My Antique Mirror Is A Portal To Another World-Chapter 601: The Storm Is Coming

Sitting at the corner table, Yu Zhao listened to the other conversations for a while longer and found out that most of the guests had the same plan as the four young men.

Sitting beside him, his adjutant said in a low voice, "Master, you shouldn’t be seen."

"Mhm." Yu Zhao placed the empty teacup down, then calmly stood up. "Let’s go back."

Pulling his veiled hat lower, Yu Zhao grabbed his sword and left the roadside teahouse with his adjutant.

While the common people were living in fear and anxiety, a messenger from Heaven Prison went to find Wen Qiaolun.

Clasping his fists, the messenger bowed slightly to the chief eunuch serving Wen Qiaolun. "This subordinate greets the Chief Eunuch."

Looking at him, the chief eunuch asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Reporting to the Chief Eunuch. This subordinate is here to relay a message from Heaven Prison. Prime Minister Wen is asking for an audience with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Hearing this, the chief eunuch hesitated for a moment.

Turning to look at the closed door behind him, he frowned slightly and thought, ’Empress Dowager Wen was furious about this matter yesterday. But after smashing things for a while, she seems to be in a good mood. Maybe... she might want to see Prime Minister Wen.’

With this in mind, the chief eunuch said, "Wait here while I go report to the Empress Dowager."

"Yes, Chief Eunuch."

Leaving the messenger outside, the chief eunuch walked back to the main hall of Yong Ping Palace.

Seeing him coming, Wen Qiaolun waved her hand at the palace maidservants.

Receiving her signal, the two palace maidservants massaging her shoulders and legs bowed, then stood to the side.

Looking at the chief eunuch, Wen Qiaolun asked, "Didn’t Aijia tell you to send bird’s nest soup to His Majesty? Have you sent it over?"

With his waist bent, the chief eunuch replied, "Answering the Empress Dowager. This old servant has already sent the bird’s nest soup to His Majesty."

Noticing that he was hesitating to speak, Wen Qiaolun frowned slightly. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Receiving her permission, the chief eunuch encouraged himself inwardly, took a deep breath, and then said, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager. There is a messenger from Heaven Prison requesting an audience with you. He is currently waiting outside the main hall."

Hearing this, Wen Qiaolun slowly stroked her fingernail protectors as she fell into deep thought.

After a brief moment of silence, she finally said, "Bring him in."

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

While waiting for the chief eunuch to bring the messenger in, Wen Qiaolun waved her hand and ordered, "All of you, leave."

Curtsying to her, the young eunuchs and palace maidservants responded in unison, "Yes, Empress Dowager. This servant takes my leave."

Left alone in the luxurious main hall, Wen Qiaolun muttered, "Could it be that he has died inside?"

Pausing for a second, she denied her own thoughts. "No. This might be a message asking for help."

Just as she was thinking about how to deal with the messenger, the chief eunuch returned, followed closely by the messenger.

Stopping a few meters away from the phoenix throne, the messenger knelt down while the chief eunuch bowed to Wen Qiaolun.

"Empress Dowager, the messenger is here," he informed with a lowered head.

Looking at the messenger, Wen Qiaolun slowly asked, "You are the messenger?"

With his forehead touching the cold floor, the messenger responded, "Yes, Empress Dowager."

"What kind of message do you have for Aijia?" Wen Qiaolun asked once more.

"Answering the Empress Dowager. This subordinate is here under the order of Prime Minister Wen." Taking out a letter, the messenger added, "This is a letter written by Prime Minister Wen."

"Bring it up," Wen Qiaolun ordered.

Taking the letter from the messenger, the chief eunuch walked up to Wen Qiaolun. "Empress Dowager, please."

Wen Qiaolun took the letter, then read it. When she was done, she sneered coldly.

"Hah! Now he knows how to beg Aijia."

Listening to her cold words, the chief eunuch lowered his head further and didn’t dare make a sound.

While the chief eunuch was trying to erase his own presence, Wen Qiaolun looked at the messenger and said, "You can go back now."

"Yes, Empress Dowager."

Leaving the main hall of Yong Ping Palace, the messenger frowned as he thought, ’The Empress Dowager didn’t give me any answer regarding the letter. Could it be...’

Looking up at the gloomy sky above him, he let out a helpless sigh. ’Looks like the storm is coming.’

Inside the main hall, Wen Qiaolun stood up from her phoenix throne and walked down the low stairs. Standing before the large incense burner placed in the middle of the main hall, she threw the letter into it.

As he glanced up, the chief eunuch saw this. Startled by what he had witnessed, he quickly lowered his eyes.

’This is the first time the Empress Dowager has gone against Prime Minister Wen’s wishes. What does she plan to do?’

While the chief eunuch was busy speculating on her motive for burning Wen Kang’s letter, Wen Qiaolun coldly watched the letter being swallowed by the fire until nothing remained but a pile of black ash.

The flickering fire reflected in her pair of cold eyes, reflecting Wen Qiaolun’s deepest feelings.

After a long moment of silence, she looked away from the fire and ordered, "Prepare to go to the Yang Xin Palace. It’s time for Aijia to visit His Majesty."

"Yes, Empress Dowager." Accepting the order, the chief eunuch straightened his waist and announced in a shrill voice, "Move to the Yang Xin Palace!"

With that, Wen Qiaolun left the main hall, followed by the chief eunuch.

Meanwhile, far away in Xiqiang City, Fan Wanming had received a report from the underground prison captain regarding the Jin Empire’s war prisoners.

"This general knows. You can return to your post now," Fan Wanming said calmly as he stood by the sand table.

Clasping his fists, the captain responded, "Yes, General Fan."

After the captain left, Fan Wanming turned to look at Xue Ruhong and asked, "General Xue, do you think the Great General would really release those war prisoners back to the Jin Empire?"