"I didn't..." Qin Zhao was helpless.
There's nothing to be jealous of.
Wasn't he the person the little koi stuck to when it was born?
But Jing Li obviously didn't want to discuss this matter anymore and quickly changed the subject.
.
Three days later, the invitation to the Luming Banquet was delivered to Qin Zhao's mansion.
In the study, Ah Qi reported to Qin Zhao the results of his investigation over the past few days.
"...Deng Tianyou was appointed Governor by His Majesty three years ago and has been responsible for the civil and military affairs of Jiangling Province. After your accident... he was also responsible for searching for your whereabouts in the area around Jiangling Province."
Qin Zhao spread the invitation on the table and said leisurely, "I remember that after I left, all the officials who joined my sect were executed or exiled for various reasons. Deng Tianyou not only escaped, but was even promoted..."
"Yes," Ah Qi said, "This person was not a close confidant of the master back then. I'm afraid he saw that the master had lost power and turned to the emperor..."
Qin Zhao looked up at him, a hint of coldness suddenly flashing in his eyes: "Did Gu Changzhou tell you this?"
Ah Qi was startled and lowered his head: "Yes..."
"Have I been too nice to you lately? You've all started to speculate about my thoughts." Qin Zhao leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "I never said I wanted to stand against the little emperor."
"I admit my guilt." Ah Qi suddenly half-knelt on the ground, his figure blurry in the flickering candlelight in the study.
Qin Zhao said coldly, "Get up! What will it look like if someone sees us?"
Ah Qi stood up angrily.
Qin Zhao said, "The world is peaceful now. I have no desire to change the dynasty, nor do I have any ambition to unify the world. I don't want to hear such words again."
"Yes, sir."
"As for Deng Tianyou, do you think I should go or not?" Qin Zhao asked again.
Ah Qi remained silent. Qin Zhao said, "Just tell me. What are you afraid of?"
"Yes." Ah Qi responded, "Your subordinate... I feel that Deng Tianyou's attitude is unclear right now. If we meet rashly, it might be detrimental to your situation."
Qin Zhao looked at the invitation and sighed softly, "I'm already hesitating over just a Luming Feast. How will I cope when I go to the capital? Do I have to hide forever?"
The study fell silent again.
Qin Zhao tapped the armrest of the chair with his fingertips. After a moment, he slowly said, "Not only Deng Tianyou will be at the Luming Banquet, but also several Hanlin scholars. It would be a bit risky to attend the banquet like this."
He took a pen and paper and quickly wrote a few lines on the paper.
After a moment, Qin Zhao put down his pen and said, "Go to the government office tomorrow morning and give this to the prefect. Tell him that I have suddenly fallen ill and will be absent from the Luming Feast."
He let the ink on the paper dry, folded it, and handed it to Ah Qi: "Go."
Ah Qi: "Yes."
Ah Qi took the things and turned to leave.
"Wait." Qin Zhao stopped him and sighed, "Bring me a basin of cold water."
The next day, Qin Zhao lived up to everyone's expectations and had a fever again.
"What's wrong? Weren't you fine yesterday?" Jing Li wrung out the handkerchief and wiped his forehead, asking worriedly, "Did you forget to close the window again while reading last night?"
Qin Zhao lay in bed, sweating profusely. He tilted his head and coughed softly, "It's nothing, maybe I caught a cold."
He wiped his body with cold water last night and sat by the window for half an hour. How could he not catch a cold?
But Jing Li naturally didn't know this.
"I shouldn't have let you stay in the study by yourself. It's so cold in there." Jing Li's eyes turned red with anxiety. He said angrily, "Why can't you take good care of yourself? Aren't you afraid that your brain will burn out one day?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
