CHAPTER 16 Punishment for Chun Xiao and Anli

They finally arrive at the palace. Instead of going to her chamber, Zhang Ruyi chose to go to her study room. She walked slowly with a sleepy face. Sometimes, she rubbed her watery eyes.

"Bixia, it's sleeping time now. Bixia should go ahead to Bixia's chamber."

Zhang Ruyi ignored the advice. She still goes to the study room. Chun Xiao hit her head and felt guilty. She thought the festival could help to relax the Emperor but she was wrong.

"Bixia! It's too late now. Bixia needs to get some rest."

Zhang Ruyi stopped.

"Chun Xiao. I've told you that I still have a lot of work that needs to be done. Did you forget?" She continued to walk.

Chun Xiao bites her lips. "Seems like I bring trouble more than helping her." She mumbled.

Chun Xiao ran to get the Emperor. She grabbed the Emperor's sleeve.

"Bixia, please go back to Bixia's chamber now. The work can be done tomorrow."

Zhang Ruyi stopped and turned around. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Chun Xiao.

"You want me to rest?"

Chun Xiao nodded.

"Well, you need to help me then."

"Huh?"

Zhang Ruyi grabbed Chun Xiao's hand and brought her to the study room. The maid was clueless.

"Bi-Bixia? W-what should I do to help you?"

Zhang Ruyi didn't answer. Once they entered the study room, Zhang Ruyi ordered her to sit and pick a brush.

"Bi-Bixia, this is...?"

Zhang Ruyi raised her eyebrows and sat next to Chun Xiao. She took one of the scrolls and gave it to Chun Xiao.

"I'll do the outside Suzhou matters, and you'll do the Suzhou's document."

"Eh?!" Chun Xiao was shocked.

Zhang Ruyi took another scroll of the scroll books and put them in front of Chun Xiao.

"Your task is easy. You only need to approve and disapprove the application written in the scroll."

Chun Xiao picks one of the scrolls and reads them.

"But, Bixia...how to do it? I've never done this kind of work before."

Zhang Ruyi was already starting her work. Even though she was busy, she still could hear Chun Xiao. Without looking at Chun Xiao, she told her what she should do.

"Read the scroll and I'll let you know which one to approve and which to disapprove."

The two worked together until midnight. Chun Xiao's voice gradually became quieter as time passed and finally, there was no more sound from her. Realizing there was only silence in the room, Zhang Ruyi looked at Chun Xiao. She had fallen asleep and her face was smeared with black ink.

"She has fallen asleep?"

Zhang Ruyi got up and carried her to the bed. There was a small bed inside the study room. Zhang Ruyi used to sleep there if she needed to stay up for work. The ink was still wet. She took a small towel to wipe it.

"I think I should moisten this towel first. The ink is still difficult to erase."

She poured plain water inside a bowl and soaked the towel. The water has been left out for hours and now it is cold. Zhang Ruyi wrung out the towel and held it momentarily with her palm to warm it up. After that, she put it on her cheeks to check the temperature.

"I think it's a bit warm now. Chun Xiao might not be awake if I clean the ink on her face with it."

She wiped the black ink gently until it was clean. Chun Xiao moaned as the wet towel touched her soft skin. After the ink had been cleared, Zhang Ruyi stopped wiping and pulled her hand away but her sleeve got caught in Chun Xiao's hairpin. She tried to pull her sleeve gently to keep Chun Xiao from waking up but her hairpin was also pulled. It made Chun Xiao's hair half pulled out. Zhang Ruyi gritted her teeth.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry Chun Xiao." She muttered to herself.

She put the hairpin to the side of Chun Xiao's head for a moment and adjusted her sleeve but Chun Xiao suddenly turned and grabbed the hairpin. The head of the hairpin was tucked under her neck. Zhang Ruyi hit his head.

"Ah, damn it! Now I can't take the hairpin. I hope she doesn't get injured while sleeping with the hairpin under her neck."

Zhang Ruyi stepped backwards and returned to the desk. She arranged the scrolls and cleaned the ink on the table. The weather was getting colder and she started to shiver. There was no blanket in the room. Chun Xiao was wearing thin clothing. She will catch a cold if sleeping in a cold environment without a blanket. Her mantle is not enough to warm Chun Xiao so she takes off the outer layer of her robe and covers Chun Xiao's body with it and wears the mantle instead.

"The documents are almost done. I think I still can stay awake for another hour."

She unscroll some of the scrolls again and continues to work until she falls asleep.

Zhang Ruyi doesn't know when she fell asleep. When she woke up, it was already dawn but Chun Xiao was still sleeping on the bed. Zhang Ruyi got up from the desk and moaned in pain. She touched her neck.

"Ouch...! My neck."

She pillowed her brush and it overlapped with the mantle collar and left a red mark on her neck. Zhang Ruyi took off the mantle and put it on her arm. She needed to attend the morning assembly today so she was in a hurry. She took a glance at Chun Xiao before she left her alone in the study room.

At the same time, Anli was coming to the court to meet the Emperor. He has something to report to her. On his way, he met the Imperial Secretary, Zhan Ruo who was also heading to the court. Anli stopped him.

"Secretary Zhan!"

Secretary Zhan stopped and turned around. Anli ran to get him.

"Greetings, Deputy General. How can I help you?"

"Is the Emperor already in the court?" He asked.

Secretary Zhan was silent for a while. A moment later, he looked at Anli.

"I'm not sure. The Emperor always comes early in the morning assembly. But for today, I don't think she is here now since she has a lot of documents that need to be done last night and she stays up late in her study room." Explained the Imperial Secretary.

"I see. Thank you, Secretary Zhan."

Anli left Zhan Ruo and went to the study room. He arrived there just in time because Zhang Ruyi just come out from the study room. She was still sleepy and her hair was a bit messy. Anli sees the Emperor and greets her.

"Greetings, Bixia!"

Zhang Ruyi yawned and looked at him.

"Anli? What brings you here? How do you know where to find me?"

Anli smiled.

"I have something to report and met Secretary Zhan Ruo just now. He told me Bixia may be here, finishing all the documents last night." He said.

"Oh? Okay."

Anli looked at her. Zhang Ruyi only wore her inner layer robe and her hair was messy.

"Err...I think it's not a perfect time to talk with Bixia now. Bixia needs to get ready for the morning assembly."

Zhang Ruyi nodded with sleepy eyes and rubbed her neck. Anli widened his eyes when he saw a red mark on her neck.

"Bi-Bixia...your neck,...um..."

Zhang Ruyi looked at him again.

"Hmm? Did you say something?"

"Oh. A-haha. No. I think Bixia needs to go now or Bixia will be late for the morning assembly."

Zhang Ruyi left him and Anli still looking at the red mark on her neck.

In the study room, Chun Xiao had just woken up and she was in a panic. The first thing she did when waking up was moaning in pain. Her hairpin leaves a red mark on her neck and it's hurt. Luckily, she didn't get injured.

"H-how did this hairpin overlap under my neck? Did I take it off while I was sleeping?"

She rubbed her eyes and saw the Emperor's clothes on her. She was stunned for a while and looked at the study room table.

"Wait...! I wasn't on this bed last night. Did Bixia carry me here when I fell asleep?! She even put her clothes on me as a blanket!"

She quickly woke up from the bed and went out of the study room. She needs to prepare breakfast for the Emperor! She opened the door and quickly stepped down the stairs with the Emperor's cloth covering her body. Anli was still in the study room area. He walked slowly like a snail. He turned around when he heard the sound of the door opening and closing. In front of the study room, there was Chun Xiao in the Emperor's clothes. It gives Anli a big shot.

"Chun, Chun Xiao?!"

Chun Xiao looked at the Deputy General. Her hair was half untied.

"Lord Anli, why are you here?" She asked.

Anli came closer to Chun Xiao and asked her the same question.

"I want to ask the same question. Why are you here? In the Emperor's study room?!"

Chun Xiao yawned and rubbed her neck. Once again, Anli got a shock. Chun Xiao also has a red mark on her neck! He took a deep look.

"Chun, Chun Xiao. Did you and Bixia sleep in the study room last night?"

Chun Xiao nodded with a sloppy look.

"Hmm..."

"O-only you and Bixia?"

Anli was still asking. Chun Xiao felt it was annoying. She stared at the Deputy General.

"Lord Anli, I'm late and I need to prepare breakfast for Bixia. Please pardon me if there is nothing to be discussed with."

"S-sorry. Umph, it just...y-your..."

Anli pointed his neck as a signal to tell Chun Xiao there was something on her neck. Chun Xiao touched the area of her neck with the red mark. She stopped rubbing her neck.

"A-haha sorry. I think you should go now. Y-you need to return Bixia's clothes and prepare breakfast for her, and...do something with...the..."

He pointed to his neck again, to tell Chun Xiao there was something on her neck. Chun Xiao wrinkled her face. "What's wrong with him? ...sleep with Bixia...my neck...Bixia's cloth..." She mumbled. After a while she finally got it.

"L-Lord Anli, is there something on my neck? Something like a red mark?"

Anli coughed and nodded. Chun Xiao already guessed it! Sleep in the study room with Emperor and woke up with a red mark on the neck. Anli must be thinking about something.

"Should I tease him again?" Chun Xiao was talking to herself. She looked at Anli.

"Ou-ouch!" She complained of pain and touched her waist.

Anli quickly looked at her.

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Chun Xiao tightened the Emperor's cloth that covered her body and pretended to avoid him. She rubbed her neck and touched her waist again. Anli started to give her a weird look.

"I'm fine it's just I feel pain in my waist."

Anli turned around and started to think something. Chun Xiao looked at him with a naughty smile on her face.

"Chun, Chun Xiao. You said that last night you were here with Bixia, right?" 

"That's correct. Only me and Bixia." Replied the naughty maid.

Anli covered his mouth with his hands and looked away. He became more curious.

"Did you..." Anli didn't finish his words.

Chun Xiao came closer and whispered.

"You what? You..." She didn't finish her words but waited for the Deputy General's reaction.

The Deputy General was still silent. His pupils moved left and right while talking to himself: "Did something happen between them last night? Or is it just me who is overthinking about it?"

Chun Xiao noticed that Anli was in curiosity. She can see his breathing fluctuate. Chun Xiao pressed her upper and lower lips together and approached Anli slowly.

"Lord Anli, why are you so quiet?" 

Still no response from Anli. He was still arguing with his thoughts: "Impossible! I don't think Bixia is like that. Could Bixia..." (Imagining a romance between Zhang Ruyi and Chun Xiao)

Chun Xiao came closer to Anli's ear and whispered.

"It's just like what you're thinking right now..."

Anli widened his eyes and quickly looked at Chun Xiao with a shocked face. His ears were getting red and he could feel the heat on his head.

"W-Why should I believe you?!"

Chun Xiao was still acting and touched her neck with the red area gently.

"Lord Anli...What do you think if an Emperor and his consort sleep together in the same room?"

Anli gulped. He tried to calm himself but the Emperor also had the same mark on her neck. There was no explanation for this except for only one reason. Chun Xiao can see the change on Anli's face.

"Although our Emperor is a 'female', she is still an Emperor. Anything can happen."

Anli felt his legs getting weak, and his hands were shivering.

"Is this a coincidence? Bixia gave me her candy and then this..."

Chun Xiao didn't finish her words but pointed to her neck. She then smiled at Anli and whispered again.

"I got Bixia's first and second kiss just in one night!"

Anli gritted his teeth. He was out of words. Chun left the Deputy General alone after she finished her last words. Before going too far, Chun Xiao stopped and turned around and saw Anli still standing there.

"Lord Anli. I know it's hard to believe it but isn't it obvious? Your eyes can't lie to you. This cloth and mark on my neck is a proof."

Anli looked at the ground with a shattered heart. Chun Xiao was right. It was difficult to deny it because he saw them with his own eyes.

"I hope Lord Anli had a nice dream about the bunny candy last night!" She waved and disappeared from Anli's sight.

* * * * *

Zhang Ruyi already got ready when Chun Xiao arrived at the Jade Palace. She only needed to tie her hair before attending the morning assembly.

"You are awake. Did you sleep well last night?" Asked the Emperor.

Chun Xiao nodded and adjusted her hair. She was still rubbing her neck.

"Bixia, I'm sorry. I was late. I will prepare breakfast for Bixia now."

Zhang Ruyi shook her head.

"I will have another maid to prepare it for me. Now help me to tie my hair."

Chun Xiao followed the order and started to tie the Emperor's hair. She suddenly sees a red mark on the Emperor's neck while combing her hair.

"Bi-Bixia, there is a red mark on Bixia's neck."

Zhang Ruyi touched her neck and sighed.

"I already put some ice to fade it. Speaking of the red mark, how about your neck? I hope you didn't get any injuries."

Chun Xiao quickly touched her neck. "Bixia know about it?" She whispered to herself.

"Oh. Um yeah...It was Lord Anli who saw it."

"Anli? He was still there when you woke up?"

Chun Xiao nodded.

"He came to see me and wanted to report me something but since I just woke up, he asked me to get ready for the morning assembly first."

Chun Xiao covered her mouth with widened eyes. "Could it be the Deputy General also saw the red mark on Bixia's neck?!"

"You fell asleep last night so I carried you to the bed. My sleeve was stuck on your hairpin and I pulled my sleeve slowly to not wake you up but the hairpin was pulled too. When I put the hairpin next to your head and adjusted my sleeve, you suddenly grabbed it and it was tucked under your neck."

Now she understands how the hairpin got tucked under her neck.

"So that was what happened. I'm so sorry for troubling Bixia. Bixia, may I know how did Bixia get this red mark?"

Zhang Ruyi massaged her forehead.

"I fell asleep on my desk and pillowed my brush and the mantle collar."

"Bi-Bixia slept on the study room table?!"

"I was falling asleep there. I didn't know when I fell asleep."

After she tied Zhang Ruyi's hair, she gave the Emperor a thin cloth to cover the red mark on her neck.

"W-why should I cover my neck with this?" She asked.

Chun Xiao coughed.

"Bixia, some people know we were in the study room last night. Walking around this palace with this red mark will make them think that..."

Zhang Ruyi was silent for a while. A moment later, she grabbed the cloth with a red face and quickly covered her neck.

"Please do something with your neck too." She said and left the Jade Palace immediately.

* * * * *

Anli was still thinking about what had just happened. He thinks about the meeting with the Emperor without her outer robe layer, coming out from the study room with messy hair and a red mark on her neck. After that, he thinks about Chun Xiao who also comes out of the study room in a slop with the Emperor's clothes and a red mark on her neck.

"Bixia, please tell me that it was not true." He mumbled with a sour smile on his face - Heartbroken.

The distance between the court and the study room only took 3 minutes by walking but Anli took 10 minutes. If given a snail to race with, the snail was faster than him. Zhang Ruyi was already in the Royal Court when Anli arrived. She was wearing her black robe with a golden phoenix design on it. She looked great like always but the only difference was that today the Emperor covered her neck with white silk. When Anli sees the silk, it makes him believe even more that the Emperor and Chun Xiao had an affair in the study room last night.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The whole court greeted the Emperor. Zhang Ruyi raised her hands.

"Secretary Zhan, can you please bring all the scrolls you sent to the study room yesterday in here?"

"In your service, Bixia!"

Secretary Zhan left the court and Anli looked at him. Zhang Ruyi sees the Deputy General was also inside the court. She suddenly remembers that he has something to report to her.

"Zhao Anli."

Anli startled. He quickly looked at the Emperor.

"Yes, Bixia!"

"Can you please help Secretary Zhan to bring all the scrolls here? I think he needs some help and after this morning's assembly, please meet at the Royal Garden."

"In your service, Bixia!"

Anli doesn't want to go to the place but since it was an order from the Emperor, he has no choice. He looked at the blue sky and sighed.

When Anli arrived at the study room, Secretary Zhan was still there. He was busy arranging the scrolls in his arms. Secretary Zhan was startled when he saw Anli.

"Deputy General? What are you doing here?"

Anli bowed to him and gave a smile.

"The Emperor asked me to help you with the scrolls."

Secretary Zhan nodded.

"I see. Then I should thank you for lending your hands. You can pick the scrolls over there."

He pointed to Suzhou's government scrolls.

"I will go to the court now. Don't forget to close the door when you leave this room." He said.

"Alright!" Replied Anli.

Anli approached the desk and picked up the scrolls. There was a small bed in the room. He looked at it and his eyes caught a floral hairpin on the bed. It was the hairpin that was used by Chun Xiao. He gritted his teeth, picked up all the scrolls quickly, and left the room immediately.

* * * * *

Chun Xiao put white silk on her neck to cover the red mark. She looked at her image in the mirror and snouted her mouth.

"I gave Bixia the same colour of silk too. I can't use this. I should use different colours."

She opened the drawer and picked up a black silk. She folded the white silk and used the black silk. Chun Xiao looked at her image in the mirror again.

"Much better!"

She opened her jewellery drawer to take her hairpin.

"Oh no! One of my hairpins is still in the study room!"

She put on her sandals and quickly went to the study room. On her way, she suddenly met Anli. Anli stopped and glanced at her for a few seconds and then looked away.

"L-Lord Anli, good morning. Are you picking the scrolls for Bixia?"

Anli coughed, he answered Chun Xiao's question but didn't look at her face.

"Who else needs these scrolls? How about you? Looking at the path that you are using, it looks like you want to go to the study room."

Chun Xiao coughed.

"I left something in there."

Anli took a short glance at Chun Xiao's neck. She was using black silk to cover the mark.

"Your hairpin is on the bed. Nobody touches it. You can go and take it."

Chun Xiao looked at Anli.

"Oh? It is still there? Thank you for keeping it for me!"

She walked happily to get her hairpin. Anli left immediately. He doesn't want to meet Chun Xiao again.

* * * * *

"Dismiss!"

The morning assembly ended. Everybody left the court except for Anli.

"Come with me and tell me what you want to say."

Anli followed the Emperor to the Royal Garden.