"Yingxue, in the royal family, even sworn sisters can turn against each other. What's more, people with no blood relation. The First Princess and the Fourth Princess, in order to remain in the capital, secretly committed many unspeakable deeds to drive the other two out. Although the Empress's own strategies played a part, those two dare not blame her, so naturally they would hold a grudge against the two in the capital."
"Miss, why are people in the royal family so heartless?"
"Because only the heartless can hold onto that seat," Xiao Man said with a sigh. "In the royal family, parents, siblings, are not your support, nor your reliance. The royal family, outwardly glorious, is in fact tragic."
Feng Moran stood in the now empty Tian Bao Lou, his face a mask of disbelief.
Normally, at this hour, Tian Bao Lou would be packed with guests, overflowing with people. But today, it was eerily silent. The people inside Tian Bao Lou had vanished without a trace, as if they had all disappeared into thin air at once, leaving no clue behind.
"No one can make the people inside Tian Bao Lou disappear so silently, especially in the heavily guarded Bianjing," the Empress said, looking at Feng Moran. There were many experts in Tian Bao Lou. Even if attacked, there should have been some resistance. Yet, the people were gone, and there were no signs of a struggle on the scene. It was as if they had left Tian Bao Lou of their own accord. Su Dan Novel Network.
Feng Moran searched Tian Bao Lou inside and out. Not only were the people gone, but even the ferocious beasts used for fighting had disappeared. People could leave without a sound, but surely the beasts couldn't?
"Do you smell anything?"
"What smell?" The Empress sniffed carefully. There was no particular odor in the air.
"The scent of Silver Frost Flower." Feng Moran was very familiar with Silver Frost Flower. The scent wafting through the air was that of Ten Mile Fragrance. This unique formula, to this day, could only be concocted by one person, and that person had already passed into the netherworld.
The Empress sniffed again, still detecting nothing. "I don't smell anything."
"Ten Mile Fragrance."
The Empress froze for a moment, then quickly covered her nose. Ten Mile Fragrance was no trifle. No matter how skilled one's martial arts or how deep one's inner energy, once affected by Ten Mile Fragrance, they would be at the mercy of others.
"Only a faint scent remains, not enough to harm anyone. Don't worry."
Only then did the Empress lower her hand from her nose. "There are very few people who can concoct such a potent poison as Ten Mile Fragrance. It should be easy to find the culprit with a thorough investigation."
"I already know who the culprit is," Feng Moran said softly. "However, that person is already dead."
The Empress frowned, "The dead cannot kill."
"Yes, the dead cannot kill." Feng Moran suddenly noticed something on the roof beam. He leaped up and found a Silver Frost Flower, crafted from silver foil, inlaid on the beam. The flower was lifelike, as if it were real. He reached out to take it, but the moment he touched it, the petals suddenly exploded, transforming into countless hidden weapons.
Feng Moran leaped back, but there were too many to dodge. Even he couldn't evade them all completely. His pure white robes were instantly dotted with crimson blossoms.
"Are you alright?" The Empress looked at her own scratched arm, unconcerned, and asked Feng Moran about his injuries.
Feng Moran knelt on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. A deep confusion flickered in his eyes. Could she still be alive?
No, it was impossible. He had personally confirmed her body. She absolutely could not be alive. The dead do not resurrect. Who, precisely, had conspired against him?
"A Ran, are you alright?" Seeing Feng Moran's grim expression, the Empress asked with concern. She had never seen Feng Moran so flustered, as if he were afraid of something.
Feng Moran tried to steady his nerves, but only managed to spit out another mouthful of blood. The Empress was startled and quickly helped him up, attempting to check his pulse.
"Don't circulate your energy. These hidden weapons are likely poisoned."
Feng Moran pulled out the hidden weapons stuck in him. The silver petals showed a vibrant color, fiery red. Blood shouldn't be this bright. These hidden weapons were indeed poisoned!
"This color seems wrong," the Empress said, somewhat puzzled. The color of the blood was too vivid, as if dyed, showing an abnormal red!
"Bone Marrow Cleansing!" Feng Moran gritted out two words through clenched teeth. What a vicious mind, what a malicious scheme! Using his wariness of Dugu Man to lure him into a trap, and smearing Bone Marrow Cleansing on the hidden weapons. A potent poison like Bone Marrow Cleansing posed no threat to the Lan family, but it was extremely dangerous to him!
"Bone Marrow Cleansing? What kind of poison is that?"
Feng Moran let out a cold laugh and turned to leave. Aside from himself, the only other living person who knew of the potent poison Bone Marrow Cleansing was Murong Sheng Rui!
"A Ran, where are you going?"
"To find someone." Feng Moran headed straight for the envoys' palace. He had given Bone Marrow Cleansing to Murong Sheng Rui in the past. Had Murong Sheng Rui not used it all and kept some? And now used it to ambush him?
"No, that's not right. Murong Sheng Rui doesn't have the ability to make the people in Tian Bao Lou disappear without a trace."
Feng Moran stopped at the entrance of the envoys' palace. After a moment of silence, he turned and headed in the direction of the imperial palace. The immediate priority was to find a way to detoxify himself. As for Tian Bao Lou, clues would eventually be found.
Murong Sheng Rui watched Feng Moran linger at the entrance of the palace for a moment before leaving, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Feng Moran, she has always been one to repay every grievance and exact revenge. You, as the person closest to her, betrayed her. How could she let you go?"
Murong Zi Heng seemed confused. "Feng Moran is the person closest to the Empress Dowager? Is he the Empress Dowager's male companion?"
Murong Sheng Rui gave Murong Zi Heng a dangerous look. Murong Zi Heng took a step back, then reacted. What was he afraid of? If Murong Sheng Rui had the ability, he would kill him. So he stepped forward again. "Isn't he?"
Murong Sheng Rui withdrew his gaze and looked at Feng Moran's receding figure, slowly saying, "This person is the Empress Dowager's esteemed teacher."
A flicker of shock crossed Murong Zi Heng's eyes. The Empress Dowager's esteemed teacher, that was indeed someone close. But how could the Empress Dowager's esteemed teacher become the male attendant of the Lan Yue Empress?
"Isn't he the Lan Yue Empress's male attendant?"
"His identities are many. He is the esteemed teacher of Empress Dowager Yun Qi, the Imperial Tutor of Yusheng, the male attendant of the Lan Yue Empress, and perhaps he has an unknown identity in Bei Rong."
"This person's footsteps have covered all four kingdoms. His ambitions are likely not small."
"Indeed, his ambitions are not small. However, it ends here," Murong Sheng Rui said slowly. "The sleeping tiger has awakened and bared its fangs, ready to bite off his neck at any moment. Even if this wolf is cunning, it would never guess who the king of beasts is that will take its life."