Shangguan Lin and Song Yuan exchanged glances, their faces darkening with gravity. As commander of the imperial harem, allowing someone to hide within the palace undetected was a dereliction of duty.
Song Yuan immediately knelt, his voice laced with panic, "This is my failing, Your Highness. I deserve to die."
Shangguan Yao cast a cold, appraising look at Song Yuan.
Frankly, Song Yuan had indeed failed. Someone had been manipulating events within the palace, and as the commander of the guards, his ignorance was a clear dereliction of duty.
However, through several incidents, Shangguan Yao had come to understand that the unseen hand pulling the strings was no ordinary person. It was likely a formidable opponent, and relying solely on Song Yuan might not be enough to uncover them.
This was why he had summoned Prince Lin to the palace overnight, believing that their combined efforts would surely reveal some clues.
"Prince Lin, I summoned you to the palace precisely so that you and Song Yuan could join forces to quickly expose this hidden adversary. Furthermore, this person may have disguised themselves as a eunuch or a palace maid. You must not overlook any corner."
"Yes, your humble brother understands."
"Your humble subordinate understands."
Both responded in unison. Shangguan Yao waved his hand towards a nearby pavilion and instructed, "Xiao Tingzi, arrange for Prince Lin to stay in the palace for these next few days. I am tired."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Tingzi respectfully approached, escorting Shangguan Lin and Song Yuan out. He then instructed a young eunuch to arrange Prince Lin's accommodation within the palace before returning to the main hall.
Inside the hall, the Emperor leaned back on his dragon couch, a picture of exhaustion. His complexion was sallow, his spirited demeanor dulled. His once handsome features had lost much of their luster.
Recent events had truly worn the Emperor thin, a succession of blows. Just after expelling Yun Mo from the capital, so many affairs had erupted within the palace.
It was truly a troublesome winter. Xiao Tingzi approached Shangguan Yao's side and cautiously said, "Your Majesty, the night is too cold. You should go in and rest."
"Mm, let's go in."
Xiao Tingzi offered his hand to support Shangguan Yao as they entered the inner chambers.
Shangguan Lin settled into his accommodations within the palace. He and the commander of the guards, Song Yuan, devised a detailed plan overnight, vowing to meticulously search every corner of the harem and root out the hidden culprit, eliminating them completely. To tamper with the royal palace was an act of courting death.
The night passed uneventfully. The following morning, the Empress Dowager summoned Shangguan Yao early.
Having suffered a sleepless night, the Empress Dowager's face was somewhat pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Faint red marks were visible on her face, and she appeared to have aged several years, utterly devoid of her usual vibrancy.
She exuded an aura of weariness, her gaze cold as she looked down at her son in the hall. A hint of disappointment flickered within her heart.
"Ah, Yao'er, why can you not understand your mother's intentions? And your actions truly lack foresight. This is not the profound consideration befitting an Emperor."
Shangguan Yao had already received word that last night, Empress Dowager had ordered the release of Ye Su Xue, Lü Ying Han, and others. Now, his mother had summoned him early in the morning.
Her anger was likely also due to the matter involving Ye Su Xue and the others. Seeing his mother so worried about his affairs, Shangguan Yao felt a pang of guilt and spoke slowly.
"Mother, your son?"
However, his words remained unfinished as the Empress Dowager raised a hand, interrupting him, her voice carrying a distant echo.
"Yao'er, Mother is truly disappointed in you. The last time you punished Consort Liu and confined Noble Lady Zhao to the cold palace, Mother understood. Those two concubines held no significant standing.
But the individuals you offended yesterday all have powerful maternal families with considerable influence in the court. In the depths of winter, you threw several women into the Cold Jade Pool.
Had I not intervened, would they not have all perished? Their deaths are of little consequence; there are plenty of beauties in the world. But how will those powerful families behind them treat you? Have you not considered these matters at all?"
The Empress Dowager's accusations rained down upon him, and she glared furiously at Shangguan Yao.
Shangguan Yao gasped, looking up at his mother. An infinite desolation bloomed in his heart. Did his mother truly not trust her own son?
The power of royalty was truly terrifying. Were they still the same intimate mother and son as before? A rift had formed, a fissure had appeared in their hearts. Could this crack ever be mended?
A cold, decisive smile played on Shangguan Yao's lips. His unfathomable eyes deepened, and his handsome face instantly became etched with frost.
His mother's accusations were deeply humiliating. He was still the ruler of a nation, and his actions were not without reason.
With that thought, Shangguan Yao suddenly declared coldly, "Mother, you have gone too far."
The Empress Dowager froze, staring blankly at the man in the hall, his anger blazing, his dominance surging, his gaze challenging the world. Her clear, cold eyes met hers, her voice sharp and frigid.
"Mother, I am still the ruler of this nation. If you admonish me in such a manner, how can I command the realm and the court officials?"
"Yao'er," the Empress Dowager was at a loss for how to react. Her heart shattered into countless pieces.
Why had it come to this? Yao'er was no longer the same person. He no longer held her, his mother, in his heart.
If not for all these events, her Yao'er would still be the person he once was. A single crystalline tear rolled from the Empress Dowager's peach-blossom eyes, landing on her palm, feeling chillingly cold.
Alas, the Emperor in the hall was now filled with a cold, detached resolve, utterly disregarding the heartbroken Empress Dowager. With a dark expression, he flung his hand out and walked towards the hall entrance.
His tall, upright figure strode steadily outwards. He paused at the doorway, seeming reluctant to leave. He spoke in a deep voice.
"Mother, it is you who have hurt me. You no longer trust your son. Last night's events occurred because those concubines had been administered the Aphrodisiac Powder. Only by placing them in the Cold Jade Pool and using ice water to counteract the heat could the effects be dispelled. Did Mother wish for me to find several men for them?"
Shangguan Yao turned and walked away without looking back. Outside the hall doors, Xiao Tingzi's sharp voice announced, "The Emperor's carriage is returning to the palace."
In the great hall of Changxin Palace, the Empress Dowager, upon hearing Shangguan Yao's words, collapsed onto the phoenix couch, silently weeping.
What had happened to her? Why did she no longer even trust her own son? So, those women had been given the Aphrodisiac Powder, and that was why Yao'er had placed them in the Cold Jade Pool.
This matter was incredibly difficult for Yao'er, and she had hurt his feelings. How could he not resent such a mother?
As she wept, the Empress Dowager's sorrow deepened. Thinking of someone administering drugs to Yao'er, and now to those concubines, her anger ignited. She quietly wiped away her tears, lifted her head, her eyes slightly red, and sternly instructed Lin An by her side.
"Go and invite Master Ximen to the Little Leaf Pavilion. Tell him the Empress Dowager wishes to see him."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Lin An respectfully took his leave and vanished. On the high seat, Gu Gu Ping, who had followed the Empress Dowager for many years, reached out to support her. "Your Highness, why do you wish to see Master Ximen?"
The Empress Dowager remained silent, her eyes flickering. She wanted to test Xi Men Yao, her intuition suggesting that this person harbored ulterior motives. He was reserved and profound, seemingly not as detached from worldly affairs as his outward appearance suggested.
Since his arrival at the palace, a series of events had unfolded. This led her to suspect that Xi Men Yao was behind it all.
He assisted the Emperor on one hand, yet on the other, he seemed to be secretly manipulating things. Who was he, and what did he want?