As soon as the female disciples got out of the carriage, they gasped in surprise. The palace was too different from the outside world; they had never seen such magnificent halls in their lives.
“If it weren’t for Senior Sister, I’d never have a chance to enter the Imperial Palace in my life!”
“Yes, yes, my parents will be overjoyed to know how accomplished I am! …Third Senior Sister, do you think those golden bricks are real?”
“Of course they’re real. The inner hall even has eighty-one golden pillars carved with golden dragons, symbolizing that His Majesty is not only the True Son of Heaven but also the leader of the dragon race.”
“Oh my goodness—”
Speaking loudly in the palace was forbidden, but these few were Sui Xing’s junior sisters… Xiao Gui Zi kept his eyes down, following behind the guards with small, quick steps.
Ye Wan'er, meanwhile, stood with her arms crossed, a little distance away from them.
Were they this chatty when they entered the palace in her previous life? So unworldly, she wondered how they managed to stay in the Imperial Hospital.
Thinking of her previous life, Ye Wan'er started paying attention to the roofs of various palaces.
The roof eaves were where the Hidden Guards often stayed. No matter what, she wanted to see the Hidden Guard brother codenamed ‘Dove’.
The familiar golden hall was right before her eyes. Ye Wan'er exhaled a breath of stale air, standing tall and proud, apart from the others.
Today, she wore a white gown, and her every movement exuded the noble aura taught by the nannies in her previous life. A slight comparison with others immediately revealed the difference in class.
Ye Wan'er’s appearance was delicate and beautiful, and this white dress suited her perfectly, making her look like a refined young lady.
“Ladies, please wait a moment; this servant will go and announce your arrival.”
Xiao Gui Zi blocked Ye Wan'er, signaling her to step back.
“…”
Ye Wan'er’s composed expression almost faltered.
Who dared to stop her in her previous life? Everyone wished for her and Rong Huai to have a good relationship; it was she who disdained it.
Now, truly—anyone could bully her.
Ye Wan'er forcibly suppressed her anger, thinking that Hidden Guard Dove might be secretly observing the situation from the shadows. She forced a smile and nodded to Xiao Gui Zi.
Xiao Gui Zi’s lowered expression showed some confusion.
He was telling her to step back, so why was she smiling?
Xiao Gui Zi had no choice but to be explicit: “Please, this lady, step back a few paces.”
Being publicly humiliated by an eunuch, Ye Wan'er almost bit through her lip.
She returned to the female disciples, her face flushed, making a mental note of the guards and eunuchs who had embarrassed her today.
The female disciples were all looking at different things, and no one comforted her.
The System, witnessing everything, informed Sui Xing of the incident.
System: “It feels like the female lead hasn’t escaped the shadow of her previous life yet. How pitiful.”
At this moment, Xiao Gui Zi entered the hall. He was a young eunuch brought by Chief Fu Quan, and under normal circumstances, he could not report directly to the Emperor.
Xiao Gui Zi relayed everything that happened outside the palace to Fu Quan without missing a single word, and Fu Quan’s expression changed slightly.
Before the Emperor, he held his duster, trembling as he knelt: “Your Majesty, this servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die! This servant did not complete the task you entrusted to him. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”
Rong Huai narrowed his eyes.
Fu Quan had followed him since his ascension to the throne and was quite capable. This scene before him was clearly not right.
Fu Quan continued, “This servant sent Xiao Gui Zi with repeated warnings not to force any of the ladies. There was a Lady Ye who perhaps had something urgent come up; she suddenly ran into the crowd just as she was about to get into the carriage… Commander Yu didn’t react in time and grabbed her, accidentally scratching her arm… Oh, this servant deserves to die, this servant truly deserves to die! Commander Yu is kneeling outside, Your Majesty…”
Given Rong Huai’s character, both Lady Ye and Commander Yu would be held accountable, and Fu Quan and Xiao Gui Zi, who handled the matter, would also be severely punished. No one would escape.
But he first looked at the woman beside him, who was gently frowning, and his tone unconsciously softened: “What do you think?”
Fu Quan’s eyes widened, unable to believe what he heard—His Majesty actually asked someone else how to resolve the matter! The ministers in the imperial court would probably drop their beards if they heard this.
Sui Xing pursed her lips, her brows betraying her hidden worry: “Since we’ve entered the palace, let’s follow His Majesty’s wishes.”
Rong Huai shook his head: “I invited them here to make you happy; everything is for you.”
Sui Xing hesitated to speak.
“I said, you can tell me anything you think,” Rong Huai’s expression slightly hardened, his voice subtly hinting at an impending storm.
Seeing the man about to get angry, Sui Xing proactively clutched his sleeve, and indeed saw his expression soften slightly.
She said, “The Lady Ye Fu Quan mentioned should be my second junior sister. Perhaps she dislikes the Imperial Palace. Please, Your Majesty, send her back.”
If she disliked the Imperial Palace, would she be so eager to stand before everyone, wanting to see His Majesty? She clearly disliked this Senior Sister, yet wanted to enter the Imperial Palace to do something, which is why she acted this way today.
Fu Quan sighed inwardly, Sui Xing was still too kind, preserving Lady Ye’s face.
Rong Huai glanced at Fu Quan, who understood: “This servant will go and handle it now.”
“Then, Your Majesty, please continue with your memorials. I will go see my junior sisters.”
Sui Xing stood up and had only taken two steps when her sleeve was pulled.
The man’s deep voice said, “Why won’t you let them see me? Am I not presentable?”
“Does Your Majesty wish to see them?”
In the original plot, Rong Huai either coerced or enticed the female disciples of the medical hall, and his desire to kill them, yet his strong restraint, was palpable, making the situation very tense.
Rong Huai looked at her for a long time, then suddenly lowered his gaze.
He said, “If you don’t want me to see them, I won’t. I’ll continue reading memorials here.”
Though he said that, his hand tightened, even tracing along Sui Xing’s sleeve to her wrist, pulling her a little closer.
After her care for this period, Rong Huai’s body temperature had returned to a relatively normal level, neither too hot nor too cold.
His hand was much larger than Sui Xing’s, and the warmth it imparted was also much greater.
Sui Xing let him hold her, her eyes curving slightly as she smiled and said, “I’m afraid Your Majesty has important matters to attend to… but Your Majesty should formally meet my junior sisters.”
As she spoke, the man immediately stood up, his tall figure instantly enveloping her.
Meanwhile, outside the hall.
As soon as Xiao Gui Zi came out, he walked towards Ye Wan'er. Ye Wan'er’s heart pounded, wondering if that tyrant had specifically summoned her?
If so, he must have wanted to invite her into the palace, which is why he allowed this group of medical hall disciples to enter as well. These disciples thought they were benefiting from Sui Xing, but she…
“Lady Ye, His Majesty has ordered this servant to escort you back to the medical hall.”
“!!!”
Ye Wan'er thought she had misheard; she looked utterly incredulous: “What did you say?!”
Xiao Gui Zi repeated with a poker face: “This servant will escort you back to the medical hall.”
“Why… how is that possible! Did Sui Xing tell you to say that?! Rong Huai he…”
“Lady Ye, mind your words! How dare you address His Majesty by his given name!” Fu Quan couldn’t listen anymore. He irritably pointed at two guards, “What are you standing around for? Quickly escort this lady back to where she came from!”
The two guards immediately moved, one on each side, restraining the struggling Ye Wan'er and returning her to the carriage.
The Third Senior Sister asked in confusion, “May I ask, Eunuch, are we also…?”
Fu Quan smiled, “Oh, what are you saying? Sui Xing is inside. Ladies, please follow this humble one.”
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