Wei Dongling raised the Meteor Blade and offered it.
Mu Rong Yunxi stared at the unassuming dagger and frowned. "You want to trade this lousy knife with me? Who are you trying to disgust? No deal. You can leave!" With that, she turned around and was about to leave again.
Wei Dongling quickly called out to her and waved her hand. "This is the Meteor Blade. It's a personal collection of Prince Shangguan Yun!"
The hair - severing Meteor Blade?
Mu Rong Yunxi was taken aback. She quickly stepped forward, grabbed the dagger from Wei Dongling's hand, and examined it for a long time. "How did something of Brother Yun's end up in your hands?"
Wei Dongling scratched her nose and casually replied, "I used it to cut roast lamb last time and just took it on a whim."
Mu Rong Yunxi cursed, "You used the Meteor Blade to cut lamb? And you stole my Brother Yun's precious item? Aren't you ashamed?"
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes silently and asked, "Just tell me if you'll make the trade or not?"
Since Shangguan Yun was betrothed by the emperor, Mu Rong Yunxi had almost cried her eyes out upon hearing the news. Now that she saw Shangguan Yun's private collection, she naturally wanted to have it. Mu Rong Yunxi glanced at Wei Dongling, gritted her teeth, and angrily said, "Fine. What do you want?" As long as it wasn't too outrageous, she would accept it.
"The token to leave the palace."
"What?" Mu Rong Yunxi thought she had misheard. Then her face darkened, and she roared, "How is that possible?" How could her imperial sister be so bold as to ask for such an important item as the token to leave the palace?
Last time when she secretly left the palace to drug Shangguan Yun, her father had severely punished her and confiscated her token. She had been very well - behaved for a while before she managed to get the token back!
Wei Dongling rubbed her ears, which were hurting from Mu Rong Yunxi's loud voice, and waved her hand. "Just use it once today. I'll definitely return it before nightfall! You can keep the Meteor Blade and treasure it well!"
Using it once wasn't so bad. Mu Rong Yunxi looked suspicious. "You're not going to do something shady, are you?"
Wei Dongling waved her hand. "Don't worry. I don't have the hobby of drugging people."
Mu Rong Yunxi was speechless. She took out the token she carried with her and warned, "Come back early. Don't get me punished!"
"Of course!" Wei Dongling took the token and ran off like a shot.
Mu Rong Yunxi watched Wei Dongling disappear like a gust of wind with a dark face, full of doubts. This guy was actually willing to part with a rare item like the Meteor Blade just for a chance to leave the palace?
Wei Dongling didn't care what she thought. Without even bringing a maid, she ran straight towards the west gate.
Her bold demeanor along the way caught the attention of the patrolling eunuchs. When they recognized her as the Fifth Princess, they quickly bowed their heads in salute.
At the west gate, after showing the token to leave the palace and the jade token of the princess, the city - guarding general bowed and courteously watched Wei Dongling leave.
From afar, she saw a carriage parked in the grove. Cui Huan was pacing back and forth under the trees, looking around. When she saw Wei Dongling running towards her, Cui Huan beamed and came to hug her.
Wei Dongling pinched Cui Huan's nose and asked, "Did you give the letter to your master yesterday?"
Cui Huan blushed and nodded shyly.
Wei Dongling laughed. "Judging from your expression, your master must have agreed?"
Cui Huan blushed and said coyly, "My master asked me to bring Luo Xunlong back for a meal in a few days."
Oh my goodness! This was simply a great joy!
Wei Dongling couldn't help but be overjoyed and grinned.
Cui Huan grabbed Wei Dongling's hand and said seriously, "Miss Wei, thank you."
Wei Dongling laughed from ear to ear and teased her. "What are you thanking me for, little aunt? We're family. Hey! I have to prepare more silver quickly! I can't let your kids be born and I still don't have the money to buy candies for them!"
Cui Huan's face turned bright red. She pinched Wei Dongling's slender waist hard, making her scream.
Yu Zixi in the carriage heard Wei Dongling's voice. He lifted the curtain and came out. His black brocade robe set off his handsome face. A few strands of hair fluttered at his temples, and his bright, star - like eyes sparkled.
Hey! My man is so handsome!
Wei Dongling's eyes were full of admiration. She rushed forward and threw herself into Yu Zixi's arms. The two hugged tightly, oblivious to the world around them.
Cui Huan was so shocked that her eyes almost popped out. Oh my god! Am I invisible? How dare you show off your love in broad daylight?
Thankfully, Yu Zixi soon let go of Wei Dongling. He took her little hand and whispered, "Come with me. It's urgent to strike at the snake's vital point."
Without hesitation, Wei Dongling followed him into the carriage.
Cui Huan quickly jumped into the carriage, whipped the horse, and galloped away.
The carriage soon stopped at the side door of the Ministry of Justice. Wei Dongling lifted the curtain and saw the familiar scene. Suddenly, she remembered the scene in the hot summer when Uncle Li and the other uncles came to pick up Old Su from prison.
She missed the uncles so much! She wanted to go back and see them. No, she still had to find a way to ask her father for a token to leave the palace so that she could visit them whenever she missed them.
Yu Zixi didn't want to be recognized, so he put on the ghost - face mask he had used in Hanzhong.
Wei Dongling burst out laughing. She never thought he would bring this back to the capital.
Tian Qi's carriage was parked not far away. When he saw them coming, he quickly caught up. There was also a woman holding a child beside him.
Wei Dongling took out the jade token that symbolized her identity and walked directly into the gate of the Ministry of Justice.
The people in the Ministry of Justice didn't dare to ask too many questions. They led the Fifth Princess and her strange - looking entourage into the prison.
Nanny Gao was locked in a small, pitch - black room at the end of the dark dungeon. Her feet were tightly chained.
Wei Dongling asked the jailer to open the cell door and walked in with Yu Zixi.
A stench of mold and excrement hit them in the face, almost making Wei Dongling faint.
Nanny Gao sat upright on the wooden bed, her venomous eyes glaring at Wei Dongling.
Wei Dongling took a deep breath and said softly with a smile, "Hello, Nanny Gao! Seeing you in prison now makes this princess feel relieved."
Nanny Gao gave her a fierce look, snorted, and turned her face away.
Wei Dongling didn't care about her reaction at all. She said casually, "This princess has condescended to come here to find you just to ask about the truth of Concubine Chen's death back then."
Nanny Gao sneered, "Your Highness the Fifth Princess should go elsewhere to find the answer! I'm afraid you won't hear what you want from me."
Wei Dongling waved her hand. "It doesn't matter. Even if Nanny Gao is willing to tell, this princess may not believe it. Nanny Gao might as well listen to the truth that I know."
Nanny Gao sneered, "I don't want to listen. But it seems that the princess intends to use her power to force me, so I have no choice but to listen, right?"
"Of course!" Wei Dongling looked down at Nanny Gao and said coldly, word by word, "Back then, Empress Zhao and Concubine Chen were pregnant at the same time. The imperial physicians concluded from the pulse that both were carrying boys. Empress Zhao was jealous of Concubine Chen for competing for the emperor's favor. She colluded with the Zhao family inside and outside the palace. Outside the palace, the Su family was exterminated on the charge of treason! Inside the palace, they set up a trap to lock up Jingyang Palace. The Zhao family had long planned it. They set fire to Jingyang Palace. A total of seventeen people in the palace were buried in the fire! Along with Concubine Chen's five - month - old fetus."
Hearing this, Nanny Gao sneered, "Your Highness the Fifth Princess is so sure. May I ask, do you have any evidence?"