She couldn't hold herself back for a moment. Sheng Yunqi was still alive!
But how could the eldest legitimate son of the Sheng Family, the number one aristocratic family in Southern Chu, appear in such a desolate and abused state here? It had only been a little over half a month, yet Sheng Yunqi had lost so much weight that his chin had become much sharper.
The hem of his robe stained with mud was probably something Sheng Yunqi had never encountered since he was born. The former Sheng Yunqi loved cleanliness the most and didn't allow a single speck of dust on him.
Du Gu Luanyue never expected that madman Huo Wei. Just after Sheng Yunqi had undergone castration, he actually made him come up to serve and humiliated him in every possible way!
There were so many steps to climb to reach this Half - Mountain Pavilion. Wouldn't Sheng Yunqi be in excruciating pain?
Du Gu Luanyue's eyes were red from holding back, but she didn't dare to shed a single tear.
Murong Min asked, "Empress, what's wrong with you?"
Du Gu Luanyue desperately gathered herself and swallowed the bitterness in her throat. Then she slowly said in a charming voice,
"I suddenly smelled a very special aroma of wine and wanted to drink it. I'm a bit excited. Please don't laugh at me, Your Majesty."
Sheng Yunqi, with stubble covering his cheeks and looking a bit disheveled, put down the wine shakily, his wrists trembling slightly.
"Your Highness, the wine has been delivered."
Huo Wei looked at Du Gu Luanyue with a smile in his eyes.
"Why did you put the wine down? Pour it for Her Majesty the Empress."
Du Gu Luanyue's eyes were red from holding back, and her long, curly phoenix eyelashes were trembling slightly.
"No. Just now I remembered that I've been feeling unwell recently and it's not suitable for me to drink. Let's do it next time."
Huo Wei placed the wine cup in front of Du Gu Luanyue.
"How could we just let the wine go without taking a sip when we finally get to meet like this?"
There was a hint of provocation in his voice. Then he looked at Sheng Yunqi.
"You must have served inadequately. Someone, drag him down and give him a hundred or so sticks to vent Her Majesty's anger. Otherwise, outsiders might think that my servant has been disrespectful to Her Majesty."
Without hesitation, Du Gu Luanyue picked up the wine cup. Her tired eyes showed a forced smile.
"Forget it, Your Highness doesn't need to do this. I'll take a sip first. If it doesn't taste good, you can punish him later."
After saying that, she drank the wine in the cup in one gulp. She wiped her mouth with a silk handkerchief and gave Huo Wei a cold look.
Aunt Mei Jiang, standing on one side, exchanged a worried look with Su Rou. She shouldn't be drinking now!
Sheng Yunqi didn't dare to look at Du Gu Luanyue. He was afraid that he would lose control. His legs were weak as he took a step back and almost sat on the ground.
This was the first time he had seen Du Gu Luanyue's husband, Emperor Wenhui of Northern Yan.
But he was supposed to be her husband! The hatred of having one's wife taken away was irreconcilable. That Huo Wei and all of them had to die!
Du Gu Luanyue waved her hand and said in a cold voice, "Prince of Yuzhang, let your servant go. We don't need his service here."
Huo Wei raised his eyebrows at her. He could tell that Du Gu Luanyue was on the verge of losing control. He said, "Go."
After Sheng Yunqi left, Murong Min asked Huo Wei what he had been doing recently and whether those scholars had discussed the scriptures with him.
Huo Wei answered one by one, "Your son has been busy outside recently and hasn't had the time to inquire about these new colleagues who have entered the court. Does Father want your son to go and ask about it first?"
Murong Min said casually, "It's hard on you, my son. There's no need to keep such a close eye on these new people. We don't want to boost their arrogance."
Hearing the news from the previous court, Du Gu Luanyue secretly instigated Murong Min, saying that Huo Wei was trying to win over these new people in the court.
It was said that these people had contacted the Prince of Yuzhang privately, and the Prince of Yuzhang was suspected of forming a clique.
But if they sent someone to investigate, it would be bad if the Prince of Yuzhang found out.
It would be better for the Emperor to go on an incognito tour with the Empress. Firstly, it would show concern for Huo Wei, and secondly, they could see if Huo Wei was really forming a clique.
Murong Min was a very suspicious person, so he naturally wanted to come and take a look. The Prince's Mansion wasn't far from the palace.
Huo Wei said, "Your son will follow Father's orders."
Murong Min nodded.
"Yes. You're brave and skilled in battle, and you also have your own ideas in the court. You mustn't be influenced by these inexperienced scholars."
"Oops, Your Majesty, I've lost my hairpin!"
Du Gu Luanyue suddenly panicked and got up to look for it everywhere in the Half - Mountain Pavilion.
Murong Min was a bit tipsy at this moment. He said lightly,
"It's just a hairpin. If it's lost, it's lost. I'll have the Imperial Household Department make a few more for you when we get back."
Du Gu Luanyue's eyes turned red with anxiety and she started to cry.
"No. That five - tailed Luan Phoenix pigeon - blood red gemstone gold hairpin was a gift from Your Majesty to me on our wedding day. I've always cherished it. It can't be lost. It's a witness to our new marriage.
I must find it. If I don't find it, I won't even be able to eat dinner."
Murong Min sighed, "You're so forgetful."
Du Gu Luanyue pulled at Murong Min's dark green sleeve and coquettishly said,
"Your Majesty! Although it's just a hairpin, it was given to me by Your Majesty. I cherish it very much. It can't be lost."
Murong Min rubbed his dizzy forehead and waved his hand.
"Forget it. Send someone to look for it. You can also look for it yourself. Think about the paths you took when you came."
Su Rou quickly stepped forward to refill Murong Min's cup with the Immortal Drunk. Her plump body brushed against him subtly.
"Your Majesty looks much better after drinking this wine. Have another cup."
She kept pouring more wine for Murong Min. The after - effect kicked in and he could hardly keep his eyes open.
At this moment, Du Gu Luanyue stood up and gave an order to the guards below with a fierce look in her eyes.
"Someone, search for me!"
As soon as she said this, all the guards brought by Murong Min dispersed in all directions and started to search every room in Huo Wei's mansion one by one.
Du Gu Luanyue slowly walked down the Half - Mountain Pavilion and looked back at Huo Wei.
"Don't be in a hurry, Prince of Yuzhang. I'll search carefully and won't miss a single thing."
Huo Wei got up and quickly chased after her. "Du Gu Luanyue, this is your scheme again, isn't it!"
Du Gu Luanyue shook off his arm. "What are you talking about, Prince of Yuzhang? My hairpin is lost. I'm just looking for it."
How could Huo Wei not know Du Gu Luanyue's intention? She deliberately led Murong Min to suspect him.
Then she quietly came to the Prince's Mansion and, under the pretext of losing her hairpin, searched his mansion thoroughly.
If those officials hiding in his mansion were found, and his other secrets were also discovered, it would be very dangerous.
He roared, "Stop!"
Du Gu Luanyue had already walked down the Half - Mountain Pavilion. She stopped, gave him a cold look, and said with a smile,
"Getting anxious? Feeling guilty? Scared?"
Huo Wei pulled her into a room in the mansion and slammed the door shut.
"You're scheming against me, aren't you? Do you not want your little lover's life?"
Du Gu Luanyue said coldly,
"You'd better let him go quickly. Otherwise, I'll expose your secret dealings with court officials!"
Huo Wei stood in front of her with his hands behind his back.
"You still say you don't care. You clearly do. You must have wracked your brains to come up with this plan, right?"
Meng Tan knocked on the door outside. "Your Highness, it's your subordinate."
Huo Wei said, "Come in."
Meng Tan walked in seriously.
"Master Shen said that all the exits of the Prince's Mansion are guarded by Your Majesty's guards. They've all been... blocked."
Du Gu Luanyue's charming eyes showed a cold smile.
"In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Your Highness's secrets will be exposed."