The Empress Dowager didn't get any useful information from the fifth prince or Prince Shiyi. Having waited most of the day, she grew tired, and with displeasure, she dismissed them both.
After leaving Ninghe Palace, the fifth prince and Prince Shiyi exchanged a glance and both let out a sigh of relief.
Lu Zhiling quickly made his way to the Eastern Palace, and with his superior martial skills, he avoided the palace guards' patrols and climbed over the wall into the Phoenix Tree West Garden.
He estimated the location of the main courtyard and approached the main building's eaves on tiptoe. The windows were open, sparing him the dilemma of whether to barge into the Crown Princess Consort's chambers, so he boldly peered inside from the window.
No one was inside.
Was the Crown Princess Consort not there? Or did she not live here?
