The years I was in the human world

While the Third Prince was talking to the Second Princess, the Fifth Prince also arrived. His maternal family was prominent and he was also favored by the Emperor, so he naturally acted ostentatiously. As soon as the young man entered the palace, he said, "I heard that Third Brother brought a beauty back to the palace. Where is she? Bring her out for me to see?"

The Third Prince looked at the person who broke into the room. His hands clenched instantly under his sleeves, his nails digging deep into his flesh. He was dissatisfied with the Fifth Prince's disrespectful and rude attitude, but he had to submit to the power behind the other party. He still could not show any dissatisfaction on his face. In short, he felt very aggrieved.

The Second Princess seemed to sense some dissatisfaction beneath his smiling face. She had no intention of intervening in the fight between the two princes. Anyway, her purpose of coming to investigate the Third Prince today had been achieved. She was about to leave, but the Fifth Prince stopped her with a smile: "Don't be in a hurry to leave, Second Princess. We haven't had a small gathering for many days. Don't you want to keep in touch with each other?"

The second princess secretly cursed in her heart, "Who wants to build a relationship with you?" But in front of him, she said gently, "Fifth brother misses me, and as your elder sister, I will naturally respond to your request. Why don't you sit down, make a cup of tea, and let the three of us talk slowly today?"

Not to mention what ulterior motives these three people had, the fifth prince just sat down and glanced casually at the palace maid who was sweeping in the corner. The palace maid seemed to understand what he meant, put down the broom in her hand, and quietly went to the backyard.

She stopped the maid who was serving tea and said, "Sister Juan, His Highness specifically ordered that the one we brought back today serve tea."

"Your Highness really said so?" Aunt Juan frowned, somewhat unconvinced. Her Highness clearly didn't want the Fifth Prince to see the newly brought back eunuch, otherwise he would have asked him to come and serve him. Why was he practicing Tai Chi with the Fifth Prince at this time? "You go down first, I'll think about it."

Seeing that Juan Gu didn't fall for it, the maid was unwilling to give up, but she couldn't say anything. She thought for a moment and then turned her attention to Lu Zhouxue. She tiptoed to the inner courtyard and found Lu Zhouxue, who was temporarily assigned by Juan Gu to water the flowers. She said, "His Highness has ordered you to come and serve him. Why are you still here? Can you bear the consequences of neglecting the noble man?"

His tone was stern and full of confidence. Lu Zhouxue went there without much doubt. Although he did things his own way, he still had to save some face. After all, he would go to Chu Zhaoli in the end. If he caused a lot of trouble, wouldn't it be a nuisance to the other party?

Lu Zhouxue came to the Third Prince silently and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Highness."

The Third Prince's face changed, and he was about to ask who asked you to come, but he glanced sideways and saw the Fifth Prince staring at Lu Zhouxue with interest. In the end, he swallowed his words and said "hmm" in a calm manner. Juan Gu, who was serving tea, saw the expression of her own prince and thought that things were going to get bad.

"Third brother, this is not very kind. You hide such a beauty from me. Do you treat me as an outsider?" The Fifth Prince talked about Lu Zhouxue but his eyes were fixed on the Third Prince, trying to read any unusual emotions on his face.

"If he really wanted to hide it, how could Fifth Brother see him now?" The Third Prince was fooled. He knew that his palace was not cleaned up properly. He did not show any expression on his face. He still pretended to be calm and ordered Lu Zhouxue, "Why are you still standing there? Why don't you serve tea to Fifth Brother?"

"Yes." Lu Zhouxue replied. Juan Gu handed him the teapot in her hand, leaned forward slightly and retreated behind the Third Prince. Her worried eyes fell on his hand involuntarily. Lu Zhouxue was brought back by the Third Prince today, so he might not do these things. If something went wrong...

Lu Zhouxue completed the task beautifully, even better than Juan Gu. The Third Prince couldn't help but look at him with higher regard. The Fifth Prince also raised his eyebrows in surprise. He of course knew that Lu Zhouxue was brought back to the palace by his third brother today and had not been trained yet, otherwise why would he come here so anxiously to find trouble.

The Fifth Prince suddenly grabbed Lu Zhouxue's wrist and pulled her towards him. The latter was forced to lean towards him, still holding the teapot steady in his hand. "Third brother really has a keen eye for talent. I thought she was just an embroidered pillow, but I didn't expect she is actually a skilled martial artist."

As the Fifth Prince spoke, he put his arm around Lu Zhouxue's waist and restlessly pinched his arm through his clothes. Lu Zhouxue resisted the urge to splash the tea on the Fifth Prince's face and glanced at the Third Prince. The inquiring look in the latter's eyes became a signal for help.

The second princess tightened her handkerchief and subconsciously looked at the third prince, only to see that the latter's face seemed to be unable to maintain expression. She hurriedly covered her face and coughed softly, reminding the third prince to be patient and signaling the fifth prince to be careful. In her heart, she cursed Lu Zhouxue for being a foxy woman who had bewitched the third prince to the point of losing his mind in such a short time.

"I have never seen such a beautiful woman. Third brother, can you lend me your younger brother to play with for two days?" The Fifth Prince ignored the Second Princess' reminder. He pulled Lu Zhouxue into his arms and played with her, but his eyes were fixed on the Third Prince.

The Third Prince forced a smile, his hands hidden in his sleeves clenched and unclenched, and he said slowly, "Fifth brother wants a beauty, and as a brother I will naturally not refuse to give her to him. But you must keep it a secret for your brother about Madam Du, otherwise if Father blames us, we will both be in trouble."

"Ah, forget it. Let's leave this beauty to you, my brother, to enjoy yourself." Upon hearing this, the Fifth Prince pushed Lu Zhouxue to the ground, acting like a naughty boy, but sneering in his heart. It seemed that his good Third Brother was really bewildered by beauty. Look, he was talking about his mother and then mentioning his father to put pressure on him.

The wit of the two brothers was unknown to outsiders. Lu Zhouxue, who was pushed to the ground, just wanted to curse: Are you sick? You two brothers are not getting along, and you are using me to pick a fight.

"Okay, you two are such troublemakers. There are all kinds of beauties in the capital. Why are you quarreling over a eunuch?" The atmosphere became cold, and the second princess pretended to know nothing, while winking at Juan Gu behind the third prince: Hurry up and take your master's favorite away.

Aunt Juan bowed, stepped forward, grabbed Lu Zhouxue's hand and helped him up, but whispered in his ear: "Why don't you get up? Do you think you haven't caused enough trouble for His Highness?"

Juan Gu locked Lu Zhouxue in the woodshed. Thinking of the little palace maid who stopped her halfway when serving tea, she knew that what happened today could not be blamed on Lu Zhouxue, but she still couldn't help but vent her anger and said, "From now on, you should reflect on yourself here and don't cause trouble for no reason again."

Lu Zhouxue was inexplicably called to serve tea, inexplicably teased, and now inexplicably scolded. He watched Juan Gu leave and shook his head helplessly. He felt that these people were quite boring.

The fifth prince used him to test the third prince's attitude, and the third prince used him to play the role of a beautiful woman who brings disaster, while the second princess watched from the sidelines. It was as if he was the stage, letting those three people perform a big show together, but these three people all thought that he knew nothing.

Lu Zhouxue was locked up until the second night, and no one came to bring him food. Perhaps it was Aunt Juan, or perhaps it was the Third Prince, who seemed to be trying to temper his temper. Lu Zhouxue didn't care and just turned a blind eye.

"Eunuch." Near dusk, someone suddenly called him from outside the door. The little palace maid who had tricked him into serving tea in the front hall sneakily opened the door of the woodshed and walked in. She wrapped a few steamed buns in a small cloth and gave them to him. "Eunuch, you must be hungry. Eat quickly. Don't let anyone find out."

Lu Zhouxue wanted to know what she was going to do, so he followed her attitude. He first put on a vigilant expression and said, "What exactly do you want to do?" But he glanced at the buns longingly, and it was obvious that he was starving.

Seeing this, the maid understood what was going on. She pretended to feel guilty and said, "It was me who caused you to suffer an unprovoked disaster yesterday. I never thought that the Third Prince loved you so much when he brought you back, and he would be willing to punish you like this. I can't plead for you, so I can only send you some food to make you feel better."

Look, the people in the palace are very good at speaking. They first attributed their deception to an unintentional mistake, and then calmly flattered him, making him feel that the Third Prince's punishment was too harsh. Finally, they pointed out that they had sent food to earn enough favors. Lu Zhouxue could not help laughing when he heard it.

"It was indeed my recklessness in what happened yesterday. If the Third Prince wants to blame me... it's well deserved." Lu Zhouxue acted submissive, but her tone was full of complaints towards the Third Prince. The palace maid saw that her instigation was successful, and her smile deepened, but she looked at Lu Zhouxue with more contempt.

Such a fool who is easily deceived only has a face left. She thought so in her heart, but said with pity: "It's hard for you. His Highness is not like the Fifth Prince. He has Madam Du's support behind him, so he is more strict in restraining his servants, and he is more severe in dealing with you. Don't blame him."

"The Fifth Prince is indeed tolerant, but unfortunately..." The maid's words were half true and half false. If Lu Zhouxue was really a fool with high aspirations, it would only make him more dissatisfied and he would have been coaxed into turning against the Fifth Prince. Realizing her intention, Lu Zhouxue said:

"But I only saw him yesterday morning, and he was locked up in the evening. How could he show any sympathy? The Fifth Prince is very tolerant. Sister, do you have a way to ask me to leave the palace and serve the Fifth Prince? If it works, I will definitely be grateful."

"You have suffered this misfortune for no reason, so I will naturally help you if I can, but you must not be impatient about this matter." Seeing that he had taken the bait, the palace maid smiled more and more, "I have a sister from the same hometown who serves the Fifth Prince. If you are sincere, I will also risk my life to help you make the connection, but--"

The maid was silent for a moment and acted as if she was in a difficult situation. Seeing this, Lu Zhouxue said tactfully, "Just what? Sister, why don't you just speak frankly?"

"But you have served the Third Prince after all. The most taboo in the palace is to serve two masters. And you are a newcomer. How can the Fifth Prince trust you?" The palace maid guided Lu Zhouxue step by step to say that she was willing to work for the Fifth Prince.

"As long as I can convince His Majesty the Fifth Prince, I can do anything." Lu Zhouxue did give the answer she wanted. The palace maid left contentedly. Watching her walk out of the woodshed as quietly as she did when she came, Lu Zhouxue's originally flattering expression gradually turned cold.

He was not imprisoned for too long. When it was completely dark, someone suddenly came to release him. The man was probably a guard beside the Third Prince. He looked him up and down and snorted with disdain: "Your Highness is waiting for you in the calligraphy room."

"Thank you." Lu Zhouxue nodded at him, walked out of the woodshed without looking embarrassed, and headed towards the direction of the Third Prince's study. As he walked away, he could still vaguely hear the guard spitting contemptuously and muttering, "You rootless eunuch, I don't know how you got the favor of His Highness."

Lu Zhouxue paused, then continued walking forward as if nothing had happened. Along the way, until he arrived at the door of the Third Prince's study, he received a lot of appraising looks and whispered discussions, but he pretended not to know. Similarly, the Third Prince's study was not quiet either.

First, Juan Gu disapproved and advised: "Your Highness, he is just a eunuch. Even if he is a bit handsome, why is it worth it for you to fight against the Fifth Prince for him?"

"Miss Juan, I have never loved someone so much, how can it not be worth it?" The third prince's voice was eager to refute. The young man's admiration seemed so ardent. Lu Zhouxue listened to it and showed a little emotion on her face. She raised her hand and knocked on the door of the study: "Your Highness, you are looking for me?"

The voices inside suddenly quieted down, and the only sound was that the Third Prince seemed to be frantically packing something while asking Juan Gu in a low voice: "He didn't hear it, did he...?"

Juan Gu did not respond. Not long after, the door opened and Juan Gu came out. She glanced at him with a complicated expression, as if she was looking at a seductive woman who had seduced her master and made him dizzy. She said in a light tone, "Go in. His Highness is waiting for you."

Juan Gu went out after she finished speaking. After Lu Zhouxue came in, she gently closed the door and stood guard at the door diligently. The young man in the room was standing in front of the desk. When he saw him come in, a smile spread across his face, just like a young man who had just fallen in love with his beloved: "Come quickly!"

Lu Zhouxue walked over obediently, raised her eyes and looked at the Third Prince with a slightly aggrieved look, like a spoiled beauty: "I didn't do anything, but you locked me up for a whole night."

"Are you angry?" The Third Prince smiled at him gently, pulled him to sit next to him, and said with a look of heartache, "Fifth brother always loves to snatch my things. If I don't do this, he will know that I love you. If he snatches you away, I will be heartbroken."

"Your Highness, you and I just met yesterday. Why would you do this for me?" Lu Zhouxue touched the Third Prince's face with emotion, his lips trembling, as if he was touched to the extreme. He gently covered the latter's eyes, then lowered his head and laughed tremblingly.

He really couldn't help it. The Third Prince's acting was so poor, so poor that he had no other feeling except laughing. He had seen Xiao Fengzhuo's true feelings and even Xiao Yueheng's false feelings, all of which were better than the Third Prince's performance at this moment.