The Regent Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 35

Wish Fulfilled?

Zhou Jin’s gaze at her deepened. Very self-aware, she distanced herself from Shen Lingyan, a smile playing on the corner of her lips: “Since Your Majesty doesn’t trust me, then just be cautious.”

Zhou Jin appeared indifferent, yet her hands were tightly clenched into fists inside her wide sleeves. Shen Lingyan took her hands out of the tub, flicked the water droplets off, and slowly, deliberately wiped them with a cloth. She asked, seemingly casually: “What if I demand you hand over all political power now?”

“What if I don’t…” Zhou Jin seemed intent on opposing Shen Lingyan, her eyes flashing with a look of determination, as if she truly intended that as long as she, Zhou Jin, lived, that half of the political power would never fall into Shen Lingyan’s hands.

“If you don’t? Then I won’t dispatch troops for the expedition.” Shen Lingyan hadn’t intended to bring this up tonight. But since the conversation had reached this point, she might as well state her demand.

These words seemed to completely enrage Zhou Jin. She scoffed, showing no courtesy whatsoever. One moment she was embracing her, the next she was cold and sharp: “This King never knew the Empress was someone who would disregard the lives of the country’s people for her own power.”

Shen Lingyan’s heart violently trembled, but she offered neither rebuttal nor explanation. This silence, in Zhou Jin’s eyes, was taken as an admission.

The two remained in a standoff for a long time. Zhou Jin did not yield, nor did Shen Lingyan. In the breezy night, the crescent moon reflected in the small water basin seemed so desolate.

“Guards, escort the guest out.” Shen Lingyan wiped her hands expressionlessly, turning to walk towards the Chaohui Palace, showing no intention of keeping Zhou Jin.

Zhou Jin scoffed as she walked out of the sleeping quarters, then turned back, her gaze complicated as she looked at the vermillion palace gates. She left without a word, a guard following her.

“Your Majesty, why raise the issue of reclaiming political power at a time like this?” Yun zhu, who had witnessed the entire scene, didn’t quite understand Shen Lingyan’s motive. The relationship between Shen Lingyan and the Regent King seemed to be gradually improving, but now, just a few words tonight had plunged it back to freezing point.

“If I don’t reclaim the political power now, should Zhou Jin win this battle, her prestige among the people will only increase; and if other nations exploit the division of power between the Regent King and the Empress during the expedition, not only will the war fail, but the country will face a greater danger.” Shen Lingyan had already entered the Chaohui Palace. Because she wanted to open the windows for ventilation, moonlight slowly streamed in. She extinguished a few candles, leaving only a few by the bedside.

Yun zhu managed to grasp the meaning of Shen Lingyan’s words, but she posed another question: “Why not explain it clearly to the Regent King? She doesn’t seem like an unreasonable person. If Your Majesty could properly analyze the situation for her, this servant thinks the Regent King would agree.”

Shen Lingyan sighed and said no more. Only Shen Lingyan herself knew what Dai Junwu had told her during their rest stop in Liangzhou.

“Has Your Majesty forgotten how the Regent King, in her childhood, was abused and bullied by the royal descendants? Now that she is the Regent King, slowly approaching the royal family, her intentions are far from simple. Would you believe that a person who was once ambitious and always plotting to usurp the throne would change her nature in just a few days?”

These words served as a stark reminder to Shen Lingyan. She had transmigrated into a book, not just traveled through time. Everything the Regent King Zhou Jin experienced in her youth became an indelible part of her growth trajectory in the book.

Although the Empress’s personality had changed because of her transmigration, others had not. The original plot and their characters’ decisions would still unfold. Isn’t Zhou Jin a perfect example? In the original book, Zhou Jin was a cruel and calculating Regent King. Who knows if her current kindness towards her is just a facade, a dagger hidden behind a smile?

Bringing it up now was partly to force Zhou Jin to immediately hand over the political power, and partly to make a clean break with Zhou Jin.

Yet, after the arguments, why was there a hint of sadness lingering in her heart?

Shen Lingyan dared not dwell on it further. After washing up, she lay straight on the soft bed, staring at the intricately carved bed canopy: “I’m sorry, perhaps I should have been cautious earlier.”

Shen Lingyan murmured to herself, closed her eyes, and drifted into sleep.

Shen Lingyan didn’t sleep well that night, and neither did Zhou Jin. The next day, court resumed, and many officials arrived early in the great hall to await the morning session. Several officials who had personally witnessed Shen Lingyan’s impressive handling of the corrupt officials in Liangzhou were now exaggerating their accounts to those who hadn’t seen it firsthand.

“You wouldn’t believe it. That corrupt official was kneeling there, silent, not speaking, not admitting his crimes, even when the evidence was laid out, he wouldn’t confess,” a somewhat short official stood among many, speaking like a storyteller in a teahouse.

“Later, Song Kangan arrived with the scroll of his founding father’s meritorious service, charging straight into the great hall, insisting on the corrupt official’s innocence. I was truly worried for Her Majesty the Empress then. That was the founding Emperor’s scroll! Every Emperor throughout history has treated the Song family with respect, and Her Majesty is the first female Emperor in history. Facing such a situation, I thought she would have to compromise?” Discussing gossip openly in the court was certainly improper. But this matter was simply too extraordinary. The man led a crowd into a corner to speak.

Just as he reached the crucial part, the man stopped, glancing around to make sure Shen Lingyan hadn’t arrived before daring to continue.

“Later, our Empress brought forth all the witnesses and evidence, and amidst the cheers of all the people, she sentenced both the corrupt official and Song Kangan to the Nine Kins Extermination. The whole scene was truly satisfying,” the official spoke enthusiastically alone, and the listening ministers also applauded, marveling at the Empress’s decisive action, declaring it a great fortune for Yongning.

This sentiment continued for a long time until Shen Lingyan stepped into the court, and all discussions ceased.

“During my trip to Liangzhou, I discovered that corruption still exists. Besides Song Kangan, there must be others facilitating him, which allowed his memorial seeking disaster relief funds to reach me,” Shen Lingyan looked down at the officials from her dragon throne, her expression very cold. This was completely different from the usually reserved Shen Lingyan.

At this point, the officials would invariably look towards Zhou Jin. However, today, Zhou Jin’s eyes no longer held a smile; instead, she seemed to be staring fiercely at Shen Lingyan.

Before anyone could ponder this, she continued: “During these days in court, I intend to thoroughly investigate this matter…”

Before Shen Lingyan could finish her sentence, Zhou Jin interrupted loudly.

“This King has a matter to report.”

Shen Lingyan raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused: “What is it?”

Zhou Jin was seen holding a pile of scrolls and a waist token. With a strained expression, she walked to the foot of the dragon throne, turned to face the officials, and forced a smile: “Following this incident, this King believes Your Majesty is fully qualified to govern the country, and thus, hereby returns the remaining political power to Your Majesty today.”

At this statement, the entire court could no longer remain silent. Everyone was in an uproar. They never imagined that the two, who seemed to be at loggerheads, would have a day where the Regent King personally surrendered power to the Empress.

Shen Lingyan also subconsciously gripped the armrest of the dragon throne, even her breathing paused for a moment. Then, Shen Lingyan quickly reverted to her normal, slightly languid posture, leaning back: “Then I thank the Regent King for testing me.”

Shen Lingyan seemed to vaguely realize something. She abruptly stood up, her mind replaying everything that had happened over the past few days. It was all so bizarre, yet so real, as if controlled by an unseen hand.

So, when Zhou Jin said she believed she was qualified to control Yongning’s empire, what did that signify? Perhaps everything that happened in the preceding days was orchestrated by Zhou Jin. The so-called life-and-death situations, the so-called hidden dangers, perhaps had all been planned by Zhou Jin.

Shen Lingyan had never felt so foolish, so utterly fooled by one person, while still worrying about her feelings.

Shen Lingyan was so angry that her face turned ashen. She stood up, took all the scrolls and the waist token, and in front of everyone, produced the military tally, issuing a command to Zhou Jin.

“From now on, I will fully manage all affairs of Yongning. Currently, the minor border states are arrogant and unruly. I command you to lead one hundred thousand elite soldiers to suppress them.” Shen Lingyan’s voice echoed in the hall. All the officials were once again stunned. When had the minor border states ever not been arrogant and unruly? Why did the Empress finally decide to dispatch Zhou Jin for the expedition today?

They couldn’t help but suspect that Shen Lingyan had gained some leverage over Zhou Jin, which is why she was sending her far away to the border immediately after securing political power.

Shen Lingyan thought this matter had satisfied everyone, but Zhou Jin seemed to have changed her mind. She spoke clearly, her eyes fixed on Shen Lingyan: “Before setting out, this King has a request.”

Shen Lingyan knew things wouldn’t go so smoothly. She scoffed and asked: “What is it?”

Unexpectedly, Zhou Jin had no intention of saying it down below. She lifted her heavy skirt, ascended the steps one by one, and walked beside the dragon throne.

She leaned down and whispered into Shen Lingyan’s ear: “I need seven days to teach Your Majesty how to use the long whip. I will set out after seven days. How about that?”

“Alright.” Shen Lingyan hesitated for a long, long time before finally uttering this single word. No matter how much she wanted to avoid seeing Zhou Jin, the pang of sorrow in her heart made her change her mind.

Having received a satisfactory answer, Zhou Jin stood up and walked down the steps. At this moment, Shen Lingyan’s eyes only held Zhou Jin’s solitary back. Although her stride was arrogant and imposing, Shen Lingyan felt an impulse to embrace Zhou Jin from behind.

Of course, it was merely an impulse.