Chapter 41 Disturbing the King's Fun
The Regent was a burly man, and even when he was sitting upright he gave people an oppressive feeling, and her wrist was held in his broad and powerful hand.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze, breathing became difficult, my heart was beating like thunder, my blood was boiling, fine cold sweat oozed from my forehead, and my hands were clenched tightly.
Fear, anxiety, uneasiness, all kinds of emotions are intertwined into an invisible web.
Zheng Chengyan was only a few steps away from her. He only needed to raise his head slightly to notice the abnormality between her and the Regent.
Once discovered, she will face misunderstanding and anger from her husband, and may even ruin her carefully planned revenge plan.
However, at this critical moment, Su Wanyu showed extraordinary calmness.
She lowered her eyes, her face pale but unusually determined.
In this brief silence, she slowly raised her right hand, and her fingers gently clasped the edge of the Regent's gorgeous robe, her fingertips inadvertently running across the delicate and intricate embroidery patterns.
She was gambling that the Regent would lend a helping hand at this critical moment.
The Regent's gaze moved slightly downward, gently landing on her fingers that were tightly grasping her sleeves. His eyes seemed to contain complex emotions that were difficult to fathom.
Just as Zheng Chengyan was about to stand up and try to explain everything, the regent's cold and majestic voice sounded again, interrupting his movements: "What do you want to do by visiting my residence so late at night, Master Zheng?"
There was unquestionable authority in his words, suppressing all of Zheng Chengyan's momentum.
In the court, everyone must be respectful when facing the Regent. This is an iron rule that cannot be violated.
Zheng Chengyan lowered his body even more, his head almost touching the ground, not daring to be negligent in the slightest: "I encountered a thief in the alley today, and chased him here. I accidentally entered the prince's room. I really didn't mean to offend him."
The Regent looked calm and composed, in stark contrast to Su Wanyu's nervousness.
He still held her wrist tightly and asked Zheng Chengyan coldly, "I am the only one in this room. Is Master Zheng implying that I have something to do with the thief?"
Zheng Chengyan did not dare to question this statement at all. After all, in the Great Qi Kingdom, no one dared to challenge the authority of the Regent, and no one could imagine that he would protect others.
He frowned, fearing that his words and actions would offend this powerful figure, and quickly apologized again, his tone full of fear: "I am reckless, please punish me, Regent."
The Regent smiled faintly, seeming to be quite satisfied with Zheng Chengyan's reaction: "Punishment, of course it will be punished."
He turned to look at Su Wanyu, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, "You spared the pleasure of this prince and this beautiful lady, you must be punished with at least fifty strokes of the cane."
Fifty strokes of the cane would undoubtedly be fatal.
As a son of an aristocrat, Zheng Chengyan had never experienced the world. When he heard about such a punishment, he immediately panicked and kowtowed repeatedly to beg for mercy: "I know I am wrong. Please spare my life, Lord Regent."
Although Su Wanyu was standing sideways, she could clearly feel Zheng Chengyan's fear and despair.
This was the first time in her two lifetimes that she saw him in such a miserable state.
Power is indeed the sharpest weapon in the world. Those who are in high positions and have great power can always easily control the fate of others.
She was no longer flustered, but sat up straight and glanced coldly at Zheng Chengyan out of the corner of her eye.
Zheng Chengyan lay on the ground with a proper and humble posture, waiting for the final decision of the Regent.
The Regent slowly released her hand, leisurely picked up the teacup, gently blew away the foam on the surface of the water, and then slowly took a sip.
He made a seemingly easy but actually cruel suggestion: "If you are willing to kneel and kowtow all the way out of this teahouse, I will not pursue what happened today."
Although there were few customers in the teahouse, there were many people of prominent status. If Zheng Chengyan really left in this way, he would undoubtedly become a laughing stock among people. Although his life would be saved, his dignity would be gone.
Zheng Chengyan gritted his teeth, hesitated, and did not give an answer for a long time.
The Regent suddenly put down his teacup, his eyes were sharp, and his tone was cold and unyielding: "Why, Master Zheng, you don't want to?"
Although the words were light, Zheng Chengyan felt unprecedented pressure. He had no choice but to lower his head and reiterate his obedience: "I am willing to obey your orders and accept the punishment."
Afterwards, he slowly stepped back two steps, knelt on the ground, and began to perform the ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows. He felt mixed emotions and had no time to think about anything else.
He never dreamed that the person he was kneeling to was the daughter of the merchant whom he had once despised, the wife whom he avoided as much as possible.
Su Wanyu sat beside the Regent, her back straight, her posture noble and inviolable, her bright eyes calmly watching Zheng Chengyan bow deeply again and again from top to bottom. The man who used to be arrogant and rude and treated her as humble as dust, now lowered his arrogant head, and her inner panic gradually subsided.
It was not until Zheng Chengyan's figure completely disappeared in the light and shadow outside the door that she slowly woke up as if from a dream.
The guards closed the heavy door silently, and the teahouse, which had been bustling just a moment ago, instantly returned to silence, leaving only the lingering aroma of tea lingering in the air.
Su Wanyu took two steps back gracefully. Her movements were smooth and dignified. Even when facing the powerful regent, her temperament was not inferior.
"Thank you for your help, Your Majesty." She opened her red lips slightly, her voice clear and pleasant.
The Regent gently shook the teacup in his hand and smiled calmly, "Forget it, get up, no need to be polite."
His voice was gentle, yet commanding.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Su Wanyu slowly straightened up after hearing this.
The Regent put down the teacup in his hand, stood up and walked towards the light gauze hat quietly placed in the corner, with a meaningful smile on his lips, "The light gauze hat of the Marquis of Changping Mansion, Madam, you should be more careful in the future. After all, what happened today was really an accident."
Su Wanyu heard this with a frank expression. She knew that today's farce was somewhat embarrassing. "I'm sorry that our family's dirty laundry has been made public, and Your Majesty will be embarrassed."
The Regent picked up the exquisite bamboo hat and walked slowly to her. The hem of his clothes swayed gently with his steps, and the silver python pattern was faintly visible between the fabric.
Inside the small room, the fresh scent of pine wood and the faint aroma of osmanthus emanating from the Regent's body were intertwined, making people intoxicated involuntarily. It was obvious that he had a special liking for osmanthus, and even the tea he drank had a faint scent of osmanthus.
He personally put on her hat, and his fingers inadvertently lifted a few strands of hair that were pressed down. His voice was low and powerful, "You have disturbed my elegant mood of drinking tea today. What do you think, Madam, do?"
Su Wanyu bowed again, her attitude respectful, "I accidentally came in while looking for cloth and disturbed your quiet time. I will leave everything to your disposal."
The Regent's eyes swept across the teacup, with a playful smile on his lips, "Well, I will punish you to make me a cup of tea."