The Empress Dowager spoke with a pain that was inexplicable, her voice mournful, like a devoted mother earnestly counseling her son, who had fallen into a mire.
Mu Qingyao’s cold, profound eyes shot towards the Emperor, standing at the side of the grand hall. A smile curled at the corner of her lips as she spoke with composure.
"So, the imperial family is no more than this. The dignified princess lacks basic etiquette, daring to preach to the myriad people. This can only be attributed to the Empress Dowager’s negligence.
As the mistress of the harem, I, this palace, still pay respects to the Empress Dowager and show her deference. In terms of status, I can stand on equal footing with the Empress Dowager. And the princess, as a daughter of the royal family, should be a paragon of etiquette. Yet now she is defiant and disrespectful, committing a grave offense."
The cold words, echoing through the grand hall, pierced every ear, each syllable like a pearl.
The Empress Dowager’s face instantly lost all color. She stared dumbfounded at the exceptionally beautiful woman below, who spoke with calm persistence, looking down upon the world.
Murong Ruoyin was stunned speechless. This woman was too terrifying.
Murong Liu Zun’s handsome face flickered with a hint of softness. The depths of his eyes, like lustrous black crystals, churned with immense waves. He had indeed judged this woman correctly.
Perhaps only she in the world could keep the Empress Dowager in check. He wasn’t simply looking for a countermeasure; he wanted to uncover how his mother had died years ago.
How much had the Empress Dowager been involved?
All those implicated in the events of that year had disappeared from the palace.
Now that he had just ascended the throne, there were many state affairs to handle, coupled with continuous internal strife and ongoing external threats. The other six nations eyed them with covetous glances, and he naturally could not afford to be careless.
Unfortunately, this Empress Dowager was like a dormant silkworm, deeply hidden within its cocoon.
Now he had found someone to stir up this placid pool, to reveal her silken cocoon.
Then, he would unravel it strand by strand, uncover the truth of his mother’s murder, and send her to meet his mother with a reason that left her utterly convinced.
After Mu Qingyao finished speaking, seeing the profound silence in the grand hall, everyone seemed stunned. She looked up at Mochou.
"Mochou, release the princess."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Mochou withdrew her hand. Murong Ruoyin, her face pale, rushed towards the phoenix couch, tightly grasping the Empress Dowager’s hand, and stammered, "Mother Empress, Mother Empress, they actually…?"
"Good, good, such great bearing for an Empress. She even blames this empress dowager. It seems Prime Minister Mu has raised his daughter well, knowing neither respect for elders nor love for the young. I have lived in the harem for over twenty years, and the day you entered the palace yesterday, you speak of equality with me. Very good."
The Empress Dowager spoke heavily, breathing out forcefully. Her sharp eyes gazed at Murong Liu Zun, only to see that the Emperor’s face held no emotion whatsoever.
How deep were his schemes? The Empress Dowager thought with alarm. Suddenly, she realized something: whose idea was it for this woman to enter the palace? The thought caused her great dread. Could it be that the Emperor…?
"Mother Empress, your health is most important. As for the princess, she was indeed lacking in etiquette. The Empress is your imperial sister-in-law. You must respect her in the future."
Murong Liu Zun's words were slow yet irrefutable, devoid of any warmth, carrying an icy chill to the bone.
His words clearly favored the Empress and supported her statements.
The princess was indeed lacking in etiquette. The Empress Dowager looked at the situation before her, her eyes bloodshot. It seemed those not of her own blood were indeed different. If it were Mo’er now, she would never be treated like this.
"My son truly has filial piety. This empress dowager is tired today. As for the princess's etiquette, I will certainly instruct her. It seems I have made the Empress laugh."
The Empress Dowager propped her head with one hand, her face etched with fatigue.
At this moment, she was truly weary from the inside out. She had not expected Mu Hen’s daughter to be so shrewd and overbearing. She feared this was not an easy opponent to deal with.
However, having lived in the palace for so many years, was she afraid of some greenhorn?
Mu Qingyao, was it? Just you wait…
The Empress Dowager issued the order to leave. Mu Qingyao could not linger. However, she still had important matters to attend to. She had not come to endure the scowls of the mother and daughter.
Instead, she had come to retrieve the Phoenix Seal. Since she was the Empress, the Phoenix Seal rightfully belonged to her.
"Mother Empress, Qingyao has one more matter to report."
Mu Qingyao spoke unhurriedly. In truth, she did not wish to provoke the Empress Dowager at this time. But if she did not give the Empress Dowager and her daughter a stern warning, she feared they would treat her as a pushover.
Most importantly, if the Empress Dowager remained inactive, how long would she have to stay in this palace? Now that she had taken the initiative to provoke the Empress Dowager, she would inevitably make a move, and this was precisely what she needed.
A smile played on Mu Qingyao’s lips. Murong Liu Zun’s dark eyes twinkled like scattered blossoms. His lips were pressed together as he quietly watched everything unfold. He was curious to see how she would obtain the Imperial Seal.
"Speak." The Empress Dowager's expression was grim and displeased, her eyes glaring fiercely at Mu Qingyao.
Meeting today, she had been outmaneuvered. But from this, she knew this woman was not easily dealt with. She had dealt with many women in the harem but had never encountered such a formidable opponent.
This ignited a bloodthirsty killing intent within her, her pupils flashing with an unusual light.
"This Empress wishes to retrieve the Phoenix Seal."
Mu Qingyao’s indifferent voice rang out in the grand hall.
Though soft, it reached everyone’s ears.
Her righteous confidence and composure made the Empress Dowager’s face turn pale, and blood rushed to her head.
This woman had come solely to retrieve the Phoenix Seal, not to pay her respects. How infuriating!
"You, you?" The Empress Dowager choked, nearly fainting.
Princess Ruoyin, who had been standing beside her, quickly reached out to help her catch her breath. The Empress Dowager, having regained her breath, looked up resentfully at the Emperor.
How could this woman treat her in such a manner? She was, after all, the Empress Dowager of the harem.
Although the Phoenix Seal should have been under her control, she was too impatient. She had held the Phoenix Seal for over a decade. Was she to watch this woman take it away with folded arms?
If it were Yu Yan, she would not have minded, as she was from the Chu family. But this woman before her clearly did not take her seriously. If she were to hand over the Phoenix Seal now, it would be even harder for her to deal with.
While she was deeply entrenched in the palace, there were still many people who only acted upon the Phoenix Seal.
Losing the Phoenix Seal was equivalent to losing half her supporters and influence. The Empress Dowager was consumed by anxiety, hoping the Emperor would remember some past affection and consider her feelings.
Alas, emperors have always been without emotion, and even more so the one before her.
"Imperial Son, isn't this Empress too overbearing?"
"Mother Empress, please do not be angry. You have managed the harem alone all these years; it must have been extremely tiring. Since the Empress wishes to manage it, Mother Empress can rest assured and focus on recuperating."
A rare, gentle smile graced Murong Liu Zun’s handsome face. His tone was mild, as if he were an Emperor deeply concerned for his mother.