Squinting his eyes slightly, a sinister smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, that smile was like a black ghost rising from the abyss, full of evil and darkness.

In the Fan'an Hall of the Imperial Palace, a palace maid went in to close the window.

However, when the palace maid walked to the window, a dark shadow suddenly appeared.

The dark shadow attacked instantly, a flash of cold light passed, and the palace maid fell to the ground before she could make any sound.

Then, a line of blood splashed like a fountain on the portrait of Princess Huan hanging on the wall.

The blood quickly dyed the portrait red, forming a shocking red patch.

This bloody scene seemed particularly terrifying and scary in the middle of the night, making people shudder.

The next morning, sunlight shone through the windows into the palace, and the beams of light fell on the portraits, making the already dried blood even more eye-catching.

The palace servant came in to clean up, and immediately shouted in fear: "Oh no! Someone's dead! Someone's dead!"

The sound echoed throughout the palace, and within a short cup of tea, the news spread throughout the palace.

Inside the Xuan Zheng Hall, the emperor was sitting on the dragon throne with a sullen look on his face. He said to the ministers below: "My dear ministers, what do you think about this matter?"

At this moment, Shi Jun walked in. Just as he was about to salute, the emperor said: "Yan'er, you've come at the right time. I order you to work with the Dali Temple to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the murderer to justice."

Shi Jun bowed and saluted, and replied: "Yes, father."

The emperor said angrily: "This matter is too strange. Someone must have done it deliberately to discredit the majesty of the royal family. We must investigate it thoroughly!" "

Does the Dali Temple have any clues?"

"Your Majesty, there is no clue yet, but I will start the investigation as soon as possible and will not miss any clues."

The emperor waved his hand for them to leave.

Shi Jun and the Dali Temple Minister walked out of the Xuanzheng Hall together, and met Prime Minister Pei Qing. The two exchanged meaningful glances.

Pei Qing saluted and said, "I am honored to see Your Highness."

Shi Jun nodded slightly and turned to leave.

In Kunning Palace, Empress Xiao fell ill because of this matter. She wore a headband on her head and was about to fall down from crying.

Xu Mian hurried in, "Mother..."

Empress Xiao hugged Xu Mian and cried softly, "Mother... don't cry..."

"Mian Mian, if your mother were still here, she could still accompany me to talk about my heart. I am in pain and have no one to complain to."

Xu Mian blamed herself because she stuttered and couldn't say a string of words to comfort Empress Xiao.

Since she was a child, Empress Xiao had given her the greatest love and care. She often asked her to enter the palace and often sent food, toys and books to the Xu Mansion.

"Mother..."

Xu Mian choked up. She had never seen her biological mother, Mrs. Xue. To her, Empress Xiao was like a mother.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law hugged their heads and cried for a long time. The head nanny came in and persuaded them for a long time before they stopped crying.

"Mianmian, you must be good to Yan'er, mother..."

"Don't worry, mother..." Xu Mian wiped her tears obediently.

She could understand that Empress Xiao felt guilty towards Princess Huan and her nephew.

"Your Highness is here."

The tall and slender man came in with a solemn expression.

"Are you okay, mother?"

Shi Jun took the soup brought by the palace maid, and Xu Mian got up from the couch and let him sit down.

"It's just an old illness of your mother, it's nothing serious."

Shi Jun glanced at Xu Mian, blew on the medicine, and scooped a spoonful to feed Queen Xiao.

The two women's eyes were as big as walnuts because they were crying for people who didn't exist in this world.

Shi Jun was moved, his eyes were hot, and his hands were shaking.

He had cried his tears dry since he was a child, crying in despair again and again, like a dry grass on a cliff, exposed to the sun, wind and rain.

He cut his wrists several times to end his life.

He suppressed his emotions and fed a bowl of medicine to Queen Xiao.

"Your mother is fine, you can take Mianmian back."

"Your mother, have a good rest."

Shi Jun took Xu Mian's hand and walked out of the hall.

Watching them leave, Queen Xiao wiped her tears and said with relief: "Yan'er has become sensible after getting married. It's all thanks to Mianmian."

In the past, Shi Yan always comforted Queen Xiao like this at this time, "Mother, life and death are determined by fate. It's not your fault. Don't be sad!"

This was the first time he personally fed Queen Xiao a bowl of soup patiently.

Shi Jun held Xu Mian's small hand with his big hand, and the two of them walked forward without saying a word.

Two people came towards him, one was the commander of the imperial army, Prince Fu, and the other was the new guard Ah Fu.

His eyes were fixed on Xu Mian. The beauty was pouting her little mouth, frowning her little brows, and her eyes were a little swollen. Has she cried? Why is she crying?

Prince Fu pulled him and stepped forward to salute, saying, "I have seen Your Highness and the Crown Princess."

Shi Yan, with a face covered in a leather mask of a stranger, also followed suit and saluted without saying a word.

Shi Jun glanced at the two of them, and stayed on Shi Yan for a moment without any doubt.

Xu Mian tilted his head to look at Shi Yan twice more, and before he could come to his senses, he was pulled away by Shi Jun.

Shi Yan was still looking at them until they were far away. Prince Fu pulled him away and whispered, "You should control your eyes and your heart, and never show any flaws."

That man actually dared to pull my Mian Mian, what right did he have?

Shi Yan was so angry that his chest felt stuffy, and he wanted to rush up and beat up that ignorant guy, but reason told him not to do so.

Then, a beautifully decorated dragon chariot drove over from a distance and stopped not far from them.

The emperor got off the chariot and walked towards Kunning Palace, apparently to visit Empress Xiao.

Shi Yan's eyes could not help but become wet.

He wanted to shout "Father" so much! But now he could only stand here silently.

When the emperor arrived in front of Kunning Palace, Shi Yan and Prince Fu hurriedly knelt down to salute.

The emperor chatted with Prince Fu for a few words, then turned his eyes to Shi Yan who was kneeling on the side.

Shi Yan was so nervous that his heart was about to jump out. He did not dare to look up at the emperor, but just lowered his head and remained silent .

The emperor noticed him and asked curiously: "Is this the new guard?"

Prince Fu replied: "Your Majesty, yes."

Shi Yan's heart surged with courage, raised his head, and met the emperor's line of sight. At

that moment, he almost forgot his identity, but he still resisted the impulse, lowered his head, and said softly: "Your Majesty, my name is Ah Fu."

The emperor smiled slightly, "It's a good seedling, work hard."

Shi Yan stopped and stared at the Kunning Palace in the distance in a daze.

Prince Fu pulled him away quickly, "It's good this way, we've seen everything we should have seen since we came in."

Shi Yan said firmly, "Arrange me to serve in the Purple Palace."

"What?" Prince Fu was shocked, isn't this just asking to be killed?

"It's not the right time yet, Your Highness, please think about it."

Shi Yan had made up his mind, "I've made up my mind, you go and arrange it."

In Kunning Palace, the emperor came to the bedside, and Empress Xiao fell asleep.

He sat beside her and stroked her hair, his eyes full of love.

Empress Xiao has been troubled by nightmares in recent years, and her face often looks haggard, but even so, she is still peerless and radiant, with a variety of manners.