vrcanaries Chapter 1215 Goodbye Jiang Lingzhou (134 million reward points plus additional content)
Chapter 1215 Goodbye Jiang Lingzhou (134 million reward points plus additional content)
She didn't dare.
How could she dare?!
Concubine Chen is the real ruler of the harem and the apple of His Majesty's eye. He can crush her to death with just a flick of his finger!
She, Zhang Youran, is able to live until now.
She was able to raise the fifth prince after losing her child and was promoted to concubine.
After Zhuang Yumian was demoted, I could finally take a breather...
Isn’t everything all because of Concubine Chen’s care?
But this care has now become the sharpest knife, stabbing her where it hurts the most!
Centrifugal.
A sense of alienation filled with great disappointment and resentment, like a cold current outside the window, silently invaded Kangpin's limbs and bones.
She would still go to Zhongcui Palace to pay her respects respectfully.
He will still accept every reward from Concubine Chen.
Even his face still managed to force a grateful and gentle smile.
But in a certain corner of her heart, the faint closeness and dependence she once had on Concubine Chen had been completely frozen and shattered at this moment by this unacceptable thing...
Concubine Kang slowly raised her head and looked towards the direction of Zhongcui Palace with tearful eyes, her eyes were empty and complicated.
In the end, it only turned into a very faint, bitter trace on the lips, with endless sad self-mockery.
Why……
Concubine Chen, tell her why this is happening?
……
Royal study room.
On the rosewood imperial desk, memorials were piled up like a mountain.
The silver frost charcoal in the animal-head copper furnace was burning brightly, bringing warmth that dispelled the chill brought by the howling north wind outside the window.
The ink stick slowly melts in the Duan inkstone.
Shen Zhinian held a piece of fine pine soot ink, his wrist suspended in the air, grinding it evenly.
The scent of ink is refreshing, mixed with the unique ambergris and bookish air of the imperial study, calm and peaceful.
Nangong Xuanyu was reviewing a memorial regarding military supplies for the border. His red pen paused as he concentrated on thinking.
The only sounds in the hall were the occasional crackling of charcoal fire and the rustling of ink sticks rubbing against the inkstone.
The heavy carved palace door was silently pushed open a crack.
Li Changde bowed and stepped inside, his voice extremely low, with his usual respect: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Academy Editor Jiang Lingzhou has been ordered to return to the capital to report, and is already waiting outside the palace."
Shen Zhinian's bare hands, which were grinding ink, paused slightly, and then resumed their even rhythm.
Although the matter of Duke Dingguo's Mansion was settled, the private soldiers in Yingxiejian still needed to be properly dealt with, which took a lot of time.
My brother has been traveling all day and is finally back.
Nangong Xuanyu put down his red brush, raised his eyes and said, "Announce."
"Yes."
Li Changde accepted the order and withdrew.
Shen Zhinian put down the ink stick and gently wiped the ink stains on his fingertips with a silk handkerchief, his movements calm and elegant.
She bent her knees slightly and said in a gentle voice, "Since Your Majesty requires an audience with me, I will take my leave first."
Nangong Xuanyu's gaze fell on Shen Zhinian's drooping brows, and with a gentle smile, he said, "No need."
"Lord Jiang is not an ordinary foreign minister. He is your sworn brother, so the relationship between us is different."
"I've already said that with me, Nian Nian doesn't need to be too concerned about those empty formalities."
The emperor's tone was casual, but it carried an unquestionable meaning.
Shen Zhinian's eyes moved slightly, and he responded "yes" obediently. He stood up straight again and stood quietly by the side.
I haven't seen you for several months. My brother was ordered to deal with various difficult matters after the fall of Duke Dingguo's Mansion. I'm glad you've returned safely.
The palace door opened again.
A gust of wind rushed in, carrying a chill, and was then swallowed up by warmth.
A tall and thin figure walked into the hall.
The man was wearing a green Hanlin official uniform, which made his face look even paler, like a bamboo covered with snow in winter.
It was Jiang Lingzhou.
He stepped forward steadily, lifted his robe, and knelt to salute. His voice was clear, yet with a barely perceptible hint of weakness: "Your Majesty, your servant Jiang Lingzhou pays respects. Long live Your Majesty!"
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine Chen, may Your Majesty be blessed with good health!"
Nangong Xuanyu raised his hand, his eyes fixed on Jiang Lingzhou, and with a hint of approval, he said, "Stand up!"
"Lord Jiang, on this trip, not only found the Liu family's private soldiers, but also handled the aftermath of Yingxiejian. He appeased the displaced and sorted out the land, and his contributions are invaluable!"
"I have read the Ministry of Personnel's report. My dear minister, your ideas are clear and your handling of the matter is appropriate."
Jiang Lingzhou stood up as instructed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your encouragement. This is my duty."
His eyes naturally swept over the familiar yet increasingly noble figure beside the imperial desk.
After not seeing her for several months, she seemed to have lost some weight, and the calmness between her brows became deeper, like a deep ancient well.
Dressed in gorgeous palace attire, she stood beside the emperor, looking unparalleled in her elegance.
The rumors outside about Concubine Chen being favored and even often being able to accompany the emperor in the study to serve him with writing materials were now true after seeing them with my own eyes.
Jiang Lingzhou's heart trembled slightly, and then he was filled with pure relief.
His Majesty indeed treats the Empress with extraordinary trust and reliance.
He quickly lowered his eyes to hide the emotions surging in them, leaving only the respect that a subject should have.
"…Your Majesty, the remaining private soldiers and their families from Yingxiejian have all been registered and escorted here in batches…"
Jiang Lingzhou calmed himself down, collected his thoughts, and reported the specific results of the handling in a clear and organized manner.
His voice was clear and steady as he detailed how to identify and place private soldiers, how to confiscate remaining military equipment, and how to sort out occupied land.
Every link was handled cleanly and neatly, leaving no future troubles, demonstrating his extraordinary talent.
But Jiang Lingzhou's slightly rapid breathing and the slightly furrowed brows from his concentrated thinking revealed an unconcealable fatigue...
"...the land has been measured and returned to the local authorities for re-registration."
"I have sorted out all the documents, registers, and copies of the accounts and submitted them to the Ministry of Personnel for archiving."
After finishing the report, Jiang Lingzhou paused slightly, his breathing a little unstable.
Shen Zhinian listened quietly, his eyes fixed on Jiang Lingzhou's gaunt profile.
He spent several months traveling to that grim place, dealing with such complicated and complex matters that required both an iron fist and gentleness.
The wind and frost seemed to have carved deeper marks on his already thin body.
Jiang Lingzhou's jawline became increasingly thinner, and his face, even in the warm light of the imperial study, still revealed the paleness and fatigue of a long journey.
Especially after he finished his report and relaxed a little, the exhaustion that seeped from his bones was even more difficult to conceal...
Shen Zhinian's fingertips curled up silently under the wide sleeves.
A deep worry gripped her heart.
My brother's body couldn't withstand such exhaustion after all...
However, these emotions were perfectly sealed in the deepest part of Shen Zhinian's eyes, and his face remained calm and gentle.
It seemed as if all her attention was focused only on the memorials from the emperor and his ministers.
Shen Zhinian didn't even look at Jiang Lingzhou, but just lowered his eyes slightly, with a very low sense of presence.
After listening, Nangong Xuanyu nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Jiang."