The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 18

Going to the Dungeon

“Sister, aren’t you holding court?” Zhou Jin immediately reverted to her playful demeanor, casually flipping through the piles of memorials on the rosewood desk. A smile flickered in her eyes. Since ancient times, there have been precedents of emperors making incognito visits.

It was precisely because Shen Lingyan knew about this precedent that she made her decision quickly. Her determined eyes met Zhou Jin’s: “What I have decided, I naturally will not change. We’ll just skip court for now…”

As soon as her words fell, Yun Zhu led a group of palace maids and servant girls into the room, each holding a food box. The exquisitely carved boxes, adorned with dragons and phoenixes, were likely a display of imperial splendor—even an ordinary food box had to look so unique.

Zhou Jin’s eyes lit up, and she sat down at the table, eagerly urging Shen Lingyan to join her. However, Shen Lingyan was preoccupied with the matters in Liangzhou and had already eaten, so she had no appetite.

Seeing Shen Lingyan’s lack of reaction, Zhou Jin didn’t stand on ceremony and began eating by herself. Yet, this person was incredibly well-mannered. Although she usually appeared arrogant and pampered, her actions were flawless.

After the midday meal, Shen Lingyan was irritated watching Zhou Jin prepare to lie back down on the couch. She was racking her brains while Zhou Jin was enjoying various comforts and slacking off under the pretense of illness. If it weren’t for the fact that her grand plan required continuous hard work, Shen Lingyan would have loved to quit right then and there.

Shen Lingyan angrily walked to the bed, took the memorials as usual, and placed them on the couch with a clatter. Without a pleasant expression, she climbed onto the bed and let Zhou Jin continue leaning against her.

“When are we going to Liangzhou?” Shen Lingyan would not let Zhou Jin lean on her for nothing; she clearly had an ulterior motive.

Sure enough, when she asked the question, Zhou Jin didn’t hesitate to answer, telling her openly: “Probably the day after tomorrow. The matter in Liangzhou cannot be delayed. The longer it is delayed, the longer those corrupt officials and their filthy ways will have their comfortable lives.”

Shen Lingyan agreed deeply and quickly summoned Yun Zhu and a large group of maids to arrange what needed to be prepared, finally entrusting Yun Zhu to inform the ministers about skipping court.

Those who received the order went down to prepare immediately. The resolute Shen Lingyan finally looked the part of a ruler, and Zhou Jin watched with great satisfaction, nodding repeatedly.

The rain outside had gradually stopped, leaving only raindrops sliding off the roof tiles, dripping one by one into the puddles below, creating a pleasant ding-dong melody that made people hesitant to disturb it.

But some people were utterly insensitive to romance. Zhou Jin shook Shen Lingyan’s arm, looking at her with a face full of grievance: “Can we go back to Zhaohui Palace? I feel like I can’t sleep as comfortably anywhere else as I do there.”

Shen Lingyan couldn’t withstand her continuous pleas and had to agree to take her back to Zhaohui Palace. Traveling in the sedan chair, Zhou Jin insisted on sticking close to Shen Lingyan, wanting their sedan chairs to travel together, which made the already narrow palace path even more crowded.

The jade hairpins and step-shakes jiggled. Shen Lingyan’s state of mind upon returning was different from when she arrived. When she saw the same scenery, she recalled her lofty ambition from before.

“Get rid of Zhou Jin…” This thought suddenly popped up in Shen Lingyan’s mind—she had thought it this morning. But now, looking sideways at the graceful, almost sickly-delicate Zhou Jin, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry, even wishing she could strangle her morning self.

But even now, Shen Lingyan couldn’t confirm whether Zhou Jin was truly responsible for the deeds. What lay before Shen Lingyan was a vast mist, and she couldn’t see clearly whose shadow was hidden within it—Zhou Jin’s? Or someone else’s?

She couldn’t guess and didn’t want to. She only knew that the sedan chair slowly lowered to the ground. The three characters ” Zhaohui Palace” hung high on the plaque. Shen Lingyan looked up at it for a long time before helping Zhou Jin Walk inside. Yun Zhu followed behind, holding a stack of memorials.

As soon as they entered Zhaohui Palace, Zhou Jin began clutching her head and moaning about feeling unwell. She collapsed onto Shen Lingyan’s couch and refused to move. The maids exchanged glances, unsure if they should still clean up the west side chamber.

Shen Lingyan’s mouth twitched. She reluctantly sat down next to her, tried tugging her, which was useless, and then waved the maids away to prepare the things for her incognito trip. She, meanwhile, stayed in the sleeping chamber with Zhou Jin to… study!

Zhou Jin naturally wasn’t interested in any memorials. Having slept enough in the morning, she found paper and brushes and continued painting Shen Lingyan. She was incredibly serious now, more serious than she had ever been. Even when attending court or reading memorials, she was always casual, merely glancing over them. Her current earnestness made Shen Lingyan a little dazed.

Night quickly fell, but Shen Lingyan still hadn’t returned to the sleeping chamber. She had left in the afternoon, saying she needed to prepare her own things, leaving Zhou Jin in the chamber. She was gone for the entire afternoon, and no one knew why it was so late.

Zhou Jin stood by the doorway, leaning on the door frame, looking like a wronged wife waiting for her late-returning husband. Finally, in the faint, weak lamplight, she saw a stumbling Shen Lingyan approaching.

“Why were you gone so long?” Zhou Jin first helped Shen Lingyan and then noticed the dark circles under her eyes. What happened to her?

After repeated inquiries, Zhou Jin learned that Shen Lingyan was simply too tired and fell asleep as soon as she touched the bed—she looked adorable.

So, Zhou Jin, whose fever had long subsided, propped her chin on her hand and watched the deeply sleeping Shen Lingyan. The pink, tender mouth opened and closed, making it impossible for Zhou Jin to look away. She remembered tracing Shen Lingyan’s lips with her finger—that slightly ticklish feeling seemed to scratch at Zhou Jin’s heart.

“Silly Empress, still dreaming of seizing power? You don’t even know who is plotting against you…” Although Zhou Jin said this, she couldn’t bear to leave her alone. After watching for a very long time, and estimating that there was no one outside, Zhou Jin finally stood up, grabbed a black cloak, put it on, and stealthily prepared to leave.

As soon as she pushed the door open, Yun Zhu, who was standing guard outside, saw Zhou Jin, who appeared to be getting out of bed daily without being tired, and now, having just recovered from a fever, was trying to slip out. Yun Zhu couldn’t stand it: “Your Highness, where are you going? It has just rained, and it’s a bit chilly. It’s better not to go out.”

If it were anyone else, Zhou Jin would have immediately flared up and said, I can go whenever I want, who are you to tell me what to do? But Yun Zhu realized that whenever the Regent King was with Empress Shen Lingyan, even the greatest anger would subside.

Zhou Jin continued to walk forward indifferently, ignoring Yun Zhu’s obstruction, merely saying she’d be back soon and left. Watching Zhou Jin’s distant back, Yun Zhu was utterly confused.

“What is she going to do so late at night? Where is Her Majesty?!” Concerned that something might happen to Shen Lingyan, Yun Zhu rushed into the sleeping chamber, wanting to report the situation as soon as possible…

Zhou Jin was completely muffled, moving like a phantom through the palace courtyards. After walking for an unknown amount of time, she stopped as she reached her destination. She had actually arrived at… the entrance to the Dungeon.