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

Hongzhou and Xiaoyanzi decided to start their investigation by focusing on the suspicious individuals loitering around the inn. After searching for a while, they finally caught a suspicious person in an alley near the inn. Hongzhou cornered the man against the wall, his face full of anger, and demanded sharply, "Speak! Who are you? Why are you spying on us?" The man trembled with fear, his teeth clenched, refusing to utter a single word.

Seeing this, Xiao Yanzi stepped forward, glaring at him with sharp and determined eyes, and said loudly, "If you don't speak up, when the Fifth Prince sends you to the authorities, you'll be in for a world of hurt! Humph!" The man hesitated for a long time, but finally spoke, his voice tinged with fear: "We are...we were sent by Her Majesty the Empress."

Upon hearing this, Hongzhou frowned instantly, his face full of doubt: "The Empress? She's already under house arrest, how could she still send someone to monitor us?" The person secretly glanced at Xiaoyanzi and muttered: "Although the Empress is under house arrest, she still has some influence outside the palace. She's unhappy to see the Fifth Prince and the Fourth Prince getting close to Miss Lin, and she's thinking of ways to trip her up."

Xiao Yanzi was startled, but quickly tried to remain calm and retorted loudly, "I have always been honest and law-abiding, and have no grudge against the Empress. Why is she targeting me like this? It's outrageous!" The man curled his lip and said, "Miss Lin, you are now deeply favored by the two princes. The Empress has always hated the Imperial Noble Consort. Seeing you like this, she naturally wants to take the opportunity to frame you so that the Imperial Noble Consort will be unhappy."

Just then, Hongli arrived. Upon hearing the man's words, his face darkened, and he looked at the man, saying, "Do you have any evidence? Don't spout nonsense here and slander Her Majesty the Empress!" The man hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, "Fourth Prince, how dare I lie! Her Majesty's confidants secretly contacted us, instructing us to keep an eye on Miss Lin and find opportunities to fabricate rumors so that Miss Lin would lose face in front of everyone. This is all Her Majesty's will."

Hongzhou snorted coldly: "Fourth brother, Father has already confined the Empress to her quarters, and now Mother is in charge of the six palaces. She is still so restless. Just because she sees that my brother and I are close to Xiaoyanzi, she deliberately tries to frame Xiaoyanzi. It is really too much!" Hongli's face was solemn, and he nodded slightly: "This matter should not be taken lightly. We need to investigate it thoroughly."

Back at the inn, Hongzhou grew increasingly angry. He said to Xiaoyanzi, "Xiaoyanzi, don't be afraid. With your fourth brother and me here, we will definitely not let that Empress succeed! Humph, she has already lost her power, yet she still dares to stir up trouble." Xiaoyanzi looked worried and said, "Fifth Prince, the Empress has been in the palace for many years, and her influence is deeply entrenched. I'm afraid this matter won't be so easy to resolve."

Meanwhile, Hongli was also pondering a solution. He went to Xiaoyanzi's room, looked at her, and said earnestly, "Xiaoyanzi, don't worry, I will definitely protect you. However, this matter involves the inner palace, so we need to plan it carefully. Try to stay home as much as possible these days, and don't give them any opportunity to take advantage." Xiaoyanzi looked at Hongli gratefully, "Fourth Prince, thank you, but I don't want you and Fifth Prince to get into trouble because of me."

In the palace, Consort Zhen Huan, upon hearing these events, frowned deeply, thinking to herself, "The Empress is still restless even though she's under house arrest. She dares to extend her reach outside the palace, trying to scheme against Xiao Yanzi. I'm afraid she's after me and the two princes." She immediately ordered the maid beside her, "Go, carefully investigate what the Empress has been doing with people outside the palace recently. Don't miss a single detail."

Empress Yixiu, though under house arrest, was still plotting her next move. Her maid advised, "Your Majesty, what if we are discovered sending someone to deal with that Miss Lin?" Empress Yixiu's eyes turned cold: "Hmph, I can't swallow this insult. Why does that Miss Lin deserve the special treatment of the two princes? As long as it makes Zhen Huan and her two sons unhappy, what's a little risk to me?"

Xiao Yanzi was restless in the inn. She said to Hongzhou, "Fifth Prince, we can't just sit here and wait. We have to find a way to make the Empress stop." Hongzhou nodded, "Xiao Yanzi, you're right. We have to take the initiative. I think we can find those who know about the Empress's connections with people outside the palace, get solid evidence, and see how she tries to deny it."

Little Swallow's eyes lit up: "Fifth Prince, that's a good idea, but where do we start?" Hongzhou pondered for a moment: "We can start with those people who are acting suspiciously around the inn. Maybe we can dig out clues by following them."

So, Hongzhou and Xiaoyanzi began their investigation again. They first found the accomplice of the man they had captured earlier. After some coercion and enticement, the accomplice finally relented and revealed some clues about the Empress's contacts outside the palace. Following this lead, they found a waiter working in a teahouse, who was said to have helped deliver messages from the Empress.

Hongzhou and Xiaoyanzi arrived at the teahouse. Upon seeing the waiter, Hongzhou immediately revealed his identity and asked sternly, "Did you help the Empress pass on a message? Tell the truth, or I will not spare you!" The waiter turned pale with fright and stammered, "Fifth...Fifth Prince, I was forced into it. The Empress's people threatened me, and I dared not disobey."

Little Swallow hurriedly pressed, "What messages did they all ask you to pass on? Tell me quickly!" The waiter nervously told him everything he knew. Sure enough, they were all fabricated stories about Little Swallow, intended to tarnish her reputation. They also planned to embarrass Little Swallow on certain occasions so that the two princes would dislike her.

Upon hearing this, Hongzhou was furious: "The Empress is truly a vicious person! Little Swallow, let's take this evidence and discuss it with Fourth Brother. We must make Father Emperor punish that Empress severely."

Xiao Yanzi looked at Hongzhou with her eyes full of emotion: "Fifth Prince, I'm so glad you're here with me, otherwise I really wouldn't know what to do."

Afterwards, they took the evidence to Hongli. Hongli's face grew increasingly grim as he looked at the evidence: "The Empress's actions are so reckless; she cannot be let off lightly. I will go to the palace immediately to see Father Emperor and report this matter."

Hongzhou hurriedly said, "Fourth Brother, I'll go with you. We'll make sure Father Emperor gives Xiaoyanzi justice."

Seeing how much the two princes had gone to for her, Xiao Yanzi felt a mix of emotions. She knew this whole affair was caused by her, yet she also felt their genuine affection. What they would face when they entered the palace to meet Emperor Yongzheng remained uncertain. However, this incident, deliberately instigated by the Empress, had reached a point where the truth had to be revealed, and everyone needed to be given clarity.