Xiao Luming’s eyes moved slightly, "Are you saying the Empress has summoned the other concubines to see her?"

He considered Xie Qianyun’s unrestrained personality, having spent many years waging battles at the border and not being adept at conversation; she likely wouldn’t enjoy interacting with the harem’s concubines, deliberately sending them away so as not to disturb her. Yet she had proactively called for people to meet her?!

"Yes." The eunuch replied, quickly added, "Your Majesty, would you like to go and see the Empress?"

Xiao Luming looked at the memorials before him, feeling somewhat fatigued and uninterested.

He stood up, "Prepare the carriage."

The eunuch promptly shouted, "Prepare the carriage for Jingxiu Palace!"

At this moment inside Jingxiu Palace.

Xie Qianyun was winning decisively.

When there was no turmoil or training at the border, she would play dice with a few friends secretly. If her mother found out, military law awaited her.

She rarely lost when playing dice.

"Small, small, small!" Xie Qianyun shouted loudly.

Some concubines followed her lead and also shouted with her.

There were also concubines who wanted to bet their luck, shouting loudly, "Big, big, big!"

The inner hall was abuzz with noise.

The palace attendant announced at the door, yet no one came out to greet them, as no one seemed to have heard it.

At this moment, not only were the concubines playing, but palace attendants of Jingxiu Palace and close palace maids brought by each concubine were also watching with great interest.

When Xiao Luming walked into the grand hall, he saw everyone sitting around a table, causing chaos and disorder throughout the hall.

The key was that no one realized he had come.

The eunuch beside him was also startled by the scene before him.

Amid the crowd, the Empress seemed to be submerged by the concubines and maids but didn’t mind at all, displaying none of the status an Empress should have. At that moment, she even had her foot on a bench, shouting loudly, and no one paid attention to her as everyone’s focus was on the table.

"Ahem, ahem!" The eunuch coughed loudly.

He observed that the Emperor’s face had turned as black as coal.

The Emperor was always a reserved and serious person who despised excessive noise and lack of decorum. At this moment, it had clearly crossed the Emperor’s bottom line.

Upon hearing the eunuch’s coughing.

Du Wenrou glanced unconsciously to the side.

That glance almost scared her to death.

"Emperor, Emperor, the Emperor..." Why is the Emperor here?!

"Emperor what Emperor! Hurry and place your bet; we are waiting for you." Xie Qianyun casually pulled Du Wenrou’s hand.

Du Wenrou tightly grabbed Xie Qianyun’s hand, trembling so much that she couldn’t speak clearly, "Emperor, the Emperor is here..."

The other concubines evidently heard too.

Everyone turned around to look.

At that instant, everyone trembled in fear.

Xie Qianyun frowned and turned her gaze.

She saw Xiao Luming with a long face.

Her heart also jolted with a shiver.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, Your Majesty..."

All the concubines prostrated on the ground, bodies trembling in fear.

Everyone was scared to death.

The Emperor had always upheld etiquette; at this moment, their lack of decorum made them unable to imagine how the Emperor would punish them?!

Xie Qianyun also realized.

She hurriedly got down from the bench, walked to Xiao Luming, and saluted, "This concubine greets Your Majesty."

Xiao Luming coldly looked at Xie Qianyun and then at the concubines kneeling on the ground, shivering.

His thin lips pressed together slightly, "What is going on here?"

"Replying to Your Majesty. This concubine was bored, so I invited them to play dice with me. Would Your Majesty like to join?" Xie Qianyun said nonchalantly.

The eunuch beside her twisted his face.

Quickly signaling Xie Qianyun with facial expressions not to offend the Emperor.

Xie Qianyun looked at the eunuch’s face and furrowed her brows, "Are you having a facial spasm?"

"..." The eunuch was petrified on the spot.

Xiao Luming also glanced back at the eunuch.

The eunuch quickly lowered his head, not daring to make any more expressions.

It was truly infuriating to see such incompetence!

"Gambling is not allowed within the Imperial Palace!" Xiao Luming declared, his voice stern.

The silent grand hall was filled with such deterrence, it seemed capable of shaking the beams!

The concubines kneeling on the ground had their souls nearly frightened out of them.

Xie Qianyun was also somewhat startled.

As a child, she always thought Xiao Luming was intimidating; just standing there doing nothing made him feel distant and unapproachable. Now that he was angry, it was even scarier.

"This concubine was unaware of the palace rules; it is my fault. Please, Your Majesty, punish me." Xie Qianyun quickly knelt on the ground.