C59

"What's going on?" Mu Qing Han opened half the window in the carriage and looked at the dozens of people sitting on the opposite side of the road. There was not a single familiar face among them.

Bai Zhen leaned against the door of the carriage and said, "It's said that they've all entered the secret passage. Including today, it's already the second day."

Mu Qing Han frowned: "They? The second day? "

Bai Jian said, "Probably the Young Prince and Prince Huan went in. I went in yesterday, but I still haven't come out. "

Mu Qing Han bit her lips and asked, "Will they be okay?"

Bai Zhen pondered for a moment before replying, "Probably not. Wasn't Zhao Qingyan's attainments in mechanical arts very high? And there are so many experts in the palace, would something happen that easily? "

Mu Qing Han was dissatisfied, "Then, can we just go back?"

Bai Zhen smiled and asked, "Do you really want to see him that much?"

Mu Qing Han hesitated and nodded, "A little, at least I want to see how he looks like now."

"Just wanted to see what it looked like?" Bai Zhen smiled as he asked her, slightly teasing her.

Mu Qing Han sighed lightly, "Hmm, just look at her appearance. We'll talk about the rest later. "

Bai Ju said, "I have two methods. First, I'll keep an eye on him for you. I'll call you when he comes back, so you can take a peek. Second, I'll get you two portraits of him. "

Mu Qinghan asked curiously, "A portrait? "What should we do?"

Bai Ju said, "Young Prince Qi is said to be very approachable, and it is not difficult to visit him. Ancient art of calligraphy and painting, or else I would give him a zither, I don't believe that he won't see me. After I see him, can't I just draw a pair or two for you to see? You don't trust my cooking skills? "

Mu Qing Han covered her lips and smiled, "What a generous gesture."

Bai Zhen indifferently replied, "Even if you have nothing else to do, you can do it anyway. If you don't feel good about it, you can take out that antique of yours. I'll run errands for you."

Mu Qing Han smiled, "Of course, where can I find the logic to have people pay for their own work?"

Bai Zhen joked, "Yo, how attractive is Miss Mu? "Countless men in the world are willing to break their legs for you."

Mu Qinghan glared at him. "Even you are making fun of me."

Bai Jian said, "Alright, let's not joke around. The young prince will be crowned in one or two months, your marriage should be set. After that, please ask Wen Lun to sit with you again. Try not to spoil the relationship for so many years. "

Mu Qing Han replied softly, "I don't dare to meet him."

Bai Zhen consoled, "I'm here. With me watching by the side, it's impossible for the two of you to say things that are inconvenient for you to say, right? When you are a princess, it may be inconvenient for you to meet us. At least, don't leave any regrets for the last time. "

"Inconvenient..." "Is that so?" Mu Qinghan smiled bitterly, "After so many years, the only friends who have come close to me without any benefits are you two. I really can't imagine how lonely your life would be without you. "

Bai Zhen regretfully said, "Although I wanted to console you, I felt that it was unnecessary. Because you know very well that once you marry into the royal family, you will become an imperial concubine. All of your independence will no longer belong to you. You are no longer the you who can secretly climb trees and fish when there is no outsider. She was no longer the quiet and serene Lady Mu of the martial arts world, adored by tens of thousands of people. She was no longer the young lady of the Mansion of the Trojan Horse. You will always be the 'Crown Princess' or 'Princess Mo'. Even if no one will be able to see you, your every word and action will have to be perfectly dignified. You will thoroughly become a figurine that anyone can play with, living obediently and for the sake of your husband's reputation. "

Mu Qing Han replied with a trembling voice, "Don't say anymore."

Bai Zhen did as he was told and looked at her in silence for a moment. "Once you enter the house of the Marquis, you are as deep as the sea. From then on, Xiao Lang is a passerby." He straightened his body and said, "Alright, I'll be going now. I'll come see you in a few days. I'll give you the portrait."

Mu Qinghan leaned weakly against the wall of the carriage, close to tears.

— —

Another person could not dodge in time and an arrow pierced his heart.

Everyone silently looked at the corpse on the ground. There was no sadness on their faces, nor were they moved.

Duke Huan looked at the remaining ten or so people and retracted his gaze. "Let's go." This was what he said the most on the way.

Fear, powerlessness, exhaustion and indifference pervaded every single one of them. Even Chen Huayi and Tao Zhe lost their interest.

Because of their origins, they would not question whether they had disobeyed the orders of King Huai, nor would they do something as foolish as shouting out anger. There was no way out, so they continued forward. They know that, so they do it.

On the way down, three more men were killed, and finally they reached a door. Duke Huan took a deep breath and reached out his hand to touch the stone door, searching for the mechanism to open it. He didn't know if this was the last door, so he didn't have any hopes.

The stone door slowly opened. The dazzling sunlight made everyone's eyes sour, but their hearts relaxed.

"A new person?" "Welcome." An exceptionally familiar voice rang out, but everyone's exhausted minds could not figure out who the speaker was.

A young man wearing a light green robe looked at them in surprise. His face was filled with disbelief. Why did you guys come here? "

Duke Huai was startled, and Chen Huayi yelled out in pleasant surprise, "Young Marquis!" The tiredness on his face was gone.

Looking at their bedraggled expressions, Zhao Qingyan felt like he wanted to ask a lot of questions. However, he could only sigh and say, "Forget it, let me think of a way to hide you all first." He sat on a pear-wood chair, barefoot on his clogs. On the table were an oil lamp and an unfinished mechanical beast.

Chen Huayi said in confusion, "Isn't this the Puppet Palace?" Why is the young prince here? What do you mean by welcome, rookie? Are you wearing so little cold? "What does it mean to hide us?"

The guards didn't understand, but Duke Huan was frowning. "This is Tang Xiao's stupid place?"

Zhao Qingyan nodded. "Yes, this is Tang Xiao's Southern Vermillion Bird Temple. He's in charge of accepting new disciples." Those of you who came here were the test tunnels for the disciples of the Ming Palace to enter the Dark Palace, and those who survived would be deemed as having passed. However … Usually, four people will take the examination, and with so many of you, at least half of you will die, right? "

Duke Huan nodded his head silently, "Chen Huayi is right. This place really does have an examination."

Seeing that Chen Huayan wanted to ask more questions, Zhao Qingyan explained to him, "The Ming Palace that you have conquered is the only palace in the Ming Palace. In actuality, the Ming Palace was used as a place to recruit and train talents, as well as as as a place to prepare funds. Other than the palace itself, the Ming Palace was filled with many other branches. Dozens of divisions spread throughout the martial arts world, big to a mountain, small to a shop. What was truly important about the Puppet Palace was the Dark Palace located on this mountain. The Dark Palace was divided into five palaces, the main hall, the Qilin Hall, and the four Divine Beast palaces that guarded the four corners of the palace. This was the Vermillion Bird Temple, run by Tang Xiao and his men. He was responsible for taking over the training of the newcomers and the ones who had just entered the Dark Palace. Of course, the other three palaces each had their own responsibilities. There were still many Altar Lords under the five Palace Masters. The position of the Altar Master is smaller than the hall master, but it is not subordinate to the four hall masters and it is directly allocated by the Qilin Hall. "

Chen Chengyi said, "The Puppet Palace is so troublesome. So much attention has to be paid to them, it's so messy that it's about to die." He suddenly thought of something and asked, "Then why are you here?"

"Don't ask." Duke Huan interrupted him and asked Zhao Qingyan, "What do we do now?"

Zhao Qingyan said, "We can only wait. When Tang Xiao comes, tell him to release you."

Duke Huai frowned. "You want him to release it?"

Zhao Qingyan said, "I guess that's the only way. I don't have any other way for you to leave. The Dark Palace is in danger from all sides, and outsiders are not allowed to walk around freely. Otherwise, I would not have refused to allow you guys to enter the Dark Palace. "

Duke Huan hesitated for a moment. Compared to the future, he chose to resolve his predicament first. "Can we rest here?" He pointed at the ground beneath his feet.

Zhao Qingyan threw up her hands and said, "You can only rest here." He looked at the youth sitting next to him: "Get some food and water. Also, bring some medicine with you."

The youth looked at him in a daze. "The hall master will beat me to death."

Zhao Qingyan said, "No. Go to the kitchen and get a pot of water. Then bring some food for me. I have the medicine in my room. If it's really inconvenient, just bring me some water. If someone scolds you, just say that I let them do it and they won't make things difficult for you. "

The youth still shook his head, "No, I don't dare. Hallmaster told me to take care of you and not to do anything unnecessary. If I do anything extra, the hall master will kill me. "

Zhao Qingyan said helplessly, "Then I'm thirsty and hungry. Can you bring me some? Get more, understand? "

Only then did the youth nod his head and ask with worry, "Don't tell me Hallmaster will be angry?"

Zhao Qingyan touched his hair, "No, I told you to take it. He won't be angry at you." Go, go faster. "

The youth said, "Yes, don't run around. I'll be right back."

Zhao Qingyan said, "Alright, I'll just sit here and not go anywhere." Only then did the youth turn around and run away.

Shen Yi Fan was stunned, "That child …" Noticing that Zhao Qingyan was looking at him, he hurriedly stood up and said, "General Shen Yifan greets Your Highness."

Zhao Qingyan smiled and said, "You are welcome. Rest well." Then he replied, "Tang Xiao Ai bought that child just now to serve." En, Tang Xiao was just a servant to them, so they had to vent their anger on him. That was why they were afraid of his stupidity. "Since you've been imprisoned here since you were very young, you've always appeared to be rather silly." Looking at the item on the table, he lightly sighed and continued installing.

Duke Huan looked at his profile and endured. He then asked, "What exactly happened? "What did Tang Xiao Ai do to you?"

"To me?" Zhao Qingyan was stunned, "It's nothing much. After I get rid of the poison, throw me here and fight with the mechanism. When I'm tired, I'll go back by myself."

"Bastard." Duke Huan gritted his teeth. Zhao Qing's words were understated, but Duke Huan knew that with Tang Xiao's foolish methods, things wouldn't be as easy as his nephew had said.

Seeing him angry, Zhao Qingyan found it funny. "Thirteenth Uncle, what are you doing? It's not like he was trying to bully me. Besides, compared to being kind to others, he has been extremely kind to me. "

Prince Huan was startled. "You're not angry?"

Zhao Qingyan smiled, "I'm used to it." Her slender fingers moved quickly as she tried to install it. Her eyes were focused and focused. Not because of coercion, but because she truly liked it.

For a moment, Prince Huan didn't know what to say. Since it was inconvenient to ask further, he decided to just shut his mouth and rest.

After a long while, Chen Huayi could not help but ask, "How far is that kitchen? Why isn't he back yet? "

Zhao Qingyan's fingers trembled as she raised her head to look in a certain direction without saying a word.