Yuqing Palace was the place where Emperor Ling Xu lived his daily life. Compared to Chongming Palace, it was slightly more relaxed, but after all, it was the place where the emperor ate and slept. The imposing presence there was quite intimidating to behold.

Jiang Liannan had seen it countless times in his dreams. He wasn't afraid of that formation, but when he saw Leng Xu, he became anxious and didn't dare to look at him. He lowered his head and knelt down from a distance, paying his respects:

"I kneel before Your Majesty and wish you eternal reign."

Leng Xu was about to ask someone to assist him in changing his clothes. The ceremonial attire was too cumbersome to move in, so he needed to switch to his regular clothes for convenience. He lifted his head and saw Jiang Liannan kneeling from a distance, his dark eyes slightly cold. He said, "Didn't I tell you that you don't need to kneel before Us?"

Jiang Liannan felt fearful and apprehensive. He knew that in the dreamlike scenario, Leng Xu treated him exceptionally well, but she never failed to observe proper etiquette in their daily encounters. Now her attitude was so malicious, yet she ordered him not to bow? He couldn't shake the feeling that this was Leng Xu's way of making him suffer a sarcastic punishment. His scalp tingled, and he quickly responded, "Without rules, chaos ensues. Your Majesty shows pity and concern for this humble servant's youthfulness, and this servant is immeasurably grateful. However, this servant is ultimately just a low-ranking attendant with no official position. I dare not overstep my bounds."

Leng Xu snorted coldly upon hearing the words and replied, "Now you're clever."

Hearing this, Jiang Liannan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, Leng Xu was just speaking in reverse, trying to test whether he had any disloyalty in him. Fortunately, he was clever. So, Jiang Liannan said with some pride, "This is all thanks to my father's achievements."

Leng Xu was so angry that he couldn't say a word.

He hastily lifted his outer robe and sat down at the table, scowling as he said in a displeased tone, "What are you still kneeling there for? Come over and attend to me!"

"Oh, oh, I'll be right there!" Jiang Liannan immediately jogged over and skillfully served Cong Xusheng porridge and arranged the dishes. He had done it a few times for Cong Xusheng in his dreams, so it was not unfamiliar to him.

Leng Xu watched his actions, his gaze turning cold: "Are you so accustomed to doing this that you consider yourself a servant?"

Jiang Liannan paused his actions upon hearing this, raising his head to look at him with confusion, "Ah?"

To Your Majesty, am I not just a servant to you? Could it be that you still see me as a brother?

Don't joke around, I don't want to die again.

Leng Xu's dark and deep eyes silently watched him, as if sizing him up, but the gaze was incredibly peculiar...

Jiang Liannan felt extremely uncomfortable.

After a while, Leng Xu finally withdrew his gaze and began eating his breakfast.

Jiang Liannan had not even eaten his breakfast yet, but looking at the tempting spread of delicious food on the table made him even hungrier. He couldn't help but sneakily salivate.

"Are you hungry? Did you skip breakfast?" Leng Xu glanced at him, her phoenix-like eyes slightly raised.

"Ah?" Jiang Liannan almost choked on his saliva. He thought to himself, my goodness, I swallowed so subtly and quietly already! How can he still hear it?

"I said, have you not had breakfast yet?" Cold Xul impatiently repeated.

Jiang Liannan did not dare to hide it from him and quickly said, "I overslept because I didn't know Your Majesty wanted me to serve breakfast early..."

Leng Xu raised his eyebrow and said, "Is it my fault?"

Jiang Liannan subconsciously wanted to kneel down again, but this time Leng Xu saw it clearly and quickly extended one foot to stop him.

"I've told you, no more kneeling down so casually!"

Jiang Liannan truly felt like crying—what exactly does the Emperor want from him? He would rather kneel by the side and watch him have breakfast than be tormented like this! He simply doesn't understand what Ling Xu wants to achieve!

Leng Xu looked at him and saw his wrinkled little face with a expression as if he was about to cry, unexpectedly burst out laughing with a "he" sound.

Jiang Liannan really had to kneel down this time.

Li Xufu's mood suddenly improved, and his tone also became much lighter. "What? Crying? If it gets out, your father will think I bullied you."

Jiang Liannan lowered her head and ignored him.

The curvature of Leng Xu's lips increased, then he retracted his feet and said, "Alright, let's sit down and have breakfast together. Qin San, call someone to bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Jiang Liannan immediately said, "This humble official does not dare!"

"After you finish eating, I'll give you some candied plums," said Leng Xu.

Jiang Liannan: ......

I shouldn't have told him earlier. I can't believe he's using this to threaten me. So annoying.

Qin San brought the bowls and chopsticks. When Leng Xu saw him, she gave him a glance and said, "Are you not coming yet? Do you want me to wait for you?"

Jiang Liannan immediately sat down on his bottom, his little face carrying a hint of anticipation. "Are you really giving me candied dried plums?"

Leng Xu lifted his lids and glanced at him, saying, "Let's see how you perform."

"Oh!" Jiang Liannan obediently accompanied Leng Xu in having breakfast together.

Although he was mischievous, after all, he had lived in the palace for four years, so his actions were extremely appropriate. Even when drinking porridge, he didn't make any sound, much more refined and elegant than some concubines.

Leng Xuyuguang watched his obedient eating appearance, and his lips moved slightly.

This person is indeed very obedient and follows the rules, he thought.

After finishing his breakfast, Jiang Liannan did indeed receive candied plums, but there were only three of them.

Only three... Jiang Liannan dared not speak out in anger, so he could only hold the three plums in his hands and watch Cold Xu's departing figure with a heart full of sorrow.

He really treats me as nothing but a servant, even more exaggerated than in a dream!

He thought to himself.

So, Bi Shan watched as Jiang Lennan carefully spent two hours eating two plums. As for the last one, Jiang Lennan couldn't bear to eat it, so he found a piece of paper and wrapped it up.

Bipei watched, thinking in her heart, "When did His Majesty become so stingy? Giving three plums as a reward, what is that? If this gets out, people will think the treasury is empty!"

Jiang Liannan leaned against the window, chatting with Bipei: "Isn't our palace very poor?"

Bipei: ......

Sure enough!

"It's not exactly like that..." Bixuan reconsidered and thought that if Jiang Liannan knew that the emperor was being stingy towards him, he might not be happy. So, she added, "It's also possible, after all, although His Majesty advocates frugality, the consorts and princesses in the palace may not necessarily abide by it."

"Oh." Jiang Liannan nodded, thinking to himself, "I know. Is it that soft Lady Fu? Isn't she extravagant?"

"Do you know as well, Gongzi?" Bi Pei asked.

"Yeah, I've heard a little about it," Jiang Liannan replied earnestly, imitating his father's serious demeanor.

After all, Lady Rou's extravagance and wastefulness were notorious. Even her father, who was not someone to meddle in the affairs of the harem, once submitted a memorial to criticize Lady Rou for her excessive luxury and draining of the national treasury.

Bipei eagerly said, "Oh, young master, you know so little. You have no idea what the Changle Palace of Madam Rou looks like... It is truly adorned with gem-embedded pillars, lotus flowers touching the floor, and walls painted with pepper flower patterns!"

Jiang Liannan thought to himself, "What's that compared to being trapped in a dream? The Qing Frost Palace in the Yellow Millet Dream is ten times more luxurious than Lady Rou's Chang Le Palace. Any random decoration there would be a priceless treasure... However, being extravagant with a woman, especially a palace consort, is not something worth flaunting."

Then he put on a displeased expression and said, "Really? That's too extravagant. If I were her, I wouldn't want this. I would definitely save more money for the treasury on behalf of His Majesty."

However, the speaker said it unintentionally but the listener took it seriously. So that night, it reached Leng Xu's ears.

Leng Xu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh? Is that really what he said?"

Bipei hurriedly said, "Yes, the young master also said, 'Your Majesty's position remains steadfast. It is our duty as courtiers to empathize with Your Majesty and share the worries.’" She feared that the emperor might doubt her, so she lowered her head and meekly stated, "It is absolutely true, this servant does not dare to deceive in the slightest."

Upon hearing these words, Leng Xu couldn't help but snicker, "Seems like you inherited your father's style."

The mood of His Majesty the Emperor seemed to be quite good, as the next morning, Jiang Liannan received another three sugar-preserved plums.

He was overjoyed with this and eagerly took out the one he had hidden earlier and ate it, then hid the new one inside again.

He tends to get carried away easily when he is feeling proud, so while eating plums, he always feels the need to do something more. As a result, he decided to practice calligraphy by referring to the "Duobao Tower Inscription." However, just as he was practicing his handwriting, the emperor arrived.

Jiang Liannan felt like a bolt from the blue, thinking, "This is bad, I was supposed to act like a carefree Liu Chan, why am I starting to miss Li Yu, who longed for their homeland!"

If Cold Xu were to become "Zhao Kuangyi" of the Great Yue, he would immediately have to drink the Poison of the Tethered Machine.

Chapter Note: After Li Yu wrote "The Beauty of Yu", Zhao Kuangyin, the Taizong Emperor of Song Dynasty, regarded him as someone who still had ambitions to restore his power and overthrow the current regime. As a result, he gave Li Yu the "Qianji Pill" and encouraged him to commit suicide. The Qianji Pill, also known as strychnine, when consumed by a person, causes convulsions in the head, leading to the tightening of the muscles in the legs, resulting in death. This appearance resembles the actions of pulling on a puppet's strings, hence the name "Qianji Pill".