Qiu Duo was puzzled about what was going on when he suddenly heard a panicked shout from a servant beside the carriage: "Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"

Qiu Duo rode his horse forward and asked loudly, "What's the matter?"

On the floor of the carriage, a roll of palace brocade had been placed at some unknown time, wrapped around the unconscious Mingde. It seemed like he had been covered with a drugged handkerchief. When Qiu Duo and his men suddenly lifted the palace brocade, they couldn't wake him up.

The bright red muslin was as beautiful as jade, quietly hitting that unspeakable thought, and was indeed the most suitable generous gift.

The servant said in a panic, "Your Highness, before we set off, a few palace servants came here sneakily and turned around. They must have bribed the servants to secretly send this person to the carriage. This subordinate was negligent for a moment. Please punish me, Your Highness!"

Qiu Duo's hand holding the bright red palace brocade was trembling slightly, but it was not noticeable without a close look. "...Which palace were those servants from?"

"Your Highness, they said they were from Virtuous Consort's palace. Your Highness, this person cannot stay long! He is both a traitor and favored by the Emperor. They are fighting for power and profit in the harem of the Celestial Dynasty. It's not good for us to get involved!"

Qiu Duo was stunned for a while, only seeing Mingde lying on the bright red palace brocade, the luxurious silk against his cheeks, as if he was pale as a dream after the prosperity of three thousand miles.

The servant knelt on the ground with a thud. "Your Highness, please think carefully. This person's favor has already aroused public anger. Virtuous Consort Chang is about to be crowned Empress, so naturally she sees him as a thorn in her side. Using our hands to take this person away, firstly, she can eliminate her opponent; secondly, if it arouses the anger of the Celestial Dynasty Emperor, she can also shift the blame onto us. This plan is not only vicious but also kills two birds with one stone. Your Highness must not fall for the woman's trick!"

Qiu Duo turned his head. "Then what do you say we should do?"

"Immediately set off to return and send him back to the Celestial Dynasty Emperor!"

When a person has desire, they become weak. Qiu Duo frowned. It was clearly a matter that should be easily decided, but it inexplicably made people hesitate in their hearts.

The words of that young servant that day were still ringing in his ears - "Sir Mingde was imprisoned because the Empress was killed and the rebellion was destroyed. The Emperor may favor him for a time but not for a lifetime. Sooner or later, he will follow the Empress with a cup of poisoned wine."

Would that be the case? A long time later, in that distant Central Plains, in the deep palace locked behind layers of gates, a cup of poisoned wine ended his life. He might not even know when that person had already lost his beautiful looks and the prime of his life.

At that time, would there be regret?

The little desire that day, under the deliberate inducement and catalysis, had already taken root and sprouted, imperceptibly growing the first leaf in his heart.

Qiu Duo suddenly turned his head to look at the servant kneeling on the ground, "How many people know about this?"

The servant was startled, "Pr-probably only Virtuous Consort and the brothers that Your Highness trusts, no one else."

Qiu Duo suddenly stood up and closed the carriage door. "Take the map of the shortcut out of the capital. Go at full speed out of the border!"

The servant almost collapsed on the ground in fright, "Your Highness, Your Highness, you can't! Beauties are like grass all over the world. Our Yuezhi is not yet at the point where we can confront the Celestial Dynasty for the sake of one person. Your Highness, please reconsider!"

"I have already reconsidered," Qiu Duo said in a deep voice. "Pass my order. Everyone take the shortcut. No setting up camp tonight. Proceed at full speed towards the border line!"

The servant looked at Prince Qiu Duo and shrank back. The people of their grassland nation were fierce. Once they decided on something, it was absolutely impossible to change. Even if they knew how terrible the consequences would be, they would still go ahead regardless. Prince Qiu Duo was still very young and had the courage unique to young people. He saw a kind of spine-chilling bravery on this face.

The servant ran out, stumbling and crawling, and shouted to the order-bearer, "Run! The prince ordered not to set up camp tonight. Leave the capital at full speed!"

In the palace filled with spring, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments surrounded the ears. Beautifully dressed maids delivered fruits and snacks like flowing water. Ding Zhaorong sat steadily in the first seat, holding the finest Biluochun tea, with a barely visible cold smile at the corner of her lips. After a while, a trusted palace maid hurried over. With just a glance, the people around silently withdrew.

"Madam, your great plan has succeeded. Virtuous Consort indeed sent that person wrapped in palace brocade to the Yuezhi carriage!"

"The map was also sent over?"

"Yes, Madam's elder brother has already ordered someone to open the city gate to facilitate the entry and exit of that carriage. Virtuous Consort is still in the palace making vows."

"Virtuous Consort has worked hard. She has a pretty face but no brains at all. Does she really think that by getting rid of the one in Qingzhen Palace, she can become the Empress of the Celestial Dynasty?" Ding Zhaorong stood up and walked out on her own. "I taught her what to do, and she did exactly that. Come, someone!"

Two guards from the Ding family turned out from outside the door, "We are here."

"Prepare a horse. I want to personally rush to Old Junmei's manor in the suburbs to meet the Emperor!"

Walking out from the dark and turbid sickbed, there was a large patch of sunlight outside the manor, shining white on the stone lions in front of the door. For some reason, the Qianwan Emperor felt a little dizzy. A place in his heart was vaguely reminding him that something ominous was about to happen.

He looked at the dazzling fireball in the sky and swayed. Zhang Kuo immediately stepped forward to support him, "Your Majesty, be careful."

Old Junmei was in bed and unable to see the Emperor off. A large crowd of people from the manor, big and small, surrounded him and knelt on the ground. No one dared to raise their head, "We respectfully see the Emperor off!"

The Qianwan Emperor waved his hand and walked down the steps. Just at this moment, a cloud of dust suddenly rose in the distance at the main gate. A team of guards bearing the imperial palace's banner rushed over. The Imperial Guards in front were about to step forward to stop them when they heard the leading guard shout, "Your Majesty! Reporting to Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

The Qianwan Emperor waved his hand, and the Imperial Guards withdrew and stood guard around him. The team of guards galloped to the front, clumsily helping Ding Zhaorong off the horse. This woman, who always paid great attention to her makeup, knelt on the ground in a disheveled and tearful state, wailing, "Your Majesty, this concubine has let you down!"

The Qianwan Emperor was greatly shocked, "What happened to you?"

"Your Majesty intends to confer the title of Empress to Virtuous Consort, yet you favor Lord Mingde, causing Virtuous Consort to feel discontented. A few days ago, she came to discuss this with this concubine. This concubine failed to perceive her malicious intentions and did not stop her at that time, but instead comforted and advised her, leading her to believe that this concubine tacitly approved of doing such an immoral thing!"

The Qianwan Emperor was so shocked that his heart turned cold, "What immoral thing?"

"Your Majesty, Virtuous Consort gave the young noble consort to Prince Qiu Duo!"

A thunderous boom seemed to explode right above his head. For a moment, the Qianwan Emperor didn't even know what Ding Zhaorong was talking about. He knew the meaning of each word, but when put together, it gave him the illusion of being unable to comprehend and believe.

"What did you say? Where is Mingde?"

Ding Zhaorong wept, "He has already been taken away by the Yuezhi delegation! This concubine wanted to stop it, but Virtuous Consort is favored and powerful in the palace. This concubine really couldn't prevent it!"

The Qianwan Emperor stepped forward, tightly grasping her wrist with unintentional force, "Where is the Yuezhi delegation? Have they left the palace?!"

In his urgency, he used too much strength. Ding Zhaorong even felt she could hear the creaking sound of her own bones. But enduring the pain, she said intermittently with tears, "They have left the palace, and may have even left the capital by now!"

The Qianwan Emperor abruptly pushed her away and strode down the steps, casually snatching the running horse led by the guard. The imperial guards behind him wanted to rush up to dissuade him, but the Qianwan Emperor's expression was extremely grim, as if he would not hesitate to cut down anyone who stood in his way.

Zhang Kuo had to jog to barely keep up with the Qianwan Emperor, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what should we do now?"

The emperor's roar suddenly erupted, "What are you all standing there for? Chase after them!"