As the eunuch left, Bai Qianluo took out a wooden box from her sleeve, which Xie Yun had given her.
"Spiritual Butterfly, scout ahead."
Opening the wooden box, the butterflies inside, which had seemed dead, suddenly came alive.
Responding to the summons, the colorful butterfly flitted out of the wooden box, circled Bai Qianluo's head twice, and then flew forward.
Seeing the Spiritual Butterfly leading the way, Bai Qianluo quickly followed.
"Spiritual Butterfly, is there any demonic energy?" The Spiritual Butterfly stopped at a spot. Bai Qianluo scanned the surroundings. This seemed to be a servant's quarters, but it was still early, and the palace maids were on duty, so there was no one in the courtyard.
Bai Qianluo dared not relax. She tentatively pushed the door open.
The door was not locked.
Inside was a large dormitory. It was likely where all the palace maids of the Empress's palace lived.
Seeing no one in the room, Bai Qianluo felt a little relieved. The Spiritual Butterfly circled her head a few times. Bai Qianluo asked, "Did you find something?"
The Spiritual Butterfly understood human speech and could also understand Bai Qianluo's words. It immediately circled twice more.
Two circles meant agreement.
Bai Qianluo took out the wooden box again. The Spiritual Butterfly flew back inside on its own. Its mission was complete, and it had to return to its original place.
After carefully putting away the wooden box, Bai Qianluo looked further into the room.
It was a clean and tidy room. Although the environment didn't seem ideal, it was still evident that the people living here kept things in order.
However, there were no extra furnishings in the room. Besides beds that could accommodate about ten people, there was also a table with a teapot and several cups on it.
"Who are you?"
Bai Qianluo was startled and instinctively turned her head.
A woman dressed as a palace maid stood at the doorway. There was a long scar on the left side of her forehead, hidden by long, heavy bangs. Further down, her lips were pale.
The woman sized Bai Qianluo up, appearing guarded. "Are you a Taoist priest? Why are you here?"
Not just the people in the Empress's palace, but everyone in the imperial palace knew that the Empress was possessed by an evil spirit, so the Emperor had summoned many Taoist priests to the palace to exorcise her.
Bai Qianluo was dressed exactly like a Taoist priest, so the palace maid only needed to infer slightly to know Bai Qianluo's identity.
"I had to relieve myself urgently. The eunuch brought me to this back courtyard and then left. After I used the facilities, I couldn't find my way back, and I stumbled in here while wandering..."
Bai Qianluo's expression and story were flawless. It was a mix of truth and falsehood, which seemed to dispel the palace maid's doubts. She then said, "This is where the palace maids live. The Empress's chambers are outside. I'll take you out."
The girl seemed to be a person of cold disposition and likely wouldn't be talkative. Bai Qianluo didn't linger. "Alright, thank you, Auntie!"
The young palace maid didn't speak further, simply walking ahead.
When Bai Qianluo returned to the Empress's palace, Xie Yun had not yet made any move, but many people were gone from the room, naturally, the group of Taoist priests who had accompanied her.
As she entered the room, she saw a figure in bright yellow standing before a screen.
The bright yellow brocade was embroidered with the pattern of a four-clawed python. Bai Qianluo immediately understood, but the young palace maid reacted faster and had already bowed.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
It was indeed Crown Prince Sheng Xuanyin.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
These two exclamations naturally drew the attention of everyone in the room.
"Rise," the figure in bright yellow turned around, but his gaze did not linger on them, as if continuing his previous words.
Bai Qianluo entered the room, and the young palace maid quickly left. By the time she stood beside Xie Yun, the young palace maid was nowhere to be seen.
However, Bai Qianluo felt a strange sensation. The young palace maid was plain-looking, yet for some reason, she kept appearing in Bai Qianluo's mind. She felt as if she had seen her before.
Everything was unsettling.
"How was it?"
Bai Qianluo shook her head. For now, she only knew that the palace maid's courtyard was peculiar, but she didn't know why. She would have to find another opportunity to investigate later.
Seeing Bai Qianluo's gesture, Xie Yun understood and didn't ask further.
"Does anyone else have any good strategies? If not, we will proceed according to the rules..."
Crown Prince Sheng Xuanyin's voice was gentle, yet it carried an immense sense of pressure, much like his person. He appeared refined and cool, yet no one dared to approach him.
Before Sheng Xuanyin could finish speaking, someone quickly replied, "Your Highness, I can try!"
At this moment, only Xie Yun, Bai Qianluo, and Zhao Yong remained in the room.
But regarding Zhao Yong, besides the jade artifact passed down by his ancestors, did he truly possess any abilities?
Zhao Yong had already stepped forward. Sheng Xuanyin's gaze was drawn to him. "Since that is the case, then let's try."
Why say "let's try"?
It was because the Empress had been ill for more than a day or two, and many people had been invited to the palace to treat her, yet no one had truly cured her. Over time, hope had dwindled.
It was likely that the number of people facing imprisonment would increase by one.
Zhao Yong took something out of his embrace, which caused Xie Yun a slight shock.
It was the long-lost Yin Yang Mirror.
This object looked no different from an ordinary bronze mirror, but its function was vastly different. When the Yin Yang Mirror shone on a person, it was no different from a regular bronze mirror. However, when it shone on a demonic entity, it would immediately reveal its true form in the mirror.
Why did Zhao Yong possess such an item?
"This is the Yin Yang Mirror, a treasured artifact passed down from my ancestors..."
Zhao Yong methodically explained the function of the Yin Yang Mirror. Even the most powerful demonic entities could not hide from this mirror.
It turned out that Zhao Yong was not merely a charlatan who deceived people.
At least his ancestors were not!
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, may I be permitted to see the Empress's true visage?"
Sheng Xuanyin hesitated for a moment, but ultimately agreed.
"Guards, move the screen aside!"
No one dared to disobey the Crown Prince's orders. Soon, someone came and moved the screen aside, leaving only a thin veil.
A figure could be vaguely seen on the bed.
At this moment, the Empress on the bed was very quiet, as if her nightmare had temporarily ended, or perhaps the dream's events had stabilized somewhat.
Two palace maids lifted the veil, and the entire bed was soon revealed.
The Empress looked as if she had been tormented by illness for a long time. Her appearance was withered, her face was pale, cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her hair was disheveled. A few strands, damp with sweat, clung to her forehead.
"Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress!"
Everyone respectfully bowed and then rose.
Zhao Yong took a few steps forward, reaching the edge of the bed.
He turned the bronze mirror in his hand. The dim yellow light cast by the mirror fell on the Empress's pale face. Initially, the mirror showed no reaction, but soon, a powerful beam of light shot out, spreading outwards from the center of the mirror.
Everyone instinctively closed their eyes. In an instant, the strong light vanished.
The person on the bed suddenly cried out.
"Ah..."
The Empress let out continuous screams, as if in extreme pain.