When Dugu Luanyue saw him coming, she placed the imperial brush on the penholder, rose from the dragon throne, and said with a smile,
"Your Majesty, why have you come? Didn't you say you were going to cultivate immortality and seek the Dao today?"
Murong Min sat on the dragon throne, glanced at several memorials, and carefully examined the vermilion comments made by Dugu Luanyue on his behalf. His narrow eyes fixed on her.
"The way the Empress comments on the memorials truly resembles that of an empress dowager."
Dugu Luanyue smiled. "Your servant once served as the crown prince in Southern Chu for a while. Naturally, I have no such talent. Later, I was sent here for a political marriage. It's more suitable for me to serve Your Majesty."
Murong Min was no fool. As an old fox, he could naturally understand the meaning in the vermilion comments. They were quite ordinary, mostly written in a proper manner after seeking his opinion.
She didn't seem very smart. However, recently, Murong Min did feel that he had been neglecting state affairs. So he decided to be more diligent today.
"A cold wind blew a while ago, and I was ill for some time. My health is not as good as before.
But under the care of Daoist Master Yanxu, while seeking the Dao and the well - being of the people and comprehending the mysteries within, I feel at ease, and my body has recovered a bit.
Recently, many court officials have seen that my health is not good, so they have started to urge me to choose a crown prince. Well, the crown prince is the foundation of the country, and it's time to consider it." Murong Min leaned on the dragon throne and said calmly.
Dugu Luanyue said from the side, "Your Majesty is quite right. Does Your Majesty have a candidate in mind?"
Murong Min was silent for a long while. Without answering her, he changed the topic. "Summon the Prince of Yuzhang to the palace."
Dugu Luanyue stood quietly beside the dragon throne, saying very little. She knew that the older Murong Min got, the more suspicious he became. At this time, it was better for her to say less.
Suddenly, Murong Min said, "The Prince of Yuzhang is a wild beast. He is young but extremely capable. None of my sons can match him.
The crown prince to be selected in the future must be able to balance the Prince of Yuzhang. If not, he will surely be controlled by this wild beast one day, and the imperial power will be emptied."
Dugu Luanyue's heart sank. It seemed that they were going to test Huo Wei soon. How could she warn him?
Huo Wei was summoned to the Zichen Hall. Murong Min came straight to the point about choosing a crown prince.
"The Prince of Yuzhang is about the same age as most of my sons. You young people can talk. Which prince do you think is a worthy candidate or gets along well with you?"
Murong Min stared at Huo Wei with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, his lips half - curled.
Huo Wei knew that all the focus was on supporting the Third Prince, Murong Jue, to become the crown prince. Murong Jue had already started to participate in many important affairs in the previous court.
With Huo Wei's strong support, Murong Jue had been praised many times in the court recently. Just as he was about to speak, Dugu Luanyue walked over gracefully from the tea - making room, came to Huo Wei's side, and said,
"Oh, the Prince of Yuzhang is here. Just in time. This is the oolong tea brewed by this palace personally. You can have a taste."
She opened the tea lid and said, "Smell it. This tea comes from a 500 - year - old tea tree."
Huo Wei looked at the oolong tea, raised his black eyes, and glanced at her. Then he said,
"Replying to Father Emperor, your son believes that the Second Prince's temperament complements mine.
Your son is impulsive by nature, while the Second Prince is gentle and patient. Your son often has long and in - depth conversations with the Second Prince.
I find that the Second Prince is young but promising and has great insights into governing the country. Your son would like to recommend the Second Prince as the crown prince."
Dugu Luanyue picked up another cup of tea from the maid's tray and placed it in front of Murong Min. Then she stood quietly on one side.
Her amorous eyes couldn't help but look at Huo Wei. It had been almost a month since they last met, and her eyes became a bit more passionate.
Huo Wei felt that extremely provocative gaze. His black eyes swept over forcefully.
Dugu Luanyue was forced back by his vulgar and improper look. She quickly turned her head away, not daring to look at him, but still stealing glances at him inadvertently.
Murong Min said to himself, "What about the Third Prince? He followed you to fight in Western Liao a few years ago. Why don't you recommend him?"
Huo Wei said, "When we were fighting together before, we often had arguments in the military camp because of tactical strategies. Your son doesn't have a good relationship with the Third Prince. Your son prefers the steady temperament of the Second Prince. The Second Prince truly has the demeanor of a crown prince."
Dugu Luanyue had deliberately opened the tea lid before. There were exactly two tea leaves pasted on the inside of the lid. Coupled with her meaningful look, Huo Wei understood immediately.
It was Murong Min's old trick. He loved to test people.
Dugu Luanyue left the Zichen Hall and met Huo Wei at the corner.
Under the corridor, after making sure there was no one around, he stared straight at her and said,
"Look at what your imperial husband has done. You're practically throwing yourself at this king now."
Dugu Luanyue raised the corners of her eyes slightly. "Don't be so confident. I didn't miss you."
Huo Wei sneered. "Did this king say that the Empress missed this king?"
Dugu Luanyue glared at him. "Go back quickly. Now Murong Min is becoming more and more suspicious. There's a chance that even I'm being suspected."
Huo Wei was a bit reluctant to part, but for the overall situation, he had to endure temporarily. Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one around, he leaned over and said hoarsely,
"Don't say a single word to Sheng Yunqi other than business. If I find out, I'll kill him.
I don't care if you become an empress dowager in the future. I can't tolerate any sand in my eyes. You're not allowed to have another man besides me."
Dugu Luanyue's heart was slightly stirred by his naughty and ruthless look. Huo Wei was truly different from Sheng Yunqi.
Sheng Yunqi had said a few days ago that he would turn a blind eye, while Huo Wei would never allow a single grain of sand.
She stretched out her slender finger and gently touched his thin lips. Her jade eyes were charming, and her red lips were alluring.
"Okay, I know. I'll do as you say."
A few days later, court officials repeatedly memorialized. The calls for selecting the Second Prince and the Third Prince were the highest, but what Murong Min feared most was still Huo Wei.
The Third Prince, Murong Jue, had the support of the Wei family and held heavy military power. Huo Wei also held heavy military power. The emperor loved the strategy of balance the most. So Murong Min chose Murong Jue as the crown prince.
The Wei family was extremely excited. Wei Enxian no longer held a grudge against Dugu Luanyue. He knew that the empress had made a lot of efforts secretly, so he sent valuable gifts to the Fengluan Palace and took the initiative to help the empress suppress Zhao Chuyan.
One month later was Murong Jue's crown - prince conferment ceremony and the imperial banquet. But Dugu Luanyue only showed up once at the imperial banquet and then disappeared.
Huo Wei found it very strange. He sent people to look for her, but even the old maid couldn't be found.
He sent people to investigate, and there was no trace of the empress in the Fengluan Palace. He even went to find Sheng Yunqi, but Sheng Yunqi didn't know either.
Huo Wei's deep black eyes stared coldly at Murong Min. There was still one person missing from the seat at the imperial banquet.