184 Public Service Announcement

It was like fighting a war on two fronts.

In the morning court, Liu Yao was without a doubt in the heat of the battle right now. But here, in the main chamber of Aiyun Palace, Yan Zheyun's was just about to start. 

It was customary for the attendees of the harem assembly to take their seats before the empress—or in the case of Liu Yao's inner palace, the wielder of the phoenix seal— made their entrance. Like a mini morning court of sorts, Xiao De would wait to ensure that most if not all of them were present before announcing Yan Zheyun's arrival. Hence, no one anticipated seeing him already sitting on his dais sipping tea when they stepped past the raised threshold of the door.