You Rong's pupils constricted, his chest felt as if something had been ripped away, leaving him empty and aching. Lin Qinghe's words echoed in his mind repeatedly.
"I... will never like you again..."
Why did his chest ache so much?
Seeing You Rong's face turn slightly pale, Lin Qinghe heard the system prompt in her mind: "Progress bar increased by twenty percent, total progress bar is sixty-four percent." Su Dan Novel Network.
Lin Qinghe's heart rejoiced. She had almost lost her composure in front of You Rong and revealed her hand. Fortunately, she reacted quickly, suppressing the smile that threatened to curve her lips.
Thinking of how she had painstakingly tried to please You Rong before, only to be met with his indifference and aloofness, seeing him now looking incredulous and dazed filled her with a strange sense of satisfaction.
So, just as You Rong was about to speak and explain, Lin Qinghe, feigning utter exhaustion, closed her eyes and said in a low voice, "I am tired. I wish to rest. Prime Minister You, you may withdraw."
"Your Majesty..." You Rong took a step forward, his voice urgent as he tried to explain, "Your Majesty, it is true that I harbored thoughts of rebellion before the Lishan temporary palace. However, after leaving the Lishan temporary palace, I never again harbored any intention to harm Your Majesty's life. Today's invitation..."
Lin Qinghe pretended to be overcome with weariness, no longer willing to listen to You Rong's explanation. She called out towards the outside, "Guards! Escort Prime Minister You out!"
"Your Majesty, I..."
You Rong wished to explain, but Wang Jiang had already entered, interrupting him. "Prime Minister You, His Majesty has ordered you to leave. You should leave now, or I will have to call the Imperial Guards."
You Rong looked at Lin Qinghe. She had already turned away and lay down, clearly unwilling to exchange another word with him.
You Rong's brows furrowed. Concerned that Lin Qinghe was seriously injured, he feared that provoking her anger might worsen her condition. Reluctantly, he could only leave with Wang Jiang.
The sound of footsteps receded, and the palace doors closed. Lin Qinghe immediately turned over and sat up, unable to suppress a wide grin. Her earlier pretense of heartbreak was nowhere to be seen.
Hmph!
You Rong, you treated me with indifference before, now you'll get what's coming to you!
And this You Rong... perhaps he has a masochistic tendency? After tormenting him a little, the progress bar increased so significantly.
Don't worry, today is just the beginning. I will make You Rong chase after me and confess his love!
You Rong emerged from Channing Palace. He stood outside the hall for a long time before leaving with a complex expression.
Back at his residence, You Rong shut himself alone in the study. He lowered his gaze and pondered, Lin Qinghe's words that she no longer liked him replaying in his mind, her disappointed eyes from today flashing back again and again...
You Rong looked bewildered, his hand resting on his chest, his brows tightly knit.
Why did his chest ache so much when he remembered her words?
Why?
You Rong, who had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, could not find an answer even after racking his brains.
The night quietly passed. As dawn broke outside the window, Sui Feng hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and knocking on the study door. He asked, "My lord, it is past Chen Shi. Do you wish to have breakfast? Shall I bring it to the study for you?"
You Rong inside did not reply. Just as Sui Feng was about to ask again, with a creak, the door was pulled open. Sui Feng looked at You Rong in the study with surprise. "My lord, you... you haven't slept all night?!"
The dark circles under You Rong's eyes, his bloodshot gaze, and his haggard appearance were all irrefutable evidence that he had been awake all night.
Was it because Lord Huo had been captured, and my lord had been worried all night?
You Rong did not answer Sui Feng's question. He said in a deep voice, "Have someone prepare the carriage. I need to go to the palace."
Sui Feng dared not ask further and quickly replied, "Yes, my lord. I will have someone prepare the carriage immediately."
Inside the carriage, You Rong's face was solemn. He had not slept for a single moment all night. He still couldn't understand why his chest ached so much now that Lin Qinghe had finally said she no longer liked him.
He had thought all night and had only one desire: to explain things clearly to Lin Qinghe, that the invitation was not from him! He had no intention of rebelling now!
Upon arriving at Channing Palace, Wang Jiang saw You Rong approaching and quickly blocked the entrance. He said with a smile, "Prime Minister You, you are here to see His Majesty, aren't you? His Majesty is recovering from her injuries and has stated she will not handle court affairs for the next few days. You should return for now."
You Rong pursed his thin lips and said in a deep voice, "Go in and inform His Majesty that I have come to request an audience, not for matters of state."
"This..." Wang Jiang looked troubled. "Prime Minister You, please return. His Majesty has decreed that henceforth, if you wish to see her, you will only be granted entry in the Imperial Study if there are important matters to discuss. For all other matters, she will not see you!"
You Rong lowered his gaze. The sharp pain in his chest resurfaced.
She said yesterday, "From now on, I am the sovereign, and you are the subject, and that is all." Did this mean that apart from discussing state affairs, she did not wish to see him anymore?
Seeing You Rong standing still, Wang Jiang had to remind him again, "Prime Minister You, please return first. Once His Majesty's injuries have healed, she will return to court, and you will be able to see her."
You Rong looked at the tightly closed doors of Channing Palace with a complex expression. Wang Jiang was worried that You Rong might force his way in and was already preparing to call the Imperial Guards. Unexpectedly, he simply said, "I will wait here. I will enter when His Majesty is willing to see me."
"This..." Wang Jiang hesitated for a long moment. After a while, he still turned and entered the palace.
Inside the palace, Wang Jiang relayed You Rong's words to Lin Qinghe verbatim. Lin Qinghe, holding a hot water bottle, sat lazily on a couch. She raised her eyebrows dismissively and said, "If he's willing to wait, let him wait outside. Just ignore him."
"But..." Wang Jiang started to say, then stopped himself. Ultimately, he replied, "Yes, this servant understands."
After Wang Jiang withdrew, Lin Qinghe idly played with the hot water bottle in her hands, feeling incredibly pleased thinking of You Rong waiting expectantly outside, wanting to see her. She remembered how she had eagerly approached You Rong before, and he had always coldly driven her away. Now, the tables had turned!
However, Lin Qinghe assumed that You Rong would leave after waiting for a while since she didn't want to see him. It wasn't until after dinner that she casually asked, "When did Prime Minister You leave today?"
Wang Jiang replied, "Your Majesty, Prime Minister You did not leave. He has been waiting outside the palace doors all along!"
Lin Qinghe froze for a moment. "Prime Minister You hasn't left?"
"Yes! Prime Minister You hasn't left at all."
Seeing Lin Qinghe frown, Wang Jiang tentatively asked, "Your Majesty, do you wish to see Prime Minister You? Shall I have him brought in?"
"I do not!" Lin Qinghe said without hesitation. She had planned to torment You Rong severely. Now, he had merely stood outside the palace doors for a day. This was nothing yet!
But in this cold weather, standing outside all day must be difficult for You Rong...
Wang Jiang carefully observed Lin Qinghe's expression and insisted, adding, "I have advised Prime Minister You several times, but he refused to leave. Shall I directly call the Imperial Guards to escort him out of the palace?"
Lin Qinghe was not entirely satisfied with Wang Jiang's suggestion, but she could not see You Rong yet. She had to string him along for a few more days, otherwise, the preceding act would have been in vain.
Lin Qinghe pondered for a moment and said, "Have someone summon the imperial physician. If You Rong asks, tell him that Your Majesty heard he had been standing outside unwilling to leave, which angered her and accidentally aggravated her injury. Describe how severe it is, exaggerating as much as possible. Do you understand?"
Wang Jiang, though not fully comprehending, immediately responded, "Yes! This servant will act according to Your Majesty's instructions!"
After speaking, Wang Jiang hurried out of the palace. Lin Qinghe was very pleased with his swift immersion into his role.