The servants of the Ministry of Personnel's official residence opened the gate, their eyes widening in shock at the sight of many soldiers outside.
The man leading them, clad in a brocade robe of a gentle blue, walked in with a stern face. He spoke with cold indifference, "I am Shen Yun Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of Justice. I suspect the case of stolen official silver is connected to Li Si Nian, the Minister of Personnel. I have come to request that Lord Li accompany me to the Ministry of Justice."
"Shen Yun Xuan, you don't accuse someone like this," Li Si Nian said coldly, having been notified by his servant and rushing to the entrance.
He looked at the man standing at the gate. Apart from seeing this Minister of Justice Shen Yun Xuan during court sessions, they had no other interactions.
However, he knew that this Minister of Justice Shen Yun Xuan had been brought from Zhaoping by the Empress. It was said that the Empress was saved by this Shen Yun Xuan when she was in distress, and in gratitude, she had him appointed to an official post.
On many occasions, they looked down on such people, thinking that relying on a woman was no sign of capability.
Therefore, at this moment, as he looked at Shen Yun Xuan, his gaze was filled with disdain.
"Whether you are wrongly accused or not, Lord Li will know once you accompany me to the Ministry of Justice," Shen Yun Xuan said coldly.
"To frame me, you need no reason. Shen Yun Xuan, if I go with you to the Ministry of Justice, I fear I will not return alive."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yun Xuan's gaze turned cold, "Lord Li, are you refusing to comply?"
"I require an imperial decree. I will not comply with anything else. Close the gate," Li Si Nian turned and walked inside, and the servants quickly shut the gate.
The soldiers behind Shen Yun Xuan stepped forward and asked, "Minister Shen, this..."
"Let's go back," Shen Yun Xuan turned and left.
The soldiers were stunned. "Minister Shen isn't arresting him?"
Shen Yun Xuan replied, "Arrest him? Didn't he say it himself? He requires an imperial decree, otherwise, he refuses arrest. I don't have an imperial decree, so why arrest him? Let's return to the Ministry of Justice."
The soldiers scratched their heads, looking confused. What kind of situation was this?
The servants of the Ministry of Personnel's official residence, who had been listening at the gate for a while, hurried to Li Si Nian's study in the front courtyard and said, "My Lord, Minister Shen has left."
Li Si Nian breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly feared that Shen Yun Xuan would arrest him without restraint. In that case, he would have been unable to resist, as Shen Yun Xuan had brought so many soldiers. Even without an imperial decree, the act of executing first and reporting later was not impossible.
But fortunately, Shen Yun Xuan had some consideration and did not act.
"My Lord, what exactly is going on? I heard the servants say that the Ministry of Justice wants to arrest you?" Madam Xu asked anxiously, rushing in.
Li Si Nian waved for the servants to withdraw and walked over to Madam Xu to comfort her. "My lady, don't be afraid, nothing is wrong."
"How can nothing be wrong? I heard that Minister Shen from the Ministry of Justice has arrived. Why does he want to arrest you? Why?" Madam Xu pressed urgently.
Li Si Nian comforted Madam Xu, "My lady, please calm down..."
"Calm down? How can I calm down? I have always worried about Yao'er. Do I have to worry about you as well now?" Madam Xu said, tears streaming down her face.
Li Si Nian sighed, "The Ministry of Justice merely suspects me, there is no conclusive evidence. Moreover, for the Ministry of Justice to arrest me, they must first obtain the Emperor's consent. He wanted to arrest me without even a royal decree; it's like talking to the wind."
Madam Xu looked at him and suddenly said, "My Lord, tell me, what exactly are you plotting?"
Li Si Nian's expression faltered, and he turned his head away. "My lady, there are some things you shouldn't know, and it's best not to know them. It will do you no good."
"Because you don't want me to know, you make me live in constant fear?" Madam Xu asked tearfully.
Li Si Nian sighed, "My lady, trust your husband. Your husband knows what to do and how to do it."
Madam Xu, with tears in her eyes, said, "My Lord, please do not act recklessly and do something that would lead to the ruin of our family and the death of our kin. Even if you don't consider me, you should think of Yao'er."
"My lady, one can eat anything, but one cannot speak carelessly," Li Si Nian said coldly.
Madam Xu bit her lower lip. "My Lord..."
"My lady, it's best you return to your room. Do not have any contact with anyone during this time. After a while, everything will be fine."
Madam Xu knew that continuing to speak would only anger Li Si Nian. She curtsied and left.
Li Si Nian rubbed his forehead. Madam Xu's words had also made him feel somewhat uneasy. Did Shen Yun Xuan have any evidence?
In the evening, Li Yao Qin received news from a palace maid that the Minister of Justice, Shen Yun Xuan, had led people to their residence to make an arrest.
Li Yao Qin clutched the note, and after a long while, she stood up and walked to the candlelight, burning the note.
Only after it turned to ash did she sit down.
"Is Li Yao Qin ready? His Majesty wishes for you to attend him," a voice came from outside the door.
Li Yao Qin took a deep breath, stood up, and said, "I will go after I change my clothes."
Stepping outside, the palace maid Mo Lian in the Empress's sleeping quarters looked at her calmly and said, "Are you ready?"
Li Yao Qin nodded. "Yes, please lead the way, elder sister."
Arriving at Chang Ning Palace, Li Yao Qin instinctively looked up at the sleeping quarters. It was luxurious and grand, and living here displayed not only nobility but also authority.
She felt a pang of jealousy and envy. Why couldn't she live here?
Thinking of this, she clenched her fist.
Once a person harbors greed, it becomes unstoppable. Just like her now, as soon as she thought of these things, her heart couldn't help but yearn for them.
"Raise your hand," Mo Lian, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped as they entered Chang Ning Palace and said to her.
Li Yao Qin raised her hand. Mo Lian gently felt her body. Seeing that there was nothing unusual about her, she said, "Follow me inside."
The sleeping quarters were quiet and elegant. At a glance, she saw the woman reclining on the couch. Even though her belly was already large, she still looked like a maiden from her appearance.
"Your Majesty, Li Yao Qin has arrived," Mo Lian said softly.
"Come over!" a clear voice sounded.
Li Yao Qin stepped forward, and the curtain in front of her was opened. She then realized that the Imperial Attendant Shang Yi and Yun Shang Yi were standing beside the Empress.
"Be seated!" Xue Zi Ning said faintly.
Li Yao Qin was slightly taken aback. She thought the Empress would immediately lay down rules for her, but she didn't expect to be granted a seat.
A chair was brought over, and Li Yao Qin sat down.
The Empress remained silent. For a moment, she felt an unprecedented sense of pressure.
It was as if a powerful force was pressing her down, preventing her from lifting her head. This feeling made her feel somewhat suffocated.
"Have you gotten used to life in the palace these days?" Xue Zi Ning spoke slowly.
"I am accustomed enough," Li Yao Qin replied.
Looking at the young girl with her head bowed, Xue Zi Ning sighed, thinking how good it was to be young. Although she had only been out of her maiden years for two years, so much had happened in these two years. At least she had gone from being a person to someone carrying a child.
"If you are not accustomed, you can tell Mo Lian. Although you voluntarily became a palace maid, you are still the daughter of the Minister of Personnel's official residence, so you might not be used to such menial tasks."
Li Yao Qin was slightly startled. She looked up and saw the Empress's beautiful face.