Hua Yin opened her mouth, looking into Li Yuyu’s eyes, uncertain how to respond for a moment.
She only blamed herself for being too foolish, not as clever as Sister Feng Yin. If Sister Feng Yin were here, the lady wouldn’t be this angry.
"Forget it, just help me change clothes."
Li Yuyu sighed softly, stepping out of the water.
Hua Yin quickly stepped forward to help Li Yuyu change into a set of light-colored, semi-transparent inner garments.
After putting on her outer clothes, Li Yuyu went straight through the corridor into the inner chamber. She sat in front of the bronze mirror after passing the screen.
Hua Yin pursed her lips and stepped forward to help Li Yuyu dry her long hair.
Outside, Donglai had not left and was still waiting for Li Yuyu’s response.
"Tell Donglai to go back first; I’m weary. We’ll discuss whatever it is tomorrow."
When Little Xianzi conveyed Li Yuyu’s words to Donglai, he felt Donglai was about to cry. As Donglai headed to Yangxin Hall, his expression was like going to the execution ground.
At Yangxin Hall, Shen Quan waited outside. When he saw Donglai, he craned his neck to look behind Donglai, not seeing Li Yuyu, which instantly sent a shiver through his heart.
"Where is Li Xiurong?" Shen Quan asked in a low voice.
Donglai, with a sobbing tone, said, "Master, the disciple is useless; I couldn’t bring Li Xiurong."
He repeated what Li Yuyu had said.
"Master, has the Emperor’s wound been bandaged?" Donglai asked, fearing that others might hear, and he lowered his voice, carefully observing his surroundings.
Shen Quan didn’t bother with whether Donglai’s conduct was appropriate; he just felt a heaviness in his heart.
"How could it be handled? The Emperor is surely also waiting for Li Xiurong. The blood on his hand has clotted, and he refuses to let anyone touch it or rest, just sitting at the imperial desk reviewing memorials."
Sigh, Shen Quan sighed. Since Li Xiurong was not coming, he could only brace himself and do what needed to be done.
Inside the hall, Yan Xiu had a stern face, expressionlessly looking at the memorial in his hand. A memorial that had been there since Donglai ran to speak with Shen Quan, until even when Shen Quan came in, it hadn’t been changed.
"Emperor, it’s getting late, and you have the early court tomorrow."
Shen Quan walked over and softly said.
Yan Xiu’s expression did not change, nor did his posture, but he didn’t say a word to Shen Quan.
Shen Quan tentatively said, "Since the Emperor doesn’t wish to rest, why not let this servant help you with the wound on your hand first."
He gathered his courage and took some cotton and medicine from the medicine box, intending to touch Yan Xiu’s hand, but Yan Xiu avoided him. Attempting again, he met Yan Xiu’s cold gaze, which made his scalp tingle, preventing any further movement.
"Shen Quan, since when do I need you to make decisions?"
Shen Quan knelt on the ground: "Emperor, the servant did not make any decisions for you, but you must take care of your dragon body. If you go to court injured tomorrow, those ministers will surely question it, if..."
"If it becomes known that Li Xiurong injured me, would they impeach me or Li Xiurong?"
Yan Xiu took over Shen Quan’s words, coldly retorting.
Shen Quan only felt that Yan Xiu’s gaze on him was too cold, making his heart race: "Emperor, are you joking? How could they impeach you?"
"Li Xiurong is a concubine of the harem; it’s not their place to impeach."
How could ministers meddle in the Emperor’s harem affairs?
"If so, why should I take action?" Yan Xiu said, withdrawing his gaze, picking up the brush on the table, and making a stroke on the memorial he had been reviewing for a long time.
Shen Quan: ...
He made such a valid point that Shen Quan couldn’t refute it.
What Shen Quan didn’t expect was that what he casually thought could actually lead someone to meddle in Yan Xiu’s harem.