The person on the other end remained silent, clearly unwilling to agree. Tang Nian, anxious, added, "Master Wang wanted to use me to refine pills on the night of the full moon, but he won't do anything to me now. Besides, the ghost energy can't harm me. I'm safe here now, and I can help you."
Lou Mu hesitated for a moment, then met Tang Nian's determined gaze: "Lou Mu, do you believe me?"
"Can……"
"Lou Mu, I'm not an naive girl. I've lived for so many years, I know what I'm doing."
Tang Nian didn't know how to put it. She, a willow tree that had stood for thousands of years, was being protected like a small flower.
Lou Mu was also very conflicted at this moment. His private thoughts told him that he should take Tang Nian away and not leave her alone in this dangerous place.
But he has now been ordered to be arrested by the Chu Emperor. If he forcibly takes Tang Nian away, their plan will be delayed again and again.
He knew in his heart that Tang Nian staying here to turn the tables and coordinate an attack from the inside might be a good strategy. Not to mention that Tang Nian was no ordinary woman.
Thinking it over, Lou Mu handed Tang Nian a bead: "Keep this, it might save your life if something happens."
Tang Nian recognized it; it was one of the white jade beads on Lou Mu's wrist.
They also helped her a lot in Muyun County.
Tang Nian didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the money, putting it into her sleeve.
“You can transmit your voice, but I can’t. I don’t have anything suitable to transmit messages either, so we’ll communicate one-way.”
Tang Nian felt a little annoyed when this was mentioned, but there was nothing she could do about it.
Surprisingly, Lou Mu didn't say anything, but simply nodded in agreement: "Be careful in the palace."
Seeing Tang Nian yawn and the patrolling figure outside, Lou Mu didn't linger.
Another day passed, and Master Wang did not come again. He seemed certain that Tang Nian would die on the night of the full moon a few days later, and he did not care what Tang Nian was doing here.
Tang Nian also figured out the shift change times of these eunuchs and set her sights on a eunuch who seemed to have more seniority and was likely to be greedy for small gains.
"Eunuch, could you please pass on a message to the Empress Dowager and tell her that Tang Nian has entered the palace?" Tang Nian said, taking off her jade bracelet and secretly slipping it into the eunuch's hand, which was tucked into his sleeve.
It was mealtime, and the guards were changing shifts outside. Only the eunuch and Tang Nian were inside. There were people guarding outside, but Tang Nian's voice was so soft that they couldn't hear her at all.
Even though she learned about the Empress Dowager's change of heart from Lou Mu, she still wanted to start by targeting the Empress Dowager.
Just after noon that day, Tang Nian was brought out and respectfully escorted to the Empress Dowager's residence.
Upon reaching the door, the Empress Dowager came out joyfully, grabbed Tang Nian's hand, and her eyes filled with tears.
"Nian'er, stay here with me for the next few days."
When Tang Nian was confused, the Empress Dowager explained the cause and effect.
"I have already told the Emperor that I have been feeling unwell these past few days and wished for you to stay by my side. The Emperor has agreed, so you can stay here without worry."
Tang Nian didn't breathe a sigh of relief. The Chu Emperor had agreed, but what about Master Wang?
But it's still good news after all.
The Chu Emperor's reluctance to take action against the Empress Dowager is likely due to his consideration for the bond between mother and son. Fortunately, Tang Nian still has this relationship to exploit.
However, judging from the Empress Dowager's appearance, she probably didn't know that the Chu Emperor intended to imprison her in the palace.
She bowed and thanked the Empress Dowager, then took out another talisman from her sleeve and slipped it into the Empress Dowager's hand when no one was looking, murmuring, "Your Majesty, I have remembered everything you asked me to do a few days ago. It's just a pity that I haven't had the chance to do so these past few days, so I'm only giving it to you now."
After speaking, Tang Nian coughed a few more times, almost losing her balance.
Upon learning how much Tang Nian cared for her, the Empress Dowager was immediately moved and tightened her grip on Tang Nian's hand.
"Don't worry, as long as you are here with me, no one will dare to disrespect you." With that, the Empress Dowager took Tang Nian's hand and led her inside.
Tang Nian carried quite a few talismans, but she couldn't give them all to the Empress Dowager. Firstly, the relationship between the Empress Dowager and Emperor Chu was still unclear. Secondly, she had already said that she was feeling unwell and it was not advisable to draw talismans. If she rashly took out too many talismans, the Empress Dowager would become suspicious.
With just this one talisman, playing the emotional card is perfect.
Once inside the palace, the Empress Dowager lowered her guard: "These days, the Emperor has suddenly become very interested in alchemy and even sent some to me. It seems to have some effect."
"I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it or not."
Upon hearing the Empress Dowager bring up the matter, Tang Nian devised a plan.
"That's all. I'm all alone here, it's alright," the Empress Dowager waved her hand and smiled.
"It is good to recuperate and rest after refining elixirs, but I have heard that the Emperor is refining some unusual elixirs, which makes me a little worried."
"Yes," the Empress Dowager sighed upon hearing this. "He is obsessed with immortality and seeks out that Master Wang every day. In my opinion, this is all a waste of resources and manpower."
Without Tang Nian needing to ask any further questions, the Empress Dowager recounted everything about Emperor Chu's childhood.
"Your Majesty, he values that position too much. He neglects the concubines in the harem, ignores the issue of having children, and is constantly suspicious of others. It's a real hardship for the Grand Secretary."
After saying this, the Empress Dowager felt a pang of regret.
The child I taught day and night, who I watched ascend the throne, has now become such a bloodthirsty and tyrannical ruler for his own selfish desires.
The Empress Dowager was in a depressed mood, and her face showed more sorrow.
"Lou Mu? What happened to him?" Tang Nian frowned slightly.
The Empress Dowager gently patted Tang Nian's hand, comforting him, "The Emperor easily believed slanderous words, saying that the Grand Secretary wanted to rebel, and ordered his arrest. In my opinion, that's utter nonsense! Don't I know what kind of person the Grand Secretary is!"
Fearing that Tang Nian would be upset, the Empress Dowager changed the subject again: "Emperor Chu also said that he wanted to refine an elixir of immortality and take it with me, but that one elixir would cost many lives. How can I be at ease with that!"
Tang Nian immediately perked up: "Could it be that Your Highness knows the recipe for the elixir?"
The Empress Dowager nodded, unconsciously touching her chest.
The Chu Emperor had explained to her clearly what each step of the process of making the elixir required since the day she was attacked by the villains. Having been in the palace for so many years, she had guessed, without the Chu Emperor's explicit explanation, who was responsible for the case in the capital. Even if she took this elixir made by harming people's lives, she would still feel uneasy.
But this was ultimately her son, and the current emperor; there was nothing she, an old woman, could do.
"It's precisely because I know it that it's hard to swallow."
"Your Majesty, if I happen to possess a recipe for an elixir of immortality that does not require human lives, could it alleviate Your Majesty's and His Majesty's urgent crisis?" Tang Nian tentatively inquired.
"There's such a formula?" The Empress Dowager clearly didn't believe it, but in her heart, the girl in front of her was much more reliable than that mysterious Taoist Master Wang.
As they talked, they arrived at the entrance of the sleeping quarters.
Knowing that Tang Nian was in poor health, the Empress Dowager felt at ease letting her rest in the palace and sent people to take care of her herself.
Tang Nian thanked the Empress Dowager, then said she was feeling unwell and went back to her room to lie down.
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