The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 13

Zhou Jin cast an angry gaze towards the minister, only to realize he had no impression of the man. Looking closer at his waist token, he discovered the man was merely a petty official.

“Do you… also deserve to attend the feast in the Imperial Garden?” Zhou Jin made no attempt to hide his contempt, his opening words dripping with sarcasm. The minister, exposed about his identity, was embarrassed and grew even angrier. He didn’t dare to openly challenge Zhou Jin, so he shifted the focus of his attack to Shen Lingyan.

“His Majesty has decreed that all court officials may attend the feast… But does His Majesty really tolerate the Regent being so disrespectful and insolent?”

His name was Tao Feng, and he was nothing more than a former subordinate of Tang Quan. He hadn’t seemed particularly diligent in serving Tang Quan while he was alive, but now, after Tang Quan’s death, he suddenly found his courage. Zhou Jin watched with cold eyes, not giving Tao Feng any pleasant attention, but also making no move to shield Shen Lingyan.

Shen Lingyan’s heart grew colder, inch by inch. She stood up, attempting to use her presence to subdue him first. Seeing this had little effect, she finally spoke: “If the Regent is disrespectful and insolent, are you yourself very respectful?”

Tao Feng’s face changed, and he reluctantly knelt down, but the defiance and resentment in his eyes burned like fire, scorching Shen Lingyan.

As the standoff continued, a girl slightly shorter than Shen Lingyan suddenly stepped forward. Her voice was slightly immature: “Audacious! All of you are audacious! You who constantly speak of propriety and integrity—is this how you treat the supreme Empress?!”

The girl was small but exceptionally resolute. Perhaps it was due to the influence of her general father since childhood; she was not only patriotic but also fearless of those who relied on their seniority.

Shen Lingyan rubbed Dai Sulan’s head with satisfaction, her eyes casting a fierce glance at Zhou Jin, as if wanting to flay a layer of skin off her.

Zhou Jin acted as if she hadn’t noticed, still standing by her table with her arms crossed, radiating hostility, and with a mocking smile playing on her lips.

Dai Junwu, seeing his daughter step forward, and his wife’s anxious expression, finally stood up. With a resonant voice, he declared: “So, this Lord is less knowledgeable of propriety than a child?”

The mockery was thick, and Tao Feng was so enraged his eyes seemed ready to pop out, yet he stubbornly remained kneeling, demanding Shen Lingyan give him and the Tang family an explanation.

But Shen Lingyan knew nothing about the matter; how could she give him an explanation?

Just as she was feeling extremely awkward, Zhou Jin finally spoke.

“This King has investigated. Tang Quan, the Minister of Rites, was involved in corruption and bribery totaling fifty thousand taels of silver. Even according to the laws of Yongning, he should have been dismissed and executed. Does Lord Tao have any objection to this law?” Zhou Jin gradually raised her voice. She finally walked from her table to stand in front of Tao Feng, slowly crouched down, and used a chopstick to lift Tao Feng’s chin, her smile chilling.

“Then… what crime did Tang Quan’s son commit…” Faced with the overwhelming presence of the Regent, Tao Feng suddenly weakened, his voice becoming small. Watching all of this, Shen Lingyan felt profoundly chilled.

“Tang Quan’s son… ambitiously sought to attach himself to Her Majesty the Empress, and he was severely taught a lesson by this King. If you are not satisfied… you are welcome to try me.”

Shen Lingyan finally understood. Zhou Jin’s previous refusal to intervene was to show Dai Junwu and the others that she, Shen Lingyan, was the incompetent one, not Zhou Jin herself.

As for Tang Quan’s corruption and bribery, Zhou Jin had known about it all along. Perhaps everything, from the pond full of lotus flowers to the flower appreciation feast, and then Tang Quan’s dismissal, had all been meticulously designed by Zhou Jin—a trap within a trap.

Shen Lingyan was horrified by this possibility. She watched Tao Feng kneeling below, yet seemingly without any remorse or guilt. On the contrary, Tao Feng grew increasingly agitated, as if he wouldn’t stop until Shen Lingyan was angered and lost her composure.

Every word centered on her, yet he dared not contradict Zhou Jin.

Zhou Jin stood aside, looking very impatient. Just as she was about to call for someone to act, Tao Feng suddenly stood up and struggled like a madman. In the resulting push and shove, Zhou Jin, who was closest to the edge of the pavilion by the lake, was caught off guard and violently pushed into the water by Tao Feng.

The scene descended into instant chaos.

“Audacious!!!” Shen Lingyan didn’t know why she was so panicked, but her mind was utterly blank. Before she could call for help, she actually jumped into the water herself. It wasn’t until she held Zhou Jin in the water that she remembered she couldn’t swim.

“Shen Lingyan! What are you doing down here!” Zhou Jin’s eyes widened. For the first time in her life, she was flustered, especially upon realizing Shen Lingyan was completely unable to swim.

Shen Lingyan was about to answer but was choked by a mouthful of water and coughed violently.

Zhou Jin’s eyes turned red. She shouted Shen Lingyan’s name, cursing her for being foolish while using all her strength to hold the Empress in her arms. Breaking free from the water’s pressure, she launched herself back onto the pavilion. The moment she emerged from the water, Dai Sulan was stunned, and all the ministers present were speechless.

They had long known the Regent was skilled in martial arts, but they had never expected such astonishing prowess.

Shen Lingyan was still coughing. Zhou Jin ignored the flower appreciation feast, loudly calling for the imperial physician. Throwing all notions of face and reputation aside, she carried Shen Lingyan in a princess carry towards the Zhaohui Palace. The trickling water on the path faded unseen in the summer heat, and Shen Lingyan’s coughing grew weaker.

She felt like she couldn’t breathe through her nose, her chest ached from coughing, and she couldn’t open her eyes. This unbearable feeling caused Shen Lingyan’s tightly clenched fists to involuntarily relax. She thought, perhaps it would be better to die; let this Yongning Kingdom be given to the deeply manipulative Zhou Jin…

But if Shen Lingyan could live again, she would never trust this outwardly innocent, yet deceitful fool again…

With that thought, Shen Lingyan fell into a deep slumber. By then, Zhou Jin had already carried her to the Zhaohui Palace.

“Your Highness, do not panic. Her Majesty only swallowed a little water and was startled. She will wake up shortly after resting for a while,” the imperial physician said kindly, looking at the restless Zhou Jin. His words finally allowed her to feel slightly relieved.

“Reward.” With just one word, Yun Zhu knew what to do. She slipped a few taels of gold into the imperial physician’s sleeve. The old doctor smiled until his eyes disappeared, profusely thanked them, and withdrew.

The ministers and the captured Tao Feng were still waiting outside the palace.

Yun Zhu stepped forward to ask how to deal with Tao Feng. Zhou Jin replied in a very quiet voice: “Tao Feng. This King wants him to suffer a fate worse than death.”

Yun Zhu acknowledged the order and withdrew. For a time, only she and Shen Lingyan remained in the Zhaohui Palace.

Zhou Jin hadn’t even realized how angry she was. Looking at Shen Lingyan’s tranquil sleeping face, her heart felt strangely full.

She slowly came back to herself and began to acknowledge her own unusual reaction.

It was high noon. Shen Lingyan was not awake, and no one dared to leave. Tao Feng had already been taken to the dungeon by Yun Zhu to await punishment. In the blazing summer heat, the sun hung high in the sky. Dai Junwu, Wei Kangsheng, and their families had been properly settled, but the other guests who had come to the feast were not so fortunate.

After another long wait, the bored ministers suddenly heard the sound of things being smashed coming from the Zhaohui Palace.

“Zhou Jin! I will never trust you again!” It was Shen Lingyan’s voice.

Dai Sulan also stood up, clutching her handkerchief tightly.