"Suli never underestimates his opponents; he will never forget the thirty-six nails his mother gave him. The marks left by those nails remind him that no matter how powerful someone may be, one should never underestimate their enemies.
"Qier, Lier, let's go," Su Zimo shouted.
Suddenly, a barrier blocked Su Zimo's path, surprising her. She realized she was no longer in the same place as before; someone had set up the barrier here.
Su Zimo stood in the center of the palace, which was quiet and meticulously clean, as if someone lived there. However, there was no one in sight.
"Qier, Lier," Su Zimo shouted loudly.
But there was only her own echo as a response in the vast palace.
Su Zimo quickly calmed down and looked around. The Xuanbing Snow Whip in her sleeve was ready, and she was now at the first stage of the Golden Profound Realm. She could clearly perceive her surroundings.
A faint fragrance entered her nostrils, immediately putting Su Zimo on alert. She held her breath and looked around, noticing a golden octagonal incense burner not far from her. Unknown to her, it had already been burning incense.
The incense burner was beautiful, with a lifelike dragon playing with a pearl carved on the outside.
Su Zimo lightly flicked her jade finger, and a silver light flashed, splitting the burning incense burner into two halves. It fell under the table, emitting a dull sound.
Still, there was no unusual reaction. Su Zimo knew she couldn't just wait around. With the intelligence of her two sons, she didn't have to worry about them, but she couldn't remain trapped here forever.
Su Zimo swiftly flew up to the rooftop, calmly surveying her surroundings. As long as it wasn't nighttime, her sense of direction was accurate. A small barrier couldn't hold her for long...
Meanwhile, Su Qi and Su Li were frantic over Su Zimo's sudden disappearance.
"Brother, what should we do? Mother disappeared out of nowhere!"
Su Qi's voice was filled with agitation as he searched the surroundings with wide eyes.
"Qier, don't panic. Mother may have entered a barrier set up by someone else."
Su Li remained calm, understanding that this was a critical moment. The other party's intentions were evident; they wanted to separate the three of them.
"First Young Master, Second Young Master."
Qing Feng suddenly appeared.
"Uncle Qing Feng, you've been following us in secret. Did you see how mother disappeared?"
Su Qi anxiously asked.
"Second Young Master, I saw Princess Yaoxi and another woman hastily leaving just now. From what I observed, your mother's disappearance should be related to them."
Qing Feng analyzed the situation.
"Uncle Qing Feng, immediately go back and inform my father. Ask him to find Princess Yaoxi and demand an explanation. My brother and I will search for mother."
"Very well!" Qing Feng was about to turn around when he noticed a large group of masked figures on the rooftop, holding bows and arrows, aiming at the three of them.
Upon seeing this, Su Qi's face turned gloomy, and he looked at the archers on the roof with determination.
Su Li calmly surveyed the surroundings. This was an extremely secluded and quiet place, but in the imperial palace, such a commotion would not go unnoticed. However, their recent use of profound energy had gone undetected. This indicated that someone had already arranged everything, ensuring that even if they were to die here, no one would discover them.
"Uncle Qing Feng, my brother and I will clear a path for you to escape. Hurry and find my father to rescue mother. As for my brother and me, let my father not worry."
"Very well! I will follow the First Young Master's instructions."
Qing Feng readily agreed because he knew the abilities of the two brothers.
Su Li turned around, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He extended his small hand, and a short sword appeared in his hand as if by magic.
Su Qi already had the Da Ye Divine Bow in his hand.
"Shoot!" One of the masked figures commanded, and a dense rain of arrows shot toward the three of them.
"Qier, I will shield you from the arrows. Use the Da Ye Divine Bow to kill the person on the left and let Uncle Qing Feng escape."
Su Li spoke while blocking the arrows.
"Understood!" Su Qi's face was composed, and a serious expression appeared on his delicately carved face.
In his small hand, he constantly transformed short arrows, drawing the bow, and releasing them. With each draw of the bow, three arrows were shot simultaneously, accurately and flawlessly killing three people each time.
The leading masked figure, seeing the palm-sized arrows in Su Qi's hand, revealed a look of astonishment. What a powerful bow and arrows!
A small child, yet possessing such formidable skills.
There were a total of twelve people on the left rooftop, all quickly killed by Su Qi.
"Uncle Qing Feng, run quickly!"
Su Li pushed Qing Feng, shielding him from the arrows that kept coming.
Qing Feng leaped away, flying out of the area.
"Oh no, they let one escape. Archers, make up for it on the left side!"
The well-trained archers quickly took their positions.
"Brother, let's blow them up, these bastards."
Su Qi's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, no longer willing to delay.
"No need to waste time, Qier. Just kill them directly," Su Li's face revealed a fierce determination. He wanted the ones trying to kill them to know that it was merely a dream to harm the three of them.
"Agreed!" Su Qi also felt there was no need to waste any more time.
The two brothers exchanged a glance, and in an instant, their small figures soared into the air, flying in different directions.
"Swish!" The sound of arrows whizzed past their ears, but none managed to hit them. Instead, the brothers confronted the rain of arrows head-on, their small figures flickering with incredible speed.
The archers present were startled by their actions, some even forgetting to draw their bows.
"What are you standing around for? Today, it's either you die or they die!" The lead masked figure's eyes flickered with urgency. They were all Queen Mother's secret guards, hidden from the light. If they were exposed, it would be a one-way path to death.
Before the words of the masked figure had even settled, a cry rang out. A short sword pierced through his body, and as the sword was pulled out, his body toppled backward and rolled off the rooftop.
Su Li swiftly leaped up and ruthlessly kicked the stunned black-clothed figures.
"Die, all of you!"
Su Li roared, and the bodies of several black-clothed individuals lost control, tumbling off the rooftop from the force of his kicks, experiencing excruciating pain.
Su Qi, on the other hand, employed a more sinister approach. With a sudden appearance, he seized one of the black-clothed individuals and, using his profound power, directed him towards his own comrades.
In his hand appeared a small vial, and tiny wasps the size of soybeans flew around the black-clothed individuals. Those stung by the wasps experienced intense itching and tremors all over their bodies, leaving them with no strength to shoot arrows.
The extraordinary skills and unwavering determination of the two brothers instilled a deep sense of fear in the black-clothed individuals present.
Inside the Hall of Nurtured Hearts, Emperor Haoyue sat on the main seat, leisurely sipping tea while the Queen Mother served him attentively.
As for the so-called urgent matter mentioned by Emperor Haoyue, it was merely about inquiring about the Tianmen of Yun City.
Upon hearing this, Mu Yunxuan's face instantly turned cold.
If it was a matter concerning the martial world, there was no guarantee that his uncle knew less than him. Didn't he have a renowned strategist, Chunyu Qinghua, by his side?
"By the way, Your Majesty, it is widely known that you and Miss Su are only in a spirit marriage. Now that Miss Su has returned, does Your Majesty plan to hold a wedding ceremony?" the Queen Mother asked at the appropriate time, trying to divert the topic.
"This is my own affair, unrelated to the Queen Mother," Mu Yunxuan answered with an expressionless face, showing no intention of giving face.
Ji Wuer knew about Mu Yunxuan's stubborn temperament and didn't bother arguing with him. Moreover, for the sake of their plan today, she would not quarrel with Mu Yunxuan.
Emperor Haoyue's gaze flickered, "Xuan'er, the Queen Mother is right. Isn't your uncle waiting to celebrate your wedding?"
Mu Yunxuan didn't respond. He had no interest in sitting here and chatting with them. He had a feeling that the Queen Mother's gaze held ill intentions.
Suddenly, he stood up and caught sight of Qingfeng walking in.
His heart sank.
"What's the matter?" Mu Yunxuan felt a sense of urgency, but maintained his calm exterior.
Qingfeng had been secretly protecting Qier and the others. If he appeared here, it meant that something had happened to them.
"Your Majesty, the Lady, the Eldest Young Master, and the Second Young Master have been taken away by Princess Yaoxi's people. The Lady's whereabouts are unknown, and the Eldest Young Master and the Second Young Master are besieged by archers," Qingfeng reported.
"Damn it!" Mu Yunxuan growled lowly.
"Oh! Could there be some misunderstanding here? How could Princess Yaoxi dare to kill Lady Yuncheng? And inside the palace, no less?" The Queen Mother's words seemed like a defense for Jun Yaoxi, but in fact, they further solidified Jun Yaoxi's charges.
"Whoever it may be, if they dare to touch a woman of mine, there will only be one outcome—death!" Mu Yunxuan glared darkly. He glanced at Ji Wuer and then disappeared from the spot in an instant. Qingfeng stayed behind and did not leave; he remained where he was.
"Qingfeng, is this matter true?"
"Your Majesty, how could Qingfeng dare to joke about such a matter?" Qingfeng replied, with a purpose for staying behind.
"Where are Su Qi and Su Li now?"
"Your Majesty, they are far from the Hall of Nurtured Hearts. Qingfeng is not familiar with the palace's layout and returning to find you has already delayed some time. Qingfeng saw Princess Yaoxi and another woman leaving the area where the Lady disappeared in a hurry. This matter is undoubtedly related to Princess Yaoxi."
The Queen Mother fully agreed with Qingfeng's words. She wanted to shift all the blame onto Jun Yaoxi, Yaugui Concubine. Jun Yaoxi, let's see how you can compete with me. You only have one daughter, and I won't let her live a good life, nor will I allow anyone to find a way to save you.