Chapter 8: Are you going to hang up on your golden thigh?

Soon, Su Ziyue followed Ye Hanjue into the imperial palace.

Normally, others would have to stop their carriages at the palace gate and enter on foot, but Ye Hanjue never had to follow these rules. The carriage went straight into the imperial garden before stopping.

If there were no restricted areas for carriages ahead, the carriage could have gone directly to the door of the study.

After getting out of the carriage, Su Ziyue finally had the chance to take in the layout of the palace.

Surprisingly, the palace was quite large, with red walls and green tiles similar to the Forbidden City, but it lacked the ancient and desolate feeling and instead had a touch of solemnity and vitality.

It was late spring, and the flowers in the imperial garden were in full bloom, vibrant and colorful, quite a sight to behold. It was nothing like the Forbidden City, which only had a few pine and cypress trees.

"Do you like it?"

While Su Ziyue was leisurely admiring the scenery, Ye Hanjue suddenly spoke.

Su Ziyue, not very interested, replied, "Who doesn't like flowers and plants?"

The flowers and plants were indeed very pleasing to the eye, and she did like them. However, she couldn't quite appreciate the imperial garden because it was too quiet. The palace attendants passing by all seemed to be on edge, making the atmosphere rather oppressive. In such an environment, no matter how beautiful the scenery was, it would be overshadowed.

Upon hearing Su Ziyue's response, Ye Hanjue gave her a deep look and then glanced at the flowers and plants, but said nothing, and continued walking forward.

Su Ziyue didn't understand why Ye Hanjue insisted on bringing her into the palace, but seeing him move ahead, she had no choice but to follow.

Before long, the two arrived at a majestic palace.

This was the Emperor's study.

At this moment, the Emperor's attendant, Jigonggong, was waiting at the door of the study. When he saw Su Ziyue following behind Ye Hanjue, Jigonggong's expression visibly changed, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Regent," Jigonggong knelt down to Ye Hanjue, completely ignoring Su Ziyue.

However, Ye Hanjue didn't even spare a glance at Jigonggong and strode into the study.

Watching Ye Hanjue's back, Su Ziyue felt his overwhelming dominance, further confirming her decision not to antagonize him.

After admiring Ye Hanjue's dominance, Su Ziyue also followed into the study without giving Jigonggong a second glance.

Seeing this, Jigonggong frowned slightly, wanting to stop her, but in front of the Regent, he didn't dare to act rashly and could only endure it.

In the study, the Emperor Xuan Yuan Changkun, dressed in a dragon robe, sat majestically behind the imperial desk. When he saw Ye Hanjue, his expression visibly changed, but quickly turned into a caring look as he spoke to Ye Hanjue, "Ninth Prince, your absence for two years has caused me many sleepless nights. Now that you have returned, you won't leave again, will you?"

Ye Hanjue glanced at Xuan Yuan Changkun and coldly replied, "I won't leave."

With that, he walked straight to a black sandalwood chair nearby and sat down, looking completely at ease as if he were in his own home.

Xuan Yuan Changkun's expression froze for a moment, a hint of gloom passing through his eyes, but he quickly shifted his focus to Su Ziyue, who had entered with Ye Hanjue.

However, when his gaze fell upon Su Ziyue's unsightly face, Xuan Yuan Changkun frowned slightly, showing a hint of disgust in his eyes.

Clearly, he was repulsed, but he didn't look away.

He had already heard about yesterday's incident and the rumors that Su Ziyue was no longer foolish. He wanted to see for himself whether she was truly no longer foolish.

As Xuan Yuan Changkun scrutinized Su Ziyue, she fearlessly returned his gaze, showing no signs of fear.

To be honest, although Xuan Yuan Changkun exuded the majesty befitting an emperor, it paled in comparison to the domineering aura of Ye Hanjue. As for etiquette?

Well, she used to be a fool, so her lack of understanding of etiquette was understandable. Arguing with her would be no different from arguing with a fool.

Moreover, now that she had Ye Hanjue as her backer, and even he was disrespectful to the Emperor, it was only natural for her, as his nominal princess, to be a bit arrogant. How else could she match Ye Hanjue?

In the study, Su Ziyue sat up straight, looking perfectly composed and self-assured.

As an emperor, with Ye Hanjue showing such disrespect in front of him, how could he allow others to be disrespectful to him?

"You..." Xuan Yuan Changkun was about to reprimand her.

"Standing there for what? Come and sit down." Before Xuan Yuan Changkun could speak, Ye Hanjue's cold voice cut in, leaving Xuan Yuan Changkun's anger stuck in his throat, his face turning somewhat unpleasant.

However, he didn't dare to confront Ye Hanjue.

Seeing Xuan Yuan Changkun's expression, Su Ziyue suppressed a smile and obediently walked over to the chair next to Ye Hanjue and sat down.

The study fell into silence once again.

Xuan Yuan Changkun was on the verge of exploding, but he forced himself to endure, remembering the purpose of allowing Ye Hanjue into the palace today.

He averted his gaze from Su Ziyue and looked at Ye Hanjue, putting on a gentle expression. "Ninth Prince, where have you been these past two years? Have you encountered any trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Su Ziyue also looked at Ye Hanjue. After all, they would have to cooperate in the future, and she knew very little about him. She was also curious about his whereabouts over the past two years.

Noticing Su Ziyue's gaze, Ye Hanjue looked back at her.

Caught off guard, Su Ziyue remained calm and returned Ye Hanjue's gaze with a composed look.

(Note: This is a partial translation of the provided text.)

Upon seeing this, Ye Hanju's gaze did not waver from Su Ziyue, as he calmly spoke, "Indeed, I have encountered some trouble."

Su Ziyue: "..." She answered, so why was he staring at her?

"What happened to the Ninth Prince? Is there anything I can do to help?" Xuan Yuan Changkun inquired further, resembling a caring elder brother concerned for his younger sibling.

Ye Hanju glanced at Xuan Yuan Changkun and replied, "I have been poisoned."

"Ah!" Xuan Yuan Changkun exclaimed, standing up in excitement. "What kind of poison has my brother been afflicted with? Is he alright?"

Although Xuan Yuan Changkun's face showed concern and excitement, his heart was filled with joy.

He hoped that Ye Hanju was in trouble, so that he would no longer have any worries.

As Ye Hanju looked at Xuan Yuan Changkun, his eyes revealed a deep emotion.

Just as Xuan Yuan Changkun felt as if he had been seen through, Ye Hanju leisurely spoke, "I don't have many years left to live."

The words were light and airy, as if someone with only a few years left to live was not him.

Upon hearing this, Su Ziyue was stunned, looking at Ye Hanju with a scrutinizing gaze.

Is the golden thigh really in danger? Is it true? Can she save him?

After hearing this, Xuan Yuan Changkun trembled with excitement. To conceal it, he shouted outside, "Someone, quickly summon the imperial physician."

Ji Gonggong took the order and immediately gave instructions.

Before long, the head of the imperial physician's office, Wu Changpu, arrived.

Upon entering, Wu Changpu's expression tightened upon seeing Ye Hanju in the study. However, he first bowed to the emperor before turning to Ye Hanju.

"Enough with the formalities, quickly check the pulse of my Ninth Prince," Xuan Yuan Changkun urged eagerly.

Upon hearing that he needed to check the pulse of the regent, Wu Changpu was slightly surprised, but still respectfully approached Ye Hanju and bowed, "Regent, please extend your left hand."

Ye Hanju cooperatively extended his hand, and Wu Changpu solemnly took his pulse. As time passed, Wu Changpu's expression gradually became more serious.

Seeing Wu Changpu's lack of response for a while, Xuan Yuan Changkun frowned, "How is my Ninth Prince?"