"Young Master, Young Master!" Xiao Ju called out softly from outside the door.
"Come in!"
Qin Yun put on his robe and sat up.
Xiao Ju pushed the door open and entered.
"Young Master, are you going to attend the morning court?"
Qin Yun got up and put on his boots. "Yes!"
"Young Master, did you not lock the door last night? I just pushed it gently and it opened!"
Qin Yun froze for a second.
She was too sleepy last night and seemed to have forgotten to lock the door.
"Probably?"
Qin Yun patted her forehead.
She was so groggy after waking up.
"Has Hong Fu returned to the manor?"
She hadn't seen Hong Fu since returning to the manor yesterday.
Xiao Ju shook her head. "Not yet!"
"I understand. I'm going to the morning court now. If there's any news about Hong Fu, remember to inform me immediately!"
"Yes, Young Master!" As she spoke, Xiao Ju placed the hot water on the wooden table.
After Qin Yun washed up, she took the account books and went to the morning court.
Today's morning court was relatively peaceful.
Nothing unusual happened.
Although there were people in the court who targeted Qin Yun, Qin Yun was able to handle them all perfectly.
After the court session.
Qin Yun took the initiative to go to the imperial study to find Xie Qianmo.
"Your Majesty, here are the account books you requested!" Qin Yun held the account books and walked respectfully before Xie Qianmo.
She carefully handed the account books in her hand to Xie Qianmo.
Xie Qianmo glanced at Qin Yun.
Seeing that the redness and swelling on Qin Yun's forehead had subsided by more than half, he then took the account books.
He casually picked up one and began to flip through it.
"You've read all of these?"
Qin Yun nodded. "Yes!"
"Since you've read them, I'm relieved!" Xie Qianmo closed the account books.
Then, he looked at Qin Yun with a serious expression. "I've been feeling tired lately. Can you examine me?"
Qin Yun was shocked for a second but quickly regained her composure. "Your Majesty, you should call for imperial physicians when you have such symptoms."
"I don't like those old men examining me. I prefer younger ones, like you!"
Being stared at so openly by Xie Qianmo, Qin Yun's face flushed red. "Your Majesty, Xue Jin is also an imperial physician in the Imperial Hospital. Why don't you let him examine you?"
"Imperial Physician Xue is young!" Qin Yun added.
"Imperial Physician Xue Jin needs to go out of the capital recently. He doesn't have time."
"But my medical skills are not good. I'm afraid I can't diagnose you accurately."
"It's alright! It's settled then. From now on, you will serve before the Emperor. If there are any problems with my health, you will be responsible!" Xie Qianmo made the decision on his own.
Qin Yun gasped.
"Your Majesty, can I refuse?"
"No!" Xie Qianmo replied ruthlessly.
"Your Majesty, I am a civil official, not a eunuch who serves. This arrangement is not proper."
Qin Yun then muttered in a low voice, "Moreover, I'm taking Fang Gonggong's job. Fang Gonggong will be angry."
"How dare he?"
Fine.
Fang Jing indeed dared not.
"Your Majesty, look... I have to go out and investigate cases, and I also have to arrest corrupt officials! The cases haven't been concluded yet, and I'm very busy now!"
"I still have to return to the Zhuangyuan Mansion every day. After investigating cases in the Zhuangyuan Mansion, I have to enter the palace to serve Your Majesty. This is not proper. Not only will I be tired, but I am also afraid that I will not serve Your Majesty well!"
Xie Qianmo nodded. "You are absolutely right. I did not consider it carefully."
Qin Yun thought she wouldn't have to serve before the Emperor, and she was happy for a second.
The next moment.
"You go back to your manor and pack. From now on, you will live in the palace. I will clear out the side hall of the sleeping quarters for you to live in."
Hearing this, Qin Yun's jaw dropped.
"Your Majesty, you just said you were tired, it's not a serious illness. Even if it's about serving, you don't need to make such a fuss, right? May I take your pulse once every day?"
Qin Yun felt that she had been muddled lately.
Her mind was not working well.
This scoundrel had just said he was tired and only asked her to examine him.
Now, as they were talking, it had escalated to serving him.
"Your Majesty?" Qin Yun called out softly when Xie Qianmo didn't speak.
"Do you mean you don't want to serve me?"
"Your Majesty, I can take your pulse for you every day. As for pouring tea and water, it's more appropriate for Fang Gonggong to do it."
Xie Qianmo smirked. "When did I ever need you to pour tea and water?"
She hadn't said that, but when serving, wouldn't it involve pouring tea and water?
"Your Majesty, please let me think about this."
"Alright, I'll give you three days. You can give me your answer then."
"May I go down now?" Qin Yun lowered her head.
"You may go." Xie Qianmo did not make things difficult for Qin Yun anymore.
His request today, although not excessive, still required time for Qin Yun to consider before accepting.
"What about these account books?"
Xie Qianmo glanced at the account books and said softly, "If you are not at ease, you can take them away."
Qin Yun pulled at the corner of her mouth.
Did she dare to say she was not at ease?
"These account books will be left with Your Majesty for now. I will come to get them when I need them."
Xie Qianmo nodded and said nothing.
"I shall take my leave now!" Qin Yun bowed respectfully, clasped her hands, and retreated with small steps.
Zhuangyuan Mansion.
The first thing Qin Yun did upon returning to the manor was to ask about Hong Fu.
"Xiao Ju, has Hong Fu returned to the manor?"
"Young Master, Sister Hong Fu has not returned. Has something happened to her?"
Qin Yun paced back and forth anxiously in the front hall.
Things were getting more and more difficult for her.
Now that Hong Fu's whereabouts were unknown, the scoundrel wanted her to quickly solve the case.
Most importantly, he wanted her to serve before the Emperor.
He claimed to be tired, but it was clearly because he wanted her to serve him.
"Young Master, should we send people out to look for her?"
"You go down first. I will arrange this." Qin Yun knew that Xiao Ju couldn't help with this matter.
"Yes!"
Xiao Ju retreated wisely.
A few seconds later.
"Qingshan!"
Qin Yun called out softly.
Qingshan appeared and came before Qin Yun.
"Master, what are your orders?"
Qin Yun tightened her palms and frowned. "You don't need to protect me these few days. Go out and look for Hong Fu."
"Yes!" After receiving Qin Yun's order, Qingshan left.
Qin Yun sat down on a wooden chair.
Her heart felt cold.
Since returning to the capital yesterday, nothing had gone smoothly.
First, she encountered the troublesome Young Master Zheng.
Then, there was the summons from the scoundrel.
Now, even Hong Fu's whereabouts were unknown.
Qin Yun held her forehead, feeling very upset.
"Sir, there is an Official Ouyang outside requesting an audience!" A servant respectfully approached Qin Yun.
Official Ouyang?
Has Si Qing arrived?
"Let him in!"
"Yes!"
Soon.
Ouyang Si Qing was led to the front hall by the servant.
"Si Qing?" Qin Yun quickly stood up.
"Yun'er, I came to your manor a few days ago to look for you, but you weren't here. I heard from the servants that you had gone out."
Qin Yun nodded. "Si Qing, please sit. Sit down and we can talk slowly."
Ouyang Si Qing came to the seat beside Qin Yun and sat down.
A servant quickly brought tea to serve them.
"Alright, you can go down now. I have something to discuss with Official Ouyang," Qin Yun said to the servant sternly.
"Yes!" The servant left wisely.
"Yun'er, are you injured? You look so haggard!" Ouyang Si Qing's eyes were full of concern for Qin Yun.
Qin Yun shook her head. "It's nothing, these are minor injuries."
"How are you getting along with Miss Dan?"