The driver was very surprised.
But as Nie Qingru's right-hand man, Shadow's words carry a lot of weight.
The driver only took a moment to think about it, then said respectfully to the two of them: "Okay, I'm not far away. Queen and Lord Shadow can call me anytime."
Shadow watched the driver walk away until he was far enough away that he couldn't hear anything around the corner. Then he turned around and looked at the master he had followed for decades.
The muscles on both sides of my cheeks were shaking violently, and for the first time, I began to doubt.
He didn't have time to speak.
Nie Qingru was the first to break the silence: "Tsk, you are so bold now that you don't even take me seriously."
Shadow felt a chill on his back, and immediately knelt on one knee in front of her: "Please forgive me, Queen. I was just in a hurry at the moment, and I didn't disobey your wishes."
"Go ahead." Nie Qingru didn't argue with him. She sat in the car, but didn't close the door. She looked at him sharply and said, "What do you want to tell me?"
Shadow suddenly raised his head and met her cold eyes. He didn't know why those words were stuck in his heart again and he couldn't speak them.
Nie Qingru waited for a few seconds, but before he could speak, the sneer on his face disappeared: "My patience is limited. If you don't want to say it, ask the driver to come back."
Veins bulged on Shadow's forehead. He clenched his hands, unclenched them, and clenched them again. Finally, he mustered up the courage and looked into her eyes: "Queen, have you made a decision?"
Nie Qingru's expression, which had originally been indifferent, turned completely cold, and she looked at him with murderous intent: "Why would you ask me what I want to do?"
"But Master Qi is the man you have watched grow up and devoted your love to like your own son. Are you really willing to sacrifice him?" Shadow said excitedly.
He is not a fool.
Having been with Nie Qingru for decades, he knew his master's every word and action too well.
If the Queen had severely punished Master Qi in the ward just now, there would still be room for maneuver. At least the Queen would still be willing to protect Master Qi.
But just now in the ward, the Queen's attitude was unreasonably gentle. She even patted Qi Shao's shoulder gently before leaving...
Maybe in Qi Shao's eyes, this was a sign of intimacy. But Yingzi knew very well how Ji Qing died.
The Queen had the same attitude before Ji Qing died.
She was different from her usual strict self and became as gentle as an ordinary mother.
But…
"Empress, I know that Young Master Qi has caused you a lot of trouble this time, but if you insist on saving Young Master Qi's life, the Privy Council may not dare to..." Shadow spoke quickly and urgently, with a fine layer of sweat oozing from the tip of his nose, and it was unclear whether he was anxious or frightened.
But he wasn't finished yet.
Nie Qingru interrupted him: "Enough!"
Shadow raised his head and looked at her blankly: "Are you really going to..."
Nie Qingru looked at him sharply: "You know better than anyone how much I have sacrificed and compromised to get to this position today."
Shadow lowered his head and said weakly: "I know. But..."
But that was Master Qi!
He was the child he had watched grow up.
He really couldn't bear it.
"I know what you want to say, but I can't ruin my life's work for him!" Nie Qingru closed his eyes tightly, and a sweet and fishy taste surged in his chest.
She wasn't much better off than Shadow.
But now this is the only way left for her.
"I have nurtured him since he was young, given him the best education, and hired the best teachers for him. I even kept him out of the spotlight for the first thirty years so that he could have a quiet environment, and secretly cleared the obstacles for him..."
(End of this chapter)