无翼乌工口里番无色无摭挡

Huang Ying brought the teacup to his lips.

Li Xiu had been kneeling for half a night plus an entire morning, drenched in rain and covered in snow, his entire body almost numb from the cold.

The steaming tea before his eyes was an indescribable temptation for him.

He hesitated for a moment, then opened his mouth and took a sip.

Half a cup of tea warmed him from the inside out, spreading through his internal organs and limbs.

“Thank you, Sister,” Li Xiu said hoarsely.

“Don’t thank me, the Princess Consort sent it,” Huang Ying took out some snacks, broke off a small piece, and put it in his mouth. “You’ve already had tea; this won’t make a difference.”

Li Xiu cracked a grin, his chapped lips aching in the process.

His smile was uglier than crying.

After eating half a morsel, Huang Ying stopped and handed him the kneepad she had brought. “Put this underneath.”

Li Xiu quickly shook his head: “I’m being punished by the Crown Prince, and I’m already grateful that you’re willing to visit me and bring tea. I can’t possibly use this kneepad. Please take it back.”

“Li Xiu, don’t be foolish. In this freezing weather, if you keep kneeling like this, your knees will give out,” Huang Ying whispered softly. “We servants are not like our masters; we have to stand and wait on them all day long. If your legs give out, how will the Crown Prince use you? What future would you, a eunuch, have?”

Li Xiu hung his head: “But the Crown Prince is punishing me.”

“The Crown Prince is punishing you, but it’s related to the Princess Consort. She’s kind-hearted and asked me to bring this kneepad. She even wanted to give you her own fur coat to wear, but I managed to persuade her otherwise,” Huang Ying adjusted the hem of his robe. “This kneepad is made of deer hide. Just pad it under your knees and cover with your clothes; no one will notice. The Princess Consort is shielding you, but your legs are your own. Don’t be foolish.”

Li Xiu did not move.

Huang Ying looked at him: “You may look foolish, but you’re not really foolish, are you?”

Li Xiu gave a bitter smile: “Please don’t be upset, Sister. My legs are truly numb and unable to move.”

Realizing the situation, Huang Ying quickly helped him slightly lift his body and placed the kneepad under his knees, soft side down.

The movement and blood flow were like millions of ants crawling through his bones, causing Li Xiu to grit his teeth and wince.

“That’s better.” Huang Ying adjusted his robe, covering his legs. “Did the Crown Prince say how long you have to kneel?”

“Three days.”

“And no eating or drinking?”

“No.”

“In that case, I’ll come back when it’s dark.” Huang Ying fed him the remaining half cup of tea and snacks to avoid attracting attention and hurriedly left.

Inside the Emperor’s sleeping quarters in Crystal Frost Hall’s main hall.

The Emperor sat on the couch, draped in a thick blanket, watching the scene outside the window and laughed, “Crown Prince, it seems this Li Xiu of yours, while he appears honest, has some connections within the palace.”

Li Hongyuan, sitting on the opposite side, briefly glanced outside and said, “That’s a lady-in-waiting from the Princess Consort’s side, named Huang Ying.”

“Ah, no wonder.”

“No wonder what?”

“When you punished Li Xiu, no one in the palace dared intervene, except for this Seventh Sister.” The Emperor laughed. “You put out word: whoever intervenes will share the same fate. How do you plan to punish the Princess Consort?”

Without lifting his head, Li Hongyuan casually replied, “Emperor Father knows very well that I wouldn’t dare seriously punish the Princess Consort. Her father, her uncle… which of them can I afford to provoke?”

Before the Emperor could respond, Li Hongyuan raised his head and asked solemnly, “Would Emperor Father dare to punish her?”

The Emperor chuckled, “Crown Prince, your method of sowing discord between us is rather clumsy. Is this the extent of your capabilities as the Crown Prince?”