Chief Steward Li remained silent for a few moments, pondering whether "she" referred to the Empress or Miss Ma.

He looked towards the doorway: "Oh dear, Your Majesty the Empress..."

Lu Xingjian turned his head to look at the door.

The entrance was deserted; there was no one there.

Steward Li suppressed a laugh and finally finished speaking: "...He didn't come over."

Lu Xingjian coldly said, "Get lost."

Manager Li forced out a bitter and resentful expression:

"This old servant has to go and complain to Her Majesty the Empress. I've been running around for days and traveled a long way, but the Emperor is so stingy that he won't reward me or give me any honors. He even told this old servant to get lost. Sigh..."

Lu Xingjian raised his foot to kick him: "So what if she knows? Do you think I'm afraid of her?"

Manager Li dodged aside, bowing slightly as he left with a smile.

Lu Xingjian sat down to read the memorial.

However, his mind was not on the memorials.

Listen carefully to what's happening outside.

But even as darkness fell, Steward Li did not return.

Su Wanwan did not return either.

He tossed the memorial in his hand aside, leaned back in his chair, and wearily pinched the bridge of his nose.

Meng Yue came in carrying a teacup and reported, "Miss Ma is outside requesting an audience."

Lu Xingjian didn't even look up, only uttering two cold words.

"not see."

Meng Yue's pupils contracted, but he dared not say anything more and left with his head down.

Maggie's appearance doesn't seem quite right.

At the entrance of Xiaoyuan, Ma Ji looked dazed and lost, her arms crossed, appearing absent-minded.

Her cheeks were flushed, as if she had applied rouge, both beautiful and decadent.

This is completely contrary to her usual arrogant and domineering image.

Her clothes were neatly arranged, and even her neck was covered completely with a silk scarf.

It seems she took the Emperor's reprimand to heart.

Meng Yue asked a young eunuch for information: "Has Miss Ma been bullied by someone?"

The young eunuch dashed off to inquire and returned swiftly to report:

"No, the gates of Yongshou Palace are closed today. Apart from the newly assigned palace servants, no one is coming or going."

Meng Yue looked puzzled and asked again, "Has Her Majesty the Empress sent anyone to Yongshou Palace?"

It was an open secret that the Queen and Maggie were at odds.

If someone in the palace is making things difficult for Ma Ji, it's most likely the Empress.

The young eunuch shook his head: "Her Majesty the Empress has been busy with palace affairs and has not inquired about Yongshou Palace."

Meng Yue had no choice but to go see Ma Ji, but he dared not look at her for long, keeping his eyes lowered.

Maggie looked at him with tears in her eyes, her expression sorrowful and resentful, so heartbreaking that it was impossible for him to refuse her.

"Let me go inside to avoid the mosquitoes. What if the Emperor finds out I was bitten by mosquitoes and blames you?"

Meng Yue paused, his face slightly flushed, and he lowered his eyes, not daring to look any longer.

There are many flowers, trees and shrubs in Xiyuan, and it is not far from Taiye Pond, so there are a lot of mosquitoes at this time.

He felt he couldn't bear the responsibility:

"Miss Ma, please come in."

The Emperor says he won't see you now, but he might change his mind later.

...

The next day, Empress Dowager Zhang heard that Consort Ma had entered Xiaoyuan Garden and had not come out all night, and she immediately fell ill with anger.

"Useless, utterly useless!" she muttered, clutching her chest.

She had no feelings for Su Wanwan; if she did, it was hatred for the woman who had been killed.

But she needs to use Su Wanwan's belly to give birth to a prince that she can control in the future.

These days, Su Wanwan is staying with the Emperor at Xiaoyuan, which Empress Dowager Zhang is delighted to see.

Who knew Su Wanwan would be so outrageous? She went back to Kunning Palace on her own, and Ma Ji actually managed to take advantage of the situation!

She couldn't let things continue like this.

That evening, a bad omen spread throughout the palace: the moon was afflicted by the right corner star of Xuanyuan.

The seventeen stars of Xuanyuan have traditionally represented the emperor's harem, while the right-hand star represents the empress dowager.

This news foreshadows a calamity for the Empress Dowager.

As for who will bring misfortune to the Empress Dowager, opinions vary.

However, Ma Ji, who had previously offended the Empress Dowager in person, is the most suspicious.

However, after the last major overhaul of the palace, Empress Dowager Zhang's influence was not as great as before, and she did not cause any waves.

As for the Grand Princess Chun'an and her husband Cai Zhen, who used to love causing trouble in the palace, they have suffered several losses and are now obediently staying at home and not going out.

This natural disaster warning was like a pebble thrown into a cold pond, not even making a splash.

Empress Dowager Zhang was furious but powerless, and could only watch helplessly.

Su Wanwan ignored these rumors and simply waited to see how things would develop.

She would not actively try to please Empress Dowager Zhang.

Empress Dowager Zhang didn't provoke her, and she didn't want to disrupt the current peaceful situation.

In any case, strengthening one's own power is the most important thing.

She was busy identifying and employing talent, and for a time she didn't have the energy to deal with other things.

Even during the Dragon Boat Festival, she and Lu Xingjian did not meet again. The two remained in a cold war and had no contact with each other.

Grain prices in the capital were on the verge of collapse.

Minister of Revenue Gu Zuo had no choice but to submit a memorial stating that the annual grain transport volume was four million shi (a unit of dry measure), but the two granaries in Beijing and Tongzhou only received three million six hundred and fifty thousand shi.

There is a shortfall of 350,000 shi (a unit of dry measure).

After deducting the annual expenditure of over 3,612,000 shi (a unit of dry measure) for the officers and soldiers of each garrison, there was very little grain left in the two granaries in the capital and Tongzhou.

Furthermore, due to the disaster, the tax revenue collected has resulted in a deficit in national finances. Therefore, we request that the original amount be requested from all regions for the National Games this year.

This memorial brought the food shortage in the capital to the forefront.

Under normal circumstances, the emperor would be anxious and urge his officials and the grain transport authorities to expedite the delivery of grain to the capital.

However.

Who told the current emperor to neglect his duties?

Lu Xingjian hid in Xiaoyuan and did not show his face, refusing to see any ministers.

All political affairs and morning court sessions were handled by Liu Jin of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

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