Сhарtеr 19: Zhаozhao Snеаks Over thе Wall
Yun Zhaоzhао fеlt а twingе of guilt, but shе quiсklу strаightened hеr back with righteous indignаtiоn. “I didn’t lie tо mу соusin! I аcсоmрanied him intо аnd out оf the palаcе—isn’t that considеred аcсоmpanуing him?”
“I just took advаntаgе оf his absenсе during соurt to attеnd to sоme pеrsonal mаtters!”
Thе more she sроkе, the mоrе confident shе beсаme.
Systеm 009 couldn’t hеlp but аsk hеr, 【Dо yоu know wherе Princеss Сhаng is?】
“I don’t, but I have you!”
Yun Zhaozhaо’s еyes curved intо сrescents аs shе smiled sweetly and coquettishly, flirting with the invisible system in the void. “Little monster, you’re the best! You’ll help me, won’t you?”
System 009 fell silent.
Yun Zhaozhao, using her mind-reading ability, sensed imperial guards patrolling nearby. She quickly hid in advance. Once the guards passed, she continued to wheedle and coax. “Little monster, please～”
“Didn’t you say Princess Chang wants to kill me? Now that she’s confined, I can sneak a peek without anyone knowing!”
【Fine.】
For some reason, System 009 changed its mind. 【Follow me.】
“Little monster, where are you?”
Yun Zhaozhao was surprised that the little monster could appear. As she looked around, a gentle breeze brushed her face, as if a large hand had tenderly caressed her.
Whoosh—
A leaf flew past, swirling down, its tip pointing forward.
Yun Zhaozhao’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled brightly. “Should I follow the leaf?”
【Yes.】
“Little monster, thank you!” Yun Zhaozhao beamed, lively and adorable.
She followed the leaves forward. At every fork in the path, a leaf would fly over, guiding her to turn left or right and continue onward. Whenever patrolling imperial guards, palace maids, or eunuchs passed by, Yun Zhaozhao cleverly hid in advance. No one noticed a little kitten sneaking into the palace grounds.
Jade Phoenix Palace.
Princess Chang was confined to her own palace.
Aside from being unable to step beyond the palace gates, everything remained as usual.
“Quick! Carry it out and throw it into the dried-up well in the backyard!”
Yun Zhaozhao climbed a tree and peeked over the palace wall. A bloody corpse was carried right under her eyes, dripping blood all along the way.
Yun Zhaozhao instantly turned pale with fright, swaying on the tree and nearly falling off.
【Hold on tight!】 System 009 urgently called out to her.
Yun Zhaozhao shuddered, snapping back to reality and clinging tightly to the tree trunk—someone had died!
Why?
【Sigh! He was just unlucky.】 The head eunuch who ordered the body removed shook his head and sighed, trembling inwardly. 【Princess Chang is in a bad mood. Who knows who the next unlucky one will be?】
“Someone come! By Princess Chang’s order, drag her out and chop off her hands!”
“Princess Chang, spare me! I’ve served you for ten years. I know I was wrong! Princess Chang—”
In no time, another palace maid was dragged out. Not far away, a heart-wrenching, agonized scream echoed, then abruptly cut off. It was unclear whether she was dead or alive.
【Sister Cuicui served Her Highness Princess Chang for ten years. She just accidentally pulled out a single strand of hair while combing…】
【Wuwuwu, I don’t dare to serve Princess Chang anymore.】
【Heaven, please bless me. I pray I’m not the next one!】
Everyone in Jade Phoenix Palace trembled with fear, terrified beyond words.
Yun Zhaozhao bit her moist, rosy lips, saying nothing as she climbed down from the tree, patted her hands, and walked away.
System 009 asked her, 【Didn’t you want to see Princess Chang? You haven’t even seen her yet.】
“No need.”Yun Zhaozhao lowered her head, hugging her arms as she shivered. “She is so cruel and ruthless to those around her, showing not a shred of affection.”
“Princess Chang treats human lives as worthless as grass!”
Originally, she had been half-convinced, half-doubtful of the little monster’s words.
But now, Yun Zhaozhao believed nine-tenths of it! The remaining one-tenth was because the little monster was keeping secrets from her.
“From small details, one can see the bigger picture. Princess Chang doesn’t take me seriously at all. If she wants to kill me or harm me, it would only take a single thought.”
Yun Zhaozhao murmured, clenching her slender, jade-like fingers, her almond-shaped eyes flashing with a bright, cold light. “I won’t just sit here waiting for death!”
System 009 curiously pressed further, 【What will you do?】
“She beat someone to death and threw the body into a dry well. Then she cut off a palace maid’s hands! I remember it all!”
Yun Zhaozhao clenched her fists angrily. “I’ll tell my cousin! Even if it doesn’t lead to any punishment, at least I can have her confined for another month!”
For someone else, the result of just being confined might feel powerless and disheartening.
But Yun Zhaozhao was different!
Rubbing her hands together with determination, Yun Zhaozhao set a big goal for herself: “Little monster, I’m going to keep gathering evidence against Princess Chang! Sooner or later, I’ll make her pay the price she deserves!”
【Good.】
System 009’s tone held a hint of relief, and then it urgently warned Yun Zhaozhao, 【Quick, hide!】
Yun Zhaozhao snapped back to reality and realized there were many thoughts echoing around her!
【Hurry and find her!… She must be nearby!】
【If we can’t find her… our heads won’t be safe!】
People were everywhere!
Yun Zhaozhao had nowhere to go. Just as the palace guard closest to her was about to turn the corner and spot her, in that critical moment—
Yun Zhaozhao noticed a dog hole in the corner of the wall!
A good woman doesn’t disdain a dog hole—she crawled through it!
【Don’t crawl through!】
System 009’s warning came too late. Yun Zhaozhao had already stuck out her bottom and crawled into the dog hole.
As she lifted her head, she came face-to-face with a stunned expression.
For a moment, Yun Zhaozhao didn’t think at all. With quick reflexes, she lunged forward and covered the young man’s mouth. “Shh!”
The young man stiffened, his eyes wide and round with disbelief as he stared at Yun Zhaozhao. Unexpectedly, he was very obedient and didn’t struggle or resist.
Only after the guards on the other side of the wall had walked away did Yun Zhaozhao release her hand from his mouth. “Don’t be afraid, I’m not a bad person.”
The young man stared at her for a while. 【He doesn’t recognize me.】
“Little brother, you’re not from the palace. Who are you?”
Yun Zhaozhao glanced down. She was wearing her cousin’s old clothes, so the young man had mistaken her for a boy.
Perfect!
Yun Zhaozhao didn’t want anyone to catch her trespassing into the palace grounds.
She deliberately snorted and lowered her voice. “Little brother, you’re so rude! Shouldn’t you introduce yourself before asking who someone is?”
“Oh, I’m Dantai Yao.”
The fifteen-year-old youth’s features hadn’t yet developed sharp edges. His nose was straight, his lips were thin, and his eyes, fixed on Yun Zhaozhao, were bright and filled with open curiosity.
Dantai Yao smiled, radiating youthful energy.
“Little brother, it’s your turn now!”
Yun Zhaozhao widened her almond-shaped eyes, her heart thrown into chaos, pounding wildly.
Dantai—that was the imperial surname.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Dantai Yao—that was the name of the young emperor who had ascended the throne just three years ago!
“Why are you here? Why aren’t you attending court?” Yun Zhaozhao looked somewhat frantic.
Dantai Yao’s eyes grew even brighter. 【He knows who I am! He’s not afraid of me!】
Dantai Yao eagerly explained, “Court has already ended!”
What?Yun Zhaozhao nearly choked on her breath.
Without another word, she turned to crawl back through the dog hole—oh no! She couldn’t let her cousin find out she had sneaked out!
She had to go back, right now, immediately!
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself.
But who would have thought, Dantai Yao would pounce on her like an enthusiastic puppy, not letting her leave!
“Little brother, where are you going?”
“You still haven’t told me who you are.”