Xue Zining looked up at the newcomer.
A tall, slender figure strode towards her, his robes fluttering in the evening breeze.
That astonishingly beautiful face appeared before her eyes.
His gaze was like a galaxy, incredibly brilliant.
She turned her face away, her voice chilling, "Qing Yi is a person of your palace. For such a thing to happen, it is due to your lax discipline. In that case, you shall take him to be punished!"
Yan Zhao lowered his eyes, cupped his hands, and said indifferently, "Yes."
"I have not yet decided. You may withdraw," Xue Zining said coldly.
"Yes." Yan Zhao turned and left.
Only then did Xue Zining raise her head, gazing at the faint figure, lost in thought.
"Your Majesty, what about this person?" Xue Yan asked. Da Feng Xiao Shuo Wang
"Feng Yu, take him to change his clothes, then bring him to see me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Feng Yu received the order and carried Zhu Keyu away as if he were a small chick.
Soon, Zhu Keyu was brought back by Feng Yu. There were no men's clothes in the palace, and Zhu Keyu was currently wearing the clothes of a eunuch.
"Lord Zhu, what happened just now was my oversight and caused you great humiliation."
Hearing this, Zhu Keyu's hands in his sleeves clenched tightly, trembling from the force.
Xue Zining glanced at Zhu Keyu's trembling hand and said, "Lord Zhu, there is no need to worry. Only I and those around me know about this. As long as I and my attendants do not speak of it, no one will know what happened to Lord Zhu."
She saw Zhu Keyu's brow twitch uncontrollably. She continued, "Of course, I have conditions."
Zhu Keyu looked up and met the girl's clear eyes, which to him seemed like a shoreless sea, vast and despair-inducing.
"Your Majesty, what are the conditions?"
If it were to spread that he was touched by a man and almost assaulted, his career would truly be over.
No, this was not what he wanted. He desired a position second to none, a high-ranking official.
Therefore, his progress could not stop here.
"Three days from now, the three departments will hold a joint trial," Xue Zining said, word by word.
Zhu Keyu shivered, saying, "Your Majesty, this matter is not something I can influence. After all, Grand Tutor Lin and Censor Li hold higher positions and more power than I."
And the Regent King, too?
"Is that so? But I have only this one condition. If Lord Zhu does not agree, I..."
Zhu Keyu bit his lower lip, "Your subordinate agrees, Your Majesty."
Stabilizing the Empress was the best course of action.
"Good, Lord Zhu is straightforward." Xue Zining showed a smile that, to Zhu Keyu, seemed somewhat cold, not reaching her eyes.
Although he felt uneasy, he believed he would find a way once he left here.
After Zhu Keyu left, Xue Zining looked at the ravaged bed, a hint of disgust crossing her gaze. "Replace all the bedding for me."
Xue Yan ordered the palace attendants to remove the bedding and replace it with new ones. Only then did Xue Zining lie down with peace of mind.
Closing her eyes, the hand that had embraced her waist once again occupied her mind. Da Feng Xiao Shuo
Xue Zining shook her head forcefully, trying to banish that hand from her thoughts, but it was futile.
In a daze, she heard Xue Yan's urgent voice.
She opened her eyes abruptly, looking at Xue Yan and asking, "What happened?"
Xue Yan whispered, "Feng Yu has something to report."
Xue Zining nodded, "Let him in."
Feng Yu hurried in and said, "Your Majesty, this is news from Feng Jiu. The Prime Minister spat blood and has fallen into a coma."
Xue Zining became completely clear-headed. If she had any sleepiness moments ago, it was all gone now.
"Take... take me to the Prime Minister's mansion." She felt her voice trembling.
"Your Majesty, it will take some time to prepare the carriage," Xue Yan said.
"Feng Yu, carry me..."
Feng Yu was startled, then looked up to meet Xue Zining's eyes, which were now entirely dark. "Your Majesty, forgive me."
The wind whistled past her ears. Xue Zining closed her eyes, her thoughts returning to her past life, when she had already taken charge of Huangze.
However, Hua Yunjin was a pain she could never overcome.
Later, she had the good fortune to meet a junior of the Hua family, who said that the men of the 'Yun' generation in the Hua family were all short-lived, rarely living past twenty.
And Hua Yunjin, a rare talent in a hundred years for the Hua family, likely had an even shorter lifespan.
Even if he didn't die at the hands of the Regent King, he would still spit blood and die in a few years.
Now Hua Yunjin was only fifteen years old and already spitting blood?
Then, how many years did he have left?
Thinking of this, she dared not consider it. If she could not protect those around her, what was the point of standing alone in Huangze?
"Your Majesty, we have arrived." Feng Yu stopped in the courtyard of the Hua residence.
Soon, Feng Jiu came to meet them.
Xue Zining walked forward and asked Feng Jiu coldly, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Feng Jiu was startled, then knelt on the ground, "Your subordinate is guilty. The Prime Minister said he did not want Your Majesty to worry about this."
Xue Zining's gaze sharpened. She knew Hua Yunjin would say and do such things.
"How long has he been spitting blood?" she asked.
Feng Jiu said, "It has been two months already."
Xue Zining's heart sank. It had been since the hunting grounds.
It had been so long, and she had been completely unaware.
"Take me to see him," she said.
Feng Jiu led her to Hua Yunjin's room. Old Madam Hua was by the bed, looking tearfully at Hua Yunjin, who lay with his eyes closed.
Xue Zining stepped forward and supported Old Madam Hua, saying, "Old Madam, your health is important. From now on, let me take care of him."
Old Madam Hua looked up, and when she saw Xue Zining's face, she trembled uncontrollably, her lips quivering, her voice shaking, "You... you are..."
Xue Zining interrupted Old Madam Hua, saying softly, "You may call me Zining."
Old Madam Hua shook her head, "How can that be?" She moved as if to kneel and pay respects.
"It can be done." Xue Zining held Old Madam Hua, preventing her from kneeling.
She then helped Old Madam Hua to a chair, "Old Madam, I came out of the palace privately, and no one else knows. So, let's dispense with the formalities."
Old Madam Hua moved her lips, then glanced at the person on the bed, saying, "Then I will trouble you greatly."
"Old Madam, you are too kind," Xue Zining said.
Old Madam Hua said, "Xing'er, help me back."
A young maid named Xing'er walked over and helped Old Madam Hua walk away.
Xue Zining went to the bedside. The person on the bed had an extremely pale complexion.
At this moment, where was the young Prime Minister who had contended with the Regent King in court?
"Yunjin, you must wake up quickly. I cannot live without you."