Speaking of which, Song Qingshu felt that he was somewhat ungrateful.
Last time, disguised as Jia Baoyu in Lin’an, he struggled to manage everything and relied entirely on Li Yuanzhi to leave safely. However, now that he had freed himself, Li Yuanzhi’s sacrifice seemed rather significant.
Originally, she was a designated empress and even a strong contender for the position of queen. But in a single night, due to no longer being a complete person, she was cast into the cold palace.
In truth, even under such circumstances, with Li Kexiu’s backing of a hundred thousand troops, she could still live quite freely. However, now that Li Kexiu’s power had vanished into thin air, she lost her protection. Moreover, after the scandal that had occurred, there was no longer any place for her in the vast imperial palace.
In the past, it was said that the Forbidden City was buried with too many wronged souls, and after dark, various ghosts would wail inside, making no one dare to wander there.
Although there was a certain element of exaggeration, it was quite common for concubines in the harem to be granted death at a moment’s notice, not to mention the palace maids and eunuchs.
The more Song Qingshu thought about it, the more his heart raced. Unable to contain himself any longer, he swiftly flew out of the window and headed towards the palace, secretly regretting that he should have come to fetch her sooner. If anything happened to her, he would likely spend his entire life in regret.
In his mind, Li Yuanzhi’s clever and innocent smile flashed, and Song Qingshu’s speed increased, almost leaping over a street with each step.
Before long, he infiltrated the palace. He had visited the Southern Song palace several times and skillfully avoided the patrolling guards, sneaking into the cold palace. He casually grabbed a palace maid to inquire about Li Yuanzhi’s whereabouts and learned that she was currently safe and sound. He couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief, then promptly pressed the maid’s acupoint to put her into a deep sleep, hiding her in the shadow of a rockery.
Song Qingshu did not choose to silence her; firstly, he was not a killer, and secondly, he had grown from an ordinary person to his current status. He also did not opt to use soul-shifting techniques to alter her memory, as everyone in the palace had their own philosophy of self-preservation.
The maid would not be foolish enough to report such matters, as that would be inviting disaster; who knew if she would be silenced?
Following the path indicated by the maid, Song Qingshu finally found Li Yuanzhi’s residence.
The cold palace, long neglected, was overgrown with weeds, clearly having not been cleaned for a long time, exuding an air of decay.
The night was cold and the stars sparse, and he saw a green lamp casting the solitary figure of a young girl against the window, so delicate and fragile that it pained Song Qingshu’s heart.
Just as he was about to enter to meet her, he suddenly felt a stir in his heart and turned to look outside the courtyard.
He heard a sound of footsteps approaching, and if he was not mistaken, they were coming this way.
Song Qingshu hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to observe the situation first. With a light push of his toes, he silently leaped onto the roof, hiding in the shadows and quietly watching the direction from which the footsteps came.
Soon, a group of people appeared before him. Leading the way was an old matron in her fifties or sixties, followed by two palace maids, each holding a plate.
One contained a piece of white silk, while the other held a bronze wine pot accompanied by a small wine cup.
Behind the two maids were several strong eunuchs, who moved lightly and breathed evenly, clearly possessing martial skills.
Song Qingshu was both shocked and angry. How could he not recognize their intentions?
The white silk and poisoned wine were common methods used to grant death to concubines, and the presence of several skilled eunuchs indicated they were aware of Li Yuanzhi’s abilities, prepared to prevent her from resisting.
The group quickly pushed the door and entered the room.
Song Qingshu hesitated for a moment, deciding to wait and see who had sent these people. After all, with his current cultivation, he could act later without letting Li Yuanzhi encounter any danger.
As he lifted the roof tiles, the situation inside the room became immediately clear.
Li Yuanzhi was originally sitting by the window, resting her chin on her hand in a daze, when she noticed a group of people barging in. She couldn’t help but frown and asked, “Who are you, and who allowed you to come in?” However, her expression quickly changed as she recognized the items in their hands. Having grown up in an official family, how could she not understand what these items represented?
“This old servant has brought two items for the young lady; please choose one,” the old woman said, her voice as harsh and unpleasant as a crow, sending a chill through the night.
Li Yuanzhi suddenly stood up, “You have such audacity! Who sent you here?”
The old woman laughed mockingly, “Why must the young lady ask when she already knows? In this imperial palace, who else could it be?”
A chill ran through Li Yuanzhi’s heart as she finally realized that today was likely dangerous. She hurriedly said, “I want to see the Emperor.” As she spoke, she attempted to leave, but the eunuchs seemed to have anticipated her move and quickly spread out to block her path.
The old woman sneered, “What status does the Emperor have? How could he meet a lowly maid from the cold palace?”
Li Yuanzhi, who was never afraid of anything and had been pampered since childhood, had never endured such humiliation. In a flash, she attempted to slap the old woman, but the eunuchs behind her moved instantly, and after exchanging several blows, Li Yuanzhi had no choice but to retreat.
Her face flushed with anger and fear; during their brief encounter, she realized that these eunuchs were more skilled than her. If she had a sword with her, she might have been able to hold her ground, but in the inner palace, how could a concubine carry weapons? When she entered the palace, all her weapons had already been confiscated.
“My father is Li Kexiu, commanding an army of a hundred thousand. If he learns of my death, he will never let this go. I do not believe the Emperor would be so foolish; you must be falsely relaying his orders,” Li Yuanzhi said, her teeth clenched, glaring fiercely at the old woman.
“Hahaha~” The old woman let out a sound even more unpleasant than an owl at night. “Do you still think of yourself as that noble young lady? Let me tell you, your father’s power was destroyed by the Golden Serpent Camp over ten days ago, and your father has become a captive of Song Qingshu on the battlefield. He has likely already been executed as a sacrifice. Now, you are nothing but a lost dog.”
“What?” Li Yuanzhi exclaimed, her body swaying slightly. Fortunately, she had the table beside her to support herself, preventing her from falling.
“Since you do not choose for yourself, then this old servant will choose for you,” the old woman said with a cold laugh, signaling to the eunuchs, who stepped forward with poison wine, slowly advancing toward her.
Li Yuanzhi seemed to have lost her senses, standing still as if unaware of the impending danger.
Song Qingshu, his face cold as frost, was about to intervene when suddenly a voice from outside the courtyard called out, “Your Highness, you are of noble status. Why come to such an ominous place as the cold palace? It is truly inauspicious.”
“Be quiet, this palace has its own plans,” another voice responded. Although the tone was unfriendly, the few words sounded crisp and charming, soft enough to melt.
Song Qingshu was taken aback: why did that voice sound so familiar, but who could it be?