Du Gu Luanyue hid behind a plum tree not far away. Ying Xi, the senior eunuch beside Murong Min, rushed over with a fur robe in his arms, smiling from ear to ear.
"My lord, you took off your black fox cape. This servant has brought it to you," he said.
Huo Wei reached out to take the cape and replied calmly, "Thank you, Eunuch Ying Xi."
Ying Xi often received money and favors from Huo Wei, so he was naturally more proactive in his work. He beamed and said,
"It's no trouble at all. It's just what this servant should do.
By the way, my lord, hasn't His Majesty been feeling bored these days? Just now he was talking about collecting ink sticks again.
Southern Chu is rich in high - quality ink sticks. My lord, if you have time, you should send someone to collect a batch for His Majesty. His Majesty will surely be happy when he sees them."
Huo Wei took out a larger gold ingot from his bosom. "Eunuch Ying Xi is so dedicated to relieving His Majesty's boredom. This king should reward you more," he said.
Du Gu Luanyue, who was hiding behind the plum tree, happened to hear this. There were several very crucial pieces of information: Murong Min was bored, he liked to collect ink sticks, and their Southern Chu just happened to produce them.
She observed carefully. This senior eunuch, Ying Xi, was very obsequious to Huo Wei. By passing on such important information to Huo Wei, wasn't he just waiting for Huo Wei to gain more favor from Murong Min?
After Eunuch Ying Xi left, Huo Wei also turned around to leave.
Before leaving, he glanced at the plum tree where Du Gu Luanyue was hiding. After withdrawing his gaze, he said nothing more and strode out of the plum grove.
Du Gu Luanyue stepped out from behind the tree. She pinched a plum blossom between her fingertips, curled the corner of her lips, and then turned around and returned to the Zhaoyang Palace.
This trip to the Lengxiang Garden had truly been quite rewarding.
The next day, Du Gu Luanyue said,
"Auntie, we should go to the Zichen Palace.
This time, there has truly been a rift between this palace and His Majesty. Maybe it's okay to endure it for a few days.
But as time goes by, you know, men will forget people to the ends of the earth. Then all the efforts this palace has made before will be in vain."
Murong Min was still very important to her at this moment. As long as he was indulged in the gentle embrace, the north and the south could have peace for a day. After this wild beast, Huo Wei, was completely tamed, the war between the north and the south would not be so easy to start.
Mei Jiang also nodded. "You're right. So many days have passed. It's time to take the initiative. We always have to find out where we stand," she said.
When they arrived at the Zichen Palace, upon hearing that Du Gu Luanyue had come to see him, Murong Min looked up. "Isn't the queen ill? Why did you come in the snow?" he asked.
Beside Murong Min stood a woman in a noble concubine's palace dress with gold hairpins and hair ornaments in her coiled hair. Hearing that the queen had come, she gave a disdainful glance.
She quickly put the extra teacup into the tea - washing dish and left only two clean ones.
The senior eunuch, Ying Xi, beside him replied, "The queen said that she hadn't seen His Majesty for many days, so she wanted to come and see His Majesty."
Murong Min had managed to stop thinking about this woman for the past few days. He had even summoned the noble concubine to serve him by his side, but he was indeed a bit absent - minded.
But after all, he was a man and the Son of Heaven. Most of the concubines in the harem were those who followed and flattered him to make him happy. Why should she be given special treatment?
However, Murong Min still allowed her to come in. But when Ying Xi went out to reply, Mei Jiang secretly pulled him aside.
Du Gu Luanyue walked in wearing her regular clothes. She slightly raised her long eyes. It seemed that the warm pavilion was quite lively now.
She bowed properly. "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be in good health," she said.
Murong Min's expression was calm, but unlike before when he would hold her hand as soon as he saw her, he was indeed a bit cold today. "No need for formalities," he said.
Du Gu Luanyue didn't recognize this woman. After all, she hadn't met any of the concubines, princes, or princesses in the entire palace.
The woman was dressed in a magnificent palace dress and had bright rouge on her face. She should be a concubine of a relatively high rank, and she looked to be about twenty - seven or twenty - eight years old.
Zhao Chuyan saw the queen coming. She didn't even bend her knees. She just continued to fiddle with the tea set and didn't even offer the queen a cup of tea. She was extremely arrogant.
Murong Min didn't say a word to her, which made her even more presumptuous.
Du Gu Luanyue said gracefully, "Your Majesty has a beautiful companion by your side. Then your servant won't disturb you."
At this moment, it was really not appropriate for her to stay here and make a fool of herself.
Zhao Chuyan curled the corner of her lips inadvertently. This woman had been married to the Northern Yan for only a month and was already out of favor. Hmph, what was the use of being beautiful?
She looked up and gave the queen a provocative smile, her long and slender eyes full of pride.
Du Gu Luanyue saw all this.
Murong Min noticed that she looked a bit haggard today. There was still falling snow on her shoulders, and when she entered the warm pavilion, the snow melted and seeped into her shoulders.
He added another instruction, "On such a snowy day, don't wander around. Come out after you've recovered."
Du Gu Luanyue nodded and then looked at Mei Jiang. "Take out the thing and give it to His Majesty," she said.
Mei Jiang handed the thing to the senior eunuch, Ying Xi, beside Murong Min, and then escorted Du Gu Luanyue back. They hadn't walked a few steps when Ying Xi ran over quickly.
"Your Majesty the Queen, please wait. His Majesty said that the road is slippery on a snowy day. He asked you to go back to the Zichen Palace to warm yourself by the fire and wait until the snow stops," he said.
But Du Gu Luanyue didn't return while sitting in the phoenix sedan chair. Ying Xi reported the news back, but there was nothing he could do.
Murong Min was a bit angry. "The queen must have been spoiled in Southern Chu. She's even showing her temper to me," he said.
Eunuch Ying Xi said, "Your Majesty, the queen has sent the ten - thousand - year ink that only the emperor of Southern Chu can use. How could the queen be showing her temper to you?"
Just now, Mei Jiang had given him a favor and asked him to say a few words. He thought it wasn't too difficult, so he did as Mei Jiang asked.
After all, Aunt Mei Jiang was a confidant of the queen. No matter what, the queen was still the queen, which was different from a concubine.
Murong Min was still holding the ten - thousand - year ink in his hand. This thing was truly a treasure. Even in Southern Chu, a place rich in ink sticks, it was extremely rare.
He was a person who loved calligraphy and painting, so he was naturally delighted. Otherwise, he wouldn't have called Du Gu Luanyue back halfway.
Zhao Chuyan sat beside the tea tray and said mockingly,
"The queen is too spoiled. This is simply disobeying His Majesty's oral order. His Majesty should discipline her well. Otherwise, this princess of Southern Chu will really think that there are no rules in our Northern Yan harem."
At this moment, Murong Min put down the ink stick, got up, and walked out of the Zichen Palace. The corridor was already empty.
After taking a few steps, the door of the side hall opened, and a fair and white hand reached out and pulled him in.
Huo Wei happened to appear at the end of the corridor at this moment. He had entered the palace to report on the matter of reorganizing the imperial guards.
He happened to see someone reach out a hand and pull the emperor into the side hall. The bright red cuffs were embroidered with pearls and peonies. Who else could it be but the queen?
His eyes turned cold and menacing. He walked step by step towards the side hall, and a voice came from inside.