Now that she had heard his words, she felt at ease and thus felt sleepy.
"Mhm, sleep then." Mu Rong Chong didn't move. Yun Xiao had also adapted. He always left when she fell asleep. Sometimes, habits were a terrifying thing.
She had been wary of this person before, but slowly she got used to his presence, his embrace. Now, in his arms, she seemed to be at peace and felt secure, sleeping soundly and completely at ease.
Yun Xiao gently closed her eyes. Her long eyelashes covered her bright eyes, and a faint smile curved her lips.
As Mu Rong Chong gazed at her face, he reached out a finger to caress her cheek, his magnetic voice resonating.
"Xiao'er, don't be too close to those men in the future."
There was a hint of sourness in his words. Yun Xiao's eyes suddenly widened. She blinked and said word by word, "Mu Rong, are you jealous?"
Under the moonlight, his dark eyes suddenly deepened, a little unnaturally. Then, just like Yun Xiao's reaction last time, he smiled coyly. "How could I be? I'm just afraid you'll be taken advantage of."
Yun Xiao closed her eyes, knowing his true feelings. *Keep being stubborn.* She shifted into a more comfortable sleeping position. Unfortunately, the person above her head hadn't heard what she had to say. Feeling a little annoyed, she pursed her lips. Seeing that she had truly fallen asleep, he couldn't help but shake the person in his arms.
"Xiao'er, don't you think you should say something?"
Yun Xiao struggled to suppress her laughter, still with her eyes closed. She softly said, "Mhm, I should say something. Mu Rong, goodnight. I'm going to sleep."
After that, she paid him no mind and truly fell asleep. Mu Rong Chong's ink-black eyes, unfathomably deep and dark, could do nothing about the girl in his arms. He sighed softly and looked at the bright moonlight outside the window. Suddenly, he remembered what Yun Xiao had said earlier.
Tonight, Shangguan Lin had gotten himself drunk with a heavy heart. Why had he gotten himself drunk? Had he discovered something?
Mu Rong Chong's dark eyes suddenly became extremely deep, as if he were treading on thin ice. If Lin thought he was dead, he would surely be heartbroken.
If these things were seen by that narrow-minded person, it would only bring him trouble. Moreover, he would surely try his best to investigate.
Mu Rong Chong dared not think further. It seemed he had to speed things up and send people to secretly monitor Lin's every move, ensuring his safety. He was the only relative he cared about in this world.
The night was still boundless and dark, unaware of the tragic and confusing events unfolding in the mortal world.
After Mu Rong ensured Xiao'er was fast asleep, he gently placed her down, flashed out of the small building, and went to redeploy his actions because he had not expected Lin to discover something different.
In the Imperial Study of the Imperial Palace.
Shangguan Yao summoned the Vice Minister of War, Lan Qinglun.
Upon seeing Lan Qinglun, his eyes flashed with approval. Lan Qinglun was refined and handsome.
Although he was the Vice Minister of War, he possessed a great deal of scholarly refinement. Dressed in a green long robe, he was as tall and slender as a green bamboo, with an elegant bearing. Standing in the Imperial Study, he was neither arrogant nor timid, neither servile nor overbearing.
He showed neither fear of the Emperor nor the arrogance of one who had achieved merit.
"Your subject, Lan Qinglun, greets His Majesty."
"Minister Lan, please rise."
Shangguan Yao waved his hand, gesturing for Lan Qinglun to rise, "Grant him a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Lan Qinglun clasped his hands and sat on a chair nearby, respectfully asking, "May I know why His Majesty has summoned me?"
After the court session today, he was about to leave when the Emperor's eunuch, Xiao Tingzi, stopped him, saying the Emperor wished to see him in the Imperial Study.
At this time, he did not know why the Emperor wanted to see him.
"I want to ask about the assassins? How is the investigation going?"
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, Lan Qinglun quickly stood up and bent to reply.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, after deciding with His Highness Prince Shangguan and the Ministry of Justice, we searched the capital, but unfortunately, there was not the slightest trace. I humbly speculate that these people most likely escaped the city after committing the crime. If that is the case, we should expand the scope of our search. The temples and villages outside the city must be searched, and the assassins must not be allowed to escape."
Shangguan Yao saw that Lan Qinglun's arrangements were proper and that he was a thoughtful individual, and the appreciative light in his eyes grew even stronger.
He had been looking for someone to replace Ye Siyuan and take over the position of Minister of War. This Lan Qinglun not only saved him but was also very young, and could completely be cultivated to be his man.
However, he still needed to observe him a little more, and how to reclaim the power of the Ye family was also a troublesome matter. And then there was the Empress Dowager.
"Good, you will handle this matter fully."
"Yes, Your subject takes his leave."
Lan Qinglun respectfully withdrew. Outside the door, the Minister of Justice was waiting with an anxious expression, rubbing his hands from time to time, pacing back and forth in distress.
When he looked up and saw Minister Lan coming out from inside, he quickly greeted him with a smile. Minister Lan was now a favored official in front of the Emperor, and they would have to rely on him.
"Minister Lan has also arrived."
Lan Qinglun nodded and politely greeted him, "Your Excellency has also arrived. His Majesty is inside."
As they were talking, Xiao Tingzi came out, "His Majesty has an edict, summoning the Minister of Justice."
The Minister of Justice parted ways with Lan Qinglun, one left, and the other entered the Imperial Study.
Inside the Imperial Study, the Minister of Justice quickly knelt, "Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject has received secret intelligence?"
"Speak?" The person at the head of the table had dark pupils, a fleeting ferocity in his handsome features, and a bloodthirsty curve to his lips. The Minister of Justice kneeling below trembled and quickly reported.
"Your subject searched for a suspicious person. Under torture, that person confessed to being one of the assassins who attacked Your Majesty that day. The person revealed that the true mastermind is still Prime Minister Sima."
After the Minister of Justice finished speaking, he remained motionless. The Imperial Study was filled with a chilling aura. In the silence, it was as if one could hear the clashing of blades and the wailing of ghosts on the execution ground. One could only imagine what would happen to Prime Minister Sima's mansion.
Shangguan Yao abruptly pounded the dragon-shaped imperial desk and stood up in anger, "You scoundrel Sima Qingyun, how dare you commit such treasonous acts! You are truly audacious! I will never forgive you."
The Minister of Justice kneeling below felt the thunderous rage and was truly terrified. After the Emperor had vented his anger, he dared to speak cautiously.
"Your Majesty, your subject is bold enough to ask, why would Sima Qingyun want to kill Your Majesty? Could it be?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he stopped. However, Shangguan Yao had already understood his meaning. Why would Sima Qingyun act like this? Behind him, there was likely another mastermind. This person must be Prince Lin.
There was silence in the Imperial Study for a long time. After a while, the Emperor's slightly tired voice was heard.
"Alright, go investigate Sima Qingyun. This piece of human evidence is not enough to convict him. Search for more favorable evidence. Also, Prince Lin, do not alert him for now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Minister of Justice withdrew, while inside the study.
Shangguan Yao's face was filled with self-satisfaction, his eyes holding a meaningful iron will.