"Mo Lian, you speak..."
Li Yaoqin saw the palace maid who had entered to report approach and curtsy slightly to the Empress, then bow to Xue Jingyun. "Your Majesty, Cloud Sovereign."
Mo Lian looked at Li Yaoqin with a cold tone. "Li Yaoqin wishes to see Your Majesty, but Your Majesty is still asleep. I came out to reply to her. She knelt on the ground and said she would wait for Your Majesty to wake up."
Li Yaoqin's body trembled. Minister Li looked at Li Yaoqin and asked, "Yao'er, is that how it happened?"
Hearing this, Li Yaoqin said with tears, "My daughter fell ill, and her mother came to visit. She said a few tender words and then left. Unexpectedly, Your Majesty wanted to see her mother. I hadn't seen my mother for a long time, and when I inquired, I found out she had been taken away by Your Majesty's people. I feared my mother might offend Your Majesty because of my affairs, so I rushed over."
Xue Zining nodded. "That is how it happened. Li Yaoqin did not offend me, so I have no need to grant forgiveness!"
Minister Li's face turned red, and a hint of disappointment flickered in his gaze towards Li Yaoqin.
Li Yaoqin lowered her head, thinking how meticulous the Empress's mind was, actually using her mother to threaten her into coming.
"It is I, who worried for my little daughter and spoke carelessly. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness." Minister Li knelt and pleaded.
"It's nothing. The matter is clear now. Previously, I summoned Miss Li, and she feigned discomfort. Now, my complexion looks much better."
Li Yaoqin gritted her teeth but dared not show any emotion. "This servant indeed feels better."
"Since that is the case, you shall begin serving in Changning Palace starting tomorrow!" Xue Zining said lightly.
Li Yaoqin trembled, and Minister Li quickly stepped forward. "Your Majesty, my daughter has been pampered since childhood and might offend Your Majesty."
"Is that so? Yet I find Miss Li to be meticulous and not at all clumsy."
Minister Li continued, "Your Majesty, my daughter was mischievous before, which is why she entered the palace as a palace maid. She probably knows her mistake now. Ever since my daughter entered the palace, her mother has wept every day. I implore Your Majesty to allow my daughter to return home."
Xue Jingyun's expression turned considerably colder. Just as he was about to speak, Xue Zining stopped him with a tug.
Xue Zining smiled faintly, with a hint of coldness. "Minister Li, I do not appreciate your words. Miss Li was the one who begged to enter the palace. Now that she wishes to leave, you keep asking me to release her. It seems I have never coerced Miss Li."
Minister Li trembled. Xue Zining continued coldly, "If I recall correctly, it was also Miss Li who wanted to serve by my side. What? Do you find the palace less comfortable than the Minister's mansion? Is my harem a place you can come and go as you please?"
Li Yaoqin's gaze shifted. She raised her head and looked at the Empress seated on the stone chair. Though her figure was slender, her every movement exuded majesty.
"Miss Li, have I spoken a single untrue word?" Xue Zining looked at Li Yaoqin indifferently.
Li Yaoqin lowered her head and, after a long pause, replied, "No."
"Minister Li, since that is the case, please retract your earlier words. Miss Li will serve well by my side, and I will not treat her poorly."
Minister Li looked at Li Yaoqin. Li Yaoqin lowered her head, avoiding her father's gaze. Minister Li sighed, bowed, and said, "Your subject obeys your decree!"
"Withdraw!" Xue Zining said coldly.
Minister Li bowed and withdrew. Xue Zining rubbed her forehead. "Madam Minister, you may also return to your mansion."
Madam Xu was about to say something more, but Li Yaoqin stopped her with a look. Though worried about her daughter, she dared not disobey the Empress and could only withdraw reluctantly.
Xue Zining looked at Xue Jingyun beside her and said softly, "The rest is up to you. I am tired."
Xue Jingyun nodded, his tone gentler than usual. "Aning, you have worked hard."
Xue Zining smiled and said no more, only glancing towards Li Yaoqin as she entered.
Although Li Yaoqin did not look up to see the Empress's expression, she could feel the Empress smiling victoriously at her. Yes, the Empress had won this time.
But what of it? The rumors outside were so severe, did the Cloud Sovereign not know?
Clearly, the Cloud Sovereign was merely enduring.
She straightened her back, presenting her best side to the Cloud Sovereign.
Although not very close, she could still feel the Cloud Sovereign's aura, making her unable to resist.
"Li Yaoqin, I give you three days to clarify the rumors."
Li Yaoqin had never expected the words she would receive to be such a threat.
She looked up and saw the handsome, refined face, with eyes that radiated softness only for the Empress, but she was unwilling, so unwilling.
"Your Majesty, Cloud Sovereign, what are you talking about? Rumors? What rumors?"
Xue Jingyun looked at her coldly. "Li Yaoqin, although the storyteller is dead, he swallowed a piece of gold before he died. On the gold were the words 'Chang Jiu Tong Bao'. I presume Your Majesty understands that this gold came from the national treasury. A few days ago, the national treasury was stolen, and the gold was taken. Eyewitnesses said the thief went to the Minister's mansion."
"Your Majesty, Cloud Sovereign, this servant does not know what you are talking about." Li Yaoqin was profoundly shocked at this moment. Did her father's actions leave him vulnerable?
And it was just gold; she could still resolve it.
"Li Yaoqin, if the rumors are not dispelled within three days, I will absolutely not let you off lightly."
Li Yaoqin bit her lower lip and said unwillingly, "Your Majesty, although Chang Jiu Tong Bao came from the national treasury, you cannot say that it was my father who stole the official silver."
"Yes, you are correct. But the recently reported stolen official silver was found in the Minister of Personnel's mansion. Li Yaoqin, how do you explain this?"
"Impossible, impossible." Li Yaoqin shook her head.
"Impossible? Miss Li, are you being too arbitrary? Or do you know the entire process?"
The refined, handsome face was now as cold as frost. Those eyes were like an abyss, wanting to pull her in. Li Yaoqin finally felt an unprecedented fear.
"Miss Li, take care of yourself. I am not Aning; I will not be soft-hearted." With that, he turned to leave.
"Your Majesty, do you not know that the rumors outside say the Empress's child is not yours..."
Before she could finish, Li Yaoqin felt a gaze of death fixed upon her.
Her body trembled involuntarily.
"Your Maj... Your Majesty..."
"If I hear another word about Aning, I will not hesitate to stain my hands with blood, Li Yaoqin. Take care of yourself."
Li Yaoqin collapsed onto the ground, digging her nails into the earth. Why? Why could the Empress receive your tenderness, while she only received threats? She was unwilling, so unwilling.