Ruan Ning felt a glimmer of hope with two against one. However, the other maid soon arrived. Just as Ruan Ning was about to speak, she felt a sharp pain in her neck as the green-clothed maid struck her. Before losing consciousness, she heard her say, “Princess, I’ve offended you.”
It was clear they were collaborating in a well-orchestrated act.
Yan Xuan received news of Ruan Ning’s disappearance half a shichen later. Prior to this, the green-clothed maid had returned, falsely claiming she would stay in Qi Xia Palace for a day.
When Ruan Ning was searching for something, the maid prevented others from following. After waiting for half a shichen with no sign of them, people became suspicious and went to investigate, only to find them gone.
The entire bamboo forest was cut down, and the ground was dug three feet deep, revealing a secret passage with an exit outside the city.
When Yan Xuan emerged from the passage, his face was filled with ruthlessness: “Kill them all.”
Servants from Chen Kingdom, Qi Xia Palace, and the craftsmen who originally built the palace chambers contributed to a seamless operation that could not have occurred without meticulous coordination. He had no patience to investigate each one; killing everyone was the most effective method.
“Your Majesty,” Gao Song said earnestly, “The imperial concubine trusts her elderly maid very much. If she returns and doesn’t see her, she will surely be heartbroken.”
A trace of tenderness flashed in Yan Xuan’s eyes. He raised his hand and softly said, “You handle it.”
The palace servants and eunuchs knelt on the ground, crying softly and looking at Gao Song with hopeful eyes. Gao Song felt helpless. With the imperial concubine present, they had watched Yan Xuan gradually improve, but he couldn’t stop Yan Xuan from killing. He could only try to root out the collaborators and minimize the casualties, preventing the rebels from gaining too much justification.
“Seal all routes to Chen Kingdom until the imperial concubine is found,” Yan Xuan ordered. “Summon Sui Jin to the palace.”
Half a shichen later, Sui Jin exited the imperial palace, his expression heavy. The lives of thousands in the Sui family would be destroyed without a swift decision.
