The two standing before Shangguan Yuchan were, naturally, Dongmei and Dongxue.
“Yes, Master,” they answered in unison.
They were Shangguan Yuchan’s Death Warriors. They answered to no one but Shangguan Yuchan, recognizing only their identity as her master, not her status as Chancellor.
Slowly putting the letter away, Shangguan Yuchan enunciated, “I must request an audience with Her Majesty.”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Cutting through the night sky, fireworks soared upwards one after another, bursting in mid-air. The blooming colors decorated the darkness with vibrant hues.
From wine shops, teahouses, and brothels, many windows were pushed open as people lifted their heads to admire the skyborne display.
Di Lingwei also raised her head to watch the fireworks, smoothing her hair, which had been tousled by the night breeze.
“Let This Servant help,” Xing Ruolan’s voice came from beside Di Lingwei.
“You may. But don’t forget how to address yourself outside,” Di Lingwei said, glancing at Xing Ruolan.
“I understand, Young Miss.”
Xing Ruolan responded softly, then reached out to tidy Di Lingwei’s wind-blown long hair.
Her hands were truly skillful. In just a few movements, she had arranged Di Lingwei’s hair neatly. The wind no longer sent strands flying chaotically; it simply became a cool, gentle breeze.
Afterward, Di Lingwei led the two on another circuit around the Flying Phoenix River. Only as the night grew deep did they finally turn and head back towards the Imperial Palace.
They hadn’t been walking long on the return path when Di Lingwei spotted several figures ahead hurrying towards them. The person leading them was someone she recognized: Shangguan Yuchan.
Di Lingwei felt puzzled, wondering what urgent matter caused Shangguan Yuchan to rush like this.
At the moment Di Lingwei noticed Shangguan Yuchan, Shangguan Yuchan also noticed Di Lingwei. Her spirits lifted immediately, and she quickly ran over with Dongmei and Dongxue trailing behind her.
“There are many people around. Just call me Young Miss,” Di Lingwei instructed quickly as Shangguan Yuchan approached.
“Greetings, Young Miss.” Shangguan Yuchan bowed, then swept her gaze over Xing Ruolan and Mu Fuwan, pausing briefly on Mu Fuwan.
“You came looking for me?” Di Lingwei asked Shangguan Yuchan.
“Yes, Young Miss. However, this isn’t a suitable place to talk.”
“Let’s return first, then.”
Di Lingwei didn’t think much of it. She simply quickened her pace, and the group rapidly headed back to the Imperial Palace.
The closer they got to the palace, the thinner the crowds became. After all, ordinary people were not permitted to approach such a critical area as the Imperial Palace.
Therefore, once they neared the palace and saw no outsiders around, Shangguan Yuchan retrieved a letter from her bosom and handed it to Di Lingwei. “Your Majesty, this is a letter found during a search of Commander Mu’s residence.”
Di Lingwei, taking the letter, was startled.
Mu Fuwan looked up, stunned. “My home? You searched my home?”
Shangguan Yuchan glanced at Mu Fuwan but didn’t offer an explanation. Dongmei and Dongxue, however, shifted positions, one in front and one behind, fixing their eyes warily on Mu Fuwan.
Holding the letter, Di Lingwei said heavily, “Chancellor Shangguan, it seems Zhen did not grant you the authority to search Commander Mu’s residence?”
Shangguan Yuchan lowered her head. “Your Majesty indeed gave no such command. This was entirely This Humble Subject overstepping her bounds. This Subject is willing to accept punishment for it. However, regarding that letter… This Subject beseeches Your Majesty to read it first.”
Upon hearing this, Di Lingwei unfolded the letter and read it.
As she read, Di Lingwei’s expression flickered, and her eyes visibly wavered.
Yet, through the habit she had cultivated over these past days, she quickly composed herself, her face becoming impassive once more, as if nothing had happened.
‘As expected of Her Majesty. Such composure is admirable.’
Shangguan Yuchan, who had been observing Di Lingwei closely, sighed inwardly with admiration.
Di Lingwei turned around and passed the letter to Mu Fuwan. “Commander Mu, is the content of this letter true?”
A feeling of dread washed over Mu Fuwan. She cautiously reached out and took the letter.
As her eyes swept over the words, Mu Fuwan felt the world spin. She nearly lost her footing. She had never imagined this letter would be discovered. This was absolutely fatal for her.
“Commander Mu, speak. Zhen is waiting for your answer,” Di Lingwei said, stepping a few paces away to put some distance between herself and Mu Fuwan.
The letter was a correspondence between Mu Fuwan and the now-deceased Wei Nian.
It was a letter from Wei Nian to Mu Fuwan. Its content was straightforward.
“Commander Mu, I have received your letter. However, the one who poisoned Her Majesty is neither I nor any of my associates. As for who it is, please forgive me for not saying more. Our side was merely aware of their existence and shared the same goal. They have their method of regicide, we have ours, just as you have your own…”
Reading this letter, Mu Fuwan felt a chill spread from her head to her feet.
She was not a good liar. Faced with this situation, she could not feign innocence or claim she was framed. She couldn’t bring herself to say this letter had nothing to do with her.
This matter… was real!
So Mu Fuwan was speechless.
Simply by looking at Mu Fuwan’s expression, Di Lingwei could essentially confirm the letter’s content was true. She, too, found it difficult to accept. Why was Mu Fuwan also someone who had appeared to kill her? Wasn’t this a person the Original Host had trusted?
‘Wait, the Original Host couldn’t have kept her close deliberately to bait a trap, could she? Damn it. The Original Host had the strength to fish for a plot, but I don’t.’
Thinking of this possibility, Di Lingwei felt even more helpless.
Wei Nian’s appearance had already given her terrible headaches. Mu Fuwan’s involvement like this even brought some despair. She didn’t know who she could trust anymore.
Someone you trust is, in truth, trying to kill you!
Di Lingwei still felt some confusion. Even now, using her Mystic Left Eye to examine Mu Fuwan, Mu Fuwan’s Personality Trait clearly displayed her as loyal. How could a loyal person want to kill her?
‘Wait… that loyalty doesn’t necessarily mean it’s directed at me. It could be loyalty to someone else.’
This possibility occurred to Di Lingwei, and she nearly coughed up blood.
She had been so delighted back then when she saw Mu Fuwan’s loyalty Trait. Yet, the target of that loyalty had nothing to do with her.
So, who was the person Mu Fuwan was truly loyal to?
Di Lingwei urgently needed to know this answer. Interrogating Mu Fuwan after capturing her was now absolutely necessary.
At this moment, no one would blame Shangguan Yuchan for searching Mu Fuwan’s home without authorization, nor would anyone care about her motives. All attention was on Mu Fuwan.
“Commander Mu, do you have anything to say in your defense?” Di Lingwei looked deeply at Mu Fuwan, her eyes gradually turning sharp.
