Imperial City, Penglai Hall.
As the emperor's sleeping quarters, Penglai Hall ordinarily did not receive officials. But Zhao Xiao was entertaining his daughter and son-in-law and cared nothing for such cumbersome rules, having a table laid directly in the Banquet Hall where he usually ate.
Palace maids brought in assorted delicacies one after another. Zhao Xiao, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat at the head of the table. Seeing Xie Jinhuan and Linghu Qingmo looking rather subdued, he said warmly:
"It's an ordinary family dinner. No need to stand on ceremony. Qingmo, this isn't your first time dining with the Empress. Why are you acting so awkward too?"
Empress Xu sat beside Zhao Xiao. Her features closely resembled Zhao Ling's, and she kept studying Xie Jinhuan, clearly finding this son-in-law very much to her liking.
"Exactly. His Majesty has never put on airs. If you still can't relax, this meal will be no fun at all."
Before Zhao Ling's parents, Xie Jinhuan naturally maintained impeccable manners. He answered with a smile, "It's not that I can't relax. I simply have something important to report to Your Majesty after this journey. Could Your Majesty ask the palace attendants to withdraw for a moment?"
Seeing this, Zhao Xiao raised a hand and dismissed Cao Fo'er and the other eunuchs from the hall before saying:
"Cao Fo'er was my elder brother's childhood companion. They grew up together. Back then, he even helped Old Hou protect my brother and me as we escaped the Ten Princes' Manor. He certainly harbors no disloyalty-"
Xie Jinhuan knew there was no great issue with Cao Fo'er. The people he currently suspected were not Cao Fo'er, but the emperor and empress sitting before him!
"The Demon Path is exceedingly cunning. To avoid detection by the Righteous