"Come here and let me take a look." The young chef's heart softened in the end. He waved his hand towards the dog, who obediently went over and lay down by his side, showing him the injured area. The chef took out some medicine and poured it onto the wound. The black dog let out a mournful howl and trembled on its hooves.

"You deserve it for being so careless," the little chef grumbled, but he carefully bandaged the black dog's wound.

Mr. Xiao Er looked at the little chef's serious expression and couldn't bear to interrupt him. After he finished bandaging the dog, Mr. Xiao Er spoke up, "Yan Sheng, how's that customer doing?"

"He... He's still lying in the room," said the young chef, brushing off his recent sadness. He lowered his head, his face turning slightly red. But the second young master, who was somewhat oblivious, thought he was still sad about the dog and didn't think much of it.

"Master instructed to take good care of him. Don't wander around aimlessly, someone else will handle kitchen matters. Just keep an eye on that guest." The little second brother, as a messenger, was indeed qualified. However, when he turned his head and saw the almost piled up dead chickens, he became an unqualified little second brother, almost throwing up on the spot. He hurriedly ran into the front yard to greet the guest.

"Why does it always have to be me?" muttered a young chef named Jing Yansheng, his voice barely audible. The memory of the scars that covered his chest and back made his face turn red uncontrollably.

Jing Yan helplessly returned to his room. Jiucheng had already woken up at this moment, his brows furrowing as he looked at the young chef before him. This was the person who had eaten his carrier pigeon.

"That...you're injured and need to rest properly." Jing Yan Sheng saw Jiusheng staring at him as soon as he entered the room, causing him to feel immediately at a loss. Especially when he noticed the gauze wrapped around his chest and back, his body tense and displaying his well-defined figure.

"Did you save me? And, what about Yun'er?" Jiusheng sat up and leaned against the bed, his pale face weakly looking at Jingyansheng. He remembered being chased by that group of people after leaving the Qingfeng Pavilion, and later someone saved him from the palace, but it seemed that Yun'er didn't manage to escape."

"It wasn't me, it was my master who saved you. My master said that the lady was living well in the imperial palace of the Song Kingdom, so there is no need for you to worry," Jingyan hurriedly explained, trying his best to appear less strange.

"Then, what about your master?" Jiusheng asked.

The master has gone out, and I don't know when he will be back. Oh! By the way, I've simmered some wolfberry pigeon soup for you to nourish your blood. I'll bring it to you right away," Jingyansheng said and immediately dashed out of the room without noticing Jiusheng's expression. It's pigeon again, seems like this person really enjoys eating pigeons.

"Your Majesty!" Jinhua shouted loudly outside the study, having gone unchallenged for quite some time. However, today, he found himself stopped by the guards and unable to enter the room.

In the past, he could freely come and go in this study without the need for any announcements. He enjoyed Song Jianglin's unlimited favor. Anyone who saw him would show deference, as he was Song Jianglin's favorite male concubine.

"Your Majesty, Young Master Jinghua has been waiting outside for an hour now," Jiang, the attendant by their side, reminded.

Song Jiang was hit with a sudden headache. "Let him in."

"Prince Xuanjinghua!" called Jianggonggong as he opened the door. Jinghua was momentarily stunned, but a weary expression on his face finally cracked into a faint smile.

Jinghua stumbled into the study, kneeling on the ground. Although he had thought of what to say, he didn't know how to start. Songjiang took the initiative and said, "Have you decided who you want to go with?"

Jinghua suddenly looked up and gazed at the man who could see through everything about him. He had fallen hopelessly in love with a man in the past, and it just so happened that this man had feelings for him too. As a result, he became one of Song Jianglin's male pets, gradually climbing up to become his most cherished one, without any equals.

But then his father, who loved him the most, opposed the person he loved the most. He didn't know what to do, so he chose to be an outsider. However, even the most innocent person can lose themselves, and he gradually became blinded. He drove away one person after another who came to compete for favor with Song Jianglin. However, he needed to have strength behind him, and Xuan Tianxin was his greatest reliance.

Xuantian Xin had great ambitions, and there were more and more tasks assigned to him. However, Xuantian Xin treated him well, and he felt a fatherly love from him. So, he did his best to assist Xuantian Xin without posing any threat to Song Jianglin. Gradually, he became more and more malicious, and he gradually felt that Song Jianglin's feelings towards him were not as strong as before.

Song Jianglin still doted on him, turning a blind eye to his actions as usual. But Tang Yu's appearance caused Song Jianglin's feelings towards him to worsen once again. He could no longer find even a trace of the initial sentiment. Instead of staying in such a situation, he might as well leave to save his father's life.

"Jinghua, you have always been intelligent. You must have also heard about what happened last night!" Song Jiang's tone was calm and ordinary as he spoke. In fact, what he really wanted to ask was whether he had also been involved?"

Jinghua did not answer the first question, nor did he pay any attention to the second question. Faced with the imposing pressure from Song Jianglin, he did not have the courage to answer him.

Looking at Jinghua's pale face, Song Jiang's heart no longer felt pain, but rather guilt. Xuantian Xin used Jinghua as a stepping stone to climb higher. He used Jinghua to bring Xuantian Xin down from his horse, but in reality, Jinghua was the most pitiful person in the middle.

"Jinghua, you must know what I'm thinking in my heart, right?"

Jinghua pursed her lips. The meaning behind the words that Song Jianglin just said was that no matter who he chose today, Xuantianxin must die. This was because Song Jianglin sent someone to assassinate Tang Yu, which also indicated that Song Jianglin knew about his lack of reporting. Perhaps, he had truly underestimated Tang Yu's position in his heart. Jinghua finally spoke up, "I... I want to see him."

Song Jiang looked at him in silence, and finally sighed, "Go!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Jinghua couldn't contain her excitement and quickly ran out.

"Your Majesty, Mirror Flower Prince no longer has any backing. Why do you still treat him well?" Jiang Gonggong asked, puzzled. He had always thought that Song Jianglin was only good to Mirror Flower because he feared his connections. Now, with Prime Minister Xuan Tianxin falling from power, Your Majesty's attitude towards Mirror Flower Prince doesn't seem to have changed much."

"Do you really think I'm relying on Jinghua to bring down Xuantian Xin?" Song Jiang Lin retorted. He knew exactly what kind of person Xuantian Xin was, and only someone as foolish as Jinghua would believe in things like fatherly love. If Jinghua wasn't by his side today, how could he have gained Xuantian Xin's admiration? In the end, for him, Jinghua was merely a tool to restrain Xuantian Xin's actions, and for Xuantian Xin, Jinghua was just a stone he used to consolidate his position."

"Your Majesty...is showing favor to Lord Jinghua..." Prime Minister Jiang frowned, still hesitant to think too much about it. If Your Majesty truly has genuine intentions towards Lord Jinghua, then why would he take his anger out on Prince Yuxi for being attacked? Your Majesty's intentions are clear – he wants Xuantian Xin's life!"

Song Jiang returned to his desk without responding to Jiang Gonggong. Recognizing the situation, Jiang Gonggong stayed silent and quietly left the study. Once outside, he slapped himself on the mouth and muttered, "Too talkative."