Legend of the Embroiderer

In the dense woods outside the palace wall, sunlight shines through the gaps between the leaves, casting mottled shadows, creating a mysterious and quiet atmosphere.

Li Zhao was dressed in gorgeous clothes and stood tall in front of the subdued envoy and his men.

His eyes, bright as stars, were like burning torches, emitting sharp light; his tightly pursed lips were slightly raised, revealing a hint of coldness that made people shudder.

The envoy was escorted by several eunuchs in the center of the crowd. Although he tried his best to remain calm on the surface, his slightly trembling hands and flickering eyes could not completely conceal his inner panic and fear.

After all, this battle-hardened envoy possessed extraordinary psychological qualities. He quickly adjusted his mood and forced a smile on his face, trying to hide his guilt and uneasiness.

"Your Highness, I'm afraid you have misunderstood.

"I came here out of curiosity about your country's academy and a desire to learn more about its unique operating methods. I have absolutely no ill intentions!" the envoy explained in a seemingly sincere tone.

Li Zhao couldn't help but sneer when he heard this. The laugh was like a cold wind blowing past everyone's ears, making people's hair stand on end.

His eyes shot straight at the messenger like two bolts of lightning, revealing deep suspicion and distrust without any concealment.

"Misunderstanding? Humph! In this prince's opinion, this is by no means accidental, but a conspiracy that you have carefully planned and conspired for a long time! First, the precious embroidery supplies in the palace were strangely stolen, then a palace maid fainted inexplicably, and then there was the blatant provocation in the court today... If all these things are called coincidences, wouldn't it be ridiculous?" Li Zhaoyi refuted in a stern voice, his voice loud and powerful, echoing for a long time in the silent woods.

After hearing Li Zhao's order, the messenger trembled slightly, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face. However, after just a moment, he quickly adjusted his emotions and tried to appear calm again.

However, although there was no obvious change on the surface, one could still detect a hint of guilt and panic in his slightly hesitant tone.

"Your Highness, please believe us! We are truly just driven by pure curiosity and have absolutely no malicious intentions. Perhaps... perhaps all of this is just an incredible coincidence."

As the messenger spoke, he carefully observed Li Zhao's expression, trying to guess what this distinguished prince was thinking.

Li Zhao looked at the messenger quietly, a subtle glint in his eyes. He slowly shook his head, a sneer curling up at the corner of his mouth.

He simply didn't believe the messenger's feeble words. Having experienced countless hardships, he believed that so-called coincidences were often just illusions created by carefully planned conspiracies.

"Huh! Coincidence? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

Li Zhao snorted coldly, turned around, and sternly ordered the eunuch beside him, "Take these people back to the palace immediately and keep them under strict supervision! I want to see what kind of ridiculous lies they can make up to deceive me!"

Upon hearing this, the chief eunuch quickly bowed in agreement, then waved his hand to signal his guards to take action.

A group of fully armed guards rushed forward like wolves and tigers, firmly controlled the envoy and his entourage, and then escorted them towards the palace without any courtesy.

Watching the envoy and others being taken away, Li Zhao took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then took big strides and hurried towards the palace.

He knew very well that at this moment, Su Mengyao must be in the school anxiously waiting for him to bring back the latest news about the matter.

The atmosphere in the classroom was somewhat solemn. Su Mengyao stood gracefully in the lecture hall, her beautiful face now filled with worry.

Her bright eyes were fixed on the palace maids below who were listening attentively, but her mind was full of thoughts.

She knew very well that this fierce struggle had entered the most critical moment, and the truth hidden behind the fog was about to surface.

Thinking of this, Su Mengyao couldn't help but bite her lips lightly, secretly praying that everything could be resolved smoothly.

"Miss Su, what happened outside? Why are there so many people suddenly here?"

Just as Su Mengyao was lost in thought, a clear and pleasant voice broke the silence.

She looked down and found a young palace maid looking up at her with a puzzled expression, a hint of uneasiness and fear in her eyes.

The corners of Su Mengyao's mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile, which was as beautiful and charming as the peach blossoms blooming in spring.

Her voice was calm and steady, like a clear lake, without a single ripple. "Don't panic, sisters. We just have visitors who want to take a look around our school. Everyone, just focus on your own tasks and don't lose your composure."

Hearing this, all the palace maids nodded in agreement, then lowered their heads again, concentrating on fiddling with the needle and thread in their hands, embroidering the exquisite pattern.

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of embroidery, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly broke the silence.

I saw a eunuch rushing into the room, his face pale and terrified, shouting:

"Miss Su, something's wrong!" Su Mengyao's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding washed over her. But she quickly regained her composure, quickened her pace, and rushed forward, eagerly asking, "What exactly happened? Tell me quickly!"

The eunuch lowered his voice and whispered softly in Su Mengyao's ear, "Your Highness has just captured a suspicious individual attempting to sneak outside the palace walls. Preliminary observations indicate this individual is not insignificant, and I'm afraid there's a massive conspiracy hidden behind this. Your Highness has specifically sent me here to ask you to come quickly so we can discuss countermeasures together."

When Su Mengyao heard this, her eyebrows slightly frowned, and her beautiful eyes revealed deep doubt and worry.

She knew very well that this matter was of great importance, and perhaps it involved the key to the secret and turbulent power struggle.

Li Zhao had already rushed back to the palace. His face was solemn, his brows furrowed, and he exuded an aura of authority without even being angry.

As soon as he entered the palace, he immediately summoned the chief eunuch and several other trusted ministers to discuss major plans.

The captured envoy and his men were all tied up and escorted to the magnificent and solemn hall.

Li Zhao sat upright in the dragon throne, his eyes like burning flames, staring intently at the uninvited guests in the hall, with a cold light flashing in his eyes that made people dare not look directly at him.

"Your Highness, we have conducted a preliminary interrogation on them, but they refuse to admit any conspiracy." The chief eunuch reported with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

Li Zhao frowned slightly, but had some ideas in his mind.

He turned to Su Mengyao and said, "Yao'er, go and appease the palace maids first. I will take care of things here."

Su Mengyao nodded and turned to leave. She knew that the critical moment of this struggle had arrived, and the truth might be right before her eyes.

Inside the hall, Li Zhao stood before the envoy, his gaze piercing. "Your Excellency, I know you have a conspiracy. The theft of embroidery supplies, the fainting of the palace maid, the provocation at the court—none of this is coincidental. What is your true purpose?"

The messenger smiled faintly, trying to hide his uneasiness. "Your Highness, this is just a misunderstanding. We are simply curious and have no ill intentions."

Li Zhao sneered, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Misunderstanding? I think it's been planned for a long time. What is your real purpose?"

The messenger was stunned for a moment, then regained his composure. However, there was a hint of hesitation in his tone: "Your Highness, we are simply curious and have no ill intentions. Perhaps this is all just a coincidence."

Li Zhao shook his head slightly, and had already made some judgment in his mind.

He turned to the chief eunuch and ordered, "Take them back to the cell and keep them under strict guard. I want to see what lies they can come up with."

The eunuch took the order and left, while Li Zhao hurried into the palace. He knew that Su Mengyao must be waiting for his news in the academy.