Li Yue Shu opened her eyes in a daze, still trying to process her surroundings. "Aunty Mo? Um… what time is it now?"
"It's just past Xu Shi (7 PM - 9 PM), miss. You've been asleep for three hours."
Mother Mo touched her forehead. She wasn't feverish, and her complexion didn't seem as pale as it had been during the day. Her worried heart finally relaxed a little.
Li Yue Shu's groggy consciousness gradually cleared. Seeing that candles had already been lit in the room, she couldn't help but feel surprised.
She had slept for so long that she hadn't even noticed Aunty Mo entering?
Could it be because of the dream last night?
As Li Yue Shu pondered, Mother Mo's voice came again, "Miss, Hong Dai girl is here. She said she has something urgent to see you about and is waiting outside!"
Li Yue Shu glanced at the pitch-black outside the window, feeling surprised. She quickly got out of bed. "Let her come in."
"Yes."
Mother Mo knew the two had things to discuss. After letting Hong Dai in, she closed the door and stood guard outside.
Hong Dai was still wearing her signature red attire, but her expression was uncharacteristically serious.
Seeing her expression, Li Yue Shu's heart skipped a beat. "What happened?"
Hong Dai didn't conceal anything and stated directly, "The Regent has had an accident."
"What?" Li Yue Shu stood up instinctively. "What happened to Qin Mo Yuan?"
Hong Dai directly took a folded letter from her sleeve. "There's a severe snow disaster in Guanzhou, and many refugees who escaped are stranded near Guanzhou. As soon as the Regent's disaster relief team arrived in Guanzhou, they were ambushed several times."
"He left some people to distribute grain and comfort the disaster victims, and personally led the remaining people and relief supplies to the Guanzhou prefectural office. Unexpectedly, they encountered wild beasts on the way, resulting in heavy casualties."
"The Regent sent someone to the prefectural office to deliver a message, while he and the rest stayed to guard the relief supplies, awaiting rescue. However, that night, they encountered an avalanche… and there has been no news since."
Hong Dai recounted the events in a heavy voice.
Li Yue Shu looked at the letter in her hand, her brows deeply furrowed.
Ambushed by refugees, encountered wild beasts, an avalanche…
In the original book, Qin Ye Xiu didn't encounter any of these things when he went to support the disaster relief!
Was it simply bad luck for Qin Mo Yuan, or was it… plot interference?
Li Yue Shu's grip on the letter tightened. "Sister Hong Dai, do you know Qin Mo Yuan's route to Guanzhou and the location of the incident?"
Hong Dai pursed her lips and shook her head. "Only the court knows this. It wouldn't be difficult to find out, but it would take a day or two."
"Calculating the time, the court should receive news from Guanzhou tomorrow morning."
The reason she received the news in advance was because Ming Yue Lou had previously received favor from Qin Mo Yuan, and they would pay extra attention to his affairs. As soon as the news came from Guanzhou, it was sent through Ming Yue Lou's special channel, allowing her to know before the court.
After a moment of thought, Li Yue Shu put away the letter and suddenly called out loudly, "Shi Dong, Ying Xin!"
Two figures quickly pushed open the door and bowed respectfully. "Miss."
Li Yue Shu's expression was solemn. "Prepare the carriage. We're going to the palace tonight. I need to see the Emperor."
Shi Dong and Ying Xin looked up in shock. Seeing that Li Yue Shu was not joking at all, they quickly replied, "Yes."
The Regent's manor acted swiftly. As soon as Li Yue Shu tidied herself up and went out, Shi Dong and Ying Xin were waiting by the door with the carriage.
Li Yue Shu said no more and directly got into the carriage.
When Yan Bo received the news and came out, he only saw the receding back of the carriage.
"This… what happened?" Yan Bo looked at Hong Dai beside him worriedly.
Hong Dai pursed her lips and didn't hide anything. "Your master has had an accident. Little Yue Shu is going to the palace to ask for the route map, planning to go to Guanzhou to rescue him."
"What?" Yan Bo was shocked. "How can this be? Miss is delicate and frail. If anything happens to her, how can this old servant explain to the master!"
"She's not some delicate young lady," Hong Dai said meaningfully, glancing at Yan Bo. "You should prepare things first. She'll likely set off directly after returning from the palace."
"This…"
Yan Bo was hesitant, but Mother Mo, who was also serving behind him, said, "Yes, with Miss's personality, she will definitely go to Guanzhou in person. We should prepare things for Miss first!"
Seeing that Mother Mo, who had always served Li Yue Shu, said so, Yan Bo had nothing to refute and hurried to prepare.
…
The carriage moved swiftly. The sound of horses' hooves was very noticeable in the quiet night, even waking some light sleepers.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the palace.
The guards at the palace gate tried to stop them, but Ying Xin directly produced the Regent's manor token. "Someone from the Regent's manor requests an audience with the Emperor. Inform him quickly."
Hearing this, the guards immediately let them pass and sent someone to inform the Emperor.
At this moment, the Emperor had already retired to Consort Lan's sleeping quarters. He was somewhat displeased when he was woken up.
But upon hearing it was from the Regent's manor, his sleepiness instantly vanished. "Didn't Ah Yuan go to Guanzhou?"
Cao Zhuang stood behind the curtain and replied respectfully, "According to the guard who delivered the message, it seemed to be a woman. She is already heading to the Imperial Study."
"A woman?"
The Emperor was slightly taken aback. Suddenly thinking of something, he quickly sat up from the bed. "Quick, help me change! I'm going to the Imperial Study now!"
Consort Lan, with her shoulders exposed, also quickly got up. A glint flashed in her eyes.
The woman brought back to the manor by the Regent?
Why would she come to the palace at this hour? Especially when the Regent was not at the manor?
Consort Lan helped him change, and asked with feigned casualness, "Your Majesty, when did the Regent's manor have a woman?"
The Emperor lowered his gaze to look at her, waiting for her to help him dress. "This is Ah Yuan's business. Don't inquire too much."
After speaking, the Emperor left directly.
Consort Lan respectfully bowed to see him out. Once he was gone, her charming demeanor vanished instantly.
She had seen that woman last time. Although it was hard to believe, judging by the Regent's demeanor, he truly cared about that woman.
But if she was the Regent's person, why would she enter the palace in the middle of the night to see the Emperor? And when the Regent was not at the manor?
Consort Lan harbored doubts and quickly summoned Granny Qian.
…
When the Emperor arrived at the Imperial Study, he immediately saw the figure standing at the entrance.
It was a woman wearing a light blue long dress. The plain dress added a touch of untouchable nobility to her peerless face.
A flash of amazement appeared in the Emperor's eyes. His gaze suddenly fell on the white jade hairpin she wore on her head.
This seemed to be a pair with the crown worn by Ah Yuan?
The Emperor instantly confirmed the identity of the person before him, his smile becoming even more gentle.
Li Yue Shu had already seen him.
This was her first time seeing the Emperor. He exuded an aura of majesty, and his eyebrows bore some resemblance to Qin Mo Yuan's, but he was clearly much older.
As he approached, Li Yue Shu was about to bow. "Greetings, Your Majesty…"
"No need for so much formality!" The Emperor suddenly spoke, stopping her. "Ah Yuan has privileges with me. You don't need to perform the kowtow ceremony."
Li Yue Shu was surprised for a moment, but she didn't stand on ceremony and instead curtsied gracefully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor's face was full of smiles, giving a very approachable impression, yet his imperial majesty was not concealed.
"May I know how to address you, girl?"
Ah Yuan too. If he wouldn't let him see people, he wouldn't even tell him her name!