Murong Chong spoke as if nothing had happened, "It's fine, I was given the Hua Gong Dan."
"She administered it."
She should have been choked to death just now, that damned woman, but time was of the essence now and they couldn't afford to think further.
"Let's go."
Yun Xiao spoke, but as she passed Ping An, she raised her hand and struck. Ping An's body went limp, and Yi Yuxuan reached out and caught her. Yun Xiao calmly commanded, "Take her out, lest she invite trouble."
"Yes."
The three left the Buddhist hall and placed Ping An beside the Empress Dowager. With swift movements, they exited the sleeping quarters.
At the palace gate, as soon as Zhui Yue and the others saw their mistress, they were overcome with emotion, their eyes filled with tears. However, seeing the mistress's uncharacteristic expression, they anxiously inquired, "Palace Master, how are you?"
"I'm fine, let's go."
The group began to walk out. They had intended to leave through the side gate as usual, but suddenly they heard shouts from outside: "Assassins! Assassins! Murder! Murder!"
"Not good," Yun Xiao and Yi Yuxuan exchanged glances. It was clear that the people they had killed at the side gate earlier had been discovered. They should leave through the back gate. With that thought, they led their group to slip towards the rear. Murong pulled Yun Xiao along, while Yi Yuxuan provided rear protection.
Now that Murong was weak and had lost all his internal energy, he had no offensive capability. Bringing him out was not an easy task.
Yun Xiao frowned in thought and quickly took out a detoxification pill from her怀. Although this pill could not cure all poisons, it should be somewhat useful, and it did not conflict with any other medications.
"Murong, here, take this antidote. No matter what, let's just charge out first."
"Good."
Without hesitation, Murong took the detoxification pill. Although his cultivation had been completely lost, his domineering aura of coldness remained, still arrogant. He calmly ordered, "Let's fight our way out."
"Yes."
The group moved swiftly outwards. The rear hall of Chang Xin Palace had fewer guards and hidden eunuchs. As they moved along, they could even hear sounds of fighting in the distance.
It seemed that Zhui Feng had heard the shouts of battle from outside and had taken the initiative. He was a vigilant person. Since fighting had broken out behind them as well, friend and foe were indistinguishable.
The group quickly flashed out and saw that many people in the rear hall had been drawn away, leaving only a small number guarding the area.
Yi Yuxuan immediately led his men forward, turning back to instruct Yun Xiao, "Quick, take the Master and go."
"Mm," Yun Xiao didn't have time to think and pulled Murong to rush forward. Because her Qinggong was excellent, she pulled Murong, evading those people, and exited the rear hall door. Within the imperial palace, distant and near shouts of killing could be heard.
The front hall of Chang Xin Palace was also engaged in fighting. Their tactic was to confuse the direction, making it difficult for the enemy to discern where people were, which was conducive to escape.
Originally, with Murong's high martial arts skills, these people would not have been able to stop them. But now that he had no internal energy, escaping was extremely difficult.
Yun Xiao pulled him and they quickly rushed towards a corner of the imperial palace...
The news of assassins in the imperial palace, and specifically in Chang Xin Palace, had already alerted Shangguan Yao. He had been contemplating how to persuade his mother, the Empress Dowager, to hand over the person, when he unexpectedly received a report that assassins had broken into Chang Xin Palace.
He knew what was happening without a second thought and rushed to Chang Xin Palace with his men.
Inside Chang Xin Palace, in the sleeping quarters, the Empress Dowager had awakened and was silently weeping. Ping An knelt to one side, listening to the Empress Dowager's accusations without saying a word.
Suddenly, a figure in bright yellow rushed in from outside the hall door. Upon entering, the figure lunged towards the Empress Dowager's bed and cried out loudly, "Mother, where is he? Where have you hidden him?"
"Me?"
"Are you still not going to say at this time? Those assassins are here for this person. Do you really want your son to die before your eyes? Fine, I will fulfill your wish."
Shangguan Yao was going mad. He abruptly stood up and lunged to the side, intending to die before the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager's tears immediately flowed, and she screamed at the top of her lungs, "No, Yao'er, he has been abducted!"
The Empress Dowager did not mention that Ping An had brought people in, otherwise Ping An would surely die.
"What?"
Shangguan Yao abruptly stopped his movements, his pupils bloodshot. He turned to face the Empress Dowager, his hair standing on end. His demeanor was unlike anything the Empress Dowager had ever seen; he seemed not like a person, but a demon.
Staring at her ferociously, he suddenly pounced, grabbed her body, and shook her violently, roaring with all his might.
"Why, why? Didn't you put me on the throne back then? Now you're pushing me off. I hate you, I hate you, you truly are a bad woman, a bad woman."
The Empress Dowager's face turned as white as paper. Unable to withstand Shangguan Yao's shaking, her body softly toppled to the side and she fainted again. However, tears still welled up in the corners of her eyes. This was what she had done, her fate, her retribution.
Seeing this, Ping An cried out, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress has fainted."
Shangguan Yao abruptly let go, turned, and roared at Ping An, "And you! If he truly escapes, I will not let either of you off."
With that, he strode out of the sleeping quarters, leaving behind Ping An's crying as she rushed to the Empress Dowager.
"Your Highness, wake up, Your Highness."
Within the imperial palace, it seemed as if everywhere was filled with the scent of blood and violence. The night wind was desolate, lanterns swayed, and the sounds of killing could be heard intermittently.
Because Shangguan Yao discovered Murong Chong was missing, he had increased the number of personnel. The entire imperial harem was like a birdcage, which increased the difficulty of escape.
Just then, Yun Xiao noticed something was wrong with Murong. His hands were terrifyingly hot, and under the cold light, his face was flushed red, with sweat beads rolling down.
Yun Xiao was startled. She quickly scanned the surroundings, supported Murong, and hid behind a rockery. At this time, they only had one subordinate with them, another subordinate named Jin Jian who often operated with Zhui Feng and Zhui Yue.
Jin Jian, seeing his master unwell, spoke anxiously, "Master seems to have a fever."
In the darkness, Murong's pupils shone brightly. He tightly grasped Yun Xiao's hand and gently comforted her, "Xiao'er, don't worry, I'll be fine."
Even in such a predicament, he remained as calm as ever, his expression unchanged.
He truly possessed the demeanor of an emperor, but Yun Xiao could not afford to let him be. She quickly reached out to feel his pulse. His pulse was somewhat rapid, but there was no serious ailment. The impact of the detoxification pill was too great, and Murong's physical strength was too weak. The clash between the two caused this situation.
If he could sleep now, he would be fine, but at the moment...
Yun Xiao supported him. He tried hard to open his eyes, attempting to prevent himself from losing consciousness, but it was very difficult.
"Murong, don't force yourself. It will be alright. I will take you out."
She spoke softly, like a gentle breeze, capable of soothing people's hearts. Murong tightly grasped her hand and said softly, "Xiao'er, no matter what, don't let yourself be harmed. Put me down, and you go out alone."
After saying this, he lost consciousness. They both knew the current situation clearly. It would be difficult to escape with him, but Yun Xiao could escape unscathed if she went out alone.