Chapter 14: Oh! My Sweet Liar! (Wang Fei Bu Kao Pu)
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Chapter 14:
The Comic was Taken by the Empress Dowager
The Empress Dowager’s expression was a mix of surprise and excitement.
Oh no, it seemed like the Empress Dowager didn’t like the comic, just like her teachers and parents.
Xiong Xiru’s heart sank. If the Empress Dowager was displeased, she could face severe punishment, like being sent to feed rats. The thought of being nibbled by rats was disheartening.
She hadn't even fully enjoyed her youth, tasted the world's finest delicacies, or won the heart of the Crown Prince yet. How could she possibly face such an end?
Nervousness overwhelmed her, her emotions a tangled mess.
Li Hongyi was also tense, noting the Empress Dowager’s reaction.
Li Jingsui, however, had a faint smile on his lips. He seemed to be enjoying the moment, thinking, “Li Hongyi, you’ve really outdone yourself this time. The Empress Dowager is a person who’s seen it all. You think you can fool her with a few simple drawings?”
He was waiting to see the Empress Dowager’s reaction and hoped she would reprimand Li Hongyi.
“This... this is so amusing, haha...” The Empress Dowager suddenly brightened, flipping through the pages of the comic with delight, not caring about her dignity. She laughed heartily in front of the palace maids and her own family.
The palace maids were too frightened to move, exchanging confused glances.
Li Jingsui’s expression changed abruptly from smug satisfaction to a serious, questioning look, as he glanced between the Empress Dowager and Li Hongyi.
Xiong Xiru noticed how quickly Li Jingsui's expression shifted, as if the weather had changed from sunny to stormy in an instant.
Could it be that the Empress Dowager liked her comic, and this displeased him? She had thought of Li Jing Sui as a good person, but now she was beginning to doubt.
As long as someone dislikes her comic, they were no good in her eyes.
Seeing the Empress Dowager so pleased, Xiong Xiru finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hongyi, you’ve been holed up in your quarters these past few days, just to look at this?” The Empress Dowager asked with a smile.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Li Hongyi answered honestly.
“Good…” The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly became serious. She set the comic aside and addressed Li Hongyi with a concerned expression, “As the Crown Prince, it’s improper to spend all your time on such trivial things.”
“Grandmother, I...” Li Hongyi began to speak.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, cutting him off. “You will inherit your father’s throne. Your focus should be on state affairs. You should spend your time studying governance, reading, and learning from your teachers, rather than indulging in these pointless drawings.”
With a look of concern, she continued, “I’ll take these comics back with me. Reflect on your priorities and spend more time on your studies.”
The Empress Dowager’s intentions were clear—she was taking the comics away from Li Hongyi under the pretense of concern. Xiong Xiru found it amusing how cleverly she had managed to take the comics.
As the Empress Dowager prepared to leave, Xiong Xiru, now a palace maid attending to her, followed her.
When passing by Li Hongyi, she sneaked a glance at him and saw his face dark and stormy, as if a thunderstorm were brewing.
Haha, the stoic Li Hongyi finally met his match.
It was quite thrilling. Xiong Xiru was secretly delighted, but received a warning glare from Li Hongyi.
She quickly averted her gaze and followed the Empress Dowager. For now, she was protected by the Empress Dowager, and she wasn’t worried about the icy Crown Prince.
However, it seemed Li Hongyi had sensed her thoughts. He suddenly stepped in front of the Empress Dowager and asked, “Grandmother, I have a request.”
The Empress Dowager tightened her grip on the comics, as if Li Hongyi were trying to snatch them away. She instinctively shielded the comics and said, “What is it? Speak.”
“There are not enough palace maids in my residence. I would like to request one from you, Grandmother,” Li Hongyi said, his tone respectful but serious.
Oh no, what could he be planning?
Xiong Xiru had a bad feeling. Li Hongyi was known for his scheming nature, and his unusual request could mean he was up to something.
Seeing that Li Hongyi was not asking for the comics, the Empress Dowager was relieved and agreed, “Granted. You may choose one from my maids.”
“Yes,” Li Hongyi acknowledged and then walked towards Xiong Xiru. She instinctively took a step back.
Li Hongyi’s icy aura bore down on her. Terrified, Xiong Xiru almost stumbled, but Li Hongyi caught her by the waist to steady her, his cold voice issuing from his lips, “You will do.”
Xiong Xiru wanted to shout, “Why did you pick me? I knew you had bad intentions!”
But in such a grand setting, speaking her mind would only lead to trouble.
Internally, she was filled with resentment, but on the surface, she had to pretend to be grateful. With difficulty, she forced a gentle tone, “This servant obeys your command. Thank you, Crown Prince.”
Internally, she thought, “What gratitude? If only you wouldn’t glare at me with those icy eyes and avoid dragging me out to be beaten to death, I’d be grateful.”
The Empress Dowager, having taken the comics, left without a word. Li Jing Sui also exited, and saw Li Hongyi adjusting a new palace maid.
“Hmph!” Li Hongyi, with a cold expression, scolded Xiong Xiru. “Xiong Xiru, I ordered you to stay in the Hanlin Academy. Why did you end up by the Empress Dowager’s side?”
His reprimands were harsh and frosty, making Xiong Xiru shiver.
“I had no idea I’d end up at the Empress Dowager’s side. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come,” Xiong Xiru muttered. She only wanted to see how her comic was being received in the palace.
Who would have guessed she’d get lost and end up being pulled in to replace someone else?
“No more excuses. Since you can’t stay put, there’s no need to keep you. Come, drag her out and have her beaten to death!” Li Hongyi suddenly decreed, sentencing Xiong Xiru without any further ado.
Originally, keeping Xiong Xiru in the palace was just a temporary measure to secure his position as heir. But now, her presence had caused enough trouble, stirring up the Empress Dowager and causing him to lose the comics.
Such a troublesome and unreliable person could cause more chaos in the palace, jeopardizing his position further.
How did things escalate to this? Hearing the decree, Xiong Xiru was terrified and fell to her knees before Li Hongyi. Seeing the approaching palace guards, she quickly clung to the Crown Prince’s legs and cried, “Crown Prince, you can’t do this to me. I’m carrying your child. If I die, the child will die too. Even if you can bear to be so cruel to me, you can’t be so heartless to your own child.”
The palace guards, hesitant due to her close proximity to the Crown Prince, dared not step forward to drag her away.
Li Jingsui, watching the scene, found it quite interesting. This maid was something else; she was even carrying Li Hongyi’s child?
This was no small matter. If she really gave birth to Li Hongyi’s child, his position as heir would be more secure, making him the future ruler of Southern Tang.
Thinking of this, Li Jingsui became a bit more anxious.
“Get off me, you impertinent wretch!” Li Hongyi, disgusted, tried to shake her off.
Xiong Xiru clung to his legs like an octopus, determined not to let go. If she let go, she would surely be dragged away by the palace guards and beaten to death.
She wasn’t going to let go, no matter what!
“I won’t let go. How could I bear to leave you? Even if you want me dead, I have nothing to say, but I can’t bear to part with you or see our child die just like that. Boohoo, even if I die, I want to die with you!” Xiong Xiru clung to Li Hongyi’s legs, rubbing her snot and tears all over him.
Hmph, I’m not going to die. If I die, I’m dragging you down with me.
The Crown Prince was so moody and unpredictable, almost like a lunatic. What a despicable person!
The palace guards, witnessing this scene, exchanged glances, unsure of what to do. Were they summoned just to witness this love-stricken drama?
“Stop spouting nonsense. Get away from me!” Li Hongyi shook his body again, still unable to dislodge Xiong Xiru.
He was truly exasperated. How could there be such a shameless person in the world? And a woman at that! It was his first time encountering such a brazen, shameless individual.
“I won’t leave. I want to be with you, even if it means dying together!” Xiong Xiru held onto his legs tightly, refusing to be separated.
Am I a fool? If I let go, I’m as good as dead.
Even though I’m at the bottom, I’m not that stupid.
•••
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