"Whether you're willing isn't for you to decide. Even if you aren't, you'll have to be."
Jia Xu thoroughly spoiled the mood with that retort, instantly dousing the lofty ambitions that had just risen in Fa Zheng's heart and leaving his face flushed red.
But Jia Xu then smiled again. "Still, that you have such resolve proves His Majesty was right about you."
"All right, don't just stand here. You've been working hard for so long. Go back and get some rest."
Fa Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, bowed, and withdrew.
Watching Fa Zheng leave the Xuan Room, Jia Xu slowly let his smile fade. After a moment's thought, he too rose and left the Xuan Room.
Soon, Jia Xu passed through one palace after another and arrived outside Jade Hall Palace.
He said to the palace maids before the gates, "Jia Xu, Director of the Secretariat, requests an audience with the Noble Lady on an urgent matter. Please announce me."
For a minister to visit an imperial consort in the imperial harem was against protocol.
But upon hearing the words "Jia Xu, Director of the Secretariat," the palace maids were immediately startled by his status.
He was one of the Son of Heaven's most favored ministers!
After a brief hesitation, one of the palace maids said, "Please wait a moment, Director. This servant will announce you at once."
Jia Xu nodded and waited where he stood.
Before long, the palace maid returned, bowed to Jia Xu, and said, "The Noble Lady has agreed to receive you, Director. This way, please."
With that, she led Jia Xu into Jade Hall Palace.
Jade Hall Palace was Lü Lingqi's residence.
When the capital had been moved, Lü Lingqi had only recently given birth and still needed to recuperate, so she had