In the side hall of the Purple Imperial Palace, the intoxicating sounds of music and singing wafted gently into the ears.
Ten Southern Chu beauties were lying there with their graceful bodies, dancing in an extremely enchanting way. The light green sheer veils on their bodies had fallen messily to the ground, and only a bellyband was left hanging on them. Some of the other beauties boldly rushed towards the emperor without a hint of shyness and hung their bellybands on Murong Min's belt.
The charming voices of the beauties made people blush.
Du Gu Luanyue lowered her eyes, trying her best not to look at the charming dance performance of Su Rou and the others. Even as a woman, she felt extremely embarrassed.
She gently whispered in Murong Min's ear, "Your Majesty has been in a bad mood these days. How can drinking tea and reading books truly relax you?
These ten beauties are the most outstanding ones I've specifically searched for from all over Southern Chu for Your Majesty to serve and cheer you up."
There were no such court musicians in Murong Min's Northern Yan harem. The former queen would definitely not have done such a thing, and the concubines after that, in order to gain favor, would be even less likely to do so.
He himself claimed to be a proper emperor, so it was not appropriate for him to do such things too openly. Since it was the queen who had prepared and presented them, it had nothing to do with him, the emperor.
Murong Min slightly raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Queen."
Du Gu Luanyue poured wine into Murong Min's cup. The back of her hand was still a bit red from the burn the other day, but Murong Min didn't even seem to glance at it, let alone inquire about it.
When she first got married, Murong Min was quite concerned and caring towards her. But as time passed, Du Gu Luanyue clearly realized that it was all just an illusion, just like coaxing a little cat or dog.
When she was sick, he would come to see her but only stay for a short while. People have feelings. Even without much affection between husband and wife, Murong Min's attitude towards her only made her care even less.
Du Gu Luanyue didn't care at all. She still smiled charmingly and said softly, "Your Majesty, you don't need to be so polite to me. I don't understand politics, so I can't really help you with anything.
But as your queen, I naturally want to see you happy.
Moreover, if I serve Your Majesty alone, Your Majesty will only have one part of happiness. But if ten people serve Your Majesty, then Your Majesty will have ten parts of happiness. Why not do it?"
Murong Min really enjoyed these words. They made him feel secure and comfortable. He never liked the women around him to be too smart. As long as they could coax him and make him happy, he was satisfied.
For several consecutive days, Du Gu Luanyue no longer arranged for Su Rou and the others to go to the Purple Imperial Palace. After all, it wasn't very appropriate for these court musicians to appear in the emperor's bedroom so often, with the singing and dancing all day long.
She then ordered Aunt Meijiang to arrange for these people to live in the side rooms behind the side hall of the Phoenix and Luan Palace. Whenever Murong Min came, they would come to perform dances.
After this day, Murong Min came to the Phoenix and Luan Palace more frequently, which caused quite a stir in the harem.
Du Gu Luanyue was lying in the phoenix bed. Aunt Meijiang looked at the breakfast on the table, which had long since cooled down. She said,
"Your Highness has been tired these days. Please get up and finish your breakfast before going back to sleep. You've really been working hard these days to serve His Majesty."
Huo Wei didn't know when he had stood behind Aunt Meijiang. He just happened to hear this sentence, and his black eyes darkened again. His voice was full of sarcasm as he said, "The queen is really working hard."
Aunt Meijiang turned around and said in surprise, "My Lord, why have you suddenly come to the Phoenix and Luan Palace?"
Huo Wei stood with his hands behind his back, his face gloomy. "Hurry up and go and announce. I have something important to talk to the queen about."
Du Gu Luanyue was pulled up by Aunt Meijiang to wash and dress. Her expression was rather tired. "What does Huo Wei want? Let him tell you a few words, and then you can pass the message to me.
I've really been too tired these days." She yawned again and then slumped towards the dressing table.
Aunt Meijiang turned around and saw that she had fallen asleep again. She said, "Alas, how could Prince Yuzhang talk to an old servant about important matters? You'll have to listen to it yourself, Your Highness."
Du Gu Luanyue had been accompanying Murong Min in drinking and watching performances these days, often staying up until late at night. At this moment, she was still surrounded by sleepiness.
She said lazily, "Alright, just let him come in directly. After he's finished, I still need to go back to sleep."
Huo Wei entered Du Gu Luanyue's bedroom. Seeing her lying on the dressing table, he walked over. "Xie Xuanjin, the crown prince of Dongning, has gone to your Southern Chu."
Du Gu Luanyue's body stiffened. She suddenly stood up, all sleepiness gone. There was still a bit of excitement in her heart, but she was afraid that Huo Wei would notice. So she said,
"What does it matter to me? Is this what you've come to tell me?"
Huo Wei glanced at the bedroom and then at Du Gu Luanyue's exhausted appearance. A surge of anger rose in his heart.
His black eyes flashed with a cold light, as if they were about to turn into silver needles. "Xie Xuanjin cancelled the cooperation with Northern Yan and switched to Southern Chu. It was you who did this, right?"
Du Gu Luanyue's small face turned a bit pale. She said calmly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Huo Wei said, "I heard every word of your conversation with Xie Xuanjin that day. You want to bind Dongning and Southern Chu together to isolate Northern Yan.
Du Gu Luanyue, I'm warning you again. I'm also a person of Northern Yan after all. If you scheme against Northern Yan again and do anything unfavorable to Northern Yan, I won't spare you."
His cold and handsome face became fierce, and every word was filled with danger and coldness.
Du Gu Luanyue also turned cold. She was like a red fox showing its fangs.
"Northern Yan tried to win over Dongning, wasn't it also to bind them together to deal with Southern Chu? You're from Northern Yan, but I'm from Southern Chu!"
Huo Wei reached out and grabbed her chin.
"The collapse of Xie Xuanjin's residence in the hot spring palace was not due to shoddy workmanship at all. It was you who deliberately had someone do it. You wanted to take revenge on Murong Hua, right?"
Du Gu Luanyue felt a pain in her chin. She frowned. "You're hurting me."
Huo Wei let go of his hand. His slanting phoenix eyes were still cold and fierce.
"Taking revenge on Murong Hua, then saving me, and giving Southern Chu a chance.
Your Highness, the Crown Princess, it's a plan to kill three birds with one stone. Oh no, four birds. You also wanted to bind me with you, and that's why there was the later imperial examination plan.
Your Highness, the Crown Princess, is really a master at playing with power and intrigue. I, Huo Wei, am just a rough man from a military background. I really admire Your Highness's methods."
Du Gu Luanyue's breathing became a bit disordered. She didn't expect Huo Wei to react so quickly. Was he angry again? Did he not want to cooperate anymore?
She took a small step back and whispered, "You silently contributed half of the silver for the renovation of the hot spring palace. I just wanted to stand up for you.
Huo Wei, you don't need to think about what's on my mind. You just need to see what benefits you've gained, right? At least, I've never done anything unfavorable to you."
Huo Wei took a step closer to her and leaned over. "I just want to figure out every thought in your mind, because you're always scheming against me."
Du Gu Luanyue blinked her eyes and got very close to him again. She deliberately pretended to stumble and leaned into his arms.
"Don't care about these things. Anyway, you never believe me when I say I like you.
Don't worry. I won't do anything to your Northern Yan. I just want my Southern Chu to be peaceful."
Huo Wei's big, thick hands with calluses wrapped around her waist and gently tightened. His black eyes carefully examined her. Her slightly haggard little face looked even more charming and pitiful.
Suddenly, he pursed his thin lips tightly. He even had an impulse to kiss her. He restrained himself secretly and then coldly ordered,
"Go and tell your old maid to bring the Records of the Harem from the harem."
Du Gu Luanyue stared at him in confusion. "What are you looking at this for?"