The giggling from inside the palace stopped, and then a melodious voice rang out, "Send him back and tell him that I am tired and have already gone to bed."
The palace maid: "..." It's only 1:15 AM. No matter how tired you are, it's impossible to sleep all day. Who would believe that?
The Empress was truly overwhelmed by the service of Han Nu.
The palace maid secretly grumbled to herself, but dared not say it aloud.
Driven by curiosity, the palace maid couldn't help but take a step forward and glance at the dragon and phoenix bed.
With just one glance, the palace maid's face instantly turned bright red.
Inside the gauze curtain, two naked figures were clearly visible.
Han Nu was using an indescribable position to relieve the Empress's fatigue after their lovemaking.
"What a monster!" the palace maid thought to herself, spitting inwardly.
No wonder the Imperial Concubine was so fond of him; this Han slave was too skilled in this art.
The palace maids' hearts nearly jumped out of their throats when they thought of what the Empress had said about marrying them off to the guards sent by Nanzhao.
The women of Nanzhao were incredibly charming, and the men were tall and robust, especially their deep eyes, which could captivate anyone at first glance.
There was no custom of using eunuchs in the Liang Kingdom's palace; each concubine's palace was filled with palace maids.
After she gave birth to Mo Ziyan, the Nanzhao Kingdom sent several guards to the Liang Kingdom to protect her and her child.
Emperor Liang favored Consort Lan greatly. Considering that she was a princess sent for a political marriage and only had a few guards, and that the guards lived in the princes' palaces, he didn't mind.
He never imagined that those guards, ostensibly the Third Prince's men, were actually Consort Lan's male favorites, summoned and dismissed at will.
Especially during the years when the Emperor of Liang was old and frail, Consort Lan would return to Nanzhao every year under the pretext of visiting relatives, but in reality, she would return to Nanzhao to personally select guards.
Han Nu was the one she spotted at first glance among all the guards.
The head palace maid stood anxiously at the palace gate. The Third Prince was waiting in front, presumably to discuss something important with the Empress.
What if the Third Prince gets impatient and barges in?
Hearing the soft moans coming from inside, the palace maid blushed and was at a loss for what to do.
The Empress was in high spirits; it would be very impolite of her to continue urging her.
The palace maid had no choice but to retreat outside the door; at least she could hold off the Third Prince if he came.
After an unknown amount of time, the wind and rain stopped inside the palace. The palace maid heard footsteps coming from inside.
She took two more steps inside, preparing to urge him again, when she looked up and saw Han Nu, completely naked, carrying the naked Empress towards the back of the bedchamber.
Behind the sleeping quarters is a natural hot spring, where the Empress would soak for a while every day.
The palace maids who served her closely all knew that whenever the Empress entered the palace with her guards to bathe, they would inevitably have a romantic water play session.
The palace maid breathed a huge sigh of relief. If the Third Prince had barged in, at least he would have known that the Empress was bathing and wouldn't have entered.
The Third Prince wouldn't barge in without a matter of utmost urgency. Over the years, the palace maids had only witnessed the Third Prince act rudely once.
The palace maid entered the inner hall and glanced at the dragon and phoenix couch. The brocade quilt on the couch was in disarray, and a soft pillow was placed in the middle of the bed for some unknown reason.
Upon closer inspection, the bed sheet was soaking wet.
The incense burner with the unicorn design on the side was emitting wisps of smoke, and the fragrance of the incense masked all traces of the man in the room.
The head maid quickly turned and went out, calling all the other maids outside into the inner palace to tidy up.
Around noon, Consort Lan returned to the inner palace with a radiant face.
The palace maids quickly helped her dress and style her hair.
The head palace maid couldn't help but look back, but there was no sign of Han Nu in the hall.
Consort Lan, dressed in her finest attire, arrived at the front hall, and Mo Ziyan hurriedly went to greet her.
Consort Lan's cheeks were still flushed, and Mo Ziyan said worriedly, "Mother, are you feeling unwell? Should we call the imperial physician to come and take a look?"
"No need, does my son have something important to discuss with his mother?"
Consort Lan waved her hand and walked straight to the head seat to sit down. After a whole morning of fussing, even though Han Nu massaged her for a while, her waist and thighs were still a little sore.
Mo Ziyan looks just like Consort Lan, with a beautiful appearance, but his temperament is not as calm as Consort Lan's.
Mo Ziyan said anxiously, "Mother, the assassination attempt has failed again. He is expected to enter the palace before evening. Should we send Han Nu with men to intercept and kill him?"
A barely perceptible emotion flashed across Consort Lan's eyes as she said sternly, "No! Don't use them lightly. If those old ministers find out that you used Nanzhao guards to kill people in Liang, they will have an excuse to advise your father, the Emperor, to have you send back the Nanzhao guards."
"You should carefully consider whether the people of Liang or Nanzhao are more trustworthy!"
Consort Lan spoke sternly and harshly, as if this matter were of paramount importance.
Mo Ziyan frowned. “Mother, of course I know that the people of Nanzhao are more trustworthy. Mother is a noble consort, but you are a princess of Nanzhao. Those old men have never treated you with the respect due to a noble consort, including me. It’s as if we, mother and son, were sent by Nanzhao to steal the country.”
“They never considered that I also have the blood of the Emperor flowing in my veins, and that I should also be qualified to inherit the throne.”
When Consort Lan heard Mo Ziyan say that he had the blood of the Emperor of Liang, a hint of unease flashed across her face.
"Your Majesty, did you just say he arrived in the capital today?" Consort Lan changed the subject and returned to the previous question.
"Yes, the messenger I sent out to gather information has returned and reported that he is making a grand entrance towards Yunmeng City."
Consort Lan's lips curled into a sneer and disdain. "So what if he comes back? He's been missing for over twenty years. Perhaps his body has long since vanished. Who knows if what comes is just an imposter greedy for wealth and glory?"
"Mother, you and I have the same idea. There are your confidants in the Imperial Hospital. The Imperial Hospital will participate in the blood test for kinship. I came here to discuss with you. We should start with the blood test for kinship. As long as Father does not acknowledge him, no matter how much he jumps around, it will be in vain."
Mo Ziyan became more and more excited as he spoke, and the gloom in his heart was swept away.
"Yes, your mother will arrange this. You should visit your father often and learn from the Second Prince, who always tries to get close to your father."
Consort Lan doesn't want to see that person even once now. Her son needs to inherit the throne smoothly, and the Tiger Tally and Imperial Seal must be obtained legitimately.
Mo Ziyan disagreed, "Mother, there's no need to worry. Second Brother has no interest in that position. He spends his days associating with a bunch of playboys and indulging in poetry and songs. He doesn't have many people at his disposal, so there's nothing to fear."
The Second Emperor, Mo Ziqian, was born to Consort Jing, who was born into the famous Nalan family in the Liang Kingdom. Her father was a civil official who is now retired and enjoying his old age at home.
The men of the Nalan family have been scholars for generations, and the second prince, Mo Ziqian, also inherited the Nalan family bloodline, having a deep love for poetry and songs.
After discussing their countermeasures, the mother and son each sent someone to make arrangements.
Outside Yunmeng City, a group of people galloped in.
Upon learning the news, the guards rushed into the palace to deliver the message.
The procession entered the city gate and saw pedestrians coming and going on the street.
Nangong Zeyue pulled on the reins and slowed down the pace.
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