On the second day of the new year.
At the foot of Mount Tai, in the Feng Gao Palace.
A palace servant on night patrol turned the corner of the corridor and suddenly heard something. He looked up in confusion, "Who's there …"
Not far away, a small stone was gently thrown. It passed through the flowers and hit the back of the palace servant's neck.
The servant fell to the ground with a thump and lost consciousness without making a sound.
Dan Chao leaped onto the eaves and silently landed on the sparkling and translucent glazed tiles. Then, he quickly took a few steps forward and leaped across the narrow gap between the side hall and the back hall, stopping somewhere on the roof ridge.
— — After the Emperor became the Feng Gao Palace, he had patrolled here several times as an imperial guard. He was very familiar with the terrain and routes.
After Yin Kaiyang returned to the court, he spent most of his time with the Emperor and firmly placed the Emperor under his surveillance. Thus, to find Yin Kaiyang, this was the only way.
Dan Chao was half kneeling on the roof ridge. He was just about to reach out and lift the roof tile when he suddenly stopped and looked down.
The moonlight rushed through the long corridor like a long river. Beside the jade railings, the vermilion stone pillars seemed to be covered with a layer of hazy frost.
A figure in a wide robe was walking along the corridor. Except for the light green glass lamp in his hand, the rest of the robe and the hem of his robe were drowned in the boundless fog. It was as if he was a spirit from another world.
Dark jealousy quietly rose from the bottom of Shan Chao's heart.
It was Xie Yun.
— — Her left shoulder was injured.
Xie Yun's collar was loosely wrapped with a thin rope. The left side of her robe was slightly open. Under the moonlight, one could see her slender neck and the layers of bandages wrapped inside.
Shan Chao didn't need to think to know that he used force. In this world, there was only one thing that could make Xie Yun risk her life for — — power.
He participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament on Solemn Mountain during the day.
Shan Chao closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the bone-chilling night air.
When he calmed down and opened his eyes again, he saw that Xie Yun had already passed through the winding corridor, walked up the jade steps, and stopped in front of the rear hall of the sleeping quarters.
With a creak, someone opened the red palace door from the inside. Xie Yun stepped over the threshold.
… Who was it?
The person who opened the door for Xie Yun could not be Yin Kaiyang. Could it be that the person accompanying her today was Queen Wu?
Shan Chao grabbed the roof tiles with his other hand and used his inner energy to lift them up.
With a slight cracking sound, the glazed tile was forcibly broken into two pieces. From the crack, one could faintly see the flash of a red dress in the rear hall — it really was Queen Wu!
"Are you injured?" Queen Wu asked with a frown.
Xie Yun shook her head and did not answer. She asked, "Where is His Majesty?"
The Emperor was lying on his side on the bed in a bright yellow sleeping robe. He turned over and frowned slightly. It was obvious that he was not sleeping well.
Xie Yun reached out and brushed his sleeping pressure point on the side of his head like a feather. Soon, the Emperor's breathing became steady and heavy. He did not even move.
"Why is Yin Kaiyang not here?" Xie Yun asked Queen Wu without turning her head as she reached for the back of her head.
Queen Wu hesitated. "… Yin Kaiyang … seems to be injured."
"What?"
"On the day His Majesty set out from Puyang Palace, one of my trusted palace maids came to report that she saw Yin Kaiyang coughing while holding his chest. His Majesty asked what was wrong and Yin Kaiyang said he was fine. However, the palace maid saw that there seemed to be blood seeping out of his chest. It seemed to be caused by a sharp weapon."
Queen Wu frowned gloomily. "After I heard this, I originally wanted to summon Helan Minzhi to find out more about it.
However, who would have thought that this trusted palace maid who gave me the information would be found dead the next day. Until now, we have not been able to find any conclusive evidence … "
"After that, Yin Kaiyang avoided everyone. Other than meeting His Majesty alone, he did not appear in any situation where there were outsiders. It seemed that he was extremely afraid of his injury. Tonight, it was because His Majesty summoned me that he avoided meeting me."
This was strange. What kind of person could injure Yin Kaiyang?
Xie Yun's eyes moved slightly as if she suddenly thought of something. However, she immediately shook her head in self-mockery. "I know."
His hair was originally tied behind his head with a dark red ribbon. At this time, he held up his hair with one hand and pulled out an object from the back of his head. Under the candlelight, it was a three inch long golden needle. It was as thin as a hair. If it was not for the fact that it was made of pure gold, it would be difficult to notice it even if he held it in his hand.
On the roof, Shan Chao's pupils suddenly constricted.
Queen Wu asked in astonishment, "What is this?"
"A Spirit-Steadying Needle," Xie Yun said.
"In the early years, there was a small sect outside the Great Wall that could use mysterious fire to refine secret gold. After Yin Kaiyang found out, he slaughtered the entire sect and took back the secret gold to make twelve Spirit-Steadying Needles.
When this needle is inserted into the back of the head, it can cause amnesia. When it is inserted into the temple, the philtrum, and other places, it can help people resist illusions and prevent evil spirits from invading. "
He held out the needle and gestured for the Empress to take it. He said in a low voice, "Tomorrow at the Shengui Sect's arena on Sheshou Mountain, if I am in a disadvantageous situation or am in danger of dying at the hands of Yin Kaiyang, please insert this needle into His Majesty's temple …"
Queen Wu's raised hand instantly froze. She said in astonishment, "What if he really kills the Emperor?!"
Xie Yun looked at her and smiled.
"…" After a long silence, Queen Wu finally realized something. She asked in a trembling voice, "You said that if this needle is inserted into the temple, it can help people resist illusions?
Could it be that His Majesty … "
"Your Majesty, don't you think that since Yin Kaiyang returned to the Imperial Court and talked with His Majesty behind closed doors for three days, His Majesty has been obedient to everything he says and is muddle-headed like a puppet? Isn't it very inappropriate?"
Queen Wu's eyebrows suddenly twitched.
"The Xuanwu Seal is naturally good at illusions. It is said that it can also control people's minds. However, I am not sure if Yin Kaiyang has done anything to His Majesty.
The only thing I know is that if he has, he must have spent a lot of effort on the Art of Puppetry. Once the spell is broken, it will have a great impact on him. "
Xie Yun paused and looked at Queen Wu, "But if His Majesty is not affected by the Art of Puppetry, I don't dare to say whether His Majesty's life will be in danger after the needle is inserted into his temple …"
Queen Wu's fingertips were slightly unsteady. It seemed that she was a little afraid to take the needle.
"Is there no other way to check if His Majesty is affected by illusions?" she asked without much hope.
"No," Xie Yun said quietly.
Queen Wu and Xie Yun looked at each other. The candlelight in the bedchamber swayed slightly. The gilded mahogany table and the green jade curtain were hidden in the shadows. Only the rich and dark shadows could be seen.
"So, Your Majesty, please wait until my life is in danger before you decide whether to insert the Spirit-Fixing Needle …" Xie Yun finally said after a long time. Her voice softly drifted into the silent winter night.
"Yin Kaiyang is much older than me. He is in his prime. Even if he has opened his seal, Yin Tianqing may not be a match for the adult Xuanwu Seal … Using this method to disturb him is the only method I can think of right now."
Queen Wu stared at the shimmering Spirit-Fixing Needle for a long time. After a long time, it seemed that time was about to freeze in this deep and spacious hall. Then, she slowly stretched out her hand.
At this moment, there was a slight cracking sound from the roof.
Shan Chao suddenly retracted his hand. But it was too late. The broken part of the glazed tile that he broke couldn't bear the weight and suddenly cracked open.
Xie Yun suddenly looked up and asked, "Who is it?"
With a whoosh, Shan Chao got up and left. At the same time, Xie Yun rushed out of the door like a meteor and flew straight to the roof!
"Who is it?
Stop! "
Shan Chao turned a deaf ear to her. His black figure disappeared into the night like a ghost.
Xie Yun couldn't let others know that he had secretly visited the Emperor's bedroom in the middle of the night, so he didn't ask loudly. He just followed the direction where the black figure disappeared. The red roof tiles under his feet turned into a blurry background. Suddenly, the scene in front of him changed and he was already in the Imperial Garden of the Summer Palace.
The moonlight was hidden, and the flowers and trees were deep. The surroundings were quiet and distant. Only the faint sound of the night watch could be heard in the distance.
Xie Yun stopped in his tracks.
He looked around and his eyes gradually changed from vigilance to calmness. After a while, he finally let go of the Tai-Ah Sword and let out a long sigh.
Because the Lightness Skill required him to raise his breath to the maximum, the wound on his left shoulder was torn open. In a place where no one could see, blood was slowly seeping out of the bandage. Xie Yun reached out and pressed on the wound.
"… Is it Shan Chao?" He looked into the depths of the night and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Why … did you come back?"
The north wind swept in from the end of the sky, passed through the palace walls, and blew the hair on his temples.
A familiar and cold voice finally sounded from a high place behind him.
"— I came back to see how you will become an official or die without a burial place …"
"No matter what happens tomorrow, I won't help you."
Xie Yun seemed to have expected this result. He closed his eyes and smiled gently. "That's how it should be."
Those four words were not heavy and were even very gentle, but it was like some kind of sharp weapon that pierced into his heart and lungs. In an instant, even his throat was filled with the taste of rust. Shan Chao's mind was blank. When the last word was said, he had already silently descended from a high place. Like a fierce bird pouncing on its prey, he leaped into the air and landed behind Xie Yun.
At that moment, the back of Xie Yun's neck was within his reach. It was so close and so defenseless. He could easily grab that beautiful and fragile throat with just a raise of his hand.
If the scene froze just like that, it would be an extremely tense scene.
But then, Shan Chao reached out and twisted the scarlet ribbon in Xie Yun's hair and gently pulled.
Her long hair flowed like flowing water. Xie Yun suddenly turned around and saw Shan Chao holding the ribbon in his hand. His handsome face was close to hers. His eyes flashed with hatred, pain, and a trace of infatuation.
Xie Yun stopped.
The next moment, Shan Chao raised the ribbon to his lips and kissed it gently. Then, he flew back like an eagle soaring into the sky. In a flash, he disappeared into the shadows of the palace under the moonlight.