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Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Feed Me!
The man on the bed was toying with a piece of ink jade pendant in his hand, lifting his eyes to meet hers.
Zhan Lan immediately turned to Liu Xi behind her and said, "You can rest first."
Liu Xi was a clever maid. Without asking further questions, she left.
Zhan Lan entered the room and looked at Mu Yan, "Seal Keeper Mu, you seem to enjoy visiting the chambers of ladies late at night?"
A smile lifted the corners of Mu Yan’s lips, "That depends on whose chamber it is."
Zhan Lan folded her arms, "Thank you for speaking up for me in the court today, Seal Keeper Mu."
Mu Yan’s gaze grew profound as he looked at Zhan Lan, "One must show sincerity when expressing gratitude."
Taking two steps closer, Zhan Lan made a gesture of invitation, "Lord Mu, please get off my bed first. Men and women should not be so close; it’s not quite appropriate."
Mu Yan glanced down at Zhan Lan’s bed and commented, "Such a small bed, I mistook it for a divan."
After speaking, he got up and sat at the table, looked at the bright red pomegranate in the fruit plate, and handed it to Zhan Lan, "Let’s see how sincere you are. Peel a pomegranate for me to eat first!"
Zhan Lan observed Mu Yan’s demeanor, like a prince commanding a maid, and the flexible she sat down, skillfully cutting the pomegranate into six pieces with a knife from the table.
The crystal-clear pomegranate looked very attractive. Zhan Lan pushed the fruit plate towards Mu Yan and said, "Eat."
Leaning back in his chair like a dandified young master, Mu Yan stared at her and uttered two words, "Feed me!"
Zhan Lan: "..."
Seeing Zhan Lan’s stiff expression, Mu Yan scoffed, "How so? You owe me a favor, and you’re unwilling to even feed me a pomegranate?"
Zhan Lan forced a smile, "Of course not. As long as Lord is happy."
Mu Yan’s lips parted slightly, tilting his chin up as a signal for Zhan Lan to feed him. She picked up a piece of pomegranate and held it to Mu Yan’s lips.
The soft touch sent a sensation through her fingers, and as Mu Yan ate the pomegranate he remarked, "Tastes good."
Mu Yan’s lips were soft, and the tingling sensation on her fingers made her ears burn red.
Zhan Lan stopped her motion and suggested, "Lord Mu, shall I peel an orange for you to eat instead?"
Mu Yan shook his head, "The Seal Keeper prefers pomegranates. Is that the extent of your sincerity?"
Biting her lip and gathering the pomegranate seeds into her palm, Zhan Lan stood beside Mu Yan.
Unaware of her intentions, Mu Yan was about to speak when Zhan Lan smiled and said, "Open wide, my Lord."
Before Mu Yan could talk, Zhan Lan had already stuffed a handful of pomegranate seeds into his mouth.
Mu Yan glared at Zhan Lan’s crafty, fox-like smile as she playfully added, "Oh, Lord Mu, this way you can eat faster!"
Mu Yan coldly remarked, "Sneaky trickster."
Zhan Lan shamelessly replied, "Thank you for the compliment."
Mu Yan spat out the pomegranate seeds and inquired, "Do you detest the people from the second branch of the Zhan Family?"
Zhan Lan replied with a smile, "Why would Lord Mu say that?"
Resting his arm on the chair, Mu Yan said, "Just an intuition."
Zhan Lan casually replied, "I oppose the misdeeds, not the person. Those who do wrong must pay the price."
Mu Yan warned, "Be careful with Si Jun, he’s not as simple as he seems."
Zhan Lan locked eyes with Mu Yan, "Alright, thank you for the reminder, Seal Keeper Mu."
Mu Yan wanted to say that Si Jun isn’t worth her affection, but the words were swallowed back.
He must be insane, coming here in the middle of the night to warn Zhan Lan about these things.
Mu Yan stood up and looked around Zhan Lan’s room – small and shabby, yet she remained optimistic.
Seeing Mu Yan walking to the door, Zhan Lan hurriedly sent him off with a smile, "Travel safely, Seal Keeper Mu."
Mu Yan leaned against the table, staring at her for more than a dozen breaths, causing Zhan Lan to feel a chill all over her body.
Mu Yan raised the corner of his mouth and said, "Your sash has come undone!"
Zhan Lan looked down, not knowing when the sash had come loose—just moments ago, it was only Little Black who had been clawing at her.
She awkwardly tightened her clothes and fastened the sash, then turned her back.
With a smile still on his face, Mu Yan left Zhan Lan’s room.
Stepping out of the house and onto the carriage, Mu Yan muttered to himself, "Truly insane..."
After Mu Yan had left, Zhan Lan reviewed the events of the day.
She had already had Lady Yin Yi inform Emperor Xuanwu well in advance that this month, Heavenly Master Zhang would bring propitious omens down to earth, decreeing that for everlasting life, one must not take any lives.
Zhan Lan feared that the affairs of Zhan Feng would lead to repercussions for the entire Zhan Family, so she had prepared accordingly.
After all, Emperor Xuanwu would never kill his own son, so their Zhan Family members could not die by the Emperor’s hand either.
As for Zhan Feng, his journey to Ningguta was like descending into hell—let him thoroughly enjoy it!
Zhan Lan called Liu Xi and said, "I’ve recently noticed that Madam Li has shown signs of awakening. Keep a close watch on her for me."
Zhan Lan did not want to burden the simplistic-minded Xiao Tao with such matters.
That girl might end up doing more harm than good with her good intentions.
When it came to relying on others, she trusted Liu Xi more. Liu Xi was intelligent and capable, a rare and valuable assistant.
"Yes, Miss!"
Liu Xi nodded in acknowledgment, her intuition telling her that there must be a problem with her Miss’s background.
But since her Miss was reluctant to talk about it, it was proper for her, a servant, simply to follow orders.
...
Inside the General Mansion, Meng Ling anxiously said to Zhan Xuerou, "Miss, things are not good!"
She informed Zhan Xuerou of all the news she had gathered about Zhan Feng and Young Master Si Jun.
Zhan Xuerou’s face paled, "What, Young Master Si Jun charged with rebellion! Beaten with thirty heavy strokes, and now to be banished to Lingnan!"
Her expression panicked, she twiddled with her handkerchief, in disbelief.
Meng Ling knelt down and cried out, "Mr. Zhan Feng and Young Master must have been wronged. I once served as a maid in Marquis Lin Yuan’s Mansion for a period, and I know Young Master’s character is impeccable—he must have been framed!"
Zhan Xuerou grabbed Meng Ling’s hand and urgently asked, "You were a maid in Marquis Mansion? Then how should I help Young Master?"
Desperate for any solution, Zhan Xuerou listened as Meng Ling quickly added, "Now is when Young Master is most lonely and helpless. In fact, all the servant girls in our Marquis Mansion know that Young Master has his heart set on you, Miss."
Meng Ling’s words stirred Zhan Xuerou’s heart and she blushed deeply, pretending to be angry: "Nonsense, be careful or I’ll slap your mouth!"
Meng Ling pleaded earnestly, "If there is a single lie in what I’ve said, then in my next life, let me be born as a beast!"
Zhan Xuerou’s face turned crimson, she said coyly, "Alright, get up."
Meng Ling rose and nodded, "I think that now Young Master is charged with treason, no one would dare to see him off. He needs the care of his beloved the most. Miss, you might want to see him off before he leaves far, Young Master would be deeply moved."
Zhan Xuerou fidgeted with her handkerchief, her mind in chaos. Now that Si Jun had been demoted, would her father and grandfather blame her if she went to see him off?
But she really wanted to see Si Jun.
Meng Ling added fuel to the fire, whispering, "Miss, I also heard that Young Master Si Jun is actually the Eldest Prince. Today, His Majesty has acknowledged him, and since His Majesty did not have him killed, it means there’s still a chance for him to return to the Imperial City!"
Zhan Xuerou’s eyes widened in shock!
Previously, she was attracted by Si Jun’s refined temperament and grace, but now his identity attracted her even more!
It was said that adversity revealed true feelings—if she could show her goodwill to Si Jun now, surely if Si Jun were vindicated one day, he would remember her.
If during the struggle for the crown, Si Jun ascended the throne early to become Emperor, Zhan Xuerou was thrilled beyond words, her heart pounding at the thought—would she not become the most distinguished woman in Nanjin—the Empress!
