"I am deeply apprehensive. Assisting the Emperor is my duty and responsibility. How could I possibly harbor any ill intentions?"
Yan Qu deliberately spoke the last four words very slowly, leaving a meaning that was difficult to understand.
But it was precisely this hypocritical and mean-spirited look of his that made Yan Fu hate him yet feel helpless. He approached Yan Qu a little closer, the wind flowing lightly from his brows. In his sharp eyes, the faint sight of a blood-licking dragon had already spread its cold fangs:
"Yan Qu, since you understand the relationship between monarch and minister, you won't still be thinking about the imperial concubine."
The man's drooping eyelashes concealed the coldness in his eyes that kept people at a distance. The cold light disappeared in an instant, and then his smile deepened. The corners of his eyes, like the tail of a phoenix, became more handsome.
"The Imperial Concubine's body is worth a thousand gold coins. How dare this humble servant covet it? It doesn't matter if the Emperor dislikes me. Please don't let this filthy little chaff of mine bring disgrace upon the Empress."
Yan Qu's words not only cleared up his relationship with Qiao Yu, but only to outsiders. He hoped they would control their tongues and not gossip about him.
But if it is really as he said, how could a person as aloof and arrogant as Yan Qu compare himself to dust?
Although Prince Yan Qu'an was not born noble, he is now the Regent Prince An, who is so powerful that even the emperor has to give way to him. Who dares to truly surpass him?
"you!"
In the past, even if Yan Fu couldn't do anything to him, he would still make Hua Yunlan suffer.
But things are different now. He has Qiao Yu in his heart, so he naturally doesn't want to let her be drowned by those corrupt scholars' long-winded accusations and insults:
"Okay, okay, Prince An is truly my good uncle, always thinking of me. Do you think you can alienate me and the Imperial Concubine by doing this?"
Yun Lan had always been on the same side with him on important matters, but before that bitch ruined things, Yan Fu was 100% sure that Qiao Yu would wait for him, but now...
But he said this just to bluff, not wanting Yan Qu to succeed.
"I respectfully wish that your Majesty will achieve his wish. I will immediately have my servants prepare the portrait of the chosen empress and send it to the Yangxin Palace. Your Majesty must carefully and swiftly appoint a new empress. The battle on the border cannot be delayed even for a moment. I will take my leave."
After the people had gone away, the emperor no longer concealed the murderous intent in his eyes, until a servant came forward to pour tea and accidentally glanced at him, frightened so much that the teacup lost its balance and fell out.
"Yu Yuanting dragged the man out and beat him to death."
The cold and heartless command frightened the unfortunate innocent man so much that he kept begging for mercy:
"Your Majesty, please spare me, Your Majesty, please spare me..."
The noisy voices soon disappeared. If he didn't handle things properly, he would be the next one to lose his head. The young eunuch beside Yu Yuanting wiped the sweat from his forehead, feeling a little scared.
Qiao Yu was painting in the house as usual, and the painting was of the cloud-spotted purple iris in Prince An's Mansion.
Li Shi, who was serving beside him, had no idea what kind of flowers the painting was, nor did she know the deep meaning behind it. She only knew that the flowers were painted by her own queen so vividly and delicately.
"What kind of flowers did you draw, Madam? They are so beautiful, just like the real ones..."
Irises are very common in the wild and grow well even without anyone taking care of them. Li Shi was able to serve the current imperial concubine, so she was no less humble than the other palace maids. She came from a family with some status, so naturally she didn't know about this wild flower, let alone a special variety of iris.
Li Shi didn't know, but how could Lin Dong, who was born in Prince An's Mansion, not know it? So when Li Shi asked this, he glared at her with a warning look.
"Sister Winter is so fierce, Your Majesty's paintings are indeed beautiful. This servant asked out of curiosity, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me..."
Although Li Shi didn't know what she had done wrong, she was simple-minded and knew that since the aunt in charge said she was wrong, she was wrong, so she begged for forgiveness from Qiao Yu very sincerely.
Qiao Yu chuckled, and without thinking too much like Lin Dong, she lightly tapped the tip of the girl's nose with the handle of her paintbrush:
"Winter is always cold and aloof. I don't mean to blame you. This flower is called Iris, which means light and freedom."
Li Shi didn't quite understand what was said, but she knew that her master was not angry with her, so she just smiled foolishly and responded.
The palace maid guarding the door came in and announced:
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is coming..."
"Didn't I order you not to see visitors while I'm ill?"
Although Qiao Yu had previously instructed not to see anyone, when someone came, she said she was ill and had recovered from the illness. Naturally, the servants knew who the "someone" their master was talking about was.
But the other party was the emperor after all, and the little maid trembled and risked her life to refuse, but it was useless and she had to come in and ask:
"The Emperor seems to have something urgent to do and is looking for the Empress. He insists on seeing her, so this servant...this servant..."
"I don't need to worry about that. Lin Dong will collect the painting... If you don't need it, just leave it here."
Qiao Yu was not a person who was harsh on his servants, so he did not punish the palace maid. Who in the palace dared to stop Yan Fu from doing what he wanted to do?
But she had neither the mood nor the energy to deal with Yan Fu, so she deliberately placed the painting on the table.
When Yan Fu entered the room, he saw the woman standing in front of the table with a pen in hand, seemingly drawing something.
The windows in the house were covered with bright paper. The warm sunlight shone through the paper and fell on the woman's beautiful face. Compared with her, even the most brilliant brocade seemed dull and colorless.
"I have caught a cold and am unfit to see Your Majesty. Your Majesty should not come, lest the illness spread to you."
It seemed like she didn't even want to pretend to deal with him anymore. Yan Fu felt bitter in his heart, but he only cared about her health and ignored her indifference:
"How come you caught a cold again? It seems these servants didn't take good care of you."
The man's voice was extremely cold and contained a hint of danger, causing the woman who was painting to flinch. The ink droplets fell onto the paper and spread out, ruining her beautiful painting.
The palace maids serving in the room quickly knelt down and begged for mercy, expressing their sincerity.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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