The regent is determined to get the daughter of a minor official.

"Queen Mother, what is wrong with you?"

"I'm fine, Ma'am Pi. Please hand over the arrangements for the Qianqiu birthday banquet to the two concubines. I'm exhausted."

Empress Dowager Wei Ling'er was trembling and her voice was weak.

However, the two concubines Xian and Shu refused to let her go.

Concubine Shu was the first to speak:

“The Regent understands the Queen Mother’s hard work in managing the harem. Now that the Queen Mother is seriously ill, he has asked me and the Concubine Xian to jointly manage the harem affairs.

Please, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, hand over the Phoenix Seal so that my sister and I can share your worries."

Empress Dowager Wei Linger's face turned increasingly pale, and she glared at Concubine Shu and said harshly:

"How dare you! I'm not too ill to be in charge, how can I just hand over this Phoenix Seal!"

The virtuous concubine hastened to apologize with a smile.

"Queen Dowager, please calm down. Your Majesty and I are following the orders of the Prince Regent and dare not disobey. Furthermore, the Queen Dowager needs to rest and recuperate. The harem is full of complicated matters, which will inevitably strain her and affect her recovery."

The Queen Mother gripped the armrest tightly, suppressing her anger.

"Hmph! Don't think that just because I'm sick, you can let others manipulate you. My son is the emperor, and I have the final say in this harem!"

Concubine Shu and Concubine Xian looked at each other, a sly look flashed in their eyes, and Concubine Shu said again:

"Your Majesty, please don't be angry. It would be bad if you get sick from anger. Your Majesty and I will do our best to return the affairs of the harem to you after you recover."

The Queen Mother snorted coldly and said nothing more, but she was secretly thinking about how to deal with this situation.

Thinking about last night...

There are bruises all over her body, and not a single spot is intact. I'm afraid it will take ten days or half a month to heal.

This is a cruel regent.

He treated her like that last night, and now he sent two slave girls to take away her power today.

It was truly despicable, but - the Regent was in power, what could she, the Empress Dowager in name only, do?

The Queen Mother finally waved her hand wearily.

"Never mind, never mind. The Phoenix Seal is in the box on the dressing table. Take it. If you make any mistake, I will not forgive you!"

If I don't hand over the Phoenix Seal, there's no guarantee that the Regent won't send someone to steal it, and then all my dirt will be exposed.

Upon hearing this, the two concubines Xian and Shu were overjoyed. They hurried to express their gratitude and go to get the phoenix seal.

At this time, the Queen Mother looked at their departing backs with murderous eyes.

Just as she was about to get up and lie back on the phoenix couch, she saw Concubine Shu coming back.

"I just received a report from a palace maid saying that the Empress Dowager had punished the eunuchs in the Cining Palace by making them kneel in a side courtyard. I had no choice but to come back and remind the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager's 1000th birthday banquet is approaching, and we must not allow anyone to die in the palace, which would implicate us in negligence."

The Queen Mother stiffened when she heard this. Another palace maid had betrayed her...

The culprit behind all this is Regent Chu Musheng. I will remember you!

The hatred in Wei Linger's eyes grew stronger, and she gritted her teeth.

"Don't worry about this matter, I know what to do."

But Concubine Shu refused to give in, with a smug smile on her face.

"Empress Dowager, this concerns the success of the Grand Empress Dowager's Thousand Years Birthday Banquet. I am also concerned about the Empress Dowager. I think it is best to release those eunuchs to avoid any trouble."

The Queen Mother laughed out of anger.

"Hmph, you're actually worried about me. Do you think that just because you have the Phoenix Seal, you can dominate the harem?"

Concubine Shu's expression changed slightly, but she quickly returned to her fawning look.

"Your Majesty has misunderstood. I have absolutely no such intention. However, if this matter were to reach the ears of the Prince Regent, I'm afraid it would be detrimental to Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

"Okay, I know what to do, you go ahead."

The Queen Mother looked at her from behind and swore in her heart that she would not be a human being until she had avenged this.

……

Chu Mucheng was busy until dark. The palace gates were already locked. Tomorrow was the morning court held once every five days. Eunuch Changde advised him to stay in the bedroom and rest.

After being rejected by him, she walked out of a small emergency door next to the palace gate, exhausted.

An Yi brought him a Ferghana horse.

Chu Musheng took the reins, jumped on the horse, and galloped back to Prince Sheng's Mansion.

When he arrived at the mansion gate, Manager Yao was actually waiting there.

"Your Highness, why are you back so late? Have you had dinner?"

Chu Musheng dismounted, threw the reins to the guard, and spoke as he walked towards the mansion.

"I haven't eaten yet. I've been very busy in the palace."

Manager Yao hurried to follow.

"I will tell the kitchen to prepare it right away."

Chu Musheng waved his hand.

"Don't bother, just make some simple food."

Soon, the food was served and Chu Musheng ate casually.

"Has Miss Xu had dinner yet?"

Manager Yao answered immediately.

"I have used it. I should be in bed by now."

"Well, what's going on in the mansion today?"

Chu Musheng continued to ask.

Chief Steward Yao replied, "Everything is fine. Several officials from the court have sent greeting cards and invitations, and Miss Xu's sister has come to see her."

Chu Musheng put down his chopsticks.

"Ask Anliu to come over and answer."

Manager Yao retreated, and a woman dressed in black came in a moment later.

"master."

Chu Musheng tapped his fingers on the table.

"Tell me what Miss Xu and her sister said?"

An Liu told her everything she heard.

"Well, you go down! You two sisters continue to watch Miss Xu and don't let anything happen to her."

"Yes."

An Liu left quietly.

Chu Musheng went back to the bathhouse to wash up quickly, then went to Tingyuxuan in a swagger.

When the gatekeeper saw that it was the prince coming, she opened the door quietly.

When I entered the yard, I saw two maids on night duty outside the wing room, dozing off with their heads nodding.

Chu Musheng ignored them and walked straight into the wing room. Through the wing room was a small outer room.

Dingdang turned over and sat up when she heard a slight sound. Just as she was about to speak, Chu Musheng stopped her with a gesture to keep quiet.

A thousand alpaca horses galloped through Dingdang's mind.

Late in the night, the prince came to see the young lady again, and the marks on her body had not completely disappeared yet!

This prince is not a human being, young lady, please don't take it to heart!

Dingdang could only scream in her heart.

Chu Musheng pushed open the door of Xu Keke's bedroom, and the room was filled with a faint floral scent.

The moonlight shines through the window lattice onto the bed, and a soft gauze curtain hangs on the bed door.

Xu Keke could be vaguely seen lying on her side, sleeping soundly.

Chu Musheng walked to the bed, lifted the gauze curtain and got on the bed.

He lay down against Xu Keke's back and gently embraced her with his arms.

Xu Keke was awakened by his touch and startled.

I turned around and saw his face clearly in the moonlight.

"Nervous... Prince, why are you here?"

"I'm tired after a day, I want to hold you and sleep for a while, please don't make a fuss, I will get up at dawn."

Chu Musheng hugged her and whispered in her ear.

Xu Keke lay in his arms without moving.

She was wondering what time it was at dawn and how long the crazy prince would lie here?

Seeing that she didn't move, Chu Musheng thought she was obedient, and with a faint smile on his face, he hugged her tighter.

Xu Keke wanted to struggle, but he remembered that this was his palace.

Resistance is futile and might even arouse his chaotic thoughts.

Go to sleep, go to sleep, everything will be fine when you fall asleep, Xu Keke thought.

Chu Musheng's hand rested lightly on her waist, and Xu Keke held back and said nothing.

"Fell asleep?"