An uproar!
At these words, Daming Palace first fell silent, then erupted into an uproar.
Everyone gaped, their eyes filled with shock and bewilderment. For a moment, they even wondered whether the Female Emperor had misspoken.
Tour Maple Forest with that fiend?
Had they heard correctly? Ever since ascending the throne, the Female Emperor had risen early and retired late, pouring her heart and blood into governing the kingdom. She had never wasted a moment, nor had she ever done anything like touring Maple Forest, much less toured it with that fiend.
This...
This was enough to shatter stone and startle the heavens!
The officials stood dumbstruck for a long time. Looking at the stern-faced Female Emperor on the Dragon Throne, they momentarily thought she had become a muddleheaded ruler.
After all, the realm was now buffeted by wind and rain. Forbidden Lands had appeared throughout the Tang Kingdom, each more powerful than the last, wreaking tremendous destruction. Yet the court had no means of dealing with them, let alone eradicating them.
Under such circumstances, should the Female Emperor not have joined her civil and military officials to discuss countermeasures? How could she still be thinking of touring Maple Forest with that fiend? Had the stirrings of love truly awakened within her?
But why did those stirrings have to awaken at such a critical moment? And for that fiend, of all people!
The officials beat their chests and stamped their feet, overwhelmed with anguish. Finally, one stepped forward and knelt, not even daring to look at the Female Emperor as he spoke cautiously.
"Your Majesty, many strange incidents have occurred in Kyoto lately. Should we not put affairs of state first?"
"Indeed, there is great unrest among the people, and many of Chang'an's citizens are filled with fear. Please reconsider,