Faced with such a horrifying sight, many timid palace maids and eunuchs around were terrified, some vomiting and others crying.
Even the well-trained guards couldn't help but secretly gag.
The emperor, however, was like an emotionless iron man. In full view of everyone, he actually bent down and touched the corpse's chin with his hand, turning the corpse's head, which was originally tilted to the left, to the right.
Only after he no longer saw that familiar red mole did the gloom that had been hanging over his eyes gradually dissipate.
He was certain that this person was not Jian Yang.
That's really fortunate.
But at the same time, unease still lingered in his heart.
This woman had her neck broken by someone.
If nothing unexpected happens, she should be Jian Yang's personal maid who takes care of her daily life.
But if she were murdered, disfigured, and her body dumped in the lake, would Jian Yang still be safe?
"Xiqiu, you usually get along well with Lianxia, do you remember any of her features?"
Xiqiu thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, I have a black birthmark on my right forearm."
The emperor stopped touching the woman's body and instead summoned his guards to verify it.
Sure enough, there was a black birthmark on the woman's right arm.
Xiqiu covered her mouth, exclaiming in disbelief, "How could it be Lianxia?"
Then she asked, "Where did the Empress go?"
The emperor's expression was solemn. He ordered Lianxia to be buried and ordered a search for Jianyang throughout the palace and the city.
Jian Yang woke up in the evening.
At this moment, the sky outside the window is ablaze with a magnificent sunset, indicating that tomorrow will be another beautiful day.
"Holy crap, that brat tricked me!"
As his consciousness returned and he recalled the despicable things Lianxia had done, Jian Yang couldn't help but swear.
A soft laugh rang out from not far away.
Jian Yang immediately turned her head to look at the source of the sound.
It was Zhou Jing'an!
At this moment, he slumped in his chair, sitting undignifiedly, completely unlike the image-conscious and face-saving prince he usually was.
Why is he here? And why are the two of them in the same room?
Jian Yang was filled with doubt.
The next moment, she suddenly froze.
She quickly scanned the unfamiliar surroundings; this was definitely not the kind of furnishings one would find in a palace.
Then she looked out the window and saw not only a vast expanse of sunset clouds, but also mountains in the distance that were dyed orange by the setting sun.
Mountains...
The imperial city is located on a plain, and to see the mountains, one must travel more than a hundred miles outside the city.
This also means that they have left the imperial city.
Jian Yang tried to sit up, but found that apart from her eyes, mouth and neck, she could barely move any part of her body.
If nothing unexpected happens, she should have been poisoned by the cartilage-inducing drug.
"I never imagined that the Empress was such a sentimental person."
"Did you kidnap me?"
The two spoke at almost the same time.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jing'an smiled bitterly and said, "The Empress has truly misunderstood me. I have also been poisoned with the same bone-softening powder as you, and I am now sitting here with difficulty even getting up."
No wonder he sat like a traitor, showing no trace of a prince's demeanor.
"Then why are you and I here?"
Zhou Jing'an said, "Last night, someone first drugged me and knocked me out, then carried me here. Later that night, I saw a group of masked men carrying the Empress in as well."
Jian Yang was largely skeptical of his words.
Because she and Zhou Jing'an had no common enemy, it was impossible for the other side to kidnap them both at the same time and go to great lengths to transport them outside the city.
So she didn't bother to speak again, lest Zhou Jing'an mislead her thoughts.
Next, she began to diligently follow the breathing techniques recorded in the Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic to accelerate her body's metabolism.
The cartilage powder wasn't a potent poison, and she would recover soon.
Half an hour later, just as Zhou Jing'an had predicted, a tall, masked man pushed open the door and entered, carrying two food boxes in his hands.
The burly man slammed the food box down on the table and said in a rough voice, "Get up and eat when you're hungry in the middle of the night! I'm warning you, don't try anything funny. There are our men all around here. We can kill you all easily."
Jian Yang and Zhou Jing'an both fell silent.
After delivering the food, the big man swaggered out and locked the door behind him.
Jian Yang waited for about an hour, and when she felt her strength gradually returning to her body, she quickly jumped out of bed.
It was almost dark by then, but fortunately the moonlight illuminated the room brightly.
Through the windows and cracks in the door, Jian Yang could see that they were in a farmhouse courtyard, surrounded by guards, just as the big man had said.
It would be virtually impossible for her to escape on her own.
If we add Zhou Jing'an...
As Jian Yang pondered this, she walked towards him.
Zhou Jing'an looked at her with a smile and said gently, "The Empress's recovery ability is also amazing."
Jian Yang ignored him and started taking his pulse on her own.
"You really did take the cartilage-softening powder?" she said, somewhat surprised.
Zhou Jing'an couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Otherwise, why would the Empress think I've been sitting here all this time?"
Jian Yang sat down dejectedly.
"Huh?" She looked down at her clothes. "Why am I wearing Lianxia's clothes?"
Zhou Jing'an said without changing his expression, "Perhaps the villains thought this would make it easier to transport the Empress out of the palace."
"Who are the criminals?" Jian Yang asked abruptly.
Zhou Jing'an paused for a moment, then said seriously, "To be honest, I believe it is the Prince of Dingbian. Only he has the ability to freely enter and leave the palace and transport the two of us out of the palace."
Jian Yang scoffed, "Second brother is too modest. You possess this ability as well."
"Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me. I can't bear the responsibility for such a serious crime as kidnapping Your Majesty."
Jian Yang then asked, "I remember that my second brother has always been on good terms with the Prince of Dingbian, so how did he get arrested?"
Zhou Jing'an's smiling face slowly fell: "The King of Dingbian wants to declare himself emperor. My existence is a threat to him. He has never trusted me."
I don't trust you either.
That dog of a man is full of lies.
Jian Yang pursed her lips and stopped responding.
Whether Zhou Jing'an lied to her or he and the Prince of Dingbian really fought like dogs, time will tell.
In any case, she would never trust this fox in front of her for the time being.
Once the indoors becomes quiet, the outdoor area becomes exceptionally noisy.
Jian Yang pricked up her ears, wanting to hear some news, and she actually did hear it.
She first heard the sound of a carriage entering.
Then I heard someone calling for help.
"Have you bought everything?"
"Don't worry, everything is ready. It's enough to last until we get to Jinzhou. We can continue to buy more once we get there."
What's it like inside the imperial city?
"The emperor noticed something was wrong early in the morning and immediately ordered the city gates to be sealed. Fortunately, I had bribed the guards at the gates, and since it was all goods, they were able to do it for me."
"Go and get some rest. We'll set off as soon as it's light."
...
Jian Yang no longer cared about the following conversation; her mind was filled with the word "Jinzhou."
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