pillow bird spring

By the time Nangong Zhao realized what was happening, it was too late to chase after him.

His expression changed completely.

The scene suddenly descended into chaos.

This was exactly the effect Pei Shou'an wanted; he wanted to completely destroy Xiao Yin.

"How dare you!" Xiao Yin said even faster.

The moment Shen Yinshuang rushed forward, her hand hadn't even had time to touch the cloak.

Xiao Yin had already aimed his sword at Shen Yinshuang.

Nangong Zhao stopped in his tracks, frowning.

The black cloak slipped off the path during the collision and quickly disappeared from sight.

Shen Yinshuang breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Yin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before sheathing his sword and looking at the Empress Dowager as if nothing had happened.

"Your Majesty has been frightened. I thought Shen Yinshuang had lost control, which is why I rushed up to protect you," Xiao Yin said calmly.

Pei Shouan's expression also changed.

He never expected that he would be so close, just one step away.

His complexion was naturally not good.

However, in such a situation, Pei Shou'an could not make his intentions too obvious.

Shen Yinshuang had already collapsed to the ground.

"I will absolutely not let this wretched servant get away with this!" The Empress Dowager clutched her chest, visibly terrified. "This wretched servant is practically plotting a rebellion!"

Consort De, who had been silent, stepped forward and helped the Empress Dowager up.

"Your Majesty," Consort De said calmly, "I am not trying to protect Shen Yinshuang. It's just that you cannot kill any living beings while you are observing a vegetarian diet and chanting Buddhist prayers. Moreover, the ancestral worship ceremony is just around the corner, and we cannot kill any living beings then. Otherwise, if Buddha were to punish us, how could we protect the peace and prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty!"

After a slight pause, Consort De continued speaking.

"This cloak does not belong to General Xiao, and I can testify to that," Consort De said, bringing up the matter of the cloak herself.

The Empress Dowager's sharp gaze fell upon Consort De.

Pei Shouan looked unwell, but he didn't dare to confront Consort De head-on.

"This cloak was given to Shen Yinshuang by your concubine. You may have forgotten that last year His Majesty bestowed upon me a fine sable cloak, which is only black to the naked eye and only shimmers with purple light in the sunlight. When Shen Yinshuang came that day, I saw that she was dressed in thin clothes, so I let her wear it."

Consort De explained clearly: "Your Majesty would not mistake something for a gift. I think Shen Yingshuang is not a member of the palace and has never seen anything like this before. She was naturally afraid, which is why she acted impulsively. It was not intentional."

Then Consort De looked at Pei Shou'an: "Lord Pei has identified this cloak as General Xiao's, but there is solid evidence. After all, everyone in the court knows that Lord Pei and General Xiao are at odds. Aren't you afraid that it will get out that Lord Pei is deliberately causing trouble and framing someone?"

"This..." Pei Shou'an was completely at a loss. "Your Majesty, that's not what I meant."

"That's good. I think Lord Pei has probably really admitted his mistake. After all, this cloak is something only I possess in the harem." Consort De finished speaking calmly.

"Consort De is right." The Empress Dowager took the opportunity offered by Consort De to step down, "But Shen Yinshuang, although she may be spared the death penalty, she cannot escape punishment."

Consort De then remained silent.

"Guards, lock Shen Yinshuang in the palace dungeon for three days as punishment," the Empress Dowager said coldly.

"Yes!" the guard replied.

Shen Yinshuang was dragged up again.

The dungeon of the imperial palace was a water dungeon.

Even after soaking in water for three days, the solution remains salt water.

Even a normal person couldn't stand it, let alone the frail Shen Yinshuang.

With his wounds, it was impossible for him to survive three days.

The Empress Dowager seemed to give Consort De face, but she still wanted Shen Yinshuang dead.

Xiao Yin glanced out of the corner of his eye in the direction Shen Yingshuang had left.

The fist in his palm gradually clenched.

Nangong Zhao grabbed Xiao Yin's hand once again.

As soon as the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she left with Princess Chengping.

Princess Chengping sneered as she passed by Shen Yinshuang.

Pei Shou'an, however, looked at Xiao Yin with an unpredictable expression.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yin escaped unscathed.

"Xiao Yin, do you think you'll always have this much luck?" Pei Shou'an asked in a low voice, his face expressionless.

Xiao Yin remained motionless in place, offering no response whatsoever.

It was as if they didn't take Pei Shou'an seriously at all.

Pei Shouan's face gradually darkened with anger.

After the group left, Nangong Zhao spoke up, "Don't be impulsive. The dungeon is heavily guarded. Going there now would be too blatant."

"She can't take it." Xiao Yin finished speaking with a tense expression.

"At the very least, you can't go now. Pei Shou'an's men are definitely waiting for you to walk into their trap." Nangong Zhao said calmly.

"Zhao'er is right. The general is acting rashly now, which will likely only make the situation worse," Consort De sighed.

For a moment, Xiao Yin stood frozen in place.

"Let's leave here first," Nangong Zhao said in a low voice, trying to persuade Xiao Yin.

Too many people and too much attention.

Xiao Yin also understood this principle.

Xiao Yin didn't linger and turned to leave with Nangong Zhao.

Cui Lingyi already knew about this, and she lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

"Go to the Empress Dowager's place." Cui Lingyi looked at Zhizi.

Zhi Zi was taken aback: "Miss, what are you going to the Empress Dowager's place for now?"

"Please, I beg you." Cui Lingyi said without changing her expression.

Zhi Zi was somewhat confused: "Don't you just want Shen Yingshuang dead? If she goes to the Heavenly Prison, she definitely won't survive. Besides, the Empress Dowager is furious, and Princess Chengping is clearly determined to kill Shen Yingshuang. Going there will only cause you trouble."

Gardenia was trying to persuade Cui Lingyi.

Cui Lingyi ignored him and continued walking quickly toward the Empress Dowager's palace.

Gardenia hurriedly followed.

But Cui Lingyi knew very well that Shen Yinshuang was going to die.

But not now.

Her act of seeking peace was meant to impress Xiao Yin.

Only in this way can you completely absolve yourself of any responsibility later.

Since Cui Lingyi didn't say anything, Zhi Zi didn't dare to ask any more questions.

On the way there, Cui Lingyi met Xiao Yin.

"Brother Yin." Cui Lingyi frowned as she looked at Xiao Yin, her eyes filled with worry.

Xiao Yin remained calm, concealing his emotions well: "Why are you in such a hurry? What happened?"

"When I returned, I heard that Miss Shen had been punished by the Empress Dowager and was being held in the dungeon for three days as punishment. How could she possibly endure the dungeon of that imperial palace?" Cui Lingyi looked up at Xiao Yin.

Her slender hand gripped Xiao Yin tightly, and her anxiety was evident in her words.

Xiao Yin looked down quietly at Cui Lingyi, seemingly without any reaction.

"I don't know the specifics of what happened; those who know are keeping silent," Cui Lingyi sighed. "But to offend the Empress Dowager like this during the ancestral worship ceremony is no small matter."

"You care about her a lot?" After a long while, Xiao Yin asked Cui Lingyi slowly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yin looked down at Cui Lingyi.

It was as if they wanted to see through her true thoughts.

Cui Lingyi did not flinch, but looked directly into Xiao Yin's eyes.

After a moment of silence, the two remained silent.

It was Cui Lingyi who took the initiative to break the silence.

"Brother Yin, isn't Miss Shen very important to you?" Cui Lingyi suddenly asked Xiao Yin seriously.