Mo Jiuye struck with his blade, slaying the two attendants of Qi Changshun before they could react, their lives ending in an instant.
Qi Changshun was bound tightly, robbing him of any ability to resist as he collapsed to the ground.
As he was about to cry out in pain, Mo Jiuye's blade was already at his throat.
"Don't want to die? Then don't make a sound."
Qi Changshun had been by Emperor Shunwu's side for a long time and possessed a keen sense for reading situations, especially when life and death hung in the balance. He naturally did not dare defy.
Seeing his compliance, Mo Jiuye sheathed his blade.
Qi Changshun kept his head lowered, not daring to meet the gaze of his assailant, his eyes fixed on his own feet.
However, by the moonlight, he could tell that this person was also dressed as an attendant, confirming they were from within the palace, though he did not know their specific post, and their voice was unfamiliar.
"I do not know where you serve, but if you spare my life, I guarantee I will ensure your rise to greatness."
Mo Jiuye scoffed disdainfully.
"Steward Qi should worry about whether he can keep his own life first!"
Qi Changshun trembled at those words, struggling to remain calm as he spoke:
"Since you have killed the Empress's men, it is clear you are not on their side. Therefore, I know you will not harm me."
Mo Jiuye was well aware of this man's devious nature, always ingratiating himself to those above while stepping on those below.
However, Qi Changshun's character was of no concern to him. If not for wanting to glean some information from him, she would not have bothered with this trivial matter.
"I'll ask you, where is the Emperor currently?"
At the mention of the Emperor, Qi Changshun dropped his pretense.
Whether for his own future prospects or true loyalty, he raised his head to meet Mo Jiuye's gaze.
He did not recognize this person, but anyone asking such a question could only be in the service of Prince Qi.
After all, this incident posed the greatest threat to Prince Qi.
"Go and inform Prince Qi that the Emperor's situation is dire. He and the Empress Dowager are confined in the secret chamber of Fengxi Palace.
The Empress Dowager, advanced in age, passed away three days ago, but the Empress ordered her body not to be removed, leaving her remains with the Emperor in the same room.
It is fortunate that the Emperor still has use for the Empress, otherwise he would surely have met the same fate as the Empress Dowager, left to die a slow death..."
Qi Changshun rambled on endlessly, but to Mo Jiuye, the only useful piece of information was that Emperor Shunwu was confined in the secret chamber of Fengxi Palace.
"Do you know where this secret chamber is located?" As far as Mo Jiuye remembered, aside from the secret passage they had taken to raid the imperial treasury with He Zhiran, there were no secret chambers in the palace.
And that passage only led to the treasury, likely sealed off after the theft was discovered on the Emperor's orders.
This was also the reason Mo Jiuye opted to scale the walls to enter.
Especially in the rear palace where the consorts resided, the construction of any secret chambers was strictly forbidden.
This was a precaution taken by past Emperors to prevent their consorts from engaging in illicit affairs, ensuring all their living quarters were in plain sight.
"When I was captured, my eyes were covered, but I could sense that the direction to the secret chamber was the same as towards the Empress's quarters."
Mo Jiuye knew that at this point, Qi Changshun would not lie about not knowing the exact location.
Fortunately, he could provide the general direction of the secret chamber, which would aid in the search.
Having obtained the information he sought, Mo Jiuye had no desire to linger with Qi Changshun.
Although Qi Changshun's character was questionable, he had never wronged Mo Jiuye, so there was no need to kill him.
"I won't take your life, but whether you live or die depends on your own skill."
Hearing that his life would be spared, Qi Changshun breathed a sigh of relief, wisely refraining from inquiring about Mo Jiuye's identity.
"You go and inform Prince Qi to come rescue the Emperor. I'll leave this matter here to you."
Mo Jiuye trusted that Qi Changshun could handle the two corpses, as his survival depended on the Empress remaining unaware of his escape for as long as possible.
Mo Jiuye circled behind Qi Changshun and leapt onto a large tree.
The conversation between Mo Jiuye and Qi Changshun was too soft for He Zhiran to overhear.
Without needing to ask, Mo Jiuye quietly relayed the information he had obtained.
"Husband, since the exact location of the secret chamber is unknown, perhaps we should first investigate the Empress's quarters for clues," He Zhiran suggested in a low voice.
"Yes, we'll go once Qi Changshun leaves."
The two watched as Qi Changshun dragged the corpses away, then leapt down from the tree and continued towards the brightest area.
As the Empress's residence, Fengxi Palace was much larger than Concubine Yuan's quarters.
Regardless of the size, the master would always occupy the grandest central location, an invariable rule.
Avoiding the guards' line of sight, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran made their way to the Empress's quarters.
The place was still brightly lit, with rows of maids and eunuchs standing attentively on either side of the entrance.
As the Empress of the nation, it was not unusual for her to command a large retinue of servants, but this many attendants standing guard so late at night was certainly abnormal.
Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran circled around to the back of the quarters. Ascertaining that it was safe, they leapt onto the roof.
Finding the right spot, Mo Jiuye gently lifted a tile, the blinding light pouring through.
They peered down into the room below.
This was not the Empress's living quarters, but rather the place where she received petitions from the concubines - in other words, her office.
The room was brightly lit, the Empress in casual dress seated in the central position, glaring at a few people before her with an unpleasant expression.
"You're telling me that the men I sent to the Chancellor's residence yesterday have not returned?"
As soon as the words left her lips, a eunuch dressed as a steward knelt down.
"This servant just had someone check with little Liu, but there was no one there."
Enraged, the Empress stood and slammed her hand on a small table beside her.
"Insolent Zhang Defu! For such a significant matter, you dared to conceal it from me if I had not brought it up?"
Zhang Defu broke out in a cold sweat, frantically kowtowing to the Empress.
"Please forgive this servant, Your Majesty. Since this morning, I have been leading men to search for the Imperial Seal, only just returning from the secret chamber."
"And did you discover the whereabouts of the Imperial Seal?"
At the mention of the Imperial Seal, Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran felt a sense of realization.
Emperor Shunwu was not a diligent ruler, and logically, aside from morning court, he would conduct affairs in the imperial study.
However, due to his laziness, the imperial study in the palace was merely for show.
At most, he might read memorials on a whim within his own quarters.
