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

Little Swallow paced back and forth in the courtyard of Prince Bao's mansion, then suddenly stopped and said to Hongli, "Your Highness, I think those guards are being stubborn because someone is backing them up, and they might even have been promised some benefits."

Hongli nodded slightly: "I also have this suspicion. But who exactly is behind this? Besides Gao Wuyong, is there anyone else?"

At this moment, Xiao Tao brought over tea. Hearing their conversation, she said softly, "Your Highness, Madam, could it be that the Shadow Pavilion has other spies in the Prince's residence? They look after each other, which is why they are not afraid of being investigated."

Little Swallow's eyes lit up: "Little Peach is right! Then we need to find out the other spies too."

Hongli pondered for a moment and said, "I will go to the palace tomorrow to see my father and see if I can get some information from him about the Shadow Pavilion's infiltration of the palace. Little Swallow, you continue to keep an eye on these guards in the mansion and see if you can find anything unusual in their daily behavior."

Little Swallow nodded: "Okay, Your Highness, rest assured, I will not let any clue slip by."

Inside the palace, Empress Yixiu and Gao Wuyong were plotting again.

Empress Yixiu asked, "Do you think Xiao Yanzi and Hongli will find out about our relationship with the Shadow Pavilion?"

Gao Wuyong said obsequiously, "Your Majesty, they don't have any solid evidence yet. This servant has already arranged for people to keep an eye on things at Prince Bao's residence, and they will report back as soon as there is any movement."

Empress Yixiu frowned: "Hmph, I still feel uneasy. The matter of the Shadow Pavilion must not involve me."

Gao Wuyong quickly replied, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this servant will act with utmost care."

At the Prince Heshuo's Palace, Hongzhou was accompanying Dili Leyao to admire the flowers in the garden.

Dilireyao looked at a blooming peony and said, "Your Highness, look how beautiful this peony is."

Hongzhou, however, seemed somewhat distracted: "Yes, it is beautiful."

Dilire Yao turned to look at him: "Your Highness, are you still thinking about Sister Xiao Yanzi?"

Hongzhou sighed: "Yao'er, I... I will try my best to focus my attention on you."

Dilireyao gently held his hand: "Your Highness, I know this is not easy, but I will stay with you."

Xiao Yanzi carefully observed the guards at Prince Bao's mansion. She noticed that one of the guards always secretly looked into a corner of the courtyard at midnight.

Xiao Yanzi became suspicious. She quietly called Azhu over and said, "Azhu, look at that guard. He's behaving very strangely. Go and check that corner. See if there's anything there."

A-Zhu accepted the order and left. A short while later, she returned with a small piece of paper in her hand, on which some strange symbols were written.

Little Swallow took the note to Hongli: "Your Highness, look what this is? I found it in the corner that the guard was staring at."

Hongli took the note and examined it carefully: "This seems to be a code. I need to find someone to decipher it."

They summoned a strategist who was well-versed in coded language. After examining the document, the strategist's expression turned grave: "Your Highness, Your Highness, the coded language here indicates that the Shadow Pavilion has a deeply hidden mole within the Prince's residence, and they are plotting an even larger conspiracy, which seems to be related to a sacrificial ceremony in the palace."

Little Swallow exclaimed in surprise, "What? We have to stop them right away!"

Hongli calmly said, "Don't panic. We need to find this inside man first before we can completely thwart their plot."

So, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli began to discreetly investigate everyone in the palace, talking to each person and observing their expressions and reactions.

While talking to an old servant, Xiao Yanzi noticed that his eyes were shifty and his words were ambiguous.

Little Swallow deliberately said, "I heard that the Shadow Pavilion is looking for something recently, and it seems to be in this Prince's Mansion."

The old servant said nervously, "Madam, this old servant knows nothing about the Shadow Pavilion."

Xiao Yanzi and Hongli exchanged a glance, and suspicion arose in their hearts.

They continued to probe, and finally the old servant gave himself away, revealing that he was actually the Shadow Pavilion's mole in the Prince's mansion.

When the old servant saw that his trick had been exposed, he knelt down and begged for mercy: "Your Highness, Madam, this old servant was forced into this situation. The Shadow Pavilion captured my family and threatened me to work for them."

Little Swallow said, "Then tell us everything you know about the Shadow Pavilion's plans, and we can help you save your family."

The old servant hesitated for a moment before revealing the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy. It turned out they planned to use a sleeping incense to incapacitate everyone during a palace ceremony, then steal a precious artifact used in the ritual—an artifact closely connected to the secrets of the Shadow Pavilion's murals.

After learning of the conspiracy, Xiao Yanzi and Hongli decided to make preparations in advance, turning the tables on the scheme by setting a trap at the sacrificial site, waiting for the Shadow Pavilion members to walk right into their trap. They knew the contest was becoming increasingly dangerous, but for the sake of the palace's peace and the truth to be revealed, they could only bravely move forward, unafraid of the Shadow Pavilion's cunning. In this turbulent palace, they would outwit and outfight their enemies lurking in the shadows, continuing their legendary saga, and awaiting the dawn of final victory. With wisdom and courage, they would weave a protective net, leaving the conspiracy nowhere to hide.