While half of Ze Prefecture City was plunged into chaos due to the great fire at De Sheng Chang, the capital was peaceful and sunny.
The four city gates of the capital remained tightly closed, and looking outside, there was no flow of people, as the woodcutters were still wandering outside the city.
But the atmosphere at the city gates was much improved, the broken walls and remnants of fire had been repaired, and there were quite a few people walking on the streets, speaking and greeting each other rather cautiously.
This caution was not due to the woodcutters, but rather due to the fear of saying something that might get one arrested by the government soldiers.
A horse-drawn carriage was pulled out in front of Jiuling Hall, with several attendants carefully and prudently organizing the horses and carriage, while seven or eight guards watched the surroundings vigilantly.
Many people on the street had already looked over in this direction.
"Is Miss Jun coming out?"
The news spread, and more people gathered towards this direction.
Since she uttered the shocking words of asking to establish Prince Huai in front of the Imperial Mausoleum, Miss Jun had not appeared before the public.
Presumably, she knew how astonishing the things she said were.
"Where is she going?"
"She wouldn't be going to the Imperial Mausoleum again to question the emperor, would she?"
The crowd looked towards this direction, pointing and discussing with curiosity, debating where Miss Jun was headed, which unlike the debate on whether Prince Huai should be crowned prince, wouldn't get one arrested. The street was noisy and lively.
Inside Jiuling Hall, the atmosphere was quiet and grave.
"Really going?" Seventh Chen said, frowning as he looked at Miss Jun coming out.
Miss Jun's attire today was elaborate, reserved only for audiences.
"Do you have a way to defy orders?"
Before Miss Jun could speak, Fang Jinxiu said impatiently from the side.
Seventh Chen chuckled.
"I have no way. If Miss Jun wants, there must be a way," he said.
Miss Jun smiled slightly.
"I don't either," she said, "After all, I'm not some high official or minister, who can oppose orders from the emperor and Empress Dowager based on righteousness."
Ultimately, she was just an Imperial Mandate, especially with the current reputation of exerting influence arrogantly.
"Then it's even better, without a response to your request, you will defy orders," Fang Jinxiu said coldly, "Either way, it would only be more arrogant and unruly."
Seventh Chen nudged her slightly, but Miss Jun didn't mind and just smiled.
"Even being arrogant and unruly is for the sake of negotiations," she said, "Stalemate ultimately cannot solve the problem; talking and discussing is necessary. Since the Empress Dowager wants to talk to me now, I have no fear of talking."
Fang Jinxiu curled her lips.
"What's there to talk about? Clearly, she wants to reprimand you," she said.
"Reprimanding is also talking. The Empress Dowager can reprimand, and I can retort," Miss Jun said, looking towards the direction of the imperial palace, "And there are some things I'd like to ask her."
Asking, it sounded like she could stand on equal footing with the Empress Dowager, this attitude was indeed bold.
All along, she felt Jun Zhenzhen was very bold, especially after breaking off the engagement with the Ning Family.
Thinking about it, breaking off the engagement with the Ning Family should have signified Jun Zhenzhen recognized the times, signifying she became reasonable and knew her limits, but why since then did she feel Jun Zhenzhen became inherently bold, previously only being on the surface?
Inherent.
From the moment she was called Junjiuling, was it?
The person named Junjiuling, was her essence?
Fang Jinxiu watched the woman who got on the carriage without the assistance of a servant, Liu'er had already been sent under the pretense of helping to the place where the families of the Qingshan Army were gathering, she also didn't need anyone to support her, and with agile movements, she sat in the carriage.
The carriage, surrounded by guards and the curious pointing of the crowd, headed towards the imperial palace.
Fang Jinxiu silently watched as the carriage gradually moved out of view.
"Is it safe in the palace?" she suddenly asked.
"Safe," Seventh Chen said in a low voice, "Not to mention everyone is watching the Empress Dowager's every move, because of the woodcutters and the emperor not being in the Imperial City, the Empress Dowager deployed a batch of Qingshan Army in the palace as the Imperial Guard."
The heroic prestige of the Qingshan Army, even the Empress Dowager had to trust them, specifically calling for them to guard the palace, dissatisfied with the few who came.
With these people in the palace, Miss Jun is very safe.
Fang Jinxiu said no more, watching the direction where the carriage had already disappeared on the street.
...…
...…
Miss Jun alighted from the carriage at the palace gate, just in time to meet Ning Yan and several ministers coming out from inside, everyone's expressions were complicated upon seeing her.
"Miss Jun, I still hope you understand the word 'duty,'" Ning Yan contemplated briefly before stepping forward to speak.
Miss Jun smiled at him.
"Yes, I have always remembered and dared not forget," she said.
That duty is the heaven's justice.
Ning Yan seemed about to say more when the eunuch waiting at the palace gates grew impatient.
"Lord Ning, the Empress Dowager is waiting," he urged.
Ning Yan glanced at the eunuch.
"I believe that before His Majesty returns to the palace, the Empress Dowager should not engage in discussions of state affairs," he said.
The eunuch laughed lightly.
"Lord Ning jests, the Empress Dowager and the County Magistrate are both women, how could they discuss state affairs," he said, emphasizing the words 'women' and 'discuss,' "The Empress Dowager summoned the County Magistrate merely for some casual conversation among women. Lord Ning doesn't think a County Magistrate can speak while the Empress Dowager cannot?"
Ning Yan would not argue with eunuchs. He shot him a cold glance.
Even eunuchs dare not provoke important ministers, and the eunuch recoiled, merely urging Miss Jun to proceed.
Miss Jun saluted Ning Yan and followed the eunuch inside.
Ning Yan shook his head.
"Lord Ning, let's go."
"Wait for His Majesty to return before discussing."
The other officials whispered.
Mentioning His Majesty, Ning Yan frowned again.
"I will go to the Imperial Mausoleum and invite His Majesty back to the palace," he said.
This constant avoidance was intolerable.
The other officials also nodded in agreement.
"Today no matter what, we must ask His Majesty to return to the palace."
"If he does not return, we will kneel outside the Imperial Mausoleum and not rise."
Everyone said, so they immediately prepared their carriages.
Leaving aside these officials heading towards the Imperial Mausoleum, Miss Jun was already following the eunuch into the harem.
Along the way, she occasionally saw the Qingshan Army guarding alongside the Imperial Guard, even spotting Li Guorui.
Li Guorui never imagined he could be on duty in the palace, though it had been some days, he still looked radiant, but upon seeing Miss Jun, he felt some embarrassment.
"My skill in fighting is incomparable to Miss Zhao and the others," he said sheepishly.
Yet he was puzzled, when had guarding the Imperial City become less glorious than fighting enemies outside?
"Lord Li is humble, fighting is for the stability of the rear," Miss Jun said, "They only trust you to be capable of maintaining stability at the rear."
Indeed, Li Guorui smiled broadly once more.
"Miss Jun, are you going to see the Empress Dowager? I just saw her arrive at the main hall," he said warmly.
Beside him, the eunuch coughed lightly.
"Lord Li, this is the palace. You are now the Imperial Guard, not here for vigilance and investigation," he said irritably, "Remember the rules, can you casually discuss the Empress Dowager's movements?"
Li Guorui responded 'yes,' but still winked at Miss Jun.
The eunuch rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore them.
Miss Jun smiled at Li Guorui and followed the eunuch toward the palace where the Empress Dowager was.
As she saw the palace, Miss Jun slightly hesitated in her steps.
This place...
"Miss Jun?" the eunuch turned back to remind.
Miss Jun collected her thoughts, regained composure, and proceeded.
A row of eunuchs stood beneath the palace, bowing their heads, breathing silently, and as they approached, two eunuchs pushed open the doors.
"The Empress Dowager instructed, when Miss Jun arrives, let her in," the guiding eunuch said.
Miss Jun acknowledged and walked in, the door closed behind her, plunging the interior into sudden darkness, temporarily blurring her vision, but soon she adjusted to see inside the hall.
The hall was empty except for the Empress Dowager seated in the center.
Miss Jun took a few steps forward, bowed her head, and saluted.
"The servant greets the Empress Dowager," she said, kneeling.
"Miss Jun, I wonder if you know."
A male voice came from ahead.
This sound startled Miss Jun, lifting her head, she saw the man dressed in a dragon robe who emerged from behind the screen where the Empress Dowager sat.
Emperor?
When did he return to the palace?
The emperor stopped beside the Empress Dowager, his expression cold and condescendingly looking at her.
"There was one called Jiuling who was chopped to death by me right here," he said, "I am very pleased that today another named Jiuling has come."
As his words fell, Miss Jun heard footsteps around her, and from behind the curtains emerged a group of eunuchs.
They held swords, blades glinting with frost as they approached.
Just like, once before.