Tianfeng Palace

When Gong Yunyang arrived, Mo Lian was seen holding several chess pieces in his hands, muttering to himself: "Say, don't say, say, don't say..."

"What do you want to say?" Gong Yunyang's voice came out with a smile.

Mo Lian was startled to see the emperor standing behind him in a good mood. He quickly stood up to greet him, but was steadily supported by Gong Yunyang's hand. "We are just talking privately, so there is no need to be so polite."

"Yes!" Mo Lian lowered his head, looking troubled.

"Come, let's talk." Gong Yunyang gently took Mo Lian's hand and sat down on the couch together. Then he asked, "Lian'er, are you unhappy because of what happened today?"

When asked this by the emperor, Mo Lian was slightly surprised, her eyes widened, and then she slowly shook her head, "Your Majesty, I am not that petty. In fact, whether it is the princess's matter or Concubine Jing's matter, as long as Your Majesty agrees and has Your Majesty's care and trust, I will not care about anything."

Gong Yunyang patted Mo Lian's hand in approval, "If that's the case, why did I hear you talking about something you didn't mean to say? Aren't you wondering whether you should tell me?"

"This..." Mo Lian frowned and looked at Gong Yunyang's face, which was full of hesitation. She pursed her lips tightly and there seemed to be a look of melancholy in her eyes.

"Hmm?" Gong Yunyang raised his eyebrows, and looked at Mo Lian with gentle eyes, but still encouragingly.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty." Mo Lian frowned, stood up and knelt down, "I really don't know what to do, please save me, Your Majesty."

"Why?" Gong Yunyang stood up, eyes full of heartache, and helped Mo Lian up, "Lian'er, you have to know that I treat you differently from other concubines. If you have any problems, don't keep them in your heart. You don't need to be so afraid of me. Whatever it is, just tell me slowly. As long as it is not harmful to the country and the people, I will tolerate it."

"Yes!" Mo Lian looked sad, but grateful, looking at Gong Yunyang, sobbing softly, "When my sister and I knew that the Zhan Palace was selecting talented painters, because our family was poor, my sister and I wanted to improve our lives, so we went to the Zhan Palace. Fortunately, although my sister and I were poor, we had a foundation in painting since childhood, so it was not difficult for us to enter the palace. However, because there were too many talented women with the same hope, they tried every means to exclude dissidents. They each took out their only property to honor Princess Xiaoting's maid, and my sister and I almost missed the chance to be shortlisted."

Mo Lian was choking with sobs as she spoke. After receiving the handkerchief from Gong Yunyang, Mo Lian calmed down and continued, "I don't know whether we two sisters are lucky or unlucky. The princess loves money, but she loves jade even more. The only heirloom we two sisters have caught the princess's eye. In order to have a fair chance, we had to reluctantly give up the jade pendant and gave it to the princess. We got the chance to be selected, but although I was finally selected to enter the palace, I implicated Mo Mo Yinyu."

"Implicate?" Gong Yunyang raised his eyebrows.

"Yes!" Mo Lian nodded, and then said, "After the princess decided to choose me to enter the palace, King Zhan found me and asked me to help him do something after entering the palace, otherwise, my sister's life would be in danger."

"Is this true?" Gong Yunyang narrowed his eyes, looking displeased.

Mo Lian nodded quickly, "Your Majesty, I don't understand why Prince Zhan wants me to enter the palace to investigate the Queen Mother? The Queen Mother is your aunt. Twenty years ago, your mother died suddenly after entering the palace. Why did your prince think there was something else going on? Aren't the Queen Mother and your mother sisters?"

The words of the Concubine Hua made Gong Yunyang's eyes flash with murderous intent, "You mean, the King of Zhan wants you to secretly investigate this matter in the palace?"

"Yes! Originally, I thought that if I entered the palace, I could get the emperor's favor, and then ask the emperor to rescue my sister, but..." Mo Lian cried like rain, crying sadly, "But Your Majesty, the prince has now taken the remaining three candidates into the palace. What should I do? Moreover, I have only recently realized that there are some things that the emperor has to temporarily control the prince, and I can't let my concubine do what she wants. How can one person's personal feelings be compared with the world's major events?"

"I understand." Gong Yunyang nodded, "Is that so? That's why Lian'er is so entangled?"

The emperor's still gentle words made Concubine Hua unbelievable. She raised her head and asked, "Your Majesty, do you not blame me for keeping it a secret?"

"I understand that you have no choice, so why would I blame you?" Gong Yunyang smiled, but in his heart, he couldn't help but ponder. Could it be that the benefits of the painted concubine mentioned in the stars are just like this? If so, why not take advantage of the situation and disintegrate Situ Xunxiao step by step, and make ironclad evidence to uproot him?

Mo Lian burst into laughter after hearing this, "Your Majesty, you are so kind to me."

"It's just that, at this moment, it's really difficult for me to take action."

“Actually, I’m just worried that the emperor will be angry with me. Ever since I entered the palace, I have been unable to take my eyes off his tenderness and care. As long as the emperor trusts me and as long as I can rescue my sister, I think I can do something for him, even if it is dangerous.” Mo Lian had a resolute look on his face, and after wiping away his tears, there was determination in his eyes.

Gong Yunyang curled his lips and smiled, "It's a good idea to take advantage of the opponent's strategy."

"How does Your Majesty know what I am thinking?" Mo Lian looked surprised.

"If I can't see through it, wouldn't I, the emperor, be fooled by the ministers in the court?" Gong Yunyang laughed softly, "I think that since the War King can threaten you so much, he must have planted a lot of people in the palace to secretly investigate this matter. It will be difficult to fool him. It is best to mix the truth with the lies."

"What does the emperor mean?" Mo Lian blinked and looked at Gong Yunyang in confusion, but saw him smile confidently, "What I mean is to be hypocritical, Lian'er, you just need to act sincerely and do things for him seriously, and investigate this matter."

"Ah?" Mo Lian asked in confusion, "Your Majesty wants me to investigate carefully?"

"Yes, it is easier for you to investigate this matter than for others. With this action, I believe that if there is really someone who knows the truth, we can take the initiative. As for what we find out and what to tell King Zhan, it is under our control." Gong Yunyang calculated, but there was a sinister look in his eyes, "If King Zhan really has some plan, I can also take precautions."

"Yes!" Mo Lian nodded, and they spent a night of tenderness in Tianfeng Palace.