The news from the palace instructed her to head over immediately and considering that the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict was waiting at the door, Qi Qingyao knew that if she were to leave this time, she would likely be in trouble. Just as she was walking toward the door, a steward trotted over and asked for her to wait a while. Qi Qingyao was confused but after a while, she saw Li Ruoxuan coming from the house, taking large strides toward the gate. He said indifferently, “I’ll accompany you into the palace.”

Feigning indifference, Qi Qingyao asked, “Is there a need for that?”

Li Ruoxuan responded with a question, “Is there not?”

Qi Qingyao knew that if she were to try posturing even more, the man would likely immediately withdraw his offer. She quickly bowed down and replied, “There is, there is.”

The eunuch did not say anything, considering Li Ruoxuan’s status, just got onto the carriage at the front. Qi Qingyao followed Li Ruoxuan onto the carriage belonging to the State Preceptor’s household and the two carriages drove forward, one after another in the direction of the imperial palace.

Qi Qingyao lifted the curtain slightly and noticed a team of tiger guards surrounding the carriage, following them all the way to the palace.

She looked at Li Ruoxuan.

Li Ruoxuan, “Just in case.”

Qi Qingyao, “…”

Even if for caution, this was too much. Who would even dare to attempt an assassination on a carriage belonging to the State Preceptor’s household in the capital!

The sounds of an attack could be heard coming from outside the carriage the moment she thought of this. Qi Qingyao was so shocked she felt light-headed. ‘Did someone really come to assassinate me???

‘Gosh, who was that?’

Someone else had also received the news just as Li Ruoxuan did!!

She noticed that Li Ruoxuan’s expression was blank. She looked at him as he was sitting still, seemingly unperturbed.

She carefully lifted the carriage curtains and peeked out the window. The three attackers had already been dealt with…

Qi Qingyao could not help but let out a sigh of relief when she saw this.

She could also not help but secretly admire Li Ruoxuan’s readiness.

Along their journey from the State Preceptor’s residence to the Imperial Palace, three waves of attackers had come one after the other. Unsure of their motives, the tiger guards had gotten rid of all of them. The capital garrison quickly cleaned up the bodies and the scene. It all happened lightning fast.

Upon nearing the palace, the momentum of attempted assassinations subsided.

Qi Qingyao got off the carriage with Li Ruoxuan and walked into the palace.

After a while, they arrived outside the upper study.

The eunuch immediately briefed them loudly, but Qi Qingyao only heard one sentence coming from inside the room, “Has Qi Qingyao arrived?”

Qi Qingyao made no sound.

Li Ruoxuan gestured to her silently and she immediately stepped past the door of the study. In a loud voice, he said, “Your humble servant replying, Your Majesty. This humble servant has brought her to meet with the empress.”

From inside came, “State Preceptor, please come in for a moment.”

Li Ruoxuan turned back to Qi Qingyao and said, “Wait here first.”

Qi Qingyao nodded.

Li Ruoxuan added, “Zhu Shen, stay with her.”

Zhu Shen nodded cautiously as he immediately went to stand beside Qi Qingyao.

Qi Qingyao watched Li Ruoxuan enter the upper study, then whispered in a confused voice, “Why accompany me?” What dangers could there be in the palace?

Zhu Shen thought for a moment before whispering, “While we are inside the palace, many of the Ghost Organization’s secret agents will also be in there. His Excellency is likely afraid that their assassins and the secret agents would try to abduct you from the palace in broad daylight.”

“…” Qi Qingyao’s eyebrows suddenly raised sky-high as she snuck a glance around this tall building and the guards all around them…

In the upper study.

The moment Li Ruoxuan entered, the little impressed asked. “Did you already know before that she was the Harbinger?”

Li Ruoxuan stood to the side, gaze fixated on the floor and expression steely and mildly lazy. “Your humble servant replies, Your Majesty, that this servant did not.”

“Then how did you ascend to grand mastership!? Do you really think we are fools?”