C21

"I've already sent your son out of the palace. I believe that Sir Han should know what's left to do." Qiao Qiao continued to play with her fingers as she bent down to look at the man's hands and feet. Her face was full of threat; she had never done anything useless. The only reason she was willing to help Han Shuyi was because she had a deal with Lord Han.

"Woo woo woo …" The Minister of Rites, Sir Han, held his breath until his face was red, and spoke straightforwardly to Qiao.

"Your majesty." Xiyue slowly walked in. Seeing that Qiao Qiao was still deep in thought, she lightly called out.

"What is it?" Qiao Qiao retracted his thoughts. A trace of happiness could not help but appear on his quiet face.

"Your majesty, Han Shuyi refused to leave. She has been waiting for you at the entrance of the palace." Xiyue glanced at the door. "This servant tried to persuade him for a long time, but he insisted on seeing the emperor."

"Oh?" Qiao Qiao's lips still curled up. Shouldn't he be very happy to leave? For the sake of this departure, he had done many things in the harem that went against his conscience. "Let him in." She wanted to see why.

"Yes." Xiyue turned around. Moments later, she entered with Han Shuyi behind her.

"Why are you helping me?" Han Shuyi said to Qiao Qiao in a tone that was neither servile nor overbearing the moment she entered the door.

"How dare you!" "He actually didn't kneel when he saw the emperor!" Xiyue let out a cold shout.

"I am no longer a member of the harem." The corner of Han Shuyi's mouth raised slightly as she spoke with a trace of displeasure.

"The entire Qiao Country is the Imperial Territory. Even if they aren't from the imperial harem, they still have to pay their respects to the Emperor!" Xiyue continued to speak sternly.

"I've already been expelled from the capital by the emperor." Han Shuyi laughed coldly. This time, her tone was filled with resentment.

"You …" Xiyue pointed at Han Shuyi and wanted to denounce her again, but was interrupted by Qiao Qiao's words.

"Xiyue, forget it." To her, paying her respects or not didn't really matter at all.

"You don't want to go?" Qiao Qiao still slowly closed his eyes, gently leaning on the soft couch with a lazy expression.

"I've already suffered enough in the harem, why wouldn't I leave!" Han Shuyi looked at Qiao Qiao with burning eyes, as if she wanted to see through her.

"Then why are they still here? "If we were to start counting from the moment the order was given, you would have probably reached the city gates by now." Qiao Qiao said casually.

"But I have no obligation to answer your question!" Qiao Qiao suddenly raised his head and stared sharply at Han Shuyi.

"You …" Han Shuyi was speechless.

"Xiyue, see our guest out!" Joe still had his eyes closed, obviously a little impatient.

"You're not her." Han Shuyi suddenly muttered, "But I seem to like the current you better."

Qiao Qiao was still startled. Had she been confessed?

In her memory, she had probably never come into contact with this man before, let alone like him. It was really strange.

Qiao Qiao still slowly opened her eyes. Her body was still leaning on the soft couch. Her eyes met Han Shuyi's. She then looked carefully at this man. Other than the delicate and pretty feeling when they first met, there was a trace of indiscernibility in his eyes.

"I don't understand. Why do you only treat me coldly when you can tease everyone else?" Han Shuyi frowned. She didn't bother with Xiyue's insistence on seeing her off. She quietly stood there and waited for Qiao Qiao to explain the reason.

"Because I have already lost interest in you." When they were still a step away from Han Shuyi, Qiao Qiao still stopped and said word by word.

However, that was not the case. The only reason why Qiao Qiao continued to pretend towards those from the harem was because she still needed them. She needed to uncover more secrets behind them, and she no longer needed the man in front of her.

"Because I'm not like them." Han Shuyi did not care about Qiao Qiao's words and continued speaking.

"Your narcissism is catching up to mine." Qiao Qiao muttered grumpily.

"It's better than nothing." Han Shuyi chuckled lightly. He could clearly hear Qiao Qiao's soft mutter.

"You're really not modest at all." Still turning slowly, Joe picked up the teacup from the table and held it to his lips.

"Pa ~!" Han Shuyi's pupils constricted. She quickly stepped forward and knocked over the teacup in Qiao's hand.

Xiyue had an angry expression on her face as she pulled out a soft knife from her waist and placed it in front of Qiao Zhuang. She seemed to be ready to draw a sword at any moment. As long as Qiao Qiao gave the order, she would rush forward and tear Han Shuyi into pieces.

"Xiyue, step down." Qiao Qiao continued to look at the fragment on the ground and gently instructed Xiyue.

"Your Majesty, he …" Xiyue looked worriedly at Qiao Zhuang and then furiously at Han Shuyi.

"There's poison in the tea." Joe said slowly.

"You're not stupid." Han Shuyi chuckled.

"When you were lifting the tea cup, you spilled a few drops on the table. Your silver bracelet is now dark." Han Shuyi pointed to the silver bracelet on Qiao Qiao's wrist and said.

"You are meticulous." Qiao Qiao continued to smile. She took off the silver bracelet on her wrist and gently placed it on the table. It was a good thing that she had it today. Otherwise, her life would have been in danger.

"Someone from the Qing Jue Palace, looks like your life is being bought." Han Shuyi looked at the broken teacup and the teacup that was filled with dark energy and couldn't help but smile.

"Supreme Clear Palace?" Joe raised his eyebrows and fell into deep thought.

"Buying the head of the Emperor of Qiao is not a small price." Han Shuyi sighed.

"How do you know all this?" As far as she knew, this Han Shuyi's father was only a third-grade vice minister. However, he had been doted upon since he was young, and he had never stepped out of the house or through the door. How could he know so much about the affairs of the martial arts world? Unless …

"Han Yufeng was long dead." Han Shuyi pursed her lips and smiled.

Qiao Qiao was still shocked. Although she had already thought of this result, after the man before her personally confirmed it, she could not help but be shocked.

"Then who are you?" She did not know whether the man standing in front of her was a friend or foe. What purpose did he have? In such an unknown conversation, she was at a disadvantage.

Xiao Yue stood to the side of Qiao still, her hand tightly gripping the soft sabre at her sleeve, ready to strike at any time.