“Little Li Zi, where is His Majesty now?”
Little Li Zi was an old eunuch in the palace, always a favored attendant by the Empress Dowager’s side. He had followed her for many years and had a good grasp of her thoughts. Moreover, he was well-informed about the various affairs within the palace.
At this moment, he replied respectfully, “Reporting to Your Ladyship the Empress Dowager.”
“His Majesty is currently in the Glazed Palace attending to state affairs.”
The Glazed Palace was the Emperor’s residence, where daily state matters, the perusal of memorials, and audience with officials were conducted.
“Good, very good. He has the mood to attend to state affairs. Now, I shall go and see what he means by putting his own brother into a perilous situation while keeping himself out of it.”
The Empress Dowager stood up, walked indignantly off her phoenix couch, and headed for the Glazed Palace.
As she reached the entrance of the great hall, a person rushed in from outside, nearly colliding with the Empress Dowager. In Guangyang Palace, no one could possibly charge about so recklessly except Princess Ru Yin.
The Empress Dowager snorted angrily, “Ru Yin, why are you so flustered?”
The figure steadied itself and spoke, catching its breath, “This subject heard from the eunuchs that Mother is angry, so I came to see what has happened.”
Princess Ru Yin was tall and statuesque, with striking features and bold attire. Today, she wore a pale green halter dress that revealed a segment of her alabaster neck, inviting imagination. Her waist was cinched tightly, accentuating her high and proud bosom.
Her delicate face was like a hibiscus flower, her eyes held a look of affection, utterly captivating. Her lips were as vibrant as ripe fruit, and the shimmering pearls and jades adorning her head were dazzling to the eye.
“It’s still the Emperor?”
The Empress Dowager spoke with resentment, then stopped herself, thinking that Ru Yin, a mere girl, would not understand much, and telling her would be of little significance. She changed her mind, “I am going to see the Emperor.”
“Mother, this subject will accompany Mother.”
Princess Ru Yin was audacious and arrogant. She generally paid little heed to the Emperor, relying on her mother’s favor and always acting with impunity within the palace.
Seeing her mother’s angry demeanor, she was, of course, eager to accompany her to the Glazed Palace.
Nearby, Noble Consort Chu Yu Yan watched the arrogant Princess Ru Yin and furrowed her brows in annoyance.
This princess was always loose-tongued. If she spoke carelessly to the Emperor, even though the Emperor indulged her, it didn't mean he would indulge her forever.
If he were to become displeased one day, he would surely settle old and new scores together. With this girl tagging along, she might be implicated.
However, she couldn’t very well refuse to go at this moment. She could only grit her teeth and follow behind the Empress Dowager, heading for the Glazed Palace together.
A crowd of palace maids and eunuchs followed, and the group proceeded grandly towards the Glazed Palace.
At the gates of the Glazed Palace, a young eunuch had already reported to A Jiu that the Empress Dowager, accompanied by the Noble Consort and Princess Ru Yin, was approaching.
A Jiu immediately entered the great hall.
On one side of the hall, His Majesty was playing chess with Young Master Liu, while Princess Xing Zhu watched from the side. The vast palace was silent. A Jiu walked over, raised an eyebrow, caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure how to announce them.
The Emperor, as if he had eyes everywhere, noticed his prolonged silence and spoke coldly.
“What is it?”
“Reporting to His Majesty, the Empress Dowager and the Noble Consort have arrived.”
“Mm, I know she would come. Have them enter,” his voice was lazy yet carried a hint of lethality. A playful smile played on his lips as he picked up a black piece with his slender fingers and slowly placed it, then smiled brilliantly, “Senior Brother, looking at the overall situation, do you see my plan?”
Liu Qianmu gazed at the unfolding chess game, the moves unpredictable, offering both offense and defense, each move affecting the entire board. The Emperor’s mind, even he had underestimated it. He hadn’t expected his thoughts to be so meticulous. It seemed he…
“His Majesty is truly formidable. With one move affecting a hundred, a thousand, the entire world is in his grasp.”
“Does Senior Brother have no ambition?”
The Emperor asked casually. Liu Qianmu’s gaze darkened, and his lips twitched. Just as he was about to speak, A Jiu’s voice rang out from outside the hall: “The Empress Dowager has arrived, the Noble Consort has arrived, Princess Ru Yin has arrived.”
With this announcement, Liu Qianmu felt a sense of relief. He rose unhurriedly. The Emperor’s eyes, deep and profound, glanced at him sideways. He stood up and walked towards the high seat.
At the entrance of the great hall, the Empress Dowager, adorned in magnificent robes, led the Noble Consort and Princess Ru Yin inside. The Emperor, seated on the high throne, gave a slight bow and looked at the Empress Dowager below, “Be seated.”
The Empress Dowager sat down unceremoniously on one side of the great hall. Her eyes, like fiery torches, swept over the chessboard behind Liu Qianmu, and she spoke with an imposing air.
“His Majesty has a rather elegant pastime. Is it because you are pleased with sending your royal brother into a tiger’s den?”
The Noble Consort, seeing the imminent thunderous confrontation, quickly spoke gently, “This consort greets His Majesty.”
Princess Ru Yin, on the other hand, knew her manners and respectfully performed a bow, “Ru Yin greets Brother Emperor.”
“All rise,” the Emperor’s expression was icy. He was still the sovereign, the esteemed Emperor of the Xuanyue Kingdom. For the Empress Dowager to directly accuse him like this was truly infuriating.
In the past, he had always tolerated her, but that day would not be far off. However, even without exposing her true nature, it did not mean she could arbitrarily accuse him.
He was the supreme Emperor, and in the future, he would be the overlord of the realm.
Murong Liuzun’s handsome face abruptly shifted from clear skies to gathering clouds, like the eternally unmelted snow on a heavenly mountain, cold and unfeeling. His beautiful pupils were now filled with icy water, and he stared murderously at the Empress Dowager.
“What does Mother mean? You should know that with the envoys from the six nations arriving in the capital, although I have assigned Li Mo to entertain them, that is merely the superficial arrangement. In secret, the Minister of War and the Imperial Household Department are assisting Prince Beijin. Could he possibly be in danger? Are so many people in the Ministry of War all useless?”
His domineering and fierce words pressed down like a tidal wave, coming with formidable force, seemingly intent on catching the Empress Dowager off guard.
In truth, it was so. The Empress Dowager had not anticipated such a situation. Her face turned from red to white, changing several times, before she finally spoke with composure.
“Why is His Majesty so thoughtful as to have Prince Beijin entertain the envoys of the six nations? Such a weighty task should have been entrusted to the Prime Minister, yet you assign it to Prince Beijin, a man who is powerless? Is this not making the people of the six nations mock us?”
The Empress Dowager questioned, and the others in the great hall also looked at the Emperor.
Murong Liuzun’s sharp black eyes flickered, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking at this moment.
“I merely wish for the other six nations to clearly see that within the royal family of Xuanyue, brothers are harmonious. Even if Prince Beijin is a man of no strength, I am willing to entrust him with important responsibilities. Is this not enough to convince the world?”
His resounding voice left no room for rebuttal.
Even though the Empress Dowager knew something was amiss, she could not find the slightest flaw. She could only glare at the man exuding confidence and spirit at the head of the hall.