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When Consort Yi hurried back, realizing that this might be a ruse to lure her away, she found only Mei Shuang, who was frozen in shock.
Consort Yi's heart, which had been racing, calmed down significantly. Thankfully, it was not Miss Lin who was missing; if Miss Lin had disappeared, even ten heads would not be enough to pay for it. However, whether Mei Ru was alive or dead, she was still the Empress of the nation, and she had been taken right under everyone's noses.
Consort Yi quickly ran to the window, looking out at the vast night and the seemingly bottomless cliff. She shook her head and carefully examined the windowsill before instructing someone to light a torch to survey the terrain and search for people. This place was treacherous; it was unbelievable for one person to navigate it, let alone carry another. Suddenly, Consort Yi's pupils constricted—could someone be aiding them?
She turned to ask Mei Shuang about what had happened. Mei Shuang only mentioned that a man in black had entered; she knew nothing else.
Seeing Mei Shuang so frightened, Consort Yi could only take her away and return her to the palace for safety. Then she dejectedly reported to Xiao Luo, "Your Majesty, the Empress has been taken away, while Miss Lin remains unharmed. It is truly unbelievable... In such a short time, someone broke in through the window. I suspect this person has been lurking outside for a while, and when the Empress was taken, there must have been someone assisting them. This Dazhao Temple must hold some secrets..."
---
On the cliff, a lithe figure moved slowly along the wall, occasionally pausing behind trees and other cover to catch their breath. After all, traversing such treacherous terrain alone was extremely difficult, let alone while carrying someone.
When he stopped, he glanced up at the movements above. Although the torchlight illuminated half of the sky, it was still easy for him to conceal his actions amidst the intersecting cliffs. However, he needed to leave before dawn.
Mei Ru on his back remained motionless.
Her head hung limply against his shoulder, her soft hair brushing against his ear from time to time, stirring a subtle flutter within him.
He took a deep breath and forcefully suppressed the feelings that were creeping out from some corner of his heart.
Before him lay an exit he had scouted earlier; as long as he could get past that sharp rock point, he would be free.
Having traveled for so long and exhausted much of his strength, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. He was just one step away. He checked the ropes on his back again to ensure there would be no issues when climbing over the rocks before gathering his strength and leaping forward.
Suddenly, he heard a voice say "Be careful," followed by an arrow whizzing past him from above as he instinctively shifted right just in time to avoid it.
Holding his breath as he steadied himself, he quickly untied the ropes around him. As he landed, both figures rolled into a nearby cave while arrows rained down behind them like locusts.
"That was close!" Mei Ru exclaimed as she got up and brushed off the dust from her clothes. After hesitating for a moment, she gently asked, "Yun Kong, are you okay?"
Yun Kong stood still, staring at her before shaking his head. "I'm fine."
Their eyes met; Mei Ru suddenly felt unable to look into those deep eyes darker than the night itself. She turned away and glanced around in the dim moonlight outside the cave. The cave was just tall enough for a person to pass through but not wide enough for more than two people to move comfortably side by side.
"Are you awake?" Yun Kong asked.
Mei Ru paused her scanning gaze, her eyes slightly dazed as she softly replied, "Yes... your medicine has always been effective..."
Yun Kong lowered his gaze. The sensation of a warm body pressed tightly against him felt vivid, even though he had renounced worldly attachments. That feeling was indelible, and all he could do was ignore it. Therefore, the blood at the corner of Mei Ru's delicate face remained fresh in his memory, yet he could not step forward to wipe it away.
Recalling the strong body that bore him, moving with strength and grace, a faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, always bringing her a sense of tranquility. Lying on that broad back, she once wished that moment could last longer...
In the narrow space, silence enveloped them; they were only a few feet apart, and their breathing was distinctly audible.
Mei Ru, what are you thinking?
Suddenly jolted by a thought, Mei Ru became instantly alert.
Before her, Yun Kong gazed into her eyes, and besides the intense heat, there were many unspoken meanings reflected in his complex expression that stirred mixed emotions within Mei Ru.
But soon, her gaze turned cold as she spoke in an extremely indifferent tone, "You shouldn't have come today..."
Yun Kong slightly tightened his lips and remained silent.
Suddenly, Mei Ru stepped closer to Yun Kong. "Do you think I would be grateful to you today? Yun Kong, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have fallen to such depths."
Yun Kong continued to remain silent. Mei Ru's piercing gaze did not let him off easily as she exhaled deeply. "Yun Kong, we have known each other for many years; no one knows me better than you. Even when you failed last time, I never blamed you. But now, you disregard my life to save that wretched person and put me in danger. Yun Kong, are you doing this to take revenge on me?"
In the darkness, Yun Kong's body swayed slightly as he struggled to suppress the discomfort rising in his chest. He said calmly, "Stop it; you've sunk too deep and let hatred blind your eyes. Tonight, I've heard everything. Since she is no longer who she used to be, why must you go to such extremes? I warned you long ago not to get involved in palace intrigues, but you never listened. You're right; even as the Empress, you still haven't gotten what you wanted..."
The last sentence made Mei Ru's furious gaze flicker momentarily before her anger diminished.
"Ruer, you've changed—" Before he could finish speaking, Yun Kong pressed his hand against his chest and swayed slightly.
Mei Ru was puzzled but quickly raised her hand to support him. As her right hand touched Yun Kong's body, she heard him groan softly and suddenly noticed a white arrow trembling in his back in the darkness.
In an instant, Mei Ru recalled how Yun Kong had pushed her into the cave earlier; he had forcefully shoved her aside. It turned out he had taken that arrow for her.
“Yun Kong!” Mei Ru exclaimed in shock, quickly helping him up. “Hold on, I’ll get you out of here right away...”
——
In the deep night, the mountain winds howled.
Mei Shuang stood by the window of the Palace, gazing blankly at the undulating mountain valleys outside. Although it was past midnight, she could not sleep; the strange events at the temple during the day and her conversation with Mei Ru kept her mind racing.
She felt as if she had fallen into a massive whirlpool, and she was sinking deeper within it...
Especially the statue of Buddha in the temple that had moving eyes and a smile, along with that inexplicable note, seemed to be telling a secret that no one knew.
Mei Ru must know this secret.
She had once said that it was no coincidence she could not become Empress. The same words were echoed by Nangong Nuo. Reflecting on Mei Ru’s earlier assertion that she was more suited to be Empress, it all seemed filled with hidden meanings. The fact that she was even connected to the Eastern Kingdom made Mei Shuang shiver. It appeared that the Emperor's suspicions about her and even about Left Chancellor colluding with the Eastern Kingdom were not unfounded. No wonder he insisted she return to the palace. Suddenly, Mei Shuang felt a chill run down her spine, a wave of cold creeping over her back.
It seemed everything that happened today had been anticipated by the Emperor, waiting for her to walk into a trap. And Mei Ru, perhaps she had exposed herself too early. The Emperor’s request for her to pray for the Empress Dowager was merely a facade; his true intention was likely to lure out Queen Meiru.
Suddenly feeling anxious, Mei Shuang wondered how many secrets lay hidden beneath all this. What role did she play in it?
Now that Mei Ru was dead, wouldn’t many secrets be buried with her?
Unable to remain calm any longer, Mei Shuang turned and left, approaching the guard at the door. “I wish to see the Emperor; could you please convey my request?”
Not far from the Palace, Xiao Luo stood in the night. Hearing the rustle of skirts behind her, she turned to see Mei Shuang. “You’ve come?” she said lightly.
After following protocol and greeting her, Mei Shuang replied, “Your Majesty, I hope I’m not disturbing you. I have many questions swirling in my mind and earnestly seek your guidance.”
Xiao Luo raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly, her tone gentle. “What questions do you have? Ask away...”
Mei Shuang opened her mouth but suddenly didn’t know where to start. Everything was based on her own assumptions; standing before her was not just anyone but a sovereign who held power over the realm.
After a moment of contemplation, she sighed deeply, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Your Majesty, how much longer do you want me to stay in the palace?”
Xiao Luo was somewhat surprised. He turned around and looked at the woman in plain clothes about ten paces away. Her long hair was pinned up with a wooden hairpin, fluttering in the night breeze. Her porcelain-white face bore no trace of makeup, with delicate features, especially her eyes, which were like black gemstones—clear and slightly bewildered, as if shrouded in a thin mist, making her particularly striking under the moonlight.
"I want to ask you how you have been reading that Sutra..."
"Sutra?" Mei Shuang momentarily did not respond. After a while, she realized he was probably referring to the Sutra she read daily in a corner of the palace. Although she did not understand why the emperor had changed the topic, she answered honestly, "I finished it..."
"Mm," Xiao Luo nodded. "Has the Empress Dowager heard you mention this Sutra?"
"Uh... no..." Mei Shuang thought to herself, when did you ever ask me to talk to the Empress Dowager?
"Then when we return to the palace, tell the Empress Dowager about it..." Xiao Luo said.
"Oh..."
Mei Shuang was speechless. How did this conversation turn to the Sutra? Suddenly, she realized that this was indeed the answer to her question.
She became anxious; this was equivalent to not allowing her to leave!
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