Chapter 92: What Wrong Have I Done

Li Yi and Yue’er held their umbrellas and braved the fierce winter storm all the way from outside the palace, finally arriving at the gates of the Li residence.

By then, the white snow on the little umbrella had gathered into clumps, weighing it down and leaving a series of uneven dents.

Seeing Li Yi frowning as he shook the umbrella and snow kept falling from his head, Yue’er at last came back to herself.

“Master, let Yue’er do it.” She hurriedly took the little white umbrella from Li Yi’s hand.

As she shook it briskly in an attempt to restore it, she quickly instructed the gate attendants, “Hurry and fetch some hot water for the master.”

“Yes, Sister Yue’er. Master, please come inside and rest for a moment; the hot water will be ready at once.” The attendants hurriedly answered and immediately ran off to get to work.

Li Yi said nothing more, only smiled and nodded.

Brushing the snow from his sleeves, he glanced at Yue’er, who was still shaking out the umbrella, and said casually, “Yue’er, you should go and take a hot bath as well. You need not attend me tonight.”

With that, after shaking the snow from his body and lightly patting his sleeves, Li Yi strode toward his room.

Yue’er had nearly restored the umbrella to its original shape when she suddenly heard his words and could not help but freeze in astonishment.

But just as she lifted her head and was about to answer, she suddenly saw that Li Yi’s right sleeve had long since been soaked through by the snow.

“Master...” Yue’er bit her lip and stood foolishly rooted in place, watching his departing figure as tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

She had never thought that Li Yi would care whether she feared the cold.

Never thought that when he saw her trembling from the chill, he would take her hand and warm it.

Never thought that he would rather let himself be soaked by the snow than give her more shelter under the umbrella and keep the snow from striking her.

And even less had she imagined that he would tell her not to serve him tonight, but to take a hot bath first so she would not catch cold.

From childhood onward, Yue’er had understood only one thing.

For her entire life, she was to be Li Yi’s personal maid, Li Yi’s woman, and in time she would become his concubine.

No matter where Li Yi went, she was to remain close at his side.

She had never once imagined, nor ever dared to hope, that she might receive Li Yi’s care.

She only needed to serve him well in silence, and that would satisfy her.

But Li Yi’s words just now, along with the quiet concern he had shown her on the way home, made a feeling of happiness rise in Yue’er’s heart.

“Master, Yue’er is fine. Let Yue’er serve you!” Yue’er did not go to bathe. Instead, she smiled brightly and called out after Li Yi’s back before quickly running toward his room.

In no time, she caught up with him.

Inside the room, the attendants had already prepared hot water in the bath tub. Seeing the two maids waiting nearby, Yue’er smiled and said, “You may go now. I will attend the master.”

“Yes, Sister Yue’er.” The two maids answered with smiles, curtseyed slightly, and turned to leave.

Seeing this, Li Yi was somewhat puzzled. Watching Yue’er roll up her sleeves and test the water temperature, he asked in surprise, “Yue’er, didn’t I tell you to bathe? Why are you here?”

Li Yi knew that it had snowed in Chang’an that night, and the weather had turned bitterly cold. Moreover, that foolish girl’s hands had been icy as stone before.

Only after he had held her all the way back had she finally recovered a little warmth.

Could it be that she was not afraid of falling ill at all?

Yet Yue’er only smiled faintly, revealing two rows of white teeth. As she helped him out of his clothes, she said with a grin, “Master, Yue’er is all right. Yue’er isn’t cold anymore.”

Very well. Seeing how determined she was, Li Yi no longer tried to refuse her and simply let her serve him in the bath.

After soaking in the hot water for a while, Li Yi felt much warmer.

Just then, however, a maid’s voice came from outside the door: “Master, the master asks that after you have bathed, you go to the study.”

Li Yi froze for a moment. He did not need to guess to know why Li Jing was looking for him, so he replied through the door, “Understood. Tell Father that I shall come at once.”

“Yes, Master.” Only then did the maid outside leave.

After bathing, Li Yi no longer felt the earlier cold. Under Yue’er’s care, he changed into a fresh white robe and instructed her, “You should hurry and bathe as well.”

“Yue’er is fine,” Yue’er replied with a smile while ordering someone to handle the water in the tub.

Seeing her like this, Li Yi did not argue further and left for Li Jing’s study.

The study door stood open. Red Thread Lady was not there; only Li Jing was inside.

“Father, may I ask why you summoned me so late?” Li Yi stepped inside, glanced around, and asked with a smile.

Li Jing, who had been reading, lifted his eyes to look at Li Yi, then lowered his gaze again and said indifferently, “Sit.”

“Yes, Father.” Li Yi did not stand on ceremony and sat directly in front of Li Jing.

Only then did Li Jing set down the book in his hands, smooth his sleeve, and speak. “I hear that today you took some fine liquor and Master Song, and went to the palace with the Fifth Princess?”

“Yes.” Li Yi paused, then nodded.

He was somewhat surprised that Li Jing had not erupted in anger today. Such a thing truly happened only once in a blue moon.

“Did you see the sovereign?” Li Jing asked calmly.

“I did,” Li Yi said.

Li Jing’s face instantly darkened with irritation. He had not expected this brat to speak in such a maddening way, advancing one step only to retreat the next like a toad hopping along.

Returning today from the Du residence, Li Jing had also learned what Li Yi had been doing behind his back lately.

He had not expected that the Orleans meal spoken of all over the city outside Drunken Immortal Tavern, and that fine liquor called Wuliangye, were all this brat’s doing.

Shocked, Li Jing had immediately grown angry and ordered someone to fetch Li Yi at once, intending to give him a thorough lesson.

But then he heard from a servant in the household that Li Yi had already entered the palace with Li Lizhi.

As dusk had fallen and snow was already pouring outside, Li Yi still had not returned. Li Jing had even prepared himself to go into the palace and pay his respects to the sovereign. Now that he saw Li Yi return safely, much of the fury in his heart had already subsided.

Yet now, seeing that slow, dawdling way of speaking, Li Yi once again ignited the anger in Li Jing’s chest.

“You worthless fool. Do you know where you were wrong?” Li Jing stared at Li Yi with a furious expression and rebuked him harshly.

Li Yi was utterly baffled on the spot, unable to understand why Li Jing had suddenly changed his face and was now scolding him so loudly.

“Father, what fault have I committed?”

Looking at the already enraged Li Jing, Li Yi asked in surprise, “Could it be that I have done something wrong somewhere and offended you, Father? Please make it clear.”