Wei Linxia got out of the sedan and looked around. The inner palace guards were as before, with no indication of the outside situation.
“Wang Qing, order all guards and palace staff to concentrate outside. Anyone who intrudes shall be executed,” Wei Linxia commanded.
“Yes, this subordinate obeys,” Wang Ling replied calmly.
Wei Linxia sat in the Eastern Palace conference hall, holding her child tightly. The outside appeared calm, but she sensed a tense and fearful atmosphere.
The names of everyone in the Eastern Palace hung by a thread.
Xi Qi, who usually cried at night, slept peacefully tonight, his expression serene.
The sky gradually brightened, tinted by the morning sun. Wei Linxia, who had been holding her child all night, now had slightly numb arms.
Suddenly, there was movement outside. Wei Linxia looked toward the hall doors and saw Wang Ling carrying a dark cloak that she recognized as belonging to Xi Linxuan. Pain pierced her heart.
“Wang Qing…”
“Your Highness need not worry. The little princess has returned,” Wang Ling smiled, placing the cloak on the table and revealing Xi Yaya, who was also sleeping soundly.
“The Prince… is he alright?” Wei Linxia anxiously stood up, feeling dizzy from sitting too long.
“Naturally, he is fine. Your Highness can be at ease,” Wang Ling assured her.
Xi Qi, who had been sleeping, suddenly burst into loud cries.
Wei Linxia furrowed her brow, “Was that night particularly dangerous?”
Fengshou mustered his courage and whispered, “Your Highness, the Prince didn’t want me to tell you to avoid worrying, but that night, if not for Wu Yanlü’s protection…”
“Wu Yanlü?” It was indeed an uncommon surname.
“Yes, I heard he was a Rong person who surrendered a few years ago.”
The Emperor and the Retired Emperor kept him as a personal guard because of his martial skills. “Your Highness, please don’t say I told you this, or the Prince won’t let me off,” Fengshou warned.
“Fengshou, you’ve become quite talkative. Go now; the Emperor is probably looking for you. Tell him I summoned you for a reward,” Wei Linxia replied with a smile. Fengshou thanked her and hurried away.
After he left, Wei Linxia pondered how to ask Old Lady Wu if she had a son named Wu Yanlü. If she did, she would be grateful for having sheltered her.
