Mei Jiang flipped through the record of imperial concubines' affairs and said in surprise,
"Your Majesty hasn't summoned any other concubines in the past few days. He spends both day and night in the Zichen Palace.
According to this record, since Your Ladyship married into the Northern Yan, whenever His Majesty entered the harem, he always came to our Zhaoyang Palace."
Du Gu Luanyue still didn't understand. She pondered and said,
"I've warned Yu Zan. Judging from her behavior, she doesn't dare to do anything;
I've also checked the record. It doesn't seem like someone has replaced me. I really can't figure out what's wrong with His Majesty."
Mei Jiang said in a low voice,
"Your Ladyship, don't be anxious. Wait until you've recovered, and then we can make long - term plans.
Right now, your health is not good. If you go straight to the Zichen Palace to find His Majesty, it will seem deliberate and hasty."
Du Gu Luanyue lay back in the quilt, closed her eyes and said, "You're right. Men love you most when you don't care about them. Why should I be in a hurry?"
...
The Mansion of Prince Yuzhang.
Huo Wei had suffered some minor injuries when he returned that day. But somehow, the rumor spread that he was bed - ridden.
He didn't leave the mansion gate for several days and preferred to stay in the stable.
When the Third Prince heard this "bad news", he rushed over immediately, extremely worried. "Brother, brother, let me see your injury quickly."
Huo Wei didn't wear his golden crown. He was dressed in a close - fitting black casual robe. He slightly raised his arm to feed the tall horse. After feeding, he was going to apply medicine to his steed.
Outside the cave that day, he knew that he had been tricked by Du Gu Luanyue. This woman had used something sharp to injure his horse and then lured the assassins.
So most likely, her injury was self - inflicted just to show him.
This woman had risked her life in order to make him believe that she was deeply in love with him and to make him give up killing her.
What made him even angrier was that he had really believed her that day. He had believed that she had sacrificed herself for him and had then felt compassion.
In his life, he had never felt compassion for anyone, nor had he ever been so played with. And this time, it all happened because of the same person.
Huo Wei glanced at him indifferently. "Do I look like I have something wrong?"
Mu Rong Jue knew what kind of person Huo Wei was. When he had something on his mind, he liked to stay in the stable, feeding and washing the horses.
Whenever this happened, it meant that he was in a bad mood.
After looking at him for a few more times, he said, "A man who loses his appetite and spends all day with a horse. Is it because of a woman?"
Mu Rong Jue grabbed his arm. Seeing that Huo Wei was applying medicine to his blood - sweating treasure horse, he was a bit surprised. "Could it be that this woman injured your horse?"
Hearing this, Huo Wei felt a surge of anger in his chest. "Don't fill your head with those love stories."
Seeing Huo Wei burning with anger, Mu Rong Jue sighed deeply in his heart. Alas, his brother had a hidden affliction. There was nothing he could do about it.
It must be that the woman had injured his horse. He was so angry but didn't kill her, so he was in a bad mood.
Mu Rong Jue had already written a play in his heart. He said solemnly, "Women need to be coaxed. Don't keep a straight face all day. Which woman would like a fierce man like you?"
Mu Rong Jue asked, "Who on earth is she? I'm so curious!"
He was extremely curious about the woman who could catch Huo Wei's eye. Who would be so brave as to fall in love with the God of Slaughter who had destroyed the Liao Kingdom?
Naturally, Huo Wei wouldn't tell him clearly. He just said, "She's a crafty and lying witch."
Mu Rong Jue comforted him, "What crafty? A woman lies to you probably because she likes you."
Huo Wei stopped walking and sneered, "Have you been visiting brothels too often?"
Mu Rong Jue tried his best to explain, "This woman only lies to you but not to others. Why?"
"By the way, how did the Second Prince explain the matter of leaving the palace that day after he returned to the palace?" He started to ask about the real business.
Mu Rong Jue shook his head. "What else could the Second Brother say? Naturally, he shifted the blame to the imperial guards and got himself out of trouble.
But strangely enough, Father didn't continue to ask. It seems that he's not very eager to investigate the assassination of the Empress.
People in the palace are all saying that the Empress has suddenly fallen out of favor."
Huo Wei suddenly raised his eyes. "Why did she fall out of favor? Has there been a new concubine in the palace?"
Mu Rong Jue walked out of the plum grove with him, carrying a few pink plum blossoms on their shoulders and black hair.
The two handsome men seemed like gods coming out of the plum grove. They were both imposing. One in black exuded a cold and murderous aura, while the other in blue was innocent and lively.
Mu Rong Jue replied, "There's no new favorite."
Huo Wei folded his arms and stroked his chin. "It's a bit interesting. Isn't that witch - empress quite resourceful? How could she fall out of favor?"
For some reason, he was a bit curious.
This was a good opportunity for her to play the poor and win sympathy when she was injured. But she had still fallen out of favor.
After lunch, an imperial edict came from the palace, ordering the Prince of Yuzhang to enter the palace to accompany the Emperor.
Huo Wei changed into a cloak with a black fox fur collar. He chose another snow - colored foal. The foal's snow - white hooves flew as it galloped through.
When he arrived at the Zichen Palace, a whiff of wine fragrance wafted over.
Ying Xi, the chief eunuch beside Mu Rong Min, came up with a smiling face. "Prince of Yuzhang, His Majesty has been in a gloomy mood these days. Please be careful when you accompany him."
Huo Wei took out a few taels of broken silver from his sleeve and put it in his hand. "Thank you, Father - in - law."
Ying Xi liked people like the Prince of Yuzhang who knew how to be generous. There were also some people in the palace who got his favors but didn't show any gratitude. But the Prince of Yuzhang was different. He was always generous.
Mu Rong Min was reclining in the warm pavilion. There was a flush on his cheekbones. The Emperor's long eyes opened and closed.
Huo Wei stepped forward. "Father is drinking during the day. Is there any court affair that worries you?"
Mu Rong Min shook his head, motioned him to sit down, and then continued, "It's nothing. It's just some of my own private matters."
Huo Wei picked up the jade porcelain wine cup with his slender fingers and took a sip of the strong liquor. "I'd like to hear the details."
Mu Rong Min supported his forehead. After a long while, he said,
"The eldest princess from the Southern Chu doesn't seem willing to be my empress peacefully. Her pride hasn't softened even after coming to the Northern Yan for such a long time. She even dares to neglect and perfunctorily treat me.
Even though she knows that I'm cold to her now, she hasn't come to inquire once."
Huo Wei's thick black eyebrows slightly raised. He poured the wine in the cup down his throat in one gulp. His throat burned. He squinted his eyes.
"Since the princess from the Southern Chu is so ungrateful, Father has three thousand beauties in the harem. It's okay to replace her."
His dark eyes flickered. Did Du Gu Luanyue really give the old emperor a cold shoulder?
Was it after they were alone in the cave that day? Did this witch - empress take it seriously? Was all this for him?
He was half - believing and half - doubting. Did she really offend the emperor who could most directly affect her interests?
Then the words Du Gu Luanyue had said to him began to linger in his ears. Could that bad woman's life - saving act be real?
Could it be like what Mu Rong Jue said, that a woman lies to a man because she really likes him? Otherwise, why didn't she continue to lie to Mu Rong Min?