CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 212: MIRROR WORLD

The Imperial Concubine stomped her foot, "Why are you still standing there? Isn’t there a decent demon catcher in Shangjing? Listen to Zhaozhao and quickly bring those two children from the Dongfang Family into the palace. Nothing must happen to the Empress and the child in her belly. What if it’s an evil demon and eats the child? I’ve heard demons can absorb human essence."

"Has the Imperial Concubine not read a few storybooks in her spare time?"

Yu Nianzhao listened for a while and couldn’t help but quietly ask Emperor Anqing.

Emperor Anqing looked a little embarrassed, "I do enjoy reading in my leisure time."

He coughed lightly into his fist, "I’ll send someone to bring them into the palace."

Mr. Wang dutifully went out again, and within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he brought them into the palace.

It was Dongfang Chenyue’s first time in the palace. She looked around curiously at everything.

Dongfang Chenyuan whispered, "Don’t say anything, just follow my lead. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Dongfang Chenyue agreed casually.

Upon seeing Yu Nianzhao, she immediately called out joyfully, "Zhaozhao!"

The shout of ’Zhaozhao’ drew everyone’s attention in the room, including Emperor Anqing and the Imperial Concubine.

Dongfang Chenyuan suddenly broke into a cold sweat, quickly pulling Dongfang Chenyue to bow respectfully, "Commoners greet His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."

"Enough, enough, there’s no need for extra formalities here. Listen to Zhaozhao’s instructions. Those who need to be guardian quickly step forward to guard."

Impatiently, Emperor Anqing waved his hand and sternly said, "What has happened today must not be spread outside. Is that clear?"

Dongfang Chenyuan’s heart skipped a beat, he clasped his fists and said, "Yes, I assure you we will not spread it outside."

Dongfang Chenyuan, always laid-back, had to focus with full attention this time.

"Princess, what exactly is the situation?"

Approaching Yu Nianzhao, Dongfang Chenyuan whispered, lowering his voice.

"There’s a demon!"

Yu Nianzhao didn’t say much, took out a red string, and formed a pentagram on the ground. Each of the five angles was anchored with a golden needle and a talisman affixed. The golden characters merged seamlessly along the red string, and the array with pentagram patterns appeared under their feet.

"A demon?"

Dongfang Chenyuan hadn’t recovered from the shock of the word ’demon’ when he was amazed by the array that Yu Nianzhao had set up, "What array is this? The spiritual power contained within is extraordinarily strong!"

"The Soul Binding Array. I need my soul to enter the mirror demon’s mirrored world to bring the Empress out. You all shall guard here. If I don’t return after one hour, I will be trapped in his mirrored world, and you must burn the talismans to forcefully call my soul back."

Sitting cross-legged inside the array, Yu Nianzhao instructed them, "One more thing... If I am deeply trapped, the one who truly wakes up might not be me. Dongfang Chenyuan, though you seem open-hearted, you are actually meticulous. Then, carefully observe whether the one who truly wakes is me, or... the mirror demon!"

One sentence, and Dongfang Chenyuan felt a chill of terror, goosebumps rising all over his skin.

"Oh no, Princess, you saying this gives me too much pressure. If anything happens to you, the Prince would surely skin me alive!"

Dongfang Chenyuan felt an urge to cry without tears, his back already drenched.

"Don’t worry, I won’t be in danger. Just safeguard my physical body."

Yu Nianzhao spoke casually, as long as her physical body in the human realm remained intact, there was no major concern. Otherwise... she would absolutely tear that mirror demon apart.

"Zhaozhao, will it be dangerous?"

The Imperial Concubine finally remembered this concern, her face showing worry, fearing it wouldn’t be easy to explain to Xie Jiuxiao.

"Indeed, is soul extraction necessary?"

Emperor Anqing worried about the Empress’s safety and also feared the wrath of Xie Jiuxiao, who was fiercely protective of his wife.

"Someone has to confront him?"

Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes, slowly closing them, "Don’t worry, I’ll bring the Empress out."

In front of her, a piece of sandalwood was lit, its scent wafting around. Yu Nianzhao closed her eyes, her soul detached, already entering the mirrored world.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself still in the Empress’s bedchamber. However, the array on the ground had vanished, and no one was around.

"Empress?"

Yu Nianzhao got up, searched the bedchamber, and saw no one.

"Hahaha..."

In her contemplation, she heard laughter from outside.

As she stepped out of the bedchamber, the scene changed, and she found herself in the Imperial Garden.

The flowers were blooming, palace maids and eunuchs stood around, and the gentle and dignified Empress sat within the pavilion, smiling happily at the father and son playing on the swing.

Father and son?

Yu Nianzhao looked closely; the boy on the swing resembled the Empress, and Emperor Anqing was happily helping him on the swing.

"Father, push higher, higher!" The boy laughed innocently.

"Alright, alright, careful not to fly to the sky!"

Emperor Anqing lovingly pushed him higher.

"Ah—"

The next moment, the boy genuinely flew out, but landed steadily in Yu Nianzhao’s arms amidst their screams.

"Who are you?" The boy asked curiously, looking up.

"I am..."

"Feng’er? Are you alright?"

Emperor Anqing and the Empress hurried over, relieved to see him safe.

"Empress," Yu Nianzhao called.

Only then did the Empress notice her, surprised, "Zhaozhao, how did you come to the palace? No one informed me."

Emperor Anqing patted her shoulder, sighed softly, "You have been residing in the temple day and night. It’s hard for you. We should all look forward, life should continue as usual. If you’re willing, I can find you another good match. I believe Ziyin’s spirit in heaven would wish for you to live better."

"What residing in the temple? What spirit in heaven?" Yu Nianzhao was confused.

With compassion, the Empress gently patted her hand, "Prince Su has been gone for five years. You should move on!"

"What? Are you saying Xie Jiuxiao is dead?"

Like a bolt from the blue, Yu Nianzhao was dazed.

Emperor Anqing and the Empress exchanged a glance, both seeing sympathy and regret in each other’s eyes.

"Zhaozhao, I know you deeply loved each other. It’s hard to forget Ziyin, and that’s why you assumed he’s not dead. But his fate is such, he couldn’t live past twenty-six. You are still young, move forward!"

Emperor Anqing sighed, "You came at the right time; Ms Liang’s brother, the new top scholar, hasn’t married yet. If he weren’t reminded of you, the marriage would fall to the Grand Princess. Quickly, summon the scholar!"

"Yes!" The eunuch immediately went to fetch him.

"Something’s not right, is it? With me here, Xie Jiuxiao wouldn’t die, how could he..."

Catching the scent of flowers, Yu Nianzhao’s mind was muddled, "be... dead? Didn’t he escape Taiyin Evil, didn’t defy fate?"