A short night is hard to please! A stunningly handsome prince dotes on her exclusively.

Chapter 280 Tonight's Plan

"Yan'er, stop talking nonsense. I truly adore your kind and honest nature. In this cold and gloomy palace, there seems to be a chill in human relationships. Don't mention him anymore, I..."

She paused, a bitter look flashing across her eyes. "I'm just a widow. I'd rather he kill me than harm my child."

"So, do you want to escape? Take your child with you?"

Yao Ruoyu looked up at her, puzzled. "Escape?"

"Yes, I believe my brother and Xuan Yuan will come to save me. If you also want to leave him, then I'll help you."

Although she genuinely felt that Yao Ruoyu also liked that perverted emperor, Ye Wumian was simply too terrifying. This ruthless killer posed a safety hazard to having her and her child by his side.

Yao Ruoyu gave a bitter smile and shook her head gently. "Yan'er, it would be best if you could escape. I will not leave. I do not want to implicate you or my family. My parents are old and cannot bear the blow. I will not let the king deal with my family either."

"You can't let him bully you every day, can you?"

Xin Moyan immediately became indignant. If Ye Wumian liked Sister Ruoyu, he should treat her well. Why did he keep tormenting her?

She wanted to say something more, but several palace maids approached from a distance. They bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness the Consort, His Majesty said that you two have been out for a long time and should go back to rest. He also instructed me to inform Your Highness the Consort that you should dress up nicely tonight and have dinner with His Majesty at the Night Palace."

"understood."

Yao Ruoyu responded indifferently, turned around and smiled slightly at her, then tried to stand up while supporting her belly, but was stopped in time.

"Yan'er, I don't know why, but I've been telling you so many things from my heart today. Remember, no matter what, you must never anger the King."

"it is good."

Yao Ruoyu turned around, her expression quickly returning to its original indifferent state, and glanced at the palace maids in the distance.

"Your Majesty the Empress is tired, please be careful on your journey."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Xin Moyan frowned and asked worriedly, "Sister Ruoyu, what about you?"

“Last night he insisted that I grind ink for him. He called me to the Night Palace before dawn and I’m still here. I’m a bit tired, so I’ll go back and rest for a while. I’ll come to see you later.”

Hearing this, Xin Moyan shook her head repeatedly, her contempt for Ye Wumian growing even stronger.

"Okay, then you should be careful too."

The two parted ways in the Imperial Garden. Although Xin Moyan had slept for thirty hours and wasn't very sleepy yet, she had wandered around the Imperial Garden but hadn't found any shortcuts. She'd have to go back and study it carefully...

Meanwhile, an extremely luxurious carriage was driving through the streets of Kyoto at night. Liu Qing was driving the carriage, and inside were Xuan Yuan, Hua Buyu, Xin Moling, and Shui Yi.

"Xuanyuan, we've already entered Yelan City. So, when are we going to the palace to find Yan Yan?"

He glanced at Hua Buyu sideways, his tone indifferent.

"tonight."

"Then I..."

"You are not allowed to go!"

She was interrupted by Xin Moling before she could finish speaking.

"Why?"

"Do you think the Nightfall Palace is the same as Yuanqi's? Hua Buyu, don't cause trouble. You've been traveling day and night for so long. You and Yi'er should rest now and wait for us to bring Yan'er back."

Hua Buyu pouted instantly, her eyes full of dissatisfaction. "When did I cause trouble? Isn't it because there's strength in numbers?"

"Brother, I will enter the palace alone tonight. Fei'e has made arrangements with his men within Yelan territory. You and Fei'e will wait for us outside the palace."

"No! Yan'er is my sister, how can I just stay outside the palace to guard her?"

Xin Moling also rejected his plan outright, her thumb gently stroking the begonia jade pendant at her waist. Her eyes were exceptionally sharp; she would never let anyone who dared to harm Yan'er go unpunished.

"Brother, please listen to me. Ye Wumian only has me to deal with. If anything happens tonight, you can meet Yan'er in time outside the palace. I promise you, I will make sure Yan'er gets out safely."

"What happened? Xuan Yuan, your martial arts are already so powerful, how could you be unable to defeat the Night Emperor's assassins?"

Hua Buyu raised her head and looked at the person opposite her with a puzzled expression.

Xuan Yuan's eyes were slightly closed, his handsome face showing no emotion whatsoever. However, his fists were clenched tightly beneath his black robes. He knew Ye Wumian's methods very well and was even more afraid that Yan'er would be bullied. But his Yan'er was so smart, she should be able to keep that person calm for the time being!

"Ah Ling, I want to go with you."

Shui Yi gazed at the man beside her, her eyes seemingly filled with unease.

Xin Moling snapped out of her daze and reached out to grasp her fair wrist. "Yi'er, you've been traveling with us since the night before last, and your body is already exhausted. Be good and wait for us to return with Hua Buyu at Yunxiang Tower."

"but I……"

"It's alright, we will definitely bring Yan'er back safely."

He forced a reassuring smile, signaling to Shui Yi to relax.

The sky darkened in the blink of an eye, and the oppressive darkness added to the somber and oppressive atmosphere.

Inside the Night Palace, however, the lights were on, and people were singing and dancing.

Xin Moyan rested her chin on her hands, seemingly admiring the "dance troupe" below the stage, but her thoughts were far away. She could no longer sit idly by and wait for death. She wondered if her brother and the others had arrived yet, and how to avoid Ye Wumian's attention.

"Little Yan'er, what are you thinking about? Come, have a drink with me."

With a gentle push of her slender, jade-like fingers, a cup of wine suddenly appeared in front of Xin Moyan.

The two sat at the same table, with Yao Ruoyu sitting half a meter below Ye Wumian's right. She could see everything happening above her with just a slight tilt of her head.

"I can not drink."

He turned to the side, his back to Yao Ruoyu, propped his head up with one hand, and said to her with a half-smile, "Hey~ just one cup, you won't get drunk."

"I won't drink, that's final." Xin Moyan took a step back, her attitude resolute.

"Then... Xiao Yan'er, come closer, I want to take a closer look at your face."

He also moved closer, making sure Xin Moyan wasn't too far away.

"Why do you suffer through the night, unable to sleep?"

"Ok?"

Her captivating face froze, and she didn't mind Xin Moyan calling her by her name directly; instead, she felt a surge of curiosity.

"What is Xiao Yan'er saying?"

Her eyes darted around, and she decided to indulge her sleepless night, her lips curving into a smile that was as beautiful as a flower, beyond compare.

"Little...Yan'er?"

Xin Moyan stretched out her finger and beckoned to him, indicating that he should sit closer.

This delighted Ye Wumian, who quickly stepped closer, put his arm around her shoulder, and laughed even more flirtatiously.

"Little Yan'er~ are you willing to accept me? Come here, give me a kiss."

"Hey, hey, hey~ Stop!"