"Your Majesty, I am a new servant named Xiao Zhangzi who has come to serve His Majesty. I have come here on His Majesty's orders to escort Your Majesty to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

He kept his head down as he spoke, and Mingyue couldn't see his expression.

"Oh?" Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "Normally, His Majesty summons Li Dequan to inform me of anything. Why was someone else chosen this time?"

Xiao Zhangzi seemed to have already guessed Mingyue's doubts, and explained, "Chief Steward Li is ill today, so he sent me to take his place on this mission. Your Majesty, please prepare quickly. The Emperor must have something urgent to attend to, so don't keep him waiting."

Mingyue nodded and didn't ask any further questions. She thought to herself: This little Zhangzi has shifty eyes and doesn't look loyal at all. Moreover, his eagerness to send me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation probably means something is up.

Since that's the case, she's not afraid; who ends up in whose hands is still an unknown.

Xiao Zhangzi thought Mingyue had lowered her guard and had just breathed a sigh of relief, about to take her there when...

But the bright moon stopped in its tracks.

"Your Majesty, is there anything else?" Xiao Zhangzi couldn't help but ask, fearing that Mingyue might change her mind.

“The roads are slippery in the snow, and I need someone to help me walk. Call Green Sleeves!” Mingyue said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhangzi's face stiffened, but he quickly recovered and said, "Your Majesty, you cannot delay any longer. His Majesty has urgent business with you. Besides, I am here to support you and ensure that you and the imperial fetus are not harmed in the slightest. Your Majesty, please come quickly!"

After saying that, he bent down and reached out to help Mingyue up.

But these words only made Mingyue more suspicious of him, since Li Dequan wouldn't be in such a hurry to urge her.

Although she was convinced that Xiao Zhangzi was no good, Mingyue remained calm and hesitated deliberately when she was about to put her hand on his arm.

Xiao Zhangzi was sweating profusely with anxiety. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Mingyue gazed at the white expanse of earth and said softly, "The roads are slippery in the snow. I'll change my shoes before I go."

"Can…"

He tried to stop her, but Mingyue shouted sternly, "The Emperor's affairs are important, but isn't the child in my womb important too? If I and the baby are harmed because of the slippery road, even nine of your lives wouldn't be enough to compensate for it."

Her face gradually became serious, and Xiao Zhangzi, feeling guilty, took two steps back uncomfortably.

"It's impossible to resist." He wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Then Your Highness, please hurry, this servant will wait for you outside the door."

In his mind, as long as Mingyue was traveling alone, it shouldn't be a problem if things were delayed for a short while.

“Hmm…” Mingyue glanced at him, then slowly lifted her leg and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

Xiao Zhangzi paced anxiously outside the door, waiting for the bright moon to appear.

Mingyue already had a plan in mind. Instead of changing her shoes, she tiptoed to the doorway holding a vase, waiting for Xiao Zhangzi to urge her.

Sure enough, not long after, he hurriedly asked, "Is Your Majesty ready?"

Mingyue feigned anxiety, saying, "My belly is too big, it's really hard for me to bend over to change my shoes. Xiao Zhangzi, go and quickly call Lvxiu here."

But how could Xiao Zhangzi agree? He said anxiously, "If we call Green Sleeve over again, it might delay the time."

"What should we do? I've already taken off my shoes." Mingyue's voice was urgent.

Xiao Zhangzi hesitated for a moment, then said, "If Your Majesty doesn't mind my clumsiness, please let me serve you."

After all that talk, that's what she was waiting for. Mingyue pretended to be reluctant and said, "That's the only way. Come in!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Little Zhangzi replied happily.

As soon as he pushed the door open, Mingyue smashed a vase down on the back of his head.

Blood splattered everywhere, and Xiao Zhangzi collapsed to the ground, clutching his head.

Mingyue looked at the blood flowing from him, a slight smile playing on her lips. She wanted to see what kind of conspiracy awaited her.

Then, she quickly walked over to Xiao Zhangzi, squatted down, and carefully examined Xiao Zhangzi's injuries.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she discovered that he had only temporarily lost consciousness.

After all, he's really dead, and we don't know what will happen next, which isn't fun at all.

While he was unconscious, Mingyue used all her strength to bind him tightly. Only when she was sure he couldn't escape did she call for Lvxiu to come.

As soon as Green Sleeve reached the doorway, she saw the blood on the ground and was so frightened that her lips turned white. She quickly went inside and helped Mingyue up, "Your Majesty, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Her voice was tearful, showing how genuinely worried she was about Mingyue.

Mingyue smiled and shook her head calmly, "I am not feeling unwell."

"That……"

Before Green Sleeve could finish speaking, Bright Moon pointed to Little Zhangzi in the corner and said, "That blood is his blood."

Upon hearing this, Green Sleeves turned her gaze to Xiao Zhangzi. Seeing that it was indeed his blood, her complexion finally returned to normal.

When Green Sleeve saw the blood seeping from his neck, she couldn't help but shudder. It was easy to imagine how dangerous the situation had just been. She couldn't help but blame herself for leaving Mingyue alone in the palace.

She wouldn't think that Mingyue would hit or kidnap people; she would only think that this person must have done something evil for Mingyue to treat them this way.

"Your Majesty, you..."

Mingyue knew what she wanted to ask, and before she could ask, she told her everything that had just happened.

Upon hearing this, Green Sleeves grew paler and paler until she finished listening to her account. She was trembling all over, her eyes wide with disbelief. "It's terrifying, so terrifying!" she exclaimed. She couldn't believe that if Mingyue really went with him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Seeing that she looked terrified, Mingyue comforted her, "Don't worry, I'm not that stupid."

"Um..." Green Sleeves nodded hurriedly, forcing herself to remain calm.

Just then, Xiao Zhangzi woke up. He stared at the bright moon with his dead fish eyes wide open, his mouth agape, clearly surprised.

"Your Majesty, what are you doing..." He struggled, but his whole body was tightly bound by ropes from Mingyue, and he could not move.

Mingyue sneered, "Little Zhangzi, your scheme has been exposed. You'd better cooperate obediently, or don't blame me for turning ruthless."

"What scheme, Your Majesty? This servant truly does not understand. This servant is merely following His Majesty's orders." He remained unrepentant, believing that if he did not admit his mistake, Mingyue would not be able to do anything to him.

After all, everyone in the harem knew that Mingyue was kind-hearted and soft-hearted, and she would not use torture.

Unfortunately, he was wrong; the moon before him was not the same moon as before.

"snort!"

Mingyue snorted, too lazy to waste words with him, and directly ordered, "Green Sleeves, bring the salt."

Greensleeves didn't understand, but she did as she was told.

Mingyue dipped a cotton cloth in salt and pressed it hard on the wound on Xiao Zhangzi's neck. The pain made him tremble all over and scream.