The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 11

Zhou Jin was also annoyed. At this critical juncture of reviewing memorials, someone had to come and waste time. How could she focus on the little Empress’s preparations for the flower viewing banquet?

Thus, she was even angrier than Shen Lingyan and immediately ordered Yun zhu to bring the person in. The old official who was brought in was very unfamiliar. Not only was he unfamiliar, but he also seemed to rarely speak in court. His official robes weren’t very refined, clearly indicating he was not an important minister.

“If you have a grievance, go to the yamen. The King and His Majesty are busy…” Zhou Jin was very impatient. She initially thought this official would withdraw upon hearing this, but to her surprise, he not only didn’t retreat but looked at Zhou Jin with eyes full of resentment, showing no fear.

This point also caught Shen Lingyan’s attention. One should know that in the palace at this moment, her own status was inferior to that of the Regent King, Zhou Jin. How could anyone harbor hatred towards Zhou Jin?

This thoroughly piqued Shen Lingyan’s interest. She slowly sat down, instructed her maid to continue fanning her, and picked up her small teacup, signaling the official to continue with an expression of watching a show.

The official kowtowed several times towards Shen Lingyan before beginning to speak: “This official’s name is Tang Quan. I once served as the Minister of Rites. I don’t know where I offended the Regent King, Your Highness, to incur such a brutal attack from her. Not only was my young son beaten beyond recognition, but this old official was also dismissed from my post. This is unforgivable by the laws of Heaven!!”

Shen Lingyan hadn’t expected the official to start by directly accusing Zhou Jin. She had to admit this official was incredibly brave. Shen Lingyan secretly observed Zhou Jin’s expression, seeing the Regent King, clad in luxurious robes, standing still with a gloomy face, radiating a murderous aura. Shen Lingyan finally remembered that Tang Quan’s son was Tang Ziming, who had come to see her that day. Later… she had chased him out, and it seemed Zhou Jin had given some instructions.

Shen Lingyan gently pulled Zhou Jin’s sleeve and, feeling quite troubled, conveyed her thoughts to Zhou Jin. However, the latter looked up, put a hand in front of Shen Lingyan, and spoke unreasonably: “If the King and the Empress desire your lives, you must willingly surrender them. What? I merely crippled the four limbs of that brute Tang Ziming. And now you can’t sit still? What if I ordered the execution of your entire family?”

Tang Quan, kneeling below, was terrified, shaking like a sieve, but still didn’t give up: “Is there… still any law and order left in this land… This official has already informed all the court officials of the Regent King’s actions. This humble official is of little consequence, but I would rather die to prove my grievance.”

With that, Tang Quan rushed out as if throwing a tantrum. Shen Lingyan was completely flustered. How much suffering must one endure to make such a decision? If he truly died, it would be detrimental to both her and Zhou Jin’s reputations.

But when she turned to look at Zhou Jin, the latter showed no sign of distress. She even leisurely shouted at Tang Quan’s retreating back: “Law and order? I am the law.”

This statement was truly disregardful of Shen Lingyan, yet for some reason, Shen Lingyan felt the golden sunlight of summer gilding Zhou Jin, making her exceptionally beautiful. As a result, Zhou Jin’s disrespectful words were overlooked by her…

Shen Lingyan thought nothing serious had happened and dismissed it with a casual laugh as a mere incident. It wasn’t until she put down the very last memorial and was about to pick up the list for the flower viewing banquet to study the menu that Yun zhu and an eunuch burst in from outside, ignoring the need for an announcement.

“Your Majesty!! Tang Quan, the former Minister of Rites, actually died right outside the palace gate! Those officials and common people passing by are now gathered around him, discussing…”

Yun zhu was breathless and had to speak in fragments, which greatly startled Shen Lingyan.

Frightened, she dropped her brush and paced nervously inside the room. No matter what, Shen Lingyan had witnessed a death with her own eyes. For a long time, she couldn’t recover from the shock.

Was it just for an official post? Just for so-called face? Shen Lingyan felt there was something suspicious, but when she personally saw Tang Quan’s utterly dead body, having fallen from the city wall, Shen Lingyan had to believe it.

Zhou Jin also frowned deeply. Based on Tang Quan’s nature of valuing his life, he would only complain verbally even if he suffered immense grievances. How could he possibly jump to his death? There was definitely something behind this.

She looked up, tilting her head to look not at the mangled corpse on the ground, but at the watchtower on the palace wall. It was empty now, yet Zhou Jin felt as if she was staring back at someone.

“Your Majesty… what should we do…” This was also Yun zhu’s first time witnessing such a scene. She barely maintained the etiquette she had upheld for five or six years, slightly bowing to ask for Shen Lingyan’s instructions.

Shen Lingyan was even more timid. She covered her eyes, suppressing the urge to vomit, and quickly waved her hand: “Find people to deal with the body, give the Tang family the compensation they deserve, and disperse those who are gathering… As for the rest…”

Shen Lingyan paused. She looked at Zhou Jin, who was still lost in thought, knowing she couldn’t rely on her. She cleared her throat and said with a cold face: “The rest will be discussed in court tomorrow.”

Yun zhu nodded repeatedly, directing the eunuchs and guards to handle the matter, while Shen Lingyan and Zhou Jin returned to the palace first.

“Is his mental fortitude that poor? Seeking death after a minor setback?” Shen Lingyan still couldn’t understand. Because of this incident, the sun was setting, and night was approaching again.

The two walked along the palace road under the afterglow of the sunset. The slightly cool evening breeze blew, yet it did not dissipate either of their worries. Since returning, Zhou Jin had not smiled. Although Zhou Jin’s previous cunning smile made Shen Lingyan uncomfortable, a smile less Zhou Jin made her even more frightened.

So Shen Lingyan stopped, tucked a stray lock of hair behind Zhou Jin’s ear, and, coaxing her, leaned closer and smiled: “Zhou Jin? How about I give you a full moon tonight?”

The clear breeze carried her words into Zhou Jin’s ears. She heard clearly but was confused about how Shen Lingyan could give her a full moon.

However, Shen Lingyan’s goal was achieved. Zhou Jin smiled. It wasn’t that seductive, soul-stirring smile, but a genuine smile expressed with an upturned mouth, so beautiful that Shen Lingyan felt the sunset’s afterglow was nothing compared to it.

“Then A-Jin won’t leave tonight. I want to see how Your Majesty plans to gift A-, Full-, Moon…” For some reason, Zhou Jin deliberately paused between the words “A Full Moon,” making Shen Lingyan determined to argue with her, tugging at her clothes and refusing to let her go.

Zhou Jin paused with her for a moment, then compromised with a smile, rubbing Shen Lingyan’s head: “Alright… Let’s go back and look at the preparations for the flower viewing banquet first. We need to quickly resolve this matter with the Tang family so we can explain it to the doubtful officials at the banquet.”

With that, Zhou Jin took the lead and walked toward Shen Lingyan’s private chambers. Shen Lingyan was left behind, staring blankly at her back.

It looked like Zhou Jin had already planned to use the flower viewing banquet to clarify things? Then this incident today…

Shen Lingyan didn’t dare to think any further. If all these suspicious circumstances were orchestrated by Zhou Jin, how should she face the person she spent every day with and who was teaching her how to handle state affairs…