Chapter 62 Who did it?
Yun Zhao's legs were so weak she could barely stand. Reborn, she cherished her life more than anyone else, yet she still underestimated the dangers of the palace!
She staggered, holding onto the doorframe, gazing at the starry sky, a complex mix of emotions swirling within her: [Xiao Jin actually came looking for me personally! It seems he's truly worried about my father's army's morale being shaken...]
Just as he was thinking about it, the dark figure in front of him suddenly stopped and looked back. Yun Zhao forced himself to move forward, but his knees gave way and he almost fell to his knees.
[It's over, it's over. This tyrant is going to laugh at me for being a coward!]
The expected ridicule did not come. Xiao Jin suddenly strode back, leaned over in front of her astonished gaze, and picked her up!
"Ah!" Yun Zhao exclaimed, subconsciously grabbing his collar. From above came the emperor's deep voice: "Say one more word, and you'll be walking back."
Yun Zhao immediately fell silent, huddling herself in the embrace that smelled of ambergris. Catching a glimpse of the jaw-dropping expressions of the guards around her, she wished she could bury her face in Xiao Jin's clothes.
Wang Gui shouted sternly, "Anyone who dares to reveal a single word about what happened tonight will have their tongue cut out and their eyes gouged out!"
Xiao Jin said nothing, which was considered as his tacit consent.
[Sure enough, Xiao Guizi is Xiao Jin's true confidant! ]
She was carried onto the horse's back, and Xiao Jin swiftly climbed atop, holding her in his arms. His warm chest pressed against her back, and his breath was filled with the emperor's refreshing scent, making Yun Zhao tense.
"Come back to the palace with me." A warm whisper came to my ear, "Let's interrogate together."
Yun Zhao responded in an inaudible voice, his heart beating like a drum.
The sound of horse hooves was particularly clear in the quiet street.
Xiao Jin suddenly spoke up, his voice filled with confusion: "How could Yun Shangshi, who is usually fearless, be frightened like this by a small minion?"
How could I not be scared?! I was suddenly knocked unconscious, and when I woke up, I was in endless darkness. I almost drank the red dregs!
Yun Zhao gripped the reins tightly, his voice trembling, "I was a little scared... Thanks to Your Majesty for saving my life in time. I will never forget your life-saving grace."
Xiao Jin slowed down his horse and asked, "Do you recognize that woman?"
"I don't know her." Yun Zhao shook his head. "But the person who can accurately grasp my whereabouts must be someone in the palace. She's just a pawn. Even if she returns alive, her master will kill her as soon as possible." "So you want to let the person behind the scenes go?" Xiao Jin's tone turned cold.
A cold light flashed in Yun Zhao's eyes. "No, I will let her suffer the consequences. As for that woman...she will be severely punished according to the law."
When passing by the Duke's Mansion, Yun Zhao hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, my mother must be worried sick..."
"I didn't disturb the Duke's Mansion." Xiao Jin interrupted her, "Are you sure you want to disturb their sleep now?"
Yun Zhao felt warm in his heart: [He's so thoughtful...]
"minister……"
"That's enough." Xiao Jin suddenly interrupted impatiently, "I'm tired of hearing you express your loyalty all night long." He paused, his tone suddenly softening, "I'm hungry. Go back and make me some osmanthus cake."
Yun Zhao was startled and responded softly.
As the night breeze blew by, she suddenly realized how intimate their posture was at the moment.
Xiao Jin's breath brushed past the tip of her ear, causing a slight shudder.
The horse walked slowly, and the moonlight blended the shadows of the two people together, stretching them very long on the bluestone road.
[Even though I was scared, I still had to make osmanthus cake...]
My hands and feet are still shaking...
[Forget it, I'll just look for something ready in the kitchenette. I'm hungry anyway.]
Yun Zhao accepted his fate and prepared himself mentally. It was just a plate of osmanthus cake, something he could make with his eyes closed.
Returning to the brightly lit Zichen Palace, Zhang Fuan's expression relaxed instantly upon seeing Yun Zhao was safe and sound. He heaved a long sigh of relief and hurriedly greeted him, "Your Majesty, the kitchen has prepared some tranquilizing soup and head cakes. You..."
"Who did it?" Yun Zhao interrupted him with a sharp look.
Zhang Fuan understood immediately: "Master Chef, tonight...Cao Yunzhu is on duty." He lowered his voice.
The last trace of fear in Yun Zhao's eyes completely faded away, replaced by his usual coldness and calmness.
She turned to Xiao Jin, her voice steady and calm, "Your Majesty, please sit down for a moment and have some tea. I'll go to the kitchen and make you some osmanthus cake."
Xiao Jin said "hmm" lightly, then turned his gaze to Wang Gui and said in a stern tone, "Bring the person up here. I want to ask him in person."
Zhang Fuan looked at the situation and instantly understood about 70% of it, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.
…
The small kitchen was brightly lit and filled with steam.
Yunzhu was anxiously watching over the soothing soup on the stove. When she saw Yun Zhao pushing the door open, she was startled like a cat whose tail was stepped on. She jumped up from the stool, the blood drained from her face, and she forced a stiff smile: "Shang... Shangshi, you're back? Are you... staying well in the mansion?" Her voice was trembling unconcealably.
Yun Zhao didn't stop and walked straight to her.
The invisible pressure made Cao Yunzhu subconsciously want to retreat, but Yun Zhao attacked as fast as lightning, and his cold fingertips pinched her chin hard, forcing her to raise her head!
A cold smile played across Yun Zhao's lips, but his eyes were as cold as a poisoned blade. His voice was as soft as a whisper, but every word pierced Cao Yunzhu's ears like an icicle: "Thanks to you, Cao Yunzhu. Guess... how much does His Majesty know?"
Cao Yunzhu's pupils suddenly shrank, and a huge fear gripped her heart. She forced herself to hold on, her voice shrill, with a sobbing tone that was both fierce and cowardly: "Shangshi! This servant... This servant doesn't understand what you are saying! Did I do something wrong? You can't wrongly accuse a good person!"
"Unfair?" Yun Zhao sneered, and the hand that was pinching her chin suddenly loosened, and at the same time, without warning, he raised his leg -
"Bang!"
There was a dull thud! Cao Yunzhu felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, and was kicked violently and sent flying, landing heavily on the cold, greasy stone floor! It felt as if all her internal organs had shifted!
Before she could even cry out in pain, a muddy palace boot, with tremendous force, crushed her slender white fingers that were supporting herself on the ground!
"Ah——!!!" A shrill scream instantly broke the silence of the kitchen! The piercing pain made Cao Yunzhu twitch all over, and cold sweat instantly soaked her inner clothes!
"Scream!" Yun Zhao looked down at her from above, his boot soles grinding coldly and harder. His eyes were like those of a struggling ant, but his voice was eerily calm. "Go ahead and scream! See if you can summon someone to save you in the dead of night with your broken throat!"
She leaned forward slightly, getting close to Cao Yunzhu's face, which was twisted in pain. Her voice was as cold as a venomous snake's tongue, piercing the bone: "I was able to come back alive. Do you think... it was luck?"
"Cao Yunzhu, I put you in the Shangshi Bureau. Do you really think... I can't do anything to you?"
"Do you think... your dirty thoughts and tricks can be hidden from His Majesty? Hmm?"
The severe pain and the absolute control and murderous intent revealed in Yun Zhao's words completely broke down Cao Yunzhu's psychological defenses!
She looked at Yun Zhao's eyes, which were deep and seemed to see through everything, and at the hand that was cruelly crushing her joints. A biting chill instantly froze her blood!
It’s over…it’s all over!
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