Murong Min thought it was his order for Huo Wei to monitor Dugulan Yue that made the young queen angry and dislike Huo Wei. In fact, he might never know what really happened in his lifetime.
Dugulan Yue said coldly, "There's no need to come to my palace every day to pay respects from now on. As long as the Prince of Yuzhang has filial piety in his heart, that's enough."
Huo Wei's black eyes were deep. He calmly replied, "Your Majesty is being polite. As a son, I should pay respects to Father and Mother every day. Filial piety should be shown. How would others know if it's just kept in the heart?"
Dugulan Yue turned around and left, going to toast with the next group.
Murong Min laughed to smooth things over. "Your mother is three years younger than you. Don't take it to heart. I'll talk to her."
Huo Wei said, "It must be that I've upset Her Majesty. I'll come to the palace to apologize in person another day."
After the toasting process was over, Dugulan Yue said she couldn't hold her liquor and felt chest pain, then she returned to her bedroom alone.
Actually, Huo Wei left the palace banquet one step ahead of Dugulan Yue. He thought that Dugulan Yue was playing hard - to - get again. As long as he left, she would find an opportunity to come to him.
So he waited in a place to see if she would come.
For some reason, Huo Wei's heart was like a small boat drifting on the sea, swaying from side to side in the wind and rain. He tried his best to steady it, but it seemed he didn't have the ability.
Dugulan Yue looked a bit listless. She said to the people around her, "Hurry back to the bedroom. I'm really tired and want to rest."
Aunt Meijiang looked at her with concern. Just as she was about to say some words of comfort, the eunuch carrying the phoenix sedan chair accidentally slipped and fell.
Dugulan Yue's body fell out of the phoenix sedan chair. Fortunately, Aunt Meijiang was quick - witted and caught her. Otherwise, she would have fallen straight into the snow.
Aunt Meijiang said anxiously, "Your Majesty, are you all right?"
Dugulan Yue had trouble breathing. After a while, she replied, "I think I sprained my elbow."
Yu Zan quickly came to support the queen. Aunt Meijiang scolded angrily, "You blind things! If you hurt Her Majesty the Queen, how many heads do you have to lose!"
The eunuchs knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. Dugulan Yue said in a low voice, "It's snowing. The roads in the hot - spring palace are not as smooth as those in the imperial palace. Forget it. I won't pursue this. Aunt, let's walk back by ourselves."
Yu Zan said, "Your Majesty, let this servant go and invite the imperial doctor. You must apply medicinal liquor to your elbow."
Dugulan Yue was supported by Aunt Meijiang back to the bedroom. She still seemed a bit silent.
Aunt Meijiang asked about this, "Your Majesty has been a bit silent since you secretly went to see the Prince of Yuzhang last time. What exactly happened?"
Dugulan Yue pursed her lips and said,
"Huo Wei is no longer an option. After the spring, he will ask His Majesty for permission. The plan to go south will be advanced." As she said this, she lowered her head.
Aunt Meijiang's eyebrows drooped. Her throat was a bit sore as she said,
"Your Majesty has done your best. Now you don't have much power. No matter how smart you are, you can't stir up much trouble.
Your Majesty, how about continuing to coax His Majesty so that he won't care about state affairs? It seems this is the easier way."
Dugulan Yue said, "His Majesty won't let me interfere in the affairs of the court. I can only focus on the harem.
I can do this kind of thing that goes beyond the rules, but it will surely bring consequences. The court officials will hold me accountable and I'll be condemned by the world."
This was also the reason why she chose Huo Wei from the beginning. If she tried to influence the emperor, even the position of the queen might be at stake if she was not careful.
But Huo Wei was different. As long as he didn't start the war to go south, Murong Min would delay it.
In the Northern Yan Empire, the most decisive person in speaking and acting was not Murong Min, but Huo Wei.
It was Huo Wei who initially planned the war to destroy the Western Liao.
Moreover, if Huo Wei rose to a high position in the court of the Northern Yan with her help, she would also have someone in the court. Her days in the future would not be too difficult.
Aunt Meijiang held Dugulan Yue's cold hand tightly.
"Not to mention the long - term. Your Majesty fell from the phoenix sedan chair, but His Majesty didn't even come to take a look. Alas, men are all the same. None of them are good."
There was a bit of calmness in Dugulan Yue's eyes. Her voice was a bit low as she said,
"It doesn't matter. Murong Min is just my fake husband. I don't care. If Huo Wei is no longer an option, so be it. I'm going to focus on Murong Min."
In the middle of the night, Dugulan Yue suddenly woke up with a start. She heard a sound from the window.
Dugulan Yue was a light sleeper. After coming to the Northern Yan and always being in an insecure environment, she would easily wake up at the slightest sound at night.
She got up and lifted the curtain to get out of bed and check the window. As soon as she lifted the curtain, a strong smell of liquor came in. She covered her nose and frowned slightly.
A bit of light from the snowy night came in through the window. At a glance, she saw a dark figure standing in front of her bed. She was so scared that she was about to scream, but the person covered her mouth. "It's me."
Dugulan Yue didn't move. Her elbow was sprained. "Huo Wei, are you crazy to break into the queen's bedroom at night!"
Huo Wei's jaw was tense. His dark eyes were a bit turbid at the moment. He sneered.
"You covered your chest and said you were in pain, and then you rolled off the phoenix sedan chair. Isn't this just a ruse to make me come and see you?"
He couldn't find a proper reason for his visit for a moment, so he had to say something harsh, which was like a ridiculous excuse for himself.
Dugulan Yue didn't want to talk to him anymore. She said coldly, "Then you can get out."
Huo Wei didn't expect Dugulan Yue to treat him like this. He thought Dugulan Yue would soften her tone for the sake of the Southern Chu.
Huo Wei pursed his lips. "Where are you hurt?"
Dugulan Yue half - lowered her eyes and looked expressionless. "It's none of your business. Even if I die, it's none of your business."
Huo Wei took out the medicine bottle, the same bright red one as before. "This medicine is very good."
Dugulan Yue picked up the medicine bottle with her uninjured hand and threw it out. The medicine bottle shattered on the ground again. This was the second time she had thrown away the medicine given by Huo Wei.
Huo Wei frowned. He said coldly,
"Do you know how rare this thing is, Dugulan Yue!" This medicine was personally formulated by his senior brother. It was very effective in treating sword wounds, knife wounds and sprains.
Ordinary medicine would take half a month for a full recovery, but this medicine only took three days. When he was on a military campaign before, he would never take it out unless the wound was very serious.
But Dugulan Yue had already smashed two bottles of it.
Dugulan Yue said calmly,
"From now on, my business has nothing to do with you. I won't play hard - to - get or use any ruse. You'd better leave quickly. There's a generation gap between us."
She returned the same words to Huo Wei.
Huo Wei staggered to the corner and picked up the medicine pills that had fallen from the shattered bottle. He walked back to Dugulan Yue.
"I'll ask you one more time. Where are you hurt?"
Dugulan Yue: "Get out quickly!"
Huo Wei reached out and pinched her chin. With just a little force, she couldn't bear it.
Dugulan Yue's eyes turned red with pain. She slapped away Huo Wei's hand. "I sprained my left elbow."
Huo Wei crushed the medicine pills and put them into a teacup. "Ask your maid to bring some wine."
Dugulan Yue ordered Aunt Meijiang to bring in the wine. Aunt Meijiang was stunned when she saw Huo Wei at first, then she calmed down. Without asking anything, she stepped back and stood guard outside the door alone.
After the strong liquor had dissolved the medicine pills, Huo Wei rolled up the sleeve of Dugulan Yue's nightgown.
He applied the medicine juice to Dugulan Yue's elbow and began to gently rub it. He also checked if there was any problem with her bones. Fortunately, there was nothing serious.
Huo Wei glanced sideways and saw Dugulan Yue silently shedding tears. He frowned again. "Why are you crying?"