The moment Yin Xuan heard this, it seemed that the path through the Empress was not going to work. He had to find Qing Yao's whereabouts and personally take her away.
But where was she now? Yin Xuan raised an eyebrow and slowly said, "I'd like to ask Lord Zhou Jiefang to help me investigate if there are any special women hidden in the palace. As long as Lord Zhou can find out, I'll pay double the price, and this matter will have nothing to do with Lord Zhou."
As soon as Yin Xuan finished speaking, Zhou Jiefang gasped for breath, unable to bear it. Did this man mean to spend twenty thousand taels of silver banknotes to inquire about a woman?
How could there be other women in the palace? Was it possible that some concubine was hiding a woman? This was a great opportunity to earn merit. Zhou Jiefang calculated that he could get money and catch someone in the act. Why wouldn't he? He immediately reached out and grabbed the silver notes, saying, "Okay, I'll contact people in the palace right away to investigate."
The reason Zhou Jiefang was so straightforward was that her own sister was still the commander of the palace guards, and Yin Xuan approached her precisely for this reason.
The two quickly reached an agreement. Zhou Jiefang would gather information, and as soon as there was any clue, she would notify Yin Xuan.
Meanwhile, Qing Yao was imprisoned in some hidden place in the palace. In a disused woodshed within the residence of the Grand Consort, there was not much firewood piled up, so she had relatively ample space to move. Outside the woodshed, several tall and strong men were guarding. They were all Hua Wenbo's personal subordinates, and ordinary people could not get close to this place.
These subordinates were skilled in martial arts, and few people could match them.
Hua Wenbo did not kill Qing Yao because he changed his mind at the last moment.
Since this woman was useful to his son, he could not kill her. Doing so would only lead to a complete rupture. However, even if he didn't kill her, Hua Wenbo was extremely angry thinking that his son had betrayed him because of this woman.
His son's fondness for her was undoubtedly due to her heavenly beauty. If she were not so stunning, but a ghastly, ugly demon, would he still like her?
Thinking of this, Hua Wenbo let out a sinister, triumphant laugh. He gave Qing Yao a medicine, a medicine called the "Ugly Face Pill." The pill was painless but caused a red birthmark to grow on her face, covering half of her countenance, making Qing Yao's current appearance somewhat hideous, no longer the peerless beauty she once was.
Qing Yao was not heartbroken or despairing because of the ugly mark on her face. On the contrary, she was very calm. Although her face had a red mark and she had become ugly, she was, after all, alive. But the people outside must be worried.
Three days later.
Yin Xuan received news that Qing Yao was locked up in the rear hall of the Grand Consort's residence. Upon receiving the news, he could not wait a moment longer. Under the cover of night, he led several of his skilled subordinates straight to the Imperial Palace.
Because he had Zhou Jiefang's map, he easily found the place where she was being held. Although Zhou Jiefang's sister had not been to the rear hall, she knew that no unauthorized personnel were allowed near the rear hall, so she knew that important people were being held there. She secretly investigated the male attendants in the palace and learned that a woman was being held in the back. Connecting these facts, she guessed that it must be the important person her sister had mentioned.
Under the dark night, without the moon, the sky was as black as a curtain, firmly enveloping the sky. The palace, however, was as bright as day.
In the palace where the Grand Consort Hua Wenbo resided, the sounds of singing and dancing could be heard. Her Majesty the Empress was enjoying the performance, with the charming Hua Wenbo sitting beside her. He showed none of his usual ruthlessness when facing the Empress; instead, he was as submissive as a little bird, speaking eloquently and amusingly, which greatly pleased the Empress.
He had always remained favored, and regardless of how many men were in the harem, he steadfastly maintained his position.
Yin Xuan, leading his subordinates, quickly found the rear hall and the storage room according to the map's indicated location.
He saw figures moving around, indicating that several people were monitoring the person inside.
Yin Xuan was not worried about these people. His concern was whether the person in this house was the one he wanted to save and if she was doing alright.
Regardless of whether it was Yao'er or not, he would save her first. Yin Xuan gave a command, and the four great masters behind him moved like lightning, flying swiftly.
The guards outside the woodshed quickly moved to intercept them. Yin Xuan's martial arts, while not the best in the world, had reached a state of perfection and mastery.
Therefore, these people had no chance to cause too much commotion. Moreover, Chang Ting and Duan Hun were also first-class experts, so they quickly subdued those fellows.
One of them escaped, but Yin Xuan was too lazy to bother with him. He leaped forward and kicked open the woodshed door.
Qing Yao was standing properly by the woodshed door. She had heard the commotion and knew someone had come to rescue her. She had expected Wu Qing to come, but instead, it was Yin Xuan. Once again, he had saved her.
Qing Yao was stunned, not expecting to meet him under such circumstances.
Yin Xuan's voice sounded sharp, "Your face?"
"Ruined," Qing Yao replied lightly. Was it not just becoming ugly? What was there to be so surprised about? Did all men care about this pretentious skin? However, she did not see any disappointment or other emotions on Yin Xuan's face.
She only knew that his dark pupils flashed with a fleeting hint of heartache, and then he reached out, pulled her, and said in a deep voice.
"Let's go."
Like a roc, he spread his wings and flew away swiftly. The other four followed closely behind him. At this moment, another group of people arrived, dressed in white, with white hair, elegant as a snowman, and it was Wu Qing, seated in a wheelchair.
He had also bribed a female official from the Kingdom of Danfeng and obtained information. Qing Yao was indeed in the palace.
However, seeing the situation before him, he couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Several people on the ground were injured and had their acupoints sealed, and the woodshed was open, empty. A cold glint covered Wu Qing's face. Had someone else rescued Qing Yao? Who?
He couldn't think of anyone. Just as he was about to leave, several figures leaped over swiftly, each holding a torch high, illuminating the rear hall clearly. It was Wu Qing, seated in a wheelchair. Hua Wenbo walked out with a cold expression, staring at his son coldly, "You dare to injure my men. Where is she?"
Wu Qing remained silent, staring motionlessly at the man. Now that Qing Yao was no longer in his hands, he had nothing to fear. His pupils turned crimson, the corners of his lips curled up, and he slowly said, "This is between the two of us. What does it have to do with her?"
Hua Wenbo suddenly laughed, his laughter fierce and arrogant in the dark night. He looked down at Wu Qing and said in a deep voice.
"I have set a deadline for the curse I placed on you. Within seven days, if you kill that woman, I will lift the curse for you and allow you to return to the palace as a prince. I will find an opportunity to explain to the Empress. If you do not kill her, you are not my son, and death is not to be regretted."
Hua Wenbo said coldly. His personality did not allow for any betrayal, even from his son. He absolutely would not allow such a thing to happen.
Wu Qing sat in his wheelchair, saying nothing, his expressionless face showing no fear of what he said. Instead, Qing Feng and Ming Yue panicked and couldn't help but speak.
"Master, you are pushing the Young Master to his death."
"Insolent!" Hua Wenbo roared, glaring at Qing Feng and Ming Yue with sinister pupils.
Wu Qing turned his head and commanded Qing Feng and Ming Yue, "Let's go."
The three of them disappeared into the dark night in an instant. Hua Wenbo remained in the night, but there was hope in his eyes. He hoped that his son would obey him this time and kill that woman. She had already become ugly. If he returned to the palace, what kind of beautiful women were there for him?