The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 865

Chapter 865: 397 Divine Eagle Xiaojiu (Third Shift)

The moon beamed bright, stars sparse in the sky.

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu, along with her entourage, arrived at a post station.

All the turmoil had concentrated within Capital City at this time, with no whispers of change stirring outside, and the stationmaster had no inkling that they were dealing with the Empress Dowager and a group of escapees.

By their attire, the leader appeared to be the matriarch of a great clan; those with her looked like her servants.

However, judging by demeanor and appearance, those servants seemed to have more of a dominant household matron’s air, not to mention walking with an air of complete disregard for kinship, leaving their young master far behind.

...Quite baffling.

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu only requested one room, with four guards stationed outside and numerous experts in hiding nearby.

As for Nurse Cai, her carriage had gone in another direction, intended as a precaution in case the emperor’s men tracked them this far, to help obscure their trail.

The post station was modest, the rooms equally unassuming.

"I apologize for the poor accommodations, sister," Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu said with a light smile once inside, addressing Empress Dowager Zhuang, "I’ve grown accustomed to spartan lodgings and simple meals over the years at the nunnery. Sister, having indulged in luxurious living for so long, might find it hard to sleep tonight. But not to worry, we have a long journey ahead to the frontier; you’ll have ample time to adjust."

Empress Dowager Zhuang ignored her, walking straight to the window.

The room was damp and gloomy, a musty heat hanging heavily in the air.

Empress Dowager Zhuang opened the window, her gaze landing on a large tree in the courtyard.

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu sneered, "I would advise sister not to think of escaping. Otherwise, I wouldn’t mind carrying sister’s ashes to meet with Ning An."

Empress Dowager Zhuang retracted her gaze from the tree and shut the window, her tone cold, "If you wish to rally troops from the frontier, just say so. Don’t use Ning An as an excuse. After all, she is your flesh and blood. Enough is enough."

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu’s complexion shifted.

She clenched her handkerchief and offered with a smile, "What would sister like to eat? I’ll instruct the kitchen to prepare it."

Empress Dowager Zhuang replied nonchalantly, "Spicy chicken, stir-fried lamb with onions, and a pot of lotus root and dragon bone soup."

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu scoffed, "Those may be hard to come by. I’ll see what the post station has available."

With that, she turned and left the room.

Of course, she hadn’t actually gone to fetch food for Empress Dowager Zhuang; she had orders for her subordinates.

"Keep a close eye on her. Don’t let her slip away," Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu commanded the guards at the door.

The guards bowed in unison, "Understood!"

Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu put on her cloak’s hood, concealing her face, and stepped out of the post station.

Almost at the same moment, a large bird landed on the windowsill of Empress Dowager Zhuang’s room, flapping its wings.

Empress Dowager Zhuang reopened the window and immediately spotted Xiaojiu on the sill.

Did you find me?

Perhaps understanding Empress Dowager Zhuang’s look, Xiaojiu widened its bird eyes at her, flapped its wings and opened its beak, "Cluck-cluck—"

A twitch appeared at the corner of Empress Dowager Zhuang’s mouth.

You’re a young eagle, not an old hen!

Fortunately, the guards paid no mind to the "hen," and Empress Dowager Zhuang brought Xiaojiu inside.

Just as she was about to close the window, a shadow dropped from the sky, landing silently outside onto the windowsill.

Luckily for Empress Dowager Zhuang, who remained unfazed by the situation, otherwise she might have thrown Xiaojiu out in fright at this phantom-like figure.

The newcomer wore a fanged mask, which appeared particularly spine-chilling in the night.

He bowed to Empress Dowager Zhuang and removed the mask.

Empress Dowager Zhuang arched an eyebrow.

Oh, Jiaojiao’s seemingly deceased second brother.

Gu Chengfeng, capable of trickery under the watchful eyes of the Dragon Shadow Guard, could naturally bypass the scrutiny of those experts outside. However, should they discover him, he wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight.

Gu Chengfeng signaled Empress Dowager Zhuang with a hand gesture.

Empress Dowager Zhuang nodded in understanding and moved a chair to stand on it.

As she was about to step over the window sill, the chair scraped, making a sharp noise.

Empress Dowager Zhuang, in haste, grabbed a teapot from the table and smashed it to the floor, shattering it with a loud crash as she shouted, "Didn’t you say you were fetching food? Why haven’t you returned? Do you wish to starve me to death!"

The guards outside curled their lips and paid her no further attention.

They only followed orders from Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu and cared little for Empress Dowager Zhuang’s moods.

Gu Chengfeng gave Empress Dowager Zhuang a thumbs-up.

The Empress Dowager is truly formidable.

Xiaojiu could fly away on its own, not remaining in Empress Dowager Zhuang’s arms to be a burden.

Empress Dowager Zhuang climbed onto the window sill and was caught by Gu Chengfeng, who whisked her away with light footwork into the boundless night.

Meanwhile, upon returning to the post station, Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu saw the guards instinctively step aside.

"She didn’t make a fuss, did she?" Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu asked calmly.

One of the guards replied, "To answer the young master, she got angry, smashed a teapot, and said you intended to starve her by not fetching her food."

To the guards, this seemed typical behavior, but to Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu’s ears, something felt off.

Empress Dowager Zhuang’s temper was foul, but not so much that she’d get angry over such a trivial matter...

A prickle of alarm struck Tranquil Imperial Consort Gu as she suddenly burst into the room, only to find an empty space where Empress Dowager Zhuang should have been.

"Ah!" the guards exclaimed in shock.

How, can, anyone, sleep, through, this?! _{frёeweɓηovel.coɱ}