Chapter 782 Night Shadow Returns
Nightshade paused for a moment, then said coldly, "I've never given you a gift." Although Nightshade liked her, their relationship was merely that of superior and subordinate.
Ao Xue said calmly, "You've never given me a gift. We grew up in the training camp. You've always been cold and aloof, and you don't know how to make girls happy."
A single tear rolled down Aoxue's cheek. "Now you finally know why I didn't accept your confession, right? You're such a dull person. Who would like a man as clueless as you? We were worried about you for days. Now that you're back safe and sound, I'm relieved."
Ao Xue's words left Ye Ying and everyone else present completely bewildered.
She continued, "Your Majesty, he is indeed Night Shadow. It turns out that Night Shadow was not in the palace the night the fire broke out in Kunning Palace. Who could the guards have seen? That person impersonated Night Shadow and set fire to try to burn the young masters to death. His intentions are truly wicked."
Nightshade breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't expected the real Nightshade to be so clueless about romance. Women love sweet talk and are materialistic. He didn't even give her a gift for her coming-of-age ceremony, yet he dared to confess his feelings. He scoffed inwardly. The bodyguards were cold-blooded animals without feelings. No wonder he went to his death without a trace of regret.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Now that you're back, rejoin the team. From now on, the safety of Kunning Palace will be entrusted to you. Protect the safety of the imperial heirs for me."
Actually, no one saw that Night Shadow set the fire. Ao Xue said that someone "impersonated" Night Shadow to set the fire. Could it be that the person in front of us is a fake, and he is the one impersonating Night Shadow?
Jiang Fenghua remained calm and composed.
Shangguan Li ordered someone to release him, saying, "I apologize for offending Lord Nightshade."
Ye Ying cupped his hands in greeting, "Lord Shangguan, you needn't be so polite."
Hongxiu came over to help Jiang Fenghua and checked her over. "Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Jiang Fenghua said, "I'm fine." She hadn't expected Hongxiu to be so quick-witted, not running out to cause trouble instead, which relieved her of any worries.
Hongxiu said, "Let's go back to Kunning Palace first. Aoxue and Yeying must have a lot to talk about."
Jiang Fenghua paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you know who kidnapped you? With your martial arts skills, you were taken away from the palace. The other party must have planned this all along."
Nightshade shook his head. "I don't know who the mastermind is, but I vaguely know from my guards that it seems to be someone surnamed Shu. They took me out of the palace during the Lantern Festival. Just now, Her Majesty said that someone impersonated me and set fire to the palace. Are you all alright?"
"It's alright, the fire was put out in time."
Ao Xue said, "One thing is certain: that person set the fire by impersonating Ye Ying, and even used Ye Ying's identity to leave the palace, because the palace guards saw you leave the palace."
“Is that so?” Nightshade said.
Ao Xue said calmly, "Didn't Your Highness just say that you were going to the Imperial Prison to interrogate Consort Chang and Minister Shu? Since it was someone surnamed Shu who had Ye Ying captured, it's very likely that person is Shu Lang."
Jiang Fenghua glanced at Ao Xue. They had clearly said they were going back to Kunning Palace, but Ao Xue deliberately said she wanted to see Consort Chang. Ye Ying probably wanted to go too! If someone wanted to rescue Consort Chang, could it be him?
Is the shadowy figure in the night one of his men?
She also said warily, "Let's go! Nightshade, come with me!"
Shangguan Li said, "This humble servant will escort Your Highness there."
Jiang Fenghua nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Captain Shangguan."
"Protecting Your Majesty's safety is my duty."
Upon hearing the words "Consort Chang," Ye Ying unconsciously clenched his fingers. He had received orders when he came out to find a way to rescue Consort Chang, but he never expected to be imprisoned so easily.
Ao Xue deliberately lagged behind and walked to Ye Ying's side, whispering, "Ye Ying."
Nightshade was stunned. "What's wrong?"
“I’ve thought about what you said to me that day,” Ao Xue said.
Nightshade stopped and forced a serious expression. "Have you thought it through? What are you thinking?"
“I agree,” she replied ambiguously.
Nightshade was practically scratching her head in frustration. What did she agree to?
He pursed his lips and smiled slightly, "Mm."
Ao Xue could only sneer inwardly. What's fake can't become real. Since he's come to her doorstep, he must know where the real Ye Ying is. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes were alluring, seemingly full of affection. "Ye Ying, when are you going to talk to the Empress?"
Ye Ying was stunned. What did she mean? What was she going to say to the Empress? Judging from her expression, she seemed to be in love. Did she agree to be with him?
He said, "Do we need to ask Your Majesty about our affairs?"
“Of course we have to ask. Her Majesty is our mistress, so naturally we need her permission,” Aoxue said.
“Alright, I’ll find some time to ask Her Majesty the Empress,” he said.
After saying that, Nightshade quickened his pace to catch up with the Queen and the others. He didn't know how to answer if he continued.
Ao Xue gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, preparing to strike at the opportune moment. No, she still needed to find out where they were hiding in Night Shadow. She wondered how Night Shadow was doing.
It turned out that on the night the Kunning Palace caught fire, he had diverted the guards stationed around the palace. She found it strange that Ye Ying would set a fire and even deliberately divert the guards.
Ao Xue found a palace maid to tell Lin Yu about the situation. She only asked the maid to pass on the message that they were going to the Imperial Prison to interrogate Consort Chang. Ye Ying had returned and gone with them. She told Lin Yu to take good care of the young masters and put them to sleep.
She believed Lin Yu understood what she meant.
The palace maid also reported the news of their encounter with the assassins to Lin Yu. Lin Yu said, "I understand. Go and tell Her Majesty the Empress that everything is fine in Kunning Palace."
After the palace maid left, Lin Yu thought to herself: At this hour, the princes and princesses must have been asleep long ago, and it wasn't her who was putting the children to sleep. Ao Xue's extravagant move must have a deeper meaning.
An assassin was trying to kill Jiang Fenghua in the palace, and Lin Yu couldn't sleep. She couldn't leave Kunning Palace.
Just as she was about to return to her room, she suddenly caught sight of a shadowy figure lurking in the shadows. She gripped her sword hilt and slowly walked towards the figure. Just as she was about to draw her sword, the person in the shadows suddenly popped out and said with a grin, "Miss Lin is still awake."
Lin Yu asked in confusion, "Granny Xi, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? What are you doing here?"
Granny Xi straightened her clothes. "I had to go to the outhouse, and I saw that Miss Lin was still awake when I got here, so I thought I'd come and say hello."
Lin Yu knew that Granny Xi was Granny Wang's sister. The two had taken care of each other in the palace. Granny Xi had suffered some hardships while serving Empress Dowager Cheng, and Granny Wang, remembering their past friendship, took her in at Kunning Palace.
A wary glint flashed in Lin Yu's eyes, and she said in a deep voice, "Granny Xi, go back to your room and go to sleep. Things haven't been peaceful in the palace lately, so don't come out at night."
Granny Xi asked, "What happened? Why is things not peaceful?"
"The Empress has just been attacked by assassins," she said.
Granny Xi was stunned. "Oh dear, Her Majesty the Empress has been assassinated! Is she alright? This servant will go and wake Granny Wang right away..."
"No need, the Empress is fine, and all the assassins are dead."
Granny Xi patted her chest and said, "It's good that Her Highness is alright. They're all dead. Good riddance. Those who wanted to harm Her Highness deserve to die."
Lin Yu said with a forced smile, "It's good that Granny Xi is so loyal to the Empress."
After Lin Yu finished speaking, she went back to her room. Once inside, she told her servant, "Keep a close eye on Granny Xi." She thought that since she was staying up in the middle of the night, Granny Xi would believe that she was genuinely in need of a toilet and was acting suspiciously.
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