Chapter 176: Sang Zhi’s Amulet
"I had to finish the flogging, even with a verbal summons to the palace. Mr. Li watched the entire time. Prime Minister Gao passed out after more than thirty lashes, but it’s fine. The flogging didn’t stop. He’s now lying in the main hall of the Prime Minister’s residence, and I’ve no idea if he’s dead or alive."
"You... you’ve caused a catastrophe! Don’t you know that every single thing you’ve done today is enough to cost you your head?" Sang Zhi panicked.
"It’s fine, it’s fine. Today’s lesson in survival is how to thrive in a tight spot and turn the tables."
"You’re delusional! This is absolute madness! Not even Xiang Minghou can save you from this." Sang Zhi wouldn’t listen to her nonsense, his eyes red with anxiety.
"If it isn’t thrilling, how can it be a good lesson? Just you watch." Ye Qianning already had a plan in mind.
Sang Zhi didn’t believe her for a second. Overcome with worry, he gripped her hand tightly.
"Miss Xiang, we’ve arrived at the palace gates," Mr. Li’s voice called out.
"Mm."
"Miss Xiang, Hidden Guards are not permitted to enter the palace. Miss Xiang, if you would..."
It was only then that Ye Qianning remembered her entourage was still with them. She pulled her hand free and lifted the carriage curtain. "Luo Wen, Luo Xuan, wait for me at the palace gates. The rest of you can return to the residence."
"Yes, Miss."
The Hidden Guards replied in unison.
The palace gates opened, and the carriage entered slowly. In the dead of night, the sound of its wheels rolling over the stone pavers was exceptionally loud.
This was Ye Qianning’s first time in the Imperial Palace, and she couldn’t resist peeking out from behind the curtain. The vast palace grounds were pitch-black. Despite the many palace lanterns, the light from the candles was terribly dim.
Moreover, just inside the gates was an incredibly spacious area. A quick scan revealed a space as large as several football fields.
A eunuch holding a lantern walked ahead of the carriage, the faint light barely illuminating the path.
After about an hour, the carriage passed through several more palace gates before finally coming to a stop.
"Miss Xiang, please step out."
Ye Qianning acknowledged him and was about to get out when her hand was suddenly grabbed.
"What is it?"
"You have to be okay." Sang Zhi clutched her hand, refusing to let go. His voice sounded strained.
The carriage was dim, but Ye Qianning had excellent vision. She could clearly see the little stick-in-the-mud’s red-rimmed eyes. She was stunned. ’He wasn’t... crying, was he?’
"Don’t worry."
Sang Zhi wouldn’t let go. The look on his face was as if he believed he’d never see her again if he did.
"Miss Xiang?" Mr. Li’s voice was now tinged with urgency.
Still holding her with one hand, Sang Zhi used the other to pull a sachet from his waist. "This is a peace charm from my mother. You take it."
Ye Qianning was both amused and exasperated. ’It’s not like I’m walking into the gates of hell. Does he really have to act like I’m about to die?’
"Fine, I’ll take it. If you don’t let go soon, the sun will be up."
Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment before releasing her hand. "I’ll wait for you to come out."
"Mm."
Ye Qianning nodded, turned to lift the carriage curtain, and was then lifted down.
It was well past one in the morning, and the Imperial Palace was utterly silent in the dead of night. But the longer she looked, the more eerie it felt. ’I’ve watched way too many horror movies,’ she thought.
’Most of them start just like this: dim lighting, swaying lanterns... all it needs is a few strips of white cloth, and it’d be a perfect horror set.’
"What are you looking at, Miss Xiang?" Mr. Li asked, puzzled.
"Ghosts."
Mr. Li shuddered violently. His gaze swept around cautiously. It was fine a moment ago, but now that she’d said it, everything suddenly looked unnerving.
A cold gust of wind swept by, and several of the lanterns on the wall flickered out in unison.
"See? Definitely ghosts," Ye Qianning repeated.
"Miss Xiang, I’m an old man. You can’t scare me like this." Mr. Li’s heart was pounding in his chest; he was thoroughly spooked.