This scholar is a bit cruel

Chapter 333 A Flower and the Entire Backyard Garden
At the banquet, glasses clinked and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Princess Qingya was a little reserved at first, but gradually she opened up. She talked about interesting things that happened in the academy and about interesting things that she heard others say about outside the palace. Her big eyes were clear as water and her face was full of innocent and carefree smiles.

Consort Chen and Consort Ning also smiled and echoed her sentiments.

The queen occasionally spoke a few words, always with a smile and a kind attitude. Although she maintained her royal dignity, she made the little princess feel less uneasy than before.

Before she came here, her mother, the Queen Dowager, had repeatedly warned her to be careful and not to offend this terrible Queen.

She had, of course, heard that this queen was a ruthless killer who had confiscated the property of many powerful families.

She was well aware that the entire Great Liang Dynasty was now ruled by the Queen, who was only a few years older than her.

Although her mother was a concubine and a generation older than the queen, she was actually of no use.

Let alone a mere concubine, even the Empress Dowager was reportedly forcibly imprisoned by this Queen, and no one dared to utter a single word.

Therefore, she spoke very carefully, trying to talk only about the academy and things outside the palace, and was extremely respectful and cautious towards the Queen.

"By the way, Young Master Luo, if you pass the imperial examination this year, will you study at our academy? Everyone says that with Young Master Luo's talent, you are sure to pass this year's examination."

After Princess Qingya finished telling an interesting story, she suddenly turned her head and looked at the boy beside her with her big, dark eyes, asking a question.

Luo Zijun was sitting very close to the table, her chest almost touching the edge, and was eating with her head down. Upon hearing this, she paused for a moment before saying, "I guess... I won't go."

Princess Qingya blinked her big eyes and looked at him with concern, saying, "What's wrong? Why is your face so red, your breathing so rapid, and your voice sounds off? Are you sick?"

The Queen, standing to the side, smiled and said, "Luo Qing is excited to see you."

Princess Qingya looked puzzled.

Consort Chen smiled and said, "Young Master Luo has long heard of your beautiful name, Qingya. I heard that you are not only proficient in poetry, calligraphy and painting, but also as beautiful as a fairy, and as innocent and lovely. Therefore, Young Master Luo has always wanted to meet you. Today, I am naturally very excited to finally meet you."

Princess Qingya's fair face flushed crimson. Her long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she stole a few glances at the boy beside her. She lowered her head slightly, clutching her skirt with her small hands, and said shyly, "I... I don't look like a celestial being at all."

Consort Ning smiled and said, "You don't look like a celestial being, but you're even more beautiful and adorable than one."

Then, he looked at Luo Zijun, who was eating with his head down, and smiled, "Young Master Luo, what do you think?"

Princess Qingya became even more shy and embarrassed, lowering her head and not daring to speak, but her two little ears perked up.

Who doesn't like to hear others praise them?

Luo Zijun lowered her head and mumbled indistinctly, "Mmm... mmm..."

Princess Qingya raised her eyes, blushed, and stole a glance at him, only to see him suddenly stiffen and drop the chicken leg from his mouth onto the table.

She thought to herself: Is Young Master Luo really that excited to see me?

The little girl's heart pounded wildly, her face blushed like a peach blossom, making her even more beautiful and adorable.

She lowered her head and hurriedly reached for her wine glass, trying to hide her flustered state, but accidentally dropped it.

"Bangdang..."

The wine glass suddenly fell to the ground, spilling fruit wine that splashed onto her skirt, her snow-white silk stockings beneath the hem, and her spotless, beautiful brocade shoes.

"Yes...I'm sorry..."

She quickly apologized and tried to bend down to pick it up.

Luo Zijun bent down first, picked it up for her, and handed it to her.

Princess Qingya accepted the gift shyly and thanked her softly.

The Queen glanced under the table and smiled, "Qingya, your dress and shoes are wet. Go to the inner room and take them off to change."

Princess Qingya quickly replied, "No...no need."

Consort Chen smiled and said, "It's so cold outside, it's not good to wear wet clothes. Go inside and change. Don't worry, Young Master Luo won't see you."

Princess Qingya blushed instantly, and before she could refuse, the Queen had already instructed the outside, "Qing'er, go and get a set of clothes and shoes."

"Yes, madam!"

A voice answered from outside, and footsteps faded away.

Upon seeing this, Princess Qingya dared not say anything more. She could only get up, bow her head, and thank her. Then, blushing, she went to the inner room.

As she rose, the Queen's gaze fell upon her pale yellow dress and the brocade shoes beneath it, and she smiled and said, "This fruit wine is indeed rich and fragrant."

Princess Qingya parted the beaded curtain and entered the inner room. After hesitating for a moment, she then removed the curtains on both sides, completely blocking the view from the outside.

Before long, Qing'er came in carrying a set of clothes and shoes and took them into the inner room, saying respectfully, "Second Princess, this servant will help you change your clothes."

Princess Qingya was always served by her maids when she changed her clothes, so she did not refuse.

Qing'er helped her untie the sash around her slender waist and said with a smile, "The Second Princess's waist is so slender, just as the book says, her waist is as slender as a willow."

Princess Qingya, her face flushed, peered shyly and nervously through the curtains and beaded veils at the blurry figures outside, her heart pounding with anxiety, and she didn't hear what she was saying.

Soon, the pale yellow dress fell off, revealing a snow-white body wrapped in a bodice.

Qing'er said, "Second Princess, sit down on the bed, and I will help you take off your shoes and socks."

Princess Qingya came to her senses, walked to the bedside inside, sat down, and looked down to find that her brocade shoes and snow-white silk stockings embroidered with lace were wet with wine and felt sticky.

"Huh..." Qing'er was stunned for a moment when she squatted down to help her take off her shoes and socks, but she quickly realized what was happening.

Princess Qingya asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Qing'er smiled and said, "It's nothing. I'm just very surprised. The Second Princess's shoes and socks are so beautiful, and her feet are so beautiful too. They're just like a pair of flawless white jade."

Princess Qingya blushed and slightly curled her toes, remaining silent.

Qing'er helped her take off her shoes and socks, placing them together with the dress she had just taken off. After glancing at the stains on them, she got up, picked up the new clothes, and helped her change.

At that moment, at the table outside, the Queen looked at the person beside her, raised her eyebrows slightly, and said in a low voice, "That glass of wine, you deliberately spilled it, didn't you? Were you trying to confuse the situation, or...?"

Luo Zijun was holding her soft handkerchief, wiping away the stains with her head down, without saying a word.

"Qingya also has a younger sister who looks just like her..."

The queen whispered again.

Luo Zijun then raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I am about to depart tomorrow. Could you please tell me the details of that merchant caravan?"

The Queen stared at him for a while and said, "Of course, but tonight, I have a surprise for you first."

Luo Zijun raised his eyes, glanced through the beaded curtain at the inner room, and said, "I don't want any surprises."

The Queen smiled faintly, withdrew her gaze from him, picked up the wine on the table, took a small sip, and said, "What I am about to give you is not a question of whether you want it or not, but rather how you can accept it more respectfully."

She paused for a moment, then added, "Besides, no one can refuse tonight's surprise."

Luo Zijun couldn't help but sigh and looked at her, saying, "Your Majesty, I don't quite understand why you would do this."

The queen sneered, looking at his handsome face, and said, "Is it that you can't understand, or that you don't want to understand?"

Luo Zijun fell silent.

He knew perfectly well why she did this, but was he, a mere son-in-law, worth her doing this for?
"I told you long ago, you are mine, so you must come back."

The queen's once charming peach blossom eyes were now covered with frost, and her tone was full of arrogance: "What she can give you, I can also give you; what she can't give you, I can still give you. There are three thousand beauties in this palace, and there will be more in the future. As long as you like them, I will never be stingy. This is the difference between me and that jealous woman."

The jealous woman she was referring to was none other than herself.

Luo Zijun knew that the closer it got to the end, the more careful she had to be. If she said something wrong and angered her, her plans to leave tomorrow would probably be ruined.

He dared not say anything more and respectfully replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."

The Queen's expression softened, and she placed her jade-like hand on his leg under the table again, gently stroking it as she whispered, "Luo Qing, remember to come back early. So many people are waiting for you here. Don't forget the entire back garden for the sake of a single flower."

Luo Zijun: "...Your subject will remember this."

At this moment, the beaded curtain rustled, and Princess Qingya, dressed in a clean dress, blushed and shyly walked out from the inner room.

at the same time.

A massive storm is brewing in a sea thousands of miles away.

The entire sky was obscured by dark clouds.

A dilapidated ship was tossed about in the raging waves, bobbing up and down, almost sinking.

The nine islands in front, like nine ancient behemoths, crouched ominously amidst the giant waves and black mist, coldly and silently watching it.

A handsome old man with a full head of fiery red hair came to the deck amidst the splashing waves and stood there motionless, gazing at the storm ahead with a calm expression.

This reassured the panicked new crew members somewhat.

The two figures, one in black and one in white, standing by the railing, also felt relieved.

But the old man's next words made their hearts tighten: "Today's storm is much fiercer than the last one; they've probably already spotted us. If this ship capsizes, I can only guarantee one person will survive..."

"Myself."

As he spoke, a red light flashed behind him, and with a "whoosh," two enormous wings covered in fiery red feathers appeared.

A young crew member shouted from the mast: "Captain, you said we are all your children!"

The old man didn't turn around. His cloudy eyes stared at the black vortex that had suddenly appeared in front of him. He spoke in a hoarse voice, "Yes, you are all my children, that's true. But you also know that I survived by abandoning my children."

"Captain, you can't be so selfish!"

The young crew member also saw the huge whirlpool suddenly appear ahead, and his face turned pale.

The old man sighed softly, his gaze distant: "I cannot die yet."

The young crew member was about to plead when a burly, one-eyed old crew member came over and punched him in the face, then yelled at him in the storm to shut up.

The young crew member was dragged into the cabin while crying.

At this moment, the figure in a black dress by the railing looked at the red-haired old man beside her and said indifferently, "Is it worth it for a promise? Perhaps, she is no longer alive."

The old man did not speak.

Because the enormous black vortex in front of them was like a gaping maw, rapidly opening and swallowing them whole.

(End of this chapter)