The next day, news of the empress regaining favor spread throughout the palace and beyond.

　　The incident began when Yu Qian, who had just woken up from a coma recently, wanted to find Chen Zhi, only to discover that she was no longer in the palace and had disappeared without a trace. Angry and anxious, Yu Qian's expression darkened even more as he glanced at the sky. Chief Eunuch Chang had actually been waiting outside the chamber at the appointed time, but seeing no movement for a long time, and with the time for the morning court approaching, he had dared to call out a few times, unfortunately, the effect of the knockout incense was too strong.

　　The ministers had been waiting in the Qinzheng Hall, filled with various speculations. Since ascending the throne, Yu Qian had never delayed the time for the morning court. In fact, many times he would arrive early and sit on the dragon throne, watching the ministers enter the hall. Now that the emperor had delayed and no eunuch had come to inform them, they could only wait in confusion.

　　Yu Su, the Prince Regent, strolled into the hall leisurely after all the civil and military officials had taken their places. He knew exactly why Yu Qian was absent. The knockout incense came from his mansion and could keep a person asleep for at least five or six hours. Yu Qian surely couldn't make it to the morning court on time today. Yu Su inwardly laughed. Yue Chen's move was truly brilliant, achieving multiple purposes with one stroke.

　　Firstly, it put the label of being obsessed with women on the emperor, which was a taboo for an emperor. Once spread, it would surely be a topic of endless discussion. Secondly, Yu Qian had never delayed government affairs for any concubine before, but now he had missed the morning court in the empress's palace, which showed how much favor he had bestowed. Thirdly, Yue Chen's actions towards Yu Qian, Yu Qian surely wouldn't tell anyone, not even his closest confidants. Generally, for such matters, the fewer people who knew, the better. This time, Yu Qian really had no way to explain. Fourthly, the more Yu Qian kept silent about this matter, the more others would want to find out the truth. In any relationship, once it was known that there was a secret that one would rather die than reveal, and the supposed opponent seemed to know it clearly, it would arouse suspicions. Yu Qian had really fallen thoroughly this time.

　　Seeing that the time for the morning court had passed, the senior ministers in the court could no longer hold back. They summoned the eunuch serving in the Qinzheng Hall and asked him to go to the harem to remind the emperor. Yu Su didn't stop them. Anyway, the people they sent would only get one answer: the emperor was in the empress's palace and wouldn't be able to come for a while.

　　Yu Qian reluctantly rushed to the Qinzheng Hall. He thought that since the time had passed, the ministers would have understood and left. But unexpectedly, Yu Su, the Prince Regent, was sitting in the hall without moving. If Yu Su didn't leave, how could the other ministers dare to leave on their own? They ended up waiting until noon. If he made an excuse not to come, who knew how the Prince Regent would spread the news of the emperor skipping the morning court in the capital. To avoid the situation from getting more embarrassing, Yu Qian could only sit on the dragon throne under the inquisitive gazes of the ministers.

　　After this incident, Yu Qian no longer dared to underestimate Yue Chen. He clearly realized that Yue Chen was no longer the one who could be easily toyed with. The current Yue Chen was scheming, calm in the face of danger, and behind her stood Yu Su. He had originally thought that she was recuperating from a head injury and staying in the Changle Palace, not seeing anyone except for the daily greetings. It turned out that she had set a trap in the palace waiting for him, and he had walked right into it.

　　Yue Chen was lying on the roof of the Changle Palace with her hands pillowed behind her head. Not far from her waist was a plate of Yun Crisp cakes. Yue Chen had no idea what Yu Su and Yu Qian were thinking. She was truly wronged. Yu Qian had come to the Changle Palace on his own initiative; she hadn't invited him. The knockout incense was given to her by Rong Quan on his own initiative; she hadn't asked for it.

　　Yue Chen had just lit the knockout incense in her inner chamber and given Yu Qian a knee on her bed. The rest was all their own over - imagination and embellishment. What did it have to do with her? Yu Su had been the one to stir up trouble on his own. She hadn't even seen his face again. It was all his own initiative to do so.

　　"You've chosen a really good place. Who would think that the empress of a country would be lying on the roof of her own bedroom, sunbathing and sleeping." Rong Quan had completely changed his view of Yue Chen. Her current personality was so great that even the emperor had suffered a setback at her hands.

　　After this incident, Rong Quan didn't care at all about the little grievances he had suffered. Thinking about what Yue Chen had done to the emperor last night, he couldn't stop laughing. Presumably, the emperor would never forget last night for the rest of his life.

　　"That's exactly what I want, to make them unable to find me." Yue Chen replied.

　　Rong Quan looked at Yue Chen. In the sunlight, she was even more dazzling, making it impossible to look away. "The emperor has suffered such a big setback. He will surely try every means to get revenge. Aren't you going to prepare in advance?"

　　Yue Chen waved her hand. "The more you do, the more mistakes you'll make. It's better to respond to changes with constancy."

　　Rong Quan thought about it and realized it made sense.

　　"Speaking of which, thank you for reminding me last night. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had time to light the knockout incense." Chen Zhi sat up, picked up a piece of cake, and handed it to Rong Quan as a token of her gratitude. She had always been the kind of person who repaid kindness and avenged grudges.

　　Rong Quan wasn't polite either. He took the cake and immediately put it in his mouth. The imperial chefs in the palace were truly skilled. The cake melted in his mouth, was sweet but not greasy, and left a lingering fragrance. After eating it, he casually took another piece from the plate. "The prince sent me here to protect you. It's my duty. There's no need to thank me."

　　"Then where did you go later? I didn't see you after I climbed out of the window." Chen Zhi asked casually.

　　"I was hungry and went to find something to eat." Rong Quan casually prevaricated. The prince had specifically told him not to tell her that the prince had come last night. "There's a door, but you climbed out of the window? This is a bit beyond my understanding. Yue Chen, you're from a noble family after all. How could you do such an indecent thing?"

　　"The emperor's eunuchs were guarding outside. If I had walked out of the door, they would have become suspicious immediately." Chen Zhi said, not commenting on Rong Quan's answer. If they had seen her come out at that time, how could she have seen the emperor's angry and frustrated look today? He had come to disturb her sleep at night and even wanted her to serve him. If she didn't teach him a good lesson, she wouldn't be called Chen Zhi.

　　"Rong Quan, I need your help with something. Take the set of clothes I left in the bath, the quilt and the bed curtain on the bed, and burn them in a place where no one is around."

　　"Burn them?"

　　"The emperor touched them. I think they're dirty." In fact, she even wanted to pry up the floor tiles that Yu Qian had walked on, but then she thought that the commotion would be too big and might attract the emperor. So she could only dispose of these things that were less likely to arouse suspicion.

　　Rong Quan nodded and stopped talking, silently eating the crispy cake in his hand. What did she just say? She thought the emperor was dirty. He could be sure that Yue Chen definitely hadn't hit her head. She was just extremely bold.

　　This conversation made the relationship between Chen Zhi and Rong Quan much closer. It was no longer just a simple protection order. Rong Quan also had more sincere feelings towards Chen Zhi. After getting along these days, he found that Yue Chen was straightforward, never took the initiative to provoke others, but if someone provoked her, no matter who it was, she would retaliate on the spot.

　　This personality really suited his taste.