Cui Hao dismounted and approached Bai Chuxiao, bowing and saying, "Your Highness, I am late."
Bai Chuxiao smiled and waved her hand, "It's alright."
Mu Linfeng exclaimed in surprise, "How did you get to Yunzhou?"
Troops stationed in various regions are not allowed to set foot on the territory of other states without orders, and the Xuanjia Army is no exception.
Cui Hao watched coldly, without uttering a word, and waved his hand.
Mu Linfeng's face was grim. Tonight, he was going to return empty-handed again. Every time, it was these Xuanjia soldiers who ruined his plans. He was no longer willing to linger in the fight, and taking advantage of the moment when the two sides clashed, he quickly slipped into the mountains and forests.
Cui Hao frowned, while Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "Never mind, returning to the capital is the priority."
Zhan Chi had somehow appeared behind Bai Chuxiao, with a few traces of blood on his body, but he seemed unharmed.
"Something may have changed in the capital. Perhaps Your Highness would be better off going to the Northwest or returning to Yongzhou first."
Bai Chuxiao shook her head, "My mother is still in the palace; we must return to the capital immediately."
In a side hall of the palace, Emperor Wenxuan looked at Cheng Song, who was lying on the bed with large bruises on his face, and said angrily, "What kind of poison did he suffer from?"
The Imperial Physician lowered his head, "Your Majesty, after consulting the classics, I found that the poison General Cheng suffered from is quite similar to the 'Heartless Poison'."
Emperor Wenxuan demanded sternly, "Is there a way to cure him?" The news of the Imperial Guard commander's poisoning must not be allowed to spread under any circumstances. If the Imperial Guard falls into disarray, there's a risk that unscrupulous individuals might cause trouble.
Imperial Physician Zhang said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have some leads. I will give it my best."
Emperor Wenxuan said in a deep voice, "Do everything you can to save him. Where did this poison come from?"
Imperial Physician Zhang hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Your Majesty, this poison is unique to Northern Yan."
Could Bei Yan really extend its reach into the Great Xia Imperial Palace? Thinking of those in the capital who had connections with Bei Yan, Emperor Wenxuan's face darkened. "Regarding Cheng Song's poisoning, your Imperial Hospital knows what to do, right?"
Imperial Physician Zhang quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I understand."
Emperor Wenxuan returned to his study in a huff, frowning as he looked at the memorials on the table. "Has the Princess Consort of Yan not sent any message back yet?"
Jinzhong hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, we have not received it."
Emperor Wenxuan murmured, "It shouldn't be like this."
Jinzhong looked somewhat puzzled, then slowly said, "The Princess's investigation will take time; perhaps we'll have news in the next day or two."
Emperor Wenxuan's eyes darkened slightly. Knowing that girl's personality, there was no way there would have been no news for so long. "Guards!"
A man in black landed silently on the ground. Emperor Wenxuan slowly spoke, "Spur the horse to Yunzhou at full speed, and summon the Crown Prince and Princess Yan back to the capital immediately."
The man in black paused, then respectfully replied, "Yes."
Despite having several thousand Flying Cloud Cavalry with them, the journey back to the capital was still fraught with difficulties. After several assassination attempts, Bai Chuxiao quietly left the group with Zhan Chi and Xia Fan, returning to the capital ahead of everyone else.
Inside General Yangwei's mansion, Yu Fengyang and Lin Huai were talking when several men in black suddenly appeared.
Looking at the woman before him, Yu Fengyang quickly said, "Your Highness, why are you in such a disheveled state?"
Bai Chuxiao ignored her and said in a deep voice, "How is the palace? The previous letter can be sent to His Majesty."
Lin Huai's face darkened. "It was sent, but whether His Majesty saw it or not is unknown."
Bai Chuxiao asked coldly, "What's going on?"
Yu Fengyang slowly began, "The palace's defenses have all changed; our people can't get in at all. I was refused an audience with His Majesty, so I had to find a way to deliver the letter to Cheng Song, who would then pass it on. But still, no news has come from His Majesty."
Bai Chuxiao frowned, "Where is Cheng Song?"
Yu Fengyang shook his head, "I haven't seen him leave the palace these past few days."
Bai Chuxiao asked in a deep voice, "Is there any news about the Crown Prince in the capital?"
They had been assassinated along the way; Chu Wenzheng, with the Crown Prince, should have arrived in the capital before them.
Yu Fengyang's eyes darkened slightly. "Isn't the Crown Prince with the Princess?"
They hadn't yet received news that Chu Wenzheng had captured the Crown Prince, but they were now realizing the seriousness of the situation.
"This time it's really troublesome. Your Highness, you should leave the capital first."
Bai Chuxiao sighed, "I need to go to the palace immediately."
Yu Fengyang frowned, "I'm afraid the princess will have no chance of getting in."
Bai Chuxiao said calmly, "They don't know I've already returned to the capital. I'm going to the Grand Princess's residence."
Yu Fengyang nodded, "That's fine, no one should be wary of the princess."
In the First Princess's residence, upon seeing the woman who had suddenly appeared, the First Princess was also startled. "Xiao Xiao, you're not..."
She knew her father had sent Xiaoxiao and the Crown Prince to Yunzhou, so why was she suddenly appearing here in such a disheveled state?
Bai Chuxiao asked helplessly, "Has the princess visited the palace recently?"
The eldest princess spoke slowly, "Not long after you left, I went to pay my respects to my father, the Emperor."
He then pulled her aside with some concern and said, "Why do you have so many injuries? Let me take you to get them treated."
Bai Chuxiao shook her head. "Princess, I want you to take me to the palace."
The eldest princess frowned. "What exactly is going on? You are the Princess Consort of Yan and have a gold token bestowed by the Emperor. Why do you need me to bring it when you enter the palace?"
Bai Chuxiao said in a deep voice, "Princess, something must have happened in the palace. I had to sneak back."
The eldest princess frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Alright."
At the palace gate, Bai Chuxiao, dressed as a maid from the princess's residence, helped the eldest princess down from the carriage.
A guard immediately stepped forward, "Princess, what is this?"
The eldest princess retorted sharply, "Do I need to report to you when I go to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress?"
The guard glanced discreetly at the maids following the eldest princess, and finding nothing amiss, quickly said, "No, Your Highness, please."
The eldest princess glanced at it indifferently, then led her entourage towards Zhaofeng Palace. However, she also sensed something unusual. In the past, when she entered the palace, the guards would never question a princess.
Those secretly observing them saw that the group had indeed gone to the inner palace and stopped following. Bai Chuxiao's eyes darkened; the palace had indeed changed.
In Zhaofeng Palace, Empress Li, upon hearing the servant's report, was somewhat puzzled. "Why would she come specifically to pay her respects to me?"
The eldest princess had never been close to her; when she came to the palace, it was mainly to pay her respects to the emperor, and she only exchanged a few polite words with her.
After the eldest princess entered, she gave a slight curtsy. Empress Li smiled and said, "Yonghe, there's no need for such formalities. What brings you to the palace today?"
The eldest princess slowly began, "Now that my brothers and sisters are all away from the capital, I feel quite lonely in the palace."
Empress Li nodded and sighed, "Isn't that right?"
The eldest princess smiled and asked, "I wonder when my fourth brother will return to the capital?"
Empress Li shook her head. "I don't know either. That child hasn't sent any news back for so long."
The eldest princess smiled faintly, "Has Her Majesty the Empress not asked Father how things are going with Fourth Brother's affairs in Yunzhou?"
Empress Li said in a deep voice, "Your father has been troubled by many things lately and has not come to the inner palace. He also forbids us from disturbing him. Have you come to see your father today?"
The eldest princess's eyes darkened slightly. "Since Her Majesty the Empress has said so, I will not disturb Father Emperor today."
Empress Li raised an eyebrow. "Your father has always doted on you, so he'll probably be pleased that you went to pay your respects."
Emperor Wenxuan has been behaving strangely these days. If it weren't for the lack of any major disturbances in the palace, she would have suspected that something had happened to him. It would be good if the Grand Princess could see Emperor Wenxuan.
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