Li Qitian’s face was ferocious, frightening the spy and eunuchs like Xiong Jinshui into silence. They buried their heads tightly, not daring to look at the Emperor’s face at all.

It didn’t matter if they saw now, but if something went wrong in the future and caused the Emperor to lose face, wouldn’t it all be the fault of these witnesses?

Li Qitian paced with his hands behind his back, his expression gloomy.

Just then, a young eunuch’s voice full of joy suddenly came from outside, “Your Majesty, a head palace maid from the Empress Dowager’s palace has come, saying that the Empress Dowager heard that Prince Zhongshun and Duke Dingguo decisively defeated the Tatars and so quickly drove them out of Great Zhou. She’s extremely delighted. The Empress Dowager wants to host a banquet in Ci’an Palace today to celebrate this great victory. She asks if Your Majesty is free and could come for a family feast together.”

Celebrate, celebrate! What was there to celebrate! Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu being able to drive the Tatars out of Great Zhou—wasn’t that perfectly normal? If it had been him, he might have been even faster. Where was the merit in all this praise?

Li Qitian’s face was dark, and only after a long while did he patiently say, “I know.”

The young eunuch didn’t know that Li Qitian had just lost his temper, thinking he was also happy about reclaiming lost territory. So at this moment, he also cheerfully acknowledged and turned to quickly deliver the message to Ci’an Palace.

Xiong Jinshui, kneeling on the ground, was so nervous that all his muscles tensed up. He feared the Emperor might take his anger out on them at any moment—a beating would be good; being dragged out for execution was also possible.

Li Qitian gritted his teeth, enduring for a long time before suppressing his anger. He couldn’t show his rage and jealousy outwardly—that would lower his status. He had to be an enlightened emperor whose greatest virtue was being able to tolerate his ministers.

Estimating the time was about right, Li Qitian brought Xiong Jinshui to Ci’an Palace.

Who knew that upon reaching the palace gates, he could see from afar that Ci’an Palace’s courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers everywhere. At first glance, Li Qitian thought it was New Year.

At the palace entrance, the palace maids of Ci’an Palace saw Li Qitian from a distance and quickly ordered one person to inform the Empress Dowager while the rest knelt to perform grand salutes.

“This servant greets Your Majesty.”

Li Qitian strode into Ci’an Palace’s courtyard with a cold face. Sure enough, large red silk ribbons and flowers made of silk hung overhead in the courtyard, and even the palace servants, who usually dressed modestly, were wearing red and green today.

This showed just how much importance people who had been living under the shadow of war placed on this news, and how much they now admired Pang Xiao.

Even these people who spent day and night with him in the palace were like this—who knew how lively the common people would be celebrating.

Just thinking about how ordinary people revered Pang Xiao like a war god, even forgetting that he was the emperor of Great Zhou, made Li Qitian increasingly furious.

When it came to matters involving Pang Xiao, it was always one thing restraining another. From Tianji Zi’s predictions about the imperial star to current major and minor affairs, Li Qitian had almost become numb to issues concerning Pang Xiao. But facing the situation at Ci’an Palace, Li Qitian was left with nothing but unwillingness.

Because these ignorant women who knew nothing about the situation—explaining things to them would be pointless as they wouldn’t understand, and would only anger him further.

“Imperial Brother, you’ve come.” Hearing the palace servants’ report, Li Helan quickly came out to greet him, curtsying gracefully. Her meticulously made-up face appeared very festive.

Li Qitian suppressed his anger and responded with a grunt.

Li Helan smiled, “Great Zhou finally has peace and prosperity again. This is all thanks to Imperial Brother giving A’lan the opportunity.”

Li Qitian glanced sideways at Li Helan, “I thought you would mention Pang Zhixi.”

Li Helan’s expression showed a moment of displeasure, but in front of Li Qitian, she had always been able to control herself well.

“Imperial Brother jests—Ji Lan is the Prince Consort.”

“Good that you understand. Don’t be endlessly entangled with Pang Zhixi like before. Don’t think that because everyone in his family is dead, he doesn’t truly dote on Qin Shi. You probably don’t know yet.” Li Qitian suddenly stopped walking and told Li Helan the news he had just learned, “Qin Shi has given birth to another pair of dragon and phoenix twins.”

Li Helan’s eyes suddenly widened, her steps halting as she said incredulously, “Imperial Brother… didn’t their pair of twins die?”

“Yes, but that Qin Shi is so fertile—she’s given Pang Zhixi another pair of dragon and phoenix twins.” Li Qitian felt sour inside, and his words couldn’t help but be caustic, “You and Ji Lan have been married for so long. They have four children from two pregnancies—look at yourself. Both being women, why can’t you manage it?”

Li Helan’s face flushed red, her white teeth biting her lip as if she couldn’t believe it, looking up at Li Qitian.

Seeing Li Helan like this, Li Qitian felt strangely much more comfortable and continued walking into the main hall.

The harem consorts and Empress were all gathered here, everyone dressed brightly and festively. Seeing Li Qitian, they all performed salutes.

Li Qitian’s gaze swept over those flower-like consorts, especially those dressed more festively than during New Year, and the irritation in his heart nearly reached its peak.

The Empress understood Li Qitian best, knowing his jealousy and hatred toward Pang Xiao was never small. She hadn’t planned to come today, but the Empress Dowager’s orders couldn’t be disobeyed, and she couldn’t make Li Qitian’s thoughts public. Seeing Li Qitian’s expression now, her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly retreated inconspicuously.

“Mother.” Li Qitian saluted the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager wore a peacock blue casual jacket with a complete set of golden cicada hair ornaments. Her whole person was radiant, as if she had become ten years younger. Seeing Li Qitian, she smiled broadly and helped her son up with both hands.

“Get up quickly, get up quickly. It’s still Your Majesty’s great ability to arrange the right people so that the Tatars were completely driven out so quickly. When I learned the news, I was overjoyed. Today we should celebrate properly. Your Majesty shouldn’t just focus on government affairs—consider this a chance to rest?”

Hearing the Empress Dowager speak this way, the Empress knew Li Qitian would definitely be unhappy. She lowered her head even more and carefully considered how to leave early.

Li Qitian forcibly suppressed his impatience and exchanged a few words with the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager sighed, “After all, they’re comrades who conquered the world together. I see that although Pang Zhixi is sometimes somewhat arrogant, he still has ability when it comes to fighting. How does Your Majesty plan to reward him this time?”

The taut string in Li Qitian’s heart had been touched several times while accompanying the Empress Dowager in constantly discussing front-line matters. Now hearing this sentence, after enduring for so long, he finally exploded.

“He’s merely fulfilling his duties, doing what’s expected of him. If every minister who does their duty comes to ask me for rewards, how should I handle it?”

Li Qitian’s tone was too cold. The side hall had originally been filled with laughter and conversation, but upon hearing these words, it immediately became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The Empress Dowager blinked hard several times before completely suppressing her shock at being publicly embarrassed by her son. Only then did she belatedly realize she seemed to have misjudged the imperial will.

The Empress Dowager smiled awkwardly, “Your Majesty speaks correctly. I have lived long in the deep palace and have limited experience after all. I don’t understand some things well. If I’ve said anything wrong, I hope Your Majesty won’t blame me.”

The consorts lowered their heads. No matter how foolish they were, they knew that no one could stick their neck out at this moment—if they did, they might never have a chance to rise again.

Li Qitian looked around, his dissatisfied gaze sweeping over each consort present before finally settling on the Empress Dowager.

“Mother has indeed lived long in the deep palace and understands nothing. Mother should know about the rule that the inner palace must not interfere in politics, right? Regarding that previous matter, I didn’t hold it against Mother’s clan—has Mother already forgotten?”

The Empress Dowager’s expression changed drastically, and her hands began trembling.

“Yes, Your Majesty speaks absolutely correctly. I am old and don’t understand too many things. I was just concerned about Your Majesty, which is why I spoke too much.”

Li Qitian let out a cold laugh, “Is that so? Mother’s health is important—you should focus more on yourself. Ci’an Palace also has a small Buddhist hall. I’ll have people decorate the Buddhist hall nicely according to Mother’s preferences. When you have nothing to do, spend more time in the Buddhist hall—eat vegetarian food, chant Buddhist scriptures, copy sutras. Only when your heart is calm can you find peace. Don’t you agree?”

Li Qitian was confining the Empress Dowager to her palace!

The Empress buried her head even lower, afraid of meeting Li Qitian’s gaze.

But Li Qitian didn’t care how these consorts viewed him. He smiled again, “The same goes for all of you. When you have nothing to do, cultivate yourselves more. The court isn’t wealthy now—both the national treasury and inner treasury are strained due to the war. Yet you only know how to dress up prettily and walk around everywhere. Are you so well-fed that you have nothing to do? When you’re free, do more needlework, or join the Empress Dowager in chanting Buddhist scriptures. Don’t walk around causing trouble when you have nothing to do!”

“This consort obeys the decree!” The consorts knelt in unison to salute.

Li Qitian stood up and brushed non-existent dust from his robe hem, “I have pressing government affairs—I’ll leave first.”

How could the Empress Dowager dare ask about the family feast? The Emperor had just spoken about frugality—she didn’t dare continue with the banquet. The Empress Dowager claimed she was tired and told everyone to disperse.

The Empress left Ci’an Palace all the way back to her own Kunning Palace before breathing a sigh of relief.

“Your Majesty, this servant heard that Princess Zhongshun has given Prince Zhongshun another pair of dragon and phoenix twins.”

“Who did you hear this from?”

“A young eunuch serving by the Emperor’s side mentioned it inadvertently.”

The Empress waved away the head palace maid and smiled helplessly.

No wonder the Emperor was so abnormal today—his jealousy couldn’t be contained.

Thinking of Pang Xiao, the Empress couldn’t help but remember the time she spent day and night with Pang Xiao on the other side of the suspension bridge.

Looking back now, it was simply like a dream.

But given her understanding of Li Qitian, how could just this one tantrum be enough to vent his anger?

Next, the Emperor would definitely take action against Pang Zhixi.

And she was just a woman of the rear palace, completely unable to help with such matters.

Pang Xiao and Ji Zeyu’s combined efforts to drive out the Tatars, pursuing them all the way beyond Tianyu Pass—this news spread throughout the capital and across the great rivers and south of the Yangtze.

For a time, the reputations of Prince Zhongshun and Duke Dingguo as war gods were unparalleled. Even young children knew that when they grew up, they wanted to become great loyal ministers who fought valiantly for country and people like Prince Zhongshun.

The common people’s discussions were investigated by spies and continuously reported to Li Qitian. He felt his patience was almost reaching its limit.

He couldn’t give Pang Xiao any more opportunities to show off!

“Tell Pang Zhixi: don’t pursue fleeing enemies. Since they’ve been driven out, don’t show off your abilities anymore!”