In the grand hall, the handsome Emperor's face was grim, his expression inscrutable.
Senior disciple, I never imagined you hid so deeply. Did Master know your true identity? He must have, but why did he conceal it from me? I only hope you haven't done anything to displease me, or I will never forgive you.
In the morning, the air was moist and cool, a light mist shrouding the entire Glazed Palace. Flowers drifted as lightly as dreams. Before the courtyard, leaning on the curved balustrade, the chrysanthemums of early autumn had bloomed, some still in bud. There were the fine, needle-like dragon-claw shapes, and the lotus shapes, all with graceful postures. Reds, yellows, greens, and purples intertwined, a truly beautiful sight.
Outside the palace doors, several people were gathered, their voices interspersed with conversation.
"This is terrible! Eunuch Chunhan disappeared last night! What are we going to do?"
The speaker was Xiao Tian, Chunhan's chief eunuch. He now looked at the surrounding junior eunuchs with great anxiety. The crowd was at a loss and began to murmur.
The noise from outside was too loud, reaching the grand hall from afar. Mochou, having just finished her martial arts practice, walked over from behind, speaking with displeasure.
"What's all this clamor? Don't you know the Consort hasn't risen yet?"
The Consort also liked to rise early for morning practice, but ever since entering the palace, she had not had a moment's peace, sleeping very late every day. Thus, she couldn't practice with Mochou in the mornings. Every day, only Mochou practiced alone in the garden for a while.
Upon seeing Mochou, all the eunuchs trembled in fear. Mochou was the Consort's personal maid, holding a noble position. They dared not speak carelessly.
Mochou glared at them coldly. Just as she was about to leave, she saw the leading eunuch hesitate, as if wanting to speak but then suppressing it. This struck her as somewhat strange, and she spoke indifferently, "What is it?"
Hearing Mochou's inquiry, Xiao Tian didn't delay. He quickly stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Aunt Mochou, Chief Eunuch Chunhan is missing. I haven't seen him since last night. I'm worried he's encountered some trouble, which is why I'm in a panic. Please inform the Consort?"
"Chunhan is missing?"
Mochou was a little surprised. How could Chunhan disappear out of the blue? Nothing had happened in the palace recently. How could a living person just vanish?
While Mochou was bewildered, she felt a restless stirring in her heart. She couldn't quite explain it. She turned and glanced at the eunuchs.
"I know. I will inform the Empress later. You all cease your whispering; disturbing the Consort's rest will be your responsibility?"
"Yes, Aunt Mochou."
The junior eunuchs responded respectfully and dispersed. Mochou slowly ascended the stone steps and entered the grand hall.
In the sleeping quarters, Mu Qingyao had just woken. Meixin was attending to her mistress as she got up, and Bingxiao stood by, waiting. The sleeping quarters were very quiet. As Mochou entered, several pairs of eyes looked at her all at once, causing her to raise her eyebrows curiously. "What is it?"
Mu Qingyao turned her head and shifted her gaze to the bronze mirror. She gently touched the white magnolia on her temple, carved from jade, delicate and exquisite. With eight petals, it was elegant and fresh, pinned to her temple, adding a touch of softness.
"What has happened?" Mu Qingyao asked casually without turning around. Mochou paused, thinking how sharp her mistress's senses were, how nothing escaped her gaze. With this thought, she stepped forward and spoke with a slightly heavy heart.
"Consort, Chief Eunuch Xiao Tian just reported that Chunhan, the Chief Eunuch of Fengluan Palace, is missing."
"Chunhan is missing?" Mu Qingyao stopped her movements and turned around abruptly, a sharp, cold glint flashing in her clear, transparent eyes.
"When did he go missing?"
"Xiao Tian said he hadn't seen him since last night. He was afraid something had happened to him, so he wanted to report it to you. Then he saw me and reported it to me."
As Mochou explained the events, everyone's faces turned cold. The sleeping quarters fell silent, without a single sound.
Mu Qingyao remained motionless for a long time, a thoughtful expression on her face, her eyes dark and stern.
Chunhan's disappearance was clearly the Empress Dowager's doing.
Chunhan was originally someone close to the Empress Dowager. After so many events, Chunhan had not reported to the Empress Dowager. It must be that the Empress Dowager was very angry, so she sent someone to capture Chunhan.
However, she was very curious. Who could easily abduct someone from Fengluan Palace? Chunhan did possess some martial arts skills, although not high. Ordinary people could not deal with him.
This indicated that the person who took him must be a highly skilled martial artist. Who was this person? The Empress Dowager actually had such a person hidden by her side. No wonder she was so brazen.
"Bingxiao, can I ask for a favor?"
Mu Qingyao spoke tactfully. Bingxiao did not belong to Fengluan Palace, nor was she Mu Qingyao's person; she was the Emperor's person. Therefore, Mu Qingyao addressed her with the tone of an equal, requesting her assistance.
A flash of startled astonishment crossed Bingxiao's charming and delicate face, and she quickly replied, "Please instruct me, Consort."
"Chunhan must be in the Guangyang Palace's torture chamber. And the fact that Chunhan could be taken away so silently means that the Empress Dowager must have a highly skilled person hidden by her side. I'm afraid Mochou alone cannot deal with him. Can you lure that person away tonight? This way, Mochou can rescue him."
Bingxiao was momentarily stunned by the Consort's words. She hadn't expected the Consort to confront the Empress Dowager for a mere servant. This action was somewhat admirable. "Consort, you can directly go to Guangyang Palace and demand his release."
"Since she captured him, she certainly won't hand him over. And I have no concrete evidence, so how can I search Guangyang Palace? If I search and she moves him, then I will have lost."
After Mu Qingyao finished speaking, Bingxiao was somewhat dazed. Everyone in this palace was more cunning than the last.
The Empress, the Empress Dowager, both were formidable figures. And those un-enfeoffed imperial concubines were probably not easy to deal with either. It was said that among the imperial concubines, one was the daughter of General Ximen.
General Ximen was still the Protector of the Nation, valiant in both literary and martial arts. His daughter was likely no ordinary person.
As the Emperor's hidden guard, Bingxiao would rather roam the streets and alleys than be in this deep palace, engaging in battles of wits and courage. A single misstep could lead to utter destruction.
"Alright, your subordinate will act with Mochou tonight."
Since the Empress Consort had commanded it, she naturally would not refuse. Although this was not her business, simply because the Consort had used the word "please," she found it difficult to decline.
"Mochou, tonight, Bingxiao will lure that person away, and you will enter the torture chamber to rescue him."
Mochou nodded, but then a practical problem came to mind: "Consort, I don't know where the torture chamber in Guangyang Palace is located."
"You should ask Chief Eunuch Xiao Tian about this. He has been in the palace for so many years; every palace has a torture chamber. He should know. Have him draw you a diagram. Also, if Chunhan is not in the Guangyang Palace torture chamber tonight, you two should return immediately."