Then, he bowed to the Empress.
"Step down." The Empress's expression was gentle, but it was clear that she had no emotion.
Consort Lan has left, and Prince Xian has withdrawn.
Their figures were all so lonely and desolate, like fallen stones and scattered sand.
"Guards, take this woman named Little Flower Cat and this man surnamed Xiao with you, and have them leave the palace with General Xie and Miss Xie."
The Empress then gave instructions to those outside the palace.
Immediately, guards entered and took Xie Lingqin and the man from the Xiao family away from the palace.
General Xie is still sitting on a cloud even now.
He had thought that the General's Mansion would be tarnished today, so he had planned to plead with the Emperor to help him find his second daughter and restore his reputation, but he never expected Xie Lingqin...
It is common knowledge, yet also an unspoken understanding, that Xie Lingqin, whom the Emperor clearly fears, has received such a dramatic reversal and care.
In this investigation, everything that is required must be cooperated with; this right is practically limitless.
"General Xie, you may go ahead. I will speak with Miss Xie for a few more minutes." The Empress suddenly looked at General Xie.
General Xie nodded hurriedly, "Yes." Then, he left the hall.
In the empty council hall, the sunlight shifted, casting a shadow.
The Empress then walked over, gently took Xie Lingqin's hand, sighed, and her face showed obvious solemnity, "Girl, the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind. Do you understand?"
Xie Lingqin's eyelashes trembled as she took in the worry in the Empress's eyes. She nodded gently, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I know that things always turn around when they reach their extreme. The Emperor can be so lenient, but he could also take my life at any moment. Others may think he has shown me great favor, but he is also making me a target for those who covet and harm me. I understand."
"Indeed, he possesses a clever and ingenious mind."
The Empress smiled, glanced around, tightened her grip on Xie Lingqin's hand, and said with a smile in her eyes, "She truly is the wife my son has chosen; she's so clever."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingqin's ears immediately turned red.
“Remember, if that boy bullies you, just tell me. In front of outsiders, we can be a little distant, but in private, you don’t need to have any reservations. I am the most open-minded mother-in-law in the world.”
Xie Lingqin...
The Empress is so kind and approachable, it's hard to resist her charm.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, he can't bully me. I'm very capable." Xie Lingqin nodded cautiously. The Empress's words reminded her of their awkward first meeting in the Phoenix Palace...
"I'll escort her," a voice suddenly rang out at the palace entrance.
Yuwen Yao came against the light.
"You?" Xie Lingqin hurried over, looked behind Yuwen Yao, and said with a serious expression, "This is the palace. I didn't mean we should discuss our matter later."
"Yes, I'll take you back to the General's Mansion, and then we can discuss it together."
Xie Lingqin rubbed her forehead, "If we're together like this, it'll arouse suspicion, won't it?"
Yuwen Yao, however, seemed completely unconcerned. He raised his hand and flicked Xie Lingqin's forehead. "As the Crown Prince, I didn't show myself when there was such a commotion earlier. Now I'm here to help Yuwen Xian clean up his mess. It's perfectly reasonable. Who can suspect anything?"
That's true.
No problem.
But, as long as there's nothing wrong with it, there's still something wrong with you doing – you only flicked it once, then flicked it twice…
Xie Lingqin raised her hand and forcefully brushed Yuwen Yao's hand away. "Your mother is still watching from behind. Can't you be a little more reserved?"
Yuwen Yao slowly withdrew his hand, his eyelids darkening, a hint of resentment in his voice, "Xie Lingqin, you should know that I used up all my self-control to resist kissing you right away."
Xie Lingqin...
Can this guy stop changing his tune so easily and making her heart race so high?
"Your Majesty, um, my father is still waiting outside. I'll go with him first."
Xie Lingqin turned around and met the Empress's gentle and kind face, then quickly took her leave.
The Empress waved her hand, "It's alright, let the Crown Prince escort you."
Xie Lingqin...
Go ahead and give it to me.
She wouldn't mind as long as he behaved himself.
Besides, there's still something I haven't done.
The fact is, when Yuwen Yao and Xie Lingqin walked out of the council hall, it was said that General Xie, Xie Lingyu, and that man from the Xiao family had already been sent out of the palace by the Crown Prince's men.
At this moment, Yuwen Yao walked slowly and leisurely towards the palace gate, with Xie Lingqin following behind.
"Don't look at me like that. When the Emperor issued the decree to you, he also ordered me to assist you. Therefore, sending you back and having Xie Lingyu escorted out of the palace are all reasonable things."
Finally, Yuwen Yao offered an explanation under Xie Lingqin's solemn gaze.
Xie Lingxin suddenly realized, "I knew it!"
He visibly breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward, and glared at her. "I see you have plenty of spies in this palace. You can't be wrong. Where is that Yuwen Jie? Take me there."
"Come."
Yuwen Yao said.
Xie Lingqin frowned and looked around. "What do you mean, 'come here'? Lead the way."
Hold my hand.
"Yuwen Yao, don't be too careless. If we get discovered, we'll all be in big trouble."
Yuwen Yao's eyes were gentle as he reached out his hand, his tone almost coaxing, "I have many informants, don't worry. Come here, take my hand."
Xie Lingqin thought for a moment, then looked around again, and finally, seeing Yuwen Yao's excessively handsome hand, she handed it over. "Okay, let's hold hands."
"Why are your hands so small?" Yuwen Yao exclaimed, holding Xie Lingqin's hand tightly in his palm.
Xie Lingqin was speechless, her face cold and uncomfortable. "Your Highness, can you please stop acting like you've never eaten pork or seen a pig before?"
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