Grand Eunuch Li cast a helpless glance at Wei Shuxuan. "Young Master Wei, you don't know. While you were out, Her Majesty the Queen sent for the Fifth Prince."
"Do you know what the Queen wanted with him?" Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but inquire with concern.
"I have no idea, Your Highness. But after the Fifth Prince returned from the Palace of Gathered Elegance, he's been like this. However, to me, His Highness seems no different from usual..."
"That's because you haven't spent much time with him. I can tell at a glance that he's like a ticking time - bomb today, just holding it all in."
"Your analogy is quite amusing, Young Master Wei."
"Alright, since you don't know, that's fine. Go attend to your duties."
"Then this humble servant shall take his leave."
Wei Shuxuan wasn't sure if it was appropriate for her to just barge into Xin Zizhao's room and ask him. She'd never seen him angry, but people of his type usually got extremely terrifying when angry, right?
It's better not to take such a risk. It's wiser to take a quick bath and go to bed.
Xin Zizhao returned to his room. He had just read a few pages of the medical book when he realized he couldn't absorb a single word. Frustrated, he tossed it aside.
That morning, he had planned to finish his tutor's assignment and then head straight back to the Palace of Gentle Breeze to find Wei Shuxuan. But unexpectedly, he was intercepted by the Queen's people and summoned to the Palace of Gathered Elegance.
"I wonder what Her Majesty the Queen wants with me. I have some urgent matters back at the Palace of Gentle Breeze," Xin Zizhao said.
"Your Majesty said that it's been several days since the Fifth Prince returned and he still hasn't paid her a visit. She just wants to see Your Highness. After all, Her Majesty is, in name, your mother," the senior maid replied.
Xin Zizhao shot a cold, disdainful look at the senior maid. The maid, Die'er, was intimidated by his imposing aura. Fortunately, she was well - seasoned and managed to suppress her fear. She politely curtsied and said, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Queen said that she knows Young Master Wei, who resides in the Palace of Gentle Breeze, has left the palace. The outside world is a dangerous place. There's no point for Your Highness to return so early."
"Are you threatening me?" Hearing anything related to Wei Shuxuan made Xin Zizhao angry. His already cold and handsome face turned even icier. He hated being threatened, but he also didn't want anything to happen to Wei Shuxuan.
"Your Highness, this is not my words. It's what Her Majesty told me to convey to you."
"… I understand. I'll go."
"Then please follow me, Your Highness."
Led by Die'er, the senior maid beside the Queen, to the Palace of Gathered Elegance, Xin Zizhao just wanted to see this so - called Queen quickly and rush back to the Palace of Gentle Breeze to find Wei Shuxuan. It made him uneasy that she was out of his sight.
"Zizhao pays respects to Her Majesty the Queen."
Xin Zizhao didn't kneel before the Queen. The Queen smiled at him. At first glance, she seemed not angry, but there was a hint of fury in her eyes. "Get up quickly. There's no need to be so formal between us. Zizhao, have a seat."
"No need. If Her Majesty just wanted to see me, now that you've seen me, may I leave?" Few others would dare to speak to the Queen like this, but Xin Zizhao did.
The Queen laughed. "Zizhao is so heartless to your mother. Can't you stay and have a chat with me? I know you and Young Master Wei Luo are good friends. I accidentally learned that Young Master Wei left the palace early this morning. If you're in a hurry to go back to find him, I know where he is. Do you want me to tell you?"
Xin Zizhao knew exactly what the Queen meant, but he couldn't show his emotions. Otherwise, Wei Shuxuan's life in the palace would be difficult.
"I'm in a hurry to return to the Palace of Gentle Breeze not because of my friend. It's just that the tutor's lessons are so boring that I want to go back to my chambers to rest."
"Boring?" The Queen chuckled, a hint of smugness in her eyes. "Zizhao, you must study hard."
"No, it's just too easy. I've already learned it all, so I find it boring."
Xin Zizhao's words posed a real threat to the Queen. Her seemingly proper smile froze on her face instantly. To Xin Zizhao, that smile looked hideous. Soon, she composed herself. "Really? Then Zizhao is truly remarkable."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty."
This time, the Queen summoned him to the Palace of Gathered Elegance just to intimidate him and to see if this prince was a fool or a talent.
Every time Xin Zizhao asked to leave, the Queen would find an excuse to stop him. He was worried that it was the Queen's delaying tactic, fearing that she might harm Wei Shuxuan when he wasn't paying attention. If that were the case, he wouldn't spare this woman, whether she was the Empress Dowager or the Queen.
If Emperor Jinzheng hadn't come to the Palace of Gathered Elegance, Xin Zizhao might not have been able to leave until evening. He made up an excuse and left.
However, when he returned to the Palace of Gentle Breeze and learned from Grand Eunuch Li that Wei Shuxuan hadn't come back yet, he was extremely worried. He feared that she might be in danger outside. But he only knew that she had gone out to investigate a case and didn't know where. He didn't know where to send people to look for her, so he could only anxiously wait for her return in the main hall.
He never expected that Wei Shuxuan would go to see Ge Zian and have a meal with him. It made his worry seem worthless. He had her in his heart, but she didn't seem to care at all. How could this not break his heart and make him cold?
Xin Zizhao sighed and picked up the medical book he had tossed aside. He tried to clear his mind of the distracting thoughts. Just as he was about to concentrate on reading, he heard a knock on the door.
After returning to her room, Wei Shuxuan thought it over and decided that she was in the wrong. She should go and apologize to Xin Zizhao. Moreover, it seemed that he had been waiting for her to return...
"Xin Zizhao, I know you're in there. Open the door."
Since Xin Zizhao didn't respond for a long time, Wei Shuxuan had to speak first. Xin Zizhao was clearly surprised that Wei Shuxuan would come to find him so late.
He felt a glimmer of anticipation. The troubled mood he had just been in was instantly dispelled by that familiar voice.