Feihu knelt on one knee and said solemnly, “This subordinate will do all I can. Please do not worry too much, Your Highness!”

It was then the steward rushed in suddenly. “The ji hour is coming, Your Highness. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is asking for Sixth Princess Consort and has sent someone to find His Majesty. She’s dead worried!”

Yang Hanlun quietly made his way to the back. He’d forgotten that his mother was present as well. He would have to find a good explanation.

The empress dowager had lost her temper when he returned, her face tight with a dark scowl as she brooded and said nothing. She broke her silence as soon as she saw her son and nagged, “That brother of yours. Why would he go attend some court affairs on such an important day? The ji hour is coming. It won’t do for us to start without him! Yuguan and Empress Chen have yet to return from their trip to the temple, either. None of them have made it yet. What’s going on?”

Yang Hanlun pushed aside his pain and managed a smile. “Imperial Elder Brother must have left for some emergency, Imperial Mother. And the guards reported that the pouring rain had resulted in a landslide at the State Protection Temple and obstructed the main road. Empress Chen is now taking shelter in the temple! She’ll be back as soon as the road is unblocked!”

The empress dowager looked at the pouring rain outside worriedly. “What’s with this weather? According to the imperial preceptor’s forecast, today should be a sunny day. Why would it rain so suddenly? That worries me!”

“Fret not, Imperial Mother. It’s summer. It’s not unusual for there to be rain in the afternoon.” Yang Hanlun tried to reassure her despite the growing worry in his heart.

“Wait at the door, Lihua. Notify me as soon as they’re here!” The empress dowager got to her feet and gave the order to the maid behind her. The maid, Lihua, bowed to her without missing a beat and said, “Understood. This maid will go at once!”

Worried that the guards outside would accidentally reveal the truth, Yang Hanlun stopped Lihua and said, “Wait, Lihua. Stay here to serve Imperial Mother. I will have someone wait at the door. Don’t worry, Imperial Mother. This son has everything under control!”

The empress dowager stared at his face. “Did something happen?”

Yang Hanlun’s hesitation was brief....