The Daqing royal family attached great importance to Josephine's visit to Beijing. They directly posted a notice to tell the people of the city that Luosha Kingdom and Daqing had reached a friendly relationship, and stated that when Empress Josephine came to Beijing this time, the subjects must show their sincerity to entertain her.
There was no news from the people sent by Minister of War Nie Changfeng to assassinate Helian Jing, and there was no news of a war on the border. However, there was news that the two countries had signed a peace treaty and were having friendly exchanges.
His Majesty had explained in the court that the reason they were able to avoid war this time was entirely because they helped Queen Joscelyn find the long-lost princess.
Speaking of which, the Minister of Revenue Xiao Hechuan also made a lot of contributions to this matter. The emperor once again specifically praised Xiao Hechuan in the court.
Nie Changfeng and Helian Ting only then realized that the reason Helian Jing agreed to take charge was because they had the trump card of the Rakshasa Kingdom's princess, who could turn the tide at any time.
They had originally hoped that Helian Jing would never return from the battlefield, so that the position of crown prince could fall into their hands. Now, not only is he safe, but he has also returned with such a great contribution, making his position as crown prince even more secure.
Therefore, Nie Changfeng met with Helian Ting overnight. The two of them were in a remote teahouse, and they talked for more than an hour about something they were conspiring about.
Little did people know that the owner behind this teahouse was actually Helian Jing. The officials in the court formed cliques and factions, and usually liked to go to these remote places to hide their tracks. So, in order to monitor their movements more conveniently, Helian Jing opened such a teahouse.
From the shopkeeper to the waiters, they are all well-trained killers.
Xiao Hechuan's men have been secretly monitoring for a long time, looking for an opportunity.
At night, a carriage carrying purchases from outside the palace returned to the palace. Xiao Hechuan's spies in the palace followed the carriage all the way to the imperial kitchen, only to see a figure dressed as a eunuch sneaking out of the imperial kitchen and heading towards the direction of Xuanyang Palace.
This eunuch looked different from ordinary eunuchs. He was tall and straight, and walked hurriedly with big steps, as if he was in a hurry.
Generally, eunuchs in the palace would be castrated when they entered the palace, so they would have no masculinity. Gradually, their physique would become more like that of women, they would be thin, and have a shrill voice. Moreover, they had been working in the palace for many years, and wherever they went they were surrounded by masters and nobles. They would habitually walk with their heads down, taking small and light steps, for fear of bumping into the nobles.
The Xuanyang Palace is the palace where Concubine De lives. It is not difficult to guess the identity of this sneaky man dressed as a eunuch.
In the imperial study, the emperor was still reviewing memorials when Eunuch Fu came in with a sign from the Jingshifang and asked the emperor to flip over a sign.
Among them, the green-headed card of Concubine De seemed to have been redone and repainted, making it particularly conspicuous among the green-headed cards.
"Your Majesty, it's time to turn over the cards!"
Eunuch Fu was beside him, reminding him carefully.
The emperor raised his head, took a look at the signs, and immediately saw Defei's sign.
"The green card of Concubine De has been remade?"
"Your Majesty has good eyesight. Since the green card of Concubine De has not been changed for several years, the Jingshifang made a new one!"
"Well, let's go to Concubine Hui's place tonight!"
Concubine Hui was selected to enter the palace two years ago. She is in her prime with a beautiful face, so she is very much loved by the emperor. The emperor rarely indulges in the affairs of the harem and visits her from time to time. Most of the time, he visits the palaces of these new consorts. Among them, Concubine Hui's name card is the most frequently turned over.
But tonight, Eunuch Fu came with a mission, so the Emperor could only go to Concubine De's palace.
So he said boldly:
"Your Majesty, I am old and confused. Earlier, someone from Concubine Hui's palace told me that Concubine Hui was not feeling well today. I forgot to tell Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
He has been with the emperor for many years and naturally knows his temper best, so everything is within his calculations.
The emperor is not the kind of person who is obsessed with beauty. He is a bit chauvinistic. If any lady in the harem is unwell, he usually won't go to visit her, unless she is one of the four concubines, because they raised the princes and made great contributions. The emperor will go to see them just to save face.
But it is different for those young ladies. As long as the illness is not serious, the emperor will be happy and at most send someone to send some gifts to express his condolences, but he will not visit them in person.
"Not feeling well? Then don't go to her place. Go to Concubine De's place. Come to think of it, I haven't visited her for a long time. I kind of want to drink the tea she brews."
Concubine De was well versed in the tea ceremony and had reached the pinnacle of research in tea art. The emperor liked to drink her tea very much.
When Eunuch Fu saw that his goal had been achieved, he quickly waved his hand and asked the people from the Jingshifang to leave, to prevent the emperor from changing his mind.
According to the procedure, he should find someone to inform Concubine De to prepare to receive the emperor in advance. However, tonight is different. He cannot let her know in advance. Not only that, he has to spread the news to make her mistakenly believe that the emperor has gone to another lady.
Inside the Xuanyang Palace, Concubine De was dressing herself in front of a bronze mirror. She was only forty years old, and well-maintained, so she looked to be around thirty, still with some charm.
Her trusted nanny came in, and at that time Concubine De was still applying lip balm.
"Where did the emperor go tonight?" she asked.
"News came from the Jingshifang that the emperor has turned over Concubine Hui's name card," the nanny replied.
"That little bitch is used to keeping people. But that's fine, it's just what I want."
As Defei spoke, she picked up the ink and began to draw her eyebrows, not looking jealous at all.
"Madam Cui, how am I now compared to 20 years ago?"
"Your Majesty is as bright as a pearl, dazzling and radiant, and has never changed."
"You're just lying to me. I'm obviously old now, not the same as I used to be." Concubine De was a little melancholy, but when she thought of the appointment tonight, a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face.
"Your Majesty is not old at all. If I tell you anything false, I will be struck by lightning."
Nanny Cui continued to say flattering words, making Concubine De happy.
"Alright, tell all the servants in the palace to leave, and just leave you and Cuizhu to serve. Keep your eyes open."
Tonight, Concubine De is going to meet her old lover. They haven't seen each other for a long time. It's a first love meeting, so the feelings are particularly passionate, otherwise she wouldn't have dressed up so gorgeously.
Nanny Cui was her personal maid whom she brought into the palace. Cuizhu and the others were her confidants who were cultivated after she entered the palace. They had known about the affair between the two men for a long time and had helped to cover it up countless times. Only our emperor was unaware of it, with the green grassland above his head.
"Yes, my lady, the servants can save themselves the trouble."
Nanny Cui respectfully withdrew and went to arrange the palace servants, but Concubine De could not suppress her restless heart.
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