After chatting briefly with Canglang, Yue Fengcheng planned to leave. As he turned to walk away, it seemed he suddenly remembered something. “By the way, where is General Jin? I haven’t seen him these past few days.”
Canglang scowled. "Don't mention it. He went to investigate that case of the Provincial Governor privately withholding tribute. I don’t know where he’s gone. After the Lord got injured, I sent someone to inform him, but I don’t know if he received the message."
Yue Fengcheng didn’t think much of it. The Privy Council oversaw the investigation and punishment of officials within the court, and many difficult cases handled by the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review were given to Xiao Yan and his team. Jin Yun and Canglang, being Xiao Yan’s most trusted subordinates, often left the capital to handle official business.
Yue Fengcheng said, "He’s probably busy. With the Lord injured, you’ll have to take care of the Privy Council matters."
Canglang sighed. "I just hope the Lord recovers soon, and that the Lu family stays quiet for a while."
The two spoke a bit more before Yue Fengcheng left.
After he left, Canglang ordered someone to stand guard outside and turned back inside to He Li Hall. Tianqing had already gotten out of bed, and Tang Ning stood nearby.
As Canglang entered, he asked, “Did he leave?”
“He did. I think he believes it now,” Canglang replied.
Tang Ning frowned. Yue Fengcheng was even harder to deal with than Xiao Yan had described. When he came in earlier, he kept observing the gauze curtains. If Tianqing hadn’t disguised herself well, he might have seen through the ruse.
Tang Ning said to Canglang, “Have someone keep an eye on him. Don’t be careless.”
Canglang nodded.
Tang Ning continued, “I’m starting to go to the academy tomorrow. The people over there have been urging me, and if I stay in the mansion too long, I’ll attract attention.”
“I’ll accompany you,” Canglang said.
Tang Ning thought for a moment. “No, you stay with my brother. He’s injured, and you should be by his side. Plus, the Privy Council matters require your attention. Let Tianqing bring a few shadow guards to follow me secretly. On the surface, I’ll bring Hang Li and Yue Jian with me.”
Yue Jian, like Ling Yin, was a female shadow guard under Xiao Yan’s command. Ling Yin had stayed at the suburban estate to care for the elderly person there. When Xiao Yan left the capital, he moved Yue Jian to stay by Tang Ning’s side.
Tang Ning had previously refused Ling Yin, feeling that such a powerful person wasn’t needed. But the more she learned, the more she understood the complexity of the capital’s political landscape.
Being in the midst of the whirlpool and becoming entangled in Xiao Yan’s fate, she was no longer naïve enough to think she could remain unnoticed. The more eyes that were on her, the more dangerous it would become.
With Xiao Yan not in the capital, she would not allow herself to fall into danger and certainly would not allow herself to drag Xiao Yan down.
After Yue Fengcheng left He Li Hall, it wasn’t long before a hidden guard delivered a letter to Emperor An. The Emperor opened it, and after a glance, a smile spread across his face.
"Xiao Yan really is more sensible than others."
Feng, the inner servant, stood beside him, his gaze flickering. Although he didn’t know what was written in the letter, it was clear that the Emperor was in a good mood.
Feng agreed, "Lord Xiao has always been thoughtful of Your Majesty’s wishes and loyal to you. Your Majesty may not know, but when those crazy horses suddenly rushed in that night, I was completely stunned. If Lord Xiao hadn’t protected you, and kicked me out of the way, I might have lost my life."
Upon hearing this, Emperor An remembered the danger of that night and sighed, “Xiao Yan is loyal, but it’s a pity he’s a eunuch. If he weren’t, I might have made him a marquis…”
Feng didn’t respond, keeping silent.
He understood the Emperor well. Though the Emperor lamented Xiao Yan’s physical condition, if Xiao Yan had been a normal man, like the other courtiers, the Emperor likely would not have trusted him as much as he did now.
The Emperor had only made the remark as a casual reflection but quickly dismissed it. His attention shifted back to the contents of the letter, and his expression grew cold.
"That Lu family is still restless. And the Fourth Prince—his legs are crippled, yet he dares to incite Xiao Yan to seize control of the military command of the four camps on the outskirts of the capital?"
The Emperor had indeed mentioned in passing that he wanted to give Xiao Yan control over the four camps on the outskirts, but he had quickly realized that this was inappropriate. Fortunately, Chancellor Liang and the others had stopped him at the time, and Xiao Yan, knowing his place, hadn’t pursued the idea.
But his son, having fallen out with the Lu family, now wanted to approach Xiao Yan?
The letter mentioned that the Fourth Prince had tried to flatter both Xiao Yan and the Princess of Yiyang, only to be driven out of the palace by both of them in anger. Emperor An’s gaze darkened as he read further.
"Did the Fourth Prince disgrace himself publicly a few days ago?"
Feng lowered his voice. "I’ve heard that he was caught in a compromising situation…"
"What compromising situation?" The Emperor snorted coldly.
There were his people everywhere in the capital, and the Fourth Prince’s embarrassing incident had stirred up a commotion. The whole city was laughing at the royal family.
The Emperor crumpled the letter and threw it into the nearby lamp.
"The Empress has failed in teaching her son. She hasn’t been able to discipline him properly, and now he has made a fool of himself again. Send someone to Phoenix Xi Palace to take back the Phoenix Seal from the Empress, and fine her salary for half a year. Let Consort Shu and Consort Yu temporarily manage the six palaces."
"Tell the Empress that if she fails to discipline the Fourth Prince and continues to bring shame to the royal family, she can give up her position as the Empress."
Feng was shocked by the Emperor's words.
Could the Emperor be thinking of deposing the Empress?
The Emperor’s head ached as he recalled the political turmoil in the court. His mood darkened, and he irritably asked, “What about the golden pills for today?”
Feng quickly replied, “They’ve been delivered, Your Majesty. I’ll fetch them immediately.”
Feng turned to go to the back room and returned shortly with a box containing the golden pills. After the Emperor took them, he leaned back on his dragon throne, his eyes closed. His pale face flushed slightly, and his chest, bony and thin beneath his open robes, rose and fell with long, deep breaths.
Feng’s eyes flickered as he whispered, “Your Majesty, would you like to summon a consort to accompany you?”
The Emperor’s face had grown rosier, and he felt full of vitality.
“Summon Consort Shun and Consort Qin.”
“As you wish.”
In Phoenix Xi Palace, Empress Lu was in disbelief when she heard the decree.
“You’re saying the Emperor wants to take back my Phoenix Seal?!” Her face was filled with shock and anger as she stared at the messenger.
The fine for half a year’s salary was nothing to her, but the Phoenix Seal… Was the Emperor mad?!
The eunuch serving in the palace remained silent, observing her anger without reacting.
“The Emperor’s orders are as such. The Fourth Prince has repeatedly caused trouble, embarrassing the royal family, and the Emperor is very angry. He wants the Empress to pass the authority of the six palaces to Consorts Shu and Yu, and focus more on disciplining the Fourth Prince.”
“This is a warning—if there is another incident, the Empress’s position will be stripped.”
After delivering the message, the eunuch bowed and withdrew.
Once the eunuch was gone, the palace courtyard outside Phoenix Xi Palace fell silent. The Empress, barely holding on, staggered back, nearly collapsing.
"Your Majesty!" Jin Zhi quickly supported her, trembling. "Are you alright? How can the Emperor take away your Phoenix Seal…?"
The Phoenix Seal was the symbol of the Empress’s authority!
“How can he not? He wants to depose me!” Empress Lu’s throat tightened, and she bit down hard in frustration.
She had always known the Emperor didn’t like her. Despite the respect due to her position, he had grown more distant after the conflict with the Lu family. Now that she had fallen out with them, the Emperor no longer showed even a trace of consideration.
Empress Lu gripped Jin Zhi’s arm tightly, her strength causing the servant to wince in pain.
She couldn’t wait any longer. If she did, she would have no hope left!
Empress Lu gritted her teeth. She had to move quickly to control Song Tangning, to tie Xiao Yan to their cause, and to deal with Xie Tianyong. How dare he think of deposing her?
Her face was dark with fury.
She hadn’t wanted to take desperate measures, but since he no longer cared for their bond, she would show him no mercy in return!
You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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