Chapter 59

With Tinglan, the maidservant sent by the empress dowager, standing behind him, Zixiu sat in the chair stiffly, having butterflies in his stomach. He grew tense not because he was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, but because he was worried that his true gender would be discovered. No matter how carefully he dressed up and how realistically he acted, he had to be cautious even if he wanted to take a nap, which made him feel so tired that even the veins on his forehead stood out. Even worse, it was getting dark outside and this was the time he used to take a bath before having dinner. “Where are Nangong Du’s men?”

“Your Highness, it’s almost time for dinner. How about you take a bath first? I’ll be waiting on by your side!” When Zixiu was waiting for someone to help him out anxiously, Tinglan suddenly suggested in a soft voice.

Needless to say, the maidservant chosen by the empress dowager was quick-witted, considerate, and gentle. So though Zixiu was in a panic, he didn’t detest her.

After pondering for a while, Zixiu answered, “I’m hungry and I want to have dinner first!”

“… Got it!” Tinglan was stupefied by this princess’s straightforwardness. However, without showing anything special on her face, she walked out.

A moment later, the chef brought some vegetarian dishes in, saying that to bless the prince in a coma, the empress dowager ordered the people in the capital city to eat vegetarian food for three days in a row. Zixiu didn’t care if there was meat in the dishes at all. He sat down by the table and started enjoying his meal, putting his worries behind.

After eating his fill, Zixiu rose to his feet and turned to Tinglan, putting on a melancholy look. “Let’s go and see His Highness!” he said as he had prepared in advance.

Xingyi had forced him to see Nangong Du every day recently, so he didn’t want to visit that pervert at all. However, to buy as much time as possible so that he didn’t have to bath, Zixiu had to use it as an excuse.

As Xingyi wasn’t here, Zixiu stepped out of the bedroom without anyone’s permission for the first time. However, to his surprise, nobody stopped him. Looking up, he suddenly found that the guards outside were not the same people as the day before, which reminded him that the emperor had sent some imperial guards here.

Through the corridors and alleys, he came to the prince’s bedroom. Before he could step in, a strong smell of medical herbs rushed into his nostrils. Even though Zixiu had started collecting such herbs with his father since childhood, he couldn’t help but frown. The further he walked in, the stronger the smell became, which made him have a spur to cover his nose with his hand.

As soon as they arrived at the door, Tinglan was stopped by Yueying. Heaving a sigh of relief, Zixiu walked into the bedroom in haste.

Lingxiao had gone back to his own room to freshen himself up and have dinner, so Zixiu didn’t see him in the room. Nangong Du was lying still in bed as usual.

Walking to the bed, Zixiu asked with a ‘worried’ look, “Is His Highness feeling better?”

To his surprise, instead of keeping silent as before, Yueying reminded in a low voice from behind, “His Majesty is suspicious about you. Be more cautious!”

Hearing that, Zixiu turned pale and his hand couldn’t help but tremble. He also heard rumors of Princess Liuxu’s collusion with the enemy and treason, which was more terrible than the charge of poisoning her husband!

“Keep going what you have to do!” Yueying added after Zixiu turned around. He then shifted the topic. “Your Highness, you may go back now!”

Zixiu was surprised that Yueying had sent him away so soon, wondering if he was trying to prevent him from meeting Lingxiao. Walking out of Prince Mu’s bedroom restlessly, he wanted to see Xingyi, but at the thought that it was improper for a princess to visit a maidservant, and Xingyi didn’t seem to welcome him, he went back to his own bedroom.

After walking into the inner room, Zixiu asked Tinglan out without taking a bath, saying that he was tired. Lying on the bed feebly, he felt so exhausted both physically and mentally.