Sheng Jue was taken away. Sheng Jiu slumped to the ground. Wanwan obediently knelt behind him. His blue - glowing eyes stared at his back, and no one knew what was on his mind.
The palace hall was silent for a long time. Then Sheng Jiu slowly spoke.
"I know you look down on me, just like Sheng Jue."
Wanwan pursed his lips and said nothing. In fact, he didn't look down on Sheng Jiu. He just thought Sheng Jiu looked a bit pitiful in this state.
Sheng Jiu got up with his back to Wanwan and said calmly, "Go to sleep."
Wanwan watched his back as he was about to leave and asked in a low voice, "Where are you going?"
Sheng Jiu let out a soft laugh. "Me? I don't know."
After saying that, he paced out. The bright moonlight outside traced an outline along his figure. Wanwan actually saw a touch of purity in him.
Wanwan couldn't tell if they had parted on bad terms that night. But since then, Sheng Jiu never stepped into this palace hall again. It was said that he renovated another palace and made it his new sleeping quarters.
Some also said that he had been sleeping in the palace of his newly - conferred concubine.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, he conferred only one woman as a concubine. It was the woman he had carried into the palace hall that day, and her title was Concubine Ruan.
After this woman had the conferment ceremony, Sheng Jiu slept in her palace for ten consecutive days. Some said that she was highly favored by the emperor, while others said that since it wasn't the time for the emperor to choose concubines yet, she was just someone for the emperor to while away the time with.
As winter approached, the whole palace was busy preparing items for the cold season. While Sheng Jiu was reviewing memorials, he suddenly asked,
"Isn't there enough charcoal in the former palace hall?"
The eunuch being questioned was stunned.
The former palace hall?
"Your Majesty, isn't there no one living in the former palace hall anymore?"
Sheng Jiu sighed. "Wanwan is still there."
No one knew who the Wanwan he was talking about was. Ming Lang, standing beside him, flashed a look in his eyes and replied in a low voice, "Your servant has already prepared the winter items."
During this period, Ming Lang had been secretly taking care of things.
He knew that one day, the emperor would ask about it.
Sheng Jiu was sitting by the non - frozen lake, gently exhaling.
"Ming Lang, confer the title of concubine on Wanwan."
That night, in order to provoke Sheng Jue, he deliberately said the words "beloved concubine". It seemed like a fit of pique and also like a joke.
But only Sheng Jiu knew that he really wanted to confer the title of concubine on Wanwan.
Ming Lang bent down, lowered his eyes, and respectfully responded, "Yes."
Sheng Jiu squinted his eyes and thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Give the title 'Wan'."
Ming Lang didn't know how the merman would react after hearing that he was going to be conferred as a concubine. But as a man, he thought... it was extremely humiliating.
Even though Sheng Jiu said he wanted to confer the title on Wanwan, he had no intention of going to see him.
In the late afternoon, the imperial edict arrived at Wanwan's palace. Wanwan was extremely shocked. He had said that sentence without thinking, just as a joke.
Wanwan angrily threw the imperial edict into the pool. Ming Lang calmly said, "Concubine Wan, it's no use doing this."
Concubine Wan...
Wanwan closed his eyes.
He had long known that Sheng Jiu wouldn't let the matter of that night go easily. It was already quite surprising that Sheng Jiu had kept him by his side.
Wanwan lowered his eyes. "I want to see him."
Ming Lang glanced at the imperial edict in the pool and gently replied, "At this time, His Majesty is in Concubine Ruan's palace."
"You can leave."
After a long time, the little merman floating on the water surface finally managed to say a word.
Ming Lang didn't bother about the imperial edict and just turned around and left.
Wanwan sat stupidly on the stone wall. When night fell, he watched as his fair legs grew out. After so long, he had gotten used to it. Compared to the pain when his legs first grew, he now felt nothing at all.
The early winter night was extremely cold. The charcoal in his palace hall had been burning brightly. He didn't expect the wind outside to be so biting. After opening the door of the palace hall, he had to go back and wrap himself in a white cloak.
Wanwan didn't know if Sheng Jiu had a conscience or what. He lacked nothing for the winter. Maybe Sheng Jiu just wanted to keep him alive and slowly torture him...
Wanwan pulled himself back from his thoughts and wrapped the white cloak tightly around himself.
This was the first time he had come to an open - air place on his legs. He seemed to be extremely curious about everything, but afraid that others would notice something strange, he could only lower his head slightly.
But after wandering around for a long time, he didn't know where Concubine Ruan lived.
Just as he was about to bump into the patrolling imperial guards coming from the opposite direction, Wanwan panicked and didn't know where to hide. A slow voice came from behind.
"Concubine Wan."
Only Ming Lang around him should know this title. Although Wanwan was reluctant to admit it, he still turned around and walked towards him.
Ming Lang lowered his eyes and watched as his petite body wrapped in the white cloak moved towards him bit by bit. Somehow, he let out a sigh.
He really wasn't suitable for this deep palace. He shouldn't be here.
Ming Lang quickly gathered his chaotic thoughts.
"Concubine Wan, if you run out alone at night and His Majesty finds out, your servant will be punished."
Wanwan reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Ming Lang, I want to see Sheng Jiu."
Ming Lang moved his lips. Looking at his blue pupils shining in the moonlight, there was a hint of helplessness on his face.
"Concubine Wan, follow me."
Ming Lang walked in front, holding a lantern for him. The two walked in silence all the way to Concubine Ruan's palace. The lights inside were still on, which meant they hadn't gone to sleep yet. Wanwan wanted Ming Lang to call Sheng Jiu out, but Ming Lang understood his intention and quietly refused.
"Concubine Wan, you should go and call him yourself."
Wanwan bit his lower lip and took two steps forward. Just as he was about to step onto the steps, he was stopped by an eunuch.
"Who are you? How dare you break into Concubine Ruan's palace?"
Ming Lang calmly said, "Bold! Open your eyes wide. This is Concubine Wan, newly conferred by His Majesty."
Although the eunuch didn't know about this newly - conferred concubine, he knew Ming Lang, the emperor's personal bodyguard.
He quickly knelt down to admit his guilt.
Hearing the commotion, Sheng Jiu opened the door and came out. He saw Wanwan standing in the moonlight.
How long had it been since they last saw each other?
More than a month, right?
Sheng Jiu suppressed the urge to rush forward and hug him. He just looked at him from a distance of several steps.
"What are you doing here?"
Wanwan looked up at him and took out the wet imperial edict from his sleeve.
"I'm here to return something to you."
Sheng Jiu lowered his eyes and looked at the imperial edict. For a moment, he was silent.
The atmosphere visibly dropped to freezing point.
Only Wanwan stood there, looking at him unyieldingly.
Sheng Jiu squinted his eyes.
I really want to lock him up...