While she was worrying about the war in the Southern Border and Lin Yuan's safety, the real upheaval was just beginning when she returned to the capital.
When she got back to the Lin Mansion, apart from a bunch of servants she didn't recognize, only Zhong Qing was left.
Yi Zhici wondered, "Where are Zhong Yi, Mu Feng, Shi Yi and Shi Er?"
To her surprise, when Zhong Qing saw Yi Zhici, she burst into tears at once, ran over and knelt on the ground. "My lady, please save us. The marquis, the madam, Mu Feng and Zhong Yi are all locked up in the palace. Their fates are still unknown!"
Yi Zhici's heart skipped a beat. "What's going on? Calm down and tell me slowly."
Zhong Qing wiped away her tears, still choking with sobs. "More than a month ago..."
More than a month ago, just a few days after Yi Zhici left for the Southern Border with the vanguard army, Yi Junshi didn't return to the marquis's mansion after court one day. Since Yi Junshi often stayed in the palace, even the servants didn't pay much attention.
Not long after Yi Junshi entered the palace, Gu Weifeng summoned Hei Wining to the palace.
Hei Wining was a titled lady and the legitimate wife of a marquis, so no one thought it was strange for her to enter the palace.
Coincidentally, Zhong Qing and Zhong Yi were very attached to the marquis's mansion. Since Yi Zhici left, they would go back to the mansion from time to time, either to send some soup they made for Yi Junshi and Hei Wining, or to water the flowers and weed the yard where Yi Zhici used to live.
But with Yi Junshi in the palace and Hei Wining summoned there too, there was no master in the marquis's mansion, so the soup Zhong Qing and Zhong Yi brought couldn't be delivered.
At first, they didn't care. They thought there was a banquet in the palace. After all, there was no master in the Lin Mansion, so they wouldn't know if there was a banquet.
But when they returned to the marquis's mansion a few days later, Yi Junshi and Hei Wining still weren't there.
Zhong Qing sensed something was wrong.
They knew Mu Feng was good at martial arts, so they begged him to go to the palace to check. Mu Feng also regretted not taking good care of Yi Zhici and was afraid that Lin Yuan would punish him when he came back. Seeing that Zhong Qing and Zhong Yi could speak for him to Yi Zhici, and Yi Zhici could speak to Lin Yuan, he didn't hesitate to go.
This time, Mu Feng didn't come back either.
Then Shi Yi and Shi Er heard about this. They were also raised in the marquis's mansion and were attached to it. They both sneaked into the palace to take a look.
Shi Yi and Shi Er also disappeared.
Zhong Yi got anxious and insisted on going to check herself. No matter how hard Zhong Qing tried to stop her, Zhong Yi still sneaked into the palace by relying on her martial arts.
At this point, Zhong Qing couldn't hold back her tears any longer. "My lady, I also went to Jin Yu Man Tang. People there all said that the emperor was a tyrant. Everyone in the court has been in a state of panic recently. I'm afraid something has happened to them, my lady..."
Yi Zhici helped Zhong Qing sit down. "Don't be afraid. I'll go to the palace to check."
Zhong Qing still cried. "My lady, you can't go alone..."
While comforting Zhong Qing, Yi Zhici said to Cu Li, "Senior brother, I'll go to the palace to check. Please help me take care of Zhong Qing here. If I don't come back after three days, please come and rescue me."
Cu Li wanted to say something sarcastic but finally held back and just nodded.
Because of her status, the imperial guards didn't stop her. She entered the palace gate smoothly. But the huge palace was much quieter than usual. There were hardly any palace servants in sight.
Carriages weren't allowed to enter the palace, so Yi Zhici walked all the way to the Yangxin Hall.
At the entrance of the Yangxin Hall, Zhao Fu stopped Yi Zhici. "My lady, why are you here?"
Normally, Zhao Fu wasn't so assertive towards her. He was always very polite. But today was different from usual. Although he wasn't overbearing, Yi Zhici still noticed the difference.
Yi Zhici said, "I want to see the emperor."
Zhao Fu bowed with a smile. "My lady, the emperor is busy. Why don't you go to the palace where you used to live first? When the emperor is done, I'll send someone to inform you."
Yi Zhici shook her head. "No need. I'll wait here."
If it were before, Zhao Fu would have persuaded her to go back and wait instead of wasting time here. But today, Zhao Fu said nothing and just stood back to his original position, ignoring Yi Zhici.
She had traveled all the way from the Southern Border to the capital without any rest. Although the journey wasn't fast, it was still very hard for a pregnant woman who had almost had a miscarriage. Then she came directly to the palace and walked from the palace gate to the Hall of Diligent Government on foot. By now, she was starting to feel unbearable, and her stomach ached faintly.
When the sun was setting, the door of the Yangxin Hall finally opened. Gu Weifeng walked out looking satisfied. He was stunned for a moment when he saw Yi Zhici standing at the door.
"Yuyang?" Gu Weifeng curled his lips, but his eyes were icy cold. "Do you have something to see me about?"
Yi Zhici took two steps forward and took the opportunity to relieve her numb legs. "Your Majesty, I heard that Father has been staying in the palace for a long time. I miss him a little and would like to see him."
Gu Weifeng lowered his head. "Go ahead. The Marquis of Jing is inside."
Yi Zhici quickly ran in.
Inside the Yangxin Hall, it was very solemn. She had never been here before, but she easily found Yi Junshi.
Yi Junshi was lying in bed, covered with a quilt. His pale face was even paler than white paper. His eye sockets were sunken, and there was no trace of the former brilliance in his eyes.
"Father..."
Yi Junshi's eyes moved slightly. He slowly turned his head and looked at Yi Zhici in disbelief. "A... A Ci?" Yi Junshi sat up. He was only wearing a single garment, looking so thin that he seemed as if he could be blown down by the wind.
Just as Yi Zhici was about to run over, Gu Weifeng stopped her. "Yuyang, I've already fulfilled your request. Just take a look and that's enough. What else do you want?"
Yi Zhici was trembling all over. Maybe it was because of the cold, maybe it was because of anger, and maybe it was because of fear. Anyway, she could hardly speak clearly. "I, Father... Why is he here? Why won't you let him go back to the mansion?"
Gu Weifeng sneered. "Go back to the mansion? This is the Marquis of Jing's home."