CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 11: DANCING PRINCESS (11)

In the hovercar’s system, Li Shuning had specifically set up an alert that would notify her if there was any movement from Prince Duan and Prince Rui.

On this day, after tending to the Empress Dowager in her palace and she fell asleep, she sensed a vibration from the specially sewn inner pocket.

She hurried back to her Sining Hall, dismissed everyone, and then entered her sleeping chamber to retrieve the small device.

Upon inspection, she found a group of black-clad figures in front of Prince Duan and Prince Rui.

She naturally couldn’t hear what they were saying; the surveillance instrument in the hovercar wasn’t strong enough, and they were too far away, but the presence of those black-clad figures gave her a sense of crisis.

Soon, those black-clad figures departed.

Li Shuning immediately used the small device to remotely redirect the hovercar’s focus to those black-clad figures.

Li Shuning discovered that the black-clad figures had stopped at a pond outside the Capital City.

She was perplexed about what they were doing at the pond. She remembered the pond as a scenic spot, especially in spring when noble ladies would go for outings, making it quite lively.

She saw one of the black-clad men walk up the small hill beside the pond.

The man seemed to be measuring something, his strides peculiar.

He walked faster and faster until he reached a pavilion atop the hill, where he took out a small jade pendant and placed it on a patterned stone at the pavilion’s foundation. Subsequently, a secret door appeared at the bottom of the hill, revealing a staircase.

The black-clad man swiftly retrieved the jade pendant, and the group quickly entered the staircase, then the secret door closed again.

Li Shuning was bewildered; what was this? A secret passage in the most bustling place? Weren’t they afraid of being discovered?

No, it wasn’t right; not only did opening the secret passage require that jade pendant, but the path the black-clad man walked might have been calculated, otherwise why would the others wait by the pond?

How did Prince Duan and Prince Rui know about this secret passage, and when was it arranged?

These black-clad figures, they must be assassins, right?

They entered the passage outside the city to enter within the city?

Who do they intend to assassinate?

King Qin, or perhaps the Emperor in the palace?

Both are possible. If they assassinate King Qin, there would be no general commanding the defense within the city, and resisting the rebel forces attacking the city would be entirely different.

Assassinating the Emperor would be even better; the Capital City might collapse immediately.

However, the Imperial Palace is heavily guarded, and King Qin’s side is also tightly protected with many secretly stationed guards.

Li Shuning adjusted the small device, increased the power of the hovercar’s surveillance instrument to its maximum, striving to locate those black-clad figures as quickly as possible.

This time was extremely agonizing; an hour passed before Li Shuning discovered those black-clad figures had already appeared inside the Imperial Palace. Was the passage directly connected to the palace?

The palace gates were already closed at this time; those people had managed to appear in the outer areas of the palace.

Li Shuning knew that if they appeared within the palace, they obviously had the capability to reach the inner palace.

What to do?

Li Shuning was no longer the Li Shuning from Nadis Planet; she had no combat power and was powerless even if she discovered something amiss.

She couldn’t possibly rush in and tell the Emperor and Empress Dowager that someone was plotting to assassinate them, right?

How would she explain how she knew?

If she didn’t say anything, how could she guarantee their safety? If either the Empress Dowager or the Emperor ended up dead, her mission would probably fail.

Li Shuning turned in place several times, somewhat understanding Prince Duan and Prince Rui’s intentions.

They were besieging the city without holding an absolute advantage, yet they didn’t retreat, likely putting their hope in the assassination.

If the Emperor meets his end, they would have an opportunity; knowing that Prince Yu had been demoted to a commoner, and the Emperor had no children, only Prince Duan and Prince Rui remained.

Once the Emperor’s position is vacant, would the Capital City still resist?

Understanding all this, Li Shuning stopped moving; she quickly changed out of her cumbersome dress and into riding clothes, then hurriedly headed to the Empress Dowager’s Palace.

By now, the night was deep, the entire Imperial Palace was silent, save for the patrolling guards.

Seeing Li Shuning, the guards were momentarily stunned, but Li Shuning was seated on the sedan chair, carried swiftly by eunuchs, and the head eunuch, bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager, was quite esteemed in the palace; the guards recognized him and quickly stepped aside, saluting.

After Li Shuning’s group departed, they muttered about what the Princess was doing at such a late hour.

Li Shuning visited the Empress Dowager’s Palace.

However, the Empress Dowager was still asleep, and the old nanny by her side was indecisive; the Empress Dowager had not been well lately, and disturbing her might mean she could not sleep again, but the Princess seemed to have urgent matters.

Ultimately, the nanny yielded, and Li Shuning entered the Empress Dowager’s sleeping chamber alone, not allowing anyone to follow, instructing them to stay outside.

By now, Li Shuning had summoned the hovercar back; it was best that the Empress Dowager was still asleep, so Li Shuning directly moved her into the hovercar and placed her in the Isolation Chamber.

Li Shuning introduced some gases into the Isolation Chamber, gases that would keep the Empress Dowager asleep unless Li Shuning sprayed her with a special substance to wake her.

Having secured the Empress Dowager, Li Shuning exited the hovercar, tidied the Empress Dowager’s blanket, placed two pillows under it, and drew the curtains, leaving no view inside; only a slight rise in the quilt suggested someone was sleeping.

Upon leaving the sleeping chamber, seeing the night-duty palace maid and old nanny, Li Shuning considered and spoke: "Nanny, you can go to sleep; mother is sleeping deeply. Though I have urgent matters, I do not wish to disturb mother’s rest; it’s more suitable to seek Your Majesty, who is quite busy lately and might not have slept yet."

Nanny Wang wanted to watch by the sleeping chamber’s door, but upon Li Shuning’s persuasion, she went to rest.

As for the palace maids, Li Shuning also advised them to rest in the side hall.

She could only do this much; if the assassins came, those guarding outside could all be executed, but she couldn’t bring everyone into the hovercar.

Then Li Shuning urged a rapid move to Yuyang Palace, where the Emperor was reviewing memorials late into the night these days, able to rest whenever needed.

Their journey faced several obstructions, but Li Shuning was favored now; both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor treated her exceedingly well, so the guards allowed them to proceed.

Indeed, the Emperor had not yet retired for the night.

Seeing Li Shuning’s urgency, he was somewhat startled.

"An Ping pays respects to Your Majesty; could Your Majesty let others withdraw?"

Though puzzled, the Emperor instructed everyone to withdraw.