Snow continued to fall outside the window. Bai Ying stepped forward and whispered, “My Lady, it’s now the Hour of the Tiger.”
Qin Wan opened her closed eyes and turned to look out the window. The dim light from the room cast out, illuminating the snow-white courtyard. After watching for a moment, Qin Wan suddenly opened the window and stretched out her hand. Though two braziers burned in the room, their charcoal had nearly burned out, leaving little warmth. When the window opened, the bone-chilling wind rushed in, making even Bai Ying shiver. Qin Wan’s outstretched hand felt like it was being stabbed by needles.
“Has the noise outside stopped? Where is that old matron now?”
Bai Ying replied, “Yes, it’s quiet. The matron went to the right-wing room, but there was no light there. It’s too cold outside—she can’t bear it.”
Qin Wan withdrew her hand, closed the window, and used her cold hand to wipe her face.
The Hour of the Tiger was the deepest part of the night when people slept most soundly. Even those forcing themselves to stay awake would be at their most exhausted at this time. On such a cold night, even the strong and healthy guards, having stood in the wind and snow for two hours, had depleted all their energy.
Qin Wan gestured for Bai Ying to come closer and whispered instructions, “This is our best chance. They’ll likely change shifts soon. Go to Shoukang Palace and find the Empress Dowager. I suspect guards are also posted outside Shoukang Palace to block any calls for help. If you can’t enter through the palace gate, go to the south side near the Ninth Prince’s courtyard. That must be where the guard is weakest.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Ying hurriedly said, “But it’s not right to leave you here alone, My Lady.”
Qin Wan shook her head, “They won’t kill me. Go quickly. After so much time has passed, who knows what he’s encountered outside? The Emperor certainly won’t spare his life… If we weren’t at this point, I wouldn’t want to disturb the Empress Dowager. But now besides her, I can’t think of anyone else who could save us.”
Bai Ying’s eyes darkened, “Yes, I’ll go to Shoukang Palace immediately for help.”
Qin Wan listened carefully to the sounds outside. “Use the back window.”
Bai Ying nodded and followed Qin Wan to the back window. When they opened it, wind and snow immediately blew in. Bai Ying nimbly climbed out, saying “Be careful, My Lady” before turning toward the back wall. Despite the high palace walls, they couldn’t stop Bai Ying’s skilled movements. Only after Qin Wan saw her silhouette completely disappear did she close the window. After closing it, she quickly went to the front to listen, only relaxing when she heard nothing but wind and snow outside.
Even if the Empress Dowager hadn’t fallen gravely ill tonight, her body and mind couldn’t withstand any disturbance now. Qin Wan didn’t know if this plea for help would worsen the Empress Dowager’s condition, but at this point, she had no other choice.
The matron responsible for watching Qin Wan and Bai Ying had already curled up on the low couch in the wing room. Seeing such heavy snow outside and knowing Imperial Guards were posted outside, she finally set aside her worries and drifted into dreams. Just beyond the wall, ten Imperial Guards were covered in snow, with several unable to hold up any longer and leaning against the courtyard wall. Soon, the accumulated snow melted into the water, soaking everyone’s clothes. Even the lead cavalry officer could barely endure.
One man whispered, “Officer, how much longer must we stand here? In such heavy snow, it’s really…”
“Silence,” the cavalry officer reprimanded quietly. “Commander Lin personally assigned us. Without his orders, we absolutely cannot leave our posts. You know who’s inside. Something major is happening tonight. If we ruin things, it’ll cost us our heads!”
“But… this subordinate can’t hold on. If this continues, we’ll all collapse.”
The cavalry officer looked around at everyone, “You lot, go stand in the sheltered area for a while, then come back to switch. Unless Commander Lin sends someone to relieve us, I have no choice.”
One person muttered, “Commander Lin has probably forgotten about us. Officer, did you hear? Something seems to have happened in the front hall. Quite a commotion.”
The Imperial Guards outside the palace had all returned inside, creating quite a disturbance with so many people. But the cavalry officer ignored this comment and simply said, “Focus on your duty.”
No one dared say more. Those who couldn’t endure turned the corner to stand in the sheltered area.
Bai Ying crept like a cat toward Shoukang Palace. The palace was indeed unsettled tonight, with Imperial Guards increasing in number from the North Court to Shoukang Palace, several times more than usual during martial law. Fortunately, Bai Ying often accompanied Qin Wan into the palace; otherwise, even finding hiding spots would have been difficult.
When Bai Ying finally managed to reach Shoukang Palace, it was indeed as Qin Wan had predicted—Imperial Guards had surrounded the outside. Through the wind and snow, guards stood every five steps, fully armed. Even with Bai Ying’s agile movements, it was impossible to break through such a blockade to enter Shoukang Palace.
Bai Ying waited a moment, seeing Shoukang Palace’s gates tightly closed and completely dark inside. She suspected the Empress Dowager knew nothing of the events outside. Thus, there was no chance of anyone coming out from Shoukang Palace. Hiding in the shadows, Bai Ying began creeping toward the Ninth Prince Yan Sui’s quarters.
As expected, there were fewer Imperial Guards in the southeast of Shoukang Palace. Here, the guards used a patrol system rather than fixed posts, but the patrol numbers were double the usual. As soon as one patrol passed, another appeared almost instantly. Bai Ying’s brows furrowed tightly. Though her cheeks were frozen with pain, cold sweat still broke out on her temples.
After watching five patrols pass without finding an opportunity, and mindful of the urgent timing, Bai Ying couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the sixth patrol passed, she leaped toward the palace wall. But at that moment, the seventh patrol turned the corner. The leader spotted a black shadow flashing past and swung his torch, “Who goes there?! Who’s ahead?! Guards—”
The lead Imperial Guard shouted and rushed toward the palace wall. Bai Ying could only temporarily hide behind a cluster of dwarf bamboo and rocks at the wall’s base. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her body tensed ready to engage the guards at any moment. Just as the guards were about to search the area, suddenly, another black shadow flashed by in the distance. The leader’s eyes lit up, and he immediately chased after that shadow, “Over there! After them—”
Bai Ying let out a huge sigh of relief. Seeing the patrol moving farther away, though unsure of what had happened, she decided to take this chance to infiltrate Shoukang Palace. However, just as she turned to climb the wall, a forceful wind suddenly struck from behind. Bai Ying’s internal alarm bells rang, and she spun around throwing a punch. Yet the newcomer seemed to know her moves and caught her fist head-on. The next instant, they suddenly moved close to her…
“It’s me—”
The sudden voice stopped Bai Ying’s counterattack. Her eyes widened as she looked at the figure before her, “Brother?!”
Bai Feng’s eyes were full of urgency, “Why are you here?! Where is the Princess Consort?”