1. Appointing Huo Tingdong to lead the expedition
Nangong Yao looked at Huo Tingdong with satisfaction: "I have just this intention. My beloved minister, you shall lead your thirty thousand troops to Yanshan in the near future!"
Nangong Yao furrowed his brows as he watched the farce below, and suddenly let out a cold snort: "I have made up my mind, and you ministers should not speak further. As for the Grand Secretary of the Censorate, I appreciate your service over three reigns, and I grant you retirement to return to your hometown in Tongzhou to enjoy your old age!" With a wave of his hand, the Grand Secretary's official career came to an end. The other officials, who had been eager to try their luck, turned to look at Huo Yun, realizing the Emperor's determination to proceed.
Huo Yun knelt in gratitude, casting a sidelong glance at Huo Tingdong, wishing only that in the future, Tingdong could protect Qing Sang and ensure that she would not be implicated
"News has just come in that the eldest son has personally requested to go to the Yanshan Mountains to eliminate bandits and rescue Su Wan, who has been captured by the remnants of the deposed prince of Xiliang." Su Yi glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, knowing in her heart that over the past few years, there has been a deep-seated conflict between the Empress and the Emperor. If Su Wan truly returns, the Empress's days are likely to become even more difficult.
Su Yi stumbled in, and Huo Qingsang was at the writing desk practicing calligraphy. Upon seeing her enter, he raised an eyebrow slightly. All morning, he had been feeling restless, sensing that Huo Tingdong's unannounced arrival in the capital was somewhat suspicious. Now, seeing Su Yi's pale face, his unease grew even more.
Your Highness, Your Highness? Su Yi called out twice softly, and Huo Qingsang blinked in a daze. Suddenly, she felt that in this splendid moment, she could not sense any warmth at all. It was as if shards of ice lingered within her body, and with each breath, the frost scraped against her veins, bloody and painfully piercing her heart.
Huo Qingsang is not wrong; as long as Huo Qingsang remains the Empress and is still in the palace, Huo Yun and Huo Tingdong will forever be of no concern. Huo Tingdong's visit to the capital this time is merely a warning to him that Huo Qingsang has someone backing her.
Just when everyone thought that Huo Yun would definitely come out to stop it, they suddenly heard Huo Tingdong speak: "I, a humble minister, request to lead the expedition, and I will not disgrace the imperial decree. I will safely bring back Miss Su." Huo Tingdong lowered his brows, his gaze coldly fixed on Nangong Yao
Huo Tingdong's army was unable to advance any further, and the imperial edict from Nangong Yao was delivered to Huo Tingdong with great speed. Shortly thereafter, Huo Tingdong entered the palace to plead for forgiveness
Thinking of this, my heart grows increasingly cold. In recent years, Nangong Yao's actions have become more and more strange and unpredictable. Could it be that he is intentionally leaking information to force Huo Tingdong to return to the capital?
Huo Qingsang composed herself, crumpled the poorly written post and tossed it into the paper tube. When she lifted her head, her slightly furrowed brows and eyes gazed lightly at the woman in plain clothes, and she asked, "But has something happened with my brother?"
The people below waited anxiously for the emperor to take action, while Nangong Yao above pursed his lips and looked at the crowd below. Suddenly, he gestured behind him, and the eunuch Liu Quan, who was standing nearby, stepped forward, holding a letter in his hands.
I received a letter from General Ma yesterday, stating that the army sent to escort Miss Su was ambushed in the Yanshan Mountains, led by the remnants of the deposed crown prince of Xiliang
Hidden needles in cotton, it is nothing more than this. Huo Yun secretly gritted his teeth, feeling both heartbroken for his daughter and helpless.
In recent years, the Huo family has been in the spotlight, and anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Emperor has taken a disliking to them. The Empress has also lost her son and is not favored in the harem. It is only a matter of time before the Huo family is removed from power. At that time, Huo Tingdong's reckless decision to enter the capital would only provide the Emperor with a handle to grasp him.
Huo Qingsang trembled slightly upon hearing this. Indeed, Nangong Yao had intentionally spread the news to lure Huo Tingdong back to the capital, and then used himself to restrain Huo Tingdong in Yanshan to rescue someone. Or perhaps, he originally intended to take this opportunity to see Huo Tingdong fall in Yanshan
The more I think about it, the colder I feel; my hand holding the pen suddenly pauses, and the ink blurs the post I had just finished writing.
Her heart ached with sharp pangs, and she suddenly felt a twinge of regret, regretting her past stubbornness in forcing her father to support Nangong Yao. Because of her personal feelings for him, she had pushed the Huo family into the perilous situation of being a powerful external relative. Now that Nangong Yao sought to eliminate the Huo family, what power did she have left to turn the tide?
Huo Tingdong stood up and positioned himself to the side, the great hall was silent as a grave, with countless individuals secretly anticipating the downfall of the Huo family. After all, Huo Tingdong had entered the capital without an imperial decree, and the Empress had privately left the palace to meet with foreign officials. Just pursuing and investigating one of these matters would be sufficient to bring disgrace.
Several eunuchs rushed over and embraced this venerable minister who had served three emperors, and for a moment, there was an uproar of crying and wailing, as if blood were about to be spilled on the spot
Huo Qingsang let out a bitter laugh: "I was the one who was confused. Just a few days ago, my father sent news of Su Wan entering the palace, and the Emperor already knew about it. He has been finding ways to send news of Ye'er to the border. It seems there is no one left in the palace who can be of use. " She left the palace, and he followed closely behind; what else could she possibly hide from him
Nangong Yao looked calmly at His Highness Huo Tingdong, who was kneeling, then glanced at the highly esteemed General Huo Yun, who was known for his discretion among the officials. Suddenly, he smiled slightly and waved his hand towards Huo Tingdong, saying: "You may rise, my dear minister"
Having finished speaking, he smiled and glanced at Huo Yun: "The Grand General has not seen the Empress for quite some time, has he? Today, I am hosting a family banquet in Shulan Hall. You may have dinner with Ting Dong before leaving!"
She sighed and said, "Su Yi, contact the hidden connections that Father has buried in the palace; I wish to see my brother once."
Who does not know that back in the day, Su Wan was the emperor's favorite? If it had not been for the Huo family's coercion of the emperor, how could he have borne to give Su Wan to that old scoundrel of the Western Regions? Now that Su Wan has returned, she will undoubtedly harbor resentment towards the Huo family. I can imagine that Huo Yun, that old fox, would never allow Su Wan to come back.
Nangong Yao seemed oblivious, his gaze coldly fixed on Huo Tingdong, and he spoke in a deep voice: "Esteemed ministers, is there anyone willing to volunteer for the expedition to assist General Ma in eliminating the remnants of the废太子 in the Yanshan and Xiliang regions"
At this stage of love, it has truly become utterly despicable
Huo Qingsang paused in her steps, yet she found it increasingly difficult to fathom Nangong Yao's thoughts
Su Yi's complexion was slightly pale, and Huo Qingsang raised an eyebrow, grabbing her wrist with a firm grip, his nails nearly digging into her flesh
In the Shulan Palace
Forget it, I might as well go to Xuan De Men to abduct someone myself! Having already torn the facade, she had nothing left to be concerned about; it was merely a matter of a commotion after all, and he was not yet at the point of killing her.
As soon as Nangong Yao's words fell, there was an uproar below. The leading officials, with expressions of indignation, knelt down and urged, saying that Su and Wan were indeed ominous sources of disaster, and how could they be recklessly brought into the palace
With a thud, Su Yi knelt down on the ground: "Your Highness, the hidden connections that the master has buried in the palace are likely all under the Emperor's watch. In recent years, the Emperor has grown increasingly wary of the Huo family, and the hidden connections in the palace have been systematically uprooted one by one. There are truly not many usable individuals left.
The news of Ye Er's death has been concealed for so long; why was it not communicated earlier or later, but rather at the very moment when Su and Wan were returning to the border?
How could he not be aware of the Emperor's covert actions? It is merely that his foolish child is wholeheartedly in love with him, ultimately leading to her own suffering. In an instant, he seemed to age more than ten years.
The matter of the queen secretly leaving the palace can be considered a significant event; even if there is an intention to conceal it, there will inevitably be some signs of disturbance. Moreover, the emperor returned only after the curfew had passed.
Your Highness, allow this servant to finish speaking. Su Yi abruptly grasped her sleeve and said, Just now, Eunuch Liu from the imperial court responded, after the morning court session, the Emperor has retained the Master and the eldest young master in the Imperial Study, and there will be a family banquet in Shulan Palace tonight
The grand hall was in an uproar, with several officials glaring in anger. The Grand Inspector stood up, filled with righteous indignation, threatening to die in protest, as he staggered forward, his emaciated body resembling a thin reed, heading towards the dragon-patterned pillar in the hall.