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Ye Xiaohan not only received no answer but was also scolded. She swallowed her anger.
To resist, one must consider whether they have the ability to do so. If one recklessly charges forward without weighing their own strength, it would only lead to self-destruction.
She certainly did not feel capable of resisting the Queen at this moment, so the wisest choice was to obediently follow and meet the Queen.
From the attitude displayed by the person sent by the Queen, Ye Xiaohan could clearly understand that the Empress's summons was definitely not out of admiration for her skills or a desire to enjoy the food from the restaurant.
In fact, when she tested the messenger, she wasn't genuinely seeking a definitive answer from him; she merely wanted to gauge his attitude.
As the saying goes, even when hitting a dog, one must look at its owner. The attitude of the servants largely reflects their master's will.
If the Empress had respectfully invited her, how could this person dare to speak to Ye Xiaohan in such a manner?
As for why the Empress summoned her, Ye Xiaohan could guess a few reasons.
Previously, Gu Bei had already shared information with her; she knew everything that had happened at the celebration banquet. Gu Bei publicly rejected the Empress's proposal for marriage, unwilling to marry Shangyang Princess, and boldly declared his undying love for her in front of everyone.
This was a tremendous loss of face for the royal family.
It seemed that today, the Empress was here to reclaim her dignity from her.
There was no escaping this; under heaven, all land belongs to the emperor. If the Queen wanted to capture her, where could she hide?
"Please wait a moment, my lord. I will change into another outfit so as not to offend the Empress's eyes."
Ye Xiaohan hurried back to her room. She had reserved a lounge on the second floor for working overtime or resting when tired. Inside, she had moved some personal items and spare clothes.
Of course, she wasn't trying to make a good impression on the Queen; there were other reasons behind her actions.
From a hidden compartment in her drawer, she took out a hairpin. Ye Xiaohan skillfully manipulated it with her fingers until there was a soft click, revealing a small compartment at the head of the pin.
Under the signal of fireworks from Gu Bei, Ye Xiaohan had Gu Bei customize a hairpin for her. The head of the pin was hollow, allowing for the addition of some substances inside.
Ye Xiaohan chose a potent sedative, although she hoped she would never have to use it. Still, it was wise to carry it just in case.
She casually changed into a clean outfit, opting for a style that appeared very ordinary. If the Queen took a disliking to her and decided to make trouble, wearing something extravagant would only add fuel to the fire.
She hoped the Empress would be rational and not lose the dignity befitting a mother of the nation by making things difficult for an ordinary citizen like herself.
"My lord, I am ready and can set off now," Ye Xiaohan said as she quickly returned to the shop and addressed the person who seemed to be a eunuch.
The man led her outside. The Queen likely did not want to attract too much attention or let everyone in the capital know she intended to trouble an ordinary woman, so the carriage was quite plain.
Even so, it was made of high-quality materials; the entire carriage was sturdy and exquisite, clearly crafted with great expense. It must be nice to be wealthy and live a luxurious life.
Ye Xiaohan did not envy others but would not refuse money that could improve her own life. There was nothing wrong with having the ability to elevate one's quality of life.
Leaning against a cushion made from cloud silk and crafted by multiple artisans, she peered through the slight gap in the curtains as the carriage moved steadily toward the palace.
Soon after, Ye Xiaohan was ushered out and followed the messenger along a path.
This was Ye Xiaohan's first time entering the palace. Despite sensing something was amiss and being unaware of what challenges awaited her ahead, she couldn't help but admire her surroundings.
Carved beams and jade pillars adorned with vibrant flowers created a stunning scene. The intricate craftsmanship combined with an air of grandeur truly reflected its status as one of the most important residences in the nation.
After enjoying the scenery along the way, Ye Xiaohan arrived in front of an opulent palace—this was the Queen's residence.
"Empress, I have brought her!" The messenger announced as he led Ye Xiaohan through the door. Almost immediately, a noblewoman's voice echoed from within.
"Let her come in."
Ye Xiaohan steadied herself, realizing that this must be the legendary Empress.
Not long after Ye Xiaohan left the tavern, Gu Bei arrived as usual.
He searched around but couldn't find anyone. Gu Bei felt puzzled; at this time, Ye Xiaohan should have been at the tavern. Was she taking a break or had she gone out?
Fortunately, Liu Yang was at the tavern. Gu Bei found him and inquired about Ye Xiaohan's whereabouts.
"Big Brother?" Liu Yang was so busy he could hardly stop. It took Gu Bei calling him several times before he noticed. "You’re here! Go to the private room on the second floor; I’ll bring you some food."
Gu Bei declined, "No need, I'm not hungry. Where did Xiao Han go? I didn’t see her."
"Sister-in-law?" Liu Yang gave Gu Bei an answer he never expected. "Someone just came looking for Sister-in-law; it was the Empress who wanted to see her, and Sister-in-law went with her."
Gu Bei was taken aback, "The Queen?"
What good could the Queen want with Ye Xiaohan? Surely it wasn't just to commend her for her cooking skills. It seemed the Queen was displeased with his rejection of her marriage proposal and intended to use Ye Xiaohan against him.
"When did she leave?" Gu Bei asked, a rare hint of urgency in his voice. The Queen was not someone to be trifled with. No matter how clever Ye Xiaohan was, facing such a powerful figure could leave her at a disadvantage due to lack of experience.
Liu Yang replied, "Just now. They left right before you arrived. What’s wrong? Is there something off about the Queen? Is she trying to get Sister-in-law to develop a new type of rouge?"
This was obviously something Ye Xiaohan had told Liu Yang to avoid making him overly anxious.
Gu Bei didn’t call him out on it and said, "Hmm. She’ll be fine. Since she’s not here, I’ll leave the tavern in your hands."
"Got it!" Liu Yang replied confidently. He had become quite adept at managing the tavern and could complete tasks even with his eyes closed.
Gu Bei hurriedly left, feeling anxious and wishing he could instantly be by Ye Xiaohan's side to protect her and bring her back to safety.
"General Gu?" The guard at the palace gate saw Gu Bei and stopped him. "The Emperor hasn’t summoned you today; please return and don’t make things difficult."
Gu Bei had already thought of an excuse on the way. He said earnestly, "I have important matters to report to His Majesty, and I cannot afford any delays. I hope you can make an exception."
He handed over a jade pendant attached to his belt. "If it weren't urgent, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to enter the palace. If this matter is delayed and His Majesty holds me accountable, it won't be something either of us can bear."
The gatekeeper hesitated for a moment but ultimately accepted the jade pendant. Gu Bei was currently a favored figure in front of the emperor, frequently entering and exiting the palace, and they could not afford to offend someone like him.
Moreover, he had important matters to report. If there were delays, the emperor might not punish Gu Bei directly, but he would certainly hold the gatekeeper responsible. It was better to let Gu Bei in than to invite trouble.
"I understand. Important military matters cannot be delayed. General Gu, please proceed!" The gatekeeper allowed Gu Bei to enter.
Gu Bei thanked him and quickly made his way inside. However, his destination was not the emperor's Imperial Study but rather the Queen's palace.
While Gu Bei was hurrying along, Ye Xiaohan had already been summoned into the inner hall.
"You are Ye Xiaohan?" a noble voice called from nearby. "Lift your head so I can see what kind of stunning beauty has captured General Gu's exclusive favor."
Ye Xiaohan had no choice but to comply and raised her head. In front of her, on an ornate beauty couch, lay a noblewoman half-reclining, with one maid kneeling beside her to massage her legs while another stood behind, ready to serve at any moment.
Next to Madam Gu sat a delicate young girl who was glaring at Ye Xiaohan with indignation.
This must be the Shangyang Princess, Ye Xiaohan thought to herself. Only a favored princess could throw a tantrum in front of the Queen.
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