Chapter 108 I Allow You to Leave the Palace
Xiao Jin sat upright on the dragon throne, his face hidden in the candlelight and shadow, making it difficult to see clearly. Only a clear command resounded: "I say, you can leave the palace now."
His voice was calm, yet filled with unquestionable determination.
"Isn't this your long-cherished wish? I will grant your wish today. Pack your bags, and I will have Xiao Guizi personally escort you out of the palace."
Yun Zhao stood there in a daze, almost suspecting that he had heard it wrong.
Once upon a time, she longed day and night to leave this deep palace cage, but he kept keeping her. Now, when a longing quietly grew in her heart that she herself had not even noticed, he opened the cage door with his own hands without any regrets.
She lowered her eyes and suppressed all the surging emotions, which turned into a long, silent sigh in her heart.
"Yes. I... obey your command." She heard her own voice sound dry, "I will go and clean it up now."
Just as she turned to retreat, Xiao Jin's cold voice came again, like the last shackle:
"Within three days, the entire Yun family must leave the capital. No mistakes."
Yun Zhao suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked up, his eyes filled with shock and confusion: "Your Majesty...?!"
Xiao Jin's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of impatience and pressure: "Why, didn't you hear what I said clearly?"
All doubts and grievances were forced back into his throat.
Yun Zhao dug his nails deep into his palms, lowered his head, and said in a low, hoarse voice: "...Your Majesty, I understand."
…
Yun Zhao silently left the hall, and Zhang Fuan followed silently, his old face full of worry.
"Palace Lady...are you really going to leave tonight? Why...why don't you beg His Majesty to let you stay for just one more day..." His voice was choked with sobs.
Yun Zhao stopped and turned back, forcing a faint smile at him. That smile was filled with bitterness. "What's the difference between leaving today and leaving tomorrow? Thank you for seeing me off, eunuch. Now, goodbye."
Zhang Fuan heard the alienation and disappointment in her tone and quickly lowered his voice, "Miss! His Majesty...he has always been thinking about you! It has always been like this! You must never doubt this!"
Yun Zhao merely smiled, but that smile never reached his eyes, only adding to his desolate expression. "Is that so? Then... thank you very much for your grace, Your Majesty."
She said no more, turned around and left, her back looking resolute and lonely.
Zhang Fuan returned to the inner hall and saw Xiao Jin still sitting in the dragon throne, like a lifeless statue.
"Leave only one candle... and extinguish the rest." Xiao Jin's voice was filled with deep fatigue, as if all his strength had been exhausted.
Zhang Fuan's heart ached, knowing this was a sign of His Majesty's deepest grief. Carefully extinguishing the extra candles, he couldn't help but speak again, his voice filled with heartache and confusion: "Your Majesty... I have something to say. Miss Yun... is willing to stay in the palace and share your burdens! Why do you insist..."
"How do you know she's truly willing?" Xiao Jin interrupted him abruptly, his voice hoarse, "Forget it, no need to say more. Let's go to Zhaixing Tower."
He stood up, unwilling to discuss the matter further. Zhang Fuan had no choice but to keep quiet and follow him.
When they reached the corridor outside the palace, Xiao Jin stopped and gazed at the dark night. His voice was low but clear and cold, "The collapse of Yunxiang Tower tonight was definitely not an accident. At this moment... I'm afraid someone is already eager to spread rumors and make a big fuss about it."
Zhang Fuan quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured. Xiao Guizi has already brought people to deal with the matter. We will thoroughly investigate the cause of the restaurant's collapse and will find out who was responsible as soon as possible. We will not allow rumors to spread."
A hint of cold sneer appeared on Xiao Jin's lips. His eyes, though blurry, were still sharp, as if they could see through everything. "Foolish! Didn't you see that shameless daughter of Su the thief with your own eyes? If not her, who else could it be?!"
Zhang Fuan's heart trembled, and he immediately responded, "Yes! This old servant is confused! Your Majesty is wise!"
"Stop using these compliments in front of me." Xiao Jin's tone turned cold. "You've messed up the inner palace recently! Those people Yun Zhao took the trouble to replace were all carefully selected by her to be capable of handling important tasks. You must treat them well and employ them wisely! If there are any more mistakes, I will hold you responsible!"
Zhang Fuan quickly admitted his mistake, his attitude extremely humble: "Your Majesty is right! It is indeed my fault for neglecting my duties and slacking off on palace affairs. Your Majesty, please punish me!"
Xiao Jin was silent for a moment, then softened his tone slightly, giving a typical slap in the face followed by a sweet date: "I know you've been busy lately and you've been too busy to handle everything. I'm sorry for the hard work."
Zhang Fuan immediately revealed an expression of gratitude and deep fear. "It is my duty to share your majesty's worries. I dare not complain about the hardship! Tomorrow I will reorganize all the affairs of the inner palace. When... when the palace lady returns, I will be able to take over smoothly."
Xiao Jin shook his head, as if he had already considered this carefully. "She always complains that this position is too tiring. This position of Shang Gong... there's no need to keep it for her. You should choose someone else. I remember she mentioned that there's a female official named Wu Lingyu in the Shang Food Bureau. She has a clean family background, is a descendant of a military family, and is reliable in her work. So promote her to take over."
Zhang Fuan was secretly shocked, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He could only bow and reply, "...Yes. I understand."
…
Outside the palace gate, an inconspicuous green-covered carriage was waiting quietly.
Xiao Guizi personally sent Yun Zhao to the car. He kept muttering along the way, his face full of reluctance and anxiety: "Auntie, are you really leaving like this? Can't you think of a way to stay? His Majesty is just temporarily..."
Yun Zhao's expression was calm, even with a hint of relief: "How can I disobey your majesty's order?"
Xiao Guizi stamped her feet anxiously. "But! If you were willing to say something softly, saying you didn't want to leave, His Majesty would definitely revoke his order! Aunt, how could you take His Majesty's angry words seriously?!"
Yun Zhao shook his head gently, gazing out the window at the dark nightscape of the palace walls. His tone was calm but firm, "Every word your majesty speaks, every decision he makes, is the result of careful consideration. I've been with him for the past six months, and I understand his temperament to some extent. This is definitely not a momentary impulse."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Guizi couldn't help but sigh heavily, her voice tinged with tears. "Now that you're gone... His Majesty will probably have even more trouble sleeping at night. And you left so quietly. So many palace maids in the Sixth Bureau who have received your kindness and respected you would be so heartbroken if they knew... Many people say you were the best and most fair-minded palace lady in the palace..."
Yun Zhao's heart felt as if it had been gently stabbed by something, and his tone finally showed a subtle fluctuation: "...Thank you all for your kindness. I am just...resigned to fate and doing my best."
The carriage slowly stopped at the side gate of the Yunguo Mansion. Xiao Guizi got out first, looked around to see if there was anyone around, and then helped Yun Zhao down.
He lowered his voice and said solemnly, "Young lady, I will send you here. His Majesty has another oral order, asking me to convey his regards to Marshal Yun."
Yun Zhao paused, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered, "...Okay. I'll convey it to you. Take care, eunuch."
She paused, then added the last four words, as softly as a sigh:
"See you later."
Then, she turned around resolutely and knocked on the door.
It was already late at night, and Yun Zhao's sudden return startled Yun Chongshan and Zhao Yuanying who had already gone to bed.
Zhao Yuanying didn't even have time to put on his outer robe. He hurried to the front hall in just his inner garment. Seeing his daughter standing alone in the hall with only a small bundle, he was immediately frightened and his face turned pale. He grabbed her cold hand and said, "Oh my God! Zhao'er! Why are you back at this time?! That man... he couldn't tolerate you and kicked you out?!"
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