Taiji Palace, Hanyuan Hall.
The morning light was faint, spilling down through the windows of the grand hall. The Zhu Pillars stood solemn and imposing, while the Coiled Dragon painted on the caisson ceiling loomed like a Nine Heavens Deity, overlooking everyone within the hall.
“Dowager Empress arrives!”
The Court Eunuch at the foot of the Imperial Steps announced in a powerful voice, imbued with true energy, echoing throughout Hanyuan Hall so clearly that even officials outside—who were not qualified to enter—could hear it plainly.
After a moment, a Wenmu Lihua Palanquin gently settled beside the Imperial seat, silent and graceful, its gauze curtains fluttering lightly.
Everyone gazed at the still-empty Dragon Throne, then glanced at the palanquin behind its Pearl Curtain beside it, falling momentarily silent.
“The Emperor’s health is unwell. This morning’s court session will once again be presided over by me.”
A graceful, smoke-like voice sounded from behind the Pearl Curtain. Though not loud, it reached the ears of everyone present, whether inside or outside the hall.
“Your Highness, this official has a matter to present.”
A bearded official dressed in a purple robe, donning a black gauze cap and holding an ivory Court Tablet, stepped into the center of the hall, breaking the silence.
“Song Qing, what matter do you wish to present?” A faint voice came from behind the Pearl Curtain.
Xiao Wan reclined sideways on the soft couch, adjusting the position of the Chonglou Golden Hairpin that held her hair, then raised her head. Through the Pearl Curtain, her phoenix eyes looked calmly at the Yushi Zhongcheng below who had come to stir up trouble.
Heh, just as she expected. That little girl Li Zhaoning couldn’t sit still. The Imperial Guard had only just failed yesterday, and today her offensive had already begun.
Thinking of this, Xiao Wan’s delicate fist tightened. Her long, bare jade legs and snow-white feet extended from beneath the Feihua Palace Dress, crossed and gently swaying.
She needed to come up with a way to send this Yushi Zhongcheng, who was first to jump out and cause trouble, off to Annan!
Yushi Zhongcheng Song spoke in a clear voice, “Your Highness, this official wishes to impeach Commander Zhao of Jingtingwei’s Zhenmusi.”
As soon as his words fell, the hall became so silent one could hear a pin drop.
Everyone present knew that Commander Zhao of Jingtingwei was one of the Dowager Empress’s people, while this Zhongcheng Song was from the Crown Princess’s faction.
The two factions were about to start clashing again!
At this, officials who belonged to neither side lowered their heads, wishing they could use their Court Tablets and sleeve robes to bury their faces.
Meanwhile, some officials standing in the front rows turned their heads with interest, eager to watch the drama unfold.
As members of the Chancellor’s faction, they were more than happy to see the two female factions tear at each other.
“Oh? For what reason does Song Qing wish to impeach Commander Zhao?” Although Xiao Wan had already resolved to banish this man, on the surface she could not show it. She still had to maintain her persona as the “good Dowager Empress.”
Moreover, the direction of Li Zhaoning’s attack was not at Lincheng as she had expected, which caught her a bit off guard.
The Imperial Guard’s assassination attempt had failed—by rights, the Messenger should have been rescued back by her.
Could it be…
Xiao Wan’s beautiful eyes narrowed. Her jade finger, painted with crimson Danjing, unconsciously moved to her lips for a light bite.
The one who intercepted the Messenger wasn’t Li Zhaoning’s people?
Then who was it?
At this thought, Xiao Wan instinctively glanced at the man standing at the very front below the Imperial Steps—that calm, unflappable, elegant middle-aged man.
Gu Huaizhang?
Xiao Wan’s brows knitted lightly, and a faint blush at the corner of her eye seemed to glow with a soft light.
For a moment, she was uncertain.
Of all the civil and military officials in court, the only person she could not see through was the Right Chancellor, Gu Huaizhang. It wasn’t just his strength, but in Xiao Wan’s eyes, his actions were completely unpredictable.
Even with the one-way gauze curtain that blocked off cultivators’ perception, even when she used her powers to probe Gu Huaizhang, she still couldn’t read any emotion from his face.
There was no time to think further, as the voice of the Yushi Zhongcheng continued in the hall: “Your Highness, Commander Zhao failed in his duty, causing monsters and demons in Sheng’an City to become increasingly rampant. Yesterday, he even harmed the innocent—he injured the son of Prime Minister Gu.”
Buzz buzz buzz…
As soon as these words fell, Hanyuan Hall became instantly noisy. Countless officials exchanged looks, speaking to each other in low voices.
No one had expected that the Crown Princess’s faction would make trouble this time, and even involve the Chancellor’s faction.
And those officials from the Chancellor’s party, who had originally just wanted to watch the show, instinctively looked to Prime Minister Gu, who stood at the front, his expression calm and unhurried.
Even they hadn’t received any hint from Prime Minister Gu beforehand.
“Tch…” Xiao Wan lightly clicked her tongue behind the Pearl Curtain. She knew this matter well enough.
This morning, the incident of Jingtingwei mistakenly injuring Gu Wangchen had already spread like wildfire across the streets and alleys of Sheng’an. At that time, she had felt something was amiss.
Now, seeing Li Zhaoning making trouble not over Lincheng but over such a minor matter, it was clear the Messenger had ended up in someone else’s hands.
And considering this morning’s rumors—obviously fueled by someone behind the scenes.
She understood—Gu Huaizhang definitely had something in mind. He just didn’t show up himself and instead used his son as a tool.
That old fox! To even be willing to use his own son, not caring for his safety and deliberately placing him in danger.
Back before the late Emperor summoned her into the palace, when she could still travel the world freely, she had enjoyed a good friendship with Gu Huaizhang’s wife. Because of this, she’d carried and played with little Gu Wangchen many times.
And the last time she saw him before entering the palace, the boy was already at the age of dancing at the evening festival. By rights, he should have been as mischievous as other children, but Gu Wangchen still gave her a sense of calm and tranquility that she liked very much.
It was only later, as Gu Wangchen lost the ability to cultivate, that he gradually let himself go and became Sheng’an’s number one prodigal.
She had always felt quite sorry about this.
Putting aside her memories, she quickly found a way to deal with this situation in her mind.
As long as the Messenger wasn’t in Li Zhaoning’s hands, everything else could be managed.
Although she would rather not deal with Gu Huaizhang, it wasn’t a matter of her preferences who she had to negotiate with.
Having gathered her thoughts, she spoke: “I am already aware of this matter. As for Commander Zhao, I will see to it that he is properly dealt with. Hmm… pass my order—deduct half a month’s salary from Zhao Lihong as punishment.”
“Your Highness…” Zhongcheng Song seemed to want to say more.
“This matter is settled,” Xiao Wan interrupted him, turning to ask Gu Huaizhang, who had remained silent throughout: “Gu Qing, how is your son’s injury?”
“Replying to Your Highness, my foolish son was reckless and interfered with official duties. It was my failure to teach him properly. I will punish him strictly upon my return.” Named by Xiao Wan, Gu Huaizhang responded slowly.
What did this old fox mean?
Once again, Xiao Wan felt uncertain. Did this man want to remain uninvolved, not get involved after all?
No—she suddenly thought of another possibility. Maybe it wasn’t that Gu Huaizhang didn’t want to get involved, but that he didn’t want to step in just yet, so he pushed his son forward for now.
Thinking of this, she lowered her hand from her lips and said with a clenched fist, “Gu Qing, your son’s health should be the priority. Do not punish him too harshly.”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
“Then, let us move to the next matter on the agenda…”
After court was dismissed, Xiao Wan returned to her own Cining Palace. Dismissing her attendants, she reclined alone on the Feng Couch.
The collar of her Feihua Palace Dress was slightly open, her snowy peaks rising and falling gently with each breath.
Her long, flawless jade legs lay crossed at random, and her white ankles swung unconsciously.
Biting her fingernail, she cursed in her heart, “Damn Li Zhaoning, how dare she stir up trouble without any evidence—she must really be at her wit’s end.”
“But…” Suddenly, she recalled what Zhongcheng Song had said during the morning court.
“Could it be that old fox Gu Huaizhang is in cahoots with Li Zhaoning?”
“No, not necessarily. If they really were, that old fox wouldn’t have answered me the way he did.”
“In other words, he’s waiting for the highest bidder?”
Considering this, Xiao Wan sneered inwardly. As expected of his methods, offering olive branches to both sides, just waiting to see who would pay more.
She lowered her delicate hand, a trace of hesitation flashing through her phoenix eyes. With a soft sigh, she called out to the palace maid outside, “Someone, summon Gu Wangchen to the palace tomorrow. Say… I wish to personally tend to his injuries.”