In the following days, Yuan Qi specially exempted Chen Lu from her morning shift so that she could stay in Chang Palace for a longer period.

  These days have been peaceful and uneventful, and finally it's time for the grand court assembly that takes place every ten days.

  On this day in the early morning, all civil and military officials would gather together, some important government affairs would also be decided on the spot, all the ceremonial guards were present, majestic and imposing, not one was missing.

  As a female official with dignity, Chenlu couldn't not go.

  In the Taihe Hall, Minister of War Huang Jiazheng was reading a memorial with great passion:

  "They are a barbarian state, a group of nomadic hunters with a pungent smell. The people are fierce and violent, and they consider plundering and looting to be acts of bravery. In the past, during the Jingyuan era, they invaded our central plains, burning, killing, and pillaging, their crimes were too numerous to record, and the central plains were almost completely devastated... My great ancestor once defeated them in a major battle, and their Khan barely escaped with 3,000 cavalry... Now they have returned again, but they are just a minor nuisance, not worth mentioning. I humbly request that Your Majesty quickly dispatch troops, and as soon as the imperial army advances, we will definitely be able to annihilate them all, and display their severed heads throughout the empire."

  Morning dew cold eyes watched from the side, just saw Yuan Qi sitting upright on the dragon chair, seemingly listening seriously, but a hint of cold smile at the corner of his mouth revealed his emotions.

  He is very impatient.

  Chenlu listened to this lengthy and impassioned speech, suddenly feeling like laughing.

  Annihilate them all and hang their heads as a warning to the world?

  These officials are full and idle all day, every day looking at the Book of Jin and wanting to learn from Xie An. They think that the twelve tribes of the Tatars are vegetarian, made of paper, and will disintegrate with just a slight touch?

  At that time, in the Pinghu Army, there were brave generals like Yun, talented strategists, and loyal officers who risked their lives. With unity of purpose and utmost effort, they barely managed to drive out the Tatars.

  Despite this, Igore Khagan still led his tribe's elite 3,000 cavalrymen to flee to the north of the desert. At that time, everyone had a plan in mind - these prairie warriors who called themselves the sons of the wolf would one day return with a vengeance.

  So she stayed thousands of miles away, with a heart that only thought about preparing for the future, but unexpectedly, it was a disaster that arose from within the family, and suddenly turned into a steep decline...

  Another louder sound interrupted her memories ——

  "Huang, do you know that all the corrupt Confucians in the world are after a good name? As long as they can make their names known for eternity and gain the reputation of being loyal to the emperor and loving the country, they will recklessly advocate for war... Your bookish views bring nothing but harm to the state and its people!"

  The morning dew was pleasant to hear, but unexpectedly, this person's tone changed: "In my humble opinion, the recent instability of the Tatar tribes is purely because they have just crossed the winter and are short of food and equipment, so they want to plunder again. If our great country uses its benevolent heart to bestow generous gifts upon them, it will surely be able to eliminate the great disaster. If they still do not stop, then let us withdraw our troops from the six countries on the northern border, and even if the Tatars temporarily go there to 'cut grass' (note), it has nothing to do with our country - let them fight each other!"

  This person thought himself humorous and witty, but Chen Lu heard it as great anger, thinking that this person was even more unbearable than the bookish Huang Shangshu, and actually wanted to exchange the prestige of the heavenly court and the interests of the vassal state for a temporary peace.

  Since the founding of our dynasty, the people's hearts have been directed towards us because the previous emperor was able to drive out the alien tribes and save the people from fire and water. Those eight years of hardship were a time when every household in the country had someone killed or wounded by the Tatars, and everyone hated them so much that they could not even bear to hear their name mentioned. If it were made known to the people that we are going to offer lavish gifts and humble words to the Tatars, there would immediately be an uproar among the people.

  As for being a vassal state, it's even more unacceptable. Back then, I traveled thousands of miles just to...

  But then came a "slap" sound, and it was Yuan Qi who picked up his memorial with his own hands and threw it to the ground.

  The hall was silent, and all the ministers were as quiet as cicadas in winter, none of them dared to speak again.

  "Nan Guan Hou, I have long heard that among the relatives of the imperial family, you are renowned for your mastery of strategy and tactics. Today, seeing you in person is truly an eye-opener for me!"

  Yuan Qi's voice was faint and could not be heard with joy or anger, but somehow the officials in the temple felt suffocated in their chests, as if they were suppressed by this invisible pressure.

  Yuan Qi's voice became even more gentle: "Is there anyone else, like the Duke of Nan Guan, who can come up with such a 'wonderful plan'?" His gaze was like lightning, sharp as a blade, sweeping across the entire scene.

  With a thud, a timid bureaucrat finally couldn't hold on and fainted.

  "The established policy of supporting the six northern states was set by my predecessor, not for the sake of gaining a reputation for pacifying the region, but to use their power to attack the Tatars from afar and defend our territory when necessary. Some people are short-sighted, thinking that both my predecessor and I are seeking fame? I tell you, you are wrong!"

  The emperor, who had always been gentle and lenient, occasionally revealed his majestic and awe-inspiring side, finally allowing a group of officials to see what kind of person he really was.

  ****

  Morning dew was over with the end of the early shift, and she had to return to her own courtyard, today wasn't her turn on duty.

  It was at the time when the sun was high in the sky, on the road, a luxurious carriage rushed past with its back facing forward, heading towards Xiangyuan to enjoy the scenery and relieve one's mind.

  The car's shape is simple and elegant, it's a Jin dynasty style - could it be Zhou Guifei's?

  Would such an icy woman also like flowers and grass?

  The morning dew was somewhat unexpected.

  When she returned to Chang Palace, she only learned that Mei Gui was still weak today. Her aunt suggested that she also go to Ju Xiang Garden to relax, and the servants had followed her since early morning.

  She suddenly felt a sense of foreboding as she recalled the cart tracks from earlier.

  ****

  The Xiang Garden is not very large and does not have overly delicate gardens, but what it has is the resplendent beauty of a hundred flowers blooming together, with a fragrance that penetrates to the bone.

  Chenlu walked into the garden and saw Mei Gui and Zhou Guifei counting the fish swimming in the small pond.

  Mei still had that frightened and powerless feeling, as if she was going to jump up and run away at any moment.

  She walked over, still a zhang away from the two of them, before being caught by Mei Gui who happened to turn her head back.

  "Sister, you're here——"

  She was still a bit dazed and suddenly slipped under her feet, and she was about to fall into the pool.

  On one side, Princess Zhou's maid was quick-witted and quick-handed, one hand grasping her wrist in time, the other hand just about to wrap around her waist, pulling her back onto the shore.

  In a flash of lightning, Chenlu saw that the palm of the maid's hand had a strange crimson mark.

  She didn't have time to stop, in a moment of urgency, she threw out the waist token, which happened to hit her wrist.

  The maid, in pain, involuntarily withdrew her hand and ended up with nothing.

  These movements are complicated to say, but in fact they can't be separated, and they are completed in an instant. Others hear the sound of teeth falling to the ground, immediately overwhelmed by Mei Niang's sharp cry - The maid couldn't hold on, she still fell into the water.

  The pond was very shallow, and after everyone reacted, they immediately worked together to rescue her.

  She was drenched from head to toe, and the spring water still had a chill to it. A gust of wind blew by, and she shivered violently, her face deathly pale, it was unclear whether she was frozen or frightened.

  "Shang Yi, do you want Consort Mei's life?"

  Zhou Guifei's face turned red with rage, and she signaled to her attendants to wrap Mei Pin in a cloak. Her eyes were cold and piercing as she stared at Chen Lu: "You deliberately stopped my maid from saving someone, which led to Mei Pin falling into the water - are you trying to harm the imperial heir?"

  Chenlu didn't get angry but instead smiled, raised her head and gave Zhou Guifei a deep look.

  Zhou Guifei grew up in the military from a young age, with a fierce and brutal gaze that had seen countless things. Yet, this girl's clear and shallow eyes made her feel a chill from the bottom of her heart.

  Those dark eyes, clear and cold as ice and snow, pierced into her bones.

  Empress Zhou seemed as if she couldn't bear it, taking a step back. On her icy beauty, for the first time in her life, shock finally appeared.

  A frail and delicate girl, with just one glance, suppressed her majesty.

  Chenlu bent down and picked up the chess piece, swept a glance at the people present, and finally spoke.

  "Are you trying to accuse me of something?"

  The voice was cold and desolate, as if asking, what is the simplest thing in the world.

  "I don't want to make a big deal out of this today... so, Your Highness, you're actually very lucky."

  The carefree girl wearing a crimson swallowtail bird ceremonial garment said with strong and natural tone.

  Too arrogant!

  The cold arrogance in her bones was stirred up by her, and finally overcame fear.

  "Are you threatening me?"

  Morning dew slightly smiled, a delicate face, in an instant it was bright and beautiful.

  "You might as well take it as advice, if the Emperor were to find out what kind of person you, a high-ranking maid, are... I think the upper and lower ranks of the harem are actually looking forward to seeing this commotion."

  She didn't even pay her respects, and had her attendants support Consort Mei as she left directly.

  The Empress Dowager looked at her back and felt that the intangible force had finally been lifted, she let out a sigh of relief.

  This little girl official, what kind of person is she after all...

  She was in a state of uncertainty and doubt.

  "Thank you, Xiang Yi."

  Mei Niang, who had been rescued from the water and had been in a daze all along, finally came to.

  Her eyes were no longer frantic, as if she had just woken up from a big dream, transformed.

  She cleared her throat and asked gently about what had just happened.

  After listening to Chenlu's simple explanation, she no longer cried like before, and slowly, she even smiled.

  That calm smile is somewhat eerie——

  "You saved me again, I'm really useless."

  She smiled brightly like a flower: "These women will not rest until they have harmed the dragon heir in my belly!"

  She was almost gnashing her teeth in a low voice, and the initial innocence and purity were gone.

  "I died twice and finally figured it out - I don't want to die, I absolutely cannot let them kill me!"

  "Whoever wants to harm me again, I will make her pay the price!"

  The once delicate and lovely face twisted slightly at this moment.

  Similarly, in the harem, other imperial consorts.