NFBE Chapter 193 My Subservient Ministers
Chapter 193 My Subservient Ministers
Seeing that things were not going well, everyone present knelt down and dared not utter a word.
Pei Yuanling slightly raised his finger: "Everyone, disperse."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed and withdrew.
Chu Qingyin stood there, staring blankly at Pei Yuanling's departing figure.
Even when the sorceress pointed at him tonight, he didn't even glance at him.
She didn't care about that.
She was simply curious about who had hired this sorceress.
Judging from the scene just now, it couldn't possibly be a member of the Wang family—
Isn't this like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot?
"Your Majesty, it's time to go back."
Xianglan whispered a reminder from the side, her face full of worry, fearing that her mistress would be implicated.
After all, there had been rumors in the palace that the Empress's soul had been taken away by the former Consort.
But she had served the Empress since she was a child, so how could she not know whether the Empress's soul had been taken away?
Chu Qingyin gave a faint "hmm" and looked back at the gate of Fengyi Palace. The young emperor's figure had disappeared, and the bonfire in the center had burned out, leaving only a few faint ashes.
"Let's go."
She went out today without any other maids accompanying her; only Xianglan was by her side.
Xianglan carried the lantern, and the two walked back to Feixue Palace. The palace lantern swayed with their steps, and the candlelight flickered, illuminating the way forward.
By this time, the other concubines had already scattered like birds and beasts, each one acting as if they were afraid of something, hurrying away.
Passing through the towering palace walls, the two people's shadows were stretched unusually long.
"Your Highness, this doesn't seem to be the way back to Feixue Palace."
Xianglan followed closely beside her mistress, but as they walked, she sensed something was amiss. Her expression changed slightly, and she asked softly, "This seems to be... the way to the Cold Palace?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin said calmly, "Didn't that sorceress say that there are ghosts haunting that palace? I'd like to see if there are any vengeful spirits causing trouble."
Upon hearing this, Xianglan's face turned deathly pale, and her voice trembled slightly: "Your Majesty, the Cold Palace has always been an unlucky place, and now with this incident, we should probably avoid it."
It wasn't that she was particularly afraid, but that was the Cold Palace, where many disgraced concubines were imprisoned, and at night people would make mournful, pitiful noises that were quite unsettling.
"Consort Liang."
Just then, a deep male voice came from behind Chu Qingyin, “These are turbulent times, it is indeed not advisable to go to the Cold Palace.”
When Chu Qingyin turned around, she saw Lu Zhiheng holding a glass palace lantern, standing not far away, looking at her calmly.
"why you?"
She frowned slightly and subconsciously looked around. Fortunately, they were in a secluded place and no one had noticed them.
Nevertheless, her expression remained somewhat distant: "It's getting late, why hasn't Lord Lu left the palace yet?"
Lu Zhiheng remained calm and composed, his face bearing his usual aloof expression: "Your Highness, please don't be in such a hurry to send me away."
He spoke as he slowly approached.
The glass palace lantern in his hand cast a soft glow, illuminating his sharply defined face. He raised his hand and bowed to her: "Your Majesty has been promoted. I wonder if you are satisfied with the congratulatory gift I have presented today?"
"What are you talking about? What congratulatory gift?"
Chu Qingyin frowned, and the next moment she realized what she meant, her face showing surprise: "Did you hire that sorceress?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng smiled but remained silent.
His reaction...
Chu Qingyin's expression changed slightly, realizing that this was not the place to talk, and she gestured for Xianglan to walk ahead.
The two walked into a secluded corner.
Chu Qingyin then said coldly, "Are you crazy! That's the Empress!"
"Didn't you suspect that the Empress was the mastermind behind poisoning the late Consort?"
In the dim light of the night, the candlelight illuminated the man's distinct jawline, obscuring his expression. Only his deep, cold voice could be heard as he said slowly, "In that case, why not try her out and see?"
Chu Qingyin stared at Lu Zhiheng with a complicated expression, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
His actions were far too audacious; a slight misstep could have led to him being accused of defiling the harem.
"Do you know how dangerous this is? If you are not careful, you will be doomed forever."
Her voice carried a hint of anger, but even more so, worry.
Despite her reaction, Lu Zhiheng remained calm and composed.
He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already made all the arrangements. What that sorceress said was all pre-planned, and she will not leave any evidence."
The man's warm breath brushed against her neck, causing Chu Qingyin to stiffen and instinctively take a step back.
"Now that the sorceress has been driven out, what are you planning to do next?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
Lu Zhiheng's gaze was indifferent, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips: "As long as Your Majesty doesn't forget your promise to me, that's fine."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's heart trembled, and her mind instantly recalled what had happened on the island in the middle of the lake that day.
She had thought that he was just teasing her that day, but she never expected... he really kept his promise.
What she didn't expect was that he actually harbored desires for her?
Chu Qingyin found it hard to believe.
Because in her heart, she always thought that Lu Zhiheng was a heartless, emotionless blockhead. She believed that someone like him should just cling to power and live a lonely life until the end.
I never expected that he would... have feelings for her?
I just don't know if this idea stems from her looks, or... her heart?
Lu Zhiheng took in the shocked change in her expression and raised an eyebrow: "What, Your Highness, are you perhaps going to back out?"
Chu Qingyin paused for a moment before biting her lip and saying, "Since I've said it, I naturally won't go back on my word!"
Taking a deep breath, she secretly clenched her fingers and pretended to be calm, saying, "But Lord Lu, the murderer has not yet been found. Wouldn't it be too unfair for me to give myself to you now?"
The other person was clearly not expected her to speak so bluntly, and was momentarily speechless.
Chu Qingyin raised an eyebrow, her clear eyes filled with a hint of arrogance, and stepped forward, her expression somewhat provocative, "Lord Lu, it's not so easy to become my subject."
She spoke slowly and deliberately, her snow-white, soft hand sighing as it gently stroked the man's neck, then his Adam's apple, and down to his chest.
Lu Zhiheng lowered his gaze slightly and saw the small, snow-white hand resting on his chest, his throat bobbing involuntarily.
Upon seeing this, Chu Qingyin's lips curled slightly.
Even the most detached and indifferent man is still a man.
With her slender white fingers lightly touching his chest, Chu Qingyin swiftly placed a kiss on his chin before he could react.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled, and her voice was sweet and charming: "Lord Lu, I await your good news."
After saying that, she quickly distanced herself from him, a smile playing on her lips, and turned to leave.
Watching the graceful figure carrying the lantern disappear into the distance, Lu Zhiheng subconsciously touched his chin.
Her unique fragrance seemed to linger around her.
Unexpectedly, the other party would take such a bold step in the palace.
You should know that if others see this, it's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
She was so willing to go to such lengths just to find out the real culprit for the late imperial concubine.
But what exactly is the relationship between the two of them that would make her take such a risk?
Lu Zhiheng chuckled softly as he gently stroked his chin with his long fingers.
He'll figure it out someday.