Chapter 321
Moreover, she simply did not believe that Duan Gan would be defeated.
He said he would come back soon.
Tao Tao: "Leng Qiao, go and get the map!"
Leng Qiao: "Yes."
She took the map, spread it out on the table, and carefully examined the cities depicted on it.
After his thoughts raced through his mind, he quickly came up with a plan.
She turned her head to speak when hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
The person brought by Steward Wang was actually the chief eunuch Gao Liangui.
Upon seeing Tao Tao, he hurriedly knelt down, saying, "This old servant greets Your Highness."
Tao Tao quickly reached out to support his arm. "Get up! Why are you here? Did something happen in the palace?"
Gao Liangui looked up at her, his old face full of worry. "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has heard the rumors outside and has specially ordered this old servant to invite Your Highness to the palace."
"Enter the palace? Did she say that I was to enter the palace to discuss countermeasures?"
Upon hearing that Duan Gan's fate was unknown, she immediately sent someone to summon her to the palace, and it was Gao Liangui who came to fetch her, presumably to lower her guard.
The most important concern is that Duan Gan might have a backup plan, and she's afraid that those in the court who are on Duan Gan's side will come to her for advice.
Therefore, they decided to summon her to the palace first, hoping to seize the initiative in the court.
But was Empress Dowager Liu too confident, thinking that without Duan Gan and herself, she could seize power and bring the Celestial Empire under her control?
She probably overlooked the wolves and tigers that were eyeing the fat piece of China with covetous eyes.
Gao Liangui hesitated when she heard her question, "Perhaps that's true."
Even he couldn't be sure. Ever since Duan Gan left the capital, Empress Dowager Liu hadn't allowed him to get close to the young emperor, replacing him with palace maids and eunuchs personally selected by her.
They said he was too old, ostensibly to let him rest for a while, but in reality they were wary of him and had no trust in him whatsoever.
Although he had people in Changqiu Palace, they couldn't handle everything in detail, so there were some things he couldn't be sure about.
Tao Tao scoffed, "If she wants to see me, then let her see me."
After saying that, she looked at the person who came to report, "You shall summon all the ministers of the capital to the Wenqing Hall in my name for court."
"We will not force anyone. If anyone harbors disloyal intentions, the Privy Council guards need not report back; they may execute them first and report later!"
"If anyone dares to complain, let them come to the palace to see me, the princess."
Upon hearing this, everyone was incredulous and looked at Tao Tao, whose face remained indifferent.
Such decisiveness and ruthlessness subtly reveal the shadow of the Regent.
So, they truly are a perfect couple.
The initial disdain in the crowd turned into admiration. They clasped their hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Yes, Your Highness!"
Tao Tao looked at Gao Liangui with a smile, "Let's go, let me have a good meeting with the current Empress Dowager Liu."
The Imperial Garden.
Surrounded by palace maids and eunuchs, the young emperor happily kicked a football, his naive and foolish appearance making one want to laugh.
Empress Dowager Liu remained unconcerned, her face beaming with smiles and her eyes filled with pride for her youngest son.
At this moment, a eunuch came to deliver a message, whispering, "Your Majesty, the Regent's Consort is already waiting at Changqiu Palace."
Empress Dowager Liu's smile froze, her eyes turned cold, and impatience appeared between her brows.
"Can't you see the emperor is having a great time?"
She gave him a low stern look, glancing at him sideways with displeasure.
The eunuch immediately panicked, bowing and scraping, "Yes, yes, it was my fault, I was too talkative."
The young emperor, dressed in a thick fur coat, ran until he was covered in sweat and his face was flushed.
He ran over happily, threw himself into her arms, and looked up, "Mother, I want to drink some water."
He was so happy these days, eating whatever he wanted, playing whatever he wanted, and going to the Imperial Garden whenever he wanted.
His father wouldn't care about him, and that hateful slut, the Empress, would never appear in front of him again.
He wants to live this wonderful life forever.
Empress Dowager Liu smiled indulgently, "Alright, I'll have the imperial kitchen prepare some red date and longan sweet soup, it'll be sweet and hot." Then she wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
As they were talking, the old woman beside them took out a steaming bowl of sweet soup from the food box.
While everyone here was enjoying themselves, dark clouds had already gathered over Changqiu Palace.
Looking at the Regent's wife, whose face was so gloomy it seemed as if ink could drip from it, Gao Liangui said cautiously, "Your Highness, shall this old servant go and take a look? Perhaps the Empress Dowager is delayed by something?"
Tao Tao sneered, "Delay? What could possibly delay her?"
"The women in the harem all use the same few tricks. At this point, why is she still trying to intimidate us? I don't know whether to call her pitifully stupid or innocently naive."
"Don't worry about her. It's better that she doesn't come, so I won't feel upset."
"Let's go to Wenqing Hall." With that, she strode forward.
Upon arriving at Wenqing Hall, one finds that quite a few people are already waiting inside.
"The Regent's Consort has arrived!"
Upon hearing the announcement, everyone turned around to look, their expressions ambiguous and their thoughts varied.
Who could have imagined that a mere adopted daughter of a prince would, in the blink of an eye, become the powerful and revered regent's wife?
Many people, upon recalling the harsh treatment the Privy Council guards had recently received because of this woman's orders, instantly turned pale and felt a surge of resentment.
Tao Tao strode through the middle, glancing briefly at the old men as she passed them.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects." The group rose and bowed in greeting.
"You should know why I summoned you here." She stood on the steps below the dragon throne, scanning the people below.
Even the Left Prime Minister Xie Ruizhang, who had been unwell for a long time, was there; everyone should be present.
They whispered amongst themselves and looked at each other in bewilderment.
Finally, someone stepped forward and asked, "Your Highness, is it true, as the rumors say, that the Prince was defeated and killed in battle?"
"The fall of Yuquan Pass has already explained everything; is there any need to ask further?"
"The prince has just passed away, and those traitors whose ambitions had been suppressed are eager to emerge. It is conceivable how many people have been eyeing the Celestial Empire with covetous eyes."
Some people scoffed, "What's the use of saying all this now! No matter how much you say, it's better to send troops to capture the rebels, especially Qi Zheng, the King of Jingzhou. He's usually silent, but unexpectedly, he dealt a heavy blow to the capital at a crucial moment."
"If it weren't for him leading the way, would anyone else have dared to rebel?"
Many people nodded in agreement.
"The Vice Minister of Personnel is right. The Wu Kingdom and the Western Xia Kingdom are indeed very well-informed. As soon as Jingzhou was established, the small neighboring countries dared to act recklessly."
"In my humble opinion, it might have been premeditated. There must be a traitor within the Celestial Empire who tipped them off, and it might even be Qi Zheng!"
"That makes sense...that makes sense..."
The cold wind blew into the main hall, but it couldn't stop their enthusiastic discussion.
Tao Tao remained silent, her hands tucked into her sleeves, and sat down in the chair Gao Liangui had brought, quietly watching them.
Xie Ruizhang looked even older than before, and was coughing softly while covering his mouth.
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