Chapter 733: Chapter 733: He Has Never Changed—How Wonderful!

Zhi Jin’s hand, which was about to fall, was suddenly frozen in mid-air, her face extremely contorted. She took a deep breath, desperately forcing out a wronged expression and turned awkwardly around.

However, there was no one behind her.

"Pfft! Hahaha..."

This time it was Long Yue’s turn to burst into laughter.

He clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he was gasping for air, especially seeing Zhi Jin’s face twisted with all sorts of emotions—resentment, anger, terror, grievance—all mixed together, looking as ridiculous as a monkey!

Zhi Jin looked at the empty corridor, realizing she had been tricked, extremely irritated. She turned around, raising her hand ready to strike down.

But, unexpectedly, Long Yue’s earlier words popped into her mind.

——I just hope you won’t waste the little remaining bond between master and servant!

Zhi Jin’s heart trembled inexplicably.

Indeed, her bond with her servants was running thin, truly thin!

Zhi Jin took a deep breath. If she strikes today, by tomorrow, news would reach the Princess — Lady Jinfu is conceited with favor!

But this "favor" isn’t from the Emperor, but from the Princess!

How would the Princess think of her then?

This little wretch, does she really think I won’t dare to touch her?

"You... good, very good!"

Zhi Jin took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in her heart, coldly looking at her. This was nothing more than a drowning dog; there was no need to dirty her own hands by beating her again!

"Just kneel here nicely, the ground is cold at midnight, don’t catch a chill! Hmph!"

Zhi Jin sneered one last time before leaving with her head held high.

"Madam, should I fetch a garment to lay down?"

Yu Zhu looked at the rough ground, thinking Lady Jinfu was right; the ground was indeed cold, she better not catch a chill.

Long Yue glared at her moodily: "What time is it now? It’s July, what’s cold? If you find it boring, just go back!"

"Madam, I didn’t mean it like that..."

Yu Zhu panicked and hurriedly knelt down to explain. She truly worried about her mistress catching a chill!

Long Yue shook her head: "Then just behave!"

"Mistress... the Emperor now only goes to Jingshu Palace, doesn’t come to Zhaoming Palace anymore. Otherwise, Lady Jinfu wouldn’t trample on you like this, wu wu wu..."

All glory and all loss are shared. Yu Zhu felt that if her mistress fell out of favor, her days would not be good either.

When her mistress was favored some time ago, she boasted to those palace maids everywhere, but now? Those who used to flatter her now looked at her coldly, it was really unbearable!

Li Qingmu sneaked in every day to snuggle in her bed, Yu Zhu was already asleep by then, not knowing that the Emperor didn’t actually go to Jingshu Palace.

Of course, Long Yue wouldn’t tell her these things, she just smiled lightly: "It’s nothing, men always favor the new over the old. Maybe after a while, the Emperor will come back?"

"If he comes to Zhaoming Palace, that would be great! But mistress, the Princess towards you..."

As she spoke, she swallowed, looking very sad and anxious.

Long Yue understood what she wanted to say, she was worried the Princess had opinions about her, affecting the Emperor’s feelings for her.

But she didn’t know, in fact, it was because the Princess was dissatisfied with what Li Qingmu had done recently!

Last time, Li Qingmu took advantage of a hoarse voice incident to take down some of the Princess’s ministers. Although at the time Li Qingmu explained it, and Rong Si believed he did it with the big picture in mind.

But Rong Si is Rong Si, she is a shrewd woman. After going back and thinking it through, she would definitely notice something amiss.

She wanted to warn Li Qingmu, but after all, they are mother and son, she couldn’t really have a fight, that would only be a laughing stock!

In this case, she could only take it out on herself.

It could be considered a warning to Li Qingmu.

In summary, Long Yue was punished by Rong Si tonight to take the fall for Li Qingmu!

That scoundrel ought to express something, don’t you think?

Long Yue muttered in her heart.

Two hours whether long or short, if kneeling for a long time causes numbness in both legs, and combined with the knee pain, it was also hard to bear.

Long Yue wanted to slack off, like maybe sitting occasionally to rest, but certainly, there were spies of Rong Si or Lady Jinfu watching, and she’d suffer if she slacked off.

So truly, she kneeled the two hours steadily.

When it was time to get up, her legs didn’t feel like her own, it was only with the help of Yu Zhu and another palace maid lifting her that she barely managed to stand.

"Mistress, should I call the Imperial Physician to take a look?"

Another palace maid said.

Long Yue nodded slightly.

This palace maid named Liu Xiang was considered one of the more obedient and sincere ones among the palace maids, without too many twists and turns. Long Yue found her acceptable these days and transferred her to serve by her side.

The two helped Long Yue back, fortunately, this place was not far from Zhaoming Palace, it only took an incense stick’s time to arrive.

Along the way, Yu Zhu suggested fetching a palanquin, but Long Yue refused.

If her numb feet were not moved any longer, those legs would surely waste away!

When Long Yue got to Zhaoming Palace, she found Li Qingmu was already there.

Of course, two hours had passed, even a snail’s news would have arrived.

Li Qingmu came openly to her Zhaoming Palace, and Yang Shiqi there could only give up on a night with Princess Consort Jing with resentment.

Li Qingmu hadn’t expected Rong Si to punish Long Yue like this, seeing her swollen knees, some with broken skin, he was heartbroken.

"How come you didn’t slack off a bit?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The man’s eyes carried some blame and reproach, but more were heartache and distress.

Long Yue smiled faintly: "I can’t! Slacking off would mean an insincere heart, the Princess would be angry."

Li Qingmu’s eyes cooled slightly, stepping forward to hold her small hand tightly.

Some words don’t need to be spoken; the eyes already convey everything!

Long Yue took the punishment for him this time, Rong Si, due to their mother-son relationship, couldn’t deal with him openly, so she took it out on his woman, giving him a lesson.

But honestly, he would rather be the one to bear these two hours!

"Mistress, the golden sore medicine is here!"

Yu Zhu came in with a jade bottle containing the golden sore medicine, just in time to see Li Qingmu looking tenderly at her mistress, immediately overjoyed.

Was this the regaining of favor from the Emperor?

In this light, the two hours of kneeling weren’t entirely without gains?

She was sensible enough to put the golden sore medicine on the table and left.

Long Yue reached for the golden sore medicine, but Li Qingmu stopped her.

"Let me!"

His voice was slightly hoarse, evidently carrying some anger. Long Yue pouted a little, feeling sweetness in her heart.

There was a basin of warm water beside him; Li Qingmu first helped Long Yue clean the wounds, carefully wiping them and then slowly applying the medicine.

His actions were gentle, as if he were tending to a delicate porcelain. His focused expression left Long Yue a bit dazed, just like on the day of rebirth, seeing him mending clothes for her under the dim lamp.

A feeling of happiness spread in her heart, he had never changed, how wonderful!

.........

Hahaha, another spoonful of dog food~