Chapter 957 You Have to Help Me!
The noise in the palace grew louder and louder. Shang Ruyi looked into the distance and saw that even the Liangyi Hall seemed to be lit up.
Has this matter alarmed the emperor?
Just then, two people hurriedly walked in from outside. It was Chu Ruoyan, who had also been awakened, accompanied by her head maid, Pan Qing. As soon as she entered Qianqiu Palace, she immediately stepped forward and took Shang Ruyi's wrist: "Sister!"
Shang Ruyi asked, "Why did you come here?"
Chu Ruoyan said, "I just heard some noise outside, it seems like something happened to you, so I came to check."
Shang Ruyi wanted to say something, but seeing Chu Ruoyan's pale face, which seemed to be quite frightened, she said, "It's nothing, it's just that a thief broke in."
"Thief?"
"Yes, I'm having someone look into something right now."
As she spoke, she turned to look back. Chu Ruoyan followed her gaze and saw Tu She'er and Chang Wan cleaning things in the inner hall. However, Chu Ruoyan felt increasingly uneasy. If it was just a thief, why would the thief come to Princess Qin's place to steal things? Moreover, judging from the appearance of the imperial guards surrounding Qianqiu Hall, it didn't seem to be as simple as encountering thieves.
Chu Ruoyan looked around again: "Where's Xiaoyuanzi?"
Shang Ruyi said, "He was just scared. It was a struggle to calm him down, so I had Aunt Feng take him downstairs."
Chu Ruoyan said worriedly, "Children are easily frightened; they can easily lose their spirit. Like Fei'er before..."
She paused for a moment, then pursed her lips.
Shang Ruyi knew that she was thinking about her childhood again, but she didn't want to say it. Just as she was about to comfort her, she suddenly heard Tu She'er behind her say "Eh." The two of them looked at each other and hurriedly went forward. They saw Tu She'er standing in front of a cabinet against the wall, with the words that Shang Ruyi had written in recent days in the cabinet.
Shang Ruyi asked, "What's wrong?"
Tushe'er turned to look at her and said, "Your Highness, it seems like someone else has touched these things."
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi immediately frowned.
If a thief were to enter Qianqiu Palace, even if they wanted to steal, they should have stolen the gold and silver utensils, or the silver notes and antiques she kept in the box. This cabinet only contained her own writing materials, and even the calligraphy and paintings were all her own work, not worth a penny. She didn't even lock it, so why would a thief come to steal the things inside?
She asked, "Are you sure?"
Tushe'er said, "It really has been tampered with. I just sorted out these characters today, according to the dates—"
Before she could finish speaking, another series of footsteps sounded outside.
Although the surrounding area was bustling with noise and footsteps, this time the footsteps went straight into the Thousand Autumns Palace. Shang Ruyi hurriedly turned her head to look and saw Eunuch Yu leading two eunuchs in.
Shang Ruyi hurriedly stepped forward: "Why has Eunuch Yu come?"
It was the deepest part of the night, and even though the surroundings were brightly lit and the two eunuchs beside Eunuch Yu were carrying lanterns, the light they shone on Eunuch Yu's face could not dispel the heavy gloom on his face, and even his old eyes were shrouded in a thick layer of shadow.
He said, "Your Highness, Madam Chu is here too."
Chu Ruoyan nodded cautiously.
Eunuch Yu bowed to her as well, then looked at Shang Ruyi and said solemnly, "His Majesty invites the Princess to the Liangyi Hall. He has some questions for you."
"...!"
Shang Ruyi's heart sank.
But her face didn't show any extra expression. She just took a deep breath and asked, "What is it?"
"..."
"Is it because thieves have broken into the palace?"
Eunuch Yu forced a smile and said, "Since the Emperor has summoned you, Your Highness, please do not delay."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi understood somewhat, but she still calmly said, "In that case, allow me to tidy up a bit and I'll be there right away."
She was still wearing rather casual clothes, which was indeed inappropriate for meeting the emperor. So Eunuch Yu didn't say anything more. Shang Ruyi immediately had Tu She'er accompany her into the inner hall. While Tu She'er helped her change her clothes, Shang Ruyi hurriedly checked the contents of the cabinet.
At this moment, Chu Ruoyan also walked in.
Her face was even paler than before, and her eyes were a little red. She had clearly realized that Shang Ruyi was probably in trouble. She walked up to Shang Ruyi and asked, "Sister, what should we do?"
Seeing her like this, Shang Ruyi calmed herself down.
She smiled deliberately and said, "It's just that we were robbed. My father sent me over to ask him a few questions. What are you afraid of?"
"Can--"
"Don't worry, it's okay."
As he spoke, he patted her shoulder. Just then, Tu She'er had already tied her belt, and Shang Ruyi turned to walk out. But after taking only two steps, she stopped and looked back at Chu Ruoyan, who was still somewhat frightened. Amidst the noise around her, she could almost hear Xiao Yuanzi crying not far away. These sounds, intertwined with various emotions, made Shang Ruyi feel as if a heavy stone was pressing on her heart.
She suddenly walked back to Chu Ruoyan's side and whispered, "If anything really happens to me, you have to help me!"
"...!"
Chu Ruoyan suddenly opened her eyes wide and looked at her.
Shang Ruyi nodded slightly.
Chu Ruoyan stared at her blankly, her eyes flickering as she was about to ask something, but Shang Ruyi had already turned around and walked out without looking back. Eunuch Yu and the two young eunuchs were waiting outside, and they were getting a little anxious. When they saw her come out, they immediately came up to her: "Your Highness, may we go now?"
Shang Ruyi nodded: "Let's go."
So they walked out of the main hall together.
As soon as she stepped outside, she heard a child crying in the night sky. It was Xiao Yuanzi. She saw Nurse Feng holding the child standing outside the main hall. She had obviously come to see the Princess Consort of Qin because she knew someone had come to summon her. She was stunned by the sight. Xiao Yuanzi in her arms was crying so hard that his face was red. He kept reaching out to Shang Ruyi, wanting his mother to hug him.
Shang Ruyi frowned and did not go over.
Although she had just comforted him, the night would not be peaceful, and the child was destined to be restless. Now, she could no longer go over to comfort him.
So she said softly, "Take good care of the child."
After saying that, she followed Eunuch Yu and continued walking outside.
Feng, the wet nurse, and the others who remained were somewhat panicked, but dared not say anything more. They could only watch as Tu She'er accompanied Shang Ruyi and hurriedly walked out of Qianqiu Palace. As soon as they left, another group of imperial guards entered Qianqiu Palace. The leader said to them, "Don't panic, everyone. We're just here to check the thieves' whereabouts. We'll leave right away."
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