The palace was in complete chaos, but Ye Jingchun was oblivious to everything else, focusing instead on his intimate moments with Murong Qing in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Although he admired Murong Qing's beauty, he wasn't yet at the point of being impatient.
But after the court session, Murong Qing approached him alone and tried every means to seduce him, and he no longer wanted to hold back.
She'd be his woman sooner or later anyway, and he was the ruler of the country; why should he hesitate to favor her?
Unexpectedly, things spiraled out of control.
Whether it was because Murong Qing was too beautiful, had too good a figure, or was too alluring, Ye Jingchun hadn't felt this way in a long time.
Furthermore, the fact that Murong Qing was a princess of Northern Yan made Ye Jingchun feel extremely pleased!
The Northern Yan was once powerful, and the emperors of the Qi Kingdom throughout the ages could not do anything about it. But now that he has become emperor, he can pin the princess of the Northern Yan down under his body. How delightful!
Murong Qing hadn't expected that Ye Jingchun, despite his advanced age, was still as vigorous as a young man in this regard, which made her feel that her choice was even more correct.
Marrying Ye Jingchun was definitely better than marrying Ye Zeyu.
Although Ye Zeyu looks tall and mighty, he never gets close to women. Who knows if he's good in bed?
It might be all show and no substance!
"Your Majesty, you are so amazing! I can't take it anymore~~~"
Seeing this, Ye Jingchun felt even more pleased and, instead of stopping, became even more intense.
He can't go to the battlefield, but now he can make the princess of Northern Yan beg for mercy!
...
The chief eunuch Cao Huai, who was waiting outside the door, listened to the commotion inside the hall, and a hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.
He stood guard outside the door like a gatekeeper, and no matter who came, he would drive them away on the grounds that the emperor had important matters to attend to.
The voices emanating from inside the hall made the visitor understand perfectly well, and he could only shake his head and leave in silence.
As a result, the luncheon was changed to a dinner. Although the ministers did not say it, they were all dissatisfied with Ye Jingchun.
Being so infatuated with the princess of Northern Yan, I fear she will be bewitched and exploited in the future.
Therefore, many upright officials are already preparing to remonstrate with Ye Jingchun to the death when they meet him later.
Zhang Peng was among them, and he also had some reservations about the Emperor's favoritism towards the Northern Yan Princess during the day.
The thought of his daughter also being in the palace made him somewhat worried.
If my daughter were to face the Northern Yan princess, she would likely suffer a loss.
I'll write a letter tomorrow to remind my daughter to be more careful.
He didn't ask his daughter to be favored, he only asked that she stay healthy and free from illness in the palace.
If he were not an official of the fifth rank or above, who would have to send his daughter to the palace for the imperial concubine selection every three years, he would not have allowed his daughter to enter the palace.
If he had known, he should have been more ruthless and disfigured his daughter's face; then she wouldn't have been chosen to enter the palace.
Just as Zhang Peng was feeling remorseful, a young eunuch hurriedly ran over.
"General Zhang, Lady Zhang's palace is on fire. The Empress Dowager, having learned that you are here, has sent me to find you to identify the body."
"What?! Identifying a corpse?!"
Zhang Peng stood up excitedly, his voice attracting the attention of everyone in the hall.
"General Zhang, what's wrong?"
People asked him what was wrong, but Zhang Peng couldn't hear a word; his mind was filled with what the little eunuch had just said.
His daughter's bedroom caught fire?
The Empress Dowager ordered him to identify the corpse?
"No! Tong'er will be alright!"
As Zhang Peng spoke, he quickly ran towards the outside of the hall.
Ye Ziyu carefully examined the charred corpse in front of him.
The figure was similar to Zhang Tong's, but the face was burned, so it was impossible to confirm that the dead person was Zhang Tong.
He died right after meeting Murong Tian?
That's too much of a coincidence.
Besides, the fact that it caught fire in broad daylight was suspicious, and it wasn't something he ordered to do.
Therefore, if the fire was not arranged by the Empress, it is very likely that Zhang Tong deliberately staged a death.
Regardless of whether Zhang Tong can do what she says, he cannot let her escape from the palace!
"Tong'er! Tong'er!"
Just as Ye Zeyu was deep in thought, Zhang Peng ran over.
Seeing Zhang Peng's heartbroken expression, Ye Zeyu stepped forward and patted Zhang Peng on the shoulder.
"General Zhang, why don't you examine the body first? Perhaps Consort Zhang is still alive."
Ye Ziyu's words gave Zhang Peng a glimmer of hope.
After examining the body, Zhang Peng collapsed to the ground, his face ashen as he stared at the corpse.
"My daughter injured her left index finger when she was little... so there's no mistake... my Tong'er is gone..."
Upon hearing this, Ye Zeyu hurriedly examined the corpse's left index finger.
The unnatural bend indicates a clear sign of injury.
Is Zhang Tong really dead?
Was this fire arranged by the Empress?
Meanwhile, the Empress was also wondering who had started the fire.
Suddenly, the Empress thought of a possibility.
That means what Zhang Tong said was true, and Ye Zeyu really wanted to kill her, so the fire was Ye Zeyu's way of silencing her!
That means the cannons and perfumes Zhang Tong mentioned are real...
Ye Zeyu's visit to Zhang Peng was a deliberate act to make them suspicious of Zhang Tong...
The Northern Yan side suddenly changed their minds, and they were tricked by Ye Zeyu again. It's really infuriating!
"Someone, go and fetch the Second Prince!"
…
The death of a concubine in the palace, though not a small matter, is not a major one either.
Ye Jingchun emerged from the Hall of Mental Cultivation with a satisfied expression. Upon hearing the news of Consort Zhang's death, he merely waved his hand casually, saying, "I know. Since this is a matter within the inner palace, let the Empress handle it."
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