Transmigration: From Farmer To Empress
Chapter 852 - 854: Testing (1)

Chapter 852: Chapter 854: Testing (1)

The Emperor, upon hearing the news, showed displeasure: "As the Empress and mother of the nation, she ought to behave with dignity and gravity. Her every word and deed should set an example for the women of the world. How could she be so flustered and unstable as to actually fall and even injure her head? Truly disappointing to me!"

Zhu Zhong dared not talk back, bowing his head and arching his body as he awaited the Emperor’s order. Emperor Jin Ming rambled on for a bit before saying, "Send for Court Judge Yao to see to her. When Third Brother comes back, if he sees his mother half dead, it will only upset him!"

"Yes!"

Chief Zhu bowed and withdrew.

Master Li Guo sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion beside the Emperor, closed his eyes, and began meditating with the Emperor.

However, Emperor Jin Ming was too distracted to meditate. His mind would not calm, and after sitting for a while, he sighed, "Alas, she is becoming more and more outrageous, daring even to meddle with the Middle Palace. If not for the old affection, I would seriously consider deposing her!"

Master Li Guo, with closed eyes, spoke slowly, "Your Majesty practices cultivation so diligently yet sees little progress. Could it be that excessive worry is to blame? If Your Majesty cannot let go of worldly affairs, even a hundred years of cultivation will bring no benefit. It would be better to return to the Imperial Court and be the wise Sovereign you ought to be!"

Emperor Jin Ming laughed and said, "The National Teacher speaks sense. If I have truly decided to pursue cultivation, I should rid myself of these mundane tribulations. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes—let them quarrel among themselves!"

Having said that, he too closed his eyes and continued to meditate.

Although Master Li Guo’s eyes were closed, a cold smile began to form in his heart.

Testing me? I am not so easily fooled!

Emperor Jin Ming was suspicious because Master Li Guo had been recommended by King Qin, always suspecting him of being in cahoots with King Qin, conspiring to scheme against his country, his beloved woman, and his son. If not for his profound cultivation, he would have likely been killed as a rebel. Even though the Emperor made use of him now, he never really trusted him, always attempting to test him to see if he was truly an ally of King Qin.

Thankfully he was clever. In his interactions with the Emperor, he never directly backed King Qin or the Empress, and he never commented on complaints against Jin Guifei. Always presenting an image of someone above worldly matters, untainted, he gradually alleviated the Emperor’s concerns. From initial high alertness, he transitioned to occasional testing.

Nevertheless, Master Li Guo remained vigilant. As the saying goes, serving an Emperor is like accompanying a tiger. He carefully watched every word and deed, fearing any slip might give the Emperor a handle on him and harm both others and himself. Hence, he refrained from intervening in many matters unless absolutely necessary.

...

Under the moonlight, the air was devoid of the day’s heat, instead misted with a faint white fog, adding a chill to the night. The daughter-in-laws and maids of the State Duke’s Mansion responsible for night watch took advantage of the Masters’ illnesses and injuries, dodging their duties and lazily hiding inside.

Under the moonlight, two slender figures emerged from the Garden suitable for Orchids, sneaking peeks to the east and west. Finding no one around, they quickly walked toward the outside...

The next day, at the crack of dawn, the Garden suitable for Orchids at the State Duke’s Mansion was filled with shrieks: "It’s terrible, someone come quick, Miss has disappeared—"

"Quick, go report to Madam!"

"No good, Madam is gravely ill. If she hears this news, it would worsen her condition, and I cannot bear that responsibility..."

"Woo-woo, what are we to do? If Miss has vanished on our watch, can we even stay alive?"

The maids at the Garden suitable for Orchids bawled and clutched each other as if grieving a death. The Miss was soon to be married, yet she had disappeared right under their watch. Would the Duke of the Country and the Old Master spare their lives? Not only them, but also their families might suffer as well...