An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Before nightfall, four lanterns were lit on either side of the Jingren Palace gate, and four palace maids stood on each side. This grand display rivaled that of the Empress. The light from the lanterns flickered in the evening glow, illuminating a brilliant scene.

The palace maids stood upright, smiling, and respectfully stood on both sides to welcome the female relatives who came to pay their respects.

It's true that when there's no tiger in the mountain, the monkey becomes king. Jing Chunxi secretly sighed in his heart. Concubine Hua's high-profile behavior was a clear sign that the Fourth Prince must have grasped the real power.

The female relatives who came in to pay their respects were all greeted by the palace maids one by one before they could go in.

Soon after entering, the children and daughters-in-law of each family came out again and were taken to the guest rooms next door. Only the ladies with titles could be given seats in the rooms.

This kneeling continued for more than half an hour. Jing Chunxi's legs and feet were tired from standing, and they felt a little numb. Finally, he saw a female official come in to report and announce outside: "The palace banquet is about to begin. Please take your seats as soon as possible." The female official's voice was crisp and loud, and it was particularly clear in the quiet night.

By this time, the sky was already darkening, and lanterns were lit everywhere. Looking east, a mile away, the lights were ablaze. This must be the outer court where the palace banquet was being held. The light from the flames reflected on the night sky, like a crisscross of stars, making it look particularly spectacular.

Stepping out, the first to walk was Concubine Hua, wearing a bright red palace gown, with a swaying phoenix crown and tassels on her head, and looking very healthy. She was in her early thirties, and with a little makeup, she looked like she was in her early thirties, and she was extremely charming.

She was carefully supported by two palace maids, one on each side, as the noble ladies filed out one after another, a look of admiration and admiration evident. Concubine Hua wore a faint smile, her eyes shone with majesty and confidence, as if she were the ruler of the harem.

Princess Hongjun was walking behind them. After leaving the palace, she looked around, anxiously looking for them. Her eyes kept searching the crowd, and finally she saw Jing Chunxi and Ling'er who had gathered together. She breathed a sigh of relief and walked over quickly.

When Jing Chunxi climbed over the wall and entered the Cining Palace from the other side, the mottled moss on the blue brick wall stained her skirt.

As soon as she landed on the ground, two long swords with cold light were pressed against her throat like poisonous snakes, and the tips of the swords shone with cold silver light in the moonlight.

But the sword only stayed there for a moment. After the man in black holding the sword saw her face clearly, he immediately sheathed the sword. The sound of metal friction was particularly clear in the silent night.

"Miss, you are finally here."

The man in black's low voice sounded relieved yet extremely anxious.

Such a simple sentence made Jing Chunxi's heart tighten. She noticed that there was an unresolvable worry between the other person's brows above the mask, as if he had already expected that she would show up tonight.

Yes, Jing Yiyuan could still think of it in Qingshan Villa, so how could they not know it in the deep palace? It was the easiest to sneak into the palace banquet tonight.

"Did something happen to Madam Zhou?" Jing Chunxi blurted out the question with a trembling voice.

Cold sweat oozed from her clenched palms, remembering how Nanny Zhou knelt there motionless when she took the couplet that day, having already made up her mind to face death. The bulging blue veins on the back of the old woman's hand were still vivid in her mind.

How could a tyrant who could kill even his own father let go of a nanny who was against him!

The black-clad man's eyes suddenly dimmed, and when he lowered his head, the folds of his mask cast shadows of varying depths in the moonlight. This subtle change in expression made Jing Chunxi's heart sink into an icy cave.

Jing Chunxi no longer cared about her manners. Her embroidered shoes crushed the dead leaves on the ground and she ran so fast that her outer skirt became very cumbersome.

The leading man in black leaped up, his black sleeves drawing a sharp arc in the air, and he flew past her like a night owl. The soles of his boots made no sound as they stepped over the palace wall, leading the way for her.

Passing through the winding corridors, the gilded eaves of the Great Buddha Hall shone coldly in the moonlight. The black-clad figure leading the way suddenly stopped in front of a low side house. A thin layer of ice accumulated on the roof tiles, and the window paper had long since yellowed.

Jing Chunxi felt a lump in his throat - this was clearly a storage room for incense, candles and offerings. There were so many rooms in the Cining Palace, but Nanny Zhou was willing to place them here. She must be keeping an eye on the Empress Dowager's soul at all times!

"I'm afraid Madam Zhou is dying." When the man in black pushed the door, the wooden door hinge made a dying groan. "Madam Zhou has been talking about the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince these past two days." His voice was hoarse as if he had swallowed a handful of sand, and there were probably tears in his eyes.

The moment the door opened, a strong stench of decay mixed with the bitter smell of medicine washed over like a wave. Jing Chunxi was choked to the point of blinding vision, but he still gritted his teeth and rushed into the house.

The wind she created stirred the dying oil lamp on the table. The soybean-sized flame danced wildly in the glass cover, pulling the human figure on the wall into a twisted ghost.

"Empress Dowager, I will follow you right away." Perhaps sensing someone approaching, a faint voice called out from behind the curtain, each word sounding like it was squeezed out from the heart.

Jing Chunxi trembled as he lifted the yellowed gauze curtain. In the flickering light of the lamp, he saw Madam Zhou's thin, deformed face sunken into the bleached pillow. The old woman's cloudy eyes, covered with a layer of gray, were half-open.

The rise and fall of his chest was so faint that it was almost invisible, and a pungent smell of blood and wound medicine could be faintly smelled from under the quilt.

"Mammy's legs were broken, and her bottom was bruised." The man in black's Adam's apple rolled, his fists clenched so tightly that they crackled. "We've used wooden planks and applied the finest wound medicine, but since yesterday, it's suddenly been burning like a piece of charcoal..." His voice trailed off, the last few words practically choking. "Since yesterday, I can't even take any medicine."

Jing Chunxi noticed a half-bowl of cold medicinal juice on the wooden table beside the bed, with dark brown residue at the bottom. The man in black wiped his eyes with his sleeve, leaving red marks on his face from the rough cloth. "From the palace,"

He paused for a moment and then continued, "The imperial physician I invited said...it'll be in the next two days." He sighed and said, "The pigeon letter sent to the prince should have arrived in Lingnan by now."

When Jing Chunxi's fingertips touched Madam Zhou's scorching forehead, the scorching heat made her flinch. The old woman's cracked lips were covered with blood scabs, and her breath carried the rancid sweetness of a dying person.

"Get out! Guard here well. No one is allowed to come in until I go out." Jing Chunxi shouted sternly. The determination in his voice made the man in black tremble all over.

"Yes, miss!" A dull reply came from behind, and it stopped outside the door with the sound of swords clashing.