Farewell Flower Festival

Seeing that it was getting dark and Chaoyan and Amber had not returned yet, Feicui was worried that something had happened and was about to go over to check it out when Aunt Hong came over and told Feicui that Concubine Yin wanted to keep Chaoyan for dinner and would be back later.

Feicui said that she forgot to bring Chaoyan's hand warmer and wanted to bring it to her. Aunt Hong waited at the door for a while, and Feicui took the hand warmer and followed Aunt Hong out.

After entering Fenghua Palace, Feicui instinctively felt a sense of crisis and became more alert. When she followed Aunt Hong to the palace gate, she felt something was wrong. Aunt Hong reported, "Your Majesty, Miss Feicui is here to bring a hand warmer to the princess." Concubine Yin's voice came from inside, "Come in." When Aunt Hong led Feicui in, she suddenly attacked. Fortunately, Feicui was alert and avoided Aunt Hong's sneak attack.

"Be honest, or the Fourth Princess will die." Aunt Hong said.

Feicui was surprised and asked Aunt Hong what she was going to do. At this time, Concubine Yin came out from behind the curtain and asked Aunt Hong to take Feicui to meet Chaoyan, the fourth princess.

Aunt Hong first tied Feicui's hands behind her back, warned her not to play any tricks, and then took her to the side hall.

Chaoyan and Amber were both inside, both unconscious. As soon as Feicui called out to them, she was knocked unconscious by Aunt Hong.

When it was getting dark, someone knocked hurriedly on the gate of Prince Ling's mansion. After the gatekeeper opened the door, he led the visitor to the hall and then went to inform Eunuch Wu and Mu Tianling.

After Mu Tianling brought Eunuch Wu over, he saw that the visitor was the Tianwu Guard from the palace. He asked what was the matter. The other party replied that Emperor Mu was critically ill and summoned the three princes Mu Tianqi, Mu Tianchen and Mu Tianling to the palace immediately.

Since Chao Yan was still in the palace, Mu Tianling followed her into the palace.

After entering the palace, the Tianwu Guard was surrounded by a team of guards who had been lying in ambush as soon as he drove his carriage into the palace. Mu Tianling pulled aside the curtain and looked outside, saying, "Are you so anxious to kill me?"

The Tianwu guard said, "The princess's safety depends on your Highness's thoughts."

Mu Tianling pushed aside the curtain and got off the carriage, then asked, "Where is the princess?"

The Tianwu Guard made a gesture of invitation and took Mu Tianling towards the cold palace.

When they arrived outside the Xueyin Palace, the Tianwu Guard pushed open the deserted palace door. Mu Tianling stood outside the door and looked at the deep darkness inside. A self-deprecating smile flashed across the corner of his mouth. "You brought me here to remind me that I came out of the cold palace." As he spoke, he stepped over the threshold and walked in.

The Tianwu Guard walked in front holding a lantern and leading the way, and the team of guards surrounded the gate and the yard.

When passing by the tree stumps in the yard, a plum tree was dimly illuminated by the pale yellow light of the lantern, and a red plum flower bloomed on its branch.

Mu Tianling paused and stared at the red plum blossom in a daze. He had never thought that one day new plum trees would grow next to these tree stumps and new flowers would bloom. He walked towards the plum tree and stopped to look at the red plum blossom on the branch.

"Didn't you bring me here to see the princess? Why, isn't the princess here?"

"Your Highness, please rest here for one night. You will see the princess tomorrow."

……

On the other side, Master Liaokong was chanting scriptures and praying for Emperor Mu in the hall.

Emperor Mu felt sleepy unknowingly as he listened to the chanting. Eunuch De, who was serving beside him, also couldn't help yawning and wanted to sleep.

Han Lie, who was guarding outside the door, heard the faint sound of chanting coming from the hall and felt a little sleepy. He thought that this monk was so good at chanting that he was almost hypnotized.

At this time, Aunt Hong came hurriedly, looking anxious, and asked if Eunuch De was inside. Han Lie asked what happened. Aunt Hong said that Concubine Yin had invited Chao Yan to have dinner, and Chao Yan suddenly fainted. The imperial physician had gone to see her, but he couldn't figure out what the cause was, and she hasn't woken up yet.

Han Lie also knew that Chao Yan had been in a coma for two days and two nights in Hengyuan last time. Now hearing that someone had suddenly fainted again, he was worried that the root of the illness from last time was still there and could not be completely cured. He called two Tianwu guards to guard outside the door and followed Aunt Hong to Fenghua Palace.

After arriving at Fenghua Palace, Aunt Hong took Han Lie to the side hall. At this time, Feicui and Amber were not there, and Chaoyan was lying on the bed unconscious.

Seeing Chao Yan unconscious, Han Lie forgot the etiquette and hurried over. Aunt Hong quietly closed the door and left the room.

Han Lie walked to the bedside and looked at Chaoyan lying quietly on the bed with her eyes closed. His hand unconsciously reached out for her face, but he restrained himself when it was about to touch her face. He withdrew his hand, took out a bottle of medicated oil from his arms, and let Chaoyan smell it. After a while, Chaoyan woke up from her coma.

When Chao Yan saw Han Lie's face for the first time, she was startled and subconsciously wanted to push him away. Han Lie raised his hand and shushed her, signaling her to be quiet.

Chao Yan moved to the corner of the bed, looking alert.

After a while, Han Lie grabbed the bed frame with one hand and shook it. Chao Yan blushed with shame and wanted to glare at him to death. Han Lie raised his hand again and pointed outside, indicating that someone was eavesdropping outside.

After a while, the eavesdropper walked away.

Han Lie sat down on the stool next to him. Chao Yan looked outside the door and asked him in a low voice why he was here. Han Lie said he came to save her. Chao Yan said Amber was also arrested, and Feicui was probably tricked here. Han Lie said to wait a little longer, because going out now would arouse suspicion.

Chao Yan glared at him, moved to the bed, got out of bed without wearing shoes, walked to the door quietly, listened to the noise outside for a while, then quietly opened a crack in the door and looked outside, and saw a light in the yard, like the light of a torch.

She was worried that Concubine Yin would use her as bait to lure Mu Tianling into the palace, and she prayed in her heart that he would be safe.

……

The chanting in the hall stopped at some point, and the two Tianwu guards standing outside the door were already feeling a little drowsy.

Eunuch De had already fallen asleep, and Emperor Mu was also lying on the bed with his eyes closed, motionless.

Master Liaokong walked to the bedside, clasped his hands together and bowed to Emperor Mu, "Your Majesty, I am sorry for the offense."

"Who are you?" Emperor Mu opened his eyes.

Seeing that Emperor Mu was not asleep, Lekong did not seem surprised and said, "Your Majesty must have guessed it in his heart, but he just doesn't dare to believe it." Emperor Mu got up and sat on the bed, looking at the unfamiliar face, and suddenly sighed and said, "Why did you become like this?" Lekong replied, "Just to save my life." Emperor Mu said, "If you want to live, why do you kill me?" Lekong replied, "Everything has an end, and today is the end of you and me."

A Tianwu Guard hurried to Fenghua Palace to report to Concubine Yin. Concubine Yin could not hide her joy despite her grief, and hurried over with a team of guards. She had to get to Emperor Mu as soon as possible so that she could convey his last words.