In the palace, the Emperor looked at the woman kneeling below. Her posture was impeccable, as if she were intimately familiar with palace etiquette—how intriguing. Every woman who entered the palace had to study the rules meticulously for some time to avoid mistakes, yet she seemed as though she had been raised within these walls.
"I am rather curious," the Emperor said. "Why did the Seven Constellation Bureau capture the Seven Stars Cult Leader without reporting it to me, choosing instead to detain her privately? Can you enlighten me?"
From the moment she was abruptly brought into the palace, Haoyue had been weighing her options. She couldn't decide whether it was more advantageous to present herself as an aloof, prescient Seven Stars Cult Leader or as a capable yet detached one. In that instant, she chose the latter.
"Your Majesty," she replied, "the leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau suspected that I might be connected to the remnants of the Chao Li Tribe. I had no choice but to cooperate fully to avoid being branded a rebel."
"Oh? Is that all?" The Emperor thought of Hua Zhi, who had made him deeply uncomfortable, and asked with a hint of malice, "Could it be that there is a personal relationship?"
Haoyue considered saying yes, to solidify their connection and perhaps even secure a marriage decree from the Emperor, fulfilling her desires. But her instincts warned her against it. As the former leader of the Seven Stars Cult, with thousands of followers, the Emperor would never bestow her upon the already powerful head of the Seven Constellation Bureau.
Countless thoughts raced through her mind, yet only a moment passed outwardly. Calmly, she responded, "Though I was born in the countryside, I am aware that private dealings are improper."
"You do follow the rules, unlike some." The Emperor thought of Hua Zhi, born into the Hua family yet engaging in such indiscretions—he wondered how Hua Yizheng had raised her. The mere thought of Hua Zhi soured his mood, but looking at the woman before him, he found her much more agreeable. "Rise and speak."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Haoyue dared not rub her aching knees. Though her eyes were lowered, her expression remained placid, as if she were ignorant and fearless.
The Emperor found this amusing and studied her more closely. The more he looked, the more pleasing he found her appearance. After a moment's thought, he smiled. "Since there is no personal relationship, then enter the palace. By decree, Haoyue is hereby named Moon Consort and shall reside in the Like Orchid Palace."
Lai Fu, startled, quickly bowed and acknowledged the order. Haoyue, however, was stunned. How... how could this be? Even if a marriage were to be decreed, shouldn't it be to a prince? How had it come to this—entering the palace?
Staring at the Emperor's aged face, Haoyue clenched her teeth to suppress a scream. How could she become the Emperor's consort? No, this couldn't happen!
She knelt once more, striving to keep her voice steady. "I was born in the countryside and am unworthy of such honor. I beg Your Majesty to rescind the decree."
"The decree has been issued and cannot be revoked. As for being born in the countryside..." The Emperor gazed at her. "I find you far more adept at palace etiquette than many newly arrived consorts."
Haoyue swayed slightly. She had been careless—how would a country girl know these palace rules? What could she do now? What should she do?
The Emperor suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Are you unwilling? Do you disdain me for my age?"
"I would never dare!" A flash of inspiration struck Haoyue. "It is only that I vowed in my youth never to marry. Hearing the decree startled me, and I lost my composure. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
The Emperor laughed then and personally helped her to her feet. "I am the Son of Heaven. No vow holds power before me.""Your Majesty..." Haoyue lifted her head to speak, but seeing the Emperor's smiling yet ice-cold gaze, she instantly found herself unable to utter another word. She was certain that if she dared say one more word, things would not end well.
The Emperor patted her cheek. "No need to leave the palace. Lai Fu, escort Moon Consort to Like Orchid Palace. I shall rest there tonight."
"Yes." Lai Fu bowed and approached Haoyue. "This old servant pays respects to Lady Moon. Please proceed, Your Highness."
Haoyue felt as if her very soul had drifted into the air, watching herself express gratitude, watching herself take leave, watching herself step by step approach Like Orchid Palace—step by step... descending into an abyss.
This shouldn't be happening. It truly shouldn't be like this. Hadn't Heaven granted her this opportunity to become a savior? She was supposed to marry the leader of the Seven Constellation Bureau! Staring at the palace before her, Haoyue saw it as a man-eating monster. She retreated repeatedly, unwilling to advance further. She didn't want to be devoured, didn't want to live in endless darkness, didn't want any of it! She wanted to see that person! She must see that person!
Her retreating body was flanked on both sides. Lai Fu's voice came through: "Your Highness, your palace is here. Do not mistake the way."
Haoyue shook her head. No, this wasn't her place!
"I want to see—"
One of the palace maids, under Lai Fu's sharp glance, immediately covered her mouth, preventing her from speaking that name.
"Escort Her Highness into the palace."
Haoyue couldn't employ any tactics within the palace walls. Moreover, her belongings remained in that residence. It was only a few steps away, and she was soon forcibly escorted into Like Orchid Palace.
Lai Fu waved his hand, and the palace servants withdrew. Haoyue, panic-stricken, tried to flee, but Lai Fu blocked her path, whispering, "Moon Consort, the decree has been issued and cannot be altered. At this moment, no one can be seen. You... should consider leaving yourself a way out."
A way out... Haoyue clung to these words like a drowning person grasping a floating log. Following Lai Fu's suggestion, she nodded repeatedly. "Yes, a way out. I must leave myself a way out!"
Lai Fu lowered his gaze and bowed before turning to leave. He had thought it through clearly: to secure a peaceful end, he must rely on The Heir. The Emperor was already like the setting sun—unreliable. The Heir, though seemingly unapproachable, remembered favors. As long as Lai Fu remained loyal, The Heir would not treat him poorly.
Glancing back at Moon Consort, still standing at the main hall's entrance, Lai Fu felt no remorse. This woman was far from clever. If she truly involved The Heir in her words, did she think she could escape unscathed? It would only mean death.
The Emperor and The Heir were still locked in their struggle. Adding fuel to the fire would only worsen the relationship between uncle and nephew.
Returning swiftly to Haoxin Hall, Lai Fu bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, this old servant has escorted Her Highness to Like Orchid Palace."
The Emperor, without looking up from the book beside him, asked, "Was she pleased?"
"This old servant observed that she appeared somewhat flustered."
"It's normal to be nervous upon first entering the palace." The Emperor lifted his head. "Did she say anything?"
Lai Fu's expression remained unchanged. "Though Her Highness seemed flustered, she did not confide in a mere servant like myself."
The Emperor found this reasonable and asked no further, his gaze returning to the book. Just as Lai Fu secretly sighed in relief, the Emperor spoke again: "Lai Fu, tell me—what was that boy thinking, hiding such a person?"Lai Fu's heart pounded like a drum, not daring to think too much, and replied, "This old servant dares not speak recklessly."
"Speak when you're told to speak."
"Yes, this old servant only knows from the investigation that after detaining the Moon Consort, The Heir had little further contact with her. Moreover, he made several trips to Yuzhou during that period. I'm afraid... I'm afraid he was investigating something through the Moon Consort."
"If it was an investigation, why keep it hidden from me?"
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