Chapter 18
Li Yu decided to use the shapeshifting medicine on the day of the banquet.
Not long ago, he had completed the “Sharing a Bed” step and received a very strange reward. It was a life-like fish pillow that was almost exactly the same as him. Because the previous rewards were either the Portable Storage Space or the strengthening of various abilities, he was originally looking forward to it. Who knew that after all his hard work, he would get this seemingly useless thing. At that time, Li Yu felt that the system was cheating him again, so he saved the reward and did not receive it. Now that he planned to become a human, this pillow became more meaningful.
If he transformed into a human, the fish tank would be empty, and the servants would easily notice that he was missing. At that time, he would be exposed. This fish bolster was simply there for him to escape. It was placed motionless in the water, and it looked quite real from afar!
After completing the “Sharing a Bed” step, the next step was ‘Getting to know the tyrant better.” Li Yu was used to strange quests, so he was able to keep a straight face when faced with clickbait headlines. As usual, he pretended to be dead after the system was released. Li Yu was trying all kinds of things, but this step was even more difficult than interacting and getting along with each other. It was also confusing to fish. Since there was no progress, there was no harm in putting it aside for the time being.
Li Yu planned carefully. He only had two hours to become a human. The banquet was set to be held in the King Jing Mansion’s Congealing Hall. At that time, most people would gather there.
Because there would be servants and cooks from the palace, and the princes would bring their own attendants, the mansion would be very lively with people coming and going. As a stranger, he would not stand out among the crowd.
He wanted to go to the kitchen first and eat some human food. After becoming a fish, he could only eat fish food. The red fish food was made of flour. After eating so much, he missed ordinary food. He wanted to have a home-cooked meal and eat to his heart’s content. The King’s Mansion’s kitchen had to entertain guests, so there was no shortage of food. According to Wang Xi, they were afraid that there would not be enough for the guests at the banquet, so several portions of each dish were prepared. Li Yu decided to eat only a little of each dish. He was not afraid that he would finish all the delicious food.
After eating, he walked around the King Jing Mansion. He had never been to the King Jing Mansion before. He heard that the emperor had arranged for an opera troupe. He could watch the ancient people sing opera and eat some melon seeds. He originally wanted to leave the mansion, but he was afraid that it would be difficult to come back. There were guards in front of the mansion, and time was too short …
If there was an accident on the way, he would not be able to rush back to his bedroom in time. He had thought about this. He could carry a teacup with him. There was enough water and fish food in his space. If he changed back, he could jump into the teacup. There was nothing to be afraid of.
He had considered everything that could be considered. It seemed to be foolproof. In order to not let people find out that the fish body pillow was different from a real fish, Li Yu did not swim very often before the banquet. He mostly lay on the white stone bed. There were a few times when the King Jing came to see him. Li Yu habitually jumped over and rubbed his fingers. When he got close, he suddenly remembered that he should keep a distance. So he changed to swinging his tail and swimming away coldly.
King Jing, “???”
On the day of the banquet, Wang Xi accompanied King Jing to the Congealing Hall early in the morning. Although the emperor had already arranged everything, King Jing, as the host, had to entertain the guests. Wang Xi also had to help take care of him. According to King Jing’s idea, many eunuchs were assigned to Li Yu’s bedroom. They did not have to keep watch all the time in case the little carp came out for a stroll and got scared. However, the eunuchs had to look after the fish from time to time.
– – King Jing’s job was quite torturous.
Li Yu took advantage of King Jing’s absence to immediately receive the fish body pillow reward.
He placed the fish body pillow on the white stone bed and arranged it like a salted fish. After thinking about it, he was still worried and covered the fish body pillow with a water grass quilt.
From afar, it really did look like he was sleeping.
After arranging the body pillow, Li Yu jumped into the teacup closest to the crystal fish tank. This time, it was time to receive the transformation medicine.
He took a deep breath and chose to confirm when the system asked again. The transformation medicine bottle fell into his arms in the blink of an eye.
He was originally worried that a fish would not be able to open the medicine bottle. However, the medicine bottle seemed to have a mind of its own. It knew that he was about to use it and even the seal on the bottle disappeared.
…… Could it be another trap?
With the transformation medicine in hand, Li Yu hesitated for a moment. However, there was a faint sound of music in the distance. He knew that the song and dance specially prepared for the banquet had begun. The little concubine was about to appear, or had already appeared.
The fateful meeting should have begun ……
Anyway, it was only for two hours. He could just stay next door and eat. It was no big deal.
Li Yu no longer hesitated. With an indescribable feeling, he drank the medicine in one gulp.
This medicine…… had no taste. After drinking it, he could still smack his lips in a carefree manner. However, in the next moment, his vision became blurry.
Oh no. I didn’t expect the transformation medicine to have an adverse effect.
The little carp gradually lost consciousness.
Congealing Hall.
The Third Prince, Mu Tianming, stood up several times to toast King Jing.
Mu Tianming was different from Mu Tianzhao. His birth mother’s status was lower than Imperial Concubine Qiu’s. He was also younger than Mu Tianzhao and was suppressed by Mu Tianzhao in every aspect. Ever since he decided to compete with the Second Prince, Mu Tianming had to oppose Mu Tianzhao in everything.
King Jing was disabled and could not inherit the throne. He was not a threat to Mu Tianming. If Mu Tianzhao did not like King Jing, Mu Tianming would of course express goodwill to King Jing. If Mu Tianzhao wanted to rope in King Jing, he would intercept him halfway! As long as he could make the Second Prince unhappy, he would be happy!
Moreover, although King Jing was useless and the Emperor did not give King Jing any real power, King Jing still had Empress Xiaohui’s maternal family, Duke Chengen Residence, behind him. If he could establish a connection with Duke Chengen Residence through King Jing, it would be a great thing.
Mu Tianming had sent many gifts to King Jing in the past, but they were all rejected by King Jing.
He was worried that he had no reason to get close to him. Coincidentally, Mu Tianzhao’s mother, Imperial Concubine Qiu, did something stupid, so the Third Prince immediately wanted to seize this opportunity.
However, King Jing was stubborn and difficult to please. Mu Tianming and his confidants thought of many ways. King Jing did not lack anything except for his empty backyard. Mu Tianming wanted to work hard and send a few women to King Jing’s pillow. Not only could he please King Jing, but he would also have people who could speak for him. It was killing two birds with one stone.
The few dancers he brought to King Jing’s residence were all stunning. Among them, there was a man who was leading the dance. He had a handsome face, red lips, and white teeth. With a bit of makeup, he was even more beautiful than the women in the same group. Mu Tianming did not know what King Jing liked, so he prepared both men and women. What if one dance could catch King Jing’s eye?
After the banquet started, Mu Tianming proposed a toast first. King Jing did not drink and did not accept it.
Mu Tianming then suggested that the dancers perform a dance. King Jing did not want to watch the dance and did not accept it.
Mu Tianming was a little embarrassed.
The Sixth Prince, Mu Tianxiao, was the Third Prince’s follower. He hurriedly smoothed things over for Mu Tianming. He also winked at the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince, who could finally leave the palace to play. The Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince were very excited when they learned that there was a new dance to watch. Although King Jing did not interact with the adult princes, the children generally did not care about it. In addition, Wang Xi put in a good word for King Jing, so King Jing agreed to perform the dance.
Mu Tianming could finally order the dancers who had been waiting for a long time to appear.
The Third Prince racked his brains to find out in advance that King Jing had recently reared fish.
He specially arranged a Fish Lotus Dance. Most of the dancers were dressed in green and dressed
as lotus leaves. The lead dancer was dressed in white and turned into an elegant lotus flower. He
thought that it was ingenious.
King Jing reluctantly watched. Although the Third Prince said that it was a Fish Lotus Dance, he did not see any fish from the beginning to the end. There was a dancer dressed in white with outstanding looks. However, her eyes were filled with sorrow and resentment, as if they were glistening with tears.
On the contrary, King Jing was a little angry. How could he be treated so unjustly just because of a dance?
When Mu Tianzhao saw that King Jing was staring at the lead dancer, his heart skipped a beat. He was afraid that Mu Tianming would try to win over King Jing first. The Second Prince also stood up and said earnestly, “Fifth Imperial Brother, a few days ago, Imperial Mother had offended you. As your elder brother, I will personally apologize on her behalf. I hope Fifth Imperial Brother will be magnanimous enough to forgive her.”
As soon as the Second Prince spoke, a servant took the opportunity to drive the Third Prince’s dancer to the side. The Third Prince was angry, but he did not dare to say anything. The Third Prince did not dare to quarrel with the Second Prince in public, so he could only swallow his anger and wait to see what would happen.
Since Mu Tianzhao mentioned Madam Chou, King Jing laughed mockingly. Wang Xi immediately said on behalf of King Jing, “Imperial Consort Niangniang should properly reflect on her actions according to His Majesty’s words. His Highness will not ignore His Majesty’s order and pursue the matter further.”
Mu Tianzhao, “…”
Mu Tianzhao originally planned to beg King Jing for forgiveness first, and then take the opportunity to plead for Madam Chou to be released from her house arrest. However, why did he feel that King Jing had blocked all the words he wanted to say?
“Elder Brother, I have another request.”|
Since his first request was not successful, Mu Tianzhao continued to be thick-skinned and said,
“Imperial Mother accidentally dropped a luminous pearl. I heard that Fifth Imperial Brother’s people found it. Thank you for taking care of it for these past few days. If it is convenient for Fifth Imperial Brother, please return it.”
In reality, although the luminous pearl that Madam Chou lost was valuable, it was a shame that she lost it. Madam Chou herself did not want to see this pearl again. Mu Tianzhao was just making up a reason. As long as King Jing returned the luminous pearl, at least he could fabricate the illusion that he and King Jing had a good relationship. The Emperor would be happy to see this.
The Second Prince wants the luminous pearl?
King Jing glanced at Wang Xi. Both of them coincidentally thought of the pearl that was buried at the bottom of the fish tank.
King Jing himself did not like Madam Chou’s pearl very much. He later gave the little carp many gemstones and pearls, but the little carp had not rolled a luminous pearl in a long time. He originally wanted to quietly get rid of it, but since the Second Prince asked for it, he would return it to him.
King Jing nodded at Wang Xi. Mu Tianzhao secretly rejoiced. As long as King Jing handed over the luminous pearl, everything would be over. Unexpectedly, Eunuch Wang said, “Your Second Highness, please follow this old servant to retrieve the pearl.”
Mu Tianzhao, “???”
Because the Second Prince asked for it himself, King Jing did not object. The other princes were watching, so the Second Prince could not shrink back. He followed Wang Xi to the back hall.
The Second Prince felt a little guilty. He was afraid that King Jing’s men would secretly attack him.
Fortunately, he was quite safe along the way.
Wang Xi led Mu Tianzhao into a room. He pointed at a huge crystal fish tank and said with a smile,
‘There was an accident with the luminous pearl, so it sank inside. Your Second Highness, please retrieve it yourself.”
Mu Tianzhao, “!!!”
Wang Xi was deliberately making things difficult for him. The Second Prince was shocked. What was King Jing trying to do? How could the luminous pearl fall into the fish tank?
The fish tank was so big that he could not see the end of it at a glance. Moreover, the fish tank was full of gemstones. How was he going to find it?
Mu Tianzhao braced himself and looked with his eyes. He wanted to find it first and then order someone to retrieve it for him.
Suddenly, he found a fish lying on a piece of white stone in the fish tank. There was even a strand of seaweed on the fish’s body. It looked very strange.
This fish – seemed to be the one that King Jing brought over. It was King Jing’s pet fish.
Mu Tianzhao and Madam Chou had both suffered from this fish. The Second Prince immediately became alert and wanted to stay away from this unlucky fish.
However, his sharp eyes discovered that the fish was lying there very strangely. Its whole body was stiff and there was not even the slightest movement.
King Jing’s fish seemed to have died again.
