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Before long, An Lushan entered the grand hall surrounded by a group of palace maids. Today, he wore a purple brocade robe, with a golden ribbon tied around his waist and a hat adorned with gemstones on his head, exuding an air of nobility. However, perhaps due to years of warfare, he had a robust build and a subtle fierceness in his expression that seemed out of place in this opulent hall.
"I, An Lushan, pay my respects to Consort Gui. May Your Highness live for thousands of years!" An Lushan approached me, bowed deeply, and spoke respectfully.
I smiled slightly, set down my teacup, and gestured for him to rise. "General An need not be overly formal; please get up."
"Thank you, Your Highness." After rising, An Lushan signaled to the attendants behind him to present the treasures he had brought.
Several attendants entered, carrying trays covered with red silk, and arranged them neatly in the center of the hall.
"Your Highness, these are rare treasures that I brought back from the Western Regions during my campaign. I hope you will accept them," An Lushan said as he lifted the red silk from one of the trays.
On the tray lay a large Night Pearl, crystal clear and radiating a soft glow that illuminated the entire hall.
I glanced at it lightly without showing much surprise and asked calmly, "General An is thoughtful; however, I wonder if there is anything else besides presenting treasures that brings you to the palace today?"
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light flashed in An Lushan's eyes but was quickly concealed. He smiled and replied, "I came to report back to His Majesty and also wanted to visit Your Highness to express my gratitude for your care over the years."
"This palace has never cared for you," I said with a half-smile, my tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
An Lushan's smile slightly stiffened but soon returned to normal. He chuckled and said, "Your Highness jokes; I have guarded the borders for many years, relying on your good words before His Majesty to serve him with peace of mind."
"You exaggerate, General. Guarding the borders and protecting the nation is your duty; how could this palace dare claim credit?" I replied lightly, my tone revealing no emotion.
Seeing that I seemed unwilling to engage further in conversation, An Lushan decided not to beat around the bush. He glanced at Xie Aman standing behind me and said with a smile, "Your Highness, I have something I wish to report privately to you; may I...?"
Understanding his intention, I exchanged glances with Xie Aman and said, "Aman, you may leave for now; I will speak with General An."
"Yes." Although Xie Aman felt somewhat uneasy, she respectfully withdrew.
I picked up my teacup and took a gentle sip before slowly asking, "Alright, now that there are no outsiders here, speak freely about what you have to say."
Seeing that I was finally willing to speak candidly with him, An Lushan's face lit up with joy. He stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Your Highness, I know it is not easy for you in the palace. I am willing to be your strongest support here and help alleviate your burdens."
I set down my teacup and fixed my sharp gaze on him. "What do you mean by that?"
Seeing my cold demeanor and that his 'sincerity' had not moved me at all only made him bolder. He straightened up and spoke with a hint of threat in his tone: "Your Highness must not misunderstand; I cannot bear to see you suffer injustice. That old scoundrel Li Linfu takes advantage of His Majesty's trust to form cliques in court and eliminate rivals; even Your Highness is being hindered at every turn—it's truly despicable!"
I remained calm and lightly asked, "Then what does General mean by that?"
An Lushan, seeing that I finally engaged in conversation, revealed a hint of a triumphant smile on his face. He lowered his voice and leaned closer to my ear, saying, "I have some connections both in the court and the military. As long as Your Highness gives a word, I will make sure that Li Linfu cannot escape the consequences!"
As he spoke, the warm breath brushed against my earlobe, causing a wave of disgust in my heart. However, I maintained a composed expression, merely furrowing my brow slightly and covering my mouth and nose with a handkerchief as I replied, "General speaks too highly of me. This Palace is merely a woman of the harem; how could I interfere in matters of state?"
An Lushan, seeing my refusal, was not angered but instead burst into loud laughter, saying, "Why should Your Highness belittle herself? I have long heard of your wisdom and methods. If you truly wish to do something, who in this world could stop you?"
I was taken aback and calmly asked, "What do you mean by that, General?"
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