My brother entrusted his child to me, and I livestreamed raising the baby, making the Empress cry wi

"His Majesty……"

The chief eunuch's voice came from behind, cautiously, each word rolling on his tongue, carefully considering before daring to utter it.

"The curtain has lifted, and Your Majesty has been working tirelessly for some time. It is of utmost importance that you take care of your health... Perhaps you would like to return to the palace to rest? It would be good for all of you as well..."

"Court adjourned!"

Shu Jingwei said in a deep voice, glanced at the sky one last time, swung her arm forcefully, and turned to leave.

The sleeves of the dragon robe drew a sharp arc in the air, like a drawn sword, and the wind it generated made a few whisks in the hands of the palace servants behind him flutter and dance in the air.

Golden boots embroidered with dragon patterns stepped on the white marble floor tiles, "thump, thump, thump"—each sound like a blow to the heart, so heavy it seemed to crush the tiles.

The officials, as if granted a pardon, knelt down in unison, the sound of their knees hitting the ground echoing everywhere.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty—"

The sound lingered for a long time, echoing in the empty square in front of the palace, hitting the vermilion palace walls and bouncing back, layer upon layer, before finally dissipating after a long while.

A breeze blew from the end of the square, swirling a few withered leaves on the ground and making a rustling sound.

The Emperor's bedroom – the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The palace doors were pushed open with a bang.

Two heavy, carved wooden doors slammed against the wall, their hinges creaking loudly. Years of dust accumulated on the beams were shaken off and fell in clumps, floating in the dim light that slanted in.

Shu Jingwei strode in, her boots landing on the gold bricks, each step carrying a pent-up anger.

Inside the hall, ambergris incense burned, and a wisp of smoke rose from the bronze incense burner, only to be instantly dispersed by the wind it stirred up.

She ripped off the crown and slammed it onto the table with a "thud".

The white jade beads scattered and broke apart, rolling all over the table with a clatter. A few fell to the ground and rolled into a corner.

Another one rolled to the threshold, bumped into the high threshold, and then stopped, lying there quietly.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began to review everything that had happened from morning until now.

The hall was very quiet, so quiet that only her breathing could be heard.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the palace gate.

Then came the loud announcement from the palace servants.

"Your Majesty, Lord Yao requests an audience."

Yao Jingyuan appeared at the door.

He wore a deep purple official robe, with subtle patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, meticulous in every detail.

He held Shu Rou in his arms—the little girl still had tears on her face, her nose was twitching, and her fingers were gripping Yao Jingyuan's clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Shu Jingwei glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her gaze unfathomable.

Perfect timing, she also had something to do—

Okay! Okay! Ask! Ask! Him!

"Go in!" she said, suppressing her anger. Her voice was forced out from deep in her throat, low and hoarse.

Yao Jingyuan handed Shu Rou, who was still in his arms, to the palace maid behind him, whispered a few words of advice, and then the palace maid quickly left with Shu Rou, who was still sobbing.

He straightened his clothes again before stepping over the threshold and entering the hall.

Then he turned around and closed the palace door carefully, making only a very soft "click" sound when the two doors closed.

The light inside the hall dimmed instantly.

The incense in the bronze censer burned a little longer, and the smoke outlined blurry curves in the dim light.

Yao Jingyuan quickly walked up behind Shu Jingwei, his voice carrying just the right amount of urgency and worry.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to report."

Shu Jingwei had her back to him, and her voice was devoid of emotion.

"explain."

Yao Jingyuan took half a step forward, his boot tip almost touching the hem of her dragon robe, and he lowered his voice.

"What happened in the sky today was witnessed by the entire nation and all its people. That Lin Ye spread rumors and deceived the public, displaying those...those things that have never been heard of before."

He paused, then glanced furtively at Shu Jingwei. However, she was backlit and had her head down, so Yao Jingyuan couldn't see her expression.

He hesitated for a moment, and seeing that she didn't intend to interrupt, he continued speaking, gradually increasing his pace.

"I believe that if this matter is not dealt with quickly, the people will truly believe that Lin Ye is some kind of divine being, and that he lives in some kind of heavenly palace—at that point, public sentiment will be unsettled, rumors will spread, and the consequences will be unimaginable, Your Majesty!"

As he finished speaking, his voice suddenly rose a few decibels, filled with a heart-wrenching and impassioned emotion.

It was as if a pillar of the state was pounding his chest and weeping for the future of the nation.

"We must find Lin Ye as soon as possible and execute him publicly in front of the people! Only in this way can we dispel the rumors spread by these so-called gods and demons, and only then can we stabilize the people's hearts! Only then—"

"Talent what!?"

Shu Jingwei turned around abruptly, her movements incredibly fast, her bloodshot eyes suddenly meeting Yao Jingyuan's.

The anger surged towards him, carrying a tangible sense of oppression, pressing down on him like a wall.

Yao Jingyuan was startled by the gaze, swallowed the rest of his words, and instinctively took a step back, bumping into a palace pillar.

The carved patterns pressed against his spine, and the cold touch seeped in through his robes, like a chilling snake suddenly crawling in from his collar and down his spine, making him shiver.

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, making a soft swallowing sound.

"His Majesty……"

"I'm asking you a question!"

Shu Jingwei approached step by step.

Every step felt like a blow to Yao Jingyuan's heart, making him panic and even want to run away, but reason kept him rooted to the spot.

He felt as if his chest had been flattened by those footsteps, and all the air in his lungs had been squeezed out.

Her voice was low, like the rumble of thunder before a storm, rolling in from the horizon, heavy, deep, and carrying a premonition of destruction.

"Did you hear what Lin Ye said in the sky?"

Yao Jingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed again as he struggled to speak, enduring the murderous gaze directed at him.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty is dull-witted... I don't know which sentence Your Majesty is referring to?" His voice was dry, as if his throat had been sanded.

"Heh..." Shu Jingwei sneered.

"He doesn't know? He said—'My daughter! She's starving, skin and bones! She's being beaten and abused like a stray dog!'"

She spoke slowly and deliberately, each word squeezed out from between her teeth, like sharp knives cutting into one's ears.

"Tell me!"

Shu Jingwei stopped in front of him, no more than three feet away.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was full of anger, and her breathing was rapid and heavy, like that of an enraged female beast.

"You, the one who manages all affairs of the harem, my daughter! The eldest princess of the Great Flame Kingdom—why are you living a life worse than a beggar in the palace!?"

She suddenly raised her hand, her index finger almost poking the tip of his nose.

That finger was long and slender, fair-skinned, but the knuckles were trembling slightly from the exertion.

"What kind of work are you doing?!"

She practically spat out those last few words through gritted teeth. They carried a chilling aura, like a gust of wind in the dead of winter, seeping into her collar and chilling her to the bone.