Palace intrigue, huh?
“Granny Zhang,” He Mo said calmly, stepping in front of Yin Li with his hand still gripping the hilt of his sword, “The Empress Dowager has suddenly summoned us. What urgent matter could she possibly have to discuss? Could we please change our clothes before we go to see her?”
Zhang Mama nodded slightly, a meaningful smile appearing on her face: "The Empress Dowager said that there is no time to lose."
As for these…” she pointed to the corpses on the ground, “this old servant will have them cleaned up, young master and young lady need not worry.”
He Mo felt a chill run down his spine. The Empress Dowager not only knew they were here, but she also knew everything that had happened here.
It seems they have no choice but to comply.
“Alright, we’ll go with you,” He Mo said in a deep voice.
Yin Li gripped He Mo's sleeve tightly, her palms sweating profusely. She had a strong premonition that this trip would likely end in disaster.
Following Zhang Mama through several quiet palace paths, the moonlight shone on the bluestone slabs, giving them a cool glow.
The palace was exceptionally quiet at night, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and their barely audible footsteps.
Yin Li quietly observed her surroundings and noticed that there were many more guards along the way than usual, and each of them had a solemn expression and was scanning the passersby with wary eyes.
It seems that something major has indeed happened in the palace, but they are unaware of it yet.
Soon, they arrived at the Cining Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided. The Cining Palace was brightly lit, a stark contrast to the silence of the rest of the palace.
Upon entering the main hall, one sees the Empress Dowager sitting upright on the throne at the head of the table, holding a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand, and resting with her eyes closed.
The atmosphere inside the hall was oppressive. The palace maids and eunuchs standing on both sides all had their heads down and dared not breathe.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." He Mo pulled Yin Li and knelt down.
The Empress Dowager slowly opened her eyes, her gaze falling on He Mo, her expression complex and unreadable.
"Get up." Her voice was old, yet carried an undeniable authority.
He Mo and Yin Li stood up, hands at their sides, waiting for the Empress Dowager to continue.
The Empress Dowager remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Young Master He, I know you are exceptionally skilled, and I also know that you have some connection with the Mo Prince's Mansion."
He Mo was startled and looked up at the Empress Dowager: "Your Majesty, please understand, I only..."
"There's no need to hide it," the Empress Dowager interrupted him. "Although the case of the Mo family has been settled, there are still many doubts. I know you have been investigating in secret, trying to overturn the case for the Mo family."
He Mo's pupils contracted sharply; he never expected the Empress Dowager to know so much. "Your Majesty, this subject..."
"I can help you," the Empress Dowager said, changing the subject, "but you must agree to one condition."
"Please enlighten us, Your Majesty."
"I want you to stay in the palace and secretly protect the Crown Prince's safety." The Empress Dowager's gaze was sharp as a knife as she stared directly at He Mo. "Recently, there have been undercurrents in the palace, and someone is plotting against the Crown Prince. Xiao Luzi was one of their men, but fortunately you got rid of him. But this is just the beginning; there will be more dangers to come."
He Mo frowned, his heart filled with doubt. Why would the Empress Dowager order him to protect the Crown Prince?
Moreover, how did she know that Xiao Luzi was after the Crown Prince?
"Your Majesty, I am already a man of the martial world, and I am afraid I am not fit for this position," He Mo said tactfully.
"You are no ordinary person from the martial arts world." The Empress Dowager's tone was very certain. "You are Mo Yi's son, Mo Yan. I have not misjudged you."
With a deafening roar, He Mo felt his mind go completely blank. His true identity had been so easily exposed by the Empress Dowager!
"Your Majesty, I..."
"Mo Yan," the Empress Dowager sighed, her tone softening slightly, "I know you bear the burden of a blood feud. But you must understand, only when the Crown Prince is safe will you have a chance to overturn the verdict for the Mo family. If something happens to the Crown Prince, and the world descends into chaos, who will care about the Mo family's unjust case then?"
A storm raged in He Mo's heart. The Empress Dowager's words were all reasonable.
But how could he trust the Empress Dowager? After all, she was the head of the harem, and her influence was unfathomable.
Just as He Mo was hesitating, Yin Li gently tugged at his sleeve.
She gestured to him with her eyes, indicating that they could only agree to the Empress Dowager's request for now and then discuss the matter further.
He Mo took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at the Empress Dowager: "Alright, I agree. But I have one condition."
"explain."
"This humble citizen needs to know some clues about the wrongful case of the Mo Prince's Mansion back then." He Mo's eyes were firm, filled with an unquestionable determination.
The Empress Dowager nodded: "Alright. But not now. After you protect the Crown Prince through this crisis, I will naturally tell you some things you want to know."
She looked at Zhang Mama: "Zhang Mama, take the young master and young lady to rest. Arrange a quiet place for them to stay. No one is allowed to disturb them without my order."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Zhang Mama replied respectfully, then turned to He Mo and Yin Li and said, "Young master, young lady, please come with this old servant."
He Mo and Yin Li followed Zhang Mama out of Cining Palace, their hearts still filled with doubt and unease. The Empress Dowager's sudden show of goodwill, and her understanding of their identities, made them feel that things were not so simple.
Unbeknownst to them, after they left, a complex smile appeared on the Empress Dowager's face. She picked up a cup of tea from the table, took a small sip, and said softly, "Mo Yi, your son has finally grown up. However, this deep palace is fraught with danger; whether he can survive depends on his own fate."
The moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the Empress Dowager's aged face and the fleeting sadness and helplessness in her eyes.
In the depths of the palace, there are never any true winners. Everyone, whether the high-ranking empress dowager or the emperor, or the lowly palace maid or eunuch, is merely a pawn in this game of power, powerless to control their own destiny.
He Mo and Yin Li have been drawn into this cruelest game, and their fates are now inextricably linked to this cold palace.
For the next few days, under the arrangement of Granny Zhang, He Mo and Yin Li stayed in a side hall near the Cining Palace. The environment was quiet and the guards were strict; it was indeed a secluded and safe place.
He Mo didn't sit idle; he used this time to secretly observe the movements in the palace.
He discovered that the Crown Prince was indeed in a dangerous situation recently, not only being ostracized and suppressed by Consort Li's faction, but also encountering several inexplicable "accidents." Fortunately, they were all resolved without serious harm by the guards around the Crown Prince.
Yin Li met a palace maid named Chun Tao in the palace. Chun Tao was a palace maid in the East Palace. She was an upright and kind person. She was transferred here to do odd jobs because she accidentally offended a eunuch from Consort Li's side.
Yin Li learned a lot about the palace from Chun Tao, especially about the conflict between the Crown Prince and Consort Li.
"Miss Yin, you don't know, Consort Li will stop at nothing to make her son, the Third Prince, replace the Crown Prince." Chun Tao lowered her voice and whispered to Yin Li, "A few days ago, someone put laxatives in the pastries His Highness the Crown Prince ate. Fortunately, His Highness didn't have an appetite at the time and only ate one bite, otherwise it would have been troublesome."
Yin Li was startled: "Have they found out who did it?"
Chun Tao shook her head: "No. Consort Li suppressed the matter, saying that His Highness the Crown Prince accidentally ate something that upset his stomach."
Everyone in the palace knew it was Consort Li who did it, but no one dared to say anything.
Yin Li sighed, feeling sympathy for the Crown Prince's situation. At the same time, she became even more aware of the cruelty of this palace intrigue.
That evening, He Mo returned home with a gloomy expression.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Yin Li asked hurriedly.
He Mo sat down in his chair, took a sip of tea, and then said, "I've found out some things about Xiao Luzi. He's not only a member of the Shadow Pavilion, but also a spy planted by Consort Li next to the Emperor. Consort Li wants to use the Shadow Pavilion to get rid of the Crown Prince first, and then seize the throne."
"What?" Yin Li exclaimed in surprise, "Consort Li actually has such great ambitions?"
“That’s not all.” He Mo’s eyes grew even colder. “I also discovered that the wrongful conviction back then was also closely related to Consort Li. She gained the Emperor’s favor and climbed to her current position by framing the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion.”
Yin Li felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly. She looked at He Mo, her eyes filled with worry: "Then what do you plan to do? Are you going to seek revenge on Consort Li now?"
He Mo shook his head: "No. Now is not the time. Consort Li has a huge influence and many followers. If we go to her now, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock."
Moreover, the Empress Dowager has also entrusted us with protecting the Crown Prince; we cannot betray her trust.
"But what exactly does the Empress Dowager mean? Why is she helping us?" Yin Li asked, puzzled.
He Mo was silent for a moment before saying, "I don't know. But I always feel that the Empress Dowager must have her own purpose in doing this. We can only take it one step at a time and act cautiously."
Just then, a slight noise came from outside the window.
He Mo immediately became alert. He gestured for Yin Li to be quiet, then quietly walked to the window and suddenly pulled it open.
There was no one outside the window, only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"What's wrong?" Yin Li asked anxiously.
He Mo frowned: "It's nothing. I probably misheard."
But he had a strong sense of unease. He always felt that someone was secretly watching them.
The next morning, Granny Zhang arrived at the side hall.
"Young Master Shen, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at Cining Palace," said Zhang Mama.
He Mo's heart tightened: "Is there something you need, Your Majesty?"
"This old servant doesn't know," Zhang Mama shook her head. "It's just that the Empress Dowager said she has important matters to discuss with the young master."
He Mo glanced at Yin Li and said to her, "Wait for me here, I'll be back soon."
"Yes." Yin Li nodded, her eyes filled with worry.
He Mo followed Zhang Mama to Cining Palace. Inside the main hall, besides the Empress Dowager, there was also a concubine dressed in magnificent palace attire.
This concubine is beautiful and gentle; she is none other than the current virtuous consort.
He Mo was startled, not understanding why the Empress Dowager would allow Consort Xian to be here as well.
"Young Master Mo, this is Consort Xian," the Empress Dowager introduced.
"Greetings, Your Highness, the Virtuous Consort." He Mo knelt down.
"Rise," Consort Xian said gently. "Young master, there's no need for such formalities."
He Mo stood up and stood to the side with his hands at his sides.
The Empress Dowager looked at He Mo and said, "Young Master Mo, I have summoned you here because I want you to do Consort Xian a favor."
"Your Majesty, please give your orders."
"The Consort Xian has been unwell lately and feels that someone is secretly trying to harm her."
"I hope you can secretly protect Consort Xian's safety," the Empress Dowager said.
He Mo was stunned: "Your Majesty, I have already promised to protect His Highness the Crown Prince, I'm afraid..."
"I will send someone else to protect the Crown Prince," the Empress Dowager interrupted him. "The Consort Xian is also in danger now, so you must protect her first."
He Mo was filled with doubt. Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly order him to protect Consort Xian? And why did Consort Xian feel that someone wanted to harm her?
"Your subject obeys the decree." Although he had doubts, He Mo still agreed.
Consort Xian looked at He Mo with a grateful smile on her face: "Thank you, young master."
"Your Highness is too kind."
After leaving the Cining Palace, He Mo felt extremely heavy-hearted. He had a feeling that a huge conspiracy was hidden behind the Empress Dowager's arrangements.
He was like a chess piece, placed arbitrarily by the Empress Dowager.
Back in the side hall, Yin Li immediately surrounded them: "How did it go? What did the Empress Dowager want to see you about?"
He Mo told Yin Li about the Empress Dowager's request for him to protect Consort Xian.
"What? The Empress Dowager actually ordered you to protect Consort Xian?" Yin Li exclaimed in surprise. "What exactly is going on?"
“I don’t know.” He Mo shook his head. “But I have a feeling that things are getting more and more complicated.”
Just then, the door to the side hall was pushed open, and Chun Tao rushed in in a panic.
"Miss Yin, Young Master He, something terrible has happened!" Chun Tao said breathlessly.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Yin Li asked hurriedly.
"The Eastern Palace...something has happened at the Eastern Palace!" Chun Tao exclaimed. "His Highness the Crown Prince has been poisoned and is currently unconscious!"
He Mo and Yin Li were both startled.
"What?" He Mo's voice was icy. "Who did this?"
"I don't know." Chun Tao shook her head. "I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince became like this after drinking a cup of tea this morning. The imperial physicians are all helpless."
He Mo's eyes sharpened: "Let's go, let's go take a look at the East Palace."
He and Yinli followed Chuntao to the East Palace. Inside, chaos reigned; palace maids and eunuchs ran about in a panic. A large crowd had gathered outside the Crown Prince's bedchamber.
He Mo pushed through the crowd and entered the bedchamber. The Crown Prince lay on the bed, his face pale and his lips purple, clearly poisoned. Several imperial physicians stood around the bed, their brows furrowed, at a loss for what to do.
"How is it? How is His Highness the Crown Prince?" He Mo asked.
An elderly imperial physician shook his head: "Young Master He, His Highness the Crown Prince has been poisoned by a rare and deadly poison called 'Qianji Yin'. There is no cure for this poison; we have done everything we can."
He Mo's pupils suddenly contracted. "Tethering Mechanism"? He had heard of this poison before; it was an extremely potent and deadly poison. Once poisoned, one would convulse all over, head and feet contorted, resembling the motion of being pulled on a tether, causing extreme pain.
"Who poisoned him? Have you found out?" He Mo asked.
"Not yet," said the captain of the guards beside the Crown Prince. "We have sealed off the Eastern Palace and are investigating with all our might."
He Mo walked to the bedside and carefully observed the Crown Prince's condition. He noticed that there was some light purple powder left under the Crown Prince's fingernails, the same color as the poison powder he had previously found on Xiao Lu Zi.
“It was done by people from the Shadow Pavilion,” He Mo said in a deep voice. “Moreover, it is very likely related to Consort Li.”
Just then, Consort Xian arrived at the East Palace. Upon seeing the Crown Prince's condition, her expression changed, her eyes filled with worry: "How is His Highness the Crown Prince? Imperial physicians, you must save His Highness!"
"Your Highness, we have done our best," the imperial physicians said.
Consort Xian sighed, walked to He Mo's side, and whispered, "Young Master He, you must find out who did it and avenge His Highness the Crown Prince."
Looking at Consort Xian, He Mo suddenly felt a pang of doubt. Why was Consort Xian so concerned about the Crown Prince? And wasn't her arrival too coincidental?
But he didn't show it, he just nodded: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely find out the truth."
Over the next few days, He Mo devoted himself to investigating the Crown Prince's poisoning case. He discovered that the palace maid who served the Crown Prince tea had disappeared without a trace, clearly having been silenced.
Moreover, several of the guards in the Eastern Palace also had connections with the Shadow Pavilion.
After some investigation, He Mo finally found some clues. These clues all pointed to a trusted eunuch by Consort Li's side.
He Mo decided to capture the eunuch himself. He quietly arrived outside Consort Li's palace, waiting for his opportunity.
Just then, he saw his trusted eunuch come out of the palace and walk out of the palace in a panic.
He Mo immediately followed. He followed them all the way to an abandoned temple outside the city.
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