80th Moon Palace Wen/Fat Mama Xiang Shan

  Jiang Xiangru walked into the house, and Jin Aiyi hurriedly moved a stool for him, poured hot tea, then retreated to one side, pushing Qi Yunyan forward.

  Seeing Gong Xiangru sitting there, Qi Yunyan lowered her head and bowed: "Lord Gong, please have some tea."

  Gong Xiangru glanced at her face and said: "Miss Qi, please sit down. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sit alone either. The county master will say something later."

  Humble, excellent, and elegant handsome man, don't know how many people like him. Even the current emperor likes him very much.

  Jin Aiyi gave her another push from behind, and Qi Yunyan sat down.

  "At home, I heard my mother say that Miss Qi helped her with some things before." Gong Xiangru's words didn't seem to be casually brought up, his voice was slow and cautious.

  His voice was the kind of comfortable sound that made anyone who heard it feel a warm spring breeze in their heart. The light in Jin's eyes flashed. She thought there must be no mistake. It's impossible to call her mistress over for no reason. With her mistress' identity, it's indeed not enough as Madam Jiuxi said. Undoubtedly, someone had deliberately arranged for her mistress to come over. Now that Gong Xiang and others have spoken up, doesn't it mean everything is clear?

  Qiyun Yan's eyes gazed calmly at the ground as she spoke in a low voice, "Lord Gong, I have never helped Lady Gong with anything. Did you hear incorrectly?"

  When Miss heard this, Golden Mother was the first to disagree and hastily came out to clarify: "Your Excellency is unaware that my young lady is shy by nature and has hardly ever left the house or met anyone. Only the Palace family and Madame Wang, whom Your Excellency should remember from childhood, have a close relationship with my young lady. Madame Wang treats my young lady like her own daughter, and my young lady has always been grateful in her heart. Therefore, after Miss Wang entered the palace, although the two families no longer had contact, my young lady remembered Madame Wang's kindness and could only secretly express her loyalty."

  It turns out that Madam Gong usually has a good life at home, with her sons and daughters all contributing to the family income. Even though her husband was detained due to his daughter's affair, the family still had a comfortable life with plenty of money. Also, because of the frugal nature of the Gong family, without needing reminders from their children, Madam Gong herself donated silver. Apart from donating money, in her free time, Madam Gong liked to organize the household staff to make handicrafts and donate them to ordinary people. Among them, Qi Yunyan secretly pulled many strings for Madam Gong.

  Gong Xiangru is a filial child. Since his sister mentioned it, he went home and asked his mother first, asking which young lady from which household left the deepest impression on her. Madame Gong seemed to not need to think at all, and immediately said Qi Yunyan.

  In Madam Gong's eyes, Qi Yunyan was a girl from a humble family, just like herself, who was diligent and thrifty by nature, had a kind heart to help others, and knew how to repay kindness. Her appearance and background were not outstanding, but these didn't matter. As long as she was a good-hearted girl, that was enough. Moreover, Qi Yunyan used to visit the Gong family frequently in the past and had an extremely close relationship with her own daughter. Madam Gong couldn't find any fault with Qi Yunyan.

  Gong Xiangru arranged for his sister to set up an opportunity for him to meet Qi Yunyan. After so many years, he took a closer look at this girl who used to visit their home frequently because of her relationship with his sister and found that she was a girl who knew how to calm down and be quiet. What he feared most was the kind of noise made by Li Jiuyao, who would speak loudly everywhere as if she had a loudspeaker on her mouth, whether there was something to talk about or not. The Gong family were government officials, many things were secrets, and even if one word was leaked out, it could lead to the destruction of their whole family.

  It's best to be calm and quiet. If you can be like his mother, who loves talking a lot, that would be even better.

  His gaze was like a slap in the face, Qi Yunyan slowly changed his tone and said: "The tea of the palace master has gone cold, let Min'er help the palace master change it." After speaking, he got up and poured the cup of tea into the bowl, refilling it with hot water from the teapot.

  Her gaze, on his string of movements, was as if an examiner slowly deliberating, then she poured the tea, a hint of a smile, hung on his refined lips, thin lips warmly saying: "Thanks to Miss Qi."

  Zi Yunyan only felt a slight burning sensation on her face, and with great difficulty controlled the trembling of her hands as she sat down.

  This time, he picked up the tea she had poured for him and slowly savored it, saying: "Tomorrow, if His Majesty does not summon me, I wonder if Miss Qi would be interested in accompanying this official to take a stroll in the courtyard."

  Jin Aiyi excitedly pushed Ziyunyan from behind again.

  Qiyun Yan said cautiously, "Now that we are accompanying the emperor, Palace Master may be summoned by His Majesty at any time. I'm worried that it might delay important matters for both His Majesty and Palace Master. If Palace Master has something to discuss, perhaps another day, I will go to your residence to receive your instructions."

  What a good opportunity, yet she refused. Jin's aunt rolled her eyes twice. She thought to herself that what her mistress said was right, that Miss should have brought her along.

  This time, however, Qi Yunyan seemed very determined, and didn't let her interrupt again.

  Gong Xiangru gazed calmly at her, his eyes seeming to be still and unruffled, only quietly reflecting the two small figures of hers. After a moment, he said: "Miss Qi's words are reasonable, it is this official who has considered things inadequately."

  Seeing that everyone had accepted it, Jin's mood was so gloomy that she almost vomited blood.

  Qī Yún's lips curled up slightly at the corners, but it was more like an expression of relief.

  After sitting for a while, without seeing any sign of the princess, Gong Xiangru guessed what had happened and stood up to bid farewell.

  Just as Ziyunyan had sent him out the door, she turned back to see Jin'niang frowning at her and lecturing: "Miss, although I spoke a bit harshly, it was all for your own good. Miss, now that Gongdaiye has finally spoken up, you mustn't give up on him. In the past, didn't you always have feelings for Gongdaiye?"

  I like it, but what's the use. He is currently the emperor's favorite person. My sister is also the noblest empress. She has to consider this carefully. So she said to Jin Yuzhen: "Mother wants the best for her daughter, I'm not unaware of that. But please let me handle this matter. Palace rules are strict, if you speak out of turn and offend someone by mistake, it will be hard for our family to explain."

  She agreed verbally, but her heart didn't think so.

  The Road to Huangdi's Louhua Hall

  Kasuga no Tsubone returned from the island and stood before the Emperor.

  Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she suddenly felt a chill on her back. She could only clear her throat softly, in a very low voice that was barely audible to the two of them: "Is Xun Cai angry with me?"

  "How dare I? The Emperor is high above, if I dared to say a single bad word about the Emperor, the Emperor would behead me." She still lowered her eyebrows and cast down her eyes as before.

  However, the spark in her eyes could not be concealed.

  The more she said that, the more his face turned green, and he cleared his throat several times before saying, "Tell me, Zhenxiao, how do you plan to get back at me?"

  Hand.

  He was taken aback. With that said, she didn't mince words.

  Alright, the Son of Heaven's words are like a swift horse that is hard to catch up with.

  He stretched out his left hand.

  She raised her right hand and slapped him in the palm of his hand.

  She didn't say anything, but her slap was quite forceful, making his palm feel hot.

  He stared blankly at her like this.

  "After finishing, she kowtowed: 'Your Majesty's concubine has beaten Your Majesty, now Your Majesty can punish your concubine.'"

  "What crime?" He sounded somewhat impatient.

  "The Son of Heaven has a dragon body, and is connected with the altar of the land and the people. If a minister or concubine harms the dragon body, they will be guilty of a crime punishable by beheading."

  His gaze suddenly shot to her face, the corners of his mouth hooked into a thread of helplessness, and he pretended to be angry: "Gong Qiu Yu, are you teasing me?"

  She pouted: "How dare I."

  She said, "He's really a bit like his little foodie son." A low growl emerged from his throat: "How dare you? I see that just now you were relying on your mother's power to try to educate me as if I were her son."

  Her heart skipped a beat. How did he find out? Normally, if her little son had committed an unforgivable mistake, apart from pinching his cheeks and ears, the most severe punishment would be to slap the palm of his hand.

  At that moment, looking at her silence, a certain place in his icy heart cracked, and a thread of warmth was stored. The palm that had been slapped by her felt scorching hot, as if it had reached his heart.

  "I have considered it myself. There is no need for you to say anything more."

  One sentence sealed up all the words she was eager to say. Her slender eyebrows furrowed into two great mountains: "Your subject..."

  "You are not wrong. It is my people who are insufficient to protect you. Therefore, it is not strange for me to take the initiative to protect Suō."

  But there was no need to risk his life. Her teeth were clenched tightly on her lips, almost biting out blood.

  At this time, Li Shunde walked in and reported: "The palace master has arrived. He heard about what happened to the princess on the island just now."

  It's likely that he heard more than just his sister encountering danger on the island, otherwise, he wouldn't have rushed to Luohua Hall looking for him instead of his own sister.

  The emperor's face flashed with a hint of annoyance.

  It's better if her brother comes to persuade him. Some things, as a subject advising the emperor, are more proper than this palace's, with its dubious reputation. Hua Xiyuan thought. So when her brother came in, she turned around and withdrew.

  Gong Xiangru walked in and saw his sister's unscathed back, just as Hua Yexi had thought, with a cold face, he turned to the emperor.

  This feeling, made Li Zimo have a desire to escape. Not to mention the emperor has great power, from time to time can scold his ministers, but sometimes, when he himself did something wrong, facing his ministers with that kind of helplessness, is truly unimaginable.

  Gong Xiangru walked up to him and bowed: "Your Majesty, I am grateful for Your Majesty's kindness to the empress. However, Your Majesty's dragon body is not just one person, nor is it the empress'. I have this duty, to remind Your Majesty to take care of your dragon body."

  It was as if he hadn't heard the person in front of him speaking, and only after gazing at her silhouette had completely floated out of the Luohua Hall did he slowly utter a stern and deliberate dragon roar: "What you said, Palace Minister, I understand. However, the life of the Empress is not just that of the Empress, nor is it just mine; it also belongs to the Eastern Mausoleum."

  "Your Majesty?" The palace minister's brow furrowed slightly.

  "I will protect the Empress's life, it is my personal wish and also my public duty. The people of China cannot do without an Empress, and the world cannot do without an Empress."

  This statement is concise and to the point. Gong Xiangru can only think of Feng Yin in it, but as long as his sister dies, this Feng Yin will return to the emperor's hands. However, Li Zimo's tone dragged the whole world into it.

  "The empress found the secret room left by the previous emperor. The mechanisms inside, I have sent people to investigate and eliminate over two nights. Some details still need to be discussed with Gongqing and Zhang Mingsen, etc., to assist me."

  One sentence was enough to send her brother away. Hua Xiyuan hid outside the wall and listened to the emperor's words, stamping her foot in anger. Li Shunde, who followed behind her, naturally didn't dare disturb her eavesdropping. So when that big white fan hit her shoulder, she growled impatiently: "If you have the guts, go file a complaint!"

  "Gong Xiucai, you're going too far."

  A familiar hoarse voice came from behind.

  He suddenly turned around, looked up and saw that arrogant face, yet he claimed to be the most valuable single man in the world. Hua Xiyan calmed down, left the eavesdropping area and walked away.

  Walking into the small courtyard, I saw that the person behind me was still following closely. Turning around: "Is the Cloud Sect Master looking for me, or is it the Holy One?"

  "If the master of this sect wanted to find Sheng Shang, would he run over and tap you on the shoulder?" The noble blue eyes gave her a speechless stare.

  "What brings you to my palace?" Facing this person who liked to tease others, she had the same self-awareness as Li Jiuyao, and it was best to avoid him.

  "Isn't it for Ben Zong to take care of your two sons? Ben Zong is here to report the situation."

  Yes, it's said that he handed his two sons over to sworn brothers to take care of. At this point, she sat down in a small pavilion on the path and listened to what he had to say. Besides, she also had some things to clarify with him first.

  She jumped lightly onto the railing opposite her, leaning elegantly against a pillar, opened a white fan and struck an attitude of languid boredom.

  Get rid of that crooked tongue, in fact, this man has a very beautiful side. It's just that if she only sees his handsome face, then her days spent with these people are equivalent to living in vain.

  Just like I told my son, flowers that are too beautiful are all poisonous.

  This man is also a ruthless and cold-blooded person. If you don't understand, just think about how he once killed more than 100 lives of his own clan with one order.

  It can't be said that the man was wrong, if it were her, she would have done the same thing.

  In order to protect myself and mine, there is no other way.

  Her noble blue eyes, shining brightly, fell on her, gradually sinking into deep sadness, but her mouth still had an expressionless tone, and she sighed: "Gong Xuan Ci, your heart is now completely tied to his."

  She was listening to the wall corner. She knew that he had connected his seven souls and six spirits with hers at that time, and that kind of unbearable anxiety in her heart.

  "The master of the Cloud Sect mustn't forget. I was his person all along."

  The wife and I, two words, one is the minister, the second is his wife.

  Her anxiety about his safety, husband and wife's feelings are one thing, as long as she thinks of him having a life or death situation, the country, the people, and the palace will all be affected, how can it not make her worried. Her father, her brother, the palace, have paid so much for this.

  At her words, the eyebrows that had been flying high and free relaxed, stretching out into a curve that seemed to be laughing: "What did you just hear him say? He said he only saved you for someone else's sake."

  "Yun Chen Jing, you and he before, it's not like I didn't know. When the Son of Heaven got him, when the Empress got her, they were just like you. Even I, Gong Nian Yu, never thought my heart was particularly good. Some people in the streets cursed me as a bad woman, that's also correct."

  Her tone was cold, like a heavy mountain, weighing down his fan, which had fallen. But anyone could see that her heart was entirely focused on that person, no matter what the reason was.

  Her fingers tightened around the fan handle, as if daring anyone to wrong her.

  "It's only right that he risked his life for you." A low, husky voice emerged from the handsome face with a mischievous grin, making her turn to look at him sideways.

  Perhaps it was because the night color was too thick tonight, and it was shrouded in a layer of fog-like color. Although there was light shining on her, she couldn't even distinguish the handsome face in front of her.

  "What's wrong?" Seeing her looking over, he raised his eyebrows. "You've gone through the gates of life and death for him twice. If such a loving and righteous wife were to be abandoned by him, where would justice be in this world?

  She never thought he would say something to defend her, wasn't he his sworn brother?

  "He's my brother, that's why I'm telling you this. With his temperament, it's absolutely impossible for him to abandon you in your time of need. If he did so, then there's no point in being brothers with me either."

  A white fan, waving back and forth in the night, like shooing away mosquitoes, without any seriousness.

  But she could tell that there was no deceit in his words. This man, who seemed unorthodox on the surface, was actually overly serious.

  "Gong Xuan, don't let him get hurt again. You're only angry at him because you've never seen him sad before. If you had, you wouldn't be mad at him today. Of course, when you're mad at him, I'm sure he's feeling as sweet as honey in his heart. Because Gong Xuan, from start to finish, has always belonged to him."

  The white fan was folded up and slipped quietly into her palm, as if dust had settled.

  She gazed into his blue eyes, and didn't think there was a hint of deception in them. He was her sworn brother, the person who understood him best. Her heart, because of these words, surged with waves of astonishment.

  The Emperor's love is too far away. All she needs to think about is her own family, and she knows what it means to be worried sick. However, as long as he really has a little thought for her, that's enough. As long as she knows he will protect her parents, the Palace will be safe for life.

  Her quiet face, in the night color, is like a painting.

  In the Luohua Temple, the emperor's shadow leaning against the window gazed down at her from a height, and with one glance, he could recognize her silhouette in the darkness. The corners of his lips curled up slightly. Tonight, when she slapped him on the palm, it was as if she had extracted honey-like sweetness from his heart. He could feel that she belonged to him. For this, he would pay any price.

  In the palace of the two young princes, news about their parents' discord had reached the ears of the two young friends. The little prince was flustered and restless, pacing back and forth in his room like an old man, sometimes furrowing his brow and sometimes sighing deeply, unsure of how to intervene and ease the tension between his parents.

  Distinct from the others, Little Wooden Stool was like he was so happy he could jump to the sky, his two small shoulders bobbing up and down as he danced to the disco his mother had taught him. Heh heh, a small mouth, laughing until saliva almost flowed out, whoever saw this smile of his couldn't help but be shocked.

  This little foodie, how come I heard that when his mother slapped the emperor's father with a palm, he was so happy?

  It's actually not hard to understand if you think about it carefully in your heart. The small eaters who have been deceived by the emperor countless times have long been waiting for the day when the emperor can be punished.

  It seems that only his mother is the greatest and most capable, and indeed she spoke on his behalf and punished that overbearing and vicious emperor father.

  To comfort his mother, Xiao Mu Mu beckoned to the small table with a stunned expression: "Small table, bring out the cookies I made in the imperial kitchen."

  The little foodie not only likes to eat, but also thinks that the food is so delicious, occasionally, he takes the initiative to make it himself, and it tastes even better. Therefore, among the emperors and princes of Dongling Dynasty, Xiaochi was the first to step into the imperial kitchen to make pastries by himself, with great potential as a chef.

  Huā Yù Yán was afraid that her son would go hungry when he was alone, so she taught him some simple kitchen chores. For a little foodie like him, making buns, steaming buns, cooking porridge and rice were all too easy. The most challenging thing was the pancake his mother taught him to make. This small pancake can be made into Xiao Zhu Ni's head image, which is his favorite.

  Little Piggy Niuniu knew that in the master's heart, he actually loved to use it as a cookie. As soon as she heard that the young master was going to take out the little pig cookies from the imperial kitchen, she immediately hid under the table, lest the young master get too happy and prepare to slaughter her to make up for the numbers.

  The small table heard his command, opened the trunk, and took out a small cloth package: "Master, here it is."

  As for his own brother, he was able to make a food called biscuits that he had never heard of before. The young prince couldn't help but feel curious and leaned in to take a look, asking his brother: "What is this? I've never heard of it before, does it taste good?"

  "Dare you try?" The little foodie raised an eyebrow mysteriously at the young prince.

  Listening to his younger brother's strange tone, this sinister little face, the young master suddenly felt a chill all over his body and said, "No, no need."

  Curiosity can kill a cat. The little prince who is good at endurance has a deep understanding of the great righteousness, and under his brother's strange face, he surrenders unconditionally.

  The little foodie gave the young prince a helpless look: "It's because you don't dare to eat it yourself. Don't even mention when I give some to my mother and not to you, you'll be jealous."

  Jealous? I don't know why, but hearing my brother utter these two words made me feel even more uneasy. The young master wiped the sweat from his forehead again with his sleeve.

  "I am not jealous."

  "Alright, I'm off." Xiaochi hugged the bundle of cloth tightly and hastily rushed out of the door with his short legs moving quickly. The small table hurriedly followed behind him to escort him.

  The young prince thought for a moment, and was somewhat worried about his brother. It wasn't that he was afraid his brother would cause trouble, but rather a feeling he couldn't quite put into words. It seemed like his brother was going to get doused with cold water again just when things were getting exciting. After thinking it over, he said to Zhang Gonggong, "You go ahead and scout out the road, I'll follow behind you and keep watch from a distance."

  No surprise, the little foodie ran directly to his mother's bedroom, of course, in order to win his mother's favor. Only he forgot one thing, since his mother returned to the palace, the emperor, whom he disliked the most, basically spent every night with his mother together.

  When the snack ran into his mother's room, the emperor had not arrived yet. The snack was in no danger and saw his mother with both hands holding something to offer her. He rushed over and sweetly shouted: "Mother, I heard that Mother is not feeling well, so I brought some food for Mother to eat."

  Good boy, knowing mom's mood is bad, eating sweets can cheer up.

  Huā Yùyán hugged her little son tightly and habitually pinched the soft and fluffy mantou: "Where did you get this from?"

  He was afraid that his son would sneak into the warehouse to steal food again. Although it's natural for a father to think that his son is stealing from him, this father who likes to take advantage of people might turn around and use this matter to coerce them, mother and son.

  "Mother." The little foodie raised an eyebrow in discontent and said disdainfully to his mother, "I made it myself. Are the ones in his warehouse delicious?"

  The son made something for her to eat, and oh dear, this mother's heart was immediately filled with sweetness.

  She took over her son's small package with both hands, carefully opened it a little bit, and looked at what her son had given to his mother as a gift.

  The mother and son both had their mouths watering, staring at the small bundle of cloth unfolding bit by bit. Unbeknownst to them, a figure had silently approached the two.

  Right behind him, a slightly stern father's voice: "Is it the food made by Flower Master himself? Let me take a look too."

  The little prince who was peeking from the windowsill, standing on Zhang Gonggong's shoulder, suddenly shook left and right. Only to see inside the house, his brother and mother, suddenly both looked like they had been struck by lightning.

  It's really a mother and son connection. With her fingers separated from the cloth, she felt the food in the cloth bag, and Hua Xiyue's mind flashed with inspiration. She saw that her little son was facing Long Yan like he had been struck by lightning several times, so she quickly rewrapped the opened cloth bag.

  But she, that little son, is a too simple child, did something wrong, naturally guilty of death, two small hands when she wrapped the cloth, touched over, flustered and touched, originally intended to hurry up and put things back in his own arms to hide, but, the more anxious the more chaotic, equivalent to adding chaos for Huayecolor. The little hand stirred like this, Huayecolor didn't have time to remind the little son, the cloth package scattered open a corner, several pieces of things pattered, fell to the ground.

  The little prince who was leaning on the window suddenly opened his eyes wide.

  He, what did he see?

  It's like a pancake, but in the shape of a person's head.

  This younger brother is really unbelievable, he actually made a pancake in the shape of his father's head.

  Huā Yùyán's eyebrows furrowed, and her forehead immediately broke out in a cold sweat for the little boy, who had already hidden behind her back.

  The dragon's face showed a hint of curiosity, and he stretched out his finger to gently pick up the thing that had fallen on the ground. He thought to himself, "This must be something his youngest son made for his mother as food, a filial piety that cannot be ignored, and should be praised." After picking it up and weighing it in his palm, it was a pancake. Borrowing the light of the lamp to take another look, he was stunned.

  Don't mention the stunned look on Father's face, Hua Xiyuan and Xiao Taizi were also stunned. What's more, they admired Xiaochi's talent to the extreme. Look at this cookie that was pinched into a human head, it looks just like the Emperor himself, even with that dust-settling, cold and cool expression, it's incredibly lifelike.

  You said this little son pinched others' faces like a pastry, what does that mean? And it seems he didn't just pinch one person.

  Mo Yan glanced quickly at several other blocks on the ground, confirming that they were all his headshots.

  The little boy likes him too much? So, he deliberately pinched his portrait.

  The corners of his lips curled up into an arc: "I have never received such a gift for the first time."

  The little fellow poked his head out from behind his mother's shoulder and said, "This is for my mom, not for you."

  The dragon's face slightly smiled, as if it was in tacit understanding with the little foodie: "I understand. I understand, you know your mother likes me, so she pinched so many of my figurines to give to your mother."

  The little prince lying on the windowsill, wiping his sweaty head, was in a bad situation. His premonition had indeed come true. His brother had been framed by the emperor again.

  The little foodie's bread, Xiao Yan, was about to spit blood, the thunder in her little brain was rumbling loudly, and then her face was slapped with a loud "smack", she cried out: "No! I didn't think my mom liked you! What I did was... this is..."

  "If not, why did you only make a portrait of me? Could it be that you have a special liking for me?"

  The little foodie fell onto the bed with a thud and just lay there stiffly.

  Huā Yù Yán rubbed her little son's head, and the little son had been deceived by his father many times. To be honest, she felt sorry for her son when she saw this. So, she said to her husband: "Mù Mù is a simple-minded person, please don't misunderstand him."

  Can't your own father figure it out?

  He walked over, took the small cloth package from her hand, weighed it, and there were at least several dozen of these small cakes inside. It was clear that his young son had put in a lot of effort to make these small cakes. He said, "Father cannot disappoint his son's good intentions," and with a serious tone, he spoke, "I will treasure these small cakes well and eat one every day."

  The little foodie who was pretending to be dead almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Immediately, he jumped off the bed with a gloomy head and slipped away before this man could cheat him again.

  Slipping to the door, she saw the young prince waiting for her. The little foodie felt wronged and rushed over to hug the young prince: "Your Highness!"

  The young prince's gentle palm rubbed his brother's head, and he let out a sigh of relief. It didn't matter how it was, looking at the situation in the house, it seemed that his mother and father had already made up. So, with a happy hand, he pulled his brother's hand to go back together.

  His younger brother is a treasure, too good of a treasure. Things that he can't accomplish, as long as his younger brother takes action, there's nothing that can't be accomplished.

  He grasped Xiao Chi's small hand tightly, and in his heart, Xiao Taizi made a vow: for the rest of his life, he would protect this younger brother.

  In the room, the couple looked at a package of cookies made by their young son. Hua Xiuyan was touched by her son's filial piety and picked up a piece to put in her mouth. As she chewed with her teeth, she suddenly saw her husband's face standing in front of her, which was very strange.

  "Is it delicious?"

  Huā Yùyán hastily swallowed a cookie in one bite: "Your Majesty can try some?"

  Eating one's own portrait is quite interesting. However, in some places, there is a custom where when giving birthday or longevity wishes to someone, they make a cake in the shape of the person and have them eat it. I suppose this thing, the young son definitely doesn't know about. Otherwise, he would vomit blood even more.

  Long Yan couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement whenever he thought of Mian Bao Xiao Yan's face turning green with rage, and he picked up a cookie and slowly savored it, admitting that the little foodie wasn't just good at eating, but also made decent cookies that tasted great.

  "Afterwards, let him give me more of it. I think I will like eating this thing in the future."

  Huā Yùyán rolled her eyes and said softly to him, "Don't bully him too much."

  He quietly put the cookies on the table and asked, "Is Xiaoxin's mood better?"

  This commotion caused by her son is really not bad at all. Her son can be said to be the greatest harvest of her life, and whenever she's in a bad mood, looking at her son makes all her depressing thoughts disappear.

  "I am the same."

  His warm voice made her heart skip a beat.

  On a deserted island, after searching through the mechanisms, a small team arrived at dawn and captured a tiger-striped kitten by imperial order.

  Hua Yuexuan saw the cat that had saved her life last night, but it was no longer a cat. Instead, it was a 15 or 16-year-old boy. Looking at the boy's face, which was as beautiful as a god's, she felt a sense of familiarity. After thinking for a moment, she remembered seeing him at the Lantern Festival in the Long Princess's mansion, where he had been introduced as a man from Dayuan.

  It's strange, have the people of Dayuan started internal strife?

  "The grass people are not the Da Yuan people, the grass people are the flowing people." The young man pointed to his own green gem-like eyes, "Among the flowing people, there are all kinds of people, and also those with green eyes."

  The dragon's face sank slightly, and he must have been suspicious of his identity for a long time: "No matter what your identity is, how did you get into the imperial garden?"

  "I report to the Emperor of Dongling." The young man bowed his hands, "My humble name is Xiao Wu, because I was fifth in line at home. My parents passed away early, and my brothers and sisters all went unknown where they went. I only got along with the people of Dayuan by chance, and the people of Dayuan thought I was a person from Dayuan, giving me the opportunity to work as a small shop assistant in a Dayuan merchant's store. Last time, when I went to the residence of Princess Chang, it was also the Dayuan merchant who brought Xiao Wu there. Therefore, Your Majesty and Yan Shangshu can see Xiao Wu."

  "Great Yuanchu merchant?"

  Aren't you one of the three princes of Dawan?

  "The Emperor is wise. This time, the Crown Prince of Da Wan secretly entered the East Mausoleum, not just the Third Imperial Son. The humble commoner's workshop is actually opened by the Fifth Imperial Son. The Fifth Imperial Son has connections with the Third Imperial Son, so the commoner found out that the Third Imperial Son was going to sneak into the imperial garden to harm Chancellor Yan. That's why he followed the Third Imperial Son here. Only then did he find out that Chancellor Yan is actually the Empress of the East Mausoleum." The young man who replied seemed to intentionally or unintentionally smile at Hua Yu Yan.

  Huā Yùyán said she really didn't recognize this person and didn't know what kind of thoughts he had towards her.

  Xiao Wu knelt down and said, "I have long wanted to find an opportunity to leave my status as a vagrant, and the people of Dongling are exactly what I had in mind. Therefore, I thought that if I could save the red-clad person for His Majesty, he would allow me to leave my status as a vagrant."

  Several people's eyes fell on Xiao Wu's head, as if they couldn't catch a glimpse of weakness.

  "The humble subject thinks that if Your Majesty allows Xiaowu to leave the flow of people, Xiaowu is willing and will wholeheartedly serve Your Majesty and the Empress. Willing to be the Empress's guard. Xiaowu's martial skills, I suppose Your Majesty and the Empress both saw them last night. Should be better than some people in this palace, right?"

  These words immediately changed someone's complexion. Lin Xuanqi clenched her fists tightly. Xiao Wu raised his head, and his two emerald green eyes sparkled with a hint of carefree abandon.

  Such a temperament, it's actually quite to someone's taste. Yundian Jing walked up and said: "I think he's pretty good, his skills are not bad, and Master Wan should know that if you want to work by the princess's side, having some skill is one thing, but this brain of his, it can't be ordinary."

  With a serious expression, she lowered her head and considered it carefully. Huā Xīyàn didn't have any opinion, no matter what, this person seemed to not have any intention of harming her at all.

  To dispel their doubts, Xiao Wu said: "Your Majesty, the queen, I got news from the people of Dayuan that the person who wants to harm the queen is far more than just the people of Dayuan. That person is clever and knows that he doesn't need to take action himself to curse the queen to death. He only needs to instigate some people, and immediately there will be people who will spend money and effort for him, even sacrificing their lives."

  "Who is this person you're talking about?"

  "Your Majesty is wise and can pass through the barrier of the previous emperor, and can open the tomb of the empress. If there is no blood relationship between you and the emperor and the previous emperor, how is it possible?"

  The people led by Long Yan all fell in their faces.

  Since the agency had finished investigating, they entered the dark room of the former emperor without any obstacles. Li Zimo thought for a moment and only brought Hua Xiyuan and his sworn brothers into the dark room to investigate the mystery. The rest of the people were guarding at the door.

  Yun Chenjing walked with them and asked her brother, "What that kid said, how much of it do you think is believable?"

  "It makes sense." Li Zimo replied.

  Huā Yù Yán suddenly felt a hint of subtlety from Wǔ's words. That is, if it wasn't for that person personally cursing her, there wouldn't be any heavenly curse backlash on her body, so why would they still want to seize her seven souls and six spirits?

  This person, determined to kill her or snatch her soul, isn't it just for the sake of her Phoenix Seal, and not just for treason?

  As I walked further in, almost to the innermost part of the dark room, the lamp illuminated the surroundings, and all I saw were two rows of boxes, about fifty or sixty in total. If one were to open each and every one of them, who knows when they would finish. The only option was to randomly pick one to open first, which truly broadened my horizons. Inside, it was filled with gold, silver, and precious jewels worth a fortune.

  Did the previous emperor lock up all his lifetime wealth in a secret room? Was he trying to leave a way out for his descendants?

  Apart from treasure, there must be something else. Otherwise, the people of Dayuan would not have expected her to come to the unnamed island to search for it and set up an ambush.

  They walked all the way to the end, and after the light had made another circuit, they found nothing but two rows of trunks.

  Yun Chen Jing said in a soft voice: "Maybe someone else has been here before and taken the important items one step ahead."

  Furrowed brows and tightly closed eyes.

  Then came a shout from behind, saying there was an urgent message from Beijing.

  A few people had to withdraw from the secret room first. Before leaving, Huayexiang looked at the walls of the dark room again and found that one wall was obviously not right, with a position left out, which should be a hanging painting on it.

  The messenger from the capital, sent by the residence of Princess Chang, knelt down before the Emperor and handed over a letter written by Princess Chang, saying: "Empress Dowager has come out of Jingci Temple."

  Ming Cheng Huang's great-grandfather had a total of three empresses. In the end, only the mother of the previous emperor ascended to the position of Empress Dowager. However, before the previous emperor passed away, this imperial grandmother had sincerely devoted herself to Buddhism for many years and entered Jingci An to spend her twilight years in peace, no longer asking about worldly affairs. Even when Li Zimo was newly enthroned and the country was unstable, with wars being fought, this imperial grandmother single-mindedly chanted Buddhist scriptures and did not have the heart to come down and help him.

  In this regard, the Empress Dowager wrote in her letter that upon learning of the sudden death of Empress Hu, she felt deeply concerned that the inner palace could not be left without a master, so she decided to temporarily come out of retirement. Moreover, the marriage of Princess Li Jiayao and the promise to help Yunzong's master arrange his marriage had also made the Empress Dowager feel anxious.

  Huayu Yan thought hard for a long time, and it should be that the Empress Dowager entered Jingci An too early, so she had no impression of this Grand Empress Dowager at all, not even what she looked like.

  With a sigh, he spat out the cloud dust scene from his lips, and placed the fan on the shoulder of his sworn brother, saying: "I think that to avoid having too many dreams, let's have Shi Zui return to the Moon Chamber Temple as the master first."