Affected by her composure, the panicking state within the hall also fades, the situation inside the hall and outside in the courtyard sinks into stillness with not a single sound, in this darkness, first there was one, and then many more dots of lights, slowly flooding into the courtyard like a tidal wave, a moment later, the imperial troops’ fire lights up the entire courtyard, bright like that of daylight. Lin Rui En stands in centre, by the sides there stands a person in casual grey robes, neither dark nor light, it was actually the one who acted like as a double agent, the palace’s head eunuch, Li gong-gong.
The two people comes up to the open hall, watching Gui Wan leisurely sit there, seemingly smiling as she suspiciously watches the imperial troops within the courtyard. Li gong-gong first steps forward, his shrill voice drawing out people’s annoyance: “Madam Lou, coming to the Prime Minister Estate today under imperial orders, Prime Minister Lou has took Consort Ying away as they secretly fled the back palace, right now are they or are they not staying within the estate, please invite them out to speak.”
A fine finger gentle stroking across her lower cheek area, Gui Wan slightly knits her brows, the moment she heard of the news, her heart seems to have been pricked by invisible needles, pain flooding out, sourly finding it difficult to suppress. Recalling what the Empress has once said, Lou Che sure enough could not throw aside his inner concerns, and left her to sink into a dilemma, heart lighting up in fire, despite being angry to the extreme, she instead smiles, a melodic voice sounding: “Li gong-gong is so socially active and resourceful[5], indeed far above the typical, don’t know what residential rank gong-gong is right now?”
Li gong-gong was stunned at first, watching this Madam Lou’s idle attitude, he was secretly amazed deep down in his heart, answering: “Entering the palace at the age of eight, now having the head eunuch of the inner palace, residential rank five.” His tone arrogant, quite a show of immense proudness.
Gui Wan takes a look at him, sneering: “Rank five? A merely rank five wants to pin a sin onto the current court’s prime minister? Could it be that gong-gong does not understand the laws of the land, only those from the third rank and above can condemn the senior officials outside of court, not to mention you reside within the inner palace, since when can you interfere with the affairs of the state?”
One round of reprimanding, with reasons, with evidence, Li gong-gong was instantly stunned speechless, not knowing how he is to react. Usually assuming dominant air within the palace, he has not yet thought that, today, amongst the gathering of a big crowd, he would actually be taunted beyond endurance by a seeming tenderly frail woman, under the shinning firelights, his face was both pale and thundering, hatred planted within his heart.
Lin Rui En sees that the situation does not seem right, and could only intercept: “May Madam not feel offended, towards today’s matter, his majesty only wants to figure out what happened. If you were in any way offended, please show a little forgiveness.” Using the firelight to look towards the woman on the chair, in the end his heart just cannot bear it, tone spoken with such sincerity.
Gui Wan looks into Lin Rui En’s water-clear orbs, her heart gently flutters, slightly calming her anger, taking a glimpse of that awkward expression of Li gong-gong, she knows that her doings just now has already angered this eunuch, which would definitely lead to following disasters in future, keeping note to herself, if there is a chance, she must first get rid of him. Her fired up anger has already been drained, emotions has also calmed down a lot, guessing from the situation in which they came in, Lou Che entered the palace and took away Consort Ying……within the back palace, how did he possibly take away a consort under everyone’s watchful eyes? Thinking about it from another point, she recalls the secret door in Yu Gan Hall, could it be that Lou Che also knows of this secret passage?
Thinking up to here, Gui Wan seriously speaks: “My husband entered the palace yet to return, I have not even inquired the palace about him, how is it that you contrarily come to the Prime Minister Estate in search?”
Today’s set game has clearly been planned by Zheng Liu. Half a year ago, maliciously framing Prince Duan, in such sudden lightning speed manner, ridding him off his potential power, originally wanted to take the opportunity to strike down Lou Che, regrettable that Lou Che never allows a single drip to leak by him, he could not possibly relentlessly strike him. Whilst concentrating his imperial power, in the situation of wanting to establish the inner and outer court, Lou Che has undoubtedly become an obstacle again, that is why, right now he can only follow the same plan, frame Lou Che. Consort Ying, this major pawn, really is of great use ah……
Her heart coils around this issue, emotions rolls within Gui Wan’s chest, a bitter and sour feeling overflows her heart, unable to hold it back, the tears overfills and thus drops, only one drip, and she reaches up to cover her cheek, covering the tear, within a blink of an eye, her expression once again returns to its usual state. Within the hall, everyone’s hearts were in a nerve wreaking state, not one person noticed, only Lin Rui En’s attentive eyes were locked onto her, his heart trembles, brows knitted, body standing still, unmoving.
Looking at everyone outside the hall, Gui Wan composes herself, Lou Che was not held back in the palace today, Consort Ying has also disappeared, this scandal, with no basis, no evidence, the Emperor also cannot possibly announce the news to others, let alone convict them, everything can only be dealt with secretly, this is the only turning point within the whole matter!
The hall suddenly falls into silence, other than the burning sound of fire, not one person dared to speak up, Li gong-gong’s face turns cold, seeing the atmosphere stiffen, without hesitation, he turns his eyes, glancing over towards Lin Rui En, but actually finds him staring intently at Madam Lou, revealing an expression of slight concern, secretly scoffing at him deep inside: what cold general? In face of beauty, half of his soul has already been ditched. Clearing his throat, he speaks up: “Madam Lou, the matter happened so suddenly, his majesty also only wants to figure out the situation, with no meaning to convict a crime, getting to the bottom of things, it this not what everyone hopes for?”
“Gong-gong’s words are extremely right, but, if no crime has been convicted, the imperial troops entering the Prime Minister Estate, what is this all about then?”
“This is but only a regular course of official duties, I have received imperial orders to take charge, wanting to invite Prime Minister Lou back into the palace to clarify the facts, Madam Lou, please will you forgive me.” Having said that, he sends a few eye signals towards the imperial troops besides him, the imperial troops immediately disperses, a few of them charges into the living room, the others dispersed into different areas of the Prime Minister Estate, actually searching around the place.
Listening to him personally speak of imperial orders, she knows he’s a wolf assuming the tiger’s dominance, Gui Wan coldly watches on, watching them search, after observing for a while, she feels that the matter does not seem to be an act, could it be that right now, Lou Che has really disappeared along with Consort Ying? Her heart is met with a burst of irritation. The imperial troops very quickly returns to the courtyard, the results they have come for has not been found, Li gong-gong’s expression also turns a little green.
Looking at him with slight disdain, Gui Wan lightly laughs, “Li gong-gong, right now I should be the one asking, where is husband, right? Receiving no news after entering the palace, could it be, this imperial palace can also consume people?”
Li gong-gong does not speak, his face growing increasingly gloomy, Lin Rui En’s solemn voice travels into her ears, “Madam, Prime Minister Lou entering the palace is not false, but right now, he is already no longer in the palace, this is also an undeniable fact.”
Looking at him seriously, Gui Wan does not speak, Li Yu’s words, she does not believe more than half of it, but with Lin Rui En speaking up, she cannot not consider the authenticity of this situation.
“General Lin, exactly who was it that saw my husband and Lady Consort Ying……” The following words were stuck in her throat, Gui Wan hides her anger.