After a light meal and sipping on the warm milk, Yang Ning drifted off to sleep in the cozy embrace of Zheng Liang. Having already given him her heart and soul, what was left for her to fear? She could only do her utmost and see where this story would lead her.
While Yang Ning nestled deeply into Zheng Liang's embrace, lost in peaceful slumber, Zheng Liang gazed down at the woman resting so trustingly in his arms. His lips tightened, his thoughts drifting to the mysterious woman who had crossed their path, spewing those ominous words.
Just like Yang Ning, he couldn't forget her words. She warned Yang Ning that she would meet her demise by someone whom she holds dear. If it had been about him, he would have ignored it and thought that it must be the doing of his enemies to scare him away.
But this time, the situation was different. The woman's target wasn't him, but Yang Ning. He couldn't dismiss it lightly. Above all, he wanted to protect her from any harm that might come her way.
Drawing a deep breath, he gently planted a kiss on Yang Ning's forehead, whispering, "I will never let anything harm you. As long as I live, I will protect you from any danger that approaches. I promise."
___
The following morning, Zheng Liang rose early to prepare for the day's court session. He left instructions with Xiaowei to let Yang Ning sleep in. Considering the stress she endured the previous night and the time it took for him to soothe her to sleep, he wanted her to have plenty of rest. Experience the journey with m_vl_em_p_yr
He hoped she could rest sufficiently, leaving behind the gloominess of the previous night, and begin the day with a fresh smile and renewed spirit.
In the main hall of the royal palace, the morning court session was set up like usual. His Majesty and Zheng Liang assumed their respective seats. The ministers, aligned on both sides of the hall, settled into their designated spots, ready to address the numerous cases that had accumulated for discussion.
While everyone held their documents, gearing up for the commencement of the court meeting, two individuals in the royal court wore somber expressions, looking as though they hadn't had a peaceful night's rest.
Zheng Liang cast a sidelong glance at the two individuals with grim expressions, arching an eyebrow in response. While he had an inkling as to the cause of their unease, after all, he was the cause for their gloomy expressions. He was intrigued to see how events would unfold.
Zheng Huang's expression darkened as he asked in a cold, authoritative tone, "Why did they do that? There must be a reason behind such a violent act. Explain."
Minister Qin pursed his lips and found the situation perplexing. His son had remained tight-lipped about the incident, and given his inclination for trouble, he suspected that his son might have provoked someone. However, as a father, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
He was determined to seek justice and ensure that the person who dared to go against the Qin family faced consequences for their actions.
Before Minister Qin could gather his thoughts, Yang Luoyang interjected, "Your Majesty, the sole motive behind this assault was clear. By targeting Minister Qin, a respected member of the royal court, the assailant aimed to challenge Your Majesty's authority indirectly."
"From what I have heard, the man who attacked Qin Cheng didn't have the looks of a local; they appeared as strangers as if they did not belong to the capital city. I am concerned that they might be spies from another kingdom who infiltrated our territory to gather information for shady purposes," Yang Luoyang added.
"Not only that, the assailant attacked him from behind and threatened everyone present, preventing them from uttering a word to anyone. They nearly took Minister Qin's youngest son's life, Your Majesty.
Please grant us justice, ensuring that no one can attack a member of the royal court, noble, or minister working for the royal family, nor dare to question your authority," Yang Luoyang pressed his case.
"Your Majesty, I implore you to ensure that those criminals who dared to attack a noble, meet the harshest punishment, nothing less than a death sentence," Yang Luoyang concluded firmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please punish the criminals who attempted such a heinous act," echoed the other ministers, showing their support for Minister Yang's plea.
Zheng Liang chuckled upon hearing Yang Luoyang's words. "Minister Yang, you certainly have a wild imagination. A spy from another kingdom, you say? Do I look like a spy to you?" he quipped with a wry smile.
Yang Luoyang: "???"