My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

After half an hour had passed, within the Hall of Nurturing Harmony, Mu Yuyan adorned herself meticulously.

Her eyes sparkled like clear water, her brows resembled distant hills, and her skin exuded a delicate radiance akin to polished jade.

Her features were exquisitely refined, possessing a captivating beauty that could unsettle nations.

Even Xiao Fei'er, renowned as the most beautiful woman in the capital, would pale in comparison at this moment.

Gently, she dabbed rouge upon her cherry lips, which bloomed with an enticing allure.

"It's strange... why do I feel a sense of nervousness akin to when I was about to marry him..."

Mu Yuyan murmured softly, a light sheen of sweat glistening on her palm as she lightly shook her head.

The palace attendants assisted her into a bright yellow dragon robe, adorned with phoenix hairpins and a dragon crown.

Mu Yuyan's regal demeanor radiated effortlessly, causing those who beheld her from afar to unconsciously bow in admiration, their hearts filled with reverence.

However, there was an air of curiosity among them.

Previously, Her Majesty had been indifferent to such grandeur, yet today, why this solemnity?

"Has Gu Lan arrived at the palace gates?" Mu Yuyan inquired.

Liu Yexi had been busy directing the guards and eunuch leaders within the palace, hence another attendant, a palace maid, stood in attendance at the moment.

Upon hearing Mu Yuyan's question, the palace maid's demeanor shifted with anticipation.

"Your Majesty, there has been no word of Master Gu's arrival at the palace gates. I will dispatch someone to keep watch, and if Master Gu arrives, we shall inform you promptly," she replied with a meaningful glance before swiftly sending a junior palace maid scurrying towards the palace gates.

With their duties attended to, they remained quietly in attendance, yet within their hearts, waves of intrigue surged.

Could it truly be the esteemed alien minister?

Rumors had circulated among the palace attendants and eunuchs that Gu Lan's presence at the palace was due to an imperial favor bestowed upon him by Mu Yuyan.

Some speculated that Master Gu held the potential to ascend to the prestigious Luan Feng Hall.

Yet, these notions were half jests, half earnest... after all, Gu Lan had never once met Mu Yuyan in person!

He was merely an alien minister, albeit with some talent as a scholar.

However!

They never imagined that Mu Yuyan's first encounter with the scholar would be marked by such grandeur, surpassing even the solemnity of court assemblies!

How could they not understand the principle: a woman's charm is for her own delight?

For a moment, the palace maid and eunuchs fell into contemplative silence, each secretly calculating, harboring hopes of seizing an opportunity to align themselves with Gu Lan.

Perhaps a discreet offering of silver coins would pave their way to becoming esteemed figures in Luan Feng Hall... they couldn't help but envy Eunuch Mao, who had long ago supported Gu Lan, reaping endless rewards of wealth and prestige from Mu Yuyan!

...

As the shadow of the carved dragon and phoenix shifted slightly, the Hall of Nurturing Harmony remained tranquil and serene.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps outside the hall grew distinctly audible.

Mu Yuyan snapped out of her reverie, her beautiful eyes brightening with anticipation.

"Has Minister Gu arrived?" She exclaimed.

"I shall go and check!" the palace maid hurriedly responded, while a junior palace maid returning with a message announced that it was an urgent report from a general of the Zhennan Marquis Mansion.

Mu Yuyan's expression flickered momentarily as she pondered the timing.

"Hmm... Master Gu should not have arrived yet. I am simply too eager and perhaps overly anxious," she murmured to herself, taking a deep breath to quell the slight disappointment within her.

Extending her graceful hand, she said, "Bring forth the report. Even if Minister Gu were to arrive, he would not immediately come to the Hall of Nurturing Harmony. There is still time for us to attend to matters."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the palace maid replied, presenting the urgent report from the marquis's residence.

As Mu Yuyan perused the document embellished with four golden dragons, her eyes betrayed a hint of perplexity.

"Your Majesty, is it concerning matters in the southern territories?"

The palace maid inquired, her concern mirroring that of the attendants who had served Mu Yuyan for so long.

"No," Mu Yuyan waved her hand nonchalantly.

"It's merely news of the demise of a crown prince... nothing significant. Instruct the Imperial Guards and garrisons to investigate according to protocol, allocate some provisions for condolence, and dispatch them to the marquis's residence."

The demise of a crown prince... nothing significant?!

The palace maid gasped in shock. If her memory served her right, the Zhennan Marquis had only a few sons, and the crown prince was among the most esteemed...

"By the way, in the reply to the Zhennan Marquis, mentions that his son was drained to death by a malevolent cultivator. I will lead the army to avenge him shortly. The expeditionary force to the Desert North has already been mobilized. Assure him... the state's affairs remain turbulent, so do not stray from your duties," Mu Yuyan instructed.

Gu Lan could see what people could conceive; based on her years of wielding power and observing the world, she could guess that this malevolent cultivator was likely a representative from the Blissful Immortal Palace!

Considering the case of the rapist, an expedition to the Blissful Immortal Palace was inevitable.

Offering a convenient excuse would appease the Zhennan Marquis.

As for Hu Yue... Mu Yuyan had some recollection; he seemed to be one of the dandies who incessantly bothered her during her time in the Eastern Palace.

"Yes!" the palace maid replied promptly.

After composing the letter, she handed it to a junior palace maid to be delivered outside the hall.

"Give this letter to the general from the marquis's residence... Also! If the news isn't about Minister Gu's arrival today, it's not important, so don't bother informing me," the junior palace maid, the daughter of the palace maid, was deliberately sent out of the hall to teach her to understand the Queen's mind.

"Why?" the junior palace maid was a little bewildered.

"The Queen's regard for Minister Gu far exceeds what you imagine and even surprises me. Haven't you noticed how insignificant the death of the Marquis's son seems to her? Therefore, do not trouble the Queen with other matters, understood?!"

"Oh..."

...

Having served for a long time, the palace maid could discern the Queen's thoughts to some extent.

Her guess was correct.

Mu Yuyan was feeling restless!

Her phoenix eyes occasionally glanced at the sundial outside the hall.

The faint warm sunlight filtering through the glazed tiles spilled onto her exquisite face, accentuating a slightly anxious expression, and adding a touch of allure to her celestial features.

"What time is it now?"

"Your Majesty, it has just passed the hour of noon."

"...That's not right!"

Mu Yuyan stood up and paced, the splendid phoenix tail of her gown trailing behind her in the grand hall.

Furrowing her brows, she muttered in confusion, "The palace is only a few miles from Dongzhi Street. Even if he walked leisurely, he should have arrived by now... What could be the matter with this fellow?"

Just then, footsteps were heard outside the hall!

Mu Yuyan's expression brightened, and she quickly looked over, only to see Princess Ming Yue, equally beautiful, peeking from behind the doors of the Hall of Nurturing Harmony.

"Sister?"

"..."

Mu Yuyan felt a bit disappointed and sighed softly, "Come in."

Ming Yue entered the hall, and the palace maids arranged chairs before withdrawing to allow the two sisters to converse undisturbed.

"I heard you moved to the Eastern Palace to study with the teacher, and I was pleased... But why, after less than two days, are you wandering around the palace again?"

"Sister, I didn't wander... I came specifically to inform you of something."

Princess Ming Yue had originally wanted to ask why her sister was dressed so exquisitely today, like a new bride, but after being reprimanded, she could only offer feeble explanations in a low voice.

"Inform me of what?"

"Sister, didn't you invite a... a Minister Gu, an alien minister, to the palace before? It's better not to invite him again. He's not just a scholar; he's a highly cultivated assassin! Yesterday, he nearly tried to assassinate you, sister, but I managed to stop him..."