Li Qingmu was silent, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the empty alley ahead, as if so monster lurked there.
"Mr. Li, you should quickly find a place to hide, and then plan your next move!"
Shi Qin’s expression was also anxious. She wanted them to rescue people, but her master instructed them to stay outside, fearing it would be more dangerous once inside the palace.
"Understood!"
Li Qingmu said calmly, his eyes flickering slightly.
"I need to go back. If they don’t see for too long, they’ll start to suspect!"
Leaving a hurried remark, Shi Qin quickly departed.
The place returned to tranquility, with Long Yue supporting Li Qingmu as they erged.
In the distance, Duanmu Nan silently watched them.
"Let’s first find an inn to stay at, and I’ll perform acupuncture on you!"
"Alright, thank you, Mr. Duanmu!"
The group found an inn, and Duanmu Nan took out silver needles to treat Li Qingmu’s illness. After a session, Li Qingmu’s complexion improved significantly, and even his emotions stabilized.
Duanmu Nan had included calming techniques in the acupuncture.
Yet his expression was sowhat wooden, gazing at the beams above, lost in thought.
Duanmu Nan and Yun Jin went out, while Long Yue brought a freshly brewed dicine and helped him take it.
"A Mu..."
Long Yue called softly.
Li Qingmu’s gaze shifted slightly, but he said nothing.
Long Yue sighed, "Do you want to sneak into the palace to see what’s going on?"
Li Qingmu looked up at her, his eyes flickering, sowhat guilty.
Long Yue helplessly said, "We are husband and wife. Do you think I wouldn’t understand your thoughts?" She smiled, holding his large hand tightly, "Actually, I also want to go inside to see that villain!"
Long Yue spoke these words through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with sorrow.
That person... was her father, yet he treated her like grass, even wanting to kill her entire family. Is this what parents do?
"Yue’er!" The man finally spoke and hugged her, "Thank you, thank you..."
With such a virtuous wife, what more could a husband ask for!
"What? You want to sneak into the Imperial Palace? Are you crazy?"
Yun Jin, holding the child Long Yue had handed over, looked shocked, almost unable to hold Rui’er steady.
Long Yue bowed deeply, "Master’s wife, A Mu and I won’t feel at ease without entering the palace. We must see for ourselves what is happening inside. So while we’re away, could you please help take care of Rui’er?"
Rui’er had been weaned, and Yun Jin could take care of him, but she was worried about their safety.
"It’s very dangerous inside!"
"I know, A Mu and I will be careful!"
Yun Jin was anxious, unsure of what to do, looking towards Duanmu Nan.
"Yue’er, I know we cannot stop you, so before you go, I have a silk pouch for you!"
"Master?"
Duanmu Nan stood up, holding a silk pouch.
Rather than a silk pouch, it was more like a silk box, square with beautiful patterns.
"Inside are many specially made poisons and antidotes, and so other special items. Keep it close and carry it with you always!"
"Yes, Master, I understand!"
"If..."
Duanmu Nan hesitated, ultimately not saying that if there were difficulties, they should co to him.
Because he knew Yue’er would surely send him a ssage.
"So, how do you plan to sneak in?"
Long Yue and Li Qingmu exchanged a glance and laughed.
"Laundry Girl, Latrine Cleaner!"
The Laundry Girl was for washing clothes at night, a place for the lowest-ranked palace maids. Once there, it was almost a declaration that a palace maid’s life was over.
The Latrine Cleaner was even worse, tasked with emptying chamber pots...
Yun Jin felt saddened hearing their plan, "Isn’t this too much for you?"
"Master’s wife, this isn’t too much. With the Dazhou Dynasty’s riches, how can we let it fall into the hands of traitors?"
Long Yue spoke righteously; this was both her and Li Qingmu’s heartfelt wish.
Qi Yun, in heaven, would not want to see this either.
"If so, then go, but be careful!"
"Alright!"
An hour later, a cart of wooden buckets slowly drove to the West Palace Gate.
The man pulling the cart had a dark face, wearing the uniform of a palace attendant, slightly lowering his head, appearing humble and obedient.
The cart was loaded with latrine waste, overwhelmingly foul. The guards at the gate despised this cart, so they didn’t want to inspect it and just let it pass.
"Check it out. It’s a special ti now!"
A patrolling officer slightly frowned, loyal to the Empress, naturally diligent in their duties.
The guards had no choice but to uncover the dirty lids.
"Ugh—"
With the lids off, the sll intensified, making them bend over and retch uncontrollably.
"Sir..."
Unable to stand it, soone looked pleadingly at the officer, hoping he would let it pass, but the officer coldly stared back.
The guards had no choice but to lift all the wooden lids for inspection.
It slled horribly, filthy beyond asure.
Inside there was nothing but emptiness, definitely not for hiding people.
"Move along, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and leave!"
The guards in a foul mood waved to the man to hurry and go.
The man shivered, bowed to them, and pretended to push the cart with effort, quickening his pace inside.
But this pace was only sowhat faster, not too fast to avoid suspicion.
"Rember, these are special tis. Guard the palace gate well to prevent unauthorized entry, understood?"
"Understood, Sir. Rest assured; not even a mosquito will get through!"
"..."
The cart had traveled a fair distance, but voices of admonition and flattery could still be heard from behind.
The cart continued, eting only a few palace maids and eunuchs. They frowned upon seeing the cart, stepping back, which helped the cart move unimpeded through the outer palace area.
The cart finally arrived at a secluded, cold place with few passersby. The man released the cart and squatted to vomit profusely.
Everyone is human; nobody can withstand such a sll!
Suddenly, a cracking sound erged from beneath the cart. A plank fell, and a slender figure jumped down.
These two were Long Yue and Li Qingmu.
The cart was made by Duanmu Yang, with a hidden chanism cleverly placed under the board, indiscernible to most.
Long Yue landed, seeing the man in such agony, her heart ached. She stepped forward gently patting his back, murmuring, "If Your Majesty saw you like this, he would surely feel pity."
"Unfortunately, he can’t see it now."
The man’s hoarse voice echoed, tinged with lancholy.
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