You Rong sought an audience with Lin Qinghe and was refused. He left with a dark expression, his face pale.
He couldn't believe she actually intended to crown an Imperial Husband and had entrusted him with the full responsibility of selecting candidates.
She had clearly stated that she liked him!
Lin Qinghe was in a good mood and ate more than usual at today's meals.
After dinner, Lin Qinghe sat on a couch with a hot water bottle, her delicate face thoughtful.
She felt that selecting an Imperial Husband wasn't enough to provoke You Rong; perhaps she should give him something more stimulating?
This would be a good way to fill the remaining progress bar in one go!
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered, and she called out, "Wang Jiang, come in."
Wang Jiang hurried in, "Your Majesty, what is your command for this servant?"
Lin Qinghe said, "Go summon Fu Qingyu and have him attend to me in Changning Palace tonight."
Wang Jiang looked surprised, "Your Majesty, you mean to have Young Master Fu attend to you in Changning Palace? But it's getting late, and you're having Young Master Fu attend to you now. Do you mean to..."
Lin Qinghe's seductive eyes narrowed slightly, and she said with a hint of displeasure, "I said have Fu Qingyu attend to me. What? Do you have an opinion?"
Wang Jiang said fearfully, "This servant dares not! This servant dares not... This servant obeys. I will go and invite Young Master Fu over at once."
"Yes, be quick."
After Wang Jiang retreated, about a quarter of an hour later, he returned with a nervous Fu Qingyu.
---
You Rong didn't know how he had returned to the Prime Minister's mansion yesterday or how he had locked himself in the study all night. When he came to, the sky outside was already bright, and he had not slept a wink. The exhaustion and weariness were evident on his face.
You Rong had thought all night and finally understood one thing.
He had fallen in love with Lin Qinghe.
That was why his heart ached when he heard her say she no longer liked him.
It was why he felt such anger and panic when he saw her speaking gently to her male consorts, treating him with utter indifference, seeking pleasure with other male consorts, and even saying she would crown an Imperial Husband.
He loved her!
You Rong closed his sore eyes and gave a bitter smile.
He deserved it. He had hurt her heart so deeply that only when she decided not to like him anymore did he finally see his own heart clearly and finally understand that he loved her.
You Rong was dejected for a long time, but his gaze suddenly turned firm.
He would go to the palace and tell her his feelings. He loved her! He didn't want her to crown an Imperial Husband. As long as she wasn't angry anymore, as long as she could like him again... he was willing to do anything!
You Rong strode out of the study. Suifeng saw him and was startled. He quickly said, "My Lord, you're out. Are you going to have breakfast? I'll have someone bring it..."
"Have a carriage prepared! I'm going to the palace now!"
"My Lord, it's not time for the morning court yet. There's no need to rush. Why don't you have breakfast before going to the palace? You didn't eat anything all day yesterday, and I'm worried..."
"No need! I said, I'm going to the palace now!"
Suifeng had no choice but to comply. "Yes, I'll have someone prepare the carriage at once." Sudang Novel Network
You Rong got into the carriage and headed straight for the imperial palace, his emotions almost uncontrollable throughout the journey.
He loved Lin Qinghe. Just thinking of her made his heart race uncontrollably. He had to let her know his feelings!
---
Changning Palace.
Lin Qinghe had tossed and turned sleeplessly the night before last, but last night she slept soundly until morning. She opened her eyes, sat up, and stretched comfortably. Then she heard Fu Qingyu's voice.
"Your Majesty, you are awake. Shall I help you wash and change?"
Lin Qinghe turned her head and saw Fu Qingyu kneeling by the bed, looking timid.
Lin Qinghe raised her eyebrows slightly. "No need. Have Wang Jiang and the others come in to help me change later. Did you rest well on the couch last night?"
Fu Qingyu replied fearfully, "Replying to Your Majesty, this servant rested very well on the couch. Thank you for Your Majesty's concern."
"Good, that's good."
Lin Qinghe was about to dismiss Fu Qingyu and then arrange for news of Fu Qingyu spending the night in Changning Palace to be sent to You Rong. Before she could speak, Wang Jiang's voice came from outside, "Your Majesty, are you up?"
Lin Qinghe frowned. "What is it?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, Prime Minister You has come to seek an audience, stating that he has an urgent matter and requests Your Majesty to grant him an audience."
You Rong was here? This early in the morning?
This was somewhat unexpected for Lin Qinghe, but after a moment, a sly glint flashed in her eyes, and she looked at Fu Qingyu with a half-smile.
You Rong's arrival was perfect!
Fu Qingyu trembled under Lin Qinghe's gaze, stammering fearfully, "Your... Your Majesty, have I done something wrong?"
Lin Qinghe lifted the bed curtains, smiled, and beckoned him over. "It's nothing, you haven't done anything wrong. Come here for a moment."
"...Ah? Okay! This servant is coming!"
Fu Qingyu, looking uneasy, came before Lin Qinghe and knelt. Just as he was about to ask what Lin Qinghe's orders were, she suddenly reached out and tugged open his collar, startling Fu Qingyu so much that he was dazed. Before he could react, Lin Qinghe said, "Bear with it, it might hurt a little."
Fu Qingyu didn't understand. The next moment, Lin Qinghe's hand touched Fu Qingyu's slender, fair neck. With a slight exertion, her nails scratched a few ambiguous marks on it.
Lin Qinghe looked at the ambiguous marks and nodded with satisfaction. "How is it? Does it hurt? I'll have Wang Jiang compensate you."
Fu Qingyu shook his head in confusion. "Replying to Your Majesty, it... it doesn't hurt. Your Majesty, what is this..."
"You don't need to worry about it. You may withdraw, and tell Wang Jiang to let Prime Minister You in," Lin Qinghe said with a smile.
Seeing that Lin Qinghe didn't seem angry or intending to punish him, Fu Qingyu felt a bit more at ease, and with lingering doubts, he said, "Yes, this servant takes his leave."
Fu Qingyu was about to adjust his clothes when Lin Qinghe said, "No need to adjust them, just go out like this."
Fu Qingyu quickly lowered his raised hand and replied, "Yes, this servant obeys."
Fu Qingyu retreated with a belly full of questions, while Lin Qinghe in the hall chuckled like an old fox.
These ambiguous marks... were naturally meant for You Rong to see!
Outside Changning Palace.
With a creak, the palace door opened. You Rong's gaze immediately swept inside. When he saw Fu Qingyu, whose clothes were disheveled, appear at the doorway, his body stiffened. Especially when his gaze fell on the deep and shallow scratches on Fu Qingyu's neck, his face turned ashen.
Fu Qingyu, obeying Lin Qinghe's words, said, "Eunuch Wang, Your Majesty said to please let Prime Minister You enter..."
Before he could finish speaking, a large hand firmly gripped his shoulder, the force almost crushing his shoulder. Fu Qingyu looked up in terror at You Rong's cold, sharp gaze.
"Prime Minister You, you, what are you doing..."
You Rong's eyes were sinister, and he gritted his teeth, "You were in Changning Palace all night yesterday?!"
Fu Qingyu's face turned pale from the pain, and he stammered, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty ordered this servant to attend to you in Changning Palace. This servant was in Changning Palace all night. Prime Minister You, you... Ah!"
You Rong's grip tightened further. Fu Qingyu was in so much pain that he couldn't speak. You Rong coldly threw out a word, "Scram!" and released him. Fu Qingyu collapsed to the ground, weakened by the pain.
Wang Jiang's eyes widened in shock. He watched You Rong enter Changning Palace and was about to follow when the palace door was forcefully closed by You Rong with a "bang." Fortunately, he was quick-witted, or he would have hit the door.
You Rong's voice was stern, "I have matters to discuss with Your Majesty. No one is to disturb us!"