C228 Have You Ever Hated Me?

The next day, Xiao Jingyue did not go to the imperial court, but gave Xiao Jingyue sick leave.

The Emperor did not say anything, but the thoughts of the people in the imperial court were different. No matter how hard he tried, he could not understand why Xiao Jingyue would suddenly ask for sick leave.

After arriving at the palace, the assistant minister of Ministry of War found the Prime Minister Jiang and probed: "Prime Minister, do you know why the General Xiao is on leave?"

Prime Minister Jiang looked at him strangely, "Didn't General Chen just say that sick leave is obviously sick."

Assistant Minister of Ministry of War choked, secretly thinking that since the day before he was still alive and lively, suddenly taking sick leave, at such a critical juncture, who would believe him if he said that there was no tricks at all.

But seeing that the Prime Minister Jiang was unwilling to say more, he knew that he could not reveal it, and did not continue asking.

After the Assistant Minister of Ministry of War left, a few other colleagues, who had good relations with Prime Minister Jiang, came over to question him.

At this moment, Eunuch Xi, who had left with the Emperor, suddenly turned back and said, "Prime Minister, the Emperor summons you."

The few court officials who still wanted to hear more heard the news and did not dare to pester Prime Minister Jiang anymore, and left.

While following Eunuch Xi to the imperial study, the Prime Minister Jiang asked in a low voice, "Eunuch Xi, do you know for what reason this old official is summoned?"

Eunuch Xi was someone of the emperor, but he was standing by the empress in private, so he didn't dare to slight Prime Minister Jiang.

Carefully looking left and right, he said in a low voice, "It should be about the General Xiao."

The Prime Minister Jiang understood and gently nodded.

He naturally knew why his grandson-in-law was on leave.

Only, he thought that the Emperor ought to be clear as well, but he never expected that it didn't seem to be the case.

Eunuch Xi led Prime Minister Jiang to the royal study, but didn't follow him in. Instead, he stood at the entrance and waited.

Behind the desk, the emperor was reviewing the imperial report.

When he heard the footsteps, he didn't even raise his head and said, "Oh, my beloved lady Jiang is here."

Prime Minister Jiang cupped his hands and bowed, "This old official greets Your Majesty."

The emperor put down the red calligraphy brush in his hand and said lightly, "Don't be too courteous, my beloved daughter."

With that, he went around the table and walked in front of Prime Minister Jiang. He sized up his father-in-law with a pair of sharp eyes and suddenly said: "So many years have passed, but I have never asked.

The Emperor was asking the Minister of State, not the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Jiang lowered his eyebrows, the expression on his old face was indifferent.

Under the Emperor's sharp gaze, he spat out a word in a soft voice, "Hatred."

As the word fell, the imperial study instantly fell silent, and even the sound of a needle dropping could be clearly heard.

He answered with hatred, not with hatred.

The emperor's pupils constricted for a moment before he suddenly laughed and said in a low voice, "Indeed, it's I who has let down the empress and Shimu after all."

Prime Minister Jiang didn't want to discuss any more about the matters of the past. He cupped his hands and asked: "I wonder why Your Majesty has summoned this old subject here?"

The emperor glanced at him, then turned around and walked back to the table before sitting down. He asked in a very casual tone, "Does my beloved lady Jiang know why my beloved lady Xiao is taking a leave of absence?"

After the assembly, he had summoned Chen Linye to ask a question, and the answer Chen Linye gave him was that he was sick.

Naturally, even the assistant minister of Ministry of War didn't believe these words, so how could the emperor believe them?

The Prime Minister Jiang did not hide anything as he truthfully replied, "Antidote."

"Pa ~ ~"

The emperor dropped the imperial report back onto the table and raised his head in astonishment.

Her lips moved for a while before she asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "What did you say?"

Back when Qu Qiu had saved Xiao Jingyue, she had clearly told him that the parasite had no cure, and that at most, Xiao Jingyue could only live another twenty years.

These twenty years had always been a major headache for him over the years.

If not for that, he would not have been so anxious to bring Xiao Jingyue back to the capital, and would not have forced to marry him, nor would he have hurt the Queen so much that he would act out a drama to expose's identity in front of everyone.

Prime Minister Jiang's expression was light as he explained, "Qu Ci has researched and found a way to understand the parasite."

The emperor slumped onto his seat as if he had lost all his strength. His eyes flickered as complex emotions flashed across his face in the blink of an eye.

Some were surprised, some were in pain, some were relieved, some were happy, and some were at a loss …

In the end, all these emotions turned into a mouthful of impure air and were exhaled heavily.

The emperor looked up at the ceiling, revealing an expression that said he didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. He murmured, "Zhen's Jing Yue, Zhen's Jing Yue, has been saved …"

This way, he would have the courage to meet Yun Chong when he reached the underground one day.

Prime Minister Jiang looked at the Emperor who had lost his composure, and his hands that were hanging by his side trembled violently.

He closed his eyes and covered up all his emotions before the emperor noticed him.

When Qu Ling woke up in his study, the first thing he wanted to do was go down to the secret room to see how Xiao Jingyue was doing.

But, he was afraid that his grandmother and Godly Doctor Gu would be distracted, so he could only forcibly endure it.

Aunt Tao earnestly advised: "Young miss, the general is blessed by the heavens, nothing will happen to him, just relax, don't let yourself get sick."

Qu Ling looked at her listlessly, without uttering a word, he continued to randomly wave the brush in his hand around on the paper.

Footsteps could be heard outside the study room. Nobody knew what they were talking about, but soon after they heard two footsteps leaving together.

Qu Ling did not care about it, and continued to draw randomly on the paper.

Not long after, the sound of footsteps came from outside the study.

Then, he heard Xiao Dao say, "Madam, Jinyi requests an audience."

Qu Ling was startled, immediately dropping the brush in his hand, he rushed out.

Seeing that, Aunt Tao immediately shouted: "Miss, wait a moment, don't run!"

Qu Ling ignored her and jogged to the door of the study, asking Xiao Yi: "Who did you just say came?"

Xiao Yi said, "Jinyi."

"Bring her to the side hall." With that said, Qu Ling walked towards the side hall.

Hearing that, Aunt Tao was startled, he did not ask further, and immediately followed.

Xiao Yi did not move, with a serious expression on his face, he turned and looked towards Xiao Er and Xiao San.

They had heard a bit about Jin Yi's incident and knew that she left with Rong Xi.

He also knew that back then in Tong Huai Palace, Jin Yi had abandoned their mistress and followed Rong Xi without hesitation.

They had to treat him seriously after so long, especially when he suddenly came back, especially when he was in front of their master to remove the Gu.

Xiao Er pondered for a moment, then said: "No matter what your goal is, Xiao Yi, you will follow Madam first."

Xiao Yi nodded and immediately left.

Xiao San had been used to following Qu Ling during this time and subconsciously wanted to follow along as well.

Xiao Er pulled him back, and said in a deep voice: "Wait at the entrance of the palace."

Xiao San was startled, and immediately understood.

With Xiao Yi by the side hall and Jin Yi alone, there was nothing he could do to his wife.

Xiao San waited at the entrance of the palace. Firstly, he could stop Qu Ling from being brought out by the embroidered clothes, and secondly, he could catch up and check on the situation after the embroidered clothes left.

And most importantly, Yue Yang and Jin Yi had never met face to face.

Amongst the three personal Dark Guard s who had followed Xiao Jingyue into the capital, Xiao Yiwu's kung fu was the highest, Xiao Er's brain was the best, and Xiao San was the one who was the most proficient at using trap methods to escape, so with what the Xiao Er had said, Xiao San naturally would not question him.

Not long after Qu Ling arrived at the side hall, the guards brought a woman in.

When she stood still, Qu Ling narrowed his eyes and sized her up for a while, before saying with certainty: "You're not Jinyi!"