The Little Consort's
Eps. 27: Misunderstanding

Wang Tianshi, the personal bodyguard barged into Hongwu Palace until the door opened wide. Long Ji Man who happened to be on the lookout was suffocated in shock. The Dongling King directly threw the paperweight as he knew who had surprised him. The throw missed a few centimeters.

The king's personal bodyguard bared his teeth, then lowered his head as Long Ji Man's cold eyes stared at him sharply.

"Your Majesty, I want to report something!"

Long Ji Man's eyebrows fused together. If Wang Tianshi was not his personal bodyguard, he would have already fired him and sent him to the border. Long Ji Man was angry that Wang Tianshi was neglecting his duties in watching Li Anlan. During these few days, Wang Tianshi had not come to report to him.

"Say."

"Concubine An slipped out of the palace."

"I already know."

Wang Tianshi's stale report certainly made Long Ji Man angry. Where's he been all this time? Why just report something this important to her now, when she finds out everything without anyone's help? Wang Tianshi had already neglected to carry out his duties. He should also be punished.

"Forget your salary for the next six months!"

Wang Tianshi resigned to the decree of his king. He was guilty of not watching Li Anlan well, even until his king knew all of Li Anlan's behavior by himself. But, what makes him a little wonder is, since when did this friend and master become grumpy?

In the past, if he made a mistake, Long Ji Man only taught him a little lesson by reducing his salary and increasing his workday. Long Ji Man would not be this angry, let alone eliminate his money ration as much as six months in total, not just cut it.

Li Anlan was the most bizarre person that Wang Tianshi had watched on the orders of Long Ji Man. This woman was not only different, but slippery like an eel. His movements when he exited the palace were so fast that he could not catch up to him and lost track. This kind of person is really rare, let alone a woman.

Wang Tianshi gradually became suspicious. In his mind, it flashed the thought that Li Anlan was no ordinary person. She's not a stupid woman who doesn't have any talent and intelligence as people say. Assumptions and prejudices began to grow in Wang Tianshi's heart. The woman must have instigated her king, until Long Ji Man turned into a man who seemed to lose his mind.

Aware of the ugliness of his heart, Wang Tianshi immediately cast away those thoughts. It is inappropriate to slander a king's concubine who for two years had never met him. Perhaps, Li Anlan was indeed 'just different' only.

"Then I'll go."

Feeling that there was no longer any business, Wang Tianshi immediately paid his respects. He was about to jump through the window, but the moment he got in front of him, he unbundled his intentions. It seems like he forgot something.

"What else?" long Ji Man asked without distracting from the documents.

"It doesn't seem like that's the report I'm about to give."

Long Ji Man's brows furrowed. It's late at night, it's time for him to rest because tomorrow he has to get up early to attend a court meeting. Long Ji Man had to scold the officials who were not at work. King Dongling was fed up and did not want to be disturbed anymore.

"Your Majesty, what I want to report is... Concubine An jumped down to Lake Houchi!"

There was no reaction. Long Ji Man still remained in his position.

"He can swim."

"But, there's already one incense stick, Consort An hasn't returned to the surface!"

Long Ji Man's brain turned into a bug for a while. Not long after, he then snapped at Wang Tianshi.

"Why didn't you say that earlier?"

Long Ji Man immediately ran out. He's very panicked. His heart is not calm. Long Ji Man felt a bad feeling. If Li Anlan did not return for that long, it would mean that something was wrong. Something bad must be happening to him.

"Your Majesty, don't run! Your feet are precious!" yelled Xiao Biqi who came running behind Long Ji Man.

Up on the bridge of Houchi Lake, Long Ji Man saw a set of servant clothes that had been given to the woman. The water ripples on the surface of the lake were calm, like nothing had ever fallen into it. Therefore, Long Ji Man concluded that Li Anlan had really jumped and had not returned to the surface.

"Anlan, why do you have such a short sense? Who let you die?"

Long Ji Man shouted out loudly. His voice broke the silence of the lonely night. There's no answer. No voice answered his screams. Long Ji Man was getting panicked. He was about to jump, but Wang Tianshi and Xiao Biqi held him back.

"Your Majesty don't be rash!" exclaim Xiao Biqi.

"Really! Your Majesty can't do this!" Wang Tianshi connected Xiao Biqi's words.

"Stupid! What if he really dies?"

"What are you guys doing?"

Deg. Long Ji Man's heart stopped. His brain and the brains of Xiao Biqi and Wang Tianshi were experiencing bugs together. After a few seconds, the three looked back, to the origin of the sound.

A drenched woman, carrying a bunch of budding lotus flower stalks, was staring at them strangely as well as astonished. Yes, the woman's gaze contained a question, what did the three men do in the middle of the night like this on the bridge, while screaming like crazy.

"Li Anlan's? You're not dead?" Long Ji Man reflexively asked.

Li Anlan shook her head. What did this Long Ji Man question mean?

"Who's dead? Your Majesty, don't-don't you think I-"

Before the woman continued the words that could humiliate Long Ji Man, the man first interrupted.

"It's night. Come back, tomorrow you have to work."

Bizarrely. Just a moment ago, Long Ji Man's face was like that of a doormat filled with worry and fear. Now, that face turned back into a block of ice cubes. Seeing Long Ji Man turning away followed by his eunuch and personal bodyguard, Li Anlan became even more astonished. He stared at the three, until their backs disappeared across the bridge of Lake Houchi.

"Did he have a double personality?" Li Anlan asked himself. The woman picked up her maid outfit, then walked away, returning to Xingyue Palace.

...***...

In the morning, Hongwu Palace was already preoccupied with the chaos created by the new servants.

Li Anlan accidentally spilled the freshly brewed longjing tea onto Long Ji Man's royal robe. He tripped on the bottom of his own clothes. This made Long Ji Man annoyed half to death. Li Anlan cleaned it, but unexpectedly, she nudged the ink container until it clinked down, and the contents spilled. The floor near the foot of the table became dirty.

Long Ji Man was forced to change his robe to another one. If he didn't worry about being late, he would have definitely scolded and taught Li Anlan a lesson. Unfortunately, the man was in a hurry.

The ministers who had gathered at Taiji Palace were astonished because the King who usually always came on time, now had not been seen the trunk of his nose. The day had gone by, but the court meeting had not yet begun because the meeting leader had not yet arrived.

A moment later, Xiao Biqi's voice echoed signifying that His Majesty King Long had arrived. The officials immediately saluted. They were about to ask why today his king came late, but seeing Long Ji Man's annoyed face, the guts of the officials shrieked. They did not want to experience bad luck for offending the king whose mood was not good.

Without saying much more, Long Ji Man directly asked his officials to submit a report. When the turn of the Minister of Economy arrived, Long Ji Man unceremoniously railed at him with many questions.

"Is your report in line with the reality on the ground?"

"That's it, Your Majesty."

"My people are all prosperous?"

"Rubber, Your Majesty."

"Is that so?"

The face of the Minister of Economy suddenly turned pale.

"Then why is there still a group of abandoned children in the middle of the forest? Why are there still thieves who steal money for a bite of rice?"

The Minister of Economy bowed down, unable to resist the aura of the King.

"Minister Wei, is this the welfare you mean?"

Without being ordered, the Minister of Economy immediately knelt down. His face grew pale and fear spread throughout his body.

"Your Majesty, my negligent servant. Please punish the servant."

"Half your salary for a year I'll use to build a house for them. This is how you make up for your negligence!"

Firmly without a doubt, Long Ji Man transformed into a powerful king, who made his decision without fear and doubt. All the officers present were embarrassed and scared.

...***...