Chapter 64

Qin Yuan felt somewhat troubled. He was well aware that there were plenty of jealous concubines in the harem.

But Lin Jiaojiao had only just been arranged to be brought into the palace, and he hadn't even had a chance to see her alone by his side yet, and already this Imperial Concubine knew someone had arrived.

There was truly no good atmosphere; instead, a foul wind and evil spirit were blowing through the entire harem!

"She is not some new love." Qin Yuan did not want to disclose that Lin Jiaojiao was involved in a case, otherwise, more trouble would arise.

He could only explain vaguely, "She is merely staying in the palace temporarily."

"Really?" Imperial Yu Fei's round eyes revealed a trace of suspicion.

Seeing that Qin Yuan had no lingering attachment when he mentioned the woman, she felt slightly relieved and teased, "Then you must prove that you have no interest in that woman. Today, you must come to my palace; you are not allowed to go anywhere else."

Qin Yuan had a splitting headache. He could only push Imperial Yu Fei away, hold his forehead, and say, "Imperial Concubine, I am not in the mood today. Your father has been poisoned by pufferfish."

"What?!" Imperial Yu Fei stood up from her chair at once, her face full of worry. "Father has always loved eating wild pufferfish and has never had any issues before. How could he be poisoned this time?"

"Is he alright now?" As she spoke, her knees suddenly went weak, and she knelt before Qin Yuan, grabbing his lapels and looking up to plead, "I want to leave the palace to visit my father! I hope the Emperor will grant me permission."

Qin Yuan also stood up from his chair. "Do not worry. I have already ordered someone to send an imperial physician to check on his condition."

Just as he was pondering whether to tell Imperial Yu Fei that Xu Xiao was suspected of the Dali Temple arson case and the fifteen-year-old military pay embezzlement case, she had already begun to kowtow, crying like rain as she begged to leave the palace to visit her father.

"Fine, I grant you permission to leave the palace this afternoon to visit your father," Qin Yuan finally agreed. "You must go and return early."

He had never had much love for the women in the harem, but he often felt pity for them.

Moreover, considering that if the case were to be solved later, the entire Xu family might be involved, and once the verdict was reached, Imperial Yu Fei would have no chance to see her father again.

"Yes." Imperial Yu Fei tearfully agreed, and after bidding farewell to Qin Yuan, she hurried out of Yangxin Hall.

As soon as she was far away, Qin Yuan beckoned Eunuch Gao over. "Quickly remove this table of duck; it gives me a headache just looking at it."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch Gao replied. "Your Majesty, then your lunch today—"

"I have no appetite today," Qin Yuan said, holding his forehead, suddenly thinking of Lin Jiaojiao. "Has she eaten yet? Send all of this to her place."

He thought for a moment and added, "Add some other dishes; I will go over and dine with her."

As he spoke, he prepared to rise and head to Qingju Pavilion.

In Qingju Pavilion, Lin Jiaojiao was tossing and turning on the bed; her sleep was not peaceful.

Firstly, because she had burns in many places on her body, especially the large area of burns on her left cheek, no matter what position she changed to, she would inadvertently touch the wounds, and the pain of the burns dragged her into nightmares.

Secondly, because of the lingering worries and grievances in her heart, she hadn't rested well for several days, and all the drowsiness was like a pot of paste, making it difficult for her to find peace.

In her dream, there was an extremely scorching fire, the tongues of flame licking up every building.

Mo Siniang was running wildly in the fire, laughing maniacally, "Hahaha, it was he who killed you! They wanted to kill you! It was they who harmed your whole family!"

And Bai Zhi stood in the center of the fire, shouting at her, "Concubine, run!"

She rushed into the fire, wanting only to save Bai Zhi!

But when she pulled the person out of the fire and looked back, she discovered that the person she had pulled out was actually Xu Xiao!

A treacherous, cold sneer appeared on Xu Xiao's face. Lin Jiaojiao was so furious that she kicked him hard, sending him back into the fire!

"Ah!!" Suddenly, a scream rang out, startling her awake from her dream!

Following this was a chaotic sound of footsteps, mixed with the shrill voice of Eunuch Gao shouting outside the door: "Your Majesty, what happened! There is an assassin!"

Lin Jiaojiao rubbed her eyes and sat up abruptly from the bed, only to realize that the person she had just kicked was not the Xu Xiao from her dream, but Qin Yuan!

A group of guards rushed in with a swish, holding swords and blades, protectively surrounding Qin Yuan in the very center!

The guards were on high alert, their eyes vigilantly scanning every corner, searching for the source of the assassin.

But in this small room, apart from the bewildered-looking Lin Jiaojiao, there was nothing!

Eunuch Gao ran in hurriedly, the soft flesh on his face trembling with his steps. He trotted all the way to Qin Yuan and carefully helped him up from the ground. "Your Majesty, is there an assassin?"

"There is no assassin." Qin Yuan said while rising and brushing the dust off his body. "I just accidentally tripped and fell."

When he had originally come to see Lin Jiaojiao, he didn't want to be disturbed, so he had ordered Eunuch Gao and the guards to guard the door.

Before coming in, he had asked the maid Qingdai about the imperial physician's pulse reading. After Qingdai told him everything, he felt a bit shocked: Lin Guniang was truly as skilled in medicine as Lu Zhenting had said!

It was just that Lin Jiaojiao was still asleep, and so as not to disturb her, Qin Yuan had not let Qingdai wake her.

He stood guard by Lin Jiaojiao's bed, the more he looked, the more he admired this woman.

Looking at the shocking burns on her left cheek, he felt no disgust or pity, only heartache and helplessness.

If the truth was as she said, that Xu Xiao had burned down the Dali Temple women's prison, then using a fire to cover up past sins was truly unforgivable!

Fortunately, Lin Guniang had escaped.

This time, he could not let her end up like the previous Rou Ti, harmed by others until she disappeared without a trace.

Therefore, he ordered Eunuch Gao to bring Lin Jiaojiao into the palace, with the goal of protecting her.

As for the future, he had plenty of ways to take her into the harem.

But who would have expected that Lin Jiaojiao, in her sleep, would kick him to the ground!

After Lin Jiaojiao delivered that kick, she was in a state of immense bewilderment, half-asleep and half-awake: I actually kicked the current Emperor!!!

Yet he was actually "covering" for her?

Could this be the legendary protagonist's halo?

Qin Yuan didn't mind; fortunately, the kick she delivered didn't hurt too much. After he stood up, he really wanted to be alone with Lin Jiaojiao for a while, so he ordered, "Why haven't you all retreated yet!"

"Yes!" Upon hearing the order, the guards left the room in unison and stood guard outside.

With only Eunuch Gao left guarding the side, Qin Yuan gave him a look. Eunuch Gao knew that no matter how much he wanted to stay by the Emperor's side, it was useless.

Before leaving, Eunuch Gao turned back to add, "Your Majesty, if you need anything, please call for this servant."

"Good." Qin Yuan waved his hand impatiently, telling him to get out quickly.

Once everyone had left and only Lin Jiaojiao and Qin Yuan remained in the room, Lin Jiaojiao finally woke up completely.

It's over, it's over! The person I kicked is the current Emperor! I'm definitely going to be punished!