Emperor Henry Actually Likes You

That day, Minister Zhuo called for Grace Lawrence, and she went to see him.

When she arrived at the study, she blinked and asked, "Father, you called for me. Does that mean there's news from the investigation?"

Minister Zhuo replied calmly, "Silver bit her tongue and killed herself, so we can't investigate any further."

"Bit her tongue and killed herself?" Grace Lawrence looked at him suspiciously. "Can't investigate further? What do you mean?"

"You should go to the Zhu Ancestral Temple and begin your Hair-down Retreat," Minister Zhuo said.

"What?" Grace Lawrence jumped up. "I'm the victim here! Why do I have to go on a Hair-down Retreat?"

Minister Zhuo tried to comfort her. "After all, this concerns His Majesty. This is just for show, to appease the Emperor. After some time, let Cindy Zhu plead on your behalf before the Emperor and get his forgiveness. Then I'll go talk to Bobby Zhu's parents and discuss your marriage with them."

"But if you make this decision, it's basically confirming that I had an affair with him!" Grace Lawrence complained, clearly unhappy.

"Just do as I say! Would I ever harm you?" Minister Zhuo said, raising his eyebrows.

"I may not have proof, but I'd bet my life that the person who framed me was Cindy Zhu!" Grace Lawrence declared. "Did you already get Frost's testimony and find out it was her doing?"

Minister Zhuo said nothing.

"So your silence means you agree? Are you really my Father? Are you protecting her by ruining my reputation?"

Minister Zhuo paused for a moment and asked, "Do you want to enter the palace?"

"No way!"

"As a fellow man, I can tell—the Emperor really likes you," Minister Zhuo said.

Grace Lawrence's eyes widened. "Huh? No way!"

Was her Father going senile?

"The Emperor's been in a bad mood lately. I think it's because of you," Minister Zhuo continued. "If you really were framed, and the truth comes out, what if he summons you to the palace? Would you dare defy an imperial order?"

Grace Lawrence was stunned.

So, her Father wasn't protecting Cindy Zhu—he was protecting her?

Suddenly, Grace Lawrence had a bad feeling.

If she was proven innocent, would Colin Gu make her return to the palace?

"Go on! Go to the Zhu Ancestral Temple for your Hair-down Retreat. When Bobby Zhu's parents return from Tao City, I'll go talk to them. Then I'll bring you back home."

Grace Lawrence bit her lip. "Fine, I'll go! But tell me honestly, did you never want me to enter the palace in the first place? Is that why Jason Zhuo didn't become an imperial guard?"

Minister Zhuo's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

He had originally planned with the Chloe Family Matriarch that before Grace Lawrence entered the palace, she'd come down with a serious illness or something.

But after this incident, things worked out perfectly for him...

"Father," Grace Lawrence asked quietly, "where did you go and what did you do last time you left Danyang City?"

Why did he turn against Colin Gu and start supporting Duke Ethan Gu instead?

"You're just a girl. Why ask so many questions?" Minister Zhuo said, raising his eyebrows. "Hurry up and go to the Zhu Ancestral Temple!"

"If you don't tell me, I'm not going!"

Minister Zhuo slammed his palm on the table. "If you don't go to the Zhu Ancestral Temple, you'll get forty strokes. It's your choice!"

But Grace Lawrence wasn't scared at all. "I'm not choosing either."

Minister Zhuo took a deep breath and called for his attendant, "Leon Liu! Tie her up and send her to the Zhu Ancestral Temple!"

Grace Lawrence rolled her eyes at her Father. "Alright, alright! There's no one outside anyway. Who are you calling for? I'll go, okay!"

Since this concerned the lives of everyone in the Lawrence family, Grace Lawrence knew her Father would never tell her.

So she stopped asking and just turned to leave.