As the lanterns were just being lit.
The palace banquet was about to start, yet Ning Yuwang and Yan Zhao arrived late.
Wang Fuhai had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time. He had politely declined the overtures from the officials early on and was impatiently waiting for Ning Yuwang and Yan Zhao.
"His Highness the Virtuous Prince and the Princess Consort have finally come!"
Wang Fuhai pretended to wipe the non - existent sweat off his forehead and smiled obsequiously. "An old servant has been waiting for you for so long!"
Yan Zhao gave a soft cough. "Why is Eunuch Wang here?"
He seemed to have seen through Wang Fuhai's mind, and there was a cold glint in his eyes.
Especially the pair of twin guards behind him, looking solemn and fierce, each holding an object covered with a black cloth in one hand!
Wang Fuhai took a light sniff. Somehow, he seemed to smell a faint fishy odor!
It seemed to be the smell of a dead thing!
His gaze landed on the twin guards, but when he met their cold and blood - thirsty eyes, he quickly shivered. He forced a smile and said, "The banquet is held in Weiyang Palace today. Her Majesty the Queen was worried that the Princess Consort might not be familiar with the palace, so she sent this old servant to lead the way for the Princess Consort."
"Then we'll have to trouble Eunuch Wang."
Ning Yuwang curtsied politely. "Thank Her Majesty the Queen for her kindness."
Compared with Yan Zhao and the others, she was like the Moon Goddess, fair and tender, yet with a touch of aloofness, making people yearn for her!
Wang Fuhai involuntarily moved closer to Ning Yuwang's side, but unexpectedly, Yan Zhao coughed slightly. Lianzi immediately stepped forward to block Wang Fuhai from getting closer.
"This prince doesn't like outsiders getting too close to Wanwan!"
Wang Fuhai forced a smile. "Your Highness and the Princess Consort are so deeply in love. It really makes this old servant envious."
"If Eunuch Wang is willing, he can also have such a loving relationship!"
Yan Zhao calmly glanced at his lower body, with a hint of mockery on his lips.
Wang Fuhai instinctively shrank his lower body, and his upper body also hunched a bit. With an embarrassed look on his face, he said, "Your Highness is joking. This old servant is just a eunuch. How could I have such good fortune!"
But out of the corner of his eye, he quietly glanced at Ning Yuwang, and a thought slowly rose in his heart that such good fortune might not be far away.
"This prince didn't mean to touch on Eunuch Wang's sore spot!"
Yan Zhao said words of apology, but his expression and tone were calm and indifferent, as if Wang Fuhai's sore spot was not worth mentioning!
Wang Fuhai's powdered face seemed a bit stiff, and his voice suddenly became shrill and frightening. "It's okay! This old servant is used to it!"
They walked dozens of steps forward. At the corner, they bumped into two little eunuchs carrying huge wine jars!
Even though the cold - faced twins and Lianzi immediately protected Yan Zhao and Ning Yuwang, the two little eunuchs seemed to have limited vision and bumped into them head - on.
Wang Fuhai seemed to want to step forward to stop them, but by accident, he actually caused the two little eunuchs to break the wine jars.
"Smash!"
The fragments splashed, the fine wine spilled, and the clothes of everyone present were soaked!
Yan Zhao frowned, with a murderous aura all over his body. "You fools!"
The two little eunuchs immediately knelt down when they realized they had bumped into a noble. "Noble one, please spare our lives! Father, please spare our lives!"
Wang Fuhai kicked each of them angrily. "Useless things! How dare you bump into His Highness the Prince and the Princess Consort! You're tired of living!"
"These two are the adopted sons this old servant just took in, Xiaomingzi and Xiaodongzi. They are usually quick - witted. I let them come and see the world today, but I didn't expect them to make a mistake right away!"
He got angry first, thinking that Yan Zhao would let the matter go and spare the two boys who had broken the wine jars for his sake.
Unexpectedly, Yan Zhao ignored him completely. "Since they are incompetent in their work, there's no use keeping them. A Da and A Er, chop off their hands!"
The cold - faced twins responded in unison. One hand held the object covered with a black cloth, and the other hand held a shining sword!
"Your Highness!"
Wang Fuhai shouted anxiously and then swallowed hard. "It's clearly forbidden to use swords in the palace. Please don't violate the order, Your Highness!"
Yan Zhao glanced at him coldly. "The Emperor once said that this prince doesn't need to follow the palace orders when entering the palace. Is Eunuch Wang going to stop this prince?"
Wang Fuhai knelt down dejectedly. "This old servant is a eunuch with no sons. I'm counting on these two boys to take care of me in my old age. Please, Your Highness and the Princess Consort, for the sake of this old servant, spare these two boys."
"Since Eunuch Wang has said so, A Da and A Er, chop off one finger from each of them as a warning!"
On the surface, it was a warning to the two little eunuchs for their mistakes, but Wang Fuhai understood the hidden meaning.
Yan Zhao was warning him!
He had been careless for a moment. He thought the plan was about to succeed and had been disrespectful to Yan Zhao several times in secret.
He didn't expect that Yan Zhao had been silent before, but today he was going to settle all the scores!
He regretted it in his heart. He finally had a new understanding of Yan Zhao's notorious reputation. Sure enough, not everyone could provoke Yan Zhao!
"You idiots! Hurry up and thank His Highness for sparing your lives!"
Wang Fuhai almost gritted out these words. The blatant humiliation made him unable to lift his head for a moment!
The two little eunuchs were restrained by A Da and A Er. The long sword split the air and came down fiercely!
"Ah!"
Two successive wails. It seemed that something wet splashed on Wang Fuhai's face, but he stiffened his body and didn't dare to wipe it!
"Eunuch Wang?"
It seemed that a demon was whispering in his ear. He met Yan Zhao's gaze, and the latter seemed puzzled. "Get up."
"Yes!"
Wang Fuhai got up unsteadily. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Ning Yuwang and saw that she was expressionless, as if she was used to it!
This Princess Consort was really brave!
A strange feeling slowly rose in his heart. It seemed that something was deviating from the plan!
But he didn't dare to stop it on his own initiative. After all, the person behind him would never give up today!
Yan Zhao took a slow step forward, and his foot just stepped on the broken porcelain.
"Crunch!"
The sound of fragmentation echoed in Wang Fuhai's ear, and he couldn't help staggering.
"Cough! This prince and Wanwan's clothes are dirty. Isn't Eunuch Wang going to arrange a place for us to change?"
Wang Fuhai was greatly shocked. Yan Zhao had actually said what he was going to say in advance, and he had to follow through.
"Yes, yes, yes. This old servant will lead Your Highness to change clothes right away!"
He didn't dare to observe Yan Zhao's expression anymore. He looked down at the two little eunuchs who were still wailing, and then kicked one of them hard. "You lead the Princess Consort to the next room to change clothes."
Xiaomingzi shivered. Even though his hands were covered in blood, he managed to endure the pain. "Princess Consort, this way, please!"
His voice was shrill, and there seemed to be a hint of familiarity.
Ning Yuwang thought for a moment. "Lead the way!"
"Wanwan."
Yan Zhao called her softly. "Go and come back quickly!"
"Wait for me, Your Highness."
She replied with a faint smile, but her eyes were confident and unruly.
Lianzi also received Yan Zhao's signal and blinked silently. She had promised the prince that she would guard the Princess Consort every step of the way.
Xiaomingzi led Ning Yuwang into a palace. He bowed respectfully. "Princess Consort, this servant will leave first."
"Oh? Are you willing to leave?"
Just as he was about to lift his leg, Ning Yuwang's teasing voice came from behind. "This Princess Consort thought you were bold enough!"
"Ning Yuwang!"
Xiaomingzi turned around gritted his teeth. "You recognized me a long time ago?"