Qingyao rose, leading Mochou and Bingxiao to their feet. At this moment, a figure clad in bright yellow entered the great hall from outside. Qingyao descended the high platform and slowly bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
A tall figure cast a shadow over her head. Shangguan Hao reached out and gently helped Qingyao to rise, his voice as gentle as flowing water, "Yao'er, please rise."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Qingyao glared at the slender hand on her wrist, forcefully suppressing her impulse. She feared that if she impulsively shook off his hand, she might lose control. Slowly, she subtly withdrew her hand. "Your Majesty, why have you come to Fengluan Palace?"
"Today, the princess's wedding was interrupted, and she was snatched away. Although I was prepared, I never imagined that person would succeed?"
After speaking, the Emperor leaned forward, his body close to Qingyao's. A seductive aura emanated from him. Qingyao remained composed and subtly took a step back, asking with concern, "The princess has been taken. Has Your Majesty not sent people to pursue her?"
"If they wished to leave, how could they be recaptured?"
Shangguan Hao's eyes narrowed. Although this woman appeared calm, it mattered little. He was convinced that only she could accomplish so many things.
He had not forgotten that she held control of Fengchen Palace. To prevent her from colluding with the army again, he had secretly dispatched a general to replace An Dingfeng's position and ordered him to relinquish his military authority.
"Oh."
Qingyao responded with an "Oh" and raised her eyes to look at him. She saw Shangguan Hao's eyes flashing with the ferocity of a storm, lightning, and thunder, his anger rolling in waves.
Qingyao, however, was not afraid of him. Her clear eyes shimmered with brilliance, and she looked at him calmly, revealing nothing of her thoughts.
Because of her composure, the two of them were quite close. She could see some of this man's features more clearly. On his handsome face, at the hairline, a sliver of skin was subtly revealed, not fully integrated with his current appearance.
Thinking this, she realized he was wearing a mask. She wondered how long he had prepared this mask, and it was far inferior to Wuqing's mask from last time, which had been utterly flawless.
"Do you think I truly know nothing of what you have done?"
Shangguan Hao spoke with a dark tone. Seeing that Mu Qingyao remained unfazed, he stepped forward and enunciated each word, "If you stay peacefully within the palace, I will treat you well."
His attempt to lure and deceive made Qingyao almost laugh. To scheme with a wolf and tiger, who could retreat unscathed? She curled her lips and said coldly, "Does Your Majesty think I am Xi Men Xin Yue? Besides, Your Majesty is thinking too much. This concubine is very content now."
"You?"
Shangguan Hao's face contorted in ferocity. It seemed this woman would not yield to either persuasion or force.
Very well, then do not blame him for taking action against her. She should wait. A sinister smile flickered across his face. He stood up straight and slowly said, "That is good. I am tired. Empress, rest assured."
"See Your Majesty out."
Qingyao spoke neither servilely nor arrogantly. She curtsied to see Shangguan Hao off. He left quickly and with urgency, his footsteps clearly heavy. It seemed he was truly anxious, and something unpleasant was likely to happen next.
Qingyao turned to look at Mochou and Bingxiao. "It seems the storm is coming. We can use this storm to our advantage to retreat from the palace."
"Yes, Mistress."
Bingxiao understood her mistress's intentions. She wondered what that man was planning.
"Your Majesty? What about Xiao Yu'er?"
As Mochou finished speaking, Xiao Yu'er rubbed her eyes and walked out of the sleeping quarters. She was unaware that Shangguan Hao had visited and raised her eyebrows in confusion, "What happened to me?"
"Tonight, Bingxiao will escort Xiao Yu'er out of the palace and hand her over to Prince Nan'an. Our current location, the Mu residence, and Prince Nan'an's mansion are likely all under surveillance, so you must be very careful."
"Mother?"
Xiao Yu'er sensed the gravity of the situation and was very worried, unwilling to leave. "I'll stay with you!"
"No, you must stay with your father. I will join you soon. No matter what happens next, do not worry, understand? Because I will emerge unscathed."
Qingyao was afraid that if Xiao Yu'er knew of her movements, she might become anxious and do something she shouldn't.
Qingyao spoke with utmost seriousness. The more Xiao Yu'er became flustered, the more she worried about what might happen, her heart uneasy. "Mother, I want to stay with you."
"You cannot. If you stay, you will only be a burden to me, becoming my weakness. Shangguan Hao will definitely target you first. So, just go out peacefully. I will be fine."
Qingyao's attitude was resolute. Xiao Yu'er dared not say more and could only nod. Moreover, with her adult reasoning, she naturally knew her mother was right. Her martial arts were still very superficial, and she was no match for Shangguan Hao. Remaining would only make her mother vulnerable.
"Alright, Mother, you must be careful." Xiao Yu'er nodded with respect.
If it weren't for the people of the Mu residence, her mother would likely have left with her. For now, she could only remain in the palace. If any suspicion fell upon the Mu family, dozens of them would be immediately imprisoned. That was why her mother dared not make a move.
At night, Mochou and Bingxiao quietly slipped out. As expected, Fengluan Palace was being monitored. However, having experienced countless battles and fought on the battlefield, their vigilance was far higher than that of ordinary people.
The spies could not track them at all. They easily evaded them and successfully left the palace.
Because Mochou was in contact with Shen Yu, she had already learned that the Emperor was not at Prince Nan'an's mansion. Instead, following her mistress's instructions, he had been settled in a place of pleasure by the riverside ten miles east of the city. That was Mochou's home, the place Qingyao had funded and built.
Although those people did not know the Emperor's whereabouts, they immediately helped when they heard he was with the Empress's people. Therefore, even though Shangguan Hao had dispatched many people to monitor the capital's movements, he could not find the Emperor hidden in that pleasure district.
As expected, Prince Nan'an's mansion was under surveillance, and the Mu residence was also being watched. Mochou and Bingxiao moved like shadows, heading directly towards the eastern suburbs.
They soon found a simple and elegant private residence. After a light knock, a voice responded, and the door opened to reveal a civilian woman in her thirties. Upon seeing Mochou, she turned and called inside, "Is it them?"
As the woman finished speaking, Shen Yu walked out from within, nodded, and indicated he was waiting for Mochou and Bingxiao.
Upon seeing them, he quickly nodded. Mochou moved aside. From behind, a little person, exquisitely adorned, emerged – the little princess, with a tall white wolf beside her.
"Shen Yu pays his respects."
Shen Yu stepped forward, intending to bow to the princess. However, Xiao Yu'er had already swiftly rushed forward and hugged Shen Yu's neck, hanging from it. "Brother Shen, I've found you! Is Father well?"
After speaking, she leaned close to Shen Yu's ear and whispered, "Don't be so formal outside."