THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 22: When Will You Sleep?

Xu Chi lowered his head deeply. She did not dare to look at the young lady who was the wife of Prince Qin even with a small glance. The young lady's eyes were too brightly lit to the point that it felt as hot as burning her body. Xu Chi realized that he was guilty, unintentionally looking for trouble and instead made his female master angry to the point of almost destroying the entire contents of the residence.

Early in the morning when the snowfall had just stopped, Shen Yanzhia came to the entire servant room with a bucket of water. The girl then poured a dipper of water on every waiter who was sound asleep. They, who were forced out of their winter dream by a sack of water were shocked and angry.

If only they did not immediately realize who had doused it, their lives would probably end tragically in Shen Yanzhia's hands. Prince Qin's wife was too terrifying to surpass a tiger if it was already angry.

Shen Yanzhia herded the entire Qin residence servant into the snow-filled front garden, telling them to kneel amidst the piles of ice that made the bones and flesh freeze. Not a single person was missed, except Tan’er. Xu Chi, the prince's personal servant was also carried away.

“You know what your mistake is?”

Shen Yanzhia stared intently at the entire servant kneeling with resignation. The turbulent anger in his heart was still not quenched despite the cold weather like this. In his left hand was a wooden stick that was commonly used as a washing clothes bat. Although small, but if the wooden stick had hit the skin, the pain is not much different from the lash punishment.

“Xu Chi, anything you want to say?”

Shen Yanzhia turned to look at Lin Zian's personal servant. Xu Chi looked down deeper. He was unable to see the terrifying aura emanating from within Shen Yanzhia. All his life, only this time he saw someone so angry that it looked like he wanted to kill all humans in the residence. He didn't know if he should answer or be silent.

If he answered, he was afraid that Shen Yanzhia would get angry and beat him up. If it is not answered, it is likely that his anger will get worse. This young woman, it is not easy to understand and guess the contents of her heart.

“My jawab! Do you now also dare to ignore the empress after you ignored the prince?”

Xu Chi's body trembled violently. The cold air temperature as well as Shen Yanzhia's sharp gaze and fury left her entire body strength dead. With a trembling voice, he replied:

“Ampuni me, wangfei. I'm guilty, please punish me as you please.”

Xu Chi frowned as he boldly looked at Shen Yanzhia. The woman laughed. His laughter sounded extremely terrifying, like the roaring sound of a tiger.

What's wrong? Was this woman dissatisfied with the answer she gave? Then why? Doesn't this woman just need an answer that makes her look right in everything?

“Prince Qin is the son of the Emperor. You dare to ignore it like that. Are you tired of living? Especially you, Xu Chi. You've been following her for years, how dare you leave her alone on a cold night like that? If you think one mistake will be forgiven, then there will be another. Think of ways to punish yourself. I'm happy to keep you stuck in the dream world forever if you dare to repeat the same mistake!”

The servants whose legs had been numb from kneeling for too long and frozen, walked slowly back to their resting place that was drenched in water. Some of the servants were crying because they felt guilty. At midnight last night, they heard a cry for help. But because the weather was so cold and silent, they chose to go back to sleep and ignored the scream, thinking of it as a cold and hungry dog howl.

They did not expect that their careless behavior had made someone they held in high regard nearly lose their life and awaken the anger of someone else.

The consciousness of the servants' hearts then ushered themselves into the lashes and blows of the imperial officers over their carelessness in caring for and serving the Second Prince. They willingly let their own bodies receive punishment for their immeasurable guilt and respect. Despite the punishment, the servants remained loyal and in love with their prince. Yeah, it should be like that.

...***...

Ever since his return from the palace, Shen Yanzhia had not seen the man smile. Lin Zian's face was like a marble that extinguished its light. That normally nosy face became flat and cold like a block of ice. Shen Yanzhia did not dare to bother him as she was worried that the man might just be angry and emotional. For some reason, that terrifying aura just appeared from within Lin Zian.

The man seemed to be someone who was not touched at all. Lin Zian even forbade the servants to enter and serve his needs. Only Xu Chi was allowed to be nearby for these few days.

Lin Zian was still unconscious. Three layers of blankets had already been covered to his body, but the man showed absolutely no signs of coming to his senses. Shen Yanzhia stared at him for so long. The fear began to spread back into his body. It's almost noon, but her husband's body temperature is still as cold as last night.

After punishing and teaching the servants, Shen Yanzhia told Xu Chi to replace Lin Zian's thin clothes. The man may be completely frozen if his clothes are not replaced. Shen Yanzhia had yet to forgive the maid, she only needed her help as she was unable to replace Lin Zian's clothes alone. It still felt taboo to him even though Lin Zian was his legal husband.

“Tan’er, bring me a paper and brush!”

Shen Yanzhia called her personal servant who was waiting for her outside the Eastern Pavilion. Hearing his orders, Tan’er immediately brought the requested paper and brushes complete with his ink. He found his mistress sitting on the bedside of Lin Zian with an anxious look on her face. Since last night, the master had not slept and was always waiting for Lin Zian, and still had time to throw away his power to punish the servants.

“Give this to Ru Xiaolan,” Shen Yanzhia orders when she finishes writing.

“Where should I go, Miss?”

“House Yun.”

“Nona, aren't you going to rest first? Almost two days you don't rest, I'm afraid Miss fell ill.”

Shen Yanzhia did not respond to Tan’er's words. He looked back at Lin Zian's cold body. His heart hurts. Did something happen to him when this man was in the palace a few days ago? Could the officials have disturbed him? Or did the Emperor say something that hurt his heart?

Shen Yanzhia really did not know what had actually happened. He simply did not expect that a noble general like Lin Zian could fall like this. It seemed, something that had happened to him was indeed really serious and left a mark.

He had to ask the palace people! Only in this way, he was able to figure out the cause of Lin Zian becoming quiet and sick like this. If indeed the officials had offended him, then he would not have been reluctant to teach them a lesson.

How dare an official who was paid by the palace harass an imperial prince? Is it so great that their guts make a beloved daughter of the Queen Mother angry? After all, Lin Zian and Shen Yanzhia were a sky-given couple tied to marriage by the Emperor. Offending Lin Zian was the same as offending Shen Yanzhia. Were they also tired of living like the servants he had punished this morning?

One of the most important things for now was to heal Lin Zian and make him wake up. Only after he woke up could Shen Yanzhia ask him what was really going on slowly so that he knew what action he was supposed to take.

“Zian, until when are you going to sleep? Wake up, Second Prince! Be aware, Xiao Qin!”

Shen Yanzhia scolded her husband many times. He might be crazy if he did not remember the antidote he had made. Shen Yanzhia had to remain sane and think clearly so that when Lin Zian was conscious, he could tell the happy news without making any mistakes.

“Zian, you know? I'll scold you because you're starting to worry me half a life!”

Shen Yanzhia said furiously. Those words, though very rude, felt like a small groan as his tone trembled. He's really scared.