"Don’t go; it’s easier if I go alone. Moreover, by staying here, should anything happen, you could handle it. I’ll be right back." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Su Yan, finding his logic sound, decided not to go.

"Be careful. The Empress is probably tough to deal with," she said, holding his hand, her voice laced with worry.

Chu Yuxiao gave a slight smile, the moonlight faint enough to reveal the amusement in his eyes.

"Alright then, I’m off." He held her hand tighter, reluctant to let go.

"Mhm," Su Yan was equally reluctant to release her grip.

Both saw the deep affection in the other’s eyes, and they couldn’t help but chuckle, releasing their hands at the same time.

Chu Yuxiao planted a quick kiss on her lips before turning to leave.

Su Yan didn’t bother with sleep anymore. She got up, dressed, and sat on the bed without lighting a candle, nervously awaiting Chu Yuxiao’s return.

In the Imperial Palace at night, lights blazed, with guards patrolling everywhere.

Not to mention an assassin, not even a fly could flit about unnoticed.

Yet, it was under the very noses of these vigilant guards that Chu Yuxiao flew directly to Yihe Palace.

His speed was so fast it left behind nothing but a shadow; as he flitted by, it was done in the blink of an eye, completely undetected.

Landing gently on the roof of Yihe Palace, Chu Yuxiao held his breath and concentrated, carefully lifting a glazed tile to spy on the movements inside.

At this time, it was 9 p.m., and the Empress hadn’t yet retired.

She bathed and changed out of her robes, removing her makeup before dismissing all her attendants.

Once she was alone in the grand hall, she approached the bed, lifted the bedclothes, and then pressed a mechanism at the bed’s head.

There was a click, and the bedboard split and dropped down, revealing a compartment within the bed.

Inside the compartment lay a figure in white.

Chu Yuxiao had excellent vision; even though the person was haggard, with a deathly pale complexion, he recognized her face clearly.

It was the Empress’s face!

A face identical to the Empress’s.

However, the person lying in the compartment seemed much older than the standing Empress.

A cold smirk played on Chu Yuxiao’s lips, no doubt the one in the compartment was the real Empress.