Chapter 149: Somnambulism

The palace is enormous, and the former owner only went there in childhood; now she has completely forgotten everything inside it. Sneaking into the palace at night is far too risky; if she brings Ji Bai, the chance of success might be a bit higher, but if she brings him, using space would be very inconvenient for herself.

In the end, she decided to go into the palace alone, perhaps she could obtain some useful information; after all, with spatial protection, she herself would be in no danger.

Immediately, she set off for the palace alone.

She wore a night‑cloaking garment, her figure darting through the darkness, and upon reaching the palace wall she was stumped by the wall that towered several times higher than she.

She didn't know any light‑step technique; how could she scale it?

Ordinary household walls aren't that tall, and at that moment a pair of large hands seized her waist, pulled her into a hug, and with her body lifted up, she easily vaulted over the palace wall.

Chi Nan Yi's heart jumped; even the Silver Needle was ready, and when she turned and saw that familiar figure, her lingering anxiety slowly eased.

"His Highness Prince Li."

"Sneaking into the palace at night, you're courting death," Mo Junyan said in a low voice. "Do you think this place is somewhere you can come and go as you please?"

"I…" Chi Nan Yi also felt she might be a bit reckless today, but there were some things she was desperate to learn the answer to.

"Within the palace, across all twelve hours, guards are on duty at every moment; the so‑called empty corners are filled with Dark Guard, and the lives of the emperor and the consorts are not something anyone can simply take," Mo Junyan looked at her with some irritation, not because her intrusion was malicious, but because she had not placed her own safety as the top priority.

"I didn't intend to kill anyone."

"If you don't want to kill, there's even less reason to endanger yourself here," Mo Junyan's tone grew deeper. "Even dead you can't even pull a blanket; aren't you being wronged?"

Huh?

Chi Nan Yi heard that, blinked, so… that's the reason for his irritation?

At that moment, footsteps sounded from not far away.

"Who! Who's there!"

The guards, torches in hand, rushed toward the two of them.

Mo Junyan frowned slightly, swung his arm, and cradled Chi Nan Yi in a full embrace, his large cloak wrapping her tightly.

The warm embrace left her momentarily dazed and at a loss.

"Audacious thief, daring to break into the palace at night! Surrender at once!"

Mo Junyan lightly stepped aside, leapt over the palace wall, and by the time the guards chased after, their silhouettes had already vanished.

He didn't send Chi Nan Yi back to the shop; instead, he took her to the Prince's residence.

Yun Shan saw the Prince return to the residence, and it seemed his arms were holding a… something?

"Prince," Yun Shan stepped forward, and before he could speak, saw Chi Nan Yi's head poke out from the Prince's large cloak.

Sss…

Chi… Miss Chi?

How is Miss Chi here?

"Miss Chi, you… how did you…"

Chi Nan Yi forced a nervous laugh; just as she tried to slip out of Mo Junyan's embrace, he caught her again.

"Don't forget what you're wearing," Mo Junyan lowered his voice, half‑smiling, and said, "My residence can't guarantee there are no other eyes watching. The palace just suffered a theft, and you appear in my residence wearing a night‑cloaking garment; do you think people might speculate something?"

Chi Nan Yi froze for a moment, then in the next instant, without any hesitation, tucked her head back into the cloak, urging, "Quick—quick, back to the room."

Yun Shan heard those words and was greatly shocked.

Miss Chi is really bold!

Mo Junyan's smile at the corner of his mouth could no longer be suppressed.

It was the first time she had been held so tightly by him.

Mo Junyan hoisted her sideways, and as he passed Yun Shan, said lightly, "Prepare a set of her clothes."

"Understood."

Yun Shan's head mechanically turned to follow his direction of movement.

His eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Prepare the clothes…"

"What are the Prince and Miss Chi doing!"

"What are you looking at?" Yun Shui saw her stare blankly and asked, "Are you stunned?"

"Hmm."

Stunned, indeed she was stunned.

Stupid to the point of not being able to be any more stupid.

The Prince just asked me to prepare clothes for Miss Chi, and at this hour of the night, where am I supposed to get a set of women's clothing?

Chi Nan Yi was led by Mo Junyan into the study; she emerged from the cloak, her face flushed, unsure whether from heat or embarrassment.

"Thank you for today, Prince."

"If you wish to enter the palace, a single word to This Prince would suffice; why did you go alone? You were lucky today—your location was a spot where palace guards are thin; otherwise, stepping out beyond the city wall would have gotten you shot by archers like a sieve."

Chi Nan Yi forced a nervous laugh: "I was too reckless."

"Why did you go to the palace today?"

Chi Nan Yi had already anticipated that question, and during the journey she had thought of a reply.

"Sleepwalking."

"What?"

"I suffer from somnambulism; I only regained my senses after reaching outside the palace wall."

The answer was absurd, but it was the only one she could think of in such a short time.

"Chi Nan Yi."

"Here."

"Do you really think This Prince is a fool?" Mo Junyan pointed at her night‑cloaking garment. "You mean, because of somnambulism, you changed into the night‑cloaking garment, crossed several streets, and arrived precisely at the palace wall, right?"

Hmm.

Chi Nan Yi!

Sleepwalking is just like that; all actions are unconscious. Your Highness, you keep questioning me like this, but I also don't know how to answer.

Mo Junyan looked at Chi Nan Yi, and a deep sense of helplessness welled up.

"Forget it, This Prince doesn't really want to know the reason, you don't need to rack your brains with these deceitful words to fool This Prince." He looked at Chi Nan Yi, solemnly said: "However, This Prince has a request."

What?

You are not allowed to do this kind of dangerous thing again.

Hearing him say that, Chi Nan Yi's heart stirred, he—

This Prince means nothing else; we two are now allies. If you get into trouble and implicate This Prince, all that This Prince has done will come to naught.

"Yes, commoner girl knows." Chi Nan Yi suddenly thought of something; she looked at Mo Junyan and couldn't help asking: "Commoner girl's sleepwalking, then what is Your Highness doing going to the palace in the middle of the night?"

Mo Junyan picked up the book on the table with a calm expression: "Just like you, sleepwalking."

Chi Nan Yi: "…"

Good, he won.

Not long after, Yun Shan knocked on the study's door with a tray: "Your Highness, the clothes have been delivered."

Bring them in!

Yes.

Yun Shan entered the study and saw Chi Nan Yi dressed in nightclothes.

Huh?

Yun Shan froze, then quickly realized: what had he just been thinking?

How could Your Highness do such a rude thing to Miss Chi?

Your Highness, there are no women's clothes in the manor; your subordinate just went to the clothing shop and bought these clothes, not knowing if they suit the lady's taste.