After Anyang left with the palace maids, there was a commotion in Yifang Pavilion. The leader was the female official beside the queen, followed by many eunuchs. They entered Yifang Pavilion with a menacing look, intending to drag out those who had committed inappropriate acts in the palace.
The news the Queen received was that Prince Rui was having a secret meeting with a palace maid in Yifang Pavilion.
The Queen had long heard that Prince Rui was having an affair with a palace maid, and she had been thinking about how to use this to offend Prince Rui. Today, the opportunity had arrived.
Her good emperor, although he ignored Concubine Lai on the surface, was actually secretly caring for her. If she hadn't paid attention, she would have been deceived.
The queen felt a little disappointed. She had shared his hardships and was devoted to him, but he didn't see her and was devoted to another woman. If that was the case, don't blame her for being rude.
The female official rushed in with her men in a threatening manner, but unexpectedly, there were three people in Yifang Pavilion. When she saw one of them clearly, the female official almost fainted.
When the female official wanted to seal off Yifang Pavilion, it was too late. The noise was so loud that it attracted many people from various palaces.
Chun Liu ran back to report to the Queen Mother, and even when he brought people with him, it was still too late.
At this time, Wan Jinlan was talking to Aunt Chunliu in a secret place.
"Miss, please go back to the banquet as if you have never been here today."
Wan Jinlan poked his head out, looking puzzled. "What happened? Where's Princess Anyang? Why can't I see her?"
Xia Liu said, "Miss, stop asking so many questions and go back first."
Wan Jinlan had no choice but to obediently follow the maid from the Empress Dowager's palace, as if she knew nothing about what was going on.
Yifang Pavilion was bustling with activity. Even with the singing and dancing in the Imperial Garden, the angry voice of General Yelu of the Northern Rong still carried far into the night. Even those present could hardly hear what he was shouting.
When the Beirong people at the banquet heard their general's angry voice, they naturally wanted to get to the bottom of it.
Everyone at the table was naturally curious about what had happened.
When Wan Jinlan returned to his seat, he noticed the gaze and turned his head to look over.
It was her half-sister Wan Qiuyu.
Wan Qiuyu smiled at her, nodded, and then looked away.
Wan Qiuyu felt a pity that Princess Anyang and Wan Jinlan had returned safely, one after the other. Her actions today were merely a way to cause trouble for Wan Jinlan, and she had done this behind Xiao Minghuan's back. The only person she could manipulate was Xiao Minghuan's spies in the palace.
If she could kill Wan Jinlan with one strike, she would definitely do it. But right now, her ability wasn't that great. Seeing that Wan Jinlan was living a comfortable and smooth life, she always wanted to do something.
Wan Jinlan frowned slightly. Every time she saw Wan Qiuyu, she felt uncomfortable. She couldn't explain why. There was no conflict between the two of them, but she just couldn't get along with Wan Qiuyu. The aura between people was really inexplicable.
The tempers of the Northern Rong people were fiercer than the fiercest horses, and they had been drinking, so they were fearless and clashed with the imperial guards.
The emperor at the top had a gloomy expression. He had received the news from the empress dowager and knew what had happened.
If it weren't for the many court officials and royal relatives present, he would have been furious.
Seeing the Northern Rong people making such a commotion, the emperor said in a cold voice, "Bring General Yelu here."
The envoys from the Northern Rong clamored for the emperor to explain to them what mistake General Yelu had made.
The emperor said, "General Yelu violated the rules of our palace and insulted our palace maids. What crime should he be punished for?"
The Northern Rong envoys thought it was a big deal, but they didn't expect it to be just this? They all burst into laughter.
"Your Majesty, it's just a palace maid. Why not be so magnanimous and give her to our general directly? Why are you so angry? It's not like the general has insulted your beloved Princess Anyang. In our Northern Rong, women can be traded for cattle and sheep. For this palace maid, we can only give three sheep, no more!"
After he finished speaking, the Beirong people laughed wildly.
Once these words were spoken, any Wei person with blood in his veins could not tolerate this.
In the past, the Northern Rong could show their sincerity by offering three thousand high-quality horses to ask for the princess' hand in marriage. But now the Northern Rong envoy's shameless words have revealed the naked truth. In the eyes of the Northern Rong people, the princess of Wei is also a commodity that can be exchanged.
Where is the power of the Great Wei?
Anyang was so angry that his face turned blue. He picked up the cup in his hand and threw it out.
She stood up and knelt before the emperor's table. "Father, the Northern Rong are arrogant and disrespectful, and they look down on our dynasty. If you still intend to marry your daughter to the Northern Rong, I would rather die."
The Duke of Zhenguo stood up calmly, walked to the center with a resolute face, and knelt. "Your Majesty, the Beirong people are arrogant. With just one order from you, I am willing to lead the troops to attack the Beirong, recapture Beiyuan, and teach them a bloody lesson."
Why are the small countries in the southwest so well-behaved? Isn’t it because they were scared by being beaten in the past?
As soon as the Duke of Zhenguo finished speaking, the generals present immediately expressed their stance, and together with the imperial guards, they shouted in unison with great vigor, "Attack Beirong and recapture Beiyuan!"
The civil officials in the court who had previously supported the princess's marriage all shut their mouths and glared at the Beirong people.
The emperor stood up, his face solemn as he raised his hand to signal everyone to be silent. The scene suddenly became silent, and a silent and solemn atmosphere spread.
The Beirong people who were drunk also sobered up a little in this situation.
The emperor said, "Imprison the Northern Rong envoy to the Heavenly Prison and wait for his fate."
"Duke Zhenguo, please lead the imperial guards to surround the posthouse and not allow the Northern Rong soldiers to take a single step outside."
The Duke of Zhenguo responded calmly.
How could the Northern Rong envoys surrender and be thrown into the Heavenly Prison? "Emperor Wei, if you dare to kill us, our Northern Rong cavalry will march south and slaughter all the people of the Wei Dynasty!"
The emperor and his ministers all looked grim. The Great Wei, having ruled the Central Plains for a hundred years and boasting a strong military, had become a lamb to be slaughtered in the eyes of the Northern Rong. Their arrogance was truly boundless. These officials finally understood how foolish their initial idea of a marriage alliance had been. The Northern Rong should be dealt with harshly.
When the Northern Rong envoys entered the palace, their weapons were confiscated. No matter how fiercely they resisted, they were all taken away by the imperial guards.
As for General Yelu, the emperor ordered him to be sent directly to the Tianlao for solitary confinement.
Today's banquet had to end here. The envoys from the small southwestern countries and the officials and families of the Wei Dynasty left in an orderly manner.
Before leaving the palace, Wan Jinlan found a chance to explain today's events to his aunt.
When Concubine Wan found out, her expression turned cold, but she didn't lose her temper at that time. After a while, her expression looked no different from usual.
All the outsiders had left, and only the concubines in the palace remained.
The news that Prince An and General Yelu of the Northern Rong were hanging out with Concubine Min in Yifang Pavilion had almost spread throughout the palace.
Even if the news is blocked, it's too late.
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