In the suffering days of Sui Commandery, he had long since stopped being the vulnerable Sui Zilin who could be easily manipulated.
There were people waiting for him at the palace gate and others deliberately leading him astray, urging him to visit the empress dowager's palace first to provoke the emperor's anger.
Wasn't it because they feared he would one day rise above them?
Since that was their thought, how could he not fulfil their wishes?
He went straight to the empress's palace, and after eating, he visited the empress dowager's palace, taking his time and leisurely strolling, just waiting for the emperor's envoy to block him on his way out of the palace.
Now, hadn't that person essentially lifted a rock only to drop it on their own feet?
He was curious to see what plan that person would come up with next to deal with him!
...
Elsewhere, as the empress dowager left the emperor's sleeping quarters, she immediately scoffed.