The most secluded room in the rear palace.
Mingyue was examining Xiaobai. Xiaobai had sword wounds on its leg, stained with blood, and could no longer stand. Little Fish felt a pang of heartache and couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.
"I will never let that guy go."
In this harem, there were only one or two individuals who could take Mao Xueqiu and injure Xiaobai. If they had no martial arts, they would likely be unable to deal with Xiaobai at all.
Qingyao and Mochou walked in and saw the little girl with a darkened face, her eyes flashing with sparks. She was stroking Xiaobai's head with her small, fair hands. Xiaobai cooperated by letting out a whimper, as if feeling greatly wronged.
After comforting Xiaobai, Little Fish straightened up abruptly, her fury blazing. She placed her hands on her hips and angrily cursed.
"Ximen Xinyue, that hateful slut, how dare she capture Mao Xueqiu? I'm going to settle the score with her."
She rushed out like an arrow released from a bow. Qingyao reached out and accurately lifted her by her body, causing her small form to sway in mid-air. She struggled and said, "Mother?"
"Take some people and search the rear palace? See who took Mao Xueqiu?"
As soon as Qingyao finished speaking, her eyes flashed with coldness. Mochou immediately understood her instructions. She beckoned to a group of eunuchs and palace maids walking from the corridor and calmly commanded.
"Quick, Mao Xueqiu is missing. You immediately protect the princess and search over there. And you, follow me to search over there, quickly?"
Mochou decisively assigned tasks, splitting into two groups with Little Fish, leading people to search the rear palace extensively.
Although Little Fish was impulsive, she was as sharp as ice and snow. She had fully understood her mother's words and actions just now. Her mother wanted them to take a group of people to search the entire rear palace, and this was a perfect opportunity to search it thoroughly and see if their father was hidden in the rear palace.
Little Fish and Mochou led their people away.
Qingyao walked into the room and stood behind Mingyue. Mingyue had already treated Xiaobai's wounds and bandaged them. She got up and said respectfully, "Your Highness?"
"Is it alright?"
"Yes, it's alright. It's just a superficial wound, it won't kill it. The attacker might have been a bit hasty, so they missed their target. It's not severely injured."
Mingyue reported respectfully. Qingyao nodded, squatted down, and stroked Xiaobai, comforting it. She then stood up and glanced at Yiyun and several other palace maids behind her, "Take good care of them. If there are any more mishaps, you won't have a moment's peace!"
Her eyes flashed with a chilling light, sweeping across the pink cheeks of Yiyun and the other palace maids. They were startled and quickly lowered their heads to reply, "Yes, Your Highness, your servants will be careful."
After Qingyao gave her instructions, she led Mingyue back to the main hall of Fengluan Palace. Her heart filled with anticipation, she moved swiftly through the corridor, now waiting for news.
She hoped that Ximen Xinyue had indeed hidden someone in the rear palace. However, according to Bingxiao's recent investigations, it seemed that no one was hidden in the rear palace.
Now that a thorough search could be conducted, if there was no one in the rear palace, the scope would be narrowed down. She could then exclude this area and search the outer periphery.
By filtering layer by layer, she should be able to find the Emperor before the princess's wedding.
Qingyao led her people to wait for news in Fengluan Palace.
Little Fish and Mochou led their respective groups to search the rear palace. Little Fish, along with several eunuchs and palace maids, directly stormed into Ximen Xinyue's Jianyang Palace.
The eunuchs and palace maids reported to Ximen Xinyue in a flurry. The woman's face turned ashen. She led a group of people out and blocked Little Fish's path.
"Stop, what are you doing?"
"Searching!" Little Fish said crisply, her face radiating coldness. She stood with her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing with burning fire.
A fleeting shadow flashed in Ximen Xinyue's eyes. The corner of her lips curled into a sinister smile. She reached out to block Little Fish's path and said coldly.
"Don't think you can be lawless in the rear palace just because you have the Empress's backing. Today, I will not let you search Jianyang Palace."
Little Fish chuckled coldly twice. She didn't bother talking to her further, as she was anxious about her father and Mao Xueqiu's whereabouts. Therefore, she reached behind her waist and drew out the gunpowder gun she usually played with.
The dark muzzle was aimed at Ximen Xinyue's forehead. She said chillingly.
"If you block me again, do you believe I'll blow your head off with one shot?"
Ximen Xinyue froze at her words. She didn't know what the little princess was holding, but the girl's bloodthirsty and fierce demeanor frightened her.
Moreover, she knew one thing: even if this girl injured or killed her now, she wouldn't face any consequences.
The Empress would definitely protect her daughter. As long as her daughter was safe, they would be the ones to suffer. Therefore, a wise man knows when to retreat.
Ximen Xinyue gritted her teeth and stepped back calmly, her face dark and gloomy, her teeth grinding audibly. However, she was no match for the little girl.
Little Fish waved her hand and gave the order, "Search! You must find Mao Xueqiu's whereabouts. Do not miss any corner, do you hear me? Or you'll be sorry!"
As her arrogant words fell, the eunuchs and palace maids couldn't help but tremble. The princess had just beaten a concubine who had entered the palace a few days ago, and now they didn't want to be beaten again. Therefore, everyone was cautious and respectfully replied, "Yes, Princess."
Everyone dispersed and searched around.
Little Fish followed closely behind, searching Jianyang Palace with them.
As for Ximen Xinyue, whether she was worried or afraid that something would be missing from Jianyang Palace, she followed the group and watched everywhere.
Jianyang Palace was not large. All the rooms and halls, including the servants' quarters and the hidden torture chambers, were thoroughly searched.
However, not to mention the Emperor, they didn't even see a shadow of Mao Xueqiu. Little Fish felt very disappointed. Her small body stood beneath a willow branch, pulling at a willow branch and scrutinizing Ximen Xinyue.
She saw that Ximen Xinyue's eyes were calm, without any hint of panic or unease.
It seemed that nothing was indeed hidden in Jianyang Palace, which was why this woman was so composed.
However, the thought of her hiding their father made her furious. But now that she couldn't find anyone, she didn't dare to provoke this woman.
Her slender hand let go, and the willow branch sprang back, causing the tree to tremble lightly. Little Fish let out a clear shout, "Go. Let's search elsewhere, I don't believe Mao Xueqiu is gone."
Next, she began searching other concubines' palaces. She searched for half a day but found nothing...
Meanwhile, Mochou searched another part of the palaces. Although she didn't find the Emperor's whereabouts, she saw traces of Mao Xueqiu. The poor little fox had tragically suffered, its skin peeled off and hung on a willow branch to dry, a gruesome and bloody sight.
Mochou was furious but dared not make any decisions. Therefore, she wrapped the bloody body of the little fox in a piece of cloth and turned back to leave.
She met Little Fish, whose face was grim.