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

Xiao Yanzi and Hongli followed cautiously behind the young eunuch, passing through winding corridors and around several palaces. The young eunuch hurried along, glancing back warily from time to time, but failed to notice that someone was following them.

"Fourth Prince, this little eunuch looks suspicious; there's definitely something wrong with him!" Little Swallow said in a low voice.

Hongli nodded slightly: "Yes, let's be careful not to let him find out."

The young eunuch wandered through the maze of the Imperial Garden, finally arriving at a secluded corner. There stood an abandoned palace, overgrown with weeds, exuding an eerie atmosphere.

"Why is he here? Nobody usually comes here." Little Swallow frowned in confusion.

Hongli said softly, "We'll know once we go in and take a look."

The two quietly approached the abandoned palace and peered inside through the dilapidated windows. Inside, in the dim light, they saw a person dressed in a black robe with their back to them.

"How did things go? We can't let Hongli and Xiaoyanzi ruin our important plans." The man in black robes spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

The young eunuch hurriedly bowed: "Your Excellency, they are currently suspected of poisoning and their movements have been restricted by the Emperor, so there is nothing to fear for the time being. However, they have taken the jade pendant, and I am worried..."

The man in black sneered, "It's alright. Even if they have the jade pendant, without other clues, they won't be able to unlock its secrets. However, we still need to keep a close eye on them, and report any unusual movements immediately."

"Yes, sir," the young eunuch replied.

Little Swallow listened outside the window, gritting her teeth in anger: "Damn it! They really are framing us, and they even want to stop us from investigating the Shadow Pavilion murals."

Hongli tugged at her sleeve: "Don't rush, let's go back and discuss this further."

The two quietly left the abandoned palace and returned to their residence. As soon as they entered, Xiao Tao greeted them.

"Madam, you're finally back! Ah Zhu has been so worried about you," Xiao Tao said.

Little Swallow forced a smile: "Little Peach, I'm fine. You go ahead and do your work."

After Xiao Tao left, Xiao Yanzi said to Hongli, "Fourth Prince, what should we do now? That man in black robes must be an important figure in the Shadow Pavilion, but we have no evidence to expose them."

Hongli pondered for a moment: "That jade pendant is a key clue. We need to find a way to figure out the meaning of the symbols on it. Perhaps we can go and discuss it with General Zhaohui again."

Little Swallow nodded: "That's the only way. But the Shadow Pavilion seems to have considerable influence in the palace, so we have to be careful in everything we do."

The next day, Hongli and Xiaoyanzi went to General Zhaohui's mansion again. Inside the mansion, General Zhaohui frowned as he looked at the jade pendant they had brought.

“I have seen this symbol before, but its specific meaning needs further investigation. I have sent people to consult ancient books to see if we can find any relevant records,” General Zhao Hui said.

Little Swallow said anxiously, "General, time is of the essence! The people of the Shadow Pavilion have been plotting in secret. If we don't find out the truth soon, not only will we be in danger, but the entire palace may also be in peril."

General Zhao Hui comforted her, "Princess Consort, don't worry. I will speed things up. You should also keep an eye on the movements of those around you in the palace; you might discover new clues."

After leaving the General's Mansion, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli returned to the palace. As soon as they entered, they heard a commotion. It turned out that Niohuru Zhixi had woken up and was arguing with Rong Mama in her room.

"Granny, what kind of poison did that Little Swallow give me? Why am I still so weak?" Zhixi asked angrily.

Rong Mama hurriedly said, "Madam, this old servant doesn't know either. But Xiao Yanzi is definitely involved, and this old servant will definitely seek justice for you."

Upon hearing this, Little Swallow couldn't help but rush inside.

"Granny Rong, stop making false accusations! I didn't poison you at all, why do you keep framing me?" Little Swallow said angrily.

Zhixi looked at Xiaoyanzi with eyes full of resentment: "Xiaoyanzi, don't think I don't know. Ever since you came, there has been no peace in the palace. Did you want to have the Fourth Prince all to yourself, so you tried to poison me?"

Hongli also came in and said, "Zhixi, don't make wild guesses. Xiaoyanzi and I are investigating your poisoning. We are also victims."

Zhixi sneered, "Hmph! I don't believe a single word you say."

Xiao Yanzi and Hongli exchanged a helpless glance, knowing that it was impossible to explain to Zhixi at this moment.

"Fourth Prince, let's go. There's no point in talking to her anymore," said Xiao Yanzi.

After the two left Zhixi's palace, Xiaoyanzi sighed and said, "It's pitiful that Zhixi was being used without even realizing it."

Hongli said, "She was also harmed by the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy. We must find out the truth as soon as possible so that we can clear everyone's name."

A few days later, General Zhao Hui sent word that he had found a record in an ancient book that resembled the jade pendant symbol, which seemed to be related to an ancient and mysterious organization, and this organization was very likely the predecessor of the Shadow Pavilion.

"Fourth Prince, Princess Consort, this ancient book mentions that this mysterious organization once attempted to control the world. They used the Shadow Pavilion as a cover to secretly plot in the palace and the martial arts world. And that mural may be the key for them to unlock some kind of mysterious power," General Zhao Hui said.

Little Swallow's eyes lit up: "Then aren't we one step closer to the truth?"

General Zhao Hui nodded: "I suppose so. But to completely uncover the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy, we need more evidence."

Hongli pondered for a moment: "General, what should we do next?"

General Zhao Hui said, "I suggest you start with some old objects in the palace to see if you can find any clues related to this mysterious organization. For example, some old paintings, calligraphy and ornaments."

"Thank you for your guidance, General," Hongli said.

After leaving the General's Mansion, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli began searching for old objects throughout the palace. They came to a palace that stored miscellaneous items, filled with all sorts of old things.

"Fourth Prince, how are we supposed to find all this? There's so much stuff." Little Swallow looked at the clutter in the room and felt a headache coming on.

Hongli smiled and said, "Take your time searching, you'll find something eventually."

As the two were searching, they suddenly heard a soft footstep. They looked up warily and saw a palace maid standing at the door, her eyes darting around.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Hongli asked.

The palace maid hurriedly bowed and said, "Your Highness, Madam. I came here to clean, and when I saw someone there, I came to check on them."

Xiao Yanzi looked at the palace maid and found her somewhat suspicious: "Which palace are you from? I've never seen you before."

The palace maid stammered, "I'm new here, and I work in the Imperial Garden."

"Why would palace maids from the Imperial Garden be cleaning here? You're definitely up to something!" Little Swallow said.

When the palace maid realized that her plan had been exposed, she turned and ran away.

"Chase!" Hongli shouted.

Xiao Yanzi and Hongli immediately gave chase. The palace maid ran wildly along the palace paths, glancing back every now and then. Xiao Yanzi and Hongli pursued her relentlessly.

"Don't run!" Little Swallow shouted.

The palace maid, in her panic, ran into a dead end.

"Let's see where you run now!" Little Swallow said.

The palace maid looked at them in terror: "Fourth Prince, Princess Consort, please spare me. I was forced into this situation."

“Speak! Who ordered you to spy on us here?” Hongli asked sternly.

The palace maid said tremblingly, "It was... a mysterious person. He gave me silver and told me to keep an eye on your every move in the palace, and to tell him immediately if I discovered anything new."

"What does that mysterious person look like?" Little Swallow asked.

The palace maid said, "He always wears a veil; I only see him wearing a black robe."

"It's the man in black robes again!" Little Swallow said through gritted teeth.

Hongli said to the palace maid, "If you want to live, you must not have anything to do with that mysterious person anymore, and you must not tell anyone what happened today."

"Yes, Fourth Prince. This servant dares not do it again." The palace maid nodded hurriedly.

After letting the palace maid go, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli returned to their residence.

"Fourth Prince, these people from the Shadow Pavilion are truly omnipresent! We need to think of a way to deal with this," said Xiao Yanzi.

Hongli nodded: "Yes, we can't keep taking this beating passively. I think we can set a trap to lure out the people from the Shadow Pavilion."

"Set up a trap? How?" Little Swallow asked curiously.

Hongli smiled slightly: "We can deliberately spread some false information, saying that we have found the key clues to the mural, and then set up an ambush at the agreed location to wait for them to take the bait."

"That's a great idea!" Little Swallow clapped her hands in praise.

So, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli began to plot their scheme. They deliberately discussed the so-called "key clues to the murals" in conspicuous places in the palace, hoping to spread the news.

A few days later, sure enough, something happened. A young eunuch brought a note with a location and time on it, saying that the person who knew the secret of the murals would be meeting them there.

"It seems they've taken the bait," Hongli said.

Little Swallow said excitedly, "Finally, we can fight back! This time, we must expose their true colors!"

At the appointed time, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli arrived early at the agreed location—a secluded palace—with some guards. They hid in the shadows, waiting for the people from the Shadow Pavilion to arrive.

Before long, several men in black were seen quietly sneaking into the palace.

"They're here," Hongli said softly.

Little Swallow clenched her fists tightly: "We absolutely cannot let them get away this time."

Just as the men in black were searching the palace for so-called clues, Hongli gave the order: "Make your move!"

The guards immediately rushed out and surrounded the men in black. Upon seeing this, the men in black drew their swords and fought back.

"You think you can outsmart us? How naive!" shouted one of the men in black.

Little Swallow charged forward: "Hmph! Today is your doomsday!"

During the fierce fight, Xiao Yanzi noticed that one of the men in black had a particularly familiar fighting style.

"Who are you? Why do your moves seem so familiar?" Little Swallow asked.

The man in black sneered and removed his mask.

"Little Swallow, you didn't expect that, did you? It's me."

Little Swallow's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "It's you!"