The Imperial Study.

Yuan Xiu lay shirtless on the dragon table, while Wei You massaged his back with oil, and the two listened to Dian Chen report on the events at Mujing Bay.

After Dian Chen finished speaking, Yuan Xiu didn't respond to Dian Chen's words, but instead asked, "Wei You, where did you learn this technique?"

Wei You said, "Your Majesty, to be honest, this time when I went to the Right Prime Minister's residence, I experienced the local specialties of Yanchuan City."

"Oh? What is a specialty of Yanchuan City?"

"Clubhouse".

"I think I've heard someone mention this term before, saying that even the imperial son-in-law gets a share." Yuan Xiu asked curiously, "Is this what the club is for?"

Wei You explained, "Massage is only part of the club's services, but the girls there have really good techniques. This back massage technique is something I learned from one of the girls."

Yuan Xiu exclaimed, "The prince consort really knows how to enjoy life!"

Seeing that the emperor and Wei You had started chatting about other topics, Dian Chen felt a little awkward and found an opportunity to interject, "Your Majesty, how should we handle the matter of Mujing Bay?"

"Here, here, rub it a little harder."

Yuan Xiu pointed to his waist with his hand behind his back, closed his eyes and said, "Just take the Mujing Bay incident as a story, what's there to deal with?"

Dian Chen said, "But this happened in Changsui City. Judging from the casualties on both sides, this is no small matter..."

Yuan Xiu said, "You're mistaken, Dian Chen. If this had happened in Changsui City, even if the casualties on both sides weren't this high, it would still be a major event that shocked Changsui. Good heavens! A brawl involving hundreds of people has actually broken out right under the Emperor's nose? Do they even respect the Emperor?"

"But in reality, this happened right under the walls of Changsui City. Although it was a struggle between the Left and Right Prime Minister's residences, they used the Maoshan Sect and Mujing Bay as a front for a martial arts battle, so let them wear each other down!"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... I feel..." The official hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

Yuan Xiu suddenly smiled and said, "Do you think I'm deceiving myself?"

Dian Chen quickly knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Your subject dares not!"

Yuan Xiu sneered, "I want to see what tricks they can pull! Since even Eunuch Lü is involved in this matter, let's wait for Eunuch Lü to return before discussing it further."

Just then, Lü Lu's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty, this old servant has returned."

"I just mentioned him, and here he is!" Yuan Xiu shouted. "Come in!"

Lu Lu, with dust swirling around him, walked in quickly with his head down.

Yuan Xiu then opened his eyes, glanced at Lü Lu, and said, "I heard from Dian Chen that the Dragon Guard's expedition was unsuccessful?"

Lu Lu frankly said, "This old servant has neglected training, and that is my responsibility."

Yuan Xiu said, "A few years ago, these Dragon Guards failed to intercept Yang Taozhi, and now they are at a disadvantage against Luo Ying. If my Dragon Guards cannot contain a Grandmaster, what is the point of keeping them around?"

Lu Lu said, "The power of a grandmaster is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people."

"Then why can't you train two grandmasters within the Dragon Guard?"

"These children are still young..."

Dian Chen's scalp tingled upon hearing this.

Two grandmasters were trained?

Your Majesty, you truly do not understand the path of martial arts...

Let alone a grandmaster, even a top-tier expert cannot be trained simply by you saying so.

Lu Lu also complained inwardly, thinking to himself, "If this old servant had the ability to mass-produce Grandmasters, wouldn't he have helped the Great Jing unify the world long ago?"

Yuan Xiu said, "You held back until the very end but still made your move. Are Zhao Cheng's men really that useless? Even with the help of my elder sister's people, he still couldn't defeat the Left Prime Minister's residence?"

Lu Lu said, "Of Zhao Cheng's own men, only Zhao Yan and Zhao Wu are capable of fighting. On the other hand, apart from Xu Qingshan, all five of the Five Fiends from the Left Prime Minister's residence have come. This old servant has kept His Majesty's instructions in mind and only intervened to balance the situation when he saw that the Princess's people could not hold on."

Yuan Xiu said, "You did the right thing. It doesn't matter if some people die in the Left and Right Prime Minister's residences, but the people of the Imperial Sister cannot be harmed."

Upon hearing this, Dian Chen paused for a moment, then looked at Lü Lu in surprise.

Eunuch Lü, didn't you rescue him to help Zhao Cheng and repay the kindness Zhao Cheng showed to your nephew?

Why does it not sound like that?

Yuan Xiu glanced at Dian Chen, noticing the confusion written all over Dian Chen's face, and said, "Dian Chen, do you really think Eunuch Lü went to help Zhao Cheng?"

Dian Chen nodded and said, "I was there... that's what Eunuch Lü said."

“You know, while you shouldn’t be too clever while serving me, you still need to have some brains.” Yuan Xiu turned to the side, letting Wei You massage his shoulders, and continued, “If Eunuch Lü were handling private matters, how dare he bring the Dragon Guards?”

"I involved Eunuch Lü so that he could control the situation. If the Right Prime Minister's Mansion is no match, then he can help Zhao Cheng. If Zhao Cheng is pretending to be stupid and the Right Prime Minister's Mansion has a backup plan, then he can help the Left Prime Minister's Mansion instead. As for the talk of repaying a favor for my nephew, that's just something I said for others to hear."

Yuan Xiu brushed a strand of long hair that had fallen onto his neck and smiled slightly, saying, "Tell me, how do you think I should handle this matter?"

"I've been dealing with this from the very beginning!"

"Sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight, no matter how the Left and Right Prime Ministers battle, they will be the ones who suffer. With Eunuch Lü there, the situation won't get out of control, and neither side will truly emerge victorious..." Thinking this, Dian Chen immediately clasped his hands and exclaimed, "Your Majesty's strategic brilliance is truly that of a wise and sagacious ruler!!"

Yuan Xiu smiled.

Lu Lu walked behind the dragon table and said, "Your Majesty, this old servant sees that Zhao Cheng and his guard Zhao Wu have a deep bond. If Zhao Wu can be saved, that will be fine. But if he cannot be saved, I'm afraid Zhao Cheng will not let this matter rest."

Yuan Xiu said, "What does he want? How about I lend him a thousand Imperial Guards and let him wipe out the Left Prime Minister's residence?"

"In this matter, Wen Tai wanted to kill Zhao Cheng, and Zhao Cheng knew it was a trap but still walked into it. Wasn't he just trying to turn the tables and kill Wen Tai's men? Once you're at the gambling table, you have to be prepared to lose everything. What's the death of a guard?"

“My brother-in-law should not be such a sore loser.”

Wei You interjected, "Logically speaking, whether it's Wen Tai or Zhao Cheng, this matter is over, and they should let it go. The problem is... the problem is... our Prince Consort is someone who doesn't play by the rules..."

Yuan Xiu said, "Is he really that shameless?"

Wei You said, "In short, it's not bad."

Just then, a commotion arose outside the Imperial Study.

"Get in! Let me in!"

"I want to see the Emperor!!"

"Don't you dare stop me! I'm the emperor's son-in-law, his brother-in-law! I want to see my brother-in-law, the emperor!!"

"Get out of my way!"

"I am a member of the royal family. If you keep dragging me, believe me, I won't disregard the dignity of the royal family and bite you!!"

Inside the imperial study, everyone stared at each other in silence.

Yuan Xiu sat up, looking speechless, and said, "The Grand Prince Consort of Dajing bit a eunuch outside the Imperial Study. Do you think this sounds good if word gets out?"

“It doesn’t sound good,” Dian Chen replied immediately, shaking his head.

Yuan Xiu suddenly flew into a rage: "Then bring him in right now!!"