Xu Shi hadn't heard the movement in the hall for a long time. The palace servants outside carefully opened the curtain and saw that Luo Ran had stood up, and his face was pale in fright.
"The Empress Dowager's forgiveness!"
Luo Ran looked at him sideways and said lazily, "Get up."
Although she only said one sentence, the father-in-law breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he didn't mean to blame him, he said in a low voice, "Niangniang, do you want to wait for you to wash up?"
Luo Ran nodded, and Eunuch Fu just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard her voice again:
"Call Xiao Chen here."
Eunuch Fu was surprised. This was the first time the empress wanted to see Xiao Chen after Xiao Chen was sent, and Eunuch Fu stepped back.
When Xiao Chen arrived, Luo Ran had already finished grooming and was lying on the soft couch. The palace servant came in to report, and she whispered "um", closed her eyes, and the maid who was waiting on the side gently kneaded for her on the forehead.
As soon as Xiao Chen walked in, he couldn't help but be startled. This was the first time he saw her. Although he had long heard that the current queen mother's face was so gorgeous, every frown and smile were touching, but he didn't think so in his heart, thinking it was an exaggeration by the world.
Now that I see it, I realize that what the world is saying is true.
He was a little absent-minded, but that was all. He lifted the hem of his clothes and possessed himself: "See the Empress Dowager." He didn't know how to call himself, not to mention his current status, it would be better to just leave it out.
His inner activity ended, but no one answered, his body froze slightly, and then he lowered his head again, not daring to look up.
I don't know how long it took, until he felt that his knees were slightly numb and he couldn't support himself, there was a little movement in the palace, Xiao Chen's corner of sight saw that the palace servant was slowly retreating.
Xiao Chen's slightly restrained eyes gradually deepened, but he still did not move. Sure enough, after a while, he heard:
"Look up and let Ben Gong take a look."
She doesn't like the self-proclaimed 'Aijia', saying that it seems old-fashioned, Luo Yu is happy with her, and no one else will object.
However, Xiao Chen's eyes flickered slightly, her voice was not very clear, maybe because she had just woken up, she was still hoarse and lazy, but it was full of charm.
Xiao Chen didn't speak, he raised his head slightly, he knew who he was and why he was here.
He knows what he wants, so he can take it.
Luo Ran didn't look at him too carefully. She even knew better than him what he looked like, but at a random glance, she retracted her gaze and was very indifferent.
Xiao Chen saw her look in his eyes, and his hands that were hanging by his side couldn't help but tighten.
what does she mean
Are you dissatisfied with him
However, after he entered Prince An's mansion, their eyes brightened, and when they sent him into the palace, the ambition and joy hidden in their eyes could not be hidden, and he knew that his appearance was excellent.
He was also confident that if he could see her, he would definitely get what he wanted.
He knew that Israel depended on people, and no one would look down on him, but one day, if he was in power, who would dare to laugh at him? But now, his status is too humble.
"Your name is Xiao Chen?"
Her voice came again, Xiao Chen knew that she was asking casually, but he had to work hard to answer her question.
Xiao Chen restrained all his thoughts and answered her in a deep voice, "Yes."
Luo Ran seemed to be interested. She put a jade hand on her forehead, and her eyes fell on him at will. At this time, she looked at him up and down. She saw that he tried to calm down, but he was nervous. .
Luo Ran was not surprised. He was naturally nervous at this time. After all, if she didn't like him, all his ambitions and ambitions would be nothing but empty talk.
Luo Ran suddenly smiled and said lazily: "Do you know why you came here?"
Xiao Chen's body seemed to froze. He suddenly raised his head and glanced at her, but happened to see the smile on the corner of her mouth. All the thoughts in his heart stopped, he lowered his eyes and said in a low voice, "I know."
"Oh? Then tell me, why did you come?"
She sat up, she was wearing a red dress, very flamboyant, just like her, with her movements, the hem of the dress was slightly upward, revealing her ankle, with a red thread tied on it, she did not wear shoes, even if it was exposed When she came out, she didn't care, and looked at him with some playfulness.
She was teasing him, just like Princess An teasing the little beasts in the backyard of Prince An's mansion.
Xiao Chen knew very well that they were different.
But why are they different
This question seemed a little hard to explain, he thought he was ready to accept everything, he thought he could accept any abuse and contempt with peace of mind.
But at this time, when he looked at the smile in her eyes, all his words were suddenly blocked.
He couldn't speak.
He didn't want to say something that made her despise him even more under her contempt.
"Huh?" She stroked her forehead with her hand, as if she didn't understand why he didn't speak.
There was a slight pain in the palm of his hand, and he finally regained his senses. Under her gaze, he slowly said, "It's to... serve the Empress Dowager."
Luo Ran smiled. Because of his words, she seemed a little puzzled: "There are so many people around this palace, do you think this palace needs you?"
Xiao Chen clasped his hands tightly, he knew that if he couldn't pass the test, he wouldn't be able to stay. As she said, there were too many people rushing to serve her, and she didn't care who this person was, so why? Is this man him
He thought about it for a long time, but couldn't think of a reason. He suddenly thought of what Princess An had said to him before he entered the palace.
His expression flickered, his eyes struggled a little, he didn't want to cast himself into the dust, but he had to stay.
He put aside all his shame and got up slowly. He knelt for too long, his knees were already numb, and he stumbled a bit before he stabilized his body. He stepped forward slowly, but did not forget to observe Luo Ran's reaction.
She didn't move, and her expression didn't change at all, as if she was watching a play whose outcome was already known, and her eyes were even a little boring.
Xiao Chen knelt down beside her, his hands clenched and loosened, released and clenched, repeated several times, he finally reached out his hand slowly, tentatively and timidly touched her jade hand, just touching the little finger, he suddenly Stopping, he glanced at Luo Ran, and seeing that she didn't stop him, he boldly raised her fingers and held them in the palm of his hand.
Then he spoke as calmly as possible: "The Empress Dowager should always try, if you don't like it," he pursed his lips and said with difficulty:
"Change again!"
He didn't even notice it himself, his voice trembled slightly for some reason.
Some scared, some nervous, some excited.
Luo Ran bent down, raised his forehead with his index finger, and made him raise his head. He behaved very docile, but Luo Ran suddenly chuckled, with a hint of irony in his eyes, she wondered:
"Xiao Chen? I heard that before Prince An's Mansion went to Zhuangzi on the outskirts to pick up his concubine, one of the masters in that Zhuangzi fell into the water and died. I wonder if Xiao Chen could tell me, who is that?"
Xiao Chen's face was pale in an instant. He suddenly looked at Luo Ran and saw the coldness in Luo Ran's eyes. He suddenly remembered that this is not the lady of the world who lives in the boudoir, but a lady of the dynasty. those in power.
How stupid is he to think he can hide from the sky? Can you fool them
Xiao Chen suddenly bit the tip of his tongue, his eyes were bright and dark, did Prince An already know that he was not the real Xiao Chen? So, only he is a fool? Thought to hide everyone, but in fact everyone is watching him perform
He endured the sudden panic in his heart and pretended to be calm. He said, "The Empress Dowager, what are you talking about?"
Luo Ran saw that he seemed to be biting hard and refused to admit it, so she suddenly released him, leaned back on the soft couch, and lowered her eyes slightly, as if she was closing her eyes and resting. the meaning of.
Xiao Chen's heart tightened, knowing that she didn't like his answer just now. He looked at her appearance, and a flash of light suddenly appeared in his mind. In fact, she should not care about her status. After all, no matter how noble, she couldn't match her .
His face was a little sturdy, but at this time, his expression was a little bleak. He pulled the corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly. It seemed that it was very difficult to say slowly:
"Empress Dowager's eyes, indeed, it was the real Xiao Chen who died that day, and I was just a... servant."
The last two words, he said very calmly, but his hands on both sides were clenched tightly, his nails seemed to sink into the flesh, he lowered his eyes and covered his expression.
This kind of look can provoke a bit of pity.
Sure enough, she sneered, and he heard her say, "What about Xiao Chen? How much more noble than a servant can be in this palace?"
It seemed that she was comforting him, it didn't matter whether she was a servant or not, but in her tone, the aloofness that was hidden in the bone marrow pierced into Xiao Chen's heart.
Xiao Chen knew that he had passed the border, he raised his head and smiled gratefully towards Luo Ran, but his hand in the other sleeve was squeezed tighter and tighter.