Chapter 99: Domineering White Moonlight 18 I heard that they are preparing for the prince’s wedding...
Early this morning.
Lan Xin and Ming Shuang waited outside the hall for Ali to get up, but after waiting for a long time, no sound came from inside. They thought that the princess must have stayed in bed again.
Ming Shuang said, "Sister Lan Xin, why don't you go to the small kitchen and see if the snacks the princess requested are ready. I'll just stay here and serve her."
Lan Xin thought for a moment and nodded, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll go to the small kitchen and keep an eye on it."
Seeing Lan Xin walking away, Ming Shuang slowly walked down the steps and guarded the palace door from a distance.
Inside the hall, the gauze curtains were drawn, making it impossible to see the scene inside.
For who knows how many times, Ali sat cross-legged on the bed, calmed her mind, and exhaled slowly according to the method taught to her by Madam Tan.
But after a while, the magic weapon in front of him still did not react at all.
Ali didn't give up and tried a few more times, but he didn't succeed every time.
She packed up the magic tool again, fell on the bed holding the box, her face full of regret.
It's been three days, and I still can't learn it.
It seems that she has to leave the palace and ask Madam Tan for help.
Ali jumped up, lifted the curtain and got out of bed.
There has been a lot of construction going on in the palace recently. I heard that they are preparing for the prince's wedding.
Although the imperial edict had not yet been issued, everyone inside and outside the palace knew about the candidate for the Crown Princess.
Fu Youzhi also changed his previous reckless personality and stayed obediently in the mansion to prepare for his marriage. After the wedding, he would expose Ali Yao's identity.
On her side, the mission showed no sign of completion. She had asked Xie Jingchuan about the Crown Princess several times, but he always avoided the question.
When paying respects to the empress dowager every day, seeing her pleased expression as she waited to play with her grandchildren, Ali knew that she had no time to be sad about the passing of time.
During breakfast, Mo Wen came to Yinyue Pavilion and left quickly. After a while, a carriage stopped in front of Yinyue Pavilion.
Ali took Mingshuang into the car and left the palace unhindered.
The carriage headed towards Yurongzhai, but suddenly turned into a small alley and stopped.
The palace servant who was driving the car jumped out and checked it, scratching his head in worry: "Princess, this car seems to be broken..."
He had served in the palace for so many years and this had never happened before. He had clearly checked carefully before leaving the palace.
Ali frowned, looking unhappy: "So what should we do now?"
The palace servant sank to his knees and said, "I just saw a carriage available for rent in the East Market. I'll go there right away and won't let the princess down!"
Ali waved his hands irritably, and the palace servant kowtowed a few more times before hurriedly running away with the money bag given by Mingshuang.
When Chen Yizi was riding past on horseback, he happened to see the carriage parked in the alley.
The carriage looked like it was not something that an ordinary family could afford, but there was no servant driving it, and it was quiet all around, as if something had happened.
Thinking of the several mysterious disappearances and deaths that occurred in the capital today, he placed his hand on the sword at his waist and slowly approached on horseback.
"Who's in the car?"
No one responded.
Chen Yizi dismounted, stared intently, and lifted the curtain with his sword.
Ali, who was eating cakes and reading a storybook in the car, looked up and stared at him.
"Chen Yizhi?"
"Princess?"
They both asked in unison: "Why are you here?"
Without waiting for Chen Yizi to answer, A Li put down the book in his hand and said, "It's just right. You can take me to a place."
Yurongzhai.
As if he knew she would come today, Ali saw Uncle Tan as soon as he entered the door and followed him upstairs.
Ah Li waited for a while before Lady Tan finally arrived. As soon as she saw her, she asked, "Failed?"
A Li shook his head: "I got the love blood, but... Xie Jingchuan felt pain when the blood was taken. I really can't figure it out."
"That shouldn't be the case," Tan Niang frowned, thinking seriously, "Could it be that this method hasn't been used by our tribe for many years, and the ancient records are wrong?"
Ah Li took the teapot from her hand with a worried look and poured two cups of tea. "That's probably the case. Seeing Xie Jingchuan's reaction, I was so panicked that night that I almost lost my grip."
Once you miss this opportunity, you won't be able to find it again easily.
Madam Tan's fingertips, stained with bright red cardamom, tapped lightly on the table. "I'll research this later. Is this what Xiao A'li came here for today?"
"Maybe I am really too stupid. I have not been successful in the past few days. I can only shamelessly come to ask for help from my wife again." Ali took out the magic weapon and placed it on the table.
Mrs. Tan understood, waved her sleeves to close the door, and then unfolded the screen to block the two people's figures.
She made a hand gesture, and a glittering crystal slowly rose from her chest. This was the inner elixir condensed by the demon race's cultivation.
The forms of inner elixirs that can be transformed by different demon tribes are different, but as long as the inner elixir is condensed, it can be transformed into a human form for cultivation, which is the source of the demon tribe's power.
It can be said that the inner elixir of the demon race is equivalent to their second heart.
Once the inner elixir is damaged or broken, the demon will lose all its power and return to its original beast form without any intelligence.
Although unlike humans, they will die if they lose their heart, but for monsters who have to practice for hundreds of years to form a pill, this is no different from death.
Madam Tan opened her lips slightly and let her inner elixir hang above the magic weapon. The inner elixir slowly pulsated and retracted, like a real beating heart.
Ali watched intently, and saw that the love blood slowly flowed out from the tip of the magic weapon under the stimulation of demonic power, forming a thin blood line, flowing towards Tan Niangzi's inner elixir as if under command.
The soft light of the inner elixir gradually expanded and slowly approached Ali, enveloping her. A warm and filling breath spread from her heart to every limb.
The world becomes especially clear at this moment.
Ali could hear the rustling of leaves on the street away, distinguish the different scents in the air, and see the fine dust raised by the distant horse hooves passing on the street.
These are the most fundamental abilities of the demon race.
Ah Li turned around with a look of surprise, and saw Madam Tan looking at her with a smile on her face: "It's not over yet."
She obediently controlled her emotions and continued to sit quietly.
As Lady Tan cast the spell, she asked, "Have you ever thought about where you want to go in the future, A-Li?"
Ali shook his head.
What was happening right now was enough to make her anxious and worried, and she never thought about the future.
Madam Tan continued, "From today on, you will have the ability to practice magic. You are so intelligent... and so willing to put in the effort, you will definitely make rapid progress."
Ali has known her own strengths and weaknesses since she was a child. If she hadn't been afraid of death by a sword piercing her heart, she would have just wanted to live a lazy life.
She sighed: "Let's talk about the future later."
Madam Tan glanced at her and said, "You are very similar to my little sister who never learned any lesson. That's why when you first came to Yurongzhai that day, I wanted to help you. Please don't think I'm talking too much."
"How could that be? My wife has helped me so much, she's like my own sister. I can't thank her enough."
"By the way," Ali raised his eyes and asked curiously, "Why did my wife stay in the capital for so many years?"
The demons don't like being restricted in their lives and yearn for mountains and forests the most. These square little courtyards where humans live are full of constraints for them.
Mrs. Tan smiled gently and affectionately, and when she glanced outside, Ali understood what she meant.
It’s for Uncle Tan.
At first, Ali thought that Uncle Tan was also a demon, but Madam Tan said that not only was Uncle Tan not a demon, he also knew that the person next to him was a demon.
The two have been together for decades and are still as loving as ever.
Ah Li was moved by what he heard and couldn't help asking, "But everyone will eventually grow old, get sick and die. If that day really comes, my lady..."
Mrs. Tan's expression was calm: "When that day comes, I will accompany him and walk the last part of his journey with him."
Her words were of great significance, and Ali was silent for a moment.
Seeing Madam Tan slowly withdraw her hand, he knew that the love blood had entered her body and condensed into a demon pill the size of a grain of rice in her heart.
Madam Tan stood up and warned, "This Love Thread Blood Pill is not the right way after all. Your inner elixir foundation is unstable and extremely fragile. You will need to practice diligently in the future to gradually replenish it."
Ah Li nodded and took out the food box that Ming Shuang had been carrying. "I wanted to give this to my wife when I came in just now. This is Fuhe Cake made by the imperial kitchen in the palace. I saw that my wife liked it last time, so I brought a few boxes out."
Madam Tan's eyes lit up with joy as she took it and said, "It's hard for you to remember that the food cooked outside the palace is never as delicious as the one I had at your place that day."
Ah Li followed with a smile: "I heard Uncle Tan say that my wife loves cooking, so I took the initiative to copy down the recipe and method of making this Fuhe Cake so that my wife can enjoy it anytime in the future."
"Thank you, little Ali! You are so thoughtful!" Madam Tan held her hand and scratched her nose affectionately with her fingers.
Ah Li couldn't help but feel a little jealous. He lingered in Yurongzhai and refused to leave. In the end, Madam Tan had to escort him out. "That Master Chen with the sword is still waiting outside. If you don't leave now, he's going to turn my shop upside down."
The two of them walked down the stairs slowly.
Madam Tan looked at Ah Li with some concern. "For some reason, many demon hunters have appeared in the capital recently. You're in the palace, so I can't reach you. I also need to stay out of the spotlight for a while, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help you in time."
"Take this. In times of crisis, activate it with your demonic power, and I will be able to tell."
Ali squeezed the jade ring she handed over, nodded and put it away.
Chen Yizi, who was outside Yurongzhai, saw A Li from a distance. When he saw her coming out, he stepped forward to greet her, but stopped a few steps away.
"Your face..."
Ali was stunned when she heard this, and then she remembered that there was a demon pill in her body, which caused some changes in her appearance, making her look even more gorgeous and charming, and extremely enchanting.
She raised her eyebrows slightly: "How is it? Are you speechless because of my beauty?"
Chen Yizi stammered and nodded: "The princess is extremely beautiful today, no wonder she is obsessed with the rouge from this shop..."
"What are you talking about?" Ali looked dissatisfied. "It's obvious that this princess is naturally beautiful, and Lord Chen is blind and deaf."
Chen Yizi couldn't help but smile, but then suppressed it: "Yes, the princess is born with natural beauty, stunningly beautiful."
Princess...
He was truly the funniest person he had ever met in the world.
No one could guess what her next words or expression would be, which made him particularly want to talk to her and stay with her for a while longer.
Seeing that the palace servant who was driving the car had also found this place, A Li walked around Chen Yizi and was about to get in the car, but at the last moment he turned back to look at him: "Master Chen, if you have nothing to do, could you escort this princess back to the palace?"
Chen Yizi naturally agreed and followed the carriage on horseback.
Mingshuang opened the curtain, and A-li came over and looked up to talk to Chen Yizi: "What has Master Chen been busy with recently?"
Chen Yizhi replied, "The capital has been in turmoil recently. Since I am in the Imperial Guard, I will naturally follow my superiors to assist the Ministry of Justice in handling the case."
After saying that, he paused, glanced at Ali, and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
A Liqian raised his eyelids: "If you have something to say, just say it."
"I...I am now a General of the Central Army. I am responsible for investigating this case together with the Ministry of Justice." Chen Yizi spoke haltingly, and his ears turned red first.
He spoke of it without the princess asking, which seemed a bit boastful and arrogant.
Ali took a moment to react, then suddenly realized: "Promoted?"
Chen Yizi tightened the reins and nodded embarrassedly.
In fact, this promotion would have come earlier, if it weren't for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince...
He believed that he had done nothing wrong, and had always been loyal and upright, never joining a clique. However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was relentless in his pursuit of a minor official like him, showing no sign of being a crown prince.
Chen Yizi glanced at Ali and remembered that she had complained to him before that she was not living well in the palace. In addition, when he saw that she had to hide the rouge she bought from outside the palace, he became more convinced.
A sense of responsibility and sympathy arises spontaneously.
He couldn't bear to see his friend being wronged like this, not to mention that the princess was not an ordinary friend.
Just as he was about to speak to Ali, the palace gate was already in sight.
He stopped outside the palace gate and watched Ali's carriage slowly drive in, his eyes filled with regret and reluctance.
The wheels of the carriage made a rolling sound on the bluestone palace road. Ali felt her body lighter than ever before. She looked at her fingertips which were indistinguishable from each other, and her heart was filled with thousands of thoughts.
Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps approached their carriage. Mingshuang lifted the curtain and saw the panicked Lan Xin.
"Princess! Princess! Something bad has happened!" She threw herself to the side of the carriage and was almost dragged to the ground.
Ali noticed the commotion outside and quickly asked the palace servant to stop the car. She walked out and asked, "What happened?"
Lan Xin spoke incoherently, "This morning, His Majesty granted marriage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Miss Fu, but His Royal Highness openly defied the order in front of all the officials in the court, rejecting His Majesty's will and refusing to marry Miss Fu as the Crown Princess!"
"...What did you say?" Ali's voice was very soft, with a deep disbelief.
Lan Xin took a deep breath and trembled, "His Majesty was furious and severely reprimanded Your Highness on the spot, ordering him to return to the palace for confinement and reflection. But Your Highness went straight to the Qinzheng Palace after leaving the court."
"After that, I don't know what His Highness said to His Majesty, but His Majesty actually ordered the Crown Prince to be stripped of his robes and crown, and then beaten with a stick in front of the palace... He was beaten with a full thirty sticks, leaving him bloody and mangled. I heard that His Highness even vomited blood and was carried back to the Eastern Palace!"
Ali's body shook slightly and his breathing became rapid.
It shouldn't be like this. Xie Jingchuan is not such an impatient person. Even if he has found out about his biological mother, he would not contradict the emperor so irrationally.
Unless...something else happened that she didn't know about, such as something about Kunning Palace, or something about her.
Lan Xin's sobbing voice still rang in her ears: "His Majesty has issued an edict to seal off the Eastern Palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave! He has also removed Your Highness's power as regent, dismissed all officials and servants from the Eastern Palace, and forbade the imperial physician to visit and care for the patient."
"There are rumors out there that His Majesty is going to depose the Crown Prince this time..."
Ali's eyes went dark, and there were thousands of thoughts in his mind but he couldn't make sense of them. He could only uncontrollably imagine Xie Jingchuan's current situation of being isolated and helpless.
He was so humiliatingly injured and trapped in the Eastern Palace with bruises all over his body. All this was ordered by his father, the emperor, whom he had respected since childhood. How desolate and disheartened he must have felt.
When Ali thought of this, his stomach began to churn and his heart ached sharply.
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