Chapter 275

Lou Muhai laughed heartily, arched his hands and replied respectfully: "Thanks to the Emperor's blessing, this subject's body is very good. Being able to guard the northwest for Qiongyue, this subject feels honored." Coughing lightly, without exchanging pleasantries, Lou Muhai reported sternly: "This subject returned to the capital this time for the matter mentioned in the memorial. This subject has been ordered to guard the northwest. Although this subject has not been able to completely pacify the northwest for many years, this subject has still been able to suppress the various movements of the rebels. However, in recent years, after the rebel leader was succeeded by Mu Cang, their actions have become more ghostly. Especially in the past two years, they rarely come out to rob passing merchants, but often act as enemies of the court and provoke my Zhenxi Army camp. In the last few confrontations, this subject found that their weapons and military equipment are becoming more and more sophisticated, and their numbers are constantly increasing. This subject specially came to the capital to face the Emperor this time, really worried that if they are allowed to develop like this, the northwest will probably be unstable, and even more worried that the rebels will collude with other forces, which will allow them to obtain so many sophisticated military equipment in a short period of time. If this is true, it will definitely threaten the Qiongyue mountains and rivers of the Emperor."

After Lou Muhai finished speaking, Yan Hongtian's dark eyes only raised slightly, and there was no anger on his face. He asked in a deep voice: "Have there been any unusual movements in Pei City recently?"

"This subject has observed for more than a year and has not found any suspicious people entering Pei City to meet with the rebels. But this subject still feels that their actions in recent years are very suspicious and dare not be negligent, so this subject came to the capital to report." Lou Muhai quietly raised his head to observe Yan Hongtian's complexion, which was as usual. Lou Muhai was puzzled. Since ancient times, the royal family could not tolerate forming cliques for private interests and holding troops to respect themselves. The rebels have been circling the northwest border for a long time, and now they hold a large amount of military equipment, yet the Emperor is so calm and indifferent. It is no wonder that the Emperor has ascended the throne for nearly ten years, and most of the ministers still cannot figure out the Emperor's thoughts.

Yan Hongtian leaned back on the dragon chair, his ten fingers gently rubbing the gilded patterns on the chair armrests. His lowered eyes couldn't tell if he was happy or angry. The Imperial Study was silent for a moment, so quiet that everyone could only hear their own breathing. Lou Muhai's palms were sweating, and his heart was inexplicably terrified.

"Emperor, Magistrate Dan requests an audience for an important matter." Gao Jin's hurried footsteps and slightly urgent announcement broke the oppressive atmosphere in the Imperial Study. Lou Muhai saw Gao Jin so urgent, thinking that Magistrate Dan must have an important matter to report. His own report was somewhat groundless, so Lou Muhai didn't dare to delay the Emperor's business and hurriedly bowed and said: "This subject will take his leave first."

"General Lou, no need to avoid. Wait on the side. Regarding the northwest rebels, I still need to consult with the General." Yan Hongtian's faint tone was completely different from the oppression just now. Lou Muhai couldn't figure out the Emperor's meaning, but didn't dare to say more, standing on the side in silence.

"Proclaim Dan Yulan."

"This subject Dan Yulan pays respects to the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live, long live." Dan Yulan strode in, his forehead actually sweating. Yan Hongtian signaled him to rise and asked: "Magistrate Dan, you are in such a hurry, what is the matter?"

Dan Yulan stood up and replied: "Replying to the Emperor, this subject was ordered to collect clues and evidence for the old Gold Case. Just now, there is evidence pointing out that the former Criminal Justice Vice Minister Ping Ran had a major relationship with the Gold Case. Unfortunately, before this subject had time to interrogate him, Ping Ran... had already committed suicide out of fear of crime, leaving only a suicide note, detailing how he conspired with the Minister of Revenue back then, colluded with northwest rebels to steal and transport gold, and framed the guard Qu Ze."

After Yan Hongtian finished listening, he only asked: "Where is the gold now?"

"The gold was secretly transported to the northwest three years ago."

The northwest rebels suddenly bought a large amount of military equipment, and this silver was actually... treasury silver? Lou Muhai secretly gasped, and slightly raised his eyes to look at the person on the high seat.

Sure enough, Yan Hongtian stood up slowly, stared at Dan Yulan, and said word by word: "You mean, the million taels of gold in my treasury were stolen and transported to the northwest for the rebels to use, and these lawless rebels even used my silver to buy military supplies and act as enemies of me?" Yan Hongtian's tone was very light, but both Dan Yulan and Lou Muhai felt a murderous aura strike. In those dark eyes, a storm was brewing.

Dan Yulan didn't know about the northwest rebels buying military supplies. For a time, he didn't know how to answer, looking at General Lou on the side, who was also looking solemn. Dan Yulan also guessed a little in his heart.

Both were silent, only hearing a muffled "bang" sound, Yan Hongtian scolded angrily: "Unreasonable!"

The inkstone on the desk was swept away by the wide sleeve, and the thick black ink splashed all over the floor, staining the bright yellow tablecloth with dark black ink, and also dirtying the Emperor's black dragon robe. Both Dan Yulan and Lou Muhai were startled, and everyone in the Imperial Study knelt down and said in unison: "Emperor, calm your anger."

"Dan Yulan."

"This subject is here." Yan Hongtian gave a cold shout, and Dan Yulan hurriedly stepped forward.

"I order you to go to the General's Mansion to convey my decree, ordering Su Ling to lead the Su Army to set off immediately to encircle and suppress the rebels. Before the celebration, you must retrieve the gold! General Lou, you are familiar with the northwest terrain, this time the encirclement and suppression will be assisted by you together with General Su to suppress the bandits."

"This subject and others accept the decree." The two didn't dare to delay and stepped forward to accept the decree.

"This case..." Dan Yulan hesitated to speak. Yan Hongtian replied impatiently: "Are there any doubts left in this case to investigate?"

The ins and outs of the Gold Case, the people involved back then, and the flow of gold, all the places that might have doubts, Ping Ran wrote clearly in the suicide note. The most important thing was that everyone currently related to this case was dead, and there was no proof. Even if Dan Yulan had the ability to reach the sky, he could only spit out two words at this moment: "No."

"All retreat."

"Yes." The Emperor was furious, Dan Yulan and Lou Muhai looked at each other and walked out of the Imperial Study one after another.

The Emperor, who was just full of murderous aura, was now sitting on the dragon chair, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, but the coldness in his black eyes was becoming more and more chilling. Xiao Yu, who hurried over, shook her head secretly. She was counting tea leaves in the side hall just now, and a little eunuch ran over in a panic saying the Emperor was furious, so she was scared and hurried over to see what was going on. Now it seemed that the Emperor was really angry this time.

At the Hour of the Chen (7-9 AM), stepping on the first ray of morning sun, Fuling pushed the door open lightly. In front of the half-open window, the familiar tall figure stood quietly. The beautiful eyes looked somewhat blankly at the morning sun rising higher and higher outside the window. At this moment, she no longer had the arrogance of their first meeting, nor the sorrow of their second meeting. The whole person looked much colder, and... much duller.

Fuling handed the warmed hot towel to Qingfeng's hand. Qingfeng took it and wiped her face, then sat on the lounge chair and started yawning. Recently, she couldn't sleep in bed, and she was sleepy when she got up. She also often had dreams at night, but she couldn't remember what she dreamed about in the morning, and she would have palpitations from time to time. She had never been like this before. Qingfeng mocked herself. Since entering this palace, she estimated that her courage had been eaten by mice, and she was becoming more and more useless.

A light knocking sound rang out. Qingfeng looked up and saw Lan'er and Xia Yin walking into the inner chamber one after another. Both of them held a set of magnificent dresses in their arms. Walking to Qingfeng, they saluted, and Xia Yin said softly: "Madam, the two Empress Dowagers are holding a banquet in the Imperial Garden, inviting the masters above the rank of beauty and the young ladies of various families to attend."

Qingfeng frowned slightly: "What is this for again?"

Meeting Qingfeng's impatient gaze, Xia Yin explained softly: "The triennial Prayer Ceremony is the biggest event in Qiongyue. By then, merchants from various countries and important court officials will all come to Qiongyue to congratulate. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager attach great importance to it. As the head of the Six Kingdoms, Qiongyue cannot be impolite in front of others, so..."

Qingfeng laughed: "So the Empress Dowager is holding a palace banquet, and the purpose is to take this opportunity to test the talents of the young ladies of the families, concubines, and palace maids, to ensure that the performances at the celebration are wonderful, right?"

Xia Yin nodded with a smile.

"Was it like this in previous years?" Qingfeng had heard of the wonderful performances at the Qiongyue celebration when she was in Haoyue. In order to show off his elegance, the Haoyue Emperor specially asked their sisters to paint a Yongle Landscape Painting as a congratulatory gift during the Qiongyue celebration three years ago. So Qiongyue's performances were selected in this way, no wonder they were stunning.

Xia Yin deliberated for a while and replied: "This year seems to be exceptionally grand."

Fuling smiled faintly. It was indeed grand. The nannies specifically in charge of the show girls in the palace knew the talents and character of the young ladies of the families in the capital like the back of their hands. This was also to facilitate the Emperor and Empress Dowager to bestow marriages to which prince or important minister so that they could match. In previous years, the candidates for the celebration performances were selected from the dozen or so people screened by the nannies, picking one or two. This year's grand mobilization was the first time in recent years.

Fuling smiled without saying a word. Qingfeng naturally didn't understand the twists and turns. She was a person who liked poetry and calligraphy and was good at writing and ink, and she often heard about the talented women of Qiongyue, so she had some interest in her heart and replied: "Then let's go and see." Glancing at the magnificent clothes in their arms, Qingfeng chose a light purple front-opening ru skirt that was the most standard but also the most suitable for her.

It wasn't Qingfeng's first time in the Imperial Garden, but it was at this moment that she deeply agreed with a word: eyes dazzled by flowers...

Xia Yin's words were not false. This palace banquet was indeed grand. The Imperial Garden, surrounded by green shade, was bustling and dazzling. Qingfeng hadn't been in the palace long, so she didn't know many concubines, let alone the young ladies of the families. After looking carefully for a while, she saw Empress Xin Yuening standing not far away talking and laughing with several young ladies. What was strange was that she didn't see Consort Hui Zhen Zhen.

She was a woman with an extraordinary temperament and peerless beauty, plus two eye-catching scars, which attracted suspicious gazes and low discussions wherever Qingfeng went. Qingfeng looked straight ahead and walked inside slowly.

A small open space was left in the middle of the garden, and five or six rows of stools were placed on both sides of the open space. Qingfeng walked to the chair in the back on the left and sat down. The Empress looked at her while talking and laughing, but quickly looked away and continued her pleasantries with the young ladies of the families. Since Yan Hongtian ignored her, Xin Yuening also lost interest in her. Qingfeng was happy to be idle.

Qingfeng was looking around boredly when suddenly a beautiful shadow opposite made her overjoyed. It was Big Sister! Why did she come too? Beside her stood a beautiful and pretty woman. Looking at her appearance, she looked a bit like Lou Xiyan. Qingfeng was about to stand up and walk over when the surrounding laughter suddenly quieted down. Qingfeng looked up and saw the Eastern and Western Empress Dowagers walking over, surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids. Both of them were carefully dressed for today's occasion. However, by comparison, Yang Zhilan's dress was relatively simple, and there was still a kind smile on her face, while Lou Suxin was wearing an exaggerated dark red long robe, with a golden silk belt showing her good figure to the fullest, and a string of emerald green jade hanging beads around her neck. Coupled with her arrogant expression, it really made people dare not look directly at her.

(End of chapter)