She needs to seize enough power before Maggie's baby is born in order to deal with any unexpected situations.

As for whether these people were genuinely loyal or just feigning allegiance, she didn't have enough time or energy to discern; only time would tell.

Su Wanwan believes that you can know a person's face but not their heart; time is the true test of everything.

She had once trusted and relied on Yan Rong so much, yet she was still betrayed by her.

However.

The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.

That day, Su Wanwan was handling palace affairs in Jingtianzhai when the eunuchs and female officials who came to report all looked terrified and looked up at the sky.

"It's already late afternoon, why is Venus still in the sky?"

"A daytime sight of Venus is a very ominous sign!"

The "Gan Shi Xing Jing" (Gan Shi Star Classic), which has been passed down since the Warring States period, says: "When Venus is seen in broad daylight, the emperor will suffer a loss!"

"That's right. Before the Xuanwu Gate Incident in the Tang Dynasty, there were three consecutive 'celestial phenomena'—Venus appeared in broad daylight, Venus crossed the sky, and Venus crossed the sky again!"

He Ying overheard a few snippets and immediately went out to reprimand him:

"The palace rules are strict. Anyone who spreads rumors will be severely punished by the Palace Administration Department!"

The discussions have temporarily subsided.

Su Wanwan heard those words: "The emperor is in mourning."

She suddenly felt suffocated.

Lu Xingjian has not shown up for several days.

Even she, the empress, didn't know his whereabouts.

He'll be fine.

Su Wanwan picked up her teacup and covered her face, quietly trying to ease her inner anxiety.

Maggie's baby is only a month old, and there are still eight or nine months until the baby is born.

Su Wanwan simply issued a verbal order.

"Order the heads of each palace to restrain the palace staff from making unauthorized remarks. Those who disobey will be handed over to the Palace Administration Office for punishment!"

However.

The celestial phenomenon of "Venus visible during the day" lasted for three days.

The atmosphere inside and outside the palace is becoming increasingly tense.

Su Wanwan continued to come and go as usual to handle palace affairs, not taking it to heart at all.

Her composure greatly reassured the people in the palace.

As for the court officials outside the palace, they are currently preoccupied with dealing with the tyranny of Liu Jin, the Director of Ceremonial Affairs, and have not made much of a fuss about the emperor or the stars.

The main issue is that there was another incident during a recent border storage inspection in Ningxia.

An Kui, a supervising secretary of the Ministry of Personnel, and Zhang Yu, an imperial censor, submitted a memorial to the throne.

Because of the matter of grain and fodder storage in Ningxia, a memorial was submitted impeaching Zhao Ji, the Assistant Prefect of Qingyang Prefecture, and more than 130 other officials, including commanders of Ningxia and other guards, requesting that they be punished.

They not only demanded an investigation into the amount of losses, but also required double compensation, and for deceased officials, their families were ordered to complete the compensation.

The memorial also mentioned that Gu Zuo, the Minister of Revenue, and others were impeached for being entrusted with important national responsibilities but failing to perform their duties and for bending the law for personal gain.

Compensation is fine.

The demand for double compensation immediately ignited the anger of civil and military officials.

The entire government and the public were on edge over this matter.

Which official hasn't taken kickbacks and pocketed some benefits?

Even if a few people are truly incorruptible, are all their relatives so clean?

If the compensation is doubled, wouldn't that wipe out our entire fortune?

Who can allow the imperial court to set this precedent?

Even Su Wanwan's stepmother, Madam Yang, was alarmed and went to the palace to plead with Su Wanwan.

“I am not doing this for myself. My brother, who was once the governor of Shaanxi and governed Ningxia, knows all too well how poor that place is.”

"If we were to offer double the compensation, it would likely provoke public outrage, so we should proceed with caution."

Su Wanwan keenly sensed the danger involved.

The salaries of officials in the Liang Dynasty were actually not high.

If double compensation is imposed, many families will likely be financially ruined, potentially leading to unrest.

At this tense time, it is really not advisable to further agitate the public.

She readily agreed: "I will offer some advice to the Emperor."

Yang breathed a sigh of relief, a charming smile appearing on her face: "Your father was trying to stop me from coming, but thankfully I didn't listen to him."

Su Wanwan naturally picked up the conversation: "How has Father's health been lately?"

Mrs. Yang shook her head helplessly:

"What else can he do? He stays in his study all day and never goes out, teaching that illegitimate son to read and write, but he doesn't even care about Cheng Si's studies."

"If it weren't for the Empress's help in getting Cheng Si into the Imperial Academy, Cheng Si's studies would have fallen far behind."

Su Wanwan frowned.

It was clear that Madam Yang disliked that "illegitimate son" very much.

“I have prepared some clothes and food here. My mother can take some with her when she goes home. It’s a token of my affection.”

He Ying took out the items and deliberately unwrapped one of the bundles.

Inside were clothes for two- or three-year-old children, from underwear to coats, shoes, and socks—everything was provided.

Su Wanwan was quite frank and generous: "I also want to have my own children, so I had some clothes made for the kids, but I don't need them now."

"Why don't you take it back for your younger brother to wear?"

Yang looked at the clothes and saw that they did not have elaborate embroidery, but the material was all high-quality Songjiang Sanshu cloth.

They would fetch a considerable price if sold elsewhere.

Madam Yang's mood sombered slightly, but she managed a weak smile: "Your Majesty is very kind."

Unexpectedly, the Empress valued her half-brother, whom she had only met once, so much.

He Ying opened another bundle, which contained clothes made for Su Nan, Su Chengsi, and Yang Shi.

Yang's complexion improved, and she left after lunch.

After much deliberation, Su Wanwan summoned Liu Jin to Xiaoyuan.

Liu Jin had no choice but to come.

After all, the news of the Emperor's departure from the capital was kept completely secret.

If he doesn't visit Xiaoyuan for a long time, it's easy for people to become suspicious.

Su Wanwan's words were very tactful:

"Liu Daban, is there any room for negotiation regarding the doubled compensation proposed in the Ningxia grain bill?"

If Lu Xingjian were here, she could just talk to him privately.

She was still not confident in facing this powerful eunuch known as the "Standing Emperor" directly.

Before Liu Jin arrived, he had already heard that the matriarch of the Su family was going to the palace to meet the Empress today.

A chill ran through him.

Is the Su family finally giving up and getting involved in serious matters?

The court is short of money now, and doubling the compensation is a great opportunity to plunder the wealth of officials and rich households to fill the national treasury. How can we give it up?

He replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Majesty, this matter still awaits the Emperor's approval. This servant can only wait for the Emperor's order to reply."

"As for Her Majesty the Empress's wishes, this servant can convey them on her behalf."

Su Wanwan paused.

I understood the sarcasm in his words.

She was the empress, yet she not only couldn't see the emperor, but also had to rely on him, the chief eunuch, to relay her messages.

Su Wanwan didn't make a fuss about it and said politely:

"Thank you for your help, Master Liu. I am a woman with limited knowledge and experience. I hope you will give me some guidance if I act in a way that is not up to par."

Liu Jin was pleased with her tact and replied respectfully, "This servant wouldn't dare."

A few days later, the two officials who advocated for double compensation were imprisoned in the Imperial Guard prison.

The atmosphere was relaxed throughout the government and the public.

Everyone secretly cursed Liu Jin for acting arbitrarily and manipulating the court, but they had no choice but to bow to the public's anger.

Who doesn't know that the two officials who submitted the memorial advocating for double compensation were siding with Liu Jin's cronies?

Liu Jin was so angry that his face turned ashen.

No matter what he does, he's destined to bear this infamy.