Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

Back in her palace, Xiao Yanzi was exhausted, but her mind was filled with thoughts of the Shadow Pavilion, and she couldn't calm down. She paced back and forth in her room, while Xiao Tao and A Zhu watched her with worried expressions.

"Your Majesty, you've been working so hard all day, you should rest for a while," Xiao Tao couldn't help but advise.

Little Swallow waved her hand: "How can I rest! Who knows how deep the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy is? Although we have this energy source, who knows what they will do next!"

Azhu also said, "Your Majesty, don't worry too much. The Emperor is also trying to find a solution."

"That's true, but I still can't help feeling uneasy." Little Swallow frowned. "The Shadow Pavilion is so mysterious, always hiding in the shadows, it's impossible to guard against them."

At this moment, Liu Qing and Liu Hong walked in. As soon as Liu Hong entered, she said, "Princess, we just inquired and found out that there seem to be some strange movements in the palace recently."

"Strange noise? Tell me quickly, what's so strange about it?" Little Swallow immediately perked up.

Liu Qing said with a serious expression, "We've heard that some eunuchs and palace maids have been behaving suspiciously lately, as if they're secretly passing on some messages."

"Could it be that someone from the Shadow Pavilion has infiltrated the palace?" Little Swallow's eyes widened. "This is terrible! We must find out!"

Liu Hong nodded: "That's what I was thinking too, Princess. Why don't we investigate these people secretly?"

"Alright, be careful, and don't alert them," Little Swallow cautioned. "If they really are from the Shadow Pavilion, we must find out their purpose and plans."

"Don't worry, Princess!" Liu Qing and Liu Hong said in unison.

Just then, Su Peisheng said softly from outside the door, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests your presence."

Little Swallow was slightly taken aback: "Your Majesty? You're looking for me at this time. I wonder what brings you here?"

"Whatever it is, you'll find out once you get there," Xiao Tao said.

Xiao Yanzi straightened her clothes and then followed Su Peisheng to Zhen Huan's residence.

Upon arriving at the destination, Little Swallow bowed and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

Zhen Huan smiled and gestured for Xiao Yanzi to sit down: "Get up, child. I heard you found the energy source this time; you must have had a hard time."

"Your Majesty flatters me. This is all I should do," said Xiao Yanzi.

Zhen Huan frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "However, we cannot take the matter of the Shadow Pavilion lightly. I have heard that things seem to be a bit unsettled in the palace lately."

"Has the Empress Dowager also heard about those strange noises?" Little Swallow asked.

"Yes, I've been in this palace for so many years, I've seen it all," Zhen Huan said. "The Shadow Pavilion is quite powerful and well-hidden, so we must be careful."

"Your Majesty is right. I have already sent Liu Qing and Liu Hong to investigate in secret," Xiao Yanzi said.

Zhen Huan nodded: "You did the right thing. However, this matter cannot be handled by just the few of you. We need to ask the Emperor to send more people. I am worried that the Shadow Pavilion's target is not just this energy source."

"What does the Empress Dowager mean..." Xiao Yanzi looked at Zhen Huan with a puzzled expression.

“They might even be plotting against the Emperor or causing chaos in the palace.” Zhen Huan said with a serious expression. “The relationships in this palace are complex, and a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.”

Xiao Yanzi's heart tightened: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost to protect the Emperor and the peace of this palace."

"I believe in you," Zhen Huan said. "Although you are a bit impatient, you are kind-hearted and courageous. However, in this palace, courage alone is not enough; you also need to learn to use your brain."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand," Xiao Yanzi said earnestly.

"And that little swallow, she's young and doesn't know any better, you need to take good care of her," Zhen Huan said. "This child is innocent and naive, don't let her get involved in these conflicts."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will take good care of Little Swallow," Little Swallow said.

After leaving Zhen Huan's place, Xiao Yanzi felt even more heavy-hearted. She returned to her palace and told Liu Qing and Liu Hong about her conversation with Zhen Huan.

"It seems this matter is more serious than we imagined," Liu Hong said.

"No matter how serious it is, we cannot back down," Little Swallow said firmly. "We must completely thwart the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy!"

Liu Qing frowned: "Princess, I think we need to think this through more carefully. Since the Shadow Pavilion has been able to infiltrate the palace, they must have spies and plans. We need to find a way to find their spies."

"Yes, Liu Qing is right." Xiao Yanzi nodded. "We can't act blindly. By the way, do you guys investigate those suspicious eunuchs and palace maids? Do you have any leads?"

Liu Hong shook her head helplessly: "Not yet. They seem to be very cautious and haven't revealed any obvious flaws."

"These people seem to be more than they appear," Xiao Yanzi said. "We need to intensify our investigation, but we must be careful not to let them discover that we suspect them."

"Yes, Princess!" Liu Qing and Liu Hong accepted the order once again.

Just then, Xiao Dengzi rushed in: "Your Majesty, Princess Hejing has arrived."

Little Swallow was slightly taken aback, wondering what Princess Hejing was doing here at this time.

Princess Hejing skipped in, a mysterious smile on her face: "Your Majesty, I have some news for you."

"What news? Tell me quickly!" Little Swallow asked eagerly.

Princess Hejing leaned close to Xiaoyanzi's ear and whispered, "I heard that a chef in the Imperial Kitchen has been making frequent meetings with people outside the palace lately, and his behavior is very suspicious."

"A chef from the imperial kitchen?" Little Swallow said in surprise. "That's no small matter. How did you know?"

“I overheard some palace maids talking about it by chance,” Princess Hejing said. “I felt that this matter might be related to the Shadow Pavilion, so I came to tell you as soon as possible.”

“You did the right thing, Princess Hejing,” Xiaoyanzi said. “This news is very important. Liu Qing, Liu Hong, go and investigate this cook and see what he’s up to.”

"Yes, Princess!" Liu Qing and Liu Hong immediately turned around and left.

Little Swallow looked at Princess Hejing and said with a smile, "Princess Hejing, thank you so much. You've really been a great help."

"Hehe, I'm so happy to be able to help Her Majesty the Empress," Princess Hejing said. "I also want to do my part for the peace and tranquility of the palace."

"You're such a good child." Little Swallow patted Princess Hejing's head. "However, this is very dangerous. You must never go on such dangerous missions by yourself again, understand?"

"Yes, I will listen to Your Majesty the Empress," Princess Hejing said obediently.

After seeing Princess Hejing off, Xiao Yanzi fell into deep thought. Just how far had the Shadow Pavilion's influence infiltrated? How many more enemies were lurking in the shadows? She knew this battle would be incredibly difficult, but to protect those she cared about and to protect the palace, she would never back down.

After a while, Hongli arrived at Xiaoyanzi's palace.

"My beloved consort, I heard that Princess Hejing came to deliver a message to you?" Hongli asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Xiao Yanzi told Hongli what Princess Hejing had said.

Upon hearing this, Hongli's expression turned extremely grave: "It seems that the people from the Shadow Pavilion have already infiltrated the Imperial Kitchen. This is extremely dangerous."

"Your Majesty, I have already sent Liu Qing and Liu Hong to investigate," Xiao Yanzi said. "They will definitely find out the truth about this cook."

“Yes, we must be careful,” Hongli said. “We will not have peace until the Shadow Pavilion’s conspiracy is thwarted.”

"Your Majesty, do you think this cook might be related to the energy source?" Little Swallow asked.

“Very likely,” Hongli said. “This energy source must be very important to the Shadow Pavilion. They might try to take it back by any means necessary, or sabotage our research on it.”

“Then we need to speed up our research on the energy source,” Little Swallow said. “Maybe we can find a way to deal with the Shadow Pavilion from it.”

“I have already assigned specialists to study this, but it will take time,” Hongli said. “In the meantime, we must strengthen the palace’s security and not give the Shadow Pavilion any opportunity to take advantage of us.”

"Yes, Your Majesty," Xiao Yanzi said. "Your Majesty, I will certainly assist you in protecting this palace."

"With you by my side, I feel much more at ease." Hongli held Xiaoyanzi's hand, his eyes full of trust and love.

However, unbeknownst to them, while Liu Qing and Liu Hong were investigating the imperial kitchen cook, a far greater crisis was quietly approaching. The cook seemed to have sensed an investigation and was preparing his next move, an action that could potentially plunge the entire palace into chaos…

This chapter concludes here. Stay tuned for the next chapter.