"Your Majesty, this is a confidential letter I received from the senior elder at noon today. It's sealed with spiritual power, but the senior didn't come."
A confidential letter sealed with spiritual power is like a video. However, while a video may leave traces, a confidential letter won't. Only the recipient can open it. Moreover, a confidential letter is different from an ordinary letter. It's essentially a "letter" formed by the virtualization of spiritual power, so its speed is naturally far beyond that of an ordinary letter.
Gu Zhiruo's face darkened. As far as he knew, the senior elder named Banyue Chengcan had retired to Changbai Mountain many years ago. Over the years, he had been living a leisurely life, accompanied by medicinal herbs and spiritual cranes. When Gu Zhiruo asked for his help, even if there were extremely important matters, the senior would surely come. The senior was a man of his word. He had promised Sister Ling to take care of Gu Zhiruo, and over the years, he had never declined any requests.
This time, however, things were extremely strange. What was the so - called important matter he mentioned? How important could it be that he would decline Gu Zhiruo's urgent call for help?
Also, the confidential letter mentioned that Gu Zhiruo would have a noble helper, which was even more suspicious. If there really was a noble person in the entire Kingdom of Cangwu, Gu Zhiruo would have discovered them long ago.
Gu Zhiruo looked up and suddenly thought of someone. Could it be him, the monk who appeared many years ago? No, it couldn't be. When the monk left, he had said that he would no longer interfere in the affairs of the Kingdom of Cangwu. If Gu Zhiruo could defend the kingdom, it would still belong to the Gu family. If he was incompetent, he would have to bear the shame of losing the country alone.
"The senior elder didn't come. Then what about this matter?"
"It doesn't matter." Although Gu Zhiruo said so, he was extremely anxious in his heart. After all, Banyue Chengcan was very powerful. If he came, he could hold up a corner of the sky, and Gu Zhiruo could act more boldly.
"Your Majesty, have you made up your mind?"
Gu Zhiruo nodded and said seriously, "I've always been patient with Prime Minister Qi. Now that he has such thoughts first, this big tree must be uprooted."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will do my best to help Your Majesty achieve this."
In the secret room, the discussion continued. Qi Huan was different from ordinary people. His ancestors were all loyal and upright. In each dynasty, there had been important officials from the Qi family. Over the years, the influence of the Qi family had grown stronger and spread throughout the Kingdom of Cangwu. So this time, it was not just about getting rid of a treacherous official.
Under the night sky, the lights in the Fengyi Palace were still on. Vaguely, one could see a woman sitting upright on the bed inside the curtain. There were several maids kneeling beside her.
Looking closer, the woman was dressed in a magnificent red silk dress, and the phoenix hairpin on her head had not been removed. In her hand, she held a pale - yellow daisy. There was sweat in her palm.
"Madam, please go to sleep first. After Your Majesty finishes dealing with state affairs, he will surely come to accompany you."
The woman's expression was a bit dazed. Or perhaps she didn't even listen to what Eunuch Su said behind the curtain. The bedroom in the Fengyi Palace was designed by herself, and His Majesty had let her do as she wished. She had violated the prohibition and opened a window in her room. When His Majesty found out, he didn't say anything. Instead, he said it was good, because otherwise, the magnificent and air - tight palace would be too solemn.
Concubine Mei Feixuan looked out of the window. The moon had set, and the stars were fading. The shadows of the trees were gently swaying in the night wind, just like Mei Feixuan's wavering heart.
"Madam?"
"Madam?" It was only when Su Jing called out again that Mei Feixuan woke up from her memories. She looked dejected and gave a faint smile.
"Eunuch Su, it's okay. There are many people in my Fengyi Palace. His Majesty has a lot of things to do recently. He doesn't need to worry about the Fengyi Palace."
Su Jing said, "Madam, His Majesty still misses you very much. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent this old servant to the Fengyi Palace several times to inquire about your news. When he learned that your condition has been unstable recently, he was extremely worried. But you also know that these days, there have been many accidents on the prime minister's side. His disciples and other related people have also rebelled. His Majesty is really too busy to spare any time."
"Eunuch Su, you don't need to say more. I understand everything. You can go back first. His Majesty has been taken care of by you for these years. If you're not around, he may not get used to it. I should rest too. Please tell His Majesty not to worry about anything. I know the overall situation."
After Su Jing left as ordered, Mei Feixuan let out a long sigh. She said to the people kneeling on the ground, "Forget it, you can all go out. You don't need to guard me specially. If there's anything, I will call you in."
"But Madam, you haven't changed your clothes yet. Let the maids serve you to wash and dress first."
"Okay." Mei Feixuan sat in front of the bronze mirror. The woman in the mirror was gentle and elegant, but there was always a hint of sorrow between her eyebrows. She, Mei Feixuan, had restored the glory of the Mei family.
Her slender fingers gently slid through her hair, and Mei Feixuan showed a faint smile. Now that things had come to this point, did she still have room to back down? Would this choice make the Mei family prosperous or completely decline?
The hand of the maid behind her trembled, and the wooden comb fell to the ground.
"The maid deserves to die." The little maid immediately knelt down.
Mei Feixuan was slightly stunned and asked, "What's wrong?"
"The maid, the maid—" The little maid stammered and didn't dare to speak. Mei Feixuan turned her head and, with the help of the lamp light, saw a white hair on her head. Then she smiled understandingly.
"It's just a white hair. Pull it out."
The little maid stood up tremblingly, gently pulled out the white hair on Mei Feixuan's head, and pinched it in her palm. She sighed again. The madam was really kind and was deeply in love with His Majesty. That was probably why His Majesty hadn't taken any other concubines over the years.
After Mei Feixuan finished washing, she got into bed without taking off her outer clothes and dismissed the maids around her.
"I'm tired. You can go out."
"Yes." The people in the room slowly walked out of the large room. Mei Feixuan wrapped her clothes and sat on the bed. Her eyes were still open.
Outside the window, it seemed to brighten a bit. The moon seemed to have moved out from behind the dark clouds. Mei Feixuan reached out and picked up the daisy that had been placed beside the bed earlier. The expression on her face was a mixture of bitterness and reminiscence.
"Father, Gu Zhiruo treats me very well." Mei Feixuan murmured, with tears in her eyes. She placed one hand on her lower abdomen.
"Father, I'm pregnant." For the mother of the country to be pregnant, it should have been a great joy, and for Mei Feixuan, it should also have been a happy thing. But there was not a trace of happiness on her face.
"Knock, knock, knock—" Three faint knocks on the wooden board came from under the bed. The daisy in Mei Feixuan's hand also fell to the ground.