The Emperor taking a break from court is not considered news. If it happens during important events such as sacrifices, it's normal. But taking a break without any warning certainly makes people uneasy.
What's even more unusual is that the Imperial Army is guarding each palace and not allowing indiscriminate comings and goings, which further causes unease.
At this point, distinctions between allies and adversaries don't matter anymore. Consort Fan and several other concubines went together to the Empress's palace to report the matter and requested an audience with the Emperor.
The Empress's heart skipped a beat upon hearing about the court break, but she did not act rashly. Instead, she sent someone to find out who accompanied him last night. Learning that it was a favored attendant who was still in the Yangxin Hall without permission to return to her palace, and that her chamber had been searched, she couldn't help but reveal a look of shock.
Something had happened.
