Joy of Life: Starting by clinging to the eldest princess's coattails!

Chapter 34 Old Ye, I've Offended You

Weiyang Palace.

The Empress sat before her dressing table, her face ashen in the mirror.

"waste!"

She suddenly slammed the jade hairpin in her hand onto the mirror, and the hairpin broke with a crack.

This time, too many people were dispatched. Although the Kyoto Garrison Division provided cover, the Surveillance Bureau still managed to uncover a considerable number of clues.

Those idiots, they can't even get rid of them completely!

"Your Highness, please calm down." A trusted maidservant bowed and stood three steps away, her voice extremely low. "The Overwatch Council has only caught some peripheral figures so far; it hasn't touched the core yet."

"Didn't find anything?" The Empress sneered. "Once Chen Pingping and Fan Jian return, how long do you think you can keep this a secret?"

She stood up, the hem of her dark gold palace dress sweeping across the floor. The empress, over twenty years old, had a voluptuous figure, her chest heaving slightly with anger.

"Pass down the order: everyone evacuate the capital immediately. For those who can't... you know what to do." The Empress's voice was icy. "We must erase all traces before Chen Pingping and Fan Jian return to the capital."

"This servant understands." The maid immediately bowed and quickly retreated.

Only the Empress remained in the palace.

She slowly walked to the window, gazing at the dark sky outside. Ye Qingmei... that bitch is finally dead.

But for some reason, she didn't feel as happy as she had imagined; instead, she felt a little uneasy.

"Someone come here!" the Empress suddenly called out.

The female official guarding the door immediately entered: "Your Highness."

"Prepare the carriage, I am going to Chang Le Palace." The Empress's voice was calm. "I am going to see the Empress Dowager, and while I'm at it... to see that vile woman Ye Qingmei."

The lady-in-waiting glanced at the sky outside the window and softly advised, "Your Highness, it's getting late. Perhaps... we could go tomorrow?"

The Empress turned her head and gave her a cold look: "She's dead. I don't believe a dead person can do anything!"

The female official dared not say anything more and immediately withdrew to make arrangements.

A moment later, the Empress's palanquin departed from Weiyang Palace, with four palace maids leading the way with lanterns at the front and back, slowly making its way towards Changle Palace.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On the palace road.

Wu Feng had just delivered Li Yunrui's clothes to the laundry department and was walking back.

The sky had completely darkened, and lanterns were lit on both sides of the palace road, casting swaying shadows on the bluestone slabs in the dim light.

The sound of orderly footsteps came from afar.

Wu Feng looked up and saw a procession of honor guards heading this way.

It was the Empress's palanquin.

He immediately retreated to the side of the palace road and bowed deeply with several passing eunuchs and palace maids, his head hanging very low.

The imperial carriage passed in front of him.

In the dim light, Wu Feng could make out the person sitting on the palanquin.

The empress wore a dark gold palace dress, her face appearing somewhat blurred in the light and shadow, but her dignified yet cold demeanor was very clear.

What caught his attention even more was the direction the imperial carriage was traveling in.

Chang Le Palace...

Why is the Empress going to see the Empress Dowager so late at night?

Wu Feng's mind raced.

He spent the whole afternoon figuring out how to put the mark of the shifting stars on Ye Qingmei, but Chang Le Palace was heavily guarded, making it difficult for him to get close.

But if the Empress goes to Chang Le Palace at this time... with more people accompanying her, the guards' attention will be diverted, and they might actually find an opportunity.

Once the imperial carriage had gone far away, Wu Feng immediately quickened his pace, and his figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the palace road.

He needs to go back and change his clothes.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Chang Le Palace.

The Empress Dowager had just finished her dinner and was taking a nap on the couch. She had caught up on her sleep during the day and was feeling much better now.

An old nanny entered quietly: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, the Empress has arrived."

The Empress Dowager opened her eyes, somewhat puzzled: "What is the Empress doing here so late? Let her in."

After all, the empress was the emperor's legal wife and the rightful mistress of the harem.

The main hall of Changle Palace.

When the Empress entered, the Empress Dowager was already seated in the main seat. She stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your daughter-in-law greets the Empress Dowager."

"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities." The Empress Dowager raised her hand, her voice still relatively gentle. "Please sit. What brings you to see me so late?"

The Empress sat down to the side: "Mother, news of what happened at Taiping Villa today has spread. The Censorate has arrested quite a few people."

"The people of Kyoto are in a state of panic right now. I think it would be appropriate to issue an edict to restrain the Censorate. As for the Taiping Villa, it would be best to wait for His Majesty to return and make a decision."

The Empress Dowager understood.

The Empress wanted to use her influence to issue an edict with the Emperor's seal, giving their people more time to evacuate.

The Empress Dowager slowly shook her head: "His Majesty will be returning to the capital in a few days. At this critical juncture, I cannot use the imperial seal again."

She looked at the Empress, her voice calm yet carrying a deeper meaning: "It's just a matter of a few more people dying. For Chengqian's sake, some things... the Empress should deal with them as soon as possible."

The Empress felt a chill run down her spine.

The Empress Dowager's words were very clear: those people could not be protected, and they must be silenced as soon as possible; they must not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Censorate.

She didn't pity those people, but she did feel a little sorry for them. Training these assassins wasn't easy either.

"Daughter-in-law understands." The Empress lowered her eyes.

The Empress Dowager's expression softened when she saw that she understood. Compared to Li Yunrui, she naturally respected the Empress more.

"Then daughter-in-law... go to the side hall for a look and then go back," the Empress said, rising to her feet.

The Empress Dowager nodded: "Go then."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Near the side hall of Changle Palace.

Wu Feng had changed into a dark gray outfit, covered his face, and quietly crept behind the artificial hill not far from the side hall.

The night was deep, and the light from the palace lanterns could only illuminate a small area. He held his breath and carefully observed the guards around the side hall.

Two armored warriors stood in each of the four directions, motionless like statues.

The palace doors were tightly shut, and not a single ray of light could see through the windows.

It's not easy to get in.

Just as Wu Feng was pondering how to create an opportunity, he saw the Empress and her entourage coming from the direction of the main hall.

Upon seeing the Queen, the guards immediately knelt on one knee to pay their respects.

But the palace gates remained closed.

Wu Feng was somewhat disappointed when he saw the Empress walk straight towards the side hall.

The head guard stood up and whispered something. The female official beside the empress stepped forward and showed a token.

The palace doors creaked open.

The empress, accompanied by two maids and four guards, swaggered in.

The opportunity is coming!

Wu Feng's eyes lit up.

With so many people, the commotion was great, and the guards' attention was focused on the Queen and her entourage.

He took a deep breath, and his internal energy began to circulate quietly.

Phoenix Dance in Three Illusions!

A figure emerged from behind the artificial hill like a ghost, its outline almost invisible in the night. It took three steps, leaving a faint afterimage in its wake.

The guards only felt a blur before their eyes, as if something had swept past, but when they looked again, all they could see on the palace road were the shadows of trees swaying in the wind.

Wu Feng had already slid along the wall to the side of the side hall.

A ventilator window was half-open.

He gripped the windowsill with his fingers, and like a fish, he slipped inside, landing silently.

The interior was darker than the outside, with only a few rays of light from the corridor lamps shining through the entrance.

A very faint smell of blood filled the air, mixed with the stench of dust and mildew.

In the dim light, Wu Feng could see the wooden plank in the center of the courtyard, and the outline of the white cloth covering it.

He walked over quickly.

The white cloth was lifted, revealing Ye Qingmei's face. It was deathly pale, devoid of any color, and her eyes were tightly closed.

His long hair was disheveled, and there were dried bloodstains on his forehead.

Wu Feng took the transparent sphere out of his pocket.

Where should I put it...?

His gaze swept quickly across the area.

Have it.

After doing all this, Wu Feng looked at Ye Qingmei's pale face and silently thought to himself:

"Old Ye, although we've only met once, I've managed to save you from a fate worse than death. I hope you won't mind my offense tonight."

Footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

Without further delay, Wu Feng darted towards the air vent. As he slipped out, he glanced back.

The white cloth has been put back on, and the hall has returned to deathly silence.

The next moment, his figure blended into the night, and with a few leaps, he disappeared into the shadows of the palace walls.

The markers are in place.

Next, we just have to wait for Emperor Qing to return to the capital.