After leaving the Shen Mansion, the group took a side path and headed towards the palace walls.
This immediately put the patrolling palace guards on high alert.
"This is forbidden territory!"
"Apart from current officials, no one is allowed to approach. Otherwise, they will be killed without mercy!" a guard captain said.
Chen Tiansheng nodded to Consort Qin, who then stepped forward, put her hands on her hips, and scolded him.
"I am Consort Qin, why aren't you moving aside?!"
"So it's the Imperial Concubine, I was so mistaken."
"I'm sorry." The captain of the guards recognized Consort Qin, quickly bowed to her, and waved his hand, dismissing all the guards.
Consort Qin snorted coldly and strode towards the city gate.
Chen Tiansheng and the others followed behind.
"The usually aloof Imperial Concubine has returned to the city this time with a whole bunch of miscellaneous people."
"And there are monks mixed in there, which doesn't fit her personality!" a guard said as he watched the group leave.
"Could it be that Consort Qin has a fondness for monks..." another guard chuckled.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Get back to patrol!" The captain snapped at them, and the two quickly went on patrol.
"What is Consort Qin doing bringing a monk into the palace?"
"This is really inexplicable!" The captain was also puzzled, shook his head and left.
At the city gate, the guards opened the gate and let a group of people in.
When Sudatta noticed the guards looking at him strangely, he chuckled.
"What, can't I, a high-ranking monk, go in and have some fun!"
"Of course we can! How could we not release the people Your Highness brought!"
“However, we still feel something is a little strange!” one of the guards whispered.
"Do you suspect that I'm having an affair with her?" Sudatta said.
"That's not what we said!" The guards quickly waved their hands.
“I can see that’s what you all think!” Sudatta said.
"Tinghua Palace is filled with yin energy. I asked a master to come in and perform a ritual. What's wrong?"
"If you dare to make any more wild guesses, I will kill you all immediately." Consort Qin overheard this conversation and was immediately enraged. She walked over and angrily rebuked them.
"Yes, yes, yes." The guards were terrified and didn't dare to utter a sound.
"Suttara, you've fallen into lust again!"
"If you continue like this, I will cut off all ties with you." Zhong Ling said angrily when she saw Xu Tuo's gaze lingering on Consort Qin's ample bosom.
"No!" Sudatta's expression changed immediately, and he strode away.
"Senior sister, how did you two meet?" Shi Jing asked quietly.
"We met at a ruin."
"Because he is a Buddhist, I need something from him."
“I started having some contact with him,” Zhong Ling said.
"Oh." Shi Jing understood.
"He may be a bit lecherous, but he's a pretty good person."
“They’ve helped me a lot,” Zhong Ling added.
"Hurry up and go!"
"I've fallen behind the group." With that, she quickly left.
"Can we walk faster?" Shi Jing turned around, and Consort Qin asked from behind.
"Yes," Consort Qin quickly replied and hurried after her.
If you walk straight along the main road, you will reach the central hall!
This is where the head of state and officials hold meetings. Further inside is the resting area, also known as the Yangxin Pavilion.
Adjacent to the Yangxin Pavilion are the dining room and study, where the head of state ate and read.
Further in, you'll reach the palace grounds, where the main halls of the three imperial concubines are built in three directions.
Behind the main hall, separated by a palace wall, are smaller palaces on one side, where servants and imperial guards rest.
Further outwards, there are storage rooms, laundry rooms, and so on.
The main hall on the north side was cold and deserted, filled with a gloomy atmosphere.
That was the Cold Palace, a place even the servants dared not wander into.
This is the ancient capital of six dynasties, where several emperors conducted their official business.
Back then, the imperial harem was bustling with three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines—it was even more lively than it is now.
With more women, the struggle for favor and infighting became more frequent, and many people died in the cold palace.
Nowadays, the yin energy is so dense that it's chilling.
Some ministers suggested that the Cold Palace be demolished.
But the head of state was retained.
After all, it's part of the palace complex.
If it's dismantled, it won't be complete.
Three kilometers east of the Cold Palace, at the innermost part of the palace grounds, is a building called Phoenix Perch Pavilion, where the First Lady of the State rests.
However, the person living inside now is an imposter; the real one is long dead.
Zhu Zhen strode forward, his heart aching so much that he clenched his fists.
"Who dares to trespass into the palace? Kneel down and die!" Suddenly, a group of men in black jumped out from both sides of the road, blocking the way and shouting.
“I am Zhu Zhen,” Zhu Zhen said.
"Zhu Zhen, is he a prince of the current dynasty?"
“Show us the Zhen character plaque,” said a man in black.
Chen Tiansheng took out a jade pendant from his pocket and gave it to Zhu Zhen.
Zhu Zhen shook his head, indicating that he did not need it.
"Can't you even recognize my voice?" he roared.
There are plenty of people with the same voice!
“We need to verify their identities,” another man in black said with a sneer.
Zhu Zhen took out her phone, turned on the flashlight, and shone it on her face.
"Can you see it clearly now?"
“They do look somewhat alike, but we still need to verify their identities!” another man in black said.
"You dare to stop even the current prince? You've got some nerve!"
"Kill them!" Chen Tiansheng waved his hand, and Long Yuan and the others rushed forward, their palms slamming down, blood splattering everywhere.
"Quickly, someone has broken into the palace!" In an instant, several people fell to the ground, and a man in black immediately shouted.
"Someone has broken into the palace!" Upon hearing the shout, the men in black who were on guard at other intersections rushed towards the location.
The Imperial Guards patrolling the other roads also rushed over upon hearing the news and surrounded Chen Tiansheng and his group.
As more and more people arrived, the encirclement grew larger and larger, layer upon layer, becoming impenetrable.
Long Yuan and the others remained calm as they threw punches, instantly disintegrating people and splattering blood everywhere.
With their current strength, no matter how many men in black there are, they are like ants, easily crushed underfoot.
Killing them would only waste some time at most.
Shi Jingzhong, Ling Xutuo, and the other two wore cold smiles and did not make a move.
These people are too weak for them.
Just leave it to Long Yuan and the others.
"Where is the head of state?" Chen Tiansheng asked Consort Qin.
"Donghua Palace," Consort Qin said.
"Go to Donghua Palace to rescue people first."
"After that, destroy the stronghold!!" Chen Tiansheng said.
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