The leader turned around and gave them a disapproving look. Useless things, so easily intimidated. People gradually left, but a few ministers with firm principles refused to leave, waiting for Lanqin to give them an explanation.
Seeing that they wouldn't give up until they saw Ulanara, Lanqin said, "Since you care so much about the Empress, I will go to see her tomorrow and have her come to see you!"
The Thirteenth Prince was shocked. How could Lanqin agree to their demands? If Empress Ulanara revealed everything, Lanqin would surely become the target of public criticism. The ministers were also bewildered. They had received news that the Empress had indeed been imprisoned by Lanqin. How could she agree to this? Could the information be incorrect?
Seeing that Lanqin had agreed, the ministers felt it was inappropriate to linger any longer and left.
After the Thirteenth Prince saw them walk away, he returned to Changchun Palace with Lanqin. "Your Majesty, why did you agree to their request so impulsively? How are you going to bring the Empress before them?"
Lanqin smiled calmly. What she was worried about now was not that problem, but how the information had been leaked!
"Thirteenth Prince, don't worry, I have my own way. But you, you just stood up for me against those ministers, they will definitely try to make things difficult for you in the future, you have to be careful!" The people outside Changchun Palace were all high-ranking officials of the second or third rank. Lanqin was afraid that now that the Fourth Prince was not here, they would take the opportunity to suppress the Thirteenth Prince.
The Thirteenth Prince smiled in return, "Your Majesty need not worry about that. With their current strength, they don't have the guts. However, you should be more careful. How could the Empress's affair have gotten out? It's unreliable to have anyone close to Your Majesty!"
Lanqin nodded, realizing she had been too careless. The two agreed that when the Empress met the ministers the next day, the Thirteenth Prince would have troops stationed nearby in case anything happened.
After the Thirteenth Prince left, Lanqin summoned Cui Niang. "Cui Niang, thoroughly investigate all those who know about the Empress's house arrest. There's a traitor among my entourage! Someone must have tipped me off, otherwise they wouldn't dare to openly demand her outside Changchun Palace without accurate information!"
Cui Niang was taken aback. The people around the Empress were all carefully selected by her, so how could there be a problem?
"But Your Majesty, only a few of your personal maids and the matrons who take care of the Empress know about this..."
Lanqin frowned. A personal maid? Logically speaking, if it were her own maid, this news should have been reported long ago. Besides, they have been by her side for so long, they shouldn't do something like betraying her.
However, given the Empress's current state, she shouldn't be able to bribe people to do things for her. It must be someone who has been hiding for a long time who was able to find out about the situation in time and report it out.
Lanqin's head was throbbing with pain; too many things had happened recently. Hongli had been assassinated, the Fourth Prince had gone to the Northwest, and Wuxiha had gone to Dayuan... but she hadn't made any progress at all! Seeing that Lanqin wasn't feeling well, Cui Niang quickly helped her to a stool to rest. "Your Highness, please don't worry too much. You'll only hurt yourself!"
Lanqin picked up her cup, took a sip of tea to calm herself down, and said to Cui Niang, "Cui Niang, let's put this matter aside for now. The most urgent thing now is to figure out how to keep Ulanara from revealing to everyone that I have imprisoned her."
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