Cheng Hao waited at the door for a long time but didn't see Wei Dongling come out. From afar, he heard Min Fang calling out to look for someone. In a hurry, he quickly stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" Wei Dongling replied. Moments later, she hurriedly led Cheng Hao over the wall.
Just when Min Fang was at a loss, she saw Wei Dongling and Cheng Hao finally come out. She quickly stepped forward to pay respects and asked, "Princess, are you all right?"
Wei Dongling deliberately looked unhappy and said, "This lousy place is quite big. I got lost. I should have brought you along."
Min Fang was left speechless and silently led Wei Dongling out.
As the three of them walked back, Wei Dongling pointed to a pagoda-like attic not far away and asked Min Fang, "What's that place? Why haven't I ever seen it before?" Logically, she should have explored every corner of the palace.
Min Fang replied, "That's the Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda. A long time ago, many people died in the palace. The emperor specially had this pagoda built and invited ten thousand Buddha statues to be hung inside. He also invited people to chant scriptures and pray every night to console the souls of the dead."
Wei Dongling raised her eyebrows and asked, "Is the tenth prince imprisoned there?"
"Yes."
As Wei Dongling walked, she looked back at the Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda. She thought to herself that the large number of deaths Min Fang mentioned were probably caused by the massacres during the fight for the throne.
Suddenly, a window on the second floor of the Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda opened. A calm-looking woman looked up at the sky. When she lowered her eyes, her gaze met Wei Dongling's.
Wasn't this the Empress Zhao?
Wei Dongling was stunned on the spot. The Empress Zhao on the upper floor glanced at her, curled her lips in a sinister smile, and then gently closed the wooden window.
Wei Dongling quickly asked Min Fang, "Why is the Empress Zhao also in this pagoda?"
Min Fang replied, "After the Zhao family was exiled to the border, the Empress Zhao has been under house arrest here."
Wei Dongling secretly seethed with hatred. Could house arrest atone for the blood debt of Concubine Chen back then? Wei Jiang's death was also her doing!
If the Empress Zhao didn't die, Wei Dongling was afraid she would never be able to quell her anger! There would be plenty of time in the future. She would settle this score slowly!
They had only walked a few steps when a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking their way.
An eerie-looking granny stood in front of them, holding a string of green Buddhist beads in her hand. She stared coldly at Wei Dongling and said in a deep voice, "Long time no see. I didn't expect Miss Wei to turn into the fifth princess. I underestimated you."
The person who came was none other than Granny Gao, the hidden expert beside the Empress Zhao!
Wei Dongling glanced at the Buddhist beads in Granny Gao's hand. A thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead. She had witnessed the power of this thing with her own eyes. It had made her limp for a long time! Wei Dongling pretended to be calm and shouted coldly, "How dare you! I am the master and you are the servant! In broad daylight, you are disrespectful to this princess! I think you need a good lesson!"
Granny Gao twirled the Buddhist beads with her fingers, raised her eyebrows, and sneered, "I should indeed pay respects to the princess. However, I wonder if the princess can bear this respect!" With that, she walked step by step towards Wei Dongling.
Granny Gao's powerful aura made Wei Dongling and Min Fang tremble all over. Fortunately, Cheng Hao stepped forward in time to block in front of them.
Before Cheng Hao entered the palace, Jing Zhe had repeatedly reminded him that there was a granny holding Buddhist beads beside the Empress Zhao. This granny had profound skills and was by no means an ordinary person to be matched. If he encountered her, he should try to avoid her. If he really couldn't avoid her, he must protect Miss Wei.
Cheng Hao stared at Granny Gao in front of him and snorted, "Your Highness, go back first. Let me deal with her!"
Granny Gao sneered, "An ignorant kid overestimates his own abilities! Fine. Let me teach you a lesson myself."
Wei Dongling grabbed Min Fang and turned around to run away. She didn't forget to turn back and tell Cheng Hao, "If you can get away, do so! Don't engage in a prolonged battle!"
Seeing Wei Dongling running away, Granny Gao's face darkened. Just as she was about to get up and chase, Cheng Hao blocked her way and snorted, "Then I'll thank granny for your teachings!" With that, he barehanded rushed towards Granny Gao.
Wei Dongling carried a dazed Min Fang and fled in a hurry. She knew that Cheng Hao was no match for Granny Gao and couldn't hold on for long. She ran all the way, hoping to find someone to save him. Unfortunately, there were extremely few palace servants on this road near the Forbidden Palace. There was no one in sight!
Wei Dongling was not familiar with this place. In a hurry, she ran around randomly. At a corner, she suddenly bumped into a man's arms, making the man grunt.
Wei Dongling and Min Fang both looked up and gasped. Wasn't it the crazy tenth prince again?
The tenth prince grunted from the impact. An unhappy look appeared on his young face. He stretched out his hand and grabbed Min Fang's neck.
Before Wei Dongling could come to her senses, she saw the veins on his hand bulge. Min Fang was choked until her face turned red. She opened her mouth in pain but couldn't say a word.
Wei Dongling kicked the tenth prince's arm hard. The tenth prince was forced to loosen his hand. Min Fang's neck was released, and she slumped to the ground.
Wei Dongling quickly picked up Min Fang and fled. The tenth prince closely followed behind, chasing after them relentlessly.
Wei Dongling couldn't help cursing in her heart. She thought that after returning to the palace, at least with the emperor's protection, she could live a little more freely. At least she wouldn't be beaten passively!
Unexpectedly, she had only been in the palace for a few days? It had been a complete mess all the way!
Relying on her excellent lightness skills, Wei Dongling carried Min Fang and leaped over the eaves and walls. Soon, she left the tenth prince far behind.
Min Fang had just had her neck choked. It took her a while to catch her breath. When she saw herself being carried horizontally by the fifth princess and leaping through the air, she had never seen such a sight before! She was so scared that her face turned pale. She almost vomited out all the porridge she had eaten in the morning.
Wei Dongling ran blindly and jumped into a dead end. Just as she was about to return the way she came, the distorted and almost crazy face of the tenth prince appeared in front of her again.
Wei Dongling was not familiar with this place, but the tenth prince was very familiar with it! He knew exactly which route to take to easily catch up with the two of them. At this moment, he was staring fixedly at Wei Dongling, with a sinister smile on his face, and approaching her step by step.
Wei Dongling panicked and wanted to shout for help. However, in this huge palace, there wasn't even a single patrol of guards! She gritted her teeth, grabbed Min Fang, and climbed over the wall again, walking quickly on the eaves.
As she walked, she looked back. This time, Wei Dongling was so scared that she trembled. The tenth prince actually climbed up the wall and followed her. His speed was quite fast!
What was going on? Could it be that the tenth prince imprisoned in the Ten-Thousand Buddha Pagoda was actually being deliberately taught martial arts by someone?
It must be Granny Gao!
Wei Dongling secretly wondered in her heart, but she didn't dare to slacken her steps at all. She still had to hurry up and find someone to save Cheng Hao!