Chapter 700: Offended

The carriage escorting the young princes back to the capital left Yunzhou City, heading toward Shang Jing.

Gu Jiu Ling had previously ordered that they take a shortcut back to Shang Jing to be faster, but if they took the shortcut, the escort troops behind would find it harder to keep up with her.

After all, the road was hard to traverse and unsuitable for a large retinue to follow.

Gu Jiu Ling then commanded those behind her not to follow; she would travel light and quicken her pace.

Those people were extremely surprised by the Empress's successive orders, but after all, the Empress's words sometimes carried more weight than the Emperor's.

They could only grit their teeth and trail far behind the Empress; soon the Empress's carriage entered a valley, and those behind hurriedly scrambled, chasing along the gorge.

When they reached mid‑mountain, Gu Jiu Ling said she was weary after racing for several hours through the night and wanted to find a village to rest.

The people around were baffled; if they wanted to rest, they could have done so in Yunzhou City—why now stop in this desolate wilderness to look for a place to stay?

Those following dared not defy the Empress's wishes and let Gu Jiu Ling's whims run their course.

Gu Jiu Ling altered the previous route back to Shang Jing, heading straight west, and those behind began to struggle to keep up.

"What on earth is wrong with the Empress? We've already received the young prince; no matter how urgent, we shouldn't be traveling at night."

"If something terrible happens, wouldn't that cause a catastrophe of epic proportions?"

"Following the original path would have been fine; why the sudden detour? And turning west now—what's that about?"

"Enough, enough. No need to babble. The Empress will do as she wishes; we'll just hurry to keep up."

"But the slope is so steep, the westward turn is treacherous; if something goes wrong…"

The few accompanying were exhausted by Gu Jiu Ling's ordeal that night and could only grit their teeth to press on.

In the end, they fell a great distance behind Gu Jiu Ling's leading carriage.

At that moment Gu Jiu Ling's carriage turned westward and actually came upon several villages along the road, stopping inside one.

Inside the carriage, Yun Duo gave Gu Jiu Ling a cold smile, then raised a hand and crushed something unknown in it.

A sharp whistle sounded, and the two little puppets beside Gu Jiu Ling instantly seemed possessed, their souls tugged as they slowly crawled out of the carriage.

Gu Jiu Ling watched, terrified, and had to steel herself and follow Yun Duo down.

The village was small, with only a few dozen households.

Gu Jiu Ling saw at a glance the differences inside and said nothing.

The enemy was hidden in the shadows; she, in the open, could not act, and now she only wanted to see her child.

Since those people prepared so many tricks, they likely wouldn't cause serious harm to her child.

After all, she and her child are only valuable while alive; if they died, why go through all this trouble?

Gu Jiu Ling bent down and stepped out of the carriage; Yun Duo lifted an arm to help her, but Gu Jiu Ling violently pushed it away.

Yun Duo's expression darkened slightly, a flash of hatred in their eyes.

Now let you be a bit more arrogant; when you meet the master later, we'll see what more you can be defiant about.

Guided by Yun Duo, Gu Jiu Ling entered a room—a typical farmhouse courtyard.

A kindly‑faced couple stepped out to greet her; Gu Jiu Ling looked at them and instantly recognized them as puppets, their eyes dull.

Yun Duo turned to the guards trailing Gu Jiu Ling and said coldly, "Princess Consort will change and rest inside; you need not follow."

The few behind glanced at Gu Jiu Ling, who replied coldly, "Aren't you stepping back? What are you doing here? Do you all have to watch me change?"

Those people hurriedly retreated, daring not to watch the Empress change; would the Emperor have them minced into meat if they did?

In the warm chamber only Gu Jiu Ling, two dull‑eyed children, and the sullen‑faced Yun Duo remained.

Gu Jiu Ling lifted her eyes coldly and asked, "Speak. What other tricks do you have? When will I see my child?"

Yun Duo gave a faint smile and suddenly pulled down a tattered New Year picture stuck on the wall.

Behind the picture was a mechanism, exquisitely crafted; it shifted slowly, revealing a pitch‑black passage leading underground.

Gu Jiu Ling stared at the dark opening, feeling a chill run through her.

It seemed as if a demon from hell would crawl out and devour her piece by piece; she furrowed her brows tightly.

Unexpectedly, the opening emitted rustling sounds of clothing scraping the wall, and indeed someone climbed up from the hole.

When Gu Jiu Ling saw the woman whose stature, height, and even face were identical to hers, her complexion shifted slightly.

It was clearly a puppet, wearing a human‑skin mask identical to Gu Jiu Ling's, standing blankly beside her.

Yun Duo let out a light laugh and stepped forward, looking at Gu Jiu Ling.

"I, your servant, attend the Empress in changing, please!"

Gu Jiu Ling's eyes grew cold; what a perfect chrysalis—she had been led here and a duplicate puppet prepared.

If she were swapped, those outside would have no idea what transpired inside, unless she shouted.

But if she shouted now, what of her child?

Since the other side wants to lure her into the jar, she must enter the jar to discover which bastard is scheming against her.

But if she is swapped with that puppet, will the puppet, upon returning to Shang Jing, act against Xiao Yin?

Gu Jiu Ling's slightly chilled hand clenched into a fist.

Yun Duo opposite seemed to perceive Gu Jiu Ling's hesitation and coldly reminded, "Madam, your child is still waiting for you."

Gu Jiu Ling took a deep breath.

She wondered whether the hint she gave Jiu Yue and the others earlier was clear enough.

If Jiu Yue could understand her hint, then perhaps Xiao Yin has already been informed.

She only hopes Xiao Yin won't be fooled by this puppet woman before her.

She also believes that person will bring her and her child home.

Gu Jiu Ling let out a cold laugh, slowly unfastened her belt and removed her outer robe.

Yun Duo helped Gu Jiu Ling and the puppet exchange clothes, and faint footsteps sounded again from the hole.

A woman identical to Yun Duo climbed up, and Gu Jiu Ling couldn't help but sneer.

In order to catch her, the mouse hiding in the gutter put in quite an effort; even the puppet people identical to Yun Duo were prepared in such numbers.

If she doesn't go through this, she'd be letting down that bastard's arrangement.

After Yun Duo finished tidying up the things in the warm pavilion, she picked up a black cloth strip, looking at Gu Jiu Ling: "Please, my lady, cover your eyes; I apologize."