After the death of the host: the tyrant cried red eyes

Watching Yu Meiren's departing back, Shen Bingning's eyes flickered slightly and ripples appeared in her heart.

Is Yu Meiren's move a simple helping hand or an intentional alliance?

And what is Yu Meiren’s real intention?

She didn't seem to care much about Xiao Yi's favor. Could it be that she also longed for a free life outside the palace?

If this is true, why would she choose to become one of Xiao Yi's many concubines and voluntarily be imprisoned in this deep palace?

Are there any unknown secrets and calculations hidden behind this?

"..." Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he had expected her question, and said slowly: "In this case, from today on, I will exempt my beloved concubine from all expenses. But," he changed the subject, with a sly look in his eyes, "in exchange, you need to stay in the palace and continue to entertain me."

Shen Bingning made some calculations in her mind, but her expression remained calm. She only bowed slightly and said, "I will obey your command, but I hope Your Majesty will not forget our promise today, so that I can leave this magnificent cage with my freedom one day."

Xiao Yi stood up and walked towards Shen Bingning step by step until their noses were almost touching. His deep voice rang in her ears: "Remember, your freedom is only given by me. And you'd better never forget this."

Shen Bingning suppressed the turmoil in her heart and forced a smile, with complex emotions flashing in her eyes.

She knew that her game with the emperor had just begun.

As Xiao Yi slowly walked away, the palace returned to its former tranquility, but hidden beneath this tranquility was a turbulent undercurrent.

Shen Bingning stared at the tightly closed palace door and secretly vowed in her heart that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, she would find a ray of light that belonged to her.

The setting sun shone through the carved window lattices onto her thin shoulders, casting a faint golden glow on this lonely figure.

Shen Bingning sighed lightly, turned and walked to the desk, and began to plan how to gain more possibilities for herself in this palace where power and desire are intertwined.

Night fell quietly, and the candlelight flickered in Fengqing Hall, illuminating Shen Bingning's resolute profile. Her eyes were filled with unprecedented determination and hope.

During this long career in the palace, she was no longer the weak woman who was at the mercy of others, but began to weave her own destiny.

At this moment, Fengqing Palace seemed no longer to be a cage that imprisoned her, but a stage that witnessed her transformation.

Shen Bingning knew very well that the road ahead was still long and full of obstacles, but she was willing to risk everything just for that ray of hope of freedom.

"My beloved concubine, please pay another 20,000 taels of gold, and Fengqing Palace will belong to you from now on."

The emperor's voice was deep and magnetic, revealing unquestionable determination.

"My status as a subordinate concubine means that even Your Majesty cannot enter Fengqing Palace without my consent?"

Shen Bingning's tone was gentle but with a barely perceptible firmness. Her eyes sparkled with shrewdness as she tried to find her foothold in this game of power.

"Exactly."

Xiao Yi's answer was concise and powerful, and his brows revealed a majesty that could not be challenged.

Shen Bingning calculated quickly in her mind. Twenty thousand taels might be an astronomical figure for others, but in her eyes it was just an opportunity to gain more autonomy.

If she pays another 20,000, there will be 50,000 left, and the control of Fengqing Palace will belong to her...

This deal made sense to her.

After all, if she refused, Xiao Yi would probably not give up easily, and would more likely make her pay a higher price in other ways.

"Then please ask Your Majesty to sign a written agreement with me?"

She made a clever request. The document was like the chains of law. If Xiao Yi intended to visit her in the future, this piece of thin paper would be her iron wall to resist foreign invasion.

Xiao Yi ignored the barely perceptible smile on Shen Bingning's lips, and just nodded slightly, and calmly instructed the guards beside him: "Wei Xiquan, draft the document."

Soon, the document was neatly written, and Xiao Yi's personal seal fell, shining with golden light.

However, Shen Bingning was still not completely reassured. She suggested adding the imperial seal to show authority and solemnity. In this way, the document would truly have weight. She carefully put it away.

Then, she announced, "Today, Fengqing Palace is closed to visitors. Your Majesty, please return. Within three days, I will definitely deliver the silver in full."

At the same time, the same deadline was given to the female official Zheng - three days.

Back at Qingya Residence, the maid Xiaomei asked in confusion, "Miss, why are you bidding for that precious Phoenix Seal today? I'm afraid Miss Zheng will direct all her dissatisfaction at you."

"If I don't bid, Ms. Zheng will show mercy and stop blaming me, right?"

There was a hint of coldness in Shen Bingning's tone, and her eyes were deep, as if she could see through people's hearts. "After this, it will be very difficult for Miss Zheng to make a comeback. I just gave her a push."

Xiaomei was shocked when she heard this, "Miss, what you mean is..."

Before Xiaomei could finish, Shen Bingning changed the subject: "Have you found out the important things that the young man named Hu Zi said?"

"The person who was following reported that Miss Shen wrote a letter in her own handwriting, and Ah Sheng, who was beside Bixia, secretly sent it out of the palace. Hu Zi later replied with a letter, but the person who was following had no way of knowing the content of the letter."

Xiaomei's words revealed information and also revealed that Shen Bingning had quietly strengthened her defenses against the outside world.

All this was within Shen Bingning's expectations. She thought to herself that it seemed that she had been put under the other party's vigilance.

---

For three consecutive days, the sun seemed to become increasingly scorching, but Shen Bingning did not receive the gold that Miss Zheng had promised. Instead, she received the news that the Zheng family had been raided, which was like a bolt from the blue.

She sent Qing'er to find out the truth. With the help of Asheng's connections, Qing'er hit a silent wall and gained nothing.

Within the palace walls, the only people one can trust and rely on are Qing'er, master and apprentice Eunuch Wei, and the high and mighty Xiao Yi.

Now Qing'er couldn't get any information, and Eunuch Wei and the others didn't dare to say much. Shen Bingning could only go find Xiao Yi in person. After all, the 100,000 taels of gold were a matter of vital interest to her.

Before she stepped out of the threshold of Qingfeng Palace, Xiao Yi had already arrived, as if he had a premonition.

Shen Bingning put on a reluctant enthusiasm and greeted him, "The weather is getting hotter. Your Majesty must be tired on the journey. Please have a sip of herbal tea to quench your thirst."

This was originally the etiquette that concubines in the harem should follow. However, in the eyes of Eunuch Wei who followed her out of the palace, Miss Shen's uncharacteristic enthusiasm seemed particularly eye-catching. After all, she had always been somewhat reluctant to see His Majesty in the past.

"Your Majesty, I heard that Miss Zheng's family was raided. What kind of crime did she commit?"

she asked tentatively.

"Zheng Yanmin was suspected of corruption and bribery, and 120,000 taels of gold were found in his mansion."

Xiao Yi's words were calm, but they made Shen Bingning's heart fall to the bottom.

Now that the Zheng family had fallen, her 100,000 taels of gold had obviously become a bubble.