The Little Consort's
Eps. 85: Developing a Strategy
The news that the Grand Empress was already conscious, was only known by a number of people. Long Ji Man and Li Anlan purposefully hid the important thing for their great purpose. Let the Great Lord who was the perpetrator of the murder assume that the Grand Empress is still in a coma. They wanted to see what reaction the Great Lord would display when he knew the person he was trying to kill was coming back to life. For now, they choose to let the perpetrator enjoy his success.
A grand scheme had already been prepared carefully and carefully by the two people. This large fish can not be caught with just a small hook, but must be with a large strong hook and sharp fishing rod to be caught and not loose again. Very good bait also they have prepared to attract the attention of this big fish.
The risk of catching it is also huge. If “Big Master” aka the perpetrator is caught, the government system in Dongling Kingdom may experience a big shock. But, if the culprit was not caught immediately, Li Anlan's safety would definitely be re-threatened. Maybe one day, this perpetrator can dare to appear blatantly to launch the action.
After being examined by a shaman aka Tao Zhun healer, Li Anlan was welcome to rest again. The doctor said Li Anlan's body was still in the poison and could not be lost anytime soon. Li Anlan was also given a drink containing aconite as a supplement. Before drinking it, Long Ji Man asked in advance the dose to find out the content of aconite in it. This substance if used too much can turn into poison.
Indeed, since the drowning incident, Long Ji Man became wary of the food and drink that entered Li Anlan's body. Long Ji Man did not want anything unwanted to happen anymore. He did not want the woman he loved to be hurt again. If that happened, Long Ji Man swore he would never forgive himself.
“Your Majesty, why are you still here?”
“Can't I be here?”
“Of course you can't. Your Majesty, we must pretend to be enemies.”
“But I don't want to be hostile to you.”
“Who said he wanted to be hostile to you? My enemy here has not been found, where can one more enemy increase?”
While Li Anlan and Long Ji Man were having an argument about the enemy, Empress Dowager Han Yuemei entered through the main entrance. The king's mother came with her personal servant. He smiled seeing his son and son-in-law arguing over a very trivial little thing. For a long time she had not seen her daughter-in-law speaking harshly to her husband. Women like this are the most unique among the rest.
“Enemy or not, we can only wait time.”
“Abunda?”
“Mother Suri?”
Empress Dowager Han Yuemei stood between Li Anlan and Long Ji Man.
“Sit.”
Li Anlan and Long Ji Man sat down at the order of the Queen Mother. Empress Dowager Han Yuemei then turned her face into a serious one. In his heart, gathered millions of words that were ready to be issued. But before that, he sorted out first which words should be the top priority to tell.
“Begini. Lately, before the incident of the Grand Empress drowning, the atmosphere in the Harem Palace that I presided over changed a little.”
“Change? What changed?” ask Long Ji Man.
“Once, I myself cannot be sure. But, I saw many concubines who were a little moody, then their faces turned fiery in a short time.”
“What they visited somewhere?” ask Long Ji Man again.
“They talked for a long time inside the palace of Empress Jin.”
Long Ji Man and Li Anlan looked at each other. It seems like this one guy is indeed troubled. The suspicions of the two had been raised ever since the storage room regarding the Royal Academy Examination caught fire and the voice recording that Li Anlan had as he sneaked out to peek at Long Ji Man's first night with the envoy's daughter. However, they have not found definitive evidence, until the problem is slowly forgotten.
People with quiet temperaments and who tend to be calm are usually the most dangerous. They hid their real faces behind plain masks and meek natures that were actually just fabrications, just tools to hide the rottenness of their hearts that should have been smelled from a distance.
Empress Jin, though gentle and uncalculated with other women, as a woman, should have little sympathy or jealousy. Although she did not love the king, but as a Grand Empress, it was impossible for her to remain silent when there was another woman who was appointed to be the Grand Empress, whose authority is more special and whose position is more special than others. Instead of staying calm and consider everything a natural thing.
“This guy seems to be a problem.”
“You suspect Empress Jin?” ask Empress Dowager Han Yuemei.
“Huang An recorded a conversation she had with someone on the bridal night.”
“Wedding night? Why does the Royal Empress wander around during the King's bridal night with the messenger's daughter?”
Oops, caught! Li Anlan shouted inwardly.
“Oh so. The noble Empress doesn't know the layout of the palace?”
Li Anlan only smiled awkwardly. Why did this half-old woman ask so much? Already knew himself a wasted concubine who had never gone anywhere and had not met anyone for two years, why bother asking. If she wasn't a wasted concubine, she might have already laid out the palace and its architectural form!
“Blame your own son who has forgotten my existence,” umpat Li Anlan in heart.
“Then what are your next plans?” Empress Dowager Han Yuemei returned the conversation to the main topic.
“Crazy people can only be fought with crazy people,” Li Anlan said suddenly.
“Huang An, do you have a plan?”
“Didn't he want to get rid of me? Why don't I just serve?”
“You mean?”
“Give him a good chance to get rid of me. Your Majesty, tell everyone that the Grand Empress has gone mad.”
Empress Dowager Han Yuemei was greatly shocked. This daughter-in-law, is she really saying that? Telling everyone that he's crazy and giving people a chance to take down his position? Is this the thought of the Noble Empress who was so wild and so favored by her son?
This was the first time Empress Dowager Han Yuemei had known firsthand the crazy and wild thoughts her daughter-in-law had. No wonder the king liked him so much, even to the point of issuing a decree to prevent people from taking him down, which even he himself could not mix. What an amazing noble queen!
“No, Huang An. Many other ways we can travel.”
“Your Majesty, this person is so crazy. Just by giving him a chance to take me down, he will definitely come by himself.”
“No. Although there will be an opportunity, the decree I have issued must not be violated.”
“Your Majesty, you do not need to violate your own decree. You just need to say that you're gonna consider taking me down. If I see, this guy is very impatient. So, before His Majesty drops the decision, he will definitely act first.”
In the end, Long Ji Man would never be able to win over Li Anlan. The woman is too good at talking. Long Ji Man was often at a loss for words. The only thing he could do was to give in and obey the words of this woman. His heart was already linked too strongly to Li Anlan, his thinking as a king was far too lost under the thought of Li Anlan who came from the modern world and came from a cutting-edge educational background.
As Li Anlan predicted, the next day when Long Ji Man announced that the condition of the Grand Empress was crazy, officials were competing to express their opinions to lower her from the position. That day, Long Ji Man gathered all of his subordinates, including the women to inform the regal Empress who had grown sober but mentally retarded. He wanted to see who would stand up to fight him.
Meanwhile, Li Anlan who declared himself crazy, did things beyond reason. As an actor, he must explore his character well. He has been labeled crazy, so his behavior must also be like crazy. It is not exciting if he is called crazy but his behavior is normal. The best actor award would not be given to him if his character was less touching.
Today, he made the entire Xingyue Palace like a ship broke. Expensive precious jars broke here and there, his clothes scattered and loosened everywhere. On his study table, the precious papers that were only used in his palace were filled with scribbles and extremely ugly drawings of turtles. The bed was ruffled, the covering cloths pulled down.
He really was already similar to a real madman!
Xie Roulan only shook his head as his master ransacked the entire Xingyue Palace with his own hands. His work has doubled at this time. This clever and intelligent mistress had now already made the entire contents of Xingyue Palace like an abandoned warehouse.
“Mistress, is this not enough?” ask his employer.
“Not yet. Roulan, get me a blender!”
“What else will Madam do?”
“I have to be the best female lead tonight!”
“But, you really already seem like a madman, Madam! If Young Master finds out, he will definitely be very disappointed,” Xie Roulan said, hoping that his master behaved normally again.
“Originally you know, my brother is crazier than I am! He can even be my twin!”
Xie Roulan only remembered that one month ago, she dressed her master's sister to look like Li Anlan. Come to think of it, neither Li Afan, Li Anlan, nor His Majesty the King, had all gone mad together. Will he also go crazy like them?
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