Chapter 315: Oh No, I Became a Stand-In!
Sang Zhe thought he already had enough wives at home to kiss until his lips fell off.
He was no longer an innocent young man.
But after kissing Huo Ningxue just now, he felt an indescribable weirdness in his heart.
Maybe it was the thrill and contrast of stealing a kiss from an empress who ruled the world.
Maybe he felt some guilt for such a pure and innocent girl.
Or maybe…
It was just a momentary, ordinary flutter of his heart.
Compared to the complex feelings swirling inside him, Huo Ningxue’s expression was quite normal, as if she didn’t see anything embarrassing about the kiss, her face calm as she said, “Now that my lord has returned, we’re even.”
“If my lord thinks such a reward is inappropriate, then I shall consider another gift.”
No!
Please, for the love of all that’s holy!
Sang Zhe was really afraid this silly girl would start calculating how to sell herself to him.
That would mean dealing not just with Li Shanyan, but also the wrath of the entire Holy Kingdom, the Tianlang Wei, and the irate citizenry.
Sang Zhe wasn’t here to become Public Enemy Number One; his core job was to make a little coin while gathering intel.
So, Sang Zhe’s brain kicked into high gear, and he quickly came up with a line.
“Your Majesty, I do indeed desire something.”
“Oh? Please speak, my lord.”
“I ask the emperor to grant me… the inner courtyard of the National Teacher’s residence!”
The inner courtyard of the National Teacher’s residence?
Huo Ningxue seemed completely caught off guard by Sang Zhe’s request, looking rather dazed. “My lord wants the inner courtyard of the National Teacher’s residence?”
“But, but the National Teacher’s entire estate is his personal domain. I have no authority to decide for the National Teacher!”
“Eh, Your Majesty, think about it.” Sang Zhe chimed in, “Is Li Shanyan the National Teacher?”
“Yes.”
“Am I not his temporary substitute National Teacher?”
“That’s true.”
“Exactly! He’s the National Teacher, I’m also the National Teacher; so doesn’t that mean I am him and he is me?” Sang Zhe clapped his hands. “Therefore, his National Teacher’s residence is also my National Teacher’s residence, right?”
Huo Ningxue stared at him blankly.
Although she felt something was off, she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
“This… seems to make sense.”
“See? If I’m also the National Teacher, then I should live in the National Teacher’s residence.”
“But if you live in the National Teacher’s residence… where will the National Teacher live?”
“Simple.”
Sang Zhe waved his hand dramatically: “What’s his is mine, and what’s mine is naturally his. Your Majesty can just have him stay in the little place I’m currently in once he leaves seclusion, right?”
Huo Ningxue had a moment of realization and nodded, “That makes sense.”
“Alright, I shall issue a decree allowing you to reside in the inner courtyard of the National Teacher’s residence.”
Sang Zhe humbly thanked her, while feeling a slight easing of his guilt.
It seemed there was less burden when it came to messing with Li Shanyan.
Continuing to deceive Huo Ningxue was making him feel a bit guilty.
Besides, he hadn’t gathered any intel on Li Shanyan yet. This opportunity was perfect for him to trick Li Shanyan hard.
When he came out of seclusion, he’d love for him to be so furious he shattered his Dao heart and spat blood, losing his cultivation.
Then Sang Zhe would be rid of a major threat.
——
The empress’s command soon spread.
And this decree stirred quite the commotion in the entire Holy Kingdom court.
This intriguing decree led to countless officials pondering the implications.
Letting a temporary National Teacher move into the National Teacher’s residence’s inner courtyard? The empress couldn’t possibly be unaware that the inner courtyard was the National Teacher’s Achilles’ heel—definitely not something to be easily breached by outsiders.
Normally, if the empress had indeed issued such a decree, it would likely have been rejected by the National Teacher.
But right now, with the National Teacher in closed-door training, those servants clearly wouldn’t dare oppose the empress’s orders.
The empress had deliberately chosen this sensitive moment while the National Teacher was in seclusion to allow this newcomer, Sang Zhe, to move into the inner courtyard of the National Teacher’s residence.
Anyone with even a smidgen of political intuition could sense that this was perhaps a key signal of the empress’s changing attitude.
Perhaps… the National Teacher’s overwhelming success had raised the empress’s alarm?
Was the empress planning to distance herself from the National Teacher and start anew?
Was the Holy Kingdom about to undergo a heavenly change?
As for which side to align with in the future…
With countless officials losing sleep over the empress’s command…
Sang Zhe swaggered into the main hall of the National Teacher’s residence, holding the empress’s decree, under the watchful eyes of countless vigilant maidservants.
As soon as he entered, he unceremoniously plopped down on the main seat, slouching back with his legs crossed, scanning through the two rows of maidservants standing in front of him.
They’d always served Li Shanyan and considered him their master.
So they all looked at this intruder with displeasure.
“You…” Sang Zhe began slowly, “which of you usually serves the master in bedchamber affairs?”
Two young and pretty maidservants stepped forward, their attitudes a bit dismissive. “Reporting, my lord, it’s us two.”
Sang Zhe cast a leering glance over the two maidservants, making them feel uncomfortable.
Satisfied, he nodded and said, “Then it’s you two.”
“Come over here, give the new master a shoulder rub and leg massage.”
The two maidservants instantly displayed faces of humiliation and anger.
But with the empress’s order in mind, they couldn’t dare rebel in their master’s absence.
Thus, they reluctantly walked over to Sang Zhe’s side and began rubbing his shoulders and massaging his legs.
“Hmm… your hands are quite soft, just a bit lacking in strength,” Sang Zhe said, narrowing his eyes comfortably. “Haven’t you eaten? Use a bit of strength!”
The two maidservants, embarrassed and furious, could only pout and use more force in their massages.
Meanwhile, Sang Zhe contentedly closed his eyes, enjoying it, while also adding a taunting remark:
“Li Shanyan, oh Li Shanyan.”
“Your maidservants… are quite well-endowed.”
This statement seemed to ignite the emotions of all the household staff.
Everyone glared furiously at Sang Zhe.
Yet, no one dared to speak up.
Many even expressed a sorrowful demeanor, as if resigning themselves to their impending change of masters.
Sang Zhe, still with his eyes narrowed, scanned everyone in the room.
In his heart, he pondered.
…At this point, no one’s speaking up against him.
It seemed they truly were just ordinary servants. There weren’t any of Li Shanyan’s confidants among them.
They probably didn’t even know when Li Shanyan would come out of seclusion.
After a moment’s thought, Sang Zhe said arrogantly, “So, who’s in charge here?”
“Reporting, my lord, it’s this old servant.” An elderly housekeeper stepped forward.
“What’s your name? How long have you been with the National Teacher?”
“I’m called Hu Yong, and I’ve been with the master for over forty years.”
Sang Zhe took a glance.
Very good.
He’d made his decision.
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