Zhan Tianjian stood below, looking at the situation. A smile curved his lips. His fingertips hidden in his sleeve were pinching a small silver bead as he murmured to himself, "I said my plan would never fail."
Zhan Tianjian seemed to have already seen the day when he could leave the palace. He felt refreshed. Sheng Jiu didn't know why he had such a strange feeling when he saw this woman. But with all the court officials watching, he could only suppress this strange feeling.
"Ming Lang, take her to the harem first. Find a palace and arrange for her to stay there."
Sheng Jiu had been in a bad mood all morning because of this matter and had no mood to continue the court session. The ministers habitually asked a couple of questions, and after he answered them perfunctorily, the morning court ended in a hurry.
He wanted to stop Zhan Tianjian and ask for clarification, but the origin of this woman was clear. Even if he wanted to investigate or inquire, he had no reason. Sheng Jiu couldn't help feeling a headache.
After the court session, for the first time, he had no intention of returning to his sleeping quarters. After wandering around the palace paths for a while, he finally couldn't help asking Ming Lang, "Where did you arrange the new concubine?"
Ming Lang lowered his eyes.
"Xiangxi Palace."
Sheng Jiu frowned, but the first thought that popped up in his mind was "Why is it so far away from my sleeping quarters?"
Sheng Jiu waved his hand and said in a low voice, "You can go back first. I'll just stroll around here by myself."
Sheng Jiu didn't know what he was afraid of. He suddenly had a secret feeling like a man having an affair and being afraid of being discovered by his wife. He unconsciously tightened his palm and walked towards the palace he had just mentioned.
There didn't seem to be much surprise on Ming Lang's face. After learning that he could leave, his face showed a look of relief.
After Ming Lang returned, he saw Wanwan was already awake. As usual, he led him into the cage. When locking the cage, he suddenly lowered his voice and said, "Lady Zhan Tianjian asked me to tell you, sir, that the plan begins..."
Wanwan was stunned after hearing this clearly. He looked up at Ming Lang in disbelief and murmured, "Aren't you... Sheng Jiu's man?"
Ming Lang locked the chain as usual without answering his question, as if the words just now were an illusion of Wanwan's.
He didn't know when Ming Lang decided to stand on their side, nor when he colluded with Zhan Tianjian.
Wanwan suddenly thought of that red figure.
That person had finally reached the point of being betrayed by everyone...
Wanwan didn't have the heart to care about so many things now. He didn't want to ask what the specific plan was and how it would be carried out. With Ming Lang on their side, all things would be much easier to solve.
Wanwan didn't know how Zhan Tianjian had managed to convince Ming Lang, but he only knew that as long as Ming Lang was on their side, the road to the outside of the palace was already paved.
Ming Lang only said that one sentence to him and didn't say anything else after that. From this, Wanwan could infer that there should be someone arranged by Sheng Jiu around him.
After Wanwan asked that question rashly, he thought about it. After figuring out the whole thing, he didn't say anything else.
After Ming Lang locked the cage as usual, he turned around and went out. His expression and behavior didn't change at all. Wanwan finally began a long waiting process. But this waiting process was different from before. Now there was hope, while there was no hope at all before.
Wanwan stared blankly at his fish tail. He was actually a bit curious about what the plan that was said to have begun was. He originally planned to make some inferences when Sheng Jiu came today.
But from sunrise to sunset, he didn't see Sheng Jiu's figure. Maybe he was a bit busy... Wanwan comforted himself like this.
When night fell, Wanwan grew his legs. He thought that since it was already dark, Sheng Jiu should come. But even after the moon came out, he still didn't come.
Ming Lang had guarded him outside for a whole day. Wanwan hesitated... Should he ask about Sheng Jiu's whereabouts?
What if he was still in the palace of the new concubine he had taken yesterday?
But he had said before that he would let him sleep in the bed at night. Now that he was gone, how could he sleep in the bed?
"Ming Lang..."
Wanwan still couldn't control himself and called out to Ming Lang who was standing outside the door.
"He said before that I could sleep in the bed at night. Can you help me unlock these chains?"
Ming Lang was stunned for a moment and then slowly shook his head. "I can't unlock these chains. The key is still with His Majesty."
Wanwan lowered his eyes and asked in a low voice, "When does he plan to come back?"
Ming Lang hesitated for a moment, sizing up his expression, and said in a low voice, "This humble official doesn't know either. His Majesty may not come back tonight..."
Wanwan felt his throat go dry. Looking at his legs soaking in the water, he asked absent-mindedly, "What should I do tonight? Am I going to sleep standing in the water?"
This question stumped Ming Lang. He knew that he absolutely couldn't let Wanwan sleep in the water tonight, but it was really not good for him to disturb His Majesty now.
Ming Lang didn't quite understand. Had His Majesty really forgotten? In the past, he always put Master Wanwan's matters first...
Ming Lang pursed his lips and was silent for a moment. Then he slowly said, "Master, please wait here. This humble official will go and ask His Majesty for instructions."
Wanwan turned his head without saying a word. Ming Lang turned around and walked out of the sleeping quarters. He carefully closed the palace door. Wanwan turned his head and looked at the hazy moonlight outside the window. Biting his lower lip and trembling for a long time, he finally couldn't control his tears and they fell.
So... did Sheng Jiu really favor another woman?
Wanwan couldn't tell what he was feeling at this moment. Sourness, pain, unwillingness, and relief were all mixed together, making his eyes feel a bit sore.
When Ming Lang reached that palace, they seemed to be playing chess. The charming laughter of the woman came from inside the palace. "Your Majesty has won again. It's really so boring. Your Majesty always wins..."
Immediately afterwards, Sheng Jiu's lazy voice came out.
"I've already said that I would let you win, but you insisted on refusing."
His tone seemed not much different from before, but if you listened carefully, you could still hear a bit of tenderness and doting in it.
A look of confusion flashed in Ming Lang's eyes. Even if they were a perfect match, how could their relationship heat up so quickly...
Ming Lang stood stiffly outside the palace, not knowing whether to go in or not.