Capital’s southern outskirts, Cool Breeze Mountain.
Lin Lu, the leader of the Imperial Guard, led a force of three thousand peak First Rank cultivators to seal off the entire mountain.
Empress Dongfang Liuli and a group of court officials traversed the void, arriving above Cool Breeze Mountain in the blink of an eye.
Qin Fenghuo noticed the unease in the Empress’s heart and comforted her, “Don’t worry, this is the capital. The culprits wouldn’t dare act recklessly.”
Dongfang Liuli said nothing, quickly spreading her divine sense to scan Cool Breeze Mountain.
She then saw Wu Die crying her heart out in Meng Qingzhou’s arms.
In an instant, the air turned eerily silent.
Qin Fenghuo opened his mouth, his eyes wide as saucers, unable to utter a single word.
Ah, this…
You two really know how to play!
I was just thinking about how to remove the green hat from the Empress’s husband’s head.
But it turns out!
The Empress’s husband played even harder, throwing a green hat back at the Empress!
“Your Majesty, there must be some hidden reason behind this. Let’s not rush to conclusions and observe first,” Jiang Canghai said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead with a forced smile.
Even as the Great Jin’s foremost strategist, he was at a loss in such a situation.
The Empress’s husband cheated, and the Empress herself was cuckolded.
Any emperor with a bit of temper would have drawn his sword and executed this adulterous couple on the spot.
The other uninformed officials glanced down through the clouds.
Seeing Minister Meng and Wu Die embracing on the mountaintop, the court officials clapped their hands and laughed, discussing animatedly:
“So it’s him! I heard he has a virtuous and beautiful wife, and today I see it’s true.”
“Such good fortune!”
“Miss Su’s ‘Master’ is actually him? No wonder the Empress holds him in such high regard. We should be careful not to offend him in the future.”
…
Qin Fenghuo coughed, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at the clueless fools.
Don’t you have any sense!?
This is the Empress’s husband!
You’re praising the Empress’s husband and his mistress right in front of Her Majesty. Do you find your heads too heavy and want to take them off for fun?
“Oh? You also think they make a good match?” The Empress’s face was expressionless, but turbulent waves lurked in her eyes.
The court officials cast a strange glance at Qin Fenghuo. Why was the General of Column Kingdom glaring at them? They were just complimenting Minister Meng and his wife. What did it have to do with him?
“Of course they make a good match, a perfect couple!” The court officials quickly gave a thumbs up.
Until someone suddenly remembered the day ‘Meng Qin’ was conferred a title, and the suspicion that he was the Empress’s lover.
And the ‘Master’ that the Empress’s personal maid Su Qingqiu mentioned…
The court officials were all shocked, their backs cold with realization, and a large group of them knelt in the air.
“Y-Your Majesty, we didn’t know he was your…” The court officials stammered, not daring to utter the word ‘lover’ in public.
Qin Fenghuo crossed his arms, his eyes filled with disdain. Only now did they realize this was the Empress’s husband? A bunch of pig brains!
Only Jiang Canghai silently observed, glancing at Qin Fenghuo and then at the kneeling court officials.
Jiang Canghai rubbed his chin, deep in thought.
It felt like both sides had mismatched information~
Hey, did someone get the situation wrong here?
“Go to the Ministry of Justice and receive a set of thunder punishment. Go now,” the Empress said coldly.
The court officials didn’t complain. Instead, they felt a bit excited, their eyes filled with gossip. The Empress really did keep a pretty boy!
It’s confirmed! ‘Meng Qin’ is indeed the Empress’s lover!
The Empress’s husband was cuckolded! And so was the Empress!
Moreover, the Empress valued ‘Meng Qin’ deeply, probably more than her husband Meng Qingzhou!
Then, a group of officials about to face thunder punishment secretly transmitted divine sense waves, excitedly discussing the gossip about the Empress and ‘Meng Qin.’
Qin Fenghuo, watching this scene, scratched his head in confusion, “Did they read too many books and go dumb? Why are they so excited about getting struck by lightning?”
Finally.
The Empress couldn’t bear it anymore. She waved her hand, dispersing the clouds, and stood with her back to the sun, her presence cold and majestic like an emperor descending to the mortal world.
“Am I interrupting your good time?”
On Cool Breeze Mountain, Meng Qingzhou looked up in surprise, the voice sounding very familiar.
Hmm?
The Empress!?
Wu Die hurriedly pushed Meng Qingzhou away, wiped her tears, and dared not look up at the Empress. She lowered her head like a child caught stealing, twirling her black hair with her fingers.
She knew Dongfang Liuli was hiding her identity as the Empress and was actually Meng Qingzhou’s virtuous wife.
Crying in another woman’s husband’s arms in the wilderness, no matter her intentions, made her feel guilty.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Meng Qingzhou cupped his hands in salute.
“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Wu Die followed with a curtsey.
But to outsiders, this scene looked like a harmonious picture of a husband and wife.
Qin Fenghuo’s eyelids twitched, and he took a deep breath.
Empress’s husband, what are you doing? Provoking the Empress?
Caught in the act, shouldn’t you be ashamed and kneel to admit your mistake?
Why are you acting so nonchalant, as if annoyed we interrupted you? That’s too arrogant!
“Don’t forget, the Empress’s husband doesn’t know the Empress’s identity, nor his own,” Jiang Canghai transmitted his thoughts to Qin Fenghuo.
Qin Fenghuo raised an eyebrow, silently looking at the Empress.
The more he thought about it, the more exciting this drama became!
Qin Fenghuo transmitted his thoughts, “The current situation is that the Empress’s husband doesn’t know his wife is here to catch him, and the Empress doesn’t want to reveal her identity or get angry. How do you think this will end?”
Jiang Canghai replied, “The initiative is in the Empress’s hands. If the Empress suspects Wu Die’s identity and questions it, the Empress’s husband will surely explain. As long as he admits to the affair, the Empress wins!”
Qin Fenghuo immediately continued, “Then the Empress can revert to her identity as Meng’s wife, saying the Empress told her the truth. The Empress’s husband will be doomed.”
The two old men felt the joy of gossip, discussing animatedly.
In the end, they concluded: We can’t see how the Empress could lose! The Empress’s husband is going to be punished!
“May I ask, Your Majesty, what brings you here?” Meng Qingzhou asked.
Dongfang Liuli’s phoenix eyes narrowed, brewing a storm, and she said calmly, “I received a report that the sixth-rank official of the Ministry of Rites, Yu Die, has been impersonated, suspected of being manipulated by traitors. Why are you with her?”
Meng Qingzhou replied, “Your Majesty, Yu Die was once a subordinate of the rebel Zhao Yuhuan. Her brother was held hostage, forcing her to obey orders. Recently, she learned her brother was killed three years ago, so she seeks revenge and wants to overthrow the rebel Zhao Yuhuan.”
“Thus, she infiltrated the capital, bringing information about the rebel, hoping to aid Your Majesty!”
Wu Die blinked her big eyes. Although she knew Meng Qingzhou wanted to help her, she had no real information to provide…
Zhao Gou’s hiding place changed every seven days. If it had been two days earlier, she could have led them to capture Heir Apparent Zhao Gou.
“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Dongfang Liuli said calmly, coldly watching the couple below.
Meng Qingzhou bowed and said loudly, “Yu Die’s real name is Wu Die, a killer under Zhao Gou. She brings crucial information. Before I speak, I hope Your Majesty will spare her life. I am willing to take her in.”
The Empress’s eyes grew colder, and she chuckled, “You still want to take her in?”
“Yes!” Meng Qingzhou bowed deeply, determined.
He had long wanted to exploit Zhao Gou. Since the opportunity presented itself, he would take full advantage.
Losing a significant future ally, Zhao Gou’s luck value would plummet miserably.
Heh heh heh…
Wu Die, unaware of Meng Qingzhou’s thoughts, stared blankly at the blindfolded young man standing before her, willing to confront the Empress for her sake.
Having recently learned of her family’s loss, Wu Die suddenly felt she had found a place to belong.
“Sir…” Wu Die’s eyes were dreamy, her seductive gaze even more captivating.
“No! I do not agree!” The Empress glanced at Wu Die’s infatuated expression and decisively refused.
Meng Qingzhou resolutely said, “If Your Majesty does not agree, I will not speak! Let me remind you, the information Wu Die brings is about the hiding place of King of Shu, Zhao Yuhuan!”
At these words, Qin Fenghuo was the first to lose his composure.
Qin Fenghuo, excited, quickly asked, “Is it true!?”
If anyone hated traitors and wanted Zhao Yuhuan dead the most, besides Empress Dongfang Liuli, it was Qin Fenghuo.
“It’s true!” Meng Qingzhou said.
“Your Majesty, the bigger picture is at stake!” Qin Fenghuo looked at Dongfang Liuli, urging her.
After all, he is the Empress’s husband. It seems he hasn’t cuckolded you and has even helped a lot.
Look at yourself, keeping a pretty boy and neglecting him. What right do you have to refuse?
Dongfang Liuli asked, “Are you bargaining with me?”
“I’m very curious. Didn’t you say you deeply love your wife? Why are you entangled with another woman, willing to protect her at all costs?”
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