Hiding in the RockeryThe system's prompt—"The target is Ying Zheng"—still echoed in Zhong Li's ears. He suddenly realized: the boy who had been clutching steamed buns, covered in mud yet with eyes blazing like torches, was actually Ying Zheng! This realization hit him like a thunderbolt, freezing him in place. His eyes widened, fixed intently on the gap in the rockery where Ying Zheng had hidden.
The rockery was piled with blue-gray stones, and moss grew thick in the crevices. Ying Zheng's figure was huddled in the narrowest gap, only a tiny corner of his faded brocade robe visible. If one didn't look closely, it would easily be mistaken for a protruding stone. Zhong Li's heart thumped wildly, and two images flashed through his mind simultaneously: one was the Ying Zheng in the modern apartment, gentle yet firm when rejecting him; the other was the young Ying Zheng now hiding behind the rockery, forced to steal just to get a full meal. The two figures overlapped, making his nose tingle—turns out, no matter which world it was, Ying Zheng always had such a hard time.
"Stay away from me! What are you standing there for? Could it be that you deliberately bullied me yesterday?" Ying Zheng's impatient voice came from behind the rockery. It carried the clear, bright tone unique to youth, yet was wrapped in a layer of coldness. Zhong Li snapped back to his senses and saw Ying Zheng peeking his head out from the gap, his eyes filled with wariness, like a young beast guarding against natural enemies.
Zhong Li instinctively took two steps back, his movements carrying a hint of obedience—he didn't even notice that he always unconsciously softened his stance when facing Ying Zheng, whether in the modern world or now. By the time he reached the willow tree, he belatedly felt annoyed: why had he been so obedient? The other person was just a down-and-out prince under house arrest, and he himself… though a lowly eunuch, there was no need to be so subservient. But then he thought again: this was Ying Zheng, the person he wanted to protect. What did a little obedience matter?
Just then, a heavy sound of footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by a rough shout: "Hey! You little eunuch! Stop right there!"
Zhong Li's heart tightened. He looked up and saw a tall, burly man walking toward him. The man wore a black tight-fitting robe, a short knife tucked at his waist, and his arms were bulging with muscles—even the ground seemed to vibrate slightly as he walked. Four or five young eunuchs followed behind him, all with their heads down, daring not to look up at the man's face. The man stopped in front of Zhong Li, looking down at him with disdain as sharp as needles: "Did you see a boy in a brocade robe run past here?"
Cold sweat instantly broke out in Zhong Li's palms. He glanced secretly toward the rockery, then forced himself to stay calm, bending over to bow: "R-Replying to your excellency, this servant did see him."
"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to loom over Zhong Li, his tone threatening. "Where? Which direction did he run? You'd better think carefully—that boy stole something from the Queen Mother's palace. If we can't get it back, a lowly eunuch like you won't have enough lives to pay for it!"
Zhong Li's back was already soaked with cold sweat. He swallowed hard, his fingers trembling slightly, but still pointed east— the opposite direction of the rockery: "M-Master, this servant saw him run that way, really fast, as if heading toward the palace wall." After speaking, he quickly looked up, forcing an ingratiating smile: "This servant dares not lie to you. If I did, you can have me beaten to death with a rod!"
The man stared at him for a few seconds. Seeing Zhong Li's evasive yet frightened eyes, he didn't seem to be lying. With a cold snort, he said: "You're sensible! Brothers, come with me—chase east! If we catch him, each of you gets half a steamed bun as a reward!"
The group rushed toward the east, their footsteps fading away. Zhong Li finally let out a breath, his legs giving way slightly as he nearly collapsed onto the ground. He leaned against the willow tree, gasping for air. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he saw Ying Zheng walking out from behind the rockery.
The boy still clutched the steamed buns tightly to his chest. The mud stains on his brocade robe were more obvious now, and the bruise on his temple was exposed, yet his eyes were softer than before. He walked up to Zhong Li, hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Why did you help me?"
Zhong Li stood up, patting the dust off his clothes, and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Your Highness, I just think you shouldn't be bullied by those people. And…" He paused, lowering his voice, "The steamed buns in your arms look completely cold—eating them won't be good for your health. This servant is going to collect meals later. If you don't mind, I'll bring my share to you. At the very least, it'll be hot."
Ying Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked down at the cold, hard steamed buns in his arms, then back up at Zhong Li. Wariness still lingered in the boy's eyes, but there was more longing—he hadn't had a hot meal in a long time. Every day, all he got was sour porridge or cold steamed buns. If he kept eating like this, his body would surely break down sooner or later. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded: "Okay. I'll go back to the side courtyard first. Come find me once you've collected the meals."
"Yes!" Zhong Li quickly agreed, a surge of joy rising in his heart—the system was right; the first step in boosting favorability had really worked! He watched Ying Zheng turn and leave. Though his back was still thin, it stood a little straighter than before. Clenching the broom in his hand, Zhong Li hurried toward the cleaning area—he had to finish his work quickly to go collect the meals.