She gazed at the gradually whitening eastern horizon, where the morning light seeped inch by inch through the pale white, outlining the varied shapes of the city's rooftops into shadows of varying depths.
"Now that the imperial court has taken action, we can't just sit idly by." She turned and walked back into the cave. "Bring Liu Yanzhao and Zhou Jing out and send them to the Imperial Guard's garrison to be handed over to Song Xuanwei. It's safer for the Imperial Guard to temporarily detain them under the pretext of 'assisting in the investigation' than to hide them in this abandoned cave."
Yin Wujou had been awakened by the noise and rubbed his eyes as he walked out from the depths of the cave. After listening to Snow Empress finish explaining the plan, he went back into the cellar to fetch people without saying a word. Liu Yanzhao was still unconscious, but Zhou Jing had regained some consciousness. He opened his narrow eyes and looked around at the dark interior of the abandoned kiln, with his signature calm smile still on his face.
"Oh, you've changed locations." Zhou Jing said lazily as Yin Wujou dragged him out of the cellar. "Looks like you guys are making pretty good progress. When are you going to send me to the Court of Judicial Review?"
"I'll send you to the Imperial Guard." Yin Wujou replied irritably, hoisting him onto his shoulder.
Taking advantage of the early dawn and before the streets became bustling, the group took a shortcut through the abandoned kilns in the west of the city and headed straight for the Imperial Guard's garrison. Song Xuanwei had been waiting at the garrison entrance for a long time. He had changed back into the standard armor of the Imperial Guard's chief instructor, and his figure was more upright than the previous two days, but the haggardness between his brows was still clearly visible.
"The report has already been submitted to the palace," he said in a low voice as he approached. "The eunuchs took the secret report before the morning court session this morning. After reading it, the Emperor summoned the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet to the palace for a political discussion. The news hasn't spread yet, but I estimate that by noon at the latest, the Meng family will have noticed something."
The Snow Empress handed Liu Yanzhao and Zhou Jing to him. "These two will be temporarily detained by the Imperial Guard. I will keep a copy of the case file with me; present it to them if the court sends anyone to inquire. Also, the Spiritual Power center of the Xuan Abyss Workshop's armory was only locked for seven days. The court officials must take over and seal it within seven days, otherwise the Puppet Armor will resume its active state."
Song Xuanwei noted everything down, then waved for two trusted captains to escort Liu Yanzhao and Zhou Jing into the prison inside the garrison. He glanced at the Snow Empress one last time, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only uttered a low "Thank you."
Snow Empress nodded slightly, then turned and led Yin Wujou Mu Canglan away from the Imperial Guard's encampment. The three didn't go far, sitting down at a breakfast stall on a street corner outside the encampment, ordering three bowls of hot porridge and several side dishes. Yin Wujou Mu Canglan buried their heads in their porridge and wolfed it down, but Snow Empress didn't touch her chopsticks, only holding the bowl of porridge to warm her hands, her gaze always fixed on the movements in the direction of the Imperial Guard's encampment.
"How do you think the Emperor will handle this matter?" Yin Wujou asked, looking up after drinking most of his porridge.
The Snow Empress pondered for a moment, turning his bowl of porridge. "The secret report mentions that ' Liu Yanzhao privately built the Xuan Abyss Workshop, privately manufactured a hundred Puppet Armor, and plotted to enter the capital and kidnap the Emperor.' According to the law, this is a serious crime of treason, with far-reaching implications. Since the Emperor summoned the cabinet for a meeting of state affairs immediately, it shows that he at least takes it seriously. But the key lies with Meng Qi. He has cultivated his influence in the capital region for many years, and his connections in the court are deeply entrenched. To bring him down, the secret report and our case files alone are not enough. We need the Emperor to personally issue an edict for a 'thorough investigation' to bypass the layers of connections he has laid out."
"Will the Emperor issue an edict?" Mu Canglan asked.
"That depends on how substantial Song Xuanwei's secret report is." The Snow Empress finally picked up her bowl of porridge and took a sip. The hot porridge seemed to dispel some of the chill she had felt over the past few days. She put down the bowl, her gaze slightly narrowed. "Also, the token we obtained from the secret chamber of the Meng residence has a standard code used exclusively by the Spirit Vein Bureau. This token can serve as physical evidence to prove the connection between Meng Qi and the Xuan Abyss Workshop. If the Emperor is willing to investigate, this token will be irrefutable proof."
After the three finished breakfast, it was fully light. The market stalls gradually opened, and the crowds thickened, with shouts and laughter mingling together, a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere of the previous night. Snow Empress stood up, paid for the porridge, and was about to say something when her gaze suddenly sharpened. A captain hurriedly walked out of the gate of the Imperial Guard's garrison and ran straight towards them.
The captain ran up to Snow Empress and bowed respectfully. "Chief Instructor Song requests that the three of you proceed to the camp immediately; someone from the palace has arrived."
Snow Empress's pupils contracted slightly. She exchanged a glance with Yin Wujou, then quickly followed the captain into the Imperial Guard's barracks.
Inside the council hall of the residence, a middle-aged man dressed in a crimson official robe stood in the center, holding a bright yellow imperial edict in his hand. Song Xuanwei stood beside him, his expression solemn. When the purple-robed official saw Snow Empress and the other two enter, his gaze lingered on Snow Empress for a moment, as if he recognized her identity, but he did not say anything. He simply unfolded the imperial edict in his hand and read it aloud.
The imperial decree was short, but essentially stated that the Emperor, having received a Imperial Guard, was aware of the Xuan Abyss Workshop and the Puppet Armor. He ordered the Court of Judicial Review of Imperial Guard Review, in conjunction with the Imperial Guards, to immediately seal off the Xuan Abyss Workshop, thoroughly investigate Liu Yanzhao's treason case, and detain and investigate Meng Qi and other individuals mentioned in the case files. A detailed report was to be submitted within three days. It was stamped with a bright red imperial seal, the characters of which were upright and robust, confirming it was not a forgery.
After the decree was read aloud, the official in purple robes handed it to Song Xuanwei, then turned to the Snow Empress and bowed slightly. "Miss Snow Empress, the Emperor also mentioned the old case from ten years ago involving the Spirit Vein Bureau. If this case is thoroughly investigated and the Spirit Vein Bureau is found to be innocent, the warrant for your arrest will be revoked. Please cooperate with the Court of Judicial Review's investigation."
The Snow Empress remained silent for a moment, then lowered his head slightly, which was taken as his agreement. The purple-robed official gave a few more instructions on the schedule for the raid on the workshops, and then Song Xuanwei personally escorted him out of the council hall.
When only Snow Empress, Yin Wujou Mu Canglan remained in the hall, Yin Wujou finally let out a long breath, as if some taut string had been pulled out, and he almost lost his balance. Mu Canglan quickly grabbed his arm and said half-jokingly, "Young man, you can't even hold on after just a few days? Back in the day, we from the Seventy-Two Caves could run around in the mountains for a month without a break."
Yin Wujou waved his hand with a wry smile and sat down on the chair next to him. He was indeed extremely tired, and now that he relaxed, every bone in his body was screaming in pain. But he still mustered his spirits and looked at Snow Empress. She was standing in the hall, holding a copy of the imperial edict in her hand, and was carefully reading it word by word.
Morning light streamed through the windows of the council chamber, golden rays falling on her slightly lowered brows and eyes, melting away the weariness and grime accumulated over the past few days into a gentle warmth. Yin Wujou looked at the slightly upturned corners of her lips; though the curve was barely perceptible, he knew it was a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"You smiled," he said.