The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"What's wrong with the Queen Mother? But this wine is not to the Queen's taste?"

Just at this moment, the dance ended.

The hall was very quiet.

The emperor spoke slowly in the silence.

The young king had a smile on his face and spoke in a gentle tone, as if he were a filial son who was concerned about his mother.

However, those who knew the emperor knew that he was angry.

The angrier our Majesty is, the gentler he becomes.

At this time, even the virtuous concubine who was usually talkative and cheerful was silent and did not dare to come out to rescue.

Seeing that the Empress Dowager remained silent, the Emperor added:

"What kind of wine is this? Why did you prepare a drink that the Queen Mother doesn't like? Xianfei, how do you do things?"

The virtuous concubine secretly felt unlucky.

The Queen Mother was clearly angry because Your Majesty sent food to Concubine Zhao.

The mother and son were not good at fighting, and both took advantage of Concubine Zhao to vent their anger. Concubine Zhao was not around, so she was picked out instead.

But I also know that I can't hide.

He quickly stood up from his seat under the emperor's gaze, knelt down and bowed to apologize.

"It's my fault for not doing my job well. The menu was drafted by the Empress, and she had already sent it to the Queen Mother for review two days ago. I was lazy for a moment and didn't make any major changes. I only slightly changed and added a few dishes. I made an oversight and should have been more careful and meticulous."

Now that the reason has been explained, the blame is put on the queen.

It also shows his willingness to take responsibility.

The emperor nodded upon hearing this and said, "In that case, I shouldn't blame you. Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"It's just that the Empress is ill, and I can't bear to blame her. After all, she was the one who planned the birthday banquet. I just need her to take good care of herself." The virtuous concubine returned to her seat, and the emperor turned to the empress dowager. "If you don't like this wine, please forgive the Empress. I will apologize on her behalf."

In front of all the ministers in the hall, the emperor's attitude was very thorough.

It also gave the Empress Dowager enough face.

There was just one bad thing: the Empress and the virtuous concubines were dragged out for accountability, and even the Emperor himself had to apologize, which made the Empress Dowager seem to be acting unreasonably.

The concubines worked hard to celebrate your birthday, but you still threw cups and lost your temper in public because of the wine issue.

Is it inappropriate?

Everyone in the world is watching!

The Queen Mother was unwilling to suffer this loss.

She was born into a noble family. Her ancestors were founding heroes. Although her title was not high, it was respectable.

Moreover, she had been the late emperor's wife for many years, and even the late emperor respected her to some extent. How could he tolerate the illegitimate son whom he had personally supported to suffer any injustice?

The Queen Mother smiled slowly.

Yan said, "Your Majesty, you are too serious and have misunderstood. This wine is light, sweet, and soft, and it suits my taste very well. The Emperor is a monarch and should be calm and dignified. How can he casually criticize the concubines without considering right and wrong? The birthday banquet is a small matter, and the wine is also a small matter, but the court and the military are major matters. I hope that the Emperor will not be so impatient when governing."

These words are extremely serious.

The emperor had been on the throne for five years and his power in the court was growing stronger and stronger. However, the empress dowager blamed the emperor for his impatience in front of all the ministers and ladies in the hall.

Train him like you would a child.

It is equivalent to embarrassing the emperor in front of the people of the world.

If this matter were to get out, it wouldn't take long for people all over Daliang to spread rumors, saying that our current emperor is impatient and the young boy is not steady, and that it is all thanks to the empress dowager's personal guidance and instruction!

Then the emperor's diligence, benevolence, decency and majesty in the past few years since he ascended the throne would all become a joke.

After the Queen Mother finished speaking, she picked up the wine pot, poured a glass of wine, and held it in her hand.

He glanced at the officials in the hall and said with a smile, "You are here to congratulate me on my birthday. I am very happy. This morning, the albizzia tree in the courtyard of Ciyun Palace bloomed again, which made me feel very emotional.

There are several albizzia trees that the late Emperor planted for me in Fengyi Palace. After the late Emperor's death, I moved to Ciyun Palace, but I couldn't bear to leave them behind, so I moved them here. Looking at them, I can't help but think of the late Emperor's tireless concern for state affairs when he was alive, often standing beneath the trees with me, sharing his worries.

To safeguard the ancestral land, the late emperor toiled tirelessly throughout his life, and even before his death, he earnestly entrusted several important officials with the task of assisting him and urging them not to slack off. I was present at the time, listening and sharing his admonitions. Whenever I think of the late emperor's painstaking efforts, I cannot help but shed tears, filled with deep emotion.

The Queen Mother spoke with tears in her eyes.

He took the handkerchief handed to him by Aunt Tohka and wiped the corners of his eyes.

Suddenly he stood up, raised his glass high, and looked up at the sky.

"This cup is from me, my wife, to the late emperor. Over the past few years, I have lived up to your trust and have stabilized the harem. When we meet in heaven in the future, I will have a clear conscience."

The Queen Mother spilled the wine on the ground.

Then he revealed the bottom of the cup and glanced at the officials and ladies in the hall.

"The legacy of Daliang depends on you. I hope you will uphold the late emperor's will, serve the country and the people, build your families and nation, and forge the eternal foundation of Daliang!"

"I will follow the Queen Mother's instructions! May the Queen Mother live a thousand years and a thousand thousand years!"

Everyone in the hall stood up as soon as the empress dowager stood up.

At this time, one person took the lead in shouting "Long live the Lord!", and the others followed suit, bowing and responding.

It’s just that some people have high voices and some have low voices.

Some of those who shouted were nobles, relatives and court officials who had a good relationship with the Queen Mother's family, the Chungcheong Baron Mansion.

There were also many people who did not understand the situation and thought it was just an ordinary birthday celebration, so they just followed the crowd.

Those who spoke in low voices or even just followed the salute reluctantly without saying a word, saw the situation clearly and were unwilling to boost the empress dowager's power.

For a moment, the people in the hall shouted "Long live the Buddha!"

The real emperor of the Daliang Dynasty was left aside.

The emperor was still sitting on the throne.

He did not stand up with the Queen Mother.

With a smile on her lips, she watched the empress dowager in high spirits and everyone in the hall bow to her.

She stabilized the harem.

The previous dynasty depended on everyone.

After all, it turns out that he, the emperor, has nothing to do with it!

Looking at the hall full of nobles and officials, not one of them stood up to point out the empress dowager's inappropriate behavior.

There was a hint of disappointment in the emperor's eyes.

Even the few ministers he promoted were unable to make a name for themselves.

When everyone in the hall sat down again with the empress dowager and the birthday banquet continued, gongs and drums sounded, and the Fu family troupe came on stage. The emperor suddenly smiled.

"The Queen has prepared this wine well. After drinking it, the Queen Mother is more energetic than ever."

Several relatives and concubines nearby joined in the fun and praised him.

The virtuous concubine rolled her eyes secretly.

You are so stupid!

Didn't you hear that Your Majesty was speaking sarcastically?

"Cao Bin, why haven't you gone yet?" the emperor suddenly asked.

Cao Bin shrank his neck.

After all this fuss, Your Majesty is still thinking about delivering food to Concubine Zhao?

"...I will go right away."

The emperor smiled and said, "That dish is cold, never mind. Send these newly served dishes, along with two jugs of wine, to Concubine Zhao. Since the Empress Dowager likes this wine, let Concubine Zhao taste it too, so she can share in the Empress Dowager's blessing."

Cao Bin shrank into a quail.

Well, that’s good. One dish has displeased the Queen Mother.

Your Majesty, you might as well send several dishes and pair them with wine!

He did not dare to delay and quickly instructed a eunuch to put the wine and food in food boxes.

The Queen Mother was also laughing over there.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zhao is recovering from her injuries and should not drink."

The emperor said, "Then let her taste a little, and you can give the rest to others."

The Queen Mother ordered: "The Queen is also recuperating. The order of rank is in order. Cao Bin, send him to Fengyi Palace first."

The emperor laughed and said, "The queen is seriously ill and is vomiting blood. She can't even take a sip. Cao Bin, go to Guanlan Courtyard."

Cao Bin felt like a needle in his back.

After knowing that she had become the successor to Consort Xian, she was used as another raft.

He doesn't have the support of the Duke's Mansion.

Not daring to delay for fear of getting into trouble, he quickly picked up the food box and ran away.

Hey, Your Majesty, I can't hear you anymore. My legs are not listening to me and they are trying to take me away!

Regardless of how tense the situation was at the banquet in Xianyue Palace.

Cao Bin quickly escaped and rushed to Guanlan Courtyard in one breath.

I saw Fei Wan enjoying the cool air under the trellis in the yard, with tea, snacks and fruits beside her, looking so leisurely.

He wiped the sweat off his face and walked away with a bitter look on his face.

"Oh my dear... you are so relaxed! Don't you know that this fire is about to burn you?"

Fei Wan slowly stood up from the recliner, pointed to the stone bench next to her, and asked the maid to bring a brocade cushion to spread on it.

"Please take a seat, Eunuch Cao. Where is the fire? The sky is so gloomy that it seems like it will rain at any moment. Even if there is a fire, it will probably be extinguished after a rain."

"My dear, are you still in the mood to joke?"

Cao Bin put down the food box and briefly told Fei Wan about the dispute in Xianyue Palace.

Of course he couldn't say it directly, otherwise he would be considered a troublemaker.

However, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor had a rift over the delivery of food, and Fei Wan conveyed this to her.

"Thank you, Queen Mother, and Your Majesty, for the wine and food. I wish you a long and blessed life."

Fei Wan stood up and bowed towards the Xianyue Palace to express his gratitude for the reward.

It seemed as if he didn't understand what Cao Bin said.

"Don't be anxious, Eunuch Cao," he said softly. "From my perspective, the Queen Mother loves me very much. She wants me to recover well and is worried that I might harm myself by drinking. So why would she be angry with me? Perhaps you misunderstood."

The Queen Mother just returned to the palace and doesn't know me very well yet. How could she take a trivial noble like me seriously?

When the Empress Dowager is free someday, I will go to Ciyun Palace to kowtow to her and express my gratitude."

Well, Cao Bin thought to himself, whether you are really confused or just pretending to be confused, I don’t care.

Anyway, I have completed my mission and revealed everything that needs to be revealed.

"My lord, please enjoy your food and wine. I have to go back and serve His Majesty."

"Father-in-law, walk slowly."

Fei Wan personally escorted him out of the hospital.

"My lady, Eunuch Cao doesn't seem to be the kind of person who makes a fuss." Xiang Yi reminded in a low voice.

Fei Wan looked at Cao Bin's receding figure and scoffed, "He's deliberately trying to make me anxious so I can find a way to calm things down. Otherwise, if His Majesty is unhappy, the first person to suffer will be him, the one serving beside him."

"The young master..."

"Of course I want to settle the matter, but not for him."

It's for myself.

Fei Wan smiled faintly.

What a great opportunity.

She rose through the ranks of the harem little by little, and for safety's sake, she didn't dare get involved in the affairs of the previous dynasty before she reached a high position.

Otherwise, any carelessness might arouse the emperor's suspicion and all previous efforts would be wasted.

However, the Queen Mother could not bear it any longer.

Giving her a chance for nothing.

If she doesn't take advantage of the situation and do something, she would be really sorry to the Queen Mother!

"Dongbao, go to Xianyue Palace and ask what's going on there. Remember, go quickly and come back quickly."

"Yes, my lord."