It was just past 9 PM.
When Li Xun saw Su Tiyue, a smile instantly spread across his face, and he respectfully led her up to the second floor of Yelan Pavilion.
The two of them pounded on the wooden stairs with uneven 'thump-thump' sounds.
Upon reaching the top floor, Su Tiyue saw Xiao Heye wearing a black cloak, sitting lazily by the window with his long legs outstretched, brewing tea around the stove. It seemed that Xiao Heye had seen them all along, otherwise why would Li Xun have taken her upstairs without saying a word?
The second floor is elegant, quiet, and deserted... It still has many bookshelves, but it is more spacious than the first floor.
Su Tiyue took a few steps inside, and by the flickering candlelight, she could see that under his large, thick black cloak, he was only wearing a thin undergarment.
Xiao Heye was tall and upright, with a black cloak loosely draped over his shoulders, revealing glimpses of his muscular chest.
"My arrival tonight was indeed somewhat abrupt," Su Tiyue said softly, opening her mouth slightly. "If it's inconvenient for Master Xiao, I can come again tomorrow..."
"Your Highness must have something important to discuss coming here so late at night. Besides... you are the mistress, and I am just a servant. What's so inconvenient about it?"
Xiao Heye pulled his cloak tighter and pulled out a stool by the stove for her to sit down.
That's true. Su Tiyue thought for a moment.
She was indeed quite anxious.
"Master Xiao, the reason I came to see you tonight is actually about my father." She sat upright opposite Xiao Heye, her slender white fingers peeking out from under her cloak, gently warming them by the fire.
"I wish to plead for my father, but I don't know..."
"Has Your Highness taken the wrong path?"
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Heye interrupted her, lifting his eyelids and saying, "If Your Majesty wishes to plead for your father, you should go to the Hall of Longevity to see the Emperor."
The Hall of Longevity is to the north, while this place is the South Garden.
“I went there this morning…” she said softly, her voice lacking confidence, “but I didn’t see the Emperor.”
Xiao Heye actually knew about this; the eunuch who stopped Su Tiyue at the Hall of Longevity was one of his men.
In other words, eight or nine out of ten people working in the palace were his eyes and ears, and they all obeyed his orders.
"Your Majesty, you have come to the wrong person. This matter is an imperial decree, and this servant is powerless to do anything about it."
Xiao Heye lowered his head, slowly turning the white jade thumb ring on his left thumb, his voice steady and his expression cold.
Clearly, he didn't want to help.
Su Tiyue's eyes were gentle, her brows furrowed, she paused, then stood up, bent down, picked up the teapot from the stove, and carefully poured a cup of hot tea.
She presented the teacup to Xiao Heye with both hands, her face as beautiful as a peach blossom, her bright, star-like eyes fixed on him: "Master Xiao, I've heard that my father is currently in the Zhenfu Division, and whether or not to release him is entirely up to you, Master."
The person is in his hands, how can you say that you asked the wrong person for help?
Xiao Heye paused, surprised that she had been informed so quickly: "It seems Your Highness doesn't know much about the details of this matter, it's alright..."
Xiao Heye, with a forced smile, took the teacup and took a small sip: "This servant is just trying to give Your Highness a friendly reminder."
"Five days ago, your father, Minister Su, and more than a dozen other important officials submitted a memorial to the emperor, advising him to kill treacherous officials, eliminate evil forces, and punish the eunuch faction."
"Oh……"
He couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Does Your Majesty know who this treacherous minister and villain your father speaks of is?"
Su Tiyue swallowed hard, her face full of astonishment. Beneath the thick, warm cloak, her heart slowly lost its warmth.
She already had a general idea in her mind.
Xiao Heye put down his teacup, bent his fingers, and gently tapped the yellowed tabletop, one tap after another, unhurriedly. But when he looked at Su Tiyue, his dark pupils were full of amusement.
"There must be some misunderstanding, Master Xiao..." She was somewhat flustered, but more than that, she felt despair and fear.
In that case, wouldn't her father's situation be even more difficult?
"Yes, Your Majesty thinks the same way. That's why I had your father brought back from the Ministry of Justice for a thorough interrogation. If there really is such a treacherous and wicked minister in our Northern Liang, I will definitely be the first to share the burden for Your Majesty."
Xiao Heye asked her, "Your Majesty, are you right?"
Su Tiyue didn't reply to him, but said softly, "It's been three days. Has Chief Inspector Xiao found out anything? I wonder when the Garrison Command will release them?"
"Your Majesty, don't you trust the Eastern Depot to handle cases?"
He raised his eyebrows and deliberately emphasized the words "Eastern Depot".
Her bright red lips parted slightly, and for a fleeting moment, Su Tiyue wished she could rush up and tear that handsome, aloof face to shreds.
He actually asked her if she was at ease?
Looking across the entire city of Yong'an, who doesn't know that the people from the Eastern Depot are the most arrogant and domineering, and who doesn't know that there are seventy-two cruel tortures in the dungeon of the Zhenfu Division, all used for 'interrogation'?
Anyone who enters the Northern Garrison Command, regardless of their true nature or whether they are good or bad, will be skinned alive when they leave.
Su Tiyue nodded, a hint of disappointment in her heart. She had originally intended to plead for her father, but she hadn't expected that the matter was not as simple as she had thought.
My father has always been cautious in his actions, so how could he possibly have a direct conflict with this person now?
Furthermore, Xiao Heye is a high-ranking official with a deep and cunning mind, and his methods are insidious... Her father is likely to meet a terrible fate in this man's hands.
For the past year, Su Tiyue has kept herself hidden in the Brocade Palace, rarely going out. She doesn't understand Xiao Heye, nor can she see through his thoughts...
It seems that this trip was not only a waste of time, but also a recipe for disaster.
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