Song Qingrui and Yuan Ruxin beside Bai Zhi’er were both taken aback.

Why did the Emperor suddenly want to see Bai Zhi’er?

You must know, ever since the late Empress passed away, the Emperor’s temper has been unpredictable. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Often laughing one moment and then suddenly getting angry the next, putting people in peril.

Song Qingrui felt uneasy.

"Sister Jing, let me go with you."

Yuan Ruxin immediately stood up, "I’ll go too."

However, the eunuch clasped his hands.

He smiled very kindly, "The Emperor said he wishes to meet with Miss Jing alone."

Bai Zhi’er hid her hand behind her back and simply divined a fortune.

Extremely auspicious.

It seems there is nothing to worry about this time.

Even if there were, she did not fear.

Bai Zhi’er stood up, "It’s okay, I’ll be back soon. You don’t need to worry."

Then, she followed behind the eunuch, walking towards the pavilion where the Emperor was.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Bai Zhi’er’s figure caught many people’s attention.

Feng Fuce raised his eyebrows slightly, watching her enter the pavilion.

He gave a signal to the plainclothes Asura envoys in the crowd.

The Asura envoys inconspicuously focused their attention towards the pavilion.

If Bai Zhi’er were in danger, they would take action immediately.

And Song Qingying, sitting beside Song Qingrui, nearly tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds.

So many people standing up for that Miss Jing was already enough.

Even the Emperor summoned her alone?

Inside the pavilion.

The curtain around kept the inside scene completely hidden from view.

No one outside could see in.

As soon as Bai Zhi’er entered the pavilion, she saw a man, dressed in a bright yellow Dragon Robe, sitting behind the table, pouring tea.

He seemed to be about thirty-five years old, yet having lived comfortably all his life, he appeared as young as someone just coming of age.

His brow ridge was slightly high, making his deep eyes even more prominent, exuding a distinctive noble temperament.

"Miss Jing, come, sit." He spoke, lifting his head to meet Bai Zhi’er’s eyes.

Seeing these eyes, Bai Zhi’er’s mind automatically matched them to the gaze of a man in black she encountered earlier in the passages.

She raised her eyebrows, not particularly surprised, "So it’s you."

The eunuch beside her quickly reminded, "Miss Jing, you must use honorifics when addressing the Emperor."

The Emperor waved his hand, chuckling lightly, "There are no outsiders here. I am quite fated with Miss Jing, no need for formalities."

"You all step back first. I have words to say to Miss Jing alone."

"Yes." The eunuch left with the Imperial Guard, standing guard around the pavilion.

Bai Zhi’er’s dark eyes darted around.

She asked no further questions and directly sat opposite Emperor Qin.

He handed over a cup of exceptionally fine tea. Bai Zhi’er, without looking, took a sip.

Long Xiyuan looked at Bai Zhi’er, leisurely, "Aren’t you afraid I poisoned the tea?"

Bai Zhi’er put down the teacup.

Her eyes were bright, her skin fair, making her lips even more gently rosy.

Her reply was witty and clear.

"At this entire banquet, the ones least likely to harm me, besides my friends, would be the Emperor."

Long Xiyuan raised an eyebrow with curiosity, "Oh? Why so sure?"

Bai Zhi’er responded, "If the Emperor truly wanted to kill me, there are many ways."

"It surely wouldn’t be necessary to call me to a pavilion just to bestow a cup of poisonous tea."

"After all, if you want to execute someone, why meet them in person?"

Long Xiyuan laughed heartily, clapped twice, "You are indeed clever."

Bai Zhi’er retorted, "Though I am curious, even if the Emperor didn’t find me, I wouldn’t have known your identity."

After all, in the dungeon, he was so tightly covered, only his eyes visible.

If he hadn’t taken the initiative to reveal himself, Bai Zhi’er wouldn’t know he was the Emperor.