"Yes, I will never betray you!" the Pri Minister promised in response to the Old Emperor’s warning, feeling a bit of hatred in his heart!
His sister was actually bullied by so bumpkins, and he was powerless to do anything about it!
Fortunately, he had obtained the Emperor’s consent, and two of the skilled Imperial Physicians, experts in curious and complicated diseases, were dispatched to the border to treat his sister and those people.
What were the Emperor and the Pri Minister conspiring about in the Noble Consort’s courtyard?
Apart from the thirteenth Prince, no one else knew, and the other Princes were also guessing.
After hearing the news, the Eldest Imperial Prince quietly arrived at his mother’s courtyard. His mother did not go to see the Emperor but went to et the Noble Consort!
The Emperor didn’t stay long at the Noble Consort’s place either. After the Pri Minister left, he went to the Empress’s courtyard!
The Noble Consort had just t with the mother of the Eldest Imperial Prince and had a conversation when they heard the Emperor went to the Empress’s courtyard, and in anger, she threw a cup!
The mother of the Eldest Imperial Prince was also quite angry, "Could the Emperor be bewitched by the Empress? Noble Consort, think of sothing!"
"What can I do? That wretch is using the sa rouge as I am, but I cannot keep the Emperor, and now even those maidens cannot stir the Old Emperor’s heart!"
The words of the Noble Consort left the mother of the Eldest Imperial Prince feeling quite strange, and the two concubines exchanged so more words of frustration.
These days, the Emperor would stay in the Empress’s courtyard on the first and fifteenth of the month, and just like now, he would have dinner there. If there was no urgent matter, he would even spend the night with the Empress!
After all, they were an old couple, and it had been a long ti since the Empress had tasted such sweet life!
Hearing that the Emperor was coming over, the yet-to-be made-up face of the Empress showed a blissful smile!
Upon seeing the Emperor, she paid her respects!
The Emperor looked at the face before him, which did not possess the youthful beauty of young girls but held the charm of a mature woman!
Lately, whenever he scented this fragrance, he couldn’t help but co here.
It made sense that other concubines also secretly obtained so perfu and rouge, but none had the attractive scent of the Empress!
This ti, the Emperor ca not only to see the Empress but also to test her. After all, he had received news from his spies that Ye Haohuan had gone outside the border!
Ye Haohuan’s squad had gone to the border, t with the General of Deep Blue Island, and even stayed with General Ye at Green Oasis outside the border.
And to think he was so familiar with General Ye’s granddaughter, a re eleven or twelve-year-old girl—Who knew if General Ye would give another granddaughter in marriage to Ye Haohuan!
Now, the Emperor thought of Elder General Yue’s four granddaughters, who were yet to be betrothed. As he looked at the Empress’s face, his gaze flickered!
"Empress, I will have dinner here with you today!"
"Hmm, I have already prepared dinner for the Emperor."
The old eunuch and palace maids by the Empress’s side set up a lavish dinner in the palace!
The eunuch by the Emperor’s side tasted the food, served the dishes to the Emperor, and the old matron by the Empress’s side stood at a distance, with the palace maids attending to their duties.
These two favored servants by their sides were competing with each other, but during this period, they seed to be in sync!
After dinner, as the Emperor sat aside drinking tea, and after the palace maid had served the tea, the Empress kept him company.
At this mont, the Emperor wanted to speak intimate words with the Empress, and he ordered the eunuchs and palace maids standing by to leave!
The Empress did not believe the Emperor truly wanted to speak sweet nothings to her; definitely, there was sothing that could not be overheard by others!
"Empress, the 13th Prince has co to the palace, hoping to see his mother?"
"Emperor, the 13th Prince actually wanted to speak with the Emperor about his studies and his performance during this period. But upon hearing that the Emperor had gone to the Noble Consort’s quarters, he could only co to pay respects to , his mother!"
The Empress was not a foolish woman. With the Emperor saying this, she knew he was testing her!
The Emperor t with the Pri Minister at the Noble Consort’s quarters, and she was also aware of this news!
However, she was smart enough not to ask; not to inquire about political matters was the most taboo issue for them in the harem!
"Oh, I heard that the Marquis Yong Bo’s son went as far as outside the borders. What exactly is he up to? The 13th Prince hasn’t ntioned it to you!"
The Emperor’s scrutinizing gaze fell upon the Empress, seeking to discern her thoughts from her expression.
"That Princely Heir, it is said that he is acquainted with General Ye’s granddaughter and that he has specially donated so supplies as well as conducted a business deal, transporting goods outside the border. It is rumored to be a business venture with General Ye’s granddaughter!"
The Empress did not directly answer; the way the Emperor put it had already implicated the 13th Prince.
Could it be that he already harbored a bias, a wariness towards her son?
The Old Emperor sotis showed favoritism, but it was not known towards which son he was partial. Everyone wanted their own son to beco the Crown Prince.
The Empress did not believe the 13th Prince was the heir to that position, but they would strive nonetheless!
Who could fathom the Emperor’s heart?
A single misstep could lead to the Emperor’s suspicion!
"Oh, he’s got that much idle ti? Now doing business, heading outside the border without saying when he will return?"
Ye Haohuan was part of the 13th Prince’s team of brokers. With no title or official position, he served as staff for the 13th Prince.
Helping with various tasks or doing business to earn money, striving to gain greater bargaining chips for their team.
But for a young noble to go outside the border just to conduct a single deal showed significant intention!
The Emperor felt it couldn’t be that simple and watched the Empress’s expression as he spoke.
But was the Empress so easily read by the Emperor in her inner thoughts?
"Emperor, perhaps the youth heard about the young girl accompanying the supply caravan who had faced danger so many tis. What kind of assassins would lay in ambush so frequently just for so food and supplies?
Who could harbor such deep hatred against a little girl? The supplies were also intended for the military. The young man found the matter strange and followed to see who would be so audacious!"
The Empress’s words were a mix of truth and falsehood, prompting the Emperor to fall silent for a mont:
"Oh, has it been investigated?"
"How could I, a re consort in the harem, know? It’s only that I heard from the Prince, who out of curiosity for the Princely Heir, followed him outside the border and encountered strange incidents. The General Mansion’s Madam contracted smallpox, yet no one else was afflicted, and they were ambushed upon leaving the restaurant!"
The Empress spoke as if she were discussing everyday matters, while the Emperor’s gaze flickered. Of course, he too was aware of this news, reported back by his spies. The Pri Minister had shared another piece of information with him, confirming that his n were indeed involved in these acts.
They hadn’t succeeded, and the occurrence of smallpox was indeed quite strange!
"The Pri Minister has requested an Imperial Physician to treat his sister’s smallpox!"
"Emperor, that is a serious matter. Such an epidemic is not contagious, is it? Hopefully, it hasn’t spread throughout the city?"
Then, this line was not said with any intention but out of actual concern, fearing that if the military contracted smallpox, the city would beco less defensible.
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