Gu Jiangli clapped his hands. "Alright, I admire people like you who are passionate. I do have something I want to ask, it's about His Majesty."

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Qi Jin immediately stood up, took two steps back, clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, and said, "Your Majesty, I have just remembered that I have other important matters to attend to. I shall take my leave now."

"Lotus, close the door."

Gu Jiangli gave Qi Jin no chance to escape.

Lotus was already prepared by the door. At Gu Jiangli's command, she pushed the door shut immediately.

Qi Jin wanted to leave, but Hehua stood by the door with her hands on her hips, chest out, refusing to back down.

Qi Jin was covered in sweat and had no choice but to turn around again. "Your Majesty, I cannot say much about His Majesty's affairs. Why don't you ask me something else?"

Gu Jiangli shook her head and smiled, "Qi Jin, I entered the palace as a concubine, and I am His Majesty's woman. There is no one else I care about more than His Majesty. The things I want to know are only related to His Majesty."

She walked slowly towards Qi Jin, her voice gentle, "Don't worry, everyone in this room is trustworthy. Even if you told me, His Majesty wouldn't know, would he?"

"But Your Majesty's will cannot be disobeyed."

"You didn't mean to disobey him. His Majesty sent you to protect me, but did he specifically instruct you not to mention anything about him?"

“To speak ill of one’s master behind his back is a serious crime, and I cannot knowingly commit this offense.”

“Qi Jin, revealing His Majesty’s affairs is not harming him, but helping him. I am here to take care of him and to rescue him. By fostering a relationship between me and His Majesty, you are helping His Majesty.”

"You...can you save His Majesty?"

"Yes, can't you see that His Majesty treats me differently from his other concubines?"

"What's the difference?"

"In the entire harem, besides me, which other concubine has a secret guard by her side?"

"But that's because you are the princess of Yunjiang..."

"Even if, as you say, His Majesty wanted to protect me, he could have easily placed guards outside Yongning Palace to ensure my safety. Instead, he sent his trusted confidants to me. Isn't that enough to prove my importance?"

"this……"

"Think about it, you've been by His Majesty's side for so many years, have you ever seen him care so much for any woman that he would be willing to send out his most trusted secret guards? His Majesty must have secretly asked you to solve problems for me before, right? Wasn't Wanxin's death because His Majesty ordered you to kill her to avenge me?"

"Can……"

"What are you still hesitating about? His Majesty cares for me, trusts me, and cherishes me, so what's wrong with wanting to understand him, share his burdens, and relieve his suffering? As His Majesty's most trusted bodyguard, don't you want him to be more content and at ease?"

Qi Jin fell silent.

All his rebuttals were stuck in his throat; he couldn't utter a single word.

Gu Jiangli waited quietly without interrupting him.

Before long, Qi Jin's eyes lit up, and he became much more determined: "Your Majesty, can you ensure that only the three people inside the room know about today's events?"

"I'm sure."

"Very well, Your Majesty, please ask whatever you wish to know about His Majesty."