Chapter 26: The Moonlit Flower Underground Palace

Shen Qianmo awoke amidst a dizzy haze, finding herself tightly embraced by Meng Yuanheng. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, assuring her that it was indeed Meng Yuanheng. She stirred, discovering that his grip was so firm she could hardly break free. Left with no choice, she patted his back and called softly, “Meng Yuanheng, Meng Yuanheng!”

After a moment, the arms around her loosened, and she was gently pulled away. Meng Yuanheng’s voice was anxious as he asked, “Mo’er, are you all right?”

The two sat up, Shen Qianmo met his worried gaze and shook her head. “I’m fine,” she replied.

Meng Yuanheng grasped her shoulders, scrutinizing her from head to toe. Once assured she was unharmed, he exhaled in relief. “Good. That’s all that matters.” His voice trembled ever so slightly.

This man, who leapt after her without a second thought, inspired a feeling she could not deny—a sense of deep gratitude and emotion.

Catching a faint trace of blood on him, she slipped from his embrace and asked, “Are you hurt?”

The dim light and the deep color of Meng Yuanheng’s clothes made it impossible to see where he was injured. He always favored dark attire; ever since she met him, he had been clad in black.

“It’s nothing,” Meng Yuanheng brushed it off, helping Shen Qianmo to her feet.

They surveyed their surroundings. They seemed to be in a hidden passage—narrow, dimly lit. Following a faint glimmer, they walked along its winding course, which seemed endless.

At a bend where the space widened, they were startled by what they saw.

Before them lay a spacious stone prison, where ten or so young men in tattered clothing were chained to the stone walls. Pale, gaunt, and haggard, they looked utterly wretched.

“Could these be the missing scholars from Yunzhou City?” Shen Qianmo asked Meng Yuanheng, seeking confirmation.

“Most likely,” Meng Yuanheng replied, his brow furrowed. Who would lock up these frail scholars? And for what purpose?

The prisoners, seeing Shen Qianmo and Meng Yuanheng, suddenly grew agitated, their previously lifeless faces now animated. They cried out, struggling desperately, the chains clattering.

“They’ve all had their tongues cut out,” Meng Yuanheng remarked.

Shen Qianmo was horrified. Who could be so cruel?

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out from afar: “Who dares trespass in the Flower Moon Palace?”

No sooner had the words fallen than four lithe young women in blue flew forth, encircling them.

Flower Moon Palace? This was the first time Shen Qianmo had heard the name—it sounded like a martial world sect.

“Hmm, a secret underground palace like this—Flower Moon Palace can’t possibly be an upright place,” Meng Yuanheng said disdainfully.

The leading girl snapped angrily, “How dare you speak so rudely! Who are you, and how did you enter the secret passage of Flower Moon Palace?”

So this was the palace’s secret passage. Shen Qianmo felt utterly exasperated—first a forbidden ground, now a hidden tunnel; did everyone here have a penchant for mystery?

“Summon your palace master,” Meng Yuanheng demanded impatiently, unwilling to waste words with these girls.

The leader’s expression changed, her voice rising: “How dare you! Our palace master is not someone you can see at will. If you wish to meet her, you must first get past us!” With that, she brandished her sword and attacked.

Meng Yuanheng shielded Shen Qianmo behind him, and with a wave of his sleeve, repelled her. The remaining three joined in, besieging them.

Shen Qianmo was hardly the sort to cower behind another. With a swift motion, she drew a slender dagger from her sleeve.

This scalpel had always been her protective weapon. The dangers here were nothing like the modern world—treachery lurked everywhere. If she wasn’t vigilant, she might not even know how she died.

Seeing Meng Yuanheng was no easy target, the four shifted their assault toward Shen Qianmo. The leader, aided by the others, lunged at her, sword tip aimed straight for her.

Shen Qianmo readied to counter, but Meng Yuanheng’s furious shout echoed.

“Courting death!” His eyes blazed with murderous intent. Breaking free of the others, he flew at the blue-clad leader, struck her sword away, and seized her throat with an iron grip.

“Sir, please show mercy!” Just as Meng Yuanheng was about to snap her neck, and as Shen Qianmo moved to intervene, a white-robed woman appeared, calling out urgently.

Her skin was flawless, her eyes bright as morning stars, brows like distant mountains. Though her face was icy, her beauty was exquisite; she was ethereal, like a goddess descended to earth. Shen Qianmo stared in awe—this was a true ice queen.

Meng Yuanheng, however, didn’t even glance at her, his grip unrelenting, murderous intent undiminished. The blue-clad girl trembled in terror.

Sensing something was amiss, Shen Qianmo stepped forward, gently patting Meng Yuanheng’s hand and calling, “Meng Yuanheng.”

He snapped out of it, saw the confusion in Shen Qianmo’s eyes, and gradually returned to normal, loosening his hold. The girl quickly slipped away.

“Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum—stand down,” the ice queen commanded coldly, casting an unexpected glance at Shen Qianmo.

“Yes, aunt,” the four girls replied respectfully, bowing in unison and retreating.

Aunt? Shen Qianmo thought she resembled the heroine in “The Return of the Condor Heroes.”

Since Meng Yuanheng hadn’t even spared her a glance, the ice queen turned to Shen Qianmo, asking, “Are you here searching for someone?”

Her words startled Shen Qianmo, and Meng Yuanheng glanced at her, surprised.

“That’s right,” Shen Qianmo replied cautiously, unsure if they were friend or foe.

“If you seek someone, follow me,” the ice queen said, turning away.

For reasons unknown, Shen Qianmo instinctively trusted her. She nodded to Meng Yuanheng, and the two followed the ice queen through the long secret passage.

Emerging from the tunnel, Shen Qianmo felt as if a veil had lifted.

Before them stood a splendid palace—not vast, but serene and elegant, with unique charm. Inside, every table, chair, flower, and tree was refined and skillfully arranged.

It was astonishing to find such a place beneath the Buddhist Sound Woods. Shen Qianmo and Meng Yuanheng were both surprised; this must indeed be Flower Moon Palace.

Without pause, the ice queen led them to a side hall, stopping before a finely carved wooden door. She rotated a porcelain vase nearby, and the door slowly opened.

Peering inside, Shen Qianmo saw a beautiful couch, upon which reclined a man of extraordinary grace, eyes closed—none other than the missing Prince Mingyu, Xie Mingyu!

“Cousin!” Shen Qianmo rushed in, finding Xie Mingyu unconscious. She turned to the ice queen, her voice sharp, “What have you done to him?”

The ice queen’s icy face betrayed the faintest flicker of emotion at the sight of Xie Mingyu, but she quickly regained composure. “Rest assured, miss. He is unharmed. Now that you’ve found him, you’d best leave at once.”

With that, she produced a white pill and fed it to Xie Mingyu. Soon after, he slowly awakened.

“Mo’er?” Xie Mingyu opened his eyes to Shen Qianmo’s anxious face, confusion in his gaze.

“Cousin, you’re awake!” Shen Qianmo grasped his sleeve, a smile finally breaking on her face.

Seeing Xie Mingyu safe, she felt her heart, which had been clenched with worry, finally ease.

Whether she was the original owner of this body or herself, her bond with this cousin was deep. Had anything happened to Xie Mingyu under her watch, how could she bear it? How could she face the Xie family?

Meng Yuanheng, his face dark, drew Shen Qianmo’s hand away from Xie Mingyu’s and said gruffly, “This is no place to linger. We should leave at once.”

“Shuang’er, you have disappointed me deeply!” A cold, stern female voice echoed from afar—distant, yet near. The ice queen’s expression shifted, urging them, “Go! Quickly!”

Shen Qianmo and Meng Yuanheng hurried to support Xie Mingyu, rushing toward the exit. They had barely gone a few steps when a woman in red descended from above, blocking their way.

“You wish to leave? It won’t be so easy!”