Imperial Consort Yu sending someone to poison Consort Shu, only to be caught in the act—this was a drama not to be missed.

Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the inner palace, undercurrents were already surging. The area around the Imperial Consort’s residence was filled with eunuchs and palace maids hiding in the grass and behind trees, all sent by various factions to gather information.

These frontline gossip-mongers watched as the emperor entered the Imperial Consort’s residence and closed the door, speaking inside for a while. Then, under the blazing sun, they stood guard for half an hour, but didn’t hear a sound.

Just as they were sweating profusely and scratching their heads, they suddenly heard the faint sound of porcelain shattering.

It’s happening!

The gossip-mongers craned their necks to listen. Inside the Imperial Consort’s residence, sharp noises continuously sounded, as if every piece of furniture and object was being destroyed.

There was a sound of kicking the door.

They saw a person with disheveled hair stride out quickly, shouting hoarsely, “Someone!”

The eavesdroppers quickly pulled back their heads, cold sweat dripping.

The emperor’s black dragon robe was half off, hanging loosely on one shoulder, revealing his inner garment, his eyes wild: “Drag Imperial Concubine Yu to the Cold Palace!”

Imperial Concubine Yu? The gossip-mongers took note.

The guards followed the order, and from within the Imperial Consort’s residence came a sharp female voice: “I dare anyone to try!”

Imperial Consort Yu was dragged out by the guards, losing both her shoes, tear-stained face ruining her fresh makeup.

Xiahou Dan sneered: “Who dares? Are you questioning me?”

Yu Wanyin showed no hint of backing down, her usual coquettish demeanor gone, her eyes wide with anger: “Your Majesty, you will regret this.”

The gossip-mongers’ guts were about to burst. This was too intense!

Unfortunately, this time, she couldn’t win back the emperor’s favor.

Xiahou Dan staggered over, kicking a guard over: “Who is the master here?”

Xiahou Dan: “Who!”

The guard knelt: “Your Majesty is the master.”

“So when I say drag her to the Cold Palace, did you not hear me?!”

Xiahou Dan personally supervised as Yu Wanyin was thrown into the Cold Palace, and then ordered: “Nail shut all the doors and windows, leave a team of guards to watch. Without my order, no food shall be delivered.”

For several days, no food was delivered.

The fall of Imperial Concubine Yu was now certain, and the eunuchs and maids who came to watch gradually dwindled. Only two or three persistent ones remained, and they witnessed a good show.

The Cold Palace was old and in disrepair, with a drafty hole in the main gate, guarded by soldiers outside.

One day, a figure appeared in that hole.

The once beautiful Imperial Concubine Yu, now emaciated and haggard, dragged herself stiffly to the hole, knelt down, and pleaded: “Kind sirs, have mercy, give me something to eat.”

The guards ignored her.

Imperial Concubine Yu continued: “Please pass a message, tell him I was wrong, Wanyin was truly wrong…”

The guards remained silent. She knelt for a while, then seemed too weak to get up, collapsing on the other side of the door.

After a long time, Eunuch An Xian from the emperor’s side arrived, handing a broken bowl to the guard.

The guard passed the bowl through the hole, saying: “Eat.”

The skeletal figure on the ground moved again, struggling to lift the bowl, took a few sips of the cold, thick porridge, and tearfully thanked him, then crawled back inside with the bowl.

Yu Wanyin, holding the broken bowl, walked inside and casually tossed it aside, wiping her face with disgust.

A maid had already prepared hot water: “Mistress, please cleanse your face.”

Yu Wanyin washed off the makeup revealing her healthy complexion, bored: “So, what shall we do today?”

The maid smiled: “Mother Bei sent some fruits and snacks, and a few books. She asks you to be patient; it will take three to five days to dig the tunnel. By then, the emperor will come to see you. Until then, only Mother Bei can sneak in without being noticed.”

The maid added, “Oh, and someone from the back yard passed this package through. They seem to have bribed the guard. They also said if you have any messages to send out, you can write them on a note and give it to them.”

She revealed a small package.

Yu Wanyin opened it to find some dry food and a jade-carved turtle.

Prince Duan had finally made his move.

Xiahou Bo had asked Yu Wanyin to investigate that expert, and soon after, he heard that the informant Xiao Mei was dead.

There was no such coincidence in the world; it must have been Yu Wanyin.

His expectations of her had already dropped to the bottom.

Later, he heard that the Imperial Consort Yu was demoted to Concubine Yu and placed under house arrest—sounded like an act. Xiahou Bo knew Yu Wanyin’s special ability, and so did Xiahou Dan. If he were in the emperor’s shoes, he wouldn’t give up such a prophet for the sake of love.

But he still wanted to see how she planned to act it out.

After Concubine Yu was imprisoned in the Cold Palace, his informant in the palace sent back some gossip: The emperor had a huge fight with Concubine Yu, where Concubine Yu advised the emperor to get rid of Consort Shu, but the emperor refused. Concubine Yu claimed she dreamt Consort Shu would kill her entire family. The emperor accused her of lying for favor, leading to the emperor’s rage and her downfall.

This surprised Xiahou Bo a bit.

Because he knew, Consort Shu’s family had been friends with the Yu family in the past, but now the Yu family had been demoted, and Consort Shu’s family was gradually declining, causing conflicts. Recently, the younger generation of both families were competing for a position, and the conflict had become public.

Xiahou Bo had people investigate and found that Consort Shu’s family was indeed secretly planning to eliminate the Yu family.

But there was one point: these schemes were so well hidden that even he had to work hard to find them. The Yu family had no idea, and it was impossible for Yu Wanyin in the deep palace to hear about it.

So, did she really see it with her third eye?

Xiahou Bo waited a few days and sent some food inside, receiving a secret letter in return.

He read a few lines and laughed: “Daring indeed.”

Yu Wanyin openly admitted: Yes, I sent Xiao Mei to poison because I figured out she was your informant. If she succeeded, fine. But she was caught by Consort Shu. Now she’s dead—it’s her punishment for betraying me.

Xiahou Bo thought of her furious shout on the lake and smiled: “This girl is no ordinary person. Interesting, very interesting.”

Prince Duan’s advisors dared not speak.

Usually, when a man says a woman is “interesting,” it carries a hint of romantic interest.

But when Prince Duan says “interesting,” the meaning could be complicated. The full sentence could be “interesting, I should bring her over,” or “interesting, she must be eliminated.”

There seemed to be no tenderness in his heart, not even hatred. The world was just a series of games to him. Pretense and reality, weakening the opponent and strengthening oneself, deception, and strategy. He was the ideal manipulator: calm, ruthless, and unwavering.

Sometimes this gave them great security, and sometimes it filled them with fear.

Xiahou Bo continued reading the letter.

Yu Wanyin stated that Xiahou Dan no longer trusted her but feared others would gain her assistance, so he intended to imprison her until death.

She asked Xiahou Bo: Are you different from him? How can you prove it? If my predictions occasionally fail, will you also execute me out of suspicion?

Of course, Xiahou Bo would.

But Xiahou Bo wrote back a letter filled with genuine affection, painting such a rosy picture that it could make any corporate HR envious, and sent more food inside.

He didn’t rush to inquire about the expert by the emperor’s side. He was waiting for her to provide a token of allegiance.

Yu Wanyin stalled for two more days, acting out the scene of kneeling for cold porridge before finally sending a new secret letter: “I dreamt of that tall man, alone, walking along the promenade, heading to a place of revelry. Before him was a high stage (she even included a childlike drawing), seemingly watching a performance.”

Xiahou Bo didn’t fully believe it.

But he had nothing to lose by taking a gamble. At least the location she mentioned wasn’t in the palace but in a brothel, where getting rid of someone wouldn’t be difficult.

So Xiahou Bo dispatched some spies to stake out several brothels in the city.

Finally, the tunnel was dug through.

Xiahou Dan emerged from the tunnel, covered in dirt, and went to see Yu Wanyin first: “You’ve lost weight.”

Yu Wanyin coughed: “No, it’s just the makeup wasn’t removed properly.” In reality, she had gained some weight from lying around, eating snacks, and having nowhere to exercise.

Xiahou Dan dusted off the dirt on himself, looking around: “How about hotpot tonight?”

“Hotpot in the summer?”

“With iced mung bean soup.”

“Not bad.” Yu Wanyin smiled. But then she felt a bit embarrassed as this conversation made them seem like an old married couple, causing her face to flush.

People say adversity reveals true feelings, and now she understood. After going through so much together, seeing him now gave her a sense of reassurance.

Until a clatter came from the tunnel, and another head, covered in dirt, popped out: “Ugh… carrying a pot through a tunnel is tough!”

Xiahou Dan: “Well done. Put the pot down, you can leave now.”

A Bai: “???”

A Bai didn’t leave.

Not only did he stay, but he also brought Bei Zhou along. A two-person hotpot turned into a four-person hotpot.

“Madam, have this.” A Bai diligently dipped lamb and placed it in Yu Wanyin’s bowl.

Yu Wanyin couldn’t stop him in time and was about to thank him when another pair of chopsticks reached over, placing tripe on top of the lamb.

Xiahou Dan stared at her.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Her impression of Xiahou Dan had been steadily improving, but she didn’t know how he felt about her.

She guessed there might be some affection, but he always acted like a gentleman, as if their bond was purely a strategic alliance.

Until A Bai, who seemed to have no fear of death, began to interfere, seemingly provoking Xiahou Dan.

Yu Wanyin swallowed the tripe and slowly picked up the lamb from A Bai.

Xiahou Dan continued to stare at her.

A Bai’s eyes also turned towards her.

Yu Wanyin paused, then slowly placed the lamb in Xiahou Dan’s bowl.

Xiahou Dan: “?”

A Bai: “?”

Yu Wanyin: “So, Bei Zhou, A Bai, you both are familiar with the plan, right?”

Bei Zhou, who had been focusing on eating, finally looked up: “Don’t worry, I’ve been training this guy these past few days.”

A Bai pulled out a human skin mask from his pocket and put it on, then tied a black face scarf, and smiled: “How do I look?”

After dinner, Bei Zhou dragged A Bai to a corner, murmuring together before setting up a practice match.

Bei Zhou: “You blocked just now. These spots can’t be blocked, practice until it becomes second nature.”

A Bai: “I blocked?”

Bei Zhou nodded and gestured: “Your arm moved.”

“Instinct, instinct.” A Bai boasted, “Being this strong is a hassle, so lonely at the top.”

Bei Zhou: “?”

Bei Zhou raised his palm: “Another round?”

A Bai quickly changed the subject: “By the way, when are we catching that scar-faced guy?”

Xiahou Dan, sitting nearby, watched them like a martial arts film: “No rush, we’ll wait until he leaves the palace.”

Bei Zhou stopped: “Dan’er, are you full? I’ll go cut a melon for you.”

“I’ll go.” Yu Wanyin headed to the simple kitchen behind the Cold Palace, picking up a watermelon soaked in ice water.

The summer night heat had not dissipated, cicadas chirped in the overgrown courtyard, and fireflies occasionally flitted by. As Yu Wanyin sliced the watermelon into pieces, A Bai sneaked in: “Madam.”

“I’m not a madam now.”

A Bai’s eyes lit up: “Wanyin?”

“…”

Yu Wanyin knew that people from the martial world were unrestrained, so she didn’t take his somewhat flirtatious, playful behavior seriously, handing him a plate of watermelon: “Thanks for your help.”

A Bai: “…”

Yu Wanyin started cutting the second plate: “How is your practice going?”

A Bai picked up a piece of watermelon, biting into it, and said: “Smoothly, just need to perfect some moves.”

“Three days should be enough to master it,” A Bai said, holding the plate of watermelon and looking at her. “Wan Yin, after this task is done, I should leave.”

Yu Wan Yin was taken aback. “So soon? Aren’t you here under your master’s orders to protect His Majesty?”

“With the Prince Duan watching, I can’t stay by your side any longer.”

Upon reflection, Yu Wan Yin realized he was right.

So this guy was here to say goodbye. She put down what she was doing and straightened her posture. “Hmm, have you decided where to go?”

“His Majesty has another mission for me.”

“A mission?”

A Bai winked. “I can’t say now, but you’ll know when the time comes.”

So it’s a secret mission.

They hadn’t been together for long, yet Xiahou Dan trusted him this much? Yu Wan Yin found it hard to believe.

She thought she should ask Xiahou Dan about this later when A Bai suddenly asked, “Or, do you want to come with me?”

Yu Wan Yin: “… What?”

“I asked if you want to come with me.” A Bai’s playful demeanor vanished, and he spoke with utmost seriousness, word by word.

In the dimly lit room, his eyes shone like stars. “The first time I saw you, I knew you were like a skylark from the heavens, not meant to be trapped within these palace walls. Someone who can come up with so many plans must have a lively and free spirit. Such a person should soar freely in the world.”

Yu Wan Yin quickly glanced at the door and lowered her voice. “Do you know where you are? You’re in the palace, trying to take the emperor’s woman away?”

“No need to escape. If you agree, I’ll convince His Majesty myself.”

Yu Wan Yin was stunned. “You plan to persuade him?”

“I have reasons he can’t refuse.”

Yu Wan Yin: “…”

This guy must be crazy.

Although she found it absurd, she was also somewhat moved. “Regardless, thank you for saying this.”

A Bai heard the rejection in her tone and deflated. “Please, don’t rush to answer.”

Yu Wan Yin chuckled. “A Bai, someone as heroic as you will surely find a suitable partner.”

A Bai hung his head. “Am I not good enough?”

“It’s not that…”

“If not with me, would you want to leave and see the world?”

Yu Wan Yin opened her mouth but paused.

She remembered her dreams of escaping when she first arrived.

A Bai placed his hands on her shoulders. “Wan Yin, on my way to the capital, I saw countless sunsets and vibrant flowers. Think about yourself. What do you truly want from this life?”

He let go and took two plates of watermelon, walking out.

Yu Wan Yin stood there, dazed for a while.

The desert smoke, camel bells, the autumn osmanthus, the lotus flowers she missed in her past life while stuck in a cubicle. It seemed she would miss them again in this life.

She took a deep breath, washed her hands, and thought she should head back. But stepping into the yard, she saw two figures standing together.

A Bai was pointing at something in the sky with Xiahou Dan standing beside him. “See that?”

Xiahou Dan tilted his head. “To the left of the moon?”

A Bai: “They’re almost lined up.”

Yu Wan Yin instinctively looked up but only saw a sky full of stars, chaotic and disordered, without any discernible line.

A Bai: “Think about my master’s letter. He also asked me to convey this: Your meeting may not be a blessing.”

Xiahou Dan scoffed. “You just made that up.”

A Bai retorted, “I wouldn’t joke about my master.”

Xiahou Dan: “If you covet Wan Yin, just say so.”

Yu Wan Yin: “…”

She wondered if she should retreat back to the kitchen.

A Bai, with his keen martial arts senses, heard the faint sound behind him but pretended not to notice. “Even if not for yourself, think of her.”

Xiahou Dan fell silent.

A Bai continued, “You’re the emperor, but can you protect her from being bullied?”

Xiahou Dan: “That, I can.”

A Bai: “?”

A Bai gathered his courage. “Can you remain faithful to her alone?”

Xiahou Dan: “That’s easy too.”

A Bai: “?”

Behind them, Yu Wan Yin held her breath, not daring to move. Her heartbeat was so loud she feared it drowned out the cicadas.

A Bai had hoped to expose the man’s flaws, never expecting him to answer like this. Frustrated, he said, “Even if you can, she remains a caged bird, never free to explore the world.”

“A Bai, the world isn’t just for exploration. She has her ambitions.”

A Bai was taken aback.

Xiahou Dan still looked at the night sky. “You see her as a bird needing release, but she’s pure and noble, like the moon, illuminating the vast sky.”

A Bai: “…”

A Bai weakly tugged at him. “Let’s go inside.”

“But you’re right. It’s hard for her to be happy here,” Xiahou Dan said. “If she achieves her ambitions and wants to leave, and I’m no longer around, you can take her away.”

A Bai was on the verge of tears. “Please, stop talking.”

Yu Wan Yin stood in the courtyard for a while, letting the night breeze cool her cheeks before returning to the house as if nothing had happened.

A Bai was fighting fiercely with Bei Zhou.

Xiahou Dan looked at Yu Wan Yin. “Why did you take so long?”

Yu Wan Yin didn’t dare meet his gaze. “Well, nature calls.”

The Prince Duan’s spies had been stationed in various brothels and theaters throughout the city, waiting for days. Finally, one evening, they received intelligence: the tall, masked expert by the emperor’s side appeared at the Yi Hong Courtyard. Instead of seeking out courtesans, he listened to the opera at the Penglai Stage.

This information matched Yu Wan Yin’s secret letter.

The Prince Duan’s assassins quickly gathered and blended into the crowd.

The so-called Penglai Stage was just an opera stage, but because it was set inside a brothel, it was decorated with fine curtains and incense, and the performances were far from proper opera.

A group of lecherous spectators cheered for the sinuous movements of the actress. Meanwhile, the madam with a mole bustled among the crowd, collecting tips with a smile.

The assassins soon spotted their tall target.

The leader made a subtle hand gesture, and the group dispersed, concealing themselves behind a gilded screen.

The lead assassin approached the madam from behind, pretending to flirt, then swiftly pressed a dagger to her throat.

The madam’s face turned pale. “Sir, let’s talk this over.”

The assassin leader whispered, “Let’s have a word in private.”

He dragged the madam to a corner, away from prying eyes, stowed the dagger, and alternated between threats and bribery, handing her a pouch of money. “In the next scene, our people will take the stage. Don’t alert the patrons.”

The madam weighed the money, dramatically patting her chest. “Oh dear, you scared me! Such a small matter, you could have just asked! No need for the knife…”

The assassin leader lost patience. “Enough talk. Get it done.”

The madam continued babbling. “But our Yi Hong Courtyard has its own rules. We can’t just do as we please…”

The assassin leader, accustomed to bloodshed, had no patience for the madam’s chatter. He swung a punch at her stomach.

Mid-swing, his fist stopped short!

The madam effortlessly caught his wrist, as if holding a delicate flower, even raising her pinky. “Such a fierce guest.”

The assassin leader: “!!!”

A few moves later, the assassin leader was on the ground, hands pinned, unable to move.

The madam dislocated his jaw, forced a pill into his mouth, then reset it. “This is poison. I have the antidote. Follow my orders, and you’ll get it afterward.”

The assassin leader: “Who are you?”

The madam laughed. “Enough talk. Get it done.”

The other assassins had already changed into opera costumes, checking their daggers. The leader returned, his face dark.

He distributed a set of poisoned daggers. “Use these.”

An assassin asked, “Why?”

The leader coldly replied, “Orders from above. Don’t ask. Just switch and get on stage.”

They noticed the green-tipped daggers, assuming they were intended for their target. Urgently, they obeyed.

The golden screen opened to reveal a new opera, a playful piece about a fish-basket seller.

A Bai sat in the audience, cheering with a fan, appearing completely at ease despite his masked face.

The scene was lively and flirtatious, with the actress evading the celestial soldiers.

In the chaos, the fish-basket seller jumped from the stage, landing gracefully among the audience.

The crowd roared with excitement.

As the celestial soldiers chased her, the actress approached A Bai.

A Bai seemed oblivious, still cheering.

In a flash, the actress drew a dagger, aiming for A Bai.

A Bai swiftly opened his fan to block. The dagger pierced the fan, startling the onlookers.

He closed the fan, trapping the dagger, producing a metallic clink.

A Bai, holding the fan with one hand, struck the actress with his other hand. She took the hit but didn’t retreat. Meanwhile, the soldiers reached them, and the assassins surrounded A Bai, their daggers gleaming.

A Bai shouted and struck the actress away, but he couldn’t escape the encirclement!

Blood splattered on the fan, turning it red.

An hour later, a trembling spy reported to the Prince Duan, “All the assassins we sent were killed!”

Xiahou Bo paused mid-sip, still gracefully drinking his tea. “Explain.”

The spy, excited, recounted, “When the fight broke out, everyone fled. I hid and saw that man surrounded and bleeding heavily!”

The spy continued, “He was stabbed multiple times but wouldn’t fall! Even on his knees, he kept fighting and killed the last assassin before collapsing, laughing!”

Xiahou Bo: “I asked for a report, not a story.”

The spy kowtowed. “Every word is true!”

Xiahou Bo set his cup down gently, frowning. “Where’s the body?”

“The brothel staff took all the bodies and cleaned the blood. I intercepted them in the alley, paid them, and hid the bodies. Would you like to see?”

The masked expert’s body was mutilated, his vital areas stabbed into a mess.

Xiahou Bo calmly inspected the body, frowning at the familiar scarred face.

“Is this the same person you saw at Yi Hong Courtyard?” he asked the spy.

The spy nodded. “I’m good at recognizing faces. Though he was masked, I remember his eyes. It’s him.”

Xiahou Bo ordered, “Identify him.”

As he turned to leave, he added, “Also, thoroughly check the assassins’ bodies and belongings. No detail can be missed.”

The assassins’ bodies revealed nothing unusual.

The masked expert was quickly identified: a top enforcer for the Empress Dowager, known for eliminating difficult targets. He was already on the Prince Duan’s blacklist.

The scarred man liked opera and was returning from a mission for the Empress Dowager when he detoured to Yi Hong Courtyard and met his end.

Xiahou Bo, intrigued, smiled. “The Empress Dowager’s top enforcer, protecting the emperor?”

Advisor: “The Empress Dowager showed goodwill to the emperor?”

Xiahou Bo: “Perhaps it’s a gesture of goodwill, or maybe surveillance. In any case, she certainly has some hidden thoughts that this king has not discovered.”

Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager is furiously smashing bowls: “For no reason at all, Prince Duan actually killed my personal guards?! I think he’s had enough of living!”

Confidant: “Should we punish him?”

The Empress Dowager smashed another bowl: “Useless! If we could have punished him earlier, how could we have let him be so arrogant until now?”

The struggle between Prince Duan and the Empress Dowager was reaching a fever pitch.

Compared to the original text, the plot direction hasn’t changed much. Although the Empress Dowager is aggressive, her strategies and layouts are no match for Prince Duan’s. She is already falling behind, showing signs of defeat.

In other words, the fight between the sandpiper and the clam is nearing its end, and the time left for Xiahou Dan to bide his time is running out.

When Yu Wanyin returned to her room, she found something new on her pillow. She picked it up and examined it closely; it was a rough wooden carving with wings spread and neck stretched as if singing. She guessed it was a lark carved by A Bai.

Yu Wanyin gently caressed the wood grain with her fingertips and turned to look at the narrow window of the cold palace.

Xiahou Dan followed her in: “What is that?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Yu Wanyin quickly put down the lark: “Let me explain.”

Xiahou Dan glanced at it: “A Bai left it for you? It’s rare for him to be so thoughtful. Keep it.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Yu Wanyin was dissatisfied: “Just like that?”

“…What do you mean ‘just like that’?”

Pretending to be magnanimous, aren’t you the jealous type? Yu Wanyin stared at Xiahou Dan in amazement.

She had already overheard his thoughts, making it difficult to pretend she didn’t know.

That night in the courtyard, she had indeed harbored some small thoughts, hoping to hear something from his mouth.

She hoped he would at least have a bit of excitement and fondness for her, just like she did for him. Why not? They had fought side by side for so long, and with her current face, she should have some charm…

She never expected Xiahou Dan to say those things.

Those…almost incredible words.

Even though they were just a few words, she seemed to glimpse an endless deep sea. She was confused, flattered, and even felt a hint of fear.

But she couldn’t hide her happiness.

You think of me that way.

I want to hear you say it to me.

Xiahou Dan found her staring at him inexplicably and changed the subject: “Today, the Empress Dowager found another excuse to attack Prince Duan. It seems our plan is quite successful, thanks to your brilliant strategy.”

Meanwhile, at the city gates, a man and a woman were standing in line, waiting to be checked by the guards.

The man was tall but hunched over with a dark face, exuding a rustic air. The woman beside him was elderly, weathered, and carried several floral bags.

Guard: “What were you doing in the city?”

The man spoke in a thick rural accent: “Came to visit relatives with my mother, now heading home.”

After leaving the city, the two remained silent, blending in with the crowd on the main road.

After a few miles, with no one else around, the man straightened up and stretched: “Mother, I’ll escort you this far.”

The woman smiled: “Son, take care of yourself out there and remember to wear more clothes.”

Her voice was full of affection but also carried a playful tone. And with that, her voice turned into a deep male voice.

These two were naturally Bei Zhou and A Bai.

A Bai took the luggage from Bei Zhou and casually slung it over his shoulder, his movements smooth and confident despite the rustic mask: “Thank you for your help.”

Bei Zhou, worried, asked: “How’s your injury?”

“It’s nothing serious, I was wearing armor. Just a small wound.”

That day’s operation was essentially a bloody magic show.

The first thing they did was assassinate the scar-faced dark guard under the Empress Dowager.

The scar-faced guard was usually cunning and suspicious. They had secretly followed him for several days, waiting for him to leave the palace alone to kill for the Empress Dowager. Like a mantis stalking a cicada, Bei Zhou ambushed him in a dark alley.

Then Bei Zhou quickly disguised himself as a brothel keeper and entered the brothel through a secret door. He had previously worked there as a keeper for a long time, so his performance was effortless, and he was familiar with the staff.

Meanwhile, A Bai put on the scar-faced guard’s mask and entered the brothel openly, using himself as bait to attract Prince Duan’s assassins.

In the shadows, Bei Zhou captured the leader of the assassins, forcing him to replace all their weapons with the specially prepared daggers.

These daggers were, of course, custom-made.

Yu Wanyin knew Bei Zhou was a genius with mechanisms. She roughly described a magic trick she had seen, and Bei Zhou used his ingenuity to create the props. These daggers had retractable blades that would withdraw into the hilt upon contact with a hard object, giving the illusion of stabbing into flesh but actually retracting.

The hilts also contained blood bags that would squirt blood when squeezed.

In the midst of the fierce battle, the assassins, even if they noticed something strange, had no time to react.

A Bai had been training for days, deliberately leaving some openings unguarded to make the fight appear realistic. This way, even Prince Duan’s spies observing closely would see him struggling and gravely wounded, ultimately dying alongside the assassins.

Of course, dealing with so many assassins in such a short time inevitably led to minor injuries.

After A Bai faked his death, the brothel keeper dragged away the bodies and swapped A Bai out on the way to the back alley, taking back the prop daggers.

The man eventually retrieved by Prince Duan’s spies turned out to be the real scar-faced one. The wounds on the scarred face were inflicted by Bei Zhou while he was still alive, mimicking the methods used by Prince Duan’s assassins with the special daggers. Even a coroner would find nothing amiss.

As a result, Prince Duan not only lost a group of his best assassins but also had to face the Empress Dowager’s fury and retaliation.

Yu Wanyin: “But you’re still the impressive one. I only thought of having A Bai and Uncle Bei cooperate and perform a magic trick, but you immediately thought of redirecting the disaster and eliminating that scarred face…” As she spoke, she found it odd, “How did you know that the Empress Dowager had a scar-faced subordinate who looked like A Bai? Even I, who read the original text, don’t remember such a character.”

That was naturally because, after being around for a long time, one would inevitably learn some secrets.

Xiahou Dan calmly replied: “My dark guards can’t just eat for free, they also have to monitor the Empress Dowager.”

“When did you send them?”

“Maybe I forgot to tell you.”

“Hmm—?” Yu Wanyin suddenly leaned in, squinting her eyes as she scrutinized him, “Dan, there are quite a few things you haven’t told me.”

Xiahou Dan was a head taller than her, and when she leaned in, she had to look up to see him.

He heard the affection in her tone, pretending to be puzzled just to tease her.

Warm breath brushed against Xiahou Dan’s neck.

Xiahou Dan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but deepen her smile, wanting to tease him a bit more, but he slightly lowered his head, his face very calm: “What do you mean by that?”

Yu Wanyin felt a tinge of disappointment and took a step back: “For example, what did you send A Bai to do?”

Xiahou Dan: “…”

Xiahou Dan’s expression turned even colder: “Don’t you want him to leave?”

The scenery by the main road was desolate, with only wild grass swaying in the wind.

Bei Zhou: “Where are you going with no horse or carriage?”

The magic show was over, but Prince Duan was meticulous and might not have completely let go of his suspicions. A Bai had to play dead thoroughly and leave the capital. Otherwise, with his tall and conspicuous stature, if spotted by spies again, all efforts would be in vain.

The commander of the imperial guards had already joined Prince Duan’s faction, and the gate guards might have received orders to search for A Bai. Leaving the city alone would be too conspicuous, so he pulled Bei Zhou along to cover for him.

A Bai smiled: “I’ll find a farmer to stay with for a few days and then set off with my companions.”

Bei Zhou: “…Companions? I haven’t heard that you have any companions.”

A Bai just smiled without speaking.

Bei Zhou lightly patted him: “You rascal, after just a few days, you already have the emperor’s favor. What secret mission are you on that you can’t even tell me?”

“Ask the emperor yourself.” A Bai passed the ball to Xiahou Dan.

“Forget it, I can’t help anyway.” Bei Zhou said seriously, “The emperor is in a dangerous situation now. You’re just starting out, so you must be extra careful and plan before you act. Don’t betray his trust. Take care of yourself and don’t make your master worry.”

A Bai was touched: “Senior brother.”

He had actually completed his apprenticeship five years ago and had known Xiahou Dan for five years. Since five years ago, he had been executing a long-term mission, step by step, with careful planning, finally achieving some success. Coming to the capital this time was also to finalize the subsequent plan with Xiahou Dan.

But he couldn’t tell anyone about this, including this senior brother.

Bei Zhou laughed: “Hey, call me that again.”

A Bai refused: “Why do I feel so awkward… I’ll call you that when you switch back to male clothes.”

Bei Zhou raised an eyebrow: “What’s wrong with my female disguise?”

“Huh?” A Bai showed an indescribable expression, “How to put it. Your original appearance is quite dashing and open, but with this makeup… ahem.”

Bei Zhou internally spat a liter of blood, but outwardly he waved nonchalantly: “Go away.”

Xiahou Dan casually said: “I only asked him to find some medicine for my headaches.”

Yu Wanyin curiously asked: “Medicine?”

All this secrecy, just for medicine?

“With his skills, isn’t it a bit of a waste to just send him to find medicine?”

Xiahou Dan remained calm: “He’s from the martial world, so he might have ways to find some folk remedies.”

His gaze shifted slightly to the side, and Yu Wanyin didn’t need to turn her head to know he was glancing at the lark on the bedside: “Don’t be too sad about parting; there will be opportunities to meet again in the future.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She smelled a familiar sourness.

A little jealousy is good.

Before she could come up with a response, Xiahou Dan suddenly turned his head: “I just received a secret letter from Wang Zhao. They expect to cross the border in a month and then enter Yan Country through Qiang Country.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Don’t switch topics, please.

“Qiang is a small country. Even another month would suffice to cross it. If everything goes well, we should receive news from Yan by the fall. I only hope that there is no drought this year; otherwise, it will be too late to plant Yan millet,” Xiahou Dan said, his brows furrowed, a picture of concern for the nation.

Delving further into A Bai’s whereabouts would easily expose flaws.

So the topic had to be changed, he told himself.

Yu Wanyin was silent for several seconds before responding: “Cen Jintian said that judging by this year’s rainfall, there shouldn’t be a drought.”

“That’s good.” Xiahou Dan didn’t leave her any space to continue, heading towards the entrance of the secret passage. “Speaking of Cen Jintian, I’ve called them for a small group meeting. It’s about to start. Would you like to join?”

Yu Wanyin looked at his back in confusion.

She hadn’t realized he was so unromantic before.

“Wait a minute,” Bei Zhou called out to A Bai, “What do you think of Wanyin?”

A Bai looked embarrassed: “Do we have to talk about this?”

Bei Zhou: “That day when you and His Majesty were talking in the cold palace courtyard, I couldn’t help but overhear a few words. You persuaded Wanyin to go with you, but it was likely not just out of affection, right?”

A Bai sighed: “Do you remember that letter from my master?”

Bei Zhou’s expression changed slightly, mumbling: “The Mars in the heart and the conjunction of five planets… Is that really what it means?”

A Bai looked at him gravely.

Bei Zhou felt a chill down his spine and instinctively glanced at the sky: “But it also mentioned ‘the extreme misfortune brings good fortune,’ what does that mean?”

“I’m not entirely sure, which is why it’s a line between good and bad.”

“Even your master isn’t sure about this?”

“My master divined a life and death hexagram for His Majesty but didn’t tell me the result. He only said that there were many entanglements of cause and effect on both of them, like seeing flowers in the mist, impossible to unravel. But I guessed that the hexagram was extremely dangerous. Since then, he often worried and eventually ordered me to leave the mountain.”

A Bai swallowed half of his master’s words: The cause and effect were entangled, and the past did not belong to this world.

Those two originally didn’t belong to this world, so naturally, it couldn’t be calculated.

A Bai recalled the scene from five years ago when he first met Xiahou Dan.

At that time, he was young and arrogant, thinking highly of himself. Although he was ordered by his master to assist the emperor, he didn’t take the throne seriously.

When he sneaked into the palace and saw the emperor in person, he felt even more disdain: just a boy about his age, reclining on a couch with his eyes closed, beautiful but like a pale puppet without a soul, exuding a sense of being at the mercy of others.

Seeing him sleeping defenselessly, A Bai couldn’t help but chuckle softly: “My master spoke so highly of you, I thought you were some kind of wandering ghost.”

The boy, with his eyes closed, curled his lips slightly: “You better not move.”

In an instant, A Bai felt a chill down his neck. He heard the sound of a bowstring tightening from somewhere behind him.

The boy calmly said: “If you move, the mechanism will activate, and I’ll have to spend another month rebuilding it.”

A Bai didn’t dare to breathe. The boy finally opened his eyes and looked at him. As he did, the puppet doll shattered into dust, and an icy viper flicked out its tongue.

His eyes were so black they almost didn’t reflect light, set in that pale, striking face, like two gates to hell opened in a peach blossom paradise: “Your master wasn’t wrong.”

Later, as he got to know Xiahou Dan better and learned more of his story, the initial fear he felt faded. He admired his endurance, sympathized with his hardships, and was willing to work hard for him.

But recalling it now, he could still remember the uncomfortable feeling—the instinctive reaction to encountering an anomaly.

Strangely, Yu Wanyin never evoked a similar feeling. Although she also came from another world, she was warm and harmless, as if she had never built any defenses in this life.

He could understand why Xiahou Dan viewed her differently.

But because of that lingering shadow in his heart, he was even more reluctant to leave Yu Wanyin in the palace.

None of these thoughts could be shared with Bei Zhou.

Considering Bei Zhou’s care and protection for Xiahou Dan, treating him as his own, A Bai felt a sudden pang of sadness: “I heard some things about you from my master. What do you think of His Majesty?”

Bei Zhou: “He’s the son of Nan’er, so naturally, he’s excellent.”

But… he isn’t the son of your old friend, just a solitary soul from another world.

Will you be heartbroken when you find out?

A Bai had to consider Xiahou Dan and couldn’t arouse Bei Zhou’s suspicion. He lightly brushed over the topic and said a few more words of farewell before parting ways.

Entering the cold palace was like a long vacation for Yu Wanyin, no longer needing to wake up early to greet the Empress Dowager or deal with endless palace intrigues and the unpredictable Prince Duan. She was having a leisurely time.

But there’s no real vacation for a workhorse; small group meetings still had to be attended.

Yu Wanyin didn’t want to miss the meeting, but she couldn’t let officials into the cold palace, so she had to crawl through the tunnel to join.

The tunnel had just been dug, and the dark guards were still working on it. For now, it only allowed one to crawl through on their knees, eating dust every time they passed.

The exit of the tunnel was under the dragon bed in Xiahou Dan’s sleeping quarters.

Li Yunxi had heard that Consort Yu was banished to the cold palace and tortured, and he was deeply shocked.

He remembered Yu Wanyin’s kindness in saving his life, furrowing his brows on the way to the palace, wanting to advise the emperor but also feeling it was improper to discuss the inner palace as a subject.

Caught between duty and protocol, he entered the sleeping quarters and was stunned to see the rumored imprisoned and tortured woman sitting beside Xiahou Dan.

Yu Wanyin, in the cold palace’s coarse attire, without makeup, had dirt on her face, looking pitiful. Yet, she was calm, dusting herself off and saying: “Don’t mind me, continue with your discussion.”

Li Yunxi: “?”

Li Yunxi looked at Xiahou Dan.

Xiahou Dan pushed the fruit tray towards her and then really didn’t bother with her, calmly saying: “Let’s begin.”

Li Yunxi: “?”

Li Yunxi glanced at his colleagues.

Cen Jintian and Erlan both smiled, neither questioning her presence nor commenting on her appearance, as if it was perfectly normal.

Cen Jintian started his report: “After our last meeting, I organized the drought-resistant crop yields. Your Majesty can review the granary reserves of each state to plan for disaster relief in case of drought…”

Yu Wanyin took a bite of a peach and skillfully took meeting notes: “Thank you for your hard work, Minister Cen.”

Cen Jintian bowed: “It’s my duty.”

Li Yunxi: “…”

Maybe he should just pretend nothing is amiss too.

Regarding Yan, Xiahou Dan didn’t plan to place all hopes on diplomacy.

The people of Yan, living in the wilderness, always coveted the grand buildings of Daxia. Arrogant by nature, they barely maintained peace through marriage alliances when Daxia was strong. As soon as Daxia fell into internal strife, they invaded.

In the original text, after Xiahou Dan’s death, the Yan King took advantage of the drought to invade the central plains, fighting a big battle with Prince Duan.

If diplomacy failed, this war would be inevitable. They had to prepare early, resettling refugees, storing grain, developing border areas, and strengthening the army to avoid being caught off guard.

Cen Jintian said warmly: “Since Your Majesty decreed to reduce taxes and implement the new land policy, the people’s lives have greatly improved. As General You mentioned recently, many fields in the border areas have been planted with Yan millet. After a few more seasons, even without buying seeds from Yan, we might cope with the drought.”

Mentioning General You, Li Yunxi couldn’t help but snort: “With the emperor far away, that guy’s words can’t be fully trusted.”

General You commanded the right army, guarding the southern border. He should have been as famous as General Luo of the central army.

But unlike the godlike General Luo, General You’s position was not earned through battles but inherited through family connections.

The southern border had been peaceful for a long time, and this general had grown fat and lazy. Recently, he returned to court to report and was mocked by Xiahou Dan.

Xiahou Dan, playing the role of a madman in court, had laughed and said: “Looking at your face, I know the right army isn’t short of military funds.”

The civil officials loyal to the Empress Dowager couldn’t laugh fast enough.

General You was nothing like General Luo in terms of aura. He was a cowardly man, his eyes downcast. Even after being ridiculed to such an extent, he did not dare to get angry and muttered a few useless words like, “I will diligently train the troops and serve the court.”

During his time in the capital, he had frequent contact with Prince Duan. Prince Duan’s olive branch was extended equally to all three armies. General You accepted gifts stealthily and performed tasks half-heartedly, offending neither side.

Li Yunxi couldn’t help but advise, “Your Majesty, General You doesn’t seem like someone who can achieve great things. Having him guard the southern border might become a disaster.”

In fact, Yu Wanyin already knew this person’s fate in the original story.

When Yan invaded, General You was ordered to assist the central army. He was defeated after a few rounds and even handed over all weapons and supplies to the Yan army upon surrender.

Xiahou Dan lazily replied, “I don’t expect him to accomplish anything significant. But with him occupying that position, neither I nor Prince Duan can use him. It’s not a bad situation.”

Li Yunxi persisted, “But the southern border…”

Xiahou Dan interrupted, “Minister Li, don’t worry about others. Tell me about the current situation in the Ministry of Revenue.”

Li Yunxi paused, feeling a bit deflated.

As a thorny figure, he had been marginalized upon entering the Ministry of Revenue. Now, he was stuck doing the menial task of auditing census records.

Auditing census records involved counting changes in population and land and compiling reports for the court.

When Li Yunxi first took over, he opened the Ministry’s storeroom to find the reports from various regions piled haphazardly, covered in an inch of dust.

A colleague even advised him, “Leave quickly; it smells bad.”

Li Yunxi, furious, buried himself in the task, meticulously organizing and checking each report, and found significant discrepancies.

The most egregious counties had submitted nearly identical reports for years, with no changes in population or land.

Li Yunxi, coming from a poor rural area, immediately knew what was happening.

In many places, although it appeared each household had land, the land had long been privately taken by local gentry and landlords.

Xiahou Dan had previously ordered tax reductions, but these landlords rented the land back to farmers at rents several times higher than the court’s.

Li Yunxi had vowed to do the dirtiest, hardest work for his fellow countrymen.

To clarify land ownership, he worked tirelessly, checking multiple sources for days until he finally sorted out the new records for the first state.

The records were submitted but returned the next day for revision.

Li Yunxi rechecked and resubmitted them with a long essay, but they were returned again.

As he was revising for the third time, his superior, with a hypocritical smile, suggested transferring him to a local position, seeing how hard he was working.

Li Yunxi spent a sleepless night and finally decided to hide his results and submit a report almost identical to the previous year’s.

This time, his superior was satisfied, patting his shoulder and saying, “You are teachable.”

Li Yunxi realized that his colleagues had been sitting on their positions for years because no one dared to handle this matter.

Every record was full of errors. Behind the local gentry and landlords were layers of officials, and behind those officials were royal relatives.

If thoroughly investigated, there were few clean people in the Ministry of Revenue. Going higher would lead to the Empress Dowager—who could investigate that?

Li Yunxi stopped speaking, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

At that moment, Erlan gently said, “Brother Li, you must learn to be flexible in your work.”

Erlan, recently favored by the Minister of Revenue, had risen quickly, overseeing many tasks in implementing the new land policy.

Li Yunxi, engulfed in his despair about the state of the country, snapped at her, “What brilliant advice do you have? Demonstrate for us, enlighten me.”

Yu Wanyin stifled a laugh while taking notes.

Erlan said, “For example, let the farmers whose land was taken file a petition, then have a palace attendant whisper to the Empress Dowager…”

She cleared her throat and demonstrated: “‘Minister, I heard that after the last treasury inspection, the Empress Dowager is keeping a close eye on the Ministry of Revenue. In my humble opinion, she wants the ministers to cough up their hidden wealth, and this reform order will come sooner or later. Thinking about it keeps me up at night, knowing someone will suffer when the time comes. So why don’t we conduct a proactive investigation to keep some dignity for everyone? You can entrust this task to me, how about it?'”

Li Yunxi: “…”

Erlan continued, “The meaning is there. Brother Li, your eloquence is far better than mine.”

Yu Wanyin burst into laughter.

She admired Erlan more and more.

Li Yunxi, however, did not find it funny. “If every step is taken in such a roundabout way, if every matter is handled with hidden dirt, when will the world be clean and upright? Under the rule of a wicked woman, without a wise ruler, all our efforts are in vain!”

His words directly targeted Xiahou Dan, still dissatisfied with his weakness, unable to calm his anger without venting.

Xiahou Dan watched him coldly, without any reaction.

Yu Wanyin suddenly sneezed.

She had inhaled some dust while crawling through the tunnel, feeling an itch that finally erupted.

“Sorry,” she said, rubbing her nose.

Xiahou Dan looked at her, then gently brushed some dust from her hair.

Li Yunxi: “…”

What had this woman been through just now?

The sneeze dispelled the tense atmosphere in the room, and Li Yunxi suddenly remembered that this woman was supposed to be a seductress.

And Xiahou Dan? The tyrant known for burying people alive at the slightest offense, had listened to his direct criticisms many times without even frowning.

Erlan, accustomed to Li Yunxi’s temper, ignored him and continued her report.

She worried that the final reports submitted to the emperor would be altered beyond recognition, so she detailed the progress of the new land policy.

Li Yunxi, holding his breath, listened until she mentioned merchants competing to transport grain in exchange for salt licenses and couldn’t help but interject, “Your Majesty, the profit from salt trading is enormous. It’s natural for merchants to flock to it.”

“That’s correct. Moreover, to secure monopolistic rights, there will certainly be collusion between officials and merchants, breeding corruption,” Erlan nodded.

Li Yunxi paused.

He hadn’t expected Erlan to follow up on that point.

Xiahou Dan asked curiously, “Wasn’t the new land policy your suggestion, Minister Li?”

Erlan said, “Every policy eventually reveals its flaws. There’s no perfect decree. Today, the new land policy benefits the people, but when its flaws become apparent, new policies should replace it.”

Li Yunxi remarked, “By then, you’ll be in a high position, won’t you?”

Erlan smiled faintly, “No, by then, I should be out of the court.”

Li Yunxi was taken aback.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Erlan’s eyes, “By then, it should be people like Brother Li in high positions. The court will allow people like you to make a difference.”

Li Yunxi didn’t understand why she said that.

But Yu Wanyin understood. Erlan’s gender couldn’t be concealed forever; eventually, she would be accused by political enemies.

Erlan didn’t know that Xiahou Dan was already aware of her secret. She probably wanted to do as much as possible before being exposed.

Yu Wanyin looked at the sickly Cen Jintian, remembered Wang Zhao going alone to Yan, and Du Shan being assassinated in the lake, and felt emotional: “To meet such people in this life, we should drink a toast.”

Cen Jintian: “Consort?”

Yu Wanyin sighed, “The world is a long night. Who can change it with a single call? But with all of you striving hard, even if we fall halfway, we are not alone.”

This was meant for the ministers, but Xiahou Dan looked deeply at her.

Before Li Yunxi left, Xiahou Dan called to him, “Continue organizing the records. Don’t tell anyone, report directly to me.”

Li Yunxi was shocked, “Your Majesty?”

Xiahou Dan nodded, “They will be useful.”

Li Yunxi’s eyes filled with tears.

Yu Wanyin watched them leave, feeling dejected: “Sigh, it’s because of people like them that leaving feels so shameful.”

Xiahou Dan: “…”

Her words meant she was somewhat swayed by A Bai.

But after weighing everything, she was still tied down.

Xiahou Dan was quiet for a moment, then smiled, “I should thank these ministers.”

“Why?”

“They make me not alone in my path.”

His words were too deep for Yu Wanyin, who thought he was talking about work and stretched lazily, “Alright, I should go back…”

Xiahou Dan held her back, “Stay for a meal?”

At that moment, An Xian entered, bowing his head: “Your Majesty—” He saw Yu Wanyin, paused, then quickly lowered his head under Xiahou Dan’s gaze, “Consort Xie is outside asking for an audience.”

Xiahou Dan had recently been publicly cold towards Yu Wanyin and had to maintain a romantic pretense with Xie Yong’er, so he couldn’t refuse.

Yu Wanyin returned to the tunnel.

She crawled

 back to the cold palace, feeling odd, like a secret lover caught by the wife and forced to escape.

The thought disgusted her.

How did Xiahou Dan handle Xie Yong’er? The same way she dealt with Prince Duan?

She wondered if Xie Yong’er, a palace intrigue expert, had noticed their recent activities and reported them to Prince Duan.

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. Finally, she stopped, turned around with difficulty in the tunnel, and crawled back the way she came.

The exit under the dragon bed was covered by floor tiles, which had to be moved to reveal the mechanism.

Yu Wanyin carefully opened a gap in the tiles and listened to the sounds outside.

Xie Yong’er was chatting idly.

Whether it was her imagination or not, Xie Yonger’s voice seemed even sweeter than usual, as if she was speaking with a deliberately delicate tone: “Your Majesty, please try the small dishes I prepared myself…”

Yu Wanyin heard the clinking of dishes and chopsticks and realized it was already time for the evening meal.

Xie Yonger alternated between serving food and encouraging Xiahou Dan to drink. The aroma of food and wine wafted through the gap, making Yu Wanyin’s stomach growl in response.

Lying here was so boring.

The maids in the cold palace had probably already prepared the evening meal by now…

She thought this, but her body stayed put, continuing to eavesdrop.

For some reason, Xie Yonger kept urging Xiahou Dan to drink, not just pouring for him but also drinking heavily herself.

After a few cups, her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glistening, and she looked more seductive than usual. One of her hands, soft and boneless, slid onto Xiahou Dan’s wrist, gently stroking it.

Xiahou Dan quietly withdrew his hand: “It’s getting late. You’ve had some wine today; you should rest early.”

Xie Yong’er giggled and put her hand on his shoulder: “Your Majesty, a day without seeing you feels like three autumns. I miss your presence so much; please let me look at you a little longer.”

Xiahou Dan’s voice turned cold: “I’ve told you before, I care more about your heart than your body.”

Xie Yong’er began to sob softly.

“Your Majesty is too kind, always indulging my little tantrums. I… I really don’t know how to love you properly…”

The bed creaked.

Yu Wanyin held her breath. Above her, Xie Yong’er slithered behind Xiahou Dan like a snake, wrapping one hand around his waist and reaching for a forbidden area.

That hand was caught.

Half-drunk, Xie Yong’er thought it was playful and tried to pull away with a laugh. But the more she struggled, the tighter the icy grip on her wrist became.

“Your Majesty, you’re hurting me… Ah!” Xie Yong’er cried out in pain.

She froze, feeling as if her wrist was about to be crushed.

The drunkenness faded significantly, and she asked in confusion, “Your Majesty?”

Xiahou Dan turned to look at her.

The moment she saw his expression, a chill ran through her heart.

All along, she knew Xiahou Dan’s reputation as a tyrant, but he always seemed infatuated and even a bit submissive towards her—he never touched her without her consent.

She had gradually forgotten his fierce reputation.

At this moment, she suddenly remembered.

She also recalled the rumors in the palace, whether true or false: the emperor’s cruelty towards concubines stemmed from an unspeakable issue in the bedroom.

Xiahou Dan’s voice was calm, but she inexplicably sensed a murderous intent: “Consort, you should leave.”

Xie Yong’er had her reasons to stay.

She bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes: “Your Majesty, are you rejecting me?”

Xiahou Dan: “Yes.”

Xie Yong’er: “…”

Xie Yong’er’s sobs faded away.

In the dark tunnel, Yu Wanyin fell into deep thought.

In her memory, Xie Yong’er remained loyal to Prince Duan until the end in the original story.

Had Xiahou Dan done something to Xie Yong’er recently?

Why did she suddenly change her heart?

But her tone also carried a sense of acting… Was she sent by Prince Duan to perform?

While Yu Wanyin was lost in her thoughts, she heard a slight movement above her.

She snapped back to reality and turned to retreat.

She had barely moved a few steps when she heard the mechanism click, and candlelight spilled in from behind.

Xiahou Dan stared at her rear for a few seconds: “What are you doing here?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She felt as if she had lost all dignity in this moment and continued to crawl into the darkness, trying to cover up her embarrassment.

Weakly, she said, “Digesting after dinner.”

Xiahou Dan was silent for a moment, then asked: “Digesting by crawling through a tunnel?”

Yu Wanyin, resigned to her fate, replied: “Yes, it helps burn calories.”

Behind her, Xiahou Dan’s low laughter echoed, soft at first, then stopping, but the echoes lingered in the dark tunnel. From it, Yu Wanyin could almost hear the unspoken words: your eavesdropping plan is exposed.

Embarrassed, she felt a sudden surge of anger.

She felt like a true cannon fodder character—jealous and not very bright.

Xiahou Dan coughed and, trying to be serious, said: “She’s gone. You can come out now.” Yet his voice seemed to carry a hint of amusement.

“Forget it,” she replied stiffly. “There are too many people around. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw me. I’ll just leave.”

“No one will come in.”

“It’s still not safe. An Xian saw me, didn’t he? You should go back. What if he discovers the tunnel?” Yu Wanyin continued crawling forward.

The flickering candlelight cast her shadow long and winding into the darkness. Xiahou Dan didn’t follow, nor did he speak again. She turned a corner, and the light disappeared.

It wasn’t until she returned to the cold palace, halfway through her evening meal, that she realized something.

Xiahou Dan had sent Xie Yong’er away and then came down the tunnel—he had intended to find her.

She paused, the chopsticks in her hand, and most of her shame dissipated, leaving her feeling somewhat softened.

At this point, crawling back again would be too strange; after all, being fickle is the hallmark of a love-struck fool.

She had been getting carried away lately. Her brain had limited capacity, and if she kept using her mental CPU recklessly, she would be overwhelmed in no time.

Deep in reflection, Yu Wanyin spent the night alone.

The next day, Xiahou Dan did not appear.

Instead, the secret guards showed up several times, carting soil into her courtyard—they were diligently widening the tunnel, and now half of it was wide enough to stand upright.

Yu Wanyin watched the construction for a while and offered the guards some melon slices.

“Thank you, Consort.”

Feigning nonchalance, Yu Wanyin asked, “Is His Majesty busy today?”

“It seems there was a commotion during the morning court session, possibly something urgent awaiting His Majesty’s attention.”

Yu Wanyin was taken aback. “Why was there a commotion?”

“I do not know, Your Grace.”

Calculating the dates, could it be that news from Yan had arrived?

Yu Wanyin became restless. By sunset, Xiahou Dan still had not shown up.

Could he be held up? Surely he wasn’t sulking… Yu Wanyin recalled last night’s conversation and felt a twinge of guilt.

As mealtime passed, she finally couldn’t sit still any longer and ventured down the tunnel to take a look.

The guards had left; the noise at night could alert others.

The empty tunnel was silent. Yu Wanyin carried a lamp halfway down, her back bending lower until she had to crawl.

Her footsteps hesitated.

What if there was an emergency on the other side? If she was caught by a palace attendant again, what then?

She had entered the cold palace to create the illusion of a complete break with Xiahou Dan to gain Prince Duan’s trust. If the tunnel’s existence was exposed, it would all be for nothing.

While she was hesitating, there was a noise at the end of the darkness, and a small light appeared.

Yu Wanyin blew out her lantern and held her breath, motionless.

The other person’s vision was astonishing: “Wanyin? Hurry, come over; Dan is ill.”

Xiahou Dan was sleeping restlessly, his breathing rapid, his brows furrowed.

He was already pale, but now even his lips had no color, highlighting the dark circles under his eyes.

Yu Wanyin recalled that his two recent episodes had occurred after she had thrown a tantrum. She suspected that his headaches might be linked to his emotions but felt that last night’s incident shouldn’t have caused this.

Bei Zhou said worriedly, “He collapsed as soon as he returned and hasn’t eaten.”

Yu Wanyin asked softly, “I heard there was an uproar in court?”

Bei Zhou replied, “Yan sent a letter saying that for His Majesty’s birthday, King Zhaluo Wahan of Yan wants to send an envoy to celebrate.”

Yu Wanyin’s heartbeat quickened.

It seemed Wang Zhao had succeeded.

He not only persuaded the Yan king to negotiate but also managed to make Yan proactively propose it, keeping himself completely in the shadows. When the news reached Daxia, no one would know it was orchestrated by Xiahou Dan.

“Who was arguing with whom?”

Bei Zhou, clearly uninterested in these factional struggles, frowned, “Dan mentioned something. Apparently, Prince Duan supported the peace talks because with no war, his forces wouldn’t be tied up in the northwest, giving him more leverage against the Empress Dowager. With Prince Duan supporting it, the Empress Dowager naturally opposed it. The Imperial Study has been busy all day.”

“Did the Empress Dowager’s people come to persuade His Majesty?”

“Prince Duan’s people did too. They all think they can manipulate him like a fool. He has to pretend to be a fool and deal with each one…”

Yu Wanyin sighed.

It wasn’t her overthinking things; Xiahou Dan was obviously overwhelmed by work.

Bei Zhou brought a bowl of porridge and worriedly looked at the unconscious Xiahou Dan. Yu Wanyin took the bowl from him: “Uncle Bei, go rest. I’ll handle this.”

Bei Zhou patted her shoulder and left.

Yu Wanyin sat by the bed for a while, realizing she had rarely seen Xiahou Dan asleep. Whenever she went to sleep, he was still awake; when she woke up, he had already gone to the morning court.

Did he always sleep so… restlessly?

Yu Wanyin gently patted him: “Dan, eat something before sleeping.”

Xiahou Dan didn’t respond.

“Dan? Your Majesty?” Yu Wanyin leaned closer and did something she hadn’t anticipated.

She placed her palm on Xiahou Dan’s face.

The next instant, his tightly shut eyes snapped open.

Yu Wanyin involuntarily shrank back, withdrawing her hand like a prey sensing danger.

A cold hand caught her wrist.

His eyes were dark and turbulent, their base color chaotic, devoid of any emotion except a hint of madness.

His black pupils rolled, a murderous intent flickering as he glared at her.

Yu Wanyin didn’t dare breathe.

It seemed like an eternity, or maybe just a moment, before his eyes focused, blinking in confusion, then clearing somewhat.

Xiahou Dan released his grip, his hand still loosely holding her wrist, and croaked, “How long have I been asleep?”

“Not long. Can you eat something?”

Xiahou Dan weakly moved. Yu Wanyin hesitated, then bent down to help him.

A faint smile appeared on Xiahou Dan’s face: “Have you eaten?”

Yu Wanyin’s heart hadn’t yet calmed. She scooped a spoonful of porridge and offered it to him. Xiahou Dan, watching her, opened his mouth to take it.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll eat later. You…”

“Hmm?”

Yu Wanyin wanted to ask: Do you not want me to touch you?

When awake, he seemed to enjoy being close to her, taking her pillow, having her massage his temples.

But his reflexive reaction just now reminded her of what he told Xie Yong’er last night.

Was he not just rejecting Xie Yong’er? How could someone with an acting background be averse to physical contact?