Chapter 180: Braving the Spirit Herb Garden!

With Ling Yin leading the way, the group diverted toward the Spirit Herb Garden without much effort.

“The Spirit Herb Garden is just ahead,” Ling Yin whispered, her voice tinged with excitement as she pointed forward.

Even before the gates came into view, the refreshing fragrance of flora and herbs wafted through the air. A deep breath was enough to make one feel completely invigorated.

Ling Yin led the group closer with cautious excitement. Behind her, the eyes of several Imperial Physicians had already begun to glow with a predatory green light.

The medicinal ingredients of the Spirit Herb Garden! Just the scent alone was life-giving; how precious must the actual plants be?

They imagined finding ancient ginseng or spiritual reishi mushrooms that had aged for centuries. The mere thought made them tremble with irrepressible joy.

Fearing their excitement might draw unwanted attention, Ling Yin hurried to whisper a warning, “We have to wait. When the guards change shifts, I’ll go out and distract them. You all need to seize that moment to rush in and gather the herbs.”

The Imperial Physicians at the front of the line nodded fervently, like chickens pecking at grain.

Hurry! We must hurry! We’ll dig up every single good thing in there!

It was a rare sight to see such a large group huddled together plotting a heist, and Shangguan Liqian couldn’t help but find the scene somewhat amusing.

Luo Wushuang, who always became energized whenever there was trouble to be brewed, curled her lip in disdain. “Sneaking in like that… wouldn’t that make us thieves?”

Ling Yin froze. Weren’t they literally going in to steal? What kind of person would ask such an idiotic question at a time like this?

“You want to just walk in through the front—” Ling Yin began to hiss in anger, turning her head to see which utter moron was acting so arrogant while committing a crime.

However, as she turned, she collided with Luo Wushuang’s “harmonious and friendly” gaze.

The words already at the tip of her tongue were forced back down her throat. Ling Yin squeezed out a strained smile and stammered a greeting. “L-Lady Luo…”

Luo Wushuang snorted coldly. “I intend to walk in fairly and squarely.”

Before Ling Yin could object, Luo Wushuang waved her small hand with high spirits. “In a moment, carry out your plan to distract the guards. You don’t need to worry about the rest.”

“This…” Ling Yin looked troubled, glancing at the troublemaking insult machine before turning a pleading gaze toward Shangguan Liqian.

After traveling together for so long, she had realized one thing: this stubborn mule of an Empress listened to no one except Lady Shangguan.

Just as Ling Yin hoped that Lady Shangguan would talk some sense into the girl, Shangguan Liqian offered a soft smile and spoke gently. “Just do as Wushuang says. She won’t act recklessly.”

It wasn’t that Shangguan Liqian had blind faith in Luo Wushuang. It was simply that she knew her own place in the other woman’s heart. No matter what, Wushuang was focused on healing her legs; she wouldn’t lead the group into a ditch.

If Wushuang wanted to play, then she would let her play.

Looking at the two of them—one more “love-brained” than the other—Ling Yin, a pragmatist who only cared about results, felt a giant “What the hell!” screaming in her mind. She nearly had to restrain herself from slapping the realization onto their faces.

Luo Wushuang didn’t care what Ling Yin thought. Hearing her sister’s support, she shot Ling Yin a triumphant look.

She then beckoned the Secret Guard Commander over and began whispering instructions. Seeing the guards starting their shift change, Ling Yin quickly followed the original plan, revealing herself and walking toward them.

One guard spotted her and immediately shouted, “Halt! Entry to the Spirit Herb Garden is forbidden without a formal warrant!”

Ling Yin looked at the guard with complete composure, speaking with a natural air of authority. “Brothers, you’ve worked hard. I’ve just come from Wuyou Valley. Might we have a word in private?”

Wuyou Valley was the base where the Shang Family conducted their experiments. Upon hearing she was from there, the guard’s expression instantly softened.

He began walking toward the spot Ling Yin indicated, instinctively flattering her. “So you are an Excellency from the Valley. May I ask what business brings you to us?”

Because people from Wuyou Valley had previously come to trade experimental potions for rare herbs that wouldn’t be missed by the higher-ups, the guard assumed another such windfall was coming his way.

However, before he could celebrate his luck, a ghostly silhouette took advantage of the distraction. While the guards’ attention was fixed on Ling Yin, the figure approached silently and flickered between them with terrifying speed.

As the Secret Guard’s blade flashed with cold light, the guards collapsed one by one wherever he passed.

Ling Yin stood there, dumbfounded. Didn’t they tell her to follow the plan and distract them?

They had just killed everyone outright. What was the point of her distracting them?

Watching the direction where the Secret Guard vanished after the slaughter, Ling Yin marched over to Luo Wushuang, fuming with indignation. “You told me to distract them, then you had them all killed! What was the point of my distraction?!”

Luo Wushuang spared her a glance and said airily, “To give you a sense of participation.”

Defenseless against such logic, Ling Yin wanted to let out a primal scream of fury. However, since she was currently under their roof, she had no choice but to bow her head.

After cursing the woman a thousand times in her head, she finally managed to settle her mood—slightly.

Luo Wushuang ignored the fuming woman and turned her gaze toward the interior of the Spirit Herb Garden.

Ling Yin, noticing that the Empress had suddenly become uncharacteristically quiet, followed her gaze with confusion but saw nothing.

Just as she was about to ask what the mystery was, a series of muffled thuds echoed from deep within the garden.

Ling Yin frowned. Since when was the interior of the Spirit Herb Garden so heavily guarded? Usually, there were only guards at the entrance.

Luo Wushuang looked at her with a half-smile. “Alright, we can go in now. Fairly and squarely!”

Ling Yin felt a flush of shame. She truly hadn’t known there were so many hidden guards inside. If it weren’t for Lady Luo, her plan would have likely led the entire group straight into an ambush.

With the hidden threats neutralized, the group entered the garden smoothly.

Looking at the field full of precious medicinal ingredients, the Imperial Physicians’ eyes practically popped out of their heads. They couldn’t wait a second longer, immediately beginning to dig up their “precious babies.”

As they dug, they didn’t forget to boss the Secret Guards around to help. Even the injured members of the Li Family joined in the frantic harvesting.

As for Ling Yin, who had been feeling dejected just moments ago, she decided to turn her frustration into speed. She began digging more vigorously than anyone else.

From sunrise to sunset, they worked until the very soil of the Spirit Herb Garden looked like it had been turned inside out.

The group, now laden with a massive harvest, looked back at the few lonely weeds left standing in the garden and let out boisterous, triumphant laughter.

As for the guards coming to relieve the shift tomorrow—the group didn’t even want to imagine how “excited” they would be when they saw this scene.