Chapter 135 Madam, you forced me to do this
Shen Yulou smiled, "However, in my opinion, Your Highness, it's better for you to just lie flat. I've already made a plan for you to lie flat, so you absolutely must not read. Did you hear me?"
Shen Yulou said, holding out the imperial edict given by His Majesty.
"All attendants of the Eighth Prince, listen to my command."
"All of you, watch over the Eighth Prince for This Official. Absolutely do not allow him to touch a single book! Whoever dares to let him read will go to the Department of Flogging to receive a beating!"
"The Eighth Prince is only allowed to lie flat, not to read!"
"Alright, This Official is tired. That's all for today. I will play with the Prince again tomorrow."
After speaking, Shen Yulou, accompanied by Li Hui and Song Hu, left the Brothel with satisfaction.
Iron Shadow looked at his master, who was bare-chested and only wearing shorts, and quietly asked, "Your Highness, shall we continue playing?"
"Play my ass!"
Zhao Lü frowned, his face alternating between green and pale.
"Losing so badly, it's shameful!"
Seeing that it was already dark, Zhao Lü put on his clothes but did not return to his own residence.
"Iron Shadow, you go back to the residence and wait for me. I'm going to the palace."
Zhao Lü entered the Imperial Palace alone and stealthily made his way to the Imperial Library Pavilion.
He stooped, like a thief, moving through the huge bookshelves on tiptoe, painstakingly searching for books on history and military strategy.
Zhao Lü held a lantern and found a book on military strategy.
He flipped through a few pages and read with great interest.
"Killing with a borrowed knife... So this is what 'killing with a borrowed knife' means. This Mr. Shen, he's bullying This Prince because I'm uneducated!"
"Once I've read through these military texts, I'll make sure to utterly defeat him tomorrow!"
Just then, a patrolling eunuch passed by, saw the light of a lantern in the Imperial Library Pavilion, and immediately shouted.
"Catch the thief! Someone is stealing books!"
His shout was exceptionally loud.
In an instant, the entire Imperial Palace was alarmed, and countless guards and eunuchs rushed over with lanterns.
Zhao Lü's face changed, and he quickly grabbed the book and ran.
But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn't outrun the sheer number of people in the palace.
He hadn't run far before he was surrounded by a group of people.
Several guards pinned him to the ground, unable to move.
Eunuch He Shun rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and when he shone his lantern, he finally saw the person being held down on the ground.
He Shun was startled, "Stop! All of you, stop right now! Open your dog eyes and see, this is His Royal Highness, the Eighth Prince!"
He Shun quickly helped Zhao Lü up.
"Your Highness, are you alright? Why didn't you say something? These dog Servants are all blind!"
Zhao Lü stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said.
"I'm fine. What happened today must not be spread, otherwise, your heads will roll!"
Zhao Lü snorted and strode away.
Everyone was scared pale, kneeling on the ground, still not daring to get up.
He Shun breathed a sigh of relief and said to the Servants.
"Alright, His Highness didn't pursue it, so don't be afraid. What happened just now? Tell This Official."
The patrolling eunuch stood up and said nervously.
"Eunuch Shun, when I passed by just now, I saw someone holding a lantern and flipping through books in the Imperial Library Pavilion, muttering to himself. I thought it was some Servant stealing books, so..."
Only princes and princesses were allowed into the Imperial Library Pavilion; Servants were absolutely forbidden from entering to read books.
If a prince were reading, he would certainly have attendants with him. How could someone be secretly reading alone late at night?
He Shun was stunned for a moment, "You said the Eighth Prince was secretly reading in the Imperial Library Pavilion?"
"That's right! This Servant saw it clearly."
None of them could have imagined that the Eighth Prince would actually read, which is why they mistook him for a thief.
He Shun was extremely shocked.
"Quick! Go and see what books are missing from the Imperial Library Pavilion!"
"Yes!"
Those young eunuchs went to the place where the Eighth Prince had been flipping through books and began to check against the records.
Soon, it was discovered that three books were missing.
"The Strategy of Formations and Military Tactics," "The Art of War by Sun Tzu," and "The Heart of Military Strategy."
He Shun nodded, "Good, you may withdraw. I will report to the Emperor."
He Shun hurried to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Emperor Ren was reading and frowned, saying.
"What's the matter, so flustered?"
"Your Majesty, the Eighth Prince just went to the Imperial Library Pavilion to secretly read, and he was mistaken for a thief..."
He reported everything about the Eighth Prince secretly sneaking into the Imperial Library Pavilion to steal books late at night, in full detail, to Emperor Ren.
Emperor Ren was stunned for a moment.
"He Shun, do you have a fever? Why are you speaking nonsense?"
He Shun said, "Your Majesty, this old Servant doesn't have a fever. I saw it clearly. Those Servants who mistakenly apprehended the Prince were so scared they almost wet their pants; they all saw it."
Emperor Ren stood up abruptly.
"You mean that rebellious son went to the Imperial Library Pavilion to read military books?"
"That's right, the Eighth Prince took three military books."
Emperor Ren's expression changed from shock to ecstasy.
He slapped the table and burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Could it be that Old Eight has finally come to his senses? He's actually secretly studying hard!"
"Shen Yulou is truly a great talent!"
"It's truly a waste of his talent to keep him in the mere Imperial Heirs Residence. In just one day, Old Eight has undergone such a great change!"
"It seems the Grand Tutor and Junior Tutor will be disappointed."
He Shun smiled, "The Prince's enlightenment is a blessing from Heaven. Congratulations, Your Majesty, congratulations."
Emperor Ren was greatly pleased, "Do not spread this matter for now. I will pretend not to know and see what kind of surprise Old Eight will give me later!"
...When Li Hui returned home, the pain in his backside hadn't subsided, but he felt delighted inside.
As soon as he entered the door, he shouted to his Madam, "Madam! You don't know, Lord Shen is truly an extraordinary person! In just half a day, the Eighth Prince, that wastrel, actually started to show interest in reading!"
Li Hui recounted everything that happened that evening in great detail.
Madam Li was busy with the accounts. Hearing this, she looked up and suddenly frowned, sensing something amiss.
Although Li Hui had glossed over it when he spoke, Madam Li still caught that piece of information.
"You went to the Brothel?"
"When you said you were going for drinks, did you mean drinking at a Brothel?"
"You group of grown men, with several girls, gathered around passing paper strips with your mouths? And you played along too?"
Li Hui's heart sank, and he instantly felt guilty. He awkwardly swallowed and quickly moved closer.
"Madam, I was wrong."
"Wrong about what?"
"I... I shouldn't have gone to the Brothel," Li Hui whispered.
"Heh heh."
Madam Li sneered, "Your friend invited you, could you not go? Wouldn't that be a loss of face for you? You're not wrong."
She paused, her voice growing colder, "It's me who's wrong. I shouldn't meddle so much."
"From now on, I won't meddle anymore."
After saying that, Madam Li turned her head and began to wipe away tears.
Oh no, this was the most critical situation.
Li Hui scratched his ears and cheeks in a panic, knowing that reasoning was useless.
He steeled his heart, gritted his teeth, and simply resorted to his ultimate move.
Ignoring his Madam's gasp, he directly picked her up in his arms, strode towards the bedroom, and kicked the door shut.
What to do when Madam is disobedient? A good beating will fix it!
"Madam, you forced my hand!"
..."Madam, don't push me anymore..."
Early the next morning, Li Hui limped out of the room, feeling a soreness in his lower back, and his legs felt like they no longer belonged to him.