"Alright, I will find a way. Your Highness, do not worry. Since someone has entered the palace, it will only be a matter of one or two days before you are out. This servant will send a letter to the Empress, you just wait."
After Ping An finished speaking, she turned and walked out, secretly figuring out how to meet the Empress. She was truly unable to move freely. She had tried to leave before.
However, eunuchs were always following behind her. She knew they were Lord Ye's subordinates. Lord Ye possessed a group of highly skilled experts. If she rashly went to find the Empress, she would surely expose herself.
Ping An did not know that Yun Xiao was always vigilant. She had already noticed Yun Xiao's previous actions and knew that Murong must be inside Changxin Palace.
Moreover, she also knew that Ping An would definitely try to help Murong, which was why she hesitated to speak.
Therefore, she immediately dispatched Liu Xing and summoned Shangguan Lin and Yi Yu Xuan into the palace, secretly concealing themselves within the palace, awaiting her command.
Inside Jinhua Palace, Yun Xiao leaned back on the soft couch, closing her eyes to rest. In reality, she was contemplating how to rescue Murong.
The afternoon sun streamed in from outside the palace doors, casting a golden glow across the floor. The light reflected off the antiques filling the hall, making it appear even more luxurious.
A tall and handsome figure walked in from outside the palace doors. The shouts of eunuchs and palace maids were heard: "Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty is well."
"Rise."
With a voice as gentle as flowing water, one unfamiliar with him would assume him to be a refined and gentle gentleman. Yun Xiao, who knew his true nature, disdainfully curled her lips.
She truly despised this man. He was afraid of death and was despicable and shameless. She truly didn't know how Lord Ye Qing Tian had raised his son.
To have such a brazen, ambitious, greedy for glory, and cowardly individual, yet still appear so handsome.
The tall figure passed through the light and entered the main hall. He scanned the surroundings and slowly walked up to Yun Xiao. Images of her lively eyes and her charming smiles surfaced in his mind.
If he had previously thought she was a man, Leng Yue, he would have been moved.
Now that he knew she was his Empress, he was determined to strive for her. As long as she handed over the Jade Dragon Talisman and gave him the antidote.
Then he would surely grant her the position of Empress of Dong Qin and restore the Yun family's status, allowing their family to control half of Dong Qin's military power.
Shangguan Yao, with his plans in mind, slowly sat down beside Yun Xiao.
Yun Xiao suddenly opened her eyes. Her dark pupils were icy and her bone-chilling gaze was filled with disgust as she looked at this shameless man. He had truly come to her with this act.
Shangguan Yao completely ignored the expression on her face. He reached out and took Yun Xiao's hand, speaking with deep affection and tenderness, like a gentle spring breeze.
"Yun Xiao, if you help me, you will forever be the Empress of Dong Qin. No one else is worthy of this position but you. Moreover, I will restore the reputation of the Yun Royal Mansion and allow Lord Yun to control half of Dong Qin's military power. What do you say?"
Yun Xiao's expression darkened. She suddenly stood up, moving away from his proximity. She calmly took out a five-colored silk handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her hand, which Shangguan Yao had touched, repeatedly. She then said with a forced smile, her lips not quite reaching her eyes.
"Your Majesty, it's best to leave this precious position to someone else. I fear you have bacteria on your hands, bacteria in your mouth, and bacteria all over your body."
Yun Xiao's gaze swept from his eyes down, filled with disdain and contempt. With a flick of her hand, she elegantly left the main hall.
Behind her, Shangguan Yao's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected this woman to be so intractable. He couldn't help but rise in anger and shout, "Yun Xiao?"
Yun Xiao stopped and looked back. Her expression was as cold as ice from a deep pool dug three feet deep, chilling to the bone. She said word by word.
"Your Majesty, if you have the mood, it would be better to think about how to give me an explanation. Don't forget, after tonight is the time for handover. Otherwise, you wait to be deposed, then arrested and beheaded."
"Yun Xiao, if that day truly comes, I will definitely drag you down with me."
Yun Xiao suddenly laughed, a triumphant and nonchalant laugh.
"Shangguan Yao, don't you think it's ridiculous? Saying such things only makes you look like a clown. It's better to think about what you should be doing, not this nonsense that wastes time."
This time, she left without looking back and went into her sleeping quarters, leaving Shangguan the Emperor alone in the main hall. His face turned from dark to ashen, from ashen to white, and finally, he became like a madman, smashing things in the hall to vent his anger.
Why was this woman willing to help that man, Murong Chong, but unwilling to help him? Could it be that that man was truly that good?
Shangguan Yao's anger grew as he thought about it. After smashing a few more things, he angrily left the main hall of Jinhua Palace.
He still had to think about how to hand over the person tomorrow to exchange for the Jade Dragon Talisman and the antidote. Now he could feel his internal energy draining. If this continued, he might truly become a cripple.
At night, the moon was absent, and it was pitch dark. Countless stars were densely scattered, and faint points of light cascaded down from the sky, illuminating the carved beams and painted corridors of the imperial palace.
Within the imperial palace, under the intricately carved corridors and between the pavilions, the glazed palace lanterns emitted a vivid glow, clearly illuminating the area ten feet around. One by one, they connected and intersected, creating a clear and distant view from afar.
There were faint sounds of palace attendants and eunuchs walking, all moving lightly and silently, making no sound.
The imperial palace, like a place with no people.
Several faint shadows moved swiftly, flashing into Qingfeng Pavilion.
Outside the door of Qingfeng Pavilion, eunuchs and palace maids were guarding. Suddenly, a few tiny stones, carried by the wind and rain, shot through, instantly knocking out several people. Then someone flashed out and deftly arranged the unconscious palace attendants and eunuchs in sitting or sleeping positions.
At this moment, a voice like flowing water sounded from the sleeping quarters.
"You've arrived."
"Yes." The people outside flashed in. It was Yi Yu Xuan and Shangguan Lin, who had received the message. Behind them were their guards. The group of several people silently entered the sleeping quarters.
Inside the sleeping quarters, the light was dim. Standing under the lamp was a person with three thousand raven-black tresses, simply tied up on her head.
A small, bright red flower was pinned by her temple, like a small cluster of red clouds, dyeing the ink-like clouds. Her skin was like congealed fat, her delicate eyebrows slightly raised, her eyes like cold stars. Standing by the table, she was like an exiled immortal in the wind, serene and elegant, graceful and moving.
A layer of cold light emanated from her, as if covered by a layer of blue gauze. In her cold elegance, a murderous intent was brewing.
Behind her stood three other people, tall and composed, their handsome features also immersed in the dim lamplight, all looking over.
Shangguan Lin and Yi Yu Xuan paused for a moment before quickly regaining their senses and walking to Yun Xiao.
"Found (Imperial Brother) Palace Master."
"Yes. If I guess correctly, he should be in Changxin Palace. We will go there now. There is someone who knows where he is imprisoned. I think she will tell us."
Yun Xiao slightly turned her head, her eyes gazing at the candlelight on the table. In her pupils, as dark as midnight, the light danced, appearing alluring and chillingly cold.
Everyone remained still, listening to her orders.
"Liu Xing, here are two packets of medicine. Put one in Consort Lü Zhaoyi's tea in Jiaofang Palace, and the other in Consort Liu Zhaoyuan's tea in Jiaofang Palace. These two women must be eliminated. I want to cut off Shangguan Yao's retreat, leaving him unable to make a move."