You Rong lowered his gaze, a ripple stirring in his heart.
Was Lin Qinghe sending Chu Yue to the border to vent his anger? Yesterday at Baihua Tower, her sarcastic remarks towards Chu Yue, causing him to lose face publicly, were also to protect him...
Seeing You Rong silent for a long time, Sui Feng couldn't gauge his thoughts and tentatively asked, "My lord, do you wish to see Lord Chu and Young Master Chu? They are waiting outside now."
You Rong snapped back to attention, his thoughts reined in. He said indifferently, "Tell them I am unwell and cannot receive guests. Ask them to return."
Sui Feng: "Yes, my lord, this servant will send them away immediately!"
Sui Feng closed the study door and left. You Rong sat still in his original position, his gaze suddenly falling on the letter Huo Guanzhong had sent him on the desk.
He hesitated. Should he suggest Lin Qinghe cancel this sacrificial ceremony?
***
In Changning Palace, Lin Qinghe was absentmindedly eating her morning meal when she suddenly heard the system's prompt, "Progress bar increased by two percent, total progress bar at thirty percent."
Lin Qinghe froze, the dish on her chopsticks falling onto the table.
Why had the progress bar suddenly increased?
She hadn't done anything to You Rong. What was going on?
Wang Jiang, seeing Lin Qinghe's unusual expression, felt a pang of unease and hastily asked, "Your Majesty, is the meal not to your liking today? This servant will immediately have it changed!"
Wang Jiang took a few quick steps, but Lin Qinghe called out, "Wait, it has nothing to do with the meal. Go and summon the shadow guards to see me! I have something important to ask him!"
Although Wang Jiang didn't know why Lin Qinghe suddenly wanted to see the shadow guard, he dared not delay. He quickly responded with a "Yes, Your Majesty" and hurried off to find the shadow guard.
A quarter of an hour later, the shadow guard arrived. Just as he was about to cup his hands in salute, Lin Qinghe said impatiently, "No need for formalities. I need to know what Prime Minister You was doing at his residence this afternoon and who he met. Contact the informant planted in Prime Minister You's mansion immediately and have him report everything."
The shadow guard looked confused. Why was His Majesty suddenly so anxious to know what Prime Minister You had done and whom he had met this afternoon?
Thinking that You Rong was someone who intended to rebel, the shadow guard's eyes sharpened. He replied, "Yes, this subordinate will contact the informant immediately! I will report back to Your Majesty as soon as I get the news!"
"Good! Go quickly!"
In the evening.
The shadow guard reported, "Your Majesty, the informant planted in Prime Minister You's mansion has sent news. After Prime Minister You returned to his residence this afternoon, he did not see anyone. He remained in his study handling official business and never left the Prime Minister's mansion."
"He never left the Prime Minister's mansion? And didn't see anyone else?" Lin Qinghe's brow furrowed, feeling strange. Why had the progress bar increased?
The shadow guard thought for a moment and added, "Oh, yes! Today, Minister of Personnel Chu brought his son Chu Yue to visit Prime Minister You, but You Rong refused to see them. Prime Minister You must know that Your Majesty intends to send Chu Yue to the border."
Lin Qinghe raised an eyebrow at this. The confusion in her heart instantly dissipated.
You Rong must have known that she had deliberately sent Chu Yue to suffer at the border because of him, and therefore his favorability towards her had increased.
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered, and she decided to press her advantage.
Lin Qinghe dismissed the shadow guard, cleared her throat, and called out, "Wang Jiang! Come in!"
Wang Jiang hurried in, "Your Majesty, you summoned this servant, do you have something to command?"
"Prepare wine and tea in the Imperial Garden, along with a brazier. Go out of the palace to Prime Minister You's mansion and deliver my decree, stating that I have something to discuss with him and wish for him to come to the palace."
Wang Jiang hesitated, "But it's so late, Your Majesty asks Prime Minister You to come to the palace..."
Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes and let out a soft "Hm?" Wang Jiang quickly changed his tune, "Yes! This servant will attend to it immediately!"
Half an hour later, Lin Qinghe arrived at the Imperial Garden first. It was already dark. She sat alone in a small pavilion in the Imperial Garden, a slight smile on her lips. She picked up a wine cup and drank several cups in succession, quietly waiting for You Rong.
[Expect to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow and resume updates in two days~]