Empress's Secret Order

Qing Li's calm tone struck the two like thunder.

Ji Ruxue shot up from the bed and ordered Hong Yu:

"Mobilize all resources at your disposal. I want to know what exactly happened at the Left Wei Guard!"

"Also, go confirm with Jun Tianxiao. Although he's not the commander of the Left Wei Guard, Zhao Yun is a general under him, so he should know something."

"Yes."

Hong Yu bowed slightly, then turned and quickly exited the Imperial Study.

Ji Ruxue watched Hong Yu's retreating back before lying back down on the bed, transforming into a languid vixen, waiting quietly.

She had expected this to take no long time, but to her surprise, a full hour passed before Hong Yu returned to the Imperial Study.

Furthermore, Hong Yu's expression seemed to have lost its previous seriousness and calmness, replaced by a rare panic.

Ji Ruxue recalled the last time she saw that expression on Hong Yu's face...

Perhaps influenced by Hong Yu's expression, Ji Ruxue slowly sat up, her tone tinged with urgency, and asked:

"How's the investigation coming along?"

Without even catching her breath, Hong Yu hurriedly relayed the news she had gathered.

"Reporting to His Majesty, our scouts are completely unable to transmit any information from the Left Wei Guard."

"The Marquis of Anle went to the Left Wei Guard Barracks this morning and has not yet returned home. We cannot get the latest news from him."

"Currently, unless one enters the Left Wei Guard Barracks through normal channels, we have no way of knowing what has happened there."

Ji Ruxue was surprised that after such a long investigation, this was all the information they had.

She felt a sense of absurdity and looked at Hong Yu with dissatisfaction.

"How did it take so long to get just this information?"

Hong Yu knew this was her mistake, failing to prioritize. She quickly pleaded for forgiveness.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty. The reason I took so long to report back is that the Marquis of Anle is missing."

"What? He's a living person, how could he go missing? And Zhao Yun, who is comparable to a Spirit Transmutation Peak Stage expert, is by his side!"

"If he wanted to run, no one in the entire capital, except for the old monsters in the Void Refinement Realm, could have kept him quiet."

"And he only left this morning, not even a full day has passed. How can you conclude he's truly missing?"

While Ji Ruxue was speaking, Hong Yu took the opportunity to calm her breathing and spoke again.

"Your Majesty, I immediately dispatched the Xuan Niao Guard to both the Left Wei Guard camp and the Marquis of Anle's manor."

"The Xuan Niao Guard sent to the Left Wei Guard camp were directly blocked from entering."

"When they attempted to force their way in and contact Zhao Yun, twelve Body Cultivators at the early Spirit Transmutation Realm suddenly appeared."

"Perhaps out of consideration for your presence, they only severely injured the Xuan Niao Guard and left them outside the camp."

"These Xuan Niao Guards were dragged back by our arranged scouts."

"According to their reports after waking up, the specific situation within the Left Wei Guard remains unknown, but they have indeed entered a state of readiness."

"They speculate that the commander of the Left Wei Guard, Zhao Yun, may have met with misfortune."

"Considering the Golden Core Realm Body Cultivator who appeared near the Duke of Wei a week ago, these twelve Spirit Transmutation Realm Body Cultivators likely belong to the Duke of Wei's Mansion."

"Bang!"

"This is outrageous!"

"Is the Duke of Wei's Mansion trying to rebel?"

Hearing that the Left Wei Guard had audaciously attacked her Xuan Niao Guard, Ji Ruxue

Angrily smashed the table with a palm, wishing she could rush out and teach them a lesson right now.

But reason told her that the matter was far from over.

"What about the Marquis of Anle? Why do you say he's missing?"

This was the first time Hong Yu had seen Ji Ruxue so flustered. She lowered her head, pretending not to see anything.

"According to the Xuan Niao Guard sent to the Marquis of Anle's manor, the Marquis has not returned since entering the Left Wei Guard camp this morning."

"Following his habit of the past week, the Marquis only inspects the Left Wei Guard camp in the morning and always returns home for lunch before noon."

"But today, the Marquis did not return home, nor did he arrange for any escorts to deliver a message."

"Combining this with the experience of the Xuan Niao Guard sent to the Left Wei Guard camp, it is highly probable that the Marquis and his general Zhao Yun have both met with misfortune."

"However, due to insufficient intelligence at this stage, many conclusions are based on speculation, hence the temporary classification as missing."

"But if both of them have indeed met with misfortune, considering Zhao Yun's strength, capable of fighting a Spirit Transmutation Peak expert without defeat."

"The enemy's cultivation must be at least Mid Void Refinement Realm to have silently eliminated him."

After hearing the information Hong Yu provided, Ji Ruxue's head buzzed, her vision briefly clouded by confusion.

She truly hadn't expected things to escalate to this point.

She only divided a quarter of the Wei State Duke Mansion's military power!

She didn't punish Lü Qingjian in time and save the Wei State Duke Mansion's face!

How did it escalate to this point?

Also, what's the situation with the Mid Void Refinement Realm cultivators in the Left Wei Guard camp?

The other guards...

Ji Ruxue suddenly realized something, her eyes fixed on Hong Yu.

"What's the situation with the Left and Right Xiao Guards and the Right Wei Guard?"

Hong Yu lowered his head. Although he couldn't see Ji Ruxue's expression, her intense gaze made him a little uncomfortable.

"Reporting to His Majesty, the Commander of Right Wei Guard, Meng Qianxue, has abdicated and has returned to the Wei State Duke Mansion."

"The position of Commander of Right Wei Guard has been taken over by another candidate arranged by the Wei State Duke."

"The Left and Right Xiao Guards have also initiated war mobilization, but there have been no personnel changes. Only the number of guards on the city walls and gates has increased severalfold."

As the words fell, the Imperial Study fell silent.

Ji Ruxue lay weakly on the bed. The Commander of Left Wei Guard was suspected of being forcibly replaced by someone with a cultivation base of Mid Void Refinement Realm or higher.

The Commander of Right Wei Guard was also replaced by someone else at the same time. It was hard to guarantee that the strength of the new Commander of Right Wei Guard did not reach the Void Refinement Realm.

With two military formations led by Void Refinement Realm Experts, they could definitely crush the three Void Refinement Realm Deans of Taihua Academy into dust.

Even she, a Body Integration Realm Early Stage cultivator, was a little wary of cultivator military formations. She might not die, but it would definitely be unpleasant.

"It seems I have to make some choices," Ji Ruxue thought to herself.

Then she looked at Hong Yu, who was standing obediently on the spot with his head lowered. She was taken aback.

It seemed he had indeed lost his composure just now. Even the usually lively Hong Yu was scared into being a well-behaved girl.

"Hong Yu, have the Xuan Niao Guard secretly pass a message to Yun Congnan and Qiu Ziqin. Tell them to bring those who do not belong to Lü Qingjian's faction,"

"and temporarily evacuate Taihua Academy. Remember not to leak any information, especially not to let Lü Qingjian find out."

Hong Yu heard the command and suddenly looked up, as if he had heard something incredible.

He asked in surprise, "Your Majesty, is it really necessary?"