Chapter 188 The beauties were all willing to die for each other.

Chapter 188 The beauties were all willing to die for each other.

Just as Yue Yining entered the palace gates, Qiu Wuzhu's order for martial law arrived.

A loud slam of a door slamming shut echoed behind them. Immediately afterward, soldiers pulled on chains, and a loud, clear command rang out from afar:

"The Imperial Preceptor has decreed—all gates are under martial law! No one may enter or leave without orders!"

The sound echoed through the empty palace walls. Yue Yining paused for a moment, then quickened her pace, without looking back.

She raised her eyes and gazed at the palace eaves that were faintly visible in the morning mist in the distance, her lips pressed tightly together.

We made it.

If she had arrived any later, she would have been barred from the palace by martial law.

Once you've entered this gate, there's no turning back.

Instead of heading towards Hanzhang Hall, she turned onto a quieter palace path, passed through several moon gates, and went straight to the side hall of the Western Six Palaces where the Inner Study was located.

In the courtyard of the Inner Study Hall, the ancient locust tree's new buds stood silently in the morning mist. Yue Yining asked a passing palace maid and learned that Zhou Congyi was resting in a side hall. She hurried straight to the front of the hall and saw Zhou Congyi reading at his desk through the half-open wooden door.

The surroundings were quiet and still, enveloped in the shadows cast by the bamboo and trees. She lowered her eyes to read, her fingertips pressing the pages, her spirit undiminished, only growing more rugged.

Yue Yining walked even faster, calling out to her as she strode forward, "Congyi!"

Zhou Congyi visibly flinched and immediately looked up. Upon seeing that it was her, Zhou Congyi stood up abruptly, the movement so sudden that she nearly overturned the table several feet long in front of her.

"Yining!" Zhou Congyi grabbed her robes and ran towards her, embracing Yue Yining tightly at the door. After the initial excitement and joy, her face showed panic. "How...how could you suddenly enter the palace? His Majesty's condition is critical, the Imperial Guards are heavily armed and ready to strike. I clearly already sent someone to deliver the message—"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Congyi seemed to realize something, her expression changing: "Could it be that you...?"

Yue Yining held her hand, her eyes unwavering: "I came here to find you."

"The palace is dangerous. How can I leave you alone to do so many dangerous things? You have already made many plans for us. Now it is my turn."

Yue Yining looked her over and squeezed her hand: "You've had a hard time these past few days."

Since Zhou Congyi was transferred to the palace, Yue Yining has not seen her for a long time.

The female officials of the Imperial Secretariat resided in the palace for extended periods. Due to Zhou Congyi's special status, she was rarely allowed to leave the palace. The two could only meet when Yue Yining personally entered the palace. However, Yue Yining herself was also extremely busy with numerous affairs, so most of their communications had been relayed by spies planted within the inner court.

Zhou Congyi, who had achieved remarkable political success at a young age, was forced to demote due to Qiu Wuzhu's machinations, and her career plummeted. However, she did not give up. Instead, she thought of using her position as a female tutor to help them win over the palace and build popular support.

Under the guise of supervising eunuchs to read and write, Zhou Congyi had ample opportunities to approach servants from various palaces, find suitable lower-ranking eunuchs, and gather them together to cultivate a considerable force within the inner court. These eunuchs served as spies to gather intelligence on a daily basis and could also be used as a trump card when necessary.

Zhou Congyi led her into the hall, then turned around and tightly closed the door. His eyes held genuine unease as he looked at her. "The palace gates are under martial law now. You just barged in like this..."

"...Fine." She looked at Yue Yining with a complicated expression. "I was foolish. Why did I say all this? You are such a meticulous person. Since you decided to come in, you must have already disregarded life and death, right?"

"But even so, how could you not bring in even one or two personal guards? It's just too—"

Yue Yining grasped her hand, a smile appearing in her eyes: "You know perfectly well what good would it do to bring them? If it really were a palace coup, a mountain of knives and a rain of arrows, one or two people couldn't protect me. If I brought a few more people, it would be the same; it would just be a matter of dying sooner or later."

"Stop!" Zhou Congyi looked at her with lingering fear, almost getting angry. "Pah! You're not allowed to say those things! Who curses themselves like that? Are you trying to kill me with anger?"

Yue Yining smiled and said, "How could that be?"

"Congyi, we will all live a long and long life."

Zhou Congyi looked at her, her eyes filled with a bittersweet ache, as if they were stained with vinegar.

"I don't have time to go into details." The dim morning mist was gradually dissipating, and the sky was bright. Yue Yining stared at her, his dark eyes seeming to encompass a vast expanse of light. "My entry into the palace cannot be kept from Qiu Wuzhu. I'm afraid someone has already reported my visit to Hanzhang Palace."

"She will soon send someone to ask me to leave. I won't be able to stay with you for long. We don't have much time left. I have many plans and schemes that I need to explain to you. If I end up in jail after all my scheming, everything else will depend on you."

...

At this moment, the air outside Hanzhang Hall was filled with the aroma of medicine.

In the inner room, separated by several screens and layers of beaded curtains, the elderly and frail emperor was fast asleep, his face shrouded in a heavy aura of death, as if he might suddenly pass away at any moment.

The female Grand Preceptor sitting outside, however, did not seem nervous at all. Her expression as she looked out the window remained as indifferent and cold as ever, without any emotion.

When Li Zhen, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, hurriedly came out, this was the scene he saw.

He paused slightly, then quickened his pace as she turned to look at him, walking over to stand before her and speaking in a low voice:

"...Grand Preceptor. His Majesty's pulse is weak and thready, almost imperceptible. The poison has penetrated deep into his internal organs. He just vomited half a cup of black blood and is still not fully conscious."

"Although we have followed your instructions and administered acupuncture and medicine to stabilize Your Majesty's heart, but unless a divine physician descends to earth, Your Majesty... Your Majesty is afraid..." Li Zhen said, his voice barely audible, "...will not be able to hold on until tomorrow."

Qiu Wuzhu listened quietly, his face expressionless.

She put down her teacup and said slowly, "His Majesty is a true Son of Heaven. I have investigated him many times and found that his dragon aura is strong and his fortune is long-lasting. This means that His Majesty has escaped danger this time and is protected by Heaven. As doctors, you only need to do your best to treat him."

"Yes...yes."

Li Zhen dared not say more, her heart filled with doubt and unease, and she was filled with resentment.

The person looked like they wouldn't live more than two days, yet they escaped unharmed. Was it divine intervention? This woman must have gone mad from studying mystical arts.

“Furthermore,” Qiu Wuzhu said, “His Majesty’s serious illness concerns the stability of the nation and should not be publicized. We should tell the public that His Majesty has been overworked and has caught a cold, and that he will recover after a few days of rest. The Imperial Medical Academy should report daily on the improvement of his condition to reassure the public.”

"Does Chief Physician Li understand?"

Li Zhen trembled and lowered his head even further: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty understands."

"Good that you understand." Qiu Wuzhu took out a heavy brocade pouch from his sleeve and handed it over, his voice softening. "The imperial physicians have worked hard, this is a small token of my appreciation. When His Majesty recovers, there will be a greater reward."

Li Zhen accepted the brocade pouch with both hands, without raising his head: "Thank you for your generous gift, Grand Preceptor. We will do our utmost to help you."

"Go."

Li Zhen bowed and withdrew, her steps hurried.

Qiu Wuzhu looked at the hanging curtain. Behind a backdrop of overlapping pearls and jade, Emperor Dongxi lay silently on his imperial couch, on the verge of life and death.

A cold, mocking glint slowly flashed across the depths of her eyes.

Footsteps sounded outside the hall. Soon after, the head palace maid Zisu appeared at the door and whispered, "Reporting to the Imperial Preceptor, Lord Yue Yining just entered the palace before the martial law was declared and went straight to the Inner Study Hall."

She lowered her head, and Qiu Wuzhu's shadow stretched long, right at her feet. The owner of that shadow, who had been calmly drinking tea, paused upon hearing this.

Qiu Wuzhu's expression grew even more indifferent: "What was your reason for coming in?"

Zisu was cautious: "The Imperial Guards at the gate reported that Lord Yue was carrying the seal of Instructor Zhou from the Inner Academy. He said that the first draft of the 'Extended Meaning of the Admonitions for Women,' compiled by the Inner Academy under imperial decree, was completed and Lord Yue was invited to the palace to assist in verifying several difficult entries involving the rules of etiquette and law."

It was uncommon for the Imperial Study to invite officials from outside the palace to assist in the proofreading of documents, but it was not without precedent. This was especially true for texts related to imperial etiquette and law, where having officials from outside the court oversee the process demonstrated a high degree of caution.

However, while the reason seemed legitimate, the timing was too coincidental.

"Understood," Qiu Wuzhu said. "Take some men and invite her to rest in Qinghui Hall. Tell her I have something to discuss with her and ask her to wait a moment."

Zisu's eyelids twitched suddenly.

Qinghui Hall.

She lowered her head and immediately understood: "Yes."

“Go,” Qiu Wuzhu raised his eyes, his voice gentle, his expression inscrutable, “Treat her with good manners.”

"This servant understands." Zisu curtsied and withdrew.

The palace doors closed. Qiu Wuzhu sat alone in the chair, his fingertips gently stroking the warm teacup. Outside the window, the bright sunlight cast a golden-white silhouette on the majestic outline of Hanzhang Palace.

......

Inside the inner study, Yue Yining was speaking when Zhou Congyi suddenly grabbed her arm.

"No!" Zhou Congyi said sternly, "That's too risky for you! If you make one wrong move, you'll... In short, absolutely not! You can't go. Let's think of another way—"

Yue Yining opened her mouth to say something, but then she heard the sound of metal clashing from not far away, and her expression sharpened.

“It’s too late,” Yue Yining said quickly. “Congyi, listen to me. I won’t risk my life. With the intelligence and informants you’ve given me, I’m at least 80% confident.”

"But--"

Yue Yining's unwavering gaze caused Zhou Congyi to stop mid-sentence.

“No buts,” Yue Yining said. “We’ve already tried everything, haven’t we? This is the most feasible plan at the moment, so I’ll give it a try. No plan in this world can be smooth sailing without any dangers. I need to seize enough power to buy time, and I need a powerful bargaining chip to contend with the Grand Preceptor. That’s the risk I should take.”

"There's no time left, Congyi, please trust me this once!"

Zhou Congyi pressed her lips tightly together, trying to control her trembling. Time seemed exceptionally precious at this moment. In just a breath, before she could even finish uttering a single word, the tightly closed palace doors were suddenly knocked on!

The two fell silent at the same time.

A gentle female voice rang out from outside the door, polite and courteous: "Excuse me, is Lord Yue here?"

Yue Yining got up and opened the door. Zisu, leading four maids and two eunuchs, stood with a smile. Not far behind her, four imperial guards with swords stood solemnly, blocking all paths even though they had not entered the courtyard.

“Miss Zisu.” Yue Yining nodded slightly.

Zisu curtsied and smiled warmly: "It is a rare occasion for you to enter the palace. The Imperial Preceptor said he would like to take this opportunity to meet you and specially ordered me to invite you to Qinghui Hall for a chat."

Yue Yining did not immediately agree, but smiled gently and said, "Of course, that would be fine. However, if the Grand Preceptor is currently preoccupied with important matters, perhaps I should stay here and talk with Lord Zhou for a while, and then I will go to pay my respects to the Grand Preceptor when he has some free time?"

She spoke slowly and gently, her demeanor humble, as if she were truly considerate of her teacher and elder and did not want to disturb them while they were handling their business.

Zisu's smile remained unchanged: "What Lord Yue said is true. The Imperial Preceptor is currently handling some urgent matters in Hanzhang Hall. She specifically instructed me to ask you to wait in Qinghui Hall for a while, have a cup of tea to warm yourself up, and she will be able to come over in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. She won't keep you waiting long."

This means there's no room for negotiation.

“…I understand.” Yue Yining’s expression remained unchanged, and he even showed a perfectly timed smile. “Since it is the Imperial Preceptor’s invitation, I shall obey.”

"Please lead the way, young lady."

Zisu stepped aside, saying, "Please, Lord Yue."

Yue Yining walked out without looking back, and naturally did not see Zhou Congyi's worried and anxious eyes.

Zhou Congyi stood inside the gate, her gaze following the figure in sky-blue robes as they passed through the courtyard and disappeared beyond the moon gate. The courtyard gate closed, the echo of the lock fading away among the grass and trees, but she remained standing there for a long time.

On the table, the ink in the inkstone was not yet completely dry.

Zhou Congyi reached out, his fingertips brushing against the scroll of paper Yue Yining had just left behind, then clenched his fist tightly.

...

Qinghui Hall is indeed secluded.

Ancient cypress trees stand tall, withered lotus leaves float on the pond; this small hall seems to have been forgotten by time in a corner of the palace. Yue Yining was led into the main hall, and Zisu curtsied and said, "Please wait here for a moment, Master Yue; the Imperial Preceptor will be here soon."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Zisu left, and the door closed.

Yue Yining sat down in the chair, her gaze calmly sweeping over her surroundings. The palace was simply furnished, with several windows tightly closed and dust floating in the air, clearly indicating that it had been deserted for a long time.

She wasn't in a hurry; she poured herself a cup of cool tea and drank it slowly.

Time passed. After an incense stick had burned, there was still no movement outside, only the rustling of the wind through the ancient cypress branches and the faint sound of armor in the distance.

Yue Yining put down her empty teacup, stood up, straightened her sky-blue robe sleeves, and walked towards the closed palace doors.

She didn't push the door open immediately, but stood by it for a moment, listening intently. There were no footsteps outside, only deliberately soft but still present breathing sounds, more than one, with several tall, bluish-gray streaks falling on the snow-white windowpane.

Yue Yining grasped the brass ring on the door and pushed it open.

"Squeak—"

The sound of the door hinges turning was jarring in the overly quiet courtyard. The door opened a crack, and the intense midday sunlight suddenly flooded into the room.

Almost at the same instant, a dark shadow as thick as an iron tower moved swiftly, precisely blocking the doorway and obstructing most of Yue Yining's view.

The newcomer, with his hand on the hilt of his knife, was burly and had a cold, hard face. His sharp eyes scrutinized Yue Yining's face.

He said, "The Imperial Preceptor has not yet arrived. Please, Your Majesty, return inside and wait."

Yue Yining paused within the threshold. She raised her eyes to meet the gaze of the head guard, a hint of doubt appearing on her face.

"Miss Zisu told me that the Grand Preceptor would arrive in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but the time has passed and he is nowhere to be seen." Yue Yining asked in a calm tone and with a normal attitude, "Is there some important matter that has delayed the Grand Preceptor? If it is convenient, could you send someone to inquire with him?"

As she spoke, Yue Yining's gaze had already subtly swept over the head guard's shoulder, scanning the entire courtyard.

Although her vision was mostly obstructed, she could still catch enough key information out of the corner of her eye.

Under the porch, which was just a stone's throw away, stood at least four guards with swords, dressed in the same attire. A little further away, several figures stood solemnly in the shadows of the moon gate and the walls on the east and west sides. Guards were stationed from the doorway all the way to the corner of the corridor, and the occasional metallic clang of iron halberds and armor could be faintly heard from all directions.

The number of guards stationed here far exceeds the normal requirement; they are more like watchmen than protectors.

A hint of impatience flashed across the head guard's eyes, but his tone remained outwardly polite: "Your Majesty, the whereabouts of the Grand Preceptor are not something we can inquire about. Since Miss Zisu has asked you to wait here, please wait patiently. If there is any news, I will inform you immediately. Please do not make things difficult for me, my lord. Please go back to your room."

The words were polite, but the attitude was undeniably tough.

A knowing glint flashed in Yue Yining's eyes. "Okay."

"Thank you for your hard work."

She said no more and closed the palace door behind her.

After a creaking sound, Yue Yining stood quietly for a moment, facing the closed door.

It seems she guessed correctly.

Qiu Wuzhu will not come at all; she is under house arrest.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, the imposing guard formation outside the door, the arrangement of key points, and the vigilance and caution of the guards had already unfolded in her mind like a clear scroll.

There is absolutely no way they can force their way out.

Yue Yining returned to the table and sat down again, poured herself another cup of cold tea, and waited patiently.

Outside the gate, the head guard breathed a sigh of relief after the palace doors were completely closed.

He was known as Lao Wu. He had been serving in the Imperial Guard for ten years and had managed to get to his current position as the leader of the guards in the palace by being careful, cautious, and knowledgeable.

The Yue official from earlier had such a calm gaze that it made him uneasy. He would rather face an enraged nobleman than deal with someone whose true nature he couldn't fathom.

Old Wu kept his back straight, his right hand always lightly resting on the hilt of the knife.

Time passed slowly, and the sun rose higher.

Suddenly, sparse footsteps came from afar, and a group of imperial guards in the same attire walked along the palace road.

The leader was an unfamiliar man, younger than Wu Feng, with a lean build and piercing eyes. Old Wu recognized the bronze badge on his waist; it belonged to another squad on duty, led by a man surnamed Zhao.

The two groups met in front of the moon gate in the courtyard.

"Boss Wu," Old Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice neither loud nor soft, "Leave this to me."

Old Wu returned the greeting and quickly explained in a low voice: "Inside is Lord Yue Yining. The people from the Imperial Preceptor's side gave orders before they left: keep him locked up and do not let him go under any circumstances. Use words instead of physical force and do not easily break off relations."

“If she insists on forcing her way in, we mustn’t hurt her. We should tie her up with rope first, then send someone to report to Hanzhang Hall and wait for the Grand Preceptor’s instructions. We cannot take any action on our own,” Old Wu said. “However, she has been very quiet and hasn’t caused much trouble. She pushed open the door to ask me once an hour ago, but I persuaded her to go back.”

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao showed no particular expression, simply nodding and saying, "Understood, Boss Wu, you can go and have your meal without worry."

The time for the handover had arrived. Old Wu said no more, gave a gesture to his men, and the group lined up and left along the way they had come.

Old Zhao watched them leave, then walked to the spot where Old Wu had stood. The dozen or so men he had brought quickly dispersed to fill the various guard posts.

The sun was blazing, and after about half an hour, the silence outside Qinghui Hall was broken by a series of slightly dragging footsteps.

Four eunuchs were walking along the bluestone path. The one in the lead was a pale-faced middle-aged eunuch with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Behind him were three men, each with their own duties. Two of them carried a rather large red lacquered food box. They were plain-looking and had lowered their heads. The last one was carrying a neatly folded brocade quilt. Half of his face was covered, so his appearance could not be seen.

As the group approached the Moon Gate, they were naturally stopped by the guards.

The leading eunuch hurriedly stepped forward, bowed to the two guards standing there, and said in a high-pitched voice with just the right amount of flattery: "Brothers, you've worked hard! We are here on the orders of the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Household Department to bring some tea and snacks to Lord Yue who is waiting inside, as well as bedding for his afternoon nap."

"You see, it rained a lot recently and the weather was still cool. The Imperial Advisor was considerate and specifically instructed us to wear something warmer."

As he spoke, he gestured to the person behind him to open the food box a crack, revealing the delicate pastries and the warm teapot inside. He then shook the brocade quilt, the fabric of which appeared soft and warm in the light.

The guards standing at the moon gate went forward as usual and carefully inspected the food box and the blanket. Everything seemed normal. One of them even pinched the corner of the blanket to make sure there were no suspicious hard objects hidden inside.

At this moment, Old Zhao walked over from the palace gate.

Old Zhao listened expressionlessly, his gaze lingering on the eunuch's face for a moment before sweeping over the three young eunuchs behind him, whose heads remained bowed and whose expressions were obscured. His gaze finally settled on the brocade quilt and the food box.

“You can take the things in,” Old Zhao said, his voice flat, “but people can’t stay long. Put the things down and come out immediately.”

"Yes, yes, I understand the rules, I won't delay any longer!" The eunuch nodded and bowed repeatedly.

The door was not soundproof, so Yue Yining naturally heard the hushed conversation outside. A moment later, the palace door was pushed open.

Four eunuchs filed in. The head eunuch quickly glanced at Yue Yining, who was sitting upright, and then bowed respectfully: "Greetings to Your Majesty. The Grand Preceptor instructed that some things be sent to you."

Yue Yining nodded slightly, without saying a word.

The three of them quickly began making arrangements.

suddenly--

"Clang!"

A sharp crack of porcelain shattering broke the silence of the room.

A sharp shout immediately came from outside the door: "What's going on inside?!"

Old Zhao, who was guarding the door, suddenly pushed it open, leaned in, and looked wary. The footsteps of the other guards quickly gathered in the corridor.

The eunuch who had accidentally broken the teapot was so frightened that he fell to his knees, trembling all over, his voice trembling with sobs: "This servant deserves to die! This servant's hand slipped... I disturbed Lord Yue... This servant deserves to die!"

Broken porcelain shards and spilled tea were scattered all over the floor, gleaming with a chaotic light.

Old Zhao entered with a furrowed brow, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. Yue Yining remained seated, her expression calm, though she slightly frowned as she looked at the mess on the floor.

The other two eunuchs also hurriedly knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

The other guards outside had already gathered around, and one of them spoke up: "Boss, should we go in and take a look?"

Old Zhao's gaze lingered on Yue Yining's face for a moment, then swept over the trembling eunuch on the ground. He suddenly withdrew his foot from the doorway and said in a deep voice, "Hurry up and clean this up! If any fragments injure Lord Yue, you'll be in big trouble!"

After saying that, he closed the door again and waved to the other guards who had gathered around: "It's nothing serious, just some clumsy mistakes that broke something. Disperse and go back to your posts!"

Seeing this, the other guards, though puzzled, also stepped back as instructed, though their eyes still kept glancing at the closed door.

Inside the door, the three kneeling eunuchs breathed a sigh of relief almost simultaneously upon hearing the door close.

The leading eunuch's expression changed instantly. He quickly scrambled to his feet and said in an almost inaudible whisper, "Your Majesty, this servant was sent by Lord Zhou. Time is of the essence, please change your clothes immediately."

As they were talking, the eunuch who had brought in the bedding quickly approached, took off his outer robe and inner shirt, and soon handed Yue Yining a set of indigo eunuch's everyday clothes, along with a matching belt and a soft hat.

Another eunuch had already moved aside to block any possible view from the crack in the door with his back.

Yue Yining did not hesitate at all.

She took the clothes, quickly stood up, untied the belt of her outer robe, took off her conspicuous light green casual clothes, and changed into the attire of a eunuch. Although the size was slightly large, it fit her well after tightening the belt. She gathered all her long hair up and tucked it into her soft hat, pulling the brim down to cover most of her eyebrows and eyes.

After being dressed, she looked exactly like an ordinary low-ranking eunuch, thin and with her head down and eyes downcast, making her almost invisible.

The eunuch who had been there earlier had now changed into the casual clothes that Yue Yining had taken off—the robe was a little short for him, but after he quickly tied it up, he looked about seven or eight parts similar to Yue Yining when he turned his back to the door. He quickly sat down in the chair that Yue Yining had been sitting in, with his back to the door and his head down, mimicking the posture of sitting quietly and waiting.

The other two eunuchs had already quickly cleaned up the debris and water stains on the ground.

The whole process took only a few dozen breaths, which was incredibly fast.

The eunuch gave Yue Yining a wink, signaling her to stand behind the two men holding the empty food boxes. Yue Yining understood, bowed her head, and stood still, her hands clasped in front of her, her posture respectful.

"All packed up?" came Old Zhao's question from outside the door, his voice now calm.

"Your Excellency, everything has been cleaned up." The eunuch replied loudly, his voice carrying just the right amount of fear and flattery. "I am truly sorry to have disturbed you gentlemen."

The door was pushed open again.

The guard on the left glanced inside a few times, waved his hand, and said impatiently, "Alright, get out."

"Yes, yes." The eunuch bowed hurriedly and led the other two eunuchs and Yue Yining, who was following at the back, out.

Yue Yining walked at the back, her hat brim pulled low, so that only the heels of her companions ahead and a small patch of bluestone ground outside the door could be seen. She could feel the guards' gazes sweeping over them, and when they passed by the door, the head guard named Old Zhao seemed to linger on her face for a moment.

That gaze was almost tangible, filled with scrutiny.

Yue Yining neither dodged nor hid; instead, she slightly raised her eyes and calmly met his gaze.

Sure enough, when she looked at him, Old Zhao only paused for a moment before looking away.

Immediately afterwards, she heard him shout at the others, "What are you all standing there for? Close the door! Everyone, stay alert and keep watch!"

The guards' attention was drawn to the closing door by the command. In that instant, the four eunuchs had already bowed their heads and walked quickly away, turning the corner of the corridor and disappearing into the palace road outside Qinghui Hall.

After leaving the Qinghui Hall area, the four of them paused briefly behind a secluded rockery.

The eunuch quickly pulled several items from his robes and handed them to Yue Yining: "Lord Yue, this is a regular eunuch's waist token that allows passage through parts of the Western Six Palaces and Eastern Five Palaces, but it doesn't go to Hanzhang Hall or the palaces where the concubines reside. This one," he handed over another slightly heavier, more exquisitely carved bronze token, "was obtained by Lord Zhou. It allows entry to the outer perimeter of Jinghe Palace—she found out that the Fourth Prince is here today handling business and receiving guests. But it only allows access to the front gatehouse, not the inner courtyard."

He lowered his voice again: "Lord Zhou should have already led people to the Imperial Guard's duty post to find Commander Sun. As you instructed, she will try to persuade Commander Sun, and if that fails, she will do her best to delay him."

Yue Yining put the two waist tokens into her pocket: "I understand. Be careful when you go back."

"Rest assured, my lord." The eunuch nodded, a hint of worry appearing between his brows. "You must be extremely cautious on this trip. The Fourth Prince is heavily guarded, and Jinghe Palace is like an iron barrel. Even with a waist token, there's no guarantee that nothing will go wrong."

"I understand. You should withdraw as planned."

The three bowed and quickly left along another path, their figures soon disappearing into the shadows of the palace walls.

Yue Yining, alone, tugged at her indigo palace robes, pulled her hat brim down a little, and strode towards Jinghe Palace.

At this moment, she was merely an ordinary low-ranking eunuch, her steps unhurried, her head bowed to the ground. She would yield to any palace servants or guards of higher rank, her demeanor respectful. The atmosphere in the palace was tense; everyone hurried about, their faces filled with anxiety, and no one paid her any particular attention.

To get from the Western Six Palaces to the Eastern Five Palaces, one must pass through a long alley and several palace gates.

At the first gate, two young guards stood by. As she approached, they reached out to stop her, saying, "Your waist token."

Yue Yining took out the ordinary waist token and handed it over. The guard took it, glanced at it, looked her over again, and waved his hand: "Go on."

The second gate was more heavily guarded, with four guards, led by a middle-aged man with sharp eyes. He carefully checked the waist tag and then asked, "Which palace are you from? What are you doing going to the east?"

Yue Yining lowered her voice, her tone low and hoarse: "Your Excellency, this servant is from the Inner Study Hall. I was ordered to deliver some books to the Laundry Bureau of the Eastern Fifth Palace for cleaning."

She slightly raised her hand, revealing a slightly damp old book page from her sleeve—it was a page she had torn from an old book on the table in Qinghui Hall, still damp with tea.

The head guard glanced at it, frowned slightly, and waved his hand, seemingly annoyed by the trouble: "Go quickly."

The third gate brought them close to the area of ​​the Eastern Five Palaces. The guards were noticeably better equipped and conducted more thorough checks. Yue Yining felt a slight tension in her heart as she handed over her waist token.

"From the Inner Study? Delivering something this far away?" A guard asked, looking at his waist tag with a puzzled expression.

"It was...it was Instructor Zhou who instructed me, saying it was for urgent use," Yue Yining said, bowing her head, her voice appropriately uneasy.

The guard was about to ask another question when another, older guard, interrupted, "That Zhou Congyi from the Inner Study? Tsk, that woman is always causing trouble. Alright, alright, hurry up and go in, don't block the way."

The waist tag was stuffed back into her hand.

Yue Yining bowed in thanks and quickly passed through the palace gate. Her palms were already damp with a thin layer of sweat.

Upon entering the East Fifth Palace area, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Armored guards passed by in formation from time to time, their eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks. Yue Yining tried to walk close to the walls, avoiding the main roads and choosing less crowded paths.

Jinghe Palace is located in the northern part of the Fifth Eastern Palace. It was an independent palace garden bestowed upon the Fourth Prince Wei Jing after he came of age. Although it was not as grand as the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, it was still exquisitely decorated and heavily guarded.

From afar, Yue Yining could see the vermilion gate of Jinghe Palace, with eight guards holding halberds standing before it, their armor gleaming, their eyes fixed straight ahead. The palace walls were towering, and the overlapping eaves of the inner palace could be vaguely seen within.

She didn't go directly to the main gate, but instead went around to a side gate. This was the passage for palace servants and laborers, guarded by two guards, but it was less guarded than the main gate.

Yue Yining steadied herself, stepped forward, and handed over the slightly heavy Jinghe Palace waist token.

The guard at the gate took it, examined it carefully, and then looked her up and down: "You look unfamiliar. Which place are you from? What brings you here?"

"Your Excellency, I am a newly transferred servant from the tea service. I was ordered by the steward to go to the study in the front courtyard to replenish the tea leaves." Yue Yining had already prepared her explanation, and her voice was steady.

The guard was skeptical, but since the waist tag was correct, he waved his hand and said, "Go in. The study in the front courtyard is at the end of the corridor on the right. Don't wander in."

"Thank you, sir."

The side door opened a crack, and Yue Yining slipped inside.

Stepping into Jinghe Palace was like entering another world. The palace was filled with pavilions and towers, lush flowers and trees, and exquisite scenery, a stark contrast to the solemn and tense atmosphere outside. But Yue Yining had no interest in admiring it. She lowered her head and quickly walked towards the study in the front courtyard, following the direction pointed out by the guard.

Along the way, she encountered several groups of palace maids and servants, all walking in a hurry. Occasionally, they would cast questioning glances at her, but seeing her walking quickly with her head down and holding her waist token, no one came forward to question her.

The study in the front courtyard was a spacious, independent building located on the east side of the front courtyard of Jinghe Palace. At this moment, two eunuchs were guarding the door. Yue Yining walked straight past the door of the study without stopping, without going in—this was not her destination.

She needed to enter the inner courtyard, to get close to the core area where the Fourth Prince lived daily.

Turning past a moon gate, a covered walkway leading to the inner courtyard came into view. At the entrance of the walkway stood a maidservant dressed in a light blue vest, speaking quietly to a eunuch. Seeing Yue Yining approach, the maidservant turned her head, her gaze falling on her, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

She suddenly spoke up: "Stop."

Yue Yining stopped in her tracks.

A maid approached, her voice clear and crisp, yet scrutinizing, "Which department are you from? Why are you coming to the inner courtyard?"

Yue Yining bowed and said, "Greetings, sister. I am from the tea service. I just delivered some tea to the study in the front courtyard. The steward asked me to go to the small tea room in the inner courtyard to ask if His Highness had enough Lushan Yunwu tea today, and whether he needed some more."

This was her second prepared explanation. Jinghe Palace had a strict hierarchy, with each person having their own duties. It was not common for someone serving tea to go to the inner courtyard's small tea room to inquire about materials, but it was not entirely against the rules.

The maid looked her up and down, her eyes still filled with doubt: "The person from the tea station? I've never seen you before."

"I'm newly transferred here and just started my shift today," Yue Yining said respectfully. "It's natural that you look unfamiliar, sister."

The maid took two steps closer, seemingly trying to see her face clearly under the brim of her hat: "Lift your head."

Yue Yining felt a slight chill in her heart. She slowly raised her head, but her gaze remained lowered, avoiding eye contact with her.

The maid stared at her face for a moment, then suddenly said, "Come with me."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the inner courtyard.

Yue Yining's mind raced. She didn't know what the maid's intentions were, but if she refused or ran away now, she would be exposed immediately. She had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow her.

The maid led her at a leisurely pace through the covered walkway, past a rockery, and to a row of side rooms at the edge of the inner courtyard. One of the doors was open, and the faint sound of teaware clinking could be heard from inside.

"Granny Li," a maid called from the doorway.

A stern-faced old woman in her fifties came out from inside, holding a rag in her hand: "Miss Bizhu, what is it?"

A maid named Bizhu stepped aside, gesturing for Yue Yining to come forward: "This girl says she's new to the tea service and came to ask about Cloud Mist Tea. Granny, take a look, is she one of your people?"

Granny Li narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping over Yue Yining.

The air seemed to freeze.

Yue Yining's fingers curled slightly inside her sleeve, but her face remained respectful and bewildered.

After a moment, Granny Li suddenly said "Oh," and her tone softened: "That's right. This morning, Steward Wang said that a new person has been transferred here, someone who is quick and efficient, to fill the vacancy."

She looked at Bizhu and forced a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss. She's one of my people. His Highness is in a good mood today and has drunk a few extra cups, so we should quickly replenish his Cloud Mist Tea."

Upon hearing this, Bizhu's doubts disappeared, and she nodded: "Since it's someone the nanny recognizes, then there's nothing to worry about. I didn't expect to be a complete stranger barging in like that."

She glanced at Yue Yining and said, "Since you're a newcomer, you should follow the nanny's instructions and learn the rules properly. The inner courtyard is different from other places, so keep your eyes open."

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Sister." Yue Yining bowed quickly.

Bizhu said no more and turned to leave.

Watching Bizhu walk away, Granny Li turned her gaze to Yue Yining and whispered, "Lord Zhou instructed that this is all I can do for you. The inner courtyard guards rotate every fifteen minutes. Now, walk along this corridor. When you reach a fork in the road, turn left. You'll see a moon gate hidden by green bamboo. Go inside and turn right. The second room is the one on your right. His Highness is currently discussing matters with two retainers there. There are four guards outside the door, and two more at each end of the corridor."

"I can't help you any more. Whether you succeed or not depends entirely on yourself."

Yue Yining gave Li Mama a deep look: "Thank you, Mama."

"Go quickly, be careful." Granny Li waved her hand and turned back to the tea room.

Yue Yining didn't delay any longer and walked quickly in the direction pointed out by Granny Li. She had a new understanding of how deep Zhou Congyi's schemes in the palace had been these past few days—even the head nanny of the tea room in the Fourth Prince's inner courtyard was her person. She had done far more than she said.

The corridor wound its way through the trees and flowers, growing ever more secluded. Yue Yining moved with light steps, her mind tense, listening intently and observing her surroundings. Sure enough, at a bend in the corridor, she caught a glimpse of a guard standing in the distance.

She took a deep breath, pulled her hat brim down a little further, and quickened her pace.

Turn left and walk a few dozen steps, and sure enough, you'll see a lush, verdant bamboo grove. Hidden within the bamboo grove is an exquisite moon gate, half-open. Inside, the courtyard is serene, paved with white stone paths.

Yue Yining slipped into the moon gate.

The courtyard is small, with a small lotus pond in the center and an exquisite waterside pavilion standing beside it. Next to the pavilion, several houses are connected, with upturned eaves and corners, exuding elegance and tranquility.

The windows of the second room on the right were tightly closed, but you could vaguely hear voices coming from inside.

Outside, four guards dressed in dark blue outfits stood with their hands on their swords on either side of the porch. At each end of the corridor, two more guards stood, forming a tight protective circle.

Yue Yining kept walking as if she were just passing by, her eyes quickly scanning the surrounding terrain.

Waterside pavilions, lotus ponds, rockeries, bamboo groves... the space available for maneuvering is limited, but there are still opportunities.

She suddenly bent over, clutching her abdomen, her face contorted in pain. She staggered and moved toward the nearest dense bamboo grove.

This movement immediately caught the attention of the guards at the door. The guard closest to her, his hand on his sword hilt, barked in a deep voice, "Who goes there? What are you doing?"

Yue Yining raised her head, her face pale and her voice weak: "M-My lord... I'm the servant who delivers tea and drinks, and suddenly my stomach is hurting terribly... Could you... could you allow me to rest here for a little while..."

As she spoke, her body swayed again, as if she were about to collapse at any moment.

The guard frowned, staring at her. A seemingly frail young eunuch certainly didn't appear threatening. But duty called, and he remained vigilant: "This is not a place for you. Leave immediately!"

"This servant...this servant really can't walk anymore..." Yue Yining's voice trembled with tears, and she almost shrank into the bamboo grove. "Just for a little while...please, my lord..."

As if by accident, she dropped the Jinghe Palace waist token from her bosom onto the ground, making a crisp sound.

The guard's gaze was instinctively drawn to it.

In that very instant!

Yue Yining's originally hunched and painful figure suddenly sprang up like a cheetah that had been lying in wait for a long time!

She never intended to use the waist token as a distraction; that was merely a superficial pretense. The instant the guard's gaze shifted downwards, she sprang from the shadows of the bamboo grove, not towards the guard at the door, but towards the lotus pond to her side!

"Thump!"

Water splashes everywhere!

"An assassin?!" The four guards at the door shouted simultaneously, drawing their swords and scanning the area. Their first instinct was to look at where Yue Yining had been standing and the direction from which the attack might have come, but they only saw the bamboo grove sway, and the figure had vanished.

In the lotus pond, Yue Yining entered the water without struggling, letting her body sink to the bottom with the force of the current. At the same time, she used her hands and feet to swim underwater towards the waterside pavilion. The water was not deep, but it was murky enough to conceal her figure.

"In the pool!" A sharp-eyed guard noticed the unusual movement in the water and shouted.

The guards quickly surrounded the pool. The guards at both ends of the corridor were also alerted and rushed towards the center of the courtyard.

Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the lotus pond—

"Splash!"

From behind the shadow of the artificial hill closest to the door of the house, a figure in indigo blue darted out like a ghost!

It was Yue Yining!

After entering the water, she quickly dived to the edge of the pool and quietly climbed ashore using the artificial hill and rocks as cover. Her clothes were soaked and clung to her body, making her look even thinner, but this did not affect her swift movements at all.

This feint was swift and decisive, faster than anyone could react!

Of the four guards at the gate, two had already rushed to the poolside, and one was turning to look at the pool. Only the one closest to the gate caught a glimpse of a figure by the artificial hill out of the corner of his eye, turned around in horror, and had just raised his knife—

Yue Yining was already in front of him!

She didn't even try to take the knife; instead, she lunged into the guard's arms, her right hand forming a knife-like shape as she precisely and ruthlessly slashed at the guard's carotid artery! At the same time, her left elbow struck his ribs!

The guard groaned, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.

Without pausing, Yue Yining used the force of the collision to spin around and was already at the door. The people inside had clearly been startled; their voices stopped abruptly, replaced by angry shouts and the sound of objects clashing.

She raised her foot, put all her strength into it, and kicked the door hard!

"Bang!"

The latch broke, and the door was wide open!

Inside the room, the Fourth Prince, Wei Jing, rose in astonishment from behind his desk. Two scholars-looking retainers, their faces pale, retreated hastily. Sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Wei Jing's still somewhat childish face, contorted with sudden terror.

Yue Yining was soaked to the bone, her indigo clothes dark and wet, her hair disheveled, with a few strands clinging to her pale cheeks. She stepped into the room, grabbed the chain behind her, and slammed it shut on the half-damaged doorknob, blocking out the angry shouts of the guards outside and the rapidly approaching footsteps.

His gaze was like an icy blade, piercing straight at Wei Jing.

Yue Yining flipped her right hand, and a short dagger was already pressed against Wei Jing's throat.

"Fourth Prince," she began, her voice slightly hoarse from the damp cold and rapid running, yet each word was firm and resolute, "If you want to live, have your men withdraw!"

The cold blade touched his skin, and Wei Jing trembled violently, his pupils contracted, and he finally saw the face of the person who had come.

"Yue... Yue Yining?!"

Outside, the guards' roars and the sound of banging on the door rose like a torrential rain, and footsteps drew closer.

Inside the door, the dagger gleamed coldly, reflecting in Yue Yining's calm and unwavering eyes.

In the middle stages of the game, the battle has reached a critical point.

Wei Jing gritted his teeth and said, "Are you out of your mind?! Assassinating a member of the royal family is a heinous crime. Do you think you'll leave this palace alive after today?!"

The two retainers had already collapsed to the ground, their legs giving way. Yue Yining tightened her grip on the blade and leaned close to Wei Jing's ear, saying calmly, "I can."

Before making this decision, on the way to Jinghe Palace, Yue Yining kept recalling the conversation she had with Wei Yihua by candlelight before her departure for the expedition.

"Yining," the young princess gazed into her eyes in the dim candlelight, "If I fail to return in time, and if one day you are forced to confront your fourth brother, remember one thing—"

“Use me as your pawn,” she said. “In this palace, Wei Jing only cares about the lives of two people. One is Consort Li, and the other is me.”

Yue Yining held her breath and slowly exhaled.

"Wei Jing, Yi Hua is still alive."

The person she was controlling shuddered. Wei Jing's reaction relieved Yue Yining. She continued quickly, "I am Qiu Wuzhu's disciple. I know her better than anyone. Her purpose in coming to the capital is definitely not simple."

“Don’t you find it strange? All three prophecies she presented to His Majesty were bad news, and all of them came true. The third prophecy just happened to ruin the border war and also cost General Gu and Yihua their lives.” Yue Yining carefully observed the subtle changes in Wei Jing’s expression. “Because what she wanted was not power or status, but the end of this dynasty.”

“But Wei Jing, Yi Hua escaped her fate. I am extremely confident that she is still alive,” Yue Yining said. “I have been in the palace since then and I do not know the situation of Hanzhang Palace, but I guess His Majesty is now on the verge of death.”

1

"Yihua said she understands you and that you are not someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong. These days, you must have been surprised and suspicious of the numerous decrees and practices issued by Qiu Wuzhu, right?"

Wei Jing said, enunciating each word clearly, "So what if it is? No matter how much I doubt her actions, I have no right to trust someone who is threatening me with a knife."

Yue Yining said nonchalantly, "If you're willing to trust me this once, come with me to Hanzhang Palace. I will reveal the destiny I've foreseen in front of everyone, and expose Qiu Wuzhu's true colors in front of you."

What if I say no?

Yue Yi Ning paused for a moment: "...Then I'm sorry, Fourth Prince. I will kill you first, and then commit suicide. Let's keep each other company on the road to the underworld."

Wei Jing stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "You're crazy! I don't want to die with you!"

"Then agree to make this deal with me."

Wei Jing gritted his teeth, making a grinding sound: "...What does this have to do with me? Since you know that Qiu Wuzhu is plotting this scheme, why don't you just go find her, try every means to sneak in and kill me? Would that stop her?"

“Yes, I can.” Yue Yining replied softly. As expected, she saw Wei Jing’s frozen expression and stared at him with deep eyes. “Because Qiu Wuzhu wants you to succeed to the throne smoothly. No one else will do.”

"Why......"

"Because you are the last monarch of the Dongxi Dynasty." Yue Yining looked at Wei Jing's widening eyes and said calmly, "As long as you successfully ascend the throne, she will have succeeded. Although killing you may not necessarily stop this clear destiny, it can disrupt her plans and buy time for Yihua."

"So do you understand now? This is the destiny that Qiu Wuzhu and I calculated, and it is also the reason why we, as Celestial Masters, have successively entered the capital to interfere in politics."

"She wants chaos to come as scheduled, but I want to save the people from the suffering of exile and to bring peace to the world for them."

"This is also Yihua's wish. You must have noticed that Yihua began to mature one day, becoming completely different from the person you knew before. That's because she was reborn. In her previous life, she witnessed the destruction of the Dongxi Kingdom and unexpectedly returned to the present. She overcame all difficulties to come to Jiulian Town to find me because she knew me in her previous life and knew that I could help her." Yue Yining looked at his eyes, which were filled with astonishment and shock, and actually smiled. "Speaking of which, I have spent far less time with Yihua than you have, but my feelings for her are by no means any less than yours."

“We are the same kind of people. Even if we only have passion left, we are willing to give our all for this world. A scholar will die for one who understands him. She said she was willing to die for me, and I can also cast aside my fear for her, go through fire and water, and face death without fear.”

To sacrifice one's life for righteousness and benevolence.

The chains tightened, and the heavy palace doors were suddenly flung open!

The palace doors were violently flung open by the impact, the heavy door panels slamming against the wall with a loud bang! Five or six guards rushed in, their blades gleaming, instantly filling the small room to the brim.

The commander of the guards at the forefront roared, "Take down the traitor!"

"All of you, get out of my way!!" A sharp shout filled with shock, anger, and trembling suddenly drowned out the guards' roar.

It is Wei Jing.

His face was deathly pale, his eyes fixed on the guards who had stormed in, but his voice was unusually sharp and high-pitched: "Are you all blind?! Didn't you see this madman holding a knife to my neck?! Anyone who dares to take another step forward, just try it?!"

The guards' momentum suddenly halted. They looked at each other, their blades still pointed at Yue Yining, but they dared not make any further moves.

The commander of the guards cried out urgently, "Your Highness! This kind of madman must not be tolerated..."

"Shut up!" Wei Jing gasped for breath, veins throbbing on his forehead, looking every bit the prince terrified by the threat of death. "Are you trying to force me to my death?! Get out! All of you, get outside! No one is to come in without my order!"

The commander's face turned ashen as he looked at the gleaming dagger at Wei Jing's neck, but ultimately he dared not take the risk.

He gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and shouted:

"Retreat! Everyone retreat outside! Guard all the palace gates and corridors!"

The guards reluctantly retreated slowly, their blades still pointed at Yue Yining, as they withdrew from the room step by step.

The door was half-open, creating a brief but tense standoff between the inside and outside.

Wei Jing's rapid breathing calmed down a little. He turned his head and, in a whisper that only the two of them could hear, squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth: "...You'd better...not lie to me."

Yue Yining did not respond. The dagger in her hand remained as steady as a rock, but her sharp gaze swept over the guards outside the door who were eyeing her menacingly, like wild beasts waiting for their chance to strike.

Just then, a series of extremely hurried footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by terrified shouts, breaking the brief stalemate.

"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened—!!"

A lowly eunuch dressed in the robes of a low-ranking palace attendant rushed across the courtyard, his face ashen, as if a demon were chasing him. He was clearly terrified and charged straight toward the main house, whose door was wide open.

"Halt! Who goes there?!" The head guard outside the door immediately drew his sword and blocked the way, shouting sternly.

The young eunuch was so frightened by the gleaming blade that his legs went weak and he almost collapsed to the ground.

His voice was choked with sobs as he incoherently shouted into the room, "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! The palace is on fire! Every palace, east and west, is engulfed in flames!!"

...

Xie Yunying suddenly opened her eyes and sat up abruptly from her bed in the palace villa.

At this moment, she was utterly shocked. She had only followed Xie Qingyu's instructions to use the live-streaming equipment to investigate the palace's defenses, but she hadn't expected to witness Yue Yining taking the Fourth Prince, Wei Jing, hostage! It was truly breathtaking!

She was still reeling from the shock when her hand, which was resting by the bedside, was suddenly grasped tightly by a pair of warm hands.

Yuan Nanjie stayed by her side the whole time. Although she had promised that nothing would go wrong, he was still on edge ever since she fell into a coma. He couldn't relax for a moment until he saw her wake up safely and look radiant. Only then could he finally relax.

He whispered, "Yun Ying, you're finally awake. Did you see anything?"

Xie Yunying gripped his hand tightly in return, her eyes shining brightly: "Mmm!"

"Where is my older brother? Where did he go? I need to tell him everything I saw as soon as possible!"

“He’s in the yard.” Yuan Nanjie had just finished speaking when he saw Xie Yunying looking like she was in a hurry to get out of bed, so he reached out and carefully helped her down. “Take it easy, don’t rush.”

"Xie Qingyu!"

A tall, elegant man dressed in a black brocade robe stood in the courtyard, like a snow pine. Xie Yunying ran over and stood in front of him, panting as she recounted everything she had seen.

Xie Qingyu turned his head to look at her after she finished speaking, and his tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly. He pondered and said, "...It seems that they are making good progress in the palace."

First, they successfully kidnapped the Fourth Prince as a bargaining chip to negotiate and buy time. Then, Zhou Congyi's female officials removed all the hidden agents deployed in the palace and used a sudden large-scale flood to disrupt the Imperial Guards' patrols and disperse their forces.

The next step is to find a way to break into Hanzhang Palace. According to Xie Yunying, Yue Yining should have persuaded the Fourth Prince, which shouldn't be difficult... The real fear is that the Emperor is already on his deathbed and about to collapse.

As Xie Yunying described the details of the palace's defenses, several accompanying officials were writing and drawing diagrams with great effort. After finally finishing, Xie Yunying was parched. She took the teacup handed to her by a maid, drank it down like a cow, and then turned her gaze to the guards surrounding the courtyard wall and the well. "Have you already arranged for the guards to infiltrate the palace?"

Xie Qingyu: "Yes, the first team just left. I've sent my personal guards ahead to Hanzhang Hall. The second team will bring the deployment map you provided to join them."

Xie Yunying opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she saw someone who shouldn't have been there.

"Huh? Isn't that the Third Prince Wei Ye?" Xie Yunying looked at the pale yellow figure sitting on the stone bench not far away and said with surprise, "How come he's here, and he's even...?"

Xie Qingyu glanced at it: "I'll have someone go to the Third Prince's residence and invite him here."

“Yue Yining entered the palace alone and risked his life for this dynasty. How can he just sit in his prince’s residence and enjoy the fruits of others’ labor?” When Xie Qingyu said this, she seemed to have shed her gentle appearance again. Her gloomy gaze swept over him, and her expression was inscrutable. “I brought him here and told him the truth about the Crown Prince’s death that you mentioned, in order to make him wake up and cheer up.”

"Although he is useless, he is still a prince. If he is determined, he can still be of some help if we persuade him."

As if to prove his words, Wei Ye stood up unsteadily, wiped his face, and walked over.

"Thank you, Your Excellency." Wei Ye looked even thinner than before, his eyes red from crying, but his gaze was completely different. He said in a hoarse voice, "Please allow me to enter the palace with the secret guards."

Xie Qingyu then looked at him properly: "Third Prince, have you thought it through?"

“My secret guards will not be diverted to protect you; each of them has more important duties to fulfill. The Imperial Guards are currently rampant in the palace, and there are also uncontrolled fires. The situation is volatile and unstable. If you are unlucky, you may lose your life before you even reach Hanzhang Hall.”

Even so, I would be willing.

Wei Ye looked directly at him, his eyes, redder than a rabbit's, finally shedding the last trace of confusion and cowardice: "Please let me go."

"good."

Watching Wei Ye and the second team of guards disappear at the end of the well, Xie Qingyu turned around and called over an attendant, "Has any news come from the towns around the capital?"

The official rubbed his sleeves, sweat dripping down. "Reporting to you, sir, we haven't heard any news yet..."

Xie Yunying saw Xie Qingyu's jawline tighten and felt a surge of worry, which quickly subsided.

Using live-streaming tools, she could theoretically see the princess's movements!

Just as Xie Qingyu was about to turn around, Xie Yunying grabbed his sleeve, her eyes flashing with an unusual light.

"Wait! Xie Qingyu!" Her voice trembled with excitement, "Maybe...maybe I can see where the Princess is right now!"

Xie Qingyu froze, abruptly turning to look at her, her eyes flashing with a sudden surge of emotion: "What did you say?"

"I thought your tool had spatial limitations and could only track people in the capital. Does it work for people further away?"

Feeling guilty, Xie Yunying subconsciously avoided his gaze, her eyes drifting away: "Um... well, it's possible. I've tried it once before."

"It was the time you and Yue Yining went to Qinghuai for disaster relief. Weren't you kidnapped? When I heard the news back in the capital, I was very worried, so I used a prop to test it out and see what was going on with you..."

Her remaining words were muffled in her throat: "Yue Yining was already asleep... then I saw you... and that, cough cough cough..."

Xie Qingyu understood her unspoken meaning—she had witnessed the scene in the Qinghuai Mountain cave where he couldn't help but lean down and gently kiss Yue Yining.

A surge of heat rushed to the tips of her ears. When Xie Yunying looked up, Xie Qingyu was also half-covering her chin. Even though it was just a fleeting glimpse, her embarrassment was evident.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing all his chaotic thoughts: "...Never mind."

"Then go back to your room immediately and try it. Do as you said, find out if Her Highness the Princess is safe and how far she is from the capital—this matter concerns the whole situation and is more important than anything else!"

Xie Yunying nodded emphatically and turned to hurry toward the side room, not even caring that her shoes were splattered with mud.

After she lay back on the still-warm bed, fully clothed, closed her eyes, and held her breath, Xie Yunying remembered something.

This was, in fact, her first time meeting the Princess.

She already knew a lot about this woman named Wei Yihua, but had never actually met her face to face.

Her consciousness darted through the void, skimming over blurry mountain outlines, winding rivers, scattered villages and houses, and straight, winding earthen roads… Countless fragments of light and shadow flowed and vanished at the edge of her perception. She was completely focused, searching for that one and only imperial star in the vast, boundless sea of ​​stars.

A snap of the fingers feels like a hundred years.

Suddenly, all the blurry images became clear!

The blazing sunlight, unobstructed, enveloped Xie Yunying the moment she opened her eyes. A howling wind rushed into her ears, accompanied by the clanging of halberds and the thunderous roar of iron hooves shaking a thousand mountains.

Xie Yunying's gaze hovered in mid-air, where a light cavalry unit sped across the ground.

About a thousand elite soldiers, their armor stained with dust and bloodstains, rode magnificent warhorses, their snorting and muscles bulging as they galloped. This light cavalry force was racing northeast along the wide official road, kicking up clouds of dust like yellow dragons behind them.

At the very front of the procession, a magnificent steed, its body a deep crimson like a blazing fire, with only its four hooves as white as clouds, galloped ahead of the crowd.

The man on horseback was clad in silver armor, its blade gleaming coldly. His long hair was tightly bound inside his helmet, revealing only half of his face in profile. The billowing crimson hem of his robes blazed like flames, vying with the sun for brilliance.

Who else could it be but Princess Wei Yihua of Dongxi?

In an instant, Xie Yunying was almost overwhelmed by unbelievable joy!

She almost wanted to wake up immediately and tell Xie Qingyu that Wei Yihua was not only still alive, but was also personally leading a clearly well-trained elite force, rushing towards the capital at breakneck speed, and was now close to the capital region!

But the effects of the live-streaming props hadn't ended yet, so Xie Yunying could only suppress her excitement for the time being.

Wei Yihua, on horseback, was completely unaware of all this. She had led her troops on a journey of a day and a night, yet she felt no fatigue. Instead, she was filled with anxiety and restlessness. Her eyes were fixed on the city walls of Yanjing not far away, and her entire mind was focused on the golden-red horizon ahead.

As the sun began to set, Wei Yihua silently recited his prayers, his expression resolute.

Faster! Faster!

The road ahead became increasingly flat and wide, and the outlines of houses in the surrounding villages and towns of Beijing could be seen in the distance.

Just a few miles from the nearest market town, a roadblock covering the Juma Deer Village suddenly appeared, and behind it, a dark mass of soldiers stood ready, blocking their way.

Wei Yihua suddenly tightened the reins, and the Crimson Flame Horse let out a long neigh, raising its front hooves high to abruptly stop its charge. The well-trained cavalry behind it slowed down in layers.

There were about five hundred people blocking the road. They were carrying the banners of the emperor's personal guards, their armor was bright, their swords and spears were drawn, and their expressions were wary. They were obviously setting up a checkpoint to check people.

A general who appeared to be the leader rode out of the ranks, his gaze sweeping over Wei Yihua's weary entourage with a sharp, bone-scraping intensity, and he shouted sternly: "No passage ahead! Martial law is in effect on all roads around the capital. No one may pass without a special order!"

"Who are you? State your names immediately and dismount for inspection!"

Wei Yihua narrowed her eyes slightly.

She neither dismounted nor removed her helmet, but simply spurred her horse forward a few steps. Sensing its master's emotions, the Crimson Flame Horse pawed restlessly at the ground.

Wei Yihua took out a bronze-gold token from his bosom and held it high. The front of the token had a "Wei" character written in bold, strong strokes, while the back was printed with a nine-clawed dragon pattern.

"I am Princess Dongxi, and Wei Yihua, the supervisor of the border expeditionary force." Her voice was not loud, but it pierced through the howling wind and the neighing of warhorses without hesitation, carrying the solemn authority of someone long accustomed to a high position. "Seeing this token is as if seeing me. Quickly remove the roadblocks and clear the way!"

"The Eldest Princess?!"

An uncontrollable uproar erupted from the opposing imperial army!

Countless gazes, a mixture of shock, doubt, bewilderment, and even fear, were fixed on Wei Yihua, along with the token. The news that Princess Wei Yihua had died in battle at Yanran Mountain and that her remains had been deliberately exaggerated throughout Yanjing City through the imperial gazette and the national advisor's prophecy, and the palace had even begun preparing for her funeral.

At this moment, a dead man has appeared alive in the capital region?

The leader's expression also changed drastically. He stared intently at the token, trying to see the face beneath the helmet. The dust and sand from their journey blurred the beautiful face, but the figure, the bearing, and especially those eyes as cold as stars... His heart pounded, and a chill ran down his spine.

The tokens appear to be identical in form, but...

His eyes flashed violently a few times, a fierce look appeared on his face, and his voice rose:

"Outrageous! Her Highness the Princess died for her country at Yanran Mountain months ago. The court issued a decree throughout the land, announcing mourning and the suspension of court sessions! Where did you come from, you petty scoundrel, to dare to forge Her Highness's tokens and impersonate a member of the imperial family! Such acts of deceiving the emperor and plotting rebellion during the national mourning period deserve the execution of your entire family! Guards, seize this scoundrel, dead or alive!"

Upon hearing this, some of the soldiers behind him, though still hesitant, raised their weapons.

Wei Yihua's eyes flashed with a cold light, and she laughed angrily: "What a fine 'life or death doesn't matter'! I'd like to see who dares to lay a finger on my soldiers today!"

She raised the token high, her voice suddenly rising to a high pitch, ringing out like the clinking of gold and jade: "This is the token of the Grand Princess's military supervisor, personally bestowed by the Emperor and manufactured under the supervision of the Imperial Household Department! Seeing this token is as if seeing the Empress herself!"

"You, as the Emperor's personal guards, cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, nor listen to explanations. You openly accuse others of impersonation and constantly demand execution. Who gave you the audacity?! Or are you simply acting under orders to block all loyal officials who wish to return to the capital?!"

This shout was powerful and imbued with the chilling killing intent honed on the battlefield, causing several soldiers of the Imperial Army in the front row to instinctively take a half step back.

The leader's face grew even uglier, and he was about to forcefully give the order—

"Spare his life!!"

A clear, resonant shout, yet carrying the force of metal and stone, came suddenly from the side and behind, like tearing silk!

Another rapid and orderly sound of hooves came from the side and rear. Another large force was rushing towards them, its imposing formation no less than that of the Emperor's army, and it seemed to be encircling and surrounding them.

This troop's armor and uniforms differed slightly from the Emperor's army; they resembled a garrison force assembled from various towns around the capital. Leading them were two women dressed in the attire of low-ranking civil officials, galloping towards them on horseback.

Wei Yihua's gaze sharpened, and when the two people got closer and she saw their faces clearly, she was shocked and her pupils shrank!

She cried out in a trembling voice, "Liu De! Yue Bai!"

How did they get here?!

Shen Liude and Qiu Yuebai both recognized Wei Yihua at first glance.

Even though her armor was covered in dust and her face was weathered.

"Your...Your Highness?! Princess?!" Qiu Yuebai cried out first, her voice instantly choked with sobs, her eyes reddening, and tears streaming down her face without warning.

She spurred her horse forward, but Shen Liude grabbed her and held her down.

Even though Shen Liude was usually calm and composed, she was trembling violently at this moment. Her eyes were red and she bit her lower lip hard to keep from crying, but her expression was like that of a person on the verge of freezing to death who had finally seen the sunlight.

They knew better than anyone else who the person before them was—the lord to whom they had sworn to serve to the death.

Shen Liude took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She looked deeply at Wei Yihua, her eyes churning with a thousand emotions, then suddenly turned to the leader of the imperial army, her tone resolute and imposing: "This is indeed Her Highness the Princess of the Eastern Xi Dynasty! I, Shen Liude, the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Garrison of the Capital Region, am willing to guarantee it with my life!"

"You dare to obstruct me? Get out of the way at once!"

The leader of the imperial army looked even uglier. He recognized Shen Liude and Qiu Yuebai; they were powerful female officials in the capital. Although he didn't know why they had been demoted to this town, their influence remained, and the number of guards they brought far exceeded his own.

"Lord Shen, Lord Qiu!" the leader said through gritted teeth. "It's not that I don't believe you, but the imperial court has already issued a clear edict regarding the Princess's passing! This person's identity is suspicious, and at this critical juncture, he attempted to break through the martial law on the official road. I am acting under orders and dare not let him go!"

“Captain Zheng,” Shen Liude began, his voice steady yet carrying a heavy weight, “I dare ask you, Captain Zheng, when you accused her of impersonating Her Highness the Princess, did you, as required by law, step forward to carefully examine the material, patterns, and hidden marks of the token? Did you verify her facial features and personal seal?”

"If what you see before you is truly the Princess who has escaped death, how many heads do you, a mere sixth-rank Zhaowu Colonel, have to bear the triple crimes of 'harming a member of the royal family,' 'obstructing the emperor's aid,' and 'delaying military operations'?!"

With each word she spoke, she spurred her horse forward a step, her tone unhurried yet each word carrying immense weight, causing Captain Zheng's face to turn from pale to ashen, and cold sweat to pour down his back.

Before he could catch his breath, Qiu Yuebai on the other side interrupted loudly, her voice like a thunderclap:

"Zheng Peng! Open your dog eyes and see clearly!" Qiu Yuebai pointed at the guards behind Wei Yihua, "The Crimson Flame Horse that His Highness rides is a royal tribute horse exclusively produced by the Imperial Horse Stables! The style of the swords and bows worn by the guards behind His Highness, as well as the patterns on their armor, are all designs supervised by the Ministry of War for the personal guards of the Princess's residence!"

With a clang, she drew her sword from her waist. The blade, like a pool of autumn water, shimmered with a blinding cold light under the blazing sun, pointing directly at Commander Zheng's nose: "If you dare to lay a finger on His Highness today, there's no need to wait for the joint trial by the three judicial departments of the court. Today, I will execute you on the spot for the crimes of 'plotting to assassinate the commander-in-chief and treason,' as a warning to others!"

Zheng Peng, pressed closer by Shen and Qiu, his clothes soaked with cold sweat, forced a reply: "This humble general is merely following orders from his superiors..."

"Shangguan? Which Shangguan?!" Qiu Yuebai shouted sharply, the tip of his sword approaching an inch closer. "Why did you not inform us, the Commanders of the Capital Garrison, of the martial law in the outskirts of the capital? Why did you kill him instead of welcoming His Highness the Military Supervisor? Your actions today are all violations of regulations and laws, tantamount to treason! If you cannot give a clear explanation, this day next year will be your death anniversary!"

Lieutenant Zheng stammered, his face ashen: "I..."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shen Liude turned his horse around and approached Wei Yihua. He spoke in a voice barely audible to the two of them, unable to hide his excitement: "Your Highness, you're really back! Thank God you're safe and sound, that's wonderful!"

Wei Yihua pressed down on her hand holding the reins, her brows furrowing: "What exactly happened? Why are you taking up positions in the outskirts of Beijing? I've only been away from Beijing for a hundred days, how could so many things have changed?"

"I don't have time to explain to Your Highness. In short, the capital is now in grave danger—His Majesty vomited blood and fell into a coma in Hanzhang Palace yesterday. According to the secret message from the Yue Lord, His Majesty is on the verge of death. The Imperial Preceptor Qiu Wuzhu controls the palace, isolating it from the outside world, deceiving the emperor and the people, and is trying his best to support the Fourth Prince Wei Jing to succeed to the throne. After receiving the news, the Yue Lord risked his life to sneak into the palace and is trying his best to negotiate, but the situation inside the palace is dangerous and unpredictable. The martial law in the suburbs must be a plan set up by Qiu Wuzhu to prevent external support and control the situation! Your Highness, you must enter the city immediately, or things will change!"

Wei Yihua suddenly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Shen Liude's eyes, which were slightly red with excitement but filled with unwavering determination. Everything was understood without words.

"Shen Liude, Qiu Yuebai!"

"Your humble servant is here!"

Wei Yihua: "In the name of Princess Dongxi, I hereby order you two to immediately clear the roads and suppress all obstructions! Lead your troops to escort me and my personal guards to the capital at full speed and head straight for the palace!"

"We obey!" the two roared in unison, their voices echoing across the surrounding area.

Shen Liude turned abruptly to face his guards, raised his command flag high, and his voice pierced the sky: "Governors of the Eastern Garrison of the Capital Region, listen to my command! Her Highness the Princess has returned from her tribulations by the grace of Heaven and is to immediately return to the capital to defend the Emperor and quell the rebellion! Anyone who obstructs the royal army is a traitor and will be executed without mercy! All soldiers—clear the way for Her Highness!"

Almost simultaneously, Qiu Yuebai drew his sword, his clear shout echoing throughout the area: "Western Garrison! Surround this rebel force and disarm them! Nock your bows and crossbows, point your blades outwards! Anyone who dares to make a move will be killed without mercy!"

"kill--!!!"

Thousands of guards roared in unison, their shouts converging into a raging thunder that rolled across the plains outside the capital! They changed formations with practiced ease, the vanguard splitting through the barricades and fortresses like giant axes, dispersing the chaotic imperial army, the central army quickly clearing a wide passage, and the rear guard drawing their swords and nocking their arrows, forming an impenetrable encirclement that firmly trapped the remaining soldiers within.

In an instant, a crack was torn open in the passageway!

Now!

Without further hesitation, Wei Yihua jerked the reins sharply. Sensing its master's surging fighting spirit, the Crimson Flame Steed let out a loud neigh that tore through the sky.

"All soldiers!" She turned around, her gaze sweeping over the elite cavalry who had followed her through countless battles, her voice soaring and resounding, reaching the heavens, "Follow me—back to the capital to defend the emperor and purge the corrupt officials from the court!"

Hundreds of guards roared in unison, their voices surging like a tidal wave! Surrounded and escorted by Shen Liude, Qiu Yuebai, and thousands of guards from the capital region, this light cavalry transformed into an enraged dragon breaking free from all restraints, charging relentlessly towards the capital with overwhelming force, breaking through the final barrier!

Dust obscured the sun, the sound of hooves shook the earth, and the world seemed to change color.

Perhaps it was the long cry from afar that drew Zhou Congyi, who was far away in the palace, to turn his head and look up at the sky.

The sunset was burning fiercely, its brilliant crimson gold spreading across the vast sky. The majestic silhouette of the palace walls stood tall in the intense sunlight, its flowing crimson color gilding the eaves and brackets.

Zhou Congyi watched quietly for a moment, his eyes reflecting the raging fire. He didn't say a word, but took a very light, almost inaudible breath, as if he wanted to inhale the burning heat and the resolute courage into his lungs.

She turned around again and met Sun Qiong's gaze, who stood alone under the corridor.

Sun Qiong's face was half-submerged in crimson shadows, and she had been silent for a long time.

Zhou Congyi knew that Sun Qiong had exhausted all her words. At this moment, facing Sun Qiong who remained silent, he felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

She spoke again:

"Commander Sun, when I was studying, my teacher taught me that 'a gentleman understands righteousness, while a petty person understands profit,' and I have always kept that in mind. Today I speak to you about profit, about the survival of the Sun family, about the future of our soldiers, and about personal merits and demerits. But I want to speak to you even more about righteousness—about the loyalty of a subject to the state, not just personal loyalty; about the righteousness of a general to protect the country, not to aid and abet evil; about the benevolence of a human being who cannot bear to see the country shattered and the people suffering."

Sun Qiong's eyes darkened, and she suddenly said, "Zhou Congyi."

"You came to me to say these things, aren't you afraid that you'll lose your life here today?"

Zhou Congyi slowly said, "Of course I'm afraid. But my companions have already disregarded life and death, so how can I be afraid of death?"

“…” Sun Qiong looked at her, “Was it Yue Yining who sent you to find me?”

"Does she think of me, Sun Qiong, as a fickle person who can be swayed by a few words, or as someone with such a compassionate heart?"

Zhou Congyi looked back at her: "No. She told me that Commander Sun is resolute and unyielding; but she also said that she knows Commander Sun is loyal and kind and will not be driven by evil."

As dusk settled over the imperial city, Sun Qiong fell silent again for a long time because of these words. When Zhou Congyi heard her speak again, her familiar voice was now hoarse and dry: "...Lord Zhou."

"I have a question I'd like to ask you. How did the Lord of Yue persuade you, someone as proud and aloof as you, to willingly join the Princess's camp?"

Zhou Congyi was not surprised that she knew that Yue Yining had taken the initiative to recruit her, but she was surprised that she asked such an inappropriate question at this time and place.

Memories are like branches sprouting in early spring, impossible to suppress.

Zhou Congyi slowly began to speak: "...She told me that they planned to plant a pond of lotus flowers in this mud and asked if I would be willing to be the root."

In the spring of the twenty-second year of Jiahe, Yue Yining reached out his hand to her and asked her that question before leading her to see Wei Yihua.

It was one of the countless ordinary spring days she had spent in her twenty-plus years of life, yet it was one she could never forget until her death.

Sun Qiong: "What did you answer her?"

Zhou Congyi met Sun Qiong's gaze without fear, a faint yet sincere smile spreading across her face: "I was at a loss at the time and did not answer her."

"But if I am alive and go back to see her today, I will tell her the answer to that question in person."

She already knew her answer. Though it was insignificant, she was willing to offer herself as mud and her bones as stems to support them in a pure and prosperous world.

-----------------------

Author's Note: My darlings, thank you for waiting! There's more to write than I imagined...

I originally planned to grit my teeth and write another 7,000 words to finish the palace coup story, but I felt I'd kept you all waiting too long, so I released this first. I'll see how long the next chapter will be; if it's not too long, I'll release it as one chapter; if it's too long after the main text is finished, I'll release it as two chapters.

Still 30 yuan red envelope!

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