Today, the sunlight is warm. After noon, with nothing to do, Qingmei takes a few little palace Servants to accompany Bai Zhi'er in playing hide and seek in the Imperial Garden.
The Imperial Garden of the imperial palace is vast, as large as four Qianyuan Halls where the Emperor resides.
Exotic flowers and strange stones are planted everywhere, with artificial hills and flowing water spread around, while the expansive Biyu Lake runs through the entire garden.
It is Bai Zhi'er's turn to be the seeker, covering her eyes.
She steps on the snow, the small bell on her boot ringing with each step.
The little girl's exposed face is round and pinkish, with lips like flower petals curving into a sweet smile.
"Sister Qingmei, you all better hide well, Zhi'er is coming!"
Bai Zhi'er moves slowly.
The palace maids behind the rockery quickly shrink back, holding their breaths and covering their mouths, lest they be caught by the little princess.
At this moment, on the other side of a stone forest separating from the Imperial Garden, lies a place even the palace attendants dare not tread—a purgatory in the Human World—
The Xiuluo Guard.
The Brocade Robe Shura Envoys here take orders from Marquis Wan alone, serving the Emperor by eliminating dissenters.
Emperor Bai Xilie seized power through rebellion and martial might, and in dealing with the remnant forces of the former dynasty, his methods are ruthless and unfeeling.
Marquis Wan Feng Fuce primarily assists him in identifying and eradicating the hidden remnants of the former dynasty, and in purging officials with divided loyalties.
To empower Feng Fuce, Bai Xilie positioned the Xiuluo Guard at the outer edge of the imperial palace to instill fear inside and out.
Therefore, ordinary people would avoid this place and never step in.
At this moment, in the front courtyard of the Xiuluo Guard.
A grand chair, covered with white tiger skin, is placed under the corridor. Feng Fuce sits on it, in a relaxed and natural posture.
His cold brows are more arrogantly frigid than the snow and wind, with a faint indifference.
At this moment, supporting his brow with his fingertips, he looks at a palace maid brought in by the Xiuluo Guard in the courtyard.
The palace maid, just thrown to the ground, immediately kowtows, crying and begging for mercy.
"Marquis, I beg you to spare this servant. This servant is ill and dared not see the Imperial Physician. If the Emperor finds out, this servant will be doomed!"
The burly man next to Feng Fuce glares with tiger eyes, imposing and stern: "So, you wanted to sneak out of the palace? It's a capital offense for a palace maid to escape without permission."
The palace maid turns ashen with fright, her cries overflowing: "This servant is at a loss. This illness is too strange; this servant is afraid..."
As she speaks, she rolls up her sleeve, revealing conspicuous blisters on her arm.
Even those accustomed to bloody scenes among the Xiuluo Guard involuntarily frown.
The palace maid crawls through the snow, trying to get closer to Feng Fuce: "Marquis, I beg you to spare this servant, so I can repay you as a beast of burden after healing!"
Suddenly!
Feng Fuce moves, abruptly drawing the waist knife from a Xiuluo Guard beside him.
The crowd sees only a flash of the white blade, then hears the sound of fresh blood splattering across the snow.
With a few rolling sounds, the palace maid's head separates from her body.
Yet, the bright red blood didn't even stain Feng Fuce's black boots, only melting a patch of white snow.
The Xiuluo Guard holds their breath, not daring to speak.
Feng Fuce stands tall.
He casts his gaze down, tossing the knife into the snow, commanding coldly: "Burn the knife and the body together, remember, don't make direct contact."
The ground is a mess of blood, glaringly conspicuous against the snow.
The Xiuluo Guard dares not delay, nodding in unison.
However, just as they are about to act.
They see, at the entrance of the courtyard, a small, swaying figure, with crisp bell sounds.
Bai Zhi'er stretches out her little hands, cautiously moving forward.
She sweetly smiles in a soft voice: "Sister Qingmei, is that you? I just heard a sound, I'm going to catch you soon!"