Chapter Sixty-Six: Removing the Eyeliner

After Jiang Huan left, the Imperial Study fell silent again.

Huo Lin's gaze fell on the exquisite dishes on the table, and his brows furrowed slightly.

He remembered the exact order in which Consort Jia served the dishes.

The vegetarian dishes were served first, followed by the meat dishes, and finally soup was served. Even the way the food was arranged on the plate was exactly the same as Jiang Huan's usual practice.

She couldn't possibly know these details out of thin air, unless...

She planted spies around him.

A cold glint flashed in Huo Lin's eyes, and he called out in a low voice, "Wang Degui."

The old eunuch immediately bowed and entered: "Your Majesty."

"check."

Huo Lin's tone was calm, yet it exuded an undeniable air of authority.

"Among those who serve the emperor, those who are close to Chang Le Palace should be investigated and dealt with accordingly."

Wang Degui's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood the emperor's meaning.

The Emperor wouldn't say these things without a reason; there must be someone watching him who shouldn't be there.

It was his dereliction of duty that allowed someone to sneak in unnoticed.

The usually smiling chief eunuch turned cold for the first time.

"This old servant will take care of it immediately." Wang Degui accepted the order and withdrew.

He was the chief eunuch by the emperor's side; how could he have remained by the emperor's side without some kind of cunning?

In less than a quarter of an hour, Wang Degui had figured out that there were not only Consort Jia's spies here, but also people from the Empress Dowager's side.

Remembering the Emperor's orders, Wang Degui showed no mercy and dealt with the matter without any politeness.

Inside Chang Le Palace.

Consort Jia was leaning against a soft couch, her fingertips gently toying with an incense burner, the wisps of smoke rising and highlighting her beautiful features.

Suddenly, the personal maid rushed in, her face deathly pale.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!"

"What's the panic?" Consort Jia raised her eyes in displeasure.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has just dealt with several of our people who were planted in front of the Emperor."

The palace maid's voice trembled, "Even the Empress Dowager's people were purged!"

"What?!" Consort Jia sat up abruptly, her nails digging fiercely into her palms.

How much effort did she put into placing those people in there?

Now Huo Lin has wiped them all out?

"How could he suddenly..."

Consort Jia gritted her teeth, then realized what was happening and her expression changed drastically.

"It's lunch today!"

She imitated Jiang Huan's habit of serving food, intending to curry favor with Huo Lin, but unexpectedly, she exposed the fact that she had been observing Jiang Huan all along.

Now that her informant has been exposed, she has gained no benefit from today's lunch.

Damn it!

Consort Jia suddenly swept the incense burner to the ground, scattering incense ash everywhere, causing the palace maids to stumble and retreat.

Meanwhile, inside the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager was resting with her eyes closed, her prayer beads slowly turning in her hand.

Suddenly, the old nanny rushed in and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has just purged the people in the Imperial Palace..."

The Empress Dowager paused in her fiddle with the prayer beads, then slowly opened her eyes.

"Even my people have been purged?"

The old woman lowered her head, not daring to answer.

The Empress Dowager sneered, "Well, well, he's truly my good son."

She slowly stood up, a sharp glint in her eyes.

"It seems he's determined to protect that Consort Zhuang."

The old woman asked cautiously, "So, what's next..."

The Empress Dowager glanced at the nanny and said coldly, "Go, summon Consort Jia here."

Along the way, the nanny walked quickly, passing through many palace passages, heading straight for Consort Jia's bedroom.

Consort Jia was sitting in front of her dressing table. She had just caused a scene, leaving the floor in a mess, and her face still showed the anger and resentment she had felt.

Hearing the old woman's footsteps, she looked up and saw the old woman standing at the door, covered in sweat and with an anxious expression on her face.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is waiting for you at Cining Palace."

Consort Jia stood up, straightened her clothes, and followed the nanny towards Cining Palace.

Throughout the journey, she was filled with anger and unease.

The Empress Dowager summoned her immediately after the incident, which must be related to today's matter before the Emperor.

When Consort Jia arrived, the Empress Dowager was preparing tea.

"You're here? Have a seat."

The Empress Dowager didn't even look up, skillfully serving the tea.

After bowing, Consort Jia carefully took her seat, her fingertips trembling slightly as she accepted the teacup.

"I heard that the Emperor dismissed the people you had assigned to the Imperial Kitchen today?"

As expected, Consort Jia hurriedly knelt down because of this matter.

If it were one of her own people who got into trouble, that would be one thing, but it dragged the Empress Dowager into it...

"It is because I am incompetent."

"Get up." The Empress Dowager suddenly smiled. "I'm not blaming you."

Consort Jia looked up in surprise and doubt, only to meet the Empress Dowager's meaningful gaze.

"Since His Majesty already knows, let's go openly and honestly."

Consort Jia was taken aback. "What does the Empress Dowager mean?"

"Come here, I'll explain everything to you."

Upon hearing this, Consort Jia immediately bent down, and a plan quietly began to take shape.

Night falls outside the Qianqing Palace.

Huo Lin had just finished reviewing the memorials and was about to send someone to call Jiang Huan over for a meal.

Wang Degui rushed in, his expression strange.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to escort... to escort Consort Chang."

Huo Lin's eyes darkened: "What do you mean?"

Wang Degui, sweating profusely, whispered, "The Empress Dowager said that the Emperor has been busy with state affairs lately and his health is of utmost importance. She has sent Consort Chang to attend to you and help you rest."

This was said in a roundabout way, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

The Empress Dowager is essentially forcing him to favor Consort Chang.

Huo Lin sneered. They really weren't giving up. If they couldn't do it secretly, they would openly try to force him to abdicate.

"I had no idea that the Empress Dowager would interfere in the affairs of my harem?"

Wang Degui dared not answer, and could only bite the bullet and ask, "Then Consort Chang is waiting outside the palace right now, Your Majesty, what do you think?"

Huo Lin's eyes were deep and unfathomable. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Let her in."

Wang Degui was taken aback, then lowered his head and replied, "Yes."

The palace doors opened, and Consort Chang walked in slowly.

She wore a light gauze dress, her skin faintly visible in the candlelight, and a gold hairpin swayed in her hair, making her look charming and beautiful.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." She bowed gracefully, her voice so soft it could melt water.

Huo Lin sat at the desk, his expression indifferent.

"What brings you here so late at night, Consort Chang?"

Consort Chang bit her lip and looked up at him.

"The Empress Dowager is worried about the Emperor's health, so she specially sent me to serve you."

"Oh? How does Consort Chang intend to serve you?" Huo Lin's lips curled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes.

Consort Chang blushed slightly as she slowly approached Huo Lin and gently placed her fingertips on his shoulder.

"His Majesty desires a concubine... how should I serve him?"

Huo Lin's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly raised his hand and grabbed her wrist, the force so strong that it hurt her.

"Consort Chang," he said in a low voice, with a hint of warning, "I do not like being schemed against."

Consort Chang's face paled, and she forced a smile, saying, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. I was merely acting on the Empress Dowager's orders..."

"The Queen Mother's order?"

Huo Lin sneered and tightened his grip slightly. Consort Chang turned pale with pain but dared not struggle.

"Ha, they don't even listen to the Emperor's orders, but instead listen to the Empress Dowager's orders."

Having said that, he released his grip and said coldly, "Someone come here."

Wang Degui immediately bowed and entered: "Your Majesty."

"Consort Chang has behaved improperly before the Emperor. She shall kneel outside the palace and shall not rise without my permission."

Huo Lin's voice was calm, yet undeniable.

Consort Chang's pupils constricted suddenly, and he looked up in disbelief.

"emperor?!"

If she is truly forced to kneel outside the Qianqing Palace, the entire harem will know tomorrow that she has lost the Emperor's favor!

Moreover, how would she explain this to the Empress Dowager?

Huo Lin stopped looking at her and turned to walk into the inner hall, his cold voice like a sharp knife.

"Kneel down and think carefully about what you should and shouldn't do."