After being read by the mind, my apprentice wanted to rebel

"Master, what should we do next?" Xie Qijun asked.

There was such a big commotion in the palace, but this master in the Spirit Severing Stage couldn't move even a step. It was obvious that he must have received the emperor's strict order and would never leave the imperial study without permission unless it was absolutely necessary.

Lin Xian'er frowned slightly, thinking to herself that she absolutely couldn't reveal their true identities right now, or else it would lead to all sorts of trouble. However, if she didn't take some extraordinary measures, she might find it difficult to break free from the current predicament... After much thought, she suddenly had an idea.

Lin Xian'er reached into the storage bag at her waist and, after some searching, pulled out a small, exquisite smoke bomb. She gripped the smoke bomb tightly, staring at the tightly closed door of the imperial study, and without hesitation, threw it forcefully inside.

"Bang!" With a deafening roar, the imperial study suddenly filled with smoke. Thick billowing smoke rose like surging waves, quickly filling the entire room. The pungent smell of smoke was suffocating, causing people to cough repeatedly.

Amidst this chaos, two dark figures loomed. In a flash, Lin Xian'er, with her sharp eyes and nimble movements, pulled out her magical weapon—a brick—in the blink of an eye.

Immediately afterwards, two muffled "bang" sounds were heard, and the two black figures fell straight to the ground, as if hit by a sledgehammer, and fell unconscious.

"Wait a moment," Lin Xian'er whispered. Before she finished, she had already donned her mask with lightning speed and rushed into the imperial study like a flash of lightning. Xie Qijun and Qi Miao were still dazed, but Lin Xian'er had already successfully infiltrated the imperial study right under their noses.

A moment later, Lin Xian'er reappeared like a ghost, clutching a crystal-clear jade pendant. Without hesitation, she handed it to Xie Qijun and said eagerly, "Keep it safe. We need to get out of here!" She paused, as if thinking of something. A sly smile curled her lips, clearly holding back a precaution. However, emperors have always been suspicious, so they couldn't remain here for long. The best strategy was to evacuate as soon as possible.

After Xie Qijun and Qi Miao followed Lin Xian'er back to the room as if they had just woken up from a dream, they still looked shocked, as if they were in an absurd dream.

Xie Qijun, in particular, stood there blankly, clutching the hard-earned jade pendant tightly in his hand, a mixture of emotions. This was the jade pendant he had painstakingly sought and grappled with for over a decade from Concubine Duan, yet to be reclaimed. Now, it had fallen into his hands so easily; it was truly unbelievable.

After a moment, Xie Qijun slowly handed the jade pendant to Lin Xian'er and said softly, "Master, this jade pendant means a lot to me. I hope you can keep it for me, okay?"

Lin Xian'er was slightly stunned. She looked at the exquisite jade pendant hesitantly and frowned. "Me? What if I accidentally lose it?"

After saying that, she shook her head slightly, as if she didn't have much confidence in herself: Brother, take it easy, such a valuable thing, don't worry about it being embezzled.

However, Xie Qijun stared at Lin Xian'er with a firm gaze, his tone sincere and resolute, "No, Master. I believe that with your carefulness and caution, there will be no mishaps with the jade pendant."

That look full of trust seemed to have an invisible power that made Lin Xian'er unable to refuse.

(⊙o⊙)... Even Lin Xian'er herself wasn't sure, but when she saw Xie Qijun's unwavering expression, she felt an inexplicable sense of responsibility. It was as if Xie Qijun would maintain this attitude forever as long as she didn't accept the jade pendant.

Finally, she sighed softly, reached out to take the jade pendant, and muttered, "Okay, since you trust me so much, I'll keep it for you for now. But if you need it in the future, remember to come and get it back from me."

With that, Lin Xian'er waved her hand, and the jade pendant flew into her system backpack like a stream of light. For Lin Xian'er, this system backpack was the safest and most reliable place, and she never had to worry about the jade pendant being lost or damaged.

"Well, thank you, Master!" Seeing Lin Xian'er accept the jade pendant, Xie Qijun's face suddenly bloomed with a gentle smile.

He gazed at Lin Xian'er silently, his eyes filled with deep affection and longing. But he kept the jade pendant from her—not only was it a key to a valuable treasure, but it was also a token of the royal mistress's status. If Lin Xian'er accepted the jade pendant, their fates would become inextricably linked, inseparable.

The reason why the system did not tell Lin Xian'er at this time was because this plot was not the main storyline of the novel, and it naturally knew nothing about the deeper meaning hidden in this jade pendant.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study, the scene was quite different. The Emperor, keenly aware of something unusual, rushed back to the study without hesitation at lightning speed. As soon as he stepped inside and laid eyes on the two unconscious men, his heart suddenly sank, as if a huge rock had suddenly pressed down upon him.

He didn't dare delay a moment, and immediately ordered his men to quickly climb up the beams and retrieve the mysterious box. The box was carefully placed on the table. The emperor took a deep breath, reached out with a slightly trembling hand, and slowly opened the lid. The jade pendant lay quietly inside, emitting an indescribable aura.

The emperor gazed at the jade pendant, and for some reason, a strange feeling of unease welled up within him. He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, he couldn't resist reaching out and gently touching the jade pendant. It felt cool and smooth, just like usual. Was he really just being overly suspicious? Just as he was pondering this, something strange happened!

In an instant, the previously calm jade pendant suddenly blazed with dazzling light, like a bolt of lightning streaking across the sky. Everyone present was blinded by the sudden glare and instinctively closed their eyes. Then, with a resounding "bang," the jade pendant suddenly shattered, shattering into countless tiny fragments that scattered across the ground.

The emperor's eyes widened, his hands trembling uncontrollably, his face filled with disbelief. He stared intently at the fragments of the jade pendant, muttering to himself, "Impossible... Absolutely impossible... How could that clan's jade pendant be shattered so easily?"