Chapter 24: Imperial Dr. Yen, A Purposeful Misunderstanding

The three days passed by in a blink of an eye.

Seeing an excessively glowing Hua-sab, and Bai, whose eyes were sagged in the corners, changed into a honeyed apricot, she regretted that she overpaid her reward to him. As a result, the next person to sell her body was determined.

Well, she somewhat sympathized with Bai, who, having known of heavenly nectar once, will come to find the ones on earth unpalatable. The madam will surely make a killing of him. Beyond that was not Yen's responsibility.

And so, she was going to return to the Jade Palace with her souvenirs, but there was a celestial maiden-like young man who was cloaked in an excessively dangerous air right there. She felt an ominous poisonous air from the direction of the gentle smile.

Why is he excessively glaring at her?

No matter what his character was, beauty was a beauty. Besides, when he glared, there was an intensity to it.

As it was bothersome, she only bowed her head as much as she was required to, and headed for her room, when he firmly grabbed her shoulders with the force of his nails digging in.

"Wait in the parlor." A honey-like voice flowed into her ears. Honey was honey, but it was wolfsbane honey. Yijun, who was at the back and his eyes told her to give up. Consort Gina, who looked troubled, but her eyes were shining. Hong, who was, for some reason, looking at Yen with blaming eyes. The three maids too were more curious than worried.

She that she would probably be thoroughly interrogated after this. She put down her belongings, changed into her maid clothes and went to the parlor.

"What do you require of me?" Yen asked.

There was only Ren in the room. He was elegantly dressed in simple official attire, legs crossed on the chair, elbows on the table. Somehow, she felt his attitude was worse than usual. Was it her imagination? She wanted it to be her imagination. Let's take it as imagination. There was no Yijun, the breath of fresh air. Consort Gina was nowhere to be found. Well, in other words, they couldn't bear to stay.

"It seems you returned home," Ren said.

"Yes," she answered.

"How was it?"

"Everyone was good."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"…."

"…."

"What kind of man was this Bai guy?"

"Yes. He's my identity guarantor."

"Do you not understand what I mean? In that meaning."

"Yes. He has to be a high official to be my guarantor who can properly maintain my identity."

Ren, for some reason, looked extremely tired. Was it because she said the obvious?

"Did you get a kanzashi?"

"He distributed many of them. I received one out of obligation."

Now that she thought about it, he was generous. Though it was a simple design, it was a finely made kanzashi.

"So, you mean, even though you got one out of obligation, I…." he trailed off "Even though I gave you one too, you didn't come to me at all." He looked sulky. It turns out that Ren was unable to stomach the fact that she relied on Bai and didn't come to talk to him.

"I sincerely apologise. It did not occur to me that I was to give a satisfactory compensation to Ren-sama."

"What do you mean, compensation? Did you pay this Bai guy with that?" He was making a dubious face.

"That's right. I pleasured him with a dream of one night," she told him. She looked at Ren whose face had all its blood drained from it and hand holding onto the teacup was quivering.

"It seems he was greatly satisfied. I think I worked hard." She continued on, knowing full well he misunderstood her. She saw that the teacup had shattered Ren stood up with a pale face. His clothes were soaked through with tea.

"Ahh, I'll bring you something to wipe up now." She opened the door, and right there, was Consort Gina, who was clutching her stomach in laughter. Yijun, with an exhausted face. Hong, who was struck speechless with shock.

Yen ignored them as she went to the kitchen to look for a dishcloth for the time being.

"How long are you going to be irritable?" Yijun asked.

Ren rested his face on the table even though he was already back in his office.

Yijun sighed deeply. "Don't forget you are in the middle of work."

"I get it already," Ren said. He didn't get it. The person called Ren doesn't reply like a child. He doesn't get overly attached to his toys. He suffered hardship even though he heard the details from Consort Gina who was convulsing with laughter afterward.

As collateral for undertaking her identity, the man was granted a meeting with a popular courtesan he had longed for. That the girl helped in such a way, was entirely not what they had imagined.

However, Yijun wondered what his master imagined. Ahh, it was scary to be young.

Ren was somewhat back to normal, but he was still disgruntled. Well, quickly finishing his work to go meet her, only to find that she returned home with an unknown man came as a bolt out of the blue. Yijun had no free time to soothe children indefinitely. He placed a lacquered box on the table and took out correspondence from the inside. "The report from a couple of days ago has finally arrived."

To look for a court lady with burn scars. It had been a month since.

"That took way too long." When he looked up, Ren's face returned.

"I sincerely apologise." To not make excuses. That was Yijun's principle.

"Just who was it?" Ren asked.

"Yes. Surprisingly, it was a big shot." He spread out the correspondence on the table. "Garnet Palace, Fong Consort Yahui, head maid.