Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

With the emperor personally leading the expedition, the Liu family was thrown into chaos once again.

The emperor's arrival was originally a good thing, but everyone knew that the emperor had been having a lot of troubles lately, and no one wanted to provoke him.

Liu Pingyan cursed Ling Xianru in her heart.

He smiled and bowed to welcome Xiao Heng inside.

A banquet was indeed set up in the garden, consisting mostly of fresh spring dishes. It wasn't particularly lavish, but its charm lay in its ingenuity.

"I was unaware that His Majesty would be here today. This spring banquet was originally just meant to add some fun for the Prime Minister, but as soon as he sat down, he heard that His Majesty had come to the Wei residence and insisted on going to see him."

The spring dishes on the table haven't really been touched yet.

After looking around, Xiao Heng showed no intention of sitting down: "In that case, I am sorry to have disturbed your meal, my two beloved ministers."

"Not at all! Your Majesty, I simply have a few questions regarding taxes that I'm having trouble understanding, and I wish to consult the Prime Minister. Please do not be so rude!"

Liu Pingyan was a shrewd and well-connected person in the court.

It was not unexpected that he befriended Ling Xianru.

Xiao Heng simply said, "The Ministry of Revenue and the Prime Minister have different responsibilities. If there are any matters you cannot make up your mind about, you can submit a memorial to me."

Cold sweat poured down her back, but Liu Pingyan dared not wipe it away, and could only nod repeatedly, saying, "Your Majesty, I understand! Your Majesty, I have no disloyal intentions!"

"My dear minister, you're overthinking things," Xiao Heng said with a half-smile, patting his shoulder. "I have no doubt about your loyalty."

If we don't suspect him, then who do we suspect?

Liu Pingyan broke out in even more cold sweat.

Xiao Heng did not want to linger. After looking around, she returned to the carriage, and the imperial carriage went directly back to the palace.

"Your Majesty's prediction is correct. His Majesty did indeed visit the Liu residence," Mo Yu whispered to Ling Xianru as he descended from the sky, "He made a brief appearance and then left."

"What did Liu Pingyan say?"

"He dared not say anything, but it's hard to predict what His Majesty is thinking."

Ling Xianru scoffed lightly. What was a suspicious emperor thinking? It was all just a matter of doubting his intentions.

He could have avoided this risk, but having risen to the top, it was only a matter of time before Xiao Heng became suspicious, and he didn't really care.

The red mark on Wei Rong's neck was even more shocking in comparison.

"My lord—" Second Uncle Wei Nanfeng suddenly spoke up, his tone hesitant yet inviting, "Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"

This was actually just a polite invitation, after all, Ling Xianru did help out of the predicament to some extent, otherwise, I don't know how it would have ended.

He said he was inviting her for tea, but Wei Nanfeng was more than happy to hear Xianru refuse.

"Alright." Ling Xianru readily agreed: "I have long admired General Wei when he was alive, but I never had the chance to befriend him. It would be good to see that guardian stone pillar today."

What's so good about it!

You're really not being polite!

Wei Nanfeng's sweat, which he had just wiped away, started to reappear, but since he had spoken the words himself, he could only gesture for Ling Xianru to enter: "Then please, sir."

As Ling Xianru's figure disappeared through the gates of the Wei residence, the onlookers began to chatter amongst themselves.

The man who had mentioned his cousin working as a guard in the palace was also there, staring thoughtfully at Ling Xianru's retreating figure.

"Brother Song, what's wrong?" someone asked.

"Just now, when Her Majesty the Empress stepped out of the carriage, I dared to take a peek," said Brother Song. "She looked familiar. Did you see that woman in the Red Sleeve Pavilion just now?"

"You're really bold, daring to peek at the Empress's beauty," his friend clicked his tongue. "But I did see that one in the Red Sleeve Pavilion, she's a rare beauty."

The man surnamed Song shook his head: "You only saw her, not the Empress. I think—they are very similar. Although their attire is different, you can't find another face like that in the entire capital of Yun. And the Prime Minister is also—"

Although he only focused his attention on the women at the Red Sleeve Pavilion, the man beside her was also an exceptional individual.

Why did he happen to think that he looked so much like the Prime Minister?

"You must be crazy," his friend laughed. "Don't even mention the long-standing animosity between the Wei family and the Prime Minister. For them to secretly go to a teahouse to listen to storytelling together? It sounds utterly absurd. The Prime Minister is extremely busy with state affairs; he is highly regarded by His Majesty. What would he be doing getting involved with the Empress?"

That makes sense, but he felt something was off.

In the Wei Mansion.

After Wei Beimu left, the Wei family's prestige in the court is now not as high as that of the powerful prime minister in front of them, so they need to lower their stance.

After exchanging pleasantries with forced politeness, Wei Nanfeng had the tea changed twice, completely at a loss for words.

We can't talk about official business, and we know very little about private matters, so we can't talk about those either. We've already talked about the furnishings in the house, and we've even discussed how tall the protective stone pillar at the entrance is. I really don't know what else we can talk about.

The prime minister, however, remained as still as a rock, showing no intention of taking his leave.

"..." Their eyes met, and Wei Nanfeng smiled ingratiatingly, "Have some tea, have some tea."

Ling Xianru chuckled lightly: "Second Uncle, there's no need to be so nervous. Did the imperial physician examine Her Majesty the Empress? What did he say?"

His words sounded like a casual expression of concern.

Wei Nanfeng slapped his forehead, realizing he had forgotten about it.

He slapped his forehead again, thinking to himself, "What's with calling me Second Uncle?"

"Go quickly to the Empress's boudoir and see how serious her injuries are!" He sent a servant over.

The servant was efficient and quick, returning to report: "The Empress's injuries have been treated with medicine. She instructed the Prime Minister to wait, as she will come over later to personally thank you."

"It's getting late, Your Highness needs to return to the palace soon," Wei Nanfeng said anxiously. "To avoid angering His Majesty again."

Ling Xianru took a sip of tea: "It's alright, it's still early before the palace curfew."

They said they were coming, and arrived in no time.

Wei Rong's neck was a mess; because her skin was so pale, the area where she had been pinched red had turned purplish-blue and mottled.

Because she needed to apply medicine, she didn't wear a elaborate collared dress, but rather a high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a spring-appropriate beizi (a type of outer garment) on top, both in peach pink.

These are clearly Wei Rong's clothes from before her marriage, showing a charming and delicate side, unlike her current composed demeanor.

Ling Xianru only noticed the wound on her neck. When her gaze moved down, she saw a patch of white skin on her chest. When she put down the teacup, a few drops of tea were spilled on the table.

"The Prime Minister has saved us today, so I owe you one," Wei Rong said, sitting down in the main seat. "Feel free to name your conditions."

She spoke with a hoarse voice, enduring the pain.

"I am not involved in factional strife," Ling Xianru chuckled. "Does Your Highness's condition then become a private matter?"

Wei Rong choked for a moment.

But she wasn't used to owing others, and the warm jade in her palm was still glowing: "The cherry blossoms at the Wei residence are in beautiful bloom. Would the Prime Minister do me the honor of going to see them?"

Wei Nanfeng couldn't understand what they were saying.

Why did the thank you talk about personal matters? Are we still going to see the flowers?

Shouldn't these two be very unfamiliar with each other? Wei Rong never thought highly of Ling Xianru before.

"I would be honored to accept your invitation." Ling Xianru stood up and gestured for her to proceed. "I would be grateful if Your Highness would lead the way."

The two stood up, and before they had even left the front hall, a woman carrying a tray came towards them.

She was tall and graceful, with a face somewhat resembling Wei Rong's, and a small dimple on her cheek. Her eyes were fixed on Ling Xianru: "Where are you going, my lord? A-Ning made some cherry blossom pastries. Would you like to try some?"

The visitor was Wei Ning, Wei Rong's cousin.