"Fortunately, my brothers are guarding the gate today, Your Highness. This is all the help I can give you."

Hearing the noise at the door, Liu Xuening, who was inside the room, curled up in the corner of the bed, not daring to move.

After a long while, seeing that there was no more movement outside, he poked his head out to check, but unfortunately the room was pitch black and he couldn't see anything.

"I am Princess Xiao, daughter of Minister Liu, don't come any closer!"

Even now, Liu Xuening still harbors a sliver of greed, believing herself to still be the high and mighty Consort Xiao.

After a long while, there was still no movement at the door, so Liu Xuening reluctantly decided to get up and check.

The room was pitch black. Liu Xuening groped in the dark and lit the nearly burnt-out candle by the bedside.

By the candlelight, it was clear that Liu Xuening had long lost her former charm.

Her face was sallow and bloodless, her lips were pale, her limbs were weak, her hair was disheveled, and her cheekbones protruded like two small mountains on her thin face.

Liu Xuening held onto the edge of the bed with one hand, her face full of pain.

She slowly moved to the table, step by step. Having not eaten much in recent days, she could only barely keep from falling by supporting herself on the table with her hands.

Liu Xuening saw something wrapped in oil paper on the ground, slowly bent down, and picked it up.

This series of movements had already left her breathless, and her clothes were soaked with sweat.

She slowly unfolded the oil paper and saw a large piece of beef inside; her eyes seemed to light up.

Regardless of who delivered it, they wolfed it down.

Although the meals the guards brought her these past few days were simple and plain, they were still much better than what Yue Zhixiao and Chen Jingshu received.

Unfortunately, Liu Xuening was already arrogant and domineering, and she didn't recognize her current status. She even threatened to go on a hunger strike to coerce the guards.

Over time, in order to avoid wasting food and to teach her a lesson, the guards changed her meals from three to two, or even just one, without her permission.

Liu Xuening took a few bites and then discovered the 'shadow' and the map.

Holding the candlelight, she could barely make out the map drawn on it and the words on the back, and a sense of satisfaction, as if her wish had been fulfilled, welled up in her heart.

"I knew it! I knew it! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

The guards at the gate were startled by Liu Xuening's howl, which sounded like a lonely wolf. "What are you doing? Be quiet. Finish your meal so you can get going."

The guard's sudden shout startled Liu Xuening. She quickly put the note in her mouth, ate a few more bites of meat, and managed to swallow it.

"You're crazy!" The guard, seeing that Liu Xuening had stopped wailing, went back to his post.

In a short while, Liu Xuening finished the beef. She touched the 'shadow' in her hand, clutched it to her chest, and imagined the scene of her about to leave.

"No." Liu Xuening suddenly remembered something, and got up with the help of the bed. Following the map in her mind, she found the recess behind the dressing table.

Liu Xuening put the 'shadow' inside, looked around but there was no movement, so she thought someone had done it on purpose.

This search had already exhausted Liu Xuening, and she began to cough repeatedly.

"Ugh..." As the months went by, Liu Xuening was experiencing morning sickness.

Having just eaten a lot of beef, she felt extremely unwell and staggered behind the screen.

Just as she was about to spit out the beef she had just eaten, she suddenly saw a piece of the floor behind the screen spring open.

A hole large enough for one person to pass through was revealed. Liu Xuening was shocked; someone had indeed come to rescue her.

She was still gagging, but she forced herself to swallow it down. She couldn't vomit the beef; she needed nutrition right now.

Liu Xuening returned to the dressing table, took the awl off the wall, and placed it on herself.

After confirming several times that no one else could tell, I finally felt relieved.

Liu Xuening returned to behind the screen, and as usual, there was nothing there, and nothing could be seen.

Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief, "Thank God! Thank God! Heaven has not forsaken us, mother and son."

Liu Xuening did not go down into the cave. Firstly, she did not know if the guards would come to check on her, and if she were discovered, she would never have a chance to get out.

Secondly, she knew nothing about the situation inside the cave, and she didn't know how far she could go. She could only save her strength for the day after tomorrow.

"Cough cough cough..." A stain of blood fell onto her handkerchief.

But judging from Liu Xuening's appearance, it seems that this kind of thing has happened more than once.

"Son, hang in there a little longer. Once your mother leaves, I'll make sure you get all the nutrition you need."

Liu Xuening still believes that her weakness is due to malnutrition.

What she didn't know was that she had already been internally injured by Yue Zhixiao.

The child in her womb was like a vampire, sucking away the only remaining nutrients in her body.

The next day, everything was as usual: attending the morning court session and leaving the court session, everyone was trying their best to live their lives well.

"Has Yan Shaoheng made any move?"

"Your Highness, yesterday Yan Shaoheng's personal guard Cheng Ying went to the city to meet with the guards stationed outside the city. There was nothing unusual. Today, Yan Shaoheng has already resigned from his post and said that he will set off to return to Yan Kingdom first thing tomorrow morning."

"Also, ever since Yan Shaoheng returned to Yuelai Guest from the Yan residence, he has been smashing things, and you can hear Yan Shaoheng roaring all day long."

Wol Seok-won's eyes and brows were full of smiles, a sense of satisfaction lingering in his heart, followed by a touch of sweetness.

An Si understood immediately; this must be the work of his own princess. However, listening to Yan Shaoheng's daily screams, it was indeed, in a word, exhilarating!

"Yue Zhixiao and Chen Jingshu are to be beheaded and displayed to the public the day after tomorrow, but he is going to leave for Yan tomorrow. Something is fishy. Send someone to keep a close eye on him."

"Yes, Your Highness."

What's Yue Zhixiao up to?

There wasn't a sound at all.

Yue Xiyuan was also a little puzzled. It was impossible for them to remain completely silent. Could it be that they had another way to save them?

Are there any other suspicious places in the moat?

"Your Highness, a few days ago I led several dozen guards to the moat. Apart from the collapsed entrance, there was nothing suspicious about it."

Since the day the moat was bombed, Yue Xiyuan had gone to the moat again and found nothing unusual.

But Yue Xiyuan still felt that something was wrong with the matter.

"You shall send more guards to keep a close watch on Yan Shaoheng, Yue Zhixiao, and Chen Jingshu. If there is anything unusual, report it to me immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"We need to go to the moat again."

Knowing that Yan An was developing a rejuvenating cream for Xu Nianxia, ​​Yue Xiyuan didn't disturb her any longer and went to the moat mountain alone.

He would only feel somewhat at ease if he looked at it again himself.