Repugnant Gateway

Chapter 140

Mu Changyan carefully glanced at Empress Dowager Su. Although he’d already made his preparations to resist, every time he faced her directly, his heart would be filled with fear, a fear that was rooted in his bones.

Every night he closed his eyes, trembling with fear whenever he thought of Empress Dowager Su’s eyes.

Empress Dowager Su lay on her side on the bed with two maids attending from the side, while Li Changlu stood obediently by the side with his head lowered. From time to time, he would look at Empress Dowager Su’s expression.

The smell of sandalwood was a little stronger in the room, and the purple curtains and the beds made the atmosphere a little awkward.

This awkwardness made Mu Changyan feel a little uneasy, because he always felt that the furnishings in this room were somewhat similar to those of the ladies in the brothel, somewhat ambiguous.

But of course he didn’t dare.

“”You want to take care of the Rites Department?””

Empress Dowager Su slowly opened her eyes and asked.

Mu Changyan lowered her head and said, “”The people from the Protocol Department have failed in their duty seriously, so we can’t not investigate.””

“”If there are really people who conspire against the enemy, we cannot not do it.””

Empress Dowager Su: “”Oh, then let’s investigate.””

Mu Changyan’s reaction exceeded his expectations.

He originally thought that Empress Dowager Su’s attitude would be very forceful. After all, the Ministry of Rites was basically one of the people Empress Dowager Su had placed in.

“”Does Mother have any instructions?””

Mu Changyan asked.

Empress Dowager Su shook her head. “”You already have the ability to take care of everything in the country by yourself. As your mother, I’ve helped pretty much everything I can do.””

You will pay more attention to yourself in the future, and there will be nothing for me to remind you of.

“”If you need me to help you decide everything, then how will you do well as the King of Great Yan?””

Mu Changyan was startled, thinking to himself, what’s going on?

Why was the Empress Mother abnormal?

Empress Dowager Su paused for a moment before saying, “”Speaking of which, the Ministry of Rites doesn’t seem to like the words either. It’s time to get things straightened out.””

If the people from You Country were more cautious when they came this time, they wouldn’t cause us, Great Yan, to suffer such heavy losses.

The Ministry of Rites had died that night. Now that he was dead, the family should not be implicated.

The Minister of Rites did the right thing by mistake, and if you want me to see what happens, you stay.

As for the others, just move as you wish. “”

Mu Changyan was puzzled. She couldn’t understand why the empress dowager would have such an attitude today.

“”These are all trivial matters …””

Empress Dowager Su sat up and smoothed out her hair. “”The most important thing is Zhaodong. We can’t take revenge for this unless we destroy Ethereal Opening.””

“”I’ve heard that you have appointed a close friend of Fang as the marshal of the East?””

Mu Changyan lowered her head. “”Yes, Fang Zhiyou has been at the eastern border all this time. He understands the situation and knows how to recruit soldiers.””

Empress Dowager Su nodded. “”Su Zong is just a little useless.””

Mu Changyan quickly said, “”General Su is very capable, but he hasn’t been to the front line and doesn’t know much about the situation.””

Empress Dowager Su said, “”Then let him go and learn from Fang’s confidants.””

Mu Changyan’s facial expression changed. She thought to herself that there was indeed a conspiracy.

No wonder you act so magnanimously in the Ministry of Rites. You can’t care less about anyone else than keeping a mistake.

So it turned out that he wanted to interfere in the military affairs … Once that trash Su Zong gets him to lead the army, it would be unknown just how great of a disaster he would cause.

“”

Mu Changyan thought for a while and said, “”I think General Su and General Fang’s strength lies in his ability to control the situation and deal with the unexpected.

“”As for General Fang’s strengths … his strengths … lie in his understanding of the details. If mother thinks that he should go to the border, I also think it’s good to follow General Fang.””

Mu Changyan’s words were halfway through before they were changed. Originally, he wanted to say that Su Zong’s ability was to sort out the details and stabilize the rear, but these words were restrained by him.

He was worried that if he allowed Su Zong to control the rear, Fang Zhiyi would be completely strangled by Su Zong.

At that time, the person being strangled was not just a soulmate of Fang Zheng, but hundreds of thousands of men.

Therefore, he temporarily changed his view, thinking that he might as well send Su Zong to the front lines.

As long as Fang Shoucheng wasn’t a part of Fang Zhicheng, he would be able to easily fix Su Zong.

Sure enough, Empress Dowager Su only wanted Su Zong to split up the military power, so she nodded. “”Then we’ll have to see how the king arranges it. If he thinks he can, then let him go to the eastern border to share his worries for Fang’s soulmates.””

He doesn’t have much experience as a leader, so why not become a supervisor? “”

Mu Changyan almost cursed in her heart. How was she supposed to fight when she didn’t have the experience to lead the army and was even more powerful than the marshal?

“”Your son thinks that I can be a vice commander-in-chief.””

Empress Dowager Su was silent for a moment. “”That’s fine too.””

Mu Changyan was stunned. He thought to himself that he had been fooled.

Of course, Empress Dowager Su knew that Su Zong didn’t have the ability to be a commander. The reason he sent Su Zong to the front lines was to take some military exploits as capital.

Of course, Empress Dowager Su was well aware of the significance of this battle. If she lost, she might not be able to protect herself.

How could she be so foolish as to enjoy the position of Empress Dowager?

Her initial goal was to make Su Zong become the vice commander-in-chief, but now Mu Changyan was the one who suggested it. This old ginger was really spicy to the eyes.

He had just put on a show with Chen Zeyan in the East Warm Pavilion of Heavenly Temple. On the surface, he was the one who had made concessions, but he had obtained everything he needed.

Now that the scene had been transferred to the brocade palace, Empress Dowager Su had done the scene flawlessly by herself.

At first, Empress Dowager Su only wanted Su Zong to become the vice commander-in-chief. Now that her goal had been achieved, it was Mu Changyan who suggested it herself.

Mu Changyan felt stupid.

Empress Dowager Su’s tone was gentle. “”You’ve already matured. You can make your own decisions on many things.””

“”Therefore, in the future, I will only remind you a little when you’re not in your place, and won’t make any decisions for you.””

Mu Changyan said in her heart, “”If I believe your evil thoughts, I can’t say for sure how miserable my death will be.””

The conversation had alerted him, so he knew that if he wanted to take back his power bit by bit, he could not retreat.

“”Right. Queen Mother, the Board of Justice wants Li Changlu to go over and ask about the situation.””

Li Changlu, who was standing at the side, instantly paled.

Empress Dowager Su’s face didn’t change. “”That’s all right, Li Changlu … if you have anything to say, just explain it clearly. Did you take the money from the Ethereal Opening to collude with the Ethereal Opening?””

Li Changlu fell to his knees with a plop. “”How could this servant be so daring? Empress Dowager, this servant is loyal to the heavens and earth.””

This servant … This servant did indeed take some silver from the people living in the underworld, but this servant really did not know that they had malicious intents. “”[Beautiful!] … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

“”This servant is guilty, this servant deserves to die ten thousand deaths!””

He kowtowed again and again, and soon his forehead was swollen.

Empress Dowager Su said, “”Families have their own rules and regulations. If you make a mistake, you’ll have to accept punishment.””

But … That day, you did well protecting me, so I think that your contribution can be used to make up for it.

Go ahead, just say what you want to say when you get to the Board of Justice, just say what you want to say when you get to it.

“”No matter how much you suffer, no matter what punishment you receive, you must obediently accept it.””

She turned her head to look at Mu Changyan and said, “”However, I’ve explained everything clearly. He should be punished. I still need to send him back to the Embroidery Palace. I still need to punish him.””

Mu Changyan nodded. “”Queen Mother will decide.””

He felt a chill in his heart. Li Changlu was one of the Empress’s loyal dogs, and Li Changlu was responsible for all the connections he had with the outside of the palace.

If he could get rid of this person, it would be equivalent to cutting off one of the empress dowager’s arms.

But now Mu Changyan had no way to get rid of Li Changlu, because the Board of Justice absolutely didn’t dare to disobey the Empress Dowager’s wishes.

To have a falling out with the empress dowager?

It was obviously not time yet.

“”This son still needs to return to Heavenly Temple to take care of some matters. I will take my leave first.””

He stood up and leaned away.

“”That’s right.””

Her Majesty looked up at him.

This was only a matter of time before the empress dowager knew it was going to happen.

Therefore, Mu Changyan believed that as long as there was someone around, no matter who it was, it could be the empress dowager.

“”Yes.””

Empress Dowager Su nodded. “”That youth isn’t bad, so let’s seal him. I’ll have him move around the palace a bit more later. If there’s anything good, I’ll have him bring it over for me to see.””

Mu Changyan lowered her head. “”Your son understands.””

Empress Dowager Su waved a hand. “”You can go now … additionally, there’s no need for the Ministry of Revenue’s silver to be transferred to the brocade palace. War is more important.””

“”One day in the Eternal Realm, my brocade palace will not cultivate for one day.””

His words surprised Mu Changyan. He bowed and said, “”Thank you, Mother!””

Empress Dowager Su lay back down. “”I’m tired. I suffered a bit of a fright that day and still haven’t recovered from my shock.””

You go first. If you have anything to do, you can decide for yourself. You don’t have to come over to me every day.

A man must have the resolution of a man; he must not be a woman. “”

Mu Changyan backed away with a bow. The anger in her heart was about to burst.

Who was the hidden spy beside him?

In the blink of an eye, the events that had happened in the east wing had reached Empress Dowager Su’s ears. Who had said all this?

An Chengli?

Mu Changyan turned to look at An Chengli, who was right beside her, and rejected the idea.

An Chengli was someone the empress dowager had sent over. He really did want to report the matters to the empress dowager one by one, so the empress dowager was still convinced of his ability.

But An Chengli had already admitted everything to himself a long time ago.

An Chengli had done a lot for himself these days.

Other than An Chengli, who else could it be?

Mu Changyan felt that it was necessary to find an excuse to change the people around her.

“”Little An, when the assassins of the Kingdom of Ethereal Opening made their move, you were the only one by my side.””

“”At that time, all the guards in the Heavenly Temple actually ran away by themselves … I think there’s no need for these people to stay by my side.””

Mu Changyan said as he walked.

An Chengli nodded. “”This servant will have Chen Shaobai select a group of people from the Black Turtle Sect to make up for it. At least, don’t worry.””

Mu Changyan acknowledged, “”Let’s go to the Celestial Prison.””

“”Huh?””

An Chengli was shocked. “”To the Celestial Prison?””

“”Great king, it’s too dangerous.””

Mu Changyan waved her hands, “”It’s alright, he’s already crippled, what else can I do?””

“”I just want to take another look at that Tan Song and ask him why he took such a risk.””

At this moment, a young eunuch hurried over from afar, “”Your Majesty, Changxin Bo has sent someone to thank you for your kindness.””

Mu Changyan was stunned, “”Who’s Changxin?””

An Chengli reminded him, “”A dispute …””

Mu Changyan slapped her forehead, “”Look at my memory, just tell him to come and see me.””

This was the first time Madman Qu had seen such a huge character. Even though he had seen a lot after following An Zaihai, this was still the first time he had seen the ruler of a country.

Hence, Madman Qu’s words were a little sloppy, his two legs were trembling.

Mu Changyan found it funny when she saw Madman Qu. She said as she walked, “”Did An Zeng ask you to thank me?””

Madman Qu followed behind Mu Changyan, “”Yes … but King, the reason why you ordered me to come is actually for another matter.””

Mu Changyan looked around and said, “”Speak as quietly as you can as you walk.””

Madman Qu fished out a note from his sleeve and handed it to Mu Changyan. “”This is what An Zhe asked me to present to the King.””

Mu Changyan said in her heart that An Zaiyue was indeed a shrewd person. She knew that anyone in the palace could have heard her words.

He opened the note and read it. There were only a few words on it.

Beware of jailbreak

Be careful of jailbreak?

Mu Changyan was stunned for a while, but she still didn’t understand what An Zaihai meant. Could it be that the people from You Kingdom still hadn’t killed anyone in Fang Gu City?

Even if they didn’t kill him, those people still dared to rob the prison to save Tan Song?

What exactly is Anjou trying to remind me of?

Mu Changyan walked for a long distance before suddenly realizing what had happened. He couldn’t help but laugh, a particularly brilliant smile on his face.

“”Yes, we should be careful.””

The traitorous people of You will not let the matter rest.

“”Little An, come with me to the Sky Prison to see if I should be more alert.””

An Chengli didn’t see what was on the note, he only saw Mu Changyan’s bright smile.