On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

A few days later, Lin Yi sat on a golden nanmu chair in the warm pavilion of Kunning Palace.

She is indeed the Empress; even her chair is better than those in the Prince's residence.

Although there's not much difference if you're sitting down, many people probably just like that feeling of luxury.

Zhao Shuyu stood behind him, her two well-maintained hands resting on his shoulders, kneading them with varying pressure.

She dressed up specially today, wearing a deep purple long jacket with a front opening, her hair was neatly styled, and a phoenix hairpin was placed on her head. The pearl on the hairpin gleamed in the candlelight and swayed slightly with the movement of her fingers.

This was perhaps what femininity was all about; Lin Yi felt incredibly comfortable.

"Your Highness is so busy with state affairs, you should take care of your health. It breaks my heart to see you like this." Her voice was so gentle it could melt water.

Lin Yi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

"Look at you, how come you have so many scars on your shoulders?"

"This is what a man should look like. Nangong Xiong is all white and has never suffered any hardship."

As she spoke, the pressure on her hands gradually decreased until she stopped altogether. Her hands rested on his shoulders, her fingertips lightly brushing against his neck, tickling him. Finally, she leaned down, her chin brushing against his ear, her breath warm against his skin.

Lin Yi didn't open his eyes, pretending nothing had happened, and said, "Why did it stop?"

Zhao Shuyu chuckled softly, and finally stuck out her tongue to lick his ear.

"My hands are sore~~ Your Highness's shoulders are like iron plates, I can't squeeze them anymore."

Lin Yi said, "Her Majesty the Empress's hands got sore after just a few massages, which shows how pampered she is. My soldiers carry heavy loads for dozens of miles, and when they come back they have to fetch water to soak their feet, but I've never heard one of them complain of being tired."

"How can I compare to those uncouth men? Besides, I serve the prince as the empress, yet he still complains."

Lin Zheng smiled, took her hand, and led her to sit on his lap.

Then he grabbed her chin with one hand and said, "Zhao Shuyu, does Nangong Xiong know how slutty you are?"

"Hehehehe... What are you saying, Your Highness? Do you think I can tease just anyone?"

"That's interesting."

Lin Yi wasn't easily fooled by her; on the contrary, he found it very strange.

Zhao Shuyu isn't the type to give up easily, so her sudden attentiveness and initiative are definitely suspicious.

Is she trying to hide something, or is she trying to take advantage of me?

I don't know, but Lin Yi has only one principle.

Sleeping is fine, but getting things done is out of the question; he's as cold and domineering as a CEO.

At this moment, the beaded curtain of the warm pavilion was lifted, and a young palace maid wearing a light green vest quickly entered and knelt down two zhang away.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Miss Liu Jing is requesting an audience outside the palace."

Lin Yi's eyes instantly cleared, and the lazy and nonchalant look from before vanished completely.

Zhao Shuyu rolled her eyes unhappily, got off Lin Yi, and walked to the side.

Lin Yi said, "Let her in."

"Yes," the maid replied, backing away as she left.

A moment later, Liu Jing lifted the curtain and came in.

She was still wearing that slightly worn, moon-white, double-breasted long coat, which made her look clean and thin.

I was holding an old booklet without a cover, its edges were a bit fuzzy, and it looked very old.

After she entered, she first bowed to Lin Yi and Zhao Shuyu.

Without waiting for Lin Yi to speak, she walked straight up to him and handed him the booklet with both hands.

"This is what the prince wants."

Zhao Shuyu narrowed her eyes and continued to observe.

Lin Yi took it and felt that the paper was rough, it was common rough-edged paper.

Upon opening it, my pupils dilated in shock.

Because he recognized Liu Wentao's handwriting; it was a neat and orderly official script, with every stroke written meticulously.

The names, official titles, years of embezzlement, amounts embezzled, channels of embezzlement, intermediaries, liaisons, and cover-ups were listed densely across dozens of pages.

Lin Yi already knew the details of some of the names, but he was seeing them for the first time. The names were followed by the possible locations and amounts of the hidden silver.

This old man was prepared all along; he only brought it out today in the hope that I wouldn't underestimate the Liu family.

Oh.

Lin Yi closed the booklet, feeling a bit emotional.

Liu Wentao served as prime minister for most of his life, and it's clear he didn't rely solely on flattery; he did have some real talent.

This booklet was his life-saving talisman for himself and the Liu family, or rather, his final pledge of allegiance.

Lin Yi said to Liu Jing, who was standing in the middle of the room, "I will send someone to the Imperial Academy to bring your younger brother out and arrange for him to stay in the Prince's residence. He will not be short of food, clothing, or other necessities."

Liu Jing suddenly looked up, her whole body tense: "No! Xiao Yuan can't go to the Prince's Mansion."

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What do you mean then?"

"The prince said before that my brother would only have the opportunity to enter the court in twenty years. If you bring him into the prince's mansion now, what will people think? They will think that the Liu family has completely become the prince's vassal and has even abandoned the last bit of their reputation. My father's reputation is already ruined, and I can't let my brother be ruined as well."

"But your brother can no longer stay at the Imperial Academy."

"Then he can't go to the Prince's residence, at least not now!"

Lin Yi never liked haggling, but since he had promised, he patiently asked, "So, where do you want to go? Where can you trust me to go?"

"I want my brother sent to the countryside right now."

"What makes you think I'd agree to that?"

"Just because the prince said he would spare my brother."

Lin Yi stood up, his tall figure immediately looming over Liu Jing, with less than a step between them.

Liu Jing didn't back down; she just looked up at him, her eyes full of stubbornness.

Lin Yi found it more and more interesting, and finally wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace.

Liu Jing shuddered and stiffened as if she had been electrocuted.

But she didn't struggle, didn't try to dodge, and didn't even reach out to push him away. She was just half-held in his arms, still staring at him with wide eyes.

Lin Yi said, "If you behave well, I can consider sending your brother to a remote and impoverished area so he can make his own way in the world."

Liu Jing's expression remained unchanged, revealing no emotion whatsoever. She simply replied calmly, "It's just a body. Your Highness may take it if you wish."

She spoke without the slightest blush or embarrassment, nor with feigned aloofness or resoluteness; she was simply stating a fact in a very straightforward manner.

Boring.

Lin Yi disliked this kind of numb obedience; compared to that, fierce resistance was far more exciting.

He released his grip, stepped back, and sat down in the chair again.

"Tomorrow, I will arrange for your younger brother to serve as the registrar in Wuyuan County. That place is not peaceful; it's a poor and desolate place. The previous registrar ran away after less than six months, and the position has been vacant ever since. Send your brother there. If he can make it through five years, I will consider relocating him. But if he can't... well, that's his fate."

Liu Jing was taken aback.

It wasn't that the place was bad, but she thought Lin Yi would take advantage of her and try to take her body, or continue to hold her brother hostage in the capital.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yi did not force him.

Why? Is it because I'm not pretty enough?

She looked at Lin Yi, her lips moved twice, as if she wanted to say something.

In the end, he simply lowered his head and whispered, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Lin Yi nodded: "Okay, I'll go back and pack my things, then wait for news."

"Yes." Liu Jing didn't say anything more, bowed again, turned around and lifted the curtain to go out.

That slender figure paused for a moment at the entrance of the warm pavilion, as if wanting to turn back, but ultimately left.