Chapter 335

"Who?" The black shadow was too fast. Ming Ze stared at his surroundings vigilantly. Apart from the noise coming from the distance, everything within his line of sight was quiet, with almost no human presence. Just as Ming Ze was about to suspect if he was being too nervous, the black shadow flew out again, looking as if it were going to run toward the depths of the inner palace. Ming Ze was secretly shocked; this person had been hiding in the low bushes the whole time, yet he hadn't felt his presence at all. This person's martial arts were unfathomable! Ming Ze didn't think too much and gathered his energy to give chase.

After a few leaps, he could still see the shadow of the man in black. By the time Ming Ze chased him to the vicinity of the Empress Dowager's Dongsheng Palace, there was no longer any trace of the man in black. Ming Ze calmed his mind and thought about it. Tonight was the little prince's full-month banquet, and the palace was heavily guarded. This person was able to move freely in the palace; his lightness skill must be above his own. It wouldn't have been difficult for the man in black to avoid him, so why did he attract his attention and lead him all the way here?

Could it be... the man in black was trying to lure him away?! Oh no, could he have fallen for a "lure the tiger away from the mountain" tactic? Ming Ze had a bad premonition in his heart and dared not linger, turning around and rushing toward Qingfeng Palace.

Ming Ze arrived at the entrance of Qingfeng Palace and saw that the gate was still tightly closed. He gathered his energy and leaped, nimbly flipping over the wall and landing inside the gate. The palace was as quiet as when he had left, with only a woman dressed as a palace servant standing blankly in the courtyard, holding a few small clothes, looking startled by him.

The person standing in the courtyard at this moment was Shen Yao. Having finally regained her composure, Shen Yao asked timidly, "Guard Ming, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

After confirming that there was no man in black in Qingfeng Palace, Ming Ze stared at Shen Yao and asked in a deep voice, "Why are you here?" As a wet nurse, shouldn't she be by the prince's side at all times?

Under Ming Ze's cold, dark-eyed gaze, Shen Yao took a step back in fear and hurriedly explained, "This servant was feeling a bit unwell today. The Empress Dowager sent two other wet nurses to accompany us, so the Consort let this servant return to her room to rest. This servant has been in her room since the afternoon, and the palace maid Hong'er even brought dinner to the room for this servant to eat. You probably only started your shift in the evening, so you wouldn't know."

Seeing that she was so flustered that her breathing was uneven, and it didn't look like she was lying, Ming Ze didn't continue to question why she was in the courtyard at this moment, but asked in a low voice, "Did you notice anyone or hear any sounds just now?"

Shen Yao thought for a moment, shook her head, and replied, "No. This servant has been sleeping in her room. Later, when I felt a bit better, I thought about the little prince's clothes that were hanging in the courtyard and hadn't been collected yet, so I came out to collect them. I had just finished collecting them when you returned. This servant didn't see anyone else, nor did I hear any sounds."

Nothing?

Who exactly was that man in black? What was his purpose in breaking into the inner palace at night? Was their confrontation tonight truly him accidentally revealing his tracks, or was it intentional?

Seeing that Ming Ze remained silent for a long time, with the cold light in his eyes becoming increasingly frigid, Shen Yao hurriedly left a soft "This servant takes her leave" and retreated into the room, clutching the clothes in her arms.

Ming Ze paid special attention to Shen Yao's breathing and footsteps; she didn't look like someone who knew martial arts. Was her appearance in the courtyard at this time really just a coincidence? With more and more doubts in his heart, Ming Ze's gaze involuntarily turned toward the room where Qingfeng lived.

Should he... give her a reminder?

"Incense extinguished."

As soon as the eunuch's shout rang out, Gu Yun still had three arrows left on her crossbow, but she stopped immediately. Even so, the lake surface on the left, which was clearly much darker, already indicated who the winner was.

"Twenty-eight lanterns remain on the left."

"Forty-one lanterns remain on the right."

The result was obvious. Gu Yun not only defeated the eight guards but did so beautifully.

Holding the short bow in her hand, Gu Yun looked back at Yan Hongtian, who was staring at her with narrowed, deep, and dark eyes, and smiled, "Your Majesty, does this count as me winning against the eight of them?"

In the large garden, not only were the officials staring at the thin figure standing in the wind by the lake with surprise and admiration, but even the Empress Dowager smiled with satisfaction, "Truly a heroine who surpasses men!"

Xin Yuening almost ground her teeth to pieces. Although everything done tonight was carried out according to Shui Xin's arrangements, she was truly furious that this ugly woman was hogging all the limelight! Seeing the interest in Yan Hongtian's dark eyes growing stronger, Xin Yuening said urgently, "Your Majesty, the weapon she used is not the same as the one used by the guards. Isn't this taking advantage and unfair?" If it weren't for that strange crossbow, she could never have won so easily.

Fair? She wanted to talk to her about fairness? Glancing at the strong man beside her whose arm was thicker than her thigh, Gu Yun smiled mockingly, "A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools. Even on the battlefield, the Empress wouldn't expect the enemy to use the same weapons as you, would she? I simply chose what was more advantageous to me. Besides, at the beginning, it was only said that whoever shot down more river lanterns would win; it wasn't stipulated that the guards and I had to use the same weapons. Or in the Empress's eyes, eight strong men against one woman is fair?"

Once these words were spoken, murmurs immediately arose among the officials. Looking up, the eight strong men stood beside Gu Yun, almost drowning her out. With such a stark contrast, the word "fair" immediately became a joke. Xin Yuening was extremely embarrassed, holding back a breath in her heart, but she could no longer lash out.

The brilliance in Gu Yun's eyes did not escape Yan Hongtian's notice. Yan Hongtian suddenly laughed and said loudly, "For the campaign to suppress pirates in the East Sea, I hereby appoint Qing Mo as Military Advisor to accompany the army."

"Your Majesty!" The officials present all gasped. Letting Qing Mo accompany the army was one thing, but appointing her as Military Advisor? This was truly too absurd; there was no logic in history for a woman to be a Military Advisor!

Yan Hongtian seemed accustomed to the officials' questioning and even opposition, and said majestically, "A monarch's word is final."

A single "A monarch's word is final" sealed everyone's lips. How could the words spoken by the Emperor be child's play?

Gu Yun replied generously, "Thank you, Your Majesty." Thus, Gu Yun not only accompanied the army on the expedition but also gained the title of Military Advisor.

The subsequent palace banquet naturally continued with eating and drinking, but the officials were all secretly observing. The Emperor had an unfathomable expression, the Empress's face was livid but she was holding back, General Su looked as if he were full of suppressed anger with nowhere to vent, and the Qing family's little sister, who had just stolen the spotlight, appeared unusually calm. However, what puzzled everyone the most was Consort Qing—

She had given birth to a son for the Emperor, her own sisters were also very capable, and she enjoyed the exclusive favor of the Prime Minister and General Su, sitting firmly in the position of the legitimate wife. With the little prince and the two great families of Lou and Su supporting her, in the future, even the Empress Dowager and the Empress would likely have to fear her by three points. Why did she look so terrified and distraught?

In such a not-so-harmonious atmosphere, the palace banquet concluded successfully with the Empress Dowager's excuse that "the little prince is tired." Yan Hongtian rose first, only to see Qingfeng still sitting blankly on her stool, her eyes fixed on a spot on the ground, her two hands tightly clasped together, still trembling slightly. Yan Hongtian's sword-like brows furrowed slightly. When he walked to her side, he pinched her chin with one hand, lifted her head, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong with you?"

Qingfeng jumped up as if she had received a great shock, her large eyes staring at Yan Hongtian in terror and confusion. Yan Hongtian was secretly surprised; what was wrong with her? Wasn't Qing Mo completely unharmed?

Looking directly at Yan Hongtian always required courage, and right now, she didn't have it. Qingfeng finally regained her senses under the scrutiny of those dark eyes, struggled to take a step back, avoided Yan Hongtian's hand, and replied softly, "I'm too tired today, I... I need to go back and rest." After speaking, Qingfeng gave a hasty bow, had Ruyi take the child from the old nanny, and walked toward the direction of Qingfeng Palace, supported by Fuling.

Watching that seemingly elegant but actually panic-stricken back, Yan Hongtian's eyes were full of interest, and a rare smile even curled the corners of his mouth, something not seen in recent days. What on earth could have made his beloved concubine, who was usually afraid of nothing, so scared?

Along the way, Qingfeng's hands were clutching Fuling's arm so tightly that Fuling had to bite her lower lip to suppress the moan of pain that was about to escape. The group hurried back to Qingfeng Palace. Qingfeng pulled Fuling, grabbed Ruyi, and the three entered the room. Qingfeng slammed the door shut with a bang and leaned against the wooden door. In the dim light, her complexion could not be seen clearly, but the sound of her gasping for air could be heard.

Fuling stepped forward to support her and asked urgently, "My Lady, what's wrong? Where are you uncomfortable?"

After a long while, Qingfeng finally calmed her mind and said in a low voice, "Ruyi, take the child into the inner room and look after him well."

Ruyi naturally saw Qingfeng's abnormality, but as long as Fuling was there, it was never her turn to accompany her. Ruyi replied submissively, "Yes." She carried the child into the inner chamber, and before long, she efficiently lit two lamps.

The candlelight shone into the reception hall through the screen, and Fuling was finally able to see Qingfeng's current state. She was standing straight, but the strength in her body seemed to be supported entirely by the door panel behind her. Her eyes were tightly closed, and her hands hung at her sides. At this moment, she seemed a bit calmer than when she had first entered.

"My Lady..."

"Let me be quiet for a while." The hoarse voice made Fuling swallow all her questions, and she could only accompany her quietly on the side.

Qingfeng felt her mind was in a mess. Regarding everything that happened tonight, she was completely confused. What on earth had happened over the past year? She could ignore what others said, but today, she had seen it with her own eyes—her little sister's heroic style and the aura of one against eight. How could she still be the timid and delicate little sister of the past?! Recalling the few times she had met her eldest and youngest sisters, their manner of speaking, their personalities, their expressions, their...

An inexplicable fear invaded her heart. Were they still the sisters she had grown up with and lived with day and night for over a decade? She dared not reveal a single bit of the doubts in her heart to anyone, but without solving this mystery, she couldn't settle her heart for a single moment!

"Fuling!" Qingfeng suddenly shouted. Fuling, who was already standing beside her, hurriedly replied, "This servant is here."

"Help me!"

What? Before Fuling could react, Qingfeng suddenly grabbed her hand, pulled her to her side, and whispered in her ear, "Help me... help me investigate..."

Fuling couldn't hear Qingfeng's suppressed, trembling voice clearly and could only ask, "Investigate what?"

"Investigate... Qing Ling and Qing Mo! Use every connection and channel to investigate! I want to know every single thing they did after arriving in Qiongyue! The more detailed, the better!"

Investigate Miss Qing and Lady Lou?! Fuling never expected that her mistress would be so terrified and cautious as to investigate her own sisters. Why was this?

"Be quick! As quick as possible!" She really couldn't wait; she wanted to know the truth!

Fuling had never seen Qingfeng like this. Even though she was full of questions at this moment, she knew it wasn't the time to ask. Supporting her to a nearby wooden chair to sit down, Fuling replied soothingly, "Alright, alright, this servant will go do it immediately. Please don't be anxious."

Seeing her sitting quietly on the chair, Fuling breathed a sigh of relief and quietly exited the door.

Qingfeng felt as if the strength in her body had been drained away. She wrapped her hands tightly around her arms and suddenly felt very cold—a chill rising from the bottom of her heart.

If they really weren't her eldest and youngest sisters... No, it couldn't be, it was impossible...

Father, Mother, Feng'er is so scared...

(End of chapter)