Guo Nüwang was quick-witted and immediately realized from this that the Son of Heaven and the Empress might not be as loving toward each other as they appeared.
But that was not something a lowly palace maid like her could pry into.
Guo Nüwang withdrew her gaze and instructed the two palace maids beside her, "Go fetch some hot water, and tell the Imperial Kitchen to prepare some Sobering Soup."
"Yes."
The two palace maids respectfully obeyed. As an attendant palace maid serving before the throne, Guo Nüwang held a high position, and most of the palace maids had to follow her instructions.
The hot water was soon brought over.
Guo Nüwang dampened a brocade cloth with the hot water, then joined several palace maids in carefully wiping Liu Xie's body.
But when she reached his face, the sleeping Liu Xie opened his eyes slightly and caught her hand.
"My beloved consort."
Liu Xie murmured softly, his eyes hazy with drink.
Guo Nüwang was slightly startled. She immediately understood that the Son of Heaven had mistaken her for one of his imperial consorts, so she said softly, "Your Majesty, you're drunk. This servant isn't..."
But Liu Xie did not release her hand. Instead, he tightened his grip a little and said indistinctly, "Do you still blame me?"
"I want to make you Empress too, but I can't..."
Those words sent a shock through Guo Nüwang's heart. Once she recovered, she immediately shot the other two palace maids a stern look, signaling with her eyes for them to leave.
The Son of Heaven had misspoken in his drunkenness. If his words spread, they could very well send shock waves through both the court and the realm.
Naturally, the fewer people who heard them, the better.
The two palace maids turned pale.