The Dragon King's Substitute Bride

Chapter 129

CH129

Morgan

"So why exactly did you come to find me, now that you've solved my problem?"

"Something tells me that wasn't the end of your problem. How exactly did we get to this point?"

He sighed as we walked back to his office.

"You're restless... and clearly still agitated."

"Are you saying this because you know whatever you have to say is going to agitate me more?" "Maybe."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's related to the robes for the Convening of the Celestial Compass. The robes are woven with a specific type of celestial thread that only a few skilled artisans can work with. Your family had was once one of them. I don't know if anyone alive in your family can still do it, but the thread is expensive, hard to get, hard to make, and most of the craftsmen have left the capital because of the harem."

I smiled. "Somehow, I'm not surprised."

"After the attack five years ago, the harem-Ari and some of the other concubines-became, overbearing. Based on some of the information I've been getting, they were asking for their regular clothes to be made out of the celestial thread. And the craftsman had been refusing. To be fair, it's labor-intensive and expensive, and there was no way they were going to pay fair price for it. Of course, that means that the harem members made their lives difficult. They began treating the craftsmen poorly, issuing unreasonable demands, and refusing to pay them properly for other projects. The workers were harassed, threatened, and disrespected. Most of them left the capital entirely, seeking refuge in neighboring provinces where they could work in peace."

"Well, that makes me feel a lot better about how I plan to deal with them."

"I know my father doesn't know. He'd be heartbroken, and with everything that had been going on, there's no reason to think that he would be looking into it anyway." He sighed. "The palace is supposed to be a place of respect and honor, especially for those who serve the imperial house. But the harem's influence poisoned that. The craftsmen felt they had no choice but to leave,

and..."

smiled. "Once they know that there are sensible people

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mother are going to

shrugged. "Give me a list, and I'll put out feelers. It's going to take more than just money to convince them to

is all connected, isn't it? The harem's influence, the misappropriation of funds, the craftsmen leaving...

"Yes."

shook my head as we reached his office. I-closed the door behind us and sat

him.

arm. "I'll deal with the harem,. but I think you should

need to test the royal children," I said. "For paternity.

sure say

eyes widened. "Why

to sow some discord, but the issues are deeper than that. Ari's betrayal, Elia's influence, and the

she'd surmised about Lady Maro and the rest of the harem. I was furious, but as she explained her plan,

made a lot of

out a breath. "I am so very grateful that you are so cunning. If I had to devise this plan, I don't know what else I'd be

"We're in

heart lighter with her

was lunch

hall, Tsuneo's hand slipped from mine, his lips pressing briefly against my temple. I'll eat

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CH129

filled with warmth.

"Bonding are you?"

"Something like that. I've always wanted to be an