Murong Min casually glanced at Zhao Chuyan, whose eyes were reddened with anxiety. There was a hint of complexity in the emperor's deep pupils. "What does the Prince of Yuzhang think should be done to solve this difficult problem?"
Sure enough, the emperor was still the emperor. He threw the problem back again to see if he was a power - hungry man.
At this moment, Huo Wei understood everything in his heart.
But this time, it was not easy for the imperial guards to be wrongly accused of a great mistake. It was such a good opportunity that he didn't want to let it go. He felt rather conflicted for a moment.
"Your son thinks that the imperial guards should have a good intensive training. However, we need to carefully consider who will conduct the training."
He spoke flawlessly, not letting Murong Min detect anything.
Du Gu Luanyue also sensed the emperor's probing of Huo Wei at this time. She handed over a cup of tea, narrowing her fox - like eyes.
"Your Majesty, how about this? On the day when Your Majesty leaves the palace, the commander of the imperial guards and half of the guards will accompany and protect Your Majesty. The other half will be trained well in the palace by someone who is brave and good at leading troops.
Don't let them be lazy and slack all day long, which would damage the discipline of the Northern Yan army."
After she finished speaking, she whispered in Murong Min's ear quietly.
"Your concubine knows that Your Majesty just wants to scare the commander of the imperial guards. You're just giving a warning to the Zhao family in front of Concubine Zhao to make the Zhao family wake up soon."
Since ancient times, the commander of the imperial guards in the imperial palace has always been the emperor's confidant,
and also a person of noble status from a great family. It was impossible to replace the commander of the imperial guards all of a sudden.
Du Gu Luanyue didn't understand Huo Wei's intention at first, but after hearing him say a few more words, she understood.
Huo Wei wanted to take advantage of the mistake made by the imperial guards to seize the power of the commander. However, Huo Wei was indeed cautious in his actions. He was just probing in his words and didn't make it too explicit.
Murong Min burst into a hearty laugh.
"This is a very good idea. With someone to compare with, they will naturally become more diligent.
According to the queen's suggestion, this brave and good - at - leading - troops person is right here, the Prince of Yuzhang."
After saying that, he looked down at the people below with a straight face. "Concubine Zhao, your elder brother has been the commander of the imperial guards for several years. It's time to give him a good warning this time."
Zhao Chuyan's face darkened. She quickly got up and knelt down seriously.
"Please forgive your concubine, Your Majesty. Your concubine will definitely talk to my elder brother. In the future, we will surely train the imperial guards well to protect Your Majesty and the safety of the imperial palace."
Murong Min said, "Prince of Yuzhang, I will temporarily hand over half of the military tally of the imperial guards to you. I also want to see how powerful the troops under the hands of the God of Slaughter who destroyed the Liao Kingdom are."
Du Gu Luanyue smiled at Huo Wei.
Huo Wei's deep black pupils showed no obvious emotions. He said in a solemn voice, "Your son will surely live up to Father Emperor's high expectations."
He withdrew his gaze from Du Gu Luanyue and slowly rubbed his fingertips, lost in thought.
The four of them stayed in the warm pavilion for a while. Then some ministers came to see Murong Min to discuss state affairs.
Du Gu Luanyue, Huo Wei, and Zhao Chuyan got up and returned to their respective palaces and mansions.
Du Gu Luanyue walked out of the Zichen Palace and took a deep breath of the icy cold air on this snowy day. It was extremely cold.
Concubine Zhao happened to be walking beside her at this moment, showing no respect for hierarchy. According to the rules, Concubine Zhao should have walked behind the queen and not overstepped her bounds.
She glanced at her indifferently. "Concubine Zhao, are your hands sore or your heart aching now?"
Half of the power to guard the imperial city had been taken away. The Zhao family now only had half of the imperial guards they used to have, and the other half was already in Huo Wei's hands.
Zhao Chuyan glared at her coldly. "Your Majesty the Queen has good tricks! As a person from Southern Chu, you're now interfering in the Northern Yan's court affairs!"
Du Gu Luanyue smiled. "This palace has never interfered in the Northern Yan's court affairs. It's because the imperial guards failed to perform their duties properly. As the queen, this palace is thinking for Your Majesty."
Zhao Chuyan was extremely angry. She never expected that she had come to see the emperor so eagerly today, only to be treated like a maid and have the Zhao family's power cut by a few words. She was really furious.
When she got back, she would surely discuss with the Zhao family to figure out how to take back the other half of the military power of the imperial guards.
After Zhao Chuyan left in a fit of anger, Mei Jiang stepped forward and supported Du Gu Luanyue's arm as she got on the phoenix carriage. A huge yellow umbrella was held above her coiled hair.
"Why did Your Majesty suddenly clash with Concubine Zhao today? Didn't Your Majesty come to ask for the emperor's favor today? Won't such sharp words backfire?"
Du Gu Luanyue was calm at this moment.
"This Concubine Zhao used to be the mistress of the harem. Although she was not the queen, before this palace got married here, she held the phoenix seal, so she was the one with real power in the harem.
This palace has been in the Northern Yan's harem for almost two months. Look at the concubines and the imperial heirs in the harem. Do they take this palace seriously?"
Mei Jiang seemed to understand something. "Is it because this Concubine Zhao has used her power to put pressure on the people in the harem?"
Du Gu Luanyue raised her eyebrows and smiled.
"Aunt is right. Most people in the harem probably act according to the situation, and the others with power are just watching.
We should first suppress Zhao Chuyan's influence. In the future, it will be easier to manage the people in the harem."
A noble concubine being treated like a maid by the newly - arrived young queen to make tea, and the Zhao family unexpectedly losing half of the power of the imperial guards. It seemed that the queen was not someone to be bullied.
This was also to show those opportunists in the harem that Du Gu Luanyue was not someone easy to bully.
The phoenix carriage started to move. When it reached a fork in the road, Du Gu Luanyue raised her arm. "Put down the phoenix carriage. This palace will walk back by herself."
There were two roads at this fork. The left one was the imperial path where only the imperial carriage could pass, while the right one was the entrance to the Cold Fragrance Garden, a shortcut to the Zhaoyang Palace.
Mei Jiang had always been in sync with her. Immediately, she said loudly, "Her Majesty the Queen wants to take the shortcut through the plum forest to return to the palace. You guys can drive the phoenix carriage back first and take the other road."
This was Du Gu Luanyue's second time entering the Cold Fragrance Garden. The plum blossoms in the north were in full bloom against the cold.
She really loved them. She loved that there were such gorgeous lives blooming in such a harsh environment.
Huo Wei's python - patterned robe with gold threads on a black background was extremely eye - catching in the plum forest. He stepped out of the plum forest on one side, with a few fallen plum blossoms on his shoulders.
On his cold and handsome face, a pair of wild - animal - like black pupils looked over. "Speak! What do you want from this king?"
Du Gu Luanyue was standing behind a rockery. She gave him a charming smile. "Huo Wei, come closer and talk. I can't hear you."
There was only a rockery between him and Du Gu Luanyue. They were standing one in front and one behind. Huo Wei could only see half of her bright red palace - dress shoulder.
Huo Wei held his chin high and didn't get closer.
Du Gu Luanyue then turned around and said goodbye in a desolate voice. "Alright then. Since you dislike me so much, I'll just leave."
After walking a few steps, Huo Wei suddenly appeared in front of her. His cold and solemn face scanned over. "Now, you can speak."