"So that's how it is." Xingzhu breathed out, tears welling up in her eyes. She had always wondered why her imperial brother, who had doted on her since childhood, had changed.
So, this was it. Her imperial brother still cared about her. She could finally rest easy.
Xingzhu tightly clutched the silver notes in her hand, softly murmuring in her heart, *Imperial Brother, you must return to the palace quickly and kill that damned man.*
Qingyao called out, "Someone, prepare the princess's grand makeup."
"Yes, Your Majesty," the servants and eunuchs from Chang Le Palace outside the hall responded and entered. Others went to notify the etiquette officials and matrons outside the main hall. A group of people walked in.
In an instant, the entire sleeping chamber was filled with people. Some were applying makeup, others were arranging clothing. Everything was orderly, completely unlike her own wedding day.
Back then, it was a chaotic mess, the entire chamber in disarray. She never expected that such a hasty wedding would be a destiny predestined, that after so many twists and turns, they would end up together.
It seemed the old saying was true: what is yours cannot be escaped, and what is not yours cannot be forced.
Qingyao looked at Mo Chou's silhouette, a smile playing on her lips. She and Shen Yu were also a beautiful match. Once the situation stabilized, she would personally preside over Mo Chou's wedding, ensuring she married with great fanfare. If Mei Xin were still here?
Thinking of that maid, her heart still ached, as did the memories of those who had accompanied her. Qingyao's heart was filled with a misty dampness.
She heard Xiao Yu'er's eager voice, "Auntie, you look so beautiful today."
"Mm, thank you, Xiao Yu'er," the two, one big and one small, embraced tightly. Qingyao came back to her senses, smiling at everything around her. Soon, the etiquette official's voice sounded from outside, "The auspicious time has arrived, the auspicious time has arrived! Is the princess ready?"
"Ready, ready," a matron inside replied. The crimson phoenix robe was draped over her. Xingzhu suddenly lifted her head, gazing at Qingyao, and choked out, "Imperial Sister-in-law, thank you. You must both be well?"
She had an inkling that perhaps things were more complicated than she imagined. How could a detestable villain have entered the palace to become her imperial brother, while her imperial brother was outside?
But at this moment, she couldn't afford to think further. Qingyao nodded, "We will be. Everything will be alright."
This meaning was known only to them. The crimson phoenix robe was draped over her again. Her graceful, vibrant red figure walked out, followed by a line of eunuchs and palace maids.
The sleeping chamber soon became quiet. Qingyao did not personally escort her, but merely gazed at the cold, desolate palace and said softly.
"Mo Chou, go to the Mu residence and deliver a message immediately. Be careful, don't let anyone discover you."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Mo Chou responded, then vanished.
In the study of the Mu residence.
Mu Hen looked at Mo Chou with a grave expression, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What did you say?"
Mo Chou knew his master found it hard to believe. The Empress had instructed the Mu family to leave Lin'an City in secret.
His master held a high position, second only to the emperor, controlling many important state affairs. Now, the Empress was asking him to leave the capital. How could his master comprehend this?
Mu Hen's deep, wise eyes fixed on Mo Chou, as if trying to ascertain if the person before him was someone else in disguise.
But after looking closely, she still resembled their own people. If she was genuine, then these words truly came from the Empress. But why would the Empress want them to leave?
"Master, you should leave as soon as possible, or the Mu family might face utter destruction."
Mo Chou wasn't exaggerating. She feared such an event might happen soon, so it was best for her master to leave quickly. If he delayed, all the members of the Mu family would be thrown into prison.
"What happened?"
Mu Hen finally sensed that something must have occurred. Otherwise, his daughter wouldn't have asked him to leave out of the blue. And this matter was likely not a minor one.
Mo Chou lightly walked out of the study, glanced around, and confirmed that the servants outside the study were all far away. She then turned back to her master's side and whispered, "The emperor in the palace is fake."
"Fake?"
Mu Hen exclaimed, then immediately fell silent. What astonishing news was this? Someone dared to impersonate their Xian Yue emperor. Who could be so audacious and reckless?
It was one thing for the Prince of Nan'an to impersonate the emperor before, but now another person had appeared to impersonate the emperor. Good heavens, Mu Hen clutched his chest, unsure how to react.
He truly didn't know how to respond. However, even if the emperor in the palace was fake, why was Yao'er so eager for their Mu family to leave the capital?
"Did Yao'er discover the fake emperor, and so the fake emperor is preparing to deal with the Mu family?"
Mu Hen lowered his voice and asked. Mo Chou nodded. In any case, the matter was more or less like that. To elaborate further would involve too many intricacies and would likely cause significant delays. It was better to let him think as he did.
"Yes, Master. Therefore, the Empress wishes for you to secretly dismiss the household servants and lead the people of the residence to quietly leave Lin'an City."
"So that's how it is," Mu Hen slumped weakly onto a nearby chair.
Thinking that the man in the palace was a fake emperor, yet he imitated the emperor's domineering and cold aura so perfectly, even his methods of handling affairs were similar. Who could achieve this?
And where was the real emperor? This was the crucial point. Mu Hen immediately reacted and quickly asked, "Where is the real emperor?"
"He is outside. The Emperor was injured and will return after a period of recuperation. So, Master, you just need to go out and hide for a while. Once you leave, the Empress will arrange a place for you. The Empress will also leave the palace then, and we will meet outside."
"Alright, I will find a way."
The arrow was already on the bowstring; it had to be fired. It seemed they really needed to leave.
Mo Chou remembered the Tai Pu Si Qing, Zhao family, and quickly reminded her master, "And the Zhao family. You must notify them as soon as possible and persuade them to leave together. Otherwise, they will be implicated later."
"I know. You should go back now. Be careful."
Mu Hen waved his hand, supporting his head with one hand. This matter truly required time to digest. Mo Chou knew her master understood the gravity of the situation. Therefore, she accepted the order and left, returning to the palace to report.
Meanwhile, Hua Li Ge, who had been imprisoned in Lin'an Mansion by the Emperor, was also rescued by Lin Simiao and others. Following that, dozens of elite personnel from Feng Chen Palace accompanied Hua Li Ge to seize the imperial carriage.
Under the bright, scorching sun, the streets were crowded with people, everyone craning their necks to get a look.
The princess's magnificent carriage was seen slowly approaching. Today, the imperial guards escorting the royal carriage numbered over a thousand, along with a large number of dowry items. This indicated that the Emperor intended to heavily rely on Marquis Yong Ning.
Not only was a princess married off, but so much dowry was also provided. The streets and alleys buzzed with discussion. The declining Ruan family was finally making a comeback. The capital was indeed a place of shifting fortunes and rapid changes.