Chapter 27 Reasons
Pei Zhi looked at her: "I want you to go."
Ye Wanning was stunned: "Me?"
“Yes.” Pei Zhi nodded. “You are a woman, so it’s not easy for you to become suspicious. Moreover, you are smart and have good adaptability. Most importantly, His Highness the Crown Prince has seen you before and remembers you, so he won’t be hostile towards you.”
Ye Wanning hesitated. Infiltrating the Eastern Palace was no joke; if discovered, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, it was currently the only feasible solution.
She took a deep breath: "Okay, I'll go."
Pei Zhi seemed somewhat surprised that she agreed so quickly, and glanced at her again: "Have you thought it through? It's very dangerous."
Ye Wanning nodded: "I've thought it through. To save His Highness the Crown Prince and to bring down the Third Prince, this little danger is nothing."
Pei Zhi looked at the confidence in her eyes, pondered for a while, and said, "Alright. Have someone make you a set of clothes for a palace maid in the Eastern Palace, as well as some rules that you need to follow in the Eastern Palace. Have someone send you to the palace gate first thing tomorrow morning, and you can blend in with the families who are celebrating the birthday."
After a pause, Pei Zhi continued, "I've found out that His Highness the Crown Prince has a personal eunuch named Xiao Luzi, who is very loyal. Once you're inside, try to contact him and have him take you to see the Crown Prince."
Ye Wanning nodded and said, "I've got it."
Pei Zhi took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it over: "Take this. This is a jade pendant my mother gave me. Many people recognize it. If anything happens to those people in the Eastern Palace, taking this out might help you escape this calamity."
"That's too precious, I can't accept it." Ye Wanning pushed the jade pendant back.
Pei Zhi forcefully shoved the jade pendant into her hand: "Take it. Now is not the time to refuse. Your safety is the most important thing."
His fingers unconsciously touched her fingertips, and Ye Wanning felt a warmth spread from her fingertips. Her heart clenched for no reason, and she quickly gripped the jade pendant tightly in her hand, lowering her head: "Thank you, Lord Pei."
Pei Zhi noticed her ears were slightly red, a smile flashing in his eyes before disappearing: "Be careful tomorrow. If you can't manage, don't force yourself. Safety is the most important thing."
Ye Wanning nodded: "I understand."
Stepping out of the courtyard, Ye Wanning felt a mix of emotions. Tomorrow, a tough battle was about to begin.
Upon returning to the Minister's residence, Ye Wanning told Minister Ye and Ye Chengjing about her upcoming meeting with Pei Zhi to discuss the matter.
Minister Ye said, "Ningning, this is too dangerous. Why don't we just forget about it? Let's think of another way."
Ye Chengjing also said, "Yes, Ningning, let someone else go! Let me go!"
Ye Wanning shook her head: "Father, elder brother, this is the only feasible method at the moment. Moreover, Lord Pei is right, I am the most suitable to go. Don't worry, I will be careful."
Looking at the worried expressions in her two relatives' eyes, she felt a warmth in her heart: "I'll be alright. I'll come back to see the Third Prince fall and avenge my mother."
Minister Ye and Ye Chengjing understood Ye Wanning's temperament; once she made up her mind, she would never change it. So they could only let her be, repeatedly reminding her to be careful once she got there.
That night, Ye Wanning lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. She clutched the jade pendant Pei Zhi had given her; it felt warm and seemed to give her strength. She mentally prepared herself for what tomorrow might bring and how to deal with it. Before she knew it, dawn had broken.
Chun Tao got up early, styled her hair into a simple bun, and changed her into the palace maid's clothes that Pei Zhi had sent. The clothes were light green, made of ordinary but very clean material. Dressed like a little palace maid, Ye Wanning looked just like one.
"Miss, are you really going?" Chun Tao looked at her, her eyes full of worry.
Ye Wanning smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Wait for me to come back."
She took the dagger Ye Chengjing had left her from under her pillow, tucked it into her sleeve, and followed Guard Qin out of the Minister's residence. Upon reaching the palace gates, she found a large crowd waiting to celebrate the Empress's birthday, including palace eunuchs and maids, as well as many family members of high-ranking officials.
The guard Qin led her to the back of the crowd: "Second Miss, go in from here and follow the main group. I will meet you outside the palace."
Ye Wanning nodded, took a deep breath, and followed the crowd into the palace. The palace was vast, with red walls and yellow tiles everywhere, looking very solemn. Ye Wanning kept her head down, trying her best to avoid being noticed.
Following the birthday celebration procession, they soon arrived near the East Palace. Sure enough, just as Pei Zhi had said, the guards here weren't as strict as usual; they glanced at them casually and let them in. Ye Wanning secretly breathed a sigh of relief and followed several palace maids from the East Palace inside.
As soon as she entered the East Palace gate, she saw a young eunuch in a dark blue robe directing the palace maids to arrange things. Ye Wanning knew he was the Xiao Luzi Pei Zhi had mentioned. Her heart leaped with joy, and she was about to greet him when she suddenly heard a stern voice: "You lot, come here!"
Ye Wanning's heart skipped a beat. Looking up, she saw a tall man in a black guard's uniform staring intently at them, his eyes filled with hostility. Oh no, had they been discovered? Ye Wanning's heart leaped into her throat, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her palms. She instinctively shrank to the side, trying to hide behind the other palace maids.
The tall guard circled around the palace maids and said, "You, come out!" He pointed at Ye Wanning and his voice was icy cold.
Ye Wanning's heart sank to the ground, and her limbs felt weak and unresponsive. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and slowly walked out from behind the palace maids.
"Sir, did you look for me?" Ye Wanning lowered her head, trying her best to keep her voice from arousing suspicion.
"Are you new here?" The guard squinted at her, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
"Yes...yes, sir!" Ye Wanning prayed silently that she would not be recognized.
"How come I've never seen you before?" the guard asked, his tone full of suspicion.
"I...I only arrived yesterday to clean the side hall!" Ye Wanning quickly came up with this excuse.
The guard frowned, seemingly about to say something, when a voice suddenly came from the side: "Guard Wang, what's going on?"
Ye Wanning looked up and saw Xiao Luzi walking over with a smile on his face, looking very amiable.
When Guard Wang saw Xiao Luzi, his expression softened considerably: "Eunuch Xiao Luzi, this palace maid looks unfamiliar. I suspect she's not from the Eastern Palace."
Xiao Luzi's gaze fell on Ye Wanning. Ye Wanning's heart tightened, and she secretly glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Then, she pretended to casually reveal a corner of the jade pendant she was holding in her hand.
Xiao Luzi's eyes lit up slightly, but then returned to calm.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com