Have the Empress Dowager step in?
That was a good idea.
Empress Tantai Zijun's expression eased slightly. "Then I'll issue you an edict."
Tan Tai Qing, the Zongren Bureau Chief of the Imperial Clan Court, hurriedly took the edict and headed for the palace where the Empress Dowager lived.
This palace was originally meant for the Empress.
But the Beichen Empire now had an Empress and no Imperial Husband, so the Empress Dowager continued living there.
As the Zongren Bureau Chief, Tan Tai Qing naturally knew that it was against protocol for the Empress Dowager to still live here.
But her own biological daughter was the ruler. Did she need an outsider like him to nag about it?
So he did not spoil the mood and said nothing about it.
Now that he had arrived at the palace where the Empress Dowager lived, he waited in the front hall for receiving guests.
Before long, a middle-aged woman who appeared to be in her forties approached with a broad smile. "You must be Lord Zongling?"
Tan Tai Qing hurriedly rose to his feet. "Hello, Female Official Ji. That would be me."
"I have come under Your Majesty's edict to ask the Empress Dowager to help our Zongren Bureau with something."
This Female Official Ji was named Ji Huangzhen. She had a gentle, amiable appearance and was Empress Dowager Li Feng'en's most capable assistant.
She smiled. "What unfortunate timing. The Empress Dowager has just gone down for her afternoon nap. It will be another hour before she wakes."
Tan Tai Qing hurriedly said, "That's all right. I can wait."
Ji Huangzhen sat in a chair beside him and asked curiously, "Is this an urgent matter?"
"If it is urgent, I could wake the Empress Dowager."
Tan Tai Qing sighed. "It is