Chapter 22
Sitting in the bathtub, leaning against the wooden tub wall, Huangfu Chang'an sighed as she pinched the plump flesh on her stomach, puzzled. Why was this happening? She had been on a strict diet, even experiencing low blood sugar levels, and had increased her exercise significantly. Even if she couldn't lose weight quickly, she should at least be able to prevent further weight gain, right?!
But she had gained weight again! This was frustrating! She felt like chopping someone's head off!
After thinking for a moment, Huangfu Chang'an decided that it was indeed strange. She called Xiao Zhaozi in after getting out of the bathtub.
"Go and compile a list of all the meals consumed in the palace these past few days. Whether it's main courses, snacks, fruits, or beverages, write down everything in detail. Don't miss a single item."
Since Huangfu Chang'an had lost her memory, Xiao Zhaozi had witnessed her weight loss journey. Initially, Xiao Zhaozi had been somewhat dismissive, thinking that Huangfu Chang'an would lack the same determination as the Crown Prince and give up easily. However, after ten days or so, the Crown Prince seemed to have become even rounder... It was strange, really strange.
Upon hearing Huangfu Chang'an's instructions, Xiao Zhaozi understood her concern about the food. She immediately responded and left the room.
"I'll start gathering the information, my lady."
Having served by Huangfu Chang'an's side for about five or six years, Xiao Zhaozi had no aspirations for promotion or advancement due to having such a useless master. Having spent so much time in the palace, Xiao Zhaozi knew very well that once the Crown Prince fell out of favor, they, as servants in the Eastern Palace, would be the first to be blamed. So, they basically lived with a mindset of just getting by.
But ever since the Crown Prince lost his memory, it was as if he had become a different person. Despite still being fat and unattractive, he no longer irritated people. Watching him work so hard to lose weight, even when he was hungry and couldn't sleep well at night, biting his teeth to resist eating, exercising every morning and wearing out his shoes within two days... Xiao Zhaozi had to admit that they were somewhat moved by the Crown Prince's incredible determination.
Seeing their master's efforts and ambition, even Xiao Zhaozi, as a servant, couldn't help but be influenced. It was as if a lush evergreen vine had slowly grown in a barren field.
After receiving the meal plan, Huangfu Chang'an sat leaning against the headboard of the bed, with a small table set up in front of her. She meticulously calculated the calories she had consumed over the past few days and the calories burned through her daily exercise. According to the law of energy conservation, based on her calculations, Huangfu Chang'an concluded that she should have lost at least twenty catties (10 kg) in the past ten days!
But the reality left her speechless and teary-eyed. Not only had she not lost weight, she had gained an additional one catty and two liang (0.6 kg)!
This was so unscientific! There must be some mistake in the process!
Huangfu Chang'an threw down the pen, leaned back on the oversized bed, and couldn't figure out where the problem lay. The only thing she could be sure of was that her weight gain must be related to food. At least, according to Xiao Zhaozi, she hadn't gained weight as rapidly as before!
Based on what Huangfu Chang'an knew, the leftover food she hadn't eaten was usually cleared away by the palace staff, and the servants in the Eastern Palace didn't show any signs of gaining weight. This meant that the food should not be the problem...wait, Huangfu Chang'an suddenly thought of a crucial point.
Could there be something that only she ate and others didn't eat or ate very little?
Suddenly, as if discovering a new continent, Huangfu Chang'an immediately regained her spirits. She picked up the crumpled food plan from the ground and carefully examined it, one by one, smoothing it out. However, as her gaze moved down, the disappointment in her heart spread bit by bit... Huangfu Chang'an shook her head, feeling a sense of impending doom.
What should she do? She felt like she was about to give up on her treatment!
Unable to sleep all night, Huangfu Chang'an skipped her exercise the next day and lazed in bed until late morning.
Don't worry, she wasn't so easily discouraged. Huangfu Chang'an just felt that before continuing with her weight loss, it was necessary to investigate the cause of her weight gain. She didn't want to be wrongly accused again and be treated like a fool! Damn it, if she found out who was behind this, she would definitely crush their bones with her own hands!
"Creak—"
The doors of the chamber suddenly pushed open, startling Huangfu Chang'an, who turned to look at the intruder.
The person who entered also had a change in expression upon seeing her. He quickened his pace and approached the bed to greet Huangfu Chang'an, "Greetings, Your Highness, it's Lan Yi."
Huangfu Chang'an had always been suspicious of this handsome and straightforward male servant. Seeing him intrude without permission, she couldn't help but feel displeased.
"Haven't you had enough trouble last time? Why are you so unruly? Couldn't you at least inform me before coming in?"
Lan Yi knelt on both knees, his loose robe falling to the ground like a beautiful flower bud.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. These past few days, Your Highness has not been in the palace, so Lan Yi assumed that you were also out today."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Chang'an's complexion eased slightly, but she still didn't want to let him off so easily. "What are you here for?"
Rolling up his sleeves, Lan Yi picked up the food box that was placed aside and presented it. His back remained straight throughout, as if resisting something, but his words carried a hint of pleasing.
"Once crab roe paste sits overnight, its taste deteriorates. Lan Yi has made fresh crab roe paste to replace what Your Highness had."
Crab roe paste... it was crab roe paste again... Huangfu Chang'an's forehead twitched. She was truly defeated by this guy. Could it be that this thing was a memento between him and the previous owner of this body? This was so ridiculous!
Waving her hand, Huangfu Chang'an expressed her helplessness. "Then go ahead and replace it."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Lan Yi stood up with the food box and walked to the table. Seeing that Huangfu Chang'an didn't eat much and seemed a bit sad, he couldn't help but ask, "Since Your Highness lost her memory, it seems that she doesn't eat much anymore. Is it because Lan Yi's cooking doesn't suit Your Highness's taste?"
Facing her former lover in this body, Huangfu Chang'an couldn't help but think more. She thought Lan Yi was making a double entendre, trying to find out if she still had any good feelings towards him, if her affection for him was still the same. After contemplating for a few seconds, she responded with a counter-question.
"Do you want to leave the palace?"
After extracting information from Xiao Zhaozi's mouth, it turned out that Lan Yi was the infatuated prince who had been forcibly brought back from outside the palace. It was said that when he first entered the palace, he attempted suicide every three days, whether by jumping into the river, crashing into walls, or hanging himself. It took quite some time to tame him, but he still remained indifferent to the foolish prince's affections. However, the foolish prince seemed to like him just the way he was, and every time he caused trouble, he would shower him with even more affection... It was truly maddening!
Now that she had no feelings for him, Huangfu Chang'an wanted to send him away to avoid further disdain.
Just as Huangfu Chang'an opened her mouth with great compassion, thinking that Lan Yi would gratefully thank her, his reaction was completely unexpected—
Lan Yi almost instantly knelt down on the ground, his voice filled with fear.
"I beg Your Highness to please tell me what I have done to displease you!"
"Uh..." Huangfu Chang'an was dumbfounded. "I thought you didn't like staying in the palace. Letting you leave would be in line with your desires, wouldn't it?"
Lan Yi continued to kneel, unable to rise. "I appreciate Your Highness's kind intentions, but I don't want to leave the palace."
Huangfu Chang'an was shocked. Had she developed a masochistic servant?
"Why?"
"Your Highness, do you think I would survive if I left the palace now? And... I am already Your Highness's person. If I were to leave the Eastern Palace, I'm afraid I would be subjected to ridicule. I... can't bear such humiliation. I implore Your Highness for mercy..."
Upon hearing this, Huangfu Chang'an understood, shaking her head and sighing. "I didn't consider everything. You may rise, I won't force you."
"Thank you for Your Highness's understanding."
Only then did Lan Yi stand up from the ground, took out the newly made crab roe paste from the food box, placed it in the box, and silently turned to leave.
Huangfu Chang'an watched him leave in silence, silently complaining in her heart. If it was as he said, she wouldn't be able to send any of her male favorites away... Did that mean she had to confine them for a lifetime? Wasn't that too insane?!
Withdrawing her gaze, her eyes fell upon the plate of crab roe paste on the table. The pyramid-shaped pastries were delicately arranged, like works of art. Combined with their golden color, it aroused Huangfu Chang'an's appetite. She got out of bed and walked to the table, reaching out to pick up a small piece of the pyramid-shaped pastry, preparing to put it in her mouth.
In the blink of an eye, Huangfu Chang'an's movement froze in mid-air.
Then, with a slight force from her fingers, she slowly crushed the pastry into crumbs.
Huangfu Chang'an's lips curled up, her smile growing deeper... So, that's how it is!
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