Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 34 Suspicion Arises Again!

The smile on Song Yi's face vanished instantly.

Jiang Lanye picked up the tea beside him and took a sip, then couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that you intend to murder me?"

Song Yi coughed slightly and quickly smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty, how can you say that? Even if you gave me ten lives, I wouldn't dare."

Jiang Lanye didn't want to listen to her nonsense, so he pointed to the porridge and said succinctly, "Drink."

Seeing that this wouldn't work, Song Yi suddenly lowered her eyes and her voice suddenly softened: "Alright, if Your Majesty refuses to drink the porridge that I cooked myself, then I will drink it all."

Her long eyelashes were already exceptionally beautiful, making her eyes even more captivating.

Now that she's deliberately acting pitiful, Jiang Lanye glanced at her and felt a tickle in his heart.

Then, Song Yi suddenly grabbed one of her hands and whispered, "The wound from the porcelain shards had just healed, but I never expected to get a new one today."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lanye frowned instantly, stretched out his hand, and said in a deep voice, "Where are you injured again? Let me see."

Song Yi reluctantly handed over her hand.

Jiang Lanye pulled her over and looked down to examine his hand, which was as white as a scallion root. After looking for a long time, he couldn't find any wound.

Song Yi pointed to the tip of her index finger, and a tiny, almost invisible wound came into Jiang Lanye's view.

The wound was so small that there was no bleeding at all.

Jiang Lanye didn't know what to say. He looked up at her and suddenly said, "Fine, I'll reluctantly drink the porridge."

Otherwise, someone will feel wronged again.

Anyone who didn't know better would think they had mistreated her.

Song Yi sat down next to Jiang Lanye with a smile, watching him take another bite of porridge and try his best to endure it. She asked, "Your Majesty, I got up early this morning to cook porridge. I was injured, but I worked so hard. Could I go to the study to see you today?"

Jiang Lanye silently finished the entire bowl of porridge before asking, "Tell me the reason why you insist on going to the study."

Song Yi stared at the empty bowl on the table, feeling surprised.

Suddenly, Jiang Lanye reached out and pinched her chin through the veil, gesturing for her to look at him.

His gaze was deep. "Is there anything you want in the study?"

Song Yi looked directly at Jiang Lanye and said without changing her expression, "This concubine just wants to read. Staying in the Golden Palace every day is really boring."

Jiang Lanye scrutinized her for a long time, but found no guilty look in her eyes. Only then did he relent and call Eunuch Cao forward, saying, "Take her to my study."

Song Yi immediately stood up. Seeing that she was somewhat excited, Jiang Lanye gently warned, "You are not allowed to damage my books, or I will not forgive you."

Recalling the awkward scene from last time, Song Yi quickly said, "This time it definitely won't happen again."

Jiang Lanye fell silent.

Eunuch Cao quickly led Song Yi to the side.

Song Yi was stunned. "Eunuch Cao, shouldn't we be leaving the Golden Palace?"

Eunuch Cao gave her a deep look and said, "Lady, there is a door leading to the study inside the palace."

Song Yi was somewhat surprised; she hadn't known about this three years ago.

Eunuch Cao moved the screen aside, then circled the jade carvings on the shelf, and the door opened with a click.

After passing through a narrow corridor, the view immediately opens up.

Jiang Lanye's study was very large, and its overall layout could be described as magnificent. Inside, two palace maids were carefully and quietly wiping the tall bookshelves.

These bookshelves were almost entirely made of red sandalwood, and the shelves were so tall that she couldn't reach the books on the top shelf even when she stood on tiptoe.

The bookshelves were packed full of books, and small, exquisite palace lanterns hung from them. Beside them stood a large table, complete with the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper). There was no incense burning in the hall; only the natural scent of books filled the air.

It was so quiet that I couldn't help but hold my breath as soon as I walked in.

Jiang Lanye watched Song Yi walk in, calmly picked up a teacup, and took a big gulp.

It's way too salty.
Eunuch Cao softened his voice and said, "Lady, please feel free to look at any book you wish to read, but you must not rummage through them. All books taken out must be put back in their original places, otherwise His Majesty will be angry."

Song Yi nodded.

Eunuch Cao looked at the stool in the corner and said, "If some of the ladies-in-waiting can't reach it, they can stand on the stool. The palace maids usually stand on stools to clean."

"it is good."

Feeling he had given enough instructions, Eunuch Cao slowly withdrew.

Looking at the dazzling array of books, Song Yi felt overwhelmed. She wandered around aimlessly for a while, trying to recall the appearance of the book, and then began to focus on finding something similar.

The books below were all uninteresting. She glanced at them briefly, then moved her stool over.

After wiping the bookshelf, the two palace maids also left.

Song Yi liked this place very much; it was quiet and secluded enough that she could explore at her own pace.

She lifted her skirt; her knee injury hadn't fully healed, making it a little difficult to climb up. She swayed slightly, but managed to steady herself by holding onto the bookshelf.

She was so engrossed in watching that she didn't even notice when Jiang Lanye slowly walked in with his hands behind his back.

He walked very quietly, and as soon as he entered, he saw Song Yi wearing a pink dress, standing on a narrow stool, craning her neck to look for a book.

Jiang Lanye squinted, wanting to see what she was looking for.

Song Yi looked around and her gaze locked onto the book, but when she stretched out her arm, she found that she couldn't reach it.

She grew impatient, and with difficulty, she leaned on the bookshelf to get down, moved the stool to the side, and lifted her skirt again, mimicking her previous actions. However, a sudden sharp pain shot through her knee, and she frowned, causing the stool to wobble.

"careful!"

Jiang Lanye's voice suddenly rang out.

If Jiang Lanye hadn't made a sound, Song Yi could have steadied herself. But the sound of someone else's voice in the quiet study startled her, and she uncontrollably swayed to the side—

"what!"

Jiang Lanye strode over, his wide sleeves billowing in the wind, and steadily caught Song Yi in his arms.

As Song Yi leaned back, her veil fluttered, revealing her face and the scars on it.

She fell into a warm embrace, and before she could come to her senses, she heard Jiang Lanye suddenly say, "Why do I feel that the scar on your face is different from before?"

Song Yi froze, quickly covering her face with her veil and whispering, "Your Majesty is mistaken. I was ashamed of this scar when I was a child, and I would look in the mirror every day as if torturing myself, so I didn't want others to see it."

Jiang Lanye raised an eyebrow. "I didn't mean to see that just now."

Song Yi responded softly, then realized she was still being held firmly in his arms. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, please put me down."

Jiang Lanye narrowed his eyes and looked at her carefully.

It's so weird.

However, he was unwilling to directly expose Song Yi's true colors, in case it was a misunderstanding and would hurt her self-esteem.

After much deliberation, Jiang Lanye suddenly said, "You are not allowed to return to Yingchun Palace tonight. You will bathe in my Golden Palace."

(End of this chapter)