After an unknown period of time, Zhao Defang, who was unconscious on the bed, vaguely heard knocking on the door. Every time she knocked on the door twice, it was followed by a soft call,"Your Highness, are you inside?”
The knocking on the door and the soft call that followed were intermittent. In the eyes of the drowsy Zhao Defang, it was quite noisy. Immediately, she climbed up from the bed as if she was a conditioned reflex. With her eyes closed, she rushed to the door not far away and shouted impatiently,"Who is it? Why are you making such a ruckus outside? Last night, didn't I say that there would be no next time? Do you really think that this king doesn't dare to punish you bold imperial guards?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the knocking and calling that lingered in his ears disappeared. Suddenly, there was silence outside the door.
Seeing that no one outside dared to be noisy like birds after he said these angry words, his mood was greatly improved. Since the world was already so quiet and he had yet to wake up from his sleepiness, he paused for a moment before falling back onto the bed, preparing to continue sleeping.
However, the good times did not last long. Before Zhao Defang, who was lying on the bed, could gather her sleepiness, she suddenly heard a loud voice that sounded rather unfamiliar and somewhat familiar from outside the door."Your…Your Highness, this subordinate and his brothers have been wronged. We waited outside the door to guard His Highness the King of Qin for an entire night without sleeping. Ever since last night, after your highness scolded us, we have obediently stood outside the door and have not caused any more trouble. Just now, it wasn't us who knocked on the door and called out to your highness. Your highness, please look into the details. We were greatly wronged.”
At first, Zhao Defang could not tell who the voice came from. However, when the loud voice outside the door spoke halfway, he remembered that the person who was complaining to him at this time was the big bearded class leader Zhang from last night.
As for the words that Class Head Zhang said, Zhao Defang, who was gradually waking up, thought about it. He did not know if it was true or not. He could only be skeptical. After all, in his opinion, although he had used his status as the King of Qin to reprimand them last night, they were usually the trusted imperial guards of his father, the Zhao family, and were deeply trusted by the Zhao family. Otherwise, the Zhao family would not have sent these people to protect him.
The reason why Zhao Defang thought this way was that after interacting with his father for the past month, the first feeling he got was that his father doted on him and trusted him.
Now that the Zhao family had encountered a thorny matter that concerned the country, they no longer sought out his younger brother, Zhao Guangyi, and his second son, Zhao Dezhao, to discuss it. Almost every time they encountered trouble, they would call him, the fourth prince, Zhao Defang, to discuss it.
One had to know that Zhao Defang was only sixteen years old. At such a young age, she was able to obtain the Zhao family's trust and high regard. In that case, since they wanted to send someone to protect him, they naturally had to send his most capable imperial guards.
If he sent a few good-for-nothings, this was definitely not something that the Zhao family's wise ruler could do.
Since the ten imperial guards led by Captain Zhang were sent by the Zhao family to protect Zhao Defang's safety, they were naturally selected from hundreds of extraordinary imperial guard experts. In that case, they might think that they had received the divine grace of the Zhao family and were proud of their talents, not putting Zhao Defang, who was now the King of Qin, in their eyes.
Naturally, for Zhao Defang, he had some reservations about what Class Head Zhang said just now. Therefore, he was in a dilemma.
"Was the one who answered outside the door the imperial guard, Zhang Meng, Captain Zhang?”After Zhao Defang thought about it, she was more than half awake and immediately asked.
"Replying to your highness, I am the imperial guard Zhang Meng.”The bearded Zhang Meng, who was standing outside the door with a bitter expression, quickly bowed and replied.
"Captain Zhang, this king asks you. Just now, you kept saying that it wasn't you and your brothers who woke this king up. You and your brothers were entrusted by my father to protect this king, and you all stood outside the door. Then, since you are not the ones who did it, then this king wants to hear it. You answer, who was the one who knocked on the door and called this king?”Zhao Defang asked after thinking for a moment.
"Replying, answering your highness 'words, this subordinate, this subordinate does not dare to say.”Zhang Meng, who had bowed his head and cupped his hands outside the door, slowly raised his head. He turned his head and looked at a silent woman in palace clothes standing in front of him. He immediately lowered his head and cupped his hands as he replied.
Although Zhang Meng was previously the head of the imperial guards of Funing Palace, he was usually loyal to his duties and rarely walked around the palace. The harem was a forbidden area for them who had not castrated the guards and could not trespass without permission. If they were discovered, they would lose their heads. Naturally, apart from a few familiar palace maids in the Funing Palace, he did not know any of the other palace maids in the harem.
Even so, at this moment, although he did not recognize the little palace maid standing beside Zhang Meng, he did not dare to offend her because he saw the waist token hanging on her waist. He naturally could not directly say who did it to the palace maids he did not dare to offend. He could only hesitate for a moment and try to avoid it.
"Eh? "What are you afraid of, Class Head Zhang?" As long as you tell me who did it, this king will not blame you.”Zhao Defang was somewhat puzzled. There was actually someone in King Qin's Mansion that Zhang Meng, the head of the imperial guards, did not dare to offend. He wanted to see who this person was, so he asked relentlessly.
At first, Head Zhang thought that he could get away with it, but what he never expected was that His Highness the King of Qin in the room wanted to get to the bottom of it. Since His Highness the King of Qin had pardoned his innocence, he was reassured. He had to inform His Highness the King of Qin at the risk of offending others. Because in his opinion, if he continued to prevaricate, once he angered His Highness the King of Qin, who was still relatively calm, he would definitely not have a good ending.
"T-to answer your highness 'words, F-this is your…your highness' personal palace maid, Cui-Cui-Er, has been knocking on the door and calling you softly. This, this subordinate saw that she was your highness 'personal palace maid, so she must have received your permission. Now, the sun has already passed three poles, and she came to wake your highness up. This is probably her responsibility.
"Although this subordinate's duty is to ensure your safety, your highness, this subordinate naturally did not dare to stop your personal palace maid. Everything this subordinate said is true. I hope that your highness can see through it.”When the bearded Zhang Meng made up his mind to tell the truth to His Highness the King of Qin, he glanced at the palace maid Cui Er, whose delicate body was trembling beside him. He hardened his heart and stomped his feet. He tried his best to explain the whole story tactfully so as not to offend this beautiful little palace maid who might become a princess consort in the future.
Obviously, the words of the big bearded Zhang Meng were really rough and subtle. It sounded very tactful. As he spoke, he didn't forget about the palace maid Cui Er.
She exonerated him of his crimes and very cleverly described the knocking and calling of the palace maid Cui Er as her duty. Even Zhang Meng himself could not help but admire his eloquence after he finished speaking.
After listening to Class Head Zhang's words, Zhao Defang, who was no longer sleepy, remembered that the voice that called her just now made him feel vaguely like a woman. However, because his consciousness was still in a daze at that time, he did not pay much attention to it. Now, under the reminder of Class Head Zhang's words, Zhao Defang seemed to have woken up from a dream and came to a realization.
"Cui, Cui Er, are you outside?”Although Zhao Defang felt that Class Head Zhang should not have deceived him, she could not help but ask clearly.
"Your, Your Highness, Cui, Cui Er is standing outside the door.”The palace maid Cui Er, who had been frightened by Zhao Defang's loud rebuke just now, was trembling all over as Zhao Defang and Class Head Zhang exchanged words. Her legs were trembling, and her face was red as she stammered.
"Cui 'er, then this king will ask you. Just now, Class Head Zhang said that you knocked on the door of the east wing room where this king slept and woke this king up early in the morning. Is this true?”Zhao Defang was still aggressive and aggressive just now. After hearing the voice of the palace maid Cui Er, she thought that she was afraid that she had wronged class leader Zhang and the others this time. She lost her confidence and then felt a little guilty. However, she still pretended to be bluffing and asked.
"Replying to your highness, what class head Zhang said just now is true. " It's just, it's just…" The palace maid Cui 'er, whose face had turned ashen from fear, heard the question from the room. It was much more dignified than usual. She immediately thought that she had angered His Majesty the King of Qin and wanted to explain herself.
Before the palace maid Cui Er could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Zhao Defang. She hurriedly asked,"But what? Cui Er, tell me quickly."
"Replying to your highness, it's just that…Not only did Cui 'er come early this morning to wake wangye up, but she also called wangye to wake up in the middle of the night. Also, Your Highness, it's already 9 pm. Cui 'er received the Empress' orders to wake wangye up as soon as possible. It's all Cui 'er's fault. She has disturbed your highness, please punish her.”As soon as the palace maid Cui Er said this, she felt aggrieved. Immediately, the tears that had been prepared for a long time in her eyes rolled down one after another. She cried softly as she replied softly.
Just now, Zhang Meng, who was not only loud but also spoke much faster than ordinary people, did not hear clearly when he mentioned that it was already late in the morning, so Zhao Defang did not take it to heart. However, at this moment, Zhao Defang listened carefully and sincerely to the slow words of the palace maid Cui Er.
When Zhao Defang heard the palace maid Cui 'er say that it was midnight last night, the palace maid Cui' er came to wake him up. Looking at the current class head Zhang, who did not dare to stop the palace maid Cui 'er, it was likely that this class head Zhang did not stop the palace maid Cui' er yesterday.
It must have been the palace maid Cui Er who had rushed over to wake him up after he had left last night. She stood outside the door to wake him up but did not get any reply. She was anxious. If she called a few guards to pry open the door and saw that there was no one in the room, it would be a big mess.
Not only that, but it was already the time of day. It was already past the hour, which meant that it was getting closer and closer to noon. It had to be known that at noon today, Zhao Defang was the one who had rushed to Chuigong Hall to report to his father, Zhao Guanjia, whether he had thought of the countermeasures for the three competition subjects proposed by the Khitans. At this moment, Zhao Defang's heart was in a panic. Her heart was in a mess. For a moment, she did not know how to deal with it next.
Fortunately, Zhao Defang had studied abroad in the United States in her previous life. Although she did not get a diploma, she had at least studied for a PhD. In his panic, he slowly told himself to calm down and not panic. Moreover, he had already found a way to deal with it. Right now, the most important thing was to ask the palace maid Cui Er if she had entered the room after he left yesterday. As long as he confirmed this matter, everything would be fine.
Thinking of this, Zhao Defang did not forget to look at the dragon-shaped jade pendant hanging around his neck. Seeing that the dragon-shaped jade pendant was facing forward and backward, he, who had slept with his clothes on yesterday, jumped off the bed. He did not have time to put on his boots and ran impatiently to the door not far away.
With a creak, Zhao Defang opened the door from the inside and glanced at Jiao, who was standing outside the door with her head lowered. After the trembling palace maid Cui Er, she said to her,"Cui 'er, come in quickly, this king has something to ask you.”
"Here." Cui Er, who was standing outside the door, was shocked when she heard the door open from the inside. Then, after hearing Zhao Defang's question, he was slightly relieved. He hurriedly bowed and replied softly.
With a bang, Zhao Defang waited for the palace maid Cui Er, who was walking like she was walking on thin ice, to enter the room. She quickly closed the door and locked it from the inside. As he closed the door too quickly, the sound of the door closing was heard.
When the door was closed, the imperial guards who had been on night shift outside the door saw that His Highness the King of Qin had opened and closed the door for a young palace maid. In their eyes, this was really unbelievable. Generally speaking, there was only one reason, and that was that this palace maid Cui 'er had an affair with His Highness the King of Qin.
After all, these ten imperial guards were all young men with youthful vigor. They were only allowed to visit once every year and a half, and they spent most of their time in the palace. Although they had seen many women, none of them belonged to them. When they saw palace maids who were old and doing hard labor, they could take advantage of the time when no one was around to tease them. Most of the time, they didn't dare to talk to the women in the palace.
Now, seeing a beautiful and slim palace maid receiving such great courtesy from His Highness the King of Qin, how could they not think wrongly?
"Captain Zhang, take your brothers and stay far away. This king has something important to say to the palace maid Cui Er.”Zhao Defang, who was barefooted, sat on the edge of the bed and turned her head to give instructions outside the door. Immediately after, he looked away and looked at the palace maid Cui Er, who was standing in front of him with her head lowered and her legs trembling. He asked in a serious tone,"Cui 'er, this king's next question, you have to answer truthfully. If you say that you're lying to this king, this king won't let you off easily.”
"Cui, Cui 'er, I wouldn't dare, but, as long as Cui' er knows, I will definitely tell you everything I know, and I wouldn't dare to lie.”The palace maid Cui Er, who was quite uneasy, was so scared that her hands were covered in cold sweat after hearing Zhao Defang's serious question. She stammered and replied.
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