Qianjin Hall! Mistress Qi!

The eunuch was supposed to whisper this to the Emperor, but startled by the commotion, he blurted it out on his knees.

Everyone heard.

Everyone froze.

"Who?" the Emperor asked, clearly surprised as well.

"Qianjin Hall, Mistress Qi," the eunuch stammered, further unnerved by the atmosphere in the hall.

The Emperor then laughed, leaning back in his chair.

"Well now, quite the capability you possess," he chuckled.

At the sight of his smile, everyone present felt a chill run down their spines.

Indeed, how did this woman manage to gain entry to the palace, let alone have a eunuch announce her presence during the Emperor's council?

Heavens, this was something they dared not, and could not, attempt.

Compared to the shock of the others, Zhou Maochun was agitated.

"Your Majesty, she is my..." he began urgently.

His words were cut short by the Emperor.

"Enough, Zhou Maochun. It seems the feeling is mutual between you two. Haven't you been causing a ruckus here precisely to defend her? Tsk, tsk," the Emperor said slowly, his hands patting the Dragon Throne, making a sharp pa-pa sound. "You protect her, and she protects you. Truly, you two are quite moving."

Zhou Maochun was somewhat bewildered by the Emperor's words.

"Ah?" he stammered, then quickly tried to interject, "Your Majesty, that's not..."

The Emperor had already raised his voice, interrupting him again.

"The devoted pair who dares risk My soldiers and generals merely to bring a smile to their beauty's face—so devoted that you provoke Me just so your beauty can escape unscathed. Zhou Maochun, I shall certainly grant your wish!" he declared fiercely.

"Your Majesty, this Mistress Qi is..." Zhou Maochun tried once more.

"Silence! Say one more word, and I shall have you both beaten to death with clubs immediately," the Emperor roared in anger.

Zhou Maochun had no choice but to hold his tongue.

As the Emperor spoke, he raised a hand. The eunuchs understood immediately and shouted loudly, "Announce!"

The command echoed out.

"Announce?"

Hearing this, Madam Chen was also very surprised, turning to look at Qi Yue.

She had gone to such lengths, yet the Emperor hadn't even agreed to see her; this woman had merely spoken a name.

If she had known, she should have sought an audience before the New Year, and none of this mess would have happened!

Madam Chen shook her head, her emotions complex, unsure what to say.

At this point, Qi Yue took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Madam Chen quickly followed but was stopped by a eunuch.

"Miss, you cannot go," the portly eunuch said quickly.

Madam Chen had to stay behind.

"Yue Niang, do not speak much when you see His Majesty. Just kneel and offer your sincere apologies," she advised.

Qi Yue nodded and followed the eunuch.

Watching the woman leave, the portly eunuch looked towards Madam Chen.

"This lady, is this not her first time meeting His Majesty?" he inquired.

Madam Chen looked at him, puzzled.

"Why ask that?" she replied.

This was the answer. The portly eunuch’s expression grew even more astonished.

This young lady's first time seeing the Emperor? How could she show no nervousness? When he had first met the Emperor, he had been shaking uncontrollably, despite having served in the palace for three years already.

In the great hall, the ministers kept their heads bowed. The Emperor’s sudden fury had dissipated as quickly as it arrived; now, his expression was calm, and the atmosphere appeared serene, yet this serenity felt suffocating.

It seemed like a long time, yet perhaps not long at all, when the doors to the hall were pulled open.

"Mistress Qi of Qianjin Hall pays her respects," the eunuch's voice sounded from outside.

Qi Yue stood outside the door, one phrase repeating in her mind.

I'm going to see a living Emperor!

Then, taking a deep breath, she lifted her skirt and crossed the threshold.

After only a few steps, a nearly inaudible voice from the guiding eunuch reached her ear.

Kneel...

This must be the result of that five thousand taels of silver—a guide on her deportment and etiquette.

Though she intensely disliked kneeling, others might be allowed to be ambiguous, but with the Emperor, that would likely not work.

Qi Yue knelt down after taking about ten paces into the hall.

"This humble woman, Qi Yue Niang, pays respects to Your Majesty," she stated clearly.

In the hall, everyone except Zhou Maochun, the ministers, kept their heads lowered. Even the Emperor seemed weary, leaning back on the Dragon Throne with his gaze cast downward.

When this voice reached them, everyone paused.

The voice of this old woman was quite pleasant, and strangely sounded quite young.

Yue Niang?

The Emperor frowned. This name...

He raised his eyes and immediately saw the figure kneeling far below.

She was dressed in apricot-colored robes, her black hair piled high, adorned with two pearl hairpins that trembled as she kowtowed.

Black hair!

Black hair!

The Emperor suddenly sat bolt upright, casually snatching up a memorial and holding it before his eyes.

Silence descended upon the hall once more.

Qi Yue, kneeling on the ground, felt a little puzzled but also resigned.

This act—the leader pretending not to notice your arrival to express displeasure—was something she had seen often enough.

So, she remained silent, kneeling properly.

A minister discreetly lifted the corner of his eye to observe the Emperor. Seeing him absorbed in the memorial, they naturally understood this was the Emperor intentionally making things difficult for the woman, so they all lowered their eyes and remained motionless.

Behind the memorial, the Emperor's thoughts connected the dots in a swift turn.

Yongqing Prefecture, Mistress Qi!

Yongqing Prefecture, the wife of the Heir of Marquis Dingxi!

Qianjin Hall's Qi Yue Niang!

The Yue Niang who was cured by a country doctor...

The woman who departed from the main gate of the Li residence with such grace...

A life-saving debt—surely it merits repayment...

Zhou Maochun found Mistress Qi...

Zhou Maochun adopted an orphaned daughter...

Damn it all! What kind of chaotic mess is this! The Emperor slammed the memorial onto the desk with a loud crack.

This sudden noise startled everyone into trembling.

Qi Yue quickly settled back into a proper kneeling posture.

"Speak!" the Emperor ground out through clenched teeth.

Speak what?

Who should speak?

Everyone was stunned.

But Qi Yue broke the silence.

"This humble woman, along with one disciple, two maids, four guards, traveled to Mobei before the year's end to search for relatives. Due to a conflict with the military physician of Zhangye Garrison over treating wounded soldiers, and in a fit of pique, I participated in pre-battle wound care. I personally witnessed the severity of the fighting and the misery of the wounded, and thus decided to fulfill my duty as a healer. Afterward, the twenty-four members of the Qianjin Hall from Yongqing Prefecture arrived. I consulted with them regarding the treatment of the wounded, eventually forming a field surgical dressing and nursing team. Because battlefield treatment differed from routine reception and care, to avoid panic in the moment, we requested assistance from the Garrison officers and soldiers to conduct six preliminary drills. Subsequently, along the route to the border pass, we participated in four separate battlefield treatments."

The clear, measured female voice resonated through the hall.

Everyone present was stunned again.

Even the Emperor’s expression tightened slightly.

He had told her to speak, but typically, one would confess guilt, express regret, and then beg for the Emperor's mercy... such platitudes. But what this woman said, in a single short passage, was... so logically structured, detailed, and supported by evidence...

"...This entire affair originated from a dispute of temperament between this humble woman and the military physician, followed by the inescapable calling of a healer. It was not done with intent to cause trouble, nor would I dare to treat soldiers and generals as mere playthings. Lord Zhou Maochun repeatedly tried to dissuade me, but I remained headstrong and would not listen. The time for battlefield treatment was short, and the task heavy... Cough... Because I needed to train my disciples and prepare vast amounts of medical supplies in a short time, I failed to properly report and seek approval beforehand. Furthermore, my treatment methods differed from the standard military medical practices, which caused doubt and misunderstanding among others. This is my fault, but I absolutely dare not treat soldiers and generals as playthings or delay military matters. I implore Your Majesty to investigate clearly."

She finished in one breath and kowtowed again, bowing low to the ground.

Very good. In just two short paragraphs, she had managed to frame the entire incident as a misunderstanding, taking full responsibility herself.

The ministers nodded secretly.

It seemed the hidden master behind this woman was truly formidable!

Qi Yue, speaking while prostrate, hadn't felt much, but after finishing, her heart hammered fiercely.

This was just like reporting back to the Dean and others: skip the pleasantries, don't mention hardships or grievances, discard empty rhetoric, start by presenting data and processes—that’s how you secure more resources for your department.

She hoped this Emperor could adapt to this reporting style.

If you’re so capable, why pretend to be mute earlier?

The Emperor looked down at the woman prostrated on the floor and snorted inwardly.

But...

His expression darkened slightly.

"According to what you say, all these memorials of impeachment are simply because they were too foolish and misunderstood you?" he asked chillingly.

This Emperor's way of speaking was really...

Why did his voice sound a bit familiar?

She hadn't noticed a single word before, but this single sentence sounded...

Qi Yue felt a slight surprise but absolutely dared not look up.

"This humble woman dares not. It is merely that different trades require different expertise; outsiders watch the spectacle, but insiders observe the craft," she replied.

The Emperor let out a cold laugh, picking up the memorial before him and slapping it sharply against his Dragon Desk.

"The craft you speak of seems quite lively. Even I, an outsider, found the spectacle quite entertaining," he said coldly. "Do you think a few words from you make everything disappear?"

Zhou Maochun could no longer restrain himself.

"Your Majesty, when they say I was fooling around, I was fooling around? When I say I was not fooling around, why do you not believe me?" Zhou Maochun still stood defiantly, his neck stiff.

"Because I am an outsider," the Emperor replied with heavy irony.

Zhou Maochun was choked with anger.

Qi Yue also felt a little frustrated.

"They speak of craft, they understand it, but I do not," the Emperor continued. "What they say isn't necessarily so, and what you say shouldn't automatically be the truth either? I am tired of these war-of-words battles."

"Then Your Majesty means you wish to see something that isn't just words?" Qi Yue couldn't help but speak again, slightly lifting her eyes. She faintly discerned the high Dragon Desk a dozen paces before her, and a corner of bright yellow imperial robe.

The Emperor instinctively reached for a memorial, but seeing the woman eventually lower her head, he shifted his posture slightly, perhaps to avoid betraying his momentary discomfort.

"...This humble woman participated in four military engagements on this trip, treating a total of seven hundred and sixty-five wounded soldiers, among them the severely wounded..." she continued.

A minister couldn't bear to listen anymore and coughed.

"Isn't this still just words? You say you saved them; whatever number you give is accepted? Why should what you say be credible?" he hissed quietly.

Zhou Maochun feared the Emperor, but he didn't fear this minister. He grabbed a memorial from the floor and threw it at the minister.

"Qiao Liusheng! It's your turn to ask questions!" he cursed.

The minister, unprepared, was hit. He was both ashamed and angry.

"Zhou Maochun!" he shouted furiously, about to retort, when another cry came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, an urgent dispatch regarding the northern defenses!"

Urgent dispatch? Military preparations?

The hall quieted momentarily.

The memorials impeaching Zhou Maochun and the others had just arrived again.

Immediately, they understood.

The minister stopped speaking, shooting Zhou Maochun a cold, scornful smile accompanied by a flick of his sleeve.

You are finished.

The Emperor's expression was also grim. His gaze shifted from the woman still prostrated on the floor to Zhou Maochun.

At this point, neither of them could be saved; perhaps... it was time to let it go.

His expression turned indifferent, and he raised his hand.

"Announce," the eunuch shouted loudly.

Recommended reading: Dan Huang by Wei You, Book ID 2399650

History records that Han Wang of Beifu was debauched and lustful. To seize Lian Ji, he rebelled against the throne. After his failure, his bones were ground to dust and scattered.

Yan Zheng never expected that she would have to personally experience this most vividly recorded history since the founding of the Xia Dynasty.

After suffering the piercing pain of losing her son and the annihilation of her entire clan, she used death as a scheme to repay Empress Dowager Lian Ji severely;

But she did not die. Instead, she awoke in the carriage heading toward the Han King's estate in the North thirty years prior, as a beautiful concubine soon to be offered to Han Wang.

Reborn into this chaotic age, what does it matter if she overturns the world?