The late - spring sunlight was a bit glaring. Zhu Yao held an umbrella while Shi Hua supported Yan Qingshu as they walked towards the Imperial Study.
Li Dahai, walking in front, wore a smile on his face, but inside he couldn't help feeling rather sad.
He wondered if Lady Yan could understand the Emperor's intentions.
Just as they reached the outside of the Imperial Study and Li Dahai was about to go in and report, they heard the sound of porcelain shattering inside, accompanied by the Emperor's angry roar.
"The northwest has been suffering from drought, but the local officials there have turned a blind eye. Now they even dare to embezzle the silver and grain from the national treasury in private!"
"Your Majesty, I've found out that this matter was handled by Chen Wenji, the Vice - Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who is an in - law of the Marquis of Zhenyuan!"
The Emperor's deep and angry voice came from inside the hall.
Hearing this, Yan Qingshu lowered her eyes.
Before entering the palace, she once secretly went to the front yard to plead with her father to take back his order. She didn't want to enter the palace.
Unexpectedly, when passing by a long - deserted yard, she overheard her father's secret plot.
Among other things, Chen Wenji was mentioned.
Chen Wenji's younger sister was the mistress of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion.
Since Chen Wenji was involved in the northwest drought matter, and considering her father's close friendship with him, her father must have also intervened.
If the evidence was conclusive, the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion would surely not be spared.
Thinking of this, Yan Qingshu curled her lips. This was exactly what she wanted.
She hated everyone in the Yan family to the core!
"Investigate for me! Whether it's the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion or Chen Wenji, the Vice - Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, investigate every detail for me!"
Another angry roar came from inside.
Li Dahai smiled awkwardly and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
"Your Ladyship may not know, but ever since Lord Zhu went in, the angry roars inside have never stopped.
I was even driven out when I went in to serve tea. Until now, His Majesty hasn't had a single sip of tea or had lunch.
Please persuade His Majesty to have some food."
Yan Qingshu nodded and waited for the court official inside to come out.
When Lord Zhu came out of the hall and saw her, he bowed respectfully.
Yan Qingshu also nodded in return.
Then there was another round of shattering sounds inside.
Yan Qingshu took the food box from Zhu Yao. Inside were iced mung bean soup and ice cream.
When she walked in waving her round fan, the floor of the hall was covered with broken teacups and memorials.
The man stood with his back to her behind the desk, hands clasped behind his back. He must be extremely angry.
"Your Majesty, I could hear the cracking sounds from afar," Yan Qingshu said softly.
Di Yunjian suddenly turned around. Seeing her standing in the mess, he quickly walked over and led her behind the desk.
"Why are you here?" Di Yunjian asked.
"Isn't it because Your Majesty hasn't had lunch or a single sip of tea and has been making such a ruckus in the Imperial Study? Eunuch Li had no choice but to invite me here to persuade Your Majesty," Yan Qingshu said with a smile on her lips, waving her fan to bring him a little coolness.
"He sure knows how to make decisions for me," Di Yunjian snorted.
Yan Qingshu pulled him to sit down and opened the food box, taking out the mung bean soup.
"Your Majesty, this is iced mung bean soup. It's quite hot now. Have a sip to cool down your anger."
After saying that, Yan Qingshu began to tidy up the messy desk.
"I don't understand the affairs of the court officials, Your Majesty. I only hope that Your Majesty can take good care of your health."
Yan Qingshu neatly piled up the messy memorials.
"Shuer, did you hear everything just now?" Di Yunjian stared at her and asked.
Yan Qingshu nodded gently.
"I heard it, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, I know that my father may have done something wrong. Although I don't understand any great principles, I know that once you've done something wrong, there's no use in making excuses.
If Your Majesty finds out that my father was involved, I only have one request. Please spare my step - mother and younger brother.
They are the only ones I care about. Although the others are my relatives, I really can't forgive them..."
As she spoke, Yan Qingshu's tears slowly welled up.
Di Yunjian wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and said, "I know you've been wronged. Your mother and younger brother are innocent. If the Marquis of Zhenyuan was really involved after the investigation, I will rescue them."
Yan Qingshu nodded.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but a hint of darkness flashed secretly.
This play staged by His Majesty, Li Dahai, and that court official this afternoon was nothing more than to make her feel a sense of crisis, and His Majesty had also given her a guarantee.
Moreover, His Majesty had let her see her mother and younger brother yesterday, and now this happened today.
If her guess was correct, there was only one answer.
Perhaps His Majesty wanted to use the fact that she was being threatened by the Noble Consort Xian to obtain some information about the Marquis of Zhenyuan.
Well, she was naturally willing to take the bait.
Yan Qingshu's eyes were red, but she forced a smile, looking so weak yet so tough.
Di Yunjian was secretly amazed. He used to dislike women crying and whining in front of him the most, but now, even a single tear from her made his heart ache.
"Don't cry. I will definitely fulfill what I promised you," Di Yunjian said, stroking her smooth and delicate face.
He wanted to eliminate the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion, but he had never thought of doing anything to her. He did have the idea of using her in this matter and deliberately let her overhear it.
She seemed tough, but she had her own mind. So he would lend her a hand and help her take revenge.
He would guide her step by step and let her grow slowly.
Yan Qingshu nodded and nestled into his arms. Her delicate face was pressed against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.
This man wanted to use her to achieve his goal, but he didn't know that she was eager to be used by him.
She was going to use His Majesty's hand to destroy the Marquis of Zhenyuan's Mansion and kill those who had bullied her, her mother, and her younger brother!
They all didn't deserve to live!
The darkness in Yan Qingshu's eyes was hidden. She looked up and kissed Di Yunjian's handsome cheek.
Blushing, she said, "Your Majesty is so kind to me. I feel I don't deserve it."
"Didn't I say that when there's no one around, just call me Liulang?" Hearing her address him as Your Majesty over and over again made him feel it was a bit stiff.
"Liulang..." Yan Qingshu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Liulang, have your meal quickly. Eunuch Li is waiting outside," Yan Qingshu didn't forget that the man in front of her hadn't had lunch yet.
"Okay," Di Yunjian smiled, then pinched her face.
Hearing this, Li Dahai outside quickly arranged for people to send the imperial meal in.
The eunuchs carried the imperial meal in one after another. Soon, the table was filled with delicious dishes.
Yan Qingshu wasn't in the mood to eat at all. She sat beside him and served him food.
"We'll be going to the summer palace in a few days. Choose the things you want to take these days," Di Yunjian said with a smile.
At the summer palace, he had renovated the palace he had arranged for Yan Qingshu. He had repainted the pepper - scented walls and placed some new and interesting things that had been进贡 from the Western Regions and the West.
All these were placed in that palace.