Chapter 44 Yun Zhao, I will make your wish come true.
The woodshed was filled with damp and cold air.
Xiao Jin stood up suddenly, as if the hideous wound on his left arm didn't exist, with only a deep coldness between his brows.
He casually took out the jade pendant with dragon pattern that symbolized the emperor from his bosom, and it shone faintly in the dim light.
When Chen Yingying's eyes fell on the jade pendant, she was instantly struck by lightning!
She fell to her knees on the wet ground with a thud, her voice filled with disbelief and panic: "Your Majesty?! I didn't know it was Your Majesty who came. I will die! I will die!" Her petite body trembled in the dilapidated woodshed.
"Get up." Xiao Jin's voice was emotionless, his eyes swept across her frightened face, "I and the maid need clean clothes and hot food. Do you have any?"
"Yes! Yes!" Chen Yingying nodded repeatedly as if she had been pardoned, "It's just... it's crude, and I'm afraid it will pollute the Holy Body! I'll prepare it right away! I'll also... I'll immediately send someone to the city to invite my father!" She spoke incoherently.
Xiao Jin didn't say anything, just gestured for him to lead the way.
Yun Zhao had already slipped out, her sharp eyes scanning the rain-soaked courtyard like a hawk. After confirming that only a maid holding an umbrella was waiting in the corridor, she nodded slightly.
The two were led to the upper room of the main courtyard, and Yun Zhao was invited by a maid into the next room.
"Sir, this is my daughter's dress. Please change into it for a while. I'm sorry." The maid brought a plain dress carefully.
Yun Zhao took the clothes without saying a word, walked behind the screen, and took off the wet crimson riding clothes with swift movements.
She is slightly taller than Chen Yingying, but fortunately the dress is loose and fits her well.
[The dog emperor has many problems. If no one serves him, he will probably have to endure it in wet clothes!] She muttered to herself, changed her clothes and walked out.
"My Lord!" The maid stopped her, holding a bowl of steaming hot ginger soup. "The rain chills you to the bone. Please drink this to drive away the cold before you go!"
Yun Zhao did not stop, took the bowl, and without even looking at it, tilted his head back and gulped down a few mouthfuls of the liquid. He casually stuffed the empty bowl back into the maid's hands, and strode open the door of the room where Xiao Jin was.
The scene inside the door made Yun Zhao pause.
Chen Yingying knelt on the ground, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
On the carpet in front of her, a pool of steaming soup was seeping out from a broken porcelain bowl.
[Tsk, the dog emperor is a real dog! Even with such a beautiful woman serving him attentively, he still manages to make people so angry?]
Yun Zhao complained in his heart, but remained calm on the surface. He quickly stepped forward and helped Chen Yingying up: "Miss Chen, please prepare some simple food. I'll take care of this."
Chen Yingying was still in shock and looked at Yun Zhao with tears in her eyes: "Sir... How did you know my last name?"
"It's no secret that the eldest daughter of Xiushanbo's family is recuperating at the manor," Yun Zhao explained briefly, his tone soothing. "Don't panic, young lady. His Majesty is always cautious. You must keep your mouth shut about what happened today and never reveal your whereabouts."
"Yes! Yes! I understand!" Chen Yingying was as if she had been granted amnesty. She quickly retreated and added timidly before leaving, "The clothes you are wearing are my brother's old clothes... I'm sorry to have wronged you..."
The door was closed, blocking out the sound of wind and rain outside.
There were only two people left in the room.
Only then did Xiao Jin stand up again from the shadows, walk in front of Yun Zhao, and open his arms. The meaning was self-evident - change clothes.
Yun Zhao resigned himself to his fate and stepped forward, helping him take off his soaking black suit with swift but careful movements.
Beneath the cool fabric lies hot skin and firm texture.
She quickly wiped the water stains on his body with the clean cloth she had prepared, deliberately avoiding the wound that was rolling on the flesh.
"It's strange," Yun Zhao said in a low voice as he wiped the area, expressing his doubts, "Those assassins chased us to the vicinity of the manor, and suddenly retreated." This doesn't make sense. How could the killers give up their target just because of a rain?
"Maybe the rain was too heavy and disrupted their plans?" Xiao Jin said casually, his tone as calm as if he was discussing the weather.
[I don't believe that!] Yun Zhao snorted inwardly, her hands moving non-stop. "Lord Zhou's deployment... is also strange. Logically, there should be layers of checkpoints around the horse farm. How could so many assassins sneak in without making a sound?" She finally couldn't help but point the finger at the commander of the imperial guards.
[Zhou Si embezzled? But why was the dog emperor so calm? Even... seemed to have anticipated this?] This thought made her heart tremble.
"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Jin's voice interrupted her thoughts with an unquestionable command, "Medicine." He pointed to the medicine and white cloth on the low table next to him.
Yun Zhao gathered her thoughts and picked up the medicine bottle. Uncorking it, a bitter medicinal aroma emanated. Holding her breath, she concentrated and evenly sprinkled the powder onto the nasty wound.
Xiao Jin's muscles tensed instantly, but he didn't say a word.
Yun Zhao did not stop, wrapping the white cloth strips around the wound with neat movements. His fingertips occasionally brushed against his hot skin, causing slight tremors.
After changing his clothes, Xiao Jin took the hot tea handed to him by Yun Zhao.
She habitually wanted to test the poison first, but Xiao Jin had already snatched it away, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, his Adam's apple rolling.
What the hell just happened? Chen Yingying looked like that... Could it be that she was trying to be nice and ended up offending me? Yun Zhao looked at the mess on the ground, full of confusion.
"I didn't attend court today. I came to the western suburbs on horseback. I was assassinated and took refuge here." Xiao Jin put down his teacup and said in a low voice, "I will return to the palace tomorrow."
[Why?!] Yun Zhao's heart was filled with alarm. "Your Majesty! If the court officials knew that Your Majesty was in danger but stayed outside the palace, they would definitely criticize you! Why not wait until the rain stops before setting off? The imperial guards will find this place sooner or later!" She tried to dissuade him.
Xiao Jin turned a deaf ear to him, locking his deep gaze on Yun Zhao with scrutiny, "Yun Zhao, what do you think of Zhou Si? Can he be trusted?"
He changed the subject, his tone sharp as a knife, "I see that you usually avoid him, even... implying disgust. Why?"
[Fatal question!] Yun Zhao's breath caught. [Zhou Si is the Queen Mother and Prime Minister Su's man! He's the thorn the King of Qin has planted against Your Majesty! But can you even say this directly?]
In a flash, Yun Zhao made her decision. She raised her head, meeting Xiao Jin's gaze. Her tone was firm, tinged with suppressed hatred. "Because my father has been framed for embezzlement! I suspect Zhou Si is one of the masterminds! He and Prime Minister Su colluded to fabricate the evidence!"
[Zhou Si is to blame for what happened today! Instead of trying to cover it up, let's just get to the bottom of it!] She risked her life.
Xiao Jin looked at her quietly for a few seconds, his eyes seemed to penetrate people's hearts.
He didn't ask for details, nor did he rebuke her for making irresponsible remarks about important officials. He just nodded slowly, with a cold and understanding arc at the corner of his lips.
"That's right." His voice was not loud, but it carried a certainty that he was in control of everything. "Yun Zhao, I will make your wish come true."
He paused, his eyes fixed on her hands, which were clenched slightly with nervousness. He added, his tone carrying a subtle, almost approving tone, "This is what you deserve for protecting the emperor twice."
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