Shen Yunjiao returned to the Shen residence with a heavy heart, feeling as if a stone was hanging in her chest, and she could not find peace.
She waited until late at night before finally receiving news that Shen Qinghuai had returned.
"Brother!" She rushed out of the room and ran towards the gate of the mansion. "Brother is finally back."
Shen Qinghuai, covered in dust and looking exhausted, raised his eyebrows in surprise when he saw Shen Yunjiao. "Why aren't you asleep yet, so late?"
"I'm exhausted today and can't sleep." Shen Yunjiao concealed the anxiety in her eyes and asked, "Why hasn't Father come back yet?"
"His Majesty suddenly fainted in Shanglin Garden today. The important officials of the court and the princes in the capital have all gone to the palace to wait for him. Father will not be able to return tonight." Shen Qinghuai's tone was still as calm and composed as ever. It was common for Shen Zhizhang to stay in the palace, so he was used to it.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao's unease intensified. She frowned and asked cautiously, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince still confined to the palace?"
"He's still imprisoned, of course. His Majesty's recent coma was caused by the Crown Prince's anger. Now, who would dare to release the Crown Prince so easily?" Shen Qinghuai took the plum juice brought by the servant and drank it all in one gulp. Then he instructed Shen Yunjiao, "It's getting late. Go back to your room and go to sleep. Don't concern yourself with these affairs of the court."
Shen Yunjiao paused for a moment before nodding.
She walked back into the room and gently lay down on the exquisite canopy bed, but the softness of the bed could not soothe the turmoil in her heart.
My mind was in turmoil. As soon as I closed my eyes, the image of Xiao Huaijin being deeply stabbed in the shoulder by a curved blade involuntarily surfaced in my mind.
Shen Yunjiao fumbled for the jade pendant under her pillow, and the warm, smooth texture of the jade pendant sent a warm sensation through her palm.
She stared blankly at the character "谨" (careful/prudent) carved on it, her eyes wide open and not sleepy at all, and she endured until dawn.
When Fu Xia came to help her get up and wash in the morning, Shen Yun Jiao quickly got up and asked, "Has Father come back today?"
Fu Xia replied, "Not yet. But the master sent someone to say that everything is fine and His Majesty woke up today."
Shen Yunjiao naturally wanted to know more details, but even if she asked the messenger, she would probably only get a few sentences back and forth.
Never mind, I'll wait until Father comes back and then have a proper talk with him.
"Miss, breakfast is ready." Granny Lin lifted the curtain and came in. "Today is the last day of June, the birthday of the Five-Horned Mother Goddess. Would you like to go to the family ancestral hall to pay your respects later?"
Shen Yunjiao raised her eyes and asked, "What kind of deity is the Five-Horned Mother Goddess?"
"The Five-Horned Mother is a great deity who protects the family's peace and well-being. The young lady must be so sleepy that she has forgotten the twice-yearly festival for the goddess's birthday."
"Oh, I see." Shen Yunjiao sighed softly, her voice heavy. "I will go to pay my respects shortly."
Granny Lin replied with a "okay".
Shen Yunjiao had no appetite and quickly ate a few bites before asking for the food to be taken away.
Then Granny Lin came and led her to the family ancestral hall.
Shen Yunjiao knelt on the prayer mat, lit incense, and silently prayed to the gods, hoping that Xiao Huaijin and the Shen family could be safe and sound.
Just as she finished offering incense, a familiar cuckoo call came from outside the window.
Shen Yunjiao's eyes flickered slightly. She turned to Lin Mama and said, "Mama, I suddenly feel like going out for a walk by myself."
Seeing that Shen Yunjiao looked preoccupied, Lin Mama dared not stop her any longer and quickly agreed.
Shen Yunjiao left the ancestral hall, turned a corner, and came to the path next to it.
Nanfeng, disguised as an ordinary servant, immediately stepped forward upon seeing Shen Yunjiao, bowed slightly, and respectfully greeted her.
Shen Yunjiao's face was filled with concern and anxiety. She asked impatiently, "How is Xiao Huaijin now? Has his wound been properly treated?"
Seeing this, Nanfeng understood Shen Yunjiao's worries and quickly replied, "Reporting to Miss Shen, I have already applied the medicine to His Highness."
Shen Yunjiao breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but Nanfeng then added, "However, after His Highness returned to his palace last night, he suddenly suffered from a headache and fainted several times."
Shen Yunjiao's pupils constricted sharply, her heart leaping into her throat. "What did you say?"
"Your subordinate is also afraid. For some reason, Imperial Physician Jiang was summoned by Consort Shu to take Ping An's pulse and has never returned." Nan Feng said with a solemn expression and lowered his head. "We cannot contact Imperial Physician Jiang, and the incense in the palace has run out. His Highness woke up with a terrible headache and even had difficulty seeing things."
"Therefore, I have taken the liberty of inviting Miss Shen to come over."
Shen Yunjiao's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "But how am I supposed to get into the East Palace?"
Nanfeng said, "Tonight at midnight, Beifeng and I will come to pick you up. Here is a set of night clothes, which you can change into tonight."
Shen Yunjiao solemnly accepted the package brought by Nanfeng. "I understand."
After watching Nanfeng leave, she hurriedly returned to her room.
As soon as Fu Xia entered the house, she saw Shen Yunjiao rummaging through drawers and cabinets.
"Miss," Fu Xia asked in surprise, "what are you looking for?"
"I need to sneak into the palace to see the Crown Prince." Shen Yunjiao picked up a small jar of medicine powder, thought for a moment, and then put it into her bundle.
Fu Xia had already heard about what happened at Shanglin Garden yesterday, and the young lady was restless all day because of it.
Her face was full of worry, "But what you're doing is too dangerous, young lady. What if you're discovered in the palace—"
"I can't worry about that now." Shen Yunjiao neatly arranged her silver needles and put them all into her bundle. "If anyone comes to ask me anything, remember to cover for me."
Fu Xia immediately tensed up as if facing a formidable enemy. Seeing that she couldn't persuade her mistress, she could only do her best to help her mistress. "Don't worry, Miss, I'll handle things here."
Shen Yunjiao gave Fu Xia a grateful look.
At midnight, as soon as the cuckoo called, Nanfeng and Zhuye appeared precisely outside Shen Yunjiao's room.
Shen Yunjiao, dressed in black, opened the door.
"Miss Chen, please forgive me."
Nanfeng bowed slightly as a greeting, then he and Zhuye each stood on one side, each lifting one of Shen Yunjiao's arms and easily suspending her in mid-air. Their movements were so fast that no one had time to react.
Although Shen Yunjiao had already prepared herself mentally, she still felt a little uncomfortable with the way she was holding the chick.
Fortunately, after they took her out of the Shen residence, they put her in the carriage.
At the other end of the palace, Beifeng was already waiting. "There are Imperial Guards guarding the entrance to Feihua Palace now, so we can only enter through the tunnel. However, it will be a pity for Miss Chen to crawl through the dog hole."
Shen Yunjiao shook her head repeatedly, "It's alright, I used to crawl into those places when I was little."
The three of them immediately looked at her with strange expressions.
Shen Yunjiao replied awkwardly, "Let's go quickly."
Nanfeng and the other two led her to an abandoned well behind the palace. He and Zhuye worked together and actually moved the well in one go.
It turned out that behind the ancient well lay a hidden world, where a narrow opening, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, was concealed.
Nanfeng quickly lit a tinderbox, instantly illuminating the dark cave.
"I'll go first, Miss Chen, please follow closely behind me." Before Zhu Ye finished speaking, she had already bent down and nimbly squeezed into the narrow opening.
Seeing this, Shen Yunjiao followed closely behind, followed closely by Nanfeng, while Beifeng stayed outside, replaced the manhole cover, and waited quietly in place, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily to ensure safety.
Zhu Ye led Shen Yunjiao forward on her crawling feet. When they reached the end of the passage, Zhu Ye gently pushed open the cave door.
The three of them emerged one after another, and Shen Yunjiao realized that they were now in the backyard of Feihua Palace.
The moonlight, like a silver veil, gently spilled over every corner of the courtyard.
"Miss Chen, we won't go in," said Zhu Ye.
Shen Yunjiao nodded slightly and pushed open the half-open door by herself.
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