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

The moonlight, as clear as water, cast its cold glow upon the ruins of the abandoned mansion, adding to its eerie atmosphere. Little Swallow gripped her dagger tightly, her eyes wide open, staring intently at the black-clad man whose mask she had just removed, her gaze filled with shock and rage. The black-clad man was pale, his eyes darting around in panic, trying to break free, but Little Swallow grabbed him by the collar.

"How could it be you? Eunuch Su, why are you here?" Xiao Yanzi's voice trembled slightly with anger. The dagger in her hand unconsciously moved forward a few more inches, pressing against Eunuch Su's neck, cutting through a layer of skin and drawing a trickle of blood.

Eunuch Su turned deathly pale with fright, his legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice trembling with sobs: "Your Majesty, spare me! This servant was forced into this situation; I had no choice!"

Lin Yuhang and his guards quickly subdued the other men in black and surrounded him. Lin Yuhang frowned, looking at the kneeling eunuch Su with suspicion and wariness in his eyes: "Su Peisheng, as the Emperor's personal eunuch, you have colluded with the Shadow Pavilion. What is your crime? If you don't confess honestly today, don't blame us for being impolite!" As he spoke, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, took a step forward, and the sword was slightly drawn, its cold light flashing.

Su Peisheng trembled with fear, kowtowing repeatedly, his forehead hitting the cold ground with a dull thud: "Lord Lin, spare my life! I'll tell you everything! Several months ago, people from the Shadow Pavilion found me and threatened to kill my entire family if I didn't help them pass on messages from the palace. I was confused for a moment, and for the sake of my family, I... I committed such a terrible mistake!"

Xiao Yanzi was so angry that her face turned red. She kicked Su Peisheng and said, "Foolish? Your foolishness almost cost the princess her life! Tell me, what exactly is the Shadow Pavilion plotting? Who are their accomplices in the palace?"

Su Peisheng lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to raise his head, and said tremblingly, "This servant...this servant really doesn't know their specific plans, only that they seem to be preparing for a major event, related to a noble person in the palace. As for the inside agent, this servant only has single-line contact with them and doesn't know who else is involved."

Lin Yuhang snorted coldly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes: "Hmph, even at this point, you still dare to be stubborn? It seems you won't tell the truth unless I get serious. Men, take him back to the capital and subject him to severe torture!"

"Lord Lin, Lord Lin, spare my life!" Su Peisheng cried out in terror, struggling desperately, but the guards held him down and dragged him out of the abandoned mansion.

Watching Su Peisheng being led away, Xiao Yanzi felt a mix of emotions. She never imagined that the emperor's most trusted eunuch would be an inside man for the Shadow Pavilion. She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and turned to Lin Yuhang, saying, "Lin Yuhang, it seems we need to return to the palace as soon as possible and report this to the emperor."

Lin Yuhang nodded and said, "The Empress is absolutely right. We should not delay and should return now."

The group quickly mounted their horses and galloped towards the Forbidden City. The rapid clatter of hooves broke the stillness of the night. Little Swallow, seated on her horse, was lost in thought. She knew this incident was no accident; the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy was likely far more complex than they had imagined.

Back at the palace, dawn was breaking. Inside the Shufangzhai, Hongli had been waiting for some time. Dressed in casual clothes, he paced anxiously back and forth. Seeing Xiaoyanzi and Lin Yuhang return, he hurried forward: "Empress, you're finally back. How did it go?"

With a grave expression, Xiao Yanzi recounted her ordeal in detail to Hongli. Upon hearing this, Hongli's face darkened horribly. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You, Su Peisheng! How dare you betray me! I trusted him so much, yet he committed such a heinous act!"

Lin Yuhang stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, “Your Majesty, although Su Peisheng has been captured, the Dark Shadow Pavilion’s conspiracy has not been fully exposed, and their relationship with the palace’s inside agents has not yet been clarified. I suggest that Su Peisheng be interrogated immediately, and we must pry more clues out of him.”

Hongli nodded slightly, a ruthless glint in his eyes: "Lin Yuhang, I'm leaving this matter to you. Use whatever means necessary to make him tell the truth. I want to see what kind of conspiracy is hidden behind the Shadow Pavilion, and who else is colluding with them!"

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lin Yuhang accepted the order and left.

Xiao Yanzi walked to Hongli's side and gently took his hand: "Your Majesty, don't be too angry. Now that we have captured Su Peisheng, I believe we will soon be able to uncover the Dark Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy."

Hongli looked at Xiaoyanzi, his eyes filled with exhaustion and worry: "Empress, this incident has made me deeply uneasy. There are so many hidden dangers in this palace. I have truly failed in my duty."

Xiao Yanzi leaned against Hongli's chest and whispered, "Your Majesty, it's not your fault. The Shadow Pavilion was scheming, and it's inevitable that we would be careless for a moment. As long as we work together, we will definitely be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

Just then, Xiao Zhuozi rushed in, looking flustered: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the Empress Dowager requests your presence at Cining Palace."

Hongli and Xiaoyanzi exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts. Hongli frowned slightly and said, "Understood, we'll go over now."

The two straightened their clothes and headed towards the Cining Palace. They remained silent the entire way, the atmosphere heavy with tension. Upon arriving at the Cining Palace, they saw Zhen Huan seated solemnly in the main seat. Seeing Hongli and Xiaoyanzi enter, she slightly raised her hand, gesturing for them to sit down.

"My son, my empress, I have heard that you have captured an inside agent of the Shadow Pavilion. Is this true?" Zhen Huan's voice was deep and authoritative, with a hint of worry in her eyes.

Hongli quickly stood up and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, this is indeed the case. I have ordered Lin Yuhang to interrogate him, and I believe we will have results soon."

Zhen Huan nodded slightly and sighed softly, "Alas, the Shadow Pavilion is far too rampant, even extending its reach into the palace. My son, you must be careful and never let your guard down."

Little Swallow also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, the Emperor and I will uncover the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy as soon as possible and restore peace to the palace."

Zhen Huan looked at Xiao Yanzi, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes: "Empress, I am very pleased that you are so righteous. However, the people in the palace are complicated, so you must be careful in your actions and not fall into other people's traps."

After discussing the matter further, Hongli and Xiaoyanzi took their leave and left Cining Palace. Back at Shufangzhai, Xiaoyanzi sat wearily in a chair and said, "Your Majesty, you heard what the Empress Dowager said. It seems that the situation in the palace is far more complicated than we imagined."

Hongli walked to her side and gently took her hand: "Empress, no matter how complicated the situation is, as long as my husband and I work together, we will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties."

Xiao Yanzi looked up at Hongli's determined eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She nodded vigorously: "Yes, Your Majesty, we can definitely do it!"

However, unbeknownst to them, a far greater crisis was quietly approaching. The Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy, like an invisible net, was gradually tightening around them. And in the shadows of the palace, countless eyes were watching their every move, waiting for their chance…