Chapter 48: Girl, Give Me a Smile

“Hahaha, quack!” Liu Ling’er was in the midst of wild laughter, but the moment that raspy eunuch’s voice blurted out, “Are you calling His Majesty an idiot?” her laughter died instantly.

She scrutinized the two newcomers. One wore a yellow robe, his features strikingly similar to Bai Li Xian’s; coupled with the eunuch’s distinctive tone, the identity of the man in yellow became unmistakable: Bai Li Xian’s second brother, the reigning emperor, Bai Li Hai.

A small jolt ran through Liu Ling’er’s heart. Su Yun Yun’s luck was truly astronomical—she’d randomly grabbed a passerby to utter a phrase, and ended up dragging in the emperor himself. But, um, it didn’t seem Su Yun Yun had said anything complimentary—first an “idiot,” now an outright insult.

According to ancient custom, that was direct slander of the sovereign. By those unequal laws, that was a crime worthy of execution.

Little Shuang Shuang clung tightly to Liu Ling’er’s neck, as if terrified Liu Ling’er would abandon her. She pressed her small mouth to Liu Ling’er’s ear, whispering anxiously, “Good sister, let’s go! The others are watching! He’s a bad man! He’s a really bad man!”

Liu Ling’er was momentarily taken aback, not quite understanding why Little Shuang Shuang called the emperor a bad man at first sight. Just then, Bai Li Xian strode over, casting a glance at Bai Li Hai, who had yet to notice them.

He turned to Liu Ling’er, visibly annoyed. “What are you doing here? And you brought Little Shuang Shuang out? Are you courting death? Iron Wula, take Little Shuang Shuang away, now!”

Startled by Bai Li Xian’s tone, Liu Ling’er muttered under her breath, “All right, I’ll go. Honestly, you pop up like a ghost—one of these days you’ll scare me to death.”

Behind his mask, Bai Li Xian’s expression darkened. He looked at Liu Ling’er with a complex gaze. “Who said you could leave? Since you’re here, all the better—saves me the trouble of sending for you. The emperor has arrived; as a princess, shouldn’t you greet him?”

On any other day, Liu Ling’er might have leapt at the opportunity. But today, after coaxing Su Yun Yun into such a mess, she was worried Su Yun Yun might betray her. To go and greet the emperor personally? Don’t be ridiculous—if Su Yun Yun decided to sell her out, she’d be walking straight into a trap.

Bai Li Xian gave her no chance to hesitate. Iron Wula stepped forward, scooped up Little Shuang Shuang, and turned away, while Bai Li Xian, more decisive still, took Liu Ling’er by the hand and led her toward the residence gates.

Su Yun Yun, upon realizing she’d unwittingly insulted the emperor of Dongchu, could only curse Liu Ling’er a hundred times in her heart. She was on the verge of tears; if she could, she would have fled using her lightness skills long ago, consequences be damned.

The eunuch across from her was fat, but an undeniable master. Su Yun Yun knew she was no match for him in a one-on-one fight. If he managed to catch her and pin her down with his weight, being squashed flat would be the least of her worries.

Eunuch Liu, chief steward of the inner palace and the emperor’s personal bodyguard, was no ordinary man. Even King Xian, renowned for his martial prowess in the capital, was considered evenly matched with him. Now, with someone defying imperial authority and daring to insult the emperor, how could he not seize the offender and save face?

He was about to act when Bai Li Hai raised his folding fan, blocking him. “Liu De Gui, what do you think you’re doing? Can’t you see you’ve nearly frightened the young lady to tears? Withdraw your claws at once.”

With his master’s order, Eunuch Liu shot Su Yun Yun a fierce look, then withdrew his imposing air and stepped behind Bai Li Hai, returning to an innocuous stance.

But that was only on the surface. Should anyone attempt to harm Bai Li Hai, he would instantly act to counter the threat.

Bai Li Hai turned to Su Yun Yun with an affable smile. “There’s no need to be afraid, miss. My servant can be a bit rough—don’t take it to heart! I heard you just now, saying the two of us are a perfect match. I quite agree with your insight. To prove you weren’t lying, why don’t you give me a smile, dear?”

The emperor, immersed daily among three thousand beauties in the palace, had mastered the art of flirting with young ladies without a single teacher. In fact, his skills were nothing less than masterful, leaving Su Yun Yun silently lamenting, “A stallion is a stallion—he’s got endless tricks for charming women.”

Though she longed to punch Bai Li Hai square in the face, reality was what it was. Su Yun Yun had no choice but to force a smile, offering Bai Li Hai a sweet, radiant grin.

Disguised as a woman, she was already bewitching; with that smile, Bai Li Hai was instantly captivated, his gaze growing more and more lascivious as he stared at her.

A wildflower is always more fragrant than a garden blossom. Though surrounded daily by beauties, none of the women in the harem ever dared speak to him so openly. Compared to them, Su Yun Yun’s unrestrained manner was infinitely more alluring.

Bai Li Hai unconsciously reached out, wanting to pull Su Yun Yun into an embrace. That was the last straw. Su Yun Yun, though dressed as a woman, was a man through and through. To have a man ogling her was unsettling enough; to be embraced was simply intolerable—she was no courtesan from a pleasure house.

She deftly sidestepped him. “Oh, Your Majesty, please restrain yourself. We’re in full view of the street—I’d be far too shy.”