Chapter 7 Yun Zhao, are you playing both sides?
"Long live His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin..." The voices of the palace servants were filled with fear and awe.
The imperial city is neither big nor small. These royal nobles and children of aristocratic families of similar age grew up together and are familiar with each other.
Yun Zhao, Xiao Jin, Su Mingli, Qin Wang Xiao Yan, Jin Wang Xiao Heng... all of them were like this. If you look up, you won't see them; if you look down, you'll see them.
Among them, few people are unaware of the unspoken devotion of King Jin Xiao Heng to Yun Zhao.
Unfortunately, the late emperor and the empress dowager assigned Yun Zhao to Qin Wang Xiao Yan.
As for Xiao Yan and Su Mingli's secret plan?
That was the filth that Yun Zhao had discovered after wandering in the underworld for ten years.
In her previous life, she was kept in the dark until her death.
In this life, since she had entered the palace as a maid, breaking off the engagement was inevitable.
In the severe pain that made her mind go blank, Yun Zhao felt the hand that was supporting her being suddenly pushed away, and a familiar figure strode towards her with the wind.
It’s Xiao Heng.
He pushed Su Mingli away without hesitation, leaned over and carefully helped Yun Zhao up. His movements were gentle and almost cherishing, and his voice was filled with undisguised anxiety and guilt:
"Ah Zhao! I'm sorry... I'm back late! I heard something happened to the Yun family, so I rushed back day and night, but I didn't expect..."
He glanced at her swollen fingers and the mess on the ground, then looked at her pale, tearful face, feeling even more distressed. "I never thought my brother would bring you into the palace and let you suffer such injustice!"
Yun Zhao was still a little dazed. The severe pain in her fingertips and the sudden change made her slow to react.
Xiao Heng had already grasped her uninjured wrist and said firmly:
"Let's go! Follow me to see my brother! Duke Yun is a loyal and courageous man, how could he be corrupt? Someone must have framed you! I'll ask my brother to release you from the palace! You are the legitimate daughter of the Yun family, the Duke's jewel, how could you...how could you be a slave here?!"
He pulled her towards the main hall.
After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and pierced Su Mingli, whose face turned pale, with his eyes like a cold blade. His voice was so cold that ice chips could fall off:
"Su Mingli, you come along too! Let's go to the Emperor and have a good talk about how you bullied Ah Zhao today!"
…
In the main hall of Yanying Palace, candles were brightly lit, but the air was as stagnant as lead.
After Zhang Fuan reported, the three of them stepped into this palace which symbolizes supreme power.
After the ceremony, Yun Zhao and Su Mingli were still kneeling on the ground and were not allowed to stand up.
Xiao Jin's cold gaze swept across the three of them, finally settling on Xiao Heng: "Ah Heng hurried back to the capital just to seek justice for Yun Zhao?"
"Yes, my Royal Brother!" Xiao Heng's voice was filled with urgency and pleading. "I beg you to show mercy and let Ah Zhao return home! She...she is still engaged to my Royal Brother, the Prince of Qin!"
Xiao Jin's gaze suddenly turned to Yun Zhao. His eyes were as sharp as ice cones, and the corners of his lips curled up in a cold arc. "Oh, Miss Yun, you are really capable. My two royal brothers are all around you."
[What does it have to do with me? You Xiao family just love to mess around with couples!]
Zhao was filled with anger in his heart, but he lowered his eyes, held his breath, and said nothing.
The veins on the back of Xiao Jin's hand where he held his forehead were slightly bulging.
Xiao Heng said anxiously, "Royal brother, how can Ah Zhao be blamed for this? I am thinking of the friendship we have shared since childhood, and I cannot bear to see her suffer! May I ask, Royal brother, what did Ah Zhao do wrong to be forced to enter the palace as a maid and endure such bullying?!"
"Ah Heng!" Xiao Jin's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable pressure. "You have made great contributions in handling the case, but that does not allow you to question my decision! Moreover—" He changed the subject, his cold gaze fixed on Yun Zhao again, and each word was clearly expressed. "Yun Zhao entered the palace willingly. Yun Zhao, tell Prince Jin, is that right or wrong?"
He spoke the last few words very harshly, and the invisible threat was like a real shackle.
[A naked threat! A tyrant!] Yun Zhao was filled with hatred.
Everyone's eyes were instantly fixed on Yun Zhao, as if they were thorns in their backs.
Xiao Heng's eyes were full of encouragement and trust: "A Zhao, you didn't volunteer, right? Don't be afraid!"
[Of course not! Ah Heng, you are so honest and simple, but do you know that after the tyrant died in your previous life, you were also killed by the King of Qin? Sigh...]
Yun Zhao's throat was clenched with anxiety, and she didn't dare look at Xiao Heng's eyes, which were filled with trust and concern. She stared at the subtle lines on the cold floor tiles, as if she wanted to carve them into her heart. Her nails dug deep into her palms, and she used all her strength to force a broken voice through her teeth: "Your servant... I voluntarily entered the palace as a maid. Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness. Your servant... is deeply grateful!"
Xiao Heng's body froze noticeably, his voice filled with disbelief and sorrow: "A Zhao...you?"
Yun Zhao still lowered her eyes, her voice so low that it was almost inaudible: "Your Highness the Prince of Jin has been exhausted from the long journey. As soon as he returns to the capital, he should quickly pay his respects to the Empress Dowager and then return home to recuperate." She just wanted him to leave this whirlpool as soon as possible.
Xiao Heng sighed heavily, turned his gaze to Xiao Jin, and insisted, "Even if Ah Zhao volunteered, there should be an explanation for Su Mingli's bullying of her!"
[Explanation?] Yun Zhao sneered inwardly, [If it weren't for this bastard emperor's tacit approval and support, how could Su Mingli dare to act so presumptuously in the side hall of Yanying Palace?!]
Su Mingli immediately put on a tearful face and spoke first: "Your Majesty, please understand! It was Yun Zhao who first damaged the South Pearl given by the Empress Dowager. I was in a hurry and lost my balance, so I... accidentally touched her finger. It was definitely not intentional!" She emphasized the word "accidentally" very strongly.
Xiao Jin watched coldly, his knuckles tapping lightly on the polished rosewood table, making a dull echo, each strike hitting people's hearts.
He finally spoke, his voice expressing neither joy nor anger, but carrying an undeniable sense of finality: "Since this is the case, then we are even. Yun Zhao will remain and serve, and the rest of you—withdraw."
"Royal brother!" Xiao Heng protested urgently, "How can this matter be concluded so hastily? Ah Zhao is also the most favored and beloved daughter of the Duke's Mansion, and now she is suffering such humiliation..."
Yun Zhao's heart tightened, fearing that Xiao Heng's persistence would anger Xiao Jin, so she quickly interrupted him, her voice forced with calmness: "Your Highness, Prince Jin, I am fine."
[Ah Heng, Ah Heng, why don't you understand? The dog emperor doesn't want to offend Prime Minister Su, and he is even more partial to his beloved Su Mingli! Why are you like this today...] She was extremely anxious.
Xiao Heng wanted to argue again, but Xiao Jin suddenly raised his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them. His voice suddenly rose, wrapped in thunderous rage: "I said - back off! Don't make me say it a third time!"
Under Yun Zhao's drooping eyelashes, his peripheral vision clearly caught a fleeting smug smile at the corner of Su Mingli's lips, which was filled with sinister and vicious intent.
The last glimmer of hope for past friendship was completely extinguished.
After all, the vague warmth of childhood... has long since vanished like the wind and clouds, leaving no trace.
The hall was silent, Yun Zhao was still kneeling.
Xiao Jin asked, "Although you are engaged to the King of Qin, are you and the King of Jin in love?"
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