I am invincible, that's why I lie down. You're using your entire clan to rebel?

Chapter 477 Winning over Liu Ruolan: Two pitiful people trapped in the deep palace

Yun Suxin ran very lightly and quickly, her toes barely touching the ground.

The palace maids had their backs to her, and none of them noticed the dark figure behind them.

Yun Suxin slipped into the courtyard gate, pressed herself against the wall, and gasped for breath.

Her back was soaked through, and her undergarments clung stickily to her skin, feeling icy cold.

Yun Suxin felt her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest, and even her temples were throbbing.

Since she had become powerful, she hadn't felt this kind of tension and excitement for a long time.

To be honest, Yun Suxin felt a unique kind of pleasure from it.

She leaned against the wall, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, which made her more awake.

Then Yun Suxin opened her eyes and looked around the villa.

The courtyard is small, paved with bluestone slabs, and kept spotless.

Several osmanthus trees were planted on both sides, but their flowering season had passed, leaving only dark green leaves that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

A cobblestone path winds its way into the depths, at the end of which is a palace lit by candlelight, its doors half-open, letting in a dim, yellowish glow.

Several palace maids stood guard outside the palace gate, heads bowed and hands hanging down, like lifeless statues.

Nobody noticed her; nobody looked in her direction.

Yun Suxin crouched low and silently crept along the base of the wall toward the depths of the courtyard.

She didn't know whose villa it was, or who lived there. All she knew was that she had to find a place to hide first, wait for the patrolling palace maids to pass, and then figure out a way to leave.

Yun Suxin hid behind a clump of bushes, curling up and concealing herself among the dense foliage.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her face.

She is waiting.

Wait for those people to leave, wait for the night to deepen, wait for the next opportunity.

But what Yun Suxin didn't expect was that this group of palace maids wasn't on patrol, but was heading straight for the palace.

Instead of walking past the gate, they stopped and stood guard outside the courtyard.

Yun Suxin's heart sank immediately.

This is troublesome.

She frowned, even wondering if someone had discovered her escape or if her whereabouts had been exposed.

Ke Yun Suxin observed for a while and found that the palace goddesses looked relaxed. Some were talking in hushed tones, some were tidying their clothes, and some were yawning. They didn't seem to be searching for anyone, but rather seemed to be on guard duty here.

But these people not only stood guard outside the door, but also along the path she would inevitably take to leave.

People stood everywhere—at the courtyard gate, the corner of the corridor, and on both sides of the moon gate—forming a dense crowd that completely surrounded the villa.

Yun Suxin felt a little sad.

If she had power, why would she care about mere palace maids?

One finger could send them all flying.

Unfortunately, she currently has no power and dares not expose herself.

Once discovered, she wouldn't even have the strength to run away.

What should we do now?

It was dark now, and she was able to avoid being discovered thanks to the cover of night.

She will definitely be discovered once it gets light.

That would be terrible!

Given Qin Mu's methods, she dared not imagine what awaited her.

Yun Suxin's gaze swept over the villa.

The courtyard is deep and secluded, the palaces are scattered, there are artificial hills and winding corridors, and the vegetation is lush.

If you can find a room to hide in, hide there first, and think of something else after dawn. Maybe there will still be a chance.

She gritted her teeth and, using the shadows of the bushes, silently made her way deeper into the courtyard.

Yun Suxin walked along the base of the wall, around the artificial hill, and through the corridor, her steps as light as a cat's, and she even suppressed her breathing to a minimum.

She pushed open a half-closed door and slipped into the room.

The door closed silently behind her, shutting out the moonlight and candlelight.

The room was small and simply furnished, like a side room in a side hall.

Several candlesticks sat on the rosewood table and chairs, the candlelight burning quietly in the lampshades, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.

There was a faint scent of sandalwood in the air, mixed with the delicate fragrance of cosmetics.

Yun Suxin's gaze swept around the room, and then she froze.

There were three figures in the room.

A woman sat on the edge of the bed, her face as pale as paper, her eyes red and swollen, her face streaked with tears.

Her hands were folded on her knees, her fingers trembling slightly, and she looked like a broken mirror.

Two girls stood beside her. One stood ramrod straight, her eyes slightly red, biting her lip, trying to hold back tears, her small hands tightly gripping her mother's clothes.

The other one leaned against her older sister, her little face buried in her sister's shoulder, her shoulder still trembling slightly, clearly having just cried.

Yun Suxin recognized them.

They are Han Zhong's wife and two daughters.

She had seen them at the execution ground, and she had seen them kneeling on the ground, embracing the headless corpse and wailing.

Unexpectedly, they also entered the palace, and I even ran into them here...

Thinking of this, Yun Suxin immediately curled her lips in disdain.

Without a doubt, the mother and her two daughters were forcibly imprisoned in the palace by Qin Mu.

That damned tyrant!

They're definitely up to something bad again!

Just thinking about this made Yun Suxin so angry she wanted to bite her teeth!

No wonder Qin Mu hasn't come to her place lately; he's been captivated by this mother and her two daughters!

Wait a minute, why would he have such a thought? It sounds like he's jealous...

When Yun Suxin thought of this, she was stunned, and a look of confusion and shame appeared in her eyes.

And then,

Liu Ruolan heard the door open and abruptly looked up.

Her pupils suddenly contracted as if pricked by a needle, and her body instinctively shrank back, shielding her two daughters behind her.

Her lips trembled violently, and her eyes were filled with fear and vigilance.

“Who…who are you?”

Her voice was hoarse, with a slight, suppressed tremor.

This villa was arranged for them by His Majesty, and outsiders are not allowed to enter. How could a strange woman suddenly barge in?

Han Xin'er also raised her head, her gaze falling on Yun Suxin's face, her brows furrowing slightly.

Han Qin'er hid behind her sister, peeking out half her head and looking timidly at Yun Suxin with her big, watery eyes.

Yun Suxin came to her senses and suppressed the absurd thought in her mind deep in her heart.

She looked at Liu Ruolan and the other two, her mind racing.

She cannot reveal her identity, cannot say who she is, and cannot let anyone know that she is the Moon Goddess.

She had to find a reasonable explanation that wouldn't arouse suspicion in the shortest amount of time.

A hint of panic and apology appeared on Yun Suxin's face as she anxiously said:

"I'm...I'm sorry. I went to the wrong place. I'll leave now."

As she spoke, she turned around and placed her hand on the door latch.

But just as Yun Suxin was about to leave, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard.

Her movements froze instantly. Her hand rested on the door latch, her knuckles turning white. She stood rooted to the spot as if she had been struck by a pressure point, even holding her breath.

A woman's voice rang out in the courtyard, clear and high-pitched, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"His Majesty has decreed!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruolan trembled violently.

She dared not hesitate, nor did she dare to ask who the woman was. She quickly stood up and walked briskly to the door.

She glanced at Yun Suxin, a look that contained wariness, doubt, and a warning that "you'd better not make any moves."

Then she pushed open the door and went out.

Han Xin'er held her younger sister's hand and followed behind their mother. When the two girls reached the door, they couldn't help but turn back to look at Yun Suxin.

The door was ajar behind them, leaving a very narrow crack.

Yun Suxin hid in the shadows behind the door, her back pressed against the cold wall, barely daring to breathe.

In the courtyard, the palace maid's voice rang out again, clear and solemn.

"His Majesty's decree: Lady Liu Ruolan, after bathing and changing clothes tomorrow, shall go to the palace to pay homage. Do not fail to do so. So be it."

Liu Ruolan knelt on the ground, her forehead touching the cold stone slab, her hands placed flat in front of her, her posture respectful.

Her body was trembling slightly, but her heart was churning like a turbulent current.

After bathing and changing clothes, he went to his bedchamber to pay his respects...

This statement sounds very unusual.

Why take a bath? Why go to the bedroom?

This statement made her think of something.

Something she dared not think about, did not want to think about, yet could not stop thinking about.

But she was powerless. She was merely the wife of a disgraced official, a widow living under someone else's roof, a pawn used as a hostage.

She had no right to refuse, not even the right to hesitate.

Liu Ruolan bit her lip, swallowing back the surging humiliation and resentment, her forehead touching the ground, her voice hoarse.

"Your Majesty, I accept the decree and thank you for your great favor."

The palace maid nodded and turned to leave.

The palace maids filed out behind him, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance and disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Liu Ruolan knelt on the ground, gazing at the empty courtyard and the half-closed door, remaining silent for a long time.

The moonlight shone on her, making her slender figure stand out clearly.

She slowly stood up, her legs feeling weak, and she staggered for a moment before regaining her balance by holding onto a pillar beside her.

She took a deep breath, pushed open the slightly ajar door, and went inside.

Han Xin'er followed behind her, while Han Qin'er held her sister's hand. The two girls remained silent, only watching their mother's back with worried eyes.

Liu Ruolan looked up and saw Yun Suxin still standing in the shadows behind the door, motionless.

Her brows furrowed sharply, and her voice turned cold, carrying a hint of wariness and hostility.

"Who...are you?"

Yun Suxin looked at Liu Ruolan, and seeing the resentment, humiliation, and suppressed anger in her eyes, and a thought suddenly struck her.

That feeling of resentment was all too familiar; she had experienced it herself.

For example, when she knelt down and begged for mercy in front of Qin Mu, when she was treated as a plaything and trampled on at will, and when she gritted her teeth and held back her tears alone late at night.

A thought flashed through Yun Suxin's mind.

Liu Ruolan's husband was killed by Qin Mu, so she must harbor deep resentment towards him.

If we can use this hatred to win over Liu Ruolan, it might be more helpful for her escape.

She didn't even need Liu Ruolan to do anything dangerous; she just needed to help her hide, gather information, and open a door for her at crucial moments.

A pitiful woman who has lost her husband in the deep palace is easier to win over than anyone else.

Yun Suxin's eyes flickered.

She lowered her head, a sad, sympathetic smile on her lips, her voice trembling slightly.

"I am just like you, a pitiful person trapped in this deep palace by that person."

Liu Ruolan's pupils contracted slightly, and her brows furrowed even more, but the hostility in her eyes eased a little.

She didn't speak, but just stared at Yun Suxin, waiting for her to continue.