Xiao Tian Cai needed to stay behind to prepare the medicine, but Yu Wan Yin, worried that Xiahou Dan would be anxious, left him at Cen Jin Tian’s place and returned to the palace herself.

— It was fortunate she made this decision.

Halfway through the journey, a voice came from outside the carriage, “Your Highness, someone is following us.”

“Are they sent by His Majesty?” This was Yu Wan Yin’s first reaction.

Guard: “No. They are hostile. We need to return quickly.”

The carriage suddenly sped up, racing forward, then came to an abrupt halt. Yu Wan Yin was thrown forward, hitting the wooden wall of the carriage.

Sounds of chaotic fighting came from outside, and the guard yelled, “Assassins!”

The horses neighed. In the struggle, the attackers cut the reins, and the frightened horses galloped away, leaving Yu Wan Yin’s carriage surrounded.

The carriage shook, and Yu Wan Yin barely steadied herself. She touched the gun hidden in her sleeve and lifted the corner of the curtain to peek outside.

It was already getting dark, and the streets were deserted. More than ten men, looking like ruffians, were fighting with the skilled guards but holding their ground and blocking all escape routes.

They were targeting her.

She had miscalculated and didn’t bring enough people, not expecting the attackers to be bold enough to commit murder in broad daylight.

If she died here, what would Xiahou Dan’s reaction be?

Outnumbered, the guards couldn’t hold them back, allowing one attacker to breach the defenses and climb onto the carriage. He cut down the driver, tore down the curtain, and jumped into the carriage, raising his knife to strike at Yu Wan Yin!

Her mind went blank, and she reflexively pulled her hand into her sleeve to grasp the gun—

The attacker’s movements seemed to freeze for a moment. His eyes followed her hand—

Yu Wan Yin had already pulled out the gun, aiming it at his forehead—

At this critical moment, she stopped abruptly.

Something was wrong.

Her hesitation caused the attacker to freeze as well. He even half-lowered his knife defensively.

Something was wrong!

This thought hadn’t fully formed when her body reacted faster than her mind. As if honed by numerous near-death experiences, her muscles tensed, stopping her from pulling the trigger.

The next second, a whistling sound pierced the air, and an arrow with a bloody tip protruded from the attacker’s chest.

Yu Wan Yin slid the gun back into her sleeve.

The assassin’s eyes bulged as he glared at her, swayed, and fell.

With him down, the carriage door was no longer blocked. Yu Wan Yin, still catching her breath, saw who was standing outside.

Xiahou Bo, dressed in white with half-tied long hair, stood gracefully in the street, holding a carved bow. It was clear that the arrow had come from him.

Xiahou Bo also saw who was in the carriage.

She was dressed as a man, empty-handed, and pale with fear.

Their eyes met, and in that moment, Yu Wan Yin knew that the prince had seen through her disguise—or rather, he had known she was in the carriage before he acted.

Xiahou Bo’s voice was steady, “Who dares to harm people in the street?” He ordered his men, “Arrest them all. Take the body out of the carriage so as not to frighten this gentleman.”

His men followed orders, helping Yu Wan Yin’s guards quickly deal with the “ruffians.” Then they respectfully helped Yu Wan Yin out of the carriage.

Yu Wan Yin: “…Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me.”

Xiahou Bo pretended not to recognize her and smiled, “Do you know me? As they say, one should help to the end. Since your carriage is broken and it’s getting late, let me give you a ride.”

Oh, so that’s it.

The flash of thought in Yu Wan Yin’s mind finally completed.

The behavior of that assassin earlier suggested that he had anticipated she was hiding a weapon and was wary of its power.

But how could he know she had a gun? The only trace her bullets had left in this world was on Mount Bei, and at that time, she had been in disguise…

— Mount Bei.

Who would bother to investigate the traces on Mount Bei? Even if someone saw the bullet holes, they would most likely suspect Xiahou Dan. Who would think those traces could be related to her, a mere concubine?

The answer stood before her, smiling slightly.

Xiahou Bo pointed to his carriage, “Sir, please.”

This was a carefully orchestrated play. Both the ones who tried to kill her and the ones who saved her were arranged by Prince Duan.

They clearly didn’t want her dead; otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths. If she was right, this whole act was to force her to reveal her weapon, to see if she had brought it and what secrets it held.

Prince Duan was testing her, and also probing Xiahou Dan’s trump card.

But so far, he hadn’t succeeded.

Yu Wan Yin smiled, “Then I shall trouble Your Highness.”

She quickly exchanged a glance with her guards, signaling them not to act rashly, and then calmly boarded Prince Duan’s carriage.

The carriage started moving slowly. Xiahou Bo sat beside Yu Wan Yin and asked with a smile, “Where is your home, sir?”

“Your Highness jests,” Yu Wan Yin revealed her identity directly, “Please take Wan Yin back to the palace.”

Xiahou Bo didn’t pretend any longer, “It’s a relief that Wan Yin is unharmed. Fortunately, I was nearby and heard the commotion in time to help.” He looked at her with concern, “The city has been quite chaotic recently. Why did you leave the palace at this time?”

Yu Wan Yin: “…A minister fell ill, and it happens that my unmarried younger sister is concerned about him and asked me to check on him. So I told His Majesty that I wanted to visit the sick. For some reason, he has been very kind to me lately and agreed.”

It was useless to lie. If they could track her here, they could find out where she had been. She could only downplay her visit to Cen Jin Tian.

Xiahou Bo caught the keyword, “You told him that… but it wasn’t the truth, was it?”

From the beginning, Yu Wan Yin had a doubt: Xiahou Bo could have quickly killed her and then searched her body for answers. But he chose to sacrifice a few subordinates instead.

That incident happened in the street and took so long that Xiahou Dan must have heard by now and possibly sent people to chase them. This carriage was too conspicuous to quietly abduct her elsewhere. So, was Xiahou Bo really planning to send her back to the palace unharmed?

Why?

If Yu Wan Yin didn’t understand Xiahou Bo’s true nature, it would be hard not to misinterpret his gentle gaze.

But she knew very well what kind of cunning person he was.

First, eliminate the possibility that he had genuine feelings for her.

She quickly analyzed: She and Xiahou Dan had been putting on a show of a strained relationship in front of others, with Xiahou Dan being lenient and her being distant. In the eyes of ordinary palace staff, their relationship wasn’t that close.

The palace had been purged many times, leaving only those who wouldn’t leak secrets.

If Xiahou Bo truly knew how much her “Heaven’s Eye” had helped Xiahou Dan, would he still go to such lengths to test her?

So, he didn’t know. He might not have given up on trying to win her over.

Thinking of this, Yu Wan Yin slowly showed a troubled expression, “Actually, I just couldn’t stand being in the palace any longer. I wanted to scout an escape route, hoping to find a chance to flee the city.”

Xiahou Bo raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t His Majesty your true love?”

Yu Wan Yin gave a bitter smile, “Does he like me, or does he like my occasionally reliable Heaven’s Eye? I’m sure Your Highness understands. You gods are fighting, and we little ghosts suffer. At this point, I have no more illusions about true love. I just want to escape this dragon’s den and tiger’s lair and live a peaceful life.”

Xiahou Bo looked at her in surprise, “I understand?” A flash of anger crossed his eyes, “I am not like him. Wan Yin, if you were so afraid, why didn’t you come to me?”

Yu Wan Yin: “…”

That erroneous possibility popped up again, only to be struck down heavily by her once more.

This acting could win him an award in the modern era. She just didn’t know who would win if Xiahou Dan acted alongside him.

Xiahou Dan… what was Xiahou Dan doing now? Would he lose his composure and send people to intercept Prince Duan’s carriage? The current situation was extremely fragile; any spark could ignite the conflict, and they weren’t ready…

Yu Wan Yin pinched her palm with her fingertips. She needed to keep Xiahou Bo in check.

She closed her eyes and, in front of the master actor, put on the performance of her life, filled with heartache and said, “Wan Yin knows she cannot compare to Lady Xie in Your Highness’s eyes.”

She wondered if she had convincingly portrayed the ignorance of the undercurrents around her, focusing only on romantic matters.

Xiahou Bo: “…”

Xiahou Bo smiled, “Didn’t Wan Yin use her Heaven’s Eye to see it?”

Yu Wan Yin: “See what?”

She expected him to say “Xie Yong Er betrayed me,” but instead heard an unexpected line: “To see my future.”

Yu Wan Yin: “?”

“Xie Yong Er once said that she foresaw me turning the tide, ushering in a prosperous era, and achieving historical greatness.” Xiahou Bo looked directly into her eyes. “Was she telling the truth?”

Yu Wan Yin’s heart skipped a beat.

A life-and-death decision.

If she said “yes,” she would boost Xiahou Bo’s morale and make herself more suspicious—knowing he would win, why hadn’t she joined him earlier?

If she said “no” or “didn’t see,” it didn’t matter if Xiahou Bo believed her or not; getting out of this carriage alive would be a problem.

Xiahou Bo: “Hmm?”

Yu Wan Yin didn’t have time to think and blurted out, “I didn’t foresee it before, but I privately supported Your Highness and advised you through secret letters. Recently, I dreamed of Your Highness being worshipped by all people. But in that vision, the person beside you wasn’t me.”

“Oh? If it wasn’t you, was it Xie Yong Er?” Xiahou Bo seemed skeptical.

Saying it was Xie Yong Er would be even worse. He now saw Xie Yong Er as a traitor and would know it was a lie. Yu Wan Yin felt sad for Xie Yong Er but showed a confused look, “It didn’t seem to be Lady Xie either. The woman looked somewhat like Lady Xie but younger. She also resembled Little Mei but was more dignified and beautiful. The way Your Highness looked at her was something I never dared to imagine.”

Xiahou Bo fell silent.

Yu Wan Yin, reflecting on her words, realized she had unwittingly given a perfect answer. This response shut down all of Xiahou Bo’s follow-up questions and reasonably explained her previous actions.

Why didn’t she accept the emperor but instead wanted to escape? Because she foresaw the emperor’s fall.

Why, despite liking Prince Duan, didn’t she seek his protection earlier? Because she wasn’t part of his future.

Did she have a weapon? Would she help the emperor? Of course not; she was just a collateral victim, a pitiful pawn.

Yu Wan Yin, well done!

Xiahou Bo looked at her with an interested smile.

Xiahou Bo: “Good answer.”

Yu Wan Yin, feeling guilty: “It’s the truth.”

“The truth? Then it only shows you dreamed wrong.” Xiahou Bo’s expression turned slightly arrogant, “In this life, I will not stand beside any woman. If there were to be one, it would only be you.”

Yu Wan Yin: “?”

That persistent wrong option resurfaced for the third time.

No way, he couldn’t be serious, could he?

This seemed out of character for him, but on closer inspection, it wasn’t entirely implausible. In “The Devil’s Concubine,” he had a complex love-hate relationship with Xie Yong Er for many chapters, not showing his usual cunning nature. In “The East Wind Blows at Night,” he fell in love with Yu Wan Yin at first sight, loving her as if it were real.

Could his character really have a “lover” trait? But if he truly had feelings, how could he be so cruel to Xie Yong Er?

Caught in this internal struggle, Xiahou Bo suddenly took her hand.

Yu Wan Yin flinched as if shocked, but his grip tightened like a vice, the hand of a martial artist, making it impossible for her to move.

Yu Wan Yin gasped, “Your Highness!”

“You’re trembling.” Xiahou Bo leaned closer, his voice gentle, “Wan Yin, don’t be afraid of me.”

“I…” Yu Wan Yin tried to steady her breathing, “Wan Yin just doesn’t understand what qualities I have that would attract Your Highness. In terms of looks, I am not as good as the woman in my dream; in talent, I am not as good as Lady Xie; and as for the Heaven’s Eye, didn’t Your Highness already unlock it yourself? Besides, Lady Xie also…”

Where was the carriage now? At this speed, it should be close to the palace, right? Would the gun in her sleeve fall out? If it came to that, could she kill him instantly?

Xiahou Bo placed a finger on her lips, silencing her, “You are the best. I knew it from the beginning.”

Yu Wan Yin instinctively backed away, “I really am not.”

Xiahou Bo pursued relentlessly, getting closer, their hair mingling, “Then why did His Majesty choose you?”

…

Yu Wan Yin suddenly fell into complete confusion.

What did that mean? How had she suddenly lost track?

Her bewilderment was utterly genuine, and Xiahou Bo laughed quietly, “Stop pretending. I have been waiting for you for a very long time…”

To be precise, since many years ago, on that dark night.

Xiahou Bo had quietly hidden in the shadows of the bushes, listening to the trembling voice of a young palace maid not far away, “I… I served in a nearby side hall, often seeing a figure wandering from a distance. I noticed the flowers were oddly shaped and got curious, so I dug around a bit…”

Every word she said had been taught to her by Xiahou Bo.

At that time, he was a teenager, and Crown Prince Xiahou Dan was just a child. He knew that Xiahou Dan’s mother had killed his own mother and that the reason he was beaten and humiliated in the Imperial Study every day was because the capricious little crown prince had demanded a companion.

An ordinary illegitimate child might have forgotten their dignity, wagging their tail and begging for mercy, hoping to be spared.

But Xiahou Bo was different.

Every day, he thought about how to kill Xiahou Dan.

Through intentional observation, he gradually discovered that the little crown prince had strange behaviors. Sometimes, it was as if he was possessed, unable to recognize ordinary objects in the world, yet he would utter some mysterious and bizarre words. However, he reacted quickly and would cover up his slip-ups as if nothing had happened.

Xiahou Bo began to follow the little crown prince and discovered that he would go to a clematis bush every day to wander and observe.

After the prince left, Xiahou Bo dug up the soil and found a note.

The little palace maid: “The characters on the note were strange, and the sentences didn’t make sense. I thought… I thought it was some illiterate guard… I deserve to die!”

In the stillness of the night, Xiahou Bo heard the little crown prince’s desperate voice: “Stop acting. Are you afraid I’ll harm you? Believe me, we are the same kind.”

The same kind.

What kind?

Xiahou Bo pondered as the conversation continued not far away.

“I— I have only you in this world… Are you really not?”

“Not… what?”

“Nothing. Now you know my secret.”

Xiahou Bo watched quietly through the gaps in the leaves, seeing the little palace maid struggle fiercely until she was exhausted and finally motionless.

Even after he grew up and left the palace to establish his own residence, Xiahou Bo never forgot that mysterious conversation.

The emperor harbored a great secret. But if he were exceptionally talented, it didn’t show. Over the years, he had always been like a trapped beast, manipulated by the empress dowager as a puppet, and driven increasingly mad.

Xiahou Bo deduced that he was searching for a key “kindred spirit.” And once he found that kindred spirit, what would the emperor do?

When Xiahou Bo thought about this question during his leisure, he would laugh at himself, thinking he was being overly suspicious. The emperor probably just had a mental illness.

Until that day, at a palace banquet, Xiahou Bo noticed a new favorite concubine beside Xiahou Dan, beautiful as a peach blossom, radiant with every glance.

Before Miss Yu entered the palace, he had seen her, teased her, and then forgotten her.

But the sharp-eyed woman at the banquet inexplicably felt unfamiliar to him, as if she had been reborn or… possessed by something.

He had a premonition that she and Xiahou Dan were indeed kindred spirits.

For a moment, Xiahou Bo felt a sense of despondency. He had been clever since childhood, becoming stronger with every adversity, always believing that he would eventually stand at the top, ruling over the land, sun, moon, and stars. Yu Wan Yin’s appearance felt like an ominous signal. He hadn’t deciphered its meaning yet, but his instincts told him something was amiss.

Then Xie Yong Er approached him, steadfastly declaring that she could foresee the future and that he was the chosen one, destined to rule the world.

Xiahou Bo was satisfied with this prophecy because it aligned with his own thoughts.

But as he listened to her words, a hypothesis formed in his mind. After indirectly gathering some evidence, he secretly met with Yu Wan Yin, using words to test her: “Who exactly are you? And who are His Majesty and Xie Yong Er?”

Yu Wan Yin’s reaction confirmed his hypothesis: the three of them were indeed kindred spirits.

From then on, he had a knot in his heart.

Among those with the Heaven’s Eye, Xie Yong Er was utterly devoted to him, but Yu Wan Yin had not left the emperor. These two women seemed evenly matched, but Xiahou Bo did not forget that the emperor initially chose Yu Wan Yin.

Since he was seven years old, dragged by palace servants and scolded as “cheap,” he had despised any subpar goods.

She was the best.

He wanted only the best.

At this moment, Yu Wan Yin’s delicate neck was just inches from his nose, appearing so fragile that he could almost see her veins pulsating. She clenched her teeth, just as she had during their previous encounters, her eyes full of fear and wariness.

“Wan Yin,” Xiahou Bo whispered, “this is your last chance. Stand by my side, and everything will be yours.”

Yu Wan Yin remained motionless as if frozen.

Xiahou Bo lowered his head, lightly pecking her neck: “Well?”

The next second, the carriage stopped.

His subordinate spoke from outside the window, “Your Highness, the road ahead is blocked by dozens of imperial guards. But they have not drawn their weapons.”

Xiahou Bo sneered, “The emperor has come to claim someone.”

Yu Wan Yin: “…I was attacked in the street, it’s reasonable for him to send people.” She glanced at his hand gripping hers, using a placating tone, “Your Highness, today’s conversation, I will forget as soon as I leave the carriage and won’t mention it to anyone.”

Xiahou Bo, reminded by her gaze but pretending not to understand, still didn’t let go: “Oh? So you won’t consider me?”

Outside the carriage, someone called out loudly, “Greetings to Prince Duan. Did you rescue Concubine Yu?” It seemed to be an imperial guard, urging him to release her.

Yu Wan Yin looked at him pitifully: “Wan Yin is like a floating duckweed, how could I not be moved by Your Highness’s genuine care? But with the imperial guards outside, this is not the right time to talk about such things. If Your Highness doesn’t mind, we can continue our communication through secret letters later, okay?”

Xiahou Bo slowly released his fingers one by one, gently saying, “Okay. Be careful.”

He got off the carriage first, then turned back to lift the curtain and politely invited her down, telling the lead guard, “A commoner attempted to assassinate her, but fortunately, I was passing by, and it turned out to be a false alarm.” The guard responded with some formalities and then took Yu Wan Yin back to the palace.

Xiahou Bo stood there, watching their figures fade into the darkness, his gaze growing colder.

His subordinate approached and whispered, “The man Your Highness shot earlier has been saved.”

Xiahou Bo: “Did he see anything?”

Subordinate: “Concubine Yu has a mechanism hidden in her sleeve, something we’ve never seen before. It looks like it can launch a projectile.”

Xiahou Bo stood silently in the night wind for a while.

After a long time, he spoke as if to himself, “Since this is her choice, we can only fulfill it.”

Subordinate: “Your Highness?”

Xiahou Bo turned and walked towards the carriage, leaving a command: “Send letters to several generals. We need to prepare to start.”

As Yu Wan Yin approached the palace gate, she was still pondering Xiahou Bo’s strange words.

“‘Why did His Majesty choose you’…” she repeated softly, still unable to grasp its true meaning. When had Xiahou Dan sought her, and when had Prince Duan seen it?

As the palace gate opened, her mind went blank.

Xiahou Dan stared at her expressionlessly. In the dim light, his features were hidden in shadows, only his tightly pressed lips visible.

Yu Wan Yin’s guilt surged, and she quickly ran over, “I was wrong, I shouldn’t have…”

As she got closer, she saw his eyes, her voice faltered, and she felt the hairs on her back stand up.

Xiahou Dan grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards the palace.

He gripped the very spot where Prince Duan had held her, causing Yu Wan Yin to wince and instinctively pull away.

Xiahou Dan stopped.

He slowly turned his head, first looking at her, then after a few seconds, with apparent difficulty, tore his gaze away to look at the injured guards behind her.

In the dead silence, his voice was like a blade cutting through ice, “Bury them all.”

Yu Wan Yin, having barely survived her ordeal with Prince Duan, was in a daze. She didn’t even understand who he was referring to.

Then she saw the imperial guards step forward, seizing the injured men and roughly forcing them to kneel.

These were men who hadn’t uttered a sound even when injured, and now they didn’t beg for mercy, only silently kowtowed in apology.

Yu Wan Yin: “!!!”

She was horrified, “Wait! It’s not their fault—”

Xiahou Dan didn’t listen, yanking her towards the direction of the palace, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty!” She lowered her voice, speaking quickly, “It was my fault for insisting on leaving the palace. They didn’t know about your prohibition. It was my mistake, don’t kill the innocent…”

Xiahou Dan laughed harshly.

Yu Wan Yin looked back in struggle, seeing the guards already dragging the injured men away.

She felt a chill throughout her body, turning to look at his profile.

He walked quickly, leaving the lantern bearers behind. In the darkness, only his disheveled hair and crazed appearance were visible.

This wasn’t the Xiahou Dan she knew.

For a moment, she almost suspected that the person she knew had left, his soul vacating this body, leaving the original tyr

ant, ruthless and heartless.

She shivered uncontrollably, “…Dan?”

Xiahou Dan didn’t respond.

Was it still him? Yu Wan Yin, desperate to save the men, said, “We only have so many guards left, we’ve already lost most of them, and they are the ones who died for you in the original work!”

Xiahou Dan: “How did Prince Duan find you?”

The question came out of nowhere, and in her confusion, it took Yu Wan Yin two seconds to understand his implication: “It must have been his spies searching the city. It can’t be the guards leaking information. If there were a traitor among the guards, Prince Duan would have already known about our gun and more significant secrets. We would have been defeated without a fight!”

Xiahou Dan was unmoved: “Taking you out of the palace in such a situation is no different from being a traitor.”

Yu Wan Yin: “…”

Yu Wan Yin finally realized that Xiahou Dan’s anger wasn’t directed at the guards but at herself.

She had defied him, secretly leaving the palace, almost allowing Prince Duan to discover their secrets and ruin everything.

But he didn’t want to kill her.

Since she wouldn’t bear the punishment, someone else had to bear it for her.

She didn’t know when he had adopted such a ruler’s mindset. Or maybe she had noticed his changes but chose to ignore them, comforting herself repeatedly.

Xiahou Dan was the last fragment, the last attachment she had to the world she knew. But the world had long since changed beyond recognition; no one could remain the same.

Yu Wan Yin took a deep breath and knelt down.

Xiahou Dan had been dragging her along, but her sudden kneeling made him finally let go.

The cold winter night had already frozen the stone tiles. As soon as her knees touched the ground, the chill penetrated her skin and flesh. But Yu Wan Yin no longer felt the cold. She bowed her head, speaking humbly, “This matter is entirely my fault. I beg Your Majesty to spare the guards and punish me instead.”

She only saw Xiahou Dan stagger back a step as if he couldn’t stand steadily.

After a long few moments, his voice came from above her, “Very well.”

He ordered the palace servants, “Lock Consort Yu in her quarters. From today until the day I die, she is not to step outside.”

Yu Wan Yin did not lift her head, listening to his footsteps gradually fade away.

A palace servant helped her up, “Your Highness, please.”

She felt like she was walking on clouds, dazedly being helped through the hall doors. The sound of the lock clicked behind her. The palace servants, fearing Xiahou Dan’s wrath, dared not enter and stayed far away after locking the door.

The large palace chamber had never felt so empty. Yu Wan Yin leaned against the door, standing in a daze.

Her mind was a tangled mess of thoughts. Sometimes she felt a dull pain in her wrist, sometimes she worried about whether the guards had been rescued, and sometimes she thought about Cen Jin Tian and others, wondering if Prince Duan would go back to trouble them.

Did Xiahou Dan send people to protect them after hearing about this? Would he think that Cen Jin Tian was doomed anyway and that a worthless character’s death didn’t matter?

The former her wouldn’t have doubted him like this, but now…

Yu Wan Yin turned and knocked on the door, “Is anyone there? I have something important!”

She called out for a long time with no response.

Despite the brazier warming the room, she felt increasingly cold. She walked to the bed and collapsed onto it, burying her face in the bedding like an ostrich.

Earlier today, the two of them had been here, chatting and mocking the official documents.

It felt as if a hole had opened in her chest, draining all her emotions until all she could feel was numbness.

She didn’t know how much time had passed when suddenly the door opened.

Startled, she sat up and looked towards the door, “Uncle Bei.”

Bei Zhou stood there with a wooden tray, “I’ve brought you some food.”

Yu Wan Yin quickly ran over and grabbed his sleeve, afraid he would leave after delivering the meal, “Uncle Bei, Cen Jin…” She corrected herself halfway, “Xiao Tian Cai and Er Lan are still useful to His Majesty. Prince Duan might trouble them…”

She emphasized the “useful” part.

Bei Zhou heard the change in her attitude towards Xiahou Dan and sighed, “The imperial guards did a thorough job. They rescued you and relocated Cen Jin Tian and the others. Wan Yin, tonight’s events were Xiahou Dan’s fault. He nearly went mad when your fate was uncertain.”

Yu Wan Yin was stunned.

Bei Zhou continued, “He ordered that wherever Prince Duan’s carriage went, if you didn’t get off safely, Prince Duan was to be killed on the spot. Prince Duan always has many men in secret, while the imperial guards were hastily assembled. If a fight had broken out, the outcome would have been uncertain. The leader of the imperial guards was almost killed for trying to dissuade him.”

Yu Wan Yin was silent for a moment, then asked, “Uncle Bei, have you ever seen him act like that before?”

Bei Zhou thought for a moment, “You know about his severe headaches. When the pain gets intense, he loses control. But he fears scaring you, so he avoids seeing you during those times… which is why he hasn’t come now.”

Yu Wan Yin: “Is his condition becoming more frequent?”

The dinner remained untouched. Yu Wan Yin curled up on the bed, initially just closing her eyes in deep thought, but at some point, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

She had a strange dream. In the dream, Xiahou Dan was disemboweled, lying in a pool of blood. The killer stood beside his corpse, smiling.

The killer had the exact same face as him, but in the dream, she knew clearly that he was the tyrant from the original story.

The tyrant smiled and walked toward her, “Wan Yin, don’t you recognize me?”

As he spoke, he extended his hand, holding a bloody heart in front of her.

A faint sound woke her abruptly, but she refrained from opening her eyes. The images from the dream were too vivid, and the fear had seeped into reality.

Aside from fear, there was another intense emotion she couldn’t immediately identify.

Footsteps drew nearer.

The flickering candlelight through her eyelids cast a reddish hue.

The red was then obscured by a shadow. Xiahou Dan sat at the bedside, looking down at her.

Yu Wan Yin kept her eyes tightly shut. The more she tried to calm her heartbeat, the louder it pounded, as if determined to betray her.

She couldn’t guess his posture or expression. Had his madness passed? He was so close that if he did anything drastic, she would have no chance to escape—although he had never truly harmed her, the murderous aura he had exuded earlier was enough to tear a person apart from a distance.

Yu Wan Yin gritted her teeth.

She didn’t want to wake up, didn’t want to meet his gaze. She feared seeing a sinister and violent smile on that familiar face, feared his eyes reflecting the ghostly flames from her dream.

Time ticked by, with no sound from the bedside.

Yu Wan Yin couldn’t hold out any longer. Just as she was about to give in and open her eyes, a cold touch on her wrist made her eyelashes tremble.

A cool hand lifted her wrist. The candlelight moved closer, and Xiahou Dan seemed to be examining her skin.

His fingertips brushed a spot on her wrist. The area had been sore for a long time—bruised when Prince Duan had gripped her.

Xiahou Dan might have mistaken the bruise for an injury he had caused. His touch was very light, so light it was almost ticklish.

Then his fingertips moved away and touched her neck.

It was the spot where Prince Duan had kissed.

Yu Wan Yin’s heart tightened. That bastard had deliberately left a mark!

Xiahou Dan’s fingers slowed, still lightly touching her, the coolness seeping into her skin.

Yu Wan Yin held her breath, unable to predict his reaction.

Darkness enveloped her, blocking the faint light through her eyelids. Xiahou Dan covered her eyes.

His hand was cold, but his lips were still warm.

Under his palm, Yu Wan Yin opened her eyes.

Now, she didn’t have to avoid looking at him; she couldn’t see his face. But the lingering emotion in the kiss was unmistakable, a familiar presence.

It was as if a play had ended, the mask made of chalk cracking and falling away, revealing the living flesh beneath.

After a moment, when he received no response, Xiahou Dan slowly pulled back.

Yu Wan Yin grabbed his hand, pressing it against her face.

Her knuckles turned white, her nails digging into his hand.

Xiahou Dan looked down at her, trying to read her expression from the half of her face he could see. His palm felt dampness.

“…Don’t cry.”

Tears silently streamed from Yu Wan Yin’s eyes. She gritted out, “I don’t—want to—”

In a daze, she remembered the other emotion from her dream: anger.

She had resolved to fight to the end, yet could only watch helplessly as this world tore open his chest and ripped out his heart and liver.

She hated that he had changed so quickly and hated her own helplessness.

She also hated that her tear ducts wouldn’t obey.

She tried to hold back the tears, her face turning red from the effort.

Xiahou Dan couldn’t pull his hand back, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness, “Don’t cry. I handled things poorly. The guards are fine; no one is hurt. You won’t be confined. I said those words in anger and regretted them immediately… Wan Yin?”

Yu Wan Yin shook her head, “No, it was my fault for leaving the palace.”

She finally let go of his hand, sitting up to face him, “I misjudged the situation, almost causing a disaster and involving others.”

“That’s not true…”

“I also hurt you,” Yu Wan Yin’s sorrow surged, “You seemed ready to tear someone apart, or like you were being torn apart yourself. Where did you go then? Did I push you closer to becoming a tyrant?”

Xiahou Dan: “…”

Her words shook his very soul.

So, in her eyes, this was what had happened.

She was desperately trying to stop something that had already happened ten years ago, heartbreakingly holding onto a phantom.

All delusions dissolved like a mist, only to weave new ones.

Without hesitation, Xiahou Dan embraced her tightly, “No. I’m back now.”

Yu Wanyin: “Can you stop leaving? I am not afraid of failure, nor of death, but I fear you will disappear before then. If you disappear, it feels like I will vanish too, fading away inside this shell…”

“No, we are both here.”

Xiahou Dan made his final decision in that moment.

“Regardless of life or death, you have a companion. I will never let you be alone.”

Even though they were close, it seemed as if an immense chasm separated them. A vow was made, but it echoed hollowly.

Yu Wanyin dared not think further. She bit his lip, drawing blood. Xiahou Dan laughed softly, accommodating her, comforting her, swallowing the blood and tears together, like a demon savoring a fresh, rich soul.

Silk tore and scattered, long hair spread, winding over intertwined arms.

After the palace lanterns went out, the moonlit snow glowed brighter.

Yu Wanyin, who had been living as a nun under the title of a demon consort for so long, finally did something befitting a demon consort.

She caused Xiahou Dan’s healing wound to bleed a little again.

Xiao Tiancai watched Xiahou Dan remove his dragon robe to reveal his chest, his face full of resignation.

Xiahou Dan: “Look at the wound, not at places you shouldn’t.”

Xiao Tiancai, reminded of his promise to Yu Wanyin, dared not offend this pair: “I will reapply the dressing.”

He undid the previous bandages, squinting his eyes almost shut to avoid seeing the marks, fumbling to apply medicine and fetch new bandages.

Halfway through, Xiahou Dan turned, exposing his back.

Xiao Tiancai: “…”

He had to admit, it was quite aesthetically pleasing.

Numbly, he couldn’t resist glancing at Yu Wanyin.

Feeling guilty, Yu Wanyin turned her head away.

Xiao Tiancai, as if a knife was at his throat, suddenly sped up, quickly tightening the bandages, finally able to breathe again.

He didn’t want to stay a moment longer, but remembered if the wound reopened, he’d have to come back. His face twisted as he struggled to advise: “Your Majesty, with your injury, it’s best to rest and… uh, exercise restraint.”

He quickly withdrew, carrying his medical kit.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Yu Wanyin was embarrassed to the point of vanishing, while Xiahou Dan nonchalantly got up, pulled his inner robe back onto his shoulders, and leisurely tied his belt.

With the palace attendants dismissed, Yu Wanyin walked behind him, head lowered, helping him with his outer robe: “I was a bit nervous at the time, and couldn’t control myself.”

Xiahou Dan: “It’s not a big deal.”

Just as Yu Wanyin tried to change the subject, she saw his shoulders shake slightly: “Don’t worry, consort. It was just being late to morning court, there’s still a long way to go before the king ceases morning court altogether.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Her face burned with embarrassment as she threw the outer robe over his head: “Are you suggesting I keep it up?”

Xiahou Dan’s laugh was muffled by the robe. He didn’t remove it but turned to hold her hand: “Judging by your strong voice, it seems I’m the one who needs to keep it up.”

Yu Wanyin stiffened, memories of last night flashing in her mind: “No, no, let’s follow the doctor’s orders.”

Last night had been too wild, her legs were still weak. Another round and even if his wound held, she wouldn’t.

Xiahou Dan laughed harder at her response.

What was he so proud of?

Yu Wanyin, both annoyed and amused, patted his face through the robe: “Not afraid of close contact anymore?”

Xiahou Dan’s laugh quieted, paused for a few seconds, and softly said: “Not anymore.”

“That’s good.” Yu Wanyin smiled, trying to pull her hand away, to lift the cover from this suddenly shy consort. But Xiahou Dan still gently held her wrist, his thumb lightly stroking.

Yu Wanyin looked down and saw the bruise.

Remembering, she quickly explained: “You didn’t cause this; it was Prince Duan.”

She roughly recounted the conversation that took place in the carriage.

Xiahou Dan pulled off his outer robe, his smile gradually fading. “I’ve tried to cover it up for so long, but I still haven’t been able to remove you from his attention.”

“There’s no way around it. From the moment he knew I had ‘clairvoyance,’ I was left with only two outcomes in his eyes: either to be used by him or to die. I’ve always wanted him to believe I was on his side, but yesterday’s situation was terrifying. I’m not sure if I slipped up…”

Yu Wanyin frowned, “If he suspects me, he might change his plan to assassinate you to prevent me from foreseeing it. That would put us under even more pressure.”

Xiahou Dan looked at her thoughtfully.

Yu Wanyin: “Forget it. Worrying about things that haven’t happened is useless. Let’s do our best and leave the rest to fate. You should go to the morning court…”

“Late evening,” Xiahou Dan said, “since he will suspect you no matter what, we might as well break the pot and shatter it.”

“How to shatter it?”

“I want to make you the empress. There’s no better time than today. What do you think?”

Yu Wanyin was stunned.

“Here’s the thing.” Xiahou Dan counted on his fingers, explaining to her. “The Empress Dowager’s faction is almost under control, and the Empress Dowager should pass away soon. We can’t crown the empress during a period of mourning. After that, there will be a battle between me and Prince Duan. If he wins, he will need to stabilize public sentiment. If you are the empress, he will be more hesitant to act against you.”

Yu Wanyin: “…Prince Duan despises traitors. Do you really believe that just the title of empress will stop him from killing me?”

Xiahou Dan didn’t answer immediately.

Yu Wanyin realized during his silence that by “act against you,” he didn’t mean “kill you.”

No one could fathom Prince Duan’s thoughts. But based on his behavior in the carriage, if he did eliminate Xiahou Dan, he might not intend to kill Yu Wanyin but instead want to take her for himself.

A former consort of the previous dynasty could easily be given a new identity at his whim.

By then, if Xiahou Dan were dead, the last layer of protection he could leave her would be the title of empress.

Xiahou Dan: “I don’t know how much it will help, but please consider it as a way to give me peace of mind. Will you?”

Despite the pessimistic words, his eyes were brighter than ever, like a light breaking through the night fog.

Just last night, the imperial consort had been ordered into confinement by the emperor, but suddenly this morning, she was made empress.

Xiahou Dan announced this decree without warning during the morning court, nearly causing the entire assembly of ministers and officials to lose their breath—one even fainted on the spot, Yu Wanyin’s father.

With a face full of righteous indignation, Xiahou Dan said, “The Empress Dowager’s condition is critical, and my heart aches as if it were being cut by a knife. I wish I could cut my own flesh for medicine. I recall that the central palace has been vacant for years, causing the Empress Dowager constant worry. Now, the only solution is to establish an empress to restore balance and vitality, which may help the Empress Dowager recover.”

In short: it’s for the Empress Dowager’s health.

“Of course,” he added, “I am currently restless, and Consort Yu is tirelessly caring for the Empress Dowager day and night. Therefore, the ceremony for crowning the empress can be prepared by the Ministry of Rites at a later date.”

As Consort Yu’s father was carried out of the hall, this explosive news quickly spread through the harem.

Yu Wanyin was immediately surrounded upon leaving.

The crowd was even more fervent than before, with people flattering her, begging for favors, and everyone had something to say.

Yu Wanyin silently recited a few times to calm herself: “Yes, rose dew is nice, but no need to send it, I appreciate the thought… Little sister, you are so sweet, you look beautiful too… There won’t be a crowning ceremony, as the Empress Dowager is still unwell, it’s not appropriate to celebrate…”

“The Empress Dowager has always loved you the most, sister. Hearing this good news, she will surely recover soon!” The concubines smiled with eyes bent in crescents, looking genuinely happy.

Yu Wanyin: “.”

“Oh right, sister, we tried that thing you mentioned last time, the ping pong. We’ve learned a bit.” A young beauty conjured two wooden paddles like magic and took out a colorful embroidered ball, watching Yu Wanyin’s reaction. “Do you like it, sister?”

She skillfully bounced the ball seven or eight times in front of her.

Yu Wanyin: “???”

Is this the taste of King Chu’s love for thin waists?

Yu Wanyin slowly showed a gentle smile: “Good, very energetic.”

Having survived in this world for so long, Yu Wanyin’s acting skills had greatly improved. She calmly drew from the lines of palace intrigue novels, feeling no discomfort.

The title of “empress” was like a new set of clothes. Wearing it neither brought joy nor fear.

Maybe soon, like Xiahou Dan, she would merge with this shell, unable to tell when she was acting…

Yu Wanyin shook her head suddenly, startling the young beauty holding her arm.

She took a deep breath: “Come on, play a few games with me.”

Lin Xuan Ying glanced at the sun and raised a hand: “Stop.”

The black-clad men following him, well-trained, reined in their horses simultaneously. The massive contingent halted abruptly, producing no sound other than the rustling of leaves.

Lin Xuan Ying shaded his eyes with his hand and looked ahead. The trees thinned, the terrain leveled out, and a village or town was visible in the distance.

One person emerged from the ranks: “Deputy General.”

Lin Xuan Ying dismounted, tying his horse to a tree: “Set up camp here. We will proceed in batches after nightfall.”

“Yes, sir.”

Behind them, the vast black army stretched endlessly, silently merging into the forest.

Lin Xuan Ying: “At this speed, how long until we reach the capital?”

Subordinate: “If unobstructed, we can arrive in fifteen days.” He hesitated, then glanced at Lin Xuan Ying.

Lin Xuan Ying had departed early.

Even before Prince Duan’s message arrived, he had sought out General You: “Prince Duan plans to rebel. His private troops alone won’t suffice; he will surely seek reinforcements from the three armies to encircle the capital. Logically, the central army would support him, but the current internal strife in Yan requires them to maintain border defenses, preventing full deployment. So, he will soon approach the right army.”

General You’s face quivered with concern: “Our southern border isn’t peaceful either!”

The Queen of Qiang, previously allied with the King of Yan through marriage, faced a sudden reversal. The resurgent Tur forces crushed the Yan army, driving the King of Yan into retreat, ultimately into Qiang territory.

Qiang, a dependent state, suffered collateral damage. Amid the chaos, numerous refugees fled towards the Xia Kingdom. These Qiang people, though not militarily strong, were vicious in their tactics. They started with minor thefts but escalated to poisoning wells and massacring entire villages before looting and leaving.

General You, unaccustomed to such turmoil, was overwhelmed by the refugee crisis. Hearing Lin Xuan Ying’s words, he felt faint: “If we can’t provide troops… will Prince Duan be angry?”

The pitiable tone made it seem as if Prince Duan’s men were already aiming arrows at his head.

Lin Xuan Ying understood his real concern: “Will Prince Duan retract his promises?”

Lin Xuan Ying sneered: “You guard this side, I’ll take some men out.”

General You was shocked: “Xuan Ying, you can’t leave! How can you abandon your post now?”

“…Then I’ll stay, and you handle the imperial guards?”

General You fell silent.

Everyone knew, including himself, who truly supported the right army.

Lin Xuan Ying, towering over him, gave a mocking salute: “Rest assured, General, I won’t take many men.”

He indeed took only a few but chose the elite.

Lin Xuan Ying took a sip from a water bottle: “Have you scouted the other two armies’ numbers?”

“Approximately fifty thousand from the central army.”

“Fifty thousand… General Luo is determined to live and die with Prince Duan.”

“The left army’s movements are more covert, but their numbers likely exceed ours.”

Lin Xuan Ying paused, his tone flat: “The combined imperial guards in the capital barely exceed ten thousand.”

Even with reinforcements from surrounding prefectures, their forces were no match for battle-hardened border troops.

Unless the emperor had some miraculous reinforcements, the capital would be impossible to defend once encircled by the three armies.

For the participating soldiers, this would inevitably be a shameful victory, forever marking them as rebels.

The young subordinate reporting was barely more than a boy. Lin Xuan Ying noticed him hesitating before speaking: “Deputy General… when I joined the army, I thought I would be buried on the battlefield.”

Lin Xuan Ying remained expressionless as he capped the water bottle: “Find a place to rest.”

The young beauties who thought they had finally figured out Yu Wanyin’s preferences set up a ping pong table in the Imperial Garden, playing with the spirit of perseverance despite the cold.

Fortunately, the weather was clear and cold, with no wind or snow. As they played, they warmed up.

Yu Wanyin had just casually mentioned it before, but she didn’t actually know how to play ping pong, let alone this new game with the embroidered ball. But everyone was equally inexperienced, and with the flattery and intentional letting her win, the game went back and forth.

For a moment, the scene was falsely lively.

After a few rounds, perhaps due to the brain releasing dopamine, or maybe the palace intrigue evolving into a unit team-building exercise, Yu Wanyin felt relaxed and in good spirits. She didn’t even notice when the cheers around her suddenly quieted.

It wasn’t until she missed a ball and turned to pick it up that she realized the ball had rolled to a pair of feet not far away.

Those feet were in court boots.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Xiahou Dan bent down and picked up the ball: “What is this?”

After greeting the emperor, the concubines stood aside, not daring to make a sound, all stealing glances at Yu Wanyin’s reaction.

The emperor went crazy last night, and this morning Consort Yu was made empress—what was the logical connection between these events? Countless minds had tried to figure it out but couldn’t.

In truth, those who had survived in such a turbulent palace drama had somewhat grasped one principle: the best way to survive here was not to court death. Numerous tragic precedents showed that the more fiercely one fought, the sooner they died.

But this rule didn’t apply to Yu Wanyin.

Since entering the palace, Yu Wanyin had played many roles: a spider demon, a pure white lotus, a talented scholar in the library, a naive and foolish girl, a straightforward critic of the emperor, and a tragic figure in the cold palace. She had tried almost every character that wouldn’t survive three chapters, embracing all kinds of dramatic exits.

As a result, even those who wanted to learn from her couldn’t figure out which act the emperor favored.

Some thought the essence might lie in this all-encompassing chaos.

But now that she was empress, riding high, she should reveal some true feelings, right?

How the emperor and empress interacted would directly impact the future survival strategies of the court and harem.

Yu Wanyin couldn’t think of a better answer: “Ping pong, I guess.”

“Ping…” Xiahou Dan looked at the ball suspiciously, his eyes full of doubt.

Yu Wanyin waved her hand, signaling him not to nitpick: “It’s playable.” She took the ball and served it, the young beauty opposite not daring to hit it back.

Xiahou Dan hissed: “You’re holding the paddle all wrong.”

Yu Wanyin: “?” Was he an expert?

She asked with her eyes: Do you want to join?

Xiahou Dan shook his head, speaking gently: “Is the empress tired?”

Yu Wanyin heard the underlying message that he needed to talk and quickly said: “I am a bit tired. Let’s stop for today and continue another time.”

The young beauty across finally realized and stammered: “Take care, Your Majesty.”

Once Yu Wanyin was far off in the dragon chariot, everyone looked at each other in confusion.

Not only did they not understand how the two interacted, they didn’t even comprehend their communication.

Was it telepathy?

In the chariot, Yu Wanyin breathed out a puff of white mist near Xiahou Dan’s ear: “What’s the matter?”

Xiahou Dan: “The border troops are making moves.”

“Which side?”

“All three sides. Exact numbers are unknown. It seems Xiahou Bo couldn’t wait.”

Yu Wanyin had a premonition before he spoke.

They had discussed this long ago, anticipating that once Xiahou Dan secured the central power, Prince Duan would have to borrow border troops. Now, all three armies were bribed, confirming their worst-case scenario.

So she calmly replied: “Then we must hurry before his reinforcements arrive.”

“Yes, I’ve told Xiao Tiancai to stop the Empress Dowager’s life-prolonging treatment.”

Yu Wanyin: “How long can she last?”

Xiahou Dan said delicately: “Xiao Tiancai will stop it artfully.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She glanced back.

Xiahou Dan held her hand: “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” The winter sunlight was precious, and Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but look at the flowers and plants in the Imperial Garden, sensing that the next scheduled ping pong game might be indefinitely postponed.

“Life’s little moments of leisure are truly stolen.”

Xiao Tiancai worked efficiently.

Late the next night, Yu Wanyin was awakened by urgent knocking. An Xian, outside the door, trembled as she said: “Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager is not well.”

The announcement was like a starting gun, snapping Yu Wanyin awake. She turned to look at the person beside her.

Xiahou Dan was also looking at her, asking softly: “Are you ready?”

Yu Wanyin nodded: “Let’s go.”

To express their grief, An Xian’s call was particularly mournful today: “The Emperor is here—”

Xiahou Dan held Yu Wanyin’s hand as they stepped off the chariot. In the dead of night, the cold wind cut like a knife, making Yu Wanyin shiver.

A guard followed them, whispering from behind, “No sign of Prince Duan’s men yet.”

The secret guards had been lurking around the Empress Dowager’s quarters for some time. With her imminent death, Prince Duan could act at any moment. From now on, they were on high alert.

Xiahou Dan nodded slightly, walked through the door, and entered the main hall.

Inside, palace maids and eunuchs were already kneeling, and the quicker concubines had rushed over to join them, all wearing expressions of deep sorrow. Their faces were pale, but there were no tears yet, indicating the Empress Dowager still had a breath left.

Yu Wanyin followed Xiahou Dan, passing the crowd and heading to the inner room. She glanced at the people and noticed many were stealing glances at her—more specifically, at her stomach.

The probing looks were nearly blatant. Feeling uncomfortable, she raised her sleeve to block their view, which only intensified their stares.

Yu Wanyin: “?”

A few elderly physicians emerged from the inner room, followed by Xiao Tiancai, who knelt before Xiahou Dan according to protocol, tears streaming down his face. “This old minister is incompetent and deserves a thousand deaths…”

Xiahou Dan, adhering to the routine, kicked the leading physician away and rushed inside, his voice preceding him: “Mother! Mother!”

The air inside was thick, filled with an unpleasant mix of the smell of excrement and the cold stench of death.

The Empress Dowager lay on the bed in her funeral clothes, her body gaunt and limbs positioned neatly, hands crossed over her chest. Her eyes were bulging out unnaturally.

The young prince was curled up in a corner, almost like a puppet with broken strings, shivering visibly when approached.

Xiahou Dan: “Ah!”

His voice was exaggeratedly loud, as if to ensure everyone outside could hear: “Mother, rest assured, your son is here!”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Today, she witnessed the pinnacle of acting.

Xiahou Dan managed to speak with a sob in his voice while showing a malicious smile to the person on the bed.

The Empress Dowager convulsed violently at his words but could only emit guttural sounds.

Xiahou Dan sat on the edge of the bed, tenderly tucking the blanket around her: “Your son understands everything, understands it all.”

Their eyes met, and Xiahou Dan’s mind flashed back to when he first saw her—regal, imperious, with her crimson nails scratching his cheek, making his eyelids twitch, yet he dared not flinch.

Back then, he was like a lamb awaiting slaughter, hoping only for mercy.

If she had taught him anything over the past decade, it was perhaps: never wait.

The lacquer on her nails had long chipped away. She stared at him, convulsing with each breath she took, more exhaling than inhaling.

Xiahou Dan: “What? The young prince?” He said loudly, “Mother, don’t worry. I will take good care of him.”

Behind the bed curtain, he made a throat-slitting gesture and smiled even more gleefully.

The Empress Dowager: “…”

Xiahou Dan thought she would die from anger, but she continued to breathe laboriously, her lifeless eyes fixed on him, lips moving slightly.

Strangely, at this moment, her eyes held no hatred, only unwillingness.

Xiahou Dan pondered what might be flashing through her mind in her final moments but couldn’t guess.

She had no love—she had told him herself that she hated the late emperor the most.

She had no lover—she hadn’t kept a single suitor all these years.

She had no offspring—before she ascended to her position, the Empress Dowager had deprived her of the ability to bear children.

Perhaps from that moment, all she sought was power.

She killed the Empress Dowager, outlived the late emperor, controlled Xiahou Dan, manipulated the young prince… why seek love? Why ask for affection? The joy was in the struggle. Xiahou Dan had no doubt that even if she succeeded in killing him and Prince Duan, she would continue to fight tirelessly until her life’s end.

Unfortunately, she lost too soon.

The Empress Dowager struggled like a dying fish, her mouth forming words, producing indistinct sounds.

Xiahou Dan, unwilling to lean in to listen, tilted his ear slightly, impatiently asking, “What?”

The Empress Dowager suddenly smiled.

She slowly uttered a few words.

Xiahou Dan paused.

The Empress Dowager’s trembling hand on her chest lifted an inch before falling back heavily, her head tilting to the side, motionless.

Silence.

The physician nearby sensed something wrong, crawled over, lifted the bed curtain, symbolically checked her pulse, and turned her eyelids, his voice trembling: “Your Majesty… Your Majesty…”

Xiahou Dan remained still, maintaining his posture.

Kneeling at the foot of the bed, Yu Wanyin waited for several seconds, confused. She stood up and walked over, pulling him to his feet.

Only then did Xiahou Dan seem to switch on, letting out a deep cry: “Mother—”

Outside, the signal was received, and mourning cries rose in unison. Yu Wanyin, hearing it from the inner room, felt the grandeur of the scene, with voices of men and women, indicating that the ministers had also arrived.

She wondered if Prince Duan had come.

Yu Wanyin joined the wailing half-heartedly while mentally reviewing the locations of the hidden guards.

Xiahou Dan couldn’t just cry once and be done with it; he had to perform the whole act, including closing the Empress Dowager’s eyes and adjusting her funeral clothes.

The little prince, the only one genuinely crying, started sobbing even more intensely. Soon, his face was covered in tears and snot, and his whole body trembled as he crawled towards the bed, wanting to see the Empress Dowager one last time.

Yu Wanyin quietly asked Xiahou Dan, “What were her last words?”

Xiahou Dan turned to her, his expression wooden: “She said she would wait for me in the afterlife.”

Yu Wanyin felt a chill rise from her feet, as if a cold current surged through her: “What the hell, she’s dying and still cursing people…”

She saw the little prince crawling closer out of the corner of her eye and instinctively glanced at him. The little prince’s face was tightly strained, his features twisted, and he seemed to hold his breath, like a balloon about to burst.

In that moment, Yu Wanyin’s heart tightened.

Acting on an instinct honed through life-and-death situations, she moved.

She lunged at Xiahou Dan, shoving him aside—

At the same time, the little prince raised his arm, releasing a cloud of red mist from his sleeve aimed at Xiahou Dan, most of which Yu Wanyin blocked—

Yu Wanyin had expected a dagger or hidden weapon, not this. She inhaled some of the mist and started coughing violently.

Xiahou Dan, pushed back a few steps, was stunned for a moment. He immediately covered his mouth and nose, rushed back to pull Yu Wanyin away, and kicked the little prince square in the chest.

The little prince was sent flying, landing on the ground and coughing up blood.

Yu Wanyin fell to her knees, coughing uncontrollably. Xiahou Dan wiped her clothes and hair, his fingers coming away red with powder.

The hidden guards had already subdued all the palace maids and physicians inside and restrained the little prince on the ground. “Your Majesty, this place is not safe. Please evacuate immediately…”

Xiahou Dan strode forward and grabbed the little prince by the neck: “The antidote.”

The little prince screamed.

The sound echoed out of the inner chamber, causing the wailing outside to stop abruptly.

Xiahou Dan’s fingers tightened, cutting off the scream: “The antidote.”

The little prince struggled, his face turning purple. The hidden guards, sensing the danger, tried to intervene: “Your Majesty, please calm down!”

Xiahou Dan ignored them, his hand gripping tighter, veins bulging, a dark aura rising between his brows.

Yu Wanyin finally caught her breath, finding herself otherwise unharmed. She saw the little prince’s eyes rolling back and hurriedly tried to pry Xiahou Dan’s hand open: “Stop, I’m fine…” She couldn’t move his hand and, panicking, whispered urgently in his ear, “Everyone is outside. Do you want to confirm your reputation as a tyrant right here?”

Xiahou Dan didn’t respond.

Yu Wanyin looked closer and was terrified—Xiahou Dan’s eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in a demonic fury.

He had never looked like this, even during his previous fits of madness.

Suddenly, Yu Wanyin remembered the red powder. Xiahou Dan had inhaled some of it too.

She suppressed her fear and commanded the hidden guards: “Help save the prince!”

The hidden guards hesitated, not daring to act.

Yu Wanyin, her voice hoarse, urged: “Hurry, we still need the antidote!” She had inhaled more of the powder than Xiahou Dan and felt like she had a ticking time bomb inside her. She needed to stabilize the situation while she still had her wits.

One of the hidden guards gritted his teeth and struck a pressure point on Xiahou Dan’s arm, numbing it and forcing him to release his grip.

The guard pulled the prince away, but Xiahou Dan roared: “Kill him.”

The hidden guard hesitated: “Your Majesty…”

“Kill him!” Xiahou Dan’s voice was a feral growl as he swung a fist. The guard, unable to block him, dodged awkwardly.

Xiahou Dan reached for the guard’s sword.

The guard circled around a pillar.

Xiahou Dan pulled out a gun from his robe.

Everyone who recognized the weapon’s significance had their pupils contract—

The barrel was caught by a hand.

Yu Wanyin, trembling all over: “Xiahou Dan.”

Xiahou Dan instinctively looked at her. Seeing the tears in her eyes, he paused, the storm in his dark, chaotic gaze calming for a few seconds.

Yu Wanyin, on the brink of losing her composure, slowly moved her fingers along the gun to his hand, both of them icy cold: “How about hot pot tonight?”

Xiahou Dan froze.

In that brief moment, Yu Wanyin softly said: “Knock him out.”

This time, the hidden guard didn’t hesitate, delivering a chop that knocked the emperor unconscious.

Yu Wanyin looked around—Empress Dowager dead, emperor poisoned, prince half-dead.

She glanced toward the main hall. The ministers and palace maids were still softly crying, clearly listening intently to the strange sounds inside.

Everyone inside was staring at her.

Yu Wanyin forced a smile: “The emperor is overwhelmed with grief and has fainted. Help him back to rest. The prince is also emotionally unstable and needs to be calmed.”

The hidden guards understood, carrying Xiahou Dan and the prince out through the back door.

Yu Wanyin brushed red powder off her shoulder and held it in her palm.

It hadn’t affected her so far. She had a suspicion and told the physicians and palace maids, “No need to panic. Continue as usual.”

Her reassuring words were delivered with a cold smile.

She might not have noticed, but to others, the aura of this newly appointed empress was markedly different.

They shuddered and quickly got to work, some preparing the casket, others cleaning up the mess.

Yu Wanyin gave Xiao Tiancai a look, directing his attention to the Empress Dowager’s corpse.

Xiao Tiancai seemed to understand, bowing and joining the palace maids in preparing the Empress Dowager’s body.

Yu Wanyin walked out of the inner room.

The main hall was indeed packed with people kneeling, the line extending out the door into the dark night. Seeing her emerge, the crying resumed forcibly.

Yu Wanyin signaled An Xian to come forward, organizing the crowd to either stay overnight or return home for mourning. She herself symbolically helped a few concubines to their feet, offering a few comforting words.

Suddenly, a shadow rushed towards her, calling out “Empress.”

Yu Wanyin, startled, stepped back several paces. The approaching middle-aged man awkwardly stopped, hesitated, then greeted her: “How is Your Majesty?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She logically deduced.

This man could be her father. However, she couldn’t be entirely sure, and calling him “father” incorrectly could cause a major misunderstanding. So, she raised her sleeve to wipe away nonexistent tears and mumbled, “Thank you… for your concern. I’m… I’m fine.”

The man replied, “Oh, Your Majesty, please don’t worry too much and harm your health…”

“Yushi Shaoqing,” a clear and gentle voice interrupted.

Prince Duan had walked over unnoticed and gently held the man’s arm, advising him softly, “This is not the time for a reunion.”

So it was her father.

But Yu Wanyin’s attention was no longer on her father. Prince Duan was standing too close to her, close enough that the hidden guards wouldn’t have time to react.

Yushi Shaoqing’s face turned red, and he quickly bowed. “I apologize for my rudeness, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now.” As he left, he gave Yu Wanyin’s stomach a glance.

Yu Wanyin’s mind was in turmoil, unable to analyze his look. She and Prince Duan exchanged glances, ready to flee at any moment while trying not to show her defensive stance.

Prince Duan smiled sadly, “I have yet to congratulate Your Majesty on your ascension.”

Yu Wanyin also smiled sadly, “Your Highness, now is not the time.”

She threw his earlier words back at him.

Prince Duan looked at her deeply. “Your Majesty still has to oversee the situation. I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Yu Wanyin had expected him to inquire about Xiahou Dan’s condition. Seeing him leave so easily, she was surprised.

She rehearsed her lines in her head a few times before bitterly smiling, “Indeed, it’s overwhelming. Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. We will talk another day.”

Prince Duan smiled and walked away.

As soon as he turned his back, the affection and disappointment in his eyes vanished, replaced entirely by cold mockery.

Some lives don’t require warmth.

And some people’s warmth is so fleeting, even they don’t realize it has disappeared without a trace.

Xiahou Dan didn’t know where he was.

Everything was dark, with no images in sight.

His ears buzzed, making it impossible to hear anything.

If the previous headaches felt like waves crashing over each other, this time it was a tsunami, lifting the earth’s crust.

Someone seemed to press down on his shoulders, shouting something at him, but it only added to the meaningless noise.

The pain was unbearable.

It felt like two dragons were fighting to the death in his skull, cracking it open, spewing bile and fire.

The pain was unbearable.

If only he could die immediately.

Even falling into hell and being burned by karma’s flames wouldn’t be more painful than this.

Yu Wanyin quickly dismissed the crowd, leaving a few hidden guards to monitor the palace maids, and hurried back with Xie Yong’er and Xiao Tiancai following her.

“Powder.” She handed the damp red powder she had secretly collected in her palm to Xiao Tiancai. “Test it.”

Xiao Tiancai, sweating and looking serious, walked away without a word.

Yu Wanyin rushed towards the inner chamber but was stopped by Bei Zhou.

She looked up in surprise. “Uncle Bei, what is this?”

Bei Zhou silently held out his arm, preventing her from passing.

Yu Wanyin knew she couldn’t overpower him and said dejectedly, “Is he not allowing me to see him? And you, do you also think I should stay away at this time?”

Bei Zhou: “…”

Yu Wanyin continued with a sorrowful tone, “What am I to you all? Just a pretty accessory for happy times?”

Bei Zhou lowered his arm, “Holding it up is a bit tiring.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Bei Zhou even turned his body away, “Ah, I’m getting old, these old bones can’t take it.”

Yu Wanyin finally understood and quickly ran inside.

Even though she was mentally prepared, the sight still shocked her.

Xiahou Dan was wrapped in a quilt, bound like a mummy. If not for the blood on his forehead and mouth, the sight would have been comical.

It seemed Bei Zhou had patched him up after he bit himself and stuffed a cloth in his mouth. His screams were muffled, significantly reducing their impact.

Yu Wanyin stood there like a wooden figure, bewildered, “Is this how he is every time he has an episode?”

Bei Zhou’s voice came from behind, “It wasn’t this severe before. About three months ago, it became necessary to tie him up. He didn’t want you to know, so he forbade anyone from telling you. But this time, he hit his head against the bedpost and tried to bite his tongue…”

Yu Wanyin felt her face go cold. She touched it and realized it was her tears.

Xiahou Dan screamed again, the sound completely broken. Unable to hurt himself, he could only try to transfer the pain this way.

Yu Wanyin walked over and removed the cloth from his mouth. Xiahou Dan immediately tried to bite himself, but his teeth were blocked by something else.

Yu Wanyin had put her fingers in his mouth.

Someone grabbed her hand, “Are you crazy? He’s going mad, and you want to go mad with him?”

Yu Wanyin realized Xie Yong’er had followed her in.

Xiahou Dan’s teeth had pierced her flesh. Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, “It’s okay, better than him hurting himself.”

Xiahou Dan’s eyelids trembled and slowly opened.

He strained to release his grip on her fingers, swallowing twice, and asked in a breathy voice, “Wan Yin?”

His eyes seemed to be looking at her, but they couldn’t focus, “Wan Yin?”

Yu Wanyin’s tears fell on his face.

Xiahou Dan seemed stunned, mumbling after a while, “Go away.”

Yu Wanyin tried to hug him, but he struggled, “Go away, you shouldn’t be here…” He was agitated, wanting her to see as little as possible.

With her present, he had to suppress even his screams, his veins bulging from the effort.

Xie Yong’er stood aside, rolling her eyes at the sight of one going mad and the other turning into a sobbing mess. She decisively stuffed the cloth back into Xiahou Dan’s mouth and turned to Bei Zhou, “Why not just knock him out?”

Bei Zhou: “The hidden guards already knocked him out once. I was afraid of injuring him.”

Xie Yong’er: “Wait, I’ll get Xiao Tiancai.”

Xiao Tiancai administered a round of acupuncture, letting out a long sigh, “This should let him sleep for half a day.”

By the time the sky began to lighten, Yu Wanyin felt utterly drained, sitting silently by the bed in exhaustion.

Xiao Tiancai pondered for a moment before reporting, “I just tested the powder on a mouse, and there was no reaction.”

Yu Wanyin lifted her gaze slightly.

Xiao Tiancai continued, “When Your Majesty asked me to examine the Empress Dowager’s body, I found traces of the same powder mixed with the lacquer on her nails. But the powder itself doesn’t seem to be poisonous. Otherwise, given how much you inhaled, you wouldn’t be unharmed.”

“Then what’s wrong with His Majesty?”

“I vaguely recall reading in ancient texts about certain special poisons that consist of a poison seed and a poison trigger. The poison seed lies dormant in the body until it encounters the poison trigger, which then activates it.”

Xiao Tiancai bowed his head lower, not wanting to elaborate further.

But his guess was already clear: Xiahou Dan had a poison seed in his body, and the Empress Dowager had hidden the poison trigger in her nails, gradually worsening his headaches over the years to ensure he remained an incompetent tyrant.

The poison trigger itself was weak, which explained why Bei Zhou and the others couldn’t find any poison around Xiahou Dan before.

The Empress Dowager hadn’t expected to be killed by Xiahou Dan first. In her dying moments, she decided to exact revenge by having the little prince attack Xiahou Dan with a large amount of poison trigger.

Xiahou Dan had guarded against everyone but never expected the timid little prince to make a move.

The little prince knew his father treated him coldly and that his position as crown prince would soon be threatened by the new empress. Taking a risk might be his only chance—if successful, he could ascend the throne directly.

Yu Wanyin didn’t know whom to admire more.

Perhaps everyone who survived in this palace had become a monster.

“Then we need to make the little prince talk. He should know the antidote, right?”

Xiao Tiancai shook his head. “The little prince probably doesn’t know. Even the Empress Dowager might not have known. This type of poison has long been lost in Da Xia, only mentioned in fragments in ancient texts. No one knows the exact method of its creation.”

Yu Wanyin: “Are you saying this poison came to her from somewhere else?”

Xiao Tiancai seemed to remember something, muttering, “The Qiang kingdom… The Qiang people are skilled with poisons. Their medicines and poisons are unique, difficult for outsiders to understand.”

He stood up, “I’ll investigate further.”

Yu Wanyin and Xie Yong’er exchanged glances.

Yu Wanyin: “Could the Empress Dowager have Qiang blood?”

Xie Yong’er: “I don’t think her lineage was mentioned in the original text, but it did say she poisoned the former Empress Dowager and the Emperor’s first wife—your grandmother and mother. If she used this poison back then, it’s too far back to trace how she obtained it.”

Yu Wanyin frowned in thought.

The good news was that they finally had a clue about the cause of Xiahou Dan’s headaches. Once Xiao Tiancai identified the components of the poison, perhaps Tur could find an antidote in the Qiang kingdom.

The bad news was… given Xiahou Dan’s current state, they didn’t know if there was enough time.

Xiahou Dan woke up at noon.

Yu Wanyin watched his expression, showing joy, “Does your head not hurt anymore?”

“Not much anymore.” Xiahou Dan had a vague memory of the events during his episode and sighed, “Sorry for scaring you.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She was a bit angry.

Angry that he had hidden this from her for so long, preferring to be bound like a mummy rather than let her be by his side.

But then she realized that even if she were there, she couldn’t have helped. So that anger turned into a deep sense of helplessness.

Xiahou Dan seemed to sense her feelings and changed his tone, “Fortunately, it comes and goes quickly. I feel much better after a sleep.”

Yu Wanyin didn’t feel comforted at all.

His episodes were always sporadic, and who knew when the next one would strike.

She recounted Xiao Tiancai’s speculation to him, “Do you have any clues yourself?”

Xiahou Dan’s mind was still reeling as if nails were being driven into his skull. Though the worst was over, the pain remained more severe than usual. He struggled to remember that his first headache had occurred when the former Empress Dowager was on her deathbed.

But back then, the future Empress Dowager wasn’t present.

As for whether there had been red powder on the Empress Dowager’s clothes, hair, or bed, he couldn’t recall at all.

Xiahou Dan: “Even if the poison trigger was present then… when was the poison seed implanted…”

Before the Empress Dowager’s death, that woman had only been a palace concubine and had never interacted with him. Moreover, he had been extremely cautious of the palace’s dangers from the moment he arrived.

Yu Wanyin: “What?”

Xiahou Dan snapped back to the present, “Nothing. I was wondering how the Empress Dowager planted the poison seed.”

Yu Wanyin: “That’s impossible to trace now. Xie Yong’er said she poisoned your grandmother and biological mother. Think about how many years ago that was.”

Oh, I see.

Xiahou Dan suddenly realized.

It was said that his mother, Empress Cizhen, had a difficult childbirth when he was born and had been ill ever since, dying young just two years later.

So when did the Empress Dowager poison Empress Cizhen?

Would she have been kind enough to avoid poisoning her during pregnancy?

Xiahou Dan couldn’t help but laugh.

Yu Wanyin was startled, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Xiahou Dan’s smile was filled with bitterness, but he kept it from his voice, “This tyrant is truly unlucky.”

His careful caution had been pointless from the start. Long before he even came into existence, his fate had already been sealed.