Yin Zhe's figure, like ink drops falling into water, silently blended into the night, heading ahead to the south gate of Fengjing to arrange the carriages.

The Imperial Study was not any less busy because of the absence of one person; on the contrary, the impending farewell added a touch of tense stillness.

Qin Zhaoyue was determined to travel with her mother, the Empress, and Jiang Wuyai and Chu Xinglan naturally stayed by her side at all times.

If the three plates of Heaven, Earth, and Man are separated, the terrifying suppressive power will no longer exist.

As a result, only Elder Xue and Ling Muxue, both at the second rank, remained to oversee the vast palace.

The risks are hanging by a thread, but the situation is pressing, and there is no foolproof solution left.

Of course, compared to Qin Zhaoyue's impending departure into a dangerous situation, the risks in Fengjing seem insignificant.

Yin Zhe needed time to prepare clean water, dry food, and medicine, so he left early, leaving some time for people to say goodbye.

only……

The imperial heirs silently gathered around the soft couch where their mother was resting, their silence as heavy as soaked cotton wool, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.

The palace lanterns stretched their shadows, casting them distorted shadows onto the cold, gold-brick ground.

A heavy sense of worry filled the air, and every breath felt sluggish and difficult to take.

Princess Qin Zhaowan's lips moved several times before she finally hesitated and spoke.

"Zhaoyue... could you please allow the Empress to regain consciousness for a moment?"

The future is uncertain, and this may be the last time we see each other.

She longed for a farewell, or an unspoken instruction, or even a glimmer of hope that would prevent her from taking such a risky gamble.

Without a second thought, Qin Zhaoyue slowly shook her head, her gaze falling on her mother's thin and withered face.

"No, it would only increase the risk."

Merit should be conserved, as reawakening it will inevitably consume a great deal of resources.

Everyone fell silent.

Everyone understands the reasoning: maintaining the Queen's current slumber has exhausted all its life force, and forcibly waking her would be extremely risky.

However... when emotions run high, it's inevitable to harbor a sliver of wishful thinking.

Sui Mo suddenly stepped forward and knelt on one knee, followed by all the members of the Mo Group who knelt down in unison.

"Your Highness, please take us with you!"

The sound of shattered ink was extremely taut, like a fully drawn bowstring.

"Even if we are weak, we can still share the burden by taking care of them along the way."

Qin Zhaoyue shook her head again, her gaze sweeping over the young and resolute faces:

I appreciate your kindness.

During this period, keeping an eye on Little Seven, Little Eight, and Little Nine will be a great achievement.

Sui Mo bit his lower lip, almost tasting a hint of rust, while the Mo Group members behind him also showed resentment.

They believed that they had given their all in the past four months and their cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds, enough to make them stand out among their peers in the Azure Phoenix Guard.

But now Your Highness is facing a storm so fierce that even a third-grade Divine Martial Realm expert seems to be in grave danger.

How could their meager Qi Martial Realm cultivation be of any use to her?

At that moment, a profound sense of powerlessness overwhelmed them like a tidal wave.

Xiao Jiu silently stepped forward, her cold little hand clutching Qin Zhaoyue's sleeve, tilting her head back, her eyes reddening:

"Sixth sister, you must come back safely."

Xiao Qi and Xiao Ba also gathered around, placing their hands on top of each other, their voices breaking into sobs as they spoke:

"Sixth sister, be careful."

Seeing the three little ones trying to hold back their tears, Qin Zhaoyue's heart softened.

He sighed and gently ruffled Xiao Jiu's hair with his free hand:

"Alright, at least all that love and care for you guys wasn't for nothing."

Xiao Jiu tilted her head, trying to lighten the mood:

"When has Sixth Sister ever been kind to us? Is it when she's trying to rip us off?"

Qin Zhaoyue chuckled, then gently tapped her forehead with her finger: "You're so clever."

"Zhaoyue." The Third Princess, the Fourth Princess, and the Fifth Prince Qin Jingzhan also gathered around.

"Mother Queen...I entrust everything to you." The Third Princess's voice was heavy. "You must all return safely."

"Um."

Qin Jingzhan's Adam's apple bobbed as he forcefully suppressed the churning soreness in his chest.

These past two days have been filled with a myriad of thoughts and complex emotions that are difficult to express.

After his mother ascended the throne, she rarely paid attention to him. His older siblings each had their own strengths, but he and Zhaoyue seemed to have been forgotten in a corner.

But now, his sixth sister, who was once just as naive as him, has risen to a height that he can no longer reach.

He had resented and given up on himself, but the word "owe" that his mother said to him before she fell into a deep sleep seemed to smooth out all his wrinkles in an instant.

As long as the Queen Mother is still alive, nothing else seems to matter.

Qin Jingzhan took a deep breath and said:

"Sixth sister, if you can survive this..."

"Stop!"

Qin Zhaoyue jolted awake, quickly cutting him off, still shaken.

"Fifth Brother, you can't say things like that!"

Qin Jingzhan stood there, stunned.

He had intended to say that once she returned safely, he would open his private treasury and let her choose whatever she wanted as a reward, but before he could finish speaking, he was silenced.

Qin Zhaoyue dared not let him continue.

"Wait for my safe return this time..."

"This is my last mission..."

"I want to go home after I retire..."

"This is a picture of my daughter..."

The prophecies set in those TV dramas often come true.

Good heavens, she almost got killed by Fifth Brother's "poisonous milk"!

"Stop getting sentimental," Qin Zhaoyue's tone turned crisp and decisive. "I will do my best."

She looked at her third and fourth sisters, "Fengjing, I'll leave it to you, my sisters."

"Don't worry, you will be safe and sound."

"Alright, then farewell."

Qin Zhaoyue bent down and gently lifted the Empress into her arms.

I don't know if it's because my strength has increased or because my mother's life force has been drained too much, but the body in my arms is frighteningly light, and I can clearly feel her bony bones through her clothes.

Jiang Wuyai and Chu Xinglan stood guard on either side of them. Although they did not activate the connection between the three plates, an invisible "domain" had quietly opened up, enveloping the three of them.

The departure of the Empress from the palace was a top secret, and the imperial heirs could not see her off. They could only stand in the imperial study and watch their figures disappear into the long palace corridor.

The eunuch Su Quan knelt down with a thud, his forehead pressed against the cold ground, tears silently streaming down his face, repeatedly chanting in his heart:

"I pray to Heaven to bless His Majesty and the Sixth Prince with a safe return."

As Qin Zhaoyue's figure completely disappeared into the darkness outside the door, Xiao Jiu's tears, which she had been holding back, burst forth instantly.

She bit her lip tightly, trying not to cry out, as if afraid that the slightest sound would disturb the peace of the traveler.

Even the two little boys, Xiaoqi and Xiaoba, couldn't hold back any longer and began to sob softly.

The three older siblings silently stepped forward, each taking one of the little ones into their arms and gently comforting them:

"Don't be afraid, trust your sixth sister, she will surely turn bad luck into good."

Xiao Jiu nodded vigorously, but her tears fell even more fiercely...