The Evil Emperor's Favorite: The Sickly and Poisonous Concubine Goes Crazy

The Imperial Palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Imperial Study.

Several ministers in official uniforms knelt on the black and smooth marble floor, their bodies trembling uncontrollably due to fear. The Duke of Qing, Shen Yuan, who had gray hair and a handsome appearance, knelt on the broken inkstone, but he knelt respectfully on the ground and dared not move.

On the throne, the Emperor of the Great Zhou was tall and majestic, with handsome features. He was dressed in a black and gold dragon robe, and he looked so mighty and domineering that people dared not look directly at him.

He lowered his eyes and flipped through the memorial in his hand, ignoring the people kneeling on the ground. The murderer of Prince Chen was found this morning. It was the Crown Prince's biological mother, Consort Xian. In the past few years, Consort Shu has been favored, and the Duke of Qing's mansion has also risen to prominence. They are rampant in the capital and are very powerful. This Duke of Qing came to ask him to punish Consort Xian and the Crown Prince early in the morning.

After a long while, Emperor Zhou put down the memorial in his hand, took a sip of tea, looked at the Duke of Qing, whose knees were bleeding, with cold eyes, and said:

"Duke Qing! Over the years, the Shen family has used Prince Chen and Consort Shu to suppress the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is kind and has never said anything bad about Prince Chen in front of me. I said that this assassination attempt was all done by Consort Xian without the Crown Prince's knowledge, and I also punished Consort Xian. Prince Chen also didn't say anything. But you are like this now?"

"Are you questioning my partiality to the Crown Prince?" Emperor Zhou lowered his voice slightly and looked at Duke Qing.

"This old minister dare not. Your Majesty, please spare my life! Your Majesty, please spare my life!" Emperor Zhou's icy voice was like a death warrant, scaring the Duke of Qing so much that he almost collapsed to the ground.

Over the years, Prince Chen and Concubine Shu have been favored, and the Shen family has gained power. He wanted to get rid of the prince and support Prince Chen. Now he finally got the chance, caught the fault of the prince's mother, Concubine Xian, and wanted to take the opportunity to depose the prince. But he forgot that the current prince was the crown prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty appointed by His Majesty himself. If His Majesty didn't want it, how could the prince fall easily?

Emperor Zhou looked at the sweaty and pale Duke Qing with murderous intent in his eyes and reminded him:

"Duke Qing! You only have one life, you must protect it well. It's better to get rid of any unnecessary thoughts, or you'll die without knowing how you died one day!"

"Shengfu, send all the adults out of the palace and have a good rest at home. Also, Prince Chen was frightened after being assassinated, so he should stay in the mansion to recuperate. He doesn't need to come out before the new year," Emperor Zhou glanced coldly at the Minister of Personnel who had fainted from fright, and instructed the eunuch chief beside him.

"Also, Imperial Concubine Shu is a coward and incompetent, and she allowed the foreign relatives to cause chaos in the imperial capital. She is also reflecting on her mistakes in Xiefang Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Eunuch Shengfu was plump and looked amiable. But within the palace walls, how could someone who could become the emperor's attendant be a simple person?

"My Lords, please." Eunuch Shengfu shook the whisk in his hand and said to several ministers.

Duke Qing's knees were already bloody and he was helped out of the imperial study by two eunuchs. Several adults from his party were also escorted out. These adults were all civil officials with weak bodies. This injury would probably take at least ten days or half a month to heal.

Sheng Fu sent someone to escort the officials out of the palace. When he was about to go back, he saw Gu Yan'an, a tall, handsome man in a bright red official robe, walking towards the imperial study.

"Oh, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is finally here. His Majesty was very angry and now his headache has come back. Please go in and try to persuade him!" Sheng Fu hurriedly went up to him with a look of surprise.

"Why is Your Majesty angry?" Gu Yan'an paused and asked.

"The Empress Virtuous attempted to assassinate Prince Chen. Duke Qing had always been dissatisfied with the Crown Prince and wanted to use this opportunity to punish him and force him to step down. His Majesty was so angry that he made Duke Qing and a group of related ministers kneel in the imperial study for a whole day!" Sheng Fu said in horror, frowning.

"Oh, then I'll come again tomorrow." Gu Yan'an said, turned around and was about to leave.

Sheng Fu was shocked. He thought that if His Majesty knew that he failed to stop Prince Gu, he would definitely scold him to death, so he hurriedly grabbed Gu Yan'an.

"Oh, please don't, Your Highness, His Majesty is looking forward to your coming!"

Gu Yan'an pushed Sheng Fu away with an impatient look on his face and strode towards the imperial study.

As soon as he entered the imperial study, he saw the bloody inkstone fragments all over the floor and Emperor Zhou leisurely drinking tea with his back to him.

"Ahem, Your Majesty!" Sheng Fu saw this and hurriedly tried to remind His Majesty.

"I asked you to send those ministers out, why did you come back so soon?" Emperor Zhou asked curiously, without turning back to look at Sheng Fu, he continued to drink tea and prepared to find an ancient book to read.

"Your humble servant Gu Yan'an greets Your Majesty." Gu Yan'an glanced at Emperor Zhou, who looked leisurely and did not seem to have a headache.

"Ahem! Your Majesty, it's the Crown Prince who has arrived." Sheng Fu's face was stiff. He glanced at Gu Yan'an who was bowing and spoke.

When Emperor Zhou heard Gu Yan'an's voice, the hand holding the teacup trembled.

"Yan'an is here! Shengfu, why didn't you tell me earlier! Come on, someone clean up the dirt on the ground. And make a pot of Junshan Silver Needle tea from Qingzhou." Emperor Zhou looked at Gu Yan'an with surprise. His face was full of joy and kindness, and he was completely different from before. He quickly put down the teacup and walked to his side.

Sheng Fu looked helpless. "I reminded you, but it was Your Majesty who ignored it."

"I heard that someone tried to assassinate you again yesterday. Why didn't King Beiyang send more people to protect you? Where are the guards I sent to you? Are you hurt?" He looked up and down at Gu Yan'an, whom he hadn't seen for two years. He was much taller than last time.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm fine." Gu Yan'an replied in a deep voice and took a half step back.

Emperor Zhou was not annoyed when he saw this, but continued to ask:

"How long will you stay this time? It's almost the end of the year, so why not leave after the New Year? You are the only one in the palace, so I guess you are a little cold. I will send some more people to you."

"No need, I will return to the Northern Frontier in a few days to spend the New Year with my father." Gu Yan'an refused in a low voice. Then he continued.

"Then let King Beiyang come back. I haven't seen him for many years." Emperor Zhou was a little unhappy and his voice was a little stubborn.

Gu Yan'an acted as if he hadn't heard it. He continued to speak to Emperor Zhou:

"I came to the capital this time to discuss the defeat of the Xiliang army. I received a secret letter that the King of Xiliang passed away and passed the throne to the fourth prince Feng Yuche. The eldest prince started a rebellion and the two sides are in a stalemate."

"Now that Xiliang is in chaos, it no longer has the strength to fight against the Great Zhou. Northern Yan and Southern Yue are both ready to take advantage of the chaos to divide up Xiliang's land. But now the four countries are balanced, and the Great Zhou is slightly ahead of the other three. But if this situation is broken, the Great Zhou will probably have to face wars for years to come."

Emperor Zhou pondered for a long time after listening to this, and asked: "The power of the Xiliang royal court has always been dispersed. In recent years, it has been ranked last among the four countries. Now that the Xiliang king is dead, I am afraid it will be even more chaotic. The eldest prince of Xiliang, Feng Yulu, is older and more stable, and has a high prestige in the court. I am afraid he will have more support, but this fourth prince? Do you understand?"

"The Fourth Prince Feng Yuche is smart and clever, and has been favored by the King of Xiliang since he was young. He is also the legitimate son of the King of Xiliang, so it is natural for him to inherit the throne of Xiliang. But the Fourth Prince is young, and he is only fourteen years old now. Even if he is smart, he will not be able to impress those eldest princes in the Xiliang court without help." Gu Yan'an replied in a deep voice.

“The balance among these four countries cannot be disturbed. North Yan and South Yue must not even think of interfering in the civil strife in Xiliang. Send someone to Xiliang to help the fourth prince of Xiliang. Tell the fourth prince that our Great Zhou is willing to secretly help him become the King of Xiliang and stabilize the situation in Xiliang, on the condition that the King’s army of Xiliang cannot set foot into the border of Great Zhou within five years.” The eyes of Emperor Zhou were filled with domineering arrogance that looked down on the world.

"But this matter is of great importance. Who do you think should be sent? The Su family is good, but I have already ordered them to return to the court, and I cannot order them to go back halfway." Emperor Zhou looked a little hesitant and asked Gu Yan'an.

"Jiang Hechuan, the son of the Minister of Rites, is traveling in the northern border. He is a talent that can be used." Gu Yan'an said in a deep voice.

"Oh, this is the first time I see you praising someone. This person must be really good." Emperor Zhou looked at Gu Yan'an, who had no expression on his face, and raised his eyebrows and said with a smile.

"Jiang Hechuan, then send him. He is in the Northern Frontier and can go to Xiliang quickly. I will write a letter and send it to the King of Beiyang as fast as possible, asking him to arrange it immediately."

Then he turned and walked to the imperial platform to prepare to write the edict.

Looking at Emperor Zhou who was writing the edict with his head down, Gu Yan'an took a sip of the new tea handed to him by Shengfu, then stood up and bowed slightly to Emperor Zhou.

"If Your Majesty has no other instructions, I will take my leave." After saying this, he turned around and left.

"Hey, hey, hey, I haven't let you leave yet. It's almost time for dinner. Have dinner first before leaving!" Emperor Zhou shouted hurriedly as he watched Gu Yan'an turn around and leave with a graceful figure.

"I have something else to do, so I won't accompany Your Majesty for dinner." Gu Yan'an left without looking back.

Sheng Fu watched Gu Yan'an walk away in fear. It was strange. His Majesty was always thoughtful and powerful. Even the Crown Prince did not dare to act like that in front of him. But this Gu Shizi was so rude in front of His Majesty, and His Majesty never blamed him. He even doted on him more and treated him better than his own son.

"Sheng Fu, find a way for me to let him stay in the imperial capital to celebrate the New Year this year. Can't we celebrate the New Year without Prince Beiyang?" Emperor Zhou put his hands in his pockets, looking at the direction where Gu Yan'an left, a cunning look in his eyes.

"Ah, this, what can this old servant do?" Sheng Fu was in a dilemma, his face was tangled. Suddenly his eyes lit up and he said to Emperor Zhou:

"Hey, didn't His Majesty confer the title of General of the Imperial Guard? Logically, His Majesty's Imperial Guard should be commanded by His Majesty, but His Majesty has been in the Northern Frontier all year round and has never even been to the Imperial Guard Camp. Now that His Majesty has finally returned, why not ask His Majesty to train the soldiers of the Imperial Guard Camp for His Majesty so that they can protect His Majesty's safety in the future."

Emperor Zhou looked at Sheng Fu with a smile in his eyes.

"Hahahahaha, this is a good idea. Go to Beiyang Palace tomorrow morning to convey my order. Don't let this kid run away again."