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Eunuch Wei heaved a silent sigh of relief.
Princess Ning'an, who remained stiff in her position, exhibited an unpleasant expression on her face. Her gaze turned frigid as she turned to Eunuch Wei, “Eunuch Wei.”
"Servant is here!" Eunuch Wei quickly gathered his emotions and adjusted his deanor, imdiately becoming an obsequious follower, "Princess, what are your orders?"
Princess Ning'an gave a faint command, "Go and find the Empress Dowager."
"Yes." Eunuch Wei acknowledged.
Together with the imperial guards, Eunuch Wei searched inside and outside the Renshou Palace three tis. They discovered that all the other palace mbers were present, except for Empress Dowager Zhuang and Eunuch Qin.
"Go and inquire with those palace attendants." Princess Ning'an said.
"This servant had asked, and none of them knew anything." Eunuch Wei replied.
Princess Ning'an cast an icy gaze at him.
Eunuch Wei blocked the imperial guards' line of sight and whispered, "Princess, we can't use torture in Renshou Palace, it's too risky. Furthermore, managing the harem is the Empress's responsibility. We shouldn't overstep our bounds."
Princess Ning'an took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, "Go and summon Commander Fu."
"Yes."
When Commander Fu arrived, Princess Ning'an questioned him, "How did you guard the Renshou Palace? My imperial mother suddenly disappeared, didn't you notice anything? I wonder if sothing happened to my imperial mother, allowing so thief to abduct her."
"This..." Commander Fu was at a loss.
Honestly, he didn't know. He had seen Empress Dowager Zhuang taking a walk in the courtyard just in the afternoon. How could she suddenly vanish during dinner?
"When was the last ti you saw my imperial mother?" Princess Ning'an asked again.
Commander Fu replied truthfully, "It was in the afternoon, close to the period of youshi(5-7 pm). Empress Dowager Zhuang was taking a walk in the courtyard. After that, she returned to her chamber. This humble one was only responsible for guarding and couldn't disturb her."
The implication was that they, the imperial guards, could only surround the Renshou Palace but couldn't keep a close eye on Empress Dowager Zhuang.
But then again, how on earth did Empress Dowager Zhuang disappear when they were guarding so tightly?
……
The night was dark and windy.
A figure swiftly ascended the towering rooftops, propelled by the chilling winds, skillfully navigating the eaves and walls in the darkness of the night.
Before long, this figure leaped into Bishui Alley, landing in the ho of Gu Jiao and Xiao Heng.
At this particular hour, which had grown late, Yao shi had retired for the night along with the children, leaving only Gu Jiao, Xiao Heng, and Old Chief in the main room.
Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, Gu Jiao got up, but Xiao Heng was ahead of her in opening the door.
Gu Chengfeng entered, carrying a person on his back. He looked dusty and exhausted as he gasped for breath like a bull, "I'm so tired, so tired! It's too far from the palace to here!"
Xiao Heng glanced towards the courtyard and closed the door behind Gu Chengfeng.
Gu Chengfeng carefully placed Empress Dowager Zhuang on a chair.
"Be careful." Old Chief reached out to help, "Are you cold?"
Empress Dowager Zhuang ignored him.
He took a closer look at her, and his expression changed.
Gu Chengfeng turned around as he adjusted his lapel, and looked at the unconscious Empress Dowager Zhuang.
Huh... was Empress Dowager Zhuang asleep this whole ti? He didn’t knock her out, did he?
Well, he did travel pretty fast just now.
"Zhuang Jinse, Zhuang Jinse, Zhuang Jinse!" Old Chief called out several tis, feeling a pang in his chest. "Nothing happened, right?"
Gu Jiao bent down and leaned close to Grandaunt, and then said, "Grandaunt, we're missing one."
Empress Dowager Zhuang instantly woke up, opened her eyes, and sat up abruptly, "Where is it?"
Then she really went to play cards...
The crowd watched her confident stride, rolling up her sleeves as if ready to engage in a fierce battle of three hundred rounds, their mouths twitching in unison.
Gu Chengfeng: “...Has she been looking forward to playing cards out of the palace?”
On the other hand, Princess Ning'an took Eunuch Wei to Kunning Palace and reported to Empress Xiao about the imperial decree and the situation at the Renshou Palace.
Empress Xiao put down the account book she was halfway through and said to Princess Ning'an indifferently, "In the future, if such incidents arise, you should inform first."
Princess Ning'an nodded, "Yes, sister-in-law."
Eunuch Wei wiped his sweat for Empress Xiao.
Empress Xiao summoned Eunuch Su and instructed him to inform Commander Fu that regardless of whether Empress Dowager Zhuang left on her own or was abducted, they must find her, both within the palace and outside.
"Understood." Eunuch Su responded promptly.
Empress Xiao glanced at the two of them and said, "Princess Ning'an, you may leave first. Eunuch Wei, stay."
"Ning'an will take her leave." Princess Ning'an bowed slightly, then stepped back and passed by Eunuch Wei.
Eunuch Wei maintained a respectful posture without looking sideways, and Princess Ning'an didn't show any signs of suspicion as she left the Kunning Palace either.
Empress Xiao looked at the imperial decree in her hand, then turned to Eunuch Wei with a serious expression, "Let this Empress ask you, did His Majesty really wake up just now?"
"Yes." Eunuch Wei answered.
Empress Xiao looked skeptical, "Were you present the whole ti when His Majesty issued the decree?"
Eunuch Wei nodded, "Yes, this servant was attending to the writing materials. After dictating the decree, His Majesty exhausted his energy and fell asleep again."
Empress Xiao frowned.
She could suspect anyone, but she could still trust Eunuch Wei.
Empress Xiao let out a sigh, "Understood. Take the decree and take good care of His Majesty. The next ti he wakes up, rember to notify this Empress first."
"This servant will rember."
After leaving the Kunning Palace, Eunuch Wei headed towards the Huaqing Palace. After a few steps, he saw a figure under a big tree.
He was startled and said, "Princess?"
Princess Ning'an turned around with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Eunuch Wei blinked, then saluted, "Princess, about what the Empress asked..."
"No need to tell . I trust you wouldn't dare betray in front of the Empress."
"Of course not." Eunuch Wei smiled awkwardly, "Why is the Princess waiting here for this servant?"
"This." Princess Ning'an handed him a porcelain bottle, "Tomorrow's dicine, give it to His Majesty during dinner."
Eunuch Wei's eyes flickered, "Ah, yes, this servant will do as instructed."
Princess Ning'an chuckled, "If you fail to..."
Eunuch Wei shook his head vigorously, "This servant dares not, dares not! My life is in the Princess's hands. If Princess tells to go east, I wouldn't dare go west."
Princess Ning'an coldly hooked up the corner of her lips, "That's good to know. Alright, go quickly to attend to the Emperor. This dicine is not foolproof. If he truly wakes up..."
Eunuch Wei hastily said, "This servant won't let anyone discover His Majesty's awakening. I will promptly inform the Princess."
"Very well."
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