157. The Person in the Shadows

Le Qianxue breathed a sigh of relief, never expecting the Empress Dowager to agree so readily. Moreover, the Empress Dowager's complexion looked quite good today, which probably meant there would be no problems.

For the Empress Dowager to leave the imperial palace was an unprecedented occurrence in several years, especially under the current chaotic circumstances.

Once Le Qianxue made the arrangements, Qingyang and Yan Luoyu blended into the ceremonial guards and began making their way toward the palace gates.

However, the massive turmoil that had erupted within the palace had already thrown everything into utter chaos. In the frantic search for the assassins, the palace gates had indeed been firmly bolted shut.

The Empress Dowager's intention to leave the palace deeply terrified the Imperial Guard.

"The Empress Dowager wishes to leave the palace," the commander said, "but Her Majesty's health is delicate, and with assassins on the loose within the grounds, the palace gates are sealed. No one is permitted to leave."

Nanny Yan replied sternly, "The Empress Dowager must leave right now. Open the gates."

As a trusted confidante of the Empress Dowager, she carried a commanding presence.

The commander was placed in a difficult position. "Nanny Yan, it is not that I am unwilling to open the gates, but the rules are strict and cannot be ignored. If any mishap occurs, I could never bear the responsibility."

"Rest assured, the Empress Dowager will take full responsibility for everything," Nanny Yan declared. "She cannot wait any longer. Open the gates immediately."

The commander grew even more distressed. The aged emperor was currently ill, and he dared not disturb him, leaving him no choice but to hurriedly dispatch someone to inform Empress Yang.

Seeing time slipping away while this man blocked their path, Nanny Yan grew anxious, fearing the Empress Dowager might not hold out much longer.

Flustered and angry, she snapped, "Step aside! Do you expect the Empress Dowager to have your head severed before you clear the way?"

Feeling utterly helpless, the commander could only plead, "Could you perhaps wait until Empress Yang arrives? Nanny Yan, I truly have no authority to make this decision on my own."

Le Qianxue thought to herself that if this delay continued any longer, complications would inevitably arise.

From inside the sedan chair, the Empress Dowager spoke in a chilling tone, "How dare you obstruct my path? Someone, pull him away—cough, cough..."

The Empress Dowager had run out of patience. Her heart was entirely set on leaving the palace to see Le Qianxue.

Now that someone was standing in her way, deep displeasure welled up within her.

The commander attempted to speak again, but the Imperial Guards brought by the Empress Dowager carried out her orders and forcefully pulled him aside.

Though the commander shouted a few protests, they were entirely useless. The Empress Dowager possessed a fierce streak; otherwise, how could she have ascended to become Empress and later Empress Dowager in her youth?

The Empress Dowager's ceremonial procession marched onward toward the palace exit, just as Empress Yang arrived in a hurried rush. Upon witnessing the scene, the Empress Yang froze in astonishment.

Empress Yang immediately sent men to block the path. "Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, this must not be! How can your fragile health endure leaving the palace? Whatever brings you out, this concubine will personally see it handled for you. There is no need for you to trouble yourself."

The Empress Dowager waved a hand, coughed a few times, and made it clear she no longer wished to entertain Empress Yang.

If Empress Yang allowed the Empress Dowager to leave today, she would undoubtedly find it impossible to escape punishment should the aged emperor cast blame.

Hardening her heart, Empress Yang instantly ordered the Imperial Guards to shut the palace gates once more. Under no circumstances could the Empress Dowager be allowed to leave.

Nanny Yan grew frantic. With Empress Yang blocking their way, how could they possibly depart?

"Empress Dowager, please return with this concubine," Empress Yang pleaded. "Whomever you wish to see can simply be summoned into the palace."

The Empress Dowager's voice drifted out from the chair. "Now even you dare to bully this old wretch... My mind is made up to leave the palace today. You need not try to stop me."

Before her words faded entirely, Qingyang made his move, drawing his sword to point directly at Empress Yang as he said with solemn gravity, "Empress, please step aside."

Empress Yang was startled. She had no idea what had gotten into the Empress Dowager today, causing her to throw such a persistent tantrum about leaving.

Seeing Qingyang's actions, the Imperial Guards belonging to the Empress Dowager's faction immediately stepped forward and threw open the palace gates.

The sedan chair passed through first, closely followed by several palace maids.

Empress Yang's face turned an ashen shade of fury. She secretly wished that this stubborn old woman would simply drop dead outside the palace walls.

Once they cleared the gates, Le Qianxue let out a long breath of relief.

According to the plan, everything had passed through perilously close margins, yet safely.

She signaled for the sedan chair to halt and stepped inside, finding the Empress Dowager in a hazy, muddled state, evidently exhausted from overexertion.

Le Qianxue swiftly produced silver needles, administering acupuncture to the Empress Dowager followed by a restorative draught, which finally helped her regain clarity.

At that moment, Le Qianxue removed her human-skin mask. As the Empress Dowager opened her eyes, the first person she saw was Le Qianxue.

A wave of intense emotion washed over the old woman at the sight of her.

Clutching Le Qianxue's hand tightly, she stammered, "Xue'er... Xue'er... Is it truly you, Xue'er?"

Le Qianxue nodded gently, whispering, "Empress Dowager, it is indeed me."

The Empress Dowager let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I thought you had... It is good. As long as you are safe and sound."

That way, she would at least have an explanation to offer Tong Xianxian. Otherwise, she would have had no face to meet Tong Xianxian when her time came to walk the Yellow Springs.

Le Qianxue murmured, "I used this opportunity of your leaving the palace to slip away. Once we part ways today, we likely shall never meet again."

The Empress Dowager had always cherished her deeply, which was why upon hearing false news of Le Qianxue's death, she had wept until she fainted.

She was biased; even though Le Qianxue had slain Yu Guohan, the Empress Dowager could find no room in her heart to resent her.

Instead, she had simply rationalized it as a life for a life—after all, who could blame anyone when the aged emperor had once targeted Tong Xianxian?

"Xue'er, where are you going?" the Empress Dowager asked. "To see you now puts my mind at ease and fulfills one of my final wishes."

"I have my own plans," Le Qianxue replied, pressing her lips together. Among the imperial Yu clan, the Empress Dowager was the only person toward whom she still held a shred of lingering affection; the rest were utterly worthless.

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager refrained from pressing further. Instead, she said, "Xue'er, I... I always thought of giving you a wedding gift when the day of your marriage finally arrived. Though I may not live to see it, this token has been my constant companion for many years and brings peace and protection. Take it."

The Empress Dowager pressed an object into Le Qianxue's palm. Inspecting it, Le Qianxue saw what appeared to be a piece of crystal containing a droplet of fluid that shimmered like fresh blood.

Finding it difficult to refuse, and with Qingyang urging her from outside, she casually hung the trinket around her neck and said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager. I must be going now."

Clinging to Le Qianxue's hand, the Empress Dowager showed immense reluctance to let go.

When Le Qianxue looked back one last time, she saw the Empress Dowager's eyes glistening with tears as she uttered a final farewell: "Xue'er, take good care of yourself."

Nodding without another word, Le Qianxue stepped out of the sedan, and the three of them quickly vanished into the bustling crowds of the marketplace.

They did not stop until they reached a safe location, where they swiftly changed out of their disguises.

Yan Luoyu's heart was still hammering wildly against her ribs. Though the operation had seemed straightforward, it had been fraught with extreme peril. Yet, she had genuinely escaped the imperial palace! After enduring such a prolonged imprisonment, she was finally free today.

"Will this implicate the Empress Dowager?" Qingyang asked, well aware of the deep affection the Empress Dowager held for Le Qianxue.

Le Qianxue shook her head slightly while smoothing down her hair. "No, it won't. Firstly, there is no evidence. Secondly, the emperor is currently ill and lacks the capacity to meddle in such matters."

Only then did Qingyang set his mind at ease.

Yan Luoyu, however, cared little for those details and insisted, "I wish to return to the Yan residence first. You must escort me back."

It was only when she caught sight of Le Qianxue's unmasked face that recognition finally dawned on her.

A look of astonishment crossed Yan Luoyu's features. "So it was you... You must be Le Qianxue! I heard the Third Prince speak of you."

Earlier, when Le Qianxue had visited to treat her ailments, Yan Luoyu had taken a gamble, hoping Le Qianxue could help notify her family.

Never did she expect to be dragged straight into the imperial palace afterward. Yan Luoyu had long since abandoned hope, yet here she was, having escaped as though waking from a surreal dream.

"Indeed," Le Qianxue replied. "I will escort you back to the Yan residence now. Qingyang, return and handle the aftermath. Yu Zhiyang will not be able to re-enter the palace anytime soon."

With a nod, Qingyang split off to handle his assigned tasks separately from Le Qianxue.

Guiding Yan Luoyu back to the Yan residence, their journey proceeded without the need for concealment.

Even so, Yan Luoyu could not suppress her inner agitation, though her complexion remained remarkably healthy.

"You..." Yan Luoyu hesitated, on the verge of speaking. "My father sent you to rescue me. What conditions did you agree upon?"

Le Qianxue smiled; true to form, she was a quintessential merchant's daughter.

"Conditions were indeed set, but they are entirely beneficial to the Yan family with no drawbacks. Your father and Yan Chuan have already reached an agreement with Zhan Lianjing."

Yan Luoyu frowned slightly. "Zhan Lianjing? The Prince of Zhan?"

Le Qianxue gave a brief nod.

"So you belong to the Prince of Zhan." Yan Luoyu's astonishment deepened. She never imagined that her savior was actually Zhan Lianjing.

Le Qianxue merely offered a faint smile without answering.

The security surrounding the Yan residence was tightly guarded. Having endured the ordeal with Yan Luoyu, any member of the Yan family traveling out now did so accompanied by numerous guards, wary of being captured by royalty for use as leverage again.

Once Yan Luoyu was safely delivered to her estate, Le Qianxue prepared to take her leave.

However, Yan Chuan hurried out to intercept her, stopping her in her tracks. "Thank you for your assistance this time."

"Think nothing of it. We are all in this together," Le Qianxue replied.

Frowning, Yan Chuan glanced around before pulling Le Qianxue aside. "There is something rather strange, though."

"What is it?" Le Qianxue inquired.

Yan Chuan lowered his voice. "The day before you sent word to me, I also received a letter promising to rescue Luoyu, on the condition that the Yan family pledge allegiance to him. The writer explicitly identified himself as a descendant of the Wang clan."

Le Qianxue paused, her expression turning serious. "Where is the letter?"

"The ink used for the message was peculiar. After I read it once, the handwriting completely vanished, leaving behind a blank sheet of paper."

"A descendant..." Le Qianxue's face darkened. Over the centuries, it was hardly surprising that the Wang clan had numerous surviving branches and descendants. Even Ziye had once mentioned that members of the Wang clan still existed. This suggested that while Zhan Lianjing was actively working to restore the dynasty, someone else was operating in the shadows.

Who could this person be, and how did they possess knowledge of so many secrets?

"Did the letter mention how to contact him?" Le Qianxue asked.

Yan Chuan shook his head. "It did not specify. It appears this individual is monitoring every move the Yan family makes. You should mention this to the Prince of Zhan and see if he has any inkling of who it might be. If two tigers fight, injuries are inevitable, whereas cooperation yields an entirely different outcome."

Le Qianxue shook her head lightly. "Cooperation is never that simple. Regardless, I will return and speak with him about it."