Cai Ning emerged from the imperial kitchen carrying the pastries bestowed upon her that day, in a very good mood. Holding a lantern in one hand, she hummed a cheerful tune. As she turned into another palace path, she unexpectedly encountered two extremely familiar people.
In the dim light, she could make out the two people. They were both dressed as palace eunuchs, walking forward with serious expressions. What was going on?
For a moment, she forgot that her appearance had changed, and the two people in front of her probably wouldn't recognize her.
She hurriedly stepped forward to block the two of them, a hint of excitement in her voice: "What are you two doing here, dressed like that?"
Liu Xinqi and Li Li stopped, and upon seeing the woman's face clearly, a look of confusion flashed in their eyes. This woman seemed to know them. Li Li and Liu Xinqi exchanged a glance in the dim light, seeing only unfamiliarity in each other's eyes.
Li Li gave a polite but distant smile: "This young lady must have mistaken you for someone else? We've never met before."
Cai Ning then remembered that her appearance had long since changed. The two people in front of her probably thought she was crazy for trying to strike up a conversation. She smiled awkwardly, "Um..."
Suddenly, the patrolling guards came over, and Cai Ning quickly pulled the two of them to a corner: "I am Mu Wanyu." She uttered these words amidst their puzzled gazes, her expression calm and extremely serious.
Li Li stared wide-eyed in astonishment: "You...you...you!"
Liu Xinqi shoved Li Li aside with a look of disgust, took the lamp from Cai Ning's hand, and carefully examined the woman's face by its light. She didn't resemble Mu Wanyu at all, but the look in her eyes reminded Liu Xinqi of the time when Mu Wanyu saved him—it was so familiar that he couldn't help but be somewhat lost in thought.
Cai Ning was very anxious. She wanted to leave the palace with the help of these two people, but she didn't know if they would believe her.
"Whether you believe it or not, I was resurrected after I died. Liu Xinqi, I saved you before, and you even gave me your personal jade pendant. Li Li, we grew up together since childhood. Do you remember when I fell from a tree and broke my arm when we were little?" Cai Ning hurriedly revealed her identity based on her past memories. No matter what, she had to leave this ruthless palace first.
Li Li and Liu Xinqi were both shocked. These were very private matters; how could this palace maid know them? Seeing her anxious expression, could she really be Mu Wanyu, resurrected in another's body?
Seeing the two of them stunned, Cai Ning became even more anxious: "Hey, believe me, I know a lot about what happened between you two. If I weren't Mu Wanyu, how would I know?"
Liu Xinqi had been carefully observing her expressions and subtle movements, which were remarkably similar to those of Mu Wanyu from before. The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed, as if there was a mystery yet to be solved. Perhaps the woman before him could clear up his doubts, so he nodded slightly: "I'll believe you for now."
Li Li was even more suspicious, because the Mu Wanyu he had encountered was mostly the wealthy young lady from ancient times, and he didn't know much about the words and actions of the time-traveling Mu Wanyu. He didn't have the same strange feeling as Liu Xinqi.
"Don't just stand there..." Cai Ning was about to ask the two to take her away when more Imperial Guards came to patrol. Hearing the sounds from this side, their footsteps drew closer.
Cai Ning closed her eyes briefly and whispered, "Don't go out here. I'm in the laundry department now." After giving her instructions, she turned and walked out with the snacks and lantern, just in time to run into the Imperial Guards.
"Did you hear anything when you came over just now, young lady?" The imperial guard looked at the palace maid in front of him. She was holding a palace lantern and a plate of snacks from the imperial kitchen. She had her head down and her expression was natural, without anything strange about her.
"I just came out of the Imperial Kitchen and received some snacks as a reward from the Empress. Perhaps the other people in the palace are a bit excited."
"In that case, young lady, you should go back quickly."
Under the watchful eyes of the Imperial Guards, Cai Ning slowly walked away towards the Laundry Bureau.
Liu Xinqi and Li Li waited until there was no more noise outside before going out. The two of them bowed their heads and walked respectfully toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"How credible is what she just said?" Li Li asked wistfully.
Liu Xinqi narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "It's not that I completely believe it, nor that I don't. It's just that Di Jingcheng will have to pay a price tonight, after all, Yu'er didn't even leave behind a complete corpse, did she?"
Li Li looked at Liu Xinqi, whose eyes were full of bloodlust, as if he truly hated Di Jingcheng.
Li Li hesitated, after all, Emperor Jingcheng was indeed a good and promising young ruler. If he were to join forces with Liu Xinqi, it would be a true act of treason.
Liu Xinqi seemed to see through his thoughts, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips: "Don't forget, from the moment we joined forces, we've been in the same boat."
Li Li was shocked. Yes, he was now in a bind. Well then, let it all be for Yu'er's sake, to avenge this blood feud!
Hall of Supreme Harmony
Di Jingcheng had been keeping a close eye on the woman in his arms. Halfway through the banquet, seeing that she was getting tired, he decided to take her back. Unexpectedly, Cheng Er suddenly appeared beside him and whispered something in his ear.
A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected Liu Xinqi to still be so cunning. Luckily, he was prepared.
"Is everything ready?" Di Jingcheng raised an eyebrow slightly, his sharp eyes sweeping over the crowd below. Li Li's seat in the corner was empty, and the envoy from Beixiang didn't seem to be a peaceful person either.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured."
Di Jingcheng nodded slightly, instructing him to go and prepare.
Azi leaned against him, feeling a little drowsy; she was truly exhausted. She gently tugged at Di Jingcheng's sleeve, and the man immediately lowered his head tenderly to ask, "Baby, what's wrong? Are we going back?"
Azi nodded slightly: "I'm tired, I want to go back and rest."
Di Jingcheng held her small hand affectionately and kissed it lightly: "Okay, let's go back right away."
Seeing that Azi was dozing off in her elder brother's arms, Emperor Jingyuan felt a pang of sympathy for her exhaustion and came up to offer his condolences under the guise of toasting the Emperor and Empress.
As they were drinking, one of the dancers suddenly used her lightness skill to fly directly towards the Emperor and Empress at the head of the hall. Her originally slender dance sleeves had now become a tattered cloth, lying in the center of the hall, and she held a gleaming dagger, pointing it directly at the Emperor and Empress.
Everyone was terrified, and some women and young ladies screamed in fright. Hearing the screams, Azi's mind cleared somewhat. She opened her eyes wide and saw the fierce-looking woman flying towards her with a dagger; the tip of the blade stung her eyes. The next moment, Di Jingcheng buried Azi's face in his chest, gently comforting her, "Don't be afraid, baby, it's alright."
Di Jingcheng gently patted Azi's back, his eyes calmly fixed on the woman. At the critical moment, Cheng Er appeared out of nowhere and subdued the woman with a single move, the dagger clattering to the ground.
The instant Cheng Er made his move, a large number of black-clad assassins surged in from both sides, and imperial guards entered from the main hall entrance, brandishing knives and shouting "Protect the Emperor!" As the two sides clashed, chaos erupted inside the hall, with princes, ministers, noble ladies, and wives screaming and fleeing in terror.
Emperor Jingyuan also joined the fighting. The Emperor and Empress had already been tightly protected by the Imperial Guards and secret guards, and no assassin could get close to them.
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