"Come here, all of you."
To prevent eavesdropping, Qingyao spoke with a chilling seriousness. The others were startled, finally sensing something was amiss, and it wasn't just about the new concubine.
"Your Majesty?"
The few people walked to the phoenix seat and looked at Qingyao in unison. Qingyao spoke softly, her voice heavy, articulating each word distinctly.
"The Emperor in the palace is fake."
"What?"
All four gasped simultaneously, their eyes widening as they stared at their mistress. Qingyao looked very serious, indicating the truth of the matter. If the Emperor in the palace was fake, many things would make sense. Then, where was the real Emperor?
Bingxiao couldn't help but speak first, "Then where is the real Emperor?"
"I don't know. Perhaps he fell victim to their scheme. If it's possible, he's not dead yet, so we must find him quickly."
Upon hearing Qingyao's words, Xiao Yu'er's large eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Thinking that her father might have suffered a terrible fate, her heart ached. It seemed they needed to find her father as soon as possible. She reached out and tightly held her mother's hand.
No wonder she had felt her mother's hands were cold earlier. It turned out that at that time, she had discovered that her father was an imposter.
"What do we do now?"
Xiao Yu'er asked anxiously. Qingyao scanned her and spoke gravely:
"Now, we must act as if nothing has happened. We must absolutely not draw their attention.
I've thought it through carefully. This matter probably involves Ximen Xinyue, which is why she's so arrogant.
She's so haughty because she knows that man will get rid of me. That's why she's so full of herself. So, we must keep a close watch on her movements."
"Yes," the others replied in unison, feeling as though the world had lost its color, trembling with fear.
Who would have thought that the Emperor in the palace was fake? Even if they spoke of this, no one would believe them, and it would only bring trouble upon themselves.
"Remember, if anything happens to us, the Emperor will truly have no one to save him. So, we must ensure our own safety first before we can find the Emperor as quickly as possible.
Also, Mochou, you secretly meet Ah Jiu. I suspect he knows something about this. It's just that someone is monitoring him closely, so he can't tell me. Find an opportunity to meet him and ask him to see me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mochou immediately agreed. Qingyao turned to the same side, looked up at Shen Yu, and instructed him, "You quietly leave the palace and meet the Prince of Nan'an. Bring him to the palace to see me tonight. Be sure not to alert anyone else."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shen Yu accepted the order. Bingxiao saw that everyone else had a task and, worried about her mistress's potential danger, spoke with great urgency, "Your Majesty, what about me?"
"You will secretly monitor Ximen Xinyue. Be sure no one discovers you."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Everyone received their orders. Xiao Yu'er, thinking of her father's situation and her own inability to help, felt increasingly disheartened. She quickly raised her voice, "Mother, what about me?"
"As for you, haven't many people come to the palace? Play your part as the arrogant princess well and let them experience the capabilities of Princess Changxian of Da Xian.
Don't forget what your father once said: you are the eldest princess of Da Xian, who are you afraid of? Make a ruckus that turns the palace upside down. This will actually benefit our actions, drawing many eyes to you, which will make our operations much smoother."
"Yes, Mother."
Xiao Yu'er nodded immediately. When it came to dealing with those women, she was far more skilled.
Moreover, she particularly disliked those women. She would make them wish they were dead, one by one. And that fake Emperor, daring to harm her father, she wouldn't let him have an easy time of it either...
Everyone had received their tasks, only Mingyue had nothing to do. Qingyao glanced at Mingyue. Mingyue's medical skills had been fully passed down from Wuqing. He couldn't move for now. If they found the Emperor, they might rely on him next:
"Mingyue, you are not familiar with the palace, so don't act for now. However, once the Emperor is found, we will depend on you."
After Qingyao finished speaking, everyone felt a sense of heaviness in their hearts. They hoped heaven would bless them and that the Emperor would be unharmed, at least that he would be alive. As long as he was alive, everything could be managed. Qingyao waved her hand.
"Alright, let's proceed with the plan."
"Yes," everyone lowered their heads and accepted the order, then dispersed...
Mochou acted first, quickly finding an opportunity to approach Ah Jiu. "Eunuch Ah Jiu, the Empress wishes to see you?"
Qingyao scanned her surroundings and spoke quickly. At this moment, the two stood under a covered corridor. Tall pine trees in the corridor concealed them perfectly. Ah Jiu's eyebrows, as clear as a crescent moon, rose, and a flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes. The Empress knew?
This was truly wonderful. As long as the Empress knew, the Emperor would surely be alright. He quickly whispered, "I understand. You should go back quickly and don't let anyone see you."
"Alright," Mochou replied swiftly and walked away leisurely. After a long while, Ah Jiu finally emerged.
In the evening, the sunset glow was like blood, enveloping the elaborately carved palace walls, and a suffocating sense of oppression spread.
Mochou returned to Fengluan Palace to report to her mistress. Qingyao narrowed her eyes slightly. It seemed Ah Jiu really knew something?
Did he know where the real Emperor was? This meant the Emperor was not harmed. Because the Emperor was not dead, Ah Jiu would be so cautious. If the Emperor were dead, someone as loyal as him would have followed the Emperor to the grave long ago.
Thinking that the Emperor was not dead, Qingyao's heart trembled, and ecstasy overwhelmed her.
She had truly dared not think about what would happen to the Emperor.
Now, it seemed, the Emperor was not dead. Therefore, they must find the Emperor as soon as possible. In whose hands was the Emperor? Shangguan Hao's? Or Ximen Xinyue's? Or did they both know?
In a corner of the Liuli Palace, Ah Jiu, accompanied by the chief eunuch Yao An, whom he had promoted, bypassed others and carefully handed a square brocade box to Yao An, looking at him with a solemn expression.
"Yao An, I have treated you well. Will you do me a favor today?"
Yao An didn't know what had happened. The head eunuch had been acting strangely recently. Furthermore, the Emperor had favored Consort Shu. That consort, emboldened by his favor, had repeatedly made things difficult for the head eunuch, and he had endured it all.
Even when the Emperor knew, he didn't feel sorry for the head eunuch. He knew that the former Emperor had doted on the head eunuch so much. How could such a thing happen now?
"Yes, tell me. Even if it means going through fire and water, Yao An will definitely help you accomplish it." xxs壹贰
Yao An said earnestly. He could eat and dress warmly in the palace because Ah Jiu had taken good care of him, so he had always wanted to repay Eunuch Ah Jiu. Today, since he had something to entrust him with, he would definitely help him complete it.
"Deliver this personally to the Empress. Remember, no matter what happens to me, if you deliver this to the Empress, I will die with no regrets."
Ah Jiu's solemn tone startled Yao An. His face turned pale, and he quickly reached out and grabbed Ah Jiu's hand, his voice even carrying a hint of a sob.