sovbooks Chapter 453 Liu Ruolan wants to meet His Majesty to plead for mercy in person?
Chapter 453 Liu Ruolan wants to meet His Majesty to plead for mercy in person?
After a while, a steady sound of footsteps came from outside the door, getting closer and closer.
Li Si entered the side hall.
He was dressed in a dark purple casual robe, with a jade belt around his waist. He had a lean face, with three long strands of beard hanging down to his chest. His brows exuded the elegance and composure unique to scholars.
The candlelight shone on his face, making the wrinkles etched by time exceptionally clear.
When Liu Ruolan saw him, her legs went weak, and she knelt on the ground with a thud, her knees hitting the gold bricks with a dull thud.
Tears welled up instantly, streaming down her pale cheeks; her voice was hoarse and trembling.
"Your Excellency, I beg you... to save my husband!"
Li Si looked at Liu Ruolan kneeling on the ground and sighed.
He stepped forward, bent down, and gently took her arm.
"Madam, please don't say that. It's not that I'm unwilling to help, but... I'm powerless to do anything about it."
Liu Ruolan shook her head desperately, tears streaming down her face, and said in a trembling voice:
"No! No! Prime Minister, you are His Majesty's trusted advisor, a veteran of three reigns. His Majesty will surely listen to you! In the current court, only you can save my husband!"
Li Si released her arm, took a step back, and stood with his hands behind his back.
His gaze fell on her face, and her eyes, which had seen so much in life, were filled with a complex light.
He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, his voice very low.
"Madam, I ask you, what exactly has Han Zhong done wrong? Why is His Majesty so furious?"
Liu Ruolan's body stiffened abruptly, her face turned pale, and she lowered her head, trembling as she spoke:
"I...I don't know..."
She really didn't know; Han Zhong hadn't told her anything.
All she knew was that he had been restless since returning from the southwestern border region, that he sat in his study until dawn every night, and that his eyes were filled with guilt and reluctance as if he were saying goodbye.
Li Si's brows furrowed even more.
His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if judging whether she was lying.
He stared at her for a long time, until cold sweat broke out on Liu Ruolan's back, before he finally looked away.
"After he came back, did anything unusual happen to him?"
Li Si's voice remained soft, carrying a gentle, persuasive quality.
Liu Ruolan took a deep breath and slowly said:
"He...he was constantly restless, staying up every night, sitting alone in his study until dawn. I asked him what was wrong, and he said nothing was wrong, and told me not to worry. He...he also told me that if anything happened to him, I should take the children and leave the capital, go as far away as possible..."
Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible.
Li Si's eyes flickered.
These words confirmed some of his suspicions.
Han Zhong was indeed afraid of something, not a defeat, but something else far more sinister.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his face remaining calm as still water.
"Madam, you've come to see me. What do you want me to do?"
Liu Ruolan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with pleading, almost frantic light.
"Your Excellency, I... I want to see His Majesty! I want to plead for my husband in person! Please... please help me!"
Li Si's brows furrowed sharply.
An audience with His Majesty?
How could a woman like her possibly meet His Majesty?
On what grounds does His Majesty have the right to see her?
His first instinct was to refuse, to say, "This is too risky, I can't help you."
But he swallowed the words back down his throat.
The image of His Majesty's amused gaze in the court flashed through his mind.
That look in his eyes was so strange, so strange that he still can't forget it.
He always felt that His Majesty was playing a very big game, and he, Han Zhong, Liu Ruolan, and everyone in the court were just pawns on the chessboard.
If Your Majesty really wants to kill Han Zhong, why not just do it directly? Why wait three days?
Are these three days just an opportunity for certain people?
Li Si's mind raced with calculations.
He gritted his teeth, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"Alright. I... will give it a try for you."
Liu Ruolan's eyes flashed with gratitude, tears streaming down her face as she repeatedly bowed in thanks.
"Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Li Si sighed, shook his head, and his voice was hoarse.
"Madam, there's no need for that. I've served Han Zhong in the same court for so many years, and it's only natural for me to lend a helping hand when I see him in such dire straits."
He turned around, facing the palace gate, and stood with his hands behind his back.
"You should go back and wait for news. I will go to see His Majesty now and see if I can obtain his permission."
Liu Ruolan nodded frantically, her nodding like a pestle being pounded, tears streaming down her face.
"Yes! Yes! This humble woman awaits news from His Majesty the Prime Minister!"
Li Si said nothing more and strode toward the palace gate.
Liu Ruolan knelt on the ground, watching the figure disappear into the morning light, tears blurring her vision.
The weight that had been hanging over her heart for so long finally eased slightly.
........
Inside the palace.
Inside the bedchamber, candlelight shone brightly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Qin Mu had changed out of his solemn dragon robe and was now wearing a moon-white casual outfit with the collar slightly open, revealing a small section of his collarbone.
He was surrounded by his concubines.
He had been away from the capital for too long, and they missed him terribly. Now that His Majesty had finally returned, they naturally wanted to spend some quality time with him.
Consort Shu, Su Wanqing, knelt behind him, her slender fingers resting on his shoulders, massaging them gently.
She wore a light purple palace dress with silver orchids embroidered on the lapel. Her long hair was styled into a flying fairy bun, with a jade hairpin inserted in her hair, and the tassels hanging down gently swaying by her cheek.
Her technique was excellent; she pressed each acupoint perfectly, making Qin Mu's shoulder muscles feel relaxed and soft.
A faint smile played on her lips, her eyes brimming with tenderness and contentment, like a cat that had finally waited for its owner to return home.
Consort Wan, Lu Wanning, knelt at Qin Mu's feet, gently patting his calves with her hands.
She wore a pale yellow dress with a few light pink flowers embroidered on the hem, and a moon-white ribbon tied around her waist.
Her face was delicate, her eyebrows were curved, and her eyes were full of smiles, hiding endless joy.
Consort De was also serving at the side. She was wearing a light red dress with a low neckline that revealed a patch of snow-white skin. She knelt beside the soft couch, holding a white jade plate in her hand, which contained peeled grapes.
Her face was beautiful, her eyes were expressive, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, giving her an indescribable charm.
She picked up a grape and brought it to Qin Mu's lips, her voice so soft it could drip water.
"Your Majesty, please try this one. I peeled it myself."
Qin Mu opened his mouth, took it in, chewed it, and nodded.
Consort De's eyes curved into crescents, and her smile became even brighter, her eyes brimming with the joy of being favored.
Consort Zhao Yu'er knelt on the other side of the soft couch, holding a celadon wine pot in her hands, which contained fine Shaoxing wine.
She wore a moon-white dress with a matching thin gauze shawl over it, and her long hair was loosely tied up with only a white jade hairpin.
Her face was cool and aloof, with a scholarly air about her, like an orchid blooming in a deep valley, unassuming and unassuming, yet possessing a charm that makes it impossible to look away.
She lifted the wine jug, and the amber-colored liquid poured out from the spout, tracing a long, thin arc in the air before landing precisely in the wine glass in front of Qin Mu, without spilling a single drop.
Qin Mu picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and felt the warm wine slide down his throat.
He leaned back on the soft couch, enjoying the service of his concubines, his eyes closed, savoring the tranquility of the moment.
During his absence, the concubines in the harem longed for his return day and night. Now that he has finally come back, they naturally want to make a good impression on him.
Su Wanqing's fingers traced his shoulder, her voice soft, carrying a hint of suppressed longing.
"Your Majesty has been away for so long this time, we concubines have missed you terribly."
Lu Wanning continued massaging her legs, then looked up with a bright smile in her eyes.
"Yes, with His Majesty gone, this palace is as cold and desolate as an ice cellar."
Consort De picked up another grape and brought it to Qin Mu's lips in a soft voice.
"Your Majesty, please spend more time with us this time you're back."
Qin Mu smiled, opened his mouth, took a grape in his mouth, chewed it, swallowed it, and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will naturally do it."
Just then, a very light footstep sound came from outside the palace gate.
A palace maid dressed in a light blue palace gown strode in, knelt three steps in front of the soft couch, her forehead touching the ground, her voice soft and respectful.
"Your Majesty, Chancellor Li Si requests an audience outside the palace."
Qin Mu opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing within them.
He sat up straight and waved his hand.
"Have him wait for me in the study."
The palace maid lowered her head. "Yes."
She stood up and quickly left the bedchamber.
Qin Mu turned his head and looked at the concubines around him who were still reluctant to leave, a smile appearing on his lips.
"Alright, I need to attend to state affairs. You may all leave."
Su Wanqing removed her hand from his shoulder, lowered her eyes, and the smile on her lips still lingered, but there was a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
She stood up, gave a slight curtsy, and spoke softly.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I shall take my leave."
Lu Wanning let go of his hand, stood up, patted the wrinkles on her dress, looked up at Qin Mu, her eyes full of reluctance.
"Will Your Majesty return after finishing your official duties?"
Qin Mu smiled. "We'll see."
Lu Wanning pursed her lips, said nothing more, curtsied, and withdrew.
The other concubines also bowed and took their leave.
Although they all longed to continue their intimacy with His Majesty, they also knew that important matters were more important.
One by one, the concubines left the palace, their footsteps fading into the distance and disappearing at the end of the corridor.
The hall fell silent.
Qin Mu stood up, straightened his robes, and strode out of the hall.
The study is located on the east side of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, in a separate two-story building. Several green bamboos grow in front of the building, and when the night wind blows, the bamboo leaves rustle, as if they are whispering something.
Qin Mu pushed open the door and went inside.
The candles in the study were already lit.
Li Si stood beside his desk, hands at his sides, his expression solemn.
He saw Qin Mu walk in, and quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply until his forehead almost touched his knees.
"This old minister greets Your Majesty."
Qin Mu walked behind the desk and sat down in the main seat.
He leaned back in his chair, propped his chin on one hand, and stared at Li Si's face, the smile still on his lips, revealing no emotion.
"What brings the Prime Minister to my court?"
Li Si straightened up, his hands hanging at his sides, his fingers slightly curled inside his sleeves.
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke, his voice steady but with a hint of cautious probing.
"Your Majesty, Lady Liu, the wife of Han Zhong, came to my residence early this morning to request an audience."
Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? What does she want with you?"
Li Si's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed.
He raised his head and met Qin Mu's gaze.
"She...she wants to see His Majesty and plead for Han Zhong."
Qin Mu leaned back in his chair, a slow smile creeping onto his lips, carrying an indescribable air of amusement.
"She wants to see me?"
"She herself wanted to see me; I did not summon her."
"Right, Prime Minister?"