"Your Majesty, this is an emergency, an emergency..." Xue Yan rushed in.
"Sister Xue Yan, Her Majesty is still resting," Yun Wei Shu, standing in the outer hall, couldn't help but speak as she saw Xue Yan barge in.
Xue Yan quickly closed her mouth and said, "I didn't know Her Majesty was still resting."
"Whether you knew or not, you shouldn't be so reckless. If anyone else were here, Sister Xue Yan, you would be remembered as someone around Her Majesty who lacks proper conduct."
"Who would dare?" Xue Yan's expression turned stern.
Yun Wei Shu said, "They wouldn't dare say it to your face, but behind your back? Wouldn't they call everyone around Her Majesty bullies?"
Xue Yan gritted her teeth upon hearing this, "Then I'll beat them until they're spitting teeth."
Yun Wei Shu rolled her eyes, "They only gossip behind your back, and you wouldn't even be able to find them."
Xue Yan puffed up with anger, "After all that, you still don't know who it is?"
Yun Wei Shu rubbed her forehead, "Aren't I just advising you? Her Majesty is pregnant now. As someone close to Her Majesty, you shouldn't cause trouble for her. Let her rest peacefully."
Xue Yan rubbed her hair and said, "Alright, I get it. But I really have something important to report."
"What is it? Let me hear it. If it's serious, then we can disturb Her Majesty," Yun Wei Shu said.
Upon hearing Yun Wei Shu mention it, Xue Yan was so angry she almost bent the sword she wore at her waist. Yun Wei Shu flinched, stepping back, "Sister Xue Yan, you... what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? I'm about to die of anger," Xue Yan exclaimed furiously.
"Sister Xue Yan, what exactly happened?" Yun Wei Shu asked with lingering fear, looking at the sword in Xue Yan's hand. She felt it was necessary to advise Her Majesty later to have Xue Yan's sword removed. Xue Yan's inability to control her temper wasn't a good thing. If it were exploited by someone with ulterior motives, it could lead to irreversible consequences.
"It's those old fogies in the court who can't stand to see others prosper," Xue Yan said angrily.
Yun Wei Shu shifted her gaze from Xue Yan's sword and asked, "What is it? What did they say?"
"They said since Her Majesty is pregnant, she cannot attend court, so it would be better to let His Highness act as regent."
Yun Wei Shu replied, "What's there to be angry about? Hasn't His Highness already granted the regency to His Highness?"
"They... they also want to find women for His Highness," Xue Yan said indignantly.
Yun Wei Shu blinked and asked, "What are they thinking?"
"Shouldn't they be finding women for Her Majesty instead?" Yun Wei Shu asked, puzzled.
Xue Yan sneered, "It's all because they bully Her Majesty for being a woman."
Yun Wei Shu fell silent. After a long pause, she asked, "How did His Highness handle this?"
"His Highness naturally refused. If he hadn't refused, I wouldn't have let anyone bring them here," Xue Yan said, gesturing to the sword in her hand, "If they want to enter the palace, they have to ask my sword first."
Yun Wei Shu said, "Since that's the case, why are you so angry? His Highness has already refused, so they shouldn't be sending people to His Highness anymore."
Xue Yan shook her head, "If only it were that simple. They failed to send people during court, and now the people have been sent to His Highness's sleeping quarters."
Yun Wei Shu's gaze turned cold, "Who dares send people into the palace? What are they doing?"
Xue Yan said angrily, "Look at you getting angry. Do you think I wouldn't be angry?"
"Who sent them?" Yun Wei Shu asked coldly.
Xue Yan replied, "His Highness recently abolished the previous official posts. These women were sent by the newly appointed ministers of the Six Ministries."
Yun Wei Shu nodded, "I understand His Highness's actions. These newcomers are all unfamiliar to Her Majesty, as Her Majesty has not attended court since her return. His Highness has been attending court on her behalf. It seems they have completely forgotten who truly rules this country."
Xue Yan nodded, "Yes, that's exactly it."
Yun Wei Shu said coldly, "Take me there. Such a minor matter doesn't warrant Her Majesty's intervention. Her Majesty now only needs to rest peacefully."
Xue Yan smiled and nodded, "Good. Keep an eye on me, or I'm afraid I'll kill them all in my anger."
Yun Wei Shu twitched her lips, "Some matters cannot be resolved through fighting and killing."
She called for palace servants to guard Chang Ning Palace. After making arrangements, she followed Xue Yan to Xue Gong, which was Xue Jing Yun's sleeping quarters.
Before they even got close, Yun Wei Shu could smell a strong fragrance from afar.
She couldn't help but sneeze and said, "They're really determined, the scent reaches this far."
Xue Yan sighed, "With His Highness's charm, weren't you also infatuated at one point?"
Yun Wei Shu smiled bitterly upon hearing this, "Indeed. But at that time, someone didn't indulge me, and I suffered a lot."
Xue Yan said slyly, "Her Majesty is very protective. She won't let anyone bully her own people."
Yun Wei Shu paused, "Does that include me then?"
Xue Yan looked at her and said seriously, "It does."
At this moment, Yun Wei Shu felt a surge of emotion. She turned her head, "Now it is we who protect Her Majesty. Come, let me see who these shameless people are."
She stepped forward first. With this posture, Xue Yan felt she was more ready for a fight than herself.
Having grown familiar with each other, Xue Yan found Yun Wei Shu to be a very good person, someone who might suit Her Majesty's taste. Not many people could.
Yun Wei Shu entered Xue Gong and immediately saw seven or eight young women in the courtyard. Describing them as "sinking fish and falling wild geese," "shaming the moon and eclipsing the flowers" would not be an exaggeration.
It seemed the ministers of the Six Ministries had put in considerable effort.
At this moment, they were whispering among themselves. None dared to step further in, seemingly afraid.
Yun Wei Shu walked in and cleared her throat lightly. The young women turned their heads and were slightly taken aback upon seeing her. One of them stepped forward. She wore a dress the color of sky and water, her face fair and delicate, her eyes moist and luminous. Moonstone earrings adorned her ears.
Crossing her hands in front of her, her ten fingers were like pointed scallion roots, slender, white, and tender. Her crimson lips parted slightly, "Are you perhaps Yun Shang Yi?"
Yun Wei Shu was stunned for a moment and nodded, "I am."
The young woman curtsied, "This commoner pays her respects to Yun Shang Yi."
With the young woman taking the lead, the others also bowed, "We pay our respects to Yun Shang Yi."
Yun Wei Shu's gaze deepened, "And you are?"
The young woman spoke neither servilely nor arrogantly, slowly stating, "My father is the newly appointed Minister of Personnel, Minister Li. I am Li Yao Qin."
Yun Wei Shu nodded, "Miss Li, I don't like your attire."
Li Yao Qin was slightly taken aback and quickly said, "Since Shang Yi dislikes it, this commoner will change immediately."
"Take it off now," Yun Wei Shu said coldly.
Li Yao Qin trembled all over, "Shang Yi, this commoner..."
"You won't take it off?" Yun Wei Shu asked coldly.
Li Yao Qin bit her lower lip, "This... this commoner will take it off..."
She trembled as she began to unfasten her clothes, soon revealing only her undergarment.
Yun Wei Shu stepped forward, placing her foot on the clothes she had just removed, and said coldly, "If I see anyone wearing such clothes again, I don't care who your father is, they will all be dragged out of the palace."