A tall figure appeared in the darkness, and Yan Ning was held firmly in his arms.
Ma Yan couldn't see the man's face clearly, but he could feel a pair of eyes filled with murderous intent fixed on him.
The real threat of death made him tremble all over.
A moment later, Xiao Yuan appeared in front of Zhu Lan holding Yan Ning. Ma Yan was also pulled up like a chicken and thrown aside.
Yan Ning's childish face was pale and his eyes were tightly closed.
Zhu Lan knew that it must be because he had pressed the mechanism just now. The sudden fall caused the child's fear to reach its peak, and he finally couldn't bear it and passed out.
Xiao Yuan looked down at him, his eyes falling on the slight dried bloodstain on the side of Yan Ning's neck. Self-blame and regret were revealed in his deep and slightly weathered eyes.
Zhu Lan saw his expression.
"Mr. Xiao, you have helped me capture the rebels and have served me well. Thank you for your help."
Xiao Yuan raised his eyes and met Zhu Lan's eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, and his heart trembled slightly.
I just lost my composure.
He was not sure whether Zhu Lan knew about the relationship between him and Yan Ning, but since she said that, she was probably reminding him.
Xiao Yuan suppressed the emotions in his eyes and nodded to Zhu Lan.
Zhu Lan walked through the side hall door, and couldn't help but stop and look back -
A dark hole appeared next to the table where Ma Yan had been standing. It was where he and Yan Ning fell.
Below the cave entrance was an unknown secret passage, and it was through that secret passage that Xiao Yuan and he entered the Qiushan enclosure.
Qiushan Paddock was originally used for royal hunting tours. When the palace was first built, safety was taken into consideration, so secret passages leading to the outside of Qiushan were built at several key locations.
Once danger occurs, the emperor and his relatives can leave through the secret passage.
The existence of the secret passage is a secret known only to the emperor and the commander of the imperial guards. As the previous commander of the imperial guards, Xiao Yuan has naturally seen the map.
However, in the second year of the previous emperor's reign, an earthquake occurred in Qiushan, causing several secret passages to collapse and be destroyed, so they were no longer used.
This is also the reason why Yan Zheng knew nothing about the secret passage.
The secret passage that Xiao Yuan took Zhu Lan through was the least damaged one. After a little cleaning, it could still accommodate one or two people.
"Let's go." Zhu Lan said to Xiao Yuan.
She turned around, but did not notice that Ma Yan, who had been motionless in the corner, suddenly opened his eyes with a fierce look in his eyes.
"Since you won't let me go, then——"
Ma Yan didn't know where he got the strength from, but he jumped up, grabbed the dagger on the table and pounced on Zhu Lan.
"Let's die together!"
…
The side hall was surrounded by the imperial guards led by Yan Zheng.
Qin Yuwei was also waiting outside the hall with a solemn expression on her face, staring at the closed door, a thin layer of sweat unknowingly oozing out of her palms.
"Empress Dowager, this place may be dangerous, please move away..."
"I'm not going anywhere."
Qin Yuwei's tone was filled with unquestionable majesty, and her phoenix eyes swept over Yan Zheng coldly.
"You almost caused a disaster today. If the Emperor and Zhu Zhongcheng are safe, you can still be given a lighter sentence.
If anything happens to them, I will make sure you are buried with them."
Yan Zheng was filled with shame and dared not say anything more.
Crunch——
The sound of the wooden door opening broke the silence, and everyone immediately looked up.
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