Ma Yan held Yan Ning hostage and retreated step by step with extreme caution.

Zhu Lan kept a distance from him and moved with him towards the side hall of the palace.

Yan Zheng led the imperial guards and followed carefully from a distance, staring closely at Ma Yan's every move. As long as he slacked off in the slightest, Yan Zheng would act without hesitation.

However, Ma Yan did not give him this opportunity.

Ma Yan brought Yan Ning to stop at the door of the side hall, asked Yan Zheng and others to move further away, and quickly scanned the interior of the side hall.

The furnishings here are simple, and the situation inside the house is clearly visible. There is no possibility of people hiding even on the beams.

Ma Yan made sure that there was no ambush inside before he stepped in, motioning Zhu Lan to come in as well and close the door.

Zhu Lan, dressed in a blue shirt, disappeared behind the door.

After entering the enclosed environment, Ma Yan, who had been nervous, was finally able to relax for a moment.

Zhu Lan walked towards him holding two books, and Ma Yan immediately said:

"Stand there, don't move!"

Zhu Lan stopped as he was told and looked at Ma Yan quietly, with some innocence in his eyes.

Ma Yan asked her to put the book on the ground and then stepped aside.

Zhu Lan raised his eyebrows slightly. This eunuch Ma may be quite young, but he is quite smart.

She thought for a moment and said:

"How can the emperor's decree be left on the ground casually?"

She glanced around the side hall and pointed at a table by the wall and said:

"I'll leave the book there. You can read it yourself."

Seeing that Ma Yan agreed, Zhu Lan walked to the table and placed the pardon edict and Ma Yan's confession on it respectively.

Then she stepped back far enough until she reached a position where Ma Yan felt it was safe enough, and made a "please" gesture to him.

Ma Yan looked at her warily again and slowly moved towards the table.

During this process, his dagger never left Yan Ning's neck.

The little emperor, who was usually moody and domineering, was now like a lamb to be slaughtered, trembling and allowing Ma Yan to manipulate him.

Ma Yan came to the case and, by candlelight, couldn't wait to read the contents of the pardon edict.

"The Emperor, by order of Heaven, proclaims...

The chief eunuch Ma Yan has returned to the right path, made meritorious contributions while serving his sentence, and exposed the Weiguogong clique... He is hereby pardoned..."

The next most crucial content was revealed by Zhu Lan, who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, folded a corner of the edict slightly, covering the content.

Ma Yan was a little annoyed. He wanted to grab Yan Ning with his left hand and hold the dagger with his right hand, so he really had no hands free.

He was extremely anxious at this moment and could not help but look up to confirm that Zhu Lan was standing quietly in a corner of the side hall, at least two or three feet away from him, so he felt a little relieved.

Ma Yan still held Yan Ning tightly with his left hand, and temporarily placed the dagger on the table with his right hand, then went to look at the contents on the back of the edict.

Just as the dagger left Yan Ning's neck, a sharp look suddenly flashed in Zhu Lan's eyes.

In a flash, she suddenly raised her hand and pressed down a slightly raised blue brick on the wall!

The sound of the mechanism turning was heard, and before Ma Yan could even react, he felt his feet go empty.

The whole person lost weight in an instant, and with a scream, he fell rapidly downwards with Yan Ning!

The scene in front of Ma Yan's eyes quickly darkened. Before he could feel the pain of his feet hitting the ground, a foot appeared in the darkness and kicked him hard.

His body flew out at an angle and hit something hard before falling to the ground.

Ma Yan's bones seemed to be falling apart.

Dim light came from above his head. He couldn't get up and could only look up with difficulty.