Chapter 80 Xiao Jin, Don’t Go Crazy

As they entered the inner chambers of the Purple Palace, warm air mingled with a faint scent of ambergris greeted them. Su Die, the senior palace maid on night watch, was startled to see Yun Zhao in His Majesty's arms. She lost all sleepiness and opened her eyes wide.

Yun Zhao leaned on Xiao Jin's shoulder, quickly winked at Su Die, and shook his head slightly.

Su Die understood instantly, lowered her head very tactfully, held her breath, retreated quietly, and closed the door of the hall gently.

Although he had been to the emperor's bedroom many times, Yun Zhao's heart beat faster involuntarily when he saw the majestic dragon bed up close.

"Your Majesty," she tried to make a final struggle, her voice slightly dry with nervousness, "My foot is truly fine. I can just apply some ointment when I get home. It won't delay the reorganization of the six bureaus tomorrow. I will definitely thoroughly review the six palaces as soon as possible, eliminate all spies, and purge your harem, so that you can focus on state affairs without any worries..."

Xiao Jin gently placed her on the edge of the couch and stood before her, his shadow looming over her. His tone was filled with an inexplicable sarcasm, "Oh, every word you say is for me, for the country. My Concubine Yun is truly... loyal and virtuous."

"What's wrong? You're not satisfied with this? I've shown you so much loyalty, but you're really hard to please..."

Yun Zhao muttered inwardly, but his face became increasingly submissive. "Your Majesty, I naturally put you and the country first in everything I do. You are the Son of Heaven, and I shall do my utmost..."

"Yun Zhao," Xiao Jin interrupted her, suddenly leaning forward, his deep gaze locking onto hers with a force that threatened to penetrate her defenses. "Do you truly not know... what I'm thinking right now? Or are you playing dumb?"

Yun Zhao was flustered by his sudden approach and blunt questioning, her eyelashes fluttering in panic: "I...how can I know what you're thinking? Your heart is unpredictable. Shouldn't we both rest now?"

She tried hard to find a topic to talk about, trying to break the suffocating atmosphere: "Your Majesty, are you...are you hungry? I...I asked the small kitchen on duty at the Imperial Food Bureau to send some osmanthus cake. But don't use too much, it's easy to get indigestion late at night..."

Xiao Jin stared at her for a long while, and for the first time he felt that this woman who was usually smart and decisive was actually so dull in some aspects!

He almost laughed out of anger, stood up helplessly, and turned around to get the medicine box.

Before Yun Zhao could react, he had already bent one knee slightly and reached out to take off her shoes and socks without saying a word.

A snow-white, delicate jade foot was suddenly exposed to the air, and the redness and swelling at the ankle was particularly eye-catching.

Xiao Jin's fingertips were slightly cool, and when they touched her hot skin, both of them shuddered.

His voice was low, suppressing an indistinct emotion, like a question, but also like heartache: "Is this what you call no harm? Yun Zhao, with this injury, you won't be able to walk properly for ten days or half a month!"

Yun Zhao felt a surge of hot blood rushing to his cheeks and ears, and he felt like a cooked shrimp!

A woman's feet are so private, how can she easily show them to a stranger? What's more... this stranger is the emperor!

She was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito: "It's really... it's really a minor injury. It will be healed after a few days of rest. A few days ago, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin gave me some excellent medicine for injuries, including some that are specifically for treating bruises..."

"Prince Jin?" Xiao Jin's voice suddenly cooled, the subtle concern he had just shown giving way to anger. "Prince Jin? Ha! Yun Zhao, do you really have to mention him at this time? It really... spoils the mood!"

[Why did it explode again? It's so unpredictable, changing faster than the weather in June! Could it be... jealous? Impossible! How could Xiao Jin be attracted to me? I must be overthinking it. Sister Wu can be wrong sometimes...]

Yun Zhao was startled by her own bold guess and fell silent. She subconsciously wanted to get the ointment herself, but she ignored the subtle glint of triumph in Xiao Jin's eyes.

Xiao Jin thought to himself: Finally... I thought about this a little bit.

He seemed to change the subject unintentionally, his voice remaining calm: "You and Wu Lingyu seem to have a very good relationship? I see that you rely on her quite a bit."

Speaking of someone he trusted, Yun Zhao relaxed a little. "Sister Wu appears cool on the outside, but is actually warm-hearted. She handles things very methodically and is dedicated to her duties. She has helped me a lot and often gives me advice. If in the future... if in the future... if she were to take over the position of Shang Gong, she would definitely be more than qualified..."

As she spoke, her voice gradually lowered, because Xiao Jin's face darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the air pressure in the hall dropped sharply.

Yun Zhao shut up tactfully.

Xiao Jin grabbed the ointment, dug out a large piece, and applied it to the red and swollen area with seemingly rough movements but gentle force. The slightly cool ointment formed a strange contrast with the temperature of his fingertips.

"Sleep in the side hall of Zichen Palace tonight. You don't have to do everything yourself until your injury is healed." His order was given in an unquestionable tone.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration." Yun Zhao thanked him in a low voice.

Xiao Jin threw the ointment back into the medicine box and said in a stern tone, "Remember to apply the ointment on time next time."

"Yes." Yun Zhao agreed and tried to get up and move to the side to make room for the noble dragon bed area.

However, she forgot about her foot injury. As soon as she exerted force, her body instantly lost balance. She screamed and fell backwards!

"Be careful!" Xiao Jin reacted extremely quickly, stretching out his long arms to grab her!

In a flash——

The world is spinning!

Yun Zhao only felt a powerful force pulling her back, and then the two of them fell onto the soft golden dragon couch together!

Xiao Jin's strong arms tightly wrapped around her waist, holding her in his embrace. When Yun Zhao came back to her senses from the dizziness, what came into her sight was Xiao Jin's handsome face so close to her.

His breath was warm against her cheek, their bodies pressed so close together that their noses almost touched.

The ambergris in the air seemed to become ambiguous and hot.

Yun Zhao could clearly see her own reflection in his deep eyes, as well as the complex emotions surging deep in his eyes that she had never seen before.

Time seems to stand still at this moment.

Her heart was beating like a drum, and she didn't know if it was his or hers.

All the sharp words and power calculations just now disappeared at this moment, leaving only red-faced panic and a dangerous attraction that was ready to explode.

【what to do? 】

What should I do?

[Xiao Jin, please don't go crazy! ]