As the medicine bowl approached his lips, a strong bitter smell quickly spread and went straight into his nose, making him feel nauseous.

But the emperor did not show any intention of backing down. He took a deep breath, raised his head resolutely and drank it all in one gulp. His Adam's apple rolled up and down, and in the blink of an eye he had finished the whole bowl of medicine without a drop left.

When he put down the medicine bowl, a look of fatigue that was hard to conceal suddenly emerged on the retired emperor's originally tense face.

Ye Zifen did not leave the palace as everyone expected. Instead, she turned around and walked towards where the prime minister was.

The long-standing relationship between her and the Prime Minister as both a teacher and a friend made her always want to go and have a chat with him.

During this period of time, she and the prime minister have developed a unique tacit understanding.

Normally, she would first review and process the ordinary memorials before handing over some of the difficult-to-decide matters to the prime minister for further review and decision.

In the court, Ye Zifen, because of her special status, often becomes the person who takes the lead in many affairs.

For example, this is the case today when the emperor wants to confer a title on his concubine.

However, this time when she stepped into the office where she worked with the prime minister, what she saw was the prime minister alone, buried in a mountain of memorials.

His brows were tightly furrowed and his face looked serious, as if he was facing many difficult problems.

His expression was extremely focused, and the pen in his hand kept writing notes on the memorials.

At this moment, the warm sunlight just poured down through the window lattice, and the soft light gently enveloped the prime minister's body, cleverly outlining his firm and handsome facial features.

Seeing this, Ye Zifen approached cautiously. Her footsteps were so light that they were almost inaudible, but even such a slight sound still aroused the Prime Minister's vigilance.

The prime minister slowly raised his head, and the moment his eyes met Ye Zifen's figure, a hint of surprise suddenly flashed in his originally slightly tired eyes.

However, this surprise soon disappeared like a shooting star, and was replaced by deep fatigue.

I only heard him ask softly: "Are you back?"

Ye Zifen nodded slightly, her movements graceful and gentle, like a dancing petal falling, in response to the other party.

Then, she opened her red lips slightly, her voice as clear and pleasant as the gurgling of a stream in spring, and she suggested softly, "Can we two talk?"

Hearing this, the prime minister, who had been concentrating on writing at his desk, slowly stopped writing.

He raised his head, a trace of emotion on his face, and sighed: "Before, when I didn't have your help, I didn't feel that there were so many things to take care of. But how long has it been? Now that I have lost your assistance, I find it so difficult to adapt. I even have to deal with these daily matters all by myself again."

As he spoke, the Prime Minister couldn't help but shook his head, with a look of helplessness and fatigue in his eyes.

Seeing this, Ye Zifen took light steps and walked slowly to the Prime Minister's side like a nimble butterfly.

Her eyes first fell on the pile of memorials that almost covered the entire desk, and then turned to the Prime Minister's slightly haggard face, full of concern and pity.

He said softly, "Sir, you are really hard-working. It is really admirable that you have to deal with so many complicated things every day."

The Prime Minister looked at Ye Zifen seriously and asked softly, "In your opinion, is the decision made by the Emperor today the result of careful consideration or is he just trying to test you two?"

Ye Zifen's face was as calm as water, and she responded calmly, "Whether this is a test from the Emperor or not, one thing is certain, he doesn't want us to stay under his nose. I'm afraid this has been his idea for a long time."

As she spoke, her gaze gradually became distant, as if she was completely immersed in memories of the past.

"Since this period of time, from the emperor's attitude towards me and various subtle behaviors, it is clear that he has long been dissatisfied and annoyed with my usefulness and my occasional rebellious behavior. Although this arrangement does not completely meet my wishes, it at least will not be the worst possible outcome."

After saying this, Ye Zifen couldn't help but sigh softly.

Hearing this, the Prime Minister could not help but frown and asked, "Are you going to just let it go like this? Are you really willing to accept this situation?"

Ye Zifen shook her head slowly, a bitter smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she said helplessly: "What can I do if I am unwilling? The emperor's mind is as deep as the sea and unpredictable. It is not something that my generation can easily figure out! Not to mention other things, just in terms of age, he is old enough to be my father. Facing his complicated power struggles, I really can't muster the slightest interest to participate in them."

"But this concerns the future of you and your husband!" The prime minister's voice suddenly rose several degrees, and the words were like a thunder exploding in the air, carrying endless anxiety and concern.

However, faced with such a pressing situation, Ye Zifen appeared unusually calm. Her expression was as calm as a lake without ripples.

She raised her head slightly, looked at the prime minister with clear eyes, and then said slowly in a leisurely tone: "How will the future develop? Who can tell clearly? We can only move forward step by step and see what happens as we go. I know very well that in this seemingly prosperous but actually perilous palace, every step is fraught with danger. If you make a mistake, you may fall into an abyss and fall into an irretrievable situation. Therefore, now that I have the opportunity to leave this place full of right and wrong, it is a relief for me."

Hearing this, the Prime Minister could not help but frowned, and seemed to want to say something to admonish Ye Zifen, but he had just said a few words - "But the emperor's position..." He was interrupted by Ye Zifen without hesitation.

Ye Zifen shook her head slightly and said firmly, "Whether the emperor can sit firmly in the supreme position depends entirely on his own ability and the means to deal with various complex situations. To be honest, I have neither the heart to participate in this power struggle nor the power to influence the situation and change the status quo. The only thing I want is to live a peaceful and tranquil life, away from those exhausting power struggles."