"Yes, given that a stranger has entered the residence, do what must be done." He walked away in high spirits, swinging his sleeves.

The Crown Prince, who had been paying close attention to Dugu Mo, saw him conversing with his own guard, yet Dugu Chen’s figure was nowhere to be seen. Thinking quickly, he summoned his personal guard.

"Go find Prince Mo, and see what exactly has happened. Make haste." No sooner had the Crown Prince sent off his guard than the Emperor’s dragon carriage arrived at the gates of the Prince Mo Residence.

An eunuch dressed in purple eunuch attire, wielding a horsetail whisk, stood at the entrance of the Prince Mo Residence, loudly announcing, "The Emperor and the Empress have arrived." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

All the ministers engaging in camaraderie in the courtyard, along with the noble young masters and their beautiful companions, heard the arrival of the Emperor and Empress and kneeled to welcome them.

A whole troop of Imperial Guards, carrying long spears and marching in tidy steps, ran into the Prince Mo Residence, carving a path through the crowd and then standing at attention, waiting for the Emperor’s arrival.

After Eunuch Wei made the announcement, he flicked his horsetail whisk and approached the dragon carriage, bending at the waist and saying, "The Emperor has arrived."

The Emperor inside the dragon carriage rose to his feet and stepped out. Eunuch Wei, upon seeing this, immediately went to assist the Emperor, who was over fifty years old, down the stirrups. Looking at the big red lanterns hanging on the front gate reminded him of his own grand wedding with Empress Xiao. If Xiao Hanyan had not betrayed him, then she would have...

Observing the halted dragon carriage, Xiaoxin, the lead palace maid beside the Empress, quickly stepped forward to support the Empress out of her sedan chair to join the Emperor’s side.

Song Jing caught the Emperor’s misty eyes fixed on the big red lantern and thought of the former Empress, the despicable Xiao Hanyan. Though she had been dead for many years, the Emperor still couldn’t forget her. Clenching his hands unconsciously, his long fingernails digging into the flesh, he was finally snapped back to his frail sense of reason.

With a coquettish smile, the Empress stepped forward, "Your Majesty." With a soft call, she roused the Emperor from his deep thoughts.

Startled by this call, the Emperor came back to his senses and, leading the Empress, walked into the Prince Mo Residence.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live; long live the Empress, long and prosperous life," the kneeling crowd shouted as they passed.

"Rise," the Emperor said after settling down, a kind smile on his face.

"Thank You, Your Majesty."

While the Emperor had just arrived at the Prince Mo Residence, the clash between the Hidden Guard of Dugu Chen and that of Dugu Mo ensued.

"How audacious, you lowly curs, daring to storm the Prince Mo Residence, seeking death! Capture them alive," ordered the lead Hidden Guard, gesturing behind him. A host of figures in black drew their blades towards the newcomers, and in an instant, the small courtyard was filled with the shadows of swords and the echoes of blades.

No sooner had Zhuisu, the guard of the Crown Prince, stepped into the courtyard than he saw the scuffle and quickly turned to report back to his master before anyone noticed.

After listening, the Crown Prince cast a sinister glance towards Dugu Mo. Dugu Mo swiftly turned his head to meet the gaze of Dugu Han, smiling slightly, his face full of triumphant smugness.

Dugu Han’s face was cold as ice. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, he hurried towards the rear courtyard to find Dugu Chen.

"Second brother, what’s going on?"

"Feng Xuxu has been abducted by Dugu Mo," Dugu Chen said, opening his bloodshot eyes to look at his older brother, Dugu Han.

"Is this information reliable?" Dugu Han recalled the smile Dugu Mo wore just a moment ago. It seemed this had all been part of Dugu Mo’s premeditated plan.

Dugu Chen didn’t reply, merely nodding his head.

An hour later, just as Dugu Mo and Song Miaoqiu were about to perform the ritual bows of the wedding, a group of soldiers flooded into the courtyard—tall and burly, with sharp eyes. Their armor shone dazzlingly under the sunlight.

The Imperial Guards witnessing this couldn’t help shivering, instinctively drawing closer to the Emperor, surrounding and protecting him in the middle.