“…”
After a while, Rong Xun's complexion returned to normal. He said in a low voice, “This is my harem.”
Hearing this, Tang Youyou carefully soothed the rabbit in her arms. With disgust in her eyes, she looked at Rong Xun and said, “Then your humble concubine won't disturb your majesty's peace. Your humble concubine takes her leave.”
After saying this, she was about to leave leisurely. But the next moment, a shrill female voice came from behind them.
Wen Ruxue rushed over. Seeing Tang Youyou about to leave, a flash of joy crossed her eyes.
Immediately afterwards, she naturally draped the cloak in her hand over Rong Xun. Then, looking at Tang Youyou with a provocative look in her eyes, she saluted and said, “Your majesty, your humble concubine has been waiting for you in the Yangxin Hall for a long time. Not seeing you return, does your majesty resent your humble concubine because Xue'er failed to serve you well last night?”
Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she were muttering to herself. At the same time, she didn't forget to look at Tang Youyou, thinking that these words would pierce her heart like a sharp blade. However, Tang Youyou showed no sign of caring.
Tang Youyou looked down at Wen Ruxue haughtily, her movements were casual, and her eyes were extremely cold, as if she were looking at something that had nothing to do with her.
“Your majesty's business with your younger sister, your humble concubine won't interfere. Your humble concubine takes her leave.”
Tang Youyou couldn't wait to get away from these two “plagues” quickly. She was afraid that if she wasn't careful, she would be implicated and lose her life.
Seeing this, Rong Xun couldn't help stepping forward, but his outstretched hand paused. Was she angry? Or did she care too much about him and was too embarrassed to speak up first?
Wen Ruxue, standing on one side, could tell that Rong Xun wanted to say something but hesitated. Jealousy made her look hideous. Her scarlet eyes showed her unwillingness.
Finally getting away from the two of them, Tang Youyou found the boat she had discovered not long ago in the Lotus Dock again. She boarded the boat and followed her memory back to the Mingzheng Hall.
Today, Rong Jiangyu looked in good spirits. He was plumper than a few days ago. She carefully threw the rabbit in her arms into the garden, which caught Rong Jiangyu's attention.
Without even looking, he said directly, “You're here.”
The smirk on Tang Youyou's face, who had been hiding just now, disappeared instantly. She swaggered into the garden boredly and said coldly, “I thought you would guess who was coming. The crown prince is really boring.”
But Rong Jiangyu remained expressionless. He looked coldly at the little white rabbit on the ground and said, “The emperor's concubines keep coming here. Should I say you're free or should I say you're pitiful?”
Hearing this, Tang Youyou bent down and gently teased the little white rabbit on the ground. She smiled gently and said, “You'd better say I'm free. After all, I'm carefree now.”
Rong Jiangyu silently picked up the rabbit on the ground. A gentle light appeared in his eyes.
It even dazzled Tang Youyou. In the book, this man was a bloodthirsty demon who killed without batting an eye and played with human lives. But now, he could have such a tender side.
Tsk tsk tsk...
After a while, a fire started at the door of the hall. The smoke made Rong Jiangyu slightly stunned.
He carried the rabbit and came in front of Tang Youyou. He asked curiously, “What are you doing?”
Tang Youyou wiped the ash off her face. With a mischievous smile on her small mouth, she said, “Of course I'm making a fire to roast the rabbit.”
“You!”
Rong Jiangyu's face turned red with anger. He endured the anger in his heart and said, “You're really...”
Hearing him stop halfway, Tang Youyou consciously came in front of him and was about to grab the rabbit in his arms.
Unexpectedly, this man protected the rabbit and walked around without giving it to her.
Tang Youyou then stopped smiling and looked at Rong Jiangyu interestingly. She said, “If you don't eat this rabbit, you won't be able to have meat for the next few days.”
Hearing this, the redness on Rong Jiangyu's neck slowly spread to his ears. He gritted his teeth and said, “I won't eat it. This rabbit can't be eaten.”
As soon as he said this, Tang Youyou smiled again. “Why could you eat chicken the day before yesterday but not rabbit today?”
“That's not allowed either!”
“Alright, alright. Then don't eat it.”
As Tang Youyou said, she pulled out a stick and poked out a lotus leaf-wrapped thing from the fire. When she opened it again, there was a whole fragrant roast chicken inside.
This scene made Rong Jiangyu drool.
He quietly watched Tang Youyou finish the whole roast chicken bite by bite. Then he looked at the sleeping rabbit in his arms and swallowed his saliva involuntarily.
But he never gave in to Tang Youyou. Until she was about to leave, he still held the rabbit tightly in his arms, afraid that she would roast it.
After she left, Rong Jiangyu approached the fire again and saw another lotus leaf-wrapped thing. When he opened it, it was another roast chicken, which left him stunned.
After eating and drinking to her heart's content, Tang Youyou lay on a small boat, enjoying the scenery on the pond. Before long, she fell into a deep sleep on the boat and didn't wake up until noon the next day.
It had only been an hour since sunrise. She immediately rowed the boat away from the Lotus Dock. When she returned to the Qingliang Hall, it was already crowded. Kang Fuhai alone managed the thousands of girls on the scene in an orderly manner.
Seeing Tang Youyou, who had disappeared for a night, come back, Kang Fuhai immediately ran over obsequiously. “Empress, your servant has made all the arrangements. They are basically daughters of wealthy families, and they are all good at playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting.”
Hearing this, Tang Youyou took a general look at these people and sneered. “That's enough. At three quarters past noon, go and invite the emperor here, but don't tell him the reason.”
Kang Fuhai nodded and left again.
In the Qingliang Hall, the girls were chattering noisily.
Tang Youyou sat quietly on the upper seat, looking at the girls below. They were all young girls in their prime.
However, when there were more people, there were more disputes.
Outside the hall, a girl in a golden gorgeous dress seemed to have been splashed with water. She uttered a stream of dirty words, and no word was repeated.
“This is the fabric my father got from the Yunjin family. Do you think a simple apology can make up for it? Don't you even know who you are!”
The girl being scolded was the daughter of a county magistrate from a remote area. Naturally, she didn't dare to retort.
On the other side, a girl in simple clothes saw someone being bullied and immediately stepped forward to scold. “We're all here for the imperial consort selection. Why are you the only one with such a big mouth? Do you really think the palace is your home? What, do you think you can call the shots in the entire harem?”
Tang Youyou waved to Kang Luhai, who had just come back, and pointed to the three girls in the distance. She said, “These three girls are quite interesting. Whose daughters are they?”
Kang Luhai bowed and explained, “The girl in the golden gorgeous dress is Su Nian'e, the daughter of Su Minhuai of the current Su family. And the girl who stepped forward to defend others is Yan Zhihua, the daughter of Xu Songming. Because Lord Xu loves his wife, he named his daughter after his wife's surname.”