The Emperor's heart was filled with rage, the kind of fury directed at Xiao Ze for his lack of ambition, and shock at Ling Hua's influence. While still in Caojun, he had learned about the conflict between the Eastern Palace and the thirty-six camps. With calculated steps, he made use of valuable gifts, petitioned for twenty thousand soldiers for protection, and concealed this from the Eastern Palace, which remained unaware of these troops. Then, in merely two days and nights, he had utterly eradicated the thirty-six camps.
As an emperor, he felt she posed a threat.
The Emperor asked Eunuch Zhao, "Is Yan Qing attending the palace banquet this year?"
Eunuch Zhao didn't know for sure and replied uncertainly, "He should be! I heard that Young Marquis Yan and his wife are getting along quite well, extremely harmoniously in fact. They should not be missing it this year."
