Chapter 105 The Orange is Too Sour

Yunxiang Tower is located in the most prosperous street in the capital, with its flying eaves and brackets, and is extraordinary in style.

It has gone through three dynasties, and by the time of Xiao Jin, it has become a veritable century-old brand.

Rumor has it that he has no royal relatives backing him up, and no one is deliberately making things difficult for him. He relies entirely on his reputation and strength to stand firm in this ever-changing imperial capital.

The surrounding shops have changed owners countless times, but the sign of Yunxianglou remains as bright as ever.

In the private room, Xiao Yan generously ordered a table full of signature delicacies, an extremely luxurious feast. Yun Zhao did not stop him. Since His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin insisted on such a grand display, she was happy to wait and see.

She has always had a balanced diet, and at this moment she gave Xiao Yan full face. She tasted each dish briefly, with an elegant demeanor, but also made it clear that she was full.

Xiao Yan himself did not eat much. Yun Zhao knew that these nobles were always like this. They would never tire of fine food and would never tire of delicate dishes. They valued the taste rather than filling their stomachs.

Outside the window, dusk gradually deepened and the lights began to light up. Yun Zhao put down his silver chopsticks and said in a calm voice, "Your Highness, it's getting late. I should return to the palace."

Xiao Yan seemed to be in high spirits, and he raised an eyebrow at the words, "You've only been out for less than half an hour, and you're already going back? Now that you've been relieved of your duties as a palace lady, and there's nothing important to do in the palace, why don't you take this opportunity and let me take charge and let you go home?"

Yun Zhao couldn't tell if this was a genuine gesture of goodwill or just another test, so she cautiously replied, "I am a court lady appointed by Your Majesty. Even if I were to leave the palace, I would need Your Majesty's express permission. How could I dare to leave without permission?"

Xiao Yan paused, leaning forward slightly, lowering his voice with a gentleness that seemed to be considerate of her: "Now that I am the regent, I can still make decisions on such minor matters. My brother is... seriously ill. The imperial physician diagnosed him and said he needs to rest. Especially at night, his emotions are difficult to control and it is difficult for him to govern..."

Yun Zhao didn't know how to respond to this, so he could only silently pick up another piece of food with chopsticks and chew it carefully, as if it was the most difficult thing to swallow in the world.

Seeing that she remained silent, Xiao Yan changed his approach and spoke in a lighter tone: "If you're done eating, how about I accompany you to the market outside? The curfew in the capital has been lifted, and the night market is bustling. I'll buy you anything you like."

…

In the private room next door, the candlelight flickered slightly, illuminating Xiao Jin's angular profile.

He had been sitting quietly for a long time, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the edge of the cool teacup.

He listened attentively, but he only heard Xiao Yan's attentiveness. Yun Zhao's response was minimal, and he couldn't hear a word of her inner thoughts.

But he understood her - if she was truly happy, she would talk incessantly and make witty remarks. She could make the most boring things lively and interesting, and she had her own lively sense of humor.

Such silence at this moment was a sign of her extreme displeasure and suppressed emotions.

At this moment, Xiao Yan heard a subtle movement, as if something was being peeled, followed by his increasingly gentle voice: "A Zhao, try these newly arrived tangerines. They say they were sent from Lingnan by express horse from 800 miles away. They are very sweet."

Yun Zhao's voice of thanks rang out, faint and unremarkable, yet her inner voice echoed: "If you're being too attentive for no reason, you're either a traitor or a thief!" Xiao Yan immediately said with concern, "If it's sour, don't eat it. Why force yourself?" Then there was the crisp sound of cups clinking, presumably as she put the sour orange down.

Suddenly, Yun Zhao's voice became clearer, maintaining a deliberately calm demeanor that couldn't conceal the seriousness and impatience beneath. "Your Highness, please speak frankly about what you're up to today. Your behavior... I'm truly terrified and unsure how to proceed."

Xiao Yan seemed to be caught off guard by her directness. He was silent for a moment, then spoke again in a deeper voice, his intention unmistakable. "Isn't my intention clear enough? I want to marry you, Yun Zhao. I want you to be my Princess Consort of Qin! With your talent and character, you are fully qualified for the position, even surpassing it!"

[Bullshit! Wishful thinking!] Yun Zhao's inner voice echoed through the wall, almost turning into tangible anger that hit Xiao Jin's ears.

In the private room, Yun Zhao suppressed the urge to slap him right then and there. Instead, he dug his fingertips deep into his palm and asked coldly, "What about Su Mingli?"

Xiao Yan was clearly caught off guard, his tone tinged with barely concealed surprise. "She? She was deposed by my brother, and she's long since shaved her head and become a nun. Why are you suddenly bringing her up?"

Yun Zhao's lips curled up in a cold, mocking smile, his gaze like a blade piercing Xiao Yan: "Your Highness and her have been friends since childhood. Others may not know, but how could I not know? Why are you being so hypocritical?"

"You're just trying to trick me into entering your mansion so you can find a way to get rid of me and pave the way for you to kill the king, usurp the throne, and win back your old love! Do you really think I'm a fool?!"

Xiao Yan seemed to have lost his patience after his thoughts were exposed one after another. His tone became completely cold, and he spoke with a thinly veiled threat: "Yun Zhao, face the reality. In this situation, who can protect you? The emperor who can't see and can't protect himself, or your father who has been deposed from military power and lives in idleness at home?"

Yun Zhao suddenly laughed. His laughter was cold and crisp, carrying the detachment and determination of someone who saw through everything. "Your Highness seems to have forgotten that my brother, Yun Feng, currently commands an army of 200,000, guarding the vital point of the northern border. His sword remains as sharp as ever."

She slowly stood up and looked down at Xiao Yan, whose expression suddenly changed. Her words were clear and sharp, like cutting gold and jade: "Today, I will assume that Your Highness is just 'appreciating your talent' and intends to 'win me over', rather than some absurd declaration of love. Your Highness, you have never truly loved me. It is only for the sake of military power that I have to condescend and curry favor with you. For this, I... am deeply sorry. I cannot obey your order!"

All his disguises were ruthlessly torn off by her, and Xiao Yan's face was instantly covered with dark clouds, looking extremely ugly, with a hint of sinisterness flashing in his eyes.

Yun Zhao no longer cared to read his expression. He bowed with his hem lowered, his tone resolute yet respectful, his words falling like ice beads. "Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave. Your battle with... certain others, whether you will be victorious or defeated, please do not involve me and the Yun family any further. Whether the Yun family is loyal or treacherous, whether to reward or punish, will be decided by Your Majesty! Thunder, lightning, rain, and dew are all graces of Your Majesty, and the people of the Yun family will accept them with equanimity and without complaint!"

The line was drawn very clearly - the Yun family was only loyal to Emperor Xiao Jin!

In the adjacent private room, Xiao Jin, whose nerves had been tense, finally couldn't help but curl his lips slightly at her final, powerful statement. A smile of relief and satisfaction spread across his lips, and his fingers, which had been tightly gripping the teacup, quietly loosened. Zhang Fuan, who had been nervously observing the emperor's expression, keenly caught this fleeting smile of satisfaction and breathed a sigh of relief.