Di Ronghua let out a soft “Mm,” nodding without hesitation. “With food, drink, and my daughter by my side, of course it’s nice.”
Su Miao raised an eyebrow. “And Xiao Hanjin?”
Xiao Hanjin.
Di Ronghua suddenly seemed to recall something, probing cautiously, “Miao Miao, when he went to Xiliang, did my brother give him a pill?”
“Yes.”
Di Ronghua’s heart finally eased completely, though she couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “My brother’s really slipping. A pill that needs the injury to worsen before it slowly heals.”
Su Miao gave her a skeptical look. “Worsen how?”
Di Ronghua opened her mouth, bewildered. “Well… Xiao Hanjin’s burn—it’s festering worse.”
Su Miao’s eyes widened in shock. “No way. It’s been this long and it’s still not healed? Are you sure he didn’t take a fake pill?”
Di Ronghua: “…”
Their eyes locked. In the brief silence, a strange tension began to seep through the air.
The smiles on their faces faded in unison.
In an instant, Di Ronghua’s expression turned utterly blank. She stood abruptly. “Sit here for a bit. I’ll be right back.”
Su Miao watched her urgent figure retreat, her gaze deepening.
She’d come to Beixi primarily for Ronghua—to ensure Xiao Hanjin couldn’t force her to stay if she wanted to leave.
But now, it seemed her trip might’ve been for nothing.
Tch.
—
The Imperial Study.
Xiao Hanjin had just finished reviewing a stack of memorials, with several more piled beside him. Ministers stood below, reporting affairs.
But at that moment, the study’s door was kicked open with a bang.
The ministers inside jumped, turning in shock.
A little eunuch chased after the woman, stammering in panic, “P-Princess… His Majesty is in a meeting! Please wait a moment!”
Over the years, everyone knew this woman was the emperor’s heart.
Even during the four years she’d vanished—when all assumed her dead—not a single female had entered the harem, not even a mosquito.
Now that she was back, she was naturally to be cherished!
But right now, the emperor was in council. If he took offense, wouldn’t it be the servants who suffered?
The eunuch looked tearfully at the emperor, but Xiao Hanjin only frowned, eyeing the furious woman storming in. “What’s wrong?”
Di Ronghua let out a heavy, cold laugh. “What’s wrong? You’ve got the nerve to ask?”
Most times, she wouldn’t undermine him in front of ministers, but now her temper was beyond restraint. She strode right up to him, her face icy. “No matter how important your business is, get them out. Deal with my issue first.”
His gaze flickered. “What did Su Miao say to you?”
“Hah.”
Another cold laugh.
Xiao Hanjin’s brow twitched sharply. Without turning, he waved a hand at the others. “Leave.”
“…Yes.”
The ministers exchanged glances and filed out.
Di Ronghua’s face was as cold as a block of ice, her eyes boring into him. “Xiao Hanjin, do you take me for a fool?”
He was seated, forced to look up at her.
After a long pause, his narrow phoenix eyes squinted slightly. “Ronghua, Su Miao’s here. Jiangjiang can go. Take her back to Xiliang with Su Miao—no one will stop you. Stop worrying about me, hmm?”
