Feng Xie walked silently along the quiet corridor, the palace lanterns swaying, casting an eerie, ghastly light on his face. He was breathing heavily, like a maddened beast.
In that moment, he realized how important Liu'er was to him. It wasn't just a casual liking as he had thought; he had fallen in love with her.
To think that someone dared to abduct his Empress, a woman so unlike any other. Very well, he would make them see what they truly wanted.
A flickering, dark light flashed across Nangong Yue's handsome face, as if he were an immortal banished from heaven. "Feng Xie, if you can make Liu'er happy, that's good. But if you treated her like that, why couldn't you let her go? There are so many women in this harem, and she's not happy here."
The two returned to the study. Feng Xie collapsed onto the soft couch, his body trembling. Who was it that knew the palace so well? Could there be a spy within the palace walls?
Feng Xie's mind raced. If not, the person wouldn't have been able to abduct her so quickly. His narrow phoenix eyes furrowed, his long, delicate eyelashes closing, concealing his handsome black eyes and the tempestuous waves within.
A sinister smile played on his lips. Nangong Yue stood motionlessly before the imperial desk, watching the man's pain with an indescribable feeling in his heart. Was it pity or sympathy? He hadn't cherished her when she was present, so what was the use of sorrow now that she was gone?
The air grew heavy and silent. The night was deep, yet neither Feng Xie nor Nangong Yue could sleep, each lost in their own thoughts and concerns.
Xiao Wanzi hurried in from outside, startled by the chilling aura in the study. The Emperor and Physician Nangong looked terrible. What had happened? Though he guessed, his movements were not delayed. He spoke quickly.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the eunuch has confessed. Consort Shu poisoned herself to frame Consort He and the Empress."
As Xiao Wanzi finished speaking, Feng Xie's expression worsened. A look of loss and heaviness flashed in his dark eyes. He should have believed Liu'er, and she wouldn't have been poisoned in the dungeon. Who poisoned her and abducted her?
His brows furrowed tightly, his gaze shifting unpredictably in an instant. He clenched his fists, his fingertips turning pale, veins bulging. He waved his hand chillingly.
"Immediately punish Consort Shu with twenty heavy blows and cast her into the cold palace. This malicious woman, even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs, yet she used a child to harm the Empress. I never want to see her again."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiao Wanzi received the imperial decree and retreated to execute it. He still wondered why the Emperor was so angry. As he reached the door, he overheard the discussions of some young eunuchs and learned that the Empress had been poisoned and abducted. No wonder the Emperor was in such a foul mood.
He had told him that if he believed the Empress, he shouldn't have confined her to the dungeon. But the Emperor, driven by his pride, had locked her away. Now that she was gone, he was heartbroken. If only he had known this earlier, why had he done it?
Nangong Yue remained in the study, seeing that the Emperor was already extremely weary, and took his leave. The moment he departed, the man who had been lying on the dragon couch opened his bright eyes, sharp and brilliant like the stars, filled with keen intelligence.
Tonight, he felt Nangong Yue was not entirely himself, so he couldn't help but be suspicious. Perhaps Liu'er had been abducted by him. As for the reason for the abduction, the truth would be revealed once Liu'er was found. Feng Xie's deep voice suddenly rang out.
"Yue Ying, follow Nangong Yue immediately. Be as careful as possible and leave no trace."
"Yes, Master." Yue Ying bowed and went to carry out the order. The vast study immediately fell into silence. A few young eunuchs stood guard under the eaves of the palace, each looking cautiously at the dim light within the study, a chill pervading the air.
They had seen their master's sternness, so they had to be even more careful.
Just as the Emperor could sense Nangong Yue's strangeness, Nangong Yue could also sense the Emperor's strangeness. Therefore, as soon as he left the palace, he knew he was being followed. Yet, his steps were steady, and he did not panic because of the person behind him; instead, he was very calm.
The imperial carriage drove steadily back to the Nangong residence. At the entrance of the Nangong residence, two red lanterns swayed on either side. His two subordinates were anxiously looking out from the gate. Nangong Yue's heart sank. Had something else happened?
Though he was anxious, he still calmly alighted from the carriage. Lüyi and Yue Huan walked to the carriage to attend to their master. Before entering the mansion, they were about to speak urgently.
Nangong Yue immediately raised a hand to stop them. Yue Ying saw this and quickly melted into the darkness, then hurried back to the palace to report to the Emperor. Upon hearing this, Feng Xie was furious. "Good for you, Nangong Yue. You actually abducted the Empress."
Perhaps it was a plan orchestrated by her and the Empress, a charade to leave the palace.
Knowing that Liu'er was in the Nangong residence, the great stone in Feng Xie's heart was finally laid to rest. Although he was still angry, his rage was much calmer than before. As long as he knew where she was, that was enough. Feng Xie furrowed his brows and looked at Yue Ying.
"Immediately take a group of guards to the Nangong residence and bring the Empress back."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But what if Lord Nangong denies that the Empress is in his residence? Should I search?" Yue Ying requested. Nangong Yue had always been eccentric and was not someone who would allow searching at will, so Yue Ying first sought the Emperor's opinion.
When Feng Xie heard Yue Ying's words, he felt it was highly probable. Since Nangong Yue had abducted Liu'er from the palace, how could he easily allow her to be retrieved? He truly didn't understand why he would do this.
Unless this was all Liu'er's plan. A smile crept onto Feng Xie's lips. That woman's mind was always first-rate, and it was indeed true. She could even devise such a meticulous plan. If she were a man, what a pillar of the nation she would be!
However, it was also good that she was the Empress; she would always come up with ideas for him. Feng Xie's handsome and charming features lit up with eagerness, his eyes shimmering.
"If Lord Nangong does not allow you to bring back the Empress, then state it is my imperial decree to search the residence."
"Yes!" Yue Ying left the study with his men. The Emperor's mood brightened, his phoenix brows unfurrowed, his star-like eyes sparkling, and a cold, charming smile playing on his lips. He sneered inwardly, "Liu'er, don't even think about leaving the palace. I will never let you go."
In the flower hall of the Nangong residence, Nangong Yue looked coldly at Lüyi and Yue Huan, his icy face radiating a chilling aura. "What is it? Where is the Empress?"
"Master, the Empress is gone," Lüyi said softly, quickly lowering her head. Upon hearing this, Nangong Yue's face was covered in frost, devoid of any warmth. He glared menacingly at the two young maids. "How did you manage your duties? You can't even keep track of one person."
"This servant deserves death. We never expected the Empress to have an aphrodisiac. She drugged us both and then left the Nangong residence." Yue Huan quickly explained. It wasn't their fault; they never knew that such a frail-looking woman could not only practice martial arts but also possess such underhanded means as aphrodisiacs. As a result, they were drugged, and the Empress left.
Nangong Yue was furious. He had originally intended to rescue Liu'er and then stay with her properly. He hadn't expected her to have her own plans and not intend to involve him. It seemed his plans were not as meticulous as hers.
Nangong Yue exhaled wisps of cold air. Just as he was about to scold the two maids, he heard a thudding sound from the front of the mansion in the dead of night. At that moment, he suddenly understood who had arrived. It seemed Liu'er was one step ahead. She probably knew even this, which was why she left the Nangong residence.
Neither he nor the Emperor could outmaneuver one woman. Nangong Yue didn't feel annoyed at all; instead, he felt he had been blind. Perhaps in the world, only this woman was so special that whatever she set her mind to, she would succeed better than others.