Chapter 46: Can't Leave

Zhou Si was dismissed from his post the next day.

Xiao Jin was recuperating in Zichen Palace and didn't see anyone.

The King of Qin, who was providing disaster relief in the south, sent news that the relief work was over and that silver and grain had been delivered to the people.

The heavy rain has stopped and the levees are being repaired.

It was also said that two county governors were dismissed.

Obviously, these two county governors were replaced by Qin's men.

Xiao Jin threw away the memorial and wanted to curse, but when he saw that the person serving him was not Yun Zhao, he suppressed his anger.

The air pressure in the Zichen Palace was low.

Xiao Jin slammed the memorial from King Qin, which contained a power-grabbing implication, onto the table!

The new palace maid was so frightened that her hands trembled and she almost knocked over the teacup.

"Where is Yun Shangshi?" Xiao Jin's voice was as cold as ice.

The young palace maid's voice trembled: "Your Majesty, the chef is in the small kitchen... personally preparing the medicinal food for Your Majesty..."

"She's a court lady! Not a cook!" Xiao Jin shouted angrily, his eyes sweeping over the palace servants who were silent as a mouse in the hall. "What's the point of keeping you around?!"

Zhang Fuan quickly bowed and explained, "The Grand Chef insisted on doing it herself, saying that it was important for His Majesty's wound to heal, and she was worried about others..."

Xiao Jin pinched his brows in annoyance. Without that familiar figure by his side, even the memorials seemed particularly annoying. He suddenly stood up: "Follow me to take a look!"

【Can’t be away from people for even a moment?】

Steam rose from the small kitchen. Yun Zhao was meticulously placing a few delicate lilies on a small celadon dish. Four or five palace maids stood in silence, breathless.

Imperial Concubine Zhang Wanru stormed in, her rings and bracelets jingling, bringing with them a scent of fragrance. The palace maids hurriedly saluted. Yun Zhao put down his silver clip and knelt slightly, "Greetings, Imperial Concubine."

Zhang Wanru looked her up and down, her eyes piercing. "What a face that could bring disaster to the country and its people! Yet, you've been gifted with a brilliant mind! Duke Yun taught her well. You're both a good cook and a warrior, and you've got all the limelight!"

Yun Zhao lowered her eyes, her tone calm and composed, "It is my duty to save you, Your Majesty. I am grateful for your great blessing."

"Duty?" Zhang Wanru sneered, taking a step closer. "I'd like to ask, why are you the one accompanying the emperor at the stables? I and Noble Concubine Su are the ones who should be by his side! Who do you think you are?!"

Yun Zhao was silent, staring intently at the meal in front of him, as if it were a rare treasure.

This disregard completely ignited Zhang Wanru's anger! "Yun Zhao! I'm asking you a question!" She screamed, "Are you deaf or dumb?!"

Yun Zhao then raised her eyes, her gaze clear but distant: "I heard it. I'm just afraid that my words may be careless and pollute your majesty's food. I dare not slack off in my duties as the food supervisor. Please understand, Your Majesty." Her attitude was respectful, but every word she said was a rejection.

"You!" Zhang Wanru was extremely angry. Her eyes swept across the plate of crystal clear mung bean cakes that Yun Zhao had just placed. She was so jealous that she suddenly reached out and flicked it away!

"Crack!" The delicate porcelain plate shattered, and the emerald green pastry rolled to the ground, covered in dust.

Zhang Wanru looked at her "masterpiece" with a malicious glee on her face: "Oops, my hand slipped. Yun Shangshi, thank you for your hard work... Please do it again." Her tone was extremely disrespectful.

"Zhang, Wan, Ru!"

A cold voice filled with the wrath of an emperor exploded at the door like thunder!

Everyone instantly fell to their knees, trembling. The smug look on Zhang Wanru's face froze, the color draining away. She hurriedly turned and knelt, "Your Majesty! It's Yun Zhao..."

"Shut up!" Xiao Jin strode in, his black dragon robe whipping up a sharp, cold wind. His gaze, like a knife, swept across the mess on the ground, finally piercing Zhang Wanru's pale face. His voice was low, but it carried the coldness of a verdict: "Noble Concubine Zhang, you are arrogant and domineering, with no regard for the superiors! First, you murdered Concubine Li, and then you insulted the female officials of the Imperial Kitchen! The evidence is irrefutable, and there is no mercy!"

He paused, each word coming down like an icicle:

"Strip her of her title of Imperial Concubine and demote her to a commoner! Immediately banish her to the cold palace! Await your fate!"

Dead silence! The air seemed to have frozen.

Yun Zhao leaned over silently, picking up a dusty mung bean cake, his fingertips icy cold. [Done! The Zhang family's first strike has fallen. Minister of War Zhang Jianren... your death is not far away!]

"No——!!!" Zhang Wanru let out a shrill scream, and like a dying beast, she suddenly threw herself at Xiao Jin's feet, tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty! I am innocent! I was angry with Yun Zhao, but Li Cairen... I didn't kill her! I have no motive, Your Majesty! It was Su Mingli! She framed me! Your Majesty, please be discerning! Please be discerning!"

Xiao Jin kicked her clinging hand away in disgust, his eyes expressionless. "Evidence? Imperial Concubine Su has investigated everything thoroughly. I only look at the evidence!" He waved his sleeves as if brushing away dust. "Drag her away!"

The imperial guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, covering Zhang Wanru's mouth and roughly dragging her away, ignoring her desperate sobs and struggles. Her gorgeous skirt dragged across the cold ground, leaving a messy trail before gradually disappearing outside the door.

Xiao Jin turned his gaze to Yun Zhao, who was still kneeling, his fingertips stained with pastry crumbs. His voice returned to its usual cold and hard tone: "Follow me. Serve in Yanying Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Yun Zhao stood up and followed with his head down.

[With Zhang Jianren's fall, military power has changed hands...] She felt no sense of relief, but instead a heavy weight. [If the truth about Li Cairen's death were to be revealed at this moment... the land of Jingxiang would be ablaze with flames!]

There will be storms ahead.

When we arrived at Yanying Palace, we found undercurrents.

Xiao Jin's gaze, like cold lightning, swept over Su Mingli and Luo Mei, who had been waiting for a long time. "Prime Minister Su has also entered the palace?" His tone was flat, and no emotion could be heard.

Su Mingli immediately bowed and said in a gentle voice, "Your Majesty, my father heard that the Empress Dowager was worried about your health and was depressed, so he came to the Cining Palace to pay his respects and comfort you."

A touch of emotion appeared on Xiao Jin's face at the right moment: "Prime Minister Su is thoughtful."

"This is the duty of a subject." Su Mingli bowed her head, her posture respectful. Her eyes flickered, and she suddenly turned to Yun Zhao, who stood quietly beside her. Her smile was gentle, but it carried an oppressive tone that brooked no refusal. "Mister Yun, your service in saving the emperor the other day. This is a token of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." Luo Mei held up a brocade box and opened it, revealing a jade bracelet of a translucent aquamarine color, shimmering brilliantly.

Yun Zhao took it with both hands, his face calm: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward."

[No matter what you think, I take the credit with a clear conscience.]

Xiaotao quietly retreated to the tea room.

Xiao Jin's lips curled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Very good. Zhang Fuan, go and ask Prime Minister Su to come over. I... have something to discuss with you."

Zhang Fuan bowed his head and accepted the order, then retreated silently.

…

Meanwhile, within the inner halls of the Cining Palace, the thick aroma of incense could not be dispelled, yet it couldn't suppress the chilling chill. Heavy curtains blocked out the light, leaving only a few eternally burning lamps in the corners. These stretched the figures of Empress Dowager Zhou and Prime Minister Su Chang, casting them on the cold tiled floor like dormant beasts.

Empress Dowager Zhou rapped her fingertips heavily on the rosewood table, making a dull sound. Her voice was extremely low and icy, "Your Majesty, you've grown wings! He's completely eliminated all the people I planted there! First it was my niece, then Su Ying, then those people in the imperial court... one after another, every single one of them was aimed at my informants! How could such a coincidence exist in this world?!"

Su Chang paused slightly as he stroked his beard. In the shadows, a glint flickered in his eyes. "Your Majesty, this is using the name of 'Shangshi' to actually exercise 'supervision'! That girl Yun Zhao is in charge of the Shangshi Bureau. She controls the four departments of food, brewing, medicine, and food. Every palace receives food, uses medicine, and even supplies charcoal through her control! This is like strangling the six palaces. Who would dare to move? Your Majesty... is very cunning."

The hall was dead silent. The last trace of grace faded from Empress Dowager Zhou's well-maintained face, leaving only a cold, desperate determination to kill.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at Su Yuan. Every word she spoke was like a poisoned ice cone: "It seems... we can't wait any longer."