Chapter 13 The Dog Emperor is in a Good Mood
Outside the palace, the moonlight was like frost, cutting through the shadows of the palace walls.
Yun Zhao gazed at the solitary moon and said in a calm yet resolute voice, "When my engagement with the King of Qin is annulled... I will beg Your Majesty to release me from the palace."
Xiao Heng's throat moved slightly, and he replied solemnly: "Yes. Ah Zhao, if anyone in the palace bullies you, please send a message to me. I will definitely protect you."
Xiao Jin only sat at Concubine Liu's place for a cup of tea before returning.
From a distance, one could see the two figures that were too close to each other still whispering under the moonlight.
He paused, hiding behind a pillar, his eyes dark, "We were classmates at the Imperial College for dozens of years. How could I not remember that their friendship was so deep?"
Zhang Fuan whispered back, "Your Majesty was preoccupied with the study of statecraft at the time, and perhaps didn't pay attention to these trivial matters."
Xiao Jin didn't move his gaze away and asked in a cold voice, "Have you verified the matter of the King of Qin?"
"It has been submitted to the emperor. Your Majesty's suspicion is correct. The legitimate daughter of the Su family... is indeed having an affair with the Prince of Qin." Zhang Fuan lowered his voice even more.
Confirmed again!
Those shocking "curses" in Yun Zhao's heart were exactly the same!
A cold light flashed in Xiao Jin's eyes, as sharp as a dagger drawn from its sheath: "Tomorrow, issue an order! Summon Su Mingli to the palace!"
Zhang Fuan fell to his knees with a trembling voice: "Your Majesty! Absolutely not! Prime Minister Su is incompetent in educating his daughter. Miss Su is no longer a virgin and her moral character is flawed..."
"Get up!" Xiao Jin's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable pressure. "My decision is made!"
Zhang Fuan struggled to get up, his heart burning with worry: "Half of the Six Shang Bureaus are the Queen Mother's spies. Su Mingli entering the palace is like inviting a wolf into the house! Your Majesty, in the future..."
"Letting a wolf in?" Xiao Jin's lips curled up into an icy arc, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. "Perfect. Since you can't tell who's who in this world... I'll eliminate them one by one!"
Zhang Fuan felt a chill on the back of his neck instantly.
…
The next morning, the atmosphere in the Shangshi Bureau was solemn.
The palace maids serving tea were also under his jurisdiction. Fifth-rank Shangshi Su Ying sat at the head of the table, her face as sullen as water.
Over twenty palace maids held their breath, bowed their heads, and lined up according to their seniority. Yun Zhao, the least senior, could only stand at the end of the third row.
Alarm bells were ringing in her heart, and she didn't know what this commotion was about.
After the roll call, Su Ying's cold gaze swept across the crowd, and suddenly fixed on a palace maid who called Wan'e: "Come out!"
Wan'e's face turned pale and she staggered out.
Suying didn't say anything and slapped him hard!
"Snap!" The crisp sound startled everyone.
"I have repeatedly warned you! Your Majesty hates cold food! When you served the soup yesterday, was it warm or cold?!" Su Ying's voice was not loud, but every word was as sharp as an ice cone.
Wan'e fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Aunt, please spare me! This servant...this servant was careless and didn't try it carefully! Please have mercy on me, Aunt! This servant won't dare to do it again!"
"Negligence?" Su Ying's lips curled up cruelly. "Three years into the palace, have all the rules been thrown to the dogs?" There was no mercy in her eyes, only cold murderous intent. "Come here! Drag him away—beat him to death! Throw his body into a mass grave!"
Two burly eunuchs rushed out, covered Wan'e's mouth, and dragged her away roughly.
The shrill whimper was instantly cut off, leaving only the desperate kicking and the friction of the body being dragged across the ground, which eventually disappeared in the silent corridor outside the palace gate.
The air was so thick and stagnant that it was almost suffocating. Yun Zhao could clearly hear his own heartbeat like a drum and the faint chattering of the palace maid's teeth beside him.
Su Ying's eyes were like knives, slowly sweeping across each terrified face. "Listen carefully! Anyone who dares to be careless again and bring disaster to the Shangshi Bureau will suffer the fate of Wan'e—this is an example! Before I peel her skin off, I will make her wish she were dead, but she can't live!"
Back in the tea room, Yun Zhao's fingertips were cold as he silently fetched water to make tea.
"Are you scared?" Wu Lingyu's voice sounded behind him, still cold, but with a barely perceptible hint of inquiry.
Yun Zhao didn't stop moving and uttered a low "hmm".
Wu Lingyu sneered softly, "The jewel in the crown of the Duke of Yun's Mansion only has this much courage?"
Yun Zhao paused what he was doing.
She slowly raised her eyes, her star-like gaze piercing through the mist and landing squarely on Wu Lingyu's icy face. "Sister Yu's courage and insight are naturally unique. After all..." Her voice was extremely soft, but every word was clear. "Your father, General Wu, fought alongside my father in the Northern Frontier against the enemy, his robe stained with blood. I'm sure you've seen life and death before."
Wu Lingyu's pupils suddenly contracted! The cold and aloof air around him instantly shattered, replaced by astonishment and sharp scrutiny: "You're investigating me?!"
"General Wu's family is full of loyal and brave men who shed their blood on the battlefield. Their heroic name should not be forgotten." Yun Zhao met his gaze calmly, his tone calm but carrying undeniable weight. "Sister, as the only remaining bloodline of the Wu family, you have hidden yourself in the deep palace, willingly serving tea as a maid. What do you ask for?"
Wu Lingyu stared at Yun Zhao intently, as if it was the first time she truly saw clearly the seemingly weak young lady from the Duke's Mansion.
Her family's secrets, her deep-seated pain and hatred were revealed so easily!
"What does it have to do with you?" Wu Lingyu's voice was dry and tense, like a taut bowstring. "The Yun family has been around for a hundred years, so naturally they have connections. My Wu family fell into decline, and I entered the palace as a maid, just to survive."
Yun Zhao's lips curved up in a faint arc as she refocused on the tea set in her hands. Her voice was gentle but penetrating, "Sister, why do you have to be so repulsive? We're both stranded here, and I thought... we could become sisters."
Wu Lingyu was silent for a moment, walked to the side, and unconsciously stroked a can of newly arrived tea leaves with his fingertips. The can was cold.
She turned her back to Yun Zhao, her voice low and hoarse, with a kind of loneliness that was almost resolute:
"Yun Zhao, you entered the palace as a maid for the Yun family, and you had something to ask for. And I... I don't have any weaknesses."
Xiao Guizi's urgent voice penetrated the corridor: "Two sisters, hurry up! His Majesty has dismissed the court, where's the tea?"
Yun Zhao and Wu Lingyu exchanged a glance, their hearts tightening as they hurriedly picked up the tea tray. "I'll be right there! Are you leaving court a moment early today?"
"Hey, morning court went smoothly!" Xiao Guizi said cheerfully, "More than half of the donations have been made. The concubines in the harem have made great efforts."
Yun Zhao continued walking and lowered his voice to ask, "So...are there going to be new people in the harem?"
Little Guizi came closer, speaking mysteriously, "That's right! Prime Minister Su sold his shop and spent a lavish 100,000 taels! His daughter will be a noble concubine when she enters the palace, with the same rank as the vice-empress, assisting the empress dowager in managing the six palaces!"
It’s true!
Yun Zhao’s mind raced: This deep palace is about to stir up a bigger storm!
She bowed her head and entered the hall to serve tea.
The King of Jin and the King of Qin were present.
In an instant, several gazes pierced like needles and focused on her.
Yun Zhao felt his back stiffen slightly, and he cried out silently in his heart:
[What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen a young lady condescend to serve tea as a palace maid?!]
Xiao Jin, sitting on the throne, was clearly in a very good mood: "Hurry up and serve tea to the King of Qin and the King of Jin!"
Yun Zhao held his breath and presented the teacup to the emperor with both hands.
Xiao Jin took it and opened the lid of the tea. An elegant and noble fragrance instantly spread out, refreshing his heart.
Even the distant Prince of Jin, Xiao Heng, couldn't help but take a deep breath. "Great tea! Is it the Mingqian Longjing tea from Shifeng Mountain?"
"Your Highness is very insightful." Yun Zhao replied softly and was about to step back to serve tea.
As he stepped down the steps, the clear voice of Prince Jin echoed again behind him, with a hint of imperceptible urgency: "Royal brother, the case of Duke Yun's corruption has been settled... Are you still not going to let A Zhao leave the palace?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
