Hi everyone,

This is nutty sorry for the late update.  This chapter is edited by Lis.

Cheers

Nutty

Outside the palace.

Zhuo Qing patted Gu Yun's hand and said, "You just wait for us outside the palace."

"En." Gu Yun didn't refute.

The two looked and each other. Zhuo Qing suddenly put a light smile and said, "Thank you, Yun."

Gu Yun smiled, "Why do you thank me?" She didn't actually do anything, Imprisoning Lou Xi Yan was just 'the mantis stalking a cicada scheme' (to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger). Qing's purpose was to immediately save Lou Xi Yan, while Yan Hong Tian's aim was to weaken the Empress Dowager's clan's political power in the court. Each took whatever they needed. Meanwhile, she was only a mediator, letting them sit down to bargain the conditions.

Zhuo Qing slowly nodded and smiled, "Okay, I will not say it again." It was because the words 'thank you' aren't enough to express her gratitude.

"Please be careful." Going to the palace in this time, Yan Hong Tian would presume his exterior appearance for the Empress Dowager Xi to see. Although she didn't approve their action of using Bai Yi to forge a testimony against the empress dowager, she also knew that politics were much more complicated than criminal cases.

"I will, please rest assured. I didn't arrange to make a war!"

"I know, go la." Qing's resolute face looked really beautiful. In order to save Lou Xi Yan, she risked her life.

Zhuo Qing, Su Ling and Dan Yu Lan went into the gate. Su Ling suddenly turned around and looked at her. Gu Yun didn't understand the meaning of his glance.

Gu Yun estimated they would be there for one or two hours. The palace entrance was heavily guarded by soldiers. She didn't want to be glared at by them but she also didn't want to go back to the General's Manor. Gu Yun walked to the nearest restaurant. Although it was the nearest restaurant, it was still quite far from the palace. Gu Yun didn't ride a horse so she slowly walked on the paved street while thinking about Su Ling's weird behavior these days.

It was not that he was making things difficult for her. After the day he grabbed her, Gu Yun had gained wisdom. When facing him, she must keep a safe distance. He also didn't act that mannerlessly anymore. However, he would often have a complex expression when he arrogantly and silently looked at her. This made people unable to guess what was on his mind.

It was about time to light the lamps. There weren't many people on the street now. The hawkers were packing up, ready to go home. Gu Yun was a little confused, so she walked slower. At this time, a familiar figure came from the alley. The sky was already dark and the moon wasn't shining really bright. However, that dazzling silver hair was still very eye-catching.

"Ao Tian?" Recalling his hand which had a wound, Gu Yun was a little bit worried. She quickened her steps and from behind him said, "Ao Tian, wait."

The man suddenly paused. Gu Yun thought that he was waiting for her so she ran towards him. However, the figure only stayed for a moment and ran again.

"Hey!" Gu Yun frowned. Why did he quicken his pace the more she called him? Ao Tian usually was really calm. Seeing his unusually frantic behavior, Gu Yun became suspicious. According to her observations, Ao Tian wasn't a person that got panicked easily! What was happening? Following her natural curiosity, Gu Yun decided to go and have a look.

Gu Yun quickened her pace. The shadow moved fast. His skill was extremely good. Gu Yun followed the pace with some difficulties. She saw the shadow going into an alley on the right-hand side and vanished before her eyes. The alley was really dark and it was a dead-end. There was trash piled on the side, but no trace of the man.