She was dressed in a bright yellow gown, the eight-clawed dragon pattern on her chest proclaiming her identity as the Empress.
Her high coiffure was adorned with an eight-jeweled crown, the tassels hanging down to obscure all expression and conceal her face.
The maiden walked slowly, step by step towards them, each step imbued with majesty, the bearing of a ruler who commands the world.
Qing Yi felt only a sense of insignificance, a feeling he himself was emitting.
At this moment, the maiden stood there, like the celestial maiden of the Ninth Heaven, exuding only noble coldness, untouchable. Before the noble maiden, he was like an ant, crushed into mere dust.
However, he still risked a furtive glance, seeing beneath the tassels a youthful face, yet incomparably beautiful.
Sensing him peeking, the face turned.
He saw a pair of clear eyes. How clear?
He recalled his youth, the clear spring he had chanced upon in the mountains, its bottom visible at a glance.
But these clear eyes now did not possess the transparency of a spring.
Though utterly pure, he could not see to the bottom.
It was as if an endless abyss, never to be fathomed.
For some inexplicable reason, he shivered.
"Are you Qing Yi, sent by the Regent?"
The clear voice carried a hint of coldness, so pleasant that he couldn't help but look up, to meet those unfathomable eyes.
Alas, he saw only the same endless abyss.
But this time, there was a touch of chill, a chill that made him tremble from the depths of his heart.
"Qing Yi," Yan Zhao suddenly spoke.
Qing Yi's body jolted. Returning to his senses, he realized he had been staring unabashedly at the Empress. Terrified, he quickly knelt on the ground, begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I did not intend to look directly at you."
"It matters not!" the maiden said lightly.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qing Yi said, his heart still pounding.
In his sight, he saw the cloud boots embroidered with golden thread. Unlike theirs, the boots were very small.
"Look up," the maiden said softly, her lips parting.
"Yes," Qing Yi replied. This time, he raised his eyes and met the clear gaze. Unlike before, this time it was clear to the bottom.
He saw the maiden smile, "Truly a fine appearance. Imperial Uncle has pleased me greatly."
But only he knew that the maiden's smile did not reach her eyes, which remained cold.
For some reason, he felt a pang of jealousy. With his looks, even if he couldn't compare to Yan Zhao, he was still among the best.
If only... if only he were given a chance, he would make the Empress fall for him.
The maiden withdrew her gaze, without a hint of lingering, and looked at Yan Zhao on the other side, speaking slowly, "Young Master Yan, who do you think is superior between Qing Yi and yourself?"
Yan Zhao frowned slightly, looking up at the cold expression on the maiden's beautiful face, and said lightly, "What does Your Majesty think?"
The maiden's lips curved upwards, her lips parting slightly, "I rather think Qing Yi seems to have pleased me more."
Yan Zhao did not even raise his head this time, his voice cold, "He was prepared by the Regent for Your Majesty. Since Your Majesty likes him, then take him."
"In that case, I shall not refuse." The maiden raised the corner of her lips, appearing very pleased.
Qing Yi trembled, his excited heart and trembling hands under his sleeves unable to be controlled. He had only just entered the palace and could already gain the Empress's favor?
This was simply the greatest honor.
"As Your Majesty pleases," Yan Zhao said faintly, his eyes lowered.
"Let's go," the maiden turned and left.
Qing Yi followed.
Behind them, Yan Zhao, who had kept his gaze lowered, slowly raised his eyes, his gaze deep and long fixed on that retreating figure, a flicker of an unusual light in his eyes.
Qing Yi followed the Empress to Zhaoyuan Palace. On the way, the palace servants he encountered looked at him with envious eyes.
Qing Yi was proud, excited, and thrilled.
If he could gain the Empress's favor, and achieve the same honor as Yan Zhao hoped for, he would have truly established himself.
It was a pity that he only reached the outer hall before being stopped by two palace servants.
He grew anxious and quickly said, "I came with Her Majesty."
Xue Yan glanced at Qing Yi and said coldly, "I naturally know you came with Her Majesty."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have even been able to enter the outer hall.
"Then let us pass," Qing Yi's voice held a touch of coldness.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan smiled, how could she not know what schemes the young man before her was harboring?
Wasn't it just wanting to ascend the dragon bed and gain the Empress's favor?
Unfortunately, he was mistaken.
"I'm very sorry, but you can only stop here," Xue Yan still said patiently.
"Move aside," Qing Yi was angered. To stop here meant he would lose such a good opportunity?
How could that be possible?
Xue Yan sneered, looking Qing Yi up and down. Qing Yi felt a prickle of unease under the gaze of this young palace maid, and angrily said, "What are you looking at? I belong to Her Majesty, and no one is allowed to covet me."
Hearing this, Xue Yan let out a chuckle, her expression full of disdain and sarcasm, "Earlier, even Young Master Yan had to endure my scrutiny here. What are you? What makes you worthy of my coveting?"
Xue Yan's words were impolite, but Qing Yi, upon hearing them, was shocked. What was this little palace maid saying?
"Xue Yan, take him outside to kneel," a faint, cold voice came from the inner hall.
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan's lips curled, and she looked at Qing Yi with a cold smile, "It seems you don't even have the qualifications to kneel outside the hall. Go and kneel outside."
"You..."
Before Qing Yi could finish his words, he was sent flying out like an arrow from a bow. When he regained his senses, he was already face down on the ground.
"The last person who spoke to me was already..." Xue Yan made a throat-slitting gesture.
Qing Yi's face turned pale with fright, and he dared not speak further.
Looking at Qing Yi's pale, bloodless face, Xue Yan sighed inwardly. He was truly not someone who could take a scare. She was just speaking, and he was already so terrified. It wasn't fun.
Qing Yi was so scared that his face was deathly pale. He had never imagined that the Empress's attendants would all be strange people.
However, his hand in his sleeve clenched tightly. He had finally managed to get here, was he going to give up?
He was unwilling!
In the inner hall, Xue Zining lay on the couch and asked Xue Yan, who walked in, "How is it?"
Xue Yan shook her head, "She appears to have no inner energy. As for her martial prowess, that can only be determined through actual combat, but Your Majesty must not be careless."
Xue Zining nodded. Anyone sent by the Regent must not be a simpleton; they must possess unique abilities.
"Go down. Let him kneel there!" Xue Zining said lightly.
She held no mercy for those sent by the Regent.
The next day
Xue Zining was dressed and ready. She had to go to the Prime Minister's mansion. This morning, Xue Yan had sent news about Hua Yunjin, apparently there was news of Lord Zhou.
Zhou Zheng Tong, Lord Zhou, who served as the Court Judge, had vanished into thin air after being replaced by the Regent.
Xue Zining knew that it wasn't just her looking for him; the Regent was also searching.
At this moment, whoever found him first would win.