Emperor Kangping suddenly realized what was going on and laughed, "My beloved concubine's plan is indeed brilliant."

"Come, Your Majesty, let's eat some meatballs." Consort Li smiled and scooped another hot meatball into Emperor Kangping's bowl.

After dinner, Consort Li saw Emperor Kangping off and returned to her room, saying to the palace maid, "Let Yang Yaozu in."

After Yang Yaozu entered, he bowed and said, "Your Highness Consort Li, this servant is very grateful to Your Highness for saving my life."

It turned out that he had been thinking about how to escape the punishment for losing the imperial edict the whole way, but when he was about to go to the capital, he found that the imperial edict had been secretly returned, which almost made him furious.

One of his attendants suggested a plan. Consort Li was Emperor Kangping's favorite concubine; all he had to do was ask her for a favor.

Yang Yaozu thought it was a good idea, so he sent a servant with gifts to secretly meet with Consort Li. Consort Li indeed protected him, and the things he said to Emperor Kangping were all taught to him by Consort Li.

When Consort Li saw him come to express his gratitude, her face remained expressionless. She coldly said, "Yang Yaozu, you've escaped a great calamity. How will you repay me?"

Yang Yaozu laughed and said, "Your Majesty is certainly not short of money. I am quite capable, and if Your Majesty commands me to do something, I will certainly do my best."

Consort Li smiled and said, "You're quite good at guessing what others are thinking. Then do me a favor and get a secret decree from His Majesty."

Yang Yaozu asked, "A secret edict? For whom?"

“The Lin family of the Northwest,” Consort Li replied calmly. “They have been in a very difficult situation recently due to the General’s Mansion, and they have sent people to the capital to plead with Shao’er. The Lin family and the Duke’s Mansion are related by marriage, and the Duke’s Mansion is also Shao’er’s advisor. I cannot ignore this.”

"Sending someone to find the Fifth Prince?" Yang Yaozu roughly guessed what was coming next. "Is the Lin family going against the General's Mansion?"

Consort Li nodded and said, "No matter how much grudge the Lin family and the General's Mansion have, the court can't easily intervene. Now that the General's Mansion has been accused of treason, the Lin family can act openly. All they need is His Majesty's approval."

Yang Yaozu laughed and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to say more. This servant understands everything. This servant will go to His Majesty first thing tomorrow morning and ask him to draft a secret edict for the Lin family, so that the Lin family can restrain the rear of the Youzhou army."

“That’s right. The Fifth Prince is preparing to raise an army to conquer Youzhou,” Consort Li said. “If the General’s Mansion falls, Su Wan will have no backing, and you will be able to take your revenge.”