For a moment, the room was so quiet that a falling pin could have been heard.
The officials exchanged glances in pairs, then all turned their eyes toward Emperor Mingze, who sat by the window.
Moonlight streamed like white silk through the paper-covered window lattice, falling directly on Jiang Yanchuan and casting a pitch-black silhouette on the floor.
His face seemed to have disappeared into the darkness. No one could make out his expression, yet somehow, they all felt...
This young emperor, normally so decisive and ruthless, looked a little guilty right now.
The patter of footsteps drew closer and closer before finally stopping outside the door.
Huh?
Why isn't there any sound inside?
This should be the right place, shouldn't it?!
Gu Ruizhou swept a puzzled gaze over everyone's faces. When no one answered, he opened his mouth to respond-
Several of the officials had been watching Gu Ruizhou all along. At the sight, their scalps prickled, and they immediately lunged at him!
"We're-mmph, mmph??"
The others quickly reacted as well, bundling him into the wardrobe in the corner in a tangle of hands and feet.
Virtue-Returning General Lei Zhixin still felt uneasy. After frowning in thought for a moment, he squeezed himself inside too.
Ah! There's a sound now!!
The wardrobe was tiny. Two grown men stood shoulder to shoulder inside, cramped, stifled, and...
Utterly at sea.
Gu Ruizhou's eyes were bewildered.
Just now...
Hadn't that been the little one's voice?!
Judging by how Emperor Mingze had doted on her during the day, why wouldn't anyone even open the door for her now?!
Amid his confusion, the little one's voice rang out again.
"Imperial Father, Imperial Father, are you in there, Imperial Father?!"
There had been a long pause between the two voices. Gu Ruizhou guessed that the