Inside the Prime Minister’s Residence, attendants hurried about, the entire estate shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere.
The moment Jiang Yizhou reached the entrance, her heart skipped a beat, followed by a wave of panic. For the first time, she felt truly afraid!
Qin Feng supported her as the two stumbled their way inside.
The plump Steward Wu came out, “Your Majesty, please follow this old servant quickly to see the Prime Minister.”
Only after speaking did he notice that Imperial Physician Song, the head of the imperial physicians, was following behind Jiang Yizhou.
The group jogged to the rear courtyard, where the door to Prime Minister Jiang Xun’s room was tightly shut. All the attendants waited outside, heads bowed in silence, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Having calmed down, Jiang Yuzhou immediately sensed something was amiss and stopped in her tracks.
Steward Wu noticed she hadn’t followed and returned, softly calling, “Your Majesty?”
Jiang Yuzhou let her hands hang down, speechless as she said, “What kind of act is my father putting on?”
“Using people to scare his own daughter? Be careful—words might come true.”
Seeing that he had been seen through, Steward Wu wiped his face, “Your Majesty, you’d better go in and see.”
Before he finished speaking, Jiang Yuzhou keenly sensed that several guards had appeared behind her without her noticing.
Now, even if she didn’t want to enter, she had no choice.
She resigned herself to it, pushing the door open with an indifferent stride, while Qin Feng and Imperial Physician Song were blocked outside.
Imperial Physician Song looked at Steward Wu in confusion, “This… the Prime Minister is…”
Beyond help?
Otherwise, why would a physician be barred from the door?
Steward Wu chuckled evasively, “The Prime Minister is naturally fine.”
“It’s just that children grow up and don’t listen to their fathers. A few days ago, Her Majesty the Empress and the Prime Minister had a fierce argument.”
“If we didn’t use this trick, how could Her Majesty have come?”
Upon hearing the explanation, Imperial Physician Song nodded repeatedly. Good.
At least this time, he didn’t have to worry about being buried alive.
As Empress Jiang Yuzhou entered the room, before she could even close the door, she was greeted by a cup of hot tea thrown by the Prime Minister.
Jiang Yuzhou sidestepped, easily dodging it. Seeing that he had missed, Prime Minister Jiang Xun glared at her angrily.
Jiang Xun sternly rebuked, “Ungrateful child!”
“Father!”
Jiang Yuzhou knelt on the ground with practiced ease, filled with resentment and regret. How had she not seen that this was a trap set by her father?
“Father, seeing how full of energy you are, I know you’re not sick.”
“I am the Empress of the Central Palace. It’s not good for me to be away from the palace for too long. I should return now.”
As she spoke, she lifted the hem of her robe, intending to slip away quietly.
Unfortunately, Jiang Xun rushed forward in a single stride, blocking her path.
“Don’t even try.”
Jiang Xun said, “I specifically made sure Bixia knew. No one will blame you.”
Jiang Yuzhou sighed, “Truly an old fox.”
Seeing her expression, Jiang Xun knew he had wronged her and helped her up.
The two sat facing each other. Jiang Xun let out a long sigh and questioned, “You’ve grown bold, daring to disobey even my words.”
Jiang Yuzhou naturally knew what her father was referring to.
Back when Murong Yao went south to battle, while matters in the Beiyuan court, big and small, were ostensibly reported to Bixia, in reality, some decisions were made by Jiang Yuzhou.
At that time, Jiang Xun wanted to replace the commander of the Jincheng Imperial Forest Army with his own trusted subordinate, but Jiang Yuzhou stopped him and instead promoted the newly appointed military top scholar, Zhou Quanwu, as the commander of the Imperial Forest Army.
Jiang Xun’s face fell as he scolded, “This Zhou Quanwu is nothing but a martial fool!”
“I was willing to promote him, yet he refused, even saying he entered the court to serve Bixia, not to serve powerful ministers.”
As he spoke, Jiang Xun stood up with his hands on his hips, his beard bristling with anger.
Jiang Yuzhou secretly smiled, silently applauding Zhou Quanwu in her heart. Who would have thought?
Besides her sister, there was actually someone in this world who could anger her father like this. Impressive, truly impressive.
After venting, Jiang Xun turned his criticism toward her, “And you too, actually siding with an outsider!”
“I am your own father. What good does it do you to anger me to death? Won’t you lose your support then?”
Jiang Yuzhou felt helpless but patiently comforted him, “Father, there’s no need to keep the Imperial Forest Army commander under your own trusted control.”
“Zhou Quanwu is a martial fool. Even if he isn’t loyal to you, he isn’t loyal to anyone else either.”
She stood up and walked over to Jiang Xun’s side. “The Prime Minister’s Residence stands out too much. Father is Bixia’s mentor, and the Empress’s position is also in the hands of the Prime Minister’s Residence. It’s inevitable that some will grow envious.”
“Besides, I acted impartially and did not side with outsiders.”
Jiang Xun naturally understood this reasoning, but he simply couldn’t swallow his anger.
Seeing her father’s expression soften somewhat, Jiang Yuzhou added, “Father has already tricked me here to scold me. Do you feel better now?”
“Much better.”
As her father’s anger subsided, Jiang Yuzhou said, “It’s getting late. I must return to the palace.”
“As a palace consort, I cannot stay out overnight.”
Jiang Xun looked at her, his cloudy eyes gradually moistening. “Wait.”
“Your mother has been gone for ten years, your sister’s whereabouts are unknown, and you have also entered the palace.”
As he spoke, Jiang Xun’s voice grew increasingly choked, carrying a tone of pleading. “This vast Prime Minister’s Residence has only me, a lonely old man, all by myself.”
“Why don’t you stay and have a meal with me?”
Hearing these words, Jiang Yuzhou’s heart felt as if pricked by needles, aching terribly.
“Alright.”
Jiang Xun immediately beamed with joy, instructing the steward to prepare a table full of her favorite dishes.
Jiang Yuzhou accompanied Jiang Xun, drinking and chatting. Looking at her father, whose temples were streaked with gray, she half-jokingly said, “Father, have you ever considered remarrying?”
Hearing the word “remarry,” half of Jiang Xun’s drunkenness faded. He waved his hand dismissively. “Remarry? What for?”
“I have no such intention.”
Jiang Yuzhou took a sip of wine and continued, “Isn’t Father lonely all by himself? If Father has someone you like, I can ask Bixia for an imperial marriage decree.”
“It would bring honor to our family and give the new bride ample dignity. What do you think?”
As she spoke, she raised three fingers. “I promise, I will treat her with absolute respect and never cause you any trouble.”
Jiang Xun listened to her “nonsense,” pouring cup after cup for himself.
But Jiang Yuzhou did not give up. “Just tell me which family’s daughter Father has taken a liking to. I’ll make it happen for you.”
Half-drunk and half-awake, Jiang Xun mumbled, “I won’t remarry!”
“In the past, I lost the girl I loved and had no choice but to marry someone I didn’t love. I’ve regretted it for half my life.”
Hearing this, Jiang Yuzhou’s eyes widened instantly as she looked at her father. There’s a story here!
“Father?”
Jiang Yizhou leaned close to his ear. “Who was the person you loved? Where is she now?”
Whether Jiang Xun was lost in memories or realized he had spoken out of turn was unclear.
He lowered his head onto the table, pretending to be fast asleep and snoring loudly.
Watching the snoring Jiang Xun, Jiang Yuzhou also fell silent, murmuring to himself, “Fine, if you won’t say it, then you won’t.”