After thinking things through, Xie Zhaozhao said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I will certainly do my best. I also hope that Your Majesty will not hold a grudge against the Earl's Mansion and the Xie Mansion, regardless of whether things succeed or fail."
Emperor Hui nodded: "Good!"
The three discussed the detailed operation, and Emperor Hui shouted "Dragon Six, Dragon Seven," and two people floated in front of him like shadows.
"You will stay with the Grand Secretary's wife and make sure she is safe."
"Yes." The two walked up to Xie Zhaozhao, clasped their hands in greeting, and said, "Madam of the Grand Secretary."
Xie Zhaozhao was used to Bei Chen and the others appearing and disappearing, so she wasn't surprised by the appearance of Long Liu and Long Qi.
He said calmly, "I'll be heading back to my residence later. You can follow me."
She understood that these two people were both protecting her and monitoring her.
After all, replacing the Empress Dowager's remains was a matter of great importance.
Emperor Hui handed her a paper tube: "This is an imperial edict. Hide it well. When you arrive at the imperial mausoleum, open it and show it to the tomb keeper."
There were many spies in the palace, so after finishing their business, the two immediately returned the way they came.
Gu Shaoyu held her hand the whole way, and in the secret passage, he hugged her. Xie Zhaozhao tiptoed to reach the corner of his lips and gently kissed him. Neither of them spoke.
Back in the original room, she heard Jin Ge's voice outside: "Is the Grand Secretary's wife here? Her Majesty the Empress wants to see you."
Yuanyuan and Manman were trying to reason with Jingge, and said in a low voice, "Aunt Jingge, Madam is too tired and will take a short rest. Please understand."
Jin Ge was furious and shouted, "You promised to keep vigil for the Empress Dowager, and you've come here to sleep? How dare you disobey the Empress's decree?"
She was all smiles and said nice things, even though she was completely satisfied.
Jin Ge barged in: "You're making excuses, is the Grand Madam not here?"
Jin Ge rushed in with seven or eight people and saw Gu Shaoyu and his wife embracing each other.
Xie Zhaozhao was sleeping in Gu Shaoyu's arms, and Gu Shaoyu gently stroked her back.
Upon seeing Jin Ge, Gu Shaoyu didn't let go of her, saying, "Is this how Her Majesty the Empress teaches her servants?"
Jin Ge quickly apologized, stepped back to the door, and said, "The abbot of Huguo Temple has arrived to perform a ritual. Her Majesty the Empress invites all the ladies of the various households to recite the scriptures together."
Xie Zhaozhao got down from Gu Shaoyu's arms and called out to Yuan Yuanman, "Bring me a basin of water."
While washing her face, Xie Zhaozhao suddenly bent over, her face pale: "Ah..."
Yuan Yuanman immediately asked, "What's wrong, Madam?"
"I... I think I'm..."
Jin Ge immediately understood that Madam Gu was menstruating.
“Aunt Jingge, please tell Her Majesty the Empress that I am disrespectful to Buddha in this state,” Xie Zhaozhao said with a frown. “I must leave the palace and return home immediately. It would be disrespectful to be in front of the Empress Dowager’s mourning hall like this.”
Jin Ge really couldn't say anything.
She said respectfully to Xie Zhaozhao, "This servant will escort the Grand Secretary's wife out of the palace."
"Thank you, Aunt Jingge."
Go ahead and give it to me; feel free to do so.
As soon as she left the palace, Liuli from Consort Xi's palace came looking for her: "Madam, the Consort requests that you rest in Xingning Palace."
Xie Zhaozhao smiled and declined, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will not disturb you any further."
Liuli tried to persuade her to stay, but Jingge said, "Liuli, the Grand Secretary's wife is unwell and has left the palace. She has already consulted with the Empress and can return to her residence to rest."
Consort Xi and Xie Zhaozhao are aunt and niece. One is a consort, and the other is the wife of Grand Secretary Gu, a favorite minister of the emperor. The empress is most wary of their collusion.
Consort Xi has no children, but what if she wants to become Empress Dowager like Empress Dowager Wei?
If she were to join forces with Gu Shaoyu and the Xie family to support a certain prince, it would pose the greatest threat to the crown prince and to her.
Therefore, Xie Zhaozhao should leave the palace as soon as possible if she is unwell, and should not go to the palace of the Imperial Concubine.
Seeing Jin Ge intervene, Liu Li smiled and said, "That's good, so that the Imperial Concubine won't have to worry."
Xie Zhaozhao quickly left the palace with Yuan Yuanman, while Long Liu and Long Qi secretly followed.
After pondering how to deploy troops, she returned to the island in the middle of the lake and immediately went to her study.
Summon Yuanyuan, Nanxing, Beichen, Dongyue, and Xiluo, and instruct Yuanyuan to immediately contact Yunyi, who is escorting the ship, and tell him to make sure everyone waits at the head of Yejian Road.
He handed the waist token given to him by His Majesty to Bei Chen and said, "You must leave the city immediately, take the imperial edict to Ye Jian Port, and contact Yun Yi..."
“Nanxing, you are best at ventriloquism and concealing your presence. If you encounter danger, you can stay in the shadows and imitate the voices of Chengen Gong and others.”
Everyone accepted the order and went about their tasks.
Xie Zhaozhao took a deep breath. Kyoto was only about 200 li away from Yejian City, and it would take a fast horse at most two days to get there.
The next day was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
At Shenshi (3-5 PM), Yuanyuan received a reply and told Xie Zhaozhao, "Yunyi has replied."
Xie Zhaozhao saw on the note: "Received. Remain where you are."
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Bei Chen was riding the precious horse she had given to Gu Shaoyu, and the time should have come by now.
"Yuanyuan, go to the estate and tell Hongying and Hongshu to prepare to receive the goods."
This item is the remains of a very wealthy man.
The fourth day of the Lunar New Year, at Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
Yuanyuan received a message brought back by the falcon, which was from Beichen. The note read: The ship can reach the crossing at Hai hour, and will arrive at its destination at the latest at Mao hour.
The destination was a small grove of trees outside the imperial city, the place where His Majesty and Xie Zhaozhao had agreed to collect the remains.
Xie Zhaozhao guessed that there was a secret passage exit to the palace nearby.
Since His Majesty didn't say anything, she pretended not to know.
Xie Zhaozhao released the robin, and Hongying and Hongshu, who were at the manor on the outskirts of Beijing, caught the robin and immediately ordered the more than one hundred female soldiers at the manor: "Sisters, let's go."
Gu Shaoyu was a court official who attended and left court every day as usual. When the Empress Dowager died, all the officials were required to pay their respects, but they were not required to keep vigil all day long.
That day, after court, Xie Zhaozhao immediately took him to the peony garden and showed him the information that Bei Chen had brought back.
Tell him, "Hongying and Hongshu have already led people to the roadside to pick up the goods."
Looking into her eyes, Gu Shaoyu said with heartache, "I know you're nervous. You haven't been resting well these past few days. You look pale and have dark circles under your eyes."
"This matter is of utmost importance; one wrong move and we could face utter ruin..." Not only would he have to sacrifice himself, but he would also implicate the entire clan.
However, if they do nothing, they risk losing their heads immediately.
The couple nestled together, and Gu Shaoyu felt guilty but said nothing.
From the day he proposed to her, their fates were intertwined; they lived and died together.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Xie Zhaozhao sat on the couch by the window, quietly reading all day.
Yuanyuan was also waiting for news, constantly checking on the cages of messenger birds, using her work to mask her nervousness.
Manman did not participate in Xie Zhaozhao's grand plan; she and Aunt Cui managed the affairs of the mansion.
Although the New Year was over, the shopkeeper and his staff had worked hard all year, and they deserved their rewards. Xie Zhaozhao was too busy to handle everything, so Manman took on all the responsibilities.
When Gu Shaoyu returned from court at noon, the two held hands and entered the study.
Gu Shaoyu told her, "Don't worry, the remains have been successfully transported to the palace."
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