Chapter 837: Chapter 506: Reporting to Your Majesty, the Qingzhou Army Has Been Defeated, and Mr. Zhao Returns Triumphant!
The Empress’s secret agents are still around, indicating the Capital hasn’t descended into chaos.
"Lord!"
"Greetings, Lord!"
The Jinyi Guards of Lihua Hall were ecstatic, as if they had found their organization, and promptly saluted.
With hands clasped behind his back in a casual demeanor, Eunuch Hai glanced at Ma Yan and nodded slightly as a greeting, while the tributor behind him courteously folded their fists.
"We have just returned," Mo Chou forced a smile on her face, pointing at the people behind her, "most of them were the guards at Luo Mountain during the sealing ritual. After the rebellion of the Eight Princes, we fought and fled, losing many along the way either due to misfortune or battle deaths. Fortunately, these few remain, hurriedly returning north just to stabilize the court for Your Majesty, preventing an adverse situation."
Pausing briefly, she continued, "However, since entering the city, having observed all the way and bumped into you here, I realize the court is still stable. I imagine the Grandmaster is diligently maintaining control; is he still in the palace?"
Faced with the eyes seeking answers, and listening to Mo Chou’s somewhat complaining words, Ma Yan’s brain temporarily stalled, unsure how to respond appropriately.
Seeing his hesitant demeanor, everyone’s hearts sank rapidly!
The forced smile on Mo Chou’s face froze, and hands subconsciously tightened in her robes: "What? Could there be changes in court?"
Ma Yan pondered for a moment and nodded sincerely: "Indeed, there has been a major upheaval. Li Yanfu incited many Li Party officials, commanding leaders of the Imperial Guard, attempting a coup to control the court."
What?!
Like a sudden thunder on flat ground, everyone’s expression changed drastically.
Before Mo Chou could ask further, Ma Yan continued, "However, Li Yanfu’s coup failed; those involved in the rebellion are either dead or imprisoned. I just entered the palace to report on the interrogation of the Li Party rebels."
Oh, the audacity of one’s mother...
The officials of the sealing team felt their hearts rising from the depths, as if pulled back from a frozen abyss into the warm summer, warmth returning to cold limbs, while inwardly cursing.
"Such a thing? I’ve long suspected Li Yanfu of being disloyal, and it turns out I wasn’t wrong!" The Minister of Rites jumped in rage, raising fists to the sky, tears brimming:
"Thank heavens for blessing our Yu Country and Your Majesty, preventing this rebel from succeeding!"
Ma Yan shook his head, correcting solemnly: "It’s not the heavens protecting Your Majesty, nor Yu Country. It’s Your Majesty safeguarding Yu Country."
Behind him, Haitang, seeing the puzzled faces, explained:
"Before Li Party’s coup attempt, Your Majesty and Junior Guardian Zhao had returned to the Capital, and both had escalated their cultivation. With one person and one sword, Your Majesty swept away thousands, eliminating the rebels, and has now reclaimed the throne, stationed in the Imperial Palace for many days, hence the city’s stability. Junior Guardian Zhao even led troops out of the city a few days ago to quell the Qingzhou rebel army. Oh, before he left, Your Majesty had someone propose marriage at Zhao Mansion, making this Junior Guardian the confirmed Imperial Consort. Huh, didn’t any of you inquire before returning?"
What? Your Majesty returned early? Even advanced further, single-handedly quelled the coup?
Zhao Douan also returned and is now out fighting?
Mo Chou, Sun Lianying, Ning Zechen, the Minister of Rites, Eunuch Hai, and others were stupefied, frozen at the city gate, desperately digesting this massive amount of information.
"He’s returned..." Qian Kerou softly murmured, expression shifting from shock to excitement and admiration: "I knew he could do it."
Protecting across thousands of miles, returning to the Capital to suppress the rebellion... Hou Renmeng, Shen Juan, and other Jinyi from Lihua Hall felt a surge of emotions: Had their lord yet again accomplished such astonishing feats?
Proposing marriage... proposing marriage... Mo Chou stood in bewilderment, mind repeatedly circling this thought, lips pale.
This Imperial City feels too dazzling.
...
...
Outside the Imperial Study Room, in the small garden, green trees cast shadows, flower branches scattered profusely, sunlight shining on the blue tiles, falling on the red lacquer wood columns, while female officials hurriedly passed by.
"Your Majesty, Mo Zhaorong has arrived." Inside the study, Xu Zhenguan, holding a vermillion pen, leaned over reviewing memorials, raised her head upon hearing the announcement from outside, placing the ink-stained brush on the rack, witnessing the slender, graceful figure approaching outside the threshold.
In slightly dirty robes, her forehead bare of makeup, Mo Chou bowed down: "Servant, greets Your Majesty!"
"Mo Chou?" Xu Zhenguan placed the pen aside and rose, her white dress trailing on the polished floor, stepping to the door, tenderly assisting the long-absent attendant. The Fairy’s serene face was full of concern and joy: "I heard of your return, and it delighted me greatly. It’s good to have you back, it’s good; you’ve endured along the way."
"Your Majesty..." Mo Chou stood, looking up, biting her lips as she gazed at the familiar smiling face of the Empress, feeling a lump in her throat as eyes welled with tears, unable to speak: "Servant... servant... feared I’d never see Your Majesty again."
These words, tears freely flowed uncontrollably.
On the tumultuous journey north, Mo Chou had never shed a tear, yet now they flowed uncontrollably like a breached dam.
The Empress smiled, eyes slightly indulgent, guiding the maid referred to as "servant," yet akin to a sister from the time she was the Third Imperial Princess, into the study, settling on a chair.
The ungroomed female official sat weakly on the chair, burying herself and sobbing, while the white-clothed Empress stood beside, gently patting the back.
This moment was quite rare throughout the history of the court.
After a while, Mo Chou’s emotions vented through tears, finally realizing her misconduct, hurriedly standing up, wiping away the tears hurriedly, fearfully saying: "Your Majesty, the servant’s misconduct before the throne warrants Your Majesty’s punishment!"