Qin Zongzhi was about to lead Zhao Yunzhu in when he was stopped by the eunuch at the door.
Zhao Yunzhu looked at him and said, "Your Highness, I can go alone."
Seeing her nod, Qin Zongzhi let go of her hand even though he didn't dare.
He turned to look at the eunuch who was blocking his way, bowed, and said solemnly, "Excuse me, sir."
Zhao Yunzhu felt a little nervous and followed the eunuch into the imperial study.
"Miss Zhao, the emperor is waiting inside."
The eunuch pushed open the door of the imperial study, stood aside, bent over, and raised his hand to invite her in.
Zhao Yunzhu nodded slightly and stepped into the imperial study.
In the imperial study, the windows were closed, the strong scent of ambergris wafted in the air, and the atmosphere in the hall was solemn and depressing.
The bright yellow dragon-patterned tent swayed slightly.
Behind the dragon table in the hall, the emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe held memorials in both hands, his brows furrowed, and his whole body exuded a strong aura of solemnity and murderousness.
Zhao Yunzhu stepped forward, slowly knelt down, placed her hands on the ground, and placed her forehead on the ground. "I, Zhao Yunzhu, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
She has a clear voice.
The emperor did not move his hands at all, and glanced at the girl kneeling on the ground through the gap in the memorial with the corner of his eye.
The atmosphere in the hall was deathly silent.
"It's been years since I last saw you. Look up and let me take a good look at you."
A powerful and majestic voice slowly spread in the hall.
This doesn't sound like he's been sick.
Zhao Yunzhu slowly raised her head, her eyes slightly lowered, and did not meet the emperor's eyes.
"It seems that there is no change. It is still the same as before."
The emperor threw the memorial onto the table with a clanging sound.
"I never thought that Old Nine would challenge me for you. When you married into the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion, it was I who granted the marriage, and I didn't hear Old Nine say anything at that time."
The emperor looked at Zhao Yunzhu closely, as if he could get some clues from her.
"When did you and Lao Jiu get together?"
The emperor leaned back.
"Your Majesty, on the day I was driven out of the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion, I happened to meet the Ninth Prince alone."
Zhao Yunzhu brought up the events of that day and said, "The Ninth Prince is kind-hearted. Seeing my plight, he brought me back from the street."
"What? Are you saying that I am cold-blooded and a tyrant?"
The emperor suddenly sat up straight, his eyes majestic.
Zhao Yunzhu, who was kneeling in the hall, was trembling.
"Your Majesty, I have no such intention."
There was no sign of anything wrong under the emperor's calm expression.
"Your Majesty is wise and powerful. Your Majesty's decision is the result of the emperor's great grace. I dare not deceive your majesty."
Zhao Yunzhu pressed her fingertips heavily on the ground and rested her forehead on the ground.
The eyes hidden in the darkness were filled with burning anger.
How many people are there in her Zhao family?
What crime had the Zhao family committed? Just because they pleaded for the deposed crown prince, they were smeared with infamy by the emperor. With so many people in the Zhao family, what was that?
When she learned that the emperor wanted to see her.
She wished she could take the emperor's life with her own hands, but she knew she couldn't do it.
On the way here, she did not show any hatred in front of Qin Zongzhi.
Now, in front of the emperor, he still didn't show any trace.
From the moment Qin Zongzhi appeared, she had a plan in mind.
The only person she can use is Qin Zongzhi.
"Well, I didn't underestimate you."
The emperor's mind is full of twists and turns, and his mood changes rapidly in the blink of an eye.
"Zhao Yunzhu, do you hate me?"
The emperor changed the subject again. Zhao Yunzhu looked up, her figure swaying slightly. She shook her head and replied, "The emperor's grace is so great that I dare not."
"Don't dare? You still follow Lao Jiu. I don't believe you when I say you don't have the courage."
The emperor placed his hands on the dragon table and said, "I am the Son of Heaven. Your father dared to disobey me. He does not respect me as the emperor!"
"I'm sparing the life of a married woman like you, out of respect for your grandfather. Zhao Yunzhu, please don't be ungrateful!"
"I dare not."
The emperor's words were full of warnings. Zhao Yunzhu showed a hint of timidity on her face, and even her voice trembled slightly.
The emperor took in all her emotions and was particularly satisfied.
After all, she was a woman in the harem, a noble lady brought up in a noble family in Chang'an, and was once known as the most talented woman in Chang'an. So what?
Aren’t you just caring about your own life now?
The emperor waved his hand, pointed to a chair beside him, and said, "Stand up and sit down to talk."
Zhao Yunzhu thanked the emperor for his grace and then sat down on the chair on the right side of the hall.
"Do you know why I want to see you today?"
Zhao Yunzhu shook her head.
"I am old now. Old Nine was exiled from the palace due to my negligence. Although I found him later, I still feel I owe him so much for making him suffer so much in his childhood."
"Ever since Lao Jiu was found, I have asked him what compensation he wanted, but he didn't ask for anything."
"Now, Old Nine has asked me to avenge the debt I owed him for you. All I have to do is allow you to stay in the Ninth Prince's residence."
"However, with your status, you can only be the ninth brother's concubine for the rest of your life. It's impossible for you to even be a concubine."
"Do you have any complaints?"
Zhao Yunzhu stood up and knelt again. "Your Majesty, I dare not complain at all. I am already content to have a place to stay."
She understood it very well.
The emperor agreed to this only because Song Shumin had given her a sterilizing decoction.
Otherwise, how could the emperor agree to the Ninth Prince?
"I called you here today to let you know that your name will never be included in my Royal Jade Butterfly in this lifetime. If you use Old Nine to cause trouble, I—"
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