The empress dowager wanted to send the imperial edict to Murong Wanru's family, but Grand Concubine Yi had already taken care of all of them. No, to be more precise, Murong Wanru's family was part of Tianning's imperial family.
The empress dowager's actions went against common sense, putting Grand Concubine Yi and Han Yunxi on guard. They exchanged glances, not daring to linger too long in tacit understanding.
Could it be that the old empress dowager had discovered some clues? Was she here today to test Grand Concubine Yi?
No one would be more flustered than Grand Concubine Yi in the face of such probing. Still, she wasn't someone easy to deal with. No matter how turbulent her heart was, her face didn't reveal any flaws. She didn't even avoid the question, but asked back, "Wanru is already part of Marquis Pingbei's estate. It wouldn't be appropriate to send an imperial edict back to her family, would it?"
But the empress dowager's reply was even better. "I thought so as well, but the emperor must have his reasons for doing so. I don't have time to figure out his intentions."
Emperor Tianhui's intentions?
Han Yunxi grew even more stunned at these words. She was almost certain that the empress dowager and emperor knew something about Murong Wanru's origins. Even if they didn't know, they must have suspected something. Otherwise, the empress dowager wouldn't have spoken so bluntly today.
This wasn't a test at all, but a warning.
Grand Concubine Yi was as steady as Mount Tai with a soft smile. "Since it's the emperor's intentions, then we'll do as he says. But I took Wanru from the empress's hands in the past, so I don't know much about her family. Now that she's unconscious, it looks like we'll have to ask the empress if we want to find her family."
Han Yunxi silently admired Grand Concubine Yi. Even at this critical juncture, she still kept her cool and purposely brought up the empress. This made the empress dowager's smug smile stiffen a few degrees.
"What, Wanru hasn't interacted with her family all these years?" the empress dowager questioned.
"That's her business. It's not like you don't know that I hate those vulgar farmers and women who come to my house and claim to be relatives. The Duke of Qin's Mansion has its own rules. Even if Wanru has dealings with the main family, she has to do it secretly."
Grand Concubine Yi's face was full of disdain as she gracefully leaned back in her chair. Her careless attitude made it impossible for the empress dowager to ask any more questions.
The empress dowager and Grand Concubine Yi were both shrewd old people who could keep their cool. But Li mama couldn't help but probe again. "Since that's the case, then we'll have to have the Xiu Palace investigate."
Grand Concubine Yi nodded, indicating that she had no objections.
The Empress Dowager's eyes flashed with a touch of complexity, but she did not ask any more questions. After chatting for a while, she got up and returned to the palace.
But as soon as he left, Grand Concubine Yi's legs turned to jelly as soon as she stood up. She immediately fell back into her seat, her face ashen white as she stared blankly at Han Yunxi. It was a while before she spoke. "Why did she suspect?"
"Now isn't the time to investigate her suspicions. We need to figure out where Mama Su is!" Han Yunxi could be considered calm.
The empress dowager must have investigated Murong Wanru's family and found no one, so she came to sound them out. She must have gotten hold of some information to give such an arrogant warning.
But that wasn't the most frightening thing. The most frightening thing was that the empress dowager's words implied that Emperor Tianhui had his eyes on this matter as well.
As soon as she thought of that cold and cruel emperor, Han Yunxi couldn't help but shiver. She and Long Fei Ye had already offended him to death. As soon as he got hold of something to use against them, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Right now, Mama Su was the only one who knew what happened back then. This person was the proof!
"Have you found her?" Grand Concubine Yi asked hastily. She had no idea that it was Long Fei Ye who had done the searching instead of Han Yunxi.
Han Yunxi hadn't seen Long Fei Ye for days, so she wasn't clear on the situation. After some hesitation, she comforted, "Don't be impatient. Even if they know of Mama Su's existence, they might not be able to find her."
But Grand Concubine Yi grew anxious. "No, she has the 'Daily Records of the Imperial Harem' in her hands as well as the 'Personnel Records' from the Jingshi Department. Mama Su worked in the palace for so many years that she must have left behind plenty of information. It'll be much easier for her to find her than us."
It wasn't that Grand Concubine Yi hadn't thought about the 'Daily Records of the Imperial Harem' and 'Personnel Records,' but these things were all under the empress dowager's control. She didn't dare to act rashly and startle the snake. Moreover, after the late emperor passed away, these records had been kept by the empress dowager. She couldn't get her hands on them even if she wanted to.
She always assumed that no one had ever suspected Wanru's origins. After all these years, she assumed that everything would sink like a stone into the sea. But who knew that man's schemes couldn't beat Heaven's? Wanru had actually hooked up with the empress dowager.
After thinking it over calmly, it wasn't strange for the empress dowager to suspect Wanru. With the empress dowager's suspicious personality, she'd naturally investigate Wanru's background before using her.
Han Yunxi never thought of the 'Daily Records of the Imperial Harem' and 'Personnel Records.' Only now did she realize the severity of the situation.
After comforting Grand Concubine Yi with a few words, Han Yunxi didn't dare delay. She immediately went to the Hibiscus Courtyard to find Long Fei Ye, but didn't see a single trace of him. Instead, she discovered that her Leisurely Cloud Pavilion had been torn down!
Han Yunxi thought that she'd be able to keep her cool, but her heart still clenched in pain.
Was that fellow trying to draw a clear line between them and never let her move back? Was he telling her to give up on that heart of his?
Since he didn't mean it, why did he let her know about the Tang Clan's secrets and let her get so close?
Han Yunxi stood in front of the Leisurely Cloud Pavilion for awhile before ignoring everything and hurrying towards the Solitary Enclosure.
A second late was too late, but a second early was too early. By the time Han Yunxi arrived, Long Fei Ye was just about to leave the house.
It had been a few days since she'd seen him, but he was still cold, aloof, and inviolable.
She wasn't unfamiliar with him, but simply told him about the empress dowager's visit.
"They must have gotten hold of some clues, or else the empress dowager wouldn't act so rashly," she said anxiously.
Still, he wasn't in a rush. Coldly, he said, "You're even more anxious than Grand Concubine Yi."
Han Yunxi felt uncomfortable hearing those words. She admitted frankly, "Of course I'm anxious. Dozens of lives in the Duke of Qin's estate are tied to this matter, including me. I don't want to fall into Emperor Tianhui's hands."
"That's a reason." Long Fei Ye nodded his head in satisfaction. He didn't explain, but said, "Go back and wait for news."
"I'll wait for His Highness's good news." She didn't ask or waste words, but turned to leave, leaving behind a confident and confident figure.
But just as Han Yunxi was about to leave, Long Fei Ye suddenly called after her. "Han Yunxi."
Han Yunxi turned to look at him. "Does Your Highness have any other orders?"
"Since you don't want to fall into Emperor Tianhui's hands, then take a trip with your lordship," Long Fei Ye said, his emotions unreadable.
Go with him to find Mama Su? He had news?
Han Yunxi was still lost in thought when Long Fei Ye mounted his horse and came to her side. He didn't explain a thing, but reached out his hand.
Fine, I'll go. Who's afraid of him?
Han Yunxi didn't hesitate to give her small hand to his. Her hand was very cold, slender and boneless. His hand was even colder, the bones of his fingers distinct. When the two hands clasped together, there was a strange attraction between them that made both of them feel comfortable.
As soon as she got on the horse, he let go of her hand, but kept an arm around her waist while the other pulled on the reins to spur the horse forward.
Han Yunxi thought she could stay calm as she leaned against the familiar embrace. But in the end, she lost herself in the familiar scent of ambergris. Gradually, her thoughts wandered until she didn't even know how she arrived at Medicine City.
Finally, Han Yunxi grew curious. "What are we doing here?"
"We've received news that Mama Su is working as a servant in Medicine City's Mu Clan. They'll come tonight to take her away," Long Fei Ye said mildly as he hid in the shadows of the city gates.
Han Yunxi was surprised. She never expected Mama Su to sneak into Medicine City, much less news of the empress dowager. No wonder she was so arrogant when she first arrived at the Duke of Qin's estate. But on second thought, she felt something was off. She wouldn't be so high-profile before she got her hands on the person. Wasn't she afraid of beating the grass and startling the snake?
Han Yunxi couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. Just as she was about to ask for more details, the city gates opened and a carriage slowly drove out, followed by several black-clothed experts.
It was obvious that the carriage belonged to the palace.
They're here!
As soon as the carriage exited the city gates, it sped off. Long Fei Ye followed on horseback and soon left Medicine City's gates, entering a dark forest.
If they made a move here, they wouldn't alert the people of Medicine City. Han Yunxi thought that Long Fei Ye was about to make his move.
But who would've thought that the carriage in front of them would come to an abrupt stop. The black-clothed experts all turned around to look at them, as if they already knew they were following them.
Han Yunxi was shocked, but Long Fei Ye was very calm and slowly came to a stop.
What was going on?
One of the black-clothed experts was kneeling beside the carriage. The person inside the carriage stepped on the expert's back and elegantly walked down. She was actually a cool and elegant beauty.
She was a full head taller than Han Yunxi. She wore a fiery red qipao with a high collar that accentuated the beautiful curve of her neck. The opening almost reached the base of her thighs. As she walked, her well-proportioned and slender legs were faintly discernible, causing one's heart to flutter.
Not only did she have a good figure, but she also had a beautiful face. Her facial features were well-defined, bright and moving.
Some people said that qipaos were very tight and had openings lower than the knees. Those were the daughters of noble families who didn't step out of the house and had to take small, quick steps. Qipaos were loose and had openings that reached the knees. That was for ordinary housewives, purely for ease of work. But this type of qipao, with openings that reached the thighs, was for prostitutes.
However, this red-clothed woman didn't have the slightest bit of a prostitute's aura. She was cool and moving, emitting an innate sense of superiority. The pride and confidence in her eyes let Han Yunxi know that this woman's background wasn't ordinary.
She couldn't be Mother Su. Han Yunxi immediately understood that this was a trap. The Empress Dowager deliberately released the news to lure Long Fei Ye here!
However, seeing Long Fei Ye's calm appearance, Han Yunxi didn't worry too much.
The red-clothed woman disdainfully glanced at Han Yunxi. When her gaze fell on Long Fei Ye, her cold and arrogant expression became gentle. She joked, "Your Highness Duke of Qin is actually riding on the same horse as a woman. Is Shuang 'er having a nightmare?"
Han Yunxi originally planned to quietly watch how Long Fei Ye would deal with this trap. Who knew that the other party not only knew Long Fei Ye, but also pointed the spearhead at her.
She could see the love and hatred in this woman's eyes. In reality, she and Long Fei Ye were just riding on the same horse. It didn't mean anything.
However, since the other party had already said this, how could she back down?
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