Changing directions, he made his way into the side chamber. The quilt that covered the bed bulged up in the middle. According to Ye Qingzhu, there should be two palace maids who were brought here by Su Xi-er. If that’s the case, there should be two people lying on the bed. However, it really doesn’t look like it’s two people lying in there.
Wu Ling walked forward and lifted the quilt up, only to discover two pillows. He immediately proceeded to the inner chamber before doing the same with the bed in there, only to find a pillow again.
Su Xi-er has disappeared! Vanished into thin air!
Eunuch Sun was stunned. Su Xi-er had clearly gone into the room and hadn’t come out. Why…is she gone?
“Eunuch Sun, where are the people? The Beauty Palace is heavily guarded. Could a person have run away for no reason?” Wu Ling’s tone was solemn. It can’t have been that they were kidnapped, right?
If she has been kidnapped… and from within the Beauty Palace at that, it is a challenge towards Prince Hao!
With such a thought, Wu Ling felt that the matter had become grave. Thus, without waiting for Eunuch Sun to answer, he immediately walked outside the courtyard.
If we search in the periphery and seal off the city gates, there is hope of finding Su Xi-er.
Eunuch Sun was getting anxious. There have never been slip-ups with the Beauty Palace under my supervision, so why has something occurred now of all times?!
Eunuch Sun immediately caught up. “Imperial Bodyguard Wu, this old servant surmises that nothing will happen to Su Xi-er. The worst that could have happened is that she really was kidnapped, but nobody would go to the trouble of taking the two maidservants too, right?”
On second thought, Wu Ling felt that Eunuch Sun made a lot of sense. If that’s the case, does this suggest that Su Xi-er took the two maidservants with her as secretly sneaked out?
I was too flustered just now and didn’t think it through clearly. So it turns out that the person challenging Prince Hao is Su Xi-er. This woman is tired of living right?
Wu Ling immediately instructed the imperial guard beside him. “Return to Prince Hao at full speed. Report to him that I’ll go over after some time and that Su Xi-er isn’t in the Beauty Palace. She has probably secretly slipped out.”
His subordinate nodded and turned around to leave rapidly.
At this moment, the woman who had been in the tiny boat on the lake sauntered over leisurely.
She paid her greetings to Wu Ling. “This humble woman, Tan Ge, pays her respects to Imperial Bodyguard Wu.”
The maidservant beside Tan Ge followed her in bending her knees and paying her respects. She then immediately asked, “Imperial Bodyguard Wu, why did you come to the Beauty Palace at night? Is Prince Hao also…”
Before she could finish, Tan Ge had pinched her hand and glared at her, warning her not to spout nonsense.
Wu Ling had no time to respond to them, and immediately strode away.
Eunuch Sun looked at the maidservant with a stern expression. “This mouth should be slapped!” He then gave a warning glance at Tan Ge before leaving swiftly.
Once everyone had completely disappeared from sight, the maidservant mumbled, “Young Miss, you are still the Tan Residence’s Eldest Young Miss after all. Although the Tan Residence has lost its former glory, there’s still no need for us to fear a eunuch and act according to his mood!”
“Jeez, you should pay attention to what comes out from your mouth in the future. Don’t cause trouble. I won’t be able to protect you.” Tan Ge’s tone was suffused with helplessness as her eyes involuntarily became sorrowful.
I am supposed to be the Tan Residence’s hope. Dad used the last of his connections to send me into the Beauty Palace, but now look at how things have turned out. I feel like the Tan Residence’s hope is destined to become despair[*].
She couldn’t forget the first time she saw Prince Hao. At that time, he had been clad in cloud-patterned purple robes with noble aura exuding as he sat on the main seat. Just a glance was enough to instil fear in people and have everyone racing to pledge their allegiance to him.
I’m afraid that was the first, and also last, time that I saw him.
Tan Ge reached out a hand to pinch her. “Keep a lid on your curiosity.” She then walked towards the Sandalwood[**] Compound.
The maidservant pouted and indignantly looked in the direction Wu Ling left in.
~~~
Outside the Beauty Palace, Wu Ling divided the imperial guards into four groups that headed towards the north, south, east and west respectively.
While they were anxiously searching, Su Xi-er was taking Ruo Yuan and Hong Li to admire the view of Beimin’s night market.
~~~
Beimin was larger than Nanzhao. Regardless of which aspect was compared, it was better than Nanzhao.
The night market was massive and flourishing with many pedestrians walking to and fro. The peddlers hawked their wares loudly, while the children frolicked around with each other. There were even pairs of men and women walking on the streets with the man in front, and the woman behind.
In Nanzhao, even if they were married, men and women in love couldn’t walk simultaneously on the streets. However, couples were allowed to do so in Beimin. The only caveat was that the woman had to walk behind the man to illustrate that the man’s position was higher than the woman’s.
At this moment, Ruo Yuan pointed at a candy. “It’s made from sugar. So amazing!”
Hong Li patted her shoulder. “Come on, I have a few copper coins on me. Let’s go for a ringtoss and win some items back!”
“Alright!” Ruo Yuan immediately nodded.
Afterwards, the two walked into the distance, forgetting about Su Xi-er in their excitement.
Su Xi-er checked that they wouldn’t go too far before walking towards a teahouse at the side and taking a seat by the window. She ordered a pot of green tea and sipped it slowly as she observed the crowd.
It was especially lively outside the teahouse. Some were eating pastries and desserts, some were listening to tunes and some were listening to the storyteller’s narration.
The storyteller happened to be getting enthusiastic at this moment, but the subject he was on was…
“This is a matter that really happened in Nanzhao’s imperial household. I heard about this from a friend who was doing business in Nanzhao.”
The audience eyes lit up. “Tell us quickly!”
The storyteller swayed his handheld fan. “After the Eldest Imperial Princess was killed by General Yun, her body wasn’t buried in the imperial mausoleum. The former Second Imperial Princess has become the current Eldest Imperial Princess, and seems to be very much in love with General Yun. This is practically a drama! The younger sister robbed the elder sister’s husband and the elder sister is killed. Even that little emperor has become a puppet!”
“Ah, we only just found out that he actually formed a relationship with the younger sister. Then the question becomes, when is he going to marry that younger sister?”
The storyteller’s eyes narrowed until it formed a narrow slit. “He won’t be able to marry her in such a short time. Although the little emperor has become a puppet, he is one with a strong will. He seems to be actively preventing this marriage. You have to know that Nanzhao’s little emperor had a very close relationship with the deceased Eldest Imperial Princess!”
As Su Xi-er sat there silently, the expression in her eyes darkened. Lianchen, you are also leading a very tough life, right? Elder Sister is not by your side, leaving you to deal with Yun Ruofeng alone. Furthermore, his power is so humongous. You are still not fully fledged, so how are you able to win against him?
The surrounding customers in the teahouse became even more interested, with one even commenting, “That little emperor’s power is minuscule. If General Yun really wanted to marry the current Eldest Imperial Princess, how would he be able to stop the marriage? I bet that it’s General Yun who suddenly doesn’t want to marry her anymore!”
Su Xi-er’s breath hitched. How can it be possible for him to not marry? Yun Ruofeng and Ning Anlian already have a child together. If he doesn’t marry her, her stomach is going to bulge day by day, attracting criticism from others.
The storyteller burst into laughter and waved the fan in his hand repeatedly. “He’s simply not marrying her. What you said is probably reasonable, but the little emperor has indeed prevented the marriage. Nanzhao has just stabilised not long ago and is now preparing for the state banquet. How would General Yun have the time to care about his personal love affairs?”
The storyteller paused at this point and smiled mysteriously. “In the past, Prince Hao didn’t deign to go to Nanzhao’s state banquet, but he has gone this time. From what I see, something major is about to happen.”
(* Hope and despair rhyme in Chinese.).
(** In Chinese, ‘Sandalwood’ contains the word ‘Tan’, the same character as the one in her name.)
