Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

Chu Shitong was willing to go up and help, but Wang Zexu didn't dare to get up at all.

When Chu Shitong saw that he couldn't help him, he knew that something serious must have happened this time, which made Wang Zexu come to him to beg him in such a servile manner.

She sat back on the couch and her words became a little colder.

"Eunuch Wang, you and I have known each other for so many years. Not to mention our long-standing business dealings, just speaking of our friendship, you have been my friend for many years. If you really have difficulties, just speak frankly. Can I do that and deliberately deceive you?"

Wang Zexu knelt down and bowed deeply to Chu Shitong, clasped his hands together and said.

"Your Highness, if I had not been desperate, I would not have bothered you again and again."

Chu Shitong said, "If you have something to say, please say it. I feel uncomfortable watching you act like this."

Wang Zexu stood up, lowered his head, and pleaded, "To be honest, I want to ask Your Highness for one thing..."

"Ah."

"I..." Wang Zexu hesitated and sighed, as if he didn't know where to start.

Chu Shitong poured him a glass of iced tea and motioned for him to sit down.

"If you have something to say, sit down and talk slowly. If you explain it clearly in advance, I can also think of a solution for you in advance. If the problem cannot be solved, at least I can give you an idea so that things will not get worse."

Wang Zexu picked up the glass of iced tea and drank it all in one gulp, without tasting the food.

He raised his eyes, but didn't dare to look directly at Chu Shitong, then lowered them again, his voice bitter.

"I have a very good friend in the palace, her name is Huaying, she used to work in the Queen's palace..."

The moonlight is cold and the shadows of the trees are sparse.

Wang Zexu slowly told the story of him and Huaying.

It turned out that Wang Zexu was sold into the palace by his family when he was young. Fortunately, he was lucky and was noticed by the former chief eunuch as soon as he entered the palace and became his follower.

During his many years in the palace, Wang Zexu got to know all kinds of people. Even though he was a eunuch, some people did not despise him and were willing to make friends with him.

Huaying is one of them.

Her past was similar to Wang Zexu's. She was also sold to the palace as a maid at a young age. The two met each other that year, and both were only seven or eight years old.

Huaying did not despise his status as a eunuch and took good care of him.

Wang Zexu is grateful.

The two of them spent years together and developed feelings for each other, but because Wang Zexu was a eunuch, he kept dodging and did not dare to face Huaying's feelings.

Later, the Grand Chamberlain retired and Wang Zexu took over. Before he met Chu Shitong, he encountered obstacles everywhere in the palace.

The flower shadow is always by my side.

Huaying grew up and became very beautiful. She also knows a lot of needlework.

Most of Wang Zexu's clothes are sewn by Huaying in her free time. Even his purses and shoes and socks are made by Huaying stitch by stitch.

By chance, Chu Shitong and Wang Zexu formed an underground alliance, and the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department was replaced by his man. Life in the palace finally became better.

Now that Wang Zexu has gained power, it is inevitable that his life will become better, and Huaying's life has also become better because of Wang Zexu.

The life of a palace maid could not be much better. She just received more monthly salary than others, and more supplies and food, but these were enough to make her life much better in the harem.

For some reason a few days ago, Concubine Li inexplicably took Huaying away from the Empress.

Since Huaying went to Concubine Li's palace, her life has changed drastically and she has been made difficult almost everywhere.

Concubine Li was arrogant and domineering, and it was common for her to torture her servants on a daily basis.

This afternoon, because Huaying broke a vase of Concubine Li, Concubine Li punished her to kneel at the palace gate, and she has not stood up until now.

Huaying fainted twice during the process, so Concubine Li had cold water poured on her to wake her up. After she woke up, she continued to kneel and said she would kneel until dawn. If Huaying pretended to faint again, she would order people to drag her out and beat her to death.

Although Wang Zexu was the chief eunuch of the palace, he was just a servant after all. How could he talk to his master face to face? He also couldn't let Chu Shiyu know about this private transaction, so he could only come to Chu Shitong.

After hearing this, Chu Shitong said, "Shouldn't you go directly to Prince Yu about this matter?"

Concubine Li is Prince Yu's mother, and she usually treats her son like his father.

If Chu Shifeng was willing to speak up, Concubine Li would definitely let Huaying go, and maybe even let her leave the palace directly.

Wang Zexu said, "I just went to Prince Yu's mansion, but Prince Yu refused to see me. I was really desperate, so I came to find you... Huaying was ridiculed and punished in various ways when she was working in Concubine Li's palace a few days ago. She already had a lot of injuries on her body. She knelt for so long today and was splashed with cold water several times. I'm afraid that if she kneels any longer, someone will die."

Chu Shitong understood that Wang Zexu wanted her to go to Chu Shifeng to plead for mercy.

But it was not easy for Chu Shitong to intervene in this matter.

If he came forward himself, Chu Shifeng would know immediately that he had some kind of underground collusion with Wang Zexu. Otherwise, why would he let him into the palace to find Concubine Li for no reason, just to save a palace maid?

Or let Yun Xiangrong come forward.

This is even harder.

Yun Xiangrong had absolutely no reason to ask for Huaying to come over, because Concubine Li's mother's family was much more powerful than Yun Xiangrong's. Ever since the right to assist in the management of the harem was given to Concubine Li and Yun Xiangrong, Concubine Li had been able to walk sideways in the harem.

The relationship between Chu Shitong and Yun Xiangrong has exploded to such an extent that the hemp leaf tobacco given to Han Xinyue has an extremely low opium content in it, in order to slowly take her life.

If he asked her for help at this time, Chu Shitong would definitely not agree.

But Chu Shitong was not very willing to go to Chu Shifeng for such a matter.

Chu Shitong acted very embarrassed and said, "Because of the rumors in the capital a few days ago, my relationship with my brother gradually became distant. If I go to my brother because of this matter, I'm afraid it won't be a good idea."

At first glance, it seemed like a tactful refusal, but Chu Shitong said again.

“But there is still hope for this matter.”

Wang Zexu immediately said: "I hope Your Highness can give me some advice!"

Chu Shitong stroked the teacup gently and said slowly, "Although it is common for concubines in the harem to abuse palace maids, there is no such rule in the harem. They only dare to do so in private, and definitely not in front of the emperor."

Chu Shitong stopped there, and Wang Zexu suddenly understood.

If she cannot be saved, then she will find a way to lure Chu Shiyu over there, or have them pass by. As long as Chu Shiyu sees her and Wang Zexu says a few words at the right time, Huaying will definitely be saved. Even for the sake of Concubine Li's own reputation, she will definitely spare Huaying.

Wang Zexu stood up and saluted, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"However, I would like to remind you that if you fail to handle this matter well and Concubine Li is punished, Miss Huaying may have a harder time."

Wang Zexu's emotions gradually calmed down, and he said in a heavy voice: "But Huaying is not yet old enough to leave the palace, and I have no reason to let Huaying leave this cage."

"Wait a little longer. If Miss Huaying can hold on until I return from Jingzhou, maybe I can ask my brother to bring her out."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

What Chu Shitong said was just a matter of afterthought. If nothing unexpected happened, Huaying would not be able to hold on.

All we can do is wait and see what happens between Concubine Li and Chu Shiyu tonight. If Chu Shiyu blames Concubine Li for being harsh on her servants, Huaying will probably die even if she manages to save her life for the time being.

If Chu Shiyu had not taken it to heart, and even stayed overnight in Concubine Li's palace, Concubine Li would probably not have held Huaying accountable for this matter. However, daily harassment was still unavoidable.

Chu Shitong is not a member of the harem, nor is he an enthusiastic person. He can only give a direction for this matter, and let Wang Zexu figure out the rest slowly.

......

July 19th marks the beginning of autumn.

On this day, Si Jingli was officially ordered by the court to visit Jingzhou on behalf of Chu Shiyu.

Civil and military officials spoke out to try to stop it, simply because they felt that it would be completely useless for Si Jingli, a vase, to visit Jingzhou.

Chu Shiyu insisted on doing so and also instructed Chu Shitong to go to the Twenty-Four Bridges in Quanzhou to handle some matters.

The Twenty-Four Bridges in Quanzhou were just a cover. Once he left the capital, who would know where Chu Shitong would go.

The two men took the order and set off one after the other.

Chu Shitong secretly left in a carriage. Because the two carriages could not collide with each other, they left the capital one after the other. A few days later, Prince Qi's Mansion would pretend that Chu Shitong was going to Quanzhou and send out an empty carriage.

Before leaving, Chu Shitong took Rushuang and Jianying with him just in case. Ji Shu stayed in the mansion, and Bishui accompanied him.

Li Nu once took the initiative to say that he wanted to be with Chu Shitong, but Chu Shitong did not agree.

In Chu Shitong's eyes, Li Nu in this life has not surrendered to him, so he doesn't know whether Li Nu will tamper with the music again.

The road to Quanzhou is not far, and it will take only four or five days to get there.

For fear that someone might leak the news, Chu Shitong chose to take a detour and avoid running into Si Jingli in order to avoid being discovered.

-

On July 25, Chu Shitong's carriage arrived at Sanyang County, Quanzhou.

Sanyang County is located in the southwest of Jingzhou. It is neither far nor close to Hongshan County, which is considered an epidemic area. There is a river in between.

It was exactly noon when Chu Shitong arrived in Sanyang County.

The date Song Nian and Chu Shitong agreed to meet was July 25th, but they didn't set a specific time because they didn't guarantee they would be able to make it even if they did, so they only told which inn they would meet at.

Chu Shitong guessed that Song Nian must have been sitting by the window of the inn drinking.

The driver drove for a long time and searched almost the entire Sanyang County, but he couldn't find where the Hongchen Inn was.

It was already afternoon, and Chu Shitong could no longer sit still.

"Bishui, ask the driver to stop the car, I will go down to look for it."

Bishui shouted to the coachman to stop, the carriage stopped, and Chu Shitong got off.

It happened to be on a busier street in Sanyang County.

Chu Shitong was dressed much more simply today than usual. Her clothes were snow-white. To prevent anyone from recognizing her, she let her hair down and asked Bishui to hold an umbrella for her to block the sun. At first glance, she looked like a fairy who had fallen into the mortal world.

The Beiqing Kingdom does not have any etiquette standards for men and women to let their hair down, so it is common to see people letting their hair down.

Chu Shitong looked around the street but couldn't find the so-called Red Dust Inn.

Bishui followed with an umbrella and looked for a long time, and said: "My Lord... Sir, did Young Master Song write it wrong? I remember there is a county called Eryang County next to Sanyang County. Could it be that Young Master Song wrote an extra stroke?"

“This reason cannot be ruled out.”

It was just that Chu Shitong went through a lot of trouble just to see Song Nian.

Si Jingli probably had already arrived in Jingzhou City. Sanyang County was still half a day's journey from Jingzhou City.

Chu Shitong stood there and thought for a while.

She didn't think Song Nian was a person who couldn't even tell the difference between "two" and "three". Could it be that the Red Dust Inn had closed down? Or did Song Nian's hand shake and he wrote an extra horizontal line?

Bishui said, "Master, you haven't eaten for a day, why don't you just find an inn to have a meal first? After the meal, you will have more energy to look for Master Song again."

"Let's walk down the street first."

Bishui followed Chu Shitong and walked around the street for a long time.

Since I really couldn't see any trace of the Red Dust Inn, I had to randomly ask a passerby.

"Auntie." Bishui smiled and approached, "Do you know where the Red Dust Inn is?"

The old lady pointed to the street ahead and said, "Over there, the signboard of the Red Dust Inn fell down a few days ago. Just walk forward, and that's the one without the signboard."

"Thank you, ma'am."

Finally found the location of Hongchen Inn.

The two men had just passed the intersection when they saw a man on horseback coming towards them not far away.

Chu Shitong thought it was Song Nian and felt strange as to why Song Nian started riding a horse. But when he got closer and saw Chu Shixuan's face, Chu Shitong felt uncomfortable all over.

Chu Shixuan dismounted in front of Chu Shitong. He was dressed in noble black, had a handsome appearance, and a gentle and steady temperament, like a piece of beautiful jade that had been carefully carved.

Seeing Chu Shitong, he smiled and asked, "Why is Xiaoqi here?"

Chu Shitong laughed dryly, but in his heart he felt like he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"I'm here to take a look around."

God knows how Chu Shixuan suddenly appeared here.

Isn’t he in the epidemic area?

Chu Shixuan took the initiative to say: "What a coincidence, I came here to purchase some supplies. There are some problems with food and water in Hongshan County."

Chu Shitong smiled and said, "Then I won't bother you anymore."

She was about to leave with Bishui, but unexpectedly, she was stopped by Chu Shixuan before she had taken a few steps.

"Xiao Qi, wait a minute."

Chu Shitong turned back reluctantly with a false smile on his face.

Chu Shixuan's expression suddenly became serious, and he took two steps forward as if he wanted to tell Chu Shitong something.

At this time, a male voice came from the other side of the road.

It's as crisp as the collision of jade, clear and gentle, and filled with a smile.

"Little Seven!"

Hearing this voice, the smile on Chu Shitong's face immediately became more genuine, and he instantly looked across the road.

Song Nian was sitting by the window of the inn, with one leg leaning against the window frame. He was wearing a black ink-and-white robe, holding a pot of sake, and his hair was tied up with a bamboo hairpin.

His black hair was as black as jade, his sword-like eyebrows were slightly raised, his sharp black eyes were smiling, and his angular contours made his face look almost handsome to a certain peak. His tall and slender but not rough figure was just right, and his extraordinary temperament stood out in the ordinary scenery.

Chu Shitong immediately smiled and waved at him, without paying attention to the expression of the person next to him.

"Second brother!"

Perhaps because there were no sworn brothers in his previous life, and because of an unknown true relationship, Chu Shitong was very surprised by their arrival and cherished them very much.

Song Nian jumped out of the window with a swift flip and walked towards Chu Shitong.

But before he got close, his eyes collided violently with Chu Shixuan's.