A few minutes later, the two arrived at the cold palace.
By then, it was dark. The cold palace was pitch black, and one could not see their hand in front of their face. Unlike other palaces, where lanterns were hung in the corridors, this place was a mess. One could easily trip and fall while walking.
Leng Ruo Li decisively took out a flashlight to illuminate the area. The two searched around the outside of the cold palace but found no trace of the black-robed figure.
Thus, the two then entered the main hall.
“Rui’er, your flashlight is truly amazing. It’s much more convenient than us using lanterns to light the way,” Jun Mo Han said, looking at Leng Ruo Li’s flashlight with admiration.
“Of course! My flashlight isn’t made in your dynasty…”
Leng Ruo Li stopped speaking halfway through.
However, her words had already been heard by Jun Mo Han.
“Rui’er, what did you mean by what you just said? What is your dynasty? Are you not from our dynasty?” Jun Mo Han asked, full of suspicion.
Upon hearing this, Leng Ruo Li secretly thought to herself, *It’s over, it’s really over.* She had accidentally let slip what she meant.
She could only lie to placate him.
“I am Leng Jin Yu’s daughter. If I’m not from this era, then which era am I from?” Leng Ruo Li said these words with some trepidation.
After Leng Ruo Li finished speaking, Jun Mo Han looked at her seriously but did not question her further. He didn’t quite believe Leng Ruo Li’s words, but he couldn’t bear to expose her lie.
In fact, Jun Mo Han had begun to suspect Leng Ruo Li’s identity a long time ago and had investigated her multiple times, but he could not find any trace of her.
Because everything Leng Ruo Li produced was so astonishing, he, as a prince of a kingdom, had seen all sorts of rare and precious items in the world. However, he had never seen anything that Leng Ruo Li pulled out from her sleeves. Wasn't that strange?
Also, how could she, who was once a foolish and simple-minded eldest young lady of the Leng family, suddenly transform into a completely different person, not only possessing exceptional intelligence and superb medical skills but also being proficient in martial arts and having numerous items on her that he had never seen before? How could such strange things exist in this world?
However, what made Jun Mo Han most curious was Leng Ruo Li’s sleeve pouch. When they went out together, he had carefully observed her sleeves, but he had never seen her carrying many things in her sleeve pouch.
Yet, whenever there was an urgent need, she could always produce many things from her sleeve pouch, as if by magic.
Jun Mo Han even suspected if she had a bag that could change size hidden on her person.
Jun Mo Han pondered for a moment and reached a conclusion: no matter who Leng Ruo Li was, after marrying him, Jun Mo Han, she was his consort, the mistress of the Cold King’s mansion, and the person he cared about.
Seeing Jun Mo Han lost in thought, Leng Ruo Li asked, “Jun Mo Han, are you coveting my flashlight? If you like it, I can give you one, hmm~”
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li, without waiting for Jun Mo Han’s reply, took out an identical black flashlight from her sleeve and handed it to Jun Mo Han.
Jun Mo Han took the flashlight and examined it closely. This thing was truly remarkable, only two fingers wide, petite and exquisite, with a bright light, and convenient to store. It was much better than using a lantern to light the way, he thought, praising it inwardly.
Subsequently, Leng Ruo Li taught him how to use the flashlight and reminded him to return it to her for charging after use. Smart people would understand.
Each holding a flashlight, the two began searching for the exit of the dungeon where Leng Ruo Li had been imprisoned last time.
Originally, the dungeon exit was located beneath a Guanyin hanging painting, but it seemed to have been altered. The two searched for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn but couldn't find it.
These ancient people were truly bored, making a dungeon so mysterious.
Just as Leng Ruo Li was feeling dejected, Jun Mo Han’s sharp eyes spotted traces of a broken vase being moved at the base of the wall.
“Rui’er, quickly come and see. Doesn’t this broken vase look like it’s been moved?” Jun Mo Han said thoughtfully.
Leng Ruo Li hurried over to Jun Mo Han’s side. After a glance, she nodded. There were handprints here; someone must have moved this broken vase.
After speaking, Leng Ruo Li moved the broken vase and discovered a small stone beneath it.
Leng Ruo Li gently pressed the stone, and a door on the wall slowly opened. The two hurried inside.
A strong smell of mold wafted into their nostrils from the dungeon.
This dungeon was vast. The place where Leng Ruo Li had been imprisoned last time was on the right, while on the left were two narrow passages. Large luminous pearls were placed on the walls. No one knew where these two passages led.
“Should we choose a passage and walk to the end to see?” Leng Ruo Li asked Jun Mo Han.
“Let’s go take a look!” Jun Mo Han replied.
Later, the two wound their way through the passages for half an hour. As they neared the end of a passage, Jun Mo Han suddenly made a gesture for silence to Leng Ruo Li.
“The scent of the black-robed person is very strong here. I guess that black-robed person is nearby,” Jun Mo Han whispered.
“But we’ve reached the end of the passage. Could there be a mechanism beyond the end?” Leng Ruo Li muttered softly.
“Let’s not guess. We’ll know when we reach the end,” Jun Mo Han said.
Thus, the two walked softly to the end. Beside the end, there was indeed an iron door with an iron window on it.
Jun Mo Han and Leng Ruo Li cautiously peeked through the iron window, and to their astonishment, their faces were filled with shock.
“Damn it!”
Leng Ruo Li cursed softly.
Inside, five women were imprisoned. Four of them had their mouths covered and their hands and feet tightly bound. They were sitting in a corner with terrified expressions, looking at a woman lying on the floor who had been tormented half to death.
This woman was lying on the ground, barely alive, her eyes staring blankly in a certain direction. Based on the woman’s condition, Leng Ruo Li inferred that she had likely been violated.
Leng Ruo Li then took a closer look at the clothes of the five women. They were all wearing very ordinary coarse linen clothes, not the attire of palace maids. Therefore, she guessed that these women might have been abducted from outside the palace.
“Jun Mo Han, this should be the black-robed person’s hiding place. How should we rescue these women?” Leng Ruo Li whispered, her brows furrowed.
“Rui’er, I’ll guard here. You immediately go out and inform Jian Feng, the commander of the Imperial Guards, to bring more men. Also, tell him to send someone to invite His Majesty over. Act quickly!” Jun Mo Han said in a low voice.
“Alright, I’ll go right away. Be careful,” Leng Ruo Li replied with a nod.
Then, she cautiously retreated, turned, and quickly ran out of the passage.