The carriage to the palace was already prepared, and beside it was tethered Huo Xian’s beloved steed with a tuft of red hair on its head. However, Huo Xian got into the carriage together with Ji Yuluo.
Ji Yuluo glanced at him, guessing that he had something to say.
Sure enough, as soon as the carriage started moving, Huo Xian began to speak, “Consort Xi comes from an unremarkable family. She only recently gained the emperor’s favor this month, and now she is a concubine. Today’s banquet will mostly consist of concubines from the harem. There won’t be many noblewomen from prominent families. If she thanks you, accept her gratitude. Don’t be overly anxious or deliberately try to ingratiate yourself. If you encounter any trouble, you can find Liyang. He will be guarding the Nine Gates tonight.”
This sounded as if he was concerned about his new wife, fearing she might be bullied in the palace. However, the underlying meaning was quite intriguing. He was essentially saying that Consort Xi, apart from her temporary favor, was of no real importance, and there was no need to curry favor and disgrace him, Huo Xian.
Ji Yuluo smiled inwardly but focused on the last part of his words.
What was the Nine Gates? It was the final palace gate before Chonghua Hall, adjacent to the Office of Ceremonial Duties. So, Liyang would be guarding there tonight.
Last time, during the attack on their wedding procession, the Jinyiwei Guard named Liyang had shown considerable skill. However, this time, she had no intention of forcing her way through.
Thinking that tonight she could finally deal with Zhao Yong, Ji Yuluo’s lowered eyes flickered with a momentary sinister smile. It quickly disappeared, but the corners of her lips curled up more than usual. She said, “Thank you for your concern, husband. I will remember your words.”
Huo Xian’s gaze fell into her eyes, and he unconsciously frowned.
Their eyes met, and Ji Yuluo showed a puzzled and innocent expression, asking, “Husband… what’s wrong?”
Huo Xian did not speak and turned to look out the window.
Winter days darkened quickly. As the setting sun faded, dusk spread over the city. The usually solemn and silent palace was bustling with life for once. The Anhe Palace was decorated with lanterns and festoons, lively and cheerful.
As Huo Xian had said, though Consort Xi was hosting a grand birthday banquet, most of the guests were concubines from the harem. There were few women from outside the palace.
Consort Xi had deliberately dressed luxuriously and elegantly today, her attire almost rivaling the empress. Her face showed the pride of someone favored, surrounded by people flattering her. She was almost drunk without touching any wine.
When the maid lifted the curtain, the warm pavilion fell silent.
When Ji Yuluo arrived, the smiles on everyone’s faces had not faded. They were all sizing her up.
The emperor had a fondness for beautiful women with striking features. Therefore, the concubines in the palace were all enchanting and alluring, making the harem seem like a spider’s nest. Upon seeing this cold, frosty beauty, several people were taken aback.
Before anyone could speak, Consort Xi exclaimed with surprise, “Lady Huo, you finally arrived. I thought Lord Huo wouldn’t let you go since you’re newly married. Quickly, find a seat for Lady Huo.”
Everyone suddenly realized, oh, it was the newlywed wife of Commander Huo, the daughter of the Grand Academician Ji. It was said she had been weak and had been recuperating in a temple for years, hence she had never entered the palace before. They all scrutinized her even more.
Facing the multitude of eyes, Ji Yuluo first gave a half-bow to the concubines before being pulled to a seat by Consort Xi.
Holding Ji Yuluo’s hand, Consort Xi expressed her gratitude, “That day on the road, my knee suddenly hurt, and I fell into the pool, almost losing my life. It was thanks to Lady Huo passing by and saving me. I should have all my maids learn to swim!”
Ji Yuluo replied, “Your Highness exaggerates. It was your imperial fortune that kept you safe. I dare not take credit.”
Her words were perfectly spoken, hitting Consort Xi right in her heart. Consort Xi lowered her eyebrows shyly and covered her mouth as she laughed, delighted. She held Ji Yuluo’s hand tightly and said, “I feel an instant connection with Lady Huo and am very happy. Tonight, the emperor specially invited the Lihong Troupe from outside the palace. Lady Huo, please sit by my side and enjoy the show with me.”
Ji Yuluo nodded in agreement.
Before long, the performers began their act.
However, watching the opera was not truly about the opera itself. Though everyone’s gaze seemed to be fixed on the temporarily erected stage, their conversations were filled with innuendoes. One moment, a concubine would subtly mock another for losing the emperor’s favor; the next, another would ridicule someone for aging and losing her beauty. The exchanges offstage were more thrilling than the performance on stage.
Ji Yuluo glanced at her hand, tightly held by Consort Xi, and then raised her eyes to signal Hongshuang, who was standing at a distance. Hongshuang understood and silently exited the hall.
The performance on stage changed to a new act, and the veiled barbs among the concubines had gone through another round. Just as it seemed like they might start tearing each other’s headpieces off, a thick smell of smoke wafted in, causing everyone to pause and stop talking.
Someone sniffed the air and suddenly exclaimed, pointing outside, “Fire! There’s a fire!”
With that shout, Ji Yuluo’s hand was finally free.
Consort Xi sprang to her feet. At that moment, an attendant came stumbling in, trembling as he reported, “Your Highness! Your Highness, there’s a fire in the hall!”
Consort Xi angrily shouted, “Why aren’t you finding someone to put out the fire!”
She hurried towards the door, but before she could step outside, a beam from the ceiling came crashing down. Consort Xi was terrified and quickly retreated, only to see that the entire palace was surrounded by flames!
The attendants behind her were still shouting, “Your Highness, don’t go!” Consort Xi turned and slapped one of them, “What were you all doing! How could you report such a large fire only now!”
The attendant, covering his face, said miserably, “Your Highness, we don’t know where the sparks came from. Several places caught fire, and the wind tonight is strong. By the time we noticed, the fire had already spread rapidly.”
As he spoke, another beam somewhere snapped and fell with a crash. The concubines, who had just been sparring verbally, were now clinging to each other, screaming incessantly.
The fire grew more intense, and the smoke became thicker.
The stage, made of wood, caught fire from the embers blowing in through the window. The drapes on the stage quickly ignited.
Everyone was struggling to protect themselves, and the scene descended into chaos.
Ji Yuluo silently retreated. Consort Xi’s palace had two doors, one leading to the front gate of the palace and the other connecting to the sleeping quarters’ water pavilion garden. At this moment, the garden’s flowers and trees were also ablaze, and the high stone walls around them trapped the palace maids and attendants inside.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Ji Yuluo lightly touched her toes to the ground and vaulted over the wall.
Hongshuang, keeping a wary eye behind her, approached and handed over some clothes. Under a nearby large tree lay an unconscious eunuch, stripped of his clothes. Hongshuang said, “Miss, I will go with you.”
Ji Yuluo took off her cloak and handed it to Hongshuang, deftly putting on the eunuch’s attire. She said, “No need. Too many people will attract attention. Wait for me here.”
Hongshuang anxiously said, “But the master said I must always—”
Ji Yuluo’s cold gaze swept over her, “I am your master now. If you don’t want to serve, then leave.”
“…Yes,” Hongshuang bowed her head respectfully.
Dressed as a eunuch, Ji Yuluo walked quickly along the palace wall with a lantern in hand. The chaos caused everyone to rush towards Consort Xi’s palace, and no one noticed her. Only when she encountered patrolling Jinyiwei Guards did she lower her hat and hide her face.
As expected, Liyang had arrived with his men.
Such a major incident like a fire in the palace, especially one affecting the emperor’s favored consort, would naturally draw Liyang away from his post at the Nine Gates.
But as soon as he left, the surveillance at the Office of Ceremonial Duties would be lax.
Now, she needed to find out if Zhao Yong was in the office. If he wasn’t, she would find and kill him amid the chaos.
Under the cover of darkness, Ji Yuluo approached a eunuch of notable rank, holding a duster, and lowered her voice, “I serve before the emperor. Where is the Superintendent? The emperor needs him.”
The fire was raging fiercely, spreading to the neighboring palaces. Shengxi had just come from Chonghua Hall, relaying the emperor’s orders to Zhao Yong to muster people to extinguish the fire. He was sweating profusely and, without thinking, pointed to the back office, “The Superintendent is inside.”
After speaking, Shengxi hurried off but stopped abruptly near Consort Xi’s palace.
He had just come from Chonghua Hall; when did the emperor summon the Superintendent again? Moreover, those serving before the emperor wore red belts, but that little eunuch just now wore a green one. Something was off…
Shengxi gestured to the other eunuchs, “You go ahead. I’ll go back.”
The office was not an elaborate palace but looked like an ordinary courtyard, with plain black wooden doors instead of the usual red palace doors, modestly tucked away in the opulent palace.
This was Zhao Yong’s office, unlike the bustling Office of Ceremonial Duties, usually attended by a few junior eunuchs. With most of them now fighting the fire, the place was quiet.
She encountered almost no one as she made her way, until she turned a corner and saw a figure in deep purple. Ji Yuluo quickly hid in the shadows. The purple-clad figure, with his back to her, spoke to a junior eunuch before the latter nodded and left. The man then opened the door and entered the room.
Purple robes with a beast-patterned belt!
This attire was inconspicuous but significant. In the entire palace, only Zhao Yong could wear it.
Ji Yuluo’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes icy as she clenched her fists, veins bulging. As the door closed, she quickly moved forward.
The wind howled, carrying the sound of children crying.
With red eyes, Ji Yuluo pushed the door open with a bang but then stopped, frowning.
The room was small and empty.
She had clearly seen Zhao Yong enter.
Breathing heavily, she was about to search when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see the eunuch she had questioned earlier, “Superintendent, just now was there someone—”
Their eyes met. Shengxi’s face twisted in fury, “How dare you! Who are you to intrude into the Superintendent’s private quarters!”
His words trailed off, and he frowned again, recognition dawning in his wide eyes, “You—you are—”
Shengxi naturally recognized her. Both times Ji Yuluo had entered the palace, it was he who personally greeted her.
But before he could finish his sentence, Ji Yuluo stepped forward, unable to hide the murderous intent in her eyes. Shengxi immediately sensed something was wrong and turned to flee, but she grabbed him by the collar and forcefully shut the door in his face.
Ji Yuluo’s voice was soft, “Eunuch Shengxi, where are you running to?”
Shengxi pushed her away, circled around the table, and used the duster in his hand as a weapon, pointing it at the approaching Ji Yuluo while retreating, trembling, “Who—who are you? What are you trying to do? This is the forbidden palace, surrounded by Jinyiwei Guards and the Imperial Army. How dare you commit murder in the palace!”
Ji Yuluo kicked the duster out of Shengxi’s hand and pressed him into a water basin, her voice stern, “Where is Zhao Yong?”
Shengxi choked on the water and struggled, shouting, “Help! Somebody! Help!”
Ji Yuluo frowned, covering his mouth. Hearing the sound of orderly footsteps outside, she quickly pulled out a silver hairpin and pierced Shengxi’s throat.
He struggled in her grasp for a moment before going limp, falling to the ground with the basin, blood mixing with water, spreading across the floor.
Ji Yuluo carefully avoided the bloodstains and escaped through the window just as the Jinyiwei Guards burst in. Outside, the fire at Consort Xi’s palace was still raging, creating chaos as palace maids and eunuchs rushed back and forth with water. Ji Yuluo blended in with them, grabbing a bucket and heading towards the fire.
At a fork in the path ahead, a large group of Jinyiwei Guards was escorting someone, clearly Huo Xian.
Ji Yuluo furrowed her brow. She couldn’t force her way through the Jinyiwei Guards, so she followed behind them. By the time Huo Xian entered the palace, Ji Yuluo had just circled around the back.
Hongshuang approached, “Miss, how did it go?”
“It didn’t work.” Ji Yuluo changed her clothes, speaking faster than usual, “Huo Xian has arrived. We need to climb over from here and pretend we were trapped in the fire.”
Hongshuang nodded gravely.
Ji Yuluo returned to the water pavilion of the palace. The numerous trees and flowers there were still burning, and the fire was spreading.
The concubines were trapped in the front hall. Just as Ji Yuluo was about to step forward, she saw a tall figure approaching from the direction of the palace gates. Who else could it be but Huo Xian?
Ji Yuluo quickly shrank back, hiding behind a stone lantern, her breath instinctively held. She hadn’t been this nervous in a long time.
But only for a moment. Ji Yuluo then turned and stepped into the burning ruins. She crouched in a corner, smudged some ash on her face and clothes, and deliberately messed up her hair ornaments.
When Huo Xian arrived, he saw the young girl hugging her knees behind a pillar, her face buried. It wasn’t until Nanyue shouted in surprise, “Madam,” that she lifted her head, looking pitiful.
Her face was covered in ash, her eyes misty. Seeing her savior, she stumbled to her feet but hesitated to cross the burning beams, “Husband…”
Huo Xian, with a stern face, sighed with a mix of relief and irritation.
If the eldest daughter of the Ji family died shortly after marrying him, Ji Chongwang would likely make a big fuss, and without the marital bond, he could regain his influence. Zhao Yong would undoubtedly devise other ways to weaken Ji Chongwang’s power, probably causing more bloody conflicts. Then, all the trouble Huo Xian went through to marry Ji Yuluo would be for nothing.
Seeing that Ji Yuluo was still alive brought Huo Xian some relief, but also a bit of annoyance.
He extended his hand to the young girl in the circle of fire. As he pulled her out, he noticed how cold her hand felt.
Huo Xian hesitated slightly when he released his grip. Despite the raging fire and intense heat, Ji Yuluo’s hand was cold, as if it had been soaked in a chilling wind.
However, there was no time to ponder this further. Suddenly, a Jinyiwei Guard rushed forward from behind, “My lord, my lord!”
Huo Xian frowned and turned to look at the guard, who was panting and speaking in a hushed tone, “There’s an assassin in the palace. Eunuch Shengxi is dead, found in the Superintendent’s office.”
Huo Xian’s head snapped up. An assassin in the palace!
He was supposed to rush to Emperor Shun’an’s side to protect him, but his steps faltered. He turned back to Ji Yuluo, then instructed Nanyue, “Escort Madam back to the residence.”
