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It was the end of Haishi night, there was no moon in the distant mountains, and the sky was as dark as ink.

I purposely took a break early in order to be able to catch Xie Jingyu's appearance at the most quiet and indisputable time in the night.Liu Jin has followed my instructions and asked the prison guards to wait to open the door all the way—bypassing Zhongshu Sheng and Men Xia Sheng in the middle, and then leaving the palace through Changchun Gate, and finally walked straight for a short distance to Shang Shu Sheng.

"Your Majesty, it's cold and cold at night, so I'd better go for you." Liu Jin never forgot to nudge me when she tied the cloak on me.

I don't think so. "What's the use of just you going? You went, and then Xie Xiang and I apologized, and then went on as usual?" Accepting humbly and resolutely not changing this kind of thing, I believe that Xie Jingyu can do it.

Although Liu Jin was concerned about every detail, when it came to military affairs, monarchs and ministers, he had never been able to explain why, or even if he knew he wouldn't have said it. "The old slave is carrying the lamp for His Majesty."

I thought about it again.After all, the middle of the night was different than usual, and it would be difficult to explain if it spread. "No, you walk in the middle. If someone asks, just say that you want to go to Shangshu Province to get something for me."

Liu Jin complied.I dressed lightly, and the group turned left and right, and soon left the Tai Chi Palace.Outside the palace is the outer city of the imperial city, and there are six departments and sixteen guards on the left and right. Except for the people on duty, there is no ghost.

When I was about to arrive at the Shangshu Province, I lowered my voice and told Liu Jin: "Turn out the lantern, and leave one alone. Go in later, you can look around outside, and I will go in by myself."

Liu Jin was taken aback, probably finally understood my determination. "Then be careful, Your Majesty, the old slave is waiting for you outside."

I responded casually, full of eagerness and eagerness to try.I don't believe it anymore, this can't make Xie Jingyu obedient!

Although I have only been to Shangshu Province less than three times, it is a square structure, much smaller than Tai Chi Palace, and it is impossible to get lost.While Liu Jin was dragging the officials on duty in front, I walked around through the side door and walked straight back.There is a lantern lit every twenty steps, and I found the room where the archives over the years were stored without any difficulty.

Like the rest of the houses, there is a faint little lamp inside.I walked around the corridor quietly, making sure not to make a sound or let my shadow cast on the window, while carefully observing the situation——

It is full of tall bookshelves, piled with files, and the light is quite dim.I walked through one side and found nothing; when I turned to the other side, I saw a person in the middle.

A small couch, a candlestick, and a set of ordinary tables and chairs.Judging from the age-old bookshelf indentations on the ground, these are probably newly arranged.As for the person I'm looking for, he is sitting behind the desk reading something, his face is mostly blocked by the mountain of files beside him.

As expected.The corner of the archives is quite remote, and there are only a few nights on duty every night, so it is normal to ignore it.Even if someone came around to the back occasionally, there would definitely be a movement.As long as Xie Jingyu blows out the lamp in time, he will never be discovered.

I stood still and looked at him from a distance.He always hangs his head upwards, it might as well see clearly now.I don't know if it was because of the shadow cast by the light, but his cheeks were sunken and his chin was pointed, as if he had lost weight.It may also be due to the same reason that his eyes are dark now, his face is tired, and he is much more haggard than in the daytime.

How did this trick me...

I simply suspect that something is wrong with my eyesight.But just when I was about to walk over, he seemed to be extremely sleepy, and he closed his eyes unconsciously.

Dozed off?This is a good time.

I quietly walked back to the front again, opened the door and closed it again, and walked through the bookshelves without a sound.Xie Jingyu fell asleep as expected, with his head slightly tilted to one side.I have never seen him fall asleep before, so I couldn't help but take a closer look——

The contours of his face are indeed sharper than the last time he looked closely. It is not my illusion that he is thinner; even with his eyes closed, his lips are tightly pursed and his brows are slightly furrowed, as if he could not sleep peacefully.

On the one hand, I wanted to scold him to wake him up, but on the other hand, I couldn't help feeling distressed.Just when he was hesitating, I suddenly noticed a small box with an ugly appearance on the corner of the table.It is ugly because its shape is really ordinary; but the problem is, does this thing look exactly like the gouache sold by vendors in Xingjing Street Market?

I'm ashamed to get up in the middle of the night if I don't check it out.I walked over and opened a twist——

Sure enough, it is gouache, and some of it has been used up.

Of course I would not think that Xie Jingyu hid a woman here, this thing is obviously used by himself - his skin is fairer than ordinary people, he only needs to face forward and pat a thin layer under his eyes every day, others will not Can't see it?

He really wanted to hide it from me...

"……His Majesty?"

Just when I didn't know whether to be angry or laugh, Xie Jing woke up.The fact that there was one more person in the room as soon as he opened his eyes clearly frightened him enough, as evidenced by the fact that he almost knocked over the chair when he got up suddenly. "Your Majesty, why are you here?"

I raised the compact in my hand towards him, with a half-smile. "Why don't Xie Xiang explain to me first, why is this thing here?"

"Aren't you..." Xie Jingyu became incoherent as soon as he was anxious. "The minister didn't..."

no?No?

I can't help but snort coldly. "Xie Xiang had better explain why you are still in Shangshu Province at this time."

Xie Jingyu was startled for a moment, then his eyes flickered, obviously guilty. "Your Majesty..." he said cautiously, "How do you know?"

"You still dare to ask me why I know?" I couldn't help but get angry again, "Who allowed you to stay in Shangshu Province every night? You are the one on the duty list every day?"

"No, but I think..."

"What do you want to do?" Seeing that he was still arguing, I became more and more annoyed, "I'll tell you now, no matter what you want to do, you have to get my consent!"

Xie Jingyu closed his mouth.After a long while, he whispered: "I understand."

"Why, not convinced?"

"I dare not."

"You're talking about it, you said something you dare not, which time did you really dare?" I was so angry that I couldn't beat it.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the couch, and I immediately pointed to it: "Go up, sleep!"

"Your Majesty," Xie Jingyu suddenly became very helpless, "If I lie down, I won't be able to get up. I have to go to court early."

This sounded like a lame excuse, and I simply ignored him. "Either I dismiss you from the early court, or I dismiss you from the post; whichever you choose, you decide."

The threat of dismissal was obviously very useful, Xie Jingyu's face paled. "His Majesty……"

"Have a bargain with me again, and I will help you choose the second one." Zhen said, with a strong tone that cannot be doubted.

Xie Jingyu finally found out that no one can change my mind right now. "The minister will send His Majesty back to the palace before resting."

Send me back to the palace first?As soon as I leave, you will go to hell, right?

I want to snort even more. "Why, Xie Xiang still wants to come with me to encircle Wei and save Zhao?" Zhen glanced at the scrolls spread out on the table, and looked around again. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere. When you fall asleep, I will go back."

Xie Jingyu was really surprised. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid this is inappropriate."

"I don't believe you now." I said bluntly, "Unless I watch you fall asleep honestly, I don't want to talk about anything else!"

"Your Majesty, this is not in line with etiquette." Xie Jingyu was smiling bitterly at the moment, "Where is the reason for a subject to sleep soundly in front of the emperor?"

"I am the Son of Heaven, do you have the final say, or I have the final say?" I simply walked over, pushed him onto the couch, dragged him over to the only chair, and sat on it. "Right now!"

Xie Jingyu looked at my posture of not giving up until I achieved my goal, and then at the couch under himself. "Your Majesty really wants to do this?"

I was already impatient to argue with him, so I only raised my chin upon hearing this.

Under my scorching gaze, Xie Jingyu could only admit defeat.There was only a thin quilt on the couch, so he took off his shoes and lay down with his clothes on.I stared at him as he tucked in the thin quilt and closed his eyes, and the anger in my heart finally calmed down a bit.I stared at it for a while, after all, it was late at night, and my upper and lower eyelids couldn't help but start fighting.

"...Your Majesty," a dim voice whispered in his ear, "if you are sleepy, lie down and sleep."

I'm dazed, but I still remember things. "What time is it?"

"It's not half past the hour. Your Majesty will take a rest for the time being. I will wake you up in advance when it's morning."

The word Zao Chao touched a certain nerve, and I immediately woke up.Seeing Xie Jingyu standing barefoot beside me, I immediately became angry. "Why are you up?"

Seeing that I was angry, Xie Jingyu quickly explained: "Seeing that His Majesty is so sleepy, how can I fall asleep peacefully?"

I couldn't help but push him back on the bed again. "Do you really want to compare this with me?"

"Your Majesty," Xie Jingyu was not as obedient as before, and looked at me stubbornly, "You said before that you will go back when I fall asleep. Moreover, there has never been a reason in the world that your Majesty should sit while the minister is asleep!"

Alright, how about you play the same game with me as a monarch and minister again?

I narrowed my eyes to look at him, suddenly untied my cloak, sat on the edge of the couch, and began to take off my shoes. "Go in."

This meaning couldn't be more obvious, Xie Jingyu suddenly turned pale with shock. "……His Majesty?!"

"Shut up, or I'll punish you." I interrupted unceremoniously, because I estimated that he was about to say something like "How can someone else snore on the side of the couch".However, the couch is not big, it is fine for one person, but it is really crowded for two people. "Be careful with me," I deliberately threatened him, "If you push me down, I will punish you."

Xie Jingyu opened his mouth stiffly, then closed it again, completely shocked.He didn't react until I lay down on my own. "Your Majesty..."

"Shut up and sleep!" Zhen pulled the quilt and closed his eyes.

There was no movement nearby.After a while, there was a rustling sound, and someone helped me tuck the thin quilt tighter.Just when I secretly said that Xie Jingyu dared to pass over me and I was going to punish him, there was a solid and warm body beside me.

"His Majesty……"

The call was almost breathless.I stood still and pretended not to hear.It was quiet for a while, and the candles were peeled off softly.The tip of my nose is full of another person's warm scent of pine smoke and ink, and I start to feel drowsy again.

But before I really fell asleep, his arms crossed my waist and hugged me tightly.

The author has something to say:

Please walk gently into this good night~