"Not that I would be with you forever."
"Why not?" Wanwan asked, as she helped Yunxiao put on a bathrobe. "I'm much happier with the Empress. I've decided to follow the Empress for the rest of my life."
Wanwan and Yunxiao were used to joking with each other, and she blurted this out casually.
Yunxiao was not angered. She reached out and pinched Wanwan's waist, kneading and squeezing until it was both painful and ticklish. Wanwan laughed and ran away, and the two of them walked outside.
Because she was going to the imperial court, Yunxiao wore formal palace attire.
The Empress's phoenix gown, a dress she had not worn since her wedding, was brought out this time.
The phoenixes embroidered in gold thread on the phoenix gown were lifelike, with seven-colored tails that were dazzling and brilliant. The eyes of the phoenix heads shone, piercing the heart.
With this phoenix gown on, she exuded grace and magnificence, her presence filled with immense power. Then Wanwan styled her hair into a phoenix bun, with a golden hairpin adorned with pearls and filigree in the center. The phoenix's beak held a white pearl, from which fine tassels dangled, swaying gracefully.
As Yunxiao moved, she was incomparably beautiful.
This attire perfectly captured the imperial majesty and splendor of a nation's Empress. Coupled with the cold frost on her face and the unfathomable cold glint in her eyes, she was truly someone whom people dared not look directly at.
"The Empress is radiant, truly beautiful."
Wanwan could not help but exclaim. Since her mistress married the Emperor, she had become more charming and alluring with each passing day.
Different from her previous pure and elegant demeanor, atop that peerless elegance, there was a touch of mature feminine allure, and a natural tenderness.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Wanwan responded and hurried out to summon the female official Zhao Shangyi. Zhao Shangyi was followed by several palace maids.
Upon hearing that the Empress was going to the Jinluan Hall where the Emperor handled state affairs, several palace maids turned pale. Zhao Shangyi even tried to dissuade Yunxiao.
"Your Majesty, absolutely not. This is going against ancestral precedents and may stir up gossip."
"The ancestral precedents state that the harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. I am merely going to the Jinluan Hall and will not interfere in any state affairs. Furthermore, I heard that the ministers have proposed that the Emperor take a concubine. Is this not something I should manage? Since the ministers can bring up the matters of consorts to be discussed in the hall, why can't I go to the Jinluan Hall?"
Yunxiao's expression was cold, and the tassels on her head swayed with a dazzling light that sent shivers down one's spine.
Zhao Shangyi was speechless and could only stand aside. Yunxiao led the way out, followed by Wanwan, Zhao Shangyi, and others.
After exiting the hall, several eunuchs followed suit, departing the sleeping quarters in a grand procession. A sedan chair waited outside the hall, and Yunxiao boarded it to head to the Jinluan Hall for discussions.
During the morning court that day, the main political affairs discussed were the spring plowing in various provinces and the matter of scholars coming to the capital for the imperial examinations in April. These two items were handled smoothly.
Later, the matter of the Skull Blood Bandits of Xishan was brought up, but everyone still had no good solutions.
Because these people were elusive, no one knew their whereabouts, nor who they were or where they lived. There was absolutely no clue.
Lan Qinglun of the Ministry of War reported that the three captured members of the Blood Bandits had bitten their tongues and committed suicide, thus breaking all leads.
As for the case of Wen Jianian, the Junior Secretary of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he had been escorted to the Ministry of Justice for trial.
Shangguan Lin had not received any news. Although Wen Jianian had been beaten beyond recognition, he had gritted his teeth and refused to confess anything. Shangguan Lin admired this fellow, but it was a pity he walked the path of heresy, otherwise, he would have been a talent.
Shangguan Yin no longer disregarded Wen Jianian's case. Based on the crimes he had committed, it was enough to execute his entire family. He was now useless, as the Emperor was secretly pursuing a more important culprit, Shen Siyuan, the Minister of Personnel.
Regarding Mr. Shen's absence from the morning court that day, Shen's family had sent someone with a sick note. Prime Minister Sima also reported it. Shangguan Yin's lips curved into an unfathomable smile, and he said nothing.
The Emperor seemed to be in a good mood during the morning court that day, and the officials became bolder, bringing up the matter of taking a concubine again.
Shangguan Yin's expression suddenly turned grim. Just as he was about to reprimand them, a sharp eunuch's voice echoed from the Jinluan Hall: "The Empress has arrived."
Everyone in the hall was surprised. Only the person on the high seat gazed intently, his lips curved into a tender smile, his eyes filled with affection, until the resplendent and magnificent figure in red walked in.
After the ministers were stunned, they quickly bowed in salutation: "Your humble servants greet Her Majesty the Empress, may she live ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years."
"All your ministers may rise."
Yunxiao waved her phoenix robe, her presence radiating power. Glancing back, she saw her father standing at the forefront, his face softened slightly.
She intended to greet her father, but his gaze immediately stopped her. This was the Jinluan Hall, where kinship was not considered, only the etiquette between sovereign and subject. She abandoned the idea and, leading the several female officials and palace maids behind her, walked directly to the upper seat.
Shangguan Yin waved his hand, and immediately eunuchs busily set up a phoenix chair. Yunxiao lifted her sleeves and sat down properly.
Those in the hall below were first shocked, then confused. Seeing the Empress sit down so righteously, some became angry.
Sima Qingyun glanced at Yun Mo standing to the side, then slowly stepped forward and spoke earnestly.
"Your Majesty is a consort of the harem. How can you come to the Jinluan Hall? This is a violation of the system."
As Sima Qingyun spoke, dozens of people behind him agreed, and a murmur of approval filled the air.
Upon hearing Sima Qingyun's words, Shangguan Yin's expression grew colder, and an aura of ferocity emanated from him. He raised his narrow eyebrows, about to unleash his anger.
However, Yunxiao preempted him by raising her hand to stop Shangguan Yin from speaking. She smiled charmingly and spoke elegantly.
"Lord Sima is a prime minister who upholds the system. The reason I have come to the Jinluan Hall is that I heard someone proposed the Emperor take a concubine. I wish to ask Prime Minister Sima, is taking a concubine not within my purview? Since it is a matter of consorts, why is it being discussed in the Jinluan Hall? Does a minister of a nation, besides being busy with women's affairs, have nothing else to do for this vast empire?"
Her words were suddenly aggressive, her piercing gaze fixed on Sima Qingyun and those who supported him behind him. As she looked at each of them, they all fell silent, not uttering a word.
They glanced up at the Empress, her pupils were exceptionally sharp, like a sharp sword, and no one dared to look directly into her eyes.
The hall was silent.
Prince Shangguan Lin, with a smile on his lips, watched with satisfaction as these self-important old men encountered someone tough, which was truly delightful.
Yun Mo also nodded with a smile. He hadn't expected his daughter to be so dignified. She was truly born to be an Empress. How beautiful she looked in that dress, and her words were irrefutable. He was indeed her father.
Shangguan Yin, whose face had been dark with anger and was about to deal with Sima Qingyun, suddenly smiled. How could his Xi'er suffer a loss?
She was never one to suffer a loss. It was just that he hadn't expected her to know about this and to intervene. But when he thought about how they had been intimate for half the night yesterday and she couldn't even sleep now, he felt a pang of concern.