Riying received the order, flipped off his horse, and walked up to Zhao Jiu, reaching out to help him up. He spoke in a deep voice, "The Emperor decrees that you shall return to the palace immediately and have your official position reinstated."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress," Zhao Jiu said respectfully, tears welling up and falling to the ground. Now he finally had the face to see his blind mother. His mother had almost died of anger upon hearing about him, and she still wasn't speaking to him.
Riying mounted his horse again, and the carriage slowly entered the city, heading towards the imperial palace.
Upon entering the palace, Feng Xie and Liu Liu went directly to Yongyuan Hall. Since Mu Xing and Cui'er lived in Yongyuan Hall, Liu Liu hadn't seen her son for some time and missed him dearly. Wondering how he was doing, she hurried into Yongyuan Hall with Feng Xie.
Yongyuan Hall was deathly silent. In the vast hall, eunuchs and palace maids knelt on the ground. Prince Yan, Feng Lie, sat on the left, and the Empress Dowager, with faces full of anger, glared coldly at the multitude of servants on the floor.
Feng Xie and Liu Liu walked in, glanced at everyone, and spoke calmly.
"What is going on?" a magnetic, cold voice rang out. Everyone was startled. Feng Lie quickly stood up, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress."
Seeing that the Emperor and Liu'er had returned safely, Feng Lie and the Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. Someone had already reported the events in Yueyang City at top speed.
Everyone was overjoyed to see the Emperor and Empress return, but their expressions turned pale the next moment because the Crown Prince, upon hearing about what happened in Yueyang, had disappeared.
Hearing the Emperor's words, the eunuchs and palace maids dared not utter a sound, fearing that a single extra word would cost them their heads. However, they couldn't remain silent.
Liu Liu saw everyone's solemn expressions and felt a vague sense of unease. Looking at Cui'er, who knelt at the front, she saw her face etched with sorrow, her eyes red and swollen. Cui'er's side was empty; Mu Xing was nowhere in sight. Liu Liu immediately walked over, pulling Cui'er up.
"Where is the Crown Prince?"
"Your Majesty, it is all this servant's fault. The Crown Prince has disappeared. This servant deserves death." Cui'er lowered her head sadly, afraid to look into her mistress's eyes. Her mistress's face was so pale; she couldn't imagine how this news would affect her.
As soon as Cui'er finished speaking, Liu Liu's body swayed a few times, and she slowly collapsed. Feng Xie cried out and rushed forward to embrace her. The kneeling crowd roared, "How could the Crown Prince disappear when he was safe in the palace?"
"Reporting to Your Imperial Brother, the Crown Prince must have been very worried about Your Majesty and the Empress upon hearing about the events in Yueyang City, so he left the palace."
Feng Lie spoke with remorse. Who would have thought that a six-year-old child like the Crown Prince would run away from the palace? It was beyond anyone's imagination. However, it was impossible for the Crown Prince to leave the palace alone. It was a palace maid named Ye Nu who took him out of the palace. Ye Nu was Zhang Xiuyi's personal maid. Her purpose in doing so was self-evident; it would surely be detrimental to the Crown Prince. This was what everyone was most worried about.
"Speak, who took him out?" Feng Xie asked in a deep voice, his eyes shining with a faint glow. Mu Xing couldn't have left the palace alone; someone must have taken him out.
"A maid named Ye Nu, who was originally Zhang Xiuyi's personal maid. Taking the Crown Prince out of the palace this time must have ulterior motives. I have already dispatched people to pursue them, and we will surely find the Crown Prince."
Feng Lie reported the entire incident to the Emperor, awaiting his imperial brother's punishment. Feng Xie no longer had the energy to punish anyone. Liu'er could not withstand any more blows. He looked up and ordered the eunuch Xiao Wanzi, "Fetch the imperial physician immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Wanzi immediately went out to summon the imperial physician. The imperial physician soon arrived, proceeding with extreme caution, not daring to make the slightest mistake. Yongyuan Hall had become a forbidden zone; imperial physicians who entered had either died or been injured. When everyone heard that someone was being summoned here, they all turned ashen and trembled with fear, so it was whoever's turn had to go.
The imperial physician examined the pulse and could not help but show signs of joy, kneeling down. He repeatedly congratulated, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress is with child, but her body is too weak."
"What? The Empress is with child?" As soon as these words were uttered, the entire hall buzzed with excitement. The Empress Dowager hurried over, taking Liu Liu's hand and saying repeatedly, "That's wonderful, wonderful! It's finally time for another child. The more branches the imperial family has, the better."
Prince Yan, Feng Lie's eyes dimmed. Although his heart was bitter, he was still happy for his imperial brother. He stood up to offer his congratulations. Feng Xie was beaming. Although Mu Xing was missing, with that young man's abilities, he was not someone who could be easily dealt with. It was likely that anyone who tried to deceive him would not fare well. However, his heart was still deeply uneasy. Feng Xie looked at Feng Lie.
"Immediately dispatch more men to search for the Crown Prince with all your might. And it must be done secretly. Do not cause a stir, as the Crown Prince's danger will be even greater. Moreover, that Ye Nu is a spy. She is likely seeking revenge for her master and is taking orders from Lou Sijing. May Mu Xing not fall into that woman's hands."
"Alright, I will immediately send out more men," Feng Lie said, preparing to leave. Feng Xie called out, "Let Yue Ying go."
"Yes, my lord," Yue Ying responded, receiving the order and going out to handle the matter. With the Crown Prince missing, how could the Empress be at ease? He had to find the Crown Prince as quickly as possible.
When Liu Liu woke up and learned that she was pregnant, she was overjoyed. However, upon thinking that Mu Xing was missing, she became restless. The Emperor, fearing she would sneak out to find Mu Xing, had people watch over her. The person watching over her was Zhao Jiu. As soon as Zhao Jiu saw the Empress, he immediately bowed to her to express his gratitude.
"This servant thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Liu Liu looked faintly at her pink fingernails and said softly, "Zhao Jiu, since I have shown you great kindness, if I were to say that I wish to go out and search for the Crown Prince, would you not report it to His Majesty?"
Upon hearing the Empress's words, Zhao Jiu cautiously looked up. He saw that the Empress was looking down, playing with her slender fingers, her demeanor languid and casual, maddeningly enchanting. Zhao Jiu cursed himself inwardly, resolving that from now on, he would only guard the Empress with all his heart and forbidden any other thoughts.
"Your Majesty's body has not yet fully recovered. When Your Majesty's health has improved, this servant will accompany Your Majesty out of the palace to search for the Crown Prince."
Liu Liu had not held much hope, but she was unexpectedly pleased when Zhao Jiu agreed. She immediately looked up and smiled with satisfaction, waving her hand, "I understand. You may go."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Zhao Jiu respectfully withdrew.
Ten days later, the weather was clear. Liu Liu felt it was time to leave the palace to search for her son. She quietly instructed Hong Xiu to pack a bag, called for Zhao Jiu, and left the palace in the dead of night. This was a good opportunity to leave the palace because His Majesty was resting in Yongyuan Hall tonight. By the time he discovered her absence tomorrow morning, she would already be far away.
Zhao Jiu accepted the order and made all the necessary preparations.
Night fell, and the moonlight was bright. Behind the cold palace, the rows of phoenix trees appeared exceptionally clear, as if washed by water. Dewdrops, crystalline, hung on the lush grass at the foot of the palace walls. Three figures quietly and swiftly moved towards the rear, leaping outwards. A carriage was parked beneath the inner palace wall.
As the three figures landed, they heard the faint sound of a falling leaf. A figure descended gracefully. In the moonlight, Riying, dressed in a dark blue robe, stood tall beside the carriage.
"Zhao Jiu, what's going on? How did this fellow know?" Liu Liu's face darkened, her pupils dim, and she shot Zhao Jiu an accusing glance. Zhao Jiu lowered his head, unsure how this persistent figure had appeared. "Your Majesty, this subordinate does not know how he appeared."
Riying crossed his arms and said calmly, "When Your Majesty summoned him to Weiyang Palace, I knew something was amiss. As expected, my prediction was correct."