Chapter 117 Entering the Palace (1)
Li Xiaoxiao returned to the inn and quietly waited for the curfew to begin.
When the curfew began, the streets were filled with patrolling constables. Li Xiaoxiao waited for an hour until the streets were completely quiet and the streetlights gradually went out before she changed into a set of night clothes, covered her head and face, opened the window and climbed out.
She didn't know where Pang Shi lived, so she headed towards the palace to see if she could evade the imperial guards and sneak into the East Palace.
Although she had never been to the East Palace, she had asked around during the day and knew its general location. Once she knew the direction, how could she not find such a large palace? It was a piece of cake.
An hour later, she gave up.
This palace is way too big! How can any building be this enormous? Just how big is the emperor's ass? Why build such an exhausting residence?
She ran around for ages, seemingly going in circles outside the city, completely lost.
What a mistake! I should have found out where Pang Shi's family lived beforehand.
She crouched motionless in some unknown corner, listening to the clatter of horses' hooves, hoping to hitch a ride out.
She overheard a convoy of trucks carrying buckets leaving the city and discovered they were heading out of town that night to fetch spring water from the mountains.
She got into the last car, opened the lid, and jumped into the bucket.
The carriage slowly left the imperial city.
Li Xiaoxiao timed it carefully, seized the opportunity, secretly rummaged out of the bucket, quietly opened the back door, and jumped down.
No one was alerted.
She looked around and realized that this didn't seem to be the way she came from, and immediately sighed.
That's the downside of not knowing the way; she can't just swagger off and ask someone how to get to the inn she booked, can she?
If I can't find my way back tonight, I'll probably have to sleep on the streets.
Li Xiaoxiao quietly searched two more streets and found a spot that was brightly lit and bustling with people.
What's all this noise? She reached out to the window, poked a hole, and peered inside. A stench of sweat and alcohol hit her, and she immediately covered her nose!
Good heavens, it turns out to be a small underground casino.
There were more than a dozen people gambling inside, and their shouts were almost enough to lift the roof off.
There appeared to be a few soldiers in uniform among the gamblers.
These gamblers even dare to skip work to come here and gamble.
Li Xiaoxiao shook her head and was about to leave when she caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of her eye and suddenly felt that the face looked familiar.
Her eyes widened instantly. She remembered him. Wasn't this the soldier who accompanied Pang Shi when he delivered the royal gifts to Biyang County? His name was Xie Dashen, I think. When she and Pang Shi sparred and made a bet, he was the poorest, only managing to pull out about twenty copper coins! That's why Li Xiaoxiao remembered him so well.
He was the worst gambler among the group of twenty-odd soldiers. It's true that a leopard can't change its spots; a gambler never forgets to gamble, no matter where he goes.
Fortunately, he was a compulsive gambler, so Li Xiaoxiao was finally able to find Pang Shi.
She removed the cloth from her face, pushed open the gambling den door abruptly, her figure hidden in the shadows, and shouted in a rough voice, "Xie Dashen, what are you doing here? General Pang needs to see you!"
Xie Dashen had just won a sum of money and was smugly preparing to place another bet when he suddenly heard Pang Shi calling. He was immediately terrified and stuffed the money into his pocket. He then squeezed his way out, saying, "Make way, make way! General Pang is looking for me. You guys play first, I'll be right back."
The others didn't even flinch, their eyes remaining fixed on the gambling table, seemingly used to their gamblers suddenly being approached.
Xie Dashen squeezed out of the gambling den entrance and looked outside. Huh, where is the person who came to call him?
He was about to curse whoever was playing a trick on him when a hand covered his mouth and the other hand grabbed his arm and pulled him backward, lifting him off the ground and dragging him several meters away.
Xie Dashen was shocked. Had they encountered kidnappers? How could this person be so strong?
Just as his hand touched the knife at his waist, the person covering his mouth released it, and a slightly familiar voice said, "Xie Dashen, don't shout, I'm Li Xiaoxiao."
Li Xiaoxiao? Xie Dashen was stunned for a while before he realized that this was General Pang's good friend, the incredibly strong young woman from Biyang County. What was she doing here in the middle of the night?
By the moonlight, Xie Dashen saw that she was dressed in black. Upon closer inspection, he recognized her face as Li Xiaoxiao. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Miss Li? What are you doing here?"
Li Xiaoxiao laughed and said, "It's embarrassing to say. I came here to find Pang Shi, but I seem to have gotten lost. I was just about to go back when I found you. Please take me to his house."
Although Xie Dashen was a compulsive gambler, he wasn't stupid. He scratched his head and said, "Miss Li, isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to go see General Pang in the middle of the night? He has a family and a wife..."
Li Xiaoxiao reached out and smacked his head: "What are you thinking? I need to see him, and I'll also see if I can stay overnight! Hurry up, or I'll tell him you ran off to gamble in the middle of your duty!"
Xie Dashen was immediately struck where it hurt: "Oh, oh, oh, it's alright, it's alright. I'll take Miss Li to General Pang's house right away, right away. Please, Miss Li, be merciful and don't complain to our general about me, otherwise I'll get ten or five lashes, and I won't be able to get out of bed for days."
After saying that, he immediately led her in the west direction.
As Xie Dashen walked, he chatted with Li Xiaoxiao: "Miss Li, when did you arrive in the capital? Why didn't you come to see us during the day?"
Li smiled and said, "I arrived yesterday. I'm new here and don't know anyone, so I couldn't find General Pang's residence."
Xie Dashen said, "He only arrived yesterday, no wonder. The capital is so big, it would be a miracle if you could find him! But you're quite lucky. The general is on duty at the East Palace for nearly twenty days a month. He only went home yesterday. This time, you'll find him easily."
Li Xiaoxiao laughed and said, "That's quite a coincidence. I don't want to wait for him in the capital for twenty days before I can see him."
The two walked for almost half an hour, then turned into a neighborhood. Xie Dashen continued walking past three more houses before finally stopping in front of the fourth house.
Li Xiaoxiao looked up at the gate of the house, which read "Pang Mansion" and had two stone lions on either side that were bigger than a person. Wow, I didn't realize that Pang Shi's family was so wealthy!
Seeing Li Xiaoxiao's surprise, Xie Dashen said with some pride, "This house has three courtyards. It was bestowed upon the general by His Highness the Crown Prince."
No wonder! She wondered how a military general could live in such a nice neighborhood and have such a large house; it turned out that the Crown Prince had bestowed it upon him.
The merits of sharing life and death together certainly deserved him to reward Pang Shi with a fine house.
Compared to this, Li Xiaoxiao immediately realized how shallow she had been. She was already overjoyed when the Crown Prince bestowed upon her a hundred taels of gold, but little did she know that Pang Shiguang's mansion alone was worth an unimaginable sum of money...
She shook her head. Forget it. Their friendship was forged through life-and-death experiences; she was just lending a hand. The royal reward was more than enough…
Xie Dashen knocked on the door, and after a short while, an old servant with a bent back came out carrying a lantern: "Who is it?"
Xie Dashen said, "Uncle Qin, it is I, Dashen."
Qin Bo said, "It's you. Do you need to see the general in the middle of the night?"
Xie Dashen said, "Yes, please inform the general that an old friend from Biyang County has come to visit."
Uncle Qin invited them to sit in the gatehouse and went to the second gate to call the old woman on night duty to come into the inner courtyard to inform them.
Uncle Qin turned back, picked up the teapot, and was just about to brew tea for them when Xie Dashen laughed and said, "No need for that, Uncle Qin. The general will be out soon, believe it or not."
Uncle Qin chuckled and said, "You gambling addict, it's hard to say whether the general will even see you. The other day the general was complaining to me that you've gambled away all your money and that he'll have to call your wife to collect your pay next time..."
Xie Dashen cried out, "How can that be? My military pay is my life!"
As the two were joking around, they heard a series of hurried footsteps. The candlelight flickered, and a tall figure appeared in the gatehouse.
Qin Bo stared in disbelief at Pang Shi, who had rushed out with his hair uncombed and only wearing an outer robe. This...this was too fast! Such disheveled attire is hardly proper hospitality!
As soon as Pang Shi entered the gatehouse, his gaze was fixed on Li Xiaoxiao, and his eyes lit up with surprise and delight: "I guessed right, it really is you!"
Li Xiaoxiao smiled slightly, clasped her hands in a salute, and said, "General Pang, it's been a long time!"
It has indeed been a long time! Pang Shi was surprised that Li Xiaoxiao would come to see him, and immediately said, "There's no need for such formalities between us. Did you just arrive in the capital? What brings you here—"
His gaze suddenly fell on her clothes, and a look of suspicion appeared on his face. Why was she wearing night clothes?
He patted his head, realizing he must have been out of sleep. Even if Li Xiaoxiao had come to the capital to find him earlier, it was impossible for her to come in the middle of the night dressed in black, right?
There must be something urgent.
His expression turned serious, and his entire demeanor immediately sombered: "Has something happened? Or have you encountered some trouble?"
Li Xiaoxiao glanced at Qin Bo and Xie Dashen and said, "Let's talk in private."
Pang Shi immediately said, "Come with me to the study."
Just then, a young maid came over carrying tea and almost bumped into Pang Shi, who was coming out. The maid exclaimed in surprise and quickly dodged.
Pang Shi frowned: "What are you doing, all flustered?"
The maid immediately bowed and said, "Madam heard that Master had an old friend coming, so she specially ordered me to bring tea."
Pang Shi said nonchalantly, "If that's the case, bring the tea to the study. Xiaoxiao, this way please."
Upon hearing the words "Xiaoxiao Sister," the maid's eyes flashed with surprise. She quickly glanced at Li Xiaoxiao, who was dressed in black, before lowering her head again.
Pang Shi led Li Xiaoxiao to the study, lit the lamp, and a maid slowly served tea to the two of them, standing quietly to the side.
Pang Shi asked, "You came in the middle of the night, is there something urgent?"
Li Xiaoxiao glanced at the maid: "Have her leave first."
Pang Shi then realized what was happening and immediately said, "Bitao, go down and close the door."
"Get out of here and close the door?!" Bitao's eyes widened. This... isn't this the young lady? To be in the same room with the master so late at night—what kind of decorum is this?
Bitao mustered her courage and said, "Master, this, this is not appropriate, is it? If this young lady has something to say, she may say it here. I am a confidante of you and Madam, and I will never reveal a single word of any secret."
Li Xiaoxiao slapped her forehead. How could she have forgotten about the strict separation of men and women? She had lived too rough a life in Biyang County. Now that she was in the capital, she naturally had to adapt to local customs and couldn't be as wild as she was back home.
She didn't mind others pointing out her mistakes, but said to Bitao, "Then please ask the madam to come out. This matter is not suitable to be discussed in front of the servants."
If fortune and misfortune are intertwined, how can a servant compare to Pang Shi's wife? If it weren't for the urgency of the matter, she wouldn't have come to find Pang Shi in the middle of the night.
But Li Xiaoxiao, who was used to speaking directly, did not expect that Bitao would interpret her words in a completely different way, thinking that she was provoking and dissatisfying Madam Pang.
She immediately retorted, "Miss Li, you are mistaken. I am the lady's personal maid. The lady never hides anything from me. Even if I invite the lady here immediately, she will still tell me about it later. Please do not worry about the relationship between us, Miss Li."
Li Xiaoxiao was getting annoyed. No matter how she tried to get rid of this person, she couldn't get rid of him. Oh well, since Pang Shi hadn't said anything, she'd just assume what he said was true!
She stopped looking at Bitao and asked Pang Shi, "Is Hang Wei your subordinate?"
Pang Shi's expression immediately changed. He instantly understood Li Xiaoxiao's concern that no one should be present. What she was about to say must concern the Crown Prince, and it was indeed something that could not be known to outsiders.
After realizing what was happening, he immediately shouted at Bitao, "Get out!"
Bitao turned pale with fright and scrambled out of the room.
Her heart was pounding. She immediately returned to the inner courtyard. When Madam Qi, Pang Shi's wife, saw that her husband had a guest late at night, and that the guest was an old friend from Biyang County, she could not sleep. She sent Bitao to find out what was going on while she sat in her room waiting.
Seeing Bitao rush back with tear stains on her face, Madam Qi was startled: "What happened? Why are you crying?"
Bitao quickly dismissed the maids Chuntao and Xiayu from the room, and said in a trembling voice, "Madam, I think I've caused trouble..."
Qi asked anxiously, "What trouble have you gotten yourself into?"
Bitao trembled as she repeated what she had just said to Madam Qi. Madam Qi asked in surprise, "That was my intention too, how did it cause trouble?"
Bitao said, "Because that young lady Li then asked the master if he knew Hang Wei..."
Qi's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she stood up abruptly: "Hang Wei, that, that's not with the young master—"
Bitao said, "The moment Master heard that name, he immediately told me to get out of here. Madam, no, Miss, let's not get involved in this matter, shall we? Master warned Miss not to know about this!"
Qi gritted her teeth, stamped her foot, put on a robe, took a lantern, and went to the outer study.
Bitao quickly followed and took the lantern to guide Qi Shi.
In the study, Pang Shi was stunned by Li Xiaoxiao's question: "You, how do you know Hang Wei?"
Li Xiaoxiao took out her small bundle and pulled out a token from it.
Pang Shi quickly took it and saw that Hang Wei's name was engraved on it. This kind of identity tag is specially made, and the mold is only available to the military. Ordinary people cannot imitate it.
A flicker of pain crossed his eyes: "The identity token is with you, so Hang Wei is gone?"
As a guard, a soldier, as long as he is alive, his identity token will never leave his body. If someone can take the token from him, it can only mean that he is no longer alive.
Li Xiaoxiao patted his shoulder: "Please accept my condolences."
Pang Shi's knuckles turned white from gripping the token so tightly. He hadn't expected Hang Wei to actually—
He suddenly realized something was wrong. He had suspected that Hang Wei was gone, but how could the token be in Li Xiaoxiao's hands?
Li Xiaoxiao then took out another item from the small bundle, a jade magnolia hairpin: "This is Aunt Qing's keepsake."
Pang Shi's expression changed drastically, and he stood up abruptly: "Hang Wei, Aunt Qing was His Highness's personal guard. They should have died in the fire at the Imperial Estate outside the capital. How could you have their things?"
When Madam Qi rushed to the study, she overheard this sentence. Her heart skipped a beat, and she had a bad feeling. But then she heard Li Xiaoxiao reply, "Because Hang Wei and Aunt Qing did not die in the imperial estate in the capital. They died in the dilapidated temple in Biyang County."
Qi almost fell, but Li Xiaoxiao, who was close by, reached out to help her.
Qi felt a tremendous force coming from the other person, and the next moment her body, which was about to fall, immediately stood up straight. She looked at the young woman dressed as a man in the candlelight. The other person was clearly a handsome young man with well-defined features and bright eyes. He looked like a righteous man.
Pang Shi frowned: "Why are you here?"
Qi's heart pounded: "Husband, I, I heard from Bitao that Miss Li wanted me to be there, so I, I came."
Pang Shi had no time to pay attention to Qi Shi's petty thoughts; his gaze was fixed on Li Xiaoxiao: "How did Hang Wei and Aunt Qing end up in that dilapidated temple in Biyang County? Did you see them? And—"
A glimmer of hope had appeared in his eyes, but he dared not ask, fearing that Li Xiaoxiao would confirm the bad news once again.
My aunt and guards who were always protecting me are gone. What about the prince? Is he still alive?
Why did Li Xiaoxiao come to see him in the middle of the night? Was it just to tell him about the Crown Prince?
Li smiled and said, "Aze is doing well at my house now, don't worry. Hang Wei and Aunt Qing risked their lives to protect him."
Pang Shi was taken aback, clearly not realizing who she was referring to. Seeing her husband's stunned expression, Qi Shi couldn't help but ask, "Who is Aze?"
Li smiled and said, "Li Ke."
Qi let out a gasp and reflexively covered her mouth.
Li Ke, His Highness the Crown Prince?! He's still alive?! He's still alive?!
The next moment, she saw her husband suddenly throw his head back and laugh wildly, tears streaming down his face as he laughed: "Good, good, good! Heaven has eyes! Heaven has eyes!"
A look of madness appeared in his eyes, and he reached out and tightly gripped Li Xiaoxiao's wrist: "You come with me to the palace, immediately come with me to see the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, and tell them that His Highness the Heir Apparent is still alive, still alive!"
He was really strong; Li Xiaoxiao was even hurt by his pinching, which showed how excited he was.
Li Xiaoxiao pressed his hand down: "Calm down first. I'm willing to go to the palace with you to see the Crown Prince, but I don't want anyone to know that I've been here."
Pang Shi was taken aback, then understood.
I see. No wonder she came to see her that night.
She was being too cautious.
She saved the prince's life again, a great achievement, yet she came to see the prince in the dark, clearly not wanting anyone to know.
But thinking of the Crown Prince's situation, Pang Shi's eyes darkened. He went out and called Xie Dashen over: "Go home immediately, get a uniform, and then come with me to the palace."
Xie Dashen was taken aback and glanced at Li Xiaoxiao subconsciously, but immediately obeyed the order and turned to go home.
Half an hour later, he came running back, panting, carrying a bundle in his hand.
Pang Shi handed the bundle to Li Xiaoxiao: "Change your clothes and come with Da Shen to the palace with me."
He was the commander of the Eastern Palace guards, so it was perfectly normal for him to bring two guards with him when entering the palace; the imperial guards at the palace gates wouldn't even search him.
Li Xiaoxiao changed into Xie Dashen's clothes. Although they were a bit too big, she tied them with a belt and cut off the hem, so it was hard to tell in the dark.
Qi's heart was pounding, her hands and feet felt weak, and for the ten thousandth time she regretted meddling in other people's business.
How could she have such a filthy thought to measure the relationship between Lady Li and her husband?
Looking at Li Xiaoxiao's upright and honest appearance, Madam Qi knew that she had a very pure and upright mind.
Pang Shi had mentioned Li Xiaoxiao to her more than once, saying that she stayed in Biyang County because she disliked the restrictive life in the capital and preferred to be a servant. There was a deep regret in his tone.
After hearing it so much, she wholeheartedly believed that her husband couldn't let go of her, and even considered whether she should pretend to be a magnanimous first wife and bring her in as a concubine.
She told her wet nurse about her idea, but the wet nurse was very anxious and advised her not to do it. If she brought in someone that the master still longed for, how would she live her life in the future?
The wet nurse's words resonated with her, and she certainly didn't want to share her husband with anyone else. So she pretended to be oblivious.
Upon hearing the maid's report that someone from Biyang County had arrived, the master rushed out without even combing his hair, hastily throwing on a robe. Qi's heart sank. Was he so eager to see her?
Filled with bitterness, he deliberately sent Bitao to test the waters and see what the other party wanted to do.
Unexpectedly, she met a straightforward and open-minded young woman who brought with her secrets of the Eastern Palace that Pang Shi did not want her to know.
She carefully observed Pang Shi's interactions with her; there was no ambiguity, no flirting, only the ecstatic joy of seeing a good brother.
Qi felt somewhat ashamed; she had been too narrow-minded to have such thoughts about Li Xiaoxiao.
But clearly neither her husband nor Li Xiaoxiao had time to pay attention to her. Pang Shi went back to his room and changed into his armor, while Li Xiaoxiao changed into Xie Dashen's clothes, pulled down the brim of her hat, and stood with Xie Dashen on either side of Pang Shi behind him. With his tall figure blocking her view and her hidden in the darkness, it was really hard to see her face.
Pang Shi ordered the coachman to bring out the carriage, and the three of them got in together. The coachman hung lanterns from the Pang residence on the carriage, spurred the horse, and drove towards the palace.
Civil and military officials alike need a token to enter the palace late at night, but Pang Shi, as the commander of the Eastern Palace guards, had a token personally bestowed by the Crown Prince. As expected, the imperial guards at the gate did not check him much and let him pass after greeting him.
Li Xiaoxiao lowered her head and followed closely behind Pang Shi into the imperial city.
This palace is really huge! Li Xiaoxiao felt like she was following Pang Shi through alley after alley and through palace gate after palace gate before finally stopping at the entrance of a palace.
By the light of the two palace lanterns at the entrance, Li Xiaoxiao saw the name on the palace gate: East Palace. She sighed in her heart and murmured, "Aze, I've found your home."
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