"Very well, you wait. This Princess Consort will go to see His Majesty the Emperor now. Let's see if His Majesty the Emperor trusts this Princess Consort or you. If His Majesty the Emperor trusts this Princess Consort, he will surely bear witness for this Princess Consort. If he doesn't believe this Princess Consort, then you will all face death, with no chance of reprieve. If His Majesty the Emperor trusts this Princess Consort, he will naturally handle this impartially and give us, master and servant, a proper explanation," Yun Chang said, her eyes narrowed.
The guard's heart skipped a beat at her words, but he gritted his teeth and said, "If the Princess Consort wants to bully us with her status, then go ahead and try. Let's see whose end will be more miserable!"
"You think I don't dare?" Yun Chang smiled, a cold, bloodthirsty glint in her eyes. "I will not only defeat you, but I will also kill His Majesty the Emperor! So that you pack of dog slaves can no longer strut around the Imperial City!"
A look of shock flashed across the leader of the guards' faces. "You dare?"
"What is there that I don't dare?" Yun Chang sneered. "If you are afraid, you can retreat and let this Princess Consort go find His Majesty the Emperor herself. If this Princess Consort is fortunate enough to survive, you will all be buried with me. Otherwise, retreat obediently. If anyone dares to block the way, don't blame this Princess Consort for being impolite!"
The soldiers were all stunned by her words, but not a single one dared to retreat. Only a few timid ones had already quietly moved to the side.
Seeing this, those few also hesitated. Yun Chang narrowed her eyes. "Do you really not plan to back down?"
"Hmph!" Those few snorted heavily, unwilling to compromise.
Yun Chang curled her lips. "Since that is the case, then you shall accept your fate!"
Yun Chang's toes touched the ground, and she sprang towards the soldiers. When they saw Yun Chang suddenly attack, they were momentarily stunned. Reacting, they all drew their sabers and slashed at Yun Chang.
However, Yun Chang's martial arts were superb. She easily dodged all their attacks and subdued them in the blink of an eye.
Yun Chang sheathed her long sword, patted her sleeves, and turned around. She saw Qiu Ying already terrified, sitting dumbfounded in the carriage, tears streaming down her face.
Yun Chang sighed, walked over, took Qiu Ying's cold hand, and softly called out, "Qiu Ying? Qiu Ying?"
Qiu Ying suddenly snapped back to reality, her eyes filled with shock as she stared at Yun Chang. She opened her mouth, not knowing what to say.
Yun Chang smiled. "It's alright, I'm fine now."
Only then did Qiu Ying burst into tears and tightly embrace Yun Chang's waist. "Princess Consort, this servant will never dare to anger you again. Please forgive this servant this once."
Yun Chang chuckled at her words, gently stroking Qiu Ying's head. "Silly girl, we've been master and servant for so long. How can I be that kind of person? I was just trying to scare them. Don't take it to heart."
Qiu Ying sniffled and nodded. "Princess Consort, thank you. You saved this servant. This servant will always be loyal to you."
Yun Chang smiled. "Good, this Princess Consort will also be forever loyal to Miss Qiu Ying."
Qiu Ying wiped away her tears. "Princess Consort, you go wait ahead. I will have someone prepare a sedan chair to send you to the Imperial City."
Yun Chang nodded and got back into the carriage.
The carriage soon set off. Qiu Ying sat in the carriage, her heart still uneasy. Although she knew how formidable Yun Chang was, she couldn't understand why she always felt that this Princess Consort was not quite as the rumors described. However, she dared not speculate.
All the way, Yun Chang closed her eyes to rest, but her mind was occupied with the day's events. She racked her brain but couldn't figure out when she had offended the Empress Dowager, or if she had offended any nobles. Those soldiers kept mentioning His Majesty the Emperor. Could it be…
His Majesty the Emperor… Yun Chang frowned. She seemed to have some impression, but she couldn't recall where she had seen him for the moment. When she tried to recall carefully, her head throbbed as if being pricked by needles, making her mood extremely restless.
Upon reaching the city gate, Qiu Ying dismounted and personally helped Yun Chang into the Imperial City.
The Imperial City was bustling with people, but Yun Chang dared not move around carelessly. She only led Qiu Ying to the Imperial Study.
The guards at the gate recognized Yun Chang immediately and quickly stepped forward to report, "Your Highness, please wait a moment." After speaking, they hurried inside to report.
Yun Chang stood quietly, waiting.
Before long, the guard ran out with a smile. "Congratulations, Your Highness. His Majesty has decreed that you should rest in the side hall for a while, and His Majesty will come later."
"Please inform the Empress that this Princess Consort thanks His Majesty for his kindness and bids farewell." Yun Chang smiled and, with Qiu Ying, headed towards the side hall. As she reached the entrance, she saw a woman in palace attire standing there. It was the Empress.
"This subject pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress. May Her Majesty be well." Yun Chang immediately bowed. Although her status had changed, she still deeply remembered the hierarchy regarding the Empress.
"Please rise. The Empress invites you in." The Empress curtsied slightly and turned to enter the room.
Yun Chang followed behind the Empress and walked in slowly.
Once inside, the Empress stopped and turned to look at Yun Chang. "Yun Chang, I summoned you to the palace today because there is something I wish to ask you. Have you seen a palace maid named Li Yuyao?"
Li Yuyao.
Yun Chang frowned. "Your Majesty the Empress, Li Yuyao is someone from the palace. This subject has never met her."
The Empress raised an eyebrow, not particularly suspicious. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Then let me ask you again, did you see Li Yuyao yesterday? What did she say to you? Did you notice anything unusual?"
Li Yuyao. Li Yuyao. Yun Chang murmured the name to herself. Suddenly, she seemed to recall something and her eyes widened as she looked at the Empress. "Does Your Majesty the Empress mean that girl?"
"You know her?" The Empress looked up at Yun Chang in surprise, her heart also a little doubtful. Yun Chang hadn't entered the palace before, so how could she be involved with Li Yuyao?
"Indeed, this subject has seen her." Yun Chang nodded, inwardly scolding Li Yuyao for causing trouble in the Imperial City, and for daring to shoot poison arrows at her in front of everyone. She had to get revenge for this!
The Empress narrowed her eyes and pondered for a moment before saying, "Did you have any conflict with Li Yuyao?"
Yun Chang shook her head. "This subject has never met her before, so how could there be any conflict?"
"Oh, I see." The Empress pondered for a while and then said, "Li Yuyao has been acting outrageously in the Imperial City. I have already ordered people to investigate Li Yuyao's identity. She is from the Li family, the illegitimate sister of the Li family. Because she is a girl, the Li family is reluctant to be too harsh on her, which is why Li Yuyao is so arrogant and overbearing outside."
Yun Chang raised an eyebrow. "Which noble family is the Li family?"