Chapter 73 Like a Dream, Yet Not a Dream: If Your Highness continues your foolish antics, this humble subject will be deceiving the Emperor…
The next morning, Xiao Yun groggily opened his eyes and vaguely saw a figure sitting by the bed through the curtains. He immediately woke up with a start and quickly shrank into the quilt, his small hands nervously clenching the corner of the mattress.
The Empress Dowager must have found out about his gluttony at the palace banquet last night, which is why she came to interrogate him so early this morning.
"The Emperor has awakened?"
The woman's slender fingers lifted the curtain, revealing skin so white it was almost unnatural, like a beauty painted on jade.
Xiao Yun quickly pulled up the brocade quilt, revealing a pair of big, dark eyes, and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have eaten the eighth dish of iced cold dumplings last night. I promise I will never be greedy again!"
However, the woman did not scold him. Instead, she gently pulled down his brocade quilt and smiled tenderly: "Would Your Majesty like to play polo?"
"Yes!" Xiao Yun's eyes lit up, and she jumped out of bed excitedly.
But when he looked at the morning light outside the window, his little face fell again, and he said with a wronged expression, "I have to go to Zishan Hall to listen to Confucius's lecture at Chenshi, or... after class at noon, Mother can play with me?"
The woman smiled and said, "Your Majesty need not go to Zishan Hall today. You may have a good time all day."
"Really? Mother Empress didn't lie to me?"
Later, Xiao Yun discovered that his mother had not lied to him. She not only played games with him, such as playing Chuiwan, diabolo, and herbal games, but also drew several monster kites for him.
The Empress Dowager's painting skills were unparalleled. Whenever she painted a paper kite, the monsters with blue faces and fangs seemed to be infused with spirit, soaring and swirling in the clouds. When the paper kite fell, it terrified the timid palace maids, who screamed and scattered in all directions.
Xiao Yun burst into laughter!
After flying the kite, his mother took him to the horse farm to ride horses and shoot arrows, without mentioning at all that he should take a nap.
Mother has such good stamina!
After that, his mother accompanied him in cricket fighting, spinning tops, and pitch-pot...
As the sun set, the game of pitch-pot was still going on, but Xiao Yun was already exhausted, his face flushed, drenched in sweat, and his little arms aching and trembling. He began to suspect that this was his mother's way of punishing him for his gluttony.
He pouted and pleaded, "Mother, I know I was wrong. I will never be greedy again and will obediently go to Zishan Hall..."
Chu Yueyuan threw out her last arrow, and as she watched the arrowhead land steadily in the mouth of the pot, she took a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
"Jintong, go to the imperial kitchen and fetch a jar of peach blossom wine. I'd like to have a little drink tonight."
Jin Tong, puzzled, asked curiously, "Why has Your Highness suddenly become interested in drinking today? Is there some joyous occasion to celebrate?"
Chu Yueyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile: "There's no happy occasion, I just want to get drunk."
Granny Xu looked at the woman, who was covered in sweat, with deep concern.
Since learning the truth last night, she hadn't slept a wink. Before dawn, she would pull the little emperor out to play, not wanting to stop for a moment. Others only saw her bright eyes and radiant spirit, but Granny Xu knew the bitterness in her heart.
Granny Xu couldn't bear to see her tormenting herself like this, so she stepped forward and advised, "Your Highness, how can your body withstand this? This old servant begs you to rest!"
Chu Yueyuan lowered her eyes, her voice soft: "Granny, whenever I stop, I can't help but think of things from the past..."
She remembered what she had said to her mother, her efforts to please her father, and all the things she had done to keep him at Fuxiang Courtyard.
These memories made her realize that she was no different from her father. If Chu Shuheng was a man-eating tiger, then she was the accomplice who did the deed for him, cruelly torturing her mother piece by piece with her naivety and stupidity.
Being awake was an endless torment for her. She filled all her time with this obsessive feeling, unwilling to stop for even a moment. She didn't even dare to close her eyes, afraid of seeing her mother's face in her dreams.
Even in her dreams, she felt ashamed to face her mother.
When Granny Xu saw the dark bruise under the woman's eyes, she couldn't help but regret revealing the secret. The secret was kept secret because once the truth was revealed, someone was bound to get hurt.
The Hall of Diligent Governance, the Imperial Study.
More than a month has passed since the collapse of the imperial mausoleum. The Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate have conducted a thorough investigation for several days and found that the continuous spring rains caused water to seep into the underground palace. The Ministry of Works' Water Conservancy Department neglected its duties and failed to dredge the underground channels in the palace in time, which caused the foundation of the southeast corner of the mausoleum to be softened by the rainwater and eventually collapse.
Since it was a man-made disaster, the relevant departments needed to be punished. The Vice Minister of Water Resources was dismissed from his post, and the Minister of Works was demoted three ranks but retained his post for negligence. After this investigation, the Ministry of Works freed up a number of important positions.
Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Works usually held the lowest position, but this also depended on the prosperity or decline of the nation. If the country was in dire straits and war was raging, the Ministry of Works would be the most neglected department, unable to obtain funds from the Ministry of Revenue, and would be held accountable and punished for delaying construction.
However, in times of peace and prosperity, when the national treasury is full, the Ministry of Works becomes a highly sought-after position. Managing waterways, building dikes, constructing government offices and palaces, and so on, every place that needs to be maintained with gold and silver is a lucrative post.
The Great Qi is thriving, the new policies are showing initial results, the national treasury is becoming increasingly full, the border wars have subsided, not only has the Tianju Grassland been recovered, but also the relations with neighboring countries are harmonious, and even the most troublesome Canglang tribe is seeking peace. This peaceful and prosperous era can probably last for a hundred years.
Therefore, neither faction in the court was willing to give up the position of Minister of Works.
On this day, the cabinet ministers argued again in the imperial study about who should be promoted to Minister of Works, and they still couldn't reach a conclusion until sunset.
Finally, the elderly Grand Secretary Fang suffered a heart attack from Lin Sizhou's sharp retort, and a group of eunuchs hurriedly carried him to the Imperial Hospital, thus ending the debate.
Xie Yu took down a precious sword hanging on the wall, pushed open the scabbard with his thumb, and a foot of cold light suddenly appeared.
He looked at the handsome man behind the dragon-patterned desk and smiled, "With you in charge now, those old foxes have learned to keep a low profile and are quite adept at using the 'golden cicada shedding its shell' trick."
Pei Muwei picked up his pen and reviewed the memorial, speaking calmly: "Sizhou is hot-blooded and impetuous, and his actions are still somewhat lacking in prudence."
"Sigh... Young people should always be impulsive and reckless to make the most of their youth. Unlike you, who have always had a stern face since childhood, like an ascetic monk without any emotions."
Xie Yu sheathed his sword. Seeing that the man behind the desk remained unmoved, he simply pulled over an armchair, sat down beside him, crossed his legs, and teased:
"Now you, this ascetic, have one foot in the mortal world, and have tasted the sweetness of love, all because of this woman who led you back to secular life..."
As the head of the Ministry of Personnel, he heard many rumors about Pei Muwei and the young empress dowager. Coupled with the man's undisguised behavior at the Deer Cry Banquet last night, it almost revealed the relationship between the two.
It is said that monks who have returned to secular life are most prone to indulging in wine and meat. Once they are no longer bound by the rules and regulations, they are like hungry wild beasts, eager to make up for all the debts they have owed in the past.
Moreover, the man was not an ordinary monk, but a self-disciplined ascetic. Once he broke his vows, he would not be a wild beast, but a glutton.
"Weijin, you ordered the 'Memorial Tower' to be rebuilt in the palace. Was it for her?"
Pei Muwei lifted his eyelids, his dark eyes like unfathomable pools, revealing no emotion within. His long fingers tapped lightly on the long table as he asked in a calm voice:
"The Princess Consort brought the young prince to the capital a few days ago and has now settled in the Prince's residence. You have not returned home since you finished your duties. Have you had a conflict with the Princess Consort?"
Xie Yu immediately put down his crossed legs and tried his best to defend his marriage: "Hey, if you don't want to talk about it, fine, but why don't you wish me well? Zhu Niang and I are very close, like a harmonious couple, unlike you, who has to climb over the wall to meet a beauty!"
To prove his point, Xie Yu pointed to his waist, raised his thick eyebrows, and spoke arrogantly:
"Look, this is a sachet made by Zhu Niang, filled with incense balls she personally mixed. This jade pendant was a gift for my birthday, and this... is a mandarin duck purse embroidered by Zhu Niang. Every stitch is filled with her care for me!"
He glanced at the man's purse, clearly made of the Imperial Household Department, adorned with a dragon pattern, and his confidence swelled, leading to a smug and provocative gesture.
Do you have these things that prove a woman's love for you?
Pei Muwei lowered his gaze slightly, landing on Prince Chun's colorful and elaborate robes, which were even more vibrant than those of street vendors, and lowered his eyes slightly.
"Your Highness should cherish the Princess Consort's kind intentions."
Xie Yu carefully clutched the trinkets at his waist as if they were precious treasures, nodding repeatedly: "Of course, if I accidentally break these accessories, Zhu Niang will be furious..."
Suddenly, the eunuch Wang, who was guarding outside the study, heard a hum of a sword being drawn. Just as he was wondering what had happened inside, he saw Prince Chun rush out of the room in a disheveled state. Not only was the belt around his waist broken, but he was also carrying a bunch of odds and ends in his arms.
"Hmph, jealousy drives people mad!"
After he finished sighing, he lowered his head and carefully counted the things in his arms. Then he smiled at the dumbfounded Eunuch Wang and said, "Please help me get a box, and I need to line it with soft silk."
"Please wait a moment, Your Highness. This servant will fetch it right away."
———
As the golden crow flies and the jade rabbit treads the path, palace servants light up the octagonal palace lanterns under the corridor one after another.
The emperor was young and far from marriageable, so most of the palaces were sealed off. After dark, only the Phoenix Palace, located to the east, was brightly lit, casting a warm glow in the deep, inky night.
Pei Muwei walked into the brightly lit palace. Two eunuchs standing outside the palace wanted to go in to report, but he raised his hand to stop them, and a faint light flashed from his wide sleeves.
Before even stepping into the inner hall, the night breeze carried the sounds of commotion from within.
"Your Majesty, you are drunk. Let me help you to rest."
"This is the second jar of wine already, Your Highness really cannot drink any more."
"Your Highness, don't run! What are you all standing there for? Quickly stop the Empress Dowager!"
"Ouch, Your Highness, please don't go up there! Watch your step!"
The carved lattice doors of the East Warm Pavilion swung open to both sides, and as the man's tall figure appeared in the room, it was like a thunderbolt striking the ancient tree that was constantly chirping cicadas, instantly silencing it.
Pei Muwei frowned slightly upon seeing the scene inside the room.
On the table were several delicate dishes and several jars of wine. The dishes were untouched, but the celadon wine jars were tilted to one side. The young emperor was lying sprawled on the chaise longue, fast asleep, while several palace maids anxiously surrounded the chaise longue.
The young empress dowager held a white jade wine pot and stood barefoot on a small sandalwood table inlaid with marble placed between the couches. She wore a iris blue strapless gauze dress embroidered with magnolia flowers, her black hair was loosely tied up, and she wore a fine jade hairpin. Her skin, as smooth as cream, was faintly visible under the gauze covering her.
Upon seeing the newcomer, the woman tilted her head slightly, blinked her misty peach-blossom eyes, and swayed precariously as she stood on the small rosewood table inlaid with marble.
"Pei Qing, you... why are you here?"
Pei Muwei strode forward, and the palace servants surrounding the couch immediately dispersed. He raised his arm, grabbed the woman's slender waist, and lifted her down.
Her feet landed on the soft, floral-patterned mani-beaded velvet carpet. Chu Yueyuan stretched out one arm and hooked it around the man's neck, leaning against him like a sturdy pillar. Her other hand still held the wine jug, and her drunken voice was somewhat indistinct:
"Pei Qing, you've come so late, is it because you want to... climb onto... my phoenix bed again?"
She looked up at the man's handsome face, and even though she was drunk and her mind was hazy, she firmly stated her position: "No! Absolutely not this time..."
Pei Muwei embraced the Empress Dowager's soft, melting body, and looked down at her pair of snow-white feet on the carpet. He narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly: "Is Your Highness's foot injury healed?"
When Jin Tong heard the Regent's question, her heart jumped into her throat, fearing that the drunken woman would reveal the truth about last night.
Although Chu Yueyuan's head was spinning, she managed to muster some clarity when she met the man's deep gaze. She nodded and slurred, "..."
"Hmm... I listened to Pei Qing's advice and applied the medicine properly."
Pei Muwei's eyes were deep, and his probing gaze shifted to the white jade wine pot in her hand. His tone was calm and unreadable: "Why does Your Highness want to drink?"
The young empress dowager occasionally drank alcohol, but she was not greedy. He had only seen her drunk once, when she mistakenly drank his Tusu wine.
Chu Yueyuan's face showed impatience. She tapped his chest with her slender finger and said indignantly, "You have to interfere when I'm drinking in my own room. Pei Qing is too meddlesome! I... don't like meddlesome men."
Pei Muwei: ....
Her hand wobbled, and the wine spilled from the spout soaked the man's crimson python robe, the gold-embroidered wave pattern glistening with the water, shimmering and sparkling under the candlelight.
The young empress dowager spoke wildly, yet her drunken state revealed her deep enjoyment of the moment.
The woman's cheeks were flushed with a slight intoxication, and her eyes were clearer than usual. Her dreamy gaze, as if she were half-drunk, added a touch of allure and enchantment to her already stunning beauty.
Pei Muwei took the wine pot from her hand and said gently, "Your Highness, I have brought a gift for you."
A crystal-clear glass bottle was now prominently displayed in his palm.
Chu Yueyuan curiously picked up the glass bottle from the man's palm, squinted her eyes to examine it, and saw that the glass bottle contained countless insects.
She blinked her dark eyes, discerned for a moment, and exclaimed with delight, "They're fireflies! There are so many fireflies in there!"
Unfortunately, the candlelight in the room was too bright. Chu Yueyuan turned around, waved her hand, and ordered, "You all go out."
Xiao Yanzi and Yu Luo picked up the sleeping little emperor and walked out. Xu Mama and Jin Tong exchanged a glance, but neither of them moved.
Chu Yueyuan stumbled over and shoved the two of them towards the door: "You all go out. I'm going to watch the fireflies with the Regent. Don't worry, nothing will happen... Pei Qing won't eat people."
Jin Tong looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
At this moment, the woman was like an oyster that had just been opened, completely defenseless, revealing her snow-white, tender flesh. Anyone who saw her would inevitably have the urge to take a bite.
However, Chu Yueyuan, who was drunk, was very strong and pushed Jin Tong and Granny Xu out the door without saying a word.
Seeing the lights in the warm pavilion go out, Jin Tong felt even more panicked:
"Granny, what... what should we do? His Highness is quite drunk tonight! It seems he's serious this time... Should I go prepare some hot water...?"
Xu Mama shook her head calmly: "No need, you can stay outside. Her Highness is upset, it's good to have someone to talk to her."
Xu Mama knew Consort Pei's character well; the children she raised shared the same pride and would never take advantage of a woman's weakened state to do anything underhanded.
Inside, Chu Yueyuan tiptoed and blew out the candles one by one. When it was completely dark, the glass bottle in her hand shone like a luminous pearl, as if it had gathered all the stars in the sky into the small bottle.
She pulled out the stopper, and in an instant, countless stars flowed out of the bottle, filling the entire room. The emerald-green fireflies gathered and scattered, rising and falling, making her feel as if she were in the Milky Way.
Chu Yueyuan gazed intently at the dreamlike sea of stars before her. She raised her arm, and a few fireflies, as if attracted by the shimmering jade bracelet on her wrist, fluttered around her hand.
She flipped her wrist, her slender fingers gently twisting, forming an orchid-shaped handprint. The fireflies followed, fluttering up and down, as if chasing a solitary orchid in the night.
She was immediately intrigued. With light, graceful steps, her skirt bloomed like layers of epiphyllum flowers, rippling in the firefly light, and the fireflies danced with her.
The intoxication made her movements languid and casual, and the thin gauze dress on her shoulders slid down like flowing water, revealing her snow-white shoulders and neck.
Although there was no music playing, the continuous chirping of cicadas and the gentle night breeze outside the window seemed to transform into a leisurely melody.
Pei Muwei stared at the woman dancing gracefully, his dark eyes rippling with emotion as she followed the movement of her flowing skirt.
Finally, Chu Yueyuan, feeling dizzy, stumbled into the man's arms, her waist supported by his hot, large hands.
She raised her eyes and saw the fireflies illuminating the man's fair and handsome face. His cool and aloof eyes were softened by the fireflies' light, and there was a light in his eyes that was even more captivating than the fireflies themselves.
Pei Muwei's thin lips curved slightly: "Does Your Highness like this gift?"
Chu Yueyuan was still breathing heavily, and the embroidered magnolia on her bodice trembled slightly with her breath. She nodded and said, "I like it very much."
Pei Muwei brushed aside the fireflies that had settled on her black hair, his voice deep and rich like wine: "Then may this humble subject ask Your Highness for a gift?"
Hearing his deep voice, Chu Yueyuan felt even more intoxicated, her eyes glazed over, and she slurred, "What does Pei Qing want?"
"This humble subject wishes to have a purse embroidered by Your Highness yourself?"
"Pouch?"
Chu Yueyuan tilted her head and thought for a moment, her flushed cheeks revealing a hint of intoxication, then she smiled and said confidently, "That's easy, I've embroidered purses for my father before..."
She suddenly frowned, a dark glint flashing in her moist eyes, and muttered softly, "Why did you bring it up again? Looks like I'm not drunk enough..."
She abruptly pushed the man away, stumbled to the rosewood table, picked up the wine pot, shook it, and drank it down from the spout. The wine spilled from the corner of her lips, meandered down her porcelain-white neck, and flowed into the fragrant valley.
However, before she could enjoy herself, the wine jug was snatched from her hand.
Why did you steal my wine?
Chu Yueyuan was displeased and stood on tiptoe to snatch the wine from the man's hand. In the struggle, the gauze dress that was just hanging on her shoulder completely slipped off and was loosely piled in her arms.
The woman's skin, already as fair as snow, took on a blush-like hue under the influence of alcohol, and her slightly protruding collarbones became even more lustrous and radiant from the wine.
Pei Muwei's eyes reflected a pure white light, yet showed no lust. He raised his hand, his fingertips wiping away the remaining wine from the corner of her lips, his gaze calm, his voice deep and mellow:
"Is Your Highness hiding something from me?"
The intoxication finally shattered the last vestige of clarity, leaving Chu Yueyuan's mind in a complete fog. Even the fireflies that flickered around the man turned into wisps of emerald light, appearing and disappearing intermittently, like a dream.
She chuckled and nodded matter-of-factly: "I...have many things I'm keeping from Minister Pei."
“Oh.” Pei Muwei’s eyes darkened, his long fingers pinching the woman’s delicate chin, his gaze falling on her hazy, watery eyes, as he patiently questioned her:
"Does Your Highness still remember what it was about?"
"There are so many..."
The woman's cheeks were flushed, and she began to list things off in a slurred manner: "Um... the taro pastries I used to coax you into eating, I said I made them myself, but they were actually made by Granny Xu. And... every time I pretended to be sick and didn't attend court, I was actually writing stories in the Phoenix Perch Palace..."
Pei Muwei narrowed his dark eyes slightly: "Is there anything else?"
"And..." Chu Yueyuan murmured, repeating the man's words. Her eyes darted around slowly, as if she was trying hard to recall.
"And when Pei Qing is not around, I have Xiao Yanzi affix the phoenix seal to the memorials..."
Pei Muwei's dark eyes lightened slightly, and then he asked, "Is there anything else?"
Chu Yueyuan had lost her patience. There was still so much to say. She could talk until dawn and still not finish. When would Pei Ze ever stop? In the past, when she said things he didn't want to hear, how did he ever make her shut up?
She stared intently at the prominent Adam's apple on the man's neck, and inexplicably felt a dryness in her mouth. The alcohol in her stomach seemed to turn into fire, burning away her reason, leaving only instinctive desire that drove her to lean forward.
The alluring scent of sandalwood was right next to her, and she reached out and grasped the man's cross-collar embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns.
Looking at Furong Mian, who had moved closer, Pei Muwei's dark eyes flickered slightly, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice was hoarse: "Is there anything else Your Highness is hiding..."
Chu Yueyuan interrupted him with her actions; she tiptoed and gently licked the man's prominent Adam's apple with her pink tongue.
In a daze, she felt the man's breathing suddenly become heavy, and the arm around her waist tightened abruptly, almost pulling her into his embrace.
Just as Chu Yueyuan was about to scold the man for hurting her, his thin lips fell like a sudden rain. In an instant, the fireflies surrounding the two of them scattered, like fireworks suddenly appearing in the night sky, scattering eerie green sparks.
Pei Muwei greedily savored the aroma of wine on her tongue. The unintentional teasing earlier had suddenly awakened the gluttonous desire lurking within him. He felt he was about to lose control, and even kissing her entire body couldn't alleviate the taut pain he felt.
He lowered his head to kiss her, his large hand gripping her waist, and lifted her onto a small rosewood table inlaid with marble by the window.
Driven by the alcohol, Chu Yueyuan was more easily aroused than usual. She was quickly kissed until her limbs were weak and her mind was in a daze. She leaned against the slightly open window, unaware that Jin Tong and the others had left in a hurry and had not locked the window.
She was thrown backward by the man's aggressive kisses, and the carved window lattice creaked open to both sides. If the man hadn't caught her shoulders in time, she would have almost fallen out of the window.
The moment the night breeze rushed in, the fireflies that had been flitting about inside the room found an exit and fluttered out the window.
Chu Yueyuan's eyes were blurry with drunkenness, and half of her body was hanging on the edge of the window railing. In her daze, she saw countless stars flitting past her eyes, like shattered jade and flying pearls, or like stars adorning her hair and the moon trailing behind her. If it weren't for the man's hot breath falling on her ear, she would have thought she was in a dream.
The window slammed shut, and she leaned on the man's broad shoulder, panting softly.
The night breeze had blown away most of the heat from Pei Muwei's body. He kissed the fine sweat on the woman's forehead, and worried that she would catch a cold from the wind, he pulled up the gauze dress that was piled in his arms. The thin gauze covered her rounded shoulders, but it could not cover the mottled red marks on her fair skin.
The woman's watery eyes still held a hint of intoxication, as if they hadn't been soothed. Her red lips let out soft, whimpering moans, and her slender white fingers hooked around the man's jade belt, snuggling into his arms like a cat.
Pei Muwei's anger was instantly reignited by her. He gasped, pressed down on her restless hand, and a dark glint surged in his eyes:
"If Your Highness continues to act recklessly, this humble subject will be deceiving the Emperor."
Chu Yueyuan chuckled again, her drunken eyes glancing at him, the corners of her eyes shimmering with vibrant red: "Pei Qing has done plenty of things to deceive the emperor in the past, so why is he... pretending to be a loyal minister today..."
Pei Muwei cupped the woman's flushed face, gazing intently into her dark, intoxicated eyes, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Your Highness is drunk."
Chu Yueyuan said nonchalantly, "So what?"
The man's eyes grew increasingly deep, as if he wanted to see through her true thoughts.
Will Your Highness regret this later?
Chu Yueyuan gazed at the man's solemn and handsome face, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her unfocused pupils revealing a look of confusion. She shook her head and said truthfully, "I don't know."
Pei Muwei's eyes flickered slightly, and his long, well-defined fingers gently smoothed the shallow crease between the woman's delicate brows, his tone exceptionally gentle:
"Your Highness, if you are tired, please go to sleep."
The man's warm fingertips, like the sun after a storm, gently wiped away the cold raindrops from the petals. This touch finally allowed the life, cautiously huddled in the crevice, to comfortably stretch out its branches and leaves.
Chu Yueyuan felt sleepy and tired, nestled in his warm chest, and gradually relaxed unconsciously.
In her hazy state, she heard a man's clear, melodious voice drift into her ears:
"Your Highness, could you please embroider your nickname on this purse?"
She was extremely tired, nodded perfunctorily, and then fell into a deep sleep.
The ridge beasts on the eaves reflected the moonlight, shimmering with a cool, clear glow.
Pei Muwei walked slowly out of the Phoenix Perch Palace. The smell of wine on his brocade robe quickly dissipated in the night wind, and his pair of dark eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
A servant swiftly emerged from the shadows of the palace walls and knelt in greeting.
His eyes were lowered, and he slowly turned the gleaming Buddhist beads on his wrist, calmly ordering: "Investigate in detail the Empress Dowager's recent whereabouts, where she has been, and who she has met, and report all of this to me."
"Your subordinate obeys." After saying this, the servant disappeared into the night like a ghost.
Pei Muwei glanced at the empty belt around his waist, a dark glint flashing in his usually cold eyes.
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Author's Note: Ahem, update tomorrow at 9 AM. Hope you guys are on time! [Let me see!]
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