Chapter 1213: Rewards and Honors
The maidservant stepped forward and said with concern, "My lady, you should return to your rest for a while."
Zhao Rui nodded and, as if remembering something, asked, "How is the prince doing?"
The maid replied, "His Highness has just finished bathing and is now going to the stream to see how the young boy from the stream is doing."
"Xiaogzi?" Zhao Rui asked. "Was it him who protected you?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. At the time, the situation was urgent. Nobody expected an assassin to appear suddenly. And that assassin disguised as a maid was very close to Your Highness. The guards didn't have time to protect you. It was Xiaozi who reacted quickly and saved your life with a block. Otherwise, things would have been much worse."
Zhao Rui nodded and said, "Then I'll go back to rest for a while. When the Empress Dowager arrives, we can deal with that palace maid."
Speaking softly, Zhao Rui clenched her fists slightly and murmured, "In terms of beauty, only the Crown Princess surpasses me. No one else is above me."
In terms of family background, experience, and ability, I'm inferior to her.
But now, I think what I say to the palace should also be of some use, right?
A maid, who was usually Zhao Rui's most beloved servant, said with pity, "My lady, the prince is not a heartless man."
"Your Highness must have feelings for the Empress. You needn't fret so."
"You don't understand," Zhao Rui shook her head and said.
"The imperial harem is deep like the sea, and right now there are only me and the Crown Princess. If Your Highness ascends to the throne one day, with three thousand beauties in the palace, if I don't demonstrate my abilities, sooner or later I will become just another insignificant person."
"At that time, Your Highness forgetting me was just a matter of time."
"So I will do everything in my power to show His Highness that I am not just a pretty face!"
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At this time, Li Chen had already arrived at Xiao Waizi's treatment room.

Li Chen had just arrived when he saw Zhang Hezhi covered in blood, emerge from the room.
"How is Xiaogzi doing?" Li Chen asked.
Zhang Hezhi hurriedly wiped the blood from his hands and then bowed in reply: "Reporting to Your Highness, although it looked dangerous, this eunuch was actually quite lucky."
The blade of the dagger grazed his heart just barely. Had it been even a hair's breadth off, he wouldn't have made it through today.
“Now, after my treatment, the situation is out of danger. It’s just that he is very weak due to excessive blood loss and needs a few days of rest.”
Li Chen nodded and let Zhang Hezhi go to decoct the medicine. He himself entered the room.
As soon as Xiaozi entered the room, he saw Li Chen and struggled to get up to pay his respects.
"No need for formalities." Li Chen waved his hand, signaling Xiaogzi to lie back down.
He sat beside the small carriage and asked, "The imperial physician said you've lost too much blood and are still very weak. You need to rest for a while. Just lie down and relax."
Xiaoguan's status was lowly, he was a eunuch, and even among eunuchs, he belonged to the lowest class.
When would he ever have the chance to talk to Li Chen face-to-face like this?
A flush of color appeared on his pale face, caused by the loss of blood. He said, "Your Highness has been so kind to me, I have no regrets even in death."
“You protected me well, you are my savior. These are all deserved.”
Li Chen said gently, "Before, this palace promised you a reward for your merit. Tell me, what do you want?"
Little Stream swiftly replied, "All of this is within my duties as a servant. I dare not ask for any reward."
Besides being my servant, are you also a friend to me, Li Chen?

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