Liu Liu let out a soft "oh" and turned to look at Zhao Jiu. Although it was night, the moonlight was clear, and the lights in Hua Qing Palace were blazing, allowing her to clearly see that the guard commander Zhao Jiu was quite handsome.
While he lacked Nangong Yue's beauty or the Emperor's charm, he was the type of person who was handsome and upright, exuding a righteous aura.
"Lord Zhao, can you perhaps investigate elsewhere? I am the mistress of the inner palace. Although I am not favored, it does not mean I should be bullied to such an extent. If you were to find an assassin in my palace, would I not be accused of harboring one? I wonder what your intention is, Lord Zhao?"
Liu Liu spoke sternly, her star-like eyes reflecting the moonlight, a cold, shimmering glow emanating from them, her lips curved into a sneer.
"Because I saw the assassin enter Hua Qing Palace. For the Empress's safety, this subordinate must search Hua Qing Palace. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness," Zhao Jiu said, lifting his robe and cupping his fist respectfully.
At this moment, the sky was overcast with dense clouds, obscuring the clear moon, casting a gloomy atmosphere. The lush green vines by the gates of Hua Qing Palace rustled in the wind. Liu Liu spoke in a measured tone, "What if I say I do not consent?"
"Then this subordinate has no choice but to offend," Zhao Jiu replied loudly, not finding anything amiss. At this time, he too had been influenced by rumors. He subconsciously felt that the Empress was not favored, and even if he searched Hua Qing Palace, what of it? The Emperor would not punish him.
Liu Liu's expression turned grim, her breathing becoming slightly heavier. She hadn't expected such arrogance from a mere servant. This was the tragic fate of women in the inner palace. If favored, they were elevated to great heights; if not, everyone would make things difficult for them. And all that she was enduring was thanks to Feng Xie. She endured the Emperor because she didn't want the Liu family to suffer misfortune. Did she need to tolerate a servant?
Anger instantly suffused her. Her eyebrows arched, her eyes as cold as ice. Her hand shot up swiftly, delivering a slap. In the night, it was as clear as a drumbeat, striking heavily upon everyone's hearts.
The moonlight suddenly broke through the clouds at this moment, its radiance spreading throughout Hua Qing Palace. Zhao Jiu, in the first instant, saw a blood-colored butterfly flash and disappear. Astonishment filled his eyes. He quickly reached out, intending to catch the blood butterfly, but his grasp fell empty.
He only heard the Empress's cold reprimand.
"You damned servant, go and fetch the Emperor's imperial decree first."
Although the eunuchs and palace maids of Hua Qing Palace felt a sense of vindication, they also feared the Empress might suffer. Several of them quickly stepped in front of her. If Lord Zhao dared to trouble the Empress, they would fight him.
Zhao Jiu, however, was not as angry as expected, nor did he make any move. He had been too greatly shocked and couldn't react for a long time. What had he just seen? He had never forgotten his mission. Who was the Empress, really? Wasn't she Prime Minister Liu's daughter? Why did she have a blood-colored butterfly on her arm? Or was he mistaken in the dim light?
The squad of guards behind him saw their commander being struck and expected him to react. However, after a long time, there was still no response. After all, this Empress was not favored. What did it matter if Lord Zhao troubled her? Zhao Jiu was a trusted minister of the Emperor.
"Lord Zhao, what's wrong?"
Zhao Jiu snapped back to reality. His mind was in a mess. It wasn't because he was slapped by the Empress. On the contrary, he felt fortunate to have been struck, because she seemed to be the very person he was looking for. But was it true? He was afraid it was just the dim light of the night playing tricks.
"It's nothing, let's go back," Zhao Jiu waved his hand. He needed to go back and think, to organize his thoughts.
"Lord Zhao?" the guards called out. Did their lord not even care about the assassin anymore?
"Let's go," Zhao Jiu said curtly. Those behind him dared not speak further. Zhao Jiu turned around and cupped his fist towards Liu Liu, "This subordinate has disturbed Your Highness. May Your Highness rest. We shall take our leave."
Liu Liu stared coldly at Zhao Jiu, offering no comment. Rumor had it that Zhao Jiu was not someone easy to deal with. How could he immediately become so obedient after receiving a slap? However, since he had left, it was a good thing, because Dai Mei was still in Hua Qing Palace, and she needed to send her out of the palace before dawn.
After Zhao Jiu and his men had all left, Liu Liu waved her hand, signaling Xiao Anzi to close the palace gates. She immediately turned back into the main hall and instructed Cui'er to bring Dai Mei over.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Dai Mei was dressed in black, and the black cloth covering her face had long been removed, revealing a beautiful and alluring face. The eunuchs and palace maids in Hua Qing Palace were all stunned. They hadn't expected this assassin to be such a stunning beauty. They wondered who she intended to kill. Moreover, she seemed to know the Empress.
Liu Liu signaled Dai Mei to sit beside her and waved for everyone else to leave. When the hall was empty, she anxiously asked Dai Mei.
"How did you get into the palace?"
Dai Mei's delicate brows furrowed into a worried line, and a look of extreme anxiety appeared in her eyes. The corners of her lips drooped powerlessly.
"Boss, something's happened."
"Duan Mu?" Among the three of them, Duan Mu was the most restless. Furthermore, he dealt with gambling dens, which were inherently prone to trouble. Coupled with his ruthless nature, it was only a matter of time before he suffered consequences. It would be good for him to mature sooner.
"It's not just Duan Mu; Chu Feng has also been implicated. Because he helped Duan Mu, both of them were captured together." If something hadn't happened, she wouldn't have disturbed her boss. But she truly had no other options. Besides, she had an entire street to manage, which was why she had broken into the palace at night.
"Who captured them?"
"It's that scoundrel Mu Qingyun. He came to the gambling den to gamble, and Duan Mu actually had people use loaded dice. Mu Qingyun discovered it, so he led his men to smash the gambling den and then took Duan Mu and Chu Feng to the Marquis's mansion."
Liu Liu knew of Mu Qingyun. He was a hereditary Marquis, known for his extravagance and debauchery, gambling, and frequenting pleasure quarters. Because his ancestors had left him a vast fortune, he had befriended many influential figures in the court, which emboldened him to act with impunity. It was unfortunate that Duan Mu had fallen into his hands. Moreover, she had instructed him not to use loaded dice. Liu Liu thought fiercely, but he always managed to cause trouble for her.
Dai Mei looked at her mistress's changing expression and dared not say much, as her mistress had warned Duan Mu about using loaded dice countless times, and yet he had still fallen victim to it.
"Dai Mei, how long have they been captured?" Liu Liu asked calmly, a plan already forming in her mind. She had plenty of ways to deal with a scoundrel like Mu Qingyun, but she knew Duan Mu and the others must have suffered greatly.
"Three days," Dai Mei said, relieved. The way her boss asked suggested that although she was angry, she could still tolerate it. Moreover, Chu Feng was caught in the middle, and he had done nothing wrong, only helped Duan Mu.
"Alright, you immediately leave the palace and compile a list of the officials Mu Qingyun has contacted and to whom he has sent gifts. Also, prepare forty thousand taels of silver notes. Tomorrow morning, send a notice to the Marquis's mansion stating that I wish to meet him at Wan Feng Teahouse in our Black Street."
Liu Liu calmly instructed Dai Mei, showing no panic. Dai Mei was finally relieved. Her boss was truly a person who handled great affairs, unlike herself, who would panic at the slightest incident.
"Alright, I'll go back and handle it," Dai Mei stood up and walked towards the exit. Thinking of her boss's displeased expression and the unfavorable rumors circulating about her in the capital, she stopped and asked with concern, "Boss, are you alright?"