Chapter 795: Chapter 795: A Woman’s Softheartedness

After searching for a while without finding the mechanism, Yan Dan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He waved his hand and said, "Withdraw! Leave two men to guard this cave!"

This was a precaution, in case they hadn’t found the mechanism, but it actually existed. Since the others couldn’t remain in the secret passage forever, they would eventually come out.

This approach was flawless, and if their master later questioned them, they would bear less blame.

After all, appearances must be maintained!

So, two unlucky ones were left to guard while the others left to search elsewhere.

You’er stood below the stone slab. Generally, given the thickness and distance, he shouldn’t have heard anything, but he still did.

This was why Li Qingmu had asked him to come over and investigate.

You’er was naturally sensitive, attuned to many things.

This sensitivity was at an extreme level; to outsiders, it seemed like a malady, but it was precisely this that gave him a place to apply his skills.

After returning, he informed Li Qingmu of the situation above in detail.

"Someone guarding? Ha, can they withstand the combined assault of the three of us?"

Broken Jade crossed his arms smugly. This was just like him, prone to boasting, giving off an unreliable vibe.

Li Qingmu said, "No, they can’t, but doing so would alert them. Since they couldn’t find the mechanism, we might as well stay here and recuperate. Meanwhile, let me mull over how to deal with You Su."

Zhe Feng and Broken Jade had come down the mountain to assist Li Qingmu, so they had no objections to his proposal.

Thus, they settled down in this secret chamber.

At night, You’er took Li Qingmu to the cave on the other side of the secret passage, and as they went inside, they surprisingly heard the sound of trickling water.

Li Qingmu was shocked, not pleased to find a water source, but worried that this place might lead outside and be discovered by You Su’s people.

Fortunately, Li Qingmu was overthinking. It was just a small pond, crystal clear and flowing, but it didn’t lead directly outside; water quality was exchanged through an underground river.

Li Qingmu was relieved, knowing the water stored in the barrel couldn’t be as fresh as here. That water was fine for washing, but not suitable for drinking.

"Can you check if there’s any poison in this water?"

Zhe Feng, being cautious, reminded Li Qingmu from the side.

"There isn’t any!"

Li Qingmu shook his head, pointing to a little fish swimming about in the water, "If this water were poisoned, these fish wouldn’t survive."

Zhe Feng glanced at the fish floating in, unsure where they came from, and sighed, realizing he had been careless lately and that he needed to reflect on himself.

The group relied on the food and water source in the tunnel, holding out for a full twenty days.

During these twenty days, they never ventured out, surviving entirely on the underground chamber’s abundant resources.

Meanwhile, the Imperial City Palace was in complete chaos.

The Emperor had been missing for twenty whole days; could the court still remain stable?

Rong Si was the Princess, and even when she previously held significant power, there were always those brothers unafraid of death who were dissatisfied with her, let alone now.

Li Qingmu was her son, yet now her son was missing. As the Princess and guardian, shouldn’t she immediately seek to find the Emperor?

Currently, in the court, she sat behind the screen, listening to governance, which left many ministers feeling dissatisfied.

Just today, after conventionally discussing national affairs, a minister suddenly stepped forward, slightly bowing with his ceremonial tablet, saying, "Princess, Your Majesty, I dare to ask. Now that His Majesty’s whereabouts are unknown, why not have the Little Emperor come back to the Golden Hall?"

His tone wasn’t particularly harsh, but had a strong air of coercion.

If Rong Zhuo reclaimed power, what of Rong Si? Surely, she would face significant suppression, perhaps even frenzied suppression!

Rong Zhuo had a group of elder followers under him, who had served the late Emperor, the Supreme Emperor. If they put in effort, they would undoubtedly recruit others.

After decades of managing the court, it had not been easy for her to establish her own faction, her own scale, enjoying a status just below one and above all but now to have it suddenly end, Rong Si truly wasn’t accustomed to it.

Thus, towards this elder minister’s question, Rong Si was extremely angered.

However, no matter how angry she was, she couldn’t show it; she even had to smile.

"From Mr. Liu’s perspective, this suggests having His Majesty come out to govern the court, which is good, but... His Majesty has resided in the palace for years, and his health might not allow him to manage state affairs easily."

"The Princess can rest assured on this point. His Majesty is still young and can slowly recuperate. As long as he attends the court, I believe, with everyone’s help, he can shoulder the heavy burden of Daliang, ensuring its prosperity for centuries, if not millennia!"

This minister spoke passionately, genuinely without selfish motives, truly wanting Daliang to flourish.

Because he was selfless, advocating for the Little Emperor to be reinstalled wielded more potent force.

If she refuted, she’d have to fabricate a lie, and lies only multiply, eventually spiraling out of control.

Cutting her eyes coldly at the minister, a murderous intent flared within Yong Si. She was about to wave the issue away when more ministers started stepping forward.

"Princess, I second that!"

"I second that!"

"We second that!"

"..."

Several important ministers stepped forward now, some even appointed by Li Qingmu during his tenure.

Only then did Rong Si realize one thing—Li Qingmu wasn’t amnesiac!

He might have known everything, skillfully pretending, so well that no flaw was visible until it was too late when everything was beyond salvage.

He actually allied with Rong Zhuo!

It’s really unfathomable that such an unfilial offspring exists in this world, undermining his own mother?

Despicable! Infuriating! Maddening!

Back then, she should have poisoned him, ending it all at once!

It was her feminine compassion that ruined things!

Rong Si closed her eyes in anguish.

When she opened them again, a resolute glint had taken residence in her eyes!

She could no longer be a kind mother, so she had no choice but to walk this path to the end!

She looked at Mr. Liu who stood out, smiling, "Mr. Liu speaks most correctly! Thus, someone, take Mr. Liu immediately to the Little Emperor’s side, serve him well, and once he’s in good health, we can deliberate in court together!"

Mr. Liu shuddered violently; this was... being put under house arrest?!

Wasn’t the Little Emperor currently under house arrest, living together?

"Princess, this cannot be done, it will lose the people’s hearts, the hearts of the people! The Rong Imperial Family is the legitimate lineage, the Little Emperor is of legitimate imperial blood. Now that the Emperor is missing, shouldn’t the Little Emperor be restored?"

Mr. Liu raised his arms high, protesting loudly as Rong Si’s face froze over, "Such insolence. Guards, seize him!"

Immediately, the Imperial Army stepped forward, taking Mr. Liu away.

Turning, Rong Si looked at the ministers who had voiced their concerns, speaking coldly, "Who else wishes to see the Little Emperor? Step forward!"

Below, silence reigned like a frozen cicada!