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

The palace banquet was held as scheduled, with the main hall brightly lit and all the officials and concubines gathered together.

Xiao Yanzi and Hongli entered the banquet side by side, their gazes subtly sweeping across the room. Gao Wuyong stood in a corner, his eyes darting around.

Hongli said loudly, "At today's banquet, all of you need not be restrained, please enjoy yourselves to the fullest."

After a few rounds of drinks, Hongli casually said to the minister beside him, "I've heard that the Shadow Pavilion has been making moves recently, seemingly plotting something earth-shattering. I'd like to see what kind of trouble they can stir up."

Little Swallow chimed in, "Your Highness is right. The Shadow Pavilion is so arrogant; they must not be let off lightly."

Upon hearing this, Gao Wuyong's expression changed slightly, and he used the excuse of feeling unwell to leave.

Hongli gave a wink, and Su Peisheng stepped forward to stop Gao Wuyong: "Eunuch Gao, the banquet has just begun, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

Gao Wuyong forced himself to remain calm: "Eunuch Su, I am really not feeling well. Please do me a favor."

At this moment, Xiao Yanzi walked up to Gao Wuyong and asked, "Eunuch Gao, do you know something about the Shadow Pavilion? Why do you want to leave as soon as it's mentioned?"

Gao Wuyong said in a panic, "Princess Consort, please don't joke. I'm just feeling unwell and know nothing about the Shadow Pavilion."

Hongli slowly stood up: "Gao Wuyong, I have heard that you have dealings with the Shadow Pavilion. If you confess the truth now, I may be lenient with you."

Gao Wuyong knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness, I'm innocent! Someone must have deliberately framed my family."

Just then, a guard rushed in and reported: "Your Highness, we have found several suspicious people outside the palace gates, who seem to be from the Shadow Pavilion."

Hongli and Xiaoyanzi exchanged a glance and said, "Let's go take a look."

The group arrived outside the palace gates and saw several men in black fighting with the guards. Upon seeing this, Little Swallow drew her sword and charged forward: "Hmph! You villains of the Shadow Pavilion, today is your end!"

Hongli also commanded the guards: "Don't let a single one escape!"

During the fight, a man in black took advantage of the chaos to approach Hongli, intending to assassinate him. Xiaoyanzi cried out, "Your Highness, be careful!" She leaped in front of Hongli, narrowly avoiding the man in black's attack, and then struck him with her sword.

After a fierce battle, the Shadow Pavilion members were finally subdued.

Little Swallow, panting, said, "Your Highness, it seems they're here for you."

Hongli's face darkened: "I will definitely find the mastermind behind this. Gao Wuyong, are you still not willing to tell the truth?"

Gao Wuyong trembled and said, "Your Highness, I have truly been wronged. Someone instructed me to do this."

"Who is it?" Hongli roared.

"It's...it's Empress Yixiu," Gao Wuyong stammered.

Everyone was shocked, never expecting that Empress Yixiu had colluded with the Shadow Pavilion.

Xiao Yanzi frowned: "Empress Yixiu is still restless even though she's under house arrest, daring to be so audacious!"

Hongli made a quick decision: "Go to the Empress's palace! I want to see how she explains herself."

The group arrived at Empress Yixiu's palace, where Empress Yixiu sat calmly on the couch.

Hongli angrily said, "Empress, why did you collude with the Shadow Pavilion to plot against me?"

Empress Yixiu sneered: "Your Highness, don't make baseless accusations. What evidence do you have?"

Gao Wuyong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, things have come to this point, so please stop making excuses. It was you who instructed me to contact the Shadow Pavilion and arrange for those guards to infiltrate Prince Bao's residence."

Empress Yixiu's expression changed, and she glared fiercely at Gao Wuyong: "You traitor!"

Little Swallow said, "Empress, do you think you can fool everyone? Your conspiracy has been exposed, so you'd better confess your crimes!"

Empress Yixiu suddenly burst into laughter: "So what if you know? I have been in this palace for many years, how could I be so easily brought down by you?"

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Imperial Noble Consort Zhen Huan arrived.

Imperial Noble Consort Zhen Huan looked at Empress Yixiu and said with disappointment, "Sister, why are you so stubborn?"

Empress Yixiu looked at Consort Zhenhuan with resentment in her eyes: "If it weren't for you and your son, I wouldn't be in this situation."

Consort Zhen Huan sighed, "Sister, you have brought this upon yourself, you cannot live without it."

Hongli asked Consort Zhenhuan, "Mother, how should this matter be handled?"

After a moment of contemplation, Consort Zhen Huan said, "Imperial Consort Yixiu will be temporarily imprisoned until the truth is uncovered before making a decision. Gao Wuyong will be imprisoned and interrogated severely."

Although Xiao Yanzi and Hongli had temporarily brought the situation under control, they knew that the Shadow Pavilion's conspiracy was not yet fully exposed, and many unknown dangers awaited them. They returned to Prince Bao's residence in silence, their minds preoccupied with their next plan. (End of Chapter)