"Your Majesty, I have returned," Mo Chou said respectfully as she bowed. Only then did she step over the threshold and enter the room.
Xu Zhenguan acknowledged her with a grunt and asked with a smile, "How went it?"
"Gao Lian is dead, and he left a confession letter. I've arranged for people to announce tomorrow that he committed suicide out of fear of his cris," Mo Chou reported.
"Very good," Xu Zhenguan's expression remained neutral, her pale face glistening under the light like a gilded Buddha. "Anything else?"
Mo Chou lowered her head, took a deep breath, and said,
"But it was not I who killed him. Soone had already done it for Your Majesty just before I arrived."
Xu Zhenguan visibly froze, showing a genuine look of surprise.
Fortunately, Mo Chou did not leave her waiting too long and soon uttered Zhao Douan's na.
She then recounted in full detail how she had t Zhao Douan after leaving the prison and what they had discussed in the carriage.
There was no hiding it, as other guards had seen everything.
Of course, what mattered most was that Mo Chou, as a maidservant, could assist the Empress in managing state affairs. Most importantly, she never hid anything from the Empress, let alone deceived her.
Even though she was a "rival in love," she begrudgingly pleaded Zhao Douan's case for recognition, unwilling to conceal it.
Mo Chou still vividly rembered her ti in the Third Imperial Princess's palace when she had sought teaching from Sun Lianying. The old eunuch had not spoken any profound truths but had imparted a simple and humble lesson:
"As servants, our duty is to wholeheartedly serve our masters without deceit or concealnt."
Mo Chou had written this lesson inside her sleeve and looked at it whenever she could, abiding by this principle ever since.
Without any scheming, she had beco the chief among the Six Palaces' maidens, and without a hint of greed for power, she had beco the "Great Miss Mo" who acted on behalf of the Empress.
"Zhao Douan?" The Empress was taken aback, her expression exceedingly complex. After a long pause, she rely asked, "So, did he finally make you send his regards to ?"
"Yes," Mo Chou nodded honestly.
Xu Zhenguan, unable to define her feelings, half laughed as she said, "You are indeed forthright, recounting everything. If he had said sothing inappropriate to , would you have relayed that as well?"
Usually quick-witted Mo Chou was montarily puzzled by the Empress's words, her expression bewildered and conflicted: "This..."
Fortunately, she did not remain conflicted for long as soone at the door reported, "Pri Minister Li Yanfu requests an audience."
In the room, a smiling Xu Zhenguang composed herself and pursed her red lips:
"Summon him."
...
The night was profoundly dark.
Li Yanfu entered through the ridian Gate, walking across the dark plaza, his entire body wrapped tightly in his scarlet official robe due to the cold.
He recalled how it had been a long ti since he had entered the palace at such a late hour.
Initially, it was during the late old Emperor's years, when he neglected state affairs and left the cabinetry matters to him, and also when the Crown Prince shared als.
From that ti, his opportunities to enter the palace late at night had decreased.
In the three years since the Empress ascended the throne, the Li Party had been continuously suppressed, while the Empress supported the Qingliu Faction to counterbalance him. Matters usually involved summoning mbers of the Imperial Faction or the Qingliu Faction into the palace.
"Whoo—"
The cold autumn wind stread through his robes as Li Yanfu crossed the plaza, being led to a side hall.
He was prepared to be left by an angry Empress in that hall, staying awake till dawn if needed.
He rembered once when the late Emperor was furious, he had made him wait for almost three hours—it was winter and snow was swirling.
Li Yanfu had stood in the snow-covered imperial city almost to the point of collapsing, his bones aching from the cold, an affliction that had lingered from that ti.
He had thought he might suffer the sa ordeal tonight to let His Majesty cool off.
However, to his utmost surprise, when the leading eunuch brought him to the side hall, he saw the Emperor of Great Yu standing quietly under the eaves, waiting.
Xu Zhenguan showed a gentle smile: "Pri Minister, you are advanced in years, there's no need for such exertion. Please, take a seat and have so soup."
Li Yanfu was startled and suddenly realized that the Third Imperial Princess before him was very different from the late Emperor.
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