Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 1681: Chapter 1682: Is She Really Here?

If only his wife could appear before him now and reunite with him, how wonderful that would be.

As Xiao Changyi thought about this, many Praying to Heaven Lanterns appeared in his view, strikingly bright against the night.

Looking at those lanterns, Xiao Changyi couldn’t help but recall the scene when he and his wife released Lotus Lanterns together. They were so happy then. They both believed they would always continue their happiness, but now...

”Jing Er, where exactly are you?” Xiao Changyi murmured softly, his words barely audible to himself, let alone anyone else. ”Are you really here?”

As he stared quietly at those Praying to Heaven Lanterns for a long time, Xiao Changyi’s heart inexplicably calmed down a lot.

Jing Er, no matter where you are, I will find you.

Wait for me.

Murmuring this in his heart, Xiao Changyi stopped looking at those Praying to Heaven Lanterns, stopped staring at the bright moon, and closed the window, extinguished the light, and lay down to sleep.

He did not fall asleep immediately, and it took a long while before Xiao Changyi’s weary eyelids shut, and he entered the dream world.

In his dream, he found his wife, and he was ecstatically happy, like a fool.

The dream was so beautiful that although Xiao Changyi was not fully conscious, the corners of his mouth curled upwards.

...

Which Imperial Palace is not heavily guarded?

They spent quite a bit of time sneaking into Imperial City of Dongqing.

Thus, Xiao Changyi did not rashly go into the Imperial Palace of Dongqing to investigate, but planned to first ascertain the rumors: if there truly was a concubine of mysterious origin in the Imperial Palace of Dongqing, he would sneak in to see if she was his wife An Jing.

After all, Gong Juechen just mentioned in the letter that it was a rumor, not a confirmed fact.

On the second day upon arriving in the Imperial City of Dongqing, after breakfast, Xiao Changyi, along with Meng Zhuqing and the others, left the inn to investigate the rumors about the mysterious concubine, and it took them three days to discover that the news originated from the residence of the State Duke.

No matter how well-guarded the State Duke’s residence might be, it couldn’t compare to the Imperial Palace, so that night, Xiao Changyi decided to explore the State Duke’s residence with Meng Zhuqing and the others to see if they could find some clues.

After roaming around the rooftop of the State Duke’s residence, having eavesdropped nothing useful, Xiao Changyi decided to directly apprehend a servant of the State Duke’s residence for questioning.

Meng Zhuqing deftly seized a servant, pressing a sword to the servant’s neck, and gruffly asked in a low voice, ”Is there really a mysterious concubine in the palace? Speak if you don’t want to die!”

Being part of the State Duke’s residence, the servant did know a bit, and scared for his life, he replied promptly, ”Yes, there is one. I heard from our lady. Our young mistress... the Empress is worried about this matter. It seems the Emperor particularly favors that concubine.”

”What is the name of that concubine?”

The servant replied, ”I don’t know that.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhuqing exerted force with his hand, and the servant was killed on the spot, throat slit.

This servant, if left alive, might disclose their inquiry. If their lady was indeed here, alarming them would be bad, so it was better to kill him.

Without lingering any longer in the State Duke’s residence, after silencing the servant, Meng Zhuqing and the others followed Xiao Changyi out of the State Duke’s residence.

Returning to the inn.

The room where Xiao Changyi stayed.

In a set of Night Clothes, Xiao Changyi sat at the table, sipping tea and contemplating.