The palace is filled with pavilions and towers every five or ten steps, and there are countless flowers, birds, trees, rockeries and streams.

The magnificent palaces and exquisitely crafted pavilions alone must have consumed an immeasurable amount of money and resources.

Yun Qing was dazzled by the sights and couldn't take it all in. She sighed inwardly: What a pity, she would never be able to live in such a place in her lifetime. She wondered if the immortal realm the system mentioned was this luxurious.

Upon arriving at Zhuofangting, a palace maid led the two to sit at the lower level.

Yun Qing observed curiously that the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince were seated at the head of the table, a complete family of three.

On the right are the imperial concubines and their families, while on the left are Prince An and his son, ministers of various departments, etc., arranged according to their official rank.

Yun Qing's gaze swept from top to bottom and from left to right, looking at almost everyone.

She didn't notice that, besides Xu Qingyun, two other pairs of eyes were following her.

When Ling Hua saw Yun Qing again, it felt like a lifetime had passed.

Today, she wore her hair in a traditional Chinese updo, and her light blue dress was clear and pure, making her stand out among the colorful flowers and green willows.

However, Ling Hua found it extremely jarring, for no other reason than that Xu Qingyun, who was several seats away, was wearing the same color scheme.

Yun Qing was focused on the singing and dancing on stage and paid no attention to anything else.

Therefore, she was unaware that almost everyone present was subtly looking at her.

Although she was aware of her beauty, she still underestimated the impact of her appearance.

Because of these gazes, Ling Hua and Ling Ye's actions did not attract much attention.

Only Pang Xinhui, whose seat was closer to the front among the women, could see Ling Hua with just a slight turn of her head.

As he looked over, she revealed a mocking expression; it was indeed her flirtatious cousin.

Pang Xinhui picked up her cup, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes, as if she could already see her enemy falling into the mire.

Yun Qing, after today, you will no longer be the beautiful and refined beauties of the capital in everyone's eyes. Let's see how you seduce Brother Ziyue now.

Halfway through the palace banquet, a palace maid came forward to refill the wine for the people at the table. Yunqing did not like to drink, so she raised her hand to politely decline.

Unexpectedly, the palace maid serving the wine lost her footing and fell to the ground with the tray, spilling the entire pot of wine all over Yun Qing.

This incident quickly caught people's attention, and Consort Wan, who was sitting in the front, sent a palace maid to handle it.

"Madam Xu, your dress is dirty. Let me take you to change into another one."

Feeling uncomfortable from being soaked, Yun Qing didn't refuse.

Walking along the secluded palace path, she remembered what the system had said before: palace banquets are the most likely places for accidents to happen.

It seems someone has made a move against her.

A palace maid led the way to a secluded palace. She stopped and said to Yun Qing, "Madam Xu, please go in and change into the extra clothes inside."

Yun Qing entered the palace and found it to be abandoned; there wasn't even a candle in the lantern.

Yun Qing did have a piece of clothing, but she didn't change it. Instead, she asked the system to take out a new one from her space.

A quarter of an hour later, Yun Qing pretended to have changed her clothes and called for the palace maid who was leading the way.

However, there was no response from outside. The dimly lit palace was eerie and menacing, like a wild beast ready to devour its prey.

Yun Qing dared not stay any longer and hurriedly walked to the door, only to find that the palace door could not be opened.

On second thought, Yun Qing roughly guessed what kind of scheme was targeting her and who was behind it.

She was just about to give Linghua some more drastic treatment, and this was a perfect opportunity.

After having the system send out the message that she was trapped here, Yun Qing sat quietly in the palace and waited.

Not long after, a noise came from behind.

【system.】

Don't worry, my dear, I'll do it right away.

【Yes, I believe you, wait a minute!】

A familiar scent wafted through the air, and Yun Qing quickly stopped the system, halting her turn.

The next second, a hot chest pressed against her back. Yun Qing seemed to only then realize that there was someone in the hall, and she struggled excitedly.

"Ah! Who are you? Let me go!"

"Don't move," came the man's hoarse voice.

Yun Qing was held in a pair of iron arms, and her delicate body gradually became warm.

"What, what are you going to do?"

Her originally clear voice trembled slightly, making one think of a frightened little rabbit.

"Heh!" The man chuckled, but his words made Yun Qing tremble even more violently.

"A man and a woman alone in a room, what do you think I should do?"

"I...I don't know."

Suddenly, another scent filled the air. The light in Yun Qing's eyes flickered, and her struggle gradually weakened.

The lonely moonlight streamed into the hall through the cracks in the window, and the man's cold face was faintly visible in the darkness.

Feeling the warm, jade-like body in his arms, he was slightly stunned, and the strength in his hands unconsciously loosened.

In those few seconds, Yun Qing took the opportunity to break free from his embrace.

In the darkness, their eyes met.

"Your Highness?" Yun Qing's tone was hesitant, filled with disbelief: "How could it be you?"

"Why can't it be me?" Ling Ye breathed a sigh of relief after being recognized, remaining calm and composed.

The fragrance in the palace grew stronger and stronger, and Yun Qing felt as if a fire had been ignited inside her body, burning her unbearably.

Ling Ye naturally smelled the aroma as well, but due to his profound inner strength, he was less affected.

The person in his arms was in a daze, her hands flailing wildly over his body.

Ling Ye was no gentleman; he made a decision in his heart, his eyes filled with an unfathomable ambiguity.

The next second, Yun Qing was picked up and carried horizontally.

"Where are you taking me?" Her body went limp, and even her resistance seemed weak and vulnerable.

"Shh! Don't make a sound, you don't want anyone to hear you, do you?"

With that, Ling Ye opened the mechanism, and carrying Yun Qing, they disappeared into the secret passage.

...

At the banquet.

Ling Hua and Xu Qingyun were both very worried because Yun Qing had not returned for a long time.

However, given the gravity of the matter, the two dared not cause any further trouble and could only secretly send people to search for her whereabouts.

Soon after, Ling Hua received confirmation and immediately notified Xu Qingyun.

The two looked at each other across the crowd and quickly understood what the other meant.

Xu Qingyun quietly left the table to find someone, while Ling Hua stayed behind to observe and find out who was trying to harm Yun Qing.

To his surprise, Pang Xinhui's eyes never left him, and she still caught the anxious look on Ling Hua's face that he tried so hard to hide.

A sudden thought flashed through Pang Xinhui's mind: Could it be that her plan has been exposed?

No, that's impossible. If Yun Qing hadn't been in trouble, Ling Hua wouldn't have reacted this way. So, they must be trying to destroy the evidence!

Having figured this out, Pang Xinhui immediately stood up and reported to the Emperor and Empress.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, my cousin went to change her clothes, and two incense sticks have passed since then. I suspect something may have happened to her."