The deposed empress married a prince, and the dog emperor wept with regret!

Chapter 309 Catching the Snake

Tuoba Hongyun finished his drink in one gulp and looked at Song Yaozhu with great interest, his face revealing an open and scheming expression.

Song Yaozhu had no choice but to appease them under the watchful eyes of everyone. Otherwise, she would be in trouble if she were accused of "damaging diplomatic relations between the two countries."

“Alright, since the princess has asked me to drink, I will drink it,” Song Yaozhu said meaningfully.

She raised her hand, picked up the cup, and drank it all in one gulp, then showed her the empty bottom of the cup.

Tuoba Hongyun left satisfied. Song Yaozhu wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and spat out the tea.

Although Tuoba Hongyun was very careful, she saw that she had put something into her cup.

Song Yaozhu handed the handkerchief to Caijin behind her, saying, "Keep it safe, you'll need it later."

Caijin carefully put the handkerchief away and stood aside.

Meanwhile, Yongle couldn't find the snake that had run away, but he did encounter Yuwen Xian, who had left halfway.

Yuwen Xian was still dressed in a scarlet robe today. Her once youthful face had matured, and she now bore a resemblance to Yuwen Wuji. A royal majesty had also taken on her air, sending chills down one's spine.

"What's all this commotion?" Yuwen Xian's voice carried the authority of an elder, even though she was a few years younger than Yongle.

“My father wants to eat snake soup, so I came out to catch snakes for him.”

Yuwen Xian frowned and reached out to remove a fallen leaf from her hair.

"Nonsense, where would a snake come from in the palace?" She had just finished scolding when she looked at the main hall behind her as if she had thought of something.

"Be careful not to get hurt by that beast."

Yongle nodded. "Where is Aunt going?"

"Let's go out for some fresh air, it's too stuffy inside."

"Then Auntie must also be careful. I don't know where that beast has run off to. I've been looking for him everywhere."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Have someone sprinkle some realgar water outside the main hall."

Yongle responded and left.

Yongle couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere in the main hall. Everyone sitting there had their own thoughts and were scheming against each other. She really didn't want to pay attention to those people. After drinking a few cups, her face felt hot, so she wanted to go out and get some fresh air.

It is now mid-autumn, and the fragrance of osmanthus in the Imperial Garden is very strong, as if it wants to bloom right under people's noses.

After sniffing around a few times, Yuwen Xian felt a little dizzy, so he asked a young eunuch to lead him back to his residence in the palace.

Before she left the palace to establish her own residence, she did not have her own palace in the palace and always lived under the palace of a concubine.

She lived with the Empress when she was very young. After the Empress passed away, she lived in the palaces of several concubines.

In the blink of an eye, she found herself with nowhere to stay in the palace.

The young eunuch, carrying a lantern and bowing, walked forward. After a long while, he heard no footsteps behind him. He turned around and saw Yuwen Xian standing there in a daze.

Before her lay a dark palace path, with red walls on either side like gaping maws, ready to swallow her whole.

Yuwen Xian sniffed and said to the little eunuch, "Bring me the lamp, you may leave."

The young eunuch nimbly walked back, handed the lantern to Yuwen Xian, and then withdrew.

Yuwen Xian walked along the long palace path with a lantern in his hand, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of Fengwu Palace.

There was only an old woman guarding the gate inside Fengwu Palace. Yuwen Xian knocked on the door, and the old woman stared at her for a long time.

"Princess, why are you here?"

"Granny, I want to go in and take a look."

The old woman was stunned for a moment, then quickly stepped aside and led the person inside.

Yuwen Xian looked up and surveyed the furnishings in the courtyard. It was exactly the same as before the fire, just as she remembered it.

When his gaze fell on the side hall with its lamps lit, Yuwen Xian paused for a moment.

Who lives in this hall?

She couldn't accept that Yuwen Wuji would let someone else live here; this was Xie Wanqing's residence!

Has he forgotten everything about him and his sister-in-law?

“She is the Imperial Noble Consort’s niece…” The old woman paused for a moment, “I don’t know what Miss Lu has been through, she’s not in good condition, so this old servant invited her in to sit for a while.”

Yuwen Xian nodded, the image of the pale woman who had fainted in her arms appearing in her mind.

"Granny, I'll sleep here tonight. Could you bring me a blanket?"

The nanny responded without hesitation.

Although she wasn't a senior member of Fengwu Palace, she had heard that this eldest princess had a very close relationship with the late Empress Jingxian. Although they were sisters-in-law, they were actually like mother and daughter.

It's a pity that she passed away too early; perhaps the current princess has already forgotten that time.

Yuwen Xian entered the inner hall, which was still very clean and untouched by dust, showing that the old woman had been diligently protecting the palace.

Yuwen Xian touched his face, which had been chilled by the cold wind, and thought he would wash it and go to sleep. At that moment, the door to the main hall was pushed open. Yuwen Xian assumed it was the nanny bringing in water and didn't look.

After the person placed the basin of water on the washing rack, the other person suddenly knelt down in front of her, which startled Yuwen Xian.

"Please, Your Highness, have mercy and save this humble woman!"

Yuwen Xian looked at the other person's tear-streaked face and showed displeasure.

“Miss Lu, you can go to your aunt if you need anything.”

"My aunt won't help me. The Crown Prince wants to take me into the Eastern Palace, but I'm not willing! Please, Princess, help me! I'm willing to serve you as your servant!"

Yuwen Xian pinched her brow. Thinking of Yuwen Tong, she also felt that his temperament was not a good choice for a crown prince. But Yuwen Wuji only had a few sons, and among the short ones, there didn't seem to be many good ones.

Yuwen Xian tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times, not really wanting to offend his nephew. Although his position as crown prince was not necessarily secure, Yuwen Wuji now only had three sons, two of whom were adults, and with his health deteriorating, it was quite possible that Yuwen Tong would inherit the throne.

"Your Highness, please save me!" Lu Yujie slammed her head on the ground with a loud thud, and soon blood appeared on her head.

Yuwen Xian couldn't bear it and frowned.

"How do you want me to save you? I can protect you for a while, but I can't protect you forever."

What if Yuwen Tong really becomes emperor in the future and insists on forcing her to enter the palace?

Furthermore, Yuwen Xian didn't know if this was a trap. Her current disdain for Yuwen Tong might stem from the low status he offered her. If Yuwen Tong had been willing to give her the position of concubine, would this whole situation have been avoided?

Lu Yujie met Yuwen Xian's gaze and knew that she no longer had Yuwen Xian's trust.

She immediately and hurriedly tugged at her sash, taking off her outer robe. With the outer robe removed, her beautiful, delicate collarbone and pink undergarment were revealed.

Yuwen Xian's pupils contracted, and he was so frightened that he stood up.

"What are you doing!"

"This humble woman is willing to serve Your Highness, and begs Your Highness to save me from this dire situation!"

Yuwen Xian: "......"

Was she really being blackmailed by Yuwen Tong, or was it because she secretly loved him?