Shui Linglong was filled with a thousand thoughts, her eyes filled with sorrow, which made her delicate and fragile face even more pitiful.
Hai Ling looked at Shui Linglong strangely. Wasn't she supposed to see her? Why was she staring at her so intently as soon as she came in, with her expression changing unpredictably?
"Shui Linglong, didn't you want to see me? What is it?"
Hai Ling asked indifferently, wondering why she didn't like Shui Linglong, even though she was beautiful and had a tragic past.
"Yes, this commoner requests an audience with Her Majesty the Empress to thank her for avenging my father. I have no way to repay her, so I wish to serve Her Majesty the Empress from now on and never leave her side."
After Shui Linglong finished speaking, she knelt down.
Hailin didn't speak, but squinted at Shuilinglong.
Is this woman's desire to serve her a way of repaying a debt of gratitude? There's an old saying about heroes who rescue beauties and then repay them with their bodies. Now that she's taken care of corrupt officials for Shui Linglong, is Shui Linglong going to repay her with her body too? But why does she feel that her true intentions aren't in the wine itself, but rather in the person beside her?
Upon hearing Shui Linglong's words, Shi Mei couldn't help but laugh. Was Shui Linglong naive or simply ignorant?
Does she think the Empress is an ordinary person? Does she think she can serve the Empress just by saying she wants to repay a debt of gratitude? How ridiculous! There are rules in the palace. Not just anyone can serve the Empress closely, let alone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry.
Shi Mei thought for a moment and then spoke up without hesitation.
"Miss Shui is overthinking things. Everything Her Majesty the Empress does is for the people of Bei Lu. Seeking justice for your father, Shui Qi, is just one of the things Her Majesty the Empress does. If Her Majesty the Empress needs people to serve her for every single thing she does, what is the point of having servants? Besides, the palace is not a place that ordinary people can enter, nor is it a place that just anyone can enter. It requires three investigations and five trials before anyone can enter. And even after three investigations and five trials, there are not many people who can serve Her Majesty the Empress."
Hai Ling smiled as she looked at Shi Mei. Mei'er's words today were quite sharp, it seemed she was afraid someone would take her place. But she was quite interesting to talk to, so Hai Ling didn't stop Shi Mei.
Shui Linglong turned pale upon hearing Shi Mei's string of words. She hadn't expected that even this was a luxury for her? She wanted to serve the Empress, and couldn't she even see the Emperor occasionally?
Her face was filled with sorrow, and she looked heartbroken. Anyone would probably feel sorry for her. However, ever since Hai Ling was locked in the secret room by Feng Zi Xiao, she had made up her mind that she would never again sympathize with or pity anyone who didn't deserve her pity. Just like Shui Linglong in front of her, she only had ulterior motives, so would she pay any attention to her?
With that thought in mind, Hailin spoke softly.
“Shui Linglong, your father Shui Qi was a good official. He was killed by Zhao Baiyang. I have a duty to punish Zhao Baiyang. But as Mei’er said, I do not need you to repay my debt of gratitude. There are rules in the palace. Not just anyone can enter the palace.”
Shui Linglong was disappointed and wanted to plead with the Empress, but Hai Ling spoke up: "Mei'er, I'm tired. Send Miss Shui out. Have someone protect her. Remember, she is a witness. Don't let anyone hurt her."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shi Mei walked up to Shui Linglong and gestured for her to leave. Shui Linglong had no choice but to get up and follow Shi Mei out.
Shi Mei escorted Shui Linglong to the door and instructed Shi Lan to escort Shui Linglong downstairs.
Shi Lan accepted the order and left. Shi Mei returned to her room, walked up to Hai Ling, and said with great disdain, "Your Majesty, that Shui Linglong clearly had ulterior motives. She is shameless."
“Which young girl doesn’t dream of love?” Hai Ling sighed, but when she thought that Shui Linglong’s love was hers, her face darkened and she said coldly, “However, she shouldn’t be thinking of my man. If she weren’t still useful now, I would kick her out of the post station immediately.”
The two people inside the room were talking when they heard voices coming from outside.
When Shi Lan led Shui Linglong downstairs, they were greeted by Emperor Ye Lingfeng. Upon seeing the Emperor, Shui Linglong was overjoyed and blocked his path, speaking in a pitiful and weak voice.
"Shui Linglong greets Your Majesty."
Ye Lingfeng nodded slightly, then looked at Shi Lan to the side, his expression turning somewhat unfriendly, and spoke in a gloomy tone.
"The Empress is resting upstairs. Why bring people upstairs so casually?"
"Your Majesty, this is the Empress's will."
Ye Lingfeng finally fell silent, but his sharp, eagle-like eyes swept over Shui Linglong. As soon as Shui Linglong saw the emperor looking over, she immediately struck what she considered to be the most alluring pose to men, slightly raising her head to reveal her graceful neck and staring at the emperor with a pitiful expression.
"Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress, for helping Shui Linglong avenge her father. Shui Linglong has no way to repay you, she only wishes to serve Your Majesty the Empress for the rest of her life. Please grant my request, Your Majesty."
Upon hearing Shui Linglong's words, Ye Lingfeng's handsome face immediately turned icy, and his eyes stared at Shui Linglong like icebergs.
"Do you think the Empress is someone you can just serve whenever you want? The people around the Empress have all undergone rigorous testing."
After Ye Lingfeng finished speaking, he looked at the guards behind him and said, "Men, take Shui Linglong away and keep a close watch on her. No one is allowed to harass the Empress in the future. Anyone who disobeys will be executed."
Domineering and bloodthirsty, without a trace of tenderness, made Shui Linglong tremble and almost fall to the ground. The Emperor really loves the Empress.
The guard came over, grabbed Shui Linglong, and led her downstairs.
Upstairs in the room, Hailing and Shimei had already heard the Emperor's words, and Shimei immediately spoke with satisfaction.
"The Emperor is a fine man."
Hailin smiled, and Ye was indeed speechless.
Outside the door, Ye Lingfeng pushed the door open and walked in, his face full of concern. He was worried because he thought about how Shui Linglong had bothered Hai Ling earlier and wondered if it had affected Hai Ling's mood. However, when he saw Hai Ling's smiling face, he finally felt relieved. Shi Mei greeted him and left.
Inside the room, Ye Lingfeng walked to Hai Ling's bedside, gently smoothed her hair with his large hand, then leaned down and put his ear to Hai Ling's belly to listen to the movements of the little baby inside her, his face beaming with happiness.
Hai Ling put down the book beside her, then reached out and gently touched Ye Lingfeng's hair. Sunlight streamed in through the window, creating a heartwarming scene that was hard to look away from.
After a while, Ye Lingfeng left Hai Ling's stomach with a smile on his face, and then looked at Hai Ling and started discussing the problem.
“Ling’er, the canal has now been officially opened in Songzhou. The rest of the work can be left to the officials in Songzhou and those who are good at water conservancy. Let’s go back to the capital in two days. First, we need to investigate Sima Yuan’s matter, and second, we need to deal with Prime Minister Zhongli.”
"Okay, we'll go back whenever you say when."
Hai Ling smiled and agreed. He had come out at night only to investigate the people in the shadows. In fact, he could have chosen not to come on this southern tour, but if he hadn't moved, the people in the shadows wouldn't have moved. Now that the people behind the scenes had moved, it would be easier to investigate some things when he returned to the capital. The opening of the canal in Songzhou was gradually getting on track, and there were people specifically in charge, so there was no need to worry.
"Then we'll return to Beijing in two days."
"OK."
Once they made up their minds, they stuck together again, chatting and laughing.
Who knew that that night, a fire would engulf the entire inn, flames soaring into the sky, turning half the sky a bewitching red, crackling and burning everywhere...