The emperor sighed softly.

What kind of image do I have in her mind that would make her think that I wouldn't even let a twelve-year-old girl go?

Although I have indeed had this thought before, it was mainly for the sake of the country and the people!

If I put her in the harem, I can see her at any time and hear her thoughts, which will also help me control the government.

But judging by her thoughts these past few times, if she were really taken into the harem, she would probably break into the palace and kill herself on the day the imperial edict was delivered.

The emperor coughed softly and said, "I intend to appoint you as a female official, the post of Imperial Secretary in the Hanlin Academy, to walk before the Emperor and to serve in the Imperial Study. What do you think?"

Although it was a question, the emperor's tone was very affirmative.

She was the first female official in the history of Tianqi, who could walk before the emperor and serve him by his side.

This is an immense wealth, and anyone who hears it will be filled with gratitude and express gratitude with tears.

So the emperor didn't think she would refuse.

There was a strange silence, and the emperor's inner thoughts had changed: "Why hasn't she thanked me yet? She must be too happy to react."

"Why are you still silent? Do you think your position is too low, or have you sensed my intentions?"

Then he said, "Hurry up and speak! I'm so nervous, I just want to say a few words!"

Finally, when the emperor could no longer hold back his words, Jiang Zhiyu took a deep breath and said tactfully, "Your Majesty, has anyone spread rumors? The first female official of the Tianqi Emperor holds great significance. I, a humble servant, have no achievements. If I were to take on the position rashly, I fear I would cause dissatisfaction within the court."

In contrast to her calm expression and tactful words, her inner voice gushed out, along with the anger that was difficult to conceal.

[Don't let me know which little bastard did this! ]

[I can't bear the pain of getting up early! My resentment from getting up early is enough to make the Evil Sword Immortal destroy the world!]

[If anyone dares to make me wake up early, I will send him to see my grandmother! ! ! ! !]

emperor:"……"

He retreated a step imperceptibly, explaining in vain: "How can there be no achievements? Yan Ting has already told me that it was you who informed him of the movement in Mobei. You saved the lives of tens of thousands of Tianqi's soldiers. Such a great achievement, how could a mere Hanlin Academy Secretary have any objection!"

Jiang Zhiyu's eyes darkened.

[Okay, okay, so it was that bastard who did it. No wonder he made such a fuss in the carriage that day!]

[What else: I can’t influence His Majesty’s thoughts~! Yue!]

She cursed He Yanting and didn't notice that the emperor had quietly taken two steps back.

Fu Ping, who was standing next to the emperor: "..."

Don’t retreat, Your Majesty! If you do, I, an old slave, will fall into the pond!

Even if Fu Ping was beaten to death, he would not dare to stand in the same row with the emperor. If the emperor took a step back, he would take two steps back.

His heels are already hanging in the air!

The emperor secretly felt lucky that he had brought He Yanting out, otherwise Jiang Zhiyu would be scolding him now.

With the mentality of "a friend's death is better than my own", the emperor pushed the matter entirely onto He Yanting without any psychological burden. "In short, since Yanting has made such a strong recommendation, the matter is settled. I will draft the decree, and you should prepare. You can begin court tomorrow."

The emperor said this and left in a hurry. Behind him, Jiang Zhiyu's resentment seemed to have solidified into substance.

[He Yanting! You’re dead!!!]

…

He Yanting, who was standing in front of the Sixth Prince's residence with a group of Jinyiwei, suddenly felt cold all over.

Seeing him suddenly tremble, the leading Jinyiwei asked in confusion: "Master He?"

He Yanting came back to his senses, nodded slightly, looked at the magnificent mansion in front of him, and said calmly: "Search."

Inside the Jiaoxiang Palace, Concubine Yu dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs, leaned against the bed, and looked at Xiao Yanli with a worried look on her face: "Is this possible?"

Xiao Yanli didn't look at her, but was concentrating on writing on his desk. He whispered, "The Emperor's favor is ultimately unreliable. Didn't Mother also see that no matter how much favor you had before, he had gone to another palace these past few days, hadn't he?"

Concubine Yu's eyes wandered. "But, according to His Majesty's previous intention, he intended to depose the Queen and establish me! Didn't you hear him say it himself that day? He just blamed me for not being able to manage the people in the palace and not being able to manage the harem in the future, so..."

"Mother!" Xiao Yanli, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted her, placing his pen on the table. "How can one trust the Emperor's words? Is it that easy to depose the Empress? Besides, the Empress is not childless; she already has a Crown Prince!"

"As long as the Crown Prince is here, the Queen's position will never be shaken!"

Concubine Yu bit her lip lightly and retorted unwillingly, "That was in the past, when the Emperor doted on the Crown Prince. Now the Crown Prince has been confined by the Emperor for a month and has lost the Emperor's favor!"

Xiao Yanli took a deep breath and said, "There are also ministers. Prime Minister Jiang is a member of the Crown Prince's party. The current Prime Minister Jiang is highly valued by the Emperor!"

"They are just court officials. They follow whoever is in power. How are they any different from the maids and eunuchs in this palace?"

Xiao Yanli's blood boiled, and he turned his head away from her, "Anyway, you just need to give him this every day, and don't worry about anything else."

Concubine Yu held the medicine bag in her hand, hesitated for a moment, and was about to say something when she heard a hurried voice outside shouting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, something bad has happened! He Yanting has led the Jinyiwei to raid the Sixth Prince's residence!"

What!

Xiao Yanli was shocked, and his mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts.

If the secrets in his mansion were to be discovered, he would be sentenced to death!

Even if he is a fool now, given the emperor's character, he would rather kill a thousand people by mistake than let one escape!

He no longer had time to think about how the news was leaked. A sinister look flashed in his eyes, and he called the eunuch over and whispered a few words to him.

"Go quickly and get everything done before they find any clues!"

The eunuch took the order and left. Concubine Yu didn't dare to speak. She blinked, her eyes slightly red. "But the matter has been exposed? What should we do then? I told you a long time ago not to have any contact with Prince Nan Gu, but you just wouldn't listen..."

Xiao Yanli was already upset, and he became even more annoyed after hearing what she said. He glared at her and turned to walk behind the screen.

No matter if it was leaked out or He Yanting really had all the connections and found out something, he would eventually die there!

…

In the Sixth Prince's mansion, all the maids and servants were kneeling in the middle of the courtyard, and the Jinyiwei were going in and out of each courtyard. He Yanting stood in the study, staring at a portrait of a woman hanging on the wall.

The person in the painting has no face and his clothes are not of Apocalypse style.

He reached out, took the painting down, and tapped the wall gently.

A captain of the Imperial Guards entered the room and said, "Master He, the brothers have searched all the areas in this area and there is no secret room."

He Yanting nodded, and pushed a brick in with force. With a click, the wall slowly flipped over.