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"What does the empress want to see me for now?" Chen Yuan's mind was somewhat unclear, and he tentatively asked Xiao Suri: "Lord Xiao, what business does the empress have with me? Can you reveal it in advance?"
Xiao Su Li shook her head: "I don't know, I really don't know, just come with me."
Chen Yuan thought for a moment, anyway he had to go, so he would just have to play it by ear when the time came. He replied, "Alright, I'll go change into something more suitable."
Go see the empress, anyway it's Yelü Lüjie's mother, can't be too casual. Besides, I still plan to have a chance to go with Yelü Lüjie to the palace again, naturally want to dress up a bit.
Chen Yuan changed into a blue linen long shirt, dressed up for a while, but the bruise on his face made him unable to recover his previous handsome appearance. Looking at it, he barely managed not to look too scary, and followed Xiao Su Li onto the carriage, and the two of them went to the imperial palace together.
This was the first time Chen Yuan had seen Xiao Sulie. If it weren't for Xiao Suri's introduction, he wouldn't have believed that this woman was Yelü Chanyu's mother; to say she was his sister would be about right!
Only by taking a closer look at the faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes can one discover the marks that time has left on this woman.
"Your humble servant has seen the Empress Dowager." Chen Yuan made a very proper bow.
Xiao Tuli looked Chen Yuan up and down before saying, "Alright, this isn't the imperial court, there's no need for so many formalities. Chen Shimei, do you know why I've called you here?"
Chen Yuan slightly shook his head: "Your humble servant is dull-witted and does not know what imperial edict the Empress has."
Xiao Xiangli slowly stood up, Chen Yuan secretly took a look and found that her height was similar to Yelü Chanyu's, but she was more plump.
Just thinking of this, he couldn't help but blame himself: "At this time, I still have the heart to think about a woman's figure? Now what I should be thinking is what purpose she has in calling me here! Truly, a leopard can't change its spots!"
Xiao Suoli's eyes were forcibly withdrawn, and he only heard Xiao Suo say: "I want to ask, recently there have been rumors outside that the Northern King is secretly in contact with the Jurchen people, what do you think about this?"
Chen Yuan's heart skipped a beat, why did Xiao Su ask himself this question? Wasn't she seeing something? Or worse, did Liao Xingzong see through the crack and let her ask herself?
A cold sweat suddenly burst out from his back, and whether this answer can satisfy Xiao Zuan, it's possible that he may not be able to walk out of the palace alive today!
Xiao Xiao's eyes were still staring at herself, with a gaze full of the charm of a mature woman. Chen Yuan now had no heart to appreciate these: "I also have doubts, I don't know whether to speak or not."
Xiao Xiang Li said softly: "Speak."
Chen Yuan's mind was racing as he said, "I think that even if it's just a rumor, there must be some reason behind it. This time I also followed the army on their expedition, and the strange occurrences along the way are really hard to explain."
Xiao Tangli asked: "Also suspecting the Great King of Beiyuan?"
Chen Yuan hastily cupped his hands: "Your humble servant dares not, your humble servant is just discussing the matter at hand, and feels that something is amiss."
This answer is ambiguous and doesn't directly respond to anything, but indirectly says what Chen Shimei should say in this position.
Xiao Xiao took a step forward in front of Chen Yuan: "Chen Shi Mei, you're really good at talking."
Chen Yuan's waist bent even lower: "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Xiao Li poured a glass of water, sat down and took a sip, then slowly said: "Can I ask another small question?"
Chen Yuan already felt his back getting wet, he had an illusion that he was now in purgatory, and Xiao Tuo Li was the one who was inflicting punishment on him!
"I, your humble servant, know that I must speak without reserve." One's mind must think quickly, one's brain must turn quickly, for the mouth cannot afford to be slow.
Xiao Tuli asked: "Why should we buy a house for Xiao Yuanfeng?"
This sentence is even more frightening than the previous one. Because from this sentence, Chen Yuan knew a piece of information that Xiao Suli had been monitoring himself all along.
This matter made him extremely fearful afterwards. Fortunately, it was Xiao Lingchong's affair that prompted Wang Lun and the others to take action; if Yang Wenguang, A Mu, or Pang Xi from their own side had done it, they would have been discovered for sure.
What reason can be used to answer this question? To say that I need food? You can cheat others, but Xiao Su is standing right next to you, and he knows exactly how much grain is sold and bought every day!
Would you like to say that Xiao Yuanfeng is afraid of himself and wears small shoes for himself? That's even more impossible.
Chen Yuan's head spun rapidly, and suddenly a light bulb went off: "This, Your Majesty the Queen, actually has no other reason, just wanting to get on the same boat as the Northern King. In business, it's all about being clever and adaptable."
Xiao Hu'er smiled: "With Yelü Chongbao making such a fuss, can you still pretend to be innocent?"
Chen Yuan said: "Empress, no matter what, leaving a thread is always right, even if this thread can only convey one sentence."
Xiao Xiang Li didn't ask again, Chen Yuan really didn't know if this reason had convinced her or not, anyway this was the best reason he could think of for now.
Xiao Zuan didn't ask any more questions, but instead said: "Right, I haven't thanked you yet. This time the prince returned from his expedition, and many things have changed for the better. It's all thanks to your efforts."
Chen Yuan took a deep breath: "It's because the prince has grown up himself. As a humble official, it is my duty to serve the prince."
Xiao Xiao nodded: "Really good at talking."
"This is the second time she has praised Chen Yuan like this tonight: 'Alright, actually I didn't call you over for anything else, mainly just to thank Hong Ji on your behalf. You know, Hong Ji now considers you his best friend, and was willing to go fight Ye Yu Shu Bao for you, which is something I didn't expect. I hope that in the future, I can help Hong Ji more often, and naturally I won't let him down.'"
It was this last sentence that made Chen Yuan understand a little, and he immediately replied: "Your Majesty can rest assured, I will do my best to assist the Crown Prince, it is the duty of a minister."
When he came out of Xiao Su's place, Chen Yuan had already lost count of how many cold sweats he had broken into. He really gave the woman a good scare!
The current situation is so tense, Chen Yuan's nerves are already in a state of high alert. In this game, he has not noticed the existence of this woman at all. Suddenly, Xiao Suoli came to him and said these words, which is no different from someone suddenly jumping out from the side while walking normally and shouting loudly.
He knew that this woman, who was once known for her contentment with solitude, was no longer content with it. Perhaps she had caught wind of something special and wanted to attend the banquet, seeking a place for herself and her son.
Just now, Xiao Xiang Li's last sentence of subtle confession has already made her intentions clear to Chen Yuan. Now, she is waiting for an opportunity, or rather, she hopes that Chen Yuan will create an opportunity for her to completely trust him.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuan looked up at the sun in the sky. This sudden change had caught him off guard. He knew that in the struggle for power in the imperial court, there was no room for neutrality. Xiao Hualei had already said what needed to be said, and now it was up to him to choose: either become an enemy or one of his own people.
He didn't want to make this woman his enemy, that would be a terrible thing. So Chen Yuan had to find a way to make her believe him, at least before his plan succeeded, he was unwilling to offend such a woman who knew how to deeply bury herself and could endure so many years of loneliness.
"It's not too bad yet." Chen Yuan muttered to himself before heading off to see Yelü Hongji.
This is the imperial palace, although I have already entered, I still can't move around casually. To get from Xiao Yu's place to Ye Lü Hongji's place, although it's only less than a hundred meters away, I still need to wait for the eunuch to report and then Ye Lü Hongji will see me if he wants to.
Chen Yuan waited for a moment in the courtyard, and the eunuch who had gone to report back came back: "Lord Chen, the princess has summoned you."
Chen Yuan was somewhat stunned, he had let this eunuch go and inform Yelü Hongji, how did the princess end up coming out? The eunuch obviously knew that Chen Yuan would have this question, and without waiting for him to speak, said: "The prince is also waiting for you with the princess, follow me."
Following behind Taijian, they had just reached the entrance of Yelü Luyue's palace when the sound of a tea cup shattering came from inside.
The eunuchs in the palace were somewhat intimidated by the princess's temper, and the leading eunuch stopped a few steps away from the door: "Lord Chen can go in himself, I've brought him this far." Without waiting for any reaction from Chen Yuan, he turned around and ran off.
Chen Yuan slowly walked to the door, first poking his head inside for a look. Ye Lu was sitting in the middle chair, with many ceramic shards at her feet and another one in her hand, ready to be thrown again.
Yelü Hongji stood on one side advising something, turned his head and happened to see Chen Yuan poking his head out, immediately shouting: "Chen Shimei, come in quickly."
Chen Yuan stepped over the threshold, made a fist and bowed ceremoniously: "I have seen the prince, I have seen the princess."
Then her eyes turned to Yelü Lüjie: "I don't know why the princess is so angry about this matter?"
Yelü Lüjing's face looked a bit better after seeing Chen Yuan, but she was still huffing and not speaking. Hong Ji said beside her, "It's still that Li Yuankai who made you angry."
Chen Yuan listened with some surprise: "Isn't the King of Dangxiang going to propose to the princess soon?"
As soon as the words came out, Yelü Lü's teacup, which had already been put down in his hand, was suddenly smashed to the ground again, and his eyes turned red. Yelü Hongji said: "He is simply deceiving people too much! On the one hand, he asks my emperor father for marriage, on the other hand, he finds a song girl in Yanjing! And plan to bring that song girl and my sister back to Dangxiang together, deceiving people too much!"
Chen Yuan suddenly understood what was going on and thought to himself that Li Yuanhao's actions were indeed a bit excessive. Although he didn't have any feelings for Yelü Lüzhen, finding a song girl who looked pleasing to the eye wouldn't raise any eyebrows, just like how Yelü Lüzhen had been secretly meeting with him. However, at the very least, he should have hidden it a bit and left some face for Yelü Lüzhen.
"A look of righteous indignation appeared on his face: "This is too much! He hasn't even married the princess yet, and he dares to be so contemptuous of her in the territory of the Great Liao. If he returns to the Tanguts later, it will be unbearable!"
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