Hearing that Leng Qingtang had arrived, Empress Qian was caressed on her soft and elegant face by a hint of joy.

Even if the treacherous eunuch refused to join the Eastern Palace's side, he would never incline to the Wans thanks to the Spring Banquet event.

"Come in!"

Empress Qian's utterance was curt and decisive.

When the curtain was lifted, dazzling light poured into the Main Hall.

Gu Yunxi couldn't help narrowing her eyes and looking straight at the brightness. She saw a tall shadow standing upright like a god descending into the world.

Gazed by thousands of people, he strode into the hall wearing a pair of gold silk boots embroidered with pythons. He shone with brilliance and elegance as his robe fluttered with every step.

Looking up, he scanned the many faces in the hall with bright eyes and a vague expression of mixed smiles and contempt.

When he looked at Gu Yunxi, his cold gaze immediately gleamed warmly and ambiguously.

Gu Yunxi felt her world was lit up. In silence, they were alone, looking at each other.

"You are a rare guest, Master Leng. What brings you to the imperial harem today?"

Smiling, Empress Qian stared at the tall figure in blue and asked.

The duplicity of the powerful Eunuch Superintendent made her difficult to control. She needed to find out if he was an enemy or a friend.

Leng Qingtang bowed respectfully to Empress Qian and other masters with obedient eyes.

"Your Grace, the autumn festival is drawing near, and His Majesty has asked the Imperial Noble Concubine to organize the royal banquet. Still, the Imperial Ceremony Office needs to ask for Your Grace's permission before execution. Hence, I came here unaware of the situation now."

The frown disappeared from Empress Qian's brows as she nodded slowly.

She now knew that Leng Qingtang was just making excuses.

The autumn festival dated from a few years ago. Since the Crown Prince passed away between the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Double Ninth Festival, there had been no grand banquets in the Palace. Only the Emperor, the Empress, and the concubines would have some small gatherings in the autumn season.

The autumn festival gathering was not so cumbersome that the Imperial Ceremony Office would have any uncertainty. Why would the Seal Keeper of the Office labor himself to visit Yongning Palace?

Wan Yuyao's thought was the same as the Empress's. She immediately guessed that Leng Qingtang had been informed by his many spies. He knew something was going on here and came to someone's assistance on purpose.

Shooting up from her armchair, Wan Yuyao glared at Gu Yunyao with nasty eyes and then turned to Leng Qingtang.

"It's bad timing now, Master Leng. The Empress and I are having a dispute over an unruly maidservant. I am afraid we don't have time for the autumn festival."

Leng Qingtang smiled indifferently. The warmth in his eyes was glamorous enough to touch anyone's heart.

"The struggle is unnecessary. If Your Graces cannot agree on the matter, why not hand the offender to the Imperial Ceremony Office and punish her severely?"

"No!"

Concubine Xu raised her eyebrows immediately when she heard him and darted fierce looks at Leng Qingtang.

She never had good impressions of eunuchs in the court. A chill would still crawl down her spine when she remembered that Tu Muxue was arbitrarily imprisoned and scarred by the Imperial Ceremony Office.

Now she heard that Leng Qingtang was taking someone away again and mentioned torture before her. Concubine Xu became angry on the spot.

"Master Leng, even if Tu Muxue was at fault, it's my place to discipline her. Now that I'm present, I shall not allow others to overstep and take my maid away."

As soon as she spoke up, Wan Yuyao interrupted.

"Tu Muxue has broken the rules by forcing into Yongning Palace without summoning. That she has hurt the Shenle Marquis recklessly was punishable by death! Since she committed the crime in my palace, I should decide her sentence."

Concubine Xu fiercely stared back at her.

"How selfish, Your Grace. You're being unreasonable!"

Wan Yuyao flung her arms and shouted,

"How can you be so rude, Concubine Xu?"

The tit-for-tat debate amused Leng Qingtang. Standing upright, he laughed loudly and casually.

Empress Qian frowned at his reaction and wondered.

"Master Leng, why are you laughing?"

Leng Qingtang quieted down and raised his eyebrows.

"I came here for official business and did not expect such a situation. I'm worried that Your Graces are too angry over a lowly servant. It's no big deal to lose your composure, but it matters if any discord is sowed."

"It is my duty as a courtier to share the worries of His Majesty and Your Graces. I'm willing to take the role of a loathly mediator, only to be pitifully trapped in the awkward place..."

Looking down obediently, Leng Qingtang finished his words gently with his magnetic and upset voice.

Then he cast his tender eyes to Empress Qian and casually dropped a hint.

"Your Grace, won't you enlighten me if I'm making any sense? Am I not terribly wronged?"

Empress Qian chuckled lightly.

"You speak the truth, Master Leng! The Imperial Ceremony Office is not only in charge of the Palace's affairs but also the court etiquette and laws. It's your unshirkable duty to judge any servant who has violated the rules. Therefore, it's reasonable to leave the servant to be sentenced by the Imperial Ceremony Office."

"Your Grace—"

Shocked, Concubine Xu protested.

Empress Qian remained cold and waved at her.

"It settles. Tu Muxue will be handed over to the Imperial Ceremony Office by Master Leng and punished according to the Palace rules."

Empress Qian had her own plan.

Tu Muxue served Chuxiu Palace and committed a crime in Yongning Palace. That was why the masters of the two palaces would dispute over her punishment.

She, the Empress, was inevitably caught in the middle. The longer the stalemate lasted, the more awkward it would be for all three of them.

The appearance of Leng Qingtang offered them a ladder down in time. A wise monarch like her must know when to let it go and make use of an opportunity to gain her end.

Wan Yuyao didn't hold back. She strode forward and darted fierceness through her glaring scarlet eyes.

"Wait! Tu Muxue should be executed for slandering my name and accusing me of poisoning another concubine. She even dared to hit and injure the Shenle Marquis. Either one of her two offences is enough to take her peasant life!"

"After you get her out of Yongning Palace, how can I know if you mean to punish or protect her?"

A calm smile lingered on Leng Qingtang's smooth face while a hint of coldness was shimmering in his eyes.

"What would Your Grace wish?"

Wan Yuyao smiled coldly as cruelty emerged in her eyes.

"I can let the Imperial Ceremony Office take Tu Muxue, but my people will watch the punishment!"

Smiling calmly, Leng Qingtang bowed.

"I shall obey."

Wan Yuyao turned around and narrowed her malicious eyes as she ordered.

"Baiquan, take someone with you."

Heeding the instruction, the chief eunuch waved the horsetail whisk and bowed.

"As Your Grace wishes."

Leng Qingtang soon looked and raised his voice at a eunuch of the Imperial Ceremony Office.

"Take Tu Muxue back to the Imperial Ceremony Office and await my return!"

"Yes, Master."

Answering with his feminine voice, the eunuch then minced to Gu Yunxi and dragged her up with both hands.

Knowing that she was in big trouble, stunned Gu Yunxi tumbled to the gate. Before the threshold, she looked back at Leng Qingtang with mixed feelings.

The current situation confused her.

She thought Master Leng appeared at the critical moment to save her by taking her to the Imperial Ceremony Office.

But when she heard with her own ears that he had agreed to Wan Yuyao's proposal. That people from Yongning Palace could watch the sentence sent her heart in her mouth again and filled her with anxiety.

At this moment, Leng Qingtang was also gazing at her. His lips were slightly curled on his delicate face, revealing lingering tenderness and warmth as the smile deepened.

His eyes flickered as if silently conveying to her.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Gu Yunxi's heart rippled, and her cheeks were burning up untimely with shyness. Her heart beat with thick beats.

Seeing that the eunuch had taken Gu Yunxi away, Empress Qian raised her chin slightly and scanned the concubines in a condescending manner. She spoke with the awe-inspiring voice that befitted a majestic monarch like her.

"Now that the misunderstanding is resolved, you may retire to your palaces, ladies. Your priority is to rest well so that you can serve His Majesty with all your heart."

"As Your Grace commands."

The concubines all curtsied to the Empress and then left the Main Hall one by one.

Empress Qian approached Gu Yunyao and had injured Song Qin raised. Studying the wound on her face, she was distressed and angry.

Suddenly, her eyes were attracted by the dazzling hairpin on Gu Yunyao's head.

"You mentioned the Imperial Noble Concubine gave you a gold hairpin. Is this it?"

Staring at it, Empress Qian stretched out her arm to take down the excellent phoenix hairpin.

Gu Yunyao nodded and agreed softly.

Turning the hairpin in her palm, Empress Qian gave a contemptuous sneer.

She glanced at Wan Yuyao and explained,

"Remember, Yu, gilt gold is not solid gold. What's fake will remain fake. Some people are not destined to be a phoenix. Even if they have gold phoenix hairpins on their heads and embroider phoenixes on their gowns, they are still peacocks that can't fly. They'll always be held down by the real phoenix and never be able to turn over."

With a clang—

The hairpin was dropped on the floor, daunting the people present.

...

After they were left alone, Wan Yuyao furiously overturned the porcelains on the table and pulled the chairs all over.

"Your Grace, why trouble yourself so? Anger will hurt your health. You need to take good care of yourself."

Leng Qingtang lowered his voice to console her. After Wan Yuyao had vented enough, he walked up and gazed at her quietly. The gentle eyes on his handsome face were glittering with allure.

While the enchanting man irritated Wan Yuyao again, she fell for his charms.

Although she had given birth to two children, she turned to a little girl before him. Shaking her upper body affectionately, Wan Yuyao pouted her cherry lips.

"Why aren't you dismissed from my palace like the rest of them?"

Leng Qingtang walked to her side with a smile and said softly,

"How could you forget, Your Grace? I need to discuss with you about the autumn festival banquet. Give me the gift list."

Hearing the Seal Keeper's order, a little eunuch bowed and presented a book without delay.

"Well, that's right. I almost forgot..."

Smiling complacently and gracefully, Wan Yuyao gave a glance to Lihu.

The chief maid got the hint. She led the servants out of the Main Hall and closed the gate.

The smile on Leng Qingtang's lips did not recede. His dark eyes were half-closed, shaded by his long eyelashes.

Walking close, Wan Yuyao slipped her delicate fingers under his blue sleeves and clasped his hand. When she spoke with her seductive voice, a smile blossomed on her face.

"If the Master has business to discuss, come with me to the warm cabinet."