Jiang Liannan settled down in the palace.

But to his surprise, he found that the place he was living in was actually different from the one he had dreamed of. In his dream, he lived in the northwest corner of the emperor's sleeping palace, known as Qing Shuang Hall. It was far away from the harem, very quiet, and quite spacious. However, it was also far from the emperor's cold and solemn sleeping palace, Yu Qing Hall, and the Chong Ming Hall, where political affairs were handled. It would take about fifteen minutes to reach there.

But now, he has been assigned to the area of the Emperor's Longxin Palace, specifically in the northeast corner of the Yuzhen Hall, known as the Lvqi Pavilion. Although it is small in size, it is very close to the Emperor's residence, so close that it only takes a hundred steps to walk there.

He couldn't figure out the meaning behind Leng Xu's mood, so he could only pretend to be insane and asked the eunuch who brought him there, "How am I supposed to stay here?"

The inner attendant is Qin San's eleventh disciple. Upon hearing this, he smiled strangely and said, "Since this place is close to His Majesty's sleeping quarters, as a young master serving as an attendant, it is only natural to come when called."

On call? It should be surveillance anytime, right!

He sighed, wondering why, even though he had clearly shown his "innocence" and indifference, Chen Xu still had to be so guarded around him.

Leng Xu also assigned some maids and attendants to him. They were the same people from his dream. As he looked at those familiar faces, it felt as if they were from a different lifetime. He stood there, dazed, for a while.

However, when he was in his dreams, he had no knowledge of the affairs of the world. But now he naturally understands. These people are all close confidants of Leng Xu, responsible for his daily needs and constantly keeping an eye on him, in order for Leng Xu to maintain control over himself.

But what does it matter? Anyway, he doesn't want the throne, so if they want to monitor him, just let them monitor him.

During the time of the lanterns, if it was according to his usual temperament, he would definitely take a good look at this lush Green Qi Pavilion, feel the environment here. However, having already visited this Green Qi Pavilion numerous times in his dreams, he did not find it fresh anymore. Moreover, he was tired after so many hours, so he had someone serve him with washing up and then went to bed to sleep.

He doesn't want anything right now, he just wants to live well and go back to see his father, and it would be even better if he could fight to leave the palace.

The next morning, Jiang Liannan woke up early. He was not accustomed to being in Green Qixuan's place, and he was also not used to the bed, so he didn't sleep very well.

Maid Bishan came to attend to him as he got out of bed, and said, "Young master, you're getting up too early. His Majesty has just gone to attend the morning court."

The time for attending to his studies was from three-quarters past midday to the afternoon hour of shen, so it was still early. Jiang Liannan chuckled and said, "I know my bed, and I'm a bit hungry, so I thought of getting up earlier."

He looked at the all too familiar Bishan and couldn't help feeling a sense of warmth and familiarity. He said, "Bishan, would you be willing to serve me?"

Bishan, one year older than him, was already fifteen years old. At the age of coming of age, she had the appearance of a mature woman. Hearing this, she smiled and said, "What nonsense is the young master talking about? Serving any master is the same. But being able to serve a master as kind and generous as the young master, that is truly the good fortune of a servant!"

As soon as Bijoux, who had just brought hot water, heard this, she echoed, "Exactly! We're not even thinking about wealth and prosperity. At least, we can protect our lives here with Young Master."

Jiang Liannan smiled. He was not an easy person to deal with! In his dreams, he was willful and caused a lot of trouble for Bishan and Bipei. He often threw tantrums and made faces at them. Presumably, they probably disliked him very much too... Later, he was given a death sentence. I wonder what happened to those who served him?

He changed his clothes and washed up, and Bi Shan tied up his hair again. Breakfast was served early. In the Emperor's Changxin Palace, Lü Qixuan couldn't eat the imperial meals, so there was a special kitchen to prepare his meals. When he arrived yesterday, he was asked about his favorite dishes, so the breakfast today was all his favorites: he liked sweet food in the morning, so the attendants specially made spongy pastries and five-flavor porridge for him.

In the palace of Dai Viet, there was nothing else but the best food to eat. In his dreams, he would indulge in a variety of delicious dishes every day.

He had an early meal and took a walk in the courtyard of Lüqi Pavilion to aid digestion, while also taking a look at the scenery in the courtyard.

When he died in his dream, it happened to be the deep winter of the thirteenth year of Tian Ce. That winter was unusually cold, causing many deaths from freezing. However, now before him was the early spring of the ninth year of Tian Ce when trees were budding, grass was growing, and warblers were flying. Even the wind brushing against his face carried a hint of warmth. Lin'an, the capital of Da Yue, had a truly splendid spring scenery.

As he pondered, he suddenly remembered that he might never be able to leave the palace and enjoy the sights of spring in his entire life. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, he could not help but stop walking and turned to enter the house.

After the second hour of the afternoon, when noon had passed, a palace eunuch from the Chongming Palace came to inform me that I could go and serve His Majesty with his studies.

It was said that Jiang Liannan was there to assist with studying, but he wouldn't last more than a few days in his dreams of serving. Moreover, it couldn't really be considered "assisting." Most of the time, he would read and write in a solemn manner, while Jiang Liannan would accompany him, sometimes daydreaming, sometimes amusing himself. The emperor didn't bother with him at all, allowing him to do as he pleased.

Jiang Liannan was already familiar with the route and walked straight ahead without looking around, as if he were completely uninterested. He followed the eunuch into a side hall of the Chongming Palace.

The side hall had clear and tidy windows, with a row of bookshelves neatly placed. The bookshelves were filled with the books that Leng Xu loved to read, just like an ordinary study in an ordinary household.

"I pay respects to His Majesty for ten thousand years." Now that he had been selected as an attendant, he could be referred to as "chen" and no longer needed to perform the grand ceremony upon seeing the emperor. However, he still knelt down with utmost sincerity and respectfully greeted him.

Leng Xu donned a black imperial robe and a gilt jade crown upon his head. He was currently engrossed in writing something, with a handsome face void of any expression. Even when someone greeted him, it seemed as if he hadn't heard anything. He didn't raise his head nor utter a word in response to the greeting of "dismiss the formalities."

Jiang Liannan had been waiting for a long time without hearing anyone calling him to get up. He couldn't help but feel puzzled and secretly raised his head to look at the sitting figure in front of him, but as soon as he lifted his head, he met the cold gaze of Leng Xu looking back at him, which frightened him and made him hurriedly lower his head.

The thin lips of Leng Xu pressed into a slight curve, then he spoke, "Have you been adjusting well to your stay at the Green Qi Pavilion?"

Jiang Liannan hurriedly said, "It's quite customary."

"Hmm?" Leng Xu neither confirmed nor denied, but said, "I heard someone say that you got up very early, is it true? Still hiding under the covers?"

Jiang Liannan was in a great predicament, thinking to himself how unreasonable this person was being. Even if he really recognized the bed, how could he possibly say "not used to it" in front of him? Was he asking for trouble?

Seeing his embarrassment, Leng Xu couldn't help but pretend to be serious and said, "Lying before Us is a crime of deceiving the ruler. Do you know the consequences for such a crime?"

Jiang Liannan was completely dumbfounded!

She thought to herself, "Heaven, it turns out that Leng Xu intends to kill me, and now he's found an excuse! If only I had honestly told him earlier, what am I supposed to do now? Could it be that I will be given poisoned wine again?"

After the poisoned wine entered his throat, the pain was unbearable, and he really didn't want to experience it again!

Leng Xu looked down at him from a high position. He saw him dressed in a silver-white brocade robe, with his black hair tied up with a red string. At this moment, he was scared stiff by Leng Xu, his whole body weak. His young and delicate face turned pale, full of panic. Even the obsidian-like big eyes had a hint of tears, just like a frightened little rabbit, very interesting.

He couldn't help but fake a cough and said, "I was just joking with you. Get up quickly."

Jiang Liannan looked up at him with excitement, afraid that he might change his mind. He said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" With that, he quickly stood up.

"Come here and grind the ink for Me," Emperor Leng Xu motioned to him with a wave of his hand.

"Oh!" Jiang Liannan immediately ran over obediently, revealing the fair wrist from the wide sleeves. With one hand holding the sleeve and the other picking up the ink stick to grind ink.

Leng Xu saw him acting familiarly and asked, "Oh, do you often grind ink?"

Jiang Liannan subconsciously shook his head and then nodded, "When I was a child, I found it fascinating to watch my dad writing and would often pester him to let me grind ink for him... But as I grew up, I lost interest in doing it."

Leng Xufeng's eyes narrowed slightly: "Hmm? Don't feel like doing it anymore?"

Jiang Liannan only just realized what he had said and hurriedly explained, "I-I-I, I meant that I don't want to cause trouble for my father, not that I don't love grinding ink. Your Majesty, your ink is so good, it feels comfortable to grind it. I really love grinding it, I swear!"

Leng Xu glanced at him and smirked, "Jiang Aiqing is so intelligent, yet she gave birth to someone as brainless as you."

Upon further thought, it's not like they are my own flesh and blood, so naturally they wouldn't be alike. It's the other one... the one who is similarly lacking in intelligence, actually seems more like they are my own flesh and blood.

"Ah?" Jiang Liannan was still in shock, and he didn't even hear what he said.

"There's nothing, you can go on with your business." Leng Xu concealed his smile and focused his mind on the book in his hand.

"Oh." Seeing that he didn't speak, Jiang Liannan didn't dare to speak anymore and focused on grinding the ink.