177: A nighttime raid on the front of Cining Palace reveals the landlord's actions and the storm has been quelled.

Jianning slammed the empty candy box onto the table, her cheeks puffed out like a bloated little pufferfish. "No! I don't care! Yesterday you said you'd only eat one, but today you must give me more! Otherwise, I'll crumble all the Sesame Cakes you have hidden under your pillow!"

Xie Hui had just pulled an apple out of his inner universe—it was a Red Fuji brought from the real world, a rarity in the Qing Dynasty. Hearing this, he quickly handed the apple over. "Don't, don't, don't. This apple is even better than candy. It's crisp and sweet. Try this first, and I'll bring you more candy tomorrow, I promise it'll be even more than today."

Jianning took the apple suspiciously, weighed it twice, and brought it to her nose to sniff. A fresh, sweet fruity scent wafted into her nose, and her eyes instantly lit up. "Is this thing really good? You're not lying to me?"

"I'd be a puppy if I lied to you," Xie Hui said with a smile as he helped her wipe the apple skin. "You'll know once you take a bite. It's even sweeter than the preserves from the Imperial Kitchen."

Jianning took a tentative bite. A crisp sound echoed in the room, and sweet juice instantly spread through her mouth. Her eyes curved into crescents. "Wow! It really is delicious! Sweeter than a pear! Xie Hui, do you have any more? I want my Imperial Brother to try some too!"

"I do," Xie Hui pulled out two more apples. "Take these two to the Emperor. Just say it's a rarity you specifically found. I guarantee the Emperor will be happy."

Jianning happily took the apples, tucked them into her bosom, and ran out. Just as she reached the door, she turned back, stood on her tiptoes, and gave Xie Hui a quick kiss on the cheek. Blushing, she said, "Thank you, Xie Hui!" After saying that, she vanished like a startled rabbit.

Xie Hui touched the spot where he had been kissed and couldn't help but smile—this Jianning was becoming more and more straightforward. Just as he was about to sit down and rest for a while, he heard a flurry of hurried footsteps from outside the courtyard. Wei Xiaobao came stumbling in, his face full of panic. "Brother Hui! This is bad! That old thing Hai Dafu said he's going to the secret chamber in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility tonight! He even wants me to go along to provide cover!"

Xie Hui's heart jolted—he's finally making a move on the secret chamber! He quickly stood up. "What exactly did he say? Did he say how to get in?"

"He didn't go into detail," Wei Xiaobao panted, pulling an oil-paper wrap from his bosom containing half a flatbread. "He just said tonight at the third watch, I'm to wait at the side gate of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. He'll go inside to find something while I keep watch outside. Brother Hui, do you think he's going to steal the Empress Dowager's forty-two chapter sutra? If the Empress Dowager finds out, aren't we both finished?"

"What are you afraid of?" Xie Hui patted his shoulder. "With me here, even if we're discovered, I can get you away. Do as he says and act according to the situation when the time comes. I'll be following nearby. If anything happens, call me on the walkie-talkie."

Wei Xiaobao was still a bit panicked, his hand clutching the flatbread trembling. "B-but, Hai Dafu's martial arts are much better than mine. If he discovers our plan, what then?"

"His head is full of the forty-two chapter sutra right now; he has no time to suspect you," Xie Hui pulled a fruit candy from his pocket and handed it to Wei Xiaobao. "Take this. Eat a piece of candy to steady your nerves. Have you forgotten the Tongzhou Ferry Crossing? We drove off so many Men in Black; why fear one Hai Dafu?"

Wei Xiaobao took the candy, peeled the paper, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet taste steadied his nerves slightly, and he nodded. "Alright! I'll listen to Brother Hui! I'll go with him tonight. At worst, I'll just run!"

Xie Hui was about to give a few more instructions when the walkie-talkie in his pocket suddenly vibrated. It was a signal from Shuanger. He quickly walked to a corner of the courtyard and pressed the talk button. "Shuanger, what's wrong? Has something happened?"

Shuanger's voice came through the walkie-talkie with a slight tremble. "Brother Hui, the two brothers Brother Xu left behind just said that three strangers are loitering near the Zhuang house. They don't look like good people and are carrying knives. They didn't dare to act rashly and asked me to ask you what to do..."

Xie Hui's heart tightened—it must be the remnants of Oboi's faction who were driven off last time. They haven't given up and are back to cause trouble! He spoke into the walkie-talkie, "Don't panic. Bolt the courtyard gate and don't go out. I'm coming back now and will be there very soon!"

Hanging up the walkie-talkie, Xie Hui instructed Wei Xiaobao, "I have to go back to the Zhuang house. There's a situation there. You go to the Imperial Study and keep an eye on Hai Dafu. Don't let him get suspicious. I'll meet you at the side gate of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility exactly at the third watch."

"Huh? You're going back now?" Wei Xiaobao's eyes widened. "The round trip takes over two hours. Can you make it back tonight?"

"Don't worry, I have lightwork; I'm much faster than a carriage," Xie Hui said as he headed out. "Remember to keep an eye out for me, don't let anything go wrong!"

After leaving the palace, Xie Hui immediately activated the lightwork from the Nine Yin Manual. His feet lightly tapped the ground as his figure swept toward the Zhuang house like a gust of wind. Pedestrians on the road only saw a blur and couldn't make out a figure at all. His heart was only on Shuanger, and his speed increased. What was originally a journey of over two hours took only an hour to reach the entrance of the Zhuang Family's alley.

Before reaching the gate of the Zhuang house, he saw three burly men surrounding two Heaven and Earth Society brothers. The steel sabers in their hands glinted coldly as they cursed, "What kind of things do you two think you are, daring to block my path? Move aside quickly, or I'll hack you down too!"

The two Heaven and Earth Society brothers were holding wooden staffs. Although they were struggling, they remained firmly in front of the gate. "If you want to go in and bully Miss Shuanger, you'll have to get past us first!"

"Seeking death!" The leading brute raised his saber and hacked at one of the brothers. The brother quickly used his wooden staff to block. With a *crack*, the staff was cut in two. The momentum of the blade did not diminish, and it was about to strike him.

Xie Hui was quick of eye and hand. He picked up a pebble from the ground and flicked it. The pebble flew out with a *whoosh*, hitting the brute's wrist perfectly. The brute cried out in pain, and the saber fell to the ground with a *clang*. He clutched his wrist and glared at the suddenly appearing Xie Hui. "It's you again! I didn't beat you enough last time, so this time I'll definitely cripple you!"

The other two brutes also rushed forward with their sabers. Xie Hui didn't panic. He sidestepped the first brute's blade and struck his chest with a backhand palm—this strike used thirty percent of the Nine Yin Manual's Internal Energy. The brute spat a mouthful of blood with a *wah* and flew backward, crashing into the wall, losing all strength instantly.

Seeing his companion beaten, the second brute panicked, and his saber swings became erratic. Xie Hui saw an opportunity and stuck out a foot to trip him. The brute fell flat on his face with a *thud*. Xie Hui stepped forward and pinned him down with a foot on his back, leaving him unable to move.

Seeing the situation turn sour, the leader turned to run. Xie Hui wasn't about to give him the chance. With a leap, he blocked the man's path and raised his hand to deliver a slap, making the man's mouth bleed. "Didn't I tell you last time? If you dare come to the Zhuang house to cause trouble again, I'll break your legs! You came back anyway; it seems you haven't learned your lesson!"

The brute's legs went weak with fear, and he fell to his knees with a *thud*. "Master! Master, have mercy! It was I who was blind; I'll never come again! I beg you to spare my life!"

"Get lost," Xie Hui barked coldly. "If I see you loitering near the Zhuang house again, I'll break your legs directly!"

The brute felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty. He scrambled to help his two companions up and fled in a flash, not forgetting to pick up the fallen saber on his way out.

The Heaven and Earth Society brothers quickly came over to thank him. "Little Brother Xie, it's a good thing you came back in time, otherwise the two of us really wouldn't have been able to stop them!"

"It's nothing, thank you for your hard work," Xie Hui said with a smile. "In the future, if you encounter this kind of situation, don't fight head-on. Contact me first, and I'll be here quickly."

He pushed open the gate and walked into the courtyard, seeing Shuanger standing at the door of the house, clutching the walkie-talkie. Her face was still a bit pale. Seeing him enter, her tears instantly fell, and she ran over to hug his arm. "Brother Hui, you're finally back! I heard the fighting outside just now; I was scared to death..."

Xie Hui patted her back, his tone softening. "Don't be afraid, I'm back. The bad guys have been driven away. No one will dare to bully you anymore."

Shuanger looked up and wiped her tears with her sleeve, her eyes full of reliance. "Brother Hui, please don't leave me again, okay? When I'm here alone, I'm always worried something will happen to you, and I'm worried the bad guys will come back..."

"Silly girl," Xie Hui rubbed her hair. "I didn't leave you on purpose. There are still things to be done in the palace. Once everything is finished, I'll come back to stay with you and never leave you again."

Shuanger nodded and pulled Xie Hui into the house. She took a neatly folded deep blue robe from the cabinet. "Brother Hui, this is a new set of clothes I made for you. I used the best cotton. Try it on and see if it fits."

Xie Hui took the clothes and felt the fabric; it was soft and comfortable, better than any clothes he had worn before. He took off his clothes on the spot and changed into the new robe. The size was perfect, as if it were custom-made.

Shuanger looked at him, a blush rising on her cheeks, and whispered, "Brother Hui, you look really good in these clothes. Even more handsome than the Young Masters in the city."

Xie Hui smiled and pulled her into his arms. "It's all thanks to your skill. If it weren't for you, how could I wear such fine clothes?"

Shuanger leaned into his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, her heart full of a sense of security. She whispered, "Brother Hui, I'll make clothes for you every day from now on. Whatever style you want, I'll make it for you."

"Alright," Xie Hui lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "But don't tire yourself out. If you get exhausted, I'll be heartbroken."

The two chatted for a while longer. Xie Hui looked at the sky; it was almost the second watch. He had to hurry back to the palace, or he wouldn't make it to explore the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility with Hai Dafu. He pulled out the walkie-talkie and handed it to Shuanger. "I have to go back to the palace. It might be a bit dangerous tonight, but don't worry. I'll contact you if anything happens."

Shuanger quickly brought out a thermal container from the kitchen and handed it to Xie Hui. "This is chicken soup I just stewed. Take it with you. Drink it if you're hungry to regain some strength. And this," she took a Peace Buckle off her wrist and pressed it into Xie Hui's hand. "This was left by my father. It can keep you safe. Take it with you."

Xie Hui took the thermal container and the Peace Buckle, his heart feeling warm. He put the Peace Buckle around his neck and tucked it away. "Alright, I'll take it. I promise to bring it back to you in one piece. Stay safe at home, don't wait up for me, and get some rest early."

He said goodbye to Shuanger and instructed the Heaven and Earth Society brothers to keep a close eye on the surroundings of the Zhuang house before activating his lightwork to rush back to the palace. On the way, he opened the thermal container and took a sip of the chicken soup. The delicious taste refreshed his spirit—with such a thoughtful girl waiting for him, it felt worth it no matter how dangerous it was.

When he returned to the palace, it was exactly the middle of the second watch. Wei Xiaobao was already waiting at the side gate of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility. Seeing Xie Hui return, he quickly went to meet him. "Brother Hui, you're finally back! Hai Dafu just came by to ask once; I barely managed to fool him!"

"It's fine," Xie Hui patted his shoulder. "Don't panic. Later, after Hai Dafu goes in, you keep watch outside. I'll follow behind him. I'll give you a signal if anything happens."

Wei Xiaobao nodded and was about to speak when he saw a set of footsteps approaching from afar. Hai Dafu, wearing a black eunuch uniform and holding a lantern, walked over slowly. "Xiaobao, is everything ready? Don't let anything go wrong, or we'll both lose our heads."

"Everything is ready, Eunuch Hai," Wei Xiaobao nodded and bowed quickly. "Don't worry, I'll definitely keep a good watch and won't let anyone find out."

Hai Dafu gave a grunt of approval, pulled a bunch of keys from his bosom, walked to the side gate of the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility, looked around alertly, then used a key to unlock the door and pushed it open gently to walk inside.

Xie Hui gave Wei Xiaobao a look, signaling him to wait outside, while he himself used the cover of night to follow inside silently.

The Palace of Compassion and Tranquility was silent, with only the *woo-woo* sound of the wind blowing through the windows. A solitary lamp hung at the end of the corridor, its light dim and looking somewhat eerie. Hai Dafu didn't dare light his lantern too brightly either, only using the faint light to move forward, his footsteps as light as a cat's.

Xie Hui followed behind him, maintaining a distance of about a dozen steps, his eyes fixed on his back. He remembered Jianning saying that the Empress Dowager's secret chamber was behind the bedchamber. It seemed Hai Dafu was heading there too.

Walking behind the bedchamber, Hai Dafu stopped in front of a wall. After feeling around carefully for a while, he suddenly pressed a brick on the wall. With a *crack*, the wall slowly opened, revealing a pitch-black opening—the entrance to the secret chamber.

Hai Dafu took a deep breath, raised his lantern, and walked inside. Xie Hui quickly followed. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard the voice of the Fake Empress Dowager, Mao Dongzhu, from inside, along with the voice of a strange man, as if they were arguing about something.

"...The sutras must be handed over to the Cult Leader as soon as possible; we can't wait any longer!" The strange man's voice carried a hint of urgency. "If Kangxi finds out, we're all finished!"

"What's the rush?" Mao Dongzhu's voice was tinged with impatience. "Now that Hai Dafu is watching me every day, how am I supposed to send the sutras out? Wait a few more days until the heat dies down!"

Xie Hui held his breath, hiding outside the entrance, thinking to himself—this strange man must be from the Divine Dragon Cult! It seems Mao Dongzhu really is colluding with the Divine Dragon Cult. That forty-two chapter sutra is almost certainly in the secret chamber!

Just as he was about to listen more closely, he suddenly heard a *thud* from inside, as if something had fallen to the floor. Immediately after, Mao Dongzhu's voice became tense. "Who's out there?!"

Xie Hui's heart tightened—could he have been discovered? He quickly took two steps back, hiding behind a nearby pillar, his hand tightly clutching the dagger at his waist, ready to respond to any sudden situation at any time.

The footsteps inside grew closer, and Hai Dafu's voice also came out. "Empress Dowager, it is this old servant. I heard a noise inside just now and came to take a look."

Xie Hui held his breath, his eyes fixed on the opening, wondering what to do. Should he rush in to help Hai Dafu, or withdraw first and wait until tomorrow to make plans?

Just then, a head suddenly poked out from the opening; it was Mao Dongzhu. Her gaze swept the surroundings, her eyes as sharp as knives. Xie Hui quickly ducked his head lower, his heart thumping wildly—it seemed tonight's night exploration would be much more dangerous than imagined.