The Empress Dowager looked with satisfaction at Zhan Tianhong's changing expression.
He was young, after all!
He had walked fewer roads than she had crossed bridges; how could he be her match?
He could not escape her grasp anyway.
Zhan Tianhong knew he had revealed too much of his emotions. He shouldn't have let the Empress Dowager provoke him! He quickly said coldly, "What master of destiny? I have never believed in such things. Years ago, someone said I would have a short life and not live past fourteen, yet I am sixteen now. How do you explain that? Mother, please do not believe such hearsay, nor should you speak of it again! This son still has memorials to review, and I shall attend to them now."
With that, he strode away, leaving the Empress Dowager alone in the pavilion.
The Empress Dowager's face soured for a moment, but then she smiled again. She narrowed her eyes, watching Zhan Tianhong leave, and murmured, "Those little thoughts, you think they can be hidden from me? Time will tell, and I don't believe the two of you brothers will never harbor suspicion."
After speaking, she glanced into the distance, in the direction of the Night King's mansion.
At this time, Jiang Luoxi had already taken up residence in the Night King's mansion.
She harbored great hopes for Jiang Luoxi.
As long as Jiang Luoxi successfully captured Zhan Tianye's heart, Zhan Tianye would be no threat!
That throne belonged to the Regent.
Once Zhan Ming ascended the throne, the harem would only have a puppet empress controlled by her, and she would be the true empress, the one who stood by Zhan Ming's side!
...
After leaving the palace, Yun Shu heard the widespread rumors.
Listening to these rumors, Yun Shu felt utterly speechless.
"They are so fast!"
She had just heard someone say that the second Miss Yun was a tarnished flower, how could she compare to the pure and flawless Miss Jiang? Miss Jiang was as beautiful as a celestial being, and it was love at first sight with the Night King. Miss Yun was the wicked woman who disrupted their fated love.
Of course, many people defended her, saying it was all rumor and not true!
However, the more false the rumor, the more people enjoyed discussing it animatedly, convinced that the false was true and the true was false.
Jing Heng, who was waiting for her outside the palace, heard these discussions and his face turned sinister, exuding a terrifying aura that made one's blood run cold.
"These people have such foul mouths!" Jing Heng said coldly.
Yun Shu heartily agreed, "Let their mouths be foul, they won't use their foul mouths to kiss you, so don't bother with them."
Hearing Yun Shu's words, Jing Heng's face darkened.
Who dared to kiss him with a foul mouth?
Throughout the world, no one would dare!
"Go to the Night King's mansion and say that it was the Empress Dowager's dying plea that made the Emperor agree to issue an imperial decree sending Jiang Luoxi to the Night King's mansion," Yun Shu said after some thought, to Jing Heng. Zhan Tianye would surely guess some of it.
She had some matters she wished to discuss with Yun Changfeng.
It was a good time to return to the General's mansion now.
Jing Heng glared fiercely at those people before leaving.
Meanwhile, several people who had been chattering animatedly suddenly rubbed their arms, "Why is it so cold?"
"Yes, it's sudden! It feels like a cold wind is blowing."
"..."
Yun Shu couldn't help but smile as she heard them change the subject.
As expected of Jing Heng, his aura, which made one's hair stand on end, had only grown stronger over the years.
...
Night King's Mansion.
Jiang Luoxi arranged her belongings in the room, and after settling in, she sat down.
She poured herself a cup of tea.
She opened a window, sipping her tea while looking outside.
The servants of the Night King's mansion were watching her every move, and each of them wore a cold expression when they saw her.
Since they wanted to see what she would do, she would open the window and let them have a good look.
Not far away, a few servants were whispering.
"This Miss Jiang is not as simple as she appears. We must watch her every move carefully."
"She looks like an ordinary woman, not someone who would do bad things."
"You can't judge a book by its cover. Don't forget whose person she is! Without even thinking, we know she is a spy sent by the Empress Dowager to our mansion."
"..."
Jiang Luoxi looked at the servants whispering together and could roughly guess what they were saying.
She had to admit, the servants in the Night King's mansion were not fools.
It was no wonder that there were no spies or informants within the Night King's mansion.
Everyone here was loyal to Zhan Tianye.
"It's more than just loyalty to the Night King. They are probably also watching me on behalf of Yun Shu."
Jiang Luoxi curved her lips into a half-smile and murmured to herself.
After finishing her tea, she stood up and walked out.
The moment she stepped out, several servants immediately looked at her.
She pretended not to notice and went to knock on Zuo Yan's door.
Zuo Yan felt uneasy in the Night King's mansion. When the door was knocked, he seemed startled, "Who is it?"
"It's me. The sky is getting dark, and we should go to take the Night King's pulse and care for him," Jiang Luoxi reminded him gently.
Hearing Jiang Luoxi's voice, Zuo Yan calmed down, got up, and went to open the door, "Please wait for me a moment while I prepare my medicine box."
"Okay."
A moment later, Zuo Yan came out with his medicine box.
On their way to the study, Zuo Yan said to Jiang Luoxi, "I suspect the Night King's leg condition is due to poisoning. If the poison is cured, the Night King can stand up again."
Jiang Luoxi was astonished, her outward calm showing a slight change, "Really?"
"Once I take the Night King's pulse, I will be able to confirm it," Zuo Yan did not speak with absolute certainty.
Jiang Luoxi's heart trembled slightly, "If I recall correctly, the Regent said the Night King would never be able to stand again in his life."
"The Regent also told me this, so I cannot be certain yet. If..." Zuo Yan seemed troubled.
Jiang Luoxi, however, was decisive, "If it is possible to turn the tide and allow the Night King to stand again, do not hesitate, just save him."
Zuo Yan was surprised by this.
Although he had doubts, he did not voice them. Her decision could not be wrong.
Soon.
The two arrived in front of the study.
A servant was standing guard outside the study. Seeing the two of them, he immediately asked sternly, "Why are you two here at the study?"
"We are here to take the Night King's pulse on imperial decree," Jiang Luoxi explained in a deep voice.
The servant listened and then said indifferently, "The Prince is not in the study. You may leave. When the Prince wishes to see you, he will naturally send someone to summon you."
Jiang Luoxi looked at the tightly closed door. There was indeed no sound from inside.
She knew Zhan Tianye did not want to see them.
Zuo Yan was somewhat annoyed. So many people begged him to save them, and the Night King was too unappreciative!
"Let's go back and rest. There's no rush for one day. We can come again tomorrow," Jiang Luoxi said gently.
Zuo Yan could only nod.
Just then, they saw three children walking towards them.
Jiang Luoxi's eyes lit up.