《The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 001 Strange Disease Chapter 1: Chapter 001 Strange Disease The delicate white female figure bloomed upon the Dragon Bed. It was a beauty no grown man could refuse, except for He Ying. He walked to the Dragon Couch expressionlessly and even before he approached, he felt a burning itch on his skin and at the same time, a bit of nausea¡­ ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Called gently by Princess Consort Sang, renowned as the most beautiful woman under heaven, her soft, boneless hand slowly reached for his thigh¡­ ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t hold it back in the end. This strange disease, whenever he was near a woman, still caused his body to itch and made him nauseate. He Ying covered his mouth and rushed out of the inner chamber, angrily shouting, ¡°Someone! Someone! Summon the Imperial Physician!¡± The Imperial Physician was already waiting outside the bedchamber. Hearing the noise inside, he stumbled in and saw the young Emperor gasping for air, collapsed on the soft couch. His black robe was open, showing his chest, neck, and hands, all covered with red bumps. A dense mass of them, particularly terrifying. ¡°Em¡ªEmperor, your servant has prepared Jade Frost Ointment, please Emperor¡ª¡± ¡°Worthless! A bunch of worthless people!¡± He Ying¡¯s face turned red, his eyes bloodshot, violent from the pain and itching, and his desire to kill almost burst forth. The Imperial Physician didn¡¯t dare to speak further and tremblingly knelt down, lying prostrate on the ground. The eunuchs and palace maids had already knelt all over the floor. At such times, only Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De dared to speak, ¡°Emperor, please calm down. The Imperial Physician had said before, that getting agitated could accelerate your blood flow and worsen your condition. Please take care of your dragon body.¡± He Ying sneered grimly, ¡°Oh, you all want me to take care of my dragon body but also want me to favor the concubines, truly a set of loyal and patriotic subjects!¡± ¡°Emperor, please forgive us.¡± Yu Huai De knew the Emperor was furious and also knelt down, but he did not stop advising, ¡°Emperor, this old servant knows you are suffering from this strange disease. Although you have been ruling for over a decade, there is still no heir, which is a significant issue concerning the state and its people. For the sake of the heir, please bear with it and continue to favor Princess Consort Sang.¡± Princess Consort Sang, Sang Ruoshui, was the daughter of the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue, renowned as the foremost beauty across the lands. If the Emperor remained unmoved, then they did not know what kind of outstanding beauty would be needed to incite the Emperor¡¯s favor. The Imperial Physician thought of the strict commands from the Empress Dowager¡ªensuring the Emperor favors the concubines and produces an heir. Thus, he also plucked up the courage, knocked his head, and echoed, ¡°Chief Eunuch Yu is right, Emperor, the heir concerns the state, please for the heir¡¯s sake, continue to favor Princess Consort Sang¡ª¡± ¡°Bang!¡± A fine teacup was fiercely smashed to the ground. ¡°Get out! All of you, get out!¡± He Ying yelled angrily, ¡°Dare say another word, and I will show no mercy!¡± * Yuesang Palace side chamber Sang Yan was still reading a storybook under the lamp. This boring ancient world, spending time reading storybooks was about all there was to do. Suddenly, a series of bangs and thuds of smashing things rang out. They were accompanied by faint cries. Who was crying in the middle of the night? Sang Yan focused and listened carefully, realizing the sounds came from the main hall. Princess Consort Sang, the original owner¡¯s sister Sang Ruoshui, moved into the Imperial Palace a month ago, and was titled tonight which was supposed to be an auspicious night for serving the Emperor in his chamber. Why would she be crying? Sang Yan thought of this and couldn¡¯t help but consider her current situation: the original Sang Yan was the legitimate eldest daughter of the Vice Minister from Ministry of Revenue who, four years ago, got married to the heir of Marquis Zhongyi Mansion, Jiang Ling. Unexpectedly, on their wedding night, Jiang Ling got drunk, lost his footing near the Lotus Pond, and drowned. Before Jiang Ling¡¯s death, the original owner had had three fianc¨¦s, each mysteriously dying soon after getting engaged. Jiang Ling was her fourth fianc¨¦ who even made it to their wedding, hoping to change the original owner¡¯s husband-killing fate. However, he still died prematurely. After Jiang Ling¡¯s death, the original owner completely gave up on life, indifferent to marriage, and she mourned Jiang Ling for three years at the Marquis Zhongyi Mansion, dying in depression. When she woke up again, she had become Sang Yan. Sang Yan was a modern-day office worker who died suddenly from overwork, and after transmigrating, she was more than pleased with a life where food and drink were provided and people served her. In less than half a year, she had nurtured herself back to radiant health. Beauty is the original sin. Because of this, she was entangled by Jiang Ke, Jiang Ling¡¯s younger brother. Jiang Ke was the future Princely Heir and the last scion of the Marquis Zhongyi Mansion, valued and watched over more than their own eyes would allow, naturally he would not keep the original owner. Thus, Sang Yan was sent back to her parental home. As a woman with a husband-killing fate, Sang Yan¡¯s place in her original family was also quite awkward. Especially since her younger sister was pregnant with a fragile pregnancy, there were significant concerns about her presence. Just as Sang Yan was preparing to retire to a village to live out her old age, her sister, Sang Ruoshui, entered the Imperial Palace. One month without favor, the Sang Family was frantic. So, Sang Yan, carrying the hopes of the Sang Family, entered the palace to give her sister advice. Indeed, helping her sister secure and stabilize the Emperor¡¯s favor seemed to be Sang Yan¡¯s mission. Now, it seemed Sang Ruoshui was facing some issues. Sang Yan set aside her storybook and headed to the main hall. The main hall was in disarray. Sang Ruoshui was lying on a soft couch, sobbing softly, ¡°I have become a joke throughout the Imperial Palace. How can I face anyone now?¡± Her trusted palace maid, Xiangxiu, consoled her, ¡°Lady, you mustn¡¯t speak like this. Everybody in the Imperial Palace knows that the Emperor falls ill whenever he approaches women, it¡¯s not your fault. There are so many concubines in the palace, and none have received favor; there are still many opportunities for you.¡± ¡°Do I still have opportunities? The Empress Dowager must be disappointed in me. One failure, and I¡¯m discarded.¡± ¡°Lady, you mustn¡¯t lose hope. You are considered the most beautiful woman in the realm, once the Imperial Physician cures the Emperor¡¯s illness, you will certainly be the first one he favors.¡± ¡°But he has been treated for so many years, and the Emperor is still not cured?¡± ¡°Whether the Emperor is cured or not, he must show favor to the concubines; otherwise, how will an heir be born? Even if the Emperor is not concerned, the Empress Dowager and the ministers will be.¡± Their conversation reached her ears. Sang Yan stood outside the entrance of the hall, watching Xiangxiu nearly ready to console Sang Ruoshui, momentarily hesitating, unsure whether to enter or not. ¡°The Heir¡¯s wife has arrived.¡± Xiangxiu spotted her and warmly said, ¡°You too, come and persuade the Lady, be careful not to cry your eyes out.¡± Seeing her so say, Sang Yan felt obliged to enter. But how to console someone was a bit beyond her. The original owner was twenty-four this year, with an eight-year gap between her and Sang Ruoshui. Although sharing the same mother, they were not very close. Moreover, the original owner had mourned in the Jiang Family for three years, and the sisters had hardly seen each other. Now inhabiting the body was Sang Yan, who struggled to feel close to her. ¡°What are you doing here? To dampen spirits?¡± Sang Ruoshui, who disliked her husband-killing fate sister, glared at her arrival, her red and swollen eyes full of disgust: ¡°What are you looking at? Harbinger of doom! I don¡¯t know why the family sent you. Do they think I¡¯m not unlucky enough?¡± She blamed her failure to receive favor on Sang Yan. Sang Yan, cursed for no reason, was also in a bad mood. However, thinking of her plight, she bore it: ¡°You¡¯re not calm right now, so I won¡¯t say much. Rest early. I hope you¡¯ll be more rational tomorrow.¡± With that, she turned and left. ¡°Lady, it¡¯s okay to vent your frustrations on us, why displace your anger onto the Heir¡¯s wife? You¡¯re unnecessarily hurting the bond between sisters.¡± Xiangxiu¡¯s voice reached her ears. Sang Yan listened, feeling that this Xiangxiu was a sensible and good palace maid. Unfortunately, she served Sang Ruoshui, a concubine spoiled by favor. ¡°This is the Imperial Palace. She¡¯s still wearing mourning clothes, what does that mean? Has mourning become an addiction for her? I¡¯ll expel her from the palace tomorrow!¡± Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 002 Emperor Chapter 2: Chapter 002 Emperor Sang Yan would have left the palace even if she hadn¡¯t heard Sang Ruoshui¡¯s words. Who would wish to live a life depending on others? Only Sang Ruoshui is of the Sang Family. One¡¯s honor is the honor of all, and one¡¯s loss is everyone¡¯s loss. She still had to do something. Currently, the Emperor had no heir. The previous dynasty¡¯s harem was watching the matter of the Emperor¡¯s bed closely. The Emperor suffered from a strange illness; whenever he was near a woman, he would feel itchy and nauseous all over, likely due to a psychological reaction, an allergy to women. For mental illnesses, the cure must also be psychological. Unfortunately, who could understand the Emperor¡¯s psychological troubles, or say, his childhood traumas? Sang Yan didn¡¯t have much modern medical knowledge, but she had heard of methods like hypnotherapy and desensitization therapy. Combining the two, she had an idea. The next day She packed her belongings and headed to the main hall. The main hall had returned to normal. Sang Ruoshui, after a night of readjustment, had regained her reason, or rather, had been persuaded by Xiangxiu. When she saw Sang Yan packing her bags ready to leave, she put on a smile and said warmly, ¡°Sister, what are you doing? I was confused by tears yesterday and spoke out of turn, did you take it seriously?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Great. She was still getting used to this sudden display of sisterly affection. ¡°I was wrong, Sister. I am young and ignorant, and I offended you. I hope you can forgive me. I am now walking on thin ice in the palace and hope for your support.¡± Sang Ruoshui lowered her posture significantly. Sang Yan thought that this ability to be flexible could indeed help her survive longer in the palace. If the child was teachable, perhaps she could delay leaving the palace. ¡°Naturally.¡± Sang Yan forced a smile. Sang Ruoshui invited her to dine together. The palace meals were a major reason Sang Yan stayed. Helplessly, she was a foodie, unable to resist the temptation of delicious food. For Sang Yan, good food had the power to heal the soul. Thus, having eaten and drunk her fill, she felt better and shared her idea: ¡°If you want to be favored by the Emperor and become the most favored in the harem, you must be bold and take the initiative.¡± This was indeed a topic of interest to Sang Ruoshui. She immediately dismissed everyone around and quietly asked, ¡°Please tell me more, Sister, how to be bold and take the initiative?¡± Sang Yan sipped her tea and slowly said, ¡°The Emperor feels unwell around women, which I suspect is largely due to mental illness. So, what if the Emperor does not know you are a woman? You could seek the Empress Dowager¡¯s support, disguise yourself as a man, pretend to be a eunuch, get close to the Emperor, and increase physical contact. Once the Emperor shows no signs of illness, your good days will follow.¡± ¡°Great idea.¡± Sang Ruoshui clapped her hands in delight. Indeed, as Xiangxiu said, having more allies offered more possibilities, keeping her here was the right decision. ¡°Indeed, a good idea.¡± A chilly male voice echoed. Sang Yan turned towards the voice and saw a tall figure in bright yellow standing outside the hall. Beneath him, palace maids and eunuchs knelt all over the ground. This was her, the original host¡¯s, first time seeing the Emperor. The Emperor was very young, with a pale, cold face, handsome features, a sharp nose, thin lips, almost six feet tall, robust and upright, dressed in a bright yellow imperial robe, beautiful and dignified. He ascended the throne at ten, took personal charge at sixteen, and over ten years, had grown from a brutal new Emperor into a mature and reserved sovereign. ¡°Your servant greets the Emperor.¡± ¡°I greet the Emperor.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to kneel, but under the Imperial Power, her legs went weak. ¡°The Emperor was upset last night. I have come to see her today.¡± Sang Yan heard the Emperor¡¯s voice feign gentleness, guessing his psychology¡ªundoubtedly, the Emperor had tried and failed to favor many women over the years, but visiting to console afterward must have been rare. Therefore, it was clear the Emperor was pleased with Sang Ruoshui. ¡°Everyone, rise.¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze swept past Sang Ruoshui and settled on the woman in white beside her. This woman had just suggested a ¡°good idea¡±! Sang Yan felt the burning gaze overhead and knew that her recent words, to borrow a phrase from modern clich¨¦d bosses, were¡ª¡±Woman, you have caught my attention.¡± However, being a widow cursed to bring her husbands death, and with the Emperor allergic to women, she didn¡¯t have much to worry about. Of course, it was still best to keep a low profile. With that in mind, she stood up, bowed her head, and cowered behind Sang Ruoshui. He Ying saw her sidesteeting act and thought her to be cowardly and petty. He grew annoyed but did not show it, instead he asked, ¡°Are you Sang Yan, sister to Princess Consort Sang?¡± He had heard of the woman who had defeated four fiances before meeting them but had never seen her. ¡°Lift up your head.¡± He had heard that after the curse of Sang Yan spread, no one dared to marry her, leaving her to miss her youthful years until she reached twenty, and then she was engaged to the Prize Heir Jiang Ling of Marquis Zhongyi. And it was Jiang Ling who had sought the match. What kind of beauty would make a man risk a curse to marry her? He was indeed curious. Just from a quick glance, her figure was outstanding¡ªbeneath her simple mourning attire, she was curvaceous and elegant, a stark contrast to the thin beauties of the harem, possessing an allure that was both vibrant and extravagant. Especially in that plain white mourning attire! To be attractive in mourning¡ªtruly remarkable! If he remembered correctly, she had been in mourning for Jiang Ling for three years and was still wearing mourning clothes, which showed a deep and heavy affection. Sang Yan, unaware of He Ying¡¯s thoughts, lifted her head when he asked. Their eyes met. The man¡¯s gaze was sharp and fiery, making her face flush. She timidly averted her eyes, feeling somewhat panicked¡ªcould the original beauty¡¯s looks cause trouble? She did not want to get involved in the harem¡¯s disputes. He Ying knew Sang Ruoshui was considered the most beautiful woman under the heavens. It was for her beauty that he had come over that morning. After all, if he had to favor one woman to produce an heir, he definitely wanted the most beautiful one. But the most beautiful was¡ªSang Yan. Her skin was tender; her hair black, her lips red, her makeup light and charming; but those eyes, when they looked at someone¡ªboth bewitching and enchanting. Her solemn white mourning clothes made her cold and noble like alpine snow, and her bewitching eyes threw her into the mortal coil, like a blossoming flower dripping with nectar¡­ How could someone be both ethereal and so enthralling? Like a nymph. ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui, watching the Emperor¡¯s infatuated expression, felt a jealous urge to kill. He had never looked at her like that. Even though she lay naked before him last night, he remained indifferent throughout, his breathing unchanged. Why! Sang Yan was just a widow cursed by her husbands! ¡°What is it, my concubine?¡± He Ying came back to his senses, his amazed gaze becoming flat and detached. Sang Ruoshui suppressed her bitterness and forced a smile, ¡°Please sit down and enjoy some tea.¡± He Ying nodded, sat down, and had her and Sang Yan sit as well. Then, he returned to the initial topic, ¡°It was a good idea, but unfortunately, I heard it.¡± Since he had heard it, the idea was now useless. Sang Yan heard the implication in his words and thought to say¡ªI have other ideas. But she held back. Beauty is a sin. The Emperor¡¯s look just now was too dangerous. Better to keep an even lower profile. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 003 Jealousy Chapter 3: Chapter 003 Jealousy ¡°Any other ideas? Speak them all at once.¡± He Ying, seeing Sang Yan cowering in silence, thought she was timid and added, ¡°Even if it¡¯s offensive, I will pardon you from any crime.¡± He had never been this generous. Sang Yan didn¡¯t think so; on the contrary, she felt he had ill intentions. She knew that feudal emperors always craved novelty, so she tried her best to behave like an ordinary woman, ¡°Your Majesty, the idea I just mentioned was nothing more than a foolish thought that occurred to me by chance. Where would I have any other ideas?¡± He Ying somehow didn¡¯t believe her, ¡°Really? None?¡± Sang Yan lowered her head, weakly replying, ¡°Really none.¡± Upon seeing this, disappointment tinged He Ying¡¯s eyes, ¡°You had quite a reputation in your boudoir. Had it not been for my abstinence from women, you would have entered the palace long ago. But now it seems, that¡¯s all there is.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She felt relieved at being underestimated: that¡¯s all there is, good. Sang Ruoshui was different. When she heard the Emperor¡¯s words¡ªhad it not been for my abstinence from women, you would have entered the palace long ago. Her mood suddenly became heavy: why would the Emperor say such a thing out of the blue? Was he expressing regret that Sang Yan hadn¡¯t joined the harem? Some words are spoken without intent, but the listener may find their own meaning. Including Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De, who also found the Emperor¡¯s action unusual. With his peripheral vision, he looked at Sang Yan¡ªit was indeed the finest of appearances. Compared to her sister Sang Ruoshui¡¯s pure and vivacious charm, she had an elegance and grace that was further complemented by a cold and bewitching beauty. A contradicting beauty. So the Emperor liked this kind of woman? ¡°The Emperor has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit his concubine, which deeply touches my heart. I wish to dedicate a song to the Emperor to convey my gratitude, hoping for his gracious approval.¡± Sang Ruoshui thought of attracting the Emperor¡¯s attention by showcasing her talents. He Ying, upon hearing this, although not particularly interested, did not want to insult her pride and nodded, ¡°Then I will trouble my beloved concubine.¡± Sang Ruoshui immediately had her trusted palace maid Xiangxiu bring her zither and played the song ¡°Phoenix Seeking Phoenix.¡± She, being a lady raised with endless pampering, naturally had good skills with the zither. Listening, Sang Yan found the music flowing and natural, filled with lingering sadness. In modern times, it would be of master¡¯s level. Considering Sang Ruoshui was only sixteen or seventeen, the age of a high school girl, having such skills was indeed impressive. ¡°It seems the Heir¡¯s wife is very fond of this piece.¡± He Ying casually sipped tea, listened to the music, and unconsciously glanced over at Sang Yan¡ªa woman intently listening, eyes slightly narrowed and the corners of her lips smiling, as if immersed in it, looking innocent and cute. Sang Yan, being singled out, felt a rush of anxiety and quickly apologized with a smile, ¡°Princess Consort Sang has superb skills with the zither. Naturally, I like it.¡± He Ying also smiled, ¡°Since the Heir¡¯s wife likes it, Princess Consort Sang deserves considerable credit, and will be richly rewarded.¡± He turned to Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De at his side, instructing him, ¡°Bring over ten lychees presented by Min State.¡± Upon hearing this, Yu Huai De was astonished: those lychees had been transported over great distances to the Imperial City, many spoiling along the way, leaving no more than thirty in total. Throughout the Imperial Palace, the only ones who received such a gift were the Empress Dowager with ten, the Empress with six, and the remaining concubines none at all. Now, with just a song played by Princess Consort Sang, the Emperor was rewarding her with ten¡ªwhat great favor! ¡°Yes.¡± After a moment of stunned silence, Yu Huai De hurried to have a little eunuch fetch them. ¡°This concubine¡­ thanks the Emperor for his reward.¡± Sang Ruoshui was naturally excited and happy to be rewarded, but the Emperor¡¯s words¡ª¡±Since the Heir¡¯s wife likes it, Princess Consort Sang deserves significant credit, and will be richly rewarded.¡± It sounded as if it was only because she had pleased the Heir¡¯s wife with her playing that she was rewarded. Nonsense! While Sang Ruoshui kept a smile on her face, her hand inside her sleeve clenched into a fist, nearly breaking her nails. Sang Yan also felt the malice in the Emperor¡¯s words¡ªwas the Emperor sick? His words, overt and covert, were like roasting her on a fire! And he seemed intent on ruining the sisterly affection between them! All because she was just as mediocre? What a lunatic! She could no longer stand it, so she said, ¡°Emperor, I have drunk too much tea and would like to go¡­¡± To relieve herself or to change her clothes? Her ancient knowledge was insufficient, and facing a grown man, moreover an Emperor, she felt very embarrassed to say it out loud. Her face was burning. He Ying understood what she meant but deliberately did not let her go, even misinterpreting her intention, ¡°Would you like to take a walk in the Imperial Garden?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She needed to relieve herself, not walk around! This Emperor was really ill! She didn¡¯t want to talk more with an ill Emperor. The more one said, the more mistakes one could make, so she simply stood up and said respectfully, ¡°Emperor, I really need to use the restroom and can¡¯t hold it any longer, I hope for Your Majesty¡¯s forgiveness.¡± Having said this, she hurriedly left the main hall for the side hall. He Ying watched her escape in a panic, a smile unconsciously appeared in his eyes. This smile put Sang Ruoshui on high alert¡ªcould it be that the Emperor had taken a liking to Sang Yan? No! Absolutely not! ¡°Emperor, your unworthy concubine would like to hear Your Majesty¡¯s esteemed feedback on the music piece, in the hopes of improving.¡± She tried again to attract the Emperor¡¯s attention. Yet, the Emperor replied coldly with two words, ¡°Not bad.¡± He seemed not to want to talk to her. Sang Ruoshui¡¯s face froze, unable to force a smile. He Ying drank his tea, bored to death. After waiting a while and seeing that Sang Yan didn¡¯t return, he knew she wouldn¡¯t be coming back and stood up, ¡°My beloved consort, rest well. I shall visit you another day.¡± His voice was cold, signaling that his words were just for formality. Sang Ruoshui wanted to stop him, but facing that indifferent royal visage, she lost her courage. She saw the Emperor off, noticing that he glanced at the side hall but did not stop. The Emperor was interested in Sang Yan. This realization stung her heart painfully. Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De also realized this, but he did not show it. A widow with a husband-killing fate was absolutely unfit for the Emperor. He believed the Emperor was aware of this and would not allow himself to become the laughingstock of the Imperial Palace both inside and out. Yuesang Palace Side Hall Sang Yan paid attention to the movements in the main hall and saw the Emperor leave, then she went to the main hall. She brought up the matter of leaving the palace again. This time Sang Ruoshui did not try to retain her. ¡°Your fate is both good and bad.¡± Sang Ruoshui¡¯s words were sarcastic, with a touch of schadenfreude. In fact, she was envious that Sang Yan, despite her husband-killing fate, could still receive the marriage proposal from the Heir of Jiangling, and now the Emperor had shown interest in her after meeting her. If it weren¡¯t for her deadly fate, she might have been a femme fatale! Sang Yan could naturally hear the mockery and contempt in Sang Ruoshui¡¯s words, but she did not mind. The original owner¡¯s sister was just a girl with little complexity, who had also fallen for the Emperor. In this merciless harem where people are consumed whole, she was pitiable. Why argue with her? Still, there were some things that had to be said. ¡°I know you are young and passionate, and you adore the Emperor, harboring hostility towards me, but Sang Ruoshui, I hope you can control your heart. Do not be blindly infatuated. The Emperor is cold-hearted and indifferent. If you wish to survive in the harem, do not let emotions cloud your judgment, otherwise, you¡¯ll only bring suffering upon yourself.¡± That was all she had to say. She walked out of the palace door, looked back at her once, ¡°We are sisters in this place, take care of yourself.¡± Seeing this, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s heart was filled with regret, feeling that she had spoken wrongly again. Yet, thinking of the Emperor¡¯s gaze toward her, jealousy flared up again, ¡°Hypocrite!¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 004: Infatuated Love Chapter 4: Chapter 004: Infatuated Love He Ying learned that Sang Yan had left the palace two days later. During those two days, he was pressured by the Empress Dowager to produce an heir, to the point that he couldn¡¯t be bothered to visit the harem. It wasn¡¯t until he attended court that he saw the Marquis Zhongyi. For some reason, he thought of his legitimate eldest son, who had braved the pressure of a husband-killing fate to marry Sang Yan. Young Master Jiang Ling was incomparably handsome and unique in his generation. Sadly, on his wedding night, he drowned in the lotus pond and died young. ¡°Emperor, the matter of the heir is of great importance to the nation and cannot be delayed any further,¡± said Feng Yi, the Imperial Censor. Already close to sixty with white at his temples, he was a core minister of the Fertility Party. Under his leadership, the entire assembly of civil and military officials knelt down and implored together, ¡°We beseech the Emperor to favor his concubines and sire an heir.¡± He Ying, fatigued by the daily pressures to produce an heir, responded dismissively as usual, ¡°I am aware. If there¡¯s nothing else, you are dismissed.¡± After leaving court, he headed for Yuesang Palace. Yuesang Palace With a sweet smile, Sang Ruoshui attended to him diligently, ¡°This is the daughter red my mother personally buried sixteen years ago, please, Emperor, taste it.¡± Holding the wine, she gracefully approached, stopping three steps from the Emperor. The Emperor is indisposed towards the company of women, so the ladies of the palace always stop at three steps¡¯ distance. He Ying was not there to drink. His gaze swept around, not finding the person he wished to see, he asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t I see your sister?¡± Sang Ruoshui¡¯s smile stiffened, her hand holding the wine cup wavered slightly before steadying quickly, then she forced a laugh, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Emperor. My sister mentioned that she¡¯s not accustomed to life in the palace, and she¡¯s already returned home.¡± He Ying was unsatisfied with this answer. His handsome face was expressionless, his eyebrows furrowed as he inquired, ¡°Returned where? Is she still with the Jiang Family, mourning Jiang Ling as a widow?¡± Sang Ruoshui sensed a hint of anger in the Emperor¡¯s last question as if he were jealous. She too felt jealous and envious feelings overflowed, ¡°My sister, she¡­ she¡­¡± She acted as if she had an unspeakable secret. Seeing this, He Ying¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°What¡¯s happened to her?¡± Sang Ruoshui knelt on the ground, hesitant, ¡°Forgive me, Emperor, I¡­ I cannot say.¡± The more she couldn¡¯t say, the more curious one became. He Ying, losing patience, slammed the table and demanded, ¡°Speak!¡± Sang Ruoshui then revealed, ¡°My sister is suspected to have an unclear relationship with the second son of the Jiang Family, and she was sent back home six months ago.¡± Sent back was a term filled with negative connotations. She was intent on smearing Sang Yan¡¯s reputation¡ªwho would want a woman of loose morals? But He Ying did not think of these things; instead, he felt the men of the Jiang Family were fearless indeed! Indeed, ¡°though one perishes beneath peony flowers, to die a ghost would still be amorous.¡± Just thinking of Sang Yan, like that peony, appropriated by someone else did not sit well with him. ¡°I believe in my sister¡¯s innocence. She said herself that she¡¯s deeply in love with her husband and will never remarry in this lifetime.¡± Who would want a woman with another man in her heart? To diminish the Emperor¡¯s interest in Sang Yan, Sang Ruoshui went to great lengths. He Ying was unaware of Sang Ruoshui¡¯s thoughts and malice, simply sighing, ¡°She truly is a faithful lover.¡± The constraints on women were strict in those days, but widows weren¡¯t forbidden from remarrying. Especially in cases like Sang Yan¡¯s, a widow without children. Yet she remained devoted to her deceased husband, refusing to wed again¡ªhow could her deep affection not move one¡¯s heart? ¡°Unfortunately, my sister is ill-fated, having parted from her husband by death too soon.¡± Sang Ruoshui deliberately reminded him of Sang Yan¡¯s husband-killing fate. Upon hearing this, He Ying frowned but said nothing more. After sitting for a short while, he got up and left. A mere span of time as it takes for a cup of tea to brew. He didn¡¯t even drink her daughter red. Sang Ruoshui watched the Emperor leave, and once he was far enough, out of sight, she violently smashed the wine to the ground. ¡°Bang!¡± The exquisitely crafted wine pot shattered on the floor. ¡°Slut!¡± ¡°She¡¯s always seducing men!¡± Sang Ruoshui cursed furiously. The palace maids and eunuchs were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, ¡°Lady, please calm your anger.¡± Xiangxiu stepped forward to persuade, ¡°Lady, you mustn¡¯t think that way, the Heir¡¯s wife left the palace early, isn¡¯t that because she was trying to avoid the Emperor? If she had any intentions, no, no, she would never dare to. With the Emperor¡¯s status? Her husband-killing fate would be inexcusable even if she came near him. The Empress Dowager and the ministers would never stand by.¡± Listening to these words, Sang Ruoshui felt a bit more comforted, but her hatred persisted, ¡°How am I inferior to her? She¡¯s already twenty-four years old, a faded flower, on top of being a remnant of willows, and the Emperor, the Emperor¡ª¡± It was infuriating, indeed, how vexing the Emperor was! ¡°Go fetch some paper and brush, I want to write a letter to my family.¡± She was determined to have her family send Sang Yan into the nunnery. Since she had a husband-killing fate, she should spend her life accompanied only by the ancient Buddha under the green lamplight. Imperial Study He Ying took a sip of the tea handed to him by Yu Huai De during a break from handling state affairs. ¡°Am I that frightening?¡± The question came out of the blue. Before Yu Huai De could speak, the Emperor said, ¡°Like a rabbit. Quite alert, though.¡± His face turned pale as he knelt to the ground, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying glanced at him, then took another sip of his tea. Yu Huai De pleaded from the floor, ¡°Emperor, the Princely Heir¡¯s wife has a fierce destiny, cursed with the death of four fianc¨¦s and now a widow. Your involvement with her¡­ must absolutely not happen.¡± Upon hearing this, He Ying only let out a chuckle and said nothing. He was the Emperor; whatever he desired, he would obtain. Should anyone obstruct him, it would mean they wished for no good to befall them. Sang Mansion Piao Yan Pavilion The boudoir of the original mistress. Nestled against the mountain and beside the water, enveloped in twilight, it seemed like a fairyland. It was Sang Yan¡¯s third day of playing the salted fish. After leaving the Imperial Palace and returning to the Sang Mansion, she had immediately sought permission from her original mother to leave and reflect at their villa, but her mother¡ªa woman still¡ªcould not bear the thought of her daughter, lovely as a flower, suffering on the outside. So, she ended up staying. Before she knew it, three days had passed. She enjoyed grapes, read stories, and listened to her maid Chunzhi gossip about matters inside and outside the mansion, living quite a delightful life. Until Her original mother sent a maid with a message, ¡°Miss, the lady requests your presence.¡± Sang Yan had a hunch nothing good was coming, but she didn¡¯t know what it could be. For the past three days, she had secluded herself from the world, living a carefree life, never leaving Piao Yan Pavilion unless necessary¡ªsurely, she had not become an obstruction in someone else¡¯s eyes, had she? Before long, she arrived at her original mother¡¯s quarters. Ms. Lin had given birth to two daughters and a son¡ªher legitimate eldest daughter was Sang Yan, her legitimate eldest son Sang Jue, and her legitimate second daughter Sang Ruoshui. Now forty years of age and well-preserved, she still possessed a captivating charm. Yet her eyes and brows were heavy with worry. ¡°Mother¡ª¡± Sang Yan entered, bowing in salute. Ms. Lin looked at her young and beautiful daughter, her expression carrying a deep sorrow, as she sighed heavily. Seeing this, Sang Yan felt nervous but cared deeply, asking, ¡°What troubles you so, Mother? Share it with me, and let me help you think of a solution.¡± ¡°My poor daughter.¡± Ms. Lin¡¯s eyes red, she embraced Sang Yan. Such outward emotions from her came only half a year ago, when Sang Yan had returned home. Sang Yan¡¯s bad premonition grew stronger, ¡°Mother, please don¡¯t cry, what on earth has happened? Could it be Father¡ª¡± Had her father, the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue, made a mistake? Was he caught for corruption and bribery? While she was wildly speculating¡ª Ms. Lin released her, turned her head away with a pained expression, and said, ¡°Ah Yan, a few days ago you mentioned¡­ wanting to go to the villa. Go ahead then.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Was she being rejected? Cast out of her own home? Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 005 Tanking Chapter 5: Chapter 005 Tanking ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go.¡± Sang Yan readily agreed but was also curious, ¡°However, Mother didn¡¯t want me to go to the estate a few days ago. What happened today that made you change your mind?¡± Ms. Lin thought of her younger daughter Sang Ruoshui¡¯s letter¡ªthe Emperor had actually taken a liking to her elder daughter. Wasn¡¯t this husband-killing fate no joke? One careless move, and the whole family could be ruined! ¡°There¡¯s nothing in particular. I just thought that the estate is peaceful and it suits you.¡± Sang Ruoshui had written in the letter, suggesting that she send Sang Yan to the nunnery. How could she bear to do that? It would be better to send her to the estate. It was remote and peaceful there; sending more people to attend to her would be better than the nunnery. Seeing that Ms. Lin wasn¡¯t telling the truth, Sang Yan knew she wouldn¡¯t get any more out of her and decided not to ask further. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and pack my belongings.¡± She was not the original mistress and had little attachment to the Sang Family. As long as she had money, food and clothing, and people to serve her, she could live anywhere. Ms. Lin wanted to say something but ended up closing her mouth. Sang Yan quickly returned to Piao Yan Pavilion. She instructed her maid Qiuzhi to pack up her belongings and move to the estate. Qiuzhi was shocked: ¡°Is this madam¡¯s wish? She just called you over to move you to the estate? Why? What did the young miss do wrong to be sent to the estate?¡± In her eyes, only those young misses or concubines who had committed errors were dispatched to the estate. The young miss had always been proper and dutiful, never stepping out of line; why did she have such a fate? She felt indignant for her young mistress: ¡°What about the master? Does he know? Miss, you should plead with the master, or perhaps with the young master, they will definitely not be willing to let you go to the estate.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t think going to the estate was a matter of disgrace and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so agitated. I actually want to live at the estate, free from constraints¡ªisn¡¯t that nice?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not. Once the young miss goes, who will remember you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather hope they forget me.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t convince her, Sang Yan didn¡¯t say more and told her to go pack. She also sent another maid, Chunzhi, to find out why the attitude of the original mistress¡¯s mother had changed. Half an hour later, Chunzhi came back with a report: ¡°I heard from the maids in madam¡¯s courtyard that after madam received a letter from the second young miss yesterday, she became despondent.¡± Sang Yan understood right away: it must have been something Sang Ruoshui wrote in the letter. That neurotic Emperor simply looked at her a few more times; was it worth it? The women who married into the Imperial Palace were truly frightening! * Imperial Palace Emperor¡¯s sleeping chamber, Qingning Palace Sang Ruoshui stood outside the chamber, speaking to Yu Huai De, ¡°I heard that the Emperor has been busy with state affairs these past days and sleeps late. I¡¯ve personally made some soup to nourish the Emperor¡¯s body. I hope that Grand Eunuch can pass on my request.¡± ¡°Her Ladyship is considerate.¡± Yu Huai De was very pleased that a concubine took the initiative to get close to the Emperor. Ever since Consort Xuan sought to get close to the Emperor and caused his illness, leading to her being thrown into the Cold Palace, no concubines in the harem dared to take the initiative to approach the Emperor anymore. ¡°I will go and inform him right away.¡± Yu Huai De smiled faintly and pushed the door to enter the sleeping chamber. Inside the chamber, He Ying was admiring the Da He Territory Map. It was a gift just presented by the Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Mao, and he was very fond of it. ¡°Zhou Mao is indeed talented.¡± Seeing Yu Huai De come in, he smiled and invited him to take a look: ¡°Come see for yourself.¡± Yu Huai De glanced at it and spoke auspicious words: ¡°After the Emperor took personal control of the government, you revitalized the administration and appointed the capable. You not only subdued the Beiping Barbarians and settled West Settling Canglun but also reclaimed the Thirteen Cities of Min State¡ªa truly great and wise ruler of an era.¡± At that point, he changed the subject: ¡°But the matter concerning the heir is a great regret indeed.¡± It was the same old routine, incessantly urging for an heir. He Ying had limited patience and bluntly scolded, ¡°Yu Huai De, have you gone senile? If you keep babbling, you can roll out once more.¡± Yu Huai De had just been chased out by the Emperor for the same reason¡ªpushing for an heir. ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive me.¡± He dared not urge further, took a step back, and shifted the topic: ¡°Your Majesty, Princess Consort Sang is worried about your health. She has personally made some soup and is waiting outside the chamber¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let her in.¡± He Ying¡¯s mood soured, cutting off Yu Huai De¡¯s words. Yu Huai De didn¡¯t expect the Emperor to react this way, but after some thought, he still attempted to persuade, ¡°Your Majesty, Princess Consort Sang personally made the soup as a gesture of her goodwill. How can we disappoint her?¡± He Ying remained unmoved, scoffed, and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s such a heartfelt gesture, you take it then.¡± ¡°I deserve to die.¡± Yu Huai De fell to his knees, knocking his head on the floor to admit his fault. Seeing this, He Ying¡¯s face was gloomy, and he kicked Yu Huai De in the shoulder, yelling, ¡°You do deserve to die! I gave you some face, and you really think I¡¯m good-natured, continually challenging my authority!¡± Yu Huai De was kicked to the ground, quickly got up, and knelt properly: ¡°I dare not.¡± ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Huai De made an embarrassed exit from the palace. His shoulder had been kicked, but it didn¡¯t hurt much. He knew the Emperor had held back, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get up at all. ¡°Princess Consort Sang, the Emperor is still busy, please return to rest.¡± He conveyed the rejection with tact and in pleasant terms. Sang Ruoshui could obviously detect that the Emperor was unwilling to see her, her beautiful, amorous eyes clouding with disappointment, ¡°Thank you, Eunuch.¡± She returned to Yuesang Palace, disheartened and despondent. She hardly slept that night. The next day, she had people keep an eye on the Emperor¡¯s whereabouts, looking for an opportunity to approach him. Unexpectedly, she heard a palace maid say that the Emperor went to Lan¡¯s Youlan Pavilion and stayed for an hour. ¡°Why did the Emperor go there?¡± Sang Ruoshui suddenly rose from her soft couch, twisting her fingers jealously. Her fingernails painted with bright red cardamom, and inadvertently, she snapped one off. Blood followed. The pain was piercing, but it paled in comparison to the ache in her heart. The palace maid stammered, ¡°This servant, this servant does not know.¡± ¡°Then what are you standing around for?¡± Sang Ruoshui lost control, staggering over to the maid, hitting and kicking, ¡°Go investigate! If you find nothing, don¡¯t bother returning! Yuesang Palace has no need for useless people!¡± The maid was beaten out of the palace. Her face was swollen, her nose bleeding, pitiful in her disarray. Xiangxiu indifferently watched all this, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness¡ªPrincess Consort Sang was beautiful but foolish, short-sighted, and heedless of advice; it seemed she could go no further. A good bird chooses the tree it nests in. Perhaps it was time for her to find a new master. * Sang Family Mansion On her third day at the mansion, Sang Yan went out with two maids and two elderly female servants, followed by four family guards, inspecting the fields surrounding the mansion with the air of a great landlord during the evening twilight. These fields were planted with various green vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, and chili peppers¡ªfresh for the picking and eating. Especially free from pollution. She plucked a cucumber, thick and long, washed it in the clear stream, and crunched into it, one bite after another. Refreshingly crisp with a hint of sweetness. ¡°We¡¯ll eat smashed cucumber for dinner.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make cold noodles for you.¡± ¡°This weather is perfect for cold noodles.¡± ¡­ She was beautiful and approachable, not treating them like subordinates, and within three days she had won their hearts. ¡°Why should Miss bother with these tasks?¡± ¡°Just give us instructions, Miss, and we¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Exactly, Miss. I¡¯ve even learned that Kung Pao chicken you taught.¡± ¡°Mrs. Wang, that dessert, I think it¡¯s called sushi, let¡¯s make it together.¡± ¡­ They bustled about, preparing dinner with great fun. Sang Yan liked this atmosphere and nodded with a smile, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do as you suggest.¡± After a good dinner, the long night stretched ahead, sleep not on her mind. She took out the deck of playing cards she had made and taught them how to play the game of Fighting the Landlord. Fighting the Landlord was an interesting game. Once they started playing, they were hooked. Sang Yan played with them until midnight, roughly around twelve o¡¯clock by modern standards, before she yawned and went back to her room to sleep. ¡°Miss is becoming more playful. You¡¯re acting just like one of them now. If your mother saw this, or if it got out, what then?¡± Qiuzhi was cautious, even obstinate by nature, and found Sang Yan¡¯s behavior to be quite unconventional. Yet, seeing her happy, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say anything. Miss had such misfortune; her four fianc¨¦s had all died young. Sent to the mansion at an early age, if she didn¡¯t find joy herself, how would she endure the endless years ahead? Although she understood, she couldn¡¯t help but complain afterwards. Sang Yan was tolerant, laughing, ¡°How am I not alright now? My prospective in-laws disdain me, my family doesn¡¯t care, from now on, I don¡¯t need to consider marriage, nor do I need to be dutiful to in-laws, nor raise children. One can feel full all by oneself, and have others for company. It¡¯s simply too good.¡± She truly enjoyed the original owner¡¯s situation. As a laid-back person, she harbored no lofty ambitions, only wishing to continue in this lax manner. Qiuzhi lit some mosquito-repelling incense, sighing, ¡°Miss only thinks of the present, but what about the future? With no children, how will you manage when you¡¯re old?¡± ¡°Having children will prevent me from growing old?¡± Sang Yan retorted sarcastically, her smile carrying a hint of malice: ¡°Aren¡¯t you about to say that if I have children, when I am old and ill, they will show filial piety? Have you heard this saying? If I die quickly, no one will get the chance.¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 006: Evil Destiny Chapter 6: Chapter 006: Evil Destiny Qiuzhi: ¡°¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t win against the young lady. Sang Yan didn¡¯t say much more, just smiled, waved her hand, and dismissed her. The next day, a light rain had fallen. The air was even fresher after the rain. Sang Yan took people out for a stroll again. However, due to the muddy roads, they took a carriage. The carriage was an open-air one, suitable for sightseeing. The scenery was beautiful. The vast expanse was green all over, and the fragrance of flowers and plants wafted through the air. The clear stream water burbled along. From time to time, they saw pure white, delicate wild rabbits appearing in the bushes. ¡°Miss, would you like to keep a rabbit? I can catch one for you.¡± Seeing that Sang Yan had been staring at the rabbits several times and looked towards the bushes whenever there was a rustle, as if she really liked them, the family servant Dong Chuan thought it best to appease her interests. Sang Yan, who was cracking melon seeds, showed some interest when she heard this and smiled, ¡°Okay. But be careful not to hurt them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After answering, Dong Chuan went to catch a rabbit. An hour later, he actually brought back two little rabbits. The size of an adult¡¯s palm. They were young. One was pure white as snow, the other pitch black as ink. Both were unharmed. Sang Yan was curious upon seeing them, ¡°How did you catch them?¡± Dong Chuan smiled and said, ¡°I found a rabbit nest with several young ones inside. I picked two that looked robust and attractive and brought them here. I originally planned to bring just one, but I feared it wouldn¡¯t survive without a companion.¡± He was quite considerate. Sang Yan was very pleased and praised with a smile, ¡°Well done, well done. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Then she instructed Qiuzhi to reward him with two taels of silver. Dong Chuan received his reward and repeatedly thanked her, ¡°Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Miss.¡± Other family servants showed envious looks. Sang Yan continued her excursion. Soon after, a family servant saw many flowers and made a flower crown for her. And indeed, the flower crown was beautiful. Sang Yan liked it very much, and after putting it on, felt delightful. She also instructed Qiuzhi to reward with two taels of silver. She was beautiful and kind-hearted, and generous in giving. The family servants vied to please her. If only the family servants were a bit handsomer, they¡¯d be fresh young meat. And being favored by these fresh young men, hehe, she felt supremely delighted. Sang Yan liked this carefree life even more. Suddenly, a family servant taking the lead reported that there was a swordsman practicing ahead. Sang Yan had always been curious about ancient swordsmanship and immediately drove the carriage to see. She hadn¡¯t realized what she was in for until she saw it¡ª That so-called swordsman was Jiang Ke! Damn it! Trouble always comes uninvited! ¡°Turn around! Quick, turn around!¡± But it was too late. Jiang Ke had already seen her. He, clad in a black brocaded robe, leapt forward gracefully and alighted in front of her like a swift swallow. ¡°Ah Yan, does this count as fate between us?¡± He sheathed his sword and sat on the side of the carriage, his handsome face smiling, his eyes twinkling like stars. Indeed, Jiang Ke and his brother Jiang Ling were born to the same mother, both naturally good-looking. But while Jiang Ling exuded an imposing, upright aura, Jiang Ke¡¯s disposition was slightly more biased, gloomy, and subtle. ¡°Fate, yes. But a cursed one!¡± Sang Yan frowned, a look of disdain on her face, ¡°Get down!¡± But why would Jiang Ke obediently listen to her? He raised his hand, lightly pinching Sang Yan¡¯s chin, admiring her, enraptured, ¡°It¡¯s been half a year, Ah Yan, you glow more radiant than before.¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Sang Yan fiercely slapped away his hand, her voice low and stern, ¡°How audacious! I am your sister-in-law!¡± Jiang Ke detested the term, his face changed, his eyes sullen, his tone icy, ¡°Ah Yan always manages to upset me. Now that you are neither in the Marquis Mansion nor in the Sang Mansion, can you really stop what I wish to do?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Forgot. He was a bad one who yielded only to softness, not force. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless.¡± Her tone softened, ¡°Think about your elder brother. If you get into trouble again, how could I face anyone? I would disgrace the Jiang Family, and might as well be dead.¡± As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she made a pitiful, tearful look, ¡°Jiang Ke, do you want me to die?¡± Every time this happened, Jiang Ke could only surrender, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die. What is there to fear? I¡¯ve trained in martial arts since my youth, I am physically strong and agile; nothing will happen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about fearing the odds but fearing the unexpected. Your brother used to say the same.¡± ¡°Can you stop mentioning him?¡± Jiang Ke truly hated it when Sang Yan always mentioned his brother. He had once respected this brother, but after falling for Sang Yan, just the thought of him filled him with jealousy. Seeing this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t bring it up again, changing the subject, ¡°If you really like me, then let me go. I have no intentions of marrying in this life.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Jiang Ke lost his patience, kicked the coachman down, grabbed the horse reins, ¡°Sit tight. I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Then, pulling on the reins, he drove the horse away. ¡°You go out, and you don¡¯t even wear a veil hat. It¡¯s fortunate you ran into me today, but what if it were someone else?¡± His possessiveness was strong, dissatisfied with her exposing herself publicly. Listening to his arrogant and autocratic words, Sang Yan just wanted to roll her eyes¡ªhence why these ancient men were not worth marrying. Each one bound women tighter than the last. She must have been mad to have shackled herself. ¡°Why are you not speaking?¡± Jiang Ke rarely saw her and wanted to talk more. Sang Yan sounded disinterested, and sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± Jiang Ke hearing this, became dissatisfied again, ¡°Is it that you don¡¯t know what to say to me?¡± It was a pointed question. Sang Yan thought this internally, but casually picked another topic, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came here to practice swordplay.¡± Jiang Ke felt that Sang Yan finally cared about him. Being a young man easily pleased, he immediately brightened up, his eyes shining as he rambled excitedly, ¡°I¡¯ve decided, next year at the martial arts examination, I will become the Martial Arts Top Scholar. Then, I¡¯ll ask the Emperor to grant us marriage.¡± In this dynasty, where martial prowess was esteemed over scholarship, an annual martial arts examination took place. The champion won many rewards from the Emperor. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Thank you very much. Ask the Emperor to grant a marriage? The Emperor must be insane! Thinking of the Emperor brought to mind those brief, awkward encounters, as well as Sang Ruoshui¡¯s hostility, her mood inexplicably melancholic, ¡°Jiang Ke, why bother? I am six years older than you. I may still have some looks now, but time is ruthless, and soon I¡¯ll be old and faded. Why do this for me¡ª¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m only after your beauty?¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s cold voice cut her off, his eyes filled with both love and hate, ¡°Sang Yan, it has to be you. Forget it, since you can¡¯t say what I want to hear, better not to speak at all.¡± After that, no one spoke, and the journey continued in silence. Jiang Ke thought Sang Yan had gone out for a leisure trip and so drove toward the Sang Mansion. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want him to know she lived in the villa, to avoid his constant disturbances. She didn¡¯t explain. As they neared the Sang Mansion, she finally said, ¡°You should go back now. The servants here can take me the rest of the way.¡± Jiang Ke, aware that his status made lingering inappropriate, did not insist and alighted from the carriage, watching as the coachman took over and drove away. Sang Yan looked back at him several times, hoping he would leave quickly so she could turn back to her villa. Jiang Ke, unaware of her intentions, thought she was reluctant to part with him, which made him ecstatic and thrilled. Fortunately, he still had some sense, knowing they were on Capital City Main Street, crowded and not a place for outbursts, he could only suppress his joy and whispered, ¡°Wait for me. I will marry you.¡± Sang Yan had seen enough. The young man¡¯s gaze was fervent, his intentions sincere. If this were modern times, she wouldn¡¯t mind considering a relationship. After all, she was an adult woman with her own needs. Regrettably, this was the ancient world where men were revered over women, without equality. Better not. ¡°Miss!¡± Someone was riding a horse toward her. ¡°You¡¯ve returned just in time, miss!¡± The man on the horse was a guard from Sang Mansion. He pulled on the horse reins, dismounted, and within a few strides, knelt in front of the carriage, ¡°Miss, your mother requests your presence.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Sigh. That bad premonition was surfacing again. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 007: Beautiful Dream Chapter 7: Chapter 007: Beautiful Dream Yuesang Palace The Sang Ruoshui had fallen ill. She lay on her bed, her beautiful face pale, lips cracked and dry, coughing as she looked outside the palace and asked sadly, ¡°Has the Emperor come?¡± The palace maids and eunuchs knelt throughout the hall, none daring to speak. The Emperor had not come. Since that day he left, he had not returned. In the past, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered much if the Emperor did not visit the harem. But times had changed, and he went to Youlan Pavilion every night. Even though Xiangxiu had sent someone to inquire and heard that the Emperor had not truly favored Lan, the fact that she was promoted without favor, from Lan to Noble Princess Consort Lan, and risen two ranks, still filled her with unbearable envy. Sang Ruoshui and Zhou Jinglan had entered the palace together. They had been at odds even in their boudoir days, so how could she bear to see the other rise step by step? Moreover, it was only a matter of time before Lan received genuine favor, and by then, everything would be too late. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I cannot lose.¡± ¡°No matter the cost, I cannot lose.¡± She closed her eyes, tears streaming down, fingers tightly clutching the bedsheet, muttering resentfully. * Sang Mansion Sang Yan visited the courtyard of her original mother again. This time, she unexpectedly saw her original father, Sang Kun. Sang Kun was past his fortieth year, handsome ¨C clearly, the Sang sisters¡¯ good looks came from him. It was said that he had entered Ms. Lin¡¯s eye with his good looks and then earned Mr. Lin¡¯s favor. However, with a finely grown beard, things were more complicated. ¡°Father, Mother¡ª¡± Sang Yan looked away and with a graceful bow, paid her respects. Sang Kun sat in the main seat, looking at his daughter, beautiful as a flower, smiling warmly, ¡°Sang Yan, please sit.¡± Sang Yan sat down. Quietly, she waited, ready to respond to whatever came her way. Sang Kun did not make her wait long before he spoke, ¡°Sang Yan, your mother, in her foolishness, sent you to the estate. Do you bear her any resentment?¡± He did not think that Sang Yan catching the Emperor¡¯s eye was a bad thing. Since ancient times, fortunes have been sought amidst dangers. If Sang Yan could be the first to bear the heir, it would be a great achievement for the country, the people, and especially a change of fortunes for the Sang Family! The maternal family of the future Crown Prince! Wasn¡¯t the whole court urging this, all for this great fortune? Sang Yan, unaware of her original father¡¯s thoughts, responded with a faint smile and courteous words, ¡°How could I? Whatever Mother does, she has her reasons. As children, if we cannot share our parents¡¯ worries and add to their glory, it would already be a great disloyalty, how could I hold any grievance against my parents?¡± Hearing her say this, Sang Kun stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction, ¡°Good child. I know your filial piety. There is indeed something now for which we need your devotion.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This was bad. She seemed to have taken the wrong path. Excessive obedience was foolish piety. ¡°You should have never left the palace.¡± Sang Kun¡¯s words made her heart sink bit by bit. ¡°Your sister has fallen ill; you should return to the Imperial Palace once more.¡± It was still about Sang Ruoshui. ¡°How could she suddenly fall ill, completely out of the blue?¡± Sang Yan did not want to enter the Imperial Palace nor did she fully trust his words. Was it possible that Sang Ruoshui had encountered trouble? Given her temperament, any small trouble would be too simple for her. Sang Kun did not hide the facts and sighed, ¡°Your sister has been spoiled by us, sensitive and frail, hard to make it big. You have always been intelligent; go to the palace and comfort her.¡± As for the Emperor taking an interest in her, it was only a possibility, better left unspoken and allowed to take its natural course. ¡°Can I not go?¡± Sang Yan thought it over and still did not want to go. Sang Kun, puzzled, asked, ¡°Why not?¡± Sang Yan explained, ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me. When I was in the palace before, she had issues with me. She won¡¯t listen to me.¡± Sang Kun, having read Sang Ruoshui¡¯s letters, knew of the sisters¡¯ disagreements and replied, ¡°This time will be different. She personally wrote the letter asking for you to come to the palace. You¡¯ll understand once you¡¯re there. Sang Yan, we are a family. She¡¯s your own sister.¡± This was emotional blackmail. Sang Yan knew it clearly yet also knew she could not refuse. In this patriarchal society, she was a mere salted fish, unlike the all-powerful female leads in novels who could do anything, and she could only strive to accept the rotten hand dealt to her. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Good child.¡± Sang Kun laughed heartily as he stood up, walked over to Sang Yan, and patted her shoulder with solemn words, ¡°I believe that you and your sister will certainly make something of yourselves in the palace.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Thank you. Her heart was resistant. Sang Kun started calling people to pack things up. Ms. Lin was meek and did not dare speak against Sang Kun while he was present, only daring to whisper a reminder after he left, ¡°This time you enter the Imperial Palace, remember to stay away from the Emperor. He is not someone we can aspire to. Your father is blinded by power and influence, but you must not follow in his footsteps.¡± ¡°I understand, Mother.¡± Sang Yan was relieved that there were still people in her family who genuinely cared about the original host. For the sake of the original host¡¯s mother, she too would make a trip to the Imperial Palace to help Sang Ruoshui. * Imperial Palace Youlan Pavilion He Ying sat by the window at the tea table, savoring the flower tea brewed by Noble Princess Consort Lan, praising, ¡°Excellent tea. A sweet taste upon the palate, with a lingering rich fragrance. My consort indeed has the grace of a gentle orchid, truly capturing my heart.¡± ¡°The Emperor is too kind.¡± Noble Princess Consort Lan blushed slightly with a shy smile, saying softly, ¡°This flower comes from Min State, all thanks to the Emperor for reclaiming the lost territory, allowing this consort the opportunity to brew this tea and share its taste with the Emperor.¡± She was the daughter of the Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Mao. A few days before, her father had presented the Dahe Territory Map, which provided her with an opportunity to catch the Emperor¡¯s eye. Noble Princess Consort Lan, Zhou Jinglan, true to her name, was serene and beautiful, with a heart as pure as an orchid. ¡°My consort, your way with words¡ª¡± He Ying picked up his teacup and emptied it in one gulp. Then, smiling, he ordered rewards to be distributed. All the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall were delighted, kneeling in gratitude. Zhou Jinglan did the same. No one noticed that there was no real smile in the Emperor¡¯s eyes. A moment later. The imperial eunuch Pei Muyang entered, kneeling before the Emperor and whispering a low message, ¡°Emperor, the Heir¡¯s wife has entered the palace.¡± He had recently been promoted. Young and handsome, with a sweet-tongued flattery that almost usurped the power of the Chief Eunuch, Yu Huai De. Upon hearing this, He Ying truly smiled. His brows relaxed, and his usually cold eyes were like a gentle spring breeze, with tender smiles twinkling within them. His whole presence seemed to glow. ¡°What has made the Emperor so happy?¡± Zhou Jinglan had never seen He Ying smile like that and couldn¡¯t help but ask. He Ying, upon hearing her voice, dampened his smile, saying indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± It was just his hare returning. ¡°I just remembered I have matters to attend to, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± He stood up and left abruptly. He hadn¡¯t even stayed long enough for a cup of tea. It was very sudden. In the past, he would stay for half a day at a time. Zhou Jinglan didn¡¯t know what she did wrong and was very nervous, subconsciously reaching to grab at his sleeve, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± He Ying looked at the hand that almost touched his sleeve, his expression icy, his eyes filled with severe coldness, no sign of the warmth from moments ago. Zhou Jinglan paled with fear, ¡°Forgive me, Emperor.¡± He Ying¡¯s face remained cold, saying nothing, and strode out of Youlan Pavilion. Seeing the Emperor turn his face so heartlessly, Zhou Jinglan¡¯s body weakened, and she fell into Mingtao¡¯s arms, murmuring, ¡°Ming¡­ Mingtao, I feel¡­ I¡¯m done for.¡± Mingtao was Zhou Jinglan¡¯s trusted palace maid, who now helped her sit on the silken couch, softly consoling, ¡°Lady, you must not speak such words. Who in the palace does not know that aside from the Empress in name only, you have the highest position and are the most favored? Just now¡­ perhaps the Emperor snapped at my lady because he was afraid of getting ill.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Jinglan thought of the Emperor¡¯s icy gaze, her heart dropped cold, and she felt that the recent favor was nothing more than a beautiful dream. Now, the dream was over. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 008 Eye-catching Chapter 8: Chapter 008 Eye-catching He Ying left Youlan Pavilion and did not go to Yuesang Palace but to the martial arts field. He rode his horse at full gallop and drew his bow to shoot arrows. ¡°Snap!¡± ¡°Snap!¡± Each arrow hit the bullseye. ¡°The Emperor is mighty!¡± ¡°Long live the Emperor!¡± Surrounding Imperial Army soldiers cheered and waved their arms. Having heard this for a while, He Ying lost interest. Strictly speaking, he wasn¡¯t an emperor who liked to hear flattery. ¡°Where is Rong Ye?¡± He Ying dismounted and scanned the neatly arranged ranks of the Imperial Army. Rong Ye immediately stepped forward: ¡°At your service.¡± He had dark skin, a rough appearance, and was tall and robust, standing at nearly two meters tall by modern measurements. Like a giant. He Ying glanced at him, picked up a weapon from the side¡ªa long sword adorned with dragon patterns on the tassels, his exclusive and frequently used weapon. Since recapturing thirteen cities of Min State four years ago, he had rarely engaged in combat. ¡°Spar with me for a bit.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rong Ye picked up a long spear and jumped onto the stage. He Ying followed, gathering his energy to make a move. He excelled in close combat, repeatedly appearing behind Rong Ye like a nimble cheetah, cleverly evading his long spear. Rong Ye had infinite strength and excelled in prolonged combat; he had once fought at Mongyang Pass for three days, drenched in blood yet still energized. ¡°Bam!¡± ¡°Sizzle¡ª¡± Clashing sword and spear sparked a long chain of sparks. The two fought for an hour with no clear victor. ¡°Enough.¡± He Ying tossed the sword back to its place and jumped down from the stage. He was tired, slightly out of breath, his forehead slick with sweat. Pei Muyang hurried forward with a moist handkerchief: ¡°Emperor, please wipe your face¡ª¡± After He Ying wiped his face, he took the handkerchief and handed him some tea. The tea was fragrant, light, and rippling. He Ying glanced at it and waved his hand: ¡°No more tea. I¡¯ve been drinking it for three days straight, grown tired of it. Bring some liquor, strong liquor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang, meticulous as ever, had also prepared liquor and immediately picked up a jar of strong liquor, poured two bowls, and brought them over. He Ying awarded Rong Ye a bowl. They clinked their cups and drank them down. The strong liquor burned their throats. But also ignited fierce ardor. ¡°It¡¯s been two years. It¡¯s time for some bloodshed in this world.¡± He Ying was belligerent by nature. After conserving energy for four years, it was time to do something. The Imperial Palace was too stifling. Rong Ye understood the Emperor¡¯s ambition and immediately knelt down to express his loyalty: ¡°I am willing to conquer lands for the Emperor and achieve everlasting greatness.¡± Seeing him kneel, other soldiers also knelt and echoed: ¡°We are willing to conquer lands for the Emperor and achieve everlasting greatness.¡± Soldiers afraid of fighting were not good soldiers. True men should fight on battlefields, spill blood, and carve out achievements. He Ying returned satisfied. He boarded his sedan chair and ordered to return to Qingning Palace. Pei Muyang, puzzled yet trying to be agreeable, asked with a smile, ¡°Emperor, the Heir¡¯s wife has come. Aren¡¯t you going to Yuesang Palace?¡± He Ying frowned: ¡°She has already returned home; she is no longer any Heir¡¯s wife.¡± The Heir¡¯s wife belonged to someone else. Sang Yan was only free for the Emperor to pursue when she was unattached. Realizing his mistake, Pei Muyang immediately slapped his own mouth and chuckled: ¡°The Emperor is wise. It was this servant¡¯s mistake. That lady had returned home as Miss Sang.¡± Pleased, He Ying laughed and scolded: ¡°Fool!¡± Getting scolded, Pei Muyang smiled even broader as if rewarded: ¡°It¡¯s this servant¡¯s foolishness. May I ask, why is the Emperor not visiting Yuesang Palace? Miss Sang must be eagerly waiting.¡± He, trying to align with the Emperor¡¯s heart, spoke against his conscience claiming Sang Yan was fond of the Emperor. Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De was too honest, repeatedly advising the Emperor not to pursue Sang Yan, and suffered for it; Pei Muyang would not act so foolishly. Although He Ying knew Sang Yan was like a timid rabbit and didn¡¯t fancy him, it didn¡¯t dampen his spirits. ¡°Why the hurry? There are others more anxious than us.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Pei Muyang was intelligent; a quick thought revealed the Emperor¡¯s cunning plan¡ªfeigning favor towards Noble Princess Consort Lan to coerce Ruishui River into urging Sang Yan to enter the palace and compete for favor. Now that Sang Yan had entered the palace, she surely couldn¡¯t wait to push her toward the Emperor. They triumphantly returned to Qingning Palace. Indeed, at Qingning Palace stood Xiangxiu, a palace maid from Yuesang Palace. ¡°Emperor, my lady is severely ill and misses you deeply. She begs the Emperor to visit her.¡± Xiangxiu rushed forward in a few steps, kneeling before the sedan chair, tears streaming down her face like a pear blossom bathed in rain. Sitting high in his sedan chair, He Ying looked down with a face of compassion: ¡°Pitiful creature. Then let¡¯s go see her then.¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor really was too ¡°cunning.¡± Yuesang Palace Sang Yan comforted Sang Ruoshui with a few words and was about to head back to the side hall. Sang Ruoshui, sickly lying on the bed, grasped her sleeve and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Sister, haven¡¯t you forgiven me yet?¡± Sang Yan, seeing her genuine misery, shook her head, ¡°I am your sister. As long as you truly treat me as a sister, I will naturally treat you as my sister. It is ridiculous for sisters to become enemies over a man.¡± As she spoke, she pulled her hand away and explained, ¡°I brought you a gift. Go get it.¡± Coincidentally, just as she was about to leave the palace, she saw the Emperor¡¯s sedan chair from afar. Sigh. It was time to kneel again. ¡°His Majesty has arrived¡ª¡ª¡± Pei Muyang¡¯s voice was shrill, deliberately drawn out. Sang Yan could not pretend not to see and had to step forward and kneel to greet him, ¡°This servant greets Your Majesty.¡± He Ying looked down at the delicate figure kneeling before him, still dressed in simple white mourning clothes, making her black hair shine brightly. She didn¡¯t look up, her black hair cascading down, swaying lightly in the wind. Her face wasn¡¯t visible. He wasn¡¯t pleased. He raised his hand, ¡°Rise.¡± After Sang Yan thanked him, she stood up, somewhat eager to slip away, when she saw the Emperor getting down from the sedan chair, heading straight towards her. Her heart inexplicably raced, and she hurriedly stepped aside to make way for him. ¡°I heard Princess Consort Sang is sick. Since you are here, come with me to see her,¡± he said as he passed by her. His breath was moist and cold. His hair still damp. He must have come after bathing. Sang Yan didn¡¯t think much of it, only regretting that she couldn¡¯t slip away, and responded with a ¡°Yes,¡± following behind him. Intentionally lagging a few steps. He seemed to sense it, turned around to look at her, his steps halting as if waiting for her. Under his gaze, Sang Yan felt immense pressure, heart lamenting, but smiled bitterly and quickened her pace. ¡°Three steps will do.¡± He measured the distance between them, offering a reminder. Hearing this, Sang Yan immediately thought of his aversion to women and came up with an idea to lower her favorability, ¡°I am clumsy and rash, if by accident¡ª¡± As she spoke, she deliberately reached out to touch his sleeve. He Ying did not dodge, gazed down at her eyes, and slowly smiled, ¡°The last woman who made me sick, I ordered to be beaten with a stick for two hours, beaten into a pulp, yet still gasping for breath. Would you like to experience that?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± No. Was the Emperor trying to scare her? She was frightened, decisively withdrew her hand, even placing it behind her back. At the same time, she understood: she had thought too highly of herself. He Ying, the mighty Emperor, what beauty hadn¡¯t he seen? Especially since he couldn¡¯t be near women, even if he wanted to do something, he couldn¡¯t. Thus, the significance of beauty was diminished, and to him, she served merely as a novelty. Realizing this, she felt incredibly relieved. She grew bolder: ¡°Your Majesty is the True Dragon Emperor. Your presence to visit Princess Consort Sang, with your Dragon Energy protecting her, will surely chase away the illness swiftly.¡± See, she was just good at flattering. No different from anyone else. But she forgot, the Emperor was a madman. ¡°Miss Sang is quite eloquent, then speak a bit more,¡± He looked at her, his smile playful. Wait, what was Miss Sang? Shouldn¡¯t she be the Heir¡¯s wife? Sigh. The Emperor truly was a madman. Sang Yan, under his dangerous gaze, lowered her head, feeling it safer to keep her mouth shut. He Ying, holding back a laugh, thought to himself: Timid rabbit. Then he turned and continued into the palace. Inside the palace Palace maids and eunuchs knelt on both sides, shouting in unison, ¡°We greet Your Majesty¡ª¡± He ignored them and walked straight ahead, sitting in the main seat, asking coldly, ¡°How did Princess Consort Sang get sick? How have you been taking care of her?¡± There was an accusing tone in his voice. Hearing this, the palace maids and eunuchs showed terrified expressions, trembling as they kowtowed, ¡°Your Majesty, forgive us.¡± The atmosphere in the palace turned heavy and oppressive. ¡°It¡¯s not their fault. I am weak,¡± Sang Ruoshui, with Xiangxiu¡¯s assistance, weakly rose from the bed, her voice hoarse and feeble. Frail and pitiful. He Ying, upon seeing her, felt no emotion, waved his hand indifferently, ¡°You are weak, there¡¯s no need to come over, just lie down.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Sang Ruoshui thanked him but didn¡¯t lie back down, instead continuing forward, ¡°I¡¯ve been lying down for so long, I¡¯m tired of it. It¡¯s rare for Your Majesty to visit, I would like to sit and talk with you.¡± She wanted to see him. After many days apart, the longing was overwhelming. Her longing gnawed at her bones, and tears fell again. He Ying, seeing her cry, felt no compassion, only annoyance, ¡°You are sick, just rest well. I don¡¯t need you to keep me company.¡± He generally didn¡¯t like talking to women. Except for one. He looked towards Sang Yan, whom the simple white mourning clothes once stunned him, but now seemed unbearable, ¡°I heard you have returned home, so no need to wear mourning¡ª¡± At that, he turned to Pei Muyang, issuing an order, ¡°Go have the Clothing Bureau make clothes for Miss Sang.¡± Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 009: Gratitude Chapter 9: Chapter 009: Gratitude Miss Sang! A single title, different implications. ¡°Lady!¡± Xiangxiu exclaimed in alarm. It turned out that when Sang Ruoshui heard this title, she stumbled and fell. Let the Clothing Bureau make the clothes! That¡¯s a treatment only Ladies have! What does the Emperor want to do? Does he consider Sang Yan his woman? Sang Ruoshui fell into Xiangxiu¡¯s arms, leveraged her strength to stand up, lay back on the bed, and dared not look in the Emperor¡¯s direction again. She would go mad. Sang Yan was also shocked, feeling the Emperor was a lunatic, deliberately tormenting people¡ªhe knew well how much Sang Ruoshui liked him, yet he was still stirring up their sisterly affection! ¡°Emperor, this is unreasonable.¡± She knelt down and solemnly said, ¡°I, of lowly status, cannot bear it.¡± He Ying did not like these words, nor did he scold her, but instead looked to Pei Muyang, ¡°Teach her how to speak.¡± Pei Muyang, adept at reading the Emperor¡¯s Heart, immediately said, ¡°Thunder and dew are all God¡¯s grace. Miss Sang, you should thank Him quickly.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor is using his power to oppress people! This vile feudal society! She, annoyed, suppressed her anger and said, ¡°Emperor, though Princess Consort Sang is merely your concubine, in her heart, you are her husband, and should inquire about her illness. Isn¡¯t such indifference disheartening?¡± This Emperor has no heart! Whoever falls in love with him is unlucky! ¡°Are you teaching me how to conduct affairs?¡± He Ying frowned, his cold voice carrying a slight warning. Sang Yan kowtowed, but did not yield, instead saying, ¡°I dare not. I only empathize, for if I were ill, and my husband at my sickbed cared for another woman, I would be heartbroken¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± He Ying slammed the table and shouted angrily, ¡°Remove that ¡®I¡¯ from your speech!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Initially scared to death by his anger, she then became confused¡ªwas the ¡®I¡¯ the focal point? Why did it feel like the Emperor was angry because she mentioned another man? ¡°Emperor, calm your anger.¡± Pei Muyang knelt down, speaking for Sang Yan, ¡°Miss Sang surely misspoke.¡± He felt the Emperor liked Sang Yan more than he had imagined. A person like him, besides serving the Emperor well and winning his favor, also sought to win the favor of the lady in the Emperor¡¯s heart. Sang Yan had not misspoken, yet could not say it again. The Emperor, with his profound thoughts and unconventional actions, it would be bad if she pushed him to assert his authority. For some reason, she always felt the Emperor capable of such actions! He Ying, seeing her bow her head in silence and seemingly rebellious, frowned and asked, ¡°Do you admit your mistake?¡± Sang Yan did not feel she was wrong, and modern civilization¡¯s education wouldn¡¯t allow her to blindly submit to the powerful, so she said, ¡°Emperor, esteemed as the Emperor, if you say I, a subject, am wrong, then I am wrong.¡± ¡°Are you implying I am abusing my power?¡± ¡°I dare not.¡± ¡°I see you are not afraid at all.¡± ¡°I am dull-witted, should I speak wrongly, I hope the Emperor will forgive me.¡± ¡°I think you are quite clever! Deliberately using your cleverness to irritate me!¡± His words instantly made their conversation ambiguous. Sang Yan sensed trouble, weakly said, ¡°I dare not.¡± He Ying, recalling her timidity of a rabbit, waved his hand, ¡°Enough. Rise. Think before you speak next time.¡± ¡°Yes. I shall heed Your Majesty¡¯s instructions,¡± Sang Yan stood up, ready to leave service, ¡°I will now go to the side hall to reflect.¡± Having said that, she left. ¡°Stop!¡± He Ying frowned and called out. ¡°Sister¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui, who had gotten out of bed, staggered to her, clutching her sleeve, tears welling up as she pleaded, ¡°Sister, the Emperor seldom visits, please entertain him well on my behalf.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Damn. What is this? A sister entertaining her brother-in-law? Forget it. Looking at Sang Ruoshui¡¯s haggard face, she convinced herself: The most important concern is the patient. She helped Sang Ruoshui back to bed, turned around, and gave the Emperor a slight smile, trying to display a flattering demeanor. ¡°From my family home, I brought some snacks. Would the Emperor like to try some?¡± ¡°Granted.¡± His tone was like bestowing a favor. Sang Yan endured it, went to the side hall, and leisurely brought some sushi, smiling as she presented it, ¡°Please, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± He Ying had not seen such food before. Sang Yan simply explained, ¡°Sushi.¡± ¡°Why is it called that?¡± ¡°Because¡ª¡± Sang Yan, unsure of how to explain, casually replied, ¡°Because the first person who made it was called Sushi.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He looked somewhat appetized. He reached out to take some¡ª Suddenly, Pei Muyang knelt down, grinning, ¡°I see this delicacy is rare, please grant this humble servant one.¡± He was ostensibly seeking a reward, but covertly testing for poison on behalf of the Emperor. He Ying understood his meaning and responded with a smile, ¡°I had almost forgotten your gluttony. Granted.¡± Pei Muyang immediately picked up a sushi and popped it into his mouth, chewed a few times, and praised it, ¡°Delicious. Delicious. Truly a delicacy of the mortal world.¡± Sang Yan pretended not to see through the unconvincing performance of the master and servant. As soon as the Emperor took a piece, she brought one over to Sang Ruoshui. Sang Ruoshui took one, and as she ate, said, ¡°Thank you, sister.¡± Despite her jealousy of Sang Yan having won the Emperor¡¯s favor, she was grateful that Sang Yan had risked the Emperor¡¯s anger to speak on her behalf numerous times. Seeing her eyes red-rimmed, seemingly on the verge of tears, Sang Yan smiled resignedly, ¡°We¡¯re family, what¡¯s there to thank? If you truly wish to thank me, just take good care of yourself. That would be thanks enough.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s tears suddenly fell. Perhaps illness made one fragile. At that moment, she felt a motherly affection emanating from her sister. ¡°Want more?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Sang Ruoshui, while crying, took another sushi¡ªrice sticking to the corners of her mouth. Sang Yan saw this and reached out to wipe it away. The warmth between the sisters was touching. But it suddenly stopped. ¡°Clothing Bureau female officer Sun Cai Rong pays respect to the Emperor.¡± ¡°Arise.¡± He Ying glanced at Sang Yan by the bed and ordered, ¡°Go measure Miss Sang.¡± Measurements should not be taken in front of the Emperor. Sang Yan then said, ¡°Could we go to the side hall?¡± He Ying nodded. Sang Yan led the female officer to the side hall. About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, she returned with the female officer. He Ying had finished the last piece of sushi, took the handkerchief Pei Muyang handed him, wiped his hands, and asked, ¡°All measured?¡± The female officer, Sun Cai Rong, bowed and replied, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s done.¡± She thought of those enticing measurements, recalling the accidental touches of her skin¡ªlike cooling jade, no sign of sweat. Truly a natural beauty! No wonder she caught the Emperor¡¯s eye. He Ying tossed the handkerchief back to Pei Muyang, took a sip of tea with a nonchalant tone, ¡°Make ten sets. Use the finest materials. Three days.¡± He didn¡¯t consider three days to be tight at all. Sun Cai Rong did not mention the tight schedule either, respectfully responding, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Sun Cai Rong was leaving, she couldn¡¯t help but glance at Sang Yan. During the measurement, they had engaged in brief small talk. Thus, she was also shocked¡ªa widow with a husband-killing fate caught the Emperor¡¯s eye! Was this fortune or disaster? She was truly curious. She had a premonition¡ªthe harem was going to be unsettled. ¡°Your servant thanks Your Majesty.¡± At this point, Sang Yan could only accept and let things be. Whatever will be, will be. ¡°Since you¡¯re giving thanks, why not join me for a game of chess?¡± ¡°¡­¡± As a chess novice, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t refuse and could only weakly suggest, ¡°How about Connect Five?¡± He Ying, unaware of the circumstances, asked, ¡°Do you like this game?¡± With an embarrassed smile, Sang Yan replied, ¡°It¡¯s the only one I know how to play.¡± He Ying nodded with a smile, ¡°Granted.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± That ¡®granted¡¯ is really annoying! Everything in the Imperial Palace had to be permitted by him, utterly demeaning! Alas. Really want to get away. Soon, a palace attendant prepared the chess set. Sang Yan, preferring white, quickly chose the white pieces. The pieces seemed to be made of white jade¡ªclear and translucent in appearance, cold and smooth to the touch, very comforting. Indeed, everything in the Imperial Palace was a treasure. Sang Yan, getting a bit greedy, suggested, ¡°Your Majesty, how about a little wager?¡± He Ying, hearing her ask for something for the first time, found it quite novel and asked, ¡°What kind of prize do you have in mind?¡± ¡°If I win, may I keep this chess set?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible, but what if you lose?¡± ¡°If I lose¡­¡± Sang Yan thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make sushi for the Emperor.¡± She noticed the Emperor was a gourmet too. Just now, aside from one sushi for the eunuch and two for Sang Ruoshui, he had eaten all four remaining pieces. He seemed to be quite the food lover. The reality was He Ying was bored waiting for the measurements, and had inadvertently eaten too much. Though he enjoyed it, he didn¡¯t need her to cook. ¡°I have sixty top chefs in my Imperial Kitchen; what is there they can¡¯t make?¡± He certainly didn¡¯t want food as a wager. Sang Yan saw his intention and felt troubled, ¡°Then what would Your Majesty like for a wager? I should state, I can only offer so much. If Your Majesty asks for something I cannot give, then let us forget this wager.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only prepared to win, not to lose?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said, I can only give so much.¡± ¡°How do you know what you can give is limited?¡± He Ying laughed, his gaze intensely fixed on her, almost demanding, ¡°Or is it that, you know what I want? And you¡¯re unwilling to give it to me?¡± Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 010 Trap Chapter 10: Chapter 010 Trap Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor¡¯s words were full of traps! Detestable! More than that, regret! Why on earth bring up incentives? The Emperor must be insane! Is it so easy to take his belongings? ¡°Your Majesty jests. As the king of this nation, rich with all under heaven, I am but a feeble woman, how could I have anything rare to offer Your Majesty?¡± She could only play dumb and then change the subject, ¡°Ladies first. Your Majesty, I shall make my move now.¡± He Ying watched her move, his gaze involuntarily falling on her hands. They were the hands of a beauty. The fingers were pale and slender, bonelessly soft, the tips whiter than the chess pieces. He watched for a long time, for the first time in his life, he felt an impulse to touch. However, thinking of his strange illness, he refrained in the end. Actually, he wasn¡¯t afraid of getting sick, but he didn¡¯t want her to see the horrifying sight of his illness. She was already scared of him, he couldn¡¯t let his strange illness make her fear him more. He Ying pinched a black chess piece and followed with his move. Sang Yan seized the initiative, initially holding the advantage, but gradually, she fell into a disadvantage. ¡°Wait, I moved wrong, let¡¯s go here.¡± She started to regret her moves. She had forgotten she was playing chess with the Emperor. Seeing this, He Ying indulged her and smiled, ¡°One wrong move leads to another, Miss Sang, be careful.¡± Sang Yan carefully made her move, ¡°Right here.¡± He Ying moved one piece, foreseeing three steps, and easily placed his piece. Sang Yan started scratching her head, hesitating several times, uncertain where to move next. ¡°You can concede.¡± ¡°Alright. I concede.¡± Sang Yan did not want to play chess with the Emperor and decisively conceded. Seeing this, He Ying felt it lackluster and said, ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll give you another piece.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She could only clutch the chess pieces and move two in succession. The situation briefly turned around. But this position did not last long before she was at a disadvantage again. Had she known earlier, the ancients were indeed intelligent, truly living up to their reputation. ¡°I am slow-witted.¡± She did not want to play chess anymore. Her intelligence was severely bruised. Indeed, she was better suited to being idle and ineffectual. Seeing her discouraged, He Ying laughed, ¡°I find playing chess with you rather interesting. Would you be willing to be a Chess Maid in the palace?¡± He had no physical desires towards Sang Yan for the time being, feeling it was enough to see her when he wished. Sang Yan, unaware of the inner workings, suddenly felt this was He Ying¡¯s purpose¡ªto keep her in the palace under the guise of playing chess. Cunning Emperor! Such deep scheming! Since ancient times, the palace has been a place of loneliness. She must be mad to consider staying. But her refusal had to be tactful: ¡°Thank you for your appreciation, Your Majesty, but I am unworthy.¡± ¡°Unworthy in what way?¡± ¡°I¡­ have a fierce fate; if by chance I doom Your Majesty, I could not escape grave culpability.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. As you said, I am the True Dragon Emperor, protected by dragon energy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was at a loss for words. The Emperor¡¯s mind moves too quickly. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± The Emperor knew but asked anyway. Sang Yan, so frustrated she wanted to curse, still had to force a smile, ¡°Not at all.¡± Seeing her frustration, He Ying felt a peculiar joy, holding back a laugh, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you should accept the grace.¡± Truly accepting his grace would mean being trapped in the harem forever. The cost was too great. Sang Yan felt that she could struggle for her freedom, so she knelt down and said, ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider. This is unreasonable.¡± He Ying frowned, ¡°What¡¯s unreasonable about it?¡± Sang Yan responded, ¡°I am already a married woman.¡± ¡°Woman, and what of it?¡± ¡°How could a woman stay long in the palace?¡± In fact, aristocratic women have also been female officers in the palace. Ye Mingling from the Etiquette Bureau, who is the Minister of Rites Cui Shao¡¯s wife. But He Ying did not bring this up. Instead, he said, ¡°So you are asking me for a title?¡± ¡°¡­¡± This man must be mad! What is he babbling about? She dared not look at the expressions of the palace maids and eunuchs; they must all be thinking she was crafty and seducing the Emperor. ¡°The Emperor has misunderstood.¡± She was truly annoyed and cooled her voice to show her stance, ¡°I have already vowed to remain faithful to my deceased husband, never to remarry in this life.¡± Actually, she wasn¡¯t the original host and held no feelings for the host¡¯s husband. But at this moment, she could only use him as a shield. Surely, the Emperor of a nation wouldn¡¯t go so far as to forcibly marry a subject¡¯s wife? He Ying, unaware of the true situation, took it that she was deeply in love with her deceased husband. He had admired her in the past, but now, this sounded truly harsh, ¡°Very well. Then stay in the palace.¡± He left with a gloomy face, sleeves flung angrily. All the palace maids and eunuchs had knelt down when Sang Yan did, only daring to get up after the Emperor was out of sight. Sang Yan also got up, her face a mask of worry as she sat on the chair, unsure of what to do. ¡°The Emperor holds you dear, sister.¡± Assisted by Xiangxiu, Sang Ruoshui approached and took the seat the Emperor had occupied. Thereby feeling his residual warmth. With a heart both envious and jealous, she said, ¡°Sister, why must you speak so? You have needlessly hurt the Emperor¡¯s heart.¡± Sang Yan coldly scoffed in disdain, ¡°Your Emperor has no heart at all. Only naive girls like you would be easily deceived by him.¡± Emperors have always been heartless. He Ying was no exception. He couldn¡¯t touch women yet still sought to entice them. Ironically. ¡°The Emperor, supreme in his power, skilled both in letters and arms, revered by all, is a unique ruler of all ages, how could he deceive me?¡± Listen to this brainwashed fan¡¯s rhetoric. Sang Yan immediately lost any urge to argue further: to them, just the title ¡®Emperor¡¯ was enough to earn their adoration. ¡°Alas, everyone¡¯s drunk but I¡¯m awake¡­¡± * Qingning Palace He Ying sat on the couch, cursing several times, ¡°Ignorant woman! Ignorant woman!¡± ¡°Please calm your anger, Your Majesty.¡± Pei Muyang, holding tea, softly advised, ¡°Miss Sang truly mistook mothballs for pearls, genuinely ignorant; your Enlightenment and Valour, Your Majesty, could not possibly concern itself with a foolish young girl¡ª¡± ¡°Who did you say was ignorant?¡± He Ying¡¯s eyes narrowed, displeased with anyone calling Sang Yan ignorant. Pei Muyang, as though just realizing, immediately smacked his mouth, ¡°Oh, I misspoke, I am the ignorant one, please forgive me, Your Majesty.¡± As an imperial eunuch, no matter how clever, it was necessary to feign a bit of stupidity, making small mistakes now and then, lest he arouse the Emperor¡¯s suspicion and see his career end. ¡°Enough.¡± Pei Muyang¡¯s words had somewhat pleased the Emperor. Indeed. That little rabbit, so timid, with such superficial judgment, mistaking mothballs for pearls, and her lingering thoughts on her deceased husband because she did not yet know his worth. How could he, the Emperor of the nation, be inferior to a Princely Heir? He Ying¡¯s mood somewhat improved, and his rationality returned, he ordered, ¡°Princess Consort Sang is ill, you go to the storeroom and pick some items to send over. Also, send two Imperial Physicians over for treatment.¡± Pei Muyang bowed in response, ¡°Yes. With the Grace of Your Majesty. Princess Consort Sang upon feeling Your intent will surely recover quickly.¡± ¡°What intent?¡± He Ying felt that Pei Muyang¡¯s mind was occasionally foolish but said nothing, merely murmured to himself, ¡°She¡¯s somewhat clever. I hope she doesn¡¯t disappoint me.¡± He still needed Princess Consort Sang to push Sang Yan towards him. Truly, whatever he desired, he could simply take, but concerning Sang Yan, he did not mind taking his time. Pei Muyang accepted his orders and left. The hall quieted down. Soon, Yu Huai De came to report, ¡°Imperial Concubine has arrived.¡± ¡°See her not.¡± He answered crisply. ¡°Yes.¡± This time, Yu Huai De did not persuade further and turned to leave¡ª ¡°Wait¡ª¡± He Ying changed his mind, ¡°Never mind. Let her come in.¡± It was still necessary to add fuel to the fire concerning Sang Ruoshui. Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 011 Instigation Chapter 11: Chapter 011 Instigation Noble Princess Consort Lan spent the night at Qingning Palace. This news reached Sang Ruoshui at Yuesang Palace early the next morning. Sang Ruoshui had almost recovered from her illness the previous night after the Emperor¡¯s grace, but upon hearing this news, she became so angry that she couldn¡¯t get out of bed. Sang Yan was summoned by Xiangxiu to console her, ¡°Don¡¯t lose your composure. The Emperor abides by abstinence, even if he stays overnight, nothing can happen. You¡¯ve also heard that the Jingshi Palace did not record her receiving favor.¡± Sang Ruoshui cried, ¡°But she spent the night. No concubine has ever spent the night in Qingning Palace. Sister, do you think the Emperor likes her? He didn¡¯t favor her this time, but what about next time?¡± Who knew what the Emperor was thinking? He had just been insisting on keeping Sang Yan at the palace moments ago, and the next moment, he was spending the night with that woman. Could it have been Sang Yan¡¯s disobedience that angered him? Thinking this, she grabbed Sang Yan¡¯s hand, crying and begging, ¡°Sister, I have just received the Emperor¡¯s grace and haven¡¯t given thanks yet. Can you go for me, please?¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She was pushing her towards that despicable Emperor! ¡°No.¡± She firmly refused and made her stance clear, ¡°That is your man. You¡¯re my sister, and in the civilian world, he would be my brother-in-law. I must maintain a distance from him.¡± Otherwise, how ridiculous it would be for a brother-in-law and sister-in-law to get involved. Though in ancient times, it was common for sisters to share a husband, she had a physiological disgust and couldn¡¯t accept it. Sang Ruoshui, unaware of Sang Yan¡¯s inner conflict, continued to cry and said, ¡°Sister, are you still upset with me? I was ignorant before and jealous of you, but now I understand, our common enemy is Zhou Jinglan. Sister, I was wrong. Forgive me and help me, please?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s head ached from her crying, so she nodded, but said, ¡°I can help you, but not in the way you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± inquired Sang Ruoshui. ¡°You¡¯re worried about Noble Princess Consort Lan being the first to receive favor, right? I can help you with that.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Sang Yan hesitated. In reality, she did not want to suggest this method, but there seemed to be no other way at the moment. Seeing Sang Yan hesitate, Sang Ruoshui urged, ¡°Sister, just say it.¡± Biting her lip, Sang Yan finally spoke up, ¡°You should quickly recuperate, give thanks in person, then find an excuse to get the Emperor drunk. Once he¡¯s intoxicated and his awareness dimmed, sleep with him.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Xiangxiu, who had just entered carrying medicine, was so startled that she dropped the medicine bowl. The bowl shattered on the ground, spilling black medicine all over. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to. Lady, please spare my life.¡± Xiangxiu quickly knelt and pleaded for mercy, first for breaking the bowl and second for overhearing such treacherous words. Sang Ruoshui had no mind to care about her. ¡°Sister, be careful with your words. This is an offense against the dragon¡¯s body, punishable by death.¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Sang Yan to dare say something like that and was nearly scared to death. Sang Yan was also aware of the danger of her suggestion but had her reasons, ¡°Your Emperor abstains from intimate relations, probably because he¡¯s unaware of the pleasures of women. Once he ventures into the flesh, and finds sweetness in bed, why would he fuss over the details? Perhaps he will develop a taste for it and return to normal sexual attitudes. Moreover, in such a situation, it¡¯s just a case of drunken disorderly behavior. As for whether you sleep with him or he sleeps with you, between a man and a woman, it¡¯s all the same in the end. In any case, this matter could be minor or severe; severe is offending the dragon¡¯s body, minor is simply marital affection.¡± Hearing all this, Sang Ruoshui felt tempted but was also scared, ¡°What if the Emperor falls ill? You¡¯re new to the palace and don¡¯t know how his disposition changes drastically when he¡¯s ill; he becomes violent and murderous, truly frightening.¡± That palace maid had accidentally touched the Emperor, causing him to have an episode, and was beaten to death alive! ¡°If you¡¯re scared, then just stay put in the palace comfortably.¡± Sang Yan was losing her patience, as she found the women in the palace to be naive and greedy, ¡°You want to win both the Emperor¡¯s affection and be the first to bear an heir, yet fear the cost. Where on earth can you find such a good deal?¡± Sang Ruoshui also understood this logic and grew solemn, ¡°Allow me¡­ to think about it.¡± * Imperial Study The silence was chilling to the bone. Pei Muyang knelt at the Emperor¡¯s feet, trembling hands wiping the sweat from his forehead. For a moment. He Ying closed the petition and looked at him, his eyes seeming to laugh but not really laughing, ¡°Did she really say that?¡± ¡°Absolutely true.¡± Pei Muyang kowtowed, continuing, ¡°It was Sister Xiangxiu from Yuesang Palace who said this. This servant didn¡¯t dare omit a single word.¡± He Ying withdrew his gaze, tapping his chin with his fingers, and chuckled softly, ¡°I was mistaken. She¡¯s just a wild rabbit after all.¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± He dared not speak. He had really not realized that Miss Sang had such courage! ¡°She wants to sleep with me, huh. And she says I don¡¯t know the benefits of the fairer sex?¡± He Ying pulled up the corner of his lips and laughed softly, ¡°Good. You go and pass the message to Xiangxiu; let her persuade Princess Consort Sang to do just that.¡± He wanted to see how these two sisters planned to intoxicate him. How they planned to tempt him when he was drunk and disorderly? And¡­ the benefits of the fairer sex? He hoped she wouldn¡¯t regret hatching this plan. Pei Muyang watched the Emperor¡¯s enigmatic smile and quavered, ¡°¡­Yes.¡± * The night was heavily shrouded. It had started to rain again. Rain beat against the banana leaves, ticking and pattering. Every so often, a thunderous roar was heard. Sang Ruoshui was already irritated; the noise kept her from sleeping, so she sat up and had a Palace Attendant light a lamp. The palace maid on night duty was none other than Xiangxiu. She lit the lamp and poured tea, then, carrying it to Sang Ruoshui, she asked with caution, ¡°Does Lady have worries on her mind? I see you¡¯ve been tossing and turning, unable to sleep.¡± Sang Ruoshui took the tea, sipped it, but said nothing, her gaze lost in a distant place. The words of Sang Yan from the morning still echoed in her ears. She had thought it over all day and still couldn¡¯t make up her mind. ¡°Lady, the Imperial Physician said that it¡¯s excessive worry, pent up in your heart, that has made you ill. To recover, you need to let go of certain things,¡± Xiangxiu pulled Sang Ruoshui back from her drifting thoughts. Sang Ruoshui considered Xiangxiu a confidante and, after a moment of thought, still asked, ¡°You heard what Sang Yan said too, do you think it¡¯s feasible?¡± Xiangxiu had been waiting for Sang Ruoshui to ask this. She had her response ready, speaking slowly, ¡°In answer to Lady, this servant thinks it¡¯s feasible.¡± Sang Ruoshui was surprised; she hadn¡¯t expected a servant to dare say such a thing. Could it be that she was really too timid? ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Lady, if one does not enter the tiger¡¯s den, how can one get the tiger¡¯s cub?¡± Her words hit the nail on the head. Sang Ruoshui¡¯s expression turned serious, she put down her teacup and had her sit on the bed, ¡°Continue.¡± Xiangxiu nodded, sat on the bed, and lowered her voice to say, ¡°Currently, the other concubines have yet to react, all waiting for the Imperial Physician to cure the Emperor¡¯s illness. But if the Imperial Physician hasn¡¯t cured it in ten years, do you think it can be cured in the next two or three years? How many sets of two or three years do the concubines have in their youth? To put it bluntly, by the time the Emperor is cured, the concubines¡¯ bloom will have passed, and they can only watch others enjoy his favor¡­¡± Some things are better left unsaid at their climactic point. Sang Ruoshui immediately made a decision, ¡°You¡¯re right. We can¡¯t wait any longer. Those concubines the Emperor took in after he assumed personal rule, who even remembers them now?¡± Seeing her determination, Xiangxiu added the final push, ¡°Moreover, the idea was Miss Sang¡¯s. When the time comes, Lady can ask her to get the Emperor drunk with you. If something happens, given her face, the Emperor might not blame Lady.¡± At this, Sang Ruoshui clutched Xiangxiu¡¯s arm tightly, her eyes filled with both jealousy and hate, ¡°Right. You¡¯re right. Sang Yan is a talisman; if I do something wrong, it was her incitement.¡± Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 012 Assassination Chapter 12: Chapter 012 Assassination ¡°` The sky after the rain was particularly blue. Sang Yan got up, had breakfast, and as usual, went to the main hall to visit Sang Ruoshui. Overnight, her spirits had tremendously improved. She dressed herself in a pink palace skirt, applied the finest rouge, and added the most beautiful pearl hairpin, resembling the grass after the rain¡ªbursting with life and tender and juicy. A beauty dressed to the nines, with skin like snow and a face like a flower, outshining all others. ¡°Are you going out?¡± Sang Yan thought she had cheered up and guessed, ¡°Are you going to thank the Emperor for his kindness?¡± Sang Ruoshui shook her head with a smile, ¡°No. I¡¯m going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Sister, would you like to join me?¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I¡¯ll stay behind.¡± It was better for the original character with her awkward status to stay away from the powerful. After Sang Yan waved her hand to decline, she returned to her side hall. In reality, both times the original character entered the palace, it was with the Empress Dowager¡¯s permission. Only the Empress Dowager was devoted to Buddhism and had exempted the concubines from greeting her, disliking disturbances, so she simply feigned death. However, why was Sang Ruoshui suddenly going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager? Could it be that before taking action, she wanted to find herself a protector? That was somewhat clever. Sang Yan sat back on the couch, listlessly flipping through the unfinished storybook. It seemed that the tales in the storybook, with their repetitive scholar and delicate lady characters and highly similar plot lines, fit the modern phrase¡ªtimeless tropes capture the heart. ¡°Miss, Sun Shanggong from the Clothing Bureau is here.¡± Qiuzhi whispered softly. Sang Yan put down the storybook and looked over. It turned out that Sun Shanggong had brought some clothes with her. Sang Yan, being a woman, naturally liked beautiful dresses, but thinking that they were gifts from the dog Emperor made her less enthusiastic. ¡°Miss Sang, the Clothing Bureau has worked through the night to prepare five sets of clothes. By the Emperor¡¯s order, we are here to have Miss Sang review them.¡± Sun Shanggong respectfully bowed and stated her purpose. Sang Yan, knowing she was simply following orders and had no intention of making things difficult, cooperated and tried on each outfit. Trying them on took half an hour because ancient clothing was so intricate. Putting them on and taking them off was quite the ordeal. She was left panting slightly from the effort. ¡°It was hard work for Sun Shanggong and the Clothing Bureau.¡± ¡°Miss, you jest. It is our honor,¡± Sun Shanggong replied. Sun Shanggong was a female officer of the fifth rank and was being exceedingly polite to Sang Yan, who no longer held the title of Heir¡¯s wife. Sang Yan, feeling unexpectedly flattered, didn¡¯t quite know what to say for a moment. She was still unaware that the Emperor kept his distance from women, that the Empress failed to capture the Emperor¡¯s Heart, and that they were virtually non-existent¡ªeveryone in the harem was seeking a true mistress. The Clothing Bureau was merely betting on her. ¡°We¡¯ve also drafted several design sketches for clothes. Would Miss Sang care to take a look?¡± ¡°No, thank you. I trust your judgment.¡± Sang Yan was too tired and collapsed onto the couch, barely able to maintain her composure. Seeing her like this, Sun Shanggong said no more and promptly led her people in taking their leave. As soon as Sang Yan saw them turn away, she collapsed onto the couch, losing all semblance of poise. It wasn¡¯t easy being a noble in the palace. She lay there with her eyes closed for a while before Qiuzhi said, ¡°Miss, the Emperor has summoned you to play chess.¡± Liar! Chess was definitely a pretext! Sang Yan knew this all too well but couldn¡¯t defy the Emperor¡¯s decree and could only reluctantly get up and head out. Seeing her still in mourning attire, Qiuzhi hurriedly stopped her, ¡°Miss, your clothes have been delivered, perhaps you shouldn¡¯t wear mourning attire. The Emperor has already expressed his dislike for it.¡± ¡°His dislikes are his problem.¡± Sang Yan frowned, thinking: The Clothing Bureau had just finished making the clothes, and the dog Emperor summons her¡ªwearing the clothes he ordered would look like she was trying to entice him. God knows she had no interest in him whatsoever. ¡°` Sang Yan thought so and went her own way. Then she soon regretted it. Qingxin Hall The place where the Emperor used for leisure and relaxation. When Sang Yan arrived, a beautiful singer was playing the pipa and singing, while scantily-clad dancers twirled their skirts, blooming like vast patches of colorful flowers on the ground. Such a scene of peace and prosperity through music and dance. This Emperor, who was said to abstain from sexual pleasures, in fact, couldn¡¯t live without women, could he? While Sang Yan was criticizing inwardly, she saw a Red-Clothed Dancer¡¯s water sleeve, like a flexible snake, attempting to coil around the Emperor¡¯s neck. But the Emperor reacted quickly, grabbed the sleeve in time, secretly exerted force, and shattered the water sleeve. The Red-Clothed Dancer did not give up, drawing a Soft Sword from her waist and stabbing forward. ¡°Come, protect His Majesty! Someone wants to kill the dog¡ª¡± Sang Yan almost blurted out what was in her heart, swiftly covered her mouth, and hurriedly hid behind a large stone pillar. ¡°Tyrant! Give back my sister¡¯s life¡ª¡± The Red-Clothed Dancer, clearly cannon fodder, hadn¡¯t finished speaking when the Emperor seized the tip of her sword and flicked it, hitting her back in an instant, cutting a bloody slash across her pretty face. At that moment, the guards rushed in, and within a few moves, they captured her. ¡°Tyrant! Emperor! You will not die a good death!¡± The Red-Clothed Dancer was pressed to kneel on the ground by the guards, struggling violently and cursing nonstop. Sang Yan hid behind the pillar, watching all this and sighing: The Emperor turned out to be a martial artist. This was nothing but child¡¯s play¡ªthis assassination attempt. ¡°Come out.¡± He Ying looked toward the person peeking out from behind the pillar¡ªso it turned out that being shy was just a facade, she was more like a lively rabbit. Incredibly cute. He wanted to laugh but held back, deliberately keeping a stern face and said, ¡°You shout to protect me but hide far away, Sang Yan, do you realize your hypocrisy?¡± ¡°I know my sins.¡± Sang Yan knew that an assassination attempt on the Emperor was a serious matter, and everyone should rush to shield him; she had hidden far away, and she was lucky to be a woman, otherwise, if the Emperor took it seriously, she most definitely would incur his displeasure. Wait, the Emperor had been on the throne for over a decade and had been called a tyrant for just as long, so why did he face an assassination as soon as she arrived? Thinking of the original owner¡¯s husband-killing fate, Sang Yan felt the assassination was even more suspicious, letting her conspiracy theories run wild: Could someone be plotting against her? Thinking this, she kneeled to admit her wrongdoing: ¡°Emperor, I truly acknowledge my crime. Knowing I have a treacherous fate, yet I still approached You, I truly deserve death. Thankfully, it did not lead to a great disaster. Please, Your Majesty, immediately expel me¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± The more He Ying listened, the more he sensed something was off¡ªdid this woman want to use this as a chance to leave the Imperial Palace? But she did speak one truth¡ªthis assassination must have a mastermind behind it! With this thought, he stood up, walked over, and looking down at the Red-Clothed Dancer, demanded, ¡°Speak, who instructed you, and I will spare your lowly life!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha¡ª¡± The Red-Clothed Dancer burst into insane laughter, tears streaming down her face: ¡°No one instructed me! Your cruelty and bloodthirst are known to all, and everyone wants you dead! Emperor, you killed my sister, even as a ghost¡ª¡± ¡°Careful! She¡¯s going to kill herself!¡± Sang Yan saw the resolve for death in the eyes of the weeping Red-Clothed Dancer, but it was too late to stop her. Blood suddenly spurted. The Red-Clothed Dancer snatched the guard¡¯s sword and slashed her own throat. ¡°¡­none shall forgive you¡­¡± Her body fell to the ground. Eyes wide open. Dying with her eyes unshut. The blood flowed in meandering streams on the ground. A glaring red. Sang Yan, who was born in a civilized and wonderful modern society, witnessed such a scene for the first time, was so frightened she forgot how to breathe. A person had died! A young girl! Right in front of her! This horrible feudal society! Sang Yan¡¯s face turned ashen, and as her vision darkened, she felt weak and collapsed. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 013 Honor and Disgrace Chapter 13: Chapter 013 Honor and Disgrace He Ying looked at the woman who had fainted in fright and slightly frowned his thin lips, then he uttered three words with a slight movement, ¡°No backbone!¡± If you listened carefully, you would find that his tone was not purely one of disdain, but also carried a hint of pampering affection. When the faint-hearted Sang Yan woke, she was still in the palace. However, she wasn¡¯t on the ground, but on a soft couch. She glanced at the spot where the dancer had died, and it had been cleaned up so thoroughly that not a trace of blood could be seen, though a faint bloodstain still hung in the air. It made one want to vomit. ¡°Scared silly?¡± That familiar male voice carried a mocking undertone. Sang Yan looked in the direction of the voice and saw the Emperor sitting on a chair not far away, staring unblinkingly at her. ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± She called out softly, showing weakness, ¡°I was truly frightened.¡± It was a living, breathing life after all. And now it was gone. Such a waste. He Ying did not know her thoughts and repeated those three words, ¡°No backbone.¡± However, this time it was clearly affectionate. Because right after saying this, he turned to Pei Muyang. Pei Muyang immediately picked up a bowl of medicine from the table and handed it over, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s just the right temperature. Please drink it.¡± Sang Yan looked at the black and red medicinal juice, frowned, and asked, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Soothing Soul Soup.¡± He Ying responded. ¡°Drink all of it.¡± His tone was gentle yet commanding. Sang Yan, feeling intimidated, hurriedly said, ¡°I feel much better now. There¡¯s no need to drink it.¡± ¡°You must drink it.¡± He Ying frowned, and his voice turned into a firm command. ¡°Miss, you should drink it.¡± Pei Muyang smiled appropriately and explained on He Ying¡¯s behalf, ¡°The Imperial Physician said that after being frightened, Miss must drink a bowl of Soothing Soul Soup upon waking; otherwise, you¡¯re likely to suffer from soul-loss later on.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What the hell is soul-loss? It sounds pretty frightening. Looking at the master and servant, both stern and gentle, she obediently drank it. It was both bitter and sweet. An oddly unpleasant taste. ¡°Thank you.¡± She casually expressed her gratitude. But it seemed more like she was thanking Pei Muyang. He Ying scolded discontentedly, ¡°Ungrateful thing.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She sighed inwardly, got up, got out of bed, walked over, knelt down, and obediently said, ¡°I thank Your Majesty for the Soup.¡± He Ying was pleased but did not let her rise; instead, he decided to settle scores after the fact, ¡°I had someone make clothes for you, and I hear five outfits have already been delivered. Why haven¡¯t you worn them? Don¡¯t you like them?¡± As he asked, he didn¡¯t wait for her to reply, and his tone suddenly turned cold: ¡°If you don¡¯t like them, then there¡¯s no need for the Clothing Bureau to exist.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This tyrant! He¡¯d just been the target of an assassination¡ªcouldn¡¯t he be a bit more restrained? She didn¡¯t dare say she didn¡¯t like them and so she lied, ¡°I forgot. As soon as I heard Your Majesty¡¯s summons, I didn¡¯t dare delay and so I came right away.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He could guess somewhat at her thoughts, ¡°It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t want to wear them?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯m exhausted. Talking to this despicable Emperor always has me on edge, it¡¯s just so exhausting. ¡°How could that be?¡± She gave a hypocritical smile, ¡°I haven¡¯t even seen such beautiful clothes before, I could hardly bear to wear them.¡± He Ying was pleased by her words and laughed, ¡°Why hesitate? You could wear a new set every day, and I would be more than able to supply them.¡± Saying this, he looked at Pei Muyang and gave a command, ¡°Go, bring them all here. I want to see if the Clothing Bureau has been neglecting their duties.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Is this really about inspecting the Clothing Bureau for negligence? It¡¯s clear he just wants to see her change into them! It¡¯s confirmed. This despicable Emperor is just like the overbearing CEOs in those novels; he enjoys watching women change clothes. Sigh. I can¡¯t change here! Randomly changing clothes¡ª if word got out, my reputation would be ruined. ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± She spoke up to stop him, ¡°There¡¯s no need for someone to fetch it. I shall wear it tomorrow. I¡¯ll wear it for you to see, alright?¡± The last sentence, soft and coquettish in tone. He Ying¡¯s heart stirred, and he nodded, ¡°Rise.¡± Seeing this, Sang Yan stood up hastily and changed the subject, ¡°Emperor, about the female assassin¡­ could it possibly affect my fate?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? I am protecting you. Whoever dares to slander will regret ever opening their mouth.¡± His words were truly domineering. For the first time, Sang Yan felt the exhilarating power of imperial authority. ¡°I thank the Emperor for his protection.¡± This time, she truly meant her thanks. He Ying sensed her sincerity and was pleased; he became more amiable, ¡°You were startled today; you need not keep me company for chess. Go back and rest.¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t wait to leave and quickly said, ¡°I thank the Emperor for his concern. I take my leave.¡± Seeing her eagerness to leave, He Ying didn¡¯t want her to go after all. In truth, letting her stay to rest here wouldn¡¯t affect anything. It¡¯s just that the interrogation would inevitably be bloody. And she was timid. Well then. He¡¯d train her courage later. ¡°Summon the Prison Department officers in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± * Sang Yan returned to the side chamber of Yuesang Palace. She learned from Qiuzhi that Sang Ruoshui had received many rewards from the Empress Dowager. It seemed the Empress Dowager was still quite fond of her. She believed that action would soon follow. Indeed, it did. That afternoon, Sang Ruoshui came to have a detailed discussion, ¡°I heard the Emperor has a good capacity for liquor. It would be difficult for me to get him drunk alone. Sister, you must help me.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to get involved in their affairs and tactfully declined, ¡°I can¡¯t drink either. How can I help you? Besides, I¡¯m ill-fated, and it¡¯s not suitable for me to be close to the Emperor. Today, the Emperor was almost assassinated. Do you know that? If someone with an agenda uses me¡ª¡± To this moment, she was still shaken by the morning¡¯s incident. Sang Ruoshui listened and didn¡¯t take it to heart, ¡°Sister, you don¡¯t have to be afraid. The Emperor has ordered the Prison Department to conduct a thorough investigation. Who in the palace doesn¡¯t know its methods? I believe it will soon be found out who is playing tricks. Besides, the Emperor is the True Dragon Emperor; how could he be afraid of your fate? Moreover, the Emperor also said, if anyone dares to criticize Sister, they will be shown no mercy. With the Emperor supporting you, what¡¯s there to fear?¡± Sang Yan was silent. What a dangerous mindset to put all hope in the Emperor¡¯s favor! She warned herself internally and deliberately said on the surface, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I might fall in love with the Emperor and fight with you for him. What if, after getting him drunk, I also want to climb into his bed? What then?¡± Sang Ruoshui shockingly said, ¡°Then, let¡¯s do it together.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. Madness! Such audacity! She was scared, really scared, ¡°You should leave. I need some quiet.¡± ¡°Then Sister, think carefully.¡± Sang Ruoshui said nothing more, but before leaving, she played the card of kinship, ¡°We are sisters; we should share honor and disgrace.¡± Sang Yan was silent. Thank you. But inside, she was rejecting it. * Youlan Pavilion The lingering glow of the setting sun shone through the window, casting its light on Noble Princess Consort Lan Zhou Jinglan. She knelt, deeply engrossed in practicing her calligraphy on fine paper. ¡°He¡­ Ying¡­¡± Every stroke, filled with deep emotion, she poured her heart into the tip of her brush. Suddenly, Mingtao whisked aside the beaded curtain and hurried in, whispering a few words into her ear. ¡°They really said that?¡± Zhou Jinglan was so shocked that she dropped her brush. It fell onto the paper. Leaving a large, black blotch. Ruining the carefully written characters. She couldn¡¯t care less at that moment, her face white with shock as she exclaimed, ¡°How shameless! How dare they! That¡¯s the Emperor!¡± Mingtao fervently agreed, ¡°Yes! Those sisters have no shame, conspiring with intent, arrogant from favor. They plan to defile the harem. My Lady, we must report them to the Emperor!¡± ¡°No!¡± Zhou Jinglan patted her startled heart, speaking slowly, ¡°You also said it; they are arrogant from favor¡­ We are¡­ not their match. Moreover, the Emperor has just decreed that that woman is not to be criticized.¡± Mingtao was sweating with urgency, ¡°So what do we do? Do we just watch them gain favor?¡± Zhou Jinglan lowered her head, eyes fixed on the name on the paper, remaining silent. After a long while. A crazy idea popped into her head, ¡°What if¡­ we do the same as her? Get ahead of them¡­¡± Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 014: Panic Chapter 14: Chapter 014: Panic Sang Yan still remembered the matter of putting on new clothes for the Emperor to see. Due to her internal resistance, she dragged her feet until dusk before she went to Qingxin Hall. In the hall the sound of silk and bamboo was pleasing to the ear. The Emperor was looking at petitions. ¡°Paying respects to the Emperor¡ª¡± Sang Yan knelt down and knocked her head on the floor, uttering flattering words, ¡°May the Emperor live a peaceful life.¡± There was no response. The Emperor appeared as if he hadn¡¯t heard her, leisurely reviewing the petition with a relaxed posture. The sound of silk and bamboo instruments suddenly stopped. The palace attendants left under Pei Muyang¡¯s orders. The hall became eerily quiet. Sang Yan felt that the Emperor was doing it on purpose, so she quietly knelt down and said no more. Mainly because she didn¡¯t know what to say. The Emperor¡¯s thoughts were deep and unfathomable, and given her absolute position of disadvantage, she could only go with the flow and act according to the circumstances. She believed he wouldn¡¯t make her wait too long. Indeed, just as she thought, He Ying soon spoke with a weird tone, ¡°I thought you had forgotten due to being overwhelmed with favors. We were about to send someone to invite you.¡± As he spoke, he did not lift his eyes to look at her. Sang Yan caught a glimpse of his actions, listened to his sarcastic tone, and couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous, forcing a smile, ¡°The Emperor misunderstands. I was thinking that the Emperor is busy with state affairs and did not dare to rashly come over and disturb you.¡± How could He Ying not hear that these were words meant to placate him? He lifted his eyelids slightly, glanced at her with a feigned smile, ¡°You are quite considerate. Should I reward you for it? But what would be a suitable reward, I wonder?¡± His index finger tapped his forehead, pretending to be deep in thought. Sang Yan sensed that this was not going to be anything good and hastily said, ¡°No merit deserves no reward; I haven¡¯t done anything, how dare I accept any reward?¡± ¡°Then do something,¡± He Ying seemed to have been waiting for those exact words and laughed, ¡°Come here. Grind some ink for me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± A misstep. The Emperor¡¯s mind was too quick, she was no match for him. She could only resign herself to grinding ink. Right next to his right hand. A little too close. Fortunately, the desk was long, so she took the materials and went to the other end of the table to grind the ink for him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He Ying frowned, confused by her actions. Sang Yan explained, ¡°Three steps away. Have you forgotten, Your Majesty?¡± He Ying remembered his own secret ailment, indeed having to keep a distance of three steps from her, and was at a loss for words for a moment. After a while, he smirked sarcastically, ¡°You do have a good memory.¡± He had forgotten that he needed to maintain a distance from women. This woman remembered so clearly, how much did she not want to be close to him? Sang Yan heard the displeasure in his voice and hastily tried to please, smiling, ¡°How dare I be negligent in matters concerning the Emperor?¡± She was too cautious in front of him. In fact, everyone acted this way when they saw him. But He Ying found that he didn¡¯t like that she acted the same, so he said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Even if you are negligent, I will not punish you.¡± Since the first time he saw her, he had made many exceptions for her. If Sang Yan were really a woman from ancient times, she likely would have taken the opportunity to climb up the social ladder by now. Unfortunately, she came from modern society and was deeply ¡°poisoned¡± by palace drama TV shows, avoiding the Emperor and the Imperial Palace like the plague. ¡°The Emperor is merciful. I am terrified.¡± Her attitude remained utterly respectful. Seeing this, He Ying knew that raising her courage would take time and could not be rushed, so he changed the subject, ¡°Take a look at this petition.¡± He pushed the petition in front of her. Without waiting for her refusal, he added, ¡°I absolve you of any wrongdoing. You cannot refuse.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She had no choice but to read it. The content was Imperial Censor Feng Yi accusing the Jizhou Governor Xie Sui of abusing torture, acting unjustly as a parental official, and calling for his immediate dismissal and investigation. [¡­Xie Sui is cruel and tyrannical by nature, addicted to killing, and half a month ago, mentioning that the execution scene was not grand enough, he consequently had all the prisoners in custody in various counties under his jurisdiction executed, resulting in a blood flow that did not stop for ten miles¡­] Sang Yan looked at the text and couldn¡¯t bring herself to imagine that scene. Too gory and brutal. ¡°What is your opinion?¡± He Ying looked at her, his gaze had softened somewhat, and encouraged her a bit, ¡°I absolve you of any wrongdoing.¡± Hearing him say that, Sang Yan was still very cautious, ¡°Your Majesty, my insights are shallow and I truly have no opinion.¡± Even if she had some opinions, she didn¡¯t want to say them out loud. In ancient times, women discussing politics was a very serious matter. Especially since she didn¡¯t want to stand out and attract the Emperor¡¯s attention. He Ying, unaware of the situation, was also dissatisfied with her response and asked with a frown, ¡°Nothing at all? He was recommended for his position by your father.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s the meaning of this? Is he implying that she could speak on his behalf? But such an official really deserved to be punished! The bloodshed extended for miles¡ªhow many prisoners had been killed? And among them, how many truly deserved death? In this world where people were treated as nothing, coupled with harsh penal laws, life was truly unbearable! ¡°The Emperor is wise and sagacious¡ªI believe Your Majesty already has a judgment in mind.¡± Sang Yan said this, clearly aware that the official words were meaningless. But she had no choice. In her view, she wasn¡¯t the ambitious protagonist of a time-traveling novel; all she could do was to keep to herself and quietly be a passerby in this world. ¡°And what judgment do you think I have come to?¡± He Ying looked at her with a smile that contained a hint of purpose. He knew she was playing dumb, but he wouldn¡¯t allow it. Sang Yan, unaware of his thoughts, lowered her eyes and spoke with a hint of helplessness, ¡°I dare not speculate on the divine will.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, you are forgiven of any wrongdoing.¡± He found himself repeating this often, his patience waning and tone intensifying: ¡°Sang Yan, you cannot shirk this.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She realized that unless she said something, the dog Emperor would never let it end. Fine then. Speak, if he insists. Whatever happens, happens. ¡°The Emperor is a wise ruler and must surely understand the principle of ¡®combining grace with severity.¡¯ While the state official¡¯s slaughter of prisoners might have the power to deter others as a warning, when it comes to the people, they still need to be taught and guided.¡± She voiced her opinion, also hinting at the ¡°judgment¡± of the Emperor¡ªthat he should be dissatisfied with the state official. ¡°Not bad,¡± said He Ying. He wasn¡¯t asking for much from Sang Yan; he was satisfied as long as she dared to speak up. As for her response, it was as he had expected¡ªreasonable and showing that she had potential. He was happy to have unearthed a gem and encouraged her, ¡°Then how should the punishment be administered?¡± Sang Yan knew it was necessary to speak carefully since her words could affect a person¡¯s life and future. After a moment of consideration, she cautiously asked, ¡°May I inquire why Your Majesty sent this man to govern Jizhou? Or rather, what is the security situation like in Jizhou?¡± There¡¯s a reason for every effect. She needed more information. Otherwise, without knowing the full picture, she withheld her judgment. He Ying hadn¡¯t expected her to be so thorough and was pleasantly surprised, revealing overt admiration, ¡°Well asked. You are more responsible than those ministers.¡± After praising her, he also clarified the details, ¡°Jizhou borders Beiqi Country. There, interactions between the two countries are frequent, cultures are muddled, customs are not ancient, and bandits roam freely. There are often spies from the enemy country stealing domestic intel. The last two governors both died under mysterious circumstances. Xie Sui came from a poor background, loathed evil as if it were an enemy, and had an iron hand¡ªa bit like me in my earlier days. That¡¯s why I appointed him to Jizhou.¡± So that¡¯s how it was. Sang Yan¡¯s attitude shifted, ¡°It seems, according to Your Majesty, Mr. Xie has served with merit in his governance.¡± He Ying shook his head, ¡°Although he has merit in governance, in a land of barbarians, education is also essential. To rule by brutality might be effective instantly, but it is not a sustainable strategy.¡± Sang Yan offered a timely compliment, ¡°Your Majesty is wise.¡± He Ying was writing the handling measures on the petition when he heard her. He looked up at her and said with a smile, ¡°You are also clever. From now on, there¡¯s no need to hide anything in front of me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It felt like everything was seen through by the dog Emperor. She numbly said, ¡°Your servant is terrified.¡± He Ying laughed lightly, ¡°Why are you terrified? Speak up, so I can provide a remedy.¡± Sang Yan feared this feudal autocratic era and his identity as the ruler of a country. But such things could not be plainly stated. All she could do was lower her eyes, ¡°Your Majesty asks knowing the answer.¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze became sharp as he looked at her, ¡°If I¡¯m knowingly asking, then you are knowingly committing the offense.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was always left speechless by the dog Emperor. ¡°Your servant is terrified.¡± ¡°That¡¯s becoming your catchphrase.¡± He Ying mocked, then abruptly changed the subject, ¡°Since you¡¯ve put on new clothes, why do you still dress so plainly?¡± Sang Yan was clad in a simple pinkish-white palace gown, her long hair reaching her waist, tied only with a white silk ribbon, wearing not a single piece of jewelry, her makeup also understated. Thankfully, her natural beauty added a cool, ethereal charm. He Ying was initially captivated by this cold beauty, but now he felt a sense of untouchable distance which he did not like. Thus, not waiting for Sang Yan to say anything, he had a sudden realization and answered his own question, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my oversight for forgetting to have a few headpieces made for you.¡± Sang Yan felt undeserving of such imperial favor and tactfully declined, ¡°Your servant prefers simplicity.¡± He Ying frowned upon hearing this, his tone suddenly turning cold, ¡°And what if I don¡¯t like it?¡± Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 015 Opportunity Chapter 15: Chapter 015 Opportunity His gaze weighed heavily upon her. Sang Yan knew the Emperor was not pleased, yet she did not seek to flatter him. Instead, she responded with a dignity that was neither servile nor overbearing, ¡°If the Emperor does not like it, then choose what he likes. The Imperial Palace is full of vibrant colors; there must be something to the Emperor¡¯s liking.¡± She was rejecting him. He Ying could tell, his face stern, he spoke in an annoyed tone, ¡°You seem more confident than I am.¡± If there really were suitable heirs in the Imperial Palace, would he still be without one to this day? Sang Yan felt this topic should not be pursued further, and so she changed the subject, ¡°Your Majesty, I came here today also bringing words from Princess Consort Sang. With your protection, her illness has significantly improved. She wishes to hold a banquet tonight and invites the Emperor to bestow his presence.¡± He Ying knew the purpose behind the banquet invitation. Initially, he had intended to indulge it, but hearing it from her now annoyed him. She was scheming with Princess Consort Sang against him. She was pushing him toward another woman. All of these indicated one thing¡ªshe had no interest in him. Perhaps her heart still held onto that dead man. How preposterous! Was he, the Emperor of the realm, inferior to a dead man? ¡°Princess Consort Sang is considerate.¡± He suppressed his jealousy, his smile more a grimace than a sign of happiness, ¡°However, as you have just mentioned, I am occupied with state affairs. There is no need for the banquet.¡± Sang Yan, unaware of the Emperor¡¯s true feelings, still urged him, ¡°Even if the Emperor is busy, he must look after his health. Rest is necessary for more effective work.¡± ¡°That does make some sense.¡± ¡°Your Majesty is wise.¡± ¡°Since you made such a gracious invitation, for your sake, I shall attend.¡± ¡°¡­I shall thank the Emperor on behalf of Princess Consort Sang.¡± Seeing her goal accomplished, Sang Yan stood up, bid her farewell, ¡°I shall return now to convey this good news to Princess Consort Sang.¡± He Ying nodded, his gaze following her graceful exit. Before long. Pei Muyang entered, ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± He Ying glanced at him, ¡°What is it?¡± Pei Muyang replied, ¡°A messenger from Youlan Pavilion has come with an invitation; Noble Princess Consort Lan has acquired a piece of Master Xiu Ming¡¯s calligraphy and requests your presence to admire it.¡± Master Xiu Ming was a calligrapher famed in his day. He was a man whose life revolved around alcohol, never writing unless inebriated, thus his reputation for drunken calligraphy. His drunken writing, wild and unrestrained like a galloping steed, ethereal like clouds and flowing water, had set the trend of the times. He Ying had a fondness for collecting his works. Noble Princess Consort Lan, catering to his interests, made it hard for him to decline. Of course, his main reason for not declining was to see what the Noble Consort was planning. Sang Yan had just invited him to a banquet, and now Noble Princess Consort Lan was inviting him to appreciate a treasure. How amusing. ¡°Your Majesty, will you attend?¡± Pei Muyang, seeing the Emperor silent, inquired once more. Upon hearing this, He Ying nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s make a stop along the way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang turned to arrange for the sedan chair. * The sun dipped low in the west. Darkness fell. Lamps were lit in Youlan Pavilion. The lamplight was soft and dim. It was a very gentle and comfortable atmosphere. When He Ying arrived, the palace attendants were busy serving dishes and wine. ¡°Greetings to the Emperor¡ª¡± They knelt down one after another to pay their respects. He Ying waved his hand, ¡°I am not dining here. You all may leave.¡± Noble Princess Consort Lan, Zhou Jinglan, with a beaming smile, approached, ¡°Even if Your Majesty does not dine, please have some wine. To be slightly tipsy while admiring the drunken calligraphy, isn¡¯t that the best way to appreciate its beauty?¡± She made a good point. He Ying found himself unable to refuse at the moment. Zhou Jinglan, seeing that he had nothing more to say, personally poured the wine. The wine was not a strong liquor but a fruit wine. Rich and fragrant. Poured into a crystal cup, its orange-yellow hue was very pretty. ¡°This is lychee wine.¡± Zhou Jinglan picked up a cup, smiled deeply, and said softly, ¡°I heard that many of the lychees sent from Min State were damaged on the way, and the Emperor probably didn¡¯t get to taste many. Hence, I had someone make this lychee wine, hoping the Emperor would enjoy tasting it.¡± ¡°You are thoughtful, my consort,¡± he said. He Ying looked at the wine, staring at it for a long while, but did not take it. Zhou Jinglan felt guilty, her hand holding the wine cup trembled faintly under his seemingly all-perceiving gaze. Seeing this, He Ying was certain she was up to something, and his smile grew gentler, ¡°My consort, why do you seem so afraid of me today?¡± Zhou Jinglan, her face paling, took two steps back, lowered her head, and said, ¡°Your Majesty, forgive me. Seeing you, I was overly excited, I lost my composure for a moment and forgot that you should not be close to feminine charm.¡± She placed the cup on the table and looked to Pei Muyang, ¡°Would Mr. Pei please present it to the Emperor.¡± Pei Muyang took the wine cup and offered it before the Emperor. He Ying looked at the wine before him but still just looked, not taking it. Zhou Jinglan watched anxiously and swallowed hard, ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Hearing her voice, He Ying finally took it. He held the wine, wafted it under his nose, and sniffed lightly. He did not drink it but said to her instead, ¡°My consort, are you so eager for me to drink this?¡± He was still giving her a chance. For a moment, Zhou Jinglan thought of backing down, but facing his kindly gaze and thinking of the imminent favor, of being his first woman, of bearing his heirs, she mustered her courage again, ¡°On such a beautiful night, with fine wine and the company of a beautiful woman, doesn¡¯t it please Your Majesty?¡± Seeing her persist, He Ying said no more, his face immediately turned cold, and he slammed the wine cup onto the table, barking, ¡°Call the Imperial Physician!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Jinglan¡¯s eyes were full of disbelief, ¡°Your Majesty!¡± She knelt down, tears falling, ¡°What wrong has your servant done?¡± ¡°Are you sure you want me to spell it out?¡± He Ying¡¯s voice was icy, and disgust was apparent in his eyes. He recognized the scent of the aphrodisiac at once. The former Emperor, his brother, had been ruined by such despicable things. ¡°Zhou Jinglan, your father is the Assistant Minister of Rites, a man who values propriety above all. Is this the kind of daughter he brought up?¡± His words were like a death sentence. Zhou Jinglan cried out in agony, ¡°Is it wrong for your servant to adore Your Majesty? Is it wrong for your servant to desire to bear Your Majesty¡¯s sons and daughters?¡± ¡°Your heart is not wrong, but your actions are a grave mistake. Zhou Jinglan, I have already given you a chance.¡± He Ying did not wish to say too much, turned his head away from her, and said indifferently, ¡°Issue the decree, for misconduct after drinking, for insubordination, Noble Consort Lan is demoted to Lan, confined to Youlan Pavilion, never to leave again.¡± This was nearly as severe as being sent to the Cold Palace. Noble Consort Lan, now demoted to Lan, never expected that her brief favor was merely a fleeting dream. It was over. Everything was over. She collapsed to the ground, her hairpin from her head and her long dark hair spread out. ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider¡ª¡± Her closest palace maid, Mingtao, rushed in, knelt down, and started kowtowing desperately, ¡°Your Majesty, the consort did this out of desperation. It is the Sang sisters! Yes, it¡¯s their doing¡ª¡± ¡°Silence!¡± He Ying barked angrily, not wishing to involve Sang Yan in this matter. But Mingtao, for the sake of her mistress, disregarded everything else and continued, ¡°They intended to intoxicate Your Majesty to commit indecent acts. The consort, upon hearing this, acted impulsively in a moment of indignation¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± He Ying was utterly furious, grabbing the wine cup and smashing it to the ground, he commanded, ¡°You vile slave, stirring up trouble! Guards, drag her away, beat her to death!¡± When an Emperor is enraged, death is sure to follow. The eunuchs immediately obeyed, dragging her out. Mingtao, knowing there would be no good end after what she had said, prepared to face death, so she did not beg for mercy. As she was being dragged away, she still shouted loudly, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s the Sang sisters who are the real culprits! Should anyone be punished, it should be them! Your Majesty, your consort is innocent, your consort is innocent¡ª¡± In no time. The sound of the execution could be heard outside. The dull thuds of the sticks on flesh, each hit grating. Zhou Jinglan was as if awakened by the blows, seeing the Emperor about to leave, she burst forward in a rush of urgency, threw herself at him, grabbed his legs, pleading, ¡°Your Majesty, stop! Please stop!¡± He Ying hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Jinglan to dare touch him, caught off guard, she held him firmly, and he immediately began to itch and hurt. Burning sensations rapidly crept up his legs to his torso, arms, and neck¡ª Large patches of red welts made him feel disgusted and irritable, ¡°Let go! Zhou Jinglan, if you do not let go, I will have the entire Youlan Pavilion buried with you for your foolishness! Guards!¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 016 Protection Chapter 16: Chapter 016 Protection The eunuch had already tried to pull Zhou Jinglan away. But Zhou Jinglan struggled desperately, clinging tightly: ¡°Emperor, every mistake is my fault! Mingtao was just following orders! Please, spare her!¡± But pleading at such a time was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire! He Ying was in unbearable pain and frustration, sweat beading on his forehead, gasping for breath, his eyes bloodshot, and he kicked her away with one foot. The kick was powerful. Zhou Jinglan spat out a mouthful of blood from the force. She lay on the ground, looking up at the man she deeply loved, her swollen eyes filled with despair and resentment: ¡°Would you have treated the Sang sisters this way, turning your face away so heartlessly?¡± At that moment, it seemed that nothing was more sorrowful than a heart that had died, and she wanted to know¡ªif the Sang sisters, or Sang Yan, had done so, what would the Emperor¡¯s attitude have been? Would he have been on his guard from the moment he entered Yuesang Palace? ¡°Emperor, do you know that if you go to Yuesang Palace, you will encounter even more outrageous things?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± He Ying¡¯s face was cold, and he harshly commanded: ¡°You have made a grave mistake, have not repented, and even dare to drag others down with you! Your crime is unforgivable!¡± ¡°Am I the one dragging others down, or is the Emperor protecting someone!¡± Zhou Jinglan screamed, driven mad with jealousy: ¡°The Emperor is the Master of the World, with eyes and ears everywhere. As soon as you came here, your guard was up. You must have already known about the plots in Yuesang Palace!¡± He Ying, seeing her mad and terrifying state, despised her even more and no longer hid his feelings: ¡°You are clever. But unfortunately, cleverness has led you astray and ruined my plans.¡± He had intended to get drunk and favor Sang Yan. After all, he had to favor a woman to have an heir, and he was very willing for that woman to be Sang Yan. He believed that his fondness for her could help him bear the pain of his strange illness to complete the favor. Unfortunately, everything was ruined! ¡°Ha ha ha¡ª¡± He admitted it. He actually admitted it. Zhou Jinglan laughed, tilting her head back, her laughter tragic and pitiful: ¡°Ha ha, in the end, it turns out I am the fool.¡± She gave up hope, lost the face of her family, and implicated everyone at Youlan Pavilion, leaving herself no way out. ¡°This lowly concubine knows her sins are heavy¡ª¡± Her hair disheveled, she closed her eyes, no longer shedding tears, her voice calm: ¡°But the people of Youlan Pavilion are innocent. I am willing to die to atone¡ª¡± Saying this, she suddenly got up and slammed her head against the wall. Blood gushed out instantly. It covered half of her face. ¡°Please, Emperor¡­ be merciful¡­ forgive¡­ them¡­¡± Her voice grew softer and softer. Her body slumped to the floor like soft mud. He Ying looked on indifferently, saying nothing. The Imperial Physician happened to run in at that moment. He was a round, pudgy man, panting heavily and sweating profusely from his run from the Imperial Hospital. If not for the little eunuch holding him, he would have almost fallen. ¡°This humble servant greets the Emperor¡ª¡± The Imperial Physician bowed and then, looking up at the Emperor¡¯s seizure, immediately opened his medical box and took out the Jade Frost Ointment: ¡°Quick, apply this to the Emperor.¡± The little eunuch took the Jade Frost Ointment and presented it to imperial eunuch Pei Muyang. Pei Muyang then presented it to the Emperor. He Ying didn¡¯t accept it, and pointing towards Zhou Jinglan, commanded irritably in a low growl: ¡°Over there! Someone is dying! Don¡¯t you see?¡± Only then did the Imperial Physician notice Zhou Jinglan lying in a pool of blood. He trembled in fear: ¡°What has happened to the Lady¡ª¡± He Ying, enduring the itching and pain, kicked the man over: ¡°Shut up! Save her!¡± * The disaster at Youlan Pavilion quickly spread to the ears of the entire palace. Some rejoiced, others grieved. Sang Ruoshui was among those who grieved! She had planned to intoxicate the Emperor to win his favors, but Zhou Jinglan beat her to it and did not end well. Although it served as a warning to her and even spared her from disaster, it ruined her plans. What to do next? She looked at the disheartened Sang Yan and asked, ¡°Sister, the Emperor probably won¡¯t come now, this plan is no longer feasible, what should we do?¡± Sang Yan was still troubled by the disturbing news¡ªConcubine Lan, with an aphrodisiac, intended to commit an indiscretion and was severely punished by the Emperor, and her personal palace maid Mingtao was executed. If it weren¡¯t for Concubine Lan¡¯s suicide in apology, the others would hardly escape death. The tyrant had killed again. If Concubine Lan had not taken the step earlier, would their fate have been the same? Although she didn¡¯t plan to drug the wine with an aphrodisiac, the intent was the same, and it probably wouldn¡¯t have ended well, right? Sang Yan felt fortunate, yet more than that, she was fearful¡ªshe had underestimated the situation! That was the Emperor! Holding the power of life and death over everyone! ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be frightened away.¡± Sang Ruoshui still needed Sang Yan to lead the charge for her and did not permit her to retreat, persuading her: ¡°Zhou Jinglan brought death upon herself by being reckless. The Emperor did not intend to take her life. Her drugging of the wine, furthermore causing the Emperor to fall ill, is indeed a crime deserving death. The Emperor allowing the Imperial Physician to save her is already exceedingly generous.¡± She had no sympathy for Zhou Jinglan. Rather, she felt that Zhou Jinglan, by taking the Emperor first, had overestimated her capabilities and sought her own death. How could the Emperor be seduced by someone like her? She received a bit of favor and forgot who she was, to end up like this was indeed her just desserts! ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Lan, the ones crying now might be us.¡± Sang Yan could not agree with her views. Lan was indeed at fault, but in the end, it was this cruel feudal society that devoured people. Lan¡¯s crimes did not merit death! Yet she was forced to die to apologize! ¡°How could that be? The Emperor would never treat my sister that way.¡± Sang Ruoshui, thinking of the Emperor, had an idea, ¡°Sister, the Emperor is ill, shall we go visit him?¡± Previously, when the Emperor was sick, it was considered a beautiful tale for the concubines to attend to him. Unfortunately, the Emperor suffered from a strange illness that made him unable to be near women. Sang Yan laughed, ¡°He¡¯s already sick, and you still want to visit? Do you want his condition to worsen?¡± She did not have much in common with Sang Ruoshui, so she did not say much and simply stated, ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± Then she went back to her side palace to rest. She needed to think about how to leave this place of trouble! Side Palace Qiuzhi was making the bed and, seeing her come in, hurried over to greet her, concerned, ¡°Miss, what happened? You look terrible.¡± Sang Yan waved her hands, not wanting to elaborate, and after a brief wash, she lay down on the bed. Ever since she entered the Imperial Palace, there had not been a day she wasn¡¯t tense. She thought about leaving the palace. But how could she leave? Request the Empress Dowager to let her go? But if the matter was not settled, upon her return, would her real parents easily give up? Would the Emperor allow her to leave? Thinking over and over, she grew more tired. Gradually, Sang Yan fell asleep. Perhaps it was as they say, daytime thoughts become nighttime dreams. In the dream She ended up becoming the Emperor¡¯s concubine, but because she accidentally touched him, causing him to fall ill, he ordered her to be beaten to death with clubs! Bang! Bang! The heavy clubs repeatedly struck her back. It was too painful. She felt her spine was about to break. Crying, she pleaded for mercy, but the Emperor was unmoved and even wielded the club himself. Bang! He broke her leg bones with a strike. The excruciating pain made her sweat profusely and bite till her mouth bled. She felt like she was going to die from the pain. Yet he seemed heartbroken, squatting down, gently touching her face, and softly saying, ¡°Would you dare to leave me again?¡± She was in so much pain she couldn¡¯t speak. She could only look at him and cry. Crying turned his face into Lan¡¯s. Lan, covered in blood, reached out her hands, also covered in blood, and then, with those blood-soaked hands, she strangled Sang Yan¡¯s neck, crying bitterly, ¡°You killed me! Sang Yan, if you hadn¡¯t advised Sang Ruoshui, how would I have been driven to desperation? Bitch! You killed me! Give me my life back!¡± The feeling of suffocation made her struggle in discomfort. ¡°No!¡± She sat up in shock, staring wide-eyed, gasping for air. Qiuzhi was sleeping on a small cot next to the bed. Hearing her, she immediately got up to light a lamp and softly asked, ¡°Miss, what¡¯s wrong? Did you have a nightmare?¡± Sang Yan, breathing heavily, hoarse, couldn¡¯t speak. Seeing this, Qiuzhi hurried to pour her some tea. The tea was still on the stove. It was still hot. Sang Yan took a sip, and her throat felt a bit better. Outside, it was still dark. She asked, ¡°What time is it?¡± Qiuzhi replied, ¡°I just heard the watchman; it should be around three to five in the morning.¡± Sang Yan calculated the time, knowing dawn was near. She finished her tea and tried to sleep again, but she couldn¡¯t. The nightmare still tugged at her heart. Especially Zhou Jinglan¡¯s fate¡ªhad she¡­ died? As soon as it was light, she couldn¡¯t wait to instruct Qiuzhi, ¡°Go find out how Lan is doing?¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 017: Benefiting from Association Chapter 17: Chapter 017: Benefiting from Association An hour later, Qiuzhi returned. She had been in the side hall all of yesterday and had just learned about the incident at Youlan Pavilion. She was clearly frightened, her voice trembling as she spoke, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s good¡­ it wasn¡¯t you and her majesty¡­¡± She was relieved, but also full of palpitations, ¡°That Lan¡­ I heard she is still unconscious. The Imperial Physician said her condition is not very good.¡± Sang Yan listened without speaking for a long time. Actually, she had expected this. In this era of backward medical conditions, it was very likely that Lan, who had hit her head, could not be saved. ¡°Alas.¡± She sighed deeply, lying on her bed, feeling a stifling heaviness in her heart. Seeing her like this, Qiuzhi tried to comfort her, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t think too much, Lan¡­ she made a mistake herself. It¡¯s not the fault of others.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, worried and anxious, ¡°I always feel¡­ she knew about my plan with Sang Ruoshui, which is why she took such a risk. If it wasn¡¯t for me, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have¡­¡± ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t say that¡ª¡± Qiuzhi interrupted her self-blame, continuing, ¡°Miss didn¡¯t force her to do that with a knife, it was her own greed and recklessness. Besides, Miss only intended to get the Emperor drunk, not to poison his drink. Intentionally harming the Dragon¡¯s body is a crime punishable by the extermination of one¡¯s entire family.¡± Did Sang Yan not know this? However, being kind-hearted and gentle, she always felt it was she who had disturbed the peace of the harem. ¡°Alas.¡± She sighed again, lethargic and spiritless. Just then, a lot of people rushed in. It was Sang Ruoshui. She wore a pink palace dress, her makeup was stunning and her hair was adorned with tinkling pearl hairpins. She looked dazzling and imposing. ¡°Why is sister still in bed?¡± Her smile was as lovely as flowers, her tone affectionate as she walked over and sat by the bed, reaching for her hand. Sang Yan felt she was more and more like a man-eating flower and did not want to get close to her. She withdrew her hand, asking coldly, ¡°Why have you come?¡± One does not go to the Temple of the Three Treasures without a purpose. Sang Ruoshui had definitely come to ask for something. As expected. Sang Ruoshui indeed had a request. But before asking, she knew to say some pleasing words, ¡°I heard sister did not sleep well last night, so I came to see you. Sister, were you frightened last night? I didn¡¯t expect sister to be so timid.¡± As she spoke, her language revealed a hint of contempt. She had once seen her as a rival, but now it seemed she only had a bit of cleverness and was hardly fit for great things. Listening to her disdain, Sang Yan barely smiled on the surface, but inwardly she sneered: misfortune had not befallen herself, of course, it was easy for others to speak indifferently. If she were Lan, she doubted she would have the courage to atone with death. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be afraid. We have the Empress Dowager backing us. For the sake of the heir, she would also pardon our occasional transgressions.¡± Oh, so the Empress Dowager had given her confidence. It seemed that her recent visit to pay respect to the Empress Dowager indeed bore fruitful results. Sang Yan understood the implications and smiled as she saw her out, ¡°Thank you for your concern. I understand. If there¡¯s nothing else, you should go back first.¡± ¡°I also have a small matter.¡± Sang Ruoshui smiled, explaining her intention, ¡°Little sister heard that the Emperor has canceled the morning court; it seems he has not recovered from illness, and I am quite worried. What about you, sister? The Emperor treats you with genuine affection and thorough care, aren¡¯t you worried?¡± Sang Yan remained silent. She truly did not know how Sang Ruoshui could tell that the Emperor treated her with genuine affection and thorough care! Wait a minute¡ª Wasn¡¯t this the legendary ¡®hate-flattery¡¯? If she weren¡¯t clear-headed, such instigation might indeed make her foolishly believe that the Emperor held deep feelings for her and thus become arrogant! Was this Sang Ruoshui¡¯s unintentional behavior, or was she always pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger? Thinking, she feigned sadness, managing a bitter smile, ¡°Sister is joking. I am a married woman; how can I worry about another man?¡± No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let the persona of a lovelorn widow collapse. ¡°Since little sister is worried, you should go ahead. I am devoted to my late husband and should not be going.¡± She was now more afraid of the Emperor, how could she actively seek him out? ¡°Sister should speak less of these words in the future; the Emperor may know and be angry again.¡± Sang Ruoshui was emotionally complex: both sympathetic to her tragic fate and envious of her having caught the Emperor¡¯s eye. She did not insist on them going together, only saying, ¡°Then you rest well, sister.¡± And she left. She went to visit the Emperor. Only when she arrived at Qingning Palace did she realize that many concubines had come already. There were beauties of all sorts, each with her own charm. They were like colorful flowers, vibrantly blooming in front of Qingning Palace. She was neither the first nor the last. ¡°The Emperor said he will see no one today. All of you Ladies should return,¡± Pei Muyang came out to convey the Emperor¡¯s words. He saw Sang Ruoshui among the concubines and subconsciously looked beside her, but not seeing Miss Sang, he withdrew his gaze. Sang Ruoshui caught the slight movement of Pei Muyang, immediately stepped forward, and whispered, ¡°Mr. Pei, my sister is ill and could not come. She asked me to relay a few words to the Emperor.¡± She didn¡¯t want to return without achieving anything, so she lied under the pretense of using Sang Yan¡¯s name. Unaware of the truth, Pei Muyang¡¯s expression changed upon hearing Miss Sang was ill and solemnly said, ¡°Lady, wait here; I will inform the Emperor immediately.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Pei.¡± Sang Ruoshui thanked him graciously, her face filled with gratitude, but her heart was stifled. She still had to rely on Sang Yan¡¯s influence! How detestable! Some of the concubines hadn¡¯t left yet. Seeing this scene, they felt envious and resentful: ¡°Look, she¡¯s using her widowed sister again to catch the Emperor¡¯s attention!¡± ¡°Shameless creature! Already a widow and still can¡¯t stay put!¡± ¡°A widow daring to dream of becoming the Emperor¡¯s concubine!¡± ¡°Even if she has a husband-killing fate!¡± ¡­ Indignant voices rose and fell. Sang Ruoshui felt both ashamed and enraged. Her tactics for seeking favor were indeed disgraceful, which is why she especially feared being talked about. ¡°How dare you!¡± Enraged and humiliated, she rushed to Princess Consort Li, who had started the provocation, and slapped her across the face. ¡°Slap.¡± It was very loud. Princess Consort Li, Qu Xueli, covered her face, eyes wide with disbelief, ¡°You dare to hit me!¡± She and Sang Ruoshui held the same rank, neither inferior nor superior to each other. In terms of family status, her father was the Minister of Revenue, a position that actually exceeded Sang Ruoshui. ¡°I hit you precisely!¡± Sang Ruoshui, feeling confident and arrogant, retaliated, ¡°Have you forgotten? The Emperor said not to criticize my sister. You all knowingly violate this, showing contempt for imperial authority, what should be your punishment?¡± Her words had a daunting effect. The gossiping concubines¡¯ faces changed, and none dared to speak anymore. Qu Xueli was scared too, but being humiliated and slapped in front of so many people, if she let it go easily, she might as well cease to exist. People live on breath. She brazenly retorted, ¡°I was talking about Miss Sang? Who heard it?¡± Those involved immediately shook their heads and collectively said, ¡°Not us! We didn¡¯t say anything! We know nothing!¡± Those not involved watched the fight between the two tigresses in silence. But as the glares of the two tigresses fell on them, they felt a hint of being forced to pick sides. At this time, the Empress was in name only, without real power, Imperial Concubine Xuan had been thrown into the Cold Palace by the Emperor, and the newly promoted Noble Princess Consort Lan had faded away as quickly as she had appeared, reduced to Lan. Looking around, Princess Consort Li, who had been in the palace the longest and was the first to be honored, was actually standing out. As for Princess Consort Sang? Everyone knew she was a rising star. Just as they hesitated, Pei Muyang reappeared, flicked his horsetail whisk, and said, ¡°Princess Consort Sang, the Emperor summons you.¡± This statement felt like a hard slap on Princess Consort Li¡¯s face. Those concubines who had been undecided immediately aligned themselves behind Sang Ruoshui. Sang Ruoshui, watching Princess Consort Li¡¯s almost twisted face, smiled triumphantly, ¡°Princess Consort Li, you just wait!¡± Qu Xueli stomped her foot in anger, glancing at the panicking concubines and trying to compose herself, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? The recent misfortunes of the Emperor are caused by that husband-killing widow, we are just cleansing the Emperor¡¯s side!¡± ¡°Lady!¡± Her close friend, Jinpin Xie Jinhua, cried out in alarm and hurriedly covered her mouth, ¡°Lady, be careful with your words. ¡®Cleansing the Emperor¡¯s side¡¯ is not something to be said lightly!¡± Qu Xueli then realized her slip of the tongue and turned pale with panic. Above the steps, Pei Muyang watched all this silently, saying nothing. Sang Ruoshui, holding up her skirt, walked up the steps and asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Pei, did you hear Princess Consort Li disrespecting the Emperor?¡± Pei Muyang nodded with a smile, his glance toward Princess Consort Li already filled with a trace of sympathy. Knowing Pei Muyang was the Emperor¡¯s new favorite, Qu Xueli completely panicked, ¡°What should I do? Sister Jinhua, what should I do? That wretch will surely tattle!¡± Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 018 Pleading Chapter 18: Chapter 018 Pleading Sang Ruoshui entered Qingning Palace. Inside the fragrance of Jade Frost Ointment lingered. Through the fluttering gauze curtains, one could see the Emperor¡¯s blurry figure. He was clad in a loose black silk robe, his hair disheveled, clearly still tormented by the strange illness. ¡°Your servant pays respects to the Emperor¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui greeted, bowing gracefully through the gauze curtains. A beauty blooming before one¡¯s eyes. He Ying was lacking in interest, and without even a glance, he simply asked, ¡°You said your sister is ill? How did she fall ill? Has she seen the Imperial Physician? What did the Imperial Physician say? What illness? Is it serious?¡± His every sentence was about her. Sang Ruoshui thought about her own recent illness, which he had not asked about at all. Is this the vast difference simply for catching his eye? She was filled with jealousy, fiercely suppressing it, while also thinking of Princess Consort Li¡¯s matter, she took the opportunity to assert, ¡°Your Majesty, it seems my sister fell ill after hearing those ridiculous rumors, weighing heavily on her heart.¡± ¡°What ridiculous rumors?¡± ¡°I dare not speak of them.¡± ¡°You are forgiven.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui knelt down, embellishing the story of how Princess Consort Li and a group of concubines had spoken ill of Sang Yan: ¡°¡­ they said my sister was promiscuous and despised herself, the so-called ¡®husband-killer¡¯; that my sister¡¯s scandal was exposed, plotting harm against them, they also called my sister a calamity for men, pleading for a pure side for the Emperor. Your Majesty, you must uphold justice for my sister!¡± ¡°Really?¡± He Ying drew back the gauze curtain, casting a chilly gaze toward Pei Muyang, his eyes tinged with a hint of murderous intent. With the Emperor¡¯s imperial pressure bearing down, Pei Muyang lowered his head and said, ¡°¡­ Your Majesty, it is indeed so.¡± ¡°How dare they!¡± An enraged He Ying stormed out, his face reddened and still dotted with unsubsided hives. Last night had been his worst bout of the illness. Now was his most irritable: ¡°What are you waiting for? Issue the order, all the concubines involved are to be sent to the Cold Palace. Any further slander will be met with death!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang hurried to carry out the command. He Ying turned his head, staring at Sang Ruoshui, and continued asking: ¡°How is your sister now? Has she seen the Imperial Physician? Is it serious?¡± Sang Ruoshui felt guilty, and dared not meet He Ying¡¯s gaze, murmuring with lowered eyes: ¡°My sister says she is well. She did not let the Imperial Physician examine her.¡± ¡°How can she not see the Imperial Physician when she is ill? And you let her be?¡± He Ying frowned deeply, dissatisfied with Sang Ruoshui¡¯s behavior. Sang Ruoshui¡¯s heart ached from his reproach, and though tears rolled down her cheeks in grievance, she responded: ¡°It was your servant¡¯s lack of thought, I beg the Emperor for forgiveness.¡± He Ying heard this but said no more, instead summoning an Imperial Physician to Yuesang Palace. Sang Ruoshui waited until he had finished giving orders before she spoke up again: ¡°How is your body, Your Majesty? You are also ill, and it deeply concerns me.¡± The beauty¡¯s tender concern. He Ying was unmoved, his face showing indifference: ¡°I am well. You may go back. Take good care of your sister. You are intelligent; if your sister is well, you will be well, and your Sang Family will be well.¡± He was temporarily unable to meet with Sang Yan, fearing she might not be treated well, so he simply put everything on the table. Sang Ruoshui had long understood this, yet still hearing it firsthand pierced her heart. ¡°I understand.¡± She forced a bright smile, respectfully bowed, and left the hall. Outside the hall At the foot of the stairs Only Qu Xueli was kneeling and wailing loudly: ¡°Your Majesty, I am wronged. Your Majesty, I am wronged.¡± Upon seeing this, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s previously subdued mood instantly vanished. She could not let Princess Consort Li meet with the Emperor. ¡°How dare you!¡± Sang Ruoshui rushed down the steps, struck Princess Consort Li with a slap, wearing a triumphant smile: ¡°Outside the Emperor¡¯s resting chambers, how dare a lowly woman like you wail and scream!¡± With that, she turned to the two guards escorting the prisoner and shouted angrily: ¡°She is nothing but an abandoned concubine now, what are you waiting for? Hurry and drag her to the Cold Palace!¡± The two guards had been bribed with Princess Consort Li¡¯s jewelry to allow her a moment of outcry outside the hall. Now, seeing Princess Consort Sang¡¯s displeasure and knowing she was the Emperor¡¯s favored concubine, they did not dare linger and immediately dragged Princess Consort Li away. Poor Qu Xueli was sobbing, her mouth gagged, unable to make a sound any longer. Sang Ruoshui watched with satisfaction. Although the victory of the situation was solely due to Sang Yan¡¯s influence. But what of it? Sang Yan was her best bargaining chip! In Yuesang Palace In a side chamber Sang Yan lay in bed, trying to catch some sleep. She didn¡¯t fall asleep, but she figured out how to leave the Imperial Palace. The key was to help Sang Ruoshui conceive an heir. As long as Sang Ruoshui got pregnant, the Sang Family would no longer think of sending her to the palace. But how could they obtain an heir? Even under the premise that the Emperor could not consort with women? It¡¯s not to say that Sang Yan hadn¡¯t thought of a method¡ªartificial insemination. However, medical conditions in ancient times certainly couldn¡¯t meet the necessary standards. But during a woman¡¯s ovulation period, if they could obtain the Emperor¡¯s¡­ and somehow get it into the woman¡¯s body, there was a chance it could succeed. Just like the news stories that say a woman became mysteriously pregnant while swimming in a swimming pool. It showed that in this vast world, nothing was impossible. As long as the Emperor himself was willing to cooperate. But given the Emperor¡¯s proud and domineering personality, the probability of his cooperation was very low. Sang Yan felt it might be possible to pressure the Empress Dowager to intervene. Perhaps after presenting this idea, she could retire successfully. ¡°Miss, Miss¡ª¡± Lost in her thoughts, Qiuzhi¡¯s voice broke through. Sang Yan came back to her senses and looked up, meeting Qiuzhi¡¯s anxious eyes. She asked, puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The Imperial Physician has arrived.¡± There were two Imperial Physicians. One old, one plump. Upon entering, they said they were ordered by the Emperor to treat her and asked her to extend her arm. Sang Yan was confused: ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine. I¡¯m not sick. Why would the Emperor send you to treat me?¡± Could it be an excuse to examine her body? Did he want her to bear his child? As she entertained these conspiratorial thoughts¡ª The older Imperial Physician explained the reason: ¡°It was Princess Consort Sang who said Miss was ill. It¡¯s because of her that the Emperor commanded us to come here.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It was that Sang Ruoshui again! Why did she mention her illness when visiting the Emperor? Could it be that the Emperor didn¡¯t see her, so she used her name instead? ¡°Please extend your arm¡ª¡± The old Imperial Physician arranged his instruments and spread a clean handkerchief: ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make this difficult for us. After our examination, we still need to report back to the Emperor.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, she was too kind-hearted to make things difficult for them, so she extended her arm. While being examined, a commotion arose outside. Qiuzhi went out to see and soon came back, pointing outside the palace, alarmed, ¡°There are many concubines outside, all kneeling down. Miss, you should take a look¡ª¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t fully understand the situation, but after the Imperial Physicians finished their examination, she got out of bed to take a look. And then she saw the space outside the palace filled with kneeling figures¡ªone, two, three, four concubines. The leading concubine wore a goose-yellow palace dress, her fair and beautiful face radiating with a pearl-like luster. ¡°Miss Sang, I am Xie Jinhua. I beg you for your magnanimity to spare Princess Consort Li and the others. Although they disrespected and offended you with their words, their crimes do not warrant this punishment.¡± ¡°What do you mean? What are you talking about?¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t understand her words. However, she vaguely guessed it must be something the Emperor had done. ¡°Stand up first.¡± She disliked seeing people kneel. Xie Jinhua and the others did not rise. Seeing this, Sang Yan sighed, ¡°Stand up, please. Explain clearly what happened, and then I can address your request.¡± Upon hearing this, Xie Jinhua and the others began to rise¡ª ¡°Stay kneeling. Why get up? Aren¡¯t you betting on my sister¡¯s soft heart?¡± It was Sang Ruoshui who had arrived. She sat arrogantly on the palanquin, looking down as if viewing a group of ants. When Sang Yan saw her, she asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Sang Ruoshui instructed the Palace Attendants to lower the palanquin and began explaining as she stepped down, ¡°Princess Consort Li and the others criticized your husband-killing fate. The Emperor simply administered a minor punishment as a major warning.¡± ¡°Miss Sang, although Princess Consort Li and the others spoke disrespectfully, being sent to the Cold Palace is too pitiful.¡± Xie Jinhua knelt closer to Sang Yan, pleading earnestly, ¡°Please extend your mercy and persuade the Emperor to retract his decree. We would be immensely grateful and never forget your kindness.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Sang Ruoshui glared at Xie Jinhua, warning her, ¡°Jinpin, you are quite loyal to Princess Consort Li! But don¡¯t forget, by speaking for Princess Consort Li, you¡¯re opposing the Emperor, questioning his decision! Your brother in Jizhou is currently detested by the Emperor for slaughtering tens of thousands of prisoners! Do you wish to doom your brother?¡± Xie Jinhua, concerned about her brother, showed a flicker of worry, but then resolutely said, ¡°Princess Consort Sang, the crimes of Princess Consort Li and the others aren¡¯t so grave!¡± The other concubines also chimed in, ¡°Please, Princess Consort Sang, Miss Sang, show us mercy.¡± ¡°Idiots!¡± Sang Ruoshui, unable to scare them off, commanded the Palace Attendants, ¡°What are you looking at? Disperse them! Just looking at them is irritating!¡± The Palace Attendants, hearing her order, dared not forcefully remove anyone, only whispering, ¡°Ladies, please don¡¯t make it hard for us. You should go back. The Emperor has said, anyone who slanders Miss Sang deserves death¡­¡± Sang Ruoshui, hearing this, spoke high and mighty, ¡°Did you hear that? Even the Palace Attendants know this, and yet you shamelessly come begging my sister to intercede for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough! Stop!¡± Sang Yan, having understood the situation, intervened, ¡°I know what to do now.¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 019 Offering a Strategy Chapter 19: Chapter 019 Offering a Strategy Sang Yan went to Yongshou Palace. Yongshou Palace was where Empress Dowager Pei Yiqing resided. From afar, the floating scent of Buddha Beads could be detected. ¡°I am Sang Yan, wife of the Marquis Zhongyi Mansion¡¯s Princely Heir, I have a very important matter and seek an audience with the Empress Dowager.¡± Sang Yan stated her identity and purpose to the eunuch guarding outside the palace. The gatekeeping eunuch promptly went to announce her within. Shortly after, she was allowed to enter. Sang Yan expressed her thanks. Once inside, she kept her gaze straight, displaying a solemn demeanor. ¡°I, your servant Jiang Sang, pay my respects to the Empress Dowager¡ª¡± She knelt and performed the ritualistic salute. In a short time, the scrutinizing gaze of the person above descended upon her. Heavy like a thousand-pound weight. Inside the hall, the scent of the Buddha Beads was much stronger. Presumably, because of the burning incense, the temperature felt much higher than outside. Stifling and oppressive. It made one feel extremely uncomfortable. ¡°Rise. Take a seat. You seek an audience with me, what is the matter?¡± Empress Dowager Pei¡¯s voice was quite gentle. Just as Sang Yan remembered from the original owner¡¯s memory. She sneakily lifted her eyes and saw Empress Dowager Pei sitting in the place of honor, her silver hair and kind, compassionate features radiating a sense of broad-mindedness and good health, her neck and hands adorned with Buddha Beads, giving her the appearance of a devout and elderly person absorbed in Buddhist practice. But that was just appearances. A buddha¡¯s mouth and a snake¡¯s heart, her smile concealing a blade, was often the true nature of such people. Sang Yan resumed composure of her mind and did not take her seat. Instead, she knelt and solemnly replied, ¡°To the Empress Dowager, I have two matters. One is to ask for forgiveness and the second is to offer a strategy.¡± Empress Dowager Pei expressed surprise, ¡°Oh? For what do you ask forgiveness? And what strategy do you offer?¡± Sang Yan said, ¡°Since coming to the palace, I have brought about harmful gossip, tarnishing the Emperor¡¯s sacred name and causing a number of concubines to be confined to the Cold Palace. My crimes warrant death, and I specifically came to ask for punishment.¡± Empress Dowager Pei was aware of the matter Sang Yan was referring to, and without casting judgment, spoke in a calm tone, ¡°Continue.¡± Sang Yan then continued, ¡°I am aware that the previous dynasty¡¯s harem has long suffered from the lack of an heir. I have come to offer a strategy to redeem my wrongdoings.¡± Upon hearing this, a change finally came over Empress Dowager Pei¡¯s composed expression. She rose from her seat and personally came to help her up, smiling amicably, ¡°Good child, rise and speak.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, the matter of the heir still held sway. She was pulled to sit on the couch, alongside Empress Dowager Pei, as close as grandparents and grandchildren. The other palace maids had already withdrawn at the Empress Dowagers gesture. Only a young palace maid dressed in Begonia colors, presumably a confidante, remained at her side. Sang Yan began to speak softly, ¡°Empress Dowager, the method I¡¯m about to suggest may seem presumptuous, please forgive my boldness.¡± Empress Dowager Pei patted her hand with a soothing smile that was both reassuring and encouraging, ¡°Do not fear. I know you are concerned about the heir; you are a good child. Speak your mind.¡± With the assurance given, Sang Yan proceeded, ¡°Since the Emperor abstains from the company of women, it made me think, could we allow the Emperor to self-pollinate and obtain the dragon essence? Then using a soft tube or similar tool, place it into the bodies of the concubines¡ª¡± She briefly described the method, her face blushing with a touch of shame. Empress Dowager Pei¡¯s reaction was different, as her expression became serious, she slowly responded, ¡°It could be worth a try.¡± Seeing her respond in such a manner, Sang Yan felt her objective had been achieved. She stood up and knelt again, feigning a mournful demeanor as she pleaded, ¡°I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive my transgressions in light of my suggestion, and release those concubines who have been sent to the Cold Palace. My fate is ominous and my status lowly; I never dared to harbor other ambitions. I also request the Empress Dowager to allow me to leave the palace. I am willing to remain a widow for my deceased husband for life, never to marry again.¡± When Empress Dowager Pei heard the last sentence, she couldn¡¯t help but look at her more intently. Such a young and beautiful woman, yet ill-fated ¨C a pity indeed. ¡°Go. I grant your request.¡± ¡°Thank you, Empress Dowager.¡± Sang Yan exited Yongshou Palace with a grateful expression. Silence returned to the hall. The palace maid dressed in begonia-colored garments had listened intently to the entire process, her expression even more solemn than Empress Dowager Pei¡¯s. ¡°In this palace, everyone knows the Emperor favors her. By acting this way, Your Highness, you might fall out of the Emperor¡¯s favor. Ever since the Regent King incident, the Emperor imprisoned the Empress and distanced himself from you. In your servant¡¯s opinion, it really shouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Empress Dowager Pei lifted her hand to gently interrupt, heaving a light sigh, ¡°Puzhu¡­¡± Puzhu stepped forward, ¡°Your servant is here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious.¡± Empress Dowager Pei affectionately looked at her while toying with her Buddha Beads, ¡°Some things need to be done gradually. Whether she stays or not, we will have to see.¡± Puzhu bowed her head in response: ¡°Yes.¡± Silence once again enveloped the hall. The scent of incense grew stronger. In the midst of swirling incense smoke, Empress Dowager Pei, half-closing her eyes, said, ¡°Send for the person from the Observatory.¡± Observatory Wan Zhang sprawled drunkenly atop a couch, surrounded by a pile of wine jars. Puzhu, who had come to summon him, frowned in disdain and called out to him a few times, ¡°Director? Director Wan Zhang? The Empress Dowager wants to see you.¡± But Wan Zhang was too intoxicated to be roused. Fearing that he would bring trouble to the Observatory, the other officials hurriedly tried to awaken him but failed. Puzhu watched in frustration, sternly stating, ¡°I had heard that Director Wan Zhang of the Observatory indulges in alcohol daily and neglects his duties. Now it seems that the rumors are true!¡± ¡°Lord Palace Commander, please forgive us.¡± The officials bowed their heads in apology. Some officials spoke up for him, ¡°Last night, Director Wan Zhang was observing the stars, claiming that a lucky star was shining brightly, which is why he drank to excess.¡± Puzhu didn¡¯t believe these tall tales and had a little eunuch fetch a basin of water, dousing Wan Zhang¡¯s head with it. Wan Zhang woke from the drenching, raising his head to reveal a weathered face of a young man with otherwise handsome features, sadly marred by a defeated and despondent demeanor. Seeing Puzhu, he wiped the water from his face and said with a smile, ¡°Lord Palace Commander, just go back and relay the message that the Ziwei Star is high in the sky and red glimmers appear within it, the heir is not far off.¡± Had he guessed her purpose or, perhaps, the Empress Dowager¡¯s intent? Puzhu disliked the feeling of being seen through and said unhappily, ¡°Director Wan, I will relay your words and behavior today to the Empress Dowager. Be mindful of your own actions.¡± Wan Zhang paid her no heed and struggled back onto his couch, falling into a deep sleep. Puzhu left in a huff, sleeves flapping. The other officials sighed and lamented: ¡°Indeed, Director Wan Zhang is a genius among us, but such reckless behavior is bound to bring disaster to the Observatory one day.¡± ¡°In the blink of an eye, it¡¯s been sixteen years since the new Emperor ascended the throne. Instead of devoting himself to the Emperor, Director Wan Zhang spends his days divining auspicious signs and omens for the Empress Dowager, causing the Observatory to lose favor with His Majesty, bringing it to this fallen state; he is truly a sinner of the Observatory!¡± ¡°No, you misunderstand. If it weren¡¯t for Director Wan Zhang predicting the stars and saying that the new Emperor is the reincarnation of the Ziwei Star, a sage ruler for an era, the world would have already belonged to the Pei family.¡± ¡°How is that possible? Director Wan Zhang possesses such ability? All I know is that it was the new Emperor, along with former Minister of War Xuan Hongguang and head of the Imperial Guards Rong Ye, who surrounded and killed Regent King Pei Zhen, securing his place on the throne.¡± ¡°Hush, be cautious with your words. Do you want to lose your heads discussing these matters?¡± ¡­ At the same time Sang Yan returned to the side hall of Yuesang Palace. She immediately ordered her belongings to be packed, preparing to leave the Imperial Palace for a second time. This commotion quickly reached Sang Ruoshui¡¯s ears. While sending a message to the Emperor, she also went to intervene, ¡°Sister, what are you doing? You¡¯ve only arrived a few days ago, why are you leaving now?¡± Sang Yan replied, ¡°I am following the Empress Dowager¡¯s orders to leave the palace.¡± She had asked to resign, but purposely made it sound as if she had been expelled. In this way, for a period of time, the Sang Family, considering the Empress Dowager¡¯s stance, likely wouldn¡¯t dare to send her back into the palace again. Upon hearing it was the Empress Dowager¡¯s command, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Why does the Empress Dowager want you to leave? Did you misspeak in her presence? Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ve already notified the Emperor. Just wait, he will surely protect you¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯ve told the Emperor? Why did you tell him all this?¡± Sang Yan feared her plans might collapse, her frustration surging, speaking both urgently and harshly, ¡°Sang Ruoshui, I am your sister. I can help you compete for favor, but I¡¯m not a tool for your intrigues! Are you sick in the head? I¡¯ve said it, my heart lies with my deceased husband, my heart lies with my deceased husband, yet you push me towards the Emperor, do you want to drive me to death?¡± For the first time, Sang Ruoshui saw her sister in anger, momentarily stunned. The two looked at each other in silence. The atmosphere was awkward and heavy. Until the voice of a little eunuch broke the silence, ¡°Miss Sang, the Emperor requests your presence.¡± Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 020 Boredom Chapter 20: Chapter 020 Boredom Damnit! Everything is ruined! Sang Yan glanced impatiently at her and followed the little eunuch out. Qingning Palace It was time for the midday meal. On the dining table Eighty-one dishes were spread far and wide. As Sang Yan entered, the fragrance of the meals wafted through the air, and the delicacies looked so tempting that her stomach growled with hunger. Fortunately, she was standing at a distance. She believed the Emperor Dog couldn¡¯t hear it. ¡°I, your humble servant, greet the Emperor¡ª¡± There was no response. She waited for a while, then quietly lifted her head and saw the Emperor Dog enjoying his midday meal. The imperial eunuch He Ying was busy tasting dishes for him, bustling around the table. Was the Emperor Dog doing this on purpose? Was this meant to intimidate her? Thinking this, Sang Yan said nothing and knelt quietly. After about three minutes The Emperor Dog deigned to glance at her, ¡°Do you know your crime?¡± Sang Yan expected he had come to question her; she had prepared her defense, ¡°I know my crime. Ever since I came to the palace, I have caused trouble one after another, deserving of death. I hope the Emperor will forgive me.¡± ¡°You know full well that¡¯s not what I am talking about. Sang Yan, I¡¯ll give you one more chance, think carefully about what crime you have committed.¡± He Ying, putting down his chopsticks, looked intently at the person kneeling below: a lock of black hair hung over her tender, pale neck, so fragile that it seemed it could break with just a gentle force, yet remained defiantly lifted. ¡°I am foolish. Please forgive me, Your Majesty.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to say what he wanted to hear¡ªthat she thought leaving the palace was a crime, or seeking the Empress Dowager¡¯s favor was a crime, or even disliking him was a crime. ¡°Smack!¡± A bowl of soup on the table was swept to the floor by his sleeve. ¡°Your Majesty, please calm your anger.¡± He Ying and the other eunuchs and palace maids quickly kneeled down. ¡°How dare you!¡± The furious Emperor stood up, pacing back and forth, pointing at her, and barked, ¡°I have treated you well, yet you turn out to be a traitor!¡± Sang Yan lowered her head, staying silent, thinking to herself: Look, this is what the Emperor¡¯s so-called favor is. To him, you are just a thing. ¡°Your Majesty, please calm down. You have just recovered from illness; you must not become agitated.¡± He Ying tried to soothe the Emperor while also advising Sang Yan, ¡°Miss Sang, the Emperor cares most about you, please say some soothing words.¡± Sang Yan remained silent, unwilling to get entangled with the Emperor any longer. It was better if he grew tired of her. Once tired of her, she would be free. That¡¯s what she thought, but others didn¡¯t see it that way. ¡°Miss Sang, in the Imperial Palace, the most taboo thing is to become arrogant because of favor.¡± He Ying felt that Sang Yan was being ungrateful. Sang Yan thought to herself: So all this time she had been cautious and walking on thin ice, yet in others¡¯ eyes, she was still considered arrogant? How ridiculous! ¡°Mr. Pei, watch your words. I am of humble status and cannot bear the word ¡®favor.''¡± She knew these words could offend, but she couldn¡¯t care less. What¡¯s the use of being timid and living in fear? Isn¡¯t it just stepping deeper into the mire? ¡°Your Majesty, please let me leave the palace.¡± She expressed her request directly. He Ying sneered at the demand, ¡°Do you think this Imperial Palace is some kind of inn? Where you can come and go as you please?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Imperial Power above her always left her in a dilemma. Between their standoff¡ª The voice of the Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De came from outside, ¡°Your Majesty, the Chief of the Prison Department requests an audience.¡± He Ying glanced at Sang Yan and took a seat at the head of the table. ¡°Let him in.¡± Soon after, the Chief made his entrance. He was a lean young man dressed in a black official robe, with a stern face and a cold, heavy voice: ¡°This humble official from the Prison Department, Wang Lishuo, greets the Emperor.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression remained cool, and he waved a hand. ¡°Rise.¡± Wang Lishuo stood up and presented the case files. ¡°Emperor, regarding the assassination attempt, this humble official has concluded the investigation. The dancer¡¯s name is Du Lianyu, the daughter of the criminal Du Fengchuan. Sixteen years ago, Du Fengchuan became an accomplice to the treacherous Pei Zhen, and because he brought chaos to the world, he was executed by Your Majesty. She and her sister Du Xiyu, being young at the time, were punished by being sent to the Imperial Music Bureau. A year ago, Du Xiyu attempted to seduce the Emperor unsuccessfully and even caused Your Majesty to fall ill; hence, she was beaten to death. Du Lianyu has been seeking revenge ever since and recently found an opportunity to carry out an assassination.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± He Ying frowned, his expression impatient. He had already guessed the dancer¡¯s identity and motive for the assassination. He had ordered the investigation to find out who was complicit. Wang Lishuo also knew what the Emperor meant and hurriedly said, ¡°Furthermore, this humble official discovered that the palace maid Mingtao, a confidante of Lan, had interactions with Du Lianyu.¡± Two dead people. No witnesses to testify. Such a sloppy attempt at slander. He Ying found it amusing, glanced at him, and smiled as he inquired, ¡°Are you implying that Lan wished to kill me?¡± Wang Lishuo quickly kowtowed. ¡°This humble official dares not.¡± ¡°You dare not, yet you say it!¡± Having heard enough nonsense and running out of patience, He Ying grabbed a teacup from his side and hurled it. Wang Lishuo was hit squarely. Blood streamed from a gash on his forehead. He didn¡¯t dare to wipe it and tremblingly said, ¡°Although Lan has no motive for murder, she harbors jealousy and intent to trap Miss Sang. Initially, the rumors against Miss Sang originated from Youlan Pavilion. Lan intended to use the assassination to make Miss Sang bear the blame of being a husband¡¯s curse. There are palace maids from Youlan Pavilion who can testify. Emperor, please discern the truth.¡± He Ying felt like he was being treated like a fool. He wanted to kill him but seeing his pitiful, foolish state held back, waving his hand. ¡°Get out!¡± Wang Lishuo: ¡°¡­¡± He left as quickly as he could. The hall fell silent. He Ying, massaging his temples, glanced at Sang Yan¡ªshe was still kneeling, her head down, her side profile calm, appearing gentle and compliant. Fake. All of it was fake. Everyone in this Imperial Palace, so fake it was nauseating. ¡°What do you think?¡± Suppressing his anger, he looked down at her and asked, ¡°This matter concerns you. Do you also believe Lan is framing you for the assassination out of jealousy for your favor?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, her voice steady. ¡°It wasn¡¯t Lan.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Lan has already lost Your Majesty¡¯s favor and lies in a coma, uncertain if she will ever awaken. Thus, she has been chosen by the real orchestrator behind the scenes to be the scapegoat.¡± She felt pity for Lan¡ªkicked while down, and even as she lay dying, she was being splashed with a pail of filth. Is this the fate of women in the harem? She would rather die than enter the harem. He Ying agreed with Sang Yan¡¯s words but also said, ¡°She truly is jealous of you, having people monitor you, digging into your affairs. She dared to serve me aphrodisiac because she listened to the plans of you and your sister.¡± At this point, his interest piqued, he returned to the dining table. ¡°Stand up. Serve me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The topic changed too quickly. She was confused for a moment before, with Pei Muyang¡¯s reminder, she stood up. Pei Muyang considerately inquired, ¡°Emperor, the food has gone cold. Would you like the Imperial Kitchen to prepare something fresh?¡± He Ying waved his hand. ¡°No need. All of you, go out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang responded, and he immediately led the eunuchs and palace maids out of the palace. Only two were left in the hall. The silence was unsettling. Sang Yan blankly stared at the Emperor, an ominous premonition emerging within her. ¡°You didn¡¯t want me to lose control after drinking, did you?¡± Her premonition proved to be incredibly accurate. ¡°I¡¯ll give you that opportunity.¡± He Ying, with a smirk on his lips, beckoned to her, ¡°Come here. Pour the wine.¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 021 Demand by Force Chapter 21: Chapter 021 Demand by Force Sang Yan¡¯s heart was resistant. She stood erect, not going over. He Ying saw this but wasn¡¯t annoyed, pinching his chin with a raised eyebrow and a smile, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t admit it? Lan personally said so. She claimed it was after hearing the arrangement between you sisters that she momentarily lost her senses and chose the wrong path. Her palace attendants can testify, and I believe those from Yuesang Palace will testify as well.¡± Indeed. Lan¡¯s fate was partially her own doing. If she herself hadn¡¯t entered the palace, if she hadn¡¯t helped Sang Ruoshui compete for favor, what would everything be like? Sang Yan knew she shouldn¡¯t think this way, feeling a bit of a ¡®Madonna complex¡¯ flaring up, but she still felt somewhat influenced. ¡°Emperor, forgive me.¡± She knelt to admit her fault, earnestly explaining, ¡°I hold no ill intent toward the Emperor, I am only concerned for the heir. The Emperor has sought female companionship and felt unwell; I wondered if it might be psychological, and thought perhaps under the influence of alcohol, there might be a miracle.¡± ¡°I¡¯m also curious if there might be a miracle.¡± He Ying bid her to rise and continue pouring his wine, ¡°Come on. Get me drunk. Let me indulge in lust after drinking.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It was too shameful. She did not rise, nor did she speak. He Ying chuckled lightly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Now you don¡¯t have the courage to experiment with me? I absolve you of any wrongdoing.¡± Sang Yan felt the Emperor was just picking a fight, yet she could only kowtow and beg for mercy, ¡°I acknowledge my guilt. Emperor, your magnanimity knows no bounds; I beseech you to spare me this time.¡± The Emperor was too wicked. And very petty. Lan¡¯s matter had passed, he hadn¡¯t cared about it before, but now he was using it to intimidate her! ¡°Are you sure you just want me to spare you this time?¡± The Emperor¡¯s words had a hidden meaning. Sang Yan immediately thought of her visit to the Empress Dowager at Yongshou Palace¡ªbad news! Did he know she had offered strategies to the Empress Dowager? My God! Are there no secrets in the Imperial Palace! No, it should be said that everything in the Imperial Palace is under his control! ¡°I heard from Princess Consort Sang that you wish to leave the palace, is this considered fleeing due to fear of punishment? Hm? Sang Yan, since you have strategies, why not present them directly to me? What, are you afraid I¡¯ll implement them on you?¡± When He Ying said this, he was both angry and embarrassed, and his volume rose, ¡°Indeed, a woman who¡¯s been married before, more experienced than even me!¡± ¡°I¡­ acknowledge my guilt.¡± Sang Yan lowered her head, her pretty face instantly blushing. Red as a rose. Red as if bleeding. He Ying saw this, and a strange fire ignited in his heart: Who taught her all those things? Her deceased husband? I heard her deceased husband died before their wedding night? So before the wedding night, they already¡­ ¡°Detestable!¡± He slammed the table, clearing his mind of the messy thoughts. Sang Yan, unaware of his internal turmoil, shuddered with fright. He Ying stared at her fiercely, his gaze hotter than he realized, as if it were aflame, wanting to burn off her clothes layer by layer. Sang Yan felt extremely tense under his gaze. Her stomach inappropriately growled twice. She was terribly embarrassed, her head bowing even lower, wishing she could crawl into a hole. He Ying heard the noise from her stomach, slightly furrowing his brows, but said nothing. This foolish woman, didn¡¯t she think to eat something before she came? He suppressed the urge to invite her to share a meal with him and huffed, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Weren¡¯t you quite eloquent?¡± Sang Yan knew she couldn¡¯t outtalk the Emperor and that the more she said, the more errors she¡¯d make, so she said, ¡°I acknowledge my guilt.¡± In fact, He Ying disliked hearing her say that. Every time she said it, it seemed like a capitulation, but in truth, it was a carte blanche for her. He couldn¡¯t charge her with a crime, and so she grew repeatedly arrogant with favor! ¡°Very well, since you acknowledge your guilt, then redeem yourself through service.¡± He Ying narrowed his dangerous eyes, a cruel smile curling on his lips, ¡°Not everyone in the Imperial Palace is as worried about the heir as you are. Since you¡¯re so concerned, then I shall grant you a heir as you suggest!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Sang Yan was startled, raising her head, her eyes wide, rejecting him again, ¡°Emperor! You must not!¡± He Ying knew Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t agree, but hearing her refusal still displeased him greatly. This displeasure contained the anger of the Emperor¡¯s authority being offended, the embarrassment of a man¡¯s dignity being wounded, and the pain of a sincere offer being rejected. He was the Emperor, and all the women of the world competed for the chance to bear his children, but she was unwilling. The reason, it seems, is that she¡¯s still clinging to the memory of her deceased husband! Who knows what kind of love potion that dead man gave her! It infuriated him to no end! ¡°Why not?¡± He knew full well yet still aimed to bewitch her. ¡°My first heir, if it is a Prince, would be Da He¡¯s future Crown Prince. Isn¡¯t this why your family sent you to the palace?¡± ¡°But I am not here for this.¡± Sang Yan lifted her head to meet his gaze, firmly stating, ¡°I have no intention of remarrying; I only wish to honor my late husband.¡± ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t mention your dead husband!¡± He Ying¡¯s tolerance for Sang Yan¡¯s late husband was getting lower and lower. He exploded upon hearing it: ¡°You are foolish beyond measure! You do not know what you¡¯re missing! And you dare to refuse me!¡± He was so angry he wanted to murder someone: ¡°From now on, if you dare say ¡®no¡¯ again, I will kill your entire family! Don¡¯t believe me? Just try me!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This dog of an Emperor is resorting to tyranny! She was very scared and very angry: ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider! The entire palace is full of women competing to bear children for the Emperor. Why must you insist on me?¡± ¡°Insist?¡± He Ying laughed with rage: ¡°You say I insist? Ha, very well then, I shall insist! Come¡ª¡± Pei Muyang, who had been eavesdropping by the door, thought upon hearing the Emperor reward Sang Yan with the first heir: The Sang Family is going to prosper! What an unparalleled honor! He never imagined that Sang Yan would refuse! Was this woman maddened by her widowhood? That¡¯s the heir to the throne! ¡°I am here.¡± He rushed in, thinking: Faced with the Emperor¡¯s wrath, he didn¡¯t plan on killing someone, did he? Should he advise against it or not? If the killing happened and the Emperor regretted it later, he¡¯d definitely be the first to suffer! ¡°Your Majesty, please think twice. Miss Sang cannot be killed¡ª¡± ¡°Who is going to kill her?¡± He Ying, annoyed by the dim-witted Pei Muyang, kicked him: ¡°Draft the decree! Do it now! Mrs. Sang¡¯s eldest daughter, Sang Yan, is virtuous and talented, deeply beloved by me; thus, she is to be conferred the title of Imperial Concubine Jiayi! Tonight, she shall receive the honor¡ª¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± Sang Yan was truly frightened this time. She stood up quickly, intending to stop Pei Muyang, but perhaps because she had been kneeling too long and stood up too quickly, she blacked out and fainted. ¡°Sang Yan!¡± He Ying cried out in shock and instinctively reached out to help her. ¡°My Lady¡ª¡± Pei Muyang saw the Emperor move to help and hurriedly stopped him: ¡°Your Majesty, you mustn¡¯t touch her! Be careful of the illness flaring up!¡± He Ying, reminded of the pain of the illness, paused mid-reach and slowly withdrew his hand: ¡°Summon the Imperial Physician immediately!¡± Pei Muyang responded with an affirmation, arranged for the eunuch to fetch the Imperial Physician, and had another eunuch carry Sang Yan to the Dragon Bed. The eunuch was very careful; when placing her on the Dragon Bed, he supported the back of her head and gently laid it on the pillow. Then, he pulled up the blanket to cover her. She lay there, wearing a thin summer garment; the faint outline of her softly white skin was visible, rising and falling with her breathing. A vivid and enticing beauty. He knew the eunuch hadn¡¯t dared to look, but he was still overwhelmingly jealous. Jealous that the eunuch was so close to her. Jealous that the eunuch had held her. When that right should have been his alone. It was all because of that strange disease! For the first time, He Ying felt hatred for the strange disease¡­ and an urgent, burning desire to cure it. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 022 Insomnia Chapter 22: Chapter 022 Insomnia ¡°Worries turned to sickness, qi and blood are deficient, and a sudden intense anger attacked the heart, leading to fainting. She needs good care and nourishment.¡± The voice of the Imperial Physician echoed in her ears. Sang Yan woke up but didn¡¯t want to open her eyes, so she simply pretended to be asleep. He Ying saw through her act and deliberately said, ¡°Pei Muyang, what are you standing there for? Draft the edict.¡± ¡°No!¡± Sang Yan opened her eyes, sat up in alarm, and looked toward He Ying, ¡°I have no desire to enter the palace, I hope the Emperor will rescind the order.¡± As she spoke, she tried to get off the bed to kneel despite her weak body. ¡°Ungrateful!¡± He Ying could see what she was thinking and, amidst his anger, also felt a trace of pity, ¡°First, take her back to Yuesang Palace!¡± ¡°Thank you, Emperor. I shall take my leave.¡± Sang Yan got off the Dragon Bed without hesitation, supported by several palace maids as she left Qingning Palace. Outside the palace, the eunuchs had a walking carriage ready for her. That was something only those of a consort¡¯s rank and above were allowed to use. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to sit, but with He Ying watching her from behind, she had no choice but to take her seat. A grand procession returned her to Yuesang Palace. The Imperial Physician followed along, and upon entering the palace, handed over a prescription for the palace maids to fetch and prepare the medicine. Sang Ruoshui heard the commotion and came over, seeing Sang Yan weakly lying in bed, and was quite astonished¡ªshe had claimed illness as a pretense, how had she really become sick? ¡°Sister, where do you feel unwell?¡± She approached with concern visible in her eyes¡ªthe Emperor had just told her to take good care of Sang Yan, and now she fell ill. What if the Emperor blamed her? She didn¡¯t dare think any further. Sang Yan did not open up to her and did not want to talk much either. If it weren¡¯t for her sending messages to the Emperor, she would have left the Imperial Palace already, so why would she be in such a situation now? Sang Ruoshui noticed her silence and guessing that she was still angry with her, wisely stayed quiet and went to inquire with the Imperial Physician. After hearing about Sang Yan¡¯s condition from the Imperial Physician, she felt relieved and blamed herself, ¡°It was I who put too much pressure on sister. It¡¯s my fault. I acted in haste and displeased you, I will surely not make the same mistake again. Sister, please take care of yourself, nothing is more important than your health.¡± To her classically pleasantries, Sang Yan was not appreciative, ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± She tactfully dismissed her. Just then, the palace maid came with the medicine. Sang Ruoshui took it, offering, ¡°Let me feed sister the medicine. After you finish the medicine, I will leave and not disturb your rest.¡± Eager for her to leave, Sang Yan promptly reached out and said, ¡°Give it to me. I can drink it myself.¡± ¡°Not so fast. It¡¯s still a bit hot.¡± Sang Ruoshui stirred the medicine a few times with the spoon, blew on it, and waited until it cooled somewhat before passing it over. Sang Yan took the medicine and drank it down in one breath. True to her word, Sang Ruoshui instructed the palace maids to take good care of her and then left. Watching her depart, Sang Yan¡¯s thoughts were on He Ying¡ªhe meant to make her his consort. Although that idea was now extinguished, she knew she couldn¡¯t stay in the Imperial Palace for long. She must leave. And it must be unexpectedly. So, the next day, Sang Yan didn¡¯t have anyone pack, just took Qiuzhi, and left the Imperial Palace with an oral decree from the Empress Dowager. Before going, she had someone send a letter to He Ying, hoping he would let her go. * He Ying received Sang Yan¡¯s letter after he descended from court. By then, Sang Yan had already left. He opened her letter, which contained but a few lines, a poem resembling a love letter: [I love you Love to the point of unselfishness. Just like someone Whose dove has flown away from his hand, And from his heart He wishes that dove a blessed flight.] What did it mean? Was she hinting that letting her go was the way to love her? He Ying read the short poem over and over, forgetting to look into the matter of her departure. That¡¯s exactly what Sang Yan intended. She left behind that line from Wang Xiaobo¡¯s poem to soothe He Ying, hoping he wouldn¡¯t be too angry and to signify to him to set her free. After leaving the palace, she didn¡¯t return to the Sang Family, but to their country estate instead. She had only stayed at the estate for a few days, but she truly liked it there. Mountains clear, waters serene, all enveloped in greenery, and even the air seemed to breathe freedom. That night, it even began to rain softly. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t sleep. Unable to resist thinking about He Ying¡¯s next move: Could those few sentences dispel his thoughts? Would he let her go? Her mind was troubled and restless, making it difficult for her to fall asleep. The rain grew heavier. The servants hurried out to move the flower plants in the courtyard. Hearing the commotion, she opened the window to watch them bustle in the night. In no time, they were all drenched like wet chickens. ¡°Qiuzhi, ask Mrs. Liu from the kitchen to brew some ginger soup for them, and make sure they drink it before they go to bed.¡± She was a good mistress who cared for her servants. Qiuzhi heard her and immediately responded, ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± The servants in the courtyard also heard and thanked her, ¡°Miss is truly kind-hearted like a Bodhisattva. / Thank you, Miss. / Miss, please close the window, be careful of the wind. / Right, right, Miss is delicate, catching a cold would be bad.¡± True sincerity is met with true sincerity. Sang Yan was moved by their simple concern. Even her irritability dissipated quite a bit. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m wearing a cloak.¡± She smiled but took their advice to heart, closed the window, lay down on the bed, and eventually fell asleep. At that very moment Qingning Palace He Ying was still unable to sleep. He tossed and turned restlessly on the spacious Dragon Bed, unable to calm his mind. ¡°Someone come!¡± He finally got up and pushed aside the mosquito net. ¡°Your Majesty, your servant is here.¡± The voice arrived before the person. Pei Muyang pushed open the palace doors and hurried in. With his entrance, the lights in the hall sparked to life as if it were day. ¡°Pick up the things on the floor.¡± Upon hearing the Emperor¡¯s words, Pei Muyang noticed a crumpled piece of paper on the ground. If he remembered correctly, it should be the letter left by Sang Yan. Sang Yan had some nerve, leaving just a few words and daring to leave the palace on her own. Truly pampered to the point of arrogance! ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Pei Muyang handed the crumpled paper to the Emperor. His glance at the Emperor¡¯s expression showed displeasure, so he cautiously said, ¡°Your servant saw that the night-blooming cereus in the Imperial Garden looks like it will bloom soon. Perhaps tomorrow, you could invite Miss Sang to come to the palace to enjoy the flowers?¡± The Emperor obviously didn¡¯t want Sang Yan to leave. But since Sang Yan had left, she wouldn¡¯t come back easily. Unless the Emperor issued a decree. But an imperial decree would be too conspicuous. It wasn¡¯t that the Emperor feared criticism, but rather he cared for Sang Yan and didn¡¯t want her to be criticized. He would have to be subtle about it. Pei Muyang had a thorough understanding of the Emperor¡¯s thoughts. He Ying gave him a look, said nothing, and focused on smoothing out the crumpled paper. As if he wanted to restore it to its original state. With a touch of cherishing. Seeing this, Pei Muyang thought he might not be satisfied with this approach, paused for a bit, and then said, ¡°Your Majesty, it has been a long time since you¡¯ve roamed the city in disguise. It¡¯s said that a teahouse in the Capital City has invited Mr. Feng Yicheng to tell stories.¡± Feng Yicheng was the eldest grandson and direct heir of the Imperial Censor, Feng Yi. He became a scholar at seventeen, bearing the grace of a dragon and phoenix, and won He Ying¡¯s favor, even serving a stint at the Hanlin Academy. But he didn¡¯t care for titles or fame, and he soon resigned from his office to travel around. Over the years, he visited famous mountains and rivers, composing countless poems and travel logs. Whenever he published, his works caused a stir¡ªlet alone telling stories. ¡°Your Majesty, why don¡¯t you find the time to take Miss Sang to listen to a story? She¡¯s been downhearted, and listening might just broaden her spirits.¡± Pei Muyang racked his brains to please the Emperor¡¯s heart. He Ying was indeed pleased by him¡ªSang Yan clearly disliked the Imperial Palace, and now with her heart troubled, forcing her return to the palace might exacerbate her troubles. He did not immediately pursue her departure for this reason; thus, wanting to see her, it was better to meet outside the palace. ¡°Your brains¡ª¡± He Ying showed a hint of appreciation and smiled, ¡°They are occasionally of some use.¡± Pei Muyang, not taking credit, immediately chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your excellent teaching, Your Majesty.¡± He Ying said no more, withdrawing his gaze to the wrinkled letter: Where was she a pigeon? Clearly, she was a rabbit. No matter how fast she ran¡ª She couldn¡¯t escape the palm of his hand. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 023 Escape Chapter 23: Chapter 023 Escape He Ying gave Sang Yan three days to recuperate her body and mind. Three days passed, and he quietly left the Imperial Palace. He was dressed in a snow-colored brocade, with a dark golden dragon pattern belt around his waist, his long hair flowing, confined by a White Jade Hairpin, holding an ivory folding fan in his hand. At first glance, he appeared much younger, a gracefully elegant noble young master. The young master¡¯s ride was a carriage. The carriage was a low-key luxury. It looked ordinary from the outside, but the interior was very spacious, equipped with a small tea table, tea, and pastries on the table, and soft carpets on the floor. At each corner hung a sachet, with tassels embedded with agate and jade. ¡°Emperor, Second Master¡ª¡± Pei Muyang lifted the carriage curtain, his face flushed with panic, ¡°Just now, the guard went to deliver a message, saying that Miss Sang hasn¡¯t¡ªhasn¡¯t returned to the mansion.¡± ¡°What?¡± He Ying frowned, his face displeased, ¡°She hasn¡¯t returned to the mansion? Where did she go then? To the Jiang Family?¡± He thought Sang Yan had missed her deceased husband and gone back to the Jiang Family to mourn. Pei Muyang would rather have Sang Yan return to the Jiang Family than face the current situation. ¡°It¡¯s said¡ªsaid she entered the palace. Hasn¡¯t¡ªhasn¡¯t come back.¡± His voice trembled with fear¡ªhad something happened to Miss Sang on the road after she left the palace? Or perhaps¡­ she had run away? Whichever possibility was not good news at all! He Ying was sitting leisurely in the carriage, sipping tea, but upon hearing this, he crushed the cup in his hand. ¡°Crack.¡± The fragments of the cup pierced into his skin. Blood flowed profusely. ¡°Emperor!¡± Pei Muyang whispered urgently, quickly taking out a handkerchief to bandage and stop the bleeding. ¡°No need. It¡¯s nothing.¡± He Ying pushed him away, his face terrifyingly cold. He seemed not to feel the pain as he pulled out the shard, saying, ¡°First, have the Hidden Guard go in to investigate. Search the Sang Family and the Jiang Family secretly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang hurried down from the carriage to instruct the Hidden Guard to search for the person. In a while, he returned and reassured, ¡°Emperor, please rest assured, under the Emperor¡¯s feet, Miss Sang will certainly be fine.¡± He Ying also didn¡¯t think she would come to any harm. When she left the palace, it was daylight, and from the Imperial Palace to the Sang Mansion, as Pei Muyang said, under the Emperor¡¯s feet, within the martial law of the Imperial City, patrols were ongoing, and nobody would dare to commit evil deeds. If no one did evil, it must have been her own doing¡ªha, she ran away, didn¡¯t she? ¡°I¡¯ve been too soft-hearted towards her.¡± He had overestimated his control. He should have seized her back immediately after she left the palace. Even more, he should have claimed her early on, instead of thinking of winning her heart first. Waiting was long and agonizing. The wound on his hand gradually clotted and stopped bleeding. Pei Muyang took some water, dampened the handkerchief, and gently wiped the dried blood from his hand. He watched silently, without uttering a word, already so irritable in his heart that he felt like killing someone. There was a moment when he felt like he was back in his childhood¡ªthe feeling of being constrained, suppressed, mocked, and powerless, pitifully struggling like a trapped beast. Then the news came back from the Hidden Guards¡ª ¡°Miss Sang is not at the Sang Mansion.¡± ¡°Miss Sang is not at the Jiang Residence.¡± These words pierced him with pain¡ªhad she really run away? His favor and preference for her were met with her avoidance as if from a snake or scorpion? How outrageous! ¡°Back to the palace!¡± His face darkened, his lips pursed tightly, and those two words seemed to squeeze out of his mouth with a certain resentful viciousness. Upon hearing this, Pei Muyang immediately had the coachman turn back to the palace. The journey back to the palace was particularly quiet. Pei Muyang knew the Emperor was in a bad mood, the kind that couldn¡¯t be soothed, so he wisely kept quiet. Once back at Qingning Palace, he immediately had the eunuch call for the Imperial Physician. He Ying¡¯s hand was bleeding again. Perhaps he had unconsciously exerted force, and the wound on his palm reopened, bleeding profusely. Pei Muyang watched in trepidation, gently advising in a hushed voice, ¡°Emperor, Miss Sang¡¯s disappearance may be due to an unavoidable situation. You must look after your dragon body and find her as soon as possible.¡± He Ying¡¯s face remained cold, and he didn¡¯t say a word. The atmosphere in the hall had dropped to freezing point. Until the guard leader, Lu Zijin, came in, ¡°Emperor, I have found out where Miss Sang has gone.¡± Upon hearing this, He Ying¡¯s expression remained calm, but his body betrayed him, visibly relaxing a bit. He leaned against the Dragon Couch, watching the Imperial Physician bandage his wounds, and asked, ¡°Where is she?¡± Lu Zijin replied, ¡°The Sang Family owns a villa outside the Capital City. After Miss Sang left the Imperial Palace, she hired a coach directly and went straight to the villa.¡± ¡°A villa?¡± He Ying hadn¡¯t expected this outcome, and he felt both heartache and anger at once, ¡°Why would she go there? Who allowed her to go?¡± A sheltered young lady from a distinguished family going to a villa? Were the people of the Sang Family tired of living? ¡°I do not know.¡± ¡°Go and investigate!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± * Sang Yan had no idea what was happening in the palace. She had been lazing around in the villa for four days and hadn¡¯t seen anyone from the palace, so she figured He Ying was fed up with her and that she had gained her freedom. Her mood was incredibly liberating. When one feels good, one feels like going out and having fun. Sang Yan thus took a carriage ride and went out to enjoy herself. Considering she had run into Jiang Ke near the villa last time, this time she simply decided to go play in the Imperial City. The Imperial City was bustling with activity. She had only glimpsed it briefly the day she left the palace, and she was still very eager to return. Although the Emperor was a dog, under his rule, the Dahe Dynasty indeed had the vigor of a powerful nation. ¡°Just stop here.¡± Sang Yan looked at the lively rouge and make-up shop, with her eyes sparkling with laughter. No woman doesn¡¯t like to be beautiful. Even if she was as lazy as a salted fish, she was still very interested in cosmetics. ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± The Sang Family¡¯s servant, Dong Chuan, reined in the horses, stopped the carriage, jumped down, knelt on the ground, and offered his back as a stepping stool for her. Sang Yan saw this but didn¡¯t step on him; instead, she lifted the hem of her dress and jumped down. The action was quite indelicate. She was aware of it, but in her rare good mood, she indulged herself and let out her true nature. It gave Dong Chuan quite a fright, ¡°Miss!¡± His exclamation was met with her safe landing, yet he still feared the worst, ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t be so reckless. What if you had fallen?¡± ¡°No worries. A height like this is nothing.¡± Sang Yan dismissed the concern with a wave of her hand and headed into the shop. Little did she know that He Ying had witnessed this entire scene. ¡°So this is what she¡¯s like outside.¡± After learning that Sang Yan was staying at the villa and finding out the reasons, He Ying didn¡¯t go to retrieve her; instead, he ordered her to be under surveillance, wanting to see what she would do after leaving him. Knowing she was going out today, he also left the Imperial Palace and met her halfway. At that moment, he opened his folding fan, partly covering his face, and followed her into the shop. Pei Muyang also wanted to go in. He Ying gave him a glance and said softly, ¡°Let Zijin follow.¡± Lu Zijin was the guard leader and had been on leave. For Sang Yan, he was a new face and wouldn¡¯t be recognized. It was different for Pei Muyang; Sang Yan had seen him too many times. If he showed up, his identity would be obvious. ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang, knowing his place, returned to the carriage. Lu Zijin followed into the shop. The shop was crowded, almost exclusively with women. He was very nervous, thinking of the Emperor¡¯s strange illness, shielding him from the front and back, fearing women might touch him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so tense.¡± He Ying, watching from a distance, saw the delicate figure selecting items and smiled indulgently, ¡°Buy everything she looks at.¡± Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 024: Rudeness Chapter 24: Chapter 024: Rudeness Lu Zijin took the order and left. He pulled out two gold ingots, pointed to Sang Yan with her back towards them, and said to the owner in a low voice, ¡°Prepare a set of everything that the young lady has looked at.¡± The owner was a woman in her forties who, seeing the gold, immediately smiled and nodded, ¡°Of course. Certainly.¡± Her small eyes gleamed with shrewdness as she called a servant to follow the instructions and then sized up He Ying surreptitiously¡ª the young man was bursting with youthful vigor and had an air of nobility about him, he must be someone of importance. With that thought, she approached with a beaming smile and warm hospitality, ¡°Would the gentleman like to personally select something for the lady he admires? It¡¯s more meaningful when you choose it yourself.¡± He Ying felt there was some truth to that and went to select something personally. Seeing this, the owner followed him closely and introduced various products, ¡°This is the peach blossom face cream, apply a layer before bed, and when you wake up the next day, your skin will be tender and dewy like that of a juicy peach. This one is the city-flipping color, look at this sultry red. Apply it to the lips and wow, it truly makes one more ravishing than the flowers¡­¡± She was a sales expert, and with just a few words, she had kindled the desire to buy. He Ying couldn¡¯t help but imagine himself applying the lipstick on Sang Yan. It must be a beautiful scene. ¡°Sir¡ª¡± A soft, gentle female voice interrupted his lovely daydream. He Ying came back to reality and saw a pretty young girl standing before him¡ª her delicate, egg-shaped face and lustrous, peach blossom eyes shone brightly. She wore a hairpin with a butterfly carved from red jade and was dressed in a pomegranate-red long skirt, her waist slender, adorned with a white jade tassel. Walking gracefully, she was the picture of charm and allure. Indeed, she was an exceptional beauty. But after just one glance, he took two steps back, slightly furrowing his brows. ¡°Sir, that folding fan of yours is truly exquisite¡ª¡± The beauty approached gracefully, with a smile as captivating as flowers, her voice sweet as a warbler¡¯s, ¡°My elder brother will soon have his coming-of-age ceremony, I wonder if you would be willing to part with it and sell it to me? I would be so grateful.¡± In truth, she was more interested in striking up a conversation than in buying the item. He Ying didn¡¯t think much of it and promptly refused, ¡°No, I cannot.¡± The beauty: ¡°¡­¡± She did not expect this outcome and was momentarily stunned. Regaining her composure, she blushed deeply, embarrassed, but still smitten by the young man¡¯s handsome face and his extraordinary presence, she mustered the courage to say, ¡°I truly wish to purchase it, my father is Marquis Zhongyi Jiang Heng, money is not an issue.¡± Now it was He Ying¡¯s turn to be stunned¡ª the daughter of the Jiang Family? Sang Yan¡¯s former sister-in-law? Thinking of Sang Yan, the beauty apparently recognized her, and waved, calling out, ¡°Sister-in-law¡ª¡± Sang Yan, who had finished selecting her items and put on her veil hat, was about to leave when she was called. Because He Ying¡¯s back was to her, despite feeling a sense of familiarity, she did not guess it was him. She recognized Jiang Yue, the younger sister-in-law of her original self, and assuming she was being bothered by a man, stepped forward to inquire, ¡°Jiang Yue, what¡¯s the matter?¡± As she asked, she looked at the man unconsciously, and the next moment her expression changed drastically, ¡°Emperor¡ª hmm¡ª¡± He Ying reacted quickly, raising his folding fan to cover Sang Yan¡¯s lips. Because of the force, her lips became engorged, turning a bright red. Sang Yan felt pain and quickly took two steps back, avoiding the fan. ¡°He¡­ Mr. He, what are you doing here?¡± Knowing the Emperor didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity, she carefully chose a suitable title. He Ying retracted the fan, his fingers unconsciously touching the place where the fan had touched her lips, as if her warmth was still there. ¡°Just out for a walk.¡± He said with a slight smile, his tone noncommittal. Sang Yan didn¡¯t ask further and turned to Jiang Yue, ¡°What was it that you called me for just now?¡± ¡°So, sister-in-law knows Mr. He.¡± Jiang Yue, still basking in the surprise, didn¡¯t notice the oddity between them and explained with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s like this. Sister-in-law, I took a fancy to Mr. He¡¯s folding fan and thought of buying it for my second brother since his birthday is coming up. Unfortunately, I forgot that it¡¯s also his treasured possession. It was impolite of me.¡± With that, she bowed to He Ying and smiled, ¡°I hope you can forgive me.¡± The beauty had a way of conducting herself, a testament to good family upbringing. Any other man might have been moved by now. Unfortunately for her, she had encountered He Ying. He Ying did not do her any favors and said coldly, ¡°I hope you remember today¡¯s rudeness and not repeat it in the future.¡± Jiang Yue: ¡°¡­¡± She was severely embarrassed, her face burning, the redness spreading to her earlobes as if they might bleed. This Mr. He¡­ does he not fancy her? Yet she liked him so much. She was reluctant to give up. And still thought of finding out more about him. She tugged at Sang Yan¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Sister-in-law, it¡¯s so rare to see you. Shall we go to Qingfeng Inn and listen to Mr. Feng tell a story?¡± One owns nothing, yet harbors a breeze in the heart. Sang Yan had heard of Qingfeng Inn¡¯s reputation and was naturally interested. Coupled with He Ying¡¯s presence, it was definitely not that simple. To avoid being alone with him, she too had to agree. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded and turned to He Ying with respect, ¡°I still have things to attend to, Mr. He, please forgive me for not being able to accompany you.¡± He Ying glanced at her and chuckled, ¡°No rush. I¡¯ve just reserved the place at Qingfeng Inn. If you want to go in, you¡¯ll probably have to join me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± They could find another place to spend time, thank you very much. But Jiang Yue eagerly picked up the conversation, ¡°Great! What a coincidence. We¡¯ll have to thank Mr. He then.¡± He Ying found her bothersome and remained coldly silent. The group made their way to Qingfeng Inn. Today, Qingfeng Inn was indeed reserved by He Ying. The upper and lower floors were deserted and eerily quiet. As Sang Yan entered, she looked around and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°The hustle and bustle of life, the myriad of human conditions, cannot do without people. Mr. He, by reserving this place, you¡¯ve taken away much of Qingfeng¡¯s charm.¡± ¡°Haha. The Princely Heir¡¯s wife speaks the truth.¡± A clear male voice rang out from the second floor. On hearing this, Sang Yan looked up and saw a handsome young man in his twenties, slim and tall, dressed in a grey linen robe, his long hair held back with a rough wooden hairpin, exuding the demeanor of a poor but refined scholar. ¡°I presume you are Mr. Feng.¡± Sang Yan returned the smile, with admiration in her eyes¡ªlook, this must be the legendary contentment in poverty and scholarly integrity. He Ying, catching a glimpse of her nearly worshipful expression, frowned, suddenly feeling it was a mistake to have come here. ¡°Indeed, I am he.¡± Feng Yicheng clasped his hands together and gave Sang Yan a gracious bow. Then, lifting his eyes, he looked at Sang Yan wistfully, ¡°It seems the Princely Heir¡¯s wife has forgotten me. I once had a friendship with Zuo Zhi.¡± Zuo Zhi was Jiang Ling¡¯s literary name. Like an upright gentleman, noble and refined as if cut and polished. Seeing Sang Yan, Feng Yicheng was reminded of the old friend. Reminded by him, Sang Yan also recalled information about Feng Yicheng from her predecessor¡¯s memory: the legitimate eldest grandson of the Imperial Censor, Feng Yi, a friend of Jiang Ling, both had passed the imperial examination together, attaining unlimited glory. Unfortunately, four years ago, Jiang Ling passed away, and Feng Yicheng also resigned from his official position. ¡°Oh, it turns out to be the elder brother of the Feng Family.¡± Sang Yan smiled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, and I hardly dared to recognize you.¡± ¡°Cough cough¡ª¡± He Ying could not stand to see them getting along so well and coughed a few times. Upon hearing him, Feng Yicheng tensed up, quickly bowed to He Ying, his tone warm yet filled with respect, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have you here, sir. Forgive me for not greeting you from afar.¡± He Ying scanned him with a cold gaze and said nothing. Feng Yicheng, sensing the Emperor was unhappy and that it was because of himself, was puzzled: he had received the message early on and had made careful preparations. Where had he erred to displease him? Wait, could it be because of Sang Yan? The Emperor likes Sang Yan? His expression changed, and he dared not think further. ¡°Please¡ª¡± With a smile and a gesture of his hand, he led the way. The group proceeded to a private room on the second floor. A servant had already prepared tea and snacks. Trails of faint fragrance wafted through the air. It came from the gilded Flying Fish Stove. Everything was elegant and exquisite. This exquisiteness was even evident in the soft cushion on the main seat, where a phoenix embroidered with gold threads seemed ready to take flight. This was the kind of treatment befitting the Emperor. No wonder people are madly pursuing power. But Sang Yan felt pressured¡ªclearly, the dastardly Emperor arranged everything. Was his leaving the palace today all for her? Otherwise, how could he have appeared so conveniently there? And in a shop frequented by women seeking rouge and powder? What exactly did he want to do? Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 025 Destiny Chapter 25: Chapter 025 Destiny He Ying was on edge¡ª Mr. Feng laughingly exclaimed, ¡°Princely Heir, Heir¡¯s wife, Miss Jiang, please, taste this bamboo tea and tell me what you think.¡± As he spoke, he gracefully poured three cups of tea. The tea was a light yellowish-green. The liquid was crystal clear. Sang Yan picked up the cup, took a sip, and savored it delicately, smiling, ¡°It¡¯s very delicious. The first taste is a fresh aroma, like the air after rain rushing into the lungs, refreshing and invigorating.¡± ¡°This is my first time drinking bamboo leaf tea. It is indeed good.¡± Jiang Yue also praised it then turned to He Ying, seeking conversation, ¡°What do you think, Princely Heir?¡± He Ying sipped the tea, unimpressed by the luxuries he was accustomed to, ¡°Ordinary.¡± The atmosphere grew slightly awkward. Sang Yan took another sip of tea, smiling as she spoke in Mr. Feng¡¯s defense, ¡°To each their own, maybe this tea just isn¡¯t to the Princely Heir¡¯s taste.¡± ¡°Perhaps.¡± Mr. Feng called for a servant to come in and replace the tea. He followed with a modest smile, ¡°The Princely Heir is wealthy and well-versed, it is my fault for presuming.¡± ¡°Mr. Feng, you exaggerate,¡± said Sang Yan, appreciating his polite, cultured demeanor enough to add another sentence. That comment irritated He Ying, and he lost his temper, ¡°Knowing it was presumptuous, you should stop neglecting your duties. Return to your posts earlier and do some real work for the people, so as not to waste your decade of hard study.¡± Mr. Feng: ¡°¡­¡± He felt particularly targeted by the Emperor. Considering his years spent traveling, representing the Emperor to inspect the populace and eradicate evil¡ªhow could that be called neglecting his duties? There was only one explanation¡ªThe Emperor was angry! Why was he angry? Was it because he talked too much with Sang Yan? At that thought, he glanced at Sang Yan¡ªfour years had not decreased her beauty; rather, it seemed to enhance it. But the more beautiful things are, the more dangerous. Jiang Ling was dead. He vividly remembered him promising, ¡°Qingfeng, I will marry her. I don¡¯t believe in fate.¡± And then he had died. His death was very sudden. Sang Yan was indeed a virtuous woman, who had remained faithful for four years; a person of integrity, but the husband-killing fate was no joke. ¡°The Princely Heir gives wise counsel.¡± Mr. Feng¡¯s voice was submissive, but he shifted the topic, ¡°However, as the Saint says, ¡®Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles.¡¯ My travels have also been fruitful.¡± Sang Yan was interested, quickly asking, ¡°What kind of fruit?¡± Since her arrival, her days had been stagnant; Mr. Feng¡¯s life experiences, in her eyes, transformed into impressive travel tales. Seeing her interest, He Ying felt bitterly jealous. Bringing her here indeed was a mistake. ¡°Mr. Feng, you¡¯d better think about what you¡¯re going to say. You don¡¯t want to embarrass yourself again.¡± He Ying warned him to moderate himself. Mr. Feng, receiving the hint, sighed, ¡°Clear breeze and bright moon at night, young man wields his sword freely. Drunk on songs and laughter, one dream knows no sorrow.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Why recite a poem all of a sudden? But what was the poem trying to convey? He Ying was also confused, ¡°What do you mean by this? Speak plainly, don¡¯t be cryptic.¡± ¡°This seems¡­ to be a poem by my older brother?¡± Jiang Yue, sitting quietly to the side, quietly raised her hand, making her presence felt. Mr. Feng agreed, ¡°Yes. Princely Heir, this was once composed by Jiang Zuo. Unfortunately, heaven envies the talented.¡± He could not mention Sang Yan¡¯s husband-killing fate in front of her, so he hinted, ¡°I once blamed heaven for this, but what I¡¯ve seen and encountered over the years has made me understand¡ªfate should not be contravened, or else¡ª¡± ¡°Mr. Feng!¡± He Ying, catching his insinuation, interrupted sternly, ¡°You need to stop talking now!¡± He did not want to hear others mention Sang Yan¡¯s husband-killing fate. Sang Yan had once used this reason to reject him, and it had become his taboo. ¡°I am the Emperor! I am the heavens!¡± He was suddenly furious and slammed the table harshly, revealing his identity. ¡°Emper¡ªEmperor¡ª¡± Jiang Yue was shocked and pale, she quickly knelt down: ¡°I pay respects to the Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He did not want to reveal his identity in front of Jiang Yue. But since it was revealed, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°You must discern what should and should not be said about what you saw today.¡± He suppressed his anger, his face expressionless, and waved his hand: ¡°Retire.¡± Jiang Yue stood up, her face still filled with panic, but also with determination: ¡°I, I am pleased with the Emperor.¡± She knew that after today, she had no chance to see the Emperor again, so even though she knew the Emperor had no interest in her, she still boldly expressed her feelings. Previously, without Sang Yan, He Ying might have treated her differently, seeing her as a beautiful and courageous woman with pure intentions. But with Sang Yan, no other woman could catch his eye. ¡°Find someone else to please.¡± He Ying rejected her very bluntly. Jiang Yue had mentally prepared herself, but hearing him say this, she still felt hurt and tears fell: ¡°¡­I take my leave.¡± She gave a bitter smile and bade farewell to both Sang Yan and Feng Yicheng. Sang Yan had watched the whole process and couldn¡¯t help but say: ¡°The lady has affection; why must the Emperor refuse her? I think you make a well-matched pair.¡± She truly wanted them to be together. That way, she would be free from worries. He Ying knew what she was thinking and felt as if he was being discarded, but given Feng Yicheng¡¯s presence, he couldn¡¯t erupt and just kept looking at him, his gaze stern and silent. Feng Yicheng was intelligent, and seeing the Emperor continually watching him, he knew he was impeding the Emperor. Though he wanted to persuade the Emperor to refocus, he also knew the Emperor was not one to heed advice. After some thought, he still bowed respectfully and retreated: ¡°I will go see how the tea is coming along.¡± He left. Quiet returned to the private room. Sang Yan found herself alone with him, and tension rose once more. The Emperor¡¯s gaze fell upon her. As if tangible. It made her heart race, restless, wanting nothing but to escape. ¡°Lift your head. Look into my eyes.¡± She heard the Emperor¡¯s almost commanding voice and subconsciously lifted her head¡ª Their eyes met in midair. ¡°Is being well-matched enough merely because of looks?¡± She saw the Emperor looking at her, his gaze deep, his tone serious yet gentle: ¡°Then you and I are the most well-matched.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Smack. As if something had struck her heart. Even though they were just two ordinary sentences. She felt weak, as if these words had deeply moved her. ¡°Do not joke, Emperor.¡± Sang Yan suppressed her heartbeat, feigned calm, and spoke softly: ¡°The Emperor is exalted, able to have any woman you desire, except for me. As Mr. Feng just mentioned, fate cannot be defied.¡± It was still the husband-killing fate she brought up. He Ying grew somewhat impatient, yet did not show it, still spoke in a calm and detached tone: ¡°If you care so much about fate, I could have the Observatory calculate our compatibility.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She did not care about fate; she just did not want to get involved with the King. Even though the Observatory might find their compatibility unfavorable, if the Emperor hinted the Observatory to change their judgment, would the Observatory dare to defy the Emperor¡¯s order? If the Observatory didn¡¯t dare, then she would truly be hurting herself. Just as she was thinking¡ª The Emperor spoke again: ¡°But I do not wish to. Do you know why?¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 026 Losing Composure Chapter 26: Chapter 026 Losing Composure Sang Yan speculated, ¡°The Emperor¡­ does not believe in fate?¡± ¡°No.¡± He Ying shook his head, his demeanor proud and commanding, ¡°What of fate? Predict too much, learn of it beforehand, sail smoothly, would that be interesting? No! I find that completely boring! Life, it¡¯s all about the struggle, that¡¯s what makes it interesting!¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± Madman! But she didn¡¯t want to struggle! She harbored no great ambitions; she only wanted to be like a salted fish, safe and smooth. ¡°Do not know if the Emperor has heard this saying?¡± ¡°What saying?¡± ¡°Where thoughts differ, people cannot coexist.¡± Is this a new way of refusal? He Ying frowned and asked, ¡°Where are our thoughts different?¡± Sang Yan honestly replied, ¡°I am a timid person and dare not take risks.¡± He Ying had known early on that she was like a timid wild rabbit and smiled, ¡°With me here. As long as you want, I am your greatest support.¡± Sang Yan dared not rely on an Emperor. Since ancient times, Emperors are passionate yet heartless; getting close to them only results in misfortune. ¡°Thank you for the Emperor¡¯s deep affection.¡± She once again tactfully refused, ¡°But I dare not.¡± Upon hearing this, He Ying unconsciously clenched his fist, his tone becoming heavier, exuding a hint of frustration, ¡°Sang Yan, is it that you dare not, or you do not want to?¡± Naturally, Sang Yan did not want to. But if she said that, the Emperor would definitely become even angrier, and it could very well lead to oppressive power. Sigh. Under someone¡¯s roof, one has no choice but to bow their head. In a quick thought, she responded, ¡°Because I do not dare, therefore I do not want.¡± This answer was very tactful. He Ying knew Sang Yan was clever, yet she used her cleverness to evade him. Indeed, he could take by force and act recklessly, trusting that no one would dare confront him, but if he won the person and not the heart, what meaning would it hold? Moreover, he was forbidden from indulging in the pleasures of women; all he sought was a heart. ¡°You will dare.¡± He Ying unclenched his fist; the silk in his palm was tinged with crimson. In fact, his palm had bled when he struck the table in anger. Sang Yan also saw it but pretended not to. Untimely concern could lead to misunderstandings. Thus now, she continued to pretend not to see. ¡°Emperor, if there is nothing else, I should return.¡± She wanted to leave. He Ying did not permit it. He summoned Feng Yicheng to come in, ordering him to open the doors for business and resume the normal storytelling session. Upon hearing this, Feng Yicheng, for some reason, recalled the two sentences Sang Yan had mentioned as she came in¡ªlife in the market, the myriad states of humanity, inseparable from people. Mr. He had booked the place, making Qingfeng Inn lose much of its charm. So, was the Emperor allowing people in now to add charm to the Qingfeng Inn? Indeed¡­ such favoritism. ¡°Yes.¡± He responded and left, going downstairs to open the doors to welcome guests. Soon, the guests began to crowd in. Most of them were regulars, finding their usual spots and clapping their hands shouting: ¡°Mr. Feng, when will you start today?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I¡¯m still waiting for that rapist to be cut into a thousand pieces!¡± ¡°He¡¯s really not human! That scum should be castrated and sent to the Imperial Palace to become a eunuch!¡± ¡­ They indignantly discussed yesterday¡¯s ¡°Debts of Love and Lust: Prime Seducer.¡± Sang Yan found Feng Yicheng sat at the long table, opened the book in front of him, and knocked the gavel, quieting everyone present. ¡°A rapist had recently set his sights on a rich merchant¡¯s daughter¡ª¡± He sipped some tea to moisten his throat, shook his head, and recounted, ¡°This daughter was as beautiful as a flower, graceful and alluring. Unfortunately, she had fallen mute due to a strange illness. Seeing his daughter at the age of marriage, the merchant was anxious and widely distributed pleas for medical help, hoping to cure his daughter¡­¡± ¡°The rapist then disguised himself as a woman, posing as a female physician to infiltrate their home.¡± He Ying, seeing Sang Yan interested, stole Feng Yicheng¡¯s words and went straight to the spoil, ¡°Unaware of the truth, the merchant, seeing ¡®her¡¯ as a woman, arranged for ¡®her¡¯ to live with his daughter¡ª¡± ¡°Hold on¡ª¡± Sang Yan disliked spoilers, and her attitude was quite unfriendly, ¡°With you saying that, how can I listen? You have spoiled the most exciting parts of what sounded like a good story.¡± Listening to her complaint, He Ying was not annoyed but smiled, ¡°This isn¡¯t just a story. It¡¯s a real fraud/rape case that happened last year in Fu State.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± God. This story was actually based on reality. Fraud/rape? And in ancient times where women held their chastity dear? What would happen to those poor girls who lost their chastity? The thought made Sang Yan furious. At this point, she no longer cared about spoilers; she just wanted to know how the villain was brought to justice quickly, so she urged, ¡°Keep going. What happened next?¡± While asking, she focused on Feng Yicheng¡¯s tale but thought the rapist learning medical skills too tedious; better to hear the Emperor¡¯s straightforward version. He Ying, pleased to see her entirely focused on him, was in great spirits, his smile flowing: ¡°The rapist didn¡¯t expect to succeed so easily, and with the merchant treating him generously, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry, so he stayed under his assumed identity. However, as time went by, the merchant¡¯s son took a liking to him, pursued him unsuccessfully, used force, and then his identity was revealed¡­¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± God. What¡¯s this? A case of a villain meeting another villain? ¡°What happened next? Was there a sentencing? How was he sentenced? Such scum should be physically castrated!¡± ¡°Executed by death through dismemberment.¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Sang Yan paused and said, ¡°It¡¯s still an inadequate death penalty.¡± Executing by dismemberment seemed a bit too bloody. The harsh penalties of ancient times lacked the humanitarian spirit of modern judicial systems. Seeing her expression somewhat strained, suggesting she found it cruel, He Ying softened his smile and solemnly said, ¡°Though this man failed this time, he had previously deceived and raped countless women using the same method of cross-dressing. Upon thorough investigation, there were as many as two hundred and eight victims. Moreover, he had even taken on twelve apprentices.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Utterly despicable! Beast! She slammed the table in anger, ¡°Damnable! Even dismemberment cannot¡­ redeem his¡­ sins¡­¡± Her voice trailed off. Sigh. How foolish of her. To bang on the table in front of the Emperor, she must have been the first to do so. ¡°Emperor, forgive me. I have lost my composure.¡± She hitched up her skirt, about to kneel in apology¡ª ¡°No need to kneel.¡± He Ying quickly intervened, his voice gentle, ¡°I like you this way. You may lose your composure more often.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor¡¯s love talk, wicked! Sang Yan¡¯s heart skipped a beat but quickly normalized and resumed the previous topic, ¡°What was the aftermath of this case? Especially the victims, how are they doing?¡± She had a feeling that the answer was one she wouldn¡¯t like. He Ying said nothing. The criminal was punished with death, ending the matter, but most victims¡¯ lives were completely destroyed, plunging into hell. ¡°They must be very pitiable.¡± Sang Yan frowned sympathetically, ¡°It¡¯s not their fault, yet they have to bear the world¡¯s spitting and unfair treatment.¡± The status of women was too low. She still couldn¡¯t help but want to do something for the women of this era. ¡°Emperor, have you ever thought that the male-dominant society under your rule is very unfair to women?¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 027 Heart Disease Chapter 27: Chapter 027 Heart Disease He Ying naturally had never considered this issue. He even thought that male superiority over females was a very normal thing. Seeing that he remained silent, Sang Yan knew he couldn¡¯t empathize, and she couldn¡¯t help but mock herself with a smile, ¡°What ¡®three obediences and four virtues¡¯? What ¡®starvation is trivial, but loss of chastity is catastrophic¡¯? All these, they suffocate the thoughts of women. Emperor, I detest such a world.¡± At this point, she met the Emperor¡¯s gaze, and her tone became sharp for the first time, ¡°You see, I am such a rebellious and utterly unrighteous person. I am even unfit to exist in this world.¡± Because she knew she was unfit to exist in the world, she lived in isolation and withdrew from society. Yet he disturbed her peace time and again. He Ying pondered her words, and although he did not agree, he did not refute them either but rather indulged her, ¡°You should know that I am the Lord of the World, as long as you are by my side, there is nothing that would render you unfit to exist.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Was he implying¡ªhe would accommodate and understand her thoughts? ¡°Ever since I met you, I knew you were different from other women. The way you look at me, aside from occasional fear, is always lucid and pure. I have never seen such a gaze at the center of power.¡± He was confessing his own heart, his tone deep and gentle. Sang Yan¡¯s heart uncontrollably fluttered again¡ªthe favor of the most powerful man in the world really had too great a destructive power. Even though she repeatedly warned herself and guarded strictly, there were still moments when she was moved. ¡°Perhaps the Emperor has seen too little.¡± Sang Yan deliberately misinterpreted the Emperor¡¯s sincerity. He Ying was somewhat displeased, but he did not erupt in anger, instead, he laughed helplessly, ¡°Then deceive yourself. It doesn¡¯t matter, I am not in a hurry.¡± ¡°Clap, clap, clap¡ª¡± Suddenly, a round of applause erupted downstairs. It turned out Feng Yicheng was talking about the rapist being stripped by a lady¡¯s brother, revealing his male identity. ¡°Ha ha ha, truly, a villain meets a villain!¡± ¡°To be favored by the lady¡¯s brother, he must be a handsome bastard, and he even taught himself medical skills¡ªit shows he¡¯s also smart, but what a pity, smartness not used for good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! So smart, why not do something worthwhile instead of engaging in such vile deeds!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I say, his heart isn¡¯t right, and all his actions are evil!¡± The tea guests expressed their opinions one after another. Sang Yan also sighed, ¡°This person is a criminal with high intelligence. What a waste.¡± He Ying, listening to this, laughed meaningfully, ¡°When I saw the case files, I thought the same. Look, our thoughts are alike.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor really wouldn¡¯t miss any opportunity to flirt with her! What a pity! Her heart was like a rock, immovable, yet she intentionally threw cold water, ¡°No, I¡¯m saying, not to nationally announce such case examples as warnings is a waste.¡± He Ying saw through her thoughts, yet still smiled meaningfully, ¡°No need to feel it¡¯s a waste. I have thought the same and acted accordingly. However, instead of a national announcement, it was distributed to each state, instructing state officials to be more vigilant and prevent such crimes. As for notifying the public, to avoid petty criminals imitating and causing greater panic and chaos, that has been put aside.¡± It was similar to not publicizing modern methods of committing crimes. ¡°¡­Emperor is wise.¡± Sang Yan paid a compliment, then added, ¡°But what about the victims? Their chastity and reputation are damaged, besides those who took their own lives, surely some are barely surviving, right? Has the Emperor provided any consolation? You said it happened last year, there is still time to make amends.¡± He Ying thought for a moment, then said, ¡°If you insist, when I return I will issue an imperial decree.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This was his implication¡ªhe could, on her account, provide consolation for those victims. She didn¡¯t want to accept this favor, so she said, ¡°The Emperor is a wise ruler, and should love his people as his children. Women are in a disadvantaged position, as the imperial father, you should provide even more protection.¡± She was flattering the Emperor. He Ying, unconvinced, scoffed, ¡°What you said earlier is correct. I indulge in women¡¯s company to my detriment¡ªit¡¯s a sick heart. But do you know what sickness of the heart I have? If you knew, you wouldn¡¯t be saying these things to me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She should follow his words and ask¡ªwhat sickness of the heart does the Emperor have? But approaching the Emperor¡¯s heart only meant becoming more entangled. This was not her intention. ¡°I have overstepped,¡± she said. She stepped back to a safer distance. He Ying looked at her, his gaze complex, grateful she didn¡¯t inquire further. Sang Yan¡¯s attention returned to the story unfolding below. Feng Yicheng was still narrating the progress of the story. At the climax, another round of loud applause erupted. He Ying disliked her focus on another man and started a conversation, ¡°I actually left the palace yesterday to look for you. Unfortunately, you were not in Sang Mansion. I thought you had run away. Fortunately, you hadn¡¯t. Otherwise, I do not know what I might have done.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Threat! A definite threat! Her heart clenched, and she quickly stated, ¡°I had asked to go to the manor myself.¡± ¡°Asked yourself? That¡¯s not what I heard,¡± he said with a cooling tone. He Ying¡¯s mood deteriorated, his voice growing colder, ¡°Your parents drove you to the manor, showing no mercy or pity for you¡ªtruly detestable. Do you want me¡ª¡± Although Sang Yan was moved by his defense, she didn¡¯t want to complicate matters and replied, ¡°Today, the Emperor has coincidentally met me, surely you¡¯ve investigated many things about me. You should know the peace and comfort I enjoyed at the manor. I like the life there, and it was indeed of my own volition that I went.¡± He Ying listened and felt mixed emotions; he liked that she didn¡¯t crave fame or fortune, yet he was annoyed that she didn¡¯t crave it. What would it be like now if she had ambitions, if her ambitions were him? ¡°Those who do not seize the gifts of heaven invite disaster upon themselves,¡± he murmured after a while. Sang Yan heard him, her heart skipping a beat, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± The gifts from heaven, if you do not accept them, you, in turn, invite heaven¡¯s retribution. The Emperor was threatening her! He Ying unveiled the silk covering, looking at the ghastly wound, his tone nonchalant, ¡°What is it?¡± Sang Yan weakly replied, ¡°Heaven is merciful.¡± He Ying chuckled lightly, glancing at her with a serious look, ¡°Then do not waste heaven¡¯s mercy.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She found herself at a loss for words. She offered him a handkerchief. He Ying didn¡¯t take it but extended his hand instead, ¡°Wrap it for me.¡± Sang Yan instinctively warned, ¡°Emperor, you should not be close to women.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He froze for a moment. After a while, he took the handkerchief and wrapped it himself. ¡°Actually, I am not afraid of becoming ill because of you; it¡¯s just that my appearance when I am ill is truly hideous and frightening, I don¡¯t want to scare you.¡± He spoke while wrapping the wound. This unintentional tenderness was always touching. Sang Yan thought about when she tried to touch him earlier and how he threatened to beat her to death. Wait¡ª She must stop thinking! This Emperor is too seductive! ¡°Just now, the Emperor mentioned his heart ailment, knowing the real reason for his illness, he should clearly communicate with the Imperial Physician and not conceal it.¡± She said it casually. But again, she broached a dangerous subject. ¡°Not just anyone is worthy to hear about the Emperor¡¯s heart ailment.¡± The Emperor¡¯s voice was heavy, but his eyes looked at her, gentle yet resolute, ¡°But Sang Yan, I give you this opportunity. So, do you want to listen?¡± Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 028 Obstacles Chapter 28: Chapter 028 Obstacles Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to listen. The reason was still the same¡ªtouching upon the Emperor¡¯s painful spot meant deeper entanglement. All she wanted was to keep her distance from the Emperor. Thus, she tactfully refused, offering a compensatory smile, ¡°Emperor, any of your concubines who receives such an opportunity would be tearfully grateful. As long as you open your heart to them, you will discover many interesting souls, and I am just ordinary.¡± ¡°What if you are just ordinary?¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze drifted off, his expression somewhat lonely, ¡°With myriad choices like the abundant water of Ruishui River, drinking only a ladle is a choice in itself. I have chosen you, and I will not choose another.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Is the Emperor a love-talk-producing machine? She felt if things continued this way, she really wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it anymore. ¡°I am frightened.¡± She lowered her head, seemingly obedient but rebellious at heart. ¡°Accompany me for a walk.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± They left the elegant private room one after the other. Outside the private room, The people they brought along tacitly followed suit. He Ying glanced at them without expression, but his strong aura staggered their steps. However, protecting their master was an instinct rooted deep in their bones, and they all kept their distance as before. Unaware of this, Sang Yan put on her veil hat after leaving Qingfeng Inn. ¡°Where would you like to go, my lord?¡± ¡°I am open to anything. The key question is, do you have a preferred destination?¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± She truly didn¡¯t have one. Traveling with the Emperor was too stressful. And she was afraid of the possibility of the original host cursing the Emperor¡ª who knows if it would extend to him? Seeing her response, He Ying said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t have a preference, we¡¯ll go where I wish to go.¡± He then revealed a mischievous smile, ¡°You are so clever; surely you know where I want to go, right?¡± Sang Yan understood immediately, ¡°Emperor wants to return to the palace?¡± He Ying nodded with a smile, a look of approval on his face, ¡°Correct. I¡¯m taking you back to the palace. See, we really are in tune.¡± Who¡¯s in tune with you! You oppressive tyrant! Sang Yan silently complained, then said aloud, ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± He Ying looked at her, his gaze slightly cold with an intimidating air, ¡°Sang Yan, people always have to do things they don¡¯t want to do.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Emperor! Emperor! ¡°However, if you can make me happy, I might grant you a few more days of freedom.¡± The Emperor was playing hard to get! Such cunning! Filled with spirit, Sang Yan proposed, ¡°Emperor, may I ask you a question?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°You may.¡± ¡°It might be a bit offensive.¡± ¡°Go ahead. You are pardoned in advance.¡± ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡± Sang Yan asked with relief, ¡°Emperor, tell me, if you were to knock yourself out with a punch, does it mean you are strong, or does it mean you are weak?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of question is that? He really didn¡¯t know how to respond at that moment. Seeing him frowning silently, Sang Yan felt she had scored a victory. Suppressing her laughter, she pretended to be aggrieved, ¡°I am foolish and very curious to know, I hope the Emperor can enlighten me. If you cannot answer now, I won¡¯t rush; you can think it over slowly after returning to the palace.¡± Wasn¡¯t he going to give her a few days of freedom? If he couldn¡¯t answer, would he feel embarrassed to face her? Oh, she was indeed too clever. He Ying easily saw through her small scheme but was temporarily at a loss on how to handle her. ¡°I asked you to make me happy, yet here you are, troubling me with such a question.¡± ¡°Emperor is supremely intelligent; how could such a trivial matter trouble you? I believe the Emperor can surely provide an answer.¡± Sang Yan nonchalantly flattered him, putting him on a pedestal. He Ying, seeing her smug look, found it amusingly adorable and thus indulged her. The two walked and talked along the bustling main street. During that time, they watched acrobatics and selected jewelry. While selecting jewelry, He Ying felt they were crudely made and unworthy of being worn by her. ¡°I have already had the Clothing Bureau create jewelry for you. Once you enter the palace, they will send it over.¡± ¡°Your honey is my arsenic. I actually find these pieces of jewelry quite appealing and fitting for me.¡± She was indirectly rejecting him. He Ying could tell, his brows furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, only sighed, ¡°Well, if you like them, wear them for fun.¡± His tone was like that of an indulgent father who was helpless against his mischievous daughter. Sang Yan felt goosebumps all over¡ªit was too creepy. How did the Emperor start sounding like a dad? ¡°Look at this one?¡± He Ying picked a wooden hairpin and showed it to her. Embedded in the hairpin was a red jade butterfly. For some reason, Sang Yan thought of Jiang Yue, who wore a red jade butterfly movable hairpin on her head. Hmph, the Emperor was indeed observant! ¡°Mediocre. It doesn¡¯t really suit my aesthetic.¡± She randomly selected a couple of pieces of jewelry, paid for them, and then left the stall. Seeing her leave, He Ying tossed down a gold ingot without waiting for the change, which the stall owner probably couldn¡¯t make anyway, and followed her carrying the wooden hairpin. His strides were long, and he caught up within a few steps, joking, ¡°Not bad. You are becoming less afraid of me now. You even dare to walk ahead of me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright. It was her lack of manners. This cursed feudal society. ¡°Emperor, forgive me.¡± She stopped, bowed her head, and admitted her mistake. He Ying said nothing, reached out, and inserted the wooden hairpin into her hair. Sang Yan felt it and suddenly looked up, her gaze startled, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying gently smiled and slowly said, ¡°If you do not wish to return to the palace, allow this hairpin to accompany you. I hope you will think of me often.¡± These words carried a touch of humility. Sang Yan looked at his handsome face, feeling a bitter tang in her heart, and thought herself cruel for wounding his heart. No! Sang Yan, stay alert! Being softhearted towards men was the beginning of misfortune! ¡°Emperor, your affection¡­¡± I do not deserve such. May the Emperor soon clear his confusion. She had a thousand words to say, but they all turned into one phrase: ¡°I am apprehensive.¡± Hearing this, He Ying laughed with a tinge of helplessness, ¡°If you feel apprehensive, I always feel that it is my fault. Enough. One day, you will no longer feel apprehensive.¡± After saying this, he walked on. In the distance, a young woman was eating a skewer of candied haws as she walked toward them. He saw her, also bought a skewer of candied haws, and handed it to her. This time, Sang Yan did not refuse, she carefully avoided his hand, took it, and said a soft ¡°Thank you.¡± Just two words. But after she thanked him, she genuinely ate the candied haws. It was just such a simple act, but the impact on He Ying was immense. Happy. Endless happiness. Why was he so joyful just because she ate the candied haws he bought? As if all his efforts had been rewarded. He suddenly realized¡ªhe asked for little from Sang Yan, just her joyful acceptance of what he offered was enough to make him happy. ¡°Is it tasty?¡± ¡°¡­Quite tasty.¡± Sweet and sour, clean and uncontaminated. Truly a staple of drama series. ¡°I heard that a restaurant nearby also serves delicious food. Come with me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Yan was very conscious of her role as a companion. The two then went to the restaurant. The food at the restaurant was indeed excellent. After lunch and a conversation, they parted ways. He Ying sent a Hidden Guard to escort Sang Yan back to her manor, then returned to the Imperial Palace. Upon entering the Imperial Palace, he ordered Pei Muyang, ¡°Summon Feng Yicheng to the palace.¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 029 Obsessed with Love Chapter 29: Chapter 029 Obsessed with Love Feng Yicheng had entered the palace, and the sky was already nearing dusk. At that time, outside Qingning Palace, a row of guards was hitting themselves. ¡°Bang!¡± One punched himself on the forehead. The force was so fierce that his body shook and he nearly fell down. What mistake had they made for the Emperor to punish them this way? As Feng Yicheng pondered, he waited for the Emperor to summon him. He didn¡¯t have to wait too long before Pei Muyang arrived with a message, ¡°Mr. Feng, the Emperor invites you in.¡± Feng Yicheng expressed his thanks and then entered the palace. He was dressed in coarse cloth robes, which clashed starkly with the grandeur of the glittering palace. He Ying noticed this and frowned, ¡°You are the son of a distinguished family, yet you dress like this. What kind of impression does that give?¡± Feng Yicheng kneeled to pay his respects, smiling as he replied, ¡°This you do not understand. Traveling the world, observing the common people¡¯s conditions, if one dresses lavishly, then all who approach are sycophants, their true hearts hidden. If one dresses humbly, it¡¯s easier to encounter true empathy during hardships.¡± He Ying was not interested in this, and waved his hand, ¡°Rise.¡± He then offered him a seat. The two sat down to play chess. He Ying took the white pieces, which represent superiority, and made the first move as befits someone of rank. Feng Yicheng took the black pieces and followed suit. They played intensely for a quarter of an hour. The game was evenly matched, neither could claim advantage. It was then that He Ying spoke of the matter at hand, ¡°The fraud case in Fu State, you were once involved in the trial and should know of the plight of those victimized women. A year has passed, and you are to review the continued impact. I have disbursed three thousand gold from my private treasury for you to distribute as you see fit. Additionally, if there is any slanderous talk persecuting them, trace it to its source and suppress it with severe punishment. In summary, you must ensure their peace and happiness for the rest of their lives.¡± Feng Yicheng hadn¡¯t expected the Emperor to summon him for this matter, and among his surprise, he quickly guessed the reason, ¡°Because of something the Heir¡¯s wife said?¡± ¡°You are a clever man.¡± He Ying glanced at him and did not argue, which served as a tacit agreement. ¡°The Emperor is compassionate.¡± Feng Yicheng stood up and kneeled again, but his next words were, ¡°Only the Heir¡¯s wife¡­ is truly not a good match.¡± He had previously been mindful of Sang Yan¡¯s presence and held back much of what he wanted to say, but now he spoke his mind, ¡°Four years ago, when Jiang Zuo wished to enter an engagement with Sang Yan, I had advised against it. We even consulted Wan Jianzheng from the Observatory about their marital fate. It was inauspicious, but he would not heed advice, followed his own will, and met an early demise. Emperor, the lesson is clear, I hope you will reconsider before taking action.¡± ¡°You compare me with him?¡± He Ying frowned, visibly displeased, ¡°I am the Emperor, surely favored by heaven. Feng Yicheng, you ought to watch your words. Let this not happen again.¡± Feng Yicheng bowed his head in silence. He Ying told him to rise. Yet Feng Yicheng kept his head bowed, as though he would kneel indefinitely. He Ying¡¯s interest in the chess game vanished at once. He cast the chess piece he was holding back into the box, angrily saying, ¡°I thought you were different from those stubborn old pedants, but it turns out you are also one for blind adherence to tradition.¡± Hearing this, Feng Yicheng sighed, ¡°The Emperor is a wise ruler in a golden age, but Da He cannot afford this risk.¡± ¡°¡­ rise.¡± He Ying also sighed, his expression becoming grave, ¡°I am aware of your concerns. But she is the one I set my eyes on from the start. I cannot let her go.¡± Feng Yicheng disagreed, ¡°With three thousand women in the harem, how can you not let go of one girl?¡± He Ying paused for a while, then corrected, ¡°It should be said¡­ I do not want to let her go.¡± Feng Yicheng, ¡°¡­¡± This was a problem. The most to be feared is love-stricken foolishness, for it often leads to a tragic end. ¡°I am the Emperor, fearless.¡± He Ying¡¯s eyes were bright, his words filled with audacity. Seeing this, Feng Yicheng didn¡¯t know what more to say. Just then, Pei Mu walked in, paying his respect and whispering, ¡°Emperor, not a single person has fainted.¡± He Ying frowned upon hearing this, seemingly in a dilemma. After pondering, unable to answer Sang Yan¡¯s question, he had ordered the guards to punch themselves as a test; now it seemed to have been futile. Suddenly, the attention shifted to the person kneeling before him. ¡°Feng Yicheng, you are learned and well-traveled, with broad experience; I have a question for you?¡± ¡°` Hmph. He praised me so highly, if I can¡¯t answer, let¡¯s see if he has the gall. Mr. Feng, unaware of the situation, respectfully said, ¡°Emperor, please pose your question.¡± He Ying then coughed twice, cleared his throat, and asked, ¡°It¡¯s like this. If you punch yourself and knock yourself out, does that mean you are strong or weak?¡± Mr. Feng: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of odd question is this? He also found it difficult, ¡°Emperor, why would you ask this?¡± He Ying said, ¡°I just thought of it. What¡¯s your view?¡± Mr. Feng thought for a while before replying, ¡°I can¡¯t claim to have any profound views; I just find this question¡­ very tricky.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°If I knocked myself out with a punch, and we assume it means that I¡¯m strong, then being strong contradicts the fact that I fainted. If we assume it means that I¡¯m weak, then being weak contradicts the fact that I managed to knock myself out with a punch. The trickiness of this question lies right here. Either answer leads to a contradiction.¡± ¡°Correct. Continue.¡± ¡°To solve this contradiction, you would need to step out of this logical paradox.¡± ¡°How do you step out?¡± ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s a word game. Knocking oneself out with a punch could also have nothing to do with strength or weakness. With this perspective, the premise of the question becomes invalid.¡± ¡°¡­That makes some sense.¡± He Ying raised his hand, indicating for him to stand up. After Mr. Feng stood up, he returned to his original seat and looked at the chessboard, only to realize that he had unwittingly fallen behind. ¡°It¡¯s your move.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± His mind preoccupied, he made one wrong move and then another. He Ying won the game, which improved his mood somewhat, and he changed the subject, ¡°After the matter in Fu State, you should join the court as an official. I need you.¡± Upon hearing this, Mr. Feng¡¯s expression turned somber and he diplomatically declined, ¡°There is no confidant in the court for me, and so it holds no charm. Emperor, I still prefer life outside the palace.¡± He Ying, thinking of his own confidant Jiang Zuo, frowned coldly, ¡°Mr. Feng, Jiang Ling has been dead for four years now. If you cannot move on, I will send you to join him.¡± He detested how they all pined for a dead man. Sang Yan was the same. And to his surprise, so was he. ¡°Emperor, please calm down.¡± Mr. Feng had not yet reached the point of a scholar dying for a confidant and tactfully remained silent. He Ying did not like to oppress others with power, and seeing Mr. Feng¡¯s sensible reaction, he spoke earnestly, ¡°Beiqi has been restless. I may have to lead the campaign myself before long. The court is full of crafty men; when the time comes, I will need you to check their influence.¡± Upon hearing this, Mr. Feng turned solemn and advised, ¡°Beiqi is currently embroiled in internal strife, with seven sons fighting for the succession, fighting amongst themselves. It poses no threat. And the court is filled with capable generals, why should you personally lead the campaign?¡± He Ying waved his hand with a smile, ¡°My mind is made up. You may leave now.¡± Mr. Feng: ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t persuade the Emperor. Just as his father couldn¡¯t persuade the late Emperor. The He Royal Family was full of obstinate people. He left the palace with a heavy heart. Night had fallen. Only a few sparse stars dotted the night sky. He was led out of the palace by a eunuch. On his way, he encountered the drunken Wan Zhang. Wan Zhang, disheveled, stumbled like a lost soul. Patrolling guards looked at him with disdain, keeping their distance. Mr. Feng, however, was different; he approached with a smile and greeted him, ¡°Director Wan, it has been a long time.¡± Wan Zhang, too drunk to recognize anyone, had to hold the man¡¯s face and look closely, ¡°Feng, Feng¡ª what¡¯s your name again?¡± ¡°I am Feng Yicheng.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Director Wan slapped his forehead, remembering, and laughed, ¡°You once came to me to have your fortune told.¡± He laughed, but then tears fell, ¡°Since ancient times, the pursuit of love has been a hero¡¯s grave, alas, such sorrow, such fate.¡± Thinking of the deceased Jiang Zuo, Mr. Feng¡¯s eyes reddened, but since he couldn¡¯t indulge in his sorrow, he forced a cheerful smile and said, ¡°Director Wan, would you please calculate my fortune in marriage once more?¡± ¡°` Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 030: Disaster Chapter 30: Chapter 030: Disaster Sang Yan had enjoyed three days of tranquility. During these three days, the Emperor hadn¡¯t come to bother her. Thinking that he might still be scratching his head over her problem, her mood was delightfully skewed. It might have been too much happiness that led to sorrow. On the morning of the fourth day, Ms. Lin, the original host¡¯s mother, came. At that time, Sang Yan was feeding her two little wild rabbits with a carrot. One rabbit was black and the other white, with red, soft, cute eyes, and the sound of them crunching on the carrots was especially healing. ¡°Miss, the lady is here.¡± Qiuzhi reminded her. Hearing this, she looked up and saw Ms. Lin¡¯s face pale and distraught, her eyes swollen as if she had encountered a great disaster. ¡°Mother, what has happened?¡± Her heart clenched, she asked as she approached. Ms. Lin sighed and, pulling her back into the house and dismissing the servants, said, ¡°Ah Yan, your father is in trouble.¡± Sang Yan had anticipated this and asked, ¡°What has happened to him?¡± Ms. Lin replied, ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure, but it seems there¡¯s been a locust outbreak in Wuzhou, and your father concealed it without reporting it.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. A locust outbreak was no small matter. With the backward production conditions, if not handled well, who knew how many people would starve. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he report it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ms. Lin started crying in desperation, ¡°I don¡¯t understand these matters. I only know that many officials are impeaching your father, accusing him of negligence, and they even want to execute him. Ah Yan, you must save your father.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. How could she, a frail woman, save him? Perhaps plead with the Emperor? Wait¡ª Could this be the Emperor¡¯s scheme? Unable to resolve his own issues and feeling embarrassed to see her, was he forcing her to come to him and plead? Thinking about this, she became infuriated: Despicable! Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t avoid it; she had to go to the palace to learn more. ¡°I understand.¡± With a frown, she reluctantly entered the palace. First, she returned to Yuesang Palace. Seeing her return, Sang Ruoshui was both happy and angry, ¡°You¡¯ve finally come back. Father is about to be executed. It¡¯s all Qu Zhi¡¯s fault! You¡¯re still saving his daughter! She should just die in the Cold Palace!¡± She kept talking, venting her anger. Sang Yan became impatient and asked coldly, ¡°Stop! What¡¯s the situation now? Where is the Emperor?¡± Speaking of the Emperor, Sang Ruoshui felt a bitter pain. She knew about her father¡¯s troubles and had immediately sought the Emperor¡¯s mercy, but the Emperor outright refused to see her. Even when she tried using Sang Yan¡¯s name, the Emperor still refused. Now that Sang Yan herself was here, she wanted to see if he would meet her or not. ¡°I¡¯ve inquired; he is in the Imperial Study! All the officials are there!¡± She suppressed her jealousy, wishing for the Emperor to see Sang Yan one moment and hoping he wouldn¡¯t the next. Such conflicted agony. Unaware of her sister¡¯s feelings, Sang Yan, having learned of the Emperor¡¯s whereabouts, hurried to the Imperial Study. At that moment, The doors of the Imperial Study were tightly shut. The Chief Eunuch, Yu Huai De, waited outside, idly waving a horsetail whisk to drive away insects. He had lost the Emperor¡¯s favor because of Pei Muyang. But he hadn¡¯t given up. When a little eunuch in gray whispered a few words to him¡ª His deeply aggrieved face finally showed a smile, ¡°Good. Keep investigating. I knew that boy had a dubious background. It¡¯s only been sixteen years since the trouble with Pei Zhen, yet he dares to be so brazen.¡± Seeing him smile, the little eunuch pleasingly massaged his shoulders and added in a low voice, ¡°Old ancestor, just be patient a little longer. That Pei won¡¯t last much longer.¡± ¡°Sweet talker.¡± Yu Huai De tapped the little eunuch¡¯s head with the horsetail whisk and sent him away. It was at this moment that he saw Sang Yan approaching. She was the culprit responsible for his loss of the Emperor¡¯s favor. But what fault did she herself have? Whom the Emperor favored had always been the Emperor¡¯s affair. He had come to realize these past days that no one could truly sway the Emperor¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Miss Sang¡ª¡± He stepped forward with a smile, ¡°Are you here to see the Emperor? Is there something you need? The Emperor is currently discussing affairs with the ministers.¡± Sang Yan nodded and said, ¡°Please inform Mr. Yu that I am here to present strategies concerning the locust plague in Wuzhou.¡± The Emperor could be petitioned, but asking through beauty, she really had no face to speak up. After much thought, she thought of the modern locust plague¡ªthe nation deployed tens of thousands of ducks to combat the locusts. Thus, she came to offer her strategy. Yu Huai De, upon hearing this, hurriedly pushed the door open. Inside the hall it was dead silent. The ministers knelt on the ground, trembling and sweating profusely. The atmosphere had dropped to freezing. Not until Yu Huai De spoke loudly: ¡°Emperor, the eldest daughter of the Sang Family has arrived. She says she has strategies for the locust disaster in Wuzhou, to redeem her father¡¯s sins.¡± He Ying had anticipated her arrival, but had not expected her to come with a strategy. Indeed, she was always full of surprises. His sour mood was swept away, and he smiled, announcing, ¡°Let her in.¡± ¡°Emperor, it is highly inappropriate for a woman to discuss politics.¡± Qu Zhi was the first to express opposition. He was the Minister of Revenue, and since his daughter had narrowly escaped the Cold Palace, he despised the Sang Family and sparked this issue. Other ministers echoed: ¡°Emperor, a hen crowing at dawn heralds misfortune.¡± ¡°Indeed, it is well known that the Sang Family¡¯s daughter has a husband-killing fate; men who come near her become unlucky. Please cherish yourself, Emperor!¡± ¡°I have already investigated, the locust plague outbreak happened on the day the Sang Family¡¯s daughter entered the palace. It seems that this is why Sang Kun concealed it and failed to report.¡± ¡°All signs indicate that the Sang Family¡¯s daughter is a disaster of beauty! Please reconsider thrice, Emperor, and do not be blinded by beauty!¡± ¡­ They had all more or less heard rumors of the Emperor¡¯s fondness for the Sang Family¡¯s daughter. Now they were using it as a pretext to make a scene. Indeed, some were concerned about the Emperor¡¯s personal safety out of loyalty, but most were motivated by self-interest. The first woman the Emperor liked, or might potentially favor and bear an heir with, could not be her! Sang Yan entered and heard all their objections clearly. Anger and embarrassment were present. But more than that, she was pleased¡ªthe opposition from the ministers was good. She didn¡¯t even have to think of ways to dissuade the Emperor¡¯s favor. Unfortunately, she overestimated the ministers¡¯ ability and underestimated the Emperor¡¯s resolve. ¡°Silence!¡± He Ying shouted angrily, grabbing a petition from the table and throwing it: ¡°Those of you who have opinions, strip off your official uniform and get out!¡± Ministers: ¡°¡­¡± They were not so bold as to take off their official uniforms and abandon their careers for the sake of a woman. But they kneeled there in agreement, crying out in unison, ¡°Please reconsider, Emperor. Please reconsider.¡± It was obviously quite displeasing. Sang Yan, seeing the Emperor¡¯s increasingly impatient expression, quickly knelt down: ¡°I, Sang Yan, greet the Emperor.¡± He Ying raised his hand: ¡°Rise. You may sit.¡± Sang Yan glanced at the kneeling ministers and did not stand up: ¡°Emperor, I am here to redeem my father¡¯s sins.¡± ¡°Look¡ª¡± He did not hide his admiration for Sang Yan: ¡°If you were sinners, would any of your daughters have such courage?¡± Inside the ministers seethed: But that¡¯s only because our daughters haven¡¯t won your heart! With the Emperor¡¯s Heart, what would they dare not do? Sang Yan felt deeply awkward¡ªdid this damned Emperor not know he was attracting hatred toward her! ¡°Emperor, esteemed ministers¡ª¡± Sang Yan bowed respectfully, her demeanor humble: ¡°Concerning the locust plague, I have some humble opinions, sincerely seeking corrections.¡± Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 031 Locust Plague Chapter 31: Chapter 031 Locust Plague He Ying encouraged, ¡°No need to be modest. Speak boldly.¡± Sang Yan then spoke up, ¡°Every creature has its natural enemy, one thing to overcome another. These locusts too have natural enemies, such as chickens, ducks, and geese. I have heard that tens of thousands of domesticated birds are bred in Shanglin Garden, perhaps we could give it a try.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s worth a try.¡± Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Tao Qin was the first to voice his concern: ¡°But the journey is long, and by the time the poultry arrives in Wuzhou, I fear the crops will have all been ravaged.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan quickly added, ¡°Then we could requisition poultry from the areas surrounding Wuzhou. Replace taxes with poultry.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qu Zhi vehemently opposed, ¡°There has never been such a precedent before! Emperor, you must not let a woman bewitch the masses with such witchcraft!¡± And he shifted the topic, ¡°Emperor, Sang Kun hid the locust disaster and failed to report it, causing the farmlands of eight cities in Wuzhou to be completely destroyed, a sin unforgivable. His daughter¡¯s proposed solution is even more absurd¡ªlabor-intensive and costly, her intentions must be condemned!¡± His close subordinate Cai Yuan echoed, ¡°Mr. Qu speaks with reason.¡± Cai Yuan was the Director of Finance, involved in the administration and planning of national expenditures. ¡°Tens of thousands of poultry may not be able to solve the locust plague. With each city in Wuzhou already facing a food shortage, where can we collect so many poultry? The Sang Family¡¯s daughter merely lips the problem away expecting to solve the locust disaster, how ludicrous!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± He Ying could not stand anyone speaking ill of Sang Yan and defended her, ¡°Her solution is ludicrous¡ªwhat about yours? You¡¯ve been kneeling here for two hours without a clear thought? All of you get out!¡± The Ministers remained kneeling. He Ying didn¡¯t indulge them and harshly ordered, ¡°Guards! Drag them all out! If you wish to kneel, do it far from here!¡± ¡°Emperor, please reconsider.¡± ¡°Emperor, do not be bewitched by the demoness!¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± The guards rushed in, about to drag them all out¡ª Sang Yan spoke up, ¡°Emperor, I have not yet finished speaking.¡± Without waiting for his response, she continued, ¡°Respected Ministers, my humble suggestions surely have many flaws, but the locust plague cannot be neglected. Not only do they devastate this year¡¯s crops, but they also have extremely strong breeding capabilities, and the eggs laid will blight next year¡¯s crops as well. Using poultry to extinguish locusts not only eliminates the locusts themselves but also their eggs. Though it may be a case of closing the barn door after the sheep has escaped, it can prevent the calamity of locusts next year. Esteemed officials, we must not only look at the present but consider the long-term.¡± Her words stunned them. No one spoke again. He Ying waved his hand, signaling the guards to retreat, and commanded, ¡°Summons Sang Kun here.¡± By the time Sang Kun arrived, it seemed the Ministers had set aside their previous grievances and began to earnestly address the issue of using poultry to eradicate locusts. Sang Yan proposed a few more solutions, such as partnering with merchants to purchase poultry, transporting poultry by both land and sea routes, and issues of poultry health and safety. They debated for another three hours. From time to time, Ministers¡¯ stomachs growled. Sang Yan¡¯s stomach was growling too. Fortunately, with all the rumbling sounds, it was not so noticeable. But she was bashful, and her face still flushed with embarrassment. He Ying noticed and temporarily called a halt, ordering meals to be served. The Ministers, starved by then, ran to the side hall next to the Imperial Study to eat, fearing that if they were late, there¡¯d be no food left. Sang Yan also wanted to run, but she was stopped. ¡°Stay, and eat with me.¡± His words startled a few officials who were a step behind. Including Sang Kun. ¡°Mr. Sang has raised a fine daughter!¡± Exiting the Imperial Study, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Tao Qin sighed with a mixture of envy and jealousy. Sang Kun felt doubly pleased, smiling broadly, yet spoke modestly, ¡°Ah, such is the fortune of children and grandchildren.¡± He had just been released from prison, yet he looked energetic and well-dressed, clearly having been comfortable during his time in confinement. And to be so comfortable after being imprisoned for a crime, it couldn¡¯t have been possible without the Emperor¡¯s consent. ¡°Selling his daughter for glory!¡± Qu Zhi looked at his smug and arrogant demeanor, his jealousy and hatred making his teeth itch, ¡°Sang Kun, don¡¯t celebrate too soon! Pray your daughter doesn¡¯t doom the Emperor, otherwise, prepare for your entire family to be executed!¡± Hearing these words, Sang Kun felt somewhat uneasy internally, but maintained a calm demeanor with a faint smile, ¡°Mr. Qu, choose your words wisely.¡± ¡°What? You dare to do it but fear others talking about it? For the sake of climbing up the ladder, you sent a widow with a husband-killing fate into the palace¡ª¡± ¡°Mr. Qu¡ª¡± Cai Yuan tugged at Qu Zhi¡¯s sleeve and advised in a low voice, ¡°The Sang Family¡¯s daughter is not yet a concubine, and the Emperor hasn¡¯t granted her a title. There¡¯s no rush. The harem is still under the Empress Dowager¡¯s watch.¡± Qu Zhi thought about it and found the reasoning sound, finally showing a smile on his face, ¡°Hmph, a woman of dubious reputation wants to enter the Imperial Palace? I¡¯d like to see just how long you can keep smiling!¡± These words struck at Sang Kun¡¯s heart. The smile on his face gradually froze, and concern slowly crept into his eyes. ¡°Mr. Sang, let¡¯s move on.¡± An official ahead turned back to call for him. ¡°¡­Right.¡± He forced a smile and turned back for a glance at the closed door of the Imperial Study. Inside the Imperial Study He Ying ate his meal and, seeing the furrowed brows of the person opposite him, asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not thinking anything.¡± ¡°Not thinking anything, why do you frown?¡± After asking, he indulged her with a smile, teasing, ¡°If you wish to challenge me, I¡¯ll let you do so. Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± He referred to the nearly wager-like question. Sang Yan mentioned this and curled her lips, mocking, ¡°Happy about what? In the end, I still had to enter the palace to beg you.¡± He Ying chuckled lightly, sounding very innocent, ¡°That was not my intention. You can¡¯t blame me for this.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright. Indeed, he was not to be blamed. It was the fault of her original father! Her original father dared to make such a mistake even before she had any relationship with the Emperor; she dared not imagine what he might do recklessly if she really got involved with the Emperor! History shows that the families of favored concubines always inflate with pride because of the favor! To prevent even greater calamities, she put down her chopsticks, knelt down, and said earnestly, ¡°My father is at fault. The Emperor should punish him to set an example. Otherwise, it would be hard to convince the people.¡± He Ying did not expect her to ask him to punish her own father; after his surprise, he smiled, ¡°You are quite fair. But it¡¯s just a minor matter, not important. Besides, you¡¯ve already made amends for your father¡¯s transgressions.¡± Sang Yan disagreed, adamant, ¡°A great dike breaches due to an ant hole. Emperor, do not neglect a wrongdoing no matter how small.¡± ¡°Enough. I have my own judgment.¡± In truth, he hoped Sang Kun would make some mistakes, giving him an excuse to extend his favor by association. See, isn¡¯t he getting to know her better now? The more he understood her, the more he liked her. He admired her impartiality and clear-headedness, yet he wished she could be a bit more selfish. ¡°Rise.¡± He looked at her, murmuring softly, ¡°If your father heard these words, I wonder how much it would hurt his heart.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She inexplicably felt like the perfect son-in-law. What was this? The darn Emperor was flirting with her again! Hmph! She countered, ¡°Emperor, that¡¯s emotional blackmail. Besides, what I did was not to harm him but to love him, to ensure he makes fewer mistakes.¡± She didn¡¯t want to be seen as a protective umbrella, repeatedly diminishing the Emperor¡¯s favor. Wait a second¡ª Perhaps she could try playing the smart and crafty game? Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 032: Decision-making Chapter 32: Chapter 032: Decision-making ¡°Enough.¡± Working on it further will only complicate things between the two of them and might as well result in a mess. He Ying spoke sincerely, ¡°With your clear sense of right and wrong, you would be a blessing to the world if you were in a high position.¡± Sang Yan, as if facing a formidable enemy, humbly said, ¡°Emperor, you flatter me.¡± ¡°I do not praise lightly. Rise. You need not kneel when we are alone in the future.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This privilege of avoiding kneeling also seemed overwhelming. Sang Yan stood up, returned to her original spot, quickly finished her meal, and was about to take her leave. He Ying didn¡¯t let her, asking, ¡°I intend to put your father in charge of this matter. What do you think?¡± This was an opportunity for Sang Kun to redeem himself. Sang Yan, not familiar with Sang Kun¡¯s abilities and considering the hiding of the locust plague as a lack of official integrity, said, ¡°The locust plague is a serious matter, the Emperor should choose someone wise and capable. If you believe he has the capability, the decision is yours.¡± She passed the decision back to him. He Ying, unable to help but smile wryly, said, ¡°You really are slippery.¡± After laughing, he changed his tone, ¡°But, he raised a fine daughter like you, how could he be without ability?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor really knew how to offer compliments. But she was not the original host; she wasn¡¯t Sang Kun¡¯s daughter. ¡°Emperor, please rethink this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I trust you. Let him take on this task. As for the subsequent disaster relief, do you have someone in mind?¡± He even asked her. Sang Yan was displeased, ¡°Is the Emperor trying to be lazy?¡± He really was showing more and more traits of an incompetent ruler. He kept delegating his power to her. Hearing this, He Ying, partially in playful banter, laughed, ¡°Oh, so I am being lazy. It feels quite good. So, do you have someone in mind?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°I do not.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably not familiar with the court officials.¡± He Ying then introduced, ¡°The one with the strongest opposition is Qu Zhi, the Minister of Revenue. You previously pleaded for the concubines in front of the Empress Dowager and Princess Consort Li is his daughter. Yet, he did not appreciate your kindness and instead turned against you. Do you regret saving her?¡± Sang Yan still shook her head, ¡°I only strive to have a clear conscience.¡± Seeing this, He Ying stared at her intensely, ¡°What a clear conscience. Do you feel the same towards me?¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She avoided his intense gaze and remained silent. At this moment, the Ministers finished their meal and came over. He Ying composed himself and continued to discuss state affairs with the ministers. This time, a decision was made within two hours. ¡°The task of locust eradication is assigned to Sang Kun, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, supported by three thousand Imperial Army troops. The disaster relief will be handled by Tao Qin, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The devastated farmlands will be registered, and taxes in the eight cities of Wuzhou will be halved, with appropriate relief for those in extreme poverty. Yu Huai De, you will also go on my behalf to console the people.¡± This string of commands stunned the ministers. Yu Huai De was surprised by this unexpected good fortune and quickly knelt in gratitude, ¡°Emperor is wise. Your servant will not fail your grace.¡± The other ministers, although reluctant, also had to kneel and obey, unanimously saying, ¡°Emperor is wise.¡± ¡°Alright, you may all leave now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The ministers left the Imperial Study and gathered in small groups, airing their grievances. ¡°The Emperor really is biased.¡± ¡°Yes. Sang Kun is assigned to eradicate locusts with the help of three thousand Imperial Army troops, but Tao is put in charge of disaster relief under just one official¡¯s supervision.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because he has a good daughter!¡± ¡°A demoness brings disaster to the country!¡± ¡­ They all wore worried expressions, their words filled with envy and jealousy. Only Sang Kun wore a triumphant smile, humming a tune, and strutted off. ¡°What a petty triumph!¡± Qu Zhi stomped his foot in annoyance, ¡°I want to see how long he can be proud!¡± Cai Yuan, seeing this, whispered in his ear, ¡°Sir, if Sang Kun successfully eradicates the locusts¡ª¡± His position might become unstable. Unless Qu Zhi could rise higher. But without any achievements, how could he be promoted? Princess Consort Li had once again lost the Emperor¡¯s favor. ¡°I want my position, but it depends on whether he has the fate to keep it!¡± A murderous intent flashed through Qu Zhi¡¯s eyes. ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Suddenly, there was a burst of exclamation around her. Qu Zhi turned back and saw the Emperor and Sang Yan coming out together. They even got on the sedan chair together. This! This! Qu Zhi was dumbstruck: Insane! Truly insane! Sang Yan also thought the Emperor had gone mad. She had resolved the matter with her father and just wanted to leave the palace. Then the Emperor said, ¡°I will take you back to Yuesang Palace. Your sister misses you.¡± The latter sentence was clearly the reason for keeping her. To keep her was one thing, but to escort her in a sedan chair, wasn¡¯t that ¡°too much¡±? How could she, a daughter of a minister without rank, ride in the Emperor¡¯s sedan chair? ¡°Your Majesty, this is not proper!¡± She refused at the first instance. What came in return was a threat from the Emperor, ¡°If you don¡¯t get on, I will carry you up. If I become ill then, who knows what I might do.¡± Sang Yan had no choice but to get on the sedan chair. Fortunately, the sedan chair was spacious enough to avoid contact with him. Yet, wherever the sedan chair passed, everyone knelt down, including the ministers, who knelt for her, leaving her feeling incredibly conflicted. Admittedly, the feeling of supreme dominance, with the world at her feet, was intoxicating, but, what a sin! Frowning, she felt gloomy: ¡°Through fierce fire into oil, dressed up like a flowery spectacle¡ªdoes the Emperor intend to kill me with favor?¡± ¡°You see, you always interpret my actions maliciously. Could it not be that I am pleased with you and wish to enjoy the realm together?¡± He Ying looked at her tenderly, his tone somewhat sad, ¡°Ah Yan, your heart is encased in ice; if not through fierce fire, how could I melt it?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was, for once, at a loss for words. The Emperor was now using a self-suffering strategy! ¡°Ah Yan, putting aside your worries, does riding in the sedan chair truly make you so uncomfortable?¡± The Emperor was bewitching her! It must be! ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t betray your heart.¡± Emperor! Emperor! Sang Yan said, ¡°Your Majesty, people¡¯s hearts change easily. What I like now may not be what I like later. But people must not yield to their own desires. Often, individuals destroy themselves over the things they cherish.¡± She was hinting¡ªeven if she liked power, she wouldn¡¯t be seduced by it. He Ying understood her meaning but deliberately misconstrued, ¡°With such words, I am reassured. All this talk of a heart tied to a deceased husband and no intent to marry will change. Someday, your heart will lean toward me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What was that all about? Was the Emperor deliberately provoking her? She shut down. She turned her head, refusing to look at him or speak any further. The sedan chair passed by the Imperial Garden. The Imperial Garden was in full bloom with butterflies fluttering around. Several concubines were enjoying the flowers and chasing butterflies. From a distance, they all looked shocked yet envious at the scene in the sedan chair. Princess Consort Li Qu Xueli was among them. She stepped forward, blocking the sedan chair, and said, ¡°Your Majesty, isn¡¯t this against the propriety?¡± She was fortunate to be out of the Cold Palace but had not learned to restrain herself. Jinpin, Xie Jinhua, tugged at her sleeve, trying to remind her, but she ignored it. In fact, seeing her like this, she also had a kind of proud spirit that feared no authority. Unlike the other concubines. Unfortunately, the Emperor¡¯s eyes already had the most unique person in them. ¡°I thought¡­ I am the rule!¡± The last five words, not loud but cold and deep, suppressed any rebuttal. Such was the majesty of an Emperor. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 033: Thousand Years Chapter 33: Chapter 033: Thousand Years The sedan chair continued to move forward. After passing the Imperial Garden, Sang Yan finally raised her head. She had just faced the Emperor¡¯s concubine, inexplicably feeling like an adulteress caught in the act. Ah, the Emperor had lost his humanity. It¡¯s all about rules for him! Though that was the truth, playing tough often brought hatred. But nobody dared to hate the Emperor. Even Qu Xueli, when she ran to the Empress Dowager, could only fault Sang Yan: ¡°She has neither status nor official position, yet she dares to share a sedan with the Emperor. I heard she even ran into the Imperial Study to plead for her father. A shameless widow, seducing in the Imperial Palace, deserves to be beaten to death with sticks!¡± Empress Dowager Pei Yiqing sat on her phoenix couch, listening without speaking. She appeared indifferent, slightly squinting her eyes, twirling her Buddha Beads, as if she had truly become a Buddha. Qu Xueli continued, ¡°Empress Dowager, she disregards palace regulations and deludes the sage hearing. You cannot remain compassionate and soft-hearted!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Buddha Beads by the Empress Dowager¡¯s side became impatient first: ¡°You lack the ability to please the Emperor¡¯s Heart, do not reflect on your behavior, yet have the audacity to babble complaints before the Empress Dowager. She let you out, not to bother her with every issue.¡± Qu Xueli, unexpectedly rebuked by a palace maid, wanted to scold her but restrained herself. ¡°It is my uselessness.¡± She lowered her head, adopting an obedient attitude. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager spoke as well, her tone still rather gentle: ¡°Princess Consort Li, you should have learned from the Cold Palace incident. That Sang Family¡¯s daughter, even if favored, so what? If the Emperor really liked her, he would have favored her long ago, or even admitted her into his harem, leaving no room for your grievances.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, Empress Dowager.¡± ¡°How far can a beautiful widow go in this harem? Just a plaything. If the Emperor likes her, so be it; if he really favors her, once the Emperor indulges, your good days will also arrive.¡± The last sentence enlightened Qu Xueli like an epiphany. ¡°Empress Dowager¡ª¡± Her eyes widened as she suddenly understood the Empress Dowager¡¯s intentions¡ªto use Sang Yan to guide the Emperor closer to female charms. The Empress Dowager was succinct, waving her hand, ¡°Go back and think about it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qu Xueli suppressed her excitement and complied. The Empress Dowager watched her receding figure, twirling her Buddha Beads, and sighed softly, ¡°All are worthless.¡± Buddha Beads whispered, ¡°Luckily, the Empress Dowager doesn¡¯t count on them.¡± The Empress Dowager slowly closed her eyes. The hall quieted down again. After a while, she asked, ¡°How is the experiment progressing?¡± Buddha Beads replied, ¡°Ten women, administered continuously for seven days; results should be evident soon.¡± The Empress Dowager nodded: ¡°I must have an heir.¡± She opened her eyes, mumbling as if aged, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left.¡± Buddha Beads quickly grasped her hand, reassuringly, ¡°Empress Dowager, don¡¯t speak of such inauspicious things. You will live a long life.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so good about living a thousand years?¡± The Empress Dowager patted Buddha Beads¡¯ hand, offering a bitter smile of consolation, ¡°Living less than a hundred years, yet always worried about a thousand. My life¡ª¡± Born into a powerful family, ranked as a concubine upon entering the palace, managing to firmly sit in the positions of Empress and Empress Dowager despite not bearing an heir, enjoying glory for most of her life, yet not being able to control a bit of it. ¡°Buddha Beads doesn¡¯t care, but Buddha Beads want you to live a long life.¡± Buddha Beads shook the Empress Dowager¡¯s hand gently, acting coquettishly. The Empress Dowager looked at her, lovingly smiling, yet said, ¡°It¡¯s been sixteen years. I miss Xiuming terribly.¡± Xiuming was the late Emperor He Zheng¡¯s style name. Knowing that the late Emperor was the hidden pain of the Empress Dowager, Buddha Beads shifted from the coquettish daughter demeanor to the composed demeanor of the Lord Palace Commander. * Yuesang Palace, Side Hall the moon on the willow branch Sang Yan, looking at Sang Ruishui who seemed to want a long nocturnal chat, tactfully dismissed her: ¡°I need to rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sleep with sister, so I don¡¯t open my eyes and find you gone again.¡± Sang Ruishui said and lay down on the bed. Sang Yan helplessly raised her hand, ¡°I promise, I won¡¯t leave tomorrow.¡± Satisfied with the response, Sang Ruishui smiled and left. After she had gone, Sang Yan went to wash up and then, with a long sigh, flopped onto the bed like a dead fish. Today had indeed been a harrowing day. He had been busy in the Imperial Study until evening, then returned to Yuesang Palace, finally managing to send away the despicable Emperor, only to be pestered by Sang Ruoshui until now. The harem really wasn¡¯t a place for humans. She felt weary. Too weary to love. ¡°Miss¡ª¡± Qiuzhi finished wiping her wet hair, and seeing her asleep, gently applied the peach blossom face cream on her. It had just been sent by the Emperor. And he had instructed her to definitely apply it on Sang Yan. Sang Yan, not sleeping soundly, felt someone touching her face and the cool dampness on it, which woke her up. ¡°What is this?¡± She looked at Qiuzhi¡¯s hand reaching towards her, with a layer of white creamy substance that smelled fragrant and somewhat familiar. ¡°It¡¯s the peach blossom face cream Miss previously bought; surprisingly, the Emperor also purchased one.¡± Qiuzhi had accompanied Sang Yan on a trip and had seen the Emperor that day. ¡°What a coincidence, Miss rushed here today, and none of these items were prepared. The Emperor is thoughtful.¡± Actually, Qiuzhi was pleased that her mistress had caught the Emperor¡¯s eye, but she also worried, ¡°But does the Emperor truly not mind Miss¡¯s background?¡± A husband-killing fate, most men would steer clear of that, right? The Emperor has still not granted Miss a title, could he just be toying with her? Ah, Miss¡¯s fate is truly hard! Unaware of Qiuzhi¡¯s thoughts, Sang Yan lazily waved her hand, ¡°Don¡¯t apply anymore. Quickly get ready to sleep.¡± A woman beautifies herself for the one who cherishes her. She did not want to adorn herself for the despicable Emperor. Even thought about better to look uglier. Her current predicament was caused by beauty! Qiuzhi, unaware of Sang Yan¡¯s thoughts, was even more concerned with her face. ¡°This peach blossom face cream is very nourishing and fragrant. If Miss applies it, it will moisturize overnight; tomorrow you¡¯ll definitely be the most beautiful in the harem.¡± She said this and, even though Sang Yan told her not to, still applied a thick layer. ¡°Go to sleep, Miss. I¡¯ll help wash it off later.¡± She leaned over the bed, smiling as she watched Sang Yan¡¯s sleeping face, thinking she looked even more beautiful. No wonder she had caught the Emperor¡¯s eye. Even she herself felt her heart stir. Sang Yan, unaware of all this, closed her eyes and fell deeply asleep. During the night, vaguely aware of Qiuzhi washing her face, she did not wake up. She slept until dawn. When Sang Yan woke up, she saw Sang Ruoshui sitting by her bed, her face coated with a thick white layer¡­ probably the peach blossom face cream. ¡°Is this really that miraculous?¡± Sang Ruoshui held a mirror, looking left and right, admiring her already fair and tender face. Qiuzhi whispered, ¡°The eldest young Miss uses this too.¡± Sang Yan woke up, saw Sang Ruoshui, and frowned, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I just wanted to see you, sister.¡± ¡°Your face looks so dewy and tender, like a peeled egg, no wonder the Emperor likes it.¡± Sang Ruoshui¡¯s attention was fixed on her face. Sang Yan, exasperated, pinched her forehead, ¡°Here, it¡¯s yours now. Make yourself scarce.¡± Only then did Sang Ruoshui shift her gaze, looked at her, and with a bewildered tone tinged with innocence, ¡°Sister always pushes me away. But where did little sister go wrong? Did I upset you?¡± As she spoke, she apologized, ¡°Little sister is na?ve and straightforward, please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. It seemed she hadn¡¯t really done anything wrong. That day, she informed the Emperor and stopped her from leaving, but now she thought that even if she hadn¡¯t, it wouldn¡¯t have made any difference. The Emperor, with his obsessive and authoritative nature, would do what he wanted, no one could say no! Just thinking about the Emperor brought his decree. ¡°Milady, please rise, the Emperor has sent someone; he invites you to have breakfast together.¡± A palace maid hurried in, her address reflecting a new courtesy. Sang Yan heard this and felt a headache coming¡ª the despicable Emperor was closing in step by step! Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 034 Absurdity Chapter 34: Chapter 034 Absurdity First, he shared a carriage with her, not considering at all whether he might fall ill. Now, he has had the palace maid switch to calling him master. His intentions are utterly unmasked. It¡¯s frightening to think that one day, overcome by impulse, he would push through his illness just to have his way with her. This Imperial Palace is too dangerous. She needs to leave quickly! ¡°Sister, please go quickly. Don¡¯t keep the Emperor waiting.¡± Sang Ruoshui suppressed his envy and urged her. Sang Yan sighed deeply, slowly got out of bed, washed up briefly, changed her clothes, and went. Qiuzhi still wanted to apply her makeup, but she refused and went bare-faced in front of the Emperor. The Emperor was carving jade. Or rather, he was crafting a Jade hairpin. Seeing her arrival, his first reaction was to hide it. Sang Yan didn¡¯t see clearly and didn¡¯t mind; she firstly bowed and greeted, ¡°I pay my respects to Your Majesty.¡± He Ying, with his hands behind his back, passed the Jade hairpin to Pei Muyang before raising a hand, ¡°No need for formalities. Please, have a seat.¡± He rose and sat down by the dining table, softly speaking, ¡°There¡¯s no morning court today, I just thought of dining together with you.¡± Sang Yan responded coolly and distantly, ¡°I¡¯m unworthy.¡± He Ying noticed her mood was off and frowned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who has upset you?¡± Sang Yan bluntly said, ¡°It¡¯s the Emperor.¡± He Ying smiled, ¡°How have I upset you?¡± ¡°The Emperor puts a lot of pressure on me.¡± His love, fiery as a blazing inferno, suffocated her. Unaware of her inner turmoil, He Ying chuckled, ¡°I think pressure is a good thing. To bear the crown, one must endure its weight.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t want to.¡± Her saying she didn¡¯t want to was a rejection, a defiance. Yet He Ying didn¡¯t get as angry as before and instead said earnestly, ¡°Initially, I also didn¡¯t want to be the Emperor. Unfortunately, the late Emperor passed away too soon. I was only ten then and had to take on the responsibilities of Da He.¡± Speaking of the late Emperor, his playful mood subsided somewhat, his expression grievous, ¡°When the late Emperor was dying, he was delirious, crying that he didn¡¯t want to be the Emperor at one moment, then berating himself for not being a good one at another. Actually, I know, at that time, the Regent King Pei Zhen held the real power. It was difficult being Emperor; he did all he could.¡± Listening to the imperial family¡¯s secrets, Sang Yan felt heavy-hearted but also vaguely thought¡ªIs the wretched Emperor playing the sympathy card? ¡°¡­ Your Majesty is doing very well.¡± She thought it over and complied with a statement. Next moment, the wretched Emperor said, ¡°You could do very well too.¡± See, waiting right there. Sang Yan was inwardly vexed, ¡°I am not Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You have me.¡± The wretched Emperor is narcissistic! In that instant, Sang Yan had no idea what to say, only able to channel her sorrow into her appetite. Breakfast proceeded in silence. After a while, He Ying picked up a topic, ¡°What is the answer to your question?¡± He felt that Feng Yicheng¡¯s explanation wasn¡¯t the best solution. But he couldn¡¯t provide a better explanation either. Seeing his puzzled look, Sang Yan felt slightly better and scoffed, ¡°I asked Your Majesty, how has it turned to Your Majesty asking me?¡± He Ying chuckled lightly, ¡°Am I not a flawed man, who can¡¯t humbly seek advice?¡± Sang Yan sarcastically remarked, ¡°Your Majesty always says he is the Master of the World, the Emperor, I thought Your Majesty was omnipotent.¡± He Ying, wanting to cheer her up, replied, ¡°Sorry. I am not omnipotent, I must disappoint you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, went soft again: ¡°It¡¯s just a play on words. Your Majesty needn¡¯t overthink it.¡± He Ying nodded, sighed, and said, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s meant to trouble me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Wretched Emperor! If she softened any further, she would be a fool! After breakfast She wanted to take her leave. He Ying did not agree, asking her to prepare the ink and brush instead. Having done this task before, Sang Yan mechanically ground the ink for him. While reviewing the petitions, He Ying occasionally asked, ¡°How should this person be dealt with?¡± Sang Yan then took the petition, which detailed the Imperial Censor, Feng Ji, impeaching the Prince of Qingzhou/Du Tong for living a lavish lifestyle, not only expanding the Prince Mansion extensively but also gathering various beauties, causing the people under his rule to suffer immensely and complaints to abound. ¡°May I ask the Emperor, what merits has the Prince of Qingzhou achieved?¡± ¡°Thanks to ancestral fortune, he has no notable merits.¡± ¡°Then, once verified as true, should it not be dealt with impartially? What is there to hesitate?¡± Sang Yan did not see the case as being difficult to manage. Was the Emperor too lazy to apply a bit of thought? He Ying, as if seeing what she was thinking, looked at her and gently smiled, ¡°Not at all. I merely wanted to find an opportunity to talk more with you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor was flirting with her again! Her heart rate uncontrollably quickened. And her face turned a bit red. She quickly turned away, urging, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s better to focus on the government affairs.¡± The table was piled up with petitions like a small mountain. Not understanding, one does not know the Emperor¡¯s hardships; this vast territory of Da He truly is immense, covering eighteen provinces, ninety-six cities, catering to a population of two hundred million. It even surpasses the population of the illustrious Tang dynasty in history. Ruling such a populous, the burden rests entirely on one man, the Emperor; the hardship is imaginable. No wonder the Emperor wanted to be lazy. He Ying did indeed want to be lazy, dipping his brush in ink while writing comments but also saying, ¡°Whenever I see the Prince of Qingzhou, I am reminded of the late Emperor. During his reign, they were quite close. The late Emperor didn¡¯t have many friends, just Wan Zhang from the Observatory and him.¡± His words carried an implication of personal bias. Sang Yan¡¯s sense of justice surged, unable to resist saying, ¡°The Prince should be subjected to the same laws as the common people. Even if he was a friend of the late Emperor, Your Majesty cannot easily exonerate him. Otherwise, it sets a dangerous precedent.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take your advice.¡± He Ying agreed briskly. At last, he added teasingly, ¡°With your concern for the country and the people, had you been born a boy, you would indeed be a pillar of the state.¡± Sang Yan, hearing this, felt regret: ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± If she had been reincarnated into a man¡¯s body, she would follow Feng Yicheng¡¯s footsteps; advancing to achieve and retreating to travel the world, how joyful that would be. ¡°Fortunately, you are not.¡± He Ying¡¯s tone was laced with relief. Sang Yan felt the urge to punch someone. Then she heard him continue, ¡°Actually, over the years, I too have heard of Du Tong¡¯s absurd actions. It¡¯s said that every spring, Du Tong hosts a banquet in the Prince Mansion where he has numerous concubines wear fresh flowers and stand in the garden. Then, he captures a butterfly and releases it by hand to see on which concubine it lands. Whichever one it chooses, that concubine would serve him for the night. Ha, loving as the butterflies decide, I as the Emperor couldn¡¯t compete with his playfulness.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Why did she feel a hint of envy? Humph. All these years, the Emperor couldn¡¯t indulge in intimate pleasures due to his strange illness. He must be frustrated. Thinking so, she couldn¡¯t help but say grumpily, ¡°Your Majesty, as you said, you are the Emperor of the whole country. Why focus on such frivolous matters?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± It did not necessarily need to be that strict. He coughed twice, softly adding, ¡°I used to think so too, but now that I have you in my heart¡­ it¡¯s all just part of male and female affection. Don¡¯t be like those old pedants, so prudish and dull.¡± Sang Yan, hearing this, said nothing aloud, but inwardly scoffed: Humph! Double standard! When the Prince of Qingzhou/Du Tong loves with the butterflies, it is absurd, but when he does, it is a refined affair. ¡°Your Majesty, you should focus and properly review the petitions.¡± She felt like she was becoming a teacher, incessantly commanding an unruly student. This is tiring. ¡°You might want to look at this¡ª¡± The Emperor handed her another petition. Great. She was wrong; not just a teacher but also a political advisor! Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 035: Status Chapter 35: Chapter 035: Status Sang Yan realized this and her expression became cautious, ¡°Emperor, if I continue to neglect political duties, it will be my fault.¡± ¡°What fault?¡± ¡°Enchanting the King? Disrupting the court?¡± ¡°I see you as more upright and concerned for the people than the ministers!¡± Each of He Ying¡¯s statements was more forceful than the last. But in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, it was simply that his love had clouded his judgement. She really wasn¡¯t that good! The Emperor¡¯s love filter must have been as thick as a city wall! Sang Yan¡¯s feelings were complex, one moment joyful, the next vain, then worried, and finally, all turned into caution, ¡°Emperor, I am anxious.¡± Every time she said this, He Ying felt profoundly helpless. ¡°Enough.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°Just stay by my side and assist me.¡± He refocused on handling the affairs of state. He went through petition after petition. Time trickled by slowly. Sang Yan, grinding the ink out of boredom, glanced around and finally, her gaze uncontrollably fell on the Emperor. A man concentrating on his work is most attractive. This saying truly did not deceive her. The Emperor had fair skin, a handsome profile, a high nose, thick long eyelashes, and lips as red as blood. Under the sunlight, he seemed bathed in a holy light. He focused on state affairs, his long fingers pinching the brush, moving with a cold and stern charm. Thump, thump, thump¡ª Sang Yan felt her cheeks burn and her mouth go dry. When he seemed to notice and looked over¡ª She startled, her hands fumbled, and the ink stick pressed against the edge of the inkstone. She exerted force and knocked over the inkstone. ¡°Clack.¡± The inkstone hit the ground. The black ink spilled all over the floor. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her face was a picture of panic as she crouched down to clean up. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He Ying also crouched down to help. Their hands, though separated by fabric, touched. It should be said that Sang Yan touched He Ying¡¯s arm and got quite a scare, ¡°Emperor, you!¡± He Ying waved it off, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t be afraid. It didn¡¯t touch. I had already applied Jade Frost Ointment.¡± Sang Yan, seeing that he had no adverse reactions, finally relaxed. At that time, both of them thought it was because they had not actually touched. He Ying even said, ¡°Every time I am with you, I apply Jade Frost Ointment in advance. Even if you were to touch me, I would not blame you.¡± Sang Yan listened with mixed feelings¡ªThe Emperor had some real affection for her. But how long this affection would last, it was hard to say. Emperor Taizong, a wise monarch, had been moved by the talented Xu Hui and summoned her to the harem as a concubine. He had once truly appreciated her talents, but later, captivated by the incomparably beautiful Miss Zheng, he pushed Xu Hui to the back of his mind. A time of songs and dances is valued, the past of poetry and books is cheap. Xu Hui¡¯s sincere heart had been misplaced, and all that remained for her was a lifetime of desolation. Tang Xuanzong had truly loved Yang Guifei, but in the end, he ordered her death at Ma Wei Slope to save his own life. The hearts of emperors have always been fickle! Sang Yan repeatedly warned herself, then stood up, stepped back three steps, and let the palace maid come in to clean. ¡°Emperor, I am a bit tired.¡± ¡°Keeping me company must be boring, right?¡± He Ying answered off-topic but did not stop her, nodding, ¡°You can go back first.¡± He glanced out the window and added, ¡°The sun is harsh, take the sedan chair back.¡± Sang Yan bowed to express her gratitude and strode out. The heat outside was oppressive. She took the sedan chair back and was unbearably hot; upon reaching the palace, she immediately ordered ice water and washed her face directly with it. ¡°The weather suddenly turned hot. The ice in all the palaces is not enough. Miss doesn¡¯t know, but I heard that Princess Consort Li had a quarrel with the head of the Household Affairs, and still, there was no ice.¡± Qiuzhi¡¯s tone was very proud, with a bit of schadenfreude. There isn¡¯t a shortage of ice in the Imperial Palace except for the sleeping chambers of the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Yuesang Palace. Sang Yan noticed that Qiuzhi¡¯s attitude was wrong and sternly rebuked, ¡°Qiuzhi, don¡¯t be reckless.¡± She was conspicuous enough. It¡¯s just that the Emperor was not fond of female company and did not enter the harem, and none of the concubines were favored or had the heir by their side, so for the time being, they dared not do anything to her. Otherwise, the palace intrigues would have played out in eighty episodes. ¡°Yes.¡± Qiuzhi had momentarily lost her inhibitions due to pride but quickly returned to being cautious and prudent. Lunch was served in the palace. Accompanying her was Sang Ruoshui, with the conversation revolving around the Emperor, ¡°Sister, did the Emperor say when he will give you status?¡± Sang Yan feared this question the most. Sang Ruoshui was bringing up the most inappropriate topic. ¡°You are overthinking it.¡± Sang Yan replied coldly, ¡°There will not be that step between the Emperor and me.¡± Even if she really did have relations with the Emperor, she would not enter the palace as a consort. She was not an ancient person, she did not care about chastity or recognition, just not entering the palace meant freedom. Sang Ruoshui, unaware of the full situation, thought the Emperor only wanted to toy with her or perhaps was concerned about her husband-killing fate, just wanted to cherish her beauty but not take responsibility. She could hardly control the glee inside her and the dark jealousy she had always felt instantly dissipated, even feeling a bit of sympathy, ¡°The Emperor must have his difficulties?¡± It seemed the Emperor didn¡¯t like her that much after all. She always said an Emperor wouldn¡¯t risk himself for a widow with a husband-killing fate! Sang Yan felt that Sang Ruoshui might have misunderstood, yet she didn¡¯t explain, but quietly ate her meal. After finishing the meal and sending Sang Ruoshui away, she started to lazily recline. Qiuzhi prompted her to exercise, saying she had put on weight. Sang Yan was pleased, ¡°Really got fat? They say one white covers three flaws, but one fat ruins everything.¡± Upon hearing this response, Qiuzhi became instantly anxious, ¡°Miss, even if the Emperor is unwilling to give you status, you can¡¯t just give up on yourself.¡± Not only was Sang Ruoshui overthinking. Qiuzhi, present during the sisters¡¯ conversation, also overthought. But seeing that Qiuzhi had misconceptions, Sang Yan didn¡¯t explain and simply stated, ¡°A lazy recline after a meal, not even a deity could dissuade me.¡± Qiuzhi burst into tears, ¡°Miss, you mustn¡¯t think like that.¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Teasing the maid was quite fun. ¡°Oh dear, I was just kidding. I haven¡¯t given up on myself.¡± ¡°Then get up and exercise.¡± Qiuzhi pulled her to her feet. Sang Yan got up, walked a hundred steps, and then lay back down. Qiuzhi was in despair. She went out to complain to Sister Xiangxiu, ¡°How could the Emperor abandon responsibilities like this? My miss may have been married before, but she is still pure. If the Emperor continues this way, how can our miss face anyone when she leaves the palace?¡± Xiangxiu didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What did the Emperor do?¡± Qiuzhi mournfully said, ¡°The Emperor is unwilling to give the miss a status.¡± Xiangxiu: ¡°¡­¡± News from Qingning Palace suggested that the Emperor quite liked Sang Yan; she had even been returned in a sedan chair midday today. However, how much the Emperor¡¯s favor counted still depended on giving a proper status. Favor is one thing, but without status, it means nothing. Sang Yan still had the husband-killing fate, and as long as the Emperor didn¡¯t grant her status, he couldn¡¯t be considered her husband, so the discussion of that fate was moot. Perhaps this was the Emperor¡¯s true thought? His kindness towards Sang Yan might be more about compensating for his inability to grant her status? If so, Sang Yan was indeed pitiable. ¡°Sister Xiangxiu, what should my miss do? No wonder the miss is always downcast; as soon as she sees the Emperor, she sighs. It turns out, it turns out it¡¯s like this.¡± The more Qiuzhi spoke, the more heartbroken she became, and she cried again. Seeing this, Xiangxiu thought for a moment and still conveyed the message to Qingning Palace. Sang Yan was unaware of any of this. She lay down from afternoon till evening, had dinner, freshened up, and was ready to continue being indolently idle when a palace maid came to report¡ª ¡°Master, the night-blooming cereus has blossomed in the Imperial Garden, and the Emperor invites you to enjoy it together.¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 036 Indulgence Chapter 36: Chapter 036 Indulgence Sigh. Late at night and still not sleeping, admiring what night-blooming flowers? Sang Yan sighed, reluctantly making her way over. Imperial Garden A couple of dozen eunuchs formed a circle, each holding a large luminous pearl. Those pearls shone with a clean, nourishing glow. For a moment, it was bright as day. When Sang Yan arrived, she saw such a scene and was stunned: My goodness, this is too beautiful. The bright light illuminated the area, the wind blew the night-blooming flowers, branches and leaves swaying, like graceful fairies, dancing and casting their delicate shadows. ¡°Greetings to the Emperor¡ª¡± She gathered her skirt and curtsied. He Ying waved his hand, pointing at the slowly blooming night-blooming flowers, gently smiling, ¡°Although the night-blooming flower is fleeting, the moment that I am here with you is eternal.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was certain now, this Emperor was a love words machine! ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s really beautiful.¡± Looking at this beautiful scene, gazing at his gentle and affectionate eyes, she truly couldn¡¯t utter any mood-spoiling words. With so much emotion stirred, could love blossom? In the blink of an eye, having crossed into this place for over half a year, he was the one who had moved her so. Why must he be the Emperor? If he weren¡¯t the Emperor, might she have the courage to indulge just once? ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± His soft inquiry reached her ears. Sang Yan turned her head to look at him and deliberately said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking, if the Emperor were keen on the company of women, how lively this Imperial Palace would be. With the Emperor¡¯s skills at making women happy, he¡¯d surely make them crazy with love and longing.¡± ¡°The last part is somewhat pleasing to hear.¡± He Ying¡¯s brow furrowed as he listened to the first part of her sentence, but on hearing the latter part, his brow relaxed and he even smiled, ¡°So, I¡¯ve made you happy? I¡¯ve captivated you?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Oh no. She had walked right into a trap. ¡°I am not your woman. Naturally, I¡¯m not included.¡± ¡°You make me¡ª¡± Before He Ying could finish, something occurred to him, and with a wave of his hand, he had the eunuchs put down their items and dismissed them. Soon, everyone around them was gone, leaving only the luminescent pearls illuminating the beauty of the entire garden. ¡°I¡¯ve heard people say that having taken advantage of you, I¡¯m unwilling to grant you a title?¡± His tone was teasing. Sang Yan blushed hearing this, quickly recalling the misunderstanding at noon. Oh no! She had completely forgotten that there were no secrets in the harem. A miscalculation! A miscalculation! She shouldn¡¯t have indulged Sang Ruoshui and Qiuzhi¡¯s wild speculations! Now what? That wretched Emperor was obviously looking to take advantage of the situation! Listen¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve been wronged. Clearly, you¡¯re the one unwilling to give me a title.¡± He, the ruler of a nation, actually used such an innocent and pitiable tone. No wonder he had everyone dismissed! This was too shameful! It was far too quiet all around! With her ears burning, Sang Yan¡¯s brain too grew hot, and she blurted out, ¡°If I don¡¯t give the Emperor a title, would you still be willing to have a relationship with me?¡± Men who sought physical pleasure without emotional attachment would surely have no objections, would they? He Ying didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°We could be lovers of the night.¡± ¡°What?¡± He Ying thought he had heard incorrectly, his eyes filled with disbelief. Seeing his reaction, Sang Yan repeated herself, ¡°It¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re thinking. Lovers of the night, mutually beneficial.¡± ¡°So you really don¡¯t want to give me a title!¡± He Ying¡¯s face changed, ¡°How can you, a woman, say such a thing? Lovers of the night, mutually beneficial? What do you think I need from you? Your body?¡± He grew increasingly angry, and seeing that she didn¡¯t argue back, he felt as though his sincere feelings were being trampled upon. ¡°Speak!¡± He clenched his fist, containing his anger. Compared to his outrage, Sang Yan was very calm, her gaze even carried a hint of incomprehension, ¡°Isn¡¯t mutually beneficial a good arrangement? I know you like me, but how long can like last? Before this like fades, wouldn¡¯t it be nice to do all that we want to do?¡± She believed in coming together when there was agreement, and parting when there wasn¡¯t, with everyone free, not possessing or restraining each other, it would be ideal. But she forgot, for an Emperor who liked a woman, the instinctive response was to possess! To claim ownership! ¡°Good! Very good!¡± He Ying laughed angrily, ¡°Sang Yan, even now, do you merely see me as a man lusting for your beauty? What beauty do I lack access to? Eh? You¡¯re belittling me, as well as belittling yourself! You are truly¡­ degrading yourself! You are¡ª¡± The words ¡®base and vile¡¯ he still managed to restrain. ¡°Someone come!¡± He was too angry, and to avoid saying even more unpleasant words, he turned his head away, not even glancing at her: ¡°Take her back!¡± It was the first time Sang Yan had seen the Emperor lose his temper, and she was somewhat stunned. Not until He Ying¡¯s voice echoed in her ear did she come back to her senses: ¡°Lord Sang, please return first.¡± Sang Yan nodded and stepped past the Emperor. He Ying, unable to contain his frustration, turned back and looked at her, asking, ¡°Do you realize your mistake?¡± If she admitted her fault, he would forgive her. He reasoned that perhaps she was timid, not daring to trust his sincerity, nor daring to ask for a legitimate status from him. He made excuses for her. But she shook her head. ¡°Sang, Yan!¡± He almost ground her name out between clenched teeth. Sang Yan didn¡¯t feel she was in the wrong. She even felt relieved that she had finally touched the bottom line of the Emperor¡ªlook, even in the presence of the Emperor, before an Emperor who repeatedly claimed to like her, she had no right to speak. With unequal status, love was pointless. If they had been in the modern world, with differing opinions, she could argue, quarrel, even make a scene. But now, she could do nothing. Simply shaking her head had exhausted all her courage. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Silence!¡± His face dark with anger, he glared at her, his tone cold and merciless: ¡°You have greatly disappointed me!¡± Sang Yan suddenly felt a stab of pain in her heart, as if pricked by a needle. Fortunately, the pain soon subsided. And she inexplicably wanted to laugh: This was enough to disappoint him? She hadn¡¯t even done anything. ¡°Go back and reflect!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t reflect and understand, don¡¯t come out!¡± Was she being confined? She wasn¡¯t even his concubine yet, was she going to be sent to the Cold Palace already? Ha. She laughed all the way back to Yuesang Palace. She realized just how far Yuesang Palace was from the Imperial Garden when she had to walk back, something she hadn¡¯t noticed while riding in the sedan chair. Her feet hurt. Her heart hurt too. It hurt and was cold. Exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed and slept until dawn. The next day To ¡°reflect¡± as per the Emperor¡¯s command was to lie in bed and sleep like a salted fish. Reflection was not possible. Not in this lifetime. Sang Yan closed her eyes, oblivious to the world outside her window. Thus, as a salted fish for two days, the outside world still managed to drift into her ears. ¡°Really? The Lord asked the Emperor for a title and angered him?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been confined; how could it not be true?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve felt something was off for a while, the Emperor always grants a title first to those he favors.¡± ¡°Alas, I think our Lord was too impetuous. She should have waited until she was carrying the heir before asking the Emperor for a title.¡± ¡°Our Lord has a husband-killing fate, it¡¯s normal for the Emperor to withhold a title.¡± ¡°Ah, poor Lord.¡± ¡­ Rumors always strayed far from the truth. Sang Yan didn¡¯t have the spirit to correct them, so she ¡°reflected¡± in bed instead: Hmph, better for him to grow weary of her. It would be best if, in his anger, he drove her out of the palace; then, she could return to her estate and raise several young lads to be her one-night stand lovers! ¡°How brazen, to fabricate stories about the Lord. Drag them out and slap them hard!¡± Sang Ruoshui¡¯s angry voice came from outside the hall. Then came palace maids¡¯ pleading cries as they kowtowed: ¡°Lady, have mercy, we dare not do it again. Lady, have mercy¡ª¡± This was followed by a series of slapping sounds. Mixed with crying and pleading, the noise was irritating. Unable to bear listening any longer, Sang Yan got up and went outside: ¡°Enough. Stop hitting them. From now on, speak less.¡± She didn¡¯t believe gossiping was a sin. She also enjoyed a gossip. It was just that in the Imperial Palace, there were too many strict regulations. ¡°Thank you, Lord.¡± The palace maids thanked her with their kowtows and quickly retreated. Sang Ruoshui wasn¡¯t there to punish the maids; she didn¡¯t say much and walked inside, venting her frustration: ¡°Sister, you still have the mood to sleep. I was almost laughed to death by them. You should have heard the awful things they were saying about you. You are too kind; you even asked the Empress Dowager to intercede and release them from the Cold Palace. Such an ungrateful bunch!¡± Sang Yan listened without expression, then asked: ¡°So what?¡± Sang Ruoshui smiled and said: ¡°Sister, I have an idea. Why don¡¯t you kneel and confess your guilt? The Emperor likes you; he will surely forgive you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Kneel and confess guilt? That idiom is quite interesting! Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 037: Falling Out of Favor Chapter 37: Chapter 037: Falling Out of Favor ¡°You asked me to apologize, I must reflect and find out what I have done wrong, mustn¡¯t I? Otherwise, if I can¡¯t explain myself before the Emperor, I¡¯ll be blamed even more.¡± Sang Yan, evasively lying, said, ¡°Go back. I¡¯m still reflecting.¡± Sang Ruoshui, unaware of the situation, disagreed. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t overthink it! If the Emperor asks you to reflect, and you actually do it, that would be foolish. Listen to me, just admit your fault and speak softly to the Emperor, and he will surely forgive you.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± Sang Yan feigned a sudden realization, gratefully saying, ¡°Alright. Thank you. I know what to do now.¡± She sent Sang Ruoshui away and went back inside the hall to continue her deep sleep. Sang Ruoshui thought that Sang Yan would prepare and go to apologize to the Emperor. Instead, she had someone watch over the side hall, stating she was still asleep. She waited impatiently until the evening but saw no action from her. It left her sleepless with frustration all night. The next day, as usual, she had someone keep an eye on Sang Yan¡ªwho was still deep in sleep, showing no intention of apologizing. Furious, she smashed a teacup and cursed, ¡°What a foolish woman, spoiled by favor! Who does she think she is? With so many women in the harem, does the Emperor even remember who she is? She¡¯s almost a worn-out woman; how long does she think she can stay fresh? Absolutely foolish!¡± After cursing, she sat back on the soft couch, almost ruining her manicure. Finally, an idea struck her. She gestured for Xiangxiu, sorting out orders: ¡°Take the ice and meals allocated by the Household Affairs, withhold them, I want to show her what happens when you lose the Emperor¡¯s favor!¡± Xiangxiu, thinking about the message from Pei Muyang at the Emperor¡¯s side and the urgency of getting Sang Yan to apologize, complied. Thus, Sang Yan soon found the side hall without ice, sweltering heat making her dizzy, and the lunch served was visibly poor. Not to mention the lack of oil in the dishes, just a few leaves of greens, including the rice was scorched black. It was utterly inedible. Ever since she had crossed over, she had lived a life of privilege with no worry about food or drink, never imagining that she would face such days in the Imperial Palace. Indeed, dramas portray fallen women living worse than dogs¡ªit was true. ¡°Miss, what shall we do?¡± Qiuzhi looked at the meal, and as a mere maid, she lacked appetite, let alone the miss. Sang Yan also pondered what to do. The food was inedible. If the despicable Emperor wanted to humiliate her this way, he had unfortunately failed. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to the main hall.¡± That¡¯s what Sang Yan thought; she was her own person, and Sang Ruoshui was Sang Ruoshui. Surely, as a legitimate imperial concubine, Sang Ruoshui wouldn¡¯t be treated this harshly. Indeed, once inside the main hall, it was refreshingly cool. On the dining table Eight dishes and four soups awaited, richly served. Seeing this, she smiled with satisfaction, ¡°Little sister, let me join you for the meal.¡± Then, without waiting for a response, she quickly grabbed a bowl of rice and took over two plates of dishes. Of course, she didn¡¯t forget Qiuzhi, first handing her a whole chicken, then saying, ¡°I know you¡¯re on good terms with Sister Xiangxiu, go accompany her for the meal.¡± Qiuzhi: ¡°¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t so bold, flushing, she said, ¡°This servant isn¡¯t hungry. This servant will serve the miss during the meal.¡± But Sang Yan insisted, shooing her away. Seeing the master and servant¡¯s cunning move, Sang Ruoshui lost her appetite too. When Sang Yan left after enjoying her meal¡ªoh, and before leaving, she made sure Qiuzhi took away two basins of ice, she smashed another teacup. ¡°Fool! Always resorting to these petty tricks!¡± But she couldn¡¯t condone Sang Yan freeloading. Otherwise, how could she be made to go apologize to the Emperor? ¡°Shameless!¡± ¡°Foolish!¡± She muttered and cursed around the hall and soon came up with another idea. ¡°Starting today, this palace will use no ice, and the meals will be on the same standard as those in the side hall.¡± ¡°Lady¡ª¡± Xiangxiu thought Sang Ruoshui was really pushing it to make Sang Yan apologize. So, when Sang Yan came back that night with Qiuzhi to scrounge for a meal, she discovered the sharp decline in food quality. Uh¡­was she dragged down by her? Sang Yan, ever naive, had not expected Sang Ruoshui to be so harsh on her own. ¡°Sister, how are we to live this way? The Emperor must despise me too. It¡¯s my fault, unable to protect you.¡± Sang Ruoshui started crying, sobbing without placing blame, instead finding fault with herself. Seeing this, Xiangxiu was astounded by Sang Ruoshui¡¯s transformation¡ªher palace scheming skills were growing strong! Sang Yan also dimly realized that Sang Ruoshui had started speaking, so she truly felt a bit guilty from her words. If she had bowed to the Emperor, would it have been different? The sound of Xiangxiu¡¯s sobbing echoed in her ears, ¡°Lord Sang, Lady is in poor health and cannot endure such hardships. Please have mercy and bow before the Emperor. The Emperor might just be waiting for you. He surely won¡¯t blame you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Was she really wrong? But she truly didn¡¯t want to bow down! Sang Yan returned to the side hall with a melancholic expression. The side hall was oppressively hot and stifling. The palace maids were still quite diligent, continually sprinkling water on the ground and using fans to create a breeze for her. Yet they themselves were sweating profusely. The sweat mixed with rouge and face powder, and the smell was unpleasant. She waved her hand, dismissing them: ¡°No need. You all go and rest too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The palace maids gradually left. Only she and Qiuzhi remained in the side hall. Qiuzhi was the personal maid of the original owner and, unlike the other palace maids, was closest to her. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± She was somewhat bewildered. That was how ancient times were, tangled with interests, making it difficult to remain uninvolved. Although unwilling, behind her were Sang Ruoshui, the Sang Family, and even these maids and palace attendants that served her. ¡°The Emperor is quite ruthless. Just because Miss wants a status, he has humiliated you like this. Living a life of dependence on others is worse than returning to the estate.¡± Qiuzhi¡¯s words surprised Sang Yan. ¡°You think so too.¡± She had thought Qiuzhi would advise her to bow down to the Emperor. Qiuzhi shook her head, her expression serious and earnest, ¡°I used to not understand, thinking that the Imperial Palace was enchantingly opulent and the Emperor adored you, giving you a place for the remainder of your life. But seeing now, this is no place of riches but rather a devil¡¯s den.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This perspective was indeed worthy of someone she esteemed. ¡°Haha, Qiuzhi¡ª¡± She was amused to laughter. Her depressive mood brightened. ¡°You¡¯re right, returning to the estate is better.¡± What¡¯s there to bow for then! Let him mistreat her for a few days, and once he calms down, then she¡¯ll bring up leaving! Just consider it bitter before sweet! But she hadn¡¯t expected the bitterness to last so long. She couldn¡¯t sleep at all because of the heat the entire night. The next day, dark circles appeared under her eyes. Breakfast was even worse. She took one look at it and had it thrown away. Without food, she drank water. Barely enduring until noon, her stomach was loudly rumbling, and she felt unbearably hungry. It was too hard to bear. She hadn¡¯t eaten well in two days. Maybe she should bow down to the Emperor after all? Sang Yan¡¯s dignity was on the verge of crumbling¡ª Just then, a Palace Attendant came to announce, ¡°My Lord, Concubine Jinpin has arrived.¡± Concubine Jinpin? Who? While Sang Yan gathered her spirits to face the situation, she wondered what sort of person Concubine Jinpin might be? Perhaps it was due to being extremely hungry, her mind was not working well. When the person arrived in front of her, she then remembered that she was the one who had led a group of concubines to kneel and beg her to save Princess Consort Li and others. Concubine Jinpin. Jizhou¡¯s cruel officer, Xie Sui¡¯s sister, Xie Jinhua! What was she here for? To mock her? Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: Chapter 038: Surrender Chapter 38: Chapter 038: Surrender Xie Jinhua wasn¡¯t there to mock. On the contrary, she was there to offer help. ¡°Miss Sang¡ª¡± Xie Jinhua, in a light pink palace dress, with her tender, round face looking adorable like a pearl, said, ¡°I heard it¡¯s been hard at Yuesang Palace, so I brought over some food. I hope you won¡¯t disdain it.¡± The mention of food instantly invigorated Sang Yan. She looked in the direction Xie Jinhua had indicated and indeed saw a palace maid following behind her, holding a four- or five-tiered food box. ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t disdain it. Not at all.¡± She got up to receive it. Qiuzhi stopped her, ¡°Miss, let me do it.¡± She took the food box, lifting out the dishes one by one¡ªa plate of chicken, a plate of fish, a plate of pork trotters, and a basin of white rice. Sang Yan was drooling with desire. As she ordered the palace maid to call Sang Ruoshui for the meal, she told Xie Jinhua, ¡°I really can¡¯t thank you enough. It¡¯s like sending charcoal in snowy weather.¡± Adversity reveals true friends. She thought the palace was full of opportunists. Indeed, ¡°Do good every day without concern for the future.¡± Xie Jinhua smiled and said, ¡°Miss Sang, please don¡¯t say that. I haven¡¯t even thanked you for pleading on behalf of Princess Consort Li.¡± Sang Yan waved her hand, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Let¡¯s not mention it.¡± From the corner of his eye, Yu Guang saw Qiuzhi ¡°stealing a bite¡± and knew she was testing for poison. His feelings were complex. In the Imperial Palace, one becomes unconsciously sensitive and suspicious. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Jinpin, what breeze has blown you over here?¡± Sang Ruoshui had arrived. She entered the side hall and, seeing Qiuzhi setting out the food, flew into a rage, ¡°Are you a dog? You dare eat whatever anyone sends!¡± She had been starving with Sang Yan precisely to force Sang Yan to apologize, and now Xie Jinhua had spoiled her plan. How infuriating! ¡°Who are you trying to fool with your little favors? Don¡¯t think I¡¯m unaware of your scheme¡ªif you¡¯re here to gloat, right?¡± Sang Ruoshui didn¡¯t want Sang Yan to get too close to Xie Jinhua and spoke without courtesy. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Unable to bear it, Sang Yan interjected, ¡°Sang Ruoshui, don¡¯t be so cynical!¡± ¡°Me, cynical? Sister, can¡¯t you be more careful? We are blood sisters! Would I harm you?¡± Angered, Sang Ruoshui shoved the table. The food from the table instantly clattered to the ground. She also roared at Xie Jinhua, ¡°Get out! We don¡¯t welcome you at Yuesang Palace!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Sang Yan, lamenting the wasted food, erupted in anger too. But perhaps due to the intense emotion, her vision darkened, and the next moment, she fainted. Damn it, might as well die. Fainting from hunger¡ªthat¡¯s a lifetime of shame! ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°Miss Sang!¡± ¡°My lady!¡± The surrounding people cried out in alarm, all crowding around. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! Look what you¡¯ve done to my sister!¡± Sang Ruoshui deflected the blame to Xie Jinhua and then, shoving her aside, she left the hall to look for the Emperor. Sang Yan fainting might actually be advantageous for their calculated ploy! * Qingning Palace He Ying, as usual, was reviewing petitions when he seemed a bit distracted, ¡°How¡¯s Yuesang Palace doing?¡± Pei Muyang replied softly, ¡°Jinpin Her Ladyship went to deliver food.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°She¡¯s stubborn. And Sang Ruoshui is foolish. Is this how she tries to coax someone over? If she starves her into illness, Princess Consort Sang¡¯s position will be on the line.¡± Pei Muyang consoled, ¡°Xiangxiu is keeping watch over there. It should be fine.¡± As soon as he finished speaking. They heard Sang Ruoshui crying outside the hall, ¡°Emperor, my sister has fainted. It¡¯s Jinpin who upset her. Emperor, you must support my sister.¡± ¡°Snap.¡± The writing brush fell onto the desk. He Ying quickly stood up and strode out, ¡°What did you say? She fainted? Have you called for the Imperial Physician?¡± He asked as he walked. The sedan chair hurriedly followed. He sat down. Sang Ruoshui also wanted to take the opportunity to ride in the sedan chair, but saw it depart like the wind, leaving her disheveled in its wake. Damn it! Sure enough, the Emperor¡¯s eyes still only held that foolish woman! Yuesang Palace, side hall Eunuchs and palace maids kneeled all over the ground. The atmosphere was oppressive and solemn. The plump Imperial Physician wiped his sweat, and under the Emperor¡¯s gaze, he carefully took the pulse, and after confirming several times, bowed slightly and said in a low voice, ¡°Your Majesty, it seems Miss Sang has fainted from hunger.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± The entire palace of eunuchs and palace maids: ¡°¡­¡± Including the fainted Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She had now woken up but wished she could just die on the spot. ¡°Besides this, does she have any other illnesses?¡± Since Miss Sang¡¯s arrival at the Imperial Palace, she had fainted three times already. He always felt her body was still too weak, wondering if she might have some hidden illness. The Imperial Physician shook his head and said, ¡°Your Majesty worries too much. A frail constitution, anxiety, and pensive thoughts are common among women. With proper care, she will recover.¡± He Ying listened and nodded, ¡°Then go and prepare her medicine.¡± Then, he ordered the Palace Attendant to prepare a meal. The Imperial Physician thought for a moment and added, ¡°Your Majesty, Miss Sang has a weak stomach and should avoid greasy food. Light meals are suitable.¡± ¡°How about bird¡¯s nest porridge?¡± ¡°Very good.¡± The Imperial Physician nodded in agreement. ¡°Then let it be bird¡¯s nest porridge, accompanied by red bean and snow fungus soup. Send the order quickly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A little eunuch acknowledged and scurried off to deliver the message. The room quieted down again. ¡°Gurgle¡ª¡± Sang Yan¡¯s stomach noises were particularly loud. What constitutes a grand public embarrassment? This was it. Sang Yan lay on the bed, her face burning, turned over, and covered her disobedient stomach with her hands tightly. He Ying looked at her, waved everyone else out, and sighed low, ¡°Ah Yan, why do you torment yourself? Is it so hard to lower your head to Us?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t speak, and her stomach continued to grumble. Gurgling a few times more. She felt so embarrassed she could¡¯ve dug out an entire Imperial City. He Ying felt a pang of heartache, sighed, and sat at the bedside, conceding, ¡°Alright. It¡¯s my fault. I knew you loved freedom and did not covet fame or fortune, yet I still wanted to keep you in this place of power and wealth. I was greedy.¡± He did not wait for Sang Yan to reflect; instead, he reflected on himself. ¡°But I have never thought of mistreating you. Your sister acted on her initiative; you cannot blame me.¡± So it was Sang Ruoshui? She truly was the original owner¡¯s good little sister! Sang Yan¡¯s feelings were complicated, at times blaming Sang Ruoshui for her deceit, and at other times blaming the Emperor for his cold heart, ¡°Even if Sang Ruoshui took it upon herself, did you really not know, Your Majesty? You were indulging her, right? Her motives were for Your Majesty after all. You don¡¯t need to do anything; with just a glance, people will rush headlong to accomplish things for you. So, Your Majesty, don¡¯t be greedy anymore. Let me out of the palace.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°Your Majesty, hear me out¡ª¡± Sang Yan turned around, sat up, and looked at him coldly, her expression serious, ¡°I have no intention of becoming a part of the harem. If you come to understand, I would still be willing to keep our ¡®one-night stand¡¯ agreement.¡± ¡°But I am not willing.¡± He Ying frowned deeply, firmly saying, ¡°No matter what, I must give you a status.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t force¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± He Ying looked at her, his gaze gentle but reassuring, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Sang Yan¡¯s face was a picture of fright, her red lips trembling, ¡°Then, what is it?¡± He Ying said, ¡°I want to designate you as an Imperial Concubine. A palace maid leaves the palace at the age of twenty-five. You just happen to have one more year. In this year, you will spend your days with me. If you still do not have affections for me at the end, then I will set you free.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± One year, huh? It sounded not so bad. But by that time, would her heart still be her own? Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 039: Tragedy Chapter 39: Chapter 039: Tragedy No matter what, Sang Yan still agreed to the proposal. He Ying was very efficient. By the time she had finished her bird¡¯s nest porridge and red bean and silver fungus soup, replenishing her strength, he issued a decree and arranged for her to move into the side hall of Qingning Palace. ¡°Congratulations, my lady. An Imperial Concubine¡ªthat¡¯s an unprecedented favor from the Emperor since his enthronement.¡± Pei Muyang followed her into the side hall of Qingning Palace, incessantly showering her with compliments. His flattery was not without truth; the Emperor, being averse to the company of women, had indeed felt unwell, and there truly were no capable palace maids by his side. Looking at it this way, Sang Yan was unique in every respect in the Imperial Palace. ¡°I¡¯d rather this favor had gone to you.¡± Sang Yan remained unmoved and retorted sharply before lying down on the bed. As for the Emperor? Sang Yan simply said she was tired and barred him from entering. That¡¯s when Pei Muyang took command in the hall, ¡°This master is the apple of the Emperor¡¯s eye; you all must be cautious. If you displease her, no one will be able to save you.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Pei.¡± The palace maids all responded respectfully. Sang Yan knew that being an Imperial Concubine was just a title, but she still felt uneasy being served by so many palace maids, and so she sent Pei Muyang away, telling them, ¡°I don¡¯t have many demands, just one¡ªdon¡¯t gossip about anything, especially about my private matters. If I find out, you can leave this place.¡± Palace maids dismissed by their master would most likely be sent to Xin Zhe¡¯s House. That was the place palace maids feared the most. Once sent there, their lives were effectively over. ¡°Yes, we will heed my lady¡¯s command.¡± They all kneed down with a rustling sound. Seeing this gave Sang Yan a headache, and with a wave of her hand, she sent them out. Only Qiuzhi remained. Qiuzhi stayed by the bedside, troubled, ¡°What is the Emperor thinking? He grants Miss many honors, yet withholds any official status. Does he like Miss, or does he just want to play¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speculate needlessly.¡± Sang Yan interrupted her, lowering her voice, ¡°The Emperor hasn¡¯t refused to give me a title; it¡¯s I who don¡¯t want it.¡± Qiuzhi: ¡°¡­¡± Her eyes went wide in shock, realizing she had misunderstood the Emperor, and unable to comprehend, she asked, ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t it good to be his favored concubine?¡± Sang Yan closed her eyes, speaking weakly, ¡°What¡¯s so good about that? Serving someone with your beauty, how long will you be favored? In any case, I don¡¯t want to enter this Imperial Palace and become a caged canary without freedom.¡± Qiuzhi seemed to understand but not quite, ¡°What Miss says is true. The Emperor indeed favors you now, but who knows how long his favor will last? Thinking about our situation just days ago still scares me. In this Imperial Palace, fortune and disaster, honor and disgrace, all can change in the blink of an eye.¡± Her last words resonated deeply with Sang Yan. ¡°Indeed. This Imperial Palace is unpredictable, filled with uncertainty.¡± And she despised an unsettled life. She just wanted to be an idle fish. She even thought of giving up completely. But that was so hard. She was torn between reason and emotion, melancholic and joyless. He Ying¡¯s kindness toward her also cast a shadow over her heart. As a result, after she moved into Qingning Palace, her mood remained listless, and her recovery was slow. At that time, He Ying summoned many Imperial Physicians and even issued decrees inviting Medical Officers from across the nation to come to the palace to cure his illness. He was thinking that once he was cured, he could hold and be close to Sang Yan properly. Sang Yan, however, felt that his wish to recover had more to do with wanting to take their relationship further. Somehow, even though she had the courage to suggest being a one-night stand, the thought of taking things further made her panic. After all, making her an Imperial Concubine was just his stalling tactic. Look, isn¡¯t he now eager to cure his illness? If he were cured, would he honor her, forcefully take her as a concubine? Would he compel her to bear children? Would he like and favor other women? Such uncertainties unavoidably bred panic. Love begets worry. Love begets fear. At this moment, she was still deluding herself into believing she hadn¡¯t fallen for He Ying. But He Ying knew nothing of her inner anxieties. He was concentrating on his treatment. Qingning Palace was permeated with various medicinal scents all day long. Bitter, astringent, fishy¡ªthey mingled together, creating a strange odor that filled the air. Sang Yan, having smelled them too much, always had this odd scent stuck in her nose, to the point where she lost her appetite even at mealtime. Moreover, the weather was hot. They had used ice extensively at night. And then she came down with a high fever. This fever temporarily halted He Ying¡¯s treatment progress, but it also enraged him, ¡°A bunch of quacks! You¡¯re at your wits¡¯ end with my illness, and now you can¡¯t even reduce a fever. What use is there in keeping you?¡± The Imperial Physicians knelt on the ground, trembling as they spoke, ¡°Emperor, please forgive us, Miss Sang is frail and cannot take strong medicines; we can only¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear explanations! I¡¯m giving you half a day more; if the fever is not gone by then, you may as well go home and prepare your last words!¡± He was harboring murderous intent. No one dared to plea for mercy. The whole side hall of Qingning Palace was shrouded in sorrow and despair. Sang Yan was unaware of all this. Her fever had clouded her mind, and in her delirium, she found herself back in the modern world¡ª Her best friend Xuanrao ran into her rented apartment with injuries and cried out, ¡°Yanyan, I can¡¯t go on living. Really, it¡¯s too exhausting to be alive. He hit me again. And he hit the child. He¡¯s not human.¡± When he loved you, he was a person, even a deity. You adored him, loved him, were willing to give your all for him. But when he didn¡¯t love you, he was an animal, even a devil. You were afraid of him, wanting to escape, but were already tightly bound. ¡°There¡¯s no escaping it. He has money and power; I can¡¯t do anything. Yanyan, I really wish I could go back to the days before he made it big. He was so good to me then.¡± Men turn bad when they get money. She didn¡¯t need money, just that poor, gentle, loving man. ¡°Don¡¯t be foolish anymore.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s fifty thousand in my card; take the child and live somewhere else for now.¡± ¡°He has another woman, right? I¡¯ll make her deal with him.¡± She gave her friend half of her savings from work and took out a few tens of thousands more to disguise herself and get close to the mistress, befriended her, encouraged her to get pregnant and rise to prominence, causing the scumbag to divorce. Everything was going well. But the scumbag discovered her scheme. He just wanted to keep his wife at home while enjoying his affairs on the side. She ruined his plans. He was furious and had her fired from her company. Then he had someone bring her best friend back. He even broke her friend¡¯s leg. After that, her friend went mad and stabbed him to death. The scumbag died. Her friend also took her own life. The scumbag¡¯s wealth was squandered by greedy relatives. Only a child was left, unwanted and considered a burden by everyone. She arranged her friend¡¯s funeral and adopted the child. Raising a child was truly expensive. She, a corporate drone, could only keep working, overtime, non-stop! At the moment of her death from overwork, she actually felt relieved: the child was sensible, fourteen years old, with those savings, he should be able to survive until adulthood safely. As for what happened after becoming an adult? Forgive her limited abilities; this was all the help she could offer. ¡°Xuanrao¡­ I no longer owe you¡­¡± She mumbled, weeping. ¡°What?¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Sang Yan?¡± A man¡¯s clamorous voice reached her ears. Sang Yan woke up startled, opening her eyes to see He Ying, with a dazed expression and at a loss for words: How could she have dreamt something so distantly far away? What was her best friend¡¯s tragic life trying to tell her? Not to fall into the same trap, lest she become unhappy too? Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 040 If Chapter 40: Chapter 040 If ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡± He Ying saw her wake and his tense expression relaxed, but when he noticed her eyes were vacant and spiritless, he grew worried, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Has the fever addled your brain?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Of course she hadn¡¯t been addled by the fever. But if she pretended to be, could she leave the Imperial Palace? That nightmare-like memory startled her again. Do not get close to men, it will bring misfortune. In a daze¡ª He Ying got fierce: ¡°Sang Yan, speak! If you dare to have something wrong, I¡¯ll have all those Imperial Physicians buried with you!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This bloodthirsty tyrant! Dog Emperor! She glanced at the Imperial Physicians prostrating on the ground, trembling, some of them with graying hair, clearly in their twilight years. Truly pitiable. Does this dog Emperor not understand respect for the old and love for the young? ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Annoyed, she grabbed a pillow and threw it at him: ¡°Aside from threats, do you have no other tricks?¡± He Ying was hit by the pillow. He didn¡¯t feel anything yet, but Pei Muyang along with a group of eunuchs and palace maids all knelt down: ¡°Emperor, please calm your anger. Emperor, please calm your anger.¡± He Ying wasn¡¯t angry, on the contrary, he found the pillow that was thrown at him rather comforting. Look at that, now that the fever¡¯s gone, she¡¯s full of spirit. ¡°You¡¯re alright, so they¡¯re alright.¡± He waved everyone to rise, then looked to the Imperial Physicians: ¡°You¡¯ve contributed to the healing. I grant you a thousand taels of reward silver, you may all leave.¡± ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡± After thanking him, the Imperial Physicians quickly ran off. The Imperial Palace was becoming increasingly unbearable. Time to retire and return home. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± He Ying asked the palace attendants to leave as well and personally brought her some tea, offering it to her. Sang Yan didn¡¯t accept it, for as he approached, she smelled a strange medicinal scent on him and was very repulsed: ¡°Emperor, there¡¯s that medicinal smell on you. Could you go wash it off?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± No one had ever dared to say he smelled. Sang Yan said it outright, and though he was embarrassed, he wasn¡¯t displeased. He had always been patient and tolerant toward her. ¡°Alright. Wait for me.¡± He agreed briskly and hurried out. Like a lovesick young man rushing to see his beloved. ¡°You may enter to serve her.¡± After he left the hall, he instructed several palace maids, and then called out: ¡°Summon someone! I need to bathe and change¡ª¡± His voice faded away with his departing figure. Sang Yan retracted her gaze and called Qiuzhi in: ¡°How long have I slept? What time is it now?¡± She felt she had slept for a very long time. And by now, it was dark outside. ¡°It¡¯s 5 p.m to 7 p.m now. My lady, you¡¯ve almost slept an entire day. You scared me to death.¡± Qiuzhi patted her frightened little heart, continuing, ¡°The Emperor has been by my lady¡¯s side the whole time, almost in tears with worry. Seeing this, he strikes me as a truly devoted man.¡± Her heart wavered, really wanting Sang Yan and the Emperor to be together. But seeing Sang Yan uninterested and indifferent, she promptly held her tongue and changed the subject, ¡°Are you hungry, my lady? Would you like to eat something?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t feel hungry, but when asked, she indeed felt hungry and nodded, ¡°Just prepare something simple to eat.¡± No sooner had she spoken, than a eunuch came in to serve the food. Pei Muyang, as the Emperor¡¯s favorite, was always ready to curry favor: ¡°Everything¡¯s been prepared in advance. The Imperial Kitchen has reheated it several times, just waiting for my master to wake up.¡± There¡¯s an old saying, don¡¯t strike the man who smiles at you. Sang Yan thanked them and got down to eat. The meal was bird¡¯s nest porridge. Cooked till it was soft and sticky. She had two bowls of food and drank a bowl of snow pear juice, having lost her hunger, she was about to continue lying down when she saw Sang Ruoshui come in with a zither in her arms. ¡°Sister¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui looked pitiful and wronged, ¡°You¡¯ve finally woken up. If you hadn¡¯t, I would have been sent to the Cold Palace.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe her exaggeration and had no patience to play along with her drama, merely asking, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Sang Ruoshui said, ¡°I¡¯ve learned a new piece called ¡®Zen Sound.¡¯ It¡¯s said to purify the heart and nurture the spirit, so I thought of playing it for sister, hoping you would get well sooner.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It made her seem unfeeling in comparison. But she truly had no mood to listen. Just as she was about to wave her off, Sang Ruoshui had already sat down and started playing. As she said, the ¡®Zen Sound¡¯ was indeed elegant and serene, carrying an air of detachment, with casual and peaceful vibes. But here in the Imperial Palace, it always felt more lonesome and desolate. This piece seemed more suited for being played in a vast wilderness or a secluded valley. With the companion sounds of flowing water and birdsong, it would surely be extraordinary. ¡°Clap clap.¡± The piece ended and applause came from outside. Without looking, Sang Yan knew it was the Emperor. Otherwise, who would dare to applaud here? ¡°All the worries in the world, only this music can soothe the mind. Not bad. This piece is clear and transcendent; it makes one forget the mundane.¡± He Ying walked in, smiling, his praise not stinting, ¡°Princess Consort Sang, your zither skills have become even more exquisite.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Oh, he can flatter a woman before she¡¯s even well. Bitterness surged within her, piercing her heart. She suddenly recalled what Consort Hui had said, ¡°The favor for song and dance reigns supreme, leaving poetry and books in disdain.¡± Indeed, it was true. ¡°She plays so well, how could the Emperor not reward her?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s words were laced with jealousy. She herself noticed it and fluctuated between shame and anger at the reason behind that shame, leaving her utterly nauseated. He Ying didn¡¯t ponder so deeply, just as when Sang Ruoshui had first played the zither to please Sang Yan and really received a reward, ¡°Pei Muyang, go, have someone bring the Luqi Zither here, and bestow it upon Princess Consort Sang.¡± The Luqi Zither was a renowned extraordinary instrument, certainly a treasure that any zither player would dream of. ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang heeded the order and left. Sang Ruoshui had not anticipated such a gain, and was overjoyed to the point of silliness, taking a while to react. Then, kneeling to show gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Emperor. I thought of the Emperor¡¯s exhausting paperwork and knew you would need to relax at times, so I practiced diligently. Now, my wish has been fulfilled. Honestly, just receiving ¡®not bad¡¯ from the Emperor is already a great honor. How would I dare expect any reward?¡± Her humbleness reached the dust. It¡¯s no wonder all men would love that. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t bear to watch and spoke, ¡°I need to rest. You two go to the main hall and continue with your zither and tea.¡± Sang Ruoshui was more than willing and looked affectionately at the Emperor, murmuring softly, ¡°Emperor, may I play another piece for you?¡± He Ying, belatedly realizing Sang Yan¡¯s discomfort, declined, ¡°You may leave. I have other matters to attend.¡± How could Sang Ruoshui stand to leave? Having been praised by the Emperor, she naturally wanted to be more proactive. ¡°May I know what other matters the Emperor has? Perhaps I could pour tea or attend to your writing materials.¡± ¡°No need.¡± He Ying frowned, his expression showing a hint of impatience, ¡°You may step down.¡± Seeing this, Sang Ruoshui wanted to say more, but Xiangxiu tugged at her sleeve and she closed her mouth, bowed graciously, and left. Outside the hall, the eunuch had brought over the Luqi Zither. Seeing her come out, he hastily put on a fawning smile and presented it. Sang Ruoshui took the zither herself and let Xiangxiu give him five taels of silver as a reward. The group returned to Yuesang Palace. On the way, Sang Ruoshui sat in the carriage and asked Xiangxiu, ¡°Why did you stop me back there in the hall?¡± Xiangxiu was already loyal to the Emperor and naturally knew what the Emperor wanted, not wanting Sang Ruoshui to linger and be displeasing. But she said on the surface, ¡°I felt that under those circumstances, it was best to leave while we were ahead. Lady, please forgive me for making my own decisions.¡± Sang Ruoshui was in a good mood, holding the zither, and didn¡¯t blame her, waving her off, ¡°Enough. What you said makes sense.¡± She caressed the zither, her gaze lowered, contemplative, ¡°I feel¡­ if sister weren¡¯t here, it¡¯s not unlikely that the Emperor might favor me¡­¡± Right. If it weren¡¯t for Sang Yan¡­ Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 041 Strange Indeed Chapter 41: Chapter 041 Strange Indeed Sang Yan poured herself a cup of tea, not drinking it, just watching the tea leaves slowly unfold into shimmering green leaves. He Ying sat opposite her, waited a while, and seeing she didn¡¯t speak, he asked, ¡°Why are you ignoring me? Are you feeling unwell? Should I summon the Imperial Physician?¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan glanced up at him, her tone sour, ¡°I just don¡¯t feel like talking to you. If the Emperor finds it boring here, then find someone else who will talk to you.¡± Her words were laced with acidity throughout. Pei Muyang had already started covering his mouth, chuckling. Sang Yan, catching this from the corner of her eye, felt even more embarrassed and quickly dismissed him, ¡°I need to rest now. Please feel free to leave, Your Majesty.¡± Saying this, she lay down on the bed. Upon seeing her like this, He Ying extended an invitation, ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping all day, sleeping too much isn¡¯t good, why don¡¯t you walk with me for a bit?¡± Sang Yan wasn¡¯t in the mood and didn¡¯t want to go, her words still tinged with involuntary sourness, ¡°There are plenty of people who would like to accompany the Emperor on a walk, no need to force me.¡± Her tone was indeed strange. Finally, He Ying picked up on the hint, ¡°Are you¡­ really upset about me having other women?¡± Pei Muyang couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, laughing as he reminded, ¡°Precisely. Emperor, Lord Sang is jealous.¡± It must have been after the Emperor complimented Princess Consort Sang. He knew something was off from Lord Sang¡¯s expression. He thought so, no woman would be indifferent to the sincere heart of an Emperor. Seeing her own feelings exposed, Sang Yan became furiously embarrassed, ¡°What nonsense are you speaking? I¡¯m jealous? Jealous of what?¡± She sat up on the bed, huffing, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense here, hurry up and ask your master to leave.¡± Pei Muyang felt deflated and, with nothing good to say, just gave a sheepish smile and shut up. One must be mindful of the dog¡¯s owner when scolding a dog. This Sang Yan, spoiled by favor, had developed arrogance that had not diminished. He wasn¡¯t sure how far she could go. He would just watch. He Ying didn¡¯t think too much, indulging her with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t argue with a servant, if you¡¯re angry, direct it at me.¡± He waved his hand, signaling Pei Muyang to leave. Sang Yan stared coldly at him, finding his tone intolerably smug. Indeed, men were an annoying species! Give them an inch, and they¡¯ll take a mile. Honestly, so what if she liked him? Who doesn¡¯t like a handsome man with power and status? She was merely seduced by his appearance and power, a flare-up of vanity. Oh, and the meddling of a woman¡¯s possessiveness. After all, he had pursued her for so long, to turn around and look at another woman was naturally irritating. Yes, that was it. Sang Yan tried to analyze her feelings. At that moment, He Ying spoke out, ¡°I swear, whether in the past or in the future, you are the only one I care about.¡± He raised his hand as a promise, his gaze sincere. Sang Yan, afraid of being bewitched, quickly looked away, feigning indifference, ¡°Emperor, care about whomever you want to care about.¡± Some words inadvertently reveal the truth. He Ying laughed, ¡°You really are jealous.¡± His confident tone stabbed at Sang Yan¡¯s heart. Is this what it¡¯s like to like someone? To feel unsettled by a single word of his? ¡°Actually, your jealousy gives me more confidence. I¡¯ve never been an insecure person ¨C I managed the coup against Pei Zhen at sixteen without feeling this powerless. But facing you, you¡¯re like an immovable stone, leaving me at a loss.¡± His tone was thick with sorrow and bitterness. Sang Yan felt a pang in her heart, wanting to say something, yet unsure what she could say. She wasn¡¯t an emotionless stone or plant, how could she not have feelings? She had always just been suppressing them. Her best friend¡¯s romantic tragedies all began with men, which had made her wary of men like snakes. And he was the lofty Emperor? ¡°The Emperor really needn¡¯t go to such lengths.¡± After much consideration, that was her response. He Ying said with a smile, ¡°But I wish to. It¡¯s a novel feeling. My heart is tied. It feels like I¡¯ve found a place to belong.¡± Everyone wants a place to belong. Where was her place to belong? Sang Yan eventually accompanied him out for a walk. He Ying had someone follow them at a distance, just walking around the Imperial City. The two walked side by side, not speaking. The moon hung high above their heads. Beside them, each was accompanied by their beloved. Unknowingly, they arrived at the Observatory. The Observatory, built at the highest point to reach the Star Court, was a great place to overlook the scenery of the Imperial Palace. However, the place was already occupied. ¡°Joy brings sorrow, Liao Liang¡¯s heart tears apart.¡± The man, clad in a black robe, with disheveled hair, leaned against the railing, drinking wine, and reciting poetry, shaking his head. Sang Yan, curious, asked, ¡°Who is that?¡± He Ying, without even looking, replied, ¡°A drunkard. Don¡¯t bother with him.¡± With that, he was ready to leave. Sang Yan felt there was more to it¡ªthe man, clearly drunk yet eloquently speaking in poetry, seemed learned. She approached to greet him, ¡°Hey, sir, are you alright?¡± ¡°Fine, fine, fine, my loyalty shall be recorded in history to serve the Emperor. Alas, the Emperor rides the winds away, and in the mortal world¡­¡± The man took another drink, then ruffled his messy hair, looked at the beautiful face before him, and burst out laughing, ¡°The world is not worth it.¡± Sang Yan laughed along¡ªthis man was really interesting. He was even using modern slang. ¡°Sir, drink less; too much is harmful.¡± She could tell he was a disheartened man. Indeed, in ancient times, frustrated poets and scholars were all crazed and eased their worries with alcohol. Thinking this, she turned to the Emperor, ¡°Hey, your subject, aren¡¯t you going to take care of him? Didn¡¯t you hear? He wants to dedicate his loyal heart to the Emperor.¡± Such a loyal subject! The Emperor doesn¡¯t even know to cherish talent! He Ying, meeting Sang Yan¡¯s accusatory gaze, felt misunderstood, sighed, and walked over, kicking the man¡¯s leg, ¡°Wan Zhang, I¡¯m not dead yet.¡± He was truly wronged! It was the late Emperor who had ¡®ridden the winds away¡¯. This old servant of the late Emperor was going crazy with his drinking here, causing misunderstandings about him. Infuriating! ¡°Wan Zhang, if you truly miss the late Emperor, I¡¯ll send you to reunite with him.¡± He Ying had wanted to get rid of him for more than a day or two. If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that he and the late Emperor were brothers, this day-drinking drunk would have lost his nine lives due to He Ying¡¯s wrath. Sang Yan, hearing He Ying¡¯s words, suddenly realized her mistake¡ªit turns out this man wanting to dedicate his loyalty to the Emperor was a former servant of the late Emperor. Brave! To reminisce about the late Emperor right in front of the current Emperor! What kind of person was the late Emperor? As Sang Yan wondered, her face was suddenly cupped by hands¡ª ¡°Ah!¡± Startled, she immediately pushed the other person away, mistaking his intentions as lust influenced by alcohol. He Ying also misunderstood and grabbed Sang Yan¡¯s sleeve, pulling her behind him, delivering a kick to Wan Zhang. Wan Zhang, kicked over, rolled down the steps without crying out in pain, just staring with wide eyes, muttering, ¡°This physiognomy¡­ how strange, how strange¡ª¡± Sang Yan quickly realized he had been reading her face. They had both wronged the man. Remorse instantly surged in her heart. ¡°You really are¡ª¡± Without saying more, Sang Yan hurried down to check on him, ¡°Sorry. I misunderstood. Are you alright?¡± Wan Zhang very much was not. He had fallen face-first, his nose swollen, his forehead bleeding, dizzy¡ªyet ignored all that, seeing her before him, again cupping her face, looking closely at her¡ª He Ying, seeing him so close to Sang Yan, wanted to kick him again, but he restrained himself, warning in a low voice, ¡°Wan Zhang, let go, don¡¯t be presumptuous!¡± This time, Wan Zhang obediently withdrew his hands, still uttering, ¡°How strange¡ª¡± As for why it was strange, he said nothing more. Sang Yan was both anxious and panicked, ¡°Sir, where is it strange? Tell me!¡± She thought of her own fate that doom her husbands, wondering if this eccentric man had noticed. He Ying was on the same page, equally eager to know the details to prepare himself, stepped forward, kicked the man¡¯s leg, and demanded, ¡°What exactly is it? Wan Zhang, what did you see? Be clear!¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 042 The Late Emperor Chapter 42: Chapter 042 The Late Emperor Wan Zhang never did make things clear. He closed his eyes, and no one knew whether he had passed out from drunkenness or had fainted. He Ying saw this and was so angry he wanted to kick the man again. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Sang Yan stopped him, ¡°He just fell. He might have fainted from the fall. Hurry, find an Imperial Physician to look at him.¡± He Ying frowned, withdrew his foot, and gestured to someone in the distance, ¡°Carry him to the Observatory. Summon the Imperial Physician there.¡± A great procession then made its way to the Observatory. Observatory The official on duty learned that the Emperor was coming and went out to meet him from afar, ¡°This humble official, Chu Jun, greets the Emperor.¡± Chu Jun was Wan Zhang¡¯s half-disciple. He was in the prime of his youth, and his eyes and brows were full of righteous brightness, not at all decrepit and disheartened like Wan Zhang, but rather like a rising sun bursting forth. When He Ying Pei saw him, he felt somewhat relieved. After his ascension, unlike the late Emperor, he did not believe in divination or astrology, nor did he value it, letting it naturally thrive or decline. He had thought such practices would have faded away by now but was surprised to find someone worth seeing. At that moment, this person worth seeing was casting sideways glances at Sang Yan, his brow furrowed the entire time. Sang Yan noticed and asked, ¡°My lord, is there something unusual about my facial features?¡± Chu Jun met her beautiful eyes, blushed, and lowered his head, ¡°No.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe him and looked to He Ying, hoping he would help inquire. Actually, she wasn¡¯t one to believe in ghosts and fate, but having traveled through time, she knew the world was full of wonders, and had thus developed a sense of reverence. The people in the Observatory were enigmatic, and the way they looked at her, as if there were words on the tip of their tongues, was incredibly tantalizing. Of course, beyond the curiosity, there was also unease¡ªwas the unusual aspect due to the original owner of the body, or was it her who was the anomaly? Could she return to her original world? He Ying caught Sang Yan¡¯s glance and responded with a reassuring smile, then entered the Starlight Hall. Inside the hall were various astronomical instruments and rows of bookshelves holding records and archives. In the center of the hall stood an enormous bronze cauldron. Inside it burned thick incense. The scent was not overpowering, rather its subtle tranquility was quite comforting. Sang Yan took in her surroundings, her gaze finally resting on a bed. The man who had fainted was lying there. The Imperial Physician arrived. After examining him, he reported shakily, ¡°Director Wan¡­ has passed out from drunkenness.¡± He Ying had already suspected that Wan Zhang was drunk. Now, with new anger mixing with the old, he lost his temper, ¡°Someone, splash water on him to wake him up!¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Chu Jun stepped forward to plead, ¡°Director Wan¡­ is weak-bodied. I hope the Emperor will show mercy.¡± The last time Wan Zhang was splashed with cold water by the Bodhi maid in the Empress Dowager¡¯s palace, he developed a fever the next day and couldn¡¯t leave his bed for days. He Ying sneered, ¡°Weak-bodied, yet so fond of wine he can¡¯t live without it. I¡¯m starting to think he¡¯s tired of living.¡± He showed no mercy and turned to Pei Muyang, raising his voice, ¡°Well? What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang did not dare to delay and immediately instructed the eunuchs to fetch water. Sang Yan had a rather good impression of Wan Zhang and intervened, ¡°Your Majesty, just wake him up. You just kicked him without cause. He has a wound on his forehead.¡± The mention of this aggravated He Ying; he hadn¡¯t touched her yet, but a drunk had taken advantage. ¡°He got what he deserved! Why did he touch your face?¡± ¡°He was reading my face.¡± ¡°Perhaps he was using divination as a pretext for lewd¡ª¡± ¡°Why must Your Majesty think so poorly of him? Are you angry with him, or with me?¡± Sang Yan reasoned for a while, but quickly lost patience, finding the Emperor trivial and overly focused on such minor matters. ¡°Your Majesty, what¡¯s important now is the divination. I want to know what they¡¯ve seen.¡± She asserted her position firmly. He Ying thought for a moment, decided it was indeed important, nodded his head, and dismissed everyone around him except for Chu Jun, ¡°Do not hide anything. Tell the truth. What did you see in her face?¡± Chu Jun¡¯s face turned red again as he bowed and said, ¡°Emperor, please forgive me. It seems my study has been inadequate. I really can¡¯t make out the young lady¡¯s facial features.¡± As he spoke, his face grew even redder as if it were about to drip blood. It was truly embarrassing. Despite his belief that he had learned eighty percent from Wan Zhang, it turned out he could discern nothing. He Ying and Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± They had not expected this explanation. After a pause, He Ying finally asked, ¡°Is that true?¡± Chu Jun bowed once more and respectfully said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare deceive the Emperor.¡± Convinced, He Ying turned his head to look at Wan Zhang on the bed: ¡°Wake him up.¡± Obeying the order, Chu Jun immediately stepped forward and pushed Wan Zhang: ¡°Director Wan, Director Wan, wake up, the Emperor is here.¡± However, Wan Zhang was sleeping so soundly that his snoring shook the heavens. He Ying was once again tempted to throw cold water on him. Sang Yan spoke before he could get angry: ¡°Let¡¯s wait for him to wake up before we ask him to read the facial features.¡± She wasn¡¯t in a hurry anymore. After all this commotion, the night had grown very deep. ¡°Emperor, you should go back and rest. There is the early court tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± He Ying was always one to give her face. The group then left the Observatory with grandeur once again. The two of them walked side by side as usual. However, this time they were not silent. Mostly it was He Ying speaking. ¡°You are always soft-hearted towards others but hard-hearted towards me.¡± ¡°No matter if it¡¯s the concubines, or those victimized women, or even Wan Zhang, whom you met today, your heart softens for them, but you are as hard as steel toward me.¡± His words sounded lonely and mournful. Sang Yan was somewhat moved, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she didn¡¯t know what she could say. She was a person full of contradictions, even somewhat coy, always spouting disdain while being upright in heart; sometimes, she also detested this aspect of herself. Maybe another person who had traveled through time would have been braver than she? Seeing her remain silent, He Ying continued to murmur to himself: ¡°Perhaps this is what Pei Muyang referred to as ¡®domineering at home¡¯?¡± As he spoke, he actually laughed: ¡°That¡¯s fine. Domineering at home, domineering at home; at least it means we are from the same home.¡± He seemed to be finding joy amidst sorrow, still looking at her with an indulgent gaze: ¡°If you want to be domineering, then be it. I will indulge you.¡± At that moment, all was silent. Sang Yan met his tender and affectionate eyes, and for a moment, she really wanted to say: I am not hard-hearted, I like you too. But she didn¡¯t say it. Instead, she changed the topic: ¡°Emperor, what kind of person was the late Emperor?¡± This was a serious and weighty topic. He Ying composed himself and slowly said: ¡°The late Emperor ascended the throne at ten and passed away from illness at twenty. His short life was lived under the shadow of the Regent King Pei Zhen, without ever having ruled personally.¡± So he was a puppet Emperor. This is what Sang Yan thought to herself, but aloud she said, ¡°Emperor, please accept my condolences.¡± He Ying shook his head slightly with a smile that carried a hint of helplessness: ¡°There¡¯s not much to mourn. He was just like you, too soft-hearted. Even without the Regent King, he wouldn¡¯t have accomplished much as an Emperor.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Is it really okay to speak of the late Emperor like this? ¡°However¡ª¡± He Ying shifted the topic, his voice cooling: ¡°If he¡¯d been a little more ruthless, I would not exist.¡± Sang Yan was taken aback: ¡°Ah? What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. When the late Emperor reached the age of ruling personally, in order not to relinquish power, the Regent King had to support me instead. At that time, I was seven or eight years old, and I could have served as a puppet Emperor for a few more years.¡± ¡°But if the late Emperor had killed you, he could have bided his time.¡± Sang Yan had guessed the rest of the story; the late Emperor cared for brotherly affection, preferring to die himself rather than kill his younger brother. Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 043 Demoness Chapter 43: Chapter 043 Demoness ¡°Yes, as long as he kills me, he will live a little longer.¡± He Ying looked over with a heavy gaze, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯ve said you¡¯re smart, and I¡¯ve never been wrong about anyone.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was smart, but that she had watched too many palace dramas and understood the patterns within. ¡°The late Emperor was a good brother.¡± She remarked. He nodded, ¡°Yes. He was a good brother and also a fine scholar. Idle sorrows scatter like snow, upon drinking, they melt away the soul. He and Wan Zhang were the same, consumed by their love for liquor. His drunken calligraphy carried the air of a master.¡± Listening to him, Sang Yan thought of Li Yu, the last Lord of the Southern Tang, and the line that later generations would use to evaluate him: ¡°As a talent, truly peerless, poor fate to be thrust upon a king.¡± ¡°Ha ha, that poetry is exquisite.¡± He Ying laughed heartily, praising her, ¡°Ah Yan is clever and quick-witted, abundantly talented, of all the women I¡¯ve seen, none can match you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Er¡­ awkward. She was merely borrowing the words of the ancients. She couldn¡¯t quite accept such praise. Sang Yan fell silent and glanced sideways at him. He wore a plain white brocaded robe, his black hair cascading down, his features as fine as jade, reminding her of a verse: ¡°Stands as noble as the orchid and jade tree, his smile like the bright moon embraced.¡± Hence, her fondness for him was mostly because of his face. Again, who doesn¡¯t like a powerful and handsome leader? Soon, they arrived at Qingning Palace. Sang Yan said goodnight and entered the side hall. Leaving He Ying standing under the moonlight, quietly watching the direction she had gone. For a long time. He withdrew his gaze, looked towards Pei Muyang, gestured with his hand, and said in a low voice, ¡°Go bring Wan Zhang here. Don¡¯t let others know. You go personally.¡± What exactly did Wan Zhang see in Sang Yan¡¯s facial features? If there was any ill omen, he alone should know. Pei Muyang understood his intention, nodded immediately, and set off to fulfill the command. * Sang Yan slept well. All the way until dawn. After washing up and remembering to ask Wan Zhang to read her face, she quickly ate her breakfast and, taking Qiuzhi with her, went to the Observatory. The Observatory by day seemed even more desolate than at night. Not a single guard stood outside the Starlight Hall. She found it strange, thought for a moment, and still decided to push the door open and enter. ¡°Hello? Is anyone there?¡± ¡°Hello, is somebody there?¡± No response came. And no one was inside the hall. It was eerily empty and cold. She looked around and then stepped back out. Just then, she saw a group of guards passing by and approached them to inquire, ¡°Hello, why is there no one at the Observatory?¡± The captain of the Guard Team recognized Sang Yan and respectfully replied, ¡°Lord Sang, Director Wan of the Observatory indulged in drink and neglected his duties, and has been punished by the Emperor to guard the Imperial Mausoleum. The rest at the Observatory share the same punishment.¡± Sang Yan was stunned: When did the tyrant issue the decree? After they parted last night? In front of her, he had pardoned Wan Zhang, but behind her back tallied up his account? Such a petty vindictive man! Wait¡ª It wasn¡¯t that simple. Had He Ying summoned Wan Zhang afterwards? And had Wan Zhang spoken of her odd facial features, which led to his punishment? What exactly did Wan Zhang say? Sang Yan grew both curious and panicked, lifting the hem of her dress as she hurried to find the Emperor. At the same time In Taihe Hall He Ying let out an inelegant sneeze up in the hall. The civil and military officials shivered thrice. Among them, the Minister of Rites, Cui Shao, said, ¡°The hot summer has come, and the Emperor should be careful with the use of ice at night, mindful of the dragon¡¯s health.¡± He meant well, with concern, but by saying so, he accidentally reminded everyone of something. The Imperial Censor, Feng Ji, took the lead in urging, ¡°Please, Emperor, take good care of your dragon¡¯s body, favor your concubines, and soon extend the royal succession.¡± Following suit, the Minister of Revenue, Qu Zhi, echoed, ¡°The Imperial Censor is right, Emperor, you are nearing the age of thirty, and it¡¯s inappropriate to delay the heir any longer.¡± ¡°Yes, indeed. With the birth of the heir, the nurturing of a Crown Prince is also a long-term heavy responsibility.¡± ¡°This old servant dares to say something unpleasant at the risk of his life, but the disaster of Pei Zhen must not be repeated.¡± The disaster of Pei Zhen stemmed from the Emperor¡¯s advanced age and impending birth of an heir, resulting in entrusting his legacy to a young emperor who was completely unable to hold on to power. He Ying was particularly averse to this and snapped angrily, ¡°Are you cursing me with an early death?¡± ¡°This humble servant dares not.¡± All the ministers knelt down. He Ying sneered, ¡°I see you dare quite freely. One by one, you start to worry about the length of my life. Unfortunately, to your disappointment, I am in robust health, certain to outlive you all.¡± ¡°This old servant has no such thoughts.¡± It was the Imperial Censor, Feng Ji, who had brought up the disaster of Pei Zhen. He had white hair, a face marked by the passage of time, and was very emotional, pounding his chest with his hands and crying out, ¡°Emperor, your words are like driving a knife through this old servant¡¯s heart. My loyalty to the Da He Royal Family is witnessed by heaven and earth. The late Emperor¡ª¡± The late Emperor, during his lifetime, had held this veteran of three dynasties in high esteem. No, it is now four dynasties. ¡°This old servant is incompetent, unable to persuade the Emperor, cannot see the Da He Royal Family flourish, deeply ashamed in front of you.¡± Feng Ji cried out to the heavens, his tears flowing freely, a sight too pitiful to behold. Except for He Ying. He looked at the scene with indifference and even some annoyance, ¡°Leaning on old age to peddle influence, utterly despicable!¡± He darkened his face and slammed down on the Dragon Table, ¡°This is the Great Hall of Deliberation, how dare you show the behavior of a woman? Guards, drag him out!¡± He was angry and showed no consideration for the Imperial Censor. ¡°Emperor, please reconsider!¡± ¡°A man may be killed, but not insulted!¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± ¡­ The other ministers pleaded in succession. He Ying ignored them completely and ordered the Imperial Censor¡¯s dismissal. ¡°Who else is urging for heirs?¡± Nobody dared to respond. However, the Assistant Minister of Rites, Zhou Mao, mentioned the Observatory, ¡°Emperor, the Observatory was established by the late Emperor himself, protected by his edict; it must not be neglected.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t take his words to heart, responding coldly, ¡°To my knowledge, the Observatory has been neglected long ago.¡± Zhou Mao said, ¡°That is due to the Emperor¡¯s lack of supervision. With additional manpower and the selection of the capable and virtuous, the Observatory can indeed flourish again.¡± He Ying wasn¡¯t interested in the prosperity of the Observatory, waving his hand and saying, ¡°Enough. I have my own arrangements. This matter shall not be discussed further.¡± Zhou Mao, persisting, knelt down, ¡°Does the Emperor hold such an aversion to the Observatory because the Director Wan Jianzheng has discovered something? It is rumored that the Emperor visited the Observatory last night to consult on the fate of the Sang Family¡¯s daughter¡ª¡± ¡°Vice Minister Zhou, you are quite well-informed, aren¡¯t you?¡± He Ying chuckled sarcastically, cutting off his words, and also changing the subject abruptly. Zhou Mao ultimately grew fearful and was led away, ¡°This humble servant is just concerned about the Emperor, worried about Da He.¡± ¡°Enough! If everyone thought and acted like you do, would not my Imperial Palace become your personal backyard? Allowing you to peer into matters thus; it seems I have served as Emperor in vain!¡± The more He Ying thought about it, the angrier he became, and he ordered an investigation, ¡°Guards! Who leaked the information? Find them! Upon discovery, show no mercy!¡± ¡°May the Emperor calm his anger.¡± The ministers knelt down en masse. He Ying¡¯s anger intensified as he grabbed a petition from the table and threw it, ¡°Get out! All of you, get out!¡± He was somewhat enraged. The ministers did not dare to say more, quietly retreating from the hall. Ever since the Emperor arrived for the morning court, he had been in a bad mood, and just last night, he had ordered the dismissal of all staff from the Observatory, surely something had happened, but what? As they left the Great Hall and whispered to each other in muted tones, they lifted their heads and saw Sang Yan waiting outside the hall, and instinctively sighed in unspoken agreement, ¡°That demoness brings disaster upon the nation!¡± Sang Yan: ? Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 044: Physiognomy Chapter 44: Chapter 044: Physiognomy Sang Yan was speaking with Feng Ji. She had learned from the guards around her that he was an Imperial Censor and, seeing him kneeling under the sun at such an old age with a readiness to die for his country, her heart went out to him. ¡°Please get up.¡± ¡°It¡¯s such a hot day, if you pass out from the heat, your body won¡¯t be able to take it.¡± ¡°You keep saying you¡¯re loyal to the Emperor and love your country, but if something happens, it¡¯s the Emperor who will be blamed. Do you want people to call him a foolish or tyrannical ruler?¡± After advising him for a few moments, she had someone prepare mung bean soup. As the ministers were leaving the court, they saw her offering the mung bean soup to Feng Ji. ¡°Putting on airs!¡± ¡°Such pretense!¡± They came over and forcibly helped Feng Ji to his feet. Feng Ji was still shouting, ¡°Emperor, the heir is most important!¡± Sang Yan felt they were filled with malice towards her and did not persist with her unwelcomed efforts, but instead, she set down the soup and moved aside. They were supporting Feng Ji to leave¡ª But Feng Ji pushed them away, walked straight up to Sang Yan, and bowed, ¡°Miss Sang, as the female officer before the Emperor, you should know the matter of the heir is of vital importance to the foundation of the He Country, we must not delay. I hope you will advise the Emperor.¡± He was not like those ministers who wanted their own daughters to conceive the heir. He simply wished that the Dahe Royal Family would soon have an heir, a Crown Prince, so that the Royal Family would flourish. To him, it didn¡¯t matter whose womb the heir came from. Sang Yan was baffled by his reasoning¡ªwhat did it have to do with her? Was this moral coercion? However, his demeanor was respectful, which she found respectable. She had no ill feelings towards these ministers who served their country and even admired them a bit, so she said, ¡°Mr. Feng, you exaggerate. I will do my best to advise the Emperor.¡± Life expectancy was short in ancient times. An Emperor at twenty-six without a child indeed posed a problem. He had suffered from the political difficulties due to the Crown Prince being too young during the late Emperor¡¯s reign; it was a cautionary tale. ¡°The lady understands reason. This old man thanks you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was only advising; success was not assured. Ah, it felt like she had taken on a burden. She only came here to find out what Wan Zhang had seen in her face reading. ¡°Master¡ª¡± Pei Muyang came with a smile, ¡°The Emperor invites you inside.¡± Sang Yan bid Feng Ji farewell and followed Pei Muyang into the Taihe Hall. The hall was silent. He Ying sat on the throne, his gaze descending upon her as he gestured for her to come over. ¡°Come and sit.¡± ¡°¡­Emperor?¡± Sang Yan knew the Emperor was unorthodox in his actions, but she hadn¡¯t expected this. Letting her sit on the Dragon Throne? What was he thinking? Was he not concerned that those outside had not criticized her enough? It was madness! She wouldn¡¯t join him in his folly, and directly asked what was on her mind, ¡°Emperor, I want to know what the matter with the Observatory is? Why did you issue such an order? Did Director Wan say something?¡± He Ying, anticipating she was here for this reason, did not immediately clarify her doubts but instead said, ¡°First, come over here.¡± Sang Yan did not move, but bowed from a distance, ¡°Emperor, forgive my bluntness, but you are increasingly acting like a foolish ruler.¡± ¡°You dare to speak to Us in such a way; you certainly have grown bold.¡± He Ying was not angry, but defended himself with a smile, ¡°But Ah Yan, if I were a foolish ruler, you would have been my concubine long ago.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. After a moment of silence, she said, ¡°These are two separate matters, and should not be confused. Emperor, as the ruler, you must govern diligently. As someone in high position, every action affects the people, and you must constantly reflect on yourself.¡± Why did she feel like she was worrying excessively for him? Was this the legendary scenario where the eunuch frets more than the Emperor? What happened to keeping things simple? Ah. Such is the life of toil. ¡°He Ying came down and approached Sang Yan, his gaze tender yet forceful. ¡°I like you and want to share everything with you, does that not make me a good Emperor?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was at a loss for words again. Temporarily speechless. And her heart was beating faster. The Emperor¡¯s gaze was intensely focused on her, making her breathing erratic and her body momentarily stiff. However, although her body was stiff, her mind was spinning: ¡°Emperor, are you¡­ changing the subject?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Now it was his turn to be at a loss for words. He gave a bitter smile. ¡°Ah Yan is indeed hard to deceive.¡± Sang Yan thought to herself: No, I almost really fell for it! You, with your scheming ways, one must always be on guard when speaking to you. ¡°Please speak, Emperor.¡± She took a step back, her expression solemn. ¡°Why did you treat the Observatory that way? What did Director Wan tell you?¡± Please don¡¯t let it be because of my face. She really didn¡¯t want to be a femme fatale. There¡¯s no good end to that. ¡°You worry too much.¡± He Ying slightly smiled. ¡°Wan Zhang didn¡¯t even read your face. It¡¯s truly useless.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Why does it feel like a lie? If it¡¯s so simple, would the blame fall on the entire Observatory? ¡°Emperor, do you think I¡¯m a three-year-old child?¡± She felt her intelligence insulted. He Ying heard her and smiled. ¡°If you were a three-year-old child, that would be easier.¡± ¡°How would that be easier?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t fall for you, but I would treat you like a daughter.¡± Great, there¡¯s that paternal vibe again! ¡°Emperor, you¡¯re changing the subject again!¡± Sang Yan was almost stomping her foot. ¡°Can¡¯t you act a bit more like an Emperor?¡± She felt the Emperor¡¯s character was collapsing too quickly. But even an Emperor is human. In front of the woman he likes, he too, like any other man, would drop any pretense to make her happy. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s my fault.¡± He Ying looked at her tenderly, his smile indulgent. ¡°Then tell me, what do you think an Emperor should be like?¡± He asked this, actually querying what her ideal man would be like. Sang Yan, caught off guard, responded: ¡°An Emperor should self-reflect, be stringent with himself, care for the world, and be magnanimous and benevolent.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Let me think¡ª¡± Poor Sang Yan was distracted again. Meanwhile, On the mountain path leading to the Imperial Mausoleum, Two groups of guards were escorting a group of officials from the Observatory. ¡°Alas, alas, I said that would bring trouble, and I was right.¡± ¡°Entering the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, our future prospects are completely ruined.¡± ¡°Wan Zhang! Wan Zhongshan! You have caused great harm to others!¡± ¡­ The officials were all full of complaints about Wan Zhang. Except for Chu Jun. Seeing Wan Zhang, sweaty, disheveled, and his lips chapped and in a sorry state, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pity and handed him a water pouch, whispering, ¡°Director Wan, have some water?¡± Wan Zhang didn¡¯t play coy, took the water, and drank it all in one go. Chu Jun: ¡°¡­¡± He was pained by his water but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Director Wan, what exactly did you tell the Emperor? About Miss Sang¡¯s face¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Wan Zhang smashed the water pouch on his face, then blew away a stray hair from his mouth and started humming a poem with a smile: ¡°Do not laugh at my madness, for such madness is unparalleled. Not of this world, rare is the soul that leaves its fragrance.¡± Chu Jun: ? Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 045 Farewell Grace Chapter 45: Chapter 045 Farewell Grace They emerged from Taihe Hall. The two boarded a carriage, heading to Nanquan Temple. The temple was built near Nanquan Water, hence its name. ¡°Our ancestor was forty years old, frail in health,¡± He Ying began as he gazed at the dilapidated Nanquan Temple, ¡°so he moved to reside in Nanquan Temple, bathing day and night in the Nanquan Water. It was here, amid those waters, that a palace maid was graced and thus the late Emperor was conceived.¡± Sang Yan always felt his words had deeper meaning, his thoughts profound and elusive. ¡°Could it be that the Emperor plans to emulate his ancestor?¡± She looked around the long-neglected courtyard and the dried-up Nanquan Water, trying to guess his thoughts. He Ying turned to look at her, smiling lightly, ¡°If Ah Yan were to cooperate, why not?¡± Sang Yan frowned, ¡°Your Majesty, please do not jest.¡± ¡°I am not jesting.¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze drifted off, his tone grave and commanding, ¡°I intend to rebuild Nanquan Temple, no ¡ª from now on, this place will be called Liufang Temple.¡± Such things are not for everyone, rare is the soul that leaves a fragrance! He didn¡¯t believe that. He was determined to leave his mark! Sang Yan was speechless. Was the Emperor undertaking this grand construction for her? Congratulations to her then. She was one step closer to becoming a ¡°femme fatale.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± Sang Yan had no interest in staying at the palace, nor did she want him to build a palace for her, so she advised, ¡°A good emperor should be diligent and frugal. By doing this, what position are you putting me in?¡± At that, her expression hardened, her voice stern, ¡°Your Majesty, do not use my welfare as a guise for actions that burden the people and drain the treasury.¡± Since ancient times, when an emperor behaved foolishly, the blame would fall upon women. A prosperous era needed beauties to adorn it; a troubled era needed beauties to take the blame. What a great injustice to be a beauty! She refused to repeat this tragic fate. He Ying, oblivious to her thoughts, replied, ¡°It¡¯s only a palace; how could it burden the people and drain the treasury? I rise early and retire late, governing the realm. If even building a palace is not allowed, what¡¯s the joy in being an emperor? Besides, it needs renovation.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t persuade him, she said, ¡°Then don¡¯t build it under the pretense of doing it for me. And what kind of name is Liufang Temple? It sounds terrible. Change it, Your Majesty.¡± He Ying then suggested, ¡°How about Liuqing Hall?¡± Sang Yan rolled her eyes, ¡°Give me a look, and you¡¯ll understand?¡± He Ying was speechless. He wanted to laugh. He was happy. Their interactions were becoming more relaxed. The unease from before had faded without him knowing. ¡°Then you name it.¡± He encouraged with a smile, ¡°I trust in your talent.¡± Sang Yan, uninterested, frowned, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the Emperor think more about national development and improving the people¡¯s living standards?¡± To put it bluntly, this Emperor seemed a bit lovesick. He Ying had just unleashed his anger in court; how could he be in the mood to think about politics? He retorted, ¡°If I remember correctly, you once said that rest is for better work.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. This Emperor really had a good memory. She was momentarily unable to refute. During her silence, He Ying added, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s only when I¡¯m with you that I can find some peace. Ah Yan, stop saying these discouraging words.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan felt rebellious, thinking: I¡¯m so discouraging, yet you keep seeking me out; could it be you have a masochistic streak? If discouragement can make you lose interest in me, it might be worth a try. So, she tried, ¡°Emperor, governing the world demands more than just one person; shouldn¡¯t the world serve one person as well? You cannot think only of squandering and enjoying yourself all day, you should reflect upon yourself and love the people attentively.¡± He Ying listened, looked at her seriously, and asked, ¡°I love the people, but who loves me?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Damn. Miscalculated. This Emperor¡¯s mind works exceptionally fast; arguing with him just doesn¡¯t end well. ¡°You, perhaps?¡± He Ying looked at her, his tone gentle yet heavy, ¡°I too am human. I too need to be loved.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She dared not meet his eyes, so she turned her head to look at a rockery nearby, walked over, picked a withered leaf, and while fiddling with it, said, ¡°If you truly love the people as if they were your own children, the people would naturally love you in return. I once heard that when a benevolent official who loved the people like his own children died, tens of thousands wept by his coffin. See, such profound humanity between officials and the people.¡± He Ying sighed after listening, ¡°I don¡¯t need them to weep for me. Perhaps I should say, I need you to love me. Even if many people love me, I only need you. Ah Yan, be kinder to me. I can give you anything.¡± The Emperor was crafting sweet nothings again! Hmph! Sang Yan hardened her heart and said, ¡°Then give me freedom, Your Majesty. I want to leave the palace.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± He Ying flatly refused, his face sullen, his tone slightly hurt, ¡°You promised to be with me for a year.¡± Sang Yan found herself speechless again. This damned year! Seeing her defeated, He Ying felt a bit better and gently smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry with me; I just like you too much.¡± What more could Sang Yan say? Blame herself for attracting him? The two stayed at Nanquan Temple for a while before getting back into the carriage. He Ying ordered several officials from the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry to come to the Imperial Study. He was determined to build Liufang Temple, and it was not up for debate. Sang Yan saw his resolve, suppressed her anger, and upon reaching Qingning Palace, stepped down from the carriage and finally erupted, ¡°Your Majesty claims to like me, is this how you like me? Time after time, you go against my wishes, offering me things I do not want. If this is your ¡®liking,¡¯ I wouldn¡¯t want it for a year, two years, or even a lifetime.¡± After saying this, she didn¡¯t even look at him and ran to a side hall in Qingning Palace. He Ying frowned, followed her inside, dismissed the attendants, and asked, ¡°What do you want then? Besides freedom, what do you want?¡± ¡°I want¡­¡± Sang Yan sat on the soft couch, lost in thought. Besides freedom, what did she want? ¡°Imperial Censor Feng¡­ wishes for the Emperor to favor the concubines and sire an heir¡­¡± She didn¡¯t know why she said that. He Ying came over, stood next to her, and looked down at her, asking, ¡°What about you?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s heart was in turmoil, ¡°Your Majesty¡­ indeed needs an heir.¡± But she absolutely could not bear a child for him. ¡°I certainly do need one. The question is, would you be willing to bear one for me?¡± He Ying lowered himself to her eye level, his gaze suddenly sharp, ¡°You are unwilling? Are you even thinking of pushing me towards other women? Sang Yan, are you really¡ªtrampling on my sincerity?¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± Sang Yan wanted to say she hadn¡¯t, but she couldn¡¯t say it. She did quite like him, but her feelings were genuine, and so was her desire to leave him. And she never hesitated for a moment. ¡°I cannot give Your Majesty what you desire.¡± In the end, she chose to break his heart. Some relationships, if destined to end badly, should be cut off early. ¡°It¡¯s not that you cannot give, it¡¯s that you don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°I think I have been fair to you, respecting you, waiting for you¡ª¡± He Ying clenched his fist, bit his lip, did not want to speak, did not want to appear pitiful and miserable, but he really had so much to say, so much to ask, yet all he could do in the end was look at her with bloodshot eyes and demand, ¡°Sang Yan, do you have no heart?¡± Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 046 Admit Chapter 46: Chapter 046 Admit He Ying left. He dropped the sentence: ¡°Reflect on yourself here for now.¡± As Sang Yan listened to his words, she inexplicably thought of the last misunderstanding. At that time, he had also told her to reflect. Then rumors had spread of her falling out of favor, and she was even tricked by Sang Ruoshui, suffering a bit as a result. This time, he was telling her to reflect again. Sang Yan truly did reflect and felt that she was caught in a strange loop with him, where the tighter he pursued, the more dangerous and uneasy she felt. The Emperor¡¯s love was intense and passionate. But such love often did not last long, like fireworks, fleeting as if a dream. So, what was her fault? She didn¡¯t long for riches or power, and from start to finish, she simply wanted to live out her days in peace. Their values were different, why should he disturb her tranquility? After reflecting, Sang Yan still felt she was not in the wrong and decided not to reflect anymore, instead just lying back idly. Ah, love indeed causes vexation. No wonder it¡¯s said online that being in a relationship comes with numerous small and large problems, and being single only presents the occasional wish to be in a relationship. Indeed, the truth! * Imperial Study None of the officials from the Ministry of Industry had any objections to the construction of Liufang Temple, and they were even quite eager. Ah, the Emperor was finally going to build a palace, and they at the Ministry could show their prowess. Meng Zhiang, the Minister from the Ministry of Industry, was so excited he almost cried: ¡°Your servant will submit the blueprints and oversee the construction promptly, not failing Your Majesty¡¯s grace¡ª¡± The Ministry of Industry ranked lowest among the six ministries, always busy with work and never getting much in return. Now, with the construction of Liufang Temple, being the first palace built since the Emperor¡¯s accession, it was surely a distinguished project, providing them with an opportunity to show their worth! Of course, besides gaining favor from the Emperor, there was profit to be made. Truly a great opportunity for both fame and fortune. Minister of Revenue, Qu Zhi, however, could not bring himself to smile. He was in charge of the national treasury and was notoriously stingy, not wanting to spend. ¡°Why has the Emperor suddenly decided to build Liufang Temple?¡± He cautiously advised, ¡°The locust plague in Wuzhou has not yet been resolved, and the Ministry of Revenue¡¯s finances are indeed tight; I hope Your Majesty could empathize.¡± ¡°Mister Qu¡¯s words are inappropriate,¡± Meng Zhiang objected: ¡°Not to mention the Emperor has been in power for over a decade without having built any such memorial structures, and now we can¡¯t come up with the funds for just a Liufang Temple? If word gets out, wouldn¡¯t it make Du a laughingstock?¡± Cao Chenghan, Deputy Minister from the Ministry of Industry, also said: ¡°Nanquan Temple was famously an auspicious place for the imperial family, and it¡¯s a pity it fell into disrepair. Now that the Emperor is rebuilding it into Liufang Temple, which has implications for the imperial dignity and even the heir, Mister Qu should be careful with his words.¡± ¡°Mister Cao, your words are a bit harsh. The Emperor has few concubines and currently no heir, and given the Emperor¡¯s celibacy and the frequent expulsion of palace maids from the palace, there are many vacant palaces already. It really isn¡¯t necessary to waste funds on building more¡ª¡± ¡°You mean if the Emperor doesn¡¯t live in those palaces, they should not be constructed?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the locust plague in Wuzhou. Building palaces at this time could tarnish the Emperor¡¯s reputation.¡± The Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry began arguing. He Ying did not intervene. He sat on the Dragon Couch, holding his forehead, lost in their shouts. He thought of Sang Yan. Last time he asked her to reflect, she ended up falling ill. Now asking her to reflect again, given her sentimental nature, he worried something might happen again. With this thought, he lost any interest in discussing palace construction and said: ¡°Enough. Give me some time to think.¡± The officials from the Ministry of Industry were stupefied. The officials from the Ministry of Revenue smiled: ¡°The Emperor is wise.¡± * The wise He Ying returned to Qingning Palace. After much thought, he summoned Sang Yan. When Sang Yan entered, she saw He Ying applying the Jade Frost Ointment. His outer robe had been removed, revealing a delicately opened white undershirt, his exquisite collarbones, and well-developed chest muscles. She glanced at him once, then turned her gaze away, muttering in her heart, ¡°What is the Emperor up to now? A plot of seduction? Well, he does have a great body ¨C slim in clothes, robust without. That long black hair falling down, epitome of classical male beauty.¡± ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty¡ª¡± She bowed slightly, quickly performing the ritual. He Ying sat on the Dragon Bed, watching her expressionlessly and asked, ¡°Do you know why I summoned you?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t know and shook her head. But she could tell the Emperor seemed to have been provoked by something; he was acting strange, almost frightening. Her premonitions were always eerily accurate. The next moment she heard¡ª ¡°I wish to take you into my favor.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Her steps involuntarily retreated. Yet He Ying suddenly stood up, walking towards her step by step, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to have a one-night stand with me? I shall fulfill your wish.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Thankful. Absolutely unnecessary. ¡°Your Majesty, please don¡¯t come closer, calm down.¡± She kept stepping back, thinking of what to do, ¡°Your Majesty, your health¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already applied the Jade Frost Ointment. Even if I fall ill, I will endure. As long as it¡¯s not fatal, nothing can affect me¡ª¡± ¡°If Your Majesty had made this decision sooner, why would you worry about not having an heir?¡± She must be insane. Was she really concerned about his heir at such a time? Had she taken on the role of a saint? ¡°Yes, I should have made this decision sooner, perhaps you¡¯d already have my heir by now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn. The Emperor was beyond reason. Seeing him in the manner of a conquering despot, Sang Yan also feared and inadvertently glimpsed a sword, rushing over, she drew it, pointing it at him, ¡°He Ying, how are you any different from those tyrants and scoundrels by doing this!¡± In her distress, she even yelled out the Emperor¡¯s name. ¡°Do you wish to kill me?¡± He Ying was not concerned about the breach of protocol, his thoughts conversing around his own sword, his tone both disdainful and curious, ¡°Come, let me see the courage you¡¯ve grown to under my care.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Why did he sound proud of it? The Emperor must have a masochistic streak. ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± The tip of the sword had already pressed against He Ying¡¯s chest. His white undershirt was thin. A spot of bright red was distinctly visible. He kept walking towards her. Sang Yan stepping back with the sword, exclaimed, ¡°He Ying! You¡¯ve gone mad!¡± ¡°I indeed have gone mad.¡± He Ying watched her eyes, his smile carrying sadness and the bitter hatred of unrequited love, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t let me build the Liufang Temple, I listened to you. You asked me to eradicate pests, I obeyed. You asked me to console the victims, I complied. I adhered to your wishes every step, but have you ever listened to me? Sang Yan, what are you exactly? You even took my sincerity¡ª¡± ¡°Do you feel aggrieved, Your Majesty? Treated unfairly?¡± Sang Yan interrupted him sharply, sneering, ¡°Your Majesty, what are you trying to say with this? Your superiority? My being loved by you is an honor? But do you know? I wish you were just a commoner. Maybe even my servant. If I gave you a bit of love, would you also be filled with fear and gratitude?¡± She threw the sword to the ground, continuing, ¡°Now that things are out in the open, it¡¯s better. He Ying, as long as you remain the Emperor, we can never be equal. I can never truly open my heart to you.¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 047: Fear of Wife Chapter 47: Chapter 047: Fear of Wife He Ying listened and felt both heartbroken and wronged as he asked back, ¡°You also know I am the Emperor? But do you see any semblance of an Emperor in me? Indeed, there is inequality between us. It is you who stand high above, and I am the one waiting for your favor.¡± He became so agitated that he even slipped into using ¡°I¡± instead of ¡°We¡±. Sang Yan paid no attention to this minor detail; she soberly countered, ¡°No. It is the Emperor who elevated me by favoring me. Once you stop liking me, who knows if I¡¯ll be shattered into a puddle of mud?¡± The higher one climbs, the harder one falls. The love of an Emperor is like dancing on the edge of a knife, painful and deadly. No. She was already feeling the pain now. ¡°Emperor, if you want me to like you, you got your wish, I admit, I like you. But liking is not everything. There is much more in life to pursue than love. Think about it.¡± Having said that, she turned and walked away. He Ying was still immersed in the joy of her admitting she liked him, ¡°You just said you like me, you did, didn¡¯t you?¡± He chased after her and even grabbed her arm. Sang Yan quickly shook him off and asked with a frown, ¡°Is that the only thing the Emperor heard?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Hmm. What else did you say? Is there anything more important than those words?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Of course, there is! You love-struck fool! The atmosphere suddenly became very strange. The previous tension and mutual loathing dissipated in an instant. He Ying even softened his expression and whispered to her, ¡°I heard you, you said you like me. Once said, it can¡¯t be taken back.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore and turned to leave again. When He Ying saw this, he chased after her, trying to grab her hand, but she stopped him with a look. ¡°Are you really trying to have an episode?¡± ¡°Is that concern I¡¯m hearing from you?¡± He had truly forgotten the royal ¡°We¡± now. Sang Yan didn¡¯t remind him and said disdainfully, ¡°If the Emperor prefers to think that way to be happy, then so be it.¡± She truly didn¡¯t want him to have an episode. After all, dealing with his pains, vomiting, and itching was rather distressing. Sang Ruoshui had cried plenty over it before. He Ying had no knowledge of her thoughts; hearing her say that, his previously cheerful mood dampened again, ¡°You make it sound like I¡¯m being fanciful.¡± ¡°The Emperor can also choose not to be fanciful.¡± Just as long as he didn¡¯t like her. ¡°Why does it sound like you¡¯re being sarcastic?¡± He Ying looked at her deeply, feeling that she was saying one thing but meaning another, and he laughed again, ¡°Well, even if I am being fanciful, I still want you to be happy. Tell me, what would make you happy? A promotion for your sister?¡± This sudden turn in the topic confused Sang Yan, ¡°What does Princess Consort Sang have to do with this?¡± He Ying explained, ¡°If her status is high, so is yours.¡± Sang Yan dismissed the idea, ¡°I think my status is already quite high.¡± In the Imperial Palace, who doesn¡¯t greet me as lord? It¡¯s only the love-struck Emperor who ignores all the protocols. Indeed, He Ying was disregarding protocol and said quite innocently, ¡°Who¡¯s to blame if I can¡¯t elevate you? I can only grant rewards to your sister then.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± So it¡¯s her fault now? She laughed at the absurdity, ¡°Is the Emperor loving by association? The Emperor is truly universal in his love.¡± He Ying sensed something off in her tone and asked back, ¡°You don¡¯t want me to reward her?¡± Sang Yan was at a loss for words again. As sisters, she really shouldn¡¯t hinder her future. Only, with Sang Ruoshui¡¯s temperament, who knew how arrogant she¡¯d become with a promotion. ¡°The Emperor is the ruler of the nation, he can do whatever he wishes without looking for my approval.¡± ¡°You know I do look for your approval.¡± He Ying remarked feelingly, ¡°I always feel that in front of you, I am not the Emperor, not even comparable to those common men outside.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why would the Emperor say that?¡± He Ying said, ¡°I am henpecked. Even amongst the grand families, there¡¯s no one more henpecked than I.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor is again speaking sweet nothings. Hmph! She wouldn¡¯t indulge him, replying, ¡°The Emperor is wrong to say so. Who said being henpecked is bad? No, in this world, there are no henpecked men, only men who love their wives. That¡¯s not fear; it¡¯s love.¡± ¡°Since you say so, you should know that I love you very much.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Alright, I got roped into this again. How cunning is he! Sang Yan sighed, ¡°The Emperor is really different from others.¡± He Ying also sighed, ¡°After all is said and done, it¡¯s my fault for being the Emperor.¡± Sang Yan shook her head and said seriously, ¡°No, the Emperor¡¯s mistake is indulging in love. I¡¯ve already said that there are many things in this world that are more worthy of pursuit than love.¡± She tried to steer the conversation to loftier matters. But the Emperor, with his love-addled brain, was not cooperating. ¡°I can¡¯t even pursue love, so what face do I have to pursue anything else?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ah Yan, you¡¯re noble, you¡¯re great, you¡¯ve fulfilled me, and if I can settle down, then the whole world will be at peace.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was settled, she was no match. She wanted to persuade the Emperor; she simply didn¡¯t have the intelligence. ¡°The Emperor thinks too highly of me.¡± She decided to escape, ¡°I need to use the restroom. Please excuse me.¡± And with that, she ran off. He Ying didn¡¯t stop her. He watched her awkward escape with a bittersweet smile, then indulgently thought: Let her be. Intentionally scaring her today and hearing her admit her feelings for me were already a pleasant surprise. ¡°Someone¡ª¡± ¡°This servant is here.¡± Pei Muyang ran in with a big grin, ¡°What orders does the Emperor have?¡± He Ying said, ¡°Issue a decree that I will visit Long Chan Temple to pray for blessings tomorrow.¡± There were many capable and extraordinary people in the world. He didn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t break Wan Zhang¡¯s prophecies. * Sang Yan, holding up her skirt, ran out of Qingning Palace and returned to her side palace. At the door of the side palace A delicate but unfamiliar palace maid was kneeling there. Qiuzhi was speaking with her. ¡°Qiuzhi, what¡¯s the matter?¡± She walked up and asked. The palace maid, not waiting for Qiuzhi to speak, knelt toward her and cried, ¡°Lord Sang, please save my Lady!¡± Sang Yan was puzzled: She hadn¡¯t heard of any concubine who had angered the Emperor recently? The palace maid, sensing her confusion, added, ¡°This servant is Yun Qiao, from the Cold Palace. My lady was once Consort Xuan.¡± Since coming to the palace, Sang Yan was quite indifferent, and had never bothered to inquire about the Imperial Palace¡¯s secrets or the Emperor¡¯s romantic debts. Qiuzhi was different. She was careful and had learned some of the palace¡¯s secrets. Seeing Sang Yan still confused, Qiuzhi whispered in her ear, ¡°Consort Xuan came from a powerful background. Her father was the former Minister of War and was a major contributor to the siege that subdued Pei Zhen. That¡¯s why she was granted the title of Noble Consort as soon as she entered the palace. However, it¡¯s said that she had a tough and dominant temperament, often lashed out at the Emperor, frequently causing him to fall ill. After several incidents, the Emperor¡¯s patience ran out, and she was sent to the Cold Palace.¡± Actually, Qiuzhi didn¡¯t mention that Consort Xuan fell out of favor completely when her father died in a battle and she lost her powerful support. Listening to Qiuzhi, Sang Yan turned to Yun Qiao and asked, ¡°What happened to your Lady? Those from the Cold Palace are bound to encounter trouble. But to seek her out? Has her reputation spread to the Cold Palace? ¡°My Lady is ill.¡± Yun Qiao kept kowtowing desperately as she pleaded, ¡°Please, Lord Sang, take pity on my Lady, and find an Imperial Physician for her.¡± She looked to be a loyal servant. Sang Yan might have ignored it if she wasn¡¯t aware, but now that she knew, and if she was able to help, she couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. Sang Yan had a moment of softness and nodded, ¡°I understand. You go back and take care of your Lady. I¡¯ll have someone call for an Imperial Physician.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang.¡± ¡°You are truly a divine figure.¡± Yun Qiao offered a few flattering words, got up with a smile, and left. True to her word, Sang Yan sent a little eunuch to call for an Imperial Physician. An hour later The little eunuch returned. Sang Yan had finished her lunch and was leisurely enjoying some chilled grapes. The grapes were large, juicy, and glimmered like jewels. Biting into one, the cool, refreshing sweetness was the perfect remedy for the heat. She saw the little eunuch¡¯s face burnt red by the sun, dripping with sweat, so she gave him a small bunch and then gently asked, ¡°What illness does Consort Xuan have? Is it serious? What did the Imperial Physician say?¡± She couldn¡¯t possibly be trying to fake an illness to win back favor, even from the Cold Palace, could she? Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 048 Seeking Verification Chapter 48: Chapter 048 Seeking Verification The little eunuch carefully held a bunch of grapes and replied, ¡°The Imperial Physician said it is a form of summer heat that has entered the body, causing a fever. She cannot even get out of bed now. It¡¯s a good thing the master is kind. The Imperial Physician also mentioned that if it drags on, there¡¯s a 90% chance she won¡¯t survive.¡± Sang Yan listened and was also glad she had offered a helping hand. After all, it was a human life. ¡°For the fever, have the Household Affairs send more ice. Besides, do not neglect her diet.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The little eunuch took the order and left. Sang Yan continued eating the grapes. An unintentional glance, and she saw Qiuzhi sitting across, her hands propped against her cheeks, looking at her with admiration. She was puzzled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Qiuzhi smiled and said, ¡°Miss, you are increasingly assuming the air of the Master of the Harem.¡± Sang Yan¡¯s expression changed, and she said sternly, ¡°Qiuzhi, watch your words.¡± Qiuzhi quickly covered her mouth and lowered her head saying, ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Yan cautioned further, ¡°The Master of the Harem is the Empress, it¡¯s the Empress Dowager. We are merely guests here. If you speak such inconsiderate words again, you should go back to the manor.¡± Frightened, Qiuzhi knelt on the ground, ¡°My lady, please calm your anger. I was wrong.¡± Seeing this, Sang Yan lost her appetite for the grapes. She waved her hand to let her get up and lazily lay down on the bed, acting indifferently. She took a nap for two hours. When she woke up and saw the harsh light outside, she felt a sense of the enduring, long passage of time. Yet, it was also tranquil. Unfortunately, the quiet time was short. In the evening, He Ying invited her to have dinner together. He also mentioned the matter of the Cold Palace Xuan Family, ¡°Do not be soft-hearted towards her. The Xuan Family deserves their fate.¡± His tone was cold and merciless. Sang Yan felt a chill in her heart and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Perhaps one day when the Emperor loses all interest in me, he will treat me the same way.¡± Often, to see if a man is really worth committing to for life, one should look at how he treats other women. And He Ying seemed to naturally lack compassion for women. Like Ruishui River, like Lan, like Princess Consort Li, and now the Xuan Family, he could easily discard them. Hearing Sang Yan say that, He Ying knew she was thinking about herself. ¡°You are not her. You wouldn¡¯t do the foolish things she did. Why bother yourself unnecessarily?¡± After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment and added, ¡°If you are worried, I can give you an imperial decree of exemption. As long as you do not engage in rebellion, you will be safe no matter what you do.¡± Sang Yan scoffed, ¡°If the Emperor truly despises someone, what good is an imperial decree of exemption? There are many ways to make a person¡¯s life worse than death.¡± She had previously been rumored to be out of favor, and she could never forget what her life was like. Although he was not the chief culprit, he was enabling it. ¡°It all comes down to the fact that you do not trust me.¡± He Ying sighed, looked at her, and said, ¡°I¡¯m helpless with you.¡± Sang Yan felt conflicted, lowered her eyes, and silently continued her meal. With unresolved issues on her mind, naturally, the food lost its flavor. After drinking a bowl of fish soup, her appetite was gone. She looked at him and murmured softly, ¡°Concubines of the Cold Palace, beautiful as flowers, fleeting as leaves.¡± He Ying was silent. Those words indeed sounded desolate and pathetic. ¡°Enough,¡± He asked, ¡°What do you suggest?¡± Sang Yan said, ¡°Why humiliate someone in the Cold Palace? Exiling her from the palace and granting her freedom would be much better. What I cannot have, maybe someone else can.¡± Hearing this, He Ying countered, ¡°I indulge your wishes. Can you indulge mine?¡± Sang Yan did not respond. They had reached an impasse again. He Ying also lost his appetite, put down his ivory chopsticks, and said, ¡°No one has ever left the Cold Palace alive. The best I can do is treat her kindly.¡± Sang Yan did not insist on freeing the woman, nodded, and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± He Ying gave a bitter smile, ¡°You see, you are soft-hearted towards everyone else, just not towards me.¡± Sang Yan looked up, their eyes meeting, and said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Maybe she really was, as he said, taking advantage of his affection to be willful. ¡°The Emperor has been very kind to me, I know that.¡± These words seemed to be an overture. He Ying, feeling cheered, immediately brightened, ¡°That¡¯s good to know. Even the late emperor wasn¡¯t as good to me as you.¡± How could you say that with pride? Sang Yan nodded noncommittally and smiled, ¡°Indeed. I am honored.¡± He Ying picked up the chopsticks and offered her a slice of meat, encouraging her to eat more. Sang Yan symbolically ate a little and then took her leave. He Ying did not stop her. He had to go to Long Chan Temple to pray for blessings tomorrow and needed to process the petitions tonight. ¡°Dismiss everyone.¡± At his wave of a hand, little eunuchs entered one by one and cleared the table of food. Pei Muyang then brought him tea to rinse his mouth. Another eunuch brought water for him to wash his hands. After briefly washing up, He Ying sat down at his desk and picked up a petition. He quickly reviewed it and wrote down his comments. Suddenly, he remembered something. His pen halted, and he looked at Pei Muyang, his expression coldening, ¡°From now on, don¡¯t let those chaotic people come before her. I don¡¯t want to see her paying attention to anyone else.¡± Pei Muyang was completely baffled. Was it really necessary? The Emperor¡¯s possessiveness was strangely intense¡­ Somehow, he felt a bit of sympathy for Sang Yan. What was going on? * Sang Yan returned to her side hall. After washing up, she went to sleep. She had another dream at night. It was about her close friend Xuanrao. The surname Xuan was quite rare. Xuanrao always said her ancestors were nobles. During school, they were addicted to watching period dramas and enjoyed playing house together. Xuanrao loved to dream. Wrapped in a sheet, her fingers poised, she would play the role of an Imperial Concubine. Indeed, she was suited for the role of Imperial Concubine. Since childhood, she was known as a beauty. Her white skin, her haunting eyes, her slender and graceful body¡ªwhen she grew up a bit more, the boys liked to hover around her. But she forgot that beauty, without some intelligence, is a sin. In high school, with too many boys around her, she had no interest in studying. After the college entrance exam, she performed poorly, attended a vocational school, and then started dating a rich ¡°school tyrant.¡± But he was only playing around. Later, she became pregnant before marriage and, too scared to go to the hospital for an abortion, tried to induce miscarriage by jumping rope in a dilapidated rental. Eventually, she lost the baby, damaged her health, and impacted her studies. Her life, full of potential, was ruined. But she was indeed beautiful. At the age of eighteen or nineteen, it seemed that no matter what folly she committed, there was always a chance to correct it. She started dating again, this time not a rich young master, but a poor, motivated high-achiever. He truly cared for her, and right after graduating from university, he married her. For the first few years, she was genuinely happy. But the naive actions of her youth did not fade away; they were like a time bomb lurking in her life, which eventually exploded and shattered her life completely. At first, there were just arguments. Then, it escalated to cold war, infidelity, domestic violence. In the end, they destroyed each other. Sang Yan was back at the blood-filled crime scene. She desperately pressed on Xuanrao¡¯s wrist to stop the bleeding, screaming, ¡°Hold on! Xuanrao, you still have your child! You can¡¯t die!¡± But Xuanrao died. She lay quietly in her arms, lifeless, her face gaunt yet serene and beautiful. ¡°Xuanrao! Xuanrao, don¡¯t¡ª¡± She screamed and sat up, waking from the nightmare, her body soaked in cold sweat. Qiuzhi heard the noise, lit a lamp, and came over, rubbing her eyes, asking, ¡°Miss, why did you call out Consort Xuan¡¯s name?¡± ¡°What?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Consort Xuan is also called Xuanrao?¡± Was it her close friend Xuanrao? If she was here, could Xuanrao possibly¡­ She dared not think further, threw off the blanket, and ran out of bed. In her haste, she even forgot to put on her shoes. ¡°Miss, where are you going?¡± Qiuzhi, carrying her shoes, caught up. ¡°To the Cold Palace!¡± She had to confirm something. She was too lonely in this world! Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 049: Cold Palace Chapter 49: Chapter 049: Cold Palace The Cold Palace was desolate and dilapidated. As soon as Sang Yan entered, she saw a flock of crows flapping away, while several rats scurried about on the ground in disarray. Ah. One bite from those things, who knows what kind of virus it could spread! She froze in fear, gesturing to Qiuzhi to quickly scare them away with something. During the delay, the people inside heard the noise and ran out. There were many concubines in the Cold Palace. Their clothes were disheveled, their hair in a mess, their faces a mix of despair and madness. ¡°Ha ha, someone else has come.¡± ¡°Ouch, this sister is so beautiful, how could the Emperor bear to throw her down here?¡± ¡°I heard that tyrant has some strange disease, can¡¯t even touch women, ha ha, he can only look but can¡¯t eat, how much affection could there be?¡± ¡°One night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace, after a hundred days the bond is as deep as the sea, Emperor, don¡¯t you want your concubine anymore? Your concubine misses you so much.¡± ¡­ Someone pinched their fingers into a graceful pose and began to sing and dance. Then, a group of concubines circled around her. The scene, with its singing and dancing mixed with crying and laughing, was like some kind of ritual, strange and unsettling. ¡°Da He is finished.¡± ¡°The tyrant will have no offspring.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, heaven has eyes, there is no resentment in the world. Enough, I will go too.¡± The woman laughed and went to bang her head against the wall. Fortunately, someone stopped her: ¡°Sister, you¡¯re leaving too early, the good times should be witnessed with your own eyes.¡± The woman was persuaded, covering her tears, sitting on the steps and weeping. Sang Yan watched with an unsettling feeling: Is this the fate of those in the Cold Palace? Driven mad by misery. ¡°Lord Sang¡ª¡± Yun Qiao called out in surprise at that moment. She was taking care of Consort Xuan and came out to check when she heard a noise, never expecting to see their lifesaving benefactor. ¡°Lord Sang, are you here to see my Lady? Please, come in¡ª¡± Yun Qiao warmly encouraged her to enter with a smile. In the side hall A basin of ice was unable to dissipate the heat. The stifling air was thick with the bitter scent of medicine, suffocating. Consort Xuan, once untouchable, lay on her bed weakly, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing, ¡°Yun Qiao, who is it?¡± Her voice was hoarse and feeble. ¡°Lady, it¡¯s the kind-hearted Lord Sang.¡± Yun Qiao carried a cup of water and handed it over. Sang Yan followed, her nerves on edge, and slowly stood in front of Consort Xuan¡ª Consort Xuan looked a bit like a modern Uyghur beauty, with fair skin, big eyes, a high nose bridge, bold and beautiful features, especially alluring. And Xuanrao¡¯s family came from Xinjiang. Thus, the two bore an eight parts resemblance to each other. However, Consort Xuan must have had a hard time in the Cold Palace, and on top of that, she was severely ill; upon closer inspection, she looked rather gaunt and worn. Even her fair skin was dry and pale like paper. But these were enough to stir Sang Yan. Was this really just a coincidence? Sang Yan¡¯s hands shook with excitement, and she had to clench her fists to stay calm: She couldn¡¯t directly ask if she had time-traveled. So, how did time-travelers signal each other? ¡°Miss Sang?¡± Consort Xuan called out to Sang Yan and then began to cough again. Sang Yan, feeling pity, asked first, ¡°Are you¡­ alright? Should we call for the Imperial Physician to take a look?¡± Consort Xuan shook her head with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The Imperial Physician said that my illness will take some time to heal. Oh, right, I haven¡¯t yet thanked you for summoning the Imperial Physician and saving my life.¡± As she spoke, she beckoned Yun Qiao to help her up, intending to get out of bed to express her gratitude. Sang Yan saw her intention and quickly stopped her, ¡°No need, no need, it was just a minor effort on my part.¡± She stepped forward and pressed her back onto the bed, ¡°Please lie down, if there is anything you need, you can tell me.¡± Consort Xuan did not express her own needs, but instead asked, ¡°Miss Sang, is there something you came here for?¡± Although she was ill and her head burned with confusion, she was still keenly astute. Seeing this, Sang Yan did not hide anything and truthfully said, ¡°I¡¯m here because I wish to ask a question.¡± She struggled to suppress her excitement, controlling her tone, now truly understanding what ancient poets meant when they wrote ¡°as home draws nearer, the more timid I feel, not daring to inquire of those I meet.¡± Little did she know that her behavior, seen as coy by Consort Xuan, led to a misunderstanding. ¡°I don¡¯t blame the Emperor for my current plight.¡± ¡°?¡± Sang Yan was about to ask her question but was caught off guard: What does this have to do with the Emperor? Consort Xuan continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from Yun Qiao, cough, cough, that Princess Consort Li and the others were able to leave due to your plea to the Empress Dowager on their behalf. You show no jealousy towards us. You must have no interest in the harem. Cough, cough, cough, yet you still hold the Emperor¡¯s favor.¡± As she mentioned the Emperor, her eyes revealed a hint of sorrow, which then turned into a resigned smile, ¡°The Emperor is an extremely tyrannical and dominant person, loving intensely as if wishing life, and hating deeply as if wishing death, cough, cough, cough. You are both lucky and unlucky.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Sister, you¡¯re getting off-track. Can we not talk about men? Consort Xuan kept speaking, ¡°You cannot escape it. However, cough, cough, cough, why would you want to escape, anyway? The Emperor is also a man who may be worth a lifetime commitment. It¡¯s because I was not strong enough.¡± Sang Yan scratched her head, wanting to interject, but seeing her eager to share her heart¡¯s words, sighed, this Cold Palace is really not a place for people to stay. ¡°My predicament is not because the Emperor is heartless, cough, cough, cough, it¡¯s because I lacked the fortune. You don¡¯t need to look at us pitiable ones and wonder if you will face the same one day. The Emperor won¡¯t treat you that way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re so certain! Where do you see that the Emperor wouldn¡¯t treat me the same way? ¡°You must be very curious why I say this?¡± She seemed to have read her thoughts, playfully laughing, ¡°I just know. And I won¡¯t tell you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, I really am curious! She felt that Consort Xuan was playing a role, and when the act was over, she said, ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve misunderstood. My question isn¡¯t about the Emperor.¡± Consort Xuan was startled, ¡°It isn¡¯t? Then what is it about?¡± Seeing this, Sang Yan faintly felt that her hope was vanishing, but still asked persistently, ¡°Do you know¡­ what comes before the line ¡®the token observes the quadrant¡¯?¡± ¡°The token observes the quadrant?¡± Consort Xuan¡¯s puzzled look in her eyes left Sang Yan with a chill in her heart. She did not know. She was not her best friend, Xuanrao. This world simply lacked her companion. ¡°Is this some famous poem? I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been in the Cold Palace for too long, no longer knowing what the outside world is like.¡± Consort Xuan¡¯s bitter smile and self-mockery shattered her illusions. Sang Yan stepped back in disappointment, her expression becoming dejected, ¡°Strange change does not, the token observes the quadrant.¡± Consort Xuan asked in confusion, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Sang Yan felt utterly disheartened, and without explaining, said, ¡°It¡¯s late at night. You should rest well. I must go back.¡± Consort Xuan heard this and did not stop her, letting Yun Qiao escort her out. Yun Qiao, having witnessed the whole process, was also puzzled, ¡°Lord Sang, you came here just to ask about a line of poetry?¡± Sang Yan looked up at the moonlight and murmured, ¡°I wanted to ask about other things too, but unfortunately¡ª¡± She was not her best friend, Xuanrao. No matter how many questions she had, she could no longer ask them. The three of them started walking out. Suddenly, a figure sprang out, dirty hands viciously clutching Sang Yan¡¯s throat, and a ferocious scream pierced the air, ¡°The Emperor is mine! You whore! Die! Die!¡± Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 050: Instigate Chapter 50: Chapter 050: Instigate The opponent¡¯s strength was overwhelming. Their nails were also very sharp, piercing directly through the skin of her neck. Blood flowed. The intense pain, accompanied by a suffocating sensation, made her dizzy. ¡°Let go of Miss!¡± ¡°Someone come quick! There¡¯s been a murder!¡± Qiuzhi and Yun Qiao screamed, trying to pry the madwoman¡¯s hands off, but failed several times. Just as Sang Yan was about to be strangled to death, Yun Qiao found a stick and knocked the assailant unconscious. Freed from the constriction, Sang Yan collapsed to the ground, her pale neck marked with a ring of bruise from the fingers and deep blood stains, clearly having been choked severely. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± She coughed so hard that tears came out. The blood from her neck flowed even more. Qiuzhi cried in fear, ¡°Miss, Miss, are you okay? I¡¯ll go call the Imperial Physician!¡± Sang Yan was in a state of shock, trying to say something, but everything went dark, and she fainted. This body was too weak. It would faint at the slightest provocation! Sang Yan gave a self-deprecating smile and fell into a prolonged darkness. She couldn¡¯t wake up, but in her haze, she heard the Emperor¡¯s furious scolding, ¡°In my Qingning Palace, she was let out to face danger! What are you useless fools doing? Drag all of them out and execute them! Execute everyone in the Cold Palace as well!¡± ¡°Emperor, please spare us¡ª¡± A pitiful plea for mercy. Sang Yan wanted to wake up, to plead, ¡°No! Don¡¯t kill anyone! Don¡¯t kill because of me!¡± But she couldn¡¯t wake up. She broke out in a sweat in her urgency. ¡°Emperor, look at the Lady, she is distressed.¡± ¡°Miss, Miss, what¡¯s wrong with you? Please wake up!¡± It was Qiuzhi¡¯s voice, urgent and panicked. ¡°Sang Yan! Sang Yan!¡± It was He Ying¡¯s worried voice. ¡°Imperial Physician, what¡¯s the matter? Why can¡¯t she wake up?¡± ¡°Emperor, please be at ease. Lord Sang is just overly frightened which unsettled her soul. She has now taken the Soothing Soul Soup and after some rest, she will wake up.¡± ¡°And her neck wound?¡± ¡°They are merely superficial injuries and won¡¯t be bothersome.¡± The area around her grew quiet. A bitter medicinal taste seeped into her mouth. It tasted awful! She didn¡¯t want to drink it, clamping her mouth shut. ¡°Ah Yan, be good, take your medicine, you need it to get better.¡± Was the Emperor personally feeding her? Sang Yan slowly opened her mouth and drank it, thinking to wake up soon to save those people. She didn¡¯t want them to die unjustly because of her, didn¡¯t want to create more bloodshed. ¡°Ah Yan, why do you always make me worry?¡± The Emperor¡¯s tone was helpless yet gentle. But it inexplicably made her feel secure. Sang Yan then drifted off into a deep sleep. When she woke again, it was broad daylight. She opened her eyes and saw He Ying sitting by the bed, resting his head on his hand, taking a nap. Had he watched over her all night? A warm feeling filled Sang Yan¡¯s heart, touching her as she whispered softly, ¡°Emperor?¡± Her voice was very hoarse. It was an aftermath of being strangled. He Ying, a light sleeper, heard the noise and opened his eyes, smiling as he saw her awaken, ¡°Ah Yan, you¡¯re finally awake.¡± Sang Yan nodded, the movement causing pain in her neck, and she winced. He Ying quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t move around.¡± Sang Yan remained motionless as her mind gradually cleared, recalling last night¡¯s massacre by the Emperor, she said, ¡°What happened to those people? Emperor, please don¡¯t kill them.¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Yes, rest assured, I did not kill.¡± He was now relieved that he had listened to the Imperial Physician¡¯s advice about how Sang Yan¡¯s soul was unstable and that murderous aura would hinder the return of her soul. Otherwise, had Sang Yan known that he had killed people, she would have definitely been heartbroken. She was always tender-hearted. The tender-hearted Sang Yan said, ¡°Also, don¡¯t hurt them. I alone did this, and I alone should face the consequences.¡± He Ying disagreed, his voice turning cold, ¡°A death sentence can be pardoned, but living sins are inescapable. Do you know, you almost died at the hands of that madwoman.¡± Sang Yan was also frightened and resentful, having almost been wrongfully killed by that woman despite her innocence. But seeing their madness, she also pitied them. ¡°I wasn¡¯t harmed, right? They are quite pitiable too.¡± Being women, it was easy to empathize. If possible, Sang Yan very much wanted to release those pitiable women from the palace. But she knew this matter needed careful planning. The Emperor was still angry. ¡°A pitiable person must have a detestable side.¡± He Ying wrinkled his brow, not wanting to argue over this trivial matter, and changed the subject, ¡°What were you doing in the Cold Palace?¡± Unable to reveal the truth, Sang Yan lied, ¡°It was nothing much. I just couldn¡¯t sleep last night and thinking that Consort Xuan was ill, I whimsically decided to visit her.¡± It seemed He Ying could only accept this explanation, frowning as he said, ¡°Let this not happen again.¡± Sang Yan nonchalantly nodded, seeing that he was still in yesterday¡¯s clothes, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Have you not slept all night, Emperor? Please go rest.¡± ¡°Now you remember to care about me.¡± He Ying felt aggrieved, having watched over her all night, yet upon waking she only cared about the lives of others. Sang Yan gave a wry smile, ¡°Why are you acting like a child, Emperor?¡± Are men in love really this childish? The childish He Ying looked at her, his voice muffled, ¡°Ah Yan, I almost lost you.¡± His tone was inexplicably melancholic. With a hint of fear. Did he love her so much that it scared him? Sang Yan felt touched, her expression unconsciously tender as she smiled reassuringly at him, ¡°Emperor, I am all right, don¡¯t worry needlessly.¡± She knew nothing. He Ying looked at her, his gaze filled with extreme sadness, ¡°You really don¡¯t understand my feelings.¡± What Wan Zhang had said about not being of this world, deserving to remain a fragrant soul, seemed to be continually proven. Since her arrival in the palace, she had indeed fainted, fallen ill, and encountered danger many times. He had thought it was due to her frail health, but it seemed not to be the case. Sang Yan, seeing the sadness in He Ying¡¯s gaze, was shocked, ¡°Did I really hurt him that much? Or is the Emperor overly sensitive?¡± As she doubted life itself, a voice from outside, that of Sang Ruoshui, called out. ¡°Sister, sister¡ª¡± She cried out for her sister, rushing in, dramatically shedding tears, ¡°Sister, you scared me to death. What would I have done if something had happened to you?¡± Sang Yan numbly watched her performance of sisterly affection. ¡°My poor sister¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui cried for a while, then indignantly said, ¡°Emperor, you must do justice for my sister! Why did that woman go mad specifically when my sister was there, directly lunging to strangle her? There must have been a plot!¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She instinctively felt¡ªwas Sang Ruoshui using this as an opportunity to eliminate rivals? Not wanting her to cause a bigger scene, Sang Yan sighed, ¡°Enough. There¡¯s no need for such conspiracy theories.¡± Her visit to the Cold Palace had been impulsive; how could anyone have calculated so cunningly, waiting there just for her? But Sang Ruoshui thought differently and retorted, ¡°Sister is too na?ve. In the Imperial Palace, who doesn¡¯t know how kind-hearted sister is? Otherwise, how could the Xuan Family have had someone plead before you? Since you helped her once, there is bound to be a second time, and visiting the Cold Palace would be inevitable. Hence, the mastermind waited there!¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± Impressive! That actually made sense. Had she underestimated Sang Ruoshui before? Such skill in stirring up discord! She looked towards the Emperor, who appeared deep in thought, revealing a look of disbelief, ¡°Emperor¡­ surely you don¡¯t think the same?¡± Could it be that Sang Ruoshui really succeeded in inciting him? Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 051 Killing Sin Chapter 51: Chapter 051 Killing Sin He Ying had not originally thought this way, but Sang Ruoshui¡¯s words still stimulated his already sensitive nerves. It concerned Sang Yan, and he had been confused with worry. Upon learning that the madwoman had injured her, he ordered her execution without considering that beyond the coincidence, it could very likely have been a scheme. ¡°Go investigate.¡± His expression stern, he looked at Pei Muyang and issued an order, ¡°Have the Prison Department carry out the investigation. If they try to fob me off like last time, they can all quit their jobs.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang took his leave to carry out the order. Sang Yan was quite helpless about this: ¡°Emperor, it really isn¡¯t such a big deal.¡± He Ying was serious and earnest, ¡°When it concerns your safety, there are no small matters.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Such sweet nothings! She didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. Sang Ruoshui suppressed the sourness in her heart and envied, ¡°Sister, the Emperor¡¯s heart for you is truly sincere. With the Emperor cherishing you so much, I am also at ease.¡± She was complimenting the Emperor at every turn. He Ying, feeling pleased, let her stay with Sang Yan longer, while he went to wash up. There was also the matter of the prayer ceremony at Long Chan Temple; they needed to set off soon. Sang Yan watched the Emperor leave and did not indulge in a show of sisterly affection with Sang Ruoshui. Instead, she looked to Qiuzhi and asked, ¡°After I fainted, how did the Emperor deal with those people?¡± Qiuzhi hesitated for a moment. Under Sang Yan¡¯s insistent gaze, she slowly said, ¡°Those guards were punished with eighty blows and removed from their posts.¡± Sang Yan¡¯s expression grew somber, ¡°In the end, I am the one who brought them misfortune.¡± Qiuzhi reassured, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t think that way. Those people did indeed neglect their duties. The Emperor is right, Miss left the Emperor¡¯s chamber, and they knew nothing about it, didn¡¯t follow or protect you, which was a dereliction of duty. Had something happened to you, their deaths would not suffice to atone for their sin.¡± ¡°And you have the nerve to say they were neglectful of their duties, while you, a personal maid, are even more so.¡± Sang Ruoshui, wanting to replace Qiuzhi with someone of her own, started stirring trouble again, ¡°You let the mistress go to such a secluded place, the Emperor should have killed you first!¡± After scolding harshly, she turned to Sang Yan with a sudden gentle smile, ¡°Sister, your maid is incompetent. I¡¯ll have Xiangxiu follow you instead.¡± Xiangxiu was her confidant. Following Sang Yan would be akin to being with the Emperor, and she would also be privy to the Emperor¡¯s preferences, among other things. Her mind was racing with calculations. Sang Yan was not foolish, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t keep someone else¡¯s spy around. Even though she knew Xiangxiu was good, she was ultimately someone else¡¯s confidant and couldn¡¯t be trusted. ¡°I appreciate your concern. However, Qiuzhi has been with me since childhood; she is not a dispensable maid in my heart.¡± She tactfully declined. Sang Ruoshui hadn¡¯t expected to succeed at once, and smilingly said, ¡°Sister, your heart is too soft.¡± The soft-hearted Sang Yan turned to Qiuzhi and inquired about the Cold Palace, ¡°What about the person who hurt me?¡± Qiuzhi shrank back, too frightened to speak. Sang Yan felt a chill in her heart, guessing, ¡°Did the Emperor kill her?¡± Qiuzhi nodded slowly and reluctantly. Sang Yan felt as if something was clutching her heart, a stifling discomfort, ¡°It was not necessarily a crime deserving death.¡± As a modern person, she truly could not bring herself to see life as worthless. Qiuzhi tried to console her, ¡°Miss is compassionate. But the madwoman did indeed injure the Miss, her sins are unforgivable.¡± The pain in her neck was fine and continuous, unending. Upon reflection, the fear of that night still lingered in her heart. Yet she had ultimately not been in mortal danger while the other person had died. ¡°Spend a bit more silver and ensure she has a decent burial.¡± The person was already dead, and guilt could do nothing for the deceased, so this was all she could do now. Qiuzhi agreed with an ¡°Okay¡± and took the silver to make arrangements. Sang Ruoshui, finding the event uninteresting, exchanged a few words and then took her leave. Leaving the side hall, she lifted her skirt, boarded her carriage, and huffed, ¡°She isn¡¯t even truly the master of this harem, yet she puts on a show of being kind and benevolent. She knows how to manage her reputation well. Could she also be aspiring to become the Empress? The Emperor is the only one who falls for her act. Utter hypocrisy!¡± Xiangxiu listened but did not join the conversation, thinking to herself: You see others as you are yourself. Miss Sang truly is a Bodhisattva-like person. Bodhisattva-like, Sang Yan rested in the side hall for an entire day. By dusk, she still wanted to go see the Cold Palace. Upon hearing this, Qiuzhi¡¯s complexion suddenly changed but quickly returned to normal as she laughed and tried to persuade, ¡°That Cold Palace is inauspicious. Miss, better not go. Otherwise, if the Emperor finds out, he will worry again.¡± Sang Yan knew her concerns and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s bring more guards.¡± Qiuzhi: ¡°¡­¡± Unable to stop her and seeing her walking out, Qiuzhi was frantic with sweat. You can¡¯t go to the Cold Palace! She heard that the Cold Palace was in the midst of an investigation and many had been killed. ¡°Miss¡ª¡± Qiuzhi sprinted a few steps, blocking Sang Yan¡¯s path, and smiled, ¡°Does Miss know where the Emperor has gone?¡± She hoped to sidetrack the conversation with the whereabouts of the Emperor. Sang Yan was indeed somewhat interested and asked, ¡°Where did he go?¡± Her steps did not halt even as she asked with a smile. Qiuzhi replied with a smile, ¡°The Emperor personally went to Long Chan Temple to pray for your blessing.¡± ¡°Really?¡± After a moment of stunned silence, Sang Yan sighed, ¡°It would be proper for him to create less karma on my behalf.¡± Qiuzhi did not care about karma and continued to persuade, ¡°The Emperor should be returning now. Maybe Miss could go to the palace gates to greet him? The Emperor would surely be pleased to see Miss.¡± Sang Yan felt a momentary urge but insisted, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Cold Palace first. I fear that the people below are not handling things properly.¡± She knew too well that the people of the Imperial Palace were accustomed to pandering or downplaying others. The man was a criminal, dead; it would be hard to ensure that they wouldn¡¯t take bribes to slack off their duties. Unable to persuade her, Qiuzhi could only follow with a troubled frown. The entourage soon arrived at the Cold Palace. The Cold Palace. It seemed even chillier than the night before. Even though it was a sunny day with a high sun. The air was still thick with the scent of blood. Sang Yan¡¯s complexion paled, and after stepping off the carriage, she covered her nose and hurried inside. Inside there was cleaning in progress. Traces of blood still remained on the ground. Suddenly understanding, she cast a cold glance at Qiuzhi without saying anything, but it was enough to frighten Qiuzhi to her knees. ¡°Miss, please forgive me; I did not mean to hide it.¡± With tearful eyes, Qiuzhi explained, ¡°The Prison Department was carrying out the Emperor¡¯s orders, as you know.¡± At that moment, corpse after corpse wrapped in white cloth was carried out. Sang Yan¡¯s lips parted slightly, her body chilled to the bone, wobbling so much she nearly lost her footing¡ªwere more people dying because of her? The Prison Department! A notorious institution for cruelty depicted in film and television! How could she have forgotten their methods? How could the lowly discarded women of the Cold Palace possibly survive unscathed in their hands? ¡°Lord Sang, rest assured, this humble official has ascertained the truth¡ª¡± The Chief of the Prison Department, Wang Lishuo, stepped forward and bowed, his expression cold as he spoke of case developments, ¡°This person was a concubine of the late Emperor, demoted to the Cold Palace due to jealousy. Not long ago, Princess Consort Li made a mistake and was also sent here, having frequented visits with this person. Later, Princess Consort Li fortuitously left the Cold Palace, and upon learning that you had shown favor to the Xuan Family, she deduced you would come here in person and thus set this trap. Fortunately, the heavens protected you, and you escaped harm.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t care for this. She couldn¡¯t take in anything, simply asking with a distressed face, ¡°How many people did you kill to come to this conclusion? Huh? How many more do you want to kill?¡± Everything was too smooth. Sang Ruoshui stirred up trouble, and then it was discovered that Princess Consort Li was involved. Who else was plotting? Who stood to gain? This deep and dark Imperial Palace was truly¡­ a den of human malice and cunning ghosts! Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 052: Praying for Blessings Chapter 52: Chapter 052: Praying for Blessings ¡°What does Lord Sang mean by this? Our Prison Department has never mishandled a case with wrongful accusations. The Emperor trusts our department, which is why he entrusted this case to us.¡± Wang Lishuo maintained an expression of integrity on his young indifferent face. Yet behind him, another corpse was being carried out. As it passed by Sang Yan, one hand of the corpse dangled down, dripping with fresh blood, and bones faintly visible. Sang Yan felt like she was going insane, ¡°You, you coerced confessions, you¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t handle the shock, her vision darkened, and she fainted again. ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°Lord Sang!¡± The scene erupted into chaos. At the same time, Long Chan Temple in front of the main hall¡¯s Buddha statue. He Ying pressed his palms together, eyes closed, kneeling on the prayer mat. He had been kneeling for eight hours. During which he hadn¡¯t even had his midday meal. Pei Muyang, who was also kneeling beside him, was so hungry that his stomach rumbled. He couldn¡¯t help but quietly crawl up and go look for something to eat. Unexpectedly, he ran into Master Yixuan just as he was leaving, quickly pressing his palms together and bowing, ¡°Master Yixuan, the Emperor is still kneeling, won¡¯t you go and persuade him? He¡¯s been kneeling for about eight or ten hours now, even an iron body can¡¯t withstand that.¡± Master Yixuan was the abbot of Long Chan Temple, also personally appointed by the imperial family. He was nearly eighty but still had sharp eyes and a robust body, moving as swiftly as the wind. At that moment, he wore his Kasaya, holding a Buddha¡¯s staff in one hand and turning Buddha Beads in the other, chanting, ¡°Amitabha Buddha¡ª¡± Pei Muyang, who was apprehensive about interacting with monks, gave a wry smile and followed suit, ¡°Amitabha Buddha, I hope you can offer some advice.¡± Master Yixuan: ¡°¡­¡± He said nothing and walked into the main hall. Within the main hall He Ying was still kneeling. Seeing him approach, he turned and gave a respectful bow, ¡°Master is compassionate.¡± He had never kneeled to anyone since his birth. Four years ago, after he had recaptured Min State and was passing through Long Chan Temple on his way back to the Imperial City, he entered the temple on a whim, carrying the aura of someone who would kill even Buddha if encountered. Master Yixuan had mentioned that he had amassed too much blood guilt and should seek forgiveness from the heavens. But he took no heed and never knelt. Now, for a woman, he had been kneeling for almost ten hours. ¡°Life is like the morning dew, all phenomena are like floating clouds.¡± Master Yixuan seemed to be either lamenting or advising, ¡°Your Majesty, those who are tough in fate and thin in fortune, must not be overly demanded.¡± He Ying listened and asked earnestly, ¡°I am the Emperor, blessed with luck, how about sharing half of it with her?¡± Master Yixuan paused, his expression solemn. After a long silence, he murmured two words: ¡°Foolish child!¡± * Qingning Palace, side hall When Sang Yan woke up again, it was already dark. Seeing Qiuzhi rushing toward her with a tear-stained face, she spoke first, ¡°Has the Emperor returned?¡± Qiuzhi shook her head, crying, ¡°If the Emperor had returned while you were still unconscious, I definitely would have been punished severely.¡± Sang Yan fully believed that the Emperor was capable of such actions, hence she suggested, ¡°If you are afraid, you should go back to the mansion.¡± She feared that she couldn¡¯t protect her, either. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Qiuzhi knelt by the bed, shaking her head, ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t send me away. Even if I die, I want to be with you.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to hear about death anymore, she waved her hand to have Qiuzhi stand up. Then, recalling the matter of the Cold Palace, she asked gloomily, ¡°How many are still alive in the Cold Palace?¡± Qiuzhi didn¡¯t answer, just wiping her tears, sobbing, ¡°Miss, you just woke up, let¡¯s not think about these things. I don¡¯t care about them, I just want you to be well.¡± She was likely changing the subject with this. Sang Yan guessed that probably none from the Cold Palace had survived, feeling immensely anguished, and tears fell, ¡°Is Consort Xuan still alive?¡± She truly wanted to save Noble Consort Xuan. If she too were to die because of her¡­ Thinking of that beautiful woman, she couldn¡¯t help but remember the expelled Observatory. What had Wan Zhang seen in her face? Reincarnating through another¡¯s body, she must be an ominous person, right? That¡¯s why everyone close to her met unfortunate ends! ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything. I really don¡¯t.¡± Where would Qiuzhi dare to inquire about the affairs of the Cold Palace? Her own life was hardly secure. Seeing her say this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t make it difficult for her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t know, then go and find out. Forget it, I see that I can¡¯t make use of you.¡± She called for the little eunuch who had previously gone to request the Imperial Physician for Noble Consort Xuan. The little eunuch was named Fang Legui, also known as Little Guizi. Little Guizi, fifteen or sixteen years old, had a round face and round eyes, and when he smiled, two little canine teeth showed, making him look joyous and cute. He was also astute, having already inquired beforehand, and smilingly said, ¡°Master, rest assured, Lady Xuan is still ill and hasn¡¯t been tortured, she¡¯s fine. Just frightened. If you are worried, shall I call another Imperial Physician to take a look?¡± Sang Yan finally heard some good news, a smile returned to her face, and she nodded, ¡°Good. Go ahead. From today, you will serve before me.¡± This was a coveted opportunity many were vying for. Little Guizi excitedly kowtowed repeatedly, ¡°Yes. Thank you, Master. I will definitely serve well.¡± Some rejoiced while others were worried. Qiuzhi watched this scene, feeling a bitterness inside, and though she dared not say anything, her tears fell even stronger. Sang Yan caught sight of it and felt somewhat softhearted, giving her a warning, ¡°Do not think about hiding anything from me in the future. There are no secrets in the Imperial Palace. If you don¡¯t tell me what I want to know, others will.¡± Qiuzhi nodded while crying, feeling aggrieved, ¡°I worry about Miss¡¯s health. Ever since you came to the Imperial Palace, it¡¯s either sickness or fainting, truly frightening.¡± Sang Yan knew she genuinely cared about her, and self-mockingly smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t die just yet.¡± She was weary and powerlessly leaned on the pillow, closing her eyes. Qiuzhi saw this, didn¡¯t disturb her peace, and went out to arrange meals. Sang Yan had little appetite, simply drank a bowl of porridge, then had it taken away. The night was silent. Her sleep being prolonged earlier, she now found herself unable to sleep and had someone keep watch on the main hall. Until the hour of Chou, around two or three in the morning, she woke up hazily and only then learned of the Emperor¡¯s return. It was too late. She didn¡¯t call for him. But he came on his own. He must have just bathed, wearing a black silk robe, his hair still wet and long, flowing down his back, under the light of the lamp, his handsome face cold white like jade. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you slept yet?¡± ¡°Are you feeling unwell? I heard you fainted again at dusk. Did you call for the Imperial Physician?¡± His eyes full of concern, his sincerity visible. Indeed, he was very kind to her, very gentle, even showing favoritism towards her compared to others. But this favoritism brought her too many tears and blood. ¡°My illness is of the heart, medicine and stone are of no use.¡± She lowered her voice, putting on an indifferent expression, ¡°If your Majesty truly cares about me, let me leave the palace.¡± To this day, only leaving the palace could distance her from the Imperial Palace¡¯s schemes and the bloody cruelty. She was really too tired. He Ying, not knowing the full story, thought she wanted to leave him again, his expression turning very unpleasant. He wanted to question her, ¡°What did I do wrong that you want to leave me again!¡± But seeing her frail, haggard appearance, he suppressed his feelings. His face unhappy, his chest heaving, the pent-up fire burning his insides, ready to explode at any moment. Pei Muyang saw this and hastened to ease the atmosphere, ¡°Master, please don¡¯t say such things. His Majesty went to Long Chan Temple early in the morning to pray for your blessing, kneeling for seven two-hour periods. When he got up, he could barely walk. He had just bathed and I saw clearly, his knees were swollen and unbearable to look at. At the very least, knowing the heart the Emperor has for you, don¡¯t strike at it with a dagger!¡± As if responding to Pei Muyang¡¯s words, He Ying even lifted his robe, revealing his knees full of bruises. Due to his fair skin, the bruises appeared even more ferocious and horrifying. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This was self-inflicted injury! Definitely self-inflicted injury! Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 053: Miscarriage of Justice Chapter 53: Chapter 053: Miscarriage of Justice ¡°Why would the Emperor go through such trouble?¡± Sang Yan wasn¡¯t fooled, her voice cold with mockery, ¡°On one hand, you slaughter, on the other, you pray for blessings. Even the Buddha would hide away upon seeing you.¡± He Ying was still unaware of the Cold Palace incident and frowned, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± With a sarcastic smile, Sang Yan replied, ¡°Could your Prison Department ever do anything commendable? Would you really not know?¡± The entire Cold Palace, twenty-three lives! All dead! The Prison Department wasn¡¯t investigating, it was clearly eradicating to the root! Upon hearing about the Prison Department, He Ying understood everything. With a cold expression, he ordered someone to summon Wang Lishuo. Wang Lishuo was still in the Imperial Palace organizing case records and hadn¡¯t left. When he heard the summons, he hurried over. It took less than the time to finish a cup of tea. He kneeled down to pay his respects, presenting the case files, ¡°The matter involves Princess Consort Li, and I¡¯ve not yet interrogated her; everything is awaiting the Emperor¡¯s command.¡± He Ying took the case files, quickly glanced over them, and with a sullen face, issued the command, ¡°Summon Princess Consort Li!¡± He would handle this matter here in the side hall, where Sang Yan was. Sang Yan watched quietly up to this point and couldn¡¯t help but speak out, ¡°Do you also believe that Princess Consort Li is responsible?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t answer directly but countered, ¡°Who else could it be if not her?¡± Indeed! Who else could it be but Princess Consort Li? Everyone in the Imperial Palace knew they had grievances. And Princess Consort Li had once stayed in the Cold Palace. But could the truth really be so simple? Could someone be taking advantage of the chaos? ¡°Do you think it¡¯s not her?¡± He Ying asked for her opinion. Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. It just feels wrong to me, but I can¡¯t pinpoint what exactly is amiss.¡± She was like a laid-back fish in the palace, always kind to others; who else would want to harm her? She was confused yet clear about what she needed to do. ¡°Whoever it is, Emperor, I don¡¯t want anyone else to die.¡± Because of the Cold Palace incident, truly too many had died or been harmed. He Ying knew of her kindness but insisted, ¡°I can only promise you this ¨C the mastermind shall be shown no mercy, but for the accomplices, I shall show some leniency.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did this still mean that Princess Consort Li had to die? Princess Consort Li was dragged out of her bed by the guards. She was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the impending disaster. Now dragged over, her clothing in disarray, she wasn¡¯t even wearing shoes. ¡°How dare you? Let go of me! I am Princess Consort Li! How dare you treat me like this!¡± Qu Xueli screamed as she was thrown to the ground. Her hair was in even greater disarray, and when she looked up to see the Emperor and the officials from the Prison Department, she realized she was in trouble, her face a picture of panic and confusion, ¡°Emperor, what has your concubine done wrong?¡± Her hands clutched at her undergarment at her chest, her feet still exposed, in a very pitiful state. Sang Yan, seeing this, had Qiuzhi bring over a cloak for her. Qu Xueli initially didn¡¯t want to accept it, but with men present and a woman¡¯s modesty at stake, she had no choice but to thank them and took it to cover herself. He Ying didn¡¯t dwell on this small matter, and directly threw the case files in front of her, ¡°Take a look for yourself!¡± After reading, Qu Xueli immediately shouted, ¡°Emperor, I am wronged! I am wronged!¡± ¡°The evidence is irrefutable, and you still dare to cry innocence!¡± He Ying didn¡¯t believe her, his voice cold, ¡°Ms. Qu, you¡¯re in luck. I¡¯ve just promised her not to implicate the innocent, so I¡¯ll give you a chance. As long as you admit to your crimes, I won¡¯t go after your maternal family!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! It really wasn¡¯t me! Emperor, please see clearly!¡± Qu Xueli was frantic and fearful, tears reddening her eyes; she began to speak recklessly, blurting out everything, ¡°I certainly envied Sang Yan, but I never thought of harming her. Truly. Believe me. That time you took her through the Imperial Garden, I even went to complain to the Empress Dowager. She said that your not loathing Mrs. Sang is a good thing for us concubines. As long as you¡¯re attracted to her, and have had your fill, our good days would arrive. I had an epiphany then. I¡¯m still waiting for your favor to be shared, to bear the heir for you, how could I possibly harm her?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± So this is what the Empress Dowager was thinking? I really had too high an opinion of her! And¡ªshould these words even be spoken? If what Qu Xueli said is true, it seems there indeed is no motive for murder. Then, besides her, who would want to harm her? ¡°Filthy language spewing from your mouth!¡± He Ying roared furiously, standing up with an ashen face, brimming with murderous intent, ¡°Do you think by saying this, I would believe you? Ms. Qu, since you persist in being stubborn, then don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless. Guards¡ª¡± Sang Yan quickly spoke up to stop him: ¡°Does the Emperor intend to force a confession like the Prison Department?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± His expression halted, he sat back down, holding his forehead and said, ¡°I let anger cloud my judgement! Listen to what she¡¯s saying? Shameless!¡± Is she thoroughly satisfied now? Although Sang Yan had thought this way about him, when others thought this about him, it was a sin! Such is the double standard! Sang Yan didn¡¯t think there was anything in those words to be angry about, and if anyone should be angry, it should be her. She has been treated as his appetizer! Who knows how they¡¯ve been mocking her behind her back? Although internally unsettled, she still separated the issues at hand. Sang Yan was still rational and turned toward Princess Consort Li to say, ¡°If you have not harmed me, would you dare to swear an oath?¡± The ancients were very superstitious, not swearing oaths lightly. And she indeed saw people who had sworn curses that led to misfortune in her childhood. A neighbor once lost five hundred pieces of silver, and the matron who visited claimed she hadn¡¯t taken it but swore a curse that if she had, she would fall down the stairs and break her leg, or go upstairs and knock out her teeth. Indeed, within three days, she fell down the stairs and broke her leg; when she was carried to the hospital for a checkup and had to go upstairs, she was dropped and knocked out two teeth. In short, even modern people shouldn¡¯t swear oaths lightly. ¡°I dare!¡± Qu Xueli raised her hand and swore an oath, ¡°I, Qu Xueli, hereby swear, if I have done anything to harm you, Sang Yan, may I die a terrible death!¡± ¡°How exactly would you die a terrible death?¡± Sang Yan wasn¡¯t satisfied with this vague oath and taught her to be more specific, ¡°You should describe the method of death in detail. The more specific the oath, the clearer the heavens will hear it. Oh, right, you should also state your full birth details, so the heavens can find you precisely.¡± She believed saying this would discourage anyone from swearing an oath. Qu Xueli did indeed look frightened, but still slowly raised her hand, stated her birth details, and even swore a dreadful curse involving ¡°beauty turning to white hair, lifelong illnesses, and a lifetime of poverty.¡± This time, Sang Yan said nothing more. Seeing Sang Yan silent, Qu Xueli, thinking she wasn¡¯t believed, became frightened and distressed, tears forming as she cried out, ¡°I really didn¡¯t do it. Sang Yan, believe me, I truly didn¡¯t! It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Sang Yan believed her. She had actually felt it wasn¡¯t her from the beginning. ¡°Emperor, let¡¯s investigate anew.¡± ¡°¡­You believe her just like that?¡± He Ying frowned, feeling the turn of events was somewhat farcical¡ªwas she going soft in the heart, wanting to save Princess Consort Li? Sang Yan was indeed not going soft; she just subconsciously felt Princess Consort Li was innocent. And she wanted to trust her intuition. However, intuition alone surely couldn¡¯t justify releasing someone. She thought for a moment and had an idea: ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Emperor went to the temple to pray for my well-being. Since you¡¯ve prayed for my well-being, you must believe in the divine. So why now, when Princess Consort Li swears an oath, you do not believe? Emperor, sincerity moves the heavens.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Found himself at a loss for words. ¡°Emperor, Lord Sang¡ª¡± Wang Lishuo, who had been observing the trial, saw that the Emperor seemed persuaded and hurriedly spoke up, ¡°We must not determine her innocence simply because of Princess Consort Li¡¯s oath. Otherwise, in the future, anyone who commits a crime could merely swear an oath¡ªwhere would the law stand then?¡± His words made sense. Sang Yan also agreed and nodded, ¡°Lord Wang is right, indeed we can¡¯t ignore the law because of a single oath. But what is the point of law if it is upheld through forced confessions?¡± Thinking of the more than twenty lives lost at his hands, she doubted his integrity, and her tone became sharp, ¡°May I ask what wisdom Lord Wang has to offer? How do you propose we deal with Princess Consort Li?¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 054 Greed Chapter 54: Chapter 054 Greed Wang Lishuo naturally did not dare to speak before the Emperor about how to deal with Princess Consort Li. He could only look towards the Emperor, clenching his fists and respectfully bowing, ¡°I implore the Emperor to uphold justice fairly!¡± He Ying frowned, remaining silent, evidently contemplating how to deal with the situation. Sang Yan did not wish to see any more deaths or injuries and said, ¡°Although there are confessions, there is no eyewitness testimony, and judgment should not be made lightly. Further investigation is needed.¡± In reality, matters within the Imperial Palace often ended up as muddy waters. Take the previous assassination attempt, for instance, nobody has found out the truth to this day. He Ying was still pondering. Just then, Little Guizi came in to announce, ¡°Emperor, Lady Xuan has arrived.¡± Xuanrao? Hadn¡¯t she been sent to the Cold Palace? Or was she some other ¡®Lady¡¯? He Ying¡¯s brows tightened, his expression displeased, ¡°What is she doing here?¡± Sang Yan immediately thought of the reason for Consort Xuan¡¯s arrival¡ªshe was the only survivor from the Cold Palace and surely knew something. ¡°Please let her in.¡± She issued the command before the Emperor did. Little Guizi, surprisingly compliant with her order, immediately went to summon her. Witnessing this, He Ying smiled wryly but said nothing. It was good, his boldness had grown. ¡°This concubine¡­ cough cough cough¡­ pays respects to the Emperor.¡± Consort Xuan was supported by Yun Qiao as she entered. Her face was ashen, weak, and she kept coughing incessantly. He Ying watched with impatience and directly asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Consort Xuan said, ¡°This concubine comes on behalf of Princess Consort Li, cough cough cough, to testify that she had no connections with those who harmed Miss Sang.¡± The day after Princess Consort Li and the others were imprisoned in the Cold Palace, the Empress Dowager, for the Emperor¡¯s face, did not release them immediately but let them suffer for several days before setting them free. It was during those days that Princess Consort Li¡¯s interactions with those people were well within her right to speak on. Understanding the intricacies involved, He Ying asked, ¡°How do you know she didn¡¯t associate with them?¡± Consort Xuan replied, ¡°Princess Consort Li is proud, and upon entering the Cold Palace, did not¡­ cough cough cough¡­ initiate a conversation with them. Those people, cough cough cough, bullied Princess Consort Li numerous times, and she hid in this concubine¡¯s quarters. This concubine can testify that she is not acquainted with those people, cough cough cough, nor would she conspire with them for murder.¡± He Ying listened quietly, his eyes growing somber, then inquired, ¡°According to you, you are owed a favor by Princess Consort Li, but after she was released from the Cold Palace, she did not take good care of you. Even as you fell seriously ill, she offered no help. Why then do you speak in her defense?¡± ¡°You misunderstand, Emperor.¡± Consort Xuan, struggling to stand straight with a terribly pale face, continued, ¡°This concubine, cough cough cough, is not speaking for Princess Consort Li, but for Miss Sang, cough cough cough, on her behalf. As you said, Miss Sang has shown kindness to this concubine, cough cough cough, and because of this kindness, this concubine cannot bear to see¡­ cough cough cough¡­ the true murderer escape justice. Otherwise, Miss Sang will remain in danger.¡± He Ying, hearing this, believed a great deal of her words. However, recalling the court files presented by Wang Lishuo, he said, ¡°This is not what you said in the court documents.¡± In the court records, Consort Xuan¡¯s testimony read: ¡°Long ill and unconscious, knowing nothing.¡± She had effectively changed her testimony. ¡°The Emperor is astute, this concubine, cough cough cough¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t stop coughing. Seeing she was almost out of breath, He Ying quickly had someone offer her a cup of tea. Consort Xuan thanked him, took the cup but did not drink, and continued, ¡°The Prison Department enforces torture, cough cough cough, and this concubine was frightened, daring not to say more.¡± He Ying, suspecting this motive, did not inquire further and waved his hand, ¡°I understand. You may leave to rest.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Consort Xuan was helped out by Yun Qiao. After she left, the situation took a turn. Knowing full well that nothing substantial would be uncovered easily, He Ying made his decree, ¡°Princess Consort Li has been improper in conduct and ruled by envy, she will be demoted to Li Pin, confined for three months for self-reflection.¡± Qu Xueli: ¡°¡­¡± She was truly just sleeping in her bed when calamity struck from above. Enduring a silent bitterness. Yet she had to express gratitude, ¡°I thank the Emperor for his leniency.¡± Seeing this outcome, Sang Yan had no more to say. Wang Lishuo seemed to want to add something but, catching a glimpse of the Emperor¡¯s expression, altered his words instead, ¡°The Emperor is wise.¡± As a subject, one must also skim over things. The ¡°farce¡± was dispersed. Those with power remained well and safe. The commoners sacrificed twenty-three lives. After they had left, Sang Yan too sought her leave, ¡°Emperor, do you not feel that ever since I entered the palace, it has been restless? Perhaps, it is truly my fate¡ª¡± ¡°Your fate has no issue. Even if you have a strong destiny, I am the Emperor and can suppress it.¡± He Ying saw her deeply troubled face and softened his tone, ¡°I visited the Long Chan Temple today to pray for you. Master Yixuan said the same. I can suppress it.¡± Sang Yan countered, ¡°The Emperor can suppress my fate, but can you suppress the restless hearts arising because of me?¡± ¡°Of course I can.¡± He Ying was confident, even ruthless, ¡°If not, then I will simply eliminate them all.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Damn. There was no reasoning with him. She decided to try another approach, ¡°Emperor, is a one-night stand really that bad?¡± He Ying shook his head, ¡°No good. I don¡¯t want fleeting moments, I want forever.¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°The Emperor really is greedy.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°If possible, I wish I could share some of this greed with you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to be greedy. She just wanted to be lazy, lie flat, and let everything go. Unfortunately, that was just wishful thinking. ¡°The Emperor, greed does not have a good end.¡± ¡°Whether I have a good end is all up to you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t outtalk him, annoyed to death, she waved her hand and said, ¡°Please go back, Your Majesty. I want to sleep.¡± After a tiring day, He Ying was also weary. He called for Qiuzhi to come in to take good care of her, only then did he leave. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s leg¡ª¡± Qiuzhi watched the Emperor leave, unable to help but mutter, ¡°It seems he really must have kneeled for a long time, his walk is very stiff. It looks quite painful. I don¡¯t know if he has applied any medicine to relieve pain and disperse bruising. I haven¡¯t heard anything about the imperial physician either.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­you better stop talking.¡± Listening made her feel uncomfortable. Those few words from Qiuzhi made her feel like¡­ she was indeed not good to him. He went to Long Chan Temple to pray for her, knelt for such hours, and after returning to the palace, he still thought of her health and came to see her, yet she blamed him for other things. Like an ingrate. Always acting arrogantly in her own nest. Sigh. She was really vexed. She didn¡¯t sleep well all night. The next day She naturally got up late. The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Sang Ruoshui sitting on the chair across from her, staring straight at her. Spooky. How long had she been watching her? Why was she looking at her like this? Sang Yan sat up, frowning and asked, ¡°Why are you here? Is there something wrong?¡± She inexplicably disliked Sang Ruoshui more and more. But due to the original owner¡¯s relationship with her, she still had to deal with her. ¡°What kind of words are those from Sister? Can¡¯t I come see you if there¡¯s nothing wrong?¡± Although Sang Ruoshui said so, she went straight to the point, ¡°I heard sister pleaded for Li Pin, no, she is now Lady Li. Why did you save her? Father has been suppressed by Qu Zhi for so many years, and now that he¡¯s seeing light, how could you¡­¡± She had hoped that Qu Xueli¡¯s trouble would implicate Mr. Qu, to give their father a chance to rise. But everything was ruined by Sang Yan. It really infuriated her! ¡°Sister really is benevolent and magnanimous, truly selfless.¡± Suppressing her dissatisfaction, her tone turned sardonic and sarcastic, ¡°It¡¯s just too bad for our father, to be oppressed under Qu Zhi¡¯s thumb again.¡± Sang Yan felt that Sang Ruoshui had come to accuse her. She didn¡¯t indulge her, directly saying, ¡°Li Pin did not want to kill me. She is not the mastermind behind the scenes.¡± Hearing this, Sang Ruoshui almost laughed out of anger, ¡°Sister really thinks I¡¯m trying to catch the mastermind? I wanted father to take the opportunity to climb up. Why doesn¡¯t sister understand my good intentions? Didn¡¯t the Emperor drop the matter, don¡¯t you understand?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Understand what? She was confused, ¡°What do you mean?¡± The Emperor knew Lady Li was innocent, yet he also thought of using the opportunity to pave the way for their father to rise in rank? Sang Ruoshui was still angry and didn¡¯t feel like answering her. She just said, ¡°Sister has always been smart, think about it yourself.¡± Then, standing up, she prepared to leave¡ª Outside the chamber Pei Muyang entered, holding a snow-white cat. The cat had a pair of beautiful water-blue eyes, looking around cutely, very spirited. ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± It meowed twice, then suddenly leapt from Pei Muyang¡¯s arms, heading straight for Sang Yan. Sang Yan was a little afraid of cats. First, for fear of being scratched or bitten; Second, for fear¡ªwild animals can transmit germs! ¡°Catch it!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it come over!¡± She screamed, scurrying to hide on the bed. Thankfully, it was caught midway by Sang Ruoshui. Sang Ruoshui liked the cat and immediately said, ¡°Sister, it seems you are afraid of cats, why don¡¯t you give it to me then?¡± ¡°Not at all! Not at all! The master cannot be gifted away!¡± Pei Muyang hastily refused, explaining, ¡°This cat was brought by the Emperor from Long Chan Temple. It¡¯s said that the cat has been bathed in the Buddha¡¯s teachings all year round, surrounded by auspicious aura, capable of exorcising evil spirits and bringing good fortune.¡± ¡°So the cat is that precious.¡± Sang Ruoshui felt sour inside and laughed mockingly, ¡°I dare not take the good things the Emperor rewards sister with.¡± After saying that, she directly tossed the cat onto Sang Yan. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 055: Heartache Chapter 55: Chapter 055: Heartache The cat pounced straight at her. Sang Yan was so startled that she froze. Pei Muyang saw this and quickly said, ¡°Lord Sang, don¡¯t be afraid. This cat is very understanding of humans and doesn¡¯t hurt people.¡± Indeed, the cat did not hurt anyone. It pounced on Sang Yan. Sang Yan wanted to push it away, but it was indeed very human-like, sticking out its little red tongue to lick her palm, then rubbing its soft head against her chin and neck. Fine then. True charm may be late, but it never fails to show up. When the cat extended its two front paws, meekly gesturing a bow, Sang Yan truly fell for it. ¡°Has it been named yet?¡± She looked toward Pei Muyang. ¡°Not yet. The Emperor is waiting for Lord Sang to name it.¡± Pei Muyang answered with a smile. Sang Yan then began to think, ¡°Hmm¡­ Let¡¯s call it Snowball.¡± Pei Muyang smiled in response, ¡°This servant will go tell the Emperor right away.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± Sang Yan remembered the Emperor¡¯s knee and asked, ¡°Is the Emperor¡¯s knee any better?¡± Upon hearing this, Pei Muyang¡¯s eyes quickly darted around, and he got an idea. He put on a disconsolate expression and sighed, ¡°Alas, it¡¯s not. He still refuses to apply medicine. He says it¡¯s about sincerity bringing the spirit to life. It got worse this morning; he couldn¡¯t even get out of bed.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She knew Pei Muyang was exaggerating, but she was still worried, ¡°How could he not apply medicine? Does he really have a masochistic streak?¡± ¡°Certainly not.¡± Pei Muyang agreed, then quickly chastised himself, ¡°Oh dear, this servant¡¯s mouth¡­ Please forgive me, my lord. It¡¯s not for this servant to judge the Emperor. It¡¯s just that the Emperor truly won¡¯t listen to this servant¡¯s advice. I¡¯m hoping Lord Sang could go and persuade him.¡± He spoke in favor of He Ying. Both master and servant knew how to play the victim. Sang Yan was well aware of this, and said indifferently, ¡°I understand.¡± And with a wave of her hand, she dismissed him. As for whether she¡¯d go to persuade the Emperor or not? She¡¯d wash up first. Pei Muyang led the others back to the main hall of Qingning Palace. Inside, He Ying was sitting at his desk, copying Buddhist Scriptures. The scriptures were piled high. His hand ached from writing, and when he saw Pei Muyang return out of the corner of his eye, he said, ¡°I always feel Master Yixuan is playing tricks on me. Humph! If it doesn¡¯t work, let¡¯s see how I deal with¡ª¡± He was copying Buddhist Scriptures, yet saying such things. Pei Muyang hurriedly advised, ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s all about sincerity.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He instantly simmered down. He sighed and changed the subject, ¡°Was the cat sent over? Did she like it?¡± Pei Muyang, wanting to cheer him up, naturally picked the pleasant things to say, ¡°She liked it. She was a bit afraid of the cat at first, but once she heard it was from the Emperor, she wouldn¡¯t let go. She even named it Snowball.¡± ¡°Snowball?¡± He Ying, thinking of the cat with snow-like fur, smiled, ¡°That is indeed fitting.¡± Pei Muyang added, ¡°Lord Sang also asked about your knee. This servant took the liberty of saying you hadn¡¯t applied any medicine. I¡¯m not sure if she will come over later?¡± Upon hearing this, He Ying was convinced that Sang Yan would come and immediately stood up, ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and bring some water!¡± He had to wash off the ointment! While washing the ointment off, he realized that his knee had actually healed quite a bit. Pei Muyang felt awkward, ¡°This¡­ the Imperial Physician¡¯s ointment is truly¡­¡± Too effective is also not good! He Ying became displeased, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have listened to you last night.¡± Pei Muyang immediately slapped his own mouth, ¡°It was this servant¡¯s fault for being talkative.¡± ¡°Now what do we do?¡± ¡°¡­Perhaps Lord Sang won¡¯t come.¡± While they were speaking, a eunuch conveyed a message, ¡°Emperor, Lord Sang is here.¡± He Ying hurriedly put down his clothes and sat down by the desk. ¡°Pass it along.¡± No need to pass it, for Sang Yan had already come in. She made a beeline for him, squatting next to the desk, and cut straight to the point, ¡°I heard the Emperor hasn¡¯t applied medicine to his knee?¡± A twitch appeared at the corner of He Ying¡¯s mouth as he feigned anger, ¡°Who said that? I¡¯ve already applied the medicine. And I¡¯m much better.¡± Indeed, he was much better; there was no need to show her. After all, it was enough that she came to express concern. Sang Yan, however, thought he was lying and insisted on seeing for herself: ¡°Let me see how much better you are.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to see.¡± He Ying felt inexplicably guilty as Sang Yan¡¯s stare unsettled him, and he scrambled for an excuse: ¡°Men and women should not touch each other.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Such a ridiculous reason. ¡°So the Emperor is aware of this too?¡± She curled her lip, and on the spot, she said sarcastically, ¡°So, as a widow with a husband-killing fate, it¡¯s even less appropriate for the Emperor to be so entangled with me, isn¡¯t it?¡± He Ying was at a loss for words. Sang Yan was growing impatient: ¡°Emperor, I¡¯ll take one look and then leave.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°I¡¯m really quite well. The Imperial Physician¡¯s medicine is very effective.¡± Effective enough that he felt like killing someone. In curing his odd ailments, there hadn¡¯t been any progress in more than a decade, but his knee was responding quite quickly. Sang Yan urged, ¡°Hurry up. I want to see how effective it is.¡± Left with no choice, He Ying could only lift his robe. His knees were still bruised and purplish, but the swelling and bruising had indeed faded. Compared to when she first saw them the previous night, he was indeed much better. Sang Yan was relieved, ¡°It¡¯s good that the Emperor is fine.¡± He Ying¡¯s heart was sweet, his lips curved in a smile, ¡°I feel that a little issue wouldn¡¯t be bad either; otherwise, I¡¯d never feel your concern.¡± That Emperor was at it with his lovesick antics again. He was even beginning to wish misfortune upon himself. Sang Yan was both angry and helpless, ¡°Emperor, choose your words wisely. You are the ruler of a nation, you carry the weight of your people; don¡¯t joke about your health.¡± He Ying obediently agreed, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Seeing him so compliant, Sang Yan¡¯s emotions were mixed. She turned her gaze away and noticed the Buddhist Scripture on the desk. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Why are you copying this?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t feel like using the Buddhist Scriptures he copied for her as a way to cheer her up at that moment and said instead, ¡°Master Yixuan said that my malevolence is too strong and that I need to copy Buddhist Scriptures to cultivate my character.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t think much of it and was actually supportive, ¡°The Emperor indeed should copy more, lest you be rash in taking lives.¡± He Ying laughed indulgently and did not argue, ¡°Hmm.¡± Pei Muyang, listening, spoke up at the right moment: ¡°How could it be? Clearly, the Emperor is copying these scriptures for Lord Sang. Up and about early in the morning to copy them. Clearly, you didn¡¯t sleep much last night either. Seeing how the Emperor is wearing himself out, I really¡ª¡± The words ¡®feel sorry¡¯ were unspeakable. Because the one who should be pitied wasn¡¯t him, but her. Sang Yan realized that this Pei Muyang was quite adept at playing martyr. He could always, in a few words, maximize the Emperor¡¯s likeability. Was this the impressiveness of an imperial eunuch? ¡°The Emperor really goes to great lengths for me.¡± She was seventy percent touched and thirty percent sarcastic. He Ying detected the off tone in her voice, but still shamelessly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, it¡¯s worth it for you.¡± Sang Yan nodded, standing up, ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb the Emperor from copying the Scriptures.¡± Seeing her about to leave, He Ying was somewhat reluctant, ¡°Your presence doesn¡¯t disturb.¡± He changed the subject to keep her there: ¡°How are you feeling today? Is there any discomfort?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°As long as the Emperor refrains from killing indiscriminately for my sake, I think I¡¯ll feel quite well.¡± He Ying disagreed, his tone becoming more forceful: ¡°Those who hurt you must be punished severely. It¡¯s a deterrent and a protection.¡± Sang Yan knew the Emperor meant well for her, yet felt a vague unease: ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a femme fatale.¡± ¡°A femme fatale, you? You think too highly of yourself.¡± He Ying couldn¡¯t help but laugh, but then meeting Sang Yan¡¯s deep gaze, he chickened out, no longer daring to laugh, and could only hold it in and turn to Pei Muyang, ¡°Tell our Lord Sang what a femme fatale is.¡± Pei Muyang earnestly began, ¡°If we¡¯re talking femme fatales that shook the world, there indeed were a few¡­ Let¡¯s not mention the calamity of Xia Ji from the previous dynasty, during the critical moment of flight, just because she mentioned she was hungry, the Emperor halted the escape to set up camp for her, to cook soup with his own hands. And from Emperor He Taizu¡¯s time, Imperial Concubine Jia lost a hairpin, and the whole army stopped to search for it. Oh, there¡¯s also Consort Xiang of Beiqi, just because the King of Puluo Country remarked she was of low birth due to being a singer, the Beiqi Emperor raged, commanding ten thousand soldiers to march overnight, pressing on to Puluo Imperial City, just to get an apology¡­¡± Sang Yan listened with complete indifference, even feeling that the incident concerning Consort Xiang of Beiqi was more likely the Beiqi Emperor looking for an excuse to make a move on Puluo Country; otherwise, to wage war over a single remark seemed far-fetched. But these matters had nothing to do with her. Looking at the Emperor¡¯s face, which was full of fascination, she furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°The Emperor finds this amusing? Do you wish to emulate them?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± He Ying asked in return, his tone natural and domineering: ¡°I like you, and I want the whole world to know.¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Chapter 056 Vulnerable Point Chapter 56: Chapter 056 Vulnerable Point Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright then. The Emperor gives one sweet nothing each day. She had become numb, ¡°Your Majesty should just focus on copying Buddhist Scriptures.¡± Hoping that the Buddhist concept of ¡¯emptiness¡¯ might cure his lovesickness. Sang Yan took her leave and went to the Cold Palace. She was worried about Consort Xuan¡¯s health and wanted to visit her. No one stopped her. But a lot of guards followed. Sang Yan ignored them, and after entering, she had Qiuzhi and Little Guizi attend close by, while the rest of the guards stayed outside. ¡°Lord Sang has arrived.¡± Yun Qiao saw her, smiled, and paid respects, then reported Consort Xuan¡¯s condition, ¡°Her Ladyship just took her medicine and is asleep. Should I wake her?¡± Sang Yan waved her off and spoke in a hushed voice, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can sit and wait awhile.¡± However, Consort Xuan wasn¡¯t sleeping deeply and had already heard some noise, ¡°Yun Qiao, who has come? Is it Miss Sang?¡± Yun Qiao went to reply, ¡°Yes, it is. My Lady, Lord Sang has come to see you.¡± It was then that Sang Yan entered the bedroom. Consort Xuan, propped up by Yun Qiao, looked wan but still managed a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve come.¡± There was an oddly familiar feeling to that statement. Was it because she bore a resemblance to her best friend? Sang Yan wanted to be close to her and said with a smile, ¡°Yes, I have. How are you today?¡± Consort Xuan replied, ¡°Much better, but I¡¯m still weak. Cough cough cough¡ª¡± Seeing her still coughing severely, Sang Yan spoke to Yun Qiao, ¡°Ask the Imperial Kitchen to make her some candied pear. It soothes the throat and nourishes the lungs.¡± Yun Qiao promptly agreed, ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang. I will go now.¡± She left in a hurry. Sang Yan found a seat, sat down, and didn¡¯t speak. One reason was not knowing what to say, and the other, as a salted fish for too long, she had become somewhat socially anxious. Consort Xuan, however, was more talkative and initiated a conversation, ¡°You really are different from the others.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand her meaning, so she asked, ¡°How so?¡± Consort Xuan explained with a smile, ¡°You are deeply favored by the Emperor, yet you don¡¯t act arrogant or indulgent, maintaining your initial sincerity. That is indeed rare in the Imperial Palace. Presumably, that is also why the Emperor favors you exclusively.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Is that so? Actually, she had no clue why the Emperor liked her. She felt that she was sensitive, melancholic, timid, lacking a sense of security, and apart from the original host¡¯s face, she really had no charming qualities. And these feelings, it seemed, now had someone to share with. ¡°I¡¯ve always been self-aware.¡± Back in her original world, she was just an ordinary office worker, average looking, with average talent, unloved by others and not loving anyone else. Everyday life was busy enough without having to worry about these things. Thus, suddenly thrown into this world with the Emperor¡¯s affection, she was truly anxious. Like a pie falling from the sky, her first reaction wasn¡¯t to catch it, but to dodge quickly. After all, she lacked the confidence to catch this pie, much less to keep it. ¡°You are right, it¡¯s valuable to have self-awareness. If I had understood this back then, I wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation.¡± Consort Xuan laughed at herself, but then said, ¡°Yet, if I truly had the Emperor¡¯s favor, I wouldn¡¯t care about that at all. Life is so short, naturally, I would do what makes me happy.¡± Sang Yan had no comment. Having been an office worker for long, she really couldn¡¯t indulge in reckless spending or pleasure. Consort Xuan continued, ¡°You are my savior, and I have no way to repay you. The only thing I can do is to share with you a philosophy I stumbled upon in the Cold Palace.¡± Sang Yan cooperatively asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Consort Xuan coughed a few times and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not really a philosophy, just a personal feeling. I think that fame and fortune are like passing clouds, and freedom is the most precious. Of course, this freedom¡ªcough cough cough¡ªis not the freedom of the body, but the freedom of the heart.¡± Sang Yan listened and thought, suddenly realizing that all along, she had been pursuing physical freedom, but had forgotten about the freedom of the heart. ¡°Heart free, the world is wide.¡± ¡°Many times, if you do not seek trouble, no one can trouble you.¡± ¡°All is a cultivation of the mind.¡± Noble Consort Xuan was still sharing her feelings. Having lived in the Cold Palace for so many years and yet remaining so lucid, it was evident that her inner strength and cultivation were formidable. Sang Yan admired such women of inner strength. And interactions with such women were always beneficial. ¡°You make a good point.¡± She sincerely accepted the advice, ¡°My heart is not free at all. I still like to seek trouble for myself. I always overthink, not wanting others to be burdened because of me.¡± Noble Consort Xuan nodded in understanding, ¡°Being kind is not wrong, but being overly kind is foolishness. Everyone has their limits. Do not take on everything yourself. Do your best, then leave the rest to fate, without resentment or complaint.¡± Sang Yan contemplated her words, nodding from time to time. The two chatted idly for an entire morning. Upon leaving, Sang Yan looked around, her gaze swept over the dim, oppressive environment, and the shabby d¨¦cor, and she couldn¡¯t help but take on another concern¡ªafter all, the Cold Palace was no place for recuperation. So, she went to find the Emperor at Qingning Palace. Qingning Palace main hall He Ying was still copying Buddhist Scriptures. For the entire morning. Not only were his wrists sore, but his neck was also aching. He then asked Pei Muyang to massage his shoulders for him. ¡°Why does the Emperor bother to do it himself?¡± Pei Muyang showed an expression of deep concern as he massaged and patted the Emperor¡¯s back while persuading him, ¡°In the past, when He Taizu claimed the throne, he visited Long Chan Temple to pay homage. The abbot there asked Taizu to kneel. How majestic was Taizu? You are the present Buddha, how could the present Buddha kneel to the past Buddha?¡± He Ying knew about this piece of ancestral history too. His visit to Long Chan Temple might well have been with the intention of emulating his ancestor. But¡ª ¡°Although I am the present Buddha, regrettably, the present Buddha has a weakness now and can only kneel.¡± ¡°The Emperor is as romantic as Taizu.¡± Pei Muyang wanted to say even more¡ªthat the He Royal Family had a penchant for falling in love! He Ying withdrew his hand and rested his forehead, his gaze momentarily vacant, ¡°Pei Muyang, do you think it is better for a person to be emotive or unemotive?¡± Pei Muyang didn¡¯t dare to answer. This person, he was certainly referring to the Emperor! He Ying seemed not to need his reply, musing to himself, ¡°I feel like I am no longer like myself. Perhaps, as a peaceful ruler for too long, it¡¯s inevitable to develop affections.¡± Deep in his heart, the ambition to conquer the world burned bright. He had always felt truly alive only on the battlefield. Yet his fondness for Sang Yan seemed to evoke a similar sentiment. He showed restraint in his aggression, cautious and deliberate in his conquest, his claim. She was his most beautiful city, once seized, a lifelong glory. ¡°Emperor, Lord Sang has arrived¡ª¡± The little eunuch hurriedly came in with the message. He Ying felt as if whatever he was thinking about would come to pass; in a good mood, he smiled as he looked towards the entrance¡ª Sang Yan approached in a hurry. She wore a hibiscus-colored palace dress with elegant tassels at her waist. As she walked, her dress trailed on the ground, rolling with each step like ripples on water. ¡°Be careful. Watch out for a fall.¡± He really was endlessly concerned for her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why such haste?¡± He asked as he stood and went to greet her. Sang Yan caught her breath and shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just that Noble Consort Xuan¡ªEmperor, let her out of the Cold Palace.¡± She merely felt that the desolation of the Cold Palace was unsuitable for recuperation, and that Noble Consort Xuan deserved a better place to live. But He Ying misunderstood. His expression changed on the spot, ¡°Are you trying to push another woman towards me again?¡± Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 057: Profanity Chapter 57: Chapter 057: Profanity Sang Yan rolled her eyes with disdain, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I wasn¡¯t planning on pushing any women your way. I just feel like I get along with Consort Xuan and wanted to do something for her.¡± He Ying looked skeptical, ¡°Really?¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°Really. If you don¡¯t believe me, should I swear?¡± As she was about to raise her hand¡ª He Ying hurriedly refused, ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t say anything unlucky.¡± He probably copied Buddhist Scriptures too often and now he¡¯s superstitious about these things. Especially coming from her mouth. Seeing this, Sang Yan then asked, ¡°Then, does the Emperor agree?¡± ¡°No.¡± After He Ying refused, he quickly proposed a condition, ¡°Unless you agree to enter the palace as a consort.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was not noble enough to sacrifice herself for others. She immediately changed her tune, ¡°Oh. Then never mind. Forget I said anything.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t how he had imagined things. She gave up so quickly? He unwillingly added, ¡°Just like that? Won¡¯t you reconsider? You enter the palace, she leaves the palace.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°No. If the Emperor disagrees, then that¡¯s that.¡± She had done her best. Besides, the conditions in the Cold Palace were poor; she could help improve them. If Fuji Mountain won¡¯t come to her, can¡¯t she go to it? Thus, she returned to the side hall and, after looking around, had some of her seldom-used items moved to the Cold Palace. ¡°This tea set, oh, and these two vases, move them over.¡± ¡°And these pieces of jewelry, I don¡¯t like them much either. Oh, and these cosmetics.¡± ¡°These pastries¡ª¡± It made quite a noise for a while. He Ying heard the noise and came over, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sang Yan honestly said, ¡°Sharing things. The Cold Palace is too shabby, I¡¯m sharing some things over.¡± What the Cold Palace lacked, she provided, giving so much that the Cold Palace surely wouldn¡¯t be cold anymore. He Ying saw her intention and oddly regretted it a bit. When a eunuch carrying an entirely honey-yellow jade phoenix was walking out¡ª ¡°Stop, everyone stop, that¡¯s my collection!¡± The Yellow Jade Phoenix was He Ying¡¯s memento from the conquest of Min State. It symbolized good fortune and wealth. Not only was the craftsmanship exquisite, but such a large piece of Yellow Jade was also hard to come by. If it weren¡¯t for Sang Yan moving into the side hall, he wouldn¡¯t have let her keep it there as a decoration. Yet here she was, about to give it away. She really was a spendthrift wife! He Ying walked over, snatched the Yellow Jade Phoenix, and held it tight, his face filled with distress, ¡°This one is not okay. This is mine.¡± Seeing this, Sang Yan remarked sarcastically, ¡°Everything in this palace belongs to the Emperor.¡± He Ying, intimidated by her sarcastic tone, sighed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll have someone renovate the Cold Palace and add some things for her, alright?¡± Sang Yan smiled satisfactorily, ¡°That¡¯s fine. That¡¯s fine. The Emperor is really kind. The Emperor is wise. Thank you for your great grace.¡± The result of her whims seemed not too bad. He Ying, seeing her happy smile and softened by her flattering words, felt quite comfortable and turned to Pei Muyang to give the order, ¡°Go make it happen.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang nodded and took his leave. He Ying then ordered them to move the items back, everything back in its place. Sang Yan also returned to her seat. ¡°He Ying reminded, ¡°Emperor, don¡¯t try to brush me off. In a couple of days, I¡¯ll go to the Cold Palace to check on the progress.¡± He Ying sounded displeased, ¡°When have I ever deceived you? Listen to yourself¡ªI do things for you and yet I can never do right.¡± Sang Yan, feeling rather good, heeded the Emperor¡¯s words, and after a thoughtful pause, realized she was at fault and admitted her mistake, ¡°Now that you put it that way, it indeed is my fault. Emperor, I¡¯m sorry, I misspoke.¡± She rarely apologized so earnestly. He Ying, unused to this, replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± He put back the Yellow Jade Phoenix and, looking at the returning ornaments, thought about how they were almost given away, and felt a pang of pain. To avoid experiencing this pain again, he reminded her, ¡°The items in your palace are all treasures of immense value. Be cautious in gifting them away.¡± Sang Yan, taken aback at first, then realizing what he meant, laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the Emperor to be such a miser.¡± It was her first time seeing the Emperor act so ¡®stingy.¡¯ It was quite amusing. He Ying, of course, wasn¡¯t pleased with the nickname ¡°miser,¡± but her laughter was genuinely captivating, as if parting thick fog to reveal a sunny day, open and expansive, so he found himself laughing along. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Emperor? You are human too. All humans have their personal desires.¡± ¡°Then what other desires do you have that I don¡¯t know about?¡± She proactively inquired about his preferences. This was truly rare. Especially since her tone was so relaxed, infused with the lively spirit of a young girl. For a moment, He Ying felt as if all the barriers of status between them had vanished. He was almost entranced by this calm and casual conversational atmosphere. Unconsciously, he began, ¡°Speaking of personal desires, my greatest desire¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence, sobering up, feeling that continuing would seem reckless. And he feared she might not like to hear it. Sang Yan, puzzled, questioned, ¡°Why did you stop?¡± He Ying, meeting her purely beautiful eyes, ultimately didn¡¯t say what he had intended¡ªmy biggest desire is you! That would have been too reckless. It would have been a desecration of her. So, he changed his response, ¡°I like collecting beautiful things, like jade and weapons.¡± Sang Yan retorted, ¡°Everyone likes beautiful things. It¡¯s just that some, despite their desire, lack the means to possess them. That¡¯s hardly a personal desire.¡± He Ying countered, ¡°What about you then? What are your desires?¡± Sang Yan was stumped. She thought carefully and realized that whether in modern times or in this world, she hadn¡¯t harbored any personal desires, always suppressing herself just to survive. ¡°It seems I have none.¡± No wonder she felt unhappy. He Ying suggested, ¡°Then maybe you should cultivate some desires.¡± What he really wanted to say was, I hope that one day your desire will be for me. Unaware of his thoughts, Sang Yan nodded seriously, ¡°Okay.¡± From today onwards, she would try to be a little more selfish. ¡°Emperor, would you like some wine?¡± This query unexpectedly reminded He Ying of a past incident¡ªshe had once tried to intoxicate him with wine to seduce him. So, was she hoping for him to lose his inhibitions now? His nerves began to throb. His heart also unhelpfully pounded. Ordinarily restrained from carnal desires, He Ying rarely thought of such matters. After falling for her, he had even less desire to defile her in such a way, so now these wild thoughts flooded his mind for the first time. He tried to stop them, but some thoughts, the more suppressed, rebound with equal force. In fact, he was quite repelled by these affairs. The late Emperor had indulged excessively in romantic escapades, eventually leading to his downfall, which made He Ying feel deeply uncomfortable just thinking about it. It started an itching sensation. Like it emanated from deep within his bones. Turns out, not only touching women but merely thinking of such absurd affairs was enraging. He Ying, frowning and enduring, said, ¡°If you want to drink, I can join you.¡± Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 058 Joyful Event Chapter 58: Chapter 058 Joyful Event ¡°Then let¡¯s have a few drinks.¡± It was time for lunch. He Ying had someone pass the lunch. The two of them sat opposite each other, savoring the wine. He Ying introduced, ¡°This wine was personally brewed by the late Emperor. He loved wine as much as life itself, and he brewed an exceptional wine. Would you care to try?¡± He poured her a cup. Sang Yan thanked him and took the cup, sipping it¡ªit was incredibly spicy, so much so that it made her eyes squint. ¡°This flavor¡ª¡± She just couldn¡¯t drink it! It was supposed to be a casual taste of whatever wine was at hand, but it turned out to be unbearable. He Ying saw her squinting her eyes, looking adorably funny, and teased her with a laugh, ¡°Try savoring it more. It¡¯s spicy but also full-flavored, it gets better the more you drink.¡± Sang Yan took another sip, and just like before, it was spicy enough to make her eyes squint, ¡°No, I can¡¯t handle this flavor.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re missing out on a delicacy.¡± He Ying picked up the wine cup in front of him and drank it all with a smile. He liked strong spirits. It¡¯s a pity¡ª ¡°There¡¯s not much of this wine left. My negligence, nearly all been drunk up by that drunkard Wan Zhang.¡± He had not expected Wan Zhang to know the late Emperor¡¯s secret wine-burying spot. The late Emperor really favored him! When Sang Yan thought of Wan Zhang, she couldn¡¯t help laughing, ¡°He¡¯s an interesting man.¡± Remembering that he was punished to guard the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, she added without thinking much, ¡°I guess he doesn¡¯t mind guarding the mausoleum for the late Emperor, but still, it¡¯s a hard life. I hope you¡¯ll have someone take extra care of him.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t want to argue with her over such a trivial matter, so he agreed, ¡°Hmm. As you wish.¡± Right in front of her, he issued an order, ¡°Send those few jars of wine from my collection to the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, to Wan Zhang¡ª¡± He was somewhat worried Wan Zhang might indiscreetly talk after getting drunk. He added a few more words, ¡°Tell him to drink sparingly. Drunkenness harms the body. I don¡¯t want to hear any news of his death.¡± Sang Yan was pleased with this and smiled, ¡°The Emperor is actually quite tender-hearted.¡± He Ying mused, ¡°That¡¯s probably because of your influence.¡± Sang Yan teased, ¡°It seems the Emperor is quite willing.¡± He Ying laughed again as he took another drink, nodding, ¡°Hmm. Very willing. Wishing you could influence me day and night.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She picked up a shrimp dumpling and placed it in front of him, ¡°Emperor, drink less and eat more.¡± He Ying simply replied, ¡°Okay,¡± and finished all the food she had picked for him. This was a wonderfully pleasant lunchtime. They didn¡¯t argue, but cared for each other like an ordinary couple. After lunch, Sang Yan was petting her cat, preparing for a nap. He Ying returned to the main hall, continuing to copy Buddhist Scriptures. Pei Muyang stood by, noticing his ever-present smile, and couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Emperor, what brings such joy? Share with this servant, so I may share in the happiness.¡± He Ying glanced at him, his smile profound, ¡°I find copying Buddhist Scriptures to be somewhat effective.¡± You see, sincerity brings enlightenment. He really could wait for the moment where ¡°With sincerity, even metal and stone will open.¡± * Sang Yan began her routine of caring for a cat. She discovered this cat, cleansed in Buddhist principles, was lazier than she. Once they became comfortable with each other, it clung to her. When she stood, it climbed on her shoulder. When she sat, it nested in her lap. When she was woken up three times in the night by the pressing cat¡ª Sang Yan lost her patience, shoved it off, and called for someone, ¡°Qiuzhi, take it away, take it away.¡± What bad karma. Qiuzhi, in on the joke, covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°This Snowball is actually a female cat. I didn¡¯t expect it to be so¡­ clingy.¡± What she really wanted to say was that the cat was lascivious. But to say that about a cat? Her mind was still pure. It must be that the cat was just clingy. ¡°Just take it away. I don¡¯t want to see it again tonight.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qiuzhi picked up the cat and locked it in a cage. The cage was made of golden wire, lined with silk, and kept clean and tidy. It even had fluffy toys hanging inside¡ªa significant upgrade from its den at Long Chan Temple. But it didn¡¯t like it. It meowed incessantly. Sang Yan was kept awake by the noise, so she got up and scolded it, ¡°Can you be quiet? If you keep this up, I¡¯m going to abandon you. I¡¯ll give you to the big tyrant and let him chop off your head.¡± ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± The cat blinked its water-blue eyes and put its paws together, as if begging for mercy. Sang Yan could no longer resist its coquettish charm and had to let it out, but warned repeatedly, ¡°Snowball, you are not allowed to climb on top of me! And definitely not to press on me! Got it?¡± She placed it by her side, tapped its head gently, lectured it a little more, and finally closed her eyes to sleep. The cat nestled next to her arm and meowed softly before hanging its head. It didn¡¯t climb on top of her again. But as soon as daylight broke, it definitely would. Sang Yan was awakened by the stepping, a tickling pain that was still within her tolerance, but it was wearing away at her patience. That area is indeed very vulnerable for women. This cat never learned. She pushed it away angry, not in the mood to stroke it anymore. A lesson was necessary. But the cat was too clingy. It followed her everywhere. Having no choice, Sang Yan could only hide away in the Cold Palace. In the Imperial Palace, she only found familiar company and conversation with Xuanrao. The Cold Palace was under renovation. Xuanrao wasn¡¯t lying inside the palace but had moved out and was now sunbathing on a Noble Consort¡¯s couch under a vine of grapes. The scene did look rather leisurely. Looking at it, Sang Yan¡¯s mood brightened, and she said with a laugh, ¡°Actually, we could cultivate a plot of land, plant some flowers, herbs, and vegetables. That way, we could enjoy some pastoral scenery right here in the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± Xuanrao¡¯s health had improved, her cough was gone, her face was fair again, and her smile was bright and charming. ¡°But since you came up with the idea, remember you have to help out.¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Sang Yan was quite interested and began to plan with her. They talked until sunset. Not wanting to return to the clingy cat, Sang Yan proposed to experience the Cold Palace¡¯s cuisine. Xuanrao, touched and thinking that Sang Yan was afraid of being neglected, assured her with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The Emperor has given orders, no one dares to shortchange my meals.¡± Sang Yan, who hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead, just laughed awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± But she stayed in the Cold Palace for dinner. Completely forgetting that she was supposed to have dinner with the Emperor. He Ying, aware that she had gone to the Cold Palace for fun, sent someone to fetch her when it got dark, and she hadn¡¯t returned. The word came back that she had already started eating. He became very frustrated. He Ying frowned and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell her I was waiting for her to have dinner?¡± The eunuch who had gone to hurry Sang Yan was shivering, ¡°Lord Sang said there¡¯s no need to wait for her, the Emperor can eat alone. She also said¡ªshe also said¡ª¡± ¡°What else did she say?¡± ¡°She said it¡¯s not like she hasn¡¯t eaten alone before. She¡¯s not a companion.¡± ¡°Outrageous!¡± He Ying slammed the table in anger. The eunuch quickly knelt and knocked his head on the ground, ¡°Emperor, spare my life, spare my life!¡± He Ying waved him away. He ate his evening meal alone. Eating alone was truly boring. He lost his appetite, ate a little, and had the meal cleared away. Then, while copying Buddhist Scripture, he had someone watch the side palace and kept asking, ¡°Has she come back? Has she come back?¡± It was like a pitiable husband waiting for his wife who forgot to return home from visiting. And this wife, who was having too much fun chatting, was even planning to sleep in the Cold Palace. When He Ying found out, he slammed the desk again, ¡°She has a home but won¡¯t return! What does it look like for her to stay in the Cold Palace? Let¡¯s go! I want to see what¡¯s so good about the Cold Palace!¡± Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 059: Ambition Chapter 59: Chapter 059: Ambition He Ying stormed off to the Cold Palace in a fit of rage. In the Cold Palace, Sang Yan had washed up and already nestled into Xuanrao¡¯s bed. The bed was covered with silk, soft and smooth to the touch, very skin-friendly. She closed her eyes to savor the moment, her body next to a fragrant and exquisite form¡ªit was easy to understand the privileges of men. Sleeping beside a beautiful woman did indeed bring pleasure to both body and mind. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you, it¡¯s been a long time since I last shared a bed with someone.¡± Sang Yan herself only shared a bed with her mother during her early childhood. By the time high school and university came around, it was a dormitory with six people, so it was more like cohabitation. After graduating and starting to work, she rented a run-down apartment to live alone¡ªthere wasn¡¯t much of a human touch to it. Things had only somewhat improved when she later adopted Xuanrao¡¯s son. But sharing a bed with someone? That was a memory from a very long time ago. ¡°I feel the same way.¡± ¡°I had hoped Yun Qiao would come up and sleep with me; she always frets about the difference in rank and refuses to share a bed with me.¡± ¡°In this place, not being able to huddle together for warmth in the winter is truly torturous. I¡¯ve woken up many times from the cold.¡± Xuanrao sighed with emotion. Sang Yan nodded in agreement: ¡°Right. Winter nights without someone to warm the bed are indeed hard to bear. Even rabbits understand the need for closeness.¡± ¡°Rabbits?¡± The topic had shifted quite suddenly. Xuanrao was still trying to catch up. Sang Yan nodded and repeated, ¡°Yes, rabbits.¡± Speaking of rabbits, she thought of a question: ¡°Do you know how rabbits keep warm in the winter?¡± Xuanrao replied instinctively, ¡°Don¡¯t they have fur? Doesn¡¯t that keep them warm?¡± Sang Yan shook her head with a smile: ¡°Not enough. I used to think the same as you, but, you see, that bit of fur isn¡¯t sufficient to fend off the cold in the wilderness.¡± ¡°That makes sense. The wilderness must be even colder. So how do they stay warm? Hide in burrows?¡± ¡°They press their bellies against each other.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°I was shocked too when I first heard the answer. Apparently, when winter comes, they instinctively group together, lying side by side and pressing against one another. That way, they warm up pretty quickly.¡± This was something she came across when answering questions to win gold coins on Taobao. The answer had been so surprising that it left a lasting impression. Xuanrao was also shocked: ¡°So that¡¯s possible? But come to think of it, it¡¯s quite amusing. It¡¯s the wisdom of small creatures¡¯ survival indeed.¡± Their conversation was in full swing. Qiuzhi rushed in, panting: ¡°Miss, Lady Xuan, the Emperor has come.¡± She and Yun Qiao had been getting ready to sleep when they heard noises. Peeking out the window, they saw the Emperor¡¯s procession and quickly dressed to come and report. ¡°I said, if the Miss didn¡¯t return, the Emperor would surely blame her.¡± Qiuzhi, flustered, muttered softly and urged, ¡°Miss, you better get dressed quickly.¡± Sang Yan lazily didn¡¯t want to move: ¡°Blamed for what? I¡¯m just here having a sleep. I didn¡¯t run away.¡± Why would he come to seize someone in the middle of the night? It was embarrassing. Xuanrao guessed with a smile, ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s worried about my safety here.¡± Upon reflection, Sang Yan thought it was a possibility and said, ¡°He¡¯s overthinking it. Here it¡¯s just you and Yun Qiao, couldn¡¯t be safer.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuanrao paused for a moment, feeling so completely trusted it was overwhelming, enough to bring her to the brink of tears. But she didn¡¯t cry; instead, she smiled: ¡°Sang Yan, you really trust me that much? What if I became jealous and harmed you in secret? After all, we are both the Emperor¡¯s women. You have his favor, while I am left languishing in the Cold Palace.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Uh¡­ Had she overlooked this issue? She really hadn¡¯t considered it at all. Xuanrao harming her? Impossible. She shook her head, looking earnest as she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re that kind of person. You know, I tend to have accurate premonitions. The first time I saw you, I felt you were a good person, and I really liked you.¡± Maybe it was a kind of filter that close friends bring? She really did like her. ¡°I like you too.¡± Xuanrao seized her hand with excitement, her gaze growing fervent. Looking into her eyes, Sang Yan felt as if she had regained a dear friend. Her heart warmed; she was equally moved. Just then¡ª Voices of Qiuzhi and Yun Qiao came from outside: ¡°Emperor, please calm down.¡± ¡°Emperor, you can¡¯t go in there!¡± ¡°Miss and Lady are changing their clothes right now.¡± ¡­ Why did that sound so shady? Like they were catching adulterers. Sang Yan felt weird inside but didn¡¯t think much of it and regretfully said, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to leave here. I was planning to chat with you into the night.¡± Night chats were something she experienced in college. She was a loner, couldn¡¯t catch up with the topics, so she just listened to their night chats. Even just listening, she found it interesting. Now she finally had the chance to fulfill her long-held wish, and it was ruined by the Emperor. Sigh. Annoying. Sang Yan, huffing with irritation, got up to get dressed. These ancient clothes were very complicated. Although she had worn them many times, putting them on alone was still a challenge. Xuanrao quickly got dressed and then helped her. Oh my, wearing white against her black hair, looking down with gentle eyes, her nimble hands moving about her, what a beautiful and virtuous sight. Sang Yan quietly watched, feeling inexplicably¡ªah, how she wished she were a man! Thinking this, she asked, ¡°Xuanrao, do you ever really wish you were a man?¡± Whether in ancient times or the modern era, it was a patriarchal society, and women were greatly restricted. She really wanted to be a man. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it.¡± Xuanrao looked at her and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it many times. I always felt that if I were born a man, I wouldn¡¯t have been trapped by love and bring disaster to my later life.¡± ¡°What a pity¡ª¡± Sang Yan continued her thought, sighing, ¡°We could have lived well, but being born female doomed us.¡± Her words were seriously funny. Xuanrao even laughed, ¡°Hahaha. Sang Yan, how can you be so adorable?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Adorable what? Wasn¡¯t what she said reasonable? Outside, He Ying listened to Xuanrao¡¯s laughter and their few words of small talk, feeling a pang of frustration in his liver, ¡°What are you dawdling for? Come out to me immediately!¡± Sang Yan heard his roar and frowned, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming, what¡¯s the rush?¡± She walked out, looking at the Emperor with an unwelcoming tone, ¡°Why has the Emperor come here?¡± He Ying snorted coldly, ¡°If I had not come, I would never have known of your grand aspirations!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Aspirations of being a man? He had heard her. Inexplicably embarrassed, her face flushed, she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Lady has seen the Emperor.¡± Xuanrao then gracefully stepped forward and bowed in greeting. He Ying looked impatient, didn¡¯t even glance at her, and casually waved his hand to indicate that she could dispense with the formalities before saying to Sang Yan, ¡°You, come here.¡± Sang Yan stood very close to Xuanrao. He Ying found it irritating. Of course, his eyes also showed caution. As if Xuanrao might suddenly attack Sang Yan. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to argue with the Emperor in front of Xuanrao, so she turned back to say goodbye and stepped out. Seeing this, He Ying followed her, discontent in his voice, ¡°This is the Cold Palace, even if it¡¯s been renovated and reset, can it be as good as my Qingning Palace?¡± The point was that so many people had recently died there. It was too inauspicious. Her health was weak, prone to attracting negative energy. These things he didn¡¯t want to say, for fear of frightening her. Yet she had no qualms, still coming here! Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 060: Farming Chapter 60: Chapter 060: Farming Sang Yan hadn¡¯t an inkling of the situation and naturally didn¡¯t grasp his well-intentioned efforts, so she said, ¡°A gilded nest, a silver den, isn¡¯t as good as one¡¯s own doghouse. Likewise, sometimes, sleeping in a golden chamber might not be as comfortable as in a dilapidated hut.¡± He Ying listened to her broken-hut theory and thought it was complete nonsense, but he had always been unable to get the better of her and didn¡¯t argue. Instead, he sighed helplessly, ¡°You just keep opposing me.¡± There was a full serving of doting in his words. Sang Yan¡¯s heart softened when she heard this, and she eased her tone as well, ¡°Emperor, why have you come?¡± He Ying glanced at her, still with that tone of helpless affection, ¡°What do you think?¡± Sang Yan guessed, ¡°Emperor, are you afraid Xuanrao will harm me?¡± He Ying said irritably, ¡°At least there¡¯s a bit of a brain there.¡± He was afraid, first, that Xuanrao¡¯s jealousy might lead to harm, and second, that the evil aura of the Cold Palace might afflict her. In any case, it was fear. He didn¡¯t want her out of his sight for even a moment. ¡°You¡¯re so pure-hearted; I¡¯m always worried someone will outwit you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve lived so long and I¡¯ve never worried about someone like this.¡± ¡°Not even on the battlefield have I had such anxiety.¡± Every sentence was laden with his special cherishment for her. Sang Yan sincerely marveled, ¡°Emperor, you¡¯re really good to me.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± It was rare for her to speak so. He felt that finally, his heartfelt sentiments had been understood and accepted. Looking at her, his eyes were tender and there was a hint of sorrow, ¡°Ah Yan, you must take good care of yourself. I will never be this good to anyone else again.¡± He had made up his mind about her. After her, there would be no one else. Listening to his promises, that unrepayable depth of affection came over her again. She pondered the words of Xuanrao ¨C to experience love during love is to respect love. That seemed to be applicable here. He loved; let him love. She would go with the flow, naturally. ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡± She spoke earnestly, ¡°Rest assured. I will take good care of myself.¡± He Ying nodded. The two strolled under the moon, returning to Qingning Palace together. ¡°Go back and rest early.¡± ¡°The same to you, Emperor. Good night.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± They bid a reluctant farewell at the door of the side hall. There was almost a feeling of being a couple. Sang Yan thought of the word ¡°couple,¡± her heart warmed, and her face flushed red again. Good heavens, at her age, she was still playing the shy maiden. How¡­ novel and addictively thrilling. Sang Yan patted her heated face and ran into the hall, diving back into her bedding. ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± The cat was the first to jump up. ¡°Snowball!¡± She shouted in rebuke! The cat didn¡¯t leap onto her chest but onto her abdomen. ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± It extended its fluffy paw to gently tap her chin as if to curry favor. Sang Yan pushed it away and chided softly, ¡°Sleep there. Don¡¯t fidget. Don¡¯t press on my chest. Otherwise, you¡¯ll never sleep on my bed again!¡± The cat mewed pitifully twice, retracted its paws, and hung its head. And so the night passed peacefully. The next day Sang Yan was again woken by a face licking and a chest assault. This cat was really too clingy. Sang Yan shoved it off the bed and went to wash up. Coming back, she saw Qiuzhi shoveling cat litter and suggested, ¡°Really should get the Emperor to do this.¡± Whoever brought it should be responsible. Even though she did most of the petting. Qiuzhi chuckled, ¡°The Emperor has a myriad of state affairs; how could he have the time?¡± Sang Yan retorted, ¡°I think he¡¯s quite free. Otherwise, why visit the Cold Palace in the middle of the night?¡± Speaking of the Cold Palace, she began yearning to visit there again. She got along quite well with Xuanrao. Yesterday, we talked about reclaiming land and farming, so let¡¯s put it on the agenda for today. So, after breakfast, she gave the order, ¡°Qiuzhi, have someone find some farming tools, vegetable seeds, and flower seeds. I¡¯m going to farm in the Cold Palace.¡± Xuanrao decided to join her. Before she could gather everything, someone was sent to invite her. ¡°Lord Sang, is the farming matter that Lady mentioned still on?¡± Yun Qiao had been all smiles since Xuanrao¡¯s health improved. True to her name, she was like a skylark, with a voice sweet and sprightly. Just listening brightened the mood. ¡°Of course,¡± Sang Yan said with a smile, ¡°I was just having someone prepare the things.¡± Yun Qiao said, ¡°Lady has all prepared. She says the weather isn¡¯t hot today and that dusk would be the perfect time for fieldwork.¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°Good. I understand. You can go back first. I will come over before dusk.¡± She had to accompany the Emperor for the midday meal, otherwise, she would have gone over at noon to mooch some food. During the midday meal, He Ying knew she intended to farm the Cold Palace, and he didn¡¯t agree with it, but he couldn¡¯t outright refuse, so he could only throw a wet blanket, ¡°Stop messing around with her. Farming isn¡¯t something your delicate arms and legs can handle. Don¡¯t overwork and injure yourself. There was concern in his tone. Sigh. She used to be so gentle and meek, like a timid pet rabbit, but now that she¡¯s livelier, she¡¯s become an untamed hare always looking to escape. It was really worrying him. Oblivious to the Emperor¡¯s chagrin, Sang Yan felt underestimated, replying indignantly, ¡°Why can¡¯t I do it? I may have slender arms and legs, but I¡¯ve got the strength to till the soil.¡± Besides, she grew up in the countryside and had her share of farm work as a child. Digging up some earth would be good exercise. He Ying still didn¡¯t support her, ¡°Hm. You have. But why exert yourself needlessly? There are plenty of people in the palace; you could have the guards do it.¡± Sang Yan retorted, ¡°Self-reliance, ample clothing, and food. Watching others do it isn¡¯t as satisfying as doing it myself.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing he couldn¡¯t persuade her, he simply went along with it, ¡°If you get tired, don¡¯t come crying to me.¡± Sang Yan was puzzled, ¡°When have I ever come crying to you?¡± He Ying felt helpless, ¡°Fine. You don¡¯t cry. You¡¯re tough.¡± He dropped the subject. But come dusk, knowing she really went to the Cold Palace, he couldn¡¯t help worrying and sent someone to keep an eye out, ¡°Let her rest after a while. Be careful not to tire her out.¡± Pei Muyang acknowledged with an ¡°understood¡± and sent the message. After an hour, He Ying put down the petition, and unable to quell his concern, asked, ¡°Are they still busy?¡± Pei Muyang answered, ¡°Emperor, the person sent hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± Hearing this, He Ying felt anxious and couldn¡¯t sit still any longer. He glanced at the petitions for a while longer but eventually stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡± * The Cold Palace was a hive of activity. The land had been tilled. Split into two small plots. Separated by a winding path of pebbles. Sang Yan was directing the laying of the stones, ¡°Hmm. This spot is also good. It¡¯ll work. Over there, pay attention, the sizes should vary for a pleasing effect.¡± At that, she turned to Xuanrao with a bloomingly bright smile, ¡°Let me tell you, once the flowers bloom and the vegetables grow, we can admire the flowers while we pick vegetables. Stepping on these stones will even massage our feet. It¡¯s very good for the health.¡± Xuanrao, while listening, touched the sun-warmed stones and suddenly had an idea, ¡°Sang Yan, what if we heat these stones in the winter to warm our hands?¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan immediately thought of using pebbles for a fireplace, oh, and for grilling meat. She had seen in a video how a man collected many pebbles, washed them, laid them out, brushed them with oil, and placed sliced pork on them to make stone-grilled meat, sizzling deliciously. And that was it. She shouldn¡¯t think about it. She was getting hungry. ¡°Sang Yan, why don¡¯t we grill some stone-grilled meat later?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just listen to me¡ª¡± She leaned in close, their foreheads nearly touching, her eyes shining as she excitedly carried on. From afar, He Ying could say it was the first time he¡¯d seen her this happy, animated and radiant. He felt happy seeing her so cheery, but gradually the feeling soured: why didn¡¯t she seem this happy with him? She appeared to enjoy Xuanrao¡¯s company more. The jealousy set in. The jealousy set in. She couldn¡¯t possibly be into women, right? Growing up in the palace, He Ying vaguely knew of the loneliness within its deep confines, where some ladies had¡­ certain proclivities. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 061: Barbecue Chapter 61: Chapter 061: Barbecue The more he thought about it, the more he felt he was being made a fool of. ¡°HE YING!¡± Unable to hold back, he shouted loudly. Frightened, everyone present knelt down, ¡°Greetings to the Emperor¡ª¡± Including Xuanrao, who also knelt down to pay her respects. Except for Sang Yan. She hesitated for a moment before walking over and bowing, ¡°Emperor, what brings you here?¡± He Ying looked at her innocently puzzled expression, and those dirty thoughts dissipated somewhat. She was so pure, how could she have such strange tastes? It must have been his overthinking. He cleared his throat twice, returning to normal, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just nothing important, just came to see how your farming is progressing.¡± Pei Muyang, standing nearby, thought to himself: Nothing important? Yesterday copying Buddhist Scripture, today copying Buddhist Scripture, barely finished and hadn¡¯t yet looked at a few petitions that had piled up like a mountain, and still saying it¡¯s nothing important? Sang Yan, unaware of the internal affairs, mentioned the farming and smiled as she reported the progress, ¡°Emperor, your timing is perfect, we are almost done. We were just discussing stone-grilled meat, Emperor, let¡¯s have barbecue together tonight.¡± Seeing her happy, He Ying naturally went along with her, ¡°For such small matters in the future, you can decide on your own.¡± ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡± Sang Yan smiled her thanks and gestured to the people still kneeling, indicating for them to stand up. He Ying understood her gesture and lifted his hand, ¡°Everyone, stand up. Continue with your tasks.¡± Sang Yan also went back to work. She pulled Xuanrao up and discussed the barbecue plans with her. When she got to the exciting part, she even started gesturing, ¡°We¡¯ll set up a platform, burn charcoal underneath, place an iron plate on top, and then cover it with a layer of pebbles¡­¡± He Ying was also listening and taking it to heart. He immediately instructed several craftsmen to follow Sang Yan¡¯s instructions. Many hands make light work. Under Imperial Power, efficiency is even higher. The men mixed mud, moved bricks, and constructed platforms, doing all the hard labor. Sang Yan picked and washed pebbles with Xuanrao. He Ying watched from the side, wanting to help but feeling it wasn¡¯t his place, yet he didn¡¯t want to leave. After a while, Sang Yan, noticing him still standing there, teased with a smile, ¡°Emperor, come and wash with us. It¡¯s fun. This is the joy of a group activity.¡± He Ying frowned and said, ¡°I am the Emperor, how can I do such things?¡± He was actually reluctant despite his words. When Sang Yan said, ¡°What about the Emperor? Being the Emperor, you should share joy with the people.¡± He immediately compromised. ¡°You make a good point.¡± Rolling up his sleeves, he crouched down, ¡°This is me sharing joy with the people.¡± His serious demeanor was quite comical. Sang Yan laughed. Xuanrao laughed too. But when He Ying glanced at Xuanrao, she immediately restrained her laughter, not daring to laugh any longer. As for Sang Yan? She was naturally indulged. Not only laughing freely, but she also handed him a brush, teaching him how to do it, ¡°Emperor, you have to scrub meticulously like this to get it clean.¡± He Ying nodded, took the brush, and started scrubbing earnestly. Xuanrao watched as Sang Yan commanded the Emperor around so obediently and secretly gave her a thumbs-up. The difference between liking and not liking was indeed significant. Fortunately, she was past the age of jealousy. After washing the pebbles, it was time to prepare the ingredients. Sang Yan shook off the water from her hands and went to the Imperial Kitchen. A crowd followed behind her, creating quite a spectacle. ¡°Xuanrao, let me teach you¡ª¡± She first chose a large piece of prime pork, removed the tough skin, sliced it into thick thin slices, and placed them in a bowl nearby. Then, she prepared ingredients like ginger, sliced into shreds, garlic, sliced into pieces, coriander cut into segments, and added them all to the meat. Lastly, she poured soy sauce, cooking wine, chili powder, salt, cumin, sesame, and sugar over it, mixing everything thoroughly, and marinated it for an hour. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple.¡± ¡°Did you get it?¡± ¡°Just wait until the barbecue platform is set up.¡± She took a handkerchief from Qiuzhi, dried her hands, and with a grand gesture, directed people to move things to the Cold Palace. At that moment, the barbecue platform was nearing completion. When the marinating time was up, the barbecue platform was also ready. Sang Yan arranged the cleaned pebbles on it, spread a layer, and began smearing vegetable oil on top. ¡°Start the fire.¡± She said while brushing oil, ¡°We can start the fire now.¡± Shortly after, the fire started and smoke billowed out. ¡°Now we can put the meat on.¡± Using chopsticks, she placed the marinated slices of meat onto the pebbles. ¡°The moment to witness a miracle is almost upon us.¡± No sooner had she spoken than the meat sizzled and oozed oil. It was a kind of overflowing golden yellow. The aroma began to spread. Sang Yan rubbed her hands together in excitement. He Ying, seeing this, felt a sudden surge of appetite, but he was still concerned about her safety, ¡°Sang Yan, step back a bit, be careful of the burns.¡± Sang Yan shook her head with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Emperor, it will be ready to eat soon. Don¡¯t go anywhere, I¡¯ll let you taste the first piece.¡± Unbeknownst to them, night had fallen. Lanterns were hung. She had been busy until now, her forehead sweaty, her face dirty, and her beautiful dress stained, looking like a woman trapped in the kitchen but still stunningly beautiful. He Ying watched her tenderly and responded with a smile, ¡°Hmm. I am not going anywhere. Be careful.¡± Finally, the first piece of meat was ready. Sang Yan immediately picked up the meat slice and brought it to his mouth. Thinking it might be hot, she blew on it for quite a while. Yet, when He Ying tasted it, it still felt hot. Had it not been fed by her, he would have definitely spat it out instantly. ¡°Does it taste bad?¡± Sang Yan, seeing his pained expression, instinctively picked up a piece of meat to taste it herself. He Ying quickly stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t eat, it¡¯s very hot. Extremely hot.¡± He probably scalded his mouth. The hot meat went down his stomach, making him feel uncomfortable as well. He had endured it, but he wouldn¡¯t let her suffer the same. ¡°Wait a bit before you eat. Be careful of burns.¡± He covered his mouth, fanning the air. Sang Yan, realizing belatedly she had made a mistake, looked worried, ¡°Did you burn yourself, Emperor?¡± She put down the chopsticks and reached out to touch him, but remembering his peculiar illness, she pulled her hand back in time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I got too excited seeing the barbecue, I just thought about eating.¡± She couldn¡¯t touch him, so she signaled, ¡°Open your mouth, let¡¯s see if you are burned?¡± At that moment, Pei Muyang brought over some tea. He Ying hurriedly took it and drank a sip of the cool tea, finally feeling a bit better, ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡± He looked at her barbecue and praised it, ¡°Though it¡¯s very hot, it indeed tastes very good.¡± Sang Yan was pleased to hear this and immediately smiled, ¡°Really? I¡¯ll taste some too.¡± Xuanrao had already started eating and also praised, ¡°This meat is really delicious. Truly a delicacy of the mortal realm. Sang Yan, how did you think of this?¡± Sang Yan was at a loss for words. How could she think of this? It was all the wisdom of modern folks! ¡°Ha ha, if it tastes good, eat more.¡± She offered a perfunctory smile and changed the topic, ¡°Actually, it can also be eaten wrapped in lettuce leaves. Oh right, add some slices of garlic too, if you don¡¯t mind the smell.¡± Xuanrao, not one to fuss about appearances, immediately followed her suggestion, ¡°Yun Qiao, quickly go to the Imperial Kitchen and get some lettuce.¡± Yun Qiao was already drooling with desire. She stared longingly at the barbecue, really wanting to taste it, but upon receiving the order, she swallowed her saliva and ran to get the lettuce. At this moment, Sang Yan also tasted a piece¡ªit was indeed delicious, crispy and fragrant. Good things are naturally meant to be shared. She took a plate and placed several pieces of meat on it, distributing them to the people who had helped. ¡°Thank you, everyone. Have a taste.¡± She was approachable, without a hint of arrogance. Those people had been salivating over the barbecue already. But who would have dared to think they could have a taste? Therefore, when offered the food, they were moved beyond measure and knelt down to express their gratitude. ¡°Thank you, my Lord.¡± ¡°Long live Our Lord.¡± Indeed, this Lord Sang was truly a Bodhisattva of the harem! May she live for thousands and thousands of years. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 062 Dog Food Chapter 62: Chapter 062 Dog Food Many people were helping out. Sang Yan discovered that there was still too little meat after it was cured and distributed; not much remained. Xuanrao had not yet had her fill. She had secured a small plate for herself early on and was now particularly protective of her food, ¡°This is mine. Yun Qiao hasn¡¯t had any yet. This isn¡¯t enough for the two of us.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She had not planned on stealing hers. ¡°If only I had cured more.¡± She sighed, originally thinking of doing a trial run, never expecting it to be so popular. He Ying said, ¡°If you want to eat, have someone cure more. The meat roasting method is simple. Just have them do it, and you can wait for them to serve it to you.¡± Sang Yan could indeed just wait to eat. But her stomach couldn¡¯t wait! Gurgle gurgle¡ª She covered her stomach awkwardly, looking pitifully eager, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I can¡¯t wait.¡± He Ying shook his head helplessly and immediately had someone bring over some pastries. Before that, Yun Qiao had returned with some lettuce. Xuanrao followed Sang Yan¡¯s instructions, wrapping a slice of meat in lettuce, adding two cloves of garlic, and then, turning around, stuffed it into Sang Yan¡¯s mouth. Sang Yan was taken aback, ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Wasn¡¯t she being protective of her food? ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you think of others before yourself?¡± Xuanrao tapped Sang Yan¡¯s forehead with her finger, chiding her like an older sister next door. She wasn¡¯t stingy and didn¡¯t mind sharing with those people. But before giving out rewards, one must fill their own belly first! It was a good thing she had set some aside, or else it all would have been given away. ¡°Haha, I think of others, and you think of me.¡± Sang Yan boasted with a smile, savoring the delicious meat in her mouth. The roast meat paired with fresh lettuce and garlic cloves tasted even better. Truly, hunger was the best spice. ¡°Thank you, Xuanrao.¡± Scarcity makes things precious. Xuanrao willing to share with her touched her deeply. She clung to Xuanrao like an affectionate cat, giving her a big hug. And like a cat, she almost buried her head in Xuanrao¡¯s chest. He Ying felt a bit awkward seeing their closeness, as if he was somewhat superfluous. Annoyed by the sight, he cleared his throat with a few coughs. This caught Xuanrao¡¯s attention. And she misunderstood¡ªis the Emperor hungry? Waiting for her to feed him? Although she was reluctant to feed him, he was after all the Emperor, and one not to offend! Xuanrao wrapped a piece of meat in lettuce and handed it over, ¡°Emperor, please enjoy.¡± He Ying looked at the food offered to him, feeling a bit of appetite since it was quite late and he was hungry, but thinking that Sang Yan was hungrier, he said, ¡°Let her eat it.¡± Xuanrao: ¡°¡­¡± Alright then. His heart ached for Sang Yan, and so did hers. They were on the same page. She decisively stuffed it into Sang Yan¡¯s mouth. But Sang Yan stopped her, took the food, and stuffed it into He Ying¡¯s mouth instead. Xuanrao: ¡°!!!¡± If she had been from modern times, she would know she was being fed dog food right now. Suddenly, the roasted meat in her hand didn¡¯t taste as good anymore. He Ying found it delicious! Extremely delicious! That roast meat was the tastiest thing he had ever eaten in his life. ¡°Actually, I am not hungry.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try something new. Emperor, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit tastier wrapped with lettuce than before?¡± ¡°Um. Both are delicious.¡± If only there weren¡¯t any cloves of garlic. He disliked the taste of garlic in his mouth, so he let Pei Muyang pour tea, and he rinsed his mouth several times. Influenced by him, Sang Yan also followed suit, drinking tea to rinse her mouth. Xuanrao watched as the couple echoed each other. She had intended to feed Sang Yan another piece but changed her mind, stuffing it into Yun Qiao¡¯s mouth instead. ¡°They don¡¯t care for it; let¡¯s just eat our own.¡± She and Yun Qiao ate until their mouths were greasy. ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Sang Ruoshui suddenly arrived. She gave her respects to He Ying and then turned to look at Sang Yan: ¡°I heard Sister was grilling meat. Little sister came to ask for a bite too.¡± Sang Yan looked at the bare grill, smiled awkwardly, ¡°You¡¯ve come too late. We¡¯ve finished eating.¡± Meanwhile, Xuanrao shoved the last two pieces of meat into her mouth. It was clear she had no intention of leaving any for Sang Ruoshui. Sang Ruoshui saw it all, immediately frowning: ¡°Xuan Family, be careful you don¡¯t choke.¡± She had already learned that Sang Yan frequently visited the Cold Palace, treating Xuanrao like a sister. Although she didn¡¯t much care about this sister in her heart, seeing this sister being nice to an outsider was also irritating. She really wanted to ask whether she was truly a Sang Family¡¯s daughter. Or did she treat her as if she were dead? The more Sang Ruoshui thought about it, the angrier she became. Seeing that Xuanrao didn¡¯t bow to her, Sang Ruoshui took the opportunity to pick a fight: ¡°Xuan Family, have you forgotten something? Have you been in the Cold Palace for so long that you¡¯ve forgotten the rules?¡± Xuanrao knew Sang Ruoshui was picking a fight, but did not argue. She immediately knelt down to pay respects: ¡°Greetings to Princess Consort Sang.¡± Seeing Xuanrao kneel, Sang Ruoshui felt a little better inside. Then, as if she had forgotten to allow her to rise, she turned her head to the Emperor: ¡°Emperor, your concubine also craves some roasted meat.¡± Her voice was coy, her demeanor both gentle and charming. Due to Sang Yan¡¯s presence, He Ying had always shown her favor. He said, ¡°The marinated meat will be brought over soon. We will grill it again. Just wait a moment.¡± Hearing this, Sang Ruoshui immediately smiled sweetly: ¡°Thank you, Emperor. Your concubine will have the honor of tasting it.¡± Saying this, she turned around, opened the food box held by Xiangxiu, and took out two dishes of washed and cut fruits, one melon and one watermelon. ¡°Returning a favor with a favor is an ancient courtesy. Your concubine thought after eating all that greasy food, the Emperor would surely like some fruit to cleanse his palate. Hence, I brought some over. I hope the Emperor will honor me by trying some.¡± Her smile was tender, full of consideration. He Ying couldn¡¯t help but give her praise: ¡°You are considerate.¡± Afterward, he picked up a piece of watermelon and handed it to Sang Yan. Sang Yan was helping Xuanrao stand up. But Xuanrao refused, whispering, ¡°Princess Consort Sang hasn¡¯t given me permission to rise yet.¡± Sang Yan had no choice but to look at Sang Ruoshui, reminding her, ¡°The Emperor is still here. Mind your manners.¡± Sang Ruoshui knew the Emperor always heeded her words, and she couldn¡¯t very well start a quarrel in front of him, so she could only suppress her displeasure. She smiled and said, ¡°Sister, forgive me. Seeing you with the Emperor, I was so happy I forgot everything. Xuan Family, I apologize for neglecting you, please rise.¡± In her mind, if it were anywhere else, she would have made her kneel indefinitely. Xuanrao knew full well what Sang Ruoshui was thinking. Yet, she could only say, ¡°Thank you, Princess Consort Sang.¡± She stood up, saw her place had been taken by Sang Ruoshui, and could only silently step aside. There was a time when she held the title of Imperial Concubine¡ª Enough. It¡¯s no use dwelling on the past. ¡°Xuanrao, sit here and join us for some fruit.¡± Sang Yan invited her to eat the fruit together. Xuanrao was about to politely decline¡ª Sang Ruoshui interjected: ¡°Sister, in this Imperial Palace, hierarchy is paramount. With her status, how can she join the seat?¡± Sang Yan frowned upon hearing this: ¡°She and I are friends. Among friends, what¡¯s this about status and ranking?¡± Sang Ruoshui persisted, paying attention to the Emperor¡¯s expression, softly said: ¡°Sister, these words are improper. How you interact in private is none of my concern, but in front of the Emperor, there¡¯s a clear distinction between the noble and the humble, and it must not be overstepped.¡± Saying so, she looked towards the Emperor, seeking his support: ¡°Emperor, what do you think?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t wish for Sang Yan to continue her close friendship with Xuanrao, so he nodded in agreement: ¡°Princess Consort is right, there is a clear distinction between ranks, and it indeed should not be overstepped.¡± The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected him to speak in favor of Sang Ruoshui. She felt both jealous and angry: ¡°If the Emperor values rules so much, I would still be at the estate, living as a widow for my deceased husband!¡± Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 063 Suxi Chapter 63: Chapter 063 Suxi He Ying was at a loss for words. Regarding this matter, his actions had indeed been improper. But he was the Emperor, who would dare lecture him on propriety? However, he liked her and did not want to upset her, so he acquiesced, changing his statement, ¡°But rules are rigid, people are flexible. The atmosphere is lively right now, Princess Consort Sang, let¡¯s not ruin the mood.¡± Sang Ruoshui: ¡°¡­¡± She felt reprimanded and was very annoyed, her dissatisfaction towards Sang Yan increased even more. To think that for a stranger, he would humiliate her like this! Yet all she could do was respond with a smile, ¡°The Emperor is right, it is I who am too rigid.¡± With that, the minor episode passed. The palace maid also brought over the cured meat. The barbecue event continued. Sang Ruoshui also got to eat some barbecue. But even the gourmet food could not mend her foul mood. Upon returning to Yuesang Palace with the smell of fireworks still clinging to her, her expression immediately darkened. ¡°This is outrageous! Utterly outrageous!¡± She was so angry that she threw things around, saying, ¡°Using a stranger to anger me! Does she not consider me her sister at all? Fool! Idiot! I¡¯ve never seen anyone bend over backwards like this!¡± Xiangxiu watched indifferently, too tired to say anything. After Sang Ruoshui vented her anger and broke out in sweat, she sat down to rest for a while, then went to write a letter. She wanted her mother to come into the palace and teach her a good lesson! * Sang Yan had been busy with a barbecue party the day before and went to bed late. The next day Even the cat did not wake her. When she woke up naturally, it was already late in the morning. After quickly freshening up, she was ready to have breakfast when she heard Qiuzhi say, ¡°Miss, Princess Consort Sang has sent a message that your mother has arrived and asks you to come to Yuesang Palace as soon as possible.¡± Her original mother? Why had she come to the palace all of a sudden? Had something happened and she was seeking her help? Thinking this, Sang Yan no longer found her meal appetizing. She ate hastily. Then she went to Yuesang Palace. As soon as she entered, she heard her original mother¡¯s crying. ¡°What are we going to do?¡± ¡°Your sister-in-law is still pregnant!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the Sang Family¡¯s lifeline!¡± ¡°How am I supposed to explain this when your father and brothers return?¡± ¡°Oh heavens, how am I to live with this!¡± The chaotic crying communicated no useful information. Sang Yan frowned as she entered, asking, ¡°What happened?¡± Mrs. Lin¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, her hair disheveled. Seeing her eldest daughter, she flung herself at her, sobbing, ¡°Ah Yan, what am I to do? Your younger brother¡¯s wife, your sister-in-law, is missing!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Missing? Did that mean she had disappeared? She hurriedly asked, ¡°What do you mean? Explain clearly!¡± Mrs. Lin sobbed, ¡°It was the night before last. After having dinner, your sister-in-law said she was tired; pregnant women are often like that, so I didn¡¯t think much about it and let her go to her room to sleep. But the next day, she wasn¡¯t in her room anymore. The maids who were supposed to stay up through the night were too deep asleep and didn¡¯t know a thing. Anyway, she was gone.¡± Listening, Sang Yan felt it either seemed like elopement or a kidnapping. If it was a kidnapping, who could it be? ¡°Why kidnap a pregnant woman?¡± ¡°Is it for revenge or retribution?¡± While pondering this, Sang Yan heard Mrs. Lin crying, ¡°Your brother¡¯s wife¡¯s pregnancy is unstable; what are we going to do if something happens?¡± The situation was serious and urgent. In this backward era, complications with a pregnant woman could easily lead to her death along with the unborn child¡¯s! Sang Yan also became anxious, ¡°Has a report been made to the authorities?¡± Just as Mrs. Lin was about to speak, she turned pale, her body swayed, but luckily Sang Ruoshui supported her. ¡°Mother, don¡¯t cry, sit down and talk.¡± Sang Ruoshui helped Mrs. Lin to sit down on a chair. Wiping her tears, Mrs. Lin sobbed, ¡°We have reported it, but a day has passed and nothing has been discovered.¡± She was crying so hard that she looked like she was about to faint. Sang Yan hurriedly console her, ¡°Don¡¯t panic; the more you hurry, the more confused you¡¯ll get. Now that Mrs. Lin has come to the palace, she must be seeking help from the Emperor. The matter is indeed urgent. Sang Yan quickly asked Qiuzhi to summon the Emperor. When He Ying arrived, Mrs. Lin had already fainted from crying and was resting on Sang Ruoshui¡¯s bed. Seeing the Emperor arrive, Sang Ruoshui also started sobbing weakly, ¡°Your Majesty, please, you must save my sister-in-law.¡± He Ying nodded then turned to Sang Yan and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the exact situation?¡± He had already heard about the disappearance of Sang Yan¡¯s sister-in-law, Suxi, from Qiuzhi. Sang Yan had less knowledge about the disappearance of Suxi than Sang Ruoshui did, so she let her speak, ¡°Stop crying and quickly tell the Emperor the details.¡± Reminded by Sang Yan, Sang Ruoshui held back her tears and explained, ¡°My sister-in-law went missing the night before last. She is now five months pregnant. She is indifferent and quiet, hardly goes out, and definitely doesn¡¯t make enemies. Who would target her? My second brother adores her. He¡¯s currently away with our father in Wuzhou to exterminate locusts and even wrote asking me to take good care of her, and now she¡¯s gone¡­¡± Tears welled up again at this point. Growing impatient, Sang Yan pressed, ¡°Have you checked with her parents¡¯ home? Could she have gone back there herself?¡± Sang Ruoshui raised her teary eyes, her expression dazed, ¡°Did you forget, sister? My sister-in-law doesn¡¯t have a family.¡± Sang Yan was at a loss. How could she know about the original host¡¯s sister-in-law? After the original host became a widow, she lived in despondence, her memory was muddled, knowing only that her brother had married. ¡°How does she not have a family?¡± Sang Yan felt that the issue might be related to the original host¡¯s sister-in-law. Sang Ruoshui explained, ¡°She was brought here by my second brother from Min State four years ago. At that time, Min State was in chaos, her family had all died, and she had lost her memory out of shock. My brother, seeing her pitiable state, brought her back.¡± A hero saving a damsel in distress? And amnesia? Sang Yan felt this plot was heading toward melodrama. She couldn¡¯t help speculating, ¡°Could it be she regained her memory and remembered her family? And went back home?¡± Sang Ruoshui shook her head, ¡°She would have left a note then. My brother loves her dearly, and our parents never mistreated her. Now that she¡¯s pregnant, how could she leave without a word?¡± Could your brother have had a deep feud with her? Did he deceive her by his side while she had amnesia? Now that your brother is away, she suddenly remembers everything, recalls what your brother did, and decides to leave? Sang Yan suppressed these wild thoughts and asked, ¡°Why was Sang Jue in Min State at the time?¡± Hearing this question, Sang Ruoshui frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember that too, sister? He was traveling abroad for studies, apprenticed with the Swordsman Tan Yunjian from Min State, learning swordsmanship, just when the conflict broke out.¡± It sounded innocuous enough. Yet, Sang Yan still felt something was amiss. But what exactly? She couldn¡¯t figure it out at the moment. At this moment, He Ying said, ¡°First draw a likeness of your sister-in-law. I will send a Hidden Guard to secretly look for her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Ruoshui quickly drew a portrait of Suxi. Suxi had a serene demeanor, with a hint of vermillion in her eyebrows and eyes, which added a sense of aloofness that seemed unapproachable. Now rendered on the paper, in between the lines of her face, aside from aloofness, was there also a sense of desolation? Looking at the portrait, Sang Yan thought to herself: What secrets does this Suxi hide? Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 064: Stealing Wife Chapter 64: Chapter 064: Stealing Wife Suxi sat in the coach headed toward Min State. The coach moved very slowly. The ¡°coachman¡± seemed quite at ease. He even began to play the flute. The sound of the flute was clear, distant, and melodious, like the music of the heavens. But Suxi really wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen. She lifted the curtain and looked at the person driving the coach, ¡°Hero Tan, could we go a bit faster?¡± Tan Yunjian stopped playing when he heard her and turned around, but his gaze landed on her swollen belly, ¡°You are with child; it¡¯s not advisable to travel hastily.¡± It was as if Suxi had just remembered her pregnancy. She touched her belly and murmured absent-mindedly, ¡°Do you think he will mind?¡± Tan Yunjian shook his head with a smile, ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Suxi was puzzled, ¡°Why are you so certain, Hero Tan?¡± Tan Yunjian explained with a smile, ¡°On the way here, I already asked him: if you had relations with another and became pregnant, would he mind? He said that he loves you, no matter what you are.¡± ¡°I was overthinking it.¡± Tears fell from Suxi¡¯s eyes, ¡°He never minded that I came from a singer¡¯s background, even when I was with another man.¡± Tan Yunjian nodded, his eyes expressing approval, ¡°Yu Pochuan is a gentleman. A gentleman is open and magnanimous; how would he be troubled by mundane social conventions?¡± ¡°But this child¡ª¡± Suxi closed her eyes, hardly able to bear it. She could even feel its heartbeat. Tan Yunjian said, ¡°The child is innocent.¡± Suxi didn¡¯t reply. She let the curtain fall and sat back down. The coach continued on. One day. Two days. Three days. They were getting closer to Min State. Longing for home, Suxi couldn¡¯t help but urge Tan Yunjian to speed up. Tan Yunjian also wished to deliver her swiftly and so he drove through the night. The moon shone bright, and the stars were sparse. The bamboo forest rustled. A dark figure blocked the coach¡¯s path. ¡°Whoa¡ª¡± Tan Yunjian pulled on the horse reins and sized up the stranger: a young man in black clothes, tall and lean, with a handsome face like jade, but his eyes were sharp, faintly revealing a murderous aura. ¡°May I ask who you are?¡± He didn¡¯t recognize the man. When did such an outstanding young hero appear in the worldly society? ¡°I am Jiang Ke.¡± After Jiang Ke introduced himself, he looked inside the coach and stated his purpose, ¡°I have come to take the Sang Family¡¯s second young wife back.¡± Tan Yunjian had already guessed his intention, bowed with hands clasped, and said with a smile, ¡°So it¡¯s Young Hero Jiang. I¡¯ve heard a great deal about you; it is an honor to meet you at last. Forgive my manners.¡± Jiang Ke had no interest in pleasantries and said coldly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for talk. Today, no matter what you say, I will take her back.¡± His tone was firm, showing no consideration for the other¡¯s feelings. Even though he knew that Tan Yunjian was a knight renowned across the land. ¡°Then allow me a few words at least.¡± Tan Yunjian still wore a good-natured, smiley face, and with a nonchalance that belied Jiang Ke¡¯s impatience, he said, ¡°Since you could find this place, you must have some clout in worldly society, and you should be aware that I¡¯ve come for Yu Pochuan. Suxi was originally Yu Pochuan¡¯s wife. Sang Jue¡¯s act of secretly keeping another¡¯s wife is unjust. We both belong to the same society, we should be motivated by chivalry and righteousness.¡± ¡°I have no interest whatsoever in the deed of traveling a thousand miles to return another¡¯s wife. All I know is that she is the second young lady of the Sang Family, and you have abducted her here.¡± With that, he drew his sword and thrust it forward. The two of them, finding no common ground, began to fight. Tan Yunjian, in the prime of his youth and with a wealth of combat experience, held a slight advantage. But Jiang Ke was a youthful and extraordinary talent, able to learn his opponent¡¯s techniques during battle and use them against him. Thus, with two strong opponents facing off, the fight was intense and neither were willing to back down. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Boom!¡± Their figures whirled and darted through the bamboo forest, with swords clashing mid-air, sending out sparks, and wherever the sword energy passed, bamboo stalks were cut down. Dust filled the air. Both men lightly tapped their toes and ascended into the high bamboo forest. The night wind howled, causing their robes to flap wildly and rustle loudly. ¡°Suxi once a singer in Lord Min Shen Kaitai¡¯s household, cherished by Lord Min, was allowed to stay by his side. Yu Pochuan served as his aide, young and talented, and earned his trust, also remaining close by his side. Known to each other in such a way, with time affection grew, but it started from emotions and ended with propriety. Unexpectedly, Lord Min noticed their deep feelings, and, suffering, let go of his love to make their union possible.¡± In the midst of their duel, Tan Yunjian narrated their love story. He aimed to touch Jiang Ke with the tale of love. For he, too, had been moved by their complicated romance. ¡°Four years ago, the Emperor launched an attack on Min State. Lord Min was defeated and fled. Suxi followed Yu Pochuan in his escape. Unfortunately, their whereabouts were leaked in Song City. The Emperor¡¯s troops pursued them. Lord Min killed himself in despair. Suxi and Han Pochuan chose to die for their lord by jumping from Wugu Cliff. And the one who leaked their location was none other than Sang Jue.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your stories! Who Sang Jue is, is also none of my business!¡± Jiang Ke had come in search of the woman solely to please Sang Yan. After all, it was a matter of the Sang Family. Sang Yan must be worried about the safety of this young lady from her family. If he could return the second young lady of the Sang Family safe and sound, perhaps Sang Yan, moved by the gesture, would agree to marry him. Thinking thus, he shouted, ¡°Tan Yunjian, they are now the past, stop meddling in others¡¯ feelings!¡± Having said that, he lunged with his sword. Tan Yunjian parried and backed away, continuing, ¡°It is not that I wish to meddle, but I must. Because this tragic fate began with me.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t listen, and continued his pursuit to kill Tan Yunjian. Tan Yunjian avoided the fight, simply running in circles. His qinggong was really exceptional! Jiang Ke, infuriated, cursed, ¡°What are you shrinking back for? Is there no end to this?¡± Tan Yunjian laughed, ¡°It¡¯s almost over. Young Hero Jiang, don¡¯t be impatient. The story is about to come to an end.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± He really didn¡¯t want to hear the story at all! But Tan Yunjian, caught up in his own narrative, said, ¡°Sang Jue is resolute and adaptable; once, to become my disciple, he willingly became a servant. I had owed Lord Min a favor and promised to protect him for three years. However, I truly dislike constraints, so I entrusted the task to Sang Jue. Little did I expect that after gaining some skills, he indeed went to serve Lord Min, but betrayed him at the most critical moment.¡± Forced to listen to this point, Jiang Ke replied, ¡°Are you trying to say, that while Sang Jue was protecting Lord Min, he also fell for Suxi, and betrayed Lord Min to get her?¡± Tan Yunjian shook his head, ¡°No, Sang Jue served He Country and naturally wouldn¡¯t be loyal to Lord Min. This is a matter of political stance, and I can understand that. But what he should not have done is to save Suxi and then, taking advantage of her amnesia, keep her as his wife. The man is cunning and selfish, stealing love with a heavy hand, relying on power, deceiving and taking possession; indeed, he is not fit to be a husband.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± Listening to this did make one¡¯s fists clench. ¡°So, you¡¯re going to return her to Yu Pochuan?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Tan Yunjian nodded seriously and continued, ¡°After jumping off the cliff together, Yu Pochuan and Suxi fell into the torrential river, luckily surviving, but with a broken leg. For four years, he dragged his crippled leg in search of Suxi. A month ago, he found her in the Imperial City, yet due to the Sang Family¡¯s influence, he could not take his wife back and sorrowfully returned to Min State. Now, pining away, he lies sick in bed, fearing his life is at its end.¡± It was truly pitiable. How could Tan Yunjian sit idly by and do nothing? After hearing the whole story, Jiang Ke hesitated at last, ¡°Really? Is Yu Pochuan truly dying?¡± Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 065 Righteous Act Chapter 65: Chapter 065 Righteous Act Tan Yunjian nodded, ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving anyone. His health was already poor, and after suffering humiliation from Sang Jue, coupled with his longing for Suxi, once he returned to Min State, he became bedridden with illness.¡± ¡°Please, show some compassion, Young Master Jiang.¡± At this time, Suxi got off the carriage. Her face was pale and cold, and she held a hairpin in her hand, pressing it against her throat. Because of the force she applied, blood was already faintly visible. ¡°I want to go to Min State. If Young Master Jiang wishes to take me back, then he may take back my corpse.¡± Her threat was forceful. Jiang Ke did not wish to harm her and could only persuade her, ¡°Sang Jue may have been at fault, but these years, he has treated you exceedingly well. I have also heard some rumors that he faced great pressure from his parents when he married you.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Suxi was indifferent. ¡°Because he was good to me, should I forgive his deeds? Lord Min was my benefactor, and he died horribly because of it. Yu Lang was my husband, and he became disabled because of it. My love for my husband was deep and affectionate, and it was shattered because of it. He harmed me, deceived me; he is¡­ my nemesis!¡± The last few words were spoken with a heavy bite, filled with hatred. ¡°I will never forgive him.¡± Her hatred could only be alleviated by pain. Thus, she forcefully pressed the jade hairpin into her skin, and blood trickled down her delicate neck, shockingly vivid. Seeing this, Jiang Ke had no choice but to step back, ¡°The Emperor has sent his armies to Min State, and Lord Min is doomed. Even without Sang Jue, he wouldn¡¯t have lived much longer. You can¡¯t blame everything on him.¡± ¡°But he is directly responsible for the death of Lord Min.¡± Suxi cried out in agony, ¡°Do you know the life I¡¯ve led since regaining my memory? It¡¯s unbearable, worse than death! Lord Min treated me with great kindness, and my husband was deeply devoted and honorable. I could not repay either of them, except with my worthless life.¡± She closed her eyes, resolute in her intent to die. ¡°Stop!¡± Tan Yunjian intervened, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash! Hero Yu is still waiting for you in Min State.¡± Jiang Ke was also startled by Suxi, no longer daring to force the issue, and could only say, ¡°I will not meddle in the emotions between the three of you. You may leave today, but I must inform the Sang Family of this matter.¡± This was the best outcome possible. Tan Yunjian bowed in gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Young Hero Jiang, for your righteous act.¡± ¡°You overpraise me,¡± Jiang Ke half-mocked, half-melancholic, ¡°Your efforts to punish evil and promote good, to return a wife over a thousand miles, that is a righteous act. I am unworthy of it!¡± He returned the bow, sheathed his sword, mounted his horse, and galloped off. * Imperial Palace Another day with no news. Sang Yan entered Yuesang Palace to find Ms. Lin, brimming with anticipation, uncertain how to break the silence. Ms. Lin had been running to the Imperial Palace for several days now, full of hope only to be disappointed repeatedly. Now, upon seeing Sang Yan shake her head, she felt numb. ¡°It¡¯s all destiny.¡± Ms. Lin wiped away her tears, her voice hoarse, ¡°When I calculated their fortunes, it was already full of twists and turns, fraught with danger. Now, the prophecy has come true!¡± Listening, Sang Yan offered comfort, ¡°You also mentioned it was fraught with danger, which means they should be able to turn misfortune into good fortune.¡± Ms. Lin nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Sang Yan continued to comfort her, ¡°The Emperor has already dispatched riders to tell Sang Jue at top speed. He should arrive today.¡± Upon hearing that her son was coming back, Ms. Lin felt both joy and sorrow, ¡°I have wronged him! If I had known what would happen today, I wouldn¡¯t have let him go with your father. He was only being filial, saying that dealing with the locust plague was arduous and he wanted to help. But now, now¨C¡± She broke down crying again. Sang Ruoshui came over to console her, ¡°Second brother won¡¯t blame you. You said it yourself; he was very filial.¡± These past few days, handling the matter of Suxi¡¯s disappearance had been delayed. Now, it was time to mention it. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re remarkably composed,¡± ¡°No matter whether it¡¯s our second brother or me, we may as well not exist.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, in your eyes, there¡¯s only the one in the Cold Palace¡ªyou treat others like sisters!¡± Sang Ruishui sarcastically provoked, saying to Ms. Lin, ¡°Mother, you truly gave birth to a good daughter!¡± Ms. Lin was puzzled, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sang Ruishui pushed on Ms. Lin¡¯s arm and looked towards Sang Yan, ¡°Whatever your daughter means, why don¡¯t you go ask your elder sister?¡± So, Ms. Lin turned to Sang Yan and asked, ¡°Ah Yan, what¡¯s happening with you sisters? What¡¯s this little squabble about? Why would Ruishui say that?¡± Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected Sang Ruishui to bring up Xuanrao at this time. She was amazed; even under these circumstances, she still had the mood to stir up trouble without any sense of the bigger picture. ¡°You, too, aren¡¯t you a good daughter?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t indulge her and retorted sarcastically, ¡°Mother is currently so anxious about Suxi¡¯s situation she¡¯s beside herself with worry, and you still have the spare energy to nitpick over these trifles¡ªare you trying to worry her to death?¡± Sang Ruishui was rebuked and found herself at a loss for words for a moment. It seemed she had been careless, forgetting about her mother¡¯s health situation and their current predicament. ¡°I, I didn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t what?¡± For the first time, Sang Yan clearly expressed her dissatisfaction, ¡°You don¡¯t harbor petty grudges or selfishness? You don¡¯t spend your days lingering in lowly matters, thinking about how to scheme for personal gain? Sang Ruishui, you¡¯ve made your life too pitiable! If I were you, and had made progress with the guqin, I would diligently study the art, compose some famous melodies to be passed down to future generations.¡± Like Ji Kang¡¯s ¡°Guangling San¡± or Bo Ya¡¯s ¡°Gao Mountain Flowing Water¡±¡ªso legendary! She had felt regretful in modern times that almost all the elites in every field of ancient times were men. Had ancient women awakened to their potential and shone brightly, how many treasures might they have left for future generations? Critiqued by Sang Yan, Sang Ruishui was naturally dissatisfied and retorted, ¡°And you, elder sister? I haven¡¯t seen you do anything either. It¡¯s quite bold of you to lecture me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Yes! It seemed she hadn¡¯t truly done anything, just idly passing her days. Perhaps she should take advantage of the Emperor¡¯s favor and do something for the women of this world. But what should she do? ¡°Ruishui, how could you speak to your sister like this?¡± These past few days, Ms. Lin had seen a lot of Sang Yan and felt that after spending time with the Emperor, her every gesture carried an authoritative nobility, which made Ms. Lin feel fear. Her daughter before her was not just a daughter but also the Emperor¡¯s favorite! Thus, she interacted with Sang Yan with a cautious manner. She hadn¡¯t expected her younger daughter to be so blunt! Seeing that her mother was defending Sang Yan made Sang Ruishui feel even more aggrieved, ¡°Mother, is she still my sister? Clearly enjoying the Emperor¡¯s favor, she won¡¯t even help me. It¡¯s bad enough that she hoards the Emperor¡¯s affection for herself, but she also repeatedly helps outsiders. Princess Consort Li, the Xuan Family, they¡¯ve all come to tread over me!¡± Her words were becoming extravagantly off the deep end. Plainly speaking, she was the one with the highest status in the Imperial Palace, an untouchable figure. ¡°You keep making things up!¡± Sang Yan was done engaging and turned to leave. Seeing this, Sang Ruishui became both furious and aggrieved, stamping her foot, ¡°Mother, look at her! This is how she treats me! She doesn¡¯t take me seriously at all!¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± Sang Yan turned and shouted, ¡°If I truly didn¡¯t take you seriously, I would have stopped you when you instigated the Emperor to investigate, and those in the Cold Palace wouldn¡¯t have died in vain. Sang Ruishui, don¡¯t you feel afraid when you sleep at night? So much of their blood was shed, their fingers subjected to severe torture, enough to expose the bone¡ª¡± ¡°Stop talking!¡± Sang Ruishui shook her head, not wanting to think of the images her sister described. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more, directly expressing her stance, ¡°Regardless of my relationship with the Emperor, none of you should think to use me to vie for fame or manipulate power. Otherwise, you will learn what it means to be impartial and just, where a Prince¡¯s crime is the same as a common person¡¯s!¡± Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 066 Jealousy Chapter 66: Chapter 066 Jealousy Her aura was formidable. Mother and daughter dared not speak for a moment. ¡°Take care of yourselves.¡± Sang Yan dropped this phrase and stepped out of the Yuesang Palace. Outside Little Guizi quietly waited. Upon seeing her emerge, he ran up with a beaming smile, ¡°Lord Sang, Lady Xuan invites you to visit.¡± Sang Yan nodded and boarded the carriage to the Cold Palace. Cold Palace After renovations, it had become much brighter and beautiful. Yun Qiao had even transplanted many flowers from the Imperial Garden into pots and arranged them in a long line in front of the palace gate. The wind blew. The flower branches quivered, their fragrance wafting through the air, stunningly beautiful. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? ¡°Lord Sang, greetings¡ª¡± Her smile was as blooming as the flowers as she stepped forward to bow. Sang Yan waved her hand with a smile, ¡°No need, go about your business.¡± Then, she stepped inside. Inside the palace Xuanrao was reading at a desk. Hearing footsteps, she turned around and waved with a smile, ¡°Ah Yan, come here, come quickly¡ª¡± Seeing her merry laughter, Sang Yan felt much relieved from the burden of the Sang Family¡¯s affairs. How could she not wish to be here where it was tranquil and soothing? ¡°What¡¯s got you so excited?¡± She asked with a smile. Xuanrao replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been studying divination these past few days. Come, come, take a look¡ª¡± Divination involved using three copper coins. Xuanrao threw them, recorded the result, and did this six times before consulting her book. Was this learning on the fly? Sang Yan watched her busy herself with a smile and cooperatively asked, ¡°What does this divination tell us?¡± Xuanrao was still flipping through the book, the text abstruse, causing her a headache, ¡°Wait a moment, don¡¯t rush me.¡± Sang Yan waited for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Finally, Xuanrao figured it out. She looked at Sang Yan, chin in hand, shaking her head, assuming a profound air, ¡°This divination, tsk tsk, is a mixed omen!¡± Sang Yan held back a laugh and asked, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®mixed omen¡¯? Go on, explain in detail.¡± Xuanrao said, ¡°¡­ Give me another moment.¡± She flipped through the book again. This time, she was faster, making Sang Yan wait for half a cup of tea¡¯s duration. ¡°The conclusion is¡­ good news is about to arrive at our door.¡± Xuanrao closed the book, her gentle smile carrying a healing power, ¡°So, stop worrying needlessly.¡± Sang Yan knew she staged this to comfort her, and felt deeply touched, nodding with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m alright. I haven¡¯t been overly worried. I¡¯ve done my best. The Emperor is also using the nation¡¯s resources to search. To do our best and leave the rest to fate, without resentment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit.¡± Xuanrao nodded with a smile, starting to share her own experience, ¡°Look at me. My father died on the battlefield, my young brother suffered under my stepmother, and I, being the eldest sister, stuck in the Cold Palace, unable to help. If I dwelt on guilt and anxiety, I¡¯d have exhausted myself to death by now. I don¡¯t think so much anymore. Enduring the bitterest hardships, he¡¯ll become a superior man. Circumstances change, and see, haven¡¯t they turned in my favor now?¡± She was optimistic and content with her current life. With no worries about food and drink, and companions by her side, life was joyous indeed. Hearing her mention her family, Sang Yan knew that Xuanrao still missed them to some extent and said, ¡°Once matters here settle, I¡¯ll request the Emperor to release you from the palace.¡± Touched by her words, yet declining, Xuanrao said, ¡°Don¡¯t upset the Emperor for my sake. I¡¯ve long forsaken any attachment to leaving. Now that I have you, I almost don¡¯t want to leave.¡± Sang Yan felt a deep agreement, suddenly saying, ¡°I feel the same. I don¡¯t want you to leave either. The Imperial Palace would be dull without you.¡± Both smiled at each other, chatting idly¡ª When Little Guizi hurried in, ¡°Lord Sang, Lord Sang, the Emperor summons you.¡± The Emperor could summon her countless times in a day. Sang Yan sat calmly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Little Guizi replied, ¡°It must be about the Sang Family; I saw people coming from outside the palace.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan looked at Xuanrao in surprise, ¡°You really predicted it, good news has come?¡± Xuanrao, ¡°¡­¡± Was she a genius? To learn and succeed immediately? Sang Yan didn¡¯t say much, immediately stood up, bid farewell to Xuanrao, and hurriedly left. Upon reaching the side palace of Yuesang Palace The Emperor was already seated, drinking tea, waiting for her. ¡°Emperor, is there any news about Suxi?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°Someone sent a message saying that the Swordsman Tan Yunjian took away your younger sister.¡± ¡°Tan Yunjian?¡± Sang Yan felt the name sounded familiar and after thinking for a while, exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the master of Sang Jue mentioned by Sang Ruoshui?¡± Could it be the scenario where the disciple falls in love with the master¡¯s wife? Is it really that melodramatic and thrilling? At that moment, He Ying nodded, ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Perplexed, Sang Yan pressed for more details, ¡°So, what is the relationship between those three people?¡± Seeing her interest, He Ying playfully held back the information, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s three people, and not four?¡± Assured that Suxi was safe, Sang Yan¡¯s curiosity was ignited like a blazing fire. ¡°Four people? What¡¯s the situation?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but slam the table across him and urged, ¡°What are you dragging your feet for? Hurry up and tell.¡± He Ying, seeing her eagerness, delayed even more, ¡°Before I tell you, answer me one question first.¡± Sang Yan frowned, ¡°What question?¡± He Ying seriously asked, ¡°What is your relationship with Jiang Ke?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Ke? The original owner¡¯s uncle? He didn¡¯t mention him, and she almost forgot about this person. ¡°Why bring him up?¡± Sang Yan thought about it, feeling like she might have missed some crucial information. ¡°Just tell me what your relationship is! Don¡¯t change the subject!¡± He Ying¡¯s expression suddenly turned stern, and his voice grew more forceful. Sang Yan perceived it and felt that he was getting jealous. But why would he be jealous of Jiang Ke? Jiang Ke hadn¡¯t even started his official duties yet, even though he would be the future Princely Heir of Marquis Zhongyi Mansion; he wouldn¡¯t normally appear before him, would he? Wait? People from outside the palace? Someone sent a message? Could it be that it was Jiang Ke? Thinking this, Sang Yan carefully replied, ¡°What relationship could I have with him? I don¡¯t even want to be the Imperial Concubine, let alone be his wife as Princely Heir.¡± ¡°Perhaps not unwilling.¡± He Ying¡¯s face was stern, and his tone was incredibly sour, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the Princely Heir¡¯s wife of Jiang Ling? And you¡¯ve been a widow for him for so many years? Maybe you have a soft spot for his family and think about marrying his brother. Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t you want to remarry someone else to this day?¡± The more he thought about it, the more he felt¡ªshe might have other reasons for insisting on remaining a widow. That Jiang Ke was young and handsome, and also Jiang Ling¡¯s biological brother; if he sweet-talked her, she might be moved. How far had their relationship progressed for the Jiang Family to let her return to her maiden home? It was done. He felt utterly consumed by jealousy. Listening to his words filled with jealousy, Sang Yan felt he was overwhelmed by jealousy and had no confidence in himself, leading him to think she had someone else in her heart. She didn¡¯t argue with him but consoled, ¡°Emperor, you¡¯re overthinking it. I have no romantic feelings for him.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°Really?¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°Really.¡± ¡°Then why did he request me to decree your marriage?¡± He Ying¡¯s joy on his face faded again, and his demeanor turned cold. Hmph! That young man was indeed bold! But to just relay a message, he politely asked what reward he wanted, and he actually asked for a marriage decree! Outrageous! Sang Yan, unaware of the details, saw his sudden change of expression, her patience ran out, and she snapped, ¡°That¡¯s his problem. What does it have to do with me? Would any man in this world truly care about a woman¡¯s thoughts? Maybe he thinks he likes her, is willing to marry her, and she should just be grateful and happily ready to marry, right?¡± In modern terms, this would mean¡ªdespite looking so ordinary, how could he be so confident? Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 067: To Fulfill Chapter 67: Chapter 067: To Fulfill He Ying figured out Sang Yan¡¯s disdain for Jiang Ke, and his mood lifted as he chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re right, not everyone is like me, always respecting your thoughts.¡± He was putting a feather in his own cap. Sang Yan rolled her eyes as she listened: ¡°The Emperor really respects my thoughts, huh? But why am I still trapped in this palace, unable to leave?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± At a loss for words. He could only return to the topic at hand: ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to know about the relationships of those four people? It¡¯s actually like this¡ª¡± He relayed Jiang Ke¡¯s words to her. Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected the situation to be so complicated: ¡°Now that they are back in Min State, what about Sang Jue? Suxi is still carrying his child, after all.¡± He Ying, being protective of his own, decisively made his stance clear: ¡°If you wish, I can favor connections over fairness. I can send people to capture them right now. As for Yu Pochuan, being an important associate of the rebels, by law he should be executed.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s not what she meant! From a woman¡¯s perspective, she sympathized with and respected Suxi¡ªher happiness was in her hands, as was the right to choose. From the original host¡¯s perspective, she would probably stand by her brother¡¯s side. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Ah. Complicated. She scratched her head in worry: ¡°Let me tell you, matters of the heart are particularly troublesome. One should not meddle lightly.¡± He Ying watched her and laughed: ¡°I will listen to you.¡± From the very beginning, the only one he truly cared about was her. Sang Yan didn¡¯t know whose advice to follow and decided to wait for Sang Jue¡¯s arrival before discussing further. He and Yu Pochuan had to make a choice, one of them had to give up. But the child¡ª She didn¡¯t want to think about it. A pure self-inflicted vexation. In the afternoon, She learned that Sang Jue had entered the Imperial Palace. Discussing state affairs with the Emperor in the main hall of Qingning Palace. Curious about Sang Jue¡¯s approach, she decided to go over. Then, upon entering the main hall, she saw him kneeling on the ground, dressed in black official attire, kneeling upright, saying, ¡°Yu Pochuan is a confidant of Lord Min, a head of the rebel army, adept at flattery, and winning over people¡¯s hearts. Your servant wishes to go to Min State and eradicate the problem at the root for the Emperor to remove this menace.¡± Great, facing his rival, he sure was decisive! ¡°What about Suxi?¡± Sang Yan walked over to Sang Jue and suddenly met his androgynously enchanting face, a shock in her heart: With such an attractive appearance, Sang Jue didn¡¯t move Suxi? What happened to the justice of looks? Could Yu Pochuan¡¯s looks be even better? And if it wasn¡¯t about looks, it must be about talent and character. This also meant Suxi¡¯s feelings for Yu Pochuan were genuine. ¡°Elder sister.¡± Sang Jue called out softly. He remained kneeling. Looking up at Sang Yan from an inferior angle. It unintentionally conveyed a sense of vulnerability. Coupled with that deceptively handsome face, it was an immediate trigger for one¡¯s protective instincts. Sang Yan sighed: Alas, I¡¯m getting old, just a few words from this young man, and I can hardly resist. Daring not to linger her gaze. She slightly averted her eyes, lowering her tone: ¡°You wear a guise of righteousness, wanting to kill Yu Pochuan, but what about Suxi? If she left with him, it means she¡¯s attached to him. What if she chooses to die for love after his death? She¡¯s also carrying your child in her womb!¡± Sang Jue: ¡°¡­¡± He was a cold-hearted person. Only when mentioning Suxi and the child did his fist clench and he forced himself to endure. ¡°Sister is right to reprimand me.¡± He suppressed his surging murderous intent, showing vulnerability and seeking help: ¡°It¡¯s because my brother is too concerned and confused. Do you have any advice?¡± Sang Yan had no advice. If any existed, it would be the art of doing nothing. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Suxi was originally a concubine of Lord Min. Back then, seeing her love for Yu Pochuan, Lord Min arranged their union, earning their respect and becoming a beautiful tale. Now, you could perhaps follow suit.¡± She thought Sang Jue was nothing but a male homewrecker. Clinging to power by less than glorious means, one should know when to step back and allow others to flourish. Sang Jue never expected his sister to say such things, disbelief filling his eyes. If he were to converse with Sang Ruoshui, he would probably agree with her few sentences¡ªAre you really my blood sister? Are you a Sang Family¡¯s daughter? Where has your loyalty shifted to? But he could not speak such words in front of the Emperor. He could only bow his head, suppressing his disappointment, with unavoidable sarcasm slipping through his words, ¡°Sister is truly selfless. Your brother has learned his lesson.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± There, as expected, I was despised. I should not have involved myself in this matter. He Ying had said to listen to Sang Yan, and he truly meant it. He immediately voiced his support, ¡°Your sister speaks sensibly. You are the future Imperial Uncle, what woman could you not have? Since Suxi¡¯s heart belongs to another, let it be. Just let them be together. Should you fancy any woman in the future, simply seek me out to confer a marriage.¡± Sang Jue: ¡°¡­¡± Thank you both so very much! With a word from each, there goes my wife. Dissatisfied in his heart, he could not afford to disrespect the Emperor and managed only to force a smile, ¡°I thank the Emperor for his magnanimity. However, Suxi is carrying the Sang Family¡¯s offspring, I must make a trip to Min State to bring back the child.¡± The lineage was of great importance. He Ying nodded, yet also warned, ¡°Once in Min State, remember to sever past bonds, abide by your word, and refrain from mistakes.¡± How could He Ying not know that Sang Jue was not convinced in his heart? If he were ordered to give up Sang Yan, he would feel the urge to kill that person! Only Sang Yan, who had never truly loved, would speak of such selflessness? A towering man who cannot even protect the woman he loves, what dignity is left for him to live by? ¡°Indeed. I shall bear it in mind.¡± Having agreed, Sang Jue then took his leave. Sang Yan watched him depart, his stiff and steely frame marching with the force of a tiger, his anger clear to see. ¡°Will he truly let them be?¡± A bad premonition surged in her heart. He Ying¡¯s confident response came in just two words: ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Tension rose unwittingly within Sang Yan, ¡°Are we just going to let him go like this?¡± He Ying said, ¡°I will send Hidden Guards to follow. They will intervene if necessary.¡± Sang Yan was satisfied, ¡°The Emperor has considered everything thoroughly.¡± He Ying raised an eyebrow with a rare nonchalance, ¡°Again with the praise? Aside from verbal compliments, is there no substantial reward?¡± His eyes were serious, ¡°What if I want both? Would you refuse?¡± ¡°It could be arranged.¡± Sang Yan did not refuse, smiling as she extended her arms, slowly adding, ¡°I am here, the Emperor is free to take what he wishes.¡± A mere hug, a single kiss¡ªwho would be afraid? He Ying, not expecting her consent, was excited and moved to embrace her, but sometimes, once obtained, the urgency fades, ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll apply some more Jade Frost Ointment.¡± He was not fearful of her falling ill, but rather that her illness might tarnish his image! The face of Jiang Ke still flashed in his mind. He had to maintain perfect appearance at all times. Sang Yan, not aware of the underlying reasons, simply felt let down. The courage to take the initiative was like a bubble, dissolving in a moment. Hmph, it was his lost opportunity! So, when He Ying returned after applying the Jade Frost Ointment, the halls were empty. He chased after her, but her figure was nowhere to be seen. Pei Muyang stood outside the palace, seeing the Emperor emerge, and without waiting for a question, he weakly said, ¡°Emperor, Lord Sang left a message.¡± He Ying asked, ¡°What message?¡± Pei Muyang replied, ¡°The moment is gone. Perhaps another time.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± When would that be? Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 068 Waiting Chapter 68: Chapter 068 Waiting Regarding next time, He Ying was concerned. He had invited Sang Yan to the main hall for dinner that evening. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, he suggested a hug. Sang Yan refused, ¡°There¡¯s no atmosphere.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Atmosphere? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Figure it out yourself.¡± Sang Yan teased him on purpose, ¡°You¡¯re so clever, you¡¯ll probably understand what I mean soon enough.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± So, what did she actually mean? He was utterly confused. Sang Yan had disappeared. Or rather, she had fled to the Cold Palace. By the time He Ying vaguely understood what she meant and went to the side hall to look for her, he finally learned she had gone to the Cold Palace. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï This little wild rabbit was too mischievous. ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± The cat leapt onto his shoulder. He Ying then sat on the soft couch, holding the cat and stroking it. While stroking the cat, he asked, ¡°Snowball, when will your owner come back?¡± Naturally, the cat couldn¡¯t answer. It snuggled comfortably in his arms, occasionally flicking its tail. ¡°Thud¡ª¡± The sound of the night watchman came from outside. The first night watch had begun. Sang Yan hadn¡¯t come back. ¡°Thud¡ªthud¡ª¡± It was now the second night watch. Sang Yan still hadn¡¯t returned. ¡°Meow meow¡ª¡± The cat jumped out of He Ying¡¯s arms and ran away. Heaven, this was too horrifying! If he kept stroking it, it would go bald! Pei Muyang observed the Emperor¡¯s darkening face and whispered softly, ¡°Shall we send someone to urge her?¡± ¡°No need!¡± He Ying refused and coldly said, ¡°I want to see when she¡¯ll come back!¡± He ordered someone to fetch the petitions. He was determined to wait here until the end. Pei Muyang didn¡¯t dare to advise further; he immediately sent someone to bring the petitions, thinking to himself, ¡°Why bother with this? Just send someone to fetch her, and it¡¯s all settled.¡± Two little eunuchs quickly brought the petitions. He Ying irritably flipped through them, occasionally muttering fiercely, ¡°Damn it! Utterly despicable!¡± Eventually, he tossed the petitions to Pei Muyang, fuming, ¡°Look at this, they even dare to draft the petitions in such a dreadful manner!¡± Pei Muyang picked up the petitions, glanced at them briefly, and instantly understood the source of the Emperor¡¯s anger¡ªthe state official¡¯s petition likely had nothing important to report, so he had filled it with trivial personal matters, detailing how many kittens and puppies were born, how many flowers bloomed in his garden each day, how many fruits it bore, even including how many hairs he lost each day¡­ No wonder the Emperor was infuriated. Petitions should report local affairs; what was he doing chatting with the Emperor? Truly daringly seeking death! And as for that matter of breeding and fruit bearing, wasn¡¯t it covertly hurrying along a birth? ¡°Your Majesty, please calm down.¡± Thinking of the official¡¯s well-managed region where people were prosperous and crime was rare, Pei Muyang advised, ¡°That Mr. Dong was promoted by you, surely he¡¯s just too grateful for your kindness, showing familiarity in the petition because he feels close to you.¡± He Ying took a deep breath, holding his forehead and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯re right, this man was promoted by me. Promoted by me! Just bear with it! Bear with it¡­¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± Sigh. Being the Emperor is not easy. Each time he encountered such bizarre petitions, it really tested his patience. He Ying, suppressing his anger, read a few more petitions but ultimately couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Nothing but nonsense!¡± This time, he was so angry he even swore. The petition had been thrown down once again. Pei Muyang numbly went to pick it up and took a glance, oh, this person he knew well, a official who greatly enjoyed flattering. How much had he written this time? He flipped through the pages, goodness, it was over twenty pages long. ¡°Count them for me!¡± He Ying really meant it this time, ¡°Count every single word clearly, how much nonsense is it this time!¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± Sigh. The Emperor is so boring. Lord Sang, please come and save me. He internally screamed, yet outwardly he could only count word by word. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been counting, but his eyes were dazzled and he finally counted clearly, ¡°Your Majesty, a total of eighteen thousand two hundred words!¡± ¡°Absurd!¡± He Ying slapped the table, his chest heaving with anger, ¡°He¡¯s really skilled now! Truly skilled!¡± Pei Muyang¡¯s mind was still full of numbers, and he no longer had sympathy for the official. He even agreed internally: indeed. To think he had written so many words of flattery. More exaggerated each time. This time, the flattery had even broken the ten-thousand-word record. And it deeply harmed others too! Punishment must be severe! He Ying indeed severely punished him, his face cold as he ordered, ¡°State Official Luo Qishan of Langzhou neglects state affairs, his petition is mere gibberish, all talk and no substance. Sentence him to eighty strokes of the cane. Send Lu Zijin to execute it immediately!¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± Bad luck, bad luck. This person has really walked into disaster. ¡°Your Majesty is wise.¡± He hurried to relay the order. When he got outside the palace, he also instructed a little eunuch, ¡°Quickly go to the Cold Palace and call Lord Sang back.¡± If she doesn¡¯t come back, who knows how many more officials will be unlucky! Cold Palace Sang Yan, unaware of the tensed atmosphere in a side hall of Qingning Palace, was eating French fries with Xuanrao. The fries needed to be served with ketchup, and making ketchup was no easy task, it took her quite some effort. It also delayed the time. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have only just started eating now. ¡°Your culinary skills are simply incredible.¡± Xuanrao, dipping her fries into the ketchup, praised as she ate, ¡°I have never seen someone as skillful and thoughtful as you. Being with you, surprises are at every moment. I was wrong before, this is the real reason the Emperor likes you.¡± Sang Yan thought to herself: I¡¯ve never shown off these skills in front of him. If he knew he wasn¡¯t the first one to eat these fries, he¡¯d probably be very jealous again. ¡°Tastes really good.¡± After praising, Xuanrao had an idea, ¡°If we could leave the palace, and open a restaurant or tavern, business would definitely boom, earning hundreds a day.¡± Listening to her fantasizing, Sang Yan also felt enthused: yes. If they could leave the palace, open a restaurant, spread culinary arts, or even a bookshop to spread culture, especially the culture of gender equality. Although the road would be difficult, it would ultimately serve the public well. This way, she could also shut Lord Sang up claiming she was unproductive. ¡°Xuanrao, it will happen for you.¡± Out of nowhere, a statement. Xuanrao was taken aback, ¡°What? What did you say?¡± Sang Yan looked into her eyes, smiling, ¡°I said, Xuanrao, it will happen for you. I will make the Emperor willingly let you leave the palace.¡± Her eyes were firm and confident, not at all joking. And she had mentioned it many times before. Xuanrao became serious, ¡°Thank you. Ah Yan, I know your intentions for me, but don¡¯t quarrel with the Emperor because of me.¡± Sang Yan shook her head and smiled, ¡°No quarrel. I will make the Emperor willing, even eager, to let you leave.¡± Her tone unshakable with confidence. Xuanrao was truly stunned now, ¡°What idea have you thought of?¡± Sang Yan was about to speak¡ª ¡°Miss! Miss!¡± Qiuzhi grabbed a handful of fries and rushed in, munching as she spoke, ¡°Miss, someone from Qingning Palace has arrived.¡± Upon hearing this, Xuanrao smiled knowingly, ¡°It must be the Emperor sending someone to rush you.¡± Sang Yan did not want to go, reluctantly saying, ¡°Always rushing. So annoying. What¡¯s the difference between sleeping here or in the side hall?¡± There were currently no intimate advances between them. Sleeping in two places didn¡¯t affect anything. If there was worry about Xuanrao harming her, Xuanrao¡¯s recent behavior should have dispelled those concerns. Xuanrao thought about it and guessed, ¡°Perhaps the Emperor is more at ease with just a hall between us?¡± She smiled faintly, though her smile contained a trace of envy and wistfulness. Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 069: New Love Chapter 69: Chapter 069: New Love Xuanrao had thought that the Emperor was cold-blooded and unfeeling, incapable of true affection. Unexpectedly, there came a day when she witnessed the sincerity of the Emperor¡¯s feelings. It turned out that the Emperor was just like any ordinary man. When he fell in love with someone, he too would worry and fret, becoming anxious and uneasy the moment he could no longer see them. ¡°Well, I¡¯m leaving now. Xuanrao, good night.¡± ¡°Alright. Good night.¡± Xuanrao came back to her senses and saw Sang Yan out of the palace. She watched her figure walk away from afar, feeling a mix of envy and melancholy, and also hoping that she would truly have a good outcome with the Emperor, living peacefully and joyfully for the rest of her life. ¡°Lady, why do you think the Emperor, who is so fond of Lord Sang, doesn¡¯t make her his consort?¡± Yun Qiao followed by her side, munching on French fries, voicing the puzzle she had harbored for so long: ¡°Could it be that the Emperor really fears her husband-killing fate? That he doesn¡¯t want to be with her for the long haul?¡± Xuanrao frowned upon hearing this: ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Yun Qiao explained, ¡°People are whispering it all over the palace. They say Lord Sang is beautiful enough to charm men, but won¡¯t achieve lasting favor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s their foolishness.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã0 Xuanrao turned and walked back into the hall, saying as she walked: ¡°In this Imperial Palace, titles and ranks are nothing but vanity; only the Emperor¡¯s love is real. Look at the Empress, even with the title of Empress, what of it? She spends her days cooped up in Qifeng Palace like an ornament, neglected by all. She is only managing to live like a human being because the Empress Dowager is still around. Once the Empress Dowager is gone, she might not be as fortunate as I am. And Lan, how long did she enjoy being a Noble Consort? Rise or fall, it¡¯s all at the Emperor¡¯s whim.¡± Having said that, she laughed lightly with a sense of relief: ¡°Anyway, why bother talking about this? It has nothing to do with us. We¡­ should be leaving this cage soon.¡± Yun Qiao was taken aback: ¡°Leaving this cage?¡± Xuanrao nodded, looking at her with eyes sparkling like twinkling stars: ¡°Yes, leaving. We will leave this Imperial Palace and start a new life.¡± * Sang Yan returned to the side hall of Qingning Palace. The hall was very quiet. The palace maids and eunuchs knelt, their bodies trembling. Pei Muyang, too, had a solemn face as he quietly waited. No one dared to speak. Until she appeared. Only then did Pei Muyang breathe a sigh of relief, smiling as he came forward: ¡°My lord, you¡¯ve finally returned. Please talk some sense into the Emperor. Tell me, why should he be angry with a mere official? If he¡¯s unhappy, he can execute or demote them ¨C there are plenty of ways to vent his anger, why torment himself?¡± Sang Yan, unaware of the situation, asked with a frown: ¡°What happened?¡± Pei Muyang explained: ¡°It¡¯s those regional officials; they actually wrote in their petition¡ª¡± ¡°Pei Muyang, get out!¡± He Ying barked sharply. Pei Muyang clammed up, smiled bitterly, and left the hall. Before he left, he called all the palace maids and eunuchs away. The hall grew quiet once more. Sang Yan walked up to him and saw the stacks of petitions, teasingly asking: ¡°What¡¯s with the petitions?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He Ying picked up a petition and continued reading, as if he had forgotten why he was reviewing them in the first place. Sang Yan knew that his reading of the petitions was just for show; she could tell from his sullen and gloomy expression that he was clearly waiting for her to coax him. That made sense; she had only just returned now, and he had sent people to urge her and even brought the petitions here to read, no doubt having waited for her for a long time. Just like her clingy cat. ¡°Meow¡ª¡± Thinking of the cat, the feline jumped off He Ying¡¯s lap and pounced onto her. Ah, it seemed he might have indeed picked up the cat¡¯s clingy trait. Sang Yan petted the cat and feigned a sigh: ¡°Sigh, before I wasn¡¯t interested in reading the petitions, and the Emperor kept showing them to me. Now that I want to see them, the Emperor doesn¡¯t want to show them to me. Indeed, the heart of a monarch is unfathomable; love and indifference hinge on a single thought¡ª¡± Before she could finish, the petition was placed in front of her. ¡°If you keep talking like this, I will end up being labeled as a harsh and ungrateful traitor.¡± He Ying looked at her helplessly, his tone tinged with a hint of reproach: ¡°It was clearly you who found someone new, pushing me aside.¡± Sang Yan laughed: ¡°What do you mean by finding someone new? The Emperor is using the wrong idiom.¡± Her relationship with Xuanrao was at most a friendship between close female friends; the term ¡®finding someone new¡¯ was far too ambiguous. Although she wanted to live as a man, her sexual orientation remained quite normal. He Ying was unaware of her thoughts, and irritability spread again, ¡°I haven¡¯t misused my time, I know what¡¯s in my heart. You care more about that Xuan Family than about me. What¡¯s so good about her? Worth your lingering thoughts?¡± ¡°What lingering thoughts do I have?¡± Sang Yan retorted, ¡°Today, at most, I only spent two hours there. The rest of the time, I was in the side hall, alright? The Emperor is busy with official duties every day, scarcely seen. If I have nothing else to do, can¡¯t I find a companion to pass the time? Life in the palace is already lonely, if I don¡¯t learn how to amuse myself, sooner or later I¡¯ll become depressed. The Emperor doesn¡¯t want me to die young, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk about such inauspicious things.¡± He Ying couldn¡¯t bear to hear her speak of death and related words. Sang Yan muttered softly, ¡°The Emperor brought it up first.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°I can¡¯t win against you.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± Sang Yan reached out to take the petition, her eyes full of interest as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s written in this petition that made the Emperor so angry.¡± A moment later, She couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and laugh, ¡°Hahaha, this official really is¡ª¡± A tiger! He was actually urging the birth of an heir in the petition. He even said that the Emperor¡¯s indulgence in feminine pleasures was not fatal, that he should not dawdle, just close his eyes and go in, a shiver, and an heir would be born. This is like saying in modern times that a man can finish in a second. No wonder the Emperor got so angry. The key point was that at the end, some tonics for virility were mentioned. Obviously, they were more worried about the Emperor being impotent than sick. ¡°Hahaha, he¡¯s a talent indeed!¡± ¡°Stop laughing!¡± He Ying¡¯s face darkened with anger, and he threatened, ¡°If you keep laughing, I¡¯ll favor you and have you bear an heir for me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Scared. Scared. She immediately suppressed her laughter. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± She cleared her throat and said seriously, ¡°Your Majesty, from another angle, they are also worried about the future of Da He. They are loyal and patriotic people; the Emperor should feel consoled, not angry.¡± These words were just pleasant to hear. He Ying looked at her with a smile and directly countered, ¡°Their urging for an heir is out of loyalty and patriotism, so what about you? Aren¡¯t you the most kind and selfless? Are you willing to give birth to an heir for me and fulfill your duty of loyalty and patriotism?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Numb. Got complacent. Dug her own grave. ¡°Emperor, I¡¯m tired and going to wash up for bed.¡± She found an excuse, tossed the petition into his lap, and ran off. He Ying watched her fleeing figure, unable to help but smile, ¡°Clever in small things, muddled in big ones.¡± He put the petition back on the desk and picked up a new one, continuing to read. After Sang Yan finished washing up and saw he had not left, she hinted at him to leave, ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s late; you should rest early. Your health is important.¡± ¡°You go to sleep. I¡¯ll watch for a little while longer; I still have some to finish.¡± He made it clear he didn¡¯t want to leave. Sang Yan, not wanting to say more, went to bed. With the Emperor beside her, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep after all. She tossed and turned for a while before she finally spoke up, ¡°Emperor, I really don¡¯t want to have children.¡± In ancient times, medical conditions were backward; childbirth was like passing through the Ghost Gate, too terrifying. He Ying, not realizing she was afraid of childbirth, said, ¡°I will make you want to.¡± He believed she just wasn¡¯t in love with him enough. When she loved him enough, she would naturally want to have children for him. Sang Yan, hearing his response and feeling misunderstood, added, ¡°But what if I can¡¯t have children?¡± Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 070 Escort the Emperor Chapter 70: Chapter 070 Escort the Emperor He Ying misunderstood and his first reaction was, ¡°Do you also think that I am incapable?¡± His mind was still influenced by the petitions. When he asked, his eyes looked innocent and somewhat foolish. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, shaking her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. Your Majesty misunderstood. Regarding the ability to have children, it¡¯s not necessarily Your Majesty¡¯s issue, it could also be mine. What I mean is, if it turns out to be my issue, that is, if I cannot bear children for Your Majesty, would you have children with someone else?¡± In reality, even in modern times, if a woman can¡¯t have children, ninety percent of men would divorce. And if a man can¡¯t have children, ninety percent of women would stay and seek treatment. The comparison is chilling to the bone. Not to mention in ancient times, where lineage was so highly valued? He Ying, unaware of her thoughts, misunderstood again, ¡°That¡¯s true. You are a bit older, which indeed is a hindrance to having offspring. Especially since you¡¯re still physically frail. It seems I must make an effort to win your true heart sooner, so that you can begin to bear my children sooner.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Is this an age issue? He¡¯s really testing his luck at the edge of death! Besides, the original host was only twenty-four, the prime age for childbearing, wasn¡¯t she? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Hmph, ignorant! She was so angered she didn¡¯t want to speak any longer. She turned over, closed her eyes, and tried to sleep. But perhaps because the lights in the hall were too bright, she simply couldn¡¯t fall asleep. So, she voiced her complaint, ¡°Your Majesty, with the lights on, I cannot sleep.¡± Then, she heard the Emperor say, ¡°Would you like me to lull you to sleep?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Did the Emperor misunderstand her? She was saying she couldn¡¯t sleep with the lights on! Yet, the Emperor actually put down his petitions and walked over to her. He sat beside the bed, looking at her sideways, and softly said, ¡°When I was a child and couldn¡¯t sleep, my brother would read poems to me.¡± Sang Yan immediately thought of the modern method of reading books to aid sleep. Well, it wasn¡¯t necessary. Back in the modern world, her sleep quality had always been good. After all, she was so tired from running around all day, she would fall asleep as soon as she hit the bed. It was here, living a life of luxury and becoming increasingly delicate, that she found her sleep was disturbed. Seeing her silence, He Ying took it as consent and began to recite slowly, ¡°All that has shape, is born from the shapeless. The nothing creates the something, and the something returns to the nothing. Therefore, all forms and appearances are illusory. If one sees all appearances as non-appearances, one shall realize that the void is not truly void¡­¡± He had started reciting from memory. As Sang Yan listened, it was all a blur to her, ¡°Wait, Your Majesty, what are you talking about?¡± He Ying explained, ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®Calming Incantation¡¯ from the Buddhist Scriptures.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She then remembered that he had copied many Buddhist Scriptures in the past few days. It seemed he had been quite impressed by them. Thinking about this, she said, ¡°Since Your Majesty has copied so many Buddhist Scriptures, you should understand the principles of enlightenment and letting go.¡± He Ying disagreed, ¡°That¡¯s not true. Many people understand many principles, yet they do not live happily. In this world, aside from children, it is the madmen who are the most content and joyful.¡± Sang Yan found herself unable to argue. Indeed, it was just like the saying that circulated on the internet in modern times, we know many principles, yet still fail to live a good life. He Ying continued to recite the ¡®Calming Incantation¡¯. Sang Yan quietly listened and actually began to drift off to sleep. He Ying watched her fall asleep, her sleeping face peaceful like that of a child. He thought about kissing her cheek but, as he really approached her face, he felt that stealing a kiss was not the act of a gentleman. In the end, he merely stroked her hair, stood up, and went back to reading the petitions. This time, no matter what strange content was in the petitions, he was able to deal with them calmly and composedly. It seemed that with her by his side, his heart was at ease. The wind blew in. The lamp flickered. He Ying read the petition for a long time. Sang Yan woke up groggily and saw him engrossed in his official duties, his profile focus and charming, captivating her into wanting to say something, only to be overtaken by sleepiness once more. She slept until dawn. When she opened her eyes, she instinctively looked to where he had been sitting. He was no longer there and she did not know when he had left. Sang Yan got out of bed to wash up. During breakfast, Qiuzhi told her the Emperor had read petitions all night, had quickly washed up, and then gone to court. It sounded laborious and diligent. There are no perfect monarchs. He Ying was assertive, self-directed, yet also meticulous and disciplined. It seemed her only indulgence lay with him. Her heart softened. She said, ¡°Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare some porridge and pastries, and send them over to Taihe Hall.¡± Qiuzhi asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going, miss?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°If I go, it might cause trouble.¡± After all, it was the place where past dynasties handled governmental affairs, and her presence would just attract disdain. Qiuzhi took the order and left. After Sang Yan had her morning meal, with nothing else to do, she went to the Cold Palace again. The fields near the Cold Palace were beginning to sprout weeds. The vegetable and flower seeds had not yet germinated. The season wasn¡¯t quite right, either. It was uncertain whether they would grow at all. Sang Yan took a closer look, instructed people to water more, and then entered the palace. Inside, Xuanrao was writing something at the desk. She leaned in to glance and saw it was the method for making roasted meat and fries. ¡°You¡¯ve come at a good time, look here¡ª¡± Xuanrao couldn¡¯t quite remember how to make tomato sauce and asked, ¡°Do you start by boiling water, and then submerge the washed tomatoes to blanch for a moment to peel, right? Then remove the seeds, crush them to extract the juice, and simmer it in a pot until it thickens?¡± Sang Yan, after listening, pointed out a few omissions, ¡°While simmering, add some rock sugar, and stir frequently when it gets thick to avoid sticking to the pot. When it turns thick like ¡®sauce¡¯, remember to pour in an appropriate amount of lemon juice, continue to simmer for a while, and that should do it.¡± Xuanrao nodded and took note, ¡°OK. I¡¯ll add that in.¡± Sang Yan looked on with curiosity, ¡°Why are you writing this?¡± Xuanrao smiled, ¡°I am thinking of writing a cookbook that will be passed down to future generations.¡± In truth, she wanted to say that if she ever left the palace, she would open a restaurant. The reason she didn¡¯t mention that was to avoid pressuring Sang Yan. Let things take their natural course. Even if she couldn¡¯t leave the palace, having her cookbook passed down to future generations was still quite wonderful. ¡°If you have any other delicious recipes, remember to tell me.¡± Her question made Sang Yan realize she did have more. Modern cuisine had plenty to offer. Like spicy strips. They were internationally recognized and acclaimed. But how exactly were spicy strips made? Sang Yan began to recall the method and started experimenting. This experiment kept her busy all day. She didn¡¯t even return for lunch. He Ying, not wanting her to grow tired of him, endured and didn¡¯t rush her. He held out until evening. Facing a fate similar to the previous night. During the first night watch, she had not returned. The second night watch came, and still, she had not returned. At some point, a heavy rain began to fall. ¡°Boom¡ª¡± The heavy rain poured down with thunderous roars. He Ying could only wait for the rain to stop before sending someone to urge her to return. But the rain did not stop. It poured incessantly until the third period of the night. Unable to wait longer, He Ying braved the heavy rain to personally fetch her. Halfway there, he encountered two eunuchs. Holding umbrellas, they saw the Emperor¡¯s carriage from afar, ran forward and knelt down, ¡°Emperor, your servants, Little Guizi, have come to relay a message from Lord Sang. Lord Sang said she will not return tonight and will sleep in the Cold Palace. Please, Emperor, there¡¯s no need to wait any longer; rest early.¡± The rain was torrential. The carriage could shield from the rain. But still, the wind and rain swept in, chilling him to the bone. ¡°Boom¡ª¡± The thunder rolled ominously. Suddenly striking right in front of the carriage. Black smoke instantly billowed. Pei Muyang trembled in fright, his face pale, and he cried out loudly, ¡°Protect the carriage! Quick, protect the carriage!¡± Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 071 Thunder Strike Chapter 71: Chapter 071 Thunder Strike The Emperor was nearly struck by lightning! Rumors were circulated to that effect. However, the truth was¡ªthe lightning struck a guard standing next to the Emperor¡¯s carriage. It was unclear what sinful deeds the guard had committed, but his left arm was completely severed. The incident caused quite a stir. He Ying dispatched people to suppress the rumors, comfort the guard, and secretly summoned Wan Zhang back to the palace. Sang Yan only received the news the next day. She hadn¡¯t even eaten breakfast when she hurriedly rushed to the main hall of Qingning Palace. Outside the main hall Many concubines had already gathered. Dressed in flamboyant attire, they were there to express their concern. Among them, Sang Ruoshui was particularly frantic. But without the Emperor¡¯s summon, no one could enter. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Not until Sang Yan arrived. Sang Ruoshui grabbed her and pushed her toward the hall, ¡°Sister, go see how the Emperor is doing! Heavens, how could such a thing happen? It¡¯s absolutely nerve-wracking!¡± Sang Yan was also anxious and was about to enter¡ª when the ministers came out from inside. They confirmed that the Emperor was unharmed and their expressions relaxed, but their words were still laden with worry: ¡°Unpredictable disasters strike from the heavens. Who knows what might happen tomorrow? The Emperor always thinks he is young and strong, not taking this as a serious matter.¡± ¡°True, and the Emperor still doesn¡¯t have an heir. If something really happened, Da He¡¯s nation would be in peril.¡± ¡°Look, the Sang Family¡¯s daughter is here!¡± ¡°Do you think it could be her husband-killing fate¡ª¡± ¡­ They already had grievances against Sang Yan, and now they were blaming her even more. ¡°A beauty brings disaster!¡± ¡°It must be her husband-killing fate that caused the Emperor such misfortune.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard she even caused the misfortune of her own brother and sister-in-law! And her sister-in-law was pregnant!¡± ¡°Struck by heavenly retribution! If it were my daughter, I would have sent her to a nunnery long ago.¡± ¡°Mark my words! The Sang Family will eventually reap what they sow!¡± ¡­ They passed by Sang Yan, discussing among themselves as they walked away. Sang Yan then entered the main hall. Inside the main hall Even Empress Dowager Pei Yiqing had arrived. She sat at the bedside, twirling her Buddha Beads, murmuring softly, ¡°Why would you go out in such thunderous weather? My child, you increasingly neglect your own care. I¡¯ve long advised you to find someone close to your heart, yet you keep hesitating. How can you be so stubborn?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, Your Highness. I¡¯ve merely caught a chill. I¡¯ll recover in a few days.¡± He Ying lay on the bed with a damp, cold towel on his forehead. Sang Yan watched this tender mother-and-son scene, unsure of what to say, and simply stood quietly to the side. He Ying was half-closing his eyes and actually hadn¡¯t seen her. It was Empress Dowager Pei who noticed her first. ¡°Alright, I know you grow impatient with my nagging. I will leave now and let your beloved stay with you.¡± Saying this, she beckoned Sang Yan over, her eyes filled with affection: ¡°Good child, take good care of the Emperor. And try to persuade him too.¡± Sang Yan naturally responded, ¡°Yes.¡± Empress Dowager Pei left. At that moment, He Ying saw her, perhaps being vulnerable due to illness, his first words were, ¡°You knew to come!¡± The tone was admittedly a bit resentful. Like that of a wronged woman. Sang Yan was amused by her own thought and deliberately said, ¡°If Your Majesty doesn¡¯t wish to see me, I¡¯ll leave immediately, so as not to offend your eyes.¡± He Ying immediately felt indescribable bitterness, ¡°When have I ever said I didn¡¯t want to see you?¡± He was clearly indicating she had come late. Even the Empress Dowager had arrived before her, yet she was the last to arrive. Though she knew it was due to the isolation of the Cold Palace, it still saddened him. Last night, he had encountered the thunder strike on his way to the Cold Palace. Though unharmed, he had sweated a cold sweat. She had the nerve to come only now. Sang Yan knew she was the source of the danger the Emperor had encountered and felt somewhat guilty, so she asked tenderly, ¡°How are you feeling now, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Headache. Stuffy nose. Completely weak.¡± He was feigning misery. Sang Yan knew but didn¡¯t expose him, continuing to ask, ¡°Has Your Majesty taken any medicine?¡± He Ying nodded. ¡°Of course, I have.¡± Just then, Pei Muyang brought over the medicine. ¡°Your Majesty, please drink the medicine. It¡¯s been reheated twice already.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± Ah, my face hurts. How could Pei Muyang be so tactless? Knowing he hadn¡¯t taken the medicine, Sang Yan¡¯s tone cooled. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re avoiding it because it¡¯s bitter and you don¡¯t want to drink it.¡± He Ying genuinely didn¡¯t want to drink it. ¡°I feel that medicine is poison in part and it¡¯s not always necessary to take it for a minor illness. With my constitution, I can easily endure this minor ailment.¡± In his early years of campaigns in the south and north, his body had been strong¡ª usually, two bowls of ginger soup were enough to rejuvenate him. In short, he avoided taking medicine whenever possible. Hearing his excuse, Sang Yan didn¡¯t persuade him further but simply said, ¡°That¡¯s fine. If Your Majesty can¡¯t endure it, then I can leave the palace.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± Not on your life! He had to endure. ¡°Pei Muyang, give the medicine to me¡ª¡± He took the medicine bowl, closed his eyes, and drank it in one breath. The bitterness contorted his features, prompting him to cover his face with his hands. Seeing him like that, Sang Yan inexplicably found it cute and chuckled, ¡°So His Majesty is just like a child, scared of taking medicine.¡± Actually, this contrasting charm made him seem more genuine and endearing. But He Ying didn¡¯t see it that way, feeling his image was compromised, he retorted stubbornly, ¡°It¡¯s not fear; it¡¯s unnecessary. Do you think I have your frail body?¡± Manly pride demanded he be strong! Sang Yan didn¡¯t argue with him. Seeing he had finished his medicine, she sat down and advised, ¡°Even if you are physically strong, Your Majesty must still take care of yourself. You are the Lord of the World, and all your people rely on you.¡± ¡°You? Do you rely on me?¡± He Ying gazed at her tenderly and said emotionally, ¡°You have no idea how scared I really was. I have yet to win your true heart. If something had happened, I would have been unwilling.¡± The topic was a difficult one to continue. Sang Yan thought for a moment and also expressed emotion, saying, ¡°Your Majesty always says you are the Emperor, divinely protected. Now, you too are scared.¡± She thought about the ministers¡¯ discussions and became confused: Could the Emperor¡¯s close encounter be due to the original owner¡¯s husband-killing fate? Is heaven hinting or warning something? As she pondered this, she heard the Emperor say¡ª ¡°I indeed was scared.¡± ¡°But I feared leaving you behind to suffer the world¡¯s censure alone.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about any husband-killing fate; I¡¯m only worried it might trouble you, depriving you of peace.¡± His words were too tender. Like a warm stream flowing into her parched heart. So the Emperor was actually so worried about her? What had she done to deserve such deep affection from him? ¡°Since Your Majesty is scared, you should take even greater care of yourself.¡± Her heart was ultimately open for him: ¡°Your Majesty, you are not alone now.¡± He Ying, catching the underlying meaning, sat up excitedly: ¡°So, Ah Yan, are you admitting now that you are mine?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, and with twinkling eyes amidst his gradually dimming ones, smiled and said, ¡°No, it¡¯s that Your Majesty is mine.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± A sudden joy. Who belongs to whom? He gladly accepted, ¡°Very well, very well, I am yours.¡± He was too delighted. He couldn¡¯t help but reach for her hand. Sang Yan dodged it gently, saying, ¡°Your Majesty is already feeling unwell; let¡¯s not add the pain of a flare-up.¡± He Ying shook his head, his gaze resolute. ¡°It¡¯s alright, for you, I¡¯m willing.¡± Saying this, he reached out his hand toward her. ¡°Ah Yan, give it to me. I want to hold your hand.¡± Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: Chapter 072 Annoyance Chapter 72: Chapter 072 Annoyance They had known each other for a long time, but there had never been any touch of skin. Now, holding hands had also become a ritual. Sang Yan thought so but did not refuse, only before holding hands, she also very mood-killingly asked, ¡°Did you apply the Jade Frost Ointment?¡± He Ying, not wanting to trigger his condition and damage his image, had Pei Muyang fetch the Jade Frost Ointment. Sang Yan first applied a layer to her own hands, moist and slightly fragrant, treating it as hand cream. After she finished, she went on to apply it to him. As she did, she asked, ¡°I remember you saying back then that this disease is a mental one. I didn¡¯t want to listen before, but now I want to. Are you still willing to talk about it?¡± He Ying nodded, dismissed the people around, and whispered, ¡°Actually, the death of the late Emperor is inseparable from his indulgence in women.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan inexplicably thought of a term¡ªsudden death in the act. Many emperors recorded in histories died suddenly during intercourse, overly excited. ¡°This sort of thing¡­ even if one is young, moderation is necessary.¡± She felt embarrassed. She wished she hadn¡¯t asked. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 But He Ying shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Sang Yan was startled, ¡°Then what is it?¡± He Ying fell silent, the terrifying appearance of the late Emperor during the onset of his illness flashed through his mind, and his body began to itch. He unconsciously withdrew his hand and applied the Jade Frost Ointment himself, his brows furrowed, ¡°The late Emperor was weak back then, and even his favors to women were not of his own free will. Pei Zhen, to control him, let him indulge in women, often selecting thin horses from outside and sending them into the palace. Later, he even sent some brothel women. The late Emperor, unaware of the scheme, favored them and hence contracted the disease and died.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She was dumbfounded. Died from a disease? Was it the disease she was thinking of? ¡°That disease tormented the late Emperor for days, causing his body to fester, reeking terribly, and he died a horrendous death.¡± ¡°This is an imperial secret, all the Imperial Physicians and palace maids who knew about it were executed.¡± ¡°I never witnessed the late Emperor¡¯s death, but I had nightmares for many days afterward. Since then, I have come to view women as vipers, approaching them brings pain, itching, and nausea.¡± He slowly disclosed the heart of his illness. Sang Yan sighed in her heart: the late Emperor indeed had that disease! She immediately understood that this was a childhood trauma that even severely affected his understanding of gender relations. ¡°Emperor, a normal married life will not lead to the situation the late Emperor faced.¡± She tried to correct his thinking. He Ying nodded, ¡°Hmm. I know. But thinking about that kind of thing, it really disgusts me, makes me nauseous.¡± Listening to him, Sang Yan felt something was off, ¡°Thinking about that kind of thing disgusts you, makes you nauseous? Are you sure, Emperor?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°What about with me? Would it be the same?¡± If it was the same even with her, then his falling in love with her was also miraculous. She seriously suspected he was asexual or homosexual! Unaware of her thoughts, He Ying saw her asking and blushed, ¡°I¡­ never thought about it.¡± Sang Yan felt she had asked a dumb question. When one is disgusted by these things, one would subconsciously block them out, why would he think about it? But seeing his embarrassed face, her mischievous side kicked in, and she asked again, ¡°What about wet dreams? You¡¯re an adult man, wouldn¡¯t you have them?¡± Or even¡­ have needs? Or had his strange disease castrated all his male instincts? Was their relationship purely platonic then? Why did she feel somewhat regretful about that? Back in the modern world, she was a single woman of marriageable age who also had certain thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ve never had them. Anyway, I have no memory of them.¡± He Ying was so embarrassed that he changed the topic, ¡°Can we not talk about this, please?¡± Sang Yan felt his face was about to drip blood, so he nodded, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I just didn¡¯t expect the Emperor to be quite so romantic.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± He had intended to hold her hand, but her jest made him forget. ¡°Emperor, Lady Xuan requests an audience.¡± Pei Muyang entered to relay the message then. Upon hearing that Xuanrao had arrived, the rising dissatisfaction in He Ying exploded¡ªhad she not entangled Sang Yan, would he have ventured out in a thunderstorm? Would he have been struck by lightning? Would Sang Yan have been embroiled in scandal? It was all her fault! His expression turned cold, and he frowned, ¡°Let her in!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang went to relay the message. After a moment, Xuanrao entered, bowing gracefully, ¡°This concubine greets the Emperor.¡± He Ying coldly asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Xuanrao said, ¡°I heard that the Emperor encountered a lightning strike on the way to the Cold Palace, and my heart couldn¡¯t rest easy, so I came to see.¡± The timing of these words really couldn¡¯t have been worse, He Ying¡¯s face visibly fell, and his voice turned stern, ¡°As you can see, I am fine, you may return now. Besides, as someone from the Cold Palace, since when can you come and go freely without my command?¡± Xuanrao, ¡°¡­¡± It was her fault. Actually, it also involved Sang Yan. Since Sang Yan often visited the Cold Palace and they were close, the guards did not dare to stop her. After all, everyone in the palace knew the Emperor favored Sang Yan, and her whispering in his ear could be lethal. ¡°Emperor, if you¡¯re upset, take it out on me, not on Xuanrao. It¡¯s not her fault.¡± Sang Yan knew the Emperor was ¡°scolding the locust tree but pointing at the mulberry,¡± using his reprimand of Xuanrao to actually criticize her. Hearing her say this, He Ying felt a pang of jealousy: Look, he hadn¡¯t even spoken two sentences, and she was already defending her. ¡°If I remember correctly, you just said I am yours. Is this how you treat what¡¯s yours?¡± That¡¯s really turning your elbow out! Regarding this question, he and the siblings Sang Jue and Rui Shui River felt the same now. Sang Yan sighed helplessly, ¡°Emperor, let¡¯s separate issues clearly, don¡¯t force connections.¡± He Ying still felt resentful, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re just partial to outsiders.¡± Sang Yan thought he was being willfully obstinate and appeased him noncommittally, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll favor you from now on, is that alright?¡± Fine! He Ying was satisfied, a smile spread across his eyes and lips. Xuanrao quietly endured the display of favor, feeling the Emperor was quite childish! Suddenly, as her gaze met the Emperor¡¯s, she jolted with fright and hastily said, ¡°This concubine will take her leave.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± He Ying composed himself, observing her solemnly, ¡°You¡¯ve spent many years in the Cold Palace, presumably reflecting on your mistakes. Remembering your father¡¯s sacrifice for the country, I grant you grace today, you are free to leave the palace.¡± He was granting the freedom Sang Yan wished for Xuanrao. He would see if she still visited the Cold Palace! Blindsided by the Emperor¡¯s thoughts and suddenly hearing this surprise, Xuanrao was stunned, ¡°Emperor?¡± He Ying looked at her ominously, his voice rising, ¡°What, are you unwilling?¡± Xuanrao immediately knelt, ¡°Not at all. This concubine is grateful. Thank you for your imperial grace.¡± She was overjoyed to tears. Seeing this, Sang Yan was also pleased, casually flattering, ¡°The Emperor is benevolent, a blessing to all under heaven.¡± He Ying, delighted, replied proudly, ¡°With you by my side, the blessings for the people under heaven have only just begun.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± His words made it sound as though the blessings of the world¡¯s people stemmed from her presence. It must be said that this Emperor truly knew how to speak words of affection! Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 073 Jealousy Chapter 73: Chapter 073 Jealousy He Ying had released Xuanrao from the palace, awarding her a thousand pieces of gold. This matter had little impact on the previous dynasty, but its effect on the harem was profound. Especially for the concubines who had entered the palace among the earliest groups. The Emperor did not favor the company of women; these women had guarded their empty chambers for many years. Seeing themselves aging without any hope of liberation, they considered leaving the palace a better option. Perhaps life outside the palace was miserable, but to see the sky beyond the palace walls once more seemed enough. Thus, a great number of concubines suddenly appeared at Qingning Palace seeking release. Sang Yan had thought about releasing these pitiful women from the palace, but she had not expected it to happen so soon. Unprepared, she could only say, ¡°I will convey your wishes to the Emperor. As for whether it will happen, I make no promises. You should also consider carefully; the palace is cold, but it is tranquil. Outside, what sort of life you will face is uncertain.¡± ¡°Thank you for the warning. But we have made up our minds, regardless of what we might encounter outside, we have no regrets,¡± said a concubine, her eyes brimming with tears. Seeing this, Sang Yan nodded and let them leave. While dining at noon The Emperor continued his usual routine of inviting her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? She went, and while eating, she said, ¡°I know that releasing one person and releasing many are different matters. But they really are pitiable. In their situation, staying here means only to die of old age within these walls. I cannot bear it.¡± He Ying had already learned about the concubines seeking release in the pavilion. His relationship with her was progressing well, and he did not care much for these women, so he naturally had no objections: ¡°Since you¡¯ve spoken up, then grant them their release with some gold. Any who wish to leave the palace, arrange it as you see fit.¡± Seeing he agreed, Sang Yan was genuinely pleased, ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Feeling good, she served him several pieces of meat, then couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°Does Your Majesty really wish to release them? They are still at their charming peak, each more beautiful than the next. I¡¯ve spoken, and Your Majesty¡¯s selection of beauties will be cut by half.¡± He Ying looked at her, his smile indulgent, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You alone are worth the entire harem.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± He was speaking sweet nothings again. Really, they just came so naturally! Touched inwardly, she pretended to ask with a serious face, ¡°Then, does Your Majesty think I am jealous? Perhaps my intention isn¡¯t out of kindness, but from selfishness, from jealousy.¡± He Ying laughed, ¡°Then I can only wish for that! It would truly be reason for massive celebration, to set off fireworks and rejoice wildly!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Incredible. His sweet words were perfect. Holding back her excitement, she served him a few more pieces of meat, ¡°Your Majesty might as well not speak.¡± He Ying, puzzled, ¡°Why?¡± Sang Yan looked at him, utterly serious, ¡°Because I¡¯m afraid I might want to kiss you.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Kiss¡­ him? That wasn¡¯t entirely out of the question. But how to kiss? He recalled a scene he had seen in the late Emperor¡¯s room as a child, lips locked, feeding each other, forget it, couldn¡¯t think about it, it was somewhat nauseating. He still couldn¡¯t accept it. No, not with someone else, but with her¡­ It should be different, right? He examined her lips, the color a rich crimson, the shape also beautiful, plump and full, her teeth white and her appearance extremely pretty. What would it taste like to kiss her? Unaware of his inner thoughts, Sang Yan¡¯s face blushed under his stare and she reflected¡ªwas she being too forward? He hadn¡¯t even mentioned wanting to kiss her. The other day when she spoke of holding hands, it hadn¡¯t progressed into anything. Was she being too forward for him to respect? ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She feigned calmness, taking up some vegetables to eat, though her hand trembled as she held her chopsticks. Is this what it¡¯s like to like someone? Nervous to the point of losing composure due to his gaze. Seemed too pitiful. Just then¡ª He Ying spoke up, urging her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to kiss me? Why haven¡¯t you started yet?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Was he waiting for her to kiss him after staring at her for so long? Good heavens! She was merely boasting with her words. ¡°That¡­ Aren¡¯t we eating?¡± She felt guilty and spoke weakly, ¡°I was just kidding.¡± He Ying was somewhat curious about kissing Sang Yan, but this curiosity wasn¡¯t urgent. If Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to, he would let it be; however, upon hearing her latter statement, he became unhappy, ¡°How can you joke about something so significant?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Just a kiss, is that a big deal? She then recalled mentioning her jealousy, and he had called it a joyful occasion celebrated by everyone¡ªindeed what the Emperor considered important was truly significant! ¡°Emperor, stop teasing.¡± She changed the topic, regaining seriousness, her eyes filled with concern, ¡°Releasing so many concubines from the palace at once, will it affect the previous dynasty?¡± After all, the previous dynasty¡¯s harem had intertwined interests, and she didn¡¯t want to cause him trouble. He Ying also knew this would provoke criticism, thus he composed himself and said earnestly, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I will soothe things over.¡± ¡°That must be hard on you, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Your happiness is all that matters.¡± ¡°Hm. I¡¯m very happy, and I hope the Emperor is happy too.¡± ¡°Then would you like to kiss me?¡± The topic had circled back. Thinking that they were in the middle of dining, with the taste of food in her mouth, Sang Yan inappropriately commented, ¡°We are eating.¡± He Ying gave in, ¡°Then let¡¯s finish eating.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The truth was, once they finished eating, she ran away. Under the pretense of rinsing her mouth. Then vanished without a trace. He Ying knew she was escaping and indulged her with a laugh. She liked him, she was getting closer to him, that was all he wanted. But further steps, in front of his odd illness, should be paced cautiously. * Sang Yan began to prepare for the release of the palace concubines. In two days, thirty-seven people registered. Among them was Jinpin, Xie Jinhua. Seeing this name, she was startled: The young girl who pleaded for Princess Consort Li? Hadn¡¯t she entered the palace not long ago? Had she already lost hope and wanted to leave? It was really unexpected. She put down the list and sent for her. When Xie Jinhua arrived, she was nervous, afraid that Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t agree to her leaving the palace. ¡°Lord Sang, did you call for me? Is there something you need?¡± She was extremely respectful, cautious and humble. Seeing this, Sang Yan smiled kindly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing much. Please, take a seat first.¡± Xie Jinhua sat down anxiously. Sang Yan then said, ¡°I saw your name on the release list, and I was surprised. You¡¯re so young, why do you want to leave the palace? Did someone say something to you? Or did someone bully you?¡± To her knowledge, among the concubines who entered the palace with her, only she herself wanted to leave. Others, relying on their beauty, were still trying to seize an opportunity. Anticipating this issue, Xie Jinhua had organized her thoughts and spoke, ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang, for your concern. No one has bullied me. I just want to leave the palace. Seeing how perfectly matched you and the Emperor are, so loving, I truly envy you. I know I don¡¯t have such fortune nor dare to hope for it. I only wish to leave the palace. I hope Lord Sang can grant my request.¡± She saw everything clearly and lived with lucidity. Sang Yan had always admired her; saving Princess Consort Li was compassionate and righteous, asking to leave the palace showed clear-headedness; she truly was an excellent woman. Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 074 Sly Chapter 74: Chapter 074 Sly ¡°If this is truly what you desire, there should be no issue.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang. You are my benefactor, and I shall remember you for the rest of my life.¡± Xie Jinhua immediately expressed her gratitude, fearful that she might change her mind. Sang Yan became even more certain that she truly wished to leave the palace, smiling, ¡°All is due to the Emperor¡¯s kindness. Be grateful to him too.¡± It was merely lip service, but from the Emperor¡¯s side, there surely was some pressure. Xie Jinhua nodded and responded, ¡°Yes. Both you and the Emperor are my benefactors. After leaving the palace, I shall pray for you and the Emperor day and night.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was really good with words. She smiled and changed the subject, ¡°Once you leave the palace, what are your plans? I remember you have a brother. Perhaps you can rely on him to arrange a marriage for you. If you face difficulties, you can also send a message to Xuan Residence.¡± After leaving the palace, Xuanrao returned to the Xuan family. The Xuan family was no longer as glorious as before, but Xuanrao told her that she planned to open a tavern, raise her younger brother, and revitalize her family. She believed she would succeed. Xie Jinhua knew that Sang Yan was giving her a promise, a support to rely on, and was moved to her knees, ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang. You truly are like a Bodhisattva.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Knowing that her words were taken to heart, Sang Yan was pleased and personally helped her up, ¡°This world is harsh for women. May we all help each other and thrive in peace.¡± Xie Jinhua bowed again, earnestly saying, ¡°I will take your teachings to heart.¡± Sang Yan chatted with her a bit more before sending her out. As the day neared dusk. She watched her leave and saw people from various palaces bustling about, packing the belongings of the concubines who were about to depart, and couldn¡¯t help but feel melancholy: once these concubines left, the palace would become even lonelier. And her? Was she really content to stay in this harem for the rest of her life? Lost in thought¡ª Little Guizi called out softly twice, ¡°Lord Sang? Lord Sang?¡± Sang Yan snapped back to her senses and looked at him, ¡°What is it?¡± Little Guizi scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision, speaking mysteriously, ¡°I saw Director Wan.¡± He still remembered Sang Yan¡¯s visit to the Observatory in search of someone. Upon hearing this, Sang Yan showed interest, ¡°Where is he? When did he enter the palace? When did the Emperor summon him? What for?¡± She was clueless, possibly a secret summoning. Was the Emperor guarding against her? Little Guizi said, ¡°Not sure. He might still be at the Observatory. I saw Mr. Pei head toward the Observatory alone, so I took extra notice and checked.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Sang Yan complimented and strode forward, ¡°Come, let¡¯s go see.¡± Observatory Wan Zhang sat haphazardly on the ground, leaning dispiritedly against a cushioned rest, drinking and flipping through an astrometry book while chuckling. Suddenly, the door sounded. He looked up, saw it was Sang Yan, casually brushed a stray hair from his face, smiling, ¡°Miss Sang, long time no see.¡± Sang Yan returned a smile, ¡°Mr. Wan, it has been a long time.¡± She walked over, kicked aside a wine jar on the floor, crouched in front of the desk, and got straight to the point, ¡°Did the Emperor send for you to inquire about the Thunder Strike incident the other night?¡± She had paid attention to the reason for the thunder strike, the guard¡¯s sword carried a sharp metal object, which attracted lightning. But that was just one factor. There were far more profound and mysterious things in the world. Thus, she wanted to hear Wan Zhang¡¯s perspective. Wan Zhang took a swig of wine, said nothing, flipped through a few pages of the book, and gestured for her to look. Sang Yan did so; the words were all in traditional characters, very obscure, and she didn¡¯t understand a single one. ¡°Sir, what does this mean?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, then so be it.¡± Wan Zhang shook his head, lamenting, ¡°Life is sometimes better off muddled.¡± Sang Yan, dissatisfied, frowned, speaking assertively, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be confused. Why must you assume others¡¯ thoughts with your own? I just want to know, including about my own face. I know you know everything. Please enlighten me.¡± She lowered her head as she spoke the last sentence, sincerely pleading. But Wan Zhang looked at her, shaking his head, his expression turning compassionate, ¡°Miss Sang, it¡¯s not that I refuse to speak. I simply cannot.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Day. What a waste of sentiment. These ancients are so backward. Once they¡¯ve made up their minds to keep silent, killing them wouldn¡¯t make them talk. Those were his principles, their way. ¡°Then let me change the question. I wouldn¡¯t harm the Emperor¡¯s interests, would I?¡± ¡°Miss Sang has a pure heart and cares for the people, why would she have such worries?¡± What kind of answer is that? What does it have to do with the people of the world? She just didn¡¯t want to harm the Emperor. This Wan Zhang is too slippery! He didn¡¯t say a single useful word! ¡°The Emperor has arrived, the Emperor¡ª¡± Outside, Little Guizi¡¯s voice came flustered. Hearing this, Sang Yan thought, The Emperor has come so quickly, probably afraid that Wan Zhang might say something? Should I bluff? Thinking it over, she quickly went out to intercept, hoping to prevent the two from meeting and allowing her to strategize. ¡°Emperor, why have you come?¡± She closed the palace doors, preventing them from visually connecting, and said gravely, ¡°You¡¯ve come too late, Emperor. I have already finished speaking with Wan Zhang.¡± He Ying, upon hearing this, clenched his heart yet feigned calmness, ¡°Oh, what have you all discussed?¡± Sang Yan bluffed, ¡°Everything the Emperor is worried about has been discussed.¡± He Ying listened but wasn¡¯t deceived, ¡°Oh, what am I worried about?¡± ¡°About my facial appearance, of course.¡± ¡°And what is so peculiar about your facial appearance?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Day. What a cunning Emperor! She¡¯s no match for him, unable to weave any more lies, and said irritably, ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± Seeing this, He Ying knew she knew nothing and relaxed with a smile, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, then don¡¯t say it. I still have matters to discuss with Director Wan.¡± With that, he looked towards Pei Muyang, ordering, ¡°Take her back.¡± Sang Yan, knowing she couldn¡¯t get anything out of them, didn¡¯t stay longer and snorted coldly, ¡°A den of snakes and rats, colluding together, who cares to listen!¡± She turned away. He Ying watched her leave without irritation, only smiling as he saw her off and only after she disappeared, did he push open the palace doors and enter. Wan Zhang was still drinking. Seeing the Emperor enter, he commented, ¡°You¡¯re too anxious. This can¡¯t be hidden from her for long.¡± He Ying, with a stern face, blamed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m afraid your drinking will cause a blunder?¡± Wan Zhang refused to accept this, ¡°What blunder have I caused? It¡¯s obviously the Emperor¡¯s own unease.¡± ¡°Enough nonsense!¡± He Ying didn¡¯t argue further, directly asking, ¡°What was unusual about the Thunder Strike that night, could you discern anything?¡± Wan Zhang didn¡¯t directly answer this question but said instead, ¡°The Ziwei Star is stable. The Emperor can rest assured.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± That wasn¡¯t what he asked. But knowing this also eased his mind a bit. Only if he was safe, could he protect her. ¡°And her? I went to Long Chan Temple to pray for her blessing, to transcribe Buddhist scriptures for her, even willing to give her my luck. Has her appearance changed?¡± This was what he desperately wanted to know. Wan Zhang shook his head. He Ying¡¯s expression stiffened, ¡°How could there be no change? Could Master Yixuan be deceiving me?¡± Wan Zhang didn¡¯t respond, only his expression grew more solemn, ¡°Emperor, do not be obsessive. What must be relinquished, let go. Only through putting oneself in mortal peril does one find life.¡± He Ying narrowed his eyes slightly, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Wan Zhang swallowed a sip of wine, laid down lazily on the cushion, and closed his eyes, ¡°When the time comes, you will understand.¡± Saying so, he burst into laughter, seeming delirious and hurt, ¡°Well said, well said, I shall leave, I shall leave. This is also the last thing I could do for the He family.¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 075 Longing for Luxury Chapter 75: Chapter 075 Longing for Luxury Sang Yan returned to the side hall of Qingning Palace. There she saw Sang Ruoshui. Whenever this person appeared, nothing good ever followed. She wondered what trouble had arisen this time. With that thought, she asked, ¡°Why have you come?¡± Sang Ruoshui¡¯s eyes were red and swollen as if she had suffered a grievance. Her words, too, carried self-pity, ¡°Can¡¯t I come? Aren¡¯t we biological sisters? Do I not even have the right to come here?¡± Here we go, moral coercion once again. ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I mean.¡± With a helpless expression, Sang Yan assessed her sister¡¯s pitiful state, then changed the subject, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Ruoshui burst into plaintive sobs. Sang Yan¡¯s head ached from her crying, ¡°Enough, why are you crying? If there¡¯s an issue, just say it.¡± Through tears, Sang Ruoshui said, ¡°Sister, our father has had an accident.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï Wasn¡¯t the original host¡¯s father eradicating locusts in Wuzhou? What could have gone wrong? Hadn¡¯t he managed the task well? ¡°What happened? Be clear,¡± she urged. Sang Ruoshui continued, ¡°I just received a letter from home, Father was assassinated in Wuzhou, and his life hangs in the balance.¡± Sang Yan was shocked, ¡°How is that possible? When did this happen? Who is the assassin?¡± Sang Ruoshui shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. But the Emperor must know.¡± Sang Yan immediately sent someone to summon the Emperor. When He Ying arrived and saw the tearful Sang Ruoshui, he knew that the news of Sang Kun¡¯s assassination had leaked. His expression changed swiftly, and he said coldly, ¡°Princess Consort Sang, this is Qingning Palace. You must be careful with your words here.¡± Sang Yan knew he was blaming her, and she did not speak up for Sang Ruoshui, only saying, ¡°Emperor, Ruoshui told me that my father was assassinated. What now?¡± He Ying motioned for Sang Ruoshui to leave, then honestly replied, ¡°He¡¯s still unconscious.¡± ¡°How serious is it?¡± ¡°The wound is off-center from the heart, he should be out of danger.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°If I had told you, you would have been worried about him, and that pains me.¡± In reality, his concern was one thing, but his not wanting her to be concerned about others was true. Even if it was about her father, he did not want her to keep him constantly in her heart. Unaware of his true feelings, Sang Yan was moved and said, ¡°I am delighted that the Emperor is considerate of me, but as a son or daughter, it is improper for me to appear cheerful when my father lies injured and unconscious.¡± Although she was not truly Sang Kun¡¯s daughter, she was indeed bearing his daughter¡¯s identity. While she might not be extremely anxious, she still had to go through the necessary motions on the surface. Seeing her soften, He Ying admitted his mistake, ¡°It is my fault.¡± Sang Yan wasn¡¯t concerned with right or wrong, but asked again, ¡°Have you discovered the reason?¡± ¡°Still investigating. I have assigned Xie Sui to oversee it. His territory is very close to Wuzhou. He is astute and has strong methods. He should produce results quickly. Rest assured, anyone who dares to harm him, I will not let slide.¡± ¡°Justice has its own path, let¡¯s wait until the facts are clear.¡± She held off on making judgments without knowing the full story. They could only wait for the investigation¡¯s outcome. They waited for three days. Xie Sui escorted the awakened Sang Kun back to the capital and reported on the case. Sang Yan saw him in Qingning Palace. He looked nothing like Xie Jinhua. Xie Jinhua was plump and adorable, while Xie Sui had a slender figure with long limbs, and his face was long and thin. His skin was abnormally pale. In fact, he was not unsightly, but at first glance, he had a somewhat eerie appearance. He knelt down to report on the case, ¡°I have found out that while Sang Kun was eradicating locusts in Wuzhou, he bought five thousand ducks from a merchant but intentionally drove down the price and owed the merchant a lot of money. That merchant was already living on borrowed funds, relying on this business to make a comeback. But when his dreams shattered and his wife died in childbirth, in a moment of resentment, he hired an assassin.¡± He Ying sat on the Dragon Couch, tapping his forehead with a finger, and asked, ¡°What did Sang Kun say?¡± Xie Sui replied, ¡°Sang Kun has personally admitted to his dereliction of duty.¡± ¡°What about the merchant?¡± ¡°He has committed suicide out of fear of his crimes.¡± ¡°And the murderer?¡± ¡°This subject has drawn a portrait and will surely capture him.¡± There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. Sang Yan listened quietly from the side, feeling that it all seemed too coincidental. Was it just so that the merchant wanted to revive his fortunes with this batch of ducks? Just so his wife died in difficult childbirth, leaving him in despair? Just so he committed suicide out of fear of his crimes? Amidst these thoughts, she heard the Emperor¡¯s question, ¡°Do you also believe that this case should be concluded this way?¡± Xie Sui shook his head, ¡°This subject believes there are unknown details within.¡± He Ying smiled with satisfaction, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± He and Sang Yan had come to the same conclusion, feeling it was overly coincidental. Xie Sui then said, ¡°For a common merchant to hire someone to kill a minister of the court is extremely bold, and ordinary murderers would not dare to take such a job. Granted, under the lure of heavy gold, there will be those who dare, but if the merchant had heavy gold, why would he think to revive himself with just that sum? Therefore, there must be someone else behind this case.¡± He Ying nodded in approval, ¡°Knowing this, the key to this case lies with the murderer. Conduct a secret investigation. You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xie Sui stood up, preparing to take his leave, but then he thought of something and knelt down again, ¡°Emperor, I have heard that my sister has been granted permission to leave the palace.¡± He Ying responded indifferently, ¡°Hmm.¡± Xie Sui became anxious, ¡°Has my sister not served well?¡± He Ying shook his head, ¡°No.¡± Xie Sui¡¯s expression relaxed slightly, but then he looked disappointed, ¡°Then why would the Emperor release her from the palace? In my domain, I have not forgotten the Emperor¡¯s grace in selecting and employing me. Thus, I sent my sister into the palace to bear a royal heir for the Emperor¡ª¡± ¡°Minister Xie¡ª¡± He Ying interrupted him, then countered with a question, ¡°I have but one heart; it can only be given to one person. Knowing this, do you still wish your sister to remain in the palace?¡± Xie Sui did wish it. He came from poverty and had often suffered from hunger and cold. It was the Emperor who conquered Min State, saved him from starvation, and even gave him a chance to be an official. He was the Emperor and also his lifesaver. But now he was high-ranking and rich as the ocean. All he could do was to bring his sister to the palace, for him who had long been without a royal heir, to bear one. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s heart lies with the land, how could my sister dare to covet the Emperor¡¯s heart?¡± He did not need his sister to win the Emperor¡¯s heart. His sister¡¯s mission was to bear a royal heir. He Ying didn¡¯t know what to say, blocked by his words. Sang Yan watched all this, then spoke out, ¡°Mr. Xie, your sister indeed never coveted the Emperor¡¯s heart. Precisely for this reason, she deserves freedom. She does not belong in the harem.¡± Xie Sui knew a thing or two about the affairs of the Imperial Palace and was also aware of Sang Yan¡¯s status, so he said, ¡°You are the one who has won the Emperor¡¯s heart, are you not? Having obtained the Emperor¡¯s favor, you should be grateful, not so spiteful as this.¡± He thought, just like the other ministers, that the Emperor¡¯s sending away of a concubine from the palace was due to Sang Yan. In the end, Sang Yan still took the blame. ¡°Please reconsider, Emperor.¡± Xie Sui bowed deeply, saying earnestly, ¡°I ask the Emperor to retain the concubine, that she may bear numerous royal heirs.¡± Sang Yan, because Xie Jinhua appreciated him to some extent, now saw him urging progeny, just as those old-fashioned and boring ministers, and said no more. He Ying was even more impatient, about to become angry¡ª Pei Muyang approached him, whispered, ¡°Emperor, Ms. Xie has arrived.¡± He Ying said coldly, ¡°Let her in.¡± In a short while, Xie Jinhua entered. Her eyes were red, and her face bore fresh tear tracks. Kneeling beside Xie Sui, she began with a pitiful plea, ¡°Brother, I want to go home. Brother, don¡¯t keep me here.¡± Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 076 Harsh Chapter 76: Chapter 076 Harsh The scene was indeed sorrowful. Sang Yan¡¯s heart softened at the sight. But Xie Sui remained unmoved and even scolded, ¡°In front of the Emperor, how can you cry and wail? It shows a lack of ambition.¡± He was a brother stern and authoritative. Xie Jinhua sobbed once and dared not cry anymore. Still, Sang Yan liked Xie Jinhua very much, and when you like someone, you can¡¯t stand to see them mistreated. Therefore, she spoke up to defend her, ¡°Mr. Xie, as a brother, you should cherish your sister, how can you be so heartless?¡± Xie Sui held dissatisfaction towards Sang Yan and replied unapologetically, ¡°This is a family matter.¡± Sang Yan immediately retorted with a cold laugh, ¡°She has not yet returned home, so it doesn¡¯t count as your family matter. If you treat her like this, there¡¯s no need for her to go back at all. I will find her a husband¡¯s family in the Capital City and become her maiden family.¡± In fact, there was no need to find a husband¡¯s family. It would be good enough to send her to Xuanrao¡¯s side. Xuanrao was enlightened, knowing one had to rely on oneself. This Xie Jinhua was a person with clear understanding in the world, working by Xuanrao¡¯s side, she might also become enlightened. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Women should help and support each other, to become enlightened and strive together. Xie Sui didn¡¯t expect Sang Yan to say such things and was at a loss for words momentarily. Had he really become heartless towards his sister? This sister was someone he had taken in when he was destitute. At that time, he was nearly starving to death and yet he saved his rations for her to eat, how had he become heartless? ¡°Master Xie is concerned.¡± Xie Jinhua spoke up for her brother, ¡°You have misunderstood. My brother has always been tough on the outside but soft on the inside, he cherishes me the most.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t know the siblings¡¯ past and didn¡¯t say more, simply waving her hand, ¡°You may leave. I still have matters to discuss with the Emperor.¡± Xie Jinhua lowered her head in acknowledgment, ¡°Yes.¡± Xie Sui stood there in amazement, disbelieving as he looked towards the Emperor, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something? Since when did Qingning Palace fall under her command?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t speak, just gestured with his hand, the meaning was clear: Scram! Xie Sui was absolutely baffled. Emperor, have you been bewitched or threatened? Blink, and I will protect you with my life! As he was thinking, his sleeve was tugged. He looked down and met his sister¡¯s eyes. Xie Jinhua whispered, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go. The Emperor has always been this indulgent towards Lord Sang.¡± Xie Sui: ¡°¡­¡± Absurd! This is outrageous! He wanted to say something, but then thought better of it: Do not act rashly! The situation is unclear and requires long-term planning. The siblings left with their own thoughts. The hall fell silent. He Ying looked at Sang Yan, ¡°What did you want to talk to me about?¡± Sang Yan said, ¡°Regarding that case, have you thought about who might be responsible?¡± The original father of the household was an official, if it wasn¡¯t personal enmity, officials being harmed was often due to jealousy amongst colleagues. Thinking about those who had grievances with him recently, it was that person. He Ying shared the same thought, ¡°I know who you suspect. Let¡¯s not alarm the snake, and leave it to Xie Sui to handle.¡± Sang Yan was relieved to see he understood, finding it easy to talk to smart people. She dropped the concern and changed the subject, ¡°Emperor, I want to go back and see my father.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t refuse, standing up and saying, ¡°I will accompany you.¡± Sang Yan was taken aback. Husband and wife returning home together? It wasn¡¯t the right time. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± She refused, ¡°It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t go.¡± He Ying frowned and asked, ¡°Why not?¡± Sang Yan explained, ¡°He has already neglected his duty; if you visit him now, it might only add to his arrogance.¡± No matter how others schemed, him intentionally lowering the prices and delaying payments was indeed a dereliction of duty. He Ying knew what she was referring to and didn¡¯t take it to heart, laughing, ¡°Don¡¯t take it so seriously. You also shouldn¡¯t say this in front of him, otherwise, I¡¯m afraid he couldn¡¯t withstand it and would faint from sorrow. After all, he is your father; why be so harsh?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Harsh! The word stabbed at her sensitive nerves, ¡°He Ying, are you actually calling me harsh?¡± She was angry, even calling out the Emperor¡¯s name. ¡°Lord Sang¡ª¡± Pei Muyang interrupted in alarm, ¡°Lord Sang, be careful with your words.¡± Sang Yan realized her mistake, but her unease was momentary, quickly returning to calmness, ¡°I have shown disrespect to the Emperor; I will go reflect on my actions.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª¡± He Ying¡¯s thought process was different; he waved Pei Muyang away and then smiled, ¡°It¡¯s fine. The first time you called my name, it felt very different.¡± In front of her, he seemed no longer the Emperor but just an ordinary man. ¡°Say it again.¡± He was a bit addicted to that sensation. Sang Yan did not repeat it; she was still angry. ¡°Emperor, you are really teasing me.¡± She said self-deprecatingly, ¡°Such a harsh person as I am, who knows when I would fall out of the Emperor¡¯s favor; how dare I be presumptuous?¡± He Ying knew he had said something wrong and immediately corrected himself, ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I meant. I just think you are a bit too strict with your family. She is your relative, and you are my most cherished; it¡¯s only right that they benefit a little from your light.¡± Sang Yan was also aware of the Sang Family¡¯s intentions in sending a daughter to the palace: one was for honor and glory, and the second was to seize greater privileges. But she was from the lowest rungs of society and could more keenly understand the bitterness and hardships of those like her. Therefore, she desired to do something for the common people. Such as, reducing the number of officials who were corrupt and oppressed the people. ¡°Emperor, those in office should not seek personal gain.¡± Sang Yan expressed her stance with a serious expression. He Ying gazed at her tenderly, not negating her words but instead guiding her with a meaningful tone, ¡°But Ah Yan, too much purity in enforcement can leave no room for humanity; too much scrutiny in governance allows no subjects to go unremonished.¡± A phrase that roused her from a dream. Sang Yan was lost in thought, ¡°That makes sense. Perhaps I was being too idealistic.¡± ¡°Ah Yan, your soul is pure, your spirit resides at high places, and that¡¯s wonderful; I also hope you can always remain like that. The filth of the human world¡ªdon¡¯t even look at it.¡± He Ying¡¯s tender and indulgent voice lingered in her ears. Sang Yan, feeling helpless: How did this turn into sweet nothings again? Her anger dissipated. She reflected, ¡°I assumed too much. The Emperor is right, no one is perfect. Even if I¡¯m right, there¡¯s no need to prove others wrong. Just concentrate on myself.¡± ¡°Ah Yan, you are already very, very good.¡± He was still speaking sweet nothings. Sang Yan was amused and complimented in return, ¡°Emperor, you are also very, very good.¡± He Ying, rarely hearing praise from her, looked surprised and asked, ¡°Where does I excel?¡± Sang Yan, ever so serious, said, ¡°Emperor, your scholarship is extensive, your vision broad, your thought sharp, and your mind clear. Of course, except in matters of the heart. It just goes to show, nobody¡¯s perfect.¡± ¡°No.¡± He Ying shook his head, looking at her earnestly, ¡°Ah Yan, in my eyes, you are perfect.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Thoroughly sweet nothings! She responded with a sweet smile, ¡°Emperor, you just said I was harsh.¡± He Ying, with a composed face, ¡°Who says harshness isn¡¯t perfection? Your harshness only makes you more perfect.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, I can¡¯t argue with him. She steered the conversation back, ¡°All said and done, you just want to follow me there.¡± He Ying did not hide his intention, smiling, ¡°If I don¡¯t go with you, what would I do if I lost you?¡± Hmm, a lie! Sang Yan curled her lip, mocking, ¡°I think you¡¯re not afraid of losing me; you¡¯re afraid of me running away.¡± He Ying looked resigned, a wistful smile on his face, ¡°Even though I know you won¡¯t run, I still can¡¯t help but worry. I suppose this is the sentiment of the Treasure Hunter. Riddled with anxiety, bereft of security.¡± Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 077 Treasure Chapter 77: Chapter 077 Treasure Sang Yan had no choice but to accompany him. The two of them visited Sang Kun at the Sang Mansion together. Sang Kun had gone to Wuzhou to exterminate locusts, a truly exhausting endeavor. He had tanned quite a bit and, compounded with injuries, he looked haggard, and his meticulously groomed beard had also become dry and withered. He lay on the sickbed and, upon seeing the approaching Emperor, struggled to get out of bed to show his respects. ¡°No need. My subject, you are injured. Please stay in bed.¡± He Ying¡¯s voice was gentle, his demeanor compassionate. Sang Kun was moved to tears, ¡°Thank you for your Imperial Grace. However, I am unworthy of it, Your Majesty.¡± He knew he was at fault and explained, ¡°But I never intended to default on the payment to the merchants. It was just that I delegated the financial matters to my son who, due to his wife¡¯s incident, had to leave in haste, hence the delay in the settlements.¡± So, Sang Jue¡¯s departure was also a reason. That Sang Kun had been attacked was also related to Sang Jue leaving. After all, Sang Jue was exceptional in swordsmanship. With him by Sang Kun¡¯s side, any assassination attempt would surely fail, and they would likely be caught as well. The person behind this had made quite the calculations! Thinking of this, He Ying felt even more that Sang Kun was innocent, so he nodded, ¡°I understand. Rest assured, given the circumstances, I will not pursue this matter.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Sang Kun was again moved, ¡°Thank you for your Imperial Grace.¡± Of course, amidst the emotion, he was also concerned about his son, ¡°I wonder how my son is now. Suxi has been married to him for many years, and now she is carrying the successor. She is a lawful wife of the Sang Family. I hope Your Majesty will see clearly.¡± He Ying, feeling somewhat guilty at this, glanced at Sang Yan out of the corner of his eye and saw her looking at him expectantly, as if waiting for his response. He slowly said, ¡°Suxi had a husband before and married your son while she had lost her memory. Everything was orderly, with past and present distinguished. I believe that matters of the heart cannot be forced; let¡¯s wait and see what she desires.¡± Does this mean he doesn¡¯t plan to intervene? Sang Kun was very disappointed and turned to Sang Yan, pleading, ¡°My daughter, that is your own brother. Your sister-in-law is pregnant with the flesh and blood of the Sang Family, your little nephew.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It might also be a niece! Such patriarchal thinking! She disapproved and said indifferently, ¡°The Emperor has agreed that the child will belong to the Sang Family, if she decides to give birth.¡± The child¡¯s situation was too awkward. And too innocent. If born, the child would be without a biological mother, which was pitiful. Hearing that the child would belong to the Sang Family, Sang Kun was satisfied. As for his daughter-in-law, with her tainted reputation and lowly status, it might be better to replace her sooner. Of course, he thought this but outwardly said, ¡°My son has been unfortunate in his youth, leading to an unhappy marriage. It pains this old man greatly.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t necessary to use such strong words. Was he trying to garner sympathy? He Ying already had plans for this and reassured, ¡°My subject, do not be saddened. I have agreed that if he finds love again, I will issue a decree to grant him marriage.¡± Sang Kun was completely contented and thanked him repeatedly, ¡°Thank you for your Imperial Grace. I swear to serve in gratitude to Your Majesty till death.¡± Such words were just formalities. He Ying knew this well, smiled, urged him to take care of himself, left some gifts, and departed with Sang Yan. Ms. Lin, as the lady of the house, accompanied them outside the mansion. As she looked at Sang Yan, she seemed to want to say something but, in the presence of the Emperor, she held her tongue¡ªeating, living, and traveling with the Emperor without any official status, was still not proper! Sang Yan felt the silent worry of her mother and smiled, saying, ¡°I¡¯m doing well. Mother, don¡¯t worry.¡± Ms. Lin was instantly comforted and smiled with teary eyes, ¡°Good. As long as you¡¯re fine. Stay by the Emperor¡¯s side and don¡¯t upset him.¡± The last remark seemed to suggest she should flatter the Emperor, her son-in-law. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to hear this and quickly bid farewell, turning to board the carriage. He Ying, following a step behind, paid his respects to Ms. Lin, which startled her into waving her hands dismissively. Watching from the carriage through the lifted curtain, Sang Yan waited for He Ying to get in and said listlessly, ¡°Had I known it would be like this, there was no need to come.¡± He Ying, hearing this, speculated, ¡°Why do you say that? Is it because of what your mother said? Don¡¯t take it to heart. I know you¡¯re different from them.¡± ¡°` She never complied with the ideas of men. When you teach her to comply, you¡¯re torturing her. He couldn¡¯t bear that. Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°The Emperor misunderstood. It¡¯s not because of my mother.¡± ¡°Why is that, then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I feel my father is always scheming for personal gain. Um¡­ quite boring.¡± Her idealism was acting up again. He Ying chuckled lightly, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s boring. Since you don¡¯t like it, come less often in the future.¡± He was longing for her to think this way, so that she might bring up leaving the palace less frequently. The carriage progressed smoothly. Sang Yan lifted the curtain and watched the bustle of the street out of sheer boredom. Suddenly, she remembered someone, ¡°Your Majesty, may I go see Xuanrao?¡± He Ying actually didn¡¯t want her to go, but facing her expectant eyes, he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse her, so he nodded, ¡°If you¡¯d like to go, then go.¡± The coachman, Pei Muyang, turned the carriage around, heading for the Xuan Family. The Xuan Family once a noble and esteemed household, with a bustling entrance, now forlorn and desolate. The stone lions at the gate were also weathered from the sun and rain, battered and incomplete. The hanging signboard was nearly illegible. An old man resembling a gatekeeper sat at the threshold, dozing off. ¡°Old sir, I am here to see your young miss, Xuanrao.¡± Sang Yan got off the carriage and approached to state her purpose. Hearing her voice, the old man lifted his head, and noticing the finely dressed pair, he quickly stood up and replied with a smile, ¡°Our miss hasn¡¯t come back yet. What business might you have with her? Would you like to come in and wait?¡± Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected Xuanrao would be out and didn¡¯t wish to wait needlessly, so she asked, ¡°Do you know when she¡¯ll be back? What has she gone to do?¡± The old man replied, ¡°As mere servants, how dare we pry into the miss¡¯s affairs? As to when she¡¯ll return, it¡¯s uncertain. Just yesterday, she came back at 9 p.m.¡± 9 p.m was quite late. Her return was too late. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t wait and simply said, ¡°When she returns, please pass on a message for me.¡± The old man nodded and asked, ¡°What message? Please instruct me, miss.¡± ¡°An old friend from the palace sends their best regards.¡± She smiled faintly and amidst the old man¡¯s bewildered gaze, returned to the carriage. He Ying followed in, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to wait?¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°Sometimes, whether we meet or not isn¡¯t so important.¡± Knowing that Xuanrao was free and happy was enough for her. The party returned to the Imperial Palace. Life resumed as normal. Sang Yan was no longer listless, spending most of her day in the Book Collection Pavilion, reading, annotating, transcribing, and writing her own reflections. These reflections dealt with ideals, love, life, and were meant to enlighten women. Occasionally, He Ying would pull her to review petitions. She was no longer so averse to her role as a political advisor. Until someone from the Yongshou Palace sent a message. ¡°Miss Sang, the Empress Dowager summons you.¡± The messenger was Puzhu, a trusted palace maid of the Empress Dowager. Recognizing her, Sang Yan felt a surge of anxiety: Why would the Empress Dowager suddenly summon her? ¡°` Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 078 Stress Chapter 78: Chapter 078 Stress Qiuzhi hurriedly walked out. She intended to find the Emperor. Puzhu saw her and sneered with ridicule, ¡°Why be so cautious? Do you take the Empress Dowager for a flood or a savage beast?¡± Qiuzhi¡¯s steps halted, and she lied awkwardly, ¡°Lord Palace Commander misunderstands. I¡ªI just have an urgent need.¡± Puzhu obviously didn¡¯t believe her words. But she didn¡¯t say anything, turning to Sang Yan and saying, ¡°Miss Sang, let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t keep the Empress Dowager waiting anxiously.¡± Sang Yan then followed. Accompanying them were a eunuch named Little Guizi, along with several lower-ranked palace maids and eunuchs. Qiuzhi stayed behind, and once they had gone, she went to find the Emperor. Yongshou Palace Once again Sang Yan stepped in, her mindset different now. Last time she was fearful; this time she was composed. Perhaps the Emperor¡¯s love had given her confidence? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Inside the hall, the scent of Buddha Beads wafted. The Empress Dowager sat at the highest seat, eyes slightly closed, twirling Buddha Beads, a picture of tranquil composure. ¡°I greet the Empress Dowager.¡± Sang Yan curtsied. Upon hearing her, the Empress Dowager opened her eyes, her smile nurturing, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived. Puzhu, arrange a seat.¡± Puzhu had a chair brought over. Sang Yan thanked them and sat down, quietly waiting for her to speak. The Empress Dowager also remained silent for a long time before finally saying, ¡°You have changed a lot from before.¡± Previously somewhat unrefined, now much more composed and dignified. Sang Yan felt that those words seemed like praise, but also sensed some dissatisfaction, so she didn¡¯t respond; instead, she asked, ¡°May I know why the Empress Dowager has summoned me?¡± Seeing her inquiry, the Empress Dowager didn¡¯t beat around the bush and spoke honestly, ¡°The strategy that you had presented¡ªI have already sent people to attempt it. One in ten could succeed.¡± Sang Yan was baffled¡ªshe had almost forgotten about this matter. And one in ten, was the chance that high? As she pondered, the Empress Dowager continued, ¡°Your status, your fate, how you and the Emperor are¡ªthese matters I can overlook, but the issue of the heir cannot be taken lightly.¡± Listening, Sang Yan faintly guessed the Empress Dowager¡¯s intentions¡ªwas she really going to persuade her to advise the Emperor to use that method to obtain an heir? Damn, she really had shot herself in the foot this time! Would He Ying be infuriated by her? What you fear, comes upon you. The Empress Dowager said, ¡°You are clever and should understand my meaning. I give you three days, you must persuade the Emperor to adopt the method and continue the imperial line.¡± Sang Yan felt like she was being threatened. And yet she could not confront the situation head on. Just as she was feeling frustrated¡ª From outside came a voice, ¡°The Emperor has arrived.¡± A weight seemed to lift from Sang Yan¡¯s heart¡ªthe one who tied the bell must untie it. She truly wasn¡¯t adept at handling such mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships. ¡°I have come to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager.¡± He Ying hurried in, first glancing at Sang Yan to ensure she was unharmed before speaking to the Empress Dowager, and his tone was not polite. He addressed himself as Emperor, not as a filial son. The difference in status was clear. How could the Empress Dowager not perceive the Emperor¡¯s firm tone in his words? She didn¡¯t mind it, her voice as gentle as water, ¡°Don¡¯t harbor so much anger, lest you frighten your beloved darling. Very well, I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. You may take your darling and go back.¡± She easily let them go, but as Sang Yan turned away, she said, ¡°Sang Yan, remember my words. Do not disappoint me.¡± Sang Yan instantly felt a heavy pressure weigh upon her heart. She turned and gave a parting courtesy to the Empress Dowager, then followed the Emperor back. The Empress Dowager watched their figures disappear before closing her eyes and twirling her Buddha Beads again. Quietly, Puzhu asked, ¡°Will she do as told? With so many concubines driven away from the harem because of her jealousy, how could she let someone else bear the Emperor¡¯s heir?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± A hint of lethal intent crept into the Empress Dowager¡¯s voice, ¡°She is a smart girl. If she fails to persuade the Emperor to extend the imperial line, then she is an obstacle. I will never tolerate obstacles.¡± The Emperor was besotted. He seemed intent on neglecting the harem just for her. This was a grave taboo in the imperial family. Furthermore, involving the heir made her a sinner in the eyes of the world. She couldn¡¯t stay. * Once He Ying left Yongshou Palace, he asked, ¡°What did the Empress Dowager say to you?¡± Sang Yan found the matter very awkward and replied, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it when we get back. There are so many people here.¡± He Ying agreed. They got into the sedan chair and returned to a side hall in Qingning Palace. As soon as they entered the side hall, He Ying waved his hand and sent everyone else away. The hall fell silent. Sang Yan was embarrassed, but she chose her words carefully and said, ¡°I had¡­ previously shared an idea with the Empress Dowager, didn¡¯t I? She found someone to try it. It seems to be effective. She asked me to persuade the Emperor to adopt that idea to ensure the continuity of the heir.¡± He Ying was stunned for quite a while before realizing what she meant. Awkward. He was genuinely awkward and a bit resentful in his tone, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have thrown out such reckless suggestions. Now tell me, what should we do?¡± Sang Yan was at a loss for words. The method was essentially surrogacy. And surrogacy was against ethics and morality. Even though it was ancient times, where many things didn¡¯t concern ethics or morality, the thought of her beloved man having a child with another woman was repulsive, even if there was no physical relation. She wasn¡¯t infertile; she just didn¡¯t want to have children. But he was the Emperor. Indeed, there was a dynasty to continue. And up to now, there wasn¡¯t an heir. The former concubines in the harem were all pressing for an heir¡ªif it weren¡¯t for the wish to see the He Chao dynasty prosper, who would fuss over the Emperor¡¯s bedchamber matters? What to do? Was she being selfish in her refusal? Sigh, indeed, love comes with its share of troubles. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I won¡¯t trouble you with this anymore.¡± Seeing her furrowed brows and gloomy demeanor, He Ying felt sorry for her and said, ¡°I will handle this matter. Don¡¯t worry about it anymore.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan immediately asked, ¡°What are you planning to do, Emperor?¡± He Ying¡¯s tone was nonchalant, ¡°Doesn¡¯t she want an heir? I¡¯ll just give her one.¡± Sang Yan was shocked, ¡°You¡¯ve agreed?¡± She didn¡¯t agree! She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of another woman bearing his child. Without realizing it, she had also developed a sense of possession over him. ¡°No way!¡± In her agitation, she blurted out, ¡°I do not agree with you having a child with someone else.¡± He Ying, too, didn¡¯t want someone else to bear the heir; not to mention the humiliation of the method itself, the heir produced by such means might not even be his, and he certainly didn¡¯t want to create a mess with numerous illegitimate children. Besides, he would have children¡ªa love-child with her. He didn¡¯t say these words, as he didn¡¯t want her to disagree first. So, she had possessiveness over him too. Attempting to draw out her true feelings, he feigned ignorance, ¡°Why don¡¯t you agree?¡± Sang Yan was at a loss for words. Indeed, why didn¡¯t she agree? Wasn¡¯t it a good thing for someone else to bear the child for her? That was her own idea, after all! ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s just not okay.¡± Her heart in turmoil, and overcome with jealousy, she said, ¡°If you have children with another woman, then you might as well live happily with her. Have a warm bed with a wife and children; that would be fulfilling. Just forgive me, for I cannot be part of it.¡± With that, she rushed him, ¡°Go and father your child now. I need to pack my bags and return to my villa.¡± Seeing that he had upset her, He Ying quickly apologized, ¡°I was wrong. You misunderstood. I won¡¯t father an heir with anyone else. I only want to do that with you. When I said I would give her an heir, that¡¯s what I meant. I will wait for you, until you are willing to have an heir for me.¡± Chapter 79 - 079 Avoiding Fire Chapter 79: Chapter 079 Avoiding Fire ¡°` He kept talking about the heir, which really gave me a headache. Sang Yan ran out of patience and dismissed the matter, ¡°The Emperor should first recover from his illness, then we can discuss this matter.¡± Her words did not strongly deny anything. He Ying was pleased and nodded in agreement, ¡°It¡¯s all up to you.¡± He realized she needed to be alone and didn¡¯t stay long, instructing Qiuzhi to take good care of her before he left. Outside, the sky was clear and the air was fresh. Pei Muyang asked with a grin, ¡°Emperor, where are you going?¡± He Ying paused, his expression gradually turning cold, ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Empress Dowager.¡± Yongshou Palace The Empress Dowager expected the Emperor would return. She was wiping the late Emperor¡¯s spirit tablet when he arrived, and she spoke first, ¡°Why don¡¯t you also light incense for your brother?¡± Was this an attempt to play on his emotions? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï He Ying considered it and did not refuse. He took the incense Puzhu handed him, bowed sincerely three times, and placed it there. The late Emperor had been kind to him. He held that gratitude in his heart. That was why he loathed the Empress Dowager¡¯s hypocrisy, ¡°Does the Empress Dowager know what ¡®the cat weeps for the mouse with false compassion¡¯ means?¡± If she had made a decision sooner and not tolerated the Regent King¡¯s actions, how could the late Emperor have died in such a disgraceful way? The Empress Dowager, realizing his sarcasm and knowing her sins were profound, did not argue in her defense but said, ¡°I indeed owe the late Emperor an apology. Therefore, I must fulfill his last wishes.¡± The late Emperor had two last wishes: one was for Da He to prosper and thrive, and the second was for the royal family to have abundant heirs. He Ying frowned, ¡°Sang Yan and I will have children.¡± The Empress Dowager smiled, ¡°I expect more than just one child.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± One was indeed a bit few. Having both a son and a daughter would be best. More would be meaningless. The Empress Dowager disagreed, ¡°The Beiqi royal family has as many as twenty heirs. If the Emperor could strive for half of that, I would be completely satisfied.¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± Ten? What did she think of him? A breeding horse? Anger boiled in his heart. Just as he was about to erupt¡ª ¡°Things are quite unstable in the former dynasty now, right?¡± The Empress Dowager suddenly changed the subject, smiling with certainty, ¡°Since her entrance to the palace, she has caused much controversy. The harem of the former dynasty is also unsettled. Emperor, you should know that now you can only use the heir to shut their mouths.¡± He Ying felt threatened and sneered coldly, ¡°You think I care? Whoever dares to meddle in my private matters will be killed by me.¡± The matriarch, hearing this, laughed and countered, ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t the Emperor kill? Didn¡¯t the new censor, Ding Sai, almost collide with the column to admonish you? Didn¡¯t the grand academician of the Hanlin Academy, Jiang Chongyu, threaten to rally the students of the Imperial College at the Meridian Gate to plead for mercy? These too are acts of defiance. Why doesn¡¯t the Emperor kill them?¡± He Ying, ¡°¡­¡± Because of Sang Yan. She didn¡¯t want anyone to die because of her. So he couldn¡¯t kill for her. ¡°Think about it carefully.¡± The Empress Dowager looked at him compassionately, as if seeing another person through him, and slowly said, ¡°Xinyuan, my patience is running low.¡± She called He Ying by his given name. He Ying¡¯s brows furrowed, and he said disgustedly, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± The Empress Dowager persisted in her compassion, ¡°You have had smooth sailing since you ascended the throne, I worry about you¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± He Ying roared lowly, unable to listen any further, and turned to leave. Hypocrisy! Disgusting! He strode out of the palace. The Empress Dowager watched his retreating figure, wanting to say something but started coughing first. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± ¡°Empress Dowager¡ª¡± Puzhu quickly supported her, calling for someone to bring tea. ¡°No need. I¡¯m fine. This Xinyuan¡ª¡± She gestured dismissively, laughing bitterly, ¡°He¡¯s nothing like Xiuming.¡± Despite being brothers, they were nothing alike. ¡°` She fell into memories, her tone becoming sorrowful, ¡°Xiuming was kind to me, a filial child, yet I failed to protect him.¡± Puzhu helped her sit down on a chair, smoothed her ghastly aura, and persuaded her, ¡°Empress Dowager, why worry yourself so? The Emperor doesn¡¯t know your hardships at all. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just take good care of yourself?¡± But the Empress Dowager was a stubborn woman. She closed her eyes and gently waved her hands, ¡°Send for Wan Zhang.¡± * Wan Zhang wrote something at his desk. After finishing, he placed a few thin papers into an envelope and tucked it inside a book. He returned the book to the bookshelf. The bookshelf held many books. The book blended in unnoticed. Just as he did this, the door opened¡ª Puzhu entered and said to him, ¡°The Empress Dowager summons you.¡± Wan Zhang nodded and followed her. Before closing the door, he glanced at the bookshelf¡¯s direction. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not drinking today?¡± Puzhu waited until the door was closed, keeping a close distance, surprised not to smell any alcohol on him. Wan Zhang heard the mockery and laughed aloud, ¡°Haha, stopped, from today onwards, I¡¯m not drinking anymore.¡± Puzhu gave him a puzzled look, thinking him more insane sober than drunk. * He Ying reviewed petitions in the Imperial Study. After what felt like an entire day, he had only managed to review two. Pei Muyang brought in some tea, noticing this, he softly called out, ¡°Emperor, Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying snapped back to reality, ¡°What is it?¡± Pei Muyang smiled, ¡°Perhaps the Emperor is tired. Why not drink some tea to refresh yourself?¡± He Ying did not refuse. He picked up the teacup, took two sips, set it aside, and began to drift off again. Unable to contain himself, Pei Muyang asked, ¡°Does the Emperor have any worries?¡± He Ying nodded truthfully, ¡°Ah Yan asked me to cure my illness first before discussing children. Does she mean she¡¯ll bear my child once I¡¯m healed?¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± It turned out he had been distracted by this thought. He pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°It sounds¡­ like that¡¯s what she meant.¡± He Ying asked further, ¡°Then what do you suggest for the treatment?¡± Pei Muyang was stunned, scratching his head: The Imperial Hospital has so many skilled Imperial Physicians, yet none had a clue; what idea could a eunuch possibly have? But since the Emperor asked, he had to give an answer. Thinking hard, he awkwardly said, ¡°I remember Lord Sang said that drinking until senseless slows reaction. Maybe, Your Majesty could get drunk and then favor Lord Sang?¡± He Ying thought it over and decided it was a good suggestion. However, the concern remained on how to properly favor her. ¡°First, fetch me some fire escape maps.¡± He needed to quickly make sense of the experience, else he¡¯d embarrass himself before Sang Yan. Pei Muyang was prompt to respond, ¡°Yes.¡± In no more than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he had gathered several rolls of fire escape maps. He even glanced at a few himself; the images were clear, the figures exquisitely beautiful, especially those positions which seemed almost animated. Even as a eunuch, he found himself overheating. But He Ying was different. As soon as he opened them and saw the intertwined naked figures, he started to itch all over. ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± He quickly closed the fire escape maps and applied some Jade Frost Ointment. Seeing this, Pei Muyang cautiously said, ¡°Your Majesty, if you always react this way, when will you successfully favor a concubine? I often hear the Imperial Physicians discussing fighting poison with poison and facing not evading, hence I boldly ask Your Majesty to continue looking.¡± He Ying found it reasonable. He was the Emperor, how could he not endure this hardship? He reopened the fire escape map. He scrutinized every detail, right down to the texture of a woman¡¯s skin, leaving nothing unmissed. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± He covered his mouth, retching violently. His body was already densely covered with small red bumps. No amount of Jade Frost Ointment helped. Pei Muyang, torn between urgency and fear, knelt down, slapping his own mouth, ¡°Your Majesty, forgive me. It was my fault for speaking too much. I won¡¯t dare again.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°Get up. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± His complexion was pale and swaying as he sat on the Dragon Bed, he managed a self-deprecating smile, ¡°If I approach Ah Yan looking like this, she¡¯d probably kick me off the bed, right?¡± Chapter 80 - 080 Evil Chapter 80: Chapter 080 Evil Pei Muyang wouldn¡¯t dare respond. But as he thought about Sang Yan¡¯s character, it indeed seemed possible that she would kick the Emperor out of the bed. ¡°Go get that thing.¡± He Ying still wanted to see it. He didn¡¯t believe it would disgust him to death. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Pei Muyang didn¡¯t dare hand it over, softly advising, ¡°Emperor, do not rush heedlessly.¡± ... The palace maid had already brought the medicine. Pei Muyang immediately took it and handed it to the Emperor, ¡°I hope the Emperor cherishes himself.¡± He Ying downed the medicine in one breath but still insisted, ¡°Less nonsense, bring up that thing.¡± Seeing this, Pei Muyang could only present the item. With that presentation, the consumed medicine was all in vain. He Ying vomited it out, all while looking on, as if self-tormenting. Pei Muyang knew this couldn¡¯t continue, mainly because it harmed the Emperor¡¯s health, so he had someone call Sang Yan over from the side hall. When Sang Yan entered, the palace maids were cleaning the vomit off the floor and had lit many incense sticks. After a flurry of activity, the hall was restored to its original state. ¡°Why have you come?¡± He Ying, behind layers of gauzy curtains, saw the last person he wanted to see. He appeared like this, and Pei Muyang dared to call her here! ¡°Pei Muyang, such audacity!¡± He hurriedly fixed his robe, turning his back, and roared in rage, ¡°Guards, drag him out and beat him with thirty strokes!¡± The guards, hearing the order, briskly came in. Pei Muyang crashed to his knees, ¡°Emperor, forgive me! Emperor, spare my life!¡± He then turned towards Sang Yan, kowtowing and pleading, ¡°I hope Lord Sang shows me mercy!¡± Sang Yan knew his worry for the Emperor¡¯s health motivated his actions. His intentions were good, and he was loyal, punishing him would be truly disheartening, so she spoke for him, ¡°Enough, if you have grievances, vent them on me. Why mistreat him?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± How could he hold any grievances against her? Just now was indeed not a good time to see her. ¡°You go first. When I¡¯m better, I¡¯ll explain everything to you.¡± His current appearance, disheveled and dirty, was too undignified to face her. Sang Yan vaguely guessed his concerns and said, ¡°Emperor, being a man, why do you value appearance so much?¡± His actions reminded her of Emperor Han Wu¡¯s favored concubine, Lady Li. It was said that before her death, Emperor Han Wu asked several times to see her, all requests denied. The reason was simple: she did not want him to see her frail and sickly appearance. To her dying day, in his heart, she would remain the most beautiful. Indeed, wasn¡¯t such behavior pathetically pitiful? The Emperor¡¯s love was too fleeting; to retain even a trace of it, even close to death, one wouldn¡¯t dare let him see their sickly appearance. She wondered whether she was scared or felt lonely when she died. ¡°I am not concerned about appearance; I just don¡¯t want to frighten you.¡± He Ying explained his behavior. Sang Yan snapped back to reality, nonchalantly saying, ¡°Your Majesty worries too much. I am not so timid.¡± Saying that, she lifted the curtains and walked in. He Ying, hearing the movements, instinctively burrowed deeper into the covers. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Really? She almost laughed aloud, ¡°Emperor, aren¡¯t you hot?¡± He Ying was indeed hot. Not only hot, but his whole body was also itching unbearably. But he stubbornly remained under the covers. ¡°You go back now. I¡¯ll be fine in a moment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± Sang Yan sat at the bedside, thought for a moment, and delivered some sweet words, ¡°Your Majesty need not worry. No matter your appearance, I like you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He Ying was somewhat touched but still didn¡¯t lift the covers. He was sweating profusely, and the stickiness was uncomfortable. ¡°Ah Yan, go out first, I beg you. Let me have a bath and tidy myself up, alright?¡± His tone was almost pleading. He was so humble it was unbearable. Sang Yan¡¯s heart softened, and she didn¡¯t trouble him, stepping outside instead. He Ying quietly peeked out, saw her leave, and summoned Pei Muyang to prepare cold water. He took a cold shower, refreshed, and the bumps on his body gradually subsided. His mood finally improved. But he held grudges, lifting his foot and kicking Pei Muyang, ¡°That¡¯s for acting on your own! Go kneel outside for an hour!¡± Thunder and rain are both graces from the Emperor. Pei Muyang dared not argue, lamenting inwardly, but smiling outwardly, ¡°Thank you, Emperor, for your gracious pardon.¡± He went out and knelt. No one dared to supervise him. He could slack off or be defiant, but ultimately, he knelt earnestly. The Emperor didn¡¯t despise him like Yu Huai De did. Kneeling for an hour was nothing new to him. ¡°What happened?¡± Half an hour later, Sang Yan returned and, seeing Pei Muyang kneeling, asked. Pei Muyang replied with a wry smile, ¡°I offended the Emperor. It was my fault. The Emperor commanded me to kneel for an hour. It¡¯s no trouble. Please go ahead, my lord. The Emperor is waiting.¡± Sang Yan thought for a moment and gave him a task, ¡°I feel like having bird¡¯s nest soup. Please go inform the Imperial Kitchen.¡± Pei Muyang immediately got up, smiling, ¡°I will go now and resume kneeling upon my return.¡± Sang Yan did not respond and stepped into the hall. Inside the hall, He Ying sat on the bed, frowning, still thinking about the fire escape map¡ªhe felt sick just looking at it, how could he follow it to reproduce with Sang Yan? Although he had already understood the steps. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Sang Yan asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong all of a sudden? Who upset you?¡± He Ying honestly replied, ¡°No one. Just looked at some fire escape maps.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± A startling revelation. Fire escape map=erotic painting, right? Why suddenly talk about this? Wait, the point is, he feels nauseous looking at those images? Is his condition incurable now? Ah, what a mess. He Ying waited for a while without getting a response and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Sang Yan, with a helpless expression, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± She truly hadn¡¯t expected his condition to be so severe. Previously, she thought he was being overly dramatic¡ªfavoring a concubine only took a few minutes, was it really that hard to bear? But now, she was confused. He Ying understood too, sighed, and said, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know what to say either.¡± He had already given up on treatment, resigning himself, ¡°Why not get me drunk? Maybe then you can do as you please.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What a terrible idea! She regretted saying it! She was only theorizing, not daring or wanting to actually try it! ¡°Emperor, please, stop joking.¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to misbehave with a drunk, heaven, just thinking about it felt so wicked! Too filthy. She wasn¡¯t that desperate! But He Ying was serious, ¡°I am not joking. I want to have a child with you. We must.¡± After saying that, he ordered someone to fetch wine. Soon, the wine arrived. He drank jar after jar. Sang Yan realized he was serious and blushed as she said, ¡°Actually, Emperor, just to let you know, when a man is truly drunk, that part won¡¯t respond.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Confused, he asked naively, ¡°What about if I¡¯m half-drunk?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°No good. When half-drunk, if a woman conceives, it¡¯s not good for the child, affecting the child¡¯s health.¡± He Ying, frustrated, scratched his head, ¡°Why is having a child so difficult?¡± Chapter 81 - 081 Chongshan Chapter 81: Chapter 081 Chongshan The matter of having a child ultimately wasn¡¯t successful. The news even reached the ears of the Empress Dowager. She twiddled with her Buddha Beads, heaved a heavy sigh, and said to Puzhu, ¡°The Emperor acts recklessly and willfully, Ai¡¯s family has already given them a chance. Go let Jiang Chongyu take action.¡± Puzhu bowed his head and responded, ¡°Yes.¡± * Jiang Chongyu was a Hanlin Academy Scholar. ... He was a prodigy, passing the scholar examinations at sixteen, joined the Hanlin Academy, and over the years, accumulated a high reputation, and was a role model for the students of the Imperial College. Therefore, it was a simple matter for him to lead three thousand students to petition at the Meridian Gate. ¡°Beauty brings disaster to the state! Execute her!¡± ¡°Beauty brings disaster to the state! Execute her!¡± The crowd was stirred. The slogan¡¯s sound resounded through the skies. Some officials were also kneeling and shouting, ¡°Your Majesty, the Sang Family¡¯s daughter, a harbinger of husband, family, and brother¡¯s death, she is of a sinister destiny! The locust plague in Wuzhou, the Thunder Strike in the Imperial Palace, are all divine warnings!¡± He blamed everything that had happened recently on Sang Yan. Qu Zhi sat in the carriage, watching this scene, and said to his confidant Cai Yuan, ¡°At this time, to get rid of the Sang Family¡¯s daughter, we¡¯re just missing a spark.¡± Cai Yuan immediately offered a strategy, ¡°My lord, don¡¯t worry. Wan Zhang from the Observatory is precisely that spark.¡± Qu Zhi¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Quick, tell me in detail¡ª¡± Cai Yuan then whispered, ¡°Does my lord recall why Wan Zhang was punished to guard the Imperial Mausoleum? He must have read the Sang Family¡¯s daughter¡¯s face, even determined her fate, if he suddenly dies¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence, but Qu Zhi understood. ¡°Excellent idea.¡± After praising Qu Zhi, he continued with his own scheme: ¡°Sang Kun, for the sake of his daughter¡¯s fate, once deliberately concealed the locust disaster in Wuzhou. Now, it¡¯s even more likely he will kill Wan Zhang to silence him!¡± Cai Yuan had the same intention, smiling sycophantically, ¡°My lord¡¯s name will shine. As long as Wan Zhang is dead, how the Sang Family¡¯s daughter¡¯s destiny is viewed will depend on what we say, and that Sang Kun won¡¯t think about rising higher.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I want to make Sang Kun regret not dying in Wuzhou.¡± Qu Zhi seemed to see the scene of the Sang Family falling out of favor, grinning from ear to ear. Just then, a guard¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°Master, there is a letter from the palace.¡± Upon hearing this, Qu Zhi¡¯s eyes sharpened, his smile faded, and he reached out to receive the letter. The letter was not from a spy in the palace, but from his daughter Qu Xueli. [¡­Sang Yan is kind and amiable, fair and impartial, commanding a good reputation in the palace. She has saved my daughter twice. I am greatly indebted and hope that my father will not involve himself in this matter. If possible, please mediate¡­] His daughter was actually pleading for the enemy. Furious, Qu Zhi cursed, ¡°Fool! Womanly kindness!¡± Cai Yuan, unaware of the details, asked anxiously, ¡°My lord, what has happened?¡± Qu Zhi replied angrily, ¡°My foolish daughter is asking me to plead for Sang Yan. Totally useless. She¡¯s been scared witless in the palace.¡± After hearing this, Cai Yuan had nothing to say and shut his mouth. Qu Zhi cursed a couple more times but quickly regained his composure, ¡°I can¡¯t count on my daughter. To secure our future, we must take a risk.¡± Cai Yuan agreed and clasped his hands, ¡°I await my lord¡¯s orders.¡± Qu Zhi crumpled the letter into a ball, his eyes fierce, ¡°Let¡¯s start with Wan Zhang.¡± * Lately, Wan Zhang had always been climbing to the highest level of the Observatory, overlooking the entire Imperial City. In fact, having seen it for so long, there was nothing much to see in the Imperial City. But precisely because there was nothing to see, there was a melancholy feeling of everything changing, of friends dying and parting ways. ¡°Wan Zhang¡ª¡± He saw the late Emperor. At that time, the late Emperor was a sixteen-year-old lad, in the prime of youth, with a brilliance once shimmering in his eyes. ¡°Wan Zhang, would you read my fortune? Why do you read fortunes for others but refuse to read mine?¡± ¡°Wan Zhang, I¡¯m sixteen now, about to rule on my own. Quickly see my face, will I be a good Emperor?¡± ¡°Wan Zhang, the Imperial Censor praised me today, saying I have the talent of an Emperor.¡± ¡°Wan Zhang, you must assist me well. Once I¡¯m firmly seated on the throne, I will make you an Aliased King.¡± ¡°Wan Zhang¡ª¡± He laughingly called his name, youthful and high-spirited, as if all the hardships could be trampled underfoot. How could he tell him: No! You don¡¯t have the face of an Emperor! You don¡¯t even have the face of longevity! No! He must have mistaken! He definitely mistook it! He locked himself in his room, poring over the works of his predecessors day and night, seeking a way to break the curse. ¡°Bang!¡± He threw a peach at the window. He pushed open the window and saw him climbing the peach tree, smiling at him, ¡°Wan Zhang, come out and play. The Imperial Palace is so boring. If you ignore me, I will suffocate.¡± Occasionally, his heart softened, and he would go out and play with him. But more often, he hardened his heart, closed the window, and continued to read. He was the Emperor, yet he did not mind his rudeness, let him be, and left in disappointment. However, gradually, he stopped coming and began to indulge in a life of hedonism. He learned of his outrageous behavior and went to advise him, ¡°Emperor, you are degenerating. You can¡¯t keep going like this.¡± He was drinking wine, in a hot spring pool, draped with several naked beauties. He was breathing lightly, as if enjoying himself yet seemingly distracted, ¡°Wan Zhang, you¡¯re eighteen now, right? Have you chosen a literary name?¡± He shook his head and replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll choose one for you.¡± ¡°What name?¡± ¡°Chongshan.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because what I love lies beyond the Chongshan.¡± He laughed loudly and said, ¡°Wan Zhongshan, don¡¯t come again in the future.¡± ¡°You are willfully corrupt!¡± ¡°You are lewd and dissolute!¡± ¡°You have disappointed me too much!¡± He left angrily and did not see him again for many days. He had gone too far. Was it a curse? He must have been cursed! Barely enduring for half a month. He went to see him again, and he had changed a lot, showing a haggard look from overindulgence. He thought about his ominous demeanor and softly advised, ¡°Emperor, your health is not good; you must stay away from women and cultivate your temperament.¡± To prevent him from continuing his reckless behavior, he moved into his sleeping quarters and drove all the flirtatious concubines out. He saw him, lying on the bed laughing, ¡°Wan Zhongshan, the night is long. Now that you¡¯ve sent them away, will you keep me company?¡± Before he could reply, he started coughing non-stop and fainted. He took advantage of his sleep to touch his thin and haggard face, unable to help himself from saying, ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll keep you company.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Did he hear it? He must have heard it. But when he woke up, everything changed. ¡°Did I not make myself clear when I said you don¡¯t need to come? Do you take me for a joke?¡± ¡°Wan Zhongshan, you are nothing but a plaything to me!¡± ¡°How pitiful you are!¡± Every sentence of his pierced his heart. He felt himself falling. Endlessly falling. ¡°Wan Jianzheng!¡± Someone was calling. He crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, the pain so intense that he could not tell whether it was a dream or reality. ¡°Cough cough cough¡ª¡± He coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood, and his vision went dark. Before he lost consciousness, he heard someone cry out, ¡°Quick, call the Imperial Physician! Wan Jianzheng has fallen from the building!¡± Chapter 82 - 082 Shifting the Blame Chapter 82: Chapter 082 Shifting the Blame Wan Zhang looked at the figure turned away from him, his heart aching unbearably, ¡°Why? Emperor, why do you do this? What did I do wrong?¡± He did not answer. Nor did he see him again afterward. It was too simple for the Emperor not to see someone if he wished not to. And he really never saw him again. Until he contracted that filthy disease. ... He summoned him, and his first words were, ¡°I know, I do not have the bearing of an Emperor.¡± He knelt on the ground, at a loss for words. Two years had passed without seeing each other, they had become too unfamiliar. He even dared not look at his face. The proud and spirited young man in his heart had long died. Now, what lingered breathlessly was a withered body covered with sores. ¡°You resent me.¡± He sighed and then laughed, ¡°Indeed, I have wronged you. It¡¯s only natural for you to resent me.¡± In truth, he wanted to say, I don¡¯t resent you. I just don¡¯t know how to face you. ¡°Chongshan, I am leaving. Poor Ah Yin is doomed to repeat my fate.¡± No. The Second Prince was destined for great riches and honor, having the bearing of an Emperor. He should at least let him leave without any worries. But he dared not. The Regent King Pei Zhen was lurking outside, watchful as a tiger. If he knew He Ying had the Emperor¡¯s bearing, he would surely act swiftly to remove him. All he could say was, ¡°Emperor, everyone has their destiny, do not dwell on it further.¡± He listened and sighed in agreement, ¡°Indeed, everyone has their destiny. What is yours then, Chongshan?¡± He didn¡¯t know either. Doctors do not heal themselves; observers do not self-observe. One would have to defy the will of Heaven and willingly accept divine retribution to pry into the secrets of fate. In a flash, sixteen years had passed. Time was short and yet endless. He was too tired. In the end, he defied the will of Heaven and spied into his own fate. It turned out, he was going to die as well. Not of this world, his spirit struggled to linger. He closed his eyes with a smile. Imperial Hospital The Imperial Physicians knelt on the ground, crying mournfully, ¡°Emperor spare our lives! Emperor spare our lives! Director Wan¡ª¡± In the midsummer of the 16th year of Xin Yuan, Wan Zhang, Director of the Imperial Observatory, died from a fall, at the age of thirty-six. He Ying covered his eyes, not looking at the blood-covered person on the bed. His head ached, a buzzing sound in his brain. ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Pei Muyang hurriedly supported him, advising, ¡°The dead cannot be brought back to life, please restrain your grief.¡± He Ying did not feel any personal loss. His relationship with Wan Zhang was average; their interactions rare, with little acquaintance. It was the late Emperor who had a better relationship with Wan Zhang and was concerned about him before his death, ¡°Wan Zhang is a man of integrity, not adept at courting favor, and often out of touch with worldly affairs. Xin Yuan, should he do something in the future that displeases you, please show leniency on account of my face.¡± The late Emperor had even left a decree to protect him and the Observatory. But in the end, he was not protected. ¡°Go investigate!¡± He Ying, pressing against his throbbing forehead, ordered harshly, ¡°Let Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, the Prison Department investigate! And Xie Sui! They must find out the culprit behind all this!¡± He clenched his fists, struggling to contain his murderous intent. Sang Yan received the news and saw upon arrival the body on the bed covered with a white cloth. Dead? So suddenly? ¡°` Just two days ago, they were casually chatting. At that time, he was sipping wine, a smile on his face, so leisurely and at ease, as if everything was under his control. Sang Yan covered her mouth, wanting to lift the white cloth¡ª Qiuzhi grabbed her hand, shook her head, and said, ¡°Miss, you¡¯d better not look. Be careful not to frighten yourself.¡± It was a fall to death. Falling from such a high place. It must have hurt so much. Sang Yan pulled her hand back and looked at the Emperor, ¡°How¡­ how could this have happened?¡± He Ying couldn¡¯t provide an answer. He stood by, waiting for someone to come and examine the body. Xie Sui was the first to arrive, lifting the white cloth to investigate the cause of death and the remaining evidence. He was closely followed by officials from the Prison Department, Dali Temple, and the Ministry of Justice. A group of people came and went, even visited the scene of the incident, and for two consecutive days, the entire palace was on strict lockdown, all in pursuit of clues. During this time, only Sang Yan mentioned his post-mortem affairs. He Ying already had an idea, he sighed, ¡°Let¡¯s bury him next to the late Emperor¡¯s mausoleum.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan seemed to understand but said nothing. The next evening In the Imperial Study The Prison Department was the first to present the investigation results, ¡°The little eunuch Liu Tang, who cleans the Imperial Observatory, has already confessed, saying he pushed Wan Jianzheng down the stairs at Sang Kun¡¯s behest.¡± Upon hearing this, He Ying exploded, ¡°Wang Lishuo, I¡¯ve given you chance after chance, and this is what you come up with?¡± He threw the case file down and rushed over, kicking Wang Lishuo to the ground. Wang Lishuo landed on his back, utterly disheveled, but he got up, straightened his official hat, and continued, ¡°Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Liu Tang said, Sang Kun had long disapproved of his daughter¡¯s husband-killing fate, fearing Wan Zhang would interfere at this time and spoil things, so he decided to kill him!¡± He Ying, hearing the so-called murder motive, laughed, ¡°Bring him in. I will interrogate him myself.¡± Wang Lishuo then had Liu Tang brought in. Liu Tang had been severely tortured and couldn¡¯t walk, so he was dragged in by the guards. Leaving a trail of bloodstains. ¡°This servant¡­ pays respect to Your Majesty¡ª¡± His face was ashen, sweating profusely from pain, both hands trembling as he made a bow. He Ying glanced over and saw a very young little eunuch, just sixteen or seventeen, slight in build, timid in demeanor, even cross-eyed, an ordinary little eunuch as ordinary as they come. ¡°You say it was Sang Kun who ordered you to kill?¡± He Ying twirled his jade thumb ring as he asked, ¡°There are so many eunuchs in the palace; why did he choose you? In other words, how did you catch his eye, gain his trust?¡± Murdering an official is a grave crime. Even if Sang Kun planned to kill, he shouldn¡¯t choose such an unreliable little eunuch. ¡°After your success, regardless of whatever conditions he promised you, he should have killed you immediately to seal your lips, but you¡¯re still alive. Could it be that you have something on him?¡± He was setting a trap. The more you say, the more mistakes you make. He was waiting for his mistake. Liu Tang, not the brightest, followed his train of thought, ¡°Mr. Sang frequented the Imperial Observatory, inquiring about Lord Sang¡¯s fate. This servant served tea and overheard bits and pieces. Director Wan said Lord Sang¡¯s fate was not favorable, detrimental to the nation and the Emperor. Mr. Sang wanted to bribe Director Wan to change his statement, but Director Wan is upright and always refused to give in. It seems that¡¯s why Mr. Sang harbored the intent to kill. As this servant belongs to the Imperial Observatory, often following Director Wan, familiar with his routines, perhaps that¡¯s why Mr. Sang chose me. As to why he didn¡¯t kill me? Perhaps Mr. Sang thought I still had some use.¡± Actually, his fabrication was quite reasonable. If He Ying hadn¡¯t heard from Wan Zhang about Sang Yan¡¯s fate, he might have believed it today. But he had heard it, knew what Sang Yan¡¯s fate was, and knew the fate Liu Tang spoke of, detrimental to the nation and the Emperor, was pure fabrication! It seems someone wanted to frame Sang Kun! Indeed. The former court had been harping on Sang Yan¡¯s fate. Now, killing the person with the most authority to speak on the matter of fate made sense. The mastermind behind this was really calculating. They hadn¡¯t killed Sang Kun before, now they continued the killing! He Ying, figuring out the connection, suppressed his rage and continued, ¡°So you mean to say, Sang Kun thought highly of you, and yet you betrayed him like this?¡± Liu Tang immediately started crying and kowtowing, ¡°This servant has let Mr. Sang down. I¡¯m afraid of pain, can¡¯t bear the suffering, I had to confess.¡± He had indeed suffered heavy torture. All the bones in both legs were broken. Everything was perfect. Murder, framing, confession under torture, flawlessly impeccable. ¡°` Chapter 83 - 083 Taoist Chapter 83: Chapter 083 Taoist ¡°Silence! What audacity! To spout nonsense in front of Us!¡± He Ying felt his imperial dignity being violated and harshly ordered severe punishment, ¡°This person intends to shift the blame to one of the court officials, his heart is vicious, and he persists in his delusions. Take him away and execute him by lingchi!¡± The guards sprang into action, dragging Liu Tang away. Liu Tang wailed, looking to the skies, ¡°Emperor, I speak the truth. It truly was Mr. Sang who made me kill Wan Zhang. Your Majesty, please see the truth. Emperor¡ª¡± His tragic screams echoed continuously. The ministers kneeling outside the Imperial Study heard everything distinctly. ... ¡°Please, Emperor, order harsh punishment for the murderer! Execute the demoness!¡± ¡°Emperor, you mustn¡¯t persist in your delusions!¡± ¡°Emperor, Wan Zhang was a close friend of the late Emperor and had contributed to the elimination of the Pei Faction. To die at the hands of such villains, it is truly pitiful! You must seek justice for him!¡± ¡°Minister Jiang Chongyu, along with three thousand students from the Imperial College, kneels and begs the Emperor to remove the treacherous officials! Execute the demoness!¡± ¡­ Their clamor grew even more massive. He Ying, inside, listened with an increasingly cold expression and murderous intent swirling in his eyes. Ah, so this was what Sang Yan had always feared, wasn¡¯t it? Indeed¡­ it was interesting. Qingning Palace, Side Hall Sang Yan also learned of the palace unrest and found herself the target of everyone¡¯s arrows. She had always feared this kind of situation, but now that it had come, she felt unexpectedly calm. Qiuzhi was different. She paced around Sang Yan, shaking in her hands and voice, ¡°What, what do we do? Miss, will the Emperor, will the Emperor compromise, kill us, to appease, appease the public anger?¡± Sang Yan believed He Ying would not do so. Strange, this belief seemed entirely without basis. ¡°Alright, stop pacing. You¡¯re making me dizzy.¡± She stopped Qiuzhi¡¯s pacing. Qiuzhi stopped pacing around her, but now wanted to go out to gather information. However, they were surrounded by two layers of guards. She couldn¡¯t even get out. ¡°I need to go to the Imperial Kitchen to ask for a bowl of lotus seed soup; my master is hungry.¡± She deliberately sought an excuse. The head of the guards said, ¡°Go back first, we will send someone.¡± Saying so, he signaled another guard to go to the kitchen with the message. Qiuzhi failed to get out, thought for a while, then took out some money to bribe the guard, ¡°Brother, I want to ask about something, about the killing of Mr. Wan, has anything been found out? How does the Emperor plan to deal with the kneeling officials?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have nothing to tell you.¡± The lead guard was iron-faced and unyielding, showing no favoritism. Qiuzhi could do nothing but sit at the gates of the hall, waiting for fate¡¯s arrangement. Until Sang Ruoshui arrived. The guards actually weren¡¯t prepared to let her through. But Sang Ruoshui slapped one across the face, and that chief guard shut up. The Emperor had only ordered that Sang Yan be protected, not allowing her out of the side hall. As for someone entering the side hall? It probably didn¡¯t count as dereliction on their part. Sang Ruoshui entered the side hall and brought news, ¡°It¡¯s still a deadlock. Someone took the chance to slander, saying it was our father who killed Wan Zhang, how absurd! Luckily, the Emperor is wise and wasn¡¯t deceived!¡± Sang Yan was unaware of this turn of events, feeling in an instant that even the Sang Family was caught in someone else¡¯s schemes. ¡°Big sister, you needn¡¯t worry, the Emperor will surely protect you.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t rely entirely on the Emperor.¡± Sang Yan massaged her temples, recalling her few encounters with Wan Zhang¡ªa man so intelligent, so world-weary, he must have considered his arrangements for after his death, right? Could he have left a will or something? Thinking this, she told Sang Ruoshui, ¡°Make a trip to the Observatory. Wan Zhang might have left some things.¡± Sang Ruoshui, seeing her serious expression, didn¡¯t inquire further and turned to leave. At the same time He Ying also thought of this. The last time he saw Wan Zhang, thinking deeply about his words now, it seemed like he was settling his affairs. So, had he anticipated his own death? ¡°Good, good, be gone, be gone. This is the last thing I can do for the He Family.¡± This sentence echoed in his mind incessantly. ¡°Someone, search the Observatory immediately to see if there¡¯s any kind of suicide note or such.¡± He had been so worried before that he had forgotten how clever Wan Zhang was. Pei Muyang personally went to the Observatory. * Sang Yan was still waiting for Sang Ruoshui to return. But instead of her, the Empress Dowager arrived. ¡°How dare you! Who dares to obstruct when the Empress Dowager wishes to see someone?¡± With a stern shout, Puzhu charged into the side hall with her entourage. Holding the Empress Dowager¡¯s imperial decree, the guards looked at each other, unable to obstruct, and could only go to inform the Emperor. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Quickly let the Emperor know, the Empress Dowager has taken Lord Sang away.¡± After sending someone to deliver the message, the head guard also followed with his men. They must ensure Sang Yan¡¯s safety! * Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected the Empress Dowager to make a move at this time. Indeed, she had previously defied her order and naturally had to pay the price. Yongshou Palace was still filled with the fragrance of Buddha incense. But the scent was too strong, suffocating. Today, there was no sunlight. The palace also felt ominously chilly, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. The Empress Dowager, sitting at the head, saw her enter and eerily said, ¡°This is the Sang Family¡¯s daughter. I request the Fairy to read her face.¡± Hearing the voice, Sang Yan only then saw a middle-aged woman dressed like a Taoist emerging from within. Dressed in light grey Taoist robes, plain yet solemn, her expression was serious and her gaze icy cold. Unnervingly inducing fear. Sang Yan thought of Wan Zhang, whose emotions were always plain on his face, and preferred him more. Wan Zhang¡­ what a pity. ¡°What a pity.¡± The words of the Taoist echoed by her ear. Sang Yan¡¯s heart shuddered and she hurriedly asked, ¡°Fairy, why do you say this?¡± The Taoist didn¡¯t answer her but gestured for the Empress Dowager to have her taken away. They needed to talk privately. Understanding this, Sang Yan said angrily, ¡°What is it that you can¡¯t say in front of me? Aren¡¯t you supposed to read my face? Why the secrecy? It¡¯s all an act!¡± Though she was furious and unwilling to leave, she was still carried out by several palace maids and locked in a side hall. She kicked the door in anger. The noise faintly traveled to the main hall. The Empress Dowager, listening, didn¡¯t take it to heart but asked the Taoist, ¡°Is there anything unusual about her face?¡± The Taoist first pressed her palms together and bowed three times towards a certain direction, then said, ¡°This woman is not from this realm.¡± The Empress Dowager was shocked and lost color, ¡°Not from this realm? What do you mean? Reincarnated through another¡¯s corpse?¡± The Taoist nodded, ¡°She is also one of fortune¡¯s thin, an amalgamation of coincidental fate. It¡¯s beneficial and harmful for the country and the Emperor, dependent on fate.¡± The Empress Dowager did not understand, ¡°What do you mean beneficial and harmful for the country and the Emperor?¡± The Taoist bowed her head, ¡°Empress Dowager, the secrets of heaven must not be revealed.¡± The Empress Dowager was too shocked. She quickly fingered her Buddha beads to calm herself, asking, ¡°Before Wan Zhang died, I summoned him. He asked me to treat her kindly and said that the entire Da He Royal Heir lineage rests solely with her. Do you think so too?¡± The Taoist remained silent. Silence meant consent. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager sighed deeply, ¡°But I cannot accept her.¡± Her niece, the Empress, was still at Qifeng Palace, waiting for the Emperor¡¯s favor. She had planned it already, to use the Emperor¡¯s dragon essence on the Empress first, so that she would have a chance at life when she died. Yet, they all said, the entire Da He Royal Heir lineage rested with this woman. Ridiculous! A widow cursed with a husband-killing fate was supposed to continue the Royal Heir? ¡°If I insist on killing her, what will happen?¡± Chapter 84 - 084 Vomiting Blood Chapter 84: Chapter 084 Vomiting Blood ¡°Let me out!¡± ¡°Stop playing tricks!¡± ¡°I want to see the Empress Dowager!¡± Sang Yan was banging on the door and yelling loudly. No one paid any attention. Time passed unknowingly. ... Suddenly, the door opened. Puzhu entered with others. Seeing a Maid following Puzhu with wine, Sang Yan panicked: Was the Empress Dowager going to order her death? She did not want to die! ¡°I want to see the Emperor.¡± ¡°I have done nothing wrong.¡± Ever since she came to this dynasty, she had been kind to others, never abusing power for personal gain. How had she still ended up in this predicament? ¡°Mrs. Sang, you¡¯ve seduced the Emperor. Just this accusation alone is enough for you to die a thousand times.¡± Puzhu looked down on her as if she were an ant. Sang Yan shook her head, tears unknowingly falling: ¡°No. I didn¡¯t.¡± She had always advised He Ying to be a good Emperor. But what about He Ying? Why hadn¡¯t he come yet? Was he detained, or¡­ had he given up on her? ¡°Puzhu, the Emperor cares about me a lot. If you poison me like this, the Emperor will know and he won¡¯t let you off.¡± ¡°So what? For the sake of Da He¡¯s eternal reign, even if we die, it would be worth it.¡± Puzhu was resolute, her mind could not be changed by a few words. ¡°I know you are stalling for time.¡± She even said rationally: ¡°Stop your futile efforts. If the Empress Dowager wants someone dead, even if the Emperor comes, it won¡¯t help. Don¡¯t make it difficult for us. Mrs. Sang, it¡¯s better you drink it yourself. Otherwise, force-feeding you would be too undignified.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she staggered back. She looked for something to defend herself with, grabbed a chair, and smashed it. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± No one wants to die. Sang Yan screamed in a desperate mess: ¡°Don¡¯t! Emperor, save me¡ª¡± But they were many. Her shoulders were seized, her limbs restrained, her mouth forcibly pried open, and the choking wine poured down her throat, burning her eyes with tears. Perhaps it was the fear. She cried and called out, ¡°He Ying! He Ying¡ª¡± She wanted to see He Ying. She really wanted to see him. At that moment, she didn¡¯t hate him for not coming to save her; she just wanted to tell him: Look, there are things you can¡¯t do either, so be more cautious in the future. Don¡¯t be so imperious and arrogant! What else was there to say? Oh right, He Ying, I love you. As death approached, she finally understood that she loved him. On the street in front of Qingfeng Inn, when you put the hairpin on me. When we admired the epiphyllum under the Luminous Pearl. When you reviewed petitions late into the night. When I found out you narrowly survived the Thunder Strike. At many, many moments. But alas, I can no longer tell you. Her consciousness gradually blurred. Tears flowing, she slowly closed her eyes. * He Ying brought people and stormed into Yongshou Palace. The Empress Dowager, foreseeing his frenzy, shouted loudly, ¡°Emperor, are you going to commit matricide for a demoness?¡± He Ying wiped the blood splattered on his face, his smile cruel and mournful: ¡°Where is she? Where is my person? Empress Dowager, if you dare hurt her, I will not only commit matricide, I will also have you thrown into the burial ground. You are unworthy of the Empress Dowager¡¯s honor! Everyone in Yongshou Palace, don¡¯t even think about surviving! The entire Pei Family as well!¡± Back when he exterminated the Pei Faction, because the Empress Dowager sided with He Ying at a critical moment, looking at her face, He Ying pardoned some collateral branches, exiling them to Mongyang Pass. ¡°You really are mad! Look at yourself, do you even resemble an Emperor anymore?¡± The Empress Dowager was heartbroken and began to doubt herself: Was this the Ziwei Star, the Emperor¡¯s Destiny that Wan Zhang spoke of? Ridiculous! She must have been deceived by Wan Zhang! ¡°Ah!¡± Puzhu screamed, snapping the Empress Dowager back to reality. Turning around, the Empress Dowager saw Puzhu covered in blood, fallen on the ground. ¡°Puzhu!¡± She regarded Puzhu as her own daughter, and with eyes full of worry, she rushed to her. Puzhu saw her as a mother, and it was only when the Emperor charged at them with his sword that she shielded the distracted Empress Dowager, only then to have half of her arm brutally severed by the enraged Emperor. ¡°Call the Imperial Physician! Quick, call the Imperial Physician!¡± The Empress Dowager looked at Puzhu¡¯s wounds, her heart aching unto death, no longer maintaining the demeanor of the Empress Dowager. A eunuch attempted to call the Imperial Physician but was stopped by a single sentence from the Emperor: ¡°Who dares move!¡± The entire hall fell deathly silent. The search party had not yet returned with news. Yongshou Palace was too vast. It was even larger than his Qingning Palace. There must be hidden chambers, mechanisms. Hiding someone would be all too easy. He Ying could not wait any longer, his eyes red, he placed his sword against a palace maid¡¯s neck: ¡°I will ask once more, where is my person?¡± The palace maid, terrified, trembled all over: ¡°Reply, reply to the Emperor, this servant, this servant¡ª¡± Her eyes rolled back as she fainted from fear. He Ying questioned others with his sword, all shook their heads. ¡°Emperor forgive us, your servants truly do not know.¡± Lies! Such a big incident, how could they not know? The bodies of the guards he had sent to protect Sang Yan hadn¡¯t even cooled yet! ¡°You indeed have loyalty! Very well! Then die for your loyalty!¡± He struck his sword at a nearby eunuch¡¯s neck. Blood sprayed forth. Other eunuchs and palace maids were doused in blood, trembling like chaff, several more fainted from fear. ¡°Enough!¡± The Empress Dowager screamed, her body swayed, and she collapsed. A loyal old eunuch supported her, persuading her: ¡°Empress Dowager, just hand over the person to him.¡± The Empress Dowager gasped for breath, coughing for a while, but still stubbornly defended her dignity: ¡°If he has the ability, then let him kill me.¡± ¡°Very well. The Pei Family has always had a proud backbone.¡± He Ying smirked, kicked the old eunuch aside, and placed his sword against the Empress Dowager¡¯s neck: ¡°Empress Dowager, you turned me into a demon, don¡¯t blame yourself for being in hell.¡± ¡°Emperor, Emperor please don¡¯t¡ª¡± Puzhu, pale-faced and clutching her bleeding arm, struggled to speak: ¡°I know where she is. Emperor, please don¡¯t hurt the Empress Dowager.¡± ¡°Puzhu!¡± The Empress Dowager still tried to stop her. But Puzhu, dragging her maimed body, led the Emperor away. Drip. Drip. Blood trailed behind them. It hurt too much. She was too tired. She staggered to a side chamber, barely managed to remove a painting, and opened the hidden chamber, but before she could say anything else, she fainted from excessive blood loss. He Ying didn¡¯t care about her, he strode quickly inside. The hidden chamber wasn¡¯t dark. Several Luminous Pearls lit it clearly. It wasn¡¯t a large space. Aside from some collectibles, there was only a soft couch with someone lying on it, covered by a white cloth. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Sang¡­ Yan?¡± He Ying looked shocked, disbelieving, shaking his head and bursting into laughter: ¡°Impossible. Impossible.¡± Tears were already flowing. This was the first time he had cried in his twenty-six years of life. Even when the late Emperor died, he hadn¡¯t shed a tear. He slowly walked toward the couch, his hand trembling so much that he couldn¡¯t grip the white cloth. ¡°Don¡¯t. Sang Yan, don¡¯t.¡± He prayed, he begged, and then slowly lifted the white cloth. The next moment, his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees. ¡°Sang Yan, Sang Yan, get up, don¡¯t scare me, Sang Yan¡ª¡± He called her name desperately. There was no response. Quiet and peaceful, beautifully serene, as if she were asleep. Finally, he broke down, moved forward to embrace her, shaking and screaming: ¡°Sang Yan, Sang Yan, I¡¯m begging you, I¡¯m He Ying, look at me, please, Sang Yan¡ª¡± His grief reached its peak, his screams reached their limit, suddenly he spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, and collapsed heavily onto her¡­ Chapter 85 - 085 A False Alarm Chapter 85: Chapter 085 A False Alarm ¡°Emperor!¡± The guards rushed in and were all shocked by the scene they encountered. ¡°Quick, call the Imperial Physician! The Emperor is vomiting blood!¡± Pei Muyang yelled at the top of his lungs. Chaos erupted everywhere. He Ying slowly regained consciousness, tears streaming from his eyes and he spoke fiercely, ¡°Pei Yiqing, I will kill you! Ahhh¡ª¡± ... He was in extreme pain, his rationality lost, like a dying beast at bay. He already held a long sword in his hand. He wiped the blood from his mouth, intending to kill the Empress Dowager. Pei Muyang and the guards all clung to him, shouting loudly, ¡°Emperor, please grieve with restraint! Emperor, stay calm! You must not kill the Empress Dowager! Emperor¡ª¡± ¡°Get out! Why can I not kill her! I want to kill her! Everyone must die! Everyone in Yongshou Palace must die! The entire Pei Family must be exterminated! Everyone must be buried with her¡ª¡± Before he could say the word ¡°buried,¡± a weak voice suddenly came from under the white cloth, ¡°Emp..eror¡ª¡± Just those two words, like a divine melody, halted the ferocious beast. ¡°Pei Muyang, there¡¯s, there¡¯s a voice, her, her voice¡­¡± He Ying stood there, afraid to turn back, ¡°Am I hallucinating? I heard her voice. She is calling me.¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± It was as if she was responding to him, this time the two words were much clearer. Pei Muyang already looked towards the person under the white cloth and dared not move, ¡°It seems like¡ª¡± He gestured to the guards beside him to lift the white cloth. His heart was about to leap out¡ªOh God, please let Lord Sang be alive, otherwise, how will his Emperor live? The white cloth was finally lifted. Sang Yan had been asleep for a long time, and the sudden brightness made it hard for her to open her eyes, she could only gently call out, ¡°Em¡­peror¡ª¡± Pei Muyang nearly cried with joy, ¡°Emperor, Emperor! It¡¯s Lord Sang! She¡¯s still alive! Thank the heavens, Lord Sang is still alive!¡± Only then did He Ying dare to look back, and then he saw Sang Yan slowly sitting up, her eyes baffled, seemingly unaware of what had happened. ¡°Sang¡­ Sang Yan?¡± He walked over, his hands and feet cold, his lips trembling. Was it¡­ still her? Sang Yan saw the Emperor and cried plaintively, ¡°Why did you only come now? I was so scared. Really. I thought I was going to die.¡± It was her! It was her! He Ying suddenly embraced her, a delirious joy of rediscovery took control of him, and he wildly kissed her cheek, forehead, and hair, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault, it¡¯s my fault, you hit me. Ah Yan, my Ah Yan, you¡¯re back, it¡¯s so good, so good¡­¡± Sang Yan was hugged so tightly by him that she could hardly breathe. He kissed her messily, like an overjoyed puppy. Adorable, yet also slightly uncomfortable. His face was all slobbery! ¡°Alright, let me go¡ª¡± ¡°I won¡¯t. If I let go, you¡¯ll disappear.¡± He still felt insecure and could only hug her tighter and tighter. Sang Yan struggled to breathe and had to fight back, ¡°Let go, He Ying, you¡¯re going to strangle me.¡± Pei Muyang saw that things were not going well and hurriedly advised, ¡°Emperor, Emperor, Lord Sang really can¡¯t breathe! Emperor, please loosen your grip.¡± He Ying still would not let go, hugging the person in his arms tightly, greedily inhaling her scent, murmuring, ¡°Mine, mine, nobody can take her away.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was almost mad. Sang Yan was so annoyed she wanted to scratch his face, yet her heart softened at his deep affection. So it turned out that he loved her this fiercely, passionately, almost to the point of madness. She felt she might be consumed by his fiery love. Pei Muyang felt embarrassed to watch, but seeing that Sang Yan might die in his arms, he only changed his persuasion tactic, ¡°Emperor, the Imperial Physician has arrived, let them check if there are any other issues with Lord Sang.¡± Yes. That was very important. Sang Yan had woken up, could it have been the phenomenon of returning light? He Ying¡¯s hands and feet trembled again, his voice also shaking, ¡°Get, get the Imperial Physician! Must, must ensure she is unharmed, otherwise, kill, kill them all.¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± Imperial Physician: ¡°¡­¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Was he really trying to save her? Frightening the Imperial Physician to death, who would treat her? Two Imperial Physicians came, trembling. Seeing they were frightened, Sang Yan softly consoled them, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Just proceed with the diagnosis, regardless of the outcome, I won¡¯t let the Emperor harm you.¡± The two Imperial Physicians, knowing her words always held weight in front of the Emperor, regained some composure. Sang Yan slowly extended her hand. The two Imperial Physicians each checked her pulse, all stable. Then they observed her complexion, which had already returned to normal, and her eyes sparkled again. They said, ¡°Lord Sang¡¯s health is very good, probably just a bit shocked. Once we prescribe some calming medicine and she takes it, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± He Ying, still somewhat uneasy, asked, ¡°If she¡¯s alright, then just now¡ª¡± Just now lying motionless here, even covered with a white cloth! Damn it! Who did such an ominous thing to her! ¡°Drag all the palace maids and eunuchs here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang went to give the order. He Ying further inquired Sang Yan, ¡°How are you feeling now? Are you uncomfortable anywhere? What happened since you came here?¡± Sang Yan honestly replied, ¡°Nothing, I don¡¯t feel anything, just a bit sleepy¡­ After coming here¡­ a Taoist read my fortune, finished, but didn¡¯t tell me what it was, then the Empress Dowager had people bring me over here. Not long after, Puzhu brought over some wine. I thought it was poisoned, terribly frightening. Now it seems, maybe it wasn¡¯t.¡± What was the Empress Dowager trying to do? Sending wine to force her to drink, yet it wasn¡¯t poisoned, was it all just to scare her? At the same time, In the main hall of Yongshou Palace, The Empress Dowager slumped on a soft couch, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s ultimately my soft heart.¡± The old eunuch, still frightened, couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Fortunately, the Empress Dowager is merciful. Otherwise, today would be difficult to conclude.¡± The Emperor being crazed like that, if Sang Yan had died, who knows how many people would have had to die with her! ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± The Empress Dowager coughed for a while, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to be merciful, but I must be merciful.¡± The old eunuch didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What does the Empress Dowager mean by this?¡± The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, catching her breath for a moment, then slowly said, ¡°Wan Zhang, before he died, I had summoned him. He said his life was near its end. Now, indeed, he died unexpectedly. He clearly could have avoided it, but he used his own life to prove his abilities. Cough, cough, cough, I have to believe what he said, the Sang Family¡¯s daughter is the Emperor¡¯s destined match, and the heir will only come from her womb.¡± So that was it. The old eunuch said, ¡°These words of the Empress Dowager, better not say them in front of the Emperor. Just say you were soft-hearted. Thus, the Emperor will forgive today¡¯s incident.¡± The Empress Dowager neither agreed nor disagreed, struggling to stand up, coughing and saying, ¡°Enough, help me over there.¡± The old eunuch quickly complied, ¡°Yes.¡± Once they arrived at the side hall¡ª Upon seeing her, He Ying immediately shielded Sang Yan tightly in his arms, his eyes wary and stern, ¡°What are you doing here? I haven¡¯t pursued your actions, yet you dare¡ª¡± ¡°The Emperor hasn¡¯t had an episode. Is it truly the destined match?¡± The Empress Dowager¡¯s words caused a great shock throughout the hall. At that moment, everyone recalled the Emperor¡¯s strange illness of not being able to be near women. Including the Emperor himself. He had embraced Sang Yan, kissed Sang Yan, and now, still holding her tightly, but he showed no reaction. If previously he was unaware, forgetting his strange illness, now that he remembered, he should be reacting. But there wasn¡¯t any. The fragrance of the person in his arms was intoxicating and boneless, only making him more entranced, with not a hint of pain, itch, or nausea. A bold thought consequently arose in his mind. Chapter 86 - 086 Loyal Heart Chapter 86: Chapter 086 Loyal Heart ¡°The Emperor¡¯s illness had healed?¡± The Empress Dowager¡¯s face turned ashen at the thought, and she immediately pushed a palace maid forward, ¡°You, go touch the Emperor.¡± That palace maid didn¡¯t dare to! She knelt down and, kowtowing, pleaded, ¡°Mercy, Empress Dowager! Mercy, Empress Dowager!¡± In the past, anyone who touched the Emperor and triggered his illness was killed. She didn¡¯t want to die. ... The Empress Dowager said, ¡°I don¡¯t want your life! You go touch the Emperor, see if his illness has healed?¡± It couldn¡¯t be that only Sang Yan could touch him! The palace maid still didn¡¯t dare, shaking her head and weeping, ¡°Mercy, Empress Dowager.¡± ¡°Useless! Worthless!¡± The Empress Dowager replaced her with another palace maid. That palace maid didn¡¯t dare either, kneeling and begging, ¡°Mercy, Empress Dowager.¡± She had been terrified by the Emperor¡¯s previously frenzied and scary appearance. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager was both disappointed and furious, ¡°I don¡¯t repeat myself. Go now, or if the Emperor doesn¡¯t kill you, I will!¡± With such threats, the palace maid could only tremblingly go forward to touch the Emperor. He Ying also wanted to know if he had recovered, so he cooperated, sitting there letting the palace maid touch him. The palace maid¡¯s hand shook incessantly, and for a long time, she couldn¡¯t even touch the Emperor¡¯s arm. Seeing this, Sang Yan felt she was truly pitiable and said, ¡°You need not fear. Even if the Emperor falls ill, I will not let him kill you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang.¡± Having received Sang Yan¡¯s verbal assurance, the palace maid finally dared to touch the Emperor¡¯s arm. Just once. She touched briefly and then withdrew. He Ying hardly felt her touch, but the sensation of itchiness and pain had already arrived. ¡°Enough, get away from Us.¡± He frowned, pulling down his sleeve, his arm already beginning to show red bumps. Still no. Except for Sang Yan. He reached for Sang Yan¡¯s hand and, as he watched, the red bumps began to fade away. Everyone nearly dropped their jaws in shock. The Empress Dowager included. She began to feel relieved that she had listened to Wan Zhang¡¯s advice and had not actually killed Sang Yan. According to her original plan, she would have Sang Yan fake her death, send her out of the palace, and secretly keep her under surveillance. If the Emperor could break out of her spell, then she would lose her value and could be easily disposed of. But things hadn¡¯t gone as she had wished. The Emperor was too emotionally attached, unable to break free. ¡°Take her back. As for those Ministers outside, I will speak to them.¡± She had no choice but to side with the Emperor once again. It could also be seen as an overture of goodwill. He Ying, however, was not appreciative and said sternly, ¡°The Empress Dowager nearly harmed her, do you think it¡¯s finished with that?¡± The Empress Dowager asked, ¡°What does the Emperor wish? To kill me?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± Killing was not an option! Firstly, it would indeed tarnish his holy name, and secondly, Sang Yan probably wouldn¡¯t agree. But not seeking revenge was also impossible! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Empress Dowager should properly enjoy her remaining years.¡± ¡°I think Li Palace is quite nice.¡± Li Palace wasn¡¯t in the Imperial Palace. Located near the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, it served as a lodge for Emperors to pay homage to their ancestors. Life there was austere. Sending a Dowager Empress there was akin to exile to the border, an unspeakable humiliation! ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider.¡± The old eunuch supporting the Empress Dowager knelt and pleaded, ¡°The Empress Dowager is of advanced years and in poor health; she truly cannot endure¡ª¡± His plea was cut off by the Empress Dowager¡¯s violent coughing. In her smooth and glorious life, when had she ever been treated this way? ¡°Cough, cough, cough, how dare you¡ª¡± Her temper surged, her vision darkened, and she fainted. ¡°Empress Dowager!¡± ¡°Empress Dowager! Imperial Physician, quickly save the Empress Dowager!¡± The palace maids and eunuchs on the scene shouted and called. He Ying felt annoyed and picked up Sang Yan, heading outside. The officials were still kneeling. They were stunned when they saw the Emperor carrying someone out, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying said, ¡°As you all can see, my peculiar illness has been cured.¡± ¡°Congratulations to the Emperor.¡± ¡°May the Emperor¡¯s lucky star shine brightly.¡± ¡°Long live the Emperor.¡± ¡­ The ministers spewed a bunch of flattery. He Ying listened with a smile. Of course, it was a sneer: ¡°I haven¡¯t finished speaking. I¡¯m only better with her. As for other women, I still can¡¯t touch them.¡± Upon hearing this, the ministers looked at each other, at a loss for words. Why would it be like this? If the Emperor could only touch her, then she would be the only one able to give birth to the heir in the future. This realization made their faces look very unpleasant. He Ying continued to sneer: ¡°Given this, do you still want me to kill her? She will be the only woman who can give birth to an heir for Da He. Killing her would be killing Da He¡¯s future.¡± No one dared to refute his words. Except for Sang Yan. However, she didn¡¯t refute either. Watching the silent and speechless ministers, she felt rather awkward¡ªwas this what it felt like to reach the summit of life by having a child? She rejected this in her heart. ¡°You all go back and think it over! Let me see your loyalty to me and to Da He!¡± This statement was quite interesting. It elevated Sang Yan to the same level of importance as the country itself. ¡°Alright. Go back now.¡± Sang Yan felt so embarrassed. Hearing her words, He Ying didn¡¯t linger any longer and carried her back to a side hall in Qingning Palace. Sang Ruoshui was still there. She had found Wan Zhang¡¯s suicide note and refrained from opening it. Now clutching the letter, she intermittently glanced outside the hall. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t die yet. Even if there was a moment when she wished her dead. When He Ying entered carrying Sang Yan¡ª ¡°Sister, are you alright?¡± Sang Ruoshui rushed over, looking concerned and smiling: ¡°Seeing you like this, you must be fine.¡± As her words ended, her eyes lit up: ¡°The Emperor is carrying you back. Is the Emperor¡¯s illness cured?¡± She excitedly tried to touch the Emperor. He Ying gave her a cold look and snapped, ¡°I can only touch her. Nobody else is allowed.¡± Sang Ruoshui: ¡°¡­How come?¡± Is Sang Yan¡¯s fate so good? Why? It¡¯s so unfair! He Ying placed Sang Yan on the bed and asked her what she needed. Sang Yan looked at Sang Ruoshui, remembered the task she had assigned her, and asked, ¡°Have you found anything?¡± ¡°I have.¡± Sang Ruoshui smiled, seeking recognition: ¡°Your Majesty, please look over this, I have found Director Wan¡¯s suicide note.¡± He Ying had also sent people to look for it, but to no avail thus far. Seeing the suicide note now, he too was delighted and reached out to take it. Sang Ruoshui seized the opportunity to touch the Emperor¡¯s hand. In the next moment, that hand began to redden. Only then did she believe it, kneeling down and exclaiming, ¡°Your Majesty, forgive me.¡± He Ying endured the pain and itch, commanding, ¡°Leave.¡± Knowing she had erred, Sang Ruoshui didn¡¯t dare to linger and retreated in a state of panic. Seeing her leave, He Ying turned to Sang Yan and said, ¡°It¡¯s painful, itchy. Touch me.¡± He reached out his hand, waiting for Sang Yan to touch him, treating her like a miraculous medicine. Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected to have this ability either, a bit skeptical, and tried again. She touched the patch of red bumps and, in no time, they subsided. It was truly miraculous. She covered her mouth, genuinely shocked: Goodness, it works this well? Is this still the ancient world? Or perhaps a world of immortals and martial arts? Was she like a celestial being from a hit Xianxia drama, her entire being medicinal? Lost in thought, her hand was seized. He Ying pulled her close, pressing his forehead against hers eagerly, murmuring, ¡°I¡¯ve been sick for so long, and it turns out you¡¯re my medicine. Ah Yan, even my illness is in love with you.¡± Chapter 87 - 087: Last Will Chapter 87: Chapter 087: Last Will Sang Yan had heard too many of He Ying¡¯s sweet nothings to really be taken by them anymore, but when she actually heard them, she still found herself moved, shocked: Good heavens, can sweet talk truly be this enticing? I¡¯m impressed. She really was impressed by his skill in whispering sweet nothings. It was too much for her. She quickly changed the subject, ¡°Alright. Hurry up and see what Wan Jianzheng wrote in his last words.¡± Only then did He Ying remember that he had Wan Zhang¡¯s last letter, so he opened it: ¡°Life and death are determined by fate, disaster and fortune by numbers, all is but what I have sought.¡± ... A mere thirteen characters. It was as if he was talking about himself, yet it seemed he was using himself to speak about someone else. After reading it three times, He Ying felt this ¡®someone else¡¯ was him. What does it mean? Was it hinting that Sang Yan still had other trials to face? He Ying couldn¡¯t understand it, his brow furrowed with irritation, ¡°This Wan Zhang, on the verge of death, still speaking in such an enigmatic way.¡± Sang Yan seemed to understand yet not, ¡°His meaning should be¡­ he knew his own fate and accepted it. He didn¡¯t want the Emperor to be saddened by it, I guess.¡± ¡°The Emperor saddened by him? What a joke!¡± He Ying said this, but he still carefully folded the letter and placed it in a golden box by the bed. Seeing this, Sang Yan asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He Ying quickly closed the box, ¡°Nothing much. Just some trinkets.¡± Sang Yan felt something was fishy, ¡°What trinkets? Let me see.¡± She wanted to look, but as soon as she touched the box, He Ying caught her hand. He Ying stopped her, smiling helplessly, ¡°Ah Yan, stop looking, there¡¯s really nothing worth seeing.¡± Humph, the more you hide, the more it shows. Sang Yan became even more curious, frowned, and pouted, ¡°Can¡¯t I even look at some trinkets now? Does love really fade away, is that it?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± What an absurd comparison. He couldn¡¯t refuse. He could only let go of her hand, but before she opened it, he looked at her with a deep gaze, ¡°Ah Yan, looking will come at a cost. Now I can touch you freely.¡± Humph, a threat! Sang Yan was not afraid, stubbornly she looked inside: A slingshot? Glass beads? Storybooks? A Jade Ring? Jade Frost Ointment? Indeed, they were all trinkets. Wait a second¡ª The storybook seemed to be no ordinary book. She took it out, opened it, and the next moment she tossed it back as if her hands were scorched, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± Sure enough, every man¡¯s hidden treasure would not be complete without an erotic painting. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying wore an innocent face, ¡°You insisted on looking.¡± The next moment, he picked it up again, opened it, and looked at her with a mischievous grin, ¡°You wanted to see so much, come on, let¡¯s look together.¡± Sang Yan was embarrassed, her pretty face blushing crimson, her whole body tense as she quickly stood up, ¡°Look at what! How vulgar! Have you forgotten about Wan Zhang¡¯s matter?¡± Wan Zhang¡¯s afterlife arrangements, although settled, to be interred in the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, had yet to be managed. After all, his real murderer was still at large. Thinking of this, He Ying also lost any mood for romance, ¡°Ah Yan, you really know how to kill the mood.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t argue, smiling as she shooed him away, ¡°Alright, you better go and keep busy.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t want to leave. He had almost lost her. His heart had yet to settle. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you a little longer.¡± He spoke tenderly, ¡°You just escaped danger, you must still be shaken.¡± Sang Yan thought about it and didn¡¯t refuse again. Just then¡ª ¡°Miss, have some calming soup.¡± Qiuzhi brought a bowl of medicinal soup over. He Ying took it, holding the spoon to feed her, ¡°Come on, open your mouth¡ª¡± Sang Yan dodged, ¡°I can do it myself.¡± He Ying insisted, ¡°I want to feed you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°` Fine. Let him go. She opened her mouth and sipped spoonful after spoonful, frowning continuously from the bitterness. Finally, she finished it. He placed the bowl back onto the plate in Qiuzhi¡¯s hands and waved for her to leave. Qiuzhi quietly withdrew. In the next moment, she saw the Emperor embrace the young lady¡¯s neck and kiss her. Oh my! She was so startled that she almost couldn¡¯t steady the plate. Regaining her composure, she quickly covered her mouth and ran out. For He Ying, it was a bitter kiss. But after bitterness, it turned sweet. Sweet and tender. Sang Yan almost suffocated. ¡°Emperor¡­ He Ying¡­¡± Her voice was tempting enough to commit a sin. He Ying felt as though he was submerged in a soft dream. Was this truly what a woman¡¯s body felt like? ¡°He¡­ Ying¡ª¡± Using all her strength, Sang Yan pushed him away. A fiery light danced in He Ying¡¯s eyes, his rationality shattering. That feeling of intense heat was like an affliction, yet not quite. Sang Yan looked into his eyes and, before he completely lost control, she whispered softly, ¡°He Ying, try to calm down.¡± He Ying felt he couldn¡¯t calm down. To avoid harming her, he gave her a deep look and stood up to leave, ¡°Pei Muyang, prepare the bath, I need to wash.¡± He said it was a bath, but in reality, it was a cold shower. Sang Yan knew it, yet didn¡¯t understand: was just a kiss worth all this? She was inexperienced, still untouched, unaware of a man¡¯s urgent desire that burned like wildfire. When she saw him again, it was time for the evening meal. After his bath, He Ying was still lost in improper thoughts, and he didn¡¯t dare to see her. Instead, he dealt with Wan Zhang¡¯s matter. Xie Sui had already found evidence of Qu Zhi¡¯s murder. In fact, it was quite simple. In the past month, it wasn¡¯t Sang Kun who had been visiting the Observatory but Qu Zhi. However, Qu Zhi wouldn¡¯t admit to the crime. He Ying couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to his defenses and handed him over to Xie Sui for judgment. He then reviewed petitions in the Imperial Study and managed to clear the ridiculous thoughts from his mind before daring to see her. He had planned to have dinner with her. But she had already started eating. And she was with Xuanrao. This woman just wouldn¡¯t leave him in peace! ¡°Greeting the Emperor¡ª¡± Xuanrao had left the Imperial Palace and returned to the vast world, blooming even more radiantly and beautifully. She was in a red dress, her makeup vivid, and a peony flower marked her forehead, utterly resplendent in her full bloom. ¡°Hmm.¡± He Ying glanced at her, quickly withdrew his gaze, and sat beside Sang Yan to accompany her with the meal. ¡°The humble girl heard of the Sang Family incident outside, so she hurriedly entered the palace. Thankfully, the Emperor is insightful¡ª¡± She was at the opening of her wine shop, dressed for a celebration, when she heard guests discussing the Sang Family. In her haste, she entered the palace without changing. ¡°She is the love of my life, and even if she does something wrong, I will protect her unconditionally. You need not worry.¡± He Ying was making a promise as well as sending someone away. He didn¡¯t want to see Xuanrao staying close to Sang Yan. Sang Yan thought his words were impolite and whispered, ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong yet, and the Empress Dowager almost took my life. At that time, the Emperor didn¡¯t come either.¡± She also harbored some resentment over the Emperor not being there when she was in danger. She was truly desperate then. He Ying was also desperate. When he saw her covered with a white cloth, he nearly wanted to destroy heaven and earth. Thankfully, thankfully, she was still there, and everything was still possible. It¡¯s just¡ª ¡°I will never forgive the Empress Dowager for that matter, nor will I forgive myself.¡± ¡°` Chapter 88 - 088 Original Sin Chapter 88: Chapter 088 Original Sin Speaking of the Empress Dowager, Sang Yan remembered she had fainted and asked, ¡°Has the Emperor visited the Empress Dowager?¡± He Ying shook his head, thinking she was feeling soft-hearted again, and reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t think of her as benevolent, she just didn¡¯t dare to kill you, that¡¯s all.¡± Sang Yan had no fondness for the Empress Dowager and had no intention of pleading for her. She simply asked, ¡°But why didn¡¯t she dare to kill me?¡± He Ying was stumped. The fact that the Empress Dowager had not killed Sang Yan might not be entirely because she wanted to leave herself a way out; perhaps she did have some regard for him? He wasn¡¯t the child of the Empress Dowager, nor was the late Emperor, but they had both once been cherished by her, until their relationship hit rock bottom after the late Emperor passed away. ... ¡°Whatever the Emperor decides to do to her, I won¡¯t say a thing. I only ask that the Emperor doesn¡¯t act impulsively, to avoid any future regrets.¡± She was still rational. Not blinded by hatred. He Ying was touched and looked at her affectionately, whispering softly, ¡°Ah Yan, how fortunate I am to have you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Sweet nothings again. She looked over at Xuanrao, who was sitting opposite them and eating melon seeds, blushing, she changed the subject, ¡°Hey, Xuanrao, I haven¡¯t had the chance to hear about your life outside the palace. I wanted to visit you the other day when I left the palace, but you weren¡¯t there. What were you busy with?¡± Xuanrao was engrossed in eating melon seeds and was startled for a moment before she came back to her senses, ¡°Oh, I, well, I was busy opening a tavern. Guess what it¡¯s called?¡± How could she guess? Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°I can¡¯t guess.¡± Xuanrao didn¡¯t play coy and simply said, ¡°Rao Yan Building, what do you think?¡± She lifted her chin, grinning proudly as if the name was a stroke of genius. In truth, Sang Yan felt the name had a slightly frivolous tone to it. Though it was a combination of their names, hiding her intentions toward her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I guess.¡± She wasn¡¯t the proprietor of the tavern, so she didn¡¯t have much of an opinion on the name. Xuanrao said, ¡°When you leave the palace next time, you must come and see it.¡± Sang Yan readily agreed, ¡°Sure. Definitely.¡± The two of them began to discuss recipes again. Sang Yan thought about modern cuisine and wrote down a few dishes for her, like sushi, hamburgers, sausages, cakes, and so on. Xuanrao left with a full load. Sang Yan walked her to the palace gates. He Ying also followed, watching their reluctant goodbyes and getting jealous, ¡°Enough already, anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think you two were a couple.¡± Hearing that, Sang Yan teased, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind becoming a couple with her, if the Emperor you would agree.¡± Of course, He Ying did not agree. He didn¡¯t say much more, but scooped her up and put her in the carriage. They set off to return. The moonlight was pure and clear. He sat with her in the carriage, holding her hand, finding her hand soft and smooth, cool and comfortable to the touch. Sang Yan tried to withdraw her hand a few times without success, so she asked, ¡°Emperor, is my hand that amusing to you?¡± ¡°Amusing.¡± He Ying held on tightly, their fingers intertwined. And he didn¡¯t let go all the way. He had once been unable to be close to her, and now that he could, he was a bit addicted. ¡°Ah Yan, your hand, it feels very comforting to hold.¡± ¡°You might be comfortable, but I find it quite awkward.¡± Sang Yan said so, but she let him hold her hand anyway. Their relationship had once been clearly defined as Chu-Han, what kind of lovers were they? Now, being inseparably close, they truly felt like they were in love. Emperor, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± She wanted to disembark. He held her hand as he descended as well. They walked hand in hand. Once they entered the side hall, and seeing that it was still early, Sang Yan decided to read. She also picked up a book, but found it inconvenient with just one hand, ¡°Emperor, how long do you intend to hold on?¡± He Ying sat beside her and turned the pages for her, ¡°Go ahead and read.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± He sure was clingy! They read together like that for about a quarter of an hour. Pei Muyang came in with a message, ¡°Emperor, the Empress is here, waiting for you in the main hall.¡± Empress? She must be here to plead on behalf of the Empress Dowager. He Ying waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let her in. Send her back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang complied and left, returning shortly with a troubled expression, ¡°Emperor, the Empress has removed her hairpin and is asking for punishment, kneeling in the hall. She says if you won¡¯t see her, she will kneel until you do.¡± He Ying felt a repulsion, ¡°Threatening me? Let her kneel.¡± He continued to flip through the book for Sang Yan, speaking tenderly, ¡°Ignore her. Focus on this.¡± How could Sang Yan still focus? The legitimate wife had arrived, and here she was, ¡°the other woman,¡± still monopolizing her husband¡­ ¡°Emperor, please go see her.¡± She withdrew her hand, her expression gloomy. He Ying, puzzled, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just¡­ suddenly tired.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t think too much of it, and with a gentle smile, he said, ¡°That makes sense, you were frightened today. You should indeed rest early.¡± So Sang Yan said she would go freshen up. He Ying let her go. Sang Yan thought he would leave, but to her surprise, after she freshened up, he was still there. She was astounded, ¡°You didn¡¯t leave?¡± His legal wife was still waiting, kneeling for him. He Ying saw her wet hair and took a towel from Qiuzhi¡¯s hand, wiping her hair himself. As he did so, he asked, ¡°Why would I leave?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± He usually would have left. He didn¡¯t leave this time; could it be that he was recovered, thinking of¡­ that? A clench of discomfort gripped her heart; his rightful wife was just next door! ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you leave, Emperor?¡± Her mood was dark, and her tone sharp. He Ying sensed something was off, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Upon reflecting, he guessed that she might fear what he would do, and he said, ¡°I won¡¯t touch you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely that. She wanted to say, the Empress is waiting for you. She is your rightful wife. I mind it very much. She believed, once she uttered this, the Empress would surely be deposed. But her morals would not allow her to do this. The Empress was innocent. Having already won her man¡¯s heart, she had wronged the Empress. Was this the fate of loving someone else¡¯s husband? There was miserable grief she could not express. He Ying was still probing, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? What are you thinking? I said I wouldn¡¯t touch you, and I won¡¯t.¡± He was the Emperor, his word was his bond. Sang Yan believed he wouldn¡¯t touch her, but the crux of her turmoil was¡ªthe Empress. ¡°Emperor, what kind of person is the Empress?¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She couldn¡¯t help but ask at last. He Ying faintly grasped the point at issue, ¡°Do you mind the Empress that much?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Sang Yan refuted quickly. Too quickly, in fact; it betrayed her unease. So, she was jealous? He Ying felt an instant ease of heart and purposefully said, ¡°The Empress is gentle and graceful, dignified and generous, understanding and discerning, and was a great help to me during Pei Zhen¡¯s disaster. She is truly excellent¡ª¡± ¡°If she¡¯s so great, it¡¯d be a wonder if you didn¡¯t like her!¡± Sang Yan, green with envy, snatched the towel, interrupting him, and asked sadly, ¡°He Ying, have you been deceiving me all along?¡± He Ying had done it deliberately, wanting to see her jealousy, but her actual jealousy turned out to be more serious than he¡¯d anticipated. ¡°Get out!¡± In her jealous frenzy, Sang Yan threw the towel at him and then grabbed a pillow from the bed, hurling it at him as well, ¡°Get out! Scumbag!¡± He Ying, hit and disheveled while dodging and trying to explain, ¡°I was deceiving you. I was joking with you. I don¡¯t know what kind of person the Empress really is. I haven¡¯t thought about getting to know her. She is Pei Zhen¡¯s daughter¡ªthat is her original sin! How could I possibly like her?!¡± ¡°So if she weren¡¯t Pei Zhen¡¯s daughter, you would like her?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. Chapter 89 - 089 Empress Chapter 89: Chapter 089 Empress ¡°I won¡¯t. No matter who she is, I¡¯d never like her.¡± ¡°Liar. I don¡¯t want to see you right now.¡± Sang Yan sent him out. She was angry, the kind that couldn¡¯t be coaxed. He Ying stood outside the hall, turned to Pei Muyang, and asked for help, ¡°What to do? How to soothe her?¡± He¡¯d already lost all his dignity, so he didn¡¯t care about it anymore. ... Pei Muyang had overheard their conversation and after thinking for a while, said with an apologetic smile, ¡°This servant thinks that Lord Sang does mind the existence of the Empress. Think about it, no woman wants to lower herself to become a concubine. Even if it¡¯s a Noble Consort, in the end, she¡¯s still a noble concubine.¡± He Ying realized this as well. He stroked his chin and wandered outside the hall for a while, before going to the main hall. Inside the main hall, Empress Pei Wenjun removed her hairpins to plead for mercy, her long hair flowing loose as she knelt straight. She wasn¡¯t strikingly pretty, if Sang Yan were here, she¡¯d think of her as having the refined face of a modern model, even with minimalist makeup, her presence was strong. ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Her voice had a husky quality to it, rough yet comforting. He Ying couldn¡¯t appreciate such beauty and sat down coldly on the Dragon Couch, knowingly asking, ¡°What brings the Empress here?¡± Pei Wenjun stated her purpose truthfully, ¡°This servant has come to plead on behalf of the Empress Dowager.¡± He Ying, speaking of the Empress Dowager, showed disgust in his eyes, ¡°She¡¯s old and senile, and nearly killed my woman. If it were someone else, I would have killed her on the spot. Now, sending her to Li Palace to enjoy her later years is already a great mercy.¡± ¡°This servant knows of Your Majesty¡¯s profound grace, but the Empress Dowager is unwell, bedridden with illness. Moving her to Li Palace really goes against filial piety.¡± ¡°Are you using filial piety to pressure me?¡± ¡°This servant wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Since you dare not, then go back. Without my permission, you are not to leave Qifeng Palace in the future.¡± Actually, He Ying should take this opportunity to depose her. But it was a time of many concerns, and he didn¡¯t want to create complications. Plus, once Sang Yan became pregnant and gave birth to the heir, making a great contribution to the country, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to make her the Empress. The condition was that Pei Wenjun should remain invisible and not wander around causing trouble, bothering Sang Yan. Still kneeling, Pei Wenjun kowtowed, ¡°Please reconsider, Your Majesty.¡± He Ying waved his hand irritably, ¡°I have already reconsidered. Leave. Don¡¯t make me have someone escort you out. That would be quite unsightly.¡± Seeing this, Pei Wenjun¡¯s expression changed, her eyes filled with sorrow, ¡°Your Majesty, your wife of many years knows of her father¡¯s deep sins and never dares to say much. Now that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill, if this servant remains silent, what¡¯s the point of living?¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze sharpened at these words, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Not a threat.¡± Pei Wenjun shook her head, correcting, ¡°It¡¯s an exchange of conditions.¡± He Ying laughed, ¡°Oh? What conditions do you have?¡± Pei Wenjun said, ¡°This servant is willing to abdicate.¡± She was willing to give up her position as Empress. Actually, being the Empress in name only, it wasn¡¯t interesting to retain the title. ¡°No woman wants their man to have other women. The expulsion of the other concubines has already signaled the Sang Family¡¯s daughter¡¯s intentions. But this servant hears she is kind and just, with moral integrity. If Your Majesty deposes the current Empress, she¡¯s bound to feel guilty. Only if this servant requests to step down will you, Your Majesty, be able to fulfill your desire.¡± She knew all too well that the Emperor had long considered deposing her. But if she was deposed, the state couldn¡¯t go a day without an Empress, and surely another would be appointed. Then a new imperial family power would rise, and that¡¯s not what he wanted to see. Now, however, the situation was different; the Emperor had his favored woman, and her preferential treatment was well known in Qifeng Palace. Her position wouldn¡¯t last; rather than wait to be deposed passively, it was better to take initiative and maybe get something she wanted in exchange. Being tactful was something she¡¯d learned since childhood. ¡°You¡¯re very clever.¡± ¡°Pity I¡¯m a Pei Family daughter, right?¡± Pei Wenjun looked desolate, ¡°Your Majesty, if this servant weren¡¯t a Pei Family daughter, would it make any difference?¡± ¡°There are no ¡®what ifs¡¯ in this world.¡± He Ying did not answer her question, waved his hand dismissively, and said, ¡°Go ahead. I have permitted it.¡± After sending people away, he returned to the side hall. In the side hall, Sang Yan was still upset and had not fallen asleep. Seeing him come in, she turned over, her back facing him. He Ying looked at her without annoyance, sat at the bedside, and touched her hair. ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ve come to bring you something nice.¡± The position of Empress couldn¡¯t be considered something nice, could it? Sang Yan was uninterested and snorted coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t want it. I¡¯m going to sleep; don¡¯t disturb me.¡± He Ying, with a smile, coaxed her, ¡°Really, it¡¯s something good, something all women in the world would want.¡± Sang Yan was ultimately piqued with curiosity. She turned around, her tone indifferent, ¡°What is it?¡± He Ying sat her up, enunciating each word, ¡°The, position, of, Empress.¡± Sang Yan felt a tightness in her heart, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Could it be what she thought, that he wanted to depose the current Empress? ¡°No, Your Majesty, that must not be done!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get so agitated!¡± He Ying, having guessed her thoughts, explained, ¡°This matter has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s the Empress who came to plead on behalf of the Empress Dowager, willingly abdicating her position to let someone else more virtuous take her place, asking me to forgive the Empress Dowager.¡± Sang Yan felt this was taking advantage of someone¡¯s distress. The Empress pleading for the Empress Dowager was also an act of benevolent filial piety. She frowned and said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s because I made a mistake, how can it not concern me? I don¡¯t want this position as Empress.¡± He Ying did not understand, ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to be my Empress? Or are you still thinking of leaving the palace?¡± If that was the case, what could he do with her then? His heart ached again. In twinges and tangles with no end. Seeing his expression was off, Sang Yan quickly shook her head, ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just don¡¯t want the Empress to lose her original status because of me.¡± ¡°How could this be because of you? This is her own willing choice.¡± He also made his stance clear, ¡°Her father is Pei Zhen, a convicted traitor. If she were not deposed, and someone else was to take the Empress¡¯s place, I would have deposed her long ago.¡± Sang Yan could also understand the Emperor¡¯s motive, and it was precisely because she understood that she insisted all the more, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then I definitely cannot become Empress, otherwise, the Sang Family would be the next Pei Family.¡± Human ambition and greed are endless. Many empresses and their families in history had met with terrible fates. Especially now when the officials were calling for a purge of the court, having killed her father. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For her to take the position of Empress at this time, wouldn¡¯t that further provoke them to submit petitions? The Emperor opposing the multitude of ministers was surely not a wise move. ¡°Your Majesty values me greatly, and I am well aware, but the position of Empress is of great importance, and Your Majesty should not act impulsively.¡± She reflected that she was too sensitive to the existence of the Empress, causing He Ying to sense something was amiss, so she changed her cold demeanor, smiled, and said, ¡°I truly do not want to be Empress. With so many small and big matters within the palace, I have no desire to tire myself managing them ¨C it would age me. Alright, it¡¯s late now, Your Majesty should rest as well. Tomorrow¡¯s court session will probably be unsettled.¡± He Ying still remembered that he needed to assess the loyalty of the ministers to Da He. It would likely be a tough fight. So he did not linger any longer. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go to rest, but you think carefully about this matter of becoming Empress.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Sang Yan waved him off nonchalantly. After he left, she was troubled for a while longer before she finally drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow¡¯s troubles, tomorrow¡¯s worry. Chapter 90 - 090 Tacit Understanding Chapter 90: Chapter 090 Tacit Understanding Tomorrow would come soon. Taihe Hall Before the ministers expressed their loyalty, He Ying let Xie Sui report the two major crimes of Qu Zhi: One was ordering an assassination attempt on Sang Kun; the other was the murder of Wan Zhang and framing it on Sang Kun. ¡°Qu Zhi has confessed to the crimes.¡± ¡°The murderer who attempted to assassinate Mr. Sang was also executed last night.¡± ¡°The person who captured the murderer was the second son of Duke Zhongyi Mansion, Jiang Ke.¡± ... After Xie Sui finished reporting the details of the case, he presented the case file. Pei Muyang took the case file and presented it to the Emperor. The ministers murmured among themselves: ¡°How could this be?¡± ¡°Why would Mr. Qu do such a thing?¡± ¡°The reason is simple. Qu Zhi had a grudge against Mr. Sang and harbored murderous intentions, which is understandable. But Director Wan was innocent.¡± ¡°Director Wan was a good man. My daughter¡¯s marriages were unlucky, the first two being with a drunkard and a gambler, and her life was miserable. She nearly ended her own life. Out of desperation, I asked Director Wan to calculate her fate, saying the first two were not the destined ones, and the third would be. In fact, it was true; my third son-in-law cherishes my daughter like a treasure.¡± ¡°Indeed, Director Wan was also a former minister of the late Emperor. During the suppression of Pei Zhen, he persuaded the Empress Dowager to side with imperial power; otherwise, alas, it would be a pity.¡± ¡­ They began to voice grievances for Wan Zhang: ¡°Director Wan was generous, righteous, and never made enemies. To die tragically by Qu Zhi¡¯s hand is a grievous injustice. We hope the Emperor will vindicate him.¡± ¡°Right, we serve the same court; we are like brothers. To see such fratricide is intolerable!¡± ¡°Please, Your Majesty, uphold justice and vindicate Director Wan.¡± ¡­ Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They knelt and pleaded. Some officials held dissenting views: ¡°Have the Dali Temple and Ministry of Justice reviewed this already? Mr. Xie is merely a governor; allowing him to preside over this case may lead to bias.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Qu is none other than the Minister of Revenue; he must go through a triple court hearing before a conclusion can be drawn.¡± Other officials pleaded for mercy for Qu Zhi: ¡°Mr. Qu has served for decades; if not meritorious, he has certainly suffered. We hope Your Majesty will show mercy.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Qu made a mistake in a moment, we hope Your Majesty will be lenient.¡± ¡­ Different voices rose and fell throughout the court. He Ying listened to their disputes, suppressing his irritation, raised his hand, then pressed it down. This was a gesture for silence. The hall instantly fell quiet. ¡°Your focus is misguided. Qu Zhi killed Wan Zhang to frame Sang Kun. How can you ignore his existence with such criticisms concerning Sang Kun?¡± ¡°Jiang Chongyu, I remember you saying that serving in the same court is like being brothers, isn¡¯t Sang Kun also your brother? He was targeted for assassination multiple times, and you remained silent?¡± ¡°Today, I will not discuss Qu Zhi¡¯s matter but first let you know of Qu Zhi¡¯s character, then question the loyalty of all my subjects. As for Sang Kun and Sang Family¡¯s daughter, do you still seek their deaths?¡± He laid this groundwork to vindicate the Sang Family. Some officials understood the Emperor¡¯s intention and expressed their stance: ¡°Of course, they should not be killed.¡± ¡°Indeed, not only should they not be killed, but they should also be rewarded.¡± ¡°Sang Family¡¯s daughter won¡¯t trigger an illness in Your Majesty; she is the chosen Goddess!¡± ¡°Congratulations to the Emperor for finding such a divine being.¡± ¡­ They began their sycophantic praises. Some officials remained obstinate: ¡°What Goddess? She is clearly a demoness! You flip-floppers, full of nonsense, are unworthy to serve as officials!¡± ¡°Your Majesty, this upheaval all started with Sang Family¡¯s daughter, reportedly even disturbing the Empress Dowager, causing her suffering. Though she cannot be killed, Sang Family¡¯s daughter is not suitable to remain in the palace.¡± ¡°Yes, please, Your Majesty, expel Sang Family¡¯s daughter from the palace.¡± ¡­ Their words were forceful. He Ying watched the two factions¡¯ attitudes and scoffed, ¡°So we are no longer hurrying the birth? The heir no longer concerns the future of Da He?¡± No one responded. In front of the heir, there seemed¡­ to be room for negotiation. The stubborn faction led by Jiang Chongyu was the first to waver: ¡°It seems the Emperor is quite certain Sang Family¡¯s daughter will bear the heir.¡± He Ying nodded: ¡°Naturally.¡± He, being a normal man and in his prime years, favored Sang Yan, naturally there would be an heir. Jiang Chongyu immediately knelt down, ¡°Then within three months, I shall quietly await the good news.¡± This meant the Emperor was to favor the Sang Family¡¯s daughter within three months and have her conceive an heir. ¡°If within three months, the Sang Family¡¯s daughter does not conceive an heir, I hope the Emperor can expel her from the palace.¡± ¡°What if she does conceive an heir?¡± ¡°Then please, Emperor, grant her a proper status, and we will also be grateful for her great contribution to Da He.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± He Ying smiled at the other ministers and asked, ¡°Dear ministers, do you have anything to say?¡± The ministers unanimously said, ¡°Please, Emperor, let us see the heir as soon as possible.¡± They shared the same thought: the heir was more important than anything else. In front of the heir, everything else was trivial. * News of the court meeting in the Taihe Hall reached Sang Yan¡¯s ears. Sang Yan was petting a cat and eating grapes. Upon hearing it, she almost choked, ¡°Cough cough, so even before I¡¯m pregnant, I have to rely on my child for status?¡± The entire court must be crazy for the heir. Can¡¯t they have a little decency? She felt an immense pressure: So now, isn¡¯t He Ying going to work hard? For the sake of the child, how could their love life hold any meaning? It¡¯s absurd for the Emperor to agree to such a thing. How infuriating! How despicable! ¡°Let me know when the Emperor leaves the court,¡± she told Quiuzhi after giving her instructions, she then had someone prepare paper and ink to practice her calligraphy. They say writing with a brush could calm the mind. But after a quarter of an hour, she was still restless. Just then, Qiuzhi whispered in her ear, ¡°Miss, Princess Consort Sang has come.¡± Sang Ruoshui had come? This was a visitor who never came without some pressing matter. Unknown why she had come. Sang Yan became cautious, put down her brush, and looked over¡ª When Sang Ruoshui came close, she glanced at the paper, her tone tinged with envy and jealousy, ¡°Sister really is in a good mood.¡± Look at that ¡°Joy¡± character! Heh, the news does travel fast! Actually, Sang Yan wasn¡¯t in a good mood, and her expression was cold as she got straight to the point, ¡°What is it?¡± Sang Ruoshui indeed had something on her mind. She didn¡¯t beat around the bush and just said, ¡°Sister must also know, the Emperor promised the ministers to have an heir within three months. Sister must be under a lot of pressure, right? Do you want me to share your concerns?¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan paused, then curiously responded, ¡°How do you propose to share my concerns?¡± The Emperor wasn¡¯t to touch other women. Did she think she could persuade the Emperor to divide his favor? As she was thinking, she saw Sang Ruoshui kneel down¡ª ¡°What are you doing? Get up!¡± She was really put off by Sang Ruoshui¡¯s dramatic act¡ªit felt like emotional blackmail! Her instincts were accurate. Sang Ruoshui was indeed attempting emotional blackmail. She clung to her legs, her voice plaintive, ¡°Sister, I genuinely admire the Emperor and would see it as a life¡¯s honor to bear his heir. I hope sister can make this happen.¡± ¡°How can I make this happen?¡± Sang Yan frowned and said unhappily: ¡°You tried before, and the Emperor fell ill when he touched you. I can¡¯t encourage the Emperor to suffer just to favor you, right?¡± She wasn¡¯t so magnanimous as to let the Emperor be impartial with his favors! She even felt relieved that he had that strange illness, completely cutting off any chances of getting involved with other women! Which woman doesn¡¯t want to be the only one forever? ¡°Sister misunderstood.¡± With her face flushed, Sang Ruoshui said, ¡°Sister might have heard that I once offered a strategy to the Empress Dowager, and she had people try it out, and it was effective, so¡ª¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± So she wanted to conceive an heir through that method? Madness! Truly madness! Chapter 91 - 091 Li Pin Chapter 91: Chapter 091 Li Pin ¡°You are still young, this is a lifelong matter, Sang Ruoshui, calm yourself,¡± Sang Yan actually wanted her to leave the palace. The reason she didn¡¯t advise her was that she was waiting for her to give up on her own. She didn¡¯t expect her to be so obsessed. ¡°Sister, I am very calm. The imperial family cares more about having numerous heirs than ordinary families do. Even if you, sister, give birth to the heir, how many more can you bear by yourself? We are biological sisters; we should help each other,¡± She was still morally blackmailing: ¡°I know you want to monopolize the Emperor, but haven¡¯t you always been kind, sister? How can you be so selfish when it comes to your own sister?¡± ... ¡°Love is inherently selfish,¡± Sang Yan expressed her stance, ¡°I can¡¯t help you with this,¡± Sang Ruoshui did not expect this outcome, feeling both disappointed and resentful. ¡°Sister, do you not care about our sisterly bond at all?¡± Sang Yan spoke earnestly, ¡°I can let you leave the palace and let the Emperor arrange another marriage for you. Believe me, you would be happier outside the Imperial Palace. Sang Ruoshui, do not cling to a man who does not love you. You don¡¯t need to debase yourself in love.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you are favored by the Emperor! Naturally, you don¡¯t need to degrade yourself in love!¡± Out of jealousy, Sang Ruoshui screamed, ¡°Sister, your arrogance is only because of the Emperor¡¯s favor! You are fortunate; I am not. Never mind, sister, if you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t insist,¡± She clenched her fists tightly, stood up, turned around, and walked away. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï As she reached the door of the hall, she turned back with eyes red with hatred, ¡°Sang Yan, if you dare let the Emperor send me out of the palace, then it will be my corpse that leaves the palace,¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She really is a madwoman! * The madwoman returned to Yuesang Palace. She smashed everything in the palace, then lay on the bed and cried, ¡°Wretch! I knew she was nothing but a green-eyed monster! She doesn¡¯t care about having me as her sister at all! Detestable! Hateful!¡± Hatred is the emotion of the weak. Sang Ruoshui gripped the bedding tightly, gritting her teeth, ¡°I won¡¯t give up! I won¡¯t!¡± Xiangxiu watched it all happen and hesitated for a while before finally advising, ¡°Lady, I think what Lord Sang said makes sense. If you leave the palace to remarry, with her in the imperial palace, not only can you pick any husband, but which husband would dare not treat you well? Think about the Xuan Family. I heard that after leaving the palace, they started a tavern, and it¡¯s doing very well,¡± She also wanted to follow her mistress out of the palace like Yun Qiao. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Life outside the palace is so much better. These misses are all about fighting for power and gains! ¡°You¡¯re without ambition!¡± Sang Ruoshui was in a bad mood, and Xiangxiu, speaking on behalf of Sang Yan, angered her even more as she shouted, ¡°Merchants are the lowest of the low in the class of scholar, farmer, artisan, and merchant! What¡¯s there to envy? Such superficial thinking! Which husband could compare to the Emperor?¡± She was beyond help. Faced with this, Xiangxiu immediately gave up trying to persuade her. With a forced smile, she said, ¡°Lady, your lesson is right. People should always strive for the highest; only water flows low. It¡¯s my foresight that¡¯s poor, lacking ambition¡­¡± She just wanted to see what kind of future she could carve out for herself! * In a side chamber of Qingning Palace, Sang Yan was still thinking about Sang Ruoshui. Women as deluded as her were numerous in the harem! What to do? What if concubines come to beg her again next time? In this Imperial Palace, they seek the Emperor first, and heirs second! As she was pondering¡ª ¡°Guilty concubine Qu Xueli seeks audience with Lord Sang.¡± Li Pin¡¯s voice came from outside the chamber. Sang Yan heard it and knew her purpose¡ª to plea for her father. Mr. Qu plotted to kill the former father and though unsuccessful, ended up causing the death of Wan Zhang, an unforgivable crime. Murder for murder! ¡°Not seeing her.¡± She instructed Qiuzhi to send the person away. Qiuzhi went out to convey the message and returned after a while. ¡°Miss, that Li Pin is still kneeling outside. She wants to see you.¡± Sang Yan instantly got annoyed, ¡°What do they think this place is? Everyone comes here begging, but whom should I beg? Not seeing her, not seeing her!¡± Qiuzhi once again went out to relay the message. Upon returning this time, she said nothing. Sang Yan then asked, ¡°Has she left?¡± Qiuzhi shook her head, ¡°No. She¡¯s still kneeling. She says she won¡¯t leave without seeing you.¡± Sang Yan laughed bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s all the same tactic, moral blackmail.¡± She had been morally blackmailed too many times and her heart had grown cold. She decided to no longer intervene. ¡°Has the Emperor not returned yet?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°When he does, let me know.¡± She went back to practicing her calligraphy. About an hour had passed before He Ying returned. Outside the hall, he saw Qu Xueli and immediately ordered her to be dragged back to her quarters. ¡°Emperor, please spare my life!¡± ¡°Emperor, surely my father has his reasons!¡± Qu Xueli was crying and screaming, refusing to leave. She struggled fiercely to break free from the guard¡¯s grasp. Sang Yan, hearing the commotion, came out to see that Qu Xueli looked much worse than before¡ªwan and thin, with a dull complexion and lifeless eyes, dressed in a homespun dress, resembling a village woman. The change was tremendous. Qu Xueli used to be such a proud woman! Yet, after falling out of favor, in just a few days, she had declined to this state! ¡°Sang Yan, please, speak on my father¡¯s behalf?¡± ¡°There must be some misunderstanding! My father is not that kind of person!¡± Finally, Qu Xueli managed to break free from the guard¡¯s restraint and rushed over, clinging to Sang Yan¡¯s legs. Sang Yan was startled, ¡°Let go! Li Pin, release me!¡± ¡°Worthless! What are you standing around for? Hurry and pull her away!¡± Upon seeing this, He Ying¡¯s face turned livid with anger, nearly kicking someone in his rage. The guards quickly pulled Qu Xueli away. She collapsed on the ground like mud, her hair messy, sitting there crying pitifully. Sang Yan said, ¡°The Emperor would never wrongly accuse a good person. I know you are filial and pleading for your father, but do not be foolishly filial! A murderer must pay the price, and Director Wan¡¯s body has not yet been put to rest! You plead for your father, but who will claim injustice for him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Qu Xueli kept repeating this phrase, seemingly lost. He Ying waved his hand, ¡°Drag her away.¡± Sang Yan then said, ¡°Before they part, let them, father and daughter, meet one last time.¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Fine. As you wish.¡± He put his arm around her shoulder and walked towards the hall. Sang Yan, thinking about his political maneuvers in court, felt gloomy, ¡°The Emperor must have something to tell me, right?¡± He Ying smiled faintly, ¡°Pei Muyang said you¡¯ve been waiting for me. It must be you who has something to say.¡± Sang Yan did not beat around the bush, ¡°How could the Emperor make a joke about the heir?¡± He Ying¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Who¡¯s making a joke about the heir?¡± Sang Yan said indignantly, ¡°To remain in the Imperial Palace, I must conceive an heir within three months. Isn¡¯t that a joke?¡± He Ying shook his head, gently patting her shoulder, his smile comforting, ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s merely a delaying tactic. What the Imperial Physician says eventually depends entirely on me.¡± Sang Yan understood, ¡°Is the Emperor planning to lie?¡± He Ying looked at her, his smile deepening, ¡°If you wish otherwise, I can only tell a white lie.¡± Sang Yan was speechless. Wasn¡¯t this also a form of moral coercion? Humph! He knew she was soft-hearted! ¡°I¡¯m not against having children, but not now, the relationship is progressing too quickly.¡± In her view, when hormones run high, one sees only the best in the other, but once the hormones fade, or the passion subsides, they might grow tired of each other¡ªit was entirely possible. So, being together was one thing, even getting married was acceptable, but it would be responsible not to have children within the first two years of marriage. Couples must be well-adjusted and confident about their future before considering having children. He Ying didn¡¯t think their relationship was moving too fast. Normally, before getting married, couples hardly met. But she wasn¡¯t from this time. So he wouldn¡¯t confine her with the rules of this age. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± He indulged her with a smile. Chapter 92 - 092 Cultivation Chapter 92: Chapter 092 Cultivation Sang Yan was satisfied and changed the subject to inquire about Qu Zhi¡¯s matter. He Ying said, ¡°I have assigned the Three Law Departments to jointly review the case. I believe the results will come out soon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Sang Yan nodded, then asked, ¡°What about Wan Zhang¡¯s funeral?¡± He Ying said, ¡°Chu Jun is in charge of the arrangements. The funeral procession will be the day after tomorrow, and he will be buried in the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum.¡± Sang Yan let out a heavy sigh, unsure of what to say. ... He Ying knew she mourned Wan Zhang¡¯s death and comforted her, ¡°It was his wish. We should respect it.¡± Sang Yan nodded, and the next moment, he pulled her into his arms. The two cuddled and were intimate with each other. For the following two days, everyone in the Imperial Palace busied themselves with Wan Zhang¡¯s funeral. When Sang Yan went to accompany the funeral procession to the Emperor¡¯s Mausoleum, the weather turned unbearably hot halfway. Fearing she might suffer from the heat, He Ying had her return early. She hadn¡¯t expected to see Jiang Ke at the palace gates. Not having seen him for nearly a month, Jiang Ke was clad in a black brocade robe, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a long sword at his waist, presenting even more the demeanor of a knight. However, when their eyes met, there was still a gentle warmth in his. ¡°Are you with the Emperor now?¡± He stood in front of her carriage, his gentle eyes gradually cooling, ¡°Time and again I tried to distinguish myself, asking the Emperor to grant us marriage, but he never paid attention. It turns out he¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t continue and instead asked directly, ¡°Sang Yan, tell me the truth, have you really decided to be with him?¡± Looking into the eyes of the young man, a mix of love and hate, Sang Yan said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Jiang Ke, I was never right for you. I am not what you imagine. Please let go. There are plenty of good women out there.¡± ¡°But the one I wanted was always only you.¡± Jiang Ke, suppressing his emotions, asked, ¡°Sang Yan, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re sorry, just tell me, do you really not have any feelings for me at all? Do you truly like the Emperor?¡± If she liked him, if she liked¡­ No, how could she possibly like someone else? Sang Yan knew matters of the heart could not be ambiguous and made things clear to him, ¡°Yes, I do like him.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you saying you liked my brother? Weren¡¯t you saying your heart only had room for my brother?¡± Jiang Ke felt a surge of jealousy, like a raging fire consuming his heart and lungs. It was too painful. He felt like he was being burned alive. ¡°Sang Yan, how could you like someone else?¡± She might not like him, but how could she like someone else? ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sang Yan sincerely apologized, making her stance clear, ¡°I like him, not because he¡¯s the Emperor. On the contrary, if he weren¡¯t the Emperor, I would like him even more. Jiang Ke, I hope you can understand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Jiang Ke looked at her unwillingly, ¡°Sang Yan, you¡¯ve gone back on your word, changing your affections with circumstances.¡± That comment was too harsh. Sang Yan frowned, displeased, ¡°If I don¡¯t like you, this is your attitude? Jiang Ke, if that¡¯s really what you think of me, then you should cut your losses in time. I¡¯m a bad woman, not worthy of your affection.¡± With that, she looked to the Guard Commander and ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The Guard Commander responded, ¡°Yes.¡± The procession continued on its way. Jiang Ke watched the carriage drive off, gripping his long sword tightly, but did not follow. He waited until the carriage had entered the Imperial Palace before walking away. With agile movements, he mounted his horse and charged into the vacant woods. Swinging his sword wildly, where the blade passed, birds screeched in alarm and leaves fell in disarray. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± He too cried out, like a wounded beast, using roar after roar to vent his agony. * Sang Yan returned to the side hall of Qingning Palace. Thinking of Jiang Ke, her heart was covered with dark clouds. How did she run into him? How did she get involved with him? This debt of love was truly a headache. And such a headache was something she did not want He Ying to know about. Thinking this, she instructed Qiuzhi, ¡°Make those people keep their mouths shut. Don¡¯t let the Emperor hear about it.¡± Qiuzhi busily complied, ¡°Yes.¡± But there are no walls in the world that do not leak. When He Ying came back, someone still told him about Sang Yan seeing Jiang Ke. ¡°Just these?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The guard restored the conversation between the two people. If Sang Yan were present, she might have commended his memory. He Ying returned, travel-weary and exhausted, listened to the entire process, first took a bath, ate something, then went to the side hall. Sang Yan was still practicing her calligraphy. The original owner was a lady of a reputable family, versed in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but after she took over her body, she had not grasped her skills. Thus, her brush writing was appalling to look at. ¡°The Emperor arrives¡ª¡ª¡± Little Guizi loudly reminded. Sang Yan immediately crumpled the paper she had written on and tossed it into the waste basket, then picked up a book, pretending to flip through it. Therefore, when He Ying arrived, he only saw her reading a book. ¡°What are you reading?¡± He sat down behind her, stretching his arms, almost enveloping her in his embrace. Hearing this, Sang Yan picked up the book to show him the title, ¡°It¡¯s a travelogue written by Feng Yicheng.¡± He Ying looked at the words ¡°Red Dust Strange Tales¡± and asked, ¡°Is it interesting?¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°Yes. It¡¯s interesting.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying asked again, ¡°What does it talk about?¡± Sang Yan then told him, ¡°It talks about an old woodcutter in Min State, who went up the mountain to chop wood and saw two trees with branches and leaves intertwined, inseparable. Until one day, during a thunderstorm, one of the trees was struck by lightning and died. The next day, the other tree also suddenly withered away.¡± He Ying listened with surprise, ¡°And then? Why? Could it be the same root? But that¡¯s not right, even with the same root, it wouldn¡¯t wither so quickly.¡± Sang Yan said with a smile, ¡°His explanation is, one of the trees is a parasol tree, which is the male tree, and the other is a phoenix tree, which is the female tree. Male and female, one pair, born and die together.¡± He Ying was even more surprised, ¡°So even plants are capable of such deep loyalty and devotion? That is interesting!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Yan deeply agreed, also recalling a poet¡¯s verse, ¡°The parasol trees support each other as they age, the mandarin ducks die together.¡± Could it be that the poet was speaking of these trees? ¡°This verse is well said.¡± He Ying appreciated it, then asked, ¡°Is there any other interesting content?¡± Sang Yan nodded and flipped to a part that had left a deep impression on her, continuing, ¡°Mr. Feng also said that he passed by a temple in Min State and encountered a monk. On a whim, he asked the monk what enlightenment he had gained after practicing for half his life. Guess, how did the monk answer?¡± He Ying played along, ¡°How did he answer?¡± Sang Yan spread her hands, ¡°Nothing at all.¡± He Ying was startled, ¡°Is that monk playing a joke on him?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, a mysterious smile on her face, ¡°The monk said, I not only gained nothing, but I also lost many things. For example, I lost greed, resentment, selfishness, prejudice, narrow-mindedness, pessimism, superficiality, ignorance¡­¡± He Ying listened, his gaze gradually deepening, ¡°That¡¯s a fresh perspective. What he considers cultivation isn¡¯t about gaining, but letting go.¡± ¡°Yes, cultivation is about subtraction, not addition. Emperor, you¡¯re quick-minded.¡± Sang Yan truly admired He Ying¡¯s intelligence, he always got straight to the point. Hearing her praise, thinking about her declaration of love in front of Jiang Ke, He Ying felt a light-hearted pleasure, ¡°So, is this one of the reasons you like me?¡± Chapter 93 - 093 Critical Illness Chapter 93: Chapter 093 Critical Illness The topic changed rather quickly. Sang Yan was stunned for a moment before asking, ¡°Why bring this up?¡± Could it be that her words in front of Jiang Ke were known to him? Indeed, there were no secrets in the Imperial Palace. ¡°I just want to know where I won your favor.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± ... Sang Yan thought of Lin Huiyin¡¯s reply and said, ¡°I plan to spend a lifetime answering this question. Do you have the patience to listen slowly?¡± He Ying laughed, ¡°Of course I do. Not just in this lifetime, in the next one, we will still be together.¡± Sang Yan teased him, ¡°How can you be sure about the next life?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? Fate is set for three lifetimes.¡± ¡°What if this is the third lifetime?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak of such inauspicious things.¡± He pressed down on her neck and sealed her lips with his mouth. After their intimate moment, they returned to reading. Time slowly flowed. They were loving at the best of times. But someone rushed in, panting, breaking the peaceful scene: ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s terrible, Emperor, the Empress Dowager is critically ill.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the old eunuch before the Empress Dowager. He Ying later understood that he had some ties with Yu Huai De, a distant uncle called Yu Xingxian. Yu Xingxian had always been attending to the Empress Dowager. Wiping his sweat, he relayed the near condition of the Empress Dowager, ¡°After she fainted that day, she hasn¡¯t woken up. These past two days, she can¡¯t even swallow her medicine. Emperor, you should go quickly. The Empress Dowager¡­ I fear she doesn¡¯t have much time left.¡± He Ying, having reached a verbal agreement with Empress Pei Wenjun, had ignored the Empress Dowager¡¯s existence and hadn¡¯t troubled her. Now hearing Yu Xingxian say that the Empress Dowager was critically ill, he saw it as a ploy. He was indifferent, coldly saying, ¡°Since she doesn¡¯t have much time left, then take good care of her. What use is there in telling me?¡± Yu Xingxian fell to the ground, weeping, ¡°A dying person¡¯s words are kind. Emperor, please go and see the Empress Dowager for the last time. She looks towards Qingning Palace day and night, wanting to see you.¡± He Ying sneered, ¡°She wants to see me? I think she¡¯s eager to head to Li Palace!¡± Seeing the Emperor unmoved, Yu Xingxian immediately turned to plead with Sang Yan, ¡°Lord Sang, please persuade the Emperor. On my life, the Empress Dowager really won¡¯t last a few days.¡± Sang Yan, seeing this, also felt that the old eunuch¡¯s emotions were genuine, not false. Though the Empress Dowager was not kind to her, she was still the Empress Dowager. Before dying, the Emperor should indeed pay her a visit. ¡°Emperor, please go and see.¡± ¡°You are just too soft-hearted.¡± He Ying, still respecting Sang Yan, stood up, ready to go. Yu Xingxian then said, ¡°Lord Sang, please accompany him. The Emperor¡¯s temper¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Sang Yan understood: He Ying detested the Empress Dowager, and his words might indeed be harsh enough to hasten her death. ¡°You don¡¯t have to go.¡± He Ying, seeing that Sang Yan was moved, expressed his stance first, then kicked Yu Xingxian, shouting, ¡°You blatant servant! Who are you to direct the master here!¡± ¡°Emperor, spare my life, Emperor, spare my life¡ª¡± Yu Xingxian lay on the ground, continuously kowtowing. A man over fifty, his head banging pitifully loud. ¡°Enough.¡± Sang Yan let Yu Xingxian stand up and said to He Ying, ¡°He is a loyal servant, why blame him? Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s see.¡± He Ying said nothing further, took her hand, and exited the hall. Outside the hall Pei Muyang had prepared the carriage. The two of them boarded the carriage and headed for Yongshou Palace. Inside Yongshou Palace, the scent of medicine pervaded the air. The Empress Dowager lay on the bed, coughing several times and coughing up blood. The Imperial Physician kneeled beside her, still advising, ¡°Empress Dowager, your chest is oppressed, and your body is severely weakened. If this continues, I fear it will harm your fortune and longevity.¡± His words were very euphemistic¡ªIf you keep worrying like this, you won¡¯t live much longer. The Empress Dowager was well aware of her own physical condition. Coughing, she forced a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, my lifespan is up, it¡¯s not your fault. The Emperor won¡¯t be furious, he might even reward you¡ª¡± The Imperial Physician trembled, ¡°Empress Dowager, please don¡¯t think like that. The Emperor is a filial son!¡± The filial Emperor entered at that moment and heard the Empress Dowager¡¯s words, sneering, ¡°Right, the Empress Dowager is quite aware. If you die, I intend to set off fireworks to celebrate.¡± The Imperial Physician: ¡°¡­¡± My God, what kind of misery is this! Why must I deal with this hot potato! ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty¡ª¡± The Imperial Physician kowtowed to the Emperor and said, ¡°Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager¡¯s illness is not optimistic, if you could serve the sick¡ª¡± He Ying waved his hand to cut him off, ¡°Get lost!¡± Asking him to serve the sick, he dared to say it! The Imperial Physician couldn¡¯t wait to scram, immediately kowtowed, grabbed his medicine chest, and ran out. Silence returned to the hall. But a few coughs sounded intermittently. The Empress Dowager struggled to sit up, leaning against the pillow, and pointed at He Ying, weakly saying, ¡°Calamity, what are you doing here? I¡¯m not dead yet, you¡¯ve come too early.¡± Her face was pale, severely weak, but as stubborn as ever. He Ying, furious, turned to leave but restrained himself, ¡°You¡¯ve raised a good servant, reporting your death to me in advance.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Such words could really infuriate someone! She tugged at the Emperor¡¯s sleeve, advising, ¡°Your Majesty, be cautious with your words.¡± Finished, she then looked at the Empress Dowager, ¡°Why must you argue with him in your current state?¡± The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile, ¡°You¡¯re here too. It¡¯s good you came. I have something to tell you. Come, cough, closer¡ª¡± She was always strong-willed. Approaching death with no one beside her bed, she felt no regret nor desire to see anyone. But since Sang Yan had come, she might as well speak a few words. He Ying interrupted, ¡°You have something to say to me.¡± He put his arm around Sang Yan¡¯s shoulders, not letting her go over, who knew if the old thing would suddenly lash out, harming her? Sang Yan was also wary and said, ¡°Empress Dowager, what do you want to tell me? If you say it in the Emperor¡¯s presence, perhaps it can be better handled.¡± The Empress Dowager knew their thoughts and did not insist, coughing as she said, ¡°I, cough, am dying, my only regret¡ª¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Inexplicably feeling this regret was related to the heir. Her feelings were always accurate. The Empress Dowager continued, ¡°Da He¡¯s lineage is scant! Cough, the late Emperor died young without a son, Xinyuan, oh Xinyuan¡ª¡± Her tears fell, her eyes a cloudy red, ¡°I have never regretted my actions, only regret allowing you to indulge yourself, leading you to waste your prime years without a heir¡ªcough, cough, cough¡ª¡± She leaned over the bed, coughing up a mouthful of blood, ¡°I have failed the late Emperor, failed Da He¡ª¡± Sang Yan watched with mixed feelings: These people poisoned by feudal thoughts, even in death, cannot find freedom. Do they not consider, about to die, why bother with what happens after? The Empress Dowager reached out, seemingly wanting to grasp something. He Ying approached, ¡°What exactly do you want to do?¡± The Empress Dowager waved her hand dismissively, telling him to get lost, then looked at Sang Yan, ¡°Throughout my life, I have never asked anyone for anything; but now, Sang Yan, I beg you, bear a heir for Da He. Otherwise, even in my grave, I won¡¯t be at peace!¡± Chapter 94 - 094 Paying Respect to Buddha Chapter 94: Chapter 094 Paying Respect to Buddha Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What does that have to do with her? Even prayers for an heir had fallen on her shoulders. As if the heir could be born just because she wished it so. He Ying¡¯s thoughts were the opposite of hers. He believed that the Empress Dowager, on her deathbed, had finally shown wisdom by praying to the right person. ... And even improved his mood. What that cunning servant said was right; a person¡¯s words on their deathbed tend to be kind. ¡°Sang Yan, you must promise me, promise me¡ª¡ª¡± Seeing Sang Yan remain silent, the Empress Dowager grew anxious, reached out to grab someone, but accidentally fell off the bed. Immediately, a palace maid tried to help her: ¡°Empress Dowager¡ª¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The Empress Dowager shouted angrily and crawled toward where Sang Yan was. She was acting crazy, utterly disregarding the dignity of the Empress Dowager. Sang Yan felt she was subjected to moral coercion. She wanted to move back, to leave, but it was too late! The Empress Dowager had grabbed hold of her ankle, gasping for breath, followed by a violent cough, and with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, she said: ¡°Sang Yan, Xinyuan cares deeply for you, please treat him well, bear him sons and daughters, our Da He cannot be left without successors.¡± Sang Yan, watching all this, found herself unable to utter a word of refusal. After thinking, she solemnly stated: ¡°All I can say is, as long as he doesn¡¯t let me down, I will indeed treat him well. As for children, let nature take its course; if I become pregnant, naturally, I will give birth.¡± ¡°Thank you. Thank you.¡± The Empress Dowager suddenly lost all her strength and collapsed on the floor. The palace maids hurried to help her back onto the bed. They also fed her a bowl of medicine. Perhaps due to the medicine¡¯s effects, or perhaps because her wishes had been fulfilled, the Empress Dowager regained some energy and continued: ¡°Then, before becoming pregnant with an heir, you should go to Long Chan Temple and pray for forty-nine days. The Fairy said that praying can purify the malicious energy in you. When you return, you can marry. The Empress told me she no longer wishes to hold her position. Like this, once you carry the heir, you can be promoted to the Empress.¡± Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected the Empress Dowager to arrange all these and stood there in a daze for a moment. He Ying, however, objected sharply: ¡°Impossible! Pray to what Buddha? I have already prayed for her blessings at Long Chan Temple and lit a Longevity Lamp for her. She will be fine.¡± The Empress Dowager completely ignored his words, turned to Sang Yan, and said: ¡°This is my only dying wish. You should go back and think about it.¡± She didn¡¯t press too hard. Because she knew Sang Yan would agree. Sang Yan indeed would agree. Her relationship with He Ying had developed too quickly, and forty-nine days of praying at Long Chan Temple would be a perfect break for them to cool off. Marriage and childbearing are major life events. Right now, she was a bit love-struck. ¡°Alright.¡± She agreed: ¡°I will go.¡± He Ying grasped Sang Yan¡¯s arm and started to leave: ¡°No! I don¡¯t agree!¡± They returned to the side halls of Qingning Palace. He Ying motioned to dismiss everyone around and demanded: ¡°Why did you agree to her? Do you want to leave me?¡± He also recalled her meeting Jiang Ke at the palace gates. Perhaps, what she said was only a contradiction because the guards were present? This realization infuriated him: ¡°Sang Yan, do you have a secret with Jiang Ke?¡± Sang Yan saw his suspicion that she had a private affair with Jiang Ke and felt her character was insulted, ¡°Calm yourself! Can you really think this way of me? He Ying, you¡¯re not only looking down on me but on yourself as well!¡± ¡°I, I¡ª¡± He Ying didn¡¯t know what to say and was so flustered that his face turned red. ¡°Anyway, I do not agree! You are not to think of leaving my side!¡± He dropped these words and quickly left. He didn¡¯t want to lose his composure in front of her and lash out at her. Sang Yan watched him leave without a word, then sat on the couch, lost in thought. Qiuzhi brought over some tea and softly persuaded, ¡°Why must you speak so, Miss? You clearly know how much the Emperor cares for you. He¡¯s anxious even when you are away from his side for a moment, how could he possibly let you go to Long Chan Temple? Moreover, even setting aside concerns for your personal safety, living a life of religious devotion there, abstaining from meat and strong flavors for nearly two months, how could your body withstand it?¡± Sang Yan had considered these things, but she still wanted to go and worship. Away from the environment of the Imperial Palace, perhaps she could see her heart more clearly. Qiuzhi saw that she did not respond and wanted to persuade her further, but she waved her hand and fell silent. Ah, she couldn¡¯t comprehend her young mistress. At the same time In the main hall of Qingning Palace He Ying could not understand Sang Yan either and so asked Pei Muyang, ¡°Tell me, what is she thinking? Does she have me in her heart at all?¡± He always felt insecure in front of Sang Yan. Even though he was the Emperor. Pei Muyang weighed his words carefully and replied, ¡°Your Majesty, you are a paragon among men and also gentle and affectionate, of course Lord Sang holds you in her heart. Hasn¡¯t she also promised the Empress Dowager that as long as you do not let her down, she will treat you well, and expressed willingness for things to take their natural course in bearing an heir?¡± As an outsider, he could see Sang Yan¡¯s heart gradually slipping towards the Emperor. ¡°Is that so?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying also remembered Sang Yan¡¯s nearly promise-like words, the gloom on his face lifted, and a smile slowly appeared in his eyes, ¡°You¡¯re right. She does like me. She has even relented to bearing my children.¡± He was smiling one moment, but his expression changed abruptly, and his voice turned cold, ¡°It¡¯s all that old man¡¯s fault for causing trouble!¡± After hearing this, Pei Muyang hesitated for a moment before cautiously adding, ¡°Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, what the Empress Dowager said was not all bad.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression became stern, and he asked displeased, ¡°Why?¡± Pei Muyang replied with an apologetic smile, keeping his voice low, ¡°Consider this, Your Majesty. You promised the ministers from the former dynasty that you would see to it that Lord Sang conceives an heir within three months. This is undoubtedly a pressure for her. Now that the Empress Dowager allows her to go to Long Chan Temple to worship and has even decided on her marriage, even arranging for her to become the Empress, it means she has the Empress Dowager¡¯s support, and those ministers will surely not dare to object.¡± He Ying found some sense in this but was still skeptical, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, the Empress Dowager is still helping us? Is she that kind-hearted?¡± There¡¯s a saying that a dying person¡¯s words are good. But it depends on who the person is. The Empress Dowager was not an easy person. Pei Muyang knew the Emperor¡¯s underlying worry and continued, ¡°If Your Majesty is not reassured, you could assign more guards for protection, and presumably, nothing would go wrong.¡± He Ying shook his head, his expression grave, ¡°It¡¯s not entirely because of this. Sang Yan is shrewd and perceptive; I fear that after a long period of devotion, she may return having seen through the world¡¯s illusions, contemplating that all is vanity. What would I do?¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± That sort of thinking? Terrifying, truly terrifying. He Ying thought more and felt increasingly uncertain, ¡°No, it¡¯s better not to let complications arise.¡± Naturally, it was more reassuring to keep his treasure within his sight. During dinner, he went to a side hall, eating while he spoke, ¡°Ah Yan, if you want to worship, that¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll arrange for some accomplished monks to come here to the palace, how about that?¡± Sang Yan decisively refused, ¡°No way.¡± He Ying did not get angry, but patiently persuaded, ¡°Ah Yan, have you forgotten? Sincerity is what makes spirituality effective. The same goes for worship; it¡¯s not the location that matters, but the heart.¡± Sang Yan knew that the Emperor was eloquent and skilled in beguiling the heart, so she did not argue, simply saying, ¡°If Your Majesty desires to marry me and have children, then let me go to Long Chan Temple to worship. If not, then it is up to you. In any case, I will not ascend to a position by bearing children without proper status.¡± ¡°Who said you have no status and that you¡¯re using childbirth to climb the ladder?¡± He Ying thought there might be rumors he was unaware of and immediately declared, ¡°As long as you¡¯re willing, I will make you the Empress right away!¡± Chapter 95 - 095 Collapse and Demise Chapter 95: Chapter 095 Collapse and Demise Sang Yan was already annoyed, ¡°Can the Emperor not be so obstinate? You know the ministers oppose it, yet you still proceed, where does that leave me? Wasn¡¯t my recent brush with danger warning enough? Yes, you are the Emperor, a high and mighty emperor, but even emperors are not omnipotent. Do not underestimate those ministers. Power suppression has never been a solution to problems.¡± He Ying was left speechless by her words. He ate a few bites of food, then set down his chopsticks and left. He needed to think things over. Watching him leave, Sang Yan lost her appetite for dining as well, hastily ate a little, then asked for the meal to be cleared away. Washing up, then to bed. ... A dreamless night. The next day, she did not see He Ying come over. The third day, was the same. He Ying was avoiding her. Realizing this, Sang Yan did not go to look for him. Their relationship had suddenly turned cold. She felt somewhat sad, somewhat desolate, somewhat uneasy, and somewhat masochistically resigned: See. The warmth of their love had finally cooled down. The fourth day, The Empress Dowager had someone summon her. When Sang Yan went, she inquired, ¡°How is the Empress Dowager¡¯s health now? Do you know why she has summoned me?¡± The palace maid looked terrified, but told her truthfully, ¡°Lady Puzhu of Yongshou Palace has died. The Empress Dowager is very sad, hasn¡¯t touched food for days. It looks bad.¡± Puzhu had been protecting the Empress Dowager when He Ying chopped off half of her arm. With the current weather being the hot summer, the wound was prone to infection, coupled with the primitive medical conditions, it was really hard to save a life. What a pity. But that was just a pity. She still remembered how she had arrogantly forced herself to take her medicine, not fond of her in her heart. She soon arrived at Yongshou Palace. Before she even entered, she heard a burst of sobbing cries. When she reached the bedside, she learned the Empress Dowager had passed away. But the Empress Dowager¡¯s eyes were open, seemingly staring towards the palace gate, clearly having died with her eyes unshut. ¡°Lord Sang, the Empress Dowager¡¯s last words were that you must go to Long Chan Temple and pray for forty-nine days,¡± relayed the old eunuch Yu Xingxian. Sang Yan said nothing, deeply bowed towards the direction of the Empress Dowager. Then she heard the voice of a eunuch from outside, ¡°The Emperor has arrived¡ª¡± That was quick. She had just arrived, and he followed right after. There must have been someone constantly watching the movement around the side hall. She thought he had given up on this relationship. ¡°Sang Yan! Sang Yan¡ª¡± He Ying rushed over, saw her, and held onto her shoulders, looking her up and down to see if she was hurt. Seeing how worried he was about her, Sang Yan was touched, and her attitude softened, ¡°Your Majesty, I am alright.¡± ¡°Waiting until something happens would be too late! What are you doing coming here? It¡¯s so ominous!¡± He did not want Sang Yan to come to the Empress Dowager¡¯s side. The Empress Dowager had been seriously ill, with intense miasma of sickness. Her health was poor; it was really not suitable for her to come. ¡°Enough, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager¡ª¡± Had the Empress Dowager still been alive to hear his disdainful words, she might have died from anger right there. He Ying also saw the Empress Dowager with open eyes, her body stiff, no rise and fall in her chest. ¡°The Empress Dowager has expired?¡± He was shocked. Sang Yan looked at him and slowly nodded. He Ying¡¯s face changed, he walked over, and even checked her breathing. She was indeed dead. This woman, who had commanded the wind and rain for most of her life, was dead. Once someone dies, it seems all their malice departs with them. What remains is all their goodness. He remembered how, before the late Emperor¡¯s demise, she had cried torrentially and fell ill for several days. He even remembered earlier times, someone had spoken ill of his mother, and she had them executed. Even when he was four years old and had a high fever, it was she who had commanded the Imperial Physician to treat him meticulously, staying by his side throughout¡­ A delayed pang in his heart. Brief. ¡°Did the Empress Dowager say anything before she passed?¡± He clenched his fist and asked a question. The answer came from Yu Xingxian: ¡°He only said to send Lord Sang to Long Chan Temple¡ª¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying interrupted in time, ¡°Besides that?¡± Yu Xingxian shook his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s all. After Lady Puzhu¡¯s death, the Empress Dowager was heartbroken, and her passing was sudden.¡± He Ying pinched the temple of his forehead and after a long time, he sighed, ¡°Let it be, give her a grand funeral.¡± The news of the Empress Dowager¡¯s demise soon spread to the former court. The ministers all came to mourn. He Ying also observed seven days of mourning before the Empress Dowager was buried in the Imperial Mausoleum. The country mourned for a month, prohibiting festivities. Sang Yan, as she wished, went to Long Chan Temple to worship Buddha. He Ying sent many guards and Hidden Guards to protect her. ¡°Such a grand show of force might attract criticism.¡± Sang Yan was still not used to being so high-profile. He Ying didn¡¯t want her to leave the palace, and he was in a very bad mood. Hearing her say that, he immediately became displeased and retorted, ¡°You always think like this, afraid of this and that. Isn¡¯t it tiring to live like this? Is everything I give you just a shackle? I am the Emperor, and you are my woman, the future Empress Da He. What are you afraid of others saying? Do you think you¡¯re not worthy?¡± His voice grew louder with each sentence. He had always been gentle in front of her, rarely speaking so sharply. He even hinted at her petty bourgeoisie mentality. Sang Yan had never expected He Ying to speak to her like this and was momentarily stunned. After he finished, He Ying regretted his words. He tapped his forehead and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the thought of not seeing you for several days just makes me restless.¡± Sang Yan pondered his words. People often reveal their true nature unintentionally. She felt that he didn¡¯t love her as much as before. Indeed, she always went against him, naturally wearing out his patience and sincerity. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Your Majesty, please go back. I will take good care of myself.¡± She turned and entered Long Chan Temple. Master Yixuan, having received news from the palace early on, had prepared a chamber for her with a nanmu desk, silk quilts, and a glass lamp embedded with Luminous Pearls, decorated exceptionally luxuriously. Sang Yan entered and was shocked, ¡°This, this?¡± What happened to worshiping Buddha? It looked more like a vacation spot? Master Yixuan brought his palms together and smiled, ¡°Amitabha Buddha, ¡®meat and wine pass through the intestines, but Buddha stays in the heart. If there is nothing inside, there is nothing outside.''¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Fine. If such a revered monk had no objections, neither did she. And so, her daily Buddhist rituals began. During the day, she followed the monks for morning prayers, reciting various Buddhist Scriptures. At night, she joined the monks for evening prayers, involving confession and self-reflection apart from reciting scriptures. For some reason, Sang Yan thought back to He Ying¡¯s words before she left. At this moment, seeing things from his perspective, it seemed she had always been a spoil-sport, always guarded, keeping him at bay. He was right; she was timid. The encounter at the Yongshou Palace had indeed frightened her considerably. She captured these reflections in a letter and sent it to the Emperor. After receiving the letter, He Ying came to see her. ¡°It was my fault. I put you in danger, scared you, and then blamed you for being timid. Your fear is because I didn¡¯t provide you with enough security. Even as the Emperor, I am helpless.¡± He held her tight, feeling utterly useless. Sang Yan shook her head, consoling him, ¡°Your Majesty, don¡¯t say that. You have done very well. Every person¡¯s ability is limited, and I would like Your Majesty to be more cautious. To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. Since ancient times, being an Emperor has always been a perilous job.¡± He Ying had the most authority to speak on this. The late Emperor was a living testament. ¡°You are right. ¡®A cautious mind will lead to a long life.''¡± He still indulged her. He didn¡¯t say that precisely because he was cautious, he had arranged so many people to protect her, yet she had called it a grand show of force. Let it be. Loving her meant tolerating her. No matter what she thought. ¡°How have you felt these past few days? If you are not used to it, we can go back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m accustomed to it. It¡¯s very peaceful. My perspective on things has also changed. I feel I¡¯ve gained a lot.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve gained a lot, don¡¯t forget about me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t forget. You are the greatest gain of my life.¡± She had begun to speak sweetly too. He Ying was so charmed he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her. Chapter 96 - 096: The Wild Chapter 96: Chapter 096: The Wild Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t allow it, she dodged and chided, ¡°This is a pure land of the Buddhist Sect, you mustn¡¯t behave so frivolously.¡± He Ying disagreed, ¡°The Buddha is merciful, surely he would be happy to see lovers eventually become a couple.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Unable to argue with him, she chuckled and changed the subject, ¡°Has it been peaceful in the Imperial Palace lately?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Nothing much.¡± Sang Yan glanced outside and surprisingly saw Yu Huai De, whom she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time, and grew puzzled, ¡°Why haven¡¯t I seen Pei Muyang?¡± ... Pei Muyang was young and handsome, with a sweet mouth, making his presence felt. Just now when the Emperor came in, he wasn¡¯t seen attending by his side. So she was a bit concerned. ¡°Is he sick?¡± ¡°No.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t want to say that after Chief Eunuch Yu Huai De returned to the palace, he reported that Pei Muyang was the illegitimate son of Pei Zhen. Although since Pei Muyang had come to serve the Emperor, he had always been disciplined and without any signs of seeking revenge for his father, who knew what he thought inside? He could no longer be trusted. Like the Empress, his very birth was a sin. ¡°Something feels wrong.¡± Sang Yan looked at him and urged, ¡°What happened? Did he do something wrong? You didn¡¯t kill someone again, did you?¡± He Ying shook his head, with an innocent look, ¡°How could that be? Am I really such a bloodthirsty person in your eyes?¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Sang Yan knew she had misspoken and immediately apologized, then said, ¡°So don¡¯t hide it from me, what exactly happened to Pei Muyang?¡± Seeing her relentless questioning, He Ying no longer kept it from her and told the truth, ¡°Pei Muyang is the son of Pei Zhen.¡± Sang Yan was stunned, ¡°Ah? What? How did you know?¡± He Ying said, ¡°Yu Huai De has returned. As the Chief Eunuch, upon careful investigation, he discovered that Pei Muyang is the illegitimate son of Pei Zhen.¡± Sang Yan raised doubts, ¡°Pei Zhen was a powerful official, and a tiger doesn¡¯t eat its cubs, how could he let his own son enter the Imperial Palace to become a eunuch?¡± He Ying explained, ¡°Judging by his age, he entered the palace after Pei Zhen had died. This also makes his motives suspicious.¡± ¡°What does he himself say?¡± ¡°He says his mother was a singer, and he was never recognized by Pei Zhen, always depending on his mother for a living. When he was seven, Pei Zhen was killed, his mother passed away shortly after, and he, out of necessity for a living, entered the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°Hearing you say this, he himself seems to be a pitiable person.¡± ¡°Though pitiable, he cannot remain by my side.¡± In consideration of his long service, sparing his life was already a grace. After hearing this, Sang Yan guessed, ¡°Is the Emperor going to expel him from the palace?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°I will give him some rewards to ensure a safe and carefree life for the rest of his days, currently letting him contemplate what he wants.¡± Sang Yan was relatively satisfied with this outcome and thus did not say anything further. He Ying, not wanting to talk about others, changed the topic, suggesting she show him around Long Chan Temple. The two of them then chatted and strolled through Long Chan Temple. ¡°Amitabha Buddha, peace be with the Emperor.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve seen the Emperor¡ª¡± The passing monks all bowed in salute. Sang Yan laughed, ¡°Next time you come, you could change your clothes, this golden color makes it easy to spot your identity.¡± He Ying wasn¡¯t wearing the imperial robe, but his casual clothes were also too lavish and flashy. ¡°I rather think it¡¯s a matter of bearing.¡± He deliberately said this with vanity, thinking to amuse her. Sang Yan played along with a laughing compliment, ¡°Of course. With the Emperor¡¯s dragon energy, they naturally look on with awe.¡± Unknowingly, the two had wandered to the back mountain of Long Chan Temple. The mountain was filled with lush greenery. There were also some fruit trees. Sang Yan noticed a wild fruit tree, with green and red fruits hanging from the branches. She couldn¡¯t name it, but it was plump and had a glossy sheen, wafting a fragrance and made them seem delicious. ¡°Emperor, I would like to climb up and pick some fruits.¡± The hidden wild side within her was surfacing. Remembering the moment she had leaped from the carriage before, her playful and adorable side, He Ying decided not to restrain her and smiled, ¡°Alright.¡± Then, he knelt down in front of her, instructing her, ¡°Then step on my shoulders to climb up. Take it slow. Be careful not to scratch yourself.¡± Sang Yan was surprised by his willingness, ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯ll step on you?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go up and pick the fruits?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s beneath your dignity?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy. There¡¯s no one else around.¡± He thought of the Hidden Guard and added, ¡°If you¡¯re embarrassed, I can tell the Hidden Guard to keep their distance.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°That¡¯s not the reason.¡± Such things, she didn¡¯t care at all what others thought. Seeing him obediently kneeling down. She stepped on him and climbed up the tree. The tree wasn¡¯t too tall. It wasn¡¯t very difficult, either. She quickly climbed up and sat on the thick branch. When He Ying saw that she was seated, he lightly leapt and sat down beside her. Sang Yan was stunned, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just carry me and fly up here?¡± He Ying seriously replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to climb up to pick the fruit?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed like the problem was hers. Stupid. Stupid. How did she not think of that method! ¡°Then can you carry me down and then back up again now?¡± She wanted to experience the sensation of being carried and flying up. He Ying agreed, his long arms encircling her waist, gently landing her on the ground, then once again, he channeled his energy to take her flying back up. Sang Yan found it fun and played with it three times before finally sitting on the branch to pick fruit. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fruit looked appetizing, but it tasted very bitter. She disdained it and threw it to the ground, ¡°No wonder there are so many; no one picks them.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t speak. He picked one after another, biting each fruit once before tossing it away. Sang Yan watched, puzzled, ¡°What are you doing? Even if they taste bad, don¡¯t waste them. Pick them and sell them for chickens and ducks to eat; it¡¯s still food.¡± He Ying explained, ¡°I¡¯m tasting to see if they are all bad. With so many, there must be a tasty one.¡± He actually wanted to find a tasty one for her to eat. He searched, and indeed he found one. ¡°Oh. This one is not bad. Try it.¡± He offered it, avoiding the spot he had bitten, and held it up to her mouth. Sang Yan didn¡¯t mind and bit where he had eaten, indirectly kissing him. He Ying, with a heated gaze, said, ¡°You¡ª¡± Sang Yan, chewing the fruit flesh, nodded contentedly, ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not bad. Very sweet. Quite crunchy. Very fragrant. It has an aftertaste that lingers.¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He felt like she was talking about something else. Every move she made seemed to be flirting with him. A bit hot. But there was no sun today. The breeze rustled through the woods. It was indeed refreshing. Yet he felt unbelievably hot all over, ¡°That¡­ that¡ª¡± He turned his gaze away, his mind in a fog, feeling as if he wanted to lose control. Just then, the sound of a woman¡¯s running and panting came from below the tree. Accompanied by a string of angry curses: ¡°Slut!¡± ¡°Stop running! You won¡¯t escape!¡± ¡°Damn thing, you did something so shameless and still have the face to run!¡± ¡°Misfortune has befallen our family! Misfortune indeed!¡± ¡­ The voices grew louder as they approached. Sang Yan saw a young woman in tattered clothes collapse at the base of the tree, with whip marks across her body, from her neck to her face, covered in blood, making it impossible to discern her true features. And behind her, a large crowd closed in, some in fine clothes, others in coarse garb, but all brandishing knives and clubs, with the same murderous aura. What was going on? Forcing a good woman into prostitution? Or trafficking? ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything!¡± ¡°I am innocent!¡± With her last breath, the woman, covered in wounds, completely exhausted, couldn¡¯t get up and could only cry helplessly, like a dying little animal. But the men clearly wouldn¡¯t let her go and gradually surrounded her. As they were about to drag the woman away¡ª ¡°Stop!¡± Sang Yan shouted fiercely, signaling for He Ying to carry her down. Chapter 97 - 097 Innocence Chapter 97: Chapter 097 Innocence ¡°In this vast universe, what are you all doing?¡± He Ying asked angrily. Sang Yan then helped the girl to her feet, shielding her behind him, and whispered soothingly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. With us here, we won¡¯t let them hurt you.¡± With tears falling, the girl murmured softly, ¡°Thank you, miss, thank you, young master.¡± Everyone looked on at this scene, exchanging glances without a word. Until a man past his fifties emerged. ... He was decked in gold and silver, plump and radiating the air of a wealthy merchant, appearing to have considerable influence. ¡°Who are you? I advise you not to meddle in others¡¯ affairs!¡± He said this, then looking towards the girl behind Sang Yan, he exclaimed angrily, ¡°She is my daughter! Young and reckless, she has committed unspeakable dishonor! I have the right to punish her!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it! Father, I really didn¡¯t, please believe me?¡± The girl vehemently shook her head, crying miserably. Seeing this, Sang Yan seemed to understand the cause of the incident, and asked, ¡°How do you know your daughter committed such dishonor? Do you have any proof?¡± The man replied, ¡°I certainly have proof. Otherwise, could I unjustly accuse my own daughter for no reason? It¡¯s just that family disgrace should not be publicized. Hand her over to me! Once I root out the scoundrel and send her to the temple, it will be fulfilling father-daughter love!¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t! I did nothing! Miss, young master, believe me! I beg you, save me!¡± The girl clutched Sang Yan¡¯s arm, trembling and pleading through her tears. Sang Yan patted her hand and nodded, ¡°Rest assured. I will get to the bottom of this.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After consoling the girl, she continued questioning the man, ¡°Cut the nonsense. What proof do you have that your daughter committed such an act?¡± Seeing this, the man clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Since you are shameless enough to ask, I have no qualms saying it again. The Palace Guarding Moles are gone.¡± Sang Yan was entirely shocked, ¡°What? Palace Guarding Moles?¡± The ancient method for testing a woman¡¯s chastity? Ridiculous! To think they used such a foolish method to assess a woman¡¯s purity! She immediately concluded that the girl had been wronged! But she nevertheless asked, ¡°Apart from that, do you have any other evidence?¡± The man countered, ¡°What other evidence is needed?¡± Sang Yan was speechless. Ignorance! Utter ignorance! ¡°Have you not considered that the Palace Guarding Moles might be at fault?¡± ¡°How could that be? How could something handed down from our ancestors be in error? It must be because she has been promiscuous, deceived into losing her virtue early on by some scoundrel. If it weren¡¯t for her sister informing me, I would still be in the dark. Alas, why couldn¡¯t she just show restraint? I was arranging such a good marriage for her! But now, this disgrace! How can I show my face to others?¡± ¡°What sort of good marriage? Can you elaborate?¡± Sang Yan keenly sensed the conspiracy. He Ying felt the same. The two exchanged knowing looks. Then the man revealed, ¡°To not keep you in suspense, I¡¯m a merchant who gained Mr. Sang, the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue¡¯s favor due to the locust extermination case in Wuzhou. He agreed to take this daughter as a concubine for his son. How noble and prestigious is the Sang Family, their daughters serving as ladies in the palace!¡± Sang Yan was speechless. Great, the drama involves my own family now. The man, driven by excitement, started to beat his chest and stomp his feet, ¡°But now, alas! Such a wonderful marriage opportunity, yet such misfortune befalls my household!¡± Sang Yan summed it up, ¡°In the end, it still comes down to the issue of the Palace Guarding Moles.¡± The man nodded, ¡°Exactly! Those Palace Guarding Moles have always been fine, so why did they suddenly disappear?¡± Sang Yan thought to herself: There are many reasons for their disappearance: carelessness during a bath, scrubbing too hard, or using some particular toiletry product. Anyway, disappearing certainly doesn¡¯t mean she had relations with a man. Considering this, she inquired further, ¡°You said the person who told you was her sister? Is that her full sister, or a concubine¡¯s daughter?¡± The likelihood of true siblings sabotaging each other for a good marriage prospect is small. But if it¡¯s a half-sister¡¯s daughter? The likelihood is pretty high. She was also a reader of stories about intrigue within households. ¡°Of course, she is my sister by blood.¡± The man¡¯s answer made Sang Yan hesitate¡ªcould she have guessed wrong? ¡°No, you¡¯re lying!¡± The girl cried, ¡°You favor concubines over your wife! As your legitimate daughter, I am living worse than a concubine!¡± She had been enlightened by Sang Yan¡¯s guidance, ¡°It must be Lan Yue who is jealous of the marriage arrangement you spoke of for me, wanting to harm me!¡± ¡°Nonsense! You don¡¯t follow the rules yourself, and now you¡¯re dragging your sister down with you! Truly incorrigible! Someone, beat her to death and be done with it!¡± He coldly ordered, showing no regard for either of them, ¡°If you insist on meddling, don¡¯t blame me for being impolite.¡± Dozens of his men behind him, brandishing knives and clubs, advanced, slowly tightening the encirclement. Sang Yan trusted in He Ying¡¯s martial ability and was not worried, continuing to ask, ¡°Are you feeling guilty? Are you trying to silence us by killing? Actually, do you also want to give this advantageous marriage to your concubine daughter?¡± ¡°Utter nonsense! Attack!¡± At his command, the men swarmed forward. ¡°Slap!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Thud!¡± One after another, the thugs were hit in the forehead or chest and fell to the ground. It turns out He Ying had picked up some fruit from the ground and used them as hidden weapons. The man realized that He Ying was somewhat skilled and didn¡¯t want to escalate things further. He signaled for his men to stop and asked again, ¡°Who exactly are you? What are you trying to do? Are you actually defending a woman of ill repute?¡± ¡°Watch your words!¡± He Ying said sternly, ¡°Who exactly is of ill repute remains to be verified!¡± The man exclaimed angrily, ¡°What is there to investigate? Would I falsely accuse my own daughter?¡± Sang Yan scoffed, ¡°Indeed. You¡¯ve beaten her to such a state, what does falsely accusing her count for? Oh, and you also said you would send her to the temple, right? To treat your own daughter this way, do you even have the face to call yourself her father?¡± The man was left speechless by the retort. Sang Yan didn¡¯t waste further words with him and said directly, ¡°If you¡¯re not guilty, then allow us to verify!¡± The man sneered, ¡°What right do you have to verify anything? Do you think you are some high official?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, he is indeed an official!¡± Sang Yan looked at He Ying and smiled, ¡°Emperor, given the special circumstances, please don¡¯t stay low-key. Have your men come out.¡± He Ying nodded and snapped his fingers in mid-air. The next moment, over a dozen black-clad men dropped from the sky. They kneeled on the ground in unison, ¡°At your command, Emperor.¡± Six words stunned everyone present. Including that man. His face registered shock, his lips trembling: The, the Emperor? What had he just said to the Emperor? His legs gave way. He knelt on the ground, trembling like his men behind him. Yu Huai De arrived at that moment with a large group of palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, ¡°Emperor, what, what has happened here?¡± He Ying said, ¡°Take them all back. This matter of the Palace Guarding Moles is suspicious, and I entrust Xie Sui to deal with it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Huai De didn¡¯t know the details, but that didn¡¯t stop him from giving the order, ¡°Quick, take them all away!¡± The guards surrounded them with drawn swords and herded them down the mountain. He Ying also parted ways with Sang Yan, ¡°Rest assured, I will investigate this thoroughly to clear her name.¡± Sang Yan had to continue her prayers and couldn¡¯t follow, so she reminded him, ¡°The Palace Guarding Moles¡¯ test for a woman¡¯s purity is unreliable. Tell Xie Sui to find a method to remove the marking. That will break the case.¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°I understand. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± He climbed into his carriage and headed down the mountain. The girl was carried away in a small sedan by the guards. Qiuzhi watched the procession move majestically down the mountain and whispered, ¡°Miss, are you sure we shouldn¡¯t follow? With that girl with the Emperor, could she be a danger to him?¡± It would be terrible to save someone only to have them turn into an ingrate! Chapter 98 - 098 Fierce Chapter 98: Chapter 098 Fierce Sang Yan never considered this question at all. She had great faith in He Ying¡¯s character and determination. No ordinary woman could seduce him. If someone did manage to, it would only show that he was not the right man for her. She would even thank the person. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± ... She returned to the Long Chan Temple. At the entrance to her room, she encountered a little monk. The little monk¡¯s head was shiny and round, his face also round, his eyes bright as water: ¡°Master Sang, a Master Pei would like to see you.¡± Sang Yan immediately thought of Pei Muyang and guessed his purpose. This was going to be tricky. He Ying doubted his loyalty, and she couldn¡¯t see through him either. Who would dare to keep such a person by their side? But with that thought, she still went to meet him. Pei Muyang was praying in the main hall. He wished to stay in the Imperial Palace forever. As the footsteps neared, he knew that the true object of his prayers had arrived. ¡°This servant pays his respects to Lord Sang.¡± He knelt and turned towards Sang Yan, giving her a deep bow. Sang Yan cut to the chase, ¡°The Emperor has told me everything about your situation. What he can agree to, I can agree to as well. For anything else, I¡¯m sorry, but I am powerless to help.¡± ¡°Lord Sang, this servant knows he is asking for too much, but I truly have no disloyalty towards the Emperor. I have lived in the Imperial Palace since I was young; it is my home. I am no longer a complete person; I have no place outside the palace.¡± Pei Muyang was genuine, his eyes brimming with tears: ¡°Since I was young, because of Pei Zhen, I have suffered so much. Now, to lose the Emperor¡¯s favor because of him, I simply cannot accept it.¡± Sang Yan advised, ¡°Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand; after a decline comes a rise. Don¡¯t be so one-sided in your thinking. Consider it from another angle, do you really want to be a servant all your life? You are still young; you can go out into the world and make something of yourself. Don¡¯t let your physical incompleteness limit you.¡± She felt sympathy for eunuchs. But the Buddhist Sect teaches that all sentient beings suffer, and each must follow their own path, so she couldn¡¯t interfere too much. Pei Muyang wept, ¡°But all this servant wishes for is to stay by the Emperor¡¯s side. I hope that Lord Sang can grant me this favor.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She considered the Imperial Palace a cage, yet some people begged to be locked inside. ¡°If Lord Sang is worried that this servant may harm the Emperor, I can swear a vile oath.¡± As he spoke, Pei Muyang raised his hand to swear: ¡°I, Pei Muyang, born on the Xth of X month, at X hours, if I harbor the slightest disrespect or ill-will towards the Emperor, let me be struck by lightning the moment I step outside, and let my body be eaten by wild dogs.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This was a bit difficult. Not all oaths can solve problems. ¡°Let me think about how to persuade the Emperor.¡± She was stalling. Pei Muyang said, ¡°Then this servant will join you in prayer.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was just grateful to him. Wait. Perhaps by praying together, he could also shift his mindset? So, she sought out Master Yixuan and began to earnestly reason with Pei Muyang. But before she could witness any results, He Ying arrived urgently. He Ying, upon hearing that Pei Muyang had left the palace for Long Chan Temple, immediately rode through the night to get there. He was worried about Sang Yan¡¯s safety. Seeing him, Sang Yan understood his concerns. When he pulled her tightly into his embrace, for some reason, she was particularly moved, feeling for the first time the heavy and passionate love He Ying had for her. ¡°Sang Yan, are you alright?¡± ¡°Damn that Pei Muyang!¡± He cursed, indignant. Subsequently, under the light of the moon, Pei Muyang was seen hurriedly approaching with a lantern in hand, ¡°This servant pays respect to the Emperor.¡± Seeing him, He Ying¡¯s face chilled, and with a kick to his chest, he said, ¡°I told you, whatever you want, I would do my utmost to provide! Yet, you do not recognize good fortune and came running here! Do you think that if she pleads on your behalf, I would spare you! Deluded fantasies!¡± He wished he could kill him at this moment. Should he dare to harbor designs against Sang Yan, he would certainly take his dog¡¯s life! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pei Muyang, having taken a kick, fell heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. However, he did not cry out in pain but instead got up, knelt in front of him, and wept, ¡°Emperor, this servant has no other loyalties, this servant only wishes to remain by your side. Emperor, this servant would never harm Lord Sang. Emperor¡ª¡± He wept piteously, his snot nearly blowing bubbles. He Ying looked on with disdain, ¡°Roll aside first!¡± Pei Muyang responded with a ¡°Yes¡± and scurried to the side to kneel and continue crying. Sang Yan, feeling helpless, said, ¡°If you have something to say, can you not resort to violence?¡± He Ying spread his hands, ¡°I didn¡¯t use my hands.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± Alright, he didn¡¯t use his hands, he used his foot. But his foot was fiercer. ¡°You¡¯ve injured him with your kick.¡± ¡°He got what he deserved!¡± ¡°¡­It doesn¡¯t need to be said like that.¡± She asked Pei Muyang to get up and seek treatment from Master Yixuan, then pulled He Ying into the room where she was temporarily residing. In the room, the Luminous Pearl shone brightly. Sang Yan sat him down in a chair and poured him a cup of tea, ¡°Have some water, cool down a bit.¡± She saw sweat on his face and wiped it away with a handkerchief, ¡°It¡¯s so late, and it¡¯s dangerous to come here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all Pei Muyang¡¯s fault.¡± He Ying enveloped her in his arms, sitting her on his lap, and savored the solid feeling of her in his arms. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he said, ¡°You don¡¯t know how anxious I was on the way here, constantly in fear that he might harm you.¡± Sang Yan knew all this and smiled tenderly, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Didn¡¯t you arrange for Hidden Guards? Aren¡¯t you reassured?¡± He Ying hugged her tighter, his tone defying logic, ¡°Regardless, if I¡¯m not watching over you with my own eyes, it¡¯s not reassuring.¡± Hardly had the words fallen, when his lips were sealed. He Ying was taken aback, all initiative seized by her. Sang Yan kissed him for a long while before reluctantly letting go, smiling, ¡°Are you reassured now?¡± He Ying nodded, ¡°Reassured.¡± She was in his embrace, within his reach, tender and real. Like a beautiful dream. He was very content, but still puzzled, ¡°Did you not say this is a pure land of the Buddhist Sect?¡± Sang Yan looked at him with a smile, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also say that the Buddha is pleased to see lovers unite in marriage?¡± Having said that, she kissed him again. It became passionate, hinting at a desire to roll between the sheets. Sang Yan did not refuse. But He Ying held back, containing himself, ¡°This place is too crude. Our first time should not be so rushed. Let¡¯s wait for the wedding. I will arrange it upon my return.¡± Sang Yan, ¡°¡­¡± She wasn¡¯t that impatient either. If he could bear it. He Ying released her, wiped the sweat from his face, and drank two gulps of cool tea. Sang Yan felt he was torturing himself, yet her heart ached for him, so she changed the subject, ¡°Have you figured out what¡¯s going on with that woman?¡± ¡°The investigation is ongoing by Xie Sui. There¡¯s no rush.¡± ¡°And the woman?¡± ¡°He has entrusted Xie Sui to look after her well. Doesn¡¯t he have a sister? Let her take care of it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She was reassured and then playfully teased him with a smile, ¡°Emperor, you get so anxious with any small sign of trouble. What would you do if one day I really disappear without a trace?¡± Hearing this, He Ying frowned, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t speak of such ominous things.¡± At the time, their affection was just right, and they did not know that one day in the future, she really would vanish without a trace¡­ Chapter 99 - 099 Lan Xi Chapter 99: Chapter 099 Lan Xi ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t talk about it, won¡¯t talk about it.¡± Sang Yan got up to make the bed and instructed him, ¡°Go take a shower, and don¡¯t go back tonight. Leave tomorrow morning.¡± He Ying had no objections, only looking at the bed with both nervousness and anticipation, ¡°Are we going to sleep in the same bed?¡± He was a bit afraid that he couldn¡¯t restrain his animal instincts. After all, he had almost lost control just moments before. Sang Yan was aware of his concerns and smiled mischievously, ¡°If you want to sleep on the floor, I can make that up for you too.¡± ... ¡°No, no. Let¡¯s still sleep on the bed. I¡¯m not accustomed to sleeping on the floor.¡± He ran out to take a shower. And came back quickly. He lay on the bed, rolling and bundling up the quilt, hugging her. He only dared to hug her over the quilt, for fear that he might be filled with immoral thoughts otherwise. Sang Yan let him hug her, and she didn¡¯t speak either. With the warm, scented softness of Sang Yan in his arms, and sharing the bed with her for the first time, He Ying was so excited that he couldn¡¯t fall asleep at all, and asked, ¡°Ah Yan, what do you think about the matter with Pei Muyang?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Sang Yan didn¡¯t know what to do. She wasn¡¯t Pei Muyang, and couldn¡¯t crack open his head to see what he was thinking. Although she had told Pei Muyang that she would speak to He Ying on his behalf, she dared not make He Ying risk his life on someone¡¯s loyalty. She couldn¡¯t bear it either. She had truly fallen in love with him and didn¡¯t want him to face the slightest danger. Seeing her silence, He Ying urged, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Sang Yan replied with her eyes closed, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say.¡± ¡°Just say what you think simply. What kind of person do you think Pei Muyang is?¡± He was a clever person who was good at reading people and eloquently speaking. But people who are too clever, slippery like Wan Zhang, are hard to read. The less you understand them, the more dangerous they are. ¡°The sins of the father shall not be visited upon the son; time will reveal a person¡¯s heart.¡± Sang Yan spoke slowly, ¡°He has been by your side for a while now; if he wanted to kill you, he had some chances. He hasn¡¯t made a move, either because the right moment hasn¡¯t come or because he harbors no killing intent. But nobody dares to gamble. And I don¡¯t want you to gamble.¡± He Ying understood her meaning and didn¡¯t say anything more, patted her shoulder, and closed his eyes to sleep. He slept till dawn. When Sang Yan woke up, He Ying had already left. Beside her hand was a letter he had left: [There is a morning court session. I have left. Thinking of you. Remember to think of me too.] She looked at the letter, smiled sweetly, her heart warming and melting in his deep affection. Qiuzhi came in, carrying a basin of water, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s time to get up and wash.¡± Sang Yan nodded, got out of bed to wash up, and went to do her morning rituals. During the morning rituals Aside from her, they were all monks. She didn¡¯t see Pei Muyang and upon inquiring, found out he had gone with the Emperor. So was He Ying going to use him or not? With this puzzlement, two more days passed. During these two days, it had been raining continuously in the Capital City. Master Yixuan was quite thoughtful, actually putting on a straw raincoat and leading the monks out to contemplate Buddhist teachings. Sang Yan didn¡¯t go. Her menstrual period had come, and she couldn¡¯t get wet in the rain or catch a chill, so she went back to bed and lay down. She lay there all day. On the third day at noon, there was a rare sunny day. Yu Huai De came with people to deliver things, food, clothing, and supplies; they changed everything for her. Sang Yan wasn¡¯t very interested in these material things and kept asking Yu Huai De, ¡°Mr. Yu, do you know the situation in the Imperial Palace?¡± Yu Huai De had fallen out of favor again. He had revealed Pei Muyang¡¯s origins, thinking that the Emperor wouldn¡¯t kill him but also wouldn¡¯t keep him by his side. Unexpectedly, Pei Muyang was so capable that he remained. The Emperor was bold indeed to retain such a dangerous person. Unwilling to accept this, he took the opportunity of delivering things to Sang Yan to gossip, ¡°Lord Sang, things have been restless in the palace lately.¡± Sang Yan¡¯s heart tightened, and she quickly asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Yu Huai De said, ¡°Qu Zhi, who was in prison, has disappeared, and no one knows who rescued him. That was the Ministry of Justice¡¯s prison, heavily guarded. Apart from the remnants of the Pei Family, who else has the capability? Yet the Emperor has kept Pei Muyang by his side. Lord Sang, I feel uneasy about this.¡± Sang Yan also felt anxious upon hearing this, but she did not question He Ying¡¯s decision. He Ying was smarter than she was, and she didn¡¯t need to say much. Actually, when he asked her that night what she thought of Pei Muyang, she had a premonition that he wanted to retain Pei Muyang. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Emperor has his reasons for doing so.¡± She changed the subject, ¡°Oh, by the way, has there been a verdict on the case of the woman with the Palace Guarding Moles?¡± These past few days, she was curious about whether Pei Muyang stayed in the Imperial Palace and wanted to know about the case of the woman with the Palace Guarding Moles. Seeing her not talking about Pei Muyang, Yu Huai De knew she also admired him, so he didn¡¯t annoy her with more talk and smiled as he replied, ¡°There has been a verdict. It¡¯s like this: the woman¡¯s name is Lan Xi, the legitimate daughter of the Lan Family. The Lan Family, a family of merchants, caught Mr. Sang¡¯s attention by providing five thousand chickens and eight thousand ducks for locust extermination in Wuzhou. Recently, Young Master Sang¡¯s wife ran away, and Mr. Sang thought of taking a concubine for him, choosing the Lan Family. Unexpectedly, the concubine of the Lan Family, Lan Yue, grew jealous and wanted to monopolize this marriage arrangement. She bribed a maid to use a liquid called ¡®Zhu Yan¡¯ to wash away Lan Xi¡¯s Palace Guarding Mole during her bath, and then framed her for impurity.¡± Just as she thought. The woman had been wronged. Sang Yan, having heard the details of the case, felt relieved and then thought of the many young women who might suffer from this custom. She instructed him, ¡°After you return, pass on a message for me; ask the Emperor to find a way to change the bad practice of marking girls with Palace Guarding Moles in the folk.¡± Yu Huai De nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± He left quickly with his people. After he left, Qiuzhi asked Sang Yan, ¡°Miss, how did you know that Palace Guarding Moles can¡¯t verify a woman¡¯s purity?¡± Sang Yan laughed and said, ¡°Not only can Palace Guarding Moles not verify a woman¡¯s purity, but even the presence or absence of blood the first time can¡¯t verify a woman¡¯s purity.¡± In fact, the presence of blood the first time is mainly due to girls marrying early in ancient times when their physiological mechanisms were not mature. Engaging in relations at this time, causing injury and bleeding, led to the notion of ¡®losing purity.¡¯ Qiuzhi, unaware of the specifics, was both embarrassed and shocked, ¡°How, how could that be?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to give her a lesson in physiology and just said, ¡°Anyway, normally there¡¯s no blood the first time, and if there is, it¡¯s a problem with the man, not the woman.¡± A man being too rough or quick could lead to no blood being present. Judging a woman¡¯s purity by her losing purity is absurd and laughable. It¡¯s all about the constraints, exploitation, and expropriation against women. Qiuzhi didn¡¯t understand, but felt it made sense. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whatever the miss said made sense. On the eighth day of Sang Yan paying respects to the Buddha, she unexpectedly met Lan Xi. Lan Xi had recovered from her injuries and had come to express her gratitude, and upon seeing her, she kneeled down immediately, ¡°Had Miss not intervened, I would have died wrongfully. I thank Miss Sang for saving my life.¡± Sang Yan hurriedly helped her up, waved her hand with a smile, and said, ¡°No need. Stand up. There¡¯s no need for such a grand gesture. Meeting is predestined. Since we are both women, we naturally should help each other.¡± While speaking, she evaluated Lan Xi, who was dressed in a white robe and indeed very beautiful, not inferior to the original Young Master Sang¡¯s wife, Suxi. If Sang Jue saw her, would he like her? Did both their names contain the character ¡®Xi,¡¯ was Sang Jue predestined to be with women whose names contained ¡®Xi¡¯? Chapter 100 - 100 Bad Habits Chapter 100: Chapter 100 Bad Habits ¡°I don¡¯t know about your marriage ¡ª¡± Sang Yan hoped Sang Jue could let go of his obsession with Suxi and start a new life. When Lan Xi mentioned marriage, her face flushed with shyness, ¡°The Emperor has already decided to grant the marriage.¡± ¡°With my brother?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This, this is too ¡ª¡± ... Sang Yan hadn¡¯t expected the Emperor to act so quickly, feeling both joy and worries, ¡°Then you might be benefiting from a misfortune. But I also want to remind you of something, my brother has been married before and loved his wife deeply. Unfortunately, fate was not on their side, and the Emperor had them separate. However, he might not be able to let her go just yet. Can you accept that? If you can¡¯t, I can try to persuade the Emperor to revoke the decree.¡± Lan Xi replied, ¡°I can. Young Master Sang comes from a noble family and is a valiant young man. The fact that he still pines for his former wife shows that he is a person of deep emotions, why would I be jealous?¡± Those words sounded pleasant. But when a woman¡¯s jealousy takes over, it twists into many shapes. ¡°Remember what you said now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lan Xi stayed and chatted for half an hour before leaving. In the afternoon, Xuanrao arrived. Upon seeing Sang Yan, she first gave her a thorough up and down look to make sure she was alright, then she exclaimed, ¡°I went to Duan City, and as soon as I returned and heard your news, I rushed over immediately. What¡¯s going on? How did you end up here?¡± Sang Yan briefly explained, ¡°It was the Empress Dowager¡¯s last wish. She wanted me to spend forty-nine days here praying to the Buddha to cleanse the malevolent energy from my body.¡± Xuanrao, infuriated, exclaimed, ¡°And the Emperor agreed to this?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°Of course, he didn¡¯t agree, but I wanted to come.¡± ¡°Why did you want to come here? Life is so simple and tough.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xuanrao couldn¡¯t fathom and clutched her chest, saying, ¡°You scared me to death. I thought the Emperor had grown tired of you and didn¡¯t want you anymore.¡± ¡°How could that be? You really have an active imagination.¡± Sang Yan chuckled, not wanting to delve into that topic, and changed the subject, ¡°Why did you go to Duan City?¡± Xuanrao heaved a sigh when she mentioned this, ¡°It¡¯s all because of my step-brother, that naughty boy. He¡¯s been led astray by my stepmother, utterly disobedient. He¡¯s seven and hardly recognizes a few characters. I heard that there¡¯s a great scholar living in seclusion in the mountains near Duan City, so I went to invite him.¡± ¡°Did you succeed?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t return empty-handed.¡± She began to lament her hardship, ¡°But you have no idea how much I suffered along the way. I toiled there for a full eight days, serving him like a maid. And you know what? He doesn¡¯t even like to bathe. How can there be such a man in the world?¡± Sang Yan keenly sensed juicy gossip and teased, ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t seen much. The world is full of bizarre men.¡± ¡°Odd?¡± Xuanrao was unfamiliar with the term. Sang Yan quickly clarified, ¡°It means strange.¡± Not wanting her to overthink, she continued to probe, ¡°So, what happened next? I feel like there¡¯s a story between you two.¡± Xuanrao¡¯s face turned red in an instant, and she fell silent. Sang Yan was even more sure now but also felt a bit concerned, ¡°You just mentioned a secluded great scholar ¡ª how old is he? Please don¡¯t fall into a May-December romance!¡± She couldn¡¯t accept such ¡°romantic tales¡± of a pear tree overshadowing the flowering begonia. Xuanrao blushed with embarrassment, ¡°What are you even thinking? He¡¯s a great scholar.¡± Her tone conveyed a sense of timidity. This was the behavior of a woman falling in love. Sang Yan frowned with concern, ¡°So what? What about being a great scholar? Is that so impressive? Haven¡¯t you heard that ¡®oftentimes, the valiant are the ones who slay dogs, while the heartless are usually the learned men¡¯?¡± Xuanrao felt she was being too harsh with her words, ¡°What¡¯s got into you? Do you have something against scholars?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t that she held a grudge against scholars, but rather she had issues with herself falling for one. She felt Xuanrao was very much like her best friend, also filled with admiration for scholars. When her best friend had introduced her boyfriend, her eyes had lit up with excitement: ¡°Sang Yan, he¡¯s an academic champion! A super amazing one!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that, I just don¡¯t want you to give your heart away so carelessly.¡± She truly considered her a best friend and didn¡¯t want her to suffer even the slightest emotional hurt. Xuanrao nodded, ¡°I understand. I do like him somewhat, but liking someone doesn¡¯t necessarily mean possessing them. Some people are meant to be admired from a distance.¡± Just like He Ying. No matter how much she liked him, he wasn¡¯t hers to possess. Seeing Xuanrao speak like this, Sang Yan knew she had a sense of measure in her heart, so she didn¡¯t say more. How could she not hope for her friend to meet a good match? ¡°Just remember, if you encounter any difficulties, come to me. As long as I can help, I definitely will.¡± ¡°Thank you. Ah Yan.¡± The two chatted about many things in the room. Until sunset, Xuanrao showed no sign of leaving. Sang Yan urged her, ¡°If you don¡¯t descend the mountain now, it will be very dangerous when it gets dark.¡± Xuanrao replied, ¡°Then I won¡¯t go down. I¡¯ll stay with you for the night. It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had such a relaxed chat.¡± Sang Yan found her reasoning sound and no longer hurried her. They had dinner together. After dinner Sang Yan went to do her evening lessons. The time was for an hour. After finishing, she returned to the room to find Xuanrao already waiting for her on the bed. ¡°Ah Yan, go freshen up. We¡¯ll continue chatting afterward.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sang Yan quickly finished her washing and lay down on the bed. Xuanrao, propped on the bed with her hands under her chin, curiously asked about Palace Guarding Moles. She had heard about it from Qiuzhi and found it fascinating, not having had her fill of the topic yet. ¡°How did you know that Palace Guarding Moles cannot verify a woman¡¯s purity?¡± As she asked, a thought suddenly struck her, and she extended her hand to brush aside Sang Yan¡¯s sleeve. Upon witnessing the bright red mole of Palace Guarding Moles on the inside of her arm, she exclaimed in shock, ¡°You, you¡ª¡ª¡± You¡¯ve consummated your marriage with your deceased husband but still have a Palace Guarding Mole, so you know that it¡¯s ineffective? She ultimately did not voice this question. Sang Yan, seeing what she was thinking, withdrew her arm, smoothed her sleeve, and explained, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m considering the method by which the Palace Guarding Moles are made. People capture the female chameleon (Chameleon) during its breeding season, crush it, and mix it with vermilion to create it. It¡¯s essentially a kind of pigment that will naturally fade over time, unrelated to whether a woman is pure or not.¡± ¡°But after a woman consummates her marriage with her husband, the Palace Guarding Moles truly do disappear.¡± ¡°If you insist on an explanation, I can offer one¡ªit¡¯s the intermingling of male and female hormones. To put it in detail, the main ingredient for making Palace Guarding Moles, which is the breeding female chameleon, is filled with female hormones. When it encounters male hormones from a man, the male and female hormones neutralize each other, and the color fades away. But this isn¡¯t the primary reason why Palace Guarding Moles disappear.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t quite understand, but it¡¯s as if I do.¡± Xuanrao looked confused. Sang Yan decided not to elaborate further: ¡°All you need to know is that these are tools used to bind and oppress women. They¡¯re a malicious custom and should be eradicated.¡± Xuanrao nodded in agreement: ¡°You¡¯re right. On my way back, I encountered a woman who had thrown herself into a lake to commit suicide. I heard she was the mistress of a wealthy merchant from somewhere. Because the merchant was often away on business for months at a time, to ensure a clean household, he would mark his wives and concubines with Palace Guarding Moles every time he left. The mistress had lost hers, was deemed impure, and in an attempt to prove her innocence, drowned herself in the lake.¡± Sang Yan listened with a heavy heart: ¡°Ah, another poor woman killed by a wicked practice.¡± Chapter 101 - 101 Blood Rain Chapter 101: Chapter 101 Blood Rain Xuanrao sighed deeply, ¡°Such is the world. People are but mere weeds.¡± Sang Yan said, ¡°I will urge the Emperor to change these bad habits and do my best.¡± Xuanrao nodded, ¡°Hmm. Once my tavern is open and I start making money, I too shall contribute to the welfare of the world.¡± The two chatted until the third period of the night. Weary from the journey by boat and carriage, Xuanrao was the first to feel sleepy. As she was talking, she fell asleep, and Sang Yan spoke no more. ... They slept until dawn. After washing up, Xuanrao ate breakfast with Sang Yan and then descended the mountain. Sang Yan¡¯s life returned to normal. She attended classes in the morning and evening, ate vegetarian meals, and recited Buddhist scriptures. The rain continued to drizzle down. This year¡¯s rainfall had indeed been plentiful. On the fifteenth day of praying to Buddha, while she was sound asleep, she suddenly heard Qiuzhi scream¡ª ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Frightened, she jumped out of bed, not even bothering with her shoes, and rushed outside. ¡°What happened? Qiuzhi, what¡¯s going on¡ª¡± Before she could finish, she saw the ground outside covered in red water. A cold wind blew over. Bringing the rain with it. She reached out her hand to wipe it, and the rainwater was like blood. ¡°Miss, what¡¯s happening? Why is it raining blood?¡± Tears of fear welled up in Qiuzhi¡¯s eyes as she clung tightly to her hand. Sang Yan caught the rainwater with her hand¡ªred, like fresh blood. The terror in Qiuzhi¡¯s voice reached her ears, ¡°Miss, is this a warning from the heavens? It¡¯s too frightening.¡± Hearing her words, Sang Yan immediately thought of the people of Mandu City and the ministers, sighing inwardly: Alas, this Capital City, it¡¯s going to be unrest again. Who knows how these ministers will take advantage of this to create trouble! * Everyone in Mandu City was very alarmed, feeling as if the heavens were warning them. But what could the heavens possibly be warning about? The Empress Dowager had passed away. The whole nation mourned. Yet the Emperor was proceeding with the plans to depose the Empress and welcome a new one with great joy. The prospective new Empress was a widow with a husband-killing fate. Countless people harbored thoughts of opposition. The former dynasty¡¯s ministers naturally did not miss this opportunity, joining many scholars and citizens who knelt in front of the Meridian Gate, pleading with the Emperor not to depose the Empress and not to accept Sang Yan as the new Empress. ¡°A bunch of damned fools!¡± He Ying raged in the Imperial Study, knocking down a table full of petitions and smashing a fine inkstone. ¡°Each and every one of them begrudges my happiness.¡± He leaned on the desk with one hand, pinching his temple, his chest heaving with anger. Pei Muyang approached with tea, soothing in a soft voice, ¡°Your Majesty, please calm down, Chu Jianzheng is already trying to calculate the cause of the blood rain.¡± After Wan Zhang passed away, his subordinate, Chu Jun, had risen to the position of Director. But He Ying was not optimistic about him, ¡°Who knows when he will figure it out. If Wan Zhang were still alive¡­¡± Some people¡¯s absence truly underscores their importance. Pei Muyang also knew that if Wan Zhang were still alive, he would definitely be able to provide an explanation and calm the people quickly. This blood rain was truly causing panic. ¡°Please revoke your decree, Your Majesty!¡± Voices of ministers resonated from outside. He Ying listened with irritation, his fists creaking. He wanted to kill. These ministers, who could not bear to see him happy, deserved to die! He slammed his fist onto the desk, and before contemplating murder, he issued an order: ¡°Go to Long Chan Temple.¡± He was so anxious and worried, Sang Yan must be even more frightened. It would be better to see her in person. He left the Imperial Study. Outside, everything was blood-red. The ministers¡¯ robes were also soaked with red. As they knelt in the blood rain, seeing him emerge, they all kowtowed: ¡°Your Majesty, a blood rain has descended from heaven, an ominous sign indeed.¡± ¡°True, having a Demoness as the Empress is a grave omen, please revoke your decree, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Ever since the Sang Family¡¯s daughter entered the palace, strange and calamitous events have occurred frequently. Demoness brings disaster to the nation, please be aware, Your Majesty. If this continues, the country will no longer be a country.¡± ¡­ S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They once again blamed Sang Yan for the cause of the blood rain. He Ying was too lazy to waste words with them and went straight into the carriage, exiting the Imperial Palace. Outside the Imperial Palace The blood rain seemed even fiercer. Puddles collected in the uneven areas of the ground. The people were running back to their homes, shouting: ¡°The gods are angry!¡± ¡°Da He is doomed!¡± ¡°The Emperor has taken a new Empress, and we will face divine punishment!¡± ¡­ Such words infuriated He Ying to the point of wanting to kill. ¡°How preposterous!¡± He bellowed and ordered, ¡°Arrest all those who spread rumors! Hand them over to Xie Sui for thorough investigation!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang alighted from the carriage, holding an oil-paper umbrella, and sent people to make the arrests. The carriage continued on. When going uphill, the carriage was too cumbersome, so he switched to riding a horse. By the time he reached Long Chan Temple, he was drenched like a red-soaked chicken. At that moment Sang Yan was in her room studying the blood water. She had Qiuzhi collect a basin of it and placed it on the table, she sniffed it for a while, there was no blood smell, instead, there was a faint scent of grass. She had seen videos about blood rain in her modern times, related to atmospheric circulation, ecological environment, etc. In any case, it absolutely wasn¡¯t rain composed of real blood. ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± A cry of surprise came from the side. Qiuzhi, looking at the miserably disheveled Emperor at the door, covered her mouth. Hearing the voice, Sang Yan immediately looked over, ¡°He Ying!¡± She quickly walked over and looked him up and down, ¡°What happened to you? It¡¯s raining and you still came? Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t speak, his eyes vacant as if his soul was snatched away, standing there dazed, his hair disheveled, his forehead and face dripping with red water, his imperial robes soaked with red, as if he had emerged from a pile of corpses like a vengeful god. Qiuzhi shakily handed him a handkerchief. Sang Yan instructed her to make some ginger soup, then took the handkerchief to wipe his hair and the rain off his body, ¡°Why don¡¯t you speak? What happened?¡± He had her heart flustered. ¡°Nothing.¡± He Ying suddenly embraced her tightly. As if he feared she would disappear. Sang Yan grew even more uneasy, speculating, ¡°What exactly happened? Is it because of this blood rain? I told you, this blood rain has nothing to do with bad omens or curses, it¡¯s just a natural phenomenon.¡± He Ying didn¡¯t care about the blood rain, just held her tightly, his tone obsessive, ¡°Sang Yan, you are mine. No one can take you away from my hands.¡± Sang Yan nodded, soothing him softly, ¡°Mm-hmm. I won¡¯t leave. Don¡¯t worry.¡± She let him hold her for a while, feeling the rain from his body soaking her clothes, then said, ¡°Let go a bit. You¡¯re all wet, and now my clothes are too.¡± He Ying, hearing this, then remembered his dirty state and hastily let her go, calling out for a little monk to heat some water. Sang Yan stepped out of his embrace, continuing to wipe him down. Qiuzhi also brought the ginger soup. He Ying took it and drank it in one gulp. Sang Yan told him to take off his wet clothes and found some men¡¯s clothes for him. He Ying frowned upon seeing it, ¡°How come you have men¡¯s clothes?¡± His first reaction was that there might be another man, but he quickly dismissed the ridiculous thought. He trusted that Sang Yan had him in her heart. Then he noticed the clothes fitted him well. He couldn¡¯t help but think: perhaps she knew he would come and had prepared them? Sang Yan, smiling, clarified his confusion, ¡°When I left the palace, I knew you would often come, so I brought two sets of your casual clothes.¡± He Ying felt relieved, couldn¡¯t resist kissing her, ¡°Ah Yan, you¡¯re really kind.¡± Then he picked her up and sat her on his lap. While kissing her neck, he expressed his love, ¡°I missed you so much.¡± Sang Yan found his kisses ticklish, constantly dodging, ¡°Stop it. Let¡¯s be serious. Did you come here because of the blood rain?¡± He nodded, his chin against her neck, murmuring, ¡°Came to see you. I was worried you¡¯d be scared.¡± So it was. He was constantly thinking of her! She felt moved. And very sweet. Sang Yan¡¯s heart melted, she turned her head and kissed his nose, laughing, ¡°I¡¯m not scared at all. Not only am I not scared, but I also know why it¡¯s raining like this.¡± Chapter 102 - 102: Unknown Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Unknown ¡°Why?¡± He asked with a smile, his tone light and seemingly indifferent as if merely making conversation. Sang Yan pushed his head away, her expression serious, ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± He Ying still appeared nonchalant, ¡°Mmm. Serious. Serious. You speak. I¡¯m listening.¡± His tone carried a hint of perfunctory. Sang Yan really got angry, ¡°Do you not believe me?¡± ... He Ying shook his head, becoming earnest, ¡°I believe you. Even if you point to a deer and call it a horse, I would still believe you.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The implication was that no matter what you say, I¡¯ll believe you unconditionally. That was very sweet. She was appeased and said cheerfully, ¡°You should have people search inside and outside the Capital City for large areas of algae that have red spores. If found, let me know.¡± He Ying immediately understood, ¡°You mean¡­ the blood rain is related to these algae¡¯s red spores?¡± ¡°Yes. Recently, the air has been too humid, which can cause algae to reproduce massively. Their red spores float into the air and, when mixed with rainwater, form blood rain that falls to the ground.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Alright, I¡¯ll send someone to look for it right away.¡± Having said that, He Ying walked toward the door. Pei Muyang and the guards had arrived. They stood outside together, none holding umbrellas, all drenched in red. ¡°Emperor, what are your orders?¡± Pei Muyang stepped forward and bowed. He Ying instructed, ¡°Get the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Industry to check if there are large areas of red algae inside and outside the Capital City.¡± Pei Muyang promptly replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Just then, a little monk came with a message, ¡°Benefactor, the hot water is ready.¡± He Ying then took a hot bath. After coming out, he went to see Master Yixuan and asked for his opinion on the blood rain. Master Yixuan was in the main hall, striking a wooden fish. He had once been an itinerant monk and was quite experienced, so he shared an experience, ¡°Forty years ago, during the reign of Emperor Hezu, I passed through Hai Province. At that time, there was a relentless storm for three days, causing floods and countless homes to collapse. We were as panicked as now, thinking the gods were angry. Then, suddenly, the storm stopped and fish began to fall from the sky, termed as ¡®fish rain¡¯. Countless people cheered and went out to collect fish, thinking it was a gift from the heavens. Later, locals adept at observing celestial phenomena discovered the cause. The fierce wind had picked up fish from the sea and carried them inland. As the wind weakened, the fish fell down.¡± Logically, such a tale of fish rain would be long remembered. But firstly, it had been a long time, and secondly, it was a local event that had not spread to the Capital City. He Ying naturally hadn¡¯t heard of it. However, hearing it now was quite enlightening, ¡°The world is vast with unlimited wonders. This blood rain must follow the same principle.¡± Master Yixuan smiled and nodded, ¡°Emperor, you are wise. Indeed, fortune and misfortune come hand in hand. What you should do is explore the unknown, not fear it.¡± That was a wakeup call. ¡°Thank you, Master, for clarifying my doubts.¡± He Ying bowed slightly, genuinely expressing his gratitude. Master Yixuan put his hands together and returned the gesture, ¡°Amitabha Buddha, very good, very good.¡± * He Ying returned to Sang Yan¡¯s residence. He recounted his conversation with Master Yixuan to her. Sang Yan praised, ¡°Right, we should explore the unknown, not fear it. Master Yixuan truly is a wise man.¡± He Ying couldn¡¯t stand her praising someone else. Even if the person she praised was a monk. He pulled her onto his lap and changed the subject, ¡°Now we just wait for the search results from the Ministry of Revenue.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t like sitting on his lap; she could easily provoke a reaction from him, but her attempt to stand up was unsuccessful as he firmly held her down. He was still clingy when alone. When they were alone, he liked to hold her in his arms. She didn¡¯t know her own icy skin and cool body made her feel like a human-shaped ice pillow during summer, fragrant and soft, too comfortable for He Ying to let go. ¡°I heard from Yu Huai De that Qu Zhi is missing, what happened?¡± ¡°He must have accomplices, people have already been dispatched to find his whereabouts.¡± He Ying bit her neck skin, his eyes slightly squinting, his face full of enjoyment. Sang Yan felt ticklish from his kisses and pushed on his head, ¡°Stop it.¡± He Ying obediently stopped, leaving her neck alone. It was mainly because he didn¡¯t dare to continue. He put aside the troublesome matter of the blood rain and filled his mind with improper thoughts. ¡°Fifteen days already.¡± And still thirty-four days to go. How am I supposed to get through these days! Listening to his distressed and helpless voice, Sang Yan could almost guess the words he hadn¡¯t said ¡ª he was about to run out of patience. She found it amusing, ¡°Just think about how you used to be, so detached and dispassionate. You used to dislike even me getting a few steps closer to you.¡± He Ying couldn¡¯t resist kissing her ear, panting, ¡°I had no choice back then.¡± Sweat formed faintly on his forehead. Feeling his body heating up, Sang Yan sensed danger and tried to get up, ¡°Let go of me first.¡± He Ying reluctantly said, ¡°No rush. Don¡¯t be afraid. There¡¯s nothing I can do in broad daylight.¡± ¡°I feel bad for you. Why torment yourself?¡± Desiring but unable to do, craving but unable to eat, how painful must that be? Why torment himself like this? But He Ying would rather suffer than let go of her, ¡°I¡¯m not in pain. Just sit still. I want to hold you.¡± It had been several days since he last held her; he had to reclaim that. Unable to push him away, Sang Yan let him be. ¡°When you return, we¡¯ll get married. You also need to be prepared, both mentally and physically.¡± That statement was too blunt. Sang Yan blushed, paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Do the Ministers agree? With today¡¯s blood rain, aren¡¯t they going to oppose it again?¡± He Ying spoke dismissively, ¡°Their opposition is useless. Each one of them is so conservative and stupid; they just can¡¯t stand seeing me happy.¡± His last few words carried a tone as petulant as a child. Sang Yan chuckled lightly, also understanding, ¡°It¡¯s a matter of perspective. Facing the unknown and not knowing the details, they resort to superstitions.¡± As she spoke, she also remarked, ¡°He Ying, have you ever felt like loving me is like making enemies with the whole world?¡± He Ying held her tight, his words dominant, ¡°Then let¡¯s be enemies with the whole world. After all, you must be mine.¡± Sang Yan liked the word ¡°must,¡± his strong and domineering attitude was particularly charming. Her ears felt soothed by his charm; she couldn¡¯t help but kiss his lips. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was their second kiss. Compared to the first tentative one, both had some experience this time. Yet when passion peaked, it was still suffocating. Sang Yan felt He Ying could easily lose control in this area. Her lips were even bitten. ¡°You¡ª¡± She pushed him away, angrily threatening, ¡°If you keep this up, forget about it in the future.¡± He Ying immediately apologized, ¡°My fault. It won¡¯t happen next time. Don¡¯t believe me, just try¡ª¡± With that, he kissed her again. Sang Yan was left dizzy and breathless from his kisses. By the time it ended, she felt utterly drained. She thought this was way too exhausting. No wonder novels say that activities in bed could also lead to weight loss. Wait a minute. Better not think about that. Chapter 103 - 103: Honor Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Honor Sang Yan bit back, trying to end the kiss. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was unsuccessful. He was in pain, yet still craving. ¡°He Ying, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Not enough.¡± He loved kissing her too much. ... How could there be such a wonderful thing as kissing in this world? Just by kissing her, he felt he needed nothing more in his life. Sang Yan almost fainted from his kisses. She dared not think about what He Ying would do to her on their wedding night. With his heavy desires, he might end up killing her in bed. Before Sang Yan could pass out, He Ying let her go. But he continued to kiss and touch her incessantly. He had always stayed away from women, but now that he could touch her, he was full of curiosity about her body. It was like a child who had received a new toy, unable to let go. ¡°It feels so good. Ah Yan, you¡¯re so sweet. Ah Yan, I like you so much. Only you.¡± He said words that made one blush. Sang Yan coughed a few times, subtly trying to dismiss him, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be going back?¡± ¡°Not going back. I¡¯m staying here tonight.¡± He Ying played with her fingers, gave a couple of pecks, then went on to play with her hair, even using a strand to sweep across his cheek, thoroughly enjoying himself. Seeing him like this, Sang Yan, worn out by his clinginess, said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy with government affairs?¡± ¡°I¡¯m never too busy for you.¡± His tone was matter-of-factly. Sang Yan was at a loss for words. This man was showing more and more tendencies of a foolish ruler. She couldn¡¯t indulge him. She needed to remind him. He needed to be vigilant. ¡°Right now is a tumultuous time; you should focus and handle the state affairs properly.¡± She felt that Qu Zhi¡¯s disappearance was not so simple, ¡°Like Qu Zhi, such a person might not be able to stay in the country and could very possibly defect and betray national intelligence.¡± She was worried Qu Zhi might flee to another country and leak military intelligence, or even reveal that He Ying had her as his weakness. ¡°What you said makes sense.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression grew more serious, respecting and loving her worry for the nation, ¡°Ah Yan, you are so good, only I know it. But that¡¯s good. Your goodness is all mine.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± A serious topic turned into sweet nothings the moment it reached his lips. She was exasperated, ¡°So are you going back or not?¡± He Ying still shook his head, ¡°Not going back. No hurry.¡± Sang Yan was rendered speechless. He Ying also remained silent, just quietly holding her, savoring the sweetness of her soft, fragrant warmth. * Suburb The blood rain continued to fall. However, the rain was getting lighter. A troop of soldiers galloped through the blood rain. ¡°Clip-clop¡ª¡± Mud splattered where the hooves passed. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a group of soldiers returned to regroup. The leader, dressed in a straw coat, riding a black horse, raised his voice and asked: ¡°Did you find it?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± The soldiers hung their heads, soaked and disheveled, ashamed. ¡°Mr. Sang, could it be that¡­ there¡¯s no such thing at all. This blood rain¡­¡± A soldier hesitated, yet his implication was clear¡ªit was a divine warning from heaven. Driven by his daughter¡¯s stakes, Sang Kun could not tolerate such talk and barked harshly: ¡°Are you questioning the Emperor¡¯s words? How audacious!¡± ¡°Sir, please calm your anger, I dare not.¡± The soldier dismounted and knelt to apologize. Sang Kun did not argue with him, but said with a cold face, ¡°Continue searching! It must be found before the Ministry of Industry does. Whether we can be promoted and rewarded depends entirely on this.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The soldiers, motivated by the promise of a reward, quickly mounted their horses and rode off. Soon, only Sang Kun and two guards remained. Sang Kun himself did not have much confidence. He extended his hand to catch some blood rain, his face solemn, his eyebrows furrowed, and he muttered, ¡°This matter of the blood rain could be either trivial or severe. If we can¡¯t find what the Emperor mentioned, then we¡¯ll have to fabricate it.¡± By no means could he let his daughter be implicated and affect the prospects of the Sang Family. The two guards understood his implied meaning, exchanged a glance, and remained silent. The sky gradually darkened. Sang Kun eventually found the Long Chan Temple. Thinking of the Emperor being there, he went to seek an audience. At that time, Sang Yan and He Ying were reading a Buddhist Scripture. The scripture recorded a story: A Zen master asked his disciples, if you were boiling water and ran out of wood halfway through, what would you do? All the disciples said they would go chop more wood. After hearing this, the Zen master asked them why they didn¡¯t just pour out half of the water. ¡°One must give up to gain.¡± After finishing the story, Sang Yan expressed her sentiments. He Ying knew this principle too, but deliberately said, ¡°Why pour it away? Chopping some wood isn¡¯t too much effort.¡± Sang Yan rolled her eyes, ¡°Is this a matter of chopping wood? It teaches us to think differently.¡± He Ying wouldn¡¯t argue with her, indulging her with a smile, ¡°Mhm, thinking differently.¡± The fact was he wouldn¡¯t give up. Once something was in his hands, if he wanted it, there was no reason to let it go. ¡°Knock, knock¡ª¡± The door sounded twice. Pei Muyang peeked in, ¡°Emperor, Mr. Sang has arrived.¡± Upon hearing it was Sang Kun, He Ying nodded, ¡°Let him in.¡± Before her father entered, Sang Yan moved away from He Ying¡¯s legs. Finally, she could sit properly. ¡°Your humble official greets the Emperor¡ª¡± Sang Kun walked in, flipping his robe and kneeling to salute. He Ying lifted his hand, ¡°My valued official, rise. Please, take a seat.¡± He guessed his purpose for coming and once he was seated, he asked, ¡°Did you find the Blood Rain Algae?¡± Sang Kun looked ashamed, ¡°I have failed Your Majesty¡¯s grace, I have not found it yet.¡± He Ying listened but didn¡¯t blame him, just smiled faintly, ¡°There¡¯s no rush.¡± Thinking of his injury, he added, ¡°The Ministry of Industry is supporting this matter, and you can also delegate it to the subordinates in the Ministry of Revenue. You are injured and need not overtax yourself.¡± Sang Kun, the Vice Minister of Ministry of Revenue, naturally wanted to vie for the now vacant position of Minister of Revenue after Qu Zhi had fled with crimes on his shoulders. ¡°My injuries have much improved, and I shall surely share Your Majesty¡¯s concerns.¡± His words were pleasing. He Ying praised with a smile, ¡°My valued official¡¯s dutifulness is a blessing for our nation.¡± Sang Kun was delighted to receive the compliment, his face beaming, ¡°Your Majesty flatters me, it is my honour.¡± He said this, but his gaze toward Sang Yan was full of pity, ¡°It¡¯s just that Ah Yan has suffered here, praying Buddha.¡± Sang Yan met her father¡¯s concerned gaze and said indifferently, ¡°You worry too much. I am quite well here.¡± She could see through Sang Kun¡¯s feigned paternal love and was not impressed. Sang Kun still played the concerned father, ¡°Ah, dear child, always swallowing bitterness to yourself, as before. Ah, indeed, ever since the death of Heir Jiang, you haven¡¯t complained to us.¡± He didn¡¯t want Sang Yan to continue praying at the temple and deliberately portrayed her as pitiful to have the Emperor take her back to the Imperial Palace sooner. And ideally, a grand wedding ceremony would be held upon her return. It always felt like the more it was delayed, the more problems arose. Sang Yan sensed his intentions and frowned, ¡°With the Emperor here, what suffering can I undergo? Are you questioning the Emperor¡¯s ability?¡± Sang Kun naturally wouldn¡¯t dare to question the Emperor¡¯s capabilities, quickly saying, ¡°No one dares to mistreat her where the Emperor resides, but it¡¯s still not as safe and comfortable as the Imperial Palace.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern. It¡¯s only been a little over thirty days, it¡¯ll pass in the blink of an eye.¡± She didn¡¯t want her Buddhist prayer efforts to be aborted due to his few words and changed the subject, ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s more proper for you to focus on finding the Blood Rain Algae.¡± Sang Kun nodded and promised, ¡°Rest assured, I shall find the Blood Rain Algae, alleviate the public¡¯s panic, and clear your reputation.¡± Chapter 104 - 104 Deceiving the Monarch Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Deceiving the Monarch Sang Kun displayed great confidence. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet, for some reason, Sang Yan felt he was utterly unreliable. ¡°Do your best, that¡¯s all you can do.¡± She didn¡¯t have high demands for Sang Kun, only wished he wouldn¡¯t stir up trouble. But what she feared came to pass. It took Sang Kun two days and he still couldn¡¯t find the Blood Rain Algae, but he had caused the people great distress and exhausted resources to produce vast expanses of fake Blood Rain Algae. ... He was even caught by Mr. Meng Zhiang, the Minister of Ministry of Industry. It was incredibly foolish. ¡°He actually used red dye to create Blood Rain Algae? What was he thinking? Even red fruits would have done the job!¡± Sang Yan was dumbfounded by Sang Kun¡¯s absurd antics. ¡°Father is doing this for your sake. He feared the blood rain incident would affect your marriage, hence he took such desperate measures.¡± Sang Ruoshui personally left the Imperial Palace and arrived at Long Chan Temple to argue and plead on behalf of their father. Sang Yan listened with irritation, ¡°Do you realize? This is emotional blackmail. I don¡¯t need him to do anything at all. Can¡¯t he just sit tight and not cause trouble?¡± By now, she was certain that Sang Kun might have a brain, but he was brash and unafraid, not worried about facing blame from the Emperor. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have done such a foolish thing. ¡°How can you speak of Father like that?¡± Sang Ruoshui spoke with dissatisfaction, ¡°Father didn¡¯t want this. It¡¯s the fault of those at the Ministry of Industry. That Minister of the Ministry of Industry has no sense at all. You are about to become Empress, and he dares to impeach our father? This cannot be easily overlooked, remember to tell the Emperor, let him pay for this¡­¡± ¡°Enough. Not reflecting on oneself yet still managing to blame others.¡± Sang Yan genuinely marveled at the logic of this father and daughter. She didn¡¯t indulge them and said sternly, ¡°I won¡¯t plead for leniency in this matter. On the contrary, I will ask the Emperor to increase the punishment. Sang Ruoshui, remember, I am not your support and will not repeatedly clean up after you.¡± Sang Ruoshui was taken aback, paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Sang Yan! Are you out of your mind? That¡¯s our father! In order to find the Blood Rain Algae and quell the unfavorable rumors about your destiny, he traveled with injuries, searching for two full days. Even if he achieved nothing, he still put in hard work.¡± ¡°Is this how you delude yourselves?¡± Sang Yan gave a mocking smile, ¡°Sorry, my heart remains unmoved.¡± She did not want to say more and had her servants ask her to leave. Sang Ruoshui was unwilling to go, shouting angrily, ¡°Sang Yan, ¡®Filial piety is of utmost importance amongst all virtues.¡¯ Haven¡¯t you become Empress yet and you¡¯re already disowning your family?¡± Sang Yan was also furious, ¡°Correct, I am disowning you. If you continue being foolish like this, I will have the Emperor assign him to a sinecure or let him enjoy an early retirement.¡± Sang Ruoshui was speechless. She was ¡°persuaded¡± down the mountain by the Hidden Guards. ¡°I am Princess Consort Sang! How dare you!¡± At first, she was unwilling to leave the mountain and was even carried for a while by a guard. It was utterly humiliating. She had lost all her dignity. ¡°Heartless ingrate!¡± ¡°Sang Yan, you are a disloyal daughter!¡± She complained incessantly. Even once settled in the carriage, she continued complaining, ¡°A person so unrighteous and unfilial surely deserves divine punishment.¡± Xiangxiu couldn¡¯t take it anymore and advised in a low voice, ¡°Lady, walls have ears, and what¡¯s more, those Hidden Guards are highly skilled and have good hearing. If this gets to the Emperor¡¯s ears¡ª¡± ¡°So what? Did I say anything wrong? She¡¯s an ingrate! She only thinks about herself! Doesn¡¯t consider the Sang Family at all! Selfish to the core! Hypocritical to the extreme!¡± ¡°Actually, even if Lord Sang doesn¡¯t plead for leniency, I believe the Emperor won¡¯t blame Mr. Sang.¡± Xiangxiu felt that compared to the locust disaster in Wuzhou, the incident with the fake Blood Rain Algae was trivial and the Emperor has always favored Sang Yan. Even if it¡¯s for her sake, he wouldn¡¯t say anything. Sang Ruoshui coming here was completely unnecessary. ¡°What do you think? Who do you think you are?¡± Sang Ruoshui, already in a fury, found even the sight of Xiangxiu displeasing and spoke harshly. Having been scolded, Xiangxiu shut her mouth and said no more. At the same time, Sang Yan wrote a letter and had a Hidden Guard deliver it to the Imperial Palace. Imperial Study The Ministers were all kneeling on the ground. The atmosphere was extremely tense. They had just been impeaching Sang Kun. Faced with the impeachment, Sang Kun was not very scared; instead, he felt they had malicious intentions, closely watching for his slip-ups, and then attempting to pull down Sang Yan. ¡°Emperor, it was my blindness that led me astray, and it has nothing to do with my poor daughter,¡± he exclaimed. ¡°She was obeying the late Empress Dowager¡¯s orders, devoutly praying at Long Chan Temple. After praying for forty-nine days, she will surely be protected by the gods. Any talk of a bad fate is utter nonsense.¡± He wiped away non-existent tears, showing the appearance of a loving father. After listening, He Ying¡¯s heart softened slightly, thinking: If it weren¡¯t for these Ministers inciting the public, claiming that the blood rain was a divine warning, and linking it to Sang Yan¡¯s fate, saying it was ominous and inauspicious, how would Sang Kun have committed such a foolish act? To love his daughter so deeply was his only fault. The Hanlin Academy Scholar Jiang Chongyu noticed that Sang Kun was using his daughter to plead for mercy, and that the Emperor seemed slightly moved, he hurriedly said, ¡°Mr. Sang is digressing. The matter at hand is your fabrication of Blood Rain Algae. You have destroyed dozens of acres of river farmland. You must provide an explanation. Moreover, this is a crime of deceiving the Emperor.¡± Encouraged by his lead, another Minister immediately said: ¡°Mr. Jiang is right. Each matter should be addressed separately. Your current fabrication of Blood Rain Algae is a grave offense of deceiving the Emperor.¡± ¡°Yes, previously in the matter of the locust disaster in Wuzhou, you deceived and disrespected the Emperor, and now you¡¯ve offended again, blatantly disregarding the law and ignoring Imperial Power.¡± ¡°Emperor, before the Sang Family¡¯s daughter has even entered the harem, Mr. Sang has shown such disrespect to you. If he is not punished severely, how can he command respect?¡± ¡­ They were dissatisfied with Sang Kun and equally so with the Sang Family¡¯s daughter. The Sang Family¡¯s daughter, with her ambitions of becoming the Empress and her exclusive favoritism in the harem, needed to be suppressed early on, or their own daughters would never have a chance to shine. Especially since the Emperor favored the Sang Family, it was very easy to create another ¡°Pei Family,¡± prompting a sense of crisis among them, compelling them to be on guard. Upon hearing the Ministers stretch the accusation to ¡°crime of deceiving the Emperor,¡± Sang Kun really panicked: ¡°Emperor, please see clearly, I would never dare be disrespectful to you! I really was only trying to quickly quell the rumors. I am utterly loyal to Da He, as heaven and earth can witness!¡± By the end of his plea, real tears had fallen. He was truly frightened. Seeing his pitiful state, He Ying thought of Sang Yan¡ªif she knew her father was driven to tears by the Ministers, she would surely feel heartbroken too, wouldn¡¯t she? Affected by his affection for Sang Yan, he almost said: Although there was deceit, the intention was understandable. To talk of a crime of deceiving the Emperor is perhaps too harsh. ¡°Emperor, a message from a Hidden Guard,¡± interjected Pei Muyang as he suddenly pushed the door open and presented the letter. He Ying, knowing it was a letter from Sang Yan, immediately took it, opened it, and after a quick read, his expression changed¡ªshe actually requested that he handle the matter strictly. But how could he deal with it strictly without considering her face? This time, Sang Kun had indeed done something foolish! Yet, it was not beyond redemption! He clenched his fists, pondered for a good while, and finally gave his order: ¡°Sang Kun has neglected his duty; let him be caned fifty times as an example to others!¡± Sang Kun: ¡°¡­¡± Caned fifty times! With his old arms and legs, would he even survive the punishment? He wanted to beg for mercy. But he knew this was the lightest punishment he might receive. ¡°Thank y-, thank you, Emperor, for sparing my life.¡± His face turned pale, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. A eunuch approached, holding a thick board that weighed about fifty pounds. Seeing it, Sang Kun trembled in fear: Heavens, his life was over. Chapter 105 - 105: Corporal Punishment Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Corporal Punishment In reality, which eunuch would dare to truly beat the father of the Emperor¡¯s favored concubine? Especially since the Emperor¡¯s partial favor towards the Sang Family¡¯s daughter was almost boundless. Thus, Sang Kun did indeed endure a beating, but it was only superficial wounds, looking just bloodied and frightening. This effectively silenced the ministers. ¡°Do any of you have anything to say about this punishment?¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze was cold, and his tone carried a threat. ... The ministers looked at the blood-covered Sang Kun, exchanging glances and tacitly keeping their mouths shut. ¡°This servant, acknowledging a grave mistake, wishes to offer half of my family¡¯s wealth to compensate the losses of the people.¡± Sang Kun¡¯s face was pale as he lay on the ground, his clothes dripping with blood. He Ying looked on, nodded in approval, then had someone send him back to his mansion. Additionally, two Imperial Physicians were dispatched to treat him. Sang Mansion As soon as Sang Kun returned to his room, he started to groan in pain. Seeing him like this, his wife Ms. Lin was moved to tears, ¡°Ever since Ah Yan came back, you¡¯ve been met with misfortune; could it be her destiny¡ª¡± ¡°Just shut up. Others say that, and you follow suit, do you want her to be expelled from the Imperial Palace?¡± In pain, Sang Kun¡¯s mood was irritable, and his words came out harshly. Ms. Lin, known for her good nature, did not take his scolding to heart but gently advised, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, I misspoke.¡± Sang Kun wasn¡¯t angry with her. He was furious now with those ministers, and Jiang Chongyu leading them! Damn it! In pain, he pounded his pillow and bitterly said, ¡°That Jiang Chongyu has opposed me time and again, damned troublemaker, I will make him pay in blood!¡± Hearing this, Ms. Lin, frightened, covered his mouth, ¡°Master, have you lost your mind! You can¡¯t say things like that!¡± Sang Kun wasn¡¯t insane. On the contrary, amidst the pain, he was particularly rational. His expression dark, his eyes fierce, he commanded, ¡°Send someone to Long Chan Temple to fetch Sang Yan. I want to see her.¡± * Sang Yan was in her room reading Buddhist Scriptures. A little monk came with a message, ¡°Benefactor, someone claiming to be a Sang Family Servant is here to see you.¡± Catching the words ¡°Sang Family Servant¡±, Sang Yan guessed it was someone sent by Sang Kun. After considering for a moment, she went out to meet them. Four people stood rigidly outside. They were all quite young, dressed in black outfits, swords at their waists, likely close guards of Sang Kun. The best-looking one, who appeared the most imposing, stepped forward and bowed, ¡°Greetings to the young mistress.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t recognize him and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± That person immediately introduced himself, ¡°I am Du Yang, guard servant to our master.¡± Indeed a guard. Sang Yan further inquired, ¡°What brings you here?¡± Du Yang responded, ¡°The master wishes to see you and asked us to escort you back to the mansion.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t think returning to the mansion boded well, so she asked first, ¡°For what reason?¡± ¡°I am not aware.¡± ¡°What is my father busy with?¡± Why would Sang Kun ask her over instead of coming himself? Du Yang thought for a moment, then truthfully said, ¡°The master made mistakes and received flogging.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Flogging? It seemed He Ying really dealt with the matter severely. ¡°How many lashes?¡± ¡°Fifty.¡± That seemed somewhat excessive. Sang Yan felt a bit guilty, ¡°Is he¡­ still alright?¡± Duan Yang did not know the specifics of the injury and could only say, ¡°The Emperor has already sent the Imperial Physician to treat him.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan guessed that returning to Sang Mansion would involve a scolding or listening to nagging. She said, ¡°I am engaged in praying to Buddha, which requires seventy-nine days, and during this period, I must not leave Long Chan Temple, otherwise, all efforts will be wasted. You all should go back. If there is an urgent matter, send someone to inform me.¡± Duan Yang was aware of Sang Yan¡¯s prayer duties, and after hearing her say so, he paused for a while before taking his leave, ¡°Then I will return to report.¡± The four of them left quickly. Sang Yan went back to her room and copied the Buddhist Scripture to calm her mind. The next day She was performing her morning prayers. Her birth mother, Ms. Lin, arrived. She brought some snacks favored by Sang Yan, but upon seeing her, she first shed tears. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t stand seeing her cry and spoke first, ¡°I already know about father¡¯s injury and I believe the Emperor will consider everything when punishing. Everyone should bear responsibility for their own actions, so mother, please don¡¯t feel too sad.¡± Ms. Lin, wiping her tears, said, ¡°Husband and wife are one, how can I not be distressed when your father gets injured time and again?¡± Sang Yan, who had no fond feelings for Sang Kun, indifferently said, ¡°You are distressed, but aren¡¯t those peasants who had their fields seized also distressed? Those fields are their means of survival!¡± ¡°Your father has already donated half of our family wealth to compensate them.¡± ¡°Should have thought before acting.¡± She stopped Ms. Lin with her remark. Ms. Lin bit her lip, not knowing what to say. Sang Yan continued, ¡°You say husband and wife are one, then why didn¡¯t you advise him before he acted? Don¡¯t say he wouldn¡¯t listen to you. Have you even tried? Have you expressed your own thoughts? Mother, you should be stronger. If father loses his temper at you, tell me, I will stand by your side. Do you understand what I mean?¡± She implied that she would protect her. She wanted to give her mother the courage to live more ¡°recklessly.¡± Ms. Lin, who had been timid all her life, said timidly, ¡°I don¡¯t understand anything.¡± ¡°One can learn what they don¡¯t know. Right and wrong, a person of proper conduct can naturally judge.¡± ¡°I, I¡ª¡± ¡°You came here, so surely father must have said something. Then, pass on a few words for me. Stop using my name to do things that are unjust and abuse power. I am not his protection. If it happens again, I will ask the Emperor to appoint him as a civil servant.¡± Her words were sharp, showing no consideration for feelings. Ms. Lin had always been afraid of her and didn¡¯t dare say much. Leaving the snacks, she descended the mountain. Sang Yan saw her off to the foot of the mountain and watched her get into the carriage. It was a bright sunny day. The blood rain had stopped, but the lingering fear had not yet dissipated. Many people came to burn incense and worship Buddha. Sang Yan followed the crowd up the mountain. Suddenly, a thin man in coarse clothes squatted down, clutching his stomach with a pale face and sweating profusely. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°Young man, did you eat something bad?¡± ¡°That must be a bad stomach, look at that belly, as big as a pregnant woman¡¯s.¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha, young man, how many months along are you?¡± ¡­ Many people were watching. Some showed concern, others made jokes. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The young man, trapped in the middle, who was originally pale with pain, instantly flushed red and his eyes filled with fear. ¡°Go away! Everybody, go away!¡± He bent over, one hand covering his stomach, the other his face, and ran up the mountain. The crowd around him gradually dispersed. Sang Yan also moved away, not dwelling on this small episode, and continued towards the temple. Qiuzhi quietly followed her, unable to resist saying, ¡°Miss, did you see? That man¡¯s belly was really big, like he was pregnant.¡± Having seen many modern men with beer bellies, Sang Yan commented further, ¡°Some families are wealthy and eat well, what¡¯s so unusual about that?¡± Qiuzhi also thought a man with a big belly was not unusual, but something about that man felt off. ¡°I don¡¯t think his clothes looked like those of a wealthy man, and besides his belly, he didn¡¯t seem to have much flesh on him¡­¡± Chapter 106 - 106: The Strange Person Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The Strange Person Sang Yan thought about it, and it did seem to be the case. But, what did it matter to her what other people were like? They were just passersby. They had nothing to do with her. Sang Yan thought this way, but when she did the evening prayers, she saw that passerby again. He knelt before the Buddha statue, motionless, like a wooden figure. ... By the time she had finished the evening prayers, he still maintained that kneeling posture. Thinking that he had been here since morning, she didn¡¯t know how long he had been kneeling. Weirdo. Thinking this, Sang Yan returned to her room. The next day, she went to perform the morning prayers, and that weirdo was still there, still in the same kneeling posture. A little monk brought him some vegetarian food. He thanked him, swallowed a couple of bites hastily, then suddenly, his head slanted, and he threw it all up. ¡°Ugh, ugh¡ª¡± He vomited so much that tears came out. The entire temple hall was filled with a foul smell. The monks seemed not to notice, focusing on the morning prayers. Sang Yan tried to endure it, but couldn¡¯t hold back. Qiuzhi supported her as they left, whispering, ¡°That man is really crude. How could he vomit inside the hall? And in front of the Buddha statue too. That¡¯s highly disrespectful to the Buddha!¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t quite think so, ¡°Perhaps he has fallen ill.¡± She inexplicably felt pity for the weirdo and looked back at him. After finishing his vomiting, the weirdo stood up, his face ashen, his belly protruding, staggering out. ¡°The Buddha won¡¯t save me.¡± ¡°No one can save me.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha, no one can save me¡­¡± He walked past her, tears streaming down his face, muttering absently. Listening to him, Sang Yan furrowed her brows, feeling that the weirdo might do something foolish. What to do? Now that she had seen him, it didn¡¯t seem right not to help. She struggled for a moment and then called a Hidden Guard, ordering, ¡°Follow him, don¡¯t let him do anything foolish. Also, try to find out who he is and what has happened to him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Hidden Guard followed the weirdo. The weirdo descended the mountain. Below the mountain was a river. The river, due to recent heavy rains, appeared clear yet unfathomably deep. He walked to the riverbank, closed his eyes, and lunged forward. The Hidden Guard caught him by the shoulders in time and pulled him down to the ground. The ground was covered in green grass, softening the fall. But the weirdo clutched his belly, his face streaming with cold sweat. ¡°Ah, ah¡ª¡± He writhed on the ground in agony. The Hidden Guard frowned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The weirdo cried and screamed in pain but couldn¡¯t utter a word. The Hidden Guard had no choice but to knock him out with a punch and then carry him into the city to find a doctor. The doctor was a man in his fifties. He was thin and short, with a black mole on his nose and nearly invisible eyes. He took the weirdo¡¯s pulse, checking repeatedly for a while, his brow furrowed, then examined the weirdo¡¯s belly. When the coarsely woven shirt was lifted, the weirdo, contrary to his shabby appearance, had skin that was snow-white and smooth, clearly someone normally indulged. And on that snow-white skin protruded a bulge, firm and hard to the touch. The doctor leaned over the belly and listened; there seemed to be a heartbeat. ¡°Hey!¡± He startled, stroked his short beard, and after calming down for a while, he sighed, ¡°Strange indeed. Strange indeed. Could it be that a man can become pregnant?¡± Hidden Guard: ¡°¡­¡± A man pregnant? ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± He was running out of patience, grabbed the doctor by the collar, and demanded with a cold face, ¡°Explain clearly, what exactly is wrong with him?¡± ¡°Please stay calm, Hero, let¡¯s talk this through¡ª¡± The doctor, timid and eager to please, quickly said, ¡°I think he, he seems to be pregnant. His, his pulse is very erratic, it seems like a pregnancy pulse, but then it doesn¡¯t, and I am not very skilled medically, really can¡¯t diagnose clearly. But his stomach is so swollen, and there seems to be something moving inside, it really looks just like pregnancy.¡± Now it was the Hidden Guard¡¯s turn to be shocked and frown. ¡°How could it be¡­ pregnant?¡± The Hidden Guard doubted his own life. But he didn¡¯t doubt for long, and then thought: If he is not pregnant, and so young, why would he seek death? ¡°You, you all¡ª¡± At this moment, the strange person slowly woke up, and upon seeing two strangers, nearly fell off the bed in fright. ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡± Seeing his clothes lifted, his confusion and fear deepened. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± He clutched his stomach, got off the bed, and ran outside. Seeing this, the Hidden Guard tossed the doctor two taels of silver and hurriedly chased after the strange person. The strange person, one hand on his belly and the other on his face, ran wildly in the streets, bumping into many people and almost toppling several street vendors¡¯ stalls. ¡°You, you stop following me! What do you want?¡± The strange person was shouting, and tears started to fall. How did he not die! How did he not die! ¡°Why did you save me!¡± He was overwhelmed, picked up the food from a nearby stall, and hurled it. The Hidden Guard easily dodged it. ¡°Hey, why are you messing with my things! Pay for them! Pay for them!¡± The stall owner grabbed the strange person, demanding compensation. The strange person, frenzied, pushed him away with great force and staggered off. The Hidden Guard was halted. The stall owner put on a fierce look, ¡°You, you can¡¯t leave! You guys have issues, causing me to lose my stuff! If you don¡¯t pay, I¡¯ll take you to the officials!¡± The Hidden Guard, busy chasing after the person, didn¡¯t argue, simply took out two taels of silver, paid off the amount, and didn¡¯t even wait for the change. The strange person finally stopped. He stopped in front of a mansion. The mansion had a grand entrance and extended far, looking very magnificent and splendid. The plaque read: Jiang Residence ¡°Second Young Master, how, how did you end up like this?¡± The gatekeeper, both shocked and panicked, hurried forward to support him and asked concernedly, ¡°Second Young Master, what happened to you?¡± Watching this scene from afar, the Hidden Guard thought: Jiang Residence? Second Young Master? Is this person Jiang Chongyu¡¯s brother Jiang Chongli? * Sang Mansion Sang Kun was lying in bed recovering, enjoying grapes fed by the pretty Maid, and asked the guard kneeling on the ground, ¡°I asked you to check on Jiang Chongyu, how is it going?¡± Duan Yan had not found out anything illegal or disorderly about Jiang Chongyu. The man was utterly upright and honest, aside from his official duties, he would spend his free time studying and had even donated family wealth to set up several schools, taking in children from poor families, even teaching there personally. This was quite awkward. Bowing his head and hesitating for a while, he finally said, ¡°Mr. Jiang hasn¡¯t done anything worth investigating. However, Second Young Master Jiang seemed to have contracted a strange illness. He, he disguised himself early yesterday morning, with a pregnant belly went to Long Chan Temple to pray, but afterward, he threw himself into the river, fortunately, he was saved, and a doctor saw him, that doctor said, said¡ª¡± ¡°What did he say?¡± Sang Kun became a bit interested now, even stopped eating grapes, just looked at him. Duan Yan was so embarrassed his face turned red, struggling to speak. Sang Kun frowned, ¡°Quit stalling, just say it!¡± Duan Yan had no choice but to tell the truth, ¡°The doctor said, Second Young Master Jiang might be, might be pregnant.¡± This was utterly absurd and awkward. How could a man be pregnant? sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Kun thought the same, ¡°Did you hear wrong? How could a man possibly be pregnant?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s what the doctor said, he might be pregnant.¡± Duan Yan became more nervous as he spoke, ¡°Should I check further?¡± ¡°Hurry up and do it!¡± Sang Kun nodded and waved his hand, his expression serious, ¡°You must clear this up! Jiang Chongyu has harmed me many times, this could be a chance to ¡®thank¡¯ him!¡± Chapter 107 - 107 Heavy Jade Chapter 107: Chapter 107 Heavy Jade Jiang Chongyu hailed from a declining noble family and had been determined from childhood to restore his family¡¯s honor. And indeed, he had succeeded. At the age of sixteen, he became a scholar and, in the same year, was selected for the Hanlin Academy, where, within seven years, he was promoted to Hanlin Academy Scholar. Considering that Grand Secretary Cao Wensheng, who was still mourning his father, was nearing his fifties, without any surprise, Jiang Chongyu would be the next one in line. His future was bright. His family was sure to thrive. ... But he had never expected his blood brother, Jiang Chongli, to commit suicide. ¡°Master, you must come quickly! The second young master, the second young master has attempted suicide; there¡¯s so much blood.¡± Jiang Chongli¡¯s personal servant, Ah Feng, burst into the study, panic-stricken and his voice trembling. Jiang Chongyu was still handling official duties. It was now the third period of the night. He was both tired and sleepy, relying solely on his willpower to persevere. But the words of the servant, Ah Feng, frightened away his fatigue. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°What? What did you say?¡± As he inquired, he was already on his feet, hurrying to his brother¡¯s quarters. The Poetry and Ceremony Court The inner chamber On the large bed Jiang Chongli was being held down by maids and servant boys, his slashed wrists dripping with blood. ¡°Jiang Chongli! What foolishness have you done!¡± Jiang Chongyu burst in and saw the scene, his shout of reproach tinged with shock, and then he ordered, ¡°Quickly fetch the doctor.¡± ¡°Somebody has, somebody has already gone to get one.¡± Ah Feng knew he had failed to take proper care of his master and was shaking with fear, his voice quivering. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with me! Let me die!¡± Jiang Chongli was still roaring and struggling. With every move he made, the wound on his wrist bled even more intensely. Jiang Chongyu watched, his heart pounding with fright, and he quickly stepped forward to press on his brother¡¯s wrist. He was both angry and worried, ¡°What are you doing? Why harm yourself like this? What has happened? Jiang Chongli, speak!¡± As his brother and still unmarried, he only had two concubines by his side; without a principal wife, he was not entitled to have offspring. In other words, his kin were few¡ªapart from his mother, only this blood brother, who he always cherished deeply. Loving elder, respectful younger was the Jiang family¡¯s household ethos. Jiang Chongyu never would have imagined his brother committing suicide, and he knew nothing about the reasons behind it. ¡°What has happened?¡± He eased his tone, gently soothing, ¡°Chongli, be good, don¡¯t get agitated, tell your brother, and I will definitely solve it for you.¡± Jiang Chongli looked at his gentle brother and, though he calmed down, he shook his head as he cried, ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t solve it, no one can save me.¡± Jiang Chongyu tenderly wiped away his tears, softly reassuring, ¡°That¡¯s not true. There is nothing your brother can¡¯t solve. Don¡¯t you trust your brother¡¯s abilities?¡± Jiang Chongli thought about how everything his brother did from childhood to adulthood seemed effortless, whether it was academics or interpersonal relationships, he always stood out among peers. But as for him¡­ ¡°Brother, I¡¯m sorry, brother, I deserve to die, I deserve to die¡ª¡± Jiang Chongli was crying as he slapped himself, again and again, with strikingly loud smacks. Jiang Chongyu hurriedly stopped him, ¡°Chongli, don¡¯t be afraid, you¡¯re a kind child, your brother knows you didn¡¯t mean it. Whatever you did, your brother won¡¯t blame you, really, tell your brother the truth, what exactly happened?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say. Brother, I¡¯m a bastard, I¡¯m an animal¡ª¡± He loathed himself, crying so hard he nearly passed out. Seeing he couldn¡¯t get any answers from Jiang Chongli, Jiang Chongyu stopped asking and waited for the doctor to come to dress the wound and administer a sleeping potion. After his brother had fallen asleep, he turned to question those who served his brother. ¡°What exactly has happened to your master? Tell me everything truthfully! Otherwise, if he sheds blood and tears, you all won¡¯t get off easy!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked down with a stern face and an authoritative expression at the servants and maids kneeling on the ground, his words laced with a threat. The maid, timid, shrank back and said, ¡°Young Master, the second young master has contracted a strange illness. Seven months ago, he started having intermittent stomach pains, each time not lasting long. We called for a doctor, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. Who would have thought that two months later, he began vomiting. At the time, we also summoned a doctor, who said it was gastrointestinal discomfort, and he took medicine for it and got better after a while, but then¡­ his belly started to grow¡­ Now, it looks like he¡¯s pregnant¡­¡± This was truly an indescribable matter. Who would think that a man could become pregnant? But that belly, gradually bulging, was truly frightening. At first, it wasn¡¯t evident, and they had harbored hope, thinking he was just putting on weight. But one couldn¡¯t simply gain weight in the stomach! Especially since they all knew that the second young master usually ate a light diet and disliked meat; he shouldn¡¯t be getting fat. Eliminating that factor, there was only one possibility¡ªpregnancy! A man becoming pregnant, how sensational! No man could accept it! No wonder the second young master was now on the verge of a breakdown, attempting suicide! Jiang Chongyu had also noticed his brother¡¯s swollen belly and had initially assumed he had just gained weight, not giving it another thought. But now, hearing the maid¡¯s words, he suddenly recalled how his brother had bent over and hurried away upon seeing him these past few days, as if hiding something. Was it this belly he was hiding? He blamed himself for being too busy, and thus negligent. ¡°A bunch of idiots! How can a man get pregnant?¡± He didn¡¯t believe his brother was pregnant. He turned to the servant Ah Feng, questioning him with a sharp tone, ¡°Besides this, did your master experience any other abnormality? Did he eat anything unclean before this?¡± Ah Feng, upon hearing this, had a shifty look in his eyes and stammered, ¡°It seems, it seems there were no other abnormalities. The second young master isn¡¯t like those dissolute noblemen who enjoy cockfighting and drinking. He¡¯s very well-behaved, and the place he frequents the most is the Penglai Guest.¡± The Penglai Guest was where literati and scholars gathered. Jiang Chongyu knew his brother was wholeheartedly devoted to his studies, and he had been too confident in him, leading to this oversight. ¡°Who is he associating with at the Penglai Guest?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the eldest son of the Qu Family and the third son of the Meng Family.¡± ¡°Qu Lei? Meng Zekai?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Ah Feng hung his head, his body trembling and his face dripping with sweat, obviously under great pressure. Jiang Chongyu looked at him peculiarly, ¡°Are you hiding something? Why else would you be so frightened?¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Feng was so scared that he repeatedly knocked his head on the ground, ¡°No, no, please spare my life, Young Master. I dare not conceal anything, but¡­ but some time ago, the second young master had a fight with Mr. Meng and they broke off their relationship. I don¡¯t know the reason.¡± Jiang Chongyu caught on to the hint, ¡°When did that happen?¡± ¡°About three months ago.¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t know why they severed ties? You wouldn¡¯t have mentioned this unless you suspected something.¡± As Jiang Chongyu spoke, a fierceness flashed in his eyes, his tone becoming harsher, ¡°Speak!¡± Ah Feng trembled for a good while before he said, ¡°I¡­ I feel that there¡¯s more to the relationship between the second young master and Mr. Meng, possibly a hint of¡­ forbidden love.¡± This was also the main reason why even they and Jiang Chongli himself suspected a pregnancy. Jiang Chongyu: ¡°¡­¡± Forbidden love? His obedient, honest, well-behaved brother? Jiang Chongyu¡¯s expression fractured. Meanwhile, Atop the building, A roof tile fell. The Hidden Guard, who had overheard up to now and dressed in the same black garb as the masked person, furrowed his brow, ¡°Who are you?¡± Had the Jiang Family gotten into trouble? Being eavesdropped on, no less? Chapter 108 - 108: Eavesdropping Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Eavesdropping The man in black did not answer. Upon being discovered, he immediately turned around, and with a few agile leaps along the rooftop, he dashed away into the night. The Hidden Guard closely pursued him, and within the span of half a tea session, caught up to him and kicked him to the ground. The two began fighting in the street. The Hidden Guard hailed from the Imperial Palace and had survived countless battles. How could the man in black be his match? In no time, he was pinned to the ground, and his masked face covering was pulled off. If Sang Yan had been there, she would have recognized him as her father¡¯s personal guard, Duan Yang. ... ¡°Who are you really?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Hidden Guard, bending his arms behind him and stepping on his back, demanded, ¡°What are you doing spying on the Jiang Family?¡± Duan Yang, face against the ground and breathing heavily, retorted in a sorry state, ¡°Aren¡¯t you also spying on the Jiang Family? What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°You vanquished coward! Do you have the right to ask?¡± The Hidden Guard stomped hard twice on Duan Yang¡¯s back. Duan Yang grimaced in pain, but his pride remained intact. ¡°Bah! Show some respect! I advise you to mind your business! I have powerful backers!¡± The Hidden Guard, guessing he was acting for some Minister, then asked, ¡°Who? Which Minister are you working for?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to know!¡± Duan Yang remained loyal to the Sang Family and abruptly turned his head away, sealing his lips shut. Seeing his stubbornness, the Hidden Guard decided to take him to the Imperial Palace. When Duan Yang reached the palace gates, amidst his panic, he speculated, ¡°Are you working for the Emperor?¡± The Hidden Guard coldly replied, ¡°Of course, I am Yan Tong, a Hidden Guard from the Emperor¡¯s side.¡± Hearing the word ¡°Emperor,¡± Duan Yang instantly thought of Sang Yan and blurted out, ¡°We¡¯re family! Family! Please let me go, we¡¯re really family!¡± Yan Tong: ¡°¡­¡± Half-believing Duan Yang, Yan Tong asked, ¡°Family? Who are you? How can you prove that?¡± After thinking, Duan Yang still revealed, ¡°Since you are from the Emperor¡¯s Hidden Guard, you must know Lord Sang. Lord Sang knows me. You can take me to see her.¡± Since Yan Tong was acting on orders from Sang Yan, upon hearing this, he took him back to Long Chan Temple. Long Chan Temple It was past the third period of night. Sang Yan had gone to bed early. The lights in the room were also turned off. Seeing this, Yan Tong decided not to wake her but instead tied the man up and made him kneel at the door of her room. Thus, when Sang Yan came out early in the morning to recite her morning prayers, she saw Duan Yang with a grim face, kneeling in the courtyard. ¡°Eh?¡± She was surprised and looked at the Hidden Guard next to her in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Kneeling down, Yan Tong explained, ¡°Replying to Lord Sang, the person you had me watch was Second Young Master Jiang from the Hanlin Academy, the brother of the Hanlin Academy Scholar Jiang Chongyu. To find out more about him, I stayed a bit longer on his rooftop, and that¡¯s when I encountered this man. He was spying on the Jiang Family, likely serving some court Minister. I was planning to take him to the Imperial Palace for the Emperor to handle, but when he reached the palace gates, he claimed that you knew him and that he was family.¡± Sang Yan did indeed know him. But she wished she didn¡¯t! This Sang Kun, always causing trouble, even sent someone to spy on court Ministers! ¡°Did my father send you?¡± Sang Yan looked at Duan Yang and asked, ¡°What is he trying to do this time?¡± Duan Yang wouldn¡¯t foolishly divulge that he was out to dig up dirt on Jiang Chongyu. Instead, he half-heartedly replied, ¡°Not much really. The master heard some rumors about Jiang Chongli, saying he, a grown man, got pregnant. Just curious, he sent me to find out more.¡± Sang Yan frowned upon hearing this: That eccentric person¡­ pregnant? Isn¡¯t it some strange disease? How could a man be pregnant? A woman disguised as a man? Thinking, she turned to the Hidden Guard, ¡°What¡¯s the true story? Tell me everything you know.¡± Yan Tong didn¡¯t hold back, and told her plainly, ¡°That Second Young Master Jiang was in a distressed state when he descended the mountain; he rushed to the river, apparently intending to drown himself. Since you asked me to watch him, I intervened and saved his life. Later that night, however, he tried to commit suicide by slashing his wrists. Thankfully, he was promptly rescued and wasn¡¯t in any deadly danger, but it alarmed Mr. Jiang. Mr. Jiang questioned those attending to him¡ª ¡°Miss, can you untie me?¡± Duan Yang, tied up and having kneeled for most of the night, felt utterly exhausted and in pain as if he were falling apart. He couldn¡¯t wait for Sang Yan to suggest untying him himself, so he reminded her. Sang Yan came back to her senses, glanced at him, and thinking of Sang Kun behind him, she frowned and asked, ¡°Tell me the truth, is my father trying to cause trouble for Mr. Jiang?¡± Was Sang Kun bold enough to harass fellow officials now? Had those fifty canes not knocked some sense into him? How infuriating! Absolutely infuriating! This was just suicidal! Seeing Sang Yan¡¯s displeasure, Duan Yang dared not say more, only saying, ¡°I was just following orders, unaware of the master¡¯s intentions.¡± Sang Yan sneered upon hearing this, ¡°You didn¡¯t know? Do you want to taste the methods of the Prison Department at the palace?¡± Duan Yang: ¡°¡­¡± Hanging his head, he dared not betray Sang Kun, and simply pleaded, ¡°Miss, spare my life! Please spare my life!¡± Seeing this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t release him but instead ordered the Hidden Guard, ¡°Go to Sang Mansion and have my father come fetch this man.¡± She had to see Sang Kun in person. * In the pavilion, Sang Kun lay on the soft couch, being carried as he admired the full pond of lotus flowers, listening to captivating music. A beautiful maid was feeding him fruits and pastries. He was in complete leisure. It was during this time that Yan Tong arrived, ¡°I am Yan Tong, a Hidden Guard appointed by the Emperor to protect Lord Sang. Now, I have come on behalf of Lord Sang to request your presence at Long Chan Temple.¡± Hearing this, Sang Kun frowned, ¡°In this condition, she doesn¡¯t come to see me but asks me to visit her with my injuries?¡± He was still resentful that Sang Yan hadn¡¯t exempted him from punishment. Sang Yan¡¯s present attitude¡ª Well, never mind. Having the aura of a noble from the palace was probably a good thing. ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s about?¡± He put on a smiling face, gestured for him to sit and have some tea, trying to pry some information. Yan Tong remained unmoved, his voice cold, ¡°You¡¯ll know when you get there.¡± Sang Kun: ¡°¡­¡± All right then. He ordered his attendants to prepare the carriage. The carriage was large and luxurious, ample enough to accommodate a soft couch. Sang Kun was still carried into the carriage. When they arrived, he was carried into the temple, and eventually in front of Sang Yan. ¡°Oh my¡ªIt hurts¡ªI¡¯m dying¡ªOh my¡ªI can¡¯t live anymore¡ª¡± He started his act from afar, grimacing and gasping dramatically. To the uninformed, it seemed he had just sustained severe injuries. When Sang Yan learned of his arrival, she came out to greet him and seeing him put on such an act, her feelings were mixed: What was the meaning of this? Playing tricks in front of his daughter, failing to maintain dignity, completely disrespectful due to his age! Chapter 109 - 109: Incompetence Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Incompetence ¡°Miss¡ª¡± The guards carrying Sang Kun bowed to her. Sang Yan glanced at them and turned back to her room. The guards then carried Sang Kun inside. They set him down on the soft couch. Sang Kun lay on the couch, moaning in pain. ... Unable to bear it, Sang Yan said, ¡°Enough! It¡¯s been days, why are you still pretending? Can¡¯t you act like a father?¡± Sang Kun hadn¡¯t expected his daughter to say that. His face reddened, and he stopped pretending, ¡°Cough cough, you called me here¡ªwhat is it about?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t say much and directly had Yan Tong bring someone over. As soon as Sang Kun saw Duan Yang bound tightly, he understood everything. But he feigned ignorance, ¡°What is this about? What did he do wrong?¡± ¡°Not only did he make a mistake, Father also made a mistake.¡± Sang Yan cut to the chase, ¡°Father sent him to spy on the Jiang Family, what were you trying to do?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Sang Kun played innocent, ¡°What could I possibly want to do? I was just looking for some amusement.¡± He still believed that Duan Yang wouldn¡¯t betray him. Hearing him say this, Sang Yan laughed, ¡°You and he share a bond between master and servant, spouting the same lies. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t believe them.¡± Sang Kun frowned, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Sang Yan countered, ¡°What do you mean, Father? Spying on a Minister, what are you trying to do?¡± Sang Kun stubbornly replied, ¡°I told you, I wanted some entertainment. You might not know this, but it¡¯s suspected that the second young master of the Jiang Family is pregnant. Last night, they called many doctors urgently.¡± He had not only sent Duan Yang to keep an eye on the Jiang Family but others as well. This affair of Jiang Chongli was truly intriguing! Once it spread, Jiang Chongli would certainly not have the face to live, and then we¡¯ll see how Jiang Chongyu deals with it! He likes listening to rumors, doesn¡¯t he? He¡¯ll definitely suffer from these rumors! ¡°So, what do you want to do next?¡± Sang Yan, sensing his malice, asked coldly. Not hiding his intentions, Sang Kun laughed, ¡°My dear daughter, if Jiang Chongli is really pregnant, haha, a great man being pregnant, that would indeed be a divine punishment!¡± Sang Yan speculated, ¡°So you intend to use this to attack Mr. Jiang?¡± Sang Kun stated, ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound so bad; I¡¯m merely giving him a taste of his own medicine.¡± Indeed it was so. He intended to persecute a court Minister. Sang Yan¡¯s expression changed, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mother convey my message? I seem to recall saying that you shouldn¡¯t engage in favoritism, nor abuse your power.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Kun¡¯s expression changed, ¡°I, I¡­ Have you forgotten these injuries of mine? If Jiang Chongyu hadn¡¯t been so aggressive, how would I have been punished?¡± Sang Yan angrily said, ¡°You were punished because you created fake blood rain algae, weren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t tell me it was for my sake; I never asked you to do that. Father, I¡¯m calling you Father one last time¡ªif you don¡¯t repent, I will sever our father-daughter relationship.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare! You are truly rebellious¡ª¡± Sang Kun got so agitated that he sat up, which pulled at his wound, causing him to tremble with pain, genuinely groaning, ¡°Ouch! Ouch, it hurts terribly. You unfilial daughter! Are you trying to anger me to death?¡± Which daughter, once powerful, wouldn¡¯t think of shielding her family! His daughter was truly an ungrateful wretch! Seeing that he showed no sign of reflection, Sang Yan stated directly, ¡°I am making myself clear¡ªif you do not hold back, I will have the Emperor assign you to a civil servant¡¯s position.¡± Without real power, let¡¯s see how he stirs up trouble! ¡°You, you! You evil daughter! I raised you for nothing!¡± Sang Kun was furious, puffing his cheeks and glaring. Sang Yan did not say much, simply waved her hand to dismiss him, ¡°I have spoken all I wished to. Father, go back and think carefully.¡± Sang Kun: ¡°¡­¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was carried down the mountain by the guards. When he returned home, after pondering for a long time, he was so infuriated that he started smashing things: ¡°This is a misfortune for my family! Truly a misfortune! I thought I could enjoy my daughter¡¯s blessings, but instead, she has disgraced me! I, I¡ª¡± The more he spoke, the angrier he became, nearly fainting from anger. Ms. Lin heard the news and hurried over to persuade him: ¡°What our daughter said isn¡¯t wrong, you might as well be a civil servant and enjoy some leisure.¡± ¡°Shut up! Women¡¯s views! Ignorant!¡± Sang Kun was still planning once Sang Yan gave birth to the heir, to become a powerful maternal family for the Crown Prince! How could he afford not to have real power? Those who opposed him should die! Otherwise, they were obstacles to the future Crown Prince¡¯s ascension! ¡°What do you know? All hair and no brains! And your daughter! You really raised a good daughter!¡± He directed all his anger towards Sang Yan at his wife. Ms. Lin, always gentle and understanding, usually did not argue with him, but now she was reduced to tears by his shouting: ¡°Why are you angry at me! What¡¯s wrong with my daughter? She¡¯s right, no matter what, she is definitely right¡­¡± She didn¡¯t actually know why she said this, somewhat blindly believing in Sang Yan, but with Sang Yan backing her up, her words had power. ¡°You¡¯re becoming less and less qualified to be an official!¡± ¡°Look at you, ever since Ah Yan entered the Imperial Palace, your work has been full of mistakes!¡± ¡°You might not even realize it, you¡¯re relying on Sang Yan! You¡¯re not even afraid to make mistakes!¡± Ms. Lin had been married to Sang Kun for many years, how could she not understand what kind of person he was, or what he was thinking? Now it all burst forth, and, frightened, she left these words: ¡°Think about it well!¡± then she left. Sang Kun hadn¡¯t expected his usually obedient wife to talk back to him like this, and his anger deepened: ¡°What do you know? It¡¯s your wonderful daughter! She¡¯s been so pampered by the Emperor she doesn¡¯t even know who she is anymore! Daring to give me attitude! And she¡¯s not even the Imperial Concubine yet!¡± Ms. Lin walked away far. But still heard his words. The admiration and love she once felt had significantly waned. Turns out he wasn¡¯t that great, even somewhat of a fool. The foolish Sang Kun still thought he wasn¡¯t wrong. Making him give up on dealing with Jiang Chongyu wasn¡¯t going to happen. He glared coldly at Duan Yang: ¡°I asked you to handle something, and you messed it up this badly, make another mistake and you won¡¯t follow me any longer.¡± Duan Yang quickly knelt down: ¡°My lord, calm your anger, it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Seeing this, Sang Kun took a deep breath, calming slightly: ¡°The matter with Jiang Chongli, it¡¯s just us who know, such a pity. Do you understand what I mean?¡± Duan Yang nodded hurriedly: ¡°This subordinate understands. I¡¯ll make sure everyone in the city knows about it.¡± Sang Kun smiled in satisfaction: ¡°Go then. Don¡¯t disappoint me again.¡± He intended to kill using rumors. He wanted to kill Jiang Chongli, and thereby severely harm Jiang Chongyu, to rid himself of this hatred. * Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe Sang Kun would obediently heed her words, after much thought, she still wrote a letter to the Emperor, explaining the situation to him. And asked him to send the Imperial Physician to treat Jiang Chongli. Then convey the diagnosis to her. The Emperor was very efficient. He received the letter in the afternoon and promptly sent the Imperial Physician. In the evening, after hearing the Imperial Physician¡¯s report on Jiang Chongli¡¯s condition, he immediately wrote back to her. When Sang Yan saw the response¡ª The three Imperial Physicians who went to treat him, two suspected pregnancy, one suspected a strange illness. Sang Yan didn¡¯t know why, but she leaned towards the latter, and based on the current understanding, she replied: ¡°Can the Imperial Physician examine his body to see if he has female reproductive organs, and whether he has menstruated. If both are true, then it¡¯s possible he is an intersex individual and could be pregnant. If not, then he has a strange illness. And what kind of strange illness would cause such a big belly? My guess is a teratoma. Regarding teratomas, I can¡¯t explain clearly at the moment, it looks like a fetus, but it is actually a tumor¡­¡± Chapter 110 - 110: Cherishing Talent Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Cherishing Talent He Ying handed the letter to the Imperial Physician. After each of the three Imperial Physicians had read it in turn, they discussed it for half an hour before going back to the Jiang Residence for another examination of Jiang Chongli. Naturally, Jiang Chongli did not agree. He was a normal man. Such examination was truly embarrassing. ¡°Get out!¡± ... ¡°Just kill me!¡± He wept hysterically. If this was the result of his drunken indecency with Meng Zekai, then he might as well die. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t die, nor could he stop the actions of the Imperial Physicians. After a careful examination, the Imperial Physicians questioned his attendants about whether Jiang Chongli had ever experienced menstrual symptoms. Receiving a negative answer, they were left with only one possibility¡ªteratoma. They had never heard of such a disease. But the explanation in the letter made sense, and it even mentioned a treatment method¡ªabdominal surgery¡ªwhich inclined them more towards the latter possibility. If it was a teratoma, how could they remove it? They didn¡¯t dare to operate! The three returned to the Imperial Hospital and repeatedly studied Sang Yan¡¯s letter, calling other Imperial Physicians to discuss the treatment together. Among them were some Imperial Physicians with a research spirit, daring to explore. ¡°Didn¡¯t Lord Sang say we could first try it on some small animals? Let¡¯s do the experiment then.¡± The speaker was a new Imperial Physician named Liang Xin, only twenty years old, and at an age when he was most audacious. He was originally a folk doctor with some fame. He Ying, who had been actively treating her own strange illness, had invited him to the Imperial Palace. ¡°If you want to experiment, go ahead, my old eyes are dim, and I can¡¯t handle a knife.¡± ¡°Right, I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯m afraid of blood. I get dizzy at the sight of it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t do knife work; whoever wants to do it, let them!¡± ¡­ Many Imperial Physicians backed out. In the end, only two participated. Liang Xin took the lead, and the other acted as an assistant. Two medical fanatics researched day and night without rest. During this time, rumors rampantly spread. Even though Jiang Chongli didn¡¯t go out, he could still hear the servants in the residence gossiping and attempted suicide several times. Jiang Chongyu, to protect his brother¡¯s safety, stayed and ate with him all the time. After such rigorous protection for ten days, Liang Xin¡¯s abdominal surgery finally made progress, confirming that after performing abdominal surgery and suturing on a rabbit, it could survive. It was the day of Jiang Chongli¡¯s surgery that blood rain came again. This blood rain lasted only half an hour before it ended. Rumors about Sang Yan began to circulate again. Sang Yan didn¡¯t care about these; she was only concerned with Jiang Chongli¡¯s abdominal surgery. If it wasn¡¯t a teratoma, if it was a pregnancy, then the surgery at this time would result in premature birth, and she wondered if the child would survive. Her waiting was anxious; her mood was like the sky after the blood rain stopped, covered with dark clouds. Qiuzhi watched her pacing back and forth in the room and often putting her hands together to pray, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Miss, you had a fleeting encounter with the second son of the Jiang Family, and you have done all you can. Especially since Mr. Jiang has spoken ill of you many times, preventing you from being with the Emperor.¡± She felt that despite past grievances, Sang Yan¡¯s decision not to kick someone when they were down was commendable. Sang Yan didn¡¯t agree, ¡°Jiang Chongyu is a very talented man, who has done a lot for the common people, a pillar of the state. Although he doesn¡¯t like me, I also want him to be well. If his brother indeed contracted a strange illness, and was killed by that illness, that would be pitiful. To save one life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. You have been here at Long Chan Temple for nearly a month now, how can you still think this way?¡± Hearing her say this, Qiuzhi knew she had a narrower vision and that her thoughts were too limited, so she admitted her mistake, ¡°Miss is right, I was thinking wrongly.¡± She had never seen someone as magnanimous and selfless as Sang Yan. Truly deserving of the Emperor¡¯s affection. The two continued to wait for news. Until the sun set behind the mountains. It was then that Hidden Guard Yan Tong came to report, ¡°Lord Sang is brilliant. The second son of the Jiang Family indeed had a strange illness. Do you know? Imperial Doctor Liang cut open his belly, removed a flesh tumor weighing over eight pounds, my goodness, it even resembled a fetus, with little hands and feet.¡± Qiuzhi shivered at that description, finding the image too horrific. Sang Yan was different; she remained composed and, upon confirming Jiang Chongli¡¯s safety, became interested in the Imperial Physician, ¡°What¡¯s the name of the physician who performed the surgery? Ask him to come here. I would like to meet him.¡± She thought the physician must be a medical genius and felt an appreciation for talent. Although the era was backward, she never underestimated the wisdom of the ancients, thinking that by giving a few tips, or mentioning some modern medical theories, she might help ancient medicine make great strides. ¡°Yes. I will go invite Imperial Doctor Liang right away.¡± After Yan Tong agreed, he hurried off. * As Sang Yan waited for the Imperial Physician, Jiang Chongli came first. He had heard that Sang Yan had provided a lot of support behind the scenes. He hadn¡¯t expected Sang Yan to help him like that. After he had forced the Emperor to flog Sang Kun. He had also thought that it might be Sang Yan¡¯s strategy to appease him, but the news of Sang Kun being scolded by Sang Yan at Long Chan Temple had also reached his ears. Not only was he under surveillance, but he also paid attention to Sang Kun¡¯s behavior. After all, the incident with the fake Blood Rain Algae that the Minister of Ministry of Industry had discovered and exposed had his support behind it. But now it seemed that he was the one with the petty mind. Sang Yan was actually a fair and selfless woman, patriotic and protective of the people. ¡°Thank you for saving my brother.¡± He was genuinely grateful, even kneeling down. Sang Yan hurriedly asked him to rise, ¡°Mr. Jiang, please don¡¯t do this. I merely lent a small hand. It was that Imperial Physician who entirely turned the situation around for your brother.¡± Jiang Chongyu was still kneeling, his face filled with gratitude, ¡°The Imperial Physician said that without your guidance and support, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to do it.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan had nothing to say. Major medical advancements often did need the support of the upper classes. ¡°Let¡¯s speak after you stand up. I didn¡¯t do these things to earn your gratitude. To be honest, before meeting him, I didn¡¯t know he was your brother.¡± She had only felt that the man looked utterly lifeless, fearing he would do something foolish, and had thus asked the Hidden Guard to keep watch, which led to saving him and entangling her in these events. Jiang Chongyu also knew these things from his brother, which is why he was even more grateful, ¡°Your kindness and purity, treating all commoners equally, is a blessing for the state. Previously, it was my ignorance that led me to misunderstand you.¡± Sang Yan smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s not speak of the past. I simply do good deeds without concern for the future.¡± Jiang Chongyu, with added respect on top of his gratitude, responded, ¡°I will remember your words.¡± ¡°That would be good.¡± Sang Yan felt that Jiang Chongyu could admit his faults and was a talented individual, her good impressions deepening. Plus, considering he was a cultural luminary, she subtly spoke of valuing female education and growth, respecting women¡¯s rights, ¡°Every person¡¯s potential is limitless. Just imagine, if women could participate in societal development, how much wealth would that create?¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was so excited that she forgot it was a male-dominated society, that Jiang Chongyu was a beneficiary of it and would only uphold male power. ¡°Men are responsible for external affairs, women for internal; this has been the way from time immemorial. Lord Sang, you are talented and especially virtuous, but not all women are like you. If they had too much say, I believe it wouldn¡¯t be good for the country nor the family. If you intend to do such things, you would be making an enemy of everyone. I would have misjudged you.¡± Jiang Chongyu subtly suggested that if she intended to seize the Emperor¡¯s power and elevate the status of women, he would be the first to oppose her. Even if she were his benefactor. Chapter 111 - 111: Defying the Imperial Order Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Defying the Imperial Order Sang Yan overestimated Jiang Chongyu¡¯s ideological realm. But she didn¡¯t blame him. He was merely limited by his era. In fact, even in modern times, it is still a patriarchal society, with many men lacking respect for women. ¡°I just want to improve the living environment of women.¡± She sighed, her gaze tender and compassionate, ¡°Recently, you must have heard about the Palace Guarding Moles case, that¡¯s an area I want to improve.¡± ... Jiang Chongyu: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. Using Palace Guarding Moles to verify a woman¡¯s chastity was indeed not rigorous enough. ¡°You should go back. Think carefully about what I¡¯ve said. Don¡¯t see it as a battle between the sexes; I simply want women to live more freely.¡± ¡°¡­Then I shall take my leave.¡± Jiang Chongyu bowed and then turned and left. Sang Yan sat in her chair, supporting her forehead, feeling dejected. She still thought too simply, hoping to use Jiang Chongyu¡¯s influence to do something for women. Reality was cruel. Her aspirations were difficult and lengthy. ¡°Lord Sang¡ª¡± Hidden Guard Yan Tong suddenly dropped down from above the rooftop. He always appeared and disappeared mysteriously, never arriving in a conventional way. Seeing him, Sang Yan composed herself and smiled, ¡°You¡¯re back. Where is the Imperial Physician?¡± ¡°The Imperial Physician is still observing the post-surgery condition of Second Young Master Jiang, and said he would come tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She wasn¡¯t in a rush. She was really impressed with the Imperial Physician, knowing to observe the post-surgery condition. Sang Yan was even more eager to meet him now. The next day After she finished her morning rituals, she went to the four-cornered pavilion on top of Long Chan Temple Mountain to rest and also to wait for the Imperial Physician. Unexpectedly, she received some good news first. ¡°Lord Sang, we have found the Blood Rain Algae.¡± Yan Tong was very excited, thinking Sang Yan was an impressive person, actually knowing the cause of the blood rain. Sang Yan had almost forgotten about the Blood Rain Algae. On hearing this, she became excited as well, ¡°How so? Who found it? Are you sure it¡¯s real?¡± It wasn¡¯t another case of fake Blood Rain Algae, was it? Yan Tong said, ¡°It¡¯s real. Strictly speaking, it¡¯s not Blood Rain Algae but Blood Rain Flower. The flower releases a fluff that dissolves quickly in water and colors the water, which on examination, is indeed just like blood rain. Oh, right, you also asked who found it, right? I¡¯m not sure about that.¡± Sang Yan listened calmly, then asked, ¡°Is there a lot? Where was it found?¡± Yan Tong replied, ¡°A lot. It¡¯s about twenty miles from the Imperial City on Po Yang Mountain. It covers the entire mountaintop, densely packed.¡± Having never seen it, Sang Yan instructed, ¡°Bring some of those flowers here. Oh, and ask the Imperial Physician to examine whether it¡¯s toxic, if it can be used for dyeing garments, or even making rouge.¡± She was considering the commercial value of the Blood Rain Flower. Yan Tong hadn¡¯t expected her to think so far ahead and was greatly impressed, ¡°Lord Sang is truly brilliant. I will arrange it right away.¡± About a quarter-hour later, the Imperial Physician, Liang Xin, arrived. ¡°Your humble servant Liang Xin greets Lord Sang.¡± Liang Xin knelt down in greeting. Sang Yan smiled, ¡°Get up. Please, have a seat.¡± She asked Qiuzhi to pour tea and got straight to the point, asking about Jiang Chongli¡¯s condition. ¡°The Second Young Master is doing well. I believe after resting for half a month, he will be able to leave his bed.¡± After Liang Xin finished, he voiced his puzzlement, ¡°Lord Sang, how did you know it was a teratoma? Has Lord Sang also studied medicine?¡± Sang Yan had already prepared her response, ¡°I¡¯ve read some miscellaneous books in the past that mentioned teratomas, so I took note.¡± She planned to attribute all her knowledge to miscellaneous books, ¡°Including the matter about the blood rain, I also read about it in some books, but unfortunately, those books can no longer be found.¡± Liang Xin was just about to ask about the book. ¡°Such a pity.¡± He was obsessed with medicine and sighed, ¡°The person who wrote this miscellaneous book must be a master.¡± Sang Yan smiled guiltily, ¡°I think you will also be a master in the future. You did very well in that abdominal surgery.¡± ¡°It was Lord Sang who gave me good advice.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest. The teacher leads the student through the door, but it¡¯s the student who must do the work. Moreover, I only gave you a few tips. It¡¯s mainly because you have good aptitude.¡± After praising him, she asked him, ¡°Did you make a record of that surgery?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liang Xin replied, ¡°I did.¡± He even brought the record book over and now presented it, ¡°I hope Lord Sang will provide more guidance.¡± Sang Yan saw him in a new light again, realizing not only was he intelligent, but he also had great dedication. She admired him greatly. After taking the book and flipping through it, she noticed everything was recorded in great detail, both before and after the surgery, and the insights gained were clearly organized. ¡°Very good. But here, and here¡ª¡± Sang Yan pointed out the shortcomings, striving to convey her understanding of modern medical knowledge. Liang Xin listened with great interest, his eyes gleaming, ¡°Could Lord Sang be that master?¡± Sang Yan waved her hand hurriedly, ¡°No, I just have a good memory. You still need to do the research and verification yourself. If you encounter difficulties, or if you need more people or money, just go and ask the Emperor.¡± Liang Xin¡¯s blood boiled with enthusiasm, ¡°Thank you, Lord Sang. I will certainly not disappoint you.¡± Sang Yan continued to chat with him for another half hour before letting him leave the mountain. Then her attention returned to the blood rain. She also found out that the person who had found the Blood Rain Flower was Jiang Ke! He was still helping her. Always working silently on practical matters, he too was a passionate man. Sadly, his passion was misplaced. Imperial Study He Ying looked at his rival, Jiang Ke, wanting so badly to kill him. But he had genuinely helped him a great deal. How come just he found the Blood Rain Flower? What were those officials even doing? Weren¡¯t they worse than a mere idle playboy? ¡°You have indeed achieved great merits repeatedly, and you deserve a reward.¡± Thinking of the departed Heir of Jiangling, He Ying said, ¡°Your elder brother has been deceased for many years now. It is time for you to take over as the Princely Heir.¡± Normally, it should be Jiang¡¯s father who petitions for the title of Princely Heir for his younger son. Perhaps Jiang¡¯s father is still mourning his elder son and has delayed petitioning for his younger son. Now it could be a reward to give. Jiang Ke showed no interest in this reward and declined politely, ¡°My actions are not for fame or profit, but for the people.¡± He had not given up on Sang Yan. He Ying caught the implication in his words, his brows furrowing deeper, ¡°There are some things you cannot aspire for.¡± He felt anger rising along with a decision, ¡°Marquis Zhongyi¡¯s second son, Jiang Ke, is adept in both literary and martial skills, sharp and astute, and has won my heart. He shall inherit the position of Princely Heir and additionally be rewarded with a hundred mu of good land and three thousand taels of gold and silver. There is a suitable match from a noble family, Feng Yixuan, intelligent and dignified, with dual talents¡ª¡± ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider.¡± Jiang Ke, hearing the Emperor was about to decree his marriage, hurriedly voiced his refusal, ¡°I already have someone in my heart, and will marry no other.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± He Ying slammed the Dragon Table, shouting, ¡°I am decreeing your marriage, and if you dare refuse, it is tantamount to defying a royal command. Jiang Ke, you should know the crime of defying a royal command is punishable by death!¡± Defying a royal command was indeed a capital offense! Jiang Ke certainly understood, but still he refused, ¡°Please retract your order, Your Majesty. I have someone in my heart, marrying another would only result in resentment. Please grant my wish.¡± He Ying just wanted him to give up on Sang Yan, not caring whether he would end up in an unhappy marriage or not. ¡°This marriage is decided. In a month, you will be wed.¡± With that, he gestured dismissively, ¡°Leave now. This is not up for further discussion. Or else, you will face the rod.¡± Jiang Ke had not expected that finding the Blood Rain Flower, a great deed, would result in such a predicament! Damn it! Clutching his fists, his heart filled with anger, jealousy, and hatred: A foolish ruler! He takes the one I love and carelessly arranges any woman for me, it¡¯s utterly intolerable! Chapter 112 - 112: Not Marrying Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Not Marrying ¡°Emperor, please forgive this commoner for being unable to comply.¡± Jiang Ke was a man of strong blood and was not afraid of Imperial Power, ¡°This commoner¡¯s heart belongs to someone I love, I cannot marry another. Even if death awaits, I am unafraid.¡± ¡°Silence! Jiang Ke!¡± He Ying could not bear to see him express his true feelings and obsession for Sang Yan, Long Yan furiously said, ¡°Insolent fool! You have the audacity to defy and offend your superior! Guards, administer fifty strokes and throw him in the Heavenly Prison.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± He did not beg for mercy. ... During the punishment, fifty strokes, each landing heavily on flesh, it did not take long before blood was drawn, yet he forcefully endured, not making a sound. ¡°¡­Thirty-two, thirty-three¡­¡± The eunuchs counted the strokes, showing no mercy with each hit. Jiang Ke was battered to the point of dizziness, confused from the pain, wondering: Why does it hurt so much? When will this end? Why does it feel like this punishment is endless? ¡°Puh¡ª¡± At the fortieth stroke, he forcefully spat out a mouthful of blood. Pei Muyang saw this and, thinking of his youthful ignorance and deep affection, his heart softened. He advised, ¡°Young Master Heir, just submit to the Emperor. Lord Sang is about to become the Empress, she truly is not a suitable match for you.¡± Jiang Ke heard this and haughtily turned his head away, ¡°No, do not persuade me. My decision is made.¡± He liked Sang Yan, regardless of her identity. His feelings were not of coveting, but of genuine love. No one could deny his sincerity. Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± He could only watch as Jiang Ke completed his punishment, his whole body drenched in cold sweat, pitifully soaked as if he had been pulled out of water. Drips of fresh blood sounded. As he was dragged before the Emperor, a trail of blood marked the ground. Most horrifying. The smell of blood was strong. He Ying, touching his nose, looked at Jiang Ke with disgust, ¡°Do you realize your mistakes?¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s voice trembled with pain, ¡°This commoner, this commoner does not acknowledge any.¡± He just loved someone. What was his fault? Clearly, it was He Ying who, abusing his authority, robbed someone of their love! Despicable! ¡°This commoner would gladly die for love, unrepentant to the end.¡± He clenched his fist, blood dripping from his palm. During the earlier punishment, he had clenched his fist so tightly that his nails had pierced his flesh, and he bit into the back of his hand, now his entire hand was bloody and a ghastly sight. ¡°Presumptuous!¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying was enraged once again, ¡°Stubborn fool! Unrepentant to death! Guards¡ª¡± He almost wished he could chop off his head. Seeing the situation worsening, Pei Muyang hurriedly whispered, ¡°Emperor, please, calm down, the Young Master Heir must not be killed.¡± He scrutinized He Ying¡¯s expression, giving his reasons, ¡°Lord Sang fears most people dying because of her. If you kill him, you would fulfill his desires. A singular devotion through the ages, dying for love today, how tragically beautiful does that sound? Lord Sang might even be moved by him. A dead man is undefeatable. What if Lord Sang cannot forget him?¡± Some things are better left unsaid. Not to mention, He Ying was a smart man! Now he found Jiang Ke unbearable: Neither beating nor killing was possible! Just lock him up for now! ¡°In consideration of your previous merits, I will give you three days to reconsider. Otherwise, you will rot in prison.¡± He Ying ordered him to be locked in the Heavenly Prison. Pei Muyang whispered a reminder, ¡°His injuries¡­ Emperor, if he becomes disabled, Lord Sang would probably feel guilty and remorseful.¡± Thinking of Sang Yan¡¯s tender heart, He Ying pondered for a moment and then nodded, ¡°Fine, send the Imperial Physician to see him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang hurriedly accepted the command and left. ¡°Wait¡ª¡± He Ying shouted to stop him, ¡°This matter must not reach Sang Yan¡¯s ears.¡± Pei Muyang hurriedly nodded, ¡°Yes, your servant understands.¡± However, there are no walls that do not let the wind through. The next day Sang Yan came to know about this matter. The reason was Jiang¡¯s mother¡¯s arrival. Jiang¡¯s mother, from the Pan Family, had a fiery temperament and was not pleased with her daughter-in-law, the original owner of the body which Sang Yan now occupied. Initially, when Sang Yan arrived, she thought to simply coast through life like a salted fish, but unintentionally irked Jiang Ke, caught his eye, and the subsequent rumors between them led to her being swiftly sent back to her family by Jiang¡¯s mother. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship was far from pleasant. Now, seeing each other again was equally awkward. Naturally, the awkward one was Pan. Pan had not expected that Sang Yan could climb up to the Emperor, even likely becoming the Empress. She thought how the emperor, as if blinded by lust, did not fear her husband-killing fate. Look at his eldest son, who died young, and the next son, who entered prison unjustly and was bound to die soon¡­ didn¡¯t that prove her husband-killing fate? Every man associated with her faced disastrous fates. ¡°Marchioness, speak if you have something to say.¡± Sang Yan observed Pan, inquiring about her purpose here. Without a word, Pan knelt before her, ¡°Sang Yan, please save my son. Ah Ling has only this one brother; he¡¯s the sole scion of our Jiang family.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was utterly confused, her eyes innocent and bewildered, ¡°What are you talking about? What happened to Jiang Ke?¡± Pan sobbed, ¡°The Emperor decreed a marriage for my son. My poor son defied the decree and disrespected it, and the emperor had him beaten fifty times and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan sensed the reason stemmed from herself. It wasn¡¯t that she was narcissistic, but she understood He Ying¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t suddenly arrange a marriage for Jiang Ke for no reason; it must have been to dispel his thoughts about her. And Jiang Ke, this fool, this madman, was actually stubborn against the Emperor! Wasn¡¯t this courting death? ¡°Why did the Emperor suddenly decide to decree a marriage for him?¡± She inquired about the specifics. Pan honestly recounted, ¡°These days he¡¯s been looking for Blood Rain Algae. We thought he wanted to achieve some merits, so we didn¡¯t stop him. He indeed found it later and was summoned by the Emperor, who then decreed the marriage. With his temper, he refused on the spot and angered the Emperor. How can the Emperor award something the recipient doesn¡¯t want?¡± She knew that speaking these words was extremely disrespectful toward the Emperor. An Emperor, the Lord of the World, grace is like thunder and rain¡ªwhere do they get the power to refuse? Sang Yan knew this, but as she wasn¡¯t originally from ancient times, she could hardly accept it, nor did she want the Emperor to easily decide others¡¯ marriages. ¡°I understand. I will speak to the Emperor and have him release Jiang Ke.¡± She did not like Jiang Ke, couldn¡¯t give him the happiness he wanted; what she could do was only protect his right to pursue happiness. ¡°Thank you.¡± Pan cried out in gratitude, apologizing for her previous behavior, ¡°I am sorry for neglecting you before. Ah Ling liked you so much, yet I did not treat you well. If Ah Ling knew, he would surely be sad.¡± She mentioned her eldest son, Jiang Ling¡ªit was out of genuine feeling and also to garner sympathy. Considering the deep affection Jiang Ling held for her in the originally occupied body¡¯s memories, Sang Yan felt compelled to save Jiang Ke! * Jiang Ke lay in the filthy and chaotic Heavenly Prison. Several emaciated rats scurried around him. His wounds had been treated, but the stuffy weather combined with the terrible environment had caused infections with pus oozing out. ¡°Buzz, buzz, buzz¡ª¡± Flies, attracted by the scent of fresh blood and rotting flesh, swarmed around him messily. After a while, they landed, gathering into a dark mass on his wounds. It looked disturbingly gruesome. He developed a fever, his complexion bright red and his body burning hot, and he was already unconscious. Only his dry, pale lips parted slightly, occasionally emitting a barely audible delirious murmur, ¡°Ah¡­ Ah¡­ Yan¡­¡± Chapter 113 - 113 Missing Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Missing Old Zhang, the jailer, came to deliver the food. He dropped the crude and simple meal, hollering like he was feeding a dog, ¡°Hey, hey, you there, stop lying down and come eat.¡± There was no response. His voice was so loud, it scared away a few flies. Old Zhang also noticed that his wound had turned a dark, blackened mess and jumped in fright: Shit, is he dead? Attracting flies already? He hurried in to check. ... Upon seeing him, he was moved with pity: This young man, when he first arrived, how handsome and noble he looked, and now just after two days, he almost didn¡¯t look human. Being around fifty, and thinking of his own son of similar age, he really couldn¡¯t stand by indifferently, so he immediately called for a doctor and even reported his condition to the higher-ups. When Pei Muyang visited, Jiang Ke had already been cleaned of his filth, his wounds redressed, and he¡¯d been put in clean prison clothes, making him barely presentable. But his complexion was wan and weak, his eyes bloodshot, and he was breathing so faintly, as if he might take his last breath at any moment. ¡°Young Master Heir, why put yourself through this?¡± Pei Muyang said as he covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief, speaking in a low voice, ¡°The Emperor values Lord Sang as much as his own eyes. Why did you have to target her of all people? Listen to my advice, there are plenty of good women out there, and you¡¯re still so young. Look to the long term.¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s eyes burned with hatred: ¡°You stupid¡­ Emperor! If you can, just¡­ just kill me!¡± It took him stumbling over those words and all his strength to say them. Seeing that he was still being stubborn, Pei Muyang stopped persuading him, instructed Old Zhang to take good care of him, and left. Returning to the palace, he served beside the Emperor, watching as the Emperor examined a letter, his expression stern, silent and uncommunicative. ¡°Your Majesty, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Pei Muyang glanced at the letter, recognizing Sang Yan¡¯s handwriting, and a bad premonition emerged: Did Lord Sang know about Jiang Ke¡¯s incident? Was she writing to reproach him? His premonition was half right. Sang Yan indeed knew about Jiang Ke¡¯s situation, but she wasn¡¯t writing to reproach. Instead, she was asking about their upcoming marriage, offering many suggestions, saying she was looking forward to it with nice and pleasing words. But one can¡¯t solely judge matters by appearances. By speaking in this way, firstly, she was showing her sincerity by being concerned about the wedding; secondly, she was trying to cheer him up; and thirdly, she was implying that he shouldn¡¯t implicate the innocent. She was pleading for Jiang Ke. Even though she hadn¡¯t mentioned Jiang Ke by a single word in her letter. He Ying felt jealous. He would rather she openly asked him to release Jiang Ke, rather than being so cautious. Because she cared, she was cautious. Damn it! He Ying continued to clench the letter without answering Pei Muyang, instead asking, ¡°How¡¯s the boy doing?¡± Pei Muyang answered truthfully: ¡°He¡¯s a tough one, not afraid of death.¡± He Ying¡¯s face grew even colder upon hearing that: ¡°He¡¯s just like his brother. I heard his brother knelt for three days before their parents to marry Sang Yan. These two brothers are really lovesick fools!¡± So many men loved her, and he feared his love wasn¡¯t deep enough, that she would think he was just so-so. That¡¯s why he felt even more anxious. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pei Muyang carefully weighed his words and advised, ¡°They can be as lovesick as they want, but they have no fate with Lord Sang. Deep love but shallow fate doesn¡¯t lead to good outcomes. It¡¯s different for Your Majesty and Lord Sang; you two have both deep love and deep fate, a match made in heaven.¡± These sweet nothings did not cheer up He Ying. With furrowed brows, he gave the order, ¡°Go to Long Chan Temple.¡± Since the first blood rain occurred, he hadn¡¯t seen her. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to, but that she didn¡¯t let him come, saying something about needing sincerity to worship the Buddha and that his visit would distract her. He could only suppress his feelings, tormented by his longing. Thankfully, it would all be over in just over ten days. * Sang Yan waited for a reply from He Ying. She hadn¡¯t expected him to come in person. It had been a few days since she had seen him, and out of sight, out of mind; but upon seeing him, her longing overflowed. ¡°He Ying!¡± She walked out of the room, saw him, and rushed forward a few steps, smiling as she flung herself into his arms. With just an embrace, He Ying suddenly let go of all his worries¡ªhow could that greenhorn even compare to him? And what did it matter how deeply he felt? Sang Yan was his. Besides, his Ah Yan was so wonderful that she deserved to be loved deeply. ¡°Everyone, leave us.¡± He wrapped his arms around Sang Yan¡¯s waist, dismissed the crowd, and entered the room with a smile. ¡°I was going to ask if you missed me. Judging by this, you surely did.¡± His eyes twinkled with laughter as he stepped into the room, set her down, and pressed her against the door. A kiss. A passionate kiss. Sang Yan felt she would soon be completely devoured by him. ¡°He, He Ying¡ª¡± She pushed against him, to no avail, so she bit at his Adam¡¯s apple. He winced in pain, stopped, and complained, ¡°Why did you bite me?¡± Sang Yan clutched at her chest, gasping for air for a while before she wiped the sweat off her forehead and straightened her disheveled dress, chiding him, ¡°Look at you, like a wolf, and you have the nerve to say that?¡± He Ying had nothing to say. He had indeed been unable to contain himself and really wanted to swallow her whole. She was so delicate. He had not been gentle enough. ¡°Sorry, I was too impetuous.¡± He brushed away the hair sticking to her lips and gently kissed her. This time, it was extremely tender. The endless tenderness left Sang Yan thirsty. She pushed him away to get a drink. He watched her with a smile. ¡°I want to drink too.¡± Sang Yan poured a cup for him and pushed it in front of him, ¡°Drink this. It¡¯s tea that Master Yixuan sent, very fragrant.¡± He Ying shook his head: ¡°I want you to feed me.¡± As to how to feed him? Sang Yan¡¯s thoughts were unclean. ¡°No way!¡± She handed him the cup, ¡°Drink it yourself. Be decent. Don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± He Ying pulled her onto his lap, took the water, drank a sip, then bent his head down and kissed her lips. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± This guy was never serious! She got so angry that she bit him. Which was exactly what he intended. Until they were both panting hard. Sang Yan, limp as a bone, nestled in his arms, completely powerless. He Ying teased with a smile, ¡°Seeing you like this, how can I dare to let you meet other men?¡± Just with a kiss, you melt into water, so vulnerable and irresistible, too worrisome for me. ¡°After we¡¯re married, I¡¯ll hide you away and never let you leave my side again.¡± His words carried a playful tone. But still, Sang Yan blushed fiercely: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me like this? If you don¡¯t like it, stay away from me.¡± With that, she pushed him away and tried to get down. He Ying held her tight, buried his head in her neck, kissing and laughing, ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t like it? I love it to death. Can¡¯t you feel it?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She felt it, struggling to get down: ¡°That¡¯s enough, stop it, let me go.¡± He Ying no longer dared to hold her like that; otherwise, it would be hard to stop, so he let her go, and resumed a serious demeanor: ¡°Let¡¯s talk seriously. I promised I¡¯d release Jiang Ke, but I suspect the moment he¡¯s free, he¡¯ll come to see you. Ah Yan, I don¡¯t want you to see him, I don¡¯t want you to talk to him. Can you do that?¡± Chapter 114 - 114 Defeat and Kill Chapter 114: Chapter 114 Defeat and Kill Sang Yan thought for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Yes. I won¡¯t see him. Nor do I wish to. So, don¡¯t grant him the marriage. I¡¯m not speaking for him, I¡¯m speaking for that girl. What did she do wrong? To be betrothed to a man she doesn¡¯t know for no reason?¡± He Ying was quite pleased at the beginning, but then felt something was off¡ªhow did it become his fault for granting marriages? ¡°Do you think just anyone can be granted marriage by me? That¡¯s a matter that brings glory to our ancestors. That girl probably can¡¯t thank me enough.¡± ¡°Yes, thank her.¡± Sang Yan thought of Lan Xi, who had been married to her original host¡¯s brother by the Emperor, who indeed was grateful to the Emperor. But what about the original host¡¯s brother? Had anyone asked for his opinion? Thinking of the original host¡¯s brother, who was also not one to give peace of mind, she said, ¡°Well, just wait and see. See if Sang Jue will come back and thank you.¡± ... He Ying was silent. How did this involve Sang Jue? He didn¡¯t like talking about others all the time, so he went to kiss her. That mouth, it ought to be blocked. He blocked it for a good while, yet still felt that no amount of affection was enough. He couldn¡¯t bear to leave at night either. He slept beside her, playing with her hair, listening to her casually talking about recent events. ¡°That Blood Rain Flower, give it more thought. If it can be made into dye and sold to other countries, you could make a good amount of money.¡± ¡°Or have you ever thought of setting up a state-owned Imperial Merchant? It would involve selecting some people with a business acumen to manage some essentials for the people.¡± Her head was filled with whimsical ideas. Unfortunately, He Ying was not very interested, ¡°We rarely see each other, and you only want to talk about this?¡± Sang Yan frowned, ¡°Then what do you want to talk about?¡± He Ying smiled and picked a topic, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your ideas for the grand wedding. I saw in your letter that you want me to embroider a red veil for you. What made you think of that? Or don¡¯t you want me to embroider anything else?¡± Seeing that he wasn¡¯t opposed to embroidering the red veil, Sang Yan said with a smile, ¡°What else do you want to embroider? Isn¡¯t the red veil enough to keep you busy? I just like the idea of you doing something by hand, being involved.¡± Of course, there was also the influence of novels. In the ancient novels she had read before, there were plots where the male lead would embroider a red veil for the female lead. She thought it was rather sweet. He Ying, unaware of these details, was half-doubtful, ¡°Is that all? I thought you were using the embroidery to test my true feelings.¡± Sang Yan laughed, ¡°Would your embroidery skills even pass the test?¡± He Ying honestly admitted, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t. But I could learn. I¡¯ve already chosen the embroidery lady who would teach me.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really no need to make such a fuss. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being laughed at?¡± ¡°Not afraid. What¡¯s there to fear? Besides, who would dare laugh at me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, you are the Emperor¡ª¡± Even if he were to embroider a red veil for her, others would only say that he was deeply affectionate and that she was lucky. ¡°Then you should learn well. I will be looking forward to it.¡± Sang Yan smiled and let it pass, closing her eyes, ready to sleep. He Ying saw her looking weary and did not disturb her, wrapping his arms around her, he too fell asleep. Summer nights are short. Perhaps because he was with her, time seemed to fly by very quickly. He Ying felt he had not slept long before dawn was breaking. Sang Yan got out of bed to wash up and prepare for morning practice. He Ying lay on his side, propped on the pillow, watching her bustling about, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯ll wait for you to have breakfast.¡± He was leisurely and content, in contrast to Sang Yan; he seemed like a cherished concubine, and Sang Yan like an Emperor rushing to the early court. Sang Yan responded with a smile, ¡°Alright.¡± After she finished her morning practice and returned, He Ying was nowhere to be seen. There was a letter from him on the table. She opened it, and it read: Qu Zhi had fled to Beiqi, was spotted passing through Jizhou, and had killed many soldiers and civilians. He needed to return to the palace to deal with the matter. Just one wave settled, another rose. Sang Yan thought about Qu Zhi¡¯s family being in the Imperial City, with him fleeing alone to Beiqi, it seemed his ties with Beiqi were not simple. His family was pitiable though. As she had expected, Qu Zhi¡¯s wife and children were all thrown into the Heavenly Prison. To recapture the rebel, He Ying had ordered Rong Ye, head of the Imperial Guards, to lead an army of eighty thousand to campaign against Beiqi. War was on the brink of breaking out. The common people feared war the most. The ominous predictions about Sang Yan¡¯s fate began to spread again. However, most people had grown numb to it. ¡°` Though the Sang Family¡¯s daughter was considered ominous, what could they, mere ordinary commoners, do about it? Sang Yan continued to devoutly worship the Buddha. The countdown to the end of her worship began. On the eighth day before its completion, Jiang Chongli came in person to express his gratitude. Without the swollen belly and no longer cringing, he stood tall in his dark green splendid attire, looking like a handsome and distinguished gentleman. ¡°Commoner Jiang Chongli thanks Miss Sang for her great kindness,¡± he said. He bowed deeply before her, bending at the waist. Sang Yan smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be polite. Your brother has already thanked me.¡± Jiang Chongli spoke with utmost seriousness, ¡°My brother is my brother, and I am myself. Miss Sang, without you, I would already be a corpse.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, he truly thought that he was pregnant. He even secretly took abortion drugs, but when they didn¡¯t work, he felt utterly hopeless and believed he had no face left to live. Turning to Buddha was his last act of self-rescue. He hoped the child would be miscarried, but after two days, it did not happen. Right after he came down from the mountain, he threw himself into the river. Sang Yan understood his feelings and solemnly said, ¡°Actually, no matter what happens, one should not easily give up their life. The rumors you fear can¡¯t hurt you if you don¡¯t care about them. Let¡¯s put it this way, if you¡¯re a tree, the opinions and attitudes of others are just gusts of wind. If you take them too seriously, even a light breeze could shake you violently, or even blow you over.¡± Her words were gentle yet firm and strong. Jiang Chongli felt suddenly enlightened and ashamed of himself, ¡°I lack the broad and optimistic perspective of Miss Sang. I¡¯m truly embarrassed.¡± Sang Yan shook her head with a smile, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t belittle yourself. No one is perfect, and you have your strengths too. Since you¡¯ve survived a great disaster, you are bound for future blessings.¡± ¡°I accept the lady¡¯s auspicious words.¡± Jiang Chongli brought up the matter of her worship again, ¡°I heard that once Miss Sang finishes her worship, she will have a grand wedding with the Emperor.¡± Sang Yan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Again, Jiang Chongli bowed, ¡°Congratulations, Miss. With your orchid-like quality and heart of lily, and your unparalleled intelligence and understanding, you will surely make an excellent Empress.¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Sang Yan was modest in attitude and didn¡¯t like to dwell on the subject, so she shifted the conversation to inquire about his studies. Jiang Chongli was studying at the Imperial College and would take the civil examination next year. ¡°Actually, when the students from the Imperial College went to the Meridian Gate to kneel and plead for the Emperor to cleanse his court, I also went.¡± This memory made Jiang Chongli feel ashamed. At the time, he and his brother were advocates for the execution of the demoness. Yet now, it was that same ¡°demoness¡± who had saved him. Where was she a demoness? She was clearly a Goddess. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. No need to bring it up again.¡± Sang Yan was very magnanimous but also said, ¡°I hope that before you make a decision next time, you won¡¯t be influenced by prejudices.¡± Jiang Chongli nodded in agreement. The two chatted casually until sunset. Only then did Jiang Chongli reluctantly depart. He wasn¡¯t romantically interested in Sang Yan, but he appreciated her wisdom and found conversing with her very comfortable. On the sixth day of the countdown, Jiang Ke arrived. His injuries had not yet fully healed, and he had to be carried up the mountain. But before entering the Long Chan Temple, he was stopped. ¡°Heir Jiang, the Emperor has decreed that you are not to meet Lord Sang.¡± From the depths of the woods, Hidden Guard Yan Tong leapt out, sword in hand, barring Jiang Ke¡¯s way. Jiang Ke, skilled in martial arts, was not afraid of him. However, without any weapons and still injured, and considering the inappropriate setting before the Buddhist Sect, he simply said, ¡°I have just come to say thanks.¡± He should have come to express his gratitude earlier. But after being released from prison, his health was poor, and he suffered from a severe fever for many days. Only today had he been able to get out of bed. Yan Tong did not believe that he was simply there to give thanks and coldly said, ¡°Lord Sang does not need your thanks.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Ke became enraged, ¡°Who do you think you are to answer on behalf of my lord?¡± Yan Tong served as a Hidden Guard directly under the Emperor, answering only to the Emperor, fearing no one but the Emperor alone. Now, being scorned and belittled by a young upstart, he too became angry, but his anger was not shown in words but through action. He aimed a kick at Jiang Ke¡¯s lower leg. Jiang Ke¡¯s reflexes were quick, and he promptly took two steps back to avoid it. This evasive move was strenuous, aggravating his injuries and causing his face to turn pale with sharp intakes of breath. ¡°Will you leave or not?¡± Yan Tong demanded harshly. Jiang Ke was never one to be intimidated by power and immediately threw a punch in response. ¡°No, I will not leave! I want to see Sang Yan! I want to see her! Today, no one will stop me!¡± ¡°` Chapter 115 03-25 - 115 Ruthless Chapter 115: Chapter 115 Ruthless Sang Yan did not meet Jiang Ke, but she did encounter his personal servant. This servant, named Fang Ju, was quite perceptive. Upon seeing his master stopped by someone, he immediately slipped into the temple and found Sang Yan¡¯s residence. ¡°My young master is still injured. Miss Sang, please go and save him. I beg you.¡± Fang Ju was a loyal servant, his face filled with a plea for help. Sang Yan remained unmoved, her expression cool as she asked for the reason, ¡°What happened?¡± Fang Ju explained, ¡°My young master came to thank you for saving his life, but he couldn¡¯t enter; someone stopped him and wouldn¡¯t let him see you.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan guessed it was the Hidden Guards who had stopped him. And the person who ordered the Hidden Guards was obviously none other than the Emperor. She had agreed, yet he still did not trust her. Sang Yan felt helpless, ¡°I understand. But I cannot meet him. I will write a letter, and you can give it to him.¡± She was not like He Ying, who still played tricks. She had given her word, and she would keep it. She would not meet Jiang Ke. Only write a letter. Fang Ju also knew his own status was low and dared not say more. He took the letter and ran. Outside Long Chan Temple Jiang Ke and Yan Tong were still fighting. The two were well-matched, exchanging blows back and forth, each eager to come out on top. ¡°Young master, a letter from Miss Sang.¡± Fang Ju shouted loudly, raising the letter high in his hand. Hearing this, Jiang Ke immediately stopped. While immersed in the fight, he hadn¡¯t felt the pain, but the moment he paused, his focus shifted, and the pain surged through him. Thus, he slowly moved toward Fang Ju, supporting himself on his buttocks. Of course, Fang Ju didn¡¯t wait for him to walk far and ran up to him, presenting the letter as if offering a treasure. Jiang Ke opened the letter and saw the words: ¡°Go back. Even if you enter Long Chan Temple, I will not meet you. I have nothing to say to you. Stop wasting your time on me¡­¡± These were hurtful words. He was extremely heartbroken, crumpling the letter and looking toward the temple with red eyes¡ª People coming and going. But her figure was nowhere to be seen. She would not meet him. Yet he insisted on seeing her. ¡°Tell her, if she doesn¡¯t come, I won¡¯t leave.¡± He was speaking to Fang Ju. Fang Ju glanced at Yan Tong, a little afraid that he might intervene. Yan Tong should have intervened, but after fighting with Jiang Ke, he felt a reluctant kinship, made him hesitate. It was this moment of hesitation that Fang Ju seized to turn and run. Yan Tong thought about chasing him but was stopped by Jiang Ke. ¡°Why torture yourself?¡± Yan Tong did not fight him anymore but instead tried to persuade him, ¡°You are a noble, skilled in both literature and martial arts, handsome and talented. What good woman can¡¯t you have? Why pine for someone you shouldn¡¯t?¡± Jiang Ke gave a bitter smile, ¡°You don¡¯t understand.¡± Yan Tong scoffed, ¡°I don¡¯t understand, and what would a young lad like you know? I have seen Lord Sang and the Emperor together; they are sweet like any ordinary couple. You stand no chance.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Jiang Ke felt a sour and oppressive sadness in his heart, ¡°Stop talking.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the scene described, feeling insanely jealous. Yan Tong, thinking him stubborn as an elm-headed fool, held his peace. It was useless. A waste of words. Fang Ju soon returned. And he brought back words from Sang Yan: ¡°Young master, Miss Sang said, you, you¡ª¡± He paused, finding the words too hurtful and somewhat reluctant to speak them. Seeing that Sang Yan had sent a message, Jiang Ke was excited, ¡°What did she say? Tell me quickly!¡± Pressed by Jiang Ke, Fang Ju bit the bullet and said, ¡°Lord Sang said that what you are doing is your affair, it has nothing to do with her. You are only moving yourself. It¡¯s all a nuisance to her. It makes her feel very annoyed.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± He had not expected Sang Yan to say such things, his heart shattered to pieces. ¡°Women always seem to be heartless when facing those they don¡¯t love.¡± Yan Tong¡¯s words pierced the heart just right. Jiang Ke closed his eyes tightly and clenched the letter into a ball. After a while, he opened his eyes and went down the mountain. Yan Tong watched their figures disappear, then turned and entered the temple to see Sang Yan. Upon hearing of Jiang Ke¡¯s departure, Sang Yan also breathed a sigh of relief. Ah, the obsessions of young people are indeed frightening. She didn¡¯t know what there was to be obsessed about. She only had her beauty. And for nobles like them, beauty was not a rare resource. ¡°In addition to stopping Jiang Ke, did the Emperor give you any other orders?¡± Sang Yan looked at Yan Tong, a bit upset with He Ying¡¯s lack of trust. Yan Tong replied truthfully, ¡°That¡¯s all. The Emperor only said to keep Jiang Ke away from Long Chan Temple.¡± Sang Yan was half-doubtful but did not question further. Since she had chosen to marry He Ying, trivial matters should be overlooked. In marriage, ignorance is bliss. Life went on as usual. The forty-ninth day of religious observance soon arrived. This marked the end of her forty-nine days of Buddhist rites. That day, she was to come down from the mountain; Master Yixuan brought monks to see her off. The entourage was grand. There were quite a few onlookers. Those unaware might have thought they were witnessing a grand Buddhist event. After coming down the mountain, Sang Yan did not return to the Imperial Palace but instead went back to Sang Mansion to await her marriage. This was all arranged by the Emperor. The people of Sang Mansion also came out to welcome her. Including Sang Jue, who had also returned. The family, except for Sang Ruoshui, had a small reunion. After lunch, they gathered to chat about everyday things. With the forthcoming joyous occasion, an air of harmony prevailed. Sang Kun also seemed to have forgotten the displeasure of their last exchange, smiling throughout like a benevolent father. The benevolent father, after a few drinks, spoke the most¡ªstarting with Sang Yan and then moving on to Sang Jue: ¡°Once your elder sister is married, Ah Jue, it will be time for you to take concubines. That Lan family girl, I¡¯ve seen her; she¡¯s a beautiful and resilient woman. Although she¡¯s a merchant¡¯s daughter, she¡¯s good enough to be a concubine.¡± Sang Jue was actually avoiding this topic. He was still contemplating how to win Suxi¡¯s heart back when his father was arranging for him to take concubines, and it seemed it was even a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. The Emperor really was ¡°interesting¡±¡ªfirst breaking him up with Suxi, then arranging this marriage. Did he delight in seeing him unhappy? ¡°Father, there¡¯s no rush on my matters. Let¡¯s focus on my elder sister¡¯s wedding for now.¡± He redirected the conversation towards Sang Yan, and even brought up Jiang Ke: ¡°I heard that Jiang Ke defied imperial orders for my sister and was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, nearly losing his life. The Jiang brothers are all devoted lovers. Is sister truly content to marry the Emperor?¡± He disliked the Emperor. Even though the Emperor was the Master of the World. Compared with Jiang Ke, he would have preferred Jiang Ke as his brother-in-law. Sang Yan, unaware of Sang Jue¡¯s thoughts, joked, ¡°If I¡¯m not content, what could you do? Could you possibly call off the wedding for me?¡± Sang Jue nodded seriously: ¡°I could, if you wanted me to.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing he was not joking, she quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried; I am content. The Emperor is very kind to me. He is an infinitely tolerant and supportive person.¡± She smiled happily as she spoke. Ever since they met, despite everything that had happened, the Emperor had seemed unconditionally and endlessly supportive of her. Sang Jue, seeing the happy smile that flowed in her eyes, felt inexplicably irritated. When had he and Suxi been this happy? It was all destroyed overnight. And destroyed by the hands of the Emperor. If he had let him kill Yu Pochuan, then Suxi would have returned to his side long ago. So, this was a grudge of stealing his wife! ¡°I hope he continues to treat you well.¡± Sang Jue lowered his gaze, hiding the darkness and chill within his eyes. Chapter 116 03-25 - 116 Before the Wedding Chapter 116: Chapter 116 Before the Wedding Duke Zhongyi Mansion Jiang Ke was in his own room, polishing the long sword in his hands. The sword was three feet long, with a red tassel jade pendant hanging from the hilt and the blade itself emitting a forbidding cold light. A gust of wind blew. His jet-black hair fluttered onto the cold light of the blade, severing a few strands. He didn¡¯t care, his gaze fell upon the Dahe Territory Map on the table. Heading north, Qu Zhi had defected to Beiqi, potentially heralding chaos and war. Going south, the flourishing land and water routes permitted quick exchange of information, hardly suitable for concealment. Heading east, myriad traders by the sea mingled with the good and bad; if one ventured out to sea, it would be like the vast ocean, where fish leap at will. Thus, east was best. The sun rises in the east. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The purple aura comes from the east. It also boded well. Jiang Ke placed his sword on the eastern side of the map, with a plan already forming in his mind. ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s time for dinner¡ª¡± Fang Ju brought in the evening meal and seeing him as if he were in a trance, called out twice. Jiang Ke returned to his senses, glanced at the evening meal, and felt no appetite. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Take it away. Do not disturb me again.¡± He dismissed the servant with a wave of his hand and sat there like a statue. The first night watch. The second night watch. He listened to the passing of the watches, his handsome face growing increasingly cold. Until the third period of the night. He changed into dark night clothes and made his way to Sang Mansion. The Sang Mansion was festooned with red silk, filled with celebratory joy. Sang Yan was about to be married. The day after tomorrow. His time was running out. He studied the Hidden Guards surrounding Sang Mansion; there were roughly eight, enough to seal it off completely. How could he take someone away without anyone noticing? This was a difficult problem. He sat on the roof of the Moon Viewing Tower, lost in prolonged thought. * Sang Jue gazed at the wedding dress atop the bed of his wife Suxi. He pictured her wearing the wedding dress in his mind. Truly beautiful. Every frown and smile was etched in his dreams. But she was so cruel. To say she didn¡¯t want it, to discard him just like that. He touched the wedding dress, holding it close, having held it for so long that he could no longer catch her scent. It infuriated him. He couldn¡¯t hold onto anything. No! He would hold on! After Sang Yan¡¯s wedding, he planned to kill Yu Pochuan and take back everything that belonged to him. No one would stop him. * Imperial Palace Yuesang Palace Sang Ruoshui tenderly touched the red veil, murmuring, ¡°How wonderful would it be if Emperor himself had embroidered this?¡± Upon learning that the Emperor had personally embroidered a red veil for Sang Yan, she couldn¡¯t help but embroider one for herself. As one of the concubines, she didn¡¯t have the privilege to wear a red veil when she entered the Imperial Palace. She hadn¡¯t minded it before, but only she knew the bitterness she felt now. The Emperor didn¡¯t love her. If he didn¡¯t love anyone, it wouldn¡¯t matter. She could convince herself that he was the Emperor, with ambitions that spanned the whole world, neglecting love and affection. But he had fallen for her sister, of all people. Ah, sister! What kind of sister is she? Others¡¯ sisters always look after their younger siblings, right? But what about her? She monopolizes the Emperor all to herself, hogging all his affection. How detestable! She tugged at her red veil, consumed by jealousy for a moment, and couldn¡¯t help thinking: Wouldn¡¯t it be great if she died on her wedding night? Or perhaps a flower-thief could come and kidnap her? Without her, would the Emperor start to look her way more? These days she had been looking at herself in the mirror over and over, feeling that she did resemble Sang Yan somewhat, like their noses, their lips¡­ She was not inferior to Sang Yan! If only Sang Yan were gone¡­ * Qingning Palace He Ying tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His wedding was tomorrow. He was too excited tonight. Pei Muyang, seeing the restless Emperor, smiled and advised, ¡°Emperor, the wedding procedures are complicated; you should rest early. Otherwise, you might not have the energy to handle it all tomorrow.¡± He Ying knew he had to conserve his energy, but he just couldn¡¯t sleep! He was also itching for a chat. ¡°Do you think Ah Yan is doing the same? Unable to sleep like me?¡± He sat up, his eyes bright and spirited, a smile in his gaze. ¡°Of course.¡± Pei Muyang chose comforting words, ¡°Which girl wouldn¡¯t be excited and restless on the eve of marrying the man of her dreams? Especially since you¡¯re the Emperor; if it were another girl, she would wake up laughing from her sleep.¡± He Ying was delighted to hear that and asked further, ¡°Do you think she could be talking about me with Qiuzhi?¡± Pei Muyang played along with a smile, ¡°She probably is. Lord Sang can¡¯t sleep, so she must be chatting. Since you¡¯re her husband-to-be, who else would she talk about?¡± ¡°Shall we go see her?¡± He Ying, on a whim, was ready to get out of bed. Pei Muyang felt a twinge of alarm and hastily dissuaded him, ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s unlucky for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding. True, you are the Emperor, protected by the heavens, but Lord Sang has gone to pray to the Buddha, which shows she cares about these customs. If you really went, it might upset her. On this joyous day, please think carefully, Emperor.¡± After some thought, He Ying lay back down. He didn¡¯t want to make Sang Yan unhappy. ¡°But I miss her. I don¡¯t know why, but I especially want to see her right now.¡± He touched where his heart was, it was racing with elation, but amidst the happiness, there was also a touch of unease. It always felt like something was about to slip away. His possessive fear over Sang Yan wasn¡¯t new, so he just stared at the nearby hourglass, lost in thought: ¡°What watch of the night is it now?¡± ¡°The third period of night.¡± ¡°Only the third period of night? Time passes so slowly.¡± ¡°Emperor, it¡¯s late, you should sleep. Once you do, time will fly by. Before you know it, it will be time to fetch Lord Sang.¡± Pei Muyang urged him to sleep. He even boldly pressed him back down onto the bed. He Ying¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere, and he didn¡¯t even mind the presumptuous act. He obediently closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. * Sang Mansion Sang Yan had gone to bed early. Naturally, she was also excited about her wedding, but she managed her emotions well. Wanting to be a beautiful bride, she hadn¡¯t stayed up late for the past few days, taking great care of her skin and health. But Qiuzhi was too excited to sleep. Tomorrow, her mistress would become the Empress. She would have to address her as Lady. Those words ¡®Lady¡¯ sounded so pleasant. Even saying it, she felt different. ¡°Lady, Lady¡ª¡± She lay on the small couch beside the bed, calling out excitedly, getting accustomed to the new form of address. Suddenly, a strange fragrance wafted into her nose. Drowsiness overwhelmed her, and she fell asleep at once. Sang Yan in the bed also breathed in that peculiar scent, unconsciously rubbing her nose and falling into an even deeper sleep. That¡¯s when the door opened. ¡°Sang Yan, Sang Yan¡ª¡± The figure in black attire with a covered face approached the bed, called out softly a few times, and even pushed her gently. Sang Yan showed no reaction, as if dead to the world. The intruder, looking at her sleeping face, gently caressed her cheek, murmuring, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t blame me.¡± With those words, they hoisted her up, left the room, and with a leap, vanished into the vast night. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 117 03-25 - 117: A Painful Loss Chapter 117: Chapter 117: A Painful Loss The roosters crowed and the dogs barked. Dawn broke brightly. The maids pushed open the door, ready to attend to the newlyweds¡¯ washing and dressing. But the bed was empty. Sang Yan had vanished. Only Qiuzhi was sound asleep, oblivious to their entrance. ¡°Qiuzhi, Qiuzhi¡ª¡± The maids woke her and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the young mistress? Where has she gone?¡± Groggy with sleep and yawning, Qiuzhi said, ¡°The young mistress is in bed.¡± Yet when she rubbed her eyes and looked toward the bed, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Where is the young mistress?¡± Panic struck everyone present in an instant. They searched inside and out, but found no one. They had no choice but to inform Sang Kun. ¡°Master, the young mistress is missing. There¡¯s no one in the room. We¡¯ve searched all of Yingyan House, but she¡¯s nowhere to be found.¡± Tears streamed down Qiuzhi¡¯s face in her urgency. Sang Kun was in the midst of dressing, his spirits once high from the joyous occasion, his face glowing with pleasure. But upon hearing that someone was missing, his expression darkened, ¡°What happened? How can she be missing? Did you search carefully?¡± As he spoke, he made his way towards Yingyan House. Ms. Lin arrived a step before him. She had been at odds with Sang Kun lately, and they were living separately. Now, seeing the empty bridal chamber and the maids and servants kneeling in a row, she felt both anxious and furious, ¡°How could you know nothing? Are you tired of living? The future Empress is missing, do you understand the gravity of your crime?¡± The maids and servants shivered, not daring to utter a word. They all had to wait until the master was asleep before they could dare to sleep themselves. How could they know someone would vanish? It was the guards of the Sang Mansion who should bear the primary responsibility! But these things they dared not say. The lady was fuming, and any further word would only fan the flames. After scanning through Yingyan House inside and out and confirming Sang Yan wasn¡¯t there, Sang Kun asked, ¡°Where are the mansion¡¯s guards? And the Imperial Palace¡¯s Hidden Guards?¡± Each misdeed has its master. He had to hold these people accountable. * Meanwhile, in Sang Jue¡¯s room, those very guards were still fast asleep. Sprawled across the floor, they looked like corpses. The first to wake was Sang Jue. He awoke to the sounds of a servant¡¯s voice. ¡°Young Master! Young Master, what¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t scare us!¡± The servant¡¯s voice was so loud it also roused the Hidden Guards. Opening their eyes, their heads throbbing with pain, they supported their heads with their hands, and after exchanging glances, the alarm bells sounded, ¡°This is bad!¡± They scrambled to their feet and rushed outside. They collided with the hurriedly arriving Sang Kun in the courtyard. ¡°Ah Jue, your sister is missing!¡± Upon hearing these words, the Hidden Guards¡¯ faces turned pale: Disaster! They had lost the person they were supposed to protect! They looked at each other silently before turning to look at Sang Jue. Sang Jue, being helped up by the servants, was just staggering out of the room. Clutching his sore forehead, his expression innocent, he asked, ¡°What happened? How could my sister be missing? She¡¯s supposed to be getting married today. Did she run away?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Your sister would never run away from a wedding!¡± Sang Kun sharply defended Sang Yan¡¯s reputation and provided corroborating evidence, ¡°Were you drugged? Qiuzhi said the same, that she slept heavily and had a headache. This must be a premeditated kidnapping! But who would kidnap her?¡± Sang Jue remained silent. Even if he knew, he wouldn¡¯t tell. The Hidden Guards observed the father and son¡¯s exchange. Yan Tong signaled with his eyes for two of the Hidden Guards to go and search, while he approached Sang Jue, ¡°Young Master Sang, please come with us.¡± They were Hidden Guards, responsible for covertly protecting Sang Yan. But the previous evening, Sang Jue had said that he received a message from the worldly society¡ªsomeone had placed a high bounty on the head of the Sang Family¡¯s Demoness. He had instructed them to obey his scheduling arrangements and protect Sang Yan. As a result, the person disappeared last night. And it just so happened that they had all gathered together, listening to him dictate the evening personnel scheduling arrangements, and then, they all fainted in his room. Everything seemed like a conspiracy. When Sang Jue saw that they suspected him, he said angrily, ¡°What do you mean by this? Are you suggesting that I would harm my own sister? She¡¯s my own flesh and blood!¡± He had no motive for the crime. At least on the surface, he had no motive whatsoever. Even the mishap with Sang Yan would definitely affect his interests adversely. But Yan Tong didn¡¯t need to find his motive for the crime. All he needed to do was to report the entire process truthfully to the Emperor. * The Emperor waited at the entrance of the Imperial Palace for the bridal procession. Behind him stood the luxuriously commanding honor guard, accompanied by groups of officials. It was the middle of August. The weather was still very hot. Though it was only early morning, the blazing sun was scorching, making everyone¡¯s temper flare up. ¡°The day has just begun, and the Emperor is acting like this, ah, look, standing like a statue pining for his wife.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, right after the Emperor took control of the government, even though there were many matters awaiting his attention and he was full of zeal, he was never this eager to attend court.¡± ¡°Hahaha, one of life¡¯s four great joys is the bridal chamber¡¯s candle night! Of course one must be a bit more enthusiastic!¡± ¡­ They quietly exchanged words among themselves. He Ying was far away from them and didn¡¯t hear clearly. He had no mood to care about others¡¯ thoughts, fervently scanning the horizon. From afar, a column of people on horses galloped quickly towards him. Leading them was Yan Tong who, when about two zhang (approximately six or seven meters) away from He Ying, dismounted, walked on his knees for a few steps, and bowed in front of him: ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive me, Lord Sang has disappeared.¡± A bolt from the blue! He Ying¡¯s joyful expression vanished instantly, and he stiffened: ¡°What, what did you say?¡± Yan Tong reported the details truthfully: ¡°We were responsible for protecting Lord Sang, but early yesterday morning, Young Master Sang said he had received news from the worldly society that someone believed Lord Sang to be an ominous demoness, enticing worldly assassins to kill her. Naturally, we were on high alert. However, in the evening, Sang Jue gathered us together under the pretext of arranging the schedule, and then, we all succumbed to a sleeping drug and collapsed in his room. When we awoke the next day, Lord Sang had disappeared.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I have been wrongly accused.¡± Sang Jue, with an innocently beautiful face, retorted: ¡°They made a mistake and lost my sister, and now they are blaming it on me¡ª¡± ¡°Ah!¡± It was Yan Tong¡¯s cry of pain. He was kicked in the chest by a raging He Ying and sent flying a good distance. Sang Jue¡¯s words were cut off and upon seeing this, he also fell silent. The Emperor was enraged! It was the first time Sang Jue directly faced the Emperor¡¯s anger, and he was somewhat intimidated. ¡°Immediately investigate Jiang Ke¡¯s whereabouts!¡± ¡°Three days!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t find the person, you will atone with your lives!¡± He Ying roared these words. After roaring, he mounted his horse and sped off to the Sang Mansion. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The eunuchs, palace maids, and guards who were in charge of close attendance all followed. The ministers looked at each other in dismay, all remaining where they stood. ¡°This doesn¡¯t bode well.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t she really have been abducted and killed by people from worldly society?¡± ¡°Who would be so bold to dare kill a future Empress?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard there have been calls from the people to kill the demoness.¡± ¡°Oh heavens, such a calamity.¡± ¡°To tell you the truth, if the Sang Family¡¯s daughter has met with misfortune, given the Emperor¡¯s temperament, there¡¯s bound to be some slaughter in this land!¡± ¡­ The ministers whispered among themselves. Sang Jue watched the Emperor¡¯s retreating figure with a dark and cold gaze: He Ying, do you feel the pain of losing a loved one now? Do you realize, when you chose to stand with Yu Pochuan, the torment I endure day and night? Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 118 - 118: Restraint Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Restraint He Ying hurried his horse towards Sang Mansion. Imperial City Main Street Many people saw a handsome youth in wedding robes riding furiously on his horse. The street vendors and pedestrians all scrambled out of the way. Some of them, holding or pushing items, dropped everything amidst the chaos. Their belongings clattered to the ground. The owners, distressed, stamped their feet and cursed, ¡°My heavens, you heartless¡ª¡± But before they could finish, a powerful procession rushed by. They covered their mouths, not daring to say more. The youth who had just passed must be a person of great importance. And the only important person getting married today would be someone from the palace. ¡°Is this a wedding procession or a kidnapping?¡± ¡°Was that the Emperor just now?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Emperor personally going to Sang Mansion to welcome the bride? Impossible, right? No Empress in thousands of years has ever had such honor, has she?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s possible. I¡¯ve heard that Sang Family¡¯s daughter has truly captured the Emperor¡¯s Heart!¡± ¡­ The commonfolk whispered and buzzed with private conversations. He Ying had already reached Sang Mansion. Sang Mansion was eerily silent. Sang Kun sat on the threshold of Sang Yan¡¯s room, a grim look on his face as he sighed, ¡°Alas, I am a man of little fortune! After all the hard work, it has come to nothing!¡± With this incident happening right before the wedding, would the Emperor still want an Empress who had been abducted? Even if the Emperor did, would the ministers accept such an Empress? ¡°My poor daughter! How could she have such a twisted fate!¡± These words too were from the bottom of his heart. Sang Yan really was unfortunate; not only had she lost her husbands, but she also bore the ill-famed reputation of misfortune, constantly under the scorn of the world, and now she had been abducted! ¡°The Emperor, the Emperor is here!¡± The servants ran in exclaiming, bringing news. Sang Kun snapped back to his senses, scrambled up, and knelt down to greet him: ¡°This humble official pays his respects to the Emperor.¡± He Ying rode his horse inside, reined in just in time, dismounted, and without a glance at him, headed straight for Sang Yan¡¯s room. The room was fragrant and pleasing. Her wedding dress was hanging beside the bed. He approached, touched it for a moment, then held it in his arms and sat on the bed. Sang Kun followed him in and knelt on the ground, weeping, ¡°This subject has failed Your Majesty¡¯s grace, unable to protect Lady Sang. I am unworthy to the point of deserving death. But Lady Sang is innocent, Your Majesty, I beg you to rescue her.¡± He was testing the Emperor¡¯s attitude¡ªwhether he had given up on Sang Yan. Of course, He Ying would not give up. His expression was indifferent as he gave orders: ¡°Bring all the servants who attended to her; I want to question them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Kun immediately called the people over. They knelt down in a dense crowd. He Ying inquired about the details leading up to Sang Yan¡¯s disappearance: ¡°How was her mood? Any abnormalities? What did she have for dinner? What did she say? When did she go to sleep?¡± It seemed like an interrogation, but it was more like he was reminiscing about her from the mouths of others. Qiuzhi spoke through tears: ¡°Lady Sang was always very happy; there was nothing unusual. She ate less at dinner, saying she wanted to maintain her figure. She went to sleep before the second watch, mentioning something about a beauty sleep.¡± He Ying listened quietly, imagining her demeanor at that time. A sweetness filled his heart. She had tried to look beautiful for the man she loved. So, she had liked him that much, preparing so much for their wedding day. But the sweet feeling was fleeting. The harsh reality tore at his heart. She was gone. Maybe she had been taken by a vile person, or perhaps by Jiang Ke. At this moment, he was more inclined to believe the latter. Compared to her facing danger, if Jiang Ke had taken her, she would be safe. His hand was shaking again. He clenched it into a fist, not wanting to show his unease. ¡°Have you heard of Jiang Ke in these past few days?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Do you think Jiang Ke is the mastermind behind this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Qiuzhi shook her head, choking on her words. She was very worried about Sang Yan, afraid that something might have happened to her. Seeing that he couldn¡¯t get any useful information, He Ying waved his hand dismissively, ¡°Lock them up in prison. If she isn¡¯t found, all of you will pay with your lives.¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Qiuzhi dared not plead for herself and silently lowered her head. The others cried out begging, ¡°Emperor, spare our lives, Emperor, spare our lives¡ª¡± But it was useless. The guards rushed in and took them all away. Quietness returned to the room. He Ying lay down, holding the wedding garment, smelling her scent on the bed, and slowly closed his eyes. He would find her. He surely would. Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid, wait for me. Time quietly passed by. The Hidden Guard who had gone to investigate Jiang Ke¡¯s whereabouts came in, knelt down, and reported, ¡°Emperor, Jiang Ke left the city the day before the wedding and has not returned since.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a diversion.¡± He Ying slowly sat up, his gaze deep and chilling, ¡°He¡¯s skilled in martial arts and has information networks we cannot fathom. We must find him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Hidden Guards withdrew. He Ying then ordered Pei Muyang to summon Zong Yingrong, the vice commander of the imperial guards, to see him. Zong Yingrong, who was in charge of the security on the day of the wedding, arrived quickly. He was a burly man with a broad waist. He had lost an eye in battle while following He Ying and wore a black eye patch, giving him a fierce look, almost like a tyrant. But in reality, he stuttered a bit when he spoke, dissipating any aura of strength he emanated. To command his subordinates, he once went six months without speaking. Now, facing the Emperor, he said little, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He gestured a salute and then fell silent. He Ying didn¡¯t mind and simply ordered, ¡°I will issue a decree to all provinces and counties to secretly search for the person. Whoever brings news of the Empress will be promoted and rewarded with ten thousand gold. You will personally lead thirty thousand troops, splitting into ten groups, to work with the provinces and counties to find the Empress.¡± He subconsciously felt that finding Sang Yan would be a long and difficult task. ¡°Understood.¡± Zong Yingrong bowed and accepted the command. He Ying had paper and ink brought in and personally sketched Sang Yan¡¯s portrait for an artist to copy. ¡°She is Da He¡¯s only Empress and the future mother of the Crown Prince. You know how important she is.¡± He solemnly entrusted the portrait into Zong Yingrong¡¯s hands. The imperial guards were his brothers in arms, the most trusted of his trusted aides. They followed every command he gave. Zong Yingrong did the same. ¡°Your, servant, shall, find, the, Empress.¡± He slowed down his words, each one ringing with determination. He Ying patted his shoulder and waved him away. Afterwards, some ministers requested an audience, but he turned them all away. He just lay on the bed, holding her wedding garment, thinking of her. * Sang Yan was thinking of him too. He had been so looking forward to their wedding, and now that she had suddenly disappeared, she wondered what state he must be in now. Damn Jiang Ke! She sat on the stiff wooden bed, hands and feet bound, a cloth gagging her mouth. After struggling to free herself for a long while, she was only drenched in sweat. ¡°Creak¡ª¡± The door of the little wooden hut finally opened. When Sang Yan saw Jiang Ke walk in, she immediately started making noises to get his attention. Jiang Ke saw her, walked over, gently stroked her head with a smile, and asked, ¡°Ah Yan, did you miss me?¡± Sang Yan nodded frantically. Being bound like this, she couldn¡¯t help but wish he would come back sooner to free her. She was about to suffer to death. Seeing this, Jiang Ke¡¯s smile brightened, even warmer, ¡°Ah Yan, if only you had been this way earlier, we wouldn¡¯t have come to this point.¡± As he spoke, he removed the cloth from her mouth. Now that Sang Yan¡¯s mouth was free, she wanted to curse him out, but knowing she was in no position to, she chose to speak softly, ¡°Please untie me. I need to use the restroom. I¡¯m begging you. I¡¯m going to burst.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 119 - 119 Weakness Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Weakness He looked at her flushed face, which didn¡¯t seem feigned, so he went to untie the ropes binding her hands and feet. ¡°Ah Yan, you cannot escape.¡± ¡°This is deep in the mountains, and it¡¯s night time. There are many jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards around. You are a smart person; don¡¯t put yourself in danger.¡± After giving her a couple of warnings, he tossed her a jar and left the room. Sang Yan, looking at the broken jar, felt immense shame, but she had no other choice and had to make do. After she had taken care of things, she didn¡¯t speak to him but just numbly sat on the chair. If possible, she would have liked to find something to defend herself with, or even to attack Jiang Ke, but how could Jiang Ke have left such things behind? This log cabin must have been an abandoned hunter¡¯s dwelling. She had woken up here in the morning and Jiang Ke had already cleared away anything dangerous, not giving her a chance to strike. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me when you were done?¡± Jiang Ke, guessing it was time, pushed open the door and came in. Seeing her, he asked her a question and pulled out the ropes, ready to continue tying her up. Sang Yan hurriedly played fragile: ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Didn¡¯t you bring back some game? Prepare something to eat. I can eat by myself; don¡¯t tie me up. Look, there are bloodstains on my wrists.¡± On her snow-white wrists, several bloodstains were particularly eye-catching. Jiang Ke saw them but said, ¡°These bloodstains show that you¡¯re uncooperative. Ah Yan, if you don¡¯t care for yourself, how can you expect me to?¡± His thought process was different. At least not like He Ying¡¯s lovesick brain. If it were He Ying¡ª Thinking of He Ying¡¯s gentleness and indulgence made her hate him even more. But despite hating him, she still tried to persuade him: ¡°Jiang Ke, you¡¯re on a path to destruction. Born to a noble family and in the prime of your life, you have a bright future ahead of you. Why bother?¡± Once He Ying found out he was the culprit, his family would be implicated. ¡°Think about your family. You¡¯re pushing them toward death. You can¡¯t be so selfish.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Selfish, me? Fine, I admit I¡¯m selfish. You are noble, so can you nobly spare some love for me?¡± He looked at her, earnestly, with an air of entitlement. Sang Yan laughed in exasperation: ¡°You really are shameless!¡± The shameless Jiang Ke tied her up again. Since they were deep in the mountains, far from human settlement, he wasn¡¯t worried about her screaming, so he didn¡¯t gag her. Sang Yan continued to speak: ¡°Like this, I will never like you.¡± Jiang Ke carried her to the bed, paused, and his voice grew heavy: ¡°Ah Yan, right now, whether you like me or not doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Sang Yan shot back: ¡°Then what matters?¡± Jiang Ke stroked her eyebrows and eyes with his hand, his eyes infatuated, and said with a smile: ¡°Having you by my side is what matters most.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Mad! He must be mad! Her expression was one of disbelief and bewilderment. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t want to see it and lowered his head to kiss her eyes. Sang Yan immediately dodged, her expression panicked: ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± She had forgotten that Jiang Ke was a man and could have desires toward her. The belated fear finally crept into her heart. Jiang Ke, seeing her terror, felt inexplicably irritated and stopped kissing her, turning away to prepare the game instead. He had caught a grey rabbit, skinned it, and was now roasting it over a fire outside. Before long, the aroma drifted in. Sang Yan was already hungry; the smell of the meat made her stomach grumble. As if on cue, Jiang Ke walked in and said with a smile: ¡°Hungry? It¡¯s ready to eat.¡± He carried her outside. His coat was spread on the grass. He sat her down and tore off a rabbit leg. Sang Yan eyed the tantalizing meat, her hands bound: ¡°Hurry up and untie me.¡± Jiang Ke ignored her, sat next to her, and began to tear pieces of meat from the rabbit leg, feeding her: ¡°Open up.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to be hand-fed! But if she refused to be fed, it seemed she¡¯d go hungry. Jiang Ke showed no intention of untying her. Sang Yan said angrily: ¡°I have hands; I can eat by myself. I¡¯m not used to this.¡± Jiang Ke smiled gently, his words dominant: ¡°You¡¯d better get used to it. You¡¯ll have to eat like this from now on.¡± He liked to feed her. When she opened her mouth to bite. He felt ecstatic. She was like a young, soft, harmless animal, depending on him, pleasing him. He wouldn¡¯t ignore her. Nor would he, like at the Long Chan Temple, listen to her heartless words. As long as he wished, she would be within his reach. He could do whatever he wanted to her. But he was currently on the run and afraid of provoking her into self-harm¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be convenient to find a doctor along the way. Better to endure for now. Sang Yan didn¡¯t see the lust in the man¡¯s eyes, as she frowned and ate rabbit meat. She felt she was too weak, which made him think she didn¡¯t have any backbone. That¡¯s why he dared to be presumptuous over and over again. But how could she be firm? She didn¡¯t know what to do. Under absolute force and absolute disadvantage, she could only let it be. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty.¡± She felt a bit like a broken jar, given up. Upon hearing this, he went to get a water bladder and fed her water. Her lips were stained with oil from eating the meat, making them look especially tempting. Jiang Ke swallowed and continued to feed her. His fingers gradually became greasy. The next moment Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She felt humiliated. ¡°Jiang Ke, don¡¯t bully¡ª¡± ¡°Mmph¡ª¡± Angry, she attempted to bite. Unsuccessfully. ¡°Be good, Ah Yan, I don¡¯t want to use violence.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Bowing to the roof. Bowing to the roof. This is how she consoled herself. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten enough.¡± She tried to divert his thoughts. Jiang Ke, seeing she understood, returned to a softer tone, ¡°Alright.¡± He continued to feed her and to tease her as before. Sang Yan was both angry and wronged, later biting her lip and refusing to eat anymore. It was then that Jiang Ke finally relented, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop bothering you.¡± Sang Yan ate the meat with tears in her eyes, and when she finished, she didn¡¯t speak to him. The moon shone brightly, and the stars were sparse. The bonfire burned irritably hot. She sweated and wanted to bathe, yet she feared that bathing might provoke his lust, so she bore the discomfort and wanted to cry. What was He Ying doing? When could he find her? She longed for him. Desperately longed for him. Jiang Ke finished the remaining meat, washed his hands, and carried her back into the room. Soon after, he brought over a basin of hot water, ¡°Wash up briefly for now. Once we enter Qingzhou, I¡¯ll find someone to groom you.¡± Sang Yan nodded, reached out her hands, and asked him to untie them. After Jiang Ke untied them, he stepped out of the room. The night was silent. Only the intermittent chirping of insects broke the quiet. He guessed the time and called to her, ¡°Ah Yan, are you done?¡± Sang Yan was afraid he would barge in, so she washed quickly and was already done. Yet she ignored him and sat on the bed, contemplating how to escape. Jiang Ke wanted to go to Qingzhou? Where was Qingzhou located? South or north? West or east? Her sense of direction was confused, and she didn¡¯t even know where she currently was. Oh, if she had known beforehand, she should have studied the Dahe Territory Map thoroughly! ¡°Creak¡ª¡± Jiang Ke pushed the door open. Seeing her cleaned up and ignoring him, he didn¡¯t say anything and took the water out. When he came back, he carried paper and a writing brush, placing them on the table, ¡°Write.¡± Sang Yan frowned, ¡°Write what?¡± Jiang Ke said, ¡°Write that you¡¯ve already got someone in your heart, that you don¡¯t wish to enter the palace as a consort, and beg the Emperor to release you and grant you your freedom.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan immediately understood his intentions and couldn¡¯t help but respond with sarcasm, ¡°Even if I write that, do you think he will believe it? Jiang Ke, what¡¯s the point of deceiving yourself and others like this?¡± Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 120 - 120 Despicable Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Despicable ¡°Not interesting? I find it quite interesting.¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s smile was just asking for a punch. Sang Yan wanted to hit him, but she wasn¡¯t a match for him, so she could only twist her face away in refusal¡ªhow could she write a letter that would harm He Ying? Jiang Ke wasn¡¯t angry, still smiling, ¡°Ah Yan, if you don¡¯t write, I can only find someone to forge it. Of course, that forger won¡¯t want to live afterward. Thus, you don¡¯t kill a noble, but a noble dies because of you. Pitiful, so pitiful.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Threat! A blatant threat! But she was still intimidated by him and could only pick up the pen and start writing. ¡°Despicable! Shameless!¡± She cursed his actions. Then she threw the finished letter at him harshly. Jiang Ke was still not annoyed, he caught it, glanced at it to make sure there were no hidden poems or anything, and smiled wickedly, ¡°I can be more despicable and more shameless, would you like to see?¡± Sang Yan was at a loss for words. She was no match for this despicable and shameless man. Fortunately, this despicable and shameless man didn¡¯t tie her hands and feet again, allowing her to sleep tied up. ¡°Awooo¡ª¡± Suddenly, the sound of wolves howling came. Sang Yan shuddered in fear, instantly on guard, ¡°There are wolves! Have they come out to hunt?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t let them come close.¡± Jiang Ke turned and went out to check. Sang Yan wanted to follow, but he stopped her with a look. ¡°Stay here. Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Ke felt she was safer inside the house. Sang Yan explained, ¡°I just want to go outside and see what¡¯s happening.¡± Is it wolves? How many? How to drive them away? She didn¡¯t want to just sit there waiting for his protection. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t refuse. Both of them went out to take a look. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The situation outside was severe. There seemed to be about twenty wolves, each with eyes glowing green, staring in their direction. Sang Yan was scared, seeing Jiang Ke moving farther outside, she grabbed his arm and reminded him, ¡°They are scared of fire. Don¡¯t confront them directly. That fire is about to go out, you better add some more firewood. Keep the fire burning, and they won¡¯t dare to come close.¡± Jiang Ke took her reminder as concern, looking at her tugging at his hand, he smiled, ¡°Ah Yan, are you worried about me?¡± The wolves were getting closer. Howling incessantly, as if calling for more of their kind. ¡°Is this really the time to talk about that?¡± Sang Yan was infuriated by his sudden romance-mindedness, ¡°Can¡¯t you be serious? That¡¯s a pack of wolves! They can cause serious damage when they attack in groups.¡± Jiang Ke, skilled and daring, wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°No worries. Even more aren¡¯t my match.¡± Sang Yan laughed in frustration, ¡°But they are my match. Are you trying to get me killed?¡± Once he was trapped, she would be doomed. Jiang Ke understood her concern and followed her advice, adding firewood, reigniting the fire. With the fire blazing, the pack of wolves indeed didn¡¯t dare to come closer, but they also didn¡¯t leave, just staring in their direction. ¡°Wolves are a very spirited species. Once they spot prey, as long as they determine there isn¡¯t a significant threat, they won¡¯t easily give up on the prey.¡± Sang Yan spoke more fearfully, unsure how long the fire could keep them at bay. Moreover, the firewood was running out. Sang Yan had to go back inside and move objects like chairs and tables out to use as firewood. Jiang Ke found her clumsy struggle with the table endearing. Was she protecting him? ¡°Ah Yan, do you like that little wolf cub? Should I catch it for you? Or would you like to try some wolf meat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m not interested. Stop talking to me.¡± Sang Yan looked at the fire, occasionally stirring it to ensure the wood burned fully. At the same time, she gazed up at the moon above, her face filled with sorrow: Alas, who knows what time it is now, or how long till dawn. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t know what she was thinking, assuming she was admiring the moon, so he remarked, ¡°The moon is beautiful tonight. But it pales in comparison to you.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t respond; she really wasn¡¯t in the mood for poetic exchanges. Actually, thinking about it, she had never been alone with He Ying like this. He Ying¡­ What was he doing now? * He Ying was still in Sang Yan¡¯s room, waiting for her return. He had not slept, just sitting on her bed till dawn. Sang Kun personally delivered food: ¡°Emperor, you haven¡¯t eaten anything all day. Your dragon¡¯s health is paramount.¡± He had originally been worried that the Emperor would disdain his daughter, but he hadn¡¯t expected the Emperor to be so genuinely affectionate. How could his daughter deserve such sincerity? ¡°Has there been any news from Jiang Ke?¡± He Ying had not slept all night, and his appearance was haggard with many red veins in his eyes. Sang Kun dared not look too long, and bowed his head to respond, ¡°No news yet. But this official believes it will come soon. Therefore, before we hear anything, Your Majesty must take care of your health. Otherwise, if Ah Yan returns and sees you¡¯ve lost weight, she will definitely feel heartbroken.¡± Listening to him, He Ying felt heartache for Sang Yan before she could for him: ¡°Who knows what she¡¯s had to eat? Whether she¡¯s slept well? If that person is treating her well. Her body is so frail, what if she becomes sick or injured?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t think like that, Emperor. She has your dragon energy to protect her, and she has spent so much time praying at Long Chan Temple, under the protection of the Buddha as well. Surely a blessed person will naturally encounter good fortune.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± He Ying murmured, then spaced out again. Seeing this, Sang Kun placed the food on the table, glanced at Pei Muyang, and signaled him to persuade the Emperor before retreating. ¡°Father, isn¡¯t the Emperor returning to the palace?¡± Sang Jue waited outside the door and, upon seeing his father emerge, suppressed his disgust for the Emperor and approached him: ¡°The ministers have once again requested the Emperor return to court for meetings. His continuous presence here is likely improper.¡± In fact, having the Emperor visit his official¡¯s residence was a tremendous honor. Not to mention an overnight stay? If possible, Sang Kun would indeed wish for the Emperor to always reside here. Now that the ministers wished to see the Emperor, who among them wasn¡¯t trying to curry favor? ¡°The Emperor himself is the protocol. Why care what those people think? The petitions that are sent in daily, His Majesty will handle them accordingly.¡± Scarcely had Sang Kun¡¯s voice faded when the door creaked open. Pei Muyang stepped out and said, ¡°Young Master Sang, the Emperor wishes to see you.¡± Sang Jue slightly furrowed his brow: ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Just as he was about to step forward, Sang Kun pulled him aside and cautioned, ¡°Mind your words and actions, do not displease the Emperor.¡± Sang Jue didn¡¯t respond verbally, merely stepping inside. He Ying still sat on the bed, hair unkempt, face unwashed, his appearance disheveled and wan. Catching a glimpse of him, Sang Jue inwardly rejoiced while maintaining a respectful and solemn demeanor: ¡°Commoner Sang Jue pays his respects to the Emperor.¡± He Ying, hearing the voice and giving a cursory glance, exclaimed astonishingly, ¡°You detest Us.¡± Sang Jue inwardly shivered but feigned confusion on his face: ¡°Emperor? What do you mean by that? Why would I ever detest You?¡± Had he given himself away? That shouldn¡¯t be. They had barely exchanged a few words. He Ying continued, ¡°Sang Jue, you detest Us. Whatever you want to do, face Us directly. Your sister is innocent. You mustn¡¯t endanger her. Tell Us, where have you taken her?¡± ¡°Emperor, what are you talking about?¡± Sang Jue played dumb with an innocent face. He Ying suddenly stood up, pointing at him and shouted angrily, ¡°Are you still pretending? I¡¯ve been giving you opportunities all along. Sang Jue, has it not been enough even after a day and a night?¡± He had thought over it all night, and like those Hidden Guards, Sang Jue was surely involved. Yet he and Sang Yan were siblings born of the same mother, with no apparent motive on the surface. It thus simply must be based on the outcome¡ªto infer the motive¡ªhe detested them. Why did he detest them? That started with Suxi. Source: Webn0vel.com, updated on Novg0.co Chapter 121 - 121 Fugitives Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Fugitives ¡°You think the reason we lost Suxi is on us, right?¡± He Ying asked pointedly. Sang Jue was still playing dumb, ¡°I don¡¯t know what the Emperor is talking about.¡± ¡°You know.¡± He Ying was certain in his tone, ¡°Sang Jue, if you¡¯re a man, you should have the courage to act and accept responsibility!¡± Sang Jue fell silent. He knew full well that the Emperor was using reverse psychology. ¡°Tell me, where are they!¡± He Ying grabbed his collar. Sang Jue remained silent. He didn¡¯t know what to say. He did tacitly allow Jiang Ke to take Sang Yan away. ¡°Sang Jue! Don¡¯t force me to kill you!¡± He Ying was running out of patience. Finally, Sang Jue spoke, but only to say, ¡°Then, Your Majesty, go ahead and kill me.¡± ¡°Damn you!¡± ¡°Utterly foolish!¡± He Ying cursed twice in anger and then kicked him in the shin. Sang Jue fell to the ground, his face twisted in pain. He Ying looked down at him, his frustration iron hot, ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn! If that is the case, then don¡¯t blame me for being heartless! Guards!¡± He shouted loudly, ordering the guards, ¡°Take him to the Heavenly Prison! Send someone to Min State immediately to bring Suxi and Yu Pochuan here!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The guard leader Lu Zijin took the orders and left. Hearing this, Sang Jue laughed instead, feeling that his wish had been fulfilled. Seeing his smile, He Ying angrily said, ¡°You¡¯d better pray that your sister is unharmed, otherwise, I will make Suxi die in her place.¡± If he dared to touch his woman, he would make sure his woman paid the price! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! * Sang Yan stopped, panting. She had been walking since the break of dawn, and now the sun was high in the sky; she simply had no strength left. It was so hot. The mountain path was rugged. She was drenched in sweat, parched and thirsty, licking her lips she asked, ¡°Where are we going? How much longer must we walk? Jiang Ke, are you getting back at me for rejecting you by doing this?¡± To her, trekking through mountains and wading across rivers was akin to torture, to revenge. Seeing her pitiful state, Jiang Ke stopped to rest and handed her a waterskin, ¡°Have some water. Once we cross this mountain, we will reach Qingzhou.¡± ¡°Is your hideout in Qingzhou?¡± She inquired about his destination, considering how she might escape later on. Jiang Ke knew her intentions and without answering, he suggested, ¡°Hideout sounds rather unappealing. You are usually so well-read, perhaps you could choose a different word?¡± He was muddling the issue and diverting her attention. In truth, he planned to take her out to sea but feared she might cause trouble if she knew, so he preferred to keep it secret. Sang Yan saw through his evasion, she speculated, ¡°Not Qingzhou? Where do you want to go? Actually, I quite like Jiangnan Water Town.¡± Jiang Ke played along with a laugh, ¡°Good. Wherever you like, we¡¯ll go there. When we arrive, I¡¯ll fish and you¡¯ll wash silk. It will be a life of the man plowing and the woman weaving, working from sunrise to sunset. Just think about it, it could be quite delightful.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t think it was delightful at all. A pampered young master like him, oblivious to the hardships of the world, still wanted to drag her into suffering. Madness. Even if she didn¡¯t like He Ying, she wouldn¡¯t choose to live such a hard life with him. She had sweated and toiled enough in her past life; in this one, she only wanted to live at ease. ¡°Jiang Ke, haven¡¯t you changed your mind?¡± She attempted to persuade him, ¡°As long as you let me return, I promise the Emperor won¡¯t harm you. Really. You¡¯re young and act rashly, driven by emotion, I understand¡ª¡± ¡°Everything about me isn¡¯t small except for my age. Do you want to try?¡± He suddenly turned the conversation risque. Sang Yan was stunned for a moment and then decisively closed her mouth: Madman! Lunatic! The lunatic pulled her to her feet, ¡°Let¡¯s continue. We¡¯ll try to reach the city before the sun goes down.¡± Sang Yan was too tired to move, lazily clinging to his arm, she pleaded, ¡°Jiang Ke, Young Master Jiang, Brother Jiang, please let me go. Look at my thin arms and legs, can you bear to see me follow you through this hardship? My feet are blistered; rather than dying from exhaustion, you might as well kill me here and now.¡± After listening, the madman touched her slender neck with a smile, ¡°So should I have my way with you first and kill you afterward?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Madman! Madman! She immediately leapt up and ran a few meters away. ¡°Be careful not to twist your ankle.¡± Jiang Ke chased after her and cautioned. Sang Yan ignored him with a huff. But she was really tired, barely hanging on for an hour, her legs refusing to move anymore. It was too hot. The dense forest seemed to have no end. She felt like she had heatstroke, extremely dizzy. Jiang Ke caught her just before she passed out. ¡°Sang Yan!¡± ¡°¡­Jiang Ke, Jiang Ke help me, I feel so terrible¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was heated like a drunk shrimp. Jiang Ke hurriedly held her and looked for river water, then scooping up the water, he washed her face. The river water was heated by the sun. It barely had a cooling effect. He found a large leaf to fan her with. Sang Yan lay on the green grass, her clothes soaked from Jiang Ke washing her face, revealing her undergarments and the faintly visible creamy skin. Her figure was good, lying down, her chest puffed up, rising and falling with her breath, full of living color. Jiang Ke felt restless. It must be the heat. He took off his outer garment and dove into the river. The river water was warm. He felt much more comfortable. Sang Yan lay under the shade of the trees for a while and also recovered somewhat. Just the thought of walking through the mountains later made her feel despondent again. He Ying¡­ He Ying¡­ When would he find her? Once they reached Qingzhou, she would seek help no matter what. Having made this decision, Sang Yan found the strength to say as Sang Jue climbed out of the water, ¡°Let¡¯s get going. It¡¯s going to be dark soon.¡± Jiang Ke wasn¡¯t in a rush this time, drying himself with his outer garment, he asked, ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Sang Yan said, ¡°If I say I feel terrible, would you let me go?¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± He naturally shook his head: ¡°You might as well give up on that idea. Have you ever seen a fugitive turn back?¡± Sang Yan responded sarcastically: ¡°So you do realize you¡¯re a fugitive!¡± Jiang Ke laughed: ¡°Yes, I do. And I also know fugitives don¡¯t usually have good endings.¡± At this moment, his tone was entirely joking, confident, and arrogant, little did he know that in the future, this would come true; his ending was indeed not going to be good. ¡°Madman!¡± Seeing he was beyond help, Sang Yan got up and started walking. Jiang Ke followed, his damp clothes soon dried by the heat. Once they were dry, he knelt in front of her and carried her on his back. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to be carried, but she was genuinely tired, so she let it be. Gradually, she even fell asleep. When she woke up, it was dark; he had set her down and gathered some firewood to start a fire. As for dinner? He went fishing, tried to catch birds, oh, but didn¡¯t catch any, found a bird¡¯s nest, and started collecting eggs instead. Seeing this piqued Sang Yan¡¯s interest: ¡°Let me do it. How many are there?¡± She found joy in the midst of hardship and played farmer. Jiang Ke indulged her, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaping up to the tree. There were five eggs in the nest. She reached out to grab them, still warm, and one even had a crack at the edge of the shell, obviously, a chick was about to hatch. She became reluctant: ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s not eat them, there must be chicks inside them.¡± Jiang Ke wasn¡¯t as softhearted as her, he took the whole nest down. Sang Yan: ¡°!!!¡± Chapter 122 - 122 Unlucky Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Unlucky ¡°No! Can¡¯t eat it! It has chicks! How could you eat it?¡± Her untimely kindness had surfaced. Seeing this, Jiang Ke couldn¡¯t help but scoff, ¡°Ah Yan, you can¡¯t even save yourself, yet you still have the time to worry about these chicks?¡± Sang Yan snatched the bird¡¯s nest, her gaze firm: ¡°Either way, we can¡¯t eat them.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t want to argue with her over such a trivial matter, so he indulged her, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not eat them.¡± He put the nest back, lit a fire, and told her to stay put while he went to hunt for wild rabbits. Sang Yan was somewhat afraid, ¡°What if there are wolves?¡± The wolves had watched them for most of the previous night and only left when daylight broke. She was really scared. Jiang Ke said, ¡°Wolves are afraid of fire, they won¡¯t come near.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°But what if they dare to come? Wolves are very smart. You can¡¯t leave. You can¡¯t ignore me.¡± Jiang Ke teased her, ¡°Weren¡¯t you not afraid of death?¡± Sang Yan replied, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of death, but that doesn¡¯t mean I want to be bitten by wolves and become their food.¡± Thinking about that way of dying, Jiang Ke realized it was indeed an undesirable fate, so he took her to catch wild rabbits instead. In the evening, the wild rabbits were out foraging. They were easy to catch. Soon, Jiang Ke had caught a wild rabbit that was both plump and large. While killing the rabbit, Jiang Ke teased her, ¡°Can¡¯t eat little birds but can eat wild rabbits? Don¡¯t you think the wild rabbits are more pitiful than those unborn chicks?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan replied curtly, ¡°It¡¯s pitiful, but there¡¯s no way out. It¡¯s the law of the jungle, it¡¯s their bad luck to encounter you.¡± Just like her, it was her bad luck to have caught his eye. Jiang Ke thought similarly, ¡°Meeting me is also your bad luck.¡± Sang Yan sighed, ¡°Maybe one day, you¡¯ll realize that meeting me is your misfortune too.¡± After all, she was fated to bring doom to her husbands. Now, Jiang Ke was treading a path that led to his doom, influenced by her. ¡°Sigh~ sigh~¡± She sighed repeatedly. Jiang Ke laughed, ¡°Stop sighing. Sighing ages you faster.¡± Sang Yan snorted, ¡°It¡¯s better if I age faster.¡± Would there be fewer troubles if her original appearance had been uglier? Would she still be in Du Zhongyi Mansion mourning for Jiang Ling, spending her days just eating and sleeping? ¡°If you want to age faster¡­¡± Jiang Ke, from across the fire, looked at her, ¡°If we share the hardships like snowing, our lives will be intertwined till our hairs turn white.¡± Sang Yan still sighed, ¡°Ah, Jiang Ke, the way you behave, it¡¯s uncertain if you can live to see your hair turn white.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk about it.¡± Jiang Ke finished roasting the rabbit meat and tore off a rabbit leg for her, ¡°Eat. As long as you¡¯re by my side, I won¡¯t think about the future.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± He was still beyond saving. She bit ferociously into the rabbit meat. She felt like biting Jiang Ke as if he were the rabbit meat. Jiang Ke was graceful, slicing small pieces of rabbit meat with a dagger, while saying, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t you think this is also a life experience? Absolute silence, just you and me.¡± ¡°Smack.¡± A mosquito landed on Jiang Ke¡¯s face. Sang Yan struck his face with a slap. The pain and anger surged through Jiang Ke, ¡°Sang Yan!¡± The main thing was the anger. Because Sang Yan had slapped his face. Sang Yan knew men valued their faces most and immediately raised her hand, ¡°Look! Such a big mosquito! It was all your blood it sucked!¡± Indeed, a clump of mosquito blood was in her palm. ¡°I¡¯m showing concern for you! Mosquitoes can spread diseases! This is not the time for you to fall ill!¡± She was making an argument. Jiang Ke could see through her, knowing she used the mosquito as an excuse to hit his face. Yet he couldn¡¯t really say anything. ¡°Thank you for your concern.¡± He gritted his teeth, threatening her playfully, ¡°But if you really care for me, give me a kiss. I hear saliva can disinfect. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She despised him! Seeing his face coming close, she quickly stretched her hand to hold his face, only then noticing the stubble, slightly prickly to touch. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten rough.¡± Looking at him, she suddenly remembered that beautiful young man in brocade and jade, who had adorned his beauty only a short while ago. How had he transformed into this worn and despondent figure? Love has always tormented people through the ages. It was the first time she took Jiang Ke¡¯s feelings seriously. ¡°Jiang Ke, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She thought about how, back at Long Chan Temple, she should have met with him. It¡¯s better to dredge than to block. Perhaps, had they met that day, he would have been able to let go and none of today¡¯s events would have happened. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Sorry for what?¡± Sang Yan said truthfully, ¡°At Long Chan Temple, I should have met with you.¡± Jiang Ke paused, then spoke softly, ¡°Back then, I hated you. Do you believe that? I really just wanted to see you again, to thank you in person, but you avoided me. Since we¡¯ve met, we¡¯ve never had a proper conversation.¡± He knew she had been in the palace for a long time and probably grew feelings for the Emperor; it wasn¡¯t logical, he couldn¡¯t compete. Thus, he took her away, from the deep mountains. He wanted her to depend solely on him, with eyes for him alone. ¡°Sang Yan, you will fall in love with me. As long as I¡¯m with you long enough.¡± He stubbornly believed this. Upon hearing this, Sang Yan¡¯s slight remorse was instantly shattered. She was too soft-hearted, thinking that an honest conversation could unlock his heart. She was naive. The rabbit meat was almost finished. She threw away the bones, wiped her greasy hands on his clothes, and lay down to sleep. ¡°Have you eaten enough?¡± ¡°Your nonsense has fed me enough.¡± She was truly furious. Instead of living a comfortable life, why choose to endure hardship? ¡°Spread your coat here.¡± She found the grass dirty. Obediently, Jiang Ke did as instructed. Sang Yan lay on his clothes, still uneasy inside, worried about bugs. Not just bugs, but mosquitoes too. Buzzing around her, noisy to death. Jiang Ke saw this, reached out to fan away the mosquitoes, and gently said, ¡°Go to sleep.¡± Sang Yan then fell asleep. She should rightfully enjoy his services. Waking up later and seeing him still fanning her, guessing he must have been doing it for two hours, it moved her. Jiang Ke was a kidnapper; in the modern world, that would mean at least ten years minimum. But this was ancient times. And he was still so gentle. She felt that if this continued, she would develop Stockholm Syndrome. ¡°Sigh.¡± She sighed again. His gentleness sparked a flicker of hope within her. ¡°Jiang Ke, I know you¡¯re a good person. You do these things because you can¡¯t help yourself, but the world isn¡¯t just about love, there are many things more important than love.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± He kept fanning the bugs away, his tone casual. Sang Yan, trying to keep her temper, said, ¡°Responsibility? Ideals? Power? Honor? Aren¡¯t these things more important than a woman?¡± ¡°If you think so, you should also realize how important you are in my heart.¡± ¡°You say I am a good person, I know you¡¯re even better. Ah Yan, you¡¯re so good, why not fulfill my wish?¡± He had emotionally manipulated her. Sang Yan saw clearly now, this Jiang Ke, in the modern world, would undoubtedly be a master at anti-pick-up artistry! ¡°You, you¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move! There¡¯s a snake!¡± Jiang Ke suddenly pulled her into his arms, his words frightening Sang Yan into stillness. ¡°Where is it? Get it away!¡± She shivered in his arms, her eyes shut then opening uncontrollably as her peripheral vision darted around, ¡°Jiang Ke, you¡¯re lying to me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 123 - 123 Thug Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Thug Jiang Ke didn¡¯t speak, but his long sword lunged forward¡ª ¡°Snap!¡± The long sword pierced deeply into a tree behind Sang Yan. Along with the body of a snake. The snake was black and white with a triangular head, flicking its tongue. Struck by the sword, the snake coiled in pain, still attempting to struggle and escape, but it was unsuccessful. Following Jiang Ke¡¯s gaze, Sang Yan really saw the snake and, frightened, shrank back into his embrace. ¡°Are we sure we want to sleep here? What if there are more snakes?¡± She already detested the harsh outdoor life, and now seeing a snake intensified her aversion and resentment towards Jiang Ke, ¡°Why are you doing this to me? You¡¯ve had your good days, why must I suffer? Jiang Ke, please, take me back, okay? I don¡¯t want to live like this. I¡¯ve had enough.¡± Jiang Ke held her head, pressed her into his embrace, and said softly, ¡°I will make sure you live well. Just endure a little longer.¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t endure it, and began to cry out, ¡°I want to go home. I don¡¯t want to be here. Jiang Ke, you can¡¯t treat me like this. How do you expect me to love you when you make me live like this? I¡¯m just a vain and pleasure-loving woman, I can¡¯t¡ª¡± Her words were cut off. Jiang Ke kissed her lips, fiercely and roughly. This reminded her of He Ying. He too was aggressive. He Ying¡­ Her fianc¨¦, the man she loved¡­ ¡°Mmh¡ª¡± She desperately tried to dodge and ferociously pounded on his chest. He was strong and unmovable, only kissing her more forcefully. He was a brute. She almost choked. ¡°Stop crying.¡± ¡°If you keep crying, I¡¯m going to do more than just kiss you.¡± He was threatening, caressing her chin and gradually moving to her earlobe, leaned in, kissed it, and whispered, ¡°I mean it, keep crying, and I¡¯ll make you cry under me.¡± Sang Yan choked back a sob, instantly stopping her tears. She thought he was more terrifying than the snake. The snake was already dead. The body split in two, hanging down. Jiang Ke released her, stepped forward, pulled out the sword, and carried over the snake. Sang Yan, frightened, turned pale, ¡°Stay back! What are you doing!¡± She was most afraid of such invertebrates. Even dead. Still terrifying. Her whole body uncontrollably trembled. Thinking Jiang Ke was using the snake to scare her. She misunderstood. Jiang Ke just wanted to eat snake meat. As Sang Yan watched him peel the snake skin, grill the meat, her stomach churned. She couldn¡¯t stand such a murderous person. ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± She ran to the side to vomit, yet didn¡¯t dare to go too far, afraid to encounter more snakes. Jiang Ke heard the noise, frowned, and looked at her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sang Yan cried weakly, ¡°What do you care? Isn¡¯t this what you wanted to see?¡± Blaming him, she hugged her knees, curling into a ball, waiting for dawn. Jiang Ke, concerned, approached, ¡°Did you eat something bad? Is there anything else that feels off?¡± Sang Yan felt his concern was cheaper than grass. Wasn¡¯t this all thanks to him? Now he played the good guy? ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She was being stubborn and self-destructive. Maybe if she really was sick, he would let her go? Or take her for treatment? Perhaps she could find a chance to escape or call for help? While she was thinking, a hand touched her forehead. Jiang Ke gauged her forehead¡¯s temperature, confirmed she didn¡¯t have a fever, and then felt her stomach, which was also not cold; he was slightly reassured, ¡°Ah Yan, be good, endure tonight, and tomorrow we will be in Qingzhou.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t speak. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t insist, he hugged her into his arms, comforting like with a child, ¡°Sleep. I am here, nothing can hurt you.¡± Sang Yan then closed her eyes and slept. She thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep, but contrary to that, she fell asleep quickly in his arms. Her body succumbed before her rationality. This was not a good sign. The next day She woke up first, and looking at his haggard sleeping face, she mercilessly woke him. He was still drowsy, forbidding her from getting up, ¡°Be good, sleep with me a little longer.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to sleep anymore. She had tolerated it all night, and now she felt so annoyed she wanted to punch him. In fact, she did try to punch him, but he caught her hand midway and even bit her. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t expected him to bite her and angrily said, ¡°Why would you bite someone? Are you a dog?¡± Jiang Ke obviously woke up grumpy, his eyebrows furrowed, his face sullen, ¡°Ah Yan, a man¡¯s face cannot be touched.¡± ¡°Slap.¡± Sang Yan touched it anyway, gritting her teeth and harshly slapped him. Jiang Ke was fully awoken by the slap, he let go of her, stood up, and looked down at her, his expression tense, his eyebrows knotted, and his lips tightly pursed. After a long moment, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She had held her breath, half-expecting Jiang Ke to hit her back. But he restrained himself. She was surprised, yet somewhat tempted. If possible, she would have wanted to kill him. Damn man! Kidnapper! ¡°This is all your doing. I never hit people.¡± She had always been kind to others. Now, her kindness was completely depleted by him. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t argue, instead, he went to fetch water from the river to wash his face and brush his teeth. Sang Yan followed him and had a quick wash as well. Breakfast consisted of some wild berries. Very tart. Sang Yan had no appetite. Jiang Ke mechanically ate a few without looking at her. Seeing she wasn¡¯t eating, he glared, ¡°Eat! Otherwise, you won¡¯t have the strength to walk later!¡± Thinking they were close to arriving at Qingzhou and that she should look for a chance to escape, Sang Yan grimaced and ate two wild fruits. But the wild fruits did little to satisfy her hunger. Only after walking two miles, her stomach began to growl. Fortunately, they had reached Qingzhou. Sang Yan could already see the pedestrians entering and exiting through the city gates. She instinctively ran forward. But after just a couple of steps, an arm barred her waist. ¡°What are¡ª¡± She had barely gotten two words out when Jiang Ke muted her by pressing on her mute acupoint. To her utter surprise, such a thing as a mute acupoint even existed. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Damn it! If he could use the mute acupoint, why had he bothered tying her hands and feet and gagging her mouth in the first place? Was it to torment her now, to make her lose hope? Poor her hadn¡¯t even shouted for help when he blocked her path! ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m doing this for your good. If you call for help or reveal your identity, I¡¯ll have to silence them. You don¡¯t want others to die because of you, right?¡± Listen to him, is he even human anymore? So, muting her and sabotaging her means of survival was for her good? Sang Yan¡¯s eyes reddened with fury, and she felt a strong urge to strangle him. And indeed, she did try to choke him. Unfortunately, he easily caught her hands. Pain spread from her wrists. ¡°Mm-mm¡ª¡± (Let me go! Release me!) Her face paled from the pain. He didn¡¯t let go, holding tight, his eyes cold, but his voice surprisingly gentle, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m proficient in human acupoints. Dislocating these hands would be effortless for me, but I don¡¯t want to do that. Please don¡¯t make me, okay?¡± No! Just kill me! Her eyes red, tears streaming down. He saw, gently wiping away her tears, taking her hand, wanting to enter the city. Suddenly, a squad of soldiers rushed out from the city. They held portraits, comparing them with the passing pedestrians. Sang Yan saw this, certain they were searching for her, and she started to rush towards them. Even if she couldn¡¯t speak, as long as she attracted their attention, it was a chance to escape. Chapter 124 - 124 Bottom Line Chapter 124: Chapter 124 Bottom Line But how could Jiang Ke give her a chance? With sharp eyes and quick hands, he struck her nape with a knife. Sang Yan¡¯s body stiffened, her legs gave way, and she collapsed into his arms. Before losing consciousness, her eyes conveyed absolute despair. She was too weak. No match for Jiang Ke at all. Jiang Ke carried her behind a tree, disguised himself, and also changed Sang Yan¡¯s appearance. Carrying her on his back, he pretended to wander around with his ¡°sister,¡± seeking medical help, and they managed to infiltrate successfully. When Sang Yan awoke, she found herself in a plain room. It seemed to be an inn. She clutched her neck, groaning in pain. Her mute acupoint had been released. She looked at the man opposite her but did not open her mouth to call for help. Because he was wiping the sword in his hand. As if awaiting a blood sacrifice. ¡°Knock knock¡ª¡± Someone knocked on the door. The waiter pushed the door open, greeting them with a simple smile, ¡°Sir, your ordered meal is here. Please enjoy.¡± Sang Yan looked at the waiter, bit her lip, and suppressed the urge to cry out for help. The waiter quickly left the room. Jiang Ke followed him out, asking for hot water to be prepared. The waiter busily agreed, ¡°Right away, sir. I¡¯ll bring it shortly.¡± Jiang Ke closed the door, sat back down in his chair, and looked at Sang Yan: ¡°Aren¡¯t you hungry? Come down and eat.¡± Sang Yan tactfully got out of bed, picked up her chopsticks, and started to eat. After several days on the run, she had forgotten what food tasted like. Tears fell. She didn¡¯t know why she wanted to cry. Jiang Ke did not ask, quietly ate his meal, his brow constantly furrowed. He seemed to always make her cry. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That man certainly wouldn¡¯t. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t like him. He clenched his chopsticks, jealousy overflowing in his heart. After eating, he went back to polishing his sword. ¡°Knock knock¡ª¡± The door was knocked again. This time, a tall man entered. The man, in his thirties with a majestic appearance, was dressed in a black martial outfit and had a long sword at his waist. After entering, he glanced at Jiang Ke and smiled, ¡°Hero Jiang, long time no see.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t have any intention of exchanging pleasantries, throwing a letter to him: ¡°Take this. Go to Rongzhou.¡± The man caught the letter, glanced at Sang Yan, didn¡¯t say anything more, and turned to leave¡ª Sang Yan hastily asked, ¡°How may I address you, sir?¡± The man paused, then turned back to say, ¡°I am Tan Yunjian.¡± Sang Yan quickly recognized him, ¡°I am Sang Yan. My brother is Sang Jue. You two were master and disciple, could you please save my life? He kidnapped me here. I beg you.¡± Her eyes brimming with tears, her long hair disheveled, she looked tragically beautiful and pitiful. Jiang Ke watched her with a frown, his tone icy and warning, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t plead with another man in front of me. Do you think I¡¯d let any man who wants to rescue you appear before you?¡± ¡°Hero Jiang, a little tenderness towards a lady wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± Tan Yunjian said this reminder, smiling apologetically at Sang Yan: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Sang, Jiang Ke has done me a favor in the past, I can¡¯t help you.¡± He was repaying the favor because Jiang Ke had once let him go when he was escorting Suxi back to Min State. Sang Yan, persistent, continued: ¡°I understand the Jianghu code of returning favors and avenging wrongs. But isn¡¯t there a limit? The deeds of Jiang Ke are unkind and unjust. Shouldn¡¯t you be the type to draw your sword to help when you see injustice?¡± Tan Yunjian was stumped. He paused for a while before saying, ¡°Miss Sang, it¡¯s just that Jiang Ke likes you too much. He means no harm to you.¡± ¡°Ridiculous! Doesn¡¯t my brother like Suxi? Did he ever harm her? Then why did you, kidnap Suxi, and deliver her to Yu Pochuan? If you¡¯re following the will of Suxi, then shouldn¡¯t you be following my will now?¡± She wept as she questioned him. Tan Yunjian was left speechless again. Seeming to waver. Jiang Ke said coldly, ¡°Brother Tan, it¡¯s time for you to leave.¡± Tan Yunjian smiled helplessly, ¡°Miss Sang, you see, he calls me ¡®Brother Tan.¡¯ How could I disregard our brotherly bond?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, they were thoroughgoing selfish individuals who acted solely based on their preferences. Even when they did good deeds for a moment, it was only to garner a narrowly defined reputation. Utterly hypocritical! ¡°People fishing for fame.¡± She was angry, disgusted, and mocking. He smiled, offered no rebuttal, and bowed slightly before retreating from the room. ¡°Wait!¡± Sang Yan called out to him as he was closing the door, ¡°Then tell me, where is Rongzhou? No, in which direction is it?¡± Tan Yunjian paused for a moment, then said, ¡°Rongzhou borders Min State and is located in the Southern direction.¡± ¡°And Qingzhou?¡± Sang Yan continued to ask. ¡°Qingzhou is near the sea, to the East.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re creating a diversion, throwing off our tracks, and confusing their line of sight?¡± She looked at Jiang Ke, wishing she could bite him to death. Jiang Ke offered no response, clearly impatient, as he coldly said to Tan Yunjian, ¡°You should get lost now!¡± Tan Yunjian sighed, closed the door, and left. ¡°Despicable!¡± ¡°Jiang Ke, have you had enough yet?¡± Sang Yan cursed twice in anger, seized a sword, and wanted to kill him! Jiang Ke instinctively reached out to block her, disbelief filling his eyes, ¡°You want to kill me?¡± ¡°Should I not kill you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting married!¡± ¡°I was supposed to have a happy life, and now you¡¯ve ruined it all!¡± ¡°Jiang Ke, you can¡¯t love someone this way!¡± She cried with immense sadness. Tears fell like broken beads. Her delicate body shook, and her voice became hoarse. Jiang Ke was also heartbroken. The woman he loved wanted to kill him! Throughout their journey together, he thought there were moments of tenderness, yet she wanted to kill him! He gripped the sword tightly, his face twisted in pain as he retorted sharply, ¡°Then how do you teach me to love you? To watch you bear and raise children with another man?¡± He couldn¡¯t do it. He had tried to let go. But he wasn¡¯t willing to give up. He was the first to fall for her. On that clear and sunny afternoon, she climbed up the date tree and tossed him a date, smiling at him. ¡°Ah Yan, I love you like a madman.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t manage to leave you.¡± ¡°If you want to be free, then kill me.¡± He let go of his grip, put down the sword in his hand, and even handed her the sword, slowly closing his eyes, ¡°Kill me. As long as you kill me, you can return to his side.¡± Sang Yan grabbed the sword and mercilessly stabbed towards his heart. The blade was sharp. It easily pierced his clothes. Blood seeped out, soaking his attire. His clothes were black, so the bright red of blood was not visible, but the smell of blood had already begun to spread. She should¡¯ve pushed harder. But her hand was trembling. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to kill even unborn birds¡ªhow could she kill a person? Especially someone she had known for so long. She couldn¡¯t do it. Neither could she. ¡°Thud!¡± The long sword fell to the ground. The bloodstain on its blade was a striking red. Upon hearing the sound, he opened his eyes, filled with joy, ¡°Ah Yan, you see, you like me, too. You truly can¡¯t bring yourself to hurt me.¡± ¡°Enough! Don¡¯t take my kindness as your license to be unrestrained!¡± Sang Yan pushed him away with disgust and sat back on the bed, ¡°Jiang Ke, I might not kill you now, but I have a premonition that one day you will die by my hand.¡± At that moment, she was merely speaking harsh words, unaware that her premonitions almost always came true. In the future, he really did die by her hand. Chapter 125 - 125 Emergency Chapter 125: Chapter 125 Emergency ¡°Thump, thump¡ª¡± Someone was knocking on the door. This time, it was the waiter: ¡°Sir, the hot water is ready.¡± He carried a bucket of hot water. Behind him, a young worker strode in with a large wooden tub for bathing. When the big wooden tub was placed down¡ª The waiter poured the hot water into it. Then he fetched a bucket of cold water. He alternated between hot and cold water until it overflowed halfway up the large tub. ¡°Would you like some flower petals, sir? We have them, too.¡± The waiter asked eagerly. Jiang Ke nodded: ¡°Mm. Bring some over.¡± In no time, the waiter came back with a basket full of delicate red flowers, and he scattered two handfuls of petals into the water. Jiang Ke waited for the waiter to leave, then urged: ¡°Ah Yan, take a bath to relax a bit.¡± Sang Yan was tempted, but she looked at him, gesturing for him to leave the room. Jiang Ke turned his back: ¡°You go ahead and bathe. I won¡¯t look.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t quite trust his character, but as the saying goes, beggars can¡¯t be choosers. If he wanted to do something to her, she had no power to resist. She might as well take it one step at a time. Undressing. Getting into the water. She soaked in the water. The hot water moistened her skin and was quite comfortable. But after soaking for a while, she felt a bit dizzy and had a terrifying thought: What if¡­ she just drowned herself? She closed her eyes and sank down, holding her breath¡ª ¡°Sang Yan!¡± Her hair was suddenly yanked. Jiang Ke¡¯s face was ferocious: ¡°What are you doing? Trying to kill yourself?¡± He hauled her up. She was entirely uncovered and screamed loudly: ¡°Let go of me! Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± She was flung onto the bed. The bed had bedding. But the fall still hurt. ¡°Sss¡ª¡± She gasped in pain. The next moment, a shadow loomed over her. He pinned her down, his brows and eyes filled with rage: ¡°Speak! Sang Yan, were you trying to kill yourself just now? Do I disgust you so much? You¡¯d rather die than be with me?¡± Sang Yan gasped for air, angrily said: ¡°You saw it all, didn¡¯t you? Why ask? I¡¯d rather die than be with you¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence before a sharp pain on her mouth. He had bitten her lip, drawing blood. It was more like the voraciousness of a wild beast. ¡°Since you don¡¯t want to live, then what¡¯s this body to you? Hm? Sang Yan?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t! Stop it!¡± Sang Yan struggled fiercely, crying out in fear: ¡°Jiang Ke, let me go, I was wrong!¡± She was truly scared now. ¡°Death isn¡¯t an escape.¡± He lay on her neck, a bead of restraining sweat rolling down his face. It was hard to tell how much time passed. He calmed down from his agitation, got up from her, pulled up the blanket, and covered her body. Sang Yan clutched the bedding tightly, despite the sweltering heat, she was fully covered. Soon after, she became pitifully drenched in sweat: ¡°Clothes. Give me my clothes.¡± She wasn¡¯t accustomed to being without clothes and felt insecure. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t comply with her wishes, seemingly not hearing her, called for the waiter to change the water, then took a leisurely bath himself. By the time he had taken care of himself, it was already dark. He got into the bed, watching her shiver and scoot to the side, feeling annoyed and tempted to do evil: ¡°You¡¯re that scared of me?¡± Sang Yan was afraid of him. How could a woman not fear when overpowered by a man¡¯s absolute physical strength? His earlier brutality, his forcefulness, was indeed terrifying. ¡°If you had just been obedient from the start, wouldn¡¯t everything have been fine?¡± Jiang Ke reached for her chin, finding her fear-filled gaze towards him particularly gratifying. He felt he must be sick to derive pleasure from her fear. No wonder villains enjoyed abducting beauties. It actually was rather interesting. Sang Yan didn¡¯t know what Jiang Ke was thinking, but his eyes were not clear, filled with male desire, leaving her in constant trepidation. She clutched the quilt, shrank to the side, her lips hurting badly. Besides the initial bite from him, the rest were self-inflicted. Only the pain could scatter her attention so she wouldn¡¯t be so afraid. But she didn¡¯t know, with her lips bitten, eyes brimming with tears, she looked so tempting, it was a crime. ¡°Stop biting. Are you doing this to seduce me on purpose?¡± Jiang Ke looked at her swollen lips, feeling both heartache and excitement. Sang Yan thought he was very strange, as if he had instantly transformed from a dangerous, handsome youth to a wicked man. So, she had indeed done something foolish just now, hadn¡¯t she? All along, she had been avoiding provoking him. In the end, she still failed to do so. ¡°I, I don¡¯t want to die.¡± She wasn¡¯t exactly lying. She didn¡¯t want to die; she just wanted to experience the feeling of drowning. It was very uncomfortable. She still had bathwater in her stomach. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that¡ª¡± She still wanted her clothes. But she didn¡¯t dare to reach for them, afraid to expose her body and provoke him again. Jiang Ke watched her for a long while until her tears fell, then he asked, ¡°Why are you crying? Is it not okay for me to just look at you and do nothing?¡± Sang Yan remained silent. She wanted to say it wasn¡¯t okay, but she couldn¡¯t. Seeing her look so wronged, Jiang Ke reached out, wanting to pat her head¡ª Sang Yan thought he was going to do something improper and instinctively dodged, pleading, ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Jiang Ke, I am scared, give me some time, please.¡± She was stalling. To delay if only for a moment was a moment. All she could do now was stalling. Jiang Ke enjoyed her begging, extremely satisfied, ¡°Ah Yan, if only you had been so obedient sooner, how nice that would be.¡± His mood was very good; he played with her hair for a while and then gave her clean clothes. She dressed under the quilt, unable to see, fumbling around, and she worked up a good sweat. Once dressed, she pushed away the quilt, thinking of getting some fresh air. He pounced like a tiger, kissing her till she was dazed and confused. In the end, her clothes were disheveled, and she had to get dressed again. Sang Yan dared not express her anger. Her bottom line was lowered again and again. And he was slowly pushing her limits. How much longer could she hold on? She didn¡¯t know. The night deepened. She cried under the quilt, ¡°He Ying, He Ying, come save me quickly¡­¡± * Yingyan House He Ying had another dream. In the dream, Sang Yan was bitten by a snake, crying for him to save her. He went to rescue her, navigating through a fog-laden forest until someone ambushed him and he accidentally fell off a cliff. And there she was, in the river beneath the cliff. As if she was drowning. Yet still loudly calling his name, ¡°He Ying, save me! Save me!¡± He swam towards her like a madman. ¡°Ah Yan, Ah Yan, I am here, don¡¯t be afraid, I am here¡ª¡± Finally, he reached her. But she held a long sword, piercing his heart, ¡°You are too late! He Ying, you¡¯re too late! I don¡¯t need you anymore! I hate you! Why didn¡¯t you come to save me! Why!¡± Her tears fell as the long sword dropped into the river, sinking to the bottom. ¡°Ah Yan!¡± He watched as she was submerged by the blood-red river. In the river dyed with blood, he searched for her silhouette, over and over, crying out until his voice broke, ¡°Ah Yan! Ah Yan, come back!¡± She didn¡¯t return. He had lost her forever¡­ sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah Yan!¡± He Ying woke from the nightmare. His heart still seemed to bear the pain of the sword passing through. ¡°Someone, anyone¡ª¡± He clutched his heart, momentarily in such pain he could not breathe. Pei Muyang heard the commotion and ran in, ¡°Emperor, what¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± He Ying¡¯s face was deathly pale, sweat the size of beans pouring from his forehead, ¡°Call the Imperial Physician! Quickly, get the Imperial Physician!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Pei Muyang dashed out to call for help, ¡°Quick, call the Imperial Physician! The Emperor has an emergency! Hurry!¡± Chapter 126 - 126: Trapping Sister Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Trapping Sister Imperial Doctor Liang had arrived when He Ying¡¯s heartache had already subsided. But his face was still somewhat pale and haggard. Pei Muyang stood beside the bed, wiping off his cold sweat. Liang moved forward to check his pulse, and after a while, he finally said, ¡°Emperor, your melancholy and anxiety have concentrated in your heart and lungs, causing disharmony in your dragon body¡­¡± He explained the cause of the ailment and reassured him, ¡°I hope the Emperor will take good care of his dragon body. It is especially important to rest in a different place.¡± Since the Empress had disappeared, the Emperor had stayed here. In the place where she had lived last, it was too easy to be reminded of her and, thus, injure his mind and body. Pei Muyang understood the implication in Liang¡¯s words and said, ¡°Emperor, please heed Imperial Doctor Liang¡¯s advice and move back to the Imperial Palace. Staying here, constantly thinking of the Lady, is not helping.¡± He Ying did not speak, nor did he show any hint of emotion, just gazed silently with his eyes. This demeanor was even more frightening. At these moments, they dared not speak further. The Emperor, stubborn as always, was not one to easily accept others¡¯ advice. Pei Muyang could only escort Liang out, instructing him, ¡°Remember to prescribe some medicine to calm the mind and aid sleep. The Emperor has been plagued by nightmares lately and hasn¡¯t slept well. Even an iron man can¡¯t endure this.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Mr. Pei, rest assured, I understand.¡± Liang nodded, thinking of the beautiful and pure Empress, and sighed, ¡°The Emperor is so affectionate, yet fate toys with him. I wonder how the Empress is now? Whether she is still alive¡ª¡± ¡°Shh¡ª¡± Pei Muyang quickly covered his mouth, lowering his voice to scold, ¡°Do you wish to die? How dare you say such a thing? If the Emperor heard these ominous words, even ten heads would not be enough to atone.¡± Liang, understanding the gravity, immediately covered his mouth, chuckling awkwardly, ¡°I spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Mr. Pei.¡± Pei Muyang quickly waved him off, ¡°Go on with your duties. Oh, and make sure the people below you don¡¯t talk about such dangerous things.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Liang went off to prepare the medicine. An hour later, Pei Muyang, holding the medicine, arrived before the Emperor. He Ying sat on the bed, disheveled and desolate, tenderly touching his ceremonial robe, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s been so long, and there¡¯s no word from her, I am so useless, she must not like me anymore.¡± Hearing this, Pei Muyang hurriedly advised, ¡°Please, Your Majesty, don¡¯t think like that. This world is vast, and searching for someone is bound to be challenging. Great things take time, and with the Buddha¡¯s blessings, the Empress is sure to turn peril into safety, transform misfortune into blessings, and return soon.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± He Ying, thinking of the scenes from his nightmares, spoke softly, ¡°But in my dreams, I saw her in danger, injured, and she said she didn¡¯t want me anymore.¡± Pei Muyang continued to reassure him, ¡°Emperor, dreams often mean the opposite. Seeing her in danger and hurt means she is safe and sound. Her saying she didn¡¯t want you means she does want you. The Lady liked you so much, how could she not want you? She must be thinking of you too.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± He Ying kept asking, over and over, ¡°Is it? Is it?¡± ¡°It is. It certainly is.¡± Pei Muyang emphasized, handing over the medicine, ¡°Please drink the medicine first, Your Majesty. You need to take care of yourself to have the energy to find the Lady. Otherwise, if the Lady returns and finds you unwell, it would be for naught.¡± He Ying, as if persuaded, took the medicine bowl and tilted his head back, gulping it down. The medicine was extremely bitter. He felt almost nothing. After drinking the medicine, he lay back down in bed. Soon, sleepiness overcame him. He slept deeply. And didn¡¯t wake until the next day¡¯s dusk. Pei Muyang, having stayed by the bedside, had grown tired and began to doze off too. Sang Kun had visited three times, but on the last visit, during dusk, the Emperor had just woken up. Hearing the noise, he hurriedly stepped inside and knelt down with a thump, crying and saying, ¡°Emperor, my son, my son¡¯s condition is not good. Please release him first.¡± He still didn¡¯t believe that his son was involved in this affair¡ªhow could Sang Jue help Jiang Ke kidnap his own sister? The Emperor must have misunderstood. In his anxiety, he saw everyone as a suspect behind the shadows. He Ying had slept a long sleep and was quite refreshed, but seeing Sang Kun put him in a bad mood, his voice also carried a hint of iciness, ¡°Sang Kun, you only care about your son. Are you aware that Ah Yan¡¯s situation is even worse?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Sang Kun¡¯s expression brightened, ¡°Has the Emperor received news from the Lady?¡± He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± He had not received any news from Sang Yan. It was exactly because he had received no news that he felt the situation was grim. At the very least, it indicated that Jiang Ke was skilled, leaving no trace behind, making it even more difficult to retrieve her from him. The more he thought about it, the more irritable and furious he became, ¡°Get out! With this time you spend crying in front of me, you might as well cry in front of your son, and ask him where Jiang Ke has gone. My patience is running thin. If I can¡¯t find Sang Yan, killing him is only a matter of time.¡± Sang Kun: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t dare to say much and hurriedly ran out toward the Heavenly Prison. In Heavenly Prison, Sang Jue was disheveled and filthy, wearing gray prison clothes stained with blood, yet he was still playing with a piece of straw. As if he¡¯d been beaten senseless. After Sang Kun entered and saw this scene, his heart ached so much that he began to cry, ¡°You rebellious son! You rebellious son! Where have you taken your sister? You¡¯re bringing calamity upon yourself! You had a good life, yet you engage in such reckless mischief!¡± Hearing his father¡¯s voice, Sang Jue¡¯s eyes brightened. Dragging his bloodied body over, he asked, ¡°Father, has Suxi come back? ¡°The Emperor has sent people to fetch her, but she is pregnant. How could she come so quickly? You rebellious son! Even at this time, you¡¯re still thinking about her! Are you tired of living?¡± Sang Kun was so angry that he was puffing his cheeks. No, these days, where could he find the mood to tend his beard? It was all shaved off. This shaving, though, revealed his handsome face. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right now, with a frowning, tormented expression, there was a certain melancholic beauty about him. Of course, no one appreciated it. Sang Jue was entirely focused on Suxi, even more so now, missing her constantly, ¡°Father, you must take good care of her. She is pregnant. Find a midwife early. Her health isn¡¯t good; she might give birth prematurely. And find a wet nurse early too. She probably won¡¯t have enough milk.¡± ¡°Enough, shut your mouth!¡± Sang Kun had no patience to listen further, only wanting to know, ¡°Where is your sister? If you tell us, you can be released. What exactly are you hiding?¡± Sang Jue wasn¡¯t hiding anything. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t.¡± He hadn¡¯t planned to inquire about the aftermath when he acted. After all, He Ying had truly incited his hatred then! ¡°You damnable fool! You, you¡¯re hopeless! Just rot in prison then!¡± Sang Kun was so angry he nearly passed out. Thankfully, a prison guard supported him and said, ¡°Time is up. Mr. Sang, we need to interrogate the young master now.¡± Every day one interrogation, fifty lashes! Sang Kun knew about this and suddenly felt dizzy and blurry, ¡°Jailer Zhang, my son, he cannot withstand a beating! If he is beaten again, he¡¯ll be ruined!¡± Jailer Zhang didn¡¯t want to beat this future Imperial Uncle either. But there was no choice, the Emperor was watching. ¡°Mr. Sang, the Emperor wants the Lady¡¯s whereabouts. If we can¡¯t extract them, our lives are in jeopardy.¡± They also didn¡¯t want to take on this miserable task, they felt that Sang Jue, apart from being stubborn, also had a mental disorder¡ªthere were those who betrayed their fathers, but they had never seen someone betray their sister like this! Chapter 127 - 127: The Beast Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The Beast Sang Jue faced a punishment of fifty lashes. Sang Kun couldn¡¯t bear to see his son suffer; he surged forward to protect him. But having endured only two strikes, he cried out in pain: ¡°Damn it, why does this hurt even more than the last time?¡± He had no idea that the last punishment had been carried out leniently. Xie Sui, the Chief, watched this ridiculous scene, holding his forehead and waving his hand: ¡°Quickly drag Mr. Sang away!¡± Jailer Zhang responded and hastily, with a few prison guards, pulled Sang Kun aside. Then, Xie Sui slammed the table and demanded, ¡°Sang Jue, will you still not speak?¡± Sang Jue lay there like a corpse, barely breathing: ¡°I have nothing to say.¡± Seeing him so stubborn, Xie Sui cursed: ¡°Foolish boy! The Emperor carries the weight of all his subjects. Your actions are putting all people in jeopardy!¡± His loyalty to the Emperor knew no bounds. Actually, he had also disapproved of Sang Yan, but as the Emperor¡¯s decision could not be opposed, he could only defend it! Now, with the Emperor troubled by emotions, as a loyal official, he must alleviate the Emperor¡¯s worries! ¡°Strike!¡± He commanded with an unfeeling face, ¡°Continue the punishment: beat him without mercy!¡± * Sang Kun couldn¡¯t prevent Xie Sui from punishing his son. He could only run back to his residence to plead with the Emperor. But the Emperor was in the midst of killing. As soon as he entered the residence, he smelled the pungent stench of blood, and upon reaching Yingyan House, he saw corpses laid out in the courtyard. He was a peaceful official; where had he ever seen so many dead bodies? He was petrified and dared not go to see the Emperor. He hesitated at the doorway for a while, and only upon seeing Pei Muyang coming out did he dare to approach and ask: ¡°Mr. Pei, what happened here? What¡¯s going on?¡± Pei Muyang had come out to instruct people to prepare medicine. The worry on his face was evident. Being stopped by Sang Kun and questioned, he frowned: ¡°What else could it be? It¡¯s regarding the Empress¡¯s disappearance. Rumors have spread that the Empress eloped with someone. In a fit of rage, the Emperor executed everyone who discussed this matter.¡± Sang Kun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: ¡°That¡¯s understandable, those who gossip about the Empress deserve death.¡± He did not value the lives of those servants. He even felt they deserved more than death. If he had heard such rumors, he would be swift to kill as well. Anyway, he did not take this matter to heart. Seeing the worry on Pei Muyang¡¯s face, he was puzzled: ¡°Mr. Pei, is there something else troubling you?¡± Pei Muyang didn¡¯t answer and just sighed: ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since the Emperor has killed anyone.¡± Sang Kun was dumbfounded: ¡°Huh?¡± Why should one sigh over whether the Emperor kills or not? He couldn¡¯t comprehend Pei Muyang¡¯s thoughts. But in fact, Pei Muyang¡¯s thoughts were straightforward. He was absolutely loyal to the Emperor. A member of the criminal Pei Family, the Emperor did not mind and still trusted him highly, and he had sworn to serve him well. His service was not just the loyalty of a servant to his master, but also the care and cherishing between friends. Though he was not worthy to be the Emperor¡¯s friend. He had watched the Emperor and the Empress walk this path together; no one knew better than he the significance of the Empress to the Emperor. If the Emperor was a ferocious beast, then Sang Yan was the rope that tethered this beast. Now, the rope was gone. The beast began killing again. He didn¡¯t want the Emperor to become a beast. He didn¡¯t want the Emperor to kill. That¡¯s why, when the Emperor killed, he was so sensitive, so somber. ¡°We need to find the Lady quickly.¡± He bowed his head and sighed. Sang Kun understood this sentiment and sighed along: ¡°Yes. Where in the world is that girl? Why doesn¡¯t she send a letter home? At least to let us know she is safe.¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± He really had had enough of Sang Kun¡¯s mindset, as if Lady was just running away from home! Thinking a message could be sent as easily as that! ¡°Lady was kidnapped.¡± He tried to correct his mindset, ¡°It¡¯s still your son¡¯s doing. Mr. Sang, you should go and persuade him. If this continues, no one knows who will be the next to lose their head.¡± These words frightened Sang Kun. Thinking of his son languishing in Heavenly Prison and of the official business made him step into the room and kneel to beg for mercy. ¡°Emperor, please spare me!¡± ¡°Emperor, my Sang Family has only this one son!¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He wailed for a while, and even tears streamed down. After all, the bond of blood was strong, and thinking of his son truly pained his heart. He Ying looked at him with the face of a loving father and said indifferently, ¡°You have only one son, do I not also have just one Ah Yan?¡± These words blocked Sang Kun¡¯s reply. Yes, there was only one Sang Yan. He favored sons over daughters, but that didn¡¯t mean the Emperor had to consider his son and overlook his own daughter. Especially since his daughter was no longer his but the Empress of Da He. ¡°Sang Kun, your whole family is alive to this day because I harbor the thought that Ah Yan will return safely. Do you know what will become of you if she does not return?¡± He sat on the bed, stroking Sang Yan¡¯s wedding clothes. They no longer carried her scent, and he couldn¡¯t hold on to anything. This made him violent and bloodthirsty, wanting to destroy everything. ¡°Get out.¡± His hands clenched into fists, desperately holding back the urge to kill. As soon as Sang Kun heard the Emperor¡¯s voice, he knew his mood was off. He shouldn¡¯t have come to beg. Hearing the command to leave, he promptly rolled out. After rolling out, he was still shaken: The Emperor was too terrifying. That voice just now, so indifferent it didn¡¯t seem human. It was like an aloof, deathly chilling void. He absolutely believed that without Sang Yan¡¯s return, his whole family would meet a dire fate. Damn Jiang Ke! And the damn rascals! At this moment, he even wished he could personally kill Sang Jue to end it all! ¡°Mr. Sang?¡± Pei Muyang saw Sang Kun standing at the doorway in a daze and called out to him. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Kun came back to his senses and sighed, ¡°My Sang Family, made and ruined by a daughter.¡± Pei Muyang understood what he meant and agreed, ¡°So, Mr. Sang, please make sure to get Jiang Ke¡¯s whereabouts from your son. The Emperor¡¯s patience is truly running out.¡± His premonition was correct. Over the next two days, the Hidden Guards who had been searching for people, the same group that lost the Empress, returned without news of the Empress, and the Emperor ordered a hundred beatings, directly killing three of them. Yan Tong was lucky to survive, and after being punished, without even treating his wounds, he had someone carry him to Heavenly Prison. He looked at the equally miserable Sang Jue, not feeling compassion, but instead with tears in his bloodshot eyes, he rushed forward and gave him a beating: ¡°You got my three brothers killed! Sang Jue, why don¡¯t you just die! Go die!¡± He didn¡¯t blame the Emperor for being sentimental and punishing them. They had lost the Empress, and indeed they deserved to be killed! But if not for Sang Jue, how could the Empress have been lost? Sang Jue was feverish, weak all over, and didn¡¯t fight back or even make a sound when beaten. Yan Tong hit him for a while, vented his anger, and then pleaded with him: ¡°Sang Jue, I don¡¯t want to die, none of our brothers do. You¡¯re sick of living, so why drag us down with you?¡± Sang Jue was gripped by the collar, opened his mouth as if to say something, but first spat out a mouthful of blood, then fainted. Yan Tong: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, he couldn¡¯t find out anything. Feeling anxious, he too passed out. Jailer Zhang looked at the two ¡°Blood Corpses¡± on the ground and numbly called for a doctor. Day after day, such misfortune! Yingyan House Even though it was the height of summer, it was chilling to the core. This chill was real. The ¡°Sinners¡± who served Sang Yan were all standing barefoot in buckets of ice, shivering: ¡°Emperor, Emperor, please spare us¡ª¡± Even Qiuzhi was no exception. She stood in the ice bucket, ice covering her knees, freezing her snow-white legs blue and rigid, teetering on the edge, looking extremely pitiful. Chapter 128 - 128 Suffering Chapter 128: Chapter 128 Suffering Pei Muyang couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and spoke softly, ¡°Emperor, that maid, she is the Lady¡¯s favorite. Emperor, I beg you, please show some mercy.¡± He Ying was ¡°playing¡± with ice cubes, his hands were frozen stiff, purplish and numb. He showed no mercy to himself, so how could he show it to others? ¡°Do you also want to give it a try?¡± He looked at him coldly. Pei Muyang immediately knelt down but still pleaded, ¡°Emperor, you can¡¯t do this¡ª¡± Self-harm! He knew the Emperor was suffering, so he made everyone else suffer along with him. He was like an untamed beast, only killing, blood, and pain could bring him temporary peace. But he couldn¡¯t continue to harm himself like this! ¡°Emperor, please put down the ice cubes.¡± ¡°Emperor, the Lady even once praised that your hands were handsome. You should take care of them; if they get frostbitten, they won¡¯t look good.¡± ¡°Emperor, if the Lady knew about this, she would feel pained.¡± Pei Muyang kept persuading him. He Ying listened quietly, seemingly persuaded, and threw the ice cubes into the ice bucket. The bucket contained melted ice water. As he threw in the ice cubes, a good amount splashed out. Some splashed onto his face. He reached to wipe off the ice water on his face, muttering, ¡°Would she? How could she know? If I don¡¯t know about her matters, how could she know about mine?¡± ¡°She will. She definitely will.¡± Pei Muyang immediately went forward to warm the Emperor¡¯s hands, blowing on them, and said, ¡°Those who are in love have a telepathic connection. Emperor, this servant does not deceive you, as you think of her, she is also thinking of you.¡± He Ying seemed persuaded, the anger in his heart dissipating. ¡°Get out. All of you, get out.¡± He granted mercy and let people go. But where could those people go? They all collapsed on the ground, with frostbitten legs. The men were still decent, strong and able to support themselves, but the women, having gone through such an ordeal, the cold would probably affect their ability to bear children. Pei Muyang warmed the Emperor¡¯s hands, took good care of him, and hurried to make arrangements, ¡°Those women who were punished, have Imperial Doctor Liang see them, spare no expense on the medicine, especially the girl called Qiuzhi¡ª¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The little eunuch ran to pass on the message. Pei Muyang returned to his room. He Ying sat at his desk, reviewing petitions. The petitions were piled high, with some scattered on the floor. Pei Muyang saw this, bent down to pick them up, noticed they were all reviewed, and placed them aside, then organized the desk once more. He Ying continued reviewing for a while, but his mind became unsettled, ¡°Has Yan Tong returned yet?¡± Pei Muyang replied, ¡°Not yet. Shall this servant ask?¡± ¡°No need.¡± He Ying leaned on his forehead, turning to look at him, ¡°Do you think Yan Tong would kill him?¡± Pei Muyang was speechless. He had not expected the Emperor, with his severe punishment of the Hidden Guard, having already caused several deaths, was trying to force Yan Tong to kill Sang Jue. After a moment of shock, he quickly advised, ¡°Emperor, please reconsider. After all, he is the Lady¡¯s own brother.¡± He Ying said indifferently, ¡°When he assisted the tyrant and betrayed Sang Yan, he ceased to be Sang Yan¡¯s brother.¡± ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± Pei Muyang was at a loss for words, and after a pause, he spoke with a pained face, ¡°Emperor, you have suffered.¡± Five words that made He Ying pause. He Ying didn¡¯t expect Pei Muyang to say this, and after a long silence, he said, ¡°The only one who understands me, is you alone.¡± Pei Muyang was immediately frightened and excited, ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He Ying waved his hand to interrupt him and continued, ¡°There must be bloodshed. Otherwise, they all think that I, considering Ah Yan, would be soft-hearted. Ah Yan was right. She is not their umbrella. So, she will understand me too, right?¡± He had long harbored the intent to kill Sang Jue. The only reason he hadn¡¯t given the order was for fear that Sang Yan would blame him when she returned. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if someone else killed him, that would be different. Pei Muyang understood his thoughts. His mouth opened as if to speak, but he held back. The Emperor had just said he understood him; if he continued to plead, it would disappoint him. But not to plead? A life was at stake, and the Lady¡¯s own brother¡­ ¡°Emperor¡ª¡± He stopped himself from speaking. He Ying did not want to hear his pleading, so he changed the subject, ¡°Where is that woman named Suxi?¡± Pei Muyang replied, ¡°It is said that upon hearing the news, she was so frightened that she, in addition to the bumpy journey, suffered a threat to her pregnancy and is now resting. It seems it might delay her for some days.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ that child has a difficult fate.¡± He Ying sighed, lowered his head, and continued reviewing the petitions. Soon, The person who followed Yan Tong to the Heavenly Prison returned with news, ¡°Yan Dark Guard did not kill Sang Jue. He passed out in the Heavenly Prison.¡± He Ying heard this, furrowed his brow, pinched his temple, and waved his hand, ¡°You may leave.¡± There was not a piece of good news. He felt agitated again. Fingers tapping on the desk repeatedly. This was the rhythm of impending rage. Seeing this, Pei Muyang hurriedly said, ¡°Emperor, are you hungry? Would you like to have some supper?¡± Ever since Sang Yan disappeared, He Ying had lost all appetite and his eating habits had become irregular. It was already the first night watch, and Pei Muyang had suggested supper several times, but he had no desire to eat. He had become numb to many things. Only the pain in his heart was intense. ¡°Oh¡­ supper¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t feel hunger, his tone was sluggish, as if he was listless and without strength, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything I want to eat¡­ I wonder if she is¡ª¡± Before he could finish, hurried footsteps came from outside. ¡°What kind of person is this reckless? I will go and punish them right away.¡± Pei Muyang reprimanded before the Emperor could, intending to save the life of the reckless one. Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out, he saw the guard leader, Lu Zijin. ¡°Mr. Lu?¡± ¡°Mr. Pei¡ª¡± Lu Zijin bowed, his expression grave, and asked, ¡°Is the Emperor inside?¡± Pei Muyang nodded, ¡°Inside. You¡¯re in such a hurry, what has happened?¡± ¡°I intercepted a letter from Lady.¡± ¡°This is good news, but why such a look?¡± Pei Muyang stopped mid-sentence, closed his mouth, his joyful expression freezing as he asked in a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± Lu Zijin whispered, ¡°The content of the letter has¡ª¡± Before he could finish, a shadow fell over them. It was the Emperor. It was unclear how long he had been listening. Startled, Lu Zijin immediately knelt, ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty¡ª¡± He Ying said nothing, stretching out his hand. Lu Zijin quickly handed over the letter: ¡°The letter was intercepted in Rongzhou. The messenger has also been taken into custody and will arrive tomorrow. I took the liberty of riding ahead at full speed to deliver the letter. Besides myself, no one has seen it. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me.¡± Thinking of the content of the letter, he believed his death was imminent tonight. He Ying hadn¡¯t yet looked at the letter, mainly because he was too nervous, his hand trembling, the thin envelope felt as heavy as a thousand pounds. But he still opened the letter. It was not the content he had expected. A few brief words pierced his eyes. No! This couldn¡¯t be her letter! But it surely came from her hand! She was good at everything except calligraphy, which was terrible. These crooked characters were definitely written by her own hand! But how could she write such heartless words? ¡°I have already given my heart to someone else, and I do not wish to enter the palace as a concubine. Please release me, Your Majesty, and give me my freedom. If you have any true feelings for me, I beg you not to harm my family. Sang Yan.¡± Ha! Ha! It must have been Jiang Ke forcing her to write this! The damned Jiang Ke! But what if it wasn¡¯t forced? What if she truly liked Jiang Ke? Jiang Ke was younger than him, better looking, and more charming. Even Sang Jue liked him, wanting him to be his brother-in-law¡­ No! No! Sang Yan loved him! His eyes and his heart wouldn¡¯t deceive him! But what if? No! No! He Ying held his head, feeling as if his brain was about to explode. His eyes reddened as he clutched the letter, reading it over and over again. The more he read, the more the pain intensified, until he couldn¡¯t help but roar out loud: ¡°Ahhh¡ª¡± He wanted to kill someone! He had to kill someone! ¡°Execute all the people from Duke Zhongyi Mansion¡ª¡± The words ¡°put to death¡± stuck in his throat. He couldn¡¯t do that! He couldn¡¯t touch Duke Zhongyi Mansion for the time being! He must not let news of Sang Yan¡¯s alleged affair spread! ¡°Rongzhou is in the Southern!¡± Changing his line of thought, he still fell into Jiang Ke¡¯s trap. ¡°Immediately dispatch more men to the South!¡± Chapter 129 - 129: Seeking Help Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Seeking Help Jiang Ke was traveling with Sang Yan toward the East. To the East, Quanzhou was by the sea; once they took to the sea, they would be as free as fish leaping through the vast waters. In the two days that Jiang Ke rested up, Sang Yan had already figured out his intentions. Sadly for her, he watched her closely; every time he went out to purchase supplies, he would press her mute acupoint and other acupoints to immobilize her body. And he would return very quickly. Never taking more than two hours. She had no chance to call for help. Despair. Endless despair. She didn¡¯t know what fate awaited them once they set sail. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Did she really have to exile herself overseas with him and become a true husband and wife? ¡°Mmmhmmhmm¡ª¡± She sat in the carriage; through the curtains blown open by the wind, she saw soldiers outside searching for someone. Jiang Ke pulled the curtains closed, blocking her view, and smiled tenderly, ¡°Ah Yan, still not giving up hope?¡± Sang Yan turned her head away, unwilling to look at him. The carriage moved forward. When passing through the city gate for inspection, their disguised appearances kept them from being discovered. Everything was going too smoothly. Even the heavens seemed to be aiding him. They headed straight for Quanzhou. By the time they arrived, it had already turned dark. Jiang Ke chose an inn, carried her out of the carriage, and took her into their room. He also unblocked her acupoints. Intimidated by his intimacy over the past few days, she didn¡¯t dare provoke him; therefore, she didn¡¯t call out for help. Soon after, the waiter brought in their meal. She had no appetite, eating a little before putting her chopsticks down. Seeing she had lost weight, he urged her to eat more and picked up some slices of meat for her. She opened her mouth to eat them, silent and numb. After finishing the meal, he asked the waiter to bring hot water. Sang Yan was beginning to fear bathing, for every time she bathed, he would come to cuddle and caress her, and it almost went too far on several occasions. Naturally, Jiang Ke enjoyed this very much. What he really wanted was to bathe with her, to take a lovers¡¯ bath, but feared her making a scene and had been restraining himself. Just a little longer. Once out at sea, he could indulge as much as he pleased. Sang Yan showered quickly, changed clothes, and hid under the covers. He used her bathwater but bathed slowly, talking while he washed, ¡°Ah Yan, how much longer must I wait? Do you think that even if you went back, he would still want you? Or rather, would Da He want an Empress like you?¡± Sang Yan hadn¡¯t considered this question. She firmly believed that He Ying was not that kind of man. Even if he was, that was her choice. She wanted to go back. She needed to return to his side. Even if it was just to glimpse at him once. She was dying to see him again. ¡°Ah Yan, try to love me. Otherwise, you will be in great pain.¡± He emerged from the water. His robust body glistened with beads of water, his abdominal muscles distinctly defined, an undeniably sexy sight. Sang Yan had seen it many times and was always amazed inwardly. In a different situation, she wouldn¡¯t mind being with him. But his timing was always off. With her heart belonging to another, she was determined to remain loyal to him. ¡°Ah Yan¡ª¡± His damp hand landed on her cheek, his voice beckoning seductively, ¡°Open your eyes and look at me.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan instinctively shut her eyes even tighter. He laughed softly, ¡°Still afraid to look at me? How adorable.¡± He caressed her lips with a very suggestive gesture. Sang Yan opened her mouth to bite his finger, ¡°Mmhmm¡ªlet go¡ª¡± She tried to pull his hand away. But he flipped her beneath him, ¡°You¡¯re not behaving again.¡± He bent down to kiss her forehead, her nose¡­ She closed her eyes, her trembling breath heavy. Like an affectionate puppy, he sprawled over her neck, inhaling her scent. ¡°Ah Yan, love me, please.¡± His pleading words contrasted with his assertive actions. She bit her lip, tears falling from fear. He kissed away her tears, pulled up the blanket, and covered her body. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t scare you.¡± He sealed her mute acupoint, contentedly holding her to sleep. Just sleep. Just sleeping, his mind was calm, but his body was restless. Being at the prime of his youth, it was inevitable to have dreams that made his face flush with embarrassment¡­ Sang Yan woke up to his noise, seeing his flushed face, a layer of fine sweat on his forehead, looking tortured by desire, her feelings were complex. He could easily find another woman to settle his needs, so why insist on her? Jiang Ke was unaware of all this, indulging freely in his dreams. The next day, witnessing the mess he had made, his face burning with embarrassment, he instinctively threw the blankets and sheets into the bath bucket to destroy the evidence. But that was just an attempt to hide his embarrassment. Coming to his senses, he looked towards Sang Yan¡ª Sang Yan swore that she knew Jiang Ke would settle scores later, so she was always attentive to her micro-expressions, never letting herself show schadenfreude or laughter at his expense. Yet he still found an excuse, his annoyance flaring into anger, ¡°What are you looking at? You¡¯ve made me into such a state, and you still have the nerve to laugh?¡± It was clearly his own problem, but how dare he blame her? Unreasonable! Sang Yan didn¡¯t argue with him, lowered her head, and sat to one side. He didn¡¯t say much more, called for someone to clean up the aftermath, and then asked for a tub of cold water and took another bath, changing into fresh clothes. ¡°Ah Yan, want to go out and have fun?¡± Jiang Ke, having tidied himself up, and thinking about how he had lost his temper with her, started to sweet-talk her again. Sang Yan, unable to speak, wrote on paper, ¡°What fun is there for me like this? I can¡¯t talk, I can¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Ke read it, lit it with fire, burned the paper to ashes; cautious as ever, he left no trace. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be fun? As long as you behave, I¡¯ve always indulged you.¡± He noticed her hair was disheveled, so he combed it for her and changed her appearance. Afterward, he really took her out to the streets. Quanzhou bordered the sea; trade was frequent, with many merchants of different skin colors. Blacks and whites stood out, and there were others, dressed in modern fashions, resembling Indians. It was a city of vibrant cultural exchange. Sang Yan even heard English¡ª ¡°Porcelain, tea, pearls, the three treasures of Quanzhou, truly living up to their reputation.¡± That young and handsome white merchant stood before a long stall, expressing his admiration. Sang Yan looked at him a few times more, and their gazes met. A golden headband circled his head, his exposed hair white as snow. He had pale skin, eyes of clear ice blue, a prominent nose, and a smile played on his lips, his voice magnetic, especially pleasant to the ear. ¡°Do you understand me?¡± He asked her in English. With her mute acupoint sealed, Sang Yan could only nod. He paused, then smiled again, ¡°What¡¯s your name, miss?¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t answer this time, so she looked towards Jiang Ke with a glance, her expression revealing fear. Of course, the fear was momentary, and she quickly regained her impassive facade. The man was clever, sensing the abnormality in their relationship. He looked at Jiang Ke, sizing him up in his black attire, a presence nothing short of a knight¡¯s. Jiang Ke was looking at him too, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Clasping his sword, his eyes flashed with a threatening intent. He hadn¡¯t seen Sang Yan¡¯s exchange of glances with the man, but he instinctively disliked it, hating other men looking at Sang Yan. This was possessive protectiveness. The man wasn¡¯t intimidated by his aggressive display, smiling cordially, ¡°What may I call you, sir? My surname is Qi, my name is Jiu, a merchant, newly arrived in your country for business. We meet by chance today, and seeing that you have a commanding appearance, full of spirit, you must be an extraordinary person. If you don¡¯t mind, could we be friends?¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t expect him to speak their language, nor to approach Jiang Ke with such amiability, feeling that her plea for help just now had been rash, what if he was of the same ilk as Jiang Ke? She dared not imagine how Jiang Ke would treat her. Chapter 130 - 130 Revenge Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Revenge In fact, Jiang Ke had no desire to develop a relationship with Qi Jiu. He was born into nobility and associated with remarkable knights; he looked down on merchants the most. Especially the way that merchant looked at Sang Yan, which he really disliked. ¡°Not possible.¡± He coldly rejected and walked away with Sang Yan in his arms. Sang Yan looked back at Qi Jiu, still hoping for rescue¡ªfreedom sought amidst peril. Merchants valued profit, and once she was free, she would surely give him a lot of money. ¡°Why are you looking at him?¡± Jiang Ke was dissatisfied with her looking back, and as he gradually realized she was seeking help, his expression changed, and he pinched her chin: ¡°Sang Yan, behave, don¡¯t make me unhappy.¡± Sang Yan immediately submitted and obediently nodded. Seeing this, Jiang Ke gave a gentle smile but said, ¡°As punishment, once we get back, I¡¯ll kill him and bring his head for you to see, is that okay?¡± Sang Yan shook her head, her eyes pleading: Not good. Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t kill anyone. Jiang Ke saw her intentions and didn¡¯t agree; he turned back and glanced at Qi Jiu, murderous intent indeed stirring within him. Meanwhile, Qi Jiu and two men who looked like servants, feigned interest in selecting goods, slowly trailing behind them. ¡°Mr. Jiu, that man seems to harbor ill intent towards you.¡± One of Qi Jiu¡¯s servants, a burly man with a full beard, also sensed the murderous intent. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Qi Jiu appeared nonchalant and relaxed as he admired the porcelain on the stall, asking, ¡°Han Chen, do you think that woman is the one Qu Zhi mentioned, the Emperor of He Country¡¯s favorite?¡± ¡°She does look a bit like her.¡± Han Chen took a small portrait from his bosom, unfolded it, and made a comparison. Compared to her stunning beauty in the palace, Sang Yan, after days of fleeing, had become much thinner and appeared haggard and pitiful. Her beauty had greatly diminished. Her gaze had even become timid and sorrowful, not the confident and poised demeanor she displayed in the palace. Qi Jiu looked for a good while before saying, ¡°Whether it is her or not, I want that woman.¡± As he spoke, he put down the porcelain and measured the distance between them, whispering, ¡°Let¡¯s go, follow them, find out where they¡¯re staying, and kidnap her tonight.¡± Han Chen: ¡°¡­¡± He glanced back at Han Mo, who was busily gnawing on roasted chicken. Han Mo, compared to his brother¡¯s rugged demeanor, appeared much more refined, although he was wolfing down his food, clearly a glutton. ¡°Our Mr. Jiu is quite something, already knows how to snatch a woman.¡± As he chewed on the roasted chicken, he calculated with his fingers and laughed, ¡°I guarantee that woman was also snatched away.¡± Han Chen heard what he wanted and quickly caught up with Qi Jiu, whispering, ¡°Han Mo has calculated already, that woman is kidnapped. Combined with the Empress of He Country being abducted, it¡¯s probably the same thing.¡± Qi Jiu smiled with satisfaction: ¡°After all the trouble of searching high and low, she¡¯s come to me without any effort.¡± Nighttime Sang Yan watched as Jiang Ke changed into his night clothes and left. ¡°Mmm mmm mmm¡ª¡± She widened her eyes, trying to stop him from going out to kill someone. Jiang Ke covered her eyes and kissed her forehead, saying with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± He said he¡¯d be back soon, but still had someone guard her. Sang Yan saw a figure moving outside the door and mmmed for a while. The person pushed the door open and entered; it was Tan Yunjian. ¡°Haven¡¯t slept yet? Waiting for Jiang Ke? Don¡¯t worry; he won¡¯t die.¡± Tan Yunjian sat down on the chair, chatting idly, more like he was bored and teasing her for fun. ¡°Actually, if I were you, I would wish for his death. That way, you¡¯d be free.¡± He spoke of Jiang Ke¡¯s life and death with a laugh, as if the brotherhood he spoke of that day was just a joke. Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand the friendship between men, nor did she see him as a good person, so she glared at him with hatred. He was right, she did wish for Jiang Ke to die. Even more, she wished that he, a bird of the same feather, would die as well. After all, he watched her suffer, even taking pleasure from her pain. Tan Yunjian seemed to notice the curse in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes and sighed, ¡°A woman¡¯s heart is most poisonous indeed. Jiang Ke is to be pitied for falling into your hands.¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shut up! Lunatic! Asshole! Sang Yan cursed angrily, and what came out of her mouth sounded like ¡°Mmm mmm mmm.¡± She couldn¡¯t speak, and she couldn¡¯t move her body. She could only endure it bitterly. Jiang Ke had said he would be back in a while, as if he were just going out to buy vegetables, but he had been gone for two hours and had not yet returned. Tan Yunjian grew restless, ¡°He couldn¡¯t really be dead, could he?¡± He thought of going out to look for him and even stood up, but then he glanced back at Sang Yan and stopped, ¡°He said I must stay with you. Can you understand his concern? He¡¯s worried that you might encounter danger alone. You might say, what danger could you possibly encounter? The most dangerous thing to you is him. But do you know? In Quanzhou, more than a dozen women are raped in their sleep each year. In your condition, aren¡¯t you an easy target for others?¡± Sang Yan understood his point. If she really encountered a rapist, being controlled by pressure points meant she couldn¡¯t move and wouldn¡¯t even have the ability to cry out. But who put her in this state? A bunch of shameless scoundrels! To do such things to women! Sang Yan was so angry that her heart ached. She closed her eyes, ready to sleep. But before long, the door was burst open, and Jiang Ke entered covered in blood. He had barely left the inn when he encountered several assailants. After a long fight in the air, he suffered a careless cut to his right shoulder and was also attacked by a dart that wounded his waist. ¡°What happened to you? Who hurt you? Wasn¡¯t it just some foreign merchant?¡± While asking, Tan Yunjian stepped forward to examine his wound. Jiang Ke pressed on the wound and sat down on the chair, gritting his teeth in pain, ¡°That man was no ordinary merchant.¡± ¡°Of course. Someone who does business in Quanzhou and dares to provoke you, how could they be ordinary?¡± Tan Yunjian took out some medicine and began to bandage him up, advising, ¡°Be more careful these next few days, and avoid fighting.¡± Jiang Ke nodded, but then said, ¡°They haven¡¯t gone far, and are injured as well. Go and kill them for me.¡± No one ever got away with crossing him. No, only the man before him, Tan Yunjian, had taken advantage of him and ended up mixing with him. Seeing him wounded and yet still thinking of murder, Tan Yunjian couldn¡¯t help but laugh bitterly, ¡°Are you the reincarnation of a vindictive ghost? So eager for someone¡¯s life?¡± Jiang Ke kicked him, ¡°Less talk, just go!¡± Tan Yunjian then left. He left with a sigh, ¡°Jiang Ke, your vengeful nature will cost you one day.¡± Jiang Ke had already paid the price, underestimating those people. After waiting for Tan Yunjian to leave, he crawled onto the bed, seeking comfort from Sang Yan, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m hurt. It hurts so much.¡± Sang Yan was unyielding and thought to herself: It would be good if the pain killed you. After a while, when Jiang Ke didn¡¯t receive any comfort, he remembered she was still under a pressure point spell, and he released only her mute point. Sang Yan could now speak, and although she inwardly wished for his death, her demeanor had to feign tender concern, ¡°How could you be so careless? Don¡¯t be so impulsive in the future. What Tan Yunjian said is right, your penchant for vengeance could easily make you enemies, and it will eventually cost you.¡± And being tied to him, she would suffer the consequences as well. So choosing someone as young and impulsive, as obsessive and capricious as him, was like choosing a ticking time bomb! Doomed to constant danger. Only a fool would choose this! Jiang Ke had no clue what she was thinking, and he let her words of caution go in one ear and out the other. His mind wasn¡¯t really on it; instead, he quickly thought of a scheme, using his injuries to play the role of a wounded bird, show weakness, and beg for a kiss, ¡°It hurts, Ah Yan, it really hurts. Kiss me quickly¡­ Ah Yan, if you kiss me, I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t hurt anymore¡­¡± Chapter 131 - 131: Idiot Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Idiot Sang Yan saw him putting on airs and did not want to cooperate, ¡°Are you kidding me? I¡¯m not a painkiller! If you want to take advantage of me, just say it!¡± Wait a minute! She could use this opportunity to have him unblock her acupoints. ¡°How can I kiss you when I can¡¯t move like this?¡± ¡°Oh, right¡ª¡± Jiang Ke suddenly realized this issue and showed an enlightened expression. Sang Yan urged him quickly, ¡°Hurry up and unblock me.¡± Unexpectedly, Jiang Ke changed his tone, ¡°Then let¡¯s not kiss.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She felt like biting him to death. Psycho! Playing tricks on her! In truth, Jiang Ke wasn¡¯t playing tricks on her; he was in great pain from his injuries. Firstly, he was not in the mood, and secondly, he was afraid her commotion would draw others¡¯ attention. Of course, if he wanted to kiss her, he didn¡¯t need her to take the initiative. The night was too long. Stifling and restless. She smelled the stench of blood, very pungent, and said with a frown and displeasure, ¡°Your wound has opened up.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t care, stroking her hair and her cheek, and said softly, ¡°Go to sleep.¡± So Sang Yan slept. Until dawn. Tan Yunjian also returned. He was outside, sitting on a stool, and even dozed off for a bit. When he heard movement from inside the house, he knocked on the door, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Jiang Ke recognized his voice, got out of bed, and tidied himself up with one hand. Sang Yan was still stiff on the bed, half her body numb, feeling terribly uncomfortable. Jiang Ke saw this and went to massage her arms, shoulders, and legs. Even with his injury, his strength was still considerable. Sang Yan winced in pain from his massaging. Tan Yunjian took another look at her, face buried in the pillow, flushed and sweaty, with droplets on her nose as if she had just finished some intense exercise. She looked enticingly seductive. No wonder Jiang Ke was so enamored with her. Jiang Ke noticed Tan Yunjian¡¯s gaze as well, frowned, covered her head with the quilt, and asked, ¡°Did you kill them?¡± Tan Yunjian shook his head, ¡°I couldn¡¯t kill them. You need to be careful in case they come back for revenge.¡± Jiang Ke only focused on the first three words and said with contempt, ¡°They were all injured, and only that brute had some skills. How could you not kill them? Useless. Is your sword rusty?¡± Tan Yunjian, despite being looked down upon, didn¡¯t get angry and smiled, ¡°They had reinforcements. When I got there, the place was crowded with a lot more people. A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him, so I came back.¡± Jiang Ke listened and still disparaged, ¡°In the end, you chickened out.¡± Tan Yunjian retorted, ¡°If you¡¯re not scared, why didn¡¯t you kill them?¡± Jiang Ke instantly shut up. He indeed wanted to kill them, but considering Sang Yan, he chose to cherish his own life. He hadn¡¯t yet consummated his relationship with Sang Yan, hadn¡¯t truly been happy with her even once, he definitely didn¡¯t want to die! Seeing that he said nothing, Tan Yunjian advised, ¡°Anyway, you better heal here for the next few days and don¡¯t go out.¡± Jiang Ke nodded, ¡°Thanks.¡± Tan Yunjian, rarely hearing a word of gratitude from him, felt gratified, ¡°You finally speak like a human being.¡± Jiang Ke frowned, ¡°Get lost.¡± Tan Yunjian left, brought them a meal, and even tested it for poison. When Sang Yan saw this, she thought he had the potential to be like Pei Muyang, both fated to serve others. And the one being served, Jiang Ke, looked every bit the lord as he commanded, ¡°Get some dishes from Yunxiang Restaurant at noon. Yunxiang Restaurant isn¡¯t bad. Ah Yan also likes the food from there.¡± Sang Yan, being mentioned, responded, ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Being a prisoner, whatever she ate lacked taste for her. That was the main reason for her weight loss. She ate like a cat every day. Jiang Ke several times had used force or threats, just like now, ¡°Eat these two pieces of meat.¡± Sang Yan found meat difficult to digest. Every day she was tense, and with no exercise, she either sat or lay down, almost suffering from constipation. ¡°I¡¯d like to eat some fruit.¡± Considering the embarrassment of constipation, she planned to eat more fruit. Unaware of the situation, Jiang Ke let Tan Yunjian go buy fruit. The fruit included oranges, cherry tomatoes, pears, apples, bananas, and so on. Sang Yan had them washed and made into a fruit platter, which they then ate together. While eating, idle chatter was inevitable. Jiang Ke then asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation in the Imperial City? Did the Emperor get tricked?¡± Tan Yunjian replied, ¡°Mhm. It¡¯s said that more manpower has been deployed to the south. The Emperor also plans to head south in person under the pretext of inspecting Jiangnan.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Ke was overjoyed, ¡°Idiot. Not much of a brain there.¡± Then, he turned to Sang Yan with a smirk, ¡°See, this is the man you like, how adorably stupid.¡± Right as Sang Yan was enjoying her fruit, her mood instantly turned sour upon hearing the conversation. When she heard Jiang Ke mocking He Ying¡ª She grabbed a cherry tomato, hurling it at his face, ¡°Shut up! He will find me! He definitely will!¡± This was the conviction that she clung to. After being hit by the tomato, Jiang Ke¡¯s mood soured, knowing he had gotten carried away, but still, he didn¡¯t hold back and laughed, ¡°Mhm, he will definitely find you, but by then, our child will be old enough to fetch soy sauce. Perhaps, I might even take you back to your family home willingly.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Bastard! This was too much! She grabbed another cherry tomato, continuing to pelt him, ¡°Get lost! I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± Jiang Ke caught each tomato she threw with precision, occasionally even catching them with his mouth, all the while smirking in a way that was infuriating, acting like a mischievous child. Tan Yunjian watched him and laughed, his gaze indulgent as if he was watching an unreasonable younger brother. Perhaps if his brother were still alive, he might behave in the same way. He was skilled in martial arts, carefree and lawless, and would love someone with a fiery, obsessive passion¡­ ¡°Alright, why distress her? Won¡¯t you feel sad if she falls ill?¡± In the end, he did scold Jiang Ke a bit. Tired from all the play, Jiang Ke toned it down, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ah Yan, I was wrong.¡± Sang Yan turned away and began to sob. Had He Ying really been fooled by him? What could she do then? How much longer would she have to wait? Or could she wait any longer at all? She was on the brink of collapse, unable to wait any longer! * Yingyan House He Ying gazed at the table full of breakfast without much interest. He held his chopsticks but couldn¡¯t decide which dish to pick up. ¡°Emperor, this shrimp dumpling is Lady¡¯s favorite food. Why don¡¯t you try it?¡± Pei Muyang could only coax the Emperor to eat more by using Sang Yan¡¯s name. But this method, used too often, didn¡¯t always work. Like now, after eating one shrimp dumpling, he lost his appetite and looked towards the door, ¡°Are those people still kneeling?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang didn¡¯t propose the southern tour for their sake, ¡°Emperor, they are worried for Your Majesty¡¯s well-being and that¡¯s why they obstruct. They have been kneeling all night; let them go back.¡± He Ying sighed upon hearing this, ¡°They¡¯ve been kneeling all night, they must be in good health.¡± Pei Muyang: ¡°¡­¡± Was that a suggestion for them to continue kneeling? ¡°Right now, I certainly couldn¡¯t kneel for a night.¡± His tone shifted, full of a world-weary air. He felt old, with a bone-deep weariness. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If I could teach these eyes to lie, I won¡¯t believe that white hair can be found in this world.¡± He sighed in melancholy, put down his chopsticks, and muttered this line before walking out. Chapter 132 - 132: Husband and Wife Chapter 132: Chapter 132: Husband and Wife The ministers also appeared aged overnight, their spirits and appearances in disarray. However, when they saw the Emperor emerge, they still rallied their spirits and knelt, saying, ¡°Your Majesty, please reconsider¡ª¡± The leading minister, Jiang Chongyu, advised, ¡°Qu Zhi has rebelled and gone to Beiqi. The battle between the two armies has brought disaster to the people of Jizhou, scattering them far and wide. We hope that Your Majesty will prioritize the larger situation. Even Lady would not wish for you to inspect the Southern provinces at such a time.¡± He Ying remained silent but walked over and helped them all up. The ministers: ¡°¡­¡± The Emperor was proud and assertive; previously, not scolding them would have been considered merciful, but now he had actually helped each of them up. What did this mean? A conciliatory policy? Was he inexplicably considering a compromise? The ministers each had their own thoughts. He Ying slowly said, ¡°I have seen your loyalty. Even if I go on a Southern inspection, I trust you can maintain peace in Da He. This matter shall not be discussed further. Return to your homes.¡± He waved his hand, said no more, and turned back to his room. Pei Muyang, who was attending at his side, softly advised, ¡°Your Majesty, before you depart for the South, perhaps wait for Suxi. It is said she will arrive tomorrow. Perhaps Sang Jue will relent after seeing her.¡± He Ying also harbored this hope: ¡°Hmm.¡± He had not yet departed, waiting for Suxi to arrive. If Sang Jue still did not produce what he wanted after seeing Suxi, he would fulfill their wishes. Tomorrow would soon arrive. He Ying waited until sunset, and finally, Suxi¡¯s carriage arrived. Inside the carriage Suxi leaned against Yu Pochuan, her face pale and anxious, ¡°Ah Chuan, what do we do? What are we going to do?¡± Yu Pochuan soothed her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. In life or death, I will be with you.¡± The coachman drove the carriage into the Imperial City. Then, to the Sang Mansion. ¡°Please, get out of the carriage.¡± The coachman called out. The two of them slowly got out. They were immediately surrounded by soldiers. They first searched Yu Pochuan, ensuring he carried no dangerous items, then a nanny-like woman searched Suxi, also making sure she carried nothing dangerous before allowing them to enter. After alighting from the carriage and seeing it was the Sang Mansion, Suxi became more anxious: Why have we come here? Wasn¡¯t the Emperor supposed to meet us? Could it be that before meeting the Emperor, they had to see Sang Jue first? Contemplating this, they followed the guide-the coachman-to the Yingyan House. Suxi was even more confused: Even if they were to meet Sang Jue, it shouldn¡¯t be at Yingyan House, right? Wasn¡¯t that her sister¡¯s residence? Amid her confusion, fear prevailed: They had been forcibly brought here, clearly, Sang Jue had done something. What did he intend to do? Why couldn¡¯t he give up? She had already said, once the child was born, he could take him. What more did he want from her? Was he trying to drive her to her death? Suxi walked apprehensively, eventually arriving at Yingyan House. Pei Muyang stood outside, upon seeing the visitors, asked, ¡°Are you Suxi and Yu Pochuan?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing a person resembling a eunuch, they immediately guessed that the Emperor might be inside the room and respectfully bowed together, saying, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Please come in.¡± Pei Muyang finished speaking and went in first to announce, ¡°Your Majesty, they have arrived.¡± He Ying nodded, his gaze intense as he watched the door. Soon, the two entered. Both appeared feeble and frail. That one called Suxi, her face pale and haggard, her body thin and weak, yet her belly was large, as she walked, frail as a willow in the breeze, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment. The man supporting her also appeared lean and pale, with a look of hardship, not particularly handsome, especially compared to Sang Jue¡¯s handsome face. He was far from a match, notably limping, his steps uneven and unsteady. Clearly, a couple brought together by adversity. Laughable! Suxi had given up Sang Jue for such a man? And Sang Jue had betrayed his sister for such a woman? Truly laughable! His laugh was cold as he turned to Pei Muyang, ¡°Go see where Sang Jue is.¡± Pei Muyang bowed and responded, ¡°Yes.¡± * Sang Jue lay in a carriage. The carriage sped like the wind along the busy main street. Along the way, it knocked over many hawkers¡¯ stalls. This caused a flurry of cursing, ¡°Running so fast, are you rushing to reincarnate?¡± Sang Jue thought to himself, ¡°This is even more important than reincarnation.¡± His beloved had returned. Just thinking of Suxi eased the pain in his body considerably. When he arrived at Sang Mansion, he dismounted from the carriage and naturally made a request, ¡°I want to bathe and change my clothes.¡± Lu Zijin mocked him, ¡°Have you forgotten that you are a prisoner?¡± Sang Jue retorted proudly, ¡°It¡¯s precisely because I am a prisoner and not afraid of death that you must accommodate my wishes. Otherwise, a few words to the Emperor, and you¡¯ll die even faster than me.¡± Lu Zijin was speechless. He knew he was dealing with a madman. Not wanting to stoop to the level of a madman, he looked at the escort and said, ¡°Do as he says.¡± Thus, Sang Jue bathed, changed, burned incense, and applied makeup, starting to dress himself. He was naturally handsome, and even though he had spent several days grinding away in the Heavenly Prison, he was still stunning. Lu Zijin watched him emerge¡ªhis face pale but lips red, eyebrows delicate, a smile that radiated the vigor of spring, draped in a dark magnificent robe, with his hair flowing¡ªtruly a figure of spirited and elegant youth. Unfortunately, he was a doomed madman. The madman forcefully sustained his injured body on his way to Yingyan House. Along the way, his wounds were strained, and his back faintly stained with blood. Luckily, his clothes were dark, and it wasn¡¯t too obvious. He finally arrived at the place. His face was so pained that he broke out in sweat. He had to stop for a brief rest before he could step inside. ¡°Suxi¡ª¡± He finally saw his beloved. He called out to her, his voice deep with affection. But Suxi avoided his gaze and hid behind Yu Pochuan. She was afraid of him. In her eyes, the more beautiful something was, the more poisonous. It was the same with people. Sang Jue, feeling jealous, managed to suppress his jealousy and turned to the Emperor, kneeling down, ¡°Emperor, Yu Pochuan is a rebel and should be executed immediately¡ª¡± He wanted to see Yu Pochuan die with his own eyes. He Ying didn¡¯t care about Yu Pochuan¡¯s worthless life. He could kill whoever he wanted. But why should he do as Jiang Ke wished? Did he really think he feared him? ¡°First, tell me where Jiang Ke is.¡± He suppressed the murderous intent in his heart. Sang Jue wasn¡¯t foolish; knowing that revealing Jiang Ke¡¯s location would lose him all leverage, he negotiated, ¡°I can only first say that Jiang Ke is not in the south.¡± This was crucial information. He Ying¡¯s expression tightened, ¡°Why would you say that?¡± His men had intercepted a letter from Sang Yan in Rongzhou; could it be that Jiang Ke intended this? Damn it! To think he dared to play him! Seeing He Ying¡¯s anger, Sang Jue knew he had realized the truth and continued, ¡°So, Emperor, if you want to know my sister¡¯s whereabouts, kill Yu Pochuan first¡ª¡± ¡°No! That¡¯s not allowed!¡± Suxi knelt down, clutching his sleeve, tears pleading, ¡°Sang Jue, don¡¯t do this, you said you would spare us, you can¡¯t go back on your word!¡± Sang Jue disliked seeing her cry for another man, so he wiped her tears roughly, ¡°Suxi, I spared you, but who spares me? Do you know what kind of days I¡¯ve lived during your constant companionship? If you don¡¯t want my love, then accept my hatred.¡± ¡°I do. Sang Jue, no, I do. I want¡­your love.¡± She covered her stomach, the pain turning her face deathly pale, sweat drenching her. Already unstable in her pregnancy, her emotions now indicated a sign of premature labor. Blood had already started flowing. ¡°Sang Jue! Quickly, call the doctor!¡± Yu Pochuan, holding the frail Suxi, roared in pain: ¡°Sang Jue, if harm comes to mother and child, you are nothing but a murderous beast!¡± Sang Jue pushed him away and picked up Suxi, shouting outside, ¡°Call the doctor! Call the midwife!¡± He Ying watched the emotional drama unfold among the three, feeling a headache coming on: A bunch of brainless fools! After scolding them, he suddenly thought of himself, Sang Yan, and Jiang Ke, his heart skipping a beat: The three of them were actually so similar! Chapter 133 - 133 Compromise Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Compromise Sang Jue and Jiang Ke were alike in so many ways. They were obsessive and tyrannical, stopping at nothing to obtain their desires. Perhaps that was why Sang Jue was willing to help. He knew that he and Jiang Ke were the same kind of people. How infuriating! He Ying slammed his hand on the table, clenching his fists tightly, ¡°Go check.¡± He needed to make Sang Jue talk. He could wait no longer. * Sang Jue waited outside the delivery room. Originally, he had been inside, but the midwife and maids pushed him out. He wanted to enter, but was stopped by his parents, ¡°What are you doing in there?¡± ¡°A man entering the delivery room is bad luck.¡± ¡°Do you want something to happen to the mother and child?¡± ¡­ These words frightened him. He could only wait outside anxiously, pacing back and forth, at times clasping his hands in prayer to the heavens, ¡°People do, heaven watches.¡± He Ying arrived. Everyone present knelt down, Including Sang Jue. Looking down at him, He Ying continued, ¡°To earn a little favor from the heavens for you, tell me, where is your sister?¡± Sang Jue, with his head lowered, persisted, ¡°I already told you, the Emperor should kill him first.¡± This ¡®him¡¯ referred to the man beside them, Yu Pochuan. It seemed like the root of everything rested on him. If he had died in that rebellion, even if Suxi regained her memory, she wouldn¡¯t be pining for him so desperately. Moreover, he was a part of the rebel faction, He ought to kill him! But he couldn¡¯t kill him! ¡°Sang Jue, your child is about to be born, are you sure you want to add a murder to your karma? Or perhaps two? Your beloved has just given birth, learning that the man she loves is dead would also make her lose the will to live, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense!¡± ¡°Sang Jue, you know whether I¡¯m spouting nonsense or not. Don¡¯t be delusional anymore. I promise not to pursue your past mistakes as long as you tell me their whereabouts.¡± He was coaxing. Sang Jue knew He Ying was coaxing him, but he had no other choice, ¡°Just a bit longer.¡± He looked to the delivery room and compromised, ¡°Wait until the mother and child are safe.¡± He Ying waited with him. Suxi was having a difficult labor and after three full two-hour periods, she finally gave birth to a daughter and passed out from exhaustion. ¡°Congratulations, congratulations, a precious daughter!¡± When the midwife came out holding the baby and said these words, the faces of the Sang parents changed. They had always believed it was a boy, but it turned out to be a girl. Their preference for boys over girls led them to merely glance at her and walk away, not even willing to hold her. Sang Jue didn¡¯t hold her either, he just pushed through the door into the delivery room. Compared to his daughter, he was more concerned about Suxi¡¯s safety. ¡°This, this¡ª¡± The midwife, holding the baby, looked from side to side, troubled, unsure who to hand her over to. ¡°Wow wow¡ª¡± The baby¡¯s cries were piercing. The midwife tried to comfort her, to no avail, ¡°Uh, Milord, Madam, the child probably is hungry, has the wet nurse been arranged?¡± Mrs. Sang nodded and turned to instruct the maids to call the wet nurse. Seeing this, the midwife prepared to bring the child inside¡ª He Ying extended his hand, ¡°Give her to me.¡± He inexplicably wanted to see the child. The baby was wrinkled and not pretty, crying even uglier, but once in He Ying¡¯s arms, the cries eerily stopped. ¡°It seems the Emperor and the child are fated.¡± The midwife smiled flatteringly. And her flattery was successful. ¡°Reward them generously. Give ten gold coins to all involved in the birth.¡± ¡°Thank you, Emperor.¡± The midwife¡¯s smile could not be wider. He Ying also smiled, ¡°This is Ah Yan¡¯s niece.¡± His thoughts turned to their blood relationship, and he began to see the child in a different light, ¡°Let¡¯s name her Sang Yuan. For her nickname, let¡¯s call her ¡®Reunion.''¡± It carried his hopes. Hoping they might reunite soon. ¡°Thank you, Emperor, for gracing the child with a name.¡± Sang Kun immediately knelt to express his gratitude. He Ying, thinking that they didn¡¯t value their granddaughter, raised his voice and sternly said, ¡°Now that I have bestowed a name, you must take good care of her and not neglect her. Should there be any negligence, do not expect to keep your heads on your shoulders.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sang Kun hurriedly acknowledged, even reaching out to hold his little granddaughter. He had not expected this little granddaughter to catch the Emperor¡¯s eye. He Ying handed the child over to him and summoned Sang Jue. ¡°Now, can you speak?¡± His voice was calm, indifferent, devoid of any emotion. No one had ever dared challenge his patience like this. He thought if Sang Jue continued to delay, he would simply execute them all. Luckily, Sang Jue wisely spoke, ¡°There¡¯s turmoil in the north, the south is just a diversion, and the west is blocked by mountain ranges, making travel difficult. Only the east remains, with its proximity to the sea and its chaos, a haven for all kinds of people, making it the best place to hide. Hence, I deduce he would head to the eastern Quanzhou.¡± ¡°Merely a deduction?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying frowned and said displeasedly, ¡°I want a definite result.¡± Sang Jue said, ¡°There is no certainty. From the beginning to the end, I have had no dealings or plans with Jiang Ke. It¡¯s just¡­. when I discovered what he intended to do, I didn¡¯t stop him. Instead¡­ I even gave him a little help, taking care of those Hidden Guards.¡± At the time, he didn¡¯t think Jiang Ke could succeed. But Jiang Ke was very lucky and truly pulled it off. Hearing Sang Jue admit to his actions, He Ying, enraged, kicked him in the shoulder and shouted, ¡°You better pray that your deduction holds water!¡± What if Quanzhou turned up empty? How would he ever find her in this vast world? * Quanzhou Overnight, the entire city was under martial law. Quanzhou¡¯s Governor, Gao Wenliang, personally led his troops, joining the search party. ¡°Check the household registers, everyone who has moved into Quanzhou in the past half month, regardless of age or sex, must be verified.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Every household, inn, and rental property must be searched.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The soldiers responded in unison, their voices exceptionally loud. Gao Wenliang sat atop his mighty horse, looking pleased with the situation, and then with a downward gesture of his hand, the soldiers quickly split into several groups, torches in hand, flowing into Quanzhou¡¯s streets like rivers of fire. ¡°Bang bang bang¡ª¡± They knocked on doors, rapidly and urgently. As soon as the door opened, they charged in, clutching household records and portraits of Sang Yan, comparing and verifying. * Sang Yan was sleeping. So was Jiang Ke. They lay entwined in sleep, like a loving couple. Until their door was abruptly knocked upon. Jiang Ke awoke with a start, his eyes full of vigilance, and sat up instantly, reaching for his sword. ¡°Who is it?¡± He gripped the sword tightly, ready to strike to kill. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Tan Yunjian¡¯s voice came from outside. Jiang Ke sighed in relief and lit a candle, ¡°Come in.¡± Upon entering, Tan Yunjian said with a stern face, ¡°Pack up and leave quickly. The Emperor¡¯s men have found this place.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief, ¡°How is that possible? So suddenly? You couldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± He suspected Tan Yunjian, and his sword immediately lunged at his heart. Tan Yunjian dodged swiftly, cursing in fury, ¡°Jiang Ke, has your brain been chewed by a dog? If I had leaked the secret, they would have caught you by now! Or even earlier, when you went to kill that merchant, I could have sent her back to the Imperial City.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± His reasoning was sound. He was confused by his own concern. ¡°Ah¡­ sorry, it was a reflex¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re an idiot!¡± Tan Yunjian¡¯s heart was ¡°wounded¡± by him, and any intention to help dissipated. ¡°I was up on the roof of Bright Moon Tower drinking when I saw Gao Wenliang leading the troops, searching throughout the city. I came out of kindness to warn you, yet you don¡¯t recognize good intentions. Ungrateful cur! You¡¯re on your own!¡± With that, he left. Jiang Ke hastily grabbed him, smiling ingratiatingly, ¡°Brother Tan, no, Brother Tan, do me a favor¡ª¡± Before he finished speaking, a ¡°bang bang¡± knocking sound came from downstairs. Accompanied by the words, ¡°Open up, it¡¯s a routine inspection!¡± Chapter 134 - 134 Gaining Trust Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Gaining Trust The searchers arrived too quickly. ¡°Help, save¡ª¡± Sang Yan cried out in alarm, but after only three words, her mouth was hastily covered by Jiang Ke. She didn¡¯t give up, and bit down hard on Jiang Ke¡¯s hand. Her teeth were sharp, and beads of blood immediately appeared on his hand. Jiang Ke, pained by the bite, pressed her mute acupoint and continued to cover her mouth without releasing his grasp. Sang Yan struggled to breathe, her face turning red. It was Tan Yunjian who noticed something was wrong and promptly pulled Jiang Ke¡¯s hand away, rebuking in a low voice, ¡°Are you insane? You almost suffocated her to death!¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡ª¡± Sang Yan gasped for air, breathing heavily, and large tears rolled down her cheeks. It was then that Jiang Ke realized he had acted improperly, filled with regret, he hastily apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ah Yan, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you.¡± He helped her up and soothed her breathing. Sang Yan looked terrified, her tears flowing endlessly. She truly almost suffocated just now. ¡°Enough dawdling, the searchers will be here any moment.¡± Tan Yunjian couldn¡¯t stand to watch anymore, thinking that Jiang Ke could be unreliable at times. Was this really the time for sentimentality? Jiang Ke, spurred by the reminder, snapped back to reality, and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°We leave by sea immediately. I will take your place. There¡¯s a carriage at the back door.¡± Tan Yunjian spoke as he tore a piece of Sang Yan¡¯s skirt, put it in the blanket, then rolled up the blanket and covered it with a black cloth, before heading downstairs. Understanding his intent, Jiang Ke cooperated and, as Tan Yunjian engaged with the soldiers below, he carried Sang Yan out the back door. Sure enough, there was a carriage waiting. The carriage was also stocked with food, silver taels, and other supplies. Jiang Ke hadn¡¯t expected Tan Yunjian to be so well prepared, and at that moment, he truly appreciated his help. Without his warning, he would likely have been captured by now. ¡°Ah Yan, we¡¯re heading out to sea now, don¡¯t be afraid, okay?¡± Jiang Ke placed her into the carriage, said those words, and then drove the carriage away. Sang Yan shed tears of despair inside the jolting carriage. What should she do? Was she going to miss her chance to escape again? He Ying, He Ying¡­ * He Ying, upon receiving the message carried by a homing pigeon, learned that Sang Yan¡¯s whereabouts had been discovered in Quanzhou, but unfortunately, the person herself was not found. He could not sit still any longer. He immediately mustered his troops and personally went to Quanzhou. Near the sea in Quanzhou. He Ying sat on the long couch in the State Official Mansion, examining the local map of Quanzhou and pointing to the seaport, saying, ¡°You haven¡¯t found them these days, which naturally means they¡¯ve gone out to sea. Have people been sent to search the sea?¡± Gao Wenliang, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, timidly replied, ¡°We have already sent out a search party. However, the ships at sea come and go frequently, so it may, it may take some time.¡± ¡°Of course it will take time.¡± He Ying was fairly satisfied with Gao Wenliang¡¯s efforts, at least he had provided a clue for the search. He had been waiting for too long and even the slightest bit of news was a relief to him now. ¡°Be diligent. Your Gao Family was high officials in the Capital City during the times of my ancestors.¡± He would reward him. But not yet. Gao Wenliang understood the Emperor¡¯s intention, excitedly kneeling down, ¡°Your servant will find the Lady for the Emperor.¡± He Ying nodded, stood up, and sighed, ¡°Take me to the place where she was found.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gao Wenliang led the Emperor to the Quanhe Inn. In hushed tones, he described the events of that day, ¡°It was at night when we searched the Quanhe Inn and saw a dark-clad hero carrying a blanket, escaping. His swordsmanship was powerful, injuring many of our men. We pursued him for a long time, but still didn¡¯t catch up, though we did shoot him in the leg. Believing he would need medicine, we stationed people to watch the pharmacies¡­¡± He Ying listened quietly, picturing the scene, sharing their belief that the person wrapped in the blanket was Sang Yan. His Ah Yan, oh! Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Have everyone from the inn brought here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After Gao Wenliang confirmed that the people were at the Quanhe Inn, he immediately detained everyone from the inn. Including the guests. Regardless of whether they knew anything or not, they had surely seen the Lady, and for the Lady¡¯s reputation, they couldn¡¯t be let go. ¡°Go, bring in everyone who has seen the Lady. The Emperor wants to question them.¡± He instructed his bodyguards. He Ying then pushed the door and entered the room. The room still looked the way it did when Jiang Ke and the others had left. Because they left in a hurry, many clothes and jewelry were not taken. He sat on the bed and noticed a few strands of jet-black long hair on the crumpled bed sheets. He picked them up, one by one, placed them in the palm of his hand, and then clenched them tightly. Pei Muyang saw this and opportunely offered him a wallet. He had long noticed that the Emperor had a collecting habit, especially when it came to things related to the Lady. Sure enough, the Emperor took the wallet from him, put the hair inside, and continued to pick up hair from the bed. Gao Wenliang was there too, watching with his mouth agape. Pei Muyang felt that his gaze was improper and gave him a glance: Still looking? He got the hint, smiled ingratiatingly, quickly averted his eyes, touched his forehead, and rubbed his nose, inwardly sighing: The Emperor¡­ is he ill? Lovesick to the bone? To actually do such a thing! He Ying finally gathered all of Sang Yan¡¯s hair. He placed it in his chest, eyes closed, as if he could feel the touch of her hair brushing across his face. Alas, that was a thing of the past. ¡°Thump thump¡ª¡± Heavy footsteps sounded from outside. The next moment, a voice came from the doorway: ¡°Emperor, Mr. Gao, everyone from the inn who has seen the Lady has been brought here.¡± Hearing this, Gao Wenliang glanced at the Emperor, received a signal, and then looked towards the doorway, nodding his head, he spoke: ¡°Come in.¡± Those people entered, trembling all over. They were all commoners who had been locked in prison for a few days, unaware of any charges, and were quite frightened. ¡°Emperor, your humble subject has done nothing wrong.¡± ¡°Emperor, your humble subject too, I haven¡¯t even killed a chicken, no, not even an insect, please see the truth, Emperor!¡± ¡°Emperor, your humble subject¡ª¡± ¡­ They fell to their knees, crying and wailing, eagerly proclaiming their innocence. The scene was very noisy. He Ying frowned: ¡°Quiet.¡± The room instantly fell silent. They stifled their sobs and closed their mouths. He Ying continued, ¡°We will not kill you. We called you here just to ask about the people who stayed in this room.¡± At these words, they exchanged glances, scared to speak out. They were imprisoned because of the people from this room. Heaven only knows whether those people were criminals or nobles, especially when connected with the Emperor, where a single wrong word could lead to the execution of their entire families. He Ying saw their hesitance, smiled gently, ¡°Speak boldly and truthfully. We have said, we will not kill you. We are as good as our word, but if you do not report the truth, do not blame us for being merciless.¡± He mixed kindness with severity. Those people hesitantly began to speak: ¡°I¡¯ve seen her a few times; the girl seems to be mute and her movements are hindered, she¡¯s always lying on the bed.¡± ¡°No, no, you¡¯re wrong, she can walk, I¡¯ve even seen that man take her out shopping.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve seen it too.¡± ¡°Actually, I think I¡¯ve heard her speak.¡± ¡°Anyway, it was strange.¡± ¡°That man was odd too, doing nothing all day, just staying in the room, not sure what he was up to¡­¡± ¡­ That last comment, ¡°just staying in the room, not sure what he was up to¡±, really struck a nerve. He Ying clenched his fists, his expression turned frosty, his eyes reddened, teeth clenched in fury: Jiang Ke! For kidnapping my wife, demeaning my love, once I find you, I will have you hacked to pieces and executed by lingchi! Chapter 135 - 135: Faith Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Faith Jiang Ke hadn¡¯t expected to see Qi Jiu on the ship. After boarding the ship overnight, he had been keeping a low profile. Usually, he would stay in the guest rooms on the ship. Today, he had rarely come out to stroll, mainly wanting to gather some information, and ended up encountering Qi Jiu at the bow. Qi Jiu was seated at a small table, playing chess with Han Mo. He was playing with the black pieces, and Han Mo had the white pieces, with the black pieces being pitifully surrounded and attacked by the white ones. ¡°You should go easy on me.¡± Han Chen, sitting beside his brother, disapproved of his behavior and nudged him with his elbow. Han Mo was indifferent: ¡°There¡¯s no room for mercy in a battle between the strong.¡± Qi Jiu nodded in agreement: ¡°Showing mercy to an enemy is cruelty to oneself. A wise person would never commit such a foolish act.¡± As he spoke, he glanced at the man who had walked out of the cabin¡ª ¡°We meet again, Young Master Jiang.¡± Qi Jiu had already found out his identity. His posture was confident and composed, his composure exuding a sense of arrogance as if everything was under his control. Jiang Ke immediately suspected him of leaking their whereabouts. Indeed, failing to kill him earlier had been a grave mistake. He gripped his sword, suppressing the urge to kill him, and asked with a smile, ¡°Qi¡­ Jiu, right? Young Master Qi, are you really a merchant?¡± He still didn¡¯t know his true identity. That was where he was slightly outmatched. Annoying. ¡°Whether I am a merchant or not, I harbor no ill intentions towards Young Master Jiang.¡± Qi Jiu extended his hand, inviting him to play chess. Jiang Ke willingly went over and while playing chess, inquired, ¡°Where is Young Master Qi headed?¡± Qi Jiu said, ¡°I am going to Puluo Country.¡± Puluo Country was a maritime kingdom. It was said that although the territory of the country was small, it had a large population, a thriving economy, and a strong military. The King was open and inclusive, absorbing talents from various countries and advocating a national policy that everyone should be ready to fight, especially skilled in naval warfare. Jiang Ke was on his way to Puluo Country as well. ¡°The same destination as mine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a coincidence. So it is said, meeting is fate. The past conflicts were just misunderstandings.¡± He remained as friendly to Jiang Ke as ever. But Jiang Ke became even more wary: ¡°Why is Young Master Qi going to Puluo Country?¡± ¡°For leisure. And to do some business on the way.¡± ¡°What kind of business?¡± ¡°You will know soon enough, Young Master Jiang.¡± His answer was leak-proof. Jiang Ke could glean very little information. He didn¡¯t know if the other was friend or foe, but he wasn¡¯t in a rush; this maritime journey would take some days, and time would reveal the true nature of people. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± Jiang Ke was not skilled at chess, and losing was inevitable. He wasn¡¯t afraid of losing, but he worried about its ominous implications. Qi Jiu, having won the game, was very happy, and even analyzed the reasons for the loss¡ªwhere the wrong moves happened, where he should have played, analyzing earnestly, as if merely teaching him how to play chess. Jiang Ke gradually lost his patience as he half-understood the analysis: ¡°Alright. I have things to attend to, so I won¡¯t disturb you any further.¡± He disliked Qi Jiu. Ever since the first time they met. He couldn¡¯t understand it; the other was handsome, eloquent, and friendly towards him¡ªhow could he be so repulsive? Qi Jiu felt the opposite about him. He admired Jiang Ke. Even after Jiang Ke had left, Han Mo soberly said, ¡°He won¡¯t be of use to you.¡± Han Mo was skilled in calculations; whatever he said often turned out to be the case. ¡°Doing the impossible even when knowing it¡¯s impossible¡ªthat is my life¡¯s belief.¡± Qi Jiu gave a slight smile, warm yet powerful. Han Mo wanted to say more but was nudged by his brother Han Chen¡¯s elbow, so he changed his words to ¡°Mr. Jiu is wise.¡± * Jiang Ke returned to his guest room. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was still immersed in the terrible mood from encountering Qi Jiu, and he sat down on a chair without speaking. Sang Yan tried to attract his attention by making some noises. He looked over and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want something? Are you thirsty? Or hungry?¡± Sang Yan was unable to move, only able to indicate with her eyes: No! Not it! Her face was flushed red, her expression pained, and her eyes filled with tears. She was now disguised as a man, with her chest bound. Jiang Ke gently wiped away her tears, leaned in, and whispered guessingly, ¡°Is it the chest bind that¡¯s hurting? Good child, I¡¯ll untie it for you tonight.¡± During the day, with people coming and going outside, even if the door was closed, it felt unsafe. Especially since Qi Jiu and others were also present. They knew everything, and once they showed malice, he feared he might not be able to protect her. Actually, he rarely feared anything; even when searchers came that night, he was only afraid of leaking information and attracting trouble, but now, he was truly a bit scared. In this strange and limited space, he was with the frail Sang Yan, fearing he might inadvertently push her into danger. ¡°Uh-uh-uh¡ª¡± Sang Yan continued to make pained noises. Jiang Ke couldn¡¯t figure out what she needed, so he could only whisper a warning, ¡°I will release your mute acupoint, don¡¯t make a sound. Otherwise, I will not be lenient.¡± Mm-hmm. Sang Yan¡¯s eyes conveyed the message. Jiang Ke then released her mute acupoint. Sang Yan choked up and said, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ my period¡­ I have stomach pains. And my clothes are dirty.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± So that was it. He suddenly understood, then started to worry: How should he handle this? He didn¡¯t understand. Seeing his confusion, Sang Yan said, ¡°Find some old clothes, wash them, dry them, and cut them into long strips. Wait, my stomach hurts, make me some brown sugar water first.¡± Jiang Ke nodded and asked, ¡°After cutting it into long strips, then what?¡± ¡°Lay them layer by layer and add some paper¡­¡± She actually didn¡¯t know how to deal with it either and could only manage as best as she could. Jiang Ke understood and pointed at her mute acupoint again, then went to make brown sugar water. After feeding her, he busied himself with the things she had asked for, working all the way until evening. The process was incredibly difficult. Finally, he had prepared everything and was ready for her to use it. Suddenly, a knock on the door sounded. His gaze sharpened as he went to open the door. Outside was Han Mo. He didn¡¯t speak but directly threw a package inside. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t understand, but upon opening it, he found it was the kind of items a girl would need. Help as timely as snowfall? He thought of this phrase, but his gratitude was fleeting, soon followed by anger, ¡°Are you spying on me?¡± Han Mo¡¯s expression was calm, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I was just in the kitchen cooking for Mr. Jiu and heard you needed brown sugar water. I came to give you this. Our Mr. Jiu doesn¡¯t know.¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± Was he mistaken? Were they actually good people? ¡°What kind of person is your Mr. Jiu?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about who he is. We have no ill intent towards you.¡± ¡°But also no sincerity.¡± Jiang Ke coldly mocked, ¡°Covering up, always hiding something. Just a hypocritical act.¡± Han Mo, unlike Qi Jiu, was not easy to talk to and retorted, ¡°We¡¯re hypocritical, but you abduct a weak girl, what does that make you? You think I¡¯m trying to please you, laughable. I just pity that girl. Being with you, she is truly suffering.¡± His words were sharp and touched upon Jiang Ke¡¯s sore spot. ¡°Get out!¡± Jiang Ke shouted angrily, ¡°Bang,¡± and slammed the door shut. He carried the items back to Sang Yan¡¯s bedside, saw her pale face and cold sweat on her forehead, knew she was suffering, and felt guilty and remorseful, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 136 - 136: Envy to Death Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Envy to Death Sang Yan closed her eyes with a gloomy heart, not wanting to see him at all. Jiang Ke released her acupuncture points and handed her something, ¡°Here, you can use this.¡± Sang Yan used it, not caring whether he would watch or not. Having been a mute and vegetative for so long, she had lost all sense of shame. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t watch either; he turned his back and pondered their next moves. First, he definitely had to find out Qi Jiu¡¯s true identity and understand his intentions for getting close. Next, contact Tan Yunjian as soon as possible; more friends meant more security. Lastly, Puluo Country, oh Puluo Country, he really wanted to get there quickly. Sang Yan got dressed and lay back down on the bed. She had been in bed these days with no movement; lying down made her body uncomfortable, and her physical strength was rapidly declining. She felt chest tightness and shortness of breath after just a little activity. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t notice these details; seeing her obediently lie back down, he too lay down. He warmed her belly with his hands. ¡°It¡¯s indeed cold. Just drinking brown sugar water, is that useless? I¡¯ll get someone to make you some chicken soup.¡± Saying this, he moved. Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to seal her acupoints. Sang Yan¡¯s expression was numb; whatever he said or did, she closed her eyes and ignored him. She fell into a hazy sleep and had a dream. In the dream, He Ying spoke gently to her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I will save you. I¡¯ll come to rescue you soon.¡± She actually didn¡¯t expect his rescue much anymore. She just said, ¡°Just hold me first. I¡¯m so cold. It hurts so much.¡± She was awakened by the pain. When she opened her eyes, it was Jiang Ke staring coldly at her. Annoying. She didn¡¯t want to see him; she closed her eyes again. ¡°You were calling his name.¡± Jiang Ke was nearly consumed by jealousy, shaking her shoulders fiercely, ¡°Why were you calling his name? He¡¯s useless, has not found you until now. Why¡­ can you not forget him?¡± Even though she couldn¡¯t make a sound, her lips still formed: He Ying, He Ying¡­ So cruel! Sang Yan had her mute acupoint sealed and couldn¡¯t speak. Naturally, even if her mute point wasn¡¯t sealed, she didn¡¯t want to speak anyway. She felt terribly uncomfortable and wasn¡¯t in the mood to appease him in the slightest. Seeing this, Jiang Ke became even more heartbroken and furious, ¡°Ah Yan, would you only think of me if he died?¡± Sang Yan found him annoying, buzzing in her ear. If she could move, she would definitely slap him. ¡°Maybe I will kill him.¡± When Jiang Ke said this, he wondered why he thought of Qi Jiu¡ªthat man was certainly not a simple person. Could he have the same ambition? Thinking this, his jealousy faded, and he began to plan how to find out his identity tomorrow. Tomorrow came quickly. Daybreak painted a beautiful scene over the sea. Jiang Ke opened the window, letting her see, ¡°Do you like it?¡± Sang Yan did. She leaned against the pillow, her eyes closed, waiting for the golden sunlight to brush across her cheeks. She hadn¡¯t been outside or seen the sun in a long time. She was sure¡ªJiang Ke would torture her to death. ¡°You just watch, I¡¯ll go get you the chicken soup.¡± Saying this, he left the room quickly and came back shortly with the chicken soup. The chicken soup was steaming hot, wafting a rich aroma. There was also a layer of oil on top and some green onions. Sang Yan had no appetite, but drank a little anyway, and then vomited it all out. Her stomach couldn¡¯t handle such greasy food. Perhaps, she was sick. From body to soul. Jiang Ke was very worried and coaxed softly, ¡°Ah Yan, be good, you need to drink this. It¡¯s good for your health.¡± Sang Yan obediently opened her mouth and drank. But as soon as she did, she vomited. Jiang Ke knew he couldn¡¯t force her, so he switched to brown sugar water and fed her some. Then, he washed her face again, wiped her neck, and even changed her clothes. She was like a doll without consciousness, letting him manipulate her. Faced with her like this, Jiang Ke felt helpless and even more irritable. With this irritability, he went to the bow of the ship to clear his mind. Today, Qi Jiu and others were not at the bow. He then asked a few passengers who looked like merchants, ¡°Do you know who the guests in room number one are? What do they do for a living?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen them a few times in Puluo Country, they seem to be some high-ranking official.¡± ¡°Do high-ranking officials do business too? I saw him selling pearls.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen him sell porcelain too.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a businessman, but he really does have the air of a high-ranking official.¡± ¡­ They discussed among themselves but didn¡¯t provide Jiang Ke with the information he wanted. However, Jiang Ke became even more certain that Qi Jiu had a complex background and must be either rich or noble. The key question was, to what extent could he be noble? Puluo Country valued talent greatly, and someone like him would surely be highly utilized if he were in Puluo. Being a high-ranking official wouldn¡¯t be surprising. But was it just a high-ranking official? Jiang Ke began to closely monitor their movements. He noticed that every night during the third period of the night, a hawk would circle in the sky, crying out three times. One night, he quietly slipped out and saw Qi Jiu at the bow, extending his arm for the hawk to land. So he was still in contact with the outside world. And that hawk was there to deliver messages. But what messages were being conveyed? sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And this hawk, with its glossy feathers and robust physique, looked very much like a Warhawk. Did Qi Jiu keep such a hawk just to carry messages? Jiang Ke grew increasingly curious about Qi Jiu¡¯s identity. Qi Jiu also knew that Jiang Ke was keeping an eye on him. He didn¡¯t mind revealing some information to see his attitude. So, Jiang Ke soon overheard their conversation. It was still at night. Still at the bow. Qi Jiu released the hawk, opened the note, and while looking at the information, said to the Han brothers, ¡°Beiqi is struggling in the war, Crown Prince Qi Lv has been defeated by Rong Ye at Qing¡¯an Pass. The ministers are advocating handing over Qu Zhi to negotiate peace with Da He.¡± Han Chen analyzed, ¡°Qu Zhi¡¯s fate is not important; what matters is Beiqi¡¯s reputation. If they can¡¯t protect Qu Zhi, no one would dare come to Beiqi in the future.¡± Han Mo also said, ¡°Emperor Da He is currently not focused on the war. Beiqi can fully plan and seek to redeem their previous disgrace.¡± Beiqi has carried the ¡®North¡¯ title for too long. Now is a good time for them to discard ¡®North.¡¯ As Qi Jiu listened to the two, he nodded, about to speak, when his gaze swiftly scanned around, ¡°Who?¡± His eyes shot towards the dark interior of the ship like a bolt. Jiang Ke quickly dodged and returned to his room. He lay back on the bed, his heart still pounding wildly: Could Qi Jiu be from Beiqi? Was his courtesy also intended to use him like Qu Zhi? He was watching the war situation but staying away from the battlefield, and now he¡¯s at sea ¨C what was he hoping to accomplish? To persuade Puluo Country to send troops? Puluo is adept at naval warfare but on land, they would be fish out of water, barely able to protect themselves, expecting their help was simply foolish! Wait! Or was he still planning something bigger? He couldn¡¯t figure it out. His head began to ache faintly. Meanwhile, Above on the bow, Qi Jiu looked at the dim night sky, murmured, ¡°Rong Ye, Feng Yicheng, Jiang Chongyu, Jiang Ke¡­ Da He has no shortage of talents, I envy them indeed.¡± Every leader desires talents. Having traveled far and wide for many years, he truly understood the value of talents. But then¡ª ¡°What defines a talent? If they serve me, they are talents; if not, they are enemies, and enemies must be mercilessly killed!¡± Chapter 137 - 137 Anorexia Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Anorexia ¡°Good morning.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Ke came across Qi Jiu while serving breakfast in the kitchen. Thinking of his identity, he uttered indifferently, ¡°Good morning.¡± Then, after serving breakfast, he left. Although he had once intensely desired to kill He Ying and had considered joining forces with Qi Jiu to do so, it was just a thought; betraying his country was something he could not bring himself to do. He considered his father was the Marquis Zhongyi, a title of glory bestowed during the time of the ancestral emperor. Taking Sang Yan away had already shamed and troubled his family; he could absolutely not commit such a wrong. Qi Jiu sensed his distancing or rather his rejection keenly as he watched his departing figure. Yet, he was not discouraged. If Jiang Ke had pledged his allegiance too readily, it would have only drawn his contempt. ¡°Mr. Jiu, tomorrow is the Sea God Festival.¡± Han Chen came over and reminded him. The Sea God Festival was an essential festival for those who went out to sea. The sea was full of storms. Offering sacrifices to the Sea God, it was said, could win his protection. Qi Jiu had participated many times and was unenthusiastic: ¡°Oh. Yes. It¡¯s the Sea God Festival again.¡± Han Chen continued, ¡°The shipmaster has already ordered that sailing will cease tomorrow, and all adult men will celebrate the Sea God Festival together.¡± Worshipping the Sea God required fasting, silence, and kneeling to pray for three two-hours. It was a very physically exhausting activity. ¡°Go and send him a set of kneepads.¡± Qi Jiu commanded. Who was ¡®he¡¯ in his words? Han Chen understood: ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Ke was coaxing Sang Yan to eat: ¡°Have a few more bites. Nourish your body. Tomorrow is the Sea God Festival, it¡¯ll be lively in the evening, and I¡¯ll take you out.¡± Sang Yan had long lost interest in play. Nothing could tempt her now. Nor could fear make her submit. The scene became deadlocked. Jiang Ke frowned, wanting to lose his temper but struggling to restrain himself. Just then, there was a knock on the door. He went to open it and saw Han Mo, his expression cold: ¡°What is it?¡± Han Mo tossed over a package before speaking: ¡°Mr. Jiu asked me to give this to you. Tomorrow is the Sea God Festival, and all adult men have to worship the Sea God and kneel for three two-hours. Use these kneepads if you want, or throw them away.¡± After finishing his piece, he didn¡¯t wait for Jiang Ke to respond and turned to leave. Jiang Ke was unfamiliar with the Sea God Festival and uninterested in it. Right now, all he wanted was to coax Sang Yan to eat: ¡°Ah Yan, be good, eat a bit more. You heard, tomorrow is the Sea God Festival; it¡¯ll be fun.¡± Sang Yan still said nothing, just gazing at him with a pair of deep, hollow eyes. She had grown too thin, her cheeks hollow, making her eyes appear unusually large. Whenever Jiang Ke saw her like this, he felt helpless. He touched her gaunt back, feeling the bones chafing. It was a bit like how she had been half a year ago. Then, she had been emaciated, her spirit dead. He had faintly heard people saying her parents had started preparing her coffin. But six months later, she glowed with health, reborn, her smile bright and radiant. He liked her that way. ¡°Ah Yan, you can hit me, scold me, really. Just don¡¯t leave me, and I won¡¯t restrain you anymore, okay?¡± Actually, he had already released her mute acupoint. But she had never spoken again. He coaxed her to eat, and she did eat. Only whatever she ate, she vomited, which worried him even more. Sang Yan felt she had developed anorexia. She had no appetite for anything; initially, the food was just unpalatable, but later she wanted to eat nothing at all. She didn¡¯t feel hungry, her senses dulled. She felt she was dying. Jiang Ke, feeling helpless, unblocked her acupoint and lifted her from bed: ¡°You should walk around.¡± Perhaps moving about and using some energy would bring her appetite. Finally, Sang Yan¡¯s feet stood on the deck. She found her legs weak and her head dizzy after not exercising for many days; it was very uncomfortable. Jiang Ke saw her frowning and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where does it hurt?¡± There was a physician on the ship. He had inquired about him. But that physician¡¯s medical skills were not great. The day before yesterday, while treating someone, he almost killed the person, which led to a severe beating from the patient¡¯s family. He was truly unreliable. Not to seek him out would be for the better. Sang Yan did not respond to his words. For one, she did not want to, and for another, she still did not want to. Jiang Ke did not insist. He assisted her out of the room to the bow of the boat for some fresh air. People gathered in small groups at the bow, drinking, chatting, and gambling. Qi Jiu was also at the bow, playing chess with Han Mo. He lost again. And lost miserably. Jiang Ke glanced over from a distance but did not approach. Yet Qi Jiu¡¯s gaze reached out, ¡°Young master, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± He saw Sang Yan dressed as a man and thus changed his address. Sang Yan had already seen that foreign merchant. She did not expect to see him here. But after a brief moment of surprise, it was still indifferent, calm, and deadly still. Qi Jiu saw her mood was somber and ordered Han Chen, who was by his side, ¡°Go get my zither.¡± Han Chen agreed and hurried off. Soon, he brought the zither over. The body of the zither was black, faintly emitting a green hue, as if green vines were twining around ancient wood. It was a fine zither. Sang Yan took another look. Seeing she knew her stuff, Qi Jiu smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s rare to meet a connoisseur, let me play a piece for the young master.¡± In truth, he saw Sang Yan¡¯s melancholy disposition and thought of playing a piece to cheer her up a bit. Sang Yan said nothing, her gaze fixed on the vast ocean. The sea was a deep blue, boundless. The wind blew in. With a slightly fishy smell. This was the scent of the ocean. The ocean was free. Sadly, people were not. The sound of the zither suddenly started. The first note was clear and pure. It seemed like music from beyond the heavens, gradually becoming distant and ethereal. Listening to the music, Sang Yan thought of the time she listened to Sang Ruoshui play the zither in the Imperial Palace, when He Ying had praised him, and she felt jealous for the first time. It seemed she fell for him then. Now, what was he doing? Eight days had passed since Jiang Ke had taken her to escape to the sea, or maybe nine, no, that¡¯s not right, the days were too long, she was so confused she no longer knew how much time had passed. ¡°Wow, big fish!¡± ¡°Look! Look! There¡¯s a big fish in the sea!¡± ¡°It¡¯s swimming towards us!¡± ¡°Heavens, it won¡¯t attack us, will it?¡± ¡­ People at the bow suddenly became frantic. Some, who were timid, ran toward the cabins. Others, who were brave, did not run but also stepped back. Sang Yan was carried back by Jiang Ke. She too saw the big fish, strictly speaking, it was a whale. The whale was as large as a boat. This was her first time seeing a whale, briefly inciting her curiosity; after a fleeting panic, she kept watching. The whale came closer and closer to the ship. Naturally, the ship was much larger than the whale, but if the whale injured people, it would still be terrible. ¡°Stay calm!¡± ¡°The big fish doesn¡¯t hurt people!¡± ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t panic!¡± The captain, upon hearing the news, rushed out to calm everyone. He was a man in his forties, probably spending years at sea, his skin tanned and cracked. He had a very weatherworn look. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s raining!¡± ¡°The big fish appears, and rain descends from heaven, captain, you¡¯re experienced and knowledgeable, do you think this is a good omen?¡± ¡°Fool, you can tell it¡¯s your first time at sea. Such big fish create waves like thunder, its spray like rain!¡± ¡°So this is the big fish¡¯s saliva?¡± ¡­ The crowd discussed and wondered. The big fish reached the side of the ship, indeed not harming anyone, but was also not just passing by; it kept swimming around the ship. After watching for a while, people gradually formed a bold guess, ¡°This, this big fish¡­ could it be drawn here by the sound of the zither?¡± Chapter 138 - 138: Cheer Up Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Cheer Up The music of the guqin wafted gently through the air. Large fish circled the boat, nodding and swaying their tails, clearly enjoying themselves. The onlookers were amazed: ¡°He¡¯s actually listening to the music!¡± ¡°Indeed, all creatures have a spirit!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been at sea for so long, and this is the first time I¡¯ve realized that even big fish appreciate music.¡± ¡°How magical!¡± ¡°It just shows how exquisite this music is!¡± ¡­ They watched the large fish then turned their attention to the person playing the guqin, shaking their heads as they lost themselves in the music, praises flowing endlessly. Sang Yan was also listening to the music. The music of the guqin had a magical power to heal the heart. She felt her mood lifting, with the mountains green and the seas blue, big fish dancing, life seemed long, with many more beautiful sights worth seeing. ¡°Young Master, open your heart a bit, and look further.¡± Qi Jiu had finished a song and was speaking words to soothe the spirit. Sang Yan nodded in acknowledgment, as a form of thanks. Jiang Ke watched her interact and was pleased, but because it was Qi Jiu she was interacting with, he felt displeased. His mood flickered back and forth, finally sweeping her into his arms and returning to the room. In the room As soon as Sang Yan sat on the bed, her mood changed, and a look of undisguised disgust appeared in her eyes. He was still the same, his controlling desire was oppressive, suffocating. She lay down, turning her back and closing her eyes, not wanting to look at him. Jiang Ke lifted her up to face him, his eyes gloomy and displeased, ¡°Sang Yan, do you know who he is? And still you pay him attention!¡± Sang Yan remained silent. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t expect her to respond to him and continued, ¡°He is of the Beiqi Royal Family. Beiqi is currently waging war against Da He in the region of Min State. His presence in Quanzhou could mean he has penetrated deep into Da He, plotting something. Are you sure you want to let your guard down around him?¡± Sang Yan still remained silent. But a jolt went through her heart: the Beiqi Royal Family? Was that man from the Beiqi Royal Family? Was he plotting against Da He? Could Qu Zhi¡¯s escape also be his doing? Was Da He, seemingly peaceful, already engulfed in turmoil? She was deeply concerned for He Ying¡¯s empire. But she could do nothing. ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m not fearful you¡¯ll seek help; I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll fall into his trap. His approaching us is surely not without an ulterior motive.¡± Sang Yan understood this reasoning all too well. Hearing this, she became even more fearful of ending up in that man¡¯s clutches than being confined by Jiang Ke. What if that man used her to threaten He Ying? The melodramatic scenarios from novels happening to her? No! That could not happen! She absolutely could not become He Ying¡¯s weakness! ¡°According to what you¡¯re saying, we, we should go back.¡± ¡°The current situation is chaotic; they have more people, power in numbers, and we could easily become their prisoners.¡± She spoke out. Being out of practice, her sentences came out choppy. But Jiang Ke was delighted, ¡°Ah Yan, you finally respond to me!¡± He held her tight, patting her back gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I will protect you. Once we reach Puluo Country, I will do as you wish.¡± Sang Yan tried to push him away but couldn¡¯t, and instead she said, ¡°Let go of me.¡± Jiang Ke obediently released her, excitedly smiling, ¡°Ah Yan, is there anything you want to eat?¡± Sang Yan said weakly, ¡°Some porridge would be nice.¡± She had to rally herself. Even the thought of rallying herself was exhausting. Jiang Ke immediately went out to get the porridge. After drinking the porridge, Sang Yan walked around the room. Jiang Ke massaged her shoulders, pounding her legs. He had been massaging her while she stayed in bed over the last few days to ease her muscles. Mostly, he was gentle. But it was a gentleness that was fatal, horrifying. * S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Sea God Festival arrived as scheduled. This day, Jiang Ke had arranged everything for Sang Yan, then went to join everyone in the ritual. The entire process was still complex, including fasting, setting up the altar, offering incense, kneeling, praying for blessings, Holy Water, and the sea banquet. The last two steps involved using seawater as Holy Water, which meant sprinkling the body with seawater to accept the Sea God¡¯s baptism and protection. The sea banquet involved throwing the offerings of chickens, ducks, fish, and meat into the sea for the Sea God to enjoy. Once all the steps were completed, it was already evening. The sea thrived under the bright moon. The evening was even livelier. A group gathered at the bow to release Kongming Lanterns and sea lanterns. Sang Yan was also brought to the bow by Jiang Ke for a heart-to-heart talk. Under the moonlight, even dressed as a man, her delicate grace was hard to conceal. A drunken sturdy man approached and teased, ¡°Hey, young man, what¡¯s your name? Why do you look like a woman? Ha-ha, come on, everyone look¡ª¡± As he spoke, he reached out and pinched Sang Yan¡¯s chin. The next moment, his hand was caught and broken by Jiang Ke, causing him to scream in pain. ¡°Let go, let go, it¡¯s killing me!¡± The sturdy man screamed as if being slaughtered. His friend hurriedly stepped forward to mediate, ¡°Young man, please show some mercy, my friend is drunk.¡± ¡°Being drunk allows him to be indecent?¡± Jiang Ke, with a cold expression and a hint of sarcasm, nevertheless let go of his grip. But the drunkard was relentless, ¡°I¡¯m indecent, and you two big men are decent? Holed up in a room all day, who knows what sordid things you¡¯re doing. Playboy, indeed, who doesn¡¯t know that?¡± Traveling at sea often brings loneliness. Without women, the men would also mingle to pass the time. But after all, they were all rugged men, not naturally inclined that way, and found no pleasure in it. Only this ¡®playboy¡¯ was indeed beautiful, looking almost like a woman, and he couldn¡¯t help but harbor lewd thoughts. Jiang Ke, furious at his foul mouth, kicked him into the sea. ¡°Bang!¡± The sturdy man fell into the sea, suddenly sober from shock, crying out, ¡°Help! Come save me! I can¡¯t swim!¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t swim, then die in there.¡± ¡°Scum like you deserve to die!¡± Jiang Ke cursed, watching him struggle pathetically in the sea. The sea roared. His friend hesitated for a moment before a man with a large pimple on his chin took off his coat and jumped into the sea to save him. Seeing someone had come to the rescue, Jiang Ke did not interfere further, holding the startled Sang Yan, preparing to leave. But his friend blocked them, ¡°Brother, you can¡¯t just leave like this! Wanting to walk away after hitting someone?¡± Jiang Ke¡¯s eyes narrowed fiercely as he asked, ¡°What would you have me do?¡± ¡°Apologize to my brother.¡± ¡°Yeah, he merely said something about you being men, what about it?¡± ¡°You have the face to be a playboy, and can¡¯t let others talk about it?¡± ¡­ They surrounded the two, speaking out for the sturdy man. Jiang Ke, not wanting to expose Sang Yan¡¯s identity, endured and said, ¡°You have misunderstood, she is not the type of person you think. Tonight¡¯s incident was because you insulted her first.¡± He clenched his fists, resisting the urge to hit someone. He couldn¡¯t make a move. This was on a ship. He could easily silence them with a punch, but it was better to offend a gentleman than a scoundrel. For the next few days of the journey, it was uncertain if they would seek revenge. Moreover, in front of everyone, he couldn¡¯t eliminate all threats completely. He had to endure. But they were not ready to let up: ¡°Men among men, what¡¯s wrong with a joke?¡± ¡°Look how you scared my brother? He¡¯s in shock.¡± ¡°You must apologize!¡± ¡°Or let this playboy serve us¡ª¡± ¡­ Their motives were exposed as they took aim at Sang Yan. Sang Yan was Jiang Ke¡¯s bottom line. He was instantly filled with a murderous intent. Just as he was about to take action¡ª ¡°Gentlemen, these two young brothers are new and ignorant of the rules. Please, for my sake, Qi Jiu, don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Qi Jiu said with a slight smile, polite in his speech but with an underlying authority. Chapter 139 - 139: Let Down Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Let Down Some people have an imposing aura and can stabilize any situation. Like Qi Jiu, who quelled an upheaval with just a few words. As Jiang Ke, holding Sang Yan, passed by him, he squeezed out two stiff words, ¡°Thank, you.¡± Qi Jiu smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned. Jiang Ke returned to his room. He was once again indebted to Qi Jiu. Give him money? He clearly wasn¡¯t short on money. Give him some rare trinkets? His mansion did have many, but alas, he brought none with him. He had nothing to offer him. For two consecutive days, he stayed in his room to avoid seeing him. But he still couldn¡¯t avoid him. He had deliberately avoided meal times, yet how did he still end up meeting him in the corridor? ¡°Jiang Ke, long time no see.¡± Qi Jiu cracked a slight smile and started a conversation, ¡°I heard you are proficient in swordsmanship, I recently found an ancient book, could you possibly appraise it for me?¡± Jiang Ke wanted to agree but restrained himself, ¡°Young Master Qi flatters me. My swordsmanship is not even comparable to those under your command.¡± That Han Chen, unimpressive in appearance, possessed exceptional swordsmanship skills. That night, their prolonged duel concluded without a victor. It was he who prevented him from killing Qi Jiu in time. If he had killed him then¡ª Despite his repeated overtures and assistance, Jiang Ke still wanted to kill him. He gave him too dangerous a feeling. ¡°As the saying goes, among three walkers, one should be my teacher. No matter how good Han Chen¡¯s swordsmanship is, he needs to exchange and progress. If he stays complacent, he will become mediocre sooner or later. Young Master Jiang must understand this principle.¡± His words were hard to refuse. Jiang Ke hesitated¡ª Just then, a panicked shout came from the bow of the boat, ¡°Quick, save someone! Someone has fallen into the sea!¡± Without knowing why, Jiang Ke thought of Sang Yan. He quickly moved to the bow. Looking into the sea, his eyes nearly burst with fury, ¡°Sang Yan!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± He jumped into the sea to save her. But the rolling waves blurred his vision, ¡°Sang Yan! Sang Yan! Don¡¯t be afraid, hold on!¡± Qi Jiu also started calling people, ¡°Han Chen!¡± Like a drawn sword, Han Chen plunged into the sea with a ¡°thud.¡± Being proficient in swimming, he moved quickly and efficiently, and soon grabbed Sang Yan, working with Jiang Ke to pull her aboard. Sang Yan had swallowed a lot of seawater and was now lying on the deck, coughing pitifully. Jiang Ke patted her back and urgently asked, ¡°Ah Yan, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? Why didn¡¯t you stay in your room? Are you trying to scare me to death?¡± As he spoke further, his words were laced with anger. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing her. He was still frightened now. Having not been confined by him anymore, Sang Yan, regaining her freedom, wanted to get some fresh air upon seeing he wasn¡¯t in the room. But¡ª ¡°Why did you fall into the sea all of a sudden?¡± ¡°It seemed like¡­ someone, someone pushed me.¡± She glanced at the crowd gathered, not knowing who pushed her. Hearing that she was pushed, Jiang Ke¡¯s eyes blazed with rage, ¡°Who did this? Whoever attacked from behind, show yourself if you¡¯re a man!¡± His gaze was fierce, and as he stared at them, everyone was waving their hands and shaking their heads. ¡°Not me.¡± ¡°Nor me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°I did even less; I have no grudges against any of you, how could I possibly do such a thing?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you insinuating that we are causing trouble? Let¡¯s be clear, what¡¯s past is past, and besides, the people who offended us aren¡¯t this pretty boy!¡± ¡­ No one admitted to it. Those who had conflicts with Jiang Ke denied it even more. Unable to pinpoint the culprit at the moment, Jiang Ke could only sweep over them, remember their faces, and leave a message: ¡°This isn¡¯t over!¡± Then he picked up Sang Yan and strode towards the room. Qi Jiu followed as well, advising, ¡°Her constitution is weak to begin with, and falling into the sea has definitely chilled her. When you get back, let her drink some ginger soup and eat some hot food to sweat it out, then tuck her into bed. Just remember, don¡¯t let her take a hot bath immediately.¡± Sudden cold followed by warmth is not good for expelling the chill from the body; instead, it may cause the body to experience even more coldness, and in severe cases, it may lead to injury from the cold and even death. ¡°Yes, yes, Young Master Qi is correct. That¡¯s exactly what should be done.¡± ¡°It was winter before, right? Two people accidentally fell into the sea. Fortunately, they were good swimmers and climbed back up, but they were terribly frozen. One immediately drank alcohol and ate meat to warm up, and the other took a hot bath right away. The next day, the one who had taken the hot bath died, while the one who drank alcohol was in excellent health.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard about this too. The doctor said when a person falls into water, the chill only remains on the skin. After eating, the body generates heat, and naturally, the surface chill dissipates. So the drinker survived. But the one who rashly took a hot bath, not only did not dispel the chill but actually drove it deeper into the body, damaging the organs and ultimately leading to death.¡± ¡­ Some bystanders continued to discuss incessantly. Jiang Ke said nothing, but gave Qi Jiu a deep look and carried Sang Yan into the room. He placed Sang Yan on the bed. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Someone had already brought a pot of hot water from the kitchen. He thanked them and brewed a bowl of brown sugar water for her: ¡°Drink this first. Have some ginger soup later.¡± Sang Yan did as told and drank a large bowl of hot brown sugar water, feeling much better shortly after. Once the ginger soup was ready, she drank a bowl of that too. Her body began to sweat. ¡°I feel much better. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine now.¡± Since she was currently on peaceful terms with him, she also reassured him a few words. Jiang Ke nodded, holding her and making sure she was still safely in his arms. Sang Yan didn¡¯t like his overprotectiveness and pushed him away, changing the subject: ¡°Let¡¯s let bygones be bygones regarding this incident. We are isolated and weak here; just endure it for now and avoid causing trouble, otherwise, we might not be so lucky next time.¡± She wasn¡¯t a saint; she hated the person who had attacked her, but she didn¡¯t want Jiang Ke to continue making trouble and enemies, which wouldn¡¯t be wise. Listening to her, Jiang Ke readily agreed: ¡°Hmm, as you say.¡± Because of his quick agreement, it made Sang Yan suspicious: ¡°Are you really listening to me?¡± Jiang Ke smiled and nodded: ¡°Yes. I¡¯m listening to you.¡± But as soon as he soothed her to lie down, he went out to stir up trouble. He had a suspect in mind. He barged into Qi Jiu¡¯s room and got straight to the point: ¡°Was it you?¡± On his way back to his room, Qi Jiu had tripped him. Had he been able to return to the room earlier and noticed Sang Yan¡¯s absence sooner, she wouldn¡¯t have encountered danger. Thinking this, it all started with him. Moreover, he kept trying to win him over. If he had no chance to show benevolence, he created opportunities to do so. Han Chen saving Sang Yan had given him the chance to show benevolence, hadn¡¯t it? He had a sufficient motive. ¡°You see, I said it, he¡¯s not smart enough to pinpoint the culprit on you,¡± Han Mo played with his folding fan, revealing a proud smile for his clever schemes. Jiang Ke was displeased: ¡°Whether it¡¯s you or not, don¡¯t target her! Whatever you do, I will not be used by you.¡± He firmly clarified his stance and turned to leave. Qi Jiu said nothing. He had always treated Jiang Ke sincerely and cherished their camaraderie; he hadn¡¯t expected to be unjustly scolded. Feeling especially terrible, betrayed, and humiliated, he watched Jiang Ke walk away, his gaze losing its previous admiration and gradually becoming deep and cold: ¡°Such stubbornness will definitely lead to his own downfall. Let¡¯s just wait and see!¡± Chapter 140 - 140: Pirates Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Pirates Jiang Ke burst into the room at the stern of the ship. A bunch of men were engaged in gambling inside. He grabbed the brawny man with whom he had a grudge and demanded, ¡°Was it you who pushed her into the sea?¡± The brawny man had already heard from others that the pretty boy he had harassed was pushed into the sea and even gloated a bit about it. Now that he was caught, he panicked, ¡°I didn¡¯t. Let go of me. I was just drunk that day. I¡¯m a good person. Who would do such a heartless thing as to push that pretty boy into the water? If I wanted to push someone, it would be you!¡± Jiang Ke scrutinized his eyes, and, seeing no pretense, released him, then turned to the others, ¡°I¡¯m looking for the murderer. If anyone saw anything, speak up. I will reward you handsomely.¡± The crowd began to whisper among themselves. But in the end, no one offered any useful information. It was simply an unsolvable mystery. Jiang Ke clenched his fists, holding back his rage, and turned to leave. Sang Yan looked at him returning and asked, ¡°Did you find the murderer?¡± Jiang Ke hung his head low and said in a muffled voice, ¡°I¡¯m useless, I didn¡¯t find anything.¡± Sang Yan had anticipated this outcome, and said, ¡°That¡¯s why, when you¡¯re out and about, it¡¯s best to be kind to others. If you had spared someone that day, maybe none of this would have happened today.¡± ¡°Maybe it wasn¡¯t those guys.¡± He still suspected Qi Jiu. This person had deep schemes and was bound to cause trouble. Sang Yan knew he was talking about Qi Jiu and shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t think it was him.¡± That man had an upright look in his eyes and brows. If he truly was from the Beiqi Royal Family, he would certainly be too proud to stoop to harming a woman. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t understand her thoughts and felt she was looking at Qi Jiu in a different light, and said jealously, ¡°Anyway, in your eyes, everyone is better than me.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t argue. After what he had done, how could she think well of him? Ridiculous. She wasn¡¯t sick. ¡°Ah Yan, I was wrong.¡± He cupped her chin, looked into her eyes, and made a startling confession. Sang Yan was startled, ¡°What have you done wrong?¡± Could it be that he had come to his senses? Was he planning to send her back? A sense of expectation rose in her heart. But that expectation was met with disappointment. Jiang Ke said, ¡°I was wrong to take you out to sea. If we had gone somewhere else, I would never have let you suffer like this.¡± Sang Yan immediately didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore. She thought he had seen the error of his ways, but it turned out he just regretted choosing the wrong destination. ¡°Ah Yan, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡± She was so annoyed with him. She closed her eyes. Out of sight, out of mind. Jiang Ke, feeling hurt inside, said with a slight whine, ¡°Well, if you won¡¯t talk, then don¡¯t. It¡¯s not like you were going to say anything I wanted to hear.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Great, now it was her fault. The pillow beside her sank down. Turned out he had lain down next to her. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pushed him off the bed. But he hugged her over the blankets, murmuring, ¡°Ah Yan, if you had died, I would have died with you. I¡¯m glad you¡¯re alright.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She completely believed that this madman would do something as drastic as dying for love. ¡°You, you¡ª¡ª¡± She wanted to say: Don¡¯t die with me, I don¡¯t want to see you even as a ghost, if you follow me, you would contaminate my cycle of reincarnation. But looking at his face, equally gaunt, haggard, and weary, and thinking about his age of only eighteen, she felt an untimely softness in her heart. What a cruel fate. Time marched on as usual. They were getting closer and closer to Puluo Country. When word spread that they would arrive in Puluo Country in three days, Jiang Ke could hardly contain his excitement. Victory was in sight. He was about to spend blissful days with her for the rest of their lives. The entire ship was immersed in the joy of reaching their destination. ¡°I heard that the beauties of Puluo Country have amazing figures.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, you know those, um, attributes.¡± ¡°Hehehe, buddy, you¡¯re making it hard for me to restrain myself.¡± ¡°Hey, brother, we¡¯re in the same boat here, let¡¯s do it together when the time comes!¡± ¡­ They huddled together speaking lewdly. As Jiang Ke passed by, he headed back to his room, straight over to the person on the bed. Sang Yan was both shocked and angry, ¡°What are you doing?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Ke to suddenly become so impetuous. These days, their relationship had been quite pure. Having been admonished by her, Jiang Ke also came back to his senses, said nothing, went to the table, and drank a pot of cool tea. Sang Yan watched with mixed feelings, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Were you drugged?¡± Remembering the must-have plots in novels about being drugged, she grew nervous, ¡°Jiang Ke, if you dare to come any closer, I will never forgive you.¡± Maybe her threat was compelling or perhaps the cool tea quelled the fire within him, but he ultimately managed to control himself. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Then get out. I don¡¯t want to see you right now.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± He complied and left the room, standing guard outside. He regretted that he had acted foolishly for a moment, letting their relationship cool down. But he really wanted something to happen between them, a kiss or perhaps something more intimate. As an adult man, he was in agony. ¡°Why are you sitting outside?¡± Han Mo came by, his tone mocking. Jiang Ke looked up at the sound of his voice, glanced at him, but did not respond. Ever since his fallout with Qi Jiu, the latter had been treating him as non-existent. It also indirectly revealed his opportunistic nature¡ªhe was warm to you only when it was profitable. Once you became useless, you were nothing in his eyes. He understood this very well because he was the same kind of person. But having experienced it firsthand, it didn¡¯t feel good. But Han Mo was different. He treated him the same as usual, with consistent teasing, and even sarcasm. He found Han Mo somewhat interesting. ¡°I want to sit outside, is there a problem?¡± He replied irritably. Han Mo looked at him with a smile, ¡°No problem. It¡¯s just that you look particularly pitiful. Like a homeless dog.¡± Jiang Ke wanted to ¡°bite¡± back, ¡°Han Mo, if you can¡¯t speak properly, then get lost!¡± So Han Mo left. After he was gone, Jiang Ke stood up. Not wanting to sit outside like a foolish dog, he thought for a moment and then headed to the bow of the ship. There, he saw an extravagant large ship coming in the distance. There was a tall flag fluttering on the ship. The flag bore a large golden-black ¡°L¨¹¡± character. Curious, he casually pulled a passenger to ask, ¡°What ship is that?¡± The passenger, who was fishing, looked up and got so scared that he dropped his fishing rod, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s a pirate ship!¡± His face was filled with terror as he shouted, ¡°Bad news, bad news, the pirates are coming!¡± All of a sudden, the whole cabin boiled over. Everyone began to hide their valuables. ¡°Damn it, these cursed pirates, how did we run into them?¡± ¡°All my savings of two months are on this ship, what am I going to do now?¡± ¡°Quick, hide your daughter well. I heard that pirates love to kidnap women!¡± ¡°They¡¯re even more ruthless than bandits! And they¡¯re desperate for women!¡± ¡­ Their words pierced Jiang Ke¡¯s ears like thorns. Thinking of Sang Yan, he too became anxious. As soon as he entered the room, he urged her, ¡°Sang Yan, change your clothes quickly, the pirates are coming!¡± Chapter 141 - 141: Scouring Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Scouring Pirates fired several cannon shots at the merchant ship. The captain, wanting to save his ship, immediately raised his hands and surrendered. The pirates, having achieved their goal, cheered as they boarded the ship. They were tall and formidable, clattering aboard with over forty men, all brandishing gleaming weapons and looking ferocious as if they had escaped from hell. The last to board the merchant ship was different from the rest. He appeared to be about twenty years old, short in stature, but with delicate features and dressed in splendid clothes, at first glance, he looked like a beauty. But his voice was a clear, masculine tone. ¡°Everyone, calm down, for now the Lv Family is under my command, Lv Tianrui, and I, I only take wealth, not lives.¡± He smiled radiantly, seemingly easy to talk to. With his arrival, the pirates split into two groups, making way for him. The passengers on the ship watched this scene and began to discuss: ¡°I heard that the Lv Family had changed leaders, but I didn¡¯t expect it to be true.¡± ¡°This one doesn¡¯t seem so fierce.¡± ¡°Ever heard of a smiling tiger? And if he¡¯s really not that fierce, how did he kill the previous leader?¡± ¡°That makes sense. I saw him once before, seems like he¡¯s Lv Dayue¡¯s brother, fratricide that is.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard he mutilated his brother so badly that he hung the body on a flagpole for seven days before letting him die.¡± ¡­ They quietly exchanged tales of Lv Tianrui¡¯s past. Jiang Ke listened quietly, glancing in Qi Jiu¡¯s direction. Qi Jiu seemed to have no intention of making a move. If they did make a move, plus him, they might stand a chance. With that thought, he walked over and whispered, ¡°Shall we make a move? Together, we might not suffer a loss.¡± Qi Jiu, hearing this, gave a faint smile, ¡°If money can solve it, let¡¯s solve it with money. I don¡¯t want to make enemies with pirates over this bit of money.¡± Pirates, greedy by nature and formidable, come without a trace and go without a shadow, like ghosts claiming lives on the sea. Once targeted by them, one can forget about peace ever again. He was not that foolish. Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Qi Jiu to be so cowardly, or rather, not cowardly, but utterly lacking in any reckless spirit. ¡°These people are innocent.¡± He was half a man of worldly society, piously righteous in the past, and even now, couldn¡¯t stand to see the weak being bullied. Qi Jiu¡¯s smile grew cold, ¡°Then you make a move. Just don¡¯t involve me.¡± Saying this, he walked away, distancing himself greatly from him. Jiang Ke didn¡¯t expect this attitude from him, and amidst his anger, he could only hold back. After all, he wasn¡¯t alone. Sang Yan was still hidden in the room¡¯s rafters. He couldn¡¯t risk it. Lv Tianrui walked to the front of the pirates, took charge, and continued, ¡°Now, line up properly and hand over your treasures obediently. Don¡¯t make me search you.¡± Under absolute military force, everyone handed over their bounty to save their lives. ¡°Sir, this is truly all I have.¡± ¡°Sir, please pity me, my old mother is waiting at home for this money for salvation.¡± ¡°I have no money, really no money. I¡¯m just a sailor, and this month¡¯s wage hasn¡¯t been paid yet.¡± ¡°Sir, spare my life!¡± ¡­ They forcibly took wealth. Those who couldn¡¯t give money, or gave too little, all received a beating. When it was Jiang Ke¡¯s turn, he estimated from the previous people¡¯s contributions and handed over the silver bag. The pirate took it out and looked, containing fifty taels of silver. Passable. He bit it to ensure it was real, then gestured, ¡°Stand over there. Next.¡± Jiang Ke moved to the side where those who had paid were, watching as Qi Jiu and his two companions each gave 500 taels, drawing a look of respect from the pirates. ¡°Not bad. Not bad. You are capable. Easy come, easy go, right? Don¡¯t be like them, all stingy and miserable.¡± ¡°Um, I appreciate your good words.¡± Qi Jiu and his two companions also came over. Jiang Ke marveled at their lavishness¡ªto ward off a disaster, they really spent big. Soon, all the passengers had been searched. But how could pirates stop so easily? Lv Tianrui spoke again, ¡°Since this is all the money you have, whatever else I find now counts as unclaimed property.¡± As he finished speaking, the pirates began searching their bodies. Anyone caught hiding silver was violently beaten! ¡°Truly no business without deceit!¡± ¡°So dishonest, disappointing our trust, understand?¡± ¡°Do we look that easy to fool?¡± ¡°Exactly, do you think we are beggars!¡± ¡­ While committing their violent acts, the pirates cursed continuously. Jiang Ke wasn¡¯t foolish enough to hide money on his person, so he kept a low profile among the crowd. Watching those being beaten and left battered, he couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists, resisting the urge to step forward and help. In that moment, one of the beaten men pointed out, ¡°My lord! Stop beating! He, he hid someone! He has money!¡± It was the burly man. Scared from the beating, he pointed to Jiang Ke and said, ¡°He must be hiding money too! I also heard he¡¯s offering a huge reward to thank someone!¡± Jiang Ke thus became an obvious target. ¡°You, boy, come out!¡± Believing the burly man¡¯s claim, a pirate pointed at Jiang Ke and shouted loudly. Jiang Ke clenched his fists, stepped forward, and explained, ¡°I was just talking; I don¡¯t have that much money. Who hasn¡¯t bragged a bit? If I were really that rich, why would I be here alone trying to make a living at sea? I¡¯d at least bring a few servants to attend to me.¡± His explanation was reasonable. Seeing that the pirate seemed convinced, the burly man, with a face full of panic, shouted, ¡°In any case, he¡¯s hiding someone! A pretty boy! All the money must be on him! Lord, I¡¯m telling the truth, they can all testify!¡± The beaten passengers, eager to avoid further punishment, all nodded, ¡°Yes, there¡¯s definitely a pretty boy. Very handsome. Looks like a young dame.¡± The world is cold-hearted. Humanity is perilous. That¡¯s how Jiang Ke was utterly betrayed by them. Poor guy, he had just been thinking about helping them. Qi Jiu¡¯s glance came over, cold as ice, as if watching a good show. Jiang Ke clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t push people too far!¡± That remark was somewhat provoking. The pirates hadn¡¯t heard anyone dare to speak to them like that in many years. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯ve got guts, kid!¡± He laughed a few times and ordered a search of the ship. ¡°Find that pretty boy.¡± To save time, he kicked the burly man and others, ¡°You too, go! If you don¡¯t find him, I¡¯ll throw you into the sea to feed the sharks!¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Lord, we¡¯ll definitely find him!¡± The burly man and the others shivered as they went to search. Jiang Ke watched anxiously, about to take action¡ª ¡°Young man, we only take wealth, not lives.¡± The speaker was Lv Tianrui. He was short and easily overlooked if he didn¡¯t speak. Jiang Ke, seeing him as someone reasonable, said, ¡°That¡¯s my brother, timid and frail, he really can¡¯t stand any shocks. I hope, my lord, you could be merciful.¡± He had never begged like this before, appearing very embarrassed. Lv Tianrui sized him up, his stature slender and sinewy, eyes bright, with a natural elegance, clearly not an ordinary man. After a long moment, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Chapter 142 - 142 Blood Compensation Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Blood Compensation Jiang Ke couldn¡¯t reveal his real name. If the pirate leader, Lv Tianrui, knew of his deeds, he might have sold him out for money. Thinking about it, he said, ¡°We met by chance, why ask for names?¡± Lv Tianrui laughed, ¡°Guess, in this situation, if I ask and you don¡¯t answer, what will the consequences be?¡± He was threatening. Jiang Ke hated this feeling. Just as he was about to make a move¡ª Lv Tianrui spoke again, ¡°You have calluses on your hands, I can tell they are from practicing martial arts. You are a practitioner, yet you disguise yourself and hide amongst the merchant ships, what are you planning to do?¡± ¡°What I do, what does it have to do with you?¡± Jiang Ke couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He swiftly turned, snatching a knife from a nearby pirate and pressing it against Lv Tianrui¡¯s neck. Capturing the leader first! ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Let go of our boss!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk this out!¡± ¡­ The situation suddenly escalated. The pirates couldn¡¯t react in time and saw their leader captured. Consequently, they looked terrified and expressed their worries. Jiang Ke pressed the knife harder, its blade sharp, and soon blood began to ooze out. Lv Tianrui¡¯s neck was fair, making the red blood even more striking. Though he looked frail and weak, he was tough, not screaming in pain at all, even asking, ¡°Who are you? Sure you want to go against me? Have you considered the safety of that pretty face of yours?¡± Jiang Ke was thinking about Sang Yan¡¯s safety, which is why he refused to be controlled. ¡°Tell your men to get off the boat! Hurry!¡± He wanted to take the initiative before Sang Yan was discovered, weakening the opponent¡¯s forces. But how could Lv Tianrui, a small man who could subdue a large group of pirates, not have some measures for self-defense? A small green snake slid out of his sleeve, quickly coiling around Jiang Ke¡¯s neck. Its eyes glinted menacingly, hissing at Jiang Ke¡¯s neck, waiting for its master¡¯s command. Lv Tianrui smiled and said, ¡°This snake, named Little Green, is extremely venomous. One bite and you¡¯re dead. Now, which is faster, your knife or Little Green¡¯s bite?¡± The situation was at a standstill. Jiang Ke had also lost his advantage. Worse yet, noise came from the cabin, ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve found her! Found her!¡± They dragged Sang Yan out. It seemed she had resisted; her hair was messy, and her face bore the mark of a slap, half of her face swollen. Jiang Ke turned in alarm, and just then, a dart struck his finger, causing the knife to slip from his grasp. Lv Tianrui thus escaped danger, protected by his men in the middle. Meanwhile, Little Green quickly returned to his wrist, coiling around it twice, resembling a jade bangle. ¡°Qi Jiu!¡± ¡°You motherfucker, you actually plotted against me!¡± Jiang Ke glared murderously at the instigator, feeling like he could rip out his heart¡ªhe had actually helped the pirates at the crucial moment. Qi Jiu didn¡¯t show any shame; he even cracked a smile. He had been ready to teach him a lesson. Young people do not know the dangers of the world; their naive optimism, he would teach him what it meant not to listen. Sang Yan was pushed forward. She had originally hidden in the rafters, but was discovered by that strong man who then grabbed her hands behind her back and shoved her forward. ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± She called his name. Jiang Ke wanted to go to her, but was surrounded by pirates. A fight broke out. In a moment, Jiang Ke had kicked two men into the sea and even injured two pirates. ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°If you resist further, we¡¯ll kill him!¡± Seeing that Jiang Ke¡¯s martial prowess was too much for them, the pirates held a knife to Sang Yan¡¯s neck. Sang Yan was Jiang Ke¡¯s vulnerability. Seeing the knife at her neck, Jiang Ke had no choice but to surrender. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡± He dropped his knife and raised his hands. His right hand, which had held the knife, was dripping with blood. It was Qi Jiu who had injured him with the dart. ¡°Motherfucker! Serves you right for being cocky!¡± One pirate kicked him tentatively. Right in the knee. The force was substantial. Jiang Ke winced in pain, clenched his teeth and bore it, paying it no mind but instead said to Lv Tianrui, ¡°She¡¯s just a sick patient, don¡¯t make it hard on her.¡± ¡°At this time, you still think of others. Didn¡¯t see this coming, you¡¯ve got quite the loyalty.¡± Lv Tianrui said sarcastically, his gaze falling on Sang Yan. It did look good. And the sickness was real too. A man so frail that he couldn¡¯t stand the wind¡ªnow that was embarrassing. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He asked casually. Sang Yan told the truth, ¡°Sang Yan.¡± ¡°Sang Yan?¡± Lv Tianrui repeated, finding it effeminate and said disdainfully, ¡°What kind of name is that? It sounds unlucky.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She remained silent, her gaze shifting to Jiang Ke. His eyes were filled with worry, and he was a mess. He had tried to come over several times but was kicked around by the pirates. ¡°Stop hitting him!¡± She wasn¡¯t worried about him. Because she still needed him, and if he were to get hurt, her fate might be even worse. ¡°Heh, you two seem like lovers.¡± Lv Tianrui, misunderstanding their relationship, expressed his disgust openly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with having something, and now men!¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We are not what you think.¡± Sang Yan hurriedly explained, thinking Lv Tianrui might be homophobic and did not want to upset him, ¡°Really, we are not in that kind of relationship.¡± It was hard for her to reveal her identity as a daughter because the people present were pirates and villains who robbed merchant ships. This made her explanation seem especially weak and powerless. ¡°How cowardly to deny your actions! Coward!¡± He clearly disliked Sang Yan¡¯s reply and cursed. Then, looking at Jiang Ke, he asked, ¡°He treats you like this, and you still want to protect him?¡± Jiang Ke: ¡°¡­¡± Is this person sick? It seemed like he was trying to judge their relationship. ¡°You said you only wanted money, not to hurt anyone. I¡¯ll give you all the money.¡± He changed the topic, ¡°Don¡¯t harm her, I¡¯ll go get it now.¡± He thereby answered with his actions. Lv Tianrui looked at him and did not stop him. Since he didn¡¯t stop him, the pirates didn¡¯t either. Therefore, Jiang Ke headed towards the ship¡¯s cabin. Of course, as he passed by Sang Yan, he suddenly acted, shielding her behind him. This relieved his heart momentarily. He looked at Lv Tianrui and gestured with his hand to stop the pirates from coming closer, ¡°Wait, we¡¯ll each get what we need. I¡¯ll still give the money. Five thousand taels to ensure our safety.¡± The pirates looked at Lv Tianrui, waiting for his command. Lv Tianrui nodded, letting him go get the money. Jiang Ke took Sang Yan, ready to enter the cabin. Just then, Qi Jiu spoke up, ¡°Mr. Lv, these two have mysterious identities. If we dig deeper, there could be greater value.¡± He was inciting Lv Tianrui not to let them go so easily. Jiang Ke, annoyed, retorted, ¡°Qi Jiu, your own identity isn¡¯t simple either. Digging deeper would reveal greater value!¡± They started bickering like dogs, each exposing the other¡¯s true colors. Lv Tianrui hesitated; his gaze flitting between Jiang Ke and Qi Jiu. After a while, he finally ordered, ¡°Take him down!¡± In the end, he still targeted Jiang Ke! The fight erupted again. Jiang Ke, protecting Sang Yan, struggled to fend off the attacks. How could two fists stand against multiple attackers, especially more than twenty people in such a confined space? He had slashes on his neck, cheeks, back, and thighs of varying degrees. The blood was profuse, the smell pungent. Compared to his miserable state, Sang Yan hadn¡¯t been hurt at all. He¡¯d protected her well. ¡°Jiang Ke¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid!¡± The pirates knew he cared about Sang Yan and all rushed toward her. This caused him to sustain even heavier injuries. His strength also waned as the blood flowed. The situation increasingly turned against him. Suddenly, he slipped and fell heavily onto the deck. It was Qi Jiu¡¯s sabotage! And because of his fall, Sang Yan lost her protection and fell back into the pirates¡¯ hands. The situation reverted to before. With a knife held to her neck, Sang Yan was threatened, and he surrendered. This time, though, things could not end well. Lv Tianrui was furious! Looking at the dead bodies on the ground, his good-looking face turned cold and cruel, ¡°I said, we only take the money, not hurt anyone, but you¡¯ve killed so many of my brothers! You deserve to die! Blood must be repaid with blood!¡± He snatched a broadsword from someone nearby and chopped decisively. Blood splattered. Sang Yan, her eyes filled with terror, screamed in despair, ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 143 - 143 Instinct Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Instinct No one expected Lv Tianrui to chop off Jiang Ke¡¯s right arm. It was the hand he used to wield a sword. Without it, no matter how skilled his swordsmanship, he would have no room to exhibit it. And without an arm at the prime of his life, how desperate must the rest of his life be? ¡°Save him!¡± Sang Yan threw herself forward, pressing hard on his bleeding arm. Her face and mouth were sprayed with blood, she screamed helplessly, ¡°Is there a doctor? Doctor! Save him!¡± She had always felt she wanted Jiang Ke dead. But now that he was truly dying, she realized she didn¡¯t want him to die. ¡°Please, please save him!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t¡ª¡± The pain was buzzing in Jiang Ke¡¯s head, which no longer worked. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t think about what losing an arm meant, he just saw her crying and pleading, and felt a particular heartache, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t beg them.¡± ¡°Humph, quite the tough guy!¡± Lv Tianrui wiped the blood from his face and smiled as he gave the order, ¡°Take them all back! I¡¯ll have a good interrogation!¡± Then, the pirates began to move the loot. Of course, they also found quite a bit more treasure. Plucking a goose. They plucked it exceptionally clean. Leaving behind only the blood on the deck. That was Jiang Ke¡¯s blood. Qi Jiu stared at the large stain of blood, feeling at one moment that Jiang Ke got what he deserved, and at another that he shouldn¡¯t have. ¡°Now Jiang Ke is ruined.¡± Han Mo sighed, his gaze filled with pity, but more so with indifference. Wandering the world for many years, he had seen too many similar tragedies, hardly enough to stir much emotion in him. ¡°It¡¯s better that he is ruined. If he can¡¯t serve Mr. Jiu, he has no value in existing.¡± Han Chen¡¯s words were cold-blooded, reflecting his blind loyalty to Qi Jiu. Qi Jiu watched the departing pirate ship and murmured, ¡°Great achievements require sacrifice.¡± How could he have reached this point without the ruthlessness to kill his own father? ¡°Those pirates¡­¡± He muttered to himself and then stopped half-way. * On the pirate ship Sang Yan and Jiang Ke were locked in a small room under the deck. The small room was gloomy, stuffy, and reeked, with a rat scurrying by from time to time. ¡°Squeak, squeak¡ª¡± And continuously making noises. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t see the room clearly, but she knew the environment was terrible. And in Jiang Ke¡¯s current state, he simply couldn¡¯t survive here. The growth of bacteria alone would claim his life. ¡°Someone! Anyone!¡± She banged on the door, shouting, ¡°His condition is serious! Please, I beg you, find a doctor, save him!¡± The pirates were cruel and did not send for a doctor for Jiang Ke. They were busy checking their new haul. ¡°Pah, only eight thousand taels, what a bunch of paupers!¡± The one who spoke was the second-in-command pirate, Gref. It was he who had organized the search for money. Even the knife that Lv Tianrui took to chop off Jiang Ke¡¯s arm was his. He was tall and burly with thick eyebrows and a large nose, and when he spoke, his voice was as deep as a bell, his mouth revealing two golden teeth. ¡°This is for the boss.¡± He pushed a chest containing four thousand taels of silver to Lv Tianrui, his face full of sycophantic flattery. Lv Tianrui laughed, glanced at his deputy, and the latter took it away to his room. Just then a maid-like figure came to deliver wine and meat. The group cheered up and began to eat and drink. Once Gref had a drink, he wouldn¡¯t stop talking, rambling about everything, and then got to, ¡°Lately, we haven¡¯t seen any merchant ships at all. Damn it, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We only come out a few times a month, didn¡¯t expect to scare them into changing their sailing area, right?¡± ¡°If it goes on like this, we¡¯re going to starve!¡± ¡­ The pirates were worried about their prospects for the next month. ¡°I heard the Emperor is looking for someone, recently banning all sea travel.¡± The remark was made by Lv Tianrui¡¯s deputy. ¡°This hand is named Wu Tao, born young and feeble, with very fair skin and tiny eyes that virtually disappear when he squints. Yet upon closer examination, one would notice the blue hue of his eyes, resembling that of Qi Jiu and the others.¡± When Lv Tianrui heard what Wu Tao had said, he immediately thought of the two individuals with unclear identities. He promptly said, ¡°Go find a doctor to check on that man. He must not die.¡± Upon hearing this, Wu Tao immediately responded, ¡°Yes. I will go right away.¡± * Jiang Ke¡¯s condition was dire. He had lost too much blood and had fallen into a coma soon after boarding the pirate ship. Now he had developed a high fever and began to talk nonsensically. ¡°Ah Yan, Ah Yan, run¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to, Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid¡ª¡± ¡°Ah Yan, Ah Yan¡ª¡± He lay slumped in the corner, his body burning up, sweat dripping profusely. His severed arm was still bleeding. The stench of blood was so thick it induced nausea. Sang Yan swatted away flies with her hand, once again tearing off pieces of her own clothing to cover him, to prevent insects from biting. Beyond that, she had no other recourse. ¡°People!¡± ¡°Help!¡± ¡°Please save him, I beg you to save him!¡± Sang Yan cried out in plea, her voice already hoarse. She didn¡¯t want Jiang Ke to die. Nor to end like an insignificant pest. He was a noble Young Master Heir, a vibrant young man; it wasn¡¯t right for him to die like this! ¡°People, is there anyone there? Come quick¡ª¡± Amidst her crying and shouting, footsteps were heard. She quickly wiped away tears and listened intently. Someone was indeed coming. The light slowly grew brighter. She saw a frail young man holding a lantern, followed by an old man. ¡°Big brother, please show some kindness. Find him a doctor! He¡¯s on the brink! Please, save him!¡± As she pleaded, the door opened. Wu Tao said nothing and looked at the old man, signaling for him to go inside. After the old man entered, Sang Yan, using the light, saw that he carried a medicine box and was a doctor. She quickly made room for him. Jiang Ke¡¯s distressing state elicited sighs from the old man, ¡°How could this happen? The wound is so dirty! This environment is awful! This won¡¯t do! We need to find another place!¡± Wu Tao hesitated. He was only responsible for calling the doctor, not for what happened afterward. Seeing his hesitation, Sang Yan hurriedly said, ¡°It¡¯s too dark in here, and the doctor is old. It might be difficult for him to bandage the wound. Please, let¡¯s move him somewhere else.¡± After hearing this, Wu Tao eventually agreed. Sang Yan then attempted to help Jiang Ke, but he was as heavy as a mountain, and she couldn¡¯t budge him¡ªshe even accidentally touched his wound. He convulsed in pain but did not wake up. ¡°Big brother, please help¡ª¡± She looked toward the young man, tears in her eyes, imploring him. Wu Tao¡¯s heart unusually softened. He passed the lantern to Sang Yan and carried Jiang Ke out and into a storeroom on the ship. The storeroom was similarly cramped and dirty, but much brighter and had a battered bed. Seeing this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t care about the filth and stretched out her arm, using her sleeve to clean. Wu Tao placed Jiang Ke on the bed. The doctor began to treat Jiang Ke¡¯s wound. He took a large swig of strong alcohol and sprayed it directly onto the wound. Jiang Ke woke up in pain, his body covered in cold sweat, his face so white it lacked any trace of color, tears forced out by sheer agony. But he bit down on his left wrist, refusing to make a sound. Sang Yan wiped his sweat and cradled him in her arms, comforting him, ¡°It¡¯s okay now, it¡¯s okay, it will be over soon.¡± Jiang Ke passed out again to her tender and hoarse voice. The night was long. She brewed medicine for him, administering it to him to drink. Besides drinking the medicine, his bandages needed changing. His fever did not subside. She continually soaked a towel in cold water to cool him down. But it was useless. His delirium raged on, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m going to die.¡± If he were to die, his biggest regret would be not having won her over. So while bleeding from his severed arm and with closed eyes, he acted on pure masculine instinct to take/claim. ¡°Ah Yan, please, don¡¯t reject me¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 144 - 144 Cooperation Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Cooperation Sang Yan didn¡¯t refuse. She went along with his kiss. If this body was what he ultimately desired, then she would grant it to him. But as he kissed, he stopped again. ¡°Enough¡­¡± He collapsed on top of her, murmuring, ¡°He is a true gentleman.¡± He knew He Ying hadn¡¯t touched her since. In that case, how could he take away her purity? Like this, he could no longer give her happiness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His tears fell, dripping onto her neck. Drop after drop. Warm wetness. Sang Yan¡¯s clothes were also wet, She didn¡¯t leave but instead reached out to pat his back and softly asked, ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t regret it.¡± He remained stubborn, ¡°No matter what I become, Ah Yan, I don¡¯t regret this journey.¡± This period of fugitive life was his beautiful dream. If he had the chance to do it all over, he would still make the same choice. Only he would do it better. Not let her get hurt. Not let her suffer. ¡°Ah Yan, I love you.¡± ¡°Why do I love you so much?¡± He was asking her, and it seemed like he was also questioning himself. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t answer. She was ready to be ravaged by him; she hadn¡¯t expected him to cease his advances. At this moment, the pain he had long brought her was suddenly released. Who could hate someone who genuinely loved them? ¡°Jiang Ke, hang in there, we¡¯ll definitely leave this place safely.¡± She cheered him on. But Jiang Ke¡¯s voice was fading, ¡°Ah Yan, when I just fell asleep, I dreamed about my brother.¡± He often wondered, when Jiang Ling was drowning, what was he thinking? Surely, it wouldn¡¯t be¡ªif only he hadn¡¯t married her. So, like his brother, he wouldn¡¯t regret his actions either. ¡°Ah Yan, you¡¯re wonderful¡­ my brother¡­ certainly wouldn¡¯t¡­ have any regrets either.¡± His voice grew weaker and weaker. Sang Yan was very worried, ¡°Jiang Ke, what¡¯s happening to you? Hold on. You can¡¯t leave me behind.¡± But there was no sound from him. She hurriedly checked his breathing and found he had just fainted. A great relief. A great relief. As long as he was still alive¡­ But reality was not that fortunate. He kept falling into a high fever again and again. Sang Yan began to worry he would burn himself into an idiot. The towel was repeatedly soaked, used for cold compresses. She also called for someone to bring some blocks of ice. After a night of busyness, his fever finally subsided. But unexpectedly, after Jiang Ke woke up, he struggled to rise, wanting to thank Lv Tianrui in person. Lv Tianrui, upon hearing this, found it amusing and, as he also wanted to interrogate his identity, agreed. Jiang Ke was helped by pirates to the council hall. In the council hall Lv Tianrui sat at the head, leisurely playing with his little green snake. Beside him was the second-in-command, Gref. Gref looked at Jiang Ke entering, covered in blood and in a sorry state, and felt annoyed, ¡°Boss, why keep such a person? Just throw him and that pretty boy together into the sea.¡± Lv Tianrui chuckled softly, ¡°You know what kind of person he is, and you want to kill him? Maybe he¡¯s our cash cow!¡± Relying on robbing merchant ships, although it brought in huge profits, was still too little. He Ying was full of ambition and wanted to pull off something big. Back in the day, the Lv Family started out by robbing military supplies. At that time, merchant ships would readily hand over their valuables upon hearing the Lv name. But things are not the same as before. There are more pirate gangs now, and the Lv Family¡¯s deterrent power isn¡¯t as strong. It¡¯s time to do something to shake up these demons and monsters of the sea. Unaware of Lv Tianrui¡¯s thoughts, Jiang Ling gave a pale smile and flattered him, ¡°Mr. Lv¡¯s foresight is truly admirable.¡± He had figured it out. This Lv Tianrui was a greedy man, fixated on wealth and somewhat concerned about his reputation. That would be his point of breakthrough. Thinking this, Jiang Ling knelt on one knee, ¡°I, Jiang Ling, thank Mr. Lv for sparing my life.¡± He wanted to live. First, to ensure Sang Yan¡¯s safety. Secondly, to seek revenge. For the grudge of a severed arm, he wanted Lv Tianrui¡¯s life! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lv Tianrui didn¡¯t sense the murderous intention from Jiang Ling. He just felt he had tamed a fierce beast. No, what kind of beast was he now? Just a useless man missing an arm. Just look at that day on the merchant ship, relying on his martial arts skills to fight and kill, but now isn¡¯t he behaving? If he had known this would happen, why bother in the first place? ¡°So how will you thank me for not killing you? Empty thanks are nothing but a fart to me!¡± He took a sip of tea, blew on the froth, and waited for Jiang Ling¡¯s response. Jiang Ling replied, ¡°I believe Mr. Lv is curious about my identity.¡± This was a topic of interest to Lv Tianrui. He immediately put down the teacup and eagerly anticipated the revelation. Jiang Ling continued, ¡°To be honest, I am a convict wanted by the court for abducting the Emperor¡¯s woman. The so-called pretty boy that everyone thought was just some pet, was actually the Emperor¡¯s favored concubine, the future Empress of the great Da He.¡± ¡°What! You, you little¡ª!¡± Gref turned pale with fright, nearly unable to stay in his seat, and almost rolled off his chair. On the contrary, Lv Tianrui laughed heartily, ¡°Excellent! Excellent! This is interesting!¡± Being a pirate, the worst of the worst, he naturally only appreciated the worst kind of people. That¡¯s what Jiang Ling thought, and he thought right, and continued, ¡°The dog Emperor stole my love, forcibly took her into the palace, where¡¯s the wrong in me taking her back?¡± ¡°No wrong! No wrong! A man should act just so! How can the hatred of a stolen wife be so easily dismissed?¡± Lv Tianrui clapped in delight, looking at Jiang Ling with more admiration. From the first glance, he took quite a liking to him. And it proved his exceptional insight! ¡°Even though I find myself in this sorry state now, I have no regrets. Life and death are worthless, the true value lies in living spiritedly.¡± Each of Jiang Ling¡¯s sentences was more forceful than the last. This kind of power was infectious. Lv Tianrui ignited on the spot: ¡°Haha, yes, yes, that¡¯s the way to live. Quickly, quickly, offer him a seat.¡± His fondness for Jiang Ling was evident. Gref, frowning, felt as if his boss had been brainwashed, about to be conned into doing something foolish. ¡°Boss, boss, this man is spouting dangerous nonsense¡ª¡± He intended to advise him. But was immediately shut down by Lv Tianrui: ¡°You shut your mouth!¡± Then he beckoned to Jiang Ling, ¡°You continue!¡± Jiang Ling then continued, ¡°I have laid out my cards, wanting to propose a cooperation with Mr. Lv.¡± Lv Tianrui asked with a smile, ¡°What cooperation?¡± Jiang Ling lowered his eyes, hesitating, ¡°This cooperation¡­ it¡¯s indeed a gamble against all the world, I fear that it may¡­ it might put Mr. Lv in danger.¡± He said as much, but each sentence was enticing. Lv Tianrui was hooked and demanded, ¡°What cooperation! Don¡¯t beat around the bush! I¡¯m a pirate, what do I fear? My own brother was butchered by my own hands!¡± Seeing this, Jiang Ling turned to the side and said, ¡°Mr. Lv, I think for this cooperation, the fewer people who know, the better.¡± With that, he glanced at Gref, adding, ¡°Of course, for your safety, this gentleman here can stay.¡± He knew he hadn¡¯t yet won Lv Tianrui¡¯s trust. So he was ¡°considerate¡± for his sake, allowing him to keep someone for his protection. Lv Tianrui didn¡¯t find Jiang Ling all that dangerous, looking at his amputated arm, his weakness, seemingly on the verge of fainting, what danger could he pose? But he had suffered at Jiang Ling¡¯s hand and should be cautious, so he ordered everyone else to leave, leaving only Gref at his side. Mainly because this man was the second in command, and some important matters also required consultation with him. ¡°Speak.¡± Once everyone had left, he urged. Jiang Ling wasted no time and said directly, ¡°Mr. Lv, since ancient times, beauties have been the downfall of nations. If you use her to threaten the Emperor, extort a million gold, I bet the Emperor will not hesitate.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Gref exploded! ¡°You, you are out of your damned mind!¡± Gref pointed at him and cursed fiercely, ¡°You have ill intentions! You want to get us killed! That¡¯s the Emperor! You dare extort him? Boss, don¡¯t be fooled by him! He¡¯s out to kill us! He wants revenge!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com Chapter 145 - 145 Betrayal Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Betrayal ¡°I seek revenge on you? In this half-dead state, how could I possibly seek revenge on you? It¡¯s simply because I fear the day my identity is revealed. Rather than being handed over to the Emperor by you, why not collaborate and extort a huge sum? A million in gold! With that kind of money, who needs to be a pirate?¡± Jiang Ke laid bare his heart, seducing those around him. Lv Tianrui was thoroughly enchanted, ¡°Even as a pirate, I¡¯d be a pirate without equal. Daring to extort Emperor Da He, demanding a million in ransom, haha, such a world-shaking opportunity, how could I not seize it?¡± Money empowers people! Lv Tianrui was truly fearless! Gref strongly opposed, ¡°Boss, calm down. Why must we provoke the Emperor? Kill this kid, send the woman back, we could definitely receive a reward, maybe even snag a high-ranking post!¡± Then, they wouldn¡¯t need to be pirates, engaging in this treacherous, soulless trade! ¡°Idiot! How many years have we been on Da He¡¯s wanted list? If we actually did that, even if the Emperor spared us, would the people of Da He spare us? If not immediately killed, what about later? Rather than live in constant fear of the sword, better to make a fortune!¡± Lv Tianrui scorned Gref¡¯s idea and continued, ¡°Moreover, we are pirates; pirates pledging allegiance to the Emperor is laughable! Go and ask our brothers, who doesn¡¯t want to be the free and unrestrained king of the sea?¡± Gref was thoroughly rebuked, glaring hatefully at Jiang Ke, ¡°Boss, even if you want to extort the Emperor, this guy is cunning and should not be kept.¡± ¡°Am I a handicapped man not even Mr. Ge can tolerate?¡± Jiang Ke pretended weakness, ¡°I merely hate that the Emperor caused my current plight!¡± What he meant was¡ªif the Emperor had not forcibly taken his woman, he wouldn¡¯t have resorted to risking his life, becoming a wanted criminal, ending up on that merchant ship, provoking pirates, losing an arm! Lv Tianrui didn¡¯t really care about Jiang Ke¡¯s hidden intents. He was captivated by the idea of extorting the Emperor for a ransom. If successful, how brilliant would Lv Tianrui¡¯s name be across the seas? If it failed, then it was just a worthless life lost! Just like Jiang Ke had said, a life wasn¡¯t worth much, pleasure was what mattered most! ¡°Seek wealth amidst danger. A pirate who isn¡¯t willing to make big money isn¡¯t a good pirate. If afraid of death, better leave early.¡± He grew disgusted with Gref¡¯s cringing ways. Gref internally disagreed but no longer voiced his objections aloud, ¡°Whatever you say, Boss.¡± He complied for the moment, but rebellion was brewing within him. This man was a madman. Tormented and manipulated by the previous boss, Lv Gang, for years, he had lost his mind. Now, being led by a madman was clearly heading on a path to doom. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Extort the Emperor? Huh, if he wanted to die, he wouldn¡¯t join him! A thing that cowered under others, seeking fame? Was he eager for everyone to know their brothers¡¯ disgraceful acts? Gref looked down, listening to Lv Tianrui¡¯s arrangements. Lv Tianrui wrote an eloquent extortion letter and sent it to Quanzhou by boat. Of course, before the letter was sent, Gref modified it into a plea for a reward. Traveling by sea was far. It would take at least ten days round trip! In these ten days, to prevent the plan from being exposed, they could only kill Lv Tianrui. He assigned trusted men to monitor Lv Tianrui¡¯s daily activities. Lv Tianrui, weak in physique and lacking in martial arts, was usually accompanied by Wu Tao, whose skills were decent but not alarming. The only complication was the little green snake that was always by his side, a real nuisance! Yet¡ª ¡°Mr. Lv is quite close to that Jiang surname kid.¡± The confidant believed that to take down Lv Tianrui, they had to start with Jiang Ke. This was also the reason Jiang Ke had laid this trap. After awakening, Jiang Ke had expressed his gratitude to Lv Tianrui, every move calculated. He wasn¡¯t very sure he could convince Lv Tianrui to go against the Emperor, everything was a gamble, he had even bet that Gref would become disgruntled and betray Lv Tianrui due to this matter! Fortune favored him! He won the bet! These days, he had been wining and dining with Lv Tianrui, discussing the landscapes of the Capital City, even fabricating a grand love story with Sang Yan, all to grow closer to him, waiting for Gref to take the bait! Yu Guang scanned the fleeting shadows outside the door, knowing his success was imminent. ¡°The Emperor is truly detestable! He doesn¡¯t even spare a widow!¡± Lv Tianrui had a fondness for tragic love stories. He was filled with righteous indignation as he heard about the widow¡¯s entanglement with her brother-in-law. Jiang Ke agreed half-heartedly, ¡°How true that is!¡± Lv Tianrui continued, ¡°That Emperor must be nearing thirty by now, right? I heard he still hasn¡¯t fathered a child, probably because of all his misdeeds!¡± Jiang Ke nodded in agreement, saying, ¡°Mr. Lv is right, it must be so.¡± ¡°What goes around comes around.¡± Lv Tianrui changed the topic, ¡°I once loved a widow myself, but unfortunately, she was ruined by that bastard.¡± That was two years ago. They had hijacked a merchant ship, and the captain¡¯s daughter was a widow, exquisitely beautiful, with a timid and fragile demeanor that instantly captivated his heart. At that time, he had some brotherly affection for Lv Gang, though they were half-brothers; he thought having a woman wouldn¡¯t be difficult. But Lv Gang did not agree. He had claimed her that very night. He still remembered the look she gave him when she was dragged into the room. So sorrowful, so despairing. Thinking about it still pained his heart. He had lived numbly for so many years, thinking he could no longer feel pain. He truly wanted to save her! But he was too weak then, just as weak as her, too timid to challenge the authority. He actually didn¡¯t mind those things; he was the leader, and the best things naturally belonged to him. He only thought that once he tired of her, he would grant her to him. But he didn¡¯t. Instead, he threw her to others. He couldn¡¯t stand it, tried to save her, but it backfired. He threw her into the sea. By the time he rescued her, she was already dead. He hadn¡¯t even spoken much to her. Regret, remorse, anger, hatred, the desire to kill sprouted from then on. To kill his love, to degrade his life, not to kill him would be unbearable! ¡°Mr. Lv, please accept my condolences.¡± Jiang Ke sympathized with the sorrow. Immersed in sorrowful emotions, Lv Tianrui didn¡¯t want Jiang Ke to see his vulnerability, so he waved his hand, ¡°Leave me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Ke then withdrew. Upon leaving the room, he spotted a figure not far away. The figure glanced at him. His lips curled into a cold smile as he followed. He arrived at Gref¡¯s room. Gref seemed like he had been waiting for him a long time. ¡°You know what you¡¯re plotting, kid. You hate Lv Tianrui for cutting off one of your arms, leaving you in this foolish state.¡± As he spoke, he placed a hand on the shoulder that was missing an arm. The sleeve was emptily dangling. The moment he pressed on the stump, fresh blood flowed out. It was too painful! His facial muscles twitched from the pain, his eyes brimming with moist red. But he didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t dodge, didn¡¯t speak. He experienced this pain. Only pain made him feel alive now. Chapter 146 - 146 Give Up Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Give Up The stench of blood spread. Fresh blood soaked the empty sleeve. Gref retracted his hand, took a handkerchief from a close confidant, and wiped his hand with disgust, ¡°I know what you want, and I will grant it to you.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t speak, glancing sideways at the fresh blood on his right shoulder. Gref continued, ¡°In three days, it¡¯s the death anniversary of the woman he desires. He will drink a lot, it¡¯s your chance to take action. I will take care of the guards for you. If you succeed, I¡¯ll provide you with a ship, so you and your woman can escape from here.¡± Jiang Ke still didn¡¯t speak, only watched him smile, then turned and left. He returned to his temporary room. This room was re-assigned to him by Lv Tianrui after expressing his gratitude, and it was pretty tidy and comfortable. ¡°How did you get hurt?¡± Sang Yan noticed his wound the moment he entered. He used to stand tall and straight, elegant as an orchid, but now, with an arm missing, it was pitifully incomplete. ¡°Must have accidentally bumped into something.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t intend to reveal his plan. Whether he would kill Lv Tianrui, and whether he would follow Gref¡¯s method to do so, depended on taking advantage of the situation and waiting for the right opportunity. ¡°How could you be so careless? Come here, let me take a look.¡± Sang Yan walked over to examine his wound. As soon as he took off his clothes, it was a bloody mess. There was also the smell of charred flesh. It was because the doctor had used hot iron to stop the bleeding. ¡°Hiss¡ª¡± Every time the medicine was applied and bandaged was like torture. Jiang Ke¡¯s face was covered in cold sweat, breathing slightly harder, ¡°Does it look very, very terrible?¡± Sang Yan answered truthfully, ¡°I used to be scared, but now I¡¯m not anymore.¡± At first, when she applied medicine to him, she had even vomited. Now she had become numb to it. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered too much. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Jiang Ke brushed her hair aside with his left hand, his words filled with self-reproach. He had regretted it for some time now. Not regretting loving her, but regretting bringing her into such a life. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that. Life is unpredictable, you didn¡¯t want this to happen.¡± In her comforting words, Sang Yan re-bandaged him, took a handkerchief, moistened it with water, and wiped the sweat off his face. His beard had grown black and thick due to neglect, and it was prickly. ¡°Ah Yan?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Just wait a bit longer. It will all be over soon. I will let you return to his side.¡± This was the promise he had made when he had woken up that day. She thought it was his way of enticing her, but over the past few days, she had realized he truly had given up on her. ¡°I hope you will be happy. Even if that happiness isn¡¯t provided by me.¡± He grabbed her hand with his left, pressing it against his cheek, foolishly relishing the touch of her hand. Sang Yan was annoyed by the pricking but let him be, ¡°Jiang Ke, don¡¯t give up on yourself. You¡¯re still young, and lacking an arm doesn¡¯t mean your life has no possibility. Remember, there¡¯s no such thing as a hopeless situation, only people who lose hope in situations.¡± She offered these words of encouragement. He listened and laughed, but it was a laugh filled with bitterness and helplessness, ¡°Ah Yan, you don¡¯t understand.¡± He wasn¡¯t despairing over the loss of his arm, but despairing over losing the ability to love her. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You are a good person. And you deserve someone good. I used to think I was that person, but I¡¯m not anymore.¡± Tears fell from his eyes. Soaking her palm. Hot and sticky. Very uncomfortable. Just like her mood. ¡°Jiang Ke, please don¡¯t be like this, okay?¡± Her language was too pale to give him any strength. Jiang Ke had always been obsessive, refusing to give up no matter what she said. Now, having lost an arm, he willingly gave her up, knowing he couldn¡¯t offer her a better future. His love seemed to have instantly transformed from a selfish love into a selfless one. ¡°Ah Yan, in a few days, he will come to take you away.¡± He was looking forward to it yet also in agony. Three days later As Gref had said, Lv Tianrui was drinking dejectedly with a gloomy expression early in the morning. He stayed by his side, feigning ignorance, ¡°Mr. Lv, what¡¯s wrong today? What happened?¡± With his head bowed, Lv Tianrui sighed heavily, ¡°Today is Miss Tang¡¯s death anniversary.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Jiang Ke showed a mournful expression, lamenting, ¡°Beautiful women are like generals; it¡¯s rare to see them age. Mr. Lv, condolences. If Miss Tang were alive, seeing you drinking yourself to illness for her, she would also be heartbroken for you.¡± When Lv Tianrui heard this, his eyes took on a childlike look, ¡°Would she?¡± If she would? Then why did she push him away when he jumped into the sea to save her? ¡°She hated me.¡± Lv Tianrui downed a large gulp of liquor. The liquid ran down his chin. The little green snake hidden up his sleeve had long since crawled out, flicking its tongue, licking the liquor on his chin. ¡°Hate is also a form of love.¡± Jiang Ke watched the little green snake drinking, suppressing the urge to strangle it, his face remaining calm, ¡°Love turns to hatred in a fleeting moment. Mr. Lv, Miss Tang did love you.¡± Mr. Lv clearly enjoyed hearing this, slapping the table and laughing, ¡°You¡¯re right! She did love me! I am worthy of love!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Agreeing, Jiang Ke flattered, ¡°Mr. Lv is a charming gentleman, graceful and elegant, nothing like a pirate. Upon seeing you, Miss Tang naturally felt joyously affectionate towards you.¡± As he said this, he changed the subject, feigning surprise, ¡°Mr. Lv, does this little green snake also drink?¡± Lv Tianrui nodded, boasting, ¡°Yeah. It gets drunk after just one drink. And yet it craves more. Got its own demon, it does.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s a little drunken snake.¡± Jiang Ke made a decision on the spot and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s really interesting. This is my first time seeing a snake that loves liquor. Does it wriggle around like a drunk person after it gets drunk?¡± After hearing this, Lv Tianrui poured the snake a cup of liquor to drink, ¡°Just watch.¡± He now considered Lv Tianrui one of his own. Trusting him enough to let his lifesaving green snake get drunk¡ªfor him to see! The green snake indeed loved its drink. It coiled itself around the liquor cup in layers, as if afraid of it being snatched away. Jiang Ke watched the green snake drink, waiting for it to get drunk. He also urged more drinking, ¡°Today is the anniversary of Miss Tang¡¯s death, ah, lovers separated by life and death is one of the world¡¯s greatest sorrows. Mr. Lv, in Capital City, there¡¯s a saying that by drinking three hundred cups in sorrow, one can meet the beloved in their dreams, may you see your beauty after the drinks.¡± With that, he tilted his head back and emptied his glass of liquor in one go. ¡°Drink three hundred cups, meet the beloved in dreams.¡± Muttering to himself as if he believed it, Lv Tianrui began to drink one cup after another. The green snake on the table was already drunk, curled up into a ball, motionless. Jiang Ke looked at the snake, exclaiming in surprise, ¡°The green snake is drunk? It looks quite cute.¡± Listening to him, Lv Tianrui stopped his drinking, put down his cup, and tapped the snake¡¯s head, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s drunk. Stupid snake.¡± The green snake was indeed drunk. Completely unresponsive. Jiang Ke approached and also tapped its head, seeing it as a dead snake, drunk, he laughed, ¡°It¡¯s really drunk.¡± His voice was light and airy, as if coming from far away. But his actions were vicious. He launched a sudden attack, his left hand clamped over Lv Tianrui¡¯s mouth, and his entire body pressed down; without a weapon and missing an arm, he could only open his mouth and bite down on Lv Tianrui¡¯s slender throat. Blood gushed out. Running along his delicate, fair neck. A stark, glaring red. He was a vicious vampire! ¡°Wu wu¡­ help, help¡ª¡± Lv Tianrui, in disbelief, struggled desperately, shaking violently like a dying animal, flailing wildly¡­ Chapter 147 - 147 Miracle Chapter 147: Chapter 147 Miracle Jiang Ke had bitten Lv Tianrui to death. Lv Tianrui¡¯s throat was torn open with a large hole, and thick, fishy blood gushed out, quickly filling the entire room. Little green snake also smelled the blood but was so drunk that its triangular head, heavy as a mountain, simply couldn¡¯t lift itself up. It couldn¡¯t save its master in time. ¡°You, you¡­ Why¡­¡± Lv Tianrui died with his eyes wide open. Jiang Ke opened his mouth, watching him stare with wide eyes, as he stiffly fell to the ground. His mouth and half his chest were covered in blood, and his right shoulder was also injured by Lv Tianrui, the blood pouring out, the pain intense. But he smiled. He had finally taken his revenge. Yet he was also crying. What of it, having taken his revenge? What was lost could never be retrieved. He staggered out of the room, and sure enough, there was no one outside. He returned to the room, excessive blood loss making his head swell. ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± Sang Yan exclaimed, rushing to support him, ¡°What are you doing? Why are you always getting hurt?¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t have time to explain, just told her, ¡°Quickly pack some commonly used items, especially medicines, we need to leave now.¡± He had looked over the small boat. It was already outside. Gref wouldn¡¯t kill them¡ªat least, not him¡ªright away. No, he would want him to carry the reputation of harming the pirate leader until he came to power, then he would settle the score with him. This was his chance. Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand but obediently did as told. She packed her belongings, a small parcel she tied securely around her, and left with him. He changed clothes during her packing. The two of them walked outside. There was no one around. Everything was as smooth as Gref had said. He jumped onto the boat, helped Sang Yan aboard, then started rowing the small boat away. The sea surface was calm. As the sun rose, it shimmered with waves. As Sang Yan helped row, she asked, ¡°What did you do? What happened?¡± Jiang Ke closed his eyes, Lv Tianrui¡¯s stubborn face before his death flashing in his mind, yet his heart remained undisturbed as he calmly said, ¡°I cooperated with Gref and killed Lv Tianrui.¡± He told her the whole story. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, when we¡¯re almost home, you pull this stunt? Is this what it means to seek Revenge at any cost? She frowned, somewhat displeased, ¡°Why do this¡­ You said¡­ he was coming for me. Now that we¡¯re leaving here¡­¡± Could it be that his promise to let her return to He Ying¡¯s side was just a deception? Jiang Ke saw what she was thinking and gave a bitter smile, ¡°Ah Yan, isn¡¯t it good that I personally take you back?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She looked at the direction in which the small boat sailed, the ocean vast and infinite, with no indication of whether they were headed towards Quanzhou. But she could only trust him. The boat traveled from sunrise to sunset. Sang Yan prayed for calm seas all the way. A small boat fears wind and waves the most. And as is often the case, what one fears comes to pass. As the moon rose, a fierce storm swept in, threatening to overturn the boat. Sang Yan was very scared. First for fear of falling into the sea, second for worrying about Jiang Ke¡¯s condition. Jiang Ke had a fever again. His wound was still bleeding, and there was no time to tend to it. ¡°How are you doing? Jiang Ke, don¡¯t fall asleep!¡± She embraced his feverishly hot body, drawing strength, ¡°I¡¯m so scared.¡± His face was flushed as he mumbled deliriously, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid¡­ My life has always been smooth sailing; whatever I want to do, I accomplish it. Look, even Lv Tianrui, when I wanted to kill him, I could; this time, too, we will surely be unscathed.¡± But fate slapped him in the face. The boat was capsized by the wind and waves. ¡°They ¡®thump, thump¡¯ all fell into the sea.¡± The salty, fishy seawater surged into their throats. His bleeding wound spread in the sea, likely to attract predators from the depths. ¡°Jiang, Jiang Ke¡ª¡± She felt they would die here. She even hallucinated the sounds of predators. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Um, um¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t swim and struggled in the ocean, swallowing lots of seawater. Just when she thought she was going to drown, her body was suddenly lifted into the air. It turned out Jiang Ke had lifted her high with his left arm, raising her out of the water. Breathing became suddenly easy. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± Tears and snot ran down her face as she coughed, ¡°Jiang Ke, you¡¯re going to die. You¡¯ll die like this. Stop worrying about me.¡± But he wouldn¡¯t listen, holding her up as the sea water submerged himself. She began to struggle, writhing out of his iron-like grip: Keep calm, keep calm, the human body is seventy percent water, and the density of seawater is high, as long as she doesn¡¯t panic and can float, she won¡¯t drown¡­ With this mental suggestion, a miracle born of desperation, she really learned to float, to swim¡­ ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± She grabbed his hair and yanked him out of the water. He was already unconscious. She breathed air into him, slapped his face, ¡°Jiang Ke! Wake up! Don¡¯t sleep!¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t react at all, and his body temperature rapidly declined. These were all dangerous signs. Could it be they were really going to perish in the sea? Clutching Jiang Ke, she swam desperately, the darkness above the sea obscuring her direction, the heavy rain made it even harder to see. She could only swim numbly, guided by instinct. She was cold, hungry, and exhausted, ready to give up countless times, yet each time she persisted. Perhaps their lives were truly not meant to end, just as she exhausted herself into unconsciousness, unable to see the shore, a pair of dolphins lifted them up and delivered them to a coast. In the modern world, she had heard about dolphins rescuing people. So, miracles really did exist. She was suddenly reassured and let exhaustion drag her into darkness. When she woke again, daylight had already arrived. She opened her eyes and immediately checked on Jiang Ke. Jiang Ke was still feverish, his body scorching hot, lips cracked, alternating between feeling cold and hot, his body occasionally twitching spasmodically, it looked particularly dreadful. ¡°Jiang Ke, Jiang Ke¡ª¡± She called out twice, and when he didn¡¯t respond, she stopped calling, got up, and searched the packs they had brought. Thankfully, they had taken the golden sore medicine and other items, though they couldn¡¯t disinfect the wounds now; they could only apply the medicine first. There was no clean cloth for bandages. She tore her garment into strips and bound his wounds. Such terrible treatment methods could only rely on his physical resilience to endure. ¡°Jiang Ke, don¡¯t give up, hold on¡­¡± She kissed his forehead and whispered words of encouragement. After doing all she could, she didn¡¯t sit idly by, but went to find clean water, as well as fire stones and dry grass that could be ignited. This was something she had learned previously while following Jiang Ke in the mountains, and now it was proving useful. She finally found a stream, picked a large leaf, folded it, filled it with water, and fed him. She also spotted a coconut tree with two coconuts on it. She shook it for a good while but couldn¡¯t dislodge them, so she had to climb up and pick them. Too high. But she still managed to snatch them down. The person also fell harshly to the ground with a ¡°thud!¡± Luckily, the ground was soft mud. The pain was there, but when she got up, her arms and legs were uninjured, only her skin was scraped. These minor injuries, she didn¡¯t take to heart, with the coconuts in hand, she looked for a rock, cracked them open, and fed him. His fever had not yet subsided. ¡°Cold, cold, Ah Yan, Ah Yan¡ª¡± He talked deliriously, like a vulnerable child, tears streaming down his face, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t leave me, Ah Yan¡ª¡± Sang Yan felt an inexplicable urge to cry. Holding back the tears, she wet another strip of cloth, repeatedly wiped his body and applied cold compresses, and then held him tightly, murmuring into his ear, ¡°Jiang Ke, Jiang Ke, survive, you must survive¡­¡± Chapter 148 - 148: Inviting Merit Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Inviting Merit Jiang Ke had been feverish repeatedly. Sang Yan did not dare to relax her vigilance, standing guard from morning till evening. Evening. She gathered a lot of firewood, kindled a fire, hugged him, and hummed a song, accompanied by the sound of her stomach growling. Too hungry. Her stomach protested loudly. She hadn¡¯t touched a grain of rice all day, subsisting entirely on water. But water didn¡¯t stave off hunger at all. Jiang Ke¡¯s stomach was also rumbling. She felt that letting an injured person suffer from hunger was incredibly cruel, yet she was helpless. She hadn¡¯t caught any fish, didn¡¯t know how to set a trap for wild rabbits, and chasing wild chickens had nearly exhausted her to death. In short, she was useless. She was so hungry that she was dizzy and felt like she could eat another person. Sleep, sleep. It would be better after sleeping. She woke up hungry in the middle of the night and felt the forehead of the person beside her; the fever had subsided somewhat. She prayed that he would improve by tomorrow, otherwise, they might starve to death on this little island. The next day, The sun rose slowly. She was awakened by the dazzling sunlight, opened her eyes, and the person beside her was gone. A wave of joy crossed her face, ¡°Jiang Ke! Jiang Ke¡ª¡± Jiang Ke rushed out of the woods in a hurry, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He was holding a wild chicken, clearly having gone hunting. He had woken up hungry; as the sky had begun to lighten, he had set off in search of food. ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± ¡°You¡¯re okay, that¡¯s wonderful!¡± She threw herself at him and hugged him. After so many difficulties, she really had Stockholm Syndrome. Jiang Ke let her hug him; because of her excited collision, she actually bumped his wounded arm, but he gritted his teeth and bore the pain, not letting out a sound. Seeing her so happy, he too felt joy¡ªwas this what they meant by out of great trials comes bliss? He had never imagined that one day, she would smile at him like this. Truly, even if he were to die now, it would be worth it. ¡°Thank you. Ah Yan, thank you for always being here.¡± He dropped the wild chicken and hugged her tightly. Sang Yan wept with joy and wanted to say more, but her stomach growled. Jiang Ke heard it and smiled tenderly, ¡°You must be starving. We¡¯ll have meat to eat soon.¡± He let go of her, picked up the wild chicken, and headed to the place they had previously settled. He was missing a hand, making everything inconvenient. Sang Yan helped him make a fire, skewered the wild chicken onto a branch, and roasted it over the flames. Before long, the aroma of the chicken wafted through the air. She drooled with desire. He looked at her, smiling indulgently, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, it¡¯s all yours.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Her face turned red, too embarrassed. When the wild chicken was roasted, she tore off two legs for him. The chicken legs were considered the best meat on the bird. Especially since the wild chicken was not big; without the legs, it was just a skinny carcass with scarcely any meat on it. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. You eat. Once you finish, then I¡¯ll eat.¡± Even though his stomach had been growling for a while. Sang Yan heard it clearly and urged, ¡°Don¡¯t be modest at a time like this. If you eat your fill, you¡¯ll have the strength to catch a few more later. Plus, you¡¯re injured and need to replenish your nutrients.¡± Yet Jiang Ke still refused to eat. Sang Yan had no choice but to go over, pry open his mouth, and stuff it in. Jiang Ke reluctantly ate a chicken leg, but clenched his teeth and refused to eat the other one, no matter what. Adversity reveals true feelings. At this moment, they were each other¡¯s most important person. Their hearts had also grown incredibly close. ¡°How did you rescue me?¡± Jiang Ke gnawed on a chicken wing and voiced the doubt that lurked in his heart. Sang Yan said, ¡°It was the dolphins. Do you know about dolphins? They saved us. Otherwise, we would have been dead for sure and turned into mere souls wandering the vast sea.¡± Listening, Jiang Ke remarked emotionally, ¡°We weren¡¯t meant to die yet. Even the heavens seem to be helping us.¡± But the heavens didn¡¯t help them for too long. On the third day, as Jiang Ke was healing on the desolate island, he spotted several ships heading towards the islet. Standing atop a high slope at the time, he saw it¡ªsomeone was coming after them! Perhaps it was He Ying¡¯s men. This would be good news. But if it was Gref¡¯s men? Then it would be terrible news indeed. Gref would undoubtedly be coming to kill him and silence him for good. After killing Lv Tianrui, the pirates would not let him go. He had to make plans early. ¡°Sang Yan, pack up our things, we¡¯re going deeper into the island.¡± As he spoke to Sang Yan, he lifted his foot to cover up the traces they had left behind. Sang Yan, unaware of what was happening, asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Ke replied, ¡°The pirates have found us.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan also became highly vigilant. Without a word, she quickly gathered their belongings and helped him head further into the island. The island was small with dense trees in its interior, barely enough to conceal a person. Jiang Ke also began looking for weapons to defend themselves, but unfortunately, all he could find was a rusty dagger. It was better than nothing. He attempted to set traps, such as sharp bamboo arrays that consisted of sharpened bamboo sticks arranged together. But with one arm gone, everything was inconvenient for him. ¡°Could it really be Gref?¡± ¡°Could it be He Ying perhaps?¡± She held onto hope for He Ying. After all, the pirates had sent a letter, albeit a ransom note, but he had received news of her. He certainly wouldn¡¯t leave her to her fate. Hearing her words, Jiang Ke, for the first time, felt no jealousy, only a bitter smile as he said, ¡°I wish it was him.¡± Seeing the panic in his face, Sang Yan comforted, ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so nervous, maybe it¡¯s a good thing.¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t think it was a good thing. His breathing became ragged, his heart pounding erratically, his right eyelid twitching uncontrollably. His unease grew, and with a grave expression, he said, ¡°Sang Yan, remember, if the people coming are pirates, you must not resist! You are the Emperor¡¯s woman, they want money, they won¡¯t hurt you! As for me, if I die, don¡¯t cry for me. Being with you this long, I¡¯m already blessed. I don¡¯t regret these stolen moments one bit, do you understand?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say such unlucky things! Jiang Ke, please, don¡¯t. I¡¯m scared!¡± Sang Yan was frightened by his words, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. In fact, having been through so much, her heart had grown much harder, and she seldom cried anymore, but in this moment, he easily breached her defenses. ¡°You can¡¯t let anything happen to you. We¡¯ll go back together. Jiang Ke, I want to go back with you.¡± She cried as she threw herself into his embrace. Jiang Ke, seeing her cry so heartbreakingly, laughed, ¡°Ah Yan, with you saying that, how could I possibly want to die? Stop crying. I was just teasing. I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯ve always had it easy in life, always achieving what I set out to do. This time will be no exception. We will definitely turn misfortune into fortune.¡± As they spoke, a flurry of hasty footsteps accompanied by men¡¯s angry shouts drew closer. ¡°Search thoroughly! Kill the man, avenge our leader! Tie up the woman, we¡¯ll trade her for silver with Emperor Da He!¡± It was Gref¡¯s voice. ¡°Yes! Yes! Kill! Kill!¡± The pirates, brandishing their machetes, hacked their way through the trees, clearing the obstacles in their search for people. Jiang Ke gestured for Sang Yan to hide deeper inside while he himself ambushed a pirate, seizing his sword, and went on a killing spree. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With his right hand gone, his sense of balance was somewhat compromised, and his left hand was not as proficient with a sword, significantly reducing his combat effectiveness, but he was still capable of defending himself for the time being. ¡°Don¡¯t be deceived by him!¡± ¡°The one who commanded me to kill Lv Tianrui, it was him!¡± ¡°Gref, you¡¯re treacherous, disloyal!¡± Jiang Ke decided to expose Gref¡¯s crimes in front of the pirates, hoping to turn them against each other. The pirates were indeed tricked; hearing his words, they looked at one another, halted their murderous advance. Gref, upon seeing this, scowled and slapped them awake, shouting angrily, ¡°Idiots! What are you standing around for? Don¡¯t fall for his tricks! He¡¯s facing death and trying to sow discord among us! Kill him quickly! And when we find that woman, we¡¯ll present her to Emperor Da He to claim our reward!¡± Chapter 149 - 149 Massacre Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Massacre In the face of the temptation of money, who would care about the real reason behind the death of a former pirate leader? They only needed a semblance of justification! ¡°Right, kill him!¡± ¡°Charge! Avenge the boss!¡± ¡°Catch that woman, claim the credit and the reward!¡± ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± ¡­ They charged forward, howling for blood. Gref led the charge, brandishing his broadsword. His stature was imposing and his strength seemingly limitless, and he specifically targeted Jiang Ke¡¯s right arm, his weakness, which only made his predicament worse. He was struck by another blade to the back. And then his left leg, sliced right on the knee. Pain spread to the crown of his head. The tears flew from his eyes in agony as he felt like a human-shaped blood bucket, being poked with various holes, gushing out blood. ¡°Give up your resistance!¡± Gref¡¯s face was full of scorn as he sneered, ¡°Perhaps I might even leave you a whole corpse!¡± Jiang Ke would never succumb to a humiliating death; he fought with all his might. Like a wild beast that had gone mad. He actually managed to kill two pirates in a row. This greatly infuriated Gref! ¡°Damn it! Jiang Ke, you¡¯re asking for death; don¡¯t blame me for being heartless!¡± ¡°Brothers, protect yourselves, let¡¯s take our time playing with him!¡± ¡°He¡¯s running out of energy!¡± ¡°We have so many people, we could wear him out to death!¡± Gref howled ferociously with a hideous expression, choosing to drag out the fight, to exhaust Jiang Ke to death. Under his command, the pirates gradually found pleasure¡ªin torturing him. So, a feint here, a strike to his left arm there; a cut to the left arm on this side, a stab at the right thigh on that side, some even managed to stab the top of his foot¡­ ¡°Kill! Come at me!¡± ¡°Hahaha, trash! You¡¯re just trash!¡± ¡°A cripple! What are you even alive for? Just die!¡± ¡­ They treated him like a trapped animal, torturing and mocking him. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t hide any longer. She couldn¡¯t bear to see Jiang Ke humiliated like this. Jiang Ke surely would die if this went on. So she rushed out, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt him! You want to take me to claim credit, don¡¯t you? If I whisper in the Emperor¡¯s ear later, you won¡¯t get anything out of this! Even more, if you kill him, I will make the Emperor have you killed!¡± At this moment, she didn¡¯t care if her words would provoke the pirates and result in harm to herself as well. After all, these pirates were cruel and without principles. She just knew she couldn¡¯t stand by and watch Jiang Ke die! If there was even the slightest hope of saving him, she would do it! ¡°Why did you come out!¡± Jiang Ke didn¡¯t want her to save him. Hearing her say that, he was very worried the pirates would hurt her, he stumbled to her side, both angry and affectionate, and roared with heartache, ¡°Why are you so foolish?¡± When he reached her, his body suddenly deflated, his legs went weak, and it was only by propping himself up with his sword that he didn¡¯t fall. Sang Yan rushed to support him, but there were so many wounds on his body that she dared not touch him. ¡°Jiang Ke¡­ Jiang Ke¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her hands trembled, tears fell in large drops. So many wounds, how painful they must be! Her heart was breaking with pain. ¡°Jiang Ke, you can¡¯t die!¡± She extended her arms and shielded him behind her, saying to Gref, ¡°If you want to kill him, kill me first!¡± Gref looked at the scene with a sneer, ¡°Look, what a pair of star-crossed lovers!¡± The other pirates were nearly moved by their genuine affection. One pirate said, ¡°Boss, maybe we shouldn¡¯t kill them?¡± Gref gave him a cold look, ¡°Not killing him would be nurturing a hidden danger! Look at how he bit Lv Tianrui to death, such a ruthless heart! If we let him live, we¡¯ll be the ones dying later!¡± The pirate nodded repeatedly upon hearing this and decisively changed his tune, ¡°Then boss, shall we kill both?¡± Gref gave another cold glance, annoyed, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent the reward request, how can we kill? When the Emperor comes to claim them, should I hand you over instead?¡± The pirate was at a loss for words. To kill was not an option, to release was not possible, what to do? As they were struggling with this dilemma¡ª Sang Yan raised her hand to swear, ¡°I swear, as long as you let him go, he will not seek revenge. When we meet the Emperor, I will speak in your favor. Once you receive the reward, why continue to be pirates? The world is so vast, you can hide away, and he won¡¯t be able to find you! Don¡¯t scare yourselves! In his condition, he has no power to take revenge on you!¡± Her words had some persuasive power. Gref¡¯s eyes rolled around as he fell into hesitation. Sang Yan continued, ¡°My lords, sparing a life is also accumulating blessings for oneself. If Lv Tianrui hadn¡¯t cut off his arm, would he have killed him? Hate perpetuates hate, but love can extinguish it.¡± Clap. Clap. Clap. Applause suddenly rang out. The crowd turned to look¡ª Qi Jiu had arrived! On his left and right were the Han Family brothers, behind them were two teams of assassins clad in black. ¡°Miss Sang is truly wise.¡± He clapped his hands in praise, but said, ¡°Had I not come, they might have actually let you go. Unfortunately for you, I have.¡± As the snipe and clam grapple, the fisherman profits. He was the fisherman, and with a nod to his followers, they all sprang into action, and in the blink of an eye slaughtered all the pirates. Their bodies lay scattered everywhere. The scent of blood was too strong. It roused the beast within the depths of the pirates, roaring, ¡°Awoo¡ª¡± The pirates died without even knowing who killed them. Including Gref. He glared at Wu Tao, ¡°You¡­ who¡­ are you?¡± Wu Tao had ambushed Gref, ending his life with a single stroke. Then, before his disbelieving eyes, he walked behind Qi Jiu. He was a pirate in disguise. He was Qi Jiu¡¯s spy among the pirates. ¡°So it turns out¡­ in the end¡­ dressing others for the wedding¡­¡± He lay in the blood, his throat marked by a deep gash. He looked at Qi Jiu, his body twitched a few times, he could not finish his sentence as he spat blood and breathed his last. Qi Jiu didn¡¯t even glance at him. His gaze was fixed on Sang Yan and Jiang Ke. Sang Yan felt her scalp tighten and her heart raced, yet she still stood in front of Jiang Ke, ¡°You¡­ we have no grievances with you!¡± ¡°Yes, we have no grievances,¡± Qi Jiu agreed, nodding and even smiling, but his tone shifted after his laugh, ¡°But, who needs a reason to kill?¡± Sang Yan was speechless. She knew the man before her was not as easily fooled as the pirates. He truly killed without batting an eye. So many pirates had died at his hand. ¡°Qi Jiu, kill or torture, it is your will. Isn¡¯t it a bit too despicable and shameless to merely slaughter a defenseless woman?¡± Jiang Ke was not afraid of death, he even planned to find a place to end himself after escorting Sang Yan home; he would not cling to life. But Sang Yan could not die! He stepped forward, shielding her behind him, weighing his options, ¡°Your plans are grand. Killing me is to cut the weeds and eradicate the roots, capturing her¡­ is to threaten Emperor Da He¡­¡± Qi Jiu did not deny it, he nodded and said, ¡°You¡¯re smart. And foolish. If you¡¯d sworn loyalty to me earlier, none of this mess would have happened.¡± He sighed, his eyes showing a hint of mercy, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to kill you. But you¡¯re a vicious wolf. You ruthlessly killed Lv Tianrui. So fierce! Are you now thinking of killing me too? Thus, I won¡¯t give you that chance. Jiang Ke, I must kill you now, and since we have met, I¡¯ll give you a chance for last words.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 150 - 150: The Lost Soul Chapter 150: Chapter 150: The Lost Soul ¡°So, I still must thank you.¡± Jiang Ke gave a sardonic smile and collapsed to the ground, exhausted. ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± Sang Yan cried out in alarm, squatting down and supporting him, tears streaming. ¡°Jiang Ke¡­ don¡¯t¡­¡± Jiang Ke was grasping a knife. He intended to take his own life. Sang Yan shook her head frantically, even trying to snatch the knife from his hands with her bare hands. The blade sliced through her hand. Blood flowed freely. ¡°Let go! Sang Yan, don¡¯t be foolish!¡± He was drenched in blood, but he couldn¡¯t bear to see her bleed even a drop. He reached out to pry her fingers off. This caused their blood to mix together. ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t cry.¡± As he tried to wipe away her tears, he left streaks of blood on her face. It was too filthy! He was too filthy! Like a broken toy, scarred and battered, having expended all of his vital energy. In the end, he withdrew his hand and sighed, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m sorry. I thought I could handle it, but I overestimated myself.¡± The moment he took her and fled the Capital City, everything had already spiraled beyond his control. But he was too young. Arrogantly believing himself to be invincible. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± He sighed but then managed a resigned smile. ¡°Ah Yan, it is my incompetence, and in life and death, I harbor no resentment.¡± Hearing his self-defeating words, Sang Yan, shaking her head and crying, said, ¡°Jiang Ke, you can¡¯t do this, you just can¡¯t¡ª¡± She turned to plead with Qi Jiu, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him! He¡¯s no match for you! Spare him, please! He¡¯s still so young¡­¡± She suddenly remembered what he once wanted, what he had never experienced, and what she had treasured, never having given¡­ Would there be less regret now if she had given in earlier? ¡°Don¡¯t beg him!¡± Jiang Ke grabbed her hand, his eyes firm as he said in a low shout, ¡°You¡¯re the Empress of Da He, and you must never kneel to a despicable man!¡± ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to be the Empress anymore!¡± Sang Yan wept, her words choked with sobs, ¡°Jiang Ke, please, keep¡­ living. We¡­ we should both keep living.¡± Jiang Ke pressed on her shoulders, his bloodshot eyes intimidatingly bright, ¡°Ah Yan, listen, life and death are worthless, it¡¯s the spirit of living that counts. Because of you, my life has been fulfilled enough. So, don¡¯t cry. Not in the future, nor now, do not cry.¡± With that, he grasped her hand, the knife in his, and plunged it ruthlessly into himself. ¡°Jiang Ke!¡± Sang Yan¡¯s scream tore through the night sky, startling countless birds into flight. Jiang Ke spat out a mouthful of blood, his body going limp in her arms. He said, ¡°Ah Yan, I really am a¡­ bastard. Even in death¡­ I want you to forever remember me¡­¡± He died in her arms. His hand abruptly fell. ¡°Jiang Ke! Jiang Ke¡ª¡± No matter how she cried out to him, there was no response. The young man who should have had a glorious future as the Marquis Mansion¡¯s Princely Heir, the youth who dreamed of becoming the Martial Arts Top Scholar and asking the Emperor for her hand, forever perished on an unnamed island, becoming a wraith of the isle. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Why force him to death?¡± ¡°What did he do wrong?¡± Sang Yan, looking at Qi Jiu, asked in utter despair. Her tears washed the blood on her face, leaving trails like blood-stained tears. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you all!¡± She drew a knife and stood up, glaring at Qi Jiu! ¡°Bang!¡± A stone hit her knee. Sang Yan felt pain and her calf gave way, and she fell heavily to the ground. Qi Jiu frowned, looking at Han Chen next to him, thinking it was unnecessary. He didn¡¯t believe Sang Yan could hurt him at all. But Sang Yan stood up again, knife in hand, and charged at him, ¡°I will kill you! Qi Jiu, give him back¡ª¡± Her words were cut off as he struck her unconscious with a palm strike. Han Chen: ¡°¡­¡± He looked at his master and felt that his strike wasn¡¯t lighter than his own. Qi Jiu paid no attention to his gaze and instead looked at the person on the ground. He had admired him, pitied him, killed him out of fear, and now that he was dead, he felt regret. Of course, the regret was momentary. He was still the ruthless, cold-blooded Ninth Prince of Bei Qi! ¡°Bury him,¡± he ordered. He finished speaking, picked up Sang Yan, and turned to leave. Black-clad assassins lined up in two rows, walking ahead of him, clearing the errant branches. His path was unobstructed. He arrived at the coast shortly after. Two large ships were moored off the coast. One was a pirate ship, the other his own. The pirate ship was the last one he boarded. ¡°Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± Wu Tao bowed and led him to a spacious and luxurious room. Inside the room, everything glistened with gold. The ornaments were all made of gold, and even the floor was paved with gold bricks. Qi Jiu placed the person on the bed and waited for her to wake up. When Sang Yan woke up, the sky had already darkened. She opened her eyes slightly, observing her surroundings¡ªit was a room, dimly lit, and she could hear voices by her ear, those of Qi Jiu talking with his subordinates. ¡°We have done what is morally right.¡± ¡°Even his severed arm was buried.¡± ¡°In this way, we have returned him his complete corpse.¡± ¡°In truth, even if we didn¡¯t kill him, with his physical condition, he was already at the end of his strength.¡± ¡­ They were talking about Jiang Ke. Jiang Ke was dead. Jiang Ke¡­ Sang Yan clutched the bedsheet tightly, her heart aching so intensely she wanted to scream out. She had depended on him for so long, from hating him to caring for him. His death deepened her affections, and she could not bear to hear his name. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the mention of it, her pain was unbearable. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± She curled up in bed, biting her finger, hoping the physical pain would distract her from her grief. Her hand had been treated and was now wrapped in white gauze. But now, exerting force again, fresh blood seeped out, staining the white gauze red. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Qi Jiu had been standing by the window, talking to Han Chen and Han Mo. Hearing the noise, he turned his head and saw Sang Yan on the bed, biting her finger and holding back tears. Jiang Ke¡¯s death had dealt her a heavy blow. Even though the man she loved was He Ying. Perhaps now it wasn¡¯t entirely He Ying anymore. And what of He Ying? Had his love for her faded with the passage of time? * He Ying was ambushed in Quanzhou. On the second day he arrived in Quanzhou, in the midst of searching for Sang Yan, two groups of black-clad assassins attacked and attempted to kill him. He was injured and poisoned, remaining unconscious for half a month before awakening. After waking up, he first purged Quanzhou¡¯s security management, executing a batch of officials, then recuperated until he received a letter from the pirates and finally was able to get out of bed. He was anxious! Even if he couldn¡¯t get out of bed, he had to! Clutching his chest, he stood at the bow of the ship, staring long at the vast sea under the night sky. The sea breeze was strong, blowing his robe with a rustling sound. ¡°Emperor, your wound hasn¡¯t healed. You should go back to lying down,¡± Pei Muyang said, seeing that his chest was wet, knowing that the wound had reopened. That poison was fierce and domineering, causing his chest wound not to heal for half a month. Now, with the poison still in his system, rashly going to sea to look for someone was truly¡­ Ah, for Lady Sang Yan, he really was neglecting his own health! ¡°Hero Tan, perhaps you could¡­ persuade him?¡± Pei Muyang looked toward the staggering figure approaching. ¡°Bleurgh¡ª¡± Tan Yunjian was seasick, vomiting everything he ate. Having gone hungry, he dared not eat anything and just drank a little wine, but still couldn¡¯t stop throwing up. Seeing this, Pei Muyang said with sympathy, ¡°Ah, Hero Tan, you¡¯ve been vomiting for a whole day, how come you haven¡¯t gotten better!¡± Tan Yunjian waved his hand, indicating that he was not in a position to speak, then leaned over the bow, continuing to vomit. ¡°Bleurgh¡ªBleurgh¡ª¡± He vomited so vehemently that tears sprayed out. After finishing, he looked out at the sea and smirked painfully, muttering to himself, ¡°Jiang Ke, damn you, I really owe you one!¡± He saved He Ying in that assassination incident, becoming his lifesaver. Knowing that He Ying was going to sea to find Sang Yan and Jiang Ke, he also followed along. He has been seasick for many years, too fearful to venture to sea, so when Jiang Ke took Sang Yan and fled by sea, he didn¡¯t follow. He thought he could avoid it, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t escape. He had to follow along; Jiang Ke was engaging in a life-threatening venture. If He Ying really found him, it would spell trouble. He was there, perhaps able to lend a hand. With that in mind, he intended to save him, unaware that the person he wanted to save¡­ was gone forever. Chapter 151 - 151: A Taboo Chapter 151: Chapter 151: A Taboo Sang Yan wanted to kill Qi Jiu. When he was changing the dressing on her hands, she would suddenly leap up and strangle his neck with the gauze. She would smash his head with a vase when he turned his back to her. She even thought to put cosmetics like lead powder and vermillion into the water he often drank, hoping to poison him slowly. But she never succeeded. Every move she made was under Qi Jiu¡¯s surveillance; how could she possibly prevail? He even blatantly asked, ¡°Miss Sang, isn¡¯t it good to be alive? Why seek death time after time?¡± Sang Yan, with eyes full of hatred, sneered, ¡°You¡¯ve already caused Jiang Ke¡¯s death; do you think I¡¯ll let you continue to harm He Ying?¡± She clearly knew that the reason she was still alive was not because he was soft-hearted, but because she was valuable to use. He wanted to use her to threaten He Ying, to seize benefits, and even take his life. She had watched helplessly as he drove Jiang Ke to his death, and she would not yield to his wishes anymore. ¡°What a great woman!¡± Qi Jiu praised her but said, ¡°Then I can¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± He took out a box from his bosom, opened it, and revealed a white powdered substance, which looked like lead powder. So was he planning to use her own scheme against her? Sang Yan felt a moment of weakness; after all, everyone has an instinct to survive, but she quickly steeled her resolve and said, ¡°Do you expect me to just eat this?¡± Qi Jiu said nothing and poured her a cup of tea. Sang Yan had once put lead powder in his tea, and now he was doing the same. She looked at it and, without hesitation, tipped the contents of the box into the cup. But the tea turned into white paste! It wasn¡¯t lead powder at all! ¡°Hahaha, drink up!¡± Qi Jiu¡¯s laughter was clearly mocking her. Sang Yan furrowed her brows, took a sip, spit it back out¡ªit was flour! ¡°Are you sick?¡± She threw the teacup, picked up a shard, and attempted to attack him. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qi Jiu easily dodged and pinned her down on his lap, encircling her hands, wrapping his arms around her from behind, and said ambiguously, ¡°Miss Sang, are you throwing yourself into my arms?¡± Sang Yan was so angry she wanted to bite his ear. Qi Jiu¡¯s expression changed instantly, and he pushed her away, disregarding her fall to the ground, and said indifferently, ¡°Indeed, a woman¡¯s heart is as venomous as snakes and scorpions.¡± He was frightened by Sang Yan¡¯s biting action. He also thought of Lv Tianrui, who had been bitten to death by Jiang Ke. When he learned from Wu Tao that the pirates had a new leader and that Lv Tianrui died such a death, he knew that Jiang Ke must be eliminated. Previously, he thought Jiang Ke was a reckless man, brave but tactless, but seeing how he incited Lv Tianrui to extort a million gold from Emperor Da He showed his depth of thought. He could not leave such a dangerous person alive. To leave the weeds without removing the roots is to let the spring breeze blow and bring them back to life. ¡°Did you learn that from Jiang Ke?¡± He said angrily, ¡°Instead of being a proper person, you choose to act like a dog!¡± Sang Yan retorted, ¡°You¡¯re the dog! You¡¯re worse than a beast!¡± Qi Jiu laughed irritatedly, crouched down, pinched her chin, and threatened, ¡°If I were as bad as a beast, I would have sent you to my men long ago. The great future Empress of Da He, reduced to a prostitute for others, I¡¯d like to see what face He Ying would have¡ª¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Sang Yan slapped him hard. After the slap, she seemed to realize what she had done, her shoulders trembled, and placing her hands on the ground, she scooted backward. In doing so, she pressed her hand onto the broken shards of the teacup. Suddenly, blood diffused across the area. Vivid and glaring. Qi Jiu saw it, furrowed his brows, and continued, ¡°Sang Yan, don¡¯t mistake my goodwill for your excuse to be presumptuous. I have plenty of ways to make your life worse than death.¡± Sang Yan had no words to refute. She was too weak. Jiang Ke loved her, would indulge her, as long as she cried a little, threw a tantrum, he would immediately compromise, smile apologetically, and please her. She was spoiled by him. But Qi Jiu was not him. He killed Jiang Ke¡­ Hatred gathered again at the bottom of her eyes. When he reached out his hand, presumably to pull her up, she grasped a fragment of the teacup and slashed it towards him. That slash wounded his face. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± He gasped in pain, looking at Sang Yan in disbelief, he clearly hadn¡¯t expected to be truly injured by her. On the left side of his face was the wound, about half a finger long, bleeding, and the blood ran down his jaw, dripping into his neck, leaving a sticky mess. ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± Han Chen, who was guarding outside the door, heard the commotion and rushed in. ¡°You¡¯re injured!¡± He exclaimed, immediately calling for Han Mo. The two brothers hurried to help him out, returning to Qi Jiu¡¯s temporary room to carefully treat his wound. Han Mo had a gentle touch and took care of applying the medicine. Han Chen watched angrily, ¡°That woman has no respect! Mr. Jiu has tolerated her time and time again, yet she not only lacks gratitude, but dares to wound you! Mr. Jiu, should I¡­ go kill her now?¡± Qi Jiu remained silent, giving him a fleeting glance that was commanding without anger, frightening Han Chen into submissive silence, head bowed like a quail. He felt something was very wrong with Mr. Jiu. Keeping a woman who desired his death, how was that different from the self-destructive Jiang Ke? But he didn¡¯t dare to say these things, he could only pace back and forth with a face full of worry. Han Mo was made dizzy by his pacing, ¡°If you have nothing to do, go and tally the stuff. Those guys, probably can¡¯t make heads or tails of it.¡± He referred to the assassins clad in black. They were only tasked with killing, asking them to tally and manage accounts was to ask the impossible. But Han Chen was no better at it, ¡°Forget it. I won¡¯t. I can¡¯t make sense of it either.¡± The pirates¡¯ long-accumulated wealth had all been harvested by them. Thus, with so much to inventory, he¡¯d be a fool to take on that task himself. ¡°I¡¯ll do it. You go calculate.¡± He wanted to take over Han Mo¡¯s task. But Qi Jiu refused, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to calculate, then watch her. If something happens to her, think about your own fate.¡± Upon hearing this, Han Chen complained, ¡°Mr. Jiu, why keep her at all? Look how she wounded you! Mr. Jiu has never suffered like this from childhood until now.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Qi Jiu waved his hand, ¡°She cannot die just yet. I have an important use for her.¡± Han Chen, puzzled, asked, ¡°What important use?¡± Qi Jiu said, ¡°Think about it on your own. If you can¡¯t figure it out, don¡¯t come to see me.¡± Han Chen, ¡°¡­¡± Clutching his head, he left the room. Han Mo finished bandaging the wound, ¡°The wound is quite deep. It might leave a scar.¡± Qi Jiu looked at his own face in the mirror, covered with a piece of gauze, and felt quite ridiculous, ¡°I don¡¯t want to scar. Think of a solution.¡± Han Mo, ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Qi Jiu, touching the unharmed half of his face, suddenly asked, ¡°Who do you say is better-looking, me or Jiang Ke?¡± Han Mo, ¡°¡­¡± His mouth twitched as he praised, ¡°Of course Mr. Jiu is more handsome.¡± When Jiang Ke died, he was like a beggar, unsightly. While Qi Jiu lived in luxury, with sparse brows and clear eyes, his appearance was handsome and unparalleled. Qi Jiu said, ¡°Jiang Ke also only took a month¡¯s time¡­¡± Han Mo heard what he left unsaid and frowned, ¡°Why should Mr. Jiu bother comparing himself to a dead man? If you want something, simply take it. But to be moved, that is a serious taboo.¡± Chapter 152 - 152: Bright Mirror Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Bright Mirror He who ascends to power fears emotion most. Today, Qi Jiu could threaten He Ying with Sang Yan because He Ying was moved, showing his weakness. ¡°Mr. Jiu, think about your grand ambitions, and stay away from Miss Sang.¡± Han Mo¡¯s advice was simple yet weighty. Qi Jiu was silent for a long time before he said, ¡°To value one person over the entire world is not heartless; it is truly being unable to afford feelings.¡± Han Mo nodded, ¡°Mr. Jiu, since you are clear about this in your heart, be sure not to repeat the same mistake.¡± Qi Jiu sighed deeply and said no more. Sometimes, people do things¡­ even when they know they shouldn¡¯t. Separated by a room, Sang Yan glared at Han Chen. She wanted to kill Qi Jiu, and failing that, thought of killing herself. In any case, she would not do as he wished. But Han Chen was watching her, and several maids stood by her side, leaving her no chance. The mess on the floor had also been cleaned up early. When she asked to go to the restroom, the maids watched her, and it took her a long while to muster up the courage, blushing, to relieve herself. She felt like she was living worse than a dog! In the evening, they brought dinner. This meal was the most lavish she had seen since following Jiang Ke. Chicken, duck, fish, soup, and various pastries¡ªbeautiful in color and lingering in fragrance. As she looked, tears streamed down her face. She thought of Jiang Ke. When Jiang Ke had said he was hungry and was about to catch some game to fill his stomach, they had come, and they killed him; poor him, he went to the underworld hungry. Was that considered dying from hunger? The thought alone was excruciatingly painful for her. The underworld? There should be none. But if not the underworld, where could he be? If she could traverse this world, then could he also be reborn somewhere else? Lost in thought, she heard the maid¡¯s voice next to her¡ª ¡°Miss, please eat your meal quickly. The food will get cold soon.¡± After hearing this, knowing she shouldn¡¯t make it difficult for them, she still waved her hand and swept all the food off the table. Since she couldn¡¯t find death, then she would starve. Just starve¡ªslowly and painfully. ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not eating! I won¡¯t eat anything! All of you, get out!¡± She shrieked, driving people away. The maids hurriedly cleaned up the mess and reported the incident to Qi Jiu. Qi Jiu was also eating his dinner. Because of the bandages on his face, he wasn¡¯t planning to come over, but Sang Yan¡¯s disobedience had irked him. He sent Han Chen away and also dismissed the attendants. The room was left with just the two of them. ¡°Still contemplating dying for him?¡± ¡°What a foolish woman!¡± ¡°He was nothing but an incapable cripple!¡± He disparaged Jiang Ke at will, eliciting her hateful glare. He met her gaze and smirked, ¡°What, is there a problem with what I said? He couldn¡¯t protect you. Time and again, he exposed you to danger. You could have had a better life, but his actions made you lead a life of displacement, and now, you¡¯ve become my hostage.¡± ¡°People are already dead, what¡¯s the point of talking about him like that?¡± Sang Yan furiously cursed, ¡°Qi Jiu, be a human being! Accumulate some virtue for yourself!¡± Seeing this, Qi Jiu lost his patience, grabbed her by the neck, ¡°Really not eating?¡± Sang Yan turned her head, not wanting to look at him at all. Qi Jiu then let go, smiling, ¡°If you don¡¯t eat, I have plenty of ways to make you eat. Maybe you find it boring and want someone to keep you company while you eat? Or even to feed you with their mouth?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She felt threatened, her eyes filled with disgust, ¡°Despicable! Shameless! Disgusting!¡± Qi Jiu chuckled, ¡°My despicable, shameless, disgusting nature, haven¡¯t you seen it all? And yet you still say these things. Sang Yan, how adorable of you, running out of fresh insults?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Her heart pounded violently; her forehead buzzed as if she were about to pass out from frustration. She was genuinely afraid he would feed her by mouth. She relented, ¡°I¡¯ll eat. Now leave. I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Seeing her compliance, Qi Jiu smiled contently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that even more adorable?¡± The adorable Sang Yan cursed him incessantly in her heart. She had never so desperately wished for someone¡¯s death! Soon, the maid brought in fresh food. Sang Yan ate numbly, shoveling food into her mouth without caring about the taste, her actions coarse as if she hadn¡¯t eaten in half a month, not caring about her image at all. ¡°Slow down. Don¡¯t choke. Here, drink some water.¡± Qi Jiu sat across from her, softly uttering words of concern. Sang Yan frowned at him, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left? What are you looking at?¡± Qi Jiu smiled faintly, ¡°Watching you eat is also quite adorable.¡± He didn¡¯t really know what he was doing or what any of it meant. Her eating was not that important. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She would not starve by not eating for two or three days. Even if she became emaciated, He Ying might see her and feel sorrier for her, which would be more disadvantageous and beneficial for him. But he still came, coercing and tempting her to eat. He found that he liked watching her eat in a shriveled, subdued manner. Originally, he was just curious about what kind of woman could make He Ying incessantly ponder and Jiang Ke willingly die. Now¡­ now¡­ Sang Yan rolled her eyes, full of disdain, ¡°You¡¯re really sick!¡± Qi Jiu burst into laughter, ¡°I indeed am sick.¡± He let down the hair that had been wrapped under a headscarf, revealing it to be as white as snow. Snowy hair, blue eyes, his face pale as jade¡ªhis appearance became particularly stunning as his hair cascaded down. Of course, the astonishment was momentary. After recovering, Sang Yan thought: Premature white hair? Dye? No, no! There was no such advanced hair-dyeing technology at this time! Overnight white hair belongs only in novels or to the realm of fantasy! What¡¯s going on with him? ¡°Scared?¡± Qi Jiu observed her stunned look, his expression becoming prouder and more indifferent, ¡°My mother was a singer from Puluo Country. My father, the Emperor of Beiqi¡ªwell, back then it was still Da Qi¡ªduring a sea voyage, bought her for half a bag of gold coins. They were initially very affectionate. Within half a year, my mother rose from being a lowly maid to the position of Noble Consort. Everything fell apart with my birth.¡± He was born with white hair and blue eyes. The blue eyes could be explained by his mother¡¯s Puluo bloodline. People from Puluo Country all had blonde hair and blue eyes. But white hair was considered ominous. At that time, someone claimed that he was a natural-born monstrosity, an omen that he would bring disaster to Da Qi. His father changed his attitude abruptly. His mother fell out of favor. Ten years later, when He Ying led troops to attack Da Qi causing the loss of numerous cities and forcing a relocation northward to what became Beiqi, his existence became an eyesore. His father wanted to kill him to appease the public. His mother tried to save him and struck her head dead against the walls of the Cold Palace. Protected by his mother¡¯s loyal servants, he fled to Puluo Country. ¡°You should visit Puluo Country.¡± ¡°The mountains are clear and the waters are beautiful, very beautiful, much like the heaven described by the Buddha.¡± The world he had created. His pride. Perhaps if she saw it, she wouldn¡¯t look at him with such loathing and hatred. ¡°No matter what you have experienced, it is no excuse for your wrongdoing!¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t wish to hear his story and stated icily, ¡°You were born in the Imperial Palace, you enjoyed the conveniences of power and wealth. You must bear its burdens as well.¡± Qi Jiu nodded, ¡°Yes. I recognize that. That¡¯s why I never complain, nor do I show mercy. Every obstacle in my path gets kicked aside.¡± ¡°Do you see Jiang Ke as your obstacle?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he? I¡¯ve tried to recruit him multiple times, to no avail. If he cannot be of use to me, why should I keep him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you lack the capacity to accommodate others and are even unfit to be his master.¡± Those were harsh words. Qi Jiu¡¯s face changed instantly, and he exclaimed, ¡°Sang Yan, provoking me does you no good.¡± Chapter 153 - 153: Human Nature Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Human Nature Sang Yan scoffed with disdain, ¡°You¡¯re angry. That means I¡¯ve hit the mark.¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He felt deflated but didn¡¯t get angry, pausing for a moment before saying, ¡°We are from different camps, and haven¡¯t known each other long. Naturally, you speak for him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s no reason for you to kill.¡± ¡°To me, killing needs no reason. Not killing needs a reason. Like you, for example.¡± He needed a reason to not kill her that could persuade others and himself. But he knew clearly¡ª ¡°Sang Yan, you are just bait that has been thrown out. Alive or dead, it doesn¡¯t affect anything now.¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you kill me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to die.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± She sneered, too lazy to say more, gulping down a large mouthful of soup, setting down the bowl, and wiping her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m done eating. You can leave now.¡± Qi Jiu called someone to clear up the dishes, sitting motionless in his chair. Sang Yan frowned as she looked at him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Qi Jiu looked up at her, ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you brought upon yourself? I¡¯ll sleep here tonight as well.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She gave him a perplexed look, ¡°You really are sick!¡± The sick Qi Jiu wasn¡¯t just talking to scare people. He really had someone bring in a small couch and slept there in the room. ¡°Men and women should be separate.¡± Sang Yan glared at him, ¡°Even though I am a prisoner, you shouldn¡¯t humiliate me like this.¡± Qi Jiu, with a look of admiration, responded, ¡°You¡¯re quite aware of yourself indeed, you truly are my prisoner, but is this really considered a humiliation?¡± His tone shifted, ¡°Perhaps I should show you what real humiliation is?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Bastard! Threatening her again! ¡°You, you¡ª¡± She took a deep breath and turned her head away. It was pointless to argue with a bandit-like man. Qi Jiu had no intention of speaking further, closed his eyes, and lay down on the couch. His white hair spread out, some sliding off onto the floor. Sang Yan glanced at him and suddenly realized she had been too ¡°rigid¡± and should be more ¡°pliant,¡± even if it was feigned. ¡°Actually, your hair¡ª¡± She complimentarily yet disingenuously said, ¡°looks quite nice. You don¡¯t have to see yourself as a freak. In this vast world, all sorts of things exist. It¡¯s not necessarily your fault for being different; it could very well be a special favor from the heavens. You know the term ¡®favored by the heavens.''¡± Qi Jiu hadn¡¯t expected her to say something like that and looked at her surprisingly, ¡°Continue.¡± He clearly liked hearing these things. Sang Yan had no choice but to go along with it, adding a few more sentences, ¡°I think it¡¯s just a matter of hair color, like people¡¯s eyes that are black, brown, or blue. As long as your body is fine and healthy, there¡¯s nothing else to fear.¡± Though in her heart she thought: No! Completely white hair must be a genetic mutation! That¡¯s definitely not good! There might be hidden diseases, a risk of dying young! Unaware of Sang Yan¡¯s sinister thoughts, Qi Jiu nodded and smiled, ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve said something pleasant.¡± Seeing him smile, Sang Yan asked, ¡°I won¡¯t be depressed anymore, so can you leave now?¡± Qi Jiu tactfully declined, ¡°Forgive me for saying, but I find your words untrustworthy.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Madman! He¡¯s just like Jiang Ke from the past! Thinking of Jiang Ke pained her heart. He had died. Died on an unnamed island. The person before her was an assassin. She couldn¡¯t avenge him and had to smile pleasingly! How hateful! She sat on the bed, hugging her legs, falling into a state of self-loathing: she was really incapable! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qi Jiu looked at her pitiful appearance and said, ¡°You should know that death was a release for him. A man of his strong will could never just barely survive.¡± ¡°Shut up! No matter what, it¡¯s not your reason to kill him! You are just a coward, you killed him because you were afraid of him!¡± She roared, and tears fell again. Seeing her cry, Qi Jiu stopped speaking¡ªafter all, women and villains are troublesome to deal with. He lay flat and closed his eyes to sleep. The nights at sea were very quiet. Not like when the pirates were around, always bustling until late at night. Sometimes, when the noise kept her awake, Jiang Ke would tell her stories. About the interesting encounters he had while pursuing swordsmanship and wandering through the worldly society. Once, he rescued a widowed woman attempting to hang herself halfway up a mountain, and he inquired about her troubles. The woman said her home had been burglarized, and her meager possessions stolen. With no money, no husband, and no children, she thought it easier just to die. Feeling pity for her helpless state, he gave her fifty taels of silver, hoping she could live well. Half a month later, anxious, he went to see her again. She was still alive, recognized him, and joyfully told him that her lost money had been returned. It turned out that along with the money, the thief had also taken a compartment of her purse where she kept treasured letters from her husband. Those letters were farewell notes. In them, the man wrote about being captured by enemies, enduring torture without revealing secrets, and ultimately dying loyally for his country. It spoke of his devotion to his country, as well as his longing, cherishing, reluctance, and affection for his wife¡ªeven wishing her to find new happiness and live peacefully. The interweaving of personal and profound love, encapsulated in words, had moved the thief. ¡°As a widow of a martyr, not even a thousand pieces of gold would I dare take. Moved to tears, I return these to you. Please treasure them.¡± Even a despised thief could have a moment of compassion. At the time, she was touched, not by the husband¡¯s heroism, but by the humanity of a thief. Often, it¡¯s the righteous who end up destroying lives, while the supposedly learned are the ones who betray. Even a common thief could reform from within, not losing the baseline of humanity, yet Qi Jiu¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Please! Don¡¯t kill him!¡± ¡°Jiang Ke, Jiang Ke, run¡ª¡± Sang Yan was having a nightmare. She had returned to the day Jiang Ke died. Qi Jiu had thrust his sword, piercing Jiang Ke¡¯s heart. She tried repeatedly to stop him, but never succeeded. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± She sat up in shock, drenched in cold sweat. Qi Jiu was sitting before the bed, his gaze heavy, watching her terrified state. ¡°Having a nightmare?¡± His voice was as light as a feather. Sang Yan stared at him silently, breathing rapidly, her chest heaving intensely. He noticed, glanced briefly, and then returned his gaze to her face: ¡°What were you dreaming about? You kept saying ¡®don¡¯t¡¯?¡± Gradually, Sang Yan came to her senses, swallowed, and shifted slightly to the side, pulling the covers over herself: ¡°You know very well.¡± She lowered her head, hugged her knees, and wept softly: ¡°Jiang Ke¡­ sob¡­ you killed Jiang Ke¡­¡± Qi Jiu watched her frail trembling shoulders, furrowed his brows, and lifted her chin with his hand: ¡°Sang Yan, stop thinking about a dead man! Don¡¯t you remember Jiang Ke¡¯s last words? He had come to terms with his death; it¡¯s you who can¡¯t move on!¡± ¡°Let go of me!¡± Sang Yan knocked his hand away, her face stained with tears, eyes swollen: ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m not as cruel-hearted as you. How ridiculous. You¡¯re cruel-hearted, yet you expect others to be the same.¡± Qi Jiu laughed angrily at her again: ¡°Sang Yan, if I were more cruel-hearted, I¡¯d do something to make you forget him.¡± He aggressively grasped her chin, leaned close to her ear, and whispered low: ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have the energy to cry for another man in front of me!¡± Chapter 154 - 154 Terror Chapter 154: Chapter 154 Terror Threats again! This man was none other than Jiang Ke! And Jiang Ke was the one who had liked her! So, the man in front of her¡ª A terrifying thought suddenly surged through Sang Yan¡¯s mind¡ªcould Qi Jiu be in love with her? Considering the possibility, she caught a glimpse of Qi Jiu out of the corner of her eye¡ªwhat kind of look was that? Interest? Disdain? It seemed like affection, yet it wasn¡¯t. Annoying! She saw him still pinching her chin and turned her head to bite his wrist. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± Qi Jiu furrowed his brows and pushed her chin away, scolding her in a low voice, ¡°Sang Yan, how could you bite someone!¡± Sang Yan spat out his blood, ¡°I hate you! I just wanted to bite you! Does it hurt? That¡¯s how I felt when you killed Jiang Ke!¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He suddenly stood up and stepped back two paces, ¡°Shut up! He kidnapped you for several days, and you are delusional, risking your life for him! Such foolish compassion is utterly absurd!¡± He truly thought she was foolish to care so much about a man who had kidnapped her! He even felt¡ª ¡°You¡¯re just a fool! Nothing but cheap bones!¡± His anger surged, his face filled with frustrated fury. Sang Yan heard this and scoffed, ¡°Not only do I have cheap bones, I also possess a husband-killing fate! Every man who gets close to me meets a terrible fate!¡± She felt that Qi Jiu had a slight liking for her. Though she didn¡¯t know what about her had caught his eye. She even wondered¡ªcould it be that she hadn¡¯t traveled to an ancient world, but instead into an unfamiliar novel, receiving a script loved by thousands? ¡°Husband-killing fate?¡± Qi Jiu seized on the term, laughing, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯m not your husband yet. Or perhaps you want to marry me, to take revenge on me?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Crazy! ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± She rolled her eyes and said nothing more, lying down to sleep. The oil lamp in the room was always burning. The gentle flame illuminated her face. She looked at the person on the nearby soft couch and then at the flickering fire, suddenly conceiving a plan for revenge. Qi Jiu hadn¡¯t fallen asleep yet, constantly watching her movements, seeing her focusing on the fire, he snapped his fingers and the flame went out. ¡°See. You¡¯re not to be trusted.¡± He was certain she was up to no good and had come to keep an eye on her. Sang Yan had already experienced his sharpness, and she sneered, ¡°There are only thieves for a thousand days, but no guard against thieves for a thousand days. If you don¡¯t kill me, one day you will die by my hands.¡± Qi Jiu was unconvinced, smirking dismissively, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s make a bet, if you can¡¯t kill me before you see He Ying, then you¡¯ll come to my side, how about that? Whatever He Ying can give you, I definitely can too.¡± ¡°What can you give me?¡± Sang Yan replied sarcastically, ¡°Do you know what I want, and you¡¯ll just give it to me?¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He was at a loss for words. Indeed, she didn¡¯t want power or fame; it seemed she just wanted someone¡¯s genuine heart. And he had everything but a sincere heart. His heart was filled with grand ambitions and great enterprises. How could he consider home when his grand ambitions were unfulfilled? ¡°That¡¯s why you are foolish! Genuine feelings change the easiest!¡± ¡°Let them change if they will. If I gain it, I am fortunate; if I lose it, it is my fate. I follow my heart¡¯s desires, not confined by others, only constrained by myself.¡± She was proactive in choosing whom to love, hence no regrets about who she had loved. Even if they betrayed her, she wouldn¡¯t plunge into despair. ¡°I¡¯ll be indifferent if you are heartless. I love wholeheartedly and hate thoroughly. But Qi Jiu, you have destroyed all of this.¡± She would rather they betray her than leave her life through death. ¡°I won¡¯t let you hurt He Ying again!¡± Her gaze was resolute. In the darkness, her beautiful eyes shone particularly bright, like two clusters of flames. Qi Jiu looked into her eyes and smiled, ¡°Good. I¡¯ll wait and see how you plan to protect him.¡± Sang Yan listened, she shifted her eyes and asked indirectly, ¡°What exactly do you want to do? Why instigate a war between two nations for no good reason?¡± ¡°Unless the world is united, wars will never cease.¡± Qi Jiu¡¯s words carried a hint of impatience, ¡°Sang Yan, stop asking such foolish questions from now on.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was scorned again. No, she felt that Qi Jiu had always looked down on her. Yet, while he looked down on her, he also harbored some fondness for her. It was this mindset that made his attitude ambiguous. ¡°You always think I¡¯m stupid.¡± After analyzing Qi Jiu¡¯s mindset, Sang Yan laughed and said, ¡°But you¡¯ve forgotten, some people pretend to be foolish while they are clever, some are merely pretentious, and some are so clever that they outsmart themselves.¡± Undoubtedly, Qi Jiu was the latter. Qi Jiu did not refute but sighed profoundly, ¡°Sleep.¡± So, Sang Yan went to sleep too. But she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. In the middle of the night, looking at the sleeping Qi Jiu, she couldn¡¯t help but feel the urge to kill. ¡°Hey, Qi Jiu, are you asleep?¡± Qi Jiu did not respond. This fueled Sang Yan¡¯s murderous intent. She got out of bed barefoot, grabbed a pillow, walked over, and lightly leaped forward to smother him. She felt her mentality was stable, her steps were light, and her movements minimal; she even held her breath, but she still failed. He rolled off the couch. She lunged at nothing, threw the pillow aside disinterestedly, and prepared to return to her bed. But how could Qi Jiu let it go so easily? Watching her retreating figure, anger exploded in his mind like a storm. ¡°Bang!¡± Sang Yan was suddenly pinned down on the bed. Her wrists were clasped by him, her legs restrained. Unable to struggle, she turned her head and glared at him, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Guess what I want to do?¡± He bit her neck hard and without mercy, quickly leaving a vivid red mark, ¡°This is to avenge that bite. And for the scar on my face, Sang Yan, how do you plan to repay that?¡± Sang Yan gasped in pain: ¡°Get lost!¡± Her eyes tearful, a tear suddenly dropped, seemingly piercing right into the soul. Too pitiful. Too frail. He wiped the tears from her face, his smile sinister, ¡°The night is long, and since you¡¯re not sleepy, let me kindly help you.¡± Clothes were scattered. She cried out through her tears, ¡°Stop! I, I have many¡­ men, don¡¯t you have a cleanliness obsession?¡± Men of ancient times had that complex. In her panic, she used it as an excuse. ¡°Ha ha¡ª¡± Qi Jiu laughed as if he had heard a joke, ¡°You worry too much. I don¡¯t. Not only do I not mind, but I also find it appealing. Since you¡¯ve had many¡­ men, you must be very¡­ experienced. Come on, show me your skills, how did you captivate them?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Miscalculation! Miscalculation! She forgot that the person in front of her was a thousand times more insane than Jiang Ke! ¡°Shameless!¡± ¡°If you dare touch me, I, I¡ª¡± She realized she had nothing with which to threaten him. ¡°I truly have a husband-killing fate!¡± ¡°Qi Jiu, don¡¯t mess around!¡± ¡°Think about your grand ambitions, what if I were to bring about your death, how great your loss would be!¡± She blurted out in desperation. Qi Jiu, looking at her frightened disarray, laughed, ¡°Sang Yan, I¡¯m really touched by your concern for me. Just for that, I must ensure you have a ¡®good sleep¡¯ through this long night!¡± Chapter 155 - 155: Love of the Blade Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Love of the Blade His feverish kiss landed on her neck. Sang Yan reflexively vomited, ¡°Bleh¡ª¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He was covered in the food she had thrown up. An unpleasant stench instantly assaulted his sense of smell. He hastily jumped back, covering his nose, glaring at her, ¡°Sang Yan, you! You!¡± Sang Yan was hunched over the bed¡¯s edge, vomiting violently: ¡°Bleh¡ª¡± She threw up the dinner she had eaten. Qi Jiu hurriedly called people to clean up and sprinkle fragrant powder to cover up the odor. Since he had also been splattered, he instructed the maid, ¡°Watch her carefully. If anything happens to her, none of you will survive either. Also, summon a physician to examine her.¡± Such sudden vomiting, could it be she¡¯s pregnant? If she is pregnant, it¡¯s most likely Jiang Ke¡¯s seed. Remove the root of the problem! This child cannot be allowed to stay! His eyes brimmed with ferocity as he left Sang Yan¡¯s room and returned to his own. Hot water had already been prepared. The commotion also woke Han Chen. Han Chen got up and stood outside the washroom, asking, ¡°Mr. Jiu, are you alright?¡± Qi Jiu counter-asked, ¡°What could possibly happen to me?¡± Han Chen said, ¡°Miss Sang is sly and vicious; what if she hurt Mr. Jiu?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s good.¡± ¡°You go and keep an eye on her.¡± ¡°What is there to watch with her?¡± ¡°Go! Don¡¯t make me tell you twice!¡± ¡°¡­Yes!¡± Han Chen left, frowning. Qi Jiu took a bath, then came out wearing a white bathrobe. The maids came forward to dry his hair and dress him. He inquired about Sang Yan¡¯s condition. The maid said, ¡°She¡¯s still vomiting. The physician says she has a weak stomach.¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± Why did she have to vomit at that moment! At that instant, he truly wanted her. Just as Han Mo said, if you want it, take it. With so many men around her, his willingness to take her should be counted as her fortune. What a pity. * In fact, Sang Yan was vomiting more out of extreme mental tension. After all, she didn¡¯t want to give him something very important to a woman. If he took her virginity, he would surely look down on He Ying and Jiang Ke even more, and she would become a trophy for him to flaunt. Therefore, even if she felt better after vomiting for a while, she still exaggerated her condition, and while they were not paying attention, she deliberately made herself gag to feign serious illness. When Qi Jiu arrived, Sang Yan was still vomiting. There was a lot of fragrant powder scattered around the room, but a faint odor was still detectable. He frowned and pointed at the disheveled Sang Yan, asking the maid, ¡°Did you give her a bath?¡± The maid responsible for serving her shook her head in panic, ¡°No. The young lady won¡¯t let us touch her.¡± Indeed, Sang Yan did not let them touch her. Bathing was too dangerous for her. She would rather roll around in the vomit to make herself even dirtier, distancing Qi Jiu even further from her. ¡°Useless!¡± Qi Jiu yelled, ¡°There are so many of you, and you still can¡¯t manage one woman?¡± Sang Yan feigned weakness and pitied herself, ¡°I feel absolutely terrible, I just don¡¯t want to bathe. If you can¡¯t bear to see it, just don¡¯t look.¡± ¡°I hate it most when others defy my wishes!¡± Qi Jiu was unmoved, his expression cold as he said, ¡°Sang Yan, you must bathe today! You stink to high heaven! Are you even a woman?¡± Sang Yan retorted angrily, ¡°I truly don¡¯t want to be a woman! What¡¯s so good about being a woman? Being fought over and snatched away by you men, what¡¯s the point?¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He was rendered speechless and paused for a while before saying, ¡°You¡¯re just afraid I¡¯ll touch you. Rest assured, I¡¯m not so desperate as to lay a hand on a sick person.¡± Sang Yan wanted just that promise, but still expressed her concerns, ¡°Forgive my bluntness, but you aren¡¯t exactly trustworthy.¡± Qi Jiu laughed in spite, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck. Sang Yan, my patience is limited.¡± Sang Yan, left with no choice, could only say, ¡°Then leave.¡± Qi Jiu really didn¡¯t want to waste more words with her and left. After she finished bathing, he came back in. Seeing her fragrant and appetizing appearance, his mood improved and he asked with a smile, ¡°How do you feel now?¡± Sang Yan lied, ¡°I feel very bad. I still feel like vomiting.¡± Hearing that she felt like vomiting, Qi Jiu stepped back a few paces, fearful she would vomit on him. Seeing this, Sang Yan pretended to be about to vomit, ¡°Ugh¡ª¡± In reality, her stomach was empty and nothing came out. But this was enough to scare Qi Jiu considerably, ¡°You¡­ hold it in!¡± He poured her a cup of water, ¡°Drink this. Keep it down.¡± Sang Yan had already rinsed her mouth and didn¡¯t want to drink the water, wary he might have added something to it, so she said, ¡°Thank you, no need.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How could Qi Jiu not be aware of her cautiousness? He took a sip and handed it to her, his volume raised, implying coercion, ¡°Drink it!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t want to drink but did so with a face full of humiliation. Observing this, he asked with a laugh, ¡°Does it taste good?¡± Sang Yan looked at him with loathing, ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous!¡± Qi Jiu burst into hearty laughter, ¡°Right. I am indeed bored. Did you not foresee this outcome when you begged for my help? Men of the world are much the same, your pitiful appearance when subjugated by them is indeed quite stirring.¡± A helpless beauty, a beauty with tear-filled eyes looking at you, a beauty at your mercy¡­ ¡°Remember the bad things Jiang Ke did to you; don¡¯t always dwell on those insignificant kindnesses. He even used your hand to seal his own fate, wanting you to never forget him for the rest of your life. In this, I simply cannot compare.¡± Mentioning Jiang Ke earlier had infuriated him for not recognizing the good before him; now, his words were filled with jealousy. His heart seemed to split into two in an instant. Disaster loomed, yet he was unaware. She sensed something amiss, feeling both repulsed and eager¡ªif he were to fall for her, she would use that love as a blade to slay him! So, fall in love with her faster! Before she met He Ying again¡­ * The sun rose in the east. A resplendent glow filled the sky. He Ying rose from the bed, touched his throbbing head, and whispered, ¡°Someone! Someone!¡± Pei Muyang, holding a bowl of medicine, came over. Seeing that he was awake, he quickly said, ¡°Emperor, you¡¯ve finally woken. You developed a high fever in the middle of the night, which nearly scared your servant to death.¡± He Ying¡¯s wounds had been recurring and had not healed. Even though Pei Muyang took great care in tending to him, but with the master not taking proper rest, the treatments were not very effective. He Ying was in discomfort from the fever, but he didn¡¯t address it; instead, he asked, ¡°Where are we?¡± He could ask this question three hundred times a day. Pei Muyang had an answer prepared, ¡°Your Majesty, we are nearing Puluo Country¡¯s waters. Guard Captain Lu sent word to suggest that since Puluo has formidable maritime strength, our approach could lead to misunderstandings. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon cannot suppress the local snake. He recommends sending a team first to negotiate.¡± Lacking the energy, He Ying did not want any additional complications and nodded, ¡°Mhm. Negotiate with them. Our journey is solely to find someone. If they can assist, rewards will be substantial.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After Pei Muyang acknowledged the instructions, he presented the bowl of medicine in his hand. He Ying glanced at the dark concoction and, frowning, downed it in one gulp. Pei Muyang offered him some candied fruits. He waved his hand dismissively and ordered, ¡°Dress me. I want to go out and have a look.¡± During this long sea voyage, he had yet to encounter a pirate ship. If the pirates had sent letters seeking ransom, they should be heading toward Quanzhou to trade with him, not toward Puluo Country. He Ying had an inkling that something was amiss, but for the moment, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. Chapter 156 - 156 Aesthetics Chapter 156: Chapter 156 Aesthetics Sang Yan also sensed something unusual. Because the mainland city was gradually becoming visible, yet it wasn¡¯t Quanzhou. It seemed to be the place Jiang Ke wanted to go¡ªPuluo Country. ¡°Why is it Puluo Country?¡± She knew that Puluo Country was Qi Jiu¡¯s territory, and her face changed drastically¡ªQi Jiu, posing as a pirate to negotiate cooperation with He Ying, if he lured him into Puluo Country, it was simply like trapping a turtle in a jar! Qi Jiu merely smiled faintly, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see Puluo Country? It¡¯s truly beautiful here.¡± Previously poor and closed-off, it had blossomed into prosperity and wealth under his reign, aided by pirate forces. Before they even docked, the sounds of music and exquisite dance faintly reached their ears. Sang Yan looked disgusted, ¡°Despicable!¡± Qi Jiu was unmoved, ¡°Everything is just a means to an end, as long as it achieves the goal.¡± ¡°You truly have no bottom line.¡± ¡°What do you think He Ying is capable of? During the battle at Pingji, he had trapped and killed thirty thousand soldiers. You speak like this of me only because our political stances differ. Sang Yan, this is unfair to me.¡± ¡°You care about fairness?¡± She laughed mockingly and stepped outside. Previously, she had noticed something unusual at a sealed window. Now, pushing past him, she stepped out and went to the bow of the ship where the outside view became crystal clear. She had indeed arrived in Puluo Country! Puluo Country wasn¡¯t large; it was an island surrounded by the sea, comparable in size to a modern H country. Drawing closer, she saw many fishing boats. There were also some pleasure boats draped in red gauze, from which melodious string and woodwind music drifted. ¡°Are you planning to lure He Ying to the island and kill him with Puluo Country¡¯s maritime forces?¡± Sang Yan watched Qi Jiu approach slowly and spoke his intentions. Qi Jiu did not deny it, even retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t you think dying in such a beautiful place would be luckier than Jiang Ke¡¯s fate?¡± Thinking of Jiang Ke, her hatred surged, and she had to bite the back of her hand to calm down. Endure it. Just endure a little longer. Perhaps once ashore, she might find an opportunity to kill him. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as she lived, there was hope in killing him. Qi Jiu saw her self-harm, frowned, walked over, and pulled down her hand, ¡°Enough, stop being foolish in front of me! I won¡¯t sympathize with you!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Who needed his sympathy! She rolled her eyes, shook off his hand, and walked away, keeping her distance from him. Qi Jiu watched her act this way, his face darkened with a brooding expression that screamed murder. Puluo Country was getting closer. As dusk approached, the ship finally docked. They all disembarked. The shore was scenic. Various goods filled the eye. Calls of vendors were incessant. Sang Yan was half curious and half looking for fellow countrymen. Jiang Ke had mentioned that this was an open and inclusive small country. She indeed saw many from Da He by their looks, yet because of Qi Jiu¡¯s presence, she couldn¡¯t yet take action. Mainly, finding someone who cared for Da He and was willing to carry a message there for her was not an easy task. ¡°Where are you heading?¡± Sang Yan followed behind him, guessing what his stronghold here would be like. Usually, an ambitious prince in another country would open taverns, brothels, and the like to cultivate power. Indeed, she guessed right. Qi Jiu¡¯s stronghold was a brothel. Its name was Jinxiu Garden. The exterior was luxuriously decorated. Upon entering, a wave of perfume hit them. On the high stage, dancers clad in thin clothing were performing a spicy dance. Their looks weren¡¯t necessarily refined; it was mainly their figures¡ªeach with voluptuous breasts and hips, full-bodied, exuding sensuality. Actually, as she traveled along, she had noticed that this small country considered being plump beautiful. ¡°Mr. Jiu is here!¡± The woman, in the manner of a madam, hurried forward to greet him. She was in her thirties, plain-looking, dressed in a bright red skirt, and her ample bosom was truly a sight to behold. As she walked, her hips swayed, and her chest jiggled, making it hard to decide where to look. ¡°Ah, Mr. Jiu, where did you find such an angel? She looks so delicate.¡± She sized up Sang Yan with a smile and even reached out to touch her face. In Puluo Country, women were tall, full-bodied, and voluptuous¡ªwhere would one find such a delicate and beautiful creature? It was too refreshing! Sang Yan immediately dodged away, feeling uneasy from being appraised like merchandise by the madam: coming to such a place felt like being in the red-light district, and the natural vulnerability of women here made her especially uncomfortable. ¡°Qi Jiu!¡± She suppressed her panic, trying to appear calm, ¡°Is this how you treat your guests?¡± She had been treated so courteously that she had forgotten that she was destined to be a captive. Qi Jiu didn¡¯t want to remind her either, only asking with a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t like it here?¡± Sang Yan was serious, ¡°No woman would like it here.¡± This place treated women as commodities. Here, the status of women couldn¡¯t be lower. She believed that no decent woman would want to stay here. ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Qi Jiu rebutted with a smile, ¡°They are quite happy here. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask them.¡± Sang Yan wasn¡¯t interested in such matters and said forcefully, ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here.¡± Her statement chilled the room. The madam had lived for many years and had never seen anyone speak to Qi Jiu like that, and she couldn¡¯t help but advise, ¡°Ah, my girl, you mustn¡¯t become arrogant because you are favored.¡± She took Sang Yan for a woman serving Qi Jiu. In her eyes, Qi Jiu was picky, lacked patience with women, seemed gentle but was very likely to turn ruthless. She never thought Qi Jiu would compromise. These men, when they went out, would be away for months, and when they came back, they would desperately seek relief with women. ¡°Fine.¡± Qi Jiu gave her a deep look, turned around, and instructed, ¡°The rest stay behind, stand by here. Han Chen and Han Mo, we¡¯re going to the inn.¡± Listening to Qi Jiu, the madam noticed his gaze on Sang Yan and thought to herself: This girl is in for a rough night. Actually, the inn was right next door. Once Sang Yan entered, she quickly realized an issue¡ªthe inn¡¯s walls were not soundproof at all. While eating, she could even hear the intense collisions from the next room. Accompanied by dirty talk. She simply couldn¡¯t eat. What if it were a male guest? Hearing those sounds, they would probably rush to the brothel next door for a carefree indulgence. No wonder the inn was located beside the brothel. Mutual flow of traffic. Thinking about the innkeeper¡¯s diligent manner in pleasing Qi Jiu, she knew that Qi Jiu was also a very talented businessman. Perhaps due to his wide experience, he could eat calmly in such an environment, his expression remained very composed, showing extraordinary self-control. ¡°Do you like it here?¡± Qi Jiu met her probing gaze with a slight smile. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t smile, and she said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Can we change the place?¡± ¡°Food and sex are natural desires. There¡¯s really no need to suppress them.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s suppressing?¡± She frowned and said, ¡°This kind of situation, where people mess around, can easily lead to diseases.¡± Qi Jiu¡¯s expression was serious, ¡°If you¡¯re worried about that, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m very healthy.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± What does his health have to do with anything? It¡¯s as if she would get involved with him just because she¡¯s healthy. ¡°If you lack women, just pick anyone from next door.¡± She said offhandedly while frowning. He looked at her, his gaze intense, fiery and burning, ¡°To be honest, after meeting you, I¡¯ve redefined my aesthetics.¡± He used to like women who were hot and voluptuous, but now he found women delicate and tearful more enticing. Chapter 157 - 157 Palace Chapter 157: Chapter 157 Palace Sang Yan did not reply. The topic was rather dangerous¡ªthe more one said, the more mistakes one could make, and it was wisest to say less. Qi Jiu continued, ¡°Sang Yan, come to your senses, and take a good look at me, hmm?¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan slammed down her chopsticks, losing her appetite. She was furious, stood up swiftly, and scolded, ¡°Are you even human? How could you say such things? You killed Jiang Ke! How dare you expect me to be with you?¡± If he had used Jiang Ke to threaten her, she might have compromised. But he had killed Jiang Ke. She would never forget that moment. The searing pain of his blood splashing on her face. ¡°In the society of lions, whenever a new Lion King emerges, to take possession of the lionesses, he would kill the lionesses¡¯ cubs.¡± His underlying message was¡ªno matter the reason, he would kill Jiang Ke. Sang Yan could tell, and she gritted her teeth, ¡°So you are a beast!¡± Qi Jiu held his chopsticks with a cold expression, ¡°By provoking a beast, you are engaging in very foolish behavior.¡± He acknowledged the animalistic nature in creatures and felt humans should also possess this trait, so he did not perceive Sang Yan¡¯s words as an insult. What angered him was her rejection. Sang Yan felt he was threatening her, but having seen many such threats from him, she was not frightened, ¡°Give it up. If you dare touch me, all you¡¯ll get is a corpse. If it¡¯s just for once, you can try.¡± Qi Jiu was a man who dared to take risks. To touch Sang Yan, and to ensure she lived after that, was a gamble. But in his internal struggle these past days, he had still not taken action. Falling for someone truly softened one¡¯s heart. ¡°Thud thud¡ª¡± A knock on the door suddenly interrupted. Qi Jiu looked towards the door, ¡°Come in.¡± The person who entered was Han Chen. He had a serious expression, bowed with both hands, and said in a deep voice, ¡°Mr. Jiu, the Puluo King has sent someone to request an audience.¡± The Puluo King was a puppet king propped up by Qi Jiu. For many years, he had been meticulously careful, showing the utmost respect for Qi Jiu, fulfilling his duties admirably. Qi Jiu also valued him highly. He took the request for an audience seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve only just returned, and Du Shan always exercises good judgment. If it were not important, he would not have sent for me.¡± As he pondered, he stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go. To the palace.¡± After walking a few steps, he turned back to look at Sang Yan, and without another word, dragged her along. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Sang Yan was incredibly annoyed and tried to shake off his hand, without success. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when we get there.¡± He led her by the hand, leaving the inn. Outside the inn a lavish carriage was parked, flanked by rows of tall guards wielding weapons. There appeared to be about twenty. This show of force hardly seemed an invitation to ¡°request¡± someone¡¯s presence. Sang Yan scanned the scene, evaluating the relationship between Qi Jiu and the Puluo King¡ªif their relationship was delicate, there might be space for her to maneuver. As she was thinking, she was suddenly lifted lightly and carried onto the carriage by Qi Jiu. She detested physical contact with him and once inside the carriage, she kept her distance from him. Qi Jiu observed the distance between them and said nothing, his gaze lowered as he pondered over the reason the Puluo King had sent for him. The sky grew dark. Sang Yan drew the carriage curtain aside, and using the dim moonlight, she observed the foreign buildings outside. They were not the wooden structures of Da He but rather stone constructions that were thick and towering, exuding a strong and rigid presence. Just like those tall and burly guards. Potent with aggression. Qi Jiu planned to use this place to kill He Ying. The thought made her restless. ¡°Du Shan was once a beggar, and starvation left him a bit touched in the head,¡± Qi Jiu suddenly spoke out, addressing the Puluo King by his name in a condescending tone. ¡°He¡¯s portly, so don¡¯t be too shocked when you see him,¡± He sounded like he was warning her of something. Sang Yan listened quietly, not responding. Qi Jiu frowned. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you still angry with me?¡± With a cold, sarcastic tone, Sang Yan mocked, ¡°What do you think? You brought me here without any explanation, completely disregarding my wishes. Why the pretense now?¡± When she spoke, he didn¡¯t listen. When she said nothing, he urged her to speak. How ridiculous. Did he think of her as dough he could mold at will? Qi Jiu chuckled upon hearing her. ¡°Me, putting on a show? Sang Yan, you really are ungrateful. You said you didn¡¯t want to stay in Jinxiu Garden, so I took you to an inn. I asked you to be with me, you disagreed, and even gave me a good scolding, but I didn¡¯t force you. After all this, you still think I don¡¯t care about your feelings?¡± If he truly didn¡¯t care, he would have already imprisoned her beneath him. Could she be tougher than him? Did women always need to be tamed in bed to become obedient? ¡°Ha. So you consider everything for my sake. How noble of you,¡± she said with great irony. Sang Yan rolled her eyes at him in disgust. ¡°Should someone you killed be grateful to you for sparing them some suffering before their death? Is there such reason in the world?¡± Qi Jiu looked at her with a cold and domineering expression. ¡°I am the reason.¡± Sang Yan countered. ¡°If you are the reason, then why bother to reason with me?¡± Qi Jiu sighed, feigning innocence. ¡°Because you won¡¯t talk to me.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± All this talk was just to make her say a few more words. ¡°You¡¯re really boring.¡± ¡°Right, I¡¯m a boring person, and you, are interesting.¡± ¡°Then I really am pitiful.¡± She had no intention of being interesting to him. In fact, she didn¡¯t find herself interesting at all. Apart from being more attractive, which was the original owner¡¯s doing, she couldn¡¯t say she had any talent or personal charm. But the presence of He Ying and Jiang Ke made her stand out. Occasionally, a woman might elevate her own worth based on the status of the men around her. Especially in ancient times. Qi Jiu¡¯s interest in her was mostly due to this. She was clear-headed but powerless to change it. ¡°Mr. Jiu, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± Han Chen¡¯s voice came from outside the carriage. Qi Jiu lifted the curtain and hopped out of the carriage with ease, extending his hand to help Sang Yan down. Sang Yan didn¡¯t let him, jumping down by herself. Qi Jiu frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t do this in the future, if you twist your ankle, you¡¯ll suffer.¡± Sang Yan scoffed. ¡°I¡¯d rather suffer than have you touch me.¡± No sooner had she spoken than her hand was taken. She tried to shake it off as usual, but without success. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being clingy?¡± ¡°Clingy? I don¡¯t think so.¡± He thought her hand was soft and it was comforting to touch. He couldn¡¯t touch anything else for now, so touching her hand was a way to scratch the itch in his heart. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan didn¡¯t bother with him and looked up at the palace. The palace was as she imagined, splendid and imposing, with patrols of guards passing by now and then. Next thing they knew, they were inside the palace. So, Qi Jiu had just entered the palace by carriage. It seemed that in Puluo Country, Qi Jiu was equivalent to the Regent King. ¡°Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± A middle-aged man who seemed like a eunuch came running over with several Palace Attendants, smiling obsequiously. ¡°Mr. Jiu, you¡¯ve finally arrived. The King has been waiting for you, please¡ª¡± As he spoke, he cast a glance at Sang Yan and noticed their joined hands. There was a fleeting shock in his eyes, but he said nothing else. Did Qi Jiu have a woman now? Wouldn¡¯t that mean he was planning to stay in Puluo Country indefinitely? Heaven forbid, that was not what the King wished to see. Chapter 158 - 158: The King Chapter 158: Chapter 158: The King Sang Yan caught sight of the storied Puluo King. Unlike what she had imagined, the Puluo King was a young, chubby fellow. But he was too fat. Tiny head, no neck, and a horizontal expanse; sitting on the couch, he resembled a white, blooming mountain. Definitely weighed four hundred pounds. That heavy, and he was still eating. ¡°Mr. Jiu, please, have a seat.¡± His warm invitation was accompanied by him gnawing on a pig¡¯s trotter. He just gnawed away, his mouth glistening with oil. She watched in shock and also remembered what Qi Jiu had reminded her earlier: Du Shan used to be a beggar who developed some problems due to hunger. What kind of problems from hunger are these? He must have gone mad with hunger! ¡°King, you seem to have gained weight again.¡± Qi Jiu looked at the other¡¯s massive body, which required the assistance of four or five people to move, and furrowed his brows tightly. He had a premonition that if Du Shan kept eating like this, he would either burst or die of obesity. And yet, he could not afford to let him die. ¡°I have something to discuss with the King, you all take away the food.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Palace Attendants cleared the table of food. Du Shan looked on with a pained expression, wanting to say something but held back. He felt unsatisfied; not seeing food would make him extremely anxious. But Qi Jiu had spoken, and he dared not disobey. He regretted inviting him over. But some matters still needed to be discussed with him. In his conflicted agony, his eyes turned to the beautiful woman beside Qi Jiu: ¡°And who might this be?¡± He was not interested in women, but their identities intrigued him. Qi Jiu had never brought a woman here before. This was the palace, a place for political discussion. Qi Jiu cared even more about these protocols than he did. He did not expect him to say¡ª ¡°She is my honored guest. She will be staying here for a few days.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Du Shan nodded and instructed the Palace Attendants: ¡°Quickly escort this honored guest to the Fengming Pavilion. And call for the Queen to accompany her.¡± The Palace Attendants immediately complied and gestured for Sang Yan to follow with a ¡°please¡± motion. Sang Yan frowned, not wanting to leave. She felt that Qi Jiu¡¯s visit held no good intentions and was likely about how to deal with He Ying. ¡°You brought me here just to have me stay temporarily?¡± She wanted to stay and eavesdrop. Qi Jiu nodded: ¡°Don¡¯t you dislike the inn? This place is quiet, suitable for you to rest.¡± Most importantly, in the palace, he could keep a better watch on her. ¡°Take good care of her. Whatever she wants, give it to her.¡± He instructed the Palace Attendants, also wanting to keep the conversation¡¯s content from her. Sang Yan wanted even less to go, playing the weak card: ¡°I want to stay by your side.¡± That phrase was a bit flirtatious. Qi Jiu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, then a wave of pleasure rippled through him. He smiled and asked: ¡°You want to stay by my side? Have you thought it through?¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She just realized the ambiguity of her words, as if she was willing to be with him, and quickly corrected herself: ¡°Not like that. I¡ªI¡¯m scared. This place is so unfamiliar, I want to stay with you.¡± She was going all out to gather information. How could Qi Jiu not see through her little ploy? His smile grew even more radiant: ¡°You¡¯d better remember your own words.¡± Saying this, he waved his hand at the Palace Attendants, signaling them to leave. Three people were left in the room. Qi Jiu pulled her onto his lap, playing with her hair, and asked, ¡°The King sent for me, what for?¡± Du Shan was drinking water. With nothing to eat, just water to drink. After a gulp, he wiped his mouth and then said, ¡°I¡¯ve received a letter from Emperor Da He, stating that his Empress has been kidnapped by pirates and has made it to Puluo Country. They wish to come ashore to search for her.¡± As he said this, his gaze shifted toward Sang Yan, faintly suspecting her to be the one. ¡°We have had no dealings with Da He and are unsure of their true intentions. What do you think, Mr. Jiu?¡± He dared not let them land easily. Should Da He be using the guise of searching for someone to inspect their forces on the island with the intent of annihilating them and seizing their wealth, it could mean the end of their kingdom. The previous Puluo King had perished in precisely such a downfall! Qi Jiu, with a smile hooking at his lips, had been scheming for a long time, awaiting He Ying¡¯s entrapment in his web. Thus, he nodded, the picture of righteous indignation, ¡°To demonstrate friendly relations between our two nations, we naturally should allow them ashore. But they must disarm and limit their numbers, no more than ten people allowed. Besides, let¡¯s prepare a grand banquet as well. I would also like to meet this Emperor Da He.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Good. I know what to do.¡± Du Shan set down his teacup and loudly summoned people to come in. He had drunk much water and needed to relieve himself. Qi Jiu watched as four men carried him to the toilet, but they hadn¡¯t gone far when the bed suddenly collapsed. Du Shan fell flat on his face, ending up wetting himself. With wet pants dripping visibly, it was especially obvious. Had it been anyone else, a king in such disarray would certainly call for blood, but with his good nature, he didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he just laughed awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯ve made a fool of myself in front of Mr. Jiu.¡± Qi Jiu couldn¡¯t muster a laugh. His face taut, brows furrowed, lips pursed, he pulled Sang Yan and left. But they didn¡¯t go far. The imperial eunuch, who had previously come to summon them, had barely finished assisting the Emperor out before Qi Jiu kicked him to his knees. The abrupt movement startled Sang Yan. ¡°Mr. Jiu, I beg for forgiveness. Spare my life, Mr. Jiu.¡± The imperial eunuch wailed pitifully. Sang Yan covered her chest, stepping back twice, wary of becoming Qi Jiu¡¯s punching bag. Up until now, Qi Jiu always appeared as a gentleman, smooth and graceful, although merciless in killing, he himself never took action. What had gotten into him now? Qi Jiu was in a foul mood. He had picked up Du Shan and put considerable effort into grooming him for the throne. In just three years, the bright young man had turned into a foolish pig, a blight on his eyes. ¡°I told you before I left: the King needs to control his diet. How did you let him end up like this? Are you all weary of living, taking my words for the whistling wind!¡± He was enraged that his authority was being challenged! And furious that he had propped up a good-for-nothing! He had always cherished talent and despised fools! Du Shan¡¯s self-indulgence disappointed and angered him! Especially with Sang Yan present. It was like parading something one was proud of in front of a beloved woman, only for it to be a disgraceful piece of junk. ¡°Mr. Jiu, forgive us. The King truly can¡¯t control his eating.¡± The imperial eunuch explained tremulously, ¡°When the King goes even a little while without food, he cries. When he cries, he causes trouble. There was even a time when he was so hungry, he bit a palace maid. We¡ªwe¡ª¡± They had thought to impose a diet on the King, but once he was fasting, he became like a madman. They were helpless! They had their troubles. Sadly, Qi Jiu was not concerned with their difficulties. He looked at Han Chen with a chilling expression, cold as ice, ¡°All those around the King, execute them with the stick.¡± Han Chen: ¡°¡­¡± He always knew Mr. Jiu was ruthless, but he hadn¡¯t expected so many to be executed over such a matter. ¡°Mr. Jiu?¡± ¡°A bunch of worthless scum, not deserving of life.¡± His decisions were swift and merciless, his thirst for blood cruel. Sang Yan, feeling the chill in her hands and feet, trembling inside, also sensed that he was making an example of a chicken to warn the monkey¡ªhe was the supreme ruler here. She had to bow her head to him. But she wouldn¡¯t bow down! ¡°Mr. Jiu, that¡¯s not right. Every person has value, even if they are lowly as ants. Even if driven out of the palace to become farmers, they could still grow some grain for Puluo Country. Why must you kill them? They are sheep, and a wise ruler knows how to shear off every bit of their wool.¡± She rambled on only to save lives. Saving lives was half kindness, half an attempt to win hearts. In this unfamiliar palace, she urgently needed allies. Chapter 159 - 159: The Discarded Piece Chapter 159: Chapter 159: The Discarded Piece Qi Jiu had only four words to say about it, ¡°A woman¡¯s kindness.¡± He didn¡¯t bring up killing them. He took her to the Fengming Pavilion. Within the Fengming Pavilion, elegant and beautiful, adorned with blossoming flowers. The queen, having already received the news, had come to accompany the esteemed guest. ¡°Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± She bowed to Qi Jiu and then turned her gaze to Sang Yan. Sang Yan had already been sizing her up: the queen was around twenty-three or twenty-four years old at most, had a pleasant appearance, wore luxurious clothing, had a full figure, robust and likely weighed about two hundred pounds. It was clear that what was practiced above was followed below, as Puluo Country considered ¡°plumpness¡± to signify beauty, obviously a standard emanating from within the palace. ¡°So this is the esteemed guest? May I ask for your honored name?¡± The queen asked with a smile, curious about Sang Yan¡¯s identity. Sang Yan didn¡¯t hide anything, ¡°My name is Sang Yan, I am Empress Da He. I am now kidnapped by him and am but a prisoner at his mercy.¡± The queen was taken aback; she had never seen someone introduce themselves in such a manner and paused for a good while before laughing, ¡°The lady must be jesting. Our Mr. Jiu is known to be one who pities and cherishes beauty; how could he bear to treat you as his prisoner underfoot?¡± She had watched as Qi Jiu held Sang Yan¡¯s hand to bring her here. Qi Jiu had been controlling Puluo Country for some time, and to please him, they had sent countless beautiful women, but he had never been close to any. Not even pretense of an appearance. Now, with this intimacy, it was undeniably a matter of great concern to him. And then she thought, Empress Da He? Not only did Qi Jiu have high standards, but his capabilities were genuinely strong, actually managing to kidnap another country¡¯s empress! Could Da He simply let the loss of their empress go without any fuss? As she pondered, she heard Qi Jiu speak¡ª ¡°I had thought you wouldn¡¯t admit to being Da He¡¯s empress; moreover, the two of you haven¡¯t had your grand wedding, so what makes you the empress of Da He?¡± His words carried a hint of jealousy. The queen¡¯s gaze darted between the two, speculating: was Mr. Jiu harboring an unrequited love? Without emotion, Qi Jiu shattered her fantasy with his jealousy, ¡°You were first kidnapped by Jiang Ke, and now you¡¯ve fallen into the hands of this pirate. Once that gets out, can you still be considered an empress? Even if He Ying is willing, would the ministers agree? Sang Yan, you¡¯ve already run out of options.¡± Sang Yan replied coldly, ¡°Regardless of whether I have any way out, you are not my way out.¡± She rejected him once again. Qi Jiu felt his warm enthusiasm being doused with an icy chill, ¡°Obstinate fool!¡± He clenched his fists, furiously saying, ¡°Then stay here! Don¡¯t even think about playing any tricks!¡± With that, he looked towards the queen with an arrogant and cold tone, ¡°Queen, please take good care of her for me.¡± The queen bowed her head with a smile, ¡°Certainly. Mr. Jiu, you must be tired from your journey; please go and rest.¡± Qi Jiu strode out. He left many people guarding outside. Sang Yan noticed this but didn¡¯t care; instead, she sat on the couch and started to chat casually with the queen, ¡°I just saw the King, plump and white like a Maitreya Buddha, amiable, approachable, and fond of laughter. Now seeing the queen, it¡¯s clear that a family¡¯s not complete without its own kind.¡± She thought the queen, robust and with a good temperament, seemed rather good-natured. ¡°You¡¯ve got that right,¡± The queen said with a smiling face, ¡°The King and I have been destined for each other since childhood, a match approved by Mr. Han, fated to be husband and wife.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mr. Han must be Han Mo. That man who was mysterious and could tell fortunes. Thinking of him, Sang Yan¡¯s heart sneered coldly: had he foreseen that she was Qi Jiu¡¯s disaster? ¡°I see. Then you must truly love the King.¡± She lowered her voice, passing a message to the queen, ¡°Did you know? The King is about to become a discarded piece by Mr. Jiu.¡± ¡°What?¡± The queen was shocked, her eyes hardened, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The king showed unabashed respect and loyalty to Qi Jiu; he consulted him on every trivial matter. How could he possibly become disposable to him? ¡°Are you trying to sow discord between us? What do you want?¡± The queen¡¯s eyes were full of caution. Sang Yan wasn¡¯t afraid of her caution; she did indeed want to sow discord, so she continued, ¡°The king is too fat. He¡¯s eating all the time, unable to concentrate even during political discussions with Mr. Jiu, who has grown disgusted with that fact.¡± She thought, if Qi Jiu wanted to kill those serving the king, didn¡¯t that mean he was dissatisfied with the king? Wasn¡¯t the queen aware that the king was too fat and that Mr. Jiu found fault with this? ¡°The king has a heart condition, and Mr. Jiu is aware of it. He didn¡¯t want it either.¡± Her eyes clouded with sorrow, sharing in the king¡¯s pain. Seeing a trace of genuine concern in the queen, Sang Yan felt more confident and went on, ¡°Mr. Jiu truly values talent, but he¡¯s also cold-hearted and ruthless; his likes and dislikes are fickle. If he likes someone, he will draw them close and entrust them with responsibilities. If he dislikes someone, he won¡¯t spare their life. Your Majesty should look further ahead. Mr. Jiu harbors murderous intentions toward the king. You must plan ahead.¡± ¡°No!¡± The queen, agitated, covered Sang Yan¡¯s mouth and, wary of the guards outside, hissed, ¡°Stop talking. You have a grudge against Mr. Jiu; don¡¯t drag us into it.¡± She wouldn¡¯t be persuaded by Sang Yan¡¯s few words. Sang Yan pulled her hand away and continued to tempt her: ¡°I¡¯m not dragging you into this; I¡¯m trying to save you. Mr. Jiu just ordered the execution by beating of people close to the king. This is a dangerous sign. Moreover, who would allow others to sleep soundly beside their own bed? I am the Empress of Da He, and Mr. Jiu wants to use me as bait to lure Emperor Da He onto the island and assassinate him at the banquet. If you join forces with me, I will not forget your great favor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re mad!¡± The queen¡¯s face blanched with panic, she cast off these words and hurried away. Sang Yan was certain she would convey the message to the king. She hoped they were both smart. That way, He Ying might have a chance at survival. The queen rushed to the king¡¯s chamber. The king was bathing. His obesity was severe; his flesh was so bloated and swollen that it created deep folds, requiring the palace maids to pull apart the skin just to cleanse the dirt within. It was a daunting task. Every bath exhausted many people, especially since he also wanted to eat during his baths, significantly hindering efficiency. ¡°Your Majesty, you can¡¯t eat anymore. Mr. Jiu is within the palace; knowing you¡¯re still eating would displease him.¡± The imperial eunuch had the food taken away and helped lift the king out. The king was seated on a soft couch as they carried him into the bathing pool. To expect him to get into the pool by himself was impossible; he had long lost the ability to walk or balance. ¡°I¡¯m eating chicken feet. There¡¯s little meat on these, they won¡¯t make me fat.¡± He felt uncomfortable if there was nothing in his mouth to eat. But out of respect for Mr. Jiu¡¯s presence in the palace, he had to cut back on his food intake. He truly wished Mr. Jiu would finish his business and leave Puluo Country soon. ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± The imperial eunuch and palace attendants all knelt down. The queen didn¡¯t speak, just waved her hand for them to leave. ¡°Nayun, you¡¯ve come. Have some, this one is boiled till it¡¯s tender; it¡¯s really tasty.¡± The king, spotting his wife, smiled tenderly, offering to share his food. Guarding his food was his nature; his wife Nayun was the only one he would truly share with. The queen didn¡¯t care for chicken feet; she found them too bony and challenging to eat. She didn¡¯t take any and let him continue, sighing inwardly: To him, it seems any food is good as long as it fills his stomach. Ah, what a strange illness is this? She watched him eat until he was drenched in sweat, then took a handkerchief to wipe it off for him before asking softly, ¡°Your Majesty, do you think Mr. Jiu would kill you?¡± Upon hearing this, the king lost his taste for the chicken feet, fear rising in his eyes: ¡°Just now, Eunuch Fuzi said, Mr. Jiu ordered their beating to death¡­ Mr. Jiu¡­ Mr. Jiu resents my gluttony¡­ but I¡¯ve been loyal to him, without any ulterior motives¡­¡± Fear was quickly followed by grievance, ¡°I just love to eat¡­ why¡­ why won¡¯t he let me eat?¡± Chapter 160 - 160 Consequences Chapter 160: Chapter 160 Consequences ¡°King,¡± you¡¯re eating like this¡­¡±¡± The queen took away the plate of chicken feet, advising, ¡°Mr. Jiu has been staying in the palace recently, so it¡¯s best if you eat less.¡± ¡°I feel uncomfortable if I don¡¯t eat¡ª¡± The king began to speak, then nodded with a downcast look, ¡°All right, have someone make me some sleeping medicine. Once I¡¯m asleep, I won¡¯t feel hungry.¡± The queen: ¡°¡­Okay.¡± After agreeing, she called someone in and handed over the plate of chicken feet she was holding. The palace maid took the plate and swiftly left. The king watched with a pained expression, stretching out his chubby hand as if to say something, then closed his mouth. The queen stepped forward, blocking his view, and turned back to the original topic, ¡°Your Majesty, if Mr. Jiu harbors murderous intent against you, will you still join him in killing Emperor Da He? That woman is the queen of Da He. She could help us break free from Mr. Jiu¡¯s constraints¡­¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± The king¡¯s face turned pale with fright. He wanted to cover the queen¡¯s mouth, but hindered by his heavy body, he could only wave his hands vigorously, ¡°You can¡¯t say that! You can¡¯t! My worthless life has been given by Mr. Jiu. If he wants to take it back, naturally, he can. Don¡¯t say such things again.¡± The queen sighed at her husband, both loyal and timid, ¡°If Your Majesty does not fear death, then your servant will follow you.¡± What she wished for was not wealth or status, but merely for her king to be safe and happy. If he swore to follow Mr. Jiu to the death, she too would follow him in life and death. ¡°Nayun, don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± The king, hearing her say this, lowered his head and grew melancholic again, ¡°Ah, Mr. Jiu wouldn¡¯t treat me like that. He wouldn¡¯t. He certainly wouldn¡¯t.¡± * Qi Jiu chose to reside in Chonghua Palace instead. Of course, he wasn¡¯t sleeping; instead, he was summoning many of his confidants to plan the operation. He opened the defense map of the palace and began deploying troops, ¡°Once He Ying and his party enter the palace, take your men and encircle them from the east, west, and south sides. Deploy three thousand archers to await my command at any moment.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The head of the guards, Ye Motian, bowed his head and took the orders. He was one of Qi Jiu¡¯s confidants, having previously led the guards out of the palace to personally welcome Qi Jiu. It could be said that Qi Jiu¡¯s control over Puluo Country depended on his military forces. ¡°Han Mo, keep a close eye on that pot of Fan Yin Flower. Whether we can kill He Ying without spilling blood hinges on that flower.¡± The Fan Yin Flower was a rare and treasured flower in Qi Jiu¡¯s collection. Not only was it strikingly beautiful, but it also thrived on the music of Fan Yin. While playing this melody, the Fan Yin Flower would release a fragrance that numbs the mind and body. Qi Jiu planned to use the Fan Yin Flower to first intoxicate He Ying. If that failed, he would resort to force. Hearing this, Han Chen spoke up, ¡°What about me?¡± Qi Jiu looked at him and said solemnly, ¡°You are to keep an eye on Sang Yan, make sure she doesn¡¯t spoil my plans.¡± Han Chen was unhappy with this task, ¡°I want to protect Mr. Jiu closely. She doesn¡¯t know martial arts; she¡¯s soft and weak. Why not just have a few guards watch over her?¡± He didn¡¯t take Sang Yan seriously and didn¡¯t perceive her as a threat. Seeing Han Chen¡¯s attitude, Qi Jiu¡¯s expression turned cold, and without a word, he had someone call Wu Tao over. Wu Tao had once been undercover among pirates. Having returned to Qi Jiu¡¯s side, he continued to engage in covert surveillance and eavesdropping. He learned of Mr. Jiu¡¯s summons while atop a ridge of the king¡¯s sleeping quarters. Not daring to delay, he leapt through the night sky and arrived at Chonghua Palace in a few bounds. ¡°Greetings, Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± He knelt and bowed formally, offering his salute. Qi Jiu, seated on a couch, gestured for him to rise, ¡°Tell me what you¡¯ve seen.¡± Wu Tao reported, ¡°After Mr. Jiu left, Miss Sang fabricated lies that you despised the king and intended to kill him to persuade the queen to align with Da He. The queen, whose loyalty shifted, conveyed Miss Sang¡¯s offer to the king, but the king refused.¡± Hearing this, Qi Jiu looked at Han Chen, ¡°With this in mind, do you still think Sang Yan doesn¡¯t need watching?¡± Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t sit idly by. During the time waiting for He Ying to enter the palace, she would try every means to convey messages to him. ¡°I¡¯m not actually worried that she¡¯ll manage to pass messages to He Ying, but that she¡¯ll find out He Ying is dead.¡± Qi Jiu feared that she would take it hard, so he insisted on strict precautions, ¡°Han Chen, you must ensure her safety.¡± Han Chen had no choice but to bow his head and accept the order, ¡°Yes, Mr. Jiu, rest assured, I will protect Miss Sang well.¡± ¡°There is nothing sadder in this world than a dead heart.¡± At that moment, Han Mo spoke up, ¡°If Mr. Jiu really kills He Ying, be prepared for Miss Sang to die as well.¡± He reminded him for the last time of the consequences of killing He Ying. He wanted him to see clearly into his own heart and make the right decision. Qi Jiu did not alter his decision, yet his tone remained resolute, ¡°I won¡¯t let her die.¡± Han Mo neither agreed nor disagreed. He never interfered with his decisions. He was a loyal bystander. ¡°Everyone, leave.¡± After Qi Jiu had distributed the tasks, he waved his hand, turned around, lay down on the bed, gathering his energy, waiting for He Ying¡¯s arrival tomorrow. * The sunlight was dazzling. He Ying and Tan Yunjian switched their clothes. He looked at Tan Yunjian, clad in an imperial robe, his expression cold, ¡°This journey is fraught with danger, are you sure?¡± According to the pirate who had narrowly escaped death, it was someone from the Beiqi Royal Family who had taken Sang Yan. And with the Beiqi Royal Family boasting numerous capable heirs, it was uncertain which Prince had orchestrated this plot! They had lured him to Puluo Country; it seemed Puluo Country had already fallen into their hands. ¡°This is what I should be saying to you.¡± Tan Yunjian¡¯s face was grave, his eyes cold and tranquil, ¡°You are an Emperor, this journey is perilous, I suggest it would be better for you not to personally risk it.¡± As for him? The hatred for Jiang Ke¡¯s death was irreconcilable! He definitely had to kill the culprit with his own hands! Thinking of Jiang Ke, he closed his eyes, holding back the surging tears: That young man who was like a younger brother to him¡­ dead! Dead! When he left, he had said, ¡°Tan Yunjian, I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness, let¡¯s be sworn brothers, despite the distance between mountains and rivers, calmly waiting for our reunion.¡± What had he said at the time? Your call of sworn brother would have me rush through storms and blood rain, Jiang Ke, you really should spare me. Now, now! Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°No.¡± He Ying interrupted Tan Yunjian¡¯s painful memories, shaking his head, ¡°Knowing that she is in Puluo Palace, how can I stand by and do nothing? I¡¯ve waited too long already.¡± He had to see her. Even if it meant paying with his blood and life. Tan Yunjian collected his thoughts, ceasing his persuasion, and finally tidied his imperial robe before stepping out. He Ying, in plain black coarse cloth and a sword at his waist, disguised himself as the Emperor¡¯s guard. ¡°Emperor, you mustn¡¯t!¡± Pei Muyang knelt down with a thud, hugging his legs, his face full of panic as he pleaded, ¡°Emperor, please wait, our great army is about to arrive. If you go now, all alone and vulnerable, if anything were to happen¡ª¡± ¡°If something were to happen, the throne shall be ceded to Empress¡¯s brother, Yan Jue, with Feng Yicheng and Jiang Chongyu as advisors. The Imperial Decree is ready, just follow it.¡± He actually despised Sang Jue. But if he died, the one who could succeed his throne would be him. It was truly laughable! ¡°Please reconsider, Emperor!¡± Pei Muyang had not expected the Emperor to have arranged posthumous matters. He was heading to the island with a resolve to meet death! ¡°Pei Muyang, let go, don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± With those words, Pei Muyang sat down on the ground, defeated. ¡°I am not a good Emperor, but I will be a good husband.¡± Leaving that remark behind, he stepped out and followed Tan Yunjian onto the island. Chapter 161 - 161: Meeting Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Meeting Tan Yunjian, clad in an imperial robe, exuded an extraordinary presence, enhanced by his stern complexion and majestic demeanor. No one would suspect that he was not the real Emperor Da He. Eunuch Fuzi, sent by the Puluo King, led nearly a thousand guards waiting at the dock. As soon as they saw them alighting from the ship, he approached with a smile and respectfully greeted, ¡°Emperor He, after several days of travel on the sea, the King has already prepared a banquet in the palace, please follow us inside.¡± While speaking, he sized up the ¡°Emperor He¡± and the entourage behind him, secretly relieved that they had indeed brought only about a dozen people. Tan Yunjian had already adapted to his role as ¡°Emperor He,¡± lifted his imperial robe, and stepped into a luxurious carriage. He Ying, as a close attendant, also boarded the carriage. He was still troubled by a poison injury, his complexion pale, showing a faint state of frailty. He kept his head down all the while, his peripheral vision scanning the people present, minimizing his presence as much as possible. This was the place she was in. He could feel he was getting closer to her. The carriage rumbled forward. He Ying lifted the curtain of the carriage, observing the landscape of the Puluo Country, which indeed appeared prosperous and joyful, with both men and women looking robust and healthy¡ªa stark contrast to the rumors of a tiny, impoverished nation. Could this be the achievement of the Beiqi Prince? He would certainly be his formidable opponent. No wonder he also wanted to kill him. The journey was tense throughout. Not knowing how long they had traveled, they finally arrived at the palace. Inside and outside the palace, lights and banners were hung, red silk fluttered¡ªit seemed there was a celebration. The group alighted from the carriage. He Ying gave Tan Yunjian a look. Immediately catching on, Tan Yunjian lightly coughed and asked, ¡°Is there a celebration in your palace recently?¡± Eunuch Fuzi was taken aback, then quickly bent down, humbly replied, ¡°Replying to Emperor He, you are a distinguished guest of our Puluo Country, isn¡¯t that a great joy in itself?¡± After saying this, he continued to lead the way, unwilling to divulge more. He Ying¡¯s heart sank: Da He and Puluo Country had not had interactions for many years and did not share a close relationship. The Puluo King agreeing for them to come to the island was already a pleasant surprise, but such grand arrangements might be for someone else, right? Instinctively, he thought of the person who had abducted Sang Yan¡ªit must be him enjoying such high honors. Since he could enjoy such high honors, it was evident that his relationship with the Puluo King was profound. This trip was indeed perilous. In the whirl of thoughts, He Ying had already entered the palace¡¯s banquet hall. The two emperors met. He Ying also saw the Puluo King rumored to be shockingly obese: How could a sovereign eat to such an extent? Clearly dim-witted and incompetent! He did not regard this Puluo King as someone capable of wielding real power, his gaze shifted and fell on a young man sitting to his left. The man was handsome, dressed in brocade adorned with cloud patterns and wearing a Jade Crown. His movements while drinking were refined and polite, but a faint hostility lingered between his brows. Wait¡ª That white hair! It was the Ninth Prince Qi Wuya from Bei Qi! It was him! He should have realized it was him! He recalled the intelligence he had gathered earlier, how Ninth Prince Qi Wuya was from a humble maternal lineage, naturally had white hair, and was not valued in Bei Qi, fond of roaming mountains and waters¡ªhe had ¡°played¡± his way to Puluo Country. Tan Yunjian noted He Ying¡¯s subtle expressions and looked towards who he was watching, ¡°Who is this gentleman?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a mere merchant, not worth mentioning,¡± Qi Jiu modestly smiled, keeping a low profile. Tan Yunjian, also smiling, replied, ¡°You do not look like any ordinary merchant with such a distinguished appearance and bearing.¡± Qi Jiu, upon hearing this, added, ¡°Emperor He flatters me. Thanks to the King¡¯s appreciation, I am merely ranked among the Imperial Merchants and manage the finances of Puluo.¡± Tan Yunjian immediately confirmed¡ªthe one who killed Jiang Ke was him! Murderous intentions gathered in his heart. ¡°You hold many positions, you must be a remarkable person.¡± Tan Yunjian suppressed the boiling murderous intentions, looking towards the Puluo King, ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty, for allowing me to visit the island. If Your Majesty could send someone to help me find the Empress Da He, I promise our nations shall be allies with no more wars. Additionally, I will send a hundred thousand gold as a token of appreciation.¡± The Puluo King seemed not to be listening, his eyes fixed on the pork knuckle in front of him. Not until Qi Jiu gave a light cough next to him. Did he suddenly come back to his senses, ¡°Good, good, good.¡± With the King¡¯s agreement, Tan Yunjian said, ¡°In that case, please, Your Majesty, send troops to assist. I am desperate to find my wife, and I hope Your Majesty can understand.¡± ¡°Eh¡­ there¡¯s no rush, right?¡± The Puluo King thought about Qi Jiu¡¯s instructions to delay until evening. That Fan Yin Flower only blooms at night! ¡°You have traveled far; please rest for a while.¡± The Puluo King said and gestured for the palace maids to pour wine. Tan Yunjian did not touch the food or drink, ¡°I appreciate Your Majesty¡¯s hospitality, but I am truly desperate to find my wife.¡± Speaking of which, he looked at the woman beside the Puluo King, ¡°Your Majesty also has a queen, you must understand the pain of losing a loved one.¡± The Puluo King didn¡¯t speak, just stared at the pork knuckle and swallowed. He was so hungry. It felt like a fire was burning in his stomach. He was going to starve to death. But with Qi Jiu next to him, he dared not eat. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Heaven! To see it and not eat it¡ªthey might as well kill him! Sweat dripped from his forehead, he felt dizzy, and could hardly hear anything. ¡°Your Majesty, Your Majesty¡ª¡± The surroundings were noisy. His eyes only saw that plate of pork knuckle. Qi Jiu, annoyed, coughed a few times and seeing no reaction, he then said, ¡°Your Majesty, if you want to eat, go ahead.¡± With permission, the Puluo King immediately grabbed the pork knuckle and wolfed down three big bites, almost choking. Luckily, the queen gave him some wine in time. He gulped down several big sips, only then feeling revived. ¡°What did Emperor He just say?¡± Only when he was eating could he spare some attention for other matters; otherwise, he¡¯d always think about eating. Seeing through his habit, Qi Jiu said, ¡°Your Majesty, eat slowly, I¡¯ll entertain the honored guest for you.¡± The Puluo King could not wish for more and nodded repeatedly, ¡°Good, good, good. Thank you, Mr. Jiu.¡± His courtesy towards Qi Jiu, besides excessive respect, also carried deep fear. He Ying and Tan Yunjian both understood¡ªPuluo Country¡¯s real power had long been transferred to someone else. He Ying thought further: No wonder Qi Wuya led them to Puluo Country¡ªeverything here is under his control! Thinking this, he leaned towards Tan Yunjian and whispered Qi Jiu¡¯s real identity in his ear. ¡°You few, quickly offer a toast to Emperor He.¡± Qi Jiu pushed several beautiful palace maids forward, ¡°If they don¡¯t drink, what use is your presence in staying alive?¡± The palace maids timidly poured wine, their eyes brimming with tears, all with a pleading look, ¡°Emperor He, please have a drink.¡± Tan Yunjian disliked troubling weak women, but he wouldn¡¯t risk his life by drinking the wine they offered. Before killing Qi Jiu, he would try his best to preserve his own life. ¡°To be frank, I easily get drunk and violent after drinking.¡± Tan Yunjian pushed away the wine cup, addressing Qi Jiu, ¡°Mr. Jiu, right? Let¡¯s talk about how to find the person. Otherwise, I¡¯m starting to question the intentions of Puluo Country.¡± Hearing this, Qi Jiu smiled lightly and countered, ¡°Then tell me, what intentions do you think Puluo Country has?¡± With just a light remark, the celebratory and peaceful atmosphere in the hall instantly turned cold and stern. Chapter 162 - 162 Encounter Chapter 162: Chapter 162 Encounter He Ying had analyzed the situation with Tan Yunjian: once they reached the island and met the Puluo King, they should first get him to dispatch soldiers to search for people. If he actively helped, then he wasn¡¯t colluding with the Beiqi Prince. If he was passive and made excuses, then he was trying to buy time and looking for an opportunity to kill them! The reality showed it was the latter. Now that they intended to kill him, he had to protect himself. Tan Yunjian said, ¡°I have now come to understand the intentions of Puluo Country.¡± He was playing with words. Without specifying what Puluo¡¯s intentions were. Qi Jiu didn¡¯t care, changing the subject, ¡°Emperor He is deeply sentimental. If my information is correct, Da He is currently at war with Beiqi. With Emperor He travelling far at this moment, isn¡¯t he afraid of disheartening his subjects?¡± He was just making small talk, stalling for time. Also checking if he was so infatuated as to be confused. Listening to his words, Tan Yunjian took a moment to consider before responding sarcastically, ¡°I truly appreciate Mr. Jiu¡¯s concern for me. But I would prefer Mr. Jiu to be more concerned about whether I can find my Empress or not.¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He lifted his cup and took a sip, his face in a half-smile, ¡°This word of mine really is a good one.¡± Once he had killed him, the person would be his. Seeing them idle in conversation, He Ying grew restless and took the excuse of going to the toilet to slip out. ¡°Excuse me, where is the toilet?¡± He Ying, clutching his stomach, found a guard and asked, apparently making an inquiry but actually seizing the opportunity to make a move. The guard, unaware that he had been targeted, saw the other party dressed in Da He¡¯s uniform and dared not delay, saying, ¡°Please follow me.¡± This was exactly what He Ying wanted. He Ying¡¯s brow relaxed, ¡°Thank you for the trouble.¡± The two left the banquet hall one after the other, winding through several corridors. ¡°Just ahead is¡ª¡± The guard hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a karate chop came flying at him, causing his eyes to roll back as he fainted. He Ying dragged the man behind a rockery, quickly stripped him of his clothes to put on himself, and then, calmly left the rockery, searching the palace for Sang Yan¡¯s whereabouts. * Fengming Pavilion Sang Yan paced back and forth in the room, her brows furrowed in worry. A melodious sound of silk and bamboo music wafted in from outside. She hurried to the window, identifying that the music came from the direction of the banquet hall, and her heart sank rapidly. It had better not be what she thought it was! She picked up the hem of her dress and walked quickly to the door, ¡°I need to go out.¡± Her pretty face was full of frost, her presence imposing. Unfortunately, Han Chen was not intimidated by her paper tiger act. He still stood blocking the door with his sword, ¡°Miss Sang, why make things difficult for me? Mr. Jiu has ordered that you stay here.¡± ¡°Did Mr. Jiu also instruct you not to anger me?¡± Sang Yan asked coldly, actually managing to stump Han Chen for a moment. Mr. Jiu did indeed treat this woman quite specially. If she spoke ill of him in front of Mr. Jiu¡ª Taking advantage of Han Chen¡¯s moment of consideration, Sang Yan slipped past him, her slender figure gliding by like the wind. But she was quickly caught. Han Chen grabbed her arm, frowning, ¡°Miss Sang, please go back inside. Don¡¯t force me to rough it up. You should be tired of being acupunctured, right?¡± He was threatening her. The words ¡®acupunctured¡¯ reminded her of the dead Jiang Ke. She felt both pain and hatred, ¡°Let go. I¡¯ll go back.¡± She feigned compliance, and as soon as he let go, she immediately tried to pull his sword. She wanted to kill. Or to threaten with suicide. But it was unsuccessful. Han Chen¡¯s reaction was too quick. She, a weak woman, had no advantage in the face of absolute martial force. ¡°Miss Sang, please stop making a fuss. Go ahead!¡± Han Chen said coldly, his face stern, extending his hand for her to go inside. Sang Yan had no other choice but to glare at him and angrily return to her room. The music and the laughter of Dancing Girls persisted from the banquet hall. It must be He Ying and the others who had come. Given Qi Jiu¡¯s ruthless and decisive ways, if they weren¡¯t alert, they would likely be in grave danger! She had to find a way to warn them. The night was gradually darkening. A palace maid entered and lit the candles on the candelabrum. The flickering flames danced. An idea sparked in her eyes. Just then, the palace maid brought in the evening meal. As she was sipping her soup, she purposely spilled it all over herself, then began to undo her clothes as if to change them. Han Chen stood guard at the door and, upon witnessing the scene, had no choice but to close the door. An opportunity not to be missed. She piled up the curtains and bedding together and then knocked over the candelabra. The fire caught quickly. Her eyes reddened from the smoke; she quickly covered her nose and mouth with the handkerchief she¡¯d previously soaked with water, and did not call for help. She hoped the fire would grow fiercer. Unfortunately, Han Chen quickly smelled the smoke and pushed the door open. Seeing her with her clothes half off, she immediately clutched her chest and screamed, ¡°Get out! Get out! I¡¯m not dressed! Don¡¯t let anyone in!¡± Han Chen: ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Sang Yan to do something like this! When he pushed the door and saw her with her clothes half off, he indeed instinctively stepped back out. But there was a fire in the room, no time to waste! He clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and charged in. Sang Yan saw him enter and began to dodge all over the room, delaying for the fire to grow bigger. ¡°Don¡¯t come over!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, I¡¯m not wearing any clothes!¡± She dodged back and forth, slippery as an eel. Han Chen, eyes closed, used the sound to locate her. Missing a few times, he became so furious that he cursed, ¡°Sang Yan! Are you crazy? Do you want to burn to death in here?¡± This woman was indeed full of tricks! Mr. Jiu had said she was difficult to deal with, and he wasn¡¯t wrong! If he could, he really wanted to let her die in the fire. But when he thought about Mr. Jiu¡¯s attitude toward her? Damnit! If Mr. Jiu, who has fallen for the first time, truly let her die¡ª Han Chen didn¡¯t want Mr. Jiu to be sad, so he had to suppress his anger, charge into the fire, and forcefully brought Sang Yan out. ¡°The fire¡¯s gotten out of control!¡± ¡°Someone! Quickly, extinguish the fire!¡± As he carried Sang Yan out, he yelled loudly for help. Palace Attendants and guards quickly came to put out the fire. Sang Yan looked at the commotion and knew the fire would soon be extinguished; her heart sank with disappointment. It had not truly caught on fire! What a pity! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Cough, cough¡ª¡± ¡°Serves you right!¡± Han Chen looked at Sang Yan, who was coughing continuously, her face ashen, utterly disheveled, and felt an urge to strangle her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go to Mr. Jiu¡¯s quarters.¡± He looked at the Fengming Pavilion, blackened and smoldering with smoke, and knew it was uninhabitable. While fixing her clothes, Sang Yan said, ¡°I want to see Qi Jiu.¡± ¡°First to the quarters.¡± ¡°I want to see Qi Jiu.¡± Sang Yan insisted stubbornly, ¡°If I can¡¯t see Qi Jiu, I¡¯ll burn down his quarters.¡± She knew Qi Jiu wouldn¡¯t kill her; that was her biggest bargaining chip! Han Chen didn¡¯t want to entangle with her any further; seeing her clothes were tidied, he grabbed her and headed towards Chonghua Palace. Another two squads of fire extinguishing guards arrived. ¡°I really will burn his quarters! Let me see Qi¡ª¡± Sang Yan was still trying to negotiate when, with an inadvertent glance, she saw a familiar face among the guards¡ªHe Ying! It was him! He had come! At last, he had arrived! Tears suddenly fell. She saw him press a hand against his lips, his eyes also rimmed red, gleaming with moisture. Such an unexpected reunion, longed for day and night. He Ying had spotted Sang Yan from afar before she noticed him. He had to clench his fists to resist the impulse to go up and embrace her right then. His Ah Yan. His Ah Yan ah! She had lost weight. She looked haggard. She had suffered greatly. His heart ached so much that it felt shattered. Chapter 163 - 163: Relieving Boredom Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Relieving Boredom ¡°Let¡¯s go quickly.¡± Han Chen saw Sang Yan standing there in a daze and urged her in a low voice, fearing she might cause more trouble. Sang Yan suppressed the tears in her eyes and had no choice but to keep walking. She couldn¡¯t show the slightest sign of distress. Han Chen had been with Qi Jiu for a long time, his vigilance sharpened by constant exposure. She must not let him detect anything unusual. The two brushed past each other. That was the very person who haunted his dreams! How much He Ying wanted to throw caution to the wind and hold her in his arms! His treasured one, so carelessly disregarded by others. His heart ached with both sorrow and rage. Having found her, how could he let her face the world alone? He Ying¡¯s gaze shifted, glancing toward Fengming Pavilion, where the chaos of extinguishing fires meant no one noticed him. Seizing the moment, he slipped away unnoticed and followed behind Han Chen¡¯s group of guards. Passing through a corridor, he found the perfect angle to obstruct the view. He raised his hand and struck down the last man in the line, taking his place. In the front was his Ah Yan, whose scolding could still be heard occasionally. ¡°If I don¡¯t see Mr. Jiu, then I won¡¯t see him, keep urging me and see if I won¡¯t make you regret it!¡± Her voice, petulant and haughty. Never tiring to hear. Yet the meaning of her words soured his heart: If Qi Jiu kept her under such tight control, it surely wasn¡¯t just to threaten him. Dammit! Qi Jiu, for the hatred of stealing a wife, I will kill you! Lost in his turbulent thoughts. Before long, the group arrived at the entrance of Chonghua Palace. ¡°Please, Miss Sang, go inside.¡± Han Chen stood at the doorway, impatient and icy cold, ¡°Once Mr. Jiu is free, he will naturally come to see you. I will stand guard at the door, ready to listen to your commands. However, should there be another fire, I¡¯m not sure if Miss Sang will be as lucky as this time.¡± It was a warning. Telling her not to play any more fire-setting tricks. Sang Yan was fearless, her eyes cold, ¡°Then I shall trouble you.¡± Then, in front of Han Chen, she shut the door with a ¡®snap¡¯. Completely blocking the outside view. With her back against the door, Sang Yan covered her mouth and cried out in agitation. She had just seen him¡ªHe Ying was outside! He had actually blended in with the guards! Her heart was a mix of joy, anxiety, and urgency. How she longed to see him! So very much! But Han Chen was outside! Sang Yan bit the back of her hand, enduring for a while, but she still wanted to see him. What could she do? After pacing around the room a few times, she opened the door. Han Chen was standing right outside. When he saw Sang Yan opening the door, his brow furrowed, his face filled with impatience, ¡°What is it this time?¡± Without saying a word, Sang Yan first gave him a friendly smile. But seeing her smile only soured Han Chen¡¯s expression further. His intuition warned him that this woman was up to something. Sure enough. ¡°I¡¯m so bored by myself, get a couple of people to keep me entertained.¡± ¡°Not possible. Stay put in the palace. Don¡¯t think about anything else.¡± Han Chen refused without a second thought. Sang Yan¡¯s heart rushed, but her face showed no sign, speaking calmly, ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? I¡¯m not asking for outsiders, just pick two of your guards to chat with me. If you¡¯re worried, leave the door open.¡± Han Chen felt a surge of suspicion. He had assumed Sang Yan wanted to find someone else, not realizing she meant his guards. Why would she especially ask for his guards? He sensed she was up to something. ¡°What are you afraid of? I¡¯m letting you keep the door open. I¡¯m truly just bored. I¡¯m dying of boredom here. Just find two nice young men to chat with. If you don¡¯t agree, I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t get bored and play with fire again.¡± She was threatening him too. Han Chen furrowed his eyebrows in thought, deciding after a moment to see what trick she intended to play. ¡°You can choose for yourself. But I must make it clear upfront, the door must remain open.¡± He was actually afraid she might seduce those guards into doing something preposterous. Yet, inexplicably, he wanted her to try seducing them. Perhaps if she really went through with it, Mr. Jiu would see her lewd nature and grow disgusted with her. Sang Yan was unaware of his thoughts. Seeing that he had given in, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, ¡°No problem.¡± She suppressed her excitement, walked slowly to the group of guards, and immediately spotted He Ying. He had lost weight, his skin was pale, and he looked weak. What was going on? Was he sick? Her fingernails dug into her palms. Using the pain to calm herself, Sang Yan withdrew her gaze and nonchalantly pointed at two men: ¡°You, and you.¡± Both were young and handsome. He Ying was among them. ¡°Just the two of them,¡± she said, looking toward Han Chen. Han Chen glanced at them, noting that they both looked appealing, which coincided with his previous thoughts. This woman also has a thirst for men! He didn¡¯t stop her: ¡°Go ahead.¡± Anyway, with the door open, he was curious to see what tricks this woman was planning to play. He Ying and another guard entered Chonghua Palace. He lowered his head, trying his best to minimize his presence. Sang Yan sat on the soft couch, even taking a folding fan in hand, feigning utmost boredom. She began by yawning behind her hand and then slowly said, ¡°Your Mr. Jiu has been busy up until now and has not returned; it seems the action will be tonight. You really are audacious, daring to follow a down-and-out Beiqi Prince in his reckless schemes! Have you ever considered what would happen if you truly helped him assassinate Emperor Da He?¡± She directed her question to the other guard. Hearing her words, the guard immediately broke out in a cold sweat: How could he dare to respond? On the other hand, He Ying furrowed his brows: Was Ah Yan casually asking questions to pass him a message? So, Qi Jiu was planning to take action tonight! And she knew that Qi Jiu was the deposed Prince from Beiqi! Han Chen did not expect Sang Yan to speak on these matters. He walked in, his face showing displeasure, ¡°Miss Sang, this is not something you should concern yourself with.¡± ¡°Not something I should concern myself with?¡± Sang Yan straightened up, stared at Han Chen, and scoffed coldly, ¡°I am the Empress Da He. You people murder Da He¡¯s people and harbor ill intentions towards my husband. Are you saying this isn¡¯t of my concern?¡± Han Chen choked for a moment but did not back down, countering, ¡°Miss Sang, you¡¯re presuming the title of Empress Da He too early. As far as I¡¯m aware, you and Emperor Da He haven¡¯t even had your grand wedding yet! Even if you had, what of it? Mr. Jiu says, once Emperor Da He dies, you¡¯ll still be an unwed woman.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Once again, she was astounded by Qi Jiu¡¯s shamelessness. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at He Ying, who now had his fists clenched tightly. Fearing he might act impulsively, she quickly changed the subject: ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking you, so don¡¯t butt in.¡± Ignoring Han Chen, she turned to the guard and continued, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, and there¡¯s still no word; has your Mr. Jiu¡¯s plan failed by any chance?¡± ¡°Miss Sang, please be careful with your words.¡± The guard¡¯s face tensed up, clearly frightened by Sang Yan¡¯s remarks. Turning to He Ying, her gaze burned with intensity, ¡°No matter what happens to Da He, in life, I am a person of Da He; in death, I am Da He¡¯s ghost! You think using me to threaten Da He is only a fool¡¯s dream!¡± He Ying looked at her tenderly, his heart a tangle of emotions: She was indirectly telling him not to lose his composure because of her! She would never allow herself to be used as a pawn to threaten Da He! ¡°Miss Sang, we lowly ones don¡¯t understand these matters,¡± the guard pretended to be clueless. He dared not say more, first for fear of speaking out of turn, and second for fear of offending Mr. Jiu¡¯s esteemed guest. Alas, with so many guards available, why did she choose him? ¡°You don¡¯t understand, eh? Never mind, I¡¯ll find someone who does.¡± Feigning disinterest, Sang Yan shook her head and approached Han Chen, ¡°Are you not curious about the situation on Mr. Jiu¡¯s end? Aren¡¯t you worried about him? If something happens to him, and your protection fails, it¡¯ll be too late for regrets.¡± She tempted Han Chen to go protect Qi Jiu: ¡°Why don¡¯t we¡­ go take a look together?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll thank Miss Sang on behalf of Mr. Jiu for your concern. But Mr. Jiu has said, I just need to watch you closely; nothing else concerns me,¡± Han Chen replied, rapidly running out of patience. Realizing she was either trying to relieve boredom or provoke a reaction, he spoke authoritatively, ¡°You two, get out.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± He Ying and the other guard answered in unison. The pair was just about to leave¡ª ¡°Hold on!¡± Han Chen raised his hand authoritatively and swiftly approached He Ying, scrutinizing him: This man¡¯s face was too unfamiliar! ¡°What¡¯s your name? Which guard battalion do you belong to? How come I¡¯ve never seen you before?¡± As the three questions were fired off, Sang Yan felt her heart soar up to her throat: What now? Had he been discovered? Han Chen, just like Qi Jiu, really was difficult to deal with! sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 164 - 164: The Strange Flower Chapter 164: Chapter 164: The Strange Flower Without waiting for He Ying to respond, Han Chen asked the guard beside him, ¡°Do you recognize him?¡± These guards spent their days and nights together. While he might not recognize everyone, how could he not recognize a fellow guard? Upon hearing the question, the guard lifted his head, gave He Ying a glance, and a look of confusion appeared on his face. ¡°No¡ª¡± His words were not yet finished when his neck felt warm, and a spray of fresh blood gushed out. He Ying pulled out his long sword and instantly dispatched the guard beside him. Han Chen, ready for trouble, quickly retreated a step, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said sternly, ¡°To have infiltrated Chonghua Palace too, quite the clever trick. Someone, kill him!¡± While giving orders, he reached for Sang Yan first. But He Ying was one step ahead and had already retreated into the hall, tightly grabbing Sang Yan¡¯s hand. ¡°Be careful!¡± She dared not expose He Ying¡¯s identity, so she didn¡¯t dare to call out his name. At last, their fingertips intertwined. Tears streamed down Sang Yan¡¯s face, filled with both emotion and anger. He actually disregarded his own safety like this! It was too late for more words. The guards swarmed in from outside. He Ying¡¯s swordplay was exquisite, but he couldn¡¯t stand against the overwhelming numbers, and compounded with the injuries he had already sustained, he seemed to be losing ground after dozens of exchanges. ¡°Be careful! The left side! Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Sang Yan was full of panic, loudly alerting him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying shielded her behind him, facing the entire guard team alone with the strength of one man! Sang Yan¡¯s heart raced up to her throat, the corners of her eyes reddening. She couldn¡¯t let him face danger alone. Unless¡ª ¡°Kill him! Mr. Jiu has promised a hefty reward!¡± Han Chen didn¡¯t know He Ying¡¯s identity, but he had some guesses and was determined to have the man¡¯s life. Hearing Han Chen¡¯s words, the guards were even more spirited, striking towards He Ying¡¯s vital points with every move. He Ying pushed his strength to the limit, the long sword in his hand dancing to show only a blur of light and shadow. Until a sudden pain in his chest caused him to stagger and he vomited a mouthful of black blood. The poison inside him had not been cleared yet! Now, greatly exerting himself, his qi was in disarray! Spotting this opportunity, Han Chen fought even faster, ¡°Your end is nigh, what¡¯s the point in struggling? I¡¯ll send you off right now!¡± His long sword was about to strike down¡ª He Ying instinctively covered Sang Yan¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t want her to witness this scene. ¡°A Yan, don¡¯t be afraid¡ª¡± If there¡¯s a next life, if fate allows¡­ Sang Yan fiercely pushed him away, took a fallen guard¡¯s sword, and held it against her neck. She stood in front of Han Chen, her cool face showing a resolute determination to face death. ¡°Stop! Han Chen, if you kill him today, all that Qi Jiu will be left with is a corpse.¡± The sharp edge of the sword rested against her fair neck. Instantly, a string of blood beads oozed out. ¡°Don¡¯t! Stay calm! Miss Sang, dying like this is meaningless!¡± Han Chen clenched his molars, desperately trying to persuade her. He was thoroughly annoyed by this woman! But if she truly died, leaving aside how disappointed Mr. Jiu would be with him, even he couldn¡¯t accept such incompetence from himself! ¡°Take us to see Qi Jiu!¡± Sang Yan guarded He Ying in front of her, letting him lean on her shoulder. Feeling his weakness, her tone became even more severe, ¡°I want to see Qi Jiu! Immediately!¡± Her voice intensified, and so did the force on her hand, the blade of the sword pressed more deeply into her flesh, the blood flowing more profusely! Han Chen knew she was always a madwoman and, not daring to delay, could only unwillingly nod. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll take you!¡± He eyed Sang Yan¡¯s bleeding neck, stepping back, thinking once they met Mr. Jiu, with Mr. Jiu¡¯s years of scheming ambition and courage, he would personally kill this woman! That was the decisive Mr. Jiu! How could he possibly give up the victory within his grasp for the sake of a woman? ¡°Put that sword away a bit¡ª¡± Han Chen kept a stiff face, his heart in his throat, leading the way. Sang Yan and He Ying followed behind. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± He Ying, clutching his chest, coughed up another mouthful of black blood. At this moment, he wasn¡¯t worried about himself at all, only afraid she would do something foolish. She was capable of doing it. Just now she had told him she wouldn¡¯t let Qi Jiu use her to threaten him. That was her resolution to face death! Sang Yan looked at him with tear-filled eyes, remaining silent, her hands gripping the sword tightly, not daring to divert her attention for a moment. * Banquet Hall The banquet was nearing its end. The Puluo King wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, casting a reluctant glance at the uneaten pig trotter. Suppressing his anger, Qi Jiu reminded him, ¡°King, have you forgotten something you haven¡¯t mentioned to Emperor He?¡± His tone was more of a warning than a reminder. Startled into awareness, the Puluo King slapped his forehead, his flabby cheeks trembling. It made others feel uncomfortable. ¡°This King¡¯s Imperial Garden houses an extraordinary flower of this era. Today, as Emperor He visits our Puluo Country, he must not miss it!¡± Having said that, he turned to Qi Jiu with a smile: ¡°However, I suddenly feel unwell, so I must trouble Mr. Jiu to take my place.¡± ¡°It is my honor to guide Emperor He,¡± replied Qi Jiu, looking at Tan Yunjian: ¡°Please.¡± Seeing the two of them play off each other, the king not seeming like a king, the minister not like a minister, Tan Yunjian sneered: This is good. With the Puluo King absent, he¡¯d take the chance to see what skills this Qi Jiu possessed! Thinking of Jiang Ke, who had died at his hands, he almost wanted to take Qi Jiu¡¯s life right there! ¡°Then please, Mr. Jiu, lead the way.¡± Tan Yunjian replied coldly. Qi Jiu was indifferent to his coldness. After all, he¡¯d be a corpse soon! Why should the living bother with the dead? The group left the banquet hall and made their way to the Imperial Garden. As soon as they entered the garden, a strange fragrance assaulted their senses. It was accompanied by the ethereal and otherworldly sound of the Fan Yin zither music. Who was playing the zither here? Tan Yunjian dared not lose focus, he held his breath and concentrated, surreptitiously taking in everything about the Imperial Garden. The Imperial Garden was not large. Perhaps because of the small island nation¡¯s environment, there was plenty of sunshine and abundant rainfall, ideal for the growth of flora. Various flowers that were not seen in Da He thrived here, bursting with vitality. Aside from the persistent fragrance of flowers, there was only the sound of the zither music echoing through the air. No other anomalies were present. Could it be that Qi Jiu¡¯s trap wasn¡¯t set in the Imperial Garden? Tan Yunjian¡¯s heart sank. At this moment, Qi Jiu spoke up: ¡°I, Qi Jiu, have traveled the maritime nations and happened upon several extraordinary flowers. Today, I have the great fortune to share them with Emperor He.¡± Tan Yunjian couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to his hypocritical words, simply following him forward. The two unknowingly ventured deeper into the garden. The source of the zither music then became visible. The player was a handsome young man. Dressed in snow-white garments, he sat beneath a flowering tree. Behind him was a sea of flowers, a riot of colors. In the midst of the flowers, several red blooms stood a man¡¯s height, conspicuously vibrant. The rich fragrance that had filled the air originated from these blooms! Upon closer inspection, the flowers were trumpet-shaped, deep red in color, turning almost black under the moonlight, revealing a dark and enigmatic beauty. Stranger yet, apart from those flowers, the surrounding plants were wilted, their petals brown and crumbling. Such a domineering flower! It was stealing the life force of the other plants! The tune of the Fan Yin was pure and enchanting, cleansing the soul, sounding ever more pleasing. And with the beautiful music, the flowers bloomed even faster, the fragrance in the air growing so intense it caused headaches. Tan Yunjian had a sudden realization: there was something strange about this flower! The alarming name ¡®Fan Yin Flower¡¯ flashed in his mind. ¡°Emperor He, what do you think of my flowers? Aren¡¯t they strikingly beautiful?¡± Qi Jiu¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from behind. He walked up to Tan Yunjian with a poised gait, an expression of arrogance that said he had everything under control, a smile curling his lips: ¡°In all the world, you are the only one worthy to appreciate my Fan Yin Flowers.¡± The Fan Yin Flower! So, it really was! Having roamed the worldly society for many years, seen much, and read extensively, Tan Yunjian recalled a book about rare and exotic plants that mentioned the Fan Yin Flower: [The flower understands human nature, enjoys music, and has a peculiar fragrance that can paralyze the mind and body, and is highly toxic.] A few brief words captured the peril of the Fan Yin Flower. Qi Jiu, unable to read Tan Yunjian¡¯s emotion, thought he was unaware of its value and was about to sneer in derision. But Tan Yunjian laughed first, full of disdain: ¡°Just the Fan Yin Flower? Is that all you have? How disappointing.¡± Qi Jiu: ¡°¡­¡± He actually knew! But what did it matter if he knew? It only meant his death was imminent! He sneered: ¡°Still so defiant when facing death.¡± Tan Yunjian¡¯s expression turned stern, his eyes full of disgust: ¡°It remains to be seen who the deer will fall to. Wuya, you think you are cunning, using the name Qi Jiu to hide your true face from the world?¡± Chapter 165 - 165 Mishap Chapter 165: Chapter 165 Mishap Qi Wuya saw his guise stripped away and paused for a moment before bursting into reckless laughter, ¡°Whether you recognize me or not, what is there to fear? Sooner or later, this world will belong to me, Qi Wuya.¡± ¡°You, Qi Wuya, have failed to make a name for yourself in Beiqi and have set your sights on a small country like Puluo, amassing the military forces of small countries to combat the great ones. Such a strategy of using an egg to smash a stone truly has opened my eyes,¡± remarked Tan Yunjian with heavy sarcasm. Tan Yunjian continued with biting irony: ¡°A snake trying to swallow an elephant due to greed often chokes; you use Puluo as a stepping stone, but who knows whether it will backfire on you one day?¡± Qi Wuya chuckled lightly, ¡°A man facing death, this is no longer a concern for you to consider!¡± But Tan Yunjian laughed as well, ¡°But you are panicked!¡± ¡°Me, panicked? Ha, what do I have to panic about?¡± ¡°You¡¯re panicked that the Puluo King will betray you!¡± ¡°You think he dares?¡± Qi Wuya truly didn¡¯t think the Puluo King had the guts! Without him, the Puluo King would still be munching on mud in the streets! ¡°You are too arrogant!¡± Tan Yunjian scoffed coldly: ¡°Qi Wuya, the saying ¡®Cleverness may overreach itself¡¯ is something you should understand better than I.¡± ¡°Enough with the nonsense! I don¡¯t need you to lecture me!¡± Patience wearing thin, Qi Wuya barked angrily: ¡°Archers!¡± On the rooftops of the palaces near the Imperial Garden, suddenly appeared countless guards holding bows and arrows. Their loaded crossbows took aim at Tan Yunjian and his companions. Clearly, they had been lying in wait here for quite some time. ¡°I want to see if you can still manage to laugh now.¡± Qi Wuya¡¯s hatred made his teeth itch. Yet, the group of people in front of him didn¡¯t show a trace of panic on their faces. Could it be that they still had a trick up their sleeve? Qi Wuya, sharp and suspicious, scrutinized Tan Yunjian more closely in his eyes. Emperor He was cunning and shrewd. He had to be even more cautious than when dealing with others. Tan Yunjian didn¡¯t speak, but a cold female voice came from behind him. ¡°Qi Jiu!¡± Qi Wuya turned at the sound. There stood Sang Yan, holding her sword across his path, with a pale-faced guard beside her who had been seen with Emperor He before. One of Emperor He¡¯s men? Narrowing his eyes, Qi Wuya looked away to focus on Sang Yan, whose neck was drenched in fresh blood. The blood had already soaked her clothes. It was a ghastly sight. ¡°Qi Jiu, we need to talk.¡± Sang Yan, her expression frosty, stated her intention. Qi Wuya, cold and fierce, thought bitterly: He should have known she would turn and threaten him! Damn it! Such ingratitude! ¡°Mr. Jiu, someone from Da He infiltrated our guards, I suspect he is the Emperor Da He¡ª¡± Han Chen was about to reveal his suspicion¡ª ¡°Waste!¡± Qi Wuya, disappointed and angry, cut off Han Chen. He looked at him, his eyes colder and more terrifying: ¡°What have you been doing? You can¡¯t even keep watch over one woman!¡± Han Chen quickly shut his mouth. He really was a waste, and he had let down Mr. Jiu¡¯s trust. Sang Yan didn¡¯t pay much attention to the master-servant duo; her gaze fell upon the red sea of flowers nearby and Han Mo, who was in front of it. With such a significant incident having occurred in the Imperial Garden, how could Han Mo still have the mood to play the zither amidst the flowers? Unless there was something strange about that music! In novels, it was common for protagonists or villains to use piano sounds, poisonous flowers, and the like to bewitch minds and kill! At this thought, Sang Yan saw her chance. While Qi Jiu was distracted, she rushed forward, chopped the zither to pieces, as well as those oddly colored fresh flowers. The turn of events happened too quickly! For a moment, no one could react! ¡°No!¡± Watching the destruction of the Fan Yin Flowers, Han Mo cried out in anguish. ¡°Sang Yan!¡± Qi Wuya stepped forward to intercept. Sang Yan once again placed her sword against her own neck. ¡°No, Sang Yan, don¡¯t be foolish¡ª¡± Qi Wuya was so infuriated by her that his temples throbbed with pain. He wanted to kill her, but when he saw the guards ready to strike, he opened his mouth to say, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her. I want her alive.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Qi Wuya¡¯s command, the guards were momentarily unsure of what to do. Should they strike or not? They surrounded Sang Yan, exchanging uncertain looks. At this moment, He Ying had fought his way to Sang Yan¡¯s side, his gaze fierce, with a protective stance. Qi Wuya eyed the man beside Sang Yan, frowning, ¡°Who are you?¡± He Ying didn¡¯t wish to reveal his identity and thus remained silent. Qi Wuya didn¡¯t ask further, assuming he was a guard sent to rescue Sang Yan. He turned back to Sang Yan, a mix of love and hatred in his eyes, ¡°You always surprise me like this.¡± To think she knew the technique to ¡°Sever the Zither and Exterminate the Flowers¡±! What a sharp and intelligent woman! And it was only such a woman who deserved to appreciate the vast landscapes and eternal dominion by his side! After his admiration, however, came anger and jealousy, ¡°Is Emperor Da He really worth risking your life for? Am I, Qi Wuya, not even worth a glance from you?¡± Countless women in the world wanted to please him. Yet this woman before him simply scorned him. Even if he offered her the whole world! ¡°I¡¯ve already said¡ª¡± Sang Yan closed her eyes, and tears fell as she choked out, ¡°You killed Jiang Ke, and I will never forgive you. If you have any true feelings for me, then let us go. I promise on behalf of Emperor Da He that we will forever make peace with Beiqi.¡± ¡°Too bad, Sang Yan. Peace is not what I seek.¡± Qi Wuya sighed, his gaze suddenly sharpened and he made a swift move to seize the sword from her hand. He Ying was about to defend¡ª But Tan Yunjian was quicker and with his sword drawn he attacked, ¡°Villain, pay back Jiang Ke¡¯s life!¡± He wanted to fight Qi Wuya. However, with Han Chen by his side, how could he allow Qi Wuya to be put in danger? ¡°Mr. Jiu, step back. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± Han Chen clashed with Tan Yunjian in combat. Qi Wuya¡¯s face darkened as he turned his attention back to Sang Yan, ¡°I have tolerated your recklessness time and again, and now you dare to ruin my grand plans. Since you don¡¯t wish to live, I will grant you that wish.¡± He freed his hand, turning towards Sang Yan. He even wanted to kill her with his own hands. But in truth, he wanted to capture her rather than let her die so easily. He needed to kill Emperor He, to do it in front of her, to kill the man she loved! He wanted to imprison her for a lifetime, to torment her forever, to make her life worse than death! Qi Wuya was near madness, his eyes full of a maniacal desire to possess and a thirst for blood. Sang Yan was frightened by his frenzy, staggering to hide behind He Ying. He Ying was severely injured, but for the sake of Sang Yan, he still forced himself to keep going. It was the power of love that sustained him through more than twenty exchanges with Qi Wuya. The atmosphere in the Imperial Garden grew increasingly tense. He Ying and his companions were surrounded in the very center of the Imperial Garden. Including Sang Yan, they were merely thirteen in total. Across from them, Qi Wuya not only had guards but also numerous archers on the rooftops. Thinking of resistance was like striking a stone with an egg? It was sheer folly. Qi Wuya laughed aloud, having regained his composure from before. He walked opposite Tan Yunjian, a proud smile on his lips, ¡°Emperor He, there is a great disparity in strength between our sides, why do you insist on resisting obstinately? For Ah Yan¡¯s sake, if you surrender now, perhaps I can leave you and your subordinates with intact corpses.¡± Ah Yan? Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but get goosebumps all over. This man was truly ruthless and cruel, yet childish, still trying to use this term of endearment to drive a wedge between her and He Ying! Chapter 166 - 166: Destruction Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Destruction Suddenly, warmth spread across her right hand. Sang Yan looked up to find He Ying had grasped her hand. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He gazed at her tenderly, his slender hand firmly holding hers. Their intertwined fingers were completely concealed by their wide sleeves. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± His voice was soothing as he added, using colloquial speech, ¡°I¡¯m here. I swear to protect you to the death. Don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡± Sang Yan felt a sour ache in her chest, and her eyes began to feel warm. But at this moment, tears were the most useless things; instead, they would only make one appear weak. She blinked back the tears, restraining them, and thought carefully: Qi Jiu was right. They were outmatched right now; if it came to a direct conflict, they wouldn¡¯t even be an appetizer for Qi Jiu¡¯s people. Unless¡­ they could find reinforcements. Sang Yan¡¯s heart sank. She surveyed the entire Imperial Garden and noticed the Puluo King and Queen Pulu at the end of the corridor, shrinking their heads, trying hard to act as if they didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Nayun, let¡¯s go. There¡¯s nothing worth seeing here.¡± The Puluo King was sitting on a soft couch. The guards were carrying the couch. Realizing that Sang Yan had noticed them, he shivered involuntarily. Was it because the palace¡¯s fruits and pastries were unsavory, or because abalone and pork knuckle were hard to chew? Why stay here to witness such a bloody scene? He was afraid. And didn¡¯t want to stay a moment longer. Queen Pulu tugged at his sleeve, gently comforting, ¡°King, let¡¯s watch a little longer.¡± They couldn¡¯t hide forever. Mr. Jiu was already starting to be dissatisfied with the king! If they could resolve this matter, it¡¯s likely they would be the next ones he would move to deal with. As they spoke, a mocking laugh came from not far away. It was Tan Yunjian laughing. He seemed to have heard some hilarious joke, laughing heartily, pointing at Qi Wuya, saying, ¡°You really are foolish. To think, Tan Yunjian, a mere rough man, and you actually believed that I am the Emperor.¡± Qi Wuya¡¯s expression changed dramatically: ¡°You¡¯re not He Ying?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Tan Yunjian sneered with raised eyebrows: ¡°What spectacle hasn¡¯t our Emperor Da He witnessed? For a petty individual like you, why would he personally take action? Want to know why I knew about the Fan Yin Flower? That¡¯s because as soon as we landed on the island, the Emperor had already informed me of your schemes and tricks.¡± Qi Wuya narrowed his eyes, trying to detect something on Tan Yunjian¡¯s face. But the man before him had only mockery and hatred in his eyes. Wait? Hatred? Didn¡¯t he just say he wanted to take Jiang Ke¡¯s life back? Thinking this, Qi Wuya had already guessed his identity¡ªthe man who came to kill them in Quanzhou after Jiang Ke left! He was an old friend of Jiang Ke! ¡°Qi Wuya, you¡¯ve forsaken a comfortable position as Ninth Prince of Bei Qi to come to Puluo as the Finance Minister. I bet acting as Finance Minister is just a pretense. You actually plan to use the soldiers and the blood of the people of Puluo to fulfill your grand ambitions, right?¡± Tan Yunjian¡¯s voice boomed, echoing throughout the Imperial Garden. Almost all the archers and guards were from Puluo. Hearing this, a flicker of confusion crossed their faces. Was Mr. Jiu planning to use them? ¡°Heh.¡± Qi Wuya realized something was amiss and cut off Tan Yunjian¡¯s speech: ¡°In the struggles of this world, injuries and deaths are but natural consequences. Without me, how could Puluo have withstood until today?¡± It would have perished long ago. They should be thanking him! Hearing this, Sang Yan¡¯s heart also sank: Qi Jiu¡¯s words weren¡¯t false. In the hearts of the people of Puluo, his status was probably even more important than that of the Puluo King¡­ But however important, it wasn¡¯t an absolute faith. If even faith could be overturned, what about a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing? Sang Yan pondered deeply within her heart about how to change the situation. He Ying took one look at her and immediately knew what she was thinking, giving Tan Yunjian a meaningful glance. Tan Yunjian got the hint and continued to confront Qi Wuya, ¡°Casualties must have meaning, as you said earlier, ¡®attacking a stone with an egg¡¯¡ªwhat¡¯s the point? Emperor Da He has already deployed a hundred thousand troops, soon to surround the palace. In my opinion, you people, following Qi Wuya, are merely seeking death. It would be better to lay down your weapons now.¡± A hundred thousand troops? Qi Wuya¡¯s pupils shrank: How could that be possible? He hadn¡¯t received any news of this! They must be deceiving him! But what if it was true? No wonder they knew his identity and purpose, and yet dared to bring so few men to the island. No, it couldn¡¯t be! He saw the faces of the guards already showing panic, and he felt both shocked and furious. But this man was too good at hiding his thoughts. Not the slightest hint of change could be seen on his face, looking as indifferent as if he were simply enjoying the moonlight. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but admire this man¡¯s calm composure. No. To be precise, he was mad. He simply didn¡¯t care about life or death. As expected. Qi Wuya spoke, his eyes filled with pity, ¡°So what if there are a hundred thousand troops? I¡¯ll kill you all before they break through the palace.¡± He then looked at Sang Yan with a much gentler smile, ¡°You see, Ah Yan, wouldn¡¯t you be better off with me? He knew you were here, yet he cowered at the back, not daring to come and save you himself. Is this the man you love?¡± He Ying cursed in his heart upon hearing this: This madman, even at a time like this, still tried to sow discord! Even knowing Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t listen, who could tolerate another man expressing his affections towards his own wife? Just as he was seething, his hand suddenly tightened. It was Sang Yan, gripping his hand strongly. Telling him not to worry. His Ah Yan¡­ the best Ah Yan in the world¡­ Sang Yan looked at Qi Jiu with cold eyes, ¡°He Ying is the Emperor Da He, and he has his mission; he must prioritize the bigger picture.¡± In fact, she prayed countless times that he wouldn¡¯t come. But he came. And now he stood right beside her. He was indeed the man she loved. Sang Yan¡¯s eyes shone brightly, her voice becoming even clearer, ¡°Qi Jiu, you have your mission too. Look at your guards and archers, look at the people of Puluo Country, they trust you, they see you as their savior. Do you truly want to see this peaceful land destroyed by war?¡± The Puluo King, already frightened, gripped the queen¡¯s hand tightly. Did Mr. Jiu want to destroy all this? He didn¡¯t want that¡­ Sang Yan continued to try to persuade him, ¡°Qi Jiu, if you let us go, Puluo Country will still be under your rule. Why lead to a situation where both sides suffer losses?¡± Qi Wuya tilted his head slightly, gazing at the exquisitely dressed woman before him, a hint of infatuation passing through his eyes. He had to admit that this woman was the most special and most captivating one he had ever met in his life. Unfortunately, at such a moment, her heart contained only that man who would only hide behind others. Couldn¡¯t have her? Then let everything be destroyed! Destroy it all! Qi Jiu closed his eyes momentarily, then revealed an indifferent smile under Sang Yan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Archers, ready¡ª¡± Madman! Truly a madman! ¡°Wait!¡± Seeing that the archers already had their arrows nocked on their bows. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t bother with Qi Jiu anymore and shouted towards the Puluo King and queen who were at the corridor, ¡°As the rulers of a nation, can you just cower there, watching Qi Jiu gamble with your lives and those of your subjects? Emperor Da He has his troops ready outside, if you can get your men to lay down their weapons, I, as Empress Da He, will ensure that Emperor Da He withdraws his troops, favoring peace over war, and even help you eliminate Qi Jiu, putting the real power in your hands!¡± Upon hearing these words from Sang Yan, the faces of the Puluo King and Qi Jiu changed instantly. Fear seized the Puluo King. How could this woman dare to utter such seditious words! His life, his very life, was given by Mr. Jiu¡­ Chapter 167 - 167: Fighting Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Fighting Sang Yan chose to turn a blind eye to the Puluo King¡¯s fear. At this point, the only option was to take a final stand. ¡°As the King of Puluo Country, it is your mission to protect your people. Can you bear to see them die miserably in the chaos of war?¡± Her voice was sonorous, piercing the heavens. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Sang Yan, pointing at Qi Wuya, whose face was ashen, said, ¡°The Mr. Jiu whom you all revere as a deity is nothing more than a destitute Prince of Beiqi! The benefits he offers you, how can they compare with those from Emperor Da He?¡± He Ying, upon hearing this, also chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s the logic. Not to mention whether you¡¯ll side with Beiqi, given that Beiqi¡¯s battles are being lost one after another and their power is already waning, why would you forsake the light for the dark, becoming Wuya¡¯s henchmen?¡± Across the crowd, Sang Yan and He Ying both gazed directly at the Puluo King, employing a soft approach. Sang Yan continued to persuade, ¡°Your Majesty, your love for the queen is deep. When the city walls are breached, would you bear to see her suffer the pain of a nation¡¯s fall and family ruin?¡± To the Puluo King, the queen was a dependence and a pillar. She could only hope that this ineffectual Puluo King would, for once, show bravery for his queen. Unfortunately¡ª ¡°Shut up!¡± The Puluo King, seeing her looking at him again, quickly scolded her in fear. He was terrified that Qi Wuya would vent his anger on him, suspecting him of harboring other intentions. Hastily taking the queen¡¯s hand, he asserted with a firm gaze, ¡°Nayun, don¡¯t be afraid, Mr. Jiu will protect us, trust me!¡± The queen managed a weak smile, stroking the Puluo King¡¯s head as if looking at her own child, and whispered softly, ¡°Your Majesty, Nayun naturally trusts you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± The Puluo King sighed with relief, pressing the queen¡¯s hand against his face. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. It must be.¡± He muttered, not sure if he was reassuring the queen or comforting himself. The queen smiled sadly, her eyes dark and inscrutable. ¡°You woman, stop causing trouble here!¡± Han Chen was even angrier than Qi Wuya. With a face full of rage, he pointed his sword at Sang Yan, wishing he could kill her immediately. But he was stopped by Qi Wuya. Qi Wuya burst into laughter at Sang Yan¡¯s divisive words, applauding, ¡°Sang Yan, you always surprise me so, facing death and still scheming against the Puluo King. But do you think who is in charge of Puluo Country?¡± He suddenly turned his words, his eyes sparking with a fierce intent to kill, ¡°It is I, Wuya! Fire the arrows!¡± He had seen enough of her risking her life for Da He! At his command. A torrential rain of arrows descended. He had always been a madman at his wit¡¯s end. Even in death, he would drag her down with him! ¡°Be careful!¡± Sang Yan cried out in alarm to warn. Now, she had no time to look at Wuya. A barrage of arrows was loosed! He Ying moved swiftly to shield Sang Yan, his long sword dancing wildly, a sight that terrified her. So many arrows. How could they fend them off with so few people! In the blink of an eye, two men were hit by arrows and died. ¡°Xinyuan, be careful¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t dare to call him by his name, only by his style name. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± He Ying spoke softly to soothe her, and taking advantage of a lull in the assault, he pulled Sang Yan a bit further behind him. His tall and lean frame completely shielded her slender body. Not allowing her to be harmed in any way. ¡°You take her and leave first.¡± Tan Yunjian, seeing the archers readying their arrows, bellowed commands. Struggling against the attacks, He Ying stole a glance at Tan Yunjian. The imperial robe on Tan Yunjian was torn by arrow shots, and his body was dotted with bloody stains, a pitiful sight. But his eyes were bloodshot, attempting time and again to reach Wuya. If looks could kill, Wuya would have already died countless times. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He Ying, recognizing Tan Yunjian¡¯s intention, pulled Sang Yan to retreat. ¡°You think you can leave?¡± Wuya¡¯s gaze fell on the hand He Ying had wrapped around Sang Yan, shouting furiously, ¡°Chop off his hand for me! Whoever strikes him with a sword, I¡¯ll reward with ten thousand gold!¡± This woman. Even if he couldn¡¯t have her, no one else would. Hearing the bounty, the guards went berserk, all drawing their swords and slashing towards He Ying. Even the archers aimed at him. Sang Yan was protected by He Ying, retreating while fighting. But there were just too many enemies. One wave passed. And more surged forward. What was she to do? Sang Yan had never been so flustered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw He Ying grow pale, his swordplay slowing. There were too many! He was already utterly exhausted. With a thud, from the right corridor, unnoticed guards appeared, thrusting their long swords into He Ying¡¯s shoulder. The moment the long sword was drawn out, blood sprayed onto Sang Yan¡¯s face. He Ying could no longer feel pain, only a heavy numbness in his arms, dizziness in his head, and his body swayed a few times. He relied solely on his sword propped on the ground to prevent himself from falling. Sang Yan seemed unable to hear anything, her face deathly pale, trying to use her hands to stop the bleeding from the wound on his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, don¡¯t move¡­ please¡­¡± But the blood wouldn¡¯t stop. And he was still fighting desperately. All to protect her life. ¡°Be careful!¡± Sang Yan saw more and more blood flowing from him, she screamed uncontrollably, and then, as if risking her life, she stood in front of him. Qi Wuya had already followed. He held a sword in his hand, looking down at Sang Yan from his vantage point. His posture was that of a victor. ¡°Qi Wuya.¡± Sang Yan called his name in a low voice. Her face was smeared with blood, looking ragged but heartbreakingly beautiful. Those blood-red eyes shone bright and terrifying. She said, ¡°Let them go, and I¡¯m yours.¡± She had finally lost. The people of Puluo Country had become Qi Wuya¡¯s puppets. ¡°Ah Yan¡ª¡± He Ying caught her arm in shock, heartache overwhelming him, coughing up another mouthful of black blood. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Let them go?¡± Qi Wuya looked at her gently and with pity, ¡°Ah Yan, if he were not He Ying, I could indeed let them go. But he is He Ying, how could I let him go?¡± He had planned everything just to kill him! In this world, the only one who could be his rival was him. Without heirs, once He Ying died, Da He would descend into chaos, and then, who would compete for the world? ¡°You, you¡­ you knew?¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He Ying remained composed, not showing any sign of panic, and once again pulled Sang Yan behind him. He did not respond to Qi Wuya but carefully wiped the blood from Sang Yan¡¯s face. The gesture was tender and cautious. His gaze was warm and smiling, as if reassuring her. Watching his movements, Qi Wuya¡¯s jealousy flared, and he said scornfully, ¡°He Ying, do you see? You¡¯re nothing but a disgrace! In the end, your woman still has to beg me!¡± He should have realized it earlier! How could He Ying not come? And Sang Yan, a woman he found repulsive to even touch, how could she willingly hold hands with a guard, with such a deep look of love? Sang Yan was not a promiscuous woman. Initially, he just guessed that the identity of this guard was extraordinary. Perhaps an old friend of Sang Yan¡¯s. Not until he saw her step forward in weakness because he was hurt, did his guess become certain. How interesting. These He Country people, do they treat me, Qi Wuya, as a fool to be played with! ¡°He Ying, you can be considered deeply affectionate, willing to brave danger for a woman.¡± Qi Wuya laughed furiously. He Ying¡¯s gaze remained heavy as he looked at him. Though he was clearly wounded, the pride in his eyes and the biting chill still forced Qi Wuya to not take him lightly. He had heard of Emperor Da He, He Ying¡¯s striking appearance and extraordinary demeanor. Having seen him today, they did not seem to be lies. He really should have thought of him as the Emperor of Da He! Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been fooled by that impostor! The poison spread through He Ying¡¯s body. He couldn¡¯t help but cough up another mouthful of black blood. ¡°He Ying, how are you?¡± As Sang Yan watched him cough up black blood, her voice trembled, ¡°How could you, how did you get poisoned?¡± Qi Wuya laughed, ¡°Let me tell you, this poison is my masterpiece.¡± Before he went to sea, guessing that He Ying would come to Quanzhou, he left twenty assassins and a bottle of Cicada Heart. Before breaking out of the ground, the cicada must lay dormant underground for years. The poison was just like that, not meant to take a life right away, but to lurk in the wound, prevent it from healing, causing constant suffering from rotting flesh and blood. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, your wound still hasn¡¯t healed.¡± At the time, he thought if he couldn¡¯t kill him, he would make his life worse than death. Unexpectedly, he had endured until now. Still carrying the toxic wound, he had come to rescue them personally. ¡°Despicable!¡± Sang Yan opened He Ying¡¯s clothes and saw the wound on his left chest, as big as a fist, surrounded by a circle of black, putrid flesh, horrifying to behold. She felt heartbroken watching this, tears welling up, ¡°Qi Wuya, I hate you¡­ you, give me the antidote¡­¡± She covered her eyes, tears dripping through her fingers. It hurt too much. She was in so much pain she couldn¡¯t straighten her back. He Ying helped her up, gently smiling, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine. This wound just looks terrible. It doesn¡¯t hurt at all.¡± His tone was light, as if this moment were not a matter of life and death, but as though he was idly chatting and admiring the moon with her. ¡°How can it not hurt? How can it not? It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m the one who hurt you.¡± Sang Yan cried, hitting herself, ¡°I¡¯ve also hurt Jiang Ke. I have a husband-killing fate.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. It has nothing to do with you. He wanted to kill me, and even without you, for the sake of the world, he would still kill me.¡± He Ying wiped her tears and after consoling her, he turned to Qi Wuya with a smile, ¡°Why must we kill each other? Qi Wuya, your foundation in Beiqi is not deep, even if you kill me, you¡¯re just preparing the bridal attire for your brother. So, why not cooperate with me? Let¡¯s take down Beiqi first, shall we?¡± Chapter 168 - 168 Hero Chapter 168: Chapter 168 Hero Sang Yan listened to He Ying say this, and her frantic heart slightly calmed down: How could she have forgotten this? The Beiqi Crown Prince and Wuya did not get along, using this bait to convince him¡ªmaybe¡ª ¡°Ha, you think you can exchange your lives for that useless person¡¯s life? You think too highly of him!¡± Wuya¡¯s voice was cold, and his gaze scornful. Sang Yan¡¯s heart gradually sank. She had underestimated Wuya: How could such a conceited man ever accept He Ying¡¯s help? ¡°He Ying, do you know who I hate the most in this world?¡± Wuya rolled up a corner of his robe, leisurely wiping the blood off his long sword. Then, he stepped over to He Ying. ¡°I want your life more than I want that useless Qi Lv¡¯s life!¡± Compared to He Ying. What was Qi Lv! He only left him sitting in the Crown Prince¡¯s position because he temporarily did not want to compete with that useless person. ¡°So, prepare to die!¡± Wuya suddenly made his move, his long sword striking. He Ying was prepared, quickly sidestepping to avoid Wuya¡¯s attack. The action pulled at his wound, causing him to sharply inhale. ¡°He Ying!¡± Sang Yan saw Wuya make his move, her heart nearly stopped from fright. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luckily, he dodged. Sang Yan, biting her teeth in anger, said, ¡°Wuya, you despicable villain!¡± Wuya did not succeed, his eye becoming even more sinister: ¡°Is this despicable? I want him to watch you kneel down and beg me, watch you submit to me.¡± He wanted to thoroughly humiliate him before taking his life! ¡°Madman!¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes were red and moist, filled with murderous intent. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± She supported He Ying and picked up the sword from a corpse nearby, facing him. The sword was too heavy. She struggled to lift it. The sword trembled. But murderous intent blazed in her eyes. The guards of Puluo Country nearby saw this and also closed in, greedily eyeing He Ying: that was ten thousand gold! ¡°Everyone back off.¡± Wuya was once again enraged by the disgust in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, his expression fierce: ¡°I want to kill him with my own hands!¡± He brandished his sword and slashed at He Ying. In a flash of lightning, He Ying had already raised his sword to block the attack. Their swords collided, producing a harsh sound. Wuya glanced at his chest, then freed his right hand and slapped him on it. He Ying¡¯s old wound had not healed, and he was exhausted, unable to dodge, and staggered a few steps back. Crack¡ª His long sword stabbed into the ground, sliding far away. He knelt on one knee, relying solely on the long sword in his hand to support his body. ¡°Uh¡ª¡± Pain seared through his chest. He spat out another mouthful of dark blood. The miserable scene was nearly killing Sang Yan with anguish. She grabbed the sword, unflinchingly blocking in front of He Ying. Her trembling sword pointed at Wuya, tears blurring her sight: ¡°You, you stay away¡­¡± ¡°Dying, and you¡¯re still protecting him?¡± Wuya disdainfully glanced at Sang Yan, his wide sleeve sweeping her sword clanging to the ground. Sang Yan tried to stop him, but he kicked her in the shoulder, knocking her to the ground. Ignoring Sang Yan, he advanced towards He Ying with his sword. The sword scraped the ground, emitting a sharp noise, like the grim reaper¡¯s call for souls. ¡°Go to hell!¡± He raised his long sword, slashing down at He Ying¡ª ¡°No!¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes widened, tears almost bloody. She had dragged He Ying into this! If it weren¡¯t for her, he would have been the lofty Emperor of Da He, living a long life, his name lasting through the ages, instead of dying with her in this dilapidated, forgotten country! ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid¡ª¡± He Ying lifted his blood-soaked hands, covering Sang Yan¡¯s eyes. He seemed oblivious to the danger, in the moment before death, his eyes only had her. It was fate playing tricks. Ah Yan. Blame my incompetence. Forgive me for not being able to accompany you anymore¡­ ¡°Kill! Save the Emperor!¡± ¡°Heroes do not ask about origins, today we pirates will also save the emperor!¡± ¡°Live as Da He¡¯s pirates, die as Da He¡¯s heroes!¡± ¡°Brothers, charge! Kill!¡± The sudden roaring startled everyone present. Everyone looked towards the source of the noise. Countless burly men in coarse clothes charged in from the direction of the palace gate. They each held long spears and short swords, their faces filled with wild laughter. They were the drifting pirates of Puluo Country. They might not have as complete equipment as the guards, but they had a brute force and wildness. Like wild horses breaking their reins, they instantly trampled those pampered guards underfoot. The situation quickly turned around. Sang Yan didn¡¯t care about the rest, she threw herself in front of He Ying, frantically trying to stop his bleeding: ¡°How are you?¡± He Ying fell weakly into her arms, ¡°I¡¯m¡­fine.¡± Qi Wuya¡¯s face turned ashen with rage, no longer paying attention to the two of them, he turned to the rushing guard captain Ye Motian, demanding sternly, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with those pirates?¡± ¡°Re¡­re Mr. Jiu.¡± Ye Motian¡¯s legs trembled, and with a thud, he knelt on the ground: ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the Lv Sect Pirates!¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Han Chen kicked him to the ground. The Lv Sect Pirates were all killed by Mr. Jiu, how could there possibly be any survivors? ¡°Mr. Jiu, I¡¯ll take some men to check it out!¡± Han Chen volunteered. Qi Wuya hadn¡¯t agreed yet when a one-eyed pirate jumped onto the flower bed. He was a dwarf, as thin as a monkey, yet carrying a great sword taller than himself. ¡°Qi Jiu!¡± He glared at Qi Wuya, his eyes filled with towering hatred. Qi Wuya squinted, looking disdainfully at him: ¡°And who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lv Dakuan.¡± Lv Dakuan¡¯s eyes were split with rage: ¡°You slaughtered my Lv Sect brothers, today I¡¯m here to take your life!¡± That day, he and his brothers were originally out to capture Sang Yan for a reward. However, during the search, he got diarrhea and got separated from his brothers. By the time he found his brothers, he saw them all brutally slain by their opponents. Qi Wuya probably knew he was the fish that slipped through the net among those pirates, he scoffed with contempt: ¡°Just a pirate, you should be thanking heaven for leaving you a dog¡¯s life, yet you come here seeking death, haha, how amusing.¡± Lv Dakuan also burst out laughing: ¡°Haha, indeed I possess a cheap life, not worth mourning, however, I must remind you, even us pirates are enough to crush your beautiful dreams!¡± As he said this, he raised his arms and shouted: ¡°Brothers, the Emperor Da He is in peril, it¡¯s our time to make a mark. Kill them, tomorrow we¡¯ll be crowned and recorded in history!¡± This one was a master in stirring up people¡¯s hearts. Qi Wuya looked at the ordinary-looking dwarf in front of him, if not for being on opposing sides, he¡¯d be moved to admire his talent! ¡°Kill!¡± ¡°Emperor, I, Lv Dahu, am here to rescue you!¡± ¡°Emperor, I, Lv Kang, am here to rescue you!¡± ¡°Emperor, I, Liu Sanhai, am here to rescue you!¡± ¡­ The pirates charged over. They were fearless of death, like wild beasts, clashing with the guards. Qi Wuya was stunned for a moment. He Ying and Sang Yan watched incredulously at the scene. These notorious sea villains showed their true patriotic heart in the moment of crisis. ¡°Protect the Emperor!¡± The roar echoed again and again. Numerous pirates went forward one after another. Some died under the guards¡¯ arrows, but were quickly replaced by another¡­ Such a poignant and valiant scene deeply moved He Ying¡¯s heart, making his eyes moisten. ¡°Courting death!¡± Qi Wuya closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his murderous intent was fully apparent. He ordered Han Chen: ¡°Gather all troops, whether they be pirates or Dahe people, kill them all.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Han Chen had been waiting for this order, immediately summoning others. Qi Wuya then turned his head, his eyes wolfish, staring at He Ying who was getting ready to leave with Sang Yan. Sang Yan, looking at Qi Wuya¡¯s ominous eyes, panicked inwardly: This time, Qi Wuya wouldn¡¯t give them any more time to delay! ¡°He Ying, I didn¡¯t expect that heaven would favor you so much.¡± He smiled pityingly: ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t believe in heaven! I¡¯m set on taking your life today!¡± As his words fell, he swung his sword directly at He Ying. But just then, Tan Yunjian broke free and charged over: ¡°Qi Wuya, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± His body covered in blood, he positioned himself in front of He Ying and Sang Yan. ¡°He Ying, take them and go first, leave this to me!¡± Tan Yunjian was almost roaring as he shouted, his sword moves becoming fiercer with each strike. ¡°Courting death!¡± Qi Wuya was forced back several feet, his eyes full of scorn: ¡°I¡¯ll send you and your dear brother to meet right now.¡± His slender fingers slightly curved. Hundreds of rushing guards released their arrows. The dark rain of blades and arrows bore down. ¡°Run!¡± Tan Yunjian pushed with both hands. He Ying and Sang Yan stumbled forward. Pirates had already rushed over, protecting them. ¡°Tan Yunjian!¡± He Ying turned back, his face changing. He watched as an arrow pierced through Tan Yunjian¡¯s chest! ¡°Go! Run!¡± Tan Yunjian, using every bit of his strength, roared. Ignoring the fatal wound in his chest, he turned back to fight, blocking the attacking guards. Blood mist filled the air. Cries of agony continued. Sang Yan dragged He Ying constantly retreating backwards. They finally retreated to the palace gates. The last vision they had was of Tan Yunjian being turned into a pin-cushion, falling heavily. ¡°Tan Yunjian¡ª¡± Chapter 169 - 169 Escape from Danger Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Escape from Danger Tan Yunjian heavily fell to the ground. He was covered with arrows, looking at the night sky, and let out a low laugh. Laughing and laughing, several mouthfuls of fresh blood sprayed out, running down his jaw and flowing into his neck. He seemed not to feel the pain, his lips moving as if he was saying something. Qi Wuya looked down at him from above. He could still laugh at a time like this? He furrowed his brows, curiously walking over. He wanted to hear clearly what he was saying. Just as he stepped within half a step of him. The man who had just been lying on the ground suddenly sprang up, pulled out an arrow from his body and stabbed it straight into Qi Wuya¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± Han Chen was shocked and horrified! Everyone was stunned by this sudden turn of events. Tan Yunjian seemed to have gone mad, pressing down hard on the arrow, even pinning Qi Wuya¡¯s body against the palace wall. Qi Wuya¡¯s complexion was deathly pale, in too much pain to utter a word. Tan Yunjian was also at the end of his strength, blood gushing out in great spurts. ¡°I said I, I would kill, kill you¡­ hahaha¡­¡± He burst out laughing, feeling an extreme sense of relief. Jiang Ke, brother, I have finally avenged you. Now, in the underworld, we can meet again, my brother! ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± Han Chen snapped back from his shock and kicked away the lifeless Tan Yunjian. Qi Wuya¡¯s body was nailed to the stone wall, his brocade robe stained red with blood. ¡°Quick! Save Mr. Jiu!¡± Han Chen was frantic like an ant on a hot pan, unsure how to proceed. The other guards were equally clueless. There were still many pirates around. The scene was in utter chaos. Qi Wuya, on the other hand, remained composed, his gaze cold: Very good. Very impressive. These He Country people, today they have really opened his eyes! Furious, he endured the severe pain, grasped the arrow with his right hand, and forcefully yanked it out. Blood splattered once again onto his brocade robe. His devilish face took on an even more daunting look. He threw the arrow onto the ground. He didn¡¯t look at his wound, but instead shouted at the stunned Han Chen: ¡°Close the city gates, kill all the He Country people! We must find out He Ying¡¯s whereabouts, I want to shred him into pieces!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Han Chen dared not delay, quickly shouting: ¡°Quick! Close the city gates!¡± * The massive city gates gradually closed. He Ying and his people were just a moment too late. They leaned against a corner of the wall, slumping to the ground, exhausted. He Ying¡¯s mind was filled with the image of Tan Yunjian falling. Tan Yunjian was dead. That proud and unrestrained adventurer had died! Sang Yan also thought of the deceased Tan Yunjian. She had met Tan Yunjian through Jiang Ke. They didn¡¯t spend much time together nor had much of a relationship, but seeing him die with her own eyes, her tears still couldn¡¯t be controlled. ¡°He Ying, pull yourself together!¡± She cradled his face, pressing her forehead against his: ¡°Tan Yunjian gave his life for our escape, you can¡¯t let him die in vain.¡± A hint of color slowly returned to He Ying¡¯s dull eyes. ¡°Ah Yan¡­¡± Before he could finish those words, tears began streaming down his face. He truly hadn¡¯t expected Tan Yunjian to die such a violent death. Those arrows piercing his body felt as though they were lodged in his own chest, causing him stifling discomfort. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault!¡± Sang Yan hugged him, gently patting his back, soothing his emotions. She understood how he felt. The bonds between men sometimes seem as light as water, yet as thick as wine. Though she didn¡¯t know when he had met Tan Yunjian or the stories they shared, their coordinated understanding and mutual commitment to life and death were touching. ¡°He Ying, hold on, your people need you here¡­¡± Sang Yan kissed his cold lips, choking up: ¡°And me, He Ying, look at me¡­¡± Ah Yan. And his Ah Yan. A spark of light reignited in He Ying¡¯s eyes. He looked at her, then at the pirates around him, all bearing scars, drenched in fresh blood, yet with a fierce blaze burning in their eyes, like struggling undying souls screaming in defiance. Before him flashed the brutal scenes from within the Puluo Palace. Those were his subjects. They could have lived a quiet life incognito on Puluo Island, but they had stepped forward to fight and shed blood for him. He was their Emperor! He had to take them back! ¡°Emperor, Empress, the city gates have been sealed; we can¡¯t get out.¡± A pirate who had gone to gather intelligence came running, spitting out in disgust, ¡°Damn Qi Wuya, truly ruthless, saying he wants to slaughter all of our Dahe people.¡± Lv Dakuan, anxious and worried, reminded, ¡°Tian Hu, instead of cursing, you¡¯d be better off thinking where to hide. When that herd of beasts catch up to us, we¡¯ll all be dead!¡± Reminded by him, Chen Hu slapped his forehead, ¡°Follow me.¡± Sang Yan hurried over to help He Ying. He Ying had already stood up. Grasping Sang Yan¡¯s hand, his face had regained its usual calm demeanor. Only his eyes still fiercely red. The two followed the pirates, weaving through the darkened city, finally arriving at a small fishing village. By then, it was already dawn. The morning light pierced the sky, nurturing new hope. ¡°Chunhua, quick, take them to the cellar.¡± Chen Hu grabbed a middle-aged woman who was busy in the kitchen. The woman had the look of a Puluo person. Sang Yan was on her guard. But after observing her, she realized the woman was mute. She was also Chen Hu¡¯s wife. Presumably trustworthy. Chunhua took a lamp, walked to a cellar in the yard, opened the lid, and then made a series of gestures. Seeing this, Chen Hu spoke for her, ¡°This is for storage, it¡¯s a bit dark inside, but it¡¯s good for hiding.¡± As he spoke, he touched his bald head and awkwardly smiled, then said, ¡°Please excuse us for the inconvenience, but it would be safer for the two distinguished guests to hide here to avoid being discovered by those animals.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± He Ying bowed with a fist to express his gratitude. Sang Yan also solemnly performed a deep bow. These people had saved them from dire straits, they were benefactors of Dahe! ¡°No! No! No! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!¡± Chen Hu¡¯s face went pale with panic, ¡°I, no, no, I am just a coarse man, eh, it¡¯s really embarrassing, alright, quickly hide inside.¡± He Ying and Sang Yan then went down into the cellar one after the other. Soon after, Chunhua brought a bottle of golden sore medicine and some bandages. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan took them, tearfully saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Chunhua gave a simple, honest smile, gestured with her hands for a bit, indicating that she should hurry to apply the medicine to He Ying, then she left the cellar without further disturbing the two. The cellar was narrow and stuffy. The smell was also quite foul. He Ying, up to now, had never suffered such hardship. He sat on the filthy ground, his face ashen, with cold sweat continuously dripping from his forehead. Sang Yan watched with shock and trepidation and reached out to undress him, ¡°Let me apply the medicine.¡± He Ying stopped her hand with his own, shaking his head feebly, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± He didn¡¯t want her to see the wounds on his body. Otherwise, she was sure to cry. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn.¡± Sang Yan obstinately yet forcefully removed his hand. She took a deep breath, steadied her emotions, and then slowly removed the clothing from his shoulder. The pus and blood from the wound were tightly stuck to the clothing. Just cleaning it up took a great deal of effort. Looking at the wounds, where the flesh was turned inside out, and the mangled, bloody holes, Sang Yan still cried. She didn¡¯t want He Ying to worry, so she bit her lip hard, forcing herself not to cry out loud. How could he endure such severe pain without a whimper? What a fool! ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± He Ying knew what she was thinking and consoled her with a gentle laugh, ¡°I rarely saw you cry before, but in these past few days, it seems you¡¯ve shed tears enough for a lifetime.¡± It would have been fine if he hadn¡¯t spoken. Once he did, Sang Yan¡¯s tears became uncontrollable. ¡°Why did you have to come? If you didn¡¯t, everything would have been alright¡­¡± If he hadn¡¯t come, he wouldn¡¯t have had to bear this pain. Nor would she have to be so worried, so upset. ¡°How could I not come?¡± He Ying sighed and hugged her, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯ve been without you for too long. If you don¡¯t blame me for coming late, that¡¯s all I could ask for.¡± Chapter 170 - 170: Variables Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Variables ¡°How could that be? I don¡¯t blame you. Even if you hadn¡¯t come, I would not have blamed you.¡± At first, she did indeed blame him. At that time, her relationship with Jiang Ke was very bad. The worse it got, the more she missed him, the more she blamed him for not coming to rescue her. Later, Jiang Ke died. Death erases everything. It also erased her resentment towards him. Afterward, when she fell into the hands of Qi Wuya, she really didn¡¯t want him to come anymore. ¡°Xinyuan, you shouldn¡¯t have come.¡± She looked at him fondly, tracing her hand over his face. This was the face she had dreamed of countless times! Now, touching his body still felt unreal. Their reunion had been incredibly tortuous. And the road ahead was still dangerous! ¡°We can only look forward now, Ah Yan. Don¡¯t say such things anymore.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t.¡± Sang Yan cried as she dressed his wounds. Sounds came from above the cellar. Lv Dakuan came down cursing, ¡°Damn it! That despicable Qi Wuya, he actually had people surround all the piers! I had intended to take you out through a secret little pier, but now that might be impossible.¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan¡¯s hand shook, and she looked at He Ying worriedly. Qi Wuya¡¯s moves were so swift¡ªhow were they going to deal with this? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got everything under control.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression remained cool as he held Sang Yan¡¯s hand tightly, his deep eyes looking outside the cellar. Sang Yan looked at him tenderly: it seemed she was not too worried. Could it be that he had another plan? * Puluo Country¡¯s dock Han Chen led the guards on patrol at the dock. ¡°Mr. Jiu said, those who provide information on the assassins will be richly rewarded!¡± He held two flyers in his hands, instructing his men to post them all around the city. The flyers depicted the appearances of He Ying and Sang Yan. In Puluo Country, plumpness was considered beautiful. Sang Yan and He Ying, being slender and lean, were easy to recognize. Han Chen looked at the remaining flyer in his hands, thinking: with the help of the citizens, that damned Emperor of He Country and that heartless woman will definitely not be able to hide for more than three days! Thinking thus, the flames of rage burned in his chest: a bunch of He Country fools! They even hurt Mr. Jiu¡ªthey deserve to be hacked into a thousand pieces! ¡°Report¡ª¡± Just as Han Chen felt irritated, a guard from the Observation Tower rushed over in a panic. His face was full of fear, and he almost fell flat on his face. Seeing him in such a flustered state, Han Chen was furious, ¡°What is it? Why the panic?¡± ¡°Sir, I-I think I saw ships from He Country on the sea, heading towards our Puluo Country!¡± The guard was so frighted that he could barely speak clearly. Han Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed, he looked around to ensure no one noticed them before he rebuked, ¡°Shut up! You saw wrong! Let me go and check!¡± These Puluo Country guards had just gone through a fierce battle with pirates. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had barely had time to rest. If the army of He Country really came, they might not even have to fight as Puluo Country would be in chaos first! Han Chen, poker-faced, dragged the guard up the Observation Tower. Where the sky met the sea. A few dark spots were faintly visible, and it seemed one could even see a fluttering flag. Han Chen grabbed a telescope, and after confirming the flag¡¯s design, he felt a sense of crisis. But he grabbed the guard and shouted furiously, ¡°Idiot! Those are just ordinary fishing boats. What¡¯s there to panic about! If you spread rumors again, I¡¯ll chop off your head!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! I saw it wrong, it¡¯s just a normal fishing boat!¡± The guard trembled as he knelt on the ground, deluding himself. Han Chen hurried into the palace. Qi Wuya leaned on the headboard, just finishing a pitch-black medicine. His white hair was disheveled, and his face was pale, but the chilly aura around him was still chilling. ¡°Did you find the person?¡± When Qi Wuya saw Han Chen enter, he asked directly. ¡°Mr. Jiu¡­¡± Han Chen faltered, unsure: The Da He Army had arrived ¡ª how should he communicate this? Would it exacerbate Mr. Jiu¡¯s injuries? ¡°Hmm?¡± Qi Wuya frowned, clearly displeased. Han Chen could no longer concern himself with that and knelt on one knee, reporting, ¡°Mr. Jiu, I saw Da He¡¯s vanguard ships from the Observation Tower. I fear many people from He Country have come, and it might be dangerous for you to stay here. Perhaps¡ª¡± ¡°Waste!¡± Han Chen was abruptly interrupted before he could finish speaking. Qi Wuya reacted as if someone had touched a sore spot. ¡°I cannot leave without finding them both.¡± He must find He Ying and Sang Yan¡ªa spectacle of He Ying being utterly crushed before her eyes! Success was now within reach. Leave? Impossible! Qi Wuya spat out a mouthful of blood, agitated. Han Chen quickly supported him, anxiously analyzing the situation, ¡°Currently, the Puluo guards and pirates have clashed, with many casualties. Now that the Da He Army is attacking, Mr. Jiu, we¡ª¡± ¡°Puluo¡¯s people are no good; then find Beiqi!¡± He took out a waist tablet representing the Prince, handing it to Han Chen, ¡°Da He doesn¡¯t know about He Ying¡¯s situation and dares not act rashly. Take this waist tablet to Beiqi and say¡­¡± Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes turned fierce, revealing a cruel smile, ¡°Emperor Da He is trapped in Puluo Country, and He Country¡¯s great army is pressing the front line, requesting Beiqi¡¯s support.¡± ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± Han Chen felt the weight of the tablet in his hand. He clutched the tablet, uneasily saying, ¡°Mr. Jiu, this is your token. If I leave Puluo Country and He Country¡¯s army suddenly attacks, your, your safety?¡± Qi Wuya indifferently responded to his loyalty and concern, ¡°That¡¯s not for you to worry about. Han Chen, do as I¡¯ve instructed. Everything else is not your concern. You¡¯ve already disappointed me once.¡± He referred to the time he asked him to watch over Sang Yan, yet she had appeared in the Imperial Garden. Remembering this, Han Chen felt ashamed, ¡°This subordinate understands. I will not disappoint you again.¡± ¡°Then hurry!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Han Chen gritted his teeth and quickly left. Qi Wuya watched him leave, suddenly feeling all the strength drain from his body, clutching his wound and collapsing onto the bed. His abdominal wound was severe, and it had started bleeding again, soaking his robe. People came and went, calling a doctor to redress his wounds. Qi Wuya let the doctor work, not looking at his wound, only watching Han Mo. Han Mo was repairing a guqin. His guqin had been chopped into two halves by Sang Yan, needing the soundboard to be glued and the strings changed. He worked meticulously. Watching his busy actions, Qi Wuya gasped for a while before asking hoarsely, ¡°Did you foresee all this?¡± Han Mo paused in his work and slowly lifted his head, ¡°Mr. Jiu, that woman is trouble. You¡¯ve suffered a great loss because of her.¡± Qi Wuya, hearing him say this, flew into a rage, speaking harshly, ¡°I know. You don¡¯t need to remind me.¡± Han Mo was scolded but didn¡¯t get angry, instead smiling good-naturedly, ¡°Then let me remind you of something you don¡¯t know. Mr. Jiu, Sang Yan is a variable.¡± He had calculated that Qi Wuya was destined to unify the world as Emperor. This was why they had chosen to support him. But now, Sang Yan had appeared, and his fate was no longer clear. ¡°Mr. Jiu, you must choose between her and the world.¡± Chapter 171 - 171 Establishing Authority Chapter 171: Chapter 171 Establishing Authority ¡°Is it necessary?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°What if I want it all?¡± ¡°Mr. Jiu, you¡¯ve already seen the consequences of greed.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not content.¡± Qi Wuya clenched his fists and asked, ¡°And He Ying?¡± Han Mo said, ¡°It¡¯s a zero-sum game.¡± ¡°He, Ying!¡± He almost gnashed his teeth as he pronounced the name. He must kill him! Sang Yan, disguised as an ordinary peasant woman, accompanied He Ying as he healed, all the while keeping an eye on the situation outside. In recent days, the entire Puluo Country seemed to have fallen into an eerie calm. So peaceful it felt sinister. Could it be that Qi Wuya had been severely injured and died? Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but think in this direction. Yet upon careful consideration, she felt it unlikely: with Qi Wuya¡¯s status in Puluo Country, his death would likely bring about a national mourning. Such strange quietness, unless¡­ Just as she thought of a possibility, the courtyard gate was kicked open. Chen Hu, panting heavily, rushed into the room, grabbed a cup of water, and gulped it down, ¡°Goodness, so terrifying, the wharf, was packed with so many damn people!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Sang Yan, who was helping Chunhua cook, saw him come in and hurriedly asked, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Chen Hu finished his water, pointed in the direction of the wharf, ¡°The wharf¡¯s open, over a dozen Beiqi ships have docked!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Beiqi ships? Disappointed and anxious, she thought: no matter how much Qi Wuya was disregarded, he was still a Prince of Beiqi, and the sudden arrival of Beiqi troops likely meant they came to support him¡ª Wait a second! Sang Yan¡¯s eyes brightened, ¡°Aside from the Beiqi ships¡ª¡± ¡°There are Dahe ships too!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Hu finally regained his composure. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at his antics. Had it not been for her puzzlement over Beiqi¡¯s sudden troop movement, she might have been scared to death by Chen Hu. ¡°I¡¯ll go tell the Emperor about this.¡± She said with a smile as she ran into the inner room. He Ying lay on a makeshift wooden bed; after several days of rest, his complexion had greatly improved. Even dressed in a coarse hemp robe, his noble and handsome bearing was difficult to conceal. ¡°Xinyuan!¡± For the first time in days, Sang Yan showed a smile, ¡°We might be able to leave! Dahe¡¯s troops have arrived!¡± ¡°Given the time, they should have.¡± He Ying, seeing her smile, also smiled. He looked towards the direction of the wharf, his tensed body relaxing, secretly letting out a sigh of relief. Before he landed on the island, the great army was already mustering. Pei Muyang, upon the arrival of the great army, would naturally lead the attack on the island. ¡°But¡ª¡± Sang Yan¡¯s smile faded somewhat, ¡°Qi Wuya has reached out to Beiqi for support, and now they are right outside the wharf. We may have more people, but we are here¡­¡± She hesitated, still feeling unsettled. How could He Ying not know what she was worried about? They were still in Puluo Country. Though hidden here and momentarily safe, the moment they emerged, they would be swiftly kidnapped by Qi Wuya¡¯s men. If they were captured, with both Emperor and Empress as prisoners, how would Dahe soldiers fight without their leaders? He Ying¡¯s eyes flickered. He had considered this problem as well. At this time, Qi Wuya might be secretly watching every place in Puluo Country, just waiting for them to walk into the net! * Qi Wuya, accompanied by Han Chen, dragged his injured body to the dock. Upon seeing those unending fleets of Beiqi warships, he couldn¡¯t help but snort with laughter, ¡°That waste, Qi Lv, actually proved a bit useful this time. He knows what¡¯s important, sending so many people.¡± ¡°Order down, pay close attention to the He army day and night, cough cough¡ª¡± Before Qi Wuya could finish his command, he started coughing. His wounds were still not healing, and now with the sea breeze blowing, he felt an icy coldness in all his limbs and bones. ¡°Mr. Jiu, let me help you back.¡± Han Chen was very worried about his health and wished to support him back immediately. Qi Wuya frowned and brushed off his hand, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You just need to take care¡ª¡± ¡°Lao Jiu¡ª¡± A jesting voice came from ahead. Qi Wuya and Han Chen looked up. On the deck A man in a purple cloud-patterned brocade robe stood with his hands behind his back, followed by an old eunuch with gray hair. It was the Beiqi Crown Prince. Qi Lv, Qi Guanglie! He was around twenty-five, tall and magnificent, with a sharp and capable appearance, very different from Qi Wuya¡¯s enchantingly strange looks. Qi Wuya resembled his mother, with a pair of beautiful blue eyes, half of Puluo Country blood in him, which was precisely what Qi Guanglie disdained. Qi Wuya¡¯s heart jolted at the sight of Qi Guanglie: The waste actually came in person! Qi Guanglie held his head high as he stepped down from the ship. He looked disdainfully at his inconspicuous ninth brother with a mocking gaze, ¡°I thought you had achieved something grand in Puluo Country, but to have ended up so bedraggled¡­ what? Are the women here exceptionally beautiful?¡± While speaking, he already glanced over at the group of palace maids. Seeing each with ample bosoms and slender waists, voluptuous and seductive, although he disdained them, he was also tempted: he had never played with such goods in Beiqi. No wonder Qi Wuya lingered here. ¡°Crown Prince, you are safe.¡± Han Chen bowed with both hands, respectfully. Emperor Bei Qi favored the Crown Prince Qi Guanglie, entrusted him with military power. After he went to Beiqi, it was he who requested troops, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated Qi Guanglie would follow. With him here, there might be trouble for Mr. Jiu. Alas, it seemed he had failed to handle things well again. ¡°Brother¡ª¡± Qi Wuya hid the sharpness in his eyes and respectfully saluted. In truth, he thought: Very well. You waste, abandoning proper battle to join the commotion here; I will deal with you and He Ying together later. ¡°I am unprepared for Your Highness¡¯ grand arrival, and your journey must have been arduous.¡± ¡°Enough, Qi Wuya, I have no time for pleasantries with you.¡± Qi Guanglie descended from the ship and gestured with his hand, ¡°Into the palace first.¡± He had been adrift at sea for days, utterly exhausted and bored, now eager only to enjoy himself in the palace. His gaze couldn¡¯t help but linger on the beautiful palace maids, the more he looked, the more spirited he became. Qi Wuya, of course, saw his intentions, and with a downcast look, he silently thought: Since ancient times, the land of tenderness has been the grave of heroes. ¡°Please, Crown Prince¡ª¡± Han Chen took a look at Qi Wuya, then hastily went ahead, diligently serving. He knew that Mr. Jiu and the Crown Prince had always been at odds. Now that Mr. Jiu was seriously injured and facing the pressure of the He army, he still needed the Crown Prince¡¯s support; it was not wise to offend him. As Han Chen thought of this, swallowing his humiliation, he said, ¡°I will guide the way for the Crown Prince.¡± Qi Guanglie said nothing, walked a few steps, and reached the carriages. At the carriages, Someone bent down to serve as a footstep. He stepped up, but upon seeing his brocade boots covered in dust, he frowned, ¡°Lao Jiu, look at the state I¡¯m in from all this travel, even my shoes are dirty.¡± He cast a glance at Qi Wuya, clearly expecting him to clean his shoes. He knew of Qi Wuya¡¯s status in Puluo Country, having him clean his shoes both habitual contempt and a display of power. No matter how popular Qi Wuya was or how esteemed his status, now that he was here, he was just a dog beneath his feet! Han Chen clenched his fist so tightly at this scene, barely able to suppress the rage in his heart: He actually dared to ask Mr. Jiu to clean his shoes! He doesn¡¯t deserve such! Everyone was watching this scene. The entire dock was in a tense atmosphere. Even Eunuch Ma, who followed Qi Guanglie, couldn¡¯t help shivering. The Ninth Prince had trapped Emperor Da He and the Empress on Puluo Island¡ªan observant person could tell that this underestimated prince was no ordinary man. By provoking him this way, did the Crown Prince not fear that Mr. Jiu, in a flash of anger, might do something drastic? Chapter 172: 172 Truce Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Truce Han Chen would have been Qi Wuya¡¯s brain-dead fan if he had lived in the modern era. How could he tolerate the Crown Prince humiliating his Mr. Jiu like this? ¡°Crown Prince, please get on the carriage.¡± Han Chen stepped forward to shine his shoes, flattering with a smile, ¡°The King has prepared fine wines and dishes, just waiting for the Crown Prince¡ª¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Before Han Chen could finish speaking, he was kicked in the chest by Qi Guanglie. Caught off guard, he stumbled several steps backward. ¡°Crown Prince¡ª¡± His face was extremely embarrassed. The Han Family of Beiqi, though declined in recent years, was of noble heritage and had never suffered the humiliation of random kicks. A gentleman can be killed but not insulted. But Qi Guanglie seemed eager to humiliate him, ¡°Who do you think you are? The master hasn¡¯t spoken; what place do you have to speak? What kind of master, what kind of dog!¡± To curse indirectly, to scold the chicken by cursing the dog, it was just as so. He was humiliating Qi Wuya. Qi Wuya had been treated like this since he was young and didn¡¯t make a scene in public either, smilingly and good-naturedly, ¡°Why should brother be angry at a servant?¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He stepped forward, stooped to a humble position to shine his shoes, and gestured with a hand, ¡°Please, brother, this way.¡± His handsome face contained a smile, his demeanor elegant and lovely. As if the man who had just been shining shoes with his sleeve was not him. ¡°Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± Watching such a humbly bearing Mr. Jiu, Han Chen felt terribly distressed. In his heart, Qi Wuya was like a god! The dock fell into a silence as still as death. The citizens of Puluo Country stood by, incredulously watching Qi Wuya, thinking similarly: their beloved, omnipotent, god-like Mr. Jiu had actually bowed his head! Was the Crown Prince even more formidable than Mr. Jiu? ¡°Hahaha, truly a good brother of mine, lead the way.¡± Qi Guanglie was quite pleased with Qi Wuya¡¯s humbling behavior. He patted Qi Wuya¡¯s shoulder and stepped on the back of the men below to board the carriage. Qi Wuya watched the figure climbing into the carriage, his fists clenched: if it weren¡¯t for the pressing army of Dahe Soldiers, Qi Guanglie, that waste, would have died a million times already! ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± As Qi Guanglie¡¯s carriage departed into the distance, Han Chen hurried to support Qi Wuya, sympathetically saying, ¡°Why did you have to be like this to the Crown Prince¡ª¡± He felt so suffocated watching it! He wished he could kill Qi Guanglie to vent the anger for Qi Wuya and avenge the past humiliations! ¡°One who aims to achieve great things should not get hung up on trifles.¡± Qi Wuya lifted his head, looked towards the vast populace of Puluo Country with obscure eyes, and instructed, ¡°Send people to spread the message throughout the city. Say that Emperor Da He has invaded the island in the guise of searching for the Empress, the army is at our doorstep, and that I showed weakness to Beiqi and sought their help for the safety of the people of Puluo Country¡­¡± Han Chen was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped Qi Wuya¡¯s intention: Once this message was spread, probably the entire citizenry of Puluo Country would believe Qi Wuya demonstrated weakness and sought help from Beiqi for their safety. Taking hearts of the people! It was possible that people who knew the whereabouts of He Ying and Sang Yan might even come forward with information. ¡°Yes!¡± Han Chen took the order and left. The carriage sped along until it reached the palace. The Puluo King had heard earlier that the ships of He Country had surrounded Puluo Island, and he was so anxious that he was beside himself. After learning that Qi Wuya had called for reinforcements from Beiqi, he joyfully arranged a room full of delicious dishes. When Qi Guanglie strode into the banquet hall and saw the fat man sitting in the seat of honor, smiling and looking very pleased with himself, he was startled: What kind of creature is this! ¡°That is the Puluo King.¡± Qi Wuya timely resolved his confusion. Qi Guanglie: ¡°¡­¡± The Puluo King? He glanced again at the Puluo King and couldn¡¯t help but burst into hearty laughter, ¡°My dear brother, you really go from silence to surprise with your actions.¡± Too ridiculous! I thought he had some remarkable tactics up his sleeve, but it turns out he¡¯s just bred a fatso so portly he probably can¡¯t even walk properly! Qi Guanglie didn¡¯t take the Puluo King seriously at all. He took his seat directly, ignored the Puluo King completely, picked up a cup of wine, and drank heartily from it. ¡°Ha-ha! What fine wine!¡± He turned to the palace maids standing by, singled out a voluptuous and seductive beauty, stretched out his arm and pulled her into his embrace, and, passing wine with his mouth, laughed, ¡°Drink in the moment, for tomorrow¡¯s worries can wait.¡± Though he might possess a handsome appearance, he was nothing but a drunkard and libertine. Seeing this, the Puluo King glanced anxiously at Qi Wuya, his eyes unsettled and his lips mumbling, ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. Jiu?¡± Qi Wuya waved his hand, signaling him to just carry on. Relieved that he wasn¡¯t being blamed, the Puluo King immediately plopped down, grabbed a chicken leg, and sunk his teeth into it. It didn¡¯t matter anyway. As long as they didn¡¯t kill him and Nayun, they could fight however they pleased. With Beiqi and Mr. Jiu there, Da He would have to deal with them. For the time being, Qi Wuya couldn¡¯t care less about the Puluo King. He sat opposite Qi Guanglie and asked with a smile, ¡°Brother, when do you plan to face Emperor Da He in battle?¡± The ships of Da He were surrounding Puluo Island even now. Yet they were not attacking. The mere sight of the fleet terrified many Puluo Country folk. ¡°Face in battle?¡± Qi Guanglie raised an eyebrow, ¡°Do you mean to say, you want the men I¡¯ve brought to fight those of Da He?¡± Upon hearing this, Qi Wuya sensed trouble. He frowned and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that, brother?¡± The Puluo King also appeared bewildered: If not here to fight, were they supposed to be tourists instead? Qi Guanglie remained silent. He held the beauty in his arms, kneading her as if she were dough, his eyes full of vile desire. She was so mishandled by him that her hair became disheveled and she whimpered in pain, a sorry sight indeed. As if he had had his fill of her, he shoved her away, finished his cup of wine in one gulp, and then sneered, ¡°Lao Jiu, you¡¯ve been cooped up in Puluo Country, oblivious to the wars beyond, haven¡¯t you?¡± Qi Wuya responded calmly, ¡°I hope my brother can enlighten me.¡± Qi Guanglie didn¡¯t want to speak of his humiliating defeat, and he was quite angry about having to do so. Slamming his wine cup onto the table, he angrily said, ¡°My forces clashed with Rong Ye at Qing¡¯an Pass and were driven back, even now besieged, turning it likely into a city of death. With Da He¡¯s current surge in domination, you want Beiqi to fight Da He? Are you asking this Crown Prince to seek death?¡± That¡¯s just because you¡¯re too stupid and incompetent! Qi Wuya scorned inwardly and seethed with hate: Being driven back from Qing¡¯an Pass meant that Beiqi had lost three more cities! Having already lost eight cities before, what face left does the Beiqi Royal Family have to rule Beiqi now? Clutching his wine cup, he stared at Qi Guanglie¡¯s handsome face, wanting nothing more than to tear it to shreds! After all this, he still had the audacity to laugh! To drink! Rage assaulted his heart and lungs. And with it, his wounds throbbed with pain. He bore the pain, set down his wine cup, and asked softly, ¡°Then what would brother suggest?¡± ¡°Negotiation, of course.¡± Qi Guanglie didn¡¯t even have to think before blurting out his answer. After sipping his wine, he glanced sideways at Qi Wuya and added, ¡°Emperor He is currently in Puluo Country. As long as he agrees to mediate, I can negotiate with him.¡± The implication of his words was clear, that Qi Wuya was to stay out of it. Qi Wuya felt a constriction in his chest, almost spitting out blood. Han Chen clenched his fists, unable to bear anymore: What a spineless Crown Prince, wasting such a prime opportunity! ¡°Crown Prince¡ª¡± Han Chen couldn¡¯t hold back and spoke up, ¡°Now that Emperor He is hiding in Puluo Country, shouldn¡¯t we be seizing him to bargain with Da He?¡± ¡°How presumptuous! Does a mere subordinate speak while I am speaking? Qi Wuya, is this the kind of insolence I can expect from your men?¡± With a slam of the table, Qi Guanglie stood up suddenly, his glare freezing Qi Wuya and startling the Puluo King so much that the chicken leg dropped from his hand. This was far too frightening. Certainly, Mr. Jiu was about to erupt in anger! Chapter 173: 173: Launch an Attack Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Launch an Attack The atmosphere instantly tensed up. Everyone was looking at Wuya Qi. Just when they thought he would fly into a rage¡ª Wuya Qi smiled faintly and said softly, ¡°The Emperor is right, Beiqi is indeed plagued by internal strife and external threats, and it should consider negotiation.¡± The words fell. Han Chen stared in shock, almost thinking he had heard wrong, ¡°Mr. Jiu, Mr. Jiu who loathes He Ying so much, how could he agree to negotiate? With so many brothers dead, how could he agree to negotiate?¡± ¡°You do have some sense.¡± Qi Guanglie laughed heartily twice, then his tone shifted, his eyes scornful, ¡°Lao Jiu, I heard that the men under your command were almost completely annihilated by the pirates from He Country, and the security of Puluo¡ª¡± He paused and glanced at Eunuch Ma. Eunuch Ma understood his intention, brushed off the dust, and stepped forward, respectfully saying, ¡°The Crown Prince is the future ruler of Beiqi. Now that Puluo has just been through a major battle and the guards are exhausted, the security of Puluo should naturally be the responsibility of the Crown Prince¡¯s soldiers.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Han Chen was truly furious now: not only talking about negotiating, but also using this method to strip Mr. Jiu of his power! What right did he have! ¡°I, Han Chen, am willing to risk my life to protect the safety of the Crown Prince. Why should the Crown Prince worry?¡± A sudden weight on his shoulder. Han Chen turned back, only to see Wuya Qi smiling with no trace of anger on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s follow the Emperor¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Mr. Jiu!¡± ¡°Insolence!¡± Wuya Qi glared at Han Chen, ¡°The Emperor is both my brother and the future ruler of Beiqi, who are you to show such disrespect?¡± Han Chen: ¡°¡­¡± He was scolded until his face turned red and his ears turned hot, unable to retort, huffing and puffing in frustration. He was wholeheartedly serving Mr. Jiu, yet Mr. Jiu still scolded him! ¡°Fool, go quickly and tell the backyard guards the good news. They can finally rest for a while now. Be grateful.¡± Hearing these words, Han Chen suddenly realized something: it was all just a temporary measure. He needed to act quickly. Qi Guanglie¡¯s troops were unfamiliar with the area. As long as he played his cards right, the guards of Puluo would still have the final say! ¡°Yes, I understand my mistake.¡± He knew it. How could his Mr. Jiu let this good-for-nothing suppress him? He turned sadness into joy, ¡°I¡¯ll go right away.¡± * The sea was calm. The wind was clear, and the day was bright. Notices were plastered all over the city of Puluo Kingdom. Sang Yan had just finished changing He Ying¡¯s bandages. Lv Dakuan, holding a notice, cursed as he ran in from outside, ¡°Damn it! What is Wuya Qi up to? Searching for people yesterday, and negotiating today? Does he think we¡¯re fools?¡± He was short in stature, yet his face was fierce and threatening, and his temper was explosive, which made him oddly endearing. Seeing him like this, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Wuya Qi has always been unpredictable, what¡¯s so strange about that?¡± Not just unpredictable. He was a thorough madman! Who knows what evil he had hidden? Lv Dakuan nodded in agreement, then handed the notice to He Ying. He Ying took the notice, and while reading it, asked, ¡°Who led the troops to Puluo this time?¡± Lv Dakuan scratched his head, thought for a moment, and then slapped his forehead, ¡°I remember! Isn¡¯t it that Beiqi Crown Prince! Goodness, the ostentation he brought, he changed the patrol guards of Puluo right after arriving.¡± Beiqi Crown Prince? Sang Yan immediately figured it out: No wonder there had been so little noise from the palace these past few days and no searches for them. It was because the Beiqi Crown Prince had arrived. Since Wuya Qi was being ousted in Beiqi, he surely wouldn¡¯t get along with this Crown Prince. Now, with the Crown Prince here, it was a case of one thing subduing another; Wuya Qi¡¯s days were surely tough. Thinking of the Crown Prince making things difficult for Wuya Qi, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but gloat: Serves him right! What goes around, comes around! All evil deeds get their due in the end! But upon further thought: This negotiation also posed many problems. After Lv Dakuan had left, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t wait to ask, ¡°Xinyuan, do you think this negotiation is feasible?¡± Wuya Qi was cunning and sinister. Qi Guanglie, with such a formidable entrance, didn¡¯t look easy to provoke either. Who knows if the two of them were setting a trap, planning to lure them out? Listening to Sang Yan¡¯s question, He Ying said nothing but gently touched her face. In recent days, she had been hiding with him here, anxious every day, and her face had become thinner, her chin so frail and pitiable. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Seeing that he had been silent for a while, Sang Yan asked, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± He Ying replied honestly, ¡°Ah Yan, I want to enter the palace.¡± ¡°No!¡± Without even thinking, Sang Yan immediately rejected He Ying¡¯s suggestion, ¡°Absolutely not! Qi Wuya is a madman, and if he discovers you, the consequences are unimaginable. Besides, Qi Guanglie is no good person either; who knows, it might be both of them plotting together, trying to lure you into a trap.¡± Even if there was only a one in ten million chance, she didn¡¯t want him to face danger alone again. In the palace, seeing him get hurt in front of her, her heart nearly broke. She truly couldn¡¯t endure it a second time. He Ying knew what Sang Yan was thinking and fearing. He grasped Sang Yan¡¯s shoulders with both hands, trying to persuade her: ¡°Ah Yan, listen, we can¡¯t hide here forever. Sooner or later, Qi Wuya will find us. Instead of sitting here waiting for death, it¡¯s better to take the initiative.¡± Sang Yan knew she couldn¡¯t keep him, crying as she said, ¡°Your wounds¡­ wait until they¡¯re better.¡± He Ying wiped away her tears, continuing, ¡°My wounds have largely healed. Now is the opportunity. Qi Guanglie has long been at odds with Qi Wuya, and now Beiqi is under Da He¡¯s control, the future Emperor of Beiqi surely doesn¡¯t want to see his country destroyed. He has no other choice; he must negotiate peace with me.¡± He had always been aware of the border conflicts! Beiqi was retreating! Qi Guanglie¡¯s poor performance in warfare had led to Beiqi¡¯s ongoing defeats, which almost destabilized his position as the Crown Prince. Having fought Commander Rong Ye multiple times, he knew of Rong Ye¡¯s loyalty. If he were to die at the hands of Qi Wuya in Puluo Kingdom, Rong Ye would certainly flatten Beiqi to avenge him! At this moment he couldn¡¯t afford to let him die. He could only negotiate peace! ¡°If you know he is sincere, then why still enter the palace?¡± Sang Yan believed him somewhat, but was still worried: That was Qi Wuya¡¯s territory. What if he is discovered? She dared not think of the consequences. She sniffled, lowered her eyelids, shielding the worry in her eyes. ¡°Ah Yan.¡± He Ying sighed, ¡°You know what kind of person Qi Wuya is; if he makes a move against Qi Guanglie in the palace, I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to leave here.¡± He must see Qi Guanglie in person, and he must expedite the peace negotiations! ¡°Ah Yan, trouble will arise sooner or later.¡± He had no other choice. In Puluo Kingdom, if it weren¡¯t for Qi Wuya¡¯s consideration for Sang Yan, his moments of hesitation, he would have certainly been dead! This was a lesson! Sang Yan also knew this lesson, nodding her head and crying, she murmured, ¡°Can you keep yourself safe? Can you avoid getting hurt?¡± As she asked, wiping away tears, she threw herself into his arms, craving his warmth. ¡°I can.¡± He kissed her forehead gently, reassuringly, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid, wait for my return.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sang Yan nodded vehemently, released He Ying, turned her head, and closed her eyes, ¡°You can go now.¡± The footsteps receded. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When Sang Yan turned around, his figure had already disappeared. She knelt on the ground, hands clasped together, praying, ¡°Xinyuan, you must return safely.¡± * The night gradually enveloped the earth. Lv Dakuan was already waiting at the back door of the palace for He Ying. Seeing He Ying approaching, he quickly went up to meet him, handing over a set of guard uniform, and whispered, ¡°I have a brother who works in the palace, recently Qi Wuya and that Crown Prince have been indulging in nightlong revelries, this place should be unnoticed at the moment.¡± Lv Dakuan pointed to a corner of the palace wall, where surprisingly there was a gap just big enough for one person to pass through. It seems those guards in the palace who feared death had secretly carved it out. While they were talking, He Ying had already changed his clothes. Reaching the gap, he turned back, bowed to Lv Dakuan, ¡°Thank you. This trip¡­ if I don¡¯t come out again, please, Brother Lv, find a way to get Ah Yan out of Puluo Kingdom.¡± Lv Dakuan was taken aback: Emperor He actually called him Brother Lv? He was just a pirate, how could he bear such a title! Wait, what he said afterward¡­ was that like making final arrangements? ¡°Don¡¯t¡ª¡± Lv Dakuan was frightened by his own thoughts, suddenly grabbing He Ying, ¡°That¡¯s your wife, why entrust her to me? If she needs to be sent away, you should do it yourself.¡± He Ying, hearing the support and encouragement in his words, chuckled lightly, patting Lv Dakuan, ¡°Thank you, Brother Lv. I will surely return safely.¡± With that, he bent down and entered the gap, quickly vanishing into the night. Chapter 174: 174 Assassination in the dark Chapter 174: Chapter 174 Assassination in the dark The atmosphere in the palace, indeed, was just as Lv Dakuan had described. Different from the previous solemn silence, now one could intermittently hear the sound of string and woodwind instruments mingled with the singing of the singers. He Ying followed the singing and as he walked, he thought: Qi Wuya was meticulous in his thinking, full of ambition; he was never one to indulge in pleasures of wine and women. Now behaving out of character, reveling with Qi Guanglie night after night, he must be plotting something, probably even harboring murderous intentions towards Qi Guanglie. Thinking thus, he had unknowingly arrived outside the banquet hall. Outside the banquet hall In the corridor A group of scantily clad dancers blocked the way of an approaching Red-Clothed Dancer. With mockery in their eyes, they giggled behind their hands: ¡°At last, Sister Dan Ruo has arrived.¡± ¡°Look how elaborately you¡¯ve adorned yourself, no wonder you¡¯ve completely enchanted the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Yes, without you here, we didn¡¯t dare to enter.¡± ¡°Sister Dan Ruo really has good fortune!¡± ¡­ They mocked and joked in a sarcastic tone. Dan Ruo¡¯s pretty face flushed with anger, her ample chest heaving with agitated breaths. The Crown Prince, who cares about him! He¡¯s not as handsome as Mr. Jiu, and he¡¯s utterly despicable towards women. Dan Ruo felt nauseous just thinking about that day Qi Guanglie passed her wine mouth to mouth. The dancers could see her disdain all too clearly. But they took pleasure in seeing her upset. Dan Ruo, bewitching and beautiful, now caught the eye of the Beiqi Crown Prince, hence she would no longer compete with them for Mr. Jiu. ¡°Dan Ruo, what are you angry about? Once the Beiqi Crown Prince leaves, he might even take you with him!¡± ¡°Poor Mr. Jiu, for the sake of Puluo¡¯s safety, he has to grovel and endure such humiliation.¡± ¡°Alas, with our humble selves, we are unable to share Mr. Jiu¡¯s worries!¡± ¡°Mr. Jiu is still injured!¡± ¡­ Their idle chatter reached Dan Ruo¡¯s ears. Thinking of Mr. Jiu¡¯s injuries and the humiliation he had suffered, her heart ached. Had it not been for Mr. Jiu taking her into the palace, she would still be in a brothel suffering indignities! Such a noble and refined man, now to be abused by a villain like Qi Guanglie! Dan Ruo¡¯s eyes darkened, and a startling thought arose: Mr. Jiu had helped her, so why couldn¡¯t her lowly self help Mr. Jiu? Just then, Eunuch Ma came out: ¡°Miss Dan Ruo, the Crown Prince has summoned you to serve him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Dan Ruo knelt and responded. The previous awkwardness and distress had completely vanished. The dancers watched Dan Ruo go in and slowly followed behind, whispering to one another: ¡°This fool should know what to do by now, right?¡± ¡°She should. She¡¯s so infatuated with Mr. Jiu, she ought to know how to help him.¡± ¡°I wish I could do such a thing too, to repay my lord¡¯s kindness, I fear not death.¡± ¡°Are you really seeking death? Keep quiet!¡± ¡­ Their conversation fell into the ears of He Ying, who was hidden in the shadows. He Ying confirmed that those dancers were just now instigating the woman called Dan Ruo to carry out an assassination. This Qi Wuya actually wanted to murder his brother! As he had anticipated, truly ruthless. Luckily, he had come. He would not allow Qi Wuya to succeed. Inside the banquet hall The singing was melodiously lingering. It was Dan Ruo singing. Her voice was gentle and beautiful, yet carried a hint of melancholy. She leaned against Qi Guanglie¡¯s embrace. His hand was clasped on her waist, his face flushed, his eyes wicked and rapacious. Dan Ruo did not want to care. In her eyes, there was only Qi Wuya sitting below: Mr. Jiu, Qi Guanglie, if you cannot kill him, then I shall. This lifetime, I have been fortunate to be saved from fire and water by you, and now it¡¯s time to repay you. Tears shimmered in Dan Ruo¡¯s eyes as she turned back to look at Qi Guanglie, her coquettish and fragile allure inflaming Qi Guanglie with fiery desire. He suddenly stood up, scooped up Dan Ruo with a large hand, and walked toward the inner chambers while she cried out in surprise. Qi Wuya, as if blind to the scene before him, raised his hand, poured a full cup of wine for himself, and downed it in one go. It was as if a celebration of some sort. Dan Ruo let her eyelids droop in disappointment. Perhaps, Mr. Jiu simply didn¡¯t care about her. In a moment, they reached the inner sanctuary. ¡°Crown Prince¡ª¡± Dan Ruo was thrown onto the bed by Qi Guanglie, who then immediately pressed her beneath him. Qi Guanglie was quite disgraceful in bed. Dan Ruo, having suffered before and acting out of instinct, still wanted to struggle, but then she saw the blossoms in a basin beside the bed. An overpowering fragrance filled the air, and the petals were blooming like trumpets, their colors vivid and eerily beautiful. It was the Fan Yin Flower! Dan Ruo¡¯s pupils dilated sharply! She just knew it¡ªMr. Jiu also wanted to rescue her. Otherwise, why would he place the Fan Yin Flower by the Crown Prince¡¯s bed? It wasn¡¯t just her own wishful thinking! Dan Ruo stopped resisting. Instead, she took the initiative to wrap her arms around Qi Guanglie¡¯s neck. Qi Guanglie, excited by her response, did not realize that his limbs started becoming uncontrollably stiff due to his excessive excitement. ¡°My Crown Prince, let Dan Ruo do it.¡± Dan Ruo uttered a charming laugh, then spun around to sit on top of Qi Guanglie¡¯s waist. Seeing Qi Guanglie¡¯s drunken and muddled eyes, her red lips curled into a cold sneer. Qi Guanglie had waited a good while, yet the beauty hadn¡¯t embraced him as expected. Just as he was about to ask¡ª A pillow was fiercely pressed against his face. ¡°Mmph¡ª¡± Qi Guanglie¡¯s eyes widened in an attempt to resist, but his limbs were so stiff he couldn¡¯t move. He was thoroughly smothered by the pillow. ¡°Mmph, help¡ª¡± His dilated pupils were full of terror. ¡°Die! You die!¡± Dan Ruo seemed to have gone mad, pressing her entire body down onto Qi Guanglie. Her eyes were full of madness and relief. Kill him! She must kill him! If she killed him, she and Mr. Jiu would both be free. ¡°Bang!¡± A loud noise shattered the quiet. The window was kicked open from the outside. Startled, Dan Ruo let out a cry, and her body involuntarily relaxed slightly. He Ying leaped into the inner sanctuary and kicked her away, rescuing Qi Guanglie who had nearly lost his life! ¡°Guards! Someone is assassinating the Crown Prince!¡± He yelled twice, and with a swing of his arm, he chopped down the Fan Yin Flower beside him. Then, slapping the still-dazed Qi Guanglie, he said, ¡°I am Emperor Da He, He Ying. Qi Guanglie, your brother wants you dead. Call your men in quickly.¡± Although the palace patrols were all Qi Guanglie¡¯s soldiers, there was no guarantee that Qi Wuya didn¡¯t have his confidants. He had to secure the advantage for Qi Guanglie as quickly as possible. Qi Guanglie coughed violently and barely came back to his senses. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had just narrowly escaped death at Ghost Gate, his complexion deathly pale, and he looked up to see the man before him¡ªit really was He Ying! ¡°You, you¡¯re saying Qi Wuya wants, wants to kill me?¡± Qi Guanglie¡¯s voice trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief: Qi Wuya, that worthless man who never dared to fart in front of him, how dare he try to kill him? Listening to his foolish words, He Ying said irritably, ¡°Qi Wuya is ambitious. Qi Guanglie, do you truly not know?¡± Seeing him still confused, He Ying slapped his face and urged, ¡°Your Highness, there¡¯s no time to delay.¡± After taking a slap, Qi Guanglie seemed to wake up and immediately yelled towards the outer hall, ¡°Guards! Guards! Protect the Crown Prince!¡± Eunuch Ma thought Qi Guanglie was inside with the dancer again, frolicking. Suddenly hearing the roar, he shivered and hurriedly led a troop of soldiers into the inner sanctuary. Qi Wuya also heard the commotion in the outer sanctuary. Frowning, he quickly got up and followed Han Chen over. When he saw the scene in the inner sanctuary¡ª And the standing He Ying beside, Qi Wuya¡¯s expression instantly turned sour: He Ying, he really had the nerve to come! He glanced indifferently at Dan Ruo, lying on the ground, his eyes brimming with disdain: A foolish and useless woman! She had ruined his plans! Eunuch Ma approached with concern in his eyes, ¡°Your Highness, what happened here?¡± Qi Guanglie sneered coldly and pulled out a long sword from a soldier¡¯s hand, pointing it at Qi Wuya, ¡°Lao Jiu, you¡¯ve got some nerve, to actually send this wretched woman to assassinate me!¡± Seeing this, Han Chen¡¯s heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to shield Qi Wuya, ¡°Your Highness, Mr. Jiu is your own brother. There must be a misunderstanding here. We must not be manipulated by others.¡± He looked very calm, but his heart was in turmoil. Someone like Dan Ruo, a lowly woman of the streets, might blame Mr. Jiu to save her own life! He had to find a way to get Mr. Jiu out of this mess! Chapter 175: 175 Sincerity Chapter 175: Chapter 175 Sincerity ¡°This dancer is from your Puluo Country, who else could instigate her?¡± He Ying stood beside Qi Guanglie, his accusations pointed directly at Qi Wuya. By then, the situation had been controlled by Qi Guanglie¡¯s men, which gave him some peace of mind, yet he still gripped the sword in his hand vigilantly. He feared Qi Wuya would go mad, and he feared Qi Guanglie would betray him. Dan Ruo still lay on the ground. Her clothes disheveled, her body trembling with fear. With so many people¡­ She hadn¡¯t killed him for Mr. Jiu, would Mr. Jiu save her? He would! Mr. Jiu had placed the Fan Yin Flower there just to save her! Dan Ruo thought frantically, when suddenly a pair of boots, as pale as the moon and made of satin, appeared before her. ¡°Mr., Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± Dan Ruo¡¯s heart leaped with joy, she raised her head to see the man before her, as exquisitely handsome as a banished immortal. She just knew Mr. Jiu wouldn¡¯t abandon her¡ª A flash of white light. The smile on Dan Ruo¡¯s face stiffened, she looked incredulously at Qi Wuya and the blood-stained sword in his hand. Was that¡­ her blood on the sword? Dan Ruo emitted a strange gurgling sound. She raised her hand to touch her own neck, where blood spurted continuously from the wound. ¡°Mr., Mr. Jiu¡ª¡± Before she could finish her plea, her body suddenly collapsed to the ground, her eyes lifelessly staring at Qi Wuya. Qi Wuya, with a face cold as frost, stepped on her body and sheathed his sword with a swish. Qi Guanglie stepped back in fright, even hiding behind He Ying. ¡°The brother is frightened. It was my lack of vigilance that allowed an assassin to blend among the dancers.¡± Regarding Dan Ruo as nothing more than a dead dog, Qi Wuya ordered Han Chen, ¡°Go, drag her away, chop her up and feed her to the dogs!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Han Chen cursed Dan Ruo inwardly for her incompetence, then quickly dragged her corpse away from the inner hall. Watching his performance, Qi Guanglie sneered ambiguously, ¡°It seems I have misunderstood you.¡± Although he did not hold Qi Wuya in high regard, Qi Wuya had indeed taken control of Puluo Country. In recent days, he had seen how the citizens of Puluo blindly worshiped and trusted Qi Wuya. If Qi Wuya were killed, who knows what calamity might occur. Since Qi Wuya chose to maintain peace, he would temporarily suspend his inquiry into the matter! He Ying, hearing Qi Guanglie¡¯s tone, guessed he wouldn¡¯t fall out with Qi Wuya over this. He was exceedingly regretful that he hadn¡¯t been able to kill Qi Wuya, but the pressing matter was to discuss terms of peace with Qi Guanglie. ¡°Crown Prince, I¡¯ve heard that you have brought people here for peace talks?¡± Qi Guanglie, seeing He Ying bring up this matter, immediately smiled. He had just begun to speak when he suddenly thought of something and glared at Qi Wuya nearby, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you gone to arrange the banquet yet? I have important matters to discuss with Emperor He!¡± Qi Wuya: ¡°¡­¡± He was filled with hatred for the man before him whom he could not kill! He gritted his teeth in fury. If it weren¡¯t for the overwhelming number of Qi Guanglie¡¯s men here, he would have personally slain them both. ¡°Lao Jiu?¡± Qi Guanglie called out again. ¡°Yes.¡± Reluctantly, Qi Wuya bowed his head and left the inner hall. He Ying, seeing Qi Wuya¡¯s embarrassed and desolate state, scoffed derisively: They say that every dog has its day, and Qi Wuya, faced with Qi Guanglie, who blatantly antagonized him, really had no recourse. Soon, the banquet hall was arranged with food and drinks. Qi Guanglie took his place as the host with a domineering air, He Ying to his left, and more ridiculously, Qi Wuya who held a jug of wine, sat next to Qi Guanglie. He was now doing the duties of Eunuch Ma. Qi Guanglie¡¯s face was all smiles, a far cry from his fiercely concealed animosity towards Qi Wuya. ¡°Emperor He, upon hearing that you were in Puluo Country, I immediately brought my men here, not for anything else, but for the diplomatic relations between our two nations.¡± His demeanor was obsequious. He Ying was well aware of how much sincerity lay within that smile. ¡°The Crown Prince, please share your valuable insights explicitly.¡± He Ying responded indifferently, his gaze resting on Qi Wuya with a playful expression, ¡°However, I wonder if the Ninth Prince has any objections or plans to repeat the incident of holding hostage our Empress Da He.¡± No sooner had he spoken these words than Qi Guanglie fiercely slammed his hand on the table, then harshly slapped Qi Wuya across the face. ¡°You fool! What have you done! The Empress was originally invited to visit Puluo Country; how could Emperor He misunderstand it as a hostage situation?¡± It was quite a strained attempt at casual conversation. But no one present chose to reveal the pretense. Qi Wuya, caught off guard, had his handsome face turned aside by the blow. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his sinister expression vanishing in the moment he turned back. His smile was deep as he bowed to He Ying, ¡°I never intended for Emperor He to misunderstand. It was my mistake.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding.¡± Qi Guanglie dismissively waved his hand, signaling him to step back, then turned to He Ying and continued, ¡°We regret having alarmed Emperor He and the Empress. Once our important discussions conclude, I shall personally escort you back to He Country¡¯s ship.¡± With Qi Guanglie¡¯s assurance, He Ying felt considerably relieved. He leisurely sipped his wine, still dressed in a guard¡¯s attire, yet his demeanor and poise overwhelmingly pressured Qi Guanglie. But Qi Guanglie wasn¡¯t as composed, ¡°He already promised to personally escort them back; why isn¡¯t He Ying stating his terms?¡± This left him feeling utterly clueless! After three rounds of drinks. Finally, Qi Guanglie could no longer contain himself and cleared his throat, ¡°Emperor He, since we are discussing peace, Beiqi has already shown sincerity. I will be personally escorting you and the Empress back to He Country¡¯s ship, shouldn¡¯t you also¡ª¡± He Ying set down his wine glass. Just that single action interrupted Qi Guanglie. He looked at Qi Guanglie coolly, ¡°Now, with the pressing military circumstances in Beiqi, His Highness the Crown Prince has taken the trouble to travel to Puluo Country for Beiqi. Naturally, I also need to show some sincerity.¡± Hearing this, Qi Guanglie¡¯s face finally brightened with a smile, ¡°What sincerity does Emperor He propose?¡± ¡°My sincerity¡ª¡± He Ying began to speak but abruptly halted. Qi Guanglie felt a tightness in his chest and sank back down in disappointment. What could the sincerity be? Was he going to return all eleven cities Beiqi had lost? Qi Guanglie eagerly awaited He Ying¡¯s next words. He Ying slightly curled his lips, smiling, ¡°Not long ago, Beiqi lost three cities. I, too, deeply regret this loss for Da He. Thus, as thanks for His Highness the Crown Prince¡¯s protection, Da He is willing to return these three cities¡­¡± ¡°So the life of Emperor He is worth only three cities!¡± Qi Wuya was clearly dissatisfied with the offer. Beiqi had lost a total of eleven cities; what was the significance of returning just three? Qi Guanglie shared this sentiment. He wanted all eleven cities back in one go! But he didn¡¯t want Qi Wuya to be the one to say it! ¡°Shut up!¡± Qi Guanglie shouted at Qi Wuya and turned back to He Ying, now wearing a smile, ¡°Emperor He¡¯s noble status is far too important; three cities cannot match it.¡± He Ying nodded, serious, ¡°The Crown Prince is right, they indeed do not match.¡± Qi Guanglie didn¡¯t expect He Ying to be so accommodating and immediately agreed, laughing, ¡°Indeed, indeed, Emperor He should give it some more thought.¡± ¡°I have thought about it¡ª¡± He Ying paused for a moment and smiled, ¡°Since His Highness has mentioned it, I might seem entering into a repayment for a favor. Speaking of the recent danger, had I not intervened in time, His Highness might not have had the chance to discuss peace here with me. As the future sovereign of Beiqi, His Highness¡¯s status is unspeakably noble; dare I ask, how many cities is that worth?¡± Qi Guanglie: ¡°¡­¡± He was at a loss for words. Yes, he had just been saved by He Ying! If not for him, his life would have been in peril! How frustrating! Qi Guanglie lost his initiative and vented his anger on Qi Wuya: ¡°All because you were careless!¡± Qi Wuya: ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t anticipated He Ying to be so cunning, using the recent event as a bargaining chip in their negotiations! After all this back and forth, he was still at a disadvantage! Truly a formidable rival in the struggle for supremacy! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, it was delightful! Holding back a laugh, he bowed his head and humbly said, ¡°It was my fault, my brother, Your Highness the Crown Prince, please forgive me.¡± Qi Guanglie, tired of wasting words, mulled over He Ying¡¯s remarks and found no retort. Then, considering the repeated military setbacks in Beiqi and the relentless pressure from the war god Rong Ye, he finally swallowed his pride, ¡°Enough! Since a life-saving grace comes first, I shall agree! However, I also want a promise from Emperor He for our two nations to forge an everlasting amicable relationship, without infringing upon each other.¡± Chapter 176: 176: Farewell Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Farewell small fishing village Sang Yan was at Chen Hu¡¯s house, fretting to the extreme. It was almost dawn. There was no word from He Ying. Was he all right? Had Qi Wuya discovered him? She stood by the door, staring blankly in the direction of the palace. ¡°Empress, please put your mind at ease.¡± Seeing her anxiety, Chen Hu stood up to reassure her, ¡°Brother Lv and I have people secretly watching the palace. If there¡¯s any slight disturbance, they¡¯d definitely come over immediately to report. Since they haven¡¯t come, it must mean everything is fine.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lv Dakuan also joined in to persuade, ¡°Empress, no news is good news.¡± He dared not repeat to Sang Yan the words He Ying had spoken before entering the palace. The Emperor and Empress were deeply in love. The Empress might think that Emperor He would do something foolish, rushing to the palace to desperately search for someone. But now, the day was breaking, so why was there still no sign of anything? Chunhua also pulled Sang Yan back to sit down, gesturing with her hands for her to be at ease. One by one, they comforted her, and Sang Yan felt a bit embarrassed, managing to suppress her uneasy feelings and force a smile, ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. I¡¯m too nervous. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± Until the sky began to lighten. Just as Lv Dakuan and Chen Hu were about to drift to sleep, they sprang to their feet, alert. Sang Yan hadn¡¯t recovered her senses when the two men dragged her to the cellar. ¡°There are quite a few footsteps outside. It must be the guards!¡± Lv Dakuan opened the cellar cover and pushed Sang Yan inside. Sang Yan was now frightened: If the palace guards had found this place, did it mean something bad had happened to He Ying? Just the thought caused a suffocating pain in her chest. If something had happened to He Ying, she would never forgive herself. Tears involuntarily fell. Just as they were hiding¡ª the courtyard gate was pushed open. Lv Dakuan and Chen Hu saw who it was and exclaimed with a laugh, ¡°It¡¯s the Emperor! Empress, come out quickly! The Emperor has safely returned!¡± Hearing this, Sang Yan immediately climbed out of the cellar. She was dressed in rough, torn clothes, her hair a mess, looking particularly disheveled. ¡°He Ying¡ª¡± Her teary eyes blurred as she looked at the man rushing towards her. Backlit, the man stood tall and radiant, dazzlingly handsome, with numerous guards standing behind him, neither too far nor too close. Had his mission succeeded this time? ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯ve kept you waiting.¡± His voice was soft and tender, bringing a smile. Sang Yan instantly felt relieved, yet her tears continued to flow. ¡°Worried sick, weren¡¯t you? Everything went smoothly. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± He Ying pulled her into his embrace, gently kissing away her tears, not minding the grime on her face. With so many people around, Sang Yan felt embarrassed. She gently pushed him away, murmuring, ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re back. Just good you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡ª¡± At that moment, Lv Dakuan laughed loudly, teasing, ¡°The Emperor has finally returned. If not, the Empress was about to storm the palace herself!¡± Chen Hu also felt relieved, asking with a smile, ¡°Now that the Emperor has returned, does that mean the peace negotiations were settled?¡± Mentioning official matters, Sang Yan also became serious, ¡°What are the conditions of the peace?¡± He Ying replied in a low voice, ¡°Returning three cities. Eternally good relations.¡± Three cities? This surprised Sang Yan. She had thought that with Qi Guanglie¡¯s and Qi Wuya¡¯s tactics, they would surely demand He Country return eleven cities. It turned out He Ying had only negotiated three cities as the condition. ¡°Qi Wuya indeed planned to move against Qi Guanglie. My timely appearance saved him.¡± He Ying explained with a smile, ¡°This lifesaving favor, shouldn¡¯t it be worth several cities? Plus, Qi Guanglie wishes to secure his position as the future Beiqi Monarch, he had no choice but to agree, reluctant as he might be.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing his confident demeanor, Sang Yan laughed, ¡°It¡¯s good you went. Otherwise, if Qi Wuya secretly killed Qi Guanglie and then deceitfully lured us out for negotiations, we would have walked right into a trap.¡± ¡°Yes indeed.¡± He escorted her towards the house. Lv Dakuan and Chen Hu followed them inside. ¡°The Emperor and Empress are about to return, aren¡¯t they?¡± Chen Hu¡¯s tone revealed a hint of reluctance. These past few days, having shared life and death together, he truly had come to regard He Ying and Sang Yan as his own siblings. He Ying and Sang Yan exchanged glances, each seeing the reluctance of impending parting in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Brother Chen, Brother Lv¡ª¡± He Ying turned around, bowing to Lv Dakuan and Chen Hu. Sang Yan also gracefully performed a courtesy. Their actions startled the two robust men, one tall and one short, causing them to exclaim in shock and promptly help them up. He Ying said, ¡°If it had not been for your heroic aid, Ah Yan and I might have already perished in the Puluo Palace.¡± Thinking back to the perilous day, everyone¡¯s faces turned grim. Fortunately, they had survived the hardship. He Ying continued, ¡°I have already spoken with the Puluo King. Once we leave, he will not pursue any charges for your intrusion into the palace. Besides that, the people from He Country living here will receive a half reduction on their taxes every year. However, since the Puluo King holds no real power, if Qi Wuya bears resentment, your situation might also not be favorable. Therefore, if you wish to return home, I will ensure you are well-settled. Additionally, about the Lv Sect Pirates¡ª¡± He looked at Lv Dakuan, ¡°The Lv Sect Pirates were slaughtered by Qi Wuya. I have also spoken with the Puluo King and Qi Guanglie, and we will arrange for their bodies to be properly buried. If their bodies are not found, memorial tablets will be set up instead.¡± Lv Dakuan, upon hearing this, teared up uncontrollably: his brothers could finally return home. ¡°Thank you, Emperor He!¡± He knelt on the ground and struck his head against the floor three times in deep gratitude. Day had completely dawned. The palace had sent a palace maid, who also brought splendid, auspicious ceremonial clothes. This was requested by He Ying. As the Emperor and Empress, they naturally could not return home disheveled and must carry the dignity fitting of royalty. Sang Yan understood too, and under their attendance, she meticulously dressed and made up. When she put on the phoenix-patterned golden gown of deep red, her hair styled up like cloud shadows, she hardly recognized the dazzling reflection in the mirror. ¡°Are you ready?¡± He Ying¡¯s voice came from outside the door. Sang Yan looked into the copper mirror again, closely inspecting her makeup. ¡°Ready.¡± After confirming that everything was in order, she instructed the palace maid to open the door. It had been a long time since He Ying had seen Sang Yan like this, and he couldn¡¯t hide his amazement. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does it look¡­ strange?¡± Sang Yan touched her hair, adjusting her temples. In recent times, every day had been a struggle against Qi Wuya or a fight for survival. How could she have cared about her appearance? Now seeing He Ying staring at her without speaking, she was quite unsure about herself. He Ying wore a gentle, enamored smile as he looked at her, as if etching her image deeply in his mind. Meanwhile, Sister Chunhua was beside them, constantly giving Sang Yan thumbs up. She was complimenting Sang Yan¡¯s beauty. Sang Yan, amused by her, couldn¡¯t help but laugh and in the next moment, embraced her like a sister, ¡°Sister Chunhua, thank you.¡± Without her, He Ying¡¯s recovery wouldn¡¯t have been as swift. This group had changed the entire situation with their strength. Chunhua, too, knew that separation was imminent. With tears in her eyes, she waved to Sang Yan, signaling that it was time for them to leave. The Puluo King had already announced he would send Emperor Da He and the Empress back. The entire pier was crowded with people. Qi Guanglie and Qi Wuya were also there. ¡°Lao Jiu, I heard you¡¯ve taken a liking to the Empress Da He.¡± Qi Guanglie, full of sarcasm, teased, ¡°Emperor He mobilized an army for this woman, braving dangers personally. She must be extremely beautiful. However¡ª¡± He glanced at Qi Wuya, scoffing, ¡°You should look at yourself first. She is He Ying¡¯s woman. Someone of your low birth should forget about it.¡± He raised his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Han Chen shook all over with anger and wanted to speak but was stopped by a look from Qi Wuya. Why fret over a worthless person like Qi Guanglie? To think he was relying on He Ying, not realizing that He Ying himself was still poisoned, and whether he could survive was uncertain. Just then¡ª A townsman excitedly shouted, ¡°Emperor Da He and the Empress are here!¡± Chapter 177: 177 Return Voyage Chapter 177: Chapter 177 Return Voyage Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The midday sun was warm and dazzling. Qi Wuya spotted the beautiful woman in red in a glance. She was holding He Ying¡¯s hand with a smile on her face that he had never seen before. It stung his eyes. He Ying! Damn it! The man standing beside her should have been him! He clenched his fists tightly, just barely suppressing the urge to rush forward and kill He Ying. Sang Yan also felt that feverishly intense gaze amid the crowd. There was no need to look to know it was Qi Wuya! Bad luck! Sang Yan frowned and gripped He Ying¡¯s hand even tighter. If only that could infuriate Qi Wuya to death! The commoners at the dock were amazed by He Ying and Sang Yan¡¯s grace and beauty. The usually noisy dock had also turned silent. They were all focused on the two of them. Pei Muyang and the others had already been waiting on the deck. ¡°Emperor, Empress¡ª¡± He came forward to greet and kneel. Behind him, two rows of He Country soldiers in armor knelt down neatly and said in unison, ¡°We welcome the Emperor and Empress!¡± Their voices were thunderous, and the atmosphere was equally stunning. He Ying gently raised his hand, signaling them to rise. ¡°Emperor, you¡¯ve finally come back, you nearly scared this servant to death.¡± Pei Muyang, with eyes red with excitement, looked as if he was about to burst into tears. Previously, when Puluo Country sent envoys to discuss peace and mentioned returning the Emperor, he hadn¡¯t believed it. He hadn¡¯t expected that now, they were indeed welcoming them back. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m back. You¡¯ve had a hard time these days.¡± He Ying¡¯s expression was warm as he personally helped Pei Muyang to his feet. After this ordeal, he was no longer as aloof as before and had become much more amiable and gentle. Sang Yan stood by quietly, watching and thinking to herself. That intense gaze still lingered on her, unrelenting. She couldn¡¯t help but frown and looked down from the ship. Lv Dakuan, Chen Hu, and the others had all come to see them off, excitedly waving their hands. Sang Yan walked to the edge of the ship and waved back to them. Then she saw Qi Wuya standing on the shore. He was staring straight at her. With a mocking smile. As if Sang Yan wasn¡¯t returning to He Country but just stepping out for a casual visit. Sang Yan detested him utterly and turned to leave, but then she saw his lips move¡ª Wait for me. Those two words left her completely frozen: Madman! She wouldn¡¯t wait for him! She didn¡¯t want to see him for the rest of her life! Even if she did, it would be to kill him for people like Jiang Ke and Tan Yunjian! Madman! Sang Yan, fearing others would hear and damage her image as Empress of He Country, retorted unkindly in spoken language. Qi Wuya looked taken aback for a moment, as if he understood. The smile on his face grew more sinister, and he even waved at her. Pervert! Sang Yan shuddered, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms, disgusted by him. He Ying turned to look at Sang Yan and caught this exchange. Although he knew his Ah Yan¡¯s heart had room only for him, who could tolerate another man coveting their woman? He was very unhappy inside. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Sang Yan¡¯s waist, pulling her into his embrace. Sang Yan nestled against him obediently, ¡°When do we leave?¡± ¡°Right away.¡± He Ying glanced at Qi Wuya on the shore, his face darkening with jealousy: Jealous already? What right did he have? ¡°Leaving like this, not being able to kill Qi Wuya, is such a pity¡ª¡± Before she could finish, her lips were sealed shut. He Ying kissed Sang Yan¡¯s lips in front of everyone. Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± The shock was too much, and she was a bit dazed. She could only stand still and let him ravage her lips. He Ying rarely showed intimacy with her in public, and when he did¡­ it was with a touch of childishness. It seemed he wanted to prove she was his. Was it because he saw Qi Wuya? Sang Yan guessed his thoughts and took the initiative to wrap her arms around He Ying¡¯s waist, reciprocating his kiss. ¡°Emperor Da He and the Empress really have a good relationship,¡± ¡°Haha, indeed! I heard that to save the Empress, the Emperor returned three cities to Beiqi.¡± ¡°Wow, indeed, when a beauty smiles, whole kingdoms fall.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that lovers eventually ended up together.¡± ¡°Right, right, love that endures hardships together is even more precious!¡± ¡­ The chatter of the citizens reached their ears. Qi Wuya¡¯s face turned as black as if it was splashed with ink. His chest heaved wildly, and his fists clenched with a crunching noise. He Ying must have done it on purpose! Damn it! He wanted to turn his head away and not look, but his body seemed frozen, watching the two kissing. His heart ached so much! But didn¡¯t the pain prove that he was still alive? ¡°Mr. Jiu, should we¡­ should we go back?¡± Han Chen also witnessed this scene and felt both anger and pity in his heart: Sang Yan just left like that, but to deliberately upset Mr. Jiu was detestable! Mr. Jiu liked her so much, and now he had to watch her being kissed by He Ying like that. How could he stand it? Just as he thought this¡ª Qi Wuya clutched at his abdomen, his body swaying, almost falling to the ground. Han Chen, with quick reflexes, swiftly caught him, then exclaimed, ¡°Mr. Jiu, your wound is bleeding!¡± That wretched woman was too heartless! To have angered Mr. Jiu to the point that his old wounds reopened! ¡°Back to the palace!¡± Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he struggled to turn his body. Just wait! The future is long! He Ying, as for who will be the final victor, it¡¯s still too early to tell! * Sang Yan saw Qi Wuya¡¯s embarrassing departure. But her mood did not lighten. Because soldiers from He Country were loading simple coffins onto the ship. Inside not only lay corpses but also more urns of ashes. After all, with the summer weather being hot, many bodies had been pushed into the burial ground and had begun to rot, so they could only be cremated on the spot, preserving the ashes. Those bodies that were still intact were also packed with large blocks of ice to prevent decay. More than 15 minutes had passed. ¡°Emperor, the bodies of all our civilians and soldiers who sacrificed themselves in Puluo Country have been loaded onto the ship,¡± Pei Muyang reported the situation and asked, ¡°Can we set sail now?¡± He Ying, looking at those coffins with a heavy heart, nodded, ¡°Let¡¯s set sail.¡± They were the heroes of Da He. Though their bodies had perished, their souls had not yet dispersed. Now he had to bring them home. ¡°Once we are back home, the first thing is to properly bury them, and take good care of their families.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Pei Muyang bowed his head in compliance. Sang Yan accompanied He Ying into the elegantly simple cabin room. The sea voyage from Puluo back to He Country would take a long time. She looked at Puluo Country disappearing from sight with a frown that stayed on her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He Ying noticed her downcast mood, walked over, and while asking, casually draped a cloak over her shoulders, ¡°The sea breeze is strong, don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t fuss over this small gesture and, raising her head, grabbed hold of He Ying¡¯s hand with a grave look, ¡°He Ying, there¡¯s something I want to tell you.¡± He Ying¡¯s heart tightened, and he eagerly said, ¡°Go on. As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s done.¡± Sang Yan, hearing this, fell silent again. She looked out the window at the vast seascape, her eyes filled with sorrow, as her tears began to well but did not fall. He Ying, seeing this, felt a pang of distress, and with his large hand, he clasped hers, encouraging her, ¡°Ah Yan, we are husband and wife, speak your mind.¡± Hearing those words, Sang Yan¡¯s tears suddenly fell. She bit her lip, wiped away the tears, and made up her mind, looking directly at He Ying, ¡°I want to go to the place where Jiang Ke died.¡± Chapter 178: 178 Spikes Chapter 178: Chapter 178 Spikes Jiang Ke died on an unnamed island. Jiang Ke was their taboo! Sang Yan knew she should not mention him, but he had died trying to save her, leaving him utterly alone on that unnamed island¡ªit was more than she could bear. Sure enough. The moment He Ying heard the name Jiang Ke, the smile on his face faded slightly. Though his eyes remained gentle, Sang Yan could tell he was displeased. ¡°Ah Yan, you should know that I hate him. He kidnapped you the night before our wedding, forcing you into this dangerous, unstable life¡ªI will never forgive him.¡± In his view, had it not been for Jiang Ke, would they have endured such trials? And those three cities, won with the blood of countless soldiers¡ªhow could they just hand them over to someone else? ¡°But he is dead.¡± Sang Yan closed her eyes, her retort weak: ¡°With death comes the settling of debts. How can we quarrel with a dead man? Besides, Qi Wuya wanted him dead because he refused to collude and betray Da He.¡± She respected Jiang Ke¡¯s pride. In fact, it was his pride that had changed her prejudices against him. He had always been nothing but a brash and proud youth, full of love. How could she let go, seeing the end he met? Hearing her say this, He Ying¡¯s brow furrowed even tighter: Was it guilt, gratitude, or love that made her want to see him? Why had Jiang Ke kidnapped her on the eve of their wedding? What had developed between them during that month? He knew he shouldn¡¯t think about these things, but he couldn¡¯t help himself. Jealousy, accompanied by pain, swept over him! Finally, he asked, ¡°Ah Yan, do you¡­ harbor feelings for him?¡± Did Sang Yan have Jiang Ke in her heart? Perhaps there had been a time. They had shared hardships for so long; surely there was a moment when her heart had wavered. And now, he had died by her hand, his life forever burning his image into her heart. But he was dead. He became a perpetual thorn that could never be ignored between them. Pain spread from her heart. Sang Yan took a deep breath, calming herself. She raised her eyes to look at He Ying, her gaze cold and quiet: ¡°New yuan, tell me, if I had lost myself to him, what would you do?¡± In this backward era, as the high and mighty Emperor Da He, could he truly accept a woman who was no longer pure? Even though she and Jiang Ke had never breached that final barrier. But there had indeed been intense encounters. Wasn¡¯t her purity lost as well? He Ying had mentally prepared countless times for her loss of purity. But hearing it now, it still felt unbearable. Yet he couldn¡¯t show it. Being kidnapped by Jiang Ke was never her wish; she was a victim¡ªhow could he blame her further? Especially after she had drifted so long and suffered so much. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not protecting you, letting him kidnap you. Whatever you¡¯ve been through, Ah Yan, it¡¯s not your fault. I won¡¯t lie, I¡¯m insanely jealous, but as long as you¡¯re okay and still have me in your heart, those things don¡¯t matter.¡± His gaze was earnest and fervent, like a fire that blazed for her. Sang Yan believed him. If he had said directly that he didn¡¯t mind, she would have doubted him, thinking him insincere, lying. But he had been in pain, had struggled, and now had let go; thus, his words carried more weight. ¡°The past is past. What I want is our future. As long as you have me in your heart, Ah Yan, I only need you in your heart.¡± ¡°Xinyuan¡ª¡± Sang Yan¡¯s defenses broke, tears falling involuntarily: ¡°You, how can you be so good?¡± No man could be so enlightened and understanding. What had she done to deserve someone like him? She thought again about her husband-killing fate, a destiny she had always ignored, but now it gnawed at her heart like ants. ¡°Xinyuan, I match with yours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± He Ying sensed her withdrawal and said anxiously, ¡°I don¡¯t mind, I really don¡¯t mind, Ah Yan, don¡¯t leave me.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, tears falling even more fiercely, ¡°I¡¯m scared. I¡¯m so scared. I killed Jiang Ke, I nearly killed you, Xinyuan, my husband-killing fate¡­ maybe it¡¯s real.¡± She thought of the original owner¡¯s three mysteriously deceased fianc¨¦s, the husband who drowned on his wedding night, and Jiang Ke, who truly died by her hand, even He Ying from Puluo Country who nearly died several times to save her¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not. Don¡¯t think like that.¡± He Du saw her pained expression and hurriedly held her in his arms, reassuring her, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t fallen in love with you, if we hadn¡¯t married, Jiang Ke wouldn¡¯t have been so provoked as to abduct you to Puluo Country, and he wouldn¡¯t have died. And I, if not for you, would have died at the hands of Qi Wuya long ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how it is, it¡¯s not like you say¡ª¡± Sang Yan was trapped in a dead end, very emotional. She turned away, not wanting to see He Ying anymore. She couldn¡¯t harm him further. Perhaps she should have left him long ago. I¡¯ll leave once I¡¯m back in the country¡­ ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t leave me.¡± He Ying saw her thoughts, held her tight, and interrupted her chaotic thoughts. His chin buried in her neck, he finally felt at ease smelling her scent. ¡°What husband-killing fate, I don¡¯t believe in those, nor do I care about them. I only know that I can¡¯t live without you.¡± ¡°But I really¡­ have caused many deaths.¡± Sang Yan choked up, her hands clutching He Ying¡¯s clothes tightly. She didn¡¯t want to part from him either. But she was really scared. If one day, she caused his death¡ª ¡°Even if you caused my death, that would still be my wish. Since it¡¯s my wish, I have no regrets, not even in life or death.¡± He Ying¡¯s gaze was intense, his words gentle yet assertive, ¡°Besides, I am the Emperor, protected by the heavenly mandate, you didn¡¯t cause my death this time, that means even the heavens can¡¯t take me.¡± As he said this, he kissed her hair, his tone becoming more seductive and enthralling, ¡°So, Ah Yan, you are destined to belong only to me!¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Really? sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She snuggled into his embrace, breathing in his pleasant scent. She felt he was like the refreshing coolness under the scorching sun, filled with healing magic, gradually soothing her restless heart. ¡°Xinyuan¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think anymore.¡± He Ying, fearing she would speak more disheartening words, directly sealed her lips. His passion burned away her untimely thoughts. Sang Yan felt as if she were in a wonderful dream. In his kiss, her soul found a resting place. Unconsciously, they ended up on the bed. Sang Yan accidentally touched his wound. ¡°Hisss¡ª¡± He groaned in pain, his forehead covered in cold sweat. The intimate atmosphere between them instantly dissipated. Sang Yan was startled, ¡°Are you okay?¡± She started to pull at his clothes, wanting to check his wound. He Ying dodged her, but after a while, looking at her flushed lips, he wanted to kiss her again. This time it was Sang Yan who dodged. She pressed her hand on his shoulder and said sternly, ¡°Settle down. Is the wound bleeding?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. You¡¯re sweating from the pain.¡± ¡°I am in pain.¡± He smiled, bringing his face closer, ¡°If you kiss me more, it won¡¯t hurt.¡± Chapter 179: 179 Tombstone Chapter 179: Chapter 179 Tombstone ¡°Don¡¯t fuss. Let me check the wound.¡± Sang Yan held him down, pulled open his clothes, and saw that he indeed was bleeding. She called for someone to get medicine and rewrap the wound. He Ying gasped in pain as he endured another bout of suffering. Once he was wrapped up, he lay down and patted the spot beside him, ¡°I¡¯m so tired. Lie with me for a while, let¡¯s rest.¡± Soldiers were standing guard outside, ensuring no one would disturb them. Sang Yan nodded, found a comfortable position, and nestled beside him. ¡°I can accompany you to see Jiang Ke.¡± He embraced her, kissing her temple gently as he spoke, ¡°But promise me, you won¡¯t think about these things anymore.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Warmth filled Sang Yan¡¯s heart. She closed her eyes and hugged his waist. The night sea sparked with waves. The ship swayed slightly. The cold moonlight filtered through the window, casting a serene and beautiful light over the figures nestled in sleep on the soft couch. The sea breeze was cool. The ocean¡¯s surface shimmered. The sound of the waves was like a lover¡¯s whisper, guiding the ship towards the horizon. Time quietly passed by. A black dot appeared on the sea surface. It was the small island where Jiang Ke had met his demise. At the same time In bed, Sang Yan¡¯s originally relaxed brow furrowed tightly, her breathing grew rapid. White mist arose. Within the mist stood a person, extending a hand towards her as if summoning her. ¡°Who are you?¡± Sang Yan asked, puzzled. Yet, the person did not speak, only gesturing to her. Unconsciously, Sang Yan walked towards the person. The mist gradually dissipated. ¡°Sang Yan!¡± The person¡¯s face suddenly appeared before her. It was Jiang Ke¡¯s face! His body was covered with wounds, missing an arm, his handsome face twisted in extreme pain as if pleading for help. He clutched her arm, weeping and howling, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you save me? Sang Yan, why didn¡¯t you save me? Why!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Sang Yan woke up with a start, drenched in a cold sweat, her eyes wide with horror. He Ying, lying beside her, suddenly opened his eyes and pulled her into his embrace, ¡°Ah Yan, wake up, you had a nightmare.¡± Sang Yan was confused for a while as she regained her senses from the nightmare. She looked at He Ying, his face full of concern, and touched her face, still wet with tears. ¡°I had a nightmare. Xinyuan, I dreamed of him. He asked me why I didn¡¯t save him.¡± Sang Yan covered her face in anguish. Self-blame, guilt, and fear overwhelmed her. ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid, dreams are often the opposite.¡± He Ying soothed softly, ¡°He won¡¯t blame you. He won¡¯t.¡± If he could, he wished he was the one who could protect Ah Yan. After this event, she would probably always remember that man, Jiang Ke. ¡°You were up against Qi Wuya, Ah Yan, he won¡¯t blame you. He wanted to save you, and he hopes you live well, too.¡± He Ying gently patted her back, easing her breathing. Sang Yan leaned on him, crying for a while before her crying gradually ceased. Soon, Pei Muyang¡¯s voice sounded outside, ¡°Emperor, we are almost at the island.¡± ¡°Uh. Got it.¡± He Ying responded. ¡°Are we there?¡± Sang Yan looked towards the window with tearful eyes. Indeed, the ship was nearing the small island where Jiang Ke had perished. About a teacup¡¯s time had passed. At dawn, she followed He Ying ashore. They walked through the lush forest, startling countless birds, until they arrived at a grave. Jiang Ke¡¯s tomb. Sang Yan stared at the six characters on the wooden tombstone, her eyes showing surprise, ¡°What is this?¡± He Ying, seeing her confusion, explained with a complex expression, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s what you think, it was erected by Qi Wuya.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± That madman! He had killed Jiang Ke, how dare he erect such a tombstone for him? Was he not afraid that Jiang Ke would come night after night to claim his life? ¡°Scoundrel!¡± She cried out in anger, ¡°He¡¯s not letting Jiang Ke rest in peace even in death!¡± As she spoke, she stepped forward, pulled out the wooden tombstone, and threw it violently aside. She wouldn¡¯t allow his belongings to contaminate the ground where Jiang Ke lay buried. He Ying watched her actions quietly, saying nothing. He thought, at this time, she didn¡¯t need him to speak. He walked over, embraced her, and offered her his silent companionship. Sang Yan crouched down, looking at the small mound of the grave, where tender buds of grass had sprouted, brimming with endless vitality. ¡°Jiang Ke, I¡¯ve come¡­ to see you.¡± She touched the tender grasses, as if speaking to Jiang Ke. Tears flowed even more violently. The sun rose higher. Her tears fell on the tender grass, and as the sun shone, they vanished. But past love and hatred became clearer in her heart. ¡°Xinyuan, do you know?¡± With swollen eyes, she looked at him and choked up, ¡°Qi Wuya initially admired Jiang Ke a lot, he treated him well, showed him favors several times, wanting to take him under his wing, but Jiang Ke had his principles. Even fleeing across the sea, he never forgot his homeland. He still had Da He in his heart, always refusing to submit, which is why he provoked Qi Wuya¡¯s wrath. That day, we encountered pirates, it was Qi Wuya who instigated it, causing us to fall into the pirates¡¯ hands. To save me, Jiang Ke was cut off an arm by Lv Tianrui, and later, we drifted to this small island, Qi Wuya came chasing after us, by then Jiang Ke was exhausted and bloodied, no longer able to hold a sword¡­¡± ¡°Ah Yan, stop talking. It¡¯s all in the past.¡± He Ying, suppressing his jealousy, advised, ¡°You cherish him like this, he died with a purpose.¡± Sang Yan shook her head, crying, ¡°It was I who killed him. He forced the sword into my hands, just like that¡ª¡± She covered her eyes, unable to continue. He Du was heartbroken, holding her tightly, ¡°Ah Yan, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t protect you well enough, making you go through such cruelty.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not cruelty, he said he had no regrets¡­ I don¡¯t either¡­¡± Her pain reached an extreme, her expression nearly numb, ¡°The days we spent together were real and meaningful. He said, life and death aren¡¯t valuable, what matters is living passionately, he lived fervently, and so did I.¡± He Ying recognized Jiang Ke¡¯s philosophy. No wonder he had left such an impression on Sang Yan. Suddenly free of jealousy and envy, he even felt a sense of regret for the fallen talent, ¡°Ah Yan, let¡¯s remember him together.¡± Sang Yan was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief, ¡°He Ying, you?¡± She really hadn¡¯t expected He Ying to say such a thing. He Ying smiled gently, ¡°What about me?¡± Sang Yan smiled relievedly, ¡°You¡¯ve changed a lot. You used to be cold-blooded and domineering, now you are gentle and compassionate, full of humanity.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying: ¡°¡­¡± That doesn¡¯t sound like a compliment. Especially the first part. ¡°So I was cold-blooded and domineering in your eyes before¡ª¡± He deliberately put on a stern face, pretending to be hurt, actually trying to divert her attention. Sang Yan indeed got distracted, quickly explaining, ¡°I liked you being cold-blooded and domineering too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you were uniquely gentle towards me. You always favored me.¡± She was immersed in his favoritism. Later, Jiang Ke also favored her. What virtues did she possess to have such earnest and fervent love from two men? Just as she was reflecting on this, she heard He Ying say¡ª ¡°Ah Yan, shall we take him back?¡± Chapter 180: 180 Cold Wind Chapter 180: Chapter 180 Cold Wind ¡°No,¡± Sang Yan shook her head, ¡°Let the dead rest. We should not disturb him.¡± The scenery here was picturesque, nestled against mountains and rivers, a true paradise on earth. Yet¡­ it felt somewhat lonely. Jiang Ke was so young and naturally loved lively scenes. He surely wouldn¡¯t want to be here alone. Perhaps we should visit him more often. As she thought this¡ª ¡°Emperor, Hero Tan¡¯s coffin has been brought over.¡± Pei Muyang approached, followed by several soldiers who carried the coffin and held shovels. ¡°Do you want to bury Tan Yunjian here?¡± Sang Yan quickly understood what He Ying was planning to do. In her view, although Tan Yunjian was a knight of the worldly society, he had died saving He Ying and had thus performed a great service. He deserved a grand funeral back in He Country. He Ying gazed at the coffin, mourning, ¡°Tan Yunjian got seasick and never sailed. This time he sailed for Jiang Ke. Before boarding the island, he told me if he was unlucky enough to die, he wished to be buried with Jiang Ke. They were confidants, brothers; now they can keep each other company. He must be contented.¡± So that was it. Sang Yan was shocked. She hadn¡¯t expected Tan Yunjian and Jiang Ke to have such a deep bond. Even though their time together was marked by Jiang Ke¡¯s displeasure and rude words. It turned out that the affections of men were the same; not expressed in words but in deeds. ¡°Alright.¡± Since it was his dying wish, how could she not fulfill it? ¡°Dig.¡± Once He Ying saw her agreement, he ordered the soldiers to start. Obedient to the command, the soldiers began to wield their shovels vigorously. After digging the grave, they bowed in unison before the coffin and then placed it inside. As they began to fill the grave, He Ying took an active part. ¡°Emperor, your injury¡ª¡± Pei Muyang softly cautioned, not wanting He Ying to undertake such physical labor. Sang Yan, thinking of his wounds, shared the same thought and advised, ¡°Let them handle it. After it¡¯s covered, you can throw some soil.¡± He Ying did not insist, threw in a couple of scoops of dirt, then handed the shovel to one of the soldiers nearby. The soldiers resumed covering the grave. Pei Muyang then had people prepare paper money and paper ingots. He Ying, watching the slowly rising mound, drowned his sorrows in heavy drinking. Sang Yan, seeing this, wanted to urge him to drink less but then saw him pouring the wine over the cup and spilling it onto the front of the grave mound. The soldiers successively brought melons, fruits, chickens, and ducks as offerings. Sang Yan lit the paper money and worshipped both of them. He Ying poured several cups of wine, sprinkling it on the graves of the two men, murmuring, ¡°Jiang Ke, Tan Yunjian, life was brief; may we be brothers in the next life.¡± Tears fell from Sang Yan¡¯s eyes as she whispered, ¡°Jiang Ke, be my younger brother in your next life. I will choose a different identity and love you well.¡± Her voice was so low that it was carried away by the wind, and He Ying did not catch it. ¡°Chirp chirp¡ª¡± A beautiful colorful bird flew over, perching on a branch. Its black eyes rotated curiously, watching the people below, and then, fluttering its wings, it soared towards the azure sky. Hearing the bird, Sang Yan looked up, astonished, ¡°Xinyuan, look, that bird is so beautiful! Its feathers are colorful!¡± He Ying saw it too and agreed, ¡°Yes. Very beautiful.¡± ¡°The mountain¡¯s beauty delights the birds, the pond¡¯s reflection captivates the soul.¡± Standing up, she watched the bird fly away, smiling gently, ¡°He would have liked it here.¡± He Ying did not respond but walked over and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. The sunlight was intense. The wind began to pick up. ¡°Emperor, Lady, it¡¯s time to set out.¡± Pei Muyang reminded them softly. He had known Hero Tan for a time and was pained by his sudden death, but after reaching the point of farewell, they had to part ways. ¡°Alright. Ah Yan, let¡¯s go.¡± He Ying packed away the sadness in his eyes and reached for Sang Yan¡¯s hand. He was shocked by the coldness of her fingers as he touched her hand, ¡°Why are your hands so cold? Are you feeling cold?¡± While asking, he hurriedly took off his outer garment and draped it over her shoulders. This nameless little island was surrounded by the sea, and the sea breeze was particularly bitter. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t feel cold.¡± Sang Yan had barely finished her sentence when she couldn¡¯t help but sneeze, ¡°Achoo¡ª¡± ¡°Get on the boat quickly.¡± He Ying urged with a frown, fearing she might catch a cold. But whatever he feared seemed to manifest. Less than two hours after boarding the ship, Sang Yan began to run a fever. He Ying urgently summoned the accompanying Imperial Physician, Liang Xin, to come and examine her. ¡°No, no, Xinyuan, save me¡ª¡± Sang Yan lay in bed, her pretty face flushed red, her consciousness blurred by the fever. She felt as if she was sinking into darkness, no, perhaps into the dark seawater, reminiscent of when she and Jiang Ke had fallen into the sea, surrounded by dark, cold, and no help in sight. ¡°Xinyuan, Xinyuan¡ª¡± She perspired, furrowed her brows, and muttered in agony. Gradually, she faintly heard He Ying¡¯s anxious voice. ¡°How is the Empress?¡± ¡°Responding to the Emperor¡ª¡± After checking her pulse, Liang Xin, not wanting to delay, hurriedly bowed and responded, ¡°The Empress herself is naturally frail, and worried overly much recently; she was just exposed to the sea breeze, and the chill has led to her catching a cold. This humble official will now prepare medicine for the Empress.¡± ¡°Go quickly.¡± He Ying sat beside the bed, took a damp handkerchief, and gently wiped the sweat from Sang Yan¡¯s face. Then, he placed the handkerchief in a basin of water, soaked it, wrung it out, folded it, and placed it on her forehead. Liang Xin wrote a prescription beside them and opened the medicine chest, taking out herbs and handing them to Pei Muyang, instructing him how to cook the medicine. Turning back to see the Emperor¡¯s actions, he advised, ¡°Emperor, do not just apply cold compresses to her forehead; you can also use warm water to sponge the Empress to prevent the high fever from harming her body.¡± Upon hearing this, Pei Muyang immediately called a palace maid to attend. ¡°No need. I will do it myself. You go fetch some hot water.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang carried several bags of medicine out, then called for someone to bring hot water in. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a while, two palace maids came with a bucket of hot water. He Ying was about to lift the hot water, but as he stood up, he realized that Sang Yan was gripping his sleeve tightly. ¡°No, Xinyuan, don¡¯t go¡ª¡± The owner of the small hand seemed anxious about his departure. He Ying was pleased and yet heartbroken by her delicate dependence, ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± He held her hand, kissed it, and placed it back under the blanket. ¡°Xinyuan, Xinyuan¡ª¡± Sang Yan¡¯s eyes were tightly closed, her lips moved slightly, dried and cracked from the fever. Seeing this, He Ying let a palace maid bring over some tea, and he fed her a few spoonfuls to moisten her lips. ¡°Ah Yan, good girl, open your mouth, drink some water.¡± He Ying cooed softly, smoothing her furrowed brows with his hand from time to time. After struggling to feed her water, he said, ¡°Ah Yan, good girl, I am going to sponge you down now; you¡¯ll feel more comfortable.¡± It seemed as if she heard He Ying¡¯s comforting voice, and in her blurred consciousness, Sang Yan allowed him to remove her outer garment. He Ying moistened the handkerchief, then unbuttoned her inner garment, without a trace of desire, and sponged down her body. Then he wrapped her back up in the blanket. By nighttime, The previously feverish Sang Yan started to feel cold again, her lips trembling. He Ying could only hold her tightly in his arms, using his body heat to warm her. The joyful atmosphere of returning home on the entire ship fell into gloom again because of Sang Yan¡¯s high fever. Chapter 181: 181 Poison Injury Chapter 181: Chapter 181 Poison Injury The next day Early in the morning, Pei Muyang came to attend to the Emperor. When he saw He Ying¡¯s complexion, he was startled, ¡°Emperor, you look very unwell; this servant will immediately call for Imperial Doctor Liang to come and check your pulse.¡± He Ying¡¯s face was pale, his complexion haggard, hardly looking any better than Sang Yan, who was still unconscious in bed. ¡°No need.¡± He waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to make a fuss: ¡°I¡¯m just a bit tired.¡± In fact, the wound on his chest had begun to ache again. But what of it? His Ah Yan was still unconscious. In his eyes, her health was far more important than his own. She was his treasure. Having finally regained her after losing her, how could he sit idly by and watch her suffer from illness? He reached out to check her temperature; although she was still a bit feverish, it was much improved compared to yesterday. Sang Yan indeed remained unconscious. But she could hear the noises outside. Hearing that He Ying took care of her without resting, she was both moved and angry: Did he think he was made of iron? He didn¡¯t take care of himself at all! She needed to get better as soon as possible. Otherwise, knowing his temperament, he would likely keep caring for her until she was completely recovered before he would rest. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thanks to He Ying¡¯s careful caregiving, along with Sang Yan¡¯s own willpower, after three days of high fever, her illness had largely improved. Especially her headache, which was no longer as debilitating as before. When Sang Yan fully awoke, the first thing she saw was the figure pretending to sleep at the bedside. ¡°Xinyuan¡ª¡± She moved her lips and found her throat to be extremely dry and her voice hoarse, barely able to make a sound. Yet He Ying woke up immediately. ¡°Ah Yan!¡± He looked at his beloved joyously, laughing excitedly, ¡°You¡¯ve finally woken up! How do you feel? Is there any discomfort?¡± ¡°Water, water¡ª¡± Sang Yan struggled to sit up, feeling as if her body had been dismantled and reassembled, sore and stiff all over. A cold in this era was truly agonizing. Something that could have been easily cured with a few pills in the modern world had worn out both her and He Ying. He Ying quickly brought over a cup of warm water. He had not rested properly for three days, his eyes red with bloodshot, as he supported Sang Yan with his large hand, helping her drink. After drinking the water, Sang Yan¡¯s throat felt a little better. ¡°You really don¡¯t take care of your body.¡± Once she regained some strength, she feigned anger and glared at him: ¡°Look at the state you¡¯re in! You definitely have not rested properly these past days! Do you think you¡¯re made of iron?¡± He Ying gazed steadily into her eyes for a long while, then suddenly smiled, ¡°Having the energy to scold me, it appears you¡¯re better.¡± ¡°You, you¡ª¡± Sang Yan found herself at a loss with him. He Ying was still smiling, a very gentle smile, ¡°Would you like some more?¡± Sang Yan nodded, then drank up another cup of water entirely. ¡°More.¡± Her throat was too sore; she needed to drink more water to soothe it. After hearing this, He Ying let go of her to pour more water. However, after taking only two steps, he suddenly felt the room spin, averting a fall only by propping himself on the table. And this scene was caught squarely by Sang Yan. Startled, she called out without concern for her hoarse and painful throat, ¡°Someone, call the Imperial Physician!¡± In these days when Sang Yan was ill, Imperial Doctor Liang Xin had been waiting outside the room all the time. Now, hearing the commotion, he immediately pushed the door and entered, seeing the weakened He Ying, he quickly helped him lie down on the bed and then took his pulse. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Sang Yan knelt beside the bed, looking at He Ying¡¯s pale face with worry filling her brows and eyes. Pei Muyang witnessing the Emperor and Empress, who had promised each other life and death and shared such profound affection, sighed deep in his heart: one was finally well, and the other had succumbed. ¡°This official needs to check the Emperor¡¯s wound.¡± After taking the pulse, Imperial Doctor Liang¡¯s expression was somewhat grim. Seeing this, Sang Yan¡¯s heart sank. She reached out to undo He Ying¡¯s outer robe¡ª He Ying caught her hand, stopping her, ¡°You go out.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go.¡± Sang Yan knew by his actions that he didn¡¯t want her to worry. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking care of me around the clock, and now if I go out, am I such a heartless person?¡± She glared at him irritably, ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Nobody in the room dared to even breathe loudly. Only the Empress could be so fierce to the Emperor without him getting angry! ¡°You, don¡¯t dare shed a tear while looking.¡± He Ying gave a doting smile, his eyes also betraying a hint of helplessness. He let go of her hand, allowing her to undo his clothes. As soon as Sang Yan began to undo his attire, her expression changed: The white undergarment on his chest was wrapped in layer upon layer of gauze, but blood was still seeping through. It was clear his wound was getting worse. ¡°He Xinyuan!¡± Sang Yan really got angry, she reproached loudly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been changing your dressing these past few days? Are you treating your health as a joke?¡± He Ying smartly showed weakness, ¡°I really didn¡¯t notice when it started bleeding.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Didn¡¯t notice? Did he think she was a fool? ¡°You, you¡¯re trying to infuriate me to death!¡± She fiercely poked his forehead. But this wasn¡¯t the time to be mad at him. ¡°Quickly, have a look at the Emperor¡¯s wound.¡± She stepped aside for Liang Xin to attend to He Ying¡¯s injury. The pus and blood were closely adhered to the bandage. Separating them was a painstaking task. Liang Xin was extremely careful throughout the process, due to the sheer tension, he was sweating even more profusely than He Ying. By the time the wound was fully exposed. Sang Yan¡¯s eyes reddened with both self-blame and anger. Angry that he hadn¡¯t taken good care of himself. And blaming herself because if it weren¡¯t for her, he wouldn¡¯t be like this. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She looked at the deep festering hole, the inside a blur of flesh and blood, a sight that shocked and distressed onlookers. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± He Ying¡¯s face was pale, his breathing rough from pain, yet still he told a well-intended lie. Sang Yan¡¯s heart ached terribly, ¡°You idiot!¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡ª¡± Liang Xin cut off a piece of the necrotic flesh and sniffed it, saying with deep concern, ¡°This poison wound is worsening. My medical skills are limited; I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Poison wound! Sang Yan¡¯s shoulders shook as the reality hit her: How could she have forgotten about this! ¡°It¡¯s all my fault!¡± She smacked her head, full of self-reproach, ¡°I should have reminded you to ask Qi Wuya for an antidote at that time.¡± What a good opportunity that was! The peace-talk terms should have included an extra bottle of antidote! Yet she had forgotten about it! The truth was, He Ying had never thought about asking Qi Wuya for an antidote. Their war between men was not over yet, asking for an antidote from him would mean his defeat. He would never concede to him! Therefore, he nonchalantly remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself. Even if you had reminded me, I wouldn¡¯t have asked him for the antidote.¡± Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± The reason she forgot to remind him to ask for an antidote was because his visit to the palace had been so rushed. First, there wasn¡¯t enough time, and second, she didn¡¯t expect him to be so successful. Afterward, when the peace talks had succeeded, they were all immersed in the joy of safety, and she forgot! He Ying explained, ¡°Qi Wuya is sneaky and cunning. If I asked him for an antidote, he certainly wouldn¡¯t give it. Even if Qi Guanglie forced him to give one, who¡¯s to say it wouldn¡¯t be another poison?¡± Qi Wuya was never to be trusted. He would never put his hope of survival in the hands of an enemy. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Sang Yan knew there was sense in what He Ying was saying. But his injury¡­ She looked anxiously at Liang Xin, ¡°Imperial Physician Liang, is there really no other way?¡± Chapter 182: 182: Wound Debridement Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Wound Debridement Liang Xin sighed deeply. For He Country, the Emperor¡¯s illness was a matter of great concern. He didn¡¯t dare to delay, and immediately said, ¡°I am incapable, my lord. The poison inside the Emperor¡¯s body is sinister and vicious. With my ability, I can only temporarily remove the necrotic tissue from the Emperor¡¯s wounds. As for the poison¡­ either we find the perpetrator and obtain the antidote or¡­ we can only find one person who might be able to detoxify the Emperor.¡± Find one person? He Ying¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise, and he suddenly thought of someone: ¡°Are you talking about the Divine Doctor Hong Zhao from Quanzhou?¡± He had never met this person. But her reputation was not small, rumored to raise the dead and heal fractured bones, with medical skill that was miraculous and exquisite. Furthermore, there were rumors that Hong Zhao was a woman! ¡°Yes.¡± Liang Xin nodded, his eyes showing a trace of longing: ¡°Perhaps she has a way to detoxify the Emperor.¡± The reason he accompanied the Emperor to Quanzhou was precisely because he had heard of the Divine Doctor Hong Zhao there. As a medical enthusiast, meeting a fellow great practitioner was something he had long yearned for with great pleasure! Sang Yan, upon hearing this, paused to think for a moment, then turned to ask Pei Muyang: ¡°How much longer before we reach Quanzhou?¡± Pei Muyang replied seriously: ¡°Answering the Empress, it should be about ten more days before we arrive in Quanzhou.¡± ¡°Speed up!¡± Sang Yan ordered solemnly: ¡°The Emperor¡¯s worsening condition must not be leaked.¡± Indeed, the people on this ship were all from He Country, and almost all were soldiers, but for safety¡¯s sake, the fewer people knew about this, the better. ¡°Yes!¡± Pei Muyang took the order, rushing to give instructions. Liang Xin also went to prepare the materials needed for treating the wounds. Only Sang Yan and He Ying were left in the room. When Sang Yan was giving orders just now, He Ying only watched her with a smile, not interrupting. When they left, he teased with a smile, ¡°Ah Yan, you are becoming more and more like the Empress.¡± ¡°You still laugh!¡± Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help getting angry, but tears fell first. ¡°Why did you have to cover for me? It¡¯s my fault, I should have reminded you.¡± She somewhat guessed He Ying¡¯s thoughts¡ªhe was afraid others would think she wasn¡¯t fulfilling the Empress¡¯s responsibilities, so he intentionally took the blame for forgetting to seek the antidote upon himself. Hmph, did he think she couldn¡¯t hear it? He Ying chuckled at her question, pulling her into his arms and softly saying, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood; I didn¡¯t cover for you, and everything I said was true. Besides, even if you truly forgot to remind me, what of it? Ah Yan, I won¡¯t let anyone gossip about your faults.¡± These words, coming from anyone else, Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t have believed, but from He Ying¡¯s mouth, she believed without a doubt. ¡°Why are you so good to me? Xinyuan, you really are wonderful.¡± She was a woman with a husband-killing fate, but he never despised her. He Ying, hearing her question, was made to laugh by her. He looked at her tenderly, holding her hand, kissing the back of her hand, his eyes fiery, as if burning into her heart. Sang Yan felt as if her heart had been seared. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m good. Otherwise, why would heaven have sent you to me?¡± His tone was smug. As if he had received some rare treasure. Sang Yan could always feel his overflowing love. Such a man made her addicted, unable to extricate herself. ¡°Mhm. I¡¯m good too. That¡¯s why heaven sent you to me.¡± She mimicked his words and then leaned in to kiss his Adam¡¯s apple. She had longed to do so for quite a while. He Ying shuddered from her kiss, then a tingling sensation spread from his throat throughout his body. What kind of feeling was that? If he could describe it, it would probably be like electricity coursing through him. ¡°Don¡¯t¡ª¡± He dodged her kiss, his breath slightly heavy: ¡°Ah Yan, don¡¯t start a fire. I really can¡¯t take this from you right now.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t meant anything by it. ¡°It¡¯s your own thoughts that aren¡¯t clean.¡± She teased him with a chiding smile. He Ying nodded, admitting: ¡°You¡¯re right, my thoughts aren¡¯t clean. When you get close to me, it becomes hard for me to control myself.¡± He was in his prime, full of passion, and after being apart for so long, he couldn¡¯t get enough of her. If not for the fact that his body was injured and indulgences were not suitable, he would have done everything he wanted to do as soon as he boarded the ship. Before she went missing, they were supposed to have a grand wedding. ¡°Alright. Ah Yan, kiss me again.¡± He wanted to experience that soul-trembling feeling once more. He was a little addicted. He was both longing and a bit nervous. It was an uncharted territory for him, waiting for him to take her and explore. Seeing this, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Not afraid anymore?¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯m afraid, I still long for it.¡± His forehead pressed against hers, he murmured lowly, ¡°Ah Yan, you don¡¯t know how much I love you.¡± His tone wasn¡¯t like a confession, but rather heavy and helpless, ¡°The first time I saw you, I liked you, I knew it was destined.¡± Sang Yan thought what he said was incredibly mystifying. Does it mean that just because she¡¯s a time-traveling woman, she must fall in love with this Emperor upon arriving here? ¡°Kiss me again.¡± He was getting a bit clingy. Sang Yan teased him, ¡°If you don¡¯t take good care, cherish yourself, I won¡¯t kiss¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were dominated by his kiss. She forgot this man was a wolf, not a lamb. ¡°Cough cough¡ª¡± Liang Xin stood outside the door, looking at the two on the bed entwined in passion, and coughed twice to break their intimacy. Heaven, this was not the time to be doing that! ¡°Emperor, Lady¡ª¡± Liang Xin saw the two separate and quickly walked in, setting up the surgical tools while speaking in a casual tone, ¡°Lady, the Emperor currently has severe loss of vital essence and must focus on rest and tranquility.¡± In other words: You two should stay apart and restrain yourselves for a while! Sang Yan¡¯s face blushed instantly as she shot He Ying an annoyed glance. He Ying smiled and gently rubbed her lips, as if not yet satisfied, his gaze profound and carrying that teasing flame. Sang Yan dared not keep looking and hurriedly shifted her gaze to Liang Xin, who was busy at work. Liang Xin took a tray from the hands of a palace maid. The tray held a layer of white cloth. On the white cloth was an intimidating array of small knives, with various sizes that sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thinking of the pain He Ying was about to endure, her anger turned into heartache. ¡°Be gentle.¡± ¡°¡­Lady, I haven¡¯t started yet.¡± Liang Xin found the sight of the wound cleaning to be cruel and blood-soaked, and after a moment¡¯s thought, suggested, ¡°Lady, perhaps you should step aside.¡± He was afraid of frightening her and also didn¡¯t want her to interfere with him. After all, a little eunuch who had seen the wound cleaning before was so frightened that he went into shock. ¡°Right, just step outside, walk around or enjoy the seascape for a moment, it¡¯ll only take a quarter of an hour and I¡¯ll be done here.¡± He Ying also didn¡¯t want her present, unwilling to see her shed another tear. She had just awakened, her body hadn¡¯t recovered yet, she couldn¡¯t be upset. But Sang Yan¡¯s gaze was resolute, ¡°No. I want to stay with you.¡± She sat beside him, grasping his hand, ¡°It¡¯s going to hurt a lot later. If you can¡¯t bear it, just squeeze my hand.¡± He Ying saw her determined stance that no one could sway, and felt warmth in his heart, so he didn¡¯t refuse any longer. Instead, he held on to her hand, fingers interlaced with hers. ¡°Imperial Physician Liang, you may begin. If she wants to stay, let her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Liang Xin, seeing the Emperor gave the order, did not insist any further and began to clean the wound. Even though Sang Yan was mentally prepared, when Liang Xin actually started, it was still hard to accept. In this era, there was no anesthesia, and He Ying had to endure the pain of the wound cleaning raw. The gleaming knife plunged abruptly into his wound. The blood that flowed out was not red, but was tinged with black. Even the flesh carved out was discolored black. This poison was indeed domineering; the internal damage was worse than it appeared on the surface. He Ying¡¯s face lost all color, and cold sweat poured down like rain. He bit down on a handkerchief in agony. His grip on Sang Yan¡¯s hand involuntarily tightened. It was too painful. The pain was so intense that his fingers clenched and nearly broke Sang Yan¡¯s hand. Sang Yan held back the pain, fighting back tears, silent, bowing her head to kiss his Adam¡¯s apple¡­ Chapter 183: 183 Hong Zhao Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Hong Zhao He Ying¡¯s attention drifted and became utterly enchanted by her kiss, thus temporarily forgetting the pain of his flesh. Liang Xin took advantage of his absentmindedness to quickly treat the wound. As He Ying had said, it only took a quarter of an hour. ¡°Next, Lady must watch closely, and by no means allow the Emperor to move about carelessly.¡± Liang Xin wiped the sweat from his forehead, packed up his tools, and admonished, ¡°Especially, he must rest quietly. His vigour must not be allowed to surge about haphazardly.¡± Sang Yan could hear the insinuation in his words, blushed, and nodded, ¡°I understand.¡± After packing up his things, Liang Xin bowed, ¡°Then I shall not disturb the Emperor and Lady, I shall take my leave.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Sang Yan watched as Liang Xin left. The next moment, He Ying embraced her and pulled her over. It was a position with her draped across his chest. She was startled, ¡°What are you doing? Are you pressing on your wound?¡± He Ying shook his head, his face pale, smiling, ¡°It still hurts. Kiss again.¡± Was she considered his painkiller? Sang Yan was both annoyed and amused, ¡°Stop it. Didn¡¯t you hear what the Imperial Physician said?¡± He Ying was unconcerned, ¡°Just scare-mongering.¡± ¡°If you won¡¯t listen, I will. Behave.¡± She propped herself up and moved away from him. He was persistent, wrapping his arms around her from behind, whispering tenderly, ¡°It¡¯s so nice with you here.¡± Sang Yan turned to look at him, ¡°Let go. I¡¯m going to get you some water.¡± He shook his head and kissed her lips, ¡°The water is here.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, he played with her for quite a while. Daring not to rouse his vigour, she kissed him briefly before pushing him away and escaping from the room. He was taking advantage of his injury, ah, indeed grown arrogant because of it. They slept separately at night. And during the day, tried to minimize their alone time. Even if they were alone, they stayed on the open deck of the ship. Sang Yan had grown fond of watching the sea. Especially with the presence of her beloved, this peaceful and tranquil mood always brought a smile to her lips. Like now. They were nestled together on a soft couch, gazing out at the vast sea. A gentle sea breeze blew. Taking away the troubles between their hearts. Making them feel expansive and free. Only, Pei Muyang would often disrupt this tranquility, ¡°Emperor, Lady, the wind is strong at sea, better return to your room.¡± Each time Sang Yan heard this, she would urge He Ying back to the room. As for her? ¡°I have a thick cloak, not cold at all.¡± ¡°Neither am I cold.¡± He Ying, in a henpecked tone, simply wanted to stay by her side. At this time, Sang Yan could only compromise, helping him toward the room, ¡°Stop it. Your wound cannot be exposed to the wind.¡± He Ying leaned his head against her, then gave a fake cough. Sang Yan was startled and quickly touched his forehead, fearing he had a fever. Ever since the wound was treated, she was worried sick. If he had a fever, it indicated the wound was infected, which would be very serious. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a sore throat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have someone make you throat-soothing tea.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He Ying returned to the room and lay in bed. When Sang Yan brought the throat-soothing tea, he opened his mouth waiting to be fed. Sang Yan indulged him, ¡°Drink slowly. It¡¯s a bit hot.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He Ying smiled contentedly, sipping the sweet tea, feeling bubbles of happiness in his heart. Because of his poisoned injury, the ship increased its sailing speed. Originally, it would have taken ten days to reach Quanzhou, but they arrived in just eight. As soon as Pei Muyang disembarked, he sent someone to inform the Quanzhou Governor Gao Wenliang to come to receive the Emperor. Knowing that the Emperor had sailed in search of the Empress, Gao Wenliang had been awaiting news, and upon hearing it, he did not delay, taking his people to the dock immediately. The dock was bustling. Many people who lived near the sea spotted the numerous military ships from afar. Piecing together the Emperor¡¯s quest for the Empress at sea, they understood the Emperor had returned. They all gathered at the dock, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sovereign¡¯s visage. Seeing this, Gao Wenliang immediately organized people to disperse the crowd. Only after the crowd had thinned did he dare to go up to welcome the royal entourage. He Ying did not wish to reveal his true face before the people, so stayed in the cabin¡¯s room waiting for Gao Wenliang to disperse the crowd. Now, with fewer people, he took Sang Yan¡¯s hand and stepped out of the room. ¡°Quanzhou Governor Gao Wenliang pays his respects to the Emperor, Empress¡ª¡± He knelt and kowtowed. The soldiers behind him followed suit, all kneeling and kowtowing. The scene was indeed grand. After all, a king, no matter how low-profile, still commands an impressive spectacle. ¡°Rise.¡± He Ying lifted a hand, and seeing the carriage not far away, pulled Sang Yan toward it. Soldiers had already brought a footstool. He Ying assisted Sang Yan onto the carriage and then boarded it himself. The party set off for Quanzhou Prefecture. Gao Wenliang rode ahead on horseback to the mansion to check on security, food, and the rooms. After confirming everything was in order, he waited outside the mansion gate. The carriage slowly arrived. He ran forward, greeting with a respectful smile, ¡°Emperor, Empress, it¡¯s been a hard journey, please enter and rest.¡± This time, He Ying was the first to descend from the carriage. After dismounting, he helped Sang Yan down. Witnessing the scene, Gao Wenliang silently marveled at the Emperor¡¯s tenderness and consideration. In front of the Empress, he showed not a trace of imperial authority. He must be deeply in love. No wonder he personally led a search across the sea. ¡°Let¡¯s not be wasteful; keep it simple.¡± Sang Yan, observing the bustle in the State Mansion, reminded everyone. Gao Wenliang immediately responded, ¡°Yes. This servant understands.¡± He led the way to the best guest room in the mansion for the Emperor and Empress. In the guest room Maids had already brought in steaming, abundant food. As they entered, hot water for washing hands and faces was also served. Both Sang Yan and He Ying washed their hands. Looking at the spread of food, neither had an appetite. He Ying felt unwell, and his appetite was small. Sang Yan was preoccupied with concerns and also had no desire to eat. She coaxed He Ying into eating some food and managed a few bites herself before speaking to Gao Wenliang, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, and I¡¯ve heard of a Divine Doctor in Quanzhou, called Hong Zhao. Go and find him. Also, issue a notice seeking renowned physicians skilled in detoxification.¡± Hearing the first part, Gao Wenliang glanced at Sang Yan¡¯s belly, assuming she was pregnant. As for whose child it might be? He thought too much and doubted it was the Emperor¡¯s. After all, the Empress had been missing for so long, and being a delicate and pretty woman, her innocence was surely hard to keep. Alas, the Emperor was deeply affectionate, treasuring a woman who had lost her purity as if she were a precious gem. The latter part made him think of the Emperor¡¯s poisoning, guessing that the Emperor¡¯s injury was not yet healed. Thinking of the Emperor, he looked towards him, awaiting his directive. He Ying nodded, ¡°Do as the Empress instructed. In the future, whatever the Empress asks of you, just do it.¡± Hearing this, Gao Wenliang¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he fought to maintain his composure, ¡°Yes.¡± Being sharp-minded, he instantly recognized that this Empress, despite her fragile appearance, wielded real power. He must be careful to serve her well in the future. With that thought, he bowed and excused himself, then arranged for notices to be written seeking physicians skilled in detoxification. Additionally, he organized a large search for the whereabouts of the Divine Doctor Hong Zhao. He was an efficient leader and his subordinates were highly effective. Soon Notices were posted all over Quanzhou¡¯s streets and alleys. The townspeople crowded around to read. Someone read aloud, ¡°A generous reward for a physician skilled in detoxification. Who could be poisoned?¡± With the arrival of distinguished guests in Quanzhou today, the State Officials had issued this notice. The people, having their wits about them, speculated in their hearts. Including Hong Zhao. She hid in the crowd, seated in a wooden wheelchair, dressed in plain white, her jet-black hair cascading down, fragile and pitiable in appearance. Yet, listening to the townsfolk¡¯s discussions and glancing at the notice on the wall, her dark pupils gradually became cold and profound. ¡°Lady, the moment you returned, the search began,¡± remarked Qing Wu, the accompanying maid, who gazed at the notice and lowered her eyes, speaking softly, ¡°Mr. Jiu¡¯s news was indeed timely.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Hong Zhao¡¯s pale face broke into a faint smile, her delicate fingers stroking the Snow Monkey lying on her lap. The Snow Monkey was covered in snow-like fur, the size of a small child. Pleasured by her strokes, it made chirping sounds and rubbed its head against her palm. ¡°His thoughts have always been meticulous,¡± Hong Zhao said with a smile, tickling the Snow Monkey¡¯s chin. ¡°Of course, otherwise, how could the Snow Monkey he sent be so adept at winning the lady¡¯s favor?¡± Qing Wu said, looking at the Snow Monkey on her legs. The Snow Monkey, referred to as Ah Jiu, kept chirping incessantly, as if in agreement. Qing Wu glanced towards the State Mansion and couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°I wonder what kind of exceptional beauty the Empress is, to make¡ª¡± Her words were cut off by Hong Zhao¡¯s severe coughing. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± Hong Zhao¡¯s face turned bright red, as if she would cough out her internal organs. Frightened, Qing Wu quickly took out a medicine bottle and handed it to her. ¡°This servant misspoke. My lady mustn¡¯t be upset.¡± ¡°Take it away,¡± Hong Zhao said with furrowed brows, pushing the bottle away, her voice soft but cold. Qing Wu¡¯s complexion also turned pale, ¡°My lady¡ª¡± Hong Zhao spoke impatiently, ¡°Take it away, cough, cannot you understand? Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± Sadly, her severe coughing reduced any hint of intimidation. Instead, it elicited pity. Knowing her temperament, Qing Wu put the bottle away. After a long bout of coughing, Hong Zhao pointed to the notice, ¡°Take that down.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qing Wu peeled off the notice and respectfully handed it to her. Hong Zhao took it, then glanced at her, ¡°Once we¡¯re in the State Mansion, if you speak out of turn¡ª¡± The look in her eyes carried a chilling fear. Qing Wu, shivering, responded quickly, ¡°Rest assured, my lady. This servant dares not err again.¡± Chapter 184: 184 Interrogation Chapter 184: Chapter 184 Interrogation He Ying had stayed in the Quanzhou Prefecture for half a month before. Now that he was back, he stayed in the same room as before. Gao Wenliang only had the room carefully cleaned, thinking that the Emperor and Empress had a deep affection for one another, and did not arrange another room. It was Liang Xin who reminded him, ¡°The Emperor is in his prime, and having Her Ladyship by his side is not conducive to recovery.¡± Gao Wenliang understood and immediately arranged for a new room to be prepared. But little did he know, He Ying was happy that they would be sharing a room. He even thought Gao Wenliang was competent at handling affairs. He had been suffering from the separation from Sang Yan for ten days. ¡°It¡¯s quite late, let¡¯s just make do here for tonight.¡± He saw Sang Yan frowning, not very happy, and added, ¡°I won¡¯t do anything rash.¡± Indeed, he would not actually do anything rash, but kissing and embracing were certainly not to be missed. He had been longing for it for a long time. But just then, Gao Wenliang came in with people, ¡°Empress, your room has been prepared. Please have a look and let me know if there is anything missing. I will immediately arrange for it to be delivered.¡± He thought he had done the right thing and was looking to gain favor, smiling as brightly as a flower on his face. ¡°Heh, Gao Wenliang, you really put my mind at ease with your work!¡± He Ying felt his enthusiasm instantly doused by a chilling splash. Sure enough, as soon as Sang Yan heard about the room, she smiled, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll go now.¡± She had been struggling with whether or not to share a room with He Ying, but now, there was no struggle at all. She left so quickly! He Ying watched her, his heart aching, ¡°Ah Yan¡ª¡± Sang Yan turned and left the room, disappearing from view. He Ying, irritated, threw a teacup at Gao Wenliang, ¡°Look at the great job you¡¯ve done!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± The teacup hit the ground and instantly shattered into pieces. Gao Wenliang paled with fear and quickly knelt down, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s pardon. The Emperor¡¯s pardon.¡± Actually, he still didn¡¯t understand what he did wrong. Perhaps it was about finding the Divine Doctor? He Ying couldn¡¯t very well make a fuss about a room, so he seized on the matter of the Divine Doctor to express his anger, ¡°Has the Divine Doctor been found? You don¡¯t go looking for the Divine Doctor, but you have the spare time to worry about room affairs instead!¡± And ruined his chance! Absolutely unforgivable! Gao Wenliang, wiping cold sweat, said, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s pardon. I will definitely assign more people and find the Divine Doctor as soon as possible.¡± He Ying was still not appeased and yelled, ¡°Not leaving yet? Get out, get out, get out, don¡¯t block my sight here!¡± ¡°Yes. This servant takes his leave.¡± Gao Wenliang retreated tremblingly. He stepped out of the room and looked up at the moon, his face paler than the moonlight. Ah, to serve the Emperor is like accompanying a tiger! Sang Yan slept in the neighboring room. A night without dreams. The next day She got up very early to take care of He Ying personally. Upon entering the room, she opened the windows to ventilate it. Quanzhou was very large, but the Prefecture was rather small. Gao Wenliang was barely considered an honest official¡ªat least he appeared to be¡ªwith the Prefecture buildings and furnishings being quite ordinary. Only because He Ying had come did they make an effort to put things in order, but it was less than half as good as the Imperial Palace. Thinking that they would be staying here for detoxification and healing for a while, Sang Yan was a bit worried that he might not be accustomed to it. She took another pillow and placed it behind He Ying, trying to make him more comfortable. ¡°Do you have anything you¡¯d like to eat or use? I¡¯ll have someone prepare it.¡± ¡°No need. How about you? Did you sleep well last night?¡± He Ying, supported by pillows in bed, watched her bustle about, feeling both distressed and moved, ¡°Enough. You should rest. Let the servants handle these things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the same to me.¡± Sang Yan wrung the water from a handkerchief and gently wiped his face. These past days, He Ying had suffered from pain due to his injury, causing his temperament to become uncontrollably irritable. Several palace maids had been frightened to tears by him. She understood He Ying as well as those maids, so she took on everything herself. And to take care of him, she was very pleased. ¡°Come, have a glass of water to start the day, it¡¯s good for hydration.¡± After helping him wash up, Sang Yan brought him a cup of warm water. He Ying had been starting his days like this, and he was used to it, so without a word, he just drank it down. Palace maids brought in breakfast. Sang Yan helped him to a chair and reached for chopsticks to begin testing and serving the dishes. He Ying, seeing this, quickly stopped her, ¡°No, let Pei Muyang do it.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to have her test the food. If there was any danger, he could not afford the consequences. Pei Muyang was in attendance and immediately picked up the conversation, ¡°Lady, please give this servant some purpose. If you continue this way, this servant will have no reason to exist.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had thought that Sang Yan¡¯s care for the Emperor would only be displayed on the boat, husband and wife in adversity, being closer without minding status; but now that they had moved into the Prefecture, she continued to show wifely consideration, not relying on others for food or attire, seemingly forgetting she was an Empress. Sang Yan, hearing Pei Muyang say this, put down the chopsticks as well. She waited for Pei Muyang to taste each dish before picking up the chopsticks again. The two quietly finished their breakfast. Sang Yan helped him out for a walk to aid digestion. As noon approached, Gao Wenliang rushed in, breathless: ¡°Emperor, Empress, good news!¡± His voice preceded his arrival. Sang Yan heard and her heart leapt with joy, she hurried out to greet him: ¡°Mr. Gao, have you found the whereabouts of Divine Doctor Hong Zhao?¡± Gao Wenliang¡¯s eyes brimmed with smiles as he bowed and said: ¡°Yes. I just received a message that the Divine Doctor has torn down the posting and is coming here in person.¡± How coincidental? A flicker of doubt crossed Sang Yan¡¯s mind, but it was overwhelmed by excitement: With Divine Doctor Hong Zhao present, there was hope for an antidote to the poison within He Ying. By this time, He Ying had also come out. He saw the smile in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes and couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of his lips: ¡°Good. Bring the person over.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gao Wenliang received the order and hurried off once more. Sang Yan approached He Ying and took his hand: ¡°I just knew you¡¯d be fine.¡± She had been fraught with worry all along, and now, at last, she saw hope. After everything, this was truly the best news. ¡°You need to cooperate with the Divine Doctor and receive treatment properly, no temper tantrums, okay?¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± He Ying pinched the palm of her hand, laughing: ¡°I¡¯m not a child, I know what¡¯s important. You keep going on about it, my ears are about to develop calluses.¡± Though he said that, his mood was very joyous; his mouth was grinning widely. Her deep concern for him was proof enough of the weight he held in her heart. He had never before imagined that one day he would be longing for a place in a woman¡¯s heart. Sang Yan was unaware of his thoughts, she smiled sweetly, holding his mischievous hand, savoring this tender warmth. It wasn¡¯t long before. Gao Wenliang brought the person over. Both were surprised to see the woman in the wheelchair. There were many rumors about Divine Doctor Hong Zhao. Aside from her miraculous medical skills, there was much talk of her character. Rumors claimed she was good-looking and of a cold disposition. But unexpectedly, while good-looking turned out to be true, the cold disposition did not seem to apply. The woman sat in the wheelchair, dressed in plain, long robes, with eyes as deep as autumn waters, a small face, a pointed chin, a delicate and gentle temperament, and her crimson lips curved in a smile that made one irresistibly drawn to her. However, her complexion was alarmingly pale. The gown hung loosely on her, making her thin figure apparent. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to compare her to a supple willow bending in the breeze. In modern terms, she was the very image of Lin Daiyu. ¡°Emperor, Empress, greetings¡ª¡± Hong Zhao spoke softly to pay respects, then coughed violently a few times. As if she might cough her last at any second. Sang Yan put away her scrutinizing gaze and quickly poured her a cup of water, personally handing it to her: ¡°Please, no need for formalities.¡± This task was not something she ought to do. But He Ying¡¯s recovery relied on this Divine Doctor. She had read plenty of novels, where characters titled ¡°Divine Doctor¡± carried a hint of arrogance. She needed to show sincerity and respect. Besides, the Divine Doctor had a vulnerable and gentle demeanor that was quite endearing, and it earned her favor. ¡°Thank you, Empress.¡± Hong Zhao looked up at Sang Yan, her voice low with gratitude. She took the tea cup, sipped it, and quietly masked a hint of contempt in her eyes. She had heard that she might encounter an incomparably gorgeous woman. But that was all there was to it. He Ying was also inspecting Hong Zhao, and once she finished her drink, he asked: ¡°Are you Hong Zhao?¡± Hong Zhao nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You posted the notice?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°It seems you are very confident in your medical skill.¡± ¡°The Emperor can rest easy. I will do my utmost to cure the Emperor of poison.¡± ¡°How do you know I have been poisoned?¡± He looked to Gao Wenliang, suspecting he had informed her. Gao Wenliang quickly knelt down: ¡°Forgive me, Emperor. I did not inform her, nor did I disclose Your Majesty¡¯s identity.¡± The Emperor had survived an assassination attempt in Quanzhou; Gao wouldn¡¯t have the courage to let information about the Emperor¡¯s poisoning leak, not for all the money in the world. He Ying, believing Gao Wenliang¡¯s words, raised his eyebrows and looked at Hong Zhao again: ¡°How did you know the person you were to meet was me? And that I had been poisoned?¡± He was interrogating her. He didn¡¯t trust her. Hong Zhao knew she should have waited for them to search for her desperately. That way, their guard would have been much lower. But she disliked waiting. ¡°Emperor ascending to Quanzhou is known by every citizen there. Naturally, I am aware too. And when you appeared, the State Official issued the notice; the implication is unmistakable. As to why it was not the Empress who was poisoned, but Your Majesty? Emperor, I am a doctor; judging from your pallor, I have my ways of knowing.¡± Her answer was leak-proof. Chapter 185: 185 Hope Chapter 185: Chapter 185 Hope Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The room was as silent as death. He Ying had not spoken for a long time, just staring intently at the pale, frail woman in front of him. A Divine Doctor who couldn¡¯t even cure her own illness, and an uninvited female healer at that, was hard to completely trust no matter how one looked at her. After a long while, Hong Zhao covered her mouth with a cough, then looked at Sang Yan: ¡°Since the Emperor and Empress don¡¯t trust this common girl, I shall take my leave.¡± She said this and then called out towards the door, ¡°Qing Wu, push me out.¡± Her voice fell. A maidservant clad in green, dressed as a maid, entered from outside. She was also holding a small snow-white monkey in her arms. As soon as the little monkey saw Hong Zhao, it eagerly jumped onto her, curling up obediently in her arms. ¡°Wait!¡± Sang Yan was a bit anxious. Having been influenced by what He Ying said, she too had doubts about Hong Zhao¡¯s intentions, but skepticism aside, they couldn¡¯t just let her leave. As long as there was hope for a cure, they couldn¡¯t let the opportunity slip away. ¡°This snow monkey is really cute.¡± She casually picked a lighthearted topic. Hong Zhao¡¯s eyes showed confusion. ¡°Does the Empress need something else?¡± Sang Yan pursed her lips and took a compromise approach: ¡°I see you¡¯re unwell, why don¡¯t you rest here for a couple of days?¡± She knew that He Ying would send someone to verify Hong Zhao¡¯s identity and her credibility. And what she needed to do was be hospitably attentive, to not offend the visitor too much. He Ying had been a bit too forceful in his approach just now. Hong Zhao understood Sang Yan¡¯s thoughts, and cooperatively, her lips curled up in a smile: ¡°That would be great, thank you, Empress.¡± Her sudden arrival naturally put them on guard. In fact, even if they had painstakingly sought her out, with the Emperor¡¯s caution, he would probably still be wary. So, what she needed to do was never about dispelling their suspicions or gaining their trust, but to make sure there was nothing questionable about her medicine. A doctor capable of taking a life without leaving the slightest trace. Qing Wu also glanced at Sang Yan. Without saying anything, she bowed and then proceeded to push Hong Zhao out of the room. They had barely left, When He Ying summoned Pei Muyang in. The couple had a tacit understanding, Sang Yan already knew what He Ying was thinking. ¡°Immediately send someone to check out this woman¡¯s background.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Pei Muyang took the order and left. Sang Yan sat beside He Ying, her face showing distress: ¡°You¡¯re not upset with me for making the decision to keep her here?¡± He Ying responded with a tender smile: ¡°Why would I blame you when you¡¯re doing it for me?¡± She was considering his health. Besides, even if she hadn¡¯t spoken up, he wouldn¡¯t have let that woman leave so easily. If she truly harbored ill intentions, letting her go would be like releasing a tiger back into the wild? * Pei Muyang returned the following night to report back. He had been in a hurry throughout the journey. For the sake of security, he had not allowed anyone else to get involved and had handled the investigation himself. ¡°Your Majesty, this servant has an important matter to report.¡± At that time, Sang Yan was combing He Ying¡¯s hair, a rare moment of peace shattered. He Ying frowned slightly, visibly displeased. Sang Yan gave him a helpless look and let Pei Muyang come in. ¡°How did the investigation go?¡± He Ying¡¯s tone was very cold. Pei Muyang glanced at He Ying, seeing his stern expression and not understanding what might have upset the Emperor. Could it be that he had done something to displease the Emperor? With that thought, his expression tensed: ¡°Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Just speak. Don¡¯t mind him.¡± Sang Yan, stifling a laugh, signaled for Pei Muyang to pay no heed. At that moment, Pei Muyang understood: could it be that the Emperor and Empress had a small tiff? That was not his concern then. He relaxed a bit and spoke in a lowered voice: ¡°Your servant personally checked the Divine Doctor Hong Zhao¡¯s background. She is from Quanzhou, born into the He Family who are renowned for their medical skill, with her parents and brothers all present and well-known doctors themselves. Due to her poor health, she lives in reclusion on Cangcui Mountain. When her health permits, she goes out to be a traveling physician. She has returned to Quanzhou just these past few days.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard!¡± Sang Yan, unable to contain her delight, comforted Pei Muyang with a few words. He Ying¡¯s brows also relaxed somewhat, though his emotions were not as outwardly displayed as Sang Yan¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m going to see the Divine Doctor. You were rather dismissive of her earlier, probably upsetting her.¡± Sang Yan said with a smile on her face as she left the room. Once she was gone, He Ying¡¯s imposing manner returned as he turned to Pei Muyang and said, ¡°I¡¯ve just remembered that Doctor Liu is also from Quanzhou. After leaving the palace, he should have returned there. Go find him quickly.¡± Doctor Liu was an elderly physician in the palace. After growing old, He Ying had allowed him to leave the palace to enjoy his remaining years. His medical skill was also profound; many of the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital had once been his disciples. ¡°Yes.¡± After affirming, Pei Muyang speculated, ¡°Emperor, do you not trust that Divine Doctor¡¯s medical skills?¡± He Ying stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, with his golden robe fluttering in the wind, his loose hair billowing likewise. For a moment, he appeared as if he could ascend to immortality. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss her medical skills for now. A frail and sickly woman, accompanied by a maid equally lacking strength, managing to be an itinerant doctor without harm¡ªPei Muyang, do you find that normal?¡± He Ying¡¯s tone revealed neither happiness nor anger. Upon careful consideration, Pei Muyang felt a chill throughout his body. Indeed, he had been neglectful! ¡°Then should I immediately capture her and interrogate her severely¡ª¡± This woman turned out to be cunning! And she had almost fooled even him! ¡°No need!¡± He Ying raised his hand to stop him, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m overthinking. If she truly is Hong Zhao, she must be remarkable in more ways than just her medical skills. If she can really cure the poison, just have someone watch her prescribe and prepare the medicine.¡± Primarily, Sang Yan was too worried about his poisoning; he didn¡¯t want her to be troubled indefinitely. Thinking of her hopeful expression, he did not wish to let her down. Let¡¯s give it a try. That woman shouldn¡¯t be able to cause trouble right under his eyes. ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± Pei Muyang dared not question He Ying¡¯s command. He Ying added a reminder, ¡°Remember, the search for Doctor Liu must be conducted in secret, let no one find out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And keep it from the Empress.¡± If Sang Yan found out, she would surely be anxious. ¡°Yes. I understand it all.¡± Pei Muyang knew what He Ying was concerned about. When he left, he did not show any hint of irregularity, but he quietly went to find Doctor Liu. At the same time, Sang Yan was still in Hong Zhao¡¯s room. Hong Zhao had been staying in the State Mansion for two days. Unlike the typical physician, her room was filled with the fragrance of incense, not permeated by the odor of medicine. She enjoyed soaking in baths and burning incense. After her bath, wrapped in a pale aqua silk gown, Hong Zhao reclined on a soft couch in a fragile and alluring manner. ¡°Empress, the poison you mentioned, I had encountered during my travels. This poison, called ¡®Cicada Heart¡¯, first appeared in Beiqi.¡± Sang Yan had already described He Ying¡¯s symptoms of poisoning to her. At the mention of the name ¡°Beiqi,¡± a bright light sparkled in her eyes: She truly was formidable! She seemed to have the potential to detoxify him! Just by hearing the symptoms, she knew the origin of He Ying¡¯s poison! ¡°Divine Doctor, can you treat him?¡± Sang Yan asked eagerly. Hong Zhao smiled gently, coughing behind her handkerchief twice, her face paling as she nodded, ¡°Though the treatment process is complex, it is still, cough, possible to heal.¡± She coughed violently. Almost every sentence was interrupted by several coughs. Her face, originally flushed red from the soaking and steam, was now as pale as a paper effigy. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help but worry, ¡°Are you, are you alright? Your illness¡ª¡± It seemed similar to Miss Lin¡¯s condition? ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Just innate deficiency.¡± Hong Zhao did not wish to discuss her own illness and quickly changed the topic, ¡°Tomorrow, cough, tomorrow, I will take the Emperor¡¯s pulse and prescribe accordingly. His treatment will begin as soon as the medicine is prepared per the prescription.¡± ¡°Alright. Best you rest well; I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Sang Yan stood up. Seeing her in such a state, she felt uncomfortable lingering any longer. People are already like this; how could she still demand their effort to entertain her? Alas, there¡¯s truth in the saying ¡®physicians can¡¯t heal themselves.¡¯ Lost in thought, Sang Yan left the room and instructed the servants of the State Mansion to take good care of Hong Zhao. After Sang Yan left, Qing Wu entered from outside. ¡°Miss, she seems quite happy. She must believe it, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Chapter 186: 186: Antidote Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Antidote Hong Zhao gave her a faint glance upon hearing the words. That glance was indifferent and cold, carrying a warning and displeasure. Qing Wu, frightened, covered her mouth, ¡°Lady, please calm your anger. Your servant has spoken out of turn.¡± Hong Zhao retracted her gaze, took a sip of hot tea, and her complexion finally regained some rosiness. ¡°She believed it, but the person behind her surely didn¡¯t.¡± She thought of the Emperor, a man not easily dealt with. Even though they had only met once. She could still feel the oppression and danger emanating from him. No wonder Mr. Jiu suffered a loss at his hands. Thinking of Mr. Jiu, a hint of malevolence flashed through Hong Zhao¡¯s dark, chilling eyes, If they made Mr. Jiu unhappy, then it would be her role to punish them. Qing Wu, unaware of Hong Zhao¡¯s thoughts, frowned and said, ¡°If the Emperor doesn¡¯t believe us, what shall we do?¡± There wasn¡¯t a trace of worry on Hong Zhao¡¯s tender face. She stepped off the couch, walked barefoot to the table, picked up a brush, and wrote down a prescription. Qing Wu picked up her shoes and placed them at her feet, ¡°Lady, please put them on quickly. You mustn¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Hong Zhao lifted her delicate white feet, put on her shoes, and handed over the prescription. Qing Wu, who had been full of worry, now turned her concern into joy upon seeing the prescription. She knew the Lady was the smartest and most clever. The prescription contained ingredients that would surely go unnoticed by the mediocre doctors within Quanzhou City. ¡°Lucky for us that Mr. Jiu used the Cicada Heart, a poison researched and developed by the Lady herself. Had it been something else, it might have taken more time.¡± She flattered her and, at the end, added cleverly, ¡°Mr. Jiu will surely come to visit the Lady when he finds the time if he knows how much you¡¯ve helped him.¡± Visit her? Hong Zhao gave a slight smile, her ice-cold fingers caressing a Snow Monkey that had climbed onto the table without notice. What need did her broken body have for his trouble? It¡¯s rare in this world to find a true confidant, and being able to help him was already her honor. * The next morning Sang Yan personally came over to request Hong Zhao¡¯s assistance in treating He Ying¡¯s poisoning and injuries. Hong Zhao was dressed in much the same way as the day before, in a simple white gown, her black hair cascading down her back, frail and pitiable as she sat in a wheelchair. Her complexion, though, was a few shades paler than the previous day. Sang Yan gave her a look and asked gently, ¡°Divine Doctor, are you getting accustomed to staying here? If there¡¯s anything lacking, be sure to say so.¡± She was approachable and gentle, without an ounce of the Empress¡¯s airs. Perhaps to other He Country people, this was seen as kindness, love for the people as her children, and respect for the virtuous. But in Hong Zhao¡¯s eyes? Nothing but a foolish woman who neglected her own status and position for the sake of a man. Qi Wuya was excellent in countless ways, except for his taste in women, to have taken a fancy to this kind of woman. ¡°Divine Doctor?¡± Sang Yan saw that Hong Zhao wasn¡¯t speaking and worried that she might be feeling unwell. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, we can postpone it a bit, and you can see the Emperor in the afternoon instead.¡± After all, she was already here; a short delay wouldn¡¯t matter. Mainly because Hong Zhao looked so fragile and pale, as if she might faint at any second. She had read ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber¡± in her modern life and loved Lin sister the most, treating Hong Zhao with the same affection unconsciously. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Cough, cough, cough¡ª¡± Hong Zhao covered her mouth with a handkerchief, gasping for a moment before whispering, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s well-being is paramount, cough, cough, my lowly body is of no consequence.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She was at a loss for words. If she weren¡¯t the Empress, she might have been able to convincingly talk about the equality of all beings. But now, as He Country¡¯s Empress, saying that would seem rather hypocritical. ¡°Then the Divine Doctor will be troubled.¡± Sang Yan offered a grateful smile and led Hong Zhao to He Ying¡¯s quarters. Hong Zhao sat in the wheelchair, following behind her. Her Snow Monkey was very lively on her legs, frequently peeking out at Sang Yan and sometimes trying to grab her dress¡¯s hem when Sang Yan lagged a step behind waiting for Hong Zhao. ¡°Ah Jiu, stop it.¡± Hong Zhao scolded gently upon seeing this. The Snow Monkey squeaked twice and then settled down in her arms, motionless. ¡°It¡¯s called Ah Jiu?¡± Upon hearing this name, Sang Yan¡¯s hair stood on end, and a flicker of panic crossed her bright, watery eyes. This was bad. She now had a conditioned reflex to the sound of ¡°jiu.¡± All thanks to Qi Wuya, who had once gone by the name Qi Jiu and left a deep shadow in her heart. ¡°Yes.¡± Hong Zhao tenderly stroked the Snow Monkey¡¯s head. The monkey was incredibly docile, swaying its tiny head and even nuzzling her hand occasionally. Though it was a monkey, it acted more like a cat. Sang Yan was very interested in it and asked, ¡°This Snow Monkey seems to be very human-like, it must be hard to find, right? How did you find it? How long have you raised it, for it to be so attached to you?¡± She had never seen a monkey that was completely white, it was too rare. ¡°Cough cough¡ª¡± Hong Zhao coughed twice before slowly saying, ¡°It was indeed hard to find. I¡¯ve raised it for two or three years. It was a gift from a dear friend during my time as a traveling physician.¡± As Sang Yan listened, she felt there was a story behind it. Just as she was about to ask more, she looked up and realized they had already arrived at He Ying¡¯s room. ¡°Please¡ª¡± Sang Yan opened the door and invited her in. According to etiquette, Hong Zhao should have performed a courtesy bow and inquired after one¡¯s health, but Sang Yan dispensed with the formality. ¡°Come over here and look at his wound and take his pulse first.¡± Sang Yan pulled back He Ying¡¯s clothes, unwrapping layer by layer the bandages soaked with pus and blood. Hong Zhao examined carefully, thinking to herself: With a poisonous wound at this stage, he remains calm and collected, the Emperor actually seems unafraid of death. ¡°You should take a look quickly, because of the poison, the wound has become like this.¡± As Sang Yan said this, her eyes reddened. She felt unbearable heartache every time she saw the wound. Seeing this, Hong Zhao offered empty comfort, ¡°Lady need not worry, the poison is ruthless, but it doesn¡¯t immediately claim a person¡¯s life, there¡¯s still time. Now, I will take the Emperor¡¯s pulse.¡± Upon hearing this, Sang Yan immediately handed over He Ying¡¯s hand, anxiously watching by the side. She was even more nervous than He Ying himself. He Ying felt both fortunate and distressed, and touched her face, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. The Divine Doctor has said there¡¯s still time.¡± As he spoke, he looked towards Hong Zhao, his expression cool, ¡°Thank you for your trouble, Divine Doctor.¡± Although he said ¡°thank you for your trouble,¡± his face did not show much respect. It even seemed slightly disdainful. A trace of displeasure rose in Hong Zhao¡¯s heart: Such a haughty man, how could he compare to Mr. Jiu? If he were to become the Lord of the World, no, how could he be worthy of that title? While thinking this, Hong Zhao¡¯s slender white and cool fingers rested on He Ying¡¯s wrist pulse. Sang Yan held her breath, as if a loud breath might affect Hong Zhao¡¯s pulse diagnosis. She widened her eyes, nervously watching Hong Zhao, trying to guess He Ying¡¯s condition from her micro-expressions. But Hong Zhao¡¯s face remained calm and indifferent, showing no emotion, which gave Sang Yan no clue about the pulse condition. Time silently passed by. After a while, Hong Zhao finally withdrew her hand. ¡°How is it?¡± Sang Yan nervously swallowed, her palms sweating. With a light smile, Hong Zhao responded, ¡°Lady need not be anxious, the Emperor¡¯s pulse is weak and floating, there¡¯s internal qi and blood stagnation, but it hasn¡¯t reached the vital organs yet. Once I have written the prescription, and the medicine is decocted and administered to the Emperor daily, the poison will be cured after half a month.¡± With those words, Sang Yan¡¯s face lit up with surprise, ¡°Really?¡± Hong Zhao nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Thank you! Thank you so much, Divine Doctor!¡± Sang Yan was so moved, her nose tingled, and she broke into tears of joy. These days, she had truly been praying every day for He Ying¡¯s safety, and now, it seemed her wishes were about to come true. It was wonderful! His poison could finally be cured! ¡°We mustn¡¯t delay, cough cough cough cough¡ª¡± Hong Zhao coughed violently for a moment, and faint fresh blood stained her white handkerchief, which she clenched tightly to hide. ¡°Lady, I will go write the prescription now, and then have someone boil the medicine and send it over.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Sang Yan, immersed in joy, didn¡¯t notice Hong Zhao¡¯s unusual state. She personally escorted Hong Zhao and her servant out. Then, with light and cheerful steps, she returned to He Ying¡¯s embrace firmly around his waist. ¡°Xinyuan, did you hear that? She said your poison can be cured!¡± As Sang Yan spoke, tears fell uncontrollably. She felt she was losing composure. Wiping away her tears, she smiled with eyes curving, ¡°No crying, this is a happy occasion!¡± Seeing her like this, He Ying was emotionally moved, he cradled her face and sealed her tear-stained lips with a kiss. ¡°No more crying.¡± As he embraced her lips, tenderly caressing, the warmth and affection in his eyes nearly melted Sang Yan. Caught up in the moment, Sang Yan gradually sensed something was amiss, she looked down and noticed, without knowing when, her clothes had become undone at the chest, feeling chilly. ¡°Xinyuan!¡± She exclaimed with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, drawing back slightly and catching He Ying¡¯s roaming hand. ¡°What are you doing? Have you forgotten what Imperial Doctor Liang said?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. Isn¡¯t this a happy occasion? I feel like we should do something to celebrate.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This is a way to celebrate? Absurd! Chapter 187: 187: Cherish Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Cherish ¡°Stop it!¡± Sang Yan¡¯s face flushed as she helped him sit up properly, ¡°Your wound needs to be re-dressed.¡± He Ying nodded and let her tend to his bandages. Actually, he didn¡¯t mean to cause trouble; he just wanted to kiss and hug her. He hadn¡¯t kissed or hugged anyone for a very long time. He missed it terribly. He couldn¡¯t help but lower his head, resting his chin on the nape of her neck, inhaling her scent. Unfortunately, while this made him comfortable, Sang Yan was not. His feverish breath scorched the skin of her neck. Sang Yan felt itchy all over, body and heart alike, forcing her to pat his head, ¡°Stop moving around.¡± He Ying looked up at her, his eyes reflecting a wronged expression, ¡°I didn¡¯t move.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± She had no idea what to do with him. All she could do was bear with it and finish dressing his wound. ¡°I¡¯m going to check how the medicine is boiling.¡± She found an excuse to hop off the bed, planning her escape. But it wasn¡¯t successful. With reddened eyes and panting, He Ying pulled her down, pinning her and kissing her fingers¡­ Sang Yan felt that for some time, she wouldn¡¯t know how to face her own hands. What a rascal! He had gone mad! After He Ying had been mad for half an hour, he finally calmed down a bit. Sang Yan washed her hands and when she returned, she checked his wounds. Though there had been little movement, it caused his blood to surge and affected the wound. ¡°Look! It¡¯s bleeding again!¡± ¡°Oh. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Having eaten and drunk his fill, he didn¡¯t feel any pain. He lay on the bed, smiling as he watched her. Sang Yan, embarrassed by his smile, was about to leave¡ª Qing Wu came over with the medicine, and brought the prescription as well. ¡°Empress, the medicine and the prescription are all here.¡± Qing Wu set the medicine bowl on the table, reminding her, ¡°This medicine should be taken while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Alright. I know. Thank you for your hard work. You can go down first.¡± Thinking of Sister Hong Zhao¡¯s frailty and the need for someone to attend to her, Sang Yan didn¡¯t retain Qing Wu any longer. ¡°Yes.¡± Qing Wu glanced at the medicine on the table and then turned to leave. After watching her walk away, Sang Yan instructed Liang Xin to invite the doctor she had found from outside into the room. Liang Xin, being young and more skilled in surgery than in detoxification, feared he wouldn¡¯t understand Hong Zhao¡¯s prescription and followed Sang Yan¡¯s orders to find a more experienced doctor. The doctor, nearing sixty, white-haired and trembling since entering the State Mansion, knew he was in the presence of nobility and didn¡¯t dare to be negligent. ¡°The commoner greets the nobility.¡± He didn¡¯t think too much about the identities of the nobility. Having lived to this age, it¡¯s enough to know in one¡¯s heart without speaking out loud. Sang Yan smiled gently, ¡°Old sir, you need not be so formal. Please help us check this prescription and the bowl of medicine for any issues.¡± She handed over the prescription. He Ying watched the scene unfold, quite surprised¡ªso she also didn¡¯t entirely trust Hong Zhao. Sensing his gaze, Sang Yan replied with a smile, explaining, ¡°The doctor was secretly sought by Imperial Doctor Liang on my orders. Let them have a look first, then we¡¯ll drink the medicine.¡± Regarding He Ying¡¯s safety, she didn¡¯t dare to take any chances. Although Hong Zhao was a Divine Doctor, she was also an outsider¡ªcaution was still necessary. She couldn¡¯t bear to experience the pain of losing a loved one once more. So last night, she ordered Liang Xin to find a reputable doctor in the city and bring him in. Only after confirming the medicine was safe, would she allow He Ying to drink it. He Ying was moved once again by the lovely woman before him: She cherished and cared for him so dearly. The old doctor didn¡¯t pay mind to the tender feelings between the nobles. He picked up the bowl to smell the medicine and received the prescription from Liang Xin. Liang Xin had already scrutinized the prescription and said with a frown, ¡°My medical skill is limited, I can¡¯t make it out clearly. I hope the old sir can clarify.¡± The old doctor said nothing, stroked his beard, and carefully examined the prescription; he also smelled the medicine in the bowl. After a while, he put down the bowl and responded, ¡°Both of you nobles, the medicine contains herbs that detoxify and nourish the blood, fortify the essence, and boost vitality. It includes common detoxifying herbs like Scutellaria and Forsythia, as well as a few others I can¡¯t identify, but all appear to be beneficial to the body.¡± He took the prescription again, reviewed it several times, pondered, and then his eyes suddenly shone, ¡°The person who prescribed this has profound medical expertise; several herbs are extremely potent, yet the prescription includes many nourishing herbs that greatly mitigate the side effects of the potent ones. May I ask who prepared this prescription? I would very much like to learn from them!¡± For those practicing medicine, especially those who are aging and have decades of medical experience, meeting someone more outstanding in their lifetime is incredibly exciting. Hearing the old doctor say this, Sang Yan¡¯s heart was put at ease. She didn¡¯t answer the old doctor directly but instructed Liang Xin to show him out. Soon, only the two of them were left in the room. Sang Yan picked up a fan, cooling the soup medicine until it was no longer scalding, and handed him the bowl, ¡°Now you can drink it without worry.¡± Afraid that He Ying might find it bitter, she placed a bowl of candied fruit beside him. ¡°If it¡¯s bitter, have some candied fruit to sweeten your mouth.¡± The candied fruits in the white jade dish gleamed, exuding a sweet and cloying fragrance. He Ying also felt sweetness in his heart. Supporting his chin with one hand, he looked at his beloved with an amused expression, ¡°Are you treating me like a three-year-old child?¡± Yet he was completely receptive to this approach. He loved seeing her care for him, tending to his every need with such meticulous attention. Proof that she loved him. Sang Yan swore, she truly had never thought of coddling him like a child. Just looking at the dark, thick color of the medicine, one could tell how bitter it would taste by sight alone. ¡°Drink up quickly. It won¡¯t be as effective if it gets cold.¡± Blushing under his gaze, she grabbed his hand and placed the medicine bowl in his palm. He Ying chuckled softly, lifting the bowl to his lips, and gulped it down in a few swallows, leaving it completely empty. He didn¡¯t even frown. Sang Yan was astounded: That was¡­quite ruthless, wasn¡¯t it? She still remembered how she felt when she was sick on the boat, taking that fever-reducing medicine, as if she oozed bitterness inside and out. ¡°Is it bitter?¡± Sang Yan asked with a frown: Could it be that she was just overly delicate? He Ying nodded seriously, ¡°Bitter. Of course, it¡¯s bitter. Extremely so.¡± ¡°Then have some candied fruit,¡± she said. Sang Yan picked up the candied fruit and offered it to him, ¡°It¡¯s newly bought, very sweet, I¡¯ve tried it myself.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than she was kissed by He Ying. The moment was brief. The kiss ended as quickly as it had begun. He raised his eyebrows, wearing a smug look of triumph, ¡°Not bitter anymore.¡± Sang Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t it no longer bitter? Now it was her turn to feel the bitterness! The flirt! She was huffily telling him to go rest. During He Ying¡¯s convalescence, he always had petitions to review. Sang Yan used to let him be, but now it was different: ¡°You can¡¯t overexert yourself. Otherwise, the medicine was for naught.¡± Unable to argue with her, and feeling a bit drowsy from the medicine¡¯s effects, He Ying resigned himself to lying down and resting. Once Sang Yan saw him asleep, having nothing else to do, she wandered around the State Mansion but still found herself at a loose end. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The women of the State Official¡¯s family would tremble in her presence, unable to speak coherently. Not to mention the maids; she didn¡¯t have a single person to talk to. Pei Muyang was nowhere to be found either. Bored to death, she couldn¡¯t help but glance towards the place where Hong Zhao resided. Hong Zhao lived in the South Courtyard, a spot Sang Yan had specifically instructed to be arranged for her because it was quiet and warm, suitable for her to recuperate. When Sang Yan arrived, Hong Zhao and her maid Qing Wu were basking in the sun in the courtyard. Upon seeing her, Hong Zhao struggled to get up to pay her respects. Sang Yan hurriedly stopped her, ¡°Divine Doctor, you need not be so formal.¡± She was entirely amiable, smiling warmly upon seeing Hong Zhao. She regarded her as He Ying¡¯s lifesaver. By that logic, she was also her own half-lifesaver¡ªwhy should a lifesaver have to pay respects? ¡°Why has the Empress come here?¡± Hong Zhao sat back down, asking softly. Despite the hot weather, she was wrapped in a plain colored shawl. Her delicate and frail appearance filled Sang Yan with a fierce desire to protect her. ¡°I was idle with boredom and came here for a stroll.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hong Zhao¡¯s lips curled into a smile, her dark and shining eyes forming crescents. She was indeed very pretty. Sang Yan found that she was powerless against the charms of a beautiful young lady and couldn¡¯t help but draw closer, ¡°You seem very susceptible to cold? If you find it cold at night while sleeping, I can have someone bring over another quilt. Also about food. Or if you need any medicinal herbs for your health, just instruct someone to procure them.¡± She was the epitome of consideration and care. Hong Zhao was truly touched, but it only lasted for a moment before she smiled dismissively, ¡°There¡¯s no need, my body is just like this now.¡± She tugged at her shawl, her eyes revealing a tinge of desolation. Seeing her like this, Sang Yan didn¡¯t quite know what to say next: The woman was already so ill, and she was here bothering her. It seemed a bit insensitive. ¡°I should leave then.¡± After some thought, Sang Yan decided to leave, not wishing to disturb her rest. Unexpectedly, Hong Zhao called out to her. ¡°It is my honor to have the Empress visit. If you are feeling bored, Hong Zhao can keep you company for a while.¡± As these words were spoken, Qing Wu, who had been paying close attention to their interaction, widened her eyes in shock. What¡¯s going on? Why did the young lady invite her to stay? Wasn¡¯t she the one who hated idle chatter the most? Sang Yan didn¡¯t notice her surprise. Having someone to pass the time with was more than welcome. However, constantly being addressed as Empress made her feel a bit uncomfortable. It felt like there was a distance between them. ¡°Just call me Sang Yan. You seem older than me, would it be alright if I addressed you as Sister Hong Zhao?¡± ¡°Either is fine. Whatever makes you happy.¡± Hong Zhao smiled and nodded, then suddenly covered her mouth to cough. With the motions of coughing, she cleverly concealed the disdain in her eyes: This woman, all looks and foolish to the core, completely devoid of caution. She wondered what Mr. Jiu saw in her. Chapter 188: 188 Close Friend Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Close Friend Sang Yan felt she had made a confidante in the inner chambers. Each day after He Ying finished taking his medicine and rested, she would visit Sister Hong Zhao¡¯s courtyard. Sometimes, they would chat. Sometimes, she would help her sort the herbs. Most of the time, Hong Zhao did not talk much, just staring dreamily at Sang Yan¡¯s back. Qing Wu, caught between them, felt her heart almost shattering in fright. One evening, As Sang Yan picked up a basket to gather herbs, Qing Wu could no longer contain herself, ¡°Miss, what are you thinking? With what we¡¯re doing, how can you still allow the Empress to come here so often?¡± She was too anxious: If they carelessly revealed anything, both of them would be doomed. Hong Zhao¡¯s cold fingers fumbled with the warm teacup, her gaze indifferent. She did not answer Qing Wu¡¯s question but seemed to talk to herself in a murmur, ¡°Why?¡± Qing Wu¡¯s eyes filled with confusion, ¡°What do you mean ¡®why¡¯?¡± Miss had become more and more incomprehensible: it seemed that ever since she saw the Empress, Miss had started to indulge in daydreaming and talking to herself. Hong Zhao did not respond to Qing Wu, her lips pursed, sadness evident in her eyes: Why indeed? After spending the past few days together, she had come to understand a bit about Sang Yan: Sang Yan truly had an extraordinary appearance, was amiable, unpretentious, but she lacked the noble and elegant bearing, one could even say she had none of the Empress¡¯s demeanor. How could Mr. Jiu like such a woman? To not mind that she was married and even contemplate killing Emperor He to take his place? It did not make sense. Mr. Jiu was such a perfect man. ¡°Ah Jiu, can you tell me the reason?¡± Hong Zhao stroked Snow Monkey¡¯s head. Snow Monkey could not respond, seemingly sensing his master¡¯s melancholy, and affectionately rubbed her palm. Seeing this, Hong Zhao gently smiled and tenderly asked, ¡°Ah Jiu, it¡¯s been two years since we said goodbye at Cangcui Mountain. He gave you to me, time flies so fast, don¡¯t you miss him?¡± Was she too lonely? That she had started to miss him. That man who, when she was in seclusion at Cangcui Mountain, had waited outside her dwelling for three days and nights. That man who had requested her to make poison for him, which she had repeatedly refused, yet finally, he had brought her Snow Monkey, hoping to alleviate her loneliness. ¡°Living alone in this deep mountain is inevitably bleak; this Snow Monkey was a fortuitous gift I acquired. I am giving it to you today as company, hoping you won¡¯t be so lonely from now on.¡± His gentle, raspy voice seemed still to linger in her ears. She closed her eyes, feeling a bitter tightness in her chest, ¡°Ah Jiu¡­ Ah Jou¡­¡± Whom was she actually calling out for? ¡°Sister Hong Zhao, I have to leave.¡± Sang Yan approached, setting down the basket, her face pale as she held her stomach. Hong Zhao eyed her and asked with a frown, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Sang Yan, holding her stomach, gave an awkward smile, ¡°It¡¯s that¡­ I think my period has started.¡± She had felt a bit unwell when she got up in the morning, and looking at the dates, it wasn¡¯t due yet, so she hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it. Now it seemed it had come early. Considering her drifting life during this time, not only was she physically exhausted but also mentally strained, and had not rested well, she probably was going to suffer a great deal this time. ¡°I thought it was something serious.¡± Hong Zhao gave a light smile and extended her hand, ¡°Stretch out your hand. Let me check.¡± Upon hearing this, remembering she was referred to as Divine Doctor, Sang Yan immediately handed over her hand. ¡°Your constitution is cold, and catching a chill recently probably made it hurt so much.¡± Hong Zhao withdrew her hand and instructed Qing Wu, ¡°Go gather Cornelian, cinnamon, motherwort, and angelica dahurica to make medicine for the Lady.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Put in some licorice as well. It¡¯ll make it less bitter.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Qing Wu bowed her head and hurried off. She actually did not want to brew medicine for Sang Yan, but dared not disobey the Miss¡¯s orders. Was the Miss too idle? Why bother about her issues? Unaware of Qing Wu¡¯s thoughts, Sang Yan, hearing Hong Zhao¡¯s words, felt a warm glow in her heart. ¡°Sister Hong Zhao, you are truly kind, even knowing I dislike bitterness.¡± She thought about He Ying¡¯s medicine, which was always so bitter that it numbed her tongue, and Hong Zhao never suggested adding licorice to his. She believed this was Hong Zhao¡¯s special treatment for her. ¡°Which lady isn¡¯t averse to bitterness? Cough, cough¡ª¡± Hong Zhao coughed a few times, forcing a smile, ¡°Meeting me was fate. Take this medicine for a few days, and you won¡¯t hurt anymore in the future.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Sang Yan sat down, waiting for Qing Wu to bring the brewed medicine. About an hour later, Qing Wu brought the medicine over: ¡°Empress, please take this.¡± Sang Yan thanked her, took it, drank it, and after a little while, the sinking pain in her lower abdomen gradually eased. It was simply more miraculous than modern painkillers! Sang Yan, both amazed and respectful, said, ¡°Sister Hong Zhao, your medical skills are too amazing!¡± Hong Zhao, having heard similar praises often, replied nonchalantly, ¡°It¡¯s passable.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too modest!¡± Suddenly, Sang Yan thought of something, firmly grasped Hong Zhao¡¯s hand, and smiled slyly: ¡°Sister Hong Zhao, can I learn medicine from you?¡± In this strange world, having one more skill meant one more way to survive. If she knew medical skills, perhaps He Ying wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer so much! But considering how Liang Xin had tried several times to discuss medical skills with her, only to be coldly rejected. Clearly, her medical knowledge wasn¡¯t for sharing. Just as she felt she had been too presumptuous, she heard Hong Zhao say, ¡°Yes, you can.¡± She was overjoyed: ¡°Really?¡± Hong Zhao nodded with a smile: ¡°Of course.¡± In reality, she was thinking: Learn medicine? Does she think medical skills are so easily mastered by anyone? Sang Yan didn¡¯t notice her peculiarity and was immersed in the joy of learning medicine. * When He Ying regained consciousness, he found Sang Yan was not in the room. He furrowed his brows, got out of bed, opened the door, and asked the palace maid at the door, ¡°Where is the Empress?¡± The palace maid answered with honest fear, ¡°Empress went to the Divine Doctor¡¯s house.¡± ¡°These days, when I wake up and Empress is not here, has she been going to her place?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The palace maid responded, sensing He Ying¡¯s displeasure and quickly added, ¡°Empress seems to really like that Divine Doctor. She¡¯s been personally managing his diet and living arrangements these days.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He Ying raised his hand, telling her to go call Sang Yan back. He had wanted to remind Sang Yan not to get too close to Hong Zhao. But seeing her return with a brilliant smile, he found himself unable to voice his thoughts. ¡°Sister Hong Zhao has agreed to teach me medicine, Xinyuan, you have no idea how excited I am, maybe one day I can become the next Divine Doctor.¡± As He Ying¡¯s injuries improved, so did Sang Yan¡¯s mood. When speaking, her eyebrows danced, and she carried a vibrant and adorable energy. She rarely showed such girlish charm in front of He Ying. He Ying really didn¡¯t want to dampen her enthusiasm and joy. So, after a moment, he reluctantly pinched her face, indulging her with a smile: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll look forward to that day.¡± Never mind. Since she liked it, he would let her be. Although he felt Hong Zhao was not as simple as she seemed, he would not let Sang Yan get hurt with him watching. At night, Sang Yan had her period and did not feel comfortable bathing. After asking for hot water to be brought, she washed up briefly. After she had finished washing and dried off, looking at the palace-prepared nightgown, her cheeks immediately flushed. That garment¡­ was it too sheer? Made of gauze, it was indeed cool to wear but was way too revealing, barely covering anything at all. If worn, even the details of the pink undergarment underneath would be clearly visible. What would happen if He Ying saw her? These days, she had thought about sleeping separately from He Ying, but he would knock on her door at midnight, squeezing in without any care for his imperial image¡ªshe was really put in a tough spot. ¡°Is there no other garment?¡± ¡°Lady, the weather has been bad these past few days, the washed clothes are still a bit damp, and wearing them would be bad for your health.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Alright then. After all, they were an old married couple. What shy should she be? Besides, she was shielded by her period right now. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Resigned, Sang Yan put on the light gauze nightgown, her face red as she left the bathroom. Upon entering the room, as expected, He Ying had sneaked in ahead of time, sitting on the bed pretentiously reading a book. ¡°Cough, why are you here again?¡± She feigned displeasure. Upon hearing the noise, He Ying looked up to see the blushing, charming lady. Chapter 189: Scheming Chapter 189: Chapter 189: Scheming"I missed you, so I came," he said matter-of-factly. Sang Yan had heard similar things too many times to call him out on it. "It¡¯s late. You should get some sleep." He put down the book he was holding and smiled, patting the spot next to him. Sang Yan found this gesture dangerously intimate, her heart racing even faster as if it were about to leap out of her throat. These past days, they had been sharing the same bed. He Ying had never expressly told her he wanted to take things "further." But in fact, his gaze and actions had made his intentions very clear to her. "Come here." He Ying, seeing her standing still, urged her. Sang Yan, feeling helpless, adjusted her tightly fastened neckline and climbed over He Ying onto the bed. Lying down in the blanket, she said anxiously, "I just¡ª" "Let¡¯s sleep." He Ying swept his arm over, pressed it against her chest, essentially making it so they slept in a holding position. Sang Yan tried to appear nonchalant while internally contemplating: If He Ying wanted to do something, how could she tell him that her body wasn¡¯t feeling well? He Ying lay beside Sang Yan, smelling her familiar scent. In the past, that scent gave him restless nights, filled with burning passion. But tonight, was it really... dead calm? On second thought, last night was... actually quite serene. Sang Yan, oblivious to He Ying¡¯s thoughts, felt him looking at her with eyes full of joy as she closed hers. And was there a fleeting trace... of astonishment? Astonished by what? Could it be that he hadn¡¯t expected her to dress like this today? As Sang Yan was speculating¡ª He Ying got up: "I just remembered I have something to do." He threw back the blanket, got off the bed, and carefully covered Sang Yan again: "You go to sleep first; I¡¯ll be back soon." Sang Yan: "?" What¡¯s going on? Leaving just like that? This wasn¡¯t what she had in mind. Shouldn¡¯t he be clinging to her, hugging and kissing her like before? She watched him throw on his robe and hurriedly leave, frowning deeply: He still wasn¡¯t well; nowadays, she tried not to disturb him whenever possible. So, what could be so important that he had to run out in the middle of the night? Aside from her confusion, there was a touch of disappointment in her heart: His gaze just now, it really contained no desire. Could it be that she had rejected him too much, annoyed him, or even affected his libido? At the same time In the study He Ying¡¯s mood now was even more chaotic than Sang Yan¡¯s. He sat in a chair, fiddling with the Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist. This was a trinket from Sang Yan, who had told him to play with the prayer beads when he was in a bad mood instead of losing his temper and scaring people. Now, after fiddling with them for a long time, his mood was getting worse. "Has Pei Muyang not returned yet?" He inquired with the guard outside. The guard was Lu Zijin. He stood by the door, sensing that the Emperor was in a foul mood, quickly walked in, and reported, "Mr. Pei sent a letter two days ago, mentioning that he had found Doctor Liu and should be arriving in the next few days." "Okay, I know." He Ying breathed a sigh of relief and then gestured for him to leave. Pinching the bridge of his nose, his thoughts were still in disarray: His Ah Yan was truly beautiful tonight. Her shy and timid appearance was still lingering in his mind. Yet, he had not the slightest manly desire towards her. Even his male instincts did not react at all. That couldn¡¯t be right. His feelings for Sang Yan hadn¡¯t diminished in the least, and both were in the prime of their youth; how could he possibly have no thoughts about her? Before, his passionate love surged whenever he saw her, wanting to pounce on her like a wolf. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Something was amiss. He was not himself. Ever since drinking the medicine from Hong Zhao, he had been increasingly detached from worldly desires day by day. "Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?" Lu Zijin stepped back to the doorway, noticing the Emperor¡¯s troubled expression and asked. With fists clenched, a trace of malevolence crossed He Ying¡¯s eyes: "Go fetch Hong Zhao¡ª" He stopped mid-sentence, glanced towards Sang Yan¡¯s room, and swallowed his words. Now wasn¡¯t the time to act rashly. Ah Yan was very close to Hong Zhao. If he acted against Hong Zhao without clear evidence, it might be more than Ah Yan could bear. He decided to wait. Once Doctor Liu arrived, everything would become clear. The following day As usual, Qing Wu brought the medicine that had been prepared. "Lady, as always, the Emperor should drink this while it¡¯s hot." Qing Wu handed the bowl of medicine to Sang Yan. In recent days Sang Yan had been the one to care for He Ying as he took his medicine. This time, Sang Yan took the medicine bowl and smiled at Qing Wu: "Thank Sister Hong Zhao for me." Despite her weak constitution, she still prepared He Ying¡¯s medicine thrice daily, never entrusting the task to anyone else. Chapter 190 - 189: Scheming_2 Chapter 190: Chapter 189: Scheming_2This kindness, she engraved in her heart. "Lady, you are too polite. The young lady also said that you should come visit whenever you can, the medical book she was telling you about last time isn¡¯t finished yet." As Qing Wu spoke, she felt a piercing, inquisitive gaze fall upon her. Her heart fluttered, and she looked toward He Ying. He Ying sat at the table, holding a book, flipping through it as if he hadn¡¯t glanced in her direction at all. Could it be... she had an illusion? Qing Wu dismissed the peculiar feeling and quickly bid farewell to Sang Yan. Sang Yan was unaware of the true situation and thought He Ying had scared her. "Don¡¯t always keep such a cold face, it¡¯s quite frightening." As the Emperor, his aura of authority was so powerful that when he did not restrain it, it even made her somewhat afraid. Upon hearing this, He Ying squeezed out a slight smile, "Really? I haven¡¯t done anything." Sang Yan didn¡¯t argue with him and brought the medicine bowl over, "Alright, take your medicine." The soup in the bowl was dark and thick. And exuded a strong bitterness. He Ying looked at it, his eyes flickering. After taking it, he did not drink but placed it on the table. "Ah Yan, go fetch me some preserved fruit." "Preserved fruit?" Sang Yan thought she had heard wrong, "Don¡¯t you dislike sweet things?" Just the other day, she had specially prepared some, and he didn¡¯t eat it, saying he disliked sweets and didn¡¯t fear bitterness. Today was strange indeed. "I am sick." He Ying frowned slightly, deliberately softening his tone, "For some reason, I just suddenly felt like eating it today." His expression appeared to be quite aggrieved. "Alright, I¡¯ll order someone to fetch it." Sang Yan immediately gave in, unable to do much about him. "Wait¡ª" He Ying suddenly grabbed Sang Yan¡¯s hand, his tone almost whining, "You go fetch it. I want the one you personally bring." Sang Yan: "..." This man is being shameless! Becoming less and less decent! Without considering the medicine as the underlying issue, she thought that he wanted her to fetch it personally because he felt things brought by his own people were more dependable to consume. "Okay. I¡¯ll fetch it. Wait for me a moment." Saying this, Sang Yan hurried out of the room to the kitchen. When He Ying had sent her away, his gaze suddenly turned cold. He looked at the bowl of medicine on the table, and without hesitation, he poured it all into the flowerpot beside him. When Sang Yan returned with the preserved fruit, she saw the empty medicine bowl on the table and exclaimed, "You finished it? Didn¡¯t you think it was bitter?" He Ying lied without a trace of change in his face, "I felt a bit uncomfortable just now, so I drank it first." Sang Yan: "..." Hearing him say this, how could she still care about the preserved fruit? "Where does it hurt? What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling better now? Should I call Sister Hong Zhao to take a look?" Her eyes filled with urgency, questioning him non-stop, the smile on her face entirely gone. Seeing this, a tinge of guilt rose in He Ying¡¯s heart. He shouldn¡¯t have used this excuse to fool his Ah Yan! His heart felt tender and heavy. He hugged her tightly, soothing her softly, "I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry." Sang Yan frowned slightly, somewhat distrustful of his words. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After observing his complexion and noting that he looked rosy, his eyes bright and in good spirits, she then touched his forehead, which showed no sign of fever. Finally, she examined his wound, which seemed to be healing well. Only after assuring herself that there was nothing unusual about his body did she relax. "You¡¯ve taken your medicine, you should rest now." She took the book from He Ying¡¯s hands, placed it on the table, and led him to the edge of the bed. "You just mentioned feeling uncomfortable; it¡¯s probably because you didn¡¯t get enough sleep and didn¡¯t rest well last night." She still remembered him going out late last night and returning very late. He Ying played along, "That might be it." He obediently lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. As Sang Yan listened to his breathing becoming more even, as if he was asleep, she let go of his hand, thinking about going to learn medicine from Hong Zhao. However, upon standing up, she found her skirt was caught in He Ying¡¯s grasp. "Ah Yan, don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t leave me, please, don¡¯t go¡ª" Although his eyes were closed, He Ying¡¯s lips moved slightly, as if he was having a nightmare. Seeing him in this state, how could Sang Yan leave? She quickly sat back down, held his hand, and kissed his fingers, whispering softly, "Mhm. I won¡¯t leave, Xinyuan, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here with you." After staying with him a while, and feeling that he had fallen into a deep sleep, she thought about leaving again, but hearing him muttering in his sleep, still not wanting her to leave, she simply took off her shoes and lay down beside him in her clothes. She had only intended to accompany him, but feeling the warmth from his body, drowsiness swept over her. Sang Yan fell asleep unknowingly. And He Ying, who was supposedly asleep beside her, slowly opened his eyes. He looked at the little woman who lay sweetly in his arms and curved his lips: She certainly wouldn¡¯t have guessed that he would use such a childish tactic as pretending to have a nightmare to stop her going to find Hong Zhao. Thinking about his recent trickery, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit smug: Indeed, he mattered the most in Ah Yan¡¯s heart! And Hong Zhao? She should never again fool her affections for a single moment! * South Courtyard Hong Zhao glanced at the darkening sky and murmured, "She probably won¡¯t come today." Saying so, she threw her hand-held fan to Qing Wu, "You go boil the medicine." These past few days to win Sang Yan¡¯s favor and trust, she purposefully timed it so Sang Yan would see her boiling the medicine. Today, since she wasn¡¯t coming, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to pretend. "Yes." Qing Wu obeyed and went to the small kitchen in the courtyard, took the medicine pot from the stove, and went to the back door, emptying the dregs inside. Every morning someone in charge of cleaning would take care of it. After Qing Wu disposed of the medicine dregs, she entered the courtyard, oblivious to a shadow hiding in the dark. Only after the back door was completely closed, did that shadow emerge, gathered some of the dregs, and swiftly departed. Chapter 191 - 190 Suspicion Chapter 191: Chapter 190 SuspicionLiang Xin wrapped the medicine residue in a handkerchief, returned to his room, placed it into a jar, and affixed the date. In the following days, he collected the residues in the same manner and kept meticulous records. He Ying grew suspicious of the medicine provided by Divine Doctor Hong Zhao and stopped drinking it. Each time it was time to take the medicine, he would come up with various excuses to distract Sang Yan and dispose of it. When Sang Yan wanted to find Hong Zhao, He Ying would feign distress to dissuade her from seeking out the Divine Doctor. Back and forth it went. Sang Yan began to sense something was amiss, "Xinyuan, do you dislike Divine Doctor Hong Zhao?" He Ying glanced at her, laughing, "Of course, I don¡¯t like her." "Why not?" Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand; she felt that Hong Zhao was beautiful and talented, a doctor with a benevolent heart¡ª a woman better than any other. "How could I be fond of another when I am already wed?" He Ying deliberately twisted her words. Hearing this, Sang Yan looked helpless, "What I mean is, do you still think there¡¯s something wrong with her?" She didn¡¯t know that He Ying had been pouring away the medicine each time, only feeling that he was purposely preventing her from making contact with Hong Zhao. What if Hong Zhao really had an issue? She didn¡¯t dare to contemplate that possibility. These days, she really treated Hong Zhao like an older sister, and Hong Zhao taught her quite a bit as well. They were both teacher and friend, close as sisters! Especially since she had insisted on keeping Hong Zhao at the State Mansion to detoxify He Ying. If Hong Zhao really had a problem, then she was also partly to blame for plotting against He Ying. He Ying couldn¡¯t bear to see her looking so worried, and with a gentle stroke of his fingertips across her forehead, he softly said, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t overthink it. No matter what happens, I won¡¯t blame you." Because he knew she was wholeheartedly working for his sake. That was why he hadn¡¯t immediately dealt with Hong Zhao. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was afraid she would be upset. He was also afraid she would blame herself. Just then, a pleasant male voice came in. "Emperor, your servant has returned." It was Pei Muyang, whom they hadn¡¯t seen for several days. His voice betrayed his excitement, "Your servant has successfully found Imperial Doctor Liu." Upon hearing this, He Ying laughed brightly, "Come in quickly." Sang Yan was confused: Imperial Doctor Liu? Someone from the palace is here? She looked towards the door and saw Pei Muyang hurry in, covered in dust, clearly having ridden back at full speed. Following him was an elderly man with flecks of white in his hair, dressed in a simple short coat, yet still tall and sturdy, spirited, with bright eyes, showing no signs of frailty. "Imperial Doctor Liu, long time no see." He Ying stood up to greet him personally, with a relaxed smile, "At your age, you¡¯ve still taken the trouble to make this trip." "Why would the Emperor say such things? Your remembrance of this humble doctor is an honor." Imperial Doctor Liu smiled amiably in response, and then respectfully bowed to Sang Yan, "I¡¯ve seen the Empress." Sang Yan could tell that He Ying held Imperial Doctor Liu in high esteem and returned the sentiment with a smile, "Imperial Doctor Liu, you must be exhausted from your long journey." She vaguely knew that Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s visit was also to address the poison in He Ying¡¯s body. So was Hong Zhao unreliable? As she pondered this, she saw He Ying signal Pei Muyang, "Call Imperial Doctor Liang here." Pei Muyang, understanding immediately, went out and summoned Liang Xin. When Liang Xin arrived, he was carrying several jars. He placed the jars on the table and pointed, "These contain the medicinal residues from the Emperor¡¯s medicines. They¡¯re all here from the past few days." Sang Yan looked at the dates on the jars, and her heart tightened: just the recorded ones amounted to five days. Including the previous four days he had also consumed the medicine, that made nine days in total. If there was an issue with the medicine, then He Ying? Her expression tensed, and her face turned pale. Seeing this, He Ying patted her hand soothingly and then turned to look at Imperial Doctor Liu, "Please take a look and tell us if there is anything wrong with these medicines." Imperial Doctor Liu immediately proceeded with the inspection. He had already heard about what happened to He Ying on the way here, knowing that the situation was not optimistic. Now, under the watchful eyes of everyone present, he pinched some of the residue, sniffed it, and even tasted it. He checked all of the medicine residues in the five jars in this manner. After a while, his brow furrowed in concern, he asked, "Emperor, how long altogether have you taken this medicine?" He Ying answered, "Not long. About four days. Is there an issue?" Sang Yan realized from this that she hadn¡¯t actually drunk the medicine on the recorded days. No wonder he always sent her away when it was time to take the medicine. She had been kept in the dark by him. But now was not the time to dig into this matter, "Imperial Doctor Liu, is there, is there a problem with this?" Her voice trembled, and her hands shook slightly: No, there couldn¡¯t be any problem. How could Hong Zhao deceive her? "Your Highness, Your Majesty, I cannot be certain just yet," replied Imperial Doctor Liu gravely, "Mr. Pei has already informed me that this medicine is prescribed by Divine Doctor Hong Zhao... I have heard a bit about her medical skills. To discern whether there are issues with the medicine she prescribed, I must personally verify it first." Imperial Doctor Liu looked serious. The Emperor¡¯s health was at stake; he had to be extremely cautious, "May I ask, Your Majesty, have you experienced any abnormalities after taking this concoction?" He Ying¡¯s lips moved slightly, about to answer, when from the corner of his eye he caught Sang Yan looking anxiously at him. If she knew the state of his body, it would likely only lead to more worries. Better to send her away. "Ah Yan, Imperial Doctor Liu has come a long way. Why don¡¯t you go arrange a place for him to rest?" "No! You can¡¯t keep hiding it from me!" Sang Yan furrowed her brows, clearly agitated. Why was He Ying concealing his suspicions about Hong Zhao from her? Surely, before Hong Zhao prescribed the medicine, both Liang Xin and an old senior doctor had checked it and confirmed there was no problem. But now he had secretly invited Imperial Doctor Liu to come, which surely meant there was something wrong with his health. "What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" Sang Yan was very worried. He Ying didn¡¯t know how to respond, so he just gave Imperial Doctor Liu a look. Imperial Doctor Liu had lived a long life and had long understood He Ying¡¯s thoughts completely. While he lamented the deep affection between the Emperor and Empress, he smiled at Sang Yan, "Empress, please rest assured, this servant is just making routine inquiries. This soup medicine may not necessarily be problematic, you may be at ease." Sang Yan listened, but remained skeptical. She was very sensitive now, feeling that He Ying was definitely still hiding something from her. Well, if he didn¡¯t want her to hear, then she would just go along with his wishes for now. Otherwise, insisting on staying here would be a disrespect to his dignity as the Emperor. Taking another look at his complexion... his color actually didn¡¯t seem bad, perhaps she was overthinking it? Was He Ying simply being overly suspicious? Not liking to entrust his life and death to Hong Zhao alone? With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Sang Yan, with a nervous heart, forced a smile, "Alright, then I¡¯ll trouble Imperial Doctor Liu." She left the room. Once she left and the door closed, the relaxed joy on He Ying¡¯s face dissipated. "This soup, I¡¯ve been drinking it for four days; it has... drastically reduced my interest in... matters of men and women..." He Ying¡¯s expression was grave and he seemed embarrassed to speak. If Sang Yan were here, he would definitely be unable to say such a thing. It was a matter of a man¡¯s dignity; he would rather die than speak of it. Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s expression also stiffened upon hearing this, "Is that so?" He checked the medicine residue again, smelling, tasting and examining it carefully. After a while, he said, "This servant has checked these medicine residues again just now and indeed, they are all herbs that can eliminate toxins from the body, but the smell of these residues, I always feel there¡¯s something off..." Even though he had vast experience, the world of medicine and poison was complex and many medicinal effects and side effects were not easy to clarify, especially when all things can both counteract and complement each other, making it difficult to immediately identify any issues. "Emperor¡ª" He looked up, struggling, and addressed the Emperor. He Ying¡¯s expression darkened, "Speak in detail." Imperial Doctor Liu then said, "This servant needs to recreate a medicine from these residues to conduct a test; only then can we be sure." Doctors should not rely solely on conjecture. He needed concrete evidence! Especially now that the materials had been boiled down to fragments; identifying them would take some time. "Then I will have to trouble Imperial Doctor Liu." "You are too polite, Emperor." As the two were speaking¡ª Sang Yan pushed the door open. She had red eyes but suppressed the urge to question, and put on a brave face, "Imperial Doctor Liu, I¡¯ve made arrangements; please follow Pei Muyang to the room to rest." Imperial Doctor Liu nodded, "Yes." He followed Pei Muyang and left. Once they had gone, Sang Yan hurried to ask, "What did Imperial Doctor Liu say?" He Ying pulled her over, enclosing her in his arms, "Don¡¯t worry, I was just being cautious, which is why I had Pei Muyang bring Imperial Doctor Liu over." He regretted letting her see Imperial Doctor Liu, knowing she would worry this much. He was annoyed at his own oversight. "Really?" Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe her intuition. The expressions on both He Ying and Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s faces were clearly not good just now. "Really." He Ying lied without batting an eye. "I wouldn¡¯t lie to you." Of course, white lies were an exception. Sang Yan looked intently at his face, trying to discern his hidden thoughts. Of course, she didn¡¯t see anything. * Qing Wu was always paying attention to the movements in He Ying¡¯s yard. Everyone from the State Mansion knew her master Hong Zhao was the Divine Doctor and a valued guest of the Emperor, thus they were not on guard against her. When she saw Pei Muyang leading an old man in and out, addressing him as "Imperial Physician," she panicked, picked up her skirts, and ran back frantically. "Mi-Miss¡ª" Qing Wu rushed into the room, scared out of her wits, and began packing their bags right away, "We should leave quickly, they might have grown suspicious." "Hm?" Hong Zhao was sitting on the couch, wrapped in a thick cape. In the hot weather, she held a hand warmer in her hands. "What¡¯s happened? You¡¯re so frightened?" "They¡¯ve invited an Imperial Physician back, miss, we might be exposed." Chapter 192 - 191: Making a Fool Chapter 192: Chapter 191: Making a FoolHong Zhao heard Qing Wu¡¯s words, paused with her hand on the handwarmer, then smiled faintly, showing no sign of panic whatsoever. "What¡¯s the rush? Even if accusations are to be made, they need evidence to support them." "But Miss... your servant feels that man isn¡¯t simple..." Since Qing Wu had been given to Hong Zhao by Qi Wuya, she had learnt to distinguish who was a quack and who had genuine medical expertise. The elderly man, despite his age, showed not a trace of decrepitude. Clearly, he knew how to maintain his health. Such a person couldn¡¯t possibly be unversed in medical skills. "Enough." Hong Zhao remained indifferent, still seemingly distracted. She looked as if she had everything under control. Yet, inside she did feel some turmoil, "The Emperor really isn¡¯t easy to fool. He has been preventing Sang Yan from coming these days, probably guarding against me." But what¡¯s the point of guarding against her? Her target was not Sang Yan. "Qing Wu, come here." Hong Zhao thought for a moment and beckoned Qing Wu to come closer. She whispered a few words into her ear. Qing Wu listened with eyes wide open in shock, "Miss, you¡¯re not leaving?" One crazier than the other! If they really found out, if she really conspired against the Emperor, would she still be alive? "Leave? What¡¯s there to leave for?" Hong Zhao laughed bitterly at herself, "With this ridden body of mine, how far do you think I could get?" Qing Wu shook her head, trying to persuade her, "Miss, don¡¯t say that. With your superior medical skills, there will always be a way." "No, there isn¡¯t. I¡¯m aware of my own body; it¡¯s almost burnt out already." Hong Zhao¡¯s smile was desolate as she looked at Qing Wu, as if she were seeing someone else, "You should go. Go back to Mr. Jiu¡¯s side. Over the years, you¡¯ve almost learnt all of my medical skills. Mr. Jiu will value you." He left Qing Wu by her side for this reason, didn¡¯t he? With this, she was leaving him one last gift. "Mr. Jiu, a noble, how could your servant ever aspire to such heights?" Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qing Wu knelt to show her loyalty, "Miss, you must believe me, your servant has never harboured such thoughts." Hong Zhao¡¯s expression was cold, unmoved. She lifted her hand, "Stand up. Regardless of whether you harbor those thoughts, you must go. You must go to find Mr. Jiu." Of all the people in this world, the one she cared about the most was Mr. Jiu. If she were to die for him, then it would be a worthy death. "Miss!" "Go!" Hong Zhao sharply reprimanded, then began coughing violently, "Cough, cough, cough, Qing Wu, if you want me to keep a breath of life in me, leave quickly! Now, only Mr. Jiu can save me!" Seeing her speak so, Qing Wu bit her lip, stood up, and continued packing her belongings. "Miss, rest assured, your servant will certainly not fail your charge." Qing Wu left under the cover of night. He Hongzhao gazed at the full moon outside the window, touched the snow monkey on her leg, and let out a wistful sigh, "Having one true friend in life is enough; why fear life and death then?" * Imperial Doctor Liu was known for his swift and decisive actions. After tinkering the entire previous night, he came over in a hurry first thing the next morning. "Emperor¡ª" His voice abruptly stopped upon seeing Sang Yan. Was this something he didn¡¯t feel comfortable discussing in front of her? Sang Yan¡¯s eyes flickered; she smiled, "There is no hot tea or snacks left in the room; I¡¯ll go get some. You two chat first." "Okay." He Ying quickly responded with a smile. And he breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worrying about how to get her out of the way. Now it seemed to have become easier. Sang Yan lowered her eyes, walked out of the room, and considerately closed the door behind her. Seeing this, Imperial Doctor Liu quickly walked up to He Ying, opened his medicine bag, which contained some medicinal residue. "Emperor, this is the medicine residue that your humble servant concocted overnight; it is nearly identical to the residue you gave your servant yesterday. However, no matter how I tried, there seems to be a certain odor missing. Until¡ª" He paused in his speech, placed the medicine pack on the table, and then took out a handkerchief from his sleeve. When he unfolded the handkerchief, it revealed some ash-colored flaky material. He Ying¡¯s eyes sharpened: "What is this?" "This is Bitter Pearl Root. If consumed in substantial amounts¡ª" Imperial Physician Liu thought for a moment and then chose a more cultured expression: "It impairs... progeny." He Ying: "..." Impairs, progeny! How malicious Hong Zhao¡¯s intentions are! She didn¡¯t aim to kill him but to kill his future offspring! He clenched his fists so tightly they creaked: "Are you certain?" Imperial Physician Liu nodded: "Your servant is certain. The Bitter Pearl Root had been ground into a powder before it was mixed into the medicine, so there was no trace of it found in the residue that day. But I recognized its scent, and have been perplexed as to which herb it could be, until now I¡¯ve finally figured it out." "How audacious!" He Ying pounded the table forcefully: "Such a heart must be condemned! Such a heart must be condemned!" Imperial Physician Liu felt the same: This Hong Zhao has a considerable reputation in the outside world; everyone praises her for having a pure heart and reviving the dead with her medical skill. Who would have thought she¡¯d dare commit such an outrageous act against the Emperor! "Bang!" The door was violently pushed open. He Ying looked in astonishment at Sang Yan, whose eyes were red with rage. In such a short time... Going to and from the kitchen simply wouldn¡¯t suffice. She hadn¡¯t left at all! "Empress, Empress¡ª" Imperial Physician Liu was also startled: Heaven, even this esteemed master of ours has found out! Sang Yan remained silent as she walked up to the table, staring blankly at the medicine residue on it. That residue was like a slap to her face. How painful it was! Even though she had long suspected, the truth laid bare before her eyes exceeded Sang Yan¡¯s imagination in fury. Hong Zhao had made a fool of her! Hong Zhao was plotting against the one she loved! Her respect and affection for her were all a joke! She was completely a fool! An idiot! "Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying, seeing her daze, deeply regretted not being more cautious and letting her find out. His eyes full of worry, he took her hand, gently comforting her: "Ah Yan, it¡¯s okay, don¡¯t be upset. It¡¯s not worth ruining your health over her." "Did you know about this all along?" Sang Yan came back to her senses, her eyes misty. She felt so heartbroken and guilty: She wanted to protect him. But in the end, she almost harmed him. He Ying nodded and explained: "Yes. I noticed something was off and haven¡¯t been drinking it for several days. You needn¡¯t worry too much." Sang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, but her self-reproach deepened: He had realized long ago yet hadn¡¯t told her, probably seeing how close she was with Hong Zhao and not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm. Even at this moment, he was still considering her feelings. "Why didn¡¯t you say something earlier? As soon as you suspected Hong Zhao, I would have definitely stood by your side." "I know. But seeing you so happy, I wanted you to enjoy yourself a little longer." He knew she had suffered a lot since being adrift, and he wanted her to relax more and have some happiness. Hearing him say this, Sang Yan¡¯s tears fell freely: "You, you, He Ying, I hate you!" She didn¡¯t want to cry; it was too humiliating, especially with others present, but she couldn¡¯t help her tears. After sniffling and crying for a while, she wiped away her tears and looked at Imperial Physician Liu: "He has taken that medicine for several days now, could it have affected his health?" The woman was highly skilled in medicine; even if it were just a few days¡¯ worth of doses, could it have caused irreversible damage to him? Imperial Physician Liu, oozing confidence, smiled and said: "Lady, there¡¯s no need for concern. Fortunately, the Emperor discovered it in time. With careful treatment for half a month, he should recover." "Ah, that¡¯s good." Sang Yan finally let go of her worries, but an even greater confusion arose: "Why would she do such a thing? Isn¡¯t she from He Country? Why would she..." Suddenly, a name flashed through her mind. It was like a nightmare in three words! She felt a chill run through her entire body: Qi Wuya! She could think of no other than him! Chapter 193 - 192: Envy Chapter 193: Chapter 192: EnvyHe Ying decided to accompany her. His face changed, and he bellowed, "Guards! Bring He Hongzhao and her maid to me at once!" Upon receiving the order, Pei Muyang immediately led the soldiers, rushing towards the South Courtyard. Soon, they brought the people back. "Emperor, the maid... the maid has disappeared." Pei Muyang was somewhat anxious. After hearing this, He Ying¡¯s brow furrowed, "She must have seen the signs and fled early! Send someone to chase her down immediately!" "Yes!" Pei Muyang hurried out. Sitting quietly in her wheelchair, He Hongzhao watched everything unfold, her pale face exuding a calm and serene demeanor. She slightly bowed her head, paying respects to He Ying with grace, and then looked towards Sang Yan with a smile, "Lady, why haven¡¯t you visited me recently?" Sang Yan: "..." Her fingertips trembled with anger: She was acting as if nothing had happened! After committing such a heartless deed, she could still act as though nothing was wrong! She truly couldn¡¯t understand how a woman who appeared so frail and gentle could do something so ruthless! Not long ago, she still warmly taught her medical books and how to recognize herbs, even making her an herbal remedy to treat menstrual pain! It was all fake! "Why does Lady stare at this humble girl so?" He Hongzhao, seeing Sang Yan¡¯s growing anger, or rather her near fainting from rage, only smiled more brilliantly. "Squeak, squeak¡ª" The Snow Monkey on her legs seemed to sense its owner¡¯s excited mood and also began jumping around, causing a commotion. "Ah Jiu!" He Hongzhao softly called out and reached out her hand. The Snow Monkey rubbed its head against her palm but was gently tapped on the head by her. "Ah Jiu. Be quiet." She scolded it, and seeing the monkey become obedient, she praised it again, stroking its fur. She seemed entirely engrossed in playing with her pet, as if she had forgotten where she was. Watching her actions, Sang Yan¡¯s chest heaved with fury, "He Hongzhao!" She bit her teeth hard, glaring at her, "Why? Why would you do such a thing?" "What is Lady talking about?" He Hongzhao tilted her head, feigning innocence. Sang Yan was so furious she wanted to curse: How could she remain so calm? How deep was this woman¡¯s cunning? "Ah Yan, let me handle this." He Ying stepped in, not wanting Sang Yan to get further upset, took her hand, and asked coldly, "He Hongzhao, stop pretending! You put Bitter Pearl Root in the medicine, a substance that harms my bloodline, and I have already found out. If you don¡¯t want to suffer, then tell the truth. Why did you do this? Who instructed you?" The Emperor was angry. He Hongzhao seemed unaffected, calmly sitting in her wheelchair, gently petting the Snow Monkey, as if she were facing not the wrath of the Emperor but a minor squabble among children. "Truly, Emperor Da He, you¡¯ve discovered the anomaly so swiftly." She bent her lips into a smile, her eyes suddenly turning cold, "And here I thought you¡¯d have to be left without heirs before you noticed!" "Silence!" Sang Yan couldn¡¯t stand He Hongzhao¡¯s words, her anger propelling her to stand and walk over to her: "Why? We¡¯ve never wronged you. Since meeting you, we¡¯ve always treated you courteously. How can you do this? You are a doctor! A doctor should have a compassionate heart and relieve people of their suffering. How can you use medical knowledge to harm others?" "Why can¡¯t a doctor kill people?" "And why can¡¯t I do it? Just because you didn¡¯t offend me?" "Lady, you¡¯re na?ve and innocent, untouched by the ways of the world. Do you expect everyone to be like you?" He Hongzhao chuckled, her eyes full of disdain, "How ridiculous!" She despised her smile, her naivety. Such a naive and foolish person could win Mr. Jiu¡¯s heart. How laughable! "Presumptuous!" He Ying could not tolerate others insulting Sang Yan, and losing his patience at Hong Zhao¡¯s attitude, he snapped, "He Hongzhao, do not test my patience." He walked over and shielded Sang Yan behind him, looking down at the woman in the wheelchair, he demanded, "I¡¯ll ask you again, who instructed you to make a move against me?" Hong Zhao ignored He Ying, her gaze fixed on Sang Yan. Her pale hand propped up her chin, her expression turning puzzled: "Sang Yan, a woman as naive and useless as you, who only knows to hide behind a man when facing trouble, I really cannot understand why, when he sent me the message, he specifically cautioned me, to only target the Emperor and not to harm you." It was indeed him! Sang Yan trembled all over, her suspicion confirmed: It had to be that madman, Qi Wuya! Only he would resort to such despicable and dirty tricks! And he even instructed He Hongzhao not to hurt her? Utterly disgusting! Does Sang Yan need his protection? "Enough!" When He Ying heard it was Qi Wuya¡¯s scheming, his patience was exhausted, and he kicked the wheelchair. The wheelchair instantly slid far away. Hong Zhao was not seated securely and fell hard to the ground. She lay sprawled on the floor, her frail frame and disheveled hair evident as she raised her head, intending to laugh, but instead she broke into a violent cough: "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" He Ying saw the scorn in Hong Zhao¡¯s laughter, clenched his fist, barely restraining himself from kicking her to death. "He Hongzhao, you seem to be tire of living." He thought of the look in Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes when they departed Puluo Country, that was a look of absolute determination, and a surge of anger built up in his chest. "Do you and Qi Wuya have any other schemes? Confess truthfully, otherwise, I will exterminate your entire clan!" His last two words seemed to touch a painful spot in Hong Zhao. She paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, her laugh resembling a ghastly spirit from hell, sending shivers down one¡¯s spine. "Exterminate my clan?" She stopped laughing, her eyes crazed as she looked at the two of them, wanting to laugh but overwhelmed by coughing. "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing up a mouthful of bright red blood. A trace of blood stained the corner of her mouth. She fell backward on the ground, her complexion pale as paper, blood dripping from her lips, her breath on the edge of extremity, presenting a picture of haunting beauty. "He Ying, oh He Ying, I would be glad if you exterminated my clan! Cough, cough, cough, what about the He Family? What about the medical household?" The hatred in her eyes was overwhelming, and she laughed heartily, tears streaming down her face: "Ha ha ha, they¡¯re nothing but demons in human skin!" Sang Yan was shocked to see her like this: Was this eagerness to tear the He Family members limb from limb real or feigned? Could it be that He Hongzhao had some grievance with the He Family? "What do you mean? What has the He Family done to you?" She knit her brows, speculating: Could there be something wrong with Hong Zhao¡¯s family of origin? Hong Zhao did not answer, her sight lingering on Sang Yan, and she suddenly blurted out, "Sang Yan, sometimes, I truly envy you." "Envy me for what?" Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan retorted with self-deprecation, her voice tinged with irony, "Envy me for being played by you? Envy me for how a friend whom I treated with all my heart almost caused my husband to lose his lineage?" Hong Zhao knew that Sang Yan had treated her well. But no matter how well, it was too late. "The willows are green, and the peach blossoms add just one touch of red to move one¡¯s heart in spring. Similarly, no matter how well you treat me, I no longer need it." In her life, she wasn¡¯t greedy, the brief warmth given by Mr. Jiu was already enough. "Even, I envy you, I¡¯m jealous of you, you can easily obtain so much love. Emperor He loves you, and even Mr. Jiu loves you." She said this, her cold fingers caressing her own cheek, a self-pitying sorrow in her expression: "Whereas I, in the end, I am¡ªcough, cough, cough¡ª" Chapter 194 - 193: Inexpensive Chapter 194: Chapter 193: Inexpensive"Enough nonsense!" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying¡¯s voice harshly interrupted her manic raving, "Drag her out! Beat her to death with sticks!" "Wait¡ª" Sang Yan stopped him, turning to Hong Zhao: "No matter what you¡¯ve been through, it¡¯s no excuse for causing chaos and harming others. Hong Zhao, you are a citizen of He Country, do you realize what your actions mean to He Country? You are a traitor! Even in death, you will be cursed by others!" "Don¡¯t school me with these cheap morals!" Hong Zhao scoffed with disdain: "I¡¯m not as great and selfless as you! Whoever treats me badly, I will pay them back tenfold! I, Hong Zhao, can only be let down by the world; I cannot be let down by others!" Sang Yan: "..." Her mentality was just like that man surnamed Cao. She was so angered she couldn¡¯t speak. Hong Zhao was still laughing: "He Ying, kill me! Cough, cough, cough! Along with the entire He Family! If you don¡¯t kill them, you¡¯re nothing but a spineless Emperor!" She hated the He Family! Without a doubt! She even felt that her actions were in revenge against the He Family. So, what had the He Family done? Upon this thought, Sang Yan turned to He Ying: "First, send someone to investigate the He Family." "Even if the He Family has wronged her, it¡¯s no excuse for her treason," said He Ying coldly, his eyes filled with unyielding killing intent. "Ah Yan, she¡¯s a woman who must die." Sang Yan did not try to persuade him but simply said, "We still need to know the root cause. Understand the reasons behind it to prevent future issues." He Ying understood this reasoning and, after a moment of thought, nodded: "I¡¯ll listen to you." He turned his head to Pei Muyang and started to issue an order: "Summon Gao Wenliang over." Then he had the Guard Captain Lu Zijin come in: "Take her away. Interrogate her thoroughly. See if she has any other schemes with Qi Wuya!" Listening to the order and looking at the woman on the verge of death on the ground, Lu Zijin was troubled: This woman¡¯s half-dead already, how can she be interrogated thoroughly? She¡¯s likely to die before even being tortured! Of course, while he thought so inwardly, he responded outwardly with a "Yes." He walked over, and seeing her lying on the ground, frail and small, he wasn¡¯t keen on dragging her off ¨C afraid that it might kill her. "Hey, can you even get up?" He truly wasn¡¯t being chivalrous. A woman who conspired to harm the Emperor didn¡¯t deserve such consideration. He truly was afraid to drag her to her death! Yet He Ying wished she could be dragged to death: "What are you waiting for? Drag her away!" "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" Hong Zhao coughed again, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Seeing her like this, Lu Zijin simply couldn¡¯t lay hands on her and had to look to Sang Yan for help: "Lady, what should we do?" Sang Yan glanced at the wheelchair and gestured: "Put her in the wheelchair and take her away." "Yes!" Lu Zijin immediately complied. When he bent down to lift her up, he realized she was as light and delicate as paper, and her body was chillingly cold, which was frightening. Thinking of the acts she had committed, she truly lived up to the name of a femme fatale. Lu Zijin frowned, placed her in the wheelchair, and then pushed her out. After they left, the room fell silent. But the silence only lasted a brief moment. Imperial Doctor Liu spoke up hesitantly: "This humble servant heard that the He family is obsessed with medical practices. Outwardly, they practice medicine and save lives, performing good deeds, but inwardly, they have a relentless preference for sons over daughters. Daughters who are not favored by their parents are used for medical experiments... This humble servant thought it was just a rumor, but now it seems... especially considering Hong Zhao¡¯s physical condition..." He didn¡¯t finish his thought. Looking at the woman¡¯s frail body, it was clear she was extremely weak, a sure sign of an early demise. "That¡¯s actually true?" Sang Yan felt a chill run through her upon hearing the words "medical experiments." Such darkness and cruelty! She remembered having asked Hong Zhao why her body was so weak. Back then, she said she was naturally frail, but it turned out she was harmed by her own parents? A child not loved by her parents, who else could she be expected to love? No wonder she was so cynical about the world! "Don¡¯t sympathize with her!" He Ying saw the softness in Sang Yan¡¯s heart and coldly said: "Indeed, she is pitiable, but that doesn¡¯t excuse the odiousness of her actions! And besides, it might not even be true!" He believed that even a tiger wouldn¡¯t eat its offspring. It¡¯s not certain that the He family parents would do such a thing. Even if they did, he could not forgive her! Hearing this, Sang Yan frowned and asked, "If it¡¯s true, how do you plan to deal with her?" If it had been before, she would feel Hong Zhao deserved to die. But after hearing Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s words just now, a trace of reluctance surfaced in her heart: perhaps Hong Zhao was just a child lacking love. Was she deceived by Qi Wuya because she was at an age where she lacked love and warmth, which led her to make mistakes? He Ying caught the reluctance in her eyes and pondered for a moment, explaining the consequences: "Ah Yan, a healer should have a compassionate heart. With her medical skills, she should have been hanging a shingle to save the world, bringing benefits to the people. Yet as a healer, she allowed herself to be used by someone as sinister and cunning as Qi Wuya. If I let her go today, with her capabilities, and if she were to join hands with Qi Wuya again, who knows what kind of atrocities she could commit?" Had he not been on his guard, Hong Zhao could have invisibly ended the future of Da He. Even if she did not succeed now, what about later? "She¡¯s alive, and she¡¯s a disaster!" He Ying¡¯s gaze was fierce, and he emphasized his tone, "Think about Jiang Ke. Didn¡¯t Qi Wuya kill him because he wouldn¡¯t serve him, making him an enemy? And one must never be soft on an enemy." Sang Yan fell silent and couldn¡¯t speak for a long time. Every time she thought of Jiang Ke, she hated Qi Wuya even more, and yet, Hong Zhao happened to be in the same boat with him! She really couldn¡¯t save her. Hong Zhao¡¯s crazed demeanor just now was no different from Qi Wuya. It was no wonder the two could collude so disgracefully. She couldn¡¯t gamble with He Country. But... "Xinyuan, can you?" "I¡¯ll leave her with some dignity." He Ying knew what she was thinking and embraced her, gently comforting her, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t blame yourself anymore." Seeing this, Imperial Doctor Liu silently withdrew. Sang Yan buried her head in He Ying¡¯s embrace, feeling a wave of helplessness inside, "I almost put you in danger." Initially, she was solely focused on finding an antidote, even with extra caution, she was still somewhat eager for quick success and let something slip through, giving someone an opening. "If you were too clever, what use would there be for your husband?" He Ying teased her, trying to cheer her up. Sang Yan actually laughed, playfully slapping him lightly, "Stop being so slick with your words! In the future, if anything happens, spit spit spit, anyways you can¡¯t keep things from me anymore." If she hadn¡¯t been extra cautious and found an excuse to leave and then eavesdrop outside, who knows when she would have found out. That¡¯s just the way he was, always considering her feelings in everything he did. "Alright, I won¡¯t keep things from you in the future." He Ying kissed her hair, making a promise. "Cough cough¡ª" Gao Wenliang coughed twice at the door, drawing the attention of those inside. He was called over because the Emperor urgently summoned him! But upon arrival, he saw the two entwined in affection, unsure whether to enter or leave. At this moment, He Ying saw him and recalling the pressing matters at hand, waved him in. "What has the Emperor ordered?" "Hong Zhao attempted to assassinate me, and the evidence is conclusive. You are to thoroughly investigate the He Family now. I have heard that the He Family conducts medical research in secret, using human bodies for experiments." "How... how could this be?" Gao Wenliang, thinking of the He Family¡¯s good reputation, was full of disbelief. He Ying didn¡¯t say much, only ordered, "Go investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Go now!" Gao Wenliang dared not say more, hurriedly acknowledging with "Yes." He had come in a hurry and left in a hurry. His efficiency in handling matters was, indeed, high. With the help of Hong Zhao¡¯s confession, within two days, they had uncovered the crimes committed by the He Family. It turned out the He Family parents had three daughters and one son. Apart from the youngest son, He Fengyang, who grew up healthy, the eldest daughter He Hongni was "born blind" and died from a "fall" at the age of four, the second daughter He Hongzhu was "born mute," and after being "abused," she "drowned herself" at the age of eight. The youngest daughter was He Hongzhao. She was "born with a frail constitution," yet was a medical genius. Thus, she lived through hardships until she was sixteen, and then retired to Cangcui Mountain... Sang Yan looked at the beautified "testimony" and went to the South Courtyard where Hong Zhao was held. Outside the South Courtyard stood numerous guards. Leading them was Lu Zijin. Upon seeing Sang Yan approach, he quickly came forward, "Greetings to the Empress¡ª" "I¡¯m going to see her." Sang Yan glanced at the courtyard. In the bamboo basket were dried herbs that had not been put away. The faint scent of the medicine entered her nostrils. Everything was set up exactly as it had been a few days before. Yet everything and everyone had changed. "Your Majesty, are you going in alone?" Lu Zijin was in a difficult position: "He Hongzhao¡¯s maid is missing, and I am questioning her." "It¡¯s alright." Sang Yan reassured him, "There won¡¯t be any trouble." He Hongzhao¡¯s frail body was not a pretense. Moreover, she was clear that if He Hongzhao had wanted to harm her, she would not have waited until today. After some thought, Lu Zijin, knowing Sang Yan¡¯s temperament, made way for her and reminded her, "Then Your Majesty, please be quick with your words. I¡¯ll be right outside the door. You just call, and I will rush in!" Sang Yan nodded and then pushed the door open and entered. He Hongzhao was sitting on the couch, as if nothing had happened, peeling seeds and teasing a Snow Monkey. The flickering candlelight next to her cast a quiet, beautiful reflection on her pale face, giving the false impression of peaceful times. "You¡¯re here." Hearing the sound, He Hongzhao looked up and smiled at Sang Yan, "I thought the Empress wouldn¡¯t come to see me." Chapter 195 - 194: Mad Demon Chapter 195: Chapter 194: Mad DemonHer light laughter had an air of disdain for everything, so arrogant that it was repulsive. Sang Yan frowned and walked over, sitting down in front of her. He Hongzhao picked up the teapot, poured her a cup of tea, and pushed a plate of seeds toward her. This calm and composed demeanor made her even more irritating. Sang Yan finally lost her temper. She knocked over the fruit plate, her eyes filled with disappointment and shock. "You¡¯re about to die, how can you still act as if nothing¡¯s happening?" "What else should I do?" He Hongzhao, holding her cheek with one hand, swayed the teacup in front of her with the other. The teacup¡¯s tea floated unknown petals, the tea color pale red, wafting a wispy fragrance. She drank the tea, smiling radiantly at Sang Yan, seemingly delighted to see her angry. Sang Yan suppressed her anger and asked, "You have nothing to say to me?" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With an innocent expression, He Hongzhao countered, "What do you want me to say?" Seeing this, Sang Yan, enraged, wanted to explode: "He Hongzhao!" He Hongzhao took a few more sips of tea, laughing with coughs: "Cough, haha, Sang Yan, cough, your reaction gives me a sense of superiority as the victor." Sang Yan: "..." She hated her lack of struggle: "You¡¯re really insane!" The insane He Hongzhao finished the tea in her cup, picked up the teapot, and poured herself another cup. The tea that was poured still carried unknown petals but was a brighter red and had a richer fragrance. She continued to sip the tea, mouthful by mouthful, without speaking further. Sang Yan closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, trying to calm herself. Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms, the pain brought her back to rationality, and when she opened her eyes again, she had regained her composure. "Do you want to infuriate me?" She analyzed He Hongzhao¡¯s psychology. He Hongzhao wiped the tea from her lips with a handkerchief, feigning surprise: "You figured it out." She never believed Sang Yan truly considered her a friend. Her politeness and friendliness were merely because she thought she could save her lover. Why bother with pretenses? She purposely angered her, wanting to see her angry, wanting her to shed that layer of hypocrisy and expose a heart as filthy and selfish as hers. Sang Yan was indeed very angry. She was no saint; her earnestness was being used against her own lover, how could she not be angry? But considering He Hongzhao¡¯s background? Her heart was angry, full of hatred, yet she also felt sympathy for her. "He Hongzhao, I ask you, did Qi Wuya force you?" She wasn¡¯t giving up. Perhaps, He Hongzhao was coerced. Qi Wuya was ruthlessly manipulative; initially, Jiang Ke refused to submit to him and was killed by him. Who knows whether He Hongzhao was rebellious against him and he used another method to control her? He Hongzhao hadn¡¯t expected Sang Yan to still be making excuses for her. She stared fixedly at the beautiful woman under the candlelight, and after a long while, she burst out laughing. It was as if she heard the funniest joke in the world; her pale face even flushed with laughter. She pointed at Sang Yan, appearing almost mad: "Cough, Sang Yan, you really are, cough, the most foolish woman I¡¯ve ever met! Even now, you are still soft-hearted? What happened to Mr. Jiu? To fancy a foolish woman like you?" She didn¡¯t understand! She really didn¡¯t understand! How could her godlike Mr. Jiu fall in love with such a woman? She thought she was different in his heart. Born under an unlucky star, destined for an early death, she never yearned for his love, but she couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his love going to such a woman! Upon seeing this, Sang Yan suddenly felt overwhelmed with endless sorrow. She should have known the answer¡ªHe Hongzhao liked Qi Wuya. Out of love, she had betrayed her own country. "You asked the maid to leave first and stayed here alone, were you waiting for Qi Wuya to come rescue you?" "Don¡¯t interfere!" He Hongzhao, having her true feelings poked at, suddenly changed her expression and glared fiercely at Sang Yan, "You don¡¯t need to stir up trouble between me and Mr. Jiu!" "What else is there for me to stir up?" Sang Yan laughed angrily, "Qi Wuya will not come to rescue you! You are merely his pawn. No, you are now nothing more than a discarded piece!" As she spoke, she reached out her hand, toying with the Snow Monkey that was eating sunflower seeds on the table. Unaware of the danger, the Snow Monkey still leisurely enjoyed Sang Yan¡¯s touches. "Was this Snow Monkey a gift from Qi Wuya? With just a Snow Monkey and some time spent together, he had you loyally serving him?" As her words fell, her eyes hardened, and she grabbed the Snow Monkey¡¯s neck. The Snow Monkey, frightened, scrambled with its limbs and squealed loudly. "Stop! Let Ah Jiu go!" He Hongzhao¡¯s face turned pale; she struggled to stand up, trying to stop Sang Yan. Unfortunately, she was so frail, she barely stood before tumbling weakly to the floor. With a stern expression, Sang Yan, clutching the Snow Monkey, looked down dominantly at the woman scrambling pitifully on the ground. Now, this woman had finally changed her initial frenzied and arrogant demeanor, clutching at Sang Yan¡¯s dress, her face showing fear. "Give it back to me! Cough cough, Sang Yan, let go, give it back to me..." She cried while pleading, her appearance humble and pitiful, as if she were begging Sang Yan to spare her most cherished possession. Seeing her like this, Sang Yan grew immensely angry, "You care about the life of a mere beast, yet disregard that of a living person! Have you ever thought about how many innocent people will suffer from war if you harm He Ying and Beiqi troops trample over He Country¡¯s territory? He Hongzhao, you are a Divine Doctor who once bestowed good upon the populace, are you really determined to disregard thousands of your countrymen for such a deceitful man?" She interrogated her, crouching down, grabbing He Hongzhao¡¯s chin, forcing her to look into her eyes, "What has Qi Wuya done to you! He Hongzhao, until when will you remain deluded?" She didn¡¯t actually want the Snow Monkey¡¯s life. The Snow Monkey took advantage of her letting go and immediately fled back into He Hongzhao¡¯s arms. He Hongzhao, seeing her weak point no longer controlled, sneered twice, brushed her hand away, and struggled back onto the nearby wheelchair. She straightened her clothing, sat upright, picked up the teacup again, put on a smile, and leisurely sipped her tea, as if the person who had just lost her composure was not her at all. "Empress, what are you talking about? I¡¯m but a lone girl, who has lived in seclusion in Cangcui Mountain since childhood, the countryfolk?" He Hongzhao sipped her tea, looking at Sang Yan, her eyes filled with disdain, "Heh, what do they have to do with me? The world has never treated me with kindness, yet you expect me to return it with kindness? Where is the sense in that?" Sang Yan furiously retorted, "The ones who hurt you were your parents, you shouldn¡¯t involve the innocent people¡ª" "The common people have nothing to do with me!" He Hongzhao interrupted her, her gaze tenderly resting on Ah Jiu nestled in her arms as if she were looking through it at the man deep in her heart. "A man would die for those who appreciate him, dying for Mr. Jiu would be my honor." She drained the tea from her cup, revealing a satisfied smile. Sang Yan was chilled through: this woman had truly been brainwashed by Qi Wuya. Hopeless! Further conversation with her would only be wasting words. "If you are so madly obsessed, then I will fulfill your wishes." Sang Yan¡¯s heart had gone numb, and her gaze at He Hongzhao showed neither sorrow nor joy, "I will ask the Emperor to leave you a dignified end. I hope in your next life you live more freely." Chapter 196 - 195: Bestowing Death Chapter 196: Chapter 195: Bestowing Death As He Ying said, she indeed couldn¡¯t change He Hongzhao¡¯s fate. She just felt it was a pity, such a woman with extraordinary medical skill, first destroyed by her own parents, and then by Qi Wuya. All her life, she never had control over herself. It was too suffocating. This room was so oppressive that she couldn¡¯t breathe. She turned around and left. "Sang Yan¡ª" Suddenly, He Hongzhao¡¯s voice came from behind her. Sang Yan halted her steps, turned around, and saw He Hongzhao looking at her with an inscrutable gaze. "I can¡¯t see through you." He Hongzhao said. She thought she could see through Sang Yan: foolish, naive, ridiculous, and perhaps, possessing a bit of passion and kindness that she herself had never had. But it seemed to be more than just that. She deliberately provoked her, wanting to see the evil of her human nature, but in the end, she was met with her compassion. "I don¡¯t need your pity." This feeling of pity made her think her life was an utter failure, utterly laughable. A sudden, powerless anger surged in her heart. She seemed to understand why Qi Wuya could fall in love with such a woman. The clearer she knew, the more indignant she was! "Sang Yan, don¡¯t think you can use me to display your own kindness!" "Do you think I¡¯m using you to show my kindness?" Sang Yan looked at her, shaking her head in disappointment, "In the end, you are still trapped in your own paranoia." She sneered at herself: Kindness? What¡¯s the use of being kind? She didn¡¯t want to be kind anymore! No! She was not even worthy to influence her views! "Goodbye, He Hongzhao, this is as far as I will take you." After Sang Yan said her farewell, she walked out of the room without hesitation. Outside Pei Muyang was already waiting with the palace maid. The maid was holding a mahogany tray, on it lay a white silk, a bottle of crane crown red, and a dagger emitting a chilling glint. This was the regalia for a death sentence. Sang Yan knew this when she arrived. As Sang Yan emerged, still staring at the items in the hands of the palace maid, Pei Muyang quickly stepped forward to explain, "Lady, the Emperor means that some people should not stay long. Staying could lead to unforeseen trouble." Sang Yan nodded, agreeing in her heart: He Hongzhao was Qi Wuya¡¯s person. Qi Wuya was cunning and unpredictable in strength; he probably had helpers in Quanzhou. They were in the light while the enemy was in the dark; to avoid long nights full of dreams, it was wise to end her life swiftly. Pei Muyang continued, "As per your instructions, the Emperor has also granted her the favor of a decent death." He had been with the Emperor for so long that he even felt the Emperor¡¯s punishment for He Hongzhao was too light. According to the Emperor¡¯s former temper, he would have had her beaten to death long ago. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Let it be." Sang Yan sighed softly and waved her hand, "Go ahead." She stepped aside. Pei Muyang bowed and then proceeded with the palace maid into the room. Soon after, Pei Muyang¡¯s voice could be heard from inside, "He Hongzhao, the Empress has shown mercy by preserving your entire body. Come and express your gratitude." Her heart tightened on hearing this, and she couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists. Lu Zijin, who was standing guard outside the door, saw her complexion was off, and hastily approached, "Lady, this place is bloody, you should go back." He didn¡¯t think there was anything to be seen in the execution scene. This Lady was the apple of the Emperor¡¯s eye, delicate and fragile; it was better not to watch, lest she get frightened and have nightmares, which would lead to unforeseen complications and trouble their Emperor as well. "No need." Sang Yan shook her head, her eyes looking very lost. She didn¡¯t know why she had to stand there, when all the words of farewell had been said. She quietly looked at the house. The light shone on the figures inside. Pei Muyang saw He Hongzhao still sitting blankly in the wheelchair and gave a palace maid a meaningful glance. The maid promptly presented the tray in front of He Hongzhao. He Hongzhao looked at the item in front of her as if she had never seen it before, staring blankly for quite a while. Her Snow Monkeys perched on her legs watched too, tilting their heads, but as they watched, they must have sensed their master was in danger, their expressions became fierce, and they began to screech and raise their hands to hit the tray. Fortunately, the maid reacted in time, stepping back quickly to save the contents of the tray. Pei Muyang watched displeased, and shouted angrily, "Someone, get this beast¡ª" "Why stoop to argue with a beast?" He Hongzhao interrupted him, then opened the window, patted the Snow Monkey¡¯s head, and smiled, "Go! Ah Jiu, you¡¯re free!" The Snow Monkey, appearing to understand human emotions, screeched and gestured wildly, even shedding tears. He Hongzhao shook her head and pushed it gently, "Go on. Go on." The Snow Monkey jumped onto the window sill, looked back with sad eyes full of sorrow at her. Pei Muyang felt she was wasting time and lost his patience, urging her, "How will you die? Choose quickly. Don¡¯t make us do it; that would be disgraceful." "Well, then I thank you for the grace you Ladies have given me." He Hongzhao picked up the bottle of crane crown red, giving a self-deprecating smile, "It turns out that in the end, a mere poison sees to my life." "Enough, no more nonsense, after I take your wretched life, I have other matters to attend to." "Hahaha, wretched life!" He Hongzhao laughed loudly as she drained the bottle, then violently smashed the porcelain on the ground, screaming, "Everyone in the world has wronged me, why can¡¯t I¡ª" Before she could finish, she was seized by a bout of violent coughing, "Cough cough cough¡ª" She coughed for a while, her complexion suddenly changed, her face twisted in pain, she clutched at her chest, spewing out a mouthful of fresh blood, and then, her body slumped down limply. Fresh red blood flowed from the corner of her mouth. She lay on the ground with her eyes open, her face covered by disheveled hair, still wearing a ferocious smile. The palace maid, terrified by the sight, staggered back several steps. "Eunuch?" Her eyes widened in fright as she looked toward Pei Muyang, not daring to check the woman¡¯s breathing herself. Pei Muyang had no expectations of her and, unflustered, strode over to He Hongzhao. He crouched down, checking her breath and pulse for a while, and once he was sure she had perished, he closed her eyes and left with the maid. The aftermath was Lu Zijin¡¯s responsibility. As Pei Muyang passed by him, he glanced at Sang Yan not far away and said in a low voice, "Lady probably wants to grant her a grave, but the Emperor¡¯s intention is to wrap her in a mat and throw her into the burial ground outside the city." Lu Zijin listened, nodded without a word, and walked in. Upon entering, he saw the female corpse on the ground. The body was petite, with hair disheveled, the face deathly pale with blood on the lips, not a pleasant sight to behold. He did not look a second time, but grabbed a blanket from the bed and covered her with it. "Squeak squeak squeak¡ª" The Snow Monkey returned, leaping from the window, pulled back the blanket, and wept over the dead woman. "Squeak squeak squeak¡ª" It gestured something at Lu Zijin while crying nonstop. Lu Zijin, who could not understand the language of animals, frowned and watched, then saw the Snow Monkey curl up in the woman¡¯s arms. He was quite moved by the scene: humans could have hearts of snakes, but the creatures they raised could be loyal. Having said that. He called out, "People!" Two soldiers came in quickly, saluting, and said together, "Lord Lu, what are your orders?" Lu Zijin glanced at the female corpse on the ground and ordered, "Bring a cool mat, lift the body, and take it to the burial ground¡ª" The deceased should be respected. Expose a woman¡¯s body in the wild? "Lift her to the burial ground and bury her." Chapter 197 - 196: Playing Dead Chapter 197: Chapter 196: Playing DeadSang Yan returned to her residence, her mood heavy. Upon seeing He Ying in the room, the sense of suffocation in her heart finally dispersed a bit. "I¡¯m back." He Ying beckoned to her, setting aside the petition in his hand. Sang Yan nodded and walked over. He extended his hand, pulling her to sit on his lap; he rested his chin on her shoulder and said affectionately, "I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time. Why did you only come back now?" He held her tight, as if he were whining. He also noticed the faint scent of medicinal herbs on her and frowned, "You have the smell of medicine on you. Were you with that madwoman the whole time?" In fact, He Ying knew and tacitly approved of Sang Yan¡¯s last encounter with Hong Zhao, but when she actually went and stayed for so long, he was displeased. He didn¡¯t like others occupying her heart. Even if it was a woman, he was jealous. Sang Yan was unaware of his thoughts and didn¡¯t hide anything; she leaned against his chest, her expression tired, "After all, it¡¯s a life. It just feels like a pity." Beyond pity, she wanted to ask He Hongzhao: why did she do that? Perhaps she still retained a bit of humanity and would explain something. Qi Wuya certainly wouldn¡¯t only have this one conspiracy. But she failed. He Hongzhao revealed nothing. A strong sense of defeat overwhelmed her. Sang Yan nestled weakly in his arms, murmuring with a sigh, "Xinyuan, power, status, are they really that important?" She was a modern person, from a time of peace, without much ambition, and crossed into this world just to lie low and slack off. Therefore, she found it hard to understand why Qi Wuya would kill so many for power and status. And He Ying, for power and status, had claimed many lives as well. "Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying steadied her shoulders, looking into her eyes gently. For others, he lacked the patience for explanations. But with her, he was willing to soothe to his utmost, "Stop thinking about her. Everyone has their own pursuits. She just died for her own ¡¯path¡¯. As for power and status? Indeed, they are important. Without them, Ah Yan, I wouldn¡¯t have you, nor could I protect you." Sang Yan understood his meaning, reminding, "You have to protect not just me but also the countless citizens of He Country." He Ying nodded vigorously, "Yes. That¡¯s my responsibility. I will spare no expense to defend it all. So, I want to tell you, the process of defending power and status is unavoidably bloody. Conflict reigns until killing stops killing. Peace will only be established atop mountains of corpses and seas of blood." He spoke with a very cold gaze and an unprecedentedly solemn tone. But Sang Yan didn¡¯t find him cold; instead, she felt deep sympathy for him, "You¡¯ve had a tough journey." She thought about how he became Emperor at ten years old; in her era, a ten-year-old child would still be watching Ultraman fight monsters. Yet here he was, sitting on the Dragon Throne. So young, he had to engage in constant intrigue. And he spent many years as a puppet emperor. Previously, she thought him to be the child of destiny, who had seen through to sweet outcomes and unlimited glory; now, these thoughts broke her heart. He really hadn¡¯t had it easy! Her love for him meant more understanding and more heartache for him. Now she hugged him tightly, wishing to pour all her warmth into him. He Ying was startled by her passion. Her enthusiasm had dissipated his heavy mood. He kissed the fine smoothness of her neck, thinking that perhaps tonight his wish would be fulfilled. But as his hand touched her slender waist¡ª Sang Yan slapped his hand away, scolding, "At such a sensual moment, what are you thinking?" She was a bit angry: this man was really good at killing the mood! At such a heartfelt moment, this horndog was thinking with his libido! Listening to her reproach, He Ying replied very innocently, "If I don¡¯t think about these things, wouldn¡¯t that be a problem?" He was referring to the incident with He Hongzhao sneaking that kind of medicine into his, nearly leading him to asceticism. Sang Yan was momentarily at a loss for words. Yet she insisted, "Not now." He Ying kissed her lips, murmuring softly, "Mmm. I wasn¡¯t really planning on anything. Just a kiss¡ª" Of course, every time they kissed, it was her hands that suffered in the end. Ah, this lecher! * sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The darkness of the night deepened. The moon was as cool as water. The road to the burial ground was tortuous, requiring one to pass through a dense forest. The wind blew. It carried an inexplicable chill. The shadows of the trees swayed. It seemed as if something were drifting about. Two soldiers carried a corpse, both trembling with fear. Suddenly, a rabbit darted past¡ª The soldier in front weakened in the knees from fright and nearly toppled over. And as he stumbled, a pale white hand slipped out from beneath the straw mat. In the moonlight, the fingers were slender, pale, stiff, and stained with fresh red blood. The soldier behind screamed, "Wang Er, what the hell are you doing? Want to die? Watch the path!" Wang Er, the one being yelled at, was even more frightened. The mention of death nearly made him cry, "Brother Liu, I¡¯m scared. My mother told me, it¡¯s terrifying when a young woman dies; they tend to cling to the living. And this woman was crazy, probably full of resentment..." "Damn it! Shut up! Don¡¯t talk anymore!" Wang Er was so scared that he broke out in goosebumps all over. Fear is contagious. Both men were afraid, and without speaking, they quickened their steps, eager to dump the body in the burial ground as quickly as possible. "Squeak, squeak, squeak¡ª" The Snow Monkey following them leaped about in the air. Its snowy white fur resembled the billowing skirt of a female ghost. "Waa¡ªwaa¡ªwaa¡ª" Just then, a few crows flapped their wings and screeched as they flew up. Wang Er stiffened with fear, halting abruptly, his forehead slick with cold sweat, "Brother Li, do you feel... the corpse is moving?" Li Fei: "..." Already frightened, Li Fei now had to deal with Wang Er saying whatever came to mind! "For the love of god, could you stop talking?" "No, no, Brother Li, can you take a look?" "Wang Er, I think you¡¯ve got a death wish¡ª" He was cut off mid-sentence when he saw the dropped hand seem to move. His scalp tingled, his grip faltering, and the straw mat tipped out of balance, causing the body to slide out in an instant. "Ah!" He jumped back in terror, retreating several steps and then brought his hands together, bowing his head fervently, "I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m so sorry. It wasn¡¯t on purpose, there¡¯s a head for every grievance, a debtor for every debt. Miss, we didn¡¯t do anything to offend you." Wang Er was not any less terrified and hid behind Li Fei, following suit in prayer, "We¡¯re sorry, Miss; it was not intentional, please don¡¯t blame us, we¡¯ll take you away right now." Even as he said that, he dared not step forward. Li Fei was equally scared and urged him, "You go! You were in front!" Wang Er burst into tears, "Brother Li, I can¡¯t, I really can¡¯t¡ª" But whether he dared or not, he had to. "Hurry up!" Li Fei kicked him. Caught off guard, Wang Er stumbled forward, falling right onto the corpse. "Ah ah!" Wang Er¡¯s screams were incessant. The noise was so loud that it shook the trees, casting fluttering, indistinct shadows all around. "Waa¡ªwaa¡ªwaa¡ª" Innumerable crows burst forth from the woods, their sinister cries piercing as they surged toward the sky. "Stop screaming!" Li Fei pulled the man to his feet. Wang Er wept in terror, "Brother, Brother Li, the corpse, the corpse seemed to move." As if in response to his words, the woman¡¯s body on the ground suddenly sat up. Her long hair sprawled out, her face pale as a ghost, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth, her dark eyes staring steadily at the two men. "Mommy! She¡¯s come back to life!" The two of them were so scared that they bolted! Chapter 198 - 197: Feigned Death Chapter 198: Chapter 197: Feigned DeathHe Hongzhao sat up, staring blankly at the two figures running off into the distance, then glanced around at her surroundings. The woods were dark and secluded. The area around her was cold and gloomy. The air carried the scent of rotting corpses. It must be the burial ground. Indeed, after her "death", it only made sense to throw her body there, otherwise, how could she have escaped by faking her own death? "Squeak, squeak, squeak¡ª" The Snow Monkey jumped down from the tree and burrowed into her embrace, even sticking out its tongue to lick her cheek. This was its way of comforting and protecting her. "Rustle, rustle¡ª" It was the sound of footsteps crunching on leaves. She looked up and saw a tall figure emerge from the darkness where the Snow Monkey had jumped down. The moonlight was dim. His face was indistinct. But still, she accurately called out his name, "Han Chen, it¡¯s been a long time." * When Sang Yan woke up, He Ying was not by her side. She asked a palace maid and found out that he had gone to the study early in the morning. What had happened? Why was he up and working so early? Her brow furrowed, and a bad premonition welled up inside her. Rushing to wash up, she headed for the study. Outside the study, Pei Muyang was kneeling. As He Ying¡¯s confidant, Pei Muyang was normally held in high regard. Why was he kneeling here today? Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand the reason, and approached to ask, "What¡¯s going on? Mr. Pei, what happened?" Pei Muyang replied with a pained expression, "Lady, this servant has failed in his duties. It seems that He Hongzhao might not have¡ª" He was too ashamed to speak! He had personally witnessed her drink the crane crown red, had seen her coughing up blood and becoming lifeless. How could she have survived? He still couldn¡¯t figure it out to this moment. Sang Yan had already guessed, "Did He Hongzhao fake her own death?" If she did not die, it must be a faked death. Pei Muyang was trustworthy; he wouldn¡¯t give He Hongzhao fake poison/medicine or declare someone dead without even checking for breath. So, did He Hongzhao use some sort of faking death drug? She had seen this type of scenario in novels and TV dramas. No, it wasn¡¯t just about some faking death drug. If He Hongzhao survived the poison/medicine given by Pei Muyang, there was only one possibility¡ªshe wasn¡¯t affected by the poison/medicine at all. Which means, she might have the body condition mentioned in novels and TV dramas¡ªimmune to all poisons! Further thought brought another idea; the He Family parents used He Hongzhao for research, it was entirely possible they had created a body for her that was immune to all poisons! Dammit! They had been negligent! Shit! Clearly, the heavens were giving He Hongzhao a golden finger! As expected, it¡¯s not so easy to kill off the villain! "Correct. She isn¡¯t dead," Pei Muyang explained with a distressed look, "The two soldiers who carried her to the burial ground last night came back saying she had risen from the dead. Lord Lu sensed something was off and immediately went to investigate. The body was gone, and there were footprints indicating she had moved." Everything was just as Sang Yan had expected. "You may rise." Sang Yan felt Pei Muyang was also innocent; no one could have anticipated that He Hongzhao would possess a poison-immune constitution and managed to use a feigned death to escape. She allowed him to rise, then pushed the door open and entered the study. Inside the study Lu Zijin was also kneeling. Hearing the sound, he turned his head to see Sang Yan and bowed his head, "I pay my respects to the Empress." Sang Yan nodded, permitting him to rise. But Lu Zijin didn¡¯t stand up, looking embarrassed and self-reproaching, "Lady, your servant has failed in his duty." Sang Yan knew he had taken the blame for letting He Hongzhao escape upon himself. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She shook her head, analyzing calmly and lucidly, "It¡¯s not your fault. We were all deceived by He Hongzhao¡¯s frail appearance. We forgot she was a Divine Doctor. We even thought of using poison to kill her. Since she was young, she underwent various medical experiments. I¡¯m afraid for her, poison is nothing more than daily sustenance." "Yes, Lady, you are right. Hahaha, Your Majesty is truly astute and intelligent, thinking right along the same lines as me." Imperial Doctor Liu echoed from the side, his hands fiddling with some red flower petal remnants, evidently conducting research. Sang Yan saw this and suddenly remembered that when He Hongzhao died, she was drinking red tea. The petals in the tea bloomed and were so fragmented that their shape was indiscernible, but if pieced together, they resembled¡ª "Fan Yin Flower!" She walked over and reminded him, "If these are collected from He Hongzhao¡¯s teapot, they should be Fan Yin Flowers." With the reminder, Imperial Doctor Liu slapped his forehead, "Ah, right. This flower can paralyze the mind and body, conceal breathing, and indeed has the effect of feigned death." He looked at Sang Yan, full of surprise, "Lady is quite impressive to recognize this flower." Sang Yan: "..." The shame! What good is she! She had been foolish all along! "I saw this flower when I followed the Emperor into exile in Puluo Country and cut down quite a few." She voiced her resentment, "I hate that I did not completely destroy them, allowing them to still get out and harm people!" "It¡¯s not necessarily from Puluo Country." He Ying, who had been silent, didn¡¯t want Sang Yan to blame herself and tried to comfort her, "He Hongzhao had been in cahoots with Qi Wuya for a long time; the Fan Yin Flower could very well be her own research, which was later brought to Puluo Country by Qi Wuya." That was entirely possible! Sang Yan said indignantly, "She probably also has a poison-immune constitution, so the poison sent by Pei Muyang couldn¡¯t kill her. And she drank this feigned death potion beforehand..." Saying this, she angrily hit her own head, "I was too soft-hearted. If I hadn¡¯t been concerned with giving her dignity and had chosen a different method of death, I wouldn¡¯t have released the tiger back into the wild." Thinking of how He Hongzhao had escaped and might even be meeting with Qi Wuya¡¯s people in secret, plotting something, she loathed herself. "It¡¯s me! It¡¯s my fault! It¡¯s all my fault!" She was so angry that she bit her own finger. "Calm down, Ah Yan!" He Ying had been watching her, and seeing her self-harm, he quickly stopped her, "Open your mouth. Ah Yan, be obedient, don¡¯t hurt yourself." He coaxed her gently, getting her to open her mouth, and seeing the bite on the back of her hand, his heart ached, "Don¡¯t do this. If I can kill her once, then I can kill her twice. Don¡¯t hurt yourself for her sake. It¡¯s not worthy." Sang Yan, hearing him say this, felt even more self-reproach and began to cry, "Xinyuan, I¡¯m so useless. I¡¯m always messing up your plans." "Don¡¯t talk like that." He Ying pulled her into his embrace, comforting her, "What has happened cannot be changed. See, it¡¯s not without gains; at least we know He Hongzhao has an accomplice. That person might have also come to Quanzhou. This time, I shall make sure he doesn¡¯t return." "That person? Are you talking about Qi Wuya?" Sang Yan, hearing that Qi Wuya might have come to Quanzhou, instantly forgot her self-pity. With the enemy right in front of her, how could she remain hindered by such trivial matters! "Yes!" He Ying said with a grave voice, "Lu Zijin just went to inspect the site. Besides He Hongzhao¡¯s footprints, there is also a grown man¡¯s footprint. Although we don¡¯t know his identity, it¡¯s very possible that Qi Wuya is in Quanzhou." Sang Yan got excited, "Then go issue a warrant for his arrest!" He Ying nodded, smiling indulgently, "Alright." He agreed, then turning his head and looking at Lu Zijin, his smile turned cold and his gaze icy, "Lu Zijin, go receive twenty lashes, then order a posting for a notice, within Quanzhou, to vigorously search for the whereabouts of He Hongzhao and Qi Wuya." Chapter 199 - 198 Execution Ground Chapter 199: Chapter 198 Execution GroundRecently, a major event occurred in Quanzhou City. The State Mansion posted a notice: "The He Family¡¯s youngest daughter, He Hongzhao, conspired with the Beiqi Country Prince, Qi Wuya, intending to rebel against the Emperor. A reward of ten thousand gold is offered for information on their whereabouts." Not only that, but they also announced how the He Family used their medical expertise to secretly poison patients and conduct medical experiments on them. Once the notice was posted, it immediately caused a huge uproar in Quanzhou City. At this time Beneath the city walls, a crowd was bustling. The people were standing on tiptoes to read the notice, and the chatter was incessant: "Could the officials have made a mistake? The He Family are such good people! How could they do such a treacherous and unfathomable thing?" "Exactly, and that female Divine Doctor, she¡¯s the one who cured my grandson¡¯s fever last time." "But the official word, how could it be false? I have a relative who works in the State Mansion, and they said she was sentenced to death by the Emperor! She faked her death to escape!" ... He Ying governed for over a decade, establishing countless great achievements. In the hearts of the people, he was as revered as a god. Anything related to his name made the people believe it by seventy percent. The murmurs gradually quieted down. However, the He Family had been rooted in Quanzhou for a long time. The people still carried a look of shock and suspicion, considering the possibility of some mistake. In short, they did not quite believe that the He Family could commit such detestable acts. Atop the city wall Sang Yan stood shoulder to shoulder with He Ying, naturally overhearing all the discussions of the people below. "Xinyuan, the He Family holds the title of a family of medical heritage, and they have treated countless patients¡ª" She furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with worry: "Chasing after He Hongzhao and incriminating the He Family like this, I fear it could destabilize public sentiment." She saw clearly: although the people were no longer discussing it, confusion was still evident in their expressions. And this confusion, if not addressed, would deepen further in their hearts by the day. Over time, it could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives. This could be damaging to the reputation of him, an Emperor. He Ying knew what Sang Yan was worried about. With a slight smile on his thin lips, he disregarded the soldiers protecting their safety around them, affectionately took her hand, and kissed it: "Ah Yan, don¡¯t worry, just wait a little longer." Sang Yan: "..." Wait? Wait for what? She was somewhat bewildered. Until Gao Wenliang led the soldiers in a grand procession. And beneath the soldiers, three disheveled figures were being pushed forward, dressed in prison garb, handcuffed and shackled. "Who are those people?" Sang Yan unconsciously asked, though she already had an answer in her mind. And the answer was shouted by the people below: "Doctor He!" "Mrs. He, what happened to you?" "Doctor He, the officials said you were using patients for medical experiments, is that true?" "Doctor He, please say something!" ... The voices of the people were mixed. But mostly, they were voices of concern. He Zhongwen, seeing such an attitude from the people, immediately started to win their hearts, crying out to the heavens: "Injustice! This is an injustice! For generations my He Family has practiced medicine, saving lives and helping the injured, how could we be framed by villains today and be coerced into confession!" His hair was disheveled, his face smeared with blood, wearing filthy, tattered prison clothes, indeed, he looked as though he had suffered harsh torture. Seeing is believing for the people, and their sympathy surged, beginning to shout: "Doctor He is a good person!" "Your Honor, you must discern the truth, you cannot wrongfully execute a good person!" "Release the He Family!" "Restore the He Family¡¯s innocence!" ... They pumped their fists in the air, largely believing He Zhongwen¡¯s lies. Seeing how things were unfolding, He Zhongwen felt a glimmer of hope and burst into tears, which only made him look more pitiful in the eyes of the others. But still, he spoke "grand" words, "As everyone knows, the He Family¡¯s medical code is: first learn broadly, then become a doctor; first be virtuous, then practice as a doctor; first be cautious, then practice medicine. Medicine is an act of kindness, and one must have a kind heart. With such a heart, how could one harm another¡¯s life?" These words were quite influential. The common people were so moved that they began wiping away tears. Even Sang Yan, perched on the city wall, might have been deceived by his performance, if she hadn¡¯t known the truth. "Heart of a beast in a human¡¯s guise! A beast in human¡¯s clothing!" Her chest burning with rage, she spat out, "Sounding so high and mighty, yet engaging in acts lower than a beast!" He Ying managed to remain unperturbed and patted her hand gently, consoling her, "Just watch." Sang Yan nodded and looked down¡ª "Officials, sirs, spare us, please! We truly are wronged!" This time, a young man spoke. He too was filthy and looked as if he had been punished. Now, faced with the execution ground, his resolve crumbled, collapsing on the steps like one with rubbery bones, in such fright that his trousers wetted, "Don¡¯t kill me! It was all that little slut He Hongzhao¡¯s doing! I didn¡¯t know anything! It really had nothing to do with me! Don¡¯t kill me! I don¡¯t want to die!" Clearly, he was the runt of the He Family. He Hongzhao¡¯s brother, He Fengyang. Before, Sang Yan thought that maybe He Fengyang was innocent, given that it was the He parents who valued sons over daughters. But now, it seemed He Fengyang knew. Not only did he know, but the term "little slut" rolled off his tongue too easily¡ªlikely, he¡¯d insulted his sisters both openly and covertly. He deserved to die just the same! The He Fengyang deserving of death shakily got up and, with a "thud," knelt before Gao Wenliang. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He clung to Gao Wenliang¡¯s legs, wailing loudly, "Mr. Gao, spare my life, please! This scheme against the Emperor, it really has nothing to do with us! That little slut has been living away on Cangcui Mountain for ages, nothing to do with us, the He Family! We truly didn¡¯t know she would commit such a heinous crime!" Gao Wenliang looked down at the thing clinging to his feet like a dead dog, suppressing his disgust, thinking about the Emperor¡¯s command¡ªbefore the execution today, He Fengyang must, in front of countless commoners, confess all the deeds of the He Family without omission. Thinking about this, he raised his foot and tapped his shoulder, "There¡¯s a way for you to survive, lad." "Really? What way?" Upon hearing this, He Fengyang¡¯s eyes lit up. He bowed, carefully cradling Gao Wenliang¡¯s foot, as if wishing to kiss it. His actions resembled that of a person on the brink of death who had finally grasped the last straw of salvation. As long as he wasn¡¯t killed, he would do anything! Gao Wenliang saw his determination and smiled with satisfaction, "Listen. You¡¯re to recount the He Family¡¯s usage of patients for medical experiments in front of the people, in detail. If you do, considering your contribution and reflection on past wrongdoing, I might just spare you a dog¡¯s death." "Ah?" He Fengyang hadn¡¯t expected Gao Wenliang to ask such a question in public. Actually, in prison, after only a couple of lashes, he had told everything. But his father had just spoken of being coerced into admission; if he now spilled everything in front of the commoners, the He Family¡¯s reputation would be tainted forever! But if he didn¡¯t speak, his head would be chopped off immediately! He didn¡¯t want to die! He was only twenty, so young and had yet to fully enjoy life! But speaking out meant betraying the He Family, and even if he miraculously survived, how could he face his ancestors in the future? But that was in the future! He didn¡¯t want to die right now! Just as he was about to concede¡ª "Medical progress inevitably involves sacrifice. I, Ni Yuehua, have saved countless lives, with no regrets towards the common people!" Suddenly, Mrs. He broke her silence with fierce ardor, "Fengyang, my son, even a lowly healer has their pride, to be killed but not humiliated!" As her voice fell, she collided with the executioner¡¯s broadsword. "Mother!" "Yuehua¡ª" Blood splattered. Chapter 200 - 199: Unfilial Son Chapter 200: Chapter 199: Unfilial Son"I never expected Ni Yuehua to have this kind of fervor." Sang Yan, having witnessed the scene, sighed and then became worried, "It looks like He Fengyang is not going to talk now." With such a fanatical and intense mother, wouldn¡¯t the son be influenced to some degree? "Not necessarily." He Ying shook his head, watching with a detached expression the people below who were scared to vomiting. He Fengyang was initially touched by his mother¡¯s words, but the next moment, the sight of her committing suicide terrified him into kneeling and vomiting. So much blood! The bright, sharp blade piercing through the flesh, how painful that must be! He was most afraid of pain! "I, I¡¯ll talk! Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kill me! I, I¡¯ll tell everything!" While vomiting, He Fengyang cried, "The He family indeed secretly conducted medical experiments. Initially, they used my sisters for research, and after both my sisters... died, the woman He Hongzhao was no longer under control, so they targeted... patients. In fact, using critically ill patients for experiments has always been a tradition of the He family." He, desperate to survive, confessed all those family secrets. After hearing this, Gao Wenliang loudly asked, "Is what you have said true?" Suppressing a laugh, he thought to himself: Just as the Emperor predicted! This He Fengyang, being spoiled by the He couple, has developed a selfish character! To save his own life, he¡¯d say anything! "You are leading the witness! That doesn¡¯t count!" Seeing the family reputation falling apart, He Zhongwen attempted to intervene, shouting furiously, "Unfilial son! Your mother and I did this for the advancement of medical science, and our medical books will be cherished for generations to come! What do you know, you ungrateful child!" He shared his wife¡¯s view that necessary sacrifices were unavoidable for the advancement of medical science. They were not wrong! "But you produced the Leisurely Powder!" He Fengyang countered his father¡¯s words but became timid halfway through, "Father, just admit it, otherwise we¡¯ll die! We¡¯ll all die!" Seeing his son so disheartened, He Zhongwen shouted in rage, "Pah, you coward scared of death, unworthy of the He family!" Gao Wenliang, observing the father-son dialogue, pinpointed the critical issue: "What is the Leisurely Powder?" He Zhongwen trembled at the mention of these words and said nothing. Gao Wenliang looked towards He Fengyang, who was trembling, about to say something but then closed his mouth. How could he dare to speak? The Leisurely Powder was his father¡¯s project for studying brain activity, but after mistakenly consuming it and finding it enjoyable, he started selling it for money. Not realizing that after several doses, it became addictive, triggering manic reactions towards women, especially young girls... "No need for nonsense. My He family has been practicing medicine for generations, and even if slightly unorthodox, it has been for the wellbeing of the public. If you must kill, then kill, for I, He Zhongwen, have a clear conscience!" He looked at his deceased wife, initially as timid as her, but suddenly found the courage to face death nobly. He was a man, and if he didn¡¯t show more resolve than his wife, what would be the point in living? "The only thing I regret is my medical book¡ª" He closed his eyes, shedding tears. The people were bewildered, unsure whether to sympathize or be angry: The He family secretly conducted medical experiments on patients! They had all visited the He Family Clinic for treatment and unknowingly became subjects of research! It was a chilling realization! Even if they were well now, who knew if there were latent toxins in their bodies? "I went to the He Family Clinic just recently." "What should we do? Could I have been experimented on without knowing?" "I felt a bit of vomiting a few days ago, and just got better these past two days, does that mean I¡¯m alright?" "Stop talking, I¡¯m scared..." Panic gradually spread. Just then, a man in coarse cotton clothes, with eyes red, stepped onto the execution ground. Gao Wenliang wanted to stop him, but glancing at He Ying and Sang Yan, saw that neither intended to intervene, so he let the man through. The man came up to He Zhongwen and shouted loudly, "Last month, my daughter just had a common fever, but after visiting your He Family Clinic, she died less than two hours later¡ªis that what your clinic did?" He Zhongwen looked up at the man and shook his head. This infuriated the man. "You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you? My daughter was only eight years old, you beasts!" He punched out, hitting He Zhongwen so hard that he spat out blood. "You tell me! Did you use my daughter for your research! You scoundrel! Give me back my daughter¡¯s life!" "I didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t¡ª" But his words had already lost credibility. The man didn¡¯t believe him and turned to He Fengyang, who was so frightened that he begged for mercy repeatedly. "It has nothing to do with me. I don¡¯t know anything. Don¡¯t hit me." He Fengyang¡¯s backbone was too weak. After taking a couple of punches, he spat out two teeth and miserably changed his statement, "It was my father¡¯s doing, the He Family has no daughters now, he had to use the bodies of young girls to test the Leisurely Powder, selling it to those rich young masters, it has nothing to do with me!" So that was it! They actually used the bodies of young girls to experiment with the Leisurely Powder! The He Family actually developed such a morally corrupt drug! "You unfilial son! I developed the Leisurely Powder to study the human brain, it was because you accidentally ingested it that it got out! You really know how to shift the blame! Everything I did was to clean up your mess! Forget it, forget it¡ª" He Zhongwen was too disappointed in his son. "Ha ha ha¡ª" He laughed maniacally, madly shoving the soldiers aside and pouncing towards He Fengyang, biting his son on the neck. He Fengyang screamed, his legs kicking directly into his biological father¡¯s stomach. The two grappled together. Who could tell they were father and son? Saying they were enemies wouldn¡¯t be an overstatement. "I will kill you, you hypocritical father and son, what a medical family, you¡¯re clearly devils!" The man violently pulled out a soldier¡¯s saber and chopped towards He Zhongwen. As the cold, long blade was about to plunge into his heart¡ª Without hesitation, He Zhongwen pulled He Fengyang towards him... "Puchi." The long blade stabbed into He Fengyang¡¯s abdomen. Blood dripped down from the blade, forming little crimson flowers on the ground. "My son, don¡¯t blame your father, I am going down¡ª" He contemplated suicide. Sang Yan saw this scene and shouted, "Don¡¯t kill him!" She suddenly realized¡ªHe Zhongwen must not die! They shouldn¡¯t kill He Zhongwen! But she was too late! He Zhongwen hugged his son from behind, the two of them skewered together. "Father, I don¡¯t... want to die." "Don¡¯t be scared, your father is with... you..." They fell to the ground together. In the distance, thick smoke billowed straight into the sky. The townspeople saw it and exclaimed in panic: "It¡¯s a fire!" "It looks like the He Family Clinic!" "This is divine punishment!" "Heaven is watching!" ... They immediately changed their previously respectful attitudes, beginning to scorn the He Family members. A mob is always easy to manipulate emotionally. Sang Yan was different, she quickly realized, "It¡¯s not divine punishment! It¡¯s He Hongzhao!" Why would He Hongzhao set the He Family Clinic on fire at this time? Besides venting anger, there must be another reason! The medical book! She grabbed He Ying and ran, "Quickly! The He Family Medical Book cannot fall into He Hongzhao¡¯s hands!" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 201 - 200: The Poisonous Woman Chapter 201: Chapter 200: The Poisonous WomanSang Yan and He Ying had rushed to the He Family Clinic when they arrived, it had already been mostly burned down. The bystanders who were putting out the fire were still shaken, and upon seeing them arrive with soldiers, they became agitated, talking over each other and gesturing wildly: "It¡¯s too big! The fire is too big!" "It suddenly started burning." "Ah, it¡¯s terrifying." "It must be divine punishment! Everything is burned down!" ... They didn¡¯t know about the grievances and animosities of the He Family, and they didn¡¯t realize it was arson. Yet, the instigators of this disaster had obviously gotten ahead of them again. Sang Yan looked at the ruined walls and the rubble on the ground, and said angrily, "They haven¡¯t escaped too far! Xinyuan, immediately have people search the area for suspicious individuals! He Hongzhao has excellent medical skills and might know the Disguise Technique, but he can¡¯t hide his frail constitution. Make sure they especially look out for people who are weak and sickly!" "Alright!" He Ying agreed with her idea and turned to Lu Zijin, saying coldly, "Did you hear what Lady said? Thoroughly check for suspicious individuals around the He Family Clinic, especially the frail and sick, even if their faces don¡¯t match, arrest them first!" Lu Zijin nodded in response, "Yes!" He immediately took the soldiers to conduct the search. After two days of searching, they had arrested many weak and sick individuals. Unfortunately, after verifying their identities, none of them was He Hongzhao. He returned to report, his face full of shame and embarrassment, "The docks, the post stations, and the inns in the city, I¡¯ve searched them all, and still, I found no trace of He Hongzhao." "Useless!" He Ying erupted in anger, grabbing the teacup in his hand and throwing it. "Bang!" The teacup shattered near Lu Zijin¡¯s feet. The Emperor was furious. The servants in the room all knelt down at once. The atmosphere became tense and stifling. "The entire Quanzhou is only so big, and you can¡¯t even find one person?" He Ying looked at Lu Zijin with disappointment. This was his most trusted Guard Captain. Being played once by He Hongzhao was enough, but now failing to find even a frail woman, how could he not be angry? Lu Zijin knelt on the ground, his back straight, not uttering a word. He didn¡¯t offer any excuses for himself. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t handled this matter well. Irrefutable! "What are you still kneeling for? Get out! Continue searching! If you can¡¯t find him, then you need not continue being Guard Captain!" He Ying pointed towards the door, ordering everyone out. "The Emperor can rest assured, I will continue the search with my men!" Lu Zijin said as he stood up, bowed in farewell to the two, and then walked out. Sang Yan spoke up, reminding, "Don¡¯t overlook Cangcui Mountain and the He Family Clinic. Check them again for any hidden passageways or traps." "Yes. Thank you for the reminder, Lady." He didn¡¯t say he had already checked. As a servant of the state, failing in his duties pointed to his own inadequacy. The Emperor trusted him so much. Yet he had failed his trust time and again. He Ying erupted into a violent cough, his right hand pressed against his chest, his fair face reddening from the cough, clearly angered. Sang Yan quickly handed him a cup of water then, patting his chest, helped him calm his breath, "Imperial Doctor Liu said you shouldn¡¯t get angry. Have you forgotten, or are you deliberately trying to upset me?" She rested her chin in her hand, her bright eyes carrying a trace of feigned displeasure. He Ying¡¯s heart stirred, and before his brain could respond, he blurted out, "Of course I didn¡¯t mean to upset Ah Yan." How could he dare upset her? Not to mention whether he would dare, whether he could bear to was another matter. Sang Yan, hearing this, felt pleased and her smile widened, "Although Lu Zijin is the Guard Captain, he is still young, having always been in the Imperial Palace, how could he compare to the cunning minds of Wuya and He Hongzhao? Don¡¯t be too hard on him." She seemed to be pleading for Lu Zijin, but in reality, she was also consoling him, urging him to be less angry. He Ying understood, took a few sips of tea, put down the cup, and holding Sang Yan¡¯s hand, asked in a lighter tone, "In your heart, am I such a temperamental and erratic person?" Sang Yan: "..." How was she supposed to answer that? When she had first arrived, wasn¡¯t he exactly a temperamental and erratic person? She pressed her lips together in a smile, not answering, and slightly tilted her head to look at him. The coy movement made He Ying chuckle with laughter. He truly had no way to handle Sang Yan. "Lu Zijin is young and has always been by my side, I regard him as a confidant, and because he is a confidant, I do not allow him to make mistakes¡ªeven more strictly so. He is someone I value, and he must possess true skills. Otherwise, he himself would find it difficult to convince the crowd." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh, so you were pushing him." Sang Yan¡¯s smile grew even more wicked: "Hitting is intimacy, scolding is love, it seems I was just worrying too much." He Ying heard her teasing. He was also happy to play along, giving Sang Yan a bow with a smile, "How could that be? A wife worrying for her husband is something the husband should be grateful for." Sang Yan: "..." Alright then! She couldn¡¯t win against this man! * The night was gloomy. He Family¡¯s Ancestral Tomb. Han Chen activated the mechanism and entered the tomb chamber. As soon as he entered, he heard He Hongzhao¡¯s intense coughing. He frowned and hastened his steps, walking over: "Are you alright?" He Hongzhao lay weakly on the bed, her complexion deathly pale, with blood dripping from the corner of her lips. "As you can see, not good." She coughed up blood, half-dead yet still smiling: "But, I won¡¯t die just yet." Han Chen was not in the mood to indulge her madness and handed her the food box: "Make do and eat something. Quanzhou is under martial law right now, we can¡¯t leave." He himself had no problem leaving. But those inspecting were particularly watchful for the sick, and with He Hongzhao looking like this, even with a disguise she would be caught the moment she went out. Who knows who had this terrible idea, damn it, to indiscriminately capture the sick! He Hongzhao opened the food box, it contained a bowl of warm Yangchun noodles and an egg. She ate without taste, took a few bites, then vomited them out. As she vomited, her body leaned to the side, knocking down the medical book she had been looking at. And it just had to land in her vomit. "Pick it up!" She commanded Han Chen: "Mr. Jiu would like it." Han Chen: "..." For Mr. Jiu, he would sacrifice anything. Thus, he closed his eyes, held his breath, and picked up the medical book. Indeed, this book was hard to find from He Family Clinic. Mr. Jiu would certainly like it. "Cough cough¡ª" He Hongzhao paid him no mind and continued to eat. Her body was too weak, she couldn¡¯t eat anymore. But she had to eat. She needed to stay alive to reach Beiqi. She wanted to see Qi Wuya once more. "Cough cough cough, vomit¡ª" "If you can¡¯t eat, don¡¯t force it." Seeing her vomit and eat simultaneously irritated Han Chen; the smell of vomit was unbearable! He held his breath, put down the medical book, and started cleaning up. It took a while but after she managed to eat half a bowl of noodles, she seemed to gain some strength; he quickly asked, "Do you have another plan to leave the city? This tomb chamber isn¡¯t necessarily safe. We need to leave as soon as possible." He Hongzhao had long known the tomb chamber was no place to stay and had been thinking of strategies. At this moment, she caressed the Snow Monkey gently, yet her words carried a chilling, bloodthirsty tone: "Since they are capturing the sick, then let there be more sick people." Han Chen: "..." He understood the meaning behind her words. Even though he had killed many, he was still shocked: Indeed, a woman¡¯s heart is most venomous. He wondered why Mr. Jiu wanted him to save such a venomous woman! Suddenly, he thought of Sang Yan. That kind of woman was better. Soft and weak, pretty even when crying, and fundamentally kind-hearted, with an occasional attack of cuteness. If Mr. Jiu had to choose a woman, then it should be Sang Yan. Otherwise, he could be so worried for Mr. Jiu that he couldn¡¯t sleep all night. Chapter 202 - 201 High Risk Chapter 202: Chapter 201 High Risk Lu Zijin had received his orders, and for three consecutive days, he sought any trace of He Hongzhao¡¯s whereabouts. But He Hongzhao seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth; not a single clue could be found in Quanzhou, or even in the neighboring cities of Quanzhou. He Ying was so enraged by this that he smashed many things. Ministers reporting to the Emperor dared not speak loudly, fearful of displeasing him. The entire State Mansion was engulfed in an oppressive atmosphere. Although He Ying hid it well in front of Sang Yan, never showing any negative emotions in her presence, she still sensed something was off. That day, When Sang Yan heard that officials were reporting to the Emperor, she went to act as an emotion regulator. "Lady¡ª" It was Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s voice. Sang Yan had just reached the study door when she bumped into him and immediately replied with a smile, "Imperial Doctor Liu, have you finished examining the Emperor? How is his recovery coming along?" The medicine prescribed by He Hongzhao was indeed an antidote. After He Ying took it for a few days, his wounds began to heal. It was because of this improvement that he trusted her, which led to him overlooking the possibility that she could administer other drugs. By the time he realized her malicious intent, Imperial Doctor Liu had removed that component from the medicine and adjusted the prescription before continuing to administer it to He Ying. These past few days, He Ying had been taking the medicine prepared by Imperial Doctor Liu. "I was just looking for you to talk about this." "Ah? What do you mean?" Sang Yan saw the serious look on Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s face, and her mood suddenly tensed: Was there a new problem with He Ying¡¯s health? Seeing Sang Yan¡¯s panic, Imperial Doctor Liu quickly reassured her with a smile, "No, Lady, do not worry. It¡¯s just some minor issues." Doctors always tend to downplay serious illnesses as minor. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t relax and became even more anxious, "I implore you, Imperial Doctor Liu, to clarify." Imperial Doctor Liu nodded with a smile and explained, "Here¡¯s the thing, Lady, as you have seen these past few days, the Emperor has been frequently infuriated over the He Hongzhao incident. His mind is troubled, and although he is now taking an antidote, the toxins in his body haven¡¯t been completely eliminated yet. If he remains too emotionally agitated, I fear the toxins in his body will circulate more rapidly, making them harder to eradicate later." He had just delivered medicine to the Emperor and took the opportunity to offer some advice, to little effect. Pei Muyang, who also tried to offer some words of consolation, was instead greeted with a torrent of abuse. "You lead people to enact death sentences, so how could you be so careless? Is that dagger just for show? You should have just struck her down with one blow! Useless!" Poor Pei Muyang deserved some sympathy. The aging old man couldn¡¯t bear to listen and so placed down the medicine bowl and left. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan, listening to Imperial Doctor Liu, thought: So that was the concern. She had feared that He Ying¡¯s health had taken a turn for the worse. It had nearly scared her to death. "Thank you for the concern you¡¯ve shown for the Emperor, Imperial Doctor Liu." She spoke politely and lamented, "To be honest, it has been bothering me as well." To share a bed with He Ying every night and not know he was troubled would mean she wasn¡¯t doing her duty. Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s eyes lit up when she said this, "Oh? Does Lady have any ideas then?" Sang Yan shook her head, her demeanor despondent, "I¡¯ve just inspected the map of Quanzhou. It¡¯s a coastal area, not very large, densely populated, with frequent trade and a high rate of people coming and going. It¡¯s quite difficult to find a place for the Emperor to unwind and lift his spirits." In truth, it wasn¡¯t that there were no places for relaxation, but safety was a concern. He Hongzhao was still at large, and Qi Wuya might be lurking in the shadows, so they had to be extra cautious. Thus, being an Emperor truly was a high-risk occupation. Seeing Sang Yan express these concerns, Imperial Doctor Liu knew she already had given it thought. Since she had concerns, how to alleviate the Emperor¡¯s troubles was no longer something he needed to ponder. Each task should be assigned to the appropriate person. He felt relieved, ready to stand by and watch with interest, smilingly said, "Then I will leave the Lady to think it over. I believe you will come up with an idea." He said this from the bottom of his heart, this Lady was astute and intelligent, combining softness with rigidity, truly a good girl. Initially, when he had heard she was a person of ill-omen, destined to outlive her husband, and that the Emperor had repeatedly braved dangers for her, he felt a bit of aversion, but after interacting with her, recognizing the "Fan Yin Flower", discerning the feigned death of He Hongzhao, and most importantly, being able to manage the Emperor, she really was a rare character. Their young and valiant Emperor was fierce and tyrannical, but now, with something to subdue him, it was indeed wonderful. The more Imperial Doctor Liu thought about it, the more satisfied he became, and his gaze toward Sang Yan gradually became that of a doting elder. Sang Yan: "..." What¡¯s going on? Why does Imperial Doctor Liu look at her like a father looking at his daughter? "Imperial Doctor Liu, what¡¯s wrong?" Sang Yan felt a bit uneasy: this fatherly, loving gaze was strangely penetrating. Indeed, she wasn¡¯t good at dealing with the elderly. Imperial Doctor Liu chuckled, "Lady, you are so concerned for the Emperor, I, as a humble subject, am happy for the people of Da He, happy for the Emperor." In the past, the Emperor wouldn¡¯t even think about touching a woman, he¡¯d feel uncomfortable all over just seeing one. Now, seeing the Empress, they get along as if they were one person. The Emperor¡¯s temper has improved a lot too. How could he not be happy? Sang Yan blushed at his words. She even felt somewhat burdened¡ªhe¡¯d actually placed the people of Da He on her shoulders. What merit or capability did she have? "The Emperor is still in a rage; perhaps, Lady, you could go and persuade him." Imperial Doctor Liu did not linger long, he bowed with his hands clasped, "This humble one takes his leave." Sang Yan nodded, watching him leave. Suddenly, a fierce shout came from the study, "Get out!" Hearing this, Sang Yan sighed resignedly and pushed open the door. Pei Muyang, drenched in tea, came towards her looking distressed. The official beside him also looked a mess, with a swollen forehead; he quickly bowed to Sang Yan and then hurried out. Sang Yan didn¡¯t recognize him, she just nodded slightly, her main focus was on Pei Muyang. Her lips parted as if wanting to say something, but she didn¡¯t know what to say. Pei Muyang, however, started talking, not at all resentful about the Emperor drenching him with tea. He said cheerfully, "Lady, your timing is perfect, please go and reason with the Emperor. Imperial Doctor Liu said the Emperor still has residual poison in him, and he should not get angry." He was a loyal servant. Such loyalty was nearly extinct in modern times. Thus, Sang Yan had always admired him, "Alright. Go clean yourself up. I¡¯ll handle things here." "Yes, thank you for your hard work, Lady." Pei Muyang bowed his head in acknowledgment and exited the room. He even considerately closed the door behind him. Sang Yan frowned slightly at the closed door: What¡¯s with closing the door in broad daylight? It made it seem as if they were about to do something improper. "Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying peeked out from a pile of petitions, his eyes warm and smiling, as if he hadn¡¯t just been the one in a rage. On seeing this, Sang Yan pursed her lips, calling him out, "Humph, stop pretending! I heard you shouting at people from way back!" Hearing this, He Ying stopped pretending, and sighed, "They deserve it! There are so many ways to sentence someone to death, why use poison. If at that time they had simply given a dagger, He Hongzhao wouldn¡¯t have survived!" And if He Hongzhao had not survived, he wouldn¡¯t have burned down the He Family Clinic or taken the medical texts. He had suffered from her medical skills and was very worried about what she might do next. Just thinking about it made him inexplicably irritable. And then, those incompetent fools, after searching for so long, still hadn¡¯t found her, how could he not be angry? Chapter 203 - 202 Negligence Chapter 203: Chapter 202 Negligence"After all this time, it¡¯s still about this. You used to advise me not to dwell on the past, that getting angry over what has already happened is pointless. Why have you forgotten all that now?" "It¡¯s just frustrating. It¡¯s been so long, and we still haven¡¯t found them." He was genuinely frustrated. The Capital City had already sent people to ask him to return and govern. They also mentioned that rebels from Min State were gathering, possibly leading to unrest. It seemed his departure from the capital to the sea had weakened his authority, giving those people a chance to exploit. He really should return to the capital. But the issue with He Hongzhao was holding him back. He had never discussed these things with Sang Yan, not wanting to trouble her with them. He just wanted her to live peacefully and joyfully by his side. "If we can¡¯t find them, we¡¯ll continue searching. As long as she¡¯s alive, she¡¯ll slip up eventually. I have a feeling she¡¯ll show up soon." Sang Yan felt her premonitions were quite accurate. She had often had such premonitions before encountering danger. He Ying didn¡¯t question it, just curiously asked, "Why do you say that?" Sang Yan analyzed, "Commander Lu reacts quickly. Upon hearing that He Hongzhao had faked her death, he immediately went to track her. The city gates were then closed. I don¡¯t think they would leave. We must have overlooked something." But what had they overlooked? "Knock, knock¡ª" The door was knocked. Then came the voice of Gao Wenliang, "Emperor, your servant has something to report." Upon hearing this, He Ying called out, "Come in." Gao Wenliang then pushed the door open. He was dressed in a black official uniform, holding a scroll in his hand. "By the Emperor¡¯s command, I¡¯ve drawn a new map of Quanzhou for your review." He slightly bowed, hastened a few steps forward, and presented the scroll on the table. He Ying didn¡¯t speak. He opened it and indeed, it was a newly drawn map of Quanzhou, much more detailed and complete than before. Sang Yan had also seen the old map of Quanzhou. Hearing that this was a new map, she too came forward to see what the differences were. Upon looking, she indeed noticed something new. "What is this place?" She pointed at a cluster of stone structures amidst the mountains. Seeing this, Gao Wenliang explained, "Lady, this is Cangcui Mountain." Sang Yan had seen the place name, so she gave a resigned smile, "I know this is Cangcui Mountain. I mean, what are these stone houses?" Gao Wenliang realized what she was asking, his face turned awkward for a moment before he replied, "Lady, over thirty years ago, Quanzhou faced warfare. The three major families of Quanzhou contributed money, effort, and man-power, vowing to confront the enemy, and ultimately held Quanzhou. The people of Quanzhou, grateful to the martyrs from these families, buried them at Cangcui Mountain." Sang Yan immediately understood: this was a martyrs¡¯ cemetery. She liked such passionate and tragic stories and asked, "Which three families were they?" sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In her memory, in ancient times, these major families always had privileges and were usually protected first. It was rare to encounter such positive-energy families. Seeing her interest, Gao Wenliang grew inexplicably excited, somewhat proudly stating, "Regarding these three families, the first was Zhou¡¯s Escort Agency. This family had generations working as armed escorts, producing capable and valiant individuals. Unfortunately, almost all were lost in that great battle. Otherwise, those pirates might not be so rampant now. The second is Cheng Shipyard, this family has generations of shipbuilders, and the ships they built were known for their speed. Sadly, now only two daughters remain to hold up the family name. The last one..." He stopped there, hesitant. Sang Yan was listening intently and seeing him pause, looked at him puzzled, "What about the last one?" "The last one... the last one..." Gao Wenliang stammered, glancing toward He Ying, seemingly hesitant to continue. Seeing him hesitate like this, He Ying, already irritated, sternly demanded, "Speak!" Gao Wenliang wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally said, "The last one is... the He Family." Sang Yan suddenly realized: no wonder he hesitated and dared not speak, it turned out to be the He Family. Ever since the He Family met with disaster, no one dares to mention the word "He" now! He Ying had already become interested: "Continue!" Gao Wenliang then continued: "More than thirty years ago, the He Family was quite prestigious. They dealt in medicinal herbs and operated nearly a hundred clinics big and small, with their influence reaching as far as Qi State. Unfortunately, war broke out. The He Family, being a lineage of medics, were the first to bear the brunt¡ªtwo consecutive family heads were assassinated and killed. Later, they fought with all their might, but the casualties were heavy. By the end of the war, only He Zhongwen remained. Strictly speaking, He Zhongwen was not from the main branch of the He Family, but a collateral relative. Because he was very talented in medicine, he caught Mr. He¡¯s eye." "So it seems the real He Family had already perished in that war." Sang Yan pondered this, her eyes suddenly sharp: "Then, are the He Family members also buried in Cangcui Mountain?" Gao Wenliang nodded: "Yes. The He Family¡¯s ancestral tomb is here." No sooner had his voice fallen than he saw the Emperor and Empress exchange a look, their minds connected: "The He Family¡¯s ancestral tomb!" He Hongzhao, after falling out with her parents, went into seclusion in Cangcui Mountain. Cangcui Mountain has the He Family¡¯s ancestral tomb. Now He Hongzhao has vanished without a trace! "Pei Muyang!" He Ying bellowed, and then said to Gao Wenliang: "Arrange troops immediately, I want to go to Cangcui Mountain!" "No!" Sang Yan sternly refused: "You¡¯re still injured; you can¡¯t go!" But He Ying was just as determined: "Ah Yan, I must go!" He knew Sang Yan was worried about him, and quickly added: "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll just be directing things and won¡¯t engage in the fight or take any risks." Sang Yan listened, but still shook her head: "No. What kind of emperor would put himself in danger? Just let Lu Zijin lead the troops! It¡¯s definitely possible this time. Why use a cleaver to kill a chicken?" Hearing the last remark, He Ying laughed: "But I really want to slaughter that chicken with this cleaver!" Sang Yan: "..." Knowing she couldn¡¯t persuade him, she hugged his arm and said: "Then I¡¯ll go with you!" He Ying absolutely disagreed: "No. You wait here for me." Sang Yan was displeased: "If you can go, why can¡¯t I?" He Ying paused, his expression serious: "This is my responsibility." Sang Yan would not accept this: "And protecting you is my responsibility." He Ying: "..." Unexpectedly sweet words. He liked them very much, and his heart was extremely sweet, but unfortunately, the timing was wrong. Otherwise, he really wanted to hold her tight and kiss her fiercely, relentlessly! "Cough¡ª" Thinking got him all fired up. He hurriedly took a sip of cold tea to cool down, then softened his voice: "Ah Yan, please listen, He Hongzhao can¡¯t be alone there, and if there are accomplices, your presence would distract me." "So, I would only add to the chaos?" "You know that¡¯s not what I mean." "That¡¯s exactly what you mean!" Tears welled up in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, as she prepared to play the sympathy card: "I¡¯ve brought you nothing but trouble since my arrival from Puluo Country. If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have been poisoned, hurt, and nearly died several times. Although you don¡¯t say it, I¡¯m sure that¡¯s what you think inside." She intentionally misinterpreted his heart, even dragging her so-called husband-killing fate into it: "Yes, I shouldn¡¯t go, I have a husband-killing fate, if I went, I¡¯d doom you, and I would deserve to die¡ª" Her lips suddenly felt warm. He Ying, unable to listen any further, kissed her directly. Sang Yan: "!!!" Why was this different from what she had imagined? Gao Wenliang: "!!!" Was this something he was supposed to see? Chapter 204 - 203 Pursuit Chapter 204: Chapter 203 PursuitHe Ying didn¡¯t kiss her for too long before he released her. It really wasn¡¯t the time for intimacy. He kissed her simply because he didn¡¯t want her to say those self-harming words. "You, you¡ª" Sang Yan¡¯s face flushed, unsure of what to say. And there were officials nearby! This lecher acted so wantonly, with no regard for the occasion! "It¡¯s okay, Ah Yan, don¡¯t be angry¡ª" He Ying rubbed her reddened lips, his eyes still holding lingering affection, yet his words had turned cold and firm, "He Hongzhao is full of tricks, ruthless and vicious. If you follow me, I will truly be distracted, so please, be good and wait here for me. I promise you, I won¡¯t take any risks, alright?" Not good. That¡¯s what Sang Yan thought inside, but she sighed on the surface, "Then be careful." She saw the determination in his eyes and knew his mind was made up, so she didn¡¯t want to say anything more to delay him. "Mhm." He Ying nodded solemnly. Pei Muyang had already come in and stood silently to one side. Seeing him, He Ying said sharply, "Have Lu Zijin gather the troops; we¡¯re heading to Cangcui Mountain right now." "Yes!" Pei Muyang hurried off. Gao Wenliang also went to assemble the government soldiers. In less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, two teams of horses and men gathered at the entrance of the State Mansion. A middle-aged man dressed as a merchant was hawking rouge and powder. Seeing the soldiers outside the State Mansion, his face changed instantly, and he immediately pushed his cart away. Once in a secluded alley, he took a messenger pigeon from beneath his stall, quickly wrote a line of words, and placed it in the cylinder on its foot. Then, stroking the pigeon¡¯s head, he released it into the sky. The pigeon spread its wings and quickly disappeared into the heavens. Cangcui Mountain, ten miles outside of Quanzhou City. He Family¡¯s Ancestral Tomb, inside the tomb chamber, Han Chen watched the woman who was still pale and tinkering with herbs, an impatience flickering in his eyes: "Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet? How much longer do you need?" He had been in this tomb chamber for several days and was about to suffocate. Mainly, he felt it was unsafe here. Sooner or later, He Ying¡¯s people would find this place. "What¡¯s the rush?" He Hongzhao coughed a few times, pinched a herb, and put it in her mouth. As if tasting it. The result was an even more violent cough. With each cough, blood followed. Han Chen immediately stepped back further, worried her illness might be contagious. But if it were to be contagious, he probably would have caught it by now. Bad luck for him, sent by Mr. Jiu to save her, so now he shared a tomb chamber with her, living in a sorry state. Utterly pathetic! "Shouldn¡¯t I be in a hurry? He Ying¡¯s troops will find us soon, and you¡¯re still here researching herbs?" He was already a hothead, and now he was like a lit fuse. He Hongzhao wasn¡¯t affected by Han Chen¡¯s temper, her demeanor still indifferent: "These herbs are a good thing." As her words fell, a white pigeon flew from afar and landed on the tombstone. "There¡¯s someone!" Han Chen¡¯s expression turned stern, he clenched the long sword in his hand and stepped lightly to go check. With this look, he saw the white pigeon on the tombstone, and his brow immediately furrowed. The pigeon, as if understanding humanity, flew towards him and landed on his arm. Han Chen quickly took the note out from the cylinder, his expression changed, and he hurried back to the tomb chamber: "Let¡¯s go! He Ying is leading people this way!" Hearing this, He Hongzhao¡¯s brow furrowed slightly and her indifferent face tensed: "This He Ying is more formidable than I imagined." She had thought he was just an emperor obsessed with beauty. Unexpectedly, he managed to guess she was here. Seeing her still there leisurely praising He Ying, and remaining so composed, really infuriated Han Chen: "Enough, they¡¯re already coming, what are you dawdling for? Sick of living?" As he urged her on, he began to pack their belongings. Medical books, herbs, simple food. He had long prepared for escape. He Hongzhao leisurely ground the herbs into powder and poured them into a small, green and transparent glass bottle. Inside the glass bottle, there was some liquid which, when mixed with the ground herbs, sparked with white light. "What is this?" Han Chen was half curious, half still curious: He Hongzhao¡¯s medical skill was exceptional, and his poison-making was unsurpassed in the world. How could he not be curious about the effect of this substance? "You¡¯ll find out soon." He Hongzhao didn¡¯t explain but placed the glass bottle into the sachet at his waist. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then the two of them walked out of the tomb chamber. Just in time to see a flock of birds taking flight in the sky to the northeast. Something had startled them. Han Chen held his breath and listened for a moment before pulling He Hongzhao with him, "They¡¯re coming after us! Let¡¯s head southwest!" But they hadn¡¯t gone far before they were caught by the leading riders. "There they are! Kill them!" Lu Zijin, leading the way on horseback with bow and arrow in hand, immediately shot at them. Fortunately, Han Chen reacted in time, dodging the arrow while holding He Hongzhao. He didn¡¯t put her down but continued to carry her as they jumped and sprinted away. Lu Zijin pursued them on his horse. Just as he was about to catch up¡ª He Hongzhao grabbed a handful of herbal powder from the sachet and scattered it behind. Lu Zijin instinctively reined in his horse and covered his nose, "Your Majesty, be careful! She is using poison!" He Ying, riding on a horse behind Lu Zijin by a step, also saw clearly. Knowing that He Hongzhao was skilled in poisoning, he too stopped and held his breath. This gave He Hongzhao and the others the chance to flee. "Damn it!" He Ying spurred his horse to chase. Lu Zijin quickly blocked him, "Your Majesty, let your humble servant pursue them, please stay behind." Saying this, he ordered a row of soldiers to follow and gave pursuit. He Ying waited a moment but, anxious, rode after them. "Your Majesty!" Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s voice came from behind. He Ying heard him and turned back, "Why has Imperial Doctor Liu come?" The question was pointless. Imperial Doctor Liu had obviously come anticipating He Hongzhao¡¯s use of poison. And this was true, the poison indeed bought them time. "Lady sent me." Imperial Doctor Liu explained, "Lady is afraid of He Hongzhao¡¯s poison and asked me to watch over you." He Ying¡¯s heart warmed at the mention of Sang Yan, "She¡¯s always so thoughtful." Imperial Doctor Liu took a few sniffs of the air and smiled, "Your Majesty need not worry; it¡¯s merely common herbs." "Curse her! That villain deceived me!" He Ying, infuriated, whipped his horse and pursued further. Imperial Doctor Liu hurriedly followed, calling out, "Your Majesty, do not be reckless! Lady warned against being rash!" He Ying, thinking of Sang Yan, kept a distance anyway. Lu Zijin continued the chase. And managed to catch up. They had both of them surrounded. "Whoosh!" Swords clashed and hidden arrows flew in the skirmish. Han Chen was a formidable fighter, where he went, he stirred up clouds of fallen leaves. Amidst their fluttering, an aura of grim death prevailed. "Han Chen, He Hongzhao, surrender now!" He Ying sat firmly astride his horse, his gaze piercing and presence commanding, his words belying the majesty of a sovereign. "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" He Hongzhao was being held by Han Chen, dizzy from the shaking, wanting to speak, but coughing too hard to say anything. Han Chen fought valiantly, protecting He Hongzhao. Outnumbered, it didn¡¯t take long before his arms and legs suffered injuries. "Whoosh!" An arrow struck his chest. Pain turned his complexion deathly pale as he staggered back two steps, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "The grudge of Qi Wuya stealing your wife, today, you Han Chen... will first pay for him." He Ying held a black recurve bow, slowly fitting three arrows onto it. These three arrows to be loosed at once? Han Chen, both shocked and trembling, sensed imminent danger: It seemed this was to be his final resting place. Chapter 205 - 204: Arson Chapter 205: Chapter 204: ArsonWatching Han Chen¡¯s life hanging by a thread¡ª "Mr. Han, run!" Seven men in black descended from the sky, buying them more time. He Ying released three arrows at one of the men in black, but the remaining two arrows were blocked. Clearly, they were assistants left by Qi Wuya in Quanzhou. With the help of their assistants, Han Chen picked up He Hongzhao, and they were back into a thrilling escape. Upon seeing this, He Ying shouted as he cracked his whip, "After them! Don¡¯t let those two get away! Whoever captures He Hongzhao first, a thousand taels of gold and a promotion by three ranks!" With a generous reward, heroes emerge. Boosted as if by divine intervention, the soldiers chased after them like madmen. This woman, daring to plot against his Emperor! She deserved death! Han Chen, while carrying He Hongzhao, ran over a thousand meters quickly. But no matter how fast he ran, he couldn¡¯t discount the fact that he was carrying someone. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Especially with multiple wounds on his body and an arrow in his chest. The further he ran, the more difficult it became. And those pursuing soldiers from He Country were all elite, handpicked by He Ying. The cries of pursuit grew ever closer. Han Chen¡¯s heart sunk, unable to resist complaining, "I don¡¯t know why Mr. Jiu insisted I save you. Even after saving you, if it weren¡¯t for your insistence on witnessing the suffering of the He Family in person, we could have safely left Quanzhou much earlier." He regretted not leaving Quanzhou with her immediately, allowing her to witness the calamity of the He Family. Though they had obtained the medical book. Terrible! He looked back and realized the bundle had dropped unnoticed. He instinctively stopped and thought about going back for it¡ª "Go!" He Hongzhao reproached in a low voice, "I¡¯ve already finished reading it. Now, it¡¯s not worth a penny." Han Chen understood her meaning, but it was shame it had to fall into their hands. He had been with Qi Wuya for too long, just as miserly, always believing the best things must remain theirs! If it couldn¡¯t be utilized by them, then it served no purpose! "Cough, cough, cough, let¡¯s run faster, Mr. Jiu is waiting for us¡ª" With thoughts of Mr. Jiu, He Hongzhao¡¯s ruined face glowed with a slight brightness, a sign of a struggling vitality. She didn¡¯t want to die here! She wanted to live and see Mr. Jiu! Han Chen felt the same. Hearing He Hongzhao¡¯s words reinvigorated him. Death always seemed to unlock one¡¯s hidden potential. The more they ran, the higher the terrain and the stronger the wind became. This added more resistance to Han Chen. Both their faces stung from the harsh wind. "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" He Hongzhao, hearing the sounds of pursuit behind and brushing the wind-blown hair from her face, suddenly asked, "Han Chen, what kind of wind is this today?" Han Chen, breathing heavily, glanced at the sky and the leaves, and responded irritably, "Southwest wind!" "Southwest wind? Cough, cough, cough¡ª" He Hongzhao broke into violent coughs, but then laughed heartily, "Haha, the heavens don¡¯t want me, He Hongzhao dead yet. Han Chen, we have a chance." Han Chen tensed up, "What do you mean?" He Hongzhao patted his shoulder, "Put me down." Han Chen, half understanding, let her down. He Hongzhao set foot on the ground and looked at a conveniently dead tree, her eyes sharp, and commanded crisply, "Han Chen, start a fire!" Han Chen immediately realized she intended to start a forest fire. It was early autumn, and the weather was still hot; once a tree caught fire, aided by strong winds, it would spread rapidly. It was a good idea for self-rescue. Han Chen immediately took out the fire stone and tried to start a fire. The wind was strong, making it difficult to ignite. He Hongzhao, lacking patience, directly took out a glass bottle from her sachet, dripped a few drops over a pile of fallen leaves, and the next moment, flames shot up several meters high. Han Chen was astonished and lost for words, "What is this?" He Hongzhao indifferently said, "Told you it¡¯s a good thing. Not only does it help kindle, but it also dissolves bones. In the future, when Mr. Jiu kills someone, just a single drop, and no body will need disposing of." Han Chen: "..." Poisonous woman! He stepped back and watched as the raging flames engulfed over a dozen trees in an instant, spreading rapidly. Driven by the wind, the fire, like a beast, lunged toward He Ying and the others. He could see they had already stopped in their tracks from a distance. Wildfires are terrifying, especially with so many residents and fertile fields at the base of the mountain. He Ying knew the severity and made a quick decision to have people extinguish the fire. "Retreat! Quickly retreat! A three-thousand-meter distance, cut down trees to break the fire!" "Yes!" Lu Zijin responded and immediately led his troops to retreat three thousand meters and began cutting trees to stop the fire. The air was suffocating with the smell of scorching. A soldier picked up a bundle and, after descending the mountain, handed it to He Ying. The expedition was a failure. But it was not entirely fruitless. They recovered the He Family Medical Book, killed six men in black, and captured one alive. The man had hidden poison under his tongue intending to commit suicide but was prevented from doing so. After arranging the firefighting, Lu Zijin led his men in the opposite direction to continue pursuing He Hongzhao and another. He Ying returned to the State Mansion first. In front of the State Mansion, Sang Yan was extremely anxious, pacing back and forth, waiting for He Ying¡¯s return. Pei Muyang was nearly dizzy from her pacing and couldn¡¯t help but console her, "Lady, please be at ease. The Emperor will definitely be fine. Imperial Doctor Liu is already on it." Sang Yan sighed, "It¡¯s been such a long time." Pei Muyang looked at the sky, calculated the time, and replied, "Lady, it¡¯s been just over three two-hour periods." While they were speaking, they saw a blaze in the northeastern direction¡ª "It¡¯s on fire! That¡¯s a wildfire!" Pei Muyang looked toward the direction of the wildfire, frowning deeply. Sang Yan turned even paler, "It¡¯s toward Cangcui Mountain!" The master and servant exchanged worried glances, both concerned about He Ying¡¯s safety. Sang Yan said even more urgently, "Let¡¯s go! Take people over there!" "No!" Pei Muyang, thinking of He Ying¡¯s instruction, showed difficulty on his face, "Lady, please stay calm! The Emperor said you can only stay in the State Mansion and cannot go anywhere!" Even at a time like this, they¡¯re still worrying about that? Sang Yan was so anxious she wanted to curse, "It¡¯s on fire there! Do you know how terrifying a wildfire is!" In modern times, extinguishing wildfires is very difficult, requiring the cutting of trees to create firebreaks, manual removal of flammable materials, and aerial spraying of fire retardants, yet still, how many firefighters die each year fighting wildfires! Not to mention this is the technologically backward ancient times. It all depends on manpower to fight the fire. The danger is even greater. "Take people and come with me to help!" Sang Yan ordered sternly with a cold face. Pei Muyang was still hesitant, "Lady, the Emperor has taken so many people, he will be alright." "I need to see with my own eyes that he is unharmed." She hated waiting. Beside Jiang Ke, she was waiting for a chance to escape; beside Qi Wuya, she was also waiting for a chance to escape, but wait as she might, how many chances could there be? She had really waited too long. She rushed into the mansion, calling for a horse to be prepared. But who would dare give her a horse? She could only search for the stables herself, and believe it or not, she actually found them. There was a white horse in the stables, pure white all over, with shiny fur and a noble, beautiful demeanor. She absentmindedly thought: No wonder they call them Prince Charming! "Neigh¡ª" The breath of the white horse was heavy, and it occasionally flicked its tail. Sang Yan reached out to touch it¡ª Pei Muyang quickly stopped her, "Lady, you mustn¡¯t! This horse is spirited, chosen one in ten thousand by Mr. Gao for the Emperor, and since the Emperor is injured, it has not yet been tamed¡ª" As he was speaking, the white horse nuzzled Sang Yan¡¯s hand and even nibbled at her sleeve. Sang Yan was stunned, "It, it seems... quite fond of me?" Chapter 206 - 205 Embrace Chapter 206: Chapter 205 EmbracePei Muyang had not expected that the white horse would show kindness to her. Could it be that all creatures have spirits, and the white horse sensed Lady¡¯s pure goodness? "Lady, do you know how to ride a horse?" He had never seen Sang Yan ride a horse. Sang Yan knew that the original owner could ride horses, but her skills were not great, and she rarely rode. As a modern person, to be honest, she had never even seen a horse in person. Now, looking at the tall horse, she felt intimidated, and there was also a sense of self-loathing: she could not ride horses, nor did she dare to. All this time she spent here, she never thought about learning to ride. He Hongzhao said she was useless, only hiding behind men, and it seemed to be true. She was too weak. But she would no longer continue to be weak. She would start learning to ride a horse from now on. She went to untie the horse reins, preparing to find a range to learn horseback riding. "Lady, you mustn¡¯t!" Pei Muyang, seeing that she was not as tall as the horse and not strong enough to withstand a horse¡¯s kick, immediately called out for help: "What are you waiting for? Hold the Lady back!" The palace maids attending on the side stepped forward to hold her¡ª Sang Yan gave a gentle smile: "Don¡¯t worry! I just want to learn how to ride. You can also find someone to teach me." Pei Muyang did not dare to find someone to teach her. With the Emperor¡¯s possessiveness, even if another man touched her, that could cost him his life. "Lady, please spare us." Pei Muyang appeased her with a smile: "Lady, I have already had a carriage prepared. Let¡¯s go by carriage. If you want to learn how to ride, the Emperor will personally teach you when he returns." Sang Yan thought about He Ying¡¯s injury; she feared he would not be able to teach her any time soon. Pei Muyang, seeing her seemingly relenting, continued to persuade: "Lady, let¡¯s go see the Emperor first. Aren¡¯t you worried about him?" Thinking of He Ying, Sang Yan calmed completely and nodded: "Alright." She went to sit in the carriage, heading for Cangcui Mountain. An hour went by. Through the curtains of the carriage, she saw the majestic procession coming toward them. Pei Muyang exclaimed in shock: "Lady, that¡¯s the Emperor! The Emperor is coming." Upon hearing this, Sang Yan quickly got out of the carriage. In view, a man adorned in a splendid imperial robe approached against the backdrop of the evening glow, his long hair flowing, handsome and noble. "Xinyuan!" "Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying reined in the horse and dismounted: "Why are you here?" Sang Yan, while checking him for any injuries, explained: "I saw Cangcui Mountain on fire and was concerned, so I came over to check." As she got closer, she saw his face was smeared with ash from the mountain fire. "It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s almost extinguished." After He Ying offered reassurances, his cold gaze swept toward Pei Muyang: "What did I tell you when I left?" Pei Muyang knew that he would be punished for allowing the Lady to leave without permission and quickly kneeled: "Emperor, please forgive me." He didn¡¯t argue that it was the Lady who insisted on coming out and even wanted to learn how to ride horses. In his heart, he took responsibility for not managing things properly. At that moment, Sang Yan spoke up for him: "Enough. Punish me instead. You know it¡¯s not his fault." "A master does not make mistakes." He Ying¡¯s expression was severe, and not swayed by Sang Yan¡¯s pleading: "Once we return, receive twenty cane strokes. Let this be a warning." "Thank you, Emperor." Pei Muyang knew that twenty cane strokes were already a light punishment. But Sang Yan disagreed, feeling that it was her fault for implicating him and felt very guilty: "No! He Ying, you should know that I don¡¯t want others to suffer because of me." He Ying remained stern: "Ah Yan, suffering for you is his honor." Who should endure suffering for her? Many people wished to suffer for her but didn¡¯t have the chance. Sang Yan understood what he meant but couldn¡¯t accept it: "Regardless, you cannot punish him. I promise you, I won¡¯t be so reckless in the future." Knowing that he was more receptive to gentleness than to force, she took out a handkerchief, gently wiped the dust from his face, and cooed: "Look at you, your face is all dirty. Are you tired? Let¡¯s go back, wash up, take a bath to relax, alright?" He Ying, enjoying the way she humbled herself and also seizing the rare opportunity, made a condition: "You¡¯re joining me." He wanted her to accompany him in the bath. Sang Yan did not catch the underlying hint and nodded: "Alright." Upon hearing her agreement, He Ying immediately granted clemency: "Fine. I¡¯ll spare him this time." He helped her onto the carriage. Sang Yan shook her head, watching him ride up on his horse, her heart already fluttered, "I want to ride a horse." Riding was obviously faster. He Ying couldn¡¯t help teasing her, "So Ah Yan is in such a hurry." Sang Yan, "?" What hurry? Why did it feel like their conversation was on different wavelengths? While she pondered, He Ying lifted her up and placed her on the saddle. Then, he swung himself onto the horse, sitting face to face with her, one arm around her and one hand pulling the reins, and rode off. At dusk, the soft light was magnificent. They galloped on their horse, the evening breeze whistling past their ears. Sang Yan felt his robust heartbeat and his firm chest, this feeling of being entirely enveloped in his embrace was nice and stirred her emotions. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Slow down." She was a bit scared. And involuntarily clung tighter to him. He Ying loved her embrace to death and, instead, rode even faster. "Xinyuan, slow down." "I think faster is better." He looked down at her blushing face, teasing her, "Doesn¡¯t Ah Yan like me to speed up?" Sang Yan, "..." Why did the conversation feel weird? And he even asked, "Ah Yan, tell me what you feel? Do you like this sensation?" He leaned close to her earlobe, his breath scorching her face. Sang Yan felt like she was on fire, "What, what could I possibly feel?" At most, it was like the speed and thrill of modern racing? He Ying lightly bit her earlobe and asked again, "How about now? What do you feel?" Sang Yan, "..." Her ears felt like they were burning. Her whole body buzzed with a tingling sensation like an electric shock. "Stop it!" She knew his mind was full of naughty thoughts. Indeed, He Ying¡¯s mind was filled with naughty thoughts. He even started making requests, "Ah Yan, kiss me." Sang Yan wasn¡¯t about to kiss him; she told him to focus on riding and changed the subject, "Why is there a wildfire? Did He Hongzhao start it? Have they caught her yet?" This was a heavy topic. He Ying¡¯s whimsical thoughts were wiped out clean by her few words. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, "Ah Yan really knows how to kill the mood." Sang Yan bit his Adam¡¯s apple in irritation, "Hmph, so you¡¯re saying I¡¯m unromantic? Then go find some romantic women." He Ying¡¯s body shivered in pleasure from her bite and said with a laugh, "Is Ah Yan jealous?" He lowered his head to kiss her little nose, "Ah Yan is the best. I was just teasing you." Sang Yan pouted and said, "It¡¯s not fun." He Ying smiled indulgently, "Then we won¡¯t play. Let¡¯s talk about serious matters." He recounted chasing He Hongzhao and Han Chen at the He Family¡¯s Ancestral Tomb, "It¡¯s a pity they got away. We were so close. He Hongzhao set the fire. That woman is not only skilled in medicine but also very intelligent. It¡¯s unfortunate that she¡¯s serving others." Sang Yan heard his tone of admiration and also felt it was a pity, "Yeah. She¡¯s very impressive. Too bad she¡¯s blinded by love." Speaking of being blinded by love, she poked his chin, huffing, "Don¡¯t laugh at others; you¡¯re the same." He Ying didn¡¯t think it was a good label, but he wasn¡¯t opposed to it either, admitting with a smile, "I¡¯m only that way with you." Sang Yan, "..." That was true. Her heart sweetened again. They soon arrived at the State Mansion. He tossed the horse reins to the guard, carried her off the horse, but didn¡¯t put her down, instead carrying her inside and shouted, "Prepare the hot water quickly, the Emperor needs a bath." He wanted to bathe with her. She had agreed to it. Chapter 207 - 206: Being Mischievous Chapter 207: Chapter 206: Being MischievousHe Ying wanted to take a mandarin duck bath. Upon hearing his thoughts, Sang Yan immediately crossed her arms protectively over her clothes and backed away several steps. "He Ying, don¡¯t be naughty!" She was too shy. Her pretty face was so delicate and charming. Even if her voice was raised quite loud, it wasn¡¯t at all intimidating. "I¡¯ll only be naughty this one time. We haven¡¯t bathed together yet." He acted coyly. She shook her head, her face resolute, "No! Just soak in the bath properly!" If they really did bathe together, she was afraid she would be completely devoured. The first time in the water, things had gone too far. She was truly embarrassed. The very thought was almost mortifying. "But you said you¡¯d soak with me." "When did I say that?" "That time when I wanted to punish Pei Muyang, you pleaded on his behalf and changed the subject, telling me to go back and soak to relieve fatigue. I said you would join me, and you agreed." "Uh..." She seemed to have some recollection. Sang Yan was at a loss for words for a moment, then explained, "I meant I¡¯d be by your side. I can scrub your back, is that okay?" "All right." He Ying agreed immediately, seemingly easy to talk to. But once he got in the water and she was scrubbing his back from behind, with one strong pull, he dragged her into the water. "Splash!" Sang Yan fell into the water, her head emerging disheveled, her washed features as beautiful as a lotus flower emerging from the water, pure yet sensual. Probably because she had been well-nourished lately. Her chest seemed puffed up with "air," looking very formidable. Especially now that her clothes were soaked and clinging tightly to her body. It was incredibly enticing. "He Ying, you, you¡¯re cheating!" Unaware of her allure, she pounced on him, little fists pounding on his shoulders. She should have been hitting his chest. But she didn¡¯t dare touch his chest because the wound there had just healed. And the water was so clear, she was afraid of catching sight of something she shouldn¡¯t. Although she had already touched it several times. After all, as someone inexperienced, she still felt ashamed. He Ying no longer had those concerns, ignited with desire at her approach, "Ah Yan! Ah Yan¡ª" "Mmm¡ª" Sang Yan¡¯s breath was forcefully taken away, feeling as if she had fallen prey to a tiger. Cry! Sang Yan cried for two hours straight. Her eyes were swollen and red. He Ying, on the other hand, was like a man who had eaten his fill, refreshed and triumphant. Then he grabbed a robe, covered her with it, and carried her back to the room. It was already dark outside. Pei Muyang had arranged dinner early. Sang Yan had no appetite, lying in bed and ignoring everyone. During their shared bath, other than her bottom line, he had attempted everything else. She couldn¡¯t fathom how he came up with so many ideas! She felt that not doing it was even more frightening than doing it. In any case, she had suffered greatly. Wuu wuu wuu. She cried some more tears, heartbroken. He Ying soothed her for a good while but still couldn¡¯t cheer up his darling. In the end, he could only resort to his trump card. He lifted the covers and squeezed in, only to be kicked in the shoulder. "You, you get out!" Sang Yan¡¯s voice was hoarse from crying. He Ying poked his head out, his voice full of distress, "I¡¯m sorry. Stop crying now. If you keep crying, I¡¯ll just..." In the end, it was clearly a threat. Sang Yan knew what he meant, and she felt so ashamed that her tears fell even harder. "Don¡¯t, don¡¯t be like this. I don¡¯t want to bathe anymore." "Mm. Stop crying. Are you thirsty?" He Ying said this as he got out of bed to pour some hot water, carefully feeding it to her himself. Drinking the water, Sang Yan lifted her tearful eyes, a picture of wilted, fragile beauty. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, she had suffered a great deal of grievance. "It¡¯s my fault." He Ying, seeing her distressed, felt even more to blame and hastily promised, "I won¡¯t do it again." He had indulged too recklessly. Upon hearing this, Sang Yan took him seriously, "You better remember what you said." He Ying nodded, "Mhm, I remember." He regretted it too. He should have held back at the time, how could he let his beloved do those things. "From now on, we¡¯ll do things your way. If you don¡¯t want to, I won¡¯t do it. Stop crying now. Look, your eyes are about to be cry-damaged." Now, he could bear her tears even less. Damn it! Why does she still look so beautiful when she cries? It made him feel a destructive urge, simply wanting her to cry even more fiercely. He probably... was a madman too! Unaware of his thoughts, Sang Yan, persuaded by his various coaxing, eventually got out of bed and had dinner. She was indeed hungry. It had taken a lot of energy. But after dinner, sharing the same bed, she still gave him the cold shoulder. To cheer her up, He Ying, upon learning from Pei Muyang that she wanted to learn horseback riding, brought up teaching her to ride. Sang Yan was initially delighted, but then remembering the ambiguity of their ride the previous afternoon, she frowned, "You¡¯re always up to no good." He Ying, understanding her implication, thought to himself: How much shadow had he cast upon her! Immediately with a grave expression, he assured, "This time I¡¯ll be absolutely proper. If I break my word, let me¡ª" "I believe you." Sang Yan cut him off, seeing his intent to swear, "Don¡¯t make rash oaths." He Ying, seeing how much she cared about him, really wanted to hug and kiss her. Ah, his sweetheart truly loved him. She was too adorable! No amount of kisses seemed enough. Seeing him looking like he could pounce on her any second, Sang Yan quickly changed the subject, "Shall we go now? Is your wound convenient?" "It¡¯s convenient. It¡¯s mostly healed. Don¡¯t worry about it." He Ying took her hand and led her to the stables to choose a horse. Sang Yan picked out the white horse. He Ying frowned slightly, "This horse hasn¡¯t been tamed yet." It should be said that because of his injury, he hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to tame it. Sang Yan knew the history of the horse and smiled, "Then wait until you have tamed it. I really like it, and I feel it likes me too." Saying this, she stretched out her hand to stroke the hair on its neck. "Don¡¯t touch¡ª" He Ying grabbed her hand, fearing the white horse might hurt her. Sang Yan chuckled, "Don¡¯t be so nervous, it¡¯s okay." She wrestled her hand free from his grip and once again stroked the neck hair of the white horse. Its hair, white as snow, was also very smooth and soft, radiating a healthful and beautiful sheen under the sun. "Pfft¡ª" The white horse suddenly exhaled a hot breath. He Ying, anticipating this, grabbed Sang Yan¡¯s hand once more. He really couldn¡¯t bear to see her touching a wild horse. Seeing him being so protective of her, Sang Yan felt a mix of sweetness and helplessness: "Xinyuan, calm down a bit, don¡¯t be so nervous." He was making her anxious now. "Let me tell you, anxiety can be contagious. If you act like this, it¡¯s what makes the white horse wary, defensive, and even aggressive towards people." "If it attacks you, I¡¯ll kill it." As soon as his words fell, the white horse swished its tail at him, even giving him a glance. Hmm, a rather scornful look. He Ying: "..." His face darkened, "That damn beast!" Sang Yan: "..." She helplessly held her forehead, "Xinyuan, you might as well keep quiet!" He Ying was stunned, feeling wronged, "You want me to shut up for the sake of an animal?" Sang Yan, hearing his tone, couldn¡¯t help but think, he was about to say: So love can disappear, right? Ah, he really resembled a modern, clingy, drama-queen girlfriend! She quickly diverted the conversation, "Alright, stop fussing. Let¡¯s come up with a name for it, shall we?" Chapter 208 - 207 Concealment Chapter 208: Chapter 207 ConcealmentHe Ying complied with her wish and asked with a smile, "Have you thought of a good name?" Sang Yan then thought for a moment, "Its fur is like snow, and it has a robust build, surely it runs as fast as lightning. How about we call it Xueben?" No sooner had the words left her mouth than the white horse exhaled onto her hand and snorted a few times, as if it really liked the name. "Not bad." He Ying also felt it was imposing. Xueben was nibbling on Sang Yan¡¯s sleeve, as if it found it amusing. Sang Yan found this entertaining and couldn¡¯t help but stroke its fur, pressing her forehead against the horse¡¯s head too. This was a privilege usually reserved for He Ying. He Ying wouldn¡¯t allow it, quickly pulling her away and blocking her action, before changing the subject, "Since you like it, allow me to tame it first, and then I will teach you how to ride." Sang Yan nodded with a smile, "Alright." He Ying then took the horse reins and went to the training ground. Xueben indeed was a spirited horse. It was close to Sang Yan, but not to He Ying. Once they reached the training ground, a considerable struggle ensued. Just getting on the horse took He Ying some time. Once he mounted, the horse dashed wildly, attempting to throw him off. "Xueben! Behave yourself!" He Ying tightened the horse reins, controlling its speed. As Sang Yan had said, it ran as fast as lightning and its stamina was immense; it ran for an hour without showing any sign of fatigue. This exhausted He Ying quite a bit. He had been recovering from an injury and was almost weakened from too much rest. After another hour of taming, he finally got it to obey a little. When he dismounted, he was drenched in sweat, and his clothes were wet at the back. Seeing him so weary, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t bear to see him work so hard. She took a handkerchief dipped in water and began to wipe his sweat for him, saying, "Tired, aren¡¯t you? Let¡¯s not bother with horse riding today. You should rest more." He Ying nodded. He wasn¡¯t overly tired; it was just his perspiration that bothered him, a flare-up of his cleanliness obsession made him desire a bath. "Join me for a bath." "No." Sang Yan was now afraid to bathe with him, "I still hurt." He Ying paused for a moment, then said softly, "I¡¯ll just look, won¡¯t do anything." Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe him for a second. She huffed with annoyance, "You¡¯ve already lost all credibility with me." He Ying: "..." He touched his nose, his handsome face looking innocent as he said dryly, "It¡¯s not quite to that extent." Ignoring him, Sang Yan accompanied him to the door of the bathhouse, then she quickly left. She found a shady spot under the flower trees at the entrance of the courtyard, holding a new map of Quanzhou, looking for places where she could take He Ying out to relax. Since she was sitting in a lounge chair, the flower bushes partially obscured her. Two maids who were walking down the corridor were so engrossed in their excitement, discussing in hushed tones while holding colorful silks, that they did not notice Sang Yan: "Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day is tomorrow, and my Cloud Pattern Silk is sure to catch a lot of attention." "Pooh pooh pooh, aren¡¯t you ashamed?" "What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about? It¡¯s only on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day that we get to go out and see things. We must seize the opportunity." ... Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day? Sang Yan¡¯s eyes lit up from behind the flower bushes: Wasn¡¯t Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day the same as the Qi Xi Festival? She had been passing the days in a daze; she hadn¡¯t realized Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day was almost upon them! The two maids still hadn¡¯t noticed Sang Yan, clutching their thin silks with eyes full of anticipation. "I wonder what my future husband will be like!" "Do you think we, who were sold into servitude as maids, can really hope for good husbands?" "All I know is that on one Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, Sister Biqiao by Mr. Gao¡¯s side met her ideal man. He personally approached Mr. Gao to ask for her hand, and Mr. Gao consented, even providing Sister Biqiao with a generous dowry." "Is that so? Then Sister Biqiao is very lucky indeed." "I eagerly await having a loving and harmonious relationship like the Emperor and Empress." At the height of their excitement, one maid even placed the silk over her chest, looking up to the sky with a face full of longing. "Cough, cough¡ª" Sang Yan deliberately coughed softly twice. The two maids were startled, and as they followed the sound to look over, they saw the person watching them with a smile. Their expressions changed drastically the next moment as they knelt and kowtowed. "We deserve to die!" "Empress, please forgive us!" It¡¯s over! They didn¡¯t know how much of their conversation the Empress had heard. Speaking behind the backs of the Emperor and Empress was a grave taboo! Resting her chin on her hand, Sang Yan looked at the trembling young maids on the ground and thought: Was she really that scary? Startling them to this degree? Could it be that after spending so much time with He Ying, she had acquired some of the king¡¯s authority? "Get up. I have something to ask you." Sang Yan slightly raised her hand, signaling for them to stand. The two maids looked at each other and shakily stood up: "Lady, please ask." Sang Yan then asked, "I heard you talking about Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day just now, and something about silk... What¡¯s the connection between these?" The maid held a bundle of very light, thin silk. Its quality was nothing extraordinary, yet the patterns it bore were intricate, cloud-shaped, and under sunlight, even held a pearly sheen. Seeing that Sang Yan was inquiring about these and didn¡¯t seem to have any intention of pursuing their fault, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Then, gathering their courage, they walked over with the Cloud Pattern Silk and described the customs of Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day in Quanzhou, one by one. * After bathing, He Ying went to the study to handle governmental affairs. It was already midnight by the time he returned to his room. Yet the candlelight in the room was still burning. Ah Yan hadn¡¯t slept yet? Was she waiting for his return? He Ying frowned, unhappy that Sang Yan was staying up late. There was no need to wait for him. Staying up was bad for her health. "I greet the Emperor¡ª" The guard at the entrance saluted. The sound startled the person inside. So, when He Ying pushed the door and entered, he saw Sang Yan frantically trying to hide something in the cabinet. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Xinyuan, you¡¯re back." Sang Yan placed her hands behind her back, pressing the cabinet door tightly shut. There was a look of startled panic in her eyes, and yet she stiffened her back, attempting to look like she was completely composed. Standing a good distance away, He Ying looked at the flustered beauty, a smile that was not quite a smile on his face: "Ah Yan, what are you hiding?" "I¡¯m not hiding anything." Sang Yan shook her head several times. Then, as if afraid that He Ying would come over to look, she quickly ran up to him and pulled him toward the bed. "I¡¯m tired, it¡¯s time to rest." She yawned, pretending to be very sleepy, but as her hand touched her cheek, the wound from a needle prick made her wince in pain. Damn it! Now she understood why ancient women tended to be so gentle and mild! After an entire set of needlework, even the most irritable temperament could be smoothed out. He Ying had been watching her every small expression and felt that she was hiding something. And that cabinet? What exactly was hidden inside? He suppressed his curiosity for the time being and did not push the issue, instead, he lay down beside her. Once on the bed, to avoid He Ying¡¯s questioning, Sang Yan closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. It was already very late, and before she knew it, she actually dozed off. He Ying didn¡¯t feel the slightest bit sleepy. He had just noticed the slight furrow in her brow and not asking about it immediately didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t concerned. Now, as her breathing became steady, he gently took her hand, and at a glance, he saw the pricked marks on the white tips of her fingers. She hadn¡¯t been sleeping; she had been doing needlework? Why do needlework? She never had any interest in those things. He Ying was suspicious in his heart, silently lifting the blanket and walking over to the cabinet. Chapter 209 - 208 Good Things Chapter 209: Chapter 208 Good ThingsHe Ying opened the cabinet door. A sheer veil, thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, caught his gaze. The gossamer, woven from ice silk, featured a few crookedly embroidered patterns in lake blue thread; not very beautiful, but clearly made with great care. Despite the fact that her fingers were pricked to the point of bleeding, not a single stain marked the white fabric. Without needing to guess, he knew that she must have been wiping the blood away as she worked, only resuming her slow, deliberate stitching once the bleeding ceased. He Ying had a fair knowledge of Quanzhou customs and, understanding what Sang Yan was up to, the concern in his eyes softened into boundless tenderness. Quanzhou was open in its social customs, allowing both betrothed and single men and women to go out on the night of Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day. An unmarried woman, upon seeing a man she fancied, would present him with a veil she had embroidered herself as a token of affection. This veil... was prepared by Sang Yan for him. He was the man she had her heart set on. He Ying¡¯s heart swelled with affection as he carefully arranged the veil back in its place and gently closed the cabinet door. He then returned to the bed to hold the sleeping beauty in his arms. The next day, Sang Yan, taking advantage of He Ying¡¯s absence discussing matters in the study, rushed to finish her work, managing to complete the veil just as night fell. Predicting they would go out later, He Ying returned home early. Upon his return, he saw Sang Yan applying her makeup in front of a mirror. A beautiful face veiled thinly, revealing only a pair of bright, mischievous eyes. Through the copper mirror, Sang Yan noticed He Ying and hurriedly stood up, pretending to look outside: "Wow, it seems quite lively outside tonight." He Ying: "..." Although their dwelling in the State Mansion was at the heart of Quanzhou City, the State Official had arranged for them to stay in the most secluded courtyard. Tranquil and refined. Let alone noise, even the servants inside dared not speak loudly. Where exactly had she heard the commotion from? He Ying knew what she was hinting at and humorously played along with a smile: "Hmm, it does seem quite lively." He nonchalantly lifted his robe to sit down, calmly poured himself a cup of tea, and slowly savored it. All the while, Yu Guang kept a close watch on Sang Yan¡¯s subtle expressions ¡ª her furrowed brows, pursed lips, her fingers occasionally twisting, and her hair playfully flicked, as if she was preoccupied with something. Sang Yan was worried about how to persuade He Ying to go out and have fun. The entire city was still on high alert trying to track down He Hongzhao and others, and on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, the streets would be densely crowded. Considering his concerns for her safety, it was highly likely he would not allow her to go out. But she had to try. She still remembered Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s words about letting him relax and enjoy life more. With this in mind, she steeled herself, walked up to He Ying, and started shaking his arm: "Xinyuan, I want to go out and have fun." He Ying raised an eyebrow playfully teasing her: "Lu Zijin will be here in half an hour." Sang Yan: "..." Lu Zijin is coming over? To inquire further about He Hongzhao¡¯s case? Then wouldn¡¯t Lu Zijin be coming just to get scolded? That can¡¯t be allowed! You can¡¯t let someone be scolded every day! It would be maddening! With that thought, she pointed to her face and hair: "I¡¯m already all prepared. Look at my makeup¡ª" She had never taken such care with her appearance before, applying powder, drawing her eyebrows, focusing on lip makeup, even adorning her forehead with flower-shaped ornaments, and pinning the freshest of peonies to her hair. Peonies weren¡¯t even in season. To get these flowers, she had sent people to every florist¡¯s home in Quanzhou. "Doesn¡¯t it look nice?" "Of course, it¡¯s beautiful. Ah Yan is always beautiful." He Ying flattered her without hesitation and, as if it was of great significance, added: "And because you¡¯re beautiful, I don¡¯t want others to see you." Sang Yan: "..." That won¡¯t do. She wanted to go out and have fun! Wuwuwu. "Xinyuan, stop fooling around, come out and play with me for a while." Her eyes brimmed with anticipation, sparkling like tears would fall the moment he said "no." He Ying knew full well she was feigning distress. Yet this trick was especially effective on him. He couldn¡¯t even tease her. "Ah Yan, come here." He waved her over and, once Sang Yan approached, he pulled her onto his lap. His fingers, distinct and sinewy, pinched her cheek and said with a smile, "I¡¯m waiting for Lu Zijin to arrive." Sang Yan didn¡¯t grasp his meaning, thinking he still wanted to scold Lu Zijin, and hurriedly said, "Whatever it is, postpone it until tomorrow, you¡¯re mine tonight. If worse comes to worst... when we return, I¡¯ll bathe with you¡ª" In her haste, she spoke without thinking. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After speaking, she regretted it: "I, I didn¡¯t mean that¡ª" He Ying, not expecting such a pleasant proposition, wouldn¡¯t let her take it back. He immediately said, "Good! It¡¯s a deal!" Sang Yan, blushing, quickly turned away her gaze, too embarrassed to look at him. She had really made a big sacrifice in order to go out. But at that moment, He Ying still said, "You promised this. I had no such intention. Actually, when I said I was waiting for Lu Zijin, it was to have him disguise someone to follow us." This was indeed taking an advantage and acting coy. Sang Yan, having swallowed a "mute¡¯s grievance," said angrily, "He Ying, you dare to play me. Just you wait." She strode towards the door. He Ying caught up with her, held her back, and pinned her against the door, caressing her lips: "Are you angry? Why are you angry?" He looked at her, his gaze fiery, enough to make her heart feel like it would explode. Sang Yan held back her racing heart, turned her head away, and snorted, "Why I¡¯m angry, don¡¯t you know?" He Ying saw she was still cute when angry and couldn¡¯t resist kissing her nose, her lips, tenderly and softly: "Okay, okay, I know, I know. Do you like it when I cajole you like this?" Sang Yan shook her head fiercely; she didn¡¯t like it one bit. Her carefully applied bitten-lip makeup was almost ruined by him! "Don¡¯t, don¡¯t kiss, we can¡¯t kiss¡ª" She tried to dodge but was trapped by the door behind her. Such a "door slam" was outrageously seductive. Sang Yan was breathlessly overwhelmed. He Ying, supporting her, made sure she didn¡¯t fall: "Ah Yan, just a little kissing and your legs give out. What will we do when we¡¯re really in bed together?" He had been restraining himself all along, considering his poison injury and being in Quanzhou, but she was really "helpless." "Don¡¯t talk anymore." Sang Yan was dying of embarrassment. He Ying, seeing her flushed and drenched in sweat, did not want to trouble her further and said with a smile, "Hmm. I won¡¯t talk. Just one more kiss. Your lip makeup today¡ª" He had never seen such lip makeup before, lustrous and plump, sweet and delightful, too irresistible to kiss. He kissed her for a full quarter of an hour. Sang Yan¡¯s lips felt numb. Her lip makeup was thoroughly spoiled. She had to reapply it. He Ying watched her touch up: "So that¡¯s how it is done. Ah Yan is truly clever." Sang Yan felt guilty receiving his praise: This was the wisdom of modern people. Although it existed during the Tang and Song Dynasties, it really flourished in modern hands. "Emperor, Lady¡ª" Lu Zijin¡¯s voice came from outside. Sang Yan heard him and having finished her touch-ups, rose to leave. She saw Lu Zijin and the two rows of soldiers behind him, all dressed as ordinary citizens. It seemed He Ying hadn¡¯t deceived her. He truly intended to take her out for fun. Her mood soared. She grabbed his hand, their fingers intertwining: "Let¡¯s go." Chapter 210 - 209: Romantic Encounter Chapter 210: Chapter 209: Romantic EncounterBoth of them left the State Mansion hand in hand. Lu Zijin had brought over a dozen men, who mingled in the crowd, following them closely from a distance. The streets were bustling and packed with people coming and going. Gaily dressed young men and women shuttled back and forth, laughter filling the air. "May I ask the lady¡¯s name?" Another handsome man approached and struck up a conversation. Sang Yan raised the hand she was holding and gave it a shake, smiling as she declared her territory, "Sorry, already taken by a husband." He Ying had been quite unhappy, but at hearing Sang Yan¡¯s words, any trace of displeasure evaporated instantly. Husband? What a delightful term. "My apologies." His face flush with embarrassment, the man retreated one step, hastily bowed, and quickly left. Sang Yan¡¯s face was too striking, and with her dressed up so well, she kept attracting would-be suitors along the way. In the end, He Ying couldn¡¯t take it anymore and frowned, "You should cover up a bit." So, Sang Yan put on a veil. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was wearing an inconspicuous dark indigo dress that evening. He Ying, too, was in a dark ink-colored brocade robe. Of course, the hem of the robe was embroidered with dark golden dragon patterns. Both were dressed rather modestly. But their bearing and grace still attracted many a sidelong glance. Especially He Ying. Unlike Sang Yan, he didn¡¯t have a veil to hide behind. His sword-like eyebrows extended into his temples, his features were clear and handsome, and he emanated a natural and ingrained air of nobility and pride. Passing young women almost dropped their eyes on him. If it were not for the presence of a young lady by his side and his own cold and lofty demeanor that said he was not one to be approached, he probably would already have a myriad of veils thrust into his hands by now. Sang Yan looked on and somewhat regretted it. If she had known He Ying was so popular, she should have patched some fake acne on his face to deter others. Fortunately, his aura was so aloof that those people only dared to watch from a distance, never daring to really approach¡ª "Young master¡ª" Just as Sang Yan breathed a sigh of relief, a girl in a rose-red skirt and a loose hairstyle approached. Sang Yan: "..." Miscalculated. She celebrated too early. He Ying slightly lifted his eyelashes, looking at the shy-faced girl in front of him, his eyes revealing undisguised impatience, "What is it?" Qin Tangyue was startled by his cold tone, dared not to speak, and subconsciously looked back at the handkerchief exchange not far away. Sang Yan looked over¡ª Several women, also wearing veils, stood not far away, waving at the girl in front of them, even more excited than her. "Speak up! We¡¯ve been waiting all night, and finally we met such a handsome man!" "That¡¯s right, hurry up and say something!" "Worst case, you give him the veil directly. You¡¯re so beautiful, what¡¯s there to fear?" ... They were all egging her on. Sang Yan watched quietly, thinking to herself: Why do these women sound so much like the modern cheerleaders who spur on their friends to confess their feelings? But couldn¡¯t they take a glance at her first? She¡¯s standing right here, isn¡¯t she? She felt somewhat offended. Sang Yan frowned slightly and withdrew her gaze to look at the young girl in front of her. Their eyes met just as the girl was being spurred on. Qin Tangyue sized up the woman in front of her who was wearing a white veil. Those eyes were as clear as stars, but the veil covering her face was unflattering. It was crooked and looked like it was meant to be a pair of mandarin ducks, yet one could tell the needlework was coarse and the stitches were not fine. If she couldn¡¯t even embroider well, her family background was probably not great. Didn¡¯t the daughters of wealthy families all spend a lot of money hiring embroidery ladies to teach them needlework? With the title of Quanzhou¡¯s Top Talented Woman, Qin Tangyue felt even more confident. She was about to speak when the tall man in front of her immediately grabbed the "poorly backgrounded" woman and walked past her. He Ying had wanted to leave for a while now. The market was noisy and crowded, and some people without a shred of awareness were asking for trouble. If it weren¡¯t for not wanting to ruin Sang Yan¡¯s mood, he really wanted to call Lu Zijin over to clear the crowd. "Shall we go?" Sang Yan was still in a daze: Was that what¡¯s considered a romantic encounter? He Ying gave a "hm," utterly unconcerned about how his actions might have hurt the young girl¡¯s tender feelings. Qin Tangyue stood there stunned, her mind momentarily blank, followed by a surge of competitiveness. She hurriedly jogged up and blocked He Ying and Sang Yan¡¯s path again. Lu Zijin, not far away, felt his hair stand on end: At this moment, should he step in to protect them, or should he abstain? "Young master seems to have encountered something, should we go over there?" A subordinate also noticed the situation and looked very tense. The Emperor had said not to interfere with the Empress¡¯s enjoyment unless absolutely necessary. Now the question was, was this necessary or not? Lu Zijin pressed his lips tightly together and chose to grip his Soft Sword inside his sleeve without taking action: "Let¡¯s see what happens." At a glance, that foolish girl was clearly trying to hook up with the master. After all, isn¡¯t a little jealousy supposed to be good for improving marital relations? Maybe the Emperor would even be in a better mood later and scold him a bit less. Meanwhile, He Ying¡¯s patience had reached its limit. Seeing that he wanted to get angry, Sang Yan quickly stepped forward and spoke to the "rival in love," smiling with a twinkle in her eyes, "Little miss, what¡¯s the matter?" Unexpectedly, the girl completely ignored her. She looked at He Ying with eyes full of tender affection, and in the next moment, reached out to pull off her veil, revealing an exceedingly beautiful face. Even Sang Yan, who was used to seeing beautiful women, couldn¡¯t help but exclaim at the sight: Such beauty! Lovely and charming, her skin like creamy jade, she would attract extra looks even in the vibrant and colorful harem. However, what a pity. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help shaking her head: The girl was of the same type as Sang Ruoshui. He Ying hadn¡¯t taken any interest in Sang Ruoshui, let alone this girl who didn¡¯t even compare to her. Qin Tangyue saw Sang Yan shake her head and thought she was looking down on her appearance, which made her even angrier: She was both talented and beautiful, fitting of the title of Quanzhou¡¯s Top Talented Woman. How dare this woman look at her like this? "Young master!" She hadn¡¯t forgotten who her target was. So, suppressing her displeasure and withdrawing her gaze, her face blushing, she handed her veil to He Ying: "My name is Qin Tangyue, may I invite the young master to join me on a flower boat?" Chapter 211 - 210 Compensation Chapter 211: Chapter 210 CompensationQin Tangyue was very confident. Just her name was enough to make the wealthy heirs and cultured gentlemen of Quanzhou City flock to her like ducks to water. But she was not interested in such things. How could ordinary people catch her eye? Only the man before her, exuding exceptionality from every aspect, captured her attention the moment he appeared on the street, and she couldn¡¯t look away anymore. Now Sang Yan found herself awkwardly in between He Ying and Qin Tangyue. She hadn¡¯t expected to witness He Ying being confessed to outside the palace. But, really, was it okay to snatch someone else¡¯s companion? Sang Yan glanced at the passersby and noticed that they simply laughed at this awkward "triangle," as if snatching a companion was not such an unusual event. She vaguely remembered that some port cities, due to thriving trade and frequent interactions with foreign countries, would sometimes adopt peculiar cultures. It seemed that this culture of "snatching the bride or groom" must have been learned from foreign lands. "Are you blind?" A frosty voice rose beside her. Sang Yan snapped back to reality and looked at He Ying¡ª He Ying¡¯s expression had darkened, his eyes full of hostility, impatient: this woman not only looked unimpressive, but her eyesight seemed poor too, who gave her the courage to act so presumptuously in front of him! "Lu Zi¡ª" He turned and was about to call Lu Zijin to chase the person away. Sang Yan quickly tugged at his hand, stopping him, "Don¡¯t! It¡¯s not necessary!" If Lu Zijin came, the grand time they were having tonight would be wasted. "I¡¯ll handle this." While comforting He Ying, she said to Qin Tangyue, "Sorry, he is my husband." "Husband." Those words acted like a soothing balm, instantly suppressing the anger in He Ying¡¯s heart. Qin Tangyue was not convinced: How could a woman who wasn¡¯t much to look at and didn¡¯t come from an impressive family deserve to marry such a good man? She had never faced a setback before, but He Ying¡¯s rebuff only made her more determined. She looked at Sang Yan with disdain, maintaining her ladylike demeanor, but the words that came out were especially unpleasant. "Lady, according to the customs of Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, regardless of marital arrangements, if both parties are willing, compensating the other party¡¯s loss allows for another union. My father, Qin Wanjin, owns the largest tea house, textile shop, and even kiln factories in Quanzhou. If you¡¯re willing, I can give you a hundred taels of gold¡ª" "Lady, I think you¡¯re mistaken." Sang Yan cut off Qin Tangyue mid-sentence, a chill in her eyes, "My husband and I share a deep affection, I doubt he would even be willing to take a concubine. If he¡¯s unwilling, why would we need your compensation?" She couldn¡¯t believe it; she was actually being propositioned to her face, and the other party was even offering money to make her leave. Her usually good temper vanished. Qin Tangyue, unaware of the situation, arrogantly lifted her chin, "Why would he be unwilling? As long as you agree, it¡¯s settled." Sang Yan, upon hearing this, gave a nasty smile, lifted the intertwined hands with He Ying, and taunted, "Why don¡¯t you ask my husband, whether he¡¯s willing to take a concubine or not?" "Who wants to be a concubine!" Qin Tangyue felt both embarrassed and annoyed. She was a proper young lady from a reputable family in Quanzhou; if she became a concubine, it would be laughable! Why should this woman make decisions for this man? Qin Tangyue wanted to ask He Ying, but when she looked up, she saw his eyes were extremely cold; his gaze doused her enthusiasm with an icy chill. There was no need to ask. This man, not only did he not want a concubine, by the looks of it, he was nearly treating her as an enemy. Qin Tangyue felt a wave of retreat in her heart. She didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer. There were plenty of good men in the world. If he was blind and preferred the woman in front of him, did it mean all the men in the world were blind? Her father had said that with her credentials, even entering the palace as a consort would be well within her reach. Why waste her efforts on this man? "Fine, forget I said anything¡ª" Qin Tangyue clenched her veil, comforting herself, as she frequently turned her head back while returning to the side of her handkerchief friends. Yet, that man really was extraordinarily distinguished. Sang Yan looked at He Ying¡ªhis face was now terrible, clearly on the verge of anger. "Shall we go back?" She felt today¡¯s "date" had been very unsuccessful. He Ying¡¯s mood not only hadn¡¯t improved, it felt like he was on the verge of losing it. This made her feel very frustrated. "Let¡¯s keep walking." He Ying took a deep breath and, without discussion, took her hand and continued forward. She had been looking forward to this for so long, she shouldn¡¯t waste her affection on someone irrelevant. It was just that before, he had simply been holding her hand, but whether it was because he was provoked by Qin Tangyue, He Ying now had her almost entirely in his embrace. Only lacking the words "Property of Sang Yan" written on his forehead. With him holding her so dominantly, Sang Yan smiled broadly, her exposed eyes becoming more vivacious. "Then let¡¯s go to the dock. I heard there are flower boats there, and it¡¯s bustling." She had long since found out: on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, the dock suspends cargo activities to allow the people to enjoy the flower boats. Not only were there riddles to solve, but there was also Quanzhou City¡¯s special festival event¡ªthe flower admonishment toss. Brimming with excitement. * sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as Qin Tangyue returned to her circle of handkerchief friends, tears fell. Among these brightly dressed young ladies, Qin Tangyue had the most prestigious family background. They usually "pampered" and "indulged" her. Now seeing her return with such a dejected face, everyone¡¯s eyes carried malicious mockery, yet their faces were full of concern. "Yueyue¡ª" One of the girls dressed in lake-green skirt affectionately took her hand and consoled, "Don¡¯t cry. You¡¯re so beautiful, that man just now surely felt it wouldn¡¯t be proper to agree because his wife was by his side." It was this girl who had been the most enthusiastic in egging her on earlier. She had always been jealous of Qin Tangyue, and now seeing her deflate, she couldn¡¯t have been happier. "But his look just now... was very frightening." Whenever Qin Tangyue thought of his gaze, her pretty face turned deadly pale. Flickering shadows from the trees. The candlelight by the road cast a glow on her tear-stained cheeks, making her appear even more pitiable. "What¡¯s there to be afraid of." The lake-green skirt girl rolled her eyes, mean-spiritedly scheming, "They seemed to be heading towards the dock just now. Isn¡¯t there lantern riddle guessing there? Why don¡¯t you let that gentleman witness your literary talent, and surely you¡¯ll dazzle him?" With that suggestion, the other girls chimed in: "Yes, the dock is so lively tonight, with several flower boats." "Yueyue, you are the face of Quanzhou City, don¡¯t let some bland girl surpass you." "Right, right, let¡¯s go show off our skills now, and let that man know your worth." ... The girls babbled on, almost pushing Qin Tangyue onto a flower boat right then and there. "Really?" Qin Tangyue dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, somewhat tempted. Mostly because that man... had truly been unforgettable. In the entirety of Quanzhou City, no one could measure up to him. "Of course, it¡¯s true! We¡¯ll go with you!" The lake-green skirt girl affectionately looped her arm through Qin Tangyue¡¯s, "Hurry up. There are many women over there, what if someone else snatches him away, you¡¯ll regret it too late." Half reluctantly, half willingly, Qin Tangyue was dragged towards the dock. Perhaps, she really could astonish that man with her talents? With that thought, Qin Tangyue felt a bit of relief in her heart and a newfound determination to strive for love. Chapter 212 - 211: Private Collection Chapter 212: Chapter 211: Private CollectionThe Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day is not as grand as New Year. But it¡¯s the young men and women who come out to revel, which makes for a unique charm. Sang Yan momentarily felt like she was living in the modern day. Open, lively, peaceful. This feeling intensified upon reaching the harbor. The harbor is usually filled with cargo ships. But tonight, for the festive atmosphere, those cargo ships had all been moved to another harbor. Now, at Quanzhou City¡¯s largest harbor, docked three huge flower boats. The flower boats were painted entirely red, with various patterns symbolizing good fortune and beauty, and even featured colorful depictions of the Cowherd and Weaver. Red ribbons fluttered from the eaves, and lanterns adorned with colored paper swayed in the sea breeze. On deck, stood a bevy of well-dressed and attractive men and women, a feast for the eyes. Sang Yan felt the excitement, and with a thrill pointed at the lotus lanterns on the sea, "Xinyuan, look, how beautiful!" The sea was covered with countless lotus lanterns that, bobbing with the waves, converged into a shimmering sea of light. She was dazzled by the sight. He Ying¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on the scenery. He was intently watching the young woman by his side, catching her joy and inadvertently showing a hint of a smile. "There, they¡¯re guessing lantern riddles!" Sang Yan pointed toward a lively crowd up ahead. There were steps there for tourists to board the flower boat. On the closest flower boat, the perimeter was lined with lanterns, and underneath hung brocade bags. Quite a sight to behold. "Let¡¯s go take a look." Sang Yan tugged at He Ying¡¯s hand, took a few quick steps, and boarded the flower boat. "How does one play this lantern riddle guessing game?" She asked a genial-looking owner standing by. The owner was a man in his forties who, seeing potential customers, explained with a smile, "You take down a brocade bag and guess the word based on the riddle it carries. If you guess correctly, you¡¯ll receive a corresponding reward. If you guess them all right, you can take a free ride on the flower boat and enjoy a lap around Quanzhou City, admiring the night view." While speaking, he pointed to the details of the rewards posted in the center of the flower boat. The rewards were not particularly valuable, but they were exquisitely delightful, especially for the first prize ¨C a pair of lifelike jade carvings of the Cowherd and Weaver. Sang Yan took an instant liking to them. But would He Ying be willing to participate? She looked up, gazing eagerly at the man she loved. He Ying understood her wishes without her having to say another word. He nodded gently, a tender smile playing across his face, "As long as you¡¯re happy." Then, before the crowd could squeeze closer, he pulled her in towards himself a bit more. This flower boat was really too crowded. Too bad Ah Yan liked it. Actually, when it was time to head back to the palace, setting up a flower boat there wouldn¡¯t be impossible. Sang Yan, unaware of He Ying¡¯s thoughts, had already eagerly approached the owner to sign up. "Hey, owner, we want to participate." She was eager to try, "Ten copper coins, just pick a brocade bag, right?" The owner nodded, "Uh-huh. Pay the money, and then you can choose any of the hanging brocade bags." "Okay." As soon as Sang Yan¡¯s voice fell, He Ying handed over the money. She went to pick a brocade bag, looking from start to finish, finally setting her eyes on a bag embroidered with an elegant lotus pattern. "Let¡¯s go with this one." Just as she was about to take down the brocade bag¡ª A delicate hand reached out first, snatching the bag she had her heart set on. Sang Yan turned to look at the owner of the hand and immediately furrowed her brows. Qin Tangyue came over at some point with several other women, and she was now holding the brocade bag that Sang Yan was about to pick. Was this unrelenting thievery? Still coveting her man? "Sorry, we took a fancy to this one first." The speaker was not Qin Tangyue but a girl by her side wearing a lake-green skirt. The girl was wearing a veil, obscuring her face, but her restless little eyes kept rolling, clearly amazed when they landed on He Ying. However, she quickly shifted her gaze away, looking at Sang Yan with disdain. Especially upon seeing the embroidered pattern on Sang Yan¡¯s veil, disdain practically oozed from her eyes. Hmph, such a common girl, how could she be worthy of such a gentlemanly figure? "Release¡ª" He Ying, seeing those girls appear before him again, was furious and opened his mouth to scold them. Sang Yan quickly tugged his hand and shook her head at him. If this gentleman lost his temper, there would be no more fun to be had tonight. He Ying, getting the hint from Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, swallowed the scolding words that had reached the tip of his tongue. Forget it, he would certainly have Lu Zijin investigate later on which household these vulgar girls belonged to! They were truly an eyesore! "You say it¡¯s what you fancy, then let it be what you fancy. We¡¯ll look at something else." Sang Yan gracefully stepped aside. She didn¡¯t want to waste time with these girls. The time for their date was precious, and it shouldn¡¯t be squandered on others. But when Sang Yan pulled He Ying to get another Brocade Bag, it was snatched away again. Sang Yan: "..." Were these women specifically here to pick a fight? Even the best temper couldn¡¯t stand such provocation! Sang Yan stood up straight, giving Qin Tangyue a cold look: "Do you have a matter? Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t be a concubine?" "Of course, I, Qin Tangyue, will not be a concubine." Qin Tangyue, with a handkerchief alliance by her side, spoke with confidence, her chin held high: "But I think such an outstanding gentleman like yours deserves a better partner. How about we compete? If I win, you¡¯ll let him go to me." Qin Tangyue tried her best to ignore the man¡¯s intimidating gaze, negotiating terms with Sang Yan with feigned composure. Nearby the flower boat, there were also some small boats. On these boats, many scholars and literati were composing and reciting poems. Some recognized Qin Tangyue. Although she wore a veil, her stunning figure was easy to identify. "That¡¯s Miss Qin!" Someone shouted, and in an instant, countless eyes turned their way. Especially when they saw Qin Tangyue seemingly blocking a couple, and the man in the couple had a noble and extraordinary countenance, hardly human. They began to speculate: "Is Miss Qin actually trying to steal that woman¡¯s man?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Seems like it. Miss Qin indeed has good looks. Even just standing there, she resembles a willow tree in grace, a celestial in beauty." "Is that man blind? Miss Qin has taken an interest¡ª" A man wearing a Jade Crown, both envious and jealous, and criticizing He Ying for his lack of taste, was speaking excitedly when suddenly he was bumped into and fell straight into the sea. The man swallowed a large mouthful of seawater, spitting it out repeatedly. Finally, when he resurfaced, he glared furiously at a young man on the shore dressed in dark, tight-fitting clothes: "Did you bump me?" Lu Zijin, expressionless: "My mistake." He resented not being able to draw his sword. How dare that fellow be disrespectful to the Emperor! The atmosphere below the boats was lively. And above the boats was equally lively. Sang Yan was now at her wit¡¯s end, not expecting that taking He Ying out for a stroll would tangle him in such a troublesome love affair. She looked at He Ying somewhat helplessly and, seeing his expression, didn¡¯t quite know what to say. The displeasure on his face had vanished, and he seemed to look at her with something akin to anticipation. Anticipation? Sang Yan looked again at He Ying, ensuring he was indeed smiling, almost ready to throw in the towel. This scheming man wanted to see how she would defeat the other woman? Deep down, He Ying certainly had his own cunning plans. With Sang Yan fighting for him, how would she act? He was indeed curious. The feeling of being treasured by her was simply indescribable. Sang Yan: "..." This guy must be smirking again. "What¡¯s the matter, scared to compete? Or should you just admit defeat? After all, what kind of talent can one expect from someone who embroiders such a pheasant veil?" The girl in the pale green skirt spoke again, breaking Sang Yan¡¯s contemplation. Pheasant? Sang Yan stared with her beautiful eyes, her pale fingers touching the veil: her painstakingly embroidered mandarin ducks had been likened to pheasants? "Let¡¯s compete!" Agitated with anger, she accepted the challenge on the spot. With the woman trying to steal her man and mocking her embroidered veil as pheasants, how could she tolerate it? Wasn¡¯t it just guessing lantern riddles? She was a whiz at solving riddles! Chapter 213 - 212: Lantern Riddles Chapter 213: Chapter 212: Lantern RiddlesOn the flower boat, guessing riddles was a common occurrence. However, this particular contest stood out because Quanzhou¡¯s top talented woman, Qin Tangyue, was participating, drawing extra attention. Especially since her opponent at the moment seemed exceptionally calm. A remarkably handsome man by her side even casually plucked a grape and slipped it beneath her veil, while the woman in the contest just pretended to glare at him in anger, seemingly unconcerned about the outcome of the competition. The onlookers watched this scene, thinking to themselves, This is surely too much confidence, right? Sang Yan, accused of being "over-confident," didn¡¯t notice anyone¡¯s gaze at all. She sent a displeased look to He Ying, silently expressing her dissatisfaction, Hmph, attracting butterflies and bees! He Ying innocently pinched her hand, his smiling eyes filled with tenderness, "Don¡¯t be mad. Or do you want me to let Lu Zijin kill them all?" His tone was cruel, but the look he gave Sang Yan was extra innocent. Sang Yan: "..." Are you really okay with deciding the fate of several suitors just like that? Sigh. She looked at the tenderness in He Ying¡¯s eyes and chose to surrender. "I won¡¯t lose." Sang Yan held his hand back, conveying reassurance with her eyes, "Don¡¯t kill anyone rashly." She really feared he would become displeased and have Lu Zijin take care of them. "Yes, I believe you." He Ying scratched the palm of her hand, his gaze intoxicatingly soft. Sang Yan¡¯s ears reddened from his teasing. Qin Tangyue watched their entangled gazes and intimate flirtation, almost grinding her teeth to dust. Isn¡¯t she just a bland woman? This man really doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate! Yet the more she thought this, the more she wanted to snatch him away. Accompanied by the sound of a gong, the shopkeeper who was pulled in to act as the judge shouted, "The competition begins¡ª" For the contest, the shopkeeper randomly picked a brocade bag from the lanterns, and presented the riddle. The first person to answer correctly would score a point, until the end when the one with the most points would win. Sang Yan focused intently, staring at the shopkeeper. Qin Tangyue, unwilling to show weakness, became uncharacteristically cautious, listening carefully as the shopkeeper read the riddle. "Public yet forgetting private." The shopkeeper¡¯s voice boomed, his face alight with excitement. These four characters had barely passed through Sang Yan¡¯s mind when the answer came to her, yet before she could speak, Qin Tangyue had already said it first. "Eight!" "Congratulations, Miss Qin, you are correct." Qin Tangyue lifted her chin toward Sang Yan, her eyes filled with pride. Sang Yan: "..." She was annoyed. It was just one question, after all. The shopkeeper began the second riddle, "Where is the lady going." Overflowing with confidence, Qin Tangyue was about to answer¡ª Sang Yan was already prepared, and the answer slipped out: "Two!" "Congratulations to this young lady as well, for the correct answer." The shopkeeper glanced at the evenly matched pair and turned to pick another brocade bag. Qin Tangyue gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain composure, and gave Sang Yan a smile, "The lady has quick reactions, it¡¯s just a pity that the riddles here are merely for amusement and not challenging¡ª" Between the lines, it was clear¡ªSang Yan could answer only because the questions were too simple. Sang Yan pursed her lips, reminding herself not to get angry with a little girl. "You¡¯re right, they are pretty simple." Sang Yan thought for a moment, then smirked, "Then how about we come up with our own riddles instead? Just one question, and the first to guess wins. How does that sound?" Qin Tangyue was brimming with self-assurance, "Fine." Hmph, this woman is so arrogant, she needs to be taught a lesson! Soon, someone brought over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, placing them in the center of the table. Qin Tangyue rolled up her sleeves, delicate jade hands gripping the brush, dipping it full of ink, she wrote down the riddle on the spread-out rice paper. Sang Yan also picked up a brush, but her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. He Ying had been watching her, seeing that she seemed to be having some trouble, he walked over, ready to take her brush, "Shall we go back?" He didn¡¯t want to waste any more time here. He should be spending time with Sang Yan in better places. "No!" Sang Yan shook her head, suddenly, as if thinking of something, her brows suddenly smoothed out. She dipped the brush into the inkstone, her bare hands wielding the brush, sweeping it out in a single breath. He Ying glanced at the characters on the rice paper, then looked at Sang Yan with surprise, a faint smile spilling over his thin lips. He had been overthinking. How could his Ah Yan possibly lose? "Time is up!" The boss shouted. Sang Yan and Qin Tangyue both stopped their movements. The girl in the lake-green skirt glanced at Qin Tangyue¡¯s riddle and smiled, showing off to Sang Yan, "If you don¡¯t want to lose face, you might as well admit defeat now and save a bit of dignity." "What¡¯s the rush." Sang Yan chuckled, ignoring the girl, instead she picked up the rice paper and blew on the ink, handing it to the boss, "Since Miss Qin is interested in my husband, then guess my riddle first, no problem, right?" Her voice was gentle, but inside she was in a panic: this word riddle, she had learned from reading "Dream of the Red Chamber," and she really couldn¡¯t remember the more complicated ones. If she had to guess Qin Tangyue¡¯s riddle first, she might not be able to figure it out. And not figuring it out would mean losing. She could only gamble. Gamble that Qin Tangyue wouldn¡¯t be able to guess her riddle. After all, the answer to this riddle was not easy. Listening to her words, Qin Tangyue pursed her lips and thought: Is this woman stupid? It¡¯s already said the first to guess wins! Yet she¡¯s letting her guess first! Good. The sooner she won, the man would be hers! Qin Tangyue reluctantly shifted her gaze from He Ying and looked at the other party, nodding, "Okay." Seeing her agreement, the boss picked up Sang Yan¡¯s riddle, slowly spreading it out¡ª Qin Tangyue looked over, full of self-confidence, but upon seeing the table, her complexion grew increasingly ugly. "What¡¯s the matter with Miss Qin?" "Why hasn¡¯t she provided the answer yet? Could it be she can¡¯t guess it?" "How could that be possible? Surely Miss Qin is just giving the little lady some face, have you ever seen a riddle Miss Qin couldn¡¯t guess?" ... Discussions from below reached her ears. Qin Tangyue¡¯s face became even more unsightly. The girl in the lake-green skirt by her side witnessed the change in Qin Tangyue¡¯s complexion, and curiously leaned over to look. Upon seeing it, her face changed as well. While Sang Yan, seeing the expressions on their two faces, felt relieved inside: It¡¯s settled. She was very happy and quietly moved closer to He Ying, covering her mouth with her hand, leaned close to his ear, "I won." S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, reading more books is useful. You never know when it might come in handy after a time travel. Defeat already showed on Qin Tangyue¡¯s face. She looked at Sang Yan, her tone lacking its previous arrogance, "I concede." This woman, she was more talented than Qin had imagined. At least, Qin could not have written the poem Sang Yan did! She had been Quanzhou¡¯s Top Talented Woman for so many years, yet now a random person could outshine her literary flair. Silence loomed over the flower boat. Quanzhou City¡¯s Top Talented Woman lost? Not even confident enough to recite her own riddle? What exactly had the little lady written! Finally, someone couldn¡¯t suppress their curiosity and asked loudly, "Miss Qin, what exactly did she write?" Qin Tangyue picked up the rice paper with the riddle written on it from the table and read out the lantern riddle Sang Yan had written: "The six classics have been pondered in my heart for long, a sword has been honed in hand for ten years. An apricot blossom across the head lies askew, take care not to reveal the secrets of the heavens. A single dot as vast as a pot, covers up what half-made-up face owns. A complete name awaits only when retiring and returning, do you recognize the original face?" Chapter 214 - 213: Stunning Beauty Chapter 214: Chapter 213: Stunning BeautyAccompanied by Qin Tangyue¡¯s recitation, everyone present stared at Sang Yan with disbelief. Including He Ying. He looked into Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, as if they sparkled with starlight: "My Ah Yan is truly incredible!" Eventually, the stall owner was the first to burst out laughing, bowing courteously to Sang Yan, "I had no idea the lady was so extraordinarily gifted." He had been vending here for a long time and had never seen anyone able to devise such a challenging riddle. "Too kind." Sang Yan chuckled awkwardly, feeling somewhat guilty: How could it not be extraordinarily gifted? It was a famous poem, after all! "I dare to ask, lady, which words in the poem form the riddle? Could you dispel this old man¡¯s doubts?" The stall owner, brimming with curiosity, was extremely eager to know. Qin Tangyue, upon hearing the stall owner¡¯s voice, also stealthily glanced towards Sang Yan. She felt uncomfortable inside but couldn¡¯t deny that she was incapable of composing such a poem, let alone guessing it? Sang Yan pursed her lips in a smile and wrote down four words on the rice paper¡ª"Xinwei¡¯s Top Scholar." The stall owner, after seeing the answer and thinking for a while, suddenly burst into laughter, "I never thought it would be these words, madam is perceptive, I am inferior in comparison. Today¡¯s riddle champion is indeed you!" He had noticed Sang Yan¡¯s fondness for the Jade carving of the Cowherd and Weaver, personally lifting it, and handed it over, "This Jade carving is for both you and the gentleman, wishing you lasting togetherness. Later on, you can also take a ride on the flower boat, circling around Quanzhou City to enjoy the night views." The stall owner was good with words. He Ying was delighted, casually pulling out Silver coins from his purse and tossing them to the stall owner: "Reward." He and Ah Yan were surely meant to last forever. The stall owner, almost reflexively catching the Silver, was momentarily stunned; he had quite a reputation here, but usually, nobody gave him reward silver. Observing the extraordinary demeanor of the man who gave the reward made people involuntarily respect him. "Thank you, young master." The stall owner bowed deeply in gratitude. Sang Yan joyfully held the Jade carving, glancing indirectly at Qin Tangyue. Qin Tangyue¡¯s expression was indescribable, standing next to the girl in the lake-green skirt. How could she not have guessed these four words! The girl in the lake-green skirt examined Qin Tangyue¡¯s expression carefully, deliberately provoking, "Yueyue, are you just going to admit defeat? You¡¯re a talented woman, try harder, and who knows, you might snatch him away¡ª" She totally ignored Qin Tangyue¡¯s feelings of losing the competition, showing no intention to comfort. Especially when she spoke, her eyes danced with excitement, seemingly thrilled by Qin Tangyue¡¯s public embarrassment. She had seen it; whether Qin Tangyue won or not, that man would not spare her a second glance. Qin Tangyue was really foolish to still engage in competition. "No more competing." Qin Tangyue¡¯s eyes reddened, her confidence crushed like never before. She didn¡¯t want to stay here any longer. Having tremendously embarrassed herself today, she felt as if every glance thrown her way was mocking, causing her extreme discomfort! "Oh, come on, don¡¯t leave¡ª" The girl in the lake-green skirt attempted to stop her. A cold and clear female voice suddenly rang out: "Are you her handkerchief friend?" Qin Tangyue turned at the sound, seeing the woman she had competed against approaching. She held the Jade carving, and the divinely handsome man was following closely behind her, his hand purposely draped over her shoulder as if he was afraid she would get bumped or touched. A man as dazzling as the summer sun, willingly guarding a woman such as her. Qin Tangyue felt bitterness in her heart and tightly pressed her lips together, remaining silent. The girl in the lake-green skirt scoffed, "Yes, I am Yueyue¡¯s handkerchief friend, are you here to gloat? Our Yueyue is better than you, do you dare to compete again?" "I wasn¡¯t¡ª" Qin Tangyue became anxious, attempting to grab her hand, to stop her from provoking further. But she intentionally pretended not to hear, completely ignoring Qin Tangyue¡¯s current embarrassing predicament. Sang Yan saw every interaction between the two and smirked behind her veil: She never expected this great beauty to be such a naive girl, easily manipulated by a so-called "handkerchief exchange." "Miss Qin¡ª" Sang Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered with the chattering girl and smiled at Qin Tangyue, "Possessing both intelligence and beauty is something all women desire, yet these alone are not enough. One also needs the ability to judge people." After saying this, she grabbed He Ying and headed to the bow of the boat. Her words had reached this point, whether Qin Tangyue understood or not was no longer her concern. The champion of the night was already announced. The owner asked the guests on deck to descend from the flower boat and with a shout, lifted the anchor. The flower boat slowly moved forward with the current. A cool sea breeze blew. Sang Yan leaned in He Ying¡¯s arms and within his dark eyes, she saw her veiled face. Suddenly thinking of something, she took off her veil and handed it to He Ying with some suspicion, "Does it really look like a pheasant?" She had been quite satisfied when she finished it! She did not know if it was an illusion, but now, looking at the embroidered mandarin ducks on the veil, they increasingly resembled two pheasants. "No more." Angry, she raised her hand to throw it into the sea. He Ying was quick, snatching it back, "Wasn¡¯t it a gift for me?" He frowned, unhappily stuffing the veil into his chest pocket, watching Sang Yan warily as if afraid she would try to snatch it. Sang Yan burst into laughter, "It¡¯s too ugly. I¡¯ll learn more and embroider a new one for you some other day." If the Palace Attendants found out one day that he carried a veil with pheasants, not only he but perhaps she would be embarrassed. "No need. This one is perfect. As long as you embroidered it, I like it." He Ying¡¯s eyes glowed, flirting naturally. Sang Yan was blushing and lowered her head, silently smiling. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qin Tangyue stood by the shore, still pondering Sang Yan¡¯s words: What did she mean by one¡¯s ability to judge people? Did she mean¡ªshe was poor at judging people? "Miss Qin, don¡¯t be sad. If that man doesn¡¯t appreciate you, we, your many admirers, are willing to accompany you if you wish." The men on shore, seeing Qin Tangyue come down, rushed to extend invitations: "I feel the same, Miss Qin, we can join you too." "Miss Qin, I have admired you for a long time, please consider me." "Miss Qin, I have booked Zuixian Building for tonight, may we gather?" ... Those pleas of courtship were endless. The normally polite sons of wealthy families and scholarly gentlemen were now desperately vying for the chance to spend Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day with Qin Tangyue. Qin Tangyue felt much better. So what if that woman had won against her? In terms of beauty, she, Qin Tangyue, was still the most beautiful in Quanzhou City. As she thought this, suddenly a cry arose: "My heavens, look at that woman, truly breathtaking!" Breathtaking? Qin Tangyue heard it, frowning: She was standing right there, who could be more beautiful than her? Everyone, including Qin Tangyue, looked out towards the sea. On the slowly receding flower boat, a woman sat by the railing, slightly tilting her head as if whispering to her lover. The dim yellow light of the lanterns shone on her fair skin, appearing enchanting and alluring. Qin Tangyue¡¯s gaze lowered to the woman¡¯s attire, her face resembling a colorful palette. Wasn¡¯t that the woman she had just competed against? Absurd! She had actually thought that woman was plain! Chapter 215 - 214: Deserted Chapter 215: Chapter 214: DesertedQin Tangyue felt a deep sense of shame for her earlier thoughts. "But just that." Four words entered her ears. Qin Tangyue gave a sideways glance and realized it was her handkerchief friend who had spoken, while she was looking jealously towards the direction of the flower boat. That look was definitely something she had never seen before. Suddenly, she remembered what that woman had told her¡ªthe heart knows the person! It was Wang Yun who had urged her to express her admiration. It was also Wang Yun who had asked her to join in solving the lantern riddles. Even Wang Yun had deliberately ridiculed that woman¡¯s veil as ugly! All the pieces came together. If she still didn¡¯t understand, she must be extremely foolish! "Yueyue, why are you looking at me like this?" Wang Yun saw Qin Tangyue¡¯s look, quickly composed her expression, and looked at her innocently. Qin Tangyue clenched her teeth, "Pretending and posturing! You¡¯re setting me up! What about it if you make me lose face? Your Wang Family is still no match for our Qin Family!" "Yueyue, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand." Wang Yun¡¯s heart pounded with panic, her gaze shifty. When had this fool caught on? "We don¡¯t need to associate with each other anymore. I, Qin Tangyue, can¡¯t afford a friend like you." Qin Tangyue didn¡¯t want to deal with her any longer and turned away angrily. On the flower boat, Sang Yan noticed the situation onshore with Qin Tangyue and chuckled, then looked up at He Ying, "That Miss Qin, she¡¯s quite pretty too, isn¡¯t she?" He Ying: "..." Was Ah Yan feeling jealous? He paused, then nodded seriously, "Yes. Pretty." Sang Yan: "..." Damn man! She got angry, turned her head away, and didn¡¯t want to acknowledge him. The next moment, a warm touch came from behind her. Sang Yan deliberately shifted forward. Humph, rejecting the hug, thank you! He Ying, watching her childish act, chuckled softly and pulled her into his embrace, "I was just teasing you. How could I pay attention to others when I have you?" Sang Yan was also intentionally teasing him. He was allergic to women, and she knew that better than anyone. "That¡¯s more like it." Despite this, Sang Yan still cocked her chin proudly, looking spoiled. The atmosphere was very warm. He Ying rested his chin on her shoulder, smelling her fragrant hair. Sang Yan, looking at the candlelights onshore and the lanterns on the sea, excitedly pulled He Ying¡¯s hand now and then, pointing out which lanterns looked good and which had unique designs. Until they reached another dock¡ª "Boss, why is this dock so deserted?" Sang Yan looked at the dock onshore: it was dark and barely visible. A few boatmen were sitting on the shore, utterly dejected. A few people were walking with a strange posture, holding their stomachs as if they were in great discomfort. He Ying also felt something was off and turned to the owner. The piercing gaze made the owner break out in a cold sweat: this young man¡¯s imposing presence was too strong! He dared not hesitate and quickly shared what he knew, "Miss, this dock is private for small fishing boats, surrounded by low houses. The people living here are boatmen, very poor. Recently, they seem to have caught a cold at sea, with vomiting and diarrhea. The dock smells of medicine, so naturally, no one comes here anymore." Sang Yan, realizing this, likened the dock to the urban villages in modern first-tier cities. Happy songs and laughter at one end, while desolate silence at the other. She smelled the strong scent of medicine in the air, feeling heavy-hearted: regardless of the era, the gap between the rich and the poor was always vast. The lives of the people at the bottom were always filled with suffering. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying, knowing she was worried about those who had caught colds, drew her into his arms, smoothed her furrowed brow, and whispered, "Don¡¯t worry. When we get back, I will ask Gao Wenliang to allocate some Silver and medicine for them." "Mhm." Sang Yan, reassured by his words, nodded and smiled gently, letting go of her worries. He wouldn¡¯t have cared about these minor details in the past, but now he was increasingly embodying an Emperor¡¯s compassion. Ah, more and more, he was becoming a good Emperor who loved his people like his children! The flower boat continued forward. Another quarter hour passed. The shopkeeper shouted, "Two honored guests, we are ashore now. Ahead is the commercial street of Quanzhou City, with storytellers and opera singers all around." The lights along the shore were brightly lit. Far more impressive than the dock from which they had set off. Sang Yan thanked the shopkeeper and then pulled out a silver ingot from her purse to hand to him. After disembarking with He Ying, they walked quite a distance but could still hear the shopkeeper¡¯s congratulatory words. "Thank you, two honored guests. I wish you both everlasting happiness and joy." Such auspicious words lifted their spirits. Hand in hand, they walked along, stopping now and then to look at various novelties. Nearly an hour passed when they stopped in front of a teahouse. Business along this whole street was booming. But this teahouse was clearly doing the best. Customers wanting to have tea were lined up in a long queue. Even those not interested in tea squeezed inside as if something exciting was happening there. Sang Yan, who loved lively places, stopped and looked up at the sign with golden letters on a wooden background¡ªQingfeng Tea House. This name? It seemed familiar. It seemed there was also a similar teahouse in Capital City where people told stories. Thinking this, she took a few steps forward and faintly heard cheers from inside. "It¡¯s so lively in here." She stood at the entrance, craning her neck to peek inside. But there were too many people; she couldn¡¯t see what was happening inside. Fortunately, an old man standing in front provided her with some insight, "Miss, do you also enjoy storytelling? Inside, Mr. Feng is telling a story about something that recently happened in the He Family. Ah, who would have thought Doctor He¡¯s family could be so cruel? The He Family¡¯s reputation has completely been ruined!" The old man shook his head and thumped his chest, his face full of regret. He had previously seen the glory of the He Family, and now... alas, he could only say that fortunes are unpredictable. When Sang Yan heard the words "He Family," she instinctively glanced at He Ying: the He Family had also produced such a wicked woman! "Let¡¯s go inside and listen." He Ying¡¯s voice was stiff, carrying a hint of displeasure. He wanted to hear how the common people viewed the He Family. "Xinyuan¡ª" Sang Yan grasped He Ying¡¯s hand, calming him, "Don¡¯t get agitated. The common people simply don¡¯t know the real situation." They had to send someone to investigate before they knew that He Zhongwen and others were not direct descendants of the He Family. Not to mention these naive common people. Storytellers always tended to stir people¡¯s emotions and inevitably made some improper remarks. "Alright. I know." He Ying patted her hand twice and then called Lu Zijin to clear a path. There were too many people; forcing their way through was both difficult and undignified. "Make way, please." Lu Zijin and his subordinates soon opened a path. He Ying guided Sang Yan inside where many people were gathered, with no empty seats available. He chose a table near the front, offering ten silver pieces per person to vacate their seats. The eight people at the table, surprised by their luck, happily took the money and made way. He Ying pulled Sang Yan to sit down. Then he called for a waiter and ordered some tea and snacks. Just then, the storyteller struck the gavel and exclaimed, "Speaking of Miss He Hongzhao from the He Family, she was a woman of uncommon intelligence. Unfortunately, during her childhood, she was fed poison by her parents..." Sang Yan finally calmed down to listen to the storytelling. Upon listening, she found the storyteller¡¯s voice strangely familiar. The hand that was pouring tea stiffened, the pot hovering mid-air. "What¡¯s wrong?" He Ying, noticing her reaction, sensed something amiss. Sang Yan looked towards the storyteller¡¯s platform, "Xinyuan, listen, this storyteller¡¯s voice¡ª" She felt it was a voice she had heard somewhere before. Reminded by her, He Ying listened carefully, his brows soon furrowing tightly: it couldn¡¯t possibly be him! Chapter 216 - 215 Old Friends Chapter 216: Chapter 215 Old FriendsAn hour later "...Now, He Hongzhao is missing, feared to have escaped Quanzhou, causing endless harm." The storyteller sighed as such, ending tonight¡¯s storytelling session. The audience, unsatisfied, all left with sighs of disappointment. Behind the curtain, a faint rustle of plain-colored robes suggested someone was about to leave. "Stop!" He Ying shouted sternly, then pulled Sang Yan in with him. "It really is you!" Sang Yan confirmed her suspicion and chuckled, "Feng Yicheng, long time no see." She had last seen him at the Qingfeng Tea House in the Capital City, and the impression was deep. He was storytelling there as well. He Ying had a good chat with him, seemingly close friends. Unexpectedly, he had appeared in Quanzhou. He Ying was also surprised Feng Yicheng showed up in Quanzhou. Initially, he had arranged for him to resolve a deception case in Fu State and then return to serve in the court; instead he defied orders and ran off to Quanzhou. Now, as ruler and subject meet, he seemed quite composed. Such audacity! "Your Honors, I am honored." Feng Yicheng, startled at first upon seeing them, soon regained his composure and greeted them properly with a smile. Then, bowing, he invited them, "As old friends reunite, why not come inside and talk?" He was certainly shrewd. Just having seen He Ying, he was somewhat panicked, but now he had recovered. To an outsider, they appeared as friends warmly catching up. He Ying did not want to cause a scene and, with a cold huff, followed Feng Yicheng upstairs with Sang Yan. He was eager to hear what Feng Yicheng had left to talk about! Sang Yan noticed He Ying¡¯s anger but did not understand the conflict between the two. It seemed Feng Yicheng had a clever heart, so how had he provoked him? The two followed Feng Yicheng into a room. Once the door closed, Feng Yicheng lifted his robe and knelt, paying them great respects. "Greetings to the Emperor and the Empress¡ª" He was very formal. Even his expression had changed from relaxed to serious and solemn. "Mr. Feng, please rise." Sang Yan gently assisted him. He Ying said nothing, pulling Sang Yan to sit on a soft couch. Feng Yicheng remained kneeling, looking up at them sitting together, a wave of emotions stirring within him: the Emperor and Empress¡¯s affection was profound. Zuo Zhi, now, besides me, who else remembers you? A tea table was set atop the couch. There was also a pot of tea on the table. He Ying noticed it, touched the teapot, still warm, then poured a cup, rinsed it, and splashed it on the ground. Afterward, he poured another cup, held it to his nose, and smelled the tea, finding it quite pleasing. This was probably Feng Yicheng¡¯s bedroom. Feng Yicheng always enjoyed the finer things, and the bedroom was elegantly and delicately furnished, including the tea, which was refreshing and soothing. He and Sang Yan had been walking for quite some time and he was indeed a bit thirsty. "Why not taste some?" He had tasted it before offering it to Sang Yan. Of course, it was not about giving her leftovers, but to check for poison. Sang Yan did not mind this small detail. He offered her the tea, so she drank. After a few sips, she commented, "Not bad. Sweet and fragrant, somewhat like floral tea, it leaves a lingering pleasant aftertaste that uplifts the mood." She then poured another cup and offered it to him, "Drink some more, cool down a bit." He Ying took it and sipped slowly. Meanwhile, glancing at the person kneeling on the floor, with a smirk that wasn¡¯t quite a smile, "Mr. Feng, they say fate brings people together no matter the distance, this saying seems quite apt for us." "This is just a teasing remark." Feng Yicheng heard it and his body shuddered, feigning a look of great fright. He was doing this to give He Ying face, to temper his anger. "Emperor, forgive me." Feng Yicheng bowed his head, admitting his wrong and pleading for mercy. "Forgive you?" He Ying¡¯s voice rose, then with a wave of his hand, he smashed the cup in his hand at Feng Yicheng¡¯s feet. "Feng Yicheng, I have always appreciated you, thus I indulged you, spoiled you, and yet you fool me like this?" He had given him time to mourn his deceased friend, allowed him to leave his official post to clear his mind. But what happened? For years on end, it was never-ending. Now, knowing that he was in Quanzhou, he actually avoided seeing him. If he hadn¡¯t run into him tonight, he clearly had no intention of visiting him! Absolutely presumptuous! "Xinyuan, let¡¯s talk nicely, don¡¯t be angry¡ª" Sang Yan gently patted He Ying¡¯s chest, thinking to herself: There goes my effort to make him happy tonight. "How do you expect me to talk nicely with him?" He Ying also felt wronged, "I have told him several times to quickly return to court for his duty, but what about him? He possesses great talents, yet here he is, storytelling to others?" How could he not be angry? Such a valued person, rather than returning to court, he preferred to be a storytelling master. Truly a slap in his face! Feng Yicheng obediently kneeled on the ground, not dodging or refuting, just letting the other release his anger. At most, he would reply, "This commoner is at fault, Emperor, please forgive me." He Ying felt as if his punch had landed on cotton. What else could he say? He couldn¡¯t kill him, nor did he want to. Scold him? The man looked like a pig who isn¡¯t afraid of scalding water! "You, just talk less nonsense!" He Ying commanded coldly, "Pack up now, and in a few days, follow me back to the palace!" Feng Yicheng remained motionless, still kneeling on the ground, his clear and composed face regaining its usual calm. He bowed his head and said, "This commoner does not wish to return to the palace, please grant me this, Emperor." He Ying was furious, wanting to kick Feng Yicheng. But ultimately, valuing Feng Yicheng¡¯s talent, he could not bring himself to do it. "How dare you! Feng Yicheng, you are defying an imperial order!" "Emperor, this commoner lives under the heavens, heart set on the court and country." Feng Yicheng explained calmly, "This commoner has been traveling outside, not returning to court, not because of indulgence in pleasures, but to understand the real conditions of the world and also to gather information for the Emperor..." "Good!" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying sneered coldly, "Very good. Then tell me, what information have you gathered for me?" He took a sip of tea, straightened his posture, and listened attentively. Sang Yan also looked curiously at Feng Yicheng, eager to hear what information he could provide. Then, Feng Yicheng said, "This commoner has heard that seven or eight days ago, the Emperor Bei Qi became seriously ill, the Crown Prince Qi Guanglie fell from his horse and has been unconscious since, causing great chaos in the Beiqi court. Only the Ninth Prince Qi Wuya managed to temporarily govern and stabilize the situation." "What!" Sang Yan suddenly stood up, exclaiming in shock, "Qi Wuya is in power now?" So soon? Qi Wuya has already taken charge in Beiqi! The matter with the Emperor Bei Qi and Qi Guanglie must be connected to that madman Qi Wuya! He Ying thought the same, equally shocked, "Such a major event, why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner? I was in the State Mansion, Feng Yicheng, you really can sit still!" He grew even angrier, feeling that Feng Yicheng was not only bold but also very inappropriate: If he had known this news earlier, perhaps he could have had a chance to prevent Qi Wuya from taking power, even support Qi Guanglie. Knowing that Qi Guanglie was indulged in wine and women, he would be much easier to control than Qi Wuya! Even though he was severely injured and unconscious, he could choose to support another prince! No matter who governed Bei Qi, anyone would be better than Qi Wuya in power! Damn it! How did it happen that Qi, Wuya, took, charge! Chapter 217 - 216 Coup Chapter 217: Chapter 216 Coup"You really have some nerve!" He Ying glared at Feng Yicheng, anger and disappointment filling his eyes. Feng Yicheng could see the Emperor¡¯s dissatisfaction and felt a bitter taste in his heart¡ªhe had actually heard the news first-hand during his travels to Beiqi. He had just learned of it in Beiqi and was on his way back when he was discovered by Qi Wuya. He had no idea how Qi Wuya had found out that he had gone to Beiqi, but he had sent quite a few men to intercept him. It had taken considerable effort to safely return from Beiqi. But this, he could not disclose. His Emperor was so sensitive and suspicious; if he mentioned that he had been to Beiqi, who knows what misunderstandings it could lead to. "Your Majesty, this humble one only just found out the news and thought that, after so much time had passed, Your Majesty would have known. To think... Your Majesty did not." His voice grew weaker towards the end. He felt he had misspoken, implying that he underestimated the Emperor. As expected, the Emperor was displeased. "So you say; it¡¯s just that my sources are not as informed then." He Ying had calmed down but felt quite embarrassed: the intelligence network of an Emperor was worse than that of a "commoner"! Were all his subordinates just idling their lives away? "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This commoner did not mean it that way." "Whatever you mean, I don¡¯t care; when I return, you will come back with me!" He Ying was out of patience, and after saying this, he stood up. What was urgent now was to return to the State Mansion and thoroughly investigate the turmoil in Beiqi. "Let¡¯s head back." He Ying took Sang Yan¡¯s hand, and before leaving, he said sternly, "You stay put in Quanzhou. Don¡¯t go running around anymore. I will have people watching you." Feng Yicheng: "..." This was the main reason he dared not face the Emperor and report the matters of Beiqi. He knew that once he saw the Emperor, he would be forced to return to court. Sigh. After all, he could not avoid it. "This humble one will see off Your Majesty." He sent him off with a smile. In his heart, though, he thought: I definitely have to run. As long as I¡¯m not watched, I will surely escape. He Ying, unaware of Feng Yicheng¡¯s thoughts, instructed Lu Zijin before leaving the teahouse: "Leave two men behind to ensure Mr. Feng¡¯s safety. Remember! They must not leave his side, day or night!" Lu Zijin knew that the Emperor valued this man and promptly responded, "Yes." He left two trusted men to keep an eye on him. He Ying, looking at the still busy marketplace, turned to Sang Yan with an apologetic face: "Ah Yan, about tonight¡¯s Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day¡ª" Tonight¡¯s Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day celebrations could only end here. "I understand. Hurry back." Sang Yan thought about what Feng Yicheng had said; how could she be in the mood to enjoy herself anymore? "We will have many more opportunities in the future, but our immediate concern is to confirm the situation with Qi Wuya." Feng Yicheng would not lie. Qi Wuya was really in power? The thought of his tactics sent a strong wave of anxiety through her: this world was probably about to become unsettled! As midnight approached. He Ying returned to the State Mansion with Sang Yan and called Gao Wenliang, Lu Zijin, and others to discuss countermeasures. Although he had not received exact information, he still believed Feng Yicheng¡¯s words. "Such a significant change in Beiqi?" Gao Wenliang was shocked and dumbfounded: "Your Majesty, I have not heard a whisper of this; may I ask where this news comes from?" sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was somewhat incredulous in his heart: It had only been a little over a month since Qi Guanglie and Da He had negotiated peace, did Qi Wuya have the capability to turn Beiqi upside down? Lu Zijin was not as curious about the source of the news as he was thinking of strategies: "Qi Wuya is ruthless and ambitious, a wolf in human¡¯s guise; we must be vigilant." He Ying sat at the head of the table, his fingers resting on it, rhythmically tapping, with his handsome face casting a gloomy expression, saying nothing. Sang Yan sat beside him, full of worry: It seemed their peaceful days were at an end. He Ying¡¯s poison injury hadn¡¯t fully healed yet. The study was as silent as death. Just then, the sound of horse hooves approached from outside. Followed by the sound of some heavy object falling. Everyone heard it and faced the sudden noise with vigilant expressions, looking outside¡ª Pei Muyang pushed open the door to the study, hastily entered, and urgently said, "Emperor, the messenger has arrived!" His voice fell, and several eunuchs entered, supporting a soldier who was dripping with blood. The soldier¡¯s face was smeared with blood, making it impossible to discern his features, but his extreme weakness was plainly visible, his body limp as if he might faint at any moment. Yet, as he kneeled on the ground, his spine was straight, he gasped for air, and though he struggled, his words were clear and strong: "Emperor, I bring a secret missive from Marshal Rong¡¯s vanguard, Rong Bing." He was Rong Ye¡¯s younger brother. As he spoke, he pulled a blood-soaked brocade bag from his chest. Opening it, within the brocade bag was a golden mechanical box, which contained the secret missive. Pei Muyang immediately took the mechanical box and presented it to He Ying. Seeing this, He Ying already guessed the reason for the delay in news: "You encountered an ambush by Bei Qi?" Rong Bing nodded: "Yes. Fortunately, I have not failed in my duty." "Well done." He Ying, taking the mechanical box, did not rush to open it and instead ordered that the wounded man be taken for treatment: "Have Imperial Doctor Liu attend to his wounds. Use the best medicine." "Yes." After Pei Muyang responded, he signaled to the eunuchs who had supported Rong Bing to take him away. Only then did He Ying turn the mechanism, open the mechanical box, and begin to read its contents. He had been silent for so long previously because he was waiting for Rong Ye¡¯s secret missive. If Feng Yicheng had received news, then surely Rong Ye would have as well, and would have sent it to him as swiftly as possible. Everything was as Feng Yicheng had said. Bei Qi¡ªthere had been a coup. Sang Yan, standing beside him, was nervously on edge, subconsciously clutching He Ying¡¯s arm. How she wished Feng Yicheng¡¯s words were not true. She and He Ying had barely begun their happy days together. If Qi Wuya truly seized control of Bei Qi, he would likely turn his sights on Da He soon. Just thinking of Qi Wuya¡¯s sinister and cold face made her scalp tingle with dread. She considered herself worldly but feared Qi Wuya¡¯s madness. He Ying, noticing Sang Yan¡¯s fear, tried to calm his own troubled heart and cooed, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here, and I won¡¯t let you go through that ever again." She had suffered so much in Qi Wuya¡¯s hands. This time, if he really faced off against Qi Wuya, he would cut off his hands and feet, gouge out his eyes. To make him yearn for his woman! Gao Wenliang and Lu Zijin witnessed the Emperor and Empress¡¯s tender moment and tacitly lowered their heads, feigning ignorance respectfully. They understood too well the Emperor¡¯s affection for the Empress. Which Emperor could abandon his throne and venture into Puluo Country with merely a few followers? "Okay. I believe you!" Sang Yan held tightly to He Ying¡¯s hand. Yu Guang, meanwhile, looked at the letter: "May I see it?" The letter had been inside the metal schematic box, stained with traces of blood, hinting at the dire peril faced by the messenger who had delivered it. He Ying did not hesitate to pass the letter to her. Its contents, as described by Feng Yicheng, were identical. The Emperor Bei Qi had been recuperating for many days in his traveling palace when he suddenly passed away. The Crown Prince, Qi Guanglie, while rushing to mourn, fell from his horse and lay unconscious. Qi Guanglie was the third in line; his elder brothers had died young, the fourth Prince was in poor health, the fifth and sixth Princes were implicated in an assassination plot against the Crown Prince and were temporarily confined to their respective Prince Mansions, while the seventh and eighth Princes supported the Ninth Prince, Qi Wuya, as the acting Crown Prince. Sang Yan read through once and straightforwardly surmised: "I dare say, the simultaneous misfortunes of the Bei Qi Emperor and the Crown Prince must certainly be the doing of Qi Wuya." That madman was definitely capable of killing his father and brothers! Chapter 218 - 217 Decision Chapter 218: Chapter 217 DecisionHe Ying shared the same thought as Sang Yan, also believing that Qi Wuya, who had killed his father and brother, was a total scoundrel! Yet, on second thought, such a person, while holding Sang Yan hostage, had refused to harm her even slightly. His expression turned even uglier¡ªthe damned bastard had truly taken a liking to his Ah Yan! Detestable! Suppressing his murderous rage, he slammed the secret letter on the table and angrily said, "The Beiqi Crown Prince is unconscious, and it seems he will never wake up again. He¡¯s already a cripple. Now that Qi Wuya is in power, it¡¯s only a matter of time before he attacks Da He." Upon hearing the Emperor¡¯s words, Gao Wenliang immediately knelt down and pledged his loyalty, "Emperor, this humble subject is willing to lead troops to Beiqi to support Marshal Rong!" Although Da He had returned three cities to Beiqi in the peace talks, Marshal Rong had continuously stationed troops at the border and even secretly operated near Beiqi. All of these were condoned by He Ying. Both parties knew that the peace talks were just a temporary measure! Thus, Gao Wenliang made this suggestion. True men naturally should lead troops, fight wars, and achieve great deeds. Considering his Gao Family, they were not from a civil servant origin; how could he contentedly remain a state official? Lu Zijin also knelt and said, "I am also willing to lead troops." Seeing both men say this, He Ying was quite satisfied. He admired courageous people and couldn¡¯t help but nod and say, "War is inevitable." Perhaps he should have taken advantage of the political turmoil in Beiqi to launch an attack. But the war had just ended, and the peace had only been a month; should he be the first to break the treaty? "No!" Seeing He Ying¡¯s thoughts, Sang Yan shook her head and said, "War, no!" As soon as she spoke, everyone in the room turned to look at her. Gao Wenliang and Lu Zijin both looked puzzled. He Ying was relatively calm, only tenderly looking at her and smilingly asked, "Ah Yan, why not?" Sang Yan pursed her lips and stated her views, "I think it¡¯s not yet time for war. First, there is the treaty. Breaking it first means we have no justified cause. You know, if the name is not proper, the words will not carry; if the words do not carry, the deeds will not prosper. Second, Beiqi is not yet chaotic enough. If Da He rashly starts a war now, they will only unite as brothers and repel the foreign threat." "The Empress speaks wisely." Gao Wenliang nodded in praise, but then his tone shifted, "However, we should not miss this opportunity. Now that Beiqi is weak and in turmoil, it¡¯s an excellent occasion to strike hard. If I may speak boldly, had it not been for the Emperor¡¯s encounter with danger, Marshal Rong would not have halted, and we could have directly taken the Beiqi Imperial City." Lu Zijin agreed, "Empress, forgive my boldness, but I also feel Mr. Gao speaks sensibly. In the matter of conquering kings and defeated foes, the reputation is determined by whatever the victors say. The strong hold the authority to speak." Listening to their philosophy of the strong, Sang Yan paused for a moment before saying, "You seem to underestimate Qi Wuya too much. Think about He Hongzhao, and think three times before acting." He Hongzhao was a hidden danger. She might have already fled to Beiqi and become a strong supporter of Qi Wuya. A malicious medical officer with a dangerous mind, his destructive power was immense. Hearing this, Gao Wenliang was also startled: Yes, that He Hongzhao, should not be underestimated. "Then according to the Empress, what should be done?" Gao Wenliang humbly sought advice. Sang Yan lowered her eyes, remaining silent. Seeing this, He Ying encouraged, "Ah Yan, feel free to speak your mind." Encouraged by him, Sang Yan continued, "I always feel that if Qi Wuya dares to rise to power at this time, he must be prepared. If not heard, it is nothing; but when heard, it is startling. Having been dormant for so many years, he couldn¡¯t possibly be as weak as he appeared in Puluo Country. Therefore, sending troops now, I fear, would play right into Qi Wuya¡¯s hands. How can a ruler who isn¡¯t firmly established quickly seize real power? War! How to win people¡¯s hearts? War! War destroys everything, but also creates everything!" As she spoke, her tone was very calm, even slowing down. But each sentence, each word, was powerful and resonant. He Ying involuntarily thought of his own path to power. He was a beneficiary of war! Initially, he had quickly seized military power and won people¡¯s hearts precisely through war. "Ah Yan never disappoints me." He Ying stroked her hair and laughed heartily, "Ah Yan is unequaled in her cleverness, there¡¯s no one else like her in the world." Sang Yan: "..." There¡¯s no need for such exaggeration. It¡¯s just that she has read too much history. Lu Zijin was listening intently and hurriedly said, "I hope Her Ladyship will continue to enlighten us. If we cannot wage war, what should we do?" "You all¡ª" He Ying sighed. He stopped short of saying "fools," also sparing them some dignity. Sang Yan continued, "The ancients said, ¡¯He who has the Way receives much support, while he who loses the Way has little.¡¯ The matter of Qi Wuya assassinating his brothers could be spread. A beast who murders his father and brothers, how can he sit securely in power? Of course, besides spreading this news, we must also be more vigilant. For instance, dispatch medical officers to the border and enhance medical research to protect the soldiers and people there from poison." She suggested two methods, both offensive and defensive. Lu Zijin was very admiring: "Her Ladyship is wise, truly a remarkable woman." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan: "..." She felt awkward. She really wasn¡¯t that impressive. Being praised too much made her feel uneasy. As she felt uneasy, she modestly reflected, "I am but a strategist on paper, how to implement these ideas should be discussed among yourselves." Exactly. What she suggested might not work well when applied in reality. Spreading negative news and waging a war of public opinion aren¡¯t very effective if those in power don¡¯t care. And medical development is hard to advance quickly. He Hongzhao remained a significant concern. Perhaps a violent onslaught could yield unexpected gains. Unhappened events, who knew? Gao Wenliang respectfully bowed and asked, "Emperor, please make a decision, should we fight, or should we heed Her Ladyship¡¯s words?" He Ying didn¡¯t speak, pondering. Both sides had valid points. How would he decide? He took out the Dahe Territory Map from a nearby bookshelf, spread it out, and examined it closely several times. Beiqi wasn¡¯t always called Beiqi. It was once Da Qi. After ceding its land, it had migrated north, thus becoming Beiqi. But as Beiqi expanded northwards, it also conquered part of Mengka Country¡¯s territory. Overall, Beiqi¡¯s territory had expanded. Taking over this country wouldn¡¯t be simple. Calm. Prudent. His fingers landed on the border line between Mengka Country and Beiqi Country, and he suddenly thought of something: Mengka is a bellicose equestrian nation. Beiqi has been fighting Mengka for years, so Beiqi must have a large contingent of troops there. When Dahe was causing Beiqi to retreat step by step, was Beiqi also in battle with Mengka? If so, then Beiqi would be caught between two enemies. And for Dahe... it might somewhat be fighting an unfair battle. So, perhaps he really underestimated Beiqi! "Let¡¯s heed Her Ladyship¡¯s advice." After pondering, He Ying picked up pen and paper and wrote a secret letter: 1. Quickly investigate the details of the conflict between Beiqi and Mengka, especially the timing. 2. Secretly protect other princes of Beiqi from the scourge of Qi Wuya, also support a few princes to rise. 3. Spread the news of Qi Wuya¡¯s parricide and fratricide among the people. 4. Vigorously recruit medical officers and promote medical development. He wrote down four directives, stamped them with his imperial seal, folded them carefully, put them in a mechanical box, and handed them to Lu Zijin: "Deliver this secret letter to Marshal Rong quickly. He knows what to do." Chapter 219 - 218 Rewards Chapter 219: Chapter 218 RewardsSang Yan saw the content of the secret letter and couldn¡¯t help saying, "It¡¯s still you who thinks everything through. You even thought to preemptively guard against Qi Wuya acting against other princes." He Ying, hearing her praise, was very happy in his heart but remained humble on the surface, "It was you who reminded me, saying that Beiqi is not yet chaotic enough. Indeed, Beiqi is not chaotic enough. Considering Qi Wuya being constrained by Qi Guanglie in Puluo Country, as the saying goes, there is a counter for every move. Those princes must not be harmed." Sang Yan approved and nodded, "Yes. Those princes are all formidable opponents to Qi Wuya. And the enemy of my enemy is our friend." He Ying¡¯s eyes were full of admiration as he smiled, "Mhm. Ah Yan, we are truly of one mind." He dispatched Rong Ye to secretly protect the other princes of Beiqi, which could not only restrain Qi Wuya and make his journey to power difficult but also amplify the internal strife within Beiqi, so they would deplete themselves. In any case, it was all profit and no harm. "For now, let¡¯s leave it at that." He Ying made the decision and looked towards Gao Wenliang, then commanded, "You are the State Official of Quanzhou, from now on, you must also prioritize the development of medical science. Send word to the other prefectures and counties as well." Gao Wenliang nodded, "Yes, Your Servant understands." Sang Yan interjected at the right time, "We could then establish medical schools, with separate branches for surgery and internal medicine. Surgery could be headed by Imperial Doctor Liang. Oh, and there¡¯s also the field of poisons. You could recruit some people who are skilled in the use of poisons. These people might operate in the shadows, hence finding such talent requires taking unconventional approaches. In the end, whether they are good or bad depends entirely on how the one in power makes use of them. In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary actions." Gao Wenliang listened attentively, glancing at He Ying out of the corner of his eye. He was waiting for the Emperor to speak. He Ying caught Gao Wenliang¡¯s inquiring look and nodded, "Proceed as the Empress has said. After I return to the palace, I will allocate some silver taels here, so carry on boldly. Let me know if you need anything." Gao Wenliang¡¯s eyes sparkled, and he respectfully bowed, "Yes, Your Servant understands." This was the authorization to lead the development of medical science in Quanzhou and the other prefectures and counties! And since the Emperor placed such great importance on medicine, as long as he did well, his future was assuredly secure. "Thank you, Emperor, for your trust. Your Servant will not let you down." "Good. You may leave." He Ying waved his hand, dismissing both Gao Wenliang and Lu Zijin. He then took Sang Yan¡¯s hand and walked outside, saying as they went, "It¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s go rest." Sang Yan nodded and followed him back to their room. In the room, the palace maids had already tidied up the bedding. The bedding was soft and smelled fragrant. After a brief wash, Sang Yan lay down in bed and waited for He Ying to join her. He Ying preferred bathing in cold water, separately from Sang Yan. Lagging behind her slightly, he took a quick shower, then, draped in a black and gold robe, lay down on the bed. His body was cool with moisture. In the still sweltering night, it was comfortable to embrace. Accustomed to snuggling into his chest, Sang Yan held his waist and rested her head on his arm, murmuring, "Qi Wuya must be feeling very smug right now." He Ying lay on his side, his gaze tenderly stroking her long hair, lazily said, "Ah Yan, let¡¯s not talk about that mood killer." He bent down to kiss her lips. The kiss deepened, and then, with a sigh, he lay back and closed his eyes to sleep. Sang Yan didn¡¯t expect him to be so well-behaved tonight and couldn¡¯t help asking, "Too tired tonight?" He Ying shook his head, "I don¡¯t want to take you here. Let¡¯s wait until we return to the palace." Their first time together shouldn¡¯t be in this State Mansion. Sang Yan understood his sentiment and spoke softly, "Actually, I don¡¯t mind where it is." She knew that now his poison wounds had healed somewhat, and if he really wished, she wouldn¡¯t refuse. "I mind." He Ying kissed her forehead tenderly and said indulgently, "Our grand wedding hasn¡¯t been officially completed. If you were to get pregnant again, it wouldn¡¯t be good for your reputation. Let¡¯s wait until we¡¯re back at the palace and hold another grand wedding. I¡¯ve waited so long already; a few more days won¡¯t make a difference." Listening to his plans, Sang Yan felt both sweet and blissful, "Xinyuan, thank you. You love me so much; I don¡¯t even know how to love you back." "You¡¯ll find out in the future," He Ying fiercely kissed her lips, the sound of his breath especially enchanting. "Ah Yan, you¡¯ll have to thank me properly later, hmm? I¡¯ll remember all of this." Sang Yan: "..." This scoundrel! * At the same time Beiqi Imperial Palace In the Taian Palace Qi Wuya, dressed in a moon-colored brocade robe, sat casually on the master chair, his well-defined right hand holding an emerald teacup. He gazed at the round moon outside the window, seemingly lost in thought, and a soft smile brimming with affection spilled from his thin lips: Sang Yan, are you and He Ying admiring the moon right now? Just wait. It won¡¯t be long before you return to my side. Thinking of Sang Yan, Qi Wuya¡¯s grip on the emerald teacup gradually strengthened, and his body couldn¡¯t help but tremble with excitement. The excitement made the muscles in his right leg tremble unconsciously. "Mr. Jiu¡ª" A shrill voice sounded from outside. A eunuch dressed in a brown Grand Eunuch¡¯s outfit hunched over and walked in, holding a mahogany tray in his hand. On the tray was a brand-new Dragon Robe, with gold thread work and exquisitely embroidered dragon patterns. "Eunuch Fuzi, what brings you here at this time?" Qi Wuya raised his head at the sound, his demeanor languid as he glanced at the eunuch. Eunuch Fuzi was an old man who usually followed Crown Prince Qi Guanglie. Now that the Crown Prince was unconscious and unresponsive, it seemed this old man was ready to serve a new master. He completely changed his previous disdain toward Qi Wuya, crawling obsequiously to the ground, moving his knees forward until he reached Qi Wuya¡¯s feet. "Mr. Jiu, this servant was just remembering your ascension to the throne, so I instructed the palace embroidery ladies to work through the night to finish the Dragon Robe. Please try it on quickly¡ª" Eunuch Fuzi held the tray up high with both hands, presenting the Dragon Robe as if it were a treasure. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This servant has long seen that Mr. Jiu has the demeanor of the gods, and the destiny of an Emperor, the previous Crown Prince¡ªptui, ptui, ptui¡ª" Eunuch Fuzi forcefully smacked his own mouth, as if the words "Crown Prince" left a bad taste. "Mr. Jiu, don¡¯t be angry, this servant misspoke. What Crown Prince? That Qi Guanglie bullied you, and this servant has thought day and night about killing him, to vent your anger. Fortunately, Mr. Jiu¡¯s hard times have finally turned to sweet. This servant... this servant is sincerely happy for Mr. Jiu." He was speaking tearfully when tears actually began to fall from the corner of his eyes. "Good! Very good!" Qi Wuya seemed to have watched an excellent drama, clapping his hands and laughing out loud: "Eunuch Fuzi, your ¡¯loyalty¡¯ to me is truly admirable!" Eunuch Fuzi failed to detect the sarcasm in Qi Wuya¡¯s words, thinking he had won the other¡¯s favor. He smiled obsequiously and again offered the Dragon Robe to Qi Wuya: "Mr. Jiu, you are no longer what you once were; why still refer to yourself as ¡¯me¡¯? That is how princes address themselves, which doesn¡¯t suit your status. In this servant¡¯s eyes, you are Beiqi¡¯s¡ª" "Is that so?" Qi Wuya interrupted him, glanced at the glittering Dragon Robe with a smile that was not really a smile, his gaze carrying a chilling meaning. The next moment, he reached out, patted Eunuch Fuzi¡¯s shoulder with a careless tone: "Eunuch Fuzi, for someone as loyal as you, how do you think I should reward you?" His handsome face was full of smiles, as if he was quite satisfied with the Dragon Robe. Eunuch Fuzi saw it, his wrinkled old face smiling so hard the wrinkles quivered: How could he be anything but pleased! This robe was made by over a hundred embroidery ladies, working tirelessly for three days and nights. All to curry the first favor before Qi Wuya¡¯s coronation! Now that Qi Wuya had seized control of the Beiqi court, as long as he was pleased, how could he not reap the rewards later? Eunuch Fuzi grew more and more excited, boldly suggesting: "Why not¡ª" Reward this servant by keeping me at Your Majesty¡¯s side! He hadn¡¯t yet finished speaking¡ª Qi Wuya, who had been patting his shoulder, suddenly grasped Eunuch Fuzi¡¯s neck. Then, with a forceful pull, he lifted the eunuch¡¯s portly body into the air. Eunuch Fuzi¡¯s face turned pale, his eyes filled with terror: "Mr. J... Mr. Jiu spare¡ª" Qi Wuya¡¯s smile turned cold: "Why not reward Eunuch Fuzi by letting you go first?" Chapter 220 - 219: Gaining the Upper Hand Chapter 220: Chapter 219: Gaining the Upper HandEunuch Fuzi¡¯s face turned bright red as he was choked and lifted into the air, his legs flailing wildly. "Mr.¡ª" His face contorted with suffocation, unable to speak. Qi Wuya looked at the dying Eunuch Fuzi as if he were a dead object and smiled, "You have been so loyal, having served the Crown Prince for most of your life, I shall reward you; go first to Huangquan Road and wait for the useless Qi Guanglie." Crack. The sound of a bone breaking. Eunuch Fuzi¡¯s head dangled at an eerie angle. A dark red streak of blood slid down from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto Qi Wuya¡¯s pale hand. Qi Wuya showed disgust, casually throwing aside the body of Eunuch Fuzi, which heavily fell on a dragon robe. The once imposing dragon robe instantly became a shroud. Qi Wuya stepped over the dragon robe and the body of Eunuch Fuzi, walked to the table, picked up a handkerchief, and deliberately wiped the blood off his hand. He slowly raised his eyelids and looked at the others in the hall, "Do you still want to please me?" The palace attendants were silent as cicadas in winter, their faces stiff, bodies trembling. Some even collapsed on the floor in fear. "I am acting as the Crown Prince." Qi Wuya threw the blood-stained handkerchief away, smiling at the palace attendants inside the hall, "If I see such things again, your fate will be the same as this eunuch, do you understand?" He kept no sycophants around him. The palace attendants all knelt down, "Yes!" They were all frightened by Qi Wuya: clearly, he wanted to become Emperor, yet could not afford to give others a pretext, it was all because Eunuch Fuzi was completely oblivious. Following Qi Guanglie for so long, he had learned nothing but flattery. And they almost suffered the same fate. "Alright, all of you leave." Qi Wuya impatiently waved them away. "Yes." The palace attendants withdrew one by one. Two eunuchs dragged the body of Eunuch Fuzi out. The hall returned to silence. Shortly after, footsteps were heard again. Qi Wuya slightly lifted his eyes and saw Han Mo walking in. Han Mo glanced at the body of Eunuch Fuzi but said nothing. He had seen a lot of life and death; even though Eunuch Fuzi was a favorite of Crown Prince Qi Guanglie, he was just an ant in his eyes. He only had eyes for the master he pursued. At the moment, his master had poured a cup of hot tea, playing with a jade teacup, his alabaster fingers made to look even more sacred, not revealing that he had just killed a man. Such a person, who appeared serene and untroubled, was now the most capable Prince contending for the throne in Beiqi! "Mr. Jiu¡ª" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He respectfully saluted. Qi Wuya sipped his tea and asked indifferently, "Any news from Han Chen?" Han Mo shook his head, "Other than the news half a month ago that they were trapped in Quanzhou, there has been no news." Qi Wuya frowned, "Then why are you here?" Han Mo said, "The messenger was not intercepted. By now, He Country should know about the coup in Beiqi." So it was for this matter that he came. Qi Wuya put down his tea cup, paused for a while, and only uttered one word, "Oh." His expression remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about the matter. Han Mo still felt somewhat guilty, "It¡¯s my incompetence." "It doesn¡¯t matter." Qi Wuya said calmly, "This news couldn¡¯t have been hidden for long. Feng Yicheng also escaped back, he would inform them too." He actually quite wanted to know how they felt about his ascension! Sang Yan must be worried and furious! Perhaps she might even regard him differently? If only she could see him in a new light. He wished she would think more highly of him. He was not weak! He would also be the Emperor of Beiqi! He was no less than He Ying! "Somewhat earlier than planned," he remarked. Han Mo analyzed, "They know you are about to rise to power, and they might take small actions out of fear." Qi Wuya nodded, "Hmm. He Ying won¡¯t sit by and watch me grow stronger, he might even take advantage of the internal chaos in Beiqi to send troops. Therefore, the cooperation with Mengka Country must go smoothly, we absolutely cannot let it restrain Beiqi¡¯s rear military forces." At this point, he thought of He Hongzhao. "They should have arrived by now." As long as He Hongzhao did not return, he would have trouble dealing with that fool, Qi Guanglie, and he could not use her to intimidate Mengka Country. Han Mo knew he was talking about He Hongzhao and said, "Mr. Jiu need not worry, I have calculated that they will find a way out of desperation, and they should arrive soon." "I am not worried." A smile of appreciation flickered in Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes, "With He Hongzhao there, no mistakes will occur." Han Mo: "..." His words carried endless trust. He dared say Qi Wuya had never trusted anyone so much. To trust and admire her so much, could there really be no personal feelings involved? Thinking of He Hongzhao¡¯s pathetically beautiful face, which also evoked a man¡¯s pity. Especially since she excelled in both medicine and poison, was resilient and courageous, daring to confront He Ying alone in Quanzhou City. Far superior to Sang Yan, indubitably. "Miss He is straining her frail body to plan for you, Mr. Jiu. You should cherish her when she returns¡ª" "Is tonight the Qiqiao Festival in He Country?" Qi Wuya interrupted Han Mo and changed the subject. He knew Han Mo had been trying to convince him to take He Hongzhao for himself. A woman gains stature and will belong wholeheartedly and loyally to him once she has a status. He understood well. He also knew that He Hongzhao was very capable. If he had not met Sang Yan, he might have kept her by his side. But he had met Sang Yan. After returning to Beiqi, he often reminisced about their initial encounter, and each time, his heart flared like ignited flames. She was the first to look at him. She was the first to ask something of him. She was the first to provoke him. She knew foreign languages. This foreign language was something he had picked up unexpectedly while traveling across Europe. And she knew it. She harbored many secrets. Her gaze was defensive yet captivating. In his life, he cherished three things: power, status, Sang Yan. "It seems so," Han Mo responded. Seeing Qi Wuya¡¯s usually frosty expression soften, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh: it seemed Mr. Jiu still harbored unresolved feelings for that woman. "Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, huh¡ª" Qi Wuya murmured as he stood up. He walked to the window, his fingers resting on the sill, tapping erratically. Suddenly, as if something had occurred to him, a fleeting smile appeared on his lips, as if he saw someone, his gaze carrying an almost obsessive tenderness. "Yihuai, tell me, what are they doing now? Knowing the news of my ascent, what must she be feeling?" He was in quite a good mood, even calling Han Mo by his name. Listening to his question, Han Mo thought: What could Sang Yan be feeling? She so despises and loathes him, she must think the heavens are blind to let him rise to power. "Haha, she must be thinking, heaven has no eyes to let me gain power." Qi Wuya laughed heartily, voicing Han Mo¡¯s thoughts. Han Mo: "..." His master was strangely self-aware. Yet, it was ultimately a disastrous entanglement! "Mr. Jiu¡ª" He wanted to throw cold water on him. He had wanted countless times to make him see reality. But looking at his face, lost in thoughts of her, he couldn¡¯t speak for a long time. Sang Yan was his calamity. Whether he could overcome this calamity depended entirely on his own fate. Chapter 221 - 220: Playing Dirty Chapter 221: Chapter 220: Playing DirtyQi Wuya had been waiting for a while for Han Mo to finish his sentence but eventually asked, "Hmm? What were you trying to say?" Han Mo bowed his head, sighing softly, "It¡¯s nothing." Qi Wuya surmised that what he said was not what he wanted to hear and did not press further. No one understood his feelings for Sang Yan. Her virtues and shortcomings were not for others to comment on. He regained his composure and returned to the matter at hand, "Are there guards assigned to those Princes?" To say ¡¯guard¡¯ was actually a euphemism for surveillance. If possible, he would have liked to kill them all. Unfortunately, they were not to be killed, for the time being. "Mr. Jiu, rest assured. Someone is keeping an eye on all of them." Han Mo replied, "The Princes are all behaving themselves, staying within their respective Prince Mansions. The only problem is the Eldest Princess. Ever since the Crown Prince fell into a coma, she has been staying at the Crown Prince Mansion. Our people can¡¯t get close to her for the time being." "Heh." Qi Wuya chuckled derisively upon hearing this, "Our Eldest Princess is quite interesting. When her Prince Consort was critically ill, she didn¡¯t show such concern. But when Qi Guanglie is in trouble, she rushes to attend to him." Han Mo pondered and analyzed, "The previous two Princes before the Crown Prince died young; the Crown Prince is the first younger brother the Eldest Princess watched grow up, so naturally she¡¯s more attentive to him." On second thoughts, Qi Guanglie¡¯s acquisition of the position of Crown Prince was inseparable from the strong support of the Eldest Princess. Didn¡¯t Qi Guanglie get decreed as the Crown Prince the year after Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang married into the National Guardian General Mansion? "The Crown Prince has a good sister." A killing intent laced Qi Wuya¡¯s tone. Han Mo caught on and quickly urged caution, "Mr. Jiu, think thrice. The Eldest Princess cannot be killed." Behind the Eldest Princess stood the National Guardian General. The National Guardian General, Huo Dingyuan, had powerful relatives by marriage. His eldest son, Huo Ran, had married the legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister, Xue Wen Zhan. His second daughter, Huo Yin, was the wife of the legitimate son of the Great Governor, Zhang E. All wielded real power. One movement could affect the whole body. Especially now with the Emperor having passed and the Crown Prince in a coma, any more issues with the royal progeny could easily be traced back to him. Qi Wuya was the beneficiary of the situation. Too conspicuous. He had to take care of his reputation. Because if the means of ascension were unseemly, the successors would do the same. Once the rules were broken, they would be hard to maintain. Qi Wuya understood the stakes involved, and after giving Han Mo a deep look, his stern expression softened slightly, "You need not worry. I know what to do. A widow and a fallen Crown Prince cannot stir much trouble." He had never taken Qi Guanglie, that brainless fool, to heart. Just a pawn of others, a piece of trash. Had it not been for the presence of the Da He army in Puluo Country threatening them at the time, Qi Guanglie would have been taken care of by him in Puluo Country long ago. The fact that he was able to return to Beiqi was a favor from him. "Mr. Jiu is wise." Seeing him speak in such a manner, Han Mo nodded and felt slightly relieved. Qi Wuya then instructed, "Ensure the other Princes are well looked after; do not be negligent in their living provisions." Han Mo nodded, "Alright." Qi Wuya¡¯s tone shifted, "As for the Crown Prince... when He Hongzhao arrives, have her come up with a solution for the Crown Prince¡¯s illness. It¡¯s already autumn, and the weather in Beiqi is getting colder. With the Crown Prince¡¯s frail health, a slight carelessness leading to a cold or fever¡ªand should his brain become damaged from the heat, then things would become rather interesting." He smiled at Han Mo. In their casual conversation, they decided the fate of the Crown Prince. Han Mo had always admired his cleverness. Qi Wuya, when calculating against others, was always clean and effortless. His ¡¯bad¡¯ was quite interesting. He was reminded of their first meeting in the Cold Palace. Back then, he was emaciated, barely skin and bones, his silver hair filthy without a hint of its true color, exuding a ghostly pale that made him look like an old man. Following signals from several Princes, the eunuchs bullied him mercilessly. He was beaten to the ground, forced to imitate a dog¡¯s bark. A piece of pastry was thrown in front of him. He grabbed it, wolfing it down, followed by a couple of barks, and was rewarded with a few more pieces of pastry. After eating the pastries and regaining some strength, he suddenly pounced, strangling the neck of the leading eunuch. He liked to lie dormant, accumulate power, and strike a lethal blow. Just like now. Lying dormant, waiting for the opportunity, no, perhaps creating the opportunity. "Mr. Jiu is wise." Han Mo smiled faintly, willing to follow him. * The next day He Ying woke up early. He was concerned about Beiqi¡¯s affairs and did not want to delay in Quanzhou, planning to set off for the capital the day after tomorrow. The journey back to the capital required a lot of preparations. The State Mansion was bustling. Imperial Doctor Liu learned of this and came to check on He Ying¡¯s injuries, and wrote a prescription for his future medication. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "The toxins have been mostly cleared, and the wound has healed well¡ªnext is nourishment through diet." Speaking of this, and thinking about the ingredients to prepare, he hastily took his leave. Sang Yan was also busy packing. They hadn¡¯t lived here long, but they had acquired many things. Gao Wenliang had also gathered a lot of gold and silver jewelry, jade treasures for her to enjoy. Now, preparing to leave, even a simple packing filled two large trunks. "It¡¯s too much." She was sweating from exhaustion and also quite bewildered: "When were all of these sent? I don¡¯t even remember." She took out a long red pearl necklace from the overflowing trunk in front of her, looked at it, and wrapped it around her wrist, which could go around several times. Her wrist was fair, the pearls a deep red, they adorned each other, looking very pretty. He Ying watched from the side and said with a smile, "It looks good." He admired it for a while, then took out a jade bracelet from the trunk and put it on her other wrist. The fair wrist with the bright green bracelet was also complementary. Sang Yan, raising both hands, felt a bit of a delightful dilemma: "Wearing it like this feels a bit unusual." She was afraid of knocking or bumping them¡ªthey were all very precious, and it would be a shame to damage them. "You¡¯ll get used to it after wearing them more." He Ying didn¡¯t know what she was thinking and picked out a pair of red jade earrings, putting them on her personally. The red jade earrings adorned her small, lustrous ears like two red cherries. Looking at them, he felt an inexplicable appetite and couldn¡¯t help but pull her to sit on his lap and nibble at her earring. Was it really the earring he was nibbling? He was clearly being naughty. He hadn¡¯t nibbled much before her earlobe turned even redder than the red jade earring. His interest only grew: "Ah Yan, these earrings look really nice on you." Sang Yan, unable to see for herself, attempted to get up to look for a mirror. He Ying embraced her as they went, then at the mirror¡¯s front, he nibbled her earlobe and sucked on her earring. He was getting better at playing. Sang Yan, blushing, tugged at his ear: "Nibble again? I¡¯ll get an ear hole too. Then we can wear a matching pair." The idea of wearing matching earrings with him didn¡¯t sound bad at all. He Ying didn¡¯t understand her romance, finding it effeminate, and hurriedly shook his head: "No way. How can a man wear such things? It¡¯s undignified." Seeing his resistance yet his continuous caresses, Sang Yan pouted: "I see you quite like it." He Ying replied with a laugh: "I like them worn on you." He really liked them. After kissing the red jade earrings, he went on to kiss the jade bracelet on her wrist, as well as the long red pearl necklace. Sang Yan, wearing the red pearl necklace as a bracelet, wrapped around four times, thought it looked pretty and fun. She admired it for a while, then unwound the necklace, took his hand, placed it together with hers, and then wrapped their hands together with the necklace. It wrapped around twice. He Ying puzzled: "Hm? What¡¯s this?" Sang Yan, looking at their hands wrapped together by the red pearl necklace, asked with a smile: "Don¡¯t you think it looks better this way?" Wearing it together. Entwined together. Never to part. Chapter 222 - 221: Accident Chapter 222: Chapter 221: Accident"It looks good." He Ying examined it for a while before Sang Yan finally took it off and placed it in the large suitcase, continuing to pack. She kept packing until the evening. There were too many things. The courtyard was filled. Gao Wenliang had also brought many local specialties. Imperial Doctor Liu was no exception, having gathered many nourishing ingredients. On the night before their departure, Gao Wenliang hosted a farewell banquet. The banquet was grand. Imperial Doctor Liu, Imperial Doctor Liang, and some local officials were all present. He Ying and Sang Yan attended too. He Ying talked with them about medical developments and local governance. Sang Yan added a few timely comments. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. By the time they returned, it was very late. After washing up, the two lay down in bed. He Ying, having drunk some wine, was gradually becoming sleepy. Sang Yan tossed and turned, unable to feel sleepy at all. It was quiet at night. Her hearing was very sharp, constantly feeling that it was particularly noisy outside. Annoying. She covered her ears with both hands and irritably turned over. No sooner had she closed her eyes than a large hand pulled her into an embrace. "Why aren¡¯t you sleeping? We need to set off tomorrow." He Ying, with his eyes closed, gently asked, his large hand lightly patting Sang Yan¡¯s shoulder as if lulling a child to sleep. Now Sang Yan was completely unable to sleep. She simply opened her eyes and looked at the canopy of the bed, her tone resigned, "Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s noisy outside?" Their courtyard was far from the marketplace, but during the day, they could still hear some hawking sounds, only quieting down completely at night. Yet tonight, it was even livelier than during the day. Very noisy. Hearing her say this, He Ying propped up his upper body with one hand and listened carefully for a while before shaking his head, "I hear nothing." He didn¡¯t hear the noisy sounds that Sang Yan mentioned. "Nothing?" Sang Yan was startled, closed her eyes again and listened intently for a while, and indeed, there was no sound. Done for. Could she be experiencing auditory hallucinations? Sang Yan fell into deep self-doubt, unaware of the man¡¯s ambiguous smile in front of her. He Ying extended a finger, lifting a strand of Sang Yan¡¯s hair, his smile cryptic, "Is Ah Yan kept awake by the noise, or is there something she wants to do but feels uneasy mentioning to me?" Sang Yan: "???" She lifted her eyelids and saw a familiar gleam in the man¡¯s eyes. Tsk, what was this flirt thinking? S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They still had to travel tomorrow! "Nothing. Not that. Just suddenly sleepy. Going to sleep." She felt secretly annoyed, curled up under the blanket, and rolled neatly into the very inside of the big bed, wrapping herself up like a shrimp. Seeing her adorable appearance, He Ying wanted to laugh but held back. If it weren¡¯t for having to set off early tomorrow, he might well have taken the time to be affectionate with her. Women have needs too. He understood and was more than willing to attend to her. "Ah Yan, are you sure you don¡¯t want to?" He lay down and pulled the curled-up Sang Yan back into his arms again. Sang Yan struggled symbolically, then obediently closed her eyes. "I don¡¯t want to. Let¡¯s sleep well." She smelled his pleasant scent and gradually fell asleep. He Ying saw she was asleep and closed his eyes to sleep as well. He didn¡¯t know how long he had slept. Suddenly, a hurried knocking came from outside. "Emperor, Emperor, there¡¯s been an incident¡ª" Pei Muyang¡¯s voice came, sounding extremely anxious, stumbling over his words. "What happened?" Sang Yan mumbled hazily, instinctively snuggling closer to him. "It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll go check." He Ying covered her with a blanket, put on his coat, and went to the outer room. As soon as he opened the door¡ª Pei Muyang fell to his knees with a "thump": "Emperor, a major disaster has occurred! The city¡¯s people have suddenly contracted a strange disease, with high fevers and vomiting blood. The death toll has already exceeded a hundred." He Ying, hearing this, looked stern: "When did this happen? Why are you only telling me now?" It couldn¡¯t be possible that over a hundred had died all at once without any prior signs? Pei Muyang explained with a pained expression: "I¡¯m not sure. It seems that some citizens came to the State Mansion last night causing a disturbance, and Mr. Gao thought it was just a common cold and fever, so he sent them away. Unexpectedly, more incidents occurred this morning." After listening to Pei Muyang, He Ying¡¯s face tightened as he issued an order: "Summon Imperial Doctor Xuan Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang." "Yes." Pei Muyang hurried away. He Ying returned to the room to dress. Sang Yan had already woken up and had heard everything Pei Muyang had just said. High fever, vomiting blood, over a hundred dead? Everything had been calm in Quanzhou these days, how could such a huge incident suddenly arise? Could it be... man-made? Or perhaps... He Hongzhao? Suddenly, a thought struck Sang Yan: on the night of Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, she and He Ying were in a flower boat at a dock where they saw many fishermen and dock workers looking sickly... "Xinyuan¡ª" While dressing, Sang Yan urgently said, "Do you remember the dock we passed by on the flower boat on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day? The people there already looked ill. You even suggested that Mr. Gao send them some silver coins and herbs?" He Ying, reminded by her, recalled: "Yes. I remember. What about it?" Sang Yan looked serious: "Have someone go there immediately to investigate thoroughly. I suspect that¡¯s where the disease started. Also, He Hongzhao might still be hiding there!" He Ying, understanding her halfway through, saw the point. "Alright. I¡¯ll have someone check it." He finished dressing and started heading out. It was nearly dawn. Sang Yan followed him outside, glanced at the pale dawn light, and heard the noisy voices: "It¡¯s very noisy outside. It sounds the same as the noises I heard last night." He Ying had guessed what the noise was: "I¡¯ll go outside and check." "I¡¯ll come with you." She ran after him, tightly grasping his hand. Considering Pei Muyang¡¯s report¡ªover a hundred dead, citizens causing unrest, and thinking of He Hongzhao, it was likely that someone had orchestrated this. If it really was He Hongzhao? She worriedly reminded him: "That disease is probably contagious. You should keep your distance." He Ying, seeing her anxiety, felt a pang of distress: "I¡¯m sorry to make you worry again. With this happening, we probably can¡¯t return to the capital." Sang Yan nodded: "Yes. I understand. We face this together." "Greetings to the Emperor and Empress¡ª" Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang hurried over, bowing in quick succession. They must have been woken up urgently, as their clothes were still not properly worn. Seeing He Ying and Sang Yan about to leave, Pei Muyang, pale with fear, disregarded etiquette and quickly stood in front of them: "Emperor, Empress, the situation is unclear, and the citizens are causing severe disturbances. You can¡¯t go out." Liang Xin agreed: "Yes, Emperor. Mr. Pei is right." Imperial Doctor Liu, after hearing about the citizens¡¯ symptoms from Pei Muyang, looked even more worried: "Yes. The disease is unknown, and if it¡¯s an epidemic, it¡¯s too dangerous for you to go!" He Ying knew the dangers but felt the need to go anyway: "I am aware of the risks, no need to say more." He looked at Pei Muyang blocking his way and frowned: "Move aside!" Pei Muyang immediately knelt down: "Please reconsider, Emperor." "Emperor, please reconsider!" Imperial Doctor Liang and Imperial Doctor Liu also knelt before He Ying, refusing to let him pass. Chapter 223 - 222 Discontent Among the People Chapter 223: Chapter 222 Discontent Among the PeopleSang Yan, seeing the three people¡¯s reaction, spoke out, "Imperial Doctor Liu, Imperial Doctor Liang, Mr. Pei, there¡¯s no need to be anxious. The Empress and the Emperor are only going to observe the situation around the perimeter of the State Mansion. I won¡¯t let the Emperor get too close. Rest assured." She too was worried about this menacing disease, which could be some extremely dangerous contagion. Nor would she stand by and watch He Ying risk danger. When Pei Muyang and the others heard Sang Yan say this, the three exchanged glances and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The Empress herself had said so; surely, the Emperor would listen. They tacitly stood up, clearing a path. He Ying also knew that the three of them were thinking of his and Da He¡¯s welfare, so without taking offense, he took Sang Yan¡¯s hand and quickly headed toward the gates of the State Mansion. From a distance, the tightly shut gates were visible. Behind them stood more than a dozen tall government soldiers, with swords at their waists. The display was as if some flood or fierce beast lay beyond the gates. Before Sang Yan and He Ying even drew near, they heard the commotion from outside: "Mr. Gao has led people to raid the He Family¡¯s pharmacy! Now, there¡¯s a desperate shortage of herbs outside! Surely there are plenty inside the State Mansion¡ªwhy won¡¯t you save us? Why are you blocking us?" "Yes! Lord State Official, please bring out the herbs and save us!" "I heard the Emperor is inside the State Mansion, Your Majesty save us! Emperor, save our lives!" "You dog officials, you just stand by and watch us die!" ... Cries of grief and pleas for help mingled with the resentful roars of discontent, creating a nuisance for the ears. Listening, Sang Yan felt the situation outside the State Mansion was even more severe than she had anticipated: a sudden strange disease, a shortage of herbs, common folk causing trouble at the doors of the State Mansion¡ªeven knowing the Emperor was inside. What were they trying to do? If they were all ordinary citizens, would they dare to come here? "Greetings to the Emperor and the Empress¡ª" The soldiers guarding behind the gate knelt down and paid their respects upon seeing them approach. He Ying had them stand and said, "Open part of the gate. I want to assess the situation." "Yes." The government soldiers did not dare to delay and discreetly opened a side gate, at the same time, whispering a warning, "Your Majesty, Mr. Gao said that the nature of this strange disease is unclear and it might be contagious. If Your Majesty must come, please keep your distance." He Ying nodded, looking out through the gate that had been opened¡ª Rows of government soldiers formed a human wall, blocking the entrance to the State Mansion. Clad in uniform black attire with white cloth over their faces, they held back the crowd while shouting, "Don¡¯t push! No pushing! Mr. Gao has already gone to investigate thoroughly! There are herbs! There are doctors! Trust that Mr. Gao will soon provide everyone an answer!" "We can¡¯t wait! Our children at home are dying!" "When will there be herbs! We can¡¯t buy herbs! Save us!" "Yes, army sirs, all the herbs in Quanzhou City are sold out now. We common people can¡¯t buy them. Please, have mercy and quickly distribute some herbs to us!" ... The citizens struggled, trying to break past the soldiers and enter the State Mansion for herbs. Their ragged clothes identified them as the poor, who had forgotten all notions of social hierarchy in their quest for survival. A frustrated soldier threatened, "Stop shouting! Keep calm! The Emperor and the Empress are still sleeping¡ªif you wake the noble ones, you shall pay with your lives!" This misfit remark quickly ignited the crowd¡¯s anger: "We are dying and the Emperor and Empress are still in deep slumber!" "Haha, they truly are our ¡¯beloved¡¯ Emperor and Empress!" "We want to see the Emperor!" ... Hatred began to surface among the commoners. At that moment, the voice of a middle-aged man rose from the crowd, "Why did you have to kill Miracle Doctor He? Miracle Doctor He was a good person! If she were here, we wouldn¡¯t be left unattended!" His words incited more restlessness. While the He Zhongwen family¡¯s rebellion was unforgivable, He Hongzhao was well-known for saving many lives. Now that the State Mansion was refusing to treat their illnesses and had killed He Hongzhao, it seemed like they were being abandoned! "An ignorant ruler killed a good person!" "A tyrant who kills the innocent!" "Poor Miracle Doctor He died a wrongful death!" ... That middle-aged man was stirring the emotions of the crowd and throwing mud on He Ying. Sang Yan had long suspected a conspiracy upon hearing this, "This strange disease must be the work of He Hongzhao! Not only does she want to bring disaster upon Quanzhou, but she also wants to tarnish your reputation!" He Ying had the same thought. He immediately turned to the government soldiers beside him, "Find the person who just spoke and bring him in!" He must find out He Hongzhao¡¯s whereabouts and skin her alive! Such audacity! To show loyalty to Qi Wuya, she dared to target the people of Da He! "Yes!" The sword-bearing government soldier nodded to take the order and turned to look for the man who had deliberately incited the conflict. "Wait¡ª" Sang Yan stopped the government soldier and shook her head at He Ying, "You must not. Right now, the public anger is immense. If you go and arrest people at this time, it will only make the people even angrier. The immediate priority is to treat the sick." The majority of the people are often senseless, without their own opinions or thoughts, and easily manipulated by others. Especially under the current special circumstances. She heard the cries of many children in those voices. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang had already gone to diagnose the villagers¡¯ illnesses. She could see the grave expressions on their faces¡ªtheir condition was probably more severe than imagined. At this moment, to prioritize calming the public rather than holding them accountable, those in the know understood that someone deliberately stirred up trouble. Those unaware just thought He Ying was indifferent to the people, a cruel ruler. Such a ruthless move! The government soldier, stopped by Sang Yan, stood there in confusion, his face a mix of difficulty and doubt as he looked at the Emperor, wondering: to arrest or not to arrest? Thanks to her reminder, He Ying also came back to his senses¡ªhe had acted impulsively. Thinking about how easily he had been provoked by that person outside, his expression grew even darker. "Forget it. Just keep an eye on that person and find a suitable opportunity to bring him to me." After instructing the government soldier, he then looked to Pei Muyang, "I will go to the study first. Have Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang finish up and come see me. Also, immediately summon Gao Wenliang, Sun Fengyuan, and Yan Si to meet me." Sun Fengyuan was the registrar of Quanzhou and served as Gao Wenliang¡¯s assistant. Yan Si was the captain of the Dark Guard Team that followed. "Yes." Pei Muyang bowed in acknowledgment, then watched as the Emperor left in a huff. He sighed in relief, "Fortunately, her Ladyship is here, otherwise the Emperor would certainly have gone out. It¡¯s too dangerous outside." Although the common people outside were pitiable, they certainly were not as important as the Emperor¡¯s well-being. He believed Sang Yan thought the same. But Sang Yan did not show the slightest sign of ease, "The Emperor worries for his people. If you wish the Emperor to take good care of his royal body, it would be better to think of how to relieve the Emperor of his worries first." Even though He Ying was furious with He Hongzhao, deep down, he was also concerned about the people. "Ah Yan¡ª" The person who had left in anger took a few steps and then started looking back. Sang Yan smiled indulgently, "Here I am. Coming." As Pei Muyang watched Sang Yan¡¯s departing figure, he felt someone¡¯s gaze on him and turned around, only to meet Liang Xin¡¯s eyes. Clearly, Liang Xin had also heard what Sang Yan had just said. Both saw a hint of shame in each other¡¯s eyes. The Empress was reprimanding them. Besides feeling ashamed, both were deeply moved: women in the deep palace always sought to please the Emperor, but their Empress, amidst the Emperor¡¯s rage, dared to stand up and stop him. Thinking so made Liang Xin blush even more, and he could not help but chide Mr. Pei, "Mr. Pei, her Ladyship has only been with the Emperor for such a short time, and you¡¯ve been with the Emperor for so many years, how come you didn¡¯t dare to give any advice just now?" He would never admit that it was only he who lacked the courage to oppose the Emperor. "No, no, Imperial Doctor Liang, this¡ª" Pei Muyang, feeling belittled by Liang Xin, couldn¡¯t save face and retorted irritably, "Can I compare to the Empress? She is the darling of the Emperor¡¯s heart." Liang Xin teased him, "Then you¡¯ve been following the Emperor in vain all these years." Pei Muyang: "..." Indeed in vain. His heart was bitter! But he would not concede, "How can I be the same as her Ladyship? Enough, don¡¯t say anything else. The Emperor has given me tasks to do. I need to quickly find Gao Wenliang." Pei Muyang didn¡¯t want to argue with Liang Xin anymore and hurried off to find Gao Wenliang. This time, Gao Wenliang really had a big problem on his hands. Chapter 224 - 223: City Lockdown Chapter 224: Chapter 223: City LockdownIn the study The Dark Guard Team captain Yan Si came to receive his orders first. He was a handsome youth, dressed in black, with a complexion as fair as jade, not at all resembling a member of the Hidden Guard, but rather a rich noble¡¯s son. He Ying instructed, "You take your men to Xiquan Pier to investigate the whereabouts of He Hongzhao." He had previously entrusted this matter to the people led by Lu Zijin, but since Lu Zijin had gone to Beiqi to deliver a message, and since the overt Guard Team was not advantageous in searching for people, he wanted to try the Dark Guard Team. The selection and training for the Dark Guard Team were even more ruthless; they did not act by the book but aimed for rapid achievement of their objectives. "Yes." Yan Si took the order and left. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang came in together. They had preliminary diagnostic results. Imperial Doctor Liu said, "Emperor, this disease is very strange; it develops rapidly and has a high mortality rate. Initially, it is not judged to be an epidemic, but it does possess a certain level of contagiousness. As to how to treat it, Doctor Liang and I still need to conduct further research." These findings were not far off from what He Ying had thought. He Ying frowned and said, "It¡¯s somewhat difficult." Imperial Doctor Liu nodded in agreement, "This humble official will definitely research a treatment prescription as soon as possible." Just at that moment, Gao Wenliang came hurrying in. Upon his arrival, a petition smashed onto his head. He didn¡¯t care about the pain and immediately knelt down, "Emperor, please forgive me!" He Ying¡¯s face was stern as he barked, "You still realize that you are committing a crime!" Gao Wenliang¡¯s face was filled with suffering; he dared not speak. He Ying continued to berate him, "Gao Wenliang, you truly are an ¡¯excellent¡¯ official! Such a major incident has occurred in Quanzhou, and you did not think to report it, instead, you even drove away the common people who came to the State Mansion last night to cry for justice!" The noise that Sang Yan heard last night came from those poor commoners, but they were quickly driven away by the government soldiers from the State Mansion. And without Gao Wenliang¡¯s orders, how would the soldiers dare to drive people away? This was negligence on Gao Wenliang¡¯s part! There were many people in the study. Apart from He Ying and Sang Yan, there were also Pei Muyang, Imperial Doctor Liu, Liang Xin, Sun Fengyuan, and others. Being reprimanded by the Emperor in front of so many people, Gao Wenliang was both flustered and embarrassed, "Emperor, please calm your anger; this humble official knows his mistake." At this time, no explanation would suffice. Gao Wenliang lowered his head and heavily kowtowed three times. "Xinyuan, calm down¡ª" Sang Yan spoke to soothe, while also gently patting He Ying¡¯s back. Fearing he might utter more harsh words, she quickly pulled him back to his seat and handed him a cup of tea. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, while He Ying was occupied with drinking tea, she made a meaningful glance at Gao Wenliang. Gao Wenliang saw Sang Yan¡¯s expression, his face filled with bewilderment: What does the Empress mean? Sang Yan: "..." Tsk, forget it, considering Gao Wenliang¡¯s loyalty in the past, she decided not to make an issue of this blockhead for now. She withdrew her gaze and declared emphatically, "This Lady has heard that Mr. Gao has already led the government soldiers in a thorough investigation through the night." Gao Wenliang was taken aback for a moment, then replied, "Yes." Both Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin looked towards Sang Yan, not understanding why she would bring this up. Now that the Emperor was angry with Gao Wenliang for his inefficiency, mentioning this now, wasn¡¯t she deliberately provoking the Emperor¡¯s anger? Gao Wenliang was also full of anxiety in his heart: Could it be that at some point, he had inadvertently angered the Empress, and today she had come to trip him up? As he was thinking¡ª Sang Yan changed the subject, "Since Mr. Gao has conducted a thorough investigation, then tell this palace what you¡¯ve found. Such as: What symptoms did the patients arriving demonstrate? Where in Quanzhou did they come from? How many were there yesterday? And how many are there today? Is there any sign of contagion?" As this string of questions was asked, the study became instantly quiet. He Ying raised his eyes to look at Sang Yan, the brightness in his eyes shifting from anger to calm. He looked again at Gao Wenliang and demanded, "Answer the Empress¡¯s questions, and if you answer even one incorrectly, you need not continue as the Prefect of Quanzhou." Sang Yan was thinking of a solution for the common people. Gao Wenliang¡¯s words could bring them the most effective information. Gao Wenliang thought hard for a moment and replied, "The patients who came last night had symptoms of coughing, chest pain, and high fever. It was because the people were fishermen and dockworkers that they were not allowed to come to the State Mansion. With Quanzhou recently being unstable, I was afraid that enemy spies would mix in with the commoners, infiltrate the State Mansion, and threaten the Emperor¡¯s safety, which is why I ordered them to be driven away. However, I also ordered other medical facilities in Quanzhou to diagnose and treat those patients." Last night, he had urgently instructed his subordinates to ensure that all medical facilities in Quanzhou City did not close their doors and were to fully commit to treating the sick populace. But unexpectedly... Gao Wenliang sighed and continued, "The city has more than a dozen medical facilities, large and small, but in just one night, the number of people swelled, and the supply of medicinal herbs could not meet the demand. Patients who were coughing yesterday have begun to experience high fever and vomiting blood today, especially the workers and fishermen from Xiquan Pier. I intended to report to the Emperor, not expecting that His Majesty had already heard the commotion. As for whether it¡¯s contagious, that is still unclear." He admitted defeat in this matter. He thought he could handle it, only to find that the situation had spiraled out of control. He was indeed unworthy of being the fatherly official of a city. Gao Wenliang felt ashamed and reproachful, not daring to meet He Ying¡¯s gaze. Upon hearing this, Sang Yan¡¯s heart gradually cooled, her fingertips ice cold. Just as she had anticipated, it was indeed connected to the docks. She surmised that He Hongzhao had likely poisoned the water or some other place near the docks during his escape. As she pondered, Sang Yan spoke out for Gao Wenliang, "Emperor, although Mr. Gao has been negligent, he did find shelter for the common people last night. It¡¯s just that no one expected things to develop so quickly." In fact, He Ying did not really intend to pursue Gao Wenliang¡¯s faults. Gao Wenliang had been the Prefect of Quanzhou for many years and had done his job well. "What do you think we should do?" He Ying asked Sang Yan, seeing her demeanor, he assumed she already had an idea. Sang Yan¡¯s dark eyes looked at He Ying, and after a long moment, she uttered two words, "Lockdown." These two words caused a great stir in the study. Before He Ying could speak, Gao Wenliang and Pei Muyang were the first to disagree. "Empress, this cannot be!" Pei Muyang was so anxious he was nearly in tears, "Imperial Doctor Liu just said that this disease is contagious and has a high mortality rate. It is too dangerous in Quanzhou City for you and the Emperor to stay. Not to mention the contagion, if we lock everyone in together and the people truly become chaotic, this small State Mansion cannot withstand the turmoil." It had been no easy feat to welcome the Emperor back from Puluo Country. And now, to encounter such a troublesome matter? Pei Muyang was overwhelmed. Gao Wenliang also disagreed, "Empress, Mr. Pei is right. Your safety and the Emperor¡¯s are paramount. I will resolve this matter diligently. Tonight, you and the Emperor should leave Quanzhou." He Ying glanced at the two men and then turned his gaze to Imperial Doctor Liu, who had not spoken, "Imperial Doctor Liu, what do you say?" As the question was asked, Pei Muyang and Gao Wenliang simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief: everyone knew Imperial Doctor Liu was highly concerned about the Emperor¡¯s health. This time, he would certainly advise the Emperor to leave. But unexpectedly¡ª "Emperor, I concur with the Empress," Imperial Doctor Liu looked at Sang Yan, solemnly bowed, and said in a deep voice, "Lockdown. Treat and soothe the common people. On behalf of the people of Quanzhou, I thank the Empress." He was able to deduce the dangerous nature of the disease from the few words of Gao Wenliang and had underestimated this Empress¡¯s judgment. He Ying had been watching Sang Yan all along. Initially, he had not fully grasped the meaning behind the words "lockdown." In Da He, a lockdown was only considered when the entire city was infected with a plague or on the eve of a great war. Now, seeing the shining brilliance in Sang Yan¡¯s eyes, he seemed to understand something. He Hongzhao¡¯s actions might yet bring him an unexpected gain. Chapter 225 - 224: Pride Chapter 225: Chapter 224: Pride"Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying nodded at Sang Yan, signalling her to continue speaking. Encouraged, Sang Yan shared her thoughts aloud, "From what we know now, this disease is very dangerous and contagious; we must promptly identify its source. As for the treatment, we can gather the patients in one place for separate treatment, to prevent mutual contamination and worsening of the condition. And it would be best if family members of the patients also stay at home and avoid going out..." At this point, she closed her eyes, trying hard to recall the methods to deal with such diseases from her previous life. "To prevent panic among the people and them fleeing Yuexian, which could further spread the disease, it is necessary to quarantine the city. However, we must also do a good job at calming their fears. Oh, and we should focus on inspecting Xiquan Pier ¨C that¡¯s a key outbreak area." After saying all this, Sang Yan took a deep breath and noticed the expressions of everyone present. They were all looking at her with eyes filled with surprise, admiration, excitement, joy, and other emotions. Especially He Ying, whose gaze held a deeply gentle warmth as he looked at her, which made her particularly shy. Feeling uncomfortable, she gave a light cough, "What is it?" Though she asked, she knew that what she had just said was probably too revolutionary and had shocked them. Could it be? Another thought struck her; explaining this kind of collective and separate treatment along with enforced home confinement to people from ancient times was likely to cause misunderstanding. After all, locking people in their homes might easily be associated with imprisonment until death. "Actually¡ª" She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence¡ª He Ying interrupted with a smile, "Ah Yan, you always make me see you in a new light." In such a short time, she had already come up with so many measures to deal with the problem. The others had also regained their composure and were looking at her in disbelief. Initially, they thought she wanted to plead for mercy on behalf of Gao Wenliang. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unexpectedly, she actually came up with methods to resolve the crisis. "Lady Empress, this method seems feasible, but¡ª" Pei Mu looked worried, "do you and the Emperor really have to remain in Quanzhou?" With the situation in Quanzhou so perilous, he was extremely uneasy about the Emperor and Empress staying. Ah, his servitude was truly worrisome. "We must." Sang Yan contemplated He Hongzhao¡¯s mindset, "This disease is peculiar, and if it is the work of He Hongzhao, then there must be deeper schemes at play. For example, they might be fantasizing about using this to create a rift between the Emperor and the people. If the Emperor leaves, wouldn¡¯t it just result in a reputation of not caring for the people, but only for his own safety? If both the Emperor and I stay, it will tell everyone that Emperor¡¯s Heart is with the nation, that he cares for the people!" She had already foreseen the disease¡¯s implications for the Emperor¡¯s reputation. "He Hongzhao is doing this likely hoping that we will flee in panic. Therefore, we cannot flee, not only can we not flee, but we also need to use He Hongzhao¡¯s move to strike back hard at her and Qi Wuya. The news that Qi Wuya killed his brother and his father must have spread in Beiqi already. At this time, if we reveal that Emperor Da He is truly concerned for his people, staying in Quanzhou despite the grave circumstances, to stand with the people, who do you think will win the hearts of the nation?" No need to answer, it would be towards He Ying. This was also what He Ying had thought¡ªHe Hongzhao¡¯s actions unexpectedly brought him this unintended gain. "Ah Yan is like me." He Ying¡¯s tone was full of pride. Amid his pride, he was also overjoyed: this woman was his. So what if Qi Wuya had He Hongzhao? He had Sang Yan. His Sang Yan was the best woman in the world. This feeling of pride made it hard for him to control himself, and, disregarding the company present, he scooped her into his arms to sit, while kissing her hair and saying, "Just follow what Ah Yan has said. Her words can¡¯t be wrong." Everyone: "..." Certainly, she was right. But, Emperor, please pay attention to the occasion! They felt embarrassed, heads bowed, but from time to time they stole glances at the loving scene between the Emperor and the Empress, finding comfort in the display of affection during such times. * Quanzhou At the city gates "In another fifteen minutes, we¡¯ll close the city gates. If anyone in your family has died from illness, hurry and take them to the suburbs to be burned." The soldiers guarding the city shouted at the gate, their faces still covered with white cloth. In the past few days, there had been an extremely large number of deaths from illness in the city, and with no place within the city to bury them, the bodies had to be burned clean, their ashes interred in the suburbs. "My poor child¡ª" "My poor husband¡ª" Relatives of the deceased passed by, dragging carts. On the carts were bodies covered with white cloths. They wore coarse linen mourning clothes, scattered paper money, and wailed in agony. Another cart passed by at that time. Atop the cart was a coffin. The soldiers guarding the city were just about to open the coffin to check the dead person¡¯s identity¡ª A middle-aged man dressed in gray clothes, seeing this, knelt down in front of the soldiers without minding his rouge and powder stall, and started to cry out loud, "Why are you closing the city? Has the Emperor abandoned us in Quanzhou? Does he want to watch us perish on our own? The Emperor and the Empress have already left Quanzhou, haven¡¯t they?" His voice was so loud that his shout attracted the attention of many onlookers. Seeing this, the peddler continued to cry out, "We¡¯re the people of Da He; how can the Emperor ignore our lives and abandon the city to flee? We don¡¯t want to die! The Emperor cannot trap us to die in Quanzhou¡ª" "Shut your mouth! You peddler!" A furious shout came. In the next moment, the peddler received a kick to the chest that sent him tumbling backward. "Mr. Gao¡ª" The soldiers at the gate all knelt down. At this time, unbeknownst to everyone, the cart pulling the coffin had already left the city gates. The peddler breathed a sigh of relief, lying on the ground, looking up at the blue sky, crying and laughing. Gao Wenliang looked down at the man who seemed nearly mad, frowning. He happened to have been patrolling this area with the government soldiers and didn¡¯t expect to hear such panic-inducing cries. Clearly with ill-intentions! One of the government soldiers, who had previously guarded the State Mansion gate, had heard the Emperor¡¯s commands. Watching the crazed man on the ground, he softly said, "Sir, this man was causing trouble at the State Mansion gate before. The Emperor had someone keeping an eye on him." Hearing this, Gao Wenliang¡¯s eyes shifted, and then he ordered, "Arrest him!" Then, turning to the panic-stricken people, he spoke sternly, "The Emperor and the Empress are currently at the State Mansion dealing with this matter. They will stand with the people of Quanzhou, share our fate, live or die together. This man has sinister intentions, disturbing people¡¯s hearts, likely a spy. I shall investigate thoroughly! Take him away!" The peddler was immediately hoisted up by the soldiers. He had been kicked hard by Gao Wenliang, and now he spat out a mouthful of blood, laughing maniacally, "I¡¯m not a spy! I am a citizen of Da He! I¡¯m only telling the truth! If the Emperor is present, why doesn¡¯t he show himself? Even if he hasn¡¯t fled, he¡¯s just holed up in the State Mansion, indulging in pleasures, uncaring about our lives!" "Shut up!" Gao Wenliang drew his sword, threatening, "Dare to spout nonsense again¡ª" He didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence when the peddler suddenly lunged at him. The bright blade pierced the body in an instant. Blood gushed forth, covering the ground. Chapter 226 - 225: Incident Chapter 226: Chapter 225: Incident"Heaven above, Emperor Da He ignores the life and death of his people, seeking only his own safety¡ªsuch a foolish ruler, hahaha, deserves to be killed!" The peddler laughed loudly as he collapsed heavily. He died with his eyes wide open. The commonfolk shouted in terror: "Someone¡¯s dead!" "The officials have committed murder!" "There¡¯s no justice anymore!" ... The crowd became chaotic. Gao Wenliang could not contain his anger, "Everyone shut up! The Emperor and the Empress are currently in the State Mansion. The Emperor has already ordered the closure of Guan City for treatment. Anyone who disobeys will end like him!" Blood gushed from the peddler¡¯s body, and within moments, it had formed a pool. It looked especially horrifying. The crowd gradually quieted down. The mention of closure, ban on exits, and ban on movements made the people¡¯s hearts tremble in fear. In times like these, strong measures must be taken to maintain order. Making an example of one to warn others proved very effective. The onlooking commonfolk immediately returned to their homes. Gao Wenliang ordered the soldiers guarding the city gates to close them immediately. Outside the city gates A man with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles was slowly pushing a cart with a thin coffin. Only when he reached a certain mountain forest did he stop. He looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then abruptly tore off his human skin mask to reveal a face full of vigor. It was Han Chen. He drew a long sword hidden under the coffin, gently pushed the coffin lid open, and looked at the body inside. The corpse was an equally aged woman. Dressed in rough cotton clothes. But upon closer inspection, the exposed hands were white and tender, like freshly peeled scallions. "He Hongzhao¡ª" Han Chen called out her name and took out a small white bottle from his bosom. He poured out a red pill and placed it into her mouth. In less than half a tea¡¯s time, He Hongzhao had woken up. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She sat up, pulled off her human skin mask, and revealed a pale but beautiful face. "This He Ying, cough cough, really has the guts to stay in Quanzhou and even order a lock-down." He Hongzhao, light-headed, commented briefly, "Not bad. He¡¯s just like Mr. Jiu, a complete madman." Han Chen actually disliked madmen and sighed deeply, "It¡¯s good we escaped. Otherwise, it would indeed have been like lifting a rock only to drop it on our own feet. If we were really trapped in Quanzhou, getting caught would have been a matter of time." Originally, He Hongzhao had drugged the people in Quanzhou to create a diversion, to shift He Ying¡¯s attention and facilitate their escape. Of course, she also wanted to tarnish his reputation with this act. She hadn¡¯t expected He Ying to choose to personally guard Quanzhou and lock down the city. If not for the secret supports left by Mr. Jiu, their escape would not have been easy. "This mission resulted in heavy losses. The people trained by Mr. Jiu have all been sacrificed." Han Chen¡¯s voice carried a mix of reproach and regret¡ªfor a sick woman, so many excellent subordinates died. He Hongzhao, discerning his implications, smiled lightly, "As long as you safely bring me back, even if many more die, it¡¯s worth it. Just wait. When Mr. Jiu sees me, he will only reward you." She was far more valuable than those men. Han Chen fell silent, feeling that he could not communicate with her and did not say much more, only saying, "Let¡¯s go quickly. Mr. Jiu must have been waiting a long time." Upon hearing this, He Hongzhao tidied her long hair and looked at Han Chen with a smile. At her smile, Han Chen felt a chill down his spine: This woman, very sinister. Better to stay away from her. * In the following days. The gates of Quanzhou City were closed, soldiers guarded each district, and residents were not allowed to move freely. Patients who were grouped separately for treatment and their families who stayed at home were provided daily meals and medicinal soups by the State Mansion. Yet, the people were still in panic. No one wanted to wait at home to die. Perhaps, escaping could offer a glimmer of hope. State Mansion Pharmacy Sang Yan along with Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin had been researching the antidote continuously. They had not slept in a day and a night. Everyone looked troubled. Imperial Doctor Liu, anxious and tongue-tied, said, "Mr. Gao has still not found the source of the illness/poison. We can only temporarily use fever-reducing detoxifying medicinal soups for the people to take, but in the long run, without significant therapeutic effects, there might be civil unrest." He Hongzhao, with her profound medical and poison techniques, was beyond this half-lifetime palace server who focused on treating and saving people; faced with such a tricky virus, he was really at a loss. Liang Xin also felt deeply worried: Imperial Doctor Liu specialized in internal diseases, while he focused on external injuries. In front of this illness/poison, he truly felt helpless. "Report¡ª" Government soldiers hurried in and knelt down, saying, "Greetings to the Empress, the Emperor has sent me to ask if the method to cure the disease has been discovered?" A worried look crossed Sang Yan¡¯s face as she listened to the government soldier, feeling something was amiss, and she quickly asked, "Did the people revolt again?" For the past few days, He Ying had not sent anyone to hurry the inquiry. Today, unusually sending someone to inquire, probably another incident had arisen. The government soldier looked troubled, thinking of the words from the Emperor that should not be told to the Empress to avoid her worrying, and hesitated for a long time without speaking. Seeing this, Sang Yan demanded sharply, "Speak!" The government soldier trembled, but still said, "The fishermen at the dock revolted, injuring many medicine-delivering medical officers. Mr Gao has already sent people to suppress it." Sang Yan: "..." It had already escalated to such a severe stage! It was really hair-raising! She now confirmed that the poison was administered by He Hongzhao and was not some plague causing trouble, but externally, she could not say it was a case of poisoning. If she were to tell the truth, there was a risk of public criticism, saying the Emperor had involved them because of his actions against the He Family, leading to retaliation from the He Family. In that case, it would become even more difficult to handle. In any case, she could no longer allow Gao Wenliang to continue using force to suppress; she and the Emperor must make an appearance. Thinking thus, Sang Yan tore off the coat she wore for preparing medicines and looked at the government soldier, commanding, "Take me to the place of the disturbance." "No way!" Liang Xin was the first to object: "Empress, you must not go out!" Imperial Doctor Liu also changed his face dramatically and advised, "My Lady, you and the Emperor staying in Quanzhou is already a huge risk. Now, going to that place of disturbance, not to mention the risk of infection, should the public anger not be quelled, we can¡¯t even imagine what might happen!" "No matter." Sang Yan knew what they were worried about, thought for a moment, and said solemnly, "I will take good care of myself. The Emperor is probably worried about this matter; don¡¯t alert him about my departure for now." Then she instructed the still kneeling government soldier, "Stand up. Take ten men and accompany me to the dock." Liang Xin saw the determination in the Empress¡¯ eyes, his words of persuasion reached his lips but he swallowed them back. They all knew: This matter, if only managed by forceful suppression, would only provide temporary relief. It was necessary to let the people know that the Emperor and Empress were sharing their hardships and moving forward together. Only then could the people¡¯s hearts be stabilized. Given the Emperor¡¯s character, cold and authoritarian, if he were to go and see the revolt, upon hearing some defiant remarks, he might burn with rage and begin a massacre. Thinking it over, they could only let Sang Yan go! Chapter 227 - 226: Winning Hearts Chapter 227: Chapter 226: Winning Hearts"I, your humble servant, thank the Empress on behalf of the people of Da He." Imperial Doctor Liu knelt on the ground, deeply impressed by Sang Yan¡¯s righteousness. Having such a Queen Mother is a blessing for Da He. Liang Xin¡¯s eyes also couldn¡¯t help but feel hot. He picked up his robe, knelt on the ground, and, together with Imperial Doctor Liu, reverently saw the Empress off as she left. Sang Yan walked out of the pharmacy with the government soldiers. Outside, the sunlight was at its peak. She looked up at the sunlight, feeling quite uncertain inside: when people¡¯s lives are threatened, they will do all sorts of absurd things. Those rioting people are very dangerous, and she was afraid, but she had to go! "Lady, this way, please¡ª" The government soldier quickly brought people over. A group of people escorted Sang Yan out of the State Mansion, heading toward the dock. Dock Raggedly dressed people crowded and clamored together: "High fever for three days without subsiding, why bother with these medicines? I¡¯m not drinking!" "Neither am I! *cough cough* The Emperor himself left Quanzhou, leaving us here to wait for death, such incompetence, heaven cannot tolerate!" "Right! Heaven cannot tolerate!" "If you want to kill us, then kill us all!" ... They were situated a hundred meters away from the dock. Soldiers had set up wooden barriers to separate the dock from the marketplace. The soldiers, armed with long spears and wearing white cloths, were gradually forced to retreat by the sickly crowd. While they had to prevent them from crossing the boundary, they also had to avoid being infected themselves. In this difficult situation, the originally solid defense was gradually broken. Quite a few of the fishermen, who still had some strength, climbed over the barriers, shouting, "Charge! Storm the State Mansion and grab the herbs! We will break down the city gate! We want to survive!" This shout was met with an immediate response: "Break in!" "The Emperor is unkind, ignoring the life and death of us commoners, we have to fight for our own survival!" "Brothers and sisters, charge!" ... Their riotous voices shook the heavens! At that moment, Gao Wenliang arrived with over a hundred soldiers. Seeing this scene, he was furious: "Reinforce the defense! Anyone who tries to break out shall be executed on the spot!" He genuinely harbored the intent to kill these troublemakers! A bunch of brainless fools! Completely believing in others¡¯ instigations! If they really broke into the State Mansion and endangered the Emperor, he would never be able to atone for his crimes, even with a thousand deaths! The scene quieted for only a moment. Seeing Gao Wenliang, the people grew even more agitated: "Unkind official!" "Right! Unkind official! Kill Gao Wenliang first! Kill this official!" "Kill them!" ... Even though they were afflicted with a strange disease, the sheer number of fishermen on the dock was large, and since the soldiers were afraid of harming the innocent, for a moment, the two sides were equally matched. "How dare you! Scoundrels!" Gao Wenliang was so frustrated that his face turned red with anger, feeling the helplessness of a scholar meeting soldiers, unable to reason effectively. Just then, a soldier hurried over and whispered a few words in his ear. His eyes immediately widened: "Empre¡ª" Realizing the dire situation, he quickly lowered his voice: "The Empress is here?" Heaven, at such a time, what was the Empress doing here? Did she think the scene was not chaotic enough? Gao Wenliang thought of the Emperor¡¯s attitude toward the Empress and suddenly felt darkness before his eyes: she was the person whom the Emperor cherished most dearly! If something happened to her here, even dying ten thousand times would not be enough to appease the Emperor¡¯s wrath. "No!" Mr. Gao urgently ordered, "Quick! Hurry! Stop them¡ª" "Mr. Gao, it¡¯s too late." A clear and solemn female voice rang out. Mr. Gao tensed, turning to look¡ª Sang Yan, who disdained the Empress¡¯s cumbersome palace attire, preferred simplicity in the State Mansion whenever possible. But now, she was clad in a golden silk phoenix robe with cloud patterns, her hair adorned with twelve phoenix-tail hairpins that shimmered dazzlingly in the sunlight, and even with a veil covering her face, she was the epitome of majestic beauty. Mr. Gao¡¯s words of protest died on his lips. He was overawed by Sang Yan¡¯s authority. Normally, Sang Yan had an approachable demeanor, almost making him forget that she was the mother of the nation for Da He! Apart from Mr. Gao, the people also noticed Sang Yan, and their expressions changed upon seeing her attire. Though angry, they still retained a deep-seated reverence for imperial power. Especially with the woman in front of them, wearing remarkably noticeable phoenix patterns. Soon, whispers began to spread: "Is that the Empress?" "No way! The Emperor and the Empress left Quanzhou long ago!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Exactly! Even if the Empress were here, why would she come to this place? Those royals don¡¯t care about the lives of us commoners!" ... The crowd began to grow restless again. The people perched on the barriers were on the verge of running back toward the market. "I am Sang Yan, Empress of Da He." Amid the noisy chatter, Sang Yan¡¯s clear and solemn voice was almost drowned out, but her presence was not to be ignored. And so, the clamor was indeed silenced by Sang Yan¡¯s statement. "You are all subjects of Da He, and Da He would not abandon anyone lightly." Sang Yan looked at the faces in front of her, longing for a lifeline, and said in a deep voice, "Now, a villain, for his personal greed, has put Quanzhou in jeopardy. With the people suffering, the Emperor and I are deeply worried. I have come today to tell you that the Emperor and I have never left Quanzhou, nor have we given up on everyone. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang are already searching for a cure for the illness. Please give us time, and give yourselves time as well." The crowd grew silent for a moment at her words. Soon, whispers started up again: "Is that really the Empress?" "It¡¯s the Empress, right? I saw her when the He Family was executed, from below the city wall." "The Empress didn¡¯t leave!" "Does this mean the Emperor hasn¡¯t abandoned us after all?" ... In an instant, the rioting populace felt a burning shame. "Who started the rumor?" "Isn¡¯t the Empress right here in Quanzhou?" "I heard the Emperor is a devoted man, who personally went to Puluo to save the Empress; if the Empress is here, the Emperor must be, too!" "So who said the Emperor had given up on us and fled the city?" "I don¡¯t know, ah!" ... They looked at each other, back and forth, eventually realizing they didn¡¯t know who spread the news of the Emperor¡¯s departure. They came to the understanding that they had all been made pawns by someone! Those still clinging to the barriers now looked ashamed and silently climbed down. Those who had been clamoring to storm the State Mansion were now red-faced and silent. The scene quieted down once more. The situation had taken a turn for the better. Sang Yan, feeling a sense of relief, thought quickly. She remembered a classic line from the science fiction masterpiece "Three Body" she had read in her past life and, organizing her language, said, "In the blink of an eye, I have been in Quanzhou for almost a month. This month, the Quanzhou I have seen is open, inclusive, prosperous, wealthy, peaceful¡ªa beautiful and livable city. I¡¯ve also heard the heroic patriotic stories from over thirty years ago, when the three great families fought together to defend the city. This is a city of civilization. This is a city where everyone is patriotic, brave, and trustworthy. Now, this city faces a crisis, a test¡ª" Sang Yan, pausing here, swept her gaze across the faces of the people, emphasizing her words by adding, "This test is whether we will bring civilization to Quanzhou, rather than Quanzhou to civilization. We are a part of Quanzhou, and we must take pride in being from Quanzhou! As long as Quanzhou stands, we must spontaneously respect it, cherish it, and protect it!" She sought to inspire a sense of civic pride and a sense of mission in them as a means for them to exercise self-control and comply with the orders from above. To conquer the opposition, it was always best to win over their hearts. Chapter 228 - 227: Aspirations Chapter 228: Chapter 227: AspirationsThe common citizens were thus won over. They started to regret: The Emperor and Empress were so kind, ignoring the dangers, staying in Quanzhou, advancing and retreating together with them; yet they had thought of rebelling, truly deserving of death! Some of the citizens even knelt down: "Protect Quanzhou!" "We are the people of Quanzhou, we must take pride in Quanzhou!" "Long live the Emperor! Thousand years to the Empress!" ... Voices rose and fell. Sang Yan, seeing this scene, was overjoyed at heart and quickly said, "Everybody, please get up. The situation now is special, everyone, please stay at home. Taking care of yourselves is protecting Quanzhou." "We will follow Lady¡¯s instructions." These words were timely arranged by Gao Wenliang for the public to say. They were very influential. Quickly other citizens responded: "Right, we¡¯ll listen to Lady, let¡¯s all go home!" Seeing the citizens dispersing back to their homes, Sang Yan knew this visit had been the right decision. Nevertheless, she still admonished, "Mr. Gao, trouble you to patrol more often, note everyone¡¯s needs in time, soothe the public¡¯s heart, until Imperial Doctor Liu and his team develop an antidote." "Yes." Gao Wenliang smiled in response, and also breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Sang Yan. This Empress had a way of controlling people¡¯s hearts that was truly formidable, no wonder she enchanted the Emperor like that. "The Qin Family¡¯s ship has arrived!" Someone shouted. Sang Yan was also drawn by the voice, looking towards the seaside¡ª A huge merchant ship slowly approached. On the deck stood a young girl in a blue dress, followed by some maids and servants. There were also several large wooden barrels beside them. Qin Tangyue? Sang Yan recognized the young girl in an instant. Wasn¡¯t she the one who expressed her feelings to He Ying during the Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day last time? Why would she come at a time like this? Noticing Sang Yan¡¯s puzzled look, Gao Wenliang quickly explained, "The Qin Family has always been benevolent; this time Quanzhou encountered such a great crisis, thanks to the Qin Family and several major families in the city for opening their granaries and distributing provisions. Especially Miss Qin, personally involved." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So that was it! Sang Yan was somewhat taken aback, her eyes fixed on Qin Tangyue: she had thought Qin Tangyue was just a simple and proud young girl¡ªwell, a bit naive and love-struck too. She hadn¡¯t expected her to possess such a broad-mindedness. No wonder Qin Tangyue was so popular that night of the Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day. Suddenly, her image was much improved. Then, Sang Yan reluctantly decided to remove her from the list of love rivals. Unlike Sang Yan¡¯s vigilance and guard, the citizens looked at Qin Tangyue with joy. They were all from Quanzhou, and the good deeds of the Qin Family over the years were well-known to everyone. As the ship docked. The Qin Family¡¯s servants began to unload the wooden barrels. The citizens who had just been clamoring together now voluntarily lined up, each bringing bowls and containers to receive rice and grains. Besides the rice and grains, there were also Mugwort and other herbs that detoxify. Qin Tangyue directed everyone busily, the last one to disembark. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, she walked to the fence gate and bowed deeply to Sang Yan, "I apologize for my previous rudeness to the Empress, I hope Lady can forgive me." Sang Yan raised an eyebrow, "This young lady has quite good eyesight. She¡¯s dressed completely differently today, yet she still recognized me." "No harm done. I must also thank Miss Qin for her benevolence and charity." Sang Yan smiled at Qin Tangyue, her gaze filled with admiration and approval. Qin Tangyue, seeing Sang Yan¡¯s magnanimous demeanor, felt a bitter taste in her heart: it had been many days, and she had been dwelling upon the events of the Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day night, feeling inferior in literary grace and insight, making her feel utterly uncomfortable. After much thought, she believed at least her family background was better than hers. However, now she knew she was the Empress. A world of difference! Thinking about how she had tried to compete with the Empress for the Emperor... Qin Tangyue felt she was truly seeking her own death. "Empress, last time, it was my foolishness, and I ask the Empress and the Emperor to look at the Qin Family¡¯s contributions to Quanzhou and Da He, and spare my family." Fearing that Sang Yan might still bear a grudge, she immediately knelt down. It was all her fault! If it hadn¡¯t been for her stupidity, being incited by others, she wouldn¡¯t have committed such an offensive act. Gao Wenliang was completely bewildered: When did the Empress and the Qin Family become related? "Please stand up," Sang Yan said, seeing Qin Tangyue¡¯s words and knowing she was a woman who understood the bigger picture and knew when to advance or retreat, which pleased her even more. With a smile in her eyes, she helped her up, speaking gently, "Fair ladies appeal to gallant gentlemen. The same holds true when applied to women; you shouldn¡¯t dwell on it." Qin Tangyue, hearing the relaxed tone of Sang Yan, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She stood up from the floor, her lips quivering as if she had something to say. "What is it?" Sang Yan noticed something amiss and asked softly. "I have something to report." Qin Tangyue furrowed her brows, her expression growing serious, "These past days, while bringing the servants to deliver grain via the waterway, I initially felt nothing odd, but recently... something seemed off. Empress, please come and see with me¡ª" Upon hearing this, Sang Yan tensed up, glancing unconsciously at Gao Wenliang: It had been a long time, and they still hadn¡¯t found the source of He Hongzhao¡¯s poisoning. Perhaps this time, they might make a breakthrough. Gao Wenliang, catching Sang Yan¡¯s glance, also followed their steps. Qin Tangyue led them for a good while until they reached the seaside, where she spoke gravely, "Recently, dock fishermen suddenly suffered from diarrhea. When they work, they drink seawater that has been boiled and filtered into fresh water. I guess these peculiar diseases might be due to water issues, so I¡¯ve paid extra attention to the water source these past days..." "The water source has been checked by my people, and there¡¯s no issue," Gao Wenliang, afraid that Sang Yan might think he was neglecting his duties, quickly explained, "On the first day, I ordered a check on all water sources inside Quanzhou City, and no problems were found." "That¡¯s not right." Qin Tangyue pursed her lips and shook her head. Sang Yan looked at her, understanding her point, "Perhaps at the outset, the illness was spreading from the water source, but Quanzhou is by the sea. Even with numerous toxins, over such a long period, they would have been diluted. Unless... it is being spread through other means now." "That¡¯s exactly what I mean!" Qin Tangyue, excited, looked at Sang Yan, her cheeks flushed, pointing towards the stone steps near the pier. The steps were messily covered with several pieces of cloth, which bore brown stains. With just a glance, Sang Yan recognized them¡ªthose were dried bloodstains. Qin Tangyue continued, "Empress, look there. Nowadays, the patients are coughing up blood. The locals here are poor, so even if their clothes get bloodstained, they can hardly bear to throw them away, and they secretly wash them at night. If they can¡¯t clean them properly, fearing the soldiers might find out and take them away, they just throw them away. Here, unlike the markets, there isn¡¯t daily cleaning; often one household throws something out and another picks it up. There are those who cough up blood and spit everywhere... it¡¯s commonplace..." They could donate grains, release grain stocks, but couldn¡¯t solve the underlying problem. The fishermen were overwhelmingly poor; how could they possibly worry about personal hygiene? It was poverty, too, that made them reluctant to discard their clothes. Coughing blood... Sang Yan looked at the bloodstains on the cloth, her eyebrows furrowing: could it be the blood? It seemed that it was only after the patients began coughing blood that the disease spiraled out of control. With this thought, she urgently instructed, "Mr. Gao, quickly go see if anyone else is coughing up blood, and send their spat-out blood to Imperial Doctor Liu!" Chapter 229 - 228: Harvest Chapter 229: Chapter 228: HarvestThese days, they had all thought He Hongzhao would poison the water source. After all, that was the simplest method. But they hadn¡¯t anticipated that He Hongzhao had a backup plan! The most important source was the blood of the patients! "Miss Qin, thank you very much, if it is confirmed, you will be the savior of Quanzhou!" Sang Yan held Qin Tangyue¡¯s hand, and after expressing her gratitude solemnly, she rushed off with Gao Wenliang. Once back at the State Mansion. Sang Yan first went to the pharmacy. As soon as she entered the room, before Sang Yan had a chance to speak, she was so frightened by the scene before her that she almost retreated. "Come here." He Ying sat in a chair, and seeing Sang Yan dressed up, felt even more upset. Sang Yan glared at Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang standing beside her. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those two were too wicked. They didn¡¯t keep this from her! Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang kept their eyes down as if they saw nothing, believing that if they were unaware, the Empress wouldn¡¯t get angry! "Don¡¯t look at them, come here." He Ying frowned, extending his hand toward her. Sang Yan didn¡¯t go over, realizing he was here, and thinking about her visit to the dock and seeing so many patients, she said, "I will take a bath first to avoid carrying anything unclean." She didn¡¯t want to be a burden to him. He Ying knew her thoughts and shook his head. "No need. Come here." His tone was very authoritative, showing no concern whether she might bring any harm to him. "I will count to three, and if you don¡¯t come over, I will carry you." "Don¡¯t¡ª" Sang Yan had no choice but to sigh, resigning herself to walking towards him. "Xinyuan, don¡¯t be like this¡ª" She walked very slowly, measuring a safe distance, afraid that He Ying might get involved because of her. Her heart was panicked. By now, she had thoroughly figured it out; he might appear fierce to others, but his heart would be raging. However, toward her, the calmer his face, the more turbulent his heart. Poor little Empress, inching forward, eventually stood in front of He Ying. Of course, keeping a distance of three steps. She stopped walking, also thinking of ways to admit her fault¡ªjust to admit it! At the worst, would she suffer a bit more tonight? With a stern heart! Her eyes brimming with tears, she looked at him: "Xinyuan, I¡¯m sorry¡ª" Before she could finish her sentence, he grasped her hand. Immediately, with a stumble, she was by his side. They were very close. He Ying wasn¡¯t worried at all about her coming from a dangerous place and potentially carrying a disease. He picked up a wet handkerchief from the wooden basin on the table, and carefully wiped Sang Yan¡¯s hands and any exposed skin until thoroughly clean. He then instructed the Medical Woman standing beside, "Go get mugwort to boil water for the Empress¡¯s bath." "Yes." The Medical Woman hurriedly took the order and left. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang, hearing this, also breathed a sigh of relief: it seemed the two masters would not start arguing. Just then, Gao Wenliang had already had the patients¡¯ blood sent over. "I shall go have a look." "I will also have a look." Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang, the old and the young, both quick-witted, hurriedly left. In the blink of an eye, only Sang Yan and He Ying were left, facing each other. "Is there nothing you want to tell me?" He Ying tossed the handkerchief back into the basin, snorting in annoyance. Done for! Sang Yan thought to herself: He is really angry this time! And he¡¯s even referring to himself as "I"! In the past, when speaking to her, it always used to be "my"! "I just went to the docks to check on those patients. I heard from Gao Wenliang that there was some unusual activity among the patients there. In such special times, I was afraid more chaos would erupt." Sang Yan quietly explained, grasping He Ying¡¯s robe and gently shaking it. "Xinyuan, won¡¯t you stop being angry, please?" She apologized softly, trying to coax the little tyrant into forgiving her presumption. He Ying¡¯s heart did soften. He was indeed angry, angry at her acting alone, at her hiding things from him, and also angry because... Didn¡¯t she ever consider, what would he do if something happened to her? But looking into her pitiful eyes, even with myriad anger and sadness, it all gradually dissipated. He sighed and pulled her onto his lap: "Go and have a proper bath later, to avoid catching a disease. Ah Yan, don¡¯t ever make me worry like this again, alright?" "Mm. Okay. I swear¡ª" Sang Yan raised her hand, quite seriously about to make a vow: "If I ever¡ª" "Enough. Don¡¯t speak of inauspicious things." How could He Ying bear her making a vow? His temper, when it came to her, was almost non-existent, always boundlessly indulgent. "However, there still was some gain." Seeing He Ying not pursuing the matter further, Sang Yan¡¯s mood instantly brightened, grabbing his hand and saying, "Do you know who I ran into at the docks? I actually met Qin Tangyue!" Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him, wondering if he still remembered that daring woman who had confessed to him. He Ying didn¡¯t remember. A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes: Qin Tangyue? He didn¡¯t remember at all. And wasn¡¯t interested either: "Don¡¯t talk about irrelevant people. How are those commoners?" Seeing He Ying¡¯s attitude, Sang Yan¡¯s focus shifted quickly: "There¡¯s still some gain. Now Gao Wenliang has sent over the blood expelled by those refugees, we should have an answer soon." Speaking of serious matters, her smile faded, and she became slightly indignant: If it¡¯s really as she suspected, then He Hongzhao, that woman, is utterly malevolent! "Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s bathe together." Thinking of how close they had been, she also pulled him to shower with her. They frolicked in the bathhouse for a long part of the day. When they came out, it had already turned dark. Dinner was soon ready. Together they dined, and halfway through, they heard Pei Muyang say Imperial Doctor Liang requested an audience, and in tacit agreement, they put down their chopsticks and went together to the pharmacy. Imperial Doctor Liu and Imperial Doctor Liang were busy inside. Hearing the noise, they came out, both looking grim. Imperial Doctor Liu, upon seeing the Emperor and Empress, even forgot to bow, saying directly: "That He Hongzhao is so wicked! I had pitied her hard past, but now I realize, the pitiable must have detestable aspects!" Imperial Doctor Liang, listening from the side, was frightened by this elderly predecessor¡¯s behavior: You forgot to bow! Lower your voice in front of the Emperor! He felt internally frantic and couldn¡¯t help but fiercely tug on Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s robe, signaling him to control his emotions. "No matter." He Ying, seeing Imperial Doctor Liang¡¯s discreet gesture, waved his hand, letting him sit down, and then said: "To make Imperial Doctor Liu so angry, He Hongzhao must indeed have committed something heinous." He urgently needed to know the answer, thus he encouraged: "Speak frankly, Imperial Doctor. What is the issue with the blood?" "It¡¯s more than an issue." Imperial Doctor Liu, lamenting humanity, sighed deeply and continued: "Your Majesties, upon studying this blood, it is indeed poison. The poison is so dominant, it permeates into the human bloodstream, within three to four days, those toxins can invade the internal organs, corroding them. But that¡¯s not the worst of its viciousness, the medicine¡ª" Shaking and turning pale, as if he had seen some demon: "Forget it, it¡¯s sinful, let Imperial Doctor Liang continue!" Liang Xin secretly conducted an autopsy on the bodies. Chapter 230 - 229 Zuoyu Chapter 230: Chapter 229 ZuoyuThis corpse was rare. At first, fearing contagion, the bodies were burnt nearby. He had managed to obtain a corpse and observed it for a few days, only to find that eventually, the body turned into a pool of blood. "Reporting to the Emperor and the Empress, the poison corrodes the bones. Those poisoned are corroded alive, from the inside out!" This was also why the patients all had high fevers and vomited blood! The internal organs were rotting, surely causing inflammation, high fever, and vomiting of blood! "After death, there¡¯s no need for fire, the body will turn into a puddle of blood. Despicable! Truly despicable!" He Hongzhao was so malevolent that she wouldn¡¯t even leave the corpses. These were all people of Da He! Sang Yan, upon hearing this, turned pale and trembled. It was indeed as she had suspected. It was He Hongzhao who had administered the poison! No wonder the sick citizens, fearless of imperial power, sought medicine and revolted! How could they bear such agony after falling ill? The people were suffering greatly! He Ying was so filled with hatred upon hearing of this situation, he felt a murderous urge: He Hongzhao had harmed the people to such an extent, if he did not kill her, he would be unworthy of being a king! However, the most urgent task was still to address the epidemic in Quanzhou. "Imperial Doctor Liu, how long will it take to develop an antidote?" He Ying and Sang Yan asked simultaneously. Imperial Doctor Liu took a deep breath to calm himself and replied, "Such a vile poison that strips humanity, even if I have to work tirelessly through the night, I will absolutely develop an antidote!" Then, he hurried to the back room without even remembering to bow. He was truly furious! Having been a physician for most of his life, it was the first time he had seen someone misuse medical skill to such a harmful extent. He was determined to see whether He Hongzhao¡¯s poison was more formidable or his own medical skill! Liang Xin, seeing Imperial Doctor Liu leave without bowing, was startled again. Seeing that He Ying was not in the mood to pursue the matter, he hurriedly left, following Imperial Doctor Liu to the back room. Sang Yan, seeing the two busy in the back room, thought for a moment and tugged He Ying¡¯s hand, saying, "I want to go too." "Go where?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying instinctively feared Sang Yan intended to go somewhere troublesome and immediately furrowed his brows. Seeing his expression, Sang Yan still said, "Just to the back there. Imperial Doctor Liu is elderly, I want to help. Have you forgotten? I also learned some medical skills from He Hongzhao, and I recognize some herbs." After all, she could be of some help. He Ying was aware of this, looked at the night outside, and advised, "It¡¯s already late, and you had a tough day today. Better rest early." He couldn¡¯t bear to see her struggle. He was the Emperor, and she was his Empress. Naturally, they were supposed to lead a good life together; how could she labor like a servant? Unaware of his thoughts, Sang Yan said, "I¡¯m not tired. In such critical times, whatever can be done should be done. I am the Empress, and I should set an example." She was very enthusiastic. He Ying, unable to dissuade her, then said, "Just busy yourself in the pharmacy, right?" Sang Yan nodded, "Yes. Where else could I possibly help?" He Ying coldly huffed as a reminder, "Who ran to the docks today?" Sang Yan, immediately feeling guilty, grinned appeasingly, "Haha, that was a special circumstance." He Ying sternly said, "I don¡¯t care whether it was a special circumstance or not, you absolutely cannot run around anymore!" Sang Yan quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes. No running around. Absolutely no running around." The next moment, she lifted her skirt and ran to the pharmacy. He Ying, watching her enthusiastic involvement, felt both love and pity in his heart. And of course, hatred. Hatred towards He Hongzhao! With a grim face, he headed to his study. There he drew a portrait of He Hongzhao and shouted to the outside, "Pei Muyang, get in here!" Pei Muyang immediately ran in. He clearly saw that He Ying¡¯s handsome face emanated boundless coldness, and his eyes looked ominously terrifying, although Pei Muyang had followed him for a long time, he couldn¡¯t help but shudder: it had been a long time since the Emperor was this angry. He Ying handed over the portrait in his hand. Pei Muyang looked at the face of He Hongzhao in the portrait, almost imagining the miserable state when she fell into He Ying¡¯s hands. He Ying gripped the paintbrush tightly, his gaze grim, gritting his teeth, "He Hongzhao has not shown herself in Quanzhou for so long, now that Quanzhou has been sealed off and every household has been searched, I guess she has already escaped to Beiqi. Send someone to deliver the portrait to Rong Ye, have him look for He Hongzhao in Beiqi¡ª" At this point, the paintbrush in his hand snapped. Snap. He said, "Kill her!" Pei Muyang rolled up the painting and bowed to accept the order, "Yes!" He admired deeply in his heart, feeling that the Emperor had thought everything through very thoroughly: in Quanzhou, He Hongzhao was like a rat hiding, but once in Beiqi, Wuya¡¯s territory, she would feel safe and would naturally reveal herself. Once she appeared, the enemy would be visible, making it much easier to kill her! * For two consecutive days, Sang Yan soaked herself in the pharmacy. Inside the pharmacy, the strong bitter scent was almost suffocating. Sang Yan crouched in front of a small stove, fanning the flames to boil the medicine. "Empress, let me do that." The Medical Woman, her face panicked, tried to take over her job but got rejected. "No need, no need." Sang Yan wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled, "See what Imperial Doctor Liu needs and go help him. I¡¯m not as skilled as you all, I can only do these things, you all go and busy yourselves." She was unaware of a bit of ash on her nose, which, after a brush of her sleeve, smeared and made her look both comical and adorable. It nearly made the Medical Woman burst into laughter. She had also heard that the Empress was an ominous person. But how could someone so approachable and who stood up for the people be considered ominous? "Then let me get you a stool, my Lady." Seeing Sang Yan insist, the Medical Woman reluctantly brought over a stool so she wouldn¡¯t have to crouch and tire herself out. Sang Yan sat down, her legs trembling. Truly exhausted. But there were others who were more exhausted than her. She glanced at a short distance away, where Imperial Doctor Liu and Liang Xin were still pondering over the medical prescriptions, both had been working continuously for two days, and she really feared they might work themselves to death. Especially Imperial Doctor Liu, given his age. With the disease condition now, almost completely dependent on him, she really feared something might happen to him. Thinking this, she put down the fan in her hand and walked over, "Imperial Doctor Liu, if you¡¯re tired, please rest for a bit, and definitely don¡¯t overexert yourself, it¡¯s bad for your health." Imperial Doctor Liu was discussing the prescription with Liang Xin. They were still worrying about the poison affecting He Hongzhao. "I tried mixing arsenic and gelsemium, but the effect I could achieve was never as malicious as the poison He Hongzhao used..." Imperial Doctor Liu was completely immersed in his own world, not hearing Sang Yan¡¯s concerned voice at all. To find an antidote, one must first understand the components of the poison. Imperial Doctor Liu held a medical book in his hands, his eyes nearly blurring. "We¡¯re still missing one ingredient, still missing one..." He stroked his beard, muttering, "What could it be, what could it be?" Those who study medicine, like those who read books, once they enter their own world, it¡¯s hard to pull them back to reality. Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to disturb and was about to leave, her gaze suddenly fell on a medical book laid open carelessly. That medical book... She seemed to have seen it before when she visited He Hongzhao¡¯s courtyard? A thought struck her. She walked over, picked up the book, and started flipping through it. After looking for an hour, she finally saw a familiar name¡ªZuoyu! The name itself, just saying it, carried a noble air. But when Sang Yan saw the description of this herb below, goosebumps instantly sprung up: [Zuoyu, cold in nature, the juice extremely poisonous, rots the skin and decays the bone, those who touch it, their bones would be carved like jade, until they corrode completely away.] "Imperial Doctor Liu!" Startled, Sang Yan quickly passed the medical book to him, "Please look at this, could this be the herb?" Chapter 231 - 230: Turning Point Chapter 231: Chapter 230: Turning PointHe Hongzhao couldn¡¯t have been looking at this medical book for no reason. Perhaps even while she was at her side, she was already plotting how to poison the people of Quanzhou City. Imperial Doctor Liu took the medical book and closely examined the section about "Zuoyu," his face suddenly lighting up with joy, "Exactly this! Exactly this! Empress, we owe you a great debt this time! Quick, Liang Xin, go check if the pharmacy has this ingredient..." What followed was another bout of frenzied activity. Until the sky began to lighten at the break of dawn. At last, there was good news. "Empress, the antidote is ready!" It was Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s voice, ecstatic with excitement. Sang Yan was already exhausted, her hands propping up her cheeks as she dozed off on a stool. Hearing the noise, she abruptly opened her eyes. Imperial Doctor Liu arrived with the prescription, his face showing no signs of weariness, full of excitement: "Empress, the antidote has been made. I knew it¡ªthere couldn¡¯t be an antidote that I, Liu Changxi, couldn¡¯t compound!" He had spent most of his life in the palace, obsessively devoted to medicine. These past days, he had been locking horns with He Hongzhao. Now that he had concocted the antidote, his entire demeanor was one of extreme exhilaration. "Many thanks to Imperial Doctor Liu." Sang Yan offered a tight-lipped smile, not daring to delay. She took the prescription and hurriedly took Imperial Doctor Liu to find He Ying. He Ying was in the study discussing matters with Gao Wenliang and others. Hearing the news, he personally welcomed Sang Yan and the others in. Sang Yan briefly explained the situation regarding the successful formulation of the antidote by Imperial Doctor Liu. He Ying was overjoyed. The others in the study all relaxed their expressions: the antidote had finally been compounded. Otherwise, they would have been hard pressed to keep their positions. He Ying scrutinized the prescription and asked Imperial Doctor Liu, "Have you tested the medicine?" "Yes." Imperial Doctor Liu replied, "It has been administered to the patients and indeed it is effective." "Good!" He Ying laughed out loud, "My dear officials, you have worked hard. The Emperor will reward you handsomely!" Imperial Doctor Liu didn¡¯t dare take all the credit, bowing with a smile: "Actually, we owe much of the credit to the Empress. It was the Empress who discovered the Zuoyu, which was the crucial ingredient. Zuoyu grows in an extremely cold and hard-to-reach environment; I hadn¡¯t anticipated that He Hongzhao would use it as a drug primer. It seems I underestimated her." Saying this, he turned to look at Sang Yan, eyes sparkling: "The Empress has a serendipitous connection with medicine." He Ying saw his gaze and alarm bells rang. He quickly stepped forward, interposing himself between Sang Yan and Imperial Doctor Liu. Imperial Doctor Liu was a medical fanatic, spending his days with potions and brews. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let Sang Yan join him, turning her into a little medical fanatic too! Sang Yan¡¯s eyes and heart must only have room for him¡ªthat would be best! Sang Yan: "..." What was with this sudden possessiveness? Was he afraid she¡¯d run off with Imperial Doctor Liu? Gao Wenliang and the others were also perplexed: What was the Emperor doing? Why this sudden protective gesture? And Imperial Doctor Liu, his excited gaze at the Empress was a little too intense. It was as if he was looking at his own daughter. Could it be that he had thoughts of becoming the Empress¡¯s adoptive father through the merit of discovering the antidote? Only Liang Xin understood Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s feelings at that moment: having lived to an old age without marrying, without children, and without accepting apprentices, coming across someone with such "fate," he naturally yearned to have the Empress study medicine under him. But it could only remain a wish. That was the Empress, after all¡ªhow could she spend all day in the pharmacy? Even if the Empress was willing, the Emperor wouldn¡¯t be pleased. Look, he¡¯s displeased now. Sang Yan was likewise confused. If she knew that by inadvertently coming across Zuoyu and helping to research the prescription, she had given rise to Imperial Doctor Liu¡¯s idea of taking her as an apprentice, she wouldn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone in the room had their own thoughts. He Ying didn¡¯t elaborate further, pulling Sang Yan to sit on his lap and getting down to serious matters: "Now that the antidote has been developed, issue immediate orders for all the medical establishments in Quanzhou City to prepare the antidote and distribute it to the sick citizens." Upon hearing this, everyone turned away and agreed, setting off to handle their respective tasks. * The antidote concocted by Imperial Doctor Liu proved to be effective. On the same day, the medicine was distributed in various sick wards throughout Quanzhou City. The next morning, Mr. Gao Wenliang brought over some good news. As soon as he saw He Ying, he knelt down and reported with a smile, "Emperor, Empress, we¡¯ve received good news from the docks, the East District, and the West District. The epidemic has been brought under control, and patients who were experiencing high fevers are gradually cooling down. Only those who have been vomiting blood still need to take the herbal soup a few more times." After finishing, he waited for a while without hearing a response. Could it be that the Emperor was not satisfied? Or had he done something wrong? Gao Wenliang, trembling, lifted his head and saw both his masters sitting in their chairs, looking at him. The usually stern Emperor now had a slight smile on his lips, as if he were holding back something. Gao Wenliang was startled and quickly started to self-examine: Could it be his hasty arrival, disheveled appearance, that had offended their sight? Sang Yan, seeing Gao Wenliang¡¯s fluster, chuckled softly, "You¡¯ve worked hard, Mr. Gao." Gao Wenliang hadn¡¯t rested for several days. His features were handsome, his gaze still sharp, but his eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, and his usually tightly tied hair was now crooked and loose, making him look quite disheveled. He wasn¡¯t yet forty, and yet he seemed to have aged significantly. During this time, everyone had been extremely worried for the people of Quanzhou. Seeing Gao Wenliang¡¯s "sloppy" appearance, He Ying couldn¡¯t bear to scold him any further. In the past, hiding information was a capital offense! As the parent official of Quanzhou, by preventing the sick from entering the State Mansion, he might have been afraid to offend the Emperor but placing the people in a state of shock and helplessness was also a serious mishandling of affairs, not to be taken lightly! Fortunately, the situation still had room for maneuvering. Now everything had settled down. "This official is ashamed," Gao Wenliang was embarrassed and dared not accept Sang Yan¡¯s words. "If this official hadn¡¯t acted on his own, this would not have..." "Enough. You¡¯ve already made amends for your actions, and I forgive you. But if there is a next time, beware of the head on your neck!" He Ying said this then changed the subject, instructing Pei Muyang, "In three days, the situation should stabilize. Arrange for fifty people to stay in Quanzhou and help Mr. Gao with the aftermath. The rest will follow me back to the Capital City." As he finished speaking, the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces gradually became somber. They had celebrated too soon. The matter in Quanzhou might be resolved, but Beiqi was still looming, waiting to strike at any moment. The Emperor should return to the Capital City as soon as possible, in case Qi Wuya took advantage of his absence in Quanzhou to strike at Da He. "I wonder how Marshal Rong¡¯s situation is..." Gao Wenliang murmured, still wishing to go to the border to fight the enemy. He too had participated in the martial arts examination in the past and had not placed poorly, but he was unexpectedly assigned as an official in Quanzhou. He Ying seemed to guess his thoughts and said, "Marshal Rong has been campaigning for many years, brave and skilled in battle, and he has Li Xiangyi by his side, so there¡¯s no need for you to worry." After taking power, he had emphasized military over civil affairs, which led to a shortage of civil servants. Gao Wenliang had taken part in the martial arts examination and showed some administrative talent, so He Ying had assigned him to Quanzhou. Looking back now, he had been slightly rash in his decisions. "Just stay in Quanzhou with ease, your future will come in time." During his days in Quanzhou, Gao Wenliang had become someone He Ying trusted, and naturally, he would be recalled to the Capital City in the future. Gao Wenliang understood the Emperor¡¯s implication and kowtowed excitedly, "This official will surely not fail the imperial command." "Stand up and reply," Sang Yan, seeing him still kneeling, couldn¡¯t help but interject. "Thank you, Empress," Gao Wenliang thanked her, but didn¡¯t dare to rise. After all, the Emperor had not yet spoken. He Ying frowned in displeasure when he saw him looking up for direction, "From now on, the words of the Empress are as those of myself; you must not contradict them. Rise." He had long shared his authority with Sang Yan, but these people still seemed blind to it. The somewhat oblivious Gao Wenliang still sensed something¡ªThe Emperor¡¯s words were practically sharing power! Tsk, what favoritism! Chapter 232 - 231: Suffocation Chapter 232: Chapter 231: SuffocationNo wonder people of the world don¡¯t value the birth of daughters over sons. The Sang Family, truly, has brought forth an excellent daughter! In the following two days, Quanzhou continued to experience rain. On the third day, when the rain had passed, and the sun shone brilliantly, with a gentle and warm breeze, the inner city of Quanzhou had returned to its bustling and lively state of former days. Two figures stealthily slipped out of the back gate of the State Mansion. The shorter person in front was pulling the taller, lanky one behind, hurrying along. It wasn¡¯t until the State Mansion was out of sight that the person in front let go of the hand. Lifting the veil of the hood, a charming and exquisite face was revealed. It was Sang Yan, disguised. She took a deep breath and said with a smile to He Ying, "What do you think? Isn¡¯t it thrilling?" He Ying could only smile helplessly, "I shouldn¡¯t have let you leave the mansion." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even as he said so, he still thoughtfully adjusted Sang Yan¡¯s veil, "You¡¯ve already been seen before, and though your illness has passed, there may still be people in the city with ill intent." He didn¡¯t like the thrill of sneaking out like this. But since she liked it, he indulged her. With him around, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her. Especially since these past few days, she had been all mysterious, seemingly meeting with someone behind his back. Sang Yan believed in his martial prowess and didn¡¯t seem concerned. She giggled, "Aren¡¯t you here with me? Let¡¯s go take a look at the waterfront." She pulled He Ying¡¯s hand, heading towards the waterfront. It had been five days since Imperial Physician Liu had concocted the antidote. Most of the sick people in the city had recovered. Only some, who had pre-existing conditions or who were originally frail, had not yet healed. Therefore, even though He Ying¡¯s appearance was exceptionally striking, which would usually attract a lot of attention under normal circumstances, the people were currently immersed in the joy of putting the gloom behind them and regaining their freedom, and no one paid them too much heed. The two walked hand in hand through the bustling streets. "I¡¯ve heard some news in the mansion, and I feel like I need to take you to see it," said Sang Yan with a smile, still playing coy. He Ying smiled indulgently, "Alright." They were gradually nearing the waterfront. The restrictions had been lifted, and the soldiers had all left. The lively sound of talking could be heard. It was fishermen and workers seated by the waterfront, chatting and boasting raucously. They were dressed in tattered clothes and straw shoes, appearing poor and destitute, yet there were smiles on their faces. The atmosphere was exceedingly harmonious. A few bold ones stood on the deck of the fishing boats, gesturing dramatically as if they were actors in a play. The air was filled with the salty smell of seawater. Mixed with the stench of sweat, decaying fish, and shrimp, it was suffocating. He Ying was nearly suffocating. He furrowed his brow, instinctively held his breath, and glanced at Sang Yan. Sang Yan, as if oblivious to the assortment of foul smells, excitedly pointed towards the deck while holding He Ying¡¯s hand, "Do you hear what they are saying?" He Ying then calmed himself and focused on the noise ahead. Gradually, he made out what the fishermen were saying. "This epidemic came suspiciously, exactly after the He Family¡¯s incident. As everyone knows, He Hongzhao was skilled with poisons, so it¡¯s likely that this matter is related to her." "Didn¡¯t the proclamation before say so? That He Hongzhao colluded with the Beiqi!" "Such a poisonous woman, she not only poisoned us Quanzhou people, but also spread rumors, trying to make us misunderstand the Emperor and the Empress. Her heart truly deserves to be condemned!" ... They thought of the deep hatred and pain they had previously harbored toward the Emperor and the Empress, and one by one, their faces showed shame. "He Hongzhao¡¯s methods are despicable, and those Beiqi people who follow her are no better!" A dark-skinned man sat on the deck, laughing heartily, "Let it be, let it be. When Beiqi people hear of what happened in Quanzhou, they must be envious! Just thinking about this, the fire in my heart has completely disappeared." "That¡¯s natural. Which country¡¯s emperor would stay in Quanzhou like ours, advancing and retreating with us?" "Exactly!" "Our Emperor and Empress are a wise ruler and a virtuous consort of the generation!" ... Under the lead of the man, the rest also laughed loudly. They didn¡¯t notice Sang Yan and He Ying standing under the willow tree. After listening quietly, He Ying asked with a smile, "Was this your arrangement?" Sang Yan¡¯s smile faded slightly, and she nodded, "Yes. It was my arrangement. If we didn¡¯t retaliate against He Hongzhao¡¯s actions that enraged both humans and gods, they would probably think we are easy to bully." He Ying liked hearing her say these words, feeling that she was protecting him. He didn¡¯t speak, just watched her tender and affectionate smile. "He Hongzhao spread rumors, trying to alienate the people of Da He from the Emperor. Now that you stand united with the people, the rumors naturally fall apart on their own." Sang Yan looked towards the dark-skinned man and continued, "His name is Qin Huai¡¯an, a member of the Qin Family, in charge of the import and export of the Qin Family Cloth Workshop. I had Qin Huai¡¯an casually talk about the happenings in Quanzhou during his journeys by boat. Xinyuan, what do you think Beiqi people would feel when they hear that Emperor Da He values his people this much?" She said, smiling gently, her beautiful eyes shining brightly, "One is an emperor who patricided and fratricided, dark and brutal, the other leads with diligence and loves his people, sharing the hardships with them. The feelings of the Beiqi people will naturally become clear." Even if Qi Wuya truly controlled Beiqi politics, upon hearing the people comparing him unfavorably to He Ying, he would probably be furiously cross. He Ying was at a loss for words for a long time. He looked at the people on the deck, laughing openly. Those words of praise, he had never heard before. For over a decade of his reign, most of the time, he faced only cautious courtiers. "Ah Yan¡ª" He Ying gripped her hand tightly, murmuring anxiously, "In the past, I was also like Qi Wuya..." His voice was muffled, filled with some guilt that was hard to bear. Previously, he viewed the people as beasts to be driven, not truly caring about their lives or thoughts. Sang Yan knew he was a feudal monarch who lacked respect for the people, she wasn¡¯t angry but instead held his hand back, her gaze filled with gentle encouragement, trust, "Times are different now. You ascended the throne as a child, naturally, you had to be more decisive in killing." She was aware of the necessity of his actions: He took the throne at ten years old, and had he not used iron-handed tactics, those treacherous courtiers would have likely killed him much sooner, treating him as a mere puppet Emperor. Listening to her understanding and support, He Ying¡¯s heart softened. In this world, only she fit his soul perfectly. He dared not imagine life without her. He held her tightly, tightening his embrace again and again. Sometimes, even when she was by his side, he still felt a terrifying fear of losing her. Just like now. She was in his arms, yet he was still intensely afraid. "Ah Yan, promise me, never leave me, always love me." "Ah Yan, we must always be together." He thought of the ancestral teachings of Da He: from the moment the Emperor ascends the throne, he must begin building his own mausoleum. He began construction on his mausoleum after gaining power. Counting it up, it had been ten years already. Now that he had Sang Yan, to live and share a quilt, to die and share a tomb, perhaps it was time to expand and rebuild his mausoleum. Chapter 233 - 232: What a Pity Chapter 233: Chapter 232: What a PitySang Yan didn¡¯t know that He Ying had already considered the far-reaching consequences of their relationship. Seeing his silence, she spoke her mind. In fact, the reason she had laid out so much groundwork was to lead up to these few sentences. "Actually, what the common people want is nothing more than to have enough to eat and drink and to live in peace. They¡¯re truly easy to satisfy." Sang Yan¡¯s expression was solemn as her voice took a turn, "The inevitable battle with Beiqi, I fear, cannot be avoided. Xinyuan, I believe you are more suitable to be the Lord of the World than Qi Wuya." At this point, she paused before continuing, "So, Xinyuan, promise me, be a good Emperor." She too believed that He Ying would make a good Emperor. If it was necessary to determine a winner between him and Qi Wuya, both publicly and privately, she wished for He Ying to be the victor. "Do whatever you need to do with boldness. I will always be here." She was willing to be the woman behind him. Initially, she felt disconnected from this world, akin to a salted fish, beyond salvation, only seeing the innocent common folk suffering under the tyranny of power, but having truly experienced a high position and gone through so much with He Ying, she also developed a sense of social responsibility and national duty. She wanted to join hands with He Ying in building a new world. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy. He Ying¡¯s mood was also very heavy. But he didn¡¯t want Sang Yan to worry, so he light-heartedly said, "Having received such a weighty trust from Ah Yan, I will certainly not let you down." As he spoke, he lowered his head and kissed her lips before suddenly changing the subject, "So, you¡¯ve been avoiding me these past few days, meeting with that Qin Huai¡¯an?" Sang Yan: "..." Wait, is now the time to bring this up? Is this man too prone to jealousy? "I haven¡¯t." Sang Yan smiled helplessly and shook her head. He Ying was unhappy and somewhat disbelieving of her words, "Then who are you meeting with?" He thought that after resolving the epidemic in Quanzhou, he would be able to get closer to her, but she was always so busy. If not in the pharmacy, then she was meeting with guests, and she even instructed the servants¡ªno matter who came, they were not to disturb her. Naturally, this ¡¯no matter who¡¯ included him. In this world, she was the only one who dared to shut him out like this. "I really haven¡¯t. We¡¯re returning to the Capital City tomorrow, and I¡¯ve been busy with something." Sang Yan¡¯s pretty face blushed, wanting to explain but also feeling too embarrassed. "Lady Empress!" While the two were chatting, a familiar voice came through. Sang Yan turned to look and saw Qin Tangyue approaching her with a face full of surprise. Her scalp tingled: there was no hiding it now. Qin Tangyue approached with a cheerful smile, timidly glancing at He Ying, her eyes devoid of the admiration she once had, instead showing hints of fear and avoidance. "Greetings, Emperor." Qin Tangyue had initially only noticed He Ying and had intended to leave directly, but upon recognizing Sang Yan by his side, she quickly came over to greet her. After all, He Ying held a prestigious status, and reluctantly, she paid him her respects. "And who might you be?" He Ying had long since cast her out of his thoughts. Now his private moments with Sang Yan were interrupted, and his eyes were filled with impatience. Qin Tangyue hadn¡¯t expected that he wouldn¡¯t remember her at all. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The little bit of affection she still held for He Ying instantly dissipated. Hmph, such a man devoid of gentlemanly demeanor, who knew how much the Empress must suffer on a daily basis. "I am Qin Tangyue." Qin Tangyue hastily answered, her heart entirely fixated on Sang Yan as she took out a veil from her embrace and softly said, "This was meant to be delivered to the State Mansion. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here, Lady. The part that needed mending on this veil has been repaired, Lady, take a look¡ª" Such warmth and intimacy? He Ying frowned as he watched, and after some thought, he finally recognized her: Wasn¡¯t this the woman who stopped him from confessing on Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day? When did she become so close to Sang Yan? As for the veil¡ª Before He Ying could look her way, Sang Yan quickly snatched the veil Qin Tangyue handed over and stuffed it into her sleeve haphazardly, smiling as she said, "Thank you, Miss Qin." Qin Tangyue¡¯s red lips moved slightly as she quietly asked, "Is the Empress leaving tomorrow?" She looked at the woman before her wearing a veil cap, with a hint of reluctance in her eyes. This Empress was gentle, wise, and kind-hearted, without a hint of arrogance, much better than her ¡¯handkerchief pals.¡¯ Now distanced from those ¡¯handkerchief pals,¡¯ the boredom of her boudoir life weighed on her, and she found herself not wanting Sang Yan to leave. Sang Yan was unaware of Qin Tangyue¡¯s thoughts and laughingly said, "Yes, it¡¯s been a long delay; it is time to return." Upon hearing this, Qin Tangyue¡¯s demeanor dimmed slightly. After a pause, she asked again, "When will the Empress come back to Quanzhou?" Sang Yan was just about to speak¡ª "She will not come." A stern male voice interrupted. Both Sang Yan and Qin Tangyue turned to look at He Ying: What was with this inexplicable hostility? "Xinyuan?" Sang Yan furrowed her brows looking at him, her eyes filled with confusion: Why did it seem that He Ying¡¯s gaze towards Qin Tangyue was slightly better than when he looked at Qi Wuya? Wait¡ª He couldn¡¯t possibly be jealous of Qin Tangyue, could he? "Let¡¯s go back." He Ying was indeed jealous, taking Sang Yan¡¯s hand and starting to walk back. Seeing Qin Tangyue being affectionate with Sang Yan made him think of Xuanrao back in the Capital City; he did not favor the close friendship they had back then. He detested anyone who occupied Sang Yan¡¯s mind. Regardless of their gender. That¡¯s how possessive he was towards her. Sang Yan was pulled by He Ying towards the direction of the State Mansion, unable to even say a proper farewell to Qin Tangyue. "Miss, it¡¯s time for us to go back," the maid behind Qin Tangyue reminded softly. Qin Tangyue watched Sang Yan¡¯s departing figure and sighed softly, "Alas, I won¡¯t see her again..." Thinking she was upset about not seeing He Ying, the maid pondered for a moment and then advised, "The Emperor and the Empress have a deep affection for each other, and Miss, you yearn for a lifetime with a partner. It¡¯s best not to trouble yourself over this anymore. Besides, the Empress doesn¡¯t seem like someone who would want to let you enter the palace, so you¡ª" "What nonsense are you spouting!" Qin Tangyue interrupted her maid¡¯s words anxiously, her eyes filled with anger as she exclaimed, "When have I ever thought of entering the palace? Dare you speak of the Empress in such a way? If you speak nonsense again, there¡¯s no place for you in the Qin Mansion!" The maid, scolded like this for the first time, panicked immediately and kept apologizing, "Miss, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I misspoke." Seeing that the maid admitted her mistake, Qin Tangyue did not rebuke her further, but instead said, "I¡¯ve long lost that sentiment towards the Emperor. The Empress is beautiful and kind, and in my heart, I hope she receives a lifetime of favor. I won¡¯t hold this against you this time, but remember, the Empress is the benefactor of Quanzhou. Don¡¯t say such foolish things again." From a young age, she was pampered by her family and also prided herself on her beauty and intelligence, always looking down on others. But that was until she met Sang Yan¡ª At that time, not knowing her identity or status, she found Sang Yan to be a jealous woman, but in the end, she realized that she herself was the real fool. The Empress never used her status to oppress others and even offered her advice. She could not compare to such a woman. She wanted to be close to her. If she could become a ¡¯handkerchief pal,¡¯ that would be wonderful. It was a pity, it seemed, that there would be no chance for that now. Chapter 234 - 233 Jealous Husband Chapter 234: Chapter 233 Jealous HusbandSang Yan was pulled back to the State Mansion by He Ying. Tomorrow, they would set off to return to the Capital City. Pei Muyang called his servants to pack and get everything in order. Having just finished inventorying, he saw He Ying return with Sang Yan from outside. The master in front wore a dark expression. The master following behind had a listless face, obediently entering the room. "Slam!" The door was shut firmly. What had just happened? Pei Muyang pricked up his ears, waiting outside, afraid the two masters were in some sort of disagreement. Everyone knew if the Empress wasn¡¯t happy, neither was the Emperor, and if the Emperor wasn¡¯t happy, they, the servants, would bear the brunt of it. Pei Muyang touched his neck, sighing softly: He was so worried about the couple¡¯s relationship! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Inside the room He Ying frowned deeply, not at all pleased as he reached out to Sang Yan, "Give it to me." Sang Yan was also displeased, "I won¡¯t." Tsk, this man could change his face so quickly, how domineering! Initially, she had intended to give it to him, but now she would wait until she felt better. He Ying¡¯s handsome face grew darker as he resisted the urge to bite her arrogant little face, and said irritably, "That woman¡¯s gaze towards you was wrong. What did she give you? Hand it over quickly, don¡¯t force me to rip it apart. Such worthless trinkets are treated like treasures by you. I¡¯ve given you so many things, yet I never see you carrying them with you every day." His tone was filled with such lament. Pei Muyang, standing by the door, heard this and wanted to laugh but dared not: Ah, there goes the Emperor being jealous again. Still over a woman, no less. His master really was a jealous husband, foolishly in love with the Empress. While he was thinking distractedly¡ª Laughter that Sang Yan couldn¡¯t suppress came from inside the room. "Ha ha ha¡ª" Sang Yan leaned on a table, laughing till she was nearly in tears. Her laughter only made He Ying¡¯s face turn darker. Seeing his anger about to erupt, she quickly raised her hand before he could lose his temper, pinched his face, and said with a laugh, "Xinyuan, how can you be so adorable?" She swore she had never found a jealous He Ying to be so cute. Sang Yan drew a veil from her sleeve, then reached into He Ying¡¯s embrace to feel around, and quickly came upon a soft piece of cloth, which she pulled out and shook before holding it up to him with a triumphant flourish. "Look at these two veils, don¡¯t they resemble each other?" Both were white veils, embroidered with mandarin ducks engaged in an affectionate entanglement. The difference was that one veil had crude embroidery, making it difficult to discern the mandarin ducks, while the other, though the embroidery wasn¡¯t top-notch, was significantly better, capturing the intimate sentiment between the ducks. "Do you remember? On Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, I said I wanted to embroider a new veil. Qin Tangyue is an expert in embroidery, so I had her teach me for a few days. Yesterday, I accidentally snagged a thread, so I let her help me mend it, and I didn¡¯t expect to run into her halfway." Sang Yan softly explained, then carefully folded both veils and gently placed them in He Ying¡¯s embrace. "Keep them safe. I spent a long time embroidering them. You big vinegar jar!" She poked He Ying¡¯s chest with a finger, her words tinged with reproach, "Lose them, and you won¡¯t get any more, understand?" He Ying was already moved beyond words. So that was it. She was embroidering a veil for him, which is why she had met with Qin Tangyue. She hadn¡¯t intended to become close with Qin Tangyue. He had misunderstood. Along with his emotion came embarrassment, feeling his earlier behavior was quite childish. But he didn¡¯t regret doing so. His possessiveness was that strong. Even if the other was a woman, he didn¡¯t want her looking at his Ah Yan like that. "I won¡¯t lose it. I might lose myself, but never that." He gazed at the radiant smile before him, his heart stirred, and he pulled her into his embrace, planting a fervent kiss on her. The following day The grand army departed from Quanzhou in a spectacular procession. The citizens, having heard the news, came out to the streets to see them off of their own accord. Sang Yan, drowsy and sleepy, sat in the carriage, leaning into He Ying¡¯s embrace. It was too early in the day. Someone had really made a fuss yesterday, and now, she had slept for less than four hours. But the culprit couldn¡¯t have looked more radiant. By contrast, it was infuriating! "Loyal subject bidding farewell to the Empress¡ª" "May the Lady have a safe journey!" "May the Lady be blessed with peace and safety!" ... As they approached the city gate, the loud voices outside were becoming louder and more orderly. Finally, they were all bidding farewell to Sang Yan. Sang Yan rubbed her eyes and lifted the carriage curtain: on both sides of the street, many citizens were kneeling, a dense crowd with faces full of gratitude. The common people were so sincere. Once their lives were secure, they were grateful to those in power. She felt a softness in her heart and wanted to say something, but ultimately, she lowered the curtain and sat upright. It was not until the procession had left Quanzhou that the shouting gradually subsided. Sang Yan leaned against He Ying¡¯s shoulder, her eyes downcast, her emotions incredibly complex: labeled as a husband-cursing wife, despised, and slighted for so long, this was the first time she had received such gratitude, and she couldn¡¯t describe the feeling. It was as if she had been lifted from the depths of hell to a high place all of a sudden. It was too simple. She clearly hadn¡¯t done much. This sense of unreality made her anxious: was this just a dream? Would she fall from the clouds again and end up back in the mire? * At the border between Beiqi and Da He, The twilight deepened. Countless torches were lit in the Jizhou army camp. Atop the tower, A young and lean sentry was vigilant for any signs of activity in the distance. Suddenly, upon seeing something, the sentry descended rapidly from the tower and ran hurriedly toward the Commander¡¯s tent in the middle of the camp. Inside the tent, Rong Ye was drinking strong alcohol, intently studying a map of the Beiqi territory on the wall. The map was shaped like a gourd. The Beiqi Royal Capital was in the center of the gourd. That was his destination. His eyes reddened as he looked, and he grabbed a broken arrow from the table and stabbed it into the map. Right at the location of the Royal Capital. He seemed satisfied, yet dissatisfied at the same time, his dark and rough face revealing a fierce killing intent under the flickering light. "Has Rong Bing not returned?" He roared out of the tent, his voice booming like a bell. Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and the young and lean sentry hurried in. "Reporting to the Commander¡ª" The sentry knelt down: "Just now, I spotted General Rong Bing¡¯s warhorse, he should arrive in about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea." Rong Ye, hearing that his younger brother was returning, laughed loudly: "Good! If Rong Bing can return alive, then it is a divine blessing for Da He! I have been fed up with this humiliation here!" He was dressed in black armor, with coiled muscles and a jingling curved saber slung across his waist. His tiger-like eyes were imposing, and his face was framed by a bearded jaw, accentuating his imposing presence. At this moment, he patted the curved saber at his waist, his eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty light. If it wasn¡¯t for those Beiqi rabbits knowing how to show weakness, Beiqi would have already been reduced to flat ground by his Rong Family Army! Come on! Hurry up! When Rong Bing arrives, he will definitely bring back the Emperor¡¯s good news to start the war! Beiqi is currently in civil unrest, and Prince Qi Wuya has killed his father and brother, and lacks the people¡¯s support¡ªthere couldn¡¯t be a better opportunity to declare war! "Report¡ª" A soldier¡¯s voice carrying a report came from outside. Rong Ye thought Rong Bing had arrived and was overjoyed. He immediately strode out of the tent energetically. Chapter 235 - 234: Mystery Chapter 235: Chapter 234: MysteryOutside the tent "Where is Second Brother Rong Bing?" It was clearly Commander Lu Zijin from Emperor¡¯s Guard Team! Why was he riding Second Brother¡¯s warhorse to deliver the message? Where was his second brother? Rong Ye¡¯s palms trembled, a sense of panic rising: could it be that his second brother was severely injured or even worse? "Marshal Rong¡ª" Lu Zijin stumbled a few steps forward and offered a salute. Rong Ye waved his hand to dismiss the formality and asked directly, "Why is it you who comes? Where is Rong Bing?" Lu Zijin explained, "Second General Rong, injured... The Emperor, empathizing with his hard work, has allowed him to rest and recuperate and sent me to deliver this secret letter." Upon hearing his second brother was alright, Rong Ye¡¯s concern eased, and he took a moment to observe Lu Zijin. Upon closer inspection, he noticed Lu Zijin¡¯s face was pale and haggard, his body bearing several hastily bandaged sword wounds, overall in a very disheveled state, still trembling slightly. Clearly, the journey had also been filled with much suffering. "Commander Lu has had a hard time. Please, come in." He invited the man into the main tent and ordered that food and drink be served. The tent was warm. Only after entering did Lu Zijin feel revived. His journey had been perilous, first encountering an ambush from Beiqi, barely escaping. Near the frontier, afflicted by harsh cold and wind chills, he was delayed for days but fortunately arrived safely. He drew a mechanical box from his bosom and handed it over. Rong Ye received it, not rushing to look, instead first pouring him a bowl of strong liquor. Lu Zijin did not refuse, took it, and drank heartily, a bit of color finally returning to his face after a while. Rong Ye began reading the secret letter, his expression growing more solemn with each line, "Is this truly written by the Emperor?" Lu Zijin nodded, "Yes, it¡¯s personally written by the Emperor." "No one else was present at the time?" "The Empress and I were both there." "The Empress..." Rong Ye slapped his forehead, a trace of anger surfacing on his dark face, "Could it be the Empress persuaded the Emperor not to move against Beiqi?" If it were up to the Emperor¡¯s usual tactics, he would definitely have commanded him to lead troops directly into Beiqi, strike deep into their territory, and eliminate those Beiqi bastards. Now it had come to this, actually sending people to infiltrate Beiqi, spread rumors, and even protect the other princes of Beiqi? In his opinion, all those Beiqi princes should be killed! "The Empress did indeed express her opinions, but the ultimate decision was still made by the Emperor. Marshal Rong, please read carefully, and you will understand the reasoning. The Emperor cannot make a mistake." Lu Zijin, extremely tired, had no desire to relay the conversation between the Empress and the Emperor. He did not think it was necessary to explain; whatever the Emperor intended to do needed no justification to his subjects. They only needed to obey. Rong Ye read the secret letter two more times but still did not grasp its secrets. He recalled that the Empress had once been abducted by the Ninth Prince of Bei Qi, and the Emperor had personally gone to rescue her, even losing three fortresses... An absolute femme fatale! He had no fondness for her; now, looking at the content of the secret letter, he felt even more irritated: the Emperor¡¯s measures were too conservative. Uncharacteristically unlike the Emperor he knew. Could the femme fatale be harboring feelings for the Ninth Prince, becoming a secret agent for Bei Qi, and thus intentionally delaying things? The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He stroked his beard, then with a wave of his hand commanded, "Summon the military advisor." Not long after, a young man dressed in a blue robe entered. He was Rong Ye¡¯s military strategist¡ªLi Xiangyi. "Brother Li¡ª" Rong Ye approached him, handing over a confidential letter, and urgently said, "Quickly look at the Emperor¡¯s letter. How can the Emperor not allow me to deploy troops at such a time!" He was a very good commander, brave and fond of warfare, but not greedy for battle, and he was quite willing to listen to his subordinates. Especially the words of military strategist Li Xiangyi. That was the fundamental reason why they had cooperated for many years without a single defeat. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He believed that Li Xiangyi was also willing to send troops. Now, the situation was just right, and taking advantage of the internal chaos in Bei Qi to stage an attack and seize Bei Qi, but a secret letter from the Emperor had confounded him. He dared not disobey He Ying¡¯s commands. He needed Li Xiangyi¡¯s opinion. If the Emperor really had been bewitched by that disaster, as a pillar of Da He, it was natural for him to offer a reminder! Li Xiangyi, unaware of Rong Ye¡¯s turbulent thoughts, took the confidential letter, read it carefully, then looked up at Rong Ye with eyes filled with excitement, "Marshal Rong, the Emperor¡¯s strategy is extremely ingenious." Hearing this, Rong Ye frowned but asked humbly for advice, "Please elaborate." Indeed, he was a rash man, immensely strong, but extraordinarily humble and polite toward capable individuals. Exactly because of his flexibility and prestige, he commanded great respect in the military camp. No one dared to fear him, and no one failed to respect him! Li Xiangyi nodded and analyzed point by point, "Marshal Rong, look at this first command: to quickly investigate the details of Bei Qi¡¯s battles with Mongka, especially the timing. This shows that the Emperor has noticed the deeper reasons behind Bei Qi¡¯s successive defeats. The second command, to secretly protect other princes of Bei Qi. Surely you understand, Marshal Rong, that the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Qi Wuya has already clashed with the Emperor and the Emperor hasn¡¯t had the upper hand, which shows he is capable. Now that he is governing Bei Qi, we must not allow him to emerge prominent and secure his position. The third command, to spread rumors among the people about Qi Wuya killing his father and brothers. You, Marshal, would also understand the principle of verbal and written condemnation. Once Qi Wuya¡¯s accusations of patricide and fratricide spread, everyone in the Beiqi Royal Family will feel endangered. By then, without our interference, his path to becoming emperor will become difficult. As for the last command, to actively recruit medical officers and promote the development of medicine¡ª" He thought about the news he had received and said in a solemn voice, "I heard that Quanzhou suffered from an epidemic triggered by evil deeds. It seems, the Emperor fears an epidemic in the army, so he¡¯s taking precautions well in advance." Li Xiangyi had known Rong Ye for over a decade and was influenced by his impulsive temper, both desirous of seizing Bei Qi as soon as possible. Now, thinking it over, they were indeed somewhat too anxious. Why not let them fight amongst themselves and reap the benefits as an outsider? Seeing that Rong Ye still looked puzzled, he smiled and said, "Rest assured, Marshal Rong, just follow the Emperor¡¯s instructions." Rong Ye pondered for a long while before nodding his head. Since Li Xiangyi also said so, he would listen. Thinking this, he placed the confidential letter atop the candle flame. Flames swept up, instantly turning it to ash. "Summon the guard." He ordered someone outside the tent. Soon after, the outside resonated with urgent yet orderly footsteps. Twenty people came in one after another. They formed four rows and kneeled before Rong Ye. These men varied in height, weight, and features which were not particularly impressive. But their eyes, like those of wolves, displayed a soldier¡¯s vigor. Particularly the slightly hunched man in the front, thin and seemingly feeble, but the knuckles of the hands hanging by his sides were thick calluses accumulated from years of boxing. The people of the guard were among the most powerful generals under Rong Ye¡¯s command. Rong Ye surveyed everyone, his eyes concealed satisfaction and his expression was very authoritative, "Those of you who have parents, spouses, and children, step forward!" The men were stunned, not understanding what was happening. They exchanged glances, still puzzled, and finally, their gaze returned to Rong Ye. Chapter 236 - 235 Gossip Chapter 236: Chapter 235 GossipRong Ye was a brave and skilled warrior, and his soldiers were filled with fiery blood. The thin man kneeling at the front grinned, showing his white teeth, "Marshal Rong, on the battlefield, there are no fathers and sons¡ªfathers and sons can draw swords against each other. Do you still care if we have parents or wives and children?" As soon as he said this, others immediately chimed in, "Exactly. If Marshal Rong really cares about us, he would lead us to invade Bei Qi sooner so we can return earlier to our warm homes and families." "Absolutely, just give us Marshal Rong¡¯s command!" "A great man dedicates his life to his country; what is there that he would not dare to do?" ... They were all men of iron and steel, each more fiery than the last. The tent instantly became lively. Li Xiangyi had long been accustomed to such scenes, and only smiled quietly without speaking. But Rong Ye was so bothered by the noise that he developed a headache. "You, you, you¡ª" He pointed at five men and ordered, "You are to go to Mongka immediately and gather detailed information about the military engagements between Bei Qi and Mongka over the past twenty years: the timings, the processes, and the outcomes. The more detailed, the better." "Yes." After receiving their orders, the five men withdrew. Rong Ye then pointed at another five men and instructed, "Tonight at midnight, sneak into Bei Qi territory and secretly protect the safety of the other princes of Bei Qi. They are the stumbling blocks in Ninth Prince Qi Wuya¡¯s path to the throne; the Emperor has commanded that there be no mistakes!" "Yes." Those five men also took their orders and left. Ten people remained. Rong Ye pointed at another five. Among these five was the thin man who had been kneeling in the front earlier. "Yang Che!" Rong Ye pointed at him and ordered, "Before you joined the army, you lived among beggars and understand their behaviors best. Take these four men and infiltrate the beggar dens of Bei Qi to secretly spread the news of Ninth Prince Qi Wuya¡¯s patricide and fratricide." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing this, Yang Che and the others became excited: to go to Bei Qi and curse Qi Wuya¡ªthat bastard¡ªwhat could be better? "Yes! We will surely fulfill this mission." The five men left the tent in understanding. Rong Ye looked at the last five men and instructed, "Go to Jizhou, meet with the State Official Xie Sui, and tell him to find famous doctors and send them to the military camp." "Yes." These five also took their orders and left. The tent returned to quietness. Only Lu Zijin¡¯s sounds of chewing and swallowing food and drink could be heard. In the quiet tent, the sounds seemed more prominent. Lu Zijin, having thick skin, only after eating and drinking his fill, complimented, "Marshal Rong handles affairs with great efficiency." After finishing his instructions, Rong Ye also relaxed and replied with a smile, "The specific results will depend on them." The night grew deeper. Midnight had just passed. Twenty war horses charged out of the Jizhou military camp and scattered in different directions. They had different missions and thus headed in different trajectories. Among them, Yang Che led five men silently to a location ten miles outside Yongzhou City in Bei Qi. After dismounting their horses, which knew the way back to the camp themselves, Yang Che led his four men to sneak into the moat and silently infiltrated Yongzhou City. Within three days, in Yongzhou City, the street vendors and the little children with yellow tufts of hair were all singing a nursery rhyme, "The moon will rise, the sun will set. With a mulberry bow and a Qi bag, Qi Country will soon be gone." The rhyme had existed for a while, and no one had taken it seriously. Yet, that changed when the news from the beggars¡¯ dens about "the Ninth Prince committing patricide and fratricide to seize the imperial power" began to spread. Initially, it spread within a small area of Yongzhou City. People generally considered it idle gossip over tea and dinner. But there had long been secrets within the imperial family: the Ninth Prince was of low birth, the late Emperor disapproved, his brothers were not friendly, and his younger siblings disrespectful. It seemed not surprising that he would do such a thing. Especially since Crown Prince Qi Guanglie had not shown himself for a long time. It was said that he had fallen from his horse and was unconscious. Could he still be unconscious? Or had he died from the fall? Or perhaps he had been murdered? For a moment, various speculations flew. By the time the rumors reached the Beiqi Capital City, five full days had passed. Crown Prince Mansion Chengguang Garden Night approached midnight. "Bang!" The sound of a teacup shattering echoed. Then, a chilling female voice followed, "It was indeed him! I have long suspected that Qi Wuya harbored wild ambitions! All these years of his seeming submissiveness, it was all a deceit to the Father Emperor and Guanglie¡ª" Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang sat in front of the sickbed of her younger brother, the Crown Prince, her eyes red, recklessly gazing toward the Imperial Palace, and exclaimed, "Now he has poisoned the Father Emperor and caused Guanglie to remain unconscious, and all of you from the Four Great Families, the pillars of Beiqi, are just watching as Qi Wuya, that beast, claims the throne and exterminates our royal bloodline?" Her hairpin was in disarray, her delicate face contorted with fear and anger. These days, she had been taking diligent care of Qi Guanglie, personally administering his medication without entrusting others and ignoring whatever Qi Wuya was up to, focusing solely on protecting Qi Guanglie and waiting for him to wake up. But she had waited too long. Fear. Endless fear. She dared not think about the consequences of Qi Guanglie remaining unconscious long term, while Qi Wuya claimed the throne. She and Qi Wuya shared a hatred as deep as murdering her mother! Anyone could claim the throne, but not him! Upon hearing the rumors, she could not remain seated, and stood up, consumed with resentment, "What are you waiting for? He has killed his father and brother, why have you not killed him yet?" Compared to Qi Bingshuang¡¯s anger, the leaders of the Four Great Families, all old foxes, remained outwardly calm. "Eldest Princess, watch your words." The speaker was Beiqi Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan. Dressed in a purple robe, his hair graying, his expression was composed and calm, "The Emperor is old, and has long been resting in Langyue Palace during his illness. In those critical days, we were by his side attending to his sickness, and the Ninth Prince had not yet returned from Puluo Country¡ª" "It was his men who did it!" Qi Bingshuang looked at Xue Wen Zhan, thinking him senile, "Who would be so foolish as to commit the act in person?" "Shuangshuang, do not be disrespectful to Prime Minister Xue!" After National Guardian General Huo Dingyuan scolded her, he added, "Currently, there is indeed no evidence that the Ninth Prince harmed his siblings. You should not believe in mere rumors." "Rumors?" Qi Bingshuang scoffed coldly, pointing outside, "Right now, the entire perimeter of the Crown Prince Mansion is filled with Qi Wuya¡¯s men. Father, Prime Minister, Qi Wuya has already put the knife to my and the Crown Prince¡¯s necks!" Hearing this, Xue Wen Zhan¡¯s graying beard trembled. He recalled that upon his arrival, he had indeed seen some people hiding in the shadows, rendering him speechless for a moment. "Prime Minister¡ª" Qi Bingshuang glanced at Xue Wen Zhan, then shifted her gaze to Huo Dingyuan. Changing her previously forceful and fierce demeanor to one of sorrow, she said, "Father, I was married to Ah Yue for three years¡ªour connection was brief, but our love deep. Though he passed away early, Shuangshuang has never forgotten him and has always regarded you as a father..." As she spoke, tears fell, and she sobbed weakly and pitifully, "Father, Shuangshuang always wanted to perform filial duties in your stead, but now Qi Wuya has killed his father and brother... If he can act against the Crown Prince today, he could do the same to me and the other brothers tomorrow... The Four Great Families have never treated Qi Wuya kindly in the past, and with his vindictive nature, he will definitely not let us off easily..." She choked up, and while wiping away her tears, she sneakily gauged Huo Dingyuan¡¯s expression. Huo Dingyuan, a lifelong soldier with two sons and a daughter, loved only his youngest, Huo Yu. Huo Yu was a young genius but frail, passing away early, which was an eternal sorrow in his heart. How could Qi Bingshuang¡¯s mention not stir his grief? His eyes filled with tears, he closed them briefly, his face overcome with sadness, making the normally formidable man appear suddenly aged and frail. Chapter 237 - 236: Palace Coup Chapter 237: Chapter 236: Palace CoupQi Bingshuang saw a hint of relaxation in Huo Dingyuan¡¯s expression, tears surging even more: "Father, do you really intend to watch as Zhenzhen and I are driven to death by Qi Wuya? Ah Yue once said, he implored you to ensure my safety." She was using Huo Yu to soften his heart. It had always been this way throughout the years. Qi Wuya¡¯s tactics were too ruthless, his moves too rapid. And he was incredibly skilled at deception. To her dismay, it wasn¡¯t until today that she realized the wolf-like ambition beneath his sheep¡¯s clothing. She had to devise a response strategy as soon as possible. Had the situation not been entirely in Qi Wuya¡¯s favor, she would never have sought aid from Huo Dingyuan. Thinking of the person they had just mentioned made a flicker of disgust pass through her eyes. Huo Dingyuan did not see the trace of disgust in Qi Bingshuang¡¯s eyes. He was immersed in the anguish over his youngest child¡¯s untimely death, silent for a long stretch. "The Eldest Princess need not worry too much." The Great Governor, Zhang E, broke the silence. He was a forty-year-old man, perpetually in military attire, exuding an austere and unapproachable air. "If Qi Wuya wanted to claim the throne, he would have done so already." He spoke his analysis, "I heard that the Eunuch Fuzi, who serves the Crown Prince, sought to flatter him a few days ago and even presented an imperial robe, only to be strangled to death on the spot. It shows that he understands restraint." "That¡¯s nothing but a strategy to soften his opposition!" Qi Bingshuang was unconvinced, inwardly contemptuous, believing him to be a brainless brute, though she expressed herself gently: "The Great Governor, you¡¯ve been fighting on the battlefield for many years, perhaps overlooking these intricate schemes! Qi Wuya, having lain low for so long, is deep and calculating. Who knows what he will do next? There¡¯s a saying, ¡¯strike first and you have the advantage, strike late and suffer the consequences.¡¯ My lords, please think carefully!" And how could everyone not think carefully? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The late Emperor had passed away, the Crown Prince was comatose, Bei Qi in turmoil, the other Princes weak and incompetent, allowing Qi Wuya to seize initiative, stabilize the political situation, and single-handedly manage the state mourning. Throughout these days, he had been preoccupied with the national mourning, and during this time, the acting Crown Prince had governed beautifully. He even signed a ten-year truce with Mongka. Every act was a deed of merit! Now, to move against him, would that be like killing the donkey after it finished grinding the wheat? Silence. A prolonged silence. Huo Dingyuan held a pivotal position among the Four Great Families. Without his word, the other three were silent. Qi Wuya was indeed a capable Prince and would be a capable Emperor should he ascend to the throne. But as for an Emperor, being too capable is not always good. Everyone weighed their thoughts back and forth. After a pause, Huo Dingyuan let out a heavy sigh, opening his cloudy eyes: "Eldest Princess, what do you propose?" He didn¡¯t call her Shuangshuang. It meant he no longer saw her as his junior daughter-in-law. Thus, placing her on an equal footing. The atmosphere suddenly grew cold. But Qi Bingshuang relished this atmosphere. Her eyes held a chill, lips parting slightly, as she uttered two words: "Depose him!" Qi Wuya was likely hesitant to act out of fear of rumors and gossip. This was undoubtedly the best opportunity. "The Ninth Prince, who has committed patricide and fratricide, is beyond redemption! As the Princess of Bei Qi, I am duty-bound to eliminate this beast who disregards all morals and to restore court order!" Murderous intent surged in Qi Bingshuang¡¯s eyes: "We¡¯ll kill Qi Wuya first, and when the Crown Prince wakes¡ª" "Eldest Princess¡ª" This time, it was the Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor, Zheng Dingshan, who spoke up. He was over seventy, his face lined with wrinkles, but spirited nonetheless, a venerable figure respected through three reigns. He had been silent, but the more he listened, the less he could bear it, frowning as he responded, "Currently, there¡¯s no evidence that the Ninth Prince has raised rebellion against his superior. He¡¯s also a scion of the late Emperor, how can his fate be decided so recklessly?" "What do you mean, Grand Tutor Zheng?" Qi Bingshuang had not expected Zheng Dingshan to openly contradict her. Could this old man really have become so senile? He is the Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor! How could he turn his elbow outward? Zheng Dingshan sensed Qi Bingshuang¡¯s resentment and dissatisfaction, yet he still spoke solemnly, "Dragons produce nine offspring, each one different. The fact that the Ninth Prince did not show his brilliance before doesn¡¯t necessarily mean he¡¯s a cunning traitor; he might also be steady and composed. The Eldest Princess should not maliciously speculate. If sibling rivalry is inspired by street gossip, becoming public, that would be a joke." Ha! This old thing really is turning his elbow outward! "Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor!" Full of disappointment, Qi Bingshuang angrily said, "You are the Crown Prince¡¯s teacher, how can you say such things?" Zheng Dingshan bowed with hands folded in front of him, his demeanor grave, "Precisely because I am the Crown Prince¡¯s teacher, I cannot sit by and watch the Crown Prince and the Princess make mistakes. The political situation in Bei Qi right now needs someone like the Ninth Prince. Based on what we have seen, the Ninth Prince has managed the mourning period for the late Emperor orderly and thoroughly, fulfilling his filial duties. Acting as the Crown Prince, he has shown respectful demeanor, advancing and retreating with propriety, thus fulfilling his duties to the Crown Prince. During this period, he has also made several meritorious contributions to the country and the family¡ª" The rest remained unspoken. Compared to the incorrigible Crown Prince, he¡¯d prefer the Ninth Prince to ascend. Even if he was the teacher of the Crown Prince. "Your astuteness is needed, Eldest Princess. This humble servant wholeheartedly serves Bei Qi. I urge you to consider the bigger picture." He was old, not being able to teach the Crown Prince for many years longer. Not to mention the Crown Prince¡¯s current state. If the Ninth Prince were killed and the Crown Prince did not wake up, what then? Bei Qi couldn¡¯t afford that loss. "You! You!" Qi Bingshuang, consumed with anger, swept her sleeve dramatically, pained in her chest from Zheng Dingshan¡¯s words: did he mean to imply that killing Qi Wuya would endanger Bei Qi? How could Qi Wuya¡¯s merit or ability even be compared to Bei Qi¡¯s? It enraged her to no end! If Zheng Dingshan were Qi Wuya¡¯s man, she¡¯d have him killed. But the man was utterly righteous and inflexible. In plain language, he was obstinate! The atmosphere once again became tense and cool due to the disagreement between Qi Bingshuang and Zheng Dingshan. Silence. An enduring silence. "Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor¡ª" Huo Dingyuan sighed, breaking the silence. He walked up to Zheng Dingshan, his tone wistful, "Everyone knows how much I adore Ah Yue. He entrusted the Eldest Princess to me on his deathbed, and I hope Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor will accommodate my profound love for my beloved son, and refrain from saying any more." His Ah Yue had been so outstanding. He had thought he could pass on his mantle to him. Who could have imagined such an event would happen? Zheng Dingshan had been colleagues with Huo Dingyuan for many years. He knew the other man was sharp and strong but had one flaw: he acted foolishly when it came to his favorite. Now he was even disregarding the future of Bei Qi for the favorite¡¯s widow! Pitiful and laughable! "Great General¡ª" He spoke up, trying to persuade, "The situation is not so dire. Even if the Ninth Prince ascends to the throne, with you as the National Guardian General protecting her, the Eldest Princess will have a lifetime of peace and prosperity." "Crown Prince¡¯s Tutor, your words are misguided." Qi Bingshuang retorted, her face cold, "Father can protect me now, but given his age, for how much longer can he do so?" Could she rely on her uncle Huo Ran? He was also talented and had made contributions, but lacking authority, even if he took Huo Dingyuan¡¯s place, he might not be able to protect her. Especially since she didn¡¯t want to rely on the Huo family anymore. Three years. She had played the role of a faithful and loyal widow in the Huo family for three years! How many sets of three years does a woman¡¯s youth contain? Qi Wuya must die! Qi Guanglie must take the throne! Only then could she obtain the freedom and power she desired! Chapter 238 - 237 Alliance Chapter 238: Chapter 237 AlliancePrime Minister Xue, upon seeing this, spoke out, "If the Grand Tutor does not wish to get involved, then just pretend to be unaware." He fiddled with the walnut in his hand and after much deliberation, decided to stand with the Eldest Princess. Qi Wuya¡¯s capabilities should not be underestimated. Allowing him to grow and strengthen would eventually threaten his interests. Qi Bingshuang, seeing that Prime Minister Xue also supported her, felt more confident and continued to persuade, "Qi Wuya is not taking action now because his wings are not yet full, he¡¯s accumulating power. Once he holds real authority and strikes at us, it¡¯ll be too late for us to beg for mercy at his feet." At this point, she looked towards Zheng Dingshan, her words tinged with sarcasm, "Grand Tutor, don¡¯t forget, back when we were in the academy and the Ninth Prince was bullied, you, as Grand Tutor, didn¡¯t stand up to speak a word of fairness." Zheng Dingshan choked, his old face turning red. Wasn¡¯t that just a trivial matter of brothers fooling around? Qi Wuya shouldn¡¯t still be dwelling on that, right? He was at a loss for words for a while before he finally squeezed out, "Enough. Have it your way." He saw that the three people present all intended to assist the Eldest Princess in her push against the Emperor, so he threw his robe and left. Fine. Let them meddle. If Qi Wuya can¡¯t handle this trouble, then he had overestimated him. The path to being Emperor is for the capable. He did not support the incompetent! Watching Zheng Dingshan leave, Prime Minister Xue immediately changed his face, "Someone, go follow Grand Tutor Zheng." Since he had already chosen to ally with the Eldest Princess, he needed to quickly devise a strategy. Grand Tutor Zheng¡¯s attitude was a risk. Qi Bingshuang observed Prime Minister Xue¡¯s change, and was secretly startled: This old fox reacts even faster than her! However, this was good. Zheng Dingshan is old-fashioned, growing older and more timid by the day, he might just go to the palace and tip off Qi Wuya. Better to keep an eye on him. "Thank you, Prime Minister." Qi Bingshuang thanked Prime Minister Xue, then turned to Huo Dingyuan and bowed again, "Thank you, Father." Huo Dingyuan¡¯s expression was subdued as he waved his hand, "No need for thanks. I¡¯m only helping you for Ah Yue¡¯s sake. When the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, my Ah Yue, having contributed to the state, deserves to be honored in the Imperial Ancestral Temple and moved to the Imperial Mausoleum." His words were assertive, as he then challenged, "Eldest Princess, wouldn¡¯t you agree?" Qi Bingshuang, "..." Her expression was subtle; this whimsical man, even bothering the dead! "Of course." She smiled lightly, concealing any dissatisfaction, "Father speaks rightly. Your daughter-in-law will remember this in her heart." Everyone exchanged glances, signifying the formation of a preliminary alliance. Qi Bingshuang then made her final decision, "Then, Father, Prime Minister, Governor Zhang, three days from now when the mourning period ends and all the officials convene, I too will attend court to report on the Crown Prince¡¯s condition. At that time, I will rely on Father and the two gentlemen to coordinate from inside and outside." She had it figured out, the court assembly in three days would provide a perfect opportunity. "Most of the Imperial Army in the palace is under Commander Zhang Tai, with his assistance, nothing should go wrong." Qi Bingshuang felt a slight tremor in her hands hidden within her wide sleeves. She was exceedingly excited. Zhang Tai was Governor Zhang¡¯s only legitimate son, Huo Dingyuan¡¯s son-in-law, her big sister-in-law¡¯s husband. He would definitely help them. "So, Father and the two gentlemen, just boldly bring the charges. When Commander Zhang intervenes, it will be time for him to confess and be executed!" The victors would write the accusations. Regardless of whether Qi Wuya committed patricide or fratricide, with military dominance, his demise was certain. Huo Dingyuan, Prime Minister Xue, and Governor Zhang all thought so. They again carefully reviewed their statements, discussed timing, and other considerations until dawn began to lighten the sky, and then left the Crown Prince Mansion. "The Princess must be tired." Bi He, the maid standing nearby, came over and offered her hand. Qi Bingshuang placed her hand on the back of hers and, supported by her, proceeded to the soft couch and sat down. "Princess, do you really intend to allow the Prince Consort to move into the Imperial Mausoleum?" Bi He asked softly. She had just heard the Princess agree and had almost exclaimed in shock. Others might not know, but as her personal maid, she knew that the person who liked the Prince Consort the least in Beiqi was the Princess herself. Qi Bingshuang smiled lightly, her eyebrows raised, and she tapped Bi He¡¯s forehead with her fingertip and chided, "You have been by my side for twenty years, how can you still be so foolish?" "I am but a simple servant, how can I compare to the Princess¡¯s intelligence? Please don¡¯t mock me, Your Highness." Bi He said with a smile, uttering flattering words that made Qi Bingshuang laugh again and again. But after a while, her expression changed. Just like her name, cold as frost, she said, "To help Guanglie ascend to the position of Crown Prince, I had no choice but to marry that useless Huo Yu. Every time I saw his face, I felt nauseated, and it was a mercy from Heaven that he died early." Disgust filled her eyes as she spoke those harsh, cold words: "That old fool Huo Dingyuan still traps me into remaining a widow for his son. Well, remaining a widow is one thing, but now he even wants to move his son into the Imperial Mausoleum, which is utterly ludicrous!" Once she succeeded in usurping the throne, she would kill Qi Wuya first. Once Guanglie awakened, she would charge Huo Dingyuan with the crime of treason and usurpation. Then in Beiqi, there would be no one left to restrain her and Guanglie. "Princess, calm your anger. It¡¯s not worth getting upset over a dead man." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bi He softly persuaded for a while, but seeing that her expression was still unhappy, she changed the topic: "Oh! Princess, it¡¯s almost 5 a.m. It¡¯s time for the Crown Prince to take his medicine." Hearing this, Qi Bingshuang glanced outside at the sky, nodded her head, and got up to prepare the medicine. She went to the small kitchen in Chengguang Garden, carefully checked the herbs, placed them in the pot, and simmered them for two hours. Then she brought the medicine to the Crown Prince and fed him personally. The medicine was very potent. It filled the room with a rich, bitter scent. Bi He, smelling it, frequently frowned, thinking about covering her nose. But Qi Bingshuang¡¯s expression remained normal, her gaze full of tenderness and affection. She held the medicine bowl, looking at her younger brother lying unconscious and frail on the sickbed, her heart aching intensely. It had been so long. If he kept sleeping, his body would break down. "Guanglie, Guanglie¡ª" She murmured her brother¡¯s name, her pale fingers gently stroking his cheek. Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, showing no response. The process of feeding the medicine was very difficult. Bi He helped by gently prying open his mouth. She fed him spoon by spoon, the corners of his mouth occasionally leaking juice, flowing down his jaw into his neck. A sticky mess. After feeding him the medicine, she grabbed a handkerchief, soaked it in water, and wiped him down. She cleaned his neck and his fingers. As she wiped, she spoke to him: "Guanglie, wake up soon, your sister is about to reclaim everything that belongs to you." She finally cleaned his hands. Then she pressed his hand against her face, her eyes switching from the previous malevolence to being filled with tears, appearing immensely sorrowful. "Guanglie, your sister misses you so much." "Guanglie, please wake up soon." "Guanglie, Qi Wuya dares to take things from your hands, your sister will surely tear him to pieces!" "Guanglie, you must wake up soon, don¡¯t make your sister wait too long, understand?" ... Chapter 239 - 238: A Delightful Tale Chapter 239: Chapter 238: A Delightful TaleTears blurred her vision. Qi Bingshuang seemed to see the child who was just learning to speak, tugging at her skirt and calling her "sister." Back then in the Beiqi Palace, a conspiring concubine ruled, and only she and Guanglie, the two of royal blood, survived. Even though they were not born of the same mother, their affection for one another was extraordinary. When her mother was poisoned to death by the concubine, it was the not-yet-three-year-old Qi Guanglie who stayed with her day and night. "Sister, don¡¯t worry, Guanglie will protect you. No one can harm us." Now that she thought about it, his words were still exceptionally clear. "Guanglie, you promised to protect your sister. You are the future monarch of Beiqi, and a ruler¡¯s word is his bond¡ªyou cannot break your promise." She murmured as she cried, tears falling onto Qi Guanglie¡¯s hand. Qi Guanglie¡¯s complexion was pale as paper, and although he furrowed his brow, he ultimately did not wake up. * Beiqi Palace Inside Taian Palace Qi Wuya sat in front of the desk, listlessly looking at the petitions. Ever since he had been acting as the Crown Prince, he had been reading petitions. Already, many petitions suggested that a country cannot go a day without a Monarch, asking him to choose an auspicious day for his ascension. He couldn¡¯t tell at the moment whether it was a test or if they were genuinely taking sides, so he ignored them. He was not in a hurry. The thoughts of others could not influence him. A cold wind blew. The sunlight felt cold as well. Autumn had arrived. Autumn in Beiqi was too cold. He liked warmer places. Like Da He. For many years, as he traveled the world, he favored Da He the most. It was a land of lush grasses and waters, rich and prosperous. It should belong to him. And must belong to him. "Mr. Jiu¡ª" Han Mo pushed the door open and entered. He brought with him a chill. Fortunately, the palace was heated with an earth dragon. After he had been there a while, he warmed up, but still couldn¡¯t help saying, "Relocating the Capital here really is a hardship." Originally, the Beiqi Imperial City lay to the south, and the seasons were distinct throughout the year. But with Da He pressing step by step, they had no choice but to move the Capital northward, into this snowy expanse. It was still autumn, yet the cold wind was already bone-chilling. Qi Wuya looked at the petition and did not speak. What was settled was settled¡ªthere was nothing more to say. "Mr. Jiu, are you accustomed to it yet? Would you like to have the earth dragon warmed up a bit more?" He had roamed outside with Qi Wuya for years and had not stayed in Beiqi this long; he was still getting used to it. Qi Wuya shook his head: "No need. It¡¯s better cold. It keeps the mind sharp." He always believed in the principle that one must endure the toughest hardships to become a superior person. Seeing this, Han Mo did not prattle on, but began to relay the news he had received: "Mr. Jiu, there have recently been rumors in the Capital City that you have murdered your father and brother. Just received news, the Eldest Princess, believing these rumors, was furiously upset and secretly met with the Four Great Families at midnight last night." Qi Wuya was about to write "Read" on a petition when he heard this, he paused, then lifted his head: "Oh... really?" He wasn¡¯t nervous, nor was he frightened; a flash of interest darted across his deep-set eyes. It was as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Han Mo frowned slightly and continued, "It¡¯s true. The people sent to watch over the Crown Prince Mansion reported that last night at midnight, General Huo, Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, and Grandmaster Zheng successively entered the Crown Prince Mansion and stayed for half a ¡¯two hours¡¯. Grandmaster Zheng left first, looking angry and upset. Another ¡¯two hours¡¯ passed, and General Huo and the others left through the back door with very grave expressions." Qi Wuya listened intently, speaking slowly, "It¡¯s quite normal for the Four Great Families to visit the Crown Prince who lies unconscious, but sneaking around at night... that is indeed very odd." He said this and then asked, "What do you think?" Han Mo expressed his opinion with utmost seriousness, "It¡¯s well known throughout Beiqi that General Huo is extremely fond of his youngest son. The Eldest Princess is his daughter-in-law, so naturally, he extends his affection to her as her in-law. General Huo, Prime Minister Xue, and Governor Zhang are related by marriage. Their interests are intertwined, and they will most likely support the Crown Prince. Now, rumors are circulating claiming you have committed regicide and fratricide. The Eldest Princess, with her deep sibling affection, certainly won¡¯t sit idly by. Her meeting with the Four Great Families in the dead of night must mean they are plotting something. I think they plan to make a move against Mr. Jiu. The entire security of the Imperial Palace now depends on the Imperial Army, and the Commander of the Imperial Army is the legitimate son of Governor Zhang. Once they start causing trouble... Mr. Jiu should prepare early." "Ha ha ha¡ª¡ª" Qi Wuya suddenly burst into hearty laughter. Han Mo couldn¡¯t fathom why he was laughing: Could it be that Mr. Jiu has been driven mad by the Eldest Princess? "Yihuai ah¡ª¡ª" Seeing Han Mo¡¯s grave expression, Qi Wuya stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled, "Don¡¯t be so tense. You¡¯re right, the Eldest Princess does intend to make a move against me, but did you know, I¡¯m actually waiting for her to act? Reliant as she is solely on General Huo, if General Huo turns against her in battle¡ª¡ª" "What do you mean, Mr. Jiu?" Han Mo was even more bewildered: Why would General Huo turn against her? He¡¯s the Eldest Princess¡¯s best weapon! "Qi Bingshuang¡¯s ploy to borrow a knife to kill is indeed not bad," Qi Wuya complimented Qi Bingshuang. Then, changing the subject, "General Huo comes from a martial family and has been familiar with life and death from a young age. Even he himself is likely not afraid to die, but what he fears most is his youngest son¡¯s death and cannot accept it. Qi Bingshuang is the widow of his youngest son, the continuation of his son¡¯s life. Qi Bingshuang must be using Huo Yu¡¯s name to play a game, asking for his help with a bitter trick." No trace of worry shadowed Qi Wuya¡¯s face. He walked to the antique rack on the left side of the hall, glanced over the jade on the rack, and his gaze finally rested on a horse carved from jadeite. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you see this jade carving?" He held it in his hand, admiring it intently, "This was gifted by Qi Bingshuang at that old man¡¯s sixtieth birthday celebration." Han Mo took one look and his eyes lit up, exclaiming, "The quality and the carving technique of this jade carving are truly exceptional." "Of course," Qi Wuya nodded with a smile, then continued, "Qi Bingshuang is extremely choosy. Ordinary items cannot catch her eye. The same goes for choosing a person. Before she was married, all the nobles and ministers nearly wore through the palace thresholds. She? She didn¡¯t take a fancy to any of them." At this point, as if recalling something amusing, he sneered with dark humor, "Tell me, bypassing so many charming and talented men, why in the end did she choose the sickly Huo Yu? What was Qi Bingshuang planning, and has General Huo really been oblivious all these years?" General Huo had his youngest son at the age of forty. The child was not carried to full term when he was born. And he seemingly brought some illness with him from his mother¡¯s womb, a pretty and handsome child whose constitution was weak to the extreme. With innate deficiencies, one can only try to compensate through nurture. Huo Yu might be said to have been raised in a medicine jar. Such careful nurturing naturally resulted in a delicate and innocent young master. The young master reached his twenties, and unfortunately, a smallpox epidemic broke out. The number of Beiqi citizens afflicted by smallpox was countless. Huo Yu, though frail, was of a gentle nature. During his philanthropic work among the people, he tragically caught smallpox. Fortunately, with General Huo¡¯s esteemed position and wealth beyond words, he managed to save Huo Yu¡¯s life. What a pity, the disease left his face scarred. At a young age, ugly and sickly, even as the son of a general, when Huo Yu reached the age for marriage, no one was willing to marry him. Just as everyone thought Huo Yu would lead a lonely life, the Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang suddenly agreed to marry down to him. It was she who personally asked for the marriage, willing to marry him. This incident became quite a story in the marketplaces. Of course, Qi Wuya never believed in such tales and had long suspected something fishy. Han Mo also knew that there was something amiss, sighing, "Back then, countless citizens praised the Eldest Princess for admiring Young Master Huo¡¯s kind heart, which was why she was willing to marry into the Huo Residence. Too bad, such a talented man as Young Master Huo was used as a stepping stone by the Eldest Princess during his life, and he does not find peace even in death." Qi Wuya nodded in agreement, "The Eldest Princess has always used Huo Yu as a tool to control General Huo. Perhaps General Huo is aware of it too, even indulging her, but what if the Eldest Princess has done something that betrays Huo Yu?" He laid out so much groundwork finally arriving at the crucial point. Han Mo caught on at once, astonished, "Does Mr. Jiu mean to say that the Eldest Princess has someone else outside?" Chapter 240 - 239 The Female Ghost Chapter 240: Chapter 239 The Female Ghost"It¡¯s all just speculation." Wuya had no concrete evidence. He smiled lightly and countered, "But do you think it really matters whether she has someone on the outside?" Han Mo: "..." He instantly understood Wuya¡¯s implication¡ªhe didn¡¯t care whether the Eldest Princess had someone on the outside; he just needed to make General Huo believe that she did, and that she had had someone for a long time. That she had betrayed Huo Yu even before his death. "Rumors are more ferocious than tigers." Wuya put down the jade carving, walked back to the desk, sat down, picked up the brush, and said, "Since the Eldest Princess is fond of believing in rumors, then let¡¯s make the rumors a bit more interesting." As he spoke, he wrote two words on the paper¡ªHuo Yu! Han Mo vaguely guessed his plan: "Mr. Jiu, what are you suggesting?" Wuya straightforwardly ordered, "Send people to investigate those close to Huo Yu; use any means necessary to make them say that Huo Yu was not killed by illness but was murdered by the Eldest Princess." Han Mo: "..." Wasn¡¯t this framing and entrapment? Indeed, they had done worse, but against a woman? His world view faced a challenge. Wuya saw his puzzled face and laughed: "Yihuai, women are like vipers. To be kindhearted and lenient toward them is to be cruel to oneself. You must know, she was the one who first wanted to kill me." It was like that time she had pushed the Concubine into the water, and his kind-hearted mother went to save her, only to be falsely accused of wanting to kill the Concubine. And to remove his mother, the Concubine even colluded with her. In the end, only he and his mother were sent to the Cold Palace, becoming castaways. "Yihuai, do not pity women." Wuya¡¯s eyes were deep, his tone intensified, bristling with murderous intent: "Especially women from the Imperial Palace." Han Mo nodded: "Yes." His morals had always aligned with Wuya¡¯s, and he was quickly persuaded. Silence. The two fell silent for a good while. Wuya finally broke the silence, asking, "Yihuai, the road ahead is perilous, are you afraid?" Hearing this, Han Mo¡¯s previously heavy mood instantly lightened. He shook his head and smiled: "Mr. Jiu, since I came to your side, I have never been afraid." People like him reveled in this kind of thrilling, turbulent life. Wuya also smiled: "Neither am I." Having never had much, he wasn¡¯t afraid of losing anything. Sang Yan. The name flickered through his mind. He was afraid of losing her. He wondered how she was doing. Maybe He Hongzhao¡¯s return would bring some news of her. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. * He Hongzhao was ill. She had, in fact, always been ill. Headaches, stomachaches, heartaches, bone pains, aching all over. This battered body hurt every single moment. But her illness this time was due to the cold. As soon as she entered the Beiqi territory, the piercing cold wind made her sick. "It¡¯s cold. So very cold." She lay in the carriage, covered with thick blankets, surrounded by hot water bottles, yet she was still cold. Han Chen drove the carriage, his hands and feet chapped, frostbite on his face. Too cold. He prided himself on his robust health, but even he couldn¡¯t stop shivering from the cold. "Han, Han Chen, cough cough¡ª" A severe coughing came from inside. Han Chen¡¯s hands, holding the horse reins, had become stiff. He breathed warm air onto his hands with little effect and, feeling irritable, wasn¡¯t inclined to pay attention to the person inside the carriage. "Han, Han Chen, cough cough cough¡ª" The voice from inside grew fainter. He had no choice but to stop the carriage and pull aside the curtain to take a look inside: "What¡¯s wrong with you now?" "Drink... water... I... water..." She coughed so hard it made her throat sore, and even breathing the air felt like it cut her throat. Han Chen then went to look for water, but the water in his water bag was ice cold. He looked out at the vast snowy plains and sighed, "You can¡¯t drink cold water in this state." With a high fever already, drinking cold water would mean alternating between cold and hot¡ªshe likely wouldn¡¯t make it to Beiqi Capital City. "Hot water flask...inside...has water..." In these circumstances, she wasn¡¯t picky. Upon hearing this, Han Chen took out the hot water flask, touched it to find it was no longer hot, but it was still slightly better than ice cold, so he fed her some. He Hongzhao drank water from two hot water flasks before she felt like she had come back to life. But the revival was short-lived before she began to cough again. Her body was too weak; as soon as she coughed, she vomited blood. Han Chen grabbed a handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corners of her mouth. As a man, the sight of her in such a pathetic state did stir some tender feelings in him, so he comforted her, "Just hang in there. We¡¯re almost at the Capital City. Mr. Jiu is still waiting for you. You mustn¡¯t¡ª" Die on the way. Those few words, he still held back, feeling they were inauspicious. "Cough, cough, I...will try my best..." She gave a bitter smile and collapsed into the blanket. Her beautiful face buried in her dark hair made her pale complexion stand out even more, her lips stained with blood, she resembled a hauntingly beautiful ghost. Han Chen glanced at her and felt a chill in his heart, "I need to rush the carriage. It will be dark soon, and if we don¡¯t enter the city, we¡¯re going to freeze to death out here." No response. She had her eyes closed and was motionless, as though she had died. Han Chen was startled and hurried to check her breath, "Hey, He Hongzhao?" He Hongzhao didn¡¯t make a sound, but tears suddenly fell. Warm tears. They dropped onto the back of his hand. She rarely cried. Han Chen was taken aback; his hand felt scalded, an especially uncomfortable sensation, "Why are you crying?" He had never imagined that one day He Hongzhao would actually cry. This woman, cold-hearted as a serpent, really had tears fall. No, to be precise, she did have tears after all. He Hongzhao, unaware of Han Chen¡¯s thoughts, couldn¡¯t stop crying after the tears had started falling. She had endured a lot of pain and illnesses, but never had she felt such suffering as now. There was a moment when she truly wished she could just die. Yet she despised this cowardly part of herself. She shouldn¡¯t be crying. A crying self is too weak. So, she said, "I miss Ah Jiu." During their time hiding about Quanzhou, the Snow Monkey, Ah Jiu, was too conspicuous, so she had set it free. In truth, setting it free was for the best; Ah Jiu belonged to the wide open world. It would live better without her. She didn¡¯t especially miss it, but that didn¡¯t stop her from using it as an excuse for her moment of weakness. Han Chen didn¡¯t think too much of it and believed her, "Crying over a mere beast!" He couldn¡¯t understand, nor did he say more. He just left to attend to the carriage again, driving it forward. "Cough, cough, cough, Han, Han Chen¡ª" Before long, He Hongzhao¡¯s voice was heard again from inside the carriage. Han Chen, irritated from the cold, snapped, "What is it?" "I, I have taken...the Taixi Pill." "Oh." He knew the Taixi Pill could conceal one¡¯s breath, creating a state of suspended animation, akin to fake death. In her condition, it made sense to take it, otherwise, she might cough herself to death. The carriage fell quiet. For a while, there was no sound of coughing. "Hey, He Hongzhao?" No response. Presumably, after having taken the Taixi Pill, she was in a state of fake death. Now, it was finally quiet. Quiet for a whole hour. This silence unnervingly tormented the soul. Ultimately, he still couldn¡¯t rest easy and went to check on her. He first touched her nose, of course feeling nothing, then her cheeks, cold as ice, and then her body, which felt somewhat rigid... as if she truly had died? Chapter 241 - 240 Estrangement Chapter 241: Chapter 240 EstrangementBeiqi Capital City Suddenly, news broke out that Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang had murdered her own husband and raised a "hidden head". "Exactly! No wonder the Eldest Princess frequently visited the Crown Prince, She was hiding someone in the Crown Prince Mansion!" "Yes! A brother of mine in the Crown Prince Mansion said that the Eldest Princess even secretly had an abortion!" "Not just an abortion! Poor Young Master Huo, he was ruined by that shameless woman!" "Speaking of Young Master Huo, although he was born weak, he didn¡¯t look like one to live long. Yet, dying in the third year after the Princess married into their family is still strange!" "He was a frail man to begin with; a little tampering, and he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Poor Young Master Huo, dead without knowing how he died!" ... Rumors quickly spread through every street and alley. It happened to be a time of national mourning, where all were to mourn in uniform, abstaining from luxury and entertainment. Deprived of amusement, people gathered together to chat. Within a day, the talk turned to the Crown Prince Mansion. Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang was still in the Crown Prince Mansion taking care of the Crown Prince. Learning how the public was slandering her, she smashed a teacup in anger, "A bunch of ants! How dare they gossip about me! Someone come!" Immediately, two guards rushed in. They were brothers from the Lei Family, the elder named Lei Zhao and the younger, Lei Ze. Both brothers shared a similar handsome and lofty appearance. "Greetings, Princess¡ª" The brothers stepped forward and bowed, inquiring in sync, "May we ask what orders the Princess has?" Qi Bingshuang beat her chest in fury, her features contorted, "Go investigate! Find out who is spreading these rumors! Arrest them! Arrest anyone who discusses it! I will have them killed!" "Princess, please reconsider¡ª" Bi He thought the Eldest Princess was being too impulsive and quickly intervened, "It¡¯s hard to blame the masses. Arresting so many would only create a bigger issue. Moreover, it gives others a chance to suggest that the Princess feels guilty. Please calm down, Princess, and consider tomorrow¡¯s events. Those are what truly matter!" Reminded by Bi He, Qi Bingshuang then remembered that there was a plan to undermine the throne tomorrow. Compared to that, these rumors were trivial. "You are right. Tomorrow¡¯s events are what matter most." She calmed down, sat back on the soft couch, and held her forehead, thinking for a while. Then, she grew agitated again, "I¡¯ve lived so long and never suffered such humiliation! It must be Wuya¡¯s doing! He wants to destroy my reputation! Detestable!" Hearing this, Bi He felt relieved that her intelligence had returned and she agreed, "Yes, Princess. Please don¡¯t fall into his trap." Thinking of the Huo Family, she added, "I hope Mr. Huo does not fall for his trap either." Qi Bingshuang, recalling the Huo Family, realized the severity of the situation¡ªtomorrow the three great families led by Huo Dingyuan were to undermine the throne. If such rumors had spread at this time, what if Huo Dingyuan believed them? Would he switch sides at the last moment? The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Wuya was sabotaging the alliance she had formed! She couldn¡¯t just wait. Her expression changed as she turned to the Lei brothers: "Quick! Arrange the carriage! I need to go to the General Mansion!" General Mansion Study Listening to the news from his subordinate, Huo Dingyuan fell into a prolonged silence. The death of his youngest son, Huo Yu, was an eternal pain in his heart. Because he was on the battlefield at the time, he hadn¡¯t been able to see him for the last time. Therefore¡ª "My Ah Yue died so suddenly." He sat in his chair, cradling his head in his hands, full of self-reproach and pain: "He begged me not to leave then. Was he hinting at something? Ah Yue was not usually so clingy. He even wrote to me, asking me to come back early. Said he missed me." Now that he thought about it, Ah Yue¡¯s behavior back then was indeed abnormal. Were his letters cries for help? A letter! Yes! A letter! Realizing this, he stood up and began searching. After a while, he finally found it in a military book on the bookshelf. He took out the letter, opened it, and read it word by word, seeking any slightest clue. The elderly butler, Li Zhongxiang, stood by his side in attendance, also feeling heartbroken, "Master, don¡¯t be like this; the Young Master had a premonition that his time was nearing, and he didn¡¯t want you to go to war. After you left, his health worsened, so he wrote you several more letters, urging you to come back to see him. The Eldest Princess¡ª" How could the Eldest Princess lay a hand on her own husband? He thought about the rumors and became angry, "At this time, to spread such news, those who spread rumors clearly have malicious intentions." Huo Dingyuan also knew that the people behind this had malicious intentions. He should ignore them, or even capture those people and execute them all! But... could it be possible... Ah Yue¡¯s death... Tears fell from his eyes. In this moment, he was simply a loving father grieving for his lost son. "Ah Yue has been gone for three years and never once appeared in my dreams. Ah Ran still dreams of him, saying he wants to drink the plum blossom wine from Yong State. That child shouldn¡¯t be drinking." He was stuck on a single train of thought and couldn¡¯t easily break free, "Qi Bingshuang even indulged him in drinking. How could she indulge him?" If she had let him drink less, would he have stayed alive a few more years? At least he, as a father, could have spent more time with him! Li Zhongxiang saw him continuously shifting the blame onto the Eldest Princess, so he knew he was delusional and hurriedly advised, "Master, the Young Master was especially cheerful during his last days. The Eldest Princess was with him every day, and his smile was even brighter than before. The Young Master passed away peacefully; I was right by his side. If you don¡¯t trust the Eldest Princess, surely you still trust me?" Huo Dingyuan naturally trusted him. Li Zhongxiang was born into their household and had served by his side since childhood. Their affection over the decades was incomparable to ordinary people. He saw the affection he had for his youngest son. But he still couldn¡¯t accept his son¡¯s death. Even though he had been dead for three years. "Ah Yue liked girls." He knew Ah Yue liked the Eldest Princess and wanted to have a daughter with her. In his letters, he mentioned her many times and also asked him to protect her well. "Sigh." He closed the letter, sighing deeply. He had to fulfill his dying wish. "Master, the Eldest Princess is here." The voice of a servant came from outside. Huo Dingyuan heard this and hurriedly put away the letter and composed himself. He had just put away his military books when the Eldest Princess entered. "Father¡ª" Qi Bingshuang walked into the study, bowed respectfully, and even nodded at the old butler, Li Zhongxiang. "I¡¯ve seen the Princess." Li Zhongxiang smiled and greeted her, "May the Princess live a thousand years." Qi Bingshuang smiled slightly, then, looking directly at Huo Dingyuan, saw his expressionless face and took a deep breath, directly addressing the matter, "Father, have you heard some rumors?" Huo Dingyuan sat in his chair, hearing Qi Bingshuang¡¯s words, unconsciously clenched his fists. "I¡¯ve heard them." He suppressed the heart-wrenching pain, his face remaining calm as usual. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing his composed expression, Qi Bingshuang felt a bit anxious and her tone carried a hint of impulsiveness and agitation, "With your wisdom, you must know that this is Qi Wuya¡¯s vile scheme. He sees our close interactions and plots to drive a wedge between us." Huo Dingyuan remained silent, just listening. He naturally knew it was Qi Wuya¡¯s manipulation. It was no coincidence; it was clearly a response to their collaborative plans. But by using this matter for his divisive strategy, could there be some evidence? If he had evidence¡ª He dared not think further. His Ah Yue, his most beloved child, he must avenge him! How could Huo Dingyuan know if Qi Wuya was fabricating it out of nothing? How could Qi Wuya know that out of nothing, there would actually be something? It seems even the heavens were aiding him! Chapter 242 - 241: Silencing Chapter 242: Chapter 241: SilencingSilence. A prolonged silence. It caused unease. Unable to bear the wait, Qi Bingshuang forced a smile and hurriedly asked, "Father, what are you thinking about?" Huo Dingyuan looked at her as though he saw someone through her and finally spoke, "I was thinking... Shuangshuang, do you truly love Ah Yue?" Hearing this, Qi Bingshuang tensed, but her face broke into a smile. It was a tender smile, touched with reminiscence and affection. "Father shouldn¡¯t ask such questions." She said, "Ah Yue is my husband, he¡¯s gentle and wise, pure-hearted, the finest young man in the world, how could I not love him?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huo Dingyuan scrutinised her microexpressions but found nothing amiss. Her acting was too good. He nodded, his demeanor softening somewhat, "That¡¯s for the best." Then his tone abruptly intensified, "Qi Bingshuang, you must love him for a lifetime." Qi Bingshuang: "..." For a lifetime? He still wanted to bind her for a lifetime! Ridiculous! She was infuriated deep down but on the surface, her smile grew even more tender, "Of course. I will love Ah Yue for a lifetime. Father, you must take care of your health. I¡¯ve been attending to the Crown Prince these days and haven¡¯t been able to personally serve you; please forgive me. Once the Crown Prince wakes up and all is settled, let¡¯s go to Man Mountain to see Ah Yue together. I dreamt of him the night before last, and he was still longing for plum blossom wine." Hearing the mention of plum blossom wine, Huo Dingyuan frowned and without wanting to say more, waved his hand, "Hmm. Go attend to your tasks." Qi Bingshuang didn¡¯t want to linger either. Seeing his usual demeanor, she took her leave. Upon exiting the General Mansion, her face still wore a smile. Those responsible for surveillance on the General Mansion immediately relayed the news to the Beiqi Palace. Songde Divine Hall The highest temple within the Beiqi Palace. It holds the spirit tablets of Beiqi¡¯s past emperors. Wuya, as usual, finished paying respects to the late Emperor and stepped outside. The sunlight was brilliant outside. But it wasn¡¯t warm; the cold was piercing. He was dressed in a white fox fur coat, with a hat covering his head, his silver hair entirely concealed within. Only two locks of silver hair had escaped, fluttering in the wind. "Leaving with a smile, eh..." He supported himself on a Han white jade balustrade, overlooking the majestic Beiqi Palace complex, and smiled, "It seems the Eldest Princess has gotten her wish and fooled General Huo once again." Han Mo, standing by his side, nodded in agreement, "Yes. After all, there¡¯s no evidence. And with rumors surfacing at such a time, General Huo must also suspect it¡¯s your doing." He implied that the strategy of sowing discord had failed. Wuya seemed unconcerned, shaking his head with a smile, "Since he knows it¡¯s my doing, if I don¡¯t act further, wouldn¡¯t that disappoint his expectations?" Han Mo frowned upon hearing this, "What does Mr. Jiu intend to do?" Wuya smiled with a devil-may-care attitude, "Add fuel to the fire." His eyes and tone seemed innocently pure, but his words were increasingly sinister, "As far as I know, General Huo loves not just the person but all that pertains to him, having taken good care over the years. Have some people go kill a few. Only with some deaths will he become more vigilant and recognize the severity of the situation." Han Mo understood he was still framing others. The Eldest Princess had just left the General Mansion, and if Huo Yu¡¯s servants were to suddenly die, it would seem all too much like silencing witnesses. Wuya was rendering her speechless. "Yes." He immediately went to arrange it. Tomorrow the period of mourning for the nation would end, and the Eldest Princess was very likely to confront him in court with her people. He didn¡¯t have much time left. Huo Family Mansion Huo Yu¡¯s two wet nurses lived here. They were both widows, and after Huo Yu¡¯s death, Huo Dingyuan arranged for them to retire here. One wet nurse had a son. That son had once been a personal servant to Huo Yu. The other wet nurse had a daughter. That daughter had once been a personal maid to Huo Yu. The servants and maids, after Huo Yu died, were all given their freedom papers by Huo Yu. With this freedom, they each went to find their mothers, and all came to the mansion. The two wet nurses had a good relationship after many years of companionship, so they decided to let them marry each other. As a result of the marriage, two families of four lived a rich and flavorful life. But fortune and misfortune are intertwined. On a warm noontide, The family was just having a meal. The door was kicked open. A black-clad figure with masked face and sword barged in. Without a word, he slashed and stabbed, and the two wet nurses fell to the ground. "Mother!" The young man cried out in agony, intending to protect his young and beautiful wife. Unfortunately, he was decapitated midway. Blood splattered on his wife¡¯s face. "I¡¯m pregnant!" The young and beautiful wife screamed. She looked at the man in black, clutching her belly, tears rolling down in large drops. She did not hide or beg for mercy, but stood there, foolishly repeating, "I¡¯m pregnant! I¡¯m pregnant!" As if her pregnancy was her amulet of life. The black-clad figure gave her a deep look, then turned and left. Indeed, he did not kill her. The wife still stood in place, tears streaming, foolishly repeating, "I¡¯m pregnant! I¡¯m pregnant!" * The pregnant woman, covered in blood, collapsed in the General Mansion. When she awoke, disheveled, with swollen red eyes and tears streaming down her face, she seemed terrified out of her wits, repeating over and over, "They¡¯re all dead. They¡¯re all dead. The young master has come to claim lives. The young master¡¯s death was so unjust." Huo Dingyuan witnessing this scene, felt as if he were going out of his mind. He kicked over tables and smashed vases, roaring, "Investigate! Go investigate! Bring to me all of the people who took care of the young master!" * Crown Prince Mansion Qi Bingshuang was the first to know of the tragedy at the General Mansion. Huo Dingyuan¡¯s thorough investigation into the young master¡¯s death terrified her. With her mouth agape, she stumbled a few steps and collapsed back onto the soft couch, hands cold and entire body trembling, "Impossible! Impossible!" Bi He, seeing her so scared, hurriedly supported and soothed her, "Princess, Princess, stay calm, stay calm. Yes, you are right, it¡¯s impossible." The act they committed was done in secret; it was impossible for anyone to know. She held the Eldest Princess¡¯s cold hands and immediately brought over some hot tea, "Don¡¯t be afraid, Princess, come, have some hot tea, warm up your body." Qi Bingshuang¡¯s hands were shaking so much that she couldn¡¯t hold the teacup steady. The hot tea spilled over, scalding her hands and body. She let out a cry of pain from the scald, but she wasn¡¯t concerned about that, instead gripping Bi He¡¯s hand, seeking strength, "Bi He, you know, I did it for his sake. He was living in such pain, I did it for his sake." Huo Yu was never destined for a long life to begin with. He lay weak and emaciated on his bed, skin and bones, no longer able to leave his bed. "I¡¯m in so much pain." He said weakly, time and again grasping her hand, "I¡¯m going to die. Shuangshuang, save me, I¡¯m going to die." She did save him! So she sent him on his way. He passed away so peacefully. He should be thanking her. "I did nothing wrong." In the end, she managed to steady the teacup. She then tilted her head back and drank it all down. The hot tea flowed down her throat into her stomach and soon warmed her body. She regained her composure, her hands stained with rouge gripping the skirt tightly. She exhaled deeply and said with a determined look, "I did it for his sake. The Huo Family should be grateful to me." Chapter 243 - 242: Phantom Chapter 243: Chapter 242: PhantomInside Taian Palace The fragrance of wine wafted through the air. Qi Wuya tasted a sip of the warm plum blossom wine, shook his head, and uttered four words, "Nothing special." He did not know why Huo Yu favored such a drink. Han Mo sat opposite him, took a sip as well, and found it to be refreshingly sweet with a lasting, mellow aftertaste, quite a decent wine. "Not bad." He took another sip, analyzing, "Young Master Huo is physically weak and has a gentle disposition, preferring something smooth and soft on the palate, which is quite normal. If it were a strong liquor, I¡¯m afraid his body couldn¡¯t handle it." Qi Wuya listened, nodded in acknowledgment, but still felt something was amiss. "There are plenty of smooth and soft drinks, so why prefer this one in particular?" Qi Wuya took a few more sips of the plum blossom wine, tasted it again and again, but could not discern the reason. Thus, he stood up, hooking a smile onto his lips, "Let¡¯s go. To the General Mansion. Perhaps their plum blossom wine is vastly different." Upon hearing this, Han Mo¡¯s eyes shifted, guessing his intention. He didn¡¯t say anything and followed him out. It was nearly dusk outside. The two of them took a carriage out of the Imperial Palace. Outside the Imperial Palace On the wide and flat main street The cold wind howled, and pedestrians were scarce. Two carriages approached each other. One luxurious. One modest. On the modest carriage Han Chen was driving the carriage, one hand on the horse reins, the other holding a sheepskin wine pouch. Half a pouch of liquor remained inside. He bit off the stopper and guzzled down the drink. The strong liquor went down his throat. Burning through his chest. Stirring his blood. Excitedly, he yelled, "Damn it all! We¡¯ve finally arrived at the Capital City!" Such was their sudden encounter. Qi Wuya lifted the carriage curtain, looked at the familiar man on the modest carriage, and smiled, "Stop the carriage!" The luxurious carriage immediately came to a halt. Han Mo also recognized his brother¡¯s voice, smiling as he lifted the curtain and stepped out. "Brother! Mr. Jiu!" Han Chen leaped down from the carriage with joy. A reunion after a long absence. A cause for celebration. The two brothers hugged each other tightly for a while before letting go. "Mr. Jiu!" Han Chen let go and turned his gaze toward Qi Wuya, his eyes brimming with joy. He wanted to embrace him. But Qi Wuya, with his handsome features, elegant attire, and transcendental demeanor, made him hesitate to draw near. In the nearly one month they had been apart, Mr. Jiu seemed to have transformed. Oh, that¡¯s right, he was now acting as the Crown Prince. That was the aura of an Emperor about him. He was not the same as before, unattainably high. And he, having endured a grueling journey and not bathed for several days, was in quite a disheveled state. A sense of inferiority welled up within him. He unconsciously stepped back twice. Fearing that his own stench would taint the other. "You¡¯ve had a hard time." Qi Wuya, without such careful thoughts, extended his hand, patted his shoulder, and then his gaze shifted toward the carriage. Compared to Han Chen, he was more concerned about the person inside. Han Chen felt somewhat lost. He had been away from Mr. Jiu for so long and missed him greatly. But Mr. Jiu seemed¡ª Never mind. He was the master, and he was the servant; what was he aimlessly pondering? "Mr. Jiu, I have brought Miss He back, but her health¡ª" He felt ashamed, as if he had not taken proper care of He Hongzhao. He wondered if Mr. Jiu would think him incompetent. Qi Wuya said nothing and went straight into the carriage. Inside the carriage Beneath several thick layers of blankets, a bit of dark hair was faintly visible. Qi Wuya saw this, furrowed his brows, feeling that such heavy blankets could smother a person. "Hong Zhao?" He called out softly. There was no reply. "He Hongzhao? Are you asleep?" He called her name gently a few more times. Still no reply. His brows tightened as he pulled away the blankets. The woman beneath the blankets was as pale as a ghost. Her eyes were tightly closed, with no breath. Was she truly suffocated to death? His heart skipped a beat, and he reached out to feel under her nose¡ªindeed, there was no breath. What should he do? He had relied heavily on He Hongzhao for many matters! Had Han Chen gone to great lengths only to bring him a corpse? His mood was utterly spoiled. But he wasn¡¯t sentimental about He Hongzhao¡¯s death. At most, it was regrettable. And somewhat troublesome. The death of He Hongzhao had disrupted many of his plans. Just as he was irritated¡ª "Mr. Jiu, Miss He is fine, she just took a Taixi Pill. That thing can conceal a person¡¯s breath and make one appear to be in a state of false death." The voice of Han Chen explaining came from outside. Having heard this, Qi Wuya breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh." So she took a Taixi Pill. Good that she wasn¡¯t dead. And she could also appear to be in false death? Excellent. Excellent. Her medical skill was indeed superb. It wasn¡¯t in vain that he had sent people to bring her over from afar. "Miss He has poor health and frequently vomits blood. Beiqi is cold and freezing; she could hardly bear it, fearing that she might die en route, so she took a Taixi Pill." Han Chen continued to explain outside. Qi Wuya withdrew his hand, no longer concerned with the "deceased" He Hongzhao, and said to the people outside: "I understand. Return to the palace first." "Right away." Han Chen happily hopped onto the carriage, yanked the horse reins, and drove towards the Imperial Palace. The gates of the Imperial Palace were open. The guards stood on both sides, spears crossing, blocking the way. Han Chen had no choice but to stop the carriage and said to the person inside, "Mr. Jiu, the carriage can¡¯t go in." As his voice fell, the carriage curtain was lifted¡ª Qi Wuya¡¯s face emerged. "Greetings to the Ninth Prince¡ª" The guards saw him, respectfully saluted, and immediately let them pass. The carriage continued to move forward. "To Taian Palace." Qi Wuya stated the destination. "Yes." Han Chen responded and then drove the carriage to Taian Palace. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before long, they arrived in front of the palace gates. The carriage stopped. Qi Wuya dismounted the carriage and had Han Chen carry the person out. Han Chen was stunned for a moment, thinking he would carry the person out himself. Wasn¡¯t he longing for this person for a long time? Even if it was out of admiration for her skills, shouldn¡¯t he show a little more warmth? Qi Wuya took no notice of Han Chen¡¯s perplexity and turned to head for Taian Palace. Seeing this, Han Chen composed himself, got off the carriage, wrapped He Hongzhao in a blanket, and carried her down. He followed into Taian Palace. Inside, the hall was warm. Qi Wuya loosened his overcoat and threw it onto a soft couch. Then he pointed with his hand: "Put her there." He was referring to a room in the side chamber. Han Chen was no longer baffled by this action. If Qi Wuya was unwilling to carry the person himself, how would he arrange for her to be placed in his own bedroom? He couldn¡¯t help but feel that He Hongzhao was somewhat pitiable¡ªapparently, she hadn¡¯t made quite an impression in Mr. Jiu¡¯s heart. Who would ever capture Mr. Jiu¡¯s heart? A name flashed in his mind. His heart skipped a beat and then returned to calm. He entered the side chamber, placed the person on the bed, and covered her with a quilt. The side chamber was colder than the main hall. Qi Wuya clearly felt it too and ordered someone to heat the room. Afterward, looking at the woman on the bed in a death-like state, he asked, "When can she wake up?" "Very soon." Han Chen said as he took out a white bottle from his bosom, poured out a red pill, then went over, pried open her mouth, and placed it inside. Qi Wuya promptly brought over a cup of hot water. Han Chen took the hot water and fed it to her. After administering the medicine, he thought for a moment and decided to explain, "Miss He¡¯s body is truly weak, Mr. Jiu will soon understand." He believed He Hongzhao was naturally frail and severely deficient physically, not because he had been negligent in his care. He didn¡¯t want to leave another impression of incompetence with Mr. Jiu. Qi Wuya watched the motionless woman on the bed, nodded, and said nothing. He was detached and indifferent, not caring about the state of He Hongzhao¡¯s health; as long as she was alive to complete a few tasks for him, even if it was only until his ascension to the throne. "Cough cough cough¡ª" A burst of violent coughing. He Hongzhao struggled to open her eyes, her vision still blurry, and faintly saw a familiar figure standing not far away: "Mr... Mr. Jiu?" She swallowed, rubbed her eyes as if to make sure, then suddenly sat up, stretched out her hand, and strenuously tried to grasp the illusion: "Mr., Mr. Jiu?" Chapter 244 - 243: Bliss Chapter 244: Chapter 243: BlissAfterwards came another intense bout of coughing, "Cough cough cough¡ª" As Han Chen had said, she coughed up fresh red blood. Qi Wuya had seen too much blood in his life, even taking pleasure in the blood of others, but this kind of blood coughed up disgusted him. However, his face did not show it, and he even walked over with eyes full of tenderness and held her icy hand, "You¡¯ve actually become this ill. Had I known sooner, I wouldn¡¯t have let him bring you here. I¡¯ve caused you to suffer." His eyes showed annoyance and a look of self-reproach. Seeing how concerned he was, He Hongzhao suddenly felt all her pain vanish. She shook her head with a smile, "Mr. Jiu, don¡¯t say that. I, I cough cough cough¡ª" She couldn¡¯t stop coughing. She probably knew that her coughing up blood was disgusting, so she pulled away from his hand and covered her mouth with her sleeve. "Bring some ginseng tea over." Qi Wuya instructed a Palace Attendant nearby. Then he took out a handkerchief and passed it over. He Hongzhao took the handkerchief, covering her mouth and coughed for a while. Fresh blood sprayed onto the handkerchief. The handkerchief was snow-white and in a moment, soaked with fresh red. "Cough cough cough¡ª" It seemed as if she wanted to cough out her lungs. "Ninth Prince, the ginseng tea¡ª" The Palace Attendant carefully handed it over. Qi Wuya took the ginseng tea and personally fed He Hongzhao. He Hongzhao only took two sips and then shook her head, "My body can¡¯t take such nourishment anymore." Qi Wuya, "..." He understood the underlying meaning in her words¡ªshe wouldn¡¯t last much longer. This was truly unfortunate news. But still, he smiled gently and encouraged, "Hongzhao, don¡¯t talk like that. With me here, you¡¯ll be fine." He was always good at saying the right things. Especially when desperately seeking something worthwhile, he put on quite a show. He had hot water brought in and took a clean handkerchief, dipped it in the water, and cleaned the blood from her hands. She hadn¡¯t bathed in several days; her nails were long and harbored dirt. She sweated profusely as her body fevered, and even she noticed the sour odor. "No need." She looked at him, clad in spotless white, his whole being cleanly glowing, seemingly shining, and suddenly felt ashamed. Qi Wuya, oblivious to her girlish thoughts, clutched her hand tightly and after wiping it clean, went on to wipe her face. "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?" He needed her to recover as soon as possible, even if it was just a temporary improvement. Seeing him made He Hongzhao¡¯s mood better and she found a bit of appetite, "Plain porridge will do." Qi Wuya knew she probably couldn¡¯t stomach anything else, so he suggested, "Plain porridge isn¡¯t nutritious. How about some egg custard too?" He Hongzhao nodded, "Okay." Qi Wuya then had someone prepare plain porridge and egg custard. While they waited for the food. He Hongzhao made a request, "I¡¯d like to bathe." Qi Wuya then had someone prepare hot water. Han Mo noticed his attention was solely on He Hongzhao, so he quietly reminded, "Mr. Jiu, it¡¯s getting late, are we still going to the General Mansion?" Qi Wuya remembered his important tasks and began to focus on them, "Hongzhao, you rest well, anything you need, just instruct the Palace Attendants. I¡¯m stepping out for a bit, but I¡¯ll be back soon." He Hongzhao nodded but also asked, "Is there anything I can help with?" She knew her value to Qi Wuya and wanted to make use of it. She wanted to be more important to Qi Wuya, even more so. Qi Wuya originally intended to leave, but upon hearing this, he paused and truthfully said, "I¡¯m investigating the death of General Huo¡¯s youngest son. Like you, he was born frail, dying young. But I suspect there¡¯s more to his death." He Hongzhao listened quietly and then asked, "Was there anything unusual before he died?" Qi Wuya thought for a moment and shared his findings, "Before he died, he liked drinking plum blossom wine. I heard he was very weak, couldn¡¯t get out of bed, but didn¡¯t seem in pain. It didn¡¯t seem like an unnatural death, rather, there was a sense of calm." Listening, He Hongzhao pressed her lips together with a smile, "I understand now." Qi Wuya¡¯s expression tensed, "What do you understand?" He Hongzhao started coughing again. He kept coughing and laughing, "Jile Powder." Qi Wuya had never heard of such a thing before and was even more shocked by her sure tone, "Are you sure?" He Hongzhao nodded. Qi Wuya still harbored some doubts. Seeing his distrust, He Hongzhao gave a bitter smile, "What¡¯s there to doubt? Because this is the death I¡¯ve arranged for myself." Born frail and filled with poison blood, she lived in pain every moment. How to die? That was what she always pondered. She ended up developing Jile Powder. And even experimented on some drunkards. Indeed, it brought happiness. Especially a blissful death. It was just that death came too swiftly. She wasn¡¯t ready to die and stowed it away. But it still spread somewhat. Unexpectedly, it had even reached Beiqi. "Just let them open the coffin for an examination. It will surely reveal a blackened skeleton." She looked at him, her eyes brimming with confidence. Qi Wuya had already begun to believe her to a great extent; Huo Yu must have experienced great pain before his sickness took him. The Eldest Princess, for appearances sake, would also send people in search of medicine to alleviate his suffering. Whether by accident or design, the Jile Powder reached her hands and she mixed it with the plum blossom wine, resulting in his blissful departure. "Jile Powder is a good thing." She lay sideways on the bed, coughing and laughing, "Mixed into wine, cough cough cough, a sip and you¡¯re nearly heavenly." When her time came, she would die that way too. Qi Wuya gave her one look, said nothing, and stepped out of the side hall. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He needed to pass on this good news to the General Mansion. Outside Taian Palace The carriage was still parked there. Qi Wuya got back into the carriage. Han Mo, following a step behind, also boarded. The coachman immediately pulled the horse reins and drove out of the Imperial Palace. Han Mo, observing the elated Qi Wuya, felt his heart in his throat, "Does Mr. Jiu really believe Miss He¡¯s words?" Qi Wuya countered, "Why not believe her?" Han Mo was speechless. He Hongzhao excelled in both medicine and poisons, and her words carried high credibility. He believed her too, but¡ª "The key is, will General Huo believe her? So much time has passed, if there were any issues, evidence would have probably been cleaned up long ago." He mentioned this and thought about the blackened bones He Hongzhao had talked about, his heart skipped a beat, "Mr. Jiu, you¡¯re not really planning to have the Great General open the coffin for examination, are you?" That¡¯s insane! The saying goes, "Let the dead rest in peace." General Huo, mad with love for his son, how could he possibly agree to open the coffin? Wait¡ª What if a person mad with love really went mad? Qi Wuya had apparently also considered this and asked with a beaming smile, "Why not?" Han Mo still felt it implausible, "What if the bones aren¡¯t blackened?" Respect for the deceased is paramount. Qi Wuya, seeking to drive a wedge between the Eldest Princess and General Huo by concocting a story of his son being poisoned and pushing him to examine the coffin. If the son actually died a natural death, General Huo might just lose it and behead him! "Mr. Jiu, you¡¯re playing with General Huo¡ª" Han Mo thought about this, his expression turning a bit embarrassed, "If the bones aren¡¯t blackened, he might not even wait till tomorrow to make his move." Qi Wuya considered Han Mo¡¯s words and nodded seriously, "Hmm... you¡¯re right, that is a possibility." His actions were indeed unscrupulous, truly exploiting people¡¯s sore points. Anyone would grab a knife against him! Seeing his response, Han Mo cautiously suggested, "How about we consider a long-term plan?" "There¡¯s no need." Qi Wuya waved dismissively and smiled mischievously, "Huo Yu consumed medicine for so many years, medicines carry their own toxicity, how could his bones not be blackened?" Chapter 245 - 244: Punishing the Heart Chapter 245: Chapter 244: Punishing the HeartHan Mo found himself at a loss for words. His Mr. Jiu¡¯s heart... was too dark. When it came to schemes, he couldn¡¯t outplay him. And yet, he was burdened with the role of a strategist. "Mr. Jiu is wise." Then he thought of Wuya¡¯s Emperor¡¯s Destiny. He felt that Heaven was still on his side, as long as that woman didn¡¯t come to influence him. General Mansion Huo Dingyuan looked at the sobbing servants in the courtyard. "That¡¯s all. I can¡¯t remember anything else." "The Young Master was indeed peaceful when he passed. Perhaps because the Eldest Princess was by his side. He died in the Eldest Princess¡¯s arms." "Master, the Young Master has been gone for so many years now, please let it go." "The Young Master was most fond of the Eldest Princess. By suspecting her like this, if the Young Master knew underneath the ground, how distressed he would be." ... The servants attending to Huo Yu hadn¡¯t detected anything unusual. They just felt their master had gone mad with obsession over the Young Master. It had been three years. To suddenly claim the Young Master was killed by the Eldest Princess was truly absurd! Huo Dinguanyuan interrogated them for half the day, getting no useful information, and was both irritated and tired. The old butler Li Zhongxiang brought over a chair and made him sit down. The wailing went on and on. It gave Huo Dingyuan a splitting headache. Just when he was about to give up¡ª "Master, the Ninth Prince is here." A government soldier who was guarding the gate ran over with the message. Huo Dingyuan¡¯s eyes sharpened as he stood up and looked towards the slowly approaching figure. The man was clad in plain white mourning attire, draped in a snow-white cloak, with snowy white hair hanging over his chest, and a delicate face with blue eyes and high nose, all revealing his half foreign blood. The late Emperor disliked his appearance, especially that white hair, thinking it was inauspicious. And so, inside and outside the Imperial Palace, from top to bottom in the court, naturally, they didn¡¯t like him either. For twenty years, he had been so low-key among the many princes of Beiqi that he seemed to hardly exist. No one thought he had a chance to climb to the zenith of power. "Great General Huo¡ª" Wuya approached him with a smile, his peripheral vision scanning the servants in the courtyard, feigning ignorance, "What happened here? Why is everyone crying like this?" Huo Dingyuan didn¡¯t answer, only asking, "What brings the Ninth Prince here at this time?" Wuya didn¡¯t beat around the bush and said directly, "I heard General Huo was investigating the death of Young Master Huo, so I came over to offer some advice." "What advice?" "Simple, if it was poison, there would be blackened bones. Instead of interrogating like this, it¡¯s better to directly exhume the corpse for examination. You know, hearing is deceptive, seeing is believing. Ah, that¡¯s my suggestion." Wuya said this with a slight smile, then turned to leave. But after two steps, he turned back, blinking his innocent-looking eyes inquisitively, "Oh, by the way, has Great General Huo heard of Jile Powder?" Huo Dingyuan of course hadn¡¯t heard of it. But the words "Jile" already alerted him: so many servants were saying that Ah Yue was very happy during the days before his death. "Ninth Prince¡ª" He called out to the departing Wuya, his expression twisted and in agony, but in the end, he still asked, "Does the Ninth Prince have other evidence?" He now suspected his Ah Yue had been murdered. He needed evidence. But Wuya had no evidence. Of course, he would not admit he had none. "Great General Huo, if I give you evidence, would you dare to believe it?" The question left Huo Dingyuan speechless. Seeing him looking foolish, Wuya really wanted to laugh, but he barely held back and then said, "Young Master Huo died abruptly, and his biological father treasures the murderer like a gem, tsk tsk¡ª" He shook his head, turned around, and left with a smile. He was too good at striking at the heart. Huo Dingyuan was "killed" by his words and became dumbfounded. He watched Wuya leave, standing dazed for a good while before collapsing backward, as if all strength had left him. Fortunately, Li Zhongxiang promptly supported him and helped him sit down in the chair. He held his head, sinking once again into a quandary and agony. Li Zhongxiang watched the whole process and spoke up to advise, "Master, you mustn¡¯t listen to his words, he just wants to ruin your relationship with the Eldest Princess!" Huo Dingyuan, with bloodshot eyes, feral like a beast about to attack, asked him, "What relationship do I have with the Eldest Princess?" Li Zhongxiang was at a loss for words. My son is dead, my daughter-in-law childless, only slightly better than a stranger. Huo Dingyuan gritted his teeth and said, "If she caused my son¡¯s death, then she¡¯s my sworn enemy who killed my child!" Qi Wuya was right; if Ah Yue had been secretly murdered, then all these years he had been scheming for his enemy... His tears fell. It hurt too much. He dared not think further. His little boy! No wonder he had not appeared in his dreams for so many years! "Quickly go to the General Mansion and call for Second Lady Huo!" Li Zhongxiang whispered orders to a servant. Seeing Huo Dingyuan like this, he believed the man was fully capable of exhuming the coffin for an autopsy! He must be mad! * Qi Wuya returned to the carriage. He saw a servant from the General Mansion running out, heading towards the Great Commander Mansion. Han Mo also saw it and couldn¡¯t help but say, "At this time, he surely isn¡¯t in the mood to call the Great Governor to discuss tomorrow¡¯s matters." Tomorrow, the Eldest Princess would enter the Imperial Palace to convey the Crown Prince¡¯s illness. That was likely just an excuse for an attack. Under normal circumstances, they would have another secret meeting tonight. Qi Wuya said, "Perhaps he¡¯s going to ask for Second Lady Huo." Han Mo thought so too. Great General Huo was clearly being led by the nose by them, and it was very likely he would proceed with the autopsy. Someone by his side would always find someone to persuade him. Young Master Huo, Huo Ran, and his wife were far away on the border. So it could only be Second Lady Huo, Huo Yin. Isn¡¯t it true that Huo Yin is married to Zhang Tai, the legitimate son of the Great Governor Zhang E? Zhang Tai serves in the Imperial Palace as the Commander of Imperial Army, responsible for the entire palace¡¯s security. Han Mo¡¯s thoughts circled around Zhang Tai: "Mr. Jiu, this man Zhang Tai, we should meet him." The carriage moved slowly. Heading towards the Imperial Palace. Qi Wuya nodded and said, "Yes, it¡¯s time to meet him." In fact, they could see Zhang Tai every day. Zhang Tai was the legitimate son of Great Governor Zhang E. His noble status meant he didn¡¯t have to fight on the battlefield. Otherwise, he would have died in battle like several of his half-brothers. Being able to serve as Commander of Imperial Army due to the shadow of his ancestors, Qi Wuya despised him. And he didn¡¯t intend to leave him be. "Let¡¯s return to Taian Palace first." He wanted to see He Hongzhao before thinking about how to remove him. Taian Palace Side Chamber After bathing, He Hongzhao lay in the warm and fragrant bed feeling comfortable, something she hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Maybe it was because her previous living conditions were too poor. Now that her living conditions had improved, and her mood was better, her body felt more comfortable. "Cough cough cough¡ª" Of course, she was still coughing. She even coughed up blood. But it was no longer the kind of pain that made life unbearable. It was still tolerable. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, thinking about Qi Wuya being here, and felt she could endure another year or so. "Ninth Prince has arrived." The voice of a Palace Attendant came through. She leaned against the pillow, looking towards the door, her heart beating uncontrollably. She swore she hadn¡¯t liked Qi Wuya before. But now, she knew she had developed feelings for this man. "Hongzhao¡ª" Qi Wuya walked in, a smile on his lips. He was draped in a snowy white cloak, enveloping his figure, holding a hot water bottle in his hand now, his features delicate, lips a deep red, all radiating a refined and precious air. In the past, he was the unremarkable Ninth Prince. Now, he was the powerful Ninth Prince. Power and status always nourished a man. He Hongzhao stared blankly at him, and for some reason, she thought of Sang Yan, her heart filled with jealous bitterness. Chapter 246 - 245: Disguise Chapter 246: Chapter 245: Disguise"Mr. Jiu¡ª" He Hongzhao felt a sourness inside, but her face showed a gentle smile. Qi Wuya smiled and walked to the bedside, sitting down, "How do you feel? Do you need anything else?" He Hongzhao shook her head, "No, I don¡¯t need anything. Everything is properly taken care of with Mr. Jiu here." "That¡¯s good then." Qi Wuya lowered his head and did not speak again, appearing weighed down by heavy thoughts. Seeing this, He Hongzhao asked, "Has Mr. Jiu finished taking care of your matters?" Qi Wuya nodded, "Yes. It has been taken care of successfully, thank to a word from Hongzhao." When he engaged people for tasks, he was never stingy in giving praise. Only by affirming the value of others will they strive to create even greater value. That was the case for He Hongzhao. Having received Qi Wuya¡¯s affirmation, she felt very happy, and asked, "Then why does Mr. Jiu look so troubled? *cough cough* Is it because you¡¯ve run into... some sort of trouble?" Qi Wuya did not mind showing weakness, he nodded in response, "Yes. I want to kill someone, but I don¡¯t know how to do it." Pure violent assassination, while easy, can quickly lead to grounds for accusation. He preferred to kill people without anyone¡¯s notice. That was why he had asked He Hongzhao to come. He Hongzhao had a wealth of knowledge about assassination methods and said, "Mr. Jiu, you can kill however you want to kill." Her implication was clear¡ªshe could help him with it. Qi Wuya had been waiting for her exact words and smiled, "Before I kill him, I need to know what he and the Four Great Families have conspired, how they plan to deal with me. But torture for information extraction is too slow." He Hongzhao understood what he meant, pondered for a moment, and then said with a smile, "I can apply needles, making him answer as we ask." Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes brightened, and he praised her, "Hongzhao truly is a master of our generation!" He glanced at Han Mo and asked him to invite Zhang Tai. Zhang Tai was tall and sturdily built, having inherited the good genes of his father. He was also blessed with good looks, had a complexion as pale as jade, more like a scholar rather than a warrior. "Greetings to the Ninth Prince¡ª" He was very cautious. Upon entering the main hall, he looked around. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just the same Palace Attendants. Followed by Han Mo, whose martial arts were average. He also hadn¡¯t heard news of connections with the Deputy Commander. It was likely he was unaware of the Eldest Princess¡¯s plan to confront them at court tomorrow. Thinking this, Zhang Tai relaxed slightly. Qi Wuya observed his microexpressions and said with a smile, "Commander Zhang, have a seat. It¡¯s cold outside, warm yourself up with some tea." Next to him, a small stove was boiling water. Steam was rising from the bubbling water. It had already boiled. He picked up the teapot and poured two cups of tea. One cup he pushed in front of Zhang Tai. Zhang Tai still had his guard up; how could he dare drink his tea? He didn¡¯t sit down, but simply bowed and said, "I have to patrol still. If the Ninth Prince has orders, please command." Qi Wuya held up the cup of hot tea in front of him, took a sip, and watched him with a smile, "What is Commander Zhang worried about? It¡¯s just tea. To speak bluntly, as a subject, do you not even have this bit of trust in me?" Zhang Tai was silent for a moment, then managed to squeeze out a smile, "You¡¯re being too serious, Ninth Prince. I¡¯m but a rough man, perhaps unworthy of your fine tea." "Not unworthy." Qi Wuya looked at him with a smiling gaze, insistent on him drinking. Zhang Tai locked eyes with him for a while but eventually gave in, sat opposite him, lifted the teacup, and sipped lightly. The tea was fragrant. It was good tea. He dared not indulge, took just a symbolic sip, and then asked, "Does the Ninth Prince have any orders?" He only wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Ever since the late Emperor¡¯s death, the Crown Prince fell into a coma, and Qi Wuya suddenly took power, he had been afraid of him. He always tried to avoid him if possible. Qi Wuya pretended to be astonished, "Really? I¡¯ve heard that Commander Zhang is well-respected in the Imperial Army, with the hearts of the soldiers." Zhang Tai put on a fearful look and replied, "Not so, not so. The Imperial Army is strictly disciplined and loyal to Beiqi, to the Emperor." He could not bear the accusation of having the Imperial Army¡¯s loyalty to himself alone. What in the world did the Ninth Prince want to do? His heart drummed with unease. Perhaps it was too warm inside, or he was anxious, but he began to sweat. Qi Wuya continued to drink his tea. The scent of tea lingered in the air. The incense burner, too, emitted wispy white smoke. The white smoke wound its way into Zhang Tai¡¯s nostrils. He sneezed and hurriedly covered his mouth, "Please forgive me, Ninth Prince. I have lost my composure¡ª" Before he could finish, his expression changed, and his eyes filled with terror, "Wuya, you¡ª" He clutched his forehead, feeling dizzy and light-headed, swayed a few times, then collapsed. "Thump!" He fell onto the table. Like a dead dog, sprawled out on top. Wuya¡¯s quick reflexes allowed him to grab the teacup, downing its contents in one gulp, then he watched expressionlessly as Han Mo dragged the body away to a side chamber. In the side chamber, He Hongzhao was being helped off the bed by Han Chen. She opened the prepared medical kit, took out long, thin needles, and one by one inserted them into the acupoints on Zhang Tai¡¯s head. Soon, she turned his head into a porcupine with needles. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Zhang Tai woke up. He lay on the ground with a vacant look in his eyes, as if he had lost his mind, staring at the people in front of him. Wuya squatted down, patted his face, and began to ask, "What¡¯s your name?" "Zhang Tai." "How old are you?" "Twenty-three." "What¡¯s your rank?" "Commander of Imperial Army." He answered without any hesitation. However, these were all trivial questions that revealed nothing of consequence. Wuya paused for a moment before hitting the core issue, "What plan have your father and the Eldest Princess orchestrated?" This question was clearly too important. Even under control, he knew he should not speak. Thus, he began to struggle and scream, clutching his painfully throbbing head, rolling on the ground. Wuya pressed down on his body in time, his eyes ruthlessly intent, and asked again, "What are your father Zhang E and Qi Bingshuang plotting? How do they intend to deal with me?" "...They¡¯re planning a coup." He couldn¡¯t resist and finally admitted, "Tomorrow during the imperial court session. The Eldest Princess will be present as well. They plan to confront the Ninth Prince with the Crown Prince¡¯s injury, publicly accusing him of patricide and fratricide in front of all the officials." "And then?" "I will lead the soldiers to surround and kill you!" "Oh, I see." It was much as he had suspected. Wuya found it boring; the Eldest Princess had such limited capabilities! He asked another question, "Did the Eldest Princess poison Huo Yu?" Zhang Tai shook his head, "I don¡¯t know." "Then what secrets do you know about the Eldest Princess?" "The Lei brothers are... her loyal subjects." "Anything else?" "No more." Zhang Tai was in such agony that his face contorted fiercely. Wuya went on to question him about the secrets and weaknesses of Zhang E, Xue Wen Zhan, Grandmaster Zheng, and others, until the pain caused him to faint. "Tsk, so useless." He waved his hand in disgust, "For now, drag him into the secret chamber." The secret chamber was within this side chamber. Located behind the wall at the back of the couch. When Han Mo turned the phoenix head armrest on the couch, the wall split open, revealing a room. The room was narrow and claustrophobic. Han Mo dragged the man in, stripped off his outer clothing, bound him up, and then stuffed his mouth with a cloth. Then he closed the secret chamber. He Hongzhao was busy making a human skin mask. Once it was completed, she adhered it to Han Chen¡¯s face. Han Chen had a stature similar to that of Zhang Tai. Once he put on the human skin mask and changed into his clothes, it would be difficult for anyone who wasn¡¯t close to him to see any difference. "The voice is the only flaw." Wuya¡¯s gaze swept over Han Chen and turned to He Hongzhao, giving a slight smile, "Hongzhao, I require a perfect disguise." Chapter 247 - 246 Grand Funeral Chapter 247: Chapter 246 Grand FuneralHe Hongzhao naturally did everything for him. She studied vocal techniques overnight and by early morning, she had successfully changed Han Chen¡¯s voice. Han Chen, disguised as Zhang Tai, moved among the Imperial Army. Qi Wuya tidied himself up and went to attend court. In the court, The civil and military officials were arguing. One side advocated for Qi Wuya to ascend the throne as Emperor. The other side argued to wait until the Crown Prince regained consciousness. "The nation cannot go a day without a sovereign, especially as Beiqi is currently facing both internal and external troubles. We hope Ninth Prince will shoulder this great responsibility of Beiqi!" "Yu Shenzi, the Crown Prince was appointed by the late Emperor. It¡¯s only been a few days since the late Emperor passed, and you are already clamoring for changing the succession, which is highly disrespectful." "Imperial Censor Ma, your words are misplaced. Rules are dead, but people are alive. If the Crown Prince remains unconscious for a year or half, are we to wait for him that long? We can afford to wait, but Beiqi cannot!" "Mr. Liu, be careful with your words! You are cursing the Crown Prince!" "By your argument, if Ninth Prince ascends the throne, then what should be done when the Crown Prince wakes up tomorrow? A nation indeed cannot go a day without a sovereign, but a nation also cannot have two sovereigns." ... The arguing voices continued incessantly. Qi Wuya sat in the seat to the left of the dragon chair, silent. He drank tea and watched them quarrel. Of course, his gaze occasionally turned to the palace doors: Why hadn¡¯t the Eldest Princess arrived yet? Why hadn¡¯t General Huo come either? "How does Prime Minister Xue see this?" "Why does Grand Tutor not say a word?" "Where is Governor Zhang?" "Why hasn¡¯t General Huo come?" ... The Four Great Families held the greatest power of speech. Their silence left the civil and military officials puzzled: What did this mean? Were they supporting the Crown Prince or Ninth Prince? The discussion gradually subsided. They couldn¡¯t make heads nor tails of the argument in the end. Great General Huo Dingyuan did not attend. The other three of the Four Great Families remained silent. The court meeting disbanded quickly. The anticipated coup did not occur. Qi Wuya returned to Taian Palace, and only upon asking Han Mo did he find out that General Huo had gone to Man Mountain that morning to exhume and examine a body. "Oh, that is good news." He smiled and sat on the couch, anticipating what would follow. "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" A severe coughing sound came from the side hall. Qi Wuya heard the sound and frowned slightly but said nothing. He knew he should go see her and say something caring. He also knew that He Hongzhao was eagerly waiting to hear him say something caring. He Hongzhao had only been there a day and had completed many tasks for him, which justified a few caring words from him. But he did not want to see her. Perhaps he did not like her; when it wasn¡¯t about interests, he did not even want to feign politeness. He really was a cold-hearted person. Seeing him motionless, Han Mo almost felt sorry for him: "Mr. Jiu, Miss He had a hard night and collapsed after you went to court. She has just woken up." Qi Wuya coldly uttered one word: "Oh." He still showed no intention of visiting her. He merely instructed a palace attendant, "Cook some egg custard, um, and warm a cup of milk to take to her." The palace attendant bowed and complied, "Yes, Ninth Prince." They all knew the sickly person in the side hall was a valued guest of Ninth Prince; they took great care of her. Knowing she feared the cold, the floor heating in Taian Palace was kept at its highest. Qi Wuya felt hot. He reviewed petitions, tearing open his robe, feeling the palace overheated. "Cough, cough, cough¡ª" The coughing from the side hall persisted. Palace attendants intermittently carried hot water in and out. The water that went in clean came out as bloody. Her symptoms of coughing up blood were worsening. The blood-stained handkerchiefs and clothing faintly emitted a putrid smell. Much like the life of He Hongzhao. Merely enduring, continually decaying. From the inside out. Qi Wuya had them burn more incense. Finally, the scent of incense suppressed the putrid smell. This allowed him to maintain an elegant smile and show concern in her presence. "Hongzhao, you look spirited today." He lifted her into a wheelchair, pushing her outside to bask in the sun. He Hongzhao was very happy. Even though the sun shined on her, it was still very cold. She shivered uncontrollably. He saw this, pulled off his snow-white cloak, and draped it over her. "Are you still cold?" "Much better." She tightened his cloak around her and inhaled his scent¡ªthe strong sun, the spring breeze, warm yet refreshing, which intoxicated her. She closed her eyes, wanting to savor it, but she began to cough violently, "Cough cough cough..." She grabbed her handkerchief and covered her mouth tightly, fearing that the blood she might cough up would stain his cloak. He was so pure; she couldn¡¯t bear to see him dirtied. Qi Wuya didn¡¯t mind her small gesture and continued to gaze at the sunlight, murmuring softly, "Hongzhao, your timing is unfortunate. When spring arrives, I¡¯ll take you to enjoy it. Spring in Man Mountain is particularly beautiful¡ªendless flowers and grass, swathes of black horses and white sheep, a scene brimming with vitality. You¡¯ll definitely like it." Just the thought made He Hongzhao like it already. How could she not, when she was with him? But could she even make it to spring? Every organ in her body hurt. It hurt like being set on fire. She agonized in the fierce fire, tears streaming down, wanting to reach out her hand and say, "Wuya, hold me. I¡¯m in so much pain." But she was coughing too hard to speak. Qi Wuya had no choice but to help her back to her room and brought her a cup of ginseng tea, feeding her a few sips. "Thank... thank you." She collapsed back onto the bed, listless and barely alive. He sat by the bedside, holding her hand, coaxing her like a child, "Hongzhao, bear with it a little longer. It¡¯ll be over soon." He Hongzhao didn¡¯t respond; her hand dropped. He was startled and instinctively checked her breathing¡ªit was almost imperceptible. This person was indeed close to death. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow. He thought coldly. Of course, a fleeting sense of pity crossed his mind, but that was all. Everyone must die. With her frail body, death would be a release. As long as she held on until he ascended the throne, he would ensure she had a grand burial. "Wuya¡ª" She suddenly called his name. Suddenly, she wanted to call out to him. "Wuya, cough cough cough, Wuya¡ª" She wanted to call out a few more times. No hierarchy. No entangled interests. Could they just be ordinary friends or lovers in this moment? That name hadn¡¯t been called for a long time. Qi Wuya¡¯s response was slow, and after catching his bearings, he grunted, "Hmm?" "Cough cough cough¡ª" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Hongzhao reined in her overflowing emotions and asked, gasping, "Why... why haven¡¯t I seen Qing Wu?" Qi Wuya, reminded by her inquiry, recalled her little maid, "Isn¡¯t she by your side?" He Hongzhao said, "She should have been back by now." During her time in Quanzhou, when she was discovered medicating He Ying, she sent Qing Wu ahead to seek help. By rights, she should have been by his side by now. "I haven¡¯t seen her." Qi Wuya, not particularly interested in this person, replied noncommittally, "If you like her, I¡¯ll have someone look for her later." He Hongzhao agreed, "Better have a look for her. She¡¯s been by my side for many years and has learned half of my medical skills. That should be sufficient for you." Qi Wuya, "..." So she was her half successor. That might be of some value. He signaled Han Mo with his eyes to look for the person. Han Mo took the command and left. The side hall quieted down. He Hongzhao, feeling drowsy, soon jerked awake, her mouth unexpectedly shouting another name. "Sang Yan!" This name made Qi Wuya¡¯s heart race. He suddenly realized that He Hongzhao had just returned from Quanzhou and had seen Sang Yan. How was Sang Yan now? Had she gained or lost weight? What was she busy with? Had she mentioned him? So many curiosities. He clenched his fist, striving to appear calm, and probed, "Hongzhao, you haven¡¯t told me about your time in Quanzhou. How was your stay? What happened there?" Chapter 248 - 247 Trick Chapter 248: Chapter 247 TrickHe Hongzhao vaguely guessed that Qi Wuya was covertly inquiring about Sang Yan. She pretended not to know and only spoke about the poisoning incident in Quanzhou. "Time was tight, the poison wasn¡¯t entirely successful, but it was enough to create chaos in Quanzhou for a while." "Mhm." Having not heard what he wanted, Qi Wuya asked, "Anything else? How did Emperor Da He respond?" Seeing his keen interest, He Hongzhao thought for a moment and then revealed, "I thought he would abandon the city and flee, but unexpectedly, he stayed to face the disaster with Quanzhou, and it actually earned him a good reputation." Listening, Qi Wuya put aside He Ying and thought of Sang Yan. It must have been her who insisted on staying to face the calamity with Quanzhou. That woman was always kind-hearted. Yet she was harsh to him. Thinking of her, his mood darkened. He Hongzhao noticed his displeasure and knew for whom he was upset, her heart ached with both bitterness and pain, "Cough cough cough¡ªThey are very much in love..." "Of course. They are very much in love." While Qi Wuya displayed a smile on his face, his heart turned ruthless: Such a loving couple, it would be a pity not to tear them apart. "You should rest well." His expression turned cold, he stood up, and ignoring her pleading eyes, he strode out of the side hall. Outside the side hall Marquis Han Mo waited at the door, and when he saw him coming out, he simply greeted, "Mr. Jiu¡ª" Qi Wuya directly walked past him, "Come, join me for a drink." The two embarked on a carriage and left the Imperial Palace. Unexpectedly, at the gate of the Imperial Palace, they ran into Huo Dingyuan. Huo Dingyuan hadn¡¯t attended the court for two days. Probably devastated by his son¡¯s affair again. Without having to think, Qi Wuya knew the result of the autopsy¡ªthere was no escape from the Eldest Princess¡¯s plot to murder her own husband. Now, the question was how Huo Dingyuan would deal with the Eldest Princess. Under the temptation of benefits, would it be turning against each other or enduring humiliation? "Thud! Thud!" Huo Dingyuan struck the large drum beside Meridian Gate. This act of beating the drum to declare injustice at Meridian Gate was somewhat shocking to him. Qi Wuya dismounted from the carriage for a clearer view¡ªHuo Dingyuan kneeled the Eldest Princess at his feet while he continued to bang the drum. "Father, your daughter-in-law is wronged! Your daughter-in-law is wronged!" "Father, I was sincere to Ah Yue, how could you believe the slander of villains?" "I didn¡¯t do it. I am innocent." ... At this moment, the Eldest Princess did not resemble a princess. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes red, her cheeks swollen, with blood on the corners of her mouth, and her plain white mourning attire was stained with dust; evidently, she had suffered a violent assault. Qi Wuya found it intriguing and stepped forward, "What¡¯s the matter with General Huo? Is beating the drum at Meridian Gate to declare the Eldest Princess¡¯s innocence? Her current state... did she encounter some misfortune?" He feigned shock and concern and purposely misinterpreted the Eldest Princess¡¯s distressed state as having been abused by villains! Qi Bingshuang glared at Qi Wuya with disgust filling her eyes, venting her rage unrestrainedly, "Stop your hypocrisy! Qi Wuya, you despicable wretch! I am pure! Don¡¯t you dare slander me!" Qi Wuya spread his hands with a smile, "The words of the Eldest Princess are golden; naturally, whatever you say goes." He had already cast the mud. Now, he only waited for Huo Dingyuan to deliver her final fate. "Ninth Prince¡ª" Huo Dingyuan suddenly knelt on one knee, "Your servant accuses the Eldest Princess of murdering her husband." The murder of a spouse by the Eldest Princess was a major case. A triple court hearing would take too much time. He only wanted to uncover the truth as soon as possible. Yet no matter how he asked, even resorting to corporal punishment, Qi Bingshuang continued to claim innocence. He could only ask Qi Wuya for help. He didn¡¯t know why, but he just trusted that Qi Wuya could find out the truth. Qi Wuya didn¡¯t expect Huo Dingyuan to have such an attitude. It seemed that the child really was the apple of his eye. Even though he had been dead for three years, he still couldn¡¯t bear to see him suffer any injustice. "Does General Huo have any evidence?" He needed an excuse to detain Qi Bingshuang. Huo Dingyuan nodded, holding back tears, "I, your humble servant, exhumed the body and upon examination, found that Huo Yu¡¯s bones had turned black. The forensic doctor also said... he died of poisoning." "Ah, what a pity, General Huo. Do try to remain calm in your mourning." Qi Wuya offered a perfunctory word of comfort, then loomed over Qi Bingshuang, projecting an air of solemn integrity, "Eldest Princess, the prince by law bears the same guilt as the common people¡ª" "I¡¯m innocent! All of this is your scheme! Qi Wuya, to impose a crime upon me is but to find a pretext!" Qi Bingshuang cut him off sharply, disheveled and hoarse, "The late Emperor is dead, the Crown Prince is comatose. Qi Wuya, you harm the imperial family¡¯s blood, and now you even won¡¯t spare a mere woman like me!" She cried out these words, then grabbed at Huo Dingyuan¡¯s robe, "Father, Daddy, I¡¯m Ah Yue¡¯s wife, I truly loved Ah Yue, you can¡¯t treat me like this! Ah Yue, Ah Yue¡ª" Crying until she was weak, she collapsed backward, looking at the ashen sky, curled on the ground, sobbing pitifully, "Just as well, just as well, Ah Yue, your wife will come to find you. Don¡¯t blame Daddy, Daddy was just deceived by villains¡ª" Even Qi Wuya¡¯s heart softened upon hearing these last few lines. What about Huo Dingyuan? Watching the desperate and sorrowful Qi Bingshuang, Huo Dingyuan wavered: Had he really been deceived by Qi Wuya? That was his child¡¯s most beloved woman, how could he treat her so harshly? Seeing that Huo Dingyuan was about to soften, Qi Wuya quickly said, "The Eldest Princess is truly eloquent and persuasive, and was it not by these means that you beguiled the Young Master into complete obedience? Even when you climbed into bed with the Lei brothers, he chose to forgive you." He didn¡¯t actually know when the Eldest Princess became involved with the Lei brothers. According to his conjecture, Qi Bingshuang wouldn¡¯t have been so reckless as to betray him while the Young Master was alive. But what did it matter? He simply wanted to say it, just to stir Huo Dingyuan¡¯s hatred. "What?" Upon hearing that Qi Bingshuang cuckolded his son, Huo Dingyuan¡¯s moment of soft-heartedness instantly turned into towering rage, "Qi Bingshuang! What exactly have you done to my son?" Questioning was futile. How could Qi Bingshuang possibly confess? At an opportune moment, Qi Wuya spoke up, expressing his stance, "General Huo, don¡¯t worry. Since you appeal for justice, I will see it done and uncover the truth of the Young Master¡¯s death. You will soon learn what the Eldest Princess has done to him." Huo Dingyuan was too angry. Holding his head, his mind throbbing, he gasped for breath and couldn¡¯t speak. Seeing this, Qi Wuya waved his hand, summoning two teams of soldiers, and ordered, "The Eldest Princess is suspected of murdering her husband. Escort the Eldest Princess into Jin Platform." The Jin Platform is a palace used to detain guilty members of the Royal Family. The punishments there are not as brutal and bloodthirsty as in other prisons, but behind the refined methods lies greater mental torture. A nightmarish existence. How could Qi Bingshuang wish to go there? "Don¡¯t touch me! I am the Eldest Princess, how dare you!" She pushed away the advancing soldiers, kneeled in front of Huo Dingyuan, and cried, "Daddy, if you want to kill me, then kill me¡ªdon¡¯t humiliate me like this!" Huo Dingyuan looked at her tear-filled eyes, pulled her up, his gaze full of sorrow and tenderness, "Shuangshuang, I don¡¯t want to kill you. I just want the truth. I can¡¯t let my Ah Yue die wrongly." Ah Yue was born by his wife when she was of high age. She traded her life for his. "Qi Bingshuang, you shouldn¡¯t have harmed him!" He dropped this sentence, let go of her, and turned his back. "Father, Daddy¡ª" Qi Bingshuang was dragged farther and farther away by the soldiers. Even her shoes and socks were dragged off. The cold wind was biting. Her clothes were thin, her face turned blue, and she seemed about to die from the cold. Perhaps she was already dead. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Otherwise, how could she have gone from the lofty Eldest Princess to a criminal accused of murdering her husband? Qi Wuya looked at her foolish, dazed face, and laughed heartily, "Tomorrow summon the Ministry of Justice, Dali Temple, and Imperial Supervision Bureau for a trial." Chapter 249 - 248 Greed Chapter 249: Chapter 248 GreedBefore the triple court hearing, Qi Wuya naturally wanted to treat the Eldest Princess well. He had dinner, then with a beaming face took people to the Jin Platform. Inside the Jin Platform, the late Emperor¡¯s two brothers were still held. Regrettably, after dozens of years, they had already gone mad. "Who is that little girl?" "Aiya, someone finally came." "Lad, I heard the death knell, did that old thing die?" "I¡¯m wronged! Brother, I didn¡¯t poison anyone!" "Hahaha, Qi Yingxun, you too have this day!" "Go to die! Hahaha, all of you go die!" ... When they saw Qi Wuya come in, they started screaming madly in their respective rooms. Qi Wuya did not take another glance at them, heading straight to the room where Qi Bingshuang was held. The room was dark and chilly, without floor heating, just like an ice cellar. Qi Bingshuang had only been there for two hours, already frozen out of her senses. She was an Eldest Princess used to luxury; how could she endure such suffering? "Hey, is she dead?" Qi Wuya lifted the quilt, looking at the clearly abnormal woman beneath. "Let me go." With a high fever, Qi Bingshuang¡¯s swollen face was fiery red, her lips blue and dry, she wrapped the quilt tightly around her, trembling and shedding tears, "Qi Wuya, you¡¯ve gotten everything you wanted, what more do you want?" She knelt on the bed, looking timidly at Qi Wuya, her posture pleading and submissive. Qi Wuya had no sympathy, and with a smile said, "Eldest Princess, you know what I want." Qi Bingshuang shook her head: "I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know anything." "You know." Qi Wuya did not beat around the bush, and directly asked, "Tell me. How did you murder Young Master Huo?" "I didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t do anything. I love him. I love him. I truly love him." Her tearful eyes sincerely deceived others, and herself as well. She had to love him. She must have done nothing. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t carry on. Qi Wuya easily read her thoughts, leaned over, grasped her chin, his lips curling into a smile, said softly, "Still struggling desperately. How pathetic." He then forcefully threw her onto the bed. Han Mo passed a clean handkerchief. Qi Wuya took it, wiping his fingers as he spoke, "Qi Bingshuang, stop dreaming. Falling into my hands, you are already Huo Dingyuan¡¯s discarded piece. Now, whether you want a complete corpse or prefer to suffer more before keeping your whole body¡ªthat¡¯s up to you." His intent to kill was clear. Qi Bingshuang, sensing this, perhaps accepted her situation, her expression gradually calmed. She looked at him teary-eyed, biting her lip, not speaking. "Good. Worthy of being a nation¡¯s Eldest Princess, you still have some royal spirit." Qi Wuya¡¯s eyes showed appreciation as he waved towards the door. Immediately, someone brought in a barrel of snakes. The snakes were slender; some red, some black, some patterned, a colorful pile coiled up, looking particularly sinister. Qi Bingshuang looked horrified, shaking her head, backing away, "No... don¡¯t..." Qi Wuya considerately said, "Don¡¯t be afraid. They¡¯re hibernating. They won¡¯t eat." Qi Bingshuang broke down, "Just kill me." "What¡¯s the fun in killing you?" Qi Wuya kicked over the barrel. The snakes crawled out, raising their triangular and flat heads, hissing. Qi Bingshuang screamed, covering her head, "Ahhh!" Qi Wuya watched, scoffing, "Eldest Princess, if you can¡¯t even handle this, what royal spirit are you playing at?" "Bang!" Qi Bingshuang jumped off the bed, crashing headfirst into the wall. Such a face-off was swift. Qi Wuya looked at the body that slumped down, glanced at Han Mo, and said indifferently, "Go check, is she dead?" Han Mo immediately checked, placing a hand under her nose, after a while shook his head, "No worries. She¡¯s just fainted." "She can¡¯t take the game." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked at the woman with blood streaming down her face, waving for someone to clean up the snakes on the floor. "There¡¯s one more." He pointed to a snake that had climbed on the bed, ordering someone to catch it. These snakes were all to be sent to He Hongzhao. They were all good stuff. Not one should be missed. Qi Bingshuang thought he specifically caught snakes for her to "play" with? She was overthinking it. It was just incidentally for her to "play" with, and he didn¡¯t expect her to be so timid. Just then, the rumbling sound approached. It was He Hongzhao arriving in her wheelchair. Once she entered, all the snakes on the ground were captured. Only Qi Bingshuang still lay there. No one cared for a dying person. He Hongzhao approached, gave her an injection, and watched her slowly revive, answering questions as asked. "Do you love Huo Yu?" "No." "Did you kill him?" "Yes." "How did you kill him?" "Jile Powder. Mixed in plum blossom wine. He drank it." "Is there any left?" "Yes." "Where is it?" "Under the plum blossom tree at the General Mansion." "Who else do you want to kill?" "Myself." Her will was much weaker than Zhang Tai¡¯s. There was no struggle at all. Qi Wuya effortlessly obtained the answers he wanted. The feeling of satisfaction was fleeting, and what remained was dullness. He left the Jin Platform. The night was deep. The ground seemed to be covered with a layer of frost. Han Mo handed over a clay pot. He took it and held it in his hands. Together, under the cold moonlight, they walked back to the Taian Palace. "Has He Hongzhao been sent back?" His voice broke the night¡¯s silence. Han Mo replied, "Yes, she¡¯s been sent back." Right after He Hongzhao finished the acupuncture, she had hardly been able to hold on. He immediately arranged for someone to send her back. Thinking of her, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh, "Miss He¡¯s medicinal skills are extraordinary, but unfortunately, she can¡¯t be used by Mr. Jiu for long." Qi Wuya viewed it with detachment, "One cause, one outcome. Do not be greedy." Upon hearing this, Han Mo thought of Sang Yan, "What about Miss Sang?" Qi Wuya let out a long sigh, "In this life, she is the only one I yearn for." Han Mo: "..." Tch, this doomed fate! The next day In the court Qi Wuya, in front of all the officials, arranged for a triple court hearing. Qi Bingshuang was brought in, neatly dressed. Her forehead wound from the previous night was bandaged, including the injuries on her face that had been medicated; after a night¡¯s rest and a bath, dressed in clean plain court attire, she was once again the regal Princess of Bei Qi. As she entered the great hall, even courage returned to her. As long as she didn¡¯t confess, no one dared to torture her. Like last night, after she ran into the wall, Qi Wuya had been scared and immediately lavished her with good food and drink. "Who is presiding below?" Qi Wuya, sitting at the forefront, asked knowingly. Qi Bingshuang stood straight, proudly stating, "Princess of Bei Qi, Qi Bingshuang." Qi Wuya raised his hand, granting her a seat. Then, turning to Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Yu Shenzi, he smiled slightly, "General Huo has accused the Eldest Princess of plotting to kill her husband. Minister Yu, I entrust you to handle this case fairly." Yu Shenzi bowed respectfully, "I shall obey the command." The Minister of the Ministry of Justice immediately presented the written complaint by General Huo, along with the forensic doctor¡¯s autopsy results. There were also some servants¡¯ testimonies. Yu Shenzi examined them briefly, then suddenly slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Eldest Princess, General Huo has accused you of mixing Jile Powder into the plum blossom wine to murder your husband, do you confess to the crime?" Qi Bingshuang did not hesitate to say, "I do not confess. I did not do it. I have been framed." Yu Shenzi, frowning at the answer, asked sternly, "Who framed you?" Qi Bingshuang pointed at the person at the higher seat, "Ninth Prince, Qi, Wuya!" Chapter 250 - 249 Surrender Chapter 250: Chapter 249 SurrenderQi Wuya sat aloft, looking down with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, "Eldest Princess, at this juncture, the evidence of guilt is conclusive, yet you still seek to argue and even malign me." As he spoke, he shook his head and sighed, but his words were harsh, "You might not know that your personal maid, Bi He, has confessed everything." Bi He had not confessed. She was sent to the Jin Platform by Huo Dingyuan later on. Along with the Lei brothers. He hadn¡¯t interrogated them at all. But that didn¡¯t stop him from bluffing her. Having learned the inside information through He Hongzhao¡¯s hands the night before, he now had to find a source for this inside information. "No! You must have coerced her into confessing!" Qi Bingshuang¡¯s heart shuddered, but she still stubbornly resisted. Qi Wuya didn¡¯t take her minor struggles to heart and continued, "Bi He has told everything, you never liked Huo Yu, you married him only to use the Huo Family¡¯s power to pave the way for the Crown Prince. After the Crown Prince secured his position, you despised him for his weakness and ugliness and wanted to kill him. Coincidentally, when he was suffering from his illness and wishing for death, you sought out Jile Powder, mixed it into plum blossom wine, and coaxed him into drinking it. Even now, you have buried several jars of plum blossom wine under the plum trees at the Huo Residence." Once these pieces of evidence surfaced, they were indisputable. Even though Qi Bingshuang still believed Bi He wouldn¡¯t betray her, she was left utterly defenseless: Bi He had indeed betrayed her! They had been like sisters for so many years! "This is framing and scapegoating! I didn¡¯t! I am being wronged!" She vehemently denied the accusations and looked towards the officials with tears choking her voice, "Esteemed officials, would you just watch as Qi Wuya drives me to death like this? The Father Emperor passed away suddenly, the Crown Prince fell and became unconscious, all princes retreated into their residences, living in constant fear, and now, he is targeting me¡ªhow could all these events be mere coincidences? They are all his schemes! He is trying to eliminate the royal bloodline!" She was at her wits¡¯ end and could only substantiate the accusation that Qi Wuya was plotting against the heir to grasp a lifeline. Only by denying the man himself could she deny his words. Why would Qi Wuya act as she wished? "Since I started ruling on behalf of the Crown Prince, I have worked diligently without daring to make a single mistake, yet to think that I would be slandered and vilified like this, forget it, it is my own overestimation, hoping to dedicate loyalty to Bei Qi¡ª" He stopped here, stepped down, and pretended to quit. Seeing this, the officials were all startled: What is this about? With such chaos in Bei Qi, who else could stabilize it without him? Those who understood the situation hurried forward to persuade, "Ninth Prince, think thrice. Today, the priority should be to clarify the matter of Young Master Huo¡¯s death." This was reasonable. Immediately someone echoed, "Yes, Ninth Prince, today the focus should be on the investigation." "The case is already clear." Qi Wuya looked towards Huo Dingyuan and delivered the final verdict, "General Huo, go and check under the plum trees in your residence to see if there is plum blossom wine mixed with Jile Powder. If so, everything will be crystal clear." Huo Dingyuan heard this, remained silent, and bowed deeply. This was a grand gesture, akin to bowing to a monarch. The officials were all stunned. Qi Bingshuang was stunned too: He actually bowed to Qi Wuya! This was his allegiance! Xue Wen Zhan and Zhang E looked at each other when they saw this and frowned: Had the Eldest Princess become dispensable? Had Huo Dingyuan gone mad? To act so recklessly over a dead son at such a time! What about their collaboration? "Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, do you also suspect me?" Qi Bingshuang cried miserably, "My husband was so frail; he was never meant for a long life, why would I harm him? Don¡¯t fall for his trick!" Xue Wen Zhan, stroking his beard and lowering his eyes, did not speak. Zhang E, having heard from his son about the scandal between the Eldest Princess and her close guard, started to waver: How many noble women from the royal family were genuinely kind? The most venomous woman¡¯s heart. Huo Yu, the poor boy, had indeed died suddenly, upon reflection. Seeing that they all remained silent, Qi Bingshuang knew her situation was hopeless. After her brief surge of fear, she thought of the Crown Prince: what would become of him if she died? Without her as his sister to protect him, he, in his unconscious state, would be utterly defenseless. Unacceptable. She had to do something for the Crown Prince. "You all don¡¯t believe me. Hahaha. None of you believe me." Qi Bingshuang laughed maniacally, and as she laughed, tears streamed down her face, "Enough, my life may be worthless, and if I die, so be it. I only hope that you ministers, entrusted by the Father Emperor on his deathbed, will consider the Crown Prince. If anything happens to him, how will you face him?" As she spoke, she pulled out the hairpin from her hair and closed her eyes, "My day is today, yours will be coming. Think about it." "Snap!" Wuya timely intervened, using the pearls adorning his hair to flick away the hairpin in Qi Bingshuang¡¯s hand. "Guards¡ª" His face grim, he issued a stern order, "Take the Eldest Princess into custody, to prevent her from committing suicide out of fear." With a clatter, sword-bearing soldiers rushed in from outside the hall. They seized Qi Bingshuang¡¯s hands, waiting for Huo Dingyuan to arrive. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Huo Dingyuan entered, carrying several jars of plum blossom wine. They checked the evidence on the spot. Qi Bingshuang was utterly defenseless against the accusations. "Wicked woman!" He fiercely slapped her across the face, "You dare harm my son!" Qi Bingshuang, being held by the soldiers and unable to dodge, received a heavy slap, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth. She clenched her neck, her eyes bloodshot, and screamed, "I didn¡¯t! He was living in so much pain, I was saving him! You don¡¯t understand anything! He was tired of living! I was saving him!" She was deep in her own paranoia. It was both intentional and inevitable. She was the Princess of a nation, and even in death, she was unwilling to be burdened with the infamy of killing her husband. Wuya watched her pitiful state indifferently, turned around, ascended the steps, and resumed his seat at the head, declaring grandly, "Qi Bingshuang, you have no right to decide the life and death of others." Upon hearing this, Qi Bingshuang scoffed, "Hahaha, Wuya, you are the epitome of hypocrisy! You have killed so many people, you are the last person who has the right to say that! Father Emperor, Wuya has driven me to this! Crown Prince, may your sister in the underworld bless you with a long life! Esteemed ministers¡ª" Even to the end, she was seeking to win over hearts. Unable to bear listening any further, Wuya scowled, banged the table, and ordered, "Take her away! Lock her up in the Jin Platform!" "Let go! Don¡¯t touch me!" "I am the Princess of Bei Qi!" "Hahaha, you¡¯ve won, Wuya, you¡¯ve won... you¡¯ve won..." The voice faded away. Wuya gazed down at the silent officials and asked gravely, "The crime of the Eldest Princess Qi Bingshuang murdering her husband is confirmed, her title now revoked, and she shall be imprisoned for life in the Jin Platform. Does anyone object?" No one objected. There were even some sporadic voices saying, "The Ninth Prince is wise." Wuya seemed satisfied and pretentiously comforted Huo Dingyuan briefly, then waved his hand, "Dismiss the court." He had expended great effort to remove the Eldest Princess and dissolve the ties of the Four Great Families. Next, he would deal with the Crown Prince. Chapter 251 - 250: Charging with a Crime Chapter 251: Chapter 250: Charging with a CrimeCrown Prince Qi Guanglie was still in a coma. Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan and Zhang E left court and, quite tacitly, headed for the Crown Prince Mansion. They stood in for the Eldest Princess, staying by the Crown Prince¡¯s side. Any person who approached the Crown Prince was subjected to surveillance. Every decoction used by the Crown Prince, the clothes he wore, and even the incense used, all underwent strict inspection. Yet under such tight control, something still went wrong with the Crown Prince. It was the fifth day since the Eldest Princess had been imprisoned at the Jin Platform. There was an issue with the Crown Prince Mansion¡¯s earth dragon heating system, which caused the underfloor heating to fail¡ªit was only for half an hour, but it was enough to chill the Crown Prince. That night the Crown Prince developed a high fever. Which did not subside all night. Everyone thought the Crown Prince was done for, but the next day, the Crown Prince woke up. This was a good thing. A great thing. Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan immediately notified all officials, and at once, everyone rushed into the Crown Prince Mansion. Then the officials saw the Crown Prince, clearly taking his medicine, but his hands were tearing at a beautiful maid¡¯s clothes. Even in front of them, he toyed with her body. His expression was one of surprise as if he had never been near a woman before. "Crown Prince¡ª" The Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Yu Shenzi, sharply noticed something. Forcing a smile, he asked, "Do you still remember who I am?" "Uh... you are..." Qi Guanglie looked at him, then at the officials kneeling by the bed, "you" for quite a while, but couldn¡¯t recall who he was. He didn¡¯t remember anyone! No, there was still one person he remembered! "I want my sister!" "Where¡¯s my sister!" "Where¡¯s the Princess sister!" He pushed the maid away and got out of bed, Perhaps having lain down for too long, his legs were weak and feeble, and as soon as he stepped out of bed, he stumbled forward. Fortunately, Yu Shenzi was quick to catch him. "Be careful, Your Highness!" Yu Shenzi helped him stand firmly. In the next moment, he was fiercely pushed away. Qi Guanglie was barefoot, disheveled, and unconcerned with his disordered clothing as he frantically searched and called for someone, "Where¡¯s my sister? Where have you hidden my sister? Sister, I want my sister!" He still remembered Qi Bingshuang. It seemed he only remembered Qi Bingshuang. The officials thought the Crown Prince had amnesia. But the consequences were obviously far more serious. When the Crown Prince couldn¡¯t find Qi Bingshuang, he began to cry, sitting on the ground and weeping, "Wuwu, sister, Princess sister, I want my sister! Hurry up and find my sister!" Everything pointed to a terrifying truth¡ªthe Crown Prince had become foolish! The Imperial Physicians who came to examine him were more frightened than the last, "Your Highness, Your Highness... seems to have burned his brain out..." The officials all drew a sharp breath, feeling both shocked and afraid: The Crown Prince has become foolish! What are we to do now? Who else could compete with Qi Wuya? Qi Wuya had never inquired about the Crown Prince¡¯s condition from the beginning to the end. Nor had he visited the Crown Prince Mansion. This was to avoid suspicion. To prevent people from misunderstanding that he wished harm upon the Crown Prince. Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan and Zhang E were also on guard against him, and thus they watched over the Crown Prince together. But the Crown Prince had become foolish nonetheless. Who could bear the blame? "Alas," the Imperial Physician sighed, "The Crown Prince has had ill fate, suddenly encountering such calamity." In the end, Prime Minister Xue made the final decision, attributing it to the Crown Prince¡¯s lack of fortune and a fated tribulation. As for whether or not others believed it, that was no longer important. Xue Wen Zhan glanced at Zhang E, then left the Crown Prince Mansion. Zhang E had received Xue Wen Zhan¡¯s look and, at midnight that very night, secretly went to the Prime Minister¡¯s Mansion. Prime Minister¡¯s Mansion study A single candle burned faintly. The light was too dim. Two people sat facing each other, their expressions indiscernible. But they both knew that the other harbored the intent to kill. Xue Wen Zhan said, "Regardless of whether the Crown Prince¡¯s misfortune was engineered by Qi Wuya or not, he can¡¯t be left alive." Zhang E deeply agreed, "Too sinister. I feel afraid just looking at him. Just like the Eldest Princess said, he harbors the heart to massacre the Royal Family¡¯s bloodline!" Xue Wen Zhan nodded, "Think about his upbringing. How could a wolf cub raised in the wild easily let go of those who have humiliated him?" "I¡¯ll follow all orders from Prime Minister Xue." Zhang E understood his meaning but still harbored some worry, "What about General Huo?" Huo Dingyuan¡¯s performance at court that day was clearly that of a man bought by Qi Wuya. Xue Wen Zhan thought the same but dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "No matter. Grandmaster Zheng has always been a bystander. Now, he must think to learn from him. Bunch of wallflowers, no real threat." Zhang E also thought little of Huo Dingyuan, "All he cares about in his head is that child Huo Yu. Does he not realize why Huo Ran took his wife to the border?" Xue Wen Zhan also grieved for his son-in-law, "Indeed. After Huo Yu just died, Huo Dingyuan blamed Huo Ran for not looking after his brother properly. But how else should he have cared? A child sustained by medicine is like fighting the King of Hell for his life; can he really win?" Zhang E had not considered this and was shocked, "Why didn¡¯t Prime Minister Xue say this at the time?" Xue Wen Zhan sighed, "Back then, Dingyuan was too confused. If I contradicted him, would it have done any good? Better to let him cool down before speaking with him." Zhang E nodded, "Pity that the Eldest Princess will have to suffer some." This discussion had strayed off topic. Xue Wen Zhan brought the conversation back, "The priority now is to deal with Qi Wuya." Zhang E immediately showed loyalty, "I will follow Prime Minister Xue¡¯s lead." Xue Wen Zhan then said, "Among all the princes, I feel the Seventh Prince still possesses the quality to ascend the throne. What do you think?" The mother¡¯s family of Seventh Prince Qi Guangxiu was weak, and he was soft by nature, easy to handle. "He has already sought me to arrange a marriage for him, to take the Great Governor¡¯s younger daughter as his wife. Congratulations, Great Governor!" When Xue Wen Zhan said this, he regretted that he only had one daughter, who had married into the Huo Family. Zhang E had not expected such good fortune, "Really?" Xue Wen Zhan nodded with a smile, "Of course, it¡¯s true." He was the head of the civil servants and could command the officials, but in terms of military force, he still needed Zhang E¡¯s support. Zhang E couldn¡¯t hide his elation, "Thank you, Prime Minister Xue." Seeing this, Xue Wen Zhan shared the plan with him, "A maidservant by the Crown Prince¡¯s side has been arranged to point to Qi Wuya¡¯s crimes. Tomorrow, we shall capitalize on the Crown Prince¡¯s feebleness to confront Qi Wuya, tying him to the late Emperor¡¯s death and the heir¡¯s harm, ensuring his guilt for the murder of the late Emperor and injuring the heir. Should he resist, Ah Tai will deal with him. In this chaos, disregarding his status as acting Crown Prince, he is but a worthless life." "Good." Zhang E understood the intent, to take the opportunity to kill Qi Wuya amidst the chaos. * Qi Wuya did not sleep well that night. He seemed to sense danger, plagued by nightmares. First, he dreamt of being bitten by snakes, then of being hacked to death, spending the entire night evading and counterattacking, utterly exhausted. As dawn broke S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Mo, carrying a lantern, hurriedly entered, "Mr. Jiu, there is news." Qi Wuya sat up, massaging his aching temples, and asked, "What news?" Han Mo said, "News from Han Chen, Prime Minister Xue and Governor Zhang plan to accuse you tomorrow and take advantage of the chaos to kill you, then to elevate the Seventh Prince to power." Qi Wuya listened and a cold smile formed on his lips, "Let¡¯s see if they have the ability to do so." Han Mo did not believe Prime Minister Xue and Zhang E had what it takes, but he was still worried, "There are a hundred thousand Imperial Army troops inside and outside the Imperial City. That does not even include the fifty thousand Huo Family Army left by General Huo to guard the Capital City. Over the years, we¡¯ve only gathered eighty thousand troops..." By comparison, the disparity in strength was still stark. Should anything go awry, years of toil could collapse in an instant. Chapter 252 - 251: Purgatory Chapter 252: Chapter 251: PurgatoryQi Wuya saw the hidden worry in his eyes and said, "Huo Dingyuan will not get involved." Han Mo looked surprised, "How does Mr. Jiu know that?" "Just a feeling." He got out of bed. A Palace Attendant came forward to attend to him, carefully helping him get dressed. Watching from the side, Han Mo felt a mix of emotions: A feeling? Is it really that trivial? A Palace Attendant brought over a basin of hot water. Qi Wuya washed his hands and face, then brushed his teeth, and finally sipped some hot tea to moisten his throat. After a while of busyness, the sky brightened. The Palace Attendant brought in breakfast. He invited Han Mo to sit down and eat with him. No one spoke. After breakfast. He drank more tea, rinsed his mouth, and then said, "It¡¯s time for the Four Great Families to change their leaders." Han Mo remained silent, not asking about his subsequent plans. The morning court was about to start. He was always diligent. He was always the first to enter the Qingzheng Hall. As he stepped up to the dais, he gazed at the resplendent Dragon Throne with reluctance, caressing it for quite some time before finally taking his seat on the left side below it. He consciously acted as the regent in place of the Crown Prince, never touching the Dragon Throne, his actions moderate, dutifully minding his business, yet still, they pushed him to this point. Enough. Let killing stop killing. He had waited long enough. Officials started to enter the hall one after another. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qi Wuya watched them, his gaze sweeping over each one, then looked toward the door¡ª "Zhang Tai" stood there with two long rows of soldiers. Presumably, Zhang E and Xue Wen Zhan, upon seeing him, would have the gall to challenge him. Everything went as he expected. When Xue Wen Zhan and Zhang E arrived, they locked eyes with "Zhang Tai" and confidently, with a smug smile, walked in. All the officials had arrived. With a gentle expression, Qi Wuya asked routinely, "Do any of the lords have matters to report?" As soon as his voice fell. Xue Wen Zhan stood out, bowed, and said, "This old servant has a matter to report." Qi Wuya smiled warmly, asking softly, "What matter does Prime Minister Xue wish to report?" Xue Wen Zhan¡¯s expression was solemn, his speech sharp, "This old servant has been investigating the truth behind the Crown Prince¡¯s imbecility. Last night, I finally uncovered the truth. The maid Jinzhu of the Crown Prince has confessed; it was the doing of the Ninth Prince. Including the late Emperor¡¯s demise and the Eldest Princess¡¯s imprisonment, it was all your handiwork. Qi Wuya, you have such audacity to plot against the late Emperor and harm the heir!" At these words, the court erupted into chaos. "How could this be?" "The Ninth Prince plotted against the late Emperor?" "What does Prime Minister Xue intend to do?" "Isn¡¯t the Crown Prince¡¯s brain damaged by fire? What does it have to do with the Ninth Prince?" "I see it clearly now; whenever there¡¯s an issue with someone of the Royal Family¡¯s bloodline, they blame it on the Ninth Prince. The Ninth Prince is pitiable; ever since he took over as acting Crown Prince, he¡¯s continuously been subjected to criticism!" "Even a clay figure has some anger. The Eldest Princess said so before, and now Prime Minister Xue says so too, time and time again, it never ends." ... Many officials whispered their discontent on behalf of Qi Wuya. But their positions were too minor in the face of the Four Great Families, and they didn¡¯t dare to speak loudly. Instead, the officials aligned with Prime Minister Xue¡¯s camp dared to speak out. Such as Imperial Censor Ma. He was a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince faction. His daughter was a concubine of the Crown Prince. Just not favored, that¡¯s all. "Before the late Emperor passed away from illness, we attended to him, and he said, ¡¯The ninth son¡¯s white hair is an ill omen, his nature is vengeful, fearing he may bring chaos to Beiqi.¡¯ Now it seems, the late Emperor had a premonition!" Imperial Censor Ma used the late Emperor¡¯s remarks to attack Qi Wuya. Through his words, the other officials suddenly found grounds for their verbal and written attacks. "The villain is wicked, plotting against his father and brothers, obliterating his humanity!" "How can Beiqi be governed by such a person!" "Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, please eliminate this scourge, purge the poison!" ... They clamored for the death of Qi Wuya. Seeing that the atmosphere was sufficiently stirred, Xue Wen Zhan glanced at Zhang E. Zhang E caught his gaze and immediately shouted out, "Great Commander Zhang!" "Zhang Tai" immediately led troops rushing in. These soldiers stood in several rows, at least a thousand strong. With swords in hand, their murderous aura was intense, and their presence made the spacious hall feel oppressively small. The atmosphere grew tense. The officials fell silent as if chilled to the bone. At that time, Xue Wen Zhan barked, "Qi Wuya, if you admit your guilt, considering the toils and hardships during your tenure as acting ruler, with no contributions but plenty of hard work, I can spare your life." "Spare me?" Qi Wuya laughed, "Prime Minister Xue has quite the audacity! Is Beiqi now your, Xue Wen Zhan¡¯s, domain?" Xue Wen Zhan: "..." He had misspoken. The excitement had gotten the better of him. He had called and beckoned in the imperial court for many years, but never had he felt as exhilarated as at this moment. The thrill of manipulating the court and deciding the fates of others was something he had never experienced in his many years as Prime Minister. "Qi Wuya, stop deflecting with irrelevant talk. You plotted against the late Emperor and harmed the heir, your sins are grievous, and today is the day you admit your guilt and are executed!" Saying this, Xue Wen Zhan looked toward "Zhang Tai," his eyes fierce, ready to give an order. Grand Tutor Zheng couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and stepped forward to say, "Prime Minister Xue, you can¡¯t convict the Ninth Prince based solely on the one-sided words of a palace attendant! It¡¯s utterly absurd!" "Grand Tutor Zheng, watch your words!" Xue Wen Zhan, not expecting him to speak for Qi Wuya at this moment, retorted angrily, "The Crown Prince has been your student since childhood, you are like a father to him his whole life, yet you speak for his murderer! Grand Tutor Zheng, flattering him chills our hearts, and you have betrayed the trust the late Emperor placed in you! Think carefully, Grand Tutor Zheng, is it us who are absurd, or is it you?" "You all, you all¡ª" Overcome with anger, Grand Tutor Zheng was nearly breathless, "In the royal family, it is better to bear wolves than sheep. Regardless of Ninth Prince¡¯s nature, he now indeed has made contributions to the state and is the best successor to the throne. Prime Minister Xue, with Da He¡¯s forces still looming outside Yongzhou City and the foreign threat not eliminated, killing a great general first is a huge taboo!" "So according to Grand Tutor Zheng, if the Ninth Prince can drive out Da He, he is a wise ruler? What a joke!" "Prime Minister, don¡¯t twist my words. The evidence is insufficient; you can¡¯t kill the Ninth Prince!" "Enough! Grand Tutor Zheng, you¡¯ve grown senile!" Xue Wen Zhan, running out of patience, looked at "Zhang Tai" and ordered, "Great Commander Zhang, push aside Grand Tutor Zheng and kill Qi Wuya!" "Yes!" "Zhang Tai" obeyed the command, pulling Grand Tutor Zheng away, then signaled the soldiers to attack. In the next moment, several soldiers wielding long swords charged towards Qi Wuya at the head of the hall. However, before they could reach Qi Wuya, they were overtaken by several other soldiers who beheaded them. Blood splattered across the floor. The strong smell of blood confused the crowd: What was happening? Why did the soldiers kill the wrong person? What was even more baffling was that the soldiers began to fight each other. As the killing continued, the situation became clear. The soldiers were all dressed in black uniforms, but some tore off their outer layer, revealing black and red uniforms beneath. Clearly, these were soldiers from different factions. Xue Wen Zhan, witnessing this scene, was shocked, "Zhang Tai, what is happening?" "Zhang Tai" too appeared "panicked," "Quick, Prime Minister, we must go, Qi Wuya has secretly switched some of the Imperial Army!" Not only were the two factions fighting inside the hall, but the Imperial Army outside was also at odds. In an instant, the Imperial Palace turned into purgatory. "Someone help!" Xue Wen Zhan yelled in terror, "Qi Wuya is rebelling!" He had not expected Qi Wuya to have placed his own people within the Imperial Army, and judging from the situation, there were quite a few of them. "Zhang Tai" protected him as they retreated from the hall, making a show of shouting, "Protect the officials! Protect the officials!" His call for protection was actually a signal to kill those ministers who opposed Qi Wuya. "Save me!" "Don¡¯t kill me!" "Prime Minister Xue, Governor Zhang, help!" "Stay back!" "I was personally appointed by the late Emperor as Imperial Censor, you can¡¯t¡ª" ... Blood sprayed everywhere. One official after another fell dead. Zhang E had long joined the fray, his eyes bloodshot and his teeth clenched, fighting against Qi Wuya, "You planned all of this! Qi Wuya, the death of these officials today is your eternal sin! In future history books, you will be condemned for usurping and causing chaos¡ª" "Governor Zhang, rather than worrying about this, you should be worrying about the fate of the Zhang Family!" Qi Wuya let out a scoff, flipped midair, his long sword dancing in his hands, moving like flowing water. Zhang E had not anticipated Qi Wuya¡¯s martial arts skills and was forced to retreat several steps. Squinting, Qi Wuya took the chance to press the attack, "Anyway, whether it¡¯s sin or merit, do you really think I care?" Chapter 253 - 252: God of Slaughter Chapter 253: Chapter 252: God of SlaughterZhang E¡¯s pupils dilated in shock at Wuya¡¯s rhetoric. "Truly, a beast!" He spat out a curse, swinging his long sword even faster. But Wuya was faster than he was. After a dozen more exchanges, The two fought in disarray, each sustaining injuries. Wuya¡¯s mourning clothes had changed color. Bloodied and with his crimson robe fluttering, he spun several times in the air and finally found an opening. He stepped on Zhang E¡¯s shoulders and slid his sword across his neck in a flash. "Bang!" The sword from Zhang E¡¯s hand fell to the ground. Afterward, his body heavily knelt down. A deep gash on his neck gushed blood. His eyes were still wide open, seemingly unable to believe this would be his end. "Governor Zhang¡ª" He lowered his head, close to Zhang E¡¯s ear, his laugh ghastly, "Now, the beast sends you on your way. In the netherworld, remember to accuse me before the Father Emperor." As soon as he finished speaking, he closed his eyes, exerted force with both hands, and severed his head. The headless body fell to the ground. Wuya stood upright, stepping over corpses one after another, holding the bloody head in one hand and the blood-dripping long sword in the other, walking out of the Qingzheng Hall like a god of death. Outside the hall, The two sides were still fighting fiercely. Beneath the haphazardly fallen bodies were rivers of blood. Wuya stepped over the fresh blood and slowly raised the head in his hand, "Great Governor Zhang E and Prime Minister Xue Wen Zhan plotted rebellion; now, one of the chief culprits has been killed by me. All who were coerced¡ªif you lay down your weapons, your crimes will not be pursued." He didn¡¯t want to massacre the Imperial Palace. As long as they complied obediently. The soldiers were indeed obedient, stunned upon seeing Zhang E¡¯s head. Had their siege failed? What now? They looked at one another, uncertain. Some threw down their weapons. Once one led the way, the rest followed smoothly. The fighting ceased in an instant. The defeat was certain. "Ninth Prince, it was Xue Wen Zhan who forced me! I didn¡¯t want to rebel! He was the one who coerced me! He has long harbored traitorous intentions, wanting to become Emperor!" Pretending to be "Zhang Tai," Han Chen was originally guarding Xue Wen Zhan; now, he shouted and thrust a sword toward him. Xue Wen Zhan had not expected a sword from his most trusted "Zhang Tai" from behind. He turned around, looking at him incredulously, "You, you¡ª" "Zhang Tai" continued his pretense, voicing his hatred, "Prime Minister Xue, you¡¯ve doomed my Zhang Family! You deserve to die!" As he spoke, he drew his long sword and knelt before Wuya, "Ninth Prince, please see clearly, I was deceived by Xue Wen Zhan! Ninth Prince, I have never harbored rebellious intentions!" "Bang!" The sound of Xue Wen Zhan¡¯s body falling dead followed. His eyes wide open, he never knew who killed him until his death. Wuya couldn¡¯t conveniently kill Xue Wen Zhan because he was the Prime Minister, the head of all officials. Even though he was the ringleader of the coup, he hadn¡¯t been the first to draw a sword against him. But "Zhang Tai" could! "Zhang Tai" was his ally. He was killed by the hand of an ally. "Very well. Since you are not treacherous, then surrender yourself!" Wuya voiced his agreement. Hearing this, "Zhang Tai" immediately dropped his long sword. Then, he was seized by two soldiers and taken away. This journey was like truly swapping places with the real Zhang Tai. In the eyes of the world, the Great Commander of the Imperial Army, Zhang Tai, in collusion with Prime Minister Xue and Governor Zhang, committed rebellion. Later, Governor Zhang was killed by Qi Wuya, the Ninth Prince, recognizing his defeat, he killed Prime Minister Xue and surrendered. A man greedy for life and afraid of death, living a life of cowardly subservience. And who would care about the fate of such a contemptible person? "Criminal Xue Wen Zhan, Zhang E, you committed atrocities against the state, although you have been executed for your crimes, your families are also implicated. Guards¡ª" Qi Wuya ordered with a stern voice, "Confiscate their properties, and as for their families and servants, regardless of gender, without age limit, execute them without question!" He was determined to eradicate them root and branch! He would not even spare children! Such an order... was truly cruel. "Ninth Prince, please reconsider¡ª" Grandmaster Zheng, who had earlier spoken on behalf of Qi Wuya, was deliberately protected by "Zhang Tai" and hadn¡¯t been hurt at all. But he wasn¡¯t the kind to fear death. Seeing Qi Wuya deal with the Xue and Zhang families in such a manner, he couldn¡¯t stand it, "Ninth Prince, Prime Minister Xue and Governor Zhang indeed did wrong, but their wives, daughters, and young children are innocent. Moreover, in Beiqi, there is no precedent for killing women and children." In his view, the main culprits had been eliminated; the disaster should not extend to the families. But he knew that Qi Wuya¡¯s personal killing of Zhang E meant that he was irreconcilable with the Xue and Zhang families and was bound to eradicate them root and branch. And all he could do was plead for the lives of their wives and children, to secure them a sliver of hope. "If there is no such precedent, then I will set this precedent." Qi Wuya had a determined look in his eyes, and his intent to kill was unalterable. Seeing this, Grandmaster Zheng knelt down to persuade him, "Not long ago you said that as long as the ringleaders are killed by you, those who were coerced into following them and lay down their weapons would not be held accountable for their crimes. Ninth Prince, you are soon to be the future Monarch, and a Monarch¡¯s word is his bond. I hope the Ninth Prince will extend grace beyond the law and deal leniently with the families of the Xue and Zhang clans." Qi Wuya was very displeased, his face grew cold as he countered, "Grandmaster just now said that it is better to have a child be a wolf than a sheep, so why now such feminine compassion?" Grandmaster Zheng shook his head, clasped his hands together, and implored earnestly, "Indeed, I said that, but Your Highness, though you have the heart of a tiger or a wolf, you should not lose the simplicity and kindness of a cow or a sheep. A true Monarch wields power without being controlled by it, only then can he be a wise ruler. Your Highness, please think it over." He was the instructor of the Crown Prince, always teaching him how to be a ruler. The Crown Prince was obstinate and disliked state affairs. Now that the new Emperor had arrived, he unconsciously took on the responsibility of a teacher once again. Regrettably, his earnest instructions fell on deaf ears -- one who didn¡¯t like to listen, and another who wouldn¡¯t. "Grandmaster Zheng, I have thought it over thrice already, you may step down." Qi Wuya was suppressing his anger, he waved his hand, not wanting to waste time with him. He still had to deal with subsequent matters, such as comforting the surviving Ministers, arranging for the positions left by the deceased Ministers, consolidating and reorganizing the Imperial Army... He was very busy, too busy to argue about such trivial matters. Grandmaster Zheng had not expected him to be so stubborn, and stubbornly advised, "Your Highness, the influence of the Xue and Zhang families is deeply rooted and intricate. Once uprooted, great chaos may ensue! Especially since you have not yet ascended to the throne, this order... is truly tyrannical and disadvantageous for you!" He felt that Qi Wuya had the potential to become a tyrant. He couldn¡¯t allow him to continue down this path of tyranny. Qi Wuya was indeed a tyrant. Having just killed, he was still in a state of excitation from the bloodshed, and Grandmaster Zheng¡¯s incessant chatter was nothing but a challenge to his self-control. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He tightly gripped his long sword, barely resisting the urge to thrust it forward. "Grandmaster Zheng, do not force me to take harsher measures against you!" He was both warning and intimidating. Grandmaster Zheng bowed deeply, his words filled with a tragic tone, "If my death can prevent Your Highness from making a mistake, then I am willing to die." Qi Wuya: "..." Heh, such a fearless old man! In the midst of that chaos, he didn¡¯t shout, didn¡¯t hide, no, he did shout and call out, telling the soldiers to stop. Pathetically naive. Does he not realize that absolute power speaks the loudest? The two were at an impasse¡ª "Your Highness¡ª" A familiar voice called out. He turned at the sound to see Huo Dingyuan leading the imposing Huo Family Army. Huo Dingyuan arrived at the palace with perfect timing, witnessing many horrors along the way, yet his expression remained calm. Stopping ten steps away from Qi Wuya, he knelt down directly, "Your servant has come late to rescue, and I hope Your Highness will forgive me." His posture was one of submission. Qi Wuya was pleased with his understanding and said with a raised hand, "General Huo, please rise. Your being late is something I am very glad about." He implied that he was glad Huo Dingyuan had not been involved in the conflict. Chapter 254 - 253 Declining Chapter 254: Chapter 253 DecliningHuo Dingyuan responded to his words and said, "Since Your Highness is pleased, then please forgive the crimes of the Xue and Zhang families. The mastermind has been executed; why should the weak women and children bear the guilt?" He came with the grand and imposing Huo Family Army to plead for mercy. Qi Wuya glanced at the army behind him, pondered for a while, and then smiled and nodded: "Let¡¯s follow General Huo¡¯s advice. Children under five shall be spared the death penalty and taken along with the female family members to the Imperial Music Bureau." The Imperial Music Bureau was an official brothel. As long as someone intervened, the convicted slaves there could avoid disaster. He knew Huo Dingyuan¡¯s legitimate daughter and grandson were at the Zhang Residence. He was saying this now also for their sake. "Your Highness is wise." Huo Dingyuan, having received the answer he wanted, then ordered his deputy to lead the troops to assist with the cleanup of the bodies and treatment of the wounded. Qi Wuya consoled the surviving officials, decided to discuss state affairs in court the next day, and then sent the soldiers to escort them back. To say ¡¯escorting¡¯ was more like monitoring. Once the mask was torn off, there was no need for pretense anymore. Qi Wuya began to reorganize the Imperial Army, appointing Han Chen as Commander of the Imperial Army, and placed his own trusted people in some key positions. After that, he discussed the patrolling and shift changes of the Imperial Palace guards. He was busy until nightfall. Only then did he return to Taian Palace and drank a cup of hot tea. A palace attendant brought dinner. The Han brothers were in attendance at his side. Han Chen, carefree and laughing, said, "Congratulations to Ninth Prince, you will achieve your wish tomorrow." In his view, the officials were so frightened that tomorrow they would naturally petition Qi Wuya to ascend to the throne. Qi Wuya thought so too, but he did not get carried away, his gaze solemn as he said, "The Crown Prince is still here. We need a little more time." Indeed. The next morning¡¯s court session. Great General Huo Dingyuan led the officials to request Qi Wuya to ascend to the throne. Qi Wuya declined: "The Crown Prince is still here. We should do our best to treat his illness." In fact, countless people had tried to treat the Crown Prince, but he had not improved. Disliking medicine, he had also grown increasingly violent, injuring many Imperial Physicians and civilian doctors. Now, there were not many who dared go to the Crown Prince Mansion. "The Crown Prince¡¯s foolishness is set; it is beyond human power to change. Beiqi is in turmoil within and under threat from without, urgently requiring Your Highness to take charge. Please, Your Highness, give priority to the greater good and ascend to the throne soon." These words were spoken by Minister of the Ministry of Justice Yu Shenzi. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He lived up to his name of cautiousness, never involving himself in the princes¡¯ struggles, but recently he had spoken in favor of Qi Wuya at crucial moments, and now he was clearly in his camp. Qi Wuya still refused: "Yu Shenzi¡¯s concern for Beiqi is clear to me. But the Crown Prince was established by the late Emperor. Filial piety and brotherly respect are paramount; I dare not be disrespectful in the least." The officials: "..." Such hypocrisy! Listening to him, it seemed as if he wasn¡¯t the one who initiated a massacre the day before. To say he cared about his reputation, he privately raised loyal soldiers and slaughtered within the palace. To say he didn¡¯t care about his reputation, they asked him to ascend to the throne, yet he acted with all the decorum of reverence and filial piety. They really couldn¡¯t understand this future Beiqi Emperor. The Eldest Princess said he was extremely hypocritical, with thoughts profound, and indeed it was true. "Ninth Prince, you have a heart of filial piety and fraternal duty. The late Emperor would be consoled in his afterlife. However, the late Emperor¡¯s final concern was for Beiqi. Your ascension to stabilize the court is the truest act of filial piety!" The one who spoke was Tao Hua, who had just been appointed as Imperial Censor. He was subordinate to the former Imperial Censor Ma Ting, always suppressed, and now he had risen with Qi Wuya¡¯s support, naturally speaking on his behalf. He also had the ability; once he spoke, he hit the key point. There were bursts of agreement: "Mr. Tao¡¯s words make sense." "Please, Your Highness, consider carefully the true meaning of great filial piety." "We ask Your Highness to choose an auspicious time to ascend to the throne and stabilize the court and the people¡¯s hearts." ... They all knelt down in a rush. He was obviously very sincere in his heart. But Wuya still did not agree. He insisted on treating the Crown Prince and handed over the heavy responsibility of caring for him to Huo Dingyuan. After leaving the court session, Huo Dingyuan went straight to the Crown Prince Mansion. The Crown Prince had truly lost his mind. In such chilly weather, he was wearing only his thin inner garments, frolicking and playing tag with the Palace Attendants. After all, he was a grown man, and even in his folly, he still knew how to seek pleasure. He was being improper with the Palace Attendants. He showed no mercy or tenderness. After harassing one, he would go after another. The whole Crown Prince Mansion was a den of debauchery, like a brothel. Huo Dingyuan watched for a while and suddenly understood Wuya¡¯s intentions: where was his sense of filial piety and fraternal duty? He simply could not tolerate the Crown Prince. Even if he was a fool. Thus, if Wuya was to agree to ascend to the throne, the Crown Prince must not be spared. The Crown Prince was the Eldest Princess¡¯s most cherished brother, the person she cared for the most. There was a vendetta between him and the Eldest Princess for the murder of her child. Wuya had arranged for him to take care of the Crown Prince. The answer was clear¡ªWuya wanted him to kill the Crown Prince. So, should he kill him or not? Huo Dingyuan watched the Crown Prince, who was laughing foolishly in his joy, and should have stepped forward to stop him, should have reminded him to put on more clothes in the cold, should have scolded the servants for their poor care, should have warned him not to be harmed by his indulgence in women... As a subject, there were many things he should have done. But he did nothing. He turned away, looked at the darkening sky, and muttered a sigh, "That plum blossom wine is really something." * Beiqi Palace Taian Palace Wuya was still dealing with petitions as usual. Now the contents of the petitions were uniformly pleading for him to ascend to the throne. Finding them uninteresting, he threw them aside, not wanting to look anymore. Han Mo helped to tidy up, picking up the petitions and stacking them on the desk. After thinking for a while, he still asked, "Does Your Highness plan to imitate Grand Ancestor Qi and decline the throne three times?" Wuya shook his head, "I don¡¯t have that kind of leisure." Han Mo didn¡¯t understand, "Then why keep refusing?" Wuya regarded him as a confidant and did not hide his thoughts: "I¡¯m waiting for the Crown Prince to die." Han Mo frowned, "In his current state, the Crown Prince is better off than dead. If anything happens to him, Your Highness will be suspected again." He no longer called him "Ninth Prince." After all, a person who was about to ascend to the throne needed to be addressed differently. "As a subordinate, I know Your Highness doesn¡¯t care about reputation and other ethereal things, but even Emperor Da He has begun to consider his reputation, probably influenced by that person. That purely good¡ª" He mentioned Sang Yan, planning to use her as a pretext to persuade Wuya to care about his reputation. Wuya thought of Sang Yan and did indeed hesitate for a moment, but still said, "The Crown Prince must die. And he must die by Huo Dingyuan¡¯s hand." Saying this, his eyes glinted as he fixed his gaze on him, adding a reminder, "You might want to think about the reason behind this." Han Mo was extremely intelligent. With the reminder, he quickly understood the implications: Huo Dingyuan commanded fifty thousand troops of the Huo Family Army, and with his eldest legitimate son Huo Ran holding military power on the border, the Huo Family¡¯s influence was vast, naturally arousing the King¡¯s wariness. But if Huo Dingyuan killed the Crown Prince, he would have a vulnerability. Of course, this weakness would not be enough to restrain the formidable Huo Family. Yet it signified that he had offered his loyalty to the heavenly family. Wuya needed to know Huo Dingyuan¡¯s loyalty and controllability. In this way, he could eliminate the Crown Prince, avenge and settle his grudges, and also subdue this fierce tiger, killing two birds with one stone. Han Mo, having thought everything through, couldn¡¯t help asking, "Will General Huo really kill the Crown Prince?" Wuya didn¡¯t speak, just quietly watched him with a smile. Chapter 255 - 254 Premonition Chapter 255: Chapter 254 PremonitionThat smile was profound and inscrutable. For a moment, Han Mo couldn¡¯t understand it. "No rush. Just wait." Qi Wuya said that, so Han Mo waited patiently. That wait lasted three days. Three days later, at night, Beiqi Crown Prince Qi Guanglie was caught in a storm and died upon two maidservants. He was only twenty-four years old. After his death, Qi Wuya was "extremely grieved," took time off from court for three days, and gave him a grand burial with imperial honors. He later chose an auspicious day to ascend the throne and declare himself Emperor. When the news reached Rong Ye, he was in the midst of hosting a messenger from Quanzhou. The messenger hailed from the Dark Guard Team. His name was Yuan Tang, a young man slender as a crane. This time he brought a portrait of a woman. "This woman named He Hongzhao is unparalleled in both medicine and poison, but alas, her medical heart is corrupt and she is used by Ninth Prince Qi Wuya. She once poisoned the Emperor, nearly harming the Emperor¡¯s lineage, and then poisoned Quanzhou, causing the death of nearly a thousand citizens¡ªher crimes are enormous and heinous. The Emperor detests her and has tried to kill her several times unsuccessfully; she may now be in Beiqi. Marshal Rong, please send someone to eliminate her." Yuan Tang spoke earnestly as he explained the situation. Rong Ye looked at the portrait and listened to Yuan Tang¡¯s words then called over Yang Che and another five people. Yang Che and the others had previously been to Beiqi to spread rumors and were fairly familiar with the situation there. Thus, Rong Ye assigned this task to them, "This is a Da He traitor, loyal to Beiqi, wielding her poison technique to commit crimes. You are to infiltrate Beiqi and secretly seek and eliminate her." Yang Che and the five responded in unison, "Understood." After taking the portrait, they left the main tent. Rong Ye then wrote the recent news of the political situation in Beiqi into a secret letter and handed it to Yuan Tang, "There has been a major change in the Beiqi political situation; this letter must be delivered to the Emperor as quickly as possible." Yuan Tang bowed his head in response, "Marshal Rong, rest assured, I understand." He bowed and was about to leave. "Hold on¡ª" Rong Ye stopped him, calculating the timing and analyzing, "The recent messages from Quanzhou have all encountered dangers, small or large, on the way, delaying them considerably. It indicates that the postal station routes are being watched by Beiqi¡¯s men. Traveling back alone, you are certainly in danger. Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: I will send a team of soldiers to secretly protect you. We¡¯ll also take the opportunity to clear out Beiqi¡¯s enemies and ensure the postal routes are safe for future use." "Thank you, Marshal Rong." Yuan Tang rested for a night in the camp, and the next day, he rode back homeward. On the way, he learned of the news that the Emperor had left Quanzhou and thus changed routes, following the Emperor¡¯s trail. * Emperor Da He¡¯s convoy kept moving towards the Capital City. More than ten days passed in a blink of an eye. Sang Yan had been sitting in the carriage for so many days that her bottom could barely take it. Out of pity for her condition, He Ying stopped and spent two days modifying the carriage, greatly enlarging its space. In short, he turned the carriage into a massive, mobile bed. He even laid several layers of soft woolen carpets inside the carriage. The shock absorption was excellent. She could even sleep on it. The afternoon sun was warm and gentle. It indeed was a perfect time for a nap. Sang Yan fell asleep. But she had a nightmare. In the dream, it was Qi Wuya, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. His eyes, full of malice and obsession, were firmly fixed on her. "You can¡¯t escape." "Sang Yan, I have told you before, He Ying can¡¯t beat me." He gripped the collar of her dress, his sinister voice spraying at her ear. It penetrated everywhere. "No... no!" "Qi Wuya, get away..." He Ying was sleeping beside Sang Yan. He had heard her voice and thought she had awoken. But as soon as he opened his eyes, he heard those three words he detested immensely. "Ah Yan¡ª" He watched the person talking in her sleep¡ªshe lay beside him, her delicate eyebrows tightly furrowed, her forehead covered in fine sweat, as if trapped in some painful, unbearable nightmare. Disregarding his jealousy, he gently pushed her shoulder with a heart full of pity, "Ah Yan, wake up." His warm voice seemed like sunshine piercing through dark clouds, instantly dispelling the darkness. Sang Yan suddenly opened her eyes, gasping for air. "Xinyuan, I had a nightmare." She sat up and threw herself into his arms, clinging tightly to his waist. Such a terrifying nightmare. In her dream, Jiang Ke died a tragic death. In her dream, Qi Wuya plunged his sword into He Ying¡¯s body. In her dream, Qi Wuya pinned her down, coercing her to plead for mercy. "That dream was so frightening." Everything she feared the most within her heart. Her tears rolled down uncontrollably. She was sobbing, her shoulders shaking. She rarely showed such vulnerability. Towards Qi Wuya, it seemed she had developed an instinctual sense of fear. How could she not be afraid? S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had almost taken everything away from her. "Don¡¯t be afraid. Ah Yan, I¡¯m here." He Ying listened to her, his heart filled with both pity and hatred¡ª Pity for her miseries and harm endured, hatred for the deep shadow Qi Wuya had left on her. He wished he could tear Qi Wuya to pieces right then and there. "Ah Yan, we are about to enter the Capital City. Don¡¯t be afraid, once we¡¯re back in the palace, everything will be alright." He reached out to caress her soft face, bending down to kiss away the tears on her cheek one by one. He tenderly promised, "I swear, I won¡¯t let you face Qi Wuya alone again. I¡¯ll be there for everything." No. He wouldn¡¯t let Qi Wuya see her again. That beast didn¡¯t deserve to lay eyes on his Ah Yan. "I¡¯m just very worried." Sang Yan, soothed by his reassurance, gradually calmed her anxious heart. "And I have a bad feeling." Her red lips pouted, her eyebrows knitting together once more. Seeing this, He Ying smoothed her furrowed brows playfully, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t you trust your own husband?" Sang Yan glared at him, a teasing smile on her lips, "Of course not. If I don¡¯t trust you, whom can I trust? We are the closest people in this world. I will always stand by your side." No matter win or lose. She would advance and retreat with him. He Ying looked into her tender and affectionate eyes, his heart melting into a pool of water. He couldn¡¯t help but kiss her eyes, whispering, "Ah Yan, if one day I come face to face with Qi Wuya, you must trust me like this, understand?" Such a confrontation. These words were what Sang Yan truly did not want to hear. During her time in Puluo Country, she had seen him suffer too many injuries. If she could, she wished for him to be safe and sound. She held him tightly, burying her face in his chest, "Xinyuan, you must be well. I believe in you, and you must believe in me. No matter what I encounter, no matter where I am, my heart is always with you." He Ying listened at first, feeling completely at ease, but then frowned at her words, "Where else do you want to go, apart from being by my side?" He firmly believed he would protect her well, not allowing her to leave his sight. Little did he know that everything was predestined. Life goes in circles, fortunes come and go, and strong desires cannot be forced. "Ah Yan, rather than fretting over nothing, think about¡ª" He said tenderly, with a smile, pinching her ear gently, his warm breath teasing into her ear, "how to reward your husband once we return to the palace? Hm?" Chapter 256 - 255: Return to Du Chapter 256: Chapter 255: Return to DuSang Yan felt her face flush with a sudden warmth as she listened to his words. She pushed him away, coyly turning her head, "What are you saying? I don¡¯t understand." This man couldn¡¯t go a day without driving. Throughout the journey, his hints had nearly become overt declarations. Although they had already been very intimate, they hadn¡¯t yet broken through the final barrier. It was really going to happen. She was still nervous. He Ying, pushed away, wasn¡¯t annoyed; pulling her hand to his chest, he smiled and asked, "Place your hand over your heart, can you truly bear to leave me as a monk forever?" He swore: he was definitely the only Emperor in the history of Da He who, after establishing an Empress, was still forced to live in chaste solitude. And this Empress was the most precious in his heart. He couldn¡¯t get angry or scold her. He could only spoil her. Sang Yan¡¯s hand rested on her own chest, feeling her uncontrolled heartbeat. It was all because of his teasing. She pulled her hand away, her face red, and said, "I know. Let¡¯s talk about it when we get back." Seeing her face blushing as if it would bleed, He Ying couldn¡¯t bear to tease her further. If they continued, knowing her shy nature, she might ignore him for days. In the end, he would be the one to suffer. He Ying sighed, holding her in his arms, "Alright, Ah Yan, I¡¯ll hold you as you sleep; you won¡¯t have nightmares anymore. Go back to sleep, I¡¯ll wake you when we arrive." "Okay." Sang Yan nestled into his broad and warm embrace, adjusting her position, breathing in his pleasant scent, let out a comfortable hum, and soon, she fell asleep. She slept until it was dark. The procession had also reached the Capital City. Officials from the Capital City, having received the news early, came to welcome the Emperor. They waited at the gates of the Capital City, forming a long queue. On both sides of the queue were soldiers holding torches. The outermost were the onlooking commoners. When the commoners learned of the events in Quanzhou, their adoration for the Emperor grew, and seeing the slowly arriving procession, they spontaneously shouted, "We welcome the Emperor back to the Capital! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Their voices resonated through the skies. And also woke Sang Yan. She opened her eyes, taken aback, "We¡¯ve arrived?" He Ying nodded with a smile, "Mhm, we¡¯ve arrived." Sang Yan¡¯s face lit up with joy as she lifted the curtain to look outside¡ª Two rows of burning torches lit up the night. She could clearly see the Sang Family at the very front of the line of officials. The original host¡¯s father, Sang Kun, along with his wife Ms. Lin and son Sang Jue, stood on their tiptoes, craning their necks to look over. The trio must have been scared by her disappearance as well, right? Thinking of the reason for her disappearance, she inevitably thought of Jiang Ke, felt a pang of pain in her heart, and was somewhat uncertain how to face Jiang¡¯s parents. Not all of Jiang¡¯s family had come. It was Jiang¡¯s father who had come. As the Marquis Zhongyi, it was natural for him to come. Sang Yan looked at him and felt he had aged even more, his brows knitted with worry¡ªcould he be concern for his younger son, Jiang Ke? Jiang Ke... She withdrew her hand, and the curtain blocked her view, cutting her off from Jiang¡¯s father¡¯s troubled face. But not seeing him didn¡¯t mean she could forget. Jiang Ke was dead. Both brothers of the Jiang Family were dead. And both deaths were inseparably linked to her. The shadow of the husband-killing fate loomed over her again. Her heart grew heavy, and even breathing became uncomfortable. He Ying had been paying close attention to her subtle expressions and saw that she had glanced at Jiang¡¯s family. Seeing her pained expression now, he knew the reason. "Ah Yan, I will take good care of Jiang¡¯s family." He wrapped her in his arms, consoling her, "Don¡¯t think about him anymore. It¡¯s all in the past. The end he met, he had his own reasons for it." Actually, what he wanted to say was that Jiang Ke deserved his fate and reaped the consequences of his actions. But the dead should be respected. He didn¡¯t want to speak ill of him and make Sang Yan uncomfortable. Sang Yan also knew that Jiang Ke had brought misfortune upon himself, but emotions often trampled over reason, making her heart ache and feel bitter, "I just... think it¡¯s such a pity." Jiang Ke was so young. Only eighteen years old. Such a beautiful age. Every time she thought about it, she felt suffocated with discomfort. "It¡¯s too much of a pity." "Mm. I know." He kissed her forehead and urged her to compose herself, "The officials have come to welcome us, you still have to meet them." Sang Yan understood the importance of appearances, hurriedly asking someone to bring over a copper mirror, first fixing her hair, then adjusting her clothing, before taking He Ying¡¯s hand and stepping down from the carriage. This was the moment that attracted everyone¡¯s attention. All present kneeled, "Long live the Emperor, long may he reign¡ª" As for the woman by the Emperor¡¯s side? How could a woman who had been abducted by bandits become the Empress? Besides, the wedding hadn¡¯t even taken place yet! "Long live the Empress, may she live for a thousand, thousand years!" The one shouting this was Sang Kun. And he was the only one shouting. The scene became quite awkward. Sang Yan also felt embarrassed, a queen hailed by only one¡¯s own father is worse than not being hailed at all. The original owner¡¯s father really knew how to "save face" for her! She felt that there could be no greater social demise on such a public stage. He Ying hadn¡¯t expected the other ministers to pretend blindness, neglecting to greet Sang Yan. Could the woman he esteemed so highly be treated with such disregard? "How dare you!" He asked sternly, with a cold expression, "Is this the manner in which you greet the Empress?" Most ministers shrank back in silence. But there were always those fearless of death, even risking it to speak out. "Without a proper marriage ceremony, how can one be deemed the Empress?" This statement came from the Imperial Censor, Feng Ji. He had repeatedly pressed He Ying in court to produce an heir, eventually angering him and being stripped of his official position and sent home. But after He Ying left the Capital City, he reinstated Feng Ji¡¯s position and put him in charge of overseeing the officials. There was no choice, his experience was significant, and his integrity was unquestionable, able to suppress those demons and goblins. Actually, He Ying held the Feng Family in high regard, and respecting Feng Yicheng also meant showing deference to his grandfather, Feng Ji, but this old man always had a habit of leading the charge in saying things he did not like to hear. "Imperial Censor Feng, regardless of whether there was a grand wedding or not, she is the Empress in my heart." He stood up for Sang Yan and supported her. Feng Ji thought of the rumors¡ªMiss Sang had been in exile overseas, even mingling with the Beiqi Prince, her purity uncertain, how could she be Empress Da He? Not to mention she was a widow with a husband-killing fate! Previously, following the Emperor¡¯s whims was their ineptitude. Now, they could not concede, no matter what. "Your Majesty, please be cautious with your words!" Feng Ji knelt on the ground, his expression serious, "With ancestral regulations above us, I hope the Emperor will act according to the proper procedures. Without having had the grand wedding, without bestowing the phoenix seal, without paying respects to the ancestors, how can she be called the Empress?" Now, in front of all the officials and people, it wasn¡¯t good to directly confront the Emperor. The Emperor had always been soft-hearted rather than hard-headed. To injure his pride would mean none could bear the consequences. In any case, there was no rush, they could simply drag it out. He Ying was not easily fooled, and once his stubborn temperament was aroused, he demanded they lower their heads, "Regulations are dead, people are alive. I am the sovereign of this nation, and if I say she is the Empress¡ª" He was prepared to assert his royal authority. "Your Majesty¡ª" Sang Yan did not want He Ying to return to the capital and immediately sour relations with officials, so she spoke out, "I am tired, let¡¯s return to the palace." He Ying could clearly see through her intentions, pausing, he nonetheless complied with her wish, "Then let¡¯s return to the palace first." Sang Kun, seeing how things were, timidly spoke out, "Your Majesty, I have come to welcome my daughter back home. My wife has longed so much for her daughter she¡¯s nearly cried her eyes blind." As a father, naturally, he missed his daughter after being separated for months. And his wife, Ms. Lin, had been incessantly weeping for Sang Yan these past few months. Now that she had returned, naturally, there should be a family reunion. He Ying also knew that Sang Kun¡¯s words made sense¡ªafter all, they were family, and there must be countless things to say after months apart. But how could he feel at ease? Thinking it over, he asked with a stern face, "Sang Kun, you¡¯ve lost the Empress once; do you intend to lose her again?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 257 - 256: Reunion Chapter 257: Chapter 256: ReunionSang Kun was taken aback. He thought that since his youngest daughter had become Princess Consort Sang and his eldest daughter had become the Empress and was so honored by the Emperor, the Emperor should also show some courtesy to him as the "father-in-law." However, he didn¡¯t expect that the Emperor would reproach him in front of all the civil and military officials. In an instance, his old face turned red with embarrassment! "Your Majesty¡ª" He awkwardly lowered his head and stuttered, "It is this old official¡¯s incompetence. It is this old official¡¯s mistake. I hope the Emperor forgives me." At that point, the fault had been several months prior. He didn¡¯t expect the Emperor to still hold onto it. Indeed, given the Emperor¡¯s affection for his eldest daughter, the longer he held onto it, the more it signified a favor. Mrs. Lin was also kneeling beside her husband, and seeing the Emperor angry, she hurriedly bowed her head and said, "May the Emperor calm his anger, and please forgive us." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing this, Sang Yan could also not bear it and spoke out, "Everyone, please rise." She could treat her biological father coldly, but she was still kind to her biological mother. Especially as the latter looked wan and had puffy eyes, having aged much more since her disappearance. Clearly, her disappearance had also been a blow to her. A mother and daughter¡¯s hearts are connected. She could feel her mother¡¯s sincere affection. Seeing Sang Yan speak up, He Ying naturally gave her face, "Since the Empress has spoken, you all may rise." Then, with a wave of his hand, he allowed everyone to stand. "Thank you, Empress." Mrs. Lin stood up and stealthily glanced at her eldest daughter, with tears continuously falling. In the end, she couldn¡¯t control her emotions and stepped forward, reaching for Sang Yan¡¯s hand, and softly cried, "Ah Yan, Ah Yan, my good daughter, finally you have come back. Mother has missed you so much." Months of anxiety were released at that moment. But since the Emperor was present, she dared not fully let go. Her daughter was not only hers, but she was also the Emperor¡¯s wife and Puluo¡¯s Empress; even if she wanted to be closer, she had to be mindful of the distance. The more Mrs. Lin thought about it, the sadder she became, holding a handkerchief to her mouth as soft sobs escaped her throat. Sang Yan felt heartache upon seeing this. These were the emotions coming from the original body¡ªbeing a daughter herself, her heart was soft, and how could she allow her own mother to cry? "Mother, don¡¯t be sad. Everything is fine with me." Sang Yan smiled gently, saying comforting words, "The Emperor also treats me very well. With the Emperor by my side, you really don¡¯t need to worry." Upon hearing Sang Yan¡¯s words, Mrs. Lin¡¯s sobbing grew louder, "My poor daughter, it is Mother¡¯s fault for causing you to suffer..." She faintly knew that her son was the cause of all this trouble. She felt that she had failed to teach her son well, leading him to cause trouble. She felt guilty towards her daughter! If not for so many others present, she would have wished to embrace her daughter and cry bitterly. "It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s all in the past." Sang Yan gently patted her shoulder, her own eyes red. He Ying could hardly bear to see Sang Yan distressed, but a mother and daughter¡¯s reunion, crying from overwhelming joy, was a natural human emotion, so he endured it. But after holding on for a while, his patience was running thin. Seeing Mrs. Lin still weeping, he glanced at Sang Kun, signaling him to console her. Receiving the Emperor¡¯s hinted glance, Sang Kun immediately tugged at his wife, "Enough. It¡¯s good that our daughter is back; don¡¯t cry anymore, be careful not to cry away all her good fortune." With that said, Mrs. Lin immediately stopped crying. "Forgive us for causing the Emperor to laugh." Sang Kun smiled sheepishly, apologizing. Now that Mrs. Lin had come to her senses, she also knew she had lost her composure. She gathered her skirt and was about to kneel, "This servant has lost her composure, I hope the Emperor¡ª" "Enough." He Ying suppressed his impatience and waved his hand, "This is outside the Imperial Palace, no need for formalities." He then looked at Sang Kun, "You have been separated from the Empress for many days, and now that you are reunited, this is not the place to talk. Let¡¯s all return to the palace and catch up." "Thank you, Emperor, for your grace!" Sang Kun was overjoyed. The Emperor had been away from the palace for many days, and now that he had returned, countless people were vying for a chance to see him. Not only had Sang Kun seen the Emperor, but he could also accompany him back to the palace. This was indeed a great honor! He truly had a good daughter! Unlike her husband¡¯s wild joy, Mrs. Lin was full of anxiety. The Emperor had just been about to hold them accountable! Now inviting them into the palace, could this be a trap? The trouble her son had caused didn¡¯t seem to be forgotten by the Emperor... In any case, her gaze at He Ying was filled with fear and caution. "I have returned to the palace and will rest for a day. The day after tomorrow, I will preside over the court to discuss state affairs. All ministers should go back and rest." He Ying merely gave the officials a look before taking Sang Yan and returning to the carriage. The carriage quickly headed toward the Capital City. The ceremonial procession grandly followed behind. The ministers and the people gradually dispersed. Mrs. Lin still stood there, dazed. Sang Jue, who had remained silent and almost invisible, finally spoke up to hurry his mother, "Mother, hurry up. Father is ahead urging you on." Mrs. Lin, as if waking from a dream, looked ahead where her husband was by the carriage. Sang Kun was waving, "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up! If the Empress doesn¡¯t see you later, the Emperor will hold us accountable again." He was impatient, and seeing her slow pace, he came back to pull her along, also reminding, "When you talk to the Empress later, don¡¯t cry again. If you make the Empress cry and the Emperor feels sorry for her, he will definitely blame us. The Emperor was already displeased just now. In short, be careful with your words, and speak less if possible." Ever since seeing Sang Yan, Sang Kun had repeatedly mentioned "the Empress." He never expected that after all the turmoil, the Emperor¡¯s favor towards his eldest daughter remained unchanged and strong. His daughter was truly blessed. He himself was blessed. Mrs. Lin wiped her tears and choked up, "In my heart, there is no ¡¯Empress,¡¯ only my Ah Yan. Dear, look at Ah Yan, she has lost a lot of weight." A mother sees her child, and if not with her, always feels that her child is suffering. "What do you know?" Sang Kun listened to his wife¡¯s words disapprovingly and hummed, "Just watch. Her days of blessings are long ahead." He also harbored some complaints¡ªSang Yan had not spoken up for him in front of He Ying. He took a few steps, then noticed his son still standing there, the young man¡¯s face shadowed and indistinct, deep in thought. "Aren¡¯t you coming along?" Thinking of the foolish act his son had committed, he frowned and advised, "Your sister has finally come back. When we get to the palace, say some nice things, admit your mistakes, and catch up with her properly. Siblings don¡¯t hold grudges overnight, you understand?" Both his daughters had soared to great heights. But a daughter was still a daughter, like water splashed out. The Sang Family had to rely on Sang Jue, this son. Listening to his father¡¯s advice, Sang Jue¡¯s handsome face showed discomfort, "She¡¯s back, that¡¯s good. Why should I join in this commotion?" Since Sang Yan¡¯s disappearance from the Sang Family, the Emperor allowing them back into the palace to talk was a reconciliation with the Sang Family. But he hadn¡¯t gotten over the hurdle in his heart: he was the one who had wronged her. At that time, overwhelmed by hatred, he had shown no sibling affection. Hearing she had been displaced all the way to Puluo Country and had nearly lost her life. He really wasn¡¯t ready to face her now. "What commotion? We are one family. Even if she has become the Empress, she is still one of the Sang Family." Sang Kun glared at his son, reprimanding, "You are already married and should stand up for yourself. The future of the Sang Family depends on you. If you don¡¯t strive for yourself, do you expect me as your father to pave the way for you?" After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and left. Mrs. Lin heard this and, although she did not approve of her husband encouraging their son to rely on his sister, acknowledged that their son had caused trouble and should take responsibility and apologize to his sister. So, she advised, "Ah Jue, this is the Emperor¡¯s decree. If you don¡¯t go and the Emperor asks about you and becomes angry, what then?" Without waiting for Sang Jue to respond, she lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the woman holding a child inside, "Suxi, you persuade him too." Chapter 258 - 257 Extreme Chapter 258: Chapter 257 ExtremeSuxi sat in the carriage, cradling her three-month-old daughter. The daughter was named by the Emperor himself, called Sang Yuan, with the nickname "Tuanyuan." According to what Sang Kun had said, the Emperor valued her highly, so he wanted her brought over. But the fact was the Emperor had long forgotten. He didn¡¯t mention the daughter at all. The daughter was still young, a heavy sleeper; being held like this, especially in a strange environment, must not be comfortable for her, waking and sleeping intermittently, fussing for quite a while. She was soothing her when she heard Ms. Lin¡¯s voice. Her mood had been alright, but now it dissipated. As for Sang Jue, she still didn¡¯t care to bother with him. Even though she had given birth to her daughter. Yet Yu Pochuan was still in his hands. For his sake, she could only compromise, "The Empress hasn¡¯t met Yuan¡¯er yet, let¡¯s go into the palace together so she can meet her. Maybe she will like her." As if hearing her own name, the infant in the swaddle made a few noises and even reached out to grab her mother¡¯s hair. Sang Jue, hearing his wife¡¯s words, fell into thought: Would Sang Yan like his Yuan¡¯er, after what he had done? Thinking this, he glanced at his daughter, her plump and tender cheeks, her red pouting lips, exceptionally beautiful and cute; he adored her immensely every time he saw her. So, as Yuan¡¯er¡¯s aunt, she would probably like her too, right? "Let¡¯s go. Your sister doesn¡¯t have children, bringing the child might even bring about a child for her." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having said this, Sang Kun amused himself: If Sang Yan truly had a child, the future of the Sang Family would be secured! Sang Jue didn¡¯t think so deeply, but he nodded, "Hmm, let¡¯s enter the palace." He helped his mother into his father¡¯s carriage. He then shared a carriage with his wife. The two carriages headed towards the Imperial Palace. Sang Yan was unaware of all this, lifting the curtain of the carriage, looking at the empty streets outside. It was autumn. The coolness had arrived too. The streets under the moonlight looked desolate, as if covered with a layer of frost. She watched for a while, then let the curtain fall and burrowed into He Ying¡¯s embrace. As long as she was by his side, she felt a warm comfort inside. "Xinyuan, thank you." She was thanking him for allowing her family to enter the palace. "Ah Yan, don¡¯t thank me. Anything I do for you is what I should do." He tenderly smiled, brushed aside her bangs, kissed her forehead, and continued, "You¡¯ve been separated from your family for so long, and I¡¯ve been away from the palace for many days, there must be many things accumulated that need attention; it will be busy for a while. Once your parents enter the palace, let your mother stay longer, having her talk with you will also put my mind at ease." "Mmm. Okay." Sang Yan, in a good mood, leaned in and gave him a kiss. He Ying certainly wouldn¡¯t easily let her go, holding her chin, the kissing seemed endless. Sang Yan nearly suffocated. "Okay, okay." She pushed against his chest, truly overwhelmed by his passion. He Ying was pushed away, let go of her, then remembered something: "Right, Ah Yan, there¡¯s another piece of good news I forgot to tell you." It was seeing the Sang Family that reminded him that Sang Yan had become an aunt, that there was a little niece now. Sang Yan was still unaware of this and looked puzzled, "What good news?" He Ying didn¡¯t tease her, and directly said, "Suxi had a baby, a daughter. I granted her the name, Sang Yuan, with the nickname Tuanyuan, meaning¡ª" "Wait¡ª" Sang Yan interrupted his enthusiastic flow, wide-eyed with astonishment: "A baby? Suxi had a baby? Hadn¡¯t she left the Sang Family?" There had been too many people earlier, she hadn¡¯t noticed Suxi¡¯s presence. So, she misunderstood: "Did you guys snatch her baby back?" A child being away from its mother was truly pitiful. "No. Not that." He Ying smiled and explained, "She reconciled with your brother." Hearing this, Sang Yan impulsively asked, "Really?" She felt something was amiss, why had Suxi returned to Sang Jue¡¯s side? Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind. "It was you who let Suxi come back." Sang Yan¡¯s tone was very certain. He Ying¡¯s expression stiffened, and he smiled helplessly, "When will you be less clever? I really can¡¯t hide anything from you." "You¡¯re too reckless." Sang Yan was very emotional, but after her outburst, she felt her attitude was not right and softened her voice, "What exactly happened? Why did you let her come back? She and Yu Pochuan were also a couple who shared weal and woe, and deeply loved each other. To separate them like this, sigh..." As a woman, she sympathized with Suxi. Being with a man she did not love was truly painful. He Ying knew she was pure-hearted and cared about her family, and after thinking it over, he still did not disclose the foolish thing Sang Jue had done. "After you disappeared, your brother had some trouble and really needed her. Seeing him so pitiful, I had someone bring her back." He beautified the process and told a kind lie, "It was voluntary for her to stay." Sang Yan listened quietly, always feeling something was off, "What happened to Sang Jue?" "What else could it be?" He Ying had not forgiven Sang Jue, and his tone carried dislike, "Your brother¡¯s nature, unrequited love drove him to extremes." He was not exactly lying; Sang Jue, in order to force him to bring Suxi back, had secretly helped Jiang Ke and betrayed his own sister, was that not driven to extremes by unrequited love? Sang Yan: "..." She believed his words. She had long seen that Sang Jue was a madman! "So Suxi softened her heart?" She followed He Ying¡¯s words and came to this conclusion. Seeing her believe him, He Ying naturally nodded, "Human emotions are very complex. She hates Sang Jue, but during the time she lost her memory, she regarded Sang Jue as her own husband and developed some feelings for him; it¡¯s not impossible." This was also why he was so eager to bring Sang Yan back, even going to Puluo Island with just a few people. Qi Wuya also had the same madness as Sang Jue. He feared Qi Wuya would forcefully take Sang Yan and feared that as time passed, she would develop feelings and her heart would waver towards him. Fortunately, Sang Yan¡¯s heart was firmer than he had imagined. Unaware of He Ying¡¯s thoughts, Sang Yan fell silent for a while, then sighed lightly, "In a love triangle, everyone is a pitiable person." * Yuesang Palace Sang Ruoshui reclined on the couch, her slender willow eyebrows furrowed, eyes filled with irritability. "Someone, bring tea." She sat up and called for tea. A palace attendant immediately handed her a cup of tea. She took a sip, found it too hot, became angry, and threw it to the ground, "Idiot! Are you trying to burn me to death?" The palace maid was so scared she immediately knelt on the ground, knocking her head and begging for mercy, "Lady, please calm your anger. Lady, please calm your anger." Sang Ruoshui¡¯s anger was not quenched, she stood up, kicked her, and scolded, "What use are you? Useless! Useless!" After scolding for a while without calming down, and becoming increasingly irritated by the sight of her, she snapped, "Why are you still kneeling? You idiot, go see if Xiangxiu has returned!" Xiangxiu was tasked with monitoring when the Emperor would return to the Imperial Palace. Knowing that the Lady was also irritable because of the Emperor, the palace maid immediately got up and ran out. The room returned to silence. In the silence, Sang Ruoshui became even more irritable and couldn¡¯t help but walk towards the entrance of the palace. She had heard that the Emperor was returning to Du, and had been looking forward to it for several days, even waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Palace for the past two days, but had not seen the Emperor. So foolish. The other concubines in the palace were all laughing at her. She was also tired of waiting; even though she received a letter from her father today saying the Emperor had arrived, she did not go, thinking it was unreliable, but still hoping, with her body in the palace but her heart outside, having sent someone early to watch the palace gate. The Emperor was definitely coming back. If not today, then tomorrow. What about Sang Yan? Had she returned? A widow abducted by bandits was already dishonored; now she probably could not become the Empress anyway. And now it was Sang Ruoshui¡¯s opportunity, and it might finally be coming. Chapter 259 - 258: Resentful Woman Chapter 259: Chapter 258: Resentful WomanSang Ruoshui¡¯s emotions were complex as she clenched the handkerchief in her hand beyond recognition. "Lady¡ª" Xiangxiu hurried over and, upon seeing Sang Ruoshui at the entrance of the palace, quickly bowed in greeting. "That¡¯s enough. You may dispense with the formalities." Sang Ruoshui, annoyed, raised her hand and asked about important matters, "Has the Emperor returned?" Xiangxiu nodded, "He has returned. This servant heard from others that the Emperor has come back." Upon hearing this, Sang Ruoshui immediately wanted to go there. But after taking a few steps and thinking of her own makeup, she turned back to the palace, "Quick, someone come and prepare my makeup." Xiangxiu supported Sang Ruoshui back to the palace, where the other palace maids helped her redo her makeup. While being made up, Sang Ruoshui couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Tell me, did Sang Yan come back with the Emperor? How are their feelings for each other? After experiencing such an event, does the Emperor really... still let her be the Empress?" Xiangxiu did not answer her question at all. Seeing her silence, Sang Ruoshui felt she had her answer. The Emperor had never cared that Sang Yan was a widow, or a widow with a husband-killing fate; now that she had encountered disaster, he would only feel more pity for her, how could he easily cast her aside? "I was foolish." Her eyes turned red, and she bit her lip, feeling very jealous and bitter inside. Seeing this, Xiangxiu spoke softly to comfort her, "Lady, please don¡¯t be too upset. The Empress is your sister, as long as you do your duty, she will never treat you unfairly no matter what." According to what she thought, having an Empress sister, if she couldn¡¯t gain the Emperor¡¯s favor, then why not ask to leave the palace and live a merry life outside, why bother staying in the palace as a loveless resentful woman? "What does ¡¯doing your duty¡¯ mean?" Sang Ruoshui, who hated hearing such words of the weak, snapped, "Tell me, what is my duty?" Seeing her anger, Xiangxiu knew she had misspoken and immediately knelt down, "Lady, please calm your anger. Lady, forgive me." The other palace attendants also knelt down around her. Seeing this, Sang Ruoshui became even angrier. She knocked over the incense burner on the table in one swipe. The incense burner, made of jade, shattered to pieces on the ground, scattering ashes everywhere. "Why does she have to come back?" "She just can¡¯t stand to see me live a good life." "She has a husband-killing fate, with no man to turn to, so she seeks out the Emperor, thinking the Emperor¡¯s aura can change her destiny!" ... Sang Ruoshui screamed hysterically, clutching the edge of the table with both hands. Her previously beautiful face contorted with rage. Frightened out of her wits, Xiangxiu exclaimed, "Lady, please be careful with your words!" Sang Ruoshui let out a sarcastic laugh, "What¡¯s there to be careful about now? When she returns to the palace, will the Emperor ever visit my Yuesang Palace again?" It didn¡¯t matter what she said. It seemed even if she died in the palace, no one would care. She was truly fed up with these days. "Enough. Enough." Sang Ruoshui let out a sigh of frustration and walked to the dressing mirror. Gazing at the disheveled figure reflected in it, she pondered for a moment and then made up her mind, "Get up. Help me change my clothes. The plainer, the better." * After journeying down the main streets of the Capital City for about an hour, the procession finally stopped at the palace gates. Under the night skies, bright torches illuminated the vermilion palace walls, casting numerous shadows of the concubines. "Greetings to the Emperor, long live, long live, long live the Emperor¡ª" The concubines lined up in two long queues according to their ranks. The woman at the front of the queue was dressed in plain palace attire, with makeup so light it was almost pale, even revealing a hint of haggard whiteness. Tonight all the concubines were dressed in bright, exquisite attire, creating a lively scene. Her plain appearance immediately made her stand out. She was indeed a clever one. Sang Yan sat inside the carriage, peering out through the curtain to observe the goings-on outside. Especially that plainly dressed woman, she couldn¡¯t help but take a longer look. Then she saw the woman approach the carriage. Stopping three steps from the carriage, She recognized the person: disastrous! It was Sang Ruoshui! "Emperor, sister, you have finally returned. Ruoshui has missed you so much." Sang Ruoshui halted in front of the carriage, her voice softening, feigning tears. Sang Yan didn¡¯t think Sang Ruoshui was truly worried about her, but given the circumstance, with someone coming all the way to the carriage, it seemed necessary to disembark and exchange a few words? Just as she was preparing to get out of the carriage¡ª He Ying grabbed her hand and shook his head, "Let¡¯s go back to the palace first. Aren¡¯t you tired? There¡¯s no need to bother with these people." Unwilling to see her strain herself, he intervened and then spoke out, "We have returned to the palace. Any matters can be discussed tomorrow. Everyone return to their respective palaces, no need to stand around here." He commanded from inside the carriage, the curtain remaining undrawn. Thus, the concubines who had been waiting for a long time did not even catch a glimpse of the Emperor and dispersed, each returning to their palaces with faces full of disappointment. The carriage continued on its way. Until it arrived at Qingning Palace. The carriage stopped. He Ying disembarked first. All those present knelt down, "Greetings to the Emperor¡ª" He didn¡¯t pay them any heed, helping Sang Yan descend from the carriage. "Emperor, sister¡ª" S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Ruoshui also got off the carriage. This carriage belonged to the Sang Mansion. Meaning, she had gotten off her parents¡¯ carriage. "Sister, sister¡ª" Descending from the carriage, she lifted her skirt and hurried over, hastily offering He Ying a respectful bow, without summoning anyone, she persistently called out for Sang Yan. As if she could only see her. As if she only cared about her. As if the affection between the sisters was deep. Sang Yan was pursued with such vigorous calling that she had to respond, "Ruoshui, it¡¯s been a long time." As soon as her words fell, she was engulfed in Sang Ruoshui¡¯s bear hug. Embracing her, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s tone was mournful as she uttered touching words, "Sister, you¡¯ve suffered through the rough journey. Ruoshui has been fasting and praying to the Buddha every day, asking for his blessing for your safe return, and finally, you are back." She spoke beautifully, but a glance at Sang Yan made her green with envy: Wasn¡¯t she supposedly abducted? Why, after being adrift for so long, did she still look so radiant? Looking again at the man by her side; was it the Emperor¡¯s love that nourished her? Sang Yan was pondering Sang Ruoshui¡¯s earlier words: Fasting and praying to the Buddha? She sized her up and noticed that indeed, Sang Ruoshui was clutching a string of small, finely crafted ebony Buddha Beads in her hand, and the usual jade and agate necklaces that hung around her neck were missing, replaced instead with similarly religious beads. Could it be that Sang Ruoshui had changed her ways during this time apart? Sang Yan was about to speak when a breeze wafted by, and a strong scent of perfume invaded her nostrils. Naturally, the fragrance came from Sang Ruoshui. Shouldn¡¯t someone immersed in fasting and prayer carry the scent of incense instead? This woman¡¯s fa?ade certainly wasn¡¯t well crafted! However, having just returned, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t be bothered to expose her; ultimately, she could not cause Sang Yan any real harm, so she let it be to see what Sang Ruoshui would do next. With that in mind, Sang Yan responded with a beaming smile, "Thank you. You¡¯re very kind." Seeing her reaction, Sang Ruoshui secretly rejoiced: This woman remained as foolish as ever, easily deceived by her few words. Before her satisfaction could last, He Ying¡¯s voice sounded by her ear. "Ah Yan, go in and rest. You must be worn out from the carriage ride. Have dinner and then sleep here tonight." He was making arrangements unconcerned, not sparing Sang Ruoshui even a glance. His eyes were solely on Sang Yan. "Sleep here?" Sang Ruoshui, too shocked to contain herself, blurted out, "Didn¡¯t she previously reside in the side hall of Qingning Palace? Emperor, there has never been a precedent for a concubine to live in the main hall of Qingning Palace." Chapter 260 - 259: Desolation Chapter 260: Chapter 259: Desolation"Then I will set this precedent." He Ying glanced at her, frowned, and asked displeasedly, "Do you have an objection?" Sang Ruoshui: "..." Of course, she dared not object. But she still forced out a faint smile and said softly, "None. However, Qingning Palace is the Emperor¡¯s sleeping quarters, and my sister and the Emperor have not yet had a grand wedding. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for her to temporarily stay at my Yuesang Palace?" "No need." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying didn¡¯t even think about it and directly refused, "The grand wedding is just a ceremony; it will be held sooner or later. Ah Yan is rightfully the Empress, and Qingning Palace is my sleeping quarters, so naturally, it is also hers." Sang Ruoshui: "..." This damn favoritism! She could no longer force a smile and could only lower her head to conceal her jealousy and resentment. Sang Yan, listening at the side, also felt it improper¡ªafter all, the most vital thing in the Imperial Palace was to abide by the rules. Her reputation was already not good; she should be more cautious. But He Ying had already made his stance clear, and if she refused, wouldn¡¯t she be publicly slapping his face? So she maintained her silence. Of course, living in Qingning Palace was good, too. For one, she didn¡¯t want to live apart from He Ying, and for another, Qingning Palace was quiet! As long as she lived in Qingning Palace, those who wanted to cause her trouble wouldn¡¯t dare to come over easily. "Then let¡¯s follow the Emperor¡¯s wishes." Sang Yan complied with a smile. He Ying was very pleased with her "submissiveness" and, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, moved towards Qingning Palace. The Sang Family also got off their horse-drawn carriages one after another. Sang Kun, who was always good at judging the situation, looked at his younger daughter with a sinking look and with a slightly blaming tone said, "What kind of foolish things are you saying? The Emperor and the Empress have deep affection for each other and want to live together¡ªwhy are you getting in the way? Have you gone mad?" He now saw that Sang Yan was the one truly prized by He Ying and naturally protected Sang Yan¡¯s interests with all his heart. Sang Ruoshui glanced at the couple walking away and, hearing her father¡¯s words, could no longer contain the grievance in her heart, complaining, "Father, why do you speak of me this way? I¡¯m only considering sister¡¯s reputation." She didn¡¯t dare truly voice a complaint, not to mention reveal her jealousy. She could only use a tone of grievance to air her grievances. Unfortunately, Sang Kun was indifferent, "With the Emperor considering for your sister, there¡¯s no need for you to worry. Your sister is now the Empress, and our Sang Family will need to rely on her from now on. You must be cautious and prudent in your words and actions from now on, and do not displease her." Sang Ruoshui: "..." Even her father favored her now! She watched her father head toward Qingning Palace and turned her gaze to her mother, not giving up hope as she murmured, "Mother..." Ms. Lin gently patted her shoulder, sighing, "Ruoshui, if you¡¯re unhappy in the palace, then come home. Ever since the Emperor dismissed the concubines from the palace, I¡¯ve been thinking of you¡ª" "I don¡¯t want to!" Sang Ruoshui interrupted her, refusing outright. Ms. Lin attempted to persuade her, "The Emperor has always favored women but not rightly so. You¡¯ve been in the palace for so long without being graced with his favor. Now, your sister has deeply won the Emperor¡¯s affection, and clearly, the Emperor has no intention of favoring other concubines. With your chastity intact, why waste your youth here in the palace?" "The Emperor just temporarily likes my sister. My sister is so much older than me¡ªhow many good years does she have left? When she becomes old and loses her beauty, there will come a day when I¡¯ll have my chance." She lived with this belief. She also believed that the Emperor wouldn¡¯t always love one woman. Especially as that woman aged. Ms. Lin hadn¡¯t expected her daughter to harbor such thoughts, and partly angered, said, "How could you curse your sister? And you wish for her to fall out of favor? You¡¯re becoming more and more senseless!" She felt that her youngest daughter was being too inappropriate. Maybe she should discuss it with the master or Sang Yan and have her return home from the palace soon. Sang Ruoshui hadn¡¯t expected her mother, who had always doted on her, to scold her. Her eyes filled with aggrieved tears as she said, "Mother, you don¡¯t love me anymore." Not only did she not love her, but she also favored Sang Yan. Because Sang Yan was in favor, she had become expendable. Everyone was revolving around her. That was the glory that should have been hers! "You child¡ª" Ms. Lin, hearing her daughter¡¯s complaints, felt both disappointed and angry, "If I didn¡¯t love you, I wouldn¡¯t have said these things. Think about it well." She didn¡¯t say more and walked towards the palace. Sang Jue, with his arm around his wife¡¯s shoulders, passed by Sang Ruoshui. He was cold-hearted and only somewhat affectionate towards his wife and daughter, treating Sang Ruoshui very coldly, not even sparing her a glance. Sang Ruoshui felt so neglected by her family that she nearly fainted with anger. As long as Sang Yan was present, the Emperor had eyes only for her. Now, even her parents and brothers were eagerly revolving around her! Detestable! Sang Yan! You deserve to die! She clenched her fist, bit her lip, and the murderous intent in her eyes was barely concealable. Qingning Palace Sang Yan had just walked in when she saw a pale pink figure rushing towards her. With a thud, the figure knelt before her. "Lady, sob sob, you¡¯ve finally returned." The other party raised their head, revealing a face streaked with tears. "Qiuzhi¡ª" Sang Yan recognized the personal maid of the former mistress and quickly helped her up, smiling, "Why are you crying? See, I¡¯ve come back, haven¡¯t I?" Qiuzhi, choking back sobs, wiped away her tears and turned her crying into a smile, "Yes. I won¡¯t cry anymore. It¡¯s good that the Lady has returned." At that moment, all the Palace Attendants of Qingning Palace knelt down in unison to pay their respects, "We welcome the return of the Emperor and Empress to the palace. Long live the Emperor and Empress." "Rise." He Ying and Sang Yan both raised their hands and spoke simultaneously. Having received permission, the Palace Attendants all got up and scattered to the sides. The masters were all people who preferred quiet, so they sensibly waited from a distance. Qiuzhi was overjoyed and couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, babbling, "Lady, you haven¡¯t eaten since you returned to the palace, right? You must eat a lot of the lotus root starch balls and eight-treasure duck that you like, which I personally prepared, during the meal later." She had arrived at Qingning Palace earlier upon hearing the news to prepare the evening meal. It took her several hours to complete the dishes that Sang Yan loved. "Gurgle¡ª" A sudden, awkward rumble came from a stomach. It was Qiuzhi¡¯s. The flustered Qiuzhi¡¯s face immediately turned beet red: She had made a fool of herself in front of the Lady! Such impropriety in front of the palace could be a serious offense! "Emperor, Lady, please forgive me¡ª" She said, about to kneel again. Sang Yan stopped her with a gentle smile, "No need for such formality. You¡¯ve worked hard." She could see the situation clearly and understood Qiuzhi had forgotten her own meal in the midst of preparing dinner. He Ying also appreciated her loyalty to Sang Yan and expressed his reward, "Such devotion is rare; Pei Muyang, issue the order, give her a generous reward." Pei Muyang: "...Yes." For just an evening meal which the Emperor and Empress hadn¡¯t even partaken in yet, a reward was given. Such favor! He glanced at Sang Yan and sighed to himself about how fortunate Qiuzhi was to serve such a good mistress. It was Qiuzhi¡¯s first reward, and she was too excited to speak properly, "Emperor, thank you, Lady, thank you, Your Majesty." He Ying waved his hand and smiled, "Serve the Lady well in the future. Now, go and have your meal." As he spoke, he turned to Pei Muyang, "Go and instruct the Imperial Kitchen to prepare an extra table for the banquet. Today¡¯s return to the palace is a joyous occasion. After we finish here later, you take them down to join in the festivities as well." Pei Muyang responded again, "Yes." He took his leave to make arrangements. First to arrange the reward for Qiuzhi, then to send orders to the Imperial Kitchen for the banquet. While waiting for the evening meal¡ª Sang Yan finally had a moment to catch up with her family. She sat on the soft couch, glancing at the restrained and silent family members in the palace: her father with his ingratiating smile, her mother silent and uneasy, her brother lovingly gazing at his wife, and Suxi holding the child. Oh, the child. She heard it was a daughter? Her niece by name. She wanted to see the child. But to walk over there, that might not seem fitting for her status? "Suxi, bring the child over for the Empress to see." Sang Kun saw his eldest daughter¡¯s gaze fall on Suxi and knew she wanted to see the child. Suxi, upon her father-in-law¡¯s word, didn¡¯t want to embarrass him and carried the child over. "Lady¡ª" She approached Sang Yan to show her the child. The child was very small, wrapped in swaddling clothes, revealing an overly beautiful little face. Clearly more resembling the father. Speaking of which, it¡¯s the Sang Family¡¯s genes; the daughters always inherit their father¡¯s good looks. Sang Jue¡¯s face was beyond compare; had he been born a girl, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t even have been Sang Yan¡¯s turn. "She¡¯s so beautiful." She exclaimed in admiration. The next moment, the beautiful little human cub, with eyes as black as grapes, flashed Sang Yan a smile. "Xinyuan, Xinyuan, come quickly, she smiled at me!" She was so delighted she forgot her composure. He Ying was talking to the father and son of the Sang Family, "Remember, do not let her know about the past incident." He glared at Sang Jue, "Especially you, keep your distance from her in the future!" Sang Jue knew the Emperor wanted what was best for him and humbly admitted his fault without previous arrogance, "Yes. I was at fault for that matter. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness. I¡¯m sorry." He Ying was unimpressed, merely huffing coldly. Upon hearing Sang Yan¡¯s joyful voice, he smiled and went over to see the child. He had held the baby when she was just born, but he didn¡¯t know what she looked like now. Chapter 261 - 260: Knocking Chapter 261: Chapter 260: Knocking"He¡¯s a beautiful child." He Ying saw the delicately crafted infant and liked him a lot. He reached out and lightly touched the infant¡¯s cheeks, which were so tender and soft that he dared not use any force. When the infant¡¯s cheeks were touched, he didn¡¯t hide or fuss but looked at He Ying with big, curious eyes. He even waved his chubby little hands about, clutching at things, as if he wanted to grab He Ying¡¯s hands. He Ying, delighted, reached out his hand. Unexpectedly, the infant really grabbed his hand firmly and did not let go. His face lit up with joy, "Ah Yan, look, she really likes me." Sang Kun, not waiting for Sang Yan to speak, chuckled and started to flatter, "The Emperor is a child of destiny with an extraordinary presence; even small children can feel it." He Ying wasn¡¯t particularly fond of his flattery and said coolly, "It might be because I held her before. She is my little reunion." Calling Sang Yuan by her nickname, his words carried a hint of possessiveness. Sang Jue, standing aside, heard this and slightly frowned, feeling uncomfortable but said nothing. Sang Kun, not noticing these subtleties, nodded and smiled in agreement, "This child has a connection with the Emperor. Aside from the midwife, the Emperor was the first to hold her. She may still remember the Emperor." What can such a small child remember? Sang Yan frowned upon hearing this, feeling that his words were becoming increasingly far-fetched. However, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything. He was flattering, and they would just ignore him. Suddenly recalls something when he saw both of them genuinely liked the child and said, "If the Emperor and Empress like this child, why not have her and her mother stay for a few days? It¡¯s about time the Emperor considers the matter of an heir. They say having children around can attract more children." When Sang Yan heard this, it reminded her of modern terms under the preference for boys¡ªadopting younger brothers, seeking younger brothers, and so on. She felt displeased and thought Sang Kun was indirectly pressuring her to have children. To be honest, she hadn¡¯t considered having children yet. He Ying, unaware of Sang Yan¡¯s thoughts, was actually intrigued by Sang Kun¡¯s words. He was twenty-six, indeed not young anymore, and without an heir. Plus, with no other royal relatives, if something happened to him, there would be no one to continue the royal lineage. Thinking this and seeing how Sang Yan was happily playing with the child, he was moved and couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Ah Yan, when do you plan to have a child for me?" Sang Yan: "..." It was exactly what she feared. She was already worried about the matter of children. And now felt somewhat embarrassed. There were so many people present! Well, never mind. She pretended not to hear and continued playing with the child. Sang Kun, seizing the moment, quickly said, "If the Empress wishes to have a child, it must be after the grand wedding. May I ask when the Emperor intends to have the grand wedding with the Empress?" He was indeed pushing for a wedding. But it fit well with He Ying¡¯s wishes, "Naturally, the sooner, the better. Only the grand wedding needs everything prepared anew." "No need for the Emperor to worry." Sang Kun, beaming with joy, hastened to say, "Everything is now ready, only lacking your command. Not to hide from you, the Ministry of Rites has everything prepared for the marriage, just waiting for the Emperor to announce the date, and the grand wedding can take place." This surprised Sang Yan, turning her expression grave: this Sang Kun, in front of the Minister of Revenue, even had his hands in the Ministry of Rites. She instinctively glanced at He Ying, seeing that he seemed not to have heard Sang Kun¡¯s words, as he was still busily playing with the child. He also spoke up, "Has Sang Aiqing chosen a good date?" His question seemed laden with a trap: the Emperor arrives, and the wedding preparations are ready, with the date set, next notifying the Emperor to get married, right? That¡¯s audacious indeed. "I have indeed considered several candidates¡ª" Sang Kun had not yet realized the trap and was happily jumping into it. Sang Yan noticed and promptly interrupted, "It seems the Emperor has been away these days, and Mr. Sang has been quite worried!" She knew Sang Kun was not the best official, but he knew some measure. However, since her arrival in the palace, seeing him so respectful in front of He Ying, that measure was increasingly absent. It was time to give him a warning! "Mr. Sang, you have been working very hard!" She looked at him with a cold glance. Sensing her icy gaze and reading the subtext of her words, Sang Kun¡¯s scalp tightened and he forced a smile, "Not hard, not hard. How can this be considered hard? The words of the Empress Lady are too weighty. It is my honor. I must serve the Emperor and Empress, exerting my utmost until death." "Since Mr. Sang puts it that way¡ª" Sang Yan smiled, "Emperor, Quanzhou still needs talented individuals, why not send Mr. Sang there to serve loyally?" She hinted at sending him out of He Capital. Once out of He Capital, it would mean being far from the center of power. How could Sang Kun agree? He looked at the Emperor, his face anxious, and soon he was so anxious that he started to sweat. He Ying saw that Sang Yan wanted to warn Sang Kun and cooperated, "I always listen to Ah Yan¡¯s words." Seeing the Emperor¡¯s attitude, Sang Kun could not care less and blurted out, "Emperor, my arms and legs are old, and I don¡¯t know how many days I have left. Please allow me to see my daughter¡¯s wedding before assigning me to Quanzhou." He was buying time, meanwhile starting to appeal emotionally, "The Empress Lady is my daughter, she has suffered a lot these years, and finally met you, Emperor¡ªwho would have thought again¡ª" He paused, wiped non-existent tears, and said sorrowfully, "I must see her happily married and living well before I can go to Quanzhou with peace of mind." Sang Yan watched Sang Kun coldly, thinking to herself: He really knows how to act. He looks just like a concerned father. "You trouble yourself too much for me, Mr. Sang." Sang Yan¡¯s tone was cold and indifferent, not particularly appreciative. As if addicted to acting, Sang Kun continued, "Do not say that, Empress Lady. You are my daughter, and as the old saying goes, ¡¯When one has a child, one worries for ninety-nine years.¡¯ Your happiness is surely my concern." Sang Yan: "..." He sure knows how to speak. No wonder he is so good at flattery. Seeing her silent, Sang Kun stared at her for a while longer and performed again, "Empress Lady seems much thinner these days. What exactly happened¡ª" Before he could finish¡ª He Ying, with a cold face, interrupted him, "Sang Aiqing, you worry too much. The past is past, there¡¯s no need to mention it again. From now on, with me here, the Empress will not encounter any danger." While saying this, his icy gaze swept over Sang Kun and Sang Jue. The warning was implicit. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Sang Yan was playfully distracting the baby Sang Yuan, not noticing the undercurrents between the three. Sang Kun gave a nervous laugh, "Yes, I will obey." Then, a palace attendant entered, bringing in dishes one after another. It was time for dinner. Seeing this, He Ying spoke no more and simply commanded, "Since Sang Aiqing is so concerned about our wedding, and having close relations with the Ministry of Rites, the wedding ceremony of the Empress and myself in three days will be arranged by you and Cui Shao." "Three days?" Sang Kun was shocked, not expecting it to be so soon¡ªit was even ten days earlier than the date he had chosen. Nevertheless, it was a great thing, a very great thing. It seemed the Emperor was even more eager than him. He was once again amazed by his daughter¡¯s abilities. Sang Yan was also startled by He Ying¡¯s urgency: Three days? That¡¯s too fast! Chapter 262 - 261: Making Trouble Chapter 262: Chapter 261: Making Trouble"Emperor¡ª" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan thought for a moment and still advised, "Three days is too soon." He Ying dismissed the concern, "Why is it too soon? Your father is already prepared." Sang Yan explained, "We have just returned, and it¡¯s important to prioritize state affairs. You should take care of the matters at hand first before considering the royal wedding." Fearing he wouldn¡¯t agree, she asked Sang Kun, "How many auspicious dates have you selected, and when are they?" She believed Sang Kun would not dare to arrange a date only three days away. It wasn¡¯t that Sang Kun did not dare, but rather that he had not expected the Emperor to be so impatient, which completely caught him by surprise. When he discussed the dates with the Ministry of Rites, even half a month seemed too hasty for fear of displeasing the Emperor. Now that the Emperor himself was anxious, there was no issue at all. He immediately proposed three auspicious dates; one half a month later, another a month later, and the last one three months later. "All chosen by the Observatory as auspicious dates. Please, Empress, make your personal selection." "Let¡¯s choose the one on the twenty-seventh of next month." She gave her answer, settling on a date a month away. He Ying frowned, slightly dissatisfied, "I think the ninth of next month is good." He feared the longer it took, the more things could go wrong. He always felt that, once they were married, everything would be official and settled. "Ah Yan, let¡¯s settle on the ninth of next month." He looked at her with a hint of pleading in his eyes. Sang Yan understood his thoughts and, with a soft heart, nodded, "Alright then." He Ying was pleased and immediately ordered with a smile, "Did you hear that, Sang Aiqing? The wedding arrangements are entirely in your hands now. If there is any mishap¡ª" "Rest assured, Emperor!" Sang Kun was brimming with confidence, laughing, "Your humble servant will handle it properly." He Ying nodded, "Very good. Everyone, please sit and enjoy the meal." The long dining table was laden with delicious food. Sang Yan and He Ying were seated at the head of the table. To the left were Sang Kun and his wife Ms. Lin, and to the right were Sang Jue and his wife Suxi. Sang Ruoshui sat opposite Sang Yan and He Ying. Hearing the date of the Emperor¡¯s wedding, her pretty face was wan and pale as a lotus flower. During the meal, she kept casting pitiful, loving glances at He Ying. She truly felt sorry for herself. The Emperor was in such a hurry to marry Sang Yan. When the time came for their grand royal wedding, all the citizens of Da He would know Sang Yan¡¯s name. Empress! Such glory that was! And what about her? No one knew the name Sang Ruoshui. She refused to accept this! How could she be inferior to a widow cursed with a husband-killing fate? Sang Yan had not missed Sang Ruoshui¡¯s subtle expressions; she was just waiting to see her cause a scene. Sure enough. Sang Ruoshui was drinking water when she suddenly pretended to choke, coughing conspicuously. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief, tears brimming in her eyes, pathetically coughing. She successfully drew everyone¡¯s attention. Including He Ying. "Emperor¡ª" Seeing He Ying looking her way, Sang Ruoshui weakly said, "Forgive me, Emperor, for my impropriety." He Ying glanced at her and without a word, turned his gaze away. Unsatisfied, Sang Ruoshui stood up, holding her tea, "This concubine congratulates the Emperor and my sister on becoming a blessed couple." These were words of good fortune. He Ying responded reluctantly, "Mm. Please sit down." After sitting back down, Sang Ruoshui spoke with implication, "In the past, on occasion of the Emperor and Empress¡¯s wedding, the concubines would be rewarded. The sisters in the harem must be thrilled to hear this news." She said this while coyly covering her lips with her handkerchief, using her cough as a pretext to give her father Sang Kun a meaningful look. While she seemed to be speaking for the concubines, she was actually seeking benefits for herself, feeling that it was time for her own position to be elevated. Sang Kun received his younger daughter¡¯s hint, raised his eyelids, and looked at her, but said nothing. The royal wedding between the Emperor and the Empress was a joyous event celebrated by all under heaven. Sang Ruoshui and Sang Yan were blood sisters, and there was no shortage of instances where sisters were promoted together, but everyone with clear sight could see He Ying¡¯s attitude toward Sang Ruoshui¡ªwhy would he bother to try and please her to no avail? He had previously had high hopes for his younger daughter, hoping she would rise in rank and was willing to lend a helping hand, but now that his elder daughter had ascended to heaven in one step, whether her rank rose or not would not make any difference. Thus, he pretended to be blind and mute, concentrating only on eating his meal. Sang Ruoshui didn¡¯t give up, even glancing at her second brother, Sang Jue. Sang Jue had always been disinterested in the affairs of the former imperial harem and naturally ignored it. Sang Ruoshui became so angry that she started to cough violently, even close to convulsing. But the father and son duo were tacit, and just would not look at her. Seated in the seat of honor, Sang Yan: "..." She wanted to force herself to act as if she hadn¡¯t seen anything, but she really couldn¡¯t ignore it! Seeing that Sang Yan was running out of patience, Sang Jue spoke up before she opened her mouth, directly addressing He Ying, "Emperor, my mother is advanced in age and requires care. Now that the Empress is accompanying Your Majesty in the palace, may Princess Consort Sang return to her family home?" "Second brother?" Sang Ruoshui exclaimed in disbelief, a face full of incredulity: He actually said such a thing! Where does that leave her? Sang Yan was also surprised that Sang Jue would do this. She believed he was protecting her. To be fair, she also wanted Sang Ruoshui to leave the palace. Firstly, she wasn¡¯t magnanimous enough to accept sharing her husband with other women. Secondly, He Ying¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t with Sang Ruoshui. Sang Ruoshui was young and beautiful, still virtuous and untouched, staying in this lonely deep palace and wasting her life was utterly unnecessary. While she was thinking, she heard the man beside her say, "This proposal is not bad." He Ying was not fond of female companionship, and after encountering Sang Yan, he only wanted to live a life in pairs with her forever. Although Sang Yan didn¡¯t say anything, having Sang Ruoshui remain in the palace, who was also her sister, was also a thorn for them. "Ah Yan, what do you think?" He looked at her tenderly, seeking her opinion. Sang Yan stated truthfully, "Ruishui is still young. Letting her leave the palace to find a good match in the future is naturally for the best¡ª" "I will not leave the palace!" Sang Ruoshui interrupted Sang Yan with an urgent voice and abruptly stood up from her seat. She looked at He Ying with tearful eyes and cried, "Ruishui was born a member of the imperial family and will be a ghost of the imperial family in death. Emperor, Ruishui is already your concubine, even if you only have my sister in your heart, Ruishui is willing to stay in the palace and serve by your side." She was full of enthusiasm, hoping to see a hint of emotion and pity in He Ying¡¯s eyes. But there was nothing. He frowned, looking at her displeasedly. It seemed as if he was very dissatisfied with her rhetoric and even looked at Sang Yan with a worrying glance. Was he that afraid of her getting angry? Sang Ruoshui was filled with both jealousy and unwillingness. Yet the woman sitting above them, with a calm face, looked at her with an expression full of pity. "Ruishui, leaving the palace is not a bad thing for you." Sang Yan advised kindly. Staying by the side of a man who doesn¡¯t love oneself, wasting one¡¯s life¡ªshe simply couldn¡¯t understand it. When she hadn¡¯t fallen in love with He Ying, she thought day and night about how to leave. But here she was, stubbornly refusing to leave. With the Sang Family¡¯s current power and status, even if she were just a Miss, what could she want that she couldn¡¯t have? "Sister¡ª" Sang Ruoshui was not receptive to Sang Yan¡¯s words, her tone aggrieved with a sharp edge: "Night and day I pray fervently to the heavens for your and the Emperor¡¯s safe return. But Sister, the first thing you do upon returning is to not tolerate your sister?" This statement had an accusatory tone. Immediately, the atmosphere at the dining table froze. Seeing the situation turning sour, Sang Kun immediately knelt down to seek forgiveness: "Emperor, I beg for clemency. The Lady¡¯s improper words are the result of my lack of guidance." Ms. Lin, seeing him kneel, also followed suit in fear. The couple¡¯s actions made the atmosphere at the dining table even chillier. No one spoke. Sang Yan looked at Sang Ruoshui with an expressionless face, her visage revealing no sign of joy or anger. Initially, she had some pity for Sang Ruoshui. Now it seemed she was being too much of a "saint." She sympathized with others, yet they wanted to morally bind her! Chapter 263 - 262: Beguilement Chapter 263: Chapter 262: Beguilement"Sang Ruoshui, you have some nerve!" He Ying¡¯s face was stern as he rebuked her sharply. The Sang Family might indulge Sang Ruoshui, but he certainly did not. Were it not for the sake of Sang Yan, Sang Ruoshui would have been driven out of the palace long ago, with no chance of such disrespect. The Emperor¡¯s fury startled everyone from the Sang Family. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Suxi, who had been quietly eating and playing the invisible, shivered and glanced at Sang Jue, questioning whether they should kneel and beg for forgiveness. Sang Jue understood the meaning in her eyes, smiled gently, and shook his head. He was confident that with Sang Yan present, the Emperor would not truly lose his temper with the Sang Family members. Sang Ruoshui felt the same¡ªwith Sang Yan around, even if the Emperor became angry, his rage would be limited. But after all, she was the one who had angered the Emperor, and she was frightened, hastily kneeling on the ground, full of regret. Alas, it was her fault for losing her temper! "Emperor, please quell your anger," she pleaded. "In my anxiousness, I spoke out of turn. My admiration for the Emperor is wholehearted, even if the Emperor only has my sister in his heart, I still wish to stay in the palace. I hope the Emperor will grant me this." As she spoke, she bit her lower lip, averted her gaze, and turned to Sang Yan with a pitiful look, with tears streaming down her face, "Sister, I hope you will take pity on your younger sister!" Having said this, she began to kowtow with force. So much so that her forehead soon became swollen and bloody. As a mother, Ms. Lin couldn¡¯t bear to see her youngest daughter like this, and hurried forward to stop her, cradling her in her arms. She turned to Sang Yan, pleading on her behalf, "Ah Yan, no, Empress, your sister is stubborn, let us persuade her. Don¡¯t push her; please, just give her some more time." She dared not say that Sang Yan was pressing too hard, and promptly corrected herself. Truth be told, it was a rather clumsy attempt at a ploy. Sang Yan could tell, feeling nothing inside for the disheveled, tearful, and bloodied Sang Ruoshui. She knew Sang Ruoshui¡¯s temperament well and would not be deceived by her innocent facade. But since Sang Ruoshui had gone to such lengths, especially with Ms. Lin also begging, wouldn¡¯t it seem callous not to give some face? "Get up. If you don¡¯t want to leave the palace, then stay. I just hope you won¡¯t regret it later." Sang Yan had tired of her acting. Her crying was giving her a headache. Hearing this, Sang Ruoshui felt a surge of relief and quickly thanked Sang Yan. Sang Kun breathed a sigh of relief too and, with a nod from He Ying, helped his wife, Ms. Lin, to her feet and they sat back down. Then, trying to lighten the mood, he exclaimed, "The Emperor and Empress have returned to the palace. Today is a joyful occasion; let¡¯s continue with our meal." The atmosphere at the dining table had been tense. Eating with the Emperor was always a pressure-filled affair. Despite Sang Kun¡¯s attempts to ease the mood after Sang Ruoshui¡¯s outburst, the meal was eaten in silence, with no conversation. Sang Yan had little appetite and only ate enough to get through the meal. After speaking with Ms. Lin and Suxi, and seeing that it was getting late, she instructed the Palace Attendant to escort the Sang Family out of the palace. As they were leaving, Sang Kun seemed reluctant to go and reminded Sang Yan to take good care of the Emperor. She responded noncommittally, "Mm, I know. Understood." Finally having sent the Sang Family off, Sang Yan felt entertaining was too draining. She went to the bathhouse for a bath, sitting in the large tub to soak. The steam rose. The hot water seeped into her skin. She closed her eyes and felt utterly relaxed. Taking a hot bath was indeed very soothing. If only there were no disturbances. He Ying disrobed and stepped into the tub. He embraced the fair beauty in his arms, endearing himself to her fully. Sang Yan felt that he was bathing in impropriety and had to say something to divert his attention. Otherwise, with them pressed so close, something was bound to happen. "Being the Empress is too tiring." She muttered softly, "After getting back to the palace, there are so many rules. And so many people to deal with." Heaven knows she just wanted to be a lazy fish! But it seems she was born to toil. That pretentious Sang Kun, the white lotus Sang Ruoshui, which one was easy to handle? No wonder the former He Ying was a tyrant. Faced with these eccentrics, who wouldn¡¯t go mad? He Ying was hugging her from behind, eyes slightly squinted, reveling in the wonderful feeling of their skin touching while listening to her gripe. He quite enjoyed listening to her complaints, showing a united front as husband and wife. She complained. He soothed. She was like a little kitten. He would pet the kitten. Talking back and forth, they eventually landed on the topic of Sang Ruoshui. Sang Yan sighed, "I never expected Sang Ruoshui to be so concerned about you." She had always thought Sang Ruoshui cared about He Ying only for status and position. But having heard Sang Ruoshui¡¯s words tonight and observing the way she looked at He Ying, she realized Sang Ruoshui truly harbored feelings for He Ying. "Concerned? I don¡¯t think so." He Ying was indifferent and dismissive, "As soon as the grand wedding is over, I¡¯ll find an excuse to send her out of the palace." And then he added, "If you have no objections, we could send her out tomorrow." He felt that Sang Ruoshui was restless. Always playing little tricks in front of them. He had no interest in playing along. Even talking about her felt like a waste of time. "Let¡¯s not." Sang Yan shook her head, smiling wickedly as she teased, "If we send Sang Ruoshui out of the palace right after our grand wedding, sure, she¡¯ll be gone, but by the next day, word will spread through Da He. Look, look, our Da He¡¯s Empress is a jealous woman, can¡¯t even tolerate her own sister." She waved her hands, imitating the gossipers as she spoke. Watching her do this, He Ying couldn¡¯t help but find her adorable. Without resisting any longer, he caught her delicate hands, brought them to his lips for kisses and gentle bites, and hummed lowly, "I wish you would be jealous." Sang Yan: "..." This man! He just wanted to see her jealous, to see her give him more attention. She understood his desire, but the smile on her face faded a bit: the former court and harem were closely linked. Her reputation was not good, and with the former court having many objections, he still went his own way, marrying her as his Empress, undoubtedly chilling many ministers¡¯ hearts. Later, he left Capital City alone, braving danger to save her, and even traded three cities to bring her back, actions unbecoming of a King¡¯s responsibilities, likely chilling the hearts of even more ministers. Now, if rumors spread that she was a jealous Empress, well, she would truly have to rely on her own strength to become a calamitous seductress. "Xinyuan, we shouldn¡¯t go against the ministers." Thinking of the criticism from the ministers she would face at the grand wedding, she held his face earnestly, "I don¡¯t care about being the Empress, nor do I care about having a grand wedding. Really." As if to prove her resolve, she suddenly pounced on him, kissing his Adam¡¯s apple. She was like a seductive siren in the water, clinging to him, beguiling him. He Ying hadn¡¯t expected her to be so passionate all of a sudden and, dreading the long-awaited wedding night might happen in this place, quickly tried to back away. But behind him was the pool wall. He had nowhere to retreat. She took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck, breathing hot air into his ear, "Xinyuan, scared? Hmm? Where do you think you can escape to? You can¡¯t get away. I¡¯m going to eat you up." He Ying: "..." Eat him up? He smiled helplessly: Isn¡¯t the picture here reversed? How did he become the one being pursued? Chapter 264 - 263 Abandoned Concubine Chapter 264: Chapter 263 Abandoned Concubine"Ah Yan, calm down." He Ying¡¯s expression changed, and he timely grabbed her misbehaving hand. Rejected while trying to seduce him, Sang Yan frowned and asked, "What¡¯s wrong?" He Ying tactfully refused, "It¡¯s inconvenient in the water." Sang Yan thought for a moment, then nodded, "That¡¯s true. You have no experience; it must indeed be difficult for you at first." He Ying: "..." Felt underestimated. Was this provocation? He took a deep breath, remained calm, and said, "I don¡¯t find it difficult. But our wedding is soon; there¡¯s no rush." He still planned to wait for their wedding night to consummate the marriage. Their first night should be on such a beautiful, memorable day. Sang Yan probably knew what he was thinking, but she was just not used to his sudden restraint. "You know, sometimes you think too much." She felt she had soaked in the bath long enough, so she let go of him, stepped on the stairs, and got out. Her clean, luxurious nightgown was beside her. She picked it up and put it on. He Ying followed her out right after. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His nightgown was a dark-colored sleeping robe. The sleeves of the robe were wide, each embroidered with a dark gold flying dragon, which echoed the one on the hem of the robe. Of course, the dragon on the hem was an enlarged version, spanning a large area. This way, the echoing effect created a powerful presence. And because the main tone was dark, it was understated yet opulent when worn on him. Watching him, Sang Yan felt a rush of desire and really wanted to tear off his clothes. He was the king, yet also her subject. For the first time, she experienced an indescribable sense of vanity and pride in possessing this man. "Xinyuan¡ª" "Hmm?" Having put on his robe and seeing that she hadn¡¯t finished, he came to help. He had studied how her clothes were worn, and of course, how they were removed. Now he tied each strap for her. Then he took a towel and gently dried her hair. She was obedient, her beautiful eyes gazing at him. His heart warmed; he wanted to kiss her regardless of everything. He held back. Swallowing, he gently smiled, "Why aren¡¯t you speaking?" Sang Yan fell silent, but reached out to touch his firm chest. Thump, thump, thump¡ª She felt his strong heartbeat, and his vigorous vitality. This was a man favored by the Creator. He possessed a handsome face, a noble birth, a strong physique, and extraordinary intelligence. He was her man. As this thought crossed her mind, her body ignited. Who says male beauty can¡¯t be mesmerizing? She hugged him again, pressing close, planting hot kisses on his chest. His breathing suddenly changed. Heavy, like an angry beast. "Alright. Ah Yan, you¡¯ve won." He closed his eyes, sighed in resignation, his voice tinged with danger. "What?" She was intoxicated with his charm and hadn¡¯t realized what had happened when suddenly, she felt light, already lifted into his arms. He was tall and strong, full of power, holding her like a child, even walking briskly. From the bath to the bedroom, there was some distance, but he walked so fast that she only felt dizzy, sinking into a soft, intoxicating dream. In the dream, it started to rain at some point. Persistent and endless. Boom, boom¡ª The sound of thunder resonated. Yuesang Palace Sang Ruoshui had barely fallen asleep when she was awakened by the thunder. She suddenly sat up from the bed like a dying fish, gasping for air heavily and her forehead drenched with cold sweat. "Lady? Lady¡ª" The night-guarding Xiangxiu, upon hearing the commotion, hurriedly got up and lit the lamp. The room quickly brightened. "Lady, did you have a nightmare? Don¡¯t be scared, I am here." Xiangxiu walked over, softly consoling her. Sang Ruoshui shook her head, her pretty face pale as death. Suddenly, she clenched Xiangxiu¡¯s hand tightly, her eyes full of terror, "She wants to harm me! She actually wants to harm me!" "Who wants to harm the Lady? Who are you talking about?" Xiangxiu asked softly while also comforting her, "It¡¯s raining outside and thundering. Did it disturb you, Lady?" Sang Ruoshui still shook her head, her mouth wide open as if she wanted to say something but couldn¡¯t make any sound. Images from her nightmare were still flashing through her mind. She had been driven out of the Imperial Palace by Sang Yan and returned to the Sang Family. Everyone there was laughing at her. "Why are you always inferior to your sister? We cannot rely on you," from the Sang Family. Her father looked at her coldly, his eyes full of disgust. Her mother also sighed and shook her head, "You¡¯re becoming more and more thoughtless. Can¡¯t you learn from your sister?" Her elder brother Sang Jue sneered even more, "Thinking you could compete with your elder sister? Truly overestimating yourself!" Even her indifferent sister-in-law Suxi said, "The nunnery has already been arranged. Don¡¯t you like to burn incense and pray? From now on, just accompany the eternal Buddha and pray for their enduring love as emperor and empress." It was a dream! She clearly understood that it was all a dream. But what if one day Sang Yan drove her out of the palace? Then the scenes from the dream would become her future days. Despised by her parents and relatives, ridiculed by everyone... becoming the laughingstock of the world! No! That can¡¯t happen! She absolutely couldn¡¯t just sit idly by! "Lady, your complexion looks very bad. Should I fetch the Imperial physician to have a look?" Seeing that Sang Ruoshui had been silent and looked terrible, Xiangxiu expressed her concern in a timely manner. "No need." Sang Ruoshui gradually calmed down. She looked up at Xiangxiu and commanded coldly, "Tomorrow you will leave the palace and find out about the things concerning Sang Yan being kidnapped. A widow with a husband-killing fate, who has been kidnapped, how has she been desecrated by others? How could she possibly be the Empress?" Xiangxiu¡¯s face changed upon hearing this, "Lady, please be careful with your words. Such disrespects¡ª" This could lead to execution if it were to spread. Xiangxiu felt that Sang Ruoshui had gone mad. "What need I be careful about in my speech? This is my Yuesang Palace!" Sang Ruoshui nearly roared. She indeed had gone mad. Xiangxiu¡¯s words, instead of calming, pricked her already taut nerves and made her unable to control her vile temper. "She cannot tolerate me at all! You fool! How should I endure any longer? If I don¡¯t plan for myself, I will become an abandoned concubine!" So, it wasn¡¯t that she was wronging Sang Yan. It was Sang Yan who had gone too far! Terrified by her words, Xiangxiu hesitated for a moment but still softly advised, "Lady, don¡¯t think like that. The Empress is your own elder sister. She wouldn¡¯t¡ª" Before she could finish speaking, Sang Ruoshui kicked her to the ground. "Ah!" Xiangxiu, caught off guard by the kick, fell directly to the ground, and due to momentum, her face grazed the floor, scratching open a lot of wounds. It was extremely painful! But she dared not cry out in pain and immediately kneeled properly, pleading, "I misspoke, please forgive me, Lady." Sang Ruoshui looked down at the poor woman, half of whose face was bleeding, seemingly forgiving her with a gentle smile and raised her hand, "Alright. Get up. Why so tense? You are my palace maid after all, looking out for me, I know that." Xiangxiu: "..." Did she really know? The pain was still burning on her face. Covering her face, she glanced at Sang Ruoshui through the gaps between her fingers and saw no hint of concern on her face. Was Sang Ruoshui really so easy-going? Her already anxious heart tightened even more. Unable to help herself, she flattered, "Lady, you are the jewel of the heavens, noble in status. Surely, all your wishes will be fulfilled. Please, please don¡¯t let these issues hurt you." "Uh-huh. You are right." Sang Ruoshui nodded and smiled, her voice exceedingly gentle, "You have also worked hard these past days, look at your face, it was my neglect, go and take care of yourself now. Oh, and let Xiang Ying come in to attend to me." "Yes." Xiangxiu obediently complied, cautiously retreating. The moment the room door closed. Sang Ruoshui sneered audibly: Heh, very well then! Even my Yuesang Palace has a traitorous cur crawling within! Chapter 265 - 264 Feedback Chapter 265: Chapter 264 FeedbackFor Sang Yan, it was a night drenched by the rain. So much so that when she woke up, it felt as if she were still in a dream. But the soreness all over her body reminded her it wasn¡¯t a dream. Those intimate moments were real. They had suddenly and completely merged into one. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From then on, they were husband and wife, comrades in arms, each other¡¯s most intimate person. Sweetness surged in her heart. Regrettably, it was soon disrupted. The man¡¯s vigorous vitality made her apprehensive. "You, keep your distance from me." She didn¡¯t know when the man beside her had awakened. It seemed after that one night, his presence had become even more pronounced. Her heart trembled slightly, somewhat afraid of his pure masculine strength. "How do you feel?" He Ying cradled his beloved woman, kissing the hair strewn over him. Last night he had been overly unrestrained and lacking experience, uncertain if he had satisfied her. As for her? He hadn¡¯t expected her to be a virgin. This was an unexpected delight. Although he didn¡¯t care much for things like chastity, knowing she belonged entirely to him thrilled him beyond measure. Looking back now, it still felt like a dream. No. He needed to make sure. "What are you doing?" Sang Yan pushed his hand away and said with a furrowed brow, "Don¡¯t mess around." She thought him not gentle, not considerate. Hmph, such a man¡¯s base nature! "I¡¯m not messing around, just checking." He wanted to see if she was injured. But Sang Yan, too embarrassed, naturally refused: "I¡¯m fine. Get up now." She pushed him off the bed, reminding him, "You have to attend court today, get to your state affairs first. You need to attend court tomorrow as well." He Ying listened but was unconcerned, "It won¡¯t make much difference." He was reluctant to get out of bed, holding her affectionately and saying, "Ah Yan, it¡¯s really nice, so nice, you¡¯re mine." He clung like a Teddy Bear. Sang Yan felt all kinds of discomfort, endured it for a while, then frowned and said, "That¡¯s enough, if you keep this up, don¡¯t expect to come near me in the future." The threat was very effective. He immediately got scared, "Don¡¯t! What did I do wrong? Last night¡ª" "Don¡¯t talk about last night!" She covered his mouth, chiding, "Get out of bed now and attend to your duties. I need more sleep." A whole night of disturbance, she couldn¡¯t bear it. Seeing this, He Ying vaguely understood, "Should I call the Imperial Physician? Don¡¯t be shy, when we arrived, didn¡¯t we bring back a female doctor? Let her come check on you." Sang Yan remembered that female doctor, Luo Shan, who had come to Capital City searching for a husband, but on the way, she had encountered bandits. Not only had her belongings been robbed but she¡¯d also nearly been assaulted. She was lucky, running into their caravan. They saved her, learned of her destination to Capital City, so they had her follow the caravan as an escort. On the way, they found out she had studied medical skills and said they¡¯d find her a job once her family search ended. Hearing her name, Sang Yan couldn¡¯t help saying, "I should see her, I wonder if she¡¯s found her husband." The reason she said this was because of reading too many novels¡ªoften, in ancient times, these country women who went to the Capital to find their husbands were mostly met with the likes of Chen Shimei! As a woman, she could not stand to see another woman betrayed and hurt! He Ying, unaware of the details, saw her interest and said, "I¡¯ll send someone to check." "Mm. That¡¯s fine." Sang Yan nodded and at the same time, again pulled his wandering hand away: "Behave. As long as you don¡¯t bother me, I won¡¯t need to see the Imperial Physician." Just thinking about having to see a doctor for this, if word got out, the entire Imperial Palace would know what they did. It might even spread that¡ªto hook the Emperor¡ªshe did whatever outrageous things, ending up hurting herself, unable to leave the bed. No. That wasn¡¯t just an issue of dignity, but of the Empress¡¯s image. "I¡¯m just a bit tired. Don¡¯t overthink it." "Really?" He Ying stared at the red marks on her neck, half in doubt. Seeing his gaze grow more intense, Sang Yan hurriedly gathered the quilt tighter around herself, covering up more securely. "Really. I¡¯m fine." To dispel his doubts, she cast aside a woman¡¯s reservedness. "You were also very good last night. I liked it very much. Now, you should go and get busy." Finally, He Ying heard the feedback he¡¯d been waiting for. He had dawdled until now just to hear her response. "You, you... I¡¯m glad you liked it." His face turned a rare shade of red as he kissed her forehead, his eyes full of tenderness. "I¡¯ll do even better in the future." Sang Yan: "..." Goodness, no need to be so solemn and serious! She was about to die of embarrassment. "Mhm. I, I believe you." She shrank further into the quilt as she spoke. That¡¯s it, she couldn¡¯t face anyone anymore. He Ying knew she was truly embarrassed and didn¡¯t tease her any longer. "Then rest well. I¡¯ll come to see you later." Full of joy, he dressed and left Qingning Palace. Outside Qingning Palace The autumn sun was very gentle. He found an empty space and practiced swordsmanship in the sunlight for half an hour. Just as he was about to return, Hidden Guard Yuan Tang arrived. Yuan Tang had previously been sent by him to deliver He Hongzhao¡¯s portrait to Rong Ye. Now, he was back, bringing a response from Rong Ye. He Ying opened the mechanical box, retrieved the secret letter, and read the news of Beiqi¡¯s political situation¡ªCrown Prince Qi Guanglie had died suddenly. Qi Wuya ascended the throne as emperor. Among the Four Great Families of Beiqi, the Xue and Zhang families had declined, while the Han and Yu families had risen. Additionally, Qi Wuya had initiated new policies in Beiqi, including allowing women to join the military... Each piece of news seemed to signal Qi Wuya¡¯s ambition. He was like a mad dog ready to wage war at any moment. He Ying crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it into the nearby fishpond. Two golden carps swam up together in the pond. Thinking it was food, one of the carps swallowed the paper ball. He Ying found the scene amusing: Whatever Qi Wuya¡¯s antics, in the end, he would be swallowed in one gulp. A long-missed excitement ran wild in his veins. He took the hot tea from Pei Muyang, drank it in one go, set it down, and strode back into the palace. Inside Qingning Palace Sang Yan was still asleep on the bed. Qiuzhi was quietly guarding beside the bed. As soon as she saw him enter, she bowed respectfully. He raised his hand signaling her to rise and glanced at the bed, asking softly, "Is the Lady still sleeping?" Qiuzhi nodded, "Mhm. She just fell asleep." He Ying asked further, "Did she mention feeling unwell anywhere to you?" Qiuzhi shook her head, "The Lady said nothing." Still worried, He Ying waved her away and sat on the bed, softly calling, "Ah Yan? Ah Yan?" He called twice but received no response. Assured she was in deep sleep, he prepared to check her condition. Yet, just as he lifted the quilt¡ª "He Xinyuan!" Sang Yan woke up, kicking him in the chest. The force wasn¡¯t strong, merely enough to push him away. "What are you doing?" Her face was red, her brows tightly furrowed. Having just exerted herself too much, ah, she had been careless. Seeing her frown, he frowned as well, "What¡¯s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?" Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to answer his question, simply asking, "Why have you come again?" He Ying spoke truthfully, "I was worried about you, so I came to check on you." Sang Yan: "..." What was there to worry about? She wasn¡¯t sick. He made it seem as if she was so delicate. "I told you I¡¯m fine." "I feel like something¡¯s wrong." He was very "enthusiastic," wrapping his arm around her with a tender smile. "Ah Yan, when you act like this, I always feel guilty. Shall I help you loosen your waist, or massage your legs?" Chapter 266 - 265 Qualifications Chapter 266: Chapter 265 QualificationsSang Yan declined with a lack of enthusiasm, "No need. No need. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re up to." He Ying teased her with a smile, "Then what am I up to?" Sang Yan grumbled unhappily, "It¡¯s definitely not anything good, that¡¯s for sure." He Ying¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened, and he said with a smile, "Since you¡¯ve already said that, I feel like I¡¯d be letting you down if I didn¡¯t come up with some mischief." With that, he suddenly reached out and pinched her waist¡ªnot too gently but not too hard either. Sang Yan reacted strongly, almost jumping out of the bed. Her face flushed, she looked at the man still feigning innocence and felt both embarrassed and angry as she accused, "He Xinyuan, to speak and behave lewdly in broad daylight is a big taboo!" He Ying spread his hands with an innocent look, "I just thought you were tired from last night¡¯s efforts and wanted to help you relax your muscles, that¡¯s all." Although he said that, the mischievous smirk in his eyes couldn¡¯t be hidden. Seeing this, Sang Yan also decided to toughen up her stance, "If you¡¯re so keen to serve, then go ahead." She stretched out her foot and pressed it against his chest, "Go on, then. Pinch." And He Ying did just that¡ªhe pinched her foot, focusing on the pressure points like he was giving a foot massage. "Be gentler," she commanded. With her eyes closed, she took on the posture of someone savoring the moment. The man was very obedient, lightening his touch and even applying ointment, moving his fingertips in circles to more evenly spread it. Ignoring the initial discomfort, it was actually quite soothing. But then the sensation started to change. Her toes suddenly felt hot and ticklish. She opened her eyes wide in shock, "He Xinyuan, you, you!" This man with no bottom line! She withdrew her foot and called out, "Qiuzhi, Qiuzhi!" Hmph, if she didn¡¯t want to sleep, why should she? Qiuzhi quickly came in, "My lady, what do you need?" Sang Yan said, "I want to get up." "Yes, my lady." Qiuzhi immediately brought over the prepared palace attire and helped her dress, one piece at a time. During this time, He Ying picked up his cup of tea and rinsed his mouth. He had just been following a sudden urge, seeing her pale, jade-like toes, soft and fragrant, he couldn¡¯t resist the thought. Compared to the ardor of the previous night, it wasn¡¯t particularly outrageous. Yet she seemed unable to accept it. Well, so be it. He was her first man. It was normal for her, a blank slate, to feel unaccustomed at first. He Ying convinced himself and sat at the dining table, waiting for her to join him for the meal. He had awakened her really because he wanted her to eat something. "After breakfast, you can go back to sleep," he suggested. He watched her approach with slow steps, stepped forward to support her, and had her sit beside him. Sang Yan was still upset and didn¡¯t pay him any mind, letting Qiuzhi help her wash up before sitting down and eating in silence. Seeing that he had truly annoyed her, He Ying apologized, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t be angry. I will change in the future." As for whether he could really change, that was beyond his control. After all, a man¡¯s words in bed can never be trusted. Sang Yan also knew that men had a way of learning those things without teaching, so she didn¡¯t say more. The joy of men and women is human nature. As long as he wasn¡¯t too excessive, she was willing to go along. After all, if that part of their relationship was discordant, even the best of feelings could be affected. Especially with someone like He Ying, who clearly had strong desires. She had misjudged him before, thinking he was someone who shunned worldly pleasures. Now it was too late for regrets. "I¡¯m not angry. I¡¯m just not used to it yet." She picked up a piece of meat for him and said softly, "Eat well and don¡¯t bring that up again. After eating, go handle state affairs obediently, heard me?" "Heard you," he replied. His smile was indulgent, and he added teasingly, "At the Empress¡¯s command." Sang Yan: "..." Slick rascal! She had breakfast with him and sent him off to deal with official duties before she went back to bed. She stayed in bed until noon. Even after lunchtime came and went, there was no sign of He Ying returning. She sent someone to inquire and learned that He Ying had gone to inspect the Imperial Army. Just after returning, he went to inspect the Imperial Army? This man really favors martial over scholarly pursuits! But this was also good, with Qi Wuya eyeing him like a tiger watching its prey, it was imperative for him to favor martial pursuits to enhance Da He¡¯s military strength. She ate lunch alone. In the afternoon, when she felt better, she also left the palace. With her people, she walked through the palace, which had the air of an inspection. Everywhere she went, they all called out, "Empress." The title made her feel uneasy. Deep inside, regardless of how much He Ying doted on her and valued her, her modern-day commoner¡¯s background left her without any sense of entitlement to power. In other words, she didn¡¯t feel that she deserved to be called "Empress." The tale of a sparrow turning into a phoenix was inspiring, but she knew that a sparrow couldn¡¯t transform into a phoenix. Unless it went through a painful process of toughening its skin, tempering its bones, changing its blood, and cleansing its marrow. At that time, the sparrow was still a sparrow, yet it was no longer just a sparrow. In the evening, He Ying returned, covered in dust from the road. He had spent the afternoon inspecting and personally training the Imperial Army, working up a sweat. After returning to the palace, he first went to the bathhouse, planning to get cleaned up and make himself presentable before seeing Sang Yan. Knowing that he had come back, Sang Yan went to the bathhouse. She helped him bathe. Perhaps he was too tired; he didn¡¯t mess around with her. Seeing him sitting in the bathing pool with his eyes closed, looking exhausted, Sang Yan felt a pang of heartache, "Xinyuan, your health is the most important. We¡¯ve traveled thousands of miles back to Du, jostled all the way. Rest for a few days, don¡¯t rush." He Ying nodded, caught the hand that was massaging his shoulder, gently patted it twice, and said in a low voice, "Ah Yan, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not in a rush." He didn¡¯t tell her about the political situation in Beiqi. For one thing, he had sworn to keep her forever safe and happy. Secondly, he didn¡¯t want her thinking about other men. Especially Qi Wuya. "What about you?" He changed the subject and asked, "I heard you took a walk in the palace this afternoon. Did anyone treat you with disrespect?" Sang Yan shook her head, "No. How could they disrespect me? On the contrary, they were too respectful." Speaking of this, she became downcast, "Xinyuan, can I really be the Empress? I always feel like I¡¯m not worthy of being an Empress." Perhaps influenced by the various first ladies of the modern world, she always felt that compared to those great women, she was humble, insignificant, not worth mentioning. Without education, experience, and even less, the demeanor, she only had good looks which somehow caught his eye, and now she was going to be the Empress of a nation. It was like she had stumbled into a streak of dumb luck. He Ying didn¡¯t know her thoughts, but naturally disagreed with her words. In his heart, she was the best woman in the world, completely worthy of being his Empress. However, he didn¡¯t say these cliched praises, nor did he try to comfort her excessively, but he smiled wryly, "Ah Yan, if you think that way, I have a method to make you qualify as Empress." Seeing his self-assured appearance, Sang Yan grew curious, "What method?" "Splash¡ª" She suddenly fell into the water. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "He Xinyuan!" With a face full of surprise, she glared at the culprit, "What are you doing?" He had pulled her into the water. She had just admired him for behaving properly while she bathed him. But his seriousness lasted only a few seconds. "What do I want to do?" He Ying pulled the person in the water into his arms and teased her earlobe with a kiss, chuckling softly, "Why don¡¯t you try to guess, Ah Yan?" Sang Yan guessed he wanted to do something naughty and did not cooperate, pushing him away and trying to climb up. But to no avail. The hand on her back shoulder was strong and assertive, pressing her down firmly. Then he wrapped himself around her from behind, his broad chest completely enveloping her. He lowered his head, his breath hot against her ear as he chuckled, "Ah Yan, why run? Don¡¯t you want to know how to qualify as Empress?" Sang Yan faintly guessed his method and said indignantly, "I don¡¯t want to know anymore." "Ah Yan is really clever." He Ying, knowing that Sang Yan understood his intent, praised her, "With Ah Yan being so smart, how could you not qualify as Empress?" His kisses spread from her earlobe to her neck, and at the same time, he clarified his intentions, "So, Ah Yan, bear a child for me." As long as she gave birth to an heir for Da He, and he was made the Crown Prince, no one in the world would be more qualified than her to be Empress! By then, she would surely have no more self-doubting thoughts. She must be his Empress, his only Chapter 267 - 266 Agreement Chapter 267: Chapter 266 AgreementSang Yan actually wasn¡¯t opposed to having a child, but was it really necessary to rush it? She turned around and, holding his face, tenderly smiled and cooed, "How about tomorrow night? I need to rest tonight." He Ying felt an irresistible urge, "Do we really need to rest?" "Definitely." She nodded vigorously while giving him a pitiful look with her eyes. He Ying¡¯s heart softened a bit, "Then I¡¯ll check." Sang Yan: "..." This pervert! She endured the embarrassment and let him check. After his inspection, he ended up doing nothing further. "You should go back first. I need to calm down." He let go of her and turned away, obviously waiting for her to leave so he could do something naughty. Seeing right through him but not saying anything, Sang Yan quickly climbed onto her side of the bed to give him personal space. An hour later, he finally came back. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It had been a long time. She had almost fallen asleep waiting. He came back, radiating a chill. The cold woke her up, and as she looked up at him, she saw him in a black robe, his long hair wet and un-dried, soaking his robe. "Did you take a cold shower?" She frowned in concern, "It¡¯s autumn, and it¡¯s getting chilly. How can you still take cold showers?" While asking, she had gotten out of bed and fetched a clean handkerchief for him. He Ying took the handkerchief, drying his hair as he spoke, "No worries. Cold showers are effective." He had experienced some awakening lately, and now was always restless, excited, and passionate, like a wild animal in heat, never finding a moment of peace. Sang Yan: "..." Hearing him say that, she felt somewhat guilty for her body being uncooperative. Ah, her man, her heart ached for him! With nothing left to say, she opened the wardrobe and found a cloak to lay over him. At the same time, she took the handkerchief and helped him dry his hair. "You shouldn¡¯t wash your hair at night, if it doesn¡¯t dry and you sleep, doing it often could lead to headaches later." Her tone was filled with genuine care. He Ying, feeling the warmth in his heart, smiled, "Okay. I¡¯ll listen to you." When his hair was halfway dry, he pushed her back to bed, "Alright, go to sleep. I still have some petitions to review." Knowing he was busy, Sang Yan didn¡¯t insist any further and went to sleep. Perhaps because she had slept during the day and had just dozed off earlier, she wasn¡¯t sleepy now. The candlelight in Qingning Palace flickered faintly, lighting up a small bright area that didn¡¯t reach the bed. She just couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She tossed and turned for a while before eventually lying on her side, facing his direction. Watching him read the petitions in the candlelight seemed like enjoying the sight of a beauty under the lamp. It was a pleasure. Her man was so handsome. As she watched, a smile crept onto her lips, and with that smile, she drifted off to sleep. She even had a sweet dream. In the dream, they were back in the modern day. She was a rookie assistant just starting her career, and he was a daunting CEO busy with endless tasks. One night, President He summoned her to his grand villa. It was late at night. Under a magnificent and dazzling chandelier, a handsome and aloof man sat on a sofa, giving her a cold stare and then handed her a document. Trembling, she opened the document and four bold characters caught her eye¡ª "Sleep Agreement"? What did that mean? Was she about to be exploited? Um... glancing at the wealthy, handsome man across from her, she smirked¡ªactually, she wasn¡¯t entirely opposed to the idea. "What are you thinking about? You look so lecherous." The man across her frowned, his eyes full of disdain. Sang Yan felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her, chilling her heart and snapping her out of it; she quickly read through the "Sleep Agreement"¡ªshe had misunderstood; President He had insomnia and just wanted her pure company for sleep. She felt oddly disappointed, but why? "This ¡¯Sleep Agreement¡¯ I¡¯ve drafted is simple. Just sleep beside me until I fall asleep, and once I do, your job for the night is complete. If you have no objections, sign here." President He spoke with a serious and formal tone, as if discussing a billion-dollar deal. Sang Yan listened respectfully and then pointed to a clause in the document, speaking softly, "Um, Mr. He, sleeping beside you five nights a week? Isn¡¯t that a bit too frequent?" He Ying, seemingly impatient, massaged his temples and replied, "The company is going public recently, and the stress is significant. I simply can¡¯t sleep without someone by my side." "So this is Mr. He¡¯s unique way of relieving stress." Sang Yan instantly understood, smiling ingratiatingly, "Hmm, got it." Yet she still had some concerns, "Five thousand a night? Just for pure company, Mr. He, are you sure there won¡¯t be any additional services?" Chapter 268 - 266 Protocol_2 Chapter 268: Chapter 266 Protocol_2As she said that, President He¡¯s eyebrows knitted even tighter. He sized her up, with an expression as if his aesthetic sense had been insulted, "What other ¡¯services¡¯ do you wish to provide?" Sang Yan: "..." Her self-confidence took a severe hit. "I, I don¡¯t wish to provide any other services." She crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head, her face burning hot, feeling it turn as red as a monkey¡¯s butt. Oh, the shame. But amidst the shame, she still had some wild thoughts: President He was so handsome, if he wanted someone to accompany him to sleep, he could easily find a girlfriend to solve the issue, so why all this trouble? He must have some serious illness! Could it be he¡¯s weakened at such a young age? Alas, the pressures of society now, men under stress, not taking care of their fitness, those seemingly strong but hollow on the inside, are way too common. Such a waste of his good looks. Wait a second¡ª Sang Yan sneakily glanced at the man¡¯s thick head of hair and felt he still exuded some masculine aggression. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, "Mr. He, are you really not in need of any other services?" He Ying was helpless, "You seem quite expectant." Sang Yan, turning red with embarrassment, quickly waved her hands in denial, thrice over: "I¡¯m not. I don¡¯t. I¡¯m not expectant." After her denials, she feigned a coy smile, "I¡¯m just curious, why did you choose me?" "Aren¡¯t you short of money? During the interview, who said that for money, you could bear any hardship?" He Ying¡¯s two sentences shut down her curiosity. Thinking of her dire financial situation, Sang Yan promptly offered a flattering smile, "Ha ha, so that¡¯s what it was. Mr. He, you truly are a good person. I represent my ancestors from three generations back in thanking you." He Ying: "..." Why did it feel like he was being scolded? Having insulted someone, Sang Yan didn¡¯t give him time to ponder and asked, "So Mr. He, shall we start tonight?" He Ying¡¯s train of thought was swiftly redirected, and he nodded, "Yeah. We¡¯ll start tonight. You go take a shower. I¡¯m going to sleep." His words stunned Sang Yan. She stretched out her hand toward herself, her eyes full of astonishment, "Mr. He, I need to take a shower too?" He Ying didn¡¯t speak, just waved his hand, gesturing for her to go take a bath. Sang Yan had no choice but to go take a shower. Second-floor bedroom He Ying, dressed in a silk pajama, lay in bed reading. The bed was lit with a warm light. The atmosphere was quite flirtatious. Sang Yan pushed the door open, walked across the carpet beside the bed, and quietly climbed onto the bed, "So, President He, we¡¯re starting now?" He Ying nodded, shuffling to the side, reaching out his hand. Sang Yan instinctively grabbed his hand and lay beside him. The room was very quiet. In the dim yellow light, their fingers intertwined. She admired them for a moment and complimented, "President He, you have really nice hands." "Is that the only nice thing about me?" He Ying¡¯s tone was quite haughty. Sang Yan got the hint and continued the flattery, "How could that be? Your face is handsome, your eyes are good looking, everything about you looks good. I¡¯ve lived all this time and haven¡¯t seen anyone as handsome as you." He Ying was clearly pleased, retorting sarcastically, "With your eloquence, you should be in public relations." Hearing this, Sang Yan laughed unabashedly, "Isn¡¯t that the truth? You have an eye for talent, President He." She kept up the compliments. He Ying was carried away by her praises. However, as Heaven¡¯s Chosen Son, he¡¯s heard similar flattery often enough to have some resistance, "Alright, I asked you to accompany me to sleep, not to chat." Sang Yan stopped there and wisely laughed, "Alrighty, President He, good night." He Ying stretched out his hand and turned off the lamp. The room plunged into darkness. In the dark, the breathing of both was clear and discernible. Sang Yan usually slept well but now, somewhat, couldn¡¯t fall asleep. She counted sheep in her heart, one after another, until she surprisingly reached a thousand. Still no sleep. She thought about changing positions, but her hand was still linked with He Ying¡¯s. Ah, her hand was getting numb from the holding. Accompanying someone to sleep really was tough work. She rubbed her numb wrist and whispered, "Mr. He, have you fallen asleep?" He Ying took a while but eventually responded, "I have." Sang Yan: "..." If you¡¯ve fallen asleep, how can you still talk? Convinced that he hadn¡¯t fallen asleep, she couldn¡¯t help but strike up some small talk, "Mr. He, with such a long night ahead and since you¡¯re not in the mood to sleep, why don¡¯t you answer a question for me?" He Ying said without hesitation, "No." Sang Yan: "..." No or not, she still wanted to ask. She quietly asked, "Mr. He, about your situation, um, the sleep disorder that requires someone to accompany you to fall asleep, why not find a girlfriend once and for all?" Surely he wouldn¡¯t be unable to find one? Just as she was thinking¡ª She heard He Ying say, "Seeing how interested you are, do you want to be my girlfriend?" Sang Yan hurriedly waved her hands and denied thrice, "No. I don¡¯t. You¡¯ve misunderstood." In the darkness, He Ying¡¯s expression stiffened and looked quite displeasing. He pressed down his displeasure and asked, "Why?" Sang Yan suddenly sat up, seriously counting on her fingers, "Mr. He, let me do the math for you, being your girlfriend means an ethical obligation to accompany you in sleep, which then means I couldn¡¯t take your money." Speaking, she secretly gloated: He still thinks he can freeload off of her! Hmph, truly the epitome of a ruthless, black-hearted capitalist! He Ying didn¡¯t expect this reason. A frown crossed his face, casting a contemptuous glance that seemed to mock her intelligence, "As my girlfriend, you indeed can¡¯t take my money, but you can spend my money. As much as you like. There¡¯s no limit. Sang Yan, did you misunderstand this simple math?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Yan had a sudden realization, "Mr. He, I was wrong!" More than wrong? She was gravely mistaken, and a bit foolish, too. Yes, she was foolish, trading a watermelon for a sesame seed. Regret. Bold and capitalized regret. She grasped his hand, knelt on the bed, and smiled coaxingly, "Mr. He, I was wrong. Could you give me another chance?" He Ying swiftly withdrew his hand and haughtily snorted, "Too late. Opportunities don¡¯t come around twice." Sang Yan: "..." Endless regrets once again assailed her fragile heart. She cried and pleaded to make amends, "No! No! I was wrong! Mr. He, please give me another chance!" He Ying seemed moved by her "sincerity," and graced her with a nod, "Alright then. I¡¯ll give you a chance to show your worth." But how to show it? Sang Yan pondered for a moment, then, using the dim moonlight, slithered onto him like a seductress. "A Yan, A Yan¡ª¡ª" The familiar, urgent, and heavy voice woke her up. Sang Yan opened her eyes and saw that, somehow, she had climbed onto He Ying¡¯s waist, like a thug woman forcing her advances. Crap! What was all this? Was she having a spring dream? It was absurd! Chapter 269 - 267 Xiangxiu Chapter 269: Chapter 267 Xiangxiu"What¡¯s wrong?" He Ying cradled Sang Yan¡¯s back with both his hands, fearing she¡¯d start thrashing about and fall out. Sang Yan felt this position was currently too dangerous and hastily said, "Nothing¡¯s wrong." Then she struggled to get down. But evidently, getting up was easy, getting down was hard. He Ying pinned her shoulders down, looking up at her, "Ah Yan, what dream did you have? Tell me, so I can also have a good laugh." Sang Yan was too embarrassed to say, "I didn¡¯t dream anything. Let go. I need to get down." He Ying didn¡¯t allow it, his smile devilish, "Why go down? I think it¡¯s pretty good like this. Ah Yan, how¡¯s the view from up there?" Sang Yan looked down at the people below, understanding the implied ¡¯scenery¡¯, and played along with a smile, "Not bad." He Ying indulged her, "Then Ah Yan, enjoy it a bit longer." Sang Yan leaned in close to his ear and chuckled, "Alright. As you wish." She knew what he wanted. The interaction between men and women had to be reciprocal. Since he was interested, naturally, she was happy to oblige. Thus, it rained again that night. Because of the rain, Sang Yan especially had a good night¡¯s sleep. By the time she woke up, it was already bright outside. He Ying had to attend the morning court, and was no longer in sight. She sat up, supporting her sore waist, and called for Qiuzhi to attend to her. First a simple bath, then dressing up. Unexpectedly, as Qiuzhi combed her hair, she brought up an incident, "Early today, I heard that Miss Xiangxiu from Yuesang Palace was caught stealing a jade hairpin from Princess Consort Sang and was sent to the Clothing Bureau." Sang Yan was taken aback, "Xiangxiu? Are you sure you heard correctly?" Xiangxiu was the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace, how could she possibly commit such a foolish act? "I am not entirely certain," said Qiuzhi. Thinking it over, Qiuzhi suddenly remembered something, "Oh, that¡¯s right, I heard someone mention yesterday that Xiangxiu only has her elderly mother left, who is over sixty and in poor health. Alas, old age inevitably brings illness; she must have done something foolish for her mother¡¯s sake?" Listening, Sang Yan felt something was amiss: Xiangxiu was the Chief Palace Maid by Sang Ruoshui and had served her for so long, with no achievement, but with hard work. If her mother were sick, Sang Ruoshui wouldn¡¯t just stand by, and even if Xiangxiu really did steal a jade hairpin, a scolding would suffice, she wouldn¡¯t need to be sent to the Clothing Bureau. That¡¯s a place that roughs people up! "She is indeed pitiable." Sang Yan sighed, feeling that Xiangxiu had followed the wrong person. She had just returned to the palace with He Ying. Everywhere within the palace was under strict guard. Anyone who had some sense wouldn¡¯t commit foolish acts at this time. She had met Xiangxiu several times, always proper and within bounds, not a bold and foolish person! There must be more to the story. After some thought, she asked, "Who is now the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace?" "It seems to be Xiang Ying," said Qiuzhi, with a hint of dismay, "Princess Consort Sang seems gentle and virtuous, but who would have thought¡ª" She glanced at Sang Yan, and seeing no displeasure on her face, she continued, "Once this matter came to light, she immediately sent Xiangxiu to the Clothing Bureau and then promoted Xiang Ying to Chief Palace Maid, even allowing her to leave the palace to visit her parents. Isn¡¯t that a slap in Xiangxiu¡¯s face?" She felt somewhat indignant on Xiangxiu¡¯s behalf. All palace maids inevitably sympathize with each other. But she was fortunate to serve a good master like the Empress. With this thought, Qiuzhi¡¯s eyes and brows smiled, "Let¡¯s not talk about these disheartening matters anymore, to avoid offending Your Ladyship¡¯s ears, which hairpin would be best for today?" She started selecting jewelry for Sang Yan on her own, opening the makeup box. Sang Yan¡¯s interest was low, her brows lowered. She was still thinking about Xiangxiu¡¯s situation. After breakfast, she had intended to go for a walk, but she saw the continuous autumn rain outside. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The autumn rain poured until noon. He Ying accompanied her for lunch and before they even had a chance to rest, Pei Muyang called him to the Imperial Study for a meeting. Sang Yan rested for a while, waiting for the autumn rain to ease up, and, being absolutely bored, had Qiuzhi hold an umbrella for them as they left Qingning Palace. Walking along, I didn¡¯t know if it was just psychological, or if Qiuzhi¡¯s constant chatter had its effect, but I eventually found myself at the Clothing Bureau. Clothing Bureau The vermilion walls of the courtyard were peeling, a desolate and ruined contrast to the splendid grandeur of the front hall, especially under the autumn rain. "Lady, you shouldn¡¯t come to such a place," Qiuzhi stood at the entrance of the Clothing Bureau, slapped her own mouth, and reproached herself, "It¡¯s all this servant¡¯s fault for running her mouth. If I hadn¡¯t said those things, it wouldn¡¯t have disturbed your mood and led you to come here." Sang Yan was amused by her and laughed, "It¡¯s boring just staying in the palace anyway, I¡¯m just wandering around." She wasn¡¯t suddenly overcome with a Mother Teresa complex and driven here to save Xiangxiu. To her, Xiangxiu was a stranger, and she had once belonged to Sang Ruoshui. Her relationship with Sang Ruoshui was getting worse and worse, almost like fire and water, and maybe right now, Sang Ruoshui was cursing her in her heart. As she thought, a sharp voice came from inside, "What high and mighty act are you putting on for our family?" Sensing trouble, Sang Yan took a step and walked in. Inside, the palace personnel were all rough-mannered palace maids and old nannies. Because of the rain, no one was working; they were all cracking sunflower seeds under the eaves, craning their necks to watch the drama unfold. The main characters of the drama stood under a willow tree thick enough to require two people to encircle it. The woman was wearing gray clothes. That was the uniform of the Clothing Bureau palace maids. She stood with her back to Sang Yan, and a wooden bucket had been kicked over at her feet, with freshly washed clothes scattered all around. The man was dressed in dark cyan. That was the attire of an eunuch. He was partially facing Sang Yan. Sang Yan took a moment to observe him and felt he seemed familiar. After thinking for a while, she remembered seeing him by Pei Muyang¡¯s side. He was a third-rank eunuch. A little better off than the average little eunuch. The eunuch was only focused on the delicate beauty before him, completely oblivious to the newcomer. He spat towards the little beauty disdainfully, "Princess Consort Sang wanted you to be our bed companion, that¡¯s favoring you, a blessing for you. Our family only touched your hand and you act like you¡¯re dead, who are you trying to show that to?" Princess Consort Sang? Sang Yan frowned upon hearing this: Is that palace maid Xiangxiu? Xiangxiu shrank her shoulders and hid her hands behind her back, her body shaking like a sieve, "Mr. Zhang, this servant has made a mistake and knows it¡¯s wrong, but this servant only wants to stay in the Clothing Bureau." To be a eunuch¡¯s bed companion? She would never! Those castrated beings, when they torment people, are more vicious than real beasts. Even in death, she wouldn¡¯t want to be a eunuch¡¯s plaything. Xiangxiu clenched her teeth and glanced at the well beside her. "Thinking of dying?" Zhang Tong chuckled, "If you die, it¡¯s all over for you, but your old mother will suffer. Little beauty, don¡¯t say I have no pity for you. If you become my woman, it will definitely be better than your days in the Clothing Bureau." As he said this, he unsteadily reached out to touch Xiangxiu¡¯s face again. Xiangxiu cried out in fear. But in the entire Clothing Bureau, not a single person offered a helping hand. She looked towards the nanny in charge, under the eaves, as tears streamed down her face: Please! Save me! Save me! But the nanny in charge turned her head away as if she saw nothing. She had been in the palace for too long, had become perverse, liked to watch eunuchs bully and coerce the little palace maids, those tears and screams made her feel that she wasn¡¯t so miserable, on the contrary, there was a certain pleasure in controlling the fate of others. "Once you¡¯re in the Clothing Bureau, you have to accept your fate!" She glared at a few rough-mannered palace maids who wanted to help, spouting the usual "discipline" talk, "You want to stand out? First weigh how many worthless lives you have!" The rough-mannered palace maids were already timid, and with her intimidation, they dared not step forward. But they couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, so they quickly returned to their rooms, thinking out of sight, out of mind. This only emboldened Zhang Tong¡¯s malicious intent. He directly embraced Xiangxiu in his arms and moved to kiss her... Chapter 270 - 268: Investigation Chapter 270: Chapter 268: InvestigationXiangxiu, of course, refused and struggled desperately. But after all, as a weak woman facing a young eunuch, she was powerless to resist. Having no alternative, she opened her mouth to bite his hand. "Slap!" Zhang Tong, after being bitten, showed no mercy and slapped her hard, "Bitch! You won¡¯t drink a toast but must be forced to drink a penalty! Not content with serving one master, do you wish to serve several more?" "No! Don¡¯t!" Xiangxiu, covering her swollen face, cried hysterically. "If you don¡¯t want it, then behave. Dogs that don¡¯t listen will have their teeth knocked out, one by one!" Having threatened her, Zhang Tong grabbed Xiangxiu¡¯s shoulders and pinned her against a willow tree. Rriipp¡ª He began to tear at Xiangxiu¡¯s clothes. Xiangxiu closed her eyes in despair, thinking herself foolish to have hoped that Sang Ruoshui might consider the loyalty of servant to master... "Presumptuous!" While Zhang Tong was preoccupied with his indulgence in soft and fragrant beauty. Suddenly someone kicked him in the buttocks. He cried out in pain, turning around to curse, "Which blind fool¡ª" Before he could finish, realizing who was in front of him, he fell to his knees with a thud. "Empress, Your Majesty, forgive me¡ª" Zhang Tong kowtowed desperately, shaking like a leaf in the autumn wind. Sang Yan looked at him coldly and commanded in a low voice, "Come here¡ª" The accompanying guards, who had been following behind, ran up in unison, bowing and saying, "Your Ladyship, your servants are here." Sang Yan instructed, "Take him away and hand him over to Mr. Pei, who will know what to do." At the mention of Mr. Pei, Zhang Tong was so frightened that he crawled before Sang Yan, beseeching pitifully, "Empress, I was wrong, I was momentarily bewitched by evil thoughts." He slapped his own face twice while speaking. "You¡¯re not bewitched, you¡¯re blinded by lust!" After Sang Yan finished her scathing indictment, she turned to Qiuzhi. Qiuzhi, who was outraged, quickly went to help the disheveled Xiangxiu upon seeing her gesture. Xiangxiu, coming back to her senses from the shock, and realizing who was standing before her, fell to her knees, weakly, "Empress, Lady, thank you¡ª" "There¡¯s no need to kneel. Go to your room first; change into clean clothes and tidy yourself up." Sang Yan saw her disheveled appearance and reddened swollen face, feeling even more revulsion toward the eunuch at her feet. She kicked him away, seething, "In broad daylight, you dare to assault a palace maid, and others turn a blind eye, abetting tyranny. It¡¯s clear that such incidents are rampant in the palace!" She inferred the wider picture from this one incident, discerning the dire living conditions of the low-ranked palace maids. Their lives were already difficult. Now, they were further subjected to the bullying of the eunuchs. It was truly deplorable! Qiuzhi, seeing Sang Yan¡¯s severe displeasure, hastily gestured to the guards to take action and pull the little eunuch away. The commotion escalated. The rest of the Clothing Bureau staff, as if only just noticing, came running out in a swarm to bow and salute. "Greetings to the Empress¡ª" "Long live, Empress, may you be blessed with peace¡ª" They were obsequious and ingratiating. Among them, the nanny, changing from her previous cold and harsh demeanor, smiled, wrinkles creasing her face, "Your Majesty graces us with your presence, this servant failed to welcome you from afar, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me." Sang Yan glanced over, recognized her as the nanny who had been scolding the maids earlier, and said coldly, "You are indeed at fault. These maids are under your care, and this is how you manage them? Allowing them to be humiliated by the eunuchs?" "I am but a humble servant, how could I dare¡ª" The nanny attempted to shirk responsibility, but halfway through noticing Sang Yan¡¯s displeased expression, she quickly changed her tune, kowtowing repeatedly, "It¡¯s my incompetence. It¡¯s my incompetence. Empress, forgive me." Sang Yan was not taken in by her act and said coldly, "Since you¡¯re so useless, you can forget about holding onto this position as well." "Empress, forgive me, this servant has wronged, this servant has wronged, please give this servant another chance. Empress, show great mercy, give this¡ª" The nanny in charge turned pale with fright, kowtowing with such force that her forehead began to bleed, desperate to keep her job. How was she to live the rest of her life without this job? She had been in the palace for thirty years! Without this job, her life would be nothing. Sang Yan, unmoved by her tearful pleas, said without a hint of softness, "Enough. I know exactly what you¡¯re thinking." She simply couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with an old woman like her, "Just wait. Someone will come later to take over your duties." With that, she turned and walked away. Qiuzhi was supporting Xiangxiu, who had just arrived at the door of her room in the Clothing Bureau. Startled and weak in the knees, they walked very slowly. Having dealt with the matter, Sang Yan quickly caught up to them and, seeing Xiangxiu¡¯s forlorn expression, comforted her, "Not for yourself, but for your mother¡¯s sake, don¡¯t cheapen your own life." On hearing this, Xiangxiu¡¯s tears suddenly gushed forth. She couldn¡¯t help it. "Thank you, Empress¡ª" S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She sobbed, unable to speak clearly. The several bloody bite marks on her neck also stung the eyes of those who saw them. Seeing this, Sang Yan felt even greater sympathy and said, "Rest assured, I will pursue this matter to the end." Then, she signaled to Qiuzhi to help her inside to change clothes. Meanwhile, she sat on a chair outside, waiting for them to come out. Since she had taken on this case, she might as well handle the affair of Xiangxiu stealing the jade hairpin too. The nanny in charge saw her enter the room and came in crying and wailing, kneeling before her, "Empress, this servant really knows her wrongs, and from now on, I will surely perform my duties diligently and protect them from being bullied by the eunuchs. Empress, please believe me and give me one more chance!" Sang Yan was waiting rather bored when she saw her approach again and thus pressed the matter further, "Call them in." ¡¯Them¡¯ referred to the palace maids of the Clothing Bureau. There were a total of fifteen palace maids. They had been waiting outside the room, peeking in. For such humble individuals to witness the presence of the Empress was a once-in-a-lifetime fortune! The Empress was truly beautiful. Not only was she kind at heart, but she also took up their cause as soon as she arrived. Indeed, she was as lovely and kind-hearted as the rumors in the palace said. All they wanted was to look at her a bit longer, who could bear to leave? So, when they heard the call from inside to enter, they didn¡¯t wait to be summoned and rushed in, kneeling down in an orderly fashion. "We greet the Empress. May the Empress live a thousand years of golden peace," they said one after another, voicing auspicious greetings. Sang Yan raised her hand to have them rise, then asked, "How does this nanny treat you on a regular basis? If it were within your power, would you still want her in charge of you?" She left the choice to them. Not expecting such power to be in their hands, the maids were momentarily stunned. They looked at each other, unsure of what to say. Could they really dismiss this nanny in charge just by saying they didn¡¯t want her? If she still ended up in charge of them, any complaints they voiced today would mean trouble for them down the line. How could Sang Yan not see the doubt in their eyes? She smiled gently, encouraging them, "I am here, you need not fear. Even if you are afraid, you must fight for your own fate." With these words, her tone grew more serious, "You should know, this is the time for you to decide your fate. Otherwise, I can save you once, but not a second time." She didn¡¯t want to save those who were incapable. If one does not actively save oneself, then that is succumbing to one¡¯s own downfall. If so, then there is no cause to complain about the cruel world. Chapter 271 - 269: Charges Chapter 271: Chapter 269: ChargesThe palace maids also knew that they had only one chance. If they didn¡¯t seek benefits for themselves, they deserved to be mistreated by others later. Thus, one of them took the lead, and they gradually began to disclose the crimes of the nanny in charge of managing affairs: deducting monthly salaries without cause, arbitrarily punishing palace maids, accepting bribes from eunuchs, allowing eunuchs into the Clothing Bureau at night, and even a case where a palace maid was tormented to death by eunuchs. The next day, it was declared she died a sudden natural death, and her body was carried out of the palace wrapped in a ragged mat. Sang Yan grew more and more horrified as she listened: The Clothing Bureau was indeed such a dark place. The managing nanny could no longer dare to utter a word. She was finished. She was finished. Now, not only could she not save her job, but her life was likely in danger as well. "I can¡¯t believe you, a managing nanny, would have the audacity to do such things!" Sang Yan angrily slammed the table, "Do you think the Imperial Palace is empty?" It certainly wasn¡¯t empty. The Emperor had been away from the palace for several months, and neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress were present to supervise, had that not thrown the rules into chaos? "Empress, have mercy! Have mercy!" The managing nanny was scared out of her wits. Sang Yan, utterly disgusted by her, didn¡¯t look at her again and turned to call outside, "Come, drag her away, investigate her crimes thoroughly! She must be punished severely!" Hearing her command, the guards rushed in and quickly dragged the woman away. The palace maids all praised the Empress¡¯s wisdom in unison. At that moment, Xiangxiu had also changed her clothes and came out. Separated by a door, she heard everything Sang Yan said¡ªfight for her own fate! Therefore, she knelt down immediately, crying, "Empress, please discern the truth, I did not steal Princess Consort Sang¡¯s jade hairpin. Please, Empress, discern the truth." Sang Yan was waiting for these words, and now that she had heard them, she didn¡¯t linger. She rose to her feet and said, "I know. Wait here; I will settle the matter." She needed to return to Qingning Palace to discuss these matters with He Ying. The harem was in chaos, it was time for a rectification. Xiangxiu watched in shock as Sang Yan hurriedly left with her entourage. She thought she had coincidentally encountered the Empress. But now, it seemed like the Empress had come to the Clothing Bureau specifically for her? That figure had already stepped out of the Clothing Bureau door, Her bright red palace dress trailing on the ground. The autumn rain began to fall again. Qiuzhi handed an umbrella to Sang Yan while half-crouching to pick up her dress hem. Seeing this, Sang Yan tilted the umbrella towards Qiuzhi with a smile. The mighty Empress actually cared whether a palace maid would get rained on or not! Watching this scene, Xiangxiu couldn¡¯t help but sigh: They were all servants, so why was Qiuzhi so fortunate? Other palace maids felt the same. "The Empress doesn¡¯t put on any airs; she¡¯s like a fairy from the heavens." "Even a fairy wouldn¡¯t be as beautiful as the Empress." "No wonder the Emperor personally sought to bring her back to the palace." "But why would the Empress suddenly come to the Clothing Bureau?" "Hey, what do you think will happen to Mr. Zhang? Will he be beheaded?" "Why worry about him? He has Princess Consort Sang to back him up. Even if the Empress is angry, wouldn¡¯t she still consider their sisterly relationship?" ... As the Empress left, The quiet Clothing Bureau again bustled with activity. Their chattering voices also reached Xiangxiu¡¯s ear: Yes. Mr. Zhang was Sang Ruoshui¡¯s man. Today she was lucky to have encountered the Empress; Mr. Zhang took a loss. But even without Mr. Zhang, there would be Eunuch Li, Eunuch Liu... Basically, Sang Ruoshui would not make it easy for her. Thinking about this, Xiangxiu shivered all over, her teeth chattering. She could no longer endure it. Sang Ruoshui, since she did not want her to live, neither would she let her have an easy life! Xiangxiu thought of the Emperor, clenched her teeth, and resolutely left the Clothing Bureau. Imperial Study The courtiers had finished discussing affairs and gradually left. Only He Ying remained seated in his chair. Before him, on the desk, petitions were stacked in two tall piles. He swiftly read through them, picked up a brush, dipped it in red ink, and wrote comments. He looked through each petition one by one. Soon, the red ink was almost dry. His eyes also began to hurt. Today was too busy. Pei Muyang was attending by his side and noticed this, busily offering a cup of tea heated to seventy percent hot: "Emperor, have a sip of tea and rest a bit." He Ying took the tea, drank a sip, and softly sighed. Pei Muyang glanced at the content of the petitions and considerately said, "Is the Emperor troubled by matters concerning Beiqi? It hasn¡¯t reached a crucial point yet, Your Majesty should take care of your health. Otherwise, the Empress would be distressed if she knew." He knew his own words were ineffective, so he borrowed the name of the Empress. Indeed, when the Empress was mentioned, the Emperor reacted. He Ying massaged his temples, put aside the petitions, took another sip of tea, and asked in a low voice, "What did the Empress do today?" He very much wanted to go back and accompany Sang Yan. Alas, he had just returned to the palace and, overwhelmed by numerous affairs, he could hardly find the time. He suddenly felt that being an Emperor was not such a great job. Wanting to spend more time with the woman he loved, yet having no leisure to do so. "Empress spent the afternoon resting briefly, then left Qingning Palace and went towards the Clothing Bureau..." Pei Muyang said this, his expression changed slightly, a trace of unease flashed in his eyes, and he bent even lower: "Emperor, your servant has something to tell you, but it¡¯s quite disgraceful and may offend your ears." He Ying blew on the foam in his tea, glanced at Pei Muyang, and spoke with natural authority, "Today, you seem unusually perceptive?" Pei Muyang: "..." He was inwardly shocked and secretly admired the Emperor¡¯s keen senses. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew that he could hide nothing from his master. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty." He quickly knelt down, displaying a very anxious expression. Seeing this, He Ying felt the warning was sufficient, then said, "Speak, what is it?" Pei Muyang then spoke, "Today, the Empress went to the Clothing Bureau. Mr. Zhang Tong, who oversees the daily affairs there... took a liking to Miss Xiangxiu who just came out of Yuesang Palace... That shameless servant attempted to take liberties with Miss Xiangxiu in broad daylight... Luckily, the Empress saw it. The Empress had Zhang Tong arrested and brought here, just when Your Majesty was discussing affairs with the ministers, your servant did not dare speak... and also feared offending your ears..." As he said this, his voice became softer and softer. A mess indeed. This was a serious violation of palace decorum! Such acts were beyond even what Zhang Tong, that rogue, dared to commit! "Your servant does not dare ask for mercy." Pei Muyang acted extremely anxious and fearful, knocking his forehead on the ground twice: "This is your servant¡¯s fault for not managing the servants properly, offending the Empress¡¯s eyes. I only ask, Your Majesty, considering your servant has followed you for so long, without merits but with hardships, to grant me a dignified death, leaving my body intact¡ª" He deliberately exaggerated his own wrongdoing and appeared very pitiable. He Ying could see that he was acting. However, his performance did indeed lessen his anger. "Your Majesty hasn¡¯t even spoken yet, and you¡¯ve already sentenced yourself to death." He Ying looked at his undeserving appearance and it gave him a headache. He waved his hand for him to stand up and spoke soothingly, "Get up. You accompany me out of the palace, how could you manage everything inside it?" He grew up in this palace and had seen all kinds of shady tricks. This matter could be made a big deal or a small one, it all depended on whether the higher-ups wanted to handle it or not. In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have wanted to handle it. But now he had Sang Yan; the matter had escalated in her presence, and whether he intended to manage it or not, he had to. Chapter 272 - 270: Malicious Intent Chapter 272: Chapter 270: Malicious IntentPei Muyang carefully observed He Ying¡¯s complexion as he mustered the courage to get up and quietly waited to one side. No one spoke. The Imperial Study was eerily silent. He Ying drank some tea and placed the teacup on the desk. His fingers toyed with the White Jade Ring on his thumb, and after a long while, he finally spoke, "The trend of lavish dining is prevalent in the Imperial Palace, and these are matters of the harem. Since Ah Yan is the Master of the Harem, let her make the decision on this matter." Pei Muyang was startled and then realized: the Emperor was planning to let the Empress establish her authority. The royal wedding had not yet taken place, and he was so eager to grant the authority over the harem to the Empress, an unprecedented move in the history of Da He! "This servant understands. This servant will go and inform the Empress right away." He bowed and was about to leave. "Wait¡ª" Seeing this, He Ying added a few words, "And don¡¯t let her get tired. She has a kind heart, just ask her opinion, and you can handle the rest. Those bloody affairs, don¡¯t let her see or hear about them." Pei Muyang: "..." He was asking her to handle it, yet he was afraid that she would stain her hands with blood and ruin her mood. Such boundless favoritism! Well, good. A happy master meant good days for them servants. "Yes, this servant understands." Pei Muyang backed out of the Imperial Study. Just as he stepped out of the palace gates, he saw a woman shivering with cold next to a stone pillar not far away. It was Xiangxiu! He looked left and right, saw no unfamiliar faces paying attention to this area, and then pulled Xiangxiu inside. "Emperor, Miss Xiangxiu has come." After Pei Muyang reported this, he bowed and withdrew. He had urgent matters to attend to! When Xiangxiu saw Pei Muyang leave, she glanced at the silent and majestic Emperor sitting at the head, her knees gave way, and she knelt on the ground, knocking her head and crying, "Emperor, please save this servant¡¯s life." She didn¡¯t want to die. Even being banished from the Imperial Palace was a hundred times better than the Clothing Bureau. Steady footsteps approached. Each step seemed to press against Xiangxiu¡¯s heart. Soon, a pair of embroidered boots with a design of a dragon amidst clouds appeared in front of Xiangxiu. He Ying looked down from his high position at the woman trembling on the ground and asked in a deep voice, "What exactly is the plan in Yuesang Palace?" Xiangxiu bowed even lower, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, and spilled everything about Yuesang Palace, "Princess Consort Sang envies the Empress for receiving Your Majesty¡¯s favor and intended to have this servant leave the palace under the guise of visiting relatives, to find out what happened to the Empress after she left the palace. This servant, this servant¡ª" She choked up, thinking of her stupid actions¡ªshe had even tried to persuade Sang Ruoshui. She really was a fool. Rage burned in her chest. She fiercely wiped away her tears and continued, "Thinking of the bond between master and servant, this servant advised Princess Consort Sang to keep to her place. But Princess Consort Sang thought this servant was disloyal and grew to hate this servant, so she had Xiang Ying plant a jade hairpin under this servant¡¯s pillow as a pretext to send this servant to the Clothing Bureau, and had Mr. Zhang... wu wu... had him humiliate this servant..." She felt regret and hatred: if she had known, on that night, she would have told the Emperor all of Sang Ruoshui¡¯s malicious deeds. He Ying, after hearing everything, had a dark gaze and an icy tone, "She really knows how to put on a play." That night in Qingning Palace, she had appeared so pitiable and innocent; he had not expected she harbored such sinister intentions! The Empress was stranded among the commoners, whatever happened there would cause speculation among those with ulterior motives, let alone that Ah Yan¡¯s reputation was not good to begin with, the outcry from the public had never ceased, and the ministers were just waiting to catch her missteps... "Knowing that Sang Ruoshui harbors malicious intent against the Empress, why did you only come to report it now?" He Ying frowned, dissatisfied with Xiangxiu¡¯s hesitation. Having sworn allegiance to him, she should show utmost loyalty, not dawdle like a reed swaying in the wind. Xiangxiu¡¯s face was full of shame, "Princess Consort Sang just mentioned it to this servant, and this servant didn¡¯t know what she really wanted to do, and besides... this servant still has a mother outside the palace... But Princess Consort Sang was truly too oppressive, if not for the Empress¡¯s kindness in dealing with Mr. Zhang, this servant would have thrown herself into a well today!" He Ying¡¯s mood lifted a bit upon hearing the praise for Sang Yan. His slight discontent with Xiangxiu also dissipated quite a bit. "You still have some sense, for not continuing to hide the truth for her." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying, with his hands behind his back, walked back to the dragon throne and sat down, "The Empress saved your life, which is your fortune and means your life was not yet meant to end. In consideration of the Empress¡¯s face, I¡¯ll give you two choices: stay in the palace and I¡¯ll assign you to a better position, or you may leave the palace. You choose." Chapter 273 - 270: Malicious Intent_2 Chapter 273: Chapter 270: Malicious Intent_2Xiangxiu, upon hearing about leaving the palace, was nearly overjoyed: "Is there really such good news? Naturally, I choose to leave the palace!" Staying in the palace meant wasting her life, not to mention that Princess Consort Sang was always plotting against her. Although the Emperor was now aware of Princess Consort Sang¡¯s true character, she was still the Empress¡¯s sister, openly. It likely wouldn¡¯t be quick for Princess Consort Sang to be dealt with. Life outside the palace might be impoverished, but being with her mother would bring peace of mind. "May the Emperor grant his grace, I wish to leave the palace. Once I am out, I will surely eat vegetarian and recite the Buddha¡¯s name daily, praying for the Empress¡¯s good health." After saying this, Xiangxiu forcefully kowtowed three times. He Ying was once again moved: While people usually flattered him, and he did not care much about whatever nice things they said¡ªsometimes even finding it annoying¡ªit was different when it involved Sang Yan. "Since you have made up your mind, so be it, I grant you 500 taels of silver and release you from the palace." He Ying was in a good mood and did not mind granting a bit more favor: "Wait for Pei Muyang to return, then let him take you to the Imperial Hospital to get some ginseng. Your mother is old and needs to be well cared for. There¡¯s no need for you to go thank the Empress. After all, Princess Consort Sang is her sister, and she is probably not too pleased." Those last few sentences directly dispelled the thoughts in Xiangxiu¡¯s mind. Indeed, she had intended to go to Qingning Palace to thank the Empress. "Emperor, if I leave the palace just like this, what if Princess Consort Sang finds out?" Xiangxiu still felt uneasy: once out of the palace, what if Sang Ruoshui still caused her trouble? He Ying sneered, "Regarding Sang Ruoshui, I have my plans. Just be at ease." Hearing what He Ying said, Xiangxiu felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest: no matter how formidable Sang Ruoshui was, could she really be more powerful than the Emperor? Meanwhile, At the same time, In Qingning Palace, Sang Yan sat on a soft couch and looked at Pei Muyang standing below, frowning as she asked, "Are you saying that He¡ª the Emperor has asked you to hand over the investigation of the palace food matters to me?" Due to her urgency and surprise, she almost blurted out He Ying¡¯s name. She had never dealt with such matters before! It was utterly overwhelming. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pei Muyang smiled and nodded, "Yes. As the Master of the Harem, Empress should naturally make the decisions on this matter." Sang Yan: "..." Her frown deepened, and she scrutinized Pei Muyang from head to toe: this man had a lot of "schemes" in his heart. Could it be that he knew of her kindness and deliberately convinced He Ying to hand this matter to her? After all, he was the chief eunuch. Dealing with a few issues in food, why would she need to be involved? Pei Muyang felt tingles on his scalp from her gaze and hurriedly said with a smile, "Why does Empress look at this servant like that? This matter has nothing to do with this servant. Zhang Tong did something wrong because he was blind and malicious at heart, but this servant had nothing to do with it..." He was practically lamenting, just short of kneeling to claim innocence. "The Emperor handed this matter to you to help establish your authority; it really has nothing to do with this servant. I hope Empress will see through this." Qiuzhi laughed out loud: Pei Muyang was a highly favored individual by the Emperor¡¯s side. Seeing him acting so servile and trembling was truly a fresh sight. She held back her laughter, lowered her voice, and whispered to Sang Yan, "Your Ladyship, looking at how Mr. Pei is acting, it must be genuine. The Emperor is indeed trying to help you establish your authority." Sang Yan felt a complete mess inside: how could she not understand He Ying¡¯s intention? But he surely thought too highly of her. She just wanted to be a lazy fish. To live carefree, with no concerns for safety, and to be intimately close with her beloved every night¡ªthis would be perfect. Now, such a task had been thrown her way¡ª With so many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace, who knew who was colluding with whom? Those who showed signs were easy to investigate, but what about those who were secret? For those discovered, were they coerced, or was it mutual consent? How to deal with the coerced? How to handle those in mutual consent? How do you handle the transition from coercion to mutual affection? It¡¯s even harder than a calculus problem! Sang Yan pinched her temples and waved at Pei Muyang, "This palace understands. Let me think about it. When the Emperor returns, I still need to discuss it with him." Pei Muyang nodded and responded, "Yes, this servant will return to the palace to report." Yuesang Palace "What? You¡¯re saying that little wench Xiangxiu was saved by Sang Yan?" Sang Ruoshui was shocked, inadvertently breaking her nails stained with rouge. After her shock, she began to feel anxious, "Will Xiangxiu speak ill of me to Sang Yan? I intentionally looked into Sang Yan¡¯s affairs outside, what if it reaches her ears? She might whisper to the Emperor in bed, right?" The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became, "Has Xiang Ying returned?" The palace maid answered in panic, "My Lady, Sister Xiang Ying just left the palace today, and it will probably be by the gatehouse key pass before she returns. Do not worry, my Lady. The Empress probably just happened upon her, and Mr. Zhang, who normally receives so many benefits from us, wouldn¡¯t speak carelessly." "Really?" Sang Ruoshui looked at herself in the copper mirror, her complexion deathly pale, losing the usual soft and delicate charm. She irritably picked up a powder box and smashed it against the copper mirror, roaring, "The moment Sang Yan returned, this palace¡¯s complexion worsened. She¡¯s here to steal my luck! My status and favor, all snatched away by her!" The palace maid thought to herself, The Emperor wasn¡¯t fond of you before either, but of course, that was only muttered in her heart. The example of Xiangxiu¡¯s fate was right there! "My Lady, you are a beauty unmatched, and the Emperor will surely recognize your virtues eventually." The palace maid¡¯s timely compliment. Sang Ruoshui¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed slightly, "Yes. As long as when Xiang Ying returns and clarifies what happened outside with Sang Yan, will a tarnished Empress be accepted by the people of Da He?" She pondered, lifting the corners of her mouth, and through the copper mirror, caressed her own cheek, "Thus, taking good care of this face of mine is most important." As beauty wanes, so does love. And with diminished love, favor is severed. Once Sang Yan falls out of favor, that¡¯s when Sang Ruoshui¡¯s opportunity will arise! Thinking this, Sang Ruoshui commanded, "Fetch the pearl powder; this palace wants to even out my complexion." The palace maid nodded, and was just about to get up¡ª Pei Muyang walked over, sweeping his horsetail whisk, and bowed respectfully toward Sang Ruoshui, "Princess Consort Sang, unfortunately, the Emperor has sent this servant to invite you to the Imperial Study." Sang Ruoshui¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this: The Emperor is inviting her to the Imperial Study? Why? Did Sang Yan complain about her? She looked at Pei Muyang, trying to discern any signs from his face. But Pei Muyang was all smiles, courteous and beaming at everyone. Trying to read something from his face¡ªdifficult! Sang Ruoshui forced a smile and asked, "Mr. Pei, is the Emperor summoning this palace... for something urgent?" Pei Muyang¡¯s smile grew even broader as he replied, "Princess Consort Sang is one of the Emperor¡¯s concubines and admires him deeply; perhaps... the Emperor has recognized your fervent devotion?" His tone was full of sarcasm. Sang Ruoshui didn¡¯t catch it and was overjoyed, believing her opportunity had come so quickly! She quickly called the palace maid, "Hurry and help this palace dress up!" Chapter 274 - 271: Merit Chapter 274: Chapter 271: MeritSang Ruoshui¡¯s despondency instantly transformed into a smile so sweet, it was nearly dripping with honey. She always knew that the Emperor would one day recognize her goodness. She was younger than Sang Yan and more beautiful, having secretly learned from the nannies in the palace a good number of skills to serve others. She was confident that once He Ying knew how good she was, he would be unable to resist her charm. The palace maid served Sang Ruoshui with trembling fear, inwardly lamenting her fate: this mistress must be cursed, her mind vastly inferior to the one in Qingning Palace. Mr. Zhang had been punished. The words of Mr. Pei were laced with mockery in every line. It was clear to anyone with eyes that the Emperor had no good intentions in seeking her. Yet here she was, indulging in pipe dreams. Alas, what could a lowly servant like her even say? Speaking out would only bring a light scolding at best, and at worst, she might end up like Xiangxiu. With a sigh, she picked up the ox-horn comb and began to tidy up Sang Ruoshui¡¯s hair and makeup. Just then, a palace maid brought in a set of palace garments. Sang Ruoshui, deeming them too plain, showed her displeasure, "You clumsy fool, I am going to see the Emperor, it¡¯s a joyous occasion, and look what you¡¯ve brought me for clothes?" She scolded as she raised her foot and kicked at the palace maid. The maid, not daring to show anger or speak out, tearfully went back and brought a gold-threaded, pomegranate-red set of palace garments. Sang Ruoshui changed into it and examined herself in the mirror¡ªthe reflection showed a woman with brows expressing the allure of spring, captivating and utterly enchanting no matter the angle. She nodded in satisfaction and only then allowed the maid to help her out of the inner chamber. "Mr. Pei, sorry to have kept you waiting." Sang Ruoshui¡¯s attitude had shifted from her earlier bullishness to a gentle smile toward the servant. Naturally blessed with a fine appearance, and now meticulously dolled up, she was brimming with enchantment. Regrettably, for all her beauty, she paled in comparison to the lady of Qingning Palace. Having spent a lot of time with Sang Yan, Pei Muyang had developed an immunity to the word "beauty." Instead, it was the tearful little palace maid by his side who caught his attention. Princess Consort Sang, it seemed, was no stranger to mistreating Palace Attendants behind closed doors. Though Pei Muyang was a senior eunuch close to He Ying, he was ultimately still a servant. He could empathize and thus found his regard for Sang Ruoshui waning. "After you, Princess Consort Sang¡ª" Pei Muyang¡¯s smile vanished as he flicked his horsetail whisk and gestured to lead the way. Sang Ruoshui was startled: something was off about Pei Muyang¡¯s demeanor! A wave of unease rose within her as she belatedly realized this visit might not go as she had imagined. But with Pei Muyang already waiting there, she had no choice but to go. Grinding her teeth, she steeled her resolve and left Yuesang Palace. Pei Muyang silently followed by her side. He had spent more time in the palace than Sang Ruoshui and was adept at telling people exactly what they wanted to hear, his face betraying neither joy nor anger. Feeling guilty, Sang Ruoshui grew anxious and, after hesitating for quite some time, finally asked, "Mr. Pei, if I may trouble you with a question, for what matter has the Emperor summoned me?" She still held respect for Pei Muyang; in his presence, she even refrained from referring to herself as "this palace." With his head bowed in feigned subservience, Pei Muyang spoke with a sneering tone, "Princess Consort Sang, what else could it be? Mr. Zhang has gained your favor, and you¡¯ve cared so well for us servants that the Emperor intends to reward you accordingly." Sang Ruoshui¡¯s body swayed upon hearing this, her face turned deathly pale, the rouge unable to conceal her panic. "Mr. Pei¡ª" Tears welling up in her eyes, she abandoned concern for her status and explained, "I truly had no idea Mr. Zhang would do something so foolish. I saw him clever and sweet-talking, so I looked after him a bit¡ª" "There¡¯s no need for Princess Consort Sang to explain these things to a servant. Mr. Zhang has offended the Empress¡¯ eyes, and the Emperor is enraged. You¡¯d better speak directly with the Emperor." Pei Muyang had no interest in further discussion, his tone apathetic. It dawned on Sang Ruoshui that Pei Muyang¡¯s loyalties lay entirely with Sang Yan. Pfft, just a eunuch, after all! Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suppressing her anger, she cursed both Sang Yan and Pei Muyang in her heart. She just knew it¡ªher good luck had all been stolen by that cheap woman, Sang Yan! Suddenly, she remembered the dream from last night¡ª Sang Ruoshui¡¯s fingertips were all tinged with cold, this ordeal was likely to be unbearable. She needed to find a way out... In the blink of an eye, she arrived outside the Imperial Study. Pei Muyang opened the door and bowed slightly, "Princess Consort Sang, the Emperor is waiting for you inside, please." Sang Ruoshui looked at the imposing and solemn palace, her heart fluttering with nervousness. She took a deep breath before entering with a pale face, slowly walking inside. Inside the Imperial Study The scent of ambergris was particularly strong. He Ying, wearing a bright yellow Dragon Robe, sat at the desk, coldly gazing at her. "Emperor..." Suppressing her fear, Sang Ruoshui called out tenderly, then, brushing aside the hair by her ear, she moved with the grace of a lotus blossom, full of charm. She had applied a thick layer of scented powder to her body. He Ying could smell it from ten steps away. What if it got on him, the scent of her rouge? Perhaps Sang Yan would get angry if she smelled it. With that thought, he frowned, covered his nose with the back of his hand, and spoke coldly, "Don¡¯t move. Just stand there." Sang Ruoshui: "..." Standing seven or eight steps away, she stiffened upon hearing this, caught between advancing and retreating. She had planned to showcase her gentle charm, to let the Emperor realize her allure, but in this predicament, what should she do? He Ying looked at the face before him, filled with unease, and his heart brimmed with disgust. Previously he was merely indifferent toward her, but now, knowing that she dared to harm Sang Yan, his disdain was boundless. He disliked even being in the same room as her. Knowing that He Ying was displeased, Sang Ruoshui immediately knelt to the ground, softly saying, "Emperor, regarding the matter with Mr. Zhang, your humble concubine truly had no knowledge of it and didn¡¯t expect him to be so bold as to dishonor Xiangxiu. I implore the Emperor to see the truth." He Ying couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to her excuses, and said coldly, "It is a trivial matter." Sang Ruoshui: "???" Trivial? Does this mean the Emperor doesn¡¯t care about the life or death of Xiangxiu? That he won¡¯t pursue her wrongdoing? The Emperor surely still cares for her. Just as she secretly rejoiced, she heard¡ª "I¡¯ve been worried about how to let the Empress start managing the affairs of the harem, this incident has set things in motion, consider it your contribution." Those words struck her like a hammer, right on her heart. Oh, the pain! It hurt so much she couldn¡¯t even speak. The fingers hidden in her wide sleeves were almost digging into her palms. Her minor punishment of Xiangxiu had, in fact, laid the groundwork for Sang Yan to gain real power as the Empress¡ªhow could she not feel furious and resentful? He Ying saw all the emotions she was trying to suppress and mocked with a sneer, "Are you angry?" "The Emperor and sister share a deep bond, I am too pleased to be angry," Sang Ruoshui answered submissively, lifting her head to reveal a face lovely as a flower, her eyes brimming with admiration and affection: "I don¡¯t ask for much, only to stay by the Emperor¡¯s side. If by some chance I can earn your affection by association, that would be your humble concubine¡¯s good fortune. Toward my sister, I would also be grateful and indebted." Her words were humble and passionate, and they sounded very pleasing. Chapter 275 - 272: Admiration Chapter 275: Chapter 272: AdmirationAlas, He Ying¡¯s heart belonged to another, and he had not even the slightest interest in her. Because of his indifference, her deep affections only amounted to annoyance and disgust for him. Especially since she dared to set her sights on Sang Yan. The mockery in He Ying¡¯s eyes deepened, and he sneered coldly, "It wasn¡¯t I who asked you to stay, it was the Empress who, out of consideration for Ms. Lin¡¯s face, allowed you to remain in the palace a while longer. Sang Ruoshui, I have no time to watch your acting. You¡¯d best put away your little tricks and behave. Once Ah Yan and I are married, I¡¯ll find an excuse to send you out of the palace. By then, it will still not be too late to be grateful to Ah Yan. If you stir up any more of those vulgar schemes, don¡¯t blame me for not showing the Sang Family any respect!" In truth, he did not fear the ministers pointing out issues with Sang Yan, it was just that he couldn¡¯t bear for them to pick on her. His Sang Yan was perfect in a thousand ways, ten thousand ways. He would not let anyone speak ill of her. Sang Ruoshui¡¯s little antics were meaningless. They were nothing but an annoying nuisance. Still, they warranted punishment. "Now, get back to your Yuesang Palace and don¡¯t come out unless summoned!" Was he confining her within her quarters? Sang Ruoshui was so frightened that she fell to the ground with a thud. As she came to her senses, her tears flowed like floodgates opening. She crawled on her knees from the ground, intending to grab He Ying¡¯s robes, but was shocked into stillness by his icy gaze. Daring not to advance any further. She could only cover her chest helplessly with both hands, crying pathetically and miserably, "Emperor, this concubine doesn¡¯t know how deep your misunderstanding of her is, but no matter what this concubine has done, it is all because of her love for you. You may not know, but from the moment this concubine was brought to the Dragon Bed, upon first encountering your divine visage, she became helplessly enamored with you¡ª" She fervently and sincerely expressed her love. He Ying frowned as he listened, "I have no interest in you; do not humiliate yourself." He shifted his body backward, as if to avoid any scent of Sang Ruoshui¡¯s makeup. "Pei Muyang!" He called someone over, commanding, "Take her away!" Then, dusting off the perfume that did not exist on him, he ordered further, "Have someone prepare water for my bath; this scent is sickening." Sang Ruoshui: "..." She listened to those hurtful words¡ªthe Emperor actually despised and loathed her to such an extent. "Emperor¡ª" She was so devastated that she did not know what to say. Thus, in a daze, she was escorted back to Yuesang Palace by someone from Pei Muyang¡¯s detail. All along the way, she wept. Her tears flowed freely, as if they cost nothing at all. Partly because she felt genuine grievance. She loved He Ying, yet he found her so repugnant. Secondly, she wanted the palace attendants to see how Sang Yan was monopolizing and favoring herself! The walk from the Imperial Study to Yuesang Palace was not far. The palace attendants who saw this scene couldn¡¯t help but sigh. "Lady Princess Consort Sang is having a rough time these days." "The Emperor¡¯s heart belongs only to the Empress, and the Empress also monopolizes the Emperor¡¯s affection. In my opinion, isn¡¯t the Empress disregarding sisterly bonds too much?" Two little palace maids carrying trays walked by, whispering to each other. The one who spoke the latter sentence had a melon seed-shaped face. She looked towards the direction Sang Ruoshui had left, sighing heavily, "The Empress was originally sent to the palace to accompany Princess Consort Sang, and look what¡¯s become of it now." "Hush, Ting Lan, such words must not be carelessly spoken." The speaker was a round-faced little maid. Ting Lan¡¯s words startled her, and she eyed her suspiciously, "Ting Lan, what¡¯s been going on with you lately? You never used to speak so recklessly. Why does it seem like you¡¯ve become a different person?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ting Lan didn¡¯t expect such a reaction and replied with an unnatural smile, explaining, "Have I changed? Not really, right? We¡¯re all women here; I just feel some sympathy for Princess Consort Sang. Come on, let¡¯s go. We still need to deliver soup to the Empress." The round-faced palace maid responded with an "Oh" and walked with her. She was really overthinking it: Ting Lan had been working with her for so long, why would she feel as if Ting Lan had become a different person? Maybe, as Ting Lan said, it was just womanly sympathy for Princess Consort Sang. Otherwise, could there really be two identical people in this world? Yuesang Palace Sang Ruoshui had left for the Imperial Study in all her splendor, only to be sent back in total disarray. She was too ashamed to face anyone now. It felt like all the attendants in Yuesang Palace were laughing at her. "Out, all of you! Get out of my sight!" After the eunuchs had left, Sang Ruoshui began to furiously throw things around. Bang, crash, thud... Once done, she locked herself in and wailed loudly. When had she ever suffered such indignity? Since birth, she had been cherished above all else by Sang Kun. Although she was aware much of it was motivated by selfish interests, he never treated her poorly. Now what? She was furious, hateful, distressed, her meticulously applied makeup ruined. The red rouge mixed with white face powder and black eyebrow powder on her face, a grotesque kaleidoscope of colors, made her look like a deranged and terrifying ghost. Too horrifying. Seeing the woeful woman in the mirror, Sang Ruoshui felt like she was looking at the version of herself that existed in dreams. Thus, she wept even harder. Women are made of water. Sang Ruoshui could cry for hours on end without feeling exhausted, and the palace maids who served her didn¡¯t dare enter and risk provoking her further. Not until night fell. A tall, slender woman returned under the moonlight. It was Xiang Ying, who had claimed to be visiting relatives but was in fact out gathering information. She stopped at the entrance of the hall, heard the crying inside, rolled her eyes, and immediately started scolding the palace maids at the door, "Foolish creatures! Her Ladyship is wailing like this, and you still don¡¯t know to go in and console her? What use are you!" Hearing the rebuke outside, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s crying momentarily ceased. How had she not realized Xiang Ying¡¯s kindness before? Indeed, there were still people in this palace who cared about her. Believing that Sang Ruoshui must have heard her, Xiang Ying pushed open the door and briskly entered. Seeing Sang Ruoshui crying miserably, she pulled out a handkerchief and began to wipe her tears, "Oh my, my dear lady, what great injustice you must have suffered. Please stop crying. It pains my heart to see you like this." Sang Ruoshui was already tired of crying. Now coaxed and with her tears wiped away, she no longer cried, but stared at Xiang Ying with swollen eyes and asked, "Did you find out what I asked you to?" "Rest assured, my lady, I have taken care of everything as you instructed." Xiang Ying stood by Sang Ruoshui¡¯s side and ordered a basin of warm water to be brought in. As she assisted Sang Ruoshui in washing her hands and face, she quietly responded, "Everything is just as you suspected, my lady. I¡¯ve heard¡ª" She leaned in close to Sang Ruoshui¡¯s ear and whispered the information she had gathered. Sang Ruoshui listened, stunned, and suddenly grabbed Xiang Ying¡¯s hand, "Really?" "Absolutely true." Xiang Ying nodded emphatically and continued, "The newly enthroned Emperor of Beiqi, while still the Ninth Prince, was said to have captured the Empress and reportedly shared a room with her for a long time. Now, tell me, when a man and a woman live together for that long, isn¡¯t it inevitable that something happens?" She winked suggestively, the intimations clear as day. Sang Ruoshui, as if entranced, merely stared at Xiang Ying before suddenly raising her voice and bursting into tears again. "Lady, why are you crying again?" Xiang Ying¡¯s tone was caring, though she was actually becoming a bit impatient. She had been out gathering information for a day and a night, and now back in the palace, she still had to soothe her mistress. It seemed her own life was considered worthless. Sang Ruoshui no longer had the energy to cry; she was simply distressed, heartbroken, wronged, and resentful, "Tell me, Sang Yan has been so humiliated, why does the Emperor still love her? Doesn¡¯t he feel uncomfortable when near women? He used to feel discomfort when close to me, so why is he comfortable with Sang Yan, that filthy, seductive vixen?" She posed the question, truly on the brink of collapse, "He would rather have an unclean woman than me... wuu wuu..." Chapter 276 - 273: Attentive Chapter 276: Chapter 273: AttentiveXiang Ying, upon hearing her tears, couldn¡¯t help but think, "Huh, that does seem rather sad!" The sorrowful Sang Ruoshui just couldn¡¯t understand, "What is going on? In terms of looks, she isn¡¯t better than Sang Yan! Could it be¡ª" "Could she have bewitched the Emperor with some kind of sorcery? Otherwise, why would the Emperor only have eyes for her, completely oblivious to everyone else?" Sang Ruoshui wept, talking to herself and then laughed bitterly at her own ridiculous thoughts. "Such things don¡¯t exist in this world. If they did, why would there still be so many lovesick men and women? Besides, if such sorcery exists, why would Sang Yan have it and not me? Am I not even as fortunate as her?" Xiang Ying hung her head, listening quietly and patiently to Sang Ruoshui¡¯s rambles. This was her chance to curry favor with Sang Ruoshui. Just because Sang Ruoshui was out of favor now didn¡¯t mean it would be forever. A man¡¯s heart is ever fickle. If she could gain Sang Ruoshui¡¯s trust, her future would be far better than other palace maids. At this thought, Xiang Ying picked up a handkerchief to wipe Sang Ruoshui¡¯s tears, consoling her, "Lady, please stop crying. If you damage your eyes from too much crying, the Emperor is just enamored with novelty for now. In the end, he will surely see your worth. Your beauty moves even this servant; how much more would it move the Emperor? It¡¯s just not the right time. You must look at the bigger picture; the last to laugh will be the true winner." Her words struck a chord in Sang Ruoshui¡¯s heart. Her greatest pride was her beauty. She stopped crying and a smile appeared on her face, "You understand much better than Xiangxiu, that little mischief-maker." "It¡¯s your pity that spares me, my Lady." As she said this, a rumbling of her stomach was heard. Xiang Ying was startled and quickly knelt on the ground, "This servant has been improper, please forgive me, my Lady!" Before her knees even touched the ground, Sang Ruoshui steadied her. "You¡¯ve been busy on my behalf and returned so late; it was my oversight to detain you here all this while, chattering away. Go have your meal now and rest well tonight. You still have duties tomorrow." Sang Ruoshui helped Xiang Ying to stand and casually slipped an eight-treasure jade bracelet from her vanity case onto Xiang Ying¡¯s wrist. The green and translucent jade bracelet on her fair skin made her complexion even more radiant. Joy filled Xiang Ying, unable to suppress a smile, she knelt and thanked profusely, "Thank you for your compassion, my Lady. I will share your worries in the future and never cause you the grief or disappointment that Xiangxiu did." Pleased with the response, even if she inwardly scorned her, Sang Ruoshui¡¯s face wore a gentle smile. She helped Xiang Ying up, "Enough, go eat something now. Have the kitchen prepare something you enjoy." "Yes." Xiang Ying left with a smile. As she stepped out of the palace doors, she lifted her chin and walked to the awaiting palace maids, deliberately touching the tender flower in her hair while flaunting her newly acquired valuable jade bracelet. Under the light, the bracelet was especially conspicuous. The young palace maids looked on enviously. "Xiang Ying, your master treats you so well, that bracelet is beautiful." One young palace maid said, moving to touch it. Xiang Ying slapped her hand away, protectively covering the bracelet with a scornful and proud look. "You little mischief-maker, what right do you have to touch this? This was awarded to me by Princess Consort Sang. Enough, don¡¯t dawdle here. I¡¯ve been running around all day; quickly get some food and hot water ready for me. I need a good bath to relieve the fatigue." The young palace maid hurriedly replied, "Yes," and bustled away. Directing the servants, Xiang Ying felt smug: Who would have thought? Just a few days ago, Xiangxiu was favored and now it was her turn, Xiang Ying. If she desired considerable wealth in the future, she needed to firmly cling to Sang Ruoshui, this mighty tree. It was unfortunate that Sang Ruoshui was currently out of favor. She needed to find a way to help her. After all, they were in the same boat; Sang Ruoshui gaining the Emperor¡¯s favor would also be great for her! Xiang Ying pondered this as she walked to her quarters. Though she was the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace, she did not reside within the palace but in the wing where other palace maids lived. She only stayed up in Yuesang Palace when on duty. Now, the night had deepened. The entire harem was deathly silent. Only the candlelight in the lamps in the long corridor flickered, illuminating a corner of the world. She was pleased with herself and kept stroking the bracelet on her wrist, thinking about the glory and wealth to come, and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. She just happened to walk to a rockery. Suddenly, a hand reached out from the darkness. Then, before Xiang Ying could let out a scream, she was dragged into the rockery. "Mmm¡ª" Xiang Ying¡¯s eyes widened, and she made a frightened whimpering sound. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sister Xiang Ying, don¡¯t be afraid." A young, gentle male voice came from behind her, "I¡¯ll let you go, but don¡¯t shout, or the guards patrolling outside will hear us, and we¡¯ll both be in big trouble." The man¡¯s voice carried a hint of flattery and reassurance. Xiang Ying, realizing that the man meant no harm, promptly nodded, "Mm¡ªuh¡ªmm." Seeing her response, the man slowly let her go. Xiang Ying took a deep breath of relief, turned her head back, and in the dim moonlight, a dark red Mandarin jacket caught her eye. That was the attire of a palace guard. She raised her head and saw a clear, resolute face smiling at her ingratiatingly. "Guard Xing?" Wasn¡¯t this Xing Ce, the patrol guard of the palace? She had seen him around the palace a few times. He always kept his head low and was overly deferential around her; she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so daring! Recognizing the man, Xiang Ying frowned, lowered her voice, and asked coquettishly, "Guard Xing, what do you intend by bringing me here?" Could it be that he fancied her? This thought startled her, and her face gradually turned red. She couldn¡¯t help glancing at Xing Ce again¡ªthis fellow did have quite a handsome face. Mainly because the status of guards was higher than that of the palace maids. Other than the Emperor and eunuchs, the only men in the harem were guards. Many palace maids fancied the idea of getting close to a guard. There were times when she had fantasized about having a guard in the harem liking her, but her lowly status had made it just a fantasy. Now things were different, for she was the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace! Xing Ce gave Xiang Ying a shy smile, then pulled a wallet from his bosom and, despite her struggles, forcefully stuffed it into her hand. "Today I heard Sister Xiang Ying has won the favor of Princess Consort Sang and has become the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace, I, Xing Ce, came to congratulate Sister." The wallet was crudely made, but it felt heavy in her hands. Xiang Ying stealthily weighed it, guessing it might contain 20 to 30 taels of silver. She curled her lips, tucked the wallet into her chest, and sized Xing Ce up from head to toe, laughing, "Guard Xing, your congratulations are puzzling to me; you never used to talk to the palace maids before." It must be said, Xing Ce did possess a handsome face. She had always thought him meek and unassuming, but perhaps it was the money he had given, for today he seemed especially good-looking. As if unaware of Xiang Ying¡¯s fiery gaze, Xing Ce hung his head and sighed softly, "Ah, Sister Xiang Ying, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t want to speak with you, but there were too many idle people around, and I feared causing you unnecessary gossip. Now, Sister is the Chief Palace Maid, and no one can bully her, so I can finally feel at ease." He kept mentioning her status as "Chief Palace Maid." Xiang Ying was inwardly very pleased, and her tone became even more proud, "So Guard Xing did consider my welfare after all." While saying so, she knew in her heart¡ª unsolicited favors usually betoken hidden intentions. There was no way this fellow would seek her out without some motive. "Spill it." Xiang Ying was still hungry and didn¡¯t want to dawdle any longer, she went straight to the point, "What do you want from me?" Chapter 277 - 274 Responsibility Chapter 277: Chapter 274 ResponsibilityXing Ce felt that the moment had arrived and said, "It¡¯s nothing important, I just hope Sister Xiang Ying could pity Xing Ce. As you know, being a guard means facing wind and rain, patrolling daily without fail. A few days ago, during the storm, I nearly got struck by lightning while on patrol. If Sister Xiang Ying could lend a hand and secure a position for me at Yuesang Palace, even as a resident guard, it would be my good fortune." Indeed. To climb up the ranks, just like her, to get close to Princess Consort Sang. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sang Ruoshui was out of favor, and the people in the palace didn¡¯t think much of her. Still, there were clever ones like her. Not bad. Someone with a brain. She was satisfied in her heart but wore a smile that revealed nothing on her face. Seeing Xiang Ying¡¯s silence, Xing Ce lowered his eyes, hiding the gleam in them, and continued, "I won¡¯t lie to you, Sister, there are many useful things I can do. Outside the palace, I¡¯ve combed noble persons¡¯ hair and made incense; I¡¯m sure I can serve Princess Consort Sang well." Hearing this, Xiang Ying¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise, "You speak so highly of your abilities? You¡¯ll have to provide evidence to prove your real skills. It¡¯s not difficult to arrange for you to go to Yuesang Palace, but it depends on your performance." She suddenly shifted the conversation to a challenge, "Princess Consort Sang has just been scolded by the Emperor, and she¡¯s in a bad mood. Tell me, what can you do to make the Lady happy? If the Lady is pleased, won¡¯t you too benefit?" This young man boasted his own prowess, but it didn¡¯t seem like he was lying. Maybe he really had a way to help Sang Ruoshui? After hearing Xiang Ying¡¯s words, Xing Ce thought for a moment and then said with a smile, "Sister, you¡¯ve indeed asked the right person. To speak boldly, isn¡¯t the Lady distressed because she admires the Emperor but can¡¯t have him? When I was outside the palace, I heard of an incense that can calm the mind and help one sleep, and in dreams, it can help the user fulfill their deepest desires..." Xiang Ying looked shocked, "Really?" Xing Ce nodded and smiled, "Indeed it¡¯s true! However, the ingredients for this incense are complex. I¡¯ll go back tonight and rush to make it, and then I¡¯ll give it to Sister tomorrow at this time. Once the Lady tries it, she¡¯ll see the wonderful effects." Xiang Ying saw that Xing Ce was very confident in his claim and believed him quite a bit. In any case, she didn¡¯t have any other ideas at the moment, so why not let him try? Perhaps it could really be useful? They agreed on the details for tomorrow and went their separate ways. Qingning Palace He Ying strode into the palace and immediately noticed the untouched food on the table. "The Empress didn¡¯t eat?" He Ying furrowed his brows, his expression quite displeased. A palace maid standing by promptly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, today the Empress summoned the nannies in charge from all the palaces. It seems she was displeased by something, and thus, she had little appetite." In the end, it was all trouble stirred up by Sang Ruoshui. He knew he should have dealt with her earlier! He Ying glanced at the now-cold food and ordered, "Dispose of these and prepare a pot of the Empress¡¯s favorite milk bird¡¯s nest soup, but don¡¯t add too much sugar." The palace maid, surprised by the Emperor¡¯s doting nature, thought to herself: The King, who presided over all under heaven and dealt with thousands of affairs each day, could still remember the Empress¡¯s minor dietary preferences. "You silly girl, get going quickly!" Pei Muyang, seeing the small palace maid standing dumbfounded and before He Ying¡¯s temper flared, reprimanded the maid. They all served in Qingning Palace, and for the sake of the Empress, the Emperor would not take out his frustration on a mere palace girl. But the Empress had not eaten, and they did not persuade her, which would undoubtedly have angered the Emperor. It was up to him to vent on behalf of the Emperor. Being a eunuch was difficult! Even more so, to be a eunuch who knew how to read the Emperor¡¯s mood. "Yes," replied the small palace maid, shrinking her neck as she hurried out. He Ying, lifting his robe, proceeded into the inner chamber. Inside the inner chamber A slender figure sat at the desk. She supported her cheek with her delicate hand, her fine brows slightly furrowed as if troubled by something, to the point that she didn¡¯t even notice his arrival. Until he approached. His shadow fell upon her, blocking her light. She suddenly came to her senses, lifted her head, and gave the newcomer a bright smile, "Xinyuan, you¡¯re back." Piles of paper and a thick register lay in front of her. The register was spread open, its bottom right page wrinkled by the pressure of her elbow. It seemed she had been in that posture for quite some time. "My Empress, what¡¯s troubling you?" He Ying sat down beside her, and his hands naturally scooped her into his embrace. Hearing this, Sang Yan glared at him irritably and pointed to the register on the table, "What else could it be? Thanks to my dear husband, I¡¯ve been given the task of managing the harem. Now look, setting aside the concubines for a moment, just the number of eunuchs and palace maids in here is enough to make my eyes blur." As she spoke, she pointed to her eyes and leaned toward He Ying, complainingly asking, "Look, don¡¯t I have red veins in them?" So frustrating! She had never worked this hard even when she was studying. Used to living a carefree life, and now, suddenly, she had to manage so many people. How she wished for office software in this era! He Ying listened to her small complaints without getting angry. Instead, he took the register from her hands and tossed it aside, saying indulgently, "These are all trivial matters. If you find it troublesome, get a few trustworthy people to help you." As he spoke, his fingertips gently touched Sang Yan¡¯s eyelids, then blew lightly on them, "So you won¡¯t wear yourself out. I¡¯d feel heartbroken." He truly would feel heartbroken. He had actually been looking for an excuse to have Sang Yan start managing the harem. "It doesn¡¯t matter if ¡¯managing¡¯ means doing the work herself, after all." "No way." Sang Yan shook her head, a sense of responsibility weighing on her, looking very troubled, "You gave this task to me, and if I pass it on to others, that would be too irresponsible." Especially after what she heard from the palace maids in the Clothing Bureau today, her heart ached terribly. Were they not all women? Just because of different statuses, should they suffer such humiliations? She was a woman educated in modern times. Although not a saint, she remembered the principle of gender equality very well. She had no power before, but now that she did, she should naturally protect those with less strength. Moreover, this was a task given to her by He Ying. She wanted to do it well! After a brief venting, Sang Yan struggled out of He Ying¡¯s arms and reclaimed the register, saying earnestly, "I have an idea I want to discuss with you." He Ying smiled tenderly, "There¡¯s no rush. Have your meal first, and we can discuss the rest afterward. These trifles are nowhere as important as your health." His words were filled with affection. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t refuse, so when the palace maid brought cow¡¯s milk bird¡¯s nest, she reached out to take it, eager to eat quickly and discuss important matters. Unexpectedly, He Ying intercepted it halfway, "Let me feed you. It¡¯s a bit hot. Needs cooling." Sang Yan: "..." His occasional clinginess really overwhelmed her. Of course, if Princess Consort Sang knew her thoughts, she would likely break down again in tears, accusing her of not understanding the hunger of the needy. "Come on, open up." He Ying scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to her lips. Sang Yan opened her mouth and ate. The milky white cow¡¯s milk was thick, with clear threads of bird¡¯s nest. Sweet, fragrant, and smooth¡ªit was very pleasant to eat. She lived comfortably, ate comfortably, and enjoyed a comfortable life while the palace maids suffered out of sight. "Sigh." Sang Yan let out a soft sigh and dodged another spoonful, "I¡¯m too distracted by worries to taste anything. Let¡¯s discuss the important matters first." Chapter 278 - 275: Out of Line Chapter 278: Chapter 275: Out of LineHe Ying noticed her gloomy expression and knew that the matter she mentioned was of great importance, not something that could be ignored without disturbing her sleep, so he nodded, "Speak, I am listening." His hands continued their task. He took delight in feeding her. She was not allowed to refuse. Seeing that He Ying was willing to listen, Sang Yan ate while opening the booklet, "You also know that I went to the Clothing Bureau today, fired the nanny who managed it. It mainly has to do with the extravagant food in the palace. The Clothing Bureau may be chaotic, but it is just one corner of the harem. I also checked the roster in my hand... the relationships are entwined and very complex." Listening, He Ying fed her while saying, "If it¡¯s complex, take it slowly. You can¡¯t get fat with one bite, no need to rush." He was loath to let her strain herself. Now, seeing her furrowing her brow, showing fatigue in her eyes, he somewhat regretted letting her take over the matter. He wanted her to be Empress to grant her status and honor, not troubles. "It¡¯s not that I¡¯m in a hurry. I cannot stand by while others endure suffering." Sang Yan¡¯s expression was serious as she continued, "The nanny in the Clothing Bureau accepted bribes from eunuchs, engaging in despicable activities, harming many lives, truly unforgivable. But, do you know? This is not an isolated case. In the Imperial Kitchen and Ritual Supervision, such oppression exists too." Ignorance is bliss. Knowledge is terrifying. The darkness of the Imperial Palace weighed heavily on her heart. Beyond the heaviness was melancholy. "However, in these records¡ª" She pulled out a piece of paper from below and handed it to He Ying, "Take a look at this first." He Ying put down the bowl, picked up the paper, and saw the handwriting on it. The handwriting was unattractive, hastily written and messy, filled with many errors, but the words seemed to weep blood. "I know I am guilty, I should not have conspired with the eunuch, but he treated me with genuine and selfless care. Once when I fell ill, nearly carried out of the palace to be buried, he knelt at the Imperial Hospital for two days before he could procure medicine for me. My life is owed to him, and I seduced him. If there is a crime, then please, Empress, punish only me." "I hope Empress will understand, he and I share mutual affection, my life in the palace is miserable, only by his side can I feel a moment¡¯s warmth." ... A stack of papers. Handwriting different on each, messy and rushed, but the panic and resolve of the writers were visible. "So there is such affection." He Ying was still slightly shocked. He had been indifferent, but now he took the matter more seriously. Sang Yan nodded, "Yes. While investigating, I anticipated both coercion and voluntary relationships. Life in the palace is miserable and the days long; two miserable souls finding solace in each other is natural human emotion." He Ying, having listened, quietly understood, "So this is why you¡¯re troubled? Not sure how to handle it?" "Yes. If it¡¯s coercion, then punish the oppressor severely and compensate the victims. If it¡¯s voluntary, it¡¯s harder to handle. Being too lenient may lead others to follow suit. Being too harsh¡ª" Ultimately, she was too kind-hearted to harshly blame these already miserable lovers. He Ying liked her kindness and wanted to protect it, "Ah Yan, do what you think is right. Just follow your heart. I believe you already have a plan." Sang Yan indeed had a plan, but it was difficult to articulate. She pursed her lips, hesitated for a long while, then tentatively added, "I have an idea, perhaps it may seem absurd to outsiders, if you really agree, it might even turn Da He into a laughingstock for other nations, but I still want to ask you." Seeing Sang Yan¡¯s solemn tone, He Ying also grew serious, "Please, speak your mind." Sang Yan then said, "Palace maids and eunuchs are already the most pitiable beings in the palace. Those with better luck might leave the palace to retire, the less fortunate waste their lives away here. There are many as despicable and shameless as Zhang Tong, but like those described in these papers, there are also many who are gentle and considerate. They rely on each other in the palace, merely seeking a bit of warmth. In my view¡ª" She looked at He Ying, and seeing his expression unchanged, she continued, "I want to establish a Moon-climbing Platform. If two people in the palace fall in love, they could register here, form a union like common folk, and lead a simple life together. However, to climb the moon, they must first endure hardship, which would eliminate the fickle-minded and serve as a warning to others. Once registered, both parties must respect and remain faithful to each other; if one regrets, the party at fault should bear the main responsibility. Moreover, in marital life, one should not disregard the woman¡¯s will or harm her body. Anyone who maliciously abuses their spouse must be severel She had thought everything through thoroughly. She had never let him down. He Ying looked tenderly at the radiant woman before him. Sang Yan, unaccustomed to being stared at, asked, "What is it?" She touched her own face, asking, "Is there something on my face?" He Ying shook his head with a smile, pulling her into his embrace, "No, it¡¯s just that my Empress is so beautiful." It was mainly the beauty of her soul. A beauty he wanted to keep all to himself. He kissed her forehead and joked, "I don¡¯t think it should be called the Moon-climbing Platform, it should be called the Guanyin Platform. You put yourself in their shoes so considerately, aren¡¯t you just like a living Bodhisattva?" And he was the man who had a living Bodhisattva. Sang Yan was a bit dazed: So after all this, he was complimenting her! Wait a minute¡ª She exclaimed with surprise, "So, you agree?" It sounded easy to say, but it would be very difficult to implement. Establishing the Moon-climbing Platform meant bringing the affairs of the palace maids and eunuchs regarding food to light. In all the years since Da He was established¡ªprecisely speaking, no nation in the world had ever done this before. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If word got out to the previous dynasties, those ministers who were already against her becoming Empress would definitely have something to say. He Ying saw those little anxious emotions of Sang Yan. Their hearts were in tune, so he naturally knew what Sang Yan was thinking. "Don¡¯t worry, if those ministers dare to criticize you, I¡¯ll have their tongues cut out." He Ying had mellowed a lot, but when it came to Sang Yan, he easily harbored murderous thoughts. Sang Yan heard this, feeling uneasy yet somewhat sweet: Ah, she had almost forgotten, she had someone to back her up. "Still, we should talk things over properly, don¡¯t just resort to violence at every turn." She patted his shoulder, smoothed out his chest, and kissed his cheek. "Xinyuan, thank you." She smiled at him, sincerely adding, "It¡¯s wonderful. To encounter you in such times, and you, accommodating all my unconventional actions." At that moment, she truly understood his goodness and how incredibly lucky she was. "Xinyuan, thank you, really." At that moment, she also truly understood that modern saying that spread online¡ªfalling in love with a city because of a person, falling in love with a world where that person exists. It all turned out to be true. Her heart was filled with an incredible sense of happiness. Listening to her emotional words, He Ying cared about only one thing: "Ah Yan, can I ask for a different kind of thanks?" Sang Yan: "..." This flirt! He was really ruining the mood. But she liked it so much! "Oh, then what kind of thanks do you want?" She smiled, lifting his chin with her hand, like a coquettish beauty teasing a handsome man. Chapter 279 - 276 Pan Yue Chapter 279: Chapter 276 Pan YueShe tacitly approved of his outrageous behavior. He Ying, smiling, pecked her fingers before lifting her into his arms. Sang Yan took the initiative and kissed his lips. He Ying was surprised, "Why are you so passionate tonight?" Sang Yan smiled seductively, "Aren¡¯t I supposed to thank you?" They were already on the bed. He Ying didn¡¯t move, his smile provocative, "Come on. I¡¯m all eyes." Sang Yan: "..." She recalled the adult movies she had seen and earnestly fulfilled his expectations. It was a passionate night. They kept it up until the fourth watch of the night before stopping. The next day Sang Yan, as usual, ached from waist to back and didn¡¯t get out of bed until the sun was high in the sky. He Ying was already gone. He had just returned to the Imperial Palace and indeed had many political matters accumulated. Sang Yan asked a palace maid and learned that he had gone to the Imperial Study, and had already had his breakfast, so she didn¡¯t bother him further. She got out of bed, washed up, got dressed, and continued dealing with the previous night¡¯s matters. First, she punished a group of eunuchs who had forced palace maids to prostitution; accomplices were also severely dealt with, received dozens of blows as punishment, had their personal belongings confiscated, and were expelled from the Imperial Palace. The confiscated belongings were compensated to the corresponding victimized palace maids. Additionally, the maids were given the option to either leave or stay in the palace. Out of the twenty-eight victimized palace maids, eighteen chose to stay. Sang Yan inquired about their reasons for staying. The reasons were as she had expected. Feeling that they had lost their purity, they feared they wouldn¡¯t find a good husband after leaving the palace, had no particular skills, and came from poor families; staying in the palace seemed like a better prospect. Sang Yan respected their decisions and, according to their seniority in the palace, reassigned their positions. These positions originated from the Moon-climbing Platform. The relevant regulations of the Moon-climbing Platform were also discussed with them. They were the direct victims, and their opinions were critically important. Sang Yan discussed with them until the evening. He Ying had returned to the palace, and they were still busy writing and drawing, much like students rushing to complete their homework. Sang Yan was the type who, if she didn¡¯t do something, would let it be, but if she did it, she would do it thoroughly. "Don¡¯t ask yet, I¡¯ll let you know when it¡¯s over." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She blocked his words before he could speak, clearly not wanting him to interfere. The palace maids discussing with her saw how she spoke to the Emperor; they all went pale and trembled involuntarily. Only Qiuzhi, accustomed to this, stood up and invited the Emperor to the side hall, conveying the information: "Lady is busy with Moon-climbing Platform matters. Today, Lady punished thirty eunuchs and ten involved nannies, among them, two eunuchs forced several palace maids repeatedly and organized gatherings multiple times resulting in one maid committing suicide by running into a wall, whom the Empress has sent to the Prison Department." He Ying, sitting in the chair drinking tea and listening to the report, furrowed his brows upon hearing this, and said directly, "Such beasts are better off dead." Qiuzhi: "..." As expected, the Emperor only knew about executing people. She hurriedly conveyed Sang Yan¡¯s words: "Lady said their crimes are tremendous, and dying would be a relief for them, they should live to redeem themselves." He Ying nodded, "Then let them suffer enough in the Prison Department, and then send them to serve at the border." Qiuzhi responded, "Yes." He Ying faintly heard loud talking from the main hall and asked, "Did Lady talk like this all day?" Qiuzhi didn¡¯t understand: "Ah?" He Ying, without elaborating further, simply ordered, "Have someone prepare some throat-soothing soup." Qiuzhi understood immediately and hurried out to take care of it. The side hall quieted down. He Ying glanced at Pei Muyang standing nearby, but said nothing. Pei Muyang, though silent as air, was attentively observing He Ying¡¯s every move. Sensing his gaze, he asked, "Does the Emperor have any instructions?" He Ying placed the teacup onto the table, rhythmically tapping on the table with his hand, "If I remember correctly, Nanny Hu is still in good health." Nanny Hu was his wet nurse. He was fair, open-minded, and decisive, and he had gained deep trust. But she was also known for rushing things. She kept bringing up the fact that he had no heir. He Ying, afraid of arguing with her and ruining their relationship, had arranged for her to return to the countryside to enjoy her old age early on. It had been three years now. When Pei Muyang heard He Ying mention Nanny Hu, he knew he wanted to find a helper for the Empress and immediately said, "Your Majesty, Nanny Hu¡¯s health is indeed good. She even wrote a letter a few days ago, saying she wanted to come to the palace to see you." Hearing this, He Ying smiled, "Very well. Let her come to the palace." "Yes. Your servant will arrange it immediately." Pei Muyang took his leave. He Ying sat in the side hall for a while, waiting until the noise from the main hall subsided before he went there. Sang Yan had finalized the charter for the Moon-climbing Platform and asked the palace maids to go back and wait for further instructions. Coincidentally, when He Ying returned, he asked him, "What place in the palace would be suitable for the Moon-climbing Platform?" Without much thought, He Ying directly said, "Wherever you like, except for Qingning Palace. You can arrange everything else. Even if someone¡¯s living there, we can move them to give you space." His bias towards her was still limitless. Sang Yan wanted to laugh but couldn¡¯t, "I asked you to think of a place so I could be lazy, and now you¡¯ve thrown the problem back to me." He Ying suddenly understood and laughed, "Alright. I¡¯ll think." He pulled her over to sit on the couch, touched his chin, and began to think. At that moment, Qiuzhi came with a bowl of pear soup, "My Lady, the Emperor ordered this pear soup for you. Please drink more." Having spoken all day, Sang Yan indeed felt uncomfortable in her throat and nodded, accepting it. "You¡¯re considerate. Thank you." She continued to drink and thank him. Hearing her thanks, He Ying remembered her passion from the previous night. Once tasted, it¡¯s unforgettable. "Ah Yan, the way you say it, do you have another method of thanks tonight?" He gazed at her intently, full of expectation. Sang Yan was startled, "You, you¡ª" This man is too greedy! "What are you thinking?" Blushing with annoyance, she tapped his forehead, "Focus on the matter at hand. Where should we choose to build the Moon-climbing Platform?" He Ying, unfazed by being tapped on the forehead, held her hand, playing with it in his. Sang Yan¡¯s fingers were dyed with rouge. It made her fingers look even more slender and jade-like. He held her hand and didn¡¯t want to let go, his thoughts wandering. This severely affected his efficiency. "For the moment, I really can¡¯t think of a suitable place." He could easily point to any place, but since Sang Yan cared so much about this, he didn¡¯t want to fool her. Sang Yan felt he wasn¡¯t really thinking, his heart wasn¡¯t in it. She pointedly said, "Then think some more. You have all night tonight." He Ying: "..." Spend all night thinking about this? What a waste! He spent his days dealing with state affairs, looking forward to relaxing in the evenings. "Ah Yan, I¡¯ll think about it now." He supported his forehead and thought for a while, then a place popped into his mind, "How about Yuesang Palace?" It originated from Sang Ruishui; it was only right to start with her. Besides, there were plans to release her from the palace. Once she was gone, that space would be perfect for the Moon-climbing Platform. And the decorations there were luxurious, the scenery not bad, and the location was accessible from all sides, convenient for reaching all palaces. Sang Yan also intended this. But¡ª "She hasn¡¯t even left yet; is it appropriate to requisition her place like this?" Chapter 280 - 277 Omen Chapter 280: Chapter 277 Omen"What is inappropriate? If I say it¡¯s appropriate, then it¡¯s appropriate." "There¡¯s no need to rush." She was about to have a grand wedding and did not want any complications that might damage her reputation. Seeing her displeasure, Qiuzhi softly said, "Lady, Yuhua Palace seems quite suitable." Sang Yan was still not very familiar with the palace and asked, "Where is that?" Qiuzhi replied, "It¡¯s the palace where Consort Xuan used to live." Consort Xuan, Xuanrao, had lived in Yuhua Palace before she was sent to the Cold Palace. After entering the Cold Palace, she suddenly became friends with Sang Yan. Now having left the palace, she opened a tavern, took care of her younger brother, and even started a romantic relationship with her brother¡¯s teacher. They led a happy life. Hearing that Sang Yan had returned to the palace, she continuously sent messages, hoping to meet Sang Yan. Unfortunately, He Ying blocked it. He Ying cared too much about Sang Yan. Even though they were passionately involved night after night, he was still cautious about her getting too close to other women. In Quanzhou, without his careful watch, wouldn¡¯t she just run off with some woman like Qin? He still remembered. "Cough, cough¡ª" His gaze turned icy as he swept it toward Qiuzhi, signaling her to keep quiet. Qiuzhi had received the news¡ªXuanrao sent messages to the palace, hoping to meet Sang Yan, but since Sang Yan had never summoned her, Qiuzhi knew that the Emperor must have done something. She had no choice but to go through Qiuzhi, asking her to tell Sang Yan. But Qiuzhi dared not. How could she dare pass such a message that the Emperor wanted to block? Yet, in his presence, she could pretend to mention it casually. Qiuzhi had indeed waited a long time for such a piece of news. Unaware of the complexities, when Qiuzhi mentioned Yuhua Palace was Consort Xuan¡¯s residence, Sang Yan thought of Xuanrao, "If you hadn¡¯t mentioned it, I would have forgotten about her." She had been so busy since returning to the palace that she forgot she had a close friend waiting for her. "How is Xuanrao lately? I haven¡¯t seen her come to the palace." She thought Xuanrao had forgotten about her, and it had been so many days without a visit, which saddened her. Seeing this, He Ying immediately spoke ill, "She¡¯s more carefree than us now, not only does she own several taverns, but she¡¯s also involved with the second sons of Jiang Family, who are descendants of a long line of scholars." "Involved?" Sang Yan frowned, "Speak properly, how can you use that term?" Wait? She questioned, "The Jiang Family has a second branch?" She thought the Jiang Family only consisted of the brothers Jiang Chongyu and Jiang Chongli. Knowing she was unaware of the former dynasty¡¯s Minister, He Ying explained, "The Jiang Family has two branches; Jiang Chongyu is the eldest grandson of the main branch. He has an uncle who barely qualifies as the second branch and still unmarried. Fifteen years ago, Grand Secretary Jiang Min died, leaving a will to be buried in his hometown, Duan City. His eldest son, Jiang Xuan, Jiang Chongyu¡¯s father, and his second son, Jiang Duan, escorted their father¡¯s coffin. Unexpectedly, they were ambushed by bandits midway. Jiang Min was killed protecting his brother Jiang Duan. Jiang Duan, having survived, possibly out of guilt, after burying their father and brother, did not return." "I see." Sang Yan remembered Xuanrao mentioning her troublesome younger brother, and heard that Duan City had a great scholar, so she personally went to invite him. It seemed she invited him. "What is he like? Would he consider entering the court to serve as an official?" Seeing that He Ying knew so much, she thought he must be considering it. He Ying indeed intended to summon him to serve as an official. Feng Yicheng, upon returning to the court, highly recommended him. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But he refused. Since he refused, that was that. He would not compel anyone. "He¡¯s just a poor scholar." He Ying didn¡¯t think highly of him, "He¡¯s selfish. After Jiang Min¡¯s death, the Jiang Family fell into decline. Following Jiang Xuan¡¯s death, the Jiang Family never recovered. Jiang Duan, the uncle, didn¡¯t take care of things. Once the mourning period ended, he sent them back to the Capital City. If it weren¡¯t for Jiang Chongyu being determined and taking on the family responsibilities at a young age, who would remember the Jiang Family now?" Sang Yan didn¡¯t expect such complications but felt that Jiang Duan wasn¡¯t the person He Ying described. If Xuanrao asked him to tutor her brother, given Xuanrao¡¯s judgment, Jiang Duan must be a reliable person. "There might be other circumstances." She said, "Without knowing the full story, I reserve judgment." He Ying disagreed, "You¡¯re just too kind, always unwilling to think ill of others." Unlike him, who had seen too much darkness from a young age, he believed in the innate evil of human nature. Not wanting to argue, Sang Yan smiled and changed the subject, "Aren¡¯t we straying from the topic?" He Ying nodded, "Yes, we¡¯ve strayed." He shifted the conversation back to the topic at hand, "So, what do you think of Yuesang Palace?" Sang Yan shook her head, "Not much." She thought it over but decided not to bother with Sang Ruoshui for the time being. "We are getting married soon, let¡¯s not provoke her." She didn¡¯t want any complications before the wedding. She didn¡¯t realize some complications were unavoidable. Yuesang Palace The Chief Palace Maid, Xiang Ying, placed the incense sent by Xing Ce into the censer. Shortly after, wisps of white smoke began to drift out. Sang Ruoshui, accompanied by the white smoke, fell asleep. She had a wonderful dream. In the dream, He Ying was getting married. A red veil covered the bride¡¯s face. He Ying, beaming with happiness, walked forward and carefully lifted the red veil. A beautiful face was revealed. It was her own. "Ruoshui, you have finally become my Empress," he said. He Ying smiled, hugged her tightly, and kissed her hair, whispering, "Ruoshui, everything I have is yours from now on. No one will look down on you again." "Thank you, Emperor." She nestled happily into his arms. Then she was pushed down onto the bed. A spring breeze rippled through. Unfortunately, the wonderful dream was brief. After the moment had passed, he tied his clothes and was about to leave. "Emperor! Emperor! Please don¡¯t go, will you?" She tearfully pleaded. But he tore her hands away and strode off. "Don¡¯t! Emperor¡ª" Sang Ruoshui woke up shouting. Upon waking, all she found was a bed filled with emptiness, loneliness, and cold. She looked at the empty bed and cried her eyes out. Why did she have such a dream? Why didn¡¯t the Emperor love her? The night was too cold. She clutched the quilt, crying miserably. "Lady, Lady, what is wrong with you?" Hearing the disturbance, Xiang Ying hurried over with a lamp. The lamp light revealed a tear-stained face. Choking up, Sang Ruoshui said, "Xiang Ying, I had a wonderful dream." Knowing the effect of the incense from Xing Ce, which was to induce beautiful dreams, Xiang Ying immediately said, "Beautiful dreams are a good sign, my lady; you should be happy. Why are you crying?" Upon hearing this, Sang Ruoshui stopped crying and asked tearily, "Really? Is it truly a good sign?" Xiang Ying nodded vigorously, "Yes." Although initially skeptical, Sang Ruoshui had another wonderful dream the next night. This dream was also set on the wedding night. She and He Ying were tumbling passionately in bed¡ª Suddenly, a palace maid announced, "Emperor, Empress, Princess Consort Yan has arrived." No sooner had the words been spoken than a disheveled woman burst in. It was Sang Yan. Watching them intimately together on the bed, she stared with tearful eyes and a face full of resentment, she screamed, "He Ying, how could you do this to me? You promised you would love me forever!" How delightful! Clinging to He Ying¡¯s neck, Sang Ruoshui deliberately grew more affectionate with him for a moment and then provocatively said, "Your Majesty, look at your sister, barging in without being summoned. This is clearly insubordination and a disregard for royal authority; she must be severely punished!" Chapter 281 - 278: Backlash Chapter 281: Chapter 278: BacklashSang Yan coldly looked at He Ying, as if to see whether he dared to respond. But He Ying did respond. He asked with a light laugh, "So, what severe punishment does the Empress envision?" A relentless malice filled Sang Ruoshui¡¯s eyes, "Let¡¯s confine her to the Cold Palace." He Ying agreed without hesitation, "Alright. Then she shall be confined to the Cold Palace." Thus, Sang Ruoshui watched as the guards rushed in and dragged Sang Yan out like a log, like dragging a dead dog. Hahaha. What a delightful dream! Sang Ruoshui woke up laughing. After waking, daylight had already broken. She looked at the cold bedspread, her smile rigid at the corners of her lips, her heart split open, cold wind whistling through. Truly pitiable. Compared with the joy in her dream, reality showed more tragedy. Sang Ruoshui had no choice but to hide in her dreams. She continuously reminisced about the sweetness and smugness in her dream, truly wishing she could confine Sang Yan in the Cold Palace! She not only wanted to confine her to the Cold Palace, but also wanted her to meet a miserable end there. Thinking so, she dreamt another dream that night. In the dream She donned luxurious Empress attire, leading a mighty entourage to the Cold Palace. Inside the Cold Palace, Sang Yan had not eaten for a long time. She huddled in a corner, hair disheveled, face gaunt, her once voluptuous and graceful figure now frail and hunchbacked, like a dying beggar by the roadside. Really so hungry. It felt like a fire was burning inside her stomach. She couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore. Licking her cracked lips, she grabbed a handful of tender grass from the corner and was about to stuff it into her mouth. Just then, a shadow fell upon her. Raising her head, she saw the dazzling Empress Sang Ruoshui. "Ah, how has my sister come to such a state?" Sang Ruoshui covered her mouth, feigning surprise, then, in the next moment, she stomped on Sang Yan¡¯s fingers. "Crack¡ª" Accompanied by a crisp snap followed by Sang Yan¡¯s piercing scream, "Ah¡ª" Sang Ruoshui mercilessly broke several of her fingers. Sang Yan¡¯s face contorted, and she bit through her lip. Blood flowed out. Forming a scarlet line down her lip corner. Along with her disheveled appearance, she resembled a rose trampled into the mud. "Weak, weak water, let me go. I beg you¡ª" Her pride was gone. Like a lowly dog groveling at her feet. Sang Ruoshui laughed arrogantly and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from a plate held by a palace maid nearby, tossing it at her feet. "Here¡¯s your reward. Eat." As she spoke, she stepped on it. The osmanthus cake thus got covered with dirt. Sang Yan looked at the dirty osmanthus cake, her mouth watering. She was really so hungry. But so many people were watching her. Licking the blood at the corner of her lips, she swallowed her saliva again. She really wanted to eat. But such dirty food, stepped on by Sang Ruoshui, was meant to humiliate her, how could she eat it? "Eat it." Sang Ruoshui threw down another piece. Seeing Sang Yan not eating, her eyes gradually turned fierce, "Sang Yan, do you still not recognize your status? You are a dog now! How can a dog be picky?" Said she, glancing at the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs, "My dog is picky, what do you say we should do?" Immediately, a palace maid stepped forward and held down Sang Yan¡¯s head. Sang Yan tried to struggle, "Let go of me!" But she was hungry and had very little strength. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with her slight struggle, she was harshly slapped several times. Her face swiftly swelled up. The next moment, she was pressed against the osmanthus cake. "Eat it! Eat it quickly! It¡¯s a reward from the Empress, you dare not eat?" "What do you think you are? You think you¡¯re still Princess Consort Yan, cherished by all?" "Stop dreaming! The Emperor has already gotten tired of you! You are now just a discarded woman of the Cold Palace!" "Hahaha, a discarded woman of the Cold Palace!" ... The endless mocking laughter sounded like a flood entering her ears. Sang Yan lay on the ground, screaming in pain and despair, "He Ying, you¡¯ve made me suffer so much!" Hahaha¡ª Sang Ruoshui woke up with a laugh once again. This dream made her act like a madwoman, pounding on the large bed: "Hahaha, Sang Yan, you¡¯ve finally gotten your comeuppance!" It was indeed satisfying! It was a pity it was only a dream. The white smoke was still drifting through the palace. She somewhat sensed something was wrong, having also smelled this fragrance in her dream. It was like a wheat field after spring rain, carrying a hint of sweetness. "That fragrance¡ª" She looked at Xiang Ying, who came running over with a lantern, pointed at the incense burner, and her expression turned cold, "What¡¯s the deal with that fragrance?" Xiang Ying did not dare to hide anything and honestly said, "Replying to your Ladyship, I saw that you were having trouble sleeping at night, so I found this fragrance. It¡¯s said to be called ¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep,¡¯ which can help one achieve their heart¡¯s desire." Observing Sang Ruoshui¡¯s behavior these past few nights, it was clear that ¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep,¡¯ true to its name, could accompany a lover in sleep. The only regret was¡ªit was only in a dream. "¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep¡¯?" Sang Ruoshui murmured the name to herself, thinking: It turns out all my wishes these days have been granted by it. Even though it was just a dream, it indeed allowed her good sleep. She had never been so happy since entering the Imperial Palace! "Your Ladyship, do you feel any discomfort?" Seeing Sang Ruoshui silent and not responding, Xiang Ying was still somewhat afraid she did not like it. After all, between the dream world and the real world, the contrast could easily drive one mad with unrequited love. "Not bad." Sang Ruoshui was already entrapped by the content of her dream, lost in its reminiscence, feeling her life was filled with hope. "You¡¯ve done well." She commended, moved that Xiang Ying had noticed her poor sleeping condition. "Take that jade ring from the makeup box." She gave a reward, then glanced at the wisps of white smoke drifting out, lay back on the bed, and murmured, "Xiang Ying, burn more of that incense. This night... is too long." She wanted to dream a little longer. If possible, she wished to never wake up from that dream. "Yes. Thank you, your Ladyship." Xiang Ying added more incense to the burner, then went to the makeup box to retrieve the jade ring. Seeing that Sang Ruoshui had already closed her eyes and wasn¡¯t watching, she couldn¡¯t wait to put it on. It looked so beautiful. It made her hands look long and white. No wonder Xing Ce loved to touch her hands. Thinking of Xing Ce, she watched Sang Ruoshui¡¯s expression, saw her breathing steady and her expression relaxed, clearly enjoying the remnants of a good dream, then said, "Your Ladyship, I dare not take credit for the incense. Actually, I obtained it from a guard in the palace. He¡¯s wholeheartedly thinking of serving you. I just mentioned that your Ladyship was having trouble sleeping at night, and he offered ¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep.¡¯" "Is that so." Sang Ruoshui, not expecting that someone would still follow her even when she was out of favor, then opened her eyes and looked at her, asking, "What¡¯s his name?" Seeing her interest, Xiang Ying replied, "Xing Ce." "Xing Ce?" "Yes. He is a guard patrolling around the Imperial Kitchen. He wants to be transferred to Yuesang Palace to serve you. I hope your Ladyship will allow it." After she spoke, she knelt down with a thud. Seeing this, Sang Ruoshui laughed, "Why kneel? This is good news. Call him to come over tomorrow. I¡¯ll have a look at him." As she spoke, she yawned, feeling drowsy, then waved her hand and closed her eyes, gradually sinking into a beautiful dream. At this time, she did not realize that seeking relief in this way would only harm herself. Her greed would ultimately only hurt her. One wrong thought leads to a series of mistakes. Chapter 282 - 279: Indecent Chapter 282: Chapter 279: IndecentSang Yan met Nanny Hu that day. Nanny Hu was nearing fifty, clad in splendid attire, her makeup delicate and refined, projecting a charm that came with maturity. Her manner of speaking revealed a humorous and witty nature. "I¡¯d long heard that Xinyuan had taken a fancy to a woman, and it turns out to be someone of such stunning beauty. His taste is truly impeccable," Nanny Hu complimented with a smile, retaining an intimate tone. She straightaway addressed him as "Xinyuan," which even took Sang Yan aback: He Ying was known for his domineering and cold demeanor, and the fact that this nanny dared to call him by his name suggested she had earned his profound respect. Out of affection by association, Sang Yan also afforded her due courtesy, "Nanny, you¡¯ve had a long journey, please take a seat. Qiuzhi, serve some tea." She had been informed by He Ying a couple of days ago that he had invited his wet nurse, Nanny Hu, to enter the palace to assist her with affairs. She was someone who would take the chance to relax when possible, and since he had made arrangements, she was happy to let him. Their wedding was imminent. She still had to busily prepare for the wedding. "Thank you, Your Highness," Nanny Hu acknowledged, sitting down and naturally taking a sip of the tea when it was served. Observing this, Sang Yan chuckled, "Nanny, you should be enjoying your twilight years at home, but Xinyuan, knowing I was new to the palace and unfamiliar with its affairs, pitied me and asked you to assist. I am hoping you¡¯ll graciously impart your wisdom." Nanny Hu smiled gently, "I¡¯d heard that the Her Highness is good-natured, and it appears to be true. Rest assured, I will surely share all I know." "Then I am preemptively thankful, Nanny," Sang Yan replied earnestly. Sang Yan lifted her tea cup, engaging in casual conversation with Nanny Hu as they drank tea. She soon learned that Nanny Hu¡¯s son was about the same age as He Ying, but he already had three grandchildren, with the eldest being twelve years old. Doing the math, that meant becoming a father at fourteen or fifteen. Sang Yan was so shocked she almost couldn¡¯t maintain her composure, "Haha, Nanny really is blessed indeed." Nanny Hu laughed heartily, "I think Your Highness is the lucky one. After your grand wedding, you shall surely bear many heirs." Thinking about her nights with He Ying, Sang Yan felt it was very likely that the heir was already in her womb. That man was like a tirelessly plowing bull in the fields. She teased him for his lack of moderation, joking that he¡¯d have nowhere to cry later. He boldly claimed, "You¡¯ll understand later, I will never let you suffer." Such confidence in his voice! Indeed, men are mysteriously self-assured. Her attempts to admonish him failed, so she ignored him for an entire day. This caused him to visit Qingning Palace five times during breaks from handling state affairs. "Ah Yan, if you keep being mad, I¡¯ll have to find another way to appease you." As he spoke, he reached out to pull at her dress, signaling his intention to attend to her needs again. She feared this the most. She scolded him, "Stop fooling around; an Emperor should maintain some dignity." Righteously he rebutted, "In our private chambers, I am not the Emperor; I am your devoted subject." With just a few words, he coaxed her into beaming with joy. She was falling more and more in love with him. Just the thought of him sweetened her heart. And just as she was indulging in these thoughts, what she was thinking about came to be. "Nanny Hu has arrived." He Ying¡¯s voice came from beyond the hall. Upon learning of Nanny Hu¡¯s arrival, he immediately made his way from the Imperial Study. It was nearly noon by then. After entering Qingning Palace, he directed Pei Muyang, "Arrange for a meal. Nanny Hu will join us for lunch." Upon hearing this, Pei Muyang hurried to comply, "Yes." After bowing, he hastened out to see to it. "This humble servant greets the Emperor¡ª" Nanny Hu stood up to pay her respects. Had Sang Yan looked closer, she would have noticed that Nanny Hu was not as composed as she had seemed earlier¡ªbefore He Ying, she bowed her head submissively, her shoulders trembling slightly, and her eyes darting around, betraying a nervous demeanor. But how could Sang Yan have eyes for anyone else? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the man she loved before her, he was the only one in her sight. He Ying, likewise, first looked to Sang Yan and exchanged a smile with her gaze before he extended his hand to Nanny Hu in a feigned gesture of support, "Nanny, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. You must be weary from the journey, take a seat." He wasn¡¯t usually this affectionate, nor did he hold such respect for Nanny Hu, but influenced by Sang Yan, his heart had softened a great deal, and he was more considerate. He thought of how Nanny Hu, at her age, had come all the way from the countryside to serve him, which was no easy feat, so he showed her some respect. This was a perfect misunderstanding. And it laid the groundwork for future troubles. "Thank you, Emperor." Nanny Hu stood up and returned to her original spot. He Ying took Sang Yan¡¯s hand and they sat down on the soft couch together. He also began to make small talk with Nanny Hu, inquiring about her children and grandchildren. "In the past two years, Hui Niang passed away, and my son, being deeply emotional, has renounced the world and taken monastic vows. My three grandsons were taken in by Hui Niang¡¯s family. She was their only daughter and they say the boys are to carry on the family business. I trust them, so I agreed." As Nanny Hu spoke about her family, she shared joy with Sang Yan but sadness with He Ying. After listening, He Ying thought for a moment and then said, "This is something you should have informed Us about. Never mind, later We will have Pei Muyang issue Our decree, inviting your grandsons to the palace more often to keep you company." "Thank you, Emperor. But there¡¯s no need. Children can be troublesome, and if they accidentally offend someone important, it would be my fault." "No matter. Children have their own charms and vivacity." "Speaking of which, I am very much looking forward to the lively and adorable heir," she changed the subject smoothly. "Emperor, you must work harder in this regard." Such teasing words would normally be considered highly disrespectful to the Emperor. But who would blame He Ying for having the woman he loved? He, more than anyone, longed for an heir. Especially with Sang Yan. Seeing Nanny Hu¡¯s remark, he turned to Sang Yan with a seriousness, "This also requires the cooperation of the Empress." Sang Yan: "..." He really knew how to seize an opportunity for himself. It left her temporarily at a loss for words. All she could do was tactically drink some water. When she put down her teacup, he took it, poured himself a drink from it, and then drank. Nanny Hu saw this and was somewhat surprised: the Emperor, who once felt uneasy around women, now willingly shared a cup of water with one. Indeed, the Emperor must truly be delighted with the Empress. Thinking this, she offered flattery, "This old servant knew long ago that the Emperor would find a woman of destiny, and seeing her today, it truly is so." This was a bit like locking the stable door after the horse had bolted. Pure flattery. But He Ying was pleased to hear it nonetheless, "I think so too. I¡¯ve waited so long, just for her." The three of them chatted casually for a while. Then, the palace maids began to set the table for the meal. When it was time to eat, Nanny Hu was somewhat reserved, but after He Ying encouraged her to relax a few times, she let loose. With a table full of delicious food, she ate with gusto, her mouth shiny with grease. Sang Yan, seeing this, was a bit confused: was this really He Ying¡¯s wet nurse? How come it seemed like she hadn¡¯t seen much of the world? Nanny Hu felt Sang Yan¡¯s gaze and seemed to realize she was behaving inappropriately. Flustered, she got up, "Please forgive this old servant, Emperor, Your Highness the Empress, for my lack of decorum." Then, raising her hand to wipe away nonexistent tears, she spoke with filled eyes of sorrow, "After returning home, my daughter-in-law fell ill, and all the money I had was spent on her treatment. Ah, it¡¯s been many days since I last had the luxury of meat and fish." Hearing this, Sang Yan felt some sympathy, "Nanny, don¡¯t worry, continue with your meal. If it isn¡¯t enough, we¡¯ll have more made." He Ying also nodded in reassurance, "It is Our negligence. How could We have been ignorant of this? You should have made it known to Us." Nanny Hu replied, "With the Emperor so busy with state affairs, how dare this old servant trouble you with such trifles?" He Ying didn¡¯t agree, "Since you recognize it as a trifle, you shouldn¡¯t have made things so hard on yourself. A word to Us is by no means a bother." "I was foolish, thank you, Emperor, for your great kindness." Nanny Hu got up again to thank him. He Ying waved his hand, indicating she should continue with her meal. After she finished eating, he arranged for Qiuzhi to take her down to rest. Once she had left, He Ying and Sang Yan enjoyed the after-meal fruits together, chatting, "Nanny Hu has changed quite a bit from before. If not for her face, I would almost think she was someone else." Chapter 283 - 280: Unfortunate Love Chapter 283: Chapter 280: Unfortunate LoveSang Yan pinched off a grape, popped it into her mouth, and while eating, she said, "After all, you haven¡¯t seen each other for a few years, so naturally there are some changes." She said this but also asked, "What was Nanny Hu like before?" He Ying thought for a while and said, "She was a person who took great care in her appearance. Proud yet humble, and somewhat reserved. I didn¡¯t expect to see her today and feel a sense of weakness." Sang Yan didn¡¯t take it seriously, and chuckled, "Maybe it¡¯s because of your imposing presence?" Her flattery amused him. "Do I still have dignity in front of you?" He restrained his temper around her, feeling like a very amiable person. Sang Yan smiled without saying a word. She continued eating grapes. He Ying fed her a few, but she pushed them away. "No need. I can eat them myself." She wasn¡¯t too fond of him feeding her, as he liked to play with her tongue with his fingers while doing so. "Aren¡¯t you going to deal with the government affairs?" She tactfully urged him to leave. He Ying didn¡¯t want to go and fed her a few more grapes before holding her lips and kissing them for a long time, finally leaving reluctantly. Sang Yan was left inwardly fuming: scumbag! After the scumbag arranged for Nanny Hu to help her with affairs, she indeed had more idle time. When one has leisure time, one tends to look for things to do. Thinking it over, she thought of Luo Shan. Luo Shan came to the Capital City to look for her husband, and it was uncertain how her search went. She mentioned this matter to He Ying, and he arranged for someone to take her into the palace. When she saw Luo Shan again, it was on a bright morning. The warm sunshine bathed her figure, dressed in a white robe with raven hair and red lips. Yet, it revealed a sense of desolation and decay. Compared to when they first met, full of vitality and bright eyes, now she looked depressed and silent. Sang Yan had guessed that her quest to find her husband wouldn¡¯t be smooth, so she asked with concern, "Miss Luo, what¡¯s the matter? What has happened?" As a woman, she always had a bit more care for other women. Only by caring for one another can women create a world more suited for themselves. She knew this from the modern times. Luo Shan was a reserved person. When she met the Empress, she respectfully saluted, with a demeanor that was neither servile nor overbearing. Now, hearing Sang Yan¡¯s concern, she didn¡¯t show any surprise but calmly said, "Replying to the Empress, this commoner has no troubles." There¡¯s nothing new in this world. Just that men often prove to be fickle, easily succumbing to wandering thoughts and betrayal. In the end, she was the one who had misjudged him. Since it was her mistake, she couldn¡¯t blame others. Any mistake, any suffering, she could bear alone. Seeing her respond this way, Sang Yan knew she was strong-willed, so she didn¡¯t press further and changed the topic, "Then what are your plans now?" "I plan to return to Luozhou." She was originally a courtesan from Luozhou¡¯s brothels. Having some medical talent and a willingness to treat and help people, she had gained renown as the ¡¯Brothel Medic¡¯ in Luozhou. Cui Jianqing, the son of Minister of Rites Cui Shao, came to Luozhou to study and fell in love with her. He didn¡¯t mind his reputation and sought to marry her. She also boldly married him. The two wed in Luozhou and lived together for a year, but word got back to Minister of Rites Cui Shao. Cui Shao, under the pretense of his mother being gravely ill, deceived Cui Jianqing into returning to the Capital City. She waited for him in Luozhou for half a year, only to receive a heartless letter from him. She traveled a great distance to the Capital City, seeking an explanation, only to find out he had yielded to his father¡¯s wishes and already married a lady from a noble family. There was no turning back. "Then, let¡¯s part amicably and go our separate ways." "Do you have any means of making a living in Luozhou? Do you still have family at home?" Sang Yan asked softly. Luo Shan remained silent. Sang Yan then knew she probably had no means of making a living and likely had no family, so she said, "If you are all alone, why not stay in the palace? You know some medical skills, I could appoint you as a female doctor. If you feel the palace is too restrictive, I could also arrange a residence for you outside. Who says a woman can¡¯t establish her own household? With me here, naturally, I will make sure you outshine everyone." She said this to avenge her as well. That scumbag had treated her poorly and forsaken her, so she intended to make him regret it. "Miss Luo, there¡¯s a saying, ¡¯Today you ignore me, but tomorrow I will be out of your reach.¡¯ And I, the Empress, am giving you this opportunity." That was all she could say. If Luo Shan was determined to leave, she would let her be. A person who had given up on herself, no matter how much she said or did, it would be futile. Fortunately, Luo Shan understood her well-intended efforts. How could she not understand? The Empress was pure-hearted and meticulous, did not press her for information, preserved her dignity, respected her, and was willing to provide her with a bright future. "The commoner thanks the Empress." She accepted. Seeing this, Sang Yan smiled and said, "Whatever you need, feel free to ask." Luo Shan had already seen that this Empress was a very kind person, whose every word and action were sincere, not just superficial gestures. Thus, she planned to set forth her requests. However, before making her request, she revealed one thing, "Lady, I was once a courtesan." A courtesan was the most contemptible existence in the world. She wasn¡¯t as good as Sang Yan thought. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She did not want to conceal this, nor did she want it to be exposed later and tarnish her good reputation. Sang Yan understood her meaning and held no prejudice; in fact, she even felt some respect. She had heard of the fame of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai and had seen the tragic stories of the Jinling Thirteen Courtesans. For courtesans with integrity, she felt only admiration and respect. "The lotus flower blooms from the depths of mud without being tainted." She expressed her attitude, "As long as you respect yourself, no one can look down upon you." Hearing this, Luo Shan felt relieved and thanked the Empress once again, "The commoner thanks Her Majesty the Empress for her great kindness." Sang Yan gave a gentle smile and gestured, "Stand up." They continued their conversation. Luo Shan stated her request, "Lady, please grant your commoner a residence outside the palace. It doesn¡¯t need to be large, just enough to accommodate me." Sang Yan heard this and nodded, "Alright." She delegated the matter to her personal eunuch Little Guizi. She also gave Luo Shan an additional 500 taels of silver for her living expenses. "Once you¡¯ve settled these matters, you may enter the palace to take up your duties." Sang Yan handed her the token for entering the palace. Luo Shan thanked her once again. Lunch was served in the palace hall. He Ying frowned upon seeing Luo Shan stay for the meal but did not say a word. During the meal, Sang Yan was very hospitable to her, constantly offering and serving dishes, which made him a bit dissatisfied. He found that Sang Yan was always kind to women. No matter who the woman was, whether familiar or not, she quickly became open-hearted with them. After Luo Shan left, Sang Yan talked about her arrangements, and He Ying expressed his concerns, "The background of that woman hasn¡¯t been fully investigated, admitting her into the palace so easily might not be a good thing. Just like He Hongzhao¡ª" He stopped there. Hearing this, Sang Yan also became serious, "Yes, indeed. I got excited and made those arrangements. You should go investigate. She won¡¯t be entering the palace for now and will be settled outside." She didn¡¯t doubt Luo Shan¡¯s character; it was mainly the shadow He Hongzhao had cast over her. Indeed, even for He Ying¡¯s safety, she shouldn¡¯t have been so hasty. Yes, she had been hasty. As soon as she entered the palace, her guard was down, and she had lost all caution. Chapter 284 - 281: Evil Deeds Chapter 284: Chapter 281: Evil DeedsHe Ying saw her say so and was still happy¡ªit seemed she didn¡¯t trust Luo Shan that much either. The one she trusted wholeheartedly was probably just him. "Okay. I¡¯ll send someone to investigate. You don¡¯t need to worry so much." "Alright." The two chatted for a while, then He Ying went to deal with governmental affairs. Sang Yan waited for the results from He Ying, and two days later, she learned about Luo Shan¡¯s past. Indeed, as she had thought, Luo Shan was a woman with strong character and distinct personality. She admired her even more. To help Luo Shan adapt faster to life in the Capital City, Sang Yan arranged for her and Xuanrao to enter the palace so the two could meet and help each other outside the palace. Xuanrao arrived first. She had been waiting to see Sang Yan for a long time. Now that they had met, the first thing she said was, "I finally get to see you. I thought you were about to become Empress and wouldn¡¯t want to associate with a commoner like me." Sang Yan laughed softly, "How could that be?" S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xuanrao replied, "How could it not? I¡¯ve sent in my card to enter the palace three times now, and I haven¡¯t been able to come in." She was hinting at the Emperor¡¯s "misconduct"! Sang Yan could tell, and spoke truthfully, "I guess that¡¯s the Emperor¡¯s will. I¡¯ll talk to him about it tonight. This won¡¯t happen again in the future. Please, have a seat." She was pleased that Xuanrao was just as forthright as before and didn¡¯t regard her as the Empress. She still hoped their friendship could remain simple. Xuanrao felt the same. After sitting down and having a sip of hot tea, she regained her composure and lamented, "Your life has been full of ups and downs recently. I¡¯ve been anxious and delighted by turns just hearing about it." Sang Yan nodded, "Thankfully, it¡¯s all behind us now. It should be calm from here on out." "That¡¯s good. After hardship comes happiness." Xuanrao was genuinely happy for her. Sang Yan was happy for her as well, "I heard you¡¯re with the second master from the Jiang Family?" At the mention of this, Xuanrao blushed and said shyly, "Sort of." "Congratulations, congratulations. When is the wedding? I¡¯ll need to come and enjoy the wedding feast." "It¡¯s not decided yet." Thinking of the Emperor and Empress¡¯ wedding, Xuanrao said, "I should be looking forward to drinking at your wedding first." Sang Yan laughed heartily, "Sure thing. There will be plenty. When the time comes, bring him along, I¡¯d like to see who has caught your eye." "Okay. If he¡¯s willing." Xuanrao agreed but also expressed her concern, "It¡¯s just that he¡¯s lived in seclusion for many years, and I doubt he likes such bustle." Sang Yan showed understanding, "A great scholar, indeed, they can be a bit temperamental." After chatting for a while, Xuanrao inquired, "You must have summoned me for another matter, right?" "None knows me better than Xuanrao." Sang Yan nodded with a smile, "Yes. I know a woman who has set up a residence outside the palace, but since she lives alone, I¡¯m a little worried, so I hope you can look after her." As they spoke of Luo Shan, Luo Shan arrived. "Greetings to the Empress." Luo Shan wore the white garb of a female doctor, with a cool demeanor and an air of aloof independence. Seeing her, Xuanrao took to her immediately, "Is this the beautiful woman you spoke of? Rest assured, I¡¯ll take good care of her." With that, she nodded and smiled at Luo Shan, introducing herself, "Hello, I¡¯m Xuanrao, I run the Rao Yan Building in the Capital City. If you need anything, feel free to come to me. Don¡¯t be embarrassed. As women, we should help and support each other. Oh, and this is also the Empress¡¯s wish." Luo Shan hadn¡¯t expected the Empress to arrange for someone to take care of her outside the palace. She was so moved that her eyes reddened. Lately, as she became familiar with the Capital City, she had also witnessed the bustling splendor of the Rao Yan Building. "So the Rao Yan Building comes from your hands, miss. I have long admired the name." Her comment was not mere flattery but sincere appreciation. Indeed, the women of the Capital City were extraordinary, each one confident and composed. "Well, you flatter me," she said with a laugh. "The success of Rao Yan Building owes much to the Empress." Xuanrao humbly took no credit, explaining clearly the origins and development of Rao Yan Building. Luo Shan suddenly understood: "So the Empress is so clever and wise." No wonder she had captured the heart of the Emperor. And had him utterly smitten. Recalling the meal they had together, every time the Empress spoke to her, the Emperor frowned and his expression grew darker. In the end, he even pushed his bowl towards her, asking the Empress to pick up some dishes for him. That was quite childish. But within that childishness lay the depth of his love for the Empress. How much must he like her, to be jealous of even a woman¡¯s attention? These days, she had heard their love story in the Capital City, and had she not seen it with her own eyes, how would she have known that rumors did not do justice to their deep affection? Such an enviable couple! Of course, the Empress deserved his love. "Don¡¯t praise me too much." Sang Yan smiled modestly: "There are countless charms and beauties in the world, each with its own kind of grace. As girls, we must learn to appreciate ourselves." With that, she thought of the constraints placed upon women in the world and continued: "Women bear many shackles, such as the three obediences and four virtues, the expectation of being devoted to one man, and the insistence on purity and chastity; these are all ways of suffocating our very selves. We might not be able to resist all at once, but we must not mentally torture or bind ourselves. No one can deny our will, only we can do that." "Very well said!" Xuanrao was the first to agree: "Empress, every time I talk to you, it¡¯s like listening to you for a moment is better than reading books for ten years." Luo Shan also smiled and echoed: "The Empress is a woman of great wisdom. This common girl admires her." She truly admired her. How fortunate she was to meet such an exceptional woman as the Empress in her life. She was even beginning to feel thankful to Cui Jianqing. If he hadn¡¯t betrayed her, how could she have come to the Capital City? How could she have met the Empress? How could she have had such an extraordinary experience? In this moment, the empathy between women washed away the pain of her failed love. Compared to the enlightenment and understanding of this moment, what did love¡¯s suffering matter? Cui Jianqing and his family looked down on her because of her background, which was their way of suffocating her, but she could not suffocate herself any longer. She wanted to be a female doctor whose name would be remembered throughout the ages. Just as she had been in Luozhou. To establish her life on her character, to earn fame as the brothel¡¯s skilled doctor, and also as the Da He Divine Doctor. That was her pursuit from now on. "This common girl thanks the Empress for her guidance." "What guidance have I given? Hahaha, I haven¡¯t said anything at all." Sang Yan laughed and played dumb, implying she would gracefully distance herself and keep her true capabilities hidden. The three women sat in the palace, savoring tea and engaging in leisurely conversation. They talked all the way until lunchtime. This time for lunch, Sang Yan did not invite He Ying, explaining it was a lunch gathering just for women. At that moment, He Ying was reviewing petitions in the Imperial Study. Guessing that it was lunchtime, he was about to go and join her when he received this distressing news. He was so deflated, looking at Pei Muyang, he sighed deeply: "Do you think the Empress actually prefers women?" Pei Muyang naturally disagreed. He had never thought the Empress preferred women. He only thought the Emperor¡¯s love for the Empress was like a poison! The Emperor would overthink and become jealous over any small kindness the Empress showed to someone else. Of course, these thoughts he dared not voice out loud. He could only silently watch as the Emperor talked to himself¡ª "The Majesty has been trying so hard. Can a woman make her so happy? Could it be that Majesty hasn¡¯t been good enough? That Majesty hasn¡¯t given her the ultimate experience?" Chapter 285 - 282: Manipulation Chapter 285: Chapter 282: ManipulationWhat in the world is all this? Is this something he should be listening to? However, the Emperor really does have quite the imagination! How could he possibly not do well? The archives in Jingshi Palace for the Empress¡¯ attendance to the Emperor¡¯s sleep are nearly overflowing. The Emperor often toils until the third period of night, completely disregarding his own health. The Chief Eunuch of Jingshi Palace has told him several times, "Your Majesty should exercise restraint. Continuing in this manner will harm your dragon¡¯s body." On several occasions, he even ran to the window of Qingning Palace and shouted, "Your Majesty, it¡¯s time." This shout would "scare" the Empress. The next day, the Emperor would fiercely punish the man. Now, no one dares to provoke the Emperor¡¯s ire. Lost in such wild thoughts, he suddenly heard¡ª "You have someone keep watch and see what exactly the Empress has said to them." "...Yes." Pei Muyang left the Imperial Study, summoned a little eunuch, and sent him to Qingning Palace to take a look. Not just the Emperor sent someone, but Yuesang Palace did as well. Sang Ruoshui sent Xiang Ying, and through her, she learned of Luo Shan¡¯s identity. "How could an Empress be so close with a courtesan, even allowing a courtesan to enter the palace as an official? She really is behaving abominably!" She clutched the handkerchief, lying listlessly and sideways on the soft couch. Lover¡¯s Sleep was still burning even during the day. Wisps of white smoke wafted out from the incense burner. Very close to the couch. Almost directly drifting towards her nose. She had become unable to live without Lover¡¯s Sleep. At this moment, inhaling the fragrance in a half-awake, half-dream state, her emotions were extremely unstable: "How laughable! Is she, as an Empress, sharing her heart with a courtesan out of commiseration for similar plights?" She chuckled, striking the pillow under her neck harshly, then asked, "How do you know this? Is the information reliable?" Xiang Ying didn¡¯t know if it was reliable or not, but Guard Xing had said it with utter conviction, so it should be trustworthy. Thinking so, she nodded and responded, "Hmm. Of course, it¡¯s reliable. Guard Xing said so." Sang Ruoshui heard this, nodded, closed her eyes, and seemed to fall into a dream. But after a quarter of an hour, she suddenly opened her eyes as if awakening from a dream: "How does he know?" Xiang Ying: "..." Indeed. How did Xing Ce know? She had asked at the time, only to be met with a forceful push against the wall, and her lips were sealed with a kiss. He was so forceful, like a wolf, ambitiously devouring, nibbling until her lips felt numb. After that kiss, her legs were so weak that she couldn¡¯t stand, and how could she remember what she wanted to ask? Thinking back on it now, her heart still trembled, and her lips seemed to retain that tingling pain. He¡¯s such a bad person. She touched her lips, starting to think about that bad person again. "Hmm?" Sang Ruoshui was still waiting for her answer: "Xiang Ying?" Xiang Ying snapped back to reality, shivered in fright, and hurriedly said, "Lady, this servant will go and ask him right away." Sang Ruoshui didn¡¯t respond. Close of her eyes, she seemed to drift back to sleep. These days, she was always in deep sleep, her appetite diminished, and she had become emaciated and pale. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She didn¡¯t know how long it had been since she last looked in a mirror. Xiang Ying hurried out of Yuesang Palace. She was looking for Guard Xing. Guard Xing was looking for Nanny Hu. They spoke in a secluded part of the Cold Palace. Nanny Hu told him, "I¡¯ve gathered all the information, the woman¡¯s name is Luo Shan, a courtesan from a brothel in Luozhou. She came to the Capital City to find her husband. Who knows what luck she had, but she encountered Emperor Da He¡¯s convoy on the way. Since she was being robbed by bandits, the Empress intervened and allowed her to follow the convoy to the Capital City. The husband she¡¯s looking for is actually the legitimate son of Cui Shao, the Minister of Rites. How could the son of such a family acknowledge a courtesan as his wife? She was abandoned, and when the Empress learned of it, she took pity on her, allowed her into the palace as a female doctor, and also arranged for the former Consort Xuan, Xuanrao, who had been sent out of the palace, to take extra care of her." At this point, her expression grew serious, and her gaze turned fierce, "To be so concerned about a courtesan, it¡¯s hard not to think about what the Empress experienced after being captured." Guard Xing¡¯s eyes lit up, "Nanny, what do you mean?" Nanny Hu said, "Our master wants us to stop this wedding, and this provides a very good excuse." Guard Xing bowed with his hands folded, "Thank you for the guidance, Nanny. I know what to do now." He needed to get this information out of the palace. By then, there would naturally be people to push it forward. An Empress associated with a courtesan can be accused of being tainted by association, a reason enough for those ministers to impeach her! Moreover, she valued the courtesan so greatly, even allowing her into the palace as a doctor, their sympathetic kinship became the second reason to impeach her. "You know what¡¯s best." Nanny Hu glanced at the sky, as dusk had already fallen, and prepared to leave; but after taking a few steps, she stopped and turned to ask him, "How are things with Princess Consort Sang?" Guard Xing replied, "Don¡¯t worry, Nanny. Princess Consort Sang is now fully dependent on ¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep.¡¯" Did that pitiable and laughable woman know that excessive exposure to ¡¯Lover¡¯s Sleep¡¯ could bewitch her mind and even control her body? "I suppose she will become our favorable wind before the Emperor and Empress¡¯s grand wedding." "That¡¯s good." Nanny Hu smiled with relief, but her smile soon faded. She thought about how their master had gone through so much trouble to find them and sent them to replace the original servants to come to He Palace, all to snatch that woman away, and felt it was not worth it. "The woman our master wants has been in another man¡¯s arms for far too long." She couldn¡¯t understand their master¡¯s feelings, "Don¡¯t men value a woman¡¯s chastity? She has been entertaining Emperor Da He for so long; doesn¡¯t he mind at all? How can a mighty ruler of a nation fall in love with a married woman and act as if he cannot wed anyone else?" Questioning the master like this was a grave disrespect. Guard Xing, even though he was in Capital City of He Country, maintained his silence. Seeing that he didn¡¯t respond, Nanny Hu found it boring and no longer spoke, turning to leave. Guard Xing watched her departing figure, thinking to himself: Men indeed care about a woman¡¯s purity. But who a woman belongs to is also a matter of status, a thrill. Emperor Da He¡¯s woman, especially his most beloved beautiful woman, who wouldn¡¯t want a touch of that? Contemplating, he slowly made his way back to Yuesang Palace. Then, on his way back to Yuesang Palace, he ran into Xiang Ying. Seeing him, Xiang Ying immediately grabbed his collar and demanded, "Where have you been?" She had been looking for him for a long time and couldn¡¯t find him. Now that he was serving in Yuesang Palace, he should not be absent from his post. And to be gone for so long. Where had he been? Could it be he was fooling around with another palace maid? At this thought, jealousy surged in her heart, and she leaned in to sniff him. With that sniff, she indeed faintly smelled the scent of another woman¡¯s perfume. "Where have you been? What have you been doing?" She asked angrily. Guard Xing found it difficult to reply and instead grabbed her, pushed her against the wall, and kissed her. For stupid women, kissing is the fastest way to shut them up. Xiang Ying had not expected him to do this, and overwhelmed by his passionate kiss, her senses quickly dispersed. Though she was pushing against his chest, trying to keep her wits, "No, no, don¡¯t do this, you¡¯re trying, trying to change the subject. Guard Xing, are you, are you hiding something from me? Are you with, with another, another woman..." "No. Don¡¯t think nonsense. I, I only have you," he said, panting heavily. Yet in his mind: What woman isn¡¯t as easily deceived as she is? Chapter 286 - 283: Entanglement Chapter 286: Chapter 283: EntanglementLuo Shan gradually put down roots in the Capital City. She now had her own Luo Mansion, adjacent to the Duke Zhongyi Mansion, surrounded by noble residences, which meant security was hardly an issue. It was just that she also lived close to the Cui Family¡¯s residence¡ªdown one road and around a corner. It took merely a quarter of an hour to get there. Luo Shan was somewhat hesitant to choose this location at the time, but considering safety, it was the most secure place. She thought that the Cui Family wouldn¡¯t bother to stroll over to her side. However, she thought wrong. Once Cui Jianqing learned she had entered the palace and become a female doctor and even gained the Empress¡¯s favor, he started thinking about rekindling their past love. Once, when she was returning home from the palace, she encountered him right at her front door. Cui Jianqing was a handsome young man with rosy lips and white teeth, had Sang Yan seen him, she would surely find him a likable little puppy¡ªbut even little puppies can bite, and bite hard. He had betrayed Luo Shan, and shattered her heart. "My heart does have a place for you. Shanshan, I do not love that woman. I had no choice but to obey my father¡¯s orders." He blocked the way of her carriage, reeking of alcohol. He was probably ashamed and lacked the courage, so he drank before coming over, thinking that alcohol could bolster his timid bravery. Luo Shan caught the scent of alcohol on him and frowned. During her time at the brothel, she saw plenty of men get drunkenly wild, sometimes even turning to violence against women. So, she had a strong aversion to it. Cui Jianqing had been with her for over a year without so much as touching a drop of alcohol, and yet, in just half a year, everything changed. "Shanshan¡ª" When Cui Jianqing saw Luo Shan rub her nose, he knew she detested the smell of alcohol on him and hurriedly explained, "I didn¡¯t intend to drink. It¡¯s just that... after leaving you, my parents pressed me repeatedly, and I had no choice but to drown my sorrows in liquor. I came to see you today because I feel ashamed. Shanshan, I wronged you, I was at fault. Can you forgive me?" This was the scene Luo Shan had once longed for. She wanted to see Cui Jianqing weep bitterly before her, begging for her forgiveness. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But when it actually happened, she found she wasn¡¯t as delighted or as satisfied as she thought she¡¯d be. She knew it was because she had come to terms with it, she didn¡¯t love him anymore. Once love was gone, there was no point in clinging on. "Forgive?" She scoffed coldly, "What then, after forgiveness? What are you planning to do?" Cui Jianqing¡¯s face turned an awkward red as he said in a low voice, "I¡¯ve already spoken to my father, and I want to make you my... concubine. He has consented. Shanshan, we can be together now." He had truly liked her once. And he still had some feelings for her now. As he said the last sentence, his smile revealed some sincerity. "But Cui Jianqing, I don¡¯t want to be with you anymore." Luo Shan¡¯s words froze his smile. Cui Jianqing hadn¡¯t expected Luo Shan to reject him. He thought that after showing his responsibility and sincerity, she would joyously accept him. After all, he was the legitimate son of the Minister of Rites! "Shanshan, what did you just say?" He thought he must have misheard. Seeing his disbelief, Luo Shan sneered again, "I said I don¡¯t want to be with you. Mr. Cui, please leave." She was grateful that she met the Empress and awakened in time: reliable men were too scarce. Look at his tone just now, as if taking her in would be a great fortune for her? Little did he realize that when he had sincerely proposed, it was her choice to marry him. When had she given him the impression that she was so humble? "Luo Shan, do you realize what you¡¯re saying?" Cui Jianqing still couldn¡¯t believe Luo Shan would refuse him. Seeing this, Luo Shan didn¡¯t spare his feelings, retorting, "Mr. Cui, I know exactly what I am saying. Or perhaps you have grown deaf at your young age?" She had stated her point twice clearly, yet it seemed not to have registered with him at all. Utterly boring. She ran out of patience and started to walk away¡ª When Cui Jianqing saw this, he hastily reached out and grabbed her wrist, his expression turning dark, "Luo Shan, do you have someone else?" His possessiveness as a man surged, not allowing her to be with anyone else even though he was the one who abandoned her first. "Enough!" Luo Shan recognized his shamelessness once more, disappointment filling her eyes, "Cui Jianqing, so this is what kind of man you truly are." She didn¡¯t want to say another word to him, flung off his hand harshly, and stepped into the mansion. Cui Jianqing still wanted to chase after her¡ª¡ª The old gatekeeper stepped forward and shouted, "Hey, stop, what are you doing? If you keep pulling on our Miss, I¡¯ll report to the authorities!" On hearing of reporting to the officials, Cui Jianqing, his face turning from red to purple, stopped in his tracks. As the son of the Minister of Rites, he most certainly could not afford the disgrace of being involved with an official due to some courtesan! He could not bear that shame! He didn¡¯t chase after her, yet he was not willing to just let go. The following morning He came to Luo Mansion again. Just to run into Luo Shan who was about to go to the palace for her duties. "Listen to me¡ª¡ª" He grabbed Luo Shan¡¯s hand, eyes earnestly upon her, he pleaded, "Shanshan, what do you want me to do for you to forgive me? As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll do it." He couldn¡¯t bear to lose her like this. Such is the inferior nature of men. They can leave you, but once you no longer want them, it revives their desire to conquer. Luo Shan shook her head, her face resolute, "Cui Jianqing, I¡¯m telling you for the last time, I don¡¯t want to be with you anymore! No matter what you do, I won¡¯t be with you again!" After speaking, she shook off his hand and got on the carriage. Cui Jianqing watched as the carriage drove away, his hands clenched tightly into fists. "Luo Shan, you¡¯re pushing me too far!" He had gone from resentment to hatred. He spent the day drinking in the tavern, yet it wasn¡¯t enough to quell the hatred. When it got dark, guessing that she would have finished her duties and left the palace, he went out to intercept her again. This time, he was "subtler" in his approach. He stood atop a high roof, waiting, and when he saw the carriage turn into the alley of Luo Mansion, he flew across and landed on the carriage, striking down the coachman with a swift chop of his hand. The entire process was executed with quiet movements. Luo Shan sat inside the carriage, pondering over a tough medical issue she had encountered at the Imperial Hospital¡ªshe had been given a hard time by the male Imperial Physicians. They looked down on her, assigning her the bizarre case of an Emperor averse to the presence of women, demanding her to come up with a solution. She had been busy with this for several days. Even after leaving the palace for home, she was still engrossed in thinking of how to resolve it. Because she was so immersed in thought, she was completely unaware of the situation outside¡ªthe assault on the coachman, who now lay unconscious to the side, and now it was Cui Jianqing driving the carriage. The carriage swiftly passed Luo Mansion. The old gatekeeper sat on the doorstep, yawning, nearly asleep. He did not notice his Miss¡¯s carriage flash by. The carriage continued onwards. Traveling up to a secluded alley. The moon shone like silver. A chill spread across the ground. Luo Shan in the carriage grew uneasy¡ªWhy haven¡¯t we arrived? Oh, what¡¯s this scent of alcohol? She frowned, reaching out to lift the curtain of the carriage¡ª¡ª Cui Jianqing, projecting himself, lifted the curtain first and stepped inside. "Why are you here?" Luo Shan turned cold, staring at him with wary eyes. Cui Jianqing, reeking of booze, said, "Shanshan, if I¡¯m not here, where should I be? Huh? You tell me, where should I be?" He had developed a drinking problem because of her. Now it was not the liquor intoxicating the man, but the man drowning in his sorrow. "Shanshan, you belong to me." He laughed loudly, then lunged at her. Luo Shan screamed in fright, "Get away! Cui Jianqing, you¡¯re insane!" Then she raised her foot and kicked him where it hurt the most. "Agh!" The kick hit home with solid impact. Cui Jianqing¡¯s pain was piercing, he felt tears spring to his eyes. "Luo... Shan!" He hissed through clenched teeth, his frustration boiling over with fury, his only thought was to make her cry and beg for mercy... Chapter 287 - 284 Wrongful Killing Chapter 287: Chapter 284 Wrongful KillingLuo Shan had countless beautiful nights with Cui Jianqing. She was an adult woman and knew the pleasures involved, deeply indulgent in them. But now she no longer loved him. His touch repulsed her immensely. "Get off!" "Cui Jianqing!" She roared, hitting and punching, but no matter her resistance, how could she match the strength of a grown man? She was pinned down tightly. Her lips were bitten painfully. "Don¡¯t!" She scrambled and finally grabbed the hairpin from her head, then stabbed it into his neck. Blood immediately began to flow. "Ah!" Cui Jianqing, holding his bleeding neck, screamed and stopped his assault. Luo Shan took the chance to push him away, jumped out of the carriage, and ran back to Luo Mansion. Blood was still on her hands, she washed for a long time, but still felt the smell of blood. She even had a nightmare in the middle of the night. In the dream, the hairpin transformed into a dagger, which she plunged into Cui Jianqing¡¯s heart. "Luo Shan, you actually want to kill me!" "Luo Shan, you whore, truly heartless!" His eyes bloodshot, his face contorted, blood dripping from his mouth, he resembled a demon crawling out of hell. "I¡¯m not!" Luo Shan woke up screaming. Drenched in cold sweat, her eyes filled with fear and tears. Hasty footsteps were heard outside the room. "What are you doing?" "You can¡¯t go in!" "That¡¯s our young lady¡¯s boudoir!" ... It was the panicked voice of the mansion¡¯s servants. The next moment, with a "bang," the door was kicked open. Luo Shan sat up and quickly grabbed a cloak hanging by the bed, wrapping it around herself. Looking over, she saw a fierce-looking man walk in, dressed in the official uniform of Dali Temple, wielding a large sword, and with a flick of his hand, he coldly ordered, "Arrest her!" "Stop!" Luo Shan clutched the cloak and yelled, "What is the meaning of this? What crime have I committed?" In her questioning, she had a vague guess: Could something have happened to Cui Jianqing? Had the Cui Family filed a complaint? Things were almost as she speculated. Cui Jianqing indeed was in trouble; the stab from the hairpin, though not fatal, had injured his throat badly enough that he might have difficulty speaking normally ever again. How could the Cui Family, with a legitimate son from the Minister of Rites, let this go lightly after being harmed by a courtesan? "Ms. Luo, because the legitimate son of the Cui Family, Cui Jianqing, abandoned you, you sought revenge out of hatred and recklessly hurt someone, do you acknowledge your crime?" Ge Lintao, the Director of the Ministry of Justice of Dali Temple, stated Luo Shan¡¯s charges with icy detachment. He was chiefly responsible for handling case trials and was amongst the highest-ranking judges. Luo Shan listened and scoffed, "I sought revenge out of hatred? Recklessly hurt someone? Laughable! It was he who clung to me, and he who made indecent advances. Only then, only then did I wound him." She had loved him once and had no intention of completely burning bridges. Yet he persisted relentlessly and committed such defilements that she had no choice but to injure him. She had learned medicine; if she truly wanted him dead, would he still be alive? But would anyone pursue the truth? A woman as weak as she, with such a lowly status, who would care what she said? Once brought before Dali Temple, with the punishments enforced, what charges couldn¡¯t be coerced out of someone? That¡¯s how Luo Shan was taken away. Ge Lintao, the official in charge of her case at Dali Temple, coerced her to confess, desiring her to admit intentional violence. Luo Shan refused and was lashed thirty times with a water-soaked whip. Every inch of her body was stripped of flesh. The open wounds looked like the gaping maws of wild beasts. Terrifyingly grotesque. "I didn¡¯t. I was...defending myself." She clung stubbornly to her innocence. The executioner, the Prison Chief, with a look of disdain, spat at her: "You¡¯re so defiant!" Then he hoisted the red-hot iron, blew on the smoke rising from it, and sneered at her: "I¡¯ll see whether your defiance is stronger, or my iron is!" As his voice fell, the iron surged toward Luo Shan¡¯s exposed chest. With each stroke opening up her flesh, the branding iron now seared her skin, eliciting a piercing scream from her: "Ahh¡ª" Her roar seemed almost capable of lifting the roof off the Dali Temple Prison. Luo Shan bit through her tongue, and blood trickled down the corners of her mouth. Her breath grew faint, her head limp, and she fell unconscious. Seeing this, the Prison Chief frowned, glanced over at Ge Lintao, Director of the Ministry of Justice, who was sitting and drinking tea, and momentarily softened before turning cold again: "Splash water on her!" They were determined to force a confession out of her. Director Ge Lintao had made it clear: as long as he obtained a confession, his position would rise. He must not disappoint her. "Splash¡ª" A bucket of cold water drenched Luo Shan. Her shredded, blood-soaked clothes clung to her as she weakly opened her eyes, her voice faint but stubborn: "I... am innocent... You... falsely accuse... me..." Hearing this, the Prison Chief¡¯s face changed, and he cautiously looked again at Ge Lintao. Ge Lintao was Cui Jianqing¡¯s brother-in-law, securing his position as Director thanks in part to some influence from Cui Shao, the Minister of Rites. Since he was Cui Shao¡¯s successful son-in-law, he naturally needed to protect Cui Shao¡¯s interests. Now that his brother-in-law, Cui Jianqing, had been victimized by such a woman of the night, how could he not seek redress for him? "Why are you looking at me?" Ge Lintao blew on the tea foam and calmly ordered: "No matter what, we must have a confession tonight." "Yes." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Prison Chief offered a sycophantic smile, nodding, then looked up at the rows of torture instruments on the wall. To extract a confession, they would have to resort to even crueler torture! * Sang Yan received news of Luo Shan¡¯s imprisonment two days later. It was the Luo Mansion¡¯s coachman who found Little Guizi, the eunuch. Since he had helped Luo Shan find housing, the coachman knew him and thus passed the message to Sang Yan. Before this, Sang Yan was unaware of Luo Shan¡¯s predicament. So was He Ying. Why? The Dali Temple had kept it under wraps. To be honest, what significance did a female doctor from the Imperial Hospital, with her humble origins, really carry? There was no need to report it further. But they forgot this female doctor was not without connections to the Empress. She had secured her position at the Imperial Hospital through the Empress¡¯s favor. In this light, her status was different. Sang Yan immediately sent Little Guizi to rescue her from the Dali Temple Prison and then went to the Imperial Study to inform He Ying of the situation: "I don¡¯t believe Luo Shan would attack someone without cause. There must be more to the story." He Ying, perusing a petition, showed little interest in the matter, casually speculating: "Perhaps it¡¯s a crime of passion motivated by spurned love. It¡¯s not unheard of." Sang Yan disagreed: "Impossible! She¡¯s calmer than anyone." Her recent interactions had convinced her that Luo Shan was too proud to commit such a foolish act. Not wanting to argue with Sang Yan and upset her, He Ying simply asked, "Hmm. What would you like to do?" Sang Yan replied, "We must uncover the truth and vindicate her." "Alright." He Ying nodded, sharing his plan: "I¡¯ll have Xie Sui investigate." Xie Sui was a master at solving cases, having been recently promoted to both Left and Right Imperial Censors, joining the ranks of the Six Ministers as one of the Seven Ministers. Sang Yan had also heard of his reputation and found him reliable, so she agreed: "Good." But she added: "I want to leave the palace to see Luo Shan. In a place like the Dali Temple Prison, she must be suffering greatly." Chapter 288 - 285: Self-Control Chapter 288: Chapter 285: Self-ControlHe Ying didn¡¯t want her to go. There, all were sinners carrying the burden of major crimes, under heavy punishment, all bloodstained. What if she got scared by going there? It would pain his heart. Thinking this, he said, "Have her carried into the palace then. You should take a look; I suppose you won¡¯t be at ease otherwise. Let¡¯s place her before your eyes, how about that?" He certainly didn¡¯t want her visiting people outside the palace often. He was very busy now, and couldn¡¯t rest easy without her under his watchful eye. Sang Yan, oblivious to the inside story, didn¡¯t refuse either and nodded, "Okay. I¡¯ll arrange it. Let Xie Sui investigate." He Ying agreed, "Good." The two set off in different directions. An hour later, Sang Yan saw Luo Shan in a side hall of Yuesang Palace. Luo Shan was seriously injured. Blood dripped along the path as she was carried in. When she was laid on the bed, the sheets quickly soaked through with blood. The Imperial Physicians had already been waiting there. Seeing her in such a state, they were all simultaneously shocked and furious, "To treat a weak woman with such measures, how inhumane!" Sang Yan was almost beside herself with rage, "Beasts!" This was too much! What great crime could a woman commit to deserve such harsh punishment? They were practically demanding her life! "Little Guizi!" She exclaimed sternly, commanding, "Go tell the Emperor, we must investigate this thoroughly!" Little Guizi busily responded, "Yes." He hurried off. "It hurts... it hurts so much..." "Don¡¯t... just kill me... kill me..." Luo Shan, lying bloodied on the bed with her eyes tightly shut, moaned in pain. Sang Yan couldn¡¯t bear to watch; she turned away, fists clenched tightly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She possessed a strong sense of empathy; seeing others in pain made her suffer internally. If possible, she longed for a world of peace, where everyone was equal and lived happily and healthily. "Lady, do you feel unwell?" Qiuzhi noticed Sang Yan¡¯s discomfort and asked softly. Sang Yan shook her head, "No." She touched her nose and frowned, "The smell of blood is too strong." The scent of blood made her feel somewhat nauseous. Qiuzhi suggested, "Then I¡¯ll light some incense." She opened the windows to let in fresh air, then ignited the incense in the burner. Soon, wisps of white smoke wafted out. Sang Yan felt better with the scent of the incense. The Imperial Physicians were still busy treating Luo Shan¡¯s wounds. They cleaned her wounds, continuously carrying out basin after basin of bloody water. Half an hour later, The Imperial Physicians finally stopped their actions. The main Imperial Physician approached Sang Yan, bowed respectfully, and said, "Empress, Doctor Luo¡¯s injuries have all been treated. Thankfully, they were all external and did not damage any internal organs, but unfortunately, her skin has suffered greatly." For a woman in the prime of her life to be left with scars, it would be difficult for her to find a worthy partner in the future. Sang Yan, also a woman, became anxious, "Use the best ointments, the best medicinal herbs, right?" The Imperial Physician shook his head, "Empress, some wounds are too deep, and there are also several severe burns; even with repair, she will not return to her former state." Sang Yan sighed with regret, "Alas. Do your best." She felt sorrow for Luo Shan. And stayed there to take care of her until evening. Because the Imperial Physician said that Luo Shan¡¯s external injuries were very serious and could lead to a high fever. It¡¯s not that she didn¡¯t trust others to take care of her, but since she was free, she stayed to keep an eye on things. He Ying would be displeased to hear of this. Upon returning to the main hall of Qingning Palace and not seeing anyone there, he inquired around and then came to "capture" her in the side hall! "Why are you still here?" He frowned, clearly unhappy upon his return to find no one around. Sang Yan asked with a smile, "What¡¯s wrong?" He Ying quickly walked up to her, took her hand, and led her outside, "What time is it already, and yet you¡¯re not going home?" To him, the vast Imperial Palace only felt like home when they were together in Qingning Palace. Hearing his words, Sang Yan laughed, "This is the side hall of Qingning Palace, merely a hundred steps from the main hall. How can you say I¡¯m not home? I am at home, aren¡¯t I?" He Ying disagreed, whispering his rebuttal, "Anyway, if you¡¯re not in the main hall, then you¡¯re not at home." Sang Yan found it amusing, "Then your home is a bit small! I thought the Imperial Palace was your home!" "It¡¯s not." He Ying, holding her hand, kissed the back of it, "Ah Yan, wherever you are, that¡¯s my home." He always surprised her with romantic words when she least expected it. Sang Yan¡¯s heart swelled with sweetness, and even the bad mood resulting from the matter of Luo Shan dissipated a good deal. She stopped walking and looked at him, her eyes brimming with smiles, "Xinyuan, how can you be so adorable?" He Ying frowned upon hearing that, "Can you not use the word ¡¯adorable¡¯?" He felt that for a man to be called adorable was somewhat unflattering. "If you want to express that you like me, love me, just say it directly. Even if you say it a thousand times, I won¡¯t tire of it." "I don¡¯t see it that way." Sang Yan, holding back laughter, said to him, "I think adorable men are very rare, and you are the only adorable man." He Ying: "..." He admitted he liked the word "adorable" now. Especially when it was paired with the word "only." Together, these two words sounded really good. "Ah Yan, say it again." He looked at her, a smile streaming out from the depths of his eyes, captivating and twinkling. Sang Yan tiptoed and moved in for a kiss. He Ying thought she would kiss his lips and lowered his head, ready to meet her kiss. Unexpectedly, she turned her head and kissed his Adam¡¯s apple instead. Even giving it a gentle bite. With a touch of naughty mischief. He couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. "Ah Yan¡ª" He softly called her name and then said, "Bite it again." It was a ticklish sort of pain. Electricity surged through his whole body. "Ah Yan¡ª" He was getting aroused and lowered his head to kiss her lips. She laughed softly and dodged, her kiss landing on his earlobe instead. This time, she didn¡¯t bite, but spoke into his ear with warm breath, "You¡¯re the most adorable. You¡¯re the only adorable one. Do you want to hear more?" He Ying nodded, "I want to hear it." So, Sang Yan repeated it many times. Until even Pei Muyang nearly couldn¡¯t take the saccharine words. The sky grew darker. He was grateful for the darkness; otherwise, he would surely witness the unrestrained passion between the Emperor and Empress. He Ying had already picked up Sang Yan and headed toward the main hall with large strides. "Everyone, out!" "Close the palace doors!" "Tell the kitchen to keep the food warm, I¡¯ll be eating shortly." Once inside the hall, he gave these instructions. He Ying smiled helplessly, "Ah Yan, you know I have no self-control around you." He was affirming her charm. But Sang Yan felt like she had been tricked, and was not pleased, "So, you¡¯re blaming me now?" How could He Ying dare to blame her? He immediately shook his head and said, "Blame me. It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m useless. My self-control is terrible." Chapter 289 - 286: Wonder Chapter 289: Chapter 286: WonderThis statement still lacked sincerity. Sang Yan knew she couldn¡¯t change He Ying¡¯s "deplorable" habits in bed and didn¡¯t want to quibble with him about it, so she changed the subject, "You just saw Luo Shan, right? She really had a tough time this time. How is Xie Sui¡¯s investigation going? I must pursue it to the end and stand up for her." He Ying showed little interest in this matter and briefly said, "Xie Sui has not given a result yet. Just wait. Let¡¯s have a meal first." He draped a cloak over her, lifted her out of bed, and set her down on a chair. The dining table was long. At his command, the palace doors opened, and palace attendants carried in the meal. One delicious dish after another was placed on the table. Sang Yan wasn¡¯t hungry to begin with and had intended to eat less in the evening to avoid getting fat, but after the intense activity earlier, her stomach was already singing the tune of an empty fortress strategy. "This one. That one." She directed He Ying to pick dishes for her, overeating only because she was so irritated. He Ying naturally didn¡¯t find it annoying, completely immersed in the joy of feeding her. Sang Yan held a handkerchief, discreetly covering her chewing. Even in front of him, she was still conscious of her image. This caused He Ying to have less fun. He somewhat missed the view of her fragrant, smooth tongue flitting between her lips and teeth when she forgot to cover it with the handkerchief. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m full." She shook her head, not wanting to eat anymore. He Ying thought she had eaten too little and gently coaxed her, "Eat a little more." He scooped up a rice ball with a spoon and brought it to her lips. Sang Yan ate it but shook her head, not wanting any more. He Ying switched to another dish and coaxed her several times, such as, "Little ancestor, eat a bit more," and "For tonight¡¯s beautiful night sky, my treasure, have a couple more bites." With that, he fed her a little more. Sang Yan eventually started to burp. She rarely felt full to the point of discomfort, and it wasn¡¯t a pleasant feeling, so she got mad and pointed at him in dissatisfaction, "He Xinyuan, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to stuff me to death so you can change the Empress?" Upon hearing the word "death," He Ying¡¯s face changed, and he quickly covered her lips to comfort her, "Sweetheart, don¡¯t talk about dying. You are my lifeblood; how can I live without you?" Sang Yan: "..." Hmph! Sweet nothings! If she didn¡¯t know his actions were sweeter than sweet nothings and that he truly did love her a lot, she wouldn¡¯t care to listen! "No more in the future! I really am so full¡ª" She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she covered her lips and let out an inelegant burp. Seeing this, He Ying had the palace attendants clear the table and took her hand to go for a walk to help digest the meal. Sang Yan wanted to visit the side palace of Qingning Palace to check on Luo Shan¡¯s condition. She remembered that when she left, Luo Shan¡¯s high fever hadn¡¯t subsided, and she wondered how she was now. He Ying wasn¡¯t very keen on going there. On the way, he started to get jealous again, "Ah Yan, in this world, no one deserves your concern except for me." Listen to this possessive, selfish speech! Sang Yan pretended not to hear and quickly walked ahead ten or so steps, then lifted her foot and entered the side palace. Luo Shan was lying on the bed, still unconscious, her face burning red with fever, a wet, cold handkerchief on her forehead, her lips trembling slightly, uttering incoherent words. It was like she was trapped in a nightmare. "Look at this, those people from Dali Temple really need to be severely punished!" Sang Yan¡¯s face was stern, and her tone was very serious. The reason she was taking Luo Shan¡¯s matter so seriously was also because she felt responsible. After all, if she hadn¡¯t chosen to keep her here, she wouldn¡¯t have encountered such a disaster! "Ah, if I knew this would happen, I shouldn¡¯t have let her stay." She sighed, feeling somewhat regretful. After hearing this, He Ying comforted her, "Fortune and misfortune depend on each other. Your initial intent was good. If she feels the same about you, when she wakes up, let her leave." Sang Yan nodded, "Hmm. It depends on her wishes." When she chose to leave her behind and entrusted Xuanrao with her care, all she wanted was for her to be safe and thrive. Little did she know that no amount of human calculation can outwit fate. Seeing her in low spirits, He Ying took her hand and led her away. The two strolled under the moonlight. They did not return to the main hall until the third watch had been struck. Sang Yan, exhausted from the walk, lay down in bed and soon fell asleep. The next day when she awoke, He Ying had gone to court. Sang Yan took a hot bath, freshened up, and had breakfast. It was then that she heard from Qiuzhi that Xuanrao had come to the palace early in the morning and was currently in the side hall visiting Luo Shan¡¯s injuries. "Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?" Her appetite disappeared in an instant. After hurriedly taking a few bites of her meal, she lifted her skirts and rushed to the side hall. In the side hall, Xuanrao sat by the bed, looking at the pitifully injured Luo Shan on the bed, cursing the people from Dali Temple with indignation, "A bunch of beasts! How could they be so merciless to a defenseless woman!" As she was cursing, she heard footsteps outside and looked up to see Sang Yan. She immediately got up to greet her, "Empress¡ª" Sang Yan gestured with her hand to dispense with the formalities and asked, "How is Luo Shan doing?" Xuanrao replied, "Her fever has subsided. But no matter how we call her, she won¡¯t wake up. I¡¯ve been here for an hour, and she¡¯s just been sleeping deeply, unresponsive to anything." Sang Yan looked at the pale-faced individual, furrowed her brow in concern, and said, "Could she have lost the will to live?" Upon hearing this, Xuanrao¡¯s face changed, "If that¡¯s the case, what are we to do?" A person¡¯s life depends on their spirit! Sang Yan didn¡¯t know what to do either. She sent for many Imperial Physicians and inquired about their opinions. After a long discussion, they only had four words to offer, "Wait and see." And wait she did, until the afternoon. Sang Yan didn¡¯t wait for Luo Shan¡¯s awakening, instead, she waited for Xie Sui¡¯s arrival. Xie Sui had come with the Emperor. By imperial decree, he was commanded to thoroughly investigate the case of female doctor Luo Shan being accused of attempting to murder Cui Jianqing, the son of the Minister of Rites, and he had already clarified the facts. Now he was here to report in person, "Cui Jianqing has confessed. It was he who had improper intentions towards Doctor Luo, prompting her to wound him in self-defense. Later, Minister of Rites Cui Shao, out of pity for his injured son, harshly dealt with Doctor Luo. He and his son-in-law Ge Lintao conspired to frame Doctor Luo for harboring resentment and murder with a hairpin, intending to coerce a confession." "How despicable!" Sang Yan was infuriated, "They disregarded the facts and persecuted a weak woman to such an extent!" Xie Sui, as the presiding official and a man himself, felt the same: Cui Shao¡¯s actions were both foolish and malicious! Sang Yan went on to say, "As the Minister of Rites, he failed to manage his own household and indulged his progeny. So foolish and cunning, a disgrace to his servant¡¯s duty, he must be severely punished." As for how to punish? She looked towards He Ying for a suggestion on the punishment. He Ying¡¯s response was simple and violent, "Just behead all those involved in the case." Sang Yan: "..." She should not have asked him! So, turning her head, she looked to Xie Sui, "Mr. Xie, what do you think?" Xie Sui glanced at the Emperor, then bowed and said, "To reply to the Empress, your humble servant believes the Emperor¡¯s decision is wise. As the saying goes, the Prince and the common people are equal before the law. Cui Shao and Ge Lintao, knowingly breaking the law and covering for each other, deserve to be executed immediately, to set an example and uphold justice." Sang Yan didn¡¯t want to kill, "Apart from immediate execution, are there any other options? Like confiscation of property, exile to the borders to do hard labor?" Sometimes living is more painful than death! Especially for someone who has lived a life of luxury and held high status to fall into the dust! Xie Sui thought for a moment, then bowed and said, "Certainly. Your wisdom is commendable, my Lady." Sang Yan: "..." What was so wise about that? She was merely seeking justice for Luo Shan. She thought this way, but the common people did not. When the decree was issued, and both the Cui Mansion and Ge Residence were confiscated, it immediately sparked discussions throughout the Capital City. At first, everyone was curious about what the two great families had done. After learning they offended a courtesan, and then learning that the courtesan had someone behind her, and that person was the Empress, the direction of the discussions instantly changed: The grand Imperial City had a wonder, a flower of Luozhou caused the downfall of two Second Rank officials! Chapter 290 - 287: Devastation Chapter 290: Chapter 287: Devastation"Heh, hearing you say that, it does indeed seem like a spectacle." Sang Ruoshui lay in bed, her eyes narrowing into a cold smile, thinking to herself: Sang Yan really is her dear sister. Now even a courtesan has caught her eye. Am I even lower than a courtesan now! Xiang Ying thought the same, whispering indignantly on her behalf, "It¡¯s outrageous how the Empress esteems a courtesan so highly! Where does she place you then?" She continued talking about the kindness the Empress had for Luo Shan, "She even personally took care of a courtesan! I heard she visits several times a day!" "Enough! Stop talking!" Sang Ruoshui slapped the bed in anger. She had slept for too long, every day lost in beautiful dreams under the Lover¡¯s Sleep. Apart from eating and relieving herself, she barely left the bed. Her muscles had weakened from the extreme lack of exercise, and her slap on the bed lacked strength. "Detestable!" She clenched her teeth, laughing at herself with self-mockery: "Hahaha, Sang Yan, you actually humiliate me this way¡ª" Before she could finish, a mouthful of blood sprayed out. Startled by the sight, Xiang Ying cried out, "Lady! Lady, what¡¯s wrong with you?" She quickly helped Sang Ruoshui sit up, afraid that she would choke on her own blood. Sang Ruoshui sat up with support, her chest pounding, her head buzzing, the blood at the corner of her mouth already wiped away, leaving only dots of red on the snow-white collar. "Quickly, call the Imperial Physician!" Xiang Ying¡¯s face was filled with terror, she shouted out towards the palace, "The Lady is vomiting blood! Go call the Imperial Physician immediately!" "No one cares." "My parents, my siblings, my sister, none of them love me anymore." "No one loves me." "Hahaha, I¡¯m even inferior to a filthy, lowly prostitute!" ... She laughed and cried in breakdown, her face pale as a ghost, with the blood that lingered on her lips and teeth flowing out once again. Realizing she had spoken wrongly and made a mistake, Xiang Ying immediately slapped herself twice, consoling, "Please don¡¯t say that, Lady! You are a body worth a thousand pieces of gold, a distinguished Princess Consort, how can you compare yourself to a courtesan? What if the Empress is good to her? This is her fate now, unable to withstand the Empress¡¯s favor! Just a courtesan with a pitiable life and meager fortune! Believe this servant, Lady¡ªyour splendid future is still ahead!" "Really? Hahaha¡ª" Sang Ruoshui laughed hysterically, then suddenly vomited another mouthful of blood, her eyes rolling back as she collapsed backward. She lay on the bed, eyes closed, in a deep sleep, her white dress stained with patchy blood, as if dead. "Lady! Lady, wake up! Lady, don¡¯t frighten your servant like this!" Xiang Ying was scared to tears by the scene and rushed out in a state of panic, "Quickly inform the Emperor, the Empress! The Lady has fainted!" In the side hall of Qingning Palace Sang Yan was watching Qiuzhi feed Luo Shan the medicinal soup. In the past few days, Luo Shan had awakened a few times, but she couldn¡¯t stay conscious for long and would quickly fall back into a deep sleep. The Imperial Physician said, "Doctor Luo has severe external injuries and has lost a lot of blood; her body is severely depleted. She can only recover slowly with nourishing remedies, we must not rush it." Thus, they were giving her some warm and strengthening medicines. However, feeding the medicine was inconvenient with her in a stupor, always dripping out. "Qiuzhi, go slower." Sang Yan took a handkerchief from a palace maid¡¯s hand, walked over, and gently wiped the medicine from Luo Shan¡¯s mouth. Upon hearing this, Qiuzhi slowed down and carefully fed the medicine again. Just then¡ª The Little Guizi rushed in hastily, "Empress, a palace maid from Yuesang Palace has come with a message, saying that Princess Consort Sang has suddenly fallen ill with a strange disease and has fainted from vomiting blood!" "What?" Sang Yan¡¯s eyes showed astonishment, which quickly turned to suspicion, "Is that true or not?" The Little Guizi thought for a moment and replied, "This servant saw the palace maid¡¯s face; it seemed real, her little face was petrified white." Hearing this, Sang Yan frowned, thought for a moment, and then decided to go and see for herself. She hadn¡¯t heard any news about Sang Ruoshui these days and thought she had become well-behaved, so low-profile that she was almost non-existent, but then today¡¯s incident happened. If it were fake, she would make sure she regretted causing today¡¯s commotion! "Are you from Yuesang Palace?" Sang Yan stepped out of the side hall and, upon seeing the palace maid waiting outside, asked, "What happened to Princess Consort Sang? Did she really vomit blood and faint? Did you call for the Imperial Physician?" The palace maid¡¯s face was pale, her body shrunken, frightened and flustered as if scared out of her wits, her words jumbled, "Yes. We called for one. I am from Yuesang Palace. Princess Consort Sang really fainted, she vomited a lot of blood, suddenly... just a lot of blood..." She gestured with her hands, even mimicking the action of vomiting blood. Sang Yan¡¯s expression grew solemn, she didn¡¯t continue to question and instead quickly lifted her skirts, hurrying toward Yuesang Palace. A long line of Palace Attendants followed behind her. The last one was Nanny Hu. Nanny Hu had been covertly monitoring the happenings at Qingning Palace and also heard the news just delivered by Little Guizi, thinking to herself: This isn¡¯t good! The "Lover¡¯s Sleep" is likely to cause trouble! Yuesang Palace After Sang Ruoshui had fainted, Xing Ce went in to deal with the "Lover¡¯s Sleep." By the time Sang Yan entered, the incense burner had already been replaced with normal incense, and it was very thick to cover up the smell of "Lover¡¯s Sleep." No one noticed anything unusual. Sang Yan¡¯s attention was all on the person in the sickbed. Not having seen her for a few days, Sang Ruoshui had become severely emaciated, her cheekbones pronounced, her complexion deathly pale, giving her a mean appearance. Her eyes were tightly shut, and remnants of blood lingered at the corners of her mouth. It made her face even more ghastly pale. Like a dying patient. She was truly ill! What illness could it be? In just a few days, to be reduced to this... Sang Yan had seen Sang Ruoshui¡¯s domineering presence often, but seeing her now so weak and pitiful, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel some pity. After all, she was the original body¡¯s own younger sister, and besides, it¡¯s heartbreaking to see someone so ill, so she felt a measure of tenderness. "How could Princess Consort Sang end up like this? How have you been taking care of her?" She asked icily, looking at the Palace Attendants kneeling on the floor. The Imperial Physicians were already treating her. The three Imperial Physicians observed, smelled, questioned, and palpated before consulting with each other about their findings, then said, "Empress, rest assured, Princess Consort Sang just had a sudden fit of intense anger, which caused her to vomit blood and faint." Sang Yan was puzzled, "How could she suddenly have such a fit of intense anger?" She asked the Imperial Physicians, but how would they know? Such fits of anger often stem from one¡¯s innermost feelings. They weren¡¯t gods, how could they know what someone was thinking? "You tell me!" Seeing the Imperial Physicians exchanging glances, unable to provide an explanation, Sang Yan turned to the Palace Attendants, demanding an explanation from them. The Palace Attendants were all prostrating on the ground, looking at each other, but no one dared to speak. In recent days, Princess Consort Sang had lost her appetite, slept incessantly, and didn¡¯t exercise, which undoubtedly weakened her body. The words Xiang Ying spoke earlier were also too provocative, anyone would be overwhelmed! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But they didn¡¯t dare to criticize Xiang Ying. "Empress, please forgive us. We don¡¯t know," One palace maid with sly, fox-like eyes knelt with her head bowed, speaking words of forgiveness, but her peripheral vision drifted towards Xiang Ying. Sang Yan noticed this and got a sense of the situation, then walked over to Xiang Ying, "Are you Xiang Ying, the Chief Palace Maid of Yuesang Palace?" She knew from the matter with Xiangxiu that since Xiangxiu was gone, Xiang Ying had taken over her place. Xiang Ying hastily kneeled and responded, "Replying to the Empress, I am Xiang Ying." Hearing this, Sang Yan¡¯s face turned cold, and she directly asked, "Then you tell me, why has Princess Consort Sang become like this? What on earth is wrong with her health?" In just a few days, to become so frail, there must be a reason! Chapter 291 - 288 Playful Banter Chapter 291: Chapter 288 Playful BanterXiang Ying faintly sensed that there was a problem with Lover¡¯s Sleep, but she dared not think about it too deeply. The consequences were more than she could bear. She stealthily glanced at Sang Ruoshui, who lay unconscious on the bed, and measured her words carefully, "Princess Consort Sang... ever since you returned to the palace in tears that day, you¡¯ve been submerged in melancholy, neglecting food and drink. Our earnest pleas were fruitless, so we thought to inform you. But Princess Consort Sang refused, saying she didn¡¯t want to trouble you all." Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe that Sang Ruoshui was so considerate, so her voice turned cold as she asked, "Is that so?" Xiang Ying bowed and replied, "It is. Even if you gave me the greatest courage, I wouldn¡¯t dare to deceive the Empress." Hearing this, Sang Yan remained skeptical. The Imperial Physicians had already prescribed a medicine. Sang Yan took the prescription, glanced at it¡ªrecognizing all warming and tonifying ingredients¡ªthen handed it to a palace maid, "Go and prepare the medicine." During the wait for the medicine to be prepared¡ª Sang Ruoshui slowly regained consciousness. As she opened her eyes and saw Sang Yan, rage filled her instantly, "Why are you here? What are you doing here? You¡¯ve come to mock me, haven¡¯t you?" She screamed at Sang Yan, her voice filled with paranoid accusations, as if she was a victim of persecution. Sang Yan frowned, "Calm down!" Sang Ruoshui shrieked, her voice piercing, "How can I calm down when you¡¯ve fallen for a mere courtesan¡ª" Her voice grew hoarse with shouting, and she began coughing violently in the middle of her accusation: "Cough cough¡ª" Xiang Ying hurried to support her, gently patting her back and whispering persuasively, "Lady, please restrain your anger. The Empress heard of your discomfort and immediately came. You are in her thoughts. As her only sister, her kin, how could she possibly ignore you?" "Liar! All liars!" Sang Ruoshui broke down in tears, "Sang Yan, you don¡¯t deserve to be my sister! You treat a whore better than you treat me! Hahaha, in your heart, I¡¯m not even worth as much as a whore!" At hearing this, Sang Yan understood the reason for her sister¡¯s madness. Obviously, the matter between her and Luo Shan had reached Sang Ruoshui¡¯s ears. Jealousy, possessiveness, and envy were not just found in lovers; they were also present among sisters and close friends. Like Sang Ruoshui. She knew Sang Yan wasn¡¯t that good to her. With her pride, she didn¡¯t even need Sang Yan¡¯s kindness. But seeing that kindness directed towards someone else, she wasn¡¯t pleased. "How could you treat me this way? Sang Yan, how could you do this to me?" With tear-filled eyes and a flushed face, she couldn¡¯t understand why Sang Yan was treating her own flesh and blood so harshly! Listening to her sister¡¯s accusations, Sang Yan didn¡¯t offer a defense; she simply stated, "The fact that you can yell and scream shows that you¡¯re not in too bad a shape. Just rest well. I¡¯ll come visit you another day." With that, she began walking towards the exit of the palace. "You can¡¯t!" Sang Ruoshui suddenly jumped out of bed and blocked her path, "Don¡¯t leave! Don¡¯t¡ª" However, after lying down for too long, her legs were too weak to support her, and she collapsed on the floor. Trying to get up but lacking the strength, she eventually stood straight only with the help of the palace maids. This little episode caused Sang Yan to pause her departure. Turning to look back at her sister, she said, "What exactly are you making a fuss about? You say I¡¯ve been good to Luo Shan, but do you know what she has been through? She was framed, endured torture at Dali Temple, but never succumbed to pressure¡ªa woman of unyielding spirit. Despite her origins in a brothel, she possesses exceptional medical skills and the benevolent heart of a doctor, earning her a renowned reputation in Luozhou as the skilled physician of the brothel. It¡¯s not about being good to her, but rather respecting and admiring her. I can say with a clear conscience that, Sang Ruoshui, I admire such self-possessed and unique women. Their aspirations are not confined to romance and personal gain but strive for higher pursuits. What about you?" In her eyes, Sang Ruoshui, who languished within the deep palace confines, sought only after fame and advantage, a woman so banal it was beyond commonplace. Even to the point of having no bottom line just for the sake of fame and gain. "People must respect themselves before expecting respect from others. Look at yourself now¡ª" She gazed at Sang Ruoshui leaning on the palace maid, sighed, and softened her tone slightly, "Everyone has their own ambitions, Ruoshui. Do not sink further into despondency. Give some thought to what you truly ought to pursue." After speaking, she resumed her steps. Soon, she left Yuesang Palace. The grand entourage followed her departure. Sang Ruoshui stood there, gazing after her, when suddenly everything went dark, her body went limp, and she fainted once more. "Lady!" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Palace maids cried out in alarm, steadying her and helping her back onto the bed. Yuesang Palace was thrown into chaos. Far away, Sang Yan heard the disordered shouting, paused in her steps, but did not turn back. She never saw eye to eye with Sang Ruoshui, nor did she want to deliberately express sisterly affection, so she told Little Guizi, "Send someone to Sang Mansion and have Mrs. Sang come take care of her." "Yes." Little Guizi took the order and left. Basking in the warm sunlight, Sang Yan leisurely made her way back to Qingning Palace. Halfway there, she encountered He Ying. He must have also heard the news and came in a hurry, still wearing the imperial robe from the early morning court session. "Greetings to the Emperor¡ª" Palace Attendants knelt all over the ground. He Ying paid them no mind, heading straight for Sang Yan, seizing her hand, "Are you alright? Why are you here?" His rush was not out of concern for Sang Ruoshui but for Sang Yan, lest she be wronged. Sang Yan grasped his intentions and said with a smile, "Don¡¯t be so anxious. I am fine. I just went to see Sang Ruoshui. She is indeed sick, and she looked quite pitiful." "Pitiable people often have contemptible aspects." He Ying was unmoved, his words cold. He was cold toward everyone, except for Sang Yan. Sang Yan was used to this and didn¡¯t take his words to heart, casually asking, "Do you want to go see her?" The question was purely superfluous. "I am not the Imperial Physician, what would I see her for?" He Ying had no such intention. As he had said, nobody except herself deserved his concern. Likewise, nobody except him deserved her concern. Sang Yan, unaware of his thought, teased with a smile, "The ailments of the heart require the heart¡¯s own medicine. Since her heart is set on you, perhaps just a glance from you would be more effective than any of the Imperial Physician¡¯s miracle drugs." "I only wish to be your miracle drug!" He Ying wrapped an arm around her shoulder, guiding her toward Qingning Palace. Winter had arrived. The trees lining the road were bare, their leaves all shed. However, as they passed through a plum forest, the trees were blooming with pink and red flowers, just at the right moment. He Ying looked, quickly pulling Sang Yan by the hand to go over. He broke off a branch of red plum blossoms and placed it in her hair. The cold fragrance of plum blossoms. Sang Yan thought of Luo Shan and praised with a smile, "She is like a plum blossom." The comment was out of the blue. He Ying didn¡¯t understand, "Who? Who are you talking about?" Sang Yan replied, "Luo Shan. I think she is like a plum blossom. Not seeking praise for beauty, yet her pure fragrance fills the universe." He Ying was dismissive, "That description could apply to you, but she is not worthy of it." Sang Yan gave a modest smile, "You¡¯re seeing through the lens of love." He Ying still didn¡¯t understand, "What lens? What does that mean?" Sang Yan explained simply, "It means nothing much, just that in the eyes of a lover, everyone looks like Xishi." He Ying knew of Xishi and said with a laugh, "I may not have seen Xishi, but I believe you are more beautiful than she is." His sudden words of love. Hearing this, she broke off a branch of red plum, lifted his chin with the plum blossom, and said with playful mockery, "Now, let¡¯s see, are you as handsome as Pan An?" Chapter 292 - 289 Auspicious Words Chapter 292: Chapter 289 Auspicious WordsPan An was a famously beautiful man. Sang Yan playfully used him as a counter to He Ying¡¯s sweet nothings, laughing as she said, "Not bad, not bad, he must be more handsome than Pan An." No sooner had her voice faded than she was swept up into an embrace. He Ying held her legs and lifted her straight up, cradling her in his arms. His arms were strong, providing her with a great sense of security. She didn¡¯t need to cling to his neck; her hands were free to naughtily pluck a few plum petals and scatter them over his head. The plum petals fluttered down gently. Some landed on his head, some on his shoulders, and some on his chest... The scene was still quite beautiful. She also found it amusing, grabbed another handful of petals, scattered them down, and laughed heartily, "Xinyuan, you look even more handsome this way. More charming than the flowers." He Ying heard this, set her down, and took a handful of plum petals to sprinkle over her head. The two of them started to playfully banter like this. They were like children who had never grown up. "Alright, alright, we¡¯re about to pluck the plum tree bare." After playing for a while and seeing the petals all over the ground, Sang Yan finally developed a feeling of pity for the flowers, "Look at what we¡¯re doing, we truly are ¡¯murderers of flowers¡¯!" "¡¯Murderers of flowers¡¯, is that how it¡¯s used?" He Ying chuckled, swept her into his arms at the waist, and strode towards Qingning Palace, "I¡¯ll only ravage this ¡¯flower¡¯¡ªyou." Sang Yan, now frightened, struggled in his embrace to get down, "It¡¯s broad daylight, no roughhousing! I need to go to the side hall, put me down quickly, I have to check on Luo Shan." Seeing her agitation, He Ying soothed her, "Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t do anything¡ªjust carrying you back." Sang Yan didn¡¯t believe him, "I don¡¯t need you to carry me. I can walk on my own." "It¡¯s still a bit far, be careful not to strain your foot." "That won¡¯t happen. I¡¯m not so delicate." "Oh really? Then who was it that after barely twice in bed, started saying they were tired and begged me for mercy?" "Can these two things even be compared?" Sang Yan, angered, tugged on his ear and said, "Fine, since you say I¡¯m delicate, then I do need exercise. Put me down. I need to work my body out." He Ying let her down but said, "We¡¯ll do some targeted exercise tonight." Sang Yan: "..." What a lecher! The two walked back to Qingning Palace hand in hand. He Ying escorted her to the entrance of the side hall of Qingning Palace, admonishing her, "The side hall is rife with sickness, so don¡¯t stay too long once you¡¯re there, and then go home and wait for me." Sang Yan nodded perfunctorily, "I know. You can get back to your affairs." He Ying left, glancing back three steps at a time. Sang Yan entered the side hall promptly and decisively. Inside the side hall Luo Shan was still lying in bed. By coincidence, she had just awakened. Sang Yan, concerned, asked, "How are you feeling now? Is there anything uncomfortable?" Luo Shan shook her head with a weak smile and said, "Much better, thank you, Empress... Your Majesty for your concern..." She truly appreciated the Empress¡¯s various assistances. Regarding the fates of those villains, the palace maids had told her everything as soon as she woke up. "Especially grateful to Your Majesty for making decisions on my behalf." She truly appreciated Sang Yan, and as she spoke, tears started to stream down her face, "This lowly life of mine shall be in Your Majesty¡¯s service from now on." Sang Yan sat beside the bed, took a clean handkerchief, and began to wipe Luo Shan¡¯s tears, comforting her, "Don¡¯t talk or think like that; it¡¯s all in the past. Just focus on recovering. After this adversity, surely there will come a time of joy and prosperity." "I accept Your Majesty¡¯s auspicious words." Luo Shan spoke and then lifted her hand to rub her nose, scented an odd fragrance coming from Sang Yan. She felt something was off, furrowed her brows, leaned in closer to smell, but the fragrance was faint, hardly discernible. Sang Yan, not knowing the reason, asked, "What¡¯s wrong?" She also turned to smell herself, felt normal, and was quite puzzled, "Is there something wrong?" "Her Ladyship¡¯s fragrance¡ª" Luo Shan wanted to say the fragrance was off, as if it were mixed with an addictive scent¡ªlove flower. The love flower had a strong hallucinatory effect. If used frequently, it was harmful to the body as well. But she couldn¡¯t finish her sentence before exhaustion and dizziness swept over her. "The fragrance is not good... shouldn¡¯t be used... Empress..." Mumbling, Luo Shan fell into a deep slumber. Sang Yan didn¡¯t understand, nor did she take it to heart. If at that moment, Luo Shan had made herself clear and Sang Yan had taken it seriously, perhaps everything could have been avoided. Unfortunately, there are no ifs in life. Seeing Luo Shan asleep, Sang Yan instructed the Palace Attendants to take good care of her and then left. She returned to the main hall of Qingning Palace, waiting for He Ying to return. She waited until the evening. The sky darkened early these days. Around 5 p.m., the time equivalent to 6 o¡¯clock in modern terms, dinner was ready. He Ying usually returned around this time to have dinner with her. But tonight, he had not come back; instead, he sent Pei Muyang with a message. "Empress, the Emperor is discussing matters with several ministers in the Imperial Study. It seems it will take quite some time, so he sent me to inform you that he won¡¯t join you for dinner." "What has happened?" Upon hearing this, Sang Yan felt an inexplicable unease and pressed for details, "Who are these ministers he¡¯s discussing matters with?" She could make guesses based on whether they were civil or military ministers. Pei Muyang didn¡¯t think much of it and replied, "Members from the Hanlin Academy and several officials from the Ministry of Rites." They were all civil servants, adept in verbal sparring. And the Ministry of Rites was involved too. Could it be that the incident with Luo Shan had left an impact? Or, with the wedding approaching, was He Ying secretly preparing some little surprise? Thinking this, she responded, "I understand. I¡¯m not hungry at this time, so I¡¯ll wait for him to return. You should go back to attend to your duties." She disliked He Ying¡¯s irregular meal times. Mealtime was for eating. Unless there were life-threatening matters at hand, there was no need for such haste. Seeing that Sang Yan wouldn¡¯t eat, Pei Muyang found himself in a difficult position: the Emperor sent him over precisely so the Empress wouldn¡¯t go hungry, but now she insisted on doing just that! What was the point of his visit then? This was unacceptable! He hastily advised, "Your Highness, you don¡¯t have to wait. The Emperor also said, after I delivered the message, I should go to the Imperial Kitchen and bring over a few dishes, as he plans to eat with the ministers." Upon hearing that, Sang Yan said no more. She dined alone, and when it was about 9 p.m., there was still no sign of He Ying¡¯s return. She felt the situation might be rather serious. She instructed Qiuzhi, "Have Little Guizi take a look at the Imperial Study, find out exactly what¡¯s going on." Qiuzhi hurriedly acknowledged, "Yes." She quickly went off to the outer chamber to arrange for Little Guizi to make a trip to the Imperial Study. Imperial Study Officials from the Hanlin Academy and the Ministry of Rites were still kneeling on the ground. The Ministry of Rites was there to confirm the wedding procedures with the Emperor. The Hanlin Academy, on the other hand, was there to protest. Jiang Chongyu, leading the plea, kowtowed and continued, "The public opposition is strong; already, many have paraded in the Capital City streets yesterday, protesting against the Sang Family¡¯s daughter becoming the Empress, beseeching the Emperor to reconsider." He appreciated Sang Yan but also believed she was not fit for the high station of Empress. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His reasons were threefold: firstly, she was a widow believed to bring misfortune to her husband; secondly, she had been abducted; and thirdly, she was too intimately associated with courtesans. "Bad company corrupts good character. Even if Miss Sang is innocent, any involvement with a courtesan blemishes her reputation. With such disregard for her status, how could she be suitable as Empress?" Jiang Chongyu, upon saying this, kowtowed again and stated emphatically, "This is also the thought of countless citizens." He Ying, his expression dark and eyes cold as arrows, scoffed, "So, because the people are ignorant, you follow in ignorance as well?" Chapter 293 - 290 Wickedness Chapter 293: Chapter 290 Wickedness"The Emperor¡¯s words are at fault," Jiang Chongyu retorted, "The will of the people cannot be defied." He Ying scoffed coldly, "I believe, My decision, cannot be defied even more so." Jiang Chongyu wanted to say something¡ª A Ministry of Rites official beside him tugged at him and spoke out, "Mr. Jiang, as the Saint said, the pure will remain pure, and the impure will remain impure. How could the Empress, a lady of such noble birth, be compared to a female healer? Besides, that female healer comes from a place of filth yet has learned excellent medical skills, and is practicing medicine in Luozhou, leaving behind the reputation of being a brothel¡¯s famous doctor, she is not just anybody." He had a round and plump face, with very fair skin and a ruddy complexion, looking the picture of affluence. "Yes, indeed! Lord Huang is right!" "Since ancient times, a hero¡¯s origins have never mattered. It should be the same for women." "To judge Doctor Luo solely by her background is rather unfair." ... The entire Ministry of Rites stood firmly on the Emperor¡¯s side. The Hanlin Academy regarded this as a disgrace. Even more so, some radical officials cursed loudly, "You flatter and curry favor with those above, disregarding Da He¡¯s reputation, nothing but vile scoundrels!" This was like stirring up a hornet¡¯s nest. The Ministry of Rites officials all ganged up on him: "Lord Yu, you must watch your words! This is a great disrespect!" "We are loyally serving our country; what is your intention with such words, Lord Yu?" "You are sowing discord between monarch and subjects; your heart should be condemned!" ... Another round of incessant arguing ensued. He Ying listened until he was weary, massaged his temples for a while, then slammed the Dragon Table and shouted angrily, "Enough! The wedding will proceed as usual. No matter what happens, I will not change it. Dismissed." His face was cold and he waved his hand irritably, then stood up to leave. It was clear he had run out of patience. Officials from the Hanlin Academy still wished to kneel and stop him¡ª The affluent-faced Huang Wei stretched out his arms, and his portly body blocked them like a mountain, then smilingly said, "Ah, Mr. Jiang, the Emperor¡¯s decree cannot be defied, why must you persist in causing His Majesty displeasure?" He was a peacemaker, always muddling through whenever factions in the court quarreled. With this talent, he secured himself the position of Assistant Minister of Rites. Jiang Chongyu disliked him and, seeing the Emperor leaving, he was even more displeased, "Lord Huang, as the Assistant Minister of Rites, you allow the Emperor to marry a woman of ill repute as Empress. Where do you place the etiquette and rules of Da He?" His words were very pointed. Huang Wei still wore his smile, "Mr. Jiang, there you go wrong, the Emperor himself is my etiquette and rules." Jiang Chongyu¡¯s face darkened upon hearing this, "So it is said that you all flatter those above!" He flicked his sleeve angrily and left the Imperial Study. Outside, the night was deep. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He raised his head to glance at the cold moonlight, unsure how to face such an awful situation¡ªthe Sang Family¡¯s daughter really should not be the Empress! * He Ying hurried towards Qingning Palace. Rows of eunuchs carried lamps to illuminate the path ahead, casting a cold, white light on the road. Walking along, he instructed Pei Muyang at his side, "As for the public¡¯s opinion, do not let it reach the Empress¡¯s ears." As an imperial eunuch, Pei Muyang was keenly attuned to the Emperor¡¯s thoughts. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I¡¯ve already warned the others. Nothing that occurred in the Imperial Study today will reach the Empress¡¯s ears, not a single word." "Mm." He Ying nodded, a trace of satisfaction flashed across his eyes, but soon his expression turned dark again, "These pedantic scholars of the Hanlin Academy are truly foolish from all their reading! They even dare to oppose Me! Do they think because I haven¡¯t executed anyone for a long time, they can take Me lightly?" In the court, either the monarch is strong and the ministers weak, or the monarch weak and the ministers strong. Since meeting Sang Yan, He Ying¡¯s temperament had softened quite a bit; he became more pleasant and accommodating in the court. Clearly, this had emboldened them! "Your Majesty, calm your anger." Pei Muyang softly advised, "The Empress¡¯s virtues are acknowledged by everyone within the palace, but those outside the palace are not as well-informed. Those officials from the Hanlin Academy are just using the common people¡¯s words, and many of the common people just echo others, how would they know what kind of person the Empress is? I think it¡¯s better to guide than to block, Your Majesty should let the Empress appear in public, to interact closely with the common people and build a good reputation." He Ying listened, frowning, speaking displeased, "You want the Empress to ingratiate herself with those commoners?" A bunch of ignorant fools worthy to meet his Empress? He immediately rejected the idea, "Impossible! Pei Muyang, you really have come up with a great idea! Don¡¯t ever bring it up again!" He would never let Sang Yan be subjected to such humiliation. For Sang Yan to become the Empress of Da He was Da He¡¯s good fortune, not hers! Upon seeing the Emperor displeased, Pei Muyang quickly knelt to beg for forgiveness, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! I was presumptuous!" "It¡¯s not that you were presumptuous; it is that your words lacked consideration." He Ying looked down at the kneeling man, his face stern and coldly said, "You should know that she chose Da He, it is not Da He that chose her." Pei Muyang: "..." Alright. His mistake. His words did indeed lack consideration, severely overlooking the Emperor¡¯s love and grandeur¡ªhe had put the Empress on a pedestal! "Yes. I will keep that in mind." "Enough. Stand up." He Ying let it slide, considering his loyalty, and didn¡¯t hold this small misstep against him. Otherwise, a beating would be unavoidable. "Thank you, Your Majesty." After thanking him, Pei Muyang stood up and cautiously attended at his side, following him back to Qingning Palace. On the way, He happened to bump into Little Guizi. "Greetings to Your Majesty¡ª" Little Guizi quickly came forward to salute. Seeing him, He Ying frowned and asked, "Why have you come here? How is the Empress?" Little Guizi was also a clever one and quickly responded with a smile, "There is nothing wrong with the Empress; she is just waiting for Your Majesty to return, looking ever so expectant, so she sent me to see when Your Majesty would be back." His words sounded pleasant. He Ying, hearing this, was very pleased, "Did the Empress say anything else? Since I wasn¡¯t back, how did she manage her evening meal? What did she eat? How much? What was her mood at the time?" Even though they had only been apart for a few hours, even though they were about to meet again, he still had many questions to ask. Whenever it concerned her, he was never lacking in curiosity. Chapter 294 - 291: Allegory Chapter 294: Chapter 291: AllegoryLittle Guizi said, "The Empress had a steamed cake for dinner and also some shrimp dumplings. Miss Xuan from outside the palace sent over two dishes, one was braised goose feet, the other was osmanthus fish fin. The Empress tasted some of each." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Ying listened and asked, "Were those two dishes tested for poison?" He was not reassured about the safety of food from outside the palace. Little Guizi, picking up on the implication, hurriedly said, "The Emperor can be at ease, they were all tested before we dared to let the Empress take a bite." He Ying let go of his concern and, raising his hand, said, "Let¡¯s go." He led his entourage back to Qingning Palace in a grand manner. Inside the palace, Incense smoke curled lazily in the air. Warmth suffused the room. After her bath, Sang Yan wore a thin gauze dress, sitting on the bed reading a book. The book had been given to her by Xuanrao a couple of days ago. Its title was "Great Love Record." Just by the title, one could tell it was not a serious book. Initially, she thought it was just a risqu¨¦ folk novel and didn¡¯t read it, but now, bored of waiting for He Ying, she flipped through a few pages and realized something was off¡ªthis was not a risqu¨¦ folk novel at all! It was a political satire aimed at the Dahe Royal Family! It said that there was an Emperor in Dahe who was close to thirty without an heir. To get an heir, the Emperor held a vast selection of beauties, incorporating many women into his harem. Among them, a pair of sisters entered the Imperial Palace and won his favor. Initially, it was the younger, pretty, naive, and lively sister who captured the Emperor¡¯s heart. Later on, the elder sister used strategies to monopolize the Emperor¡¯s favor. Especially since the elder sister was a highly jealous woman. She did not allow the Emperor to favor any other concubine. Once, the Emperor favored another concubine behind her back. The next day, she stormed into that concubine¡¯s quarters and used scissors to slash the concubine¡¯s face, ruining her beauty. Soon enough, the Emperor heard about it. Everyone thought that the Emperor would speak up for the poor concubine, severely punish the elder sister, and that she would lose favor and even be cast into the Cold Palace. However, contrary to expectations, the Emperor did not blame her, but instead punished the Palace Attendants who served her. Because during the attack, she also cut her own hand. The Emperor blamed them for not taking good care of the elder sister. With such singular devotion, the elder sister became increasingly spoiled and overstepped her bounds. Upon learning that a concubine had secretly become pregnant, she directly arranged for someone to cause the concubine to miscarry. The crime of conspiring against the heir was a grave one. Everyone thought the elder sister was certainly doomed. But then, the elder sister cried. With a tearful plea before the Emperor, and a few drops of tears, the Emperor¡¯s heart softened, and he immediately absolved her of all wrongdoing, lavishing her with rewards, even building a palace for her. From then on, no one dared to offend the elder sister. Though the elder sister had all the Emperor¡¯s love, she did not bear any children. The Emperor¡¯s yearning for an heir grew stronger and stronger. He could only secretly favor other concubines and arrange for their childbirth in secrecy after they became pregnant. Finally, ten months later, he had his first son, the future Crown Prince of Dahe. But the elder sister found out. She was very angry but did not scream or make a fuss; she merely shut the doors of her palace, refusing to let the Emperor in. She said the Emperor had broken her heart and she would not see him for the rest of her life. Such refusal continued for over a month. Everyone thought she would fall out of favor and exhaust the Emperor¡¯s patience and love. But, once again, the Emperor¡¯s actions defied everyone¡¯s expectations¡ªhe, in order to seek the elder sister¡¯s forgiveness, personally brought the newborn Prince to the gate of her palace and, lifting the baby high, dashed him to death. An Emperor of a great nation, to win a smile from his beloved, actually destroyed his own heir! What absurd content! Sang Yan was sure that the jealous elder sister in the novel was her! And that foolish, lecherous Emperor who harmed his own children was He Ying! How dare the author write such things! And to think, the title of the book was so evocative, it must be selling like hotcakes on the black market. Since it was selling well, those uninformed commoners who read it would surely have their thoughts influenced and might even misunderstand the Dahe Royal Family. The intentions of this author are clearly malicious! The more Sang Yan thought about it, the more her head ached: so this was the image that she and He Ying had among the common people? "Ah Yan¡ª¡ª" When He Ying came in, he saw Sang Yan flipping through a book, her brows deeply furrowed, looking very troubled. "What¡¯s wrong? Did you run into some vexing problem?" As he asked, he had already approached Sang Yan. Sang Yan, too focused on the book and engrossed in her anger, only looked up when she heard his voice, and He Ying was already before her eyes. She instinctively hid the book, but that gave her away. He Ying immediately grasped her wrist, stopping her from hiding the book: "What are you looking at?" Sang Yan still attempted to cover it up: "Nothing much. Just some worldly novels." He Ying didn¡¯t believe her words: "Let me see. I¡¯ve read quite a few books, but I¡¯ve never come across any worldly novels." He actually suspected that Sang Yan was reading some unhealthy novels. But that was exactly what he had in mind. Because when he saw her, his head was also filled with unhealthy thoughts. "Forget it. Aren¡¯t you busy?" Sang Yan clutched the book, keeping it from his view, and tried to change the subject: "What have you been busy with that you have only returned at this late hour?" He Ying didn¡¯t want to share the voices of opposition with her and simply said, "It¡¯s nothing. Just some old fogies, always spouting the same old platitudes." He had his secrets and followed her lead in changing the topic: "Back to the matter at hand, show me the book. I want to learn from it too." "Learn what?" Sang Yan furrowed her brows, not understanding what he meant. He Ying arched an eyebrow and smiled slyly, hinting at a naughty tone: "Learn some experience." Sang Yan: "..." She instantly understood his dirty thoughts. "Fine. Go ahead and learn some experience." She handed him the book. He Ying looked at the title, suppressing a smile, as if guessing the amorous content inside. Sang Yan watched him, smiling as well, but she was waiting to see his embarrassment. The satirical content in the book, she believed, would ensure he wouldn¡¯t be laughing after reading it. The reality was that after reading just a few pages, He Ying¡¯s brows knitted together: What the hell is this stuff? He glanced at the author: Anonymous? Hah, some Anonymous! His expression became increasingly grave, Seeing this, Sang Yan thought for a moment and softly said, "The book¡¯s content does indeed not match reality, and if left unchecked, I fear it may damage the image of the Dahe Royal Family and shake the people¡¯s trust. Yet, strictly banning it probably won¡¯t do any good. Sometimes, the more you forbid something, the more rampant it becomes. People might even accuse us of being guilty by our very defense." "I¡¯ve never feared what others say." He Ying lifted his head, looking at her, his icy eyes gradually warming: "I just fear you being wronged." Sang Yan shook her head with a smile: "Being talked about by others is nothing to fuss about." "No." He Ying¡¯s gaze became serious: "You¡¯ve already suffered many injustices by my side. I won¡¯t let this author get off lightly." He was determined to find out who was spreading such slander! They deserved death! Sang Yan, who had wanted to keep things quiet, did not wish for him to make a big deal out of this, and hurriedly advised, "Guarding against the mouths of the people is harder than guarding against a torrent. Calm down, don¡¯t always be at odds with the ministers and commoners because of me. This kind of love is too burdensome for me, I fear I¡¯m not fortunate enough to bear it¡ª¡ª" "Don¡¯t speak ill-omened words." He Ying hastily covered her mouth, interrupting her, and gently said, "Trust me, I¡¯ll handle this properly." Just find the person, so good at writing, and he¡¯ll make sure they write to their heart¡¯s content! Write enough to last a lifetime! Chapter 295 - 292: Beloved Slave Chapter 295: Chapter 292: Beloved SlaveSang Yan didn¡¯t know his thoughts and didn¡¯t want to stir his emotions, so she said with a smile, "I naturally trust you. However, I need to express my feelings, really, I don¡¯t need the kind of formal love, like a grand wedding or official rewards. Compared to your heart, those external things are meaningless. As long as your heart is with me, I will never let you down." She was very content with her current situation: rich, safe, and with her beloved by her side. As for the power of the Empress? She was a salted fish, genuinely not that interested. He Ying nodded and said, "I know you won¡¯t let me down. Nor do I wish to let myself down. Marrying you as my Empress is my ultimate honor." Sang Yan: "..." Listen to these sweet nothings! She was almost too embarrassed. "It seems we¡¯ve strayed a bit off-topic." She brought the conversation back, "Regarding the author of this novel, if you send someone to find them, bring them to me for a glimpse. I want to meet them." "Alright." He Ying casually agreed, then tossed the book aside and rolled onto the bed with her. Sang Yan rolled with him for a while, but when he intended to go further, she promptly stopped him, "No. You said we had to take a bath first." Close contact between a man and a woman required the man to clean thoroughly, otherwise, it could bring many gynecological diseases to the woman. So, every time they were intimate, she insisted he bathe first. He Ying, like an arrow drawn on a bow, could only hold back. "Aren¡¯t you worried I might develop a problem from holding back?" His tone was filled with grievance. Sang Yan laughed when she heard him, "That¡¯s why you should remember the lesson, don¡¯t provoke me without having taken a bath. I¡¯ve told you, it¡¯s in consideration of both our health." He Ying, feeling in the wrong, wrapped himself in a bathrobe, partly to hide his embarrassment, and blushed as he went to take a shower. Of course, he was very quick in the shower. Sang Yan saw him come back with damp hair and was slightly dissatisfied, "You showered too quickly! Are you sure you cleaned properly?" She felt she might need to supervise him next time! "Of course, I cleaned properly. Don¡¯t believe me? You can check." He pulled her onto the bed, rolling with her, kissing her, and laughing, "Also, Ah Yan, you must not say a man is too fast." Sang Yan: "..." This horndog! Once on the bed, he never acts properly! "Wait a moment!" She held back his wandering hands and said seriously, "First, dry your hair, or you¡¯ll get a headache later." He Ying was extremely frustrated, "Ah Yan, my dear, my head doesn¡¯t hurt right now, my body does. Please take care of me." What time was it to worry about whether hair was wet? If she didn¡¯t take care of him soon, his fire would dry his hair! Seeing his impatient look, Sang Yan was helpless, "Really, where¡¯s your dignity?" She was also amazed; they had rolled together so many times, always eating the same dish, yet he never tired of it, always eager like a young boy who had never tasted meat before! He Ying would not argue over pride in this matter. He wouldn¡¯t let go of the delicious meat within his grasp. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lost in drunken dreams, he was her love slave. A night of revelry. The next day, Sang Yan was as usual with a sore back and leg cramps. She lay lifeless in bed until the sun was high in the sky. While Qiuzhi helped her bathe, seeing the mottled red marks all over her body, she couldn¡¯t help but say, "His Majesty speaks of love by day, but he¡¯s really inhuman at night. Look how he¡¯s bitten you." How could one be so rough with the soft skin of a young girl? Sheer ferocity like a vicious wolf! Sang Yan listened to Qiuzhi¡¯s words, the corners of her mouth twitching, not knowing what to say. How could she explain the sweetness and joy of it all to a girl who had not experienced such things? "It just looks scary. It doesn¡¯t hurt." She laughed softly, offering a simple explanation, "Don¡¯t think too much about it. And don¡¯t worry about me. The day these marks are no longer on my body, that¡¯s when you can start worrying for me." The day He Ying stopped leaving his marks of love on her would be the day she lost his love. A man¡¯s love for a woman could not be faked by his performance in bed. Qiuzhi half-understood, "Does Lady like these marks?" Sang Yan answered with a smile, "When you¡¯re married, you¡¯ll understand." Speaking of marriage, a thought flashed through her mind, "Qiuzhi, you are not young anymore, do you have a sweetheart in mind?" She did not constrain Qiuzhi from falling in love and getting married. Owing to their bond as mistress and maid, it would be a grave sin if she squandered the girl¡¯s youth. Qiuzhi was stunned to hear Sang Yan broach this topic, dumbfounded for a moment, "Does Lady not want my services anymore? Have I done something wrong¡ª" Compared to the prospect of a sweetheart, she was more enamored with the title of Chief Palace Maid by the Empress¡¯s side. Think about her in Sang Mansion; without Sang Yan, she was just an ordinary maid. Once Sang Yan returned, her status immediately changed. Now in the Imperial Palace, who would dare to look down on Qiuzhi? On the other hand, Chunzhi, who had served Sang Yan alongside her; Chuangzhi, who remained in Sang Mansion, not only lacked prospects but also was matched with a servant, one whose daily task was to clean up. He always smelled, and more than once Chunzhi wrote to lament her situation, expressing her desire to return to Sang Yan¡¯s side. Of course, Qiuzhi would not give her that opportunity. She wanted to serve Sang Yan forever, to always be her Chief Palace Maid. Hence, as soon as she sensed Sang Yan might intend to let her leave the palace to marry, she panicked; her legs went weak, and she knelt down, "Lady, I don¡¯t want to leave you! Lady, I wish to serve you forever!" Sang Yan: "..." It was a misunderstanding! She had no intention to drive her away! Realizing that Qiuzhi feared losing her position, Sang Yan quickly explained with a smile, "Don¡¯t be nervous. Even if you¡¯re in love and marry, you can still stay by my side." Qiuzhi suddenly understood: Lady was bestowing her a great favor! "Thank you, Lady!" She kowtowed fervently until her forehead turned red from the effort. Seeing this, Sang Yan hastened to say, "Alright, that¡¯s enough, stop your kowtowing. You know I detest these formalities." Having been in this ancient era for quite some time, she had begun to accept obeisance with peace of mind, but she still couldn¡¯t get used to kowtowing¡ªit felt like it shortened one¡¯s life! Qiuzhi knew Sang Yan disliked people kowtowing to her and stopped quickly, still incessantly expressing her gratitude, "Thank you, Lady. You are so good to me; I don¡¯t know how I could ever repay you." Sang Yan laughed, "Doing your duties well is repayment enough for me." Feeling sufficiently cleansed, she stood up. Qiuzhi immediately took a towel to wipe off the droplets of water from her body, then dressed her in the Empress¡¯s elaborate clothing, piece by piece. Those clothes were complex, and trying to don them alone would have been difficult for Sang Yan, so she relied on Qiuzhi¡¯s assistance. As Qiuzhi helped Sang Yan into her clothing, she touched her skin and figure at such close quarters and began to comprehend the Emperor¡¯s feelings. Such an enticing body, bone-deep in its allure, was indeed worth cherishing fiercely. A quarter hour later, Sang Yan emerged from the bathhouse, dressed in the Empress¡¯s magnificent red palace attire. Little Guizi waited outside the bathhouse and upon seeing her, hurried forward with a smile, "Empress, Mrs. Sang entered the palace last night, and today someone from Yuesang Palace came with a message that Mrs. Sang requests your presence." Sang Yan frowned slightly upon hearing this, not wishing to go. But it was improper to decline an elder¡¯s invitation. "Hmm. I¡¯m aware." Considering she had nothing pressing to attend to, she decided to go. She was also curious about the original mother¡¯s intention for seeking her out. If she felt pity for Sang Ruishui and intended to speak on her behalf¡ª