For example, Jiang Feixue didn't watch the song and dance from beginning to end. The court's song and dance were really boring in her eyes. Her dancing skills were superb, far better than the dances of these people. All she could think about now was how to get rid of Jiang Hailing and then take her place as the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Once she becomes the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she will surely persuade her father to pledge eternal loyalty to the Great Zhou, thus ensuring the Jiang family's lifelong well-being.
Her father wouldn't disagree with the peace between the two sides, so her most urgent task was to get rid of Jiang Hailing.
Jiang Feixue was scheming against Hailing, and Ye Xiuying was no exception. She remembered the dog barking last time. To be honest, how many people in this palace were secretly gossiping about her and Jiang Feixue barking like dogs? It was not a glorious thing. Because of this shame, she knew that she would never be able to become empress. So she was unwilling to accept it and had to find a way to deal with Jiang Hailing.
The two women were plotting against Hailing with resentment, but Hailing was unaware of this, only focusing on eating and observing the expressions of everyone in the hall.
These high-ranking officials in the court appeared to be very respectful on the surface, but how many of them truly listened to Feng Zixiao?
This isn't just about eating and drinking; many things only become apparent when there are vested interests involved.
As for the princes, they currently obey the emperor's every word, but do they really never think about becoming emperor themselves?
Hai Ling was lost in thought when she suddenly received a piercing gaze. She went to meet it and saw that the Left Prime Minister Xi Lingfeng's lips were slightly curved. When he looked at her, his ordinary face softened slightly. Hai Ling couldn't help but pull up a smile.
Of all these people, she was probably the only one who knew just how stunningly beautiful the Left Prime Minister Xi Lingfeng was, and she also understood why he disguised himself as an ordinary person. It was because his appearance was so captivating that if the women present saw him, they would probably be pounced on by everyone.
The hall was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation when suddenly hurried footsteps sounded at the hall door, and someone rushed in.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is in trouble! Your Majesty is in trouble!"
Inside the main hall, the sounds of string and wind instruments and the clappers suddenly stopped. People holding chopsticks, wine cups, and dishes, as well as dancing, all stopped moving. All sounds ceased, and all eyes seemed to be fixed on the guards who had rushed in through the door.
Feng Zixiao, sitting at the head of the table, had a gloomy expression and spoke coldly: "What happened?"
If it weren't for something serious, such a reckless act of barging into the palace would certainly not be tolerated.
The guard knew he had been too reckless, but he couldn't care less now. He quickly reported, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Someone from the Northwest has sent a messenger on horseback, reporting that General Bai Ye has disappeared with 20,000 cavalry."
"What?"
A thunderous roar echoed through the hall. This time, not only Feng Zixiao, but many others also paled.
The Empress Dowager and the ministers below her all changed their expressions at the same time. Feng Zixiao was so angry that she slammed her fist on the table in front of her, knocking over the wine and dishes all over the floor with a loud crash.
Inside the main hall, no one dared to speak. After a long while, a cold, magnetic voice rang out: "Have you found out?"
Left Prime Minister Xi Lingfeng looked at the guard who had reported the incident and spoke in a deep voice.
The guard nodded fearfully and replied, "Yes, we've checked, but General Bai and his 20,000 cavalrymen are truly gone. They seem to have vanished in an instant, their whereabouts unknown."
The Bai family army has always guarded the Northwest, preventing the nomadic tribes there from invading. Now that they have vanished into thin air, the Northwest will once again be harassed by the barbarians, and the people on the border will suffer again.
Where did Baiye take those men? How did his 20,000 cavalrymen disappear?
Everyone looked on in surprise and doubt, but Hai Ling understood something. She remembered what Bai Ye had told her before, and she couldn't help but feel alarmed. Could it be that he would rebel?
Inside the main hall, Right Chancellor Sima Yuan uttered a startling statement.
"Does Shirane intend to rebel?"
These words shocked the entire hall. Feng Zixiao's handsome face darkened like a looming storm cloud, making it hard for anyone to breathe.
What should have been a joyous occasion has been transformed into a deathly stillness in the hall by this unexpected incident. Many people are now watching the emperor with trepidation, awaiting his next move in the execution.
Feng Zixiao felt a surge of anger rising within him. "Fine, Bai Ye, how dare you do such a thing!"
Bai Ye's Bai Family Army has always been one of his trump cards, a weapon he used to deal with Jiang Batian. He never expected that this weapon would disappear now, which made him furious. This meant that he was one step further away from eliminating Jiang Batian.
"Someone, prepare the carriage for the study."
At Feng Zixiao's command, he stood up first and left the main hall of Chengqian Palace, followed closely by all the important officials on both sides of the hall.
In the main hall, the emperor and his ministers left, and the empress dowager followed them in a huff.
In the end, only the concubines in the palace remained, looking at each other in bewilderment.
The newly arrived beauties were utterly humiliated. They had thought today was a joyous occasion, and each of them was secretly plotting who would be the first to serve the emperor tonight. But this unexpected turn of events meant that the emperor would not be summoning them to his bedchamber, and they were all incredibly frustrated.
Hai Ling led Yan Zhi, Xiao Ke, and the others to get up and leave.
After taking only a few steps, I heard someone call out behind me: "Your Majesty the Empress?"
Hai Ling stopped and looked over. She saw that the person who called her was her dear older sister, Jiang Feixue, with Ye Xiuying by her side. The two women were now united against a common enemy, like sisters. They walked over with smiles and gave a slight bow.
"Please take good care of me, Your Majesty."
"Of course. I always care about those who know their place and how to behave. Sister, you can rest assured."
Hai Ling smiled calmly, her demeanor neither humble nor arrogant, giving her an air of superiority over Jiang Feixue and Ye Xiuying. These two were clearly daughters of noble families, the apple of their parents' eye, yet in the presence of this woman, she seemed to exude an aura of superiority, as if Hai Ling were the one truly cherished by her parents. Her elegant bearing was captivating. Jiang Feixue and Ye Xiuying, however, were furious. They always found themselves at a disadvantage against this woman. Now that they were in the palace, they refused to believe they couldn't deal with her.
The two men exchanged a glance, then gave a sinister laugh.
Behind them, Consort Yu and the other concubines laughed. This was wonderful; they were in for a good show.
Hai Ling turned and left, ignoring Jiang Feixue and Ye Xiuying. She knew perfectly well that these two women would try to deal with her. The group left Chengqian Palace and headed back to Zhengyi Palace. However, there were eunuchs guarding the gate of Zhengyi Palace.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
After the young eunuch bowed respectfully, he whispered that he had something to report. Hailing then ordered the other eunuchs and maids to leave, and then gestured for the young eunuch to speak. The young eunuch whispered that the Left Prime Minister wished to see the Empress.
Hai Ling found it hard to believe; Xi Lingfeng had never sent anyone to say he wanted to see her.
Was there something important that prompted the eunuch to summon her? Or perhaps? A glint of light flashed in her eyes.
There was no response for a moment, but the young eunuch couldn't help but urge, "Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister said he has important business to discuss with you and is currently waiting for you at Qinyue Pavilion."