Upon returning to Deyang Palace, Liu Hong did not rush to handle government affairs. Instead, he went to the rear hall and found the sachet on the bookshelf.
Looking at the sachet embroidered with plum blossoms in his hand, Liu Hong couldn't help but bring it to his nose and take a gentle sniff. He felt a faint fragrance waft over, which made him feel refreshed and relaxed.
As he smelled the fragrance, Song Yue's image involuntarily came to Liu Hong's mind.
"Song Yue...!"
As he whispered the sweet nothings, a smile involuntarily crept onto Liu Hong's lips.
Liu Hong then hung the sachet around his waist, sat back down at his desk, and picked up a secret report to read.
This secret report came from the Jizhou Investigation Bureau, and its contents were about the investigation into Liu Kui, the King of Bohai.
The secret report detailed how the King of Bohai, the Lu family, and some powerful families and clans in Ji and Qing provinces were secretly selling refined iron and plotting a rebellion with the Xianbei and Northern Wuhuan. It also requested permission to take action.
"This really came at the worst possible time..."
Looking at the contents of the secret report, Liu Hong couldn't help but sigh softly.
Liu Hong then picked up a brush and wrote a reply on the secret report:
"Wait for the right moment, then fabricate a major case!"
......
Meanwhile, right after Liu Hong left Chang Le Palace, Dou Miao also sent someone to inform her relatives in Luoyang and those relatives of the emperor's family, asking them to go with her to the Taiping Sect the next day to pray for the emperor's well-being.
Although those who received Dou Miao's order did not quite understand what the Empress Dowager meant, they dared not be negligent and hurriedly made the necessary preparations.
Early the next morning, dozens of luxurious carriages were parked in Nangong Square, and about two hundred people lined up on both sides of the palace gate.
Looking around, the right side of the palace gate was filled with members of the Liu clan, headed by Liu Shu, while the left side was filled with relatives of the maternal relatives, headed by Dou Wu.
Further back were their wives and children.
Before long, the palace gates opened wide, and first, two groups of several hundred Chang Le Palace guards slowly ran out of the palace and then lined up on both sides.
The crowd outside the palace immediately became solemn and craned their necks to peer into the palace.
"Empress Dowager, the Holy Mother has arrived!!"
With a loud shout, Dou Miao and Lady Dong's imperial carriage appeared in everyone's sight and slowly drove out of the palace.
Before long, the two men's imperial carriages arrived outside the South Palace, surrounded by a group of palace maids and eunuchs. The Liu clan members and the relatives of the empress hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Greetings, Empress Dowager, Holy Mother!!"
"No need for formalities!"
"Thank you, Empress Dowager!!"
Dou Miao, sitting on the imperial carriage, looked at everyone in front of her, all dressed in the magnificent robes worn only during prayers and worship, and nodded in satisfaction.
Dou Miao glanced at everyone and then said loudly, "The Emperor is in good health and in a good mood these days, which puts my mind at ease."
Therefore, I have summoned you all here today to go to the Taiping Sect to pray for the Emperor, so that Taiyi may continue to protect the Emperor and ensure his long-lasting peace and happiness!
"You are all close to the Emperor; you should all go together!"
"We will obey the Empress Dowager's decree!"
Everyone responded respectfully in unison.
Let's go!
After giving an order to one of the eunuchs beside her, Dou Miao sat back in the imperial carriage.
"Let's go!!"
With a shout from the eunuch, Dou Miao and Dong Shi's imperial carriage moved forward again under the protection of the imperial guards, and a group of relatives and in-laws boarded their respective carriages and followed closely behind.
With imperial guards leading the way and dozens of luxurious carriages following closely behind, the entire procession looked quite impressive.
Nearby, local residents and students who witnessed this scene couldn't help but discuss it amongst themselves.
A student said in a deep voice, "It looks like the Empress Dowager's imperial carriage ahead. I saw it during the sports meet!"
"Hmm, judging from the markings on those carriages behind, they all seem to belong to the same clan!"
"Yes, there are also four surnames and others!"
"Empress Dowager...? What are they up to now? Why are they making such a big fuss?"
"Who knows... It's best not to pry into things in the palace..."
Before long, amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the prayer procession left the city and headed in a grand procession toward the Taiping Sect.
Soon, news that the Empress Dowager had led a group of imperial relatives and her family out of the city reached the ears of the scholars and officials.
"The Taiping Cult...!"
This newly emerging Taoism also came into the view of scholars and officials.
Of course, what those scholars and officials cared about was not the Taiping Religion, but rather the Empress Dowager's intention in suddenly gathering her relatives and in-laws together.
It's important to understand that every move the Empress Dowager makes is never a good thing for them.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager and her relatives intimidated the Emperor at last year's court assembly, and the matter of repairing the palace is still fresh in everyone's memory.
Therefore, the scholars and officials naturally did not think that the Empress Dowager's trip was simply to pray for the Emperor's well-being.
In a short time, the scholars and officials also gathered together to discuss the Empress Dowager's specific intentions and how to deal with her.
Some of Yuan's former protégés, officials, and key figures also arrived at Yuan's residence immediately.
"What's the matter that can't be discussed at the government office, and why do you have to come all the way here?"
In the living room, Yuan Feng, who had just gotten up, yawned and looked at the people who had disturbed his peaceful sleep with a displeased expression.
"Sikong, don't you know? The Empress Dowager summoned a group of imperial relatives and other relatives early this morning, under the guise of praying for His Majesty's well-being, but they went to the Taiping Sect!"
A minor patriarch from a branch of the Yuan family recounted the events to Yuan Feng with a worried expression.
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