"Alright, when can you send me back to East Qin?" Yun Xiao brought it up again, a hint of annoyance in her eyes. Ji Qingge turned around and murmured softly, "I'm jealous of him." Yun Xiao couldn't hear his quiet murmur and couldn't help but chase after the figure in front of her, asking loudly.
"Ji Qingge, you're a grown man, muttering to yourself, can you speak louder?"
Ji Qingge was truly speechless. The two of them stood on a long corridor. Outside the corridor, many eunuchs and palace maids were cleaning. Upon hearing the words of Miss Yun and His Highness the Prince of Li, they all fearfully lowered their heads, afraid of getting into trouble. Ji Qingge had already replied.
"I said, this King will handle matters in the next two days, then send you back to East Qin."
By the way, he wanted to see what was so good about that guy that you were so anxious.
However, he didn't dare to speak these thoughts aloud and turned his head to walk towards Huaqing Palace.
Yun Xiao followed him. Hearing that they would leave in the next couple of days, she felt somewhat at ease. She would give him only two or three days. If they didn't leave by then, she would see how she would turn the Prince of Li's mansion upside down.
"Ji Qingge, you'd better keep your word, otherwise I will definitely make you regret bringing me to the Western Liang Kingdom."
The sinister voice sounded from behind. Ji Qingge's scalp tingled. He always felt that this cousin of his seemed to have many hidden skills, not just the surface appearances.
He should deal with court affairs as soon as possible and send her back to East Qin. Moreover, he was more anxious than others because of his father's indecisiveness. He was genuinely afraid that his father would change his mind again.
"Understood."
The two of them smiled and headed towards Huaqing Palace.
In Huaqing Palace, the Empress Dowager had woken up and was murmuring about Yun Xiao. Knowing that the Emperor had summoned Yun Xiao, she was worried that she might suffer any harm. Seeing her return now, she was overjoyed. She kept Ji Qingge to chat for a while.
Ji Qingge had to go to the Ministry of Revenue to handle some procedures, so he left in a hurry.
Yun Xiao talked about leaving with the old Empress Dowager. Although the Empress Dowager was sad, she did not stop her. She held Yun Xiao's hand and said kindly.
"It makes this old Empress Dowager extremely happy that Xiao'er can come and accompany me. Xiao'er, whom I have never taken care of for a single day, can also fulfill this old Empress Dowager's dream. Our Xiao'er is a kind child, and Heaven will surely treat you well."
After speaking, the Empress Dowager took off a string of prayer beads from her neck. Each bead was lustrous and precious. She placed it in Xiao'er's hand.
"These prayer beads were a gift from the late Emperor. They have accompanied this old Empress Dowager for decades. Now they are given to our Xiao'er to bless you with happiness for a lifetime."
Yun Xiao listened to her words, her eyes misting over. She really liked this old Empress Dowager and reached out to hug her.
"Imperial Grandmother, you must take good care of yourself. Xiao'er will visit you when she has time."
The two of them quietly hugged each other. In the main hall of Huaqing Palace, there was a warm atmosphere.
Sunlight streamed in from the palace gate, its luster like water, illuminating every corner of the main hall. Eunuchs and palace maids wiped away tears from time to time.
Within the deep palace, the most lacking thing was familial affection. It was worth it for the Empress Dowager to be treated with sincerity by Miss Yun.
That night.
The evening clouds pressed low, and the moonlight in the sky was somewhat dim. The icy, congealing frost carried the cold moon, capturing the mist and scattering it throughout the entire imperial palace.
On the delicate flowers, layers of white frost flowers formed, looking like a light layer of snow from afar.
The moonlight, white and bright, was as cold as water and as chilling as ice.
In the Mingyue Hall of Huaqing Palace, the clear radiance gleamed, standing majestically in the cold night. The night wind wove through the gaps in the windows, lifting the light gauze in the sleeping chambers, fluttering like moving clouds.
A corner of the smooth wall was inlaid with a coral and glazed lamp, casting a faint red glow that enveloped everything in the hall, as if covered by a thin, flowing veil, hazy and graceful.
Within the dark green gauze curtains, a delicate and lovely girl was sleeping soundly, her limbs wrapped tightly around the brocade silk quilt, sleeping as sweetly as could be.
Suddenly, a thin silver tube extended from the window, emitting wisps of light smoke. Within the smoke, a faint fragrance arose.
The person on the bed opened their eyes abruptly almost at the same time. Holding their breath and concentrating, a coldness hung on their brows, their pupils glinting with bloodthirsty ferocity, and a sinister smile curved their lips.
Someone pushed open the window frame, and a gust of cold wind blew in.
The candlelight in the glazed palace lamps flickered and swayed, barely remaining lit, appearing and disappearing.
Several figures flashed in like lightning, their silver light flashing, striking directly at the person on the bed. The person who had been sleeping peacefully suddenly flipped over, their body moving nimbly and gracefully, like a slippery snake, darting away in the blink of an eye.
She was clad in a white undergarment, her ink-black hair cascading down, a chilling aura emanating from her. Her cold, clear eyes shot out a terrifying, fierce glint. In her hand, a thin, lustrous silver blade, as light as cicada wings, had appeared. She struck directly at the masked person closest to her.
That person was greatly alarmed and took a step back, but still had a small lock of hair shaved off. They no longer dared to be careless.
At this moment, a shout was heard from outside: "Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!"
Several more figures rushed in and directly engaged in a fight with those assassins.
Yun Xiao retracted her hand and stood still in a corner of the sleeping chamber, her arms crossed and her gaze cold as she looked at the people who entered later. The leader was none other than Prince Li, Ji Qingge. Her expression was displeased as she said, "Ji Qingge, aren't you a little late?"
"Heh heh."
Ji Qingge chuckled. He was indeed a bit late. In fact, he wanted to test Yun Xiao's abilities. Seeing it now, it was as he had guessed. Her martial arts were good. He wondered what other skills she possessed.
As Ji Qingge pondered, he swiftly dealt with those assassins. When someone tried to escape, they had no chance. Ji Qingge struck them down with a palm each, leaving one alive as a witness.
However, upon seeing all his companions dead, that person immediately swallowed poison and committed suicide.
The sleeping chamber was in disarray, with the smell of blood filling the air. Ji Qingge waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to clear the bodies.
Almost at the same time, Yun Xiao's body moved. As swift as the wind and as graceful as a floating feather, she struck towards Ji Qingge with a palm, then retreated. Ji Qingge did not move his body, enduring the palm strike. He knew that this girl was angry.
This was what he deserved.
His attending guards were greatly alarmed, their faces filled with anger as they looked at Yun Xiao. "You actually dared to injure His Highness the Prince of Li!"
"Why shouldn't I injure him? This is because I showed mercy out of respect for Imperial Grandmother. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so light."
Yun Xiao smiled coldly, her dark eyes fixed on those guards. The guards were intimidated by the ferocity in her eyes and no longer dared to speak further. They quickly lowered their heads and dragged the bodies out. Then, palace maids from Mingyue Hall entered to clean the floor.
These pitiful maids trembled like fallen leaves in autumn, not daring to lift their heads. They knelt on the ground, wiping away the bloodstains. After the sleeping chamber was cleaned, Yun Xiao waved her hand, signaling the palace maids to leave, then glared at Ji Qingge.
"Get out, I want to sleep."
Ji Qingge touched his nose and left. Perhaps in this world, only this girl dared to treat His Highness the Prince of Li in such a manner. The guards who had dared to shout and protest earlier now didn't even glance at her, directly lowering their heads and leaving.
Everyone knew who was behind the assassin incident. The event caused a stir in Huaqing Palace, even alarming the Empress Dowager, who was frightened. She was only relieved to hear that Yun Xiao was unharmed.