Phoenix Cries Across the World: The Cold-Hearted Princess is Too Alluring

"Yes." Chu Yinnan nodded heavily, said nothing more, and got into the carriage.

Mu Zi took out the token, and the guards knew that this was the Seventh Prince's carriage, so they naturally did not stop him and opened the gate to let him pass.

Normally, Mu Ziyuan would never have driven his carriage into the palace, but today he couldn't care less about that.

When the carriage arrived at the entrance of the main hall, Mu Ziyuan hurriedly got off the carriage and walked inside, with the others following closely behind.

After passing through the main hall, there was still some distance to the imperial study. Mu Ziyuan felt as if he could fly, using his lightness skill to get there directly and widen the distance between himself and the others.

Although Chu Yinnan's martial arts skills were not as good as Mu Ziyuan's, they were still excellent. She followed behind Mu Ziyuan and walked forward with all her might.

Only Mu Zi stopped to wait for Guo Zi, who didn't know martial arts. Looking at Guo Zi, who was panting heavily, Mu Zi really felt a little reluctant to come over.

"Why don't we just wait here? We can't really help anyway."

"Okay." Upon hearing this, Guozi hurriedly collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. She had never run so wildly in her life. This was the first time, and it would definitely be the last.

Mu Zi took out a handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to Guo Zi, her face showing a tenderness she herself hadn't noticed.

"Just wipe it."

"Thank you." Guozi took the handkerchief from Muzi, wiped the sweat from her face, and looked towards the direction of the deep palace, her face showing even more worry.

Knowing what Guozi was thinking, Muzi stopped talking and stood quietly beside Guozi without uttering a word.

……

The imperial study was brightly lit.

Mu Jingyu stretched, feeling exhausted from being the emperor. He had just finished reading all the memorials submitted that day. He got up from his seat, stretched his limbs, glanced at the sky, and his expression grew deeper.

"It's so late today, I've really forgotten the time."

"Your Majesty is working tirelessly on state affairs, but you must still consider your health!" Chief Eunuch Li said obsequiously.

Mu Jingyu didn't say anything more and prepared to go to the inner hall for a short rest. Before he had taken two steps, the door to the Imperial Study was opened, and Mu Ziyuan strode in from outside, his face carrying a hint of bloodthirsty murderous intent.

However, this expression gradually calmed down after seeing Mu Jingyu.

Mu Jingyu frowned slightly, his displeasure evident in his eyes.

"Seventh Brother, is something the matter? Why are you in my study in the middle of the night instead of staying at your Seventh Prince's residence?"

"Your Majesty, I have come to demand the release of your loved ones."

"You need people? Who do you need?"

"My brother's future princess consort, the ninth young lady of the Prime Minister's residence—Chu Yingge." Fine beads of sweat appeared on Mu Ziyuan's forehead, but he couldn't care less at this moment.

"Haha." Mu Jingyu chuckled. "I thought it was something serious. The Ninth Miss should be at the Prime Minister's residence right now. Why did you come to the palace to demand her?"

"Shouldn't my royal brother know best? Wasn't it my royal brother who summoned Yingge to the palace?" Mu Ziyuan said through gritted teeth.

Suppressing his anger, Mu Jingyu stepped down from the stairs, his expression towards Mu Ziyuan now somewhat scrutinizing.

Chu Yingge was truly the man's Achilles' heel, actually causing the usually composed Mu Ziyuan to barge into the Imperial Study. It seems that he made the right choice in hiring Chu Yingge as his informant.

"I did allow the Ninth Miss to enter the palace, but she returned some time ago and did not stay in the palace."

"Impossible, she clearly hasn't gone back yet." Mu Ziyuan's barely suppressed anger was reignited.

Chu Yinnan, who was following closely behind, also strode in. Seeing the tense atmosphere, he hurriedly stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. The Seventh Prince is telling the truth. My sister did not go back."

"Oh?" A hint of doubt rose in Mu Jingyu's eyes. If it were only Mu Ziyuan who said it, he certainly wouldn't believe it, but since Chu Yinnan also said it, it seemed that Chu Yingge really hadn't gone back.

He beckoned, and Steward Li walked up from the side.

"What are your orders, Your Majesty?"

"Investigate and see where Miss Ninth went after leaving the Imperial Study."

"Yes."

Steward Li was also perceptive and knew the situation was serious, so he hurriedly went down to investigate. In no time, he came in with hurried, small steps.

He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I have just inquired and found that Miss Jiu has not left the palace."

"Didn't leave the palace? Then where did you go?" Mu Jingyu pressed.

Chief Steward Li looked somewhat troubled. He glanced at Mu Jingyu's expression, then at Mu Ziyuan and Chu Yinnan beside him who seemed intent on killing him. He couldn't care less about anything else, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, it is the Empress Dowager."

"The Empress Dowager?" Mu Jingyu asked in surprise, "Why did the Empress Dowager take Miss Ninth away?"

"This...this servant does not know."

Even Mu Jingyu was now at a loss. Everyone knew that the Empress Dowager had never concerned herself with such mundane matters since he ascended the throne. What was going on now?

Upon hearing the words "Empress Dowager," Mu Ziyuan did not hesitate for a moment and headed straight for Lianxi Palace. Chu Yinnan, on the other hand, was able to distinguish between the emperor and his subjects and waited for Mu Jingyu to get up before following him.

Inside the Lianxi Palace, there was a trail of blood.

Although the needle marks are not easily noticeable, after being pricked many times, blood still seeped through the clothes.

Yunnuo looked at the empty basin and slowly breathed a sigh of relief. The torture was finally over.

After dismissing those around him, he reached out and pinched Chu Yingge's philtrum. The unconscious person on the ground slowly woke up, and the pain in her back became even more intense.

Yun Nuo took out a pill from her waist, pried open Chu Yingge's mouth, and stuffed it in.

"This is to save your life. I don't want to treat you like this, but I can't disobey my master's orders. Your strength won't last much longer. Take the medicine while you're still conscious, and I'll have someone send you back right away."

Chu Yingge had no strength left, and sure enough, she fainted again as soon as she swallowed the pill.

Seeing Chu Yingge like this, Yun Nuo didn't say anything more and went into the inner hall to report back.

Mu Ziyuan walked in from outside and immediately saw Chu Yingge lying on the ground covered in blood. She was lifeless and just lay there motionless, as if she were dead.

"Girl..."

Mu Ziyuan murmured softly, hurriedly walked over, picked up the person on the ground, and a bloodthirsty glint appeared in his eyes.

"How dare she?" Mu Ziyuan was shrouded in a murderous aura, and his ruthless and deadly nature made the entire Lianxi Palace feel eerie.

This is the scene that Chu Yinnan and Mu Jingyu saw when they walked in.

Concerned for Chu Yinge's safety, Chu Yinnan reached out to touch her, but before she could, Mu Ziyuan glared at her and pulled her back.

"Don't touch her!"

“Yinge is not yet married to you, so she should be taken to the Prime Minister’s residence. Seventh Prince, you mustn’t ruin Yinge’s reputation for nothing.” Chu Yinnan was not a pedantic person, but he had no choice but to say this because Mu Jingyu was present.