Chapter 16: The Market

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Feng Ruqing’s eyes suddenly sharpened, her heart pounding wildly, but she quickly regained her composure, her expression calm and unreadable. “Your Majesty is awake late at night; what brings you here?” Ji Ran approached slowly, a smile with ambiguous intent curling at the corners of his lips. “I couldn’t sleep and was just taking a stroll. But Empress, where are you off to dressed like this at this hour?”

Feng Ruqing narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone icy. “I couldn’t sleep either and just came out for some fresh air. If Your Majesty has no matter, I will take my leave.” With that, she turned to leave, but Ji Ran suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“Does the Empress fear me so much?” he teased.

Feng Ruqing shook off his hand forcefully, her voice cold as ice. “I do not dare.” Watching her retreating figure, a complex emotion flickered across Ji Ran’s eyes.

Feng Ruqing knew the palace was heavily guarded, like an iron fortress; leaving was not an easy feat. Yet she had to take the risk. For her sister, she was willing to do anything.

Feigning calm, she crossed the corridor, sweat beading unconsciously on her palm. Along the way, she remained vigilant, acutely aware of a pair of eyes watching her from the shadows, making her feel as if needles pricked her back.

Commander Sun, under the emperor’s orders, had intensified the surveillance on Feng Ruqing. He increased the patrols around her chambers, surrounding her almost completely.

As soon as Feng Ruqing stepped out of the palace gate, Commander Sun received the news. He frowned deeply, pondering what the Empress intended by venturing out at such a late hour.

Feeling the gaze drawing nearer, Feng Ruqing forced herself to stay composed, her steps steady as she pressed forward. She knew she had to lose her tail quickly or face dire consequences.

She deliberately slowed her pace, pretending to admire the night scenery while actually scanning her surroundings for an escape route.

Rounding a bend, she suddenly quickened her pace and slipped into a narrow alley. The trailing guards lost sight of her momentarily.

Commander Sun’s face darkened upon hearing this. “Lost her? Search more thoroughly!”

Feng Ruqing weaved through the alleys, turning seven or eight corners before finally arriving at a secluded courtyard.

She gently knocked on the door with their agreed-upon secret code. The door creaked open, revealing a familiar figure.

“Your Majesty, you’ve come!” Zhao Hu whispered, lowering his voice. “The emperor’s men are watching closely. It was only with great effort I shook them off.”

Feng Ruqing nodded solemnly. “What’s the situation?” Zhao Hu produced a letter from his bosom. “This is—”

“Wait,” Feng Ruqing interrupted sharply, raising a hand. “Someone’s coming.”

“Hide!” she commanded softly. Zhao Hu slipped inside swiftly while she calmly stood at the gate, feigning moon-gazing.

Commander Sun and his guards arrived hastily and immediately spotted Feng Ruqing. His heart leapt with triumph as he strode forward, clasping his hands. “Empress, what brings you here at this late hour?”

Feng Ruqing turned with a composed face. “I could not sleep and just came out for a walk. Is that not allowed?”

Commander Sun forced a smile that did not reach his eyes. “Your late-night outing is rather improper. The emperor worries for your safety and has sent me to escort you back.”

Feng Ruqing snorted coldly. “I do not need your escort.”

Her sharp gaze swept over the guards behind him, voice icy. “You all—stand down!”

Commander Sun’s heart tightened; he dared not disobey. He gestured for his guards to retreat, fully aware of the Empress’s formidable nature and unwilling to offend her lightly.

Once the guards withdrew, Feng Ruqing spoke quietly. “Commander Sun, we’re both intelligent. Why the charade? You think the emperor sent you to watch me, but I’m not unaware.”

Commander Sun’s expression shifted slightly, but he masked it with calm. “I would never dare.”

Feng Ruqing sneered. “Dare not? You’d better remember your place and not overstep.”

With that, she turned and walked away. Sun watched her retreating figure, a flicker of cruelty passing through his eyes. He immediately dispatched a report to the emperor and remained with his remaining guards to continue the pursuit.

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Feng Ruqing did not return to the palace but headed instead to a bustling marketplace on the outskirts of the capital.

People came and went, vendors hawking candied hawthorns, fragrant sachets, and trinkets. Among the crowd were elegantly dressed young nobles, humble farmers, and women carrying children.

Blending into the throng, Feng Ruqing spotted a scholar in a voluminous robe and followed him closely, using the folds of his garment to conceal herself as she alternated between quick and slow steps. She then spotted a porter carrying a yoke and slipped behind his goods, her figure flickering in and out of sight, confusing the trailing guards.

Agile and swift, she darted through the crowd like a fish in water, soon shaking off her pursuers completely.

After losing the tail, Feng Ruqing arrived at a secluded tea stall where Zhao Hu awaited her. He handed her a nondescript package. “Your Majesty, this is what you asked for.”

Opening it, she found a list and several secret letters—crucial clues she desperately needed.

“Excellent,” Feng Ruqing nodded with satisfaction. “Thank you, Zhao Hu.”

Zhao Hu smiled earnestly. “It is my honor to serve Your Majesty.”

Suddenly, the sharp clatter of hooves shattered the night’s peace.

Feng Ruqing and Zhao Hu exchanged a glance, an ominous feeling rising in their hearts.

“They’re coming!” Zhao Hu whispered urgently.

Dust billowed as thunderous hooves drew near. Commander Sun’s face was grim; he was furious at Feng Ruqing’s disappearance.

“Search! Dig to the ends of the earth if you must, but bring her to me!” he roared. The guards scattered, sniffing the air like hunting dogs, closing in on the tea stall.

The tea vendor trembled in fear, nearly dropping his teapot.

Feng Ruqing’s eyes narrowed, a dangerous aura radiating from her. She grabbed Zhao Hu’s wrist and hissed, “Go!” They slipped away from the stall, darting into a concealed alley.

The guards’ footsteps and shouts grew louder in the narrow passage.

Calmly, Feng Ruqing surveyed the surroundings, mapping out the labyrinthine alleys in her mind.

Pulling Zhao Hu along, she weaved through the maze like a swift swallow dancing on a blade’s edge.

“Your Majesty, this way!” Zhao Hu pointed to a nearly overgrown path hidden by weeds, invisible to anyone unfamiliar with the area.

Without hesitation, Feng Ruqing followed, disappearing quickly at the path’s end.

Commander Sun and his men arrived at the tea stall only to find it deserted.

Seething with rage, he kicked the vendor’s table over. “Where did they go? Speak!”

The vendor, pale with terror, stammered, “I-I only saw them enter the alley…”

Sun snorted coldly and charged into the maze-like alley, only to find the paths tangled like a labyrinth.

They stumbled about like headless flies, their faces smudged with dirt, while Feng Ruqing vanished like a free bird.

Feng Ruqing and Zhao Hu had circled around, arriving at a prearranged rendezvous—a dilapidated Earth God temple.

The temple’s gate was tightly shut, surrounded by overgrown weeds and silence.

Feng Ruqing knocked lightly, signaling their secret code.

The door creaked open, and a shadow appeared. “Your Majesty—” Before he could finish, Feng Ruqing covered his mouth and pulled him inside.

“Shh…” she whispered. “Someone’s coming.”

In the distance, faint hoofbeats could be heard.

Inside the dim temple, the flickering candlelight illuminated Feng Ruqing’s stern face.

Zhao Hu solemnly handed her a cloth bundle. “Your Majesty, everything is here.”

She opened it to reveal a stack of letters and a list.

Her eyes flickered with a cold glint. These were the long-sought proofs, enough to bring down the treacherous enemy within the harem.

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Clutching the bundle tightly, her knuckles whitened as a surge of indescribable emotion welled within her.

Images of her sister’s past suffering flashed through her mind—falsely accused, brutally beaten, while she herself silently endured, patiently biding time all these years for this very moment.

Now, at last, she glimpsed the dawn of hope and the chance to avenge her sister.

“Thank you, Zhao Hu,” Feng Ruqing’s voice was low and resolute.

“It is my honor to serve Your Majesty,” Zhao Hu replied with a bashful smile, scratching his head.

Yet the joy was fleeting. Feng Ruqing knew she was still in grave danger.

Commander Sun’s pursuit was relentless, and the palace was a deadly trap.

She had to return swiftly to put this evidence to use.

“We must find a way to return safely,” she murmured, brow furrowed, her mind racing.

Zhao Hu recognized the gravity of the situation. “Your Majesty, allow me to escort you back!”

“No,” Feng Ruqing rejected decisively. “You stay here to continue gathering intelligence. Alone, I attract less attention and can escape more easily.”

Zhao Hu opened his mouth to protest but was silenced by her commanding glance.

She understood that this separation was for a better reunion.

Feng Ruqing quickly composed herself and concealed the bundle within her clothing.

Pushing open the temple’s wooden door, she cautiously surveyed her surroundings.

The night was deep and quiet on the outskirts, broken only by distant dog barks.

“Your Majesty, take care!” Zhao Hu’s voice trailed behind, tinged with concern.

Without turning, Feng Ruqing nodded softly and then resolutely melted into the darkness.

She tread carefully toward the palace, each step measured and cautious.

Suddenly, faint footsteps sounded nearby.

Instantly alert, Feng Ruqing held her breath and hid behind a large tree.

In the pale moonlight, she saw several shadows approaching, weapons in hand, their expressions tense and watchful.

“Strange, I saw her head this way…” one whispered.

“Maybe she’s hiding?” another replied.

Feng Ruqing’s heart sank. Commander Sun had not given up; he had intensified the search.

She had to be even more cautious. If discovered, the consequences would be disastrous.

At that moment, one shadow seemed to spot something, pointing at the tree where Feng Ruqing hid. “There’s someone there!”

Fear gripped her heart—her cover was blown.

Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on the dagger hidden in her sleeve.

“Who’s there?!” a cold, sharp voice demanded.