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

After Xiao Yanzi left Shufangzhai, although she continued to play with everyone on the surface, she always kept in mind how to share the burden of her sister, the Empress. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that she couldn't just stay in the hall doing nothing.

"Liu Qing, Liu Hong, I really want to go out and do something for my sister, the Empress. Staying here all the time, I feel like I can't help at all," Little Swallow confided to Liu Qing and Liu Hong once again.

Liu Qing patiently advised, "Princess, Her Majesty the Empress's greatest wish is for you to be safe and sound. This is the greatest help you can give her."

Liu Hong chimed in, "Yes, Princess, it's too dangerous outside right now. You absolutely mustn't take any risks."

But Little Swallow was still unwilling to give up. Taking advantage of Liu Qing and Liu Hong's inattention, she secretly slipped out of Shufangzhai. She thought to herself, "I'll go for a stroll in the Imperial Garden. Maybe I can find some clues."

People came and went in the Imperial Garden, and Little Swallow mingled among them, looking around. She would look here and touch there, trying to find clues related to the Shadow Cult from the slightest hints.

Just then, a palace maid who looked furtive caught her attention. This maid's eyes darted around, and she kept glancing at Little Swallow, intentionally or unintentionally.

"Could she be connected to the Shadow Cult?" Little Swallow wondered, and decided to follow her to find out.

She followed cautiously behind the palace maid to a secluded corner of the Imperial Garden. Here, artificial hills stood tall, flowers and plants flourished, and few people ventured there.

"Who are you? Why are you following me?" The palace maid suddenly turned around and looked at Little Swallow warily.

Little Swallow mustered her courage: "You're acting suspiciously, there's something wrong with you! Are you connected to the Shadow Cult?"

The palace maid sneered, "Hmph, you little rascal, you're quite clever. Now that you've discovered me, I don't need to hide it anymore. That's right, I'm a member of the Shadow Cult, and you're not getting away today!" With that, she pulled a dagger from her sleeve.

Little Swallow was terrified, but she forced herself to remain calm: "What do you dare to do? This is the palace. If you dare to make a move, you'll be discovered very quickly!"

"So what if I find out? As long as I can catch you, I'd be willing to die!" The palace maid lunged at her viciously.

Little Swallow quickly backed away, but accidentally tripped over a stone and fell to the ground. The palace maid seized the opportunity to pounce on her, and her dagger was about to stab Little Swallow.

Just then, Liu Hong arrived. She shouted, "Stop!" and kicked the palace maid away.

"Princess, are you alright?" Liu Hong quickly helped Xiao Xiao Yanzi up.

"I...I'm fine. Liu Hong, she's a member of the Shadow Cult!" Little Swallow was still in shock.

"Hmph, let's see where you run!" Liu Hong got into a fighting stance, ready to fight the palace maid.

Seeing this, the palace maid knew she was no match for Liu Hong and turned to run. Just as Liu Hong was about to give chase, Liu Qing arrived.

"Stop chasing them, protecting the princess is the priority," Liu Qing said.

Little Swallow said with lingering fear, "Liu Qing and Liu Hong, thank goodness you arrived in time, otherwise I would have..."

"Princess, why are you so disobedient? How could you run out alone? It's so dangerous!" Liu Qing scolded sternly.

"I just wanted to do something for my sister the Empress, but I never expected to actually run into people from the Shadow Cult," Little Swallow said, feeling wronged.

“Your intentions are good, but this is too dangerous. We must not do this again. Let’s hurry back to Shufangzhai and tell Her Majesty the Empress about this,” Liu Hong said.

The three hurried back to Shufangzhai. Xiaoyanzi had just returned from outside and, seeing their hurried expressions, quickly asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Little Swallow recounted in detail her encounter with the Shadow Cult maids in the Imperial Garden.

Upon hearing this, Little Swallow's expression changed drastically: "That's too dangerous! Little Swallow, how could you be so reckless? If something happens, how will I explain it to the Emperor, how will I explain it to everyone!"

"Empress, I was wrong. I just wanted to help, but I almost caused a disaster." Little Swallow lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

Little Swallow hugged Little Swallow tightly, her heart aching. "I know you mean well, but the Shadow Cult is too cunning and ruthless. You must listen to me from now on and not run around anymore, okay?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Little Swallow nodded obediently.

“It seems the Shadow Cult has already begun its operation. We must be even more careful.” Xiao Yanzi frowned. “Liu Qing and Liu Hong, you two continue to strengthen the protection of Shufangzhai. We absolutely cannot let this happen again.”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Liu Qing and Liu Hong replied in unison.

However, now that the Shadow Cult has made its move, it will not give up easily. This incident is just the beginning; what other vicious schemes will they devise? How will Little Swallow and the others cope with this increasingly dire situation?

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