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Chapter 556: So Reckless
Chapter 556: So Reckless
The weather was growing increasingly warm.
The Empress, dressed in layers of court attire, already felt a bit overheated.
Just as she was about to take a seat in the pavilion, a commotion broke out outside the hall.
"This is the Empress's private chambers; you have no right to be so reckless!"
"Is the Kunning Palace defying the imperial edict?"
The Empress's brow furrowed, and she gave a subtle nod to her personal attendant, Lady Tong.
Lady Tong understood and immediately headed to the front hall.
Lu Yuan had already burst in with Meng Qianqian, and the palace maids and eunuchs of Kunning Palace tried to stop them. However, upon hearing that this was by the Emperor's command, they quickly stepped aside.
Only one other lady-in-waiting, Lady Yao, stood in front of the two.
Only those of noble birth could serve as ladies-in-waiting in the imperial palace, setting them apart from ordinary palace servants.
For example, Lady Yao was the Empress's cousin from her maternal side.
Lady Tong walked over to her, glanced at Lu Yuan and Meng Qianqian, and her expression clearly showed a hint of displeasure and confusion when she looked at the latter.
She bowed to Lu Yuan, "I wonder why His Highness has come to the Kunning Palace without an imperial edict."
Lu Yuan said with an authoritative air, "I am acting on the Emperor's command. How can this be considered breaking in?"
Lady Tong asked, "May I see the imperial edict?"
Lu Yuan replied, "It's the Emperor's oral command."
Lady Tong sternly responded, "So, His Highness doesn't have the imperial edict?"
Lu Yuan retorted, "Are you questioning whether I'm falsely claiming the Emperor's command?"
Lady Tong bowed slightly, "Your servant dares not."
Meng Qianqian calmly said, "Truly fitting for a lady-in-waiting of the Kunning Palace, with the Empress's backing, even a prince can be treated with disdain."
Lady Tong looked at Meng Qianqian, her tone much milder, "The Kunning Palace is not a place for Miss Yan to visit."
Lu Yuan coldly said, "Whether she comes or not, is it up to you to decide? A mere lady-in-waiting of the Kunning Palace, daring to offend the Phoenix Lady, you are truly courting death!"
Lady Tong's face turned pale, and she bowed, "Your servant spoke out of turn."
Lady Yao, unconcerned, said, "So what if she's the Phoenix Lady? She has no rank, so she must still bow to us."
Lady Tong quickly gave her a subtle look.
Lady Yao belatedly remembered that the Phoenix Lady was the tutor of Miss Zhaozhao, who was deeply favored by Miss Zhaozhao and, by extension, the Emperor.
Even the imperial chief steward didn't dare to ask her to bow, let alone a lady-in-waiting of the Kunning Palace.
"Slap yourself."
Lu Yuan's presence as a powerful minister instantly made the two ladies-in-waiting feel suffocated.
Lady Yao trembled and slapped herself.
Lu Yuan's eyes were cold, "Hmm?"
Lady Yao, her eyes red, slapped herself again.
"Enough!"
The Empress, surrounded by her attendants, walked over with a stern expression.
Lady Tong hurriedly turned to greet her, supporting the Empress's arm, "Empress."
Lady Yao, relying on her status as the Empress's relative, had often acted arrogantly in the palace. She had never been reprimanded by anyone, not even Prince Jin.
She immediately complained, "Empress, please do something for your servant!"
The Empress gave her a stern look and said to Lu Yuan, "What has my lady-in-waiting done wrong that requires you to discipline her? Are you so bold as to reprimand a senior's attendant? Or perhaps your parents taught you to act this way?"
Lu Yuan replied calmly, "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault. My father's lack of discipline must be the Emperor's fault."
The Empress said with authority, "You are being unreasonable!"
Lu Yuan said, "If the Empress is dissatisfied, go complain to the Emperor. I need to capture the assassin, Miss Yan."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Meng Qianqian followed Lu Yuan to capture the assassin.
The Empress coldly said, "You do not respect me as the Empress!"
Lu Yuan met her piercing gaze without flinching. "Whose respect is being questioned here, Your Majesty?"
The Empress snorted. "If it's truly an Imperial Command, where is Chief Eunuch Yu? Where is Little Dezi? You didn't even bring a single attendant from the Qinzheng Hall, and you still dare to claim it's an Imperial Command!"
As the Empress, she had been married to the Liang Emperor for many years and knew his ways all too well.
Lu Yuan might intimidate others, but the Empress wasn't so easily frightened.
Lu Yuan asked calmly, "Is the Empress deliberately making things difficult for me?"
The Empress didn't answer Lu Yuan but instead ordered, "Someone, go to the Imperial Study and ask the Emperor if he indeed issued this command!"
Meng Qianqian's eyes flickered.
The Emperor's Heart-devouring Parasite had been activated, likely leaving him in a state of confusion, locked in a fierce struggle with his maternal grandfather.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Yao Nvguan, smirking triumphantly, raised her chin and turned to leave the hall.
But she stopped at the door, hesitated, and then stepped back.
"What a lively scene here."
Chen Fei, supported by a young attendant, entered the Kunning Palace with a radiant smile. Since reconnecting with the Liu family, she no longer secluded herself and occasionally visited other consorts' palaces.
The Empress smiled faintly. "What wind brings you here, Consort Chen?"
Chen Fei replied, "The Emperor works tirelessly, so I brought him some ginseng soup. I heard that Yuan'er is catching an assassin, and I couldn't help but come and see."
As she spoke, she glanced at Lu Yuan. "Have you caught him? Your Imperial Grandfather is waiting to interrogate the assassin himself."
Lu Yuan looked at the Empress meaningfully. "We're still in the process, as you know, Empress."
The Empress's gaze was sharp as she stared at Lu Yuan.
Chen Fei patted her sleeve. "Ah, I left the peace charm I made for Yuan'er in the Imperial Study. Qing'er, go fetch it for me."
She then smiled at Yao Nvguan. "Yao Nvguan, would you like to come along?"
Yao Nvguan looked at the Empress.
The Empress clenched her fingers. "Why should my attendant join in the fun? Your attendant knows the way well enough!"
Chen Fei said to Lu Yuan, "Hurry up, won't you? If the assassin escapes, your Imperial Grandfather will be furious with you!"
Lu Yuan snorted. "It's not my delay that's the problem..."
Chen Fei pinched his arm.
Lu Yuan rubbed his arm, looking aggrieved. "Fine, fine, I understand."
The Empress's face darkened, and she gave a subtle nod to an unassuming eunuch in the back of the room.
The eunuch lowered his eyes and quietly slipped out through the back door of the Kunning Palace.
---
In the Imperial Study, as Meng Qianqian had predicted, the Liang Emperor and the King Miao were locked in a fierce struggle.
Duke Jiang took advantage of any opportunity to attack the Liang Emperor.
However, while the Liang Emperor could strike them with lethal force, they couldn't truly attack his vital points.
After a few rounds, both were exhausted and slightly injured.
"I can't... I can't do this anymore..."
Duke Jiang leaned against the table, panting heavily. "I can't keep this up..."
The Liang Emperor brought down a powerful palm.
Duke Jiang rolled to the ground without any dignity, and the table splintered, burying him in debris.
Duke Jiang coughed. "How can he still have so much strength?"
The King Miao leaped onto the Liang Emperor's back, grabbed the beam with his hands, and twisted the Liang Emperor, pinning him to the ground again.
He yanked the curtain and threw it over the Liang Emperor. "Hold him down!"
The two of them pressed the Liang Emperor to the ground, one in front and one behind.
The King Miao gritted his teeth. "Granddaughter... hurry up... I can't hold him much longer..."
Duke Jiang growled. "Who's your granddaughter?"
Boom!
The Liang Emperor threw them both off!
(End of Chapter)
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