Despite his thoughts, he cleared his throat and said, "Lord Su, the Emperor summons you for an audience."
Su Tingyun acted as if he hadn't heard. It wasn't until the third repetition that he burst into manic laughter, "What? Even drawing a dog offends him now?"
Yin Shun frowned. Suddenly, a figure rushed in and splashed a basin of cold water onto Su Tingyun.
Splash—
Su Tingyun, along with his dog painting, was completely drenched. He jolted up, furious, "Yao Qing!!"
Yao Qing gave him a cold look. "Are you awake now? If you are, follow Eunuch Yin into the palace!"
With that, she set down a set of clean clothes and turned to leave. Su Tingyun wanted to say sothing else, but Yin Shun interjected, "Lord Su, ti is of the essence. Please."
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Yan Zheng was handling the last of his official duties when a young eunuch ca in to announce Su Tingyun's arrival.
He took a deep breath, set his pen down, and silently reminded himself to stay calm. However, when Su Tingyun entered looking as if he was entirely at his rcy, ready to be killed or sliced apart, the Emperor could not help but mock him, "Oh? The Vice Governor Su, praised by all the commoners, looks like this now?"
Su Tingyun shuddered and looked up with a sarcastic expression. "Your Majesty need not mock . I brought this upon myself. Whatever punishnt Your Majesty intends to te out, please go ahead."
Yan Zheng sneered, "Why would I punish you?"
A trace of surprise flashed in Su Tingyun's eyes. "Your Majesty summoned to the palace, not to punish ?"
Ever since he failed to stop the Empress's coronation, he had been drinking himself into a stupor every day. He had already submitted his resignation to the Shuntian Prefecture, but the Governor refused to accept it, so he simply ignored the matter.
He thought his entry into the palace today was for the Emperor to deal with him, but to his surprise, it wasn't?
Yan Zheng glanced at him nonchalantly. "Su Tingyun, with you giving up on yourself like this, I originally didn't want to spare you a second glance. However, the Chief Minister said you possess great talent and could enter the Grand Secretariat to assist. I did not want to reject his good intentions, so I summoned you to the palace to ask if you are willing."
Su Tingyun opened his mouth to refuse, but then he heard the Emperor lazily add, "It's best if you aren't willing. That way, it's easier for to reply to the Chief Minister..."
He stopped his words. Right, if he refused, wouldn't that just play right into this Emperor's hands?
He had already lost repeatedly in front of the woman he loved. Was he supposed to let his rival in love have his way in his official career as well?
"I am willing!"
Su Tingyun replied loudly. A glint flashed in Yan Zheng's eyes as he sneered twice. "Hmph, since that's the case, get out of here and report to the Chief Minister!"
Kunning Palace.
Yulu ran in hurriedly. "Your Grace, this is bad! The Emperor summoned Lord Su to the palace. The two of them are having a secret talk in the Imperial Study, and they even kicked everyone else out!"
Chu Ruoyan's eyelid twitched as she listened to the little maid's worried words. "Your Grace, do you think the Emperor will lay a hand on him? After all, Lord Su and the Emperor don't get along, and he has opposed the Emperor multiple tis in the past because of you..."
"There are many people who oppose Yan Zheng. Have you seen everyone punished?" Chu Ruoyan shook her head, not worried about Su Tingyun's safety. "Although Yan Zheng seeks revenge for the smallest grievances, he is not soone who cannot distinguish right from wrong. Moreover, he is the Emperor now; if you think he lacks even that much tolerance, you are underestimating him."
Yulu finally felt relieved. Nanny Zhou brought over so freshly boiled mung bean soup and smiled, "Since ancient tis, there have been very few emperors and empresses who share a mutual understanding like our Grace and the Emperor. If you ask , Yulu is just worrying over nothing."
Yulu stuck out her tongue. Chu Ruoyan suddenly rembered her dream, and the smile on her lips froze slightly. "It's not entirely worrying over nothing."
Nanny Zhou was taken aback, while Yulu lifted her chin and said, "See, Nanny? I was right! Lord Su is elegant and gentle. To beco the Vice Governor of Shuntian Prefecture at such a young age, his future is limitless. Who knows how many young ladies in the capital want to marry him, but he just can't forget about our Grace..."
"Don't speak nonsense! Her Grace has already taken her place as Empress. Such words must never be ntioned again!" Nanny Zhou scolded. Yulu made a face. "I know, I know. It's just that there's no one else around right now, so I'm just saying it for fun!"
As she spoke, the little maid pestered Chu Ruoyan, asking, "Your Grace, do you still rember the coming-of-age jade pendant that the Duke gave you? Didn't the Duke say that you should give this jade pendant to whoever you fancy in the future? But I rember that at the ti, this jade pendant was picked up by Heir Su!"
Outside the palace doors, Yan Zheng, who had just returned, heard these words. He paused his steps and stopped the eunuch from announcing his arrival.
Chu Ruoyan recalled her dream. This very jade pendant was her and Su Tingyun's betrothal token, one that Su Tingyun had never let go of even until his death. Her gaze couldn't help but beco distant. "Yes, it was the will of Heaven..."
As soon as the words "will of Heaven" were spoken, a frosty look settled over the Emperor's brows outside the hall.
Inside the hall, the little maid said excitedly, "Right, I also thought it was too much of a coincidence! Didn't the Duke want to break off your engagent early on? I heard that the Duke's favored candidate at the ti was also this Heir Su. Tell , if you hadn't married the Emperor back then and had married Heir Su instead, what kind of scene would that have been?"
The blood and fire from her dream instantly beca incredibly clear. Chu Ruoyan shuddered and cried out, "No! That would never have been a possibility!"
Outside the hall, the Emperor's tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed.
Seeing her pale face, Yulu hurriedly said, "Yes, I misspoke. Please forgive , Your Grace!"
Chu Ruoyan regained her senses and shook her head. "It's not your fault, it's just..."
Such a scenario was too terrifying. Although Marquis Pingjing wasn't the true culprit, he was still a part of the faction that annihilated the Yan family!
If she had married his son without knowing the inside story, it would have been only natural for Yan Zheng to co and slaughter their entire household, but...
Just the thought of her father jumping down from the hundred-foot-tall city wall was enough to shatter her heart and soul...
Suddenly, a broad and warm hand pressed onto her shoulder. She subconsciously turned her head and saw that all-too-familiar face.
"Ah!"
The little lady shrank back as if frightened. But when she saw clearly that the face was not the cold-faced Lord of Hell from her dream, she let out a long breath. "You scared to death!"
Yan Zheng did not miss the flash of terror in her eyes just now. It was a genuine panic from the bottom of her heart, impossible to fake.
But why would she show such a look?
The Emperor slightly furrowed his brows and suppressed this doubt. "Ayan, I have already made the arrangents for the court. When do you plan to set off?"
"So soon?" she blurted out. The man's hand slid down to embrace her waist. "Are you doubting ?"
"No, I'm just curious. How did Uncle agree so quickly? Hasn't he been insanely busy lately?"
Yan Zheng said nonchalantly, "The capable do more work. Uncle can handle it."
Seeing him like this, Chu Ruoyan knew he must have used so underhanded thods. She pursed her lips and giggled. "Alright, at most we can just compensate Uncle when we return. I plan to set off tomorrow. What do you think?"
Yan Zheng nodded. "Shadow, go pack."
Chu Ruoyan was surprised. "You're not letting ng Yang go?"
"ng Yang is currently in charge of the Imperial Guards. Like Xie Zhizhou's Five Wards Patrol Brigade and i Hexuan's Defense Camp, he cannot step away. Our trip to the Western Frontier will take three months at the shortest and up to a year at the longest. It's better to let him stay obediently in the capital."
Chu Ruoyan burst into laughter. This Third Yan really showed no rcy when it ca to scheming against his subordinates and his uncle.
Eyes half-closed, she leaned against the man, relishing the feel of his large hands massaging her waist. Just as her mind was drifting into a hazy, intoxicating warmth, his low whisper suddenly brushed against her ear. "Ayan, are you... keeping sothing from ?"
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