CHAPTER 675: CHAPTER 557

The weather is getting warmer.

The Empress was wearing layers of palace attire, already feeling somewhat overheated.

Just as she was planning to sit in the pavilion for a while, a commotion arose outside the hall.

"This is the residence of the Empress, how dare you be so presumptuous!"

"Is Kunning Palace defying the imperial decree?"

The Empress frowned slightly and gave a signal to the female official Tong who was by her side.

Female official Tong understood and immediately went to the front hall.

Lu Yuan had already brought Meng Qianqian in, and the palace maids and eunuchs of Kunning Palace attempted to stop them, but upon hearing it was Your Majesty’s oral order, they all stepped aside.

Only another female official surnamed Yao beside the Empress blocked their way.

Those who serve as female officials in the Imperial Palace are all daughters of noble families.

They have the backing of their families, unlike ordinary palace attendants.

For example, this Yao female official is the cousin of the Empress’s family.

Female official Tong went to her side, glanced at Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian, and her expression obviously showed some displeasure and confusion when facing the latter.

She bowed to Lu Yuan: "I wonder what brings Prince Changsun to Kunning Palace?"

Lu Yuan spoke with a sense of authority: "I am acting on an imperial decree, how can this be considered intruding?"

Female official Tong asked, "May I ask, where is the imperial decree?"

Lu Yuan replied, "Your Majesty’s oral order."

Female official Tong said seriously, "So you do not have a formal decree, Prince Changsun."

Lu Yuan asked, "Are you questioning me about falsely conveying the imperial decree?"

Female official Tong bowed slightly: "I wouldn’t dare."

Meng Qianqian calmly said, "Truly deserving of being a female official of Kunning Palace, with the support of the Empress, even Prince Changsun can be disregarded."

Female official Tong looked at Meng Qianqian, her tone softened significantly: "Kunning Palace seems not to be the place for Miss Yan."

Lu Yuan said coldly, "Who decides whether she should be here or not? A mere maid of Kunning Palace, daring to offend the Phoenix Girl, unaware of the consequences!"

Female official Tong’s face changed slightly, she bowed and said, "I spoke out of turn."

Yao female official dismissively said, "What of the Phoenix Girl? She has no official rank, and upon seeing us, she should salute."

Female official Tong quickly gave her a covert signal.

Yao female official then realized the Phoenix Girl was Miss Zhaozhao’s teacher, favored by Miss Zhaozhao, and consequently, admired by Your Majesty as well.

Not even the Chief Eunuch dares to insist she salutes, let alone the female officials of Kunning Palace?

"Slap yourself."

Lu Yuan’s intimidating aura was overwhelming, suffocating the two female officials.

Yao female official tremblingly slapped herself.

Lu Yuan’s eyes were cold and stern: "Hmm?"

Yao female official, eyes reddened, slapped herself again.

"Enough!"

The Empress, surrounded by her attendants, walked over with a solemn expression.

Female official Tong quickly turned to greet and support the Empress’s arm: "Empress."

Yao female official, feeling aggrieved, immediately started complaining: "Empress, please speak up for me!"

The Empress looked at her gravely then said to Lu Yuan: "What mistake has my female official made to warrant Prince Changsun to discipline her? Is it your place to discipline the attendants of one’s elders? Or is this how your parents raised you?"

Lu Yuan nonchalantly replied: "If a child is not properly taught, it’s the father’s fault. My father doesn’t know how to raise a son; it’s probably an oversight of the imperial grandfather."

The Empress said with authority: "You twist words to your advantage!"

Lu Yuan said, "If the Empress is unhappy, feel free to complain to the imperial grandfather. I need to arrest the assassin, Yan Xiaojiu."

"Yes, Prince Changsun."

Meng Qianqian followed Lu Yuan to capture the assassin.

The Empress said coldly: "Do you not see this Empress in your eyes at all!"

Lu Yuan met her fierce gaze without any retreat: "Your Majesty’s oral order, who is disregarding whom?"

The Empress snorted coldly: "Since it’s Your Majesty’s oral order, where is Chief Steward Yu? Where is Xiao Dezi? You haven’t brought a single attendant from the Diligent Governance Hall, yet dare claim to follow Your Majesty’s oral order!"

After all, she is the Empress and has spent many years with Emperor Liang, understanding his way of handling affairs.

Lu Yuan might be able to intimidate others, but the Empress wouldn’t be so easily frightened.

Lu Yuan asked lightly: "Is the Empress deliberately trying to embarrass me?"

The Empress didn’t answer Lu Yuan, instead she ordered: "Someone go to the Imperial Study Room and ask Your Majesty if he indeed issued this oral decree!"

Meng Qianqian’s eyes flickered.

The Heart-devouring Gu inside Your Majesty’s body had likely been activated, causing him to lose clarity, and is currently in fierce conflict with the grandfather.

"Yes!"

Yao female official, feeling gleeful, raised her chin and started heading out of the hall.

But reaching the door, she hesitated and returned.

"Things are quite lively here."

Princess Consort Chen entered Kunning Palace in high spirits, supported by a young palace maid.

Ever since recognizing her family, including Liu Qingyun, she no longer keeps herself secluded, occasionally visiting various places and sometimes sitting with other concubines.

The Empress smiled faintly: "What wind brings Princess Consort Chen here?"

Princess Consort Chen said, "Your Majesty works tirelessly; I was delivering ginseng soup to him when I heard Yuan’er was catching an assassin. I was worried, so I came to have a look."

She spoke and looked at Lu Yuan, "Have you caught him? Your imperial grandfather is waiting to interrogate the assassin personally."

Lu Yuan looked meaningfully at the Empress: "We’re catching him, right, Empress?"

The Empress stared sharply at Lu Yuan.

Princess Consort Chen touched her sleeve: "Ah, the Peace Pendant I made for Yuan’er was left at the Imperial Study Room, Qing’er, go fetch it for me."

She smiled and asked Yao female official, "Would you like to go along, Yao female official?"

Yao female official looked at the Empress.

The Empress clenched her fingers: "Why should my people join in the bustle? Princess Consort Chen’s maid is familiar with the way!"

Princess Consort Chen said to Lu Yuan: "Hurry up! If the assassin escapes, watch out your imperial grandfather blames you!"

Lu Yuan snorted: "I’m not the one delaying the hour..."

Princess Consort Chen pinched his arm.

Lu Yuan covered his arm, looking resentful: "Alright, alright, I understand."

The Empress’s expression became very unpleasant; she signaled to a discreet little eunuch towards the back of the crowd.

The little eunuch lowered his eyes and quietly exited Kunning Palace through the back door.

-

Inside the Imperial Study Room, as Meng Qianqian anticipated, Emperor Liang was fiercely battling with the Miao King.

Duke Jiang seized the opportunity to occasionally launch sneak attacks on Emperor Liang.

However, while Emperor Liang could attack them viciously, they couldn’t truly attack Emperor Liang’s vital points.

Back and forth, the two became exhausted and suffered some minor injuries.

"Can’t continue any longer..."

Duke Jiang leaned against the table, gasping heavily, "I can’t go on anymore..."

Emperor Liang struck down with his palm.

Duke Jiang, disregarding his image, rolled onto the ground as the table shattered, burying him.

Duke Jiang coughed: "How does he still have such strength?"

The Miao King jumped onto Emperor Liang’s neck, hooked his hands onto the beam, and flipped Emperor Liang over, once again knocking him to the ground.

He pulled the curtain, quickly covering Emperor Liang: "Quick, hold him down!"

The two pounced together, pinning Emperor Liang tightly beneath them.

The Miao King grimaced: "Granddaughter... hurry up... I can’t hold on much longer..."

Duke Jiang gritted his teeth: "Who is your granddaughter..."

Boom!

Emperor Liang blasted the two away!