The black-clad men following him also disengaged themselves, disappearing in the blink of an eye. The vast execution ground was left in a mess, with things smashed everywhere.
The supervising official, realizing that the prisoner was none other than the current Prime Minister, was so terrified that he scrambled over, begging repeatedly.
"Prime Minister, spare my life, Prime Minister, spare my life."
"Get lost,"
Liu Ting roared angrily, no longer able to stand the stench on himself. He mounted his horse and rode away, eager to wash.
The Grand Minister of the Directorate of the Household, seeing Liu Ting’s actions, knew he couldn't bear his own smell any longer. He smiled slightly, waved his hand, and said, "Let's return."
Everyone retreated. The execution plan had been a failure. However, those hiding in the shadows dared not act rashly, for the capital was now under full alert, and a single mistake could lead to death.
Nangong Yu, seeing the first plan fail, proceeded with the second. This time, he would not let anyone escape, including that woman.
If he hadn't been careless and underestimated that woman, they wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat. Even the people rescued from the secret room of the General's mansion were dead.
This was because the woman had used poison smoke to suffocate them, killing the people in the secret room alive. That woman was not only intelligent but also ruthless.
They would gain no advantage by staying in the capital, and she might soon devise a plan to find them. It was better to leave the capital and execute the second plan. Feng Xie, I will take your head sooner or later, Nangong Yu said fiercely.
In Weiyang Palace, Liu Liu sat on the phoenix throne, awaiting news. However, she could somewhat estimate that they would not succeed. It was difficult to capture those people in public unless they were caught off guard and attacked by surprise.
Liu Liu's dark eyes were murky, and a cold aura emanated from her. The eunuchs and palace maids standing on both sides of the hall dared not disturb her, cautiously observing their Empress's mood.
Soon, a young eunuch reported that Lord Ri Ying had something to report. Liu Liu waved her hand, and Ri Ying quickly entered, cupping his fist and replying, "Reporting to Her Majesty, all those people have left. We haven't captured any of them. The people at the General's mansion were also attacked, but because we used poison smoke, all those people died."
"Oh," Liu Liu nodded, her gaze as sharp as a knife, and said in a deep voice, "How many people were in the secret room of the General's mansion?"
"Four," Ri Ying's voice was steady. Liu Liu calculated that Feng Jiu and another person were killed, Sima Pingchao was still in prison, and another four were suffocated by them.
Thus, seven of the Thirteen Eagles were gone, leaving six. It was unexpected that the renowned Thirteen Eagles now only had six members.
Liu Liu laughed with a wild charm. She believed that the remaining six must have left the capital. If they dared to remain, she would find them in due course.
However, according to her estimation, these six must have left the capital, but they would surely have other plans. What those plans were, she did not know. Liu Liu waved her hand.
"You may withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ri Ying retreated. Liu Liu breathed a sigh of relief, her face relaxing, showing fatigue. She hadn't slept much recently. She beckoned Hong Xiu to come closer, "Hong Xiu, go and prepare some bathwater for me. I want to wash up and get some good sleep. I'm too tired."
"Yes, your servant obeys," Hong Xiu received the order and went out. She soon prepared the bathwater and invited Her Majesty to bathe. After bathing, Liu Liu returned to her palace to rest, ordering Hong Xiu and Ming Yue to guard the door and allow no one to disturb her. She was truly exhausted.
Mu Xing came to find his mother, the Empress. Seeing that she was asleep, he felt bored. Suddenly, he heard a eunuch report that Prince Xin Hun had arrived. Upon hearing this, Mu Xing immediately smiled with delight.
Finally, there was someone to play with. He waved to the little eunuch to bring Xin Hun in. The two children, upon seeing each other, were overjoyed. They held hands and ran out of the main hall of Weiyang Palace to play.
Cui'er led several guards, following closely behind. Although Consort Lou was foolish and Prince Yu Lou was dead, the lurking villains still existed. Cui'er was still worried that Mu Xing might have an accident. Her Majesty had repeatedly warned them not to be careless.
"Your Highness, slow down, slow down," Cui'er began her daily shouting.
Mu Xing led Xin Hun around the imperial palace. In winter, the flowers, birds, fish, and plants were all dormant. Except for the plum blossoms blooming in the garden, there was no other interest. The two children were bored. Mu Xing suddenly remembered Consort Lou in the cold palace. He wondered if her foolish illness had improved. He reached out, pulled Xin Hun, and told him about Consort Lou.
"Her hair has turned white; she's so pitiful. Let's go and see her."
Mu Xing said with a hint of sympathy. Xin Hun, seeing him sad, naturally felt sad and nodded repeatedly, "Okay, I'll accompany you to see her." The two of them turned and walked along the long corridor towards the cold palace. Cui'er, seeing Mu Xing and Xin Hun's actions, rushed over to stop them, "Where are you two going?"
"We're going to the cold palace to see that pitiful woman?"
Mu Xing shot Cui'er a cold glance. Did Aunt Cui have no sympathy at all?
Cui'er felt a prickle on her scalp under Mu Xing's gaze, but that woman was not to be trifled with. She did not approve of them visiting her. She reached out and pulled them both back.
"It's not that I don't sympathize with that woman, but who knows if she's truly mad or pretending? If she's pretending, and something happens to you two, how can I report to Her Majesty?"
"Hasn't Mother Empress visited her a few times? Nothing happened. Besides, you are all with them; what can she do?"
Mu Xing disdainfully glanced at Cui'er, as if she were overly timid. Cui'er thought about it and realized that Her Majesty had visited that woman a few times, and nothing had happened.
Moreover, perhaps that woman was truly mad. Could pretending to be mad be so thorough? She had seen her pick up spoiled food and dirty water with her hands and put them into her mouth. She was formerly the noble Consort Lou.
If she wasn't truly mad, would she, accustomed to a life of luxury, eat food that even dogs wouldn't eat, or drink water that dogs wouldn't drink? Thinking of this, Cui'er felt much relieved and agreed to let Mu Xing go. The problem was, her agreement or not was irrelevant.
"Alright, but just a quick look and then come out. Don't stay inside for too long, or if the Empress finds out, we'll be in trouble."
"Okay," Mu Xing nodded, took Xin Hun's hand, and the group walked towards the cold palace.
The weather was cold, the clouds were low, and the cold palace looked even more desolate, with withered branches and broken leaves, and mottled palace walls. The sound of the wind occasionally whistling through the long corridor filled the air with silence. The original two or three imperial consorts in the cold palace had all passed away. Now, only the foolish Consort Lou remained, running around the cold palace all day.
She would occasionally hug her little pillow and play with it. From a distance, her voice could be heard.
"Yu Lou, mother's darling, is it fun, is it fun."
When Mu Xing and Yu Lou walked over, they saw a thin, frail woman in an open, barren patch of withered grass in front of the cold palace gate. She was hugging a wooden pillow and caressing it attentively. Her long, silver hair cascaded down. Her face was so emaciated that it was like a skeleton. Her slender fingers were as terrifying as chicken claws, pale without a trace of blood. There were very few eunuchs in the cold palace, and even if there were one or two, who would care for this foolish woman? So it was unknown if this woman could survive the winter, Cui'er thought slowly.
The woman stopped playing with the wooden doll when she got tired. She unconsciously looked up and saw Mu Xing and Xin Hun. Her large eyes suddenly lit up. Her lips moved, and after a long time, she spoke, "Yu Lou, you're back. Yu Lou, mother's good child, you're back."
As she spoke, she slowly extended her hand and walked towards them. Seeing her move, Cui'er quickly stood in front of Mu Xing, blocking the two children, fearing that the woman might do something to Mu Xing or Xin Hun. However, Mu Xing's heart had already been touched by this foolish woman.
Although he was only five years old, he always felt that Yu Lou had died because of him and carried a deep sense of guilt. He pulled Cui'er away and said coldly.