"Really?"
Ling Shan woke up again at noon. Sitting lazily on the embroidered stool with her eyes closed, she was having her hair done while listening to Ban Chun share the latest gossip.
Coming from Ban Chun, the top source of information in the Yuhua Palace, the story was so full of twists and turns that it was like listening to a storyteller.
Ling Shan found it quite interesting, just like listening to a romantic and scandalous tale.
She never expected that a small banquet in the Sifang Hall last night would lead to so many ripples.
Each ripple was filled with a hint of eroticism and even a whiff of death, creating quite a stir in the once peaceful Yuhua Palace.
She didn't expect that even those old princes couldn't resist temptation and had caused a ruckus all night.
As for that scumbag Jun Wuhao, he was so debauched that he had sex with two women last night and was carried back by the palace servants this morning.
Among them, the most excessive one was Prince Yue, Jun Wujun. It was said that he was truly a sadist.
Moreover, his sadism was not shown in normal times but mostly in bed.
In other words, this disfigured prince Yue liked to torture people during sex.
Last night, he had taken a woman back early, and by this morning, she was already dead.
However, compared to what these princes had done, the secret drug on Qingyuan, who died at Wang Chengye's place, was more eye - catching.
Overnight, the Queen Mother's sudden scheme had torn off the mask of harmony that had been maintained for the past few days.
From today on, it would truly be a time of turmoil.
It was not hard to foresee that from now on, there would be a silent war spreading in the Yuhua Palace, with invisible sword lights and saber shadows.
As for the Queen Mother, three days had passed, and Ling Shan hadn't handed over the list of corrupt officials.
Judging from the Queen Mother's sudden move this time, she and Jun Wuyuan were already on the assassination list of the Cining Palace.
Jun Wuyuan had managed to escape the assassination.
Then, what about hers...
Ling Shan felt that she seemed to have a clue.
- - -
The case of the secret drug was far - reaching. Minister Jiang, holding the emperor's decree, searched the outer garden with determination, showing that he wouldn't stop until he found something.
Under pressure, Wang Yuyao and the Wang family had to loosen their grip again, revealing some flaws and sending the clues to a place where both sides would be satisfied.
For a while, the case of the secret drug was progressing well but also got stuck in a bit of a deadlock.
At least, on the surface, all parties knew that no matter how they investigated, they would never be able to find the real culprit.
Minister Jiang, following Jun Wuyuan's order, was going to annoy the Grand Tutor Wang, eliminate those who shouldn't interfere, and force the Grand Tutor Wang and the Wang family to offer up scapegoats. This was going to be a long and quite interesting task.
While the Grand Tutor Wang and his party were being tortured by the case of the secret drug, the annual summer hunt of the Great Yan Dynasty at the end of June had arrived.
Every year, the emperor would conduct military training to strengthen political rule, and it was extremely lively.
When Ling Shan heard that she could ride horses and hunt, her eyes lit up.
Regardless of whether the Queen Mother intended to get rid of her during the summer hunt, Ling Shan wasn't going to stay passive.
It was not easy to get out of the palace and come to the palace for summer vacation. Now that she could go out of the palace and ride freely in the wind, how could Ling Shan stay in the Jiuzhou Qingyan Hall?
Moreover, Ling Shan was quite interested in horse - riding, which was not only fun but might also save her life in the future.
She excitedly asked someone to make a riding suit in advance and pestered Jun Wuyuan to teach her horse - riding and archery personally. Her excitement showed that she had been really bored.
The annual summer hunt was a major event. It only took a little over an hour to travel from the Yuhua Palace to the hunting ground.
After arriving at the hunting ground, Ling Shan couldn't stay by Jun Wuyuan's side anymore.
The tents of the concubines were located closer to the back, while the emperor had to first discuss state affairs with the court officials and inspect the area around the hunting ground. The hunt would start early the next morning.
There was no queen in Jun Wuyuan's harem. Among those on this trip, besides the recovered Queen Mother, the highest - ranked one was Consort Ning, who had served the sick well.
Normally, the tents of the concubines should be allocated according to their ranks, but Ling Shan was always special.
After arriving at the hunting ground, she didn't go to the concubines' tents at all and directly moved into the imperial tent.
This move made the concubines, who had finally come out to enjoy some freedom, jealous and gnash their teeth.
Even the Queen Mother, after hearing this news, had a meaningful smile on her face, which had just recovered.
"Flowers don't stay in bloom for a hundred days, and people don't stay lucky all the time."
Granny Dou also smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. A withered flower should eventually turn into mud."
A cold look flashed across the Queen Mother's narrow eyes. With a side glance, her eyes fell on the tea in Granny Dou's hand.
"Is this Snow Feather Mist? Sent by that girl, Consort Ning?"
Granny Dou praised, "Your Majesty is truly wise. This Snow Feather Mist was just sent by Baizhi from Consort Ning's palace not long ago. She said it was this year's new tea for Your Majesty to taste and refresh yourself."
"It's not that I'm wise. It's just that the Great Yan has an emperor who is so ambitious that he wants to monopolize the court. A noble family that has been passed down for hundreds of years can't be eliminated overnight."
Consort Ning's eager service and showing her stance were just because other noble families were betting on the Langya Wang family and even wanted to go a step further.
If one day the Wang family lost power, the Ning family would probably be the first to abandon the sinking ship.
The Queen Mother picked up the teacup and took a sip. The coldness in her eyes deepened.
It was still uncertain who would win.
Let's see who would be the final winner.
On the other side, in the magnificent imperial tent, the front part was where Jun Wuyuan handled government affairs and met with ministers.
Ling Shan, who was extremely hot, took off her outer clothes as soon as she entered the back part of the tent and picked up a cattail fan to fan herself.
Although there was an ice container in the tent, the weather was so hot that it was like being in a steamer.
The Yuhua Palace was warm in winter and cool in summer, with ice containers and cold food every day. It was like a paradise.
But today, after coming to this hunting ground, in comparison, it was really hard to bear.
"Snowy mountains, ice - cold yuanzi, ice cream, plum juice..."
Ling Shan fanned herself while mumbling out one delicious food after another. Then she looked at Ban Chun with her big, watery almond eyes full of pity.
From her eyes to the slightly fluttering hair, she was showing her eagerness to eat.
How could Ban Chun resist her mistress's look?
But the emperor had strictly ordered that it was not allowed.
"Your Majesty, how about just the ice - cold yuanzi? Just like last time, with a layer of osmanthus honey on it. It's sweet, soft, and glutinous. You said you liked it before."
Ling Shan pouted. "I also want plum juice and ice cream..."