The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 20

The next morning, there were still few people in the market, but the originally solemn and dignified palace was lively.

The maids and eunuchs on the road hurried to spread the word that the Empress, who had just resumed holding court a few days ago, had once again announced the suspension of court sessions. It was rumored that she wanted to travel around with the Regent.

The ministers who heard this news felt a sharp pang of heartache. Could the Yongning Kingdom still see any hope?

Although disappointed, they dared not question anything. On the contrary, they still had to go and see them off.

In just one night, the news that Zhou Jin went to interrogate Tao Feng last night and brutally chopped off his leg had spread throughout the Imperial City. All those who came to see them off dared not utter a single negative word. They eagerly stood at the entrance of Zhaohui Hall, just waiting for Shen Lingyan and Zhou Jin to come out.

The carriage was already prepared outside. Originally, carriages were not allowed inside the palace, but there was no helping it now—after all, the palace belonged to them.

After an unknown period of waiting, the main door of Zhaohui Hall was slowly pushed open. The officials fixed their eyes on the scene, and their legs subconsciously bent to kneel.

Shen Lingyan stood on the steps. Like Zhou Jin, she was not wearing any formal attire, but a casual, small-family-style long dress. Yet, it lacked no sense of stature; instead, Shen Lingyan managed to wear it with imposing presence. As for Zhou Jin? She still looked as enchantingly alluring as ever, standing beside Shen Lingyan like a femme fatale Daji who would bring ruin to the nation.

Perhaps the rain of yesterday had dried up the heavens, for a scorching sun hung in the sky today. The gold pin in Shen Lingyan’s hair glittered, making her look dazzlingly bright. She walked down the steps with an indifferent expression, and the Zhou Jin beside her was equally detached.

The two struck a pose, with the palace staff trailing behind Shen Lingyan, carrying large and small bags of jewelry, silver, and clothing. They boarded the same carriage. There was no superfluous farewell speech, only their dashing silhouettes and the clinking and clanking sound of the carriage’s ornaments colliding.

All the people seeing them off knelt down to respectfully bid them farewell, but those inside the carriage burst out laughing.

Shen Lingyan was especially happy, laughing so hard she was shaking, and her hair pin was about to fall out. She patted her chest to catch her breath, leaning against Zhou Jin. Even the sunlight streaming into the carriage seemed so bright; her mood was wonderfully good.

“What’s wrong? Are you that happy?” As if to play the role of Daji to the end, Zhou Jin kept feeding grapes to Shen Lingyan. Unfortunately, Shen Lingyan was too happy to eat them right now and almost pushed the grape offered to her into Zhou Jin’s mouth instead.

“Of course! This is the first time I’m going to Liangzhou… Although the memorials say Liangzhou is suffering from a great drought, it is still known as a place with beautiful mountains and rivers. I’ve always wanted to see it,” Shen Lingyan said while seated in the carriage, unconcerned about the bumps. Scenes of great rivers and mountains kept flashing through her mind.

“All these mountains, rivers, and seas belong to Your Majesty,” Zhou Jin whispered in her ear. Even the footsteps of the guards surrounding the carriage seemed to quiet down. This sentence was deafening. Shen Lingyan was stunned for a long time. She looked at Zhou Jin blankly—she was the Empress, the owner of these mountains, rivers, and seas…

But while touched, Shen Lingyan still frowned. She hadn’t forgotten that half of the political power was still in Zhou Jin’s hands.

Shen Lingyan picked up a piece of pastry and put it into her mouth. It was sweet and refreshing, not cloying but light, and paired with a cup of clear tea, it was simply wonderful.

She shook her head, deciding not to dwell on this troublesome matter. Now, she should fully enjoy the journey and take a good look at this empire of hers.

Just after leaving the Imperial City, the noise finally ceased, and Shen Lingyan found some peace. She originally wanted to sleep to relieve her fatigue, but unexpectedly, Zhou Jin, who had been silent, suddenly became talkative.

“Sister, look at that field…”

“Sister, look at that big tree…”

Like a cute child tugging at Shen Lingyan’s sleeve, pulling her to look everywhere.

Shen Lingyan didn’t want to be a wet blanket. She looked at all the places Zhou Jin pointed to, watched for a long time in a very supportive manner, and felt as if her heart was filled.

It was noon, the hottest time of the day.

Even though Shen Lingyan had placed two large basins of ice in the carriage since the morning, she felt no coolness now. Fortunately, the carriage was big enough, so she called Yun Zhu to come up and fan her.

They were now traveling on a mountain road. Because Shen Lingyan’s decision to go down to Liangzhou was made quickly, the palace guards only conducted a cursory check for bandits in the surrounding area, and no one was completely sure they wouldn’t encounter danger on the road. Shen Lingyan understood this as well.

This mountain road was long, with no houses nearby, and a steep slope right beside them. The mighty procession was walking on the narrow path. Shen Lingyan became extremely nervous; even a pebble bumping against the carriage made her think they were going to overturn.

Seeing this, Zhou Jin took the fan from Yun Zhu and moved closer to Shen Lingyan to fan her. A cool, sweet grape entered her mouth, making Shen Lingyan smile in comfort.

“I’ve never thought grapes tasted so good,” Shen Lingyan looked at Zhou Jin with a smile. The anxiety and worry she felt eased under Zhou Jin’s steady comfort. But perhaps fate was working against them, as the weather changed as quickly as a person’s face.

First, dark clouds blocked out the sun, then the wind picked up, rolling the withered grass on the ground. Some sand was inadvertently blown into the carriage, frightening Shen Lingyan, who quickly pulled down the curtain and sat nervously in the carriage.

“It’s not going to rain, is it?” Shen Lingyan frowned and calculated. Zhou Jin had just recovered from a fever. If she caught a cold on the road due to the rain, wouldn’t that be a terrible thing? She turned her head to look at Zhou Jin, whose eyes were bright because of the rain, and lightly flicked her finger on her head.

“Still happy? It’s about to rain!” Shen Lingyan looked at her, exasperated, seemingly blaming Zhou Jin for not sharing her worries.

Zhou Jin was a little dazed by the tap. After regaining her composure, she played with a strand of Shen Lingyan’s hair, smiling widely and freely: “A-Jin knows Sister cares about me. Don’t worry. We brought many cloaks even if it rains. If all else fails, A-Jin can just snuggle in Sister’s arms.”

She smiled so charmingly that Shen Lingyan couldn’t refuse. Although what she said was so soft and sweet, when she naturally lay down in Shen Lingyan’s arms, Shen Lingyan couldn’t help but feel that she had been taken advantage of again.

Just then, there was a commotion outside, and the carriage came to a stop. Could it be… Shen Lingyan’s eyes widened. Could she really have encountered bandits?

Apparently, Shen Lingyan was only half right. The people who came were bandits, but they didn’t want wealth; they wanted lives.

She trembled as she pulled back the curtain, only to see a mass of figures outside, all dressed in black and masked. They were highly organized and disciplined, which made Shen Lingyan’s panic quickly turn into a cold expression. It was possible there was an internal mole in the court.

And which mole coveted the throne and was sure that killing her would allow them to ascend to it? Shen Lingyan’s gaze shifted to Zhou Jin…