The gleaming shackles dangled loosely over the bedding on the other side.
Ji Yuluo slowly unfastened the shackles, her feet slipping out from the canopy, stepping onto her embroidered shoes. She heard Nanny Liu asking if the master wanted a meal. Huo Xian dismissed her with a curt “No need,” and then there was silence.
He must have walked away.
Something had happened in the imperial prison, and the court officials would undoubtedly stir up trouble first.
Nanyue had stopped speaking halfway through, with a peculiar expression. It was likely that people were already blocking the entrance to the imperial prison. Now that His Majesty had finally agreed to release the prisoners, if any of the three judicial officials were harmed in any way, given Huo Xian’s reputation, it would be hard not to suspect he had orchestrated it.
Those court officials were the best at causing a fuss and would surely tie him up for a long time.
Ji Yuluo pushed aside the canopy and got up, but instinctively glanced back at Huo Xian’s jade pillow, remembering his furrowed brows in his sleep, completely defenseless even under scrutiny.
What a pity there was no knife at hand.
A faint regret crossed Ji Yuluo’s mind as she called Biwu to assist with her washing, and then gave instructions regarding the palace visit and submission of the visiting card.
Biwu, unaware of the impending events, treated it as ordinary business. While combing Ji Yuluo’s hair, she said, “Miss, Sister Hongshuang already gave the instructions yesterday. I just got the card from Nanny Liu and sent a little maid from the outer courtyard to the palace. Shall we leave shortly?”
Ji Yuluo replied, “No rush, let’s have breakfast first.”
Biwu responded, “Yes.”
She didn’t understand why submitting a card to the palace had to be done so discreetly, using a maid from the outer courtyard. However, Hongshuang had sternly instructed her not to ask questions. Since they had moved into the Huo residence, Miss had changed significantly, especially in recent days. Biwu hardly recognized her anymore, and facing those indifferent eyes, she dared not ask further.
Lost in thought, Biwu sighed softly.
Ji Yuluo glanced up, put on the jade and silver ring given by Xie Subai, and said nothing more.
After washing and dressing, she leisurely ate her breakfast, ignoring the guards “on standby” within a ten-foot radius. She stood on the corridor, gazing at the fine weather, then unhurriedly instructed someone to prepare the carriage.
Although Huo Xian had left, the guards remained.
This was the most critical moment; she couldn’t afford any slip-ups. These guards were obviously more vigilant than yesterday. Hearing that Ji Yuluo was going out, they treated it like a matter of life and death. The leader asked, “Where is Madam going?”
Ji Yuluo glanced casually, smiling faintly, “I wasn’t satisfied with yesterday’s outing. Any problem with going again today? Bring more people. If you can’t carry everything again, I’ll be even less satisfied and will go out again tomorrow.”
Guard: “…”
Her words sounded like she was intentionally making things difficult for them, but it oddly made them feel relieved. They dared not relax, though. When the carriage stopped at the street corner, they stuck even closer than yesterday, practically pressing their eyes against Ji Yuluo’s back.
Thus, the scene unfolded on the street: a carriage, a few maids, and seven or eight guards. The woman in the center moved from one shop to another, followed by a large entourage, a spectacle that drew gasps. Upon seeing the “Huo” sign on the carriage, onlookers understood: oh, from the Huo family, no wonder it was so extravagant.
In no time, the guards were laden with items, yet they dared not relax. Yesterday, the young madam had behaved similarly but still managed to slip away. After being reprimanded by Nanyue, the guards reflected that the only time they hadn’t closely monitored her was at the theater, where she must have taken advantage.
They couldn’t afford to make the same mistake again.
So, when Ji Yuluo entered the private room of the restaurant, despite Hongshuang’s attempts to block them, the guards refused to back down.
Both parties stood at a standoff at the threshold, scaring the waiter into retreating to the side.
Hongshuang said, “Guard Qin, this is the second floor. What are you worried about if you stand outside? Do you think our lady will jump out the window?”
Guard Qin thought to himself: That’s not necessarily true.
Moreover, it was this very Hongshuang who blocked him yesterday!
The stalemate continued until Ji Yuluo spoke, “Forget it, let them in.”
Only then did Hongshuang relent and let them in.
The guards swarmed into the private room, positioning themselves like an army formation, standing along the walls.
Biwu was quite frightened and only slowly realized that the sudden increase in guards in the courtyard over the past two days was to watch over the lady. Why was Lord Huo surveilling the lady for no reason?
What was all this about? It was really worrying.
While Biwu was still troubled, Hongshuang quietly slipped a pill into her mouth. She widened her eyes and accidentally swallowed it. Hongshuang gave her a calming look.
When the food and wine were served, it didn’t take long for one of the guards to stagger and fall heavily to the ground with a “thud.” Before Biwu could react, she saw the rest of the guards collapsing one by one, motionless!
Biwu was shocked, “M-Miss…”
Ji Yuluo remained calm, quickly setting down her chopsticks. “Let’s go, to the palace.”
Biwu, still in shock, was dragged along by Hongshuang. They hurried to the palace gate by carriage. Even after handing over the palace token as instructed, Biwu remained dazed.
Ji Yuluo waited quietly in the carriage.
Previously, when entering the palace, Huo Xian had mentioned that Concubine Xi was just a temporarily favored consort. There was no need for her to fawn over this person. From the numerous warm gestures of Concubine Xi at her birthday banquet, it seemed that it was actually Concubine Xi who wanted to curry favor with Huo Xian.
This was not surprising. Emperor Shun’an valued Huo Xian, and if Huo Xian could say a few good words in front of the Emperor, Concubine Xi’s favor would last longer.
Therefore, Ji Yuluo was certain that if she requested an audience on behalf of the Huo family, Concubine Xi would certainly be willing to meet her.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a eunuch arrived to escort her.
Ji Yuluo got off the carriage, and the eunuch respectfully saluted her, “The lady invites Madam to the hall for a chat.”
Ji Yuluo nodded and returned the salute, “I appreciate the trouble.”
However, when Biwu tried to follow, Hongshuang held her back.
The eunuch glanced curiously, and Ji Yuluo said disdainfully, “This little maid is clumsy and unfit to disgrace herself before the lady.”
The eunuch smiled knowingly.
Biwu was pulled onto the carriage by Hongshuang.
Seeing the two enter the Taihe Gate, Biwu said in a daze, “How can we let the Miss enter the palace alone? Someone must serve her properly.”
Hongshuang gave Biwu a serious look and then replied irrelevantly, “You’re lucky the Miss is taking you along.”
Biwu didn’t understand and started feeling uneasy, her eyelid twitching.
Hongshuang took a deep breath. The personnel were already in place, and she only hoped that the Miss would safely exit the palace. Then, this carriage would head straight out of the city.
Once they were outside the city gates, there would be nothing to fear.
—
Ji Yuluo didn’t know how long the disturbance at the imperial prison would last. Although she used Concubine Xi as an excuse to enter the palace, she didn’t actually want to waste time dealing with her, as it was unnecessary.
The eunuch led the way ahead, and before they reached the Nine Gates, Ji Yuluo suddenly twisted her foot and cried out in pain, then gasped, scaring the eunuch into stopping and asking, “Madam Huo, what happened?”
Ji Yuluo, supporting herself on a large stone lion, bent slightly to touch her ankle, “I think I twisted my foot—ow.”
She looked pained as if her bone had broken.
This was Huo Xian’s wife, and it was said that the couple had been inseparable and sweet these past few days. The eunuch didn’t dare make her endure the pain and looked around the deserted surroundings. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Madam, please wait here. I’ll fetch a sedan chair and send someone to the Imperial Hospital.”
Ji Yuluo replied, “Thank you, Eunuch.”
The eunuch didn’t dare delay and ran off quickly.
Ji Yuluo surveyed her surroundings. Once she stood up straight, she hurried towards the Nine Gates, slowing her pace only when passing by palace maids and eunuchs.
It was daytime, and Zhao Yong was likely not in the duty room. Thus, there was no one guarding the entrance. Ji Yuluo planned to hide inside and wait.
She used a trick to divert the scattered eunuchs and quietly slipped into the duty room.
The room was as simple as always: a set of plain wooden tables and chairs, with a split in the corner of the table, simple tea utensils, and an old couch with neatly folded bedding, without even a canopy.
If Ji Yuluo hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she might have been deceived into thinking Zhao Yong was a frugal and dutiful person.
Ji Yuluo closed her eyes for a moment.
Then she opened the window screen and stood in the corner.
Quiet and empty.
Light spilled through the window onto the tip of her shoes, and the thick dust in the corners was exposed. All surrounding sounds were magnified at this moment. The two eunuchs she had just diverted came back, holding brooms and grumbling:
“Strange, I could have sworn I heard someone calling.”
“Stop talking and sweep up the fallen leaves quickly. The supervisor likes cleanliness, and he’ll be upset otherwise.”
The waiting time felt interminable for Ji Yuluo.
As she closed her eyes, Ji Yuluo seemed to drift into a long dream, the sound of the broom sweeping the ground outside the window transporting her back to a distant past, to that poetic and picturesque courtyard where the mornings echoed with such sounds.
Someone would knock gently on the door and call her—
With a creak, Ji Yuluo was jolted awake, her eyes flashing with determination, her hand, adorned with the jade silver ring, instinctively clenched. She held her breath, listening to the approaching footsteps that stopped at the chair.
Ji Yuluo almost moved to strike but hesitated at the last moment, withdrawing her foot, because another person had arrived!
She heard the faint “clang” of a sword clashing against a belt. This new arrival was a martial artist, and if she attacked now, it would surely attract attention, making it difficult to leave the palace smoothly.
She listened carefully, noting the high-pitched voice and the self-address as a subordinate, indicating the person was likely a eunuch from the secret service.
Ji Yuluo decided to bide her time, planning to act only after they left.
However, the two conversed cryptically, speaking in riddles, though there were only the two of them in the room. Eventually, Zhao Yong approached her hiding spot, and Ji Yuluo pressed herself against the wall, raising her fist, ready to strike.
But Zhao Yong merely adjusted the brass incense burner at the corner of the table.
At that moment, with a loud rumble, the opposite wall rotated open, revealing a hidden passage.
The two men entered the passage with a lantern, and the wall returned to its original position.
Ji Yuluo lifted the window screen, speculating that Zhao Yong might have a hidden chamber beneath the duty room to store his clandestine items. If she could act within this secret chamber, she wouldn’t need to alarm the imperial guards.
Furthermore, once Zhao Yong returned to the duty room, guards would be stationed outside, making any attempt to leave even riskier.
With this in mind, Ji Yuluo imitated Zhao Yong’s actions and moved the incense burner.
The secret passage was pitch black, impossible to see anything.
Ji Yuluo hesitated briefly before stepping inside.
Her heart raced, her breathing grew heavy. She followed the wall, moving for what felt like the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, yet still, she hadn’t reached the end.
This passage did not lead to an underground chamber.
Continuing like this, she might even exit the inner palace!
—
Outside the imperial prison, the officials crowded, demanding an explanation from Huo Xian.
Each spat their words with such ferocity, it seemed they intended to drown Huo Xian in their spittle. Nanyue, standing beside him, was also sprayed with saliva.
The acrid smell of gunpowder reminded everyone of the recent explosive events within the prison.
Huo Xian’s face darkened as he wiped his face and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he drew his steel sword and coldly commanded, “Arrest anyone obstructing the Jinyiwei’s investigation!”
The crowd, caught off guard, stepped back in fear of the unsheathed blade, afraid of getting hurt.
However, though they retreated, they continued to shout:
“The Emperor has already agreed to release the people. If any of you officials meet with misfortune, you unruly ones will be defying the imperial decree!”
“What of the Jinyiwei? The Jinyiwei must also act according to the law!”
“Even the Marquis of Xuanping is inside. Lord Huo tried to murder his younger brother a few years ago, and now he wants to kill his father!”
As the words fell, the surroundings immediately quieted down.
The passionate speaker was an official from the Censorate, a natural troublemaker who often impeached others. He couldn’t hold back today, but in the past, he had some protection in court. Now, it was different.
Seeing Huo Xian stopping on the stone steps, standing right at the intersection of light and shadow, the half of his face that glanced over was dark.
It was quite frightening, and the official immediately shut his mouth in fear.
Huo Xian entered the imperial prison, and the guards carried out the injured.
He waved his hand under his nose, “Is anyone dead?”
Liyang replied, “Not for now. The gunpowder wasn’t very powerful. It was hidden in multiple places, especially near several prison gates that were blown open. Some prisoners took the opportunity to escape, causing a commotion.”
Fortunately, the imperial prison was heavily guarded inside and out. Even if they got through the first gate, they couldn’t get past the second, unless the entire prison exploded. Escaping was absolutely impossible!
But it was a mess inside now.
Prison gates collapsed, and injured guards and prisoners groaned and screamed in pain.
Huo Xian kicked away a prisoner trying to grab his leg and asked, “Where are the officials from the Three Judicial Offices and the Jiuxuan Camp?”
Liyang said, “Fortunately, they were all held elsewhere, heavily guarded, and there were no mishaps.”
Liyang paused, knowing this wasn’t what Huo Xian wanted to ask, so he added, “The Marquis of Xuanping is held with those people, and they are all safe.”
Huo Xian acknowledged with a sound, frowned, and looked around, feeling uneasy. He suddenly stopped and called for Nanyue, “Is everything at the residence alright?”
Nanyue was stunned for a moment and then understood, “Master, are you worried… Rest assured, I specifically instructed them, and today the guards will not leave Madam’s side for a moment!”
Huo Xian was still worried.
The groans in the imperial prison lingered, and his expression gradually became solemn.
As the saying goes, a cornered dog will jump over the wall, and even a rabbit will bite when desperate. Besides…
He immediately turned around, “Return!”
Just then, a hand reached out from an intact prison gate, grabbing Huo Xian’s robe tightly. The person, with a bruised and swollen face, hair smoking, and a dirty appearance, shouted, “Lord Huo! Is it Lord Huo!”
“Impudent, let go now!”
A guard saw this and hurriedly kicked the hand away.
Huo Xian seemed accustomed to such matters and paid no attention, lifting his foot to leave. However, the person behind him shouted, “Lord Huo! My aunt used to be a nanny beside Lady Gu, the concubine of the Ji Mansion. Don’t you dislike Ji Chongwang? I… I have evidence against him, something that could ruin him even more than the marriage alliance between the Huo and Ji families!”
In the end, the person, having endured enough of the torture in the imperial prison, cried out, “Lord Huo, please save me, let me out…”
The jailer struck the cell door with his baton and shouted, “No noise!”
Then he turned to Huo Xian and said, “My lord, this person was caught with the group from the casino last time. He knows nothing and has been acting crazy these past few days, sometimes claiming to be backed by the Ji family, other times insisting on seeing you. I think he just wants to escape!”
Huo Xian turned to look, remained silent for a moment, and walked over with his hands behind his back. “What’s your name?”
The person wiped his face and said, “My, my name is Sun Zhixing! My aunt’s surname is Sun, she really was the nanny beside the late Lady Gu. If you don’t believe me, you can check!”
Huo Xian nodded slightly and said, “Take this man down and wait for my return to interrogate him.”
The jailer quickly complied.
Sun Zhixing did not understand what this meant, thinking his life was in danger, and was dragged away crying and wailing to a solitary cell.
After that, Huo Xian strode out of the imperial prison, hurriedly riding back to his residence. Indeed, Ji Yuluo was nowhere to be seen. At that moment, Nanyue had sent a secret message to the guards. When there was no response for a while, he realized something was wrong!
Nanny Liu, unaware of the situation, passed by and casually said, “Master, are you waiting for Madam? Madam took the palace token early in the morning, saying she was going to visit Consort Xi.”
Nanny Liu looked at the sky and muttered, “It’s still early.”
