Chapter 284 Crushed

It was getting dark outside quickly.

The lantern, symbolizing favor, was hung high at the door of Yanling Palace.

Hawking Chi got off the carriage and looked up at the lantern.

The red lanterns looked very festive, but this touch of red light in the dark night also revealed some ominous blood color.

He quickly retracted his gaze, "Let's go!"

Xu An followed him through the gate and shouted, "The Emperor is here!"

Fang Danying had been waiting at the palace gate with her people. When the emperor came up to her, she immediately bowed and saluted, "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

The icy beauty who was usually wrapped in frost now transformed into a shy and gentle girl with a sweet smile.

Huo Jinchi reached out and helped her up. He did not let go immediately. Instead, he asked with a smile, "What kind of incense is this?"

The tentative words sounded more like flirting to Nie. She blushed and said, "I'm just looking for some spices."

Huo Jinchi hummed, let go of her hand, and walked into the hall first.

Nie Danying followed closely behind with a look of joy on his face.

But only those who were watching knew that if the emperor really liked her, he would never have walked into the palace first.

Just like when it came to Concubine Xi, the Emperor always held Concubine Xi's hand and entered the palace with her.

At this moment, Yun Qin, who was being talked about by them, suddenly sneezed in the distant Anlan Pavilion.

"What's wrong with the master?" Tingchun quickly handed over a handkerchief and said to Danxue beside him, "Quickly close the window. It's cold at night. Don't let the master catch a cold."

"It's nothing, it's just a sneeze. You look so frightened." Yun Qin rubbed the goose bumps on her arms. "Is someone scolding me behind my back?"

"Thinking and scolding, someone is thinking about the master."

Tingchun finished speaking with a smile, but she saw Danxue and Rong Xin beside her both changed their expressions. She then realized that the person who should miss the queen the most was in Yanling Palace at this moment.

She immediately reached out and slapped her lips twice, looking annoyed.

The sudden silence made Yunqin look up at a few people. Looking at their expressions, Yunqin knew what they were thinking and couldn't help but smile.

"Your master is not so petty!"

She didn't tell them because she didn't want to scare them. Tonight might be the day Nie agreed to die...

Dan Xue was the first to react, and quickly placed a white piece on the chessboard, "Play chess, play chess, it's time for the master to go!"

"Ha..." Yun Qin laughed briefly and put down the black piece on her fingertips. Immediately, a bunch of white pieces were completely surrounded.

She happily twisted them one by one, "Danxue, Danxue, you are going to lose miserably tonight!"

Seeing that there was really no trace of gloom on her face, Tingchun became lively again and mocked her mercilessly: "Danxue, Danxue, I told you that you are bad at chess, but you still don't admit it!"

This made Dan Xue reach out and pinch her arm.

——

In Yanling Palace.

Hawking and Nie agreed to sit at the two ends of the couch, with tea placed in front of them.

Compared to Nie's nervousness in agreeing, Huo Jinchi was much more relaxed. He reached out and took out a book beside him.

Nie replied hurriedly, "They are all the books I read for fun on weekdays."

Hawking Chi hummed faintly again, turned the page, and just read it like this.

She has always wanted to sleep with the emperor, but how much does Nie Danying know about the emperor?

Sitting there like this, she racked her brains but couldn't find any suitable topic to talk about.

Finally, he talked about his father and brothers, saying how much good land they had reclaimed at the border this spring, and that the drought had finally eased. He wondered how much grain they would produce during the autumn harvest.

Speaking of the border, Huo Jinchi finally raised his head and said to her, "Your father and brother have been stationed at the border for many years. They have indeed worked hard and made great contributions. The drought last year also made them suffer."

"Not bitter." Nie Danying smiled and said, "Father often warned us that the court has its own difficulties. The emperor is wise and will never treat the soldiers at the border unfairly."

Huo Jinchi was silent for a moment, as if touched, and looked at her with a deep gaze, "Your father and brother are the backbone of our dynasty, you must not bring shame to their reputation."

This made Nie Danying's expression stiffen for a moment, but he soon recovered and nodded with a smile, "Of course."

Then, she glanced out the window and said softly, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. It's time to rest..."

When Cuixuan heard this, she immediately raised her head and was horrified.

Nie agreed but ignored her expression and continued to look at the emperor tenderly.

Didn't she know that the emperor must have other purposes in coming here at this moment?

In the past few days, no news has been heard from the palace. We don’t know what the situation is in the Empress Dowager’s palace, nor do we know what the Emperor has secretly discovered.

The anxiety, suspicion, pain and torture of drugs have made her exhausted and almost crazy.

Nie Danying felt that he could no longer hide, and he didn't want to hide anymore...

Looking at her, Huo Jinchi was silent for two seconds before nodding, "Okay, let's take a break."

He stood up and held out his hand to Nie Danying.

Nie Danying put her hand in his palm, lowered her eyes and smiled. The next second, she was pulled up, and before she could react, her collar was grabbed by another hand.

With a "swish" sound, her clothes were torn off.

But Nie Danying felt that this sound not only tore off her clothes, but also tore her ambitions and dreams to pieces at this moment.

"master!"

Cuixuan rushed over and caught Nie who was pushed away and agreed.

She curled up in Cuixuan's arms, with her upper body exposed to the air. Except for her shoulders, the rest of her body was tightly wrapped with bandages.

Huo Jinchi grabbed her clothes with one hand and retreated a few steps away. There was only fierceness in his eyes, without any tenderness.

"Nie Hongwan, I have given you enough opportunities tonight. If you can be honest with me, I will give you enough dignity for the sake of your father and brother!"

But it was obvious that she was determined to stick with it to the end.

Huo Jinchi was not sure what she was going to do next. Since she was skilled in martial arts, he would not give her a chance to attack...

If it really came to this, she would have no choice but to die for the crime of assassinating the emperor, and he would really not be able to give an explanation to his father and brother.

Cuixuan had already found some clothes for Nie Hongwan to put on.

"Come in!" Following Huo Jinchi's order, the imperial guards rushed in immediately.

Cuixuan put Nie Hongwan behind her and knelt down with a plop. "Your Majesty, I did everything. My master was deceived by me. It was me who hated the Queen Mother and targeted my master. I deceived Li and asked her to sue the Queen Mother. It was all me who did it. It has nothing to do with my master, Your Majesty!"

She kowtowed repeatedly, and in a few moments, her forehead was covered in blood.

Nie Hongwan lowered her eyes and looked at Cuixuan, her expression eerily calm. She was clearly in the middle of it all, yet she felt like an outsider.

When she finally saw the bloodstains on Cuixuan's forehead, she seemed to wake up from a dream and shouted, "It's me! I did it all!"

She looked at Huo Jinchi, "It was me who bought the palace maid and then murdered her to silence her. It was me who planned Li's lawsuit and murdered Li! Your Majesty, you can kill me or behead me as you wish!"