Return of the Pearl

Late night

The ministers who attended the morning court session gathered silently in a remote and unknown corner like a group of ghosts. Each of them had a brow tightly furrowed, as if twisted into a hemp rope, with a solemnity and worry between their brows. There was a cunning and sinister light flashing in their eyes, like a group of hungry wolves waiting for an opportunity, exuding a dangerous aura.

They whispered to each other in low voices. The mysterious and weird atmosphere made people feel a chill. The fragmented and urgent voices were like the whispers of ghosts in the night sky, as if they were plotting some ulterior and shocking conspiracy.

Sometimes they gathered together, discussing something nervously, and sometimes they dispersed and paced back and forth in the small space. Their anxious and uneasy movements fully demonstrated their inner fear and worry.

One of the ministers had a solemn expression on his face and lowered his voice, which seemed to be squeezed out from his throat with great difficulty. He said, "Our identities must not be known to anyone, otherwise we will all fall into a terrible situation from which there is no escape! Once exposed, what awaits us will be endless disasters and destruction!" After saying this, his eyes revealed deep fear and uneasiness, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Another minister frowned, his face full of worry, and responded anxiously: "Holy Envoy, please say something! What should we do next? Today, we followed your request and tried our best to make Qianlong punish Xiao Yun, but Qianlong is not afraid of our threats at all! Our foundation is still shallow, and we really can't compete with the powerful court!" As he spoke, he kept rubbing his hands, his anxious expression was obvious, his eyes were wandering, and he seemed to be thinking hard about how to deal with it.

Their words were filled with endless calculations and deep worries. Every word seemed to carry a heavy weight, making it hard to breathe.

And in that corner, the mysterious person in the black cloak stood there like a silent statue from beginning to end, without saying a word. Her black cloak enveloped her like the night, making it impossible to see her face.

There was a hint of confusion and thought in her eyes, as if she was weighing various possibilities, and as if she was preparing for the next action. Her wandering gaze showed her inner restlessness vividly, making people curious and speculative about her identity and thoughts.

After a long wait, she finally opened her mouth slowly, her voice low and powerful, saying, "Haven't you ever heard this saying? If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. If you truly cannot achieve your goal, then resolutely choose to die for your remonstrance!"

One of the ministers' eyes flickered, revealing a hint of timidity and hesitation. He stammered, "Holy Envoy, our organization has gone through years of painstaking efforts to infiltrate the court with only a handful of people. However, now, only a few of us have truly gained a foothold in the court. You're asking us to die admonish you. Isn't that a pity and a waste?"

Upon hearing this, the mysterious woman in the black cloak's eyes flashed with a chill. She glared at the minister and said in a voice as cold as ice, "Since you still clearly remember the existence of the organization, you must follow orders to the letter! Tomorrow, when you go to court, continue to make your remonstrations to Emperor Qianlong. If he still refuses to compromise, one of you will decide among yourselves to have one of you slam his head against a pillar and die on the spot! I want to see how he can silence the gossips of the world!"

After hearing this, the ministers looked at each other, their faces showing embarrassment. They had long been accustomed to enjoying wealth and glory. Asking them to die for no reason was too much for them. Who would be willing to give it up so easily? But they also knew in their hearts that their lives were firmly in someone's hands, and they could not resist at all.

Their hearts were filled with contradictions and struggles. In that small corner, there was an atmosphere of helplessness and fear. Everyone's face was filled with worry, and their eyes revealed confusion and uneasiness about the future.

The moment they finished their discussion, An Yi followed the woman silently and elusively like a ghost in the night. His footsteps were as light as feathers landing on the ground, without making any sound.

His heart was filled with curiosity and doubt, various questions kept circling in his mind, and he secretly wondered who this mysterious woman was and why her style of behavior was so secretive and unpredictable.

His eyes were fixed on the woman's back, not missing any of her subtle movements, trying to find some clues from these clues to solve the mystery in his heart.

In this silent atmosphere, An Yi's heartbeat was clearly audible, and every breath he took seemed cautious, as if afraid of disturbing something. He was like a hunter lurking in the darkness, patiently waiting for his prey to reveal a flaw.

However, this scene surprised An Yi greatly. It was completely beyond his expectations. He saw the woman walking towards the palace calmly, with firm and calm steps.

At the foot of the tall and majestic city wall, her figure was as light as a dancing fairy, and every movement was full of grace and agility. She was like a light feather, floating in the air. After a few nimble moves, she entered the palace silently and unnoticed.

An Yi's eyes widened, filled with shock and disbelief. He followed the woman closely, his heart filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if he were in a fantastical dream. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. This mysterious woman was actually in the palace? His heart was filled with shock and disbelief, as if countless question marks were swirling in his mind.

An Yi followed carefully all the way. His footsteps were as light as a cat's, without making any sound. His eyes were fixed on the woman's back without blinking, with such a focused look, as if he was afraid that he would lose her if he blinked.

As the woman moved forward, An Yi became more and more nervous, fearing that he would lose her. When he saw the woman enter Chuxiu Palace without any hindrance, his heart was like a raging storm, and he couldn't calm down for a long time.

It turned out that she was actually a newly entered imperial concubine! An Yi's eyes widened, filled with shock and disbelief. He had memorized the woman's face firmly, and every detail was deeply imprinted in his mind, fearing that he would miss anything. His wide eyes and furrowed brows revealed his inner tension and solemnity.