276 Retreating For Advancement
When Xiao Juan came out of the study, he bumped into Wei Huaien.
The two sides met.
Wei Huai’en bowed and said respectfully.
“Your Highness, long time no see. You look much more energetic after coming back from Liaodong County.”
Xiao Juan did not like to interact with these eunuchs, but these eunuchs accompanied the emperor all day long and could not be offended.
He replied indifferently, “You look the same. Nothing has changed.”
Wei Huai’en smiled. “If Your Highness is leaving the palace, I’ll arrange a soft sedan chair for you.”
Horses were not allowed in the palace. Officials could only walk in and out. However, a favored official like Duke Lang could sit in a sedan chair although everyone in the palace knew that Duke Lang did not like to do so.
Wei Huai’en’s question was clearly out of courtesy.
Xiao Juan rejected the other party’s kindness and strode down the steps.
Wei Huaien stood rooted to the ground and watched Xiao Juan leave.
A young eunuch leaned over and asked fawningly.
“Master, Duke Lang was reprimanded by the emperor in public and lost all his dignity. Why does he still look fine? Is he deliberately trying to be brave?”
Wei Huai’en glanced at the young eunuch and said with a faint smile.
“You’re underestimating him too much. His move today is called retreating in order to advance. On the surface, it looks like he has suffered, but the truth is that the emperor trusts him even more.”
The young eunuch did not understand.
Before long, Xiao Juan saw Princess Tao Ran.
She was wearing a gorgeous purple palace dress with a pearl hairpin in her bun. There was a yellow plum blossom between her eyebrows. Her facial features could be described as small and exquisite. Her face was covered in light rouge, and even her nails were painted red.
It was obvious that she had dressed up carefully.
Xiao Juan originally wanted to pretend not to see her and walk past her.
However, Princess Tao Ran walked up to him and blocked his path.
She asked happily, “Cousin Mo Zhu, long time no see. How have you been?”
Xiao Juan’s reaction was still cold. “I’m fine. What’s the matter?”
Princess Tao Ran did not seem to notice his coldness and continued to speak excitedly.
“I heard that you went to Liaodong County and was very worried about your safety. I specially went to the temple to ask for a peace talisman. I hope you can accept it.”
As she held a small and exquisite amulet in front of Xiao Juan, her eyes were filled with hope.
Xiao Juan said, “Thank you. I don’t believe in these.”
Princess Tao Ran begged, “This is a gift from me. Cousin, please accept it. I beg you.”
“Keep it for yourself.”
After saying this, Xiao Juan walked around Princess Tao Ran and strode towards the palace door.
Princess Tao Ran hurriedly chased after him. “Cousin Mo Zhu, don’t walk so quickly. If you don’t like this amulet, I’ll throw it away.”
With that, she really threw the amulet away and never looked at it again.
It was as if the amulet she had treated as a treasure just now was no longer valuable.
“Cousin Mo Zhu, what do you like? Tell me, no matter what it is, I can give it to you.”
Xiao Juan said without turning around, “Your Highness, I’m already married. Please respect yourself.”
Princess Tao Ran stopped in her tracks, before speeding up and rushing in front of him to block his path again.
“I know it was Father who gave you the marriage. You actually don’t like that woman at all. I’ll kill that woman later so that you won’t be pestered by her again.”
Xiao Juan suddenly stopped.
Seeing this, Princess Tao Ran thought that he had agreed to her suggestion.
Just as she was about to take the opportunity to take credit, she realized that Xiao Juan’s gaze had become extremely sharp like a knife. A dangerous aura surged towards her as if it could take her life at any time.
“I’m warning you, don’t touch her.”
Princess Tao Ran held her breath and stood rooted to the ground.
Xiao Juan walked past her.
Princess Tao Ran pressed her hand to her heart and felt her intense heartbeat. A happy smile slowly appeared on her face.
Hehe, Cousin Mo Zhu was still so powerful.
He only needed to look at her and say something to scare her so much that her heart beat faster. She could only feel this thrill from him.
Princess Tao Ran chased after him again.
“Cousin Mo Zhu, wait for me!”
They walked out of the palace door one after another.
Yu Niaoniao waited outside the palace door for a while.
She was originally very worried that Xiao Juan would be depressed and uncomfortable from being reprimanded by the emperor in public, but when she saw Xiao Juan, she realized that she had worried too much.
He looked no different from usual. He still looked cold and distant, without the slightest feeling of frustration.
Xiao Juan looked at her and asked.
“Why are you here?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “I’m here to bring you home!”
At this moment, Princess Tao Ran walked over.
She sized Yu Niaoniao up with an unfriendly gaze and said in an extremely cold tone, “Are you the woman who has been pestering Cousin Mo Zhu?”
Yu Niaoniao was stunned. “Cousin Mo Zhu?”
Princess Tao Ran sneered and said arrogantly.
“Don’t tell me you still don’t know that Mo Zhu is Duke Lang’s courtesy name?”
Yu Niaoniao really did not know.
But she didn’t care much about that.
After all, she had lived in modern society for so many years and was used to calling names. The words were very unfamiliar to her.
Xiao Juan felt very guilty.
They had been married for a while, but he had not told her his courtesy name.
This was his negligence.
Yu Niaoniao looked at him and asked.
“Which Mo Zhu is it?”
Xiao Juan said, “Ink, bamboo.”
Yu Niaoniao praised, “This name is quite elegant.”
Seeing that she was not angry, Xiao Juan relaxed slightly.
“This is the calligraphy teacher gave me. I don’t usually use it. If you like it, you can call me Mo Zhu in the future.”
Yu Niaoniao smiled slyly. “But I still prefer to call you baby.”
Xiao Juan was speechless.
Caught off guard, he was teased again.
Xiao Juan said calmly, “Anything is fine. You can do whatever you like.”
Seeing the two of them chatting as if no one was around and treating her as air, Princess Tao Ran couldn’t help but burn with jealousy.
“You called him baby for no reason. You’re indeed a shameless vixen!”
Xiao Juan pulled Yu Niaoniao behind him.
He used his body to stop Princess Tao Ran’s glare and said coldly.
“Your Highness, Niaoniao is my officially married Princess Consort. Please respect her!”
Seeing that he was so protective of Yu Niaoniao, the jealousy in Princess Tao Ran’s heart burned even more crazily.
“I’m telling the truth! If she hadn’t shamelessly seduced you on purpose and caused everyone in the Imperial Capital to know about the matter between the two of you, would Father have given you a marriage? Everything was her scheme. Cousin, don’t be deceived by her innocent appearance!”
Xiao Juan knew Princess Tao Ran’s personality. No matter how he explained, she would not listen.
He might as well go all out.
“She didn’t seduce me. I took a fancy to her first. I planned everything. I would do anything to get her. She was actually the one who was deceived.”
Princess Tao Ran was stunned.
The guards not far away were speechless.
276 Retreating For Advancement
When Xiao Juan came out of the study, he bumped into Wei Huaien.
The two sides met.
Wei Huai’en bowed and said respectfully.
“Your Highness, long time no see. You look much more energetic after coming back from Liaodong County.”
Xiao Juan did not like to interact with these eunuchs, but these eunuchs accompanied the emperor all day long and could not be offended.
He replied indifferently, “You look the same. Nothing has changed.”
Wei Huai’en smiled. “If Your Highness is leaving the palace, I’ll arrange a soft sedan chair for you.”
Horses were not allowed in the palace. Officials could only walk in and out. However, a favored official like Duke Lang could sit in a sedan chair although everyone in the palace knew that Duke Lang did not like to do so.
Wei Huai’en’s question was clearly out of courtesy.
Xiao Juan rejected the other party’s kindness and strode down the steps.
Wei Huaien stood rooted to the ground and watched Xiao Juan leave.
A young eunuch leaned over and asked fawningly.
“Master, Duke Lang was reprimanded by the emperor in public and lost all his dignity. Why does he still look fine? Is he deliberately trying to be brave?”
Wei Huai’en glanced at the young eunuch and said with a faint smile.
“You’re underestimating him too much. His move today is called retreating in order to advance. On the surface, it looks like he has suffered, but the truth is that the emperor trusts him even more.”
The young eunuch did not understand.
Before long, Xiao Juan saw Princess Tao Ran.
She was wearing a gorgeous purple palace dress with a pearl hairpin in her bun. There was a yellow plum blossom between her eyebrows. Her facial features could be described as small and exquisite. Her face was covered in light rouge, and even her nails were painted red.
It was obvious that she had dressed up carefully.
Xiao Juan originally wanted to pretend not to see her and walk past her.
However, Princess Tao Ran walked up to him and blocked his path.
She asked happily, “Cousin Mo Zhu, long time no see. How have you been?”
Xiao Juan’s reaction was still cold. “I’m fine. What’s the matter?”
Princess Tao Ran did not seem to notice his coldness and continued to speak excitedly.
“I heard that you went to Liaodong County and was very worried about your safety. I specially went to the temple to ask for a peace talisman. I hope you can accept it.”
As she held a small and exquisite amulet in front of Xiao Juan, her eyes were filled with hope.
Xiao Juan said, “Thank you. I don’t believe in these.”
Princess Tao Ran begged, “This is a gift from me. Cousin, please accept it. I beg you.”
“Keep it for yourself.”
After saying this, Xiao Juan walked around Princess Tao Ran and strode towards the palace door.
Princess Tao Ran hurriedly chased after him. “Cousin Mo Zhu, don’t walk so quickly. If you don’t like this amulet, I’ll throw it away.”
With that, she really threw the amulet away and never looked at it again.
It was as if the amulet she had treated as a treasure just now was no longer valuable.
“Cousin Mo Zhu, what do you like? Tell me, no matter what it is, I can give it to you.”
Xiao Juan said without turning around, “Your Highness, I’m already married. Please respect yourself.”
Princess Tao Ran stopped in her tracks, before speeding up and rushing in front of him to block his path again.
“I know it was Father who gave you the marriage. You actually don’t like that woman at all. I’ll kill that woman later so that you won’t be pestered by her again.”
Xiao Juan suddenly stopped.
Seeing this, Princess Tao Ran thought that he had agreed to her suggestion.
Just as she was about to take the opportunity to take credit, she realized that Xiao Juan’s gaze had become extremely sharp like a knife. A dangerous aura surged towards her as if it could take her life at any time.
“I’m warning you, don’t touch her.”
Princess Tao Ran held her breath and stood rooted to the ground.
Xiao Juan walked past her.
Princess Tao Ran pressed her hand to her heart and felt her intense heartbeat. A happy smile slowly appeared on her face.
Hehe, Cousin Mo Zhu was still so powerful.
He only needed to look at her and say something to scare her so much that her heart beat faster. She could only feel this thrill from him.
Princess Tao Ran chased after him again.
“Cousin Mo Zhu, wait for me!”
They walked out of the palace door one after another.
Yu Niaoniao waited outside the palace door for a while.
She was originally very worried that Xiao Juan would be depressed and uncomfortable from being reprimanded by the emperor in public, but when she saw Xiao Juan, she realized that she had worried too much.
He looked no different from usual. He still looked cold and distant, without the slightest feeling of frustration.
Xiao Juan looked at her and asked.
“Why are you here?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “I’m here to bring you home!”
At this moment, Princess Tao Ran walked over.
She sized Yu Niaoniao up with an unfriendly gaze and said in an extremely cold tone, “Are you the woman who has been pestering Cousin Mo Zhu?”
Yu Niaoniao was stunned. “Cousin Mo Zhu?”
Princess Tao Ran sneered and said arrogantly.
“Don’t tell me you still don’t know that Mo Zhu is Duke Lang’s courtesy name?”
Yu Niaoniao really did not know.
But she didn’t care much about that.
After all, she had lived in modern society for so many years and was used to calling names. The words were very unfamiliar to her.
Xiao Juan felt very guilty.
They had been married for a while, but he had not told her his courtesy name.
This was his negligence.
Yu Niaoniao looked at him and asked.
“Which Mo Zhu is it?”
Xiao Juan said, “Ink, bamboo.”
Yu Niaoniao praised, “This name is quite elegant.”
Seeing that she was not angry, Xiao Juan relaxed slightly.
“This is the calligraphy teacher gave me. I don’t usually use it. If you like it, you can call me Mo Zhu in the future.”
Yu Niaoniao smiled slyly. “But I still prefer to call you baby.”
Xiao Juan was speechless.
Caught off guard, he was teased again.
Xiao Juan said calmly, “Anything is fine. You can do whatever you like.”
Seeing the two of them chatting as if no one was around and treating her as air, Princess Tao Ran couldn’t help but burn with jealousy.
“You called him baby for no reason. You’re indeed a shameless vixen!”
Xiao Juan pulled Yu Niaoniao behind him.
He used his body to stop Princess Tao Ran’s glare and said coldly.
“Your Highness, Niaoniao is my officially married Princess Consort. Please respect her!”
Seeing that he was so protective of Yu Niaoniao, the jealousy in Princess Tao Ran’s heart burned even more crazily.
“I’m telling the truth! If she hadn’t shamelessly seduced you on purpose and caused everyone in the Imperial Capital to know about the matter between the two of you, would Father have given you a marriage? Everything was her scheme. Cousin, don’t be deceived by her innocent appearance!”
Xiao Juan knew Princess Tao Ran’s personality. No matter how he explained, she would not listen.
He might as well go all out.
“She didn’t seduce me. I took a fancy to her first. I planned everything. I would do anything to get her. She was actually the one who was deceived.”
Princess Tao Ran was stunned.
The guards not far away were speechless.
