The Queen’s Husband Chapter 38

Imperial Study.

On the purple-gold dragon table, papers were piled up. The young emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, was leaning over the table reviewing the memorials. His handsome face was calm, with his sword-like brows occasionally relaxing and furrowing as he made notes on the documents.

A pleasant dragon’s saliva incense filled the air, creating a soothing atmosphere.

At that moment, a shadowy figure silently floated in from outside the door, gently closing it behind him, and knelt quietly a few steps away from the dragon table.

Jin Yilie finally set down his pen, stretched lazily, and casually glanced at the kneeling figure. He picked up the teacup from the table and took a sip before speaking, “I asked you to investigate the infiltration of the Huanhua Sect into our Dawan capital. How did the investigation go?”

The black-clad figure responded respectfully, “Report to the master, not only did the Huanhua Sect infiltrate the city, but their leader also personally arrived.”

“You mean, the leader of the Huanhua Sect, Ximen Xiuleng, was spotted in the capital?” Jin Yilie frowned upon hearing this.

The black-clad figure nodded and said, “After discovering Ximen Xiuleng’s presence, I followed him, but his trail disappeared after reaching the Qu residence.”

Jin Yilie suddenly looked up at him with a piercing gaze, “Are you suggesting that the Qu residence is involved with the Huanhua Sect?”

The Huanhua Sect was the national religion of the Chu Lan Kingdom, a small nation located in the southeast of our country. In recent years, it has been expanding its influence through conquests and alliances, including with the Huanhua Sect, and has aspirations to dominate the Central Plains. Our country, rich in resources and fertile land, has long been eyed by Chu Lan. Although Chu Lan’s strength is still inferior to ours, their recent border incursions reveal their ambitious designs.

The Huanhua Sect is notorious in the martial world for its use of poison, and Ximen Xiuleng is known as the “Poison King.” Rumor has it that he is cold-hearted and arrogant but was persuaded by the Chu Lan ruler to help them conquer neighboring states and dominate the world.

Thinking of this, Jin Yilie couldn’t help but feel a headache. This year, our soldiers fought three major battles with the Huanhua Sect on the border, all of which ended in failure. The defeat was not due to a lack of military strength or courage but because the Huanhua Sect used underhanded tactics, such as spreading poison powder and insects, which led to easy defeats for us.

If the current Left Chancellor Qu Yan were indeed involved with the Huanhua Sect, it would spell disaster for our country.

The black-clad figure, observing Jin Yilie’s tense expression, hesitated for a moment before saying, “I believe Chancellor Qu Yan is a loyal minister who has served two wise monarchs of our country and is a clean official. He should have no connections with the Huanhua Sect. Ximen Xiuleng might have coincidentally passed through the Qu residence or could have intentionally infiltrated it to frame them. You have known the young master of the Qu residence for many years and should be familiar with the situation there.”

Jin Yilie’s face revealed a faint, almost imperceptible sneer. He only said, “Knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart.” After that, he changed the subject, “Is there anything else?”

The black-clad figure hesitated, glanced at his expression, and carefully said, “There is a minor issue related to the former Empress Yu. Would Your Majesty like to hear about it?”

Upon hearing “former Empress Yu,” Jin Yilie immediately perked up, his eyes fixed intently on the figure, “Speak. What trouble has she caused outside the palace?”

Thinking of Yu Xinruo made him grit his teeth in anger. This woman seemed to have grown bold and deliberately opposed him. Back in the palace, he wanted to forget her completely, but he often found himself thinking of her bright, charming smile, her clever, sly eyes, and their quarrels. Sometimes, he would even smile unintentionally. He wondered if he had been bewitched. Previously, he disliked her intensely and wished she would disappear from his sight forever. Yet now that she was no longer in the palace and out of sight, he began to miss her. Sigh…

Thinking of her close relationship with Qu Yang made his eyes darken, and a wave of suppressed bitterness began to spread in his heart.

“Report to the master, although the former Empress Yu is staying at the Qu residence, she is not idle.”

“What do you mean?”

“Former Empress Yu has turned the grand residence gifted by the Empress Dowager into an inn. Anyone with money can stay there, even beggars. Moreover, she has named it the ‘Queen’s Inn.’”

Jin Yilie’s face darkened immediately. He shot up from his seat, both shocked and angry, “What?! Yu Xinruo is so audacious, she’s completely disgraced our imperial family!”

“Master, there is one more thing. The maidservants at the Queen’s Inn wear clothes that belonged to the palace concubines.”

What!!! Jin Yilie was instantly enraged into speechlessness. How dare she! She even had the audacity to make the palace concubines’ clothes be worn by her servants and use them to serve guests! Isn’t this deliberately humiliating him and suggesting that his concubines are only fit to serve lowly commoners?

He had been puzzled about why she had requested old clothes from the concubines before, but now it all made sense! Damn it!

“Jun Lei, go immediately and take down her sign! I cannot allow her to use the title of ‘Queen’ to do as she pleases! Especially since she is no longer the Queen!”

Yu Xinruo, that damned woman, never lets him rest!

“Yes!” Jun Lei accepted the order and left.

The servant Tie Feng, who had been standing behind Jin Yilie, quietly stepped forward and asked, “Your Majesty, would you like me to announce lunch?”

“No need!” Jin Yilie waved his hand irritably, “I’m too upset to eat anything!”

After a moment’s contemplation, he headed towards the door, “Let’s go. Accompany me to the Qu residence. Qu Yang was injured half a month ago. I’ve been too busy with state affairs to visit, and I don’t know if his injury has healed.”

In his mind, he thought, that damned woman, I want to see just how capable you are, and to what extent you’ve entangled the cold-hearted Qu Yang!

“Yes!” Tie Feng silently followed.

Qu Residence.

“Miss, the ginseng soup is here. The Old Madam says you should drink it while it’s hot.”

“Miss, this bird’s nest porridge is from the Old Madam. She wants you to eat it to nourish your body.”

“Miss, this lotus seed soup is also from the Old Madam. She insists that you drink it all.”

“Miss, this is from the Old Madam…”

…

Yu Xinruo sat on a recliner in the courtyard, watching as one maid after another brought in bowls of nourishing soups and tonics. Her delicate brows were tightly knit, and her charming face bore a wry smile. With a hand fan in hand, she pointed at the array of soups and helplessly asked, “All these things, are they all from the Old Madam?”

“Yes!” The maidservants answered in unison with smiles on their faces.

Another maid added, “The Old Madam said that consuming more tonics is good for your health and pregnancy, so please bear with it.”

Yu Xinruo’s wry smile deepened. “You see, how can I possibly drink all this? If I finished all this, wouldn’t it burst my stomach?”

Is this a joke, my dear Old Madam? Even if you want me to bear you a grandchild, there’s no need to flood me with all this health tonic!

One maid giggled lightly, “Miss, these are just some tonics. It’s not as serious as you think. The Old Madam cares so much for you, you should be pleased.”

Xiaoli and Xing’er, standing by, couldn’t help but stifle their laughter, but seeing how much the future mother-in-law cared for their young lady, they were genuinely happy for her.

It seemed their young lady’s efforts to win over Young Master Qu had not been in vain. The two of them thought.

Xiaoli and Xing’er had no idea why Qu Yang and Yu Xinruo had become intimate that night. They simply assumed that Yu Xinruo had used some means to achieve her goal. After all, how could such a cold-hearted and aloof gentleman like Qu Yang be won over so quickly?

Yu Xinruo said with a bitter smile, “Yes, I should be grateful, but I also don’t want to be drowned by these tonics. Alright, you can put them down and leave.”

“Yes, Miss.”

The ten or so maidservants placed the soups and tonics on a stone table beside Yu Xinruo, saluted her, and then withdrew.

“The Old Madam is troublesome. I’m not even pregnant yet, and she’s making me drink all these tonics. If I were pregnant, wouldn’t I be drowned by all this?” Yu Xinruo looked at the bowls of soup with a long sigh.

Xing’er smiled, “Miss, the Old Madam’s intentions are good. You should be grateful. But drinking all this does seem a bit excessive. How about this: I’ll pick a few bowls of the better-tasting ones for you to drink, and the rest, I’ll help you with. This way, we won’t offend the Old Madam’s good intentions and won’t waste any of the tonics.”

Qian’er, secretly hiding behind a discreet flowerbed, watched Yu Xinruo with a gaze filled with hatred and envy.

Since that morning when Qu Yang had walked out of Yu Xinruo’s room openly, everyone in the Qu residence understood the nature of their relationship.

When the Old Madam heard that her son had finally consummated his marriage with Yu Xinruo and was going to the palace to seek a marriage decree from the Emperor, she was overjoyed. Her cherished daughter-in-law was finally about to be secured, so she hurriedly had tonics prepared for Yu Xinruo.

Qian’er, standing aside, was nearly enraged to the point of exploding. If it had been her who had had the night with Young Master Qu, it would be her receiving all this affection and pampering, not Yu Xinruo!

The new maid was so stupid, unable to take advantage of the opportunity handed right to her. Such a big person and still useless!

How infuriating! Such a good opportunity was snatched away by that fallen woman, Yu Xinruo!

Realizing this, Qian’er’s hatred for Yu Xinruo grew immensely. She stared daggers at Yu Xinruo and thought, “You took advantage of me this time, but I’ll make sure to get back at you for this later! Humph!”

At that moment, a maid named Yun Shuang, with an anxious expression, hurried over. Seeing her, Qian’er’s eyes lit up, and she quickly grabbed her, asking with a smile, “Yun Shuang, you look so flustered. What happened?”

Yun Shuang replied, “The Emperor has arrived and wants to see the Miss, so the Old Madam has sent me to fetch the Miss to the hall immediately.”

“Do you know what the Emperor wants with the Miss?”

Yun Shuang shook her head. Qian’er released her grip and quickly walked towards the hall, deep in thought.