Silver snakes are on the move
*
The plan was set for seven days later, when Xu Qingyao would next enter the palace to have her pulse checked.
During these seven days, Xiao Zhouyan secretly deployed his forces, guarding the outer perimeter of Lengxiang Garden like an iron barrel, waiting for the person inside to appear.
Xu Qingyao remained calm and continued to enter the palace on time. However, whenever she passed by Lengxiang Garden, she would deliberately slow down, either to admire the flowers and plants or to whisper with the palace maids, as if she had developed some unconscious interest in that desolate place.
She even casually inquired about the past of Lengxiang Garden when she happened to meet an old eunuch who managed the old palace records, mentioning the rumors about that concubine from the previous dynasty, revealing a bit of curiosity and sympathy.
These subtle actions, like pebbles thrown into a still lake, are bound to attract the attention of those watching from the shadows.
On the seventh day, the sky was overcast, with leaden-gray clouds hanging low, making it hard to breathe.
After taking the princess's pulse as usual, Xu Qingyao declined the maid's offer to accompany her, saying that she was feeling down and wanted to take a walk alone. She then walked slowly into the depths of the Imperial Garden with only Yuejian by her side.
She deliberately chose the secluded path near Lengxiang Garden.
The cold wind swirled withered leaves, rustling as it swept across the overgrown palace path.
The dilapidated vermilion gate of Lengxiang Garden swayed slightly in the wind, like a mouth that wanted to speak but couldn't.
Xu Qingyao's heart began to race involuntarily; she could feel countless eyes staring at her from the shadows.
Xiao Zhouyan's people, and...
Potential enemies.
She stopped under an old plum tree, looking up at the bare branches, as if searching for the last trace of winter.
Tsukimi nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, looking around anxiously.
Time passed slowly, and apart from the sound of the wind, all around was deathly silent.
Just when Xu Qingyao thought the other party wouldn't take the bait and was preparing to leave under the pretense of "feeling unwell" as planned, a sudden change occurred!
Suddenly, the rotten wooden door of Lengxiang Garden made a very slight but clearly audible creaking sound, and a narrow crack quietly opened!
Almost simultaneously, the system issued a piercing alarm!
[WARNING! High-intensity malicious energy lock-on! Target: Host! Source: Underground of Cold Fragrance Garden!]
Xu Qingyao suddenly turned her head!
A dark shadow darted out from the crack in the door like lightning. It wasn't a human, but a black raccoon with crimson eyes. The raccoon moved with uncanny speed, transforming into a streak of black light as it lunged straight at Xu Qingyao's face.
The claws gleamed with a chilling blue light, clearly indicating they were coated with a potent poison!
"Madam, be careful!" Yuejian screamed in fright.
Xu Qingyao was prepared and quickly dodged to the side! But the raccoon seemed to anticipate her movements, twisting its body in mid-air and still reaching for her throat with its sharp claws!
--"call out!"
A crossbow bolt pierced the air and struck the raccoon's neck with perfect accuracy.
The black cat let out a shrill scream, fell to the ground, twitched twice, and then lay still. The blood flowing from its wound was a thick, dark green color.
Several guards from the Marquis's residence appeared like ghosts, protecting Xu Qingyao and watching the direction of Lengxiang Garden warily.
However, there was no further movement behind that door, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.
Xiao Zhouyan's figure quickly appeared at the end of the palace road. He strode over, his face ashen.
He first carefully examined Xu Qingyao to make sure she was unharmed before his gaze fell on the strange, dead raccoon dog.
"Not human..."
Xu Qingyao suppressed her shock and whispered.
Xiao Zhouyan crouched down, poked at the cat corpse with his sword sheath, his eyes cold: "Beast control...it seems the people inside are very skilled in these unorthodox methods."
He stood up and looked at the dilapidated wooden door that was now tightly shut again. "Afraid to show yourself, only daring to command beasts... Is it because you're afraid of revealing your identity, or... are you simply weak?"
"What do we do now?" Xu Qingyao asked. If they alerted the enemy, they would likely become even more wary.
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Zhouyan's eyes: "Now that you've confirmed there's something inside and taken action, you have a pretext."
He turned and ordered the commander of the palace guards who followed him: "Immediately seal off Lengxiang Garden! Report to His Majesty that a demon is lurking in the palace garden, intending to assassinate Lady Hou. Request permission to search the area!"
He intended to use overt power to forcefully open this door. Whoever was hiding inside would find it difficult to remain concealed under the charge of "assassinating a noblewoman."
The news spread quickly, and the emperor was furious upon hearing it. He immediately issued an edict ordering Xiao Zhouyan to work with the Inner Court to thoroughly search Lengxiang Garden.
The heavy palace locks were broken open, and the palace gardens, sealed for many years, saw the light of day again.
The courtyard was overgrown with weeds up to waist-high, with broken walls and ruins, a scene of utter desolation.
The people of the Inner Court searched the buildings carefully, but found nothing.
“The entrance to the secret room must be hidden.” Xiao Zhouyan stood in the courtyard, his sharp gaze sweeping over every inch of the land.
Xu Qingyao silently guided the system to perform a deep scan.
[An anomaly was detected in the artificial rockery in the southeast corner, suggesting a possible mechanism.]
Xu Qingyao gently tugged at Xiao Zhouyan's sleeve, glancing at the moss-covered artificial hill.
Xiao Zhouyan understood and led his men over to carefully examine the area.
A moment later, he discovered an almost imperceptible crack in what appeared to be an ordinary rock.
Press hard—
With a soft "click," a stone slab at the base of the artificial hill slowly moved aside, revealing a dark, downward-facing opening just wide enough for one person to pass through. A cold wind, mixed with a musty smell and a strange, fishy odor, rushed out of the opening.
Found it!
Xiao Zhouyan signaled everyone to be on guard, and took the lead, sword in hand, stepping into the cave entrance. Xu Qingyao followed closely behind, and the guards filed in.
The passage was narrow and damp, extending downwards for about ten feet before suddenly opening up into a strangely furnished underground stone chamber.
The stone wall was covered with twisted runes, and a small altar was set up in the center, which was quite similar to the one seen in Ghost Cry Valley in Nan Yue, only on a smaller scale.
On the altar were several earthenware jars containing unknown medicinal herbs and... the bones of some small animals.
The room was empty except for a single eerie green lamp flickering on the altar, casting a ghostly glow throughout.
[Vital signs have disappeared. Residual energy indicates the target has moved through a secret passage, approximately half an incense stick's time ago.] System notification.
It was still too late.
The other party ran away before they could break in!
Xiao Zhouyan's face was grim as he carefully examined the altar and its surroundings. At the edge of the altar, he discovered a small piece of black gauze of unusual texture that had been caught, as well as several long, silver hairs that did not belong to any animal.
“It’s not Shen Rou.” Xu Qingyao frowned as she looked at the silver hair. Shen Rou had black hair.
"She is either an accomplice or... a new collaborator."
Xiao Zhouyan carefully put away the gauze and hair. "To be able to infiltrate the depths of the palace and establish such a secret chamber, one must be no ordinary person."
Although they failed to capture anyone, taking down the stronghold and seizing the altar and some items was already a major breakthrough.
More importantly, it confirmed that the palace had indeed been infiltrated, and that the perpetrators, in desperation, had directly attacked Xu Qingyao.
When the news reached the court and the public, it once again caused a stir.
The imperial palace was found to be hiding an altar of evil magic, and the emperor even plotted to assassinate the wife of the Marquis of Zhenyuan!
The emperor was shocked and furious, and ordered a thorough investigation of the palace and the purge of the eunuchs and maids. Everyone was in a state of fear.
Xu Qingyao knew that after this incident, her conflict with the enemy in the shadows had become completely public, leaving no room for maneuver.
The mysterious silver-haired man who escaped from the secret chamber of Lengxiang Garden has become a new enigma.
The turmoil did not subside; instead, the terrifying moment deep within the palace grounds stirred up even greater waves. The real contest was only just beginning.
*
The discovery of the underground chamber in Lengxiang Garden was like pouring a ladle of cold water into a boiling oil pan, causing an uproar throughout the palace and even the previous dynasty.
Emperor Chu Huaiyuan's fury far exceeded anything he had ever felt before. Within the imperial palace, beside the emperor's bedchamber, wicked individuals had infiltrated, erecting altars, commanding demons, and attempting to assassinate noblewomen!
This is not only a provocation, but also a blatant contempt for his imperial power!
The Inner Court was hit by an unprecedented purge. Anyone who had been in contact with the Cold Fragrance Garden, even those who were only responsible for cleaning the outer perimeter, was isolated and investigated.
Several eunuch officials in charge of palace maintenance and personnel transfers were immediately imprisoned and subjected to severe torture. A climate of fear and unease gripped the palace.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xiao Zhouyan used the pretext of assisting in the investigation to further penetrate the palace's defense system.
He swiftly replaced the guards at several key palace gates, replacing them with his own men.
The emperor was in dire need of capable people at this time, and he placed even greater emphasis on Xiao Zhouyan's loyalty and ability, so he tacitly approved of or even secretly supported this.
The faction led by the Fifth Prince Chu Huaijin fell completely silent. Faced with such a crucial matter concerning palace security and the dignity of the emperor, any criticism of Xiao Zhouyan would seem inappropriate and might even backfire.
Chu Huaijin claimed illness and refused to attend court, closing his doors to visitors, clearly avoiding the limelight for the time being.
**
The study of the Marquis of Zhenyuan's residence.
Xiao Zhouyan and Xu Qingyao sat facing each other, with several pieces of evidence brought back from the secret room laid out between them: fragments of black gauze, a few strands of silver hair, and some incense ash and rubbings of runes scraped from the altar.
"System, analyze these items," Xu Qingyao commanded in her mind.
[Scanning... The black gauze is a blend of ice silk and some rare metal wire, crafted with a unique technique, uncommon in the Great Zhou and surrounding countries. The long silver hair contains faint active energy, and the genetic sequence differs slightly from ordinary people, suggesting a special bloodline or long-term exposure to energy. The incense ash has a complex composition, containing hallucinogenic, psychedelic, and energy-guiding substances. The rune structure is of the same origin as Wolf Howling Valley and Ghost Crying Valley, but is more ancient and sophisticated.]
"Ice silkworm silk...rare metals...special bloodline..."
Xiao Zhouyan tapped his fingertips on the table, his gaze sharp:
“It seems our new opponent is no ordinary person.” He looked at Xu Qingyao. “Although Shen Rou is good at planning, she could not have built such a secret room and used such ingenious methods alone. This silver-haired person is probably the core who is truly proficient in this art.”
Xu Qingyao picked up the long silver hair and examined it closely under the light. The hair shimmered with an almost eerie luster under the light.
"This person was able to infiltrate the palace, establish a secret chamber, and then escape calmly before we arrived. He is extremely familiar with the palace routes and the guard rotations... There must be a high-ranking person in the palace to assist him."
Both of them fell silent.
Those who wield such power within the palace are few and far between.
The Empress? Or one of the princes?
Or perhaps... that seemingly unassuming third princess who always manages to appear at the right time?
Or perhaps it's a force hidden deeper, one that even they haven't noticed?
"The most urgent task is to find out the identity of this silver-haired person," Xiao Zhouyan said in a deep voice. "I have already sent people to secretly investigate whether there are any silver-haired aliens in the capital, and at the same time, I have asked the old troops in the northern frontier to pay attention to any unusual movements in the various tribes of the grasslands and even further west."
Xu Qingyao nodded and added, "Shen Rou and this person are cooperating for mutual benefit. Shen Rou provides intelligence and future trends, while this person provides support through sorcery. Their goal is far more than just disrupting the capital."
She recalled Shen Rou's ambition to assist Yan Zhan in conquering the Great Zhou in the original novel, "Their ultimate goal is probably to overthrow the Great Zhou."
Just then, a secret guard delivered a confidential report.
The message came from a spy lurking in the Li Kingdom—the regent of the Li Kingdom, Yan Zhan, has recently gained a mysterious guest advisor. It is said that the advisor is proficient in supernatural arts and is deeply trusted by Yan Zhan. However, no one has ever seen his true face, only that he has a head of... silver hair!
The information matched the evidence before them perfectly.
"As expected, it's related to Yan Zhan!" Xiao Zhouyan's eyes turned icy cold. "Chen Rou is in the shadows, the silver-haired guest is in the open, and Yan Zhan is behind it all... What a triangular alliance!"
“We must sever their connection as soon as possible, or… eliminate this silver-haired guest elder,” Xu Qingyao said.
This person's methods are unpredictable and impossible to guard against; keeping him alive will only pose a serious threat.
“He is currently in Li Kingdom, under Yan Zhan’s protection, so it won’t be easy for him to take action,” Xiao Zhouyan pondered. “Moreover, the mess in the capital has not yet been cleaned up.”
He was implying that the informant inside the palace had not yet been identified.
Xu Qingyao understood that this was a game played on two fronts, or even three fronts. The capital, the northern frontier, and the Li Kingdom were all interconnected.
"What further decrees has His Majesty issued regarding the Lengxiang Garden matter?" she asked.
Xiao Zhouyan sneered: "His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation, but that's all. Palace scandals shouldn't be publicized excessively. He hopes this matter will be quelled as soon as possible to avoid shaking the foundations of the nation."
He paused, then said, "However, after this incident, His Majesty is probably even more wary of you and me."
Xu Qingyao remained silent.
The emperor needed to use them to deal with foreign enemies, but he also had to guard against their growing power. His heart was unpredictable, and he was walking on thin ice.
“From now on, we need to be even more cautious.” Xiao Zhouyan looked at her. “You must be careful when you walk around the palace. I suspect that although that silver-haired guest has left, his spies in the palace… or rather, Shen Rou’s spies, have not been completely eliminated.”
Xu Qingyao touched her lower abdomen, which was still flat, but she wondered how long the "pregnancy" talisman would last.
"I know. I'll play it by ear."
Outside the window, night was deepening.
The capital city seemed to have returned to a state of calm, but beneath the surface, the danger was even greater.
The appearance of the silver-haired guest has pushed this game into a more dangerous and unpredictable situation.
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