" Prepare some rewards and bring them to the Queen's palace," Zhai Tianyu turned to look at the eunuch who has been serving him since he turned sixteen, though the man has always pretended and acted as if he was loyal to him, Zhai Tianyu knew that behind the scenes this eunuch master was someone else.

And that someone was none other than his mother, he knew that he has to send gifts and rewards to Liu Hui Ying but he was trying to delay it as much as he could, at least that way he would be able to send out the message that he wasn't close to the Queen or the Liu family.

That way the Ji family will have a chance to suppress the Liu family behind his back but now that he needed Liu Hui Ying's help, he could only do as she asked. If rewards were what she wanted then he will reward her just as she wished at least then he would get her to work for him.

" And make sure that you prepare them accordingly," added Zhai Tianyu, in fact, he already knew that since Eunuch Li was serving his mother, he will definitely prepare the rewards generously in fact lot more than he did when Ji Yu entered the harem.

But  he still needed to act according to his role, so he smiled at Eunuch Li with a shy expression like a fool and said, " The Queen has made Zhen very happy."

" As you wish your majesty," Eunuch Li bowed his head with his hands clasped in front, his eyes excitedly flickering with emotions, this time as long as he was to do a good job then the dowager Empress would reward him generously! Maybe he will get a pouch full of gold taels. " I will prepare the gifts and rewards for the Empress properly and with utmost respect and care!"

Eunuch Li shouted loudly causing Ji Yu who just arrived in front of the study of the Emperor pause, the smile on her face dropped as she blinked her eyes. She was holding a basket with a bowl of chicken and duck blood soup when she heard the words of Eunuch Li, and her grip on the handle of the basket tightened.

The Emperor was already rewarding the Empress didn't he say that he will use Liu Hui Ying as an example to beat the Liu family down a few pegs? Then why was he rewarding the Queen?

Though Ji Yu had a lot of questions, she knew that Zhai Tianyu had his own plans, he wouldn't do anything that would mess with their plan of taking control of the Liu family, so even though she was feeling a bit upset, she still hitched her lips into a smile and then turned to the guard and nodded her head.

Only then did the guard open his mouth and announced her arrival. " Royal Concubine Ji Yu is entering!"

Zhai Tianyu raised his head from the document that he was reading and then smiled at Ji Yu who was standing on the threshold of his study, seeing the Emperor smile, Ji Yu's heart fluttered and then she turned to her maid Xiaolin. " You wait here," she told her with a calm and gentle smile. " Do not make any trouble for anyone I will come back in a jiffy."

" I will wait for you as long as you want, missy," replied Xiaolin as she bowed her head with a serene smile. " You can take your time," she lowered her voice and added swiftly, " I know that you have missed the Emperor."

" Shush, you…what are you saying," Ji Yu chided her maid who poked her tongue out of her mouth and then went to stand on one side, seeing that Xiaolin was standing on a side and wouldn't be caught up in any trouble with anyone, Ji Yu turned around and headed inside the study with a smile on her face. "Ji Yu greets you, your majesty."

She bowed a little in courtesy but Zhai Tianyu immediately helped her up as he rose from his seat and then clasped Ji Yu by her arm. " How many times I have told you? You do not need to bow in front of me, after all, you and I go way back." He led her to the tea table where he helped her sit down on a chair and took a seat himself.

A young eunuch who was standing in the corner of the study stepped forward to prepare the tea for Zhai Tianyu and Ji Yu but he was stopped by Zhai Tianyu who raised his hand and said,  " Everyone leave, Zhen wants to spend some time alone with his royal Concubine."

The young eunuchs complied after all everyone knew that Zhai Tianyu and Concubine Ji were childhood sweethearts, whenever the two of them were together something was bound to happen.

So, the young  eunuchs left the study one by one as Zhai Tianyu picked up the teapot and placed it on the delicate brazier that was prepared for him and then tilted his head slightly to look at Ji Yu as he asked, " As always, jasmine tea right?"

" Of course your majesty," Ji Yu placed the basket that she has brought with her onto the table and then opened the lid before taking out the steaming bowl of soup. " This one prepared this soup for you, your majesty. This one was worried that it will get cold and that is why this one came in a hurry, this concubine hopes that she didn't disturb you."

" Not at all," Zhai Tianyu took her hands in his and patted her on the back as he said, " How could you have disturbed me? And be at ease.

There is no need for you to address formalities when you are alone with me." He picked up the teapot once he smelled that the tea was ready and then let go of Ji Yu's hand and poured two cups of tea as he said, " You seem like you want to ask me something, don't be polite with me say what you have in mind."

" Then your majesty… I wanted to know why did you reward the Queen ?"

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