"Alright, I’m tired, you all may leave. Whatever needs to be done, continue doing it as is." Madam Zhao said lightly. The meaning was clear enough: keep copying the scriptures and maintain the house arrest. Madam Xie wanted to say something, but Madam Yu pulled her back. The two paid their respects and hurriedly took their leave. "You’ve already made a mistake at the Princess Mansion today. If you keep talking, Mother will surely be angry with you." Madam Yu said. "I..." Madam Xie was at a loss for words. "I know you’re feeling wronged, but what’s the point of feeling wronged? You haven’t even seen the person, so what’s the use of making a fuss? Apart from making Mother angry, what good can you get from it?" Madam Yu asked. "Stay calm. Before we see the person, we must hold our peace. What if, on the off chance, the person is someone who can’t be brought into the open? This way, even if Mother insists, she won’t be able to manage it herself. The power at home will still fall into our hands, won’t it?" Madam Yu whispered. "So, you must remain calm, very calm." Madam Yu advised earnestly. "Sister-in-law, there wouldn’t be any trickery involved, would there? Brother just left the Capital City not long ago, and now he’s getting married? The three letters and six ceremonies haven’t even been completed. Could it be..." Excitement shone in Madam Xie’s eyes. Their status might be very low, or perhaps they’re paying to marry into the family. Regardless, such a woman surely can’t make it to the public stage. Madam Yu clearly understood what Madam Xie was insinuating. "That’s why I tell you to stay calm and not disturb our plans." "Yes, yes, you’re much more composed, Second Sister-in-law." Madam Xie replied. "Alright, hurry back, and make sure you apologize properly to Third Brother about today’s events. No matter what, those things you said at the Princess Mansion..." Madam Yu sighed, "In the future, be more cautious in your actions and don’t be so impulsive." Madam Xie replied, "I understand, Second Sister-in-law." The farce at the flower appreciation banquet of the Princess Mansion was currently being vividly recounted to Emperor Jing. "This Du Ruyi is truly...unique." Emperor Jing almost didn’t know what word to use to describe her. Before marriage, her reputation in the Capital City was already in shambles. Her marriage nearly drove the then Du Minister into corner-cutting despair. For families well aware of her background, Du Minister was embarrassed to let Du Ruyi trouble them. For families of lower status willing to marry her, it wasn’t Du Ruyi they were after. Later, Du Ruyi insisted on marrying Li Tanyun. At that time, the elders of the Du Family didn’t agree, but they couldn’t withstand Du Ruyi’s pressure. In the end, she got her way. But no one expected that after only a few years, so many issues would arise in between. What was even more unexpected was that Du Ruyi managed to extricate herself so decisively. It seemed like something Du Ruyi would definitely pull off. Free-spirited and spontaneous. Ordinary women, after experiencing such events, should not be showing themselves so quickly in public. But there she was, out shopping and attending banquets as if nothing had happened. Not at all worried about her circumstances. "If Miss Du weren’t so ’unique’, she probably wouldn’t have been able to help Lord Zhao gain merit." Shuangxi commented while pouring tea for Emperor Jing. "You’re right about that. However, what surprises me the most is that Zhao Ting actually has someone he fancies. Does this mean his ailment is cured?" "To see how this truly is, we’ll have to wait for General Zhao to return for the details, right?" Shuangxi replied. "This means the plans of the Empress may fall through." Emperor Jing remarked with lament, "With the Empress’s temperament, if she values something, she won’t easily let go without getting it." "General Zhao has Your Majesty’s support, so no matter how the Empress acts, it shouldn’t be too excessive." Shuangxi commented. "I just hope the Empress will act sensibly. There are so many men, why hold onto just one?" Emperor Jing remarked. "As Your Majesty says, the Empress should be able to see reason." Shuangxi concurred. "I’m somewhat curious as to who the genius healer who cured Zhao Ting is, and who is the young lady Zhao Ting likes?" "This, once General Zhao returns to the Capital City, Your Majesty will know." Shuangxi considered. "Did Zhao Ting mention when he’ll return?" Emperor Jing inquired. "In the last letter, he mentioned a fortnight’s arrival. But now, it’s already past a fortnight, he must have been delayed by some other affairs." Shuangxi answered. "How did your investigations into those people turn out?" Shuangxi extracted a piece of parchment from his sleeve and handed it respectfully to Emperor Jing. "Of the thirty-six concubines in the Imperial Harem, those marked with an × are confirmed, while those with a ○ lack concrete evidence. I’ve ordered people to keep watching. If there’s a problem, it will reveal itself eventually." Emperor Jing’s face was frosty. Out of thirty-six titled concubines, six had × marks, including some to whom he paid considerable attention. There were even those who were already pregnant. As for those marked with ○, there were five. This showed just how extensively the Heaven and Earth Sect had infiltrated his palace. This didn’t even include the palace maids and eunuchs. The gall of the Heaven and Earth Sect, treating his harem like their own backyard garden? "Keep a good watch on them for me." Emperor Jing ordered with a stern face. "Rest assured, Your Majesty." "Relay a message to Zhao Ting to return as soon as possible." Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩 Meng Yao pulled out the silver needles stuck in Zhao Ting one by one, and then changed his medication. As she changed the medicine, Zhao Ting let out an unconscious groan, yet still did not wake up. She had been taken to the headquarters of the Heaven and Earth Sect by arrest officer Xu and his wife, and met the Sect Hierarch. This Sect Hierarch turned out to be female after all. It was truly, quite unexpected. The Sect Hierarch was fairly polite to Meng Yao and hinted at drawing her into the Heaven and Earth Sect, so all her past deeds could be forgotten. If not, she would have to pay a certain price. Being there with a mind to spy, how could Meng Yao resist agreeing? But who would’ve guessed, this Sect Hierarch was not interested in men but rather fancied women. Put plainly, the headquarters of the Heaven and Earth Sect was filled with lilies. She was targeted by the Sect Hierarch. Able to evade once or twice, but by the third or fourth time, the embarrassed Hierarch was enraged, bluntly saying Meng Yao didn’t know what was good for her, and had her locked up. Locked up, Meng Yao regretted that she had acted impulsively going undercover alone. Though she knew some martial arts, who would’ve known so many underlings of the Sect Hierarch were as skilled as Xiong Da or more so. Even if she wanted to escape, it was impossible. After all, she couldn’t even beat Xiong Da. Even with the system’s help, she had no confidence in getting out unscathed. So she could only be patient, meanwhile giving a bottle of pills to the Sect Hierarch, which despite her anger, made her reluctant to dispose of Meng Yao immediately. Meng Yao finally struck an agreement with the Sect Hierarch, offering up a medicine formula, and agreed to henceforth remain obedient in the Medicine Hall, dedicating herself to the Heaven and Earth Sect. But plans couldn’t keep up with change. Though Meng Yao knew Zhao Ting could come to her aid, who would’ve thought Zhao Ting would disguise himself as a woman at that time! And would be sent directly before the Sect Hierarch. It’s undeniable that the elegance Zhao Ting exuded disguised as a woman made even Meng Yao, a woman, feel inferior. As a result, he became unfortunately favored by the Sect Hierarch.