Chapter 338 Madam Gu, please come this way...
Song Ruyan was looking for someone anxiously, her hands clenched into fists, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
Ever since the young lady did not show up at the agreed place on time, her heart has been hanging in the air.
"Miss Song."
A familiar voice came from the darkness. Song Ruyan turned around vigilantly and saw Qin Fang walking out of the shadows. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Qin Fang looked around to make sure no imperial guards noticed them, then he whispered, "Young Madam is fine, she—"
"Where is she?" Song Ruyan interrupted impatiently.
Qin Fang took a deep breath and said, "He went into the palace."
"What?"
"Enter the palace? You finally got out of the imperial prison, why are you going back again?"
Qin Fang frowned, "Young Madam said the plan remains unchanged."
Song Ruyan turned around abruptly, "No, I have to go find the general!"
Qin Fang saw her about to leave and quickly grabbed her sleeve, "Hey, Miss Song, don't forget to tell me that."
Song Ruyan stopped and turned to look at Qin Fang, "I understand."
She gently shook off Qin Fang's hand, and her figure disappeared into the darkness like the wind.
Qin Fang looked at her receding figure, a trace of worry flashed in his eyes, and then he also disappeared into the night.
Song Ruyan shuttled through the shadows of the mansion, her steps light but swift.
Although the imperial guards surrounded her tightly, it was useless to her who had been practicing martial arts since childhood.
She came outside the study.
Gu Junze was standing in front of the window, his figure as straight as a pine tree, yet revealing a suppressed anxiety.
Hearing the sound of light footsteps, he turned around suddenly, his sharp eyes stabbing like a knife.
"Any news?" His voice was steady, but he couldn't hide his inner anxiety.
Song Ruyan: "Young Madam is fine."
Gu Junze's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but his brows were still furrowed.
"Where is she?"
Song Ruyan looked helpless and said, "He went to the palace."
"The young lady asked me to tell you that the plan remains unchanged."
Upon hearing this, the anxiety in Gu Junze's eyes was gradually replaced by thought.
He slowly walked to the desk, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips, and fell into deep thought.
"She's not alone." Song Ruyan added, "Qin Fang said that Second Master Gu and Doctor Qian were traveling with her."
Gu Junze paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then understanding came.
"She wants to save the emperor," Gu Junze whispered to himself, "exposing Gu Chengyan, so naive..."
Gu Junze turned to Ying Qing, who had been standing in the shadows, and asked, "How are the Third Prince's preparations going?"
Ying Qing stepped forward and said in a low voice, "The Third Prince is ready and only awaits the general's order."
Gu Junze took a deep breath and said, "Pass the order down, action will begin at 9:00 PM tomorrow!"
A tiny flame broke free from its restraints and climbed upwards tremblingly.
Gu Cheng'an frowned and looked up at the Kongming lantern.
"What is she doing?"
Doctor Qian stood aside, also looking confused.
"have no idea."
Inside the Cining Palace, candlelight flickered and sandalwood incense curled in the air.
The old lady sat upright on the cushion, reciting scriptures in a low voice. Her voice was steady and dry, as if she had aged with the palace.
A little palace maid approached quietly, her voice sounding respectful.
"Mammy, it's getting late. You should go to bed."
The old nanny nodded slightly without opening her eyes, and let the young palace maid help her stand up.
The young palace maid couldn't help but whisper, "Madam, you're already so old, why don't you go out of the palace and enjoy your life?"
"Didn't the Emperor grant you a house outside the palace?"
The old lady paused and said, "I have no children in my life. If I go out, I will be alone and miserable."
"It would be better to guard this empty Cining Palace for the Empress Dowager."
Pushing open the heavy palace door, the cool night wind blew in, curling up her gray hair.
The little palace maid looked up at the sky, with a hint of puzzled complaint in her tone.
"I don't know who it is. Why is he releasing a Kongming lantern so late at night?"
The old lady followed her gaze and the dim yellow light was particularly eye-catching.
Her eyes suddenly became deep, and after a moment of contemplation, she let go of the little palace maid's arm.
"You should go to bed first."
"I want to be alone for a while."
The young palace maid was a little surprised, but she still responded respectfully and didn't dare to ask more questions.
"yes."
The figure of the little palace maid disappeared at the end of the corridor, and the sound of her footsteps gradually faded away.
The old lady stood alone at the door, her wide robes fluttering in the night wind, her eyes following the Kongming lantern that was gradually moving away.
The other side.
A small boat sailed silently on the surface of the moat, almost blending into the night.
The sound of the oars cutting through the water was deliberately suppressed, leaving only a slight "rustling" sound.
Chu Ruohan, Gu Chengan, and Doctor Qian remained silent.
The boat went upstream, little by little approaching the huge shadow cast by the towering palace wall.
Finally, the boat slowly docked in front of an extremely hidden water gate, hidden by water plants and almost imperceptible.
On the shore, a hunched figure had been waiting for a long time.
The old lady was holding a small lantern, which illuminated her wrinkled yet unusually calm face.
The three of them carefully went ashore. The stone steps under their feet were a little slippery and had the coolness of the river water.
Chu Ruohan looked at the old nanny and nodded slightly.
When she entered the palace that day, she not only met Concubine Jing, but also formed an alliance with the old nanny.
Whether it was Princess Anyang or the current emperor, they were all raised by the old nanny...
The sound of chaotic footsteps not far away, accompanied by the flickering light of the lantern, broke the secrecy of this place.
"Who...who's there?"
A shrill voice cut through the silence.
Two young eunuchs holding lanterns came over, surrounding a slightly plump, shrewd-looking middle-aged eunuch. It was the chief eunuch Ma Fuhai.
Chu Ruohan's heart suddenly tightened, almost jumping into her throat, and she subconsciously protected Gu Chengan and Doctor Qian behind her.
In the dim light, their eyes met.
The moment Ma Fuhai saw Ruohan's face clearly, the vigilance and suspicion on his face quickly faded away, and was replaced by a complex and indescribable expression.
His expression changed several times, and then he sternly ordered the eunuch beside him:
"You didn't see anything tonight. You just slept in your own room and no one saw you!"
"Do you understand?"
His voice was very low, completely different from his usual fawning appearance.
"Once you enter the palace, your head is always on your belt. Don't lose your food by accident!"
The two young eunuchs were so frightened that they trembled and dared not look any longer. They quickly bowed and responded.
"Yes, yes, father-in-law."
They almost fled with their lanterns, retreating hastily and disappearing into the darkness.
Chu Ruohan exchanged glances with Gu Chengan and Doctor Qian, and saw surprise, doubt and a hint of luck in each other's eyes.
Ma Fuhai turned to Chu Ruohan and forced a smile of respect yet extreme anxiety on his face, which was completely different from the stern look just now.
"Mrs. Gu, this way please."
"We can't stay here for long. Let's find a safe place to talk."
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