"My lord, even though I have the token to lead the way, please don't rush so, for you might trigger one of the palace's techniques."
Chen Qing felt embarrassed and slowed his pace, hurriedly bowing in apology, "Thank you for the reminder, General."
The military general nodded slightly. This young scholar looked unfamiliar, but being in the company of so many capable people, he must be extraordinary, and he courteously said, "It is my duty; no need for thanks, my lord."
"May I ask, General, when did the Crown Prince enter the palace?"
The general was startled, this youngster was rather bold, inquiring about the Crown Prince's whereabouts right off the bat!
Glancing over at Duke Song's area, Liu Yu nodded slightly, then replied, "His Highness the Crown Prince entered the palace about two hours ago."
"Do you know where His Highness went?"
Hisss... this youngster!
The guard said helplessly, "My lord, that is not something my rank allows me to inquire about, is it?"
Just then, the voice of Liu Yu came from up ahead, "The Imperial Study is just ahead."
Chen Qing was startled, that was quick!
He had felt during his last entry into the palace for the Qionglin Feast that the scale of the Great Jin Dynasty's Imperial Palace was not minor, with many trees in the gardens that did not appear old, indeed it seemed rather rushed.
Why not use the former dynasty's Imperial Palace?
He remembered his colleague's design of Tiandu being extraordinarily magnificent and luxurious, especially the Imperial Palace that, in a certain copy, was like a maze, with many players losing their way out once they entered.
Could it be trying to avoid something?
"Wait here, I will go and ask," instructed Liu Yu before quickly walking towards the location of the Imperial Study.
The group waited obediently outside.
Liu Yu walked briskly to the front of the Imperial Study and far away he saw the Palace Maid tidying the room, which made him start.
The Emperor was always diligent, and since he had dispatched Liu Yu himself to capture the Fox Demon today, he should have waited here for news, but seeing the Palace Maid tidying up the Imperial Study, it was clear the Emperor had already left!
"Duke of the Nation?"
The eunuch in charge of directing the Palace Maid hurried forward to salute, "Are you looking for His Majesty on some business?"
"Where has His Majesty gone?" A trace of unease rose in Liu Yu's heart.
"Oh, the Empress had come earlier, seeing His Majesty working hard, she brought him dinner. After eating, His Majesty went with the Empress to Kunning Palace…"
Hearing this, Liu Yu's feeling of unease grew stronger, and he continued to ask, "Did His Highness the Crown Prince go to Kunning Palace as well?"
"Eh?" The eunuch was taken aback for a moment, then nodded after thinking, "It seems there was such a matter. I heard from someone just now that His Highness the Crown Prince indeed went to Kunning Palace…"
Liu Yu nodded, not even bothering to be courteous as he quickly walked back to Chen Qing.
"His Majesty and the Empress have gone to Kunning Palace, and I also just inquired — the Crown Prince indeed went to find the Empress earlier!"
Chen Qing immediately fell silent, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
"Based on the description provided by the unworthy disciple Wang Ye, you seem to be quite familiar with the Thousand-Faced Fox?"
"A stroke of fate, I know a bit…" Chen Qing now knew he couldn't afford to keep a low profile.
"Then if…" Liu Yu narrowed his eyes and asked, "as you suspect, the Fox Demon succeeded in gaining control of His Majesty, what would happen?"
"It would be terrible!" Chen Qing looked up, "In this world, no one could stand against her illusion techniques!"
"But according to the records of Emperor Xuanzong's case, that Fox Demon stayed in the palace for years and wasn't as dreadful as you're saying…"
"It's different…" Chen Qing shook his head, "The Fox Demon's nourishment comes from the fortune of those who are intimate. Emperor Xuanzong was a monarch of a defeated nation, His Majesty is the founding ruler. The difference in their fortunes is considerable — since you are a Magician, you should understand this better than I do!"
"You actually know that Emperor Xuanzong was a monarch of a defeated nation!" Liu Yu looked at Chen Qing somberly, "The history of the former dynasty has been sealed by the Imperial Court, and its dissemination among the public is forbidden. How did you come to know this?"
"The land of Jiangnan has always been a place of scholarly prosperity. His Majesty established the capital up north, and the restrictions on the south couldn't be that severe…"
"Quite good at finding excuses…" Liu Yu was too lazy to continue fussing over this issue and said directly, "Now that you're aware of the situation — His Majesty has gone to Kunning Palace. If your guess is wrong, that's offending the Crown Prince and the Empress at the same time, and then no one can save you!"
Chen Qing was silent; having reached this point, retreating was not an option!
Without further hesitation, he knelt on the ground, "Having received great kindness from the Emperor, my writings are still immature, yet His Majesty rated them as second-class. I have not yet repaid the court in any way. Now, with the sovereign in peril, even if my guess is wrong, I am willing to take this risk, and if mistaken, I am prepared to atone with my life!"
"Good!" Liu Yu immediately applauded and laughed, "Courageous indeed, the young people of today are really something. Since that's the case, I shall join you in this endeavor!!"
"General, please lead the way to Kunning Palace!"
"This…" The guard had a troubled expression; Kunning Palace was part of the Harem. Men entering, even with this Duke patting his chest in guarantee, could spell trouble for him later on!
"Hm?"
"My lord, please follow me!" With nowhere to retreat under pressure, the guard had no choice, especially since he just heard from the others that something significant indeed seemed to have happened!
The group hurried to Kunning Palace, and upon approaching the palace gate, Liu Yu saw from a distance the senior eunuch who usually served the Emperor.
"Eunuch He!"
"Why has the Duke of the Nation come here?" The eunuch asked in astonishment; this was not a place for outside men to intrude!
"Eunuch He, the situation is urgent, I cannot explain in detail. Where is His Majesty?" Liu Yu quickly inquired.
"This..." The eunuch hesitated, "Your Majesty has already retired to the Kunning Palace. If there's anything important, could it wait until tomorrow?"
"Already retired?" Liu Yu's expression changed, and he immediately began rubbing his fingers hesitantly, then the next second asked again, "Eunuch, did you see the Crown Prince when you were on your way here?"
"This... I haven't seen him," the eunuch shook his head: "He must have left the palace..."
Because the Great Jin's Imperial Palace was too simple and humble, it could not even gather all four of the Noble Consorts' palaces, let alone build a Crown Prince's Eastern Palace that met the standards. Therefore, the Crown Prince's temporary palace was repaired and made up for outside to the south of the Imperial Palace.
This was also why the Crown Prince had the opportunity to privately meet the daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites.
Liu Yu looked towards the guard, who quickly shook his head: "The Crown Prince definitely hasn't left the palace!"
Hearing this, Liu Yu once again looked at the eunuch: "Eunuch He, is there a record of entry and exit for the Kunning Palace?"
"This..." Eunuch He hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded: "There is indeed a record, but I only have the records after the hour of the Dog. Eunuch Feng, who is responsible for recording the daytime, has already finished his shift. If Lord Duke wants to see it, I will immediately send someone to fetch Eunuch Feng!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yu's countenance grew even darker, and after looking inside, he finally shook his head: "I'm afraid it's too late."
He then looked at Chen Qing: "Young man, what do you think we should do?"
Chen Qing's face immediately turned as black as charcoal!
It's just terribly unlucky, always one step behind. At this time, even if you get there in time, the Emperor would probably have his pants down, barging in now. You wouldn't just be offending the Crown Prince and the Empress, and the level of offense would be extraordinary.
If things go wrong, it might not be as simple as losing your own life—your whole family could be implicated!
Thinking of his mother who had suffered for so many years, looking forward to better days, and of his little sister who hadn't even reached her bloom at twenty-eight, all previous calmness vanished from Chen Qing's heart, and thoughts of retreat rose repeatedly.
But now that it has come to this, can he retreat?
If he guessed wrong and withdrew, would the Emperor absolve him of guilt? Would the forces behind the Fox Demon take the opportunity to get rid of him?
If he guessed right and the Fox Demon completed its ultimate form, would it spare him and his family?
There's no retreating...
"My lord..." Chen Qing looked at Liu Yu with eyes red from desperation: "I... have no way out anymore!"
Liu Yu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Alright!"
He formed a series of hand seals, and suddenly behind him, a brilliant daylight lit up, and a giant crystal white elephant raised its trunk and bellowed within the glow, its presence many times larger than that of the wheel behind Wang Ye!
"My lord, what's this?" Eunuch He was immediately shocked.
Weichi Peng and Fei Jun at the back were also startled. Just as they were about to speak, they saw Liu Yu wave his hand and both Weichi Peng and Fei Jun vanished on the spot.
Chen Qing looked dumbfoundedly at the Duke, guessing that with such a spatial transfer with a wave of his hand, the Duke must be close to breaking through his current level and reaching the 'Spiritual' realm!
From afar, Weichi Peng, who had just been transported outside the Vermilion Bird Gate, was taken aback. His first instinct was to rush in, but he was stopped by Fei Jun!
"What are you doing?"
"Are you out of your mind?" Fei Jun's face turned ashen: "The Duke is sparing us youngsters out of regard. Questioning the Crown Prince, rudely offending the Empress, are these charges we could bear?"
"This..." Weichi Peng immediately became angry: "What about Chen Qing then?"
"He's chosen to take a gamble!" Fei Jun's eyes filled with complexity: "It's a matter of life and death by fate!"
----------------------------------
"Sorry..." Liu Yu said with a smile: "Those two young talents are the future pillars of Great Jin. They can't accompany you in this risk."
"I understand!" Chen Qing bowed deeply.
"Then let's begin..." Liu Yu formed hand seals: "Break!"
Suddenly, countless technique barriers around the Kunning Palace erupted with thunderous sounds, exploding like fireworks in a blaze of splendor, the commotion so grand that it startled the entire Imperial Palace in an instant!
"Who is it?!"
Inside the palace, an enraged voice thundered, reaching the heavens, clearly furious to the extreme!
Liu Yu had no choice; he didn't want to cause such an uproar, but with the urgency of the situation, dallying by having the eunuchs go in to report, and with the cumbersome procedures, the Emperor would have likely finished his business by then...
After all, age brings a shorter duration, doesn't it?
Liu Yu's method was crude, but it was effective!
The next second, a golden flame surged into the sky, then descended with an extremely terrifying force!
Chen Qing looked up, stupefied, as the sky was filled with golden flames, covering almost the entire sky...
Suddenly, he felt that being powerful... truly commands respect...
"Liu Yu??"
The raging golden flames, seeing the source of the commotion, paused for a moment, then a beam of light descended from the sky, transforming into a human form: "What are you doing?"
"It's urgent..." Liu Yu said with a wry smile: "I was forced to take drastic measures."
He quickly outlined the situation briefly.
After listening, the Emperor was stunned, and the next second, he looked fiercely towards Chen Qing: "You say... the Empress is fake??"