Chapter 324 The Prelude to Su Rao’s Dark Transformation (Part 12)

Chapter 324 The Prelude to Su Rao's Dark Transformation (Part 12)

Night fell.

Outside Langjing, amidst the mountains, the red clothes were shed and replaced with a black outfit that blended with the night. The long black hair was tied up with a sash, and the unsightly scar on her forehead was once again concealed under makeup, invisible again.

The night wind blew, causing her clothes to flutter.

The surrounding trees swayed in the night breeze.

Gazing at the heavy city gate that was about to be closed, Su Rao's brows furrowed deeply, unable to ease.

As she continued to stare, she looked up at the crescent moon in the sky. It was late in the evening, and the gate was about to close, but the familiar figure still hadn't shown up.

"Yun... Ji... You said... You said you could come back."

She whispered, but Su Rao made no rash moves.

Since Yun Ji said he could return, Su Rao believed him and waited.

Finding a hidden tree branch, she leapt up using her martial arts agility, hiding within the dense forest while having a clear view.

"Sixth Prince, we have thoroughly searched Langjing and its surroundings, but there is still no trace of that remnant from the former dynasty. They seem to have vanished without a trace..."

This voice suddenly reached her ears, and those unruffled peach blossom eyes suddenly brimmed with bone-chilling cold as she turned her gaze down to the road below.

Yun Muxiao and Yao Yeting were returning to the capital late in the evening after a fruitless search. Over twenty people were with them, and Yun Muxiao and Yao Yeting rode at the front. The guards and soldiers behind them marched in formation.

At that moment, a clear idea formed in Su Rao's mind. From the direction these people came, she was certain that if she hadn't left Yun Ji's Qingfeng Garden, she would have already been surrounded.

"Third Brother and the Chancellor both suspect that the Prince of Ji Yue has been secretly aiding, which is why they sent us to search the Prince's residence, but we found nothing."

Yun Muxiao also spoke.

"In such a short time, not only did he rescue that remnant woman from the palace alone, but he also left no trace behind. In the heavily guarded Langjing, the only person capable of such a feat is the Prince of Ji Yue; I can't think of anyone else."

As he said this, the domineering aura on Yun Muxiao's face deepened with a heavy expression.

Yao Yeting felt the same.

"If Su Rao is indeed hiding, she is likely in the Yun Mansion, specifically in the Prince of Ji Yue’s Qingfengju. But to search the Yun Mansion without the Emperor's decree, Your Highness and your grandfather cannot act rashly. Furthermore, with Duke Zhao overseeing matters now..."

Suddenly, Yao Yeting's eyes flickered, and he spoke in a low voice:

"If the Sixth Prince truly wishes to alleviate the Crown Prince's concerns, this subordinate has a method that might be useful."

"Oh..."

Yun Muxiao immediately pulled his horse to a stop and raised his hand.

The followers and soldiers behind them all halted.

"Yao Yeting, what method do you propose?"

Yao Yeting kicked his horse's belly and moved closer to Yun Muxiao.

Whispering:

"Sixth Prince, since the Xiaoyao Residence and Lian Pavilion were sealed, the manager of the Xiaoyao Residence, Huan Niang, and Mu Lian have been detained in the Prefecture Yamen. The Emperor ordered not to interrogate them to avoid alerting the enemy. But now that Su Rao's identity as a remnant of the former dynasty has been revealed, if we interrogate Huan Niang and Mu Lian, and they reveal something..."

A single glance was all it took for Yun Muxiao to understand the implication.

The Lian Pavilion was established by the remnants of the former dynasty. There had always been business dealings between Xiaoyao Residence and Lian Pavilion. Moreover, it had long been rumored that Su Rao and the Young Master Xiao shared an ambiguous relationship. If Huan Niang and Mu Lian revealed something about the connection between Prince Yun Ji and Su Rao, the search of Yun Mansion would be inevitable.

"This is indeed an excellent plan."

A domineering aura rose in his features, and Yun Muxiao curled the corner of his mouth. Recalling the humiliation Su Rao had inflicted on him during the Crown Prince's wedding, he now resolved to ensure her demise.

"Let's go, to the Jingzhao Mansion."

The horses galloped, their hooves splattering mud on the road.

Once the group left the official road, Su Rao descended from the tree in the forest, her expression cold and emotionless.

Huan Niang and Mu Lian...

Amidst recent events, she hadn't considered that Huan Niang and Mu Lian were still imprisoned.

Originally, Emperor Yu had promised Yun Ji to release the people from Xiaoyao Residence. However, after Su Rao's identity was confirmed, the two had not been set free.

Her hand reached inside her garment, and she retrieved the pouch, always carried, containing the Xiaoyao Token and the token of the Yi Prince Mansion.

She lowered her gaze for a moment, and her slender hand gently tightened around the pouch.

It had been some time since the incident at Xiaoyao Residence. Had Han Mochen already been informed?

If Xianyi Chishaou has learned of the incident at Xiaoyao Residence, and given Empress Rong's intentions, if she discovers the internal turmoil within Yun Lang, she would not let go of such an opportunity. Then Xianyi Chishaou will definitely return.

After a moment of contemplation, seeing that Yao Yeting and the others had entered the capital, and based on their information, Huan Niang and Mu Lian were certainly in danger, which could also implicate Yun Ji.

Moreover, a day had passed, and Yun Ji had still not left the capital, leaving Su Rao feeling uneasy.

Considering the possibility of Huan Niang and Mu Lian getting into trouble, after another moment of thought, Su Rao decided to follow.

Her feet moved suddenly, and she jumped down from the forest, re-entering Langjing.

……

At this moment, in a mountain forest on the way to Langjing, a sense of coldness and heaviness enveloped him, even his dark brocade robe unable to conceal it.

His cold phoenix eyes fell on Xianmu Yaling, who knelt before him, but he did not speak.

Beside him, Rong Feng, still pale-faced, remained silent.

They chose silence.

This was the first time Rong Feng had not defended Xianmu Yaling in front of Xianyi Chishaou.

It had been days since Xianmu Yaling's assassination attempt on Emperor Yu, but Rong Feng's anger had not subsided; he was very angry.

Time seemed to stand still, and the air felt frozen. After a long while, Xianyi Chishaou finally spoke, but not to Xianmu Yaling. He addressed Rong Feng.

"This... is the promise Crown Prince Rong made to this king..."

He questioned Rong Feng, 'Is this how you keep your promise?'

With a chilly voice, the feeling of 'stay back' within a three-foot radius of him became even more intense.

"Prince Yi, it is indeed Rong Feng,"

Rong Feng remained silent.

Indeed, it was his fault. He had failed to protect Ling'er and had not detected her unusual state of mind in time, which led to her being in danger.

"Little Uncle..."

Xianmu Yaling finally spoke up, looking up at Xianyi Chishaou. Her dimples were no longer visible on her round, innocent face.

"If you want to scold or punish, it is all Changle's fault. What Changle did has nothing to do with my cousin. Please don’t blame my cousin, Little Uncle. Changle’s actions are her own responsibility, and Changle does not regret her actions. My only regret is not being able to kill Emperor Yun Lang. Instead, I have implicated my cousin and caused him harm..."

"Foolish!"

The chilly atmosphere grew heavier, and Xianyi Chishaou’s expression remained unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes, revealing his anger.

"Xianmu Yaling, if Emperor Yun Lang could be easily killed, do you think your mother would still use your father to threaten me? When did you become so naive?"

Xianmu Yaling lowered her head again. She knew and understood, but if she hadn’t tried, how would anyone know the outcome?

"As a princess, you disregarded national security to assassinate another country’s emperor. Since you’ve made a mistake, you should be punished. However, this time, I won’t punish you. What you did..."

Xianyi Chishaou spoke again, but as soon as these words left his mouth, Xianmu Yaling looked up in surprise.

Little Uncle is not punishing her?