In the Phoenix Palace that night, everyone had hardly rested. Fortunately, now that the Empress had returned, everyone felt relieved.
"Alright, although the Empress has returned, she hasn't slept all night. Let her rest for a while. Everyone else, go do your tasks. We'll talk about anything after the Empress wakes up."
"Yes, Sister Mochou."
Their words couldn't hide their joy. It was good that the Empress was back, really good.
Mochou and Meixin attended to Mu Qingyao first, helping her bathe before she went into her chambers to rest. Mu Qingyao thought that Mochou and Moyou must also be exhausted from being awake all night, so she instructed, "Let Meixin guard here. You and Moyou go down and get some sleep."
"Yes, Your Highness," Mochou received the order and walked out of the chambers. Moyou was standing outside the door. Mochou glanced at him and said, "The Empress wants you to go and sleep. You've been up all night."
"Alright." The two of them left the chambers to rest, talking as they went.
In the Glazed Palace, Emperor Xian, though he had not slept all night, was in high spirits. Although he was pained that Yao'er had lost her inner strength, he had managed to obtain some useful information: Yuejue Temple was harboring those assassins. Therefore, searching Yuejue Temple was the top priority.
The Prince of Nan'an volunteered for the task, but the Emperor did not want him to overexert himself, as he was already injured.
"Prince of Nan'an has been working hard all night. Please return to your residence and rest. Let the imperial physicians tend to your injuries."
"Your subject obeys the decree." Prince of Nan'an, Murong Liuzhao, knew that His Imperial Majesty would send someone else to handle this matter. He respectfully accepted the decree. As long as His Imperial Majesty returned to the palace, he had nothing to worry about; no one dared to barge in here.
"A'jiu."
"Your Imperial Majesty?" A'jiu respectfully stepped forward to receive the edict. Yesterday, His Imperial Majesty had not allowed him to follow, but had instead ordered him to monitor the eunuchs and palace maids within the palace to prevent any leaks of information. Yet, His Imperial Majesty seemed to have been restless all night. Had information still leaked?
"Immediately command the young eunuchs to summon the Left Prime Minister and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice to the palace."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." A'jiu walked out and arranged for several young eunuchs to deliver the edicts separately to the Prime Minister's mansion and the Ministry of Justice, commanding the two ministers to enter the palace immediately for an audience with His Imperial Majesty. He then returned to the main hall. The Emperor, seated on the high throne, had a somber expression, his dark eyes unfathomable, and an aura of ferocity and icy coldness emanating from him. He spoke with chilling finality.
"Someone still leaked information yesterday. You will investigate immediately to see who it was. No one in this Glazed Palace, from top to bottom, is to be spared. Be thorough."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
A'jiu received the order and went down, instructing his trusted senior eunuchs to meticulously investigate the matter. They soon identified a suspect, but this young eunuch had gone missing. A search was ordered, but he was nowhere to be found. It seemed he had likely been silenced, and the people operating in the shadows possessed formidable means. Who could it be? Was it the Empress Dowager? But recently, the Empress Dowager had been much more demure, not involving herself in any affairs. How could she have taken notice of this matter?
A'jiu entered the Glazed Palace to report the unfolding events. Murong Liuzun's eyes darkened. He had not expected that even his Glazed Palace had been infiltrated.
This was something he had never considered. And to silence witnesses afterward? Truly audacious. He looked coldly at A'jiu, who was standing below.
"A'jiu, this is your dereliction of duty. If there is a next time, you know my limits."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," A'jiu replied respectfully. He had been paying attention to these matters, yet someone had still managed to infiltrate. It seemed he would have to be even more careful in the future.
Silence fell upon the grand hall. The Left Prime Minister and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice were waiting outside the hall doors. When a eunuch announced their arrival, the Emperor waved his hand, commanding them to enter.
"Your subject pays his respects to His Imperial Majesty."
The Left Prime Minister, Mu Hen, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice respectfully greeted the Emperor. The Emperor flicked the hem of his brocade robe and commanded with a sinister tone:
"Order the Left Prime Minister, Mu Hen, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice to proceed together to Yuejue Temple on Xianghua Mountain to confiscate everything within the temple. All individuals are to be apprehended and held in the Ministry of Justice's prison pending trial."
The Left Prime Minister, Mu Cheng, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice were stunned, unsure of what had happened.
They knew Yuejue Temple; it was a place of Buddhist austerity and flourishing incense. Master Liaokong within the temple was a revered and enlightened monk. The Emperor's actions might incite public discontent. The Left Prime Minister, Mu Hen, quickly inquired.
"Your Imperial Majesty, what has happened? Yuejue Temple is a place of Buddhist austerity. Why does Your Imperial Majesty wish to search it?"
"Yuejue Temple harbors a group of rebels. They are assassins harbored by traitors. Does the Prime Minister believe it should not be searched?"
Murong Liuzun's eyes were icy, his tone clear and ruthless, his imposing gaze fixed on the Left Prime Minister and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice below.
The two were greatly alarmed. Such a thing had occurred? Especially the Left Prime Minister, Mu Hen, who recalled the assassination attempt on his daughter when she visited the Mu mansion on her hometown visit. At the time, it was said to be the work of assassins. He had not expected that there were actually people cultivating assassins in Lin'an City. If this person was found, their entire clan would be exterminated.
"Your subjects obey the decree." The Left Prime Minister, Mu Hen, and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice dared not be careless and immediately accepted the decree.
"Not a single clue should be missed, especially since Yuejue Temple is not a large place. There are likely secret rooms underground. You must capture the remaining villains."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." Mu Hen and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice accepted the order and went to the Ministry of War to mobilize troops, heading directly for Yuejue Temple.
After dealing with the matter of Yuejue Temple, the Emperor thought of another matter that needed to be attended to. He seemed to have not visited the Empress Dowager for a long time. A gleam flashed in his sharp eyes, and a cold smile curved his lips. "A'jiu, prepare the carriage for Guangyang Palace. I will go to pay my respects to the Empress Mother."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty." A'jiu received the order, stepped forward to attend to the Emperor as he left the Glazed Palace, leading a retinue and proceeding grandly towards Guangyang Palace.
Guangyang Palace was remarkably quiet.
In the imperial bedchambers, the Empress Dowager had her eyes slightly closed, appearing quite content. She was lounging on a soft couch, with Eunuch Li sitting beside her. Eunuch Li was carefully massaging her shoulders and occasionally speaking witty remarks, filling the chambers with warmth.
"Mmm, so comfortable. Little Li Zi, your skills are getting better and better. I can't do without you. If I were to die, what would you do? Why don't you go with me?"
The Empress Dowager's seemingly joking words turned Eunuch Li's face ashen, and his hands froze for a moment. However, he quickly recovered and continued to knead, but even in that brief moment, the Empress Dowager had captured it, and a cold smile played on her lips.
"Are you startled?"
"No, it is my good fortune to be able to follow Your Highness the Empress Dowager." Eunuch Li was already smooth and experienced. He had only been startled for a moment, but now that he had sobered up, he dared not be negligent. Moreover, the Empress Dowager's expression had turned somewhat displeased.
"Hmph, you, with your petty thoughts, do you think I don't know? Don't worry, I won't die so easily."
A serene radiance shone on the Empress Dowager's noble face. Perhaps soon, she would not need to endure such indignity. A smile graced her lips, but it did not last long before the respectful voice of a eunuch was heard from outside the imperial bedchamber: "His Imperial Majesty has arrived."