Wanwan, worried about her mistress, dashed back to Jinhua Palace.
Liuxing had just returned and, finding her mistress missing, was about to go look for the two of them. Hearing Wanwan’s breathless words that her mistress had something for him to do, he immediately grabbed Wanwan and headed towards Changxin Palace.
As Liuxing approached, Yunxiao sensed him and peeked out from behind the rockery, waving her hand, "I'm here."
Seeing that her mistress was unharmed, a huge stone in Wanwan’s heart was lifted. However, thinking of how this fellow had carried her around like an object, she couldn't help but cast a fierce glare at him before catching her breath and asking, "Mistress, what did you have him do?"
Yunxiao beckoned with a mysterious expression. Liuxing leaned in close, and she whispered a few words into his ear before waving him off, "Go quickly, the person hasn't left yet. Make sure he doesn't get away."
"Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately." Liuxing vanished in a flash. Meanwhile, Wanwan, unaware of what her mistress had sent Liuxing to do, couldn't help but inquire, "Your Highness, what did you send Liuxing to do?"
Yunxiao glanced at her, seeing the woman's face full of curiosity, her eyes blinking as she waited for an explanation. Yunxiao found it amusing, pouted, and casually said, "Let's go, weren't you going back to sleep?"
With that, she led the way back. Wanwan was stunned, frozen in place as if she had forgotten to move. Yunxiao walked a couple of steps, looked back at her, and smiled faintly, "Isn't it cold anymore?"
Wanwan snapped back to attention, hurried two steps, and caught up with the figure ahead, asking softly.
"Your Highness, please tell me, this can drive a person mad, really."
Yunxiao chuckled twice. In the end, she didn't make it difficult for the girl. As they walked, she whispered, "It's nothing, really. I sent Liuxing to draw someone out. Don't forget there was an assassin incident tonight. What do you think those guards will mistake Liuxing for?"
The two walked lightly towards Jinhua Palace. Since they took a secluded path, there was no worry of being discovered. Wanwan had already familiarized herself with the palace and easily led Yunxiao back to Jinhua Palace.
In fact, what Yunxiao did was very simple: she had Liuxing simply make an appearance in front of Song Yuan, the commander of the guards.
Due to the earlier assassin incident, Song Yuan would be highly vigilant about palace patrols. Seeing someone in the palace, he would definitely pursue them. Liuxing fled all the way to the back of Changxin Palace. Although Song Yuan wouldn't dare to apprehend him directly, he would definitely send guards to surround Changxin Palace.
Then he would report to the Emperor. The Emperor, upon hearing such a matter, would absolutely not stand idly by. Thinking this way, tonight would turn into a son catching his mother in the act, which was quite amusing.
As she thought of this, Yunxiao chuckled. Tonight, she would be able to sleep soundly.
"Your Highness, get some sleep, it's almost dawn."
It was indeed almost dawn. Yunxiao yawned, her eyelids almost sticking together.
Tonight had been a very busy night. She quickly fell asleep, exhausted. Wanwan was also a little tired and laid out bedding on the couch to sleep.
She was different from other servants. When on duty, her mistress allowed her to sleep on the couch, so she wasn't tired when on duty…
Jingfu Palace.
In the sleeping quarters, Xiao Tingzi hurried in. Through the vermilion gauze curtains, the person inside could be faintly seen sleeping, breathing evenly. His dark hair was spread across the embroidered phoenix pillow like spilled ink, accentuating his three-dimensional and distinctive features, his long eyelashes covering his radiant eyes.
Seeing the Emperor sleeping soundly, Xiao Tingzi dared not disturb him.
After hesitating for a moment, he was about to retreat when the on-duty eunuch, kneeling by the golden dragon bed, dozed off. He suddenly opened his eyes, saw Eunuch Ting standing hesitantly by the screen, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"What is it, Eunuch Ting?"
"Nothing," Xiao Tingzi whispered, afraid of waking the Emperor. The Emperor had been sleeping poorly and was in a bad mood lately. Waking him abruptly might not end well.
The two young eunuchs fell silent, glancing back at the person on the bed, not daring to say more.
Xiao Tingzi tiptoed out. After taking a couple of steps, he heard a calm, indifferent voice from the bed, "What is it?"
It turned out the Emperor had been awake all along and had not moved. Since Xiao Tingzi had entered, he must have something to report. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare to disturb his rest. Therefore, Shangguan Yao spoke up to avoid missing anything important.
As soon as Xiao Tingzi heard the Emperor's voice, he hurried in, knelt with a thud, and said cautiously.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Song sent guards to inform that an assassin has intruded into Changxin Palace. However, Changxin Palace is the Empress Dowager's residence, and they dared not act without authorization. They request Your Majesty's decision. Lord Song said he feared the assassin might harm Your Highness."
Shangguan Yao, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly opened his eyes. His dark pupils were unfathomable, a fleeting cold light flashed, and he abruptly sat up. His dark hair cascaded like water onto his shoulders, his face was grim and unsightly, and he spoke in a cold, stern voice.
"Come and help me get up. You scoundrels, if anything happens to the Empress Dowager, you will be held accountable."
The three eunuchs shivered upon hearing this. Xiao Tingzi's legs felt weak, but he still managed to get up and help his master, dressing him in brocade robes and gathering his dark hair with a silk ribbon.
"Let's go."
Shangguan Yao commanded urgently. Xiao Tingzi and the two young eunuchs hurried to follow him as he walked out.
Outside the palace gate, two guards were waiting. As soon as they saw the Emperor emerge, they quickly knelt on one knee, placing one hand on the ground, and respectfully said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Lord Song is waiting over there."
"Go."
With a single command, he was already walking out. His footsteps were steady and powerful, his movements swift. He led the way towards Changxin Palace, not even bothering with a palanquin, fearing something might happen to his mother.
If one were to talk about affection, Shangguan Yao truly had a good relationship with his mother. Although they had disagreements, he never wished for anything to happen to his mother.
Knowing the danger on the other side, he was already anxious, leading a group of people towards Changxin Palace.
In a short while, Shangguan Yao had led a group of people to the outside of Changxin Palace. Two guards led him to a side gate in the northwest corner.
At this moment, a large group of people stood there in silence, completely still, quietly awaiting the Emperor.
Leading them was Song Yuan. Upon seeing Shangguan Yao, he quickly stepped forward, calmly pointed to the high wall in the northwest, and reported in a huster.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the assassin entered from here. This subordinate wanted to go in, but feared alarming the Empress Dowager and incurring her wrath. If I didn't go in, what if the Empress Dowager were harmed?"
Shangguan Yao didn't think much further at this moment. All he worried about was the assassin harming his mother. He waved his hand, his face grim, and commanded, "Why aren't you going in yet? Enter from the high wall."
With that, he leaped over the wall himself.
Song Yuan did not dare to delay and waved his hand, following closely behind the Emperor. The guards entered one after another. What remained were the young eunuchs from Jingfu Palace who couldn't fight, holding unlit lanterns and standing outside.