Although it's a few minutes late, this is indeed the 1st day's portion. Unfortunately, it passed 0:00. Please forgive me, everyone.

  The queen smiled and said: "This is strange, I haven't seen her for several days, I was wondering where she was. Isn't this Coco who has arrived?"

  She glanced at Tai Hou and murmured, "News about Zhou Mei really spreads fast..."

  The empress dowager seemed to turn a deaf ear, slightly pondered for a moment, then smiled and said: "Such a great victory is also a joyful event celebrated by all... Please ask Concubine Zhou to sit in the front hall for a while, Ye'er, you quickly send someone to invite the various cabinet ministers to enter the palace, I want to publicly announce this good news!"

  Yeguni led the order to leave, the empress stood by and observed her words and expressions. She only saw that the queen mother seemed to have other concerns, holding a tea cup with her snow-white palm, grasping the cup wall tightly.

  "Empress Dowager... what's wrong?"

  At this time, only two people were left in the palace. The queen stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder, asking softly. The empress dowager stared at the edge of the cup with a thoughtful expression, saying slowly: "The emperor's victory this time, from now on, must be even more unbearable for this old woman!"

  The queen looked at her gloomy and depressed expression, feeling both bitter and sweet in her heart, as if she had broken the five-flavored jar. Thinking of herself again, she felt a thud in her heart and forced a smile: "How could that be? The emperor wouldn't go that far!"

  The empress dowager smiled coldly: "The emperor is the son of heaven, in that supreme and solitary position, he will not be willing for anyone to point fingers at him, let alone you, my elder brother has committed a grave mistake, the handle is already in his hands --- I'm not dead yet, he's like this, after I die, the fate of the Lin family is self-evident!"

  The queen recalled the rarely seen great aunt, those eagle-like eyes, and her heart was shocked. (Computer station // . Updated fastest). Her face turned pale.

  "You will sit on this 'jade' throne in my place from now on, and you will also face the double torment - the Emperor is your husband. And Xiang Wang, is your closest blood relative, men's struggle is the eternal way of heaven in this world, while we women are always stuck in between..."

  The empress seemed somewhat melancholy, with a deep sorrow flashing in her eyes, but in the next instant, she was radiant again. Her hand tightly grasped the cup, as if firmly holding onto that supreme power in the void.

  "Only a woman who can balance and transcend both of them is considered the true mistress of the harem!"

  Her voice, calm and collected. With a hint of excitement and pride, the queen listened quietly, beyond jealousy. Only one feeling was left, she bit her lip. Forced out a gentle smile. Respectfully said: "Is Mother reminding me, Shu Jing has taken note!"

  The empress dowager glanced at her and sighed, wanting to say something else. Just then, Ye Gu Gu came forward to report: "Several cabinet ministers have arrived early in the front court, following Your Majesty's edict, they have been summoned."

  "Please ask them to serve tea in the front hall, and I will go with the Empress."

  The empress spoke slowly, adjusting her hair in front of her forehead, gazing into the mirror, still feeling that something was not quite right. She took out a hundred-treasured phoenix hairpin from the box and pinned it to the back of her chignon, securing it firmly, radiating a brilliant light that illuminated her face like a bright moon, adding an air of natural majesty.

  The queen stood by, a pang of sourness in her heart, and hastily reined in her emotions. She went forward to support the empress dowager, slowing down her pace with tender care.

  In the front hall, several cabinet ministers had already composed themselves and were waiting respectfully. On the right side was a seat, separated by a curtain made of shark's fin silk gauze. Concubine Zhou sat upright in it, her expression and complexion not quite discernible.

  On the left side slightly above, there is also a similar canopy, obviously prepared for the empress.

  The Empress Dowager sat upright in the 'Jade' throne, gazed around at everyone, her eyebrows and eyes filled with a hint of a smile, as she had Zhou Jun's memorial read out by an attendant. The hall was filled with joyful atmosphere, which gradually spread.

  All the officials then hastily read the urgent copy written by the palace staff, and their mouths were full of praise for the profound and extensive virtues of the emperor.

  The Empress Dowager stretched out a hand from behind the silk curtain, took the memorial, and read it in one glance. She suddenly opened the curtain and asked: "Your Majesty, I have something unclear - why is my father's victory report?"

  The empress dowager saw the secret in her eyes, and smiled even more warmly. She said with a slight sigh: "According to the memorial, the emperor was injured..."

  Empress Zhou heard her words and was about to ask again, but just then the Empress Dowager continued: "The Emperor is injured, although he has no major problems, I am still uneasy in my heart, so it's better to summon that envoy to come and ask."

  The messenger was summoned before the throne once again. After a brief rest, his complexion had become slightly rosier, making him look even more handsome and majestic.

  The Empress Dowager pinched the Buddhist beads on her wrist and asked: "How is the Emperor's injury?"

  The young man knelt on one knee, his voice clear and fearless: "Your Majesty led the troops in person and fought with the Tartars. Although we won a great victory, you unexpectedly fell into the Leng River."

  "Drowning in the river would only choke on water, but in the general's memorial to the throne, attached with the diagnosis of the imperial physician, it was said that the emperor had more than a dozen wounds on his body, and yet considered his arms to be the most serious injury. What is the reason for this?"

  The empress dowager did not relax at all and continued to press for an answer.

  The young man shook his head: "This is a military secret, I don't know."

  The empress dowager sneered, just saying: "You are also considered a trusted general...", and suddenly felt suffocated in her chest, unable to speak. A sharp-eyed maid beside her immediately handed over a cup of tea, letting the empress dowager drink it down before she recovered.

  The empress dowager had the maid help her massage her back, and after she felt relieved from the stuffiness in her chest, she continued to say: "The emperor has gone through great difficulties in the military, how could General Zhou be completely unaware of it? Does he take the emperor's safety lightly?"

  Her last sentence, although not heavy in tone, had already brought out a rebuke, and the young commander's face turned pale, unable to utter a word.

  In the midst of a stalemate, only the sound of silk curtains gently swaying could be heard. Empress Zhou gazed deeply in this direction, disregarding the astonished glances from the crowd.

  Her eyes locked onto the young commander's as soon as they met, and she couldn't bear to part with him.

  In this hall, the crowd, matters of state and war, all became nothing in this moment. They gazed at each other, deeply entranced by each other's eyes, almost as if they could hear each other's heartbeat.

  In those days, we smiled at each other morning and evening, a boy and girl who grew up together like green plums and bamboo horses. After many years, they finally meet again today.

  So... it was you?

  A gentle breeze blew, the branches and leaves in the courtyard swayed, petals danced in front of the window, fluttering like a fairy, but ultimately fell into the dust. They gazed at each other, their eyes filled with longing and beautiful dreams, but in the next instant, like falling petals, fireworks extinguished, a gust of wind passed, leaving no trace.