Helian Duo silently shook his head and told the waiter, "You can serve the dishes now."
"So you've already ordered," Cheng Xiran said, a hint of disappointment in her expression. She let out a soft sigh. "I was going to treat you, but you beat me to it."
Helian Duo lowered his eyes and slowly looked at Cheng Xiran. His slender fingers circled around the rim of the teacup.
"Well, since you want to repay me, how about writing an article about the great reputations of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager and including it in your Anecdotes of the Capital?" Helian Duo said as his thin lips parted slightly. All of a sudden, Xue Cheng's words popped into his mind. He steadied his nerves and spoke to Cheng Xiran.
Cheng Xiran blinked her eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering like a butterfly's wings. She raised her elegant eyebrows and stared at Helian Duo. "Sure."
Considering the previous incident of her falling into the water and the golden sore medicine... Since she owed Helian Duo a favor, she would pay it back. It wasn't her style to leave a debt of gratitude unpaid.
She agreed.
Helian Duo's heart skipped a beat. He looked at the bright - eyed Cheng Xiran sitting opposite him. Then he suddenly lowered his eyes and stared at the teacup. The tea leaves in it rose and fell with the water waves.
Soon, it was a quiet night with only the occasional chirping of cicadas. Cheng Xiran looked at the paper on which she had written most of the article. She sometimes fell into deep thought and sometimes smoothed out her knitted brows.
The candle in the lampshade on the corner of the table was almost burnt out. The ink in the inkstone was as black as night, seemingly even darker than the actual night. The young girl in front of the table was still writing vigorously until the late night.
"Alright, now someone should be satisfied," Cheng Xiran said with certainty in her eyes. She checked the article one more time, then put the manuscript away. She stretched tiredly. "The favor is repaid. It's time to go to bed!"
Early the next morning, Cheng Xiran sent Zhuque to deliver the article to the newspaper office. Due to the special nature of the article, the newspaper office rushed to print it. In less than an hour, all the copies were sold out.
The eunuch who went shopping saw the content of the article and bought all the remaining copies and brought them back to the palace. He had only heard of Anecdotes of the Capital before. Now, seeing it, he found that even the common people were well - aware of the great reputations of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager read the article written by Cheng Xiran together, both of their faces beaming with smiles.
"This is really well - written," the Emperor nodded, looking extremely pleased. He read it back and forth several times.
"Your Majesty, Anecdotes of the Capital is widely circulated among the common people and is very popular. Now the people will know more about the great reputations of Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager," the chief eunuch standing aside flattered obsequiously.
"Oh? Is that so? After the morning court, I'll keep Prime Minister Cheng and reward him handsomely!" The Emperor was overjoyed and became even more curious about Cheng Xiran.
After the morning court, the Emperor indeed kept Prime Minister Cheng.
"Prime Minister Cheng," the Emperor said with a smile and handed the Anecdotes of the Capital in his hand to Prime Minister Cheng. "Your daughter is really outstanding. You've raised her well!"
Prime Minister Cheng took the book nervously. He didn't know the ins and outs of the matter, but only Cheng Xiran would do such a thing.
"Now there's an article widely circulated among the common people about the great reputations of me and the Empress Dowager. Truly, a worthy father has a worthy daughter. I'll reward you handsomely!" The Emperor waved his hand, and several eunuchs presented several boxes of jewels.
Prime Minister Cheng was a bit surprised. He didn't expect Cheng Xiran to achieve this.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Prime Minister Cheng quickly expressed his gratitude.