"My name is Li Yue Shu, and I have trespassed into the palace today to ask Your Majesty for a favor."
Li Yue Shu spoke with neither subservience nor arrogance, her demeanor calm.
Seeing this, the Emperor's eyes held a touch more admiration. "Speak freely. If I can do it, I will grant your request."
Li Yue Shu was not foolish. She understood that his ready agreement was due to Qin Mo Yuan's influence.
She did not beat around the bush. "I have received news that the Regent has met with trouble. I wish to obtain the route map for the disaster relief team to Guanzhou and the location of the incident."
"Ah Yuan is in trouble?"
The Emperor, who had just sat down, stood up abruptly upon hearing this.
Li Yue Shu produced the letter that Hong Dai had given her.
Cao Zhuang quickly stepped forward to receive it and then handed it to the Emperor.
After the Emperor finished reading the contents of the letter, Li Yue Shu spoke again, "Your Majesty, I wish to go to Guanzhou to rescue him."
If the plot was indeed interfering, Qin Mo Yuan faced a certain death situation this time. Only by her bringing her spatial ability could there be a chance for a turn of events.
However, the Emperor knew none of this. His face was solemn as he put away the letter. "You cannot go. I have already made arrangements for this matter."
His tone was unquestionable.
Ah Yuan valued this woman so highly; he certainly could not let her go into danger.
He had already failed Ah Yuan; he could not even protect the woman Ah Yuan cared about.
Li Yue Shu frowned slightly. "Your Majesty is his elder brother. Tomorrow morning, you will receive news from Guanzhou and will naturally arrange for someone to rescue him. But I cannot simply wait in Zhongzhou. I travel faster alone. If I can reach Guanzhou first, perhaps I can discover something."
The Emperor shook his head, still resolute. "You are a weak woman. Not to mention whether you can reach Guanzhou safely, but even if you do, and something happens, how will I account to Ah Yuan!"
The last sentence made Li Yue Shu pause.
She opened her mouth, but finally said, "Your Majesty, since I can know about Guanzhou in advance, I can naturally find the route map and the location of the incident. I will go then, regardless."
The Emperor had not anticipated her saying this at all, and he was stunned. "You..."
Looking at Li Yue Shu's determined gaze, the Emperor's words suddenly caught in his throat.
After a long while, he sighed, quite helplessly. "In all these years, besides Ah Yuan, you are the first person to dare to threaten me."
Li Yue Shu remained composed, her determination unwavering.
Seeing this, the Emperor said no more. "Very well, I agree to let you go, but you must promise me that you will prioritize your own safety."
He did not want to receive news of Li Yue Shu's demise before Ah Yuan was even found.
Li Yue Shu bowed respectfully. "This commoner accepts Your Majesty's command."
The Emperor was silent for a moment, then suddenly reached down and unfastened the jade pendant from his waist.
"This is my Dragon-Coiled Jade Pendant. To see this pendant is to see me in person. If you need anything along the way, feel free to use the pendant to seek help from local officials."
Even the usually calm Li Yue Shu was somewhat taken aback.
This Dragon-Coiled Jade Pendant was bestowed upon the female lead, Li Xiang Ru, in the original novel for her meritorious rescue of the Emperor. She never expected it to appear in her hands now.
Li Yue Shu suppressed her shock. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Emperor said no more, promising to send her the route map and the location of the incident the next morning after receiving the news from Guanzhou.
After Li Yue Shu paid her respects, she left the imperial palace.
Inside the imperial study, the Emperor watched the small flame of light gradually disappear into the darkness, but made no move.
Cao Zhuang waited respectfully by his side, not daring to urge him.
After an unknown period, the Emperor finally spoke, "Cao Zhuang, what do you think of this woman?"
Cao Zhuang's heart skipped a beat, and he replied cautiously, "This Miss Li, upon hearing of the Prince's mishap, is not afraid of danger and wishes to go to Guanzhou. She must care for the Prince deeply."
He cleverly avoided any commentary on Li Yue Shu herself.
The Emperor, of course, saw through the thoughts of his trusted eunuch of many years.
He was merely curious whether this courageous woman was worthy of Ah Yuan.
The Emperor did not expose Cao Zhuang's caution. "It is late, you may retire."
Cao Zhuang quickly stepped forward to support him. "Does Your Majesty wish to return to Consort Lan's chambers?"
The Emperor waved his hand. "I will rest here in the imperial study. There are matters of state for the morning assembly tomorrow!"
Tomorrow morning, news from Guanzhou would arrive, and he would have to consider who to send to rescue Ah Yuan.
...
Returning to the Regent's Estate, Yan Bo and Mother Mo had already prepared everything.
Li Yue Shu informed them of her intention to go to Guanzhou. Yan Bo immediately said, "This old servant will make arrangements. How many people does Miss plan to take?"
"I will go alone; the journey will be faster."
"How can that be!" Yan Bo's brow furrowed. "Miss, you should at least bring Shi Dong and Ying Xin. They are the Prince's hidden guards and can protect Miss along the way."
Li Yue Shu shook her head with a firm attitude. "No need... I will bring Aunt Mo with me."
Last time she went to Yun Su without Mother Mo, and the distance between Zhongzhou and Tong Mu County was so far that Li Xiang Ru managed to return. She was uneasy leaving Mother Mo alone.
Mother Mo, suddenly named, was taken aback, then understood Li Yue Shu's intention and quickly nodded. "That's right, I will take good care of Miss."
Yan Bo was still worried but hesitated only for a moment before saying no more.
Having served the Prince for many years, he knew that the Prince disliked others interfering with his decisions. Seeing Miss Li's disposition, she was clearly very similar to the Prince in this regard, so there was no need for him to say more.
After sending everyone else to rest, Li Yue Shu began to await news from the palace.
As dawn broke, the rapid pounding of horse hooves echoed on the official road.
"Report—"
In the solemn and quiet imperial court, an urgent report immediately drew everyone's attention.
A dust-covered soldier ran in from outside, respectfully holding a secret letter in his hands. "Reporting to Your Majesty, urgent dispatch from Guanzhou!"
The Emperor's body instinctively leaned forward.
Cao Zhuang quickly went down to receive the secret letter and then respectfully handed it to the Emperor.
Seeing the contents of the letter, which he had already anticipated, the Emperor's expression still became a little more somber.
He handed the secret letter to Cao Zhuang. The master and servant exchanged glances, and the latter immediately understood his intent.
He accepted the letter, respectfully withdrew to the side, and silently left from behind the screen behind the dragon throne.
At this moment, all attention in the court was on the Emperor, wondering what news would come from Guanzhou.
The Emperor lowered his gaze to look at the officials below. "News has arrived from Guanzhou that the disaster relief team led by the Regent encountered an avalanche and there has been no word since."
Upon hearing this, a collective gasp of disbelief swept through the court. Some even forgot their decorum and looked up in shock.
Everyone was surprised by this news, but what shocked them even more was how calmly the Emperor reacted to the Regent's plight.
As a ruler, the Emperor had always been adept at concealing his emotions.
"I intend to send a new envoy to Guanzhou to find news of the Regent. Do any of my esteemed ministers have any recommendations?"
Chen Nan Kingdom was a great nation with a plethora of talented individuals in its court. This matter did not require exceptional talent, so there were naturally many candidates.
However, the Emperor's unusual attitude towards the Regent made everyone hesitant to act rashly.
After all, when the Regent had met with trouble in the past, the Emperor had dispatched tens of thousands of troops and almost leveled the mountain.
But why was the Emperor so calm this time?