Chapter 224 - 222. Arrest Him I

Third-person POV

Weisheng ended up sitting on a cold marble chair throughout the night at the Floating Lotus Pavilion. Qiyi and Qier didn't dare to say anything to Weisheng, they instructed the servants to prepare a heater sp Weisheng would not feel cold.

Dark circles under his eyes became very visible, proving how much he was in distress. He couldn't fall asleep even though he was very sleepy. He wanted to sleep not because he wanted to relax his body but because he probably could see Hong er in his dream.

The sun peeked over the horizon and the sunlight gave a touch of warmth to his skin. He vacantly stared at the forest across the lake and finally, he knew why Hong er stared at the forest.

'Beautiful…' Weisheng said to himself.

The scenery truly calms one's heart and mind, the whole forest was covered in snow and created a pure feeling in it. Hong er always reminded him whenever he was stressed by the piling works.

"Life is short. Don't waste your time being sad. There are so many beautiful things waiting for us to see."

Now he understands how Hong er always maintains her tranquility and rarely wastes her time in sulking, the opposite of him. The corner of his lips arched into a small smile.

'Hong er, please wait for me.' Weisheng promised in his heart.

"Qiyi, give me all the reports that will be discussed in the morning court. Qier, make sure Yunru attends the morning court without him suspecting us." Weisheng gave his commands to Qiyi and Qier without turning his eyes away from the scenery in front of him.

"Yes, Your Majesty Emperor!" Qiyi and Qier bowed before they disappeared into thin air.

Weisheng rose from his seat and went to visit Rong Ai and Zhang Wei. It was another nanny that watched over the babies with several maids beside her. Just when the maids were about to retreat from the room, Weisheng raised his hand indicating that they didn't need to leave the room.

The babies were still asleep therefore the maids and the nanny greeted Weisheng in a small voice. Weisheng didn't pay heed to it and just waved his hand as a signal that he heard them.

He walked to the crib where the babies were sleeping and looked downwards at their peaceful expression. He gently pressed his finger on the palm of the baby and the baby's fingers curled to grip his finger.

Weisheng's heart instantly tightened by their cuteness, he couldn't resist kissing their forehead. The maids and the nanny smiled tenderly when they saw the cute interaction between the father and his kids.

"Father has to go to work," Weisheng whispered then kissed their forehead once again before he walked out of the room.

"Your Majesty Emperor, the reports are ready." Qiyi appeared beside Weisheng with his head lowered.

"En," Weisheng nodded his head as he made his way to his study room.

Weisheng sat on his throne and scanned every report with a keen eye. Qiyi slowly approached Weisheng and handed him a letter.

"Prime Minister Lu was secretly investigating the Wei family, especially Wei Gongzi. Every Wei family members had done one or two crimes, the weight of their crimes also varies. Even their branch families also involved. But only Wei Gongzi is clean." Qiyi relayed the message that Lu Deng Xin told him.

(A/N: Wei Gongzi is Wei Yunru.

"Hhmm, he is so good at cleaning his traces," Weisheng muttered with his palm supporting his chin.

Then a few knocks were heard from the door.

"Your Majesty Emperor, one of Her Majesty Empress's guards is here." a guard cautiously said from the other side of the door.

Weisheng nodded his head in affirmation, Qiyi bowed his head to Weisheng and went to open the door to see who it is.

"Ah Xi?" Qiyi arched his brows in surprise.

Ah Xi was sitting in a wheelchair with bandages wrapping all over his body and behind him was Ming Yu who helped him by pushing the wheelchair. He smiled weakly at Qiyi as a reply to his confusion.

Qiyi took over Ming Yu's position to push Ah Xi's wheelchair. Ming Yu reluctantly watched Ah Xi enter the room but she was fully aware that anyone that didn't have the emperor's consent was prohibited from entering the room or else it would be considered as attempted murder against the emperor.

Ming Yu obediently waited for Ah Xi beside the guards. Meanwhile, inside the room, Weisheng stared at Ah Xi who was bowing his head while sitting in a wheelchair.

"Greetings to Your Majesty Emperor. This servant deeply apologize for being disrespectful to Your Majesty Emperor, but this servant's current condition doesn't allow me to stand up and give a proper greeting." Ah Xi politely explained.

"En," Weisheng hummed.

"This servant had made a grave mistake for not protecting Her Majesty Empress properly, therefore this servant wants to help Your Majesty Emperor as much as I can." Ah Xi said with his head lowered.

He pulled out a wooden case box from his bag and placed it in front of Weisheng. Usually, any servants except his trusted servants shouldn't get too near him but since it was Hong er's trusted guards, he let it off.

Ah Xi took out a key from his sleeve and inserted the key into the keyhole then twisted it twice. He opened the case and revealed a few stacks of letter that was tied with twine. Weisheng took one of the letters and read them.

"This is the information that Her Majesty Empress collected since she came here. Her Majesty Empress didn't dare to report to Your Majesty Emperor seeing how close you are to Wei Gongzi. This was collected before Wei Gongzi could erase his trace, this servant hopes that it would be a help." Ah Xi bowed his head and stared at Weisheng as he was waiting for Weisheng's answer.

Weisheng opened the letters one by one based on the date that was written on the corner of the envelope. The more he read, the angrier he got. He used the information that he got from working by Weisheng's side to expand his power in the court and made half of the ministers to side to him.

"En, you can retreat." Weisheng waved his hand while his eyes still in the letter.

Ah Xi bowed once again before Qiyi pushed his wheelchair.

"Get well soon," Qiyi said with downhearted eyes.

"En, have you visit Meiyun?" Ah Xi asked with a weak smile on his face.

"I-I haven't," Qiyi stuttered.

"She is having a good dream," Ah Xi said while staring at the sky.

"Eh?" Qiyi blurted out with a dumbfounded face.

Ah Xi turned his head to Qiyi.

"When I woke up this morning, I saw her smiling happily in her sleep. Maybe she met someone in her dream." Ah Xi uttered.

Qiyi stared at Ah Xi with wide eyes and was at a loss of words. Ming Yu walked towards them and took over the handle of Ah Xi's wheelchair.

"Well then, I excuse myself." Ah Xi politely nodded his head to Qiyi.

Ming Yu pushed the wheelchair to the exit and turned around at the corner. Qiyi was staring at the direction where Ah Xi left.

.

.

"Ming Yu," Ah Xi gently called.

"Hm?" Ming Yu hummed whilst pushing his wheelchair.

"About Her Majesty Empress, are you sad?" Ah Xi asked.

Ming Yu abruptly halted in her track. Her eyes were pooled with tears, she didn't reply to Ah Xi because she was afraid that she would cry out like a baby. Ah Xi sighed and wiped her tears with his sleeve.

"All right, don't cry. I am sure Her Majesty Empress is just fine." Ah Xi caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"Hic…B-but…hic…" Ming Yu spoke between her breaths.

"I know. Ming Yu, will you be lonely if I leave the palace for a long period?" Ah Xi asked with a worried smile on his lips.

"Of course, I will! But if it is for the sake of Her Majesty Empress, this is nothing." Ming Yu knitted her brows to show her determination.

"Haha~ I have to travel around to find information about Her Majesty Empress's whereabouts. Will you wait for me?" Ah Xi inquired.

"I will!" Ming Yu replied.

"Even for 100 years?" Ah Xi asked once again.

"Even for 100 years. I will for you until I die." Ming Yu smiled.

Ah Xi brushed over her cherry lips with his thumb and pulled her closer. Ming Yu leaned forward and closed her eyes. Their lips connected and sealed their promise