Chapter 95 Falling from Favor
The Queen Mother wore an elusive smile, her gaze piercing Yun Zhao like a probe. Was she truly hoping Yun Zhao would fall in love with the Emperor, using this as leverage, or was she trying to force Yun Zhao to reveal his true hand?
Yun Zhao felt a slight chill run down his spine, but he responded flawlessly, his voice clear and respectful: "I absolutely dare not! Your Majesty is supremely powerful, and I can only be in awe and loyal, not even the slightest bit covetous!"
At this moment, a cold voice came from outside the hall. Xiao Jin came uninvited and stepped into the hall. "Mother, I have come so abruptly and without any prior notice. I hope I have not disturbed your peace."
Yun Zhao was startled and immediately bowed, lowered his head and held his breath.
The Empress Dowager glanced back and forth between the Emperor and Yun Zhao, her tone tinged with subtle sarcasm. "Yun Zhao arrived just as the Emperor arrived. If word got out, those who didn't know would think the Emperor was afraid I'd eat your capable concubine!"
Xiao Jin's face was calm, his eyes lightly sweeping over Yun Zhao, who stood respectfully beside him. His tone was as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "I thought she was still recuperating from her illness. Duke Yun will be returning to the capital soon, and I can't treat his beloved daughter with disrespect. Mother, do you think this makes sense?"
Empress Dowager Zhou paused slightly as she twirled her Buddhist beads, then turned the conversation elsewhere, her tone tinged with obvious sourness and probing. "The Emperor recently quelled the rebellion of refugees in Jingxiang with swift and decisive measures. He dispatched officials to open government offices and ordered the opening of restricted mountains to allow people to cultivate. He's truly generous and decisive."
Yun Zhao lowered his eyes and stood still, but he couldn't help but sneer in his heart: [How sarcastic! In order to suppress the emperor, he is unwilling to support such a wise policy that benefits the country and the people, and only cares about his own selfish interests!]
Xiao Jin seemed oblivious to the Queen Mother's hidden message and calmly replied, "Your Majesty, I am deeply honored. This is all my responsibility. As a ruler, I naturally hope for a peaceful and prosperous country. I also want to be a diligent and wise ruler, and I'm sure Your Majesty, Your Majesty, would also wish for this, right?"
[Well done! This biased old hag! Xiao Jin's reputation has been so bad over the years, and it's most likely because of her behind the scenes!]
Yun Zhao's inner voice reached Xiao Jin's ears clearly and unmistakably.
Hearing that she was standing on his side without reservation, Xiao Jin's previous chill caused by her words "never marrying" instantly dissipated like a dark cloud.
Since she said she was not moved, he would find a way to make her fall in love!
Empress Dowager Zhou was rebuffed by Xiao Jin's words, neither soft nor hard. Her face darkened slightly, but she was unable to refute. She could only say angrily, "Of course. Well, I'm tired too. The Emperor is busy with government affairs, so you can go and do your work."
[Are you ordering us to leave now?] Yun Zhao pondered.
Xiao Jin stood up obediently and smiled slightly, "Then I will not disturb your rest, mother."
He stood up and tried to leave, but he didn't know whether it was intentional or serious, he stumbled and fell forward!
"Your Majesty!" Yun Zhao exclaimed, and quickly stepped forward to hold his arm firmly. Her voice was filled with genuine panic, "Your Majesty! What's wrong with you? Your eyes... are you... again..." She suddenly stopped talking, realizing her mistake, and immediately corrected herself, her tone urgent, "I will go and summon the imperial physician immediately!"
Xiao Jin stood up with her support, waved his hand, and said calmly, "It's okay! I just got up in a hurry and got dizzy for a moment."
Empress Dowager Zhou took in the entire scene, a gleam in her eyes as she immediately said with concern, "Emperor, your health is of paramount importance. If you feel unwell, you must not act recklessly. It is best to summon the imperial physician immediately!"
Xiao Jin turned around and said in a firm tone: "Thank you for your concern, mother. I am really fine. I just stepped on empty air accidentally." After that, he was supported by Yun Zhaoxu and left.
As soon as they left the main hall of the Cining Palace, Yun Zhao immediately lowered his voice and asked anxiously, "Your Majesty, your eyes...are they not healed yet?"
Xiao Jin pulled his arm back, distanced himself from her, and said calmly, "I'm fine. But have you recovered from your cold?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am fine now." Yun Zhao noticed the subtle change in his attitude and responded softly.
Xiao Jin hummed, his tone much colder and more distant than before. "You've handled the Sixth Bureau's affairs very well. I've read your report. You will continue to manage my harem. As for personal service... I won't need you for now."
Yun Zhao's heart seemed to be hit by something suddenly, and it suddenly felt empty, and an indescribable bitterness spread.
[What's wrong? What did I do to offend him? He's suddenly so cold, and I actually feel... very uncomfortable.]
She suppressed her strange feeling, bowed her head and replied, "Yes, I obey your command."
Xiao Jin's gaze drifted off into the distance, his tone devoid of emotion. "Those maids you assigned earlier were quite disciplined in serving me and serving me tea, and I find them quite suitable. Now that you are the Shang Gong, you only need to be in charge of the overall situation. You don't need to do everything yourself. If you need anything in the future, just report it to Zhang Fuan. If it's not a major matter... you don't need to come to my side so often."
Yun Zhao was stunned for a moment, the empty feeling in her heart becoming more and more obvious. She whispered, "...I understand. I'll take my leave."
[Has he... figured it out? No longer needs my close attention? That's fine... but my heart feels like it's missing a piece, empty and uncomfortable. People really can't get used to a certain kind of company...]
She turned and left with a sense of loss that she herself had not yet noticed.
Xiao Jin stared at her gradually receding figure until she disappeared, then he slowly turned around and swept his cold gaze across the plaque of the Cining Palace, with a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.
In just a few days, all kinds of rumors spread quietly in every corner of the harem like wings:
"Have you heard? Concubine Yun might have fallen out of favor!"
"That's right! His Majesty now has a new love, the palace maid in charge of writing and serving the emperor in bed, named Ayun!"
"I heard that Ayun's eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to those of the former Concubine Su."
"What nonsense! She clearly looks more like your Majesty's deceased mother!"
"Tsk tsk, she's only been in the limelight for a few months? Even if she's the daughter of a Duke, she can still fall out of favor just like that."
"Alas, yesterday, Concubine Yun went to ask for an audience with His Majesty, but it was said that His Majesty was favoring that Ayun, so I didn't even get to see her!"
"It seems that this harem will soon have a new master..."
"There's something even more frightening! Have you heard... His Majesty's eyesight seems to be failing again! There are also rumors that he sleepwalks in the middle of the night... and even... kills people!"
"What? It happened again? Didn't you say it was just a rumor before?"
"Who knows? There's no word from the Imperial Hospital, which is even more terrifying..."
Behind the rockery, two young palace maids were whispering enthusiastically when suddenly a cold voice sounded from behind them:
"Are you two receiving too many unnecessary duties? Do you really have the audacity to comment on the affairs of the Emperor?"
Yun Zhao walked out slowly from behind the corridor pillar, his face as gloomy as water, and his eyes swept across the two palace maids who were instantly frightened and pale.
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