Fu Ning was gone.
Finally, they reached an agreement.
Tonight, arrangements would be made for Long Ziyue and Prince Ding to leave first.
However, two people leaving together would be too conspicuous, and it might not be easy.
Feng Wuya understood this point, but as Fu Ning had said, once one person escaped, the entire imperial palace would immediately enter a state of absolute and strict defense.
It would not be easy for the remaining people to leave.
He wondered if Fu Long and Long Ziyue could safely take them away...
Feng Wuya didn't have the spare thoughts to ponder this matter, because Long Tianliu had arrived.
She came with a table full of delicacies from the Northern Underworld Kingdom.
However, as soon as she arrived, not only Long Tianliu but also Consort An clearly frowned.
Consort An said calmly, "It is said that His Highness dislikes being served by maids. Therefore, no maids were arranged around this sleeping chamber. Could it be that a disobedient maid trespassed and disturbed His Highness's peace?"
Feng Wuya didn't know why she asked, and casually replied, "No."
Consort An's expression changed slightly, and she looked at Long Tianliu.
Long Tianliu's face was also a little somber.
There was a woman's scent in the room.
The person had likely left not long ago, and the scent had not yet dissipated.
Most people wouldn't notice, but Long Tianliu and Consort An were both peak experts, and they knew immediately upon smelling it.
The逍遥王爷 (Xiaoyao Prince) was lying.
Indeed, his intentions were impure.
Consort An was about to say something, but Long Tianliu had already said indifferently, "Wuya, I have ordered people to prepare dishes from the Northern Underworld Kingdom. Would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?"
Feng Wuya was naturally unwilling, but if he could keep Long Tianliu here, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
At least, it could buy more time for Fu Long and Long Ziyue to escape.
He said faintly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
This was the first time Feng Wuya had willingly shown affection towards her.
But Long Tianliu didn't feel the slightest bit happy.
The逍遥王爷 (Xiaoyao Prince) was truly a pure and clean person, someone one would not bear to harm.
He didn't have many schemes.
His willingness to share dinner with her just showed that he had other intentions in his heart.
Long Tianliu glanced at Consort An, who then bowed and said, "Then, I shall not disturb Your Majesty and His Highness's meal."
Consort An wanted to leave.
Feng Wuya, uncharacteristically, said, "Won't Consort An join us?"
Consort An turned back and looked at him, her gaze carrying a hint of killing intent: "Your Highness, perhaps you should focus on serving His Majesty!"
His desire to keep them here further proved that there would be unusual activity in the imperial palace tonight.
Consort An turned and left.
Feng Wuya knew he had revealed something, but at this point, he could only remain silent.
He could not control what was happening outside.
During the meal, he remained silent, as quiet as usual.
However, his unease and distraction could not be hidden from Long Tianliu, who possessed a pair of sharp eyes.
After the meal, Long Tianliu suddenly asked, "Does Wuya wish for me to stay and accompany you?"
Feng Wuya was slightly stunned, knowing that her words definitely had another meaning.
But he was not good at guessing others' thoughts. For so many years, although he was born in the imperial palace, he had never participated in the power struggles of the royal family.
He was not qualified to match wits with the Empress.
Feng Wuya put down his cup and finally said with a cold face, "Please, Your Majesty, return to rest early."
Long Tianliu's action of putting down her chopsticks was a bit heavy.
She looked at Feng Wuya, her eyes unfathomable, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking at this moment.
"Do you know that I truly like you?"
Feng Wuya remained silent, turning his face away, not looking at her.
Long Tianliu continued, "Do you also know what terrible things I have done and how many people who harbored ill intentions towards me I have killed to become Empress?"
"I am not destined to live long. If Your Majesty likes my life, you may take it."
Feng Wuya stood up, his back to her.
At this point, she must have known about his meeting with Fu Ning.
Since that was the case, why continue to pretend? He was simply incapable of lying.
He was just anxious that he hadn't been able to notify Fu Long, and the plan had changed.
Tonight, the imperial palace guards would likely be even stricter than usual.
It would probably be difficult to have Long Ziyue and Prince Ding leave together.
He wondered if Fu Long and the others would be in danger.
"Heh." Long Tianliu also stood up and finally gave him a deep look.
"You are indeed the most special man I have ever met. It's a pity, such a pity."
After saying "a pity" twice, she turned and left.
...Tonight, there was indeed unusual activity in the imperial palace.
Long Ziyue had escaped.
"Your Majesty, Prince Ding..."
Consort An's face was somber, and she whispered, "To help Princess Pingyue escape, Prince Ding... died."
Originally, they could have caught all those people in one go, but they hadn't expected Prince Ding to risk his life to allow Long Ziyue to escape.
Consort An clenched her palm tightly: "They have been in the Dragon Ascending Kingdom for less than ten days, yet they already know everything about the palace! Your Majesty, these people cannot be underestimated!"
Long Tianliu, sitting behind the desk, did not speak, her expression calm.
Consort An added, "Your Majesty, it was Prince Xiaoyao who colluded with them from the inside. This person cannot be kept!"
"I have sealed his acupoints. What can he do?"
"The Eldest Princess has had no intention of dealing with the people from Prince Ding's mansion these past few days. If that were not the case, their people would not have been so arrogant as to mobilize troops to cooperate with Long Ziyue."
"Your Majesty!" Consort An looked at her earnestly, "You and the Eldest Princess have been divided by Feng Wuya during this period! Otherwise, if the Eldest Princess had been watching the people in the Prince's mansion, how could Long Ziyue have succeeded in returning?"
All of this was because of Feng Wuya.
Even though he seemed to have done nothing, what he had done was to destroy the trust between His Majesty and the Eldest Princess.
What he had done was enough!
"Your Majesty, as long as this person continues to live, you and the Eldest Princess will never reconcile! Your Majesty, you are in a period where you need people, and you absolutely cannot have any estrangement from the Eldest Princess!"
Consort An knelt down, both anxious and angry.
Finally, she said piously, "Your Majesty, please issue an edict to have Prince Xiaoyao put to death! As soon as he dies, the Eldest Princess will give up. The Eldest Princess is a smart person, and she will return to Your Majesty's side."
Long Tianliu's five fingers holding the brush slowly tightened.
Consort An continued to persuade, "Not decisive when one should be, the heart will surely be in chaos! Your Majesty, please issue an edict to have Prince Xiaoyao put to death!"
Feng Wuya was merely a prince without power or influence. Even if he died in the Dragon Ascending Kingdom, even if the King of the Northern Underworld Kingdom was angry, they would not truly go to war with them for a useless prince.
But if Feng Wuya's life were spared, the Eldest Princess and His Majesty could never truly reconcile.
A beautiful man causing trouble, Feng Wuya must die!
The sleeping chamber was indescribably quiet.
After an unknown amount of time, suddenly, with a snap, the brush in Long Tianliu's hand was forcefully broken.
She said indifferently, "Then... bestow poisoned wine."