Chapter 7

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The next day, apart from the palace guards delivering two meals to Xue Shao, no one paid him any attention, as if the entire world had forgotten about him.

Xue Shao carefully recalled the historical memories in his mind and realized one thing—Emperor Li Zhi's daughters were not many, only four in total. Two were born to Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, and due to their mothers' early defeats in the palace struggles, they were confined to the cold palace and only recently married. However, they were forbidden by Wu Zetian from returning to the capital. The other two daughters were born to Wu Zetian; one died in infancy, leading to the historical controversy of "Wu Zetian killing her daughter." The youngest and fourth daughter of Li Zhi, the only one who could possibly remain in the palace, could only be Princess Taiping!

Thinking of this, Xue Shao felt a bitter smile—never did he imagine he would meet Princess Taiping in such a way!

... An Xiaorou, Princess Taiping, could this really be fate?!

In the afternoon, Princess Taiping was moved from the Longshou Hall to the Penglai Hall in the harem. She groaned and grimaced, her limbs stiff and her neck twisted, looking like a severely injured person who could barely take care of themselves. With the help of several palace maids, she slowly made her way to the bed and lay down.

Wu Zetian watched from the side, with a smile that was not quite a smile.

"Oh, poor Princess with the twisted neck!" Princess Taiping exaggeratedly twisted her neck and grimaced, whining, "Mother, have you ordered his head to be cut off yet?"

Wu Zetian waved her sleeve to dismiss the attendants, then sat beside Princess Taiping and spoke softly, "Although he hit you, which is a crime, he saved you from drowning, which is a merit. Considering the circumstances, it is understandable, and he cannot be killed. Otherwise, people would say that your father and I are unreasonable and do not distinguish right from wrong. How can we rule the world then?"

"Mother, you always talk about big principles..." Princess Taiping pouted, her voice trembling, "But I won't let him off! I will definitely take revenge!"

Wu Zetian smiled understandingly, "Alright, when you recover, you can go and take revenge yourself. But there is a condition: you must not violate the norms and laws, and you must not harm anyone."

"Mother, did you really say that?" Princess Taiping sat up suddenly, "A gentleman's word is a promise that cannot be broken!"

Wu Zetian smiled. Looking at her mischievous and somewhat similar-looking daughter, she seemed to see her own young self when she first entered the palace. Back then, she was just a concubine, neglected by Emperor Li Shimin, living in a cold palace, surrounded by endless loneliness and hidden dangers.

"At sixteen or seventeen, the age of a flower..." Wu Zetian did not respond to Princess Taiping, but walked out of the hall, muttering to herself, "It should bloom like a peony!"

Princess Taiping watched her mother's retreating back, her eyes fluttering with a mischievous glint, "What's wrong with Mother today?"

By evening, Xue Shao had been under house arrest for a day and a night, with no resolution—neither release nor punishment. Xue Shao was not worried, because he knew that if the royal family really wanted to deal with someone, it would not be difficult, even for a high-ranking official. He was only thinking about how to face Princess Taiping.

According to his original plan, Xue Shao had no intention of marrying a princess or becoming a prince. Entering the palace and making Princess Taiping dislike him would have made this matter pass. However, fate had other plans, and Princess Taiping looked so much like An Xiaorou! Moreover, their meeting was in a cliché and absurd way—hero saves the beauty!

Well, the key point is that the hero also hit the beauty!

Xue Shao could imagine Princess Taiping's logic. In her "princess-style worldview," everyone should treat her well, obey her, worship her, and even die for her, which is natural. But if someone dares to defy her or make her angry, it is a grave mistake—especially if they hit her, regardless of the reason, they deserve to be punished severely!

Therefore, originally, Xue Shao, who saved the princess, should have been rewarded. But now, being under house arrest and "reflecting on his actions," it was clear that someone hated him for hitting the princess. That person could not be the current two emperors, who would not make such a decision over a trivial matter. So, it could only be a unreasonable young girl.

In the future, there is a term called "princess syndrome," and the highly pampered Princess Taiping of the Tang Dynasty was a severe case of this syndrome.

In short, Xue Shao had enough reason to believe that Princess Taiping would not "let him off."

At dinner, the person delivering the meal was a fat young eunuch. Xue Shao noticed his shifty eyes and immediately realized—this was not a good sign!

"Please, Master Xue, have your meal." After placing the food, the fat eunuch did not leave immediately but stayed to watch.

Could they be trying to poison me?

Xue Shao had this thought, but after some consideration, he did not think it would go that far. So, he picked up the chopsticks and tried a piece of stewed sheep's stomach—salty!

It was not just a little salty; it was like chewing on salt!

Xue Shao was about to spit it out, but the fat eunuch said, "Master, do not be impolite, this is a gift from the sovereign."

Xue Shao understood who the "sovereign" was. Clearly, the other dishes and drinks were also pranks.

So, Xue Shao swallowed the stewed sheep's stomach and said, "I am full."

"That won't do. The sovereign has ordered that you must finish this meal to show your loyalty to the state," the fat eunuch said.

"Where the ruler commands, the subject must obey," this was the greatest "principle" in this world, no room for negotiation!

Xue Shao said nothing and started eating. In the past, he had to survive in the wild, even eating rats and cockroaches raw. This was nothing. The only thing that made him uncomfortable was that the teapot contained not tea, but vinegar that made him cry.

In a flash, Xue Shao finished the meal. The fat eunuch was stunned, unable to react.

After the fat eunuch left, Xue Shao vomited everything he had eaten and found some fresh water to rinse his mouth and stomach. He thought: Princess Taiping is clearly trying to get back at me! ... After all, she is just a young girl, what extreme measures can she take? Let's see what she has in store!

In the Penglai Hall, Princess Taiping and her companions were shocked!

"He actually finished it?" Princess Taiping's mouth formed a circle, unable to close.

"Princess, not only did he finish it, but he also seemed to enjoy it," the fat eunuch replied.

"Is he a monster?" Princess Taiping blinked several times, about to tilt her neck as usual, but suddenly felt pain, "Ouch! It hurts!!"

"Quick, call the imperial physician!" the attendants hurriedly said.

"No need," Princess Taiping waved her hand, angrily, "I really don't understand why Mother is protecting this hateful man. Usually, she always grants my requests—have you found out his background?"

The attendants quickly answered, explaining Xue Shao's background to Princess Taiping.

"No wonder Mother is protecting him; he is a royal relative..." Princess Taiping said, "I vaguely remember such a relative, but I have never met him."

The fat eunuch quickly added, "Princess, he was exiled with his family to a distant state when he was young and only returned to the capital a few years ago."

"No wonder," Princess Taiping muttered, touching her sore neck, "No, it's not enough! Even if Mother doesn't allow me to harm him, I must at least twist his neck!—Quick, give me some ideas!"

The attendants thought for a moment, and a seemingly clever eunuch suggested that Xue Shao participate in "juedi."

Juedi is wrestling, also known as sumo, which later became a national sport in Japan. It, along with polo, cuju, tug-of-war, and dragon boat racing, was a popular sport in the Tang Dynasty court.

Princess Taiping's eyes lit up, "Good, quickly find some strong wrestlers to twist his neck!—I will personally watch!"

"Princess, I have seen him, and he looks like a weak scholar, surely he has no strength," the fat eunuch flattered, "I think we don't even need to find wrestlers; just a strong eunuch can easily twist his neck. This will better humiliate him!"

"Excellent! Zhu Weimei, you go! Remember, your name 'Weimei' was given by me, don't disgrace me!" Princess Taiping clapped her hands, smiling, "If you win, you will be rewarded; if you lose, you will be buried!"

Zhu Weimei was stunned: My mouth is too cheap!