"You cannot. I am recorded in the Royal Jade Disc. According to palace protocol, I must enter the palace to pay respects every first and fifteenth of the month."

"You’re best at putting on a show. I had just given birth, not even finished my confinement period, and already had to send condolences to the Crown Prince’s funeral, not missing a single day. Previously, when entering the palace to pay respects, even if I had a minor injury or illness, thanks to your demands, I had to endure and enter the palace to confess my reasons in person, afraid of spreading illness to the dignitaries within the palace, thus performing grand ceremonies outside the hall."

If she doesn’t go, an unusual action signifies something amiss.

This was the reason why she never resisted before.

Some things seem like suffering losses, but at critical moments, they can be a crucial counterattack.

"So, can you kill me?"

"Not possible either; you should understand better than I the principle of pulling one hair and moving the whole body. So many people outside are watching you."

"In those earlier years when your leg had issues and you were depressed and unfulfilled, one after another, concubines and mistresses came in. Let’s not mention several with unclear origins whose families had committed crimes and whom you brought in for their beauty. There were also some who were unwilling to accommodate themselves with you, therefore rolled up in mats and carried away. Those dirty matters in the rear courtyard were all managed by me for you."

"If something happens to me, you won’t find another suitable person who can resolve your aftermath problems for you, and it’s uncertain when these matters will come to light."

"Look at yourself."

She coldly gazed at the black-faced Ying Zhi.

"What can you do besides jumping up and down in front of me?"

The fact proved Ying Zhi could do something.

He calmed down.

He had married Yao Ru in the first place for her capabilities!

Take a look at the Fifth Prince Consort.

Apart from her high status, the Yue Family could greatly support the Fifth Prince, but the Fifth Prince Consort was notorious for her pettiness, and her tactics couldn’t compare to Yao Ru’s by any measure.

But Ying Zhi came to realize that he had underestimated Yao Ru.

Yao Ru never admitted her mistakes, nor showed any signs of guilt or shame. It was as if, even if caught in the act by him, she could still turn the tables and threaten him.

Yao Ru never cared about herself.

Currently, what she cared about was none other than Dun and Ying Fuyan.

Ying Zhi certainly couldn’t do anything to his dear son.

But he could hit where it hurts.

"Let me count, how many years has it been since Ying Fuyan was exiled? He has long been tortured to the point of being neither man nor ghost."

"You wouldn’t know. It’s said that he, lying by a muddy puddle, competed with wild dogs for a pool of dirty water to quench his thirst, and was whipped by the guards for gnawing on tree bark to fill his stomach until his back split open."

"Plagued by miasma, his skin festered and oozed pus, not to mention the life he lived in Lingnan being worse than an animal, anyone could step on him for amusement."

"You prayed for him, but unfortunately, it was useless; he’s dead."

"For a dead and rotten man, does he deserve such concern from you?"

Indeed, Yao Ru started to tremble.

Ying Zhi smiled.

"The jailer who sent the message confessed under the Grand Tutor’s questioning, saying that before he died, he didn’t even have clothes to cover himself, and maggots crawled all over his wounds."

"He didn’t die of exhaustion from labor; he was tortured to death."

He narrated each sentence with a sense of satisfaction.

Yao Ru couldn’t take in a word, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted dead away.

Imperial Palace.

The injured Emperor Qian found no peace.

It had been a night, yet the cause of the fire was still not discovered!

Currently, those serving in the hall had entirely been replaced by Black Shadows, not secretly guarding, but rather directly serving closely.

When He Xuran led the officials of the Imperial Censorate over, he discreetly glanced around.

Then proceeded to kneel in front.

"I shouldn’t disturb the Holy Emperor’s peace, but... the news of the criminal Ying Fuyan’s death..."

He paused slightly.

Emperor Qian was being attended to by Black Shadows as they fed him medicine, the aroma of which was strong and extremely bitter.

He pushed aside the medicine bowl, his eyes revealing no emotion, deep in color.

He Xuran continued to report, "The news has spread. As an official Censor, receiving the court’s stipends..."

"Speak directly!"

He Xuran respectfully clasped his hands.

"The criminal Ying Yi was guilty of treason and rebellion, and according to the law, should have been executed. However, you, Holy Emperor, out of consideration for brotherhood, spared his life."

Ying Yi was indeed King Yan’s given name.

He spoke clearly.

"Clearly, the royal grace is vast."

"The criminal Ying Yi has passed away, and the Holy Emperor has grieved for many days because of this. Hence, across Da Jin, everyone knows you could not bear it, and had once said to show favor to his son, Ying Fuyan."

This was what Emperor Qian previously used to gain a good name.

"With Ying Fuyan now brutally dead, I believe this matter should be thoroughly investigated. Could it be someone deliberately disregarded the Imperial Decree, ignored what you said, Holy Emperor, and in Lingnan, outwardly complied but secretly made things difficult for Ying Fuyan, leading to his death?"

As with every case he handled, He Xuran spoke with righteous indignation.

"A mere commoner, Ying Fuyan dead is just dead. Yet this matter concerns the reputation of the Royal Family."

"Rumors outside the palace suggest it was the Holy Emperor’s tacit approval, otherwise why would the government officer in Lingnan not treat him as a human and let him die in such a tragic state?"

From behind, Yang Weiweng knelt down, "Please, Holy Emperor, allow us to thoroughly investigate this matter to silence the public’s gossip."

Imperial Censor Shu led the other censors to follow suit, kneeling down.

"Please, Holy Emperor, allow us to thoroughly investigate this matter to silence the public’s gossip."

Emperor Qian remained unchanged in expression, but under the covers, his hand had already clenched into a fist, veins bulging.

He gazed intently at He Xuran.

"Quite the burden you bear!"

The words lifted him high but weren’t they suspecting him?

He Xuran neither hastened nor slowed down.

The Imperial Censorate tolerates not the slightest sand; everything must be thoroughly investigated. By taking this position, doesn’t one inevitably offend people regularly?

He raised his voice, "But I trust the Holy Emperor!"

If clean, there’s no fear of investigation.

But is he clean?

Emperor Qian’s emotions were indistinct, suddenly letting out a soft laugh.

The servants waiting outside the hall had their legs go limp, kneeling inadvertently before even realizing.

Within, the emperor’s voice was heard.

"No wonder you’re the fine censor I painstakingly selected."

————

The rain outside hadn’t ceased, drizzling incessantly, being bothersome, disturbing the mind.

After Yao Ru awoke, her chest felt stuffy and uncomfortable, she didn’t even know how she cried, leaning against the couch, silent, having sent everyone serving in the room out.

And it was at this moment that some noise came from the direction of the window.

It belonged to a man’s slender yet weak hand attempting to push it open.

Ying Fuyan tried pushing several times but to no avail.

Seeing this, Wei Zhao, who brought him over with qinggong, couldn’t bear it,

After a moment’s leave, knocked out the servant guarding outside the door, preparing to lift Ying Fuyan inside.

Yes, lift.

But he had excellent hearing and detected subtle footsteps from inside the room.

He raised his eyebrow, retreated to a distance, continuously monitoring the surroundings.

In fact, Yao Ru didn’t want to get out of bed to check.

Yet the window was close to her, and the noise coming was so mild that it could typically be drowned out by the sound of the rain.

Soft, as though testing, yet fearing it would disturb her, but persisting soundly.

When the window was gently pushed open, in the next instant, it clicked softly before closing again.

Continuing to push, a light creak followed by another click as it closed.

For some reason, it sounded deafening in her ears, annoyingly stirring her chaotic state.

Clearly, she could ignore it, but inexplicably, under the noise, her heart, frozen to the bone, was being told it was still beating.

Unshod, she stepped onto the floor, uncontrollably heading in that direction.

When the person outside tried pushing once more, she helped to open the window.

Yao Ru, clad thinly, her gaze vacant, as fragile as a taut bowstring about to snap at any moment.

The man outside was visibly ill, standing weakly, dressed in heavy cotton but still shivering from the cold.

Yao Ru showed no substantial reaction to seeing the man outside.

As if she didn’t care at all.

Unknown after how many breaths.

Her eyes finally focused slightly, recognizing Ying Fuyan’s face.

"Adviser Jia? Why are you here?"

Ying Fuyan had much to say, but seeing her, he didn’t know where to start.

He gazed at the one he cared for deeply.

Finally, his throat dry.

"Ah Ru, it’s me."