Chapter 277: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part One)

Chapter 277: The Eve of the Second Storm (Part One)

After a heavy rain, there must be a rainbow.

A beam of seven-colored light emerged from the horizon below Guanyang Peak.

The light spread across the land, illuminating the entire Guanyang Peak in a brilliant glow.

The seven-colored light was dazzling and radiant.

It also drove away the mist in the maple forest.

With reinforcements arriving, Su Rao and her party returned to the capital safely.

Regarding the disaster in the forest, Prince Yi of Zhu Xian did not let Mo Ying make any unnecessary efforts to search for clues.

After last night's torrential rain, even if there were many clues, they would have long vanished. Besides, who else would dare to openly kill envoys outside the Capital Region of Zhu Xian?

Moreover, with the threat brought by Black Owl from Empress Rong, there was no need for further investigation.

The heavy rain last night had washed away all traces of the intense bloodshed in the forest, leaving no sign behind.

Therefore, Su Rao and Prince Yi of Zhu Xian never knew about Han Mochen's massacre.

That even more terrifying bloodbath.

Thus, Su Rao once again missed the opportunity to learn that Prince Yi of Zhu Xian and Han Mochen were not the same person.

Encountering such an assassination attempt, Su Rao naturally could not return to Yunlang easily. She insisted on waiting for Prince Yi of Zhu Xian to give her a satisfactory explanation before returning to the Capital Region of Zhu Xian with him.

However, after just one day, Su Rao moved into Qingfeng Pavilion again.

Originally, Prince Yi of Zhu Xian wanted Su Rao to stay at the embassy, as it had a dedicated guard force to protect her, preventing Empress Rong from making another move against her. However, Su Rao refused.

Her reason was: although the embassy had guards, she couldn't be sure whose people they were. She didn't want to put her life in a place where hidden dangers might emerge at any time.

On the other hand, Qingfeng Pavilion in Yunji, though Yunji had left, was personally arranged by Yunfeng, ensuring there were no potential dangers.

Moreover, with Su Cui and Su Can, two secret guards of the Su family, by her side, no one could easily approach her unless something unexpected like what happened in the forest occurred.

Since Su Rao spoke so firmly, Prince Yi of Zhu Xian did not argue further. Knowing from earlier events, he believed Su Rao was the true leader of Freedom Pavilion due to the Freedom Order, the Jade Bone Fan, and Yinyin. He was even more confident in her abilities.

He thought that even without his timely arrival yesterday, nothing would have happened to Su Rao. Empress Rong's people wouldn't have been able to harm her, let alone kill her.

"Regarding yesterday's incident, this Prince will certainly give Lady Ronghua a satisfactory explanation."

Leaving these words, Prince Yi of Zhu Xian strode away.

His presence exuded an intense aura of "do not approach."

The coldness within three feet of his body was even more pronounced.

He seemed to have completely returned to being the cold and aloof Prince Yi of Zhu Xian.

Perhaps before today, he was unlike himself around Su Rao, but now he had returned to the Prince Yi of Zhu Xian seen at Wanglu Temple, with such a noticeable change.

In Su Rao's bright eyes, confusion arose as she watched the distant, cold back figure leave...

Her gaze was puzzled.

"What has gotten into him? Did I offend him?"

She muttered, confused.

Then came a cold laugh. Did he really think he was someone special to her, acting so irrationally? It was truly amusing.

"Miss..."

Su Cui and Su Can appeared.

They quickly walked to Su Rao, kneeling on one knee.

They failed to protect Miss, please punish them.

Their appearance interrupted Su Rao's thoughts about Prince Yi of Zhu Xian's sudden change, and she waved them off casually.

She told Su Cui and Su Can to stand up.

This was not their fault; it was her and Yinyin's carelessness that led to the situation.

When Su Cui and Su Can returned, Su Rao freshened up and then inquired about Yao Yeting's whereabouts.

"Miss, we are incompetent, please punish us."

They knelt again.

Upon learning of Su Rao's trouble, they hurried back.

They had not found Yao Yeting.

Su Rao's brows furrowed slightly, then she told them both to stand up.

"Working for me, don't kneel so easily. You should know I dislike such formalities."

Su Rao frowned, not because she blamed Su Cui and Su Can for not finding Yao Yeting, but because she disliked their tendency to kneel so readily. Secret guards are human too and deserve respect, especially those of the Su family.

As for Yao Yeting's whereabouts, since they knew he was in Zhu Xian, finding him was only a matter of time.

Su Rao, however, was unaware that her momentary carelessness and neglect of Yao Yeting would bring disaster upon her entire Su family...

Let us set this matter aside for now.

With Yao Yeting nowhere to be found, Su Rao dismissed Su Cui and Su Can, then had a private conversation with Yi Ying. After lunch, she even took a pot of wine and drank heartily.

Although her fever had subsided, thoughts had been swirling in her mind since her return to the Capital Region. Seeing the faint bite mark on her lip while bathing, she knew that what had happened between her and Yun Ji in the cave last night was not a dream but a reality.

This made Su Rao's cold and calm heart restless once again. The recurrence of Yun Ji’s illness, and even more so, his ability to see through her, revealed that he had been pretending all along...

Never before had Su Rao felt such restlessness.

Now, Yun Ji was missing again, leaving without a word, not even a note this time.

It was just a matter of using each other; there was no love at all. How could she possibly fall in love with the nephew of her enemy?

But at this moment, Su Rao could no longer deceive herself. She had become someone she could not forgive, unable to forgive herself.

Only through drinking could she find peace. She would erase Yun Ji from her heart completely, whether he was Yun Ji or Ah Xiao, it was impossible, absolutely impossible for her to sink any deeper.

The afternoon sun was scorching and dry, evaporating the dampness left after the rain, turning the puddles on the streets of the Capital Region into steam that vanished within the morning.

Sunlight illuminated the earth, casting a golden glow.

Yet, at this moment, in the palace of Zhu Xian, in Empress Rong's inner chambers, a gloomy and heavy atmosphere prevailed.

On the luxurious and cold bed, Empress Rong, with her noble and icy demeanor, now wore an expression of extreme coldness, so cold that the kneeling Xianmu Yaling dared not meet her gaze.

"My good daughter, truly my good daughter."

Her eyes held pain, wounded by Xianmu Yaling's actions.

Yesterday, Xianmu Yaling had sent Rong Feng to find Xian Yi Chisha. Later that evening, when Empress Rong went to see Emperor Wei, Xianmu Yaling sneaked into the empress's chambers.

She searched every corner and secret compartment, looking for the elixir formula.

However, Empress Rong unexpectedly returned to her chambers halfway, catching Xianmu Yaling in the act.

Her own daughter, the one she had loved and raised, had betrayed her like this...

Slap...

A loud slap broke the silence from the previous night to the early morning. Empress Rong finally struck Xianmu Yaling mercilessly, causing blood to seep from her lips and her cheek to swell red.

"Answer your mother, did Xian Yi Chisha tell you..."

Xianmu Yaling refused to speak, and the price of Empress Rong's questioning was another merciless slap.