Linglong glanced at Liu Tong, who lay dead on the ground with his eyes wide open, and breathed a sigh of relief. Now, no matter how much the emperor suspected her, he couldn't do anything to her.
"Well done, no one can prove it now." Zhou Jingzhi sneered and clapped his hands in front of Linglong.
Linglong lowered her head even further, and after what seemed like an eternity, her knees were starting to go numb from kneeling, before Zhou Jingzhi finally told her to get up.
"Your Majesty, please go back first. But be careful of the people in the inner palace, and make sure that this kind of thing doesn't happen again."
After agreeing, Linglong left the Imperial Study. Before leaving, she glanced at Liu Tong on the ground and felt a chill run down her spine.
"Prepare the body for burial," Zhou Jingzhi instructed.
No sooner had the Empress left than a maid entered the Imperial Study, walked straight to Zhou Jingzhi and knelt down: "Your Majesty, I, Pei'er, pay my respects and will obey Your Majesty's orders."
Zhou Jingzhi watched Linglong's departing figure and snorted coldly, "Go and keep an eye on the Empress's every move, and report everything to me in detail."
He wanted to see what the empress was really up to.
Several more days passed, and Jian Yang still hadn't received any news from Zhou Jingzhi.
He clearly said a few days ago that he would return the Empress's position to her in a couple of days, but who knows how many days have passed, and not only has he not returned it to her, he has also disappeared! Jian Yang felt like a million grass mud horses were galloping through her mind.
"Ah Yang, if you keep poking at this bowl of glutinous rice balls, it'll turn into a paste..." Jian Hong couldn't help but speak up when he saw Jian Yang poking at the glutinous rice balls in the bowl.
Jian Yang then snapped out of her fantasy of insulting Zhou Jingzhi and smiled at Jian Hong.
This situation has happened countless times in the past few days. Jian Hong is well aware of it, but he has not said anything to persuade him.
Today is the fifth day, and there is still no news from the palace. Does the Emperor expect A-Yang to keep waiting like this? Jian Hong felt somewhat dissatisfied.
He pondered for a moment, and finally said, "Ayang, it seems you won't be able to return to the palace anytime soon. Why don't you... give up on the Emperor and I'll send you away from the capital?"
He didn't want his sister to remain unhappy like this; perhaps leaving the emperor and the capital was the best choice.
Upon hearing this, Jian Yang put down the bowl in his hand, as if considering what he had said.
After a long while, Jian Yang nodded, got up, went to his desk, wrote a letter, and handed it to Jian Hong.
"Brother, please give this letter to the Emperor for me. You don't need to say anything else to him. I'll pack my bags and leave tonight."
Upon hearing this, Jian Hong asked in surprise, "Leaving tonight? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"
Jian Yang winked at him and gave him a sly smile.
Just now, while eating, Jian Yang heard what Jian Hong said and suddenly realized something.
Did she want to leave Zhou Jingzhi? The answer is, of course, no.
But she really couldn't understand what Zhou Jingzhi was thinking.
Sometimes you don't know how deep a man's feelings for you are until you push him a little! Jian Yang thought to herself.
After telling Jian Hong about her plans, Jian Yang packed her bags and left the Prime Minister's residence, heading out of the city.
Around evening, Jian Hong pretended to be completely unaware and "anxiously" rushed to the palace.
Without waiting for anyone to announce her arrival, she pushed open the door to the emperor's bedchamber: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! A-Yang has disappeared, leaving only this letter behind. Please open it and take a look."
When Zhou Jingzhi heard that Jian Yang was missing, all the color drained from his face. He hurriedly opened the letter and began to read it.
"Your Majesty, what did A-Yang write?" Jian Hong asked from the side.
Zhou Jingzhi didn't have time to answer and turned to run out the door.
Jian Hong asked a few more questions from behind, pretending to be serious. When he saw that the emperor had run far away, a triumphant smile appeared on his face.
Heaven knows what Zhou Jingzhi felt when he saw that letter. It said that Jian Yang knew she could not return to the palace, so she chose to leave the capital and never come back. It didn't say where she was going.
Zhou Jingzhi was frantic. If Jian Yang disappeared again, how would he find her?
He rode his horse at breakneck speed, but he didn't see Jian Yang anywhere along the way. His heart grew colder and colder. Was he really going to lose Jian Yang this time?
He continued his journey out of the city, his eyes scanning everything along the street.
As soon as Zhou Jingzhi stepped out of the city gate, he suddenly saw a familiar figure standing by the post station outside the city gate. The person was carrying a bundle on his back. Who else could it be but Jian Yang?
She just stood there quietly, smiling at me without saying a word.
Zhou Jingzhi's heart stirred, and his eyes even welled up with tears. His A Yang would wait for him one last time even when she was about to leave.
He hurriedly dismounted and ran over, pulling Jian Yang into his arms. The familiar touch brought Zhou Jingzhi back to life; all the way there, his heart had been about to die.
"I've been waiting for you for so long," Jian Yang murmured.
Hearing this, Zhou Jingzhi felt even worse. He was silent for a moment before saying, "Ayang, I know you've suffered these past few days. I'm trying my best to handle everything and get you back to me as soon as possible, but I've run into some trouble."
Jian Yang's heart softened. She had considered that Zhou Jingzhi might have his reasons, but she was angry that he hadn't told her anything, not even a letter. Thinking of this, Jian Yang remained silent.
"But it seems I'm too late. The day I heard you say you were leaving, my heart was breaking. Now that you're really leaving, even though I'm reluctant, I choose to respect your decision," Zhou Jingzhi said with a touch of melancholy.
Over the past few days, he has come to some understanding: loving someone doesn't mean keeping her locked up by your side, but rather giving her freedom, becoming her haven, and waiting for her to return at any time.
When Jian Yang heard Zhou Jingzhi say this, she suddenly felt enlightened.
No wonder he hasn't written to her or come to see her these days; it turns out he wasn't finished eavesdropping that day.
Jian Yang chuckled and said, "Zhou Jingzhi, you're such an idiot."
Zhou Jingzhi was a little confused for a moment. He let go of Jian Yang and looked at her with some doubt.
“That was just something I said on a whim. If I really wanted to leave, I would have left that day. I stayed because I wanted to spend everything with you.” Jian Yang looked at Zhou Jingzhi with firm eyes.
As Zhou Jingzhi listened to Jian Yang's words, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He asked excitedly, "A-Yang, do you mean... you're not leaving?" His voice trembled slightly.
Jian Yang smiled and nodded. Of course she wasn't leaving. The Empress's position was hers; how could she give it to a subordinate? She couldn't work for Zhou Jingzhi for nothing.
“I’m not leaving,” Jian Yang said, then added, “However, you must promise me one thing.”
Zhou Jingzhi quickly agreed, saying he would definitely do anything he could.
“We’ll share everything together,” Jian Yang said firmly.
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