"Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, this humble minister will take his leave. There is still much to attend to."
The Empress nodded. Just as Chu Chen was about to depart, the door was pushed open from the outside, and a figure entered.
Chu Chen was startled, not expecting anyone to barge in at this hour.
When he saw who it was, he was immediately surprised.
It was Princess Li Xinyue, which was quite amusing.
Chu Chen paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Princess, why have you come? Come, let's talk outside."
Li Xinyue waved her hand at Chu Chen, her gaze fixed on the Empress. "Mother, why are you here? Why won't you see me?"
Looking at her mother and Chu Chen, Li Xinyue felt as if she didn't know them anymore.
Chu Chen felt like he could dig a hole in the ground big enough for a three-bedroom apartment with his toes.
Although something had indeed happened between them, Li Xinyue currently had no evidence to prove it.
This was why Chu Chen was so conflicted. He had to make Li Xinyue clear up the misunderstanding.
Just as Chu Chen was about to speak, the Empress waved her hand at him and said to Li Xinyue, "Let's mother and daughter talk properly. Mother will explain."
Li Xinyue had been comforting herself, telling herself that things weren't as she imagined. How could Mother be with Chu Chen, even if this was Chu Chen's bedroom?
It must be a misunderstanding, there must be an explanation.
Chu Chen quickly retreated from the room. It was too terrifying here, not suitable for him to stay any longer.
After leaving the room, Chu Chen finally recovered.
The scenes from just now were too frightening. Why did such a thing happen?
Did Li Xinyue follow him here?
Did she guess that the Empress might be here, or did she want to ask about the situation?
But none of that mattered now. The key was how the Empress would explain it to Li Xinyue.
Chu Chen wanted to eavesdrop from the wall, but he found that the walls he had built were too soundproof, and he couldn't hear anything.
Chu Chen couldn't help but lightly kick the wall. Why had he made it so soundproof when building the mansion?
Now he couldn't hear anything.
However, on second thought, this was a good thing. After all, if he made any noise, others wouldn't be able to hear it, right?
Inside the room, the Empress looked at Li Xinyue, took her hand, and they sat down together.
"Xinyue, ask whatever questions you have. Mother will explain everything to you."
The Empress's voice was very gentle. Even though Li Xinyue was very angry, she could feel the warmth in her voice, and she immediately felt less angry.
"Mother, why are you in Chu Chen's bedroom? This is a rather awkward place."
Li Xinyue asked her question.
The Empress smiled. She had long anticipated that Li Xinyue would ask this.
"Isn't it for secrecy? Chu Chen and I discussed it before, and we must handle this matter meticulously. I want to see what those people are up to, so I'm temporarily staying here."
Li Xinyue nodded. Of course, she believed her mother's words, but she was still a little confused.
"Mother, even if you wanted to keep it a secret, you could have stayed elsewhere. Why stay in Chu Chen's bedroom?"
"By the way, where is Chu Chen sleeping?"
The Empress thought for a moment and then told the truth: "He's sleeping on a floor mat."
Li Xinyue followed the Empress's finger to that direction and indeed saw a floor mat on the ground.
Li Xinyue's heart calmed down a little, but she still found it somewhat unbelievable.
"But, Mother, even if Chu Chen is sleeping on a floor mat, it doesn't make sense. Isn't it inappropriate for you, a man and a woman, to be alone in the same room?"
Upon hearing this, the Empress's face immediately turned stern, and she glared at Li Xinyue.
"What, you think I've done something wrong?"
The Empress's face looked very gloomy, and she was angered by shame.
Although she knew what she had done, she could not tolerate others saying it.
After all, she had her pride and dignity as the Empress.
Moreover, it was in front of her daughter, and her daughter had no evidence.
Sensing that her mother seemed angry, Li Xinyue finally came to her senses. She shivered all over, as if she had been pulled out of water, her body trembling.
"Mother, your daughter didn't mean that. Your daughter means, can you understand your daughter's difficulties?"
"Chu Chen is your daughter's fiancé. We are already engaged. How can you be alone in the same room with him?"
The Empress raised her hand to stop Li Xinyue and said coldly, "This matter involves state secrets. You don't need to say more."
"There are some things I can't explain to you. After half a month, when the army returns victorious, you will understand. You may leave."
Hearing this, Li Xinyue couldn't help but be a little surprised. Was what her mother said true or false? Did this matter involve state secrets?
Wasn't this a matter between the two of them?
However, Li Xinyue dared not say anything more at this moment. If she really delayed state affairs, she couldn't bear the responsibility.
"Mother, I will pretend this never happened. However, if there is no explanation in half a month, I will definitely hate you."
With that, Li Xinyue walked out, with two tear tracks on her face.
Hearing the sound of the door slamming shut, the Empress sat back down and sighed.
She hadn't expected this matter to be noticed by Li Xinyue. Fortunately, there was still room for maneuver, and she wasn't too passive.
She could only hope that her plan would be completed within these half a month, and there must be no mistakes.
It was all Chu Chen's fault. If this young man hadn't suddenly appeared and saved her, things wouldn't have turned out this way.
Li Xinyue walked out of the room and saw Chu Chen still waiting not far away. A surge of unprovoked anger welled up inside her.
Seeing Li Xinyue come out, Chu Chen quickly stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, is everything alright?"
Li Xinyue glanced at Chu Chen, then slapped him.
Chu Chen touched his burning cheek, feeling a little surprised.
"Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Li Xinyue said coldly, "Why were you sleeping in the same room as Mother? Don't you think that goes against etiquette?"
Chu Chen scratched his head and sighed.
"Your Highness, there was no other way. There were people in other places."
"Nonsense, there are so many rooms in the Prime Minister's mansion. Couldn't we hide in any of them? Why did you have to sleep together?"
Li Xinyue said angrily.
For her, this matter was a hurdle she couldn't get past.