Chapter 372

Upon hearing this, Xiazi stopped trying to persuade him and lowered her head before retreating to the side.

At this moment, Shen Qingnian came out and walked up to Shen Zheng with a cold expression: "Since Prime Minister Shen does not trust this servant, then give this letter to me."

Shen Zheng sneered, mocking, "The Imperial Concubine is a member of the inner palace; how dare she interfere in the affairs of the court?"

As soon as he finished speaking, an inkstone flew out from behind the screen and hit him squarely on the thigh, causing his face to twitch in pain.

This force could not have been generated without exceptionally strong internal energy...

Then came Song Xuan's icy voice: "Since Prime Minister Shen does not wish to produce the secret letter, then leave."

"Please, Prime Minister Shen," Xiazi said with a smile as she stepped forward.

Shen Zheng frowned as he got up and limped out. The inkstone had hit his leg, leaving a bruise.

He was now certain that His Majesty's health was fine.

After watching Shen Zheng leave the tent, Shen Qingnian quickly walked around the screen and came to Song Xuan's side.

A black-clad guard was kneeling to the side of the table. Presumably, the inkstone had been thrown out by the guard, who then vanished after she entered.

Song Xuan, who was sitting in the chair, leaned back as if he had lost all his strength. His dark eyes were half closed, and he looked very tired.

She was startled by what she saw and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

"Bring the pills from the table," Song Xuan opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused as he looked at the table.

Shen Qingnian quickly stepped forward, opened the brocade box on the table, and took out a pill from it. Xia Xiazi also brought in tea.

After Song Xuan took the pills with tea, Xia Xiazi helped him to the bed, and the maid next to him moved the screen to the bedside.

Seeing the man's weak appearance, Shen Qingnian pursed her lips, her eyes filled with anxiety and heartache: "Then I will go and arrange the departure for tomorrow. We will set off back to the capital at dawn tomorrow."

The pills could improve the man's condition somewhat, but not by much. She still needed to return to the palace as soon as possible. If things went wrong due to delay, she would truly regret it.

Lying on the bed, Song Xuan nodded upon hearing this. In fact, he wanted to say that apart from being weak, he had no other reaction, but he held back the words.

He liked Qing Nian very much, and was even happy to see her so worried about him...

Shen Qingnian had no idea what Song Xuan was thinking. She just touched his hand tenderly and prepared to leave the tent to arrange things for tomorrow.

She had just been about to leave when Song Xuan grabbed her hand. His voice was weak and tinged with longing: "Qing Nian, stay and keep me company. I want to stay with you."

Seeing Song Xuan like this, Shen Qingnian's heart had already softened. She sat on the bed and let him hold her hand, saying softly, "Go to sleep. I'll leave after you fall asleep."

It was rare to see a man so vulnerable, which made her feel sorry for him and soften her heart. How could she not be moved by the fact that the usually cold and composed emperor was so dependent on her?

“Lie down with me,” the man said, holding her hand tightly.

She had no choice but to lie down on the bed as well, resting her head in the man's arms, and the two embraced each other.

Soon, she felt the steady breathing of the man above her. After a while, she quietly got out of bed to make arrangements for returning to the palace the next day.

It was still afternoon when Shen Qingnian issued the order to return to the capital tomorrow, which surprised everyone. No one expected that the autumn hunt would end so early.

She gave no reason, only saying that His Majesty was angry today and had no intention of continuing the autumn hunt, so it would be better to return to the palace.

Upon hearing this, those who had originally intended to inquire gave up. Everyone knew that a minister had caused a disturbance outside the main tent that day, so it was not surprising that His Majesty was angry as a result.