Prince Lin's Mansion.

In the main hall, Lin Wang Liyuan was sitting at the table, playing with the caged bird with great interest.

Butler Pang Mo waited respectfully aside.

"Has Marquis Li'an returned to the capital?"

After a while, Li Yuanchi asked casually.

"Reporting to the prince, I arrived not long ago and should be at the Marquis Mansion at the moment."

"I heard that the battle at that time was quite big. Even His Highness Taiqing went to the city gate to greet him personally. The whole capital spread the news."

Pang Mo nodded and said slowly.

"He always seems to be so high-profile. There have been no rumors about him in this city for so long, which makes people really uncomfortable."

Li Yuan couldn't help laughing and said meaningfully.

"Yes, now that he is back, the capital city should start to be lively again. In the month since he left, those idle people in the market have nothing to talk about."

Pang Mo smiled and agreed.

"He has been working hard for a month. In my name, I would like to send some ginseng and deer antler to him so that he can recuperate."

"After this trip to the north, his status in the capital will probably rise again. We have to curry favor with this upstart."

Li Yuan teased the bird with the branch in his hand and said with a smile.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Pang Mo agreed and bowed out respectfully.

"You are not in the court, you are not subservient, but you can hold a place in this capital, and you are highly sought after. Looking at leaving the country, you are the only one."

Li Yuan raised his head, thinking deeply, and couldn't help but sigh.

…

Yunxiao Palace.

"Are the events in the north really as stated in the report?"

The empress sat on the couch and looked at Leng Yue kneeling below with a majestic look on her face and asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is indeed true. Wei Chen did find traces of Pang Xun's old men in Fengcheng, but the other party was very cunning and had no choice but to let them escape."

"Later, Marquis Li'an discovered the other party's whereabouts, and Marquis Li'an personally led people out of the city to pursue them, killing them all at once."

Leng Yue said respectfully.

"You have been in charge of the Five Elements Department for many years, but you are not as effective as Marquis Li'an. I really don't know if Marquis Li'an is too capable, or if you are too useless!"

The empress snorted coldly and said dissatisfied.

"It is indeed the minor minister's fault that he failed to do his job well and failed to support His Majesty."

"But the humble minister is in the light, and the Marquis of Li'an is in the dark. It is not that the humble minister is slacking off. I hope your majesty will forgive me."

Leng Yue shrank her neck and said nervously.

"Don't you think you have too many excuses?!"

The empress frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"Wei Chen knows his mistake!"

"But Your Majesty, I have found a doubtful point and I don't know whether to talk about it or not?"

Leng Yue kowtowed hurriedly and said tremblingly.

"explain!"

The empress said with a straight face and impatiently.

"When Marquis Li'an was chasing Pang Xun's old men, Wei Chen was secretly accompanying him, but Marquis Li'an suddenly disappeared."

"When Wei Chen arrived, that group of people had been killed by Marquis Li'an, and all of them were beheaded, and their heads were buried in the fire."

"Afterwards, I thought about it, and I always felt that there was something strange. That group of people was probably not Pang Xun's old team!"

Leng Yue hesitated for a moment and said slowly.

"Is there any evidence?!"

The empress frowned and asked in a deep voice.

"No...no..."

Leng Yue hesitated for a moment, shook her head and said.

"What do I need from you?!"

The empress looked majestic and shouted sternly.

Leng Yue couldn't help but trembled all over, and hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to say another word.

She knew in her heart that everything was a done deal.

"Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"

But the empress did not give up, and then asked coldly.

Leng Yue shivered, her face was solemn, and her back was soaked with cold sweat.

"Did you say it yourself or did I say it for you?!"

The empress asked coldly.

"While tracking the Marquis of Li'an, the Shuixing Commander suddenly disappeared and his whereabouts are still unknown. I'm afraid... I'm afraid the situation is in danger..."

Leng Yue trembled her lips and said hesitantly.

"waste!"

The empress shouted angrily, grabbed an inkstone on the table, and smashed it out, almost wiping Leng Yue's forehead in a flash!

Leng Yue lowered her head deeply, not daring to say another word, and could not help but tremble all over.

After a long time, the empress gradually calmed down her emotions. She glanced at the shivering Leng Yue with disappointment, picked up the teacup and took a slow sip.

"I have always made clear rewards and punishments. Not only did you not benefit from your trip to the north, but you also allowed Marquis Li'an to take the lead, and you also lost an envoy of the Five Elements. You must not go unpunished!"

"From now on, you are not allowed to step out of the Five Elements Office. You will sit in front of the wall and think about your mistakes for ten days! You will be fined for half a year's salary! Let's see the consequences!"

The empress hesitated for a moment and said coldly.

"Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty!"

Leng Yue bowed respectfully, her face full of piety.

"Get down!"

"I don't want to see you again!"

The empress waved her hand and said impatiently.

"Wei Chen resigns!"

Leng Yue agreed, slowly got up and left.

"Come here, tell me my decree, and announce that Marquis Li'an will come to the palace tomorrow to see you and accept the reward!"

Immediately afterwards, the empress raised her head and looked outside the palace, and said in a deep voice.

"According to the order!"

Leng Yue was walking slowly outside. When she heard that the empress wanted to reward Marquis Li'an, she couldn't help but clenched her fists, her eyes filled with resentment.

…

Princess Yongan's Mansion.

"What are you still doing here?!"

Xia Qiu opened her arms and blocked the door of the princess's mansion. She stared at Li Wuji who suddenly came to visit him even though it was already dark, and asked loudly and dissatisfiedly.

"Come and apologize to your princess."

"Why, you won't be allowed to see me?"

Li Wuji was now on the steps, looking at the aggressive Xia Qiu, and asked with a smile.

"No! You are not welcome here, and you don't have to come here in the future!"

Xia Qiu pouted and said impatiently.

"Is this what you want, or what your princess wants?"

Li Wuji smiled helplessly and asked slowly.

"I…"

"It's just missing anyway! You should leave quickly!"
To be continued...