"Thank you so much, Your Majesty, for your concern. I am truly..."
Just as she was expressing her gratitude, Zi Yan hurriedly walked in from the doorway.
"Your Majesty, Second Miss. This servant has just made a mistake, please punish me."
"Oh?" Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with it?"
"Just now, Ruyan, one of the Consort's servants, came to test the Second Miss with some tonics. Unfortunately, I didn't react quickly enough and didn't stop her in time, so she heard some of the noise."
Zhao Yan then realized that she had indeed shouted a bit too loudly, and feeling embarrassed, she scolded herself.
"Did you let it slip?"
Zi Yan felt extremely wronged.
Even if she didn't let it slip, with such a commotion just now, Ruyan is a normal woman, surely she understands that.
Could she really stop someone from that distance? The sound could be heard more than ten meters away from the palace!
Zhao Yan was somewhat worried and let out a long sigh.
"This is something the Emperor has been planning for a long time. Wouldn't this ruin everything?"
Zi Yan immediately knelt down, "Please punish me, Your Majesty and Your Highness."
"Hehe..." Qin Yu smiled faintly at this moment and waved his hand dismissively.
"Zi Yan was all alone, with no one else to help her. Guarding the palace gate and preventing her from coming in to discover the secrets was already quite an achievement!"
Seeing that she was defending Zi Yan, Zhao Yan became somewhat anxious.
"But Your Majesty, isn't this disrupting your plans?"
Touching his chin, Qin Yu chuckled again.
"Actually, I can't hide this matter any longer."
After a moment of contemplation, a hint of malice flashed in his eyes.
The next morning.
The officials had already arrived at the court, quietly awaiting the emperor's arrival.
Wang Ziru from the Ministry of Rites, however, seemed somewhat uneasy, and the officials next to him would occasionally turn their heads and give him meaningful glances.
The former gave a firm look and nodded repeatedly in acknowledgment.
Then, he looked at Sima Lie not far in front of him, as if he had made up his mind.
Since Tan Wuding's death, the matter of repaying the debt has been delayed again.
Officials owed government debts, including myself, are frantic every day, like ants on a hot pan, but there's nothing we can do.
Yesterday, after a group of officials gathered to discuss the matter, they came up with a bold idea.
Wang Ziru knew that although the position of Minister of Revenue was vacant, it was essentially still under the control of Chancellor Sima.
If they could get closer to Sima Lie and curry favor with him, perhaps he would soften his heart and think of a way to help them.
However, knowing how to curry favor is a skill in itself!
As soon as the emperor slowly walked in and sat on the dragon throne, Wang Ziru couldn't wait to speak.
"Your Majesty... I've heard that the Empress is seriously ill and her days are numbered. You must accept this with compassion..."
Wang Ziru's tearful appearance drew attention and moved many people.
The officials cooperated, kneeling down and their voices ringing out in unison like a resounding bell.
"Your Majesty! Please accept my condolences and accept this difficult time!"
Qin Yu was greatly surprised while sitting on the dragon throne.
Wow, Wang Ziru is such a good actor!
Despite the advice of his officials, he remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he sneered.
"I have only just settled into my seat, what is the meaning of this, my dear Wang?"
Wang Ziru wiped away his tears, looking utterly heartbroken.
"Your Majesty, I share your pain and am also deeply saddened by the Empress's unbearable grief."
"However, a country cannot be without an army for a day, just as a palace cannot be without an empress for a day. In order to stabilize the harem, I dare to suggest that an empress should be established as soon as possible."
Qin Yu sneered repeatedly.
Wang Ziru has some clever tricks up his sleeve; he's finally showing his true colors!
"Then, according to Minister Wang's suggestion, who should be made empress?"
Without even thinking, Wang Ziru blurted out.
"Consort Sima is virtuous, kind, respectful and gentle. Apart from the Empress, she is the most qualified to manage the harem for Your Majesty!"
"Your humble servant suggests that Consort Sima should be immediately made Empress!"
After saying this, Sima Lie turned to look at Wang Ziru with some surprise, but the latter raised his head and winked, clearly trying to please him.
Sima Lie was extremely pleased with himself, feeling that he had taken great revenge on the Zhao family and was very satisfied.
The two locked eyes, and Sima Lie nodded with a satisfied smile, making Wang Ziru feel flattered.
Qin Yu saw all of this, his eyes fierce and his face full of displeasure.
"The Empress is not dead yet, what does Minister Wang mean by this? This matter should not be mentioned again!"
"No!"
Wang Ziru received affirmation from Sima Lie, and thus performed even more diligently.
He felt that the foolish emperor was infatuated with the empress, so he fearlessly knelt down and remonstrated with her, putting pressure on her.
"I urge Your Majesty to reconsider! Only when the harem is stable can the palace be stable; only when the palace is stable can the court be stable; and only when the court is stable can the world be at peace!"
"Your Majesty, please make a decision as soon as possible!"
Not long after he finished speaking, Qin Yu flew into a rage.
Bang!
He slapped the armrest of the dragon throne, stood up abruptly, pointed at Wang Ziru's nose, and angrily rebuked him.
"You audacious traitor, how dare you curse my beloved concubine!"
"Where are the guards? Give this guy a good slap in the face!"
After he finished speaking, the guards who were standing guard were about to step forward as ordered, which frightened Wang Ziru quite a bit.
Sima Lie, who had been enjoying watching the show, finally took a step forward. He raised his eyebrows in anger, flicked his sleeve, and exuded an aura of power that pressed down on every official.
"Let's see who dares to touch Wang Ziru!"
He stepped forward and stood at attention, facing Qin Yu with unwavering pride and fearlessness, and spoke in a clear voice.
“Your Majesty! Wang Ziru is right. The harem cannot be without an empress for even a day. Since Empress Zhao’s days are numbered, we should establish a new empress as soon as possible to avoid being caught off guard.”
Looking at that fearless old face, Qin Yu was quite angry and stared straight at Sima Lie.
"What does the Prime Minister mean by this?"
On one side is imperial power, and on the other is the power of the prime minister.
The direct clash between these two forces of power left the rest of us terrified.
Just as things were getting tense, a furious shout suddenly came from outside the hall!
"How dare you! I, the Empress, have been the mother of the nation for many years, managing the harem for the Emperor. Who dares to speak of deposing and installing emperors!"
Dressed in magnificent robes, Zhao Yan walked step by step toward the main hall, her hands supporting her weight. Every step she took on the ground startled everyone present.
Her makeup was elaborate, her phoenix eyebrows were arched high, and her beautiful eyes flashed with earth-shattering anger, truly like a phoenix descending upon the world! She exuded overwhelming power!
Upon his appearance, all the officials were shocked and hurriedly knelt down.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Even Sima Lie, who had just been imposing, had to reluctantly lower his head, bound by the rules of etiquette.
The courtiers were all shocked; in fact, Qin Yu was also taken aback.
When he was making the plan yesterday, he was worried that the gentle and tender Zhao Yan was too weak and would not be able to control the officials, which would easily expose the mistake.
I never expected this!
This fake empress is even more empress-like than the real one!
If Qin Yu hadn't known that she was Zhao Yan, he would have mistaken her for the original Empress Zhao Lan!
The effect is absolutely astonishing!
Standing in the main hall, among the assembled officials, Zhao Yan first surveyed them with a terrifying aura before kneeling down.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects!"
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