The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 675 - 675 320 Jealousy (First Update)

Chapter 675: 320 Jealousy (First Update) Chapter 675: 320 Jealousy (First Update) “Forget it, why are you arguing with an old beggar? He seems like a madman, no sense to reason here.” Another young man pulled at the scholar’s sleeve and tapped his own head, suggesting to the scholar not to bother with the old beggar.

On the surface, he was just urging the scholar not to argue, but wasn’t he also mocking the old beggar brazenly?

What would a street beggar understand?

Would he understand chess? Would he know about the Great Eight Game Chess of the Six Nations? Would he comprehend the difficulty of the Kun game?

He knows nothing!

“Not at all.” The old beggar, regardless of how people saw him, kept muttering these words under his breath.

Fortunately, most of those who watched were scholars. They sneered at the old beggar verbally but did not physically shove him.

The old beggar left muttering on his own, which only reinforced the spectators’ belief that he was a madman.

Xiao Liulang never loved to join a crowd. When he saw no movement up ahead, he had Liao Quan change the course.

Summers feature long days and short nights, so it was still light when they reached the Imperial Palace.

The palace guards halted his carriage: “Who goes there?”

“Hanlin scholar Xiao Liulang.” Xiao Liulang was thinking about how to send a message to Renshou Palace. Then, he saw Xiaojing Kong take out a token, “Can we go in now?”

The guard’s expression didn’t change much upon hearing ‘Hanlin scholar’, but upon sighting the token, he instantly adopted a respectful attitude: “Indeed, you may proceed!”

The guards let them through, and the carriage drove into the palace.

Xiao Liulang stared at Xiaojing Kong with surprise: “Where did you get that token?”

Xiaojing Kong calmly pocketed the token: “Auntie gave it to me, don’t you have one?”

Xiao Liulang: Of course, I don’t!

Xiaojing Kong started counting on his fingers: “Jiaojiao, Brother Xiaoshun, and Brother Yan have them.”

So, it’s only him who doesn’t have one?!

What a bolt from the blue!!!

Xiaojing Kong was unaware that his brother-in-law didn’t have the token from auntie. Carriages were not allowed into the Imperial Harem. They had to stop near Jinluan Hall.

Xiaojing Kong jumped off the carriage and darted towards the harem.

The boundary between the harem and the outer palace was guarded too, but both guards recognized Xiaojing Kong. Knowing that he was not only the guest of Prince Qi but also of Renshou Palace, they let him in without worrying.

Xiao Liulang, on the other hand, was doomed.

He was stopped once again.

It wasn’t until Xiaojing Kong reached Renshou Palace and the Empress Dowager asked who brought him that he mentioned Xiao Liulang, and then eunuch Qin hurried over to bring him.

Eunuch Qin had been shocked by Xiao Liulang’s appearance when he had first met him, almost thinking he had seen a ghost.

However, he later realized that it was unlikely. If it had been Xiao Hen who was supposed to be dead, how could he have saved the Empress Dowager back then?

Xiao Liulang followed eunuch Qin to Renshou Palace.

The Empress Dowager was about to dine. Seeing Xiaojing Kong arrive, she ordered her kitchen to prepare vegetarian dishes.

The Dowager Empress was not surprised by Xiaojing Kong’s sudden visit, but she was shocked that he came with Xiao Liulang.

Of course, she didn’t show it.

The kitchen was quick. It didn’t take long before several delicate and tasty vegetarian dishes were presented.

Eunuch Qin brought over a chair.

Xiaojing Kong was small. Kids his age usually didn’t dine at the table in the countryside but rather ate on the side with the women in the kitchen.

But Gu Jiao didn’t keep up with that custom. She personally made a special chair for Xiaojing Kong. It was taller than an ordinary chair and had a bumper in front to prevent him from falling off.

Xiao Liulang didn’t expect to find such a chair in Renshou Palace.

Obviously, it wasn’t made by Gu Jiao.

Xiao Liulang glanced at the Empress Dowager and said nothing.

The three began to eat.

The Dowager Empress dismissed the serving maid.

Only after becoming a Hanlin scholar did Xiao Liulang learn that there were special officials who recorded the Emperor’s daily activities. The Emperor’s actions, daily meals, rituals, and rules were all recorded.

The Dowager Empress and the Empress have records, too.

These were kept in palace records for future generations.

The Dowager Empress dismissing her servants may seem like a trifle, but it would be recorded nonetheless.

She wouldn’t be completely indifferent. Otherwise, she would have let herself go long ago.

She cared, yet she did it, without offering any explanation.

If he hadn’t become a Hanlin scholar, who would know how far she had gone for them?

For them?

Or for Little Pure Space?

Xiao Liulang lowered his gaze.

Forget it, why does he care?

He didn’t come to share familial bliss with the Empress Dowager. Little Pure Space did.

He had business to attend to.

The Renshou Palace, having undergone two expansions, was bigger than the Crown Prince’s East Palace. After eating, Little Pure Space embarked on his exploration.

“Wow! What a high swing!”

Upon entering the side hall, Little Pure Space saw a super-large swing, three times taller than the one in the East Palace, which swung so high it seemed one could see the entire Imperial Palace from atop.

“I want to play! I want to play!”

He was eager to try it out.

Qin Gonggong called two skilled men from the Imperial Palace to accompany Little Pure Space on the swing.

Xiao Liulang had been to Renshou Palace when he was young; it was in the courtyard of this side hall where he was poisoned. But after all these years, even revisiting the old place failed to trigger more of his memories.

However, of one thing he was certain: Renshou Palace of the past definitely did not have a swing.

Because the Empress Dowager did not like children.

Xiao Liulang soon discovered that the Renshou Palace had not only swings, but also many pieces of wood waiting to be carved, jade items for people to admire, and… precious medicines gathered from all corners of the world.

Gu Jiao and her three younger brothers all had things of their own.

Only Xiao Liulang did not.

Xiao Liulang kept telling himself he didn’t care, but there was an inexplicable emotion emerging in his heart.

He didn’t know what it was, only that… it was uncomfortable.

Forcing himself to ignore the strange feeling in his chest, Xiao Liulang turned to look for Qin Gonggong, but his gaze fell upon the Empress Dowager, who was lounging on a wicker chair, drinking tea with an air of leisure.

The Empress Dowager was observing Little Pure Space.

Xiao Liulang sighed. As expected, he didn’t have a token, he didn’t have anything of his own, he couldn’t even get a single glance from the Empress Dowager.

Nevermind, he didn’t care for it anyways.

Qin Gonggong brought over a plate of fresh fruits with a cheerful smile. “Xiao Xiuzhuan, I noticed you didn’t eat much earlier. Did the food in Renshou Palace not suit your taste?”

Having spent time in Bishui Alley, Qin Gonggong was aware of Xiao Liulang’s usual appetite.

Xiao Liulang nonchalantly replied, “No, the food was good. The weather’s just too hot, so I couldn’t eat much.”

Qin Gonggong said, “Just as I suspected. This is freshly cut honeydew cooled in ice, and some sour plum soup made as an appetizer. Have a bit first, Xiao Xiuzhuan, and later I’ll have the kitchen prepare a few dishes you enjoy.”

“No need,” Xiao Liulang declined.

“I want, I want!” Little Pure Space yelled from high on the swing.

Xiao Liulang flinched at the corner of his mouth. It seemed they could still hear each other from so high up.

Qin Gonggong looked at him and laughed, “Alright, alright! What would you like to eat? I’ll have someone prepare it later!”

Impatiently, Little Pure Space replied, “I, I, I, I, I can’t remember right now! I’ll let you know once I come down!”

Qin Gonggong laughed and agreed, “Okay!”

Xiao Liulang glanced at the Empress Dowager again.

She was still sipping her tea, seemingly never having glanced his way since the beginning.

A feeling of resentment welled up in Xiao Liulang’s chest. Was she really dismissive of him to this extent?

Xiao Liulang took a deep breath, deciding to focus on his tasks first. “Qin Gonggong, could I inquire about someone?”

“Ah, go ahead.”

“Do you… know of a palace maid or concubine who has a mole on her left wrist?”

After pondering for a moment, Qin Gonggong shook his head, “I don’t know or recall any,” he added hastily, trying to explain with a sheepish smile, “As a eunuch, I would know if you asked about eunuchs. But as for palace maids and concubines… it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to keep staring at their hands.”

He didn’t question why Xiao Liulang was inquiring about this.

Xiao Liulang was neither surprised nor disappointed by this answer, for he had never held great expectations. “Does the Empress Dowager know?”

“Let me ask her.” Qin Gonggong didn’t suggest that Xiao Liulang could ask the Empress Dowager directly. Xiao Liulang was asking him, suggesting that he didn’t wish to ask her directly.

Whether it was due to embarrassment or some other reason, it was unclear.

After asking her, Qin Gonggong returned to Xiao Liulang and said, “The Empress Dowager hasn’t noticed either.”

“Then forget it. It isn’t a major issue anyway.” Xiao Liulang said nonchalantly, “By the way, is Zhang Zhangshi from the Shanggong Bureau in the palace today? An old acquaintance of hers asked me to bring her something from outside the palace and insisted that I personally deliver it to her.”

Qin Gonggong called for a young eunuch, “Go ask the Shanggong Bureau if Zhang Zhangshi is on duty. If she is, please invite her to Renshou Palace.”