Ze Ning walked out. He needed to find someone who could read to have that passage read aloud to Hai Ling. He didn't want her to be afraid or bme herself, nor did he want her to think even worse of herself. But once he stepped outside, the cool night breeze brushed against his forehead, clearing his mind. The reality of his feelings—the tenderness and protection he had reserved for her—was no longer the attitude of a master toward a maid. If Hai Ling had been someone completely unfamiliar to him, would he have, in that moment, reflected on the nearly ten years of cases and immediately concluded she was definitely not a murderer or someone capable of causing harm? He didn't need to deceive himself; it was impossible. After months of interaction, Hai Ling's gentle care, her attentiveness, and her nurturing had gradually warmed his heart—one that had been indifferent for over twenty years.

  He could no longer live without that care, not just physically but emotionally as well.

  He was human, and once he had known love, he could no longer bear to part with it.

  How could he? Especially when this love resonated so deeply with his soul.

  Such intimate feelings, how could they be made known? Let alone asking someone else to read out that passage, which could no longer hide his emotions—how could he? Ze Ning had never resented his inability to speak, but now, he was beginning to feel the helplessness and sorrow of not being able to voice his feelings.

  "Young Master—Young Master—" A voice called from afar.

  Ze Ning turned around to see Xiao Bi, a maid from the mansion, running toward him.

  "Young Master, someone from the pace has come. They need you to go to the pace immediately. It seems something quite significant has happened." Xiao Bi had clearly been searching for him for a while and had never expected to find him in Hai Ling's room.

  She was panting as she spoke. "Even Young Master Xuan has been summoned to the pace. It must really be serious. Young Master, you should hurry."

  Ze Ning let out a deep breath. He had momentarily mistaken Xiao Bi's voice for Hai Ling's, thinking something had happened to her, and it startled him, causing a cold sweat to break out. What was he doing?

  "Young Master?" Xiao Bi looked at him in confusion. "What's wrong?" She had never seen Ze Ning like this. He had always been calm and composed, graceful without much emotion. Now, he looked at her with a lingering unease, as if he had just been startled.

  Had something she said frightened him?

  Ze Ning shook his head. The words he wanted to say to Hai Ling could only be conveyed tomorrow. The Emperor had summoned him, and it was a summons he could not refuse. If he went now, he would surely face a reprimand. What had happened in the pace that warranted such a te summons, not only for him but also for Young Master Xuan? It must be something serious. He couldn't afford to dey any longer.

  With a nod, he followed Xiao Bi out.

  "Young Master—" Hai Ling chased after them but only caught a glimpse of their hurried backs. She couldn't understand what was going on. Why had he gotten upset when she mentioned "never parting" and then left? If he didn't want that, why had he nodded earlier? He didn't know how much hope and courage he had given her when he nodded, making her believe that regardless of what kind of person she was, he would accept her and not despise her. She wasn't asking for them to be together forever, only to stay by his side as a maid. What was absurd was that it wasn't her request that Ze Ning refused to accept, but rather—didn't he even give her the chance to voice that wish, pushing her away, leaving behind an unknown note, and then just leaving? He had given her tenderness but then left her at the very moment when she had felt most tenderly toward him. Ze Ning, Ze Ning, you are too cruel! Too cruel!

  Hai Ling stood there, staring bnkly at the spot where she had followed him out, watching him hurry away. It wasn't resentment she felt, but disbelief! Disbelief!

  Ze Ning was urgently summoned to the pace. As soon as he entered the Hall of Political Affairs, he couldn't help but freeze. Not only was he and Shang Xuan summoned by the Emperor, but also from the Privy Council, Rong Yin, and—unexpectedly—Qi Yang, the Imperial Physician, who should never have appeared in the court! Though Ze Ning didn't know Qi Yang personally, he could immediately tell that the man, whose demeanor resembled Rong Yin's, had to be Qi Yang.

  What happened? Ze Ning looked at Shang Xuan.

  Shang Xuan, however, merely raised his eyes to the beam of the hall, ignoring Ze Ning's questioning gaze.

  It was Rong Yin who answered. His voice was cold, with a distinguished air: "Two eunuchs died in Zhenhui Hall tonight."

  Ze Ning nodded. As the commander of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the safety of the pace, he had already been informed of the incident through the proper channels. However, he didn't understand what the problem was. The death of two eunuchs in the pace was unfortunate but not uncommon.

  Rong Yin's eyes were deep bck, his figure tall, and his features sharp, yet there was a chilling aura emanating from him. Standing with his hands behind his back, he seemed to hold the world in his grasp, as though even the army and chariots would follow his command. "That happened two hours ago. Now, fifteen eunuchs have died in the pace," he said coldly. "As the Commander of the Imperial Guard, you've been missing for two hours without anyone knowing where you were. Zhao Ze Ning, don't you think you've gone too far?"

  Ze Ning flinched slightly. He had been in Hai Ling's room, waiting for her to wake up.

  But how could he speak of this? Rong Yin and Shang Xuan were arch-enemies, but Ze Ning had never harbored any animosity toward Rong Yin. Even if he didn't admire him, he understood Rong Yin's way of doing things.

  However, being scolded publicly like this was a first for him. He knew Rong Yin was a solitary person. If not for his extreme anger, Rong Yin would not have reprimanded him so openly. He was Hai Ling's lifesaver, so Ze Ning couldn't bring himself to be furious with him. Besides, he was not one to easily provoke his emotions, and furthermore, he knew he was at fault. So, Ze Ning remained silent, acknowledging his dereliction of duty.

  But while he admitted his fault, Shang Xuan did not. Hearing Rong Yin's words, Shang Xuan coldly responded, “I wonder who has been standing here for two hours yet hasn't made any progress. People are still dying, aren't they? Whether Ze Ning arrives early or te, it doesn't matter. He's not a doctor. How can he control so many eunuchs suddenly meeting the King of Hell for no reason? Ridiculous!”

  Rong Yin ignored him and coldly stared at Ze Ning.

  "Alright, alright, stop arguing, will you?" Someone sighed from the side, "It's all my fault, okay? You big shots should step aside; you're not helping standing here. Rong Rong, I'm not bming you, but gathering so many people is useless. What I need is medicine! Special medicine, not so many people! The more people you bring, the more die. Calling Ze Ning here, aside from adding one more person to bother, is useless!"

  The one speaking was Qi Yang, the imperial physician, who was pacing back and forth.

  This was Ze Ning's first time seeing Qi Yang, the so-called "mysterious background, astonishing medical skills," and "a second coming of Hua Tuo," the chief Imperial Physician. Hearing him speak so informally and without regard for etiquette, Ze Ning couldn't help but find it strange. He gnced at him. Qi Yang didn't look like the refined, elegant person he had imagined. He had always thought that imperial physicians were older, with a stable demeanor that inspired trust, but Qi Yang was nothing like that. He had strange hair—short hair, to be precise! He didn't have it tied up in a bun, and his imperial robe, which should have been dignified, seemed out of pce on him.