General Feng could hear what everyone was talking about, but the answer did not lay on other's words, but his daughter's.
While the rest of the ministers were discussing quietly, this person who was supposedly a stranger to her was looking for the answer from 'his daughter' and not from others.
Deep inside, Hui Lan dreaded the idea of pretending to be someone else's daughter.
Nevertheless, she gently shook her head to this father's of hers as if to say that this was all not true.
Emperor Yang Long's brows slightly furrowed as he sensed the person beside him move. His sharp cunning eyes briefly looked up at the left prime minister before looking back at the paper roll inside his hand.
The left prime minister Xin opened his mouth and began, "Ah ha ha, it seems, bixie truly takes care of Empress Feng all this time ah, but this minister truly does not understand why there are such falsehoods being spread in the capital yesterday. Bixie, would you kindly clear this matter to this minister."
Hearing the left prime minister speak such words, the right prime minister Li felt displeased in his heart. It was because of such rumours that what he thought would help gain him some good public attention, had turned against him.
Meanwhile, Li Gui Fei kept silent as she patiently listened, but her heart was beating fast.
Slowly, the Emperor looked up from the paper he had in his hand to the left prime minister. His eyes showed a slight confusion in them, "Hm? What falsehood, left prime minister Xin? Why hasn't Zhen heard of it?"
Hui Lan who had been listening and looking at this handsome face of his switch into an innocent little deer felt like she truly wanted to laugh out loud.
"Oh? Bixie has not heard of it yet?" This time it was the second prince who spoke up.
Hui Lan turned away from the Emperor to look at the second prince who was already looking at her in confrontation as he spoke, "This prince heard that Bixie has neglected the Empress, but from what this prince sees, it does not seem like such. Bixie has shown so much affection to the Empress ah!"
Hui Lan could almost not believe her ears. The second prince was now looking at her with joy in his eyes. This fella seemed to enjoy trampling on her...
"Oh? It is as such?" This time it was the Emperor that asked back innocently. Hui Lan took her eyes from the second prince to look at the Emperor who was sitting beside her.
At that moment, Emperor Yang Long also turned to look at her. With eyes full of adoration, he asked her with his own lips, "Has Zhen neglected you?" Even his voice changed and it was as if he was wronged.
If Hui Lan did not see this with her own eyes, she would have never believed this was all true. These three brothers and cousins truly went along with each other in perfect harmony ah. Her cat-like eyes simply stared at the Emperor as he waited for an answer from her.
On the other hand, the first prince looked as if this kind of acting was boring him out. Since these three were like scavengers, they would bite and not let it go easily. It seems the Empress and general Feng would be eating loses today.
While the Empress was quiet, everyone was all waiting for her answer.
The Emperor had long had the feeling that she would not answer him. Without waiting, he turned to the great general Feng who stood in silence, "General Feng, do you also believe in such rumours?" since she did not cooperate, then he could simply pick an easy target.
Hui Lan felt a wave of surging anger slowly boiling in her heart. Unlike Li Gui Fei who had been on the verge of erupting, Hui Lan's anger was just simply boiling up. He could use his authority just to get his way?
Great general Feng looked up to the Emperor and then to his daughter. Sigh, he truly did not know what to say ah. Those rumours were from his daughter, how could he say that he did not believe in those rumours ah? "Bixie, this general dares to ask bixie to help clarify those rumours."
Hearing the General's answer, Hui Lan slowly looked at 'her father'. She felt slightly content in her heart that instead of giving in to such pressure, this father of hers seemed to value her more than the Emperor.
...Of course, she was his lovely daughter...but just not really...
"Does the general think otherwise?" There was slight displeasure in the Emperor's voice.
Feeling happy with the general's answer, Hui Lan too was not going to let someone bully this owner's father. They think that just because they were in the official's meeting hall and she would not be able to do anything to them?
Hui Lan's sweet giggle that was filled with ridicule resounded in the entire Royal meeting hall.
To that, everyone turned their eyes to her. Even the first prince who had been quiet all this time showed a small reaction by raising one of his long brows up.
The Emperor turned to look at her with a small smile. Was she going to start again? However, this was not the same as yesterday...if she thought she could get by with just twisting words like yesterday, it would not work here. He patiently asked, "Empress, is there something you wish to say?"
Seeing the rare amusement in the Emperor's cold eyes, Mei Fang could not help but feel the restlessness in her heart grow.
...No...He only felt she was just amusing and nothing more, but this man, she knew better. He wasn't the type to be amused with just anyone...
Hui Lan stopped laughing and turned to look at the Emperor with a straight face, "Then, may Chenqie ask the second prince something." Slowly she turned to look at the second prince with a small smile, "If Bixie has shown so much affection to Bengong, then can the second prince give Bengong an example? It's just that Bengong is slightly forgetful and hasn't recovered from the little prince's death and the fire that flared up at Kunning Palace."
...Hui Lan words were like the stirring wave that was underneath the still sea with meanings underneath them.
The people in the Royal meeting hall were not stupid and all could understand Hui Lan's implication.
Her words indicated that if the Emperor had truly shown so much affection, why is it that she did not remember them. Then again, if she had received such affection, then why was there so many mishaps that had happened to her?
Hui Lan left her eyes away from the second prince and to her father. Both looked at each other and without any difficulty, they both understood each other.
Since his daughter has already spoken such words, then there is no need to ask for the truth. A dark cloud appeared all over the General's expression before he turned to look away to calm down the anger inside.
All this time, he had been fooled...He was a fool for trusting his daughter to this son-in-law of his.
Hui Lan could not help but feel a little sad for the Empress and her father. All this time the Empress had also been fooled and had written letters to her father with words full of praise. However, it was just that the Emperor was a good trickster. She wondered how it would be when his lies would go too far and in the end, he would regret it.
On the other hand, the Second prince puffed his chest up and was about to speak when no words came through his mouth. Not that he did not want to speak, but there was nothing to speak.
Seeing the second prince become quiet, the entire hall began whispering once again for the truth became apparent.
...The Emperor was still the same and his feelings for the Empress had not changed.
Emperor Yang Long looked at Hui Lan's side profile and felt like there was a thorn in his heart.
...Once again he had underestimated her...no..more like he had never thought she would say such implications straight upfront.
Hui Lan, on the other hand, revealed a small smile, "So, the second prince does not have any answers from Bengong." She then turned to look at the Emperor and spoke, "My father does not have any other implications in his questions and merely wants to know of my well being, since he knows Chenqie wishes to not speak of such topic and welcome my father who has just returned from the border."
The first prince who had been listening on the sideline could not help but reveal a small smile. He glanced at the lady in the red veil briefly before turning to look at the Emperor.
It looks like that obedient cat that the Emperor raised has become a wildcat and is looking to bite at the owner.
From now on, things might get busier in the palace…
The Emperor smiled at the Empress who was already looking at him and placed his big hand on hers, "Zhen just feels slightly sad that you do not see my affection for you when I was around you. Have I been a bad husband? So bad that you had to tell everyone?"
Hui Lan's brows became furrowed. Saying this would only make her look bad as if she was seeking attention. Moreover, he was implying that she was the one who had spread the rumours which would make his reasoning more concrete.
...But was attention what she wanted? Nope…
Hui Lan who was looking at the other person's hand on hers slowly looked up to face him. Through the veil he could see her red lips become slightly hooked up before she spoke, "Forgive me for asking this Bixie, what has Chenqie said to everyone? Chenqie was simply wondering what the second prince meant by his words."
Hui Lan stopped in her sentence briefly before turning to look at the lady that should not be left out in this, "Chenqie did not want Li Gui Fei to be mistaken by what the second prince said ah for everyone in the capital knows that your love for her is stronger than anything else. If the conversation carries on, Chenqie is worried that Li Gui Fei would only blame me." Hui Lan then revealed a big smile underneath her veil as she faced the Emperor.
...He thought he could protect her all the time?
Saying this, some of the ministers could not help but silently praise the Empress' benevolent heart. Everyone knew how much the Emperor loved Li Gui Fei, that was a fact. Also, having such a considerate wife like the Empress was something they wanted too.
The Emperor's eyes became cold as Hui Lan finally stepped over her line. He had purposely kept this matter away from Mei Fang, but she just had to bring Mei Fang into this.
However, it was Li Gui Fei's sweet voice that spoke up, "Jie jie, Bixie is just and he gives his love equally to all of us. I am merely doing my duty."
Hui Lan turned to look at Li Gui Fei and replied back without blinking, "Bengong can see that you have done your duty well by taking care of the Emperor while Bengong was busy for the entire month and had no free hand to do anything else, cough cough." Hui Lan then began coughing which had caused the ministers to feel even more sorry for the Empress.
Little did they know that they were being dragged by the nose between the Emperor and the Empress.
Meanwhile, there were only a few figures inside the Royal meeting hall that could see straight through both the Emperor and Empress.
However, what more could they do? This was a mental war between the Emperor and Empress. Unless they would fall into a difficult seat like the second prince.
Both, father and daughter of the Li family were boiling inside whenever the Empress opened her mouth. Before the Empress was quiet and docile, now, how come she changed into a different person?
On the other hand, the first prince Shen Min Tian was rather enjoying such a scene. Nevertheless, he too kept quiet.
Meanwhile, the Great General Feng turned to look at his daughter and could only feel even worse in his heart. His daughter was the official wife and she had to do this all because of the Emperor's other consorts.
...Sigh, if fate did not make her linked to the Royal Family, his daughter's life would not have to be this miserable.
Hui Lan slowly looked up at the Emperor with two innocent eyes, "Oh dear bixie, Chenqie thinks Chenqie should stay away from bixie or else bixie might get sick as well." Hui Lan quickly got up and Su Rong who had been on the sideline came to support the Empress to her Royal seat.
Emperor Yang Long watched as his Empress made her way to her Royal seat without looking at him. So now she was feigning her actions as well?
"Eunuch Wu, call Royal Physician Jin over to check the Empress' health." Hearing the declaration from behind, Hui Lan couldn't help but look sideways at the Emperor who was now sitting behind her. He really wasn't going to let go hah?
Emperor Yang Long had also been looking at her and seeing her looking at him, it seemed only the truth would make her stop acting.
...Once he bites on something, he wasn't ever going to let it go that easily...
"Yes, Bixie." Eunuch Wu retreated and went to call for the Royal Physician Jin.
The Emperor picked up the roll of paper and began reading it again.
Since the Emperor did not talk, the entire hall became quiet. Now, everyone was waiting for what would happen to the Empress.
Was she truly sick? Even the Emperor did not trust that she was sick.
Hui Lan, on the other hand, simply sat in her chair quietly with her eyes closed. Although others might think otherwise, she was simply resting leisurely in this Royal seat of hers.
...At least this feigned affection was seen by this owner's father. To be honest, she did not care if the rest of the world did not know it was feigned, but if her family knew the truth, then that would be enough.
...Finally, it would be the end of such feigned emotions and no more would have to be used on her...the rest of the days in this palace might just be peaceful for this weak heart to recover...