Chapter 5376: Retaliation is inevitable

Chapter 5376: Retaliation is inevitable
Fang Jun was speechless: "What kind of look is that from the Empress?"

Empress Su, dressed in a palace gown, was dignified and beautiful. She rarely showed a hint of teasing and playfulness. She blinked and said, "If we are of one mind and understand each other, Erlang will naturally be able to read my eyes."

Fang Jun stroked his chin: "I feel like the Empress is scolding me."

What did they say to you?

"Shameless scoundrel?"

"Pfft!"

Empress Su's smile blossomed as beautifully as a peony, making her radiant and lively. With a flicker of her eyes, she turned around.

"Come in and sit down. If we talk at the door, it could be very dangerous if someone overhears us."

Fang Jun followed closely behind and entered the hall, admiring the slender and graceful figure wrapped in the palace dress, as well as the fair and elegant neck under the dark hair. It was a feast for the eyes.

Empress Su suddenly stopped and turned around, only to meet a pair of burning eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she let out a snort.

Caught red-handed, Fang Jun smiled wryly and said, "Beautiful things always need someone who knows how to appreciate them, otherwise wouldn't that be a waste? I have always been good at discovering beauty, and even better at appreciating it."

"Glib tongue!"

Empress Su was always dignified and had never heard such sweet words before.

When her heart fluttered and her cheeks flushed, she quickly took a few steps to sit down.

The eunuch served fragrant tea and stepped aside, then Empress Su asked, "Grand Commandant, is there something you need to do upon entering the palace at this time?"

"I suppose the Empress is already aware of what happened at the Wude Hall?"

As the former Crown Princess and now Empress, Lady Su is by no means as bright and simple as she appears. If she didn't have some tricks up her sleeve, how could she dare to give up the entire Taiji Palace and live in the East Palace instead of going back?

As expected, Empress Su nodded slightly, then sighed softly: "His Majesty is eager to change the heir apparent, and has already set his sights on the 'Divine Machine Battalion,' but I wonder what the Grand Commandant's plans are?"

Previously, Fang Jun had always told her to remain calm and collected, reasoning that as long as the "Divine Machine Battalion" was stationed at the East Palace, the Crown Prince's safety would be guaranteed, and His Majesty would not dare to break the rules and forcibly change the heir.

But what if the "Shenji Battalion" is disbanded now?

She glanced sideways; the light inside the hall was somewhat dim, and the usually handsome and refined face in front of her appeared to have softer lines, possessing an unprecedented kind of beauty. For a moment, she was both surprised and captivated, and she was lost in thought.

Fang Jun was about to speak when he subconsciously looked up and their eyes met.

Upon seeing Empress Su's shimmering eyes, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Although I consider myself handsome, Your Majesty's gaze still makes me feel apprehensive."

"Ah……"

Empress Su's heart skipped a beat, and she avoided eye contact, feeling her face burning. She asked curiously, "Why are you terrified?"

Fang Jun smiled brightly, his teeth gleaming white: "This humble subject fears being swallowed whole by the Empress."

"You...you...how dare you!"

Empress Su was shocked, angry, and ashamed. She gritted her teeth and said, "Don't think that just because I promised you something, you can speak so recklessly and rudely!"

Fang Jun chuckled and changed the subject: "In short, I've come to reassure the Empress. The Eastern Palace may be a little unstable for a while, but everything is under control. The Empress only needs to take good care of the Crown Prince. I'm here to help, so there's no need to worry about anything else."

Empress Su composed herself, her delicate brows furrowing: "What do you intend to do?"

Fang Jun kept everyone in suspense: "Your Majesty need not ask any more questions; simply observe the situation."

Empress Su asked in confusion, "Just for a single sentence, you personally came to the Eastern Palace to tell me in person?"

It's not some shameful secret; I could have just sent someone to inform them. The reason I came in person is truly nothing more than this.

Fang Jun raised an eyebrow: "Does the Empress think that I have other intentions?"

Empress Su snorted: "Your heart is in your own belly, how would I know?"

But he looked clearly pleased.

Fang Jun hesitated for a moment, then slowly said, "It's not difficult for the Empress to know my thoughts. How about... you touch me?"

"I... Pah!"

Empress Su was immediately taken aback; she had never heard such frivolous and dissolute words before.
Her face flushed red, she was at a loss for what to do. She stomped her foot in anger, stood up, turned around, and left, leaving behind only a fragrant breeze and the tinkling of her jade pendants.

My once tranquil mind was now stirred by ripples.

Tonight is going to be tough...

……

When Fang Jun left the East Palace, he was also somewhat unsettled.

The subtle ambiguity within the Lizheng Hall, the deep shyness on Empress Su's pretty face, the unspoken agreement between them... all stirred his emotions, causing his supposed composure to waver.

No one is perfect, and he had no intention of becoming one.

The desires of mortals are nothing more than "food, sex, power, and wealth." He had almost reached the pinnacle of life in the latter two and had no further desires, leaving only the former two.

The word "lust," however, permeates the very marrow of one's bones and is hidden within emotions; it is truly one's nature.

At his status and position, what beauty could not win his heart? Even the most charming and beautiful women could not capture his heart.

Only the "forbidden feelings" brought about by identity, status, and emotions can drive a man's instincts.

I took a deep breath of the cold air, looked up at the dark night sky, and let the snowflakes fall on my face, chilling me to the bone, but my heart was burning with passion that was hard to cool down.

After a short while, he shook his head and got into the car to head to Furong Garden.

With a joyful expression, Jin Deman welcomed her lover into the inner room. Before she could even offer him some tea, she was lifted up by strong arms and thrown onto the bed, then embraced by a broad chest.

The body, long deprived of rain and dew, felt soothed, and a satisfied sigh turned into a scream.

Fang Jun felt full of energy, tirelessly releasing the passion that had been ignited within him in the Lizheng Palace. The swirling snowflakes falling on the window were melted by the heat and slowly dripped down...

*****
At midnight, the wind and snow intensified.

The following morning, the entire city of Chang'an was covered in a thick blanket of snow...

Before dawn, the palace eunuchs and servants would put on their cotton-padded clothes, take brooms and wooden shovels to clear the snow from the passageways, steps, and thresholds, pile it up, and then use wooden carts to transport the snow outside the palace to prevent it from becoming muddy after it melted in a few days.

Inside the palace, a lively and bustling atmosphere prevailed.

The official residences of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace were located outside Jiafu Gate, separated from the Imperial City by a wall and a north-south running canal called Longshou Canal. Inside Chongjiao Gate, two rows of houses extended east and west along the palace wall, which were reserved for the use of the Six Guards of the Eastern Palace when they were on duty.

Cao Huaishun had been on duty all night and hadn't slept. Because of the heavy snow, he dared not slack off and led his soldiers and guards to patrol the East Palace, strictly inspecting all the houses and halls. He only managed to doze off when it was almost dawn. Now, after washing his face with cold water, he stood at the door looking at the magnificent and towering roof of the Lizheng Hall not far away. The cold wind made him feel refreshed.

He cautiously glanced around and saw that many palace servants and eunuchs were clearing snow and there was nothing unusual. He breathed a slight sigh of relief and turned back into his duty room.

The clerk brought over the duty roster, which Cao Huaishun carefully reviewed to confirm its accuracy before signing and affixing his seal. The daily duty roster had to be filed for future reference; it was not to be taken lightly, lest it be a serious offense.

Another captain came and asked, "General, are you dining here, or going straight home after your shift?"

The place where we were on duty had a kitchen, but it was very rudimentary and could only provide some simple meals to eat while we were on duty.

Although Cao Huaishun came from a military family, he was not a pampered son who was particular about food and delicacies. He casually said, "Make a pot of hot porridge and a few dishes of pickled vegetables. Just have a simple meal, then go home, take a bath, and get a good night's sleep."

"Here!"

The captain turned and left, instructing the kitchen to prepare the meal.

Outside the gate, the soldiers who were on duty last night stood in neat rows, waiting for everyone to be in order before exiting the inner court through the Fenghua Gate on the east side, and then through the Zuo Jiafu Gate and Yongchun Gate to exit the East Palace...

Inside the duty room, Cao Huaishun waited for his meal. With nothing else to do, he picked up a book and began reading with great interest. The title on the cover read "Physics." He was very interested in this kind of "investigation of things to acquire knowledge" and had recently come across the "mechanics" section. He found the "pulley system" extremely fascinating and even conducted his own experiment.

It's like opening the door to a new world...

The Grand Commandant is not only skilled in literature and martial arts, but also excels in poetry and prose. He is also proficient in such "divine arts." He is truly a divine being.

However, thinking of how he had been valued and cultivated by the Grand Commandant, yet had to obey his father's orders and follow the imperial edict to enter the Eastern Palace's Six Guards and become the "Eyes and Ears of the Emperor" to check the Grand Commandant, he felt ashamed.

Just as I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard a commotion outside the door.

Cao Huaishun frowned, put down the book, and strode to the door.

This place is only a wall away from Lizheng Hall, which is the Crown Prince's bedroom. The Empress has also been staying here for many days. What if we disturb the two noble ladies?

Upon exiting the gate, he saw a group of people pushing and shoving each other, and immediately flew into a rage, shouting, "The inner garden of the Eastern Palace, a place of solemn importance, how dare you make such a racket! Do you really think that my military rod cannot be used against you?"

The noise stopped abruptly.

An official in a scarlet robe bowed from afar and said in a loud voice, "I am Du Zhijing, the Director of the Military Affairs Department of the Ministry of War. As the year draws to a close, I have been conducting a routine check on the military registers of the Sixteen Guards of the Southern Army and the Six Armies of the Eastern Palace. I discovered that the number of registered soldiers in the Left Guard of the Crown Prince does not match the actual number. Therefore, I have come to invite General Cao to the Ministry of War to explain. However, your soldiers are obstructing me. Don't they know that this is a violation of military discipline?"

"Bullshit! Do you think it takes dozens of people to invite the general to the Ministry of War? This isn't 'inviting,' it's clearly 'arresting' him!"

"My general has only been in office for a few days. Even if there is a discrepancy in the number of personnel for the Left Guard Commander, it has nothing to do with my general. He can go and find the previous commander himself!"

The soldiers of the Left Guard shouted curses and refused to give an inch, confronting Du Zhijing and dozens of Ministry of War officials.

Cao Huaishun was stunned for a moment, then understood and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Since the Imperial Guards detained Li Siwen, Qu Tuquan, and Cheng Chubi under various pretexts and ordered him, Su Haizheng, and Ashina Funian to take over their posts as soon as possible, his father, Cao Jishu, had warned him to be careful of retaliation.

After all, if the Imperial Guards can do something, then the Ministry of War can do it even more.

Everyone knows that Fang Jun is a vengeful fellow...