The setting sun slanted in, casting a layer of golden radiance upon the luxurious chamber walls, as if she were living within a gilded birdcage, a forgotten bird.
Suddenly, an urgent thought arose: she wanted to leave the imperial palace, to distance herself from these things that did not belong to her. If she wanted to, she would do it. A confident smile touched her lips; she would arrange everything meticulously, so as not to implicate her parents and brother.
A cool breeze wafted in through the window. Autumn had arrived, and fallen leaves drifted down from the plane trees lining the street.
Cui'er lowered the curtain and said softly, "Your Majesty, do not overthink."
She noticed that her mistress seemed different. After seeing off the Eldest Young Lady, she had been rather dispirited. What had happened? Her Majesty should have been happy for the Eldest Young Lady, after all, she had obtained what she desired.
Although it had been many years, a good ending had finally arrived.
"Return to the palace."
Liu Liu nodded in response. Thinking too much was useless; she was still in the imperial palace, and the Emperor was still watching her with bared teeth.
However, this time, she owed Nangong Yue a great debt for her sister's affairs. As for Feng Xie, it was rare that he did not stop her and even dispatched a carriage to escort her out of the palace.
He hadn't even stopped Nangong Yue from leaving, which suggested that his heart hadn't yet soured to the point of transferring his displeasure with her onto others.
The carriage finally entered the imperial palace before sunset. The young eunuch escorted Liu Liu all the way to the gates of Huaqing Palace.
Cui'er helped Liu Liu alight from the carriage and enter Huaqing Palace. To their surprise, Huaqing Palace was deserted.
It was merely an empty pavilion. Cui'er called out several times but received no response, her scalp prickling with unease. Where had Qiao'er and the others gone? Why was no one there?
A misty dimness clouded Liu Liu's eyes. Something had happened at Huaqing Palace. Her expression suddenly turned cold and sharp. Who dared to lay hands on the people in the palace? Was it the Emperor? Had he merely sent her away today to deal with the people in her palace? It seemed he still suspected her. She lifted her skirt and ascended the stone steps, Cui'er’s voice trembling behind her.
"Your Majesty, where have they all gone?"
The sky had darkened. There was no moon tonight, suggesting another eventful night. Far and near, the sky lacked even a single star, the overcast half-sky shrouded in a hazy mist that swirled around them.
Huaqing Palace, already desolate, was now filled with spectral shadows, silent. Occasionally, a chilling gust of wind would blow, making the treetops howl like ghosts, casting mottled shadows on the palace walls, emitting mournful sounds.
Liu Liu, usually bold and daring, was not particularly afraid, but Cui'er burst into tears, terrified. It was so frightening! They had all disappeared; where had they gone?
The grand hall was plunged into darkness. The wind coursed through the hall, swirling and echoing, making it even more eerie and terrifying. Liu Liu glanced back at Cui'er behind her, wondering what had gone wrong. What was this girl being so secretive about? She spoke softly, "Cui'er, light the palace lanterns. Everything will be alright."
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Cui'er trembled as she went to light the lamps. Liu Liu stood in the darkness, her thoughts gradually clearing. Emperor Feng Xie was not a vulgar and shameless person. Therefore, it must have been a eunuch by his side who leaked the information.
The Emperor suspected her of leaving the palace. Someone had arrested all the people in her palace. But who could it be?
The palace lanterns were lit, and the grand hall instantly became as bright as day. The vast Huaqing Palace was in disarray. These people were so foolish. If she had truly left the palace, would she have left any evidence?
Cui'er walked over, her voice laced with urgency, "Your Majesty, it seems they have been captured by someone. I fear someone among them could not endure it and confessed? Then the matter will be serious."
Liu Liu's complexion was no better. She herself was not afraid, but if this matter were exposed, many people would be implicated. She did not want to harm the Liu family and others.
Therefore, she hoped to find them as soon as possible. Regardless, they should be able to hold on for some time.
Mistress and servant stood in the grand hall, one with a face as cold as frost, the other trembling in fear. Suddenly, a fierce wind flashed by, and Liu Liu swiftly moved and darted out.
In the darkness of the night, a shadow dashed out. Liu Liu returned to the hall and saw a dagger inserted into a vermilion carved dragon pillar.
A note was attached to it. Liu Liu flashed forward, pulled out the dagger, and opened the note. She saw a line of small characters written on it: they were in the Guangyang Palace prison.
Liu Liu's face darkened like ink. Damn Jin Jiali, she didn't know how she got the news to dare to be so audacious as to arrest everyone from Huaqing Palace.
It seemed she couldn't avoid meeting her. Her previous forbearance did not mean she was afraid of her. Since she wanted to fight, then let them fight. In the dim light, a murderous aura flashed around Liu Liu.
"What does it say?" Cui'er saw her mistress's face growing darker, her eyes flashing with a green, fiery light. She couldn't help but shrink her neck, wanting to peek, but not daring to.
"Someone sent me a message. The people of Huaqing Palace are all imprisoned in Jin Jiali's Guangyang Palace dungeon. It seems that after the Emperor met me last night, someone found out some inside information and wanted to dig out some news from the eunuchs and maids of Huaqing Palace. It seems this Jin Jiali has ulterior motives."
After Liu Liu finished speaking, she walked out. Now she had to rescue those eunuchs and maids immediately. If they could not withstand the palace's torture, they would surely reveal that she had left the palace.
Jin Jiali was not frightening. What was frightening was that if Feng Xie became suspicious, he would surely investigate to the end, and then many people would be implicated. Cui'er saw her mistress walking out and quickly trotted to follow, asking cautiously.
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
"Take me to see Jiang Cheng. He must know where the Guangyang Palace prison is. We must rescue them immediately, otherwise, it will be troublesome," Liu Liu's voice was as cold as thin ice in the dark night.
"Alright." Liu Liu didn't know where the chief eunuch Jiang Cheng lived, but Cui'er did. Normally, if there was anything they needed, they would go to him, so Cui'er quickly ran ahead to lead the way.
The chief eunuch Jiang Cheng had an independent pavilion, adjacent to the Three Palaces. Besides him, there were many confidantes in the pavilion, and other young eunuchs served their respective duties, living in the palaces with their masters.
Liu Liu and her servant arrived at Jiang Cheng's residence. The young eunuch guarding the door was dozing at the entrance of the pavilion.
Cui'er snorted. The young eunuch was startled and was about to scold when he looked up and recognized Cui'er, knowing she was someone close to the Empress. He then saw the person beside her; wasn't it the Empress herself? He was so shocked that he immediately knelt down.
"This servant did not know Your Majesty the Empress had arrived. I deserve death."
"Get up. Immediately summon Jiang Cheng for me," Liu Liu waved her hand. The young eunuch nodded repeatedly and ran inside. The commotion at the door had already alerted the people in the pavilion. Many young eunuchs rushed out and knelt on the ground. Jiang Cheng also rushed over quickly upon hearing the report from the young eunuch and bowed respectfully.
"This servant greets Your Majesty the Empress. May I know what Your Majesty the Empress wishes to see this old servant for?"
Liu Liu lowered her head and looked at Jiang Cheng, recalling his consistent care for her. In her eyes, Jiang Cheng was not a eunuch in the imperial palace but an elder. Her face softened, and she spoke in a calm, unhurried tone.
"Jiang Cheng, my eunuchs and maids have disappeared? Someone sent me a message saying they were arrested by people from Guangyang Palace and locked up. Do you know if there is any shortcut to Guangyang Palace's dungeon, a way to get there without alerting Consort Shu?"
Liu Liu did not want to alert the people of Guangyang Palace without evidence. She believed that Jiang Cheng, having been in the palace for so long, must have a way. Indeed, Jiang Cheng paused for a moment and then nodded.