"I'm already dead tired."
After washing up, Wanwan helped her onto the bed.
The woman had already flopped onto the bed, fast asleep and oblivious to everything. Wanwan sighed, resigned herself to holding her properly, attending to everything, and then stood guard by the bed, gazing at the lovely face under the lamplight, murmuring her worries.
"Master, why would Mu Rong Chong be so good to you? They say he's bloodthirsty and kills without blinking. If he treats you this way, he must have ulterior motives. Wan'er doesn't want you to get hurt in any way."
Unfortunately, Yun Xiao was completely unaware of her concerns. Otherwise, she would surely retort that Wanwan was being unnecessarily worried, because she and Mu Rong Chong were from different worlds; what harm could there be...
Qingfeng Pavilion, Xi Menyao's assassination attempt, this news reached Jingfu Palace early in the morning.
The Emperor, Shangguan Yao, was furious, his face a grim and overcast mask. He had only just brought Xi Menyao into the palace, and he had already been targeted by an assassination attempt. It was clear who was behind this.
A deep, cold abyss seemed to well up in his heart, his pupils burning with world-destroying dark light.
Why would Mother treat me like this? Even if I wield great power, I am still her son. Would I harm her? Why would she treat me like this?
A chilling coldness seeped into Shangguan Yao's heart. With a sweep of his hand, the golden silk curtains were lifted, swirling into the ripples of the sea.
Xiao Tingzi, standing guard by the screen, was terrified as soon as he saw the Emperor's anger and repeatedly kowtowed.
"Your Majesty, your dragon body is paramount. Please do not anger yourself to illness."
"Xiao Tingzi, do you think I've done something wrong? I am still the ruler of a nation. Why would she treat me like this? How will the people of the world perceive me? I had only just brought Xi Menyao into the palace, and this happened.
I thought he was safe in the palace, so there weren't many guards at Qingfeng Pavilion. But besides her, who else could have bypassed those guards to assassinate Xi Menyao?"
As the Emperor's fierce words fell, Xiao Tingzi's face turned ashen. He knew it was best to know as little as possible about royal affairs. Knowing too much about such matters was a sure path to death. He dared not say a word, only continuing to kowtow.
Shangguan Yao felt somewhat better after venting his anger, and cast a cold glance at Xiao Tingzi, who was still kowtowing.
"Xiao Tingzi, what did I just say?"
Xiao Tingzi quickly replied, "Your Majesty said nothing, and this servant heard nothing."
"Mmm, come here and help me get up," Shangguan Yao's tone softened. Xiao Tingzi heaved a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and slowly got to his feet, his legs feeling a bit weak.
Ever since ancient times, serving the emperor was like accompanying a tiger. A large number of eunuchs and palace maids in the palace envied his position, wanting to be the Emperor's favored attendant. Yet, they didn't know the loneliness of being at the top. He lived each day in trembling fear.
If he could, he would rather be an ordinary eunuch.
Xiao Tingzi thought this to himself while attending to the Emperor.
Seeing his face as pale as paper, Shangguan Yao knew he had frightened the little servant just now. He glanced at the man trembling as he fastened his belt and softened his tone, "Xiao Tingzi, you are my servant, and I will not treat you lightly."
As the gentle words rang out, Xiao Tingzi was somewhat overwhelmed with gratitude. The Emperor was speaking to him like this. His heart stirred, and tears welled up in his eyes. While attending to the Emperor, he respectfully said,
"This servant thanks Your Majesty. This servant thanks Your Majesty."
"You wretched servant."
Shangguan Yao looked at the man attending him, weeping and laughing, and a sense of shared feeling arose. He could vent his anger alongside Xiao Tingzi, but Xiao Tingzi, as a servant, could only endure it in silence.
"Alright, alright. Stop worrying about your lowly life. I won't take your wretched life. Prepare the imperial carriage to Qingfeng Pavilion."
Shangguan Yao didn't have much energy to waste on Xiao Tingzi. His mind was currently occupied with his strategist, Xi Menyao.
He heard that the assassin had not harmed him at all last night, but had instead injured several people and fled in disarray. This Xi Menyao was indeed a renowned strategist in the martial world, with superior martial arts and strategy.
However, his brilliance was too sharp. Fortunately, he had no interest in officialdom and was naturally indifferent. Otherwise, it would be difficult for even him to tolerate him.
Shangguan Yao's eyes flickered, a cold glint passing through them.
Throughout history, those with extraordinary wisdom and great reputations were a major taboo for royalty.
Mother's actions were not wrong, but she shouldn't have acted so obviously and so hastily. On one hand, it was to suppress his authority, and on the other, it was a warning that without her approval, this person could not remain.
Thinking of her intentions, Shangguan Yao's heart ignited with anger, and he strode out with forceful steps.
Xiao Tingzi, leading several eunuchs, followed closely behind him. The Emperor's recent assurance had somewhat eased his mind. His words were golden, and it seemed he didn't have to worry about losing his life at any moment. His head would be safe for the time being.
However, he hadn't forgotten one thing: the less one knew about royal affairs, the better. That way, his life would be longer.
"Prepare the imperial carriage to Qingfeng Pavilion."
However, Xi Menyao was not at Qingfeng Pavilion, so the Emperor's visit was in vain. The young eunuch attending Xi Menyao cautiously reported that Master Xi Men had been summoned by the Empress Dowager early in the morning.
Shangguan Yao's expression became even more grim. Mother's actions were too swift. If she couldn't kill him yesterday, she summoned Xi Menyao early this morning. Could it be that she intended to sentence Xi Menyao to death?
"Prepare the imperial carriage to Changxin Palace."
With the Emperor's command, a grand procession moved towards Changxin Palace.
In the early morning, a thin mist veiled the scene, a gentle breeze caressed, and the mist slowly dispersed.
In a small green pavilion, silk gauze fluttered, revealing graceful figures. Outside the pavilion, flowers and grasses were fresh, vying for beauty. In the distance, verdant screens overlapped, appearing soft and captivating. The air was filled with the fresh scent of flowers and grass.
A clear and cold voice faintly drifted from the pavilion.
"Master Xi Men truly has a noble presence."
In the cool pavilion, the Empress Dowager surveyed Xi Menyao, the strategist of legend. He was unlike the common folk of the martial world, possessing a more refined nobility. His features were handsome, his eyebrows like new willow branches, his eyes like bright stars, and his dark pupils held a hint of indifference, coldness, and detachment.
Such a person, unstained by the dust and smoke of the mortal world, truly possessed an air of ethereal grace. It was a pity that this person was unfathomable, a man like mist who could remain by Yao'er's side.
Xi Menyao calmly accepted the Empress Dowager's discerning gaze. As the Empress Dowager appraised him, he too was appraising her.
This most powerful woman in Eastern Qin was indeed as legendary as the rumors claimed, possessing peerless beauty. It was said that in her youth, her smile could topple cities, and her second smile could bring down kingdoms. For many years, she had held the position of Empress, enjoying constant favor.
"The Empress Dowager is too kind."
Xi Menyao bowed with clasped fists, neither humble nor arrogant. His pupils were as calm as still water, undisturbed.
"If I were to ask you to remain in Changxin Palace and offer your counsel to me, would you be willing?"
The Empress Dowager calmly picked up the tea vessel, her fair, jade-like hands lightly lifting the exquisite tea lid as she elegantly sipped her tea. However, her deep, dark eyes pierced through the rising steam of the tea, fixated on Xi Menyao, not missing his every movement.
Why did this person make her feel so uneasy, a deep sense of fear?