The King still smiled: "As long as the Queen Mother is pleased, I am at ease - Oh, sisters-in-law are all here, younger brother pays his respects!"

  He sang and acted like a professional, gave a courtesy, matched with his extremely handsome appearance, not showing any greasiness at all, only making the imperial concubines giggle non-stop, hearing his term of endearment "sister-in-law" in their ears, they were all delighted.

  Chenlu gazed coldly at this carefree and arrogant Jing Wang, recalling all sorts of rumors about him.

  Although Jing Wang claimed to be the son of Empress Dowager, he was not actually born to her. His biological mother, Consort Hui, also came from a noble family and was the cousin of the empress dowager. She died when Jing Wang was six years old due to illness.

  He was clever and talented since childhood, able to compose poems at the age of three, with words that had substance, causing the Grand Tutor to exclaim "This child is not ordinary", but as he grew older, he indulged in pleasure and committed many absurd acts, the previous emperor wanted to severely punish him several times, but was unable to do so due to the protection of the Empress Dowager.

  He was born with such elegance, and he is the beloved brother of the current emperor. He is indeed the object of affection in the dreams of the ladies in the capital. However, his temperament is unpredictable, and he has never been willing to take a formal wife. The empress dowager had no choice but to indulge him - yet those scandalous affairs would not cease.

  Among the crowd's whispers and exclamations, palace staff had already hung up the Thousand Longevity Picture in the main hall. Following a steward's order, dish after dish of exquisite delicacies emerged one by one. Each table was adorned with cups and plates that sparkled like jade, and bowls that shone brightly. Those with keen eyes quickly recognized these as Cloud State's secretly crafted glassware and porcelain, each worth thousands of gold coins.

  Yuan Qi sat down at the Empress Dowager's side, and with one glance, he caught sight of these exquisite objects. A hint of anger flashed across his brow, but it was quickly replaced by a look of nonchalance.

  The morning dew was so thick that it covered the ground, and he lowered his head to hide his cold smile. Lin Kuang, the eldest brother of the Empress Dowager, had inherited the two states of Yunyan, which were under the control of the Lin family. He took advantage of the opportunity presented by the Tartars' invasion from the north over a decade ago, and raised the banner of "Supporting the State" to join forces with several vassal kings to wage war with private troops.

  In this campaign, their private soldiers did not achieve much, but took advantage of Zhou Chong's interception of the Tartar supply lines, causing them to retreat, and occupied several thousand li of land, refusing to return it to the imperial court.

  Lin Xiang was treacherous and dissatisfied, and he even submitted a memorial to the imperial court, greatly exaggerating his own achievements, and subtly proposed that he wanted to become the first non-imperial surname vassal king.

  Rumors spread in the palace that after Empress Dowager received her brother's memorial on that day, she was enraged and almost had the messenger caned to death. Later, under the persuasion of her second brother, she managed to calm down her thunderous anger, but expelled the messenger and strictly ordered her brother not to have any improper thoughts.

  It turned out that a few days later, another secret envoy came, and it was unknown what he said to the Empress Dowager. The next day, the Empress Dowager's tone had eased somewhat, and finally after more than ten days, Lin Xiang won again, and an edict was issued throughout the country, making him the first foreign surname king of this dynasty - King Xiang.

  For such a treacherous, tyrannical and overbearing uncle, Yuan Qi, although not wanting to talk much, knew he was deeply hated after several indirect attacks.

  Looking at these objects from Yunzhou in front of him, this Jiuwu Zun must be very displeased...

  The empress looked at her son, seeing that he was not moving, and knew it was because of herself. She smiled and said: "Your Majesty doesn't have to be so formal, I know you are filial, but there's no need to be bound by these trivialities."

  Yuanyi took a bite of the precious mushroom and felt refreshed and delicious, and couldn't help but praise: "The chef on the empress's side is indeed exceptional."

  The empress shot him a sideways glance, seeming to smile yet not quite smiling, and said: "What's so good about this cook? This ganoderma lucidum was sent from the Xiang King's side, rushed here 600 li in urgent haste - for fear that you, her nephew, wouldn't get to eat fresh ones. It was picked from the border area near the Tartar's frontier."

  She suddenly changed the subject: "You insisted on detaining the envoy last time, which was too reckless. If you act like this, don't talk about the big words of harming innocent lives, but how can your uncle bear it? Do you want him to use his flesh and blood to block the Tartar cavalry?"

  Yuan Qi listened to this and paused, putting down the gold-inlaid ivory chopsticks: "Empress Dowager, the last envoy, after investigation, was found to be Mu Na, the eldest son of Hu Lu Khan. The reason he was released was because Hu Lu himself was in the midst of 'Mi Tu's' whirlpool, why should our heavenly court take action? As for my uncle's side, although it is a border region, it is also very vast. He is a noble vassal king, how could he be harmed in any way? Moreover,"

  He picked up a small cup with his thumb on the edge of the table and played with it. Accidentally, he pinched a hole in it.

  "Uncle's fief," he said, emphasizing the two words "fief": "Bordering on the Tartar steppes, soldiers have a duty to defend their land, how can they be afraid of battle?"

  "Your Majesty!" The Empress Dowager slightly raised her voice, and everyone heard it unusually, stealing a glance, but saw that her phoenix eyes were full of majesty, with an air of dignity.

  "My son says such things, isn't he afraid of chilling the hearts of the border soldiers? Although Xiang Wang has his faults, he is still a high-ranking minister who supports the heavens and protects the imperial carriage, and he is also your own uncle!"

  The empress glanced around and knew everyone was listening in on their conversation. She lowered her voice, but it only made her words more crisp and clear.

  Yuanyu poured a cup of amber liquor for his mother, her favorite, and said in a low voice: "Mother, I don't think this way, but since Uncle is in that position, he can't avoid having the responsibility of a senior official. If there are treacherous people who create discord and do something that humiliates the country, how can I deal with it? Mother, try to think about it, isn't it difficult for me?"

  The empress dowager remained silent for a long time, then suddenly let out a cold laugh: "So you're all having a hard time, but I, this old woman, am not having a hard time - it's all in the palm of my hand. Emperor, you'd better speak up, what should I do?!"

  Yuan Qi still wanted to say more, but the Empress had already raised her cup and drained it in one gulp. He could only pile some of his usual favorite dishes onto her plate.

  The empress dowager only drank three cups, she had always had a heart-stomping illness, and no one dared to persuade her to drink more. Her face was as usual, as if the dispute just now was just a small argument, and she returned to the back hall to rest with the support of the maid.

  "Shang Yi, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

  After a while, Aunt Ye came in person to invite him, and her words were even more respectful.

  Morning dew rises, at this moment, still the restless Empress Zhou, vaguely feels a faint and mournful dragon's wail, echoing in the palace.

  What's going on?!

  ****

  The Hou Tang is where the Empress Dowager resides, and it doesn't have as many Buddhist shrines and incense burners like other imperial consorts' palaces. Instead, it's adorned with books and antiques, giving off a very elegant atmosphere - no wonder aristocratic families often pride themselves on their status, which is truly unmatched in the world.

  The Empress Dowager was reclining on the couch, being gently massaged by two lovely young girls. As the morning dew entered, she waved her hand and the two girls slipped out in a line.

  "I heard it was you who advised the Emperor to release the envoy?"

  The empress's gaze was sharp and piercing, as if it could penetrate directly into one's heart.

  "Your humble servant is terrified and dare not presumptuously involve himself in state affairs, but merely because he once heard some customs and secrets of the Tartars while in a humble position, he has spoken out, for Your Majesty's reference."

  The empress looked at her and suddenly smiled: "You child, not a bit self-satisfied, just this modesty and caution is very rare - this time really owes to you, the emperor is my own flesh and blood, his temperament, I understand best - usually looking gentle and strict, once he makes up his mind, even nine oxen can't pull him back."

  She sighed softly: "The emperor's hatred for the Tartars has gone deep, and no advice can be heard - but they don't know that they are powerful on the grasslands, how strong we are in the Central Plains are all farming people, what can we use to resist them?"

  The girl stood there, silently listening to her words that were both complaints and advice. Her bright black eyes seemed unable to bear the dimness of the room, and she narrowed them slightly, a flash of light passing by in an instant.

  The empress dowager did not know that this was the reason for her killing intent, and she loudly ordered people to light up the lamps. Only then did she continue: "You are by the emperor's side, you must establish a loyal heart and do things, if the emperor has something wrong, you should advise him from time to time——you don't have to be afraid, you're not a palace concubine, there is no crime of interfering with state affairs!"

  "I can tell by looking at you today that you are a cautious and prudent person. In the future, don't disappoint the trust of me and the Emperor."

  The empress's words were warm and gentle, yet stern and full of expectation. They were indeed dignified and proper. However, Ye Gu Gu added with a smile, "This old servant dares to say something that may be considered impolite: in the future, if Shang Yi sees anything improper, it would be better for her to quietly report it to the empress - good medicine tastes bitter but is beneficial to the illness; however, the emperor may not always be willing to listen."

  "Morning dew replied: "Auntie is right.""

  The Empress Dowager was tired and bestowed some gifts on her - all were extremely rare, she did not decline, thanked and left the back hall.

  "How's this?"

  The empress dowager lay on the couch, absent-mindedly asking Ye Gu Gu.