Lin Shan’s heart was hanging by a thread as she listened to the Imperial edict. Unexpectedly, it was entirely about something else.
It turned out that she was being rewarded for saving the Crown Prince; as well, she was also announced as the first place winner for the Imperial treasure hunt contest! The Emperor was bestowing her a grand prize.
Lin Shan was dumbfounded. She could understand if she was being rewarded for saving the Crown Prince; after all, she did suck his venom out. But how the heck did she get rewarded as the first place winner? She didn’t even know where the night pearls were!!?
She was filled with doubt as she accepted the Imperial edict. She used this opportunity to try to get some information from the experienced eunuch who was congratulating her.
“Sun eunuch, I have some things I am unsure about. Could I ask for your knowledge?”
Sun eunuch had been in the Palace for many years. Whoever that was popular, he would definitely treat courteously: “Your servant is not talented. How could I offer you knowledge? Prince Consort, if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I will do my best to tell you everything I know.”
Lin Shan went straight to the point: “No need to be so courteous. I just want to find out which kind person helped me hand in the night pearls to the Emperor while I was unconscious. After I am well, I would like to thank him or her.”
“Prince Consort is truly kind hearted. I’m not sure who submitted your night pearls, but I have been told Lian Superior was the one who escorted you back to the Kingdom Minister’s residence. If Prince Consort wishes to find out more, you can get more answers from Lian Superior.”
Lian Feng? As this name appeared in her mind, Lin Shan immediately recalled the night of her rescue. Lian Feng had appeared in front of her and tightly embraced her. It was an odd feeling she didn’t know how to describe. Faintly, she sensed something was different but she wasn’t sure either.
This issue lingered in her mind until the Emperor’s gift had been delivered to the Song residence. Now, all of Lin Shan’s attention was on her reward.
Holy s.h.i.+t! What a big chest! Even if it’s not filled with gold and silver, it definitely cannot be a small amount! I guess the Emperor is quite generous!
Lin Shan was beaming with joy. She ordered Xiao Lu to opened the chest. Poor Xiao Lu. It took all her strength to open the chest. They were stunned by the result.
Why was there another chest?
Lin Shan was baffled. She had a very bad feeling about this. She quickly ordered Xiao Lu to open the second chest. As expected, there was another chest inside!
Lin Shan was fl.u.s.tered. The Emperor couldn’t be giving me a set of chests?
With a discouraged heart, Lin Shan opened the third chest. Finally, there wasn’t another chest. Instead, she was greeted with a stone that was wrapped with red silk. On the stone, in bold cursive calligraphy were the words – Peace and Prosperity.
Lin Shan wanted to burst into tears. G.o.d, are you playing with me???
Sun eunuch instantly stepped out to congratulate: “Congratulations, Prince Consort! This is the Heaven stone that had been left by our previous Emperor! The words on the stone are hand written by him. The Emperor has bestowed this to you. What a huge honour!”
Heaven stone my a.s.s!? It looks like a piece of the meteorite.
Lin Shan’s eyes darkened and she nearly fell down.
Actually, this Heaven stone isn’t totally useless. In the future when Lin Shan resumes her female ident.i.ty again, this rock will come in handy for crus.h.i.+ng vegetables. But that is not until later on.
On the same day after she received the Imperial edict, Lin Shan decided to return to the Palace despite her father’s objections.
Right now, her goal was to find Lian Feng and ask him exactly what happened.
Xiao Lu was running after her while holding onto the Heaven stone. She was weary and sweating profusely. She complained: “Prince Consort, this is mistreatment of your worker.”
Ha! This girl sure learns quick. She even knows “mistreatment of your worker”. Lin Shan rolled her eyes and threatened: “If you complain again, watch me send you to the Leaning Vermilion House!”
Xiao Lu giggled on the side: “Master, didn’t you say that the people from Leaning Vermilion House wouldn’t want someone like me?”
Lin Shan put her hand on her forehead. She was speechless. This was what you call the student surpa.s.sing the master. There was always a mountain higher. Since she didn’t want others to think she is mistreating her servant, Lin Shan held onto the Heaven stone herself. Unexpectedly, she came face to face to an energetic Du Ming Yue.
Du Ming Yue suddenly blushed but her mouth was foul: “You haven’t died yet?”
“Unfortunately for you, I’m still alive.” Lin Shan replied.
Instead of remaining angry, Du Ming Yue seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then, she heatedly ordered her servants: “Are you guys blind? Help the Prince Consort carry his items!”
Lin Shan was shocked. Oh my Princess. Are you trying to scare me? Why so giving all of a sudden? Don’t tell me, you want this s.h.i.+tty rock??
Du Ming Yue noticed the alert look Lin Shan had on her face and was frustrated: “What kind of look is that? I… I just want to thank you for saving my brother….” Du Ming Yue pouted and placed all her focus on Lin Shan; her eyes were not scattering everywhere like before.
At this moment, Lin Shan felt like she was being shocked by lightning.
What….. umm… the Princess can’t be falling for me, right? Oh my goodness. It’s over. Wow. Turns out both the Prince and Princess are gay. This is simply a tragedy!
Actually, Lin Shan was aware that her rescue had spread throughout the entire Palace. There were so many different versions, and they all portrayed her like a G.o.dly figure. Not only the Princess, but the old ladies working in the Imperial kitchen would die to be thirty years younger so they could be her mistresses.
As a woman dressing up as a man, Lin Shan had reached celebrity status. She was like an exotic flower amongst the women, and a cuc.u.mber amongst the men.*
Du Ming Yue’s sudden change in att.i.tude was causing Lin Shan to freak out. She quickly came to the conclusion that she could no longer carry on like this day by day. Eventually, her disguise will be exposed and not only will she be doomed, the entire Song residence will be going down with her. She recalled the confiscation incident at Wu Liang Zhi’s residence. If she was going to destroy the lives of her family, even if she lived, she will not feel at ease.
This is the first time she was planning for her future ever since she had arrived here.
*This sounds soooo weird. It’s because the author is trying to be funny and punny again. -.-”