Zhang San's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding wildly.
The sunlight was blinding, and a voice not far away was calling, "Your Highness..."
Zhang San suspected he was dreaming. Five minutes ago, he had been drowsing in math class, secretly scrolling through his phone to stay awake. He had randomly clicked on some web novel link titled Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort —utter trash, by the look of it.
Bored out of his mind, Zhang San skimmed the synopsis and was about to exit when suddenly, the world spun, and everything went black.
"Your Highness," the voice that had woken him grew closer, "Crown Prince?"
With a sinking feeling, Zhang San lifted his head and realized he was slumped over a desk.
A young eunuch gazed at him with concern. "Your Highness, you mustn't sleep. Her Majesty is coming to check your studies."
Zhang San: "..."
Crown Prince? Her Majesty?
As he surreptitiously pinched his thigh, a woman draped in luxurious robes and exuding an air of authority strode in. "How were the Crown Prince's studies today?" she asked coldly.
The eunuch bowed deeply. "Empress Dowager."
Zhang San: "..."
He was doomed.
He was just a middle schooler slacking off in class—how was he supposed to know how ancient people spoke?
The Empress Dowager frowned at his prolonged silence. "Why do you not answer?"
Zhang San's heart threatened to leap out of his throat. Trembling, he pushed the half-written sheet of rice paper in front of him toward her and ventured, "J-just this much."
The woman took it, scanned a few lines, and uttered a string of words in an indifferent tone. Zhang San could only catch fragments like "emperor," "diligence," and "uprightness" amid the archaic speech.
His mind was a chaotic whirl, barely able to process three questions: What had happened? Could he go back? And what should he say to avoid execution?
She was the Empress Dowager, and he was the Crown Prince—were they grandmother and grandson? Probably? Surely that couldn’t be wrong?
As the woman finished speaking and waited for his response, he mustered his courage and mumbled, "Yes... thank you, Imperial Grandmother."
Three agonizing seconds passed.
She nodded and left.
Zhang San exhaled slowly, only then realizing his back was drenched in cold sweat.
So where the hell was he supposed to start learning how to talk?
Yu Wanyin racked her brains but still couldn’t recall the names of those examinees.
Then another idea struck her.
Bei Zhou now resided in the Imperial Concubine's Palace. Aside from guarding Yu Wanyin, he occasionally trained the Shadow Guards in his spare time.
That day, Yu Wanyin knocked on his door. "Uncle Bei, what are you up to?"
Bei Zhou smiled warmly. "Making cloaks for Dan'er and you."
Yu Wanyin: "...Uncle is truly talented. Uncle, you’ve roamed the martial world and even worked in brothels. Do you happen to have any Bewitching Soup —something that can make people spill the truth?"
Bei Zhou pondered. "I do have intoxicants , but they’re only slightly stronger than hard liquor. They’ll muddle the mind and induce babbling, but there’s no guarantee the words spoken will be truthful."
Yu Wanyin: "If someone drinks it, will they remember what they said after waking up?"
Bei Zhou: "That’s tricky. To induce memory loss upon waking, the dosage would need to be heavy. But at that concentration, the drug would leave a noticeable taste in tea or wine—hard to disguise."
Yu Wanyin: "No problem. I have a solution."
She felt like a genius. Everything was falling into place.After getting the medicine from Bei Zhou, she went to the Imperial Study to find Xiahou Dan—nowadays, everyone in the palace knew that Consort Yu was at the height of her favor. Wherever she wanted to go, hardly anyone dared to stop her.
Xiahou Dan was flipping through Official Memorials: "One of the Empress Dowager faction has impeached your father, accusing him of bribery under the guise of gambling. Seems the Empress Dowager wants to make an example of him. Should we deal with it?"
Yu Wanyin shrugged indifferently: "Might as well. Demote him."
Xiahou Dan: "That ruthless?"
Yu Wanyin shrugged again: "He's not my real father anyway. I don't even know him, and he doesn't play any role in the plot. Demoting him today might lull the Empress Dowager into lowering her guard, and perhaps spare him from worse suffering."
Xiahou Dan: "Fair enough."
And so the matter was cheerfully decided.
Xiahou Dan picked up the Vermilion Brush to write his comments on the memorial. He wrote slowly, but his handwriting was quite neat.
Yu Wanyin glanced curiously: "Did you practice calligraphy?"
Xiahou Dan: "Not well, but passable enough to fake it. I only dare write short sentences now. Want me to teach you?"
Yu Wanyin eagerly replied: "Yes, yes, yes! I need to learn quickly too."
As the conversation veered off track, she suddenly remembered her original purpose for coming: "Oh, right, can you summon Xie Yong'er to attend you in bed tonight?"
Dead silence.
Xiahou Dan stared at her for a long moment without speaking, his brush hovering mid-air until a drop of thick ink dripped down.
Yu Wanyin: "?"
Xiahou Dan asked, word by word: "You want me... to have another woman attend me in bed?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Why did the atmosphere suddenly feel so strange? It was as if she were some penniless scoundrel lazing around at home, kicking her wife out to work as a prostitute—with Xiahou Dan playing the role of the wife.
Yu Wanyin's scalp prickled: "Not actually attend you in bed. Once she arrives, you drug her so we can interrogate her. Here's the thing—I don't remember the candidates' names, but she does. She's read East Wind Blooms a Thousand Flowers at Night and knows which virtuous examinees will be wrongfully executed. Next year during the imperial exams, she's the one who provides Prince Duan with the list of candidates to poach."
She laid out her plan in detail.
Xiahou Dan reluctantly conceded: "Fine. But when the time comes, you hide nearby and watch the whole thing. No leaving."
He even shot her a resentful glance.
Yu Wanyin's scalp prickled even more.
When had Xiahou Dan started acting so weird? She thought it over and concluded it must have been after their brothel adventure.
It's the suspension bridge effect, definitely.
If someone here had to be lovestruck, it shouldn't be Xiahou Dan.
Yu Wanyin occasionally read romance novels to pass the time, but she was long past the age of believing in tropes like "the overbearing president falls for me." As a corporate drone, she had already grasped the truth of the world: there was an insurmountable divide between social classes. Overbearing presidents were all clear-headed; they wouldn't idly go around alleviating poverty.
Unless... this was a survival game, and she, having read the script, held slightly more value than a mere corporate drone?
He needed to establish a closer bond with me. She analyzed the situation almost coldly, trying to suppress the untimely flutter in her heart.
Yu Wanyin hesitated, then said tactfully: "President Dan, you don't need to do this. We're already grasshoppers tied to the same rope—I'll help you to the end."
Xiahou Dan: "."
Xiahou Dan said nothing more, waving her off: "I still have some memorials to review. You go ahead back."Yu Wanyin walked a few steps before turning back for another glance, feeling there was an air of desolation in his posture.
Xie Yong'er was sewing a new scented sachet when An Xian, the Emperor's chief eunuch, arrived with a message: "His Majesty summons you to attend him in bed tonight. Prepare yourself well."
Xie Yong'er was stunned.
Ever since Yu Wanyin rose to prominence, Xiahou Dan had never summoned anyone else.
Her first thought was that something must have happened to Yu Wanyin. She sent her little maid to gather the latest news and learned: Yu Wanyin's father had been demoted, and she herself had fallen out of favor.
Xie Yong'er silently cursed—so the Emperor was heartless after all.
But now this despicable Emperor wanted her to submit to him.
Xie Yong'er was thoroughly vexed. During their recent private encounters, she had already developed feelings for Xiahou Bo. Yet this brilliant, heaven-chosen man hadn't fallen head over heels for her as she'd imagined. Instead, he kept her at arm's length, their relationship ambiguous and unresolved.
Already in low spirits, this Imperial Edict was like adding frost to snow.
Just then, her maid announced: "Imperial Concubine Yu is here."
Yu Wanyin sat in the hall with a sorrowful expression, looking utterly devastated.
Xie Yong'er offered a perfunctory inquiry about her father, to which Yu Wanyin tearfully replied, "I've always said that in this palace, we're all just helpless duckweed at the mercy of the currents. Yong'er, I heard you're attending His Majesty tonight?"
Here it comes, Xie Yong'er thought. What kind of Imperial Harem Intrigue is this?
To her surprise, Yu Wanyin's next words were: "You must be feeling miserable right now."
Xie Yong'er: "..."
For a brief moment, Xie Yong'er was almost moved.
She had to keep reminding herself: Paper dolls can't understand my spiritual pursuits—they only pretend to empathize as part of their act.
Yu Wanyin noted her changing expression and continued her script: "Listen to your elder sister's advice—if anything in the bedchamber smells strange, don't drink it."
Xie Yong'er: "Why do you say that, sister?"
Yu Wanyin whispered, "Do you know why His Majesty has only the Crown Prince as his heir after all these years? The Empress Dowager pressures every concubine who attends him to drink birth control concoction. When the time comes, pretend to drink it and find a way to discard it. Otherwise, you'll never conceive Imperial Offspring..."
I'll definitely drink it, Xie Yong'er thought.
The Empress Dowager's head maid had received orders to make Yu Wanyin take the birth control medicine.
The recipe for this forbidden medicine was somewhat complex, with several ingredients that couldn't be obtained openly. Fortunately, the head maid had done this before. She secretly procured the materials and soon prepared a packet of medicinal powder. All that remained was to mix it into soup or tea—once consumed, the concubine would be infertile for at least a year.
Yet she couldn't find an opportunity.
Yu Wanyin now took all her meals and tea in the Imperial Concubine's Palace, whose security was tighter than the Emperor's own bedchamber, leaving no opening for interference.
As the head maid fretted, news suddenly arrived: Yu Wanyin had left her palace and was heading to the Emperor's bedchamber.
Wasn't Concubine Xie scheduled to attend him tonight? It would be foolish to compete for favor at this point—since the Emperor had already grown tired of her, why would he receive her?
The head maid slipped to the back door of the bedchamber and inquired through an acquainted little maid, who whispered, "His Majesty admitted Imperial Concubine Yu inside."
Head maid: "..."
What kind of play was this? Summoning two concubines simultaneously—was the Emperor planning something... unconventional?
Remembering how previous attending concubines had been treated, the head maid shuddered and dared not speculate further.The little maid took the powder. "Sister, who exactly is this birth control concoction meant for?"
The situation was sudden, and the senior maid only had one dose of the powder on hand. After a moment of hesitation, she thought that following the Empress Dowager's orders would absolve her of responsibility. "For Consort Yu."
Before Xie Yong'er arrived, Yu Wanyin put on a show of jealousy and sorrow in front of the palace maids, desperately trying to win His Majesty's favor.
Xiahou Dan waved his hand impatiently, his words shocking everyone present. "Fine, you stay too. Both of you can stay."
Yu Wanyin: "Oh, thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty."
The surrounding palace maids' eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
Having successfully deceived the maids, Yu Wanyin then leaned close to Xiahou Dan's ear, her voice soft and delicate. "I've brought the knockout drug."
Xiahou Dan: "OK."
Yu Wanyin sat beside him as a little maid obediently served a cup of hot tea.
The little maid's fingers trembled slightly, but Yu Wanyin, preoccupied with her own schemes, didn't notice.
Xiahou Dan dismissed the maids and watched as Yu Wanyin took the knockout drug from her sleeve and poured it into the tea before them.
Yu Wanyin: "Make sure she drinks it."
Xiahou Dan: "I'll try. What if she refuses?"
Yu Wanyin was confident. "Just tell her to drink it directly. She will."
She gave the cup a thorough shake, ensuring the powder dissolved completely, then carried it to the back of the bedchamber and placed it on the small table by the Dragon Bed.
As she turned to leave, the little maid from earlier emerged from the shadows, staring at the teacup in horror.
Consort Yu not only didn’t drink the tea herself but was now giving it to Consort Xie? Had she already figured out it was the birth control concoction? Impossible! The concoction was notoriously difficult to prepare precisely because it blended seamlessly into tea, leaving no trace of taste—even drinking it all wouldn’t reveal anything.
Or perhaps Consort Yu was so cunning that she anticipated the Empress Dowager’s move and was using Consort Xie as a scapegoat?
The little maid had a secret held over her by the senior maid and dared not disobey. Seeing the mission on the verge of failure, she gritted her teeth, crept forward, and picked up the teacup.
After preparing the knockout drug, Yu Wanyin returned to the front hall and sat with Xiahou Dan for a while. As evening fell and Xie Yong'er was due to arrive, she said, "I’ll hide behind the screen to avoid raising suspicion. Call me out once the drug takes effect."
Xiahou Dan: "Then sit here comfortably. Have them bring you some tea and snacks."
Yu Wanyin sat behind the side screen, and the little maid quickly brought over the refreshments.
Dismissing the others, Yu Wanyin leisurely nibbled on melon seeds.
Xie Yong'er arrived, greeting them with perfect grace.
Xiahou Dan lounged at the front of the hall, his usual erratic and dangerous self. He gave her a cold glance, skipping the pleasantries. "Come."
Xie Yong'er followed him indignantly toward the Dragon Bed in the inner chamber. Xiahou Dan sat on the bed, his pale fingers tapping the teacup on the table. He uttered one more word: "Drink."
Here it was—the birth control concoction Yu Wanyin had mentioned.
Xie Yong'er was all too eager. She picked it up and downed it in one go.
Xiahou Dan: "..."
So enthusiastic?
Xie Yong'er swallowed the tea, detecting no odd taste. Assuming Yu Wanyin had misdescribed it, she cursed inwardly.
Seeing her drink so readily and then adopt a "shall we proceed now?" expression, even starting to undress with grim determination, Xiahou Dan quickly interjected, "Consort Xie."
Xie Yong'er paused. "Your Majesty?"
Xiahou Dan: "...""Can't you drink slower and give the bewitching drug some time to take effect?"
Xiahou Dan had no choice but to speak up: "During the palace banquet the other day, I heard you perform a piece that was quite unforgettable. Since Consort Xie enjoys refined music, why not sing a song to liven things up?"
Xie Yong'er inwardly scoffed: Could he even appreciate the songs I sing?
After gathering herself, she began in a voice as lonely as snow: "How rare the moon, so round and clear! With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky..."
Xiahou Dan started pinching his thigh again.
Xie Yong'er's singing echoed through the empty bedchamber, drifting faintly to the side chamber.
Yu Wanyin, who had been cracking melon seeds, choked and coughed a few times into her hand before taking a sip of tea.
"Pfft—"
After waiting through half the song and seeing Xie Yong'er still clear-eyed and acting normally, Xiahou Dan couldn't help but glance again at the teacup in her hand.
Faint coughing sounds suddenly came from the side chamber.
Xiahou Dan paused, then stood up.
Xie Yong'er's singing stopped abruptly as she looked at him in confusion. Xiahou Dan casually said, "Wait here," and walked out.
He strode behind the screen in the side chamber and whispered, "What happened?"
Between coughs, Yu Wanyin replied, "Big problem—Xie Yong'er's cup wasn't the Bewitching Soup, this one is! I just realized when I took a sip!"
Xiahou Dan: "Why?"
"I don't know, I clearly... never mind, no time to dwell on that now." Yu Wanyin shoved the teacup at him. "Luckily I only took a tiny sip, so it's not serious. Hurry and give this to her while it's still warm."
"She just drank one cup, and now you want her to drink another? Do you think she's stupid?"
Half a minute later.
Xiahou Dan: "Drink."
Xie Yong'er took the new teacup and downed it in one gulp again.
Xiahou Dan: "?"
This time, Xie Yong'er noticed something off about the taste and thought, This one's the real deal.
Come to think of it, was the previous cup a mistake? Is this Tyrant an idiot? Was this in the original novel...?
Before she could finish the thought, her vision began to blur.
Xiahou Dan waited a few seconds, then waved five fingers in front of her face: "Consort Xie?"
Xie Yong'er, now dazed as if floating on clouds: "Hmm?"
Xiahou Dan: "How many fingers am I holding up?"
Xie Yong'er gasped in shock: "You really are an idiot?"
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Xiahou Dan turned and called to Yu Wanyin: "Come out, she's out of it."
Yu Wanyin, who had only taken a small sip of the Bewitching Soup earlier, still felt nothing. The drug's effect was just like strong liquor—talking about toxicity without considering dosage was pseudoscience, so her tiny sip shouldn't matter.
Hearing Xiahou Dan call her, she put on the fox mask she'd prepared earlier and gracefully walked up to Xie Yong'er, speaking in a muffled voice as she began her act: "Ma Chunchun, how have you been?"
Xie Yong'er had already slumped to the floor and let out a drunken hiccup: "Who're you?"
Yu Wanyin crouched down to look at her, as if making a scam call: "You don't even remember me?"
Xie Yong'er stared at the mask for a long moment before seeming to realize something: "You know my name... you must be the author of 'East Wind Night Blossoms'?"
Yu Wanyin was startled: This girl's imagination is wild.
She played along: "That's right. Who would've thought you'd enter my novel and stir up such chaos—"
Xie Yong'er suddenly interrupted: "Are my parents doing okay?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Yu Wanyin: "They're fine. You should worry about yourself. Who would've thought you'd stir up such chaos..."Xie Yong'er interrupted again, "What place did my idol end up in?"
Yu Wanyin turned to look at Xiahou Dan, who was hiding off to the side.
Xiahou Dan mouthed, "Tell her what she wants to hear."
Yu Wanyin: "First place."
With a sharp crash, Xie Yong'er smashed her cup in indignation: "Impossible! That damn platform would never act human—you're lying!"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
As a Paper Doll, wasn't her character a bit too... fleshed out?
Yu Wanyin steeled herself and deepened her voice to sound more authoritative. "Let's get to the point. I never expected you to stir up such chaos, fooling Prince Duan into circles and messing up the entire plotline of the book. How do you plan to take responsibility for this?"
Xie Yong'er spat, "If I followed your original plot, I'd just die early as cannon fodder, wouldn't I?"
Yu Wanyin coaxed patiently, "You shouldn't have spoiled the names of those failed candidates to Prince Duan. Sure, he secured them official positions, sparing them from injustice, but he also robbed them of the chance to temper themselves. As the saying goes, 'When Heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on someone...'"
Xie Yong'er flew into a rage: "You damn author, do you think I don't remember the original text?"
"What about the original text?"
Xie Yong'er: "In the original, after Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie exposed that troublemaker for cheating, they were beaten to death in sacks right after leaving the exam hall. Er Lan was discovered cross-dressing as a man, harassed and humiliated before being exiled from the capital, where she died by suicide in despair. And then there was..."
Yu Wanyin turned and frantically gestured at Xiahou Dan: Write this down, write this down!
Xiahou Dan: I am, I am.
Xie Yong'er rattled off five or six more names in one breath. "What 'great responsibility'? They were just like me—cannon fodder you casually created and just as casually crushed. And we're not even allowed to fight back?"
But Yu Wanyin was no longer listening to her impassioned speech.
She leaned over to Xiahou Dan's side, glanced at the names he'd just jotted down, and said with satisfaction, "That's right, it's them. If we can recruit these talents, Yanshu yields will hit eighteen hundred per mu, and neither droughts nor inflation will faze us."
Xie Yong'er, still slumped in her seat, drunkenly shouted, "Damn author? Nothing to say now?"
Xiahou Dan: "But these ambitious scholars must despise the tyrannical ruler—otherwise, Prince Duan wouldn't have poached them so easily. We'll need to figure out how to win them over before the imperial exams."
Xie Yong'er looked around blearily. "Where'd everyone go?"
"Coming!" Yu Wanyin called out half-heartedly before whispering to Xiahou Dan, "I've thought about it—it'll rely on your acting skills. And once we gain their trust, you'll have to convince them to change their names. Otherwise, the moment they take office, Xie Yong'er, who knows their backgrounds, will notice something's off."
"You—damn—author—you've ruined—my life—" Xie Yong'er's voice cracked into sobs mid-shout.
Yu Wanyin rubbed her temples. "Coming, coming."
Having no experience dealing with drunkards, she crouched down to pat Xie Yong'er's shoulder and stroke her head. "Don't cry. It could be worse—Yu Wanyin had it much harder."
The more comfort she received, the more Xie Yong'er wallowed in misery, wailing, "Prince Duan doesn't trust me at all... I'm just a tool to him..."
Her cries grew too loud. Just as Yu Wanyin moved to cover her mouth, she caught a few slurred words.
In an instant.
In that single moment, Yu Wanyin's blood ran cold.
She turned her head slightly, stealing a glance at Xiahou Dan.Xiahou Dan was deep in thought over the names he had just recorded, oblivious to the commotion nearby.
Yu Wanyin's heart pounded like a drum as she leaned in closer to Xie Yong'er. "What did you just say? Be a dear and repeat that for me."
Xie Yong'er slurred, "I said he doesn't trust me... sob I clearly told him to drug the deputy commander with aphrodisiacs, but I overheard him telling his advisor... saying they should poison that man's horse instead..."
Xie Yong'er advising Prince Duan to win over Deputy Commander Zhao of the Imperial Guards was a plot point from Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort .
According to the original story, Prince Duan was supposed to follow her suggestion—drugging the deputy commander to make him harass the commander's favorite concubine, then arranging for the commander to catch them in the act. This would create an irreparable rift between the two.
The deputy commander, being a brainless fool, would have no choice but to ally with Prince Duan to eliminate the commander and take his place. By controlling him, Prince Duan would effectively control the Imperial Guards.
Yu Wanyin remembered this subplot but couldn't recall the specifics. Hearing Xie Yong'er's drunken confession now, she realized the original story had indeed played out this way.
—So why did Xu Yao's records describe an entirely different plan?
After her drunken outburst, Xie Yong'er collapsed into sleep. Yu Wanyin and Xiahou Dan carried her to the Dragon Bed, each holding an end of her limp body. They mussed the sheets and her clothes to stage a compromising scene.
"She drank so much Bewitching Soup she won't remember anything when she wakes," Yu Wanyin said. "Just scold her a bit then—say she was so terrified she had a mental breakdown, raved all night, whatever. Make her believe it."
Xiahou Dan: "She won't buy it. If she went mad and I didn't bury her, she'd know something's off."
Yu Wanyin, feeling lightheaded, waved impatiently. "Then just act out that cliché—'Woman, no one has ever dared treat me this way. You've caught my attention.'"
Xiahou Dan: "...Are you serious?"
Yu Wanyin: "Improvise... I'm exhausted. Leaving now."
She hurried back to the Imperial Concubine's Palace.
With trembling hands, Yu Wanyin opened Xu Yao's book, clinging to a faint hope that was immediately crushed. Xu Yao had indeed recorded: "Invited Deputy Commander Zhao for drinks, poisoned his horse, made the crazed steed trample the late Emperor's ceremonial procession."
That procession had been awarded to Prince Duan by the late Emperor in recognition of his military achievements and was enshrined in the central courtyard of his estate.
Desecrating an imperial gift was a far graver crime than "molesting the commander's concubine"—enough to terrify Deputy Commander Zhao into submission.
Yu Wanyin closed the book, staring blankly at the flickering candlelight.
Why?
Why had Prince Duan deviated from the original script, losing trust in Xie Yong'er and altering plans he should have followed verbatim?
She shook her head in disbelief, trying to dispel the growing dizziness, and reopened the book to verify every line from the beginning.
This wasn't the only altered plan.
The changes were subtle—an action meant for Mid-Autumn Festival delayed by a day, an assassination moved from one villa to another. Without tonight's revelation, she might never have noticed these discrepancies, or dismissed them as faulty memory.
Without Xu Yao's records, she would have relied solely on Transmigration: The Devil's Beloved Consort to guide Xiahou Dan's maneuvers against Prince Duan's schemes—always missing crucial details until it was too late, until everything was lost beyond redemption...Yu Wanyin realized she was trembling. She held her hands near the candle flame to warm them, but they only shook more violently.
Why?
She thought she had anticipated the enemy's moves, so how could Prince Duan have predicted her predictions?
Could it be that while she believed herself to be at the highest level, Prince Duan stood even higher, looking down at her with a knowing smile?
Did he know everything?
In his eyes, was she just another Paper Doll?
Had his earlier feigned ignorance been nothing but a ruse to mislead her?
Would he see everything that happened tonight too—as clearly as reading words on a page?
And then, with just another change of date or location, they would once again become mice toying under a cat's paw...
Yu Wanyin slumped into her chair, feeling her body sinking endlessly into a dark abyss...
Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder.
It patted her gently. "What's wrong?"
Yu Wanyin stared blankly ahead. "I'm done for. Game over. GG."
"Why do you say that?"
She didn't seem to hear the question, continuing her monologue. "Just wait for death, no point struggling. Prince Duan is the real person here. Us? We're just a few lines of text—gone with the press of a delete key..."
Xiahou Dan circled around to face her, studying her expression with a frown.
The sedative was finally taking effect.
Perhaps due to some reaction with the Birth Control Concoction's ingredients, the drug hit with unexpected intensity. Though Yu Wanyin had only taken one sip, she now felt completely disoriented, lost in a fog.
She heard a calm voice ask, "So, do you want to give up?"
"I..." Yu Wanyin struggled to think before inspiration struck. "There's one way out—I could surrender now and join Prince Duan's side! Do you think he'd take me in?"
No reply came.
Suddenly remembering something else, she slumped further. "No, that won't work. He already knows everything—he wouldn't need me."
Silence lingered for a while.
Then the voice spoke again. "Perhaps you could make him fall in love with you."
Yu Wanyin laughed. "Steal back my female lead script? Hahaha, no way—he already has Xie Yong'er."
"Xie Yong'er isn't your equal."
"True enough." Yu Wanyin nodded objectively. "Your suggestion isn't completely impossible."
Xiahou Dan watched her quietly. "So, will you try?"
"Hmm..." Yu Wanyin fell into deep thought.
After what felt like a century, she looked puzzled. "I don't think I want to."
"Why not?"
"He's too terrifying." She lowered her head. "He'd definitely manipulate me into falling hopelessly in love, then make me sacrifice everything for him, drain me dry, until I finally throw myself in front of him to block a sword or an arrow, dying contentedly in his arms."
Her imagination running wild, she moved herself to tears. "Then he'd shed a few crocodile tears, bury me with honors, and go back to Xie Yong'er... All great men operate this way!"
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Xiahou Dan reached out to wipe her tears, asking with deliberate slowness and gentleness, "What about Xiahou Dan?"
"Him? He wouldn't do that. He promised."
Earlier, when Yu Wanyin rose to prominence, the entire Yu family had basked in reflected glory.
Yu Shaoqing was an utterly insignificant figure at court, nominally aligned with the Prince Duan faction but constantly marginalized.Witnessing Yu Wanyin's unprecedented rise to the rank of Noble Consort, the once-neglected Yu residence suddenly became bustling with activity. Those who had previously ignored them now came to assess the situation and offer flattering words.
Yu Shaoqing, who had been invisible for so many years, couldn't help but feel elated by the sudden attention and began fantasizing about a bright future of promotions and honors. He seized the opportunity to cozy up to a few high-ranking officials, using gambling as a pretext to offer some bribes.
To his utter shock, the very next day, the Empress Dowager caught wind of his misdeeds and swiftly dealt with him.
Once demoted, the Yu residence became deserted once more.
As the household lamented their misfortune, a sudden announcement came: "Prince Duan has arrived—"
Yu Shaoqing was overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.
At such a time, why would the illustrious Prince Duan deign to visit? Could he still possess some unforeseen value to the prince?
Xiahou Bo maintained his usual gentle demeanor. After taking his seat, he asked kindly, "How have you been faring lately, Lord Yu?"
Yu Shaoqing wiped away his tears. "This humble official is managing, but I worry that Noble Consort Yu... might lose the Imperial Favor and suffer hardships because of this..."
Xiahou Bo played along, offering comfort: "I’ve heard Noble Consort Yu is intelligent and virtuous, enjoying the Emperor's deep affection. On my next visit to the palace, I shall inquire about her on your behalf."
Yu Shaoqing expressed endless gratitude, eagerly awaiting the prince’s next move.
But there was none. Xiahou Bo exchanged pleasantries for the duration of a cup of tea before politely taking his leave. From start to finish, Yu Shaoqing couldn’t decipher the great man’s intentions.
Once outside the Yu residence, Xiahou Bo was met by two shadows that swiftly attached themselves to him, following him into his carriage.
Xiahou Bo asked, "Did you find it?"
A subordinate presented a small slip of paper. "This was found in Yu Wanyin’s private chambers."
It was a poem Yu Wanyin had copied before entering the palace.
After glancing at it, Xiahou Bo was handed another sheet. "This was retrieved from the library."
After the fire in the library had subsided slightly, Prince Duan had ordered his men to enter under the pretense of firefighting—first, to confirm Xu Yao’s death, and second, to search for any incriminating evidence near the body.
His men found nothing on Xu Yao but brought back a sheet of paper from Yu Wanyin’s desk.
The edges of the torn paper were singed, bearing a few smudged ink strokes.
Xiahou Bo compared the two sheets and smiled faintly. "Notice anything?"
The subordinate hesitated. "...Are these really written by the same person?"
Xiahou Bo tapped the paper. "It seems it’s time to meet her."
Yu Wanyin opened her eyes, then closed them again, abruptly turning over and burying her face in the pillow.
She had only taken a small sip of the knockout drug the night before and hadn’t blacked out. On the contrary, she remembered every word of their conversation clearly.
Prince Duan might be at the highest level.
She had originally intended to investigate this matter without Xiahou Dan’s knowledge, yet she had ended up confessing to him: "I could raise a white flag and surrender to him..."
Fortunately, she had ultimately pledged her loyalty to Xiahou Dan—otherwise, she’d likely be six feet under by now.
But the way she had expressed that loyalty...
Yu Wanyin covered her ears with the pillow, playing the ostrich.
After uttering those words—"He wouldn’t, would he? He said so himself"—she had completely passed out, collapsing into Xiahou Dan’s arms.
Xiahou Dan hadn’t said anything more, simply carried her to bed, seemingly even tucking her in before leaving.
Yu Wanyin didn’t know how to face him. Even she found it all unbelievable.After transmigrating, Yu Wanyin had warned herself three thousand times—trust no one, she couldn't afford to play around. No love-struck foolishness, no impulsive actions, no treating life like a game. If the chosen one died, this book would be axed; if she died, at most three pages would be cut.
—So when exactly had she subconsciously sold herself out?
And not only had she sold herself out, but she'd also let others know! It was practically waving a handkerchief at Xiahou Dan: "I'm a foolish pawn, come and use me!"
This couldn't go on...
"Miss?" The maid Xiao Mei urged by the bedside, "It's time to get up. Today you must pay respects to the Empress Dowager."
As Yu Wanyin dressed and did her makeup, Xiao Mei chatted idly: "I heard that this morning, a little maid from His Majesty's chambers was harshly interrogated and then dragged away. It seems she put Birth Control Concoction in the tea. Miss, are you alright?"
Yu Wanyin ran through the details of that cup of tea in her mind and pieced together what had happened.
"It's fine. I only drank a little. Most of it was consumed by Consort Xie."
Xiao Mei paused, then tactfully corrected, "She's now Consort Xie."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Xiao Mei's eyes reddened. "How could His Majesty be so absurd, having both of you on the same night... and even making her a consort! How heartbroken your parents must be, wuwuwu..."
Yu Wanyin remembered—she had indeed told him to act out a "domineering CEO falls for me" scenario with Xie Yong'er.
Xiao Mei was still indignant: "I heard she pretended to be flustered and refused repeatedly, but then His Majesty said... he said he'd never met a woman as special as her."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Xiahou Dan had really committed to the act.
When the consorts gathered to pay respects, he appeared again. This time, he didn't spare Yu Wanyin a glance, sitting directly beside Xie Yong'er instead.
Xie Yong'er shifted uncomfortably away, but he scooted closer.
When Xie Yong'er served him tea, he deliberately brushed her hand as he took it.
Seated nearby, Yu Wanyin instantly felt countless gazes flickering toward her—including the Empress Dowager's. She played her part perfectly, lowering her head in sorrow.
The Empress Dowager mentally calculated that it was time to prepare a new batch of Birth Control Concoction.
Empress Dowager: "The Flower Banquet is approaching. Does the Emperor have any plans?"
Xiahou Dan: "When the time comes, let Consort Xie perform a dance."
He gazed at Xie Yong'er through narrowed eyes. "I've heard Consort Xie sing and play music, but I've yet to witness her dancing."
Yu Wanyin thought: If she starts dancing to "Gokuraku Jodo," could Xiahou Dan keep a straight face?
At that exact moment, Xiahou Dan glanced at her as if imagining the same scene, his lips twitching imperceptibly.
Yu Wanyin quickly averted her gaze to avoid laughing.
No matter what, as an ally, Xiahou Dan was far more reliable than Prince Duan.
Xiahou Dan stayed for a while longer before leaving.
When Xie Yong'er followed the other consorts out, she noticed An Xian hadn't left with the Emperor but was waiting outside.
Seeing her, An Xian smiled. "Consort Xie, this servant will escort you back."
The Emperor's chief eunuch had placed his bet on Xie Yong'er!
Yu Wanyin felt the weight of countless stares again. She smiled bitterly and walked away alone.
In the original story, this old eunuch had curried favor with Yu Wanyin, stomping on Xie Yong'er when she fell from grace. Later, when Xie Yong'er won their feud, An Xian tried to flatter her but was thrown into prison.
Now, without that fall from grace, Xie Yong'er bore no grudge against him. Instead, she obediently walked to his side.After all, she was the Demon Consort herself. Though she found the favor tiresome, she had to make the most of it.
Perhaps she could use An Xian to remove a few thorns from her side?
After walking a distance together, Xie Yong'er asked pitifully, "Eunuch An, could you enlighten me as to what exactly His Majesty sees in me?"
An Xian smiled. "His Majesty said that last night, he found your delirious state full of vitality, unlike the other palace consorts. And this morning, you treated the consort title as if it were dirt—so innocent and adorable."
Xie Yong'er: "..."
How tacky!
Yu Wanyin ignored this corny little drama and strolled alone to the library.
The library was being rebuilt on its original site, and progress was painfully slow.
As she watched the craftsmen meticulously at work, lost in thought about Prince Duan, someone suddenly called out, "Consort Yu."
Yu Wanyin turned to see a person dressed as a craftsman beside her, who wordlessly handed her something. "Please take this."
Baffled, Yu Wanyin looked down—it was a letter with no signature on the envelope.
"What is this...?" she began, but the person had already vanished.
Yu Wanyin retreated to a secluded spot and opened the letter. Inside were just a few words: "Midnight, Imperial Garden, behind the rockery."
The signature was a doodle of a turtle.
The guards patrolling around the Imperial Garden seemed to have been dismissed. Yu Wanyin carried no lantern, relying on the moonlight to guide her way. As she approached, a gentle voice called from behind the rockery, "Wan Yin."
Sure enough, Xiahou Bo was waiting there, his white robes glowing like an immortal under the moonlight.
Yu Wanyin had come alone, her heart pounding. She had considered bringing someone for protection, but whether it was Bei Zhou or a Shadow Guard, they would surely report to Xiahou Dan. So she had sneaked out alone.
She needed to know which layer he was on to decide her next move.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and slipped into character, feigning shyness. "Your Highness, why call me so intimately?"
Xiahou Bo smiled without answering and said, "Earlier today, I ran into Yu Shaoqing. He was quite concerned about how you're faring in the palace."
Yu Wanyin sighed dramatically. "His Majesty appointed Consort Xie this morning."
At the mention of the name, she glanced at Xiahou Bo, but in the dim light, his expression remained unreadable.
Yu Wanyin decided to cut to the chase. "What does Your Highness think of Consort Xie?"
"She is His Majesty's consort. It's not my place to comment."
"...And what about me?"
"You?" Xiahou Bo took a slow step toward her. "Wan Yin, we've known each other for so long. Isn't it time we spoke openly?"
Yu Wanyin batted her eyelashes. "About what?"
Prince Duan mirrored her affectionate gaze. "About who you really are."
Steady now, Yu Wanyin thought.
Xiahou Bo continued, "And also, who His Majesty is, and who Xie Yong'er is."
Yu Wanyin couldn't stop herself from taking a step back.
Her worst fear had come true.
If he could see through Xie Yong'er, it might be because the lovestruck girl had let something slip. If he could see through her, perhaps she had slipped up somewhere. But seeing through Xiahou Dan—that master actor—was impossible unless he stood on a higher plane.
Xiahou Bo smiled. "No need to be so tense. I've never harbored ill will toward you. Since you can foresee some things too, you should understand that choosing me is the wise decision."
Yu Wanyin: "If... if you already know everything, what do you need me for?"Xiahou Bo was taken aback. "You've misunderstood. I came to find you not because I wanted to know anything, but because I admire you."
Yu Wanyin found it utterly absurd. "We're not even the same species. How could you admire me?"
Xiahou Bo seemed to pause for a moment. "That doesn't matter."
Yu Wanyin: "Huh? So you like my character?"
Xiahou Bo smiled gently. "That's why I sought you out from the beginning."
A single lamp flickered dimly in the palace chamber.
"Imperial Concubine Yu went to the Imperial Garden. I followed and saw her meeting privately with Prince Duan," Bei Zhou stated bluntly. "They were too far away to hear clearly, but the atmosphere seemed quite... intimate."
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Bei Zhou said worriedly, "Dan'er, if she's already defected to the enemy, wouldn't it be better to deal with her? I know you're fond of her, but she's your closest companion. If she harbors disloyal thoughts, it's far too dangerous."
Xiahou Dan toyed with the candle flame using a single fingertip, silent.
The kneeling Shadow Guard nearby asked routinely, "Shall I handle it?"
Xiahou Dan spoke slowly, "Have any of you considered that, from her perspective, siding with Prince Duan might indeed be the safer choice?"
Bei Zhou was puzzled. "Why? Haven't you already uncovered Prince Duan's plans?"
Xiahou Dan gave a bitter smile.
Last night, Yu Wanyin had hastily excused herself, staggering back to the Imperial Concubine's Palace in a daze, only to discover Prince Duan's secret. She hadn't planned to tell him at all—it was only the truth serum that forced the words out.
She trusted him, but she feared Prince Duan too much.
"Wanting to survive is only human."
Bei Zhou sighed. "You shouldn't let personal feelings cloud your judgment... Is that woman truly so important to you?"
Xiahou Dan: "She's my lifeline."
Bei Zhou and the Shadow Guard exchanged glances.
How had she become a lifeline?
The Shadow Guard, unfamiliar with such situations, ventured, "Your Majesty, shall we bury her?"
Xiahou Dan: "Ask one more word, and I'll bury you instead."
Yu Wanyin groped her way back toward the Imperial Concubine's Palace, each step heavier than the last.
Her mind was a tangled mess—all her plans, ambitions, even her self-perception, shattered into countless fragments.
No more games. How could she possibly continue?
Perhaps when he saw her as a character in a book, he genuinely liked this "Paper Doll"? Though it sounded bizarre, it was undoubtedly good news for her. Since he'd extended an olive branch, why not defect early to show her sincerity...
Yet deep down, a lingering sense of dissonance remained.
Her steps slowed until she came to a complete halt.
Wait.
Her fear-frozen mind struggled to reboot.
If Xiahou Bo truly existed on a higher plane, why would he let them see Xu Yao's book?
What benefit would he gain from painstakingly forging a book, deliberately letting them see it to sow doubt about his identity?
The simplest way to defeat Xiahou Dan would be to let them know nothing at all.
Why not just destroy the book?
Like a crack splitting ice, once this question arose, countless others surged forth.
If he knew she was a transmigrator, why not just tell her outright? Why test her repeatedly?
Tonight, when she said "species," had he hesitated?
...
Yu Wanyin took a step forward, then another, moving faster and faster.There is actually another explanation for all this—Prince Duan is still a Paper Doll.
However, he has somehow sensed the anomaly and suspects they've had their cores replaced.
In his eyes, they might resemble demigods who have opened the Heavenly Eye, allowing them to foresee the future and even uncover some of his secrets.
Therefore, Prince Duan did not trust her and Xiahou Dan, nor did he trust Xie Yong'er—to him, the three of them were of the same kind.
From Xu Yao's book, it was evident that Xie Yong'er's suggestions to him had all been altered in their details. Could this be a test, probing just how far their foresight extended?
Yet, he had no certainty that modifying these details would allow him to escape their Heavenly Eye.
That was why he had to get close to her, deliberately mystifying her to extract information and ultimately turn her against them...
But there was still one lingering doubt: how could a mere Paper Doll conceive such an avant-garde notion as "having their core replaced"?
Even Xie Yong'er had failed to identify others of their kind, yet he had clearly suspected three people.
Could this truly be explained by mere "extraordinary intelligence"?
Without more evidence, it was still impossible to determine exactly what he was.
Yu Wanyin pondered deeply and silently made a resolution.
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