“Qin Mama, you have truly reminded this palace. Had you not mentioned it, this palace would have completely forgotten about this matter.”

The Empress took a deep breath, and a sliver of hope finally returned to her heart.

Had she not always said that Feng Qingyin was useless? Now, not only could the wounds on her face make use of Feng Qingyin’s blood, but even Heng’er could benefit as well!

According to legend, whoever obtained a Phoenix Maiden would obtain the world. A Phoenix Maiden’s blood could not only cure illnesses, but also neutralize a hundred poisons.

Now, Heng’er had been struck by a deadly poison. Although a portion of the toxin had already been cleared, another portion still lingered within his body. The imperial physicians were also at a loss, able only to allow the residual poison in his body to slowly fade through rest and medicine.

But what if they used the Phoenix Maiden’s blood? Perhaps it could rapidly dissolve the poison within his body — that was certainly possible.

Feng Qingyin occupied the identity of the Phoenix Maiden for nothing, and had received so much of her favor and care. It was about time she made some contribution — for herself, and for Heng’er.

Otherwise, what use was there in keeping that wretched girl?

Her hands could carry nothing, her shoulders could bear nothing. She knew no medicine and could save no one. Most importantly, that wretched girl, being the Phoenix Maiden, could not even earn the affection of General Feng the Elder, and had not the slightest bit of influence or backing behind her.

If she were not the Phoenix Maiden, how could she possibly have been willing to spare her even a second glance?

“Someone come — summon Feng Qingyin to enter the palace and see this palace immediately. There must be no delay!” The Empress waved her hand in command.

“Yes!”

The attendants below went to deliver the order. Qin Mama looked at the Empress once more: “Then, those two Snow Lotus Beasts on the snowy mountain…”

“Immediately find a group of skilled experts, have them ascend Snow Lotus Mountain to search, and bring the Snow Lotus Beasts back to this palace.”

Better to believe it possible! After all, her face had already been ruined to such a state — anything with even the slightest chance of helping must be retrieved at once!

Although the imperial palace was also heavily guarded during the day, it was obvious that the level of vigilance was far, far less than that at night.

Even the patrolling guards were visibly going through the motions. When no one was around, they could even stop to chat along the way.

In broad daylight, even if there truly were some intruder, they would not dare come at this hour.

Daytime patrols were nothing more than formality — so no one paid it any particular mind.

Feng Jiu’er and Mu Mu slipped into Yuyang Hall with ease, gliding across the rooftops. Jiu’er quickly located Zhan Yuheng’s bedchamber.

As they descended from the rear courtyard, two groups of patrolling guards happened to pass by. The pair pressed themselves to the sides of tree trunks and looked ahead — the entire row of rooms was silent, so quiet that the whisper of the wind passing through could almost be heard.

“He is in that row of rooms ahead — the widest one in the center.” Jiu’er pointed toward the distant row of buildings.

Mu Mu gave a nod and was about to step forward, when Feng Jiu’er said: “Where is your hair cover? Put the cover on, then wrap the face cloth over it.”

“Why?” They were going down to see Zhan Yuheng regardless — why go through all that unnecessary trouble?

“Who said I was taking you along to see His Highness the Crown Prince?” Feng Jiu’er gave him a sideways glance. This fellow — was he dim-witted? He had absolutely nothing to do with this matter whatsoever. Why stick his foot in it?

“Don’t give me that nonsense about sharing fortune and facing hardship together.” Jiu’er added.

Mu Mu said nothing — he simply fixed his gaze on that face of hers, which wore an expression of undisguised disdain.

This girl truly gave no face at all when she spoke. Yet strangely, it was precisely because of this that the two of them got along all the more naturally.

Some words were indeed unnecessary. Since they were unnecessary, why say them at all?

“In a moment I’ll go down to see him. You hide and do not show yourself. If things go badly on my end, we leave immediately — and you are also responsible for keeping watch.”

She genuinely was not certain whether Zhan Yuheng had already regained consciousness. And even if he had, she was not certain that he would truly be willing to believe her.

After all, at the time, there had indeed been only the two of them in the room. Although the medicine had been delivered by Qing Yun, Qing Yun had stayed by Zhan Yuheng’s side for over a decade — Zhan Yuheng certainly would not suspect him.

As for herself — her feelings toward Zhan Yuheng were rather ordinary. If possible, perhaps they might still be friends. But if he insisted on bringing up childhood acquaintance and youthful innocence from their past, they would likely not even manage to be friends.

In a relationship like this, who could be certain the other party would definitely trust you? After all, he was not the Ninth Imperial Uncle or Mu Mu.

If things did not go smoothly below and they ended up falling out, escaping with Mu Mu would at least ensure that no one yet knew Mu Mu was the one who had been with her.

If that hair cover was not put on, one look at that head of white hair and anyone would know at once who he was — no guessing needed.

Mu Mu looked at her once more, and at last drew the hair cover out from his sleeve, concealing his long hair within it.

Then he put on the guard’s cap and covered his face with the black cloth. Who could possibly recognize this person as him?

But when Feng Jiu’er saw him in this getup — particularly that meticulously crafted hair cover — she suddenly furrowed her brow.

“This doesn’t look like it was made on the spot at all. You’ve had it made for a long time, haven’t you? Keeping yourself ready at any moment to do underhanded things?”

“Mm.” Mu Mu gave a nod — and remarkably, he did not deny it.

Jiu’er let out a breath, and did not continue pressing him.

Very well. Everyone had their own secrets. Just as she had made an appointment at a fixed time to go up Snow Lotus Mountain to see Snow Maiden — that too was something she could not tell anyone.

In any case, it had long been clear that Mu Mu’s background was no simple matter. That he frequently slipped out in the dead of night to “take a stroll” was entirely natural.

Better not to ask.

Mu Mu felt a quiet gratitude for her understanding in this regard. It was not that he deliberately intended to hide things from her — it was simply that certain matters could genuinely not be told to her.

“You only need to know that I will not harm you.” He spoke, his voice light, yet firm.

“Mm.” Feng Jiu’er gave a nod, then suddenly pulled him by the hand. “Let’s go.”

Mu Mu’s movement arts were naturally more than sufficient to deal with these guards. What he had not expected, however, was that Feng Jiu’er’s movement arts had also improved in a strangely inexplicable way.

Even Jiu’er herself had not anticipated it. All the way back just now, with a single casual breath, these rooftop heights had offered not the slightest resistance.

Could it be that the palm she had struck against the Empress earlier had stirred her inner true energy, and that true energy was now growing easier and easier to control?

In the blink of an eye, the two arrived atop the roof of Zhan Yuheng’s bedchamber. This spot was an excellent hiding place — anyone passing below would never be able to see into this corner.

Mu Mu carefully lifted a roof tile. Fortunately it was overcast at the moment with no sunlight filtering through — otherwise, a tile lifted in the middle of the day like this would not have known what stray light it might cast.

Below, there appeared to be someone kneeling — and from the look of them, somehow rather familiar. It was a middle-aged woman, and quite beautiful.

Jiu’er’s brow furrowed slightly. She glanced sideways at Mu Mu, wanting to say something, yet afraid of being heard by those below.

Zhan Yuheng’s martial cultivation was not low. If they spoke on the rooftop, as long as he was awake, there was a fair chance he would hear them.

Jiu’er seized Mu Mu’s large palm and wrote several characters in it: Noble Consort Jing — the Seventh Princess’s mother!

The Seventh Princess’s mother? She was kneeling here now — was she pleading for the Seventh Princess? Could it be that His Majesty had placed the Seventh Princess under arrest?