Her words, spoken with a perfectly calm expression, were as gentle and soft as a spring breeze in March, yet they carried a chilling coldness that emanated from her very core.
She was never one to be threatened. Now that Murong Yingxue dared to act this way, even if she didn't wish her dead, she wouldn't let her off easily.
Yun Xiao's pupils shimmered with a bright gleam.
Murong Yingxue, standing in the great hall, was stunned. After Yun Xiao finished speaking, the Emperor and Prince Shangguan truly remained silent. Murong Yingxue couldn't help but laugh heartily to the heavens, pointing at the people in the hall and roaring, "Fine! The three of you want to force me to my death!"
The three were speechless. Wasn't she the one who wanted to commit suicide? Who was forcing her?
Murong Yingxue rose to her feet and rushed out. Behind her in the great hall, Shangguan Yin frowned. It seemed Murong Yingxue truly could not remain in Dongqin. Her inherent malice and her neurotic tendencies were too pronounced. It seemed a marriage alliance was needed as soon as possible.
"Come here."
Outside the hall, Jin Jian, leading his men, appeared and bowed respectfully. Shangguan Yin issued a chilling command: "Immediately order people to guard the Hall of a Hundred Flowers, and do not allow the princess to leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jin Jian took his orders and left. It seemed His Majesty intended to place the princess under house arrest.
In the great hall, Yun Xiao looked up at Shangguan Lin, who was seated below. She offered a half-hearted smile for a long time without speaking. Shangguan Lin felt a tremor of fear. After a while, he cautiously spoke, "Brother Emperor is fine. This subject will take his leave first."
Without waiting for permission, he fled like a rabbit, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Yet, Yun Xiao's voice could still be vaguely heard from within the hall, drifting out slowly.
"Keep running. Take it easy, and don't fall into my hands."
His footsteps quickened. The eunuchs outside the hall looked bewildered. Why was the prince running so fast, as if someone were chasing him?
Inside the great hall, Shangguan Yin turned back and gazed tenderly at Yun Xiao. A layer of dewy radiance covered his exquisite and perfect features, making him appear like a banished immortal, yet so elegantly dazzling. He reached out and embraced Yun Xiao. Yun Xiao blinked her eyes and said with a smile,
"Your Majesty, go handle state affairs. I'll sleep a bit longer by myself."
Shangguan Yin raised his eyebrows slightly and nodded. "Alright. We'll go have our meal, and then you can sleep a bit longer. I will handle state affairs."
"Fuhai, bring the morning meal to the sleeping quarters."
As Shangguan Yin commanded, Fuhai immediately hurried to fetch the meal.
Yun Xiao got up, preparing to walk back to the sleeping quarters. Shangguan Yin, already extending his arm, picked her up and carried her towards the sleeping quarters.
He knew her legs were weak, and after their recent intimacy, they were still shaky. The corners of his lips curved into a triumphant smile, his gaze drifting intentionally towards Yun Xiao's stomach.
If there was a baby here, the imperial palace would soon be lively. The more he thought about it, the happier he became, his face glowing with brilliance and dazzling splendor.
The two entered the sleeping quarters. Fuhai, leading a line of palace maids, came in and arranged the morning meal on the intricately carved, hollowed-out table in the sleeping quarters, filling it with dishes.
Yun Xiao was dazzled, but she was truly hungry. Without any pretense, she immediately began to eat heartily. Shangguan Yin, eating beside her, affectionately reminded her, "Eat slowly, chew slowly, don't choke."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Xiao choked. Angered, she glared at him, stretching her neck, wanting to scold the man for being a jinx.
Shangguan Yin handed her a cup of water. Yun Xiao took it and drank two large gulps, regaining her breath. As soon as she spoke, she accused Shangguan Yin, "Look at you, you almost killed me."
Shangguan Yin wasn't angry. He replied softly, "If you eat slowly, you won't choke. And no picky eating."
With that, he picked up a few bites of food that Yun Xiao disliked – red date paste cake. He easily noticed that Yun Xiao disliked red dates.
She would always pick out food containing red dates. However, red dates were very nourishing for women. How could she not eat them? So, he placed some red dates in Yun Xiao's bowl.
Yun Xiao immediately put on a pained expression. As a doctor, she knew how nutritious red dates were for women. Unfortunately, she had always disliked them, never eating even a bite, and feeling uncomfortable whenever she did.
But at this moment, Shangguan Yin was staring at her intently. She could only frown and force herself to eat a piece.
After finishing, she quickly ate other things. Shangguan Yin was both amused and exasperated. However, having someone to care for and dote on felt truly comfortable and natural.
Before long, the two finished their morning meal. The eunuch Fuhai led people in to clear the dishes.
Yun Xiao also urged Shangguan Yin to go to the imperial study to handle state affairs. Having just ascended the throne, she knew there were many matters to attend to. She was not the kind of unreasonable woman who would cling to a man all day discussing love. Therefore, she urged him to go quickly.
After Shangguan Yin left, Yun Xiao yawned and climbed back onto the bed to sleep a little longer. However, before falling asleep, a dark glint flashed in her pupils.
This Murong Yingxue was truly a calamity. If she were to remain, she would likely continue to plot against her.
Even with guards, it didn't mean she couldn't find a way. For those who directly threatened her, she would never remain passively unaware. Therefore, she naturally had to take precautions.
Yun Xiao woke up after sleeping for only a short while. In reality, she wasn't very tired because the Six Meridians Divine Heart technique allowed her to circulate true qi during intimate moments, thus maintaining abundant energy.
It was just that her legs were a little weak. After resting briefly, they felt much better.
As soon as she woke up, she remembered what she needed to do. She quietly slipped out of the sleeping chamber's window and headed straight for the Hall of a Hundred Flowers.
Along the way, she carefully avoided the guards. Those guards couldn't possibly encircle the Hall of a Hundred Flowers entirely, especially since she was more than familiar with the place.
Yun Xiao easily infiltrated the Hall of a Hundred Flowers, sliding across the treetops and swiftly darting into the sleeping quarters at the very back of the hall. Murong Yingxue must be crying at this moment.
As she approached, her expectations were met. The person inside was indeed sobbing uncontrollably, followed by the sound of things being thrown.
Yun Xiao's pupils flashed, a cold light glinting.
She lightly opened a crack in the window. Inside the sleeping quarters, a group of palace maids, led by Huazhi, were all kneeling on the ground. Murong Yingxue was lying on the bed, weeping bitterly.
Yun Xiao let out a cold laugh, flicking her slender hand. Powder drifted through the air. Holding her breath, the people in the sleeping quarters collapsed one after another. Even Murong Yingxue was no exception. At first, she could still whimper, but gradually, there was no sound at all.
Yun Xiao slipped into the sleeping quarters and flipped Murong Yingxue over. Staring at the words on her face, she found it utterly detestable. A woman's admiration for a man was understandable, but at least she should be sure that the man liked her.
To repeatedly harm others in this manner was something she could not tolerate. Therefore, she would absolutely not allow her to have another chance to harm her.