Leaving the palace hall, Lin Shuxue took the silver and continued to gossip.
"Jiu Jiu, let me tell you, I heard something terrifying… The former noble consort, when she was still a maid, was often bullied. She was originally a low-ranking maid in the Empress's palace, and because she was ugly, she was bullied. Now, it seems that those who bullied her have all disappeared…"
"What?" This sentence jolted Qin Jiu Jiu out of her deep thought.
"What's wrong? You haven't heard? There are rumors in the palace that this newly promoted noble consort might be a monster…"
Qin Jiu Jiu squeezed the bell hidden in her sleeve and repeated, "She was a maid in the Empress's palace?"
"Yes…"
This struck a chord in Qin Jiu Jiu's mind, as if something had bloomed.
Back then, when the Empress was gravely ill, they all suspected a monster was involved. They overlooked one point: perhaps the real monster was merely hiding in the Empress's palace, and the Empress's illness was just a diversion.
"You go back first. I still have something to do, and I need to go out for a bit. If the Fifth Prince looks for me, tell him I was summoned by the Empress!"
Just as Lin Shuxue was about to ask, Qin Jiu Jiu had already hurried away, her direction indeed seeming to be towards the Empress's palace.
Lin Shuxue suppressed her doubts and returned to the Fifth Prince's palace.
Since that day, Xie Yun and Bai Qianluo had been living in the side chambers of the Empress's palace, so Qin Jiu Jiu's visit was indeed towards the Empress's palace.
"Brother Xie! Sister Bai!"
She went directly into the side chambers, but unexpectedly, there was no one there.
A young palace maid passing by kindly informed her, "Auntie, don't knock. The two young masters have been invited out by the Crown Prince, and they should be in the Imperial Garden now~"
She seemed to have recognized Qin Jiu Jiu's rank from her attire.
"Thank you." Just as she was about to leave for the Imperial Garden, she suddenly thought of something. After the palace maid left, she turned and headed in the opposite direction of the entrance.
As the male and female protagonists, they naturally attracted attention wherever they went.
This was no exception in the imperial palace.
Qin Jiu Jiu recalled that although Bai Qianluo was temporarily disguised as a man in the palace, she would still attract a lot of attention, including from the eldest prince and the Crown Prince.
As for Xie Yun, he was valued by the princess, and they had even quarreled over this matter…
Qin Jiu Jiu walked deeper into the Empress's palace, further in were the rooms where the palace servants lived.
"Young lady, what are you doing here?" Just as she was about to step into a room, someone called out to her from behind.
From the sound, it was an old wet nurse, her voice hoarse and weak.
She turned around and indeed saw an old woman, whose eyes, however, stared at her piercingly, looking quite energetic.
"My apologies, I stumbled in by accident…" Saying this, she quickly walked out, as if afraid of being caught.
The look in that person's eyes was truly frightening, and Qin Jiu Jiu felt a panic, hastening her steps and preparing to leave.
Even as she walked further away, she could still feel the gaze following her from behind until it could no longer be seen.
She was heading back to the Fifth Prince's palace when suddenly, she was pulled into a corner. Fortunately, there was no one around at the time, so no one saw.
"Mmm…" Her mouth was covered by a hand. The person's palm was large, covering more than half of her face. She struggled with all her might.
The person pushed her directly against the wall, and a familiar scent wafted over.
"Xie Jing?" she uttered.
Qin Jiu Jiu stopped struggling. When she looked up, she met Xie Jing's gaze, which was deep and inscrutable. His peach blossom eyes were fixed on her, as if he wanted to engrave her deeply into his heart.
"Why are you here?"
"What were you doing lurking around the Empress's palace?"
This place was not far from the Empress's palace. It was likely that Xie Jing, who was patrolling here, had seen her coming out of the Empress's palace.
So, Xie Jing spoke, "I discovered something that needs verification with Brother Xie and Sister Bai. When they weren't in the Empress's palace, I came out."
Xie Jing's face was cold, and his expression was not pleasant.
"What is it?"
Qin Jiu Jiu escaped from his embrace and looked around, ensuring no one was present before continuing, "Recently, the new favored consort might be related to the recent disappearances of palace maids."
Xie Jing's expression did not change. He merely stared at her, then suddenly reached out and touched her face.
"I miss you…"
It was inexplicably touching, filled with an endless, gentle tenderness that washed over Qin Jiu Jiu.
Her heart suddenly softened, and even her gaze towards him softened.
She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling a dryness in her throat. "You…"
But the person suddenly embraced her, "So fragrant…"
Is this person really the villain Xie Jing?
Qin Jiu Jiu's body felt hot, and she dared not move. She stood still, unsure where to place her hands.
She could even feel the young man nuzzling her neck, like a docile big dog. Her heart softened completely, and she returned the embrace.
So, the villain had such a side…
On the other side, the system: I can't bear to watch! I can't bear to watch!
"Who's there?" Suddenly, someone's voice came from behind. Qin Jiu Jiu, with her back to the speaker, did not see. Now, another guard stood not far away.
Xie Jing's cold eyes narrowed. The gentleness from moments ago was completely gone.
"Don't kill anyone…"
A strong killing intent emanated from Xie Jing. He hadn't committed murder in a long time and seemed to be losing control.
Qin Jiu Jiu looked up at Xie Jing, her eyes conveying reassurance, as if trying to soothe his killing intent.
In an instant, they disappeared from their original spot.
The person could not believe what they were seeing. As if suddenly enchanted, they suddenly fell to the ground.
The moment Qin Jiu Jiu opened her eyes, she was back in her own room.
Her hands were still around Xie Jing's waist. Feeling his presence, Qin Jiu Jiu panicked and quickly let go.
"Little Jiu'er, have you forgotten something?"
"What… thing?"
Actually, she remembered.
Xie Jing's face showed danger as he stared intently at her.
"I've done everything I promised you. When will you fulfill your promise to me?"
He was likely referring to the matter before she entered the dream.
"But… you threatened me, and only then did I agree…" Her face flushed, and recalling that day, she took two steps back.