The small building blows the jade flute cold

The setting sun was like a shadow. Inside the Qianqing Palace, wisps of green smoke passed through the curtains, disturbing Ji Mingxiu who was sleeping soundly on the couch.

Gu Zi'an's figure in the dream became increasingly blurred, and even his voice faded away, gradually overlapping with the sound in his ears.

"Your Majesty is not feeling well and cannot meet with guests. You two should go back."

It’s...Qiu Ling!

Ji Mingxiu suddenly woke up from his drowsiness. He returned to the palace?

"His Majesty?"

The three people outside the door obviously noticed the movement on the couch, and stopped pretending, and walked forward quickly.

"How do you feel, Your Majesty? Are you feeling better?"

Qiu Ling carefully helped Ji Mingxiu to lean on the couch, and called for the imperial physician who had been waiting in the side hall.

"Your Majesty, the wound on your right shoulder is not deep, and the high fever has subsided, so your body should be fine for now. However, Your Majesty has been weak since childhood, and the drug in the wound is bound to hurt you. You need to take good care of yourself and not move too much."

The imperial physician carefully examined the patient's pulse and bowed his head before answering.

"I understand."

Ji Mingxiu waved his hand to let the imperial physician go out, and signaled Qiu Ling to help him sit up.

"Grand Master, Prime Minister, are you two here for the winter hunt?"

"Not bad." Li Qingyun took out the documents he had prepared in advance and handed them to Ji Mingxiu, "Your Majesty, please take a look."

"...Western Xia?" Ji Mingxiu quickly scanned the evidence listed in the document and felt doubtful.

But he didn't show his emotion, put away the paperwork and asked, "What do you two adults think?"

"I think that all countries are watching this matter, and the impact is huge, so it should be thoroughly investigated. However, I have doubts whether it was done by Xixia."

"Oh?" Ji Mingxiu glanced at Su Yuanbai and motioned him to continue.

Su Yuanbai was not polite either. He stepped forward, unfolded the document, pointed at one of the items and said.

"Those assassins are indeed not from the Central Plains, but they left no one alive. This alone does not mean they are from Xixia. Moreover, given the current situation in Xixia, it is not wise to make enemies with Daxuan."

"Finally." Su Yuanbai stood up and glanced at Li Qingyun beside him with a cold look. "It is said that the Xixia delegation was also attacked by the enemy. Why didn't the Prime Minister mention it in his letter?"

"When your majesty was assassinated, the Western Game Grounds were in chaos, and the envoys of various countries were all affected. Why single out Xixia to make a fuss? It's just a cover-up."

Li Qingyun met Su Yuanbai's cold eyes and retorted without giving in.

"What's more, the internal struggle for the throne of the Western Xia was fierce, and it might be an internal struggle."

"But these are just the Prime Minister's personal conjectures and cannot be relied upon as evidence."

"If the Imperial Master has other insights, I will listen attentively."

Seeing the two people in front of him making sarcastic remarks and arguing more and more fiercely, and about to lift the roof of the Qianqing Palace, Ji Mingxiu suddenly felt a terrible headache.

"His Majesty."

Qiu Ling walked forward and carefully pressed Ji Mingxiu against himself, gently massaging his temples and laughing softly in his ear.

"You two adults have already argued with each other outside the palace."

Ji Mingxiu closed his eyes helplessly. When his father was alive, he had never heard of any deep hatred between these two people.

"If your majesty is bothered..."

Qiu Ling frowned as he looked at his pale face, wishing he could kick the two of them out right away.

"Well... there's no need to argue anymore. Regardless of whether it was done by Xixia or not, we need to produce evidence, and appease the envoys from various countries. I'm sorry to bother you, Prime Minister."

"Also, if the Imperial Master has any concerns, he can start investigating. With my instructions, no one will say anything."

Ji Mingxiu patted the back of Qiu Ling's hand, signaling him to see the guest off.

Only after the Qianqing Palace had quieted down did he pick up the documents at hand again.

Western Xia?

What are you trying to achieve?

Could it be true that what the Prime Minister said...

"Don't read it." Just as I was thinking, a pair of bony hands took away the document, "Don't read it if you have a headache. Take care of your health."

"Oh." Ji Mingxiu looked up at Su Yuanbai who had returned, and lay down obediently under the quilt.

"Your Majesty...I'm sorry..."

Su Yuanbai half-knelt beside the couch, holding Ji Mingxiu's fair hand tightly against his chest. Only by feeling the fusion of pulse and heartbeat could he barely calm the panic in his heart.

"It's no problem." Ji Mingxiu shook his head, thinking that the Imperial Master was talking about the quarrel he had just had with the Prime Minister. "I know that the Imperial Master has an upright character."

No, it's not.

Su Yuanbai gazed solemnly at Ji Mingxiu's still pale lips, then lowered his head to hide the unspeakable pain surging in his eyes.

Your Majesty does not know that from the moment the news of his assassination and disappearance reached the palace, Su Yuanbai's life was no longer in his hands.

Chaoyue Palace was separated from the imperial city by only a wall, but he stood outside Chaoyue Palace for two full hours without being able to step out of the wall.

But this is all his own choice, he can't blame anyone else.

During the twelve years he spent within these palace walls, he was trapped in his own web, day and night, and he could not blame anyone else.

"sorry……"

Su Yuanbai leaned forward and kissed Ji Mingxiu's lips tremblingly. His cautious movements seemed like he was trying his best to restrain the surging emotions in his heart.

He hated his own cowardice, but he couldn't overcome the cowardice in his heart. He didn't know what else he could do except apologize over and over again.

Even someone as slow-witted as Ji Mingxiu could sense that something was wrong.

"Master, what happened?"

He stretched out his uninjured hand and gently embraced Su Yuanbai, soothing Su Yuanbai's emotions in a somewhat awkward manner.

As his teacher, he had always sought comfort from the national teacher, but it was rare for him to be in such a situation as now.

"I'm fine." Su Yuanbai raised his head and smiled, as if nothing had happened just now. "I'm just worried about Your Majesty. Your Majesty has a noble body. Next time..."

He suddenly choked up, his lips trembling and he couldn't speak. He stared at Ji Mingxiu deeply for a long time before he let out a long sigh.

"Don't let it happen next time..."