Chapter 45

No matter what Empress Dowager said, whether she humbled herself, acted high and mighty, or tried to appeal emotionally and reason logically, Feng Yaoguang remained unmoved.

This only made the Empress Dowager’s face turn livid again. She spoke until her mouth was dry, explaining all the misunderstandings, promising to deal with Sheng Jing’an, and even agreeing to apologize on behalf of the Emperor to Yan Donghuang because it was the Emperor’s poor judgment that led to Yan Donghuang being harmed by Sheng Jing’an.

As the Empress Dowager of a nation, she felt she had shown utmost sincerity by lowering herself to say these things. However, Feng Yaoguang continued to look at her silently, with a mocking and indifferent attitude. The smile at the corner of his mouth made the Empress Dowager want to slap him.

He neither spoke nor showed hostility. He just looked at her lightly, with a slight smile and a casual gaze, making his mockery and disdain clear and palpable. This attitude successfully angered the Empress Dowager. Since her son ascended the throne, she has been the most noble woman in the world, commanding respect and authority. She has never suffered such humiliation.

So, despite Yang Debao’s repeated reminders to stay calm, the Empress Dowager could not control her anger under Feng Yaoguang’s hateful gaze and erupted again, “Did you hear what I said? I am the Empress Dowager, standing here talking to you for so long. Are you mute or deaf?! Go and inform Yan Donghuang to come out and greet me immediately!”

Feng Yaoguang sneered, raised his hand, and ordered, “Someone, please escort the Empress Dowager into the Grand Princess’s residence for tea.”

With that, he turned and walked into the residence.

His soldiers, the Yaoguang troops, stepped forward in unison, standing tall and imposing, “Please, Empress Dowager, enter the residence for tea.”

“I am the Empress Dowager,” she coldly looked at them, “Do you know what your actions constitute? This is rebellion, and by law, your families should be executed!”

“Please, Empress Dowager, enter the residence for tea!”

“I order you to retrieve the Chu family’s father and son from the military camp and ensure their safety—”

“Please, Empress Dowager, enter the residence for tea!”

The Empress Dowager’s face turned livid with anger, and a strong sense of unease grew in her heart. “I am the Empress Dowager. How dare you be so disrespectful? I will have the Emperor execute your entire families…”

“Empress Dowager, please calm down,” Yang Debao, anxious and bowing, urgently reminded, “Empress Dowager, it’s better to enter the residence first. Since the Grand Princess is sleeping, we can wait until she wakes up to discuss. Empress Dowager, the Grand Princess is the one who truly gives orders. Without her command, these people wouldn’t dare act on their own.”

Yang Debao’s words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly calming the Empress Dowager. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Yang Debao’s hand, looking around at the heavily armored soldiers standing with swords outside the residence. Her feet suddenly felt like they were filled with lead, and she was unable to take a step.

The Grand Princess’s residence was now like a fortress. With so many soldiers, once she stepped inside, it would be difficult to come out again. Before leaving the palace, she understood that once she entered the Grand Princess’s residence, she would willingly offer herself as a hostage. However, her long-standing high status still caused her to lose her temper inappropriately. Not having slept all night, the Empress Dowager was somewhat exhausted. She was used to living in luxury and hadn’t lost her temper like this in a long time. Coupled with a night of excessive worry and fear, her strained nerves felt like they were about to snap at any moment, and she occasionally saw a black mist before her eyes, making the whole scene seem upside down.

Grasping Yang Debao’s wrist, the Empress Dowager took a deep breath and finally stepped into the Grand Princess’s residence. Since she had come, there was no turning back.

Yan Donghuang had better be just trying to scare her and not really intend to kill the Chu family, or she would haunt her even as a ghost.

The Empress Dowager was settled in the main hall of the inner courtyard for tea, where she sat for two hours. She drank three cups of tea during this time, frequently dozing off from exhaustion. Halfway through her nap, she wanted to use the restroom, so Yang Dexi and her personal maid Hua Ping led her to the restroom.

The half-day passed slowly, yet it also seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

The Empress Dowager, growing impatient, exclaimed, “It’s almost noon. How long does Donghuang plan to sleep?!”

Chapter 46

Yan Donghuang had already woken up at this hour. She sat by the window, her face slightly pale, quietly watching the soldiers patrolling outside. A faint pain began to spread in her chest; the poison was starting to take effect. She had been busy all day yesterday and hadn’t had time to think calmly.

Now, she had to consider what would happen to the Qingluan Army if she really died. She needed to make arrangements for the Qingluan Army to ensure no one could touch them after she was gone.

“Your Highness,” Chang Lan and Chang Yue entered with lunch, “please have your meal.”

Yan Donghuang came back to her senses and turned to look at the two who had been busy with her for two days and nights without rest. She asked calmly, “Has the Empress Dowager entered the residence?”

“Yes,” Chang Lan replied, “she is having tea in the front.”

Yan Donghuang stood up and walked to the table, “You two go rest first. I have important matters to attend to after the meal and might be busy until dark. You don’t need to follow me.”

Chang Lan and Chang Yue nodded, “Yes.”

Yan Donghuang said nothing more, picked up her chopsticks, and began to eat.

After the meal, she drank a cup of strong tea to refresh herself, changed into her military uniform, and walked out.

“Your Highness,” Gu Chiran came to meet her, “Yaoguang has been busy all morning. I told him to rest.”

Yan Donghuang nodded, observing his complexion, “You should rest, too. I will handle the upcoming matters with Rong Ying and Si Ying.”

Gu Chiran shook his head, “I just slept for an hour. That’s enough.”

Yan Donghuang said nothing more and headed straight to the hall where the Empress Dowager was.

The Empress Dowager was dozing off, propping her chin with her hand.

“Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager,” Yang Debao gently reminded her by her ear, “the Grand Princess is here.”

The Empress Dowager suddenly woke up and stood up from her chair, “Who?”

Yan Donghuang looked at her expressionlessly, stepped into the hall, and bowed, “Greetings, Empress Dowager.”

“Donghuang?” The Empress Dowager focused on Yan Donghuang. After a moment, her drowsiness vanished, and she urgently looked at Yan Donghuang, “Donghuang, I am here to clear up the misunderstanding. The Emperor had no intention of harming you! Donghuang, this was all Sheng Jing’an’s doing! Please release the Chu family.”

“Donghuang, the Emperor treats you like his own sister, and I regard you as my own daughter. How could we possibly want to harm you?”

“The kingdom of Yong relies on you for protection. What benefit would the Emperor or I gain from harming you?”

“Sheng Jing’an must have been instigated by someone to dare to slander the Emperor, deliberately sowing discord between you and the Emperor. He is malicious and deserves to die!”

“Donghuang, you must not be misled by rumors.”

Yan Donghuang walked over to a chair and sat down, her expression indifferent, “Is the Empress Dowager finished?”

The Empress Dowager’s face turned pale, “Donghuang, this is all a misunderstanding! Someone is deliberately causing trouble. The Emperor has never feared you, let alone tried to harm you!”

“I believe what the Empress Dowager says,” Yan Donghuang nodded, her tone calm and steady. “If that’s the case, could the Empress Dowager issue two verbal orders for me?”

The Empress Dowager was shocked, “Verbal orders?”

“The commander of the vanguard of the Imperial Guards is the Empress Dowager’s nephew. I hope the Empress Dowager can order him to bring his men to the Grand Princess’s residence to protect me.”

“The deputy commander of the guard battalion on duty at the Donghua Gate tower is Minister Chu’s cousin, who is also your cousin. I hope he can lead his men to let my Qingluan Army into the palace.”

What?

The Empress Dowager’s face changed dramatically. She instantly understood her intention: “You want to storm the palace?”

Yan Donghuang’s expression remained calm, “Didn’t the Empress Dowager say the Emperor has no intention of harming me? I think he wouldn’t mind me entering the palace to talk to him. But entering the palace alone is disadvantageous for me, so I want to bring troops for my protection. The Empress Dowager shouldn’t mind, right?”