The First Princess frowns as she stares at her face in the mirror. She's not really comfortable with makeup on."Court Lady Wen, I really think I look like a prostitute in some cheap brothel." She sounded like a child throwing a fit. "Cosmetics really don't suit me."Her lips are tinted with the color red. Her cheeks and eyelids are applied with a rogue. Her hair feels heavy with all these ornaments and hairpins. She indeed looks different now compared to her usual simple appearance. However, it's not true that she looks like a prostitute. In fact, she looks charming."You don't look like those women, your highness. No prostitute can ever be compared to your beauty. You look lovely." Her court lady smiles sweetly. The other two servants present also nod with smiling faces.Meanwhile, Liu Chen just arrived at the hall. He steps inside and stood before the screen. He was about to call her highness to escort her towards the Department of Justice but stopped

"I'm impressed. You actually managed to have their approval?" Prince Yin Wenyan praised his brother. Emperor Yin Renshu, Princess Yin Xiulan, and Prince Yin Wenyan gathered in the emperor's hall. Yes, they changed their place to hold an exclusive conference with just three of them. Since Eunuch Xu is staying at the Lotus Hall, they have to move places or else, their secret will be exposed. Confusion will occur that could possibly lead to a mess. They can't afford to have another problem at this moment. "Er... not really." The emperor asks. "I didn't ask for their opinions, I declared it. The ceremony for good harvest will be held tomorrow. Well, of course, they're noisy about it but what can they do? I already stamped the royal seal on it." "That must be very satisfying." Princess Yin Xiulan can't help but imagine herself in that situation. If a woman is allowed to manage the official affairs and got the chance to experience being the judge, there would be no

As soon as the prince closes the door of the hall, he let out a deep sigh. He clearly lost his composure there. He's just hoping that it won't arise Eunuch Xu's suspicion. Well, he wants him to be aware of his feelings towards him but this is just too sudden. Also, he doesn't think that this is the right time to know about it. They are still facing a lot of problems and dealing with still unsolved mysteries. This is a hard time for all of them, especially Eunuch Xu whose never been in the cultivation world. Confessing to him right now would most probably make him more emotionally unstable. He will tell him eventually, for sure... but not now. Speaking of problems, he has a task to carry out while almost everyone is away from the imperial palace. Well, there are still people who remained inside the palace walls such as servants and guards patrolling the area. Since everyone here, except for Eunuch Xu, knows that the emperor has departed, he must not be seen by

"When will you even stop nagging?" Emperor Yin Renshu asked a rhetorical question to her sister as soon as he slides the door of the emperor's hall open. So, the annual ceremony ended 'somehow successful' by sunset. Yes, just somehow successful because his majesty made a little... just a little mistake during the ritual. It's just he worshiped the wrong god. Actually, this mistake is understandable... if everyone knows that he's not the one who's doing the ritual every year. The grand empress dowager was at a loss of words. Never in the history of their dynasty did something like this happen. Despite the disappointment, she remained silent. By then, she realized it wasn't the first prince who performed the ritual. She asked herself silently, "Where is he? Are they up to something I don't know again?" On the other hand, the princess general at that time was torn between feeling angered with his stupidity and having a secondhand embarrassment.

The empress dowager hurried to walk across the grand empress dowager's hall towards her secret chamber. She slides the wooden wall which gives way to her. Inside the hidden room, only a single candle is lit that serves as the only source of light in the entire dark room. It's impossible for the grand empress dowager not to notice her presence but she just chooses not to at least turn her head to see the other person. It's just she expected only this one person to come this time. "Grand Empress Dowager, you called?" The empress dowager asked as she walks closer to the grand empress dowager. "Where have you been? What took you so long?" She asked in a cold tone. The empress dowager, on the other hand, subconsciously averted her eyes. She didn't manage to come to her hall immediately because she was dealing with 'something'. She did not expect the old woman to call her this late too. "I apologize, your highness. I was occupied earlier." S