Chapter 68: The Gathering Storm 8

  Early morning. The Empress Dowager's palace was bustling with activity.

  The palace maids stood in two rows, each holding a different style of magnificent attire. The empress dowager's face was filled with irrepressible joy. The coronation ceremony was approaching. The ceremonial robes that the empress would wear at the coronation ceremony were naturally something she had to personally oversee.

  "Look at this one." The Empress Dowager pulled out a red robe with phoenixes embroidered on it.

  Nalan Yanran carefully supported her, smiling and nodding. "Very pretty, but too complicated. Not quite fitting the temperament of Princess Huangfu. I think this one is better."

  She walked over and picked up a white dress with a silver phoenix embroidered on it, its wings spread wide, which would surely shine brightly in the sunlight, stunningly beautiful.

  The empress looked and nodded repeatedly. "Let the visitor come in. Let Princess Xianuo come over. The grand ceremony is approaching, we need to try on the ceremonial attire."

  The palace maid retreated and went out to attend to her duties. At this time, Nan Gongyan walked in.

  The empress glanced at her and continued looking at the cheongsam. "What are you doing here again."

  Good things are approaching. Everyone's mood is great. Nangong Yan is no exception. She leaned in and coquettishly said: "Oh my, I was thinking of Mother later and then came to see Mother."

  The empress dowager couldn't help but burst out laughing. "You, I still don't know what you're here for. Are you here to find Yanran again? She doesn't have time to accompany you to play around. The grand ceremony is approaching, you should go back and prepare properly."

  Nangong Yan pouted. "There are still several days left. What's the hurry? Besides, it's not like I'm getting married. What do I have to prepare?"

  Nalan Yiran lightly smiled. "Princess, you'd better say a few less words. The Empress Dowager's health has just improved slightly. Don't irritate the elderly lady again."

  Nangong Yan listened to Nalan Xiangran's words and indeed no longer argued with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh. Indeed, it is true that a woman past her prime should not be kept around. Nowadays, even Nalan Xianyu's sister has more influence than herself, the mother.

  "Princess Xineruo has arrived." A palace maid came in to report.

  Nangong Yan's face fell. "What is she doing here..."

  Nalan Yanran pulled her into his side. "Let Princess Xianuo try on the dress, otherwise you can follow me to the back hall."

  Nangong Yan nodded and followed Nalan Yiran to the back hall.

  "Ah, Xi Nuo. I've picked out a dress for you. Try it on." Mu Rong Empress waved her hand, signaling the palace maids to come over and assist Nalan Xiu Nuo in changing clothes.

  Nalan Xiner nodded and obediently put on the ceremonial robe. Indeed, as Nalan Yanran had said, Nalan Xiner's temperament paired with the silver phoenix was simply matchless and unparalleled.

  Murong Taohou nodded in satisfaction. "That's it. This is the third set of ceremonial attire for the grand ceremony. And then there's the dinner party..."

  "Princess..." Nalan Xixi interrupted her. "Xixi has an impolite request."

  "Oh." Murong Empress stopped her actions. "You speak."

  "Regrettably, I humbly request that Her Majesty replace all the eunuchs required for the grand ceremony with palace maidens."

  "This is why." Murong Taihou was puzzled.

  "In the Liang Dynasty, all celebrations are not allowed to have eunuchs participating in them. If there are eunuchs involved, it will be considered unlucky and blasphemous to the gods. So..." Nalan Xianyu's face showed a difficult expression. She knew that as long as she said it was the custom of the Liang Dynasty or the intention of the Imperial Family of Liang, Empress Muyong would readily agree. After all, these are trivial matters."

  As expected. Empress Murong smiled lightly upon hearing this. "I thought it was something like that. This is easy to handle. I'll give the order later."

  Nalan Xixi nodded. "Forgive me, Your Highness."

  Murong Taohou looked at Nalan Xianyu's respectful appearance, thinking that soon she would be her own daughter-in-law. She couldn't help but feel delighted in her heart. She pulled up Xianyu's hand and said softly: "Still call me Mother."

  Nalan Xixi's face turned slightly red. "Empress Dowager..."

  Murong Taohou smiled happily and said, "Come, let's try on the evening banquet attire."

  The empress dowager had her try on a ceremonial robe for an entire morning. Nalan Xinnuo felt that this was even more torturous than going into battle. After trying it on for half a day, her waist and back ached.

  The empress dowager wanted her to stay for lunch. Nalan Xixi had no choice but to say that Nan Gongyin was still waiting for her to discuss some details of the grand ceremony and hastily took her leave.

  Just walked out of the empress's bedroom, saw a small eunuch rushing in.

  Nalan Xixi's expression solidified, and she quickly walked away.

  In the palace of the Empress Dowager, she was being amused by Nan Gongyan and was in a good mood. At this time, a small eunuch from Zhao Song's residence rushed over. The moment the Empress Dowager saw that it was someone from Zhao Song's place, her expression immediately turned serious.

  The little eunuch had just arrived at the door when he fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Ladyship... Zhao, the official... he... he... took his own life."

  "The Empress originally didn't want to give him a good look, but this news made her heart skip a beat."

  How could it be... suicide? No reason at all. If he wasn't afraid of death, then why would he try to sell himself out to save his life that day? This life was hard-earned and barely preserved, how could he possibly take his own life?

  Behind her, Nalan Yanran was even more shocked than Tai Hou. She never thought that Zhao Song would actually take his own life to atone for his crime.

  The empress retreated repeatedly, her face pale. Unconsciously, tears flowed down. He had followed her for decades. The one closest to her in this world was now only him.

  Now he's gone like this. She suddenly felt a little emptiness in her heart.

  Nangong Yan and Nalan Xiangran hastily supported her. Nalan Xiangran waved his hand to signal the eunuch to withdraw.

  Nangong Yan coldly snorted: "Your Majesty, he is just a slave, and has committed countless evils, deserving of death ten thousand times over, his death is not worth mourning."

  Murong Taihou did not make a sound. She was silently crying. She leaned against the couch, closed her eyes and tried to calm herself down.

  After a while, Murong Taohou's voice was somewhat hoarse. "Yanran, go find someone to prepare some things. I want to personally visit his mansion."

  "Empress Dowager... you are the Empress Dowager. He is just a slave. You go there in person, what kind of dignity is that?" Nan Gong Yan said discontentedly. She herself didn't care about dignity. It's just that Nalan Xianuo's death was caused by Zhao Song. In her heart, she couldn't forgive Zhao Song.

  Murong Taohou took a deep breath. "The Liang State has its traditions. Eunuchs cannot participate in the celebrations. So, I'll have to make some arrangements. I'll go and take a look at him on the way."

  As she spoke, she shed tears again.

  Nalan was shocked in her heart, not allowing the eunuchs to participate... it seems that Zhao Song had already gone to find Nalan Xianuo before, so knowing that she could not escape death, she took her own life at home.

  "This matter I will take care of, Your Majesty, you should rest well."

  "Stop right there..."

  Her daughter is the one she understands best. How can she possibly go to offer condolences properly? If she doesn't bring people to burn down Zhao Song's mansion, it would be a blessing from heaven.

  Nangong Yan didn't listen to her and continued walking forward. Muyong Empress felt like her chest was about to explode. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

  As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Murong's body leaned forward and backward. Nalan Yanran hurriedly supported her. "Your Majesty."

  Nangong Yan's footsteps came to a sudden stop. She turned her head back and saw that Murong Empress Dowager had already collapsed onto the bed. "Empress Dowager... summon the imperial physician, quickly."

  On the bed, Empress Murong's face was pale and wan, unconscious and unresponsive. Nangong Yan wept silently.

  At this time, Nalan Yanran said softly: "Princess, no matter what Zhao Gongzi was like, he has already passed away. Whatever kindness or resentment there was before, let's just settle it here. He followed the Empress Dowager for decades and they have long been like siblings. Please forgive the Empress Dowager."

  Although Nan Gongyan's face was unwilling, Empress Dowager had already been angered by her to such an extent and could only give up.

  "All these years, Lord Zhao has been diligent and conscientious. Moreover, during the last disturbance, Lord Zhao also rendered meritorious service in protecting Your Majesty. Although he may not have achieved great merit, he has certainly toiled hard. Why don't you stay here with Her Majesty, and I will represent her on a visit to Lord Zhao's residence? This can be considered as bringing a token of Her Majesty's sentiments. Besides, the grand ceremony is approaching, and replacing personnel would be a major undertaking; it should be arranged early."

  Nangong Yan felt that Nalan Xiangran's words were reasonable and nodded repeatedly. "Then I'll trouble sister to take a trip."

  The grand ceremony is approaching, and the Empress Dowager has fallen ill again for the third time. Meanwhile, Zhao, who was in charge of the palace staff, kept causing trouble at this critical moment and finally passed away. The palace is in a state of chaos.

  Nalan Yanran left the palace saying she was ordered by Her Majesty to go to Lord Zhao's residence for condolences, so the guards let her pass without hindrance.

  Just out of the palace gate, walking to the street corner, suddenly a strong gust of wind came, Nalan Yanran was startled, not knowing who the comer was, whether to take action or not, and had already been snatched away at the waist.

  In the narrow alley outside the palace, that person put down Nalan Yanran. Nalan Yanran turned back to look, startled in her heart, and hurriedly knelt down to pay respects. "Master, Master... how did you get injured? Did they discover your whereabouts?"

  He fell silent for a moment before saying calmly: "No big deal. Just ran into some thugs."

  Nalan Yanran was secretly wondering what kind of villain could have beaten him up.

  "The situation has changed." His voice was cold.

  Nalan Yanran's heart sank. "Yes, Zhao Song killed himself at home today. Moreover, he has seen Nalan Xianuo and told her all our plans. Nalan Xianuo asked the Empress Dowager to replace all eunuchs with palace maids..."

  "That person's voice was even colder. 'So... you're telling me that our plan, which we spent a month preparing for, has failed.'"

  "No." Nalan Yanran hastily explained. "The task of changing the palace maid is now in my hands. I have a way."

  That person remained silent. Nalan Yanran's tense face turned pale. "Please believe me, Master..."

  "Never mind." The man sighed. "It's best if this works out. If it doesn't, then so be it. I'll think of another way."

  At this time, a hurried footsteps came from outside the wall. The two were shocked. A man in black jumped down from the wall.

  "Master, something's happened... The person who summoned us this morning has disappeared. And the ten experts we brought with us have all been assassinated. Only the 300 dead soldiers we sent to infiltrate the eunuch troops remain."

  "What...". The man clenched his fists. He underestimated him. This Nalan Xiong was not simple.

  "My lord, I have a plan." At this time, Nalan Yanran spoke up.

  "Say."

  "Nalan Xiner used the name 'Huangfu Xiner' this time when entering the palace. If she were to be exposed..." Nalan Yanran's words trailed off.

  "You didn't say that Nangong Yan admired Naralan Xianuo very much, and if her identity is exposed, it may add to her strength at that time. How can the Empress Dowager be hostile to Naralan Xianuo under the insistence of Nangong Yan and Nangong Jin?"

  "At least we can buy some time."

  He thought for a moment, nodded and said "Let's do it."