Moyu excelled at gathering all kinds of information, and within half a day, she found out what was happening inside the Grand General Protecting the Country's military camp.
"Are you sure?"
"General Wei has always been known for his strictness and cruelty. To strengthen combat effectiveness, he treats soldiers almost like livestock. But they are thinking human beings; all those rigid rules leave the soldiers gasping for air. One of them is the collective responsibility system—if one person in a squad makes a mistake, everyone else is punished as well. Because of this, the soldiers keep a close eye on each other to prevent their comrades from causing trouble. However, doing this..."
"It keeps people in a state of high pressure," Gu Zhaoyan continued smoothly, picking up where Moyu left off. "If it's for a short time, that's fine, but over a long period, it's bound to cause problems. What General Wei wants is a strictly disciplined army that does not violate a single straw, but relying solely on money isn't necessarily enough to satisfy everyone's needs."
"Even so, he shouldn't tacitly allow soldiers to go out and commit evil, ruining the daughters of good families," Moyu said with indignation. "Afterward, General Wei simply gave the other party some money to hush the matter up. Those girls were treated with contempt in life, and after death, they were buried in a rush. What's even worse is that my subordinates discovered that several of the girls were forced into ghost marriages after they died, and their families made a profit off them yet again."
"Injustices like this are as numerous as the hairs on an ox; you can never completely eradicate them, but..." Gu Zhaoyan's lips curved upward, "we can leak this out. As for what happens afterward, naturally, someone else will handle it. After all, General Wei has been an official for many years, and he has enemies everywhere."
"Does the Eldest Princess mean to sound a warning to General Wei by saying this?"
"I don't have that much time on my hands. I'm simply..." Gu Zhaoyan looked at Moyu and suddenly smiled. "Just go and handle it. Once it's done, I will reward you."
Moyu cupped her fists in salute. "Understood, subordinate."
After planting mines for the three Imperial Sons-in-law, Gu Zhaoyan was finally able to relax for a moment.
No, wait.
Gu Zhaoyan narrowed her eyes slightly, shifting her gaze to Lianxin, who had now become her personal maid. Her tone was calm yet carried a hint of profound meaning. "What day is tomorrow?"
Lianxin lowered her head respectfully and replied, "Answering the Eldest Princess, tomorrow is the seventeenth."
Ten days from now would be the imperial court's annual Peach Blossom Banquet. On the surface, it was for viewing flowers, but in reality, it provided a grand matchmaking event for the unmarried young masters and ladies of the noble clans.
It was personally organized by the Empress every year. Although the Emperor disliked the Empress for her careless and sloppy ways, he still had to admit that her efficiency in organizing such banquets was truly unmatched.
Thinking of this, a trace of coldness flashed across the depths of Gu Zhaoyan's eyes, and she softly instructed Jintang, "Go tell the Empress that this year's Peach Blossom Banquet must be grandly celebrated. Invite everyone who can possibly be invited."
Jintang accepted the order and left. Gu Zhaoyan gently stroked her sleeve, a plan already forming in her mind.
She would publicly announce the dissolution of the engagement amidst the crowded Peach Blossom Banquet. That scene promised to be most spectacular.
On the twenty-seventh of the third month, the Peach Blossom Banquet was held as scheduled in the Peach Blossom Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Outside the grand hall, the peach blossoms were in full bloom, their tender pink petals still glistening with crystal-clear morning dew. A gentle breeze swept past, causing the stamens to sway softly like the blushing cheeks of young girls discovering love. People moved through the Peach Blossom Grove, admiring the flowers, taking in their fragrance, or picking up brushes to paint them, while waves of cheerful laughter echoed without end.
Until a eunuch's loud shout echoed from outside the hall: "Her Majesty the Empress arrives! Her Eldest Princess arrives!"
Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed in unison. "Greetings to the Empress, may Your Majesty live for ten thousand years. Greetings to the Eldest Princess, may Your Highness live for ten thousand years."
The Empress smiled, raised her hand to signal everyone to rise, and spoke in a gentle tone that carried unquestionable majesty, "Rise, everyone. Today is a fine day; enjoy the flowers to your heart's content and dispense with overly rigid formalities."
With that, she turned and bowed to Gu Zhaoyan. "Imperial Eldest Princess, let us go over there to view the flowers. At noon, I will have the Imperial Kitchen prepare dishes using peach blossoms as ingredients; you must be sure to try them then."
Gu Zhaoyan smiled faintly, her tone relaxed. "Very well, I came here today with an empty stomach, just waiting for the midday meal."
The Empress immediately instructed her attendants to bring over several plates of exquisite pastries, a trace of concern in her voice. "Imperial Eldest Princess, have a few bites to line your stomach first so you don't go hungry."
While gracefully tasting the pastries, Gu Zhaoyan smiled as she sized up the Empress.
The Empress's features did not possess the weak and alluring gentleness of ordinary women; instead, they carried a measure of heroic spirit and dignity. It was precisely this unique temperament that allowed her to firmly secure her position as the mistress of the six palaces and overawe everyone in the inner court.
"Is the Emperor free to come today?" In past years, the Emperor always had to be invited and urged three times before he would reluctantly show up, wearing a sour expression that completely ruined the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. But today, without him, a lot of the fun would be missing.
"Answering the Imperial Eldest Princess, the Emperor has been busy with state affairs lately. With thirty new sisters entering the inner court just recently, His Majesty probably has no time to spare." If one listened closely to the Empress's tone, it carried a hint of jubilation and schadenfreude.
Gu Zhaoyan took a light sip of tea, her tone carrying a profound undertone. "Is the inner court lively these days?"
If anyone else heard her say this, they might have thought she was deliberately looking for trouble, but standing before her was the exceptionally clever Empress.
The Empress smiled faintly, then feigned a worried sigh. "Imperial Eldest Princess, they say the inner court has three thousand beauties, but right now the sisters in the palace barely number a hundred. As Empress, I truly worry for the state of the nation and the imperial succession."
She let out another long sigh, her tone revealing a measure of helplessness. "You know as well as that the Emperor has never liked me. If not for your protection, I fear the Emperor would have deposed me long ago."
"He wouldn't dare!"
Gu Zhaoyan gave a cold snort and said sharply, "With you in the inner court, he can afford to be so carefree. If anyone else were in your place, he would get a taste of his own medicine."
"With those words from the Imperial Eldest Princess, I can finally set my mind at ease." The Empress knew how to read the situation; she knew whose thigh to hug in order to sit securely on the throne of the Empress.
"Those who have come to view the flowers this year are certainly more dazzling than in previous years." Gu Zhaoyan looked at the noble young women playing about in the Peach Blossom Grove. "Moyu, go invite the Emperor over. As the Emperor, he cannot be absent from the annual Peach Blossom Banquet!"
"Yes."
Gu Zhaoyan asked the Empress again, "Have any members of the Shen, Song, or Wei families come?"
The Empress pointed to several young women standing under a peach blossom tree and conversing in low voices. "Those are the unmarried young ladies of the three families. As you know, the three families are on very good terms in private."
Gu Zhaoyan nodded slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of coldness. "Indeed, not only are the daughters fine-looking, but the sons are also handsome—it's just a pity their intentions are sinister."
Her casual tone concealed a sharp blade, and the Empress could hear the underlying threat.
The Empress picked up a plate of pastries. "Imperial Eldest Princess, have another couple of pieces of pastry. The Emperor will be here very soon."
An hour later.
The Emperor arrived belatedly.
As soon as he drew near, Gu Zhaoyan could feel the resentment continuously radiating from him.