Chapter Thirty-Two: Something Has Happened

"Exactly!" Mu Dong slapped his forehead hard.

"If Lady Su is truly head over heels for Gu Shijin, then she will be the ruin of our master."

"The Emperor is cruel and heartless; who knows what kind of devious schemes he might concoct to harm our master!"

Speaking of the Emperor, Mu Dong’s expression turned vicious, as if he would pounce and bite the man if he were standing right in front of him.

Mo Yan, the secret guard, sighed silently.

The decision to keep Mu Dong by his side was truly brilliant. Others would likely just laugh at this fool, thinking he posed no threat to them, which effectively helped keep the master’s true identity from being discovered.

Mu Dong, clearly oblivious to this, felt his wariness toward Su Zhinian increase.

Helian Yu said nothing, his eyes dark and inscrutable, concealing his emotions.

At the crack of dawn, Yushu touched the back of her neck, looking distressed.

"It’s truly strange. My neck hurts as if I didn't sleep well all night."

Yet, she clearly remembered sleeping soundly and having no consciousness at all.

Su Zhinian gave a lazy yawn and stretched. "Go back to the General’s Mansion today. Youqing is in trouble."

"What happened to him?" Upon hearing this, Yushu immediately forgot about her aching neck, jumping up with wide eyes.

"Gu Shijin almost killed him. When you return, remember not to confront them directly. Wait for me to return before doing anything," Su Zhinian instructed, looking uneasy.

"My Lady, if I leave, what will you do?" Yushu was worried about leaving Su Zhinian alone in the palace.

Seeing Yushu’s hesitation, Su Zhinian offered a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry! With the Empress and the Empress Dowager protecting me, I will be fine."

Yushu nodded heavily and soon left the palace.

For the past two days, a strange atmosphere had permeated the palace. The funeral was held with unprecedented grandeur. No one had expected that the late Imperial Consort Wan held such weight in the Emperor's heart.

Since the funeral preparations began, the Emperor visited Bai Wanwan’s coffin every single day. Seeing her as calm and gentle as she had been in life, the Emperor would break down in tears, consumed by a guilt and heartache so profound it felt suffocating. During these times, all servants were ordered to vacate the Yanxi Palace, as the Emperor’s display of true emotion was not meant for prying eyes.

At first, the imperial concubines secretly cursed Bai Wanwan, calling her a temptress who continued to ensnare the Emperor’s heart even in death. After one such concubine was overheard by the Emperor, Helian Yunhui had her executed in a fit of rage. From then on, everyone in the inner palace knew that the Emperor guarded Bai Wanwan’s corpse fiercely and would not tolerate anyone speaking ill of her. To do so meant certain death. Consequently, no one dared to openly criticize her, though they all groaned inwardly.

Ren Xixi had entered the palace with Gu Shijin, skillfully disguised as a palace maid. To avoid suspicion, Gu Shijin had disguised himself as a eunuch. Gu Jingyuan had initially disapproved of this, as being discovered by the Emperor was a capital offense. However, he could not withstand Ren Xixi’s persistence, and because Gu Shijin doted on her, Gu Jingyuan eventually helped them.

Inside the palace, Ren Xixi first put on a convincing display of weeping before the mourning hall. Gu Shijin felt a pang of emotion, moved by Ren Xixi’s deep loyalty and noble character.

"Brother Huaijin, I’ll be back in a moment." Ren Xixi signaled a maid guarding the hall and left under the pretense of needing to use the restroom.

"Remember, don't wander off," Gu Shijin cautioned. The Emperor was temperamental and volatile; provoking him would lead to a gruesome end. Ren Xixi agreed perfunctorily.

Finding a secluded spot, Ren Xixi handed the hidden items to the maid and whispered instructions. The maid took the items and hurried away. Watching her leave, a triumphant gleam flashed in Ren Xixi’s eyes.

In the afternoon, the Emperor returned to weep and lament before Bai Wanwan’s coffin once more. Once he left, the coffin lid would be sealed, and the funeral procession would begin the following morning.

Su Zhinian had spent some time talking with the Empress and paying her respects to the Empress Dowager before returning to her own quarters. After dark, a sharp, piercing scream erupted from a side hall of the Jingren Palace. The Empress, startled, hurriedly summoned the imperial physicians.

The commotion in the Jingren Palace displeased the Emperor, and he personally arrived at the scene. For a moment, the surveillance on the Yanxi Palace lightened as everyone’s attention was drawn to the disturbance.

"What is going on?" the Emperor asked, his face dark and filled with rage.

Fu Linhai bowed his head, trembling as he answered. "Reporting to Your Majesty, a cleaning maid in the Jingren Palace stumbled upon..." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "...she stumbled upon someone committing an illicit act within the palace."

The Emperor froze. The person residing in the Empress’s Jingren Palace was none other than the wife of General Gu!

"Who is the adulterer?" The Emperor’s face was darker than the bottom of a pot. The sheer audacity to commit adultery inside the Imperial Palace! Furthermore, with the funeral of Consort Wan underway, these people dared to engage in such lewd behavior—it was a blatant disregard for his authority.

The Emperor changed his direction and marched toward the side hall. Fu Linhai followed hurriedly. "The Empress was shaken and has not yet managed to apprehend them. The two should still be inside the room."

The Emperor let out a cold snort as he saw the side hall surrounded by eunuchs and maids. Upon seeing the Emperor, they all fell to their knees. "Greetings, Your Majesty." With them guarding the perimeter, those inside wouldn't dare try to escape.

The Emperor continued walking toward the door.

"Your Majesty!" The Empress’s voice suddenly rang out from behind. Helian Yunhui turned to see the Empress’s worried expression, and his face grew colder.

"Empress, why are you not resting? Why are you here?" He had already privately concluded that the Empress was here to protect Su Zhinian. He did not want to give her that chance; such a woman was a cancer in this world. Her death would allow him to fulfill his promises to Gu Shijin openly.

"Your Majesty, I heard... that someone was committing an illicit act in my palace, so I naturally had to come and see for myself." The Empress’s face was pale, and she bit her lower lip. Her cautious, delicate appearance was heart-wrenching.

The Emperor sneered. "The Empress should indeed come and see. As the mother of the nation and the mistress of the inner palace, you cannot even manage the people in your own quarters. How can I trust you to manage the entire harem?" He was clearly venting his frustration regarding Bai Wanwan onto the Empress.

Upon hearing this, the Empress’s face turned even paler, her eyes filled with a sense of shattered resignation. Her heart was now completely broken.