Yehu thought for a moment and replied: "She's indeed clever and knows what to do - she'll remember the Empress Dowager's kindness."

  The empress dowager lost her smile and shook her head, saying: "If it were unimportant news, she would have leaked a little bit of it. If you want her to tell you about the emperor's affairs in detail, you might as well give up that idea!"

  She smiled and looked at the stunned Ye Gugu: "The emperor's temperament, I am most clear about it. Those he doesn't trust will never be placed by his side - Qin Xi, that little eunuch, how much effort did you put in, yet still couldn't win him over?"

  At this moment, a servant hastily walked to the front of the curtain, hesitating and not daring to enter. Aunt Ye called her over to listen, and couldn't help but change color in surprise!

  She turned around and whispered a few words into the empress dowager's ear, who was furious beyond measure. She was so angry that her hands and feet were icy cold, and she tore the exquisite painted fan on the table into two halves.

  "What kind of messed up world is this?! I never had such an intention?!"

  She felt a sharp pain in her chest again, and Aunt Ye hastily handed over the tea cup. The empress dowager took a sip, and severely said: "Good! One by one, they've all grown wings!!"

  ****

  Chenlu walked out of the back hall, but saw that the night banquet in the main hall had already reached its climax with everyone drunk and merry.

  At this time, the night had fallen, and on the high hall, two rows of thick golden silk candles were lit, making the hall as bright as daylight. The musicians had already sat or knelt in a neat and grand formation, playing out a room full of elegant music.

  At this time, the lights were shining brightly, and the fragrance was wafting through the air. The concubines and palace maidens were watching the singing and dancing in the hall, some chatting and laughing, others whispering to each other, or leaning against the tables with a hint of intoxication, their faces as lovely as lotus flowers, charming and beautiful.

  No longer having to avoid the Empress Dowager, they had changed into the most magnificent palace dresses of the time, with high hairdos like clouds, competing in beauty and elegance, each one surpassing the others. For a moment, the fragrance of flowers and orchids filled the air, their radiant beauty dazzling everyone's eyes.

  Their skirts spread out like a faint cloud, with overlapping folds that are vague and indistinct. Under the lamplight, they reveal deep or shallow shadows, as if they were mysterious secrets that have been hidden since ancient times.

  Under the gorgeous makeup, each one is a stunning beauty, but those eyes, shining brightly, glance around, yet always unintentionally look up at the top.

  That is their heaven, their husband, and the source of all their joys and sorrows!

  Yuan Qi did not see these expectant eyes, he was talking to the queen ——

  "Your Majesty... has lost a lot of weight recently..."

  The queen murmured, as if she didn't know what to say, and after thinking for a moment, she thought for a long time.

  She gazed at Yuan Qi, her big eyes filled with sorrow and grievance, yet she dodged and dared not look at him.

  Since Yuanqi thought of her viciousness and cunning, she felt disgusted in her heart, and even lost the will to enter the Chao Yang Palace. The emperor and empress treated each other with icy respect.

  The queen tentatively opened her mouth, Yuan Qi originally didn't want to pay attention to her, but under the lamp, looking at her, his heart gradually softened.

  It was unclear whether it was the wine that intoxicated him or the bright lights, but he recalled the moment he first saw her as if it were old times.

  That night after the wedding, when the red veil was lifted, her small body trembled with fear, and such gentle shyness had not already captivated his heart?

  That little beauty with eyes as clear as a young deer's, why has she become like this after all the years?

  "Your Majesty..." The empress was still softly calling out...

  She didn't used to call me that... Yuan Qi closed his eyes in some pain, recalling the soft and sweet "Gege" of the past.

  "Your Majesty, tonight... come and see me..."

  Yuanyuan wanted to refuse, but in front of her eyes, that delicate and lovely, refreshing and pleasant smile appeared again.

  "Good..."

  At this time, the imperial concubines saw the emperor and empress whispering to each other, and their eyes couldn't help but show a hint of jealousy. Yunluo covered her mouth and smiled: "The Emperor and the Empress are as inseparable as glue, it's really making your servant girls jealous!"

  The queen lowered her head in shame, and a servant at this time observed the color and brought over two portions of a medicinal soup.

  "The Empress Dowager bestowed it upon the two masters!"

  ****

  Chenlu quietly watched the magnificent night feast, feeling a bit bored. She glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention, then took advantage of the commotion in the hall and slipped out unnoticed.

  Outside the palace, a vast expanse of emptiness, at night it was warm and refreshing. She raised her head to gaze up at the night sky, searching for the stars in the boundless dark veil.

  Under this starry sky, she recalled the scene of her first encounter with Lin Yuan during her childhood.

  The beautiful young girl slightly opened her lips and asked with an innocent expression: "Is this the daughter born to that servant?"

  Immediately, as if afraid of being stained with dust or something else unbearable, she turned her head and went away gently.

  At that time, how did I respond with a cold smile?

  After several rounds of tempering and struggling, how did I smile lightly at the Lin family who were shocked to death at the Tongguan meeting?

  At that time, the young man was full of chivalrous spirit, only thinking about avenging his grievances, but unexpectedly, this nine-footed insect's aristocratic family actually presented their daughter, alienating the emperor's heart, and ultimately, casting a nightmare that night.

  She recalled Lin Wan's dignified and elegant appearance just now, a cold smile rising on her lips.

  Lin Yan... you owe me, your parents owe me, the Lin family owes me, it's countless how much they owe me...

  You'd better take care of yourself... Wait for me, and I'll make you lose everything, be pointed at by thousands, and fall from the jade throne and pearl curtain into the dust, down to the Forest of Swords Hell.

  Just wait for me...

  "Shang Yi, you're indeed good at finding a quiet place!"

  The man's voice was playful, beautiful and evil, but not annoying.

  Morning dew turned around, and bowed: "Your Highness!"

  "Doesn't Shang Yi dislike the noise in the palace either?"

  The still king's brocade robe was resplendent, his face handsome to the extreme. He too raised his head to gaze at the sky and sighed: "Tonight there are actually this many stars!"

  "This humble servant is terrified, it's just that I don't like the fragrance in the palace, I came out to get some fresh air - if I startled Your Highness, please forgive me."

  Morning dew returns with a drop of water, she is not a three-year-old child, Jing Wang follows her out, must be hiding something, she really doesn't want to get entangled with her.

  The King smiled and said: "It's really a torment for the young king, Shang Yi is the person loved by the emperor - such a beautiful woman on such a night, how can it be called disturbance?"

  "It's quiet here, Your Highness should still be careful."

  She turned around and was about to return to the palace when she was stopped by Jing Wang's shout.

  "Shang Yi, what are you trying to do?!"

  "This clear and decisive voice, like a thunderclap that left no time for evasion, made Chenlu stop in her tracks. She turned back, her face thin with anger, and said: 'What kind of person does the king think I am?'"

  "Shang Yi, I didn't mean to belittle you. It's just that among the countless people in this world, everyone has their own purpose for living - wealth and power, imperial favor and love. What more do you want?"

  The morning dew was unmoved, and replied indifferently: "Nothing else, only wishing the world to be peaceful and harmonious, long live the wise emperor."

  Such an answer can be said to be flawless, but it's also clear that she doesn't take Jing Wang seriously. She turned around and was about to leave, only to hear Jing Wang's soft laughter.

  "You can't go back to your brother's side now, it's too late!"

  A soft sentence, like a thunderclap on flat ground, the morning dew's gaze was cold and stern, with a hint of icy anger: "What have you done?!"

  The king calmly shrugged his shoulders, and with an air of nonchalance, said: "What need is there for me to do anything? There are naturally people who can't wait!"

  Chenlu no longer argued with him and turned to leave quickly.

  In the grand hall, Yuan Qi was still chatting with the empress and concubines. His expression was as usual, not showing any sign of anything having happened. Morning Dew's heart slightly calmed down, just about to approach him, when she brushed shoulders with an elderly steward.

  "Wait! What's in your hand?"

  She ignored the other party and didn't care about the terrified expression of this fifty-year-old woman, took over the empty bowl, carefully examined it and sniffed it lightly.

  "It's... it's the Empress Dowager's reward to the Emperor and the Empress, a special medicinal soup..."

  No strange smell... Chenlu was still uneasy, with her little finger lightly touching, the tip of her tongue touched, and immediately her face changed greatly—

  She turned around to grab the woman, only to see her change from panic earlier and rush into the crowd.

  It's no use catching her now!

  It was already past midnight, and the people in the palace were slightly tired. The music and dance had paused for a while, and Yuan Qi took the empress's hand to leave for the Changle Palace.

  He must be stopped!

  The only thought flashing through his mind was...