Never before had Zhu Keyu felt that this seemingly humiliating statement bathed him in sunlight.
He knew he was saved.
Even if it meant entering the palace, his life was preserved.
With life, much could be done.
As he passed Xue Wenjie, he distinctly felt the regent king's killing intent.
He dared not delay further and quickly followed, fearing that any further delay might cost him his life.
Lin Taiwei also took his leave afterward.
At this point, only Li Shengming and Yan Zhao remained, along with a trembling Qing Yi.
Xue Wenjie looked at the three of them coldly, his rage finally beyond control, and erupted.
His gaze fell first upon Qing Yi.
Qing Yi felt his entire body enveloped in an icy coldness that rendered him immobile.
An invisible hand choked his throat, leaving him unable to speak.
"Wang... Wangye..." Only two words were forced out with great effort.
Was he going to die?
He did not want to.
"Wangye, please consider the bigger picture. Qing Yi is still a member of the inner court," Yan Zhao said calmly.
Xue Wenjie looked at him coldly and sneered, "The bigger picture?"
Yan Zhao raised his eyes, meeting those sharp, chilling depths, and said softly, "Yes."
Just as Qing Yi thought he would indeed be strangled by the regent king, the invisible hand released his neck, and the long-lost air rushed into his lungs. He took several deep breaths.
Xue Wenjie sneered, "Waste."
Qing Yi quickly knelt on the ground, "Wangye, forgive me, Wangye, spare my life!"
"Scram..." Xue Wenjie roared.
Qing Yi dared not delay and quickly crawled out of there, scrambling and tumbling.
Xue Wenjie walked up to Yan Zhao and said coldly, "Young Master Yan, could you please tell this king what exactly is going on?"
Yan Zhao asked calmly, "What does Wangye wish to know?"
Xue Wenjie sneered, his expression tinged with frost, "Young Master Yan, you know perfectly well. This king thought you were a smart person."
"I was summoned by the Empress to Zhaoyuan Palace. When I arrived, Lord Zhu was already on the Empress's dragon bed, along with Qing Yi..."
Yan Zhao did not continue, as Xue Wenjie could imagine the scene that followed.
"Why did you not send someone to inform this king?" Xue Wenjie asked coldly.
"Wangye, I did send someone, but Wangye did not grant an audience."
Xue Wenjie paused, then thought. It seemed there had been a message from the palace, but he had been so focused on the triple inquiry that he had not paid attention, thus missing the opportune moment.
"You may withdraw. If there is any further news from the palace, send it directly," Xue Wenjie said.
"Yes, Wangye."
"Withdraw!" Xue Wenjie waved his hand, and Yan Zhao retreated.
Exiting the Court Lieutenant's mansion, Yan Zhao glanced back at it. He knew that this time he had aroused the regent king's suspicion.
"Young Master, you were a bit reckless this time," Yan Er appeared beside him and whispered.
"I know," Yan Zhao withdrew his gaze and asked calmly.
Yan Er: "..."
Acting as if he knew?
He was speechless.
Yan Zhao walked a few steps and stopped. Yan Er almost bumped into him and was about to ask why his young master had stopped when he looked up and saw a carriage parked ahead.
The curtain was lifted, and a delicate, beautiful face appeared.
Yan Er was startled and whispered, "Young Master, it's Princess Yunlan."
Yan Zhao's gaze was indifferent, his tone calm, "I can see that."
Yan Er: "..." His young master's words choked him with annoyance.
"Young Master Yan, my princess wishes to invite you into the carriage for a chat," a young maidservant beside Xue Yunlan approached.
Yan Zhao did not even raise his head, responding calmly, "I still need to return to the palace. Thank you for the princess's kind offer, but I am not fortunate enough to accept."
The young maidservant was stunned. To refuse the princess's invitation so openly and decisively, what should she do?
Yan Zhao walked a few steps, and a voice called from behind him, "Yan Zhao, you stop right there for this princess."
Yan Zhao frowned imperceptibly. Yan Er, standing beside him, understood. It seemed his young master greatly disliked this Princess Yunlan.
As Xue Yunlan caught up on horseback, Yan Er blocked her horse and said, "Your Highness, my young master is in a hurry to return to the palace. Please excuse him."
Xue Yunlan said angrily, "Yan Zhao, you stop right there for this princess."
As she spoke, Xue Yunlan swung her whip towards Yan Zhao.
Yan Er's gaze turned cold, and just as he was about to intervene, his young master turned around. The whip was coming towards his face.
Xue Yunlan's expression changed to one of alarm, and she quickly retracted her whip, but it was too late. The whip still grazed Yan Zhao's cheek, leaving a faint red mark.
"You... why didn't you dodge?" Xue Yunlan dismounted and hurried to Yan Zhao's side.
Although the whip mark was not deep, it had undeniably struck his face, marring his refined and handsome features.
Xue Yunlan was filled with regret.
How could she have been so careless with her strength?
"The princess is the master, and I am a lowly commoner. How could I dare to dodge?" Yan Zhao's eyes were as clear and cold as the frost of late autumn, chilling one to the bone.
Xue Yunlan stiffened, "This princess... did not mean it that way..."
"If the princess has nothing else, I shall take my leave!" Yan Zhao turned to leave.
Xue Yunlan grew anxious and reached out to grab his hand.
Although he was so close, she couldn't grasp him. "Princess, men and women must not touch. Please conduct yourself with propriety!"
Xue Yunlan said angrily, "Yan Zhao, must you speak to this princess like this?"
Yan Zhao raised his eyes, his gaze indifferent, "How does the princess wish me to speak?"
"Yan Zhao, soon you will no longer be a person of the inner court. At that time..."
"Princess, one may eat freely, but one must not speak carelessly. I am a person of the inner court, and I will continue to be so..."
With that, Yan Zhao turned and left, not even giving her a chance to speak this time.
"No, it will be soon..." a glint flashed in Xue Yunlan's eyes.
"Young Master, Princess Yunlan is not simple..." Yan Er whispered as he got into the carriage.
Yan Zhao heard this and replied calmly, "Are there any simple people in this imperial palace?"
Yan Er was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "Young Master is right."
Being in the imperial palace meant blood and storm, hidden arrows, unavoidable assassinations, and inescapable schemes.
Yet, even so, some people were willing to embrace it.
"The times are about to change..." Yan Zhao looked up. Through the carriage curtain, his gaze was a deep, impenetrable black, like an abyss.
Yan Er heard this and whispered, "Young Master, will you withdraw from this vortex?"
Yan Zhao smiled. A smile flickered across his refined and handsome face, stunning even Yan Er.
This was one of the few smiles his young master had ever shown, but the faint blood mark on his face now added a touch of wickedness, making him even more captivating.
Yan Er lowered his head. His young master's smile was truly captivating to all.
One should not look too much, should not look too much.