The moon is above the willow branches, and from the window, a clear and bright light spills down. After the guests have dispersed, in the great hall, only cups, plates, bowls, and dishes are left, still arranged in a dazzling display.

  Chen 'Lu' took over the rose dew brought by the maid, but did not drink it herself. Instead, she handed it to Yuan Qi and said: "You drank a lot just now, this is iced, which is best for quenching thirst."

  Yuan Qi took a small sip, feeling refreshed and smooth, and asked with a smile: "What riddle are you trying to solve?"

  "What do you think of the current situation in the harem?"

  Morning dew does not respond to questioning.

  "Lin's dominance is unmatched...". Yuan Qi thought for a moment and added another sentence: "In the time of the previous emperor, there was no other way."

  The morning 'dew' in her eyes dimmed the murderous intent, as if she was unaccustomed to the light of the lamps. Those clear and cold black pupils seemed to hold a hint of sorrow.

  "The Lin family's dominance is because for two generations, the empresses have been in their grasp. In the harem, no one dares to defy them. Now, if you want to suppress this overbearing attitude, there is only one way: use Your Majesty's authority to gather all the other consorts under your banner. Tonight's play is precisely for the purpose of raising this great flag."

  Chen 'Lu' felt a bit apologetic, saying: "I'm afraid I've put you to trouble. In order to let them see my skills, I had no choice but to use your official seal for personal purposes - tomorrow the officials will be bothering me again!"

  Yuandi burst out laughing and teased: "Anyway, for your sake, I've already become a foolish ruler..."

  He was originally teasing those who were timid and fearful, but he looked at them with a smile, speaking sincerely and solemnly.

  Chen 'Lu' didn't respond, but continued: "With Xiang Gui as an example, others may be intimidated by the empress's strict power and not dare to have open dealings with me, but in private they will definitely be useful to me."

  "Was the drumbeat to transmit 'flower' already prepared?"

  "Even Xiang Gui was someone I had chosen a long time ago... She is a shy and introverted person, on the day I became the imperial concubine. The palace ladies who should have come to congratulate me were intimidated by the Empress Dowager's power, so they just went through the motions. Only she sent someone to deliver three pieces of cloud brocade."

  Chen took over the second glass of rose dew, lightly sipped a mouthful. Let that coolness penetrate into her bones and marrow.

  "Rushing to cook in such cold weather is really too much of a hassle..."

  Yuan Qi sank into thought, recalling that timid and trembling 'girl' at the banquet, feeling utterly incredulous.

  "Morning Dew" chuckled and said, "I also thought so at first, but after investigating, it's really laughable and pitiful. This Xiang Gui person is just like her father, loving books more than life, and normally doesn't go out unless necessary. She's completely unaware of the palace gossip, and her attendants are taking advantage of her because she doesn't give them any benefits, so they're actually..."

  Yuan Qi heard this, and already understood the situation. He revealed a helpless bitter smile, and sighed: "The palace's sycophancy has reached this point... it's really hard for you!"

  Chen 'Lu' smiled slightly. Not accepting his praise, she advised: "In the palace, it's normal to flatter and step on others..."

  She gazed deeply in the northwest direction-----that end. It was the ancient and solemn Cining Palace, whispering: "I don't know either... how is it over there..."

  She thought of "Chen Building", those naive and determined 'girls', and couldn't help but feel worried.

  Ten million, don't have any accidents... At the night banquet, that scene didn't arouse anger, but only lightly said: "The Emperor is indeed great, this time's insight is really not bad."

  "Mother......!"

  "Yeh's aunt hastily said: 'This appearance is loyal and true, but in reality it is false. Now that she has climbed to the top of the clouds, she actually dares to use her own power to interfere with state affairs. It is really impossible to keep her!' "

  "She was the emperor's beloved, last time she borrowed An Wang's Di Binglang, yet still came out unscathed... Do you think someone like that can be easily eliminated?"

  The empress dowager smiled leisurely, with a cold light flashing in her phoenix-like eyes, looking calm and unpredictable.

  "She was just a pawn in the emperor's hands, destroyed, and there is still a second one..."

  She recalled the emperor's courteous yet distant smile, and a pang of hatred arose in her heart. Unconsciously, she scratched the surface of the purple sandalwood dressing table with her fingernails.

  Overwhelmed with exhaustion, she felt her body unusually tired and had the palace maid attend to her as she went to bed. The mosquito net hung lightly, the incense burner wafted a faint scent, the atmosphere was serene and distant, but the Empress Dowager did not sleep soundly. In a daze, she opened her eyes to see that in the dimly lit hall, someone was standing in front of the desk, quietly gazing at her with a cold smile.

  "Who is it?!"

  The empress wanted to shout loudly, but found that her chest cavity was soft and powerless.

  Her cloud-like sleeves gently drooping down, her figure slender and elegant, with an absolutely beautiful face. Under the dim moonlight, she is vague and obscure. Who is it...

  The empress dowager asked again, still in a weak voice, but saw that the 'girl' was floating over, as if her feet didn't touch the ground.

  A cool breeze blew in through the window, and a strange fragrance wafted in. As she drew closer, her face seemed to grow more sorrowful and resentful. Her pale face was frozen with a smile like a puppet's, and her black pupils seemed about to drop blood.

  In the flash of lightning, the empress finally saw her face clearly, she was so frightened that her hair stood on end, and under the shock, she finally shouted out loud.

  Ye Gu Gu rushed in from outside the corridor, gently shaking the Empress Dowager who was dazed and unable to control herself: "Your Majesty...!"

  "Don't come near... You're already dead, what's the point of clinging to me!!!!!!!!!

  The empress dowager was still frantic and muttering to herself, her eyes unfocused.

  Yehu's aunt muttered a phrase of apology, took down the water bottle from the stage, and poured it over her head. The empress suddenly came to her senses as if waking up from a dream.

  "There is a ghost..."

  She whispered in a frightened tone, pointing to a spot not far from the bed.

  Yehu ordered people to light up the candles, and the room was as bright as daytime. She also ordered people to close the doors and windows tightly and search carefully, but still found nothing.

  "What did you see, Princess?"

  The empress dowager calmed down slightly, took a sip of water, and under the service of the palace staff, changed into a silk robe. With lingering fear, she said: "I saw her coming, standing there, staring at me with a smile!"

  Yeh's aunt listened to her faint and dreamy voice, shivered suddenly, and asked with difficulty: "Which one is she?"

  "Who else could it be?!!"

  The empress was almost furious, decades of resentment finally erupted at this moment, like molten lava flowing, red and scorching hot.

  "That one, the former emperor treasured like a precious gem, even in death wanting to be buried together... if it's really going to cause trouble, can't escape the curse ***. "That must be the one from the Western Wing..."

  Yeh's aunt took a cold breath, remembering the dark night many years ago when her least favorite person had carried out the body and removed the blood-stained palace clothes.

  Outside the window, branches swayed, she shivered suddenly, feeling eerie and suspicious, even doubting her own sanity.

  "Miss, I'm afraid you're mistaken?!"

  She hesitantly asked.

  The empress recalled that daze, and she didn't dare to confirm it herself. She couldn't show weakness in her words, so she said: "It's probably because I've been too worried lately, so I had a nightmare... This is really inauspicious!"