Green Mountain-Chapter 686 - 543: A Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots

At 9 to 11 PM, the Forbidden City was like a splendid coffin.

The windows of the palaces were tightly shut, letting out no hint of laughter. Although it was summer, a chill seeped through the soles of the stone floors. The wind howled through the palace paths, not to break the silence, but to measure its depth and breadth.

It held the Ning Dynasty's most exquisite rituals, the strictest hierarchies, the largest fortunes, the supreme power, as well as frozen youth, suppressed desires, and forgotten ambitions.

In the dark of the night, Bai Li changed into the grey attire of a eunuch, drawing her eyebrows to make herself resemble the little eunuch even more.

She followed behind Xu Xi, hurrying down the palace path, their hands tucked inside wide sleeves, heads lowered, walking in a vast shadow.

The little eunuchs of the Inner Court began their night patrol.

They started from Xuanwu Gate, carrying small palace lanterns, beating drums, and with fixed steps and rhythm, passing through gate after gate, dragging out a long, monotonous chant: "Peace in the world! Taiping!"

At 9 to 11 PM was peace in the world.

Midnight was Beichen Zhengwei.

1 AM was rivers clear and seas calm.

3 AM was heaven and earth in harmony.

5 to 7 AM was officials on guard.

Ever since Emperor Ning devoted himself to Taoism in Renshou Palace, only the chant about peace in the world was shouted loudly, the others were all muttered quietly, and 3 AM's "heaven and earth in harmony" became "eternal life and health".

At this moment, Bai Li followed behind Xu Xi, brushing past the little eunuchs who were beating the drums, and they didn't ask them where they were heading... In this forbidden palace, less is better than more; the blind and deaf live longer than others.

After they had gone some distance, Xu Xi turned his head and instructed: "Commandery Princess, don't panic when leaving Xuanwu Gate. For the past few months, we've deliberately arranged for this identity to frequently leave the palace, the Jiefan Guards on duty inside the palace have all seen him. When the Jiefan Guards see you, they'll instinctively think of you as him in the darkness."

Xu Xi continued: "Someone will meet you to leave Beian Gate. Once out of Beian Gate, there's a small boat by Yue Bridge to take you from Ji Shui Pool out of the Water Gate... The Gang Leader said, the people and things on your mind can be set aside for now, there's a long road ahead. No matter what, you must leave the Imperial Capital tonight, head south by waterway. Otherwise, all the preparations for the past eight months will be in vain once the court reacts."

Bai Li silently memorized it in her heart.

Xu Xi continued in a low voice: "Commandery Princess, rest assured, our Cao Guild has over a hundred thousand brothers, we won't let you suffer in vain. Once out of the Imperial Capital, the Gang Leader will take you south, waiting for the day when the Jing Dynasty attacks again, we'll sever the court's grain route, and rise up from the south..."

Bai Li didn't take these words to heart, nor did she have any intention of rising up.

The next moment, she heard hurried footsteps ahead, looking up to see twelve Jiefan Guards approaching, carrying lanterns, meeting them head-on in the palace path, with no escape.

These Jiefan Guards had their hands on waist knives, in a hurry, not on a regular patrol, there must be a problem in the palace.

Seeing the Jiefan Guards approaching, Xu Xi tensed his body, deeply inhaling, and whispered: "Commandery Princess, don't panic, they might not be coming for us, and even if they are, they might not know you've changed identities."

A dozen steps away, the Jiefan Guards shouted loudly: "Who's walking in the palace paths at 9 to 11 PM?"

Xu Xi quickly took out a waist tag, putting on a smile: "Lords, this humble one is Xu Xi, the seventh-rank Chief Eunuch of the Shangyi Palace, and behind me is Changsu Wang Wenbiao from Shangyi Palace. Today, a roll of Yun Jin made for the Empress Dowager has crooked stitches, and the Empress Dowager is furious. The Lord Admiral ordered us to quickly leave the palace to investigate, see where the problem lies, and make a new one for the Empress Dowager."

Xu Xi and his people crafted a watertight story, and indeed, the matter of the Empress Dowager being furious over Yun Jin did happen; it was a chance crafted for tonight's escape from the Imperial Capital.

While speaking, with boldness and caution, Xu Xi looked up at the Jiefan Guards with surprise: "Oh, it's Lord Li, are you still on duty so late? Did something major happen in the palace?"

One among the Jiefan Guards took the waist tag, scrutinized it, and threw it back to Xu Xi: "Turns out it's you, don't ask what shouldn't be asked, hurry and get lost."

Xu Xi received the waist tag, laughed awkwardly: "This humble one doesn't understand the rules."

He pulled Bai Li to the side, quietly waiting for the Jiefan Guards to leave, then continued north.

But after just two steps, the voice of the Jiefan Guards sounded from behind: "Hold on."

Xu Xi and Bai Li stopped again and looked back, seeing the Jiefan Guard approaching slowly with a hand on the waist knife's hilt: "The one in the back, lift your head."

Xu Xi was tense, fearing Bai Li would show fear and slip up. But Bai Li raised her head calmly, letting the other party scrutinize her.

After two breaths, the Jiefan Guard released the waist knife with a cold voice: "Alright, you may go."

Xu Xi and Bai Li simultaneously bowed to take their leave, rushing towards Xuanwu Gate, fearing it would soon be locked.

Once Xuanwu Gate came into sight, Bai Li instinctively looked back, wanting to see the lights of Kunning Palace once more, but the outline of Kunning Palace had long since been swallowed in the cluster of palaces. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

...

...

The Jiefan Guards walked through the palace path of Dongliu Palace and were about to turn into Jingyang Palace when one person turned alertly, staring intently at Zhongcui Palace shrouded in darkness.

No lights came from Zhongcui Palace, the palace buildings all enshrouded in shadow. In that shadow, a solitary figure in black stood quietly at the palace gate, silently watching the Jiefan Guards.

Or perhaps silently watching the Jingyang Palace where the Jiefan Guards were headed.

The Jiefan Guard drew his waist knife and said sternly, "Who goes there? Show yourself!"

His colleague quickly pressed down his wrist and whispered, "Are you crazy? That is the Crown Prince!"

The knife-wielding Jiefan Guard realized his mistake, quickly sheathing the knife and bowing with fists clenched, "I have offended the Crown Prince, I deserve death a thousand times over."

The silhouette inside Zhongcui Palace said nothing, leaning on a cane, hobbling back into the dark interior of the palace.

The Jiefan Guards exchanged glances, one of them whispered, "No matter, the mission is more important."

The Jiefan Guard rushed into Jingyang Palace, shouting, "Jiefan Guard on official duty, everyone come out from the rear hall!"

The nuns of the palace had just gotten to sleep, scrambling up from their bunks, obediently dressing and lining up with heads lowered.

Twelve Jiefan Guards scrutinized over twenty nuns, suddenly asking, "Which one is Zhu Baili?"

The nuns looked at each other, their heads low, exchanging glances left and right, wondering why the Jiefan Guard was suddenly looking for Princess Bai Li in the dead of night?

Xuan Su's eyes flickered, "May I ask what the lords need with Princess Bai Li?"

One of the Jiefan Guards said deeply, "She's the descendant of an offender, no longer a commandery princess. I'll ask again, where is Zhu Baili?"

The nuns trembled, bowing their heads in silence.

Du Miao hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Zhu Baili went..."

Xuan Su snapped, "Du Miao, dare to speak nonsense, there's no place for you within these six palaces!"

Du Miao hurriedly shut her mouth.

A Jiefan Guard stepped forward, striking Xuan Su's abdomen with the knife handle, causing her to gasp in pain and curl up on the ground.

She strained to lift her head, only to see the Jiefan Guard standing tall, coldly overlooking her, "We received a tip-off that someone is assisting Zhu Baili in escaping palace confinement. If she escapes, neither of us will have a good life. I'll ask you all again, where is Zhu Baili?"

The nuns' expressions changed as they realized what was happening.

At this moment, footsteps could be heard outside Jingyang Palace, and as the Jiefan Guard turned, they saw Wu Xiu in a red Python Robe leading dozens of Jiefan Guards through the main hall.

The Jiefan Guards bowed with fists clenched, "My lord."

Wu Xiu slowly scanned the faces of the nuns, speaking leisurely, "Whoever reveals Zhu Baili's whereabouts, I will appoint her as the Manager of Jingyang Palace."

The nuns remained bowed in silence.

With his hands behind his back, Wu Xiu chuckled lightly, "Unlike Zhu Baili, none of you have committed heinous crimes. You aren't meant to live your lives confined to Jingyang Palace. Life is but a few decades, standing here in Jingyang Palace, you can't even see the whole sky; neither can you see the sunrise nor the sunset. Living such deplorable lives, why care about others' survival?"

Wu Xiu walked step by step in front of the nuns, his gaze fixed on their faces, "Rest assured, no one will retaliate against you... The first to reveal Zhu Baili's whereabouts, I will permit her to leave the palace."

The nuns' expressions lifted.

Leave the palace?

Xuan Su suddenly spoke up eagerly, "Tonight at Xu time, Crown Prince's servant Lady Changming took Zhu Baili away, saying that the Empress is hosting a banquet at Kunning Palace and she would return before Hai time."

The nuns looked at her with disbelief, but she continued regardless, "My lord, now that Hai time has passed, Bai Li must have escaped!"

Wu Xiu turned to leave, leading the Jiefan Guards away, "To Kunning Palace."

Xuan Su stepped forward trying to grab Wu Xiu, "My lord..."

The Jiefan Guard blocked her coldly, "Impudent."

Xuan Su looked at Wu Xiu's back over the Jiefan Guard, shouting, "My lord, you promised that the first to reveal Zhu Baili's whereabouts could leave the palace."

Wu Xiu did not turn his head, "Rest assured, once you die, I will have your corpse thrown out of the palace."

Xuan Su's face changed drastically, "My lord, you cannot break your word, or who will work for you in the future?"

Wu Xiu said calmly, "Slap her."

The Jiefan Guard holding Xuan Su by the neck slapped her back and forth, splitting her lip.

As Wu Xiu walked out of Jingyang Palace, he could still hear Du Miao's burst of laughter from behind, the laughter twisted within the closed, dark palace, "Xuan Su, I thought you'd changed your ways, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Have you forgotten how you were favored by Xuanzhen? Because among Jingyang Palace, you were the lowest, the fiercest, the cleverest, and the best at performing!"

"Let's not speak of Xuanzhen's other traits, but his ability to read people is remarkable. Both you and Zhu Lingyun, deep down, are selfish, despicable wretches. While we just want a taste of the tribute fruits, you want to eat people whole. As the old saying goes, if a bad person suddenly reforms, it's not because she's truly changed, but because she's learned to act!"

"Now it's good, we rot here together, and no one should think of leaving!"