Zhao Chuyan looked a bit dazed for a moment.
"What on earth are you talking about? What destroying the peace between the two countries and interfering in the affairs of the previous dynasty? I didn't mean that. I'm asking you to open the Zhaoyang Palace and distribute all the things!"
Du Gu Luanyue stood in the swirling snow. The orange-red fur of the red fox on her clothes fluttered slightly in the cold wind. She squinted her eyes and gave Zhao Chuyan a cold and disdainful look.
She was actually afraid that this matter wouldn't stir up enough trouble. A small skirmish would only make the emperor minimize the issue.
Zhao Chuyan was at a disadvantage in the verbal confrontation for a moment, so she ordered her men to force open the Zhaoyang Palace and start moving things. She couldn't continue to argue with this sharp-tongued Du Gu Luanyue.
The servants in the Zhaoyang Palace were not to be outdone and fought with the imperial guards.
Zhao Chuyan didn't know that these people knew martial arts and attacked extremely ruthlessly. The imperial guards were beaten badly, so they drew their machetes and a bloody battle ensued.
Aunt Meijiang whispered, "Your Majesty the Queen, the fire has started."
Just as Du Gu Luanyue was about to say something, the outside of the Zhaoyang Palace was suddenly surrounded by another group of imperial guards.
On this cold winter night, the soldiers held torches. A fierce and menacing general walked through the snow.
Huo Wei's black cloak fluttered in the wind. "I am here by the order of His Majesty to safeguard the safety of the palace. May I ask, Concubine Zhao, what is your intention in privately mobilizing troops to besiege the Zhaoyang Palace today?"
Du Gu Luanyue glanced sideways. She didn't expect it to be Huo Wei. What was he doing here?
Was he here to disrupt things? To watch her make a fool of herself?
Thinking of this, she glared at Huo Wei coldly.
Zhao Chuyan had just had a shouting match with Du Gu Luanyue. Her throat was dry, and she didn't expect another troublemaker to show up.
"Prince Yuzhang, it's already night. How dare you enter the harem?"
Huo Wei's black eyes glinted with the cold light of the night.
"I am allowed by His Majesty to enter the harem. I am here to perform my duty as the deputy commander of the imperial guards."
He raised his arm, and the imperial guards in front stopped. After all, Huo Wei was their current master.
Zhao Chuyan shouted angrily, "Why did you stop? Don't you dare teach these dogs from the Southern Chu a lesson!"
Huo Wei thundered with a mountain-like aura, "All imperial guards, withdraw from the Zhaoyang Palace immediately."
Zhao Chuyan took a few steps forward and pointed at Huo Wei's nose.
"Huo, you're just the deputy commander of the imperial guards. My elder brother is the official commander. What right do you have to order the imperial guards under the Zhao family to disperse? Do you even know what reason is?"
Huo Wei's black eyes turned fierce. "Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Zhao Chuyan sneered contemptuously.
"The Queen went out of the palace today to arrange your birthday. Well, by nightfall, you've become a dog for your mother to support her. Do you really think these imperial guards are yours?"
Zhao Chuyan had been domineering in the harem for years. Emperor Wenhui, Murong Min, really indulged her, and she had long been lawless in the harem.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with her actions today.
Then she turned around and shouted, "Don't leave! None of you are allowed to leave. If you don't move the things out of the Zhaoyang Palace today, no one is going anywhere!"
Wei Enxian beside her was calmer than her. She knew Zhao Chuyan too well.
Zhao Chuyan was extremely face-conscious. If she watched the imperial guards retreat like this, she would go crazy!
Where would she put her face in the harem in the future?
Huo Wei frowned slightly and glared at her with fierce eyes. "Concubine Zhao's mouth is fouler than I thought."
Zhao Chuyan shrieked, "Huo Wei, how dare you insult a royal concubine!"
Huo Wei said indifferently, "A concubine is of the first rank, and so am I. We're of the same status. It's perfectly appropriate for me to scold you."
Zhao Chuyan stamped her foot in anger. No one in the harem dared to talk to her like this. "Huo Wei, when His Majesty returns, I'll be the first to report you!"
He twitched his brow bone and glanced at Du Gu Luanyue, looking completely at ease. "Turn your head."
Du Gu Luanyue felt angry at the sight of Huo Wei's arrogant and evil face. She said irritably, "What are you up to?"
Huo Wei said, "I'd like to return a courtesy to Her Majesty the Queen."
Aunt Meijiang helped Du Gu Luanyue into the phoenix carriage. Outside the carriage, they heard Huo Wei's fierce voice. "Fight! Just as Concubine Zhao wishes, fight to the death!"
The servants in the Zhaoyang Palace always defended the palace gate stubbornly and didn't allow anyone to get close.
Huo Wei's men clashed with the imperial guards under Concubine Zhao. After receiving the new order, the two groups fought in a melee. For a moment, both sides were red-eyed.
Zhao Chuyan saw that the situation was getting out of hand. She looked around and saw that the concubines who had come with her, including the always pretentious Wei Enxian, had disappeared.
She looked up again and saw that Du Gu Luanyue was sitting quietly in the phoenix carriage, which was tightly guarded by Huo Wei's imperial guards.
She frowned. "Prince Yuzhang, what are you doing? Are you going to start a massacre in the palace?"
Huo Wei folded his arms and said casually,
"It was Concubine Zhao who privately mobilized troops, and it was also Concubine Zhao who started a massacre in front of the Zhaoyang Palace. I'm just here to perform my duty as a guard."
Zhao Chuyan turned around and shouted angrily, "Stop! Stop! I told you to move things. What are you fighting for!"
Huo Wei's black eyes glistened like shining obsidian in the dark night. He folded his arms and said calmly,
"Why stop? The outcome hasn't been decided yet."
Zhao Chuyan ordered her men to stop and walked up to the phoenix carriage. "Du Gu, the Queen, when are you going to give me the things?"
Before Du Gu Luanyue could say anything, Huo Wei said outside,
"The Zhaoyang Palace has been completely destroyed by Concubine Zhao's men. Her Majesty the Queen probably can't return to the Zhaoyang Palace. How about waiting at the palace gate?"
Du Gu Luanyue exchanged a look with Aunt Meijiang in the carriage. "What does Huo Wei mean by asking me to go to the palace gate?"
Aunt Meijiang also shook her head. "I can't figure it out either, but Prince Yuzhang is not a man who likes to talk nonsense... Could it be a trap?"
Du Gu Luanyue felt a tightness in her heart and was about to refuse, but the phoenix carriage had already started to slowly leave the Zhaoyang Palace, giving her no chance to react.
"This Huo Wei, what on earth is he up to!"
After Huo Wei withdrew his troops, he followed behind the phoenix carriage. He casually handed his long spear to Meng Tan and asked, "What's the reply from the Third Prince?"
Meng Tan replied, "I've sent someone to notify him at full speed. I'm sure we'll get an answer early tomorrow morning."
Huo Wei nodded and sent all the imperial guards away. He stood outside the phoenix carriage and said, "Get out. Let's talk."
Du Gu Luanyue lifted the curtain, revealing her extremely beautiful and still angry face.
"Huo Wei, there's nothing to talk about between us. And what do you mean by arranging for me to stay at the palace gate?"
Huo Wei's deep features were cast in the moonlight, cold and sharp. His low voice carried a strong sense of oppression. "Don't force me to go up and invite the Queen down myself."