and casually tossed it aside, sitting down on the bed with a slight dizziness.

  Zhou Song hastily half-knelt on the ground to take off his boots, hesitantly saying: "It's not the ladies, it's...the princess. Your Highness didn't instruct me to report the situation to the princess at all times, so I..." He stopped speaking and stole a glance at Yuan Longqiao's expression.

  Yuan Longqiao's expression eased a lot as he asked, "What is Xiao Tian doing?"

  The princess returned from the garden and fell asleep, and has not been seen getting up until now.

  "Slept for the whole day?"

  "Uh-huh, seems like he's not feeling too comfortable, keeps saying it's cold." He neatly placed the boots aside and quickly began to unbutton his robes.

  Yuan Longqiao slightly raised an eyebrow, "Has the imperial physician or Qingming been called in to take a look?"

  "The Queen does not allow it."

  Bang! Yuan Longqiao slapped the bed board and jumped up. "What are Xiuniang and Fengli doing?! How can they let her be so willful?!"

  Zhou Song was taken aback, and though he said "Your Highness, please calm down" with a terrified expression, in his heart he let out a heavy sigh of relief. "The princess forbids it, and the ladies-in-waiting dare not disobey."

  Yuan Longqiao thought for a moment, then slowly sat down. He rubbed his temples with some headache and couldn't help but secretly lament how he had taken a liking to this stubborn little girl back then!

  Why not go and see her? The idea, once it occurred to him, expanded and expanded uncontrollably, making it even harder for him to maintain his restraint. "Is Xiaotian still asleep?" he asked, with a hint of hope in his tone that even he himself did not notice.

  Zhou Song blinked and immediately nodded in understanding, saying very certainly: "Hasn't woken up yet."

  The room was sweltering with heat, making one break out in a sweat the moment they stepped inside. On the semi-circular copper lamp stand, several candles were lit, casting a dim and ambiguous glow throughout the room.

  The bed curtain was not closed, and a light pink gauze embroidered with peony flowers was hanging down.

  Yuan Long gently lifted the thin veil, and his gaze touched the figure curled up in the quilt, immediately becoming soft as water. She slept very soundly, with two layers of quilts covering her body, as if they were going to bury her, only revealing a small head. His heart inexplicably ached, and he involuntarily stretched out his hand to lovingly caress the black hair on her pillow.

  He let out a soft sigh, and his gaze suddenly met a pair of clear black and white eyes. His hand trembled, quickly withdrawing, and he coughed slightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable. "Are you still cold?" The sadness in her eyes made it impossible for him to look at her calmly.

  Xiatian's eyes suddenly turned red, and the grievances of the past few days all surged into her eyes at this moment.

  With a sigh, he took off his boots and lay down on the bed, pulling her into his arms along with the quilt. His voice was hoarse as he said, "You can hit me, scold me when you're angry, just don't overdo it. You can do whatever you want to me, but you mustn't torment or harm your own body, understand?"

  Summer leaned against his chest, wiping her tears and snot on his collar with malice, and asked in a stifled voice: "Do you like me?"

  Yuan Long hooked up the corner of his mouth, "Of course."

  "So you also like Loli girls?"

  After a while, she didn't hear his response and raised her head slightly uneasily, only to find him staring at her intently.

  Her face flushed, and she couldn't help but get annoyed again. With all her might, she struggled to break free from his embrace. "Let me go! If you like them so much, why come to me? Let me go, let me go!"

  "Little Tian!" Yuan Longqiao tightened his arms, "Listen to me!"

  Summer panted heavily, her face flushed red with excitement and struggling. Irritation still lingered, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

  "Xiao Tian, sigh! They are all my concubines, which means they are my responsibility. What do you want me to do? Ignore them again? Or divorce them?"

  The stifling summer air, how could she respond to this question? Even if she wanted him to fire them, she couldn't say it out loud! Bastard! He's a thorough bastard! A sudden kick, her knee fiercely collided with his abdomen!

  Let's take a look at something else first.