After finishing her makeup, Xie Shizhu did not send the palace maid away and let her follow him.
The two stopped in the Imperial Garden.
The palace maid stared at Xie Shizhu's back in confusion, curious why the queen, who usually didn't even enter the garden, was standing under the pine tree for a long time today.
Xie Shizhu took a running start, and while the palace maids stared in amazement, he climbed up the tree trunk at great speed and then climbed to the branch.
The maid was startled and said hurriedly, "Empress, please come down quickly. If you get hurt, the Emperor will definitely be angry."
Xie Shizhu ignored what was happening outside the window and sat on the tree looking around. She climbed high up and the scenery she saw was vast and clear.
From her perspective, she could clearly see the scene of the Queen Mother's birthday banquet.
There was singing and dancing, and it was very lively.
*
Yan Chou sat in the middle. Ministers came one after another to toast him, but he impatiently pushed away the Shangshu's wine, showing no respect for the Shangshu.
The smile on the minister's lips froze, and the other ministers looked at each other. Everyone knew that the minister wanted to put his daughter into the harem.
Unfortunately, Yan Chou was completely fascinated by a woman from a fallen country.
The Queen Mother sat beside Yan Chou and coughed lightly, then whispered, "Your Majesty, if you don't drink the Shangshu's wine, he will be laughed at."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Chou frowned, took the wine glass impatiently, drank it all, put the glass on the table, pursed his thin lips, and remained silent.
The Shangshu laughed awkwardly twice, bowed and stepped back, returning to his seat.
After a moment, Yan Xiuran slowly walked to the Empress Dowager, bowed to her, and said with a smile: "I wish the Empress Dowager a long and healthy life. This is the pearl I specially selected for you."
The servant behind him gently opened the luxurious box inlaid with gold wire edges, and inside was a pair of shining pearls.
The pearl is as big as a fist, with crystal clear texture and brilliant and delicate luster. You can tell at first glance that it is a treasure and very rare.
The Queen Mother smiled happily, "The Regent is thoughtful."
Yan Xiuran had a warm smile on his face, "Empress Dowager, as long as you like it."
He glanced at Yan Chou from the corner of his eye and saw that the seat that originally belonged to the queen was empty. Yan Xiuran breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that Xie Shizhu is already waiting for him at the South Gate.
Yan Chou narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes full of coldness, his fingers clenched into fists, his fingertips were blue and white.
After Yan Xiuran presented the gift, it was time to toast the emperor. He bowed slightly and took the wine cup handed to him by the palace maid. "Your Majesty, I wish Xihe a peaceful and prosperous country. To express my sincerity, I will drink first."
Yan Chou raised his thin lips in a smile, "Wait a minute, Prince Regent. You have worked so hard for the country for so many years. I should respect you first."
As he was about to finish his words, a hint of surprise flashed across Yan Xiuran's face. Even the civil and military ministers were shocked by Yan Chou's words.
The next second, Yan Chou slowly stood up, took the wine glass, and when Yan Xiuran looked at him, he poured the wine in the glass directly into Yan Xiuran's face.
Yan Xiuran felt a chill on his face, and a large area of his brocade robe on his chest was wet. The pungent water stains made it difficult for him to breathe.
Apart from the dancers twisting their waists, no one dared to speak at the birthday party.
There was a tranquil and solemn atmosphere all around.
Yan Chou's slender fingertips played with the wine glass, and he raised his eyebrows. Bloodthirsty anger surged in his eyes, and he said slowly: "Regent, are you satisfied with this wine?"
Anger flashed across Yan Xiuran's fair and elegant features, but his expression eased slightly as he said, "I am satisfied. Thank you, Your Majesty. I am not feeling well, so I will take my leave first."
Yan Chou raised his chin, stared at Yan Xiuran's embarrassed appearance, and sneered without hesitation, "Get lost."
Yan Xiuran turned his back, clenched his hands tightly in his sleeves, and walked away.
The Queen Mother frowned and glanced at Yan Chou with disgust.
She was silent for a long time, then gave a hypocritical smile, "Your Majesty, Xiu Ran is your brother after all."
Yan Chou glanced at the Queen Mother with a sarcastic look in his eyes.
The Queen Mother was startled and quickly looked away, talking to the maid beside her to change the subject.
Yan Chou retracted his gaze, watching Yan Xiuran's back getting farther and farther away, then turned his head to look at the empty space beside him, his narrow and long Ruifeng eyes flashing with a cold light.
The birthday banquet officially began, and the imperial kitchen served the dishes in an orderly manner. The eunuchs took the dishes, held them high above their heads, and placed them in front of everyone's table in turn.
The Queen Mother seemed a little dissatisfied and said, "As for the Queen, she has not appeared yet. Your Majesty, no matter how much you love her, you can't let her do as she pleases. Besides, there is no heir in the harem now. It's time to select a new concubine."
Yan Chou stood up suddenly and said indifferently, "I won't bother you with matters concerning the harem. I have things to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
His tone brooked no room for argument, and under the gaze of civil and military officials, he quickly left the birthday banquet.
As soon as Yan Chou left, the Empress Dowager dropped her pretense. A cold glint flashed across her spirited eyes. She slammed her hand on the table and said through gritted teeth, "You're really becoming less and less like the ruler of a country!"
The ministers swallowed their saliva at the same time, lowered their heads, and pretended to eat to avoid the Queen Mother's angry gaze.
*
Fu Yun saw Yan Chou and hurriedly followed.
Yan Chou stopped, his voice piercing with coldness: "You and I will go to the South Gate and send a few guards to capture the Queen and the Regent."
Fuyun: "Yes."
Yan Chou walked with anxious steps, his face pale.
Fu Yun quickly brought eight guards with him and quickly followed Yan Chou.
Before reaching the south gate, a palace maid suddenly knelt before Yan Chou, her forehead touching the ground, and said, "Your servant pays homage to the Emperor."
Yan Chou looked down at the woman kneeling on the ground and said coldly, "Get lost."
The palace maid shuddered and quickly raised her head, and a face that looked somewhat similar to Xie Shizhu appeared in Yan Chou's sight.
Lin Xuan said timidly, "Your Majesty, I just saw the Empress go to the South Gate. Because I didn't see the Empress at the birthday banquet, I wanted to help Your Majesty find the Empress. Finally, I saw the Empress at the South Gate, and that's..."
Her voice gradually became softer and softer, and she slowly stopped.
Yan Chou saw her face, his expression unchanged, until he heard Xie Shizhu was at the South Gate, his eyes began to darken, "What is it?"
Lin Xuan hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to speak: "I also saw the Regent. They hugged each other as soon as they met... I deserve to die, I deserve to die. I saw something I shouldn't have seen."
Yan Chou's body felt as if filled with lead, heavy and painful. He exhaled a heavy breath, brushed past Lin Xuan, and headed towards the South Gate with a cold look on his face.
Fu Yun and several guards followed closely.
As soon as they left, Lin Xuan slowly got up from the ground, turned around to look at Yan Chou's tall back, and a smug smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
She had never been to the South Gate, nor had she met Xie Shizhu and Yan Xiuran, but she knew the plot very well.
In the plot, Xie Shizhu went to the South Gate and hugged Yan Xiuran tightly. The two had not seen each other for a long time, so Yan Xiuran held Xie Shizhu's face and gave her a deep kiss, but was caught by Yan Chou again.
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