Consort Yu sent someone to poison Shu Fei, only to be caught red-handed—what a rare spectacle indeed.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the imperial harem, undercurrents had long been churning. The grass and trees around the Imperial Concubine's Palace were teeming with eunuchs and maids, all dispatched by various factions to gather information.
These frontline spectators watched as His Majesty entered the palace, the doors closing behind him. After a hushed conversation, they endured the scorching sun for what felt like an eternity, yet no further commotion reached their ears.
Just as they were sweating profusely and scratching their heads in frustration, the faint sound of shattering porcelain reached them.
Here it comes!
The spectators craned their necks to listen. From within the palace came a series of jarring noises, as though every piece of furniture and utensil was being destroyed.
Then came the sound of a door being kicked open.
A figure emerged, hair disheveled, striding out with furious steps, voice hoarse: "Guards!"
The eavesdroppers hastily ducked their heads, cold sweat dripping down their backs.
The Emperor, his dark dragon robe half-slipped off his shoulder, revealing his undergarments, looked utterly deranged. "Drag Consort Yu to the Secluded Palace and lock her up!"
Consort Yu? The spectators committed the title to memory.
The guards obeyed and moved to carry out the order, but a sharp female voice rang out from within the palace: "I’d like to see who dares!"
Yu Wanyin was dragged out by the guards, her shoes lost along the way, her face streaked with tears that had ruined her fresh makeup.
Xiahou Dan smirked, his expression unreadable. "Who dares? Are you questioning me?"
Yu Wanyin showed no sign of backing down. Gone was her usual coy and innocent demeanor—her phoenix eyes blazed with defiance, making her appear almost aggressive. "Your Majesty, you will regret this."
The spectators felt their courage shatter. Wasn’t this going too far?
Alas, this time, she would no longer receive the Emperor’s favor.
Xiahou Dan staggered forward and kicked a guard aside. "Who is the master here?"
"Who?!"
The guard knelt. "Your Majesty is the master."
"Then when I say drag her to the Secluded Palace, are you deaf?!"
Xiahou Dan personally oversaw the process, watching as Yu Wanyin was thrown into the Secluded Palace. He then ordered, "Nail the doors and windows shut. Post a squad of guards to stand watch. No food is to be delivered unless I say so."
For days, no meals arrived.
Consort Yu’s fall from grace had become an indisputable fact, and the crowd of eunuchs and maids who came to gawk gradually dwindled. The few who remained persistent were later treated to another spectacle.
The Secluded Palace, long neglected, had a drafty hole in its door, outside of which guards stood watch.
One day, a figure emerged from that hole.
The once radiant and peerlessly beautiful Consort Yu, her cheeks once like apricots and peaches, had been reduced to a gaunt, ashen-faced wraith. Moving stiffly like a puppet on strings, she dragged herself to the hole, knelt, and kowtowed. "Kind sirs, please spare some food."
The guards ignored her.
Consort Yu pleaded again, "Please, pass on a message for me. Tell them I was wrong… Wan Yin was truly wrong…"
Still, the guards paid her no heed. After kneeling for so long, she seemed to lack the strength to rise again and simply collapsed behind the door.
Much later, An Xian, the Emperor’s attendant, arrived and handed the guards a chipped bowl.
The guard passed it through the hole. "Eat."
The lifeless figure on the ground stirred, struggling to lift the bowl. She took a few sips of the cold, congealed porridge, tears streaming as she murmured her thanks, then clutched the bowl and crawled back inside.
Yu Wanyin carried the bowl into the inner chamber and promptly tossed it aside, wiping her face in disgust.
A maid had already prepared hot water. "Your Highness, please wash your face."Yu Wanyin washed off the deathly makeup from her face, revealing a healthy flush underneath. She sighed listlessly, "Ah, what should we do today?"
The maid smiled. "Auntie Bei sent over some fruits and snacks, along with a few books. She asks that Your Ladyship remain patient—it will take three to five more days to dig the tunnel. Once it's done, His Majesty will come to see you. Until then, only Auntie Bei has the skill to sneak in here undetected."
The maid added, "Oh, and someone just slipped this in through the backyard, likely by bribing the guards at the rear gate. They also said that if Your Ladyship has any messages to send out, you can write them on a note and hand it to them."
She produced a small package.
Yu Wanyin opened it to find some dried rations and a jade-carved turtle.
Prince Duan had finally made his move.
No sooner had Xiahou Bo sent Yu Wanyin to investigate that skilled assassin than he heard that Xiao Mei, the spy he had planted, was dead.
Such coincidences didn’t exist in this world—it had to be Yu Wanyin’s doing.
His expectations of her had plummeted to rock bottom.
Later, he heard that Noble Consort Yu had been demoted to Consort Yu and placed under house arrest due to harem infighting—it all sounded like an act. Xiahou Bo knew of Yu Wanyin’s unique abilities, and so did Xiahou Dan. Putting himself in the emperor’s shoes, no matter how incompetent the man was, he wouldn’t discard a prophet over matters of love.
But he wanted to see how she planned to play this out.
After Yu Wanyin was banished to the Secluded Palace, his informants in the palace relayed some juicy gossip: that day, the Emperor and Consort Yu had a fierce argument. Consort Yu had urged the Emperor to eliminate Shu Fei, but he refused. Yu Wanyin claimed she had dreamed that Shu Fei would bring ruin to her entire family. The Emperor, enraged, accused her of lying without hesitation, slandering others out of jealousy. In the end, Consort Yu said something along the lines of, "Without my abilities, you are nothing" (the informant admitted they didn’t understand), which sent the Emperor into a fury, leading to her demotion.
This was somewhat unexpected for Xiahou Bo.
He knew that Shu Fei’s family had been on good terms with the Yu family in the past. But now that Yu Shaoqing had been demoted and Shu Fei’s family was also in decline, the two sides had grown resentful, leading to some friction. Recently, their younger generations had clashed openly over competing for an official position.
Xiahou Bo had his people investigate and found that Shu Fei’s family was indeed scheming in secret to eliminate the Yu family.
But here was the catch: these schemes were so well-hidden that even he had to expend effort to uncover them. The Yu family was completely unaware, and Yu Wanyin, deep in the palace, couldn’t possibly have heard of them.
So… had she truly seen it with her Heavenly Eye?
Xiahou Bo waited a few days, then sent some food into the Secluded Palace. In return, he received a secret letter from her.
He laughed after reading just a few lines. "How bold."
Yu Wanyin openly admitted it: Yes, I sent Xiao Mei to poison someone because I calculated she was your spy. If she had succeeded, fine—but she was caught by Shu Fei and ended up dead. That’s the price for betraying me and colluding with you.
Xiahou Bo recalled her furious roar by the lake and chuckled. "This little girl is no ordinary fish in a pond. Interesting. Very interesting."
His advisors remained silent.
Usually, when a man called a woman "interesting," there was often some underlying desire.
But when Prince Duan said "interesting," the implications were far more complex. The full meaning could be "Interesting, I must have her," or it could just as easily be "Interesting, she must die."There seemed to be no tenderness in his heart, nor even hatred. To him, the affairs of the world were merely one game after another—strike first to gain the advantage, wait for the enemy to exhaust themselves before advancing, all’s fair in war, victory is decided from a thousand miles away. He was the ideal strategist: calm, ruthless, and unwavering.
Sometimes this brought them immense reassurance, but at other times, it filled them with dread.
Xiahou Bo continued reading the letter.
Yu Wanyin wrote that Xiahou Dan no longer trusted her but feared others gaining her assistance, so he intended to imprison her until death.
She asked Xiahou Bo: Are you any different from him? How can you prove it? If my prophecies occasionally fail, will you also execute me out of suspicion?
Xiahou Bo certainly would.
But he replied with a heartfelt letter, painting such an enticing future that even corporate HR departments would blush in shame, and sent in even more food.
He didn’t rush to ask about the expert by the Emperor’s side. He was waiting for her to offer her pledge of loyalty.
Yu Wanyin dragged it out for two more days, performing the act of kneeling to receive cold porridge, before finally sending a new secret message: “I have dreamed of that tall man, alone, riding through Zhangtai, heading to the pleasure quarters. Before him was a high stage (she even included a crudely drawn illustration), as if watching a play.”
Xiahou Bo didn’t fully believe it.
But gambling on it cost him nothing. At least the location she mentioned wasn’t the palace but a brothel—a place where eliminating someone wouldn’t be difficult.
So Xiahou Bo sent some spies to keep watch at several pleasure districts in the city.
The tunnel was finally completed.
Xiahou Dan crawled out of the dirt-covered passage, covered in dust, and went straight to see Yu Wanyin: “You’ve lost weight.”
Yu Wanyin coughed. “No, I just didn’t wash off my makeup properly.” In truth, she had been cooped up with nowhere to move, lying around snacking on melon seeds and fruit, and had actually gained some weight.
Xiahou Dan brushed off the dust and looked around. “Hot pot tonight?”
“Hot pot in this heat?”
“With chilled mung bean soup.”
“Sounds good.” Yu Wanyin laughed. After laughing, she realized how much the exchange sounded like an old married couple who had been together for years, and her face warmed.
They say adversity reveals true feelings, and now she understood. After going through so much together, the sight of this person began to evoke an involuntary sense of comfort in her.
Until a loud clattering came from the tunnel, and another dust-covered head popped out: “Cough… carrying a pot through the tunnel is exhausting!”
Xiahou Dan: “Good work. Put the pot down, then you can leave.”
A Bai: “???”
A Bai didn’t leave.
Not only did he stay, but he also dragged Bei Zhou along. The two-person hot pot became a four-person hot pot.
“Your Highness, try this.” A Bai enthusiastically dipped a slice of lamb into the broth and placed it in Yu Wanyin’s bowl.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t stop him in time and was about to thank him when another pair of chopsticks suddenly appeared, draping a piece of tripe over the lamb.
Xiahou Dan stared at her.
Yu Wanyin: “…”
Her impression of Xiahou Dan had been steadily rising. But she had no idea how he truly felt about her.
She suspected there was some affection, but he always acted like such a gentleman, as if he harbored nothing but pure camaraderie between allies.
Until A Bai, fearless as ever, started stirring the pot, and Xiahou Dan seemed a little provoked.
Yu Wanyin swallowed the tripe and slowly picked up A Bai’s lamb.
Xiahou Dan kept staring at her.
A Bai’s eyes also turned toward her.Yu Wanyin paused, then slowly transferred A Bai's mutton into Xiahou Dan's bowl.
Xiahou Dan: "?"
A Bai: "?"
Yu Wanyin: "By the way, Uncle Bei, A Bai, you've already heard the plan, right?"
Bei Zhou, who had been focused on eating, finally lifted his head: "Don't worry, I've been training this kid intensively these past few days."
A Bai pulled out a Human Skin Mask from his robe, put it on, and tied a black scarf over his face, grinning: "How's this?"
After the meal, Bei Zhou dragged A Bai to a corner again, whispering and discussing for a while before assuming stances to practice moves.
Bei Zhou: "You blocked just now. These spots shouldn't be blocked. Practice more until it becomes second nature."
A Bai: "Did I block?"
Bei Zhou nodded, gesturing: "You pulled your arm back."
"Instinct, instinct," A Bai declared shamelessly. "Being too strong is such a hassle—lonely at the top."
Bei Zhou: "?"
Bei Zhou raised his palm: "Another round?"
A Bai swiftly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, when are we catching that scar-faced guy?"
Xiahou Dan sat to the side, watching them like a martial arts film: "No rush. Wait until he leaves the palace on his own."
Bei Zhou relaxed his stance: "Dan'er, full yet? Uncle will cut some melon for you."
"I'll do it." Yu Wanyin went into the crude little kitchen behind the Secluded Palace and picked up a watermelon chilling in ice water.
The summer night's heat lingered, cicadas chirped incessantly in the overgrown courtyard, and fireflies occasionally streaked past. As Yu Wanyin cut the watermelon into slices and arranged them on plates, A Bai slipped in: "Your Highness."
"I'm not 'Your Highness' anymore."
A Bai's eyes lit up: "Wan Yin?"
"..."
Yu Wanyin knew the ways of the martial world were unrestrained, so she didn't take his slightly flirtatious, teasing banter too seriously, casually handing him a plate of watermelon: "Thanks for your help."
A Bai: "..."
Yu Wanyin started cutting the second plate: "How's the training going?"
"Should be perfected in three days." A Bai held the plate, gazing at her. "Wan Yin, once this is done, I'll have to leave."
Yu Wanyin was taken aback: "So soon? Didn't you come under your master's orders to protect His Majesty?"
"With Prince Duan watching, I can't stay by your side anymore."
Yu Wanyin thought it over—he was right.
So he was here to say goodbye. Yu Wanyin stopped cutting and straightened her attitude: "I see. Have you decided where to go next?"
"His Majesty has another task for me."
"Task?"
A Bai winked: "Can't say yet. You'll know when the time comes."
So it was a secret mission.
After such a short time together, Xiahou Dan already trusted him this much? Yu Wanyin found it hard to believe.
She made a mental note to ask Xiahou Dan about it later when A Bai suddenly asked: "Or... would you like to come with me?"
Yu Wanyin: "...What?"
"I'm asking if you'd like to come with me." A Bai shed his playful demeanor, speaking each word slowly and with utmost seriousness.
In the dim, humble kitchen, his eyes shone like stars: "The first time I saw you, I knew you were a skylark from the heavens—not meant to be trapped within these palace walls. Someone who can devise these plans must be spirited and free. Someone like you could soar anywhere once freed from here. The martial world is vast—where couldn't you fly high?"Yu Wanyin suddenly turned her head to glance at the door, lowering her voice as she said, "Do you realize where you are? You're in the imperial palace, trying to run away with the Emperor's woman?"
"No need to run. Just say the word, and I'll handle convincing His Majesty."
Yu Wanyin was utterly stunned. "You want to persuade him?"
"I have reasons he can't refuse."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
This man must be insane.
Though she found it absurd, she couldn't help feeling touched. "Regardless, thank you for saying all this."
A Bai caught the rejection in her tone and instantly deflated. "Don't answer yet, please."
Yu Wanyin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "A Bai, a valiant young hero like you will surely find a beauty to accompany you."
A Bai hung his head dejectedly. "Am I not good enough?"
"It's not that..."
"If it weren't with me, would you still want to leave and see the world?"
Yu Wanyin froze, her mouth slightly agape.
She remembered the dreams she'd had when she first arrived—dreams of escaping all this.
A Bai grasped her shoulders. "Wan Yin, on my way to the capital, I saw a thousand mountains bathed in sunset, flowers blooming like brocade. Think for yourself—what do you truly want from this life you've been given?"
He released her just as quickly, picking up two plates of watermelon before striding out without another word.
Left alone, Yu Wanyin stood dazed for a long moment.
The lone smoke over the desert, the camel bells in the Gobi, the osmanthus in autumn, the lotus stretching for miles—all the wonders of the world she'd missed while crammed in her cubicle in her past life—would she remain deprived of them in this one too?
Yu Wanyin took a deep breath, washed her hands, and thought she should hurry back. But as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw two figures standing side by side.
A Bai had pulled Xiahou Dan to the center of the yard and was pointing upward. "See it?"
Xiahou Dan also looked up. "To the left of the moon?"
A Bai: "They're almost forming a line."
Yu Wanyin instinctively followed their gaze but saw only a sky full of scattered stars, chaotic and without any discernible pattern.
A Bai: "Think carefully about my master's letter. He also entrusted me with these words: Your meeting may not have been a blessing."
Xiahou Dan scoffed. "You made that up just now."
A Bai snapped, "I wouldn't dare joke about my master."
Xiahou Dan: "If you're coveting Wan Yin, just say so."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She wondered if she should retreat to the kitchen.
A Bai, trained in martial arts, had keen hearing and noticed the faint sound of her presence but pretended otherwise. "Even if not for yourself, think about her, won't you?"
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
A Bai began listing examples: "What good is your status as the Son of Heaven? Can you protect her from being bullied?"
Xiahou Dan: "Actually, yes."
A Bai: "?"
Regrouping, A Bai pressed on: "Can you pledge to take only her as your one and only, forsaking all others?"
Xiahou Dan: "That's easy too."
A Bai: "?"
Behind them, Yu Wanyin held her breath, not daring to move. Her heartbeat was so loud she feared it might drown out the cicadas.
A Bai had intended to expose the ugliness of men to Yu Wanyin, never expecting such answers. Frustrated, he blurted, "Even with all that, she'd still be a caged bird, never free to roam the world and live joyfully!"
"A Bai, the world isn't just for roaming. She has her own ambitions."
A Bai paused, taken aback.Xiahou Dan still stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the night sky: "You only see her as a little bird that needs to be set free, yet fail to notice her upright and noble nature, bright as the moon, capable of illuminating the vast blue sky for thousands of miles."
A Bai: "..."
A Bai tugged weakly at him: "Let's go back inside."
"But you're right, she truly finds it hard to be happy here," Xiahou Dan said. "One day, when she achieves her ambitions and wishes to leave, if I am no longer here, you must take her away."
A Bai was on the verge of tears: "Please, stop talking."
Yu Wanyin remained standing in the courtyard until the night breeze cooled her cheeks, then returned indoors as if nothing had happened.
A Bai was fiercely sparring with Bei Zhou.
Xiahou Dan glanced at Yu Wanyin: "Why were you out for so long?"
Yu Wanyin avoided his gaze: "Ah, you know, nature calls."
Prince Duan had sent spies to various pleasure quarters in the city. After several days of surveillance, they finally received intelligence that evening: the tall, masked expert by the Emperor's side had appeared at the House of Joy. Instead of seeking female company, he was listening to an opera beneath the Penglai Stage.
This intelligence matched the secret letter from Yu Wanyin.
Thus, Prince Duan's assassins quickly gathered, blending into the crowd of perfumed and coiffed patrons.
The so-called Penglai Stage was merely an opera platform, but being set within a brothel, it differed from ordinary theaters. Adorned with pink curtains and gauzy veils, incense curling in the air, the performances were far from decent.
A group of leering spectators cheered for the actress swaying her slender waist like a water snake, while a madam with a mole resembling a matchmaker's moved through the crowd, smiling as she collected tips.
The assassins scanned their surroundings and soon spotted their towering target.
The leader silently gestured, and the group dispersed, vanishing into the "Ghost Gate"—the entrance to the stage, separated by an embroidered golden screen. Hidden there, they swiftly changed into theatrical costumes as planned.
The lead assassin, however, stealthily approached the madam from behind, pretending to put an arm around her shoulders while suddenly pressing a hidden dagger against her neck.
The madam paled in fear, trembling: "Sir, let's talk this over."
Lead assassin: "Let's step aside."
Dragging her to a secluded corner, he withdrew the dagger, alternating threats with bribes as he handed her a purse: "For the next act, we'll have our people perform. Don't alarm the audience."
The madam weighed the purse, then dramatically patted her chest, feigning shock: "Oh dear, you scared me half to death! Such a small matter—just say the word, no need for knives..."
Lead assassin impatiently: "Enough chatter. Get it done."
But the madam prattled on: "Though the House of Joy has its own rules, you see. We can't just do as we please. There are some details we must ask your forgiveness for..."
The lead assassin, used to living by the blade, had little patience for her rambling. Assuming his threats hadn't been severe enough, he swung a fist toward her stomach.
Mid-swing, his arm froze—unable to advance another inch!
The madam had caught his wrist as effortlessly as holding an embroidery needle, even raising a delicate finger: "Such a violent guest."
Lead assassin: "!!!"
A few moves later, the lead assassin was pinned face-down, arms twisted behind his back, utterly immobilized.The madam with the mole effortlessly dislocated his jaw, slipped a pill into his mouth, then snapped his dislocated jaw back into place. Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, "This is poison. I have the antidote. Do as I say, and you can claim it afterward."
The assassin leader demanded, "Who are you?"
The madam chuckled. "Less talk, more action. Get to it."
Behind the stage, the assassins had already changed into performers' costumes and were inspecting their concealed daggers when their leader arrived with a grim expression.
The leader extended his hand, distributing a handful of daggers among them. "Switch to these."
One assassin frowned. "Why?"
The leader replied coldly, "Orders from above. No questions. Change them and get on stage."
The crowd noticed the greenish glint at the tips of these short daggers, unsure what potent poison they carried, assuming Prince Duan intended them for the assassination target. In their haste, they had no time to think and reflexively obeyed the order to switch weapons.
The golden embroidered screen parted, revealing a new act—a performance of The Fish Basket Tale .
A Bai sat below the stage, cheering along with the crowd, leisurely fanning himself with a folding fan, playing the part of a wealthy patron indulging in pleasure. Only his face was masked, concealing his true identity.
In such places of song and dance, even the operas were flirtatious. The carp spirit transformed into a beautiful maiden with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond eyes, her lilting voice like a nightingale's song. She swayed two steps east, two steps west, feigning escape from the heavenly soldiers' pursuit.
Amidst the frantic music, the heavenly soldiers took the stage. The carp spirit swayed to the edge and, with a sudden leap, landed steadily below the Penglai Terrace.
The audience erupted.
The carp spirit darted gracefully through the crowd, the heavenly soldiers chasing with exaggerated menace. Unnoticed, she drew near A Bai.
A Bai seemed oblivious, still cheering merrily.
In the blink of an eye, the carp spirit flipped her delicate hand, producing a short dagger from nowhere, and thrust it at A Bai!
A Bai snapped his fan open, instinctively raising it to block. The dagger pierced through the fan's surface, the tearing sound startling the surrounding spectators.
With another swift motion, he closed the fan, its ribs firmly trapping the dagger, the clash ringing like metal against metal.
One hand gripping the fan, the other forming a blade, A Bai struck like lightning toward the carp spirit's vital points. Yet she endured the blow without retreating. At the same time, the assassins closed in from all sides, their daggers gleaming coldly.
With a roar, A Bai sent the carp spirit flying with a palm strike, but he could no longer escape the encirclement!
Blood splattered across the fan, blooming like crimson flowers.
An hour later, a trembling scout reported to Prince Duan: "All the assassins we sent—annihilated!"
Xiahou Bo's teacup paused imperceptibly mid-air before he took an elegant sip. "Explain."
The scout said, "When the fight broke out, everyone scattered. I hid behind a nearby pillar and watched. That bastard was surrounded, blood spraying everywhere!"
Growing animated, the scout continued, "Daggers went in white and came out red, each strike biting deep. He took so many hits, yet he wouldn't fall! Like a single warrior holding off an army—even when he dropped to his knees, he still didn't go down. He killed the last assassin, then laughed loudly before finally collapsing—"
Xiahou Bo cut in, "I asked for a report, not a storyteller's performance."
The scout kowtowed. "I swear, not a word was exaggerated!"
Xiahou Bo set down his cup gently, frowning. "Where's the body?"
"After he died, the brothel staff dragged all the corpses away and cleaned the blood. Knowing such places have a back alley for disposing of bodies, I intercepted them there, paid some money, and hid the corpse in a secret spot. Would Your Highness like to inspect it?"
The masked expert's corpse was a gruesome sight, his vital points nearly reduced to pulp.
Xiahou Bo examined it impassively, then reached to remove the mask, frowning at the face beneath.
A scar from an old sore marred the man's lip, giving him a faintly familiar look.
Turning to the scout, Xiahou Bo asked, "Are you certain this was the man you saw at the House of Joy?"The spy nodded repeatedly. "I have a knack for recognizing faces. Although he was masked at the time, his eyebrows and eyes were still visible. It was definitely him."
Xiahou Dan instructed his subordinate, "Investigate this man's identity."
As he turned to leave, he paused and added, "Also, examine the assassin's body and personal belongings thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned."
No abnormalities were found on the corpse or its belongings.
The identity of the expert, however, was quickly revealed: the most skilled and ruthless Shadow Guard serving the Empress Dowager, specializing in eliminating hard-to-kill targets for her. He had already been on the Prince Duan faction's blacklist.
The scar-faced man indeed had a penchant for opera. That day, after running an errand for the Empress Dowager outside the palace, he had detoured to the House of Joy on his way back, ultimately meeting his end beneath the opera stage.
After hearing the report, Xiahou Bo smiled with mild amusement. "The Empress Dowager's right-hand man, protecting the Emperor by his side?"
His strategist asked, "Has the Empress Dowager actually extended an olive branch to the Emperor?"
Xiahou Bo replied, "Whether it's goodwill or surveillance, she's clearly harboring intentions I hadn't detected."
Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was smashing bowls in a fit of rage. "Without any reason, Prince Duan actually killed my personal guard?! I think he's tired of living!"
Her confidant asked, "Should we charge him with a crime?"
The Empress Dowager smashed another bowl. "Useless fools! If we could have charged him earlier, we wouldn't have allowed his arrogance to reach this point!"
The power struggle between Prince Duan and the Empress Dowager was heating up.
Compared to the original plot, the trajectory hadn't changed much. Though the Empress Dowager was fierce, her strategic planning couldn't match Prince Duan's, and she was already losing ground, showing signs of decline.
In other words, as the fight between the snipe and the clam neared its end, the time left for Xiahou Dan to bide his time and build strength was running short.
When Yu Wanyin returned to her room, she found something new by her pillow. Picking it up for a closer look, she saw it was a crude wooden carving of a bird with wings spread and neck outstretched in song. She guessed A Bai had carved a lark for her.
Yu Wanyin gently traced the wood grain with her fingertips before turning to gaze out the narrow window of the Secluded Palace.
Xiahou Dan followed her in. "What's that?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She quickly set the lark down. "Let me explain."
Xiahou Dan glanced at it. "A Bai left that for you? It's rare for him to be so thoughtful. Keep it."
Yu Wanyin: "?"
She was dissatisfied. "That's it?"
"...What do you mean 'that's it'?"
Stop pretending to be magnanimous—weren't you quite the jealous type? Yu Wanyin studied Xiahou Dan with curiosity.
Having secretly overheard his thoughts, pretending ignorance had become exceptionally difficult.
That night in the courtyard, when she had delayed leaving, she had indeed harbored some small hope of hearing something from him.
She had hoped he felt at least some of the same flutterings and affection she did. Why wouldn't he? They had fought side by side for so long, and with her current appearance, surely she had some charm...
She hadn't expected Xiahou Dan to say those things.
Those... almost unbelievable words.
Though they were just fragments, they had given her a glimpse into an unfathomable ocean. She was bewildered, flattered, and even felt a twinge of unease.
Yet she couldn't hide her happiness.
You actually think of me like that.
I want to hear you say it to me directly.
Xiahou Dan, unnerved by her stare, changed the subject. "Today, the Empress Dowager found another excuse to challenge Prince Duan. It seems our plan was quite successful, thanks to your brilliant strategy."At the same time, beneath the city gates of the capital, a man and a woman stood in line with the crowd exiting the city, undergoing inspection by the guards.
The man was tall but hunched, with a swarthy face that seemed to exude the earthy scent of a life spent toiling under the sun. The elderly woman beside him bore the marks of hardship on her face and carried several floral cloth bundles.
The city guard asked, "What's your business?"
The man replied in a thick rural accent, "Came to visit relatives with my ma, now headin' home."
Once outside the city gates, the pair remained silent, blending into the flow of travelers along the main road.
After walking several miles and ensuring no one was around, the man finally straightened his back and stretched. "Ma, you can stop here."
The woman chuckled, "Son, remember to dress warmly when you're out there alone." Though the words were tender, her tone was full of mockery—and the voice that spoke was unmistakably a deep male one.
These two were none other than Bei Zhou and A Bai.
A Bai took the luggage from Bei Zhou and slung it over his shoulder with a carefree motion, his imposing demeanor clashing oddly with the peasant disguise. "Thanks for the help."
Bei Zhou, however, looked concerned. "How's the injury?"
"Nothing serious. Had armor on—just a few scratches."
The day's operation was, in essence, a bloody magic trick.
Their first move had been to assassinate the scar-faced Shadow Guard under the Empress Dowager's command. The scar-faced man was cunning and paranoid, but after days of covert surveillance, they finally caught him leaving the palace alone to carry out a kill for the Empress Dowager. Like a mantis stalking a cicada, Bei Zhou intercepted and eliminated him in a dark alley.
Next, Bei Zhou quickly disguised himself as a brothel madam and slipped into the House of Joy through a hidden entrance. Having previously worked there as a madam for some time, he played the role effortlessly. Familiar with the brothel's staff, coordinating with them was second nature.
Meanwhile, A Bai donned the scar-faced man's mask, covered his face with a black cloth, and swaggered through the main entrance of the House of Joy, acting as bait to lure out Prince Duan's assassins.
Hidden in the shadows, Bei Zhou struck first at the leader, forcing him to exchange all their weapons for pre-prepared daggers.
These daggers were, of course, specially crafted.
Yu Wanyin knew Bei Zhou was a mechanical genius. After giving him a rough idea of the magic effects she'd once seen, he extrapolated and created the props. The daggers had internal springs—the blades retracted upon contact with hard objects, making it seem as though they'd plunged into flesh when in reality, they'd withdrawn into the hilts.
The guards concealed blood pouches that, when squeezed, spurted blood from the seams.
In the heat of battle, with movements swift as a hare's, even if the assassins noticed something amiss, they had no time to react.
A Bai had been training intensively for days, even deliberately leaving openings in his defense to sell the illusion. Prince Duan's spies, observing up close, would only see him struggling, grievously wounded, and ultimately perishing alongside the assassins.
Of course, with so many assassins swarming him, dispatching them all in such a short time inevitably left him with minor injuries.
After A Bai's "death," the brothel staff dragged away the bodies and, on the path to the back alley, pulled off a sleight of hand—releasing A Bai and collecting the prop daggers.In the end, what the Prince Duan's spies retrieved was a truly scarred face. The wounds on that scarred face were all made by Bei Zhou with a dagger while the man was still alive, mimicking the techniques of Prince Duan's assassins. Even the coroner couldn’t detect anything unusual.
Thus, Prince Duan lost a group of capable assassins and had to face the Empress Dowager’s wrath and retaliation.
Yu Wanyin remarked, "Still, you’re the one who’s truly impressive. I only thought of having A Bai and Uncle Bei collaborate to perform a magic trick, but you went straight to diverting the trouble elsewhere while also taking out that scarred face..." She trailed off, puzzled. "How did you know the Empress Dowager just happened to have a scarred-faced subordinate whose build resembled A Bai’s? Even I, who’ve read the original text, don’t remember such a character."
Naturally, it was because the longer one stayed, the more secrets one inevitably learned.
Xiahou Dan replied calmly, "My Shadow Guards can’t just freeload. They had to keep an eye on the Empress Dowager too."
"When did you send them?"
"Maybe I forgot to tell you."
"Hmm—?" Yu Wanyin suddenly leaned closer, narrowing her eyes at him. "President Dan, you’ve kept quite a few things from me."
Xiahou Dan was a head taller than her, so when she got this close, she had to tilt her head up to look at him.
He could tell her tone was affectionate, feigning suspicion just to tease him.
Warm breath brushed against Xiahou Dan’s neck.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.
Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but deepen her smile, ready to tease him further, only to see him lower his head slightly, his expression calm. "What do you mean by that?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed her, and she stepped back. "For example, where was A Bai sent off to?"
Xiahou Dan: "..."
His expression grew even more indifferent. "Didn’t you want him to leave?"
The scenery along the official road was desolate, with only wild grass swaying in the wind.
Bei Zhou asked, "You have no horse or carriage. Where are you headed?"
The magic trick was over, but Prince Duan was meticulous—he might not have completely let go of his suspicions yet. For A Bai to fake his death convincingly, he had to leave the capital. Otherwise, with his tall and conspicuous build, if the spies spotted him again, all their efforts would be wasted.
The Imperial Guards commander had already sided with the Prince Duan faction, and the guards at the city gates might have received orders to search for A Bai. Traveling alone out of the city would draw too much attention, which was why he’d dragged Bei Zhou along as cover.
A Bai smiled. "I’ll find a farmer to stay with for a few days, then meet up with my companions before setting off."
Bei Zhou: "...Companions? Since when do you have companions?"
A Bai only smiled without answering.
Bei Zhou gave him a light smack. "Brat, it’s only been a few days, and you’ve already caught His Majesty’s eye. What kind of secret orders can’t even be shared with me?"
"Ask His Majesty, then." A Bai passed the buck to Xiahou Dan.
"Fine, it’s not like I can help anyway." Bei Zhou turned serious. "His Majesty is in a perilous situation now. You’re still green—be extra careful in everything you do. Plan thoroughly before acting, and don’t betray his trust. Take care of yourself, so your master won’t worry."
A Bai was momentarily stunned, touched. "Senior Brother."
In truth, he’d already completed his training five years ago and had known Xiahou Dan for just as long. For the past five years, he’d been carrying out a long-term mission, plotting step by step until now, when he’d finally achieved some success. His trip to the capital was also to finalize the next phase of the plan with Xiahou Dan.
But he couldn’t tell anyone about this—not even this honorary senior brother of his.
Bei Zhou grinned. "Hey, say it again."A Bai, however, refused. "I just feel so awkward... Let's wait until you change back into men's clothing."
Bei Zhou raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with my women's attire?"
"Ah?" A Bai wore an expression of speechless dismay. "How should I put it? Your original appearance was quite dashing and carefree, but with all this makeup... cough."
Bei Zhou silently vomited a liter of blood internally but waved it off nonchalantly. "Get lost."
Xiahou Dan said calmly, "I only asked him to find medicine for my headaches."
Yu Wanyin was puzzled. "Medicine?"
All this secrecy, just for medicine?
"With his skills, isn’t it a bit of a waste to just send him for medicine?"
Xiahou Dan remained expressionless. "He’s from the martial world—he might have connections to some unconventional remedies."
His gaze flickered to the side, and Yu Wanyin didn’t need to look to know he was glancing at the lark by the bed. "No need to grieve too much over parting. There will be chances to meet again in the future."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She could smell it—that familiar, sour tang.
A little jealousy spices things up. Not bad.
Before she could formulate a response, Xiahou Dan suddenly turned his head and said, "I just received a secret message from Wang Zhao. They expect to cross the border in a month, then pass through the Qiang Kingdom to enter Yan."
Yu Wanyin: "?"
Could you not change the subject so abruptly?
"The Qiang Kingdom is small—it’ll take another month to traverse. So if all goes well, we should receive news from Yan by autumn. I just hope the drought doesn’t strike this year, or else even if we obtain Yanshu, it’ll be too late to sow." Xiahou Dan frowned deeply, his face full of concern for the nation.
If she kept probing into A Bai’s whereabouts, it might expose the ruse.
So he had to divert the topic—he told himself.
Yu Wanyin was silent for a few seconds before replying, "... Cen Jintian said that judging by this year’s rainfall, a drought is unlikely."
"That’s good." Xiahou Dan didn’t give her a chance to breathe, heading toward the secret passage entrance. "Speaking of Cen Jintian, I’ve called them for a small group meeting. It’s about to start—do you want to join?"
Yu Wanyin stared at his back in confusion.
Had he always been this oblivious to subtleties?
"Wait." Bei Zhou stopped A Bai. "What do you think of Wan Yin?"
A Bai looked awkward. "Do we have to talk about this?"
Bei Zhou: "That day when you spoke with His Majesty in the courtyard of the Secluded Palace, I unavoidably overheard a few things. You urged Wan Yin to leave with you—it wasn’t just out of admiration, was it?"
A Bai sighed. "Do you remember my master’s letter?"
Bei Zhou’s expression shifted slightly. He murmured, "Marshal guarding the Heart, Five stars aligned... Was that the meaning?"
A Bai looked at him gravely.
Bei Zhou felt a chill down his spine and instinctively glanced at the sky. "But it was followed by the words ‘After extreme bad luck comes good fortune.’ What does that mean?"
"Not entirely clear. Hence, fortune and misfortune hang by a thread."
"Even your master couldn’t decipher it?"
"My master cast a life-and-death divination for His Majesty but didn’t tell me the result. He only said the two of them are entangled in many karmic threads, like flowers in the fog—impossible to discern. But I suspect the divination was extremely ominous. After that, he was often troubled and eventually sent me down the mountain to complete my training."
A Bai swallowed half of the nameless traveler’s words: The karmic threads—their past does not belong to this world.
Those two originally didn’t belong here, so naturally, they couldn’t be divined.A Bai's mind flashed back to the scene of his first meeting with Xiahou Dan five years ago.
At that time, he was young and arrogant, holding himself in high regard. Though sent by his master to assist the Emperor, he didn't think much of the imperial position.
When he sneaked into the palace and saw the Emperor in person, he found him even more unimpressive—just a youth about his own age, curled up on the couch with his eyes closed, beautiful but like a pale doll stripped of its soul, exuding an air of lifeless resignation.
Seeing him sleeping so defenselessly, A Bai couldn't help but scoff quietly, "After all the mystical things my master said, I thought you'd be some wandering ghost or something."
The young man's lips curled slightly without opening his eyes. "You'd better not move."
In that instant, a chill ran down A Bai's neck. He heard the sound of a bowstring tightening somewhere behind him.
The young man said calmly, "If you move, the mechanism activates, and I'll have to spend another month making a new one."
A Bai didn't dare even breathe. Finally, the young man opened his eyes to look at him. With that one glance, the doll shattered into dust, and a cold serpent flicked its tongue.
His eyes were so dark they barely reflected light, set in that pale, enchanting face like two gateways to hell torn open amidst a spring scene of peach blossoms: "Your master wasn't wrong."
Later, as he came to understand Xiahou Dan better and learned more of his story, the initial shock and fear of that first encounter gradually faded. He admired his restraint, sympathized with his hardships, and willingly toiled for him.
But now, looking back, he could faintly recall the discomfort he had felt then—an instinctive reaction to encountering something alien.
Strangely, Yu Wanyin had never evoked a similar feeling in him. Though she too came from another world, she was warm and harmless, as if she had never built walls around her heart in this life.
He could understand why Xiahou Dan regarded her differently.
Yet it was precisely because of that lingering shadow in his heart that he was even more reluctant to leave Yu Wanyin in the palace.
None of these thoughts in A Bai's mind could be spoken to Bei Zhou.
Thinking of Bei Zhou's protective care for Xiahou Dan, treating him as his own, A Bai suddenly felt a pang of sorrow. "I've heard Master mention some things about you. What do you think of His Majesty?"
Bei Zhou replied, "Nan'er's child is naturally excellent."
But... he's not your old friend's son, just a wandering soul from another world.
When you learn of this one day, will you grieve?
In the end, A Bai had to consider Xiahou Dan's interests and couldn't arouse Bei Zhou's suspicions. He brushed past the topic lightly, exchanged a few more words of farewell, and they parted ways.
After being sent to the Secluded Palace, Yu Wanyin felt like a corporate drone on an extended vacation. No more early mornings paying respects to the Empress Dowager, no more endless Imperial Harem Intrigue or dealing with the elusive Prince Duan. For a while, she lived in contentment, her mind at ease and her body plump.
But corporate drones never truly get holidays—team meetings still had to be attended.
Yu Wanyin didn't want to miss them, but she couldn't very well have her ministers come to the Secluded Palace for discussions. So she had no choice but to crawl through the secret tunnel to join them.
The tunnel had only just been completed, and the Shadow Guards were still working to make it presentable. For now, it was only wide enough to crawl through on hands and knees, and every trip left her covered in dust.
The exit on the other end of the tunnel was beneath the Dragon Bed in Xiahou Dan's bedchamber.
When Li Yunxi suddenly heard that Noble Consort Yu had been banished to the Secluded Palace and was suffering torment, he was utterly stunned.
He still remembered Yu Wanyin's life-saving kindness. On his way to the palace, his brow furrowed deeply. He wanted to advise the Emperor again but felt that as a subject, he shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the inner court.Struggling between morality and protocol, he entered the bedchamber only to see the woman rumored to be imprisoned to the brink of death sitting right beside Xiahou Dan.
Yu Wanyin was dressed in the plain, thorn-wood hairpin and coarse cloth attire designated for the Secluded Palace, devoid of makeup, her face still smudged with dirt—a pitiful sight that could move one to tears. Yet she wore an utterly calm expression as she dusted herself off, saying, "Don't mind me. Continue your conversation."
Li Yunxi: "?"
Li Yunxi turned to look at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan pushed the fruit platter toward her and then truly left her be, saying calmly, "Let's hear your reports."
Li Yunxi: "?"
Li Yunxi glanced at his colleagues beside him.
Cen Jintian and Er Lan each smiled slightly, neither questioning why she was there nor commenting on her appearance, as if this scene were entirely ordinary.
Cen Jintian had already begun his report: "After returning last time, I compiled the expected yields during droughts based on the crop varieties from various regions. If Your Majesty reviews the granary reserves of each province, we can deduce how to allocate relief supplies when the drought arrives..."
Yu Wanyin popped a piece of peach into her mouth and deftly picked up a brush to take meeting notes: "Minister Cen has worked hard."
Cen Jintian bowed slightly. "Just fulfilling my duties."
Li Yunxi: "..."
Maybe he should just pretend nothing was amiss too.
Regarding the matter of Yan, Xiahou Dan had no intention of placing all his hopes on diplomacy alone.
The people of Yan, dwelling in the wild lands, had long coveted the opulent Great Xia. Proud and unruly by nature, they had barely maintained peace through marriage alliances when Great Xia was strong. But the moment the court fell into internal strife, they immediately launched cavalry raids.
In the original story, after Xiahou Dan's death, Yan Wang even took advantage of the drought to invade the Central Plains, fighting a major battle with Prince Duan.
If diplomacy failed and this war became inevitable, they needed to prepare early—relocating settlers to cultivate wastelands, stockpiling grain, implementing the Open Border Policy to strengthen defenses, and bolstering military supplies—lest they be left defenseless when the time came.
Cen Jintian said gently, "Since Your Majesty decreed the reduction of taxes and rents alongside the Open Border Policy, the people's livelihood has greatly improved. As General You mentioned the other day, many sorghum fields have also been opened along the border. After a few more harvests, even without purchasing seeds from Yan, we might be able to cope with the drought."
At the mention of General You, Li Yunxi couldn't help but snort through his nose. "Far from the emperor's reach, that man's words can't be fully trusted."
This General You commanded the Right Army, garrisoning the southern border, and in theory, should have been as renowned as General Luo of the Central Army.
But unlike the god of slaughter that was General Luo, this man hadn't earned his position through battlefield exploits—he had secured it through family connections.
The southern border had been peaceful for so long that it had fattened the general into a sluggish state. Recently, when he returned to the capital to report, he even drew a few mocking remarks from Xiahou Dan.
At the time, Xiahou Dan was playing the madman in court and sneered, "Looking at your face, one can tell the Right Army isn't lacking in military pay."
The civil officials of the Empress Dowager faction hurriedly burst into laughter.
General You lacked the intimidating aura of General Luo entirely. Flustered and cowed, even when insulted to this extent, he didn't dare show anger, merely mumbling a few platitudes about "training diligently to serve the court."
During his time in the capital, he had frequent contact with Prince Duan. The Prince of Equilibrium extended olive branches equally to all three armies. General You accepted gifts furtively and carried out tasks half-heartedly, offending neither side.
Li Yunxi couldn't resist advising, "Your Majesty, General You doesn't seem like someone capable of great deeds. Leaving him in charge of the southern border might invite disaster."
In truth, even without his warning, Yu Wanyin knew this man's fate in the original story.
When Yan invaded, General You was ordered to support the Central Army but collapsed within a few skirmishes. When he surrendered, he even handed over all weapons and supplies to the Yan forces.
Xiahou Dan said lazily, "I don't expect any great deeds from him. But as long as he occupies that position, neither I nor Prince Duan can command him—that's not a bad situation."
Li Yunxi: "But the southern border..."Xiahou Dan interrupted him, “Minister Li, let’s not worry about others for now. Tell me about the recent situation in the Ministry of Revenue.”
Li Yunxi paused, looking somewhat dispirited.
As a troublemaker entering the Ministry of Revenue, it was obvious he would only be sidelined. Now, he was stuck with the grueling task of auditing household and land registries.
The so-called auditing involved compiling reports on population and land changes to submit to the court.
After taking over the task, the first time Li Yunxi opened the Ministry of Revenue’s storeroom, he found years’ worth of reports from various regions piled haphazardly, covered in inches of dust.
A colleague in charge even advised him, “Hurry up and leave—the stench is overwhelming.”
Furious, Li Yunxi buried himself in the work alone, organizing and verifying each registry one by one. Unsurprisingly, he uncovered massive discrepancies.
The worst offenders were several counties whose reports over the years were nearly identical—no changes in population or land.
Having come from a poor rural area himself, Li Yunxi immediately understood what was happening.
On the surface, many regions maintained the “one household, one field” system, but in reality, the land of peasant households had long been secretly seized by local gentry and landlords.
Xiahou Dan had previously ordered rent reductions, but these landlords then leased the seized land back to the peasants at rates several times higher than the court’s standard.
When Li Yunxi first entered the court, he had vowed to take on the dirtiest, hardest work to repay his fellow villagers.
To clarify land ownership, he worked tirelessly, cross-referencing multiple sources. After days of labor, he finally compiled a new registry for the first prefecture.
The registry was submitted, only to be rejected the next day with orders to redo it.
Li Yunxi reviewed and verified everything again, adding a lengthy explanatory essay, and resubmitted it—only to have it rejected once more.
While revising it for the third time, his superior approached him with a hollow smile, saying he seemed overworked and suggesting a transfer to a local post.
After a sleepless night, Li Yunxi hid his findings and submitted a registry nearly identical to the previous year’s.
This time, his superior was pleased, patting his shoulder and saying, “Now you’re learning.”
That was when Li Yunxi realized why his colleagues had been idle all these years—no one dared to address the issue.
Every prefecture and county’s registry was riddled with discrepancies. Behind the landlords stood layers of local officials, and behind those officials were the imperial relatives.
A thorough investigation would reveal that few in the Ministry of Revenue were clean. Digging deeper would implicate the Empress Dowager—who could investigate? Who would dare?
At this point, Li Yunxi couldn’t continue, his chest tight as if choking on bitter resentment.
Just then, Er Lan gently remarked, “Brother Li, one must be flexible in their work.”
Er Lan, having recently gained the Minister of Revenue’s favor, had risen swiftly through the ranks. She had overseen much of the implementation of the Open Border Policy.
Already steeped in despair over the state of the nation, Li Yunxi reacted like a lit fuse, glaring coldly at her. “Oh? What brilliant insight does Brother Er have? Care to demonstrate and enlighten this lowly official?”
Yu Wanyin, taking notes, stifled a laugh.
Er Lan replied, “For example, have the peasants whose land was seized file an imperial grievance, then arrange for a palace servant to whisper a word in the Empress Dowager’s ear…”She cleared her throat and began to demonstrate: "'My lord, after the last inspection of the national treasury, the Empress Dowager has been keeping a close eye on the Ministry of Revenue. In my humble opinion, Her Majesty intends to make the officials cough up their private savings. The reform decree is bound to come sooner or later! The thought of the inevitable suffering that will follow keeps me awake at night.'"
Li Yunxi: "..."
Er Lan: "'Rather than wait, we should take the initiative to conduct an audit ourselves. That way, we can control the extent and leave everyone some dignity. You can entrust this matter to me—how does that sound?' That’s the gist of it. Brother Li, with your eloquence, you’d surely phrase it far more elegantly than I."
Yu Wanyin chuckled.
She was growing increasingly fond of Er Lan.
Li Yunxi, however, was not amused. "If every step we take is circuitous and every matter we handle is tainted with corruption, when will the world ever be cleansed and upright? With a venomous woman in power and no enlightened ruler to serve, all our efforts are nothing but futile!"
The sharpness in his words was directed at Xiahou Dan, still dissatisfied with his weakness. He couldn’t ease the resentment in his heart without venting a few barbs.
Xiahou Dan watched him coldly, showing no reaction.
Suddenly, Yu Wanyin sneezed.
She had inhaled some dust in the tunnel earlier, and the itch had been building until now, finally erupting into a sneeze.
"Excuse me," she said, rubbing her nose.
Xiahou Dan tilted his head to look at her and reached out, gently brushing a speck of dust from her hair.
Li Yunxi: "..."
What on earth had this woman just been through?
The sneeze dispelled the tense atmosphere in the room. Li Yunxi snapped back to reality, suddenly puzzled—he had almost forgotten that this woman’s public image was supposedly that of a seductive concubine.
And Xiahou Dan? The legendary Tyrant who buried people at the slightest provocation had listened to his blunt admonitions time and again, yet not only had he never shown anger, he hadn’t even frowned.
Er Lan, long accustomed to Li Yunxi’s temperament, ignored him and proceeded with her report.
Worried that the memorials submitted to the Emperor after layers of reporting might be distorted beyond recognition, she recounted the progress of the Open Border Policy in meticulous detail.
Li Yunxi, holding his breath, listened until she mentioned merchants competing to transport grain in exchange for Salt Certificates. He couldn’t resist a jab: "Your Majesty, the profits from salt trade are enormous. It’s only natural that merchants flock to it."
"Indeed. And in time, to monopolize these profits, they will inevitably collude with officials, breeding corruption," Er Lan nodded.
Li Yunxi paused.
He hadn’t expected Er Lan to agree with him.
Xiahou Dan asked curiously, "Wasn’t the Open Border Policy your idea, Minister Li?"
Er Lan: "Every policy in history develops flaws over time. There is no perfect decree. For now, the Open Border Policy benefits the people’s livelihood. But when its drawbacks emerge, a new policy should replace it."
Li Yunxi: "By then, Brother Er, you’ll have risen high in rank and power."
Er Lan smiled. "No. By then, I should no longer be in court."
Li Yunxi was taken aback.
A faint melancholy flickered in Er Lan’s eyes. "By then, those in high positions will be people like you, Brother Li. And the court of that time will surely allow someone like you to make a difference."
Li Yunxi didn’t understand why she would say such a thing.
But Yu Wanyin did. Er Lan’s true identity as a woman couldn’t remain hidden forever. One day, political enemies would surely accuse her.Er Lan had no idea that Emperor Xiahou Dan was already aware of the truth. Her decision to serve in court was likely just an attempt to accomplish as much as possible before being exposed.
Yu Wanyin glanced at the sickly Cen Jintian, then thought of Wang Zhao who had traveled alone to Yan Kingdom and Du Shan who had been assassinated in the lake. A wave of emotion washed over her: "To have met all of you in this lifetime calls for a grand toast."
Cen Jintian: "Your Highness?"
Yu Wanyin sighed. "The world is like an endless night—who can raise their arm and change the sun and moon? But to struggle alongside all of you, even if we fall halfway, our path is not walked alone."
These words were originally meant for the officials, but when they fell, it was Xiahou Dan who gave her a deep, lingering look.
Before Li Yunxi took his leave, Xiahou Dan stopped him: "Continue compiling the records. Tell no one and deliver them directly to me."
Li Yunxi started: "Your Majesty?"
Xiahou Dan nodded calmly. "They will be useful in time."
Tears welled up in Li Yunxi's eyes.
Yu Wanyin watched them depart and muttered gloomily, "Ah, it's precisely because of people like them that makes abandoning everything feel utterly despicable."
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Her words revealed that she had been somewhat swayed by A Bai's persuasion.
But after weighing the options, she had been tethered here by these bonds.
Xiahou Dan fell silent for a moment before smiling. "It seems I should thank these officials."
"Why?"
"For making my path not walked alone."
The meaning hidden in his words was too profound. Yu Wanyin assumed he was merely discussing work and stretched lazily without much thought. "Alright, I should head back now—"
Xiahou Dan caught her hand. "Stay for a meal?"
Just then, An Xian entered with bowed head: "Your Majesty—" He caught sight of Yu Wanyin and froze. Meeting Xiahou Dan's gaze, he hurriedly lowered his head again. "Consort Xie requests an audience."
Recently, Xiahou Dan had been publicly distancing himself from Yu Wanyin while putting on an affectionate act with Xie Yong'er, so he couldn't refuse the meeting.
Thus, Yu Wanyin returned to the secret tunnel.
Crouching as she crawled toward the Secluded Palace, she couldn't shake off a strange feeling—as if she were an illicit lover caught by the lawful wife and forced to flee.
The thought immediately disgusted her.
How did Xiahou Dan handle Xie Yong'er? The same way she handled Prince Duan?
Yu Wanyin also considered all the covert maneuvers their side had been making lately. She wondered if Xie Yong'er, the master of Imperial Harem Intrigue, had noticed any clues and might report them to Prince Duan.
The more she thought about it, the more agitated she became. Finally, she paused mid-step, laboriously turned around in the narrow passage, and crawled back the way she came.
The exit beneath the Dragon Bed was concealed by floor tiles that only opened when a mechanism was activated.
Yu Wanyin quietly shifted one tile slightly ajar from below and strained to listen to the conversation outside.
Xie Yong'er was engaged in idle chatter.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but Xie Yong'er's voice today seemed even more saccharine than usual, as if she were deliberately pitching it higher: "Your Majesty, please try this humble dish I prepared..."
The clinking of bowls and chopsticks made Yu Wanyin pause. Only then did she realize it was already dinnertime.
Xie Yong'er alternated between serving dishes and urging him to drink. The aromas of food and wine drifted through the crack, and Yu Wanyin's stomach let out a mournful growl.
Lying here was utterly pointless.
The maids in the Secluded Palace had probably prepared dinner by now...
Even as she thought this, her body refused to obey, remaining stubbornly in place.
For some reason, Xie Yong'er was particularly insistent on the drinking—pouring for Xiahou Dan and herself with equal enthusiasm.After a few cups of wine, her face was flushed like peach blossoms, her eyes shimmering with a drunken luster, exuding an unusual charm. Her delicate hand, soft as if boneless, pressed against Xiahou Dan's wrist, gently caressing it.
Xiahou Dan withdrew his hand without a trace of emotion. "It's getting late. Since you've been drinking, my beloved consort, you should rest early."
Xie Yong'er giggled coquettishly and draped herself over his shoulder. "Your Majesty, a day apart feels like three years. This humble consort has missed your divine countenance dearly. Please allow me to gaze upon you a little longer."
Xiahou Dan's voice dripped with feigned affection. "In that case, it seems I too have not seen my beloved consort for far too long."
Xie Yong'er let out a light, suggestive laugh, her voice gradually lowering until only occasional lewd murmurs could be heard.
Xiahou Dan's tone turned icy. "Beloved consort, I've told you before—what I desire is not your body, but your heart."
Suddenly, Xie Yong'er began to sob quietly.
"Your Majesty is too kind, always indulging this consort's whims... I... I don't know how to express my adoration for you..."
The bed creaked.
Yu Wanyin held her breath. Above her, Xie Yong'er coiled around Xiahou Dan like a serpent from behind, one arm encircling his waist as her hand ventured toward forbidden territory.
That hand was seized.
Half-drunk, Xie Yong'er mistook it for foreplay and laughed as she tried to pull away. But the more she struggled, the tighter the icy grip around her wrist became.
"Your Majesty, you're hurting me... Ah!" Xie Yong'er cried out in pain.
She froze, hissing through clenched teeth as her wrist felt on the verge of shattering. The intoxication fled her in an instant. Bewildered, she whispered, "Your Majesty?"
Xiahou Dan turned to face her.
The moment Xie Yong'er saw his expression, a chill shot through her heart.
She had always known Xiahou Dan's reputation as the Tyrant, but in her presence, he had always acted like a lustful fool, even somewhat submissive—when she refused his advances, he had never forced himself on her.
Over time, she had nearly forgotten his infamous cruelty.
Now, it all came rushing back.
Along with the palace rumors—whether true or false—that the Emperor's brutality toward his concubines stemmed from unspeakable inadequacies in the bedchamber.
Xiahou Dan's voice was eerily calm, yet Xie Yong'er sensed a murderous undercurrent. "Beloved consort, it's time for you to leave."
But Xie Yong'er had reasons to stay. Gritting her teeth, she summoned tears to her eyes. "Your Majesty... do you despise this consort now?"
Xiahou Dan: "Yes."
Xie Yong'er: "..."
Her sobs faded into the distance.
In the dark tunnel below, Yu Wanyin fell deep into thought.
From what she remembered of the original story, Xie Yong'er had remained utterly devoted to Prince Duan until the very end.
Had Xiahou Dan done something to her recently?
Why had her heart suddenly changed?
Yet her tone had carried a performative quality... Was Prince Duan sending her to act out a scheme?
As Yu Wanyin's mind raced, a faint noise sounded above her.
She snapped back to reality and scrambled to retreat.
But after crawling only a few steps, she heard the mechanical click of a hidden mechanism turning. Candlelight spilled into the tunnel behind her.
Xiahou Dan stared at the retreating figure for a few seconds. "What are you doing here?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She felt the shame of a lifetime burning in her cheeks. Like the proverbial thief covering his ears, she crawled a few more steps into the darkness.
Weakly, she muttered, "Just... aiding digestion after dinner."Xiahou Dan paused for a moment before asking, "Digesting food by crawling through tunnels?"
Yu Wanyin had already given up on excuses. "Yes, helps burn calories all over."
A soft chuckle came from behind her—so light it stopped after just two sounds, yet its echo lingered endlessly in the pitch-black passage. Yu Wanyin could practically hear the unspoken implication: Your little eavesdropping scheme has been exposed.
Flustered, an inexplicable irritation flared within her.
At this moment, she truly resembled a cannon fodder female—the kind in palace intrigue novels who vied for favor with petty jealousy and a lack of wits.
Xiahou Dan coughed and said with feigned seriousness, "They're gone. You can come out now." But Yu Wanyin could still detect traces of laughter in his voice.
"Forget it," she replied stiffly. "Too many eyes around. It’d be troublesome if I’m seen. I’ll just keep going."
"I won’t let anyone in."
"Still not safe. Didn’t An Xian bump into me earlier? You should head back—what if he discovers the tunnel?" Yu Wanyin continued crawling forward.
The faint candlelight behind her flickered weakly, stretching her shadow into the darkness. Xiahou Dan didn’t follow, nor did he speak again. She turned a corner, and the light vanished entirely.
It wasn’t until Yu Wanyin had returned to the Secluded Palace and was halfway through her evening meal that realization struck her.
Xiahou Dan had entered the tunnel right after dismissing Xie Yong’er—he had originally intended to come see her.
Her chopsticks stilled mid-air. The embarrassment dissipated, replaced by a twinge of softness.
But climbing all the way back now would be far too strange—after all, fickleness was the hallmark of a lovestruck fool.
She really had been getting carried away lately. Her brain had such limited capacity; if she carelessly overloaded it, she’d be done for within three days.
Yu Wanyin spent the night in deep self-reflection.
The next day, Xiahou Dan didn’t appear.
The Shadow Guards, however, surfaced several times, hauling cartloads of dirt into her courtyard—they were diligently expanding the tunnel. Now, half of it was tall enough for a person to walk upright.
Yu Wanyin observed the construction for a while before handing the Shadow Guards some melon slices.
"Thank you, Your Highness," they said.
Casually, she asked, "Is His Majesty busy today?"
"The morning court session was quite chaotic. There must be urgent matters requiring His Majesty’s attention."
Yu Wanyin froze. "Why was it chaotic?"
"This subordinate does not know."
Counting the days, had news arrived from Yan Kingdom?
Restless, she waited until sunset, but Xiahou Dan still didn’t appear.
Was he held up? Surely he wasn’t sulking… Yu Wanyin replayed last night’s conversation in her mind, a pang of guilt surfacing.
As dinner time came and went, she could no longer sit still and descended into the tunnel to investigate.
The Shadow Guards had already left—working at night would risk discovery.
The empty passage was utterly silent. Yu Wanyin held up her lantern but had to hunch lower and lower as she progressed, eventually resorting to crawling again.
She hesitated.
What if there was an unexpected situation on the other end? What if she emerged only to be spotted by palace servants again?
Her confinement in the Secluded Palace was meant to sell the illusion of a rift with Xiahou Dan, all to deceive Prince Duan. If the tunnel’s existence were exposed, all their efforts would be wasted.
As she wavered, a faint light appeared in the darkness ahead.
Yu Wanyin extinguished her palace lantern, holding her breath and staying perfectly still.The person across the room had sharp eyesight: "Wan Yin? Come quickly, Dan'er is sick."
Xiahou Dan was sleeping restlessly, his breathing rapid and his brows tightly furrowed.
Originally pale, he now had no color even in his lips, making the dark shadows under his eyes appear even more pronounced.
Yu Wanyin thought back—both times he had fallen ill had been after she had acted willfully. She somewhat suspected his headaches were connected to his emotions, yet she felt last night's incident shouldn't have been enough to trigger it.
Bei Zhou said worriedly, "He collapsed as soon as he returned and hasn't eaten yet."
Yu Wanyin whispered, "I heard there was an argument during the morning court session?"
Bei Zhou replied, "The State of Yan sent a missive stating that as His Majesty's birthday approaches, Prince Yan Zha Luo Wa Han wishes to send an envoy to offer congratulations."
Yu Wanyin's heartbeat suddenly quickened.
It sounded like Wang Zhao had succeeded.
Not only had he convinced Prince Yan to negotiate peace, but he'd also managed to make Yan take the initiative in proposing it, completely concealing Xiahou Dan's involvement. When the news reached Daxia, no one would know he had orchestrated it.
"Who was arguing with whom then?"
Bei Zhou frowned irritably, clearly uninterested in these factional struggles: "Dan'er mentioned a bit—apparently Prince Duan supports the peace talks because without war between the two nations, his forces wouldn't be tied down in the northwest, giving him more leverage against the Empress Dowager. Naturally, whatever Prince Duan supports, the Empress Dowager opposes. Today, the threshold of the Imperial Study was nearly worn out from all the visitors."
"Did the Empress Dowager's faction come to persuade His Majesty?"
"Prince Duan's people came too. Everyone's trying to manipulate him like he's a fool. And he has to play the fool while dealing with them one by one..."
Yu Wanyin sighed.
She had been too self-conscious—Xiahou Dan was clearly just overwhelmed with work.
Bei Zhou brought over a bowl of porridge, looking worriedly at the unconscious Xiahou Dan. Yu Wanyin took the bowl from him: "Uncle Bei, go rest. I'll handle this."
Bei Zhou patted her shoulder and left.
Yu Wanyin sat on the edge of the bed, watching for a while, realizing she had hardly ever seen this man asleep. Whenever she fell asleep, Xiahou Dan was still awake; by the time she woke up, he had already left for morning court.
Had his sleeping expression always looked this... tormented?
Yu Wanyin gently patted him: "Dan-zong, eat something before sleeping."
Xiahou Dan didn't respond.
"Dan-zong? Your Majesty?" Yu Wanyin leaned closer and did something even she hadn't expected.
Her palm pressed against Xiahou Dan's face.
In the next instant, his tightly shut eyes flew open.
Yu Wanyin instinctively flinched, withdrawing her hand like a prey animal sensing danger.
A cold hand seized her wrist.
Those pupils churned with darkness, their depths chaotic, devoid of any emotion save for a trace of madness.
The black irises shifted, glaring murderously at Yu Wanyin.
Yu Wanyin didn't dare breathe.
It felt like an eternity, yet perhaps only a moment—then his eyes finally focused, blinking in confusion before reopening with a glimmer of clarity.
Xiahou Dan loosened his grip, though his hand still lingered loosely around her wrist, and asked hoarsely, "How long was I asleep?"
"...Not long. Get up and eat something?"
Xiahou Dan moved weakly. Yu Wanyin hesitated, then bent to help him up.
Suddenly, a faint smile touched Xiahou Dan's lips: "Have you eaten yet?"
Yu Wanyin's heartbeat hadn't yet steadied. She lowered her head, scooping a spoonful of porridge and offering it to him. Xiahou Dan watched her, then opened his mouth to accept it.
Yu Wanyin: "Don't worry about me, I'll eat later. You—"
"Hmm?"
Yu Wanyin wanted to ask: Do you not want me to touch you?
When he was awake, he seemed to enjoy being close to her—stealing her pillow, having her massage his temples.
But that reflexive reaction just now made her suddenly recall what he had said to Xie Yong'er the night before.
Was it just Xie Yong'er he was rejecting? How could someone with an acting background be allergic to physical contact?
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