After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

I was led to the dining table by Zheng Yan in silence. There were only a few simple side dishes on the table, but no big fish or meat or luxurious dishes.

Zheng Yan pulled me to sit down and handed me a pair of chopsticks. The palace maid behind him immediately placed a set of tableware for me and brought me a hot towel to wash my hands.

Zheng Yan picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of stir-fried lotus root for me. He said, "I didn't know you would come today, otherwise I would have asked the servants to prepare more dishes."

I took a look at these dishes. One was stir-fried lotus root, one was stir-fried chicken slices, one was steamed fish, which was just an ordinary sea bass, not a black fish, and one was stir-fried pork slices with Junshan fish. There was not even any soup. It was even more ordinary than the meals of ordinary people.

Actually, I wasn't hungry. I came here after having breakfast. I bit my chopsticks and said, "Are your meals so simple every day?"

Zheng Yan nodded as he ate his rice and said, "It's no need to make things so complicated when eating alone."

I thought it was wrong. Wasn't Zhao Fangping here to serve him every day? Why was he eating alone?

So I said, "Isn't my good sister in your palace? Won't she eat with you?"

Zheng Yan glanced at me and said, "She is just an amateur with no status yet. Her status is only slightly higher than that of a palace maid. She is not qualified to eat at the same table with me."

I bit my chopsticks and widened my eyes. It turned out that Zhao Fangping was worthless in Zheng Yan's eyes. What did he mean by dragging me to eat with him? My status was not much higher than Zhao Fangping's. We were both from the same Zhao Mansion.

Seeing that I didn't eat, Zheng Yan put another piece of stir-fried chicken slices into my bowl and said, "These dishes are not greasy and go well with rice. Eat more. You are so thin that only bones are left."

I have to say, even the stir-fried chicken slices made by the royal chef taste delicious.

I ate for a while, then suddenly remembered that I didn't see Zhao Fangping and Gongsun Wen. Aren't they supposed to be with Zheng Yan all the time? I was also ready to go to war with Zhao Fangping, but in the end, my firepower was in vain, and I didn't even see anyone.

So I asked, "Why don't I see Lord Gongsun and my good sister today?"

Zheng Yan ate two full bowls of rice before putting down his bowl. It seemed that he was really hungry.

Zheng Yan took a big sip of tea and said, "The Spring Examination is coming soon. The teacher has been setting test questions in the Hanlin Academy recently. I guess he will have time to help me handle government affairs after the Spring Examination is over. As for your good sister, she will stay in Yuegui Palace to take care of Gui Gui. It is said that Gui Gui is seriously ill, so your good sister will have to take care of Gui Gui during this period."

I was shocked by this news again. Is this the reason why Zheng Xian didn't kill her? Because she didn't live long.

It seems that I can't stay in the Hall of Supreme Harmony all day. I need to go out more often, otherwise I won't be able to find out a lot of gossip.

Zheng Yan was full, wiped his mouth with a hot towel, and said, "I still have a lot of government affairs to deal with, Ah Man, you can eat slowly. If you want to stay in the palace, you can stay. I will ask the servants to prepare more food in the evening."

I nodded and said, "Go ahead, ignore me."

Zheng Yan nodded and turned to leave.

The dining area was in the side hall, separated from Zheng Yan's study by only a lattice screen. From where I was sitting, I could see Zheng Yan sitting in front of a large desk, reviewing memorials seriously and attentively.

It is said that men who work hard are the most attractive. It’s true that Zheng Yan’s hard work coupled with his stunning appearance is really attractive.

Seeing my infatuated look, Yingchun couldn't help but take a step forward, just blocking my view, and whispered, "Second Young Master, the food is cold, do you want to heat it up?"

I quickly put down my chopsticks and said, "No, I'm full. Let someone clean up. You haven't eaten yet, so you don't have to wait on me. I'm going to the study to read a book. You can come find me when you're full."

Each palace has its own kitchen. The palace maids and eunuchs have separate food, which is not the same as that of their masters. Generally, they have to wait until their masters are full before they take turns to eat.

Since Yingchun came with me to the Eastern Palace, it was natural for her to have dinner with the eunuchs and palace maids of the Eastern Palace.

So she replied, "Yes." and called the palace maid to clean up the dishes, and then went to the kitchen to eat with the palace maid.

I walked into the study, and Zheng Yan asked without even looking up, "A-Man, did you eat well?"

I nodded and said, "It's delicious."

Zheng Yan then said nothing and continued to review the memorials diligently and seriously.

Zheng Yan's study is very big, with several bookshelves standing upright, and each bookshelf is full of books. I walked over and took out a few books from the bookshelf, and found that every book was circled and dotted with cinnabar pen, and some places were annotated. It seems that Zheng Yan has read these books carefully. The top student is really a top student. He has read so many books seriously. Even I, a top student, can't help but give him a thumbs up.

There was a recliner under the huge window in the study, and on it was a thick tiger skin. I took a look and found that this was the most comfortable place in the whole house, so I walked to the recliner and sat down with a few books, put the books on the side table, and then lay down comfortably on the recliner to read.

The room was very warm, but Zheng Yan was afraid that I would be cold, so he asked someone to bring a white blanket to cover me.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, the golden sunlight fell on me through the window. Against the backdrop of the white blanket, my face was so white that it was almost transparent. My long eyelashes were blinking, my thin lips were tightly pursed, and my bony fingers were gently turning the pages of the book. I looked like a sick beauty, and Zheng Yan was stunned.

Zheng Yan's Adam's apple rolled up and down several times, and finally he forced himself to lower his head. However, his mind was no longer on the memorial. He looked up at me from time to time, but I was still concentrating on reading the book and didn't even look at him.

I felt a little tired after reading for a while, and the rule that one gets sleepy after eating made it difficult for me to open my eyes. I put the book on my chest, closed my eyes, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Zheng Yan had his heart set on me to begin with. When he saw that I fell asleep, he quickly put down the pen in his hand, walked quickly to my side, carefully took away the book I was still holding tightly, then gently put my arms folded across my chest on the recliner, and covered me with a blanket. Fearing that I was not warm enough, he asked the eunuch to bring a thicker blanket to cover me.

Zheng Yan reached out and gently stroked my face, and whispered, "Ah Man, how great would it be if you were a woman?"

Yingchun, who was standing next to me, couldn't help but shudder when she heard this. Although she was about the same age as me, she entered the palace early and was more mature than ordinary women. She knew very well what the prince meant by this sentence. She really regretted why she didn't hold me tightly and not let me go out today.

I slept until the sun set.

When I woke up, I stared around blankly with my eyes wide open, and for a moment I couldn't remember where I was.