"Your Highness, the Seventh Prince will be back soon. If we don't hurry, we'll miss our chance."
The Empress calmly turned a page of the scripture, then raised an eyebrow: "How has Your Majesty been lately?"
The palace maid was taken aback; it had been a long time since she had inquired about the Southern Frontier Emperor.
"Go and find out."
The palace maid hurriedly nodded in agreement and rushed out.
It came back a moment later.
"Your Majesty, the Emperor is still confined to Xuanhe Palace. A few days ago, he caused the death of a Noble Lady, and yesterday he caused the death of a palace maid. In the past three years, six concubines have died."
The Empress raised an eyebrow, not surprised at all. If the Southern Emperor hadn't been imprisoned, far more than these women would have been taken out of the harem.
The Empress felt nauseous at the thought of the Southern Emperor's face.
But she had no choice but to go see the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang in person. She put down the scriptures, removed the phoenix hairpin from her hair, changed into a plain long dress, and walked step by step toward Xuanhe Palace with a string of beads in her hand.
He was accompanied by two palace maids who guarded him on both sides.
The gates of Xuanhe Palace were tightly closed. Upon seeing the Empress arrive in person, the guards respectfully opened the gates. As soon as they entered, they saw the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang with his eyes covered by a veil, playing hide-and-seek in the palace while calling out "beauty."
The Empress frowned, a hint of disgust flashing in her eyes.
"Your Majesty the Empress."
A greeting interrupted the Southern Frontier Emperor's actions.
The Emperor of Southern Xinjiang pulled off his handkerchief, turned his head to glance at the Empress, and asked with a half-smile, "What brings the Empress here today?"
The Empress waved her hand, and the palace maids dismissed the others.
The Southern Emperor sat on the steps to the side, completely unconcerned. If it weren't for the dragon robe he was wearing, it would be hard to imagine that he was an emperor.
"In these three years, the Emperor has not had a moment's peace."
The Emperor of Southern Xinjiang sneered, "Isn't this all thanks to the Empress? I haven't suffered. I will definitely repay this kindness in the future."
Ignoring the Southern Emperor's sarcastic tone, she stepped forward and sat on a stone bench, trying to calm herself down: "Seventh Brother will be back soon."
In a single sentence, the Southern Border Emperor's expression changed drastically.
"The seventh brother returned in triumph."
The Emperor of Southern Xinjiang stood up in a panic: "What do you mean? Do you really want me to abdicate?"
The Empress glanced at the Emperor of Southern Xinjiang, wishing she could skin him alive, but reason prevailed over impulse. She said, "The Seventh Prince holds military power and is invincible. He has the support of the people, and all the civil and military officials are looking forward to his return. With just one word from him, who can take away the throne? If it weren't for your coveting of the Seventh Prince's Consort, would you have driven him to such a desperate act?"
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