Chapter 88 You withheld my expenses

Xiao Jin responded as if it was a matter of course, even with a rare hint of laziness: "Read a few of them. Pick out the important ones and approve them for me."

Yun Zhao brought a stack of memorials to the front of the couch, but saw that the emperor had already lay back comfortably, with no intention of reviewing them personally.

[Tsk, Xiao Jin, who used to be so diligent that he wanted to live in a pile of memorials, has actually learned to use illness as an excuse to be lazy.]

She grumbled inwardly, but a look of embarrassment appeared on her face. "Your Majesty, if this... gets out, I will be convicted of 'interfering in government affairs' and 'overstepping my authority'. By then, I'm afraid the spit of the civil officials alone will drown me, even without the need for an impeachment by the censors."

Xiao Jin was in an unusually good mood tonight, his voice even holding a hint of indulgence. "I'm protecting you with my word, so who dares to say anything? Don't you... believe I can protect you?"

Yun Zhao sighed inwardly, resignedly picked up the topmost volume, and unfolded it, reading, "I have a memorial to the emperor: a nation cannot exist without a mother. Your Majesty should appoint a empress as soon as possible. I believe that Concubine Li is virtuous and kind, of noble birth. As the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, Lord Li, she is a role model for women throughout the land, and should serve as the empress..."

"Criticism: **Bullshit!**" Xiao Jin interrupted her without waiting for her to finish.

Yun Zhao paused, nearly laughing out loud, and tried to suppress his composure, "Your Majesty, did I really write this?"

"Write!" Xiao Jin said without hesitation.

Yun Zhao pursed her lips and wrote down the extremely uncouth crimson comments as instructed. Then she picked up another book. She had only just begun reading when her brows furrowed slightly. "Your Majesty, I have a memorial to report: Yun Zhao has only been in the palace for a short time, yet she has suddenly risen to become a Shang Gong (Shang Gong), in charge of six bureaus. This swift promotion is unprecedented, and I fear it will provoke criticism from all quarters, and raise eyebrows among the court and the public. I believe we should proceed with extreme caution..."

"Criticism: My dear minister, you're really nosy." Xiao Jin's voice turned colder. "You haven't even settled the mess of favoring concubines over your wife in your own harem, and yet you have the leisure to meddle with my harem?"

Yun Zhao wrote down what she was told. This writing was about herself, so she couldn't help but write with some force.

[What a pedantic old minister! He's clearly implying that I'm unworthy of my position and am trying to curry favor with the emperor!]

"Continue reading." Xiao Jin ordered.

Yun Zhao took a deep breath and picked up the next volume. His expression darkened as he read. "...His Highness the Prince of Qin possesses both civil and military talents, possesses strategic strategies, and has made significant contributions to the state. I earnestly request that Your Majesty appoint the Prince of Qin as the Grand General of the Northern Frontier, replacing Yun Feng in command of the military. The Yun family's continued control of the military is unfavorable to the court. I fear that their influence will become too great, leading to arrogance. If they develop disloyal ideas, the country will be in jeopardy..."

This time, before Xiao Jin could speak, Yun Zhao couldn't help herself. A nameless rage shot up her head, and she slammed the memorial closed and threw it out fiercely! As if it wasn't a memorial, but a poisonous arrow framing her father and brother!

"How can this be! My father has been a soldier all his life, fighting in countless bloody battles, with scars all over his body. Every time he did it, he risked his life to protect the country! These villains can only hide in the capital and talk nonsense, framing loyal officials!" She was so angry that her voice trembled slightly.

Xiao Jin listened quietly on the couch and asked, "Is this the memorial from Li Xin of the Ministry of Personnel?"

"Yes!" Yun Zhao, still gasping for breath, realized he had lost his composure and quickly apologized, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was so angry just now that I lost my composure... I'll go and get it right back."

"No need to pick it up." Xiao Jin's voice was unremarkable. "It's irrelevant nonsense. No need to read it. Read the next one."

[No need to pick it up? Is it that my father's impeachment is unimportant, or is it that this memorial itself is unimportant?]

Yun Zhao's heart suddenly sank, an indescribable sense of loss and grievance creeping over her. The warmth of shared hatred and solidarity she had felt instantly cooled. Silently, she picked up another book, her voice flat and emotionless as she read, "I have a memorial to the emperor: Although the Empress Dowager is not your Majesty's biological mother, her kindness in raising you is as heavy as a mountain. Your Majesty is a role model for the nation, and you must be committed to filial piety... Since Yun Zhao entered the palace, your Majesty's greetings to the Empress Dowager have become increasingly rare. I fear..."

"Psst!" Xiao Jin suddenly sat up from the couch, his chest heaving, his back teeth clattering, every word coming out as if squeezed from between his teeth. "I will be filial to her well, my dear minister, so there is no need for you to worry! Your reminder is so timely!"

Yun Zhao listened to his voice, which was almost like he was gritting his teeth. He was also filled with anger, but he had to comfort him first: "Your Majesty, please calm down. It is not worth hurting your health over such a petty person. Later... perhaps I can screen the memorial before presenting it to you?"

Xiao Jin lay back down heavily, seemingly exhausted, and as if seized by some emotion, he suddenly ordered without a clear reason: "Sleep with me tonight."

Yun Zhao was startled, then suppressed his complicated thoughts and replied respectfully, "Yes. I'll go to the outer hall to have some snacks first. I haven't had dinner yet, and I'm really hungry."

Xiao Jin said, "Then I'll take a bath first. Please have someone prepare water."

"I will tell the Shangqin Bureau to prepare right away." Yun Zhao folded his clothes and left.

In the outer hall, she hurriedly ate a few snacks to fill her stomach, and then quickly picked up and sorted out the memorials that had just been thrown away.

Extreme fatigue and mental exhaustion came over her. She could not wait for the news from the inner hall, so she casually leaned on the cushion and fell into a deep sleep.

She didn't know how long it had passed before Su Die gently woke her up: "Palace Lady, His Majesty wants you to come over... He, he refused to get up and change his clothes. He's been soaking in the water for so long that it's almost cold..."

Yun Zhao stood up dazedly with the help of Su Die, his mind still a mess.

[Xiao Jin! What are you doing crazy again?!] She suppressed the urge to complain, rubbed her forehead, dismissed the palace maids, and walked alone into the bathroom where the mist had not yet dissipated.

Xiao Jin was still lazily sprawled on the edge of the tub, his dark hair loose, revealing his sleek back. Hearing footsteps, he didn't turn around, but simply asked in a muffled voice, a subtle hint of...grievance and accusation in his tone.

"Where have you been? What took you so long?"

Yun Zhao rubbed his sleepy eyes and answered honestly, "I just had some snacks in the outer hall. I don't know how I fell asleep..."

Before she finished speaking, there was a "splash" sound of water!

Xiao Jin suddenly stood up from the bathtub without any warning, splashing water all over Yun Zhao's head and face. The cold water droplets made her shiver instantly.

Yun Zhao let out a low cry and took a few steps back, subconsciously raising his hands to cover his eyes, but in a quick glance, the lean, strong body with clear lines inevitably came into his sight.

Water droplets rolled down the tight texture, gleaming in the dim candlelight.

Xiao Jin seemed unaware of this. He grabbed a dry snow-white undergarment from the shelf next to him and draped it over his body without even tying the belt. Then, soaked in moisture and with a gloomy face, he walked straight into the bedroom, leaving a mess of water stains on the floor.

Yun Zhao didn't care about his wet clothes and hurried to catch up, carefully holding his arm. "Your Majesty, slow down! Watch the threshold!"

Xiao Jin violently shook her hand off, not really using much force, but blurted out in a fit of anger, his voice carrying a rare hint of willfulness: "Let me fall to my death! No one cares anyway!"

Yun Zhao was startled by his words, then felt both angry and amused. He had no choice but to soften his voice, like trying to comfort a fussy child: "Your Majesty, what are you saying in anger? Please take care of yourself. Your hair is still wet. I'll dry it for you. What if you catch a cold?"

She half helped and half pushed the person to sit on the soft chair beside the couch.

Although Xiao Jin still had a stern face, he did not resist and sat down as he was told.

Yun Zhao turned to get a dry towel, but heard another dissatisfied voice urging from behind: "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you wipe it quickly? Do you really want to freeze me to death?"

He paused, his vision blurring as he scanned the charcoal basin in the hall. He began to vent his anger unreasonably, "And this charcoal fire, it's burning so weakly, almost dying! Is it because you're in charge of the Sixth Bureau now that you've started to cut back on my expenses?"