When Dugu Luanyue learned that Beiyan would hold the spring imperial examinations earlier this year, she came up with another plan. Gazing into the distance, she said:
"Isn't Huo Wei going to submit a memorial to recruit troops after spring begins? Then I'll find a way to let him take charge of the spring imperial examinations. Selecting talents will keep him occupied.
Back in Nanchu, I was the crown princess. I know very well that many noble families in the court took advantage of the imperial examinations to get their descendants into the court.
As time went by, the social classes and power networks in the court became solidified, with no new blood flowing in.
For an emperor, it's extremely dangerous to have only the descendants of the nobility in the court without new talents.
Murong Min must be wary of this. So, if we let Huo Wei, who has no powerful backers, handle this, we can ensure true fairness."
Aunt Meijiang said in a mysterious tone: "Does Your Highness have another intention? Do you want to let the Prince of Yuzhang cultivate his own influence among the civil officials in the court?"
Dugu Luanyue gave a knowing smile. "Yes. We just need to make the emperor think it's fair."
She always knew that Huo Wei was looked down upon by the Beiyan nobles. As a military general, his influence among the civil officials was even weaker.
If he managed to handle the spring imperial examinations well, he would gradually establish a foundation in the court.
Actually, what she was doing was similar to what she did regarding Murong Hua. On the surface, she would appeal to his emotions, but in fact, she was dragging Huo Wei into this mess and tying herself to him.
Because the Second Prince Murong Hua would hate not only her but also Huo Wei. In this way, it would be difficult for Huo Wei to shake her off easily.
Yu Zan was tidying up the bedroom beside them. With a beaming face, she said: "Your Majesty, what a brilliant plan! This servant truly admires you!"
Only Aunt Meijiang looked at Dugu Luanyue with pity. She had accompanied Dugu Luanyue all the way and knew best what she had been through.
At first, Huo Wei tried to kill her. Then he insulted her with harsh words. Later, he ignored and rejected her. She even had to sacrifice her own body.
Dugu Luanyue had grown up in a life of luxury. She was as dazzling and proud as a golden phoenix. But now, for the sake of Nanchu, she endured all the humiliation and swallowed all the bitterness that Huo Wei had imposed on her.
One moment she was in pain, and the next moment she could come up with a plan. Her crying and smiling were all acts.
Only late at night did Aunt Meijiang faintly hear the suppressed sobs coming from the phoenix bed.
But after just a few sobs, there would be no more sound.
Dugu Luanyue was extremely strong - willed at heart.
A few days after the Lantern Festival, the emperor, the concubines in the harem, and the court officials began to return to the palace one after another.
After spring began, Beiyan was still cold. The snowstorm had finally stopped, and the snow on the ground began to melt slowly and disappear.
A palace maid reported: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Dongning has set off. It seems that the cooperation negotiations between Dongning and Beiyan have been postponed."
In the cold spring, the orchids and precious flowers outside Fengluan Palace were in bloom. Dugu Luanyue looked up and smiled.
"Excellent. Send someone to find out if Xie Xuanjin has returned to Dongning or gone to Nanchu."
Before dinner, Murong Min came to see her.
The emperor sat with his legs apart, leaning back on the chair. His expression was gloomy. He stared at the table full of delicious dishes without saying a word and didn't even touch his chopsticks.
Dugu Luanyue was dressed in a red dress with a golden hairpin. Her face was still exquisitely charming. She reached out and gently stroked Murong Min's cheek.
"Your Majesty, is it the matter of the Crown Prince of Dongning that makes you unhappy?"
Murong Min glanced at her and smiled faintly. "The Empress really knows everything."
Dugu Luanyue lowered her eyes and smiled.
"Dongning is just a small country. Your Majesty shouldn't take it too seriously. Didn't the Prince of Yuzhang under Your Majesty's command destroy Xiliao?
Your Majesty, don't be unhappy. Now that you're in my Fengluan Palace, why not relax?"
Murong Min stared deeply into her eyes. Then he reached out and grabbed her slender waist, lifted her onto his lap, and pressed her onto the table. He began to kiss her.
The palace maids around quickly averted their eyes and quietly retreated from the dining hall.
Dugu Luanyue began to feel resistance in her heart, but she didn't dare to show it. Her fingers twisted the tablecloth out of shape. She thought it was too late to call Yu Zan over.
Murong Min was in a bad mood and wanted to relieve his annoyance with a woman.
The departure of the Crown Prince of Dongning had halted the cooperation between Dongning and Beiyan. If Xie Xuanjin went to Nanchu and started cooperation between the southeast countries, the plan for Beiyan to dominate the four countries would have to be postponed.
Murong Min was usually a decent emperor and was gentle to his concubines. But today, he was a bit rough.
His palm covered Dugu Luanyue's chest as if he wanted to crush it. Her red lips were bitten by the emperor. Dugu Luanyue frowned deeply, and the pain in her chest became obvious.
"Your Majesty, this is not appropriate!" Her breathing became a bit rapid.
Murong Min narrowed his long eyes. He felt that the touch of the woman in front of him today was different from the usual nights when she served him in bed. It was even more fascinating.
He smiled. "What's inappropriate? I think it's more exciting in other places."
Dugu Luanyue said: "Your Majesty, if you're in a bad mood, would you like me to call the beautiful concubines who served you in the hot - spring palace that day?"
Murong Min was a bit unhappy. "How can they compare to you?"
Dugu Luanyue turned her face away and reached out to grab the tablecloth to cover her snow - white breasts. Her eyebrows were almost knitted together in pain.
"Your Majesty, the palace maids outside can hear! This is the dining hall, not the bedroom!"
Murong Min roared in a low voice: "I'm the emperor. I'll grace the Empress with my favor wherever I want."
Outside the dining hall, Huo Wei also came because of the matter of the Crown Prince of Dongning. He saw that the door of the dining hall was tightly closed, and the palace maids with their heads down didn't dare to look around.
Aunt Meijiang saw Huo Wei at a glance. She thought that her savior had come. She quickly said: "Your Highness, may I ask what business you have with Her Majesty the Empress at this time?"
Huo Wei didn't answer her but asked: "It's just a dining hall. Why is the door tightly closed?"
Aunt Meijiang leaned closer and whispered: "Your Highness, please save Her Majesty quickly! Something terrible is happening!"
At this moment, the sound of a plate smashing to the ground came from inside the hall, along with the intermittent moans of a woman.
Huo Wei's black eyes were stunned. "What on earth is going on inside?"
Aunt Meijiang said: "The Emperor insists on gracing Her Majesty with his favor in the dining hall. This is a disgrace to the royal family. If it gets out, how can Her Majesty face the world? People outside will call Her Majesty a demon empress again. Anyway, they won't say a single bad word about the Emperor."
Huo Wei's deep and cold eyebrows instantly darkened. He lifted his long leg, ready to kick open the door, but then he stopped.
After all, it was the emperor and the empress inside. What would he be if he did that? It would also make the emperor unhappy.
Dugu Luanyue had nothing to do with him. It didn't matter. He wouldn't care.
Huo Wei's expression was far from calm. His palm was clenched into a fist with distinct knuckles, and the veins on the back of his hand stood out.
At this moment, his angular jaw was as sharp as if it could cut through flesh. He said coldly: "Then we'll wait until the Emperor finishes his business. I'll report my matter later."
Suddenly, a scream came from inside.
Huo Wei knew it was Dugu Luanyue's voice. His pupils immediately trembled. He lifted his long leg and kicked the door open with a bang!