A Female King’s Love Story - Chapter 75
She did not know how long it had been since she had stayed in bed. She still remembered that in the modern world, although her master had been strict with her, he had never argued with her over small matters. His eldest senior brother He You You had been very indulgent and doting towards her, so no one had been able to stop her on the way to sleep.
“Ran Er?” Ji Minyuan stood beside the bed and asked cautiously.
He saw that Qiao Qiao was still frowning and his expression was filled with impatience.
“It’s time for the morning assembly.” After all, it was impossible for a monarch to not make an early appearance. Moreover, everyone already knew that she had stayed in the Yuan Yi Palace last night. If they didn’t make an early appearance today, then the image of a wise monarch that they had saved with great difficulty would be ruined.
“Morning …” Joe continued to mutter.
“Yeah.” He was already holding the washbasin, waiting for Joe to get up.
“Un …” Joe answered grudgingly, dragging his voice.
Ji Mingyuan saw that Qiao Qiao was still sitting up with a drowsy look on his face. His eyes had yet to open, but he was about to get out of bed and put on his shoes. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I am here to serve. All of you can leave now.” Ji Mingyuan waved to the palace maids behind him. He dismissed everyone in the hall, then placed the basin aside and took the dragon robe. He wanted to help Joe change his clothes.
Qiao Qiao’s mind was still in a state of turmoil. How could she have remembered that she had fallen asleep in Ji Mingyuan’s chambers? From what she could remember, the person who had dressed her up was most likely Qingwu.
“Have you heard from Xiyue?” She closed her eyes and stretched out her arms, allowing the light and heavy hands on her to move back and forth.
Ji Mingyuan couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed she thought he was Qingwu.
“Reporting to the Emperor, we’re still searching.” Ji Mingyuan replied with a smile.
“Right.” Qiao Qiao gently responded, but then she felt that something was wrong. She suddenly opened her eyes and saw Ji Mingyuan’s handsome face in front of her. She was shocked and crossed her arms, retreating two steps. “Why are you in my chamber!” she asked.
“Your Majesty, you’re wrong. You’re in my chamber.” When Ji Mingyuan saw that Joe was still like a frightened fawn, he couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
“I …” Joe looked around, still suddenly aware of the fact that she had fallen asleep in the palace last night and had forgotten.
“It’s better for the emperor to hurry to the morning court, or else the ministers would join forces to impeach the concubine, bewitch the emperor, and bring calamity upon the people.” Ji Mingyuan pretended to be wronged.
When she saw Ji Mingyuan, all of the sleepiness that had been lingering in Qiao’s body disappeared. She raised her robe and casually straightened it before turning around and walking out of Yuanyi Palace.
Ji Mingyuan stared at Qiao Qiao’s back as he left. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth in his heart. If he could continue taking care of Qiao in the future, then he would be satisfied.
The throne room.
Qiao Qiao was still riding on the Dragon Chase as she descended. She saw that the officials in the hall had been waiting for a long time. She slowly strolled in.
“Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!” The officials kowtowed.
“Stand up.” Qiao Qiao still waved her hand and turned around to sit on the dragon throne. She saw that Eunuch Gao and Qingwu sat on the left and right side of the dragon throne. She couldn’t help but feel a wave of sadness in her heart.
“Your majesty, this subject has something to begin with.” Just as Qiao Qiao sat down, he saw Vice Minister Liu stand up and speak.
“Just say it directly to my beloved one.” Then, he glanced at the throne that belonged solely to his highness, but it was empty.
It seemed like Yan Mo Chen had the intention to call it a day again. Recently, he had been acting in a mysterious manner and did not know what to do.
This subject has heard that the Emperor’s aunt of the first rank disappeared. This subject should not have meddled with the affairs of the imperial harem, but this matter is no small matter. Vice Minister Liu said with a stern expression.
“Your Majesty, this subject has different opinions.” Minister Liu had just finished speaking when Lin Taibai stood up and said, “This official thinks, although the disappearance of first aunt is a big matter, but for the emperor to order the entire Jinyi Guards to search the entire palace day and night, isn’t this a bit too much? Moreover, if we do so, I’m afraid that Qiao’s internal and external family would be displeased, and today the people say that the emperor did everything possible to turn the entire palace over for the servant girl beside him. And the Grand Commandant’s family has yet to say anything about their tragic deaths.”
“That being said, the disappearance of first aunt may seem like a small matter in the harem, but the truth is that it has something to do with the previous dynasty. Moreover, the matter of Grand Commandant Xi’s death has been handed over to the Regent for investigation, and there has been no news of him. Vice Minister Liu’s face was solemn. He was never afraid of the Regent. If anyone dared to threaten Qiao Guo, he would protect the Emperor even if he died.
“Even if the Xi Mansion was investigated by the Regent, my aunt is still a slave. It’s not enough for the Emperor to make a move and drain the Jinyi Guards.” Lin Taibai refuted.
“Your Majesty …”
“Everyone, shut up. Although Xiyue is a aunt of the first rank, she grew up with us and is close to us. What’s wrong with us ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guards to find sisters?” Joe still frowned and looked at the guard.
“Your majesty, although aunt and your majesty have grown up together, their statuses are different, and they are respectful and orderly. Your majesty cannot be compared on the same level with people with lowly statuses.” Lin Taibai cupped his hands and insisted.
“How dare you!” Who is the person with the lowest status!? ” If one were to say that Xiyue’s identity was that of a first aunt of the imperial harem and she was a person of great renown in front of the Emperor, then even though she had no official and no status, she would not dare offend the Emperor in front of him. What Lin Taibai had said today was probably something that someone had deliberately instigated for him to be the one to stand up for himself.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me. This subject is only discussing the matter and not slandering anyone.” Lin Taibai lowered his body slightly, but there was no compromise in his tone.
Vice Minister Liu’s words have a bit of truth to them. Xiyue is one of my people, so if someone wants to kill her, they must come for me. Qiao Qiao’s face was still cold and indifferent, his forehead was filled with endless sharpness, as if if if Lin Taibai were to say one more word, she would immediately dismember his body into thousands of pieces.
“This subject doesn’t dare, the safety of the Emperor is the safety of the State of Qiao.” Lin Taibai’s body stiffened as he spoke in a respectful tone. He just didn’t think that the emperor would actually associate his own safety with that of his imperial aunt.
If Xiyue suddenly disappeared, I believe that all of you beloved officials will understand. If Xiyue accidentally disappeared, it will be because of Xiyue, but she has been by my side ever since she was a child, so she has always been strict and loyal to us. It’s impossible that she didn’t choose to stay in the palace and pretend to go missing, so someone must have done this intentionally. Joe’s eyes remained cold as he looked around at the crowd.
“As the Emperor of Qiao, if I am unable to even protect my own aunt’s safety, then wouldn’t I, the emperor, be at the mercy of others?” Qiao Qiao was still obviously furious as he shouted coldly towards the officials within the hall, “What is the use of us raising a group of trash that even my safety is in danger. If we were to become like Grand Commandant Xi and be slaughtered overnight, our beloved officials would not doubt that we have wasted their resources and wasted the strength of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!”
“This official dares not.”
When everyone heard the emperor’s rage, their legs softened and they knelt down to kowtow. At this time, Lin Taibai was obviously covered in cold sweat. Doesn’t this mean that the emperor was implying that he was putting the emperor to death?
“You don’t dare? What do you all dare not to do? “Since we’ve only sent the Embroidered Uniform Guard to search for Xiyue’s whereabouts, all of you have come to say that we’ve engaged in a great fight and that we’ve consumed the strength of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Could it be that the strength of the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to be used for our funeral in the future?!” Qiao Qiao’s lips were still curled into a cold smile and his expression was devoid of any emotion. A dignified aura filled the entire throne room.
He didn’t expect that the emperor would be able to say such unlucky words. Fortunately, he didn’t respond to Lin Taibai’s words, otherwise, a great calamity would surely befall him, and the emperor would no longer be that weak and incompetent emperor.
“Someone, come …”
Qiao once again waved his hand, just as he was about to execute Lin Taibai, he saw Prime Minister Luo’s expression change, he immediately stood up, went up and kowtowed and said:
“Your majesty, even though Lin Taibai is young, he is still doing it for the sake of Qiao Country. I hope that Your Majesty can forgive him for the sake of his heart.” Right now, the only person who dared to speak up for Lin Taibai under the Emperor’s rage was Prime Minister Luo.
This Lin Taibai was originally Prime Minister Luo’s favorite disciple, if one were to say that he could become the Prime Minister of the Luo Empire, Prime Minister Luo would have done a great deed for him, but now that he had come out to plead on his behalf, it did not seem that anything was amiss, but in Qiao Qiao’s eyes, the matter was not that simple, maybe, the person who instigated the Lin Taibai to protect him was the loyal Prime Minister who had served the country wholeheartedly!
“Since Prime Minister Luo is willing to plead on your behalf, I’ll spare your life. If I hear you speak without restraint again in the future, then I might not even care about Prime Minister Luo’s face!” Qiao Qiao still looked at Lin Taibai, and said coldly.
He spared Lin Taibai not because Qiao Qiao was still afraid of Prime Minister Luo, but now was not the time to fall out. She had never wanted to take Lin Taibai’s life, but just to sell her life to Prime Minister Luo for a favor.
In the hearts of the crowd, they all thought that Prime Minister Luo was of great authority, that he was the founder of the country, that he held the gold medal for saving his life, and that even the Emperor had to give him three points of respect. As such, everyone couldn’t help but to move closer to Prime Minister Luo.
“Thank you, your majesty.” Lin Taibai and Prime Minister Luo bowed in gratitude.
“Forget it, let’s withdraw from the court.” Qiao Qiao had obviously lost his patience and he waved his hand, then walked out of the throne room in large strides without waiting for the officials to send him off.
