"Um, he-he... No, no. Master, you must have misheard. Just now I was saying that you're very empathetic, um, extremely kind. That's why you're easily able to resonate with others!"
Feng Yunshu unceremoniously pinched Xiaoling's chubby cheeks. "You're quite the smooth - talker. In this regard, you're just like your master."
Although she was still joking, Feng Yunshu was still troubled by what Helan Yanting had said earlier. Just who was this Concubine Mu?
Meanwhile, in the harem of the Dan Kingdom.
"Your Ladyship, there are spies around the palace. They've already suspected Your Ladyship. Should we eliminate these spies once and for all?"
As the secret guard spoke, he quickly glanced up at the woman reclining languidly on the imperial concubine's chair. The woman was extremely gorgeous with a delicate makeup. She held a cat with jet - black fur in her arms, her eyes slightly squinted as she stroked the cat's fur.
Concubine Mu didn't seem worried about the information reported by the secret guard. She slightly raised her eyebrows, with a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"It's okay. They're just a bunch of clowns. Let them jump around for a few more days. In any case, they'll never be able to stop this concubine's plan."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
"Do you have any news about the person I asked you to investigate?"
"Your Ladyship, you previously asked us to collect information on those born on a Yin - hour of a Yin - day within the entire Dan Kingdom. Due to the large population, there are quite a number of people who meet the criteria. Our men haven't completed the statistics yet..."
"Not completed yet? What's the use of keeping you useless lot?"
Concubine Mu frowned, with annoyance on her face.
"I'll give you three more days. If you still can't complete the task I've assigned to you in time, you might as well come and see me with your heads in your hands."
The secret guard trembled all over and nodded shakily. "Yes, Your Ladyship!"
"This concubine is tired. You may leave first."
Not long after the secret guard left, Concubine Mu ordered the maids beside her to help her undress and dress up. She changed into a brightly - colored palace dress and was about to go out.
"Your Ladyship, the medicinal soup you ordered to be cooked is ready."
"Okay, bring it to me. I'll personally take it to the emperor to drink."
In the emperor's bedroom.
Just as Concubine Mu reached the door of the bedroom and was about to enter, she bumped into Empress Zheng.
"Empress, what a coincidence. I see you everywhere."
Concubine Mu just smiled faintly and greeted Empress Zheng without bowing.
Empress Zheng on the other side didn't blame her either. She just slightly frowned and glanced at the black medicinal soup carried by the maid beside Concubine Mu. Her expression became even more complicated.
"Concubine Mu is truly devoted to the emperor. The emperor has been seriously ill for several days, and you've come to deliver the medicinal soup every day without fail. This 'affection' is really touching. I'm even ashamed of myself."
"Hehe," Concubine Mu covered her face and laughed. "Your Majesty is over - praising. I'm just doing my part. It's my duty. Your Majesty also accompanies the emperor every day to take care of him. That's truly touching."
After exchanging some polite words, Empress Zheng's eyes suddenly turned sharper. She slowly stepped forward a few steps and whispered into Concubine Mu's ear.
"How much longer are you going to torture him? Can't you just give him a quick end?"
"What? Is Your Majesty feeling sorry for him? Do you regret it?"
Concubine Mu's smile was mixed with mockery and teasing. "Don't you forget that it was you who first proposed to take action, and you planned the whole scheme. There's no turning back once the bow is drawn. Do you think you still have a way out?"
Empress Zheng's face changed several times and then suddenly sank. Gradually, she returned to normal. "Sister is quite right. Hehe, there's no turning back once the bow is drawn."
...
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the prime minister's mansion was also extremely tense.
Madam Li nervously pulled the prime minister aside and whispered, "My Lord, I heard that the emperor is seriously ill. I'm afraid... Is this true?"
The prime minister frowned, looking impatient. "What do you, a woman, know about these things? This is not something you should be concerned about. Keep your mouth shut and do more and talk less."
Madam Li was a bit angry. "Do you think I want to meddle in these affairs? If I hadn't heard that you, my Lord, were also involved in this matter and were suspected of plotting to assassinate the emperor in secret, do you think I'd be so worried?"
Hearing this, the prime minister's face turned pale. He grabbed Madam Li's shoulders tightly. "Where did you hear this? Do you know what it means to invite disaster by speaking carelessly? There may be eavesdroppers! If these words are taken advantage of by those with ulterior motives, it will mean the extermination of the nine clans!"
Madam Li was shocked. It took her a long time to speak. "Do you think I wanted to hear these things? I just don't know what's wrong with you recently. You didn't even discuss such a big matter with me. If something really goes wrong, it will implicate hundreds of people in our prime minister's mansion!"
The prime minister let go of Madam Li's shoulders, frowned, and turned around.
After a long silence, the prime minister turned to look at Madam Li, his voice extremely low.
"You just need to know that I'm doing this for the future of our prime minister's mansion. The court is in turmoil. If we take the wrong side at this time, we'll surely die. So, we might as well take a risk."
Madam Li's heart tightened. "So, what I said just now is true..."
The prime minister didn't continue this topic. Instead, he asked, "How's Manshu getting along with the young master of the Wu family recently? I heard a few days ago that you intended to marry her to the young master of the Wu family. Is there such a thing?"
Madam Li slowly nodded. "Yes, I do have this intention. Originally, I wanted to discuss this matter with you, my Lord. But I didn't expect that you've rarely been back to the mansion recently. You just said you were busy with court affairs. I don't even know if it's true or not."
"I've really been very busy with affairs today and haven't had time to come back."
After saying that, seeing Madam Li's not - so - good expression, the prime minister thought his words were too cold. So he added, "After this special period is over and I'm not so busy, I'll spend more time with you and Manshu."
After the prime minister changed the topic, Madam Li seemed to have forgotten what she originally wanted to say. Suddenly, she remembered something and continued, "My Lord, Yunshu has been missing for some time. I'm afraid she's already dead. Even if she was lucky enough to survive, a young widow who's been away for so long will surely have a bad reputation..."
"What do you mean, Madam?"
"In my opinion, we might as well hold a funeral for her as soon as possible. We can just tell the outside world that she had a very good relationship with Prince Helan. Because of Prince Helan's death, she was so grief - stricken that she hanged herself. What do you think?"
"This..."
The prime minister looked thoughtful. He pondered for a moment.
When the image of his legitimate daughter Feng Yunshu emerged in his mind, he couldn't help but think of his deceased wife. There was a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
"My Lord, you must be decisive in this matter. The longer we delay this kind of thing, the more our prime minister's mansion's reputation will be damaged. Do you really want to watch our prime minister's mansion be ruined in this imperial city?"
There was another period of silence. This time, the prime minister made a decision. "Yes, Madam is quite right. I'll leave this matter to you to handle..."
"Yes! You can leave this matter to me. I'll surely arrange it properly!"
...
"Achoo!"
Feng Yunshu had just gotten out of bed when she suddenly sneezed loudly.
Just then, Helan Yanting walked to the tent. Hearing the loud sneeze, he quickened his steps and walked in. "Did you catch a cold?"