Walking down the stairs, they soon arrived at the dark cell. Xiao Yichen frowned as he looked at the empty cell. The lock was opened in the corner. He turned around and saw the two guards guarding the dungeon hurried over after hearing the noise. When they saw the empty iron cell and Xiao Yichen with a cold face, their legs went weak and they knelt on the ground to plead guilty.
Xiao Yichen's voice, as cold as ice, sounded from above their heads: "Where did you two go just now?"
The guards looked at each other, and one of them said, "We have been guarding the door just now, and somehow we fell asleep. When we woke up, we heard some movement in the iron prison. I didn't expect... it was you, the emperor, who came."
A sneer appeared on Xiao Yichen's lips, and he clenched his hands into fists in his sleeves.
Xiao Yichen: Ji Lingxue, you are so courageous. You caused a huge commotion as soon as you entered the palace, and even ran away with Xiao Yimo. How much can you hate seeing me do well
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yichen spoke word by word, "Seal the palace gates. No one is allowed to leave the palace. Search for me."
The palace is not big, but not small either, and the guards are extremely strict. How can it be easy to escape from under his nose
As soon as Xiao Yichen's order was given, the palace gates were closed a quarter of an hour later. The number of the imperial guards increased threefold and they were searching every palace without leaving a single inch untouched.
Ding Sifang, who was preparing to leave the palace, was also trapped in the palace. People who were idle also joined the search. He only heard that a serious criminal imprisoned in the secret cell had kidnapped a palace maid and escaped. The emperor directly ordered that the person to be found was naturally very important and related to the country's destiny.
Linglan walked into the room holding a bunch of peach blossoms. Yiyun, who was leaning against the window reading a book, looked up at her and said, "You were fine when you went out just now. What happened?"
Linglan said, "My Lord, for some reason today the number of the imperial guards in the palace has suddenly doubled, and I have lost all interest in picking flowers."
Yiyun calmly turned a page and said, "Perhaps an assassin has entered the palace. Don't run outside. It's safer to stay in Zhaohua Palace."
"An assassin entered the palace?" It was broad daylight, and the assassin must be in a hurry to die.
Yiyun said, "The emperor has been on the throne for a short time, and many people are dissatisfied with him sitting on the throne. Assassinations will be common in the future, so you don't have to make a fuss."
Yiyun scratched his head, "Master, you are so calm."
At this moment, Ji Lingxue and Xiao Yimo were in the secret passage of the imperial palace. Just as Ji Lingxue had thought before, the secret passage was known only to emperors of all dynasties. The mechanism was under the table in the imperial study. The way from the secret prison to the imperial study was not short. Fortunately, Xiao Yimo was very familiar with the terrain of the palace, and it was not difficult for him to avoid the patrolling imperial guards.
Ji Lingxue followed Xiao Yimo holding an oil lamp and asked, "I heard that on the day Xiao Yichen forced the emperor to abdicate, you did not use the secret passage to escape, but sat on the dragon throne in the main hall waiting for him to arrive. Why?" How confident is he that Xiao Yichen will not kill him
Xiao Yimo, who was walking in front, paused and smiled bitterly, "I am the king of a country, not a coward. Even in the face of life and death, I must be neither humble nor arrogant."
Ji Lingxue's mouth twitched. "Isn't there a saying that goes, 'If you keep the green mountains, you won't be afraid of running out of firewood.' Don't you want to restore your country and make a comeback?"
Xiao Yimo turned his head and looked at Ji Lingxue strangely, then smiled and said, "Don't you want Xiao Yichen to sit on the dragon throne? He is the king of a country, and you are the heir of a country. Isn't it a great story for generations to come?"
Ji Lingxue shook her head, "I have a short life and am not interested in that position. To be honest, I have been dead in the eyes of outsiders." When she was falsely accused of killing Ji Yuqing and was imprisoned in the dungeon of the palace by Xiao Yichen, her heart was dead.
Xiao Yimo seemed to be interested and asked Ji Lingxue what was going on. Although he was not a gossipy person, he had always heard some gossip about the relationship between Ji Lingxue and Xiao Yichen.
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "Let's not talk about the past."
Xiao Yimo said: "Do you want to know how important you are to Xiao Yichen?"
Ji Lingxue said: "I already knew that. After I faked my death, he became the emperor. He looked very good and didn't look that sad."
Xiao Yimo chuckled, and the two of them walked smoothly to the exit, which was a stone door. Xiao Yimo pressed the mechanism, and the stone door slowly opened. It was also his first time using this secret passage, and he didn't know where it led to.
The moment the stone door opened, the light from outside shone into the eyes of the two people. Xiao Yimo squinted his eyes and this time saw the scene clearly in front of him. This was the path at the entrance of the palace, which did not lead to the outside of the palace.
Xiao Yimo looked towards the palace gate and said, "Palace gate... we can't get out..." His tone was a little sad, but he was not surprised at all. Xiao Yichen's actions were as fast as he thought.
Ji Lingxue said, "What should we do then?" We can't stay in the secret passage forever. Although the secret passage is safe, there is no food.
A strange smile suddenly appeared on Xiao Yimo's lips, "Then it's up to you." After that, he strangled Ji Lingxue's neck with his arm again, and flew up to the city wall together.
Ji Lingxue rolled her eyes secretly. Why are you doing this again? Big brother, why don’t you tell me before you take the next step so that I can be mentally prepared.
Xiao Yimo's action undoubtedly exposed himself. In an instant, the royal guards around him blocked his retreat, pointing their spears in Xiao Yimo's direction with alert eyes.
Xiao Yimo said: "Call Xiao Yichen over!"
The guard leader said, "Xiao Yimo, you are blocked. You won't get out. Hurry up and surrender. We won't make things difficult for you!"
Xiao Yimo smiled strangely, "Do you know who the woman in my hand is?"
The guard leader sneered, "She's just a palace maid, a lowly slave whose life is worthless. You want to use her life as a bargaining chip to leave. You're calculating!"
Xiao Yimo looked down at Ji Lingxue. At the moment, Ji Lingxue was covered in dust and her palace maid's clothes were very eye-catching. It was no wonder that these people were so blind that they didn't recognize her.
Ji Lingxue tactfully revealed her identity: "I am Ji Lingxue."
Just now in the dark cell, she was nearly strangled to death by Xiao Yimo. A man of insight is a wise man, and she didn't want Xiao Yimo to be forced into a corner and die with her.
"Ji Lingxue? Who is Ji Lingxue?" one of the guards asked in confusion.
"Ji... Lingxue... isn't she the Princess of Chen... no, the Queen..." someone murmured belatedly.
"Isn't the queen dead?" a doubtful voice asked again.
"Yes, the queen is dead, so why does the woman in front of me call herself Ji Lingxue?"
"Should we report this to the Emperor and then deal with it?" The guard leader made the final conclusion. Soon, one of the guards ran towards the imperial study.
The sun gradually moved westward. Ji Lingxue, who was standing on the city wall as a hostage, was shivering in the wind. Time passed very slowly for her, so slowly that it was a bit torturous. She had thought of a thousand ways to meet Xiao Yichen again, but she had never thought that she would be in such an embarrassing situation as today.
Ji Lingxue looked up at the sky and sighed silently.
Xiao Yimo's half-smiley voice came from my ear: "You are going to see your beloved emperor soon, are you excited?"
Ji Lingxue: I'm not excited, but a little melancholy. Will Xiao Yichen really let Xiao Yimo go because of her? He is a rational person who knows how to make choices. He has used him more than once or twice. How dangerous is it for him to let Xiao Yimo go? Does this affect his ambitions
Xiao Yimo said: "I know what you are thinking. You are worried that Xiao Yichen will abandon you..."
Ji Lingxue turned her head and glanced at Xiao Yimo.
Xiao Yimo smiled and said, "I guessed right... How about we make a bet on Xiao Yichen's heart, whether he will give up this kingdom for you."
Ji Lingxue asked: "No gambling." She was not sure, but her confidence was more beautiful.
Xiao Yimo said: "Life is boring. If you don't gamble, how can you know your own value?"
Ji Lingxue: "Provocation doesn't work on me. I can't afford to lose. You once ruled the world, so you can see through people's hearts. Even if you lose, it's just death, and it's worth it for you."
Xiao Yimo said: "You really know me well. Because of what you said, no matter what choice Xiao Yichen makes, I will not kill you. I never joke."
While the two were talking, the guard hurried back and said, "The emperor is not in the imperial study, so I went to ask the prime minister. He said that the queen is dead and this person's words cannot be trusted."
Ji Lingxue's heart sank. Xiao Yichen, you don't dare to face me
The smile on Xiao Yimo's face gradually froze, "Ji Lingxue, we all lost!"
There were tens of thousands of crossbows on the opposite palace wall pointed at Ji Lingxue. Ji Lingxue suddenly smiled. The next moment she pushed Xiao Yimo away and jumped forward. The pointed spears of the guards flashed with a cold light, and she didn't know how painful it would be if they pierced into the flesh!
The incident happened suddenly and the crossbowman forgot to move. Xiao Yimo paused his hand in the air, trying to save Ji Lingxue who was waiting for him, but that would mean his death. Xiao Yichen would be here soon, so he turned around and flew out of the city.
Ji Lingxue closed her eyes, the sound of wind whistling in her ears. Suddenly, the sinking speed stopped. Ji Lingxue opened her eyes and turned her head, she saw a belt wrapped around her abdomen. On the other end of the belt, white clothes fluttered in the wind. The setting sun shone from behind him. Although she could not see the other person's face, Ji Lingxue had recognized the figure. It was the missing emperor Xiao Yichen mentioned by the guards.
Xiao Yichen also looked at Ji Lingxue, his dark eyes like the abyss showing all his emotions. Xiao Yichen pulled hard, and Ji Lingxue flew into the air and landed in his arms. The two of them could see each other more clearly when they were facing each other.
Xiao Yichen: Ji Lingxue, do you really hate me so much that you would rather commit suicide than wait for me to save you
Ji Lingxue: Xiao Yichen, how much do you care about me? Do you know that if you came a moment later, I would be dead.
The four looked at each other, but no one wanted to speak first.
The guards at the foot of the city wall looked at each other in bewilderment. What was going on? Why did the emperor suddenly appear on the city wall? Xiao Yimo wanted to chase him, right? They dared not move without the emperor's order.
Xiao Yichen came to his senses first and turned to the guards and said, "Chase!"
All the guards dispersed, and no one dared to watch the emperor's affairs here anymore.
Ji Lingxue said: "Let me go."
Xiao Yichen tightened his grip around Ji Lingxue's hand. He stared into Ji Lingxue's eyes and asked with red eyes, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"
(End of this chapter)