CHAPTER 587: CHAPTER 587: REGARDING NUMBERS

Lian Hua was surprised, so that was how it was. It seemed she had to say something after all.

Before she could speak, though, the Emperor released her and started sighing, intending to leave, "I never thought Nannan would feel so distant from me. If she does not want to talk, then let it be."

The Emperor had perfectly played hard to get, understanding her psychology crystal clear.

Sure enough, Lian Hua immediately said, "Don’t go~"

She pulled at his sleeve, not letting him leave.

She lowered her head to ponder. His Majesty’s words seemed quite reasonable. He wanted to help her, and not speaking would mean remaining distant while speaking would not.

So, what was she waiting for?!

Having made up her mind, she looked up, just about to speak, but then her eyes shifted and she changed her mind, confirming slyly, "Your Majesty, these are your words, right?"

If asked later, it wouldn’t be because she was thick-skinned; it was His Majesty who insisted she speak, Teehee.

The Emperor slightly nodded, squinting at her, feeling a sudden unease, always suspecting it wasn’t for anything good.

Sure enough, the next moment Lian Hua was all smiles, asking, "Your Majesty, the silver you gave me yesterday, can I have it back?"

The Emperor, at a loss for words, finally understood why she had been embarrassed.

In the past, this would have infuriated him, begging her not to ask, and after a long discussion, he would be both annoyed and at a loss on how to appease her. But now it was different; as long as she was happy, anything was fine.

Still, he felt somewhat troubled. A money-grubber is always a money-grubber, completely fixated on money; even if temporarily distracted, she would eventually think about it again.

So, this was what she had been pondering all along in the hall, this little ungrateful wretch. Couldn’t she think of some fun, romantic stuff?

Let it be, let it be, the silver was meant to pamper her anyway. Since she was happy today, why not give it to her again?

He tapped her forehead, chuckling, "You little money-grubber, sure!"

He turned and instructed someone outside to bring back the precious silver he had used to pamper her the day before.

Lian Hua beam with joy, rubbing her face against his fingers, her eight shiny white teeth all on display, "Your Majesty, you are really wonderful, so elegant, handsome, generous, magnanimous, and benevolent~~"

She drew out the last "ah" sound long.

The Emperor, amused by her flattery, which was all over the place, felt an urge to tease her.

He deliberately raised his eyebrows, "Is that all you can say with all your learnedness?"

Oh, he thinks that’s too little?

"You’re right, Your Majesty, I’ll just copy them down from my book. Let me find that book first." Lian Hua turned around, wanting to fetch it.

The Emperor stopped her quickly, as he had already seen enough of those words in that book. He wanted something different, "I desire something different."

"Ah..." Lian Hua scratched her head, thinking it over. There was no other way, "Then I’ll look up other books to find some different phrases for you."

His Majesty had discovered her scrapbook, which wasn’t good as it would be hard to gloss over now.

The Emperor was displeased, "No need to look anymore; I’ve already decided what I want."

He wanted a reward.

"Hmm?" Lian Hua was taken aback. Had His Majesty already figured it out?

The Emperor, feeling awkward, clenched his fist to his lips and coughed. He leaned over, about to whisper his thoughts.

Just then, from outside came the voice of a Young Eunuch from Star Palace, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the silver for Master Lian from yesterday has been brought."

Lian Hua stepped forward, no longer paying him any mind, and cheered, "That’s fantastic! Bring it in quickly."

The silver to pay off her parents’ and brothers’ debts increased another fold, snagged from His Majesty’s generosity!

She couldn’t bother with anything else, and immediately walked out of the inner room to meet the glittering silver, leaving the Emperor behind in the inner room, his eyes dangerously narrowed.

"One, two, three..." Lian Hua counted on her fingers the silver ingots on the tray.

With each count, the Emperor’s face grew a shade darker, and by the end, his expression was as black as the bottom of a pot.

She counted carefully once and then began to ponder, "Oh, yesterday there were two rows of large ingots, one of small ingots; how come today there are two rows of large ingots, but the row of small ingots is missing?"

It turned out she was comparing the number of ingots she had seen the day before.

After muttering to herself, she counted again to be sure she was correct, then looked eagerly at the Emperor as if asking, "Why is there a row of ingots missing?"

The Emperor sneered inwardly time and again.

This little money lover, who had vehemently stated she did not deserve the rewards for her services and refused them yesterday, had apparently checked the ingots thoroughly and remembered everything clearly.

Look how attentive she had been! Just when he thought she was terribly upset and all he wanted was to appease her, she had still found the time to notice a few missing ingots.

Ha, his Little Concubine, who would dare say she had a poor memory or that she was confused? He’d be the first to object!

Not going into business truly was a waste of her talents.

He let out a cold smirk, clapped his hands, and called out, "Where is Feng Ji?"

Lian Hua, puzzled, asked, "Why are you calling for Xiao Jizi?"

She suddenly felt a chill around her neck and a sense of panic inside.

The Emperor ignored her, sitting calmly, and even poured himself a cup of tea to savor.

Xiao Jizi in the courtyard shuddered, hurried to the entrance of the Side Hall, but did not go inside, and said, "This servant is here."

The Emperor signaled him to look at the tray on the table, "Where is the row of small silver ingots from yesterday?"

Xiao Jizi looked over, seemed to understand something, and inwardly groaned.

This was not a good question to answer. Why bring this up all of a sudden? Hadn’t the master already pacified the matter?

He covertly tried to get a look at his master to figure out what was going on, to see if his master had set him up again.

Before he could get a clear look, he saw the Emperor’s displeasure grow, marked by a heavy grunt.

His legs weakened, and he immediately said, "Your Majesty, yesterday you bestowed them upon the master." That should be correct.

"What? I didn’t take them!" Lian Hua’s first reaction was just that.

She glanced at the Emperor, watching his expression, felt a sudden dread in her heart, and suddenly covered her mouth.

Seeing her reaction, the Emperor, knowing full well what she was thinking, waved his hand and said to Xiao Jizi, "You may leave."

What remained was settling accounts with her.

Xiao Jizi dared not disobey, and wailed internally, wondering if his master had truly set him up.

Ah, it seemed he couldn’t save himself...

Lian Hua swallowed hard, grabbed his sleeve, and shook it, ingratiatingly saying, "My lord, your cup is empty; may I pour you some water?"

The Emperor set down his teacup, smiling yet not smiling, "Remembered now?"

Her face slightly flush, she gave a sheepish laugh, "Ha, that, yes, remembered. These past few days I’ve been a bit muddled, almost like sleepwalking, not remembering what I had done. Lord, you’ve helped me so much; I was so thrilled, I got a bit carried away and temporarily forgot..."

Oh dear, why had she been so bold yesterday? His Majesty had given her those ingots, and though she was furious at the time and felt she couldn’t just be bought, she fought the urge bravely and refused them.

His Majesty didn’t give up and kept flattering her, which only fueled her spirit, and at last, she...

Oh, why did she ever say that!

It was all over!