Gu Shaoyu and Xie Zhaozhao always kept their conversation brief, with Gu Shaoyu telling her to lean against him and sleep for a while.

I'm going to take them with me.

At 2:00 AM, all the palace gates and hall gates were opened.

Patrol team change of shift.

Gu Shaoyu quickly put a hood on Xie Zhaozhao's head.

Lu Feiyan, Yuanyuan, and the others were all ready and had brought their belongings.

Xiu Ning silently approached, carrying a lantern and wearing a large hat and cloak, and led the way.

Gu Shaoyu carried Xie Zhaozhao on his back, and the group hurried out of the palace.

Unexpectedly, as they walked out of Xingning Palace, they saw the Empress riding in a sedan chair, leading a group of people towards them.

Who is it?

The other side was clearly prepared, and they blocked their way in an instant.

Xie Zhaozhao immediately dismounted from Gu Shaoyu's back and urged urgently, "Hurry up and go!"

With Gu Shaoyu's martial arts skills, escaping on his own would be no problem at all.

If Gu Shaoyu doesn't leave, the charges against him will be too serious.

First, he left his position as commander-in-chief without authorization; second, he trespassed into the inner palace.

Gu Shaoyu squinted at the Empress and sneered, "Break out."

Since the Empress has blocked his way, it can only mean that she has already received the news. If he and Zhaozhao do not break out today, they will both become fish on the chopping block.

Empress Xie remained seated in her sedan chair, looking at Xie Zhaozhao who was being protected by Gu Shaoyu, and was extremely disappointed.

"Am I not good enough to you?"

"Your Majesty the Empress is very kind to me, but I have my own home and I do not wish to stay in the palace."

"The palace is magnificent and comfortable, you are treated to fine clothes and delicacies, and the palace maids and eunuchs take care of you in every possible way. What more could you possibly want?"

"Your Majesty, this is not my home!"

"If you stay here obediently, I will do everything in my power to treat you well, and I will even give your brothers high-ranking positions and generous salaries. How about it?"

"Please forgive me for not agreeing!"

The Empress laughed heartily: "You don't want to? I do! I've been imprisoned here for a full twenty-two years!"