Murong Chong tightened his arm around her, speaking softly, "No, it was Prince Yun who told me when he was selecting jade for the fake Jade Dragon Talisman."
The night deepened. Murong Chong held Yun Xiao, pressing his forehead against hers. "Alright, Xiao'er, get some sleep. Otherwise, your body won't be able to take it."
"Mm, let's sleep together."
A clear voice rang out, and the night fell into silence once more. The subordinates following closely outside the carriage heard their masters speaking. Though tired, their hearts were filled with happiness as they rushed back.
In the morning, the garden was shrouded in mist. It was a place of pure beauty and serenity, with strangely shaped rocks and lush green vines cascading down the artificial mountains, setting off the vibrant, multi-colored flowers. It was a truly beautiful sight.
In Jingfu Palace, Shangguan Yao was already awake. He had an early morning court session soon. Xiao Tingzi was carefully attending to him. The sleeping quarters were silent as the Emperor's deep voice spoke, "I was drunk yesterday."
"Yes, Your Majesty, you were slightly drunk."
Xiao Tingzi replied softly, subtly glancing at the Emperor. Seeing that he wasn't angry, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued to tidy the imperial robes.
"Leng Yue has returned," he said, a hidden sadness in his tone. Xiao Tingzi nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, Young Master Leng was also slightly drunk. This servant sent someone to escort her to the outer palace gate."
"Mm."
Shangguan Yao nodded and turned around, letting Xiao Tingzi check everything. Finally, his voice sounded, "Your Majesty, everything is in order."
Shangguan Yao nodded in satisfaction, habitually reaching for the Jade Dragon Talisman at his waist. Since retrieving this talisman, he touched it several times every day before sleeping. Yesterday, drunk, he had failed to do so. Now, touching it again, the feel seemed slightly off.
Shangguan Yao didn't dwell on it and turned to walk out. Thinking about yesterday, it was truly strange. He was usually not easily intoxicated. How could he have gotten so drunk so easily yesterday? He paused, his steps faltering, and narrowed his dangerous eyes.
Images of his time with Leng Yue yesterday surfaced in his mind. Her initial cautiousness seemed different from usual. Leng Yue shouldn't be like that. His heart trembled, and he couldn't help but reach out again to touch the Jade Dragon Talisman. The feel was indeed worse than usual, as if it were different.
Shangguan Yao swiftly removed the Jade Dragon Talisman from his waist and examined it carefully. With the naked eye, he couldn't discern anything. He closed his eyes to feel it, and his heart began to pound.
This Jade Dragon Talisman was fake. Then, what was Leng Yue's purpose in entering the palace yesterday? Was it to steal the talisman? Shangguan Yao's eyes darkened, and he suddenly called out to Xiao Tingzi by his side.
"Quick, get Song Yuan in here immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Tingzi, not understanding why the Emperor's demeanor had changed so suddenly, was startled and rushed out.
In the sleeping quarters, Shangguan Yao's face turned pale, ashen like paper. He stumbled back a few steps and collapsed onto the soft couch, unable to utter a word.
Xiao Tingzi quickly led Song Yuan in and then withdrew. Song Yuan, in his official attire, knelt respectfully to greet the Emperor.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise," Shangguan Yao waved his hand.
"Yes."
Song Yuan sensed the Emperor's hostility and murderous intent. He responded calmly and slowly rose to stand to the side.
"You will immediately investigate who Leng Yue truly is. Find out who she associates with, and do not let any of them off. Investigate them all thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Song Yuan did not know why the Emperor wanted to investigate Leng Yue, but since the Emperor had ordered it, he dared not say anything more. He could only obey the order and walk out of the sleeping quarters calmly.
As he rounded the screen, the Emperor's voice rang out again: "Secretly summon the commander of the Imperial Guards into the palace. I have something to see him about." Even though he knew the Jade Dragon Talisman was fake, he still held out hope. He wanted to see the difference between the real Jade Dragon Talisman and this fake one.
"Yes."
Song Yuan walked out. In the sleeping quarters, Shangguan Yao felt his head buzzing. He sat on a soft couch, his hands gripping the wooden armrest tightly. His face and hands were unnaturally pale.
Thoughts swirled in his mind. If Leng Yue was someone else entirely, she had appeared too suddenly, emerging from nowhere. She must have had some ulterior motive. Was her true objective to steal the Jade Dragon Talisman? The Poppy Clinic must be deserted by now. To confirm his thoughts, Shangguan Yao called out into the distance, his voice extremely weak.
"Someone," the eunuch Xiao Tingzi flashed in. Shangguan Yao glared at him and spoke weakly, "Go to the Poppy Clinic immediately and see if anyone is there."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Tingzi acknowledged the order and flashed out.
In the sleeping quarters, Shangguan Yao was like an ant on a hot pan. He skipped the morning court session, and his rationality slowly returned. If it were just anyone, they would not want the Jade Dragon Talisman. Only royalty would use the Jade Dragon Talisman. Could Leng Yue be a pawn, a chess piece used to steal the Jade Dragon Talisman? Then who was this person? Shangguan Yao couldn't help but think of Murong Chong, whom he had always suspected. Although his mother insisted that Murong Chong was not that person, he had always harbored doubts. Now, with the theft of the Jade Dragon Talisman, he was absolutely certain. It must be him. Has he returned? Shangguan Yao's eyes suddenly widened, bloodshot veins spreading across them. His chest felt heavy, and he could barely breathe. Could all of this be a setup orchestrated by him? Yun Mo, that old scoundrel, must have been involved. They were setting him up, one link after another. If they could rescue Yun Mo from the Ministry of Justice's prison and injure so many people, then why couldn't they rescue Shangguan Lin and Prime Minister Sima Qingyun? What should he do now? Shangguan Yao seemed to see his own doom, but he was still waiting, wanting to confirm that Leng Yue was not their pawn.
Xiao Tingzi soon went to the Poppy Clinic and returned to the palace to report. At the Poppy Clinic, it was indeed deserted, with nothing left behind. This deepened his suspicion. Next, the commander of the Imperial Guards also entered the palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. May I know why Your Majesty has summoned this subordinate into the palace?" Commander Xiao Yao of the Imperial Guards asked respectfully.
Shangguan Yao narrowed his eyes, doing his best to control his trembling and rage, and spoke in as calm a tone as possible, "I heard that when the Jade Dragon Talisman is united, it emits a strange light, so I am very curious. I want to see if it is truly that miraculous."
Xiao Yao suspected nothing and immediately unbuckled the Jade Dragon Talisman from his waist. Xiao Tingzi took it and handed it over. Shangguan Yao's hand was as white as if it had no blood. He slowly picked up the Jade Dragon Talisman and gently rubbed it. Indeed, it felt familiar. His body went weak, and he truly had no strength left. It was indeed fake. What should he do now? What should he do? Seeing that the Emperor had not united the Jade Dragon Talisman, Xiao Yao raised his head strangely and slowly spoke, "Your Majesty?"