Meanwhile, under the Left Chancellor’s arrangements, some ministers had already submitted urgent memorials overnight, aiming to sow discord between Su Chen and Empress Ying Qingge.
Even if they couldn’t crush Su Chen in one blow, they intended to tarnish his image in the Emparess’s heart significantly.
This way, a rift would surely form between the two.
After all, ordinary noblewomen couldn’t tolerate their men indulging in pleasure-seeking.
How much less could Ying Qingge, the Empress herself, endure such a thing!
This was practically a slap in Her Majesty’s face!!
Moreover, ministers from the Prince of Yan’s faction were also frantically drafting memorials, vehemently condemning Su Chen’s vile behavior.
As the Empress’s consort, he dared to frequent places of debauchery, bringing shame upon Her Majesty!
“Make the arrangements. Have more ministers submit memorials attacking the consort for visiting a brothel.”
“With the weight of public opinion, and given that there’s no defense for this matter, I refuse to believe Her Majesty can tolerate even this!”
In the Left Chancellor’s residence, the Left Chancellor spoke with calculated confidence, his schemes deep and cunning.
Duan Yicheng watched his father, who had been orchestrating everything from start to finish, and deeply understood the meaning of biding one’s time—striking only to deliver a devastating blow.
After this, Su Chen’s standing in Her Majesty’s heart would likely plummet.
Hmph! People truly shouldn’t get too full of themselves.
However, while everyone was gloating over Su Chen’s impending downfall, in the palace, Ying Qingge’s reaction was about to defy all expectations.
Not only was this “senior sister” not angry, she even found it a bit amusing.
Does my junior brother need you lot to tell me what he’s up to?
What a joke!
Thus, the ministers anxiously awaiting the outcome were stunned when they received this response:
“No matter. When my man is tired of playing, he’ll naturally return to the palace.
Such trivial matters need not be reported again. You’re dismissed.”
Ying Qingge casually tossed the memorials aside, utterly unconcerned.
“Uh…”
In that moment, the ministers were utterly dumbfounded.
The consort visiting a brothel, a place of revelry and vice—this matter, and the Empress… didn’t care!?
Not only that, she even accepted it with delight!?
Your Majesty, you’re the Empress!!
Could it be that being a kept man could truly reach such a pinnacle of achievement?
Their worldviews shattered.
In the Left Chancellor’s residence, the Left Chancellor and his son were still awaiting the anticipated good news.
“Yicheng, when it comes to major matters, you must stay calm.”
“Especially when—”
Before he could finish, a hurried shout interrupted,
“Lord Chancellor, something… something terrible has happened!”
“You see, here it comes,” the Left Chancellor said with a calm smile, hearing the commotion outside, and continued steadily,
“Shouting in the middle of the night—what decorum is this?
Stay calm, composed.
Tell me, how did Her Majesty handle it?”
As he spoke, the Left Chancellor picked up his teacup, taking a gentle sip.
But at that very moment:
“Her Majesty agreed.”
“Agreed to harshly punish the consort? As expected, no one could tolerate such a thing,” the Left Chancellor said, shaking his head as if it were only natural.
But the reporting official’s face was ashen.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Her Majesty agreed to the consort going out to seek pleasure… and fully supported it.”
“She even said he’d return once he was done playing.”
Crash!
In an instant, the teacup in the Left Chancellor’s hand fell to the floor, the scalding water splashing without eliciting the slightest reaction from him.
“Say that again!”
After a long silence, he asked in a hoarse voice.
Elsewhere, the Prince of Yan was also awaiting the good news.
With such a major incident, that old fox, the Left Chancellor, surely couldn’t sit still. Besides, with the Empress’s power at its peak, other factions would seize this chance to pile on.
If she didn’t punish him harshly, it would be unjustifiable.
As the Prince of Yan sat confidently, his steward finally delivered the secret report.
Naturally, the steward wasn’t privy to its contents.
But in his mind, with the Prince’s arrangements, this matter was a guaranteed success, without the slightest flaw.
Both master and servant were visibly excited.
The Prince was thrilled at the prospect of avenging his son.
The steward, though unaware of the details, found his master’s joy to be his own.
Thus, under their eager gazes, the Prince slowly opened the secret report. At first glance, his narrowed eyes widened in shock, his body trembling uncontrollably as if struck by lightning.
Smack!
What the steward never expected was that, after reading the report, the Prince threw it in his face.
“You scoundrel, daring to deceive me with fake intelligence!”
“???”
“Tell me—how could Her Majesty tolerate her man visiting a brothel with a gentle, amiable expression?”
“What nonsense!”
“She’s the Empress who rules Great Qin—how could she endure this?”
“I refuse to believe… Pfft!”
Suddenly, the Prince spat out a mouthful of blood, nearly dying of rage.
“My lord, my lord, please calm down!”
…
While various factions were losing their minds, the Empress, the central figure in all this, wasn’t truly indifferent. In fact, she was seething with frustration.
Of course, it wasn’t because her junior brother ignored the harem of beauties to visit a brothel.
Her pure little junior brother—how could he possibly go there?
He must have some hidden reason.
Using such petty tricks to drive a wedge between them was utterly foolish.
What truly irritated Ying Qingge was—
Someone else was trying to steal her man without honor!
We agreed I’d have the first move—breaking the deal like this, what’s that about?
“Hmph, you think just because you’re older, I’ll yield to you?”
“We’re on the same starting line now!”
With a flick of her sleeve, Ying Qingge’s figure vanished from the palace.
At the Misty Rain Pavilion, despite the unparalleled beauty of the courtesan before him, Su Chen didn’t linger.
After a brief exchange about life, Gentleman Su politely took his leave.
Surprisingly, the courtesan personally escorted him out.
If others in the Misty Rain Pavilion saw this, they’d find it unbelievable.
Meeting this peerless courtesan was already a rare feat; having her personally see someone off was unheard of!
The moment he stepped outside, Su Chen felt countless astonished gazes, looking at him as if he were a monster.
What’s so special about you, aside from being a bit handsome!?
Though unaware of the situation, Su Chen spoke,
“Miss Jinghong, there’s no need to see me off further.”
Jinghong smiled faintly,
“If you don’t mind, I’m a few years older—call me sister.”
“Sister Jinghong?”
“Mhm~!”
Hearing the address, Jinghong accepted it happily, even playfully pinching Su Chen’s chin.
“Come back to play next time, little brother Su!”
“…”
Faced with such teasing, Su Chen felt a jolt.
Her actions… felt too casual.
Especially that familiarity—it was as if she knew him.
As he turned to leave, he heard a soft murmur,
“Finally, I see you again…”
“Could it be…!?”
Su Chen stared in shock at this courtesan, who seemed like a friendly older sister.
Though unfamiliar, her demeanor and actions felt strangely familiar.
And that silver-haired senior sister from before—were he and his senior sister really the only ones who transmigrated?
Things were getting more complicated!