The Imperial Palace, Liuyun Hall.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

Meng Yun had long anticipated the Emperor's arrival tonight and had made preparations accordingly. She had never regretted her decision today. It was not only for An Ge, but also for her tragically deceased sister, and even more so for the Meng family.

The emperor looked at her with a smile and quickly said, "Get up quickly. Are you getting used to living in the palace?"

Meng Yun still had a smiling face, but her words were full of politeness: "The provisions in the palace are naturally of the best, and I am used to living here."

"That's good. Did you enjoy dinner? I remember you like longan and lotus seed soup."

Longan and lotus seed soup!

When those five words reached her ears, a flash of grief and indignation crossed Meng Yun's eyes, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists—it was her sister's favorite soup.

"Yes, I like it."

A pair of crystal-clear eyes concealed endless sorrow.

Meng Yun wasn't angry at all because he had misremembered what she liked to eat; all she felt was endless resentment and unwillingness. One day, she would avenge her sister with her own hands.

"If you like it, that's good. From now on, just tell the kitchen what you want to eat. Don't be reserved in the palace. In a few days, I will bestow upon you the title of Virtuous Consort."

Meng Yun was somewhat surprised and pretended to refuse: "It is already inappropriate to be allowed to enter the palace as an exception. I am already very satisfied with my current position as Zhaoyi. If I were to be promoted further, it would be inappropriate."

The emperor didn't seem to mind: "It's alright. There are only Consort Gui and Consort De in the palace right now. It's only right to add another one."

Meng Yun nodded and stopped trying to persuade him.

The emperor glanced at the sky outside; it was nearly 9 PM.

"It's getting late, let's rest."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will help you undress."

Meng Yun lowered his head, walked behind the emperor, and reached out to untie the bright yellow jade-embellished belt.

Outside Liuyun Palace, An Ning watched as several candles inside were extinguished, and the light coming through the windows dimmed considerably. In an instant, she became extremely tense.

She dared not hesitate any longer and took out a tinderbox to light the branches outside the hall.

A moment later, the sound of gongs suddenly rang out: "Fire! Fire! Protect the Emperor! Fire!"

In no time, palace maids and eunuchs rushed to put out the fire. An Ning, without changing her expression, hid the tinderbox and quietly hid in the shadows to observe.

Inside the palace, the emperor had just lain down on the bed and was about to make a move when he heard a commotion outside.

Meng Yun frowned and listened carefully, then exclaimed in alarm, "Your Majesty, there's a fire!" With that, she pushed the Emperor aside and sat up straight.

The emperor was greatly alarmed. He got out of bed, threw on an outer robe, and ran outside.

In an instant, flames soared into the sky outside Liuyun Palace, thick smoke billowed, and it looked like the fire was about to reach the palace.

"Quickly, protect the emperor! Quickly, protect the emperor!"

Hearing the chaotic scene inside, An Ning knew that her plan had succeeded.

But it's already past 11 PM, why hasn't Mu Ange arrived yet?

Just as she was wondering what was going on, someone suddenly grabbed her arm from the darkness.

By the moonlight, Anning could see who it was.

"Your Highness? Your Highness, you've finally arrived! Quickly, go and save them..."

Before she could finish speaking, a sharp pain suddenly shot through Anning's chest, leaving her weak and limp on the ground in an instant.

The pain in her chest came in waves, one after another, each wave more intense than the last. In an instant, her forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat. Anning collapsed onto the cold ground, her body involuntarily curling up. Helplessly, she put her fingers in her mouth in an attempt to relieve the slightest pain, but to no avail.

Mu Ange frowned slightly, squatted down, and asked, "What's wrong?"

The intense pain almost overwhelmed her brain; even breathing became incredibly difficult. She gripped Mu Ange's clothes with difficulty and said weakly:

"Save Sister Yun, quick, save Sister Yun." The voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, but the hand gripping Mu Ange refused to let go.

Mu Ange was about to say something when she suddenly realized: Golden Toad Gu!

Although what Chen Xun said at the Third Prince's mansion made a lot of sense, he would never abandon his aunt no matter what. Therefore, now was the perfect time to send troops.

Mu Ange looked down at An Ning, whose face was deathly pale and whose lips were bleeding from being bitten. Even though her eyes were becoming increasingly clouded, she still stubbornly said, "Save Sister Yun."

"Idiot!" Mu Ange blurted out in annoyance. Just how stupid could he be to go to such lengths for someone he'd only met a few times? Did he really think he could repay a small favor with his life?

Without the slightest hesitation, Mu Ange picked Anning up in his arms. The moment he lifted her up, Anning fainted from the intense pain, and her hand, which had been clutching his clothes, slipped away.

In the darkness of night, a figure moved through the rows of palaces, lightly stepping on the wind, heading north without ever looking back.

An Ning's eunuch hat also fell off at an extremely fast speed, and her three thousand strands of hair rose with the wind. A few strands were quite mischievous and wrapped around Mu An Ge's hair, which was flying behind him.

He had broken into the palace at night more than once, and he knew the palace's defenses very well, so even carrying Anning, he could easily leave the palace.

At the entrance of the Third Prince's Mansion, Chen Xun waited there. He saw a figure walking over from afar and hurriedly went to greet him. But when he got closer, he saw that the Third Prince was carrying someone in his arms.

She was petite with flowing hair.

Chen Xun rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Given Third Master's personality, when had he ever hugged anyone? It would be good enough if he didn't kill someone.

"Whose daughter is this?" Chen Xun asked, risking his life.

Hearing Chen Xun's question, Mu Ange was stunned for a moment. She looked down and realized that Xiao Ningzi's eunuch hat had been lost somewhere. Now, looking at her, her slender figure was like a willow swaying in the wind, and she really did look like a woman.

Chen Xun peeked out, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets: "Little Ningzi?" Isn't that the little eunuch from before? What on earth is going on?

Mu Ange strode into the mansion, settled her on the bed, and instructed, "Go find the antidote for the Golden Toad Gu."

"Yes." Chen Xun was even more confused. Those who had been fed the Golden Toad Gu by Third Master before all came to the Prince in a sorry state, crying and howling, begging for the antidote. How come when it came to Xiao Ningzi, Third Master personally carried him back and fed him the antidote? Is this the legendary double standard?

Despite his thoughts, Chen Xun quickly found the antidote in the box.

"Give."

"Send a message to the palace by carrier pigeon, making a big scene about tonight's events, preferably before the emperor can sleep."

"yes."

"Step down."

Given the current situation, the best opportunity to send troops has been missed. In addition, the eunuch is in poor condition and has no energy left to rebel. Fortunately, the aunt's crisis has been temporarily resolved.

Chen Xun quietly withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Although An Ning had closed her eyes on the bed, it was still clear that she was in great pain, because even in her unconscious state, her brows were still furrowed.

Her delicate, fair face was now even paler, her upturned nose was very glossy, and her long eyelashes left a curved silhouette on her eyelids.

Mu Ange looked at him and couldn't help but wonder again: It really is hard to tell if he's male or female!

However, the most important thing at this moment is to get the medicine into my throat.

So, Mu Ange very directly pried open her mouth and stuffed the antidote inside.

However, Anning did not swallow for a long time.

Mu Ange suddenly remembered that she hadn't given her water yet.

So he stood up again, poured a glass of water and fed it to Anning, but the water dripped out of her lips and she didn't drink a single drop.

Mu Ange felt inexplicably irritable; if he didn't take his medicine soon, things would get worse!

"With your mouth?" Mu Ange stared at him, her face contorting in pain.