Chapter 1923: Chapter 1920: Hit and Injured

"Why is Lord Chu here?" Consort Jieyu asked with a smile.

Chu Heng respectfully bowed to her, answering neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I have urgent matters to seek an audience with the Emperor."

"Oh? Can you tell me what it is?" Consort Jieyu looked at him with an evaluating gaze and hinted, "The Emperor has just been angered by Minister Xiao... oh no, now a mere commoner, Xiao Tianhao, his mood is not so good, why would Lord Chu risk upsetting the Emperor at this moment?"

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I will be careful," Chu Heng maintained his composed demeanor, completely unfazed by Consort Jieyu’s ’kind’ reminder.

Consort Jieyu was somewhat displeased with his attitude. She scrutinized him for a long time, and seeing no one coming to call Chu Heng inside, she clicked her tongue twice, picked up her fan, fanned herself, and said meaningfully, "Lord Chu, we all serve the Emperor; why make such clear distinctions between us, don’t you agree?"

Chu Heng stood firmly in place, like a towering pine, without answering or expressing any opinion.

Consort Jieyu, infuriated, flicked her sleeves and left, taking a group of palace attendants with her.

As the day waned, the sun’s rays shone brightly, making the air outside the grand hall rise with heat.

He Dequan looked at Chu Heng standing motionlessly outside, not even wiping away his sweat, and hesitated, unsure whether to report to Emperor Xuanming again.

After exploding with anger this morning, Emperor Xuanming ordered that he would see no one except for the newly promoted Chief Eunuch.

Yet, Chu Heng was instructed yesterday to enter the palace today for an audience.

Caught in such a situation, He Dequan couldn’t help but feel sorry for Chu Heng.

However, considering Xiao Tianhao’s fate, any sympathy he had vanished completely.

He definitely did not want to lose his head.

As it approached the hour before noon.

Chu Heng took two steps forward and stopped He Dequan.

He Dequan was instructing his apprentice to prepare some desserts in the Imperial Study.

Seeing Chu Heng approach voluntarily, he hesitated, looking at him uncertainly, "Lord Chu, perhaps you could return tomorrow?"

"The Emperor’s order is for today. I dare not make decisions on my own; I hope Eunuch can pass a message on my behalf," Chu Heng spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, implicitly requesting a favor.

He Dequan saw that it was already late, and Chu Heng had been waiting for an hour.

He gritted his teeth and said to Chu Heng, "Lord Chu, I cannot guarantee, please wait a moment."

"Thank you, Eunuch." Chu Heng knew he was willing to do him a favor and accepted the goodwill, as he never intended to offend He Dequan, who served closely with Emperor Xuanming.

He Dequan entered the room with trepidation, forcing himself to inform Emperor Xuanming that Chu Heng was waiting outside to seek an audience.

Emperor Xuanming’s expression gave nothing away, and he did not respond for a long time.

Cold sweat broke out on He Dequan’s forehead, and his heart raced with anxiety, not knowing what would happen next.

"Let him in."

Just as He Dequan couldn’t help but start imagining the worst, Emperor Xuanming finally spoke.

He Dequan felt a wave of relief through his entire body and quickly nodded, "This servant will do so at once."

Chu Heng was called in to hold court.

He Dequan was left outside, unaware of what the monarch and minister discussed.

Only at first was there a loud bang, after which it calmed down with no other noise.

Two sticks of incense time elapsed.

Chu Heng emerged from the hall.

A new red mark was visible on his forehead.

It was clear he had been struck.

He Dequan watched, feeling his heart skip a beat.

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