Just as the room was filled with the vibrant colors of spring, and a blush of ambiguity filled the air.
However, it was a maidservant who came towards the palace, looking around cautiously.
Carrying a large box of nourishing medicinal soups, Ruyan's eyes were fixed on the palace gate.
In broad daylight, the Empress's bedroom door was tightly closed, and Ziyan was nervously guarding the door. Who wouldn't be suspicious?
She came to gather intelligence, to find out whether the Empress was dead or alive.
She revealed a smile as gentle as a spring breeze and spoke in a soft, gentle voice.
"Sister Ziyan, I have been entrusted by the Imperial Concubine to bring nourishing medicine to Her Majesty the Empress. I hope Your Majesty will recover soon."
As she spoke, she picked up her suitcase and was about to go inside.
Zi Yan was extremely nervous.
She knew perfectly well that the two of them were being intimate in the palace, and she couldn't let anyone in.
He almost blurted out the advice to stop.
"No! The Empress and the Emperor have already gone to sleep; we cannot disturb them!"
"Asleep?"
Ruyan was greatly alarmed!
The Empress has been silent for several days, and rumors are circulating in the palace that she is either dead or barely clinging to life.
Could that tyrannical emperor be so lustful that he could bring himself to harm the empress who is on the verge of death?
Or is it...?
What strange necrophilia did that tyrant have?
Thinking of this, Ruyan's delicate body shuddered, and she felt a chill run down her spine.
Just then, a noise came from the palace.
Qin Yu rubbed his hands together eagerly, and finally his gaze moved to Zhao Yan's fragrant shoulder.
Their fingers were intertwined, and they squeezed hard against each other's shoulders.
Zhao Yan suddenly felt pain and couldn't bear it for a moment, so she cried out.
...
Qin Yu nodded, and the massage on her shoulders became much gentler.
As she got into the swing of things, Zhao Yan could no longer feel the pain in her shoulder, though she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
For a moment, Zi Yan blushed deeply at the door.
"Um, you can leave the medicine here. I'll take it in later."
Ruyan was even more ashamed when she heard the commotion in the palace. She swallowed hard, thinking about how the Empress's half-dead body had been treated like this.
This tyrant! He's an absolute beast!
Driven by his own desires, he disregarded the Empress's condition.
"good!"
Feeling a chill run down her spine, she put down the medicine and ran away in a panic.
Back in the Imperial Concubine's palace, Ruyan was still in shock and panting heavily.
Sima Jing, growing anxious, quickly inquired.
"Ruyan, is the Empress dead or not?"
"It seems like he died, but it also seems like that tyrannical emperor brought him back to life?"
"What? Explain yourself clearly!"
After pausing for a moment, Ru Yan recounted what she had just seen and heard.
"This servant just went to the Empress's palace and heard that the tyrant is disregarding the Empress's life and death and is already causing trouble."
Sima Jing was equally startled, then her contempt reached its peak, and she gritted her teeth and cursed angrily.
"A tyrant! He truly is a tyrant!"
at the same time.
The Prime Minister's residence was in complete chaos.
"Master, this is the second urgent letter from the eldest son at the front!"
Sima Lie listened to the servant's report and tremblingly accepted the letter.
As expected, it opened.
Another crushing defeat at the front!
Relying on the superior mobility of their cavalry, the Xiongnu flanked the enemy from both sides, making it impossible for Sima Xiongba to defend against them. He suffered heavy losses and retreated in defeat after just one battle, leaving behind 50,000 to 60,000 corpses.
The Xiongnu pressed their advantage and captured two more important cities.
It can be said that the entire Youzhou region is currently in grave danger.
Adding fuel to the fire, Zhao's army had already completed its deployment on the border of Youzhou.
According to reliable intelligence and the deployment of the Zhao family army, the Zhao family is nominally providing support, but in reality, they are using the pretext of fighting the Xiongnu to launch a surprise attack and gradually annex the entire Youzhou!
Upon receiving this string of bad news, Sima Lie slumped into his chair, beads of sweat dripping down his face.
Qiu Beiming, who was standing next to him, took the envelope and looked at it. Then he spoke nervously.
"Youzhou is of utmost importance to the Prime Minister; it absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into danger!"
"I know! But what can we do now? That damned Zhao Hu took advantage of our misfortune, he deserves to die! He really deserves to die!"
"What conditions did Princess Frost offer?"
Sima Lie agreed without even thinking.
Princess Duoshuang was the leader who led the Xiongnu army south to invade this time.
This woman is extremely skilled and ruthless in military matters, and not only that, she is also very shrewd in diplomacy.
Only after pushing the Youzhou army to the brink of despair did they make outrageous demands.
Do you want to negotiate peace?
Three million taels of silver annually! This would force the Emperor of the Great Xia to submit and pay tribute! And every year, grain, cloth, and other goods would also be sent as tribute!
Qiu Beiming frowned and nodded after hearing Sima Lie's response.
For Sima Lie, all the money was anyway plundered from the people.
Three million taels of silver a year sounds like a lot, but it's actually quite a lot.
But so what? We'll just intensify our looting efforts.
The Great Xia Dynasty lacks everything, but it has no shortage of people. Where there are people, there is money. If the powerful families and clans cannot be exploited, then the common people will be the ones to be exploited!
Anyway, that foolish emperor only knew how to indulge in the beauties of the harem, so how could he dare to disobey his orders?
Qiu Beiming was almost thinking the same thing as Sima Lie. His eyes darted around, and he immediately offered a reminder.
"Since the Prime Minister has already decided to negotiate peace and pay reparations, we must firmly hold onto the position of Minister of Revenue and appoint a replacement as soon as possible!"
When the topic turned to the position of Minister of Revenue, Sima Lie was filled with arrogance.
If it weren't for that damned Tan Wu, would I still be troubled by this matter?
He waved his hand, appearing quite impatient.
"Didn't that guy recommend someone last time? Let's use Sun Jiachen!"
Qiu Beiming sighed, "I know the Prime Minister is still angry, but the selection of the Minister of Revenue must be done with utmost care!"
With his eyes half-closed, Qiu Beiming looked exactly like an extremely cunning fox.
“Sun Jiachen is unknown, but he is already very capable. Why doesn’t he step forward? It’s obvious that Tan Wu recommended him. It would be risky to use him rashly. We must investigate him further.”
Sima Lie held his forehead, looking like he had a terrible headache.
"Spying? But where do we find the time to make arrangements at our leisure?"
"No!" Qiu Beiming shook his head firmly. "Since he's not suitable, we might as well consider someone else. I've heard that He Fang from the Ministry of Revenue is insightful and experienced, with methods no less than Tan Wu's. He's capable..."
At that very moment, Qin Yu on the other side also finished her final massage.
His large hand slid down from her snow-white shoulder, along her neck, to her waist, and gave her a heavy tap. Accompanied by the woman's long, soft moan, Qin Yu smiled triumphantly.
"Yan'er, I wonder if your aches and pains have gotten any better?"
Zhao Yan sat up straight, stretched a bit, and felt refreshed and relaxed all over.
A glint of light flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she exclaimed with delight, "I do feel much better!"
The thought that a king would spend so much time with her and even give her a massage to relieve her discomfort touched Zhao Yan deeply.
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