Du Father exclaimed in shock: “This is bad, it must be time to close the city gates.”

“Do you need to tell me that?” Du Mother scolded him irritably, while enduring the pain and rushing toward the city gate, shouting loudly: “Don’t close the city gate, don’t close it!”

No one paid attention to her words. The heavy city gate slowly closed before Du Mother’s eyes, and no matter how she pounded on it, it was useless. Wang Xianyue had also rushed over by now, saying: “Mother-in-law, please don’t do this anymore. Once the city gate is closed, it absolutely won’t be opened except for urgent military matters. It’s already dark, so we should quickly find a place to rest!”

Upon hearing this, Du Mother immediately said sternly: “You still have the face to speak! I tell you, if anything happens to Ruhui, I’ll hold you responsible!”

At this moment, the Wang family members also came over. Hearing Du Mother scold Wang Xianyue like this, they were quite displeased. Wang Mother said: “In-law, what you’re saying is wrong. We all heard that it was Ruhui who insisted on leaving. How can you blame Xianyue? Did Xianyue push him to leave?”

Du Mother said unconvincingly: “If Xianyue hadn’t held me back, how could he have gotten away?”

Before Wang Mother could speak again, Wang Father said: “Enough, what’s done is done. More talk is useless. Waiting here at the city gate like this isn’t a solution either. Let’s first find a place to rest, then discuss slowly.”

Although Du Mother was still worried, firstly, waiting like this really wasn’t a solution; secondly, they still had to depend on the Wang family for their journey to Taiyuan. So she had to follow Wang Father’s words and leave the city gate.

Now speaking of Du Ruhui, as soon as he entered the city, he immediately headed toward the imperial palace. Back then, he couldn’t save Meixue; this time, he absolutely couldn’t watch Yunyi get into trouble again.

Although Du Ruhui had already quickened his pace repeatedly, he still couldn’t reach the imperial palace before the palace gates were locked. At this moment, every moment of delay meant more danger. Who knew whether Pei Qiantong and his men would act tomorrow? No, he must notify the princess as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Du Ruhui walked to the front of a guard responsible for watching the palace servants, suppressing his anxiety and saying: “I am Du Ruhui, a Fifth Rank Personnel Ministry Secretary. I have urgent business and request to see Princess Jinyang. Please trouble Guard Brother to pass on the message.”

The guard recognized him and cupped his hands, saying: “Secretary Du should know that once the palace gates are locked, except for eight-hundred-li urgent military reports, the palace gates absolutely cannot be opened.”

Du Ruhui nodded: “I know, but I truly have extremely urgent business. Please do me this favor.”

The guard shook his head: “It’s not that this humble official refuses to do Secretary Du a favor, but the rules are set, and I dare not violate them. Please forgive me, Secretary Du, and don’t make things difficult for us.”

“But…” Before Du Ruhui could continue, another guard came over and said: “After the palace gates close, we have to wait until the first quarter of the mao hour before they can open. Secretary Du can come back then, and my brothers will definitely not obstruct you.”

Seeing that neither of them had any intention of relenting, Du Ruhui helplessly nodded. However, he didn’t leave, but stood under the palace eaves, planning to wait here for the palace gates to open.

Most people in Jiangdu didn’t know that a storm was approaching. When morning came, Ruyi, as usual, brought water to the inner hall. After placing it on the stand, she lifted the light shark silk curtains and said: “Princess, it’s dawn.”

Even before Ruyi entered, Yunyi had already awakened. Touching her cheek, she said: “Yesterday I vaguely heard the sound of rainwater falling outside. Was it raining?”

While serving her to get up, Ruyi said: “Yes, there was a heavy rain last night. The flowers in the courtyard were all beaten down, and Jixiang is having people clean up.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Jixiang walked in and bowed, saying: “Reporting to Princess, Young Master Du is outside requesting an audience.”

“Du Ruhui?” After getting Jixiang’s affirmative answer, Yunyi said in surprise: “What is he doing here so early in the morning?”

Jixiang shook her head: “This servant doesn’t know, but Young Master Du looks very anxious. It should be urgent business. He’s waiting in the west side hall for the princess.”

After a brief silence, Yunyi stood up and said: “Immediately help me dress and wash.”

After waiting anxiously for a quarter of an hour, Du Ruhui finally saw Yunyi enter. He quickly stepped forward and said: “Ruhui pays respects to Princess.”

“Rise.” While speaking, Yunyi saw that Du Ruhui’s clothes had large water stains and his hair was also wet. She asked puzzledly: “Why are you so wet? Is it still raining now?”

Ruyi shook her head: “This servant got up at the end of the yin hour, and the rain had already stopped. It’s impossible that Young Master Du would have been caught in it.”

Du Ruhui didn’t explain this matter, only saying: “This minister is fine. This minister came here because I have extremely urgent business to discuss with Princess.” Though he said this, he didn’t continue. Yunyi understood his meaning and said to the palace servants nearby: “There’s nothing for you here anymore. All of you withdraw.”

After only Ruyi and Jixiang remained in the hall, Yunyi said: “Speak, what is it?”

“Someone wants to raise troops and cause rebellion in Jiangdu.” Just ten words, but like a thunderbolt from clear sky, struck Yunyi’s head hard, leaving her mind blank. Only after a while did she recover and ask: “Who is it?”

“Princess need not ask too much. In any case, this matter is absolutely true. This minister came here to request that Princess immediately leave the palace with this minister. Otherwise, once the rebels raise their troops, Princess might be in mortal danger.”

Ruyi said in panic: “Young Master Du, you… you mustn’t speak nonsense. Jiangdu is at the feet of the Son of Heaven. Who would dare to raise troops and rebel? This is impossible.”

Du Ruhui shook his head: “Ever since His Majesty came to Jiangdu, the people here have been living in misery. Countless common people have starved to death, or been forced to eat the flesh and blood of their own kind to survive. And now, His Majesty wants to move the capital to Danyang, making those soldiers leave their homes and making it difficult for them to reunite with their families far away in Guanzhong. You shouldn’t ask who would raise troops and rebel, but rather ask who doesn’t want to raise troops and rebel?”

After he said this, Ruyi and the other were extremely panicked, saying in trembling voices: “Then… then what should we do now? Should we tell His Majesty and have him prepare early?”

Yunyi said expressionlessly: “His life and death have nothing to do with me. Moreover, all of this is his own fault. He deserves this retribution.”

Du Ruhui didn’t show any surprise at her words. Although Yunyi had never told him exactly what happened, the incident of Yunyi coming out of Chengxiang Hall with disheveled clothes, despite Empress Xiao’s efforts to suppress it, still spread throughout the palace, and he had heard about it too. Someone who would do such things to his own daughter, even if he were an emperor, didn’t deserve any sympathy.

Betrayed by all, these four words were most appropriate to describe Yang Guang. To be an emperor like this was truly a kind of sorrow.

“Time is of the essence. Princess should immediately leave the palace with this minister.” Du Ruhui knew that Yang Guang had granted Yunyi the right to leave the palace, so leaving the imperial palace wouldn’t be difficult for her.

Yunyi was silent for a moment, then said: “I want to take Mother Empress with me.”