In the thick darkness of the night, a black shadow swept into Youyue Palace like a ghost, and immediately knelt down in front of Yan Jiangxuan's bed, his voice full of forbearing sorrow and indignation.
"Shadow Guard 49 came to collect the crime, but my subordinate came late."
This is the shadow guard who accompanied Yan Jiangxuan on the expedition before. When something happened to him, all the shadow guards were sent outside. The few who were left behind were also rounded up and killed by Emperor Chu's Qianlong Guards. Now I don't know who it is.
How to find ways to sneak into the palace.
Yan Jiangxuan opened his eyes: "How many people are left?"
The shadow guard on the ground spoke respectfully: "Master, there are seventy-six people including subordinates..."
These are the elites who survived the encirclement and strangulation of Emperor Chu, and they did much better than Yan Jiangxuan expected.
At this time, the shadow guard on the ground spoke again: "Master, this subordinate came in among the procession of blessings, chanting and funeral for the imperial concubine. I had already been to the mourning hall before, and I discovered that..."
The rare hesitation of the shadow guard made Yan Jiangxuan suddenly open his eyes: "Speak directly."
"It's... my subordinates discovered that the coffin of the imperial concubine in the mourning hall is empty."
Yan Jiangxuan was stunned for a moment, but then he realized something... His whole body was instantly overwhelmed by huge grief, anger and hatred.
From the moment he was attacked in the army and the army he led was deprived of food and grass, he realized that it was his father who wanted him dead on the throne.
But he still didn't understand why until he saw the man pointing at his mother-in-law's face and calling her a slut.
Just because of suspicion, that foolish king killed his maternal uncle and ransacked his house. Now, he actually refuses to give his mother and concubine any dignity after her death.
She had been with him for twenty-five years, and he could actually do such a terrible thing!
Yan Jiangxuan clutched the bedclothes underneath him tightly, with blue veins on his forehead clearly visible. He wished he could let the Shadow Guards kill the faint king right away...but he knew clearly that it was impossible.
Shadow Guards are useful for hiding in the dark, but if they want to enter the palace to kill the king, their power is simply not enough.
If raising secret guards can kill the king, I am afraid that no emperor in the world will be able to sit still.
The shadow guard next to him quickly said: "Master, please calm down, my subordinates and others will find out the inside story as soon as possible."
After a while, Yan Jiangxuan took a deep breath: "Go to the East Palace. There are things I stored in the secret compartment under the Buddhist niche in the West Hall. You will know what to do when you get the things."
The shadow guard bowed and accepted the order: "Yes."
At dawn the next day, Sheng Nuan had just practiced a set of sword skills when she saw Douzi coming in with a young eunuch.
Douzi smiled and handed over the towel and tea in an awkward manner: "Princess, this is Xiaozhu who is with His Highness the Second Highness of Youyue Palace. He said that His Highness wants to see you, so please come over."
Sheng Nuan raised her eyebrows and said, "Has he had enough of Ansheng's life?"
After taking a sip of tea, she handed the tea cup to Douzi and walked out wearing a long skirt with waist and arrow sleeves for practicing martial arts. Behind her, the little eunuch hurriedly followed.
Entering Youyue Palace, Sheng Nuan said bluntly: "Your Highness is looking for me?"
Xiaozhu closed the palace door with a wink and went out. On the bed, Yan Jiangxuan could barely sit up and no longer had to lie there.
He looked at Sheng Nuan with dark eyes: "I wonder if the cooperation that the princess mentioned is still true?"
Sheng Nuan suddenly cheered up: "Of course, I am sincere."
Yan Jiangxuan lowered his eyes: "I have to leave the palace today... If the princess can do it, I will let you see my sincerity."
Sheng Nuan was thoughtful, paused, and nodded: "Yes, but I have to know what His Highness wants when leaving the palace. Please understand, Your Highness, we are all walking on thin ice and have to be careful."
Yan Jiangxuan's face turned a little ugly. After a moment, he took a breath and said coldly: "My mother-in-law will be buried today."
Sheng Nuan was a little suspicious: "Your Highness is only here for funeral?"
Yan Jiangxuan looked at her and shook his head: "The body of the concubine is not in the coffin."
Sheng Nuan was stunned for a moment, and then she learned the whole story from the customer service.
The Emperor of Chu suspected that Concubine Xian was having an affair with her adoptive brother, and even suspected that Prince Yan Jiangxuan was not his biological flesh and blood. He hated Concubine Xian and refused to let her enter the imperial mausoleum, and had her body thrown into a mass grave to vent his anger and humiliation.
She was suddenly speechless.
This old Hunjun was really ruthless. He killed his father-in-law and his brother-in-law with just a drop of a knife. He forced the concubine who had been with him for more than twenty years to hang herself. In the end, he even refused to let go of the concubine's body.
She paused: "I'm going to think of a way and I'll reply to His Highness before noon."
Yan Jiangxuan nodded: "Thank you very much, Princess."
He didn't know if Sheng Nuan could do it, or if he was willing to take risks, but he had no choice.
In the past, he had many ways to get out of the palace, but now his leg is seriously injured and he can't even walk. It is impossible to leave unnoticed.
In fact, he also knew that he shouldn't go out today.
After his mother and concubine were buried, I don’t know how many people would stare at him, waiting to see his jokes or make a wrong move that would lead to his death... He should be patient for the long term.
But now the shadow guards have found out that the body of his mother-in-law has been transported out of the palace.
As a son of man, if he can't even save his mother's body, how can he talk about revenge.
Although he didn't know what the Princess Lin'an could do for that little lust under the guise of cooperation...but he had to take this risk.
On the other side, Sheng Nuan returned from Youyue Palace. As soon as she entered the courtyard of Ci'en Palace, she saw the third prince and the ninth princess there. The ninth princess was holding the queen mother's legs and begging.
"Royal grandmother, please, after all, the imperial concubine is also a prince and the biological mother of the second emperor brother. She is going to be buried today. Please allow the second emperor brother to send her off."
The Queen Mother pressed her eyebrows helplessly: "Xiaojiu, your father has a destiny. Hanging yourself is a serious crime for a worthy concubine. It is a great honor to be buried with the courtesy of a concubine. Your second emperor brother is still injured now, so let him go and disappear."
It's a good thing. If your father is angry again, it will still be your second brother who suffers."
The third prince stood beside him with a sad look on his face without saying a word.
Sheng Nuan paused slightly, then continued forward: "The Queen Mother."
The third prince turned around when he heard the sound, and was stunned when he saw Sheng Nuan's appearance.
On weekdays, Sheng Nuan is dressed similarly to a noble lady in the capital, with complicated dresses and gorgeous hairpins... But she is careless in her words and deeds. Although she has a beautiful appearance, her whole person is incompatible with her attire and looks very strange.
But the Sheng Nuan in front of her was only wearing a simple dark red dress with arrow sleeves and a waist, her hair was simply tied up, her facial features were thick, and her eyebrows were wild. She was completely different from her usual nondescript appearance.
"The Queen Mother." Sheng Nuan smiled and saluted.
The Ninth Princess Yan Huaiyu turned around and saw Sheng Nuan dressed in red. She was startled for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said: "Sheng Nuan, you have been married to the second emperor brother. Today, the funeral of the imperial concubine is going to be held. Why don't you go and kneel down?"
And dressed so festively!”
Sheng Nuan raised her eyebrows: "What the princess said is strange. I'm in a hurry to watch the funeral before I've even passed the door. Aren't I afraid of people laughing at me? Is this how the Queen of the Moon raised the princess?"
When the Ninth Princess heard that her mother was being ridiculed, she immediately became anxious and stood up: "Say it again!"
The Queen Mother frowned: "Lin'an, don't be rude."
Sheng Nuan curled her lips: "It was the Ninth Princess who started the trouble. Queen Mother, you are partial."
Sheng Nuan showed no respect for the late concubine in her words, and she deliberately mocked the Ninth Princess and her biological mother, the concubine Yue. Yan Huaiyu's eyes were red with anger, and she would have pounced on her if Yan Jiangrong hadn't stopped her.
"Sheng Nuan, I will fight with you..."
Sheng Nuan remained motionless, looking at her with a smile, then turned around and saluted the Queen Mother: "The Queen Mother, the weather is nice today, and the Second Prince and I have just been married and need to get acquainted. Why don't you ask Your Highness to go shopping with me today?"
The Ninth Princess was stunned, and then went crazy: "How dare you, Sheng Nuan! Today, the imperial concubine's funeral, you actually asked the second emperor brother to accompany you shopping... How can you be so vicious, you are too vicious!"
Sheng Nuan curled her lips: "Who told him to marry anyone, but he chose to marry me, and...if the princess hadn't just reminded me, I almost forgot that there was such a person."
The Ninth Princess was still struggling desperately, and the Queen Mother was troubled by them. She waved her hands helplessly: "Okay, okay, you can go and get the Ai family's handwriting. Leave early and come back early so as not to cause trouble."
Sheng Nuan smiled triumphantly and provocatively at the ninth princess. The third prince said helplessly: "Nuan Nuan, today is the day of the funeral of the noble concubine after all. Why are you doing this?"
The Ninth Princess was also there yelling and scolding: "You are so vicious, Sheng Nuan, you are simply hateful."
But Sheng Nuan didn't mind, smiled at the third prince and winked, then turned around and left leisurely with his hands behind his back...
