Chapter 416: Lockdown (Second Update)

In the forest, the three walked forward in silence, the atmosphere inexplicably awkward.

Mu Qinghe's expression had not been pleasant for a while now; he was a walking human iceberg.

Jian Fengchi, on the other hand, was focusing intently on how to coax information out of Mu Qinghe and Chu Liuyue.

As for Chu Liuyue...

She was reflecting on when the connection between these two had actually begun!

In her past life, her relationship with Jian Fengchi was definitely not good.

She couldn't stand Jian Fengchi's dissolute and unrestrained behavior, while Jian Fengchi mocked her for being rigid and conventional.

In short, almost every meeting ended in an unpleasant stalemate.

As for Mu Qinghe... he was either by her side or busy handling military affairs; he had very little interaction with anyone else, let alone Jian Fengchi.

Sometimes, when Jian Fengchi became overly flamboyant and insolent, Mu Qinghe would proactively request to step in and teach him a lesson, but Chu Liuyue would stop him most of the time.

It wasn't because she didn't want to do so, but simply because she worried that Mu Qinghe wouldn't be able to control himself and would beat the man to death.

Jian Fengchi held a significant status; it would be quite troublesome if he were accidentally killed.

She hadn't expected that after she had been dead for over a year, these two would actually become friends?

And clearly, they were the type who trusted each other quite deeply.

She was certain that there had been no communication between these two previously. She wondered what exactly had happened during the year and more after her death?

However, upon second thought, she didn't even know how Mu Qinghe had betrayed her, so it was normal not to know these things.

Thinking of this, her interest waned. She curled her lips in self-mockery and tossed the thought to the back of her mind.

Suddenly, Jian Fengchi remembered something and asked curiously

"By the way, Miss Chu, it seems your fiancé, Prince Li, has also come. Did you not see him?"

***

Inside the Imperial Mausoleum, within the dim and cramped passage, there was a deathly silence.

After Elder Ye spoke, both Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jin were startled, looking toward that direction simultaneously.

There were actually two more people here!?

Seeing that the other party did not respond, Elder Ye said nonchalantly

"It seems they are acquaintances, which is why they refuse to show themselves."

Having said that, he looked at Rong Jin

"Who did you come to Sijin Peak with?"

Rong Jin's heart sank, and he instinctively denied it

"I... I came alone..."

His tracks had already been exposed, and he was already feeling guilty. Combined with being intimidated by Elder Ye's pressure, he couldn't even bring himself to say "This Palace."

Elder Ye shook his head and sighed.

"Crown Prince, even at this point, you still refuse to admit it? Do His Majesty and this old man look that easy to fool?"

Rong Jin lowered his eyes guiltily, clenching his teeth, his heart filled with immense conflict.

Who could it be that had entered behind him?

The only one who had come with him was Situ Xingchen.

But he had already told her earlier to wait outside, and Situ Xingchen had agreed!

If it weren't her, it would be one thing, but if it truly was her, she would certainly be implicated.

In an instant, a passage of words Situ Xingchen had said earlier surfaced in Rong Jin's mind.

"...Your Highness, the matters Xingchen helps you with must never be known by outsiders. That way, even if His Majesty discovers something is wrong, Xingchen can find ways to make excuses for you—after all, my Imperial Father is still around. But if I am also implicated... then it will be difficult for my Imperial Father to speak up. In short, please be very careful..."

Rong Jin actually felt that her words made a lot of sense.

Now that his Empress Mother was dead and he had fallen into such a state, the only person he could rely on was Situ Xingchen!

"I indeed came alone!"

He said through gritted teeth.

Elder Ye looked at Rong Jin, feeling that he was beyond saving.

Emperor Jiawen sneered

"Is that so? Relying only on yourself, you could escape the Crown Prince's Manor and travel all the way here in concealment?!"

Rong Jin's face flushed red, but he still refused to yield.

Elder Ye couldn't be bothered to say anything more to him. He spoke toward the two figures hidden in the darkness

"If you still refuse to come out, then it wouldn't be impossible for us to have a fight..."

As he finished speaking, the palm-leaf fan in his hand suddenly flew out!

*Whoosh!*

The sound of breaking air rang out!

A sharp, fierce wind instantly swept toward that location!

*Boom!*

An equally powerful primal force rose to meet it!

The two forces collided violently!

The entire passage trembled!

A cloud of white smoke suddenly diffused rapidly!

Elder Ye's expression turned cold, and he immediately prepared to give chase!

However, he had only taken one step before he frowned!

"This smoke is poisonous!"

Caught off guard, both Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jin had inhaled a small amount of the smoke and began to cough violently.

"Cough! Cough, cough—"

Seeing the reaction of the two, Elder Ye's expression became even more grim.

If he chased after them alone now, there was a high probability he could catch them.

But the remaining Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jin would certainly fall into danger.

The most urgent matter now was to get out of here and clear the toxins from their bodies!

Elder Ye shot a resentful glance toward the direction the two had fled.

A pity!

He took out a jade bottle, quickly poured out two pills, and handed them to Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jin respectively.

"Your Majesty, this poison is very dangerous. Use the Heart-Clearing Pills to suppress it first; we must get out as quickly as possible!"

Emperor Jiawen took the pill and swallowed it.

Rong Jin was even more frantic, snatching the item and swallowing it quickly.

Emperor Jiawen felt a wave of nausea watching him.

This son of his, Rong Jin, was truly dull and incompetent!

Once they returned to the palace, he would surely punish him severely!

Elder Ye led the two of them toward the exit.

"Elder Ye, why don't you go after those two first? I can make it out alone!"

Emperor Jiawen actually wanted to know who the two fleeing individuals were.

It was one thing for those entering the Imperial Mausoleum to possess heaven-defying abilities, but how could he let these rats who followed them in go unpunished?

Elder Ye sighed.

"Your Majesty, they were well-prepared; it is too late to chase them now. We shall investigate once we are out!"

"But those two didn't even reveal their forms. Once we are outside, wouldn't searching for them be like looking for a needle in a haystack?"

Following behind, Rong Jin felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Elder Ye gave Rong Jin a meaningful look.

"Not necessarily. Perhaps we will know their identities very soon."

Rong Jin felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively lowered his head even further.

The three continued to return along the original path.

Likely due to the poison in the smoke, Emperor Jiawen and Rong Jin soon began to lose strength, and their walking speed grew slower and slower.

If not for Elder Ye accompanying them, the two of them might truly have been unable to walk out of here.

On the other side, Situ Xingchen and Elder Lian Ning were sprinting rapidly toward the exit.

Situ Xingchen had bitten her lip until it bled, her eyes filled with venomous resentment.

"That old poison woman, the Empress, actually dared to deceive me!"

She never imagined that Rong Jin was not the Chosen One!

After all that trouble, everything had been in vain!

Elder Lian Ning's expression was also not great, and he remained silent.

It wasn't until a light appeared ahead that he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, the exit is just ahead. Let's discuss everything once we are out!"

However, at that very moment, a sudden, thunderous roar erupted from above their heads!

The circular disc not far away had actually begun to slowly close!

(End of Chapter)