Empress Dowager Xiao?
What is she doing here?
Did they hear about Xie Yuan's arrival and come looking for trouble too?
Upon hearing the palace servant's report, Helian Jue and Duofu exchanged bewildered glances.
Immediately, Helian Jue denied this possibility.
"Probably not! She's a smart woman!"
Although Empress Xiao and Helian Jue were biological mother and son, there was no affection between them.
Empress Dowager Xiao was intelligent enough, yet she also understood her place—she was the birth mother of the emperor, and now that she had successfully ascended to the position of Empress Dowager, she was content.
Unlike Empress Dowager Ashina, she wouldn't use her status to boss Helian Jue around.
Firstly, Empress Dowager Xiao ultimately felt she lacked confidence;
Secondly, she cleverly realized that Helian Jue was not someone who could be easily swayed by others.
Since you can't control them, why waste your energy?
If things go wrong, you might end up like Empress Dowager Ashina, who tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead!
Tsk tsk, she played a good hand terribly, completely wasting her kindness in raising and mentoring Helian Jue, as well as all her secret schemes.
Empress Xiao knew very well that she was not as "well-funded" as Empress Ashina.
The cost of trial and error for her is too high; she can't afford to keep going through all that trouble!
so--
"She's not here to cause trouble! She's here to help!"
Helian Jue quickly came to this conclusion.
A moment later, the palace servants escorted Empress Dowager Xiao into the room.
"Your Majesty, I have something to tell you!"
After entering the room, Empress Xiao did not make a show of "dismissing the servants," but went straight to the point.
Helian Jue waved his hand, and all the palace servants except Duofu withdrew.
Empress Dowager Xiao's eyes flickered.
She knew that the eunuch in front of her must be one of Helian Jue's confidants.
Empress Dowager Xiao said nothing, but went straight to the point, "Your Majesty, are you familiar with the 'Inner Guard'?"
Empress Dowager Xiao herself knew this.
However, before the late emperor passed away, he gave her the imperial seal and the shadow guards, but he did not mention the inner guards.
Originally, Empress Dowager Xiao wanted to put on a good show and try to trick the late emperor into revealing his last trump card.
There's just not enough time.
Helian Jue must ascend the throne as soon as possible, and she must provide him with assistance at the most crucial moment.
Only in this way can she obtain the greatest benefit.
After careful consideration, Empress Dowager Xiao ultimately decided to abandon the inner guard.
Anyway, having a shadow guard is not bad.
Although the number of Shadow Guards is not as large as that of the Inner Guards, they are basically like ghosts.
With their high martial arts skills and unpredictable movements, Empress Xiao felt that having shadow guards was enough for a woman like her who had lived in the deep palace for so long.
As for the new emperor Helian Jue, his failure to obtain an inner guard was simply "fate."
She has already helped Helian Jue and fulfilled her promise; that's enough!
If Helian Jue wants to achieve more, he still needs to rely on himself.
However, although Empress Xiao had no choice but to give up the inner guard, she did not completely abandon the matter.
During this period, Empress Dowager Xiao dispatched several shadow guards to search for traces of the Imperial Guards in the palace, the capital, and other places.
After several months of effort, she actually found some clues.
Perhaps her investigation results won't help Helian Jue regain control of the Imperial Guard, but the fact that she offered a reminder is a form of help!
Helian Jue, oh right, and Empress Xie, who has already arrived in the capital, should all remember to do me a favor.
"Internal Guard?"
Helian Jue frowned slightly. He refrained from looking at Duofu and instead shook his head in feigned confusion, indicating that he had never heard of him.
"They are a personal guard established by the sage, specifically responsible for gathering intelligence and monitoring all officials!"
"They conceal their identities and are omnipresent. They are the most insidious and mysterious force under the late emperor."
"Logically, the Inner Guard, as the emperor's private bodyguard, should be passed on to his successor—"
At this point, Empress Dowager Xiao paused deliberately.
How Helian Jue ascended the throne and what the will to pass on the throne was all known to Empress Dowager Xiao and Helian Jue himself.
Therefore, it was impossible for Helian Jue to obtain the inner guards from the late emperor.
Helian Jue didn't say anything, just hummed in agreement, as if to say "I understand".
Empress Dowager Xiao raised an eyebrow. What did Helian Jue mean by this?
Aren't you in a hurry at all?
Those are the Imperial Guards!
A hidden underground force within the palace and even the entire capital.
As emperor, he should have been in control of everything.
As a result, there was a guard that should have belonged to him but could not serve him.
To put it bluntly, Helian Jue couldn't even close both eyes when he slept at night.
Otherwise, it's entirely possible to be secretly murdered in the middle of the night.
If the internal guards were an open enemy like the Turkic prince, that would be fine, but they were very good at hiding.
It is no exaggeration to say that among the officials standing in the imperial court, those who appear upright and dignified may very well be imperial guards.
"...For the past few months, I have been secretly investigating."
Empress Dowager Xiao did not directly ask Helian Jue "what to do next", but instead told him about her own actions.
"I've noticed that the fifth son of Master Cui seems a bit strange!"
"Perhaps he is an inner guard! The Sage can follow his leads and investigate thoroughly!"
"Oh! By the way, the Inner Guard has nine commanders. If possible, Your Majesty should recall this personal guard as soon as possible!"
Empress Dowager Xiao offered her sincere advice in the tone of a collaborator.
"Yes! I understand! Thank you!"
Helian Jue knew that Empress Dowager Xiao had come to curry favor on purpose.
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