Jiang Qingwan was unaware of whether the Emperor Emeritus's relationship with Mo Yunhan was as indulgent and doting as the rumors suggested.

But whether it was the gift bestowed outside the mansion last time or the help given in the Imperial Study today, he always protected Mo Yunhan, even at the cost of alienating the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

She quickened her pace and gave a slight bow in return.

"Please thank the Emperor Emeritus for me."

The old eunuch humbly moved to the side, refusing Jiang Qingwan's greeting.

"If the Ninth Princess wishes to express her gratitude, she can do so at the Hall of Mental Cultivation when His Highness the Ninth Prince returns. The Emperor Emeritus, knowing that you entered the palace without any attendants, has specially ordered guards to wait outside the palace gates, hoping they can be of assistance to the Princess."

Jiang Qingwan was somewhat surprised, not expecting that the Emperor Emeritus had even considered this.

It would indeed be difficult for her to go to Xuanling Mountain alone.

Ye Qi and the others were trapped in the Prince's mansion and couldn't help.

After a brief pause, she did not refuse.

Thank you!

After saying that, he nodded slightly and turned to leave.

When leaving the palace, a young eunuch led the way, so it didn't take much effort.

Upon seeing her, Falcon immediately spurred his horse forward to greet her. Jiang Qingwan saw that where Falcon was standing was a man dressed in black, wearing a crimson-gold mask. Beneath the mask, his eyes were as cold as knives.

The two guards sent by Yan Yunqing have both disappeared.

Seeing her look over, the man raised his hand and bowed slightly.

"Akamori, in the name of the Emperor Emeritus, I will protect you."

Jiang Qingwan glanced behind him.

Where is your horse?

"I don't need it."

After Akamori finished speaking, he leaped onto the roof and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Qingwan paused, feeling slightly irritated.

How come there are so many people who can appear and disappear like ghosts and move with incredible speed?

She endured the pain from the friction between her legs and mounted the horse again.

After she resolved this matter, she decided to have a soft saddle custom-made, as it was too uncomfortable on her buttocks.

...

Inside Kunning Palace,

The Empress Dowager, half-reclined on the bed, listened to what Granny Gui had to say and then suddenly smashed the medicine cup in her hand on the ground.

“I prayed for his safety and he suffered a calamity, yet he refused to even see me. How could a mere princess who hasn’t even entered the palace yet have him so concerned?”

Granny Gui told the palace maids to clean up and leave, then knelt by the bedside, massaging her legs while advising, "Your Majesty, please take good care of your health. Even the Emperor Emeritus is asking you for help with the imperial mausoleum."

The Empress Dowager's expression softened somewhat.

“If it weren’t for the Nine Dragons Formation protecting the Great Zhou’s fortune, how could he have the strength to interfere with the emperor’s decisions? This matter is not urgent. Doesn’t that Jiang woman know some magic? Since the Emperor Emeritus values ​​her so much, let her give it a try.”

"By the way, how is Qin Minglang's injury?"

Granny Gui hurriedly said, "The Imperial Hospital has sent word that the injury is serious and there is a risk of death. They are doing everything they can to save him."

The Empress Dowager remembered the danger of Huguo Temple.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes.

"Mo Yunhan has always hated me, and the Emperor Emeritus also hates me because of that wretched woman. But if it weren't for my compassion, how could I have allowed such a lowly child to live until now!"

"Isn't Jiang Shi Qin Minglang's former lover? Since the Ninth Prince is too noble to look favorably upon Qin Minglang, I will elevate Qin Minglang's rank and invite the Emperor over."

...

Within the county government office to which Huguo Temple belongs,

The county magistrate was so busy he hadn't had a moment to rest; he hadn't even had a sip of water since last night.

I had just sat down and taken a nap when the clerk rushed in.

"My lord, the traitor captured alive by General Qin has committed suicide by poison."

"What?"

The magistrate was so anxious that he fell off his chair.

"Dead? What kind of officials are you? The Empress Dowager was attacked and killed on our territory. If you can't provide a reasonable explanation, I'll lose my official hat. Useless wretch!"

The advisor also knew the matter was serious.

"Sir, why don't we pin the blame on the monks of Huguo Temple? Arrest a few of them and torture them severely; they'll surely produce a confession."

The magistrate stopped his stroll and looked up at him.

“The eminent monks of Huguo Temple are highly sought after by the powerful and wealthy in the capital. This matter must be handled flawlessly.”

The advisor whispered.

"Sir, we don't understand high monks, but the death of a few novice monks shouldn't be a big deal."

A glint flashed in the magistrate's eyes.

Just then, a servant rushed in and said, "Sir, clerk, we've caught a suspicious scholar. He says he's from the Ninth Prince's mansion and his name is Zheng Chengye."

"The Ninth Prince?"

The magistrate and his advisor exchanged a glance and asked in unison, "What did he do?"

The constable said, "We were patrolling the mountain when we saw him hiding behind Huguo Temple. He was covered in blood and his clothes were torn. It was clear that he was present when the thieves were fighting, and because he couldn't retreat in time, he was captured by us while hiding in the back mountain."

The magistrate was overjoyed.

He immediately said in a deep voice, "Even princes are subject to the same laws as commoners. We cannot allow favoritism and corruption just because this person comes from the Ninth Prince's residence. We must question him thoroughly and get to the bottom of this!"

...

Jiang Qingwan did not know the way to Xuanling Mountain.

But Falcon knew that she didn't need to control the reins at all; it sped along, racing towards its destination without stopping.

Several hours of bumpy travel.

When they arrived at the foot of Xuanling Mountain,

Jiang Qingwan felt like she was half dead. Her legs went weak and she slid off the horse. She stumbled and crawled to the roadside and leaned against a tree, vomiting violently.

She hadn't eaten breakfast and had been constantly on edge, which left her stomach empty.

She was so weak that layers of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

She couldn't even stand up, let alone go find Mo Yunhan.

"Akamori, are you... are you there?"

A dark figure leaped down from a tree not far away, making no attempt to help her.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!