The Choice Queen's

TCQ 27: Punishment of the King

Li Fengran had only returned to Qihua Palace in the evening. By then, Wang Bi had already finished lighting the candles and tidying up the workbench.

As soon as he saw Li Fengran, he walked up to him and saluted as usual. Li Fengran replied to him, then circulated his gaze throughout the entire hall.

“Eunty Wang, where is His Majesty?”

“Master, Your Majesty is in the dining room. His Majesty advised that you follow him immediately if he returns.”

Then, Wang Bi brought Li Fengran into the room in question. The dining room was nothing more than a room beside the hall of Qihua Palace.

It looks nothing like a dining room, but more like a relaxing space. There were many shelves containing books and cabinets containing valuable furniture. On its walls are many rare beautiful paintings.

Nangong Zirui sat in the middle seat of the room, turning his back to Li Fengran.

“Your Highness, the Sword Stakeholder is back,” said Wang Bi. Nangong Zirui then said, “Oh. Tell him to sit.”

The small table is short. The area may be only one meter by twenty centimeters. On it are some dishes that are still steaming delicious scented. Li Fengran sat across from Nangong Zirui, staring at the food with interest.

“Eat!” nangong Zirui.

“Ah? Your Majesty, isn't this your dinner?”

“Supply!”

Li Fengran though hesitated, raised his rice bowl. Nangong Zirui also raised his bowl, but his gaze could not be separated from Li Fengran. Even when the rice in his bowl was up, he was still staring at her. Li Fengran became uncomfortable, he hurriedly finished his meal.

“The Sword Stakeholder's body is too thin. Wang Bi, add another bowl of rice!” nangong Zirui's.

Li Fengran looked up. Although his body is small, his appetite is not large. One bowl of rice along with several side dishes was enough to fill his stomach. It can last up to a few hours.

“Your Majesty, I'm full. That rice bowl, Your Majesty should eat it.”

“I said eat!”

Something was strange about his tone. Tonight, Nangong Zirui seemed to be displeased. His mood is bad. It was exuded and felt by Li Fengran. This Nangong Zirui, seemed to have deliberately spilled his annoyance on Li Fengran by telling him to eat.

But what power, Li Fengran could only obey him. He had to finish another bowl of rice. His stomach was already full, he even burped and immediately covered his mouth. Nangong Zirui looked dissatisfied.

“Wang Bi, add two more rice bowls!” her word. Wang Bi put two bowls of rice in front of Li Fengran.

Li Fengran could no longer. “Your Majesty, I really can't afford to spend it. My stomach is full.”

“Eat!”

Li Fengran felt anger from that voice. He thought of something, then said, “Your Majesty, I already know wrong.”

“What's your fault?”

“I shouldn't be back late at night in running errands.”

The answer did not satisfy Nangong Zirui. “Wang Bi, serve vegetable bowl!”

God, why is this king's mood so bad? Li Fengran really could not afford to eat this much. He thought hard, finding out why Nangong Zirui's anger had an impact on him. He was sure that he would be guilty until Nangong Zirui punished him.

“Your Majesty, I really already know wrong,” he said again.

“Where is your fault?”

“I... should not fight with the lewd bodyguard of Zichuan and delay the affair. Don't make me eat again, Your Majesty.”

Nangong Zirui sighed. His mood gradually improved. When a fight broke out, apparently a gate guard came to report. Nangong Zirui was furious and wanted to go alone, but Wang Bi said that the matter should be settled by Li Fengran himself.

Despite that, Nangong Zirui remained furious. Li Fengran had forgotten what he had said back then. Thus, Nangong Zirui punished him as he returned to Qihua Palace. Li Fengran quickly pleaded guilty, making his anger slowly subside.

“But, it's not my fault. That lewd guard was being rude to me. I'm a fine woman, where it's possible to be tainted by such a pervert. I could almost break his hand if your queen-to-be didn't stop us.”

“I know. But Your Majesty, if I don't solve my problem, how can I be worth it and deserve to stand by you? Didn't the Sword Stakeman also protect the King?”

“I don't want you to protect me. You just need to live well.”

“Mana can. I received a salary, Your Majesty is also very good to me. His Majesty is leading the country, a lot of business has to be dealt with. Such a matter need not trouble His Majesty. After all, he was the one who first offended me. Incidentally, His Majesty can use it to search for calculations with Zichuan. People from there turned out to be very arrogant!”

Nangong Zirui massaged his forehead. Although Zichuan had to be dealt with, but he was unwilling to take advantage of the misfortune that befell Li Fengran. In the business of reclaiming power, he had his own way. Li Fengran did not need to sacrifice himself.

“You just need to obey my orders. Today's problem, I forgive you,” said Nangong Zirui.

“Your Majesty is indeed good!”

“Already. You can go back to your palace. Prepare yourself for tomorrow's banquet.”

Li Fengran nodded. His heart was pleased as Nangong Zirui's mood improved and his anger subsided. He came back while humming.

Inside the room, Nangong Zirui muttered, “Xiao Feng, don't make me angry. I may not be able to hold back if you make a mistake again.”

Hearing that mutter, Wang Bi smiled silently.

***

On the day of the banquet, the sky in early spring was so bright.

The Linglong Hall had already been prepared in such a way. Several important invited guests, especially the ministers and nobles, had arrived and were seated in their places. Some of them greeted each other.

“Your Majesty the King arrives!”

As soon as his arrival was announced, everyone stood up and said welcome. The man sat down on his throne after having all his guests sit back down.

His gaze circulated like he was looking for something, but then stopped right at the seat where the Great Lord Zichuan was still empty. Everyone naturally followed his direction.

“Has Big Lord Zichuan not arrived yet?” nangong Zirui asked Wang Bi. With his typical posture of always holding a feather whip in hand, Wang Bi replied, “It seems like not yet, Your Majesty. Big Lord Zichuan also did not send word.”

Apparently, it sparked a conversation. The other three great masters sitting next to each other sneered.

“Zichuan is always arrogant and arrogant. How dare he come later than His Majesty the King,” Great Lord Jinchuan's great-grandson, Su Ren.

“Aih, if I don't approach you, won't you also be late?” Fei Song, Great Lord Mochuan chimed in.

But, Li Yan, Great Lord Danchuan did not come to speak. Ever since entering the Linglong hall, he had only spoken a few words with a few people.

He seemed to be harboring something, yet did not dare to say. He just sat quietly and listened to the ramblings of the other two great masters who were talking about the great master of Zichuan who was very slow.

Not long after, there was the voice of the maid announcing the arrival of the Queen Mother and the concubines, including the future queen. What was most surprising was the fact that the Great Lord Zichuan they were talking about was actually walking behind the group of women.

The Empress Dowager directly sat in her place on the right side of Nangong Zirui, while Su Min and Fei Jia sat on the lower seats. As for Shen Lihua, she sat down near Nangong Zirui, but was unable to sit on the queen seat. Shen Jinglang was still standing in the middle of the hall, then he bowed in salute.

“Honor to His Majesty. I missed my sister too much and happened to meet the Queen Mother and the Mistress Consort on the way, delaying arrival. Please Your Majesty is not upset over this unintentional delay,” Shen Jinglang said. His speech sounded sincere, yet it was laughable in Li Fengran's ears.

Nangong Zirui pretended to be generous, he hid his anger and resentment in his heart. “Master need not hesitate. After all, you are the family of the future queen. If you miss him, you can visit him another time.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty's care and generosity.” Shen Jinglang then looked at Li Fengran who was standing near Nangong Zirui, pretending not to know, smiled then said, “Is the one standing next to His Majesty the Sword Starter?”

“Ya.”

“I've long heard the name of Pemanngku Sword. Unexpectedly, it turned out that the Sword Starter was a very beautiful and elegant miss.”

For some reason, the compliment sentence was like a chicken feather tickling Li Fengran's ears and waist. “Big Master is too complimentary. I am only a lucky female official to be the companion of His Majesty the King.”

“Big Master, please sit down,” said Nangong Zirui.

In Li Fengran's mind, this Shen Jinglang was just like Chen Pang. Employers and subordinates are both perverted and love to flirt. Just because his power was great, he dared to come late at a banquet as important as this. Who does he think he is? The person who was the owner of this palace was still Nangong Zirui, he should be able to be polite!