Perhaps, compared to Prince Qi who had used this foolish woman, Chu Li was the one who truly loved her. It’s just that he wouldn’t choose the right way. However, all of this had nothing to do with her. What she was concerned about was that with Chu Li standing here, she had no way to escape tonight.

“You really think Qi’an would be stupid enough to fall into such a shallow trap of yours again?” Qing Xia raised an eyebrow and said loudly: “Or do you really think I have such great influence that I could make a man abandon his kingdom to rescue me? Just look at yourself—you should know this is impossible.”

“Whether it’s possible or not doesn’t depend on you or me.” Chu Li’s lips curved upward in a crooked smile, his evil charm apparent as he said coldly: “Do you know who Qi State is sending for this enthronement ceremony? Your old lover is coming.”

Qing Xia was startled, a flash of surprise crossing her expression. Chu Li suddenly flew into a rage, whirling around as he said in an icy voice: “You have hope of escaping now, so stop being half-dead. If I see you drinking cold water seeking death again, prepare your own funeral arrangements!”

The man turned and left with a thunderous departure. Qing Xia watched Chu Li’s furious exit, slightly stunned, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck her mind. She called out: “Wait a moment.”

Chu Li stopped in his tracks, his face full of dark clouds and confusion. Qing Xia hurried back into the room, emerging slowly after a while and saying: “Never mind, you can go.”

“You’re toying with me!” Chu Li shouted. Qing Xia shrugged noncommittally, and watched as Chu Li stormed out aggressively.

As soon as the main gate closed, Qing Xia quickly stripped off her brocade long dress, revealing the short jacket and small vest she had just put on inside the room. Although these were undergarments worn by women of this era, they were much more convenient than the fancy robes. Plus, in the dark night, no one would see.

Nimbly climbing up the eastern wall, indeed because of Chu Li’s arrival, all the guards had gathered at the main gate to respectfully send off Chu Li, leaving only a few hidden sentries lurking in their original positions. Easily flipping over the wall, she crouched low and carefully circled around to the main gate. Chu Li’s brocade boots were moving among the crowd. Qing Xia calculated the timing, when suddenly a cool breeze rose and tree branches swayed with rustling sounds. Immediately performing a forward roll, she flashed into the crowd. Everyone was kneeling on the ground, staring at their own feet—who would dare raise their heads to look directly at Chu Li? Taking advantage of this moment, Qing Xia, in full view of everyone yet undetected, stealthily moved under Chu Li’s dragon carriage, gripping with both hands and feet beneath the carriage, her entire body clinging to it like a gecko.

This series of movements flowed like water, soundless and unnoticed by anyone. Only when the dragon carriage was pulled by horses did the group behind dare to slightly exhale and stand up.

This saved much trouble. With other methods, she would still have to find ways to break through layers of guards to escape the palace. And outside the palace, there were still layers of imperial city guards and high city gates.

Chu Li had recently been training troops at the camp outside the city, and who would dare inspect the current Son of Heaven’s carriage? So at this moment, Qing Xia leisurely clung beneath the dragon carriage, secretly delighted. Once they reached the wilderness outside the city, who could be a match for her, a modern super agent?

Just as she was feeling pleased, she felt the dragon carriage winding around before suddenly stopping. Qing Xia was alarmed—it was over! Could that bastard Chu Li not want to leave the palace tonight and instead stay overnight in the palace?

While her thoughts were running wild, a familiar voice suddenly rang out. She saw a pair of men’s black boots approach the dragon carriage. The person knelt on the ground and called out loudly: “Your servant pays respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Rise.” A low voice came from above. Qing Xia clung beneath the dragon carriage, carefully holding her breath, only hearing Chu Li’s voice say coldly: “You’ve been kneeling here for three days, repeatedly saying you want to see me. You wouldn’t just want to kneel before me like this, would you?”

“Your servant…” The man’s voice trembled slightly, seeming somewhat timid, but he still summoned courage to say loudly: “Your servant believes that Your Highness’s rewards and punishments are unclear, unable to distinguish good from evil, lacking the demeanor of a wise ruler of the age!”

A sharp intake of breath sounded almost simultaneously. Even without seeing it with her own eyes, Qing Xia could imagine everyone’s expressions. The cold wind blew gently, and the loud voice fell into the night like a stone sinking to the lake bottom—for a long time, not a ripple could be seen. The man couldn’t help feeling nervous, his swallowing sound loud and particularly obvious in such a dark night.

As if a century had passed, Chu Li’s voice finally sounded low and deep, without the slightest fluctuation, and no emotion could be detected: “Oh? How are rewards and punishments unclear, and good and evil indistinguishable? Explain one or two points.”

The bookworm’s upright voice rang out with full vigor. Some things are like this—you think they’re hard to voice, but once spoken, what follows becomes much simpler. Indeed, that man had already said the most disrespectful words, so now with the mindset of risking everything, his courage grew, and he said loudly: “Your servant has already submitted memorials to Your Highness multiple times, detailing the specifics of the night of the Thirteenth Prince’s rebellion. The success in escaping the palace to report to Your Highness that day was actually due to a palace maid wearing second-rank maid attire from Lanting Palace. However, Your Highness attributed all the credit to your humble servant, promoting and ennobling this servant—this is unclear rewards and punishments. Moreover, your servant strictly follows the teachings of sages, having spent years compiling books at the Historical Records Hall. Loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country is one’s duty, but for a mere palace maid to have such awareness truly deserves commendation. Unfortunately, not only did Your Highness not reward her at all, but also had all the servants from Lanting Palace arrested—this is inability to distinguish good from evil. Your servant is the chief historian of the Historical Records Hall, bearing the responsibility of recording court historical facts and advising Your Highness on words and actions. Therefore, I dare to submit this memorial, asking Your Highness to reconsider.”

The resounding tone echoed in the cold air, with complete silence all around, not a sound to be heard. Chu Li was also silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

Historian Lin knelt on the ground, his dark blue boots topped by a second-rank court robe of deep blue trimmed with gold. Qing Xia gazed at the bookworm so close at hand, couldn’t help but feel somewhat amused. She hadn’t expected that their brief encounter that day would make this bookworm so grateful to her, even risking offense to the imperial countenance for her sake. She didn’t know whether to call him upright or slow-witted.

“I’ll ask you one last time.” Chu Li’s voice suddenly rang out abruptly, seeming to carry a trace of urgency and hidden hope. He spoke somewhat probingly, his voice slightly rising, as if reluctant to expose a lie.

“That palace maid you mentioned—was she really wearing second-rank maid clothing? Really from Lanting Palace?”

“Yes!” Historian Lin immediately prostrated himself on the ground, saying solemnly: “Your servant would absolutely not remember incorrectly.”

“Is that so?” Chu Li’s voice was flat, and his eyes in the dragon carriage flashed with a trace of gloom. So she had deceived him once again. When she emerged from the sea of fire that day, Qing Xia had indeed been wearing Xiangju’s clothes. He had been somewhat suspicious then, but why hadn’t she spoken up? This wasn’t a bad thing—she had saved his kingdom. Could she have been afraid that because of her martial skills, he would suspect the truth about Qi’an’s escape?

“If Your Highness has difficulty finding this palace maid in the short term, your servant has painted a portrait of that palace maid. As long as Your Highness posts it, she can be found immediately.”

Seeing Chu Li relenting, Historian Lin was delighted and said this as if offering a treasure. However, Qing Xia, hiding beneath the dragon carriage, almost wanted to rush out and cut him down with a blade. All the flaws originated from him—if not for him, Chu Li wouldn’t have become suspicious of her so quickly. Now if he saw that so-called portrait, he might truly conclude that she was the one who let Qi’an escape.

She could only hope that Chu Li wouldn’t want to see his portrait, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as hoped. Chu Li seemed interested and said in a deep voice: “Where is the portrait? Present it.”

“It’s in the painting room of the Historical Records Hall. Your servant will fetch it immediately.”

“Forget it, I’ll make the trip with you.” Perhaps Chu Li was bored, and upon hearing his words, the personal guards immediately guided the dragon carriage. Qing Xia had no choice but to cling to the base of the dragon carriage like she had suction cups, traveling steadily toward the Historical Records Hall.

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, they arrived at the gate of the Historical Records Hall. After complicated unlocking procedures, Historian Lin’s footsteps approached urgently.

“Your Highness, this is the portrait of that palace maid painted by your servant.”

The curtain of the dragon carriage was lifted by guards, and Chu Li’s golden boots stepped down, standing before Qing Xia’s eyes. A short, golden small knife was inserted in his boot—it didn’t look very threatening, more like a decorative piece.

Taking the painting from Historian Lin’s hands, Chu Li unrolled it with a whoosh. The surrounding attendants couldn’t help but gasp in surprise—this painting, unlike typical portraits of the time, was actually a full person’s height. Chu Li had to hold it high to prevent it from dragging on the ground.

The woman in the painting had willow eyebrows and starry eyes, cherry lips and a small face. Her brow and eyes were sharp and decisive, like frost flashing by, yet also like spring warmth melting. Between glances, her spirit soared, with full black hair knotted in a topknot on her head. Wearing palace attire, she appeared pure as snow. Holding a pale yellow whip in one hand, mounted high on a horse, her other hand wielding a war blade pressed against the neck of an intentionally uglified imperial guard. Triumphant and sneering at the corner of her mouth, she looked as if she were alive, almost about to walk out of the painting.

Those who regularly followed Chu Li all recognized at a glance that this woman in the painting was Concubine Lan, who had just been confined to the cold palace of Qianqing Four Compounds. Therefore, everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces full of disbelief.

But Chu Li, as if he had guessed long ago, calmly held the painting and quietly remained silent. After a long while, he said as if talking to himself: “This painting—you put a lot of effort into it.”

But Historian Lin seemed somewhat embarrassed, smiling woodenly: “To… to… ease Your Highness’s worries… your servant… should rightfully… should rightfully do so.”

“You need not search for this person anymore.” Chu Li suddenly rolled up the painting, turned and entered the dragon carriage, saying in a deep voice: “I have actually already found this palace maid. She was Xiangju, a second-rank maid from Lanting Palace. After that night, she returned to Lanting Palace and was burned by the great fire. She died recently from her injuries. I have already ordered her to be buried with honor and rewarded her family.”