"It's fine," Liu Liu shook her head, stood up, stretched her arms, and called out, "Cui'er."
Cui'er hurried in, "Your Ladyship?"
"Take Mei Dai out through the back of the Cold Palace. I want to rest for a while." Liu Liu waved her hand, yawned, and walked towards her chambers. What a night it had been, so tiring. She would rest first.
Cui'er obeyed and led Mei Dai out. Hua Qing Palace was not far from the back wall of the imperial harem. Mei Dai was skilled in martial arts and quickly used her lightness kung to leave.
Cui'er turned back and instructed everyone to rest for a while. Although dawn was approaching, it hadn't broken yet, so they could still rest.
No one expected that Zhao Jiu seemed to have developed a taste for the Empress's discipline. The next morning, he was already kneeling in front of the Hua Qing Palace gate, requesting an audience with the Empress and seeking punishment for his rash request the previous night.
Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi were somewhat perplexed by his behavior, but seeing his remorse, they felt rather pleased.
"Lord Zhao, please return. Her Ladyship is not yet awake."
The guards standing behind Zhao Jiu were also confused by their lord's actions. One reached out to help him up, "My lord, let's go back. Last night, my lord was apprehending assassins when he disturbed Her Ladyship. I'm sure Her Ladyship won't blame you."
Zhao Jiu's expression turned cold, and he glared at his close confidants behind him. The men immediately fell silent, not daring to speak carelessly again.
Seeing his persistence, Xiao Anzi and Xiao Nianzi let him be and turned back into Hua Qing Palace.
However, the palace maids Mingyue and Caixia, upon hearing that Lord Zhao was kneeling outside the palace gate, stole several glances, their faces flushed with a bashful expression. This infuriated the young eunuchs of Hua Qing Palace, who wished they could tear the kneeling man outside to shreds for relief.
"Mingyue, Caixia, what are you doing? Why aren't you checking if Her Ladyship has woken up?"
"Oh, alright." The two young maids hesitated, looked at Zhao Jiu, and said softly, "Lord Zhao, please wait a moment. We'll go and see if Her Ladyship has woken up."
The two young maids rushed into the sleeping quarters to check if their mistress had awakened.
To their surprise, Her Ladyship had already woken up. Cui'er and Qiao'er were helping her with her ablutions. Caixia cautiously glanced at Her Ladyship, unsure if she would be angry about last night's events.
Liu Liu glimpsed the two young maids' movements in the bronze mirror and raised her eyebrows slightly. "What is it? If you have something to say, just say it?"
"Replying to Her Ladyship, Lord Zhao is kneeling at the Hua Qing Palace gate to apologize to Your Ladyship for last night's events," Mingyue reported quickly. Liu Liu stopped her movements in surprise, thinking she had misheard.
That fellow had been so arrogant last night. What trick was he playing now? She turned around and instructed Mingyue.
"Tell Lord Zhao to go back. I know his intentions."
"Yes, Your Ladyship." Caixia and Mingyue bowed and withdrew. They dared not question Her Ladyship's words. Although Her Ladyship was kind-hearted, her words were often principled and not easily changed.
Cui'er picked a white jade hairpin from the dressing table and inserted it into Her Ladyship's hair, asking suspiciously.
"What's gotten into Lord Zhao? Why is he here to apologize to Her Ladyship? If he were truly that kind of person, he wouldn't have forcibly tried to search Hua Qing Palace last night."
"Don't mind him. Bring the morning meal. After I eat, I'll be leaving the palace. You two stay and guard the palace. If anyone comes, just say I'm unwell and resting."
"Yes," Cui'er nodded, signaling Qiao'er to go and prepare the morning meal.
As Liu Liu's maids, they knew their mistress disliked extravagance, so the morning meal was very simple. Liu Liu ate a little, then ordered it cleared. Caixia and Mingyue returned.
"Your Ladyship, that Lord Zhao refuses to leave and insists on seeing you."
"Hmm," Liu Liu's expression was somewhat impatient. She had urgent matters to attend to and couldn't be bothered with that guard commander. "Let him kneel. Let's see how long he can kneel?"
Unexpectedly, Mingyue and Caixia felt pity for Zhao Jiu and knelt down with a thud, pleading, "Your Ladyship, Lord Zhao has been kneeling for a long time. Please grant him an audience."
"You two?" Liu Liu was a little speechless. So, these two maids were infatuated with Zhao Jiu. It was true that Zhao Jiu was quite handsome, but men were destined to hurt hearts. Their actions would only be a hindrance to themselves.
"Alright," Liu Liu nodded. Since she was going out of the palace, if Zhao Jiu kept kneeling, it would surely alert others in the palace, and then there would be no peace. Her outing might be revealed.
Upon hearing that Her Ladyship was willing to see Lord Zhao, Mingyue and Caixia thanked her joyfully, got up, and led the way.
In front of the Hua Qing Palace gate, Zhao Jiu knelt upright. Sweat had already beaded on his handsome face, and his temples were damp, sticking to his skin, yet he didn't move. It wasn't until Liu Liu's clear, cold voice rang out.
"Zhao Jiu, what trick are you playing now? Last night you claimed an assassin had entered Hua Qing Palace, and now what is it?"
"This subordinate apologizes to Your Ladyship for last night's recklessness. I beg Your Ladyship to punish me." Zhao Jiu replied meticulously, his face devoid of any expression. Liu Liu didn't know what he was trying to do, so she waved her hand.
"Alright, you may return. I will let you off this time. Don't come here to fool around again."
"No, Your Ladyship. If you do not punish this subordinate, I will not be at peace. Please give this subordinate a slap like you did last night, so I may remember this lesson," Zhao Jiu said, a fleeting glint of dark light in his eyes, carrying a strange excitement.
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a collective gasp from the surroundings. What was wrong with Lord Zhao? Her Ladyship had already forgiven him, yet he requested a slap. Had he been stimulated by last night's events?
"Lord Zhao?" Mingyue and Caixia cried out in concern.
Liu Liu's expression darkened further. Was Zhao Jiu plotting something? Was he trying to find some handle on her? Moreover, she had matters to attend to today and no time to quarrel with him. Her voice grew cold.
"Zhao Jiu, if you continue like this, I will be angry?"
Upon hearing Her Ladyship's words, Zhao Jiu's subordinate quickly reached out to pull him, "Your Ladyship has already forgiven you, Lord Zhao. Let's go back."
"Let go," Zhao Jiu commanded coldly. The subordinate had to release his hand and retreat.
Zhao Jiu raised his face and stared directly at Liu Liu, "Please punish me, Your Ladyship. Only then will this subordinate feel at ease."
His eyes were clear and blue, like a tranquil pool, revealing no trace of turbidity, so clear as to inspire trust. But why was he so insistent? Liu Liu was starting to get annoyed. Angrily, she raised her hand.
"Zhao Jiu, you asked for it."
A resounding slap echoed. Zhao Jiu's eyes fixed on Her Ladyship's arm.
Unfortunately, Her Ladyship's movement was too fast. He didn't see her arm at all before she retracted it. His heart was filled with regret. However, he believed he hadn't misjudged last night. Her Ladyship's arm truly bore a butterfly birthmark.
"Your subject thanks Your Ladyship for the punishment," Zhao Jiu said, then stood up and walked away. In the sunlight, his handsome face clearly bore the imprint of five fingers. Yet, Zhao Jiu seemed oblivious, his entire face radiating a radiant glow.
Everyone at the Hua Qing Palace gate was stunned. After a long while, Zhao Jiu's subordinates chased after him.