CHAPTER 384: CHAPTER 352: YOUNG MASTER SONG’S TERRIBLE SLEEPING HABITS (PART 2)

When Song Yuanbao returned to Yutang Palace, Zhao Xi was having dinner.

Seeing him return, Zhao Xi casually asked if he had eaten.

Song Yuanbao said he had not.

Zhao Xi instructed Eunuch Sanbao to bring another serving.

As Song Yuanbao mentioned, the food Zhao Xi ate was particular, with portions just right. Not to mention that as a subject, Song Yuanbao couldn’t share the table with him; even if he were given an exception, the food wouldn’t be enough for two growing young boys.

Upon hearing Zhao Xi’s arrangement, Song Yuanbao had no reason to refuse and sat opposite him.

Eunuch Sanbao soon returned with a food box, opened it, and set the dishes in front of Song Yuanbao.

Song Yuanbao picked up his chopsticks and casually poked at the bowl.

Opposite him, Zhao Xi didn’t lift his head, his voice remained as firm as ever, "If you dare waste a grain of rice, tomorrow you won’t eat at all."

Song Yuanbao’s lips twitched slightly. He believed this cold-faced prince could do what he said.

Suppressing the words he wanted to say, Song Yuanbao picked up the small bowl and quickly cleaned his plate.

After the palace maid came in to clear the dishes, Song Yuanbao then looked at Zhao Xi, "This commoner wants to ask His Highness for a favor."

Zhao Xi had just rinsed his mouth and was washing his hands. Hearing this, he paused slightly and then chuckled lightly, "It’s rather rare for you to address yourself like that. Go ahead, what is it?"

"This commoner wants to ask His Highness for someone."

Zhao Xi turned his head, his gaze falling directly on his face, somewhat cold, "Who?"

"Previously, His Highness mentioned giving this commoner a palace maid."

Zhao Xi sat down, watching him leisurely, "If I recall correctly, you repeatedly insisted you didn’t need one at the time, even said there was no such custom at your home."

"Is that so?" Song Yuanbao laughed dryly, "Maybe— I remembered wrong? We have that custom."

Zhao Xi picked up a tea cup, his face still without emotion, "This newly emerged custom after you returned home?"

Song Yuanbao was at a loss for words, but he didn’t want the other party to be smug, so he simply nodded, "Yes, it’s new. My father said I’m already fourteen and should have someone to serve me at home."

Zhao Xi paused his tea-drinking, "I won’t bother with the hassle and directly grant you Huidong."

Before Song Yuanbao could say anything, the sound of a tray falling at the door was heard.

Both inside turned back to see Huidong standing outside, unknown when she had arrived, holding what was originally a post-meal dessert, now completely ruined.

Seeing this, Song Yuanbao curled his lips, "Seems she’s not willing."

Zhao Xi smiled faintly, "Perhaps it’s not that she’s unwilling to serve you, but she doesn’t want to stay in Yutang Palace."

Upon hearing this, Huidong’s face changed, and she hurriedly knelt on the ground to plead for mercy.

Zhao Xi, such a disciplined person, how could he keep a clumsy palace maid by his side? His tone was rather cold, "From today, you don’t need to stay by my side, go back to where you came from."

"Your Highness..." Huidong’s voice trembled slightly, "Punish or beat me as you wish, but please don’t drive this servant away."

Zhao Xi added, "Or, you stay and I’ll move out?"

Huidong was terrified, repeatedly saying, "This servant knows my mistake, I’ll leave immediately."

Zhao Xi was uninterested in looking any further and diverted his gaze.

After Huidong got up and cleaned the mess on the ground, she quickly went to the Right Wing Palace to gather her things, and in no more than a teacup’s time, she had completely left Yutang Palace.

Song Yuanbao clicked his tongue, giving Zhao Xi a thumbs-up.

Zhao Xi glanced at him indifferently, then instructed Mr. Mu, "Find a few palace maids for Young Master Song to choose from."

Mr. Mu was about to leave when Song Yuanbao suddenly said, "No need to trouble yourself. I think Lian Chun in our palace is quite nice."

As soon as Song Yuanbao finished speaking, he felt Zhao Xi looking at him as if seeing a rabbit nibbling near its own den, but being thick-skinned as always, the more Zhao Xi looked, the more he smiled, "Is it a deal, Your Highness?"

Zhao Xi didn’t directly answer. He told Mr. Mu, "Inform Lian Chun to serve Young Master Song at the Left Wing Palace."

Mr. Mu acknowledged, waving his horsetail whisk as he went out to find Lian Chun.

Song Yuanbao beamed with smiles, cupped his hands, "This commoner thanks His Highness for his fulfillment."

Zhao Xi asked, "Are you serious?"

"Of course."

Zhao Xi was a bit skeptical. Having lived under the same roof with Song Yuanbao for over a year, he felt he knew this person well enough. Despite his usual carefree demeanor, Song Yuanbao was remarkably quick at learning. Besides, he had his own set of rules for doing things, just not very strict, so Zhao Xi didn’t think he was someone who’d be so casual about such matters.

Reading the doubt in Zhao Xi’s eyes, Song Yuanbao suddenly complained, "Other companions, they don’t care about anything but accompany the prince in reading, and their time is plentiful. The Prince’s companion here, I have to be with him all the time except when sleeping, and I can’t return home. You should at least give me a chance to get through this phase of sexual enlightenment, right? Otherwise, how will I marry a wife in the future?"

Zhao Xi: "Even with someone by your side, you still can’t shut up?"

Song Yuanbao immediately shut his mouth.

When dusk fell, he returned to the Left Wing Palace, and sure enough, the palace maid named Lian Chun was already waiting inside. Upon seeing Song Yuanbao, the young palace maid blushed with a hint of embarrassment. After paying her respects, she said she was there to serve the Young Master in bathing.

Song Yuanbao, lounging lazily on the recliner, expressed he could handle the bath himself and told her not to bother.

Hearing Song Yuanbao’s gentle tone, the blush on the young palace maid’s face deepened.

With hot water prepared, Song Yuanbao went behind the screen in the inner hall. He quickly finished his bath and came out, and Lian Chun proactively took a towel to help dry his hair.

Seizing the opportunity, Song Yuanbao asked, "How long have you been serving His Highness?"

"Replying to Young Master, this maid has served His Highness for three years."

"Three years? That’s quite a long time." Song Yuanbao mused aloud and then asked, "Given you ended up serving me instead of His Highness, don’t you feel wronged?"

Lian Chun didn’t change the movement of drying the hair but shook her head vigorously, "This maid is merely a palace maid and does not dare hope for His Highness’s favor."

Once his hair was dry, seeing Song Yuanbao sitting still, Lian Chun couldn’t help but speak up, "Young Master has to rise early tomorrow. It’s time for bed according to the hour."

Song Yuanbao turned his head to look at her.

The little palace maid hung her head low, visibly nervous.

Song Yuanbao chuckled, "To be honest, it’s the first time for both of us, so I’m not used to sharing a bed with someone."

His straightforward words made the young palace maid’s cheeks blossom red again, "If Young Master is not comfortable, this maid can stand guard outside."

"No worries," Song Yuanbao said, "You can sleep in the inner hall. Let’s do it this way: I’ll give you three days to get used to it. For these three days, we’ll share the bed but do nothing. If you can adjust by the third day, we’ll proceed with the next step, how about it?"

The young palace maid’s face was flushed completely red, eyes fixed on her toes, and she replied in a weak voice, "Whatever Young Master says goes."

Song Yuanbao was pleased with the young maid’s obedience and nodded.

...

On the big wooden cool bed, there were two blankets and two people: Yuanbao and Lian Chun.

This was the first night of the adaptation period, and Song Yuanbao’s snoring was so loud that Lian Chun tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The next day, when Zhao Xi inquired about it, Song Yuanbao laughed it off, saying everything was fine, while Lian Chun, with dark circles under her eyes, stood beside him, caught between laughter and tears.

On the second night, Song Yuanbao kicked his own blanket off the bed. Later, feeling cold, he pulled Lian Chun’s blanket over himself. The young palace maid dared not get close to him, so she got out of bed, picked up the blanket, and, unable to put it over him, had to wrap herself in clothes and huddle in the corner of the bed shivering until dawn.

On the way to the Study Room, Zhao Xi once more asked if Lian Chun was well-behaved, and Song Yuanbao, smiling, said everything was fine.

Zhao Xi felt something was amiss with Song Yuanbao, but lacking evidence, he couldn’t exactly question the young palace maiden about it.

On the third night, Song Yuanbao kicked Lian Chun out of bed.

When the young palace maid fell, she sprained her waist. The next day, several other palace maids teased her with inappropriate jokes. Her face turned redder and redder until she couldn’t hold it any longer and spilled the beans about her experiences over the last three days.

In just one day, Song Yuanbao’s poor sleeping habits spread throughout Yutang Palace.

When Eunuch Sanbao mentioned it, Zhao Xi was standing at the writing desk drawing. Hearing this, his hand shook, and a large drop of ink dripped onto the freshly outlined pine tree. He lifted his eyes with a complicated expression, "Is this true?"

Holding back laughter, Eunuch Sanbao said, "Your Highness, I wouldn’t dare deceive you about this; Lian Chun said it herself."

Zhao Xi narrowed his eyes and instructed Eunuch Sanbao to summon Lian Chun.

The young palace maid thought His Highness was blaming her for not serving Young Master Song well, so she knelt down immediately upon entering, "This maid is aware of her guilt; please punish me, Your Highness."

Zhao Xi sat upright, his eyelids lifting as he looked at her, "What is your guilt?"

"This maid failed to serve Young Master Song properly," the young palace maid said, harboring grievances in her heart.

"So, is the rumor true?"

Lian Chun hadn’t anticipated that they would spread such a story around and bit her lip, nodding in resignation, "It’s true. Young Master Song has poor sleeping habits, and I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in three days."

Zhao Xi, after hearing this, fell into deep thought.

The sudden quietness around made the young palace maid very uneasy.

After a while, Zhao Xi said, "Go and bring him here."