Xue Wenjie returned to his residence and sent for Jin Ming.
"Your Highness..." Jin Ming arrived at the study and saw Xue Wenjie gazing thoughtfully at a letter in his hand. Noticing his arrival, Xue Wenjie put the letter away.
"You've come..." Xue Wenjie said faintly.
"Your Highness, have you summoned me regarding today's Tri-Judicial Court session?"
Xue Wenjie looked up, his gaze clear and cold. "Young Master Jin, what do you think should happen next?"
Jin Ming replied, "Your Highness, losing the Court of Judicial Review today is a great loss."
Xue Wenjie's expression grew considerably grim. He hadn't expected the Empress's decisive move to place Zhu Keyu, whom he had planted in the Court of Judicial Review, within the imperial harem.
"Your Highness, the position of Court of Judicial Review is now vacant. Your Highness should make arrangements as soon as possible."
Xue Wenjie nodded, "This King is aware."
Jin Ming looked up at Xue Wenjie's increasingly troubled expression and said slowly, "Your Highness, the annual Heaven Worship and Blessing Ceremony is fast approaching."
"And what of it?" Xue Wenjie asked.
Jin Ming replied, "Feng Yin cannot attend."
Xue Wenjie started. He looked at Jin Ming, his eyes as cold as frost.
Jin Ming continued, "Your Highness, this is an excellent opportunity."
"The Heaven Worship and Blessing Ceremony is very important," Xue Wenjie said slowly.
Jin Ming nodded. "It is important, but it is also an important opportunity for Your Highness. Does Your Highness wish to wait until the Empress finds out about all your people one by one?"
Xue Wenjie's gaze sharpened, and he fell into thought.
"Your Highness, opportunity knocks but once," Jin Ming whispered.
After a long silence, Xue Wenjie finally looked up. "Go and make the arrangements!"
Upon hearing this, a hint of a strange glint appeared in Jin Ming's eyes. "Yes, I will definitely satisfy Your Highness."
Leaving the Regent's manor, Jin Ming revealed a smile full of unspoken meaning.
Entering a carriage parked in a dark corner, Jin Ming was astonished to see the person inside and quickly bowed respectfully, "Young Master, why have you left the palace?"
"Has the Regent agreed?"
Jin Ming nodded. "Young Master, rest assured, everything is proceeding according to plan."
"This time, Xue Zining, how will you escape?"
Jin Ming saw a glint of bloodlust in those eyes.
He shivered involuntarily.
Yan Palace
Yan Yi could never have imagined seeing Zhu Keyu upon returning to his sleeping quarters.
"You... why are you here?" Yan Yi looked at Zhu Keyu, his face filled with wariness.
Zhu Keyu was also immensely embarrassed. He thought the Empress would at least arrange a place for him, but he never expected to be sent to the Yan Palace.
"His Majesty sent me," Zhu Keyu gritted out, word by word.
Yan Yi was furious. "The sleeping quarters are already small, and now I have to give up a room."
Zhu Keyu's face flushed. He had already suffered enough shame and humiliation today.
He knew he should turn and leave, but if he left now, where else would he go?
Ten years of diligent study had allowed him to succeed in the imperial examinations and escape his impoverished village. Having tasted delicacies, he no longer wished to return.
"Yan Yi, arrange for Young Master Zhu to be settled," Yan Zhao said calmly.
Although Yan Yi was displeased, he complied.
"Follow me," Yan Yi said unhappily.
Zhu Keyu gritted his teeth but still followed.
Seeing Zhu Keyu leave, Yan Er came forward and whispered, "Young Master, what is the Empress's intention?"
"Her intention?" Yan Zhao looked up, the corners of his lips curving slightly. "Everyone residing in this palace is the Regent's man."
Yan Er was stunned. "Why is the Empress doing this?"
"For easier management," Yan Zhao said lightly.
Yan Er blinked. Was it that simple?
Zhu Keyu was arranged by Yan Yi in a sparsely furnished room on the north side. The furnishings were old, and one of the windows in the room was broken.
"Can this be lived in?" Zhu Keyu asked, biting his lower lip.
Yan Yi was very displeased. "If you can't live in it, you can leave."
Zhu Keyu froze, his sense of shame and anger growing.
He said nothing further.
Yan Yi continued, "You will live here from now on. Palace servants will come to attend to you tomorrow."
"Yes," Zhu Keyu replied.
"Don't think of causing any trouble here. If I find out, I won't be as accommodating as my young master," Yan Yi said before leaving.
Zhu Keyu, enraged, smashed the only teapot on the table onto the ground.
As the tea water spilled all over the floor, he suddenly realized he had no teapot left. How would he drink water?
Shame and unwillingness surged in his heart.
"Minister Zhu, shall we strike a deal?"
A voice drifted in from somewhere.
Zhu Keyu looked up and said coldly, "Who is it?"
The door opened, and a figure slowly walked in.
Upon seeing who it was, Zhu Keyu was stunned. "You... you are..."
"It is I," the person nodded.
After a moment of bewilderment, Zhu Keyu sneered. "I am useless now. Why are you still looking for me?"
What use was he, like a waste? He was merely lingering on.
"I greatly admire Minister Zhu and wish to cooperate with you."
Zhu Keyu pointed at himself and sneered, "With me in this state, what is there to exploit?"
The person smiled. "Minister Zhu, do not belittle yourself. You are still very useful."
"You should leave. I won't tell anyone you were here." Zhu Keyu walked to the bed and sat down. As he did, a creaking sound came from the bedframe.
"Minister Zhu, have you given up? Do you no longer wish to regain your official position?"
Zhu Keyu gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Regain my official position? Don't fool me. I'm not stupid."
His career in officialdom had ended here.
"Minister Zhu, do not underestimate yourself. I think highly of you."
Zhu Keyu looked at him amusingly. "If there's nothing else, please leave!"
"Minister Zhu, I am not lying. If you work for me, not only will you be the Court of Judicial Review, but becoming Prime Minister will also not be difficult."
Zhu Keyu sneered. "Though I am greedy, I am not one for idle dreams. As long as the Empress is here, my official career will not progress."
"And if the Empress is no more?"
Zhu Keyu started and looked at the visitor in shock. "What... what do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said."
"You... you want to kill the Empress?" Zhu Keyu was utterly shocked. Had he heard something he shouldn't have?
"Such bloody business, how could I possibly do it myself? Naturally, someone will act for me. Minister Zhu, how about joining my ranks?"
Zhu Keyu narrowed his eyes. "The Empress has Feng Yin by her side. Who could kill the Empress?"
"The Heaven Worship and Blessing Ceremony," the visitor said, word by word.
Zhu Keyu trembled all over.
"Minister Zhu, you can think about it slowly. There's no rush."
With that, the visitor left.
After a long while, as the evening breeze brushed his face, he finally came back to his senses. Zhu Keyu realized his clothes were soaked.
He looked up at the bright moon hanging high in the distance, his gaze slowly turning ferocious.
Zhaoyuan Palace
"Your Majesty, why have you arranged for Zhu Keyu to be in the Yan Palace as well? Aren't you afraid they might plot against you?" Xue Yan asked, puzzled.
Xue Zining looked up and thought of Yan Zhao's proud expression, saying slowly, "They won't."