Because Princess Shaowen acted as a peacemaker, the situation temporarily maintained a superficial calm.
Princess Shaowen looked at her two Imperial Sisters above and opposite her, and chuckled, "Today is Imperial Sister's birthday. I should congratulate Imperial Sister, but I've been feeling unwell these past few days, so my niece will represent me in toasting Imperial Sister."
Both the Purple Emperor and Princess Lan Jun looked at her, thinking that this Imperial Sister was pushing her niece forward because Yuzhu might not wake up, so that she would have someone to rely on in her later years.
Princess Shaowen looked at the disguised Yuzhu, and nodded slightly.
Yuzhu, holding a cup of wine, rose and stepped forward.
Approaching the Purple Emperor, and after saying a few birthday wishes, she drank the wine.
Su Li had used medicine to alter her voice, so there was no need to worry about her speaking and revealing her identity.
The Purple Emperor chuckled, "She looks like an obedient child."
Yuzhu returned to her seat and lightly shook her head at Princess Shaowen.
Princess Shaowen's expression remained unchanged. She looked at Princess Lan Jun opposite her and said, "Feixu, please go and toast Princess Lan Jun as well."
Everyone marveled, "As expected of the peacemaker; even in toasting, there's no partiality."
Yuzhu rose and walked towards Princess Lan Jun.
"Feixu toasts Princess Lan Jun. Please take good care of me in the future, Princess."
She finished speaking and drank the wine.
Princess Lan Jun took the wine cup and chuckled, "No problem."
Everyone looked enviously at the woman named Feixu. Princess Shaowen was a popular figure. With her as a backer, one could instantly become a person of status.
Yuzhu returned to her seat and shook her head at her mother.
Princess Shaowen frowned. The Gu caster wasn't in the main hall?
Who could it be?
Su Li scanned the main hall. Perhaps they wouldn't find the Gu caster today.
Next came the officials' birthday wishes. Su Li and Jun Mo quietly withdrew from the main hall while everyone was presenting their birthday gifts.
The palace maids and servants in the main hall were moving around in the back, so their departure didn't attract anyone's attention.
The two avoided the crowds and, with the map of the Xi Chen Imperial Palace, familiar with the routes, headed towards the Divine Temple.
Upon reaching the Divine Temple, there was surprisingly no one outside the hall.
The two exchanged puzzled glances and cautiously entered.
Walking behind the statue, they saw a pile of unconscious Xi Chen soldiers.
Su Li whispered, "Could it be that another group of people has already been here?"
Jun Mo frowned, "Not our people."
"Never mind. If we miss today, who knows if we'll have another chance. Let's go in and see!" Su Li said.
Jun Mo reached out and fumbled along the back of the statue. With Mo Lei's intelligence, he quickly found the mechanism.
With a turn, a door slowly appeared on the previously intact wall. Behind the door was a passage.
The two exchanged glances. Jun Mo shielded Su Li in his embrace and slowly walked inside.
As soon as they entered, the stone door automatically closed.
There were many torches in this secret passage, so although the light was dim, they could still proceed normally.
After walking for a while, they saw two branching paths.
Su Li asked, "This... which one should we take?"
Jun Mo said, "Let fate decide. Just pick one."
The two took the right path. After just one step, they felt the ground shake.
Their expressions drastically changed. It was too late to retreat.
The stone slab beneath their feet instantly collapsed.
"Ah!"
"Li'er!"
Jun Mo pulled Su Li into his embrace, leaped vigorously, and landed on the stone wall with his tiptoes.
When the two landed, they looked back, and both breathed a sigh of relief, filled with lingering fear.
Below the collapsed section, there were only sharp blades!
Jun Mo said, "Let's go."
The two continued forward, even more cautiously than before.
Su Li noticed that on the wall ahead, at regular intervals, there were malachite carvings, with mist spraying from the peacock's mouth.
Jun Mo looked at Su Li in confusion. "Li'er, why have you stopped?"
Su Li said, "See that mist? That's poison gas."
"Xi Chen is known for poison. In a place like this, poison is too normal," Jun Mo said calmly.
Su Li took a porcelain bottle from her waist, poured out a pill, swallowed it, then handed one to Jun Mo.
"This is my latest developed antidote. It can neutralize basic poisons."
Jun Mo took the pill and swallowed it. The two continued forward.
After walking for a while longer, Jun Mo suddenly stopped her.
Su Li turned, looking at him in confusion.
Jun Mo whispered, "Someone."
The two lightened their footsteps and slowly moved forward.
The voices ahead grew louder.
"Master, didn't you say you knew the way? We almost lost our lives!"
"How was I to know that venomous woman changed all the mechanisms?"
"Master, you old man, you should know. We've already broken in once. How could they not change it?"
"Shut up! You knew and still said it?"
Hearing these familiar voices, Su Li and Jun Mo exchanged smiles.
Su Li completely relaxed. She was deeply moved, and her eyes felt a little warm.
Master was going to help her find the Thousand-Layer Frost!
The two stepped forward.
"Who!" True Immortal Mingyang low-growled.
Seeing Su Li and Jun Mo emerge from the corner, True Immortal Mingyang immediately blocked in front of Dai Wuya.
"You go first!" After saying this, he flew towards Jun Mo and attacked.
"Master, it's us!"
Hearing this voice, Mingyang immediately stopped.
"Little disciple?"
Su Li chuckled, "It's me."
Jun Mo cupped his hands to True Immortal Mingyang and said, "Master."
True Immortal Mingyang said, "I thought you two would wait until you were married to come. I didn't expect you to actually come."
Su Li said emotionally, "Master, it's very dangerous for you to trespass like this."
Dai Wuya stepped forward and said, "Junior Sister, Master doesn't listen to advice."
True Immortal Mingyang said, "Do you think I don't know the danger? But I, as your master, know the route to the Land of Extreme Cold better than you, and have a greater chance of finding the Thousand-Layer Frost. Let's not stand here. If we're going, let's go!"
So the group of four continued forward.
With True Immortal Mingyang leading the way, their progress was indeed much faster.
Suddenly, the bronze bells in the passage shook violently.
Mingyang's face changed. "They've discovered us!"
"We must leave immediately and find another opportunity to come! Poison gas will spread here soon!"
Su Li frowned, "Do we have to go back the way we came?"
Dai Wuya said, "Wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap?"
Jun Mo saw Mingyang's calm expression. "Master, do you have a countermeasure?"
Mingyang looked at Jun Mo approvingly and said, "Follow me!"
The three followed behind him, taking many twists and turns, walking for about two ke (approximately half an hour).
Mingyang looked at Jun Mo and said, "You are stronger. Push open that stone above."
Su Li's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Master, that's a whole slab. How can it be pushed open?"
Mingyang said, "If I say it can, it can! Go!"
Jun Mo rolled up his sleeves, channeled strength into his palms, and pushed hard against the giant stone above.
Suddenly, the originally solid giant stone developed cracks.
Under their astonished gazes, the giant stone opened neatly like a manhole cover.
True Immortal Mingyang said, "Let's go up."
Everyone climbed out of the secret passage and closed the giant stone.
They looked around and found themselves in a somewhat desolate courtyard.
"Where is this?"
Dai Wuya said, "Master surely knows."
Mingyang said, "That's the Imperial Kitchen over there. Wuya and I will go first. You two find an opportunity to meet us at Fuyuan Inn."
After speaking, he took Dai Wuya and leaped onto the roof, vanishing from their sight in an instant.
Su Li said, "Master seems very familiar with the Xi Chen Imperial Palace."
Jun Mo nodded. "It seems we need Master's help."
The two exited the courtyard, only to be surrounded by a team of guards.
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