Chapter 6

• "The Majesty, did the soul of Your Majesty go to your place, leading you to take his stead?"
• — Li Li ===========
• Upon awakening, Wang Zhenyi found that it was already midday, as conveyed by the attending servant. Without delay, the chief palace doctor initiated a thorough examination to assess and scrutinize Wang Zhenyi's overall well-being.
• Once it was confirmed that all was well, Wang Zhenyi embarked on the ritual of bathing, a process meticulously facilitated by a cadre of attentive servants who catered to his every need and ensured his comfort.
• Originally a woman, Wang Zhenyi had no qualms about being attended to by the young female servants while bathing.
• In fact, he even chuckled as he observed one of the attendants blushing while washing his feet, catching a glimpse of an object between his legs submerged in the water.
• "Does it look good?" Wang Zhenyi inquired playfully.
• The servant averted her gaze with a tremor but managed to nod in agreement.
• Amused by the servant girl's reaction, Wang Zhenyi burst into hearty laughter, leaving all attendants astonished. They couldn't fathom the complete transformation in the emperor's demeanor after awakening from the coma.
• Under the emperor's newfound warmth, an atmosphere of affability and cheerfulness permeated, casting a rosy hue that made everyone in his presence feel at ease and content.
• "Don't fret, don't fret. Besides, I'm not even sure how to make this thing stand up," Wang Zhenyi laughed heartily, playfully toying with the object he held between his legs.
• The air was filled with a contagious lightheartedness, leaving those around him pleasantly surprised by the emperor's transformed demeanor.
• Unfamiliar with possessing such an item before, Wang Zhenyi found it amusing, like having an antique clock bell suspended. It proved to be somewhat distracting for him.
• The servants merely nodded, hesitant to utter anything that might incur the emperor's wrath.
• Despite the emperor's newfound friendliness post-coma, his pre-coma reputation for a somber and ruthless aura lingered.
• He was notorious for executing any servant who displeased him, yet he demanded complete subservience from palace officials. This demeanor bred resentment and caution among the servants.
• Concluding his bath, Wang Zhenyi opted for an outfit that the attendants considered casual. Yet, from a modern perspective, the attire appeared somewhat cumbersome and weighty.
• "Hm, don't you agree that I look quite handsome?" Wang Zhenyi inquired, directing the question to the chief attendant who was meticulously assisting with his dressing.
• "Indeed, Your Majesty, the attire enhances your charm," responded the chief servant with a respectful tone, albeit with a slight tremor, unsure of how to handle the emperor's newfound cheerfulness.
• Wang Zhenyi, with a theatrical eye roll, continued, "I am undeniably handsome, the most dashing emperor in all of Great Wang! Admit it, I'm quite the sight. Mwahahaha."
• The chief servant nodded in agreement, her expression carefully composed to reflect the expected reverence toward the emperor, even in the face of this unexpected change in demeanor.
• The head servant gently combed through Wang Zhenyi's hair, pulling back the sides and securing them. She adorned it with a small dragon-shaped ornament, its long tail entwining with Wang Zhenyi's tied hair.
• "Of course, Your Majesty looks incredibly handsome," the head servant responded with a smile.
• Wang Zhenyi tilted his head slightly, observing the glistening eyes of the head servant in the reflection.
• "Your Majesty, allow this humble servant to speak frankly with you," the servant spoke softly, her whisper flowing like water.
• As he was curious about the servant's peculiar demeanor from the start, he raised his hand, signaling everyone to leave the room.
• Okay, he was emulating King Rong's gestures.
• After all, he was a quick learner, right?
• The head servant remained calm, gentle, almost imperceptible to Wang Zhenyi, despite her constant presence around him.
• Once everyone had exited, Wang Zhenyi turned to face the head servant, who knelt before him.
• "So, what is it?" Wang Zhenyi inquired nonchalantly, his smile conveying an air of ease and uninhibited personality.
• "Forgive this lowly servant. Your Majesty, this humble servant has been caring for Your Majesty since birth. Your Majesty grew well, at least until the age of seven, before the previous emperor passed away," the chief servant gazed at the emperor's face, still relaxed without any noticeable reaction.
• Wang Zhenyi, who was being observed, merely smiled lazily, propping his chin on his hand, awaiting the continuation of the story. After all, he was curious.
• "Many cruel deeds and persecutions befell Your Majesty, gradually changing your personality. People always say that Your Majesty behaves like a demon towards lowly servants and attendants but becomes a lapdog to officials and King Rong. However, they don't know how many times Your Majesty was nearly poisoned, how many spies were placed by your side, making it difficult for Your Majesty to breathe. They don't know the pressure imposed by the family of the queen dowager on your fragile shoulders..." The servant choked up, trying to suppress tears from bursting forth.
• For a moment, silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft sobbing of the chief servant. Wang Zhenyi's fingers tapped the table, mimicking a pattern learned from his father, creating a rhythm with pauses between each tap.
• While in some situations, Wang Zhenyi was labeled a troublemaker in his previous life, more often, he earned the moniker of laziness.
• His inherent laziness endowed him with a remarkable patience, allowing him to passively observe the unfolding dramas of life and lend an ear to the problems of others without much agitation. Thus, when he learned that the emperor's situation was even more dire than he had initially surmised, it hardly came as a shock. Life within the palace was rarely a smooth affair, particularly in the absence of a guiding paternal figure.
• As the chief servant gradually composed herself, her sobs tapering off into a hushed silence, she cast a tentative glance towards him, her expression a delicate balance of trepidation and resolve. With fingers that betrayed a hint of trembling, she posed the question that hung heavy in the air, her voice laden with uncertainty yet tinged with a profound sense of duty.
• "The Majesty, did the soul of Your Majesty go to your place, leading you to take his stead?" she inquired, her words quivering with the weight of unspoken implications, as if daring to broach a topic fraught with both reverence and apprehension.