Chapter 431 - Who did you love the most in your lifetime? 2 (2/2)
”Your Majesty, why do you insist on putting this subject in a difficult position?”
Zhao Zhe raised his eyebrows. “Marquis, you should be more mindful of your words when you're speaking to the emperor. No matter how you look at it, its you that's putting this emperor in a difficult position by standing in the way of this emperor adding a beauty to my harem.”
Vexed, Ning Yuxuan wanted to stand up and confront Zhao Zhe. But, he couldn't openly defy him. Right now, he was able to strategically oppose the emperor due to his control of the Six Ministries. Ning Mingjie and Nie Qingyun would also be willing to help him out with their military power. But, if he let himself get flustered and gave the emperor an excuse, not only would he die, everyone else would die with him.
”Oh, by the way, this emperor heard that Sangyu came to the palace today.” Zhao Zhe slightly smiled and said, ”She seems to get along very well with Qing-er. She can stay in Qing-er's palace tonight.”
”Your Majesty!” Ning Yuxuan's eyes were slightly red.
”Marquis, don't you still have a lot of work to do?” Zhao Zhe amicably said, ”You can withdraw. If you don't finish your work, it won't be easy for you to justify yourself if this emperor asks you about those tasks tomorrow morning in the imperial court.”
Tightly clenching his hand into a fist, Ning Yuxuan slowly kowtowed, then he stood up and followed a eunuch out of Zichen Hall.
Wu Yong came out from behind a nearby folding screen and looked at Marquis Moyu's distant back figure. He lightly said, ”Your Majesty, that was perfect. You didn't pressure him too far or give him any breathing space.”
Zhao Zhe chuckled. He stroked a jade seal that was on his desk. He clicked his tongue in admiration. ”She's truly a beauty that brings disaster. Since ancient times, women have able to ruin important things. At first, this emperor didn't believe in this saying, but now, this emperor has no choice but to believe it.”
Wu Yong was smiling as he respectfully cupped his hands.
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Ji Man had searched the entire palace, but she hadn't seen a trace of Haohao.She knew that if the emperor had deliberately hidden Haohao away, then even if she turned over the palace in her search, her efforts would be useless.
Seeing that it would soon be dark, Shen Youqing said, ”How about staying in my palace for the night? You can continue searching in the morning.”
”Your Highness, thank you for your kind offer. This humble woman still wants to leave the palace.” Ji Man pursed her lips and said, ”There's someone waiting for this humble woman outside the palace.”
”Oh?” Shen Youqing sounded curious. ”Let's go then to see who's waiting for you.”
Ji Man followed her to the palace's gate.
Who else could it be? She and Ning Yuxuan had agreed that they would leave the palace together.
But, this time, there was no waiting for her at the palace's gate.
”Ah, there's no one here?” Shen Youqing smiled as she said, ”Look, it'll be to far for you to go back by yourself. You should come back with this consort.”
Where did he go? Ji Man furrowed her brow. Had he left her in the palace to stay the night?
Translator Ramblings: Wow. And here I was, thinking Zhao Zhe is an idiot that's driven by his hormones and is making the same mistake as Zhao Li by kidnapping Haohao. I like that his end goal is actually to get rid of Ning Yuxuan. He wants Nie Sangyu, but he's mostly using her as a way to get Marquis Moyu to act out. If he goads Marquis Moyu and his allies to openly rebel, it would give Zhao Zhe the perfect excuse to clean out the people that are potentially the biggest threat to him.