In the imperial study, the Emperor gazed at the sparkling palace lanterns, thinking of the Empress's stubbornness from earlier that day. He couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache. If she said she didn't administer the medicine, then someone else must have. Who could it be?
The most suspicious person was that little eunuch. Feng Xie's face darkened, and he called out into the night, "Xiao Wanzi."
Xiao Wanzi rushed in. Feng Xie's dark pupils were filled with a menacing glint, and a cold sneer curled his lips. "Immediately arrest that smiling eunuch from Guangyang Palace and interrogate him under torture. Find out why he framed the Empress and who instructed him."
Xiao Wanzi froze. He hadn't expected the Empress to be framed. Who dared to frame her? He immediately nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty. Your servant will attend to it right away."
Xiao Wanzi turned to leave. After a few steps, he thought of a question, "Since Your Majesty believes the Empress was framed, why did you imprison her?"
"That woman needs to be taught a lesson. Otherwise, she'd really think I wouldn't punish her," Feng Xie said sinisterly. Xiao Wanzi felt a headache coming on. Knowing she hadn't made the first move, yet finding ways to keep her confined—only the Emperor could do such a thing. He flashed away from the study, leading several eunuchs to carry out the task.
The thought of Liu Liu confined in the dark, damp dungeon sent a pang through Feng Xie's heart. He couldn't concentrate on his work, feeling an urge to immediately go and release her.
But then he remembered how she had directly rejected his confession the previous night. He couldn't help but sit down in anger. Let that woman suffer a little in the prison. See if she would dare to refuse him again, Feng Xie thought coldly.
Outside the door, his personal guard Ri Ying walked in and cupped his fist, "Your Majesty, Lord Nangong has something to ask of Your Majesty."
"Let him in?" Feng Xie raised his slender, long eyebrows, his pupils dark. Nangong Yue wouldn't be here to plead for that woman, would he? His face was covered with frost, a cold sneer playing on his lips, the smile like a sharp ice blade, lethal. With a wave of his hand, he commanded Ri Ying, "Let him in."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ri Ying nodded respectfully and walked out to invite Nangong Yue in. Nangong Yue, filled with anxiety, strode into the imperial study. He, who was usually like an immortal, always composed, seemed completely flustered now.
Feng Xie felt a sourness in his heart. Thinking that this man was likely rushing here because of the woman in the dungeon, he stared fiercely at Nangong Yue. If he dared to mention that woman's name, he would drive him out.
"Your Majesty, has the Empress...?" Just as he thought, Nangong Yue's handsome face instantly turned dark and bruised. His sharp black eyes carried great anger, and he coldly interrupted Nangong Yue, "Nangong Yue, do you have nothing better to do? I am tired and don't wish to hear anything."
"Your Majesty," Nangong Yue tried to speak again, his jade-like face, usually gentle and elegant, now devoid of its usual coldness, replaced by panic and fear.
Feng Xie and Nangong Yue had lived together for nearly ten years, and he had never seen such an expression on him. Thinking that he was so anxious for the woman in the dungeon, Feng Xie's heart grew even more enraged. His delicate features were filled with manic coldness as he stared fiercely at Nangong Yue.
"Ri Ying, escort Lord Nangong out." The moment Feng Xie saw Nangong Yue, he was reminded of the night Liu Liu was drugged. If Nangong Yue hadn't been a gentleman, Liu'er might have ended up with him.
Thinking that he still cared about her so much at this moment, Feng Xie's heart was filled with anger. Because of this anger, he lost his reason and couldn't see things clearly, thus overlooking the fleeting dark gleam in Nangong Yue's eyes.
Ri Ying walked in and respectfully escorted Nangong Yue out. Nangong Yue followed Ri Ying, looking at him earnestly, "Ri Ying, look, His Majesty won't even let me speak. What should we do? The Empress is poisoned and is still in the dungeon."
"What did you say? The Empress is poisoned? And you didn't tell His Majesty?" Ri Ying was greatly alarmed because he knew the Emperor valued the Empress quite a bit. If he knew she was poisoned, he wouldn't have chased Nangong Yue out.
"But I said it twice, and His Majesty didn't remember me speaking," Nangong Yue sounded helpless, his face full of worry. Ri Ying squinted, feeling that Nangong Yue seemed a bit strange tonight.
Right, he was being too obedient. Given his personality, he shouldn't ignore the Emperor. This was a matter of life and death; how could the Emperor blame him?
Ri Ying narrowed his eyes, sizing up Nangong Yue. However, Nangong Yue was fidgeting and anxious, showing no sign of anything amiss.
"Then let your subordinate report it." Ri Ying hurried back inside. Feng Xie was still sitting on the dragon couch, his face dark and gloomy, his lips pursed with a cool indifference. Seeing Ri Ying enter, he said in a deep voice, "Did Nangong Yue leave?"
"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Empress is poisoned, and Lord Nangong came to report this."
"What?" Before Ri Ying could finish, Feng Xie had already rushed out like a gust of wind, disappearing in an instant. All that could be heard was a furious roar outside the study: "She's poisoned? Why didn't you say so sooner? Do you think I would really take your life?"
"But I said it twice, and Your Majesty didn't remember me speaking," Nangong Yue calmly retorted, trying to prove he had no chance to speak.
Feng Xie was now consumed by anxiety, on the verge of madness. He paid no heed to what Nangong Yue was saying, losing his usual composure. His tall figure flashed away quickly.
Nangong Yue, unwilling to be outdone, chased after him. Two figures streaked through the air, like phantoms flashing under the moonlight.
At the dungeon entrance, several guards had already woken up, but they had all been knocked unconscious. Upon seeing the Emperor, his face as cold as frost, standing before them, they trembled incessantly, kowtowing and begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, spare our lives! The Empress has been abducted."
Upon hearing the guard's words, Feng Xie raised his hand, and his chilling dominance struck them. They were all thrown out simultaneously, crashing haphazardly, spitting blood, and struggling on the ground. It was evident how furious the Emperor was; he had completely lost his reason.
He strode into the prison cell. The dark, damp cell was empty, save for the strong smell of blood. There was nothing else.
Feng Xie roared like a wounded wolf, smashing a fist into the wall. Even Nangong Yue felt a tremor of fear. In his mind, Feng Xie was not someone who easily cared about others. He had always thought he didn't like Liu Liu very much, but seeing the situation tonight, it seemed otherwise. xxs壹贰
Feng Xie roared outwards like a wounded wolf, "Ri Ying, immediately take the iron cavalry and strictly guard all checkpoints. No one with a red mole on their face is to be let go."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ri Ying respectfully accepted the order and walked out. Feng Xie staggered a couple of steps and walked out, his entire being like a ferocious wolf king, a ferocious expression flashing across his face.
If anyone dared to abduct his person, he would not let them go. He panted, his long hair flying in the moonlight, like a hellish asura standing between heaven and earth, his dark eyes crimson, as if ready to fight anyone at any moment.
Nangong Yue stood behind him, feeling the waves of anger emanating from him, which made his heart secretly startled. He couldn't help but worry if Lü Yi and Yue Huan had settled Liu Liu properly. This iron cavalry was a well-trained, highly efficient force that Feng Xie used for emergencies.
He hadn't expected it to be used to search for Liu Liu. It seemed Feng Xie was determined to find her. Nangong Yue calculated, then followed Feng Xie out of the dungeon.