Chapter 41 Promotion
Yun Zhao changed into a neat riding outfit with narrow sleeves and a cinched waist, which outlined the girl's slender figure and showed a rare heroic spirit.
She walked briskly into the side hall of Yanying Palace. She thought she would leave on an empty stomach, but she found that there were no ministers in the palace. Only Xiao Jin and King Jin Xiao Heng were sitting opposite each other. The table in front of them was filled with steaming and fragrant breakfast.
[Huh? Where are the ministers? Breakfast?!] Yun Zhao's eyes lit up, and he instantly found the dog emperor much more pleasing to his eyes.
She had just stood there obediently, ready to be a quiet and beautiful background, when she heard Xiao Jin, without even raising his eyelids, lightly order: "Yun Zhao, come here and try it."
"Royal brother!" Xiao Heng spoke up immediately, his tone clearly protective. "This is just a small matter, I can handle it myself, why bother Ah Zhao?"
Xiao Jin leisurely picked up a piece of crystal shrimp dumpling with his silver chopsticks, and said matter-of-factly, "She is now a fifth-rank official in the Imperial Food Bureau. It's her duty. Shouldn't she be able to do such a small thing?"
[A female official of the Imperial Kitchen?! Fifth rank?! When did that happen?! How come I didn't know about it?!] Yun Zhao was struck by lightning, petrified in an instant, his mind buzzing. [You bastard emperor! Why don't you just shove all the work of the six palaces onto me?! This isn't a promotion, this is exhausting me to death!]
Xiao Heng was also stunned. "This... is very sudden, my brother. Ah Zhao has just entered the palace, and the affairs of the Imperial Food Bureau are complicated. Can she handle it?"
He looked at Yun Zhao worriedly.
Yun Zhao's face suddenly turned bitter, and the excitement he had for breakfast just now disappeared without a trace.
She took a step forward and knelt down neatly, her voice filled with sincerity and grievance: "Your Majesty, please understand! I have only been in the palace for a short time and have little experience. I am afraid that I will not be able to convince the public, and I am afraid that I will disappoint Your Majesty's trust! Aunt Suying has been in charge of the Imperial Food Bureau for many years. She is outstanding in ability and rich in experience. She is indeed the best candidate! I..."
Before she could finish her words, Zhang Fuan's characteristic shrill, breathy voice rang out from the palace entrance: "Your Majesty, Suying...Suying has just received the imperial decree and left the palace."
Xiao Jin placed the shrimp dumplings gracefully in his mouth, chewing them slowly and carefully. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if he was savoring the food, or perhaps appreciating Yun Zhao's surprise. "She's thirty-five this year and has long wished to leave the palace. I, as a compassionate ruler, am considerate of my old minister and a benevolent ruler, allowing her to return home and enjoy her remaining years. What's wrong with that?"
He looked at Xiao Heng, his tone as casual as if he was chatting about family matters.
Xiao Heng immediately understood and sighed in agreement, "Ah, I didn't expect Aunt Suying to be thirty-five already. Come to think of it, I was still a baby when she entered the palace. I'm older than Concubine Wu."
As he spoke, he very naturally picked up a piece of temptingly colored fried tofu and placed it directly on the empty small plate in front of Yun Zhao. He said in a gentle and soothing voice, "Don't be afraid, Zhao. Since the emperor trusts you, just go ahead and do it. If anyone in the Shangshi Bureau dares to disobey orders, or pretends to obey but actually disobeys..."
He paused, his tone suddenly turning cold, and with the authority of the King of Jin, he said, "Just kill him! I and my brother will back you up! The safety of my brother's food is in your hands, and we are most confident in it."
Yun Zhao looked at the piece of tofu on the plate that exuded an alluring aroma, and after hearing Xiao Heng's "comfort" of "just kill it", he picked up his chopsticks with mixed feelings.
Support? They're clearly using me as a tool!] She grumbled inwardly, stuffing the tofu into her mouth, chewing it without tasting it, and finally nodded listlessly.
"Forget it, a higher-ranking official can crush someone... But..." Her eyes rolled, her mind active, "The Imperial Food Bureau... Doesn't that mean Cao Suzhu is in my hands? Perfect! A new official has three major things to do upon taking office, and the first one is to burn her! Just wait and see how I deal with this restless woman!"
Xiao Jin, who was drinking bird's nest and lean meat porridge, suddenly "heard" her murderous plan and almost choked on a mouthful of porridge! "Cough! Cough cough!"
He suddenly put down the bowl and started coughing violently, his handsome face turning slightly red.
Yun Zhao was startled and stood up reflexively, taking a few steps forward. He patted Xiao Jin's back with a deft hand, "Your Majesty, be careful! Is the porridge too hot?" He was muttering to himself, "Can he choke on porridge? Could it be that he was mumbling incoherently last night and his dragon body is not feeling well?"
When Xiao Jin calmed down a bit, Yun Zhao immediately seized the opportunity and complained sincerely, "Your Majesty, you see, I have suddenly taken over the Imperial Food Bureau. I am overwhelmed with so many things to do that I am really overwhelmed. I beg Your Majesty to be merciful and assign me one or two more capable assistants. Otherwise, even if I had three heads and six arms, I am afraid that I will delay your Majesty's meals!"
Xiao Heng immediately chimed in: "Royal brother, Ah Zhao is right. The Imperial Food Bureau is such a big mess, we need someone to help out."
Xiao Jin finally stopped coughing. Looking at Yun Zhao's expression that said "I have it so hard", and remembering her bold words of "burning Cao Suzhu to death", he felt both angry and amused.
He rubbed his brows and said helplessly, "Okay. It's your choice. Two people, is that enough?"
The gloom on Yun Zhao's face disappeared in an instant, his eyebrows curved, and he smiled like a little fox that had stolen something fishy: "Enough! Enough! Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty! Your Majesty is really perceptive and considerate..." Flattering words poured out like money.
Xiao Jin felt a chill run down his spine from her sudden change of expression and overly blunt flattery, and quickly waved her hand to interrupt, "That's enough! I'm full."
He stood up, his dark suit making him look as tall and straight as a pine tree. "Zhang Fuan! Where's Zhou Si?"
"Your Majesty, Commander Zhou is already waiting outside the palace!"
"Yes. Xiao Guizi will follow and serve. You go to the six palaces and pass on the imperial decree, announcing to everyone: From today on, Yun Zhao is promoted to the fifth rank female official of the Imperial Food Bureau, in charge of all affairs of the Imperial Food Bureau. Anyone who disobeys orders or neglects their duties," Xiao Jin's voice suddenly became harsh and cold, "will be killed without mercy!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhang Fuan bowed and accepted the order, then hurriedly retreated.
[Tsk, you really do a good job of saving face!] Yun Zhao pouted inwardly, but appeared respectful on the surface.
Xiao Jin seemed to sense something and glanced over with a cold look.
Yun Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head: [What happened? I didn't say anything!]
Xiao Jin's gaze had already turned to Xiao Heng, and a hint of a brotherly, competitive smile appeared on his face again. "Ah Heng, I haven't ridden a horse in a long time. How about we have a good competition today?"
Xiao Heng laughed out loud, clasped his fists and accepted the challenge, full of vigor and enthusiasm: "Your Majesty, I will accompany you to the end! I will make sure you enjoy it to the fullest!"
The sky was bright and clear in the direction of the Western Suburbs Racecourse. Yun Zhao wailed inwardly, "I don't want to have fun. I want to sleep. God, please save me."
Guanju Palace
The air in the hall was filled with the aroma of incense. Concubine Zhang Wanru was admiring her newly dyed nail polish in the mirror. A trusted palace maid hurried into the inner room, her voice low and hushed:
"Your Majesty! Something new! His Majesty has just issued an edict promoting Yun Zhao to the rank of Fifth-Rank Imperial Court Lady! He also stated that anyone who disobeys the order will be killed without mercy!"
Zhang Wanru said with a mixture of disdain and intense interest: "Oh? A court lady of the Imperial Kitchen? Fifth rank? Overnight?"
Her beautiful face was filled with curiosity. "Oh, you climbed quite fast! It seems His Majesty was very satisfied with my 'serving' in the Purple Palace last night."
The palace maid quickly said, "Who says it's not true?! Word has spread throughout the palace. This speed of promotion is simply unheard of! Everyone says Yun Zhao is incredibly skilled!"
Zhang Wanru picked up the fallen red gold and kingfisher phoenix hairpin and toyed with it nonchalantly, but her mind was aroused. "Amazing tricks? Humph, I don't think it's all due to that foxy trick."
Her eyes flashed, as if she had grasped something crucial. "Think about it, wasn't she investigating Concubine Wang's case earlier? His Majesty even gave her a three-day deadline! She just spent the night in the Purple Palace, and this morning she received this powerful position... The timing is truly too coincidental!"
The palace maid was a little bewildered: "Your Majesty, are you saying... Yun Zhao already knows the murderer?"
"It's almost certain!" Zhang Wanru stood up and paced around the room, her face filled with eager curiosity and a hint of excitement. "Why else would His Majesty give her such a generous favor? Letting her free rein to take care of her 'afterlife'?"
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was. She stopped and stared at the palace maid with a burning gaze, "Quick! Keep a close eye on them for me! Especially the Imperial Food Bureau! Also, is there any movement in the palace with Su Mingli, Concubine Li, and the others?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
