Chapter 28
The next day, just as the sky was getting light, dark clouds were gathering thicker and thicker, pressing down heavily on the palace, and the wind was even damper.
A figure was waiting outside the imperial study.
In the dim sky, Yue Mingming's sky-blue dress looked particularly thin, as if it would be blown away by the wind and melt into the inky sky in the next second.
Zhao Congyun followed the palace messenger and hurried out. When he looked up and saw this scene, his heart suddenly panicked.
No longer caring about his dignified manners, he quickly took two steps to Yue Mingming, glanced at her red nose from the cold, and raised his hand to take off his outer robe and give it to her.
Yue Mingming stopped him: "I'm not cold, really!"
She couldn't afford any good for him now.
When Zhao Congyun saw her expression, the panic in his heart became even stronger. He paused for a moment, but finally insisted on wrapping his outer robe around her.
"What happened?"
Yue Mingming tried hard to force a smile: "Well... there's something I want to tell you."
Zhao Congyun looked at her quietly.
Yue Mingming said, "Well... you know... I'm not good at music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. I definitely can't win today's competition... why not just forget it?"
“…” Zhao Congyun was silent for a while.
He thought for a long time, organizing his words countless times in his mind, and finally said calmly: "Are you scared?"
His voice was hoarse, a sound that sounded like a plea, "If you're worried about your life, I can assure you that nothing will happen to you... If you're worried about me..."
"No." Yue Mingming quickly interrupted him: "I'm not afraid, I just don't want to be the princess anymore!"
She didn't dare to hesitate for even a second, and even curled the corners of her mouth after she finished speaking, just like she usually did when teasing him.
She hoped that Zhao Congyun would treat this as another of her pranks. Wouldn't that make it easier for him to accept?
"Why?"
Zhao Congyun didn't laugh, nor was he angry. His face even lost its expression: "Why do you regret it?"
Yue Mingming continued to laugh: "A group of women fighting over each other and being pointed at by others, suddenly I feel it is very boring."
"Boring..." Zhao Congyun murmured, repeating her words: "Then you must find it very interesting to tease me like this?"
"I'm sorry." Yue Mingming blurted out.
The apology was sincere, but Zhao Congyun looked at him as if he had heard a joke, his eyes becoming deeper and colder.
"It's okay. I'm used to it."
He dropped his disguise as he spoke, his tone filled with deep fatigue. As for the deeper meaning, Yue Mingming didn't dare to dwell on it.
She stood stiffly opposite Zhao Congyun, her smile almost unable to hold back, her nose felt sore, and she suddenly felt a chill on her cheeks.
Don't cry now! You can't cry!
She reached out and wiped it away, feeling relieved—luckily it wasn't tears.
It's just snowing.
This was the first snow in the game world, just like her appearance, so untimely.
Yue Mingming suddenly felt even sadder.
Everyone is expressing their love in the first snow, but I am here to break up.
She also felt sad for Zhao Congyun. They had agreed to walk this difficult road together, but she escaped at the last minute, leaving him alone in the huge palace.
Before coming, Yue Mingming was prepared to be scolded, but Zhao Congyun did not scold her or lose his temper. There was only endless silence, as suffocating as this palace.
"Well... if there's nothing else, I'll leave first?" Yue Mingming couldn't stay any longer.
"Have you thought it through?" Zhao Congyun suddenly called her.
"What?" Yue Mingming was stunned.
"You know I won't beg you. You won't get a second chance... So have you really thought it through?"
"Yeah." Yue Mingming used all his strength to say one word.
Zhao Congyun didn't look at her again, turning and walking towards the imperial study. He didn't retract his outer robe, only wearing a moon-white singlet. With his back straight and his steps swift, he disappeared behind the hall in the blink of an eye.
Yue Mingming was reluctant to look away. He stared at the empty corridor for a long time before he noticed a trail of bright red blood on the white frost covering the ground.
The wound on his hand was indeed not properly treated with medicine.
And once again, I forgot to remind him.
*
Yue Mingming returned to Yuhua Palace like a wandering soul.
She hadn't slept all night and had been exposed to the cold wind for half a day. She felt dizzy and struggled to climb back into bed, ready to take a nap.
At least in her dream, she didn't have to think over and over again about Zhao Congyun's lonely figure walking away.
I don’t know how long I slept when the door slammed loudly.
Yue Mingming opened his eyes in a daze, and saw a group of palace servants rushing in aggressively, followed by the Qilin Guards holding swords.
"Are you Yue Wan?" the leading palace servant shouted.
"...It's me." Yue Mingming realized something was wrong and stood up hurriedly: "Who are you? Is there something wrong?"
"In compliance with the Empress's decree, arrest the vicious woman Yue!" The palace maid sneered, and immediately two Qilin Guards stepped forward and pinned Yue Mingming to the bed.
Yue Mingming's head buzzed, and she didn't understand how she became a "vicious woman" after waking up. But she knew very well that this was not the palace of the emperor, and she was not facing Zhao Congyun, who had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, but the cold imperial power and the real enemy who wanted to kill her.
"What crime have I committed? Does the prince know that you are arresting me?" Yue Mingming shouted.
"You'll find out soon! The Queen has instructed that you'll be given a chance to explain yourself in front of the palace! Let's go!"
More palace servants rushed in and surrounded her, as if they were afraid that she would run away. There was even a hint of fear in their eyes when they looked at her.
Yue Mingming couldn't exert any strength at all and was almost dragged forward.
The guard's sword hit the table, knocking over several plates of snacks that Nanny Sun had sent last night. No one paid attention to this detail, and the snacks were quickly crushed to the ground by the messy footsteps, mixing with the snow stains on the soles of the shoes into a ball of mud.
Yue Mingming's tears suddenly fell.
That was the true love from last night. I came here after a long journey to give it to her, but she let me down.
Seeing this, a palace maid cursed, "Crying and wailing... Such bad luck so early in the morning!"
Yue Mingming didn't care, her crying became louder and louder, and she didn't stop even after being taken to Kunning Palace.
In Kunning Palace, Empress Li sat in the middle, waiting for her calmly, with palace maids and imperial physicians kneeling below her.
Seeing Yue Mingming bursting into tears, Empress Li sneered and said, "Are you finally afraid?"
Yue Mingming thought, what do you know!
But then she thought again, it was good that no one understood why she was crying. She could indulge in her guilt and sadness under the guise of fear.
No one knows. Not even Zhao Congyun.
"Yue, do you admit your guilt?" asked Queen Li.
Yue Mingming sobbed and shook his head.
Empress Li said, "Don't think I'll soften my heart just because you act so pitiful. This time, even the Emperor's uncle can't save you!"
Yue Mingming felt a sharp pain in her heart. Zhao Congyun probably wouldn't care about her life or death anymore.
"I asked you to invite His Majesty and the Emperor's uncle, why haven't they arrived yet?" Queen Li asked the palace maids.
Just as the palace maid was about to reply, a group of people strode in from outside the hall, led by Emperor Zhaoming.
Seeing the room full of people preparing for an interrogation, Emperor Zhaoming's face turned grim. He scolded, "Why mobilize so many troops? This is Kunning Palace, not the Ministry of Justice. You should observe the rules!"
Empress Li knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I am truly terrified and powerless to make the decision. This is why I have to trouble you!"
Emperor Zhaoming glanced at the disheveled Yue Mingming and frowned, "What's going on?"
"Your Majesty, last night...last night, all the women staying in Yuhua Palace...except for Mrs. Yue, died suddenly!"
"What!!"
Emperor Zhaoming was shocked and his expression changed immediately. Even Yue Mingming stopped crying and looked at Queen Li in shock.
"I discovered them this morning..." Empress Li trembled. "The palace maids called out several times but couldn't wake them. When they touched them, they were completely cold... They were officials' wives, and they died in the palace. This is a serious matter, so I didn't dare to act on my own. I notified Your Majesty immediately."
Emperor Zhaoming's chest heaved, and he suddenly picked up the incense burner on the table and smashed it to the ground. "Absurd... Such a heinous crime has occurred in the palace! This is a rebellion! Someone, summon the Minister of Justice Zhang Ting to the palace!"
Everyone knelt on the ground, not daring to say a word. Emperor Zhaoming's gaze fell on several imperial physicians: "Imperial Physician Xiao, have you ever seen a corpse?"
Imperial Physician Xiao threw himself forward and said, "Your Majesty, the deceased has no wounds on his body, nor any signs of poisoning. His face is calm, as if he were asleep. Forgive me, I cannot determine the cause of death... It can only be attributed to a sudden heart attack..."
Emperor Zhaoming angrily shouted, "Three people suddenly suffered a heart attack at the same time? You want me to use this excuse to explain to their families? I think you are not only a quack, but you also don't want your head anymore!"
Doctor Xiao kowtowed and cried out "I deserve to die", but Yue Mingming suddenly remembered something -
There were no wounds on his body, no signs of poisoning, his face was calm, and his heart had stopped beating... Isn't this how the sedan bearer died when she first entered the game!
But the murderer at that time was her father, and now Yue Zhaofeng is dead. Is there anyone else who knows this unconventional method of killing?
Or... is there someone behind Yue Zhaofeng?
Yue Mingming didn't dare to speak rashly at this moment. After thinking about it, he could only tell Zhao Congyun about this in advance, but what about others?
At this moment, Queen Li suddenly looked up at her, and Yue Mingming suddenly had an ominous premonition.
Empress Li said, "Your Majesty... I'm afraid this matter... will implicate Lady Yue."
Emperor Zhaoming was furious and said angrily, "Just say what you want to say! Don't be so hesitant!"
Empress Li: "There were four people living in Yuhua Palace, and now three of them have died tragically, while Lady Yue is the only one who is safe and sound. This is truly suspicious... Also, I heard from the palace servants that Lady Yue kept mumbling to herself after returning to her room last night... It's inevitable that this sparks speculation."
Yue Mingming sighed inwardly. What a huge mess! This Empress was really planning to kill her!
Emperor Zhaoming asked, "Do you suspect she is the murderer?"
He snorted coldly, "If she did that, wouldn't it be too obvious? Besides, how could she, a weak woman, attack three people? Your speculation can't even convince me. When Prince Jia comes later, I want to see how you talk to him!"
"I think that Madam Yue was confused for a moment in the fight for the princess, which is not unreasonable."
Empress Li paused deliberately before slowly saying, "Although she is a woman, she is not incapable of killing people... Your Majesty, do you still remember... the art of witchcraft?"
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked.
Emperor Zhaoming stared at her dimly: "Queen, please be careful with your words!"
Empress Li leaned forward and said earnestly, "These people died in strange circumstances... I'm truly afraid... the disaster that happened back then is happening again in the palace!"
Emperor Zhaoming lowered his eyes and remained silent. The aura surrounding him was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. He looked around and finally said in a deep voice, "Where is Prince Jia? You arrested his concubines, but didn't you notify him?"
A palace servant said cautiously, "We searched the imperial study but couldn't find the prince! Someone saw him go to the West Garden early in the morning."
Emperor Zhaoming slammed the table and said, "Useless! Then go look for it in the West Garden! Do I need to order this?"
"But...but that's Yongshang Palace..."
Yue Mingming was not familiar with the imperial palace, but she could tell from Emperor Zhaoming's reaction that "Yongshang Palace" seemed to be a taboo as well.
"Go find him!" Emperor Zhaoming was silent for a while, then uttered two words in a loud voice.
The palace maid obeyed, and a suffocating silence descended upon the room. Yue Mingming's mind raced through the events, feeling she had fallen into a massive trap. Besides Empress Li, perhaps even more people were involved.
Now she could only pray secretly that this trap was set only for her and would not involve Zhao Congyun.
But...is it really that simple?
Is it worth it for Queen Li to make such a fuss about her being a concubine with no status or background?
No! The other party's real target must be Zhao Congyun!
Although Zhao Congyun always plans ahead, will he be prepared this time? Can he still make every possible plan?
Yue Mingming became anxious, truly experiencing what it meant to be overly concerned. At this moment, a message suddenly came from outside, and a little palace servant ran in, handing over an encrypted memorial.
"Lord Fan has an urgent report!"
Emperor Zhaoming was slightly startled. He took the memorial and sneered at the end. The next words made Yue Mingming shudder.
She heard Emperor Zhaoming order: "Qilin Guards, listen to my orders! Go to Yongshang Palace immediately and capture Prince Jia!"
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