After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"You didn't run into us in Tongzhou, so you went back to the capital?" Ning Nan looked at the female Taoist priest with a questioning gaze.

Tongzhou is located east of the capital.

Leaving the city through Chaoyang Gate and traveling along the official road would take about forty li, roughly a day's journey, to reach Tongzhou City.

"Exactly."

Xu Xiyin's face turned slightly pale. She nodded and said, "After entering Tongzhou City, I stayed there for a day. I did not see the mark that the leader and Susu had agreed to with me beforehand. Knowing that something had changed, I immediately returned to the capital."

"It was February 28th. The capital was under heavy martial law. The Infantry Commander's Office and the Five Patrol Battalions were searching everywhere for the Southern Kingdom delegation."

"I was greatly surprised to see the news in the Capital Daily that the leader of the cult had died."

"The newspapers also reported that the Third Prince had performed a great service that night and was promoted to Prince overnight, bypassing the title of Prince of the Second Rank."

"Then he immediately went to find Chen San."

Ning Nan suddenly realized: "Then you found Han Chang... who is Prince Duan's residence?"

Chen San has always been a confidant of the Left Protector. Judging from the attitudes of Su Su and Xu Xiyin towards Chen San, he still enjoys considerable prestige within the Heavenly Principle Sect.

The female Taoist priest, who had also not slept all night... or perhaps for several nights, had bloodshot eyes.

"Indeed... My subordinate found one of Chen San's incense masters. He said, 'Chen San has been assigned important tasks by the Left Protector, and the Left Protector will come to see you personally.'"

Ning Nan's heart tightened for a moment, and he said in a short but forceful voice:

"Did he ask you where the Southern Kingdom delegation was?"

Although Su Su had told him before that the Southern Kingdom delegation was safe and sound, Ning Nan still couldn't help but narrow his eyes at this moment.

Xu Xiyin's expression turned serious, and she immediately shook her head, saying:

"no."

No?

Ning Nan's tense mood did not subside at all.

Instead, he frowned slightly.

No? ... If he could capture the Southern Kingdom delegation for Yongzheng, it would certainly be a great achievement, and Yongzheng would trust him more. Assuming that Han Chang was plotting to seize the throne, he should be rewarded for this achievement.

Xu Xiyin was very close to herself.

Even if he didn't know the details of that night, he should know that Xu Xiyin was one of the key figures that night.

They could easily capture Xu Xiyin and subject her to severe torture.

But Han Chang didn't ask?

Xu Xiyin pursed her lips and continued:

"At that time, the Left Protector... Han Chang came to see me. Han Chang only said a few words to me. He said, 'The leader is currently at my residence, so you don't need to worry. As long as he doesn't leave the Prince Duan's residence, the leader's life will not be in danger.'"

Ning Nan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Han Chang reassured his subordinates but didn't ask about anything else. He then said, "It's impossible to rescue the leader now. My father personally dispatched imperial guards to watch over him. The streets and alleys are teeming with court personnel. The number of patrolling soldiers on Qipan Street alone has increased to three hundred. Moreover, even if we rescue him, the inner city will be an insurmountable barrier. My cooperation with you is useless. He can't get out."

Ning Nan placed his hand on the stone table. What Han Chang said did make some sense; if the inner city wasn't in complete chaos, rescuing him would be virtually impossible.

"I knew that things had come to this point, and it would be difficult for one person to rescue the leader. So I first asked Han Chang: 'The Capital Daily says that the Left Protector has made a great contribution. What exactly happened?'"

This was a questioning of the other party... Ning Nan glanced at the Daoist nun whose face was faintly showing anger.

Xu Xiyin sighed and said, "Han Chang said that the leader's use of 'Han Qing' as bait was a brilliant move, completely outmaneuvering the Infantry Commander's Office, the Sticky Rod Office, the Ministry of War, and even his own father, the Emperor... even him, an insider, making it impossible for them to distinguish between truth and falsehood. It's just a pity..."

The nun hesitated, as if she wanted to speak.

Ning Nan laughed self-deprecatingly:

"It's a pity... this leader's token... was given to me by him personally. Since he knew that I was the so-called leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect, the so-called 'invitation from the leader of the Heavenly Principle Sect' was a lie. But at that time, he wasn't sure if it was Han Qingzhen who came."

Xu Xiyin nodded and said, "Just as the leader said... Han Chang was under great pressure from the emperor at the time... At the same time, he was also worried... also worried..."

The female Taoist priest frowned and glanced at the cult leader.

Ning Nan said, "Speak freely."

The female Taoist priest sighed, "He was also worried that perhaps the sect leader really wanted to betray the old sect leader in order to gain a foothold in the Northern Dynasty..."

"I'm saying this to you..." Ning Nan scoffed, not taking it seriously.

Seeing that the cult leader showed no sign of blame, Xu Xiyin felt relieved and continued:

"Then, Han Chang told his subordinates that he could rescue the cult leader unharmed."

Ning Nan's pupils contracted slightly, and a premonition suddenly rose in his heart.

"Han Chang said... he needs his subordinates to write a letter... stating that Ning Baixuan should be sent to Miaofeng Mountain within five days in exchange for the Southern Kingdom delegation... and instructing his subordinates..."

"Affix the official seal of the mission's chief envoy to the letter!"

These were completely unexpected words that came from the female Taoist priest's mouth.

Ning Nan felt a chill run through his body, and his pupils shrank to their maximum size!

"That letter..." he exclaimed, unusually, "Han Chang made you write it?!"

……

……

Chengqian Palace is the foremost of the six eastern palaces in the Forbidden City, enjoying an extraordinary status among the many palaces in the Forbidden City.

The Third Prince... who is also the birth mother of the current Prince Duan, Consort Yi, was favored by the Emperor and lived in Chengqian Palace for a long time.

The hour of Yin (3-5 AM) is approaching.

The terrifying memories from long ago returned tonight, and Consort Yi was so nervous and frightened that she couldn't sleep all night. Holding a gold hairpin in her hand, she ordered the eunuchs and maids in the palace to close the palace gates.

The eunuchs and palace maids trembled, each holding some rather crude weapons, and stood guard closely around the Empress.

Then the sound of a wheelchair was heard.

When the woman, whom Consort Yi disliked and even frequently insulted, arrived, the tense atmosphere in Chengqian Palace finally eased.

Apart from a few of Consort Yi's trusted maids, everyone else obediently kowtowed and paid their respects to the arriving Princess Consort.

"This humble servant greets the Princess Consort of Prince Duan!"

The palace maids standing behind the still-shaken Consort Yi simply bowed and squatted down, saying:

"This servant greets Your Highness." The tone was unfriendly.

They referred to themselves as "servants" rather than "maids," which reflected their attitude. After all, they had Consort Yi... her mother-in-law, backing them up.

Tang Caifeng smiled slightly, not taking it to heart.

The eunuch who came with her told everyone in the palace what had happened, saying that the Heavenly Principle Sect traitors who dared to attack the palace had been completely executed by the emperor.

Upon hearing that it was indeed the Heavenly Principles Cult again, Consort Yi trembled violently, and tears immediately streamed down her face.

"Those damned, despicable bastards from the Heavenly Principle Cult!"

Because of the death of Consort Nian, Tang Caifeng, a member of the Heavenly Principle Sect, wore plain clothes and no ornaments on her head. She disregarded her mother's words and laughed:

"Mother, rest assured, your daughter-in-law will stay here."

"Damn it!"

Consort Yi wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, glared at them, and scolded:

"How dare you, a mere concubine, call yourself 'daughter-in-law'?!"

Daughter-in-law... that's a term only the principal wife can use to refer to herself. Given her status, she should refer to herself as "servant."

Unfortunately, Prince Duan does not yet have a principal wife.

"Mother, go and rest in peace."

Tang Caifeng repeated calmly:

"Daughter-in-law...stay here."