"Your Majesty." Song Ting composed himself and walked towards the two of them. He first bowed to Chu Minghuan and then glanced at Huai Xu.
Upon seeing him, the latter instantly suppressed her smile and stared listlessly into the distance, seemingly looking at nothing in particular.
This made Song Ting feel a tightness in her chest, as if the blow she received from Zhou Tong had only taken effect now.
Following his gaze, Song Ting saw two birds nestled together on a branch.
"Song Qing is back. How did things go?"
"Since Your Majesty wishes to discuss serious matters with Lord Song, this humble subject will now return to my room." Huaiyue made a move to get up.
But the young emperor grabbed her hand and pressed it back down: "It's alright, this matter involves you anyway, listen to it together."
"Isn't that inappropriate?"
"If I say it's suitable, then it's suitable." The young emperor was unusually firm for once.
Huaiyue had no choice but to comply and stay. Song Ting looked at their clasped hands, her heart churning with anger and frustration.
"Then I'll trouble you, Minister Song, to explain."
Song Ting then recounted the events of the day, omitting only Zhou Tong's identity and the conversation between the two. Upon hearing this, the young emperor frowned and fell into deep thought.
"In this light, this matter may indeed be inextricably linked to the Red Lotus Sect. They first placed the 'Skywalker' as a pawn, intending to use it to disrupt the prayer ceremony and sow discord between me and my beloved minister."
"Now that the empty path has been exposed, they continue to use the prayer ceremony as a pretext to further spread rumors and shake public morale."
The Red Lotus Sect has been at odds with the imperial court at every turn, and has become a major concern for the young emperor. In recent years, the young emperor has sent many people to investigate, but to no avail. Not to mention finding out who is behind it, he has not even found a trace of them.
A few months ago, when there was a flood in Jiangnan, Chu Minghuan sent Song Ting to investigate in person because the person surnamed Liang seemed to have the shadow of the Red Lotus Sect behind him.
It's a pity that Liang Fengye, that idiot, was being used without even realizing it, and knew nothing when asked.
That's fine then; nothing really caused a big commotion.
But now these people have actually set their sights on the prayer ceremony, even targeting the Empress Dowager and innocent civilians. Their intentions are despicable.
Chu Minghuan could no longer tolerate it.
"Now it seems very much like the Red Lotus Cult is manipulating things behind the scenes," Song said.
Chu Minghuan was furious: "These people are getting more and more outrageous. Before, they only provoked us everywhere, and we just turned a blind eye. Now they are actually plotting to kill the Empress Dowager. In a few days, will they come to assassinate me?"
"emperor……"
"I know, I won't say anything more," Chu Minghuan said. "It will be hard on you, my dear minister. If the Red Lotus Sect is not eliminated, it may cause great trouble in the future. You must find out who is behind it and eradicate this organization."
"Serving Your Majesty is no hardship for me," Song Ting accepted the order.
"Yes, I know. I am relieved to hear your words, my dear minister. I am tired, so I will go back first." Chu Minghuan stood up and looked at Huaiyue. His expression and tone softened unconsciously. "I will come to play chess with you again in a couple of days."
Huaiyue bowed slightly in greeting, then sat back down.
Song Ting sat down beside him, staring at the young emperor's back, her face darker than the surrounding night.
Huaiyue didn't speak, so he didn't speak either. The two of them stood there like wooden blocks, facing each other.
After a while, Song Tingxian finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Didn't you say you weren't familiar with each other?"
His tone clearly indicated displeasure.
Chu Huaixu rested his chin on his hand and curved his eyebrows: "We're not really familiar with each other."
"Then you should—"
Chu Huaixu interrupted him: "But he is the emperor."
Under heaven, all land belongs to the emperor; on the shores of the earth, all people are his subjects. If the emperor wants to play chess with someone, who can refuse?
Moreover, given Chu Huaixu's current status.
Even without Chu Huaixu explicitly stating it, Song Qingxu was well aware of this.
But understanding is one thing, and accepting it is another. The fact is that he was very unhappy at the moment. If he didn't still have a sliver of reason left, he had no idea what outrageous things he would do.
"The young emperor knows very well who I am, yet he doesn't kill me, my lord," he suddenly leaned forward, getting very close to Song Ting, "Why do you say that is?"
What else could it be? Of course, it's because the young emperor, like him, harbored those unspeakable, filthy thoughts about this person.
A person's eyes don't lie. Song Ting saw many extremely familiar things in the young emperor's eyes. It was as if he were looking at another version of himself.
His little fairy saved more than just him; all those he pulled out of the darkness wanted to drag him back to the mortal world.
The crime is unforgivable.
And incredibly audacious.
Song Ting hugged his waist tightly, biting his Adam's apple, her voice muffled and hoarse: "You are mine." He hugged her tighter and tighter, like a thief guarding his stolen treasure, "The little emperor is too young, too naive, and doesn't know any better."
His emotions were so obvious, and Chu Huaixu was such an intelligent man that he could easily understand the meaning behind his words: he was jealous.
“Even though he was young, he was still an emperor,” Chu Huaixu said.
Song Ting: "He doesn't have any real power."
Chu Huaixu: "He was an emperor even though he didn't have any real power."
Song Ting: "He was still wetting the bed when he was eleven years old."
Chu Huaixu: "Even if he wets the bed, he's still an emperor."
Song Ting: "He still listens to that old fox Zhang Bingzhi."
Chu Huaixu: "Listen to Zhang Bingzhi... this won't do. This one needs to be taught properly. If he's taught well, he'll still be the emperor."
Song Ting: "..."
Song listened for a long while without saying anything more.
Chu Huaixu's eyes gleamed with a bright smile, and he asked knowingly, "Why did you stop talking, sir?"
Because you can't argue with them.
Unable to win an argument, Song Ting resorted to words, biting down hard on Huai Xu's soft lips to silence him.
The two birds in the distance chirped and frolicked, then suddenly spread their wings and flew high into the sky, startling several fallen leaves.
Song Ting released her mouth, but still held the person in her arms tightly: "Anyway, you're mine."
Because of the extreme emotional fluctuations, he even coughed a few times.
Chu Huaixu looked him down and examined him for a few moments, then asked, his expression unreadable, "Are you injured?"
Song Ting remained silent, like a taciturn gourd.
This person has always been like this; when faced with something he doesn't want to talk about, he'll purse his lips and refuse to speak, and even the sharpest saw can't pry his mouth open.
I remember my older brother once joked, "Xiao Qingxiang's personality is perfect for being a spy; no one can get him to talk."
Chu Huaixu was unhappy to hear such words and even got into a heated argument with his brother at the time.
Unexpectedly, his words came true.
Thinking of the past, Chu Huaixu snorted and pushed the person away from him.
However, Song Ting didn't even need to admit it; just by looking at the man's complexion and gait, it was clear that he was seriously injured.
Although Chu Huaixu had lost all his martial arts skills, he was still a first-rate expert in the past, so he still had this ability to discern.
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