As night fell, Xiao Man changed into her night clothes, covered her face with a cloth, and quietly sneaked into the imperial palace.
Feng Mo Ran was deeply favored by the Empress. Every move he made was closely watched. Under such circumstances, Feng Mo Ran would never hide someone in the Tantai Palace. After all, the Empress often visited Tantai Palace, and the princes from other palaces also visited from time to time. If a person were hidden there, they would be easily discovered.
Xiao Man stood on the rooftop, surveying the palace layout. Ye Qing must have been hidden in a secluded place that few people frequented. Such places were usually the cold palace. However, after searching several cold palaces, she found no trace of Ye Qing.
Xiao Man recalled the palace layout map. The palace layout map was in the Empress's private library. At this time, the Empress was in Tantai Palace, and the library was empty.
Xiao Man, familiar with the way, found the Empress's library and sneaked in, locating the palace layout map.
Feng Mo Ran was very familiar with the Blue Moon imperial palace. If not in the cold palace, where could Ye Qing be hidden?
Xiao Man's gaze swept over every palace on the map. Suddenly, her eyes fell on a place: Yuhua Palace. If she remembered correctly, Yuhua Palace was once the residence of Empress Yue Xian. The current Empress resided in Zhaohua Palace, and Yuhua Palace had been vacant. For years, it was likely that no one had lived there, nor dared to, as it was the former imperial concubine's palace.
Xiao Man put away the map and left silently, as if she had never been there. Following the orientation on the map in her mind, Xiao Man found Yuhua Palace.
Yuhua Palace appeared quite desolate. Roses and ivy covered the walls. In the darkness, the shadows seemed like hidden beasts poised to swallow the entire palace.
Xiao Man did not rashly approach Yuhua Palace. Feng Mo Ran captured Ye Qing to lure the Ten Thousand Poisons. If the person was truly hidden here, then it must be riddled with traps.
Xiao Man sensed several powerful presences hidden within Yuhua Palace. If she barged in rashly, she would inevitably alert those inside. A deserted palace harboring several masters indicated that something illicit was hidden within.
Xiao Man was about to leave, planning to devise a foolproof plan before rescuing Ye Qing, when she saw a shadow sneaking in. She immediately swooped down, giving chase, and intercepted the person before they could enter Yuhua Palace!
Xiao Man dragged the person into a dark corner. After the patrolling guards passed, she pulled down the scarf from her face.
"Senior Wan, it's me."
The person who had infiltrated the imperial palace was none other than Wan Du Zi. Seeing that it was Xiao Man, Wan Du Zi's eyes darted around.
"This is not a place to talk. Let's leave the palace first." Xiao Man, carrying Wan Du Zi, evaded the guards' patrols and quickly left the palace. Only when they were far from the palace did she release Wan Du Zi's acupoints.
"I say, you girl, why did you pull me out? I was going to save someone."
"I know." Xiao Man nodded. "How did you know Ye Qing was imprisoned in Yuhua Palace? You know, I searched all the cold palaces before finding Yuhua Palace."
Wan Du Zi paused, then opened his mouth as if to say he had investigated, but Xiao Man, as the Blue Moon Princess, had to search each palace individually. How could he possibly do better?
"When I infiltrated the palace, I overheard the guards."
"What a coincidence that you happened to hear that Ye Qing was imprisoned in Yuhua Palace." Xiao Man sneered. "Do you know how many masters are ambushed inside Yuhua Palace?"
"No matter how many masters are ambushed, I cannot abandon him."
"If you charge in recklessly, not only will you fail to save Ye Qing, but you will also cost him his life," Xiao Man said calmly. "Do you know why Feng Mo Ran captured Ye Qing?"
"He knows I'm still alive and wants me dead."
"He is poisoned. He has been poisoned by Marrow Cleansing."
Upon hearing this, Wan Du Zi's eyes widened. A moment later, he burst into laughter: "Retribution! It's retribution!"
Wan Du Zi was delighted. Previously, Feng Mo Ran had killed his senior brother for Marrow Cleansing, leaving him neither human nor ghost. Now, he himself had been poisoned by Marrow Cleansing.
"By the way, how did Feng Mo Ran get poisoned?"
"How would I know? Only you can produce Marrow Cleansing. Did you not make it?"
"If this old man had that capability, I would have fought him to the death long ago!" Wan Du Zi caught up with Xiao Man. "Could it be that young man from the Nangong family?"
"Was the poison you gave him?"
"I originally made three bottles of Marrow Cleansing, all of which were seized by Feng Mo Ran. He used one bottle to poison Empress Yun Qi. He should still have two bottles... Could it be that Feng Mo Ran poisoned himself?"
"Is that possible?"
"Impossible. A cruel and ruthless person like him would never poison himself," Wan Du Zi said, full of doubt. "Then how did he get poisoned?"
"Perhaps he was bored and took out the poison to play with, and accidentally injured himself," Xiao Man said casually.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old? So easily fooled?" Wan Du Zi said indignantly. "You little fox, you're becoming more cunning. You definitely know how he was poisoned, don't you?"
Xiao Man appeared to be in deep thought. "Perhaps the Empress poisoned him."
"Why would the Empress poison him?"
"The Empress desired him, but his heart was not with the Empress. It would be normal for the Empress to poison him with Marrow Cleansing to keep him by her side."
"Where did the Marrow Cleansing come from?" Wan Du Zi clung to this question. "The only three bottles of Marrow Cleansing in the world are in Feng Mo Ran's hands. Where did the Marrow Cleansing that poisoned him come from?" Sudan Novel Network
"Heaven knows," Xiao Man said faintly. "Perhaps someone else has produced Marrow Cleansing."
"Impossible. The process of making Marrow Cleansing is extremely complex, and the materials required are also very complicated. Even I took three years to produce it, incorporating seventy-seven kinds of rare poisons. Even I could not replicate Marrow Cleansing again."
"Senior Wan, just because you cannot, does not mean others cannot," Xiao Man said slowly. "Now, you must leave Bianjing and hide well. You absolutely cannot let Feng Mo Ran find any trace of you."
"What about Ye Qing?"
"Have you forgotten someone?" Xiao Man looked in a certain direction. "You've been following for a while, aren't you coming out?"
A figure emerged from the darkness. It was Nangong Yu. Seeing Nangong Yu also present, Wan Du Zi immediately understood that Ye Qing would not be in mortal danger. Nangong Yu had a deep affection for Ye Qing and would surely not stand by and do nothing.
"Ye Yichen, escort Senior Wan away." Nangong Yu looked at Xiao Man and instructed Ye Yichen, who was beside him, to send Wan Du Zi away.
Ye Yichen immediately pulled Wan Du Zi away. Wan Du Zi wanted to say a few more words, but Ye Yichen gave him no opportunity.
"Ye Qing is imprisoned in Yuhua Palace. There are several masters inside Yuhua Palace, and it is likely full of danger. Be careful when you go to rescue him." Xiao Man finished speaking and turned to leave.
Nangong Yu quickly grabbed her. "I found a wonton shop in the West Market. The taste is excellent. Shall we go have some wontons together?"