C166

Forgotten Nation, the capital, outside of the capital, in a bamboo house.

Inside the house, the structure was simple and clean. As far as the eye could see, there was only a small table and an extremely narrow bed.

On the bed lay a woman dressed in plain clothes. She was facing the sky with a gentle expression and her breathing was extremely regular.

Beside the woman was a man and two women. They looked at the woman on the bed with concern.

"Yan Mu, is the girl really alright?" Qingwu's eyes were filled with tears. She didn't expect that the young lady had returned to the palace only a few days ago and had already become like this. If she had known that the regent would treat the young lady like this, she would have risked her life to go to the palace and save the young lady.

"Don't worry, the doctor has already examined them. They are all superficial wounds, except for the whip, which was dipped in saline. The wounds are extremely difficult to heal and need to be treated for a few more days." Yan Mu patted Qingwu's shoulder in consolation.

"But why is it that the girl has no sign of awakening?" Xiu Luan, who was standing on the other side, stared intently at Qiao Zhuang who was on the bed, and said with a slightly trembling voice.

Qingwu's eyes turned slightly and landed on Qiao Qiao's still calm face. However, she turned her head and looked at Yan Mu with a questioning look.

"Don't worry, I will definitely be alright." Yan Mu nodded his head. With a slight curve of his lips, his gaze followed Qingwu's line of sight to the tranquil face of the lady.

If he had arrived late today, his elegant and beautiful face would have been ruined.

"Yan Mu, you faked an imperial edict to rescue the girl from the heavenly prison. Will the emperor not blame you for this?" After Qingwu was worried that Qiao Qiao would still be around, she thought of Yan Mu, who was currently in danger.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. No matter how angry the emperor is, he'll still take into account some of the relationships we've grown up with." With regards to Yan Mo Chen's punishment, he had already thought of it long ago. When he released Yan Mo Chen from the Sky Prison, Yan Mo Chen was already so angry that he almost took his life, but this time … His eyes dimmed. He was afraid that he would lose his life.

"That's good. Then I'm relieved." Qingwu slightly nodded with a face full of worry.

Yan Mu couldn't help raising his eyes and chuckling. As long as he could see the happiness in this little girl's eyes, even if he couldn't keep his little life, it would still be worth it.

"Water..." "Water …" Joe's weak voice came slowly from the bed.

Xiu Luan's hands were swift. While Qiao Qiao still made the same noise, she walked up to the table and slowly poured out a cup of warm water, giving it to Qiao Qiao's lips.

"Little girl, drink slowly." Xiu Luan carefully caressed Qiao Qiao's back.

Qingwu and Yan Mu looked at each other, their eyes filled with joy. This girl had finally woken up!

"Miss, how are you feeling?" Qingwu walked up and stroked Qiao Qiao's sleeves, and asked with a face full of concern.

"I'm fine." Qiao Qiao still shook her head slightly. The moment she woke up, she saw Qingwu, Xiu Luan, and the situation of the little bamboo house. She understood that the imperial edict that was passed down in Mu's mouth before she fell asleep was definitely fake …

"Miss, once your injuries have recovered, this servant will bring you away from this place and never come back." Qingwu held Qiao Qiao's hand and cried. This young lady had been raised within the emperor's household and had lived like a prince. How could she watch this young lady suffer like a child?!

"No, send me back to the palace." Joe's voice was still weak, but insistent.

"Miss!" Xiu Luan and Qingwu called out in confusion.

Was this girl stupid? Why did the Emperor treat her like this? Why did she return to the Imperial Palace?!

"There's no need to persuade me. I've already made up my mind." Qiao Qiao still waved her hand. There was not a single trace of blood on her pale face. However, there was no doubt in her insistent tone.

"Very well. If you wish to return, that is fine too. In that case, bring your servant and Xiu Luan with you. Your servant and your servant will also be by your side to protect you." Qingwu looked at Qiao Qiao's persistent appearance and naturally knew that she was unable to change her young lady's mind. She could only ask for the next best thing to do.

"No." Joe refused without thinking.

"Why?!" Qingwu had a puzzled expression, but her face revealed a few doubts.

"Yan Mo Chen will definitely be greatly enraged by Yan Mu's false message. If I leave, what will happen to Yan Mu? How will the people who framed me behind my back receive the appropriate punishment?!" If I bring you into the palace, you would also become the accomplices of the fake overseer, would Yan Mo Chen let you go?! Qiao Qiao's cold eyes swept over them and unavoidably turned stricter towards Qingwu.

This little girl's mind was quite good, but it was a pity that she couldn't think things through properly.

"But …" Qingwu was about to say something but was stopped by Yan Mu. He shook his head slightly, indicating that she should listen to Qiao's words for now.

Although Qingwu was unwilling, she still didn't say anything.

"Since Miss wants to return to the palace to punish the mastermind, she should at least recover from her injuries." Yan Mu cupped his hands and said respectfully to Qiao Qiao.

"No, I'll go back now." Qiao Qiao still did not think twice as she rejected Yan Mu. If she did not bring this body full of wounds back, how could she possibly have a bargaining chip with Yan Mo Chen? She was in such dire straits that even Yan Mo Chen would have been happy to see her and would have agreed to her wanting to personally find out what she really wanted.

"Then …" Yan Mu was startled, but immediately compromised. "Alright, your subordinate will arrange for the lady to return to the palace."

"Mm, we can't take anyone's eyes. We must meet Yan Mo Chen in the dark." Joe continued.

"Yes, this subordinate understands." Yan Mu cupped his hands and said.

After that, Qiao Qiao looked towards the two women who had worried expressions. Suddenly, the corners of his lips curled up as he said to Yan Mu in an extremely gentle manner, "Qingwu and Xiu Luan, I'll leave them to you temporarily."

"Don't worry Miss, your subordinate will do his best." Yan Mu glanced at Qingwu who was at the side. No matter what, he would do his best to protect her.

"En, with your words, I feel at ease." Joe continued to smile, trying his best to hold back the pain in his body as he tried to get up and leave.

"Miss, this servant will help you …" Xiu Luan and Qingwu tried their best to hold back the tears as they took the shoes from the side and put them on for Qiao Qiao.

"Don't be sad, we will meet again soon." Although there was reluctance on Qiao Qiao's face, he still forced a smile and patted Qingwu's and Xiu Luan's shoulders.

"Right." Qingwu and Xiu Luan's eyes were filled with tears as they nodded heavily at Qiao Qiao.

"Let's go." Qiao still lowered his arm and followed Yan Mu out of the bamboo house with large strides.

​

The palace entrance.

"Who is it!" The guard at the door stopped Yan Mu in his tracks with a cold expression.

"How dare you!" Yan Mu's expression turned cold. He immediately fished out the token at his waist and spoke coldly to the guards at the door. "Your excellency, do I need to report to you about some matters?" After saying that, he turned around and looked at the Imperial Guard dressed in the clothes of Qiao once more.

"Mu?" When the guards at the door saw the tokens in Yan Mu's hands, they naturally knew who the person in front of them was. If it was before, they would definitely kneel down and apologize. However, today …

The expressions of the two guards at the door suddenly became more severe. They lifted their swords and placed them on Yan Mu's neck.

"This is you, Lord Yan Mu. Don't you know that the emperor has ordered the entire capital to search for you?"

Yan Mu was shocked. He had expected for the emperor to punish him, but he didn't expect it to come so soon …

Thinking like this, he took advantage of everyone's surprise and stuffed the other badge in his sleeve into Qiao Qiao's hands.

Qiao Qiao's brows remained lowered as she looked forward. The word brocade appeared in front of her eyes. She understood that Yan Mu wanted her to protect herself and enter the palace as a Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Take him away!" The two guards bellowed as they carried Yan Mu into the palace.

Qiao Qiao was still looking coldly in the direction that Yan Mu had been taken. When she entered the palace and saw Yan Mo Chen, she would definitely protect Yan Mo Chen and ensure that he was completely unharmed.

"Halt!" The guard once again stopped Qiao Qiao's steps and looked doubtfully at her face.

Qiao Qiao's face was still grave, and he flashed the command medallion in his hand in front of everyone's eyes.

"I don't know if it's the lord of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Please forgive me." When the guard saw the token, he hurriedly bowed to Joe.

Qiao Qiao's brows remained raised as he leisurely walked towards the entrance of the palace.

Along the way, although she was unimpeded while holding this Embroidered Uniform Guard medallion, she was still nervous in her heart, afraid of encountering the true Imperial Secret Service guard or the repulsive Yu Qing Ao.

Yu Qing Ao and the guards around him hurried along the way, whispering to each other as they walked.

"Hmph, if master hadn't reminded me that Yan Mu didn't have the imperial edict, then this lord really would have been nearly fooled by him!" Yu QingAo's face turned purple as he said with a swindled expression, "The Emperor just ordered us to capture this person. I really didn't expect that he would actually dare to come back. However, it seems we've taken advantage of that tricky woman!"

"Lord, please calm your anger. When Yan Mu returns, you will definitely lose your life. When that happens, wouldn't the words of the Lord alone be enough to decide …" Yu Qing Ao's bodyguard said with a fawning expression.

"Humph, that's true!" Yu Qing Ao curled his lips with a complacent expression.

Qiao Qiao was still hiding in the dark, but her palms were clenched tightly. Her wounds and face that had almost been destroyed were all thanks to this person. Even if Yan Mu was taken away today, it was all because of him.

But … Who was the master that he had just spoken of?

Could it be that she was plotting against the person who suspected her the most, Fang Rou?