Chapter 26 Lecture

After returning, Xiao Jizi observed carefully and found that the Young Master hardly ate anything during dinner, claiming he was tired and wanted to sleep, so he went to the bedroom to rest, not even practicing his daily calligraphy.

Xiao Jizi became somewhat anxious. After the Young Master had fallen asleep, he pulled Xiao Qing aside to a corner to ask about what happened that afternoon.

"This is what happened, and you saw what followed..." Xiao Qing lowered her head, nervously fiddling with the hem of her clothes.

She knew she had caused trouble. Had it not been for her insistence on taking the Young Master out to see the birds, and then failing to restrain him afterward, he wouldn't have witnessed the incident with the Deposed Consort and been frightened. Fortunately, the Young Master was unharmed; otherwise, she really didn't know what she would have done.

Having heard Xiao Qing recount everything, Xiao Jizi understood that her intentions were to cheer up the Young Master. He couldn't blame her, and besides, it wasn't certain she could have stopped the Young Master if she had tried.

Despite the Young Master's cheerful and carefree demeanor, Xiao Jizi knew that once he set his mind on something, nothing could deter him.

Take, for example, the matter of preparing tea for His Majesty. The Young Master refused to delegate any task to others. Seeing her so exhausted, both Xiao Qing and he repeatedly tried to persuade her to allow them to help, but to no avail, aside from letting them handle some minor details.

However, he couldn't say this to Xiao Qing; she was too naive, and had been too well protected by the Young Master, acting without understanding the gravity of situations. If he didn't teach her a lesson now, she might cause even greater disasters in the future.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jizi's expression hardened, and he sternly reprimanded, "Do you realize your mistake today?"

Xiao Qing nodded guiltily, her voice choked, "I, I realize my mistake."

"Where did you go wrong?"

"Shouldn't have taken the Young Master out, shouldn't have failed to restrain him?"

"What else?" Xiao Jizi pressed on.

"What else?" Xiao Qing looked up, her eyes reddening, puzzled. Weren't those the only mistakes?

Seeing her simplistic thinking, Xiao Jizi, frustrated yet anxious for her to understand, raised his voice, "How does the Young Master treat you? Is this how you repay her? Your mistake is not just in taking the Young Master out or failing to stop him, but in not being able to stand in front of her and protect her when there was danger, preventing her from getting hurt. Fortunately, the Deposed Consort was caught; otherwise, even if you died a thousand times, it wouldn't compensate for a single hair on the Young Master's head. First, you failed to show loyalty to your master!"

Xiao Qing's eyes widened as tears streamed down her face. These were things she had never considered; she had acted out of instinctual fear... but she knew Xiao Jizi was right.

Watching her distressed state, Xiao Jizi, though his heart was heavy, continued, "After the Young Master was frightened, instead of finding ways to alleviate her worries, you panicked and cried uncontrollably. If something were to happen in the future and the Young Master needed to rely on you, could you be relied upon? Second, you failed to relieve her worries!"

"After the Young Master came to her senses, you spoke carelessly about the incident that frightened her. Did you think the Young Master hadn't been scared enough, and you wanted to scare her again? Third, you speak without thinking, not understanding the weight of your words! If you were to leave Canglan Court and lose the Young Master's protection, how long do you think you would survive?"

Xiao Qing cried even harder, shaking and nodding her head, realizing her mistakes. The Young Master treated her very well, but she had failed to fulfill her duties.

Seeing her pitiful state and knowing his words had reached her, Xiao Jizi sighed inwardly. Xiao Qing had been with the Young Master since entering the palace, sheltered from the harsh realities outside, unaware of the cruelty within the Harem. He hoped that through this incident, she would grow.

The favouritism of His Majesty toward the Young Master would inevitably become known to the entire Harem, and then, life might not remain so peaceful.

At night, by the dressing table shrouded in shadows, a woman listened to the person beside her:

"...She is now confined to the Cold Palace, rumored to have gone somewhat mad. Even if she tries to recant now, no one would believe her, Your Highness need not worry," an elderly nanny said, bowing beside her.

"Nanny Chen, you have worked hard. Keep a close watch on this matter; I'm concerned she might become desperate and speak out of turn," the woman said while stroking her long hair.

"Yes, this is of great importance. I've instructed people to keep vigilant. Her entire family's future is in the Minister's hands. If not for your intervention, her father could have been implicated too. She wouldn't dare implicate Your Highness," the elderly woman named Nanny Chen replied.

"Very well, you may leave."

After Nanny Chen had left, a resolute flash crossed the woman's eyes. She was determined to advance further—sooner or later, the position of the Central Palace would be hers.

As the night deepened, the mist thickened.

In her dream, amidst the chaos of war, a group of people in chains, a hoarse voice spoke to her, "Nannan, run, quickly, don't get caught, don't come back, find your Clan Uncle in Yanqing, live well, live happily!" and pushed her along as she spoke.

A young girl sobbed quietly, "Mother, I won't leave, I don't want to leave, I want to stay with you."

"Nannan, be good, listen, go find your Clan Uncle in Yanqing, do you remember the way? You went there when you were nine..." A middle-aged man with sadness in his eyes coaxed the young girl gently, his prisoner's uniform stained with blood, some wounds festering.

"Father, the officials are here, we need to hide the little sister," a young man said anxiously from a lookout nearby.

"No, I don't want to go..." the little girl wailed, tears streaming down her face.

The middle-aged man, heartbroken, knocked the little girl unconscious, and the group hurriedly hid her in a crevice, covering it with grass and foliage.

Lian Hua watched everything indifferently like a bystander, drifting through her dream...

Finally awakening, Lian Hua sat up abruptly, panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

The person holding her was startled awake as well and sat up, peering through the dim night light, asking, "Had a nightmare?"

Startled, Lian Hua swung her hand to the side.

The person beside her, quick to react, caught her hand and said sternly, "It's me."