CHAPTER 362 (1): COLD AURA ASSAILS
âThe Winter Solstice palace banquet is tomorrow. Everyone should be focusing on sweeping.â A frigid breeze accompanied Su Xi-erâs soft voice, causing everyone to suddenly shudder.
Paying them no mind, Su Xi-erâs eyes swept across them in disdain before picking up her broom and continuing to sweep.
Everyone who was originally fervently gossiping had all sealed their mouths shut and begun doing their work properly.
Chao Muâs eyes were filled with admiration. She patted Su Xi-erâs shoulder and whispered, âYouâre so amazing to make them shut their mouths with just a few words. With so many rumours floating around the palace, itâs hard to know their veracity, so donât pay any attention to it.â
âChao Mu, you have to keep your temper in check when you leave the Imperial Library. Not everyone will give in to you like Shu Xian.â Su Xi-er smiled as she softly reminded.
The sudden mention of the missing Shu Xian caused displeasure to arise in Chao Muâs heart. âMaybe heâs staying in the Imperial Academy and wonât ever be coming back to the Imperial Library. Sigh, I have one less person I can talk to. I took him for granted in the past, but now that heâs suddenly gone, I actually find myself missing him a bit. Itâs like a family member has gone far away.â
Chao Mu and Shu Xian were normally the two who bickered the most at the Imperial Library, which made Chao Mu unused to his absence.
Habit is a warm yet scary thing. Everything is fine as long as someone you rely on is nearby, but it suddenly comes crashing down once theyâre gone.
Tan Ge silently observed everything from the side. There isnât much time left. The Winter Solstice palace banquet is tomorrow, which means that the final deadline is tomorrow, at 11 pm. If I still havenât made a move by then, the consequences will be unimaginable,
Her emotions like a chaotic storm in her heart, Tan Geâs slender brows briefly furrowed together before she relaxed, continuing to sweep the palace path.
Noticing Tan Geâs change, Chao Mu couldnât help but ask Su Xi-er. âI havenât talked to Tan Ge for a few days. She doesnât seem to have recovered. What exactly happened in the Tan Residence? I keep feeling thatâŚâ
She didnât say the rest of the sentence. I canât tell others that thereâs something very wrong with Tan Ge. She probably has a lot of secrets that are weighing down on her heart.
âChao Mu, do your job properly.â Su Xi-er smiled at her before turning her gaze to Tan Ge. After a brief glance, she turned away to continue working.
Chao Mu could only suppress her curiosity and continue sweeping.
Little did they know that an imperial guard from the Commandery Prince Residence had witnessed everything that had happened in the Imperial Garden. He immediately went to report to Xie Yun, who was currently at the Dragon Heaven Palace.
Situ Lin was looking at Xie Yun in confusion while in the Dragon Heaven Palace. âCommandery Prince Xie, this Emperor hasnât seen Imperial Uncle these past few days. Where did he go? It seems like heâs pretty busy.â
Xie Yun gently smiled. âPrince Hao is indeed busy. There are so many things that he has to deal with in the army barracks that heâll only be back in time for tomorrowâs Winter Solstice banquet.â
âI see. Are you not busy, Commandery Prince Xie? This Emperor will diligently learn the ways of governance. You donât have to supervise me every day.â Situ Lin wore an earnest expression as he began flipping through his books.
âDonât worry, Your Majesty. This humble subject wonât report to Prince Hao.â
Situ Lin looked towards Xie Yun. âItâs fine even if you tell Imperial Uncle. This Emperor hasnât been playing excessively, so Imperial Uncle wonât chide this Emperor.â
He understood very well that the only reason he had been punished in the past was that he had done something wrong. Imperial Uncle wouldnât just punish me if I didnât make any mistakes.
Xie Yun faintly smiled. âHave the supervisors of the Imperial Ceremony Office and the Imperial Household Department reported to you on the progress of the preparations for tomorrowâs banquet?â