In the crowd, Ziyue stepped forward.
"Who are you people? What are you doing sneaking around in the Imperial Kitchen?"
Before they could reply, "Someone intruded into the Divine Temple, and your actions are so suspicious. Guards, seize them!"
Su Li signaled Jun Mo not to act rashly.
Su Li said, "Princess Ziyue, we are from Princess Shaowen's residence. There must be a misunderstanding."
Just then, a guard stepped forward and said, "Princess, Your Majesty is entertaining guests. If we tie them up now..."
"The matter of the Divine Temple is of great importance. Take them away!"
Jun Mo said coldly, "No need to bind us. We will go."
Ziyue took another look at him. He didn't look like much, but his voice was pleasant.
Su Li and Jun Mo were led into the main hall. Everyone watched them enter, and the singing and dancing temporarily ceased.
Ziyue stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, someone intruded into the Divine Temple, and these two were sneaking around in the palace, acting suspiciously. Ziyue suspects it is these two!"
Su Li immediately knelt down and cried out in injustice, "It's a false accusation! This servant did not! This servant had no idea about the Divine Temple you speak of, Princess!"
Princess Shaowen, from her initial shock to her current contemplation, suddenly spoke, "Ziyue, where did you capture these two?"
Princess Ziyue cupped her hands and said, "Replying to Imperial Aunt, it was near the Imperial Kitchen."
Su Li looked at Princess Shaowen, whose expression was unreadable.
Princess Shaowen suddenly chuckled, "Ziyue, you are too cautious. These two are from my residence. I've been unwell these past few days and cannot drink alcohol, so I sent them to the Imperial Kitchen to see if there were any light foods and throat-soothing soups. How can you conclude from this that they harbored malicious intent?"
Ziyue retorted, "But these two were indeed acting suspiciously."
Su Li immediately said, "Princess, you misunderstand. This servant and my companion are entering the palace for the first time and are unfamiliar with the palace's layout, which is why we were circling outside the Imperial Kitchen."
Su Li hadn't expected Princess Shaowen to help them. Perhaps it was because she could help County Princess Yuzhu remove the Gu poison. But no matter the reason, she felt grateful.
Princess Shaowen chuckled, "See, this is just a misunderstanding."
The Purple Emperor, from her elevated position, watched for a long time, then cast a cold gaze at Princess Ziyue.
"Ziyue, release these two at once!"
Princess Ziyue reluctantly glanced at Su Li and Jun Mo, then said coldly, "Release them!"
Su Li and Jun Mo immediately returned to stand behind Princess Shaowen.
The Purple Emperor said coldly, "Withdraw and continue the search."
Ziyue, encountering that icy gaze, immediately lowered her head and said, "Yes!"
Su Li was surprised to discover that the legendary Princess Ziyue, who was said to be pampered and adored, was not as favored as rumored.
After Ziyue and her group left, the hall resumed its lively atmosphere.
Ziyue exited the main hall and looked back at the lively scene behind her, which had nothing to do with her. Her face darkened.
A guard came forward and asked, "Princess, where should we begin our search?"
Ziyue gritted her teeth, "Set up a net around the Divine Temple! And later, after the imperial banquet, all carriages leaving the palace must be thoroughly searched!"
"Yes!"
The Divine Temple had been intruded upon again. His Majesty would surely be enraged.
Last time, the culprits escaped. If they couldn't catch anyone this time, she feared...
The imperial banquet ended. Su Li and Jun Mo followed Princess Shaowen and her daughter towards the palace gate.
Upon reaching the palace gate, they found that everyone had to disembark for inspection.
Su Li helped County Princess Yuzhu out of the carriage. The few of them stood aside, allowing the guards to search the carriage.
Suddenly, County Princess Yuzhu clutched her chest. Su Li and Princess Shaowen, being close to her, immediately noticed.
Su Li looked at a man who had just passed in front of them.
The man was handsome and wore a guard's uniform, but he was clearly of a different rank from other guards.
Princess Shaowen and Su Li exchanged glances.
The man walked to their carriage. The searching guard called out, "Lord He."
He Jiao said coldly, "Any findings?"
The guard shook his head.
Princess Shaowen helped her daughter into the carriage. Su Li quickly took out a silver needle to perform acupuncture on her.
The carriage swayed. Fortunately, Su Li's medical skills were excellent. A quarter of an hour later, County Princess Yuzhu recovered.
Princess Shaowen looked at Su Li gratefully, then looked at Yuzhu and asked, "Was it that person?"
County Princess Yuzhu nodded.
Su Li asked, "Who is that person?"
Princess Shaowen said coldly, "He's the Purple Emperor's personal guard, He Jiao!"
Su Li asked in surprise, "Then, does that mean the one who cast the Gu on the County Princess is... the Purple Emperor?"
Princess Shaowen didn't speak, but her face looked very grim.
Returning to the Princess's residence, Su Li and Jun Mo first went back to their quarters to change clothes.
A maid entered and said, "Divine physician, Her Royal Highness requests your presence."
Su Li nodded and said, "I'll be right there."
This matter indeed needed an explanation to Princess Shaowen.
The two came to the front hall and saw Princess Shaowen seated at the head. The two stepped forward and bowed.
Princess Shaowen looked at Su Li. "Divine physician, about what happened in the palace today, you owe this Princess an explanation."
Su Li nodded and said, "I dare not deceive Your Royal Highness. We did indeed trespass into the Divine Temple."
Princess Shaowen's expression showed little surprise.
She merely said indifferently, "I knew it was you two. You're quite honest."
Su Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She had made the right gamble.
Princess Shaowen, who could maintain neutrality between two factions for many years, was certainly not foolish. She would definitely suspect that they were the ones who trespassed into the Divine Temple.
Rather than deceive, it was better to be honest.
Their trespassing into the Divine Temple didn't harm Princess Shaowen. Given that she was helping her treat County Princess Yuzhu, she wouldn't expose them.
Princess Shaowen asked curiously, "Why did you trespass into the Divine Temple? Were you also after the rumored rare treasures?"
Su Li shook her head and said, "Your Royal Highness misunderstands. We trespassed into the Divine Temple out of necessity."
Su Li looked at Jun Mo and continued, "My beloved is afflicted with a cold poison. Unfortunately, though I pride myself on my medical skills, I cannot cure him, simply because I lack one medicinal catalyst."
"Is that catalyst on Snow Lotus Mountain?" Princess Shaowen guessed.
Su Li nodded, "Yes."
"What is it?"
"Thousand-Layer Snow."
Princess Shaowen was startled. "Thousand-Layer Snow! Is that the Thousand-Layer Snow said to freeze one's complexion, preventing aging?"
Su Li nodded.
Princess Shaowen sighed and said, "If it were anything else, this Princess might be able to get it for you. But this Thousand-Layer Snow is also desired by the Purple Emperor. I'm afraid it will be difficult."
Su Li chuckled, "We naturally know Thousand-Layer Snow is precious. The Purple Emperor wouldn't give it up, which is why we trespassed into the Divine Temple."
Princess Shaowen sighed, "This makes things difficult."
Su Li also fell silent.
After a moment, Princess Shaowen said, "How about this? In the future, if you need to enter the palace, I can take you in. Whether you can get the Thousand-Layer Snow or not will depend on your own abilities."
Su Li was overjoyed and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness!"
Jun Mo also gratefully cupped his hands in thanks.
Princess Shaowen said, "Now that we know the mother Gu is on He Jiao, will Yuzhu be cured if I just kill him?"
Su Li nodded. "That's right, but you must hit him with a single decisive blow. Otherwise, if he activates the mother Gu, then the County Princess..."
Princess Shaowen rose, her eyes cold.
"I am a Princess. Is it not easy for me to kill a guard?"
She originally didn't want to get involved in these disputes, but the Purple Emperor actually laid hands on her daughter. What did she want to use her daughter for?
It seemed she had to visit her third Imperial Sister's residence.
...
In the Xi Chen Imperial Palace, a loud slap echoed from behind the curtains.
"Useless!"
The attending palace maids lowered their heads, holding their breath.
"Your Majesty, it is Ziyue's incompetence. Please have mercy, Your Majesty!"
The Purple Emperor glared coldly at Ziyue, who was on the ground. "I personally took you in and taught you from the age of five. Look at you. When have you ever pleased me? You're simply incorrigible!"
Ziyue clenched her fists, touching her head to the ground.
After a moment, the Purple Emperor's cold voice came: "Go down and receive your punishment. Have He Jiao come in!"
"Yes, Ziyue takes her leave."
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