Inside the Imperial Study.
The Emperor was reading a book.
The little eunuch approached and reported, "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."
"Let her in."
The little eunuch withdrew.
Soon, the Empress entered.
The Emperor casually flipped a page, glanced at the Empress, "The palace banquet is over?"
"It ended unpleasantly," the Empress replied.
The Emperor frowned.
The Empress sighed, "In order to please you, Consort Li used the pretext of the palace banquet to have Marchioness Wu'an lead the donations, forcing the wives of the officials to follow suit."
"Previously in court, Marquis Dongxiang had already led the officials to donate once. With the Imperial Concubine doing this, the wives of the officials have some grievances."
"I have lost the Phoenix Seal, so my words hold no sway. But Consort Li's action is undoubtedly forcing these officials to resort to corruption."
