CHAPTER 398: CHAPTER 393: IMPERIAL CONCUBINE

"Hurry, be careful not to be discovered." Qiao Qingyue, dressed in a simple palace maid outfit, sat in a carriage, her face lightly made up to disguise herself as an unattractive maid heading out of the palace to make purchases. Ji Fei was hidden in the carriage, covered with a bundle.

Accompanying her were her trusted palace maid Ying Chun, whom she had brought from home into the palace, and two little eunuchs arranged by her father Qiao Bozhi. They deliberately chose the inconspicuous West Gate. Her father had said that the guards at the West Gate had been bribed, so as long as they did not attract any other person’s attention, it should be fine.

The West Gate was in sight, Qiao Qingyue’s heart raced, urging the little eunuch driving the carriage to speed up.

"Stop, who goes there? Where is your token?" The guard at the West Gate conducted a routine search, lifting the carriage curtain for a glance before letting it drop.

"Sir, we are from the Imperial Kitchen, here is our token." The little eunuch presented the token with a sycophantic smile.

Another guard, upon hearing this, approached with a suspicious look on his face. Qiao Qingyue became panicked, fearful that something would be noticed.

"Doesn’t the Imperial Kitchen have vegetable farmers delivering produce to the palace every day? Why are you going out to purchase more?" The guard scanned the group and asked vigilantly.

The little eunuch’s smile did not falter as he gingerly handed over a silver ingot: "Imperial Concubine wishes to taste some fresh delicacies recently, would the honorable guard please accommodate us? We have our token, surely there isn’t a problem."

Hearing it was Imperial Concubine’s people, the guard’s suspicion quickly dissipated, even turning somewhat ingratiating: "Since it’s the Imperial Concubine’s people, go ahead. Next time the Lady needs something, you can also tell me. Please be sure to put in a good word for me in front of the Lady."

"Certainly, certainly."

Qiao Qingyue only felt safe after hearing Ye Qiu’s name, yet inside she couldn’t help but feel bitter. Why does that Evil Concubine have such clout? Once she saves the Emperor, she will definitely expose that Evil Concubine’s true face.

"Catch the thief, catch the thief!" Qiao Qingyue’s carriage had just left the palace gate not even five meters when a person ran from the side, with a group of soldiers following behind. Whether the thief had poor eyesight or what, he was running straight towards their carriage.

"Careful!" In her nervousness, Qiao Qingyue instructed the eunuch driving the carriage and anxiously glanced at Ji Fei inside the carriage, who was now frowning tightly, as if about to awaken.

"This is the life-saving money for my husband, your Lordship, you must catch him." An old woman clutched at Marquis Weiyuan’s sleeve, crying out.

At this moment, the thief, in his panic, had collided with the carriage, and the soldiers closed in on seeing this. The horses, frightened, reared up, and Qiao Qingyue and others inside the carriage were violently slammed against the carriage wall, causing Ji Fei to let out a pained groan.

"Emperor, are you alright!" Qiao Qingyue exclaimed in alarm.

In her haste, her voice was somewhat loud, catching the attention of Marquis Weiyuan.

"My Lord, we have caught him." A soldier restrained the shifty-looking thief, finding a purse on his person.

Marquis Weiyuan weighed it then handed it to the old woman: "Old lady, see if this is yours. Is anything missing from inside?"

"It’s mine, it’s mine," the old woman took the purse and wept with joy, "Thank you, my Lord, thank you!"

"Take this man away," commanded Marquis Weiyuan to his subordinates, then turned his sharp gaze towards the two eunuchs driving the carriage, "Who is inside?"

"Reporting to my Lord, inside are two palace maids out for purchasing," the eunuch replied nervously, managing to keep a steady face under Marquis Weiyuan’s scrutiny, while the other eunuch’s face betrayed some panic.

Their differing reactions caught Marquis Weiyuan’s attention, who ordered, "Let the two palace maids inside come out."

"My lord, this is not very appropriate," the little eunuch said with difficulty, "this is a palace maid from the Imperial Concubine’s palace, specially sent out by the Lady to purchase items."

The guard who had been taken care of by Qiao Bozhi also came over: "Marquis, it’s indeed from Changchun Palace, they have a token." After saying this, the little eunuch also took out the token.

Marquis Weiyuan took the token without suspecting it to be fake, but whether these people were really from the Imperial Concubine was highly dubious. His daughter was currently giving birth inside the palace, and he absolutely could not allow any incidents inside or outside the palace.

"I said, come down," Marquis Weiyuan said with a stern face, decisively.

Qiao Qingyue glanced at Ji Fei, who was about to wake up, panicked for a moment, then covered him with a bundle and she and Ying Chun took the initiative to come out.

"My lord," Qiao Qingyue and Ying Chun performed a palace maid’s curtsey to Marquis Weiyuan.

She thought she had done it flawlessly, but how penetrating was Marquis Weiyuan’s gaze? He was a man who had fought his way through battlefields, and with these sharp eyes, he had uncovered countless spies. It was because of his unique skills that he had been in charge of the Capital City’s garrison from the late Emperor to the current Emperor.

Qiao Qingyue had been spoiled since she was a child in the Elders Mansion, and had been personally educated by Old Qiao. Although she wore a disguise, the aura she carried from birth would not change. Marquis Weiyuan’s sharp eyes fixed on her, and Qiao Qingyue, with her head lowered, was extremely anxious.

"You say you are from the Imperial Concubine’s palace, what is your name?"

"Replying to the lord, this servant’s name is Ximei," Qiao Qingyue forced herself to calm down and replied softly.

"Lift your head."

"My lord..." Qiao Qingyue bit her lip, making a difficult and humiliated expression, hoping Marquis Weiyuan would have mercy on her for her frail and pitiful appearance.

Although he did not know her true identity, there was definitely a problem. Marquis Weiyuan narrowed his eyes and ordered his subordinates: "Arrest them all."

"Marquis, are you opposing the Imperial Concubine?" Qiao Qingyue shouted sternly.

Marquis Weiyuan let out a cold laugh: "If you truly are from the Imperial Concubine’s people, then I, an old official, will personally go and apologize to the Lady. Take them away."

"Ah, hiss, someone help!" Just at this critical moment, Ji Fei, who had been bumped earlier, woke up.

"Emperor, Emperor you are awake!" Qiao Qingyue’s eyes brightened, she quickly broke free from her restraints, jumped onto the carriage, and said joyfully.

What did she have to fear with the Emperor awake? Now she could certainly unveil the true face of the Imperial Concubine!

Emperor!

Hearing this title accurately, Marquis Weiyuan’s eyes widened! How could the Emperor be on a carriage? Who exactly were these palace maid and eunuch? What were they planning to do by taking the Emperor out of the palace?

Marquis Weiyuan immediately ordered his men to detain the remaining palace maid and eunuch, surrounded the carriage with soldiers on all sides, and at the same time sent someone to report to the Imperial Concubine in the palace.

"Emperor, you finally woke up, it’s really great!" Qiao Qingyue cried with joy, happily supporting Ji Fei to sit up, "It’s all because I, a concubine, discovered it too late, allowing that Evil Concubine to succeed for so long, but thankfully everything is alright now."

Qiao Qingyue was so excited that she didn’t notice the change in Ji Fei for a moment.