The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

With only three days left, Shen Qingruo was unwilling to sit idly by and wait for her death.

She got up and went back to the inner room.

He took out a small package from a hidden compartment at the very bottom of the dressing case.

Inside were her meager dowry, which consisted of banknotes and some loose silver.

For the past year, thanks to these things, she has been able to avoid having a too difficult time in this cold palace where people fawn over the powerful and bully the weak.

"Xiao Jiu," she whispered in her heart.

"Here I am, Aruo!" The orb of light immediately lit up, its voice cheerful.

"Do you know who else from the Marquis of Wei's residence or the Yun residence in Daliang is currently in the capital? How can I send this message out?"

"Let me check..." Xiao Jiu's aura flickered a few times, "All the male members of the Marquis of Wei's mansion are guarding the city, and only the female members are left in the mansion. The defenses are very tight."

"As for the Yun family, your maternal grandfather, Yun Wenhan, was disliked by the emperor for advocating peace. He claimed to be ill and stayed at home, making the mansion deserted. Ironically, this is an opportunity."

Shen Qingruo pondered intently.

Grandpa...

"I need a reliable person to deliver this sachet to the Yun residence," she said softly. "It must be quick; there are only three days left."

"Aruo, you could try contacting that eunuch who delivers meals every day," Xiao Jiu suggested. "I scanned him; he's the simplest-minded and most money-strapped of all the palace servants."

Shen Qingruo remembered that the young eunuch was not very old and always kept his head down. He was always very happy when he received the silver from her, and his ears would turn red.

She walked to the door and gently opened it a crack.

In the courtyard, the little eunuch was carrying a food box and walking this way with his neck hunched.

Shen Qingruo waited for him to approach before fully opening the door.

The young eunuch was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, it's time for your meal."

"Mmm," Shen Qingruo responded softly.

She extended the hand holding the item, her sleeve slipping down to reveal a section of her fair and delicate wrist. "This is for you."

The young eunuch was taken aback. He stared at the silver ingots and banknotes in her palm, which made his eyes widen. The old sachet puzzled him even more.

"Your Majesty, this..."

"Send the sachet to the residence of Grand Tutor Yun Wenhan in the west of the city." Shen Qingruo looked at him, her clear, watery eyes sparkling. "You don't need to do anything else. Give it to the gatekeeper and ask him to make sure it's delivered to Grand Tutor Yun."

"This banknote is your reward, for bribing officials."

The young eunuch looked troubled, glanced around, and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, passing things privately is a serious crime."

"I know." Shen Qingruo lowered her eyes slightly, her voice softening and tinged with helplessness. "This sachet is a keepsake from my mother. I just wanted to let her know, that's all."

She raised her eyes, her gaze shimmering with tears: "Even if we're discovered, I will absolutely not implicate you."

Looking at her pale and delicate face, the young eunuch felt a pang of unease. But when he saw the silver ingot and the considerable amount of silver notes, greed ultimately prevailed.

He quickly grabbed the items and stuffed them into his pocket.

"This servant will give it a try."

"Thank you." Shen Qingruo smiled faintly, like the first melting of snow, which made the little eunuch stunned again. He quickly lowered his head, put down the food box, and hurried away.

After closing the door, Shen Qingruo leaned against it and let out a soft sigh.

"Well done, Aruo!" Xiao Jiu cheered in her mind, "First step successful!"

Shen Qingruo, however, was not so optimistic.

Even if Grandpa sees the sachet, will he believe it? Will he contact Wei Zheng?

She walked to the window and looked at the gray sky outside.

Placing your hopes on others and feeling passive is really awful.

For the next three days, Shen Qingruo felt like she was living a life of unbearable hardship in the cold palace.

She appeared quiet, spending her days sitting by the window or under the old tree in the courtyard, but in reality, she was restless, constantly watching for any activity outside the palace.

"Xiao Jiu," she called out in her heart again, "how is it outside?"

"The desert army has already set up camp not far outside the city, Aruo." Xiao Jiu's voice was also tense. "The high-ranking officials in the city are quietly packing their valuables, and the guards in the palace have also increased significantly. The atmosphere is very strange."

Shen Qingruo clenched her hand hidden in her sleeve.

The young eunuch hasn't returned to report, and there's been no news from him. Did he fail? Or...?

On the morning of the third day, before dawn, the faint sounds of bugles and battle cries could be heard in the distance.

Shen Qingruo was suddenly awakened from her light sleep.

coming.