Chapter 8: The Feng Family’s Treasure

Feng Ruqing’s eyes turned cold. With a flick of her sleeve, an invisible force shoved the trembling palace maid aside.

"The Cold Palace?" she whispered. Her younger sister’s death was shrouded in suspicion, and perhaps this place truly held a secret.

Ignoring the assassin, Feng Ruqing turned and vanished into the night like a gust of wind.

The Cold Palace, situated in the most desolate corner of the imperial grounds, was damp, frigid, and reeked of decay. Two guards stood watch, and as Feng Ruqing approached, they blocked her path.

"Your Majesty, the Cold Palace is a restricted area. Without the Emperor’s decree, no one is permitted to enter," one guard said, his tone arrogant and devoid of respect.

Feng Ruqing scanned them with icy eyes. These men were habitually insolent, and their current obstruction was clearly orchestrated by someone.

As they stood in a standoff, a voice echoed from afar: "Eunuch Zhang, in service to the Emperor, arrives!" Eunuch Zhang scurried over, his face plastered with a fawning yet mocking smile. "Your Majesty, what brings you here at such an hour?"

Feng Ruqing spoke plainly: "I intend to enter the Cold Palace."

Eunuch Zhang’s eyes darted as he shrilled, "Your Majesty, without the Emperor’s command, this servant dare not let you in. This place is eerie and terrifying; if you were to be harmed, this servant could not bear the consequences."

Feng Ruqing sneered inwardly. This was undoubtedly the Emperor’s doing, born of a fear that she might uncover something detrimental.

Her tone turned frigid. "Eunuch Zhang, do not think I am unaware of who is pulling your strings. As Empress, I govern the inner palace; it is not for a mere servant to dictate my movements. If you block me today, I will ensure there is no place in this palace for you to stand in the future."

An intimidating aura radiated from her. Feeling the pressure, Eunuch Zhang stepped back but stubbornly insisted, "I dare not, but I am merely following protocol."

Feng Ruqing’s gaze was like a blade. "The Cold Palace is part of the imperial grounds... As Empress, the inner palace falls under my jurisdiction. Does Eunuch Zhang truly believe I lack the qualification to enter?"

Stumped and speechless, Eunuch Zhang’s face cycled between shades of green and white, and he dared not block her again. Feng Ruqing pushed open the heavy gates, and a wave of chilling air rushed out to meet her.

Inside, the courtyard was overgrown with weeds and littered with crumbling walls. Her eyes scanned the area sharply. Her sister had been gentle and kind; how could she have perished here? There had to be a secret.

Suddenly, she noticed an anomaly in the soil near a wall. She crouched down and brushed the dirt aside, revealing a piece of white fabric—the same material as the garment her sister had been wearing the day she vanished. Feng Ruqing’s heart tightened.

"Oh? Isn't this the Empress? What brings you to the Cold Palace?"

Bai Zhi approached in a white gown, her face etched with a mocking smile, followed by Ji Ran.

"I greet the Emperor," Feng Ruqing said, rising and bowing, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Ji Ran gave a faint acknowledgment, his gaze falling on the white fabric as his brows furrowed.

"Your Majesty, the Empress comes to the Cold Palace in the dead of night, acting so suspiciously. What is she truly doing?" Bai Zhi covered her mouth and giggled. "Your Majesty, this place is dark and frightening. Perhaps the Empress is here to engage in something unspeakable."

Feng Ruqing sneered and tossed the fabric before Ji Ran. "Your Majesty, do you recognize this?"

Ji Ran picked it up and examined it; his expression shifted. It was indeed a gift he had bestowed upon the Empress’s sister.

Panic flared in Bai Zhi’s eyes. She quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, this fabric proves nothing. It could have been dropped by any palace maid..."

Feng Ruqing cut her off, staring coldly. "Miss Bai seems very concerned about my activities. Could it be..." She paused, a meaningful smile playing on her lips, "that you are hiding something, Miss Bai?"

Bai Zhi’s face turned deathly pale. Her body trembled, her eyes filled with terror, yet she feigned composure. "The Empress jokes. How could I harbor ulterior motives? I am merely concerned for the Emperor’s safety."

She looked at Ji Ran with a pitiful expression. "Your Majesty, you must defend me!"

Feng Ruqing laughed coldly, meeting her gaze without fear. "Concerned for the Emperor’s safety? I think you are concerned for your own! My sister was gentle and quiet, never harboring grudges. Why would she die so miserably in the palace? I suspect you had a ‘hand’ in it!"

Stung by the accusation, Bai Zhi turned even paler. "The Empress is slandering me! I have never done anything to wrong the Feng family!"

Feng Ruqing resumed her search, her eyes landing on a jade pendant hidden in the weeds. She recognized it as an heirloom her mother had left to her sister. She picked it up carefully, clutching it tightly as an ominous premonition washed over her.

Ji Ran’s voice rang out again: "Empress, what are you holding?"

Feng Ruqing turned slowly and held out the pendant. "Your Majesty, do you recognize this?"

Ji Ran recognized it instantly as a possession of the Feng family, and his face darkened. He had already suspected that Feng Ruqing had ulterior motives in entering the palace, and the sight of the pendant only solidified his belief.

Seeing this, Bai Zhi felt a surge of secret joy and added fuel to the fire. "Your Majesty, this pendant belongs to the Feng family, yet the Empress found it here in the Cold Palace. There must be something suspicious going on!"

Feng Ruqing looked at her coldly, a flicker of killing intent in her eyes.

"Empress," Ji Ran stepped closer, his tone frigid. "Where did you get this pendant?"

Feng Ruqing gripped the pendant, meeting his eyes firmly. "I found it in the Cold Palace. This belonged to my sister, and I suspect her death is linked to this place."

Bai Zhi spoke again: "Your Majesty, the Empress is clearly making excuses! This pendant appearing in the Cold Palace must be a plot by the Empress herself to frame others!"

Ji Ran’s gaze shifted between the two, his suspicion deepening. He waved his hand and ordered, "Guards, place the Empress under house arrest in the Fengluan Palace! Without my decree, no one is to enter or leave!"

Feng Ruqing sneered inwardly as the two guards seized her. She cast a cold, sharp glance at Ji Ran and Bai Zhi, her eyes flashing with icy resolve.

Back at the Fengyi Palace, her mind remained in turmoil. Her sister’s death, the secrets of the Cold Palace, the Emperor’s suspicion, and the malice of the inner palace were all tightening around her like a web. She knew she had to find the truth to avenge her sister.

The name General Wang surfaced in her mind. He was the Emperor’s confidant, commander of the Imperial Guards, and deeply connected to the factions of the inner palace. Could her sister’s death be linked to him? She had to contact him to probe for information.

In the dead of night, Feng Ruqing rose and walked to the window, gazing at the night sky. "Someone come."

A dark shadow appeared without a sound. Feng Ruqing whispered a few instructions into its ear, and the shadow acknowledged the order before vanishing into the night.

Feng Ruqing returned to her bed, her heart churning. She knew she was walking a tightrope, but for her sister and the truth, she would never retreat.

Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence. "Who is it?" Feng Ruqing asked, on high alert.

A familiar voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, this old servant has come to deliver a message on behalf of the Emperor."