The next day, she found Xiahou Dan: "I want to conduct an experiment with those examinees."
Xiahou Dan: "...What?"
"Here's the thing. There are two hypotheses about Prince Duan right now. He might be a level above us, or he might still be at the very bottom. So I want to test him." Yu Wanyin had spent the night devising this plan and was now brimming with excitement, oblivious to Xiahou Dan's probing gaze as she rattled on, "Those examinees Xie Yong'er mentioned—can you contact them?"
Xiahou Dan stared at her.
Hadn't she met Prince Duan last night to pledge her allegiance?
Xiahou Dan: "I'm already looking for them. It shouldn't be a problem. I plan to meet them incognito soon to see if I can win them over."
"Good. Then we'll leak false information beforehand, making Prince Duan think the meeting is at Location A. On the day itself, we'll secretly rendezvous at Location B instead. With the Shadow Guard and Bei Zhou now, we should be able to keep this under wraps."
Xiahou Dan vaguely grasped her train of thought: "So you want to see where Prince Duan will investigate?"
"Exactly. If he acts on the intel about Location A and stakes it out, then he's a Paper Doll. If he sends people to both locations, he's still a Paper Doll—our movements were discovered, but Prince Duan is paranoid and cautious enough to cover both bases."
Yu Wanyin continued slowly: "Only in one scenario would he abandon Location A and head straight for Location B—if he's operating at a higher level, anticipating all this, and thus knows Location A can be ignored."
Xiahou Dan clapped: "As expected of Sister Yu."
Yu Wanyin: "Hehehe, just doing my best."
"But have you considered that he might have anticipated everything, including this very conversation, and deliberately sent people to both locations?"
"He wouldn't pretend to be a Paper Doll." Yu Wanyin gritted her teeth and confessed, "He contacted me privately, wanting me to believe he's at a higher level so I'd pledge loyalty to him. Given this chance to prove himself, he'd jump at it."
Xiahou Dan raised an eyebrow slightly: "And you're telling me this just like that?"
Yu Wanyin felt a pang of guilt under his gaze and unconsciously raised her voice: "It's not like I believe him! Given the choice, I'd obviously stick with you."
"Yu Wanyin."
"Yeah?"
Xiahou Dan rubbed his temples: "What if the experiment proves he is at a higher level?"
Yu Wanyin: "."
Xiahou Dan: "In that case, you can go join him. I mean it."
He'd said similar things before, but Yu Wanyin had dismissed them as mere appeasement tactics.
Xiahou Dan spoke calmly: "I won't stop you, but once you leave, you'll lose my protection. You understand that, right?"
Was... that a threat?
Yu Wanyin tread carefully: "And then what would you do?"
"Me?" Xiahou Dan seemed to genuinely consider it. "I'd probably kill as many people as I could within my means, then wait for my own end."
Yu Wanyin's heart chilled: "...You're starting to sound like the Tyrant."
Xiahou Dan listlessly replied: "Can't be helped. Try having a splitting headache every day."
Yu Wanyin couldn't truly fear Xiahou Dan, even when he uttered the most dangerous lines.She had also pondered why. Perhaps it was his expression and tone—three parts complaint, three parts dejection, like a colleague venting about job-hopping impulses over hotpot. Not only was it a far cry from his public persona as the Tyrant, but it also didn’t quite match the aloof demeanor of a high-ranking CEO.
He radiated an aura of "we're the same, you can trust me."
She couldn’t even bring herself to lie and casually reassure him with something like, "Even if that happened, I wouldn’t abandon you." Because they were the same—they both knew that when a company goes bankrupt, employees leave.
Compared to the heroines in the novels she’d read, her romantic idealism was only one-third as strong, and her courage barely one-twentieth. That faint, intangible warmth was no match for the specter of death.
Yu Wanyin had long known this about herself, but facing Xiahou Dan still left her feeling uneasy.
She changed the subject: "Uncle Bei has been testing everything for poison on your behalf—he even checked me. Things will get better."
In the following days, Xiahou Dan secretly sent letters to the examinees while feeding false information to Prince Duan.
A few days later.
Xiahou Dan: "The examinees have arrived at Location B. Prince Duan’s men only went to Location A."
Yu Wanyin relaxed: "Then it’s almost certain—that bastard was faking it. Let’s go to the meeting and see how things unfold."
The so-called Location B was a lakeside excursion.
The sky was overcast that day, and few visitors were around. Only two or three boats drifted sparsely across the lake.
This time, Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin disguised themselves as wealthy young masters, surrounded by "servants," and chartered an ornate painted boat, gliding leisurely toward the center of the lake.
Once the boat was far from shore, a small fishing vessel approached it.
The Shadow Guards laid a plank between the two boats, and soon six people boarded.
The Spider Cave duo had once again transformed into a pair of kindly, benevolent figures. They rose, folding fans in hand, and greeted their guests with refined courtesy.
Most of the six scholars were slender, bookish types, except for the burly one at the front. After exchanging formal greetings, they removed their human skin masks, revealing six faces—some youthful, others weathered.
The burly scholar at the front appeared to be in his thirties, his expression haughty with a hint of discontent. He said, "We came today because your letter moved us, and we wished to converse with a kindred spirit. But now that we’re here, you don’t seem as eager to meet us as your words suggested."
The moment this hot-tempered man spoke, Yu Wanyin recognized him: Li Yunxi, the poorest of all the examinees. A man of great talent who had repeatedly failed the imperial exams, unyielding in his principles. In East Wind , he had exposed a cheater with connections and ended up dead in the streets. In Demon Consort , he had been recruited by Xiahou Bo and became one of his key allies.
Xiahou Dan quickly clasped his hands in apology. "I deeply regret the inconvenience of your journey and the indignity of hiding your faces. The reasons for this will be explained later. As stated in my letter, I have long admired your talents. Your brilliant essays—particularly your arguments on taxes and corvée labor—have often left me reciting them by heart, pondering them long after reading."
As if fearing his humility wasn’t enough, he proceeded to recite passages from their works on the spot, complete with dramatic gestures, head-shaking, and sighs of admiration.
The scholars: "..."
This was mildly embarrassing.
Scholars, after all, were thin-skinned. Flattered like this, they had no choice but to offer polite smiles and a few modest words in return.Xiahou Dan smoothly invited them to take their seats, adopting an expression of deep concern for the nation and its people. "Gentlemen undoubtedly possess the talent to govern the state. However, in these chaotic times, the imperial examinations have become a stagnant pool where favoritism and corruption run rampant, leaving scholars from humble backgrounds with almost no chance to rise. Seeing you toil year after year weighs heavily on my heart."
Li Yunxi: "Who doesn’t know that the so-called selection of the virtuous and capable has long become a joke? But my heart refuses to give up. Carrying the hopes of my hometown, I cannot resign myself to being utterly useless."
His words struck a chord with the shared grievances of the examinees, and the others quickly voiced their agreement.
One lamented that the court’s capable ministers were dwindling, and the Great Xia was doomed, wishing he could dash his head against the ground to awaken the Tyrant.
Another suggested that Prince Duan, with his literary and military prowess, could still be called a virtuous prince. Yet someone else sneered that Prince Duan was only concerned with self-preservation, too cowardly to take a stand.
A third argued that Prince Duan was blameless—the fault lay with the Tyrant, who had plunged the people into misery.
Someone even accused Yu Wanyin of being a wicked consort who had brought ruin to the state.
Finally, emboldened by tea, one raised his arm and shouted, "Are kings and nobles—"
Xiahou Dan: "—born to their stations?"
The scholar: "Exactly!"
Yu Wanyin choked on her drink and elbowed Xiahou Dan.
The scholars, sobering up, grew uneasy. "...You dare say such things?"
Only Li Yunxi scoffed. "Why not? All of us here have spent our lives buried in books—how much can we really save Great Xia?"
Xiahou Dan: "Exactly. Books alone cannot save the Xia people."
Li Yunxi: "Lift your eyes and look around—there is no clear sky, only mire! 'Big rat, big rat, do not eat our millet!' For the sake of the people, nothing is beyond us!"
Xiahou Dan clapped enthusiastically. "Well said! With such vision and ambition as Brother Li’s, there is still hope for Great Xia!"
The scholars gazed at him, moved. "Your words truly reflect your character. Since we’ve spoken so frankly, might we ask your name?"
Xiahou Dan fanned himself gracefully. "My humble surname is Xiahou."
The cabin fell silent.
The scholars rose to their feet, staring at him. "Prince... Prince..."
Xiahou Dan: "My given name is 'Dan.'"
Yu Wanyin wished she could dig a hole through the floor with her toes.
She should be under the boat, not in it.
Xiahou Dan pointed at her. "This is the wicked consort Yu Wanyin, who brought ruin to the state."
The Shadow Guards eagerly closed in.
The frozen scholars finally moved, dropping to their knees in disarray, their faces ashen.
Only two remained stubbornly upright—Li Yunxi, naturally, and Du Shan, who had been the most vocal in agreement earlier.
Li Yunxi, resigned to his fate, stood unflustered, glaring at the villainous couple with indignation. Du Shan, though his legs trembled, refused to lose face by yielding to Li Yunxi.
Xiahou Dan waved the Shadow Guards back. "Please rise, all of you."
He showed no discomfort, as if the man who had just spoken of rebellion wasn’t him.
"You only know of the Tyrant’s oppressive rule, but you do not realize that this Emperor has long been a puppet. Half the court is controlled by the Empress Dowager, the other half by Prince Duan. They gamble with my people as their stakes, one reckless wager after another. It breaks my heart, yet I am powerless. Today, I wished only to bare my sincere heart to you."
He gestured again, and the scholars awkwardly resumed their seats.
Only Li Yunxi remained standing, his neck stiff. "If Your Majesty truly feels this way, why not reform the imperial examinations and openly recruit talent? Why must we meet like thieves in the night, hiding our faces? Such methods of gathering talent hardly befit a ruler’s dignity."“As I mentioned earlier, there are indeed hardships,” said Xiahou Dan. “Too many eyes are watching Us. Even the slightest move to reform the imperial examinations would immediately meet with obstruction from all sides. Were it not for the Shadow Guards scouring everywhere, your brilliant essays would never have reached Our desk. For now, we can only make covert connections and gradually plan to place each of you in suitable positions where you can fully display your talents.”
He sighed. “Once you enter the court, you will undoubtedly be targeted by the Empress Dowager or the Prince Duan faction—either recruited, exploited, or opposed, dragged into their high-stakes gambles. When that day comes, I can only hope you will not forget the impassioned words and lofty aspirations shared on this boat today. Stand tall and become the backbone of Great Xia.”
Yu Wanyin was impressed.
Listen to that—truly moving to tears.
What kind of business was this CEO in? His acting skills were impeccable.
Among the scholars, two were already tearing up. Yu Wanyin recognized them: one was the talented Er Lan disguised as a man, and the other was Du Shan, who had earlier refused to kneel with trembling legs.
Du Shan, visibly moved, said, “For His Majesty to place such high hopes in us is truly…”
Li Yunxi cut in sharply, “Truly outrageous!”
Xiahou Dan: “?”
Yu Wanyin: “?”
Li Yunxi exploded with anger. “How glibly Your Majesty speaks! With a mere mention of hardships, you expect us scholars from humble backgrounds to become pawns in your game—to shed blood, overthrow the Empress Dowager, and eliminate Prince Duan. Trapped in a dilemma, so you cannot voice your convictions? Facing countless obstacles, so you cannot reform the court? If the Son of Heaven lacks even this much resolve, why bother putting on this show of valuing talent and pushing others to become the backbone?”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
That rhymed.
In the corner, Bei Zhou, who had been standing with crossed arms, shifted slightly as if ready to cut him down. Xiahou Dan gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
Li Yunxi raised his voice, speaking through gritted teeth. “Every family among my fellow villagers toils from dawn to dusk all year, farming and weaving, yet the grain they manage to keep is barely enough to feed themselves. My younger brother and sister, born during a famine year, were starved to death by our parents in their despair… Has such taxation gone where it should? The Central Army fights year after year against the Yan Kingdom, yet three-tenths of their military pay is mixed with sand and gravel! Your Majesty, have you ever opened your eyes to see this?”
Du Shan panicked. “Brother Li, there’s no need to go this far…”
Li Yunxi sneered. “Who was it earlier who said that if given the chance to face the Emperor, they would plead with their life? Now that the Emperor is right before you, why have you all fallen silent?”
Du Shan flushed red, rendered speechless.
Yu Wanyin was genuinely embarrassed now.
She came from a comfortably middle-class family, an ordinary corporate drone. School hadn’t taught her how to save a nation. Plus, being inside a book gave her a sense of unreality, making it hard to empathize with the plight of paper dolls. So when gathering these scholars, she hadn’t anticipated facing such an interrogation.
But… now she couldn’t be sure she wasn’t a paper doll herself.
So were the sufferings of other paper dolls truly so unreal?
Li Yunxi’s outburst had clearly left Xiahou Dan at a loss, silent and unable to respond. Yu Wanyin couldn’t help but interject, “His Majesty did punish the Minister of Revenue at the time. It caused quite a stir—you must have heard of it.”
Beside her, Du Shan hesitated, struggling before finally speaking up. “When the news reached my hometown last month, the people rejoiced and burned incense to pray for His Majesty’s blessings.”
He didn’t elaborate further.Yu Wanyin felt as if she had been punched in the face.
After the death of the Minister of Revenue, the Empress Dowager faction immediately pushed another lackey into the position.
Without another word, she could already guess that the people's livelihood had not improved in the slightest. The incense burned in every household had ultimately been for nothing.
Li Yunxi shook his head in disappointment, seemingly unwilling to say more, and turned to leave.
The moment he turned, the Shadow Guard moved.
Everyone understood this man could not be allowed to leave—he carried such hatred with him and already knew of Xiahou Dan’s secret plans, making him a ticking time bomb.
Du Shan trembled as he called out, "Brother Li."
The Shadow Guard drew their sword, but Li Yunxi remained unmoved, striding forward as if determined to spill blood on the Painted Boat.
"Wait!" Yu Wanyin shouted.
She hurried to Li Yunxi’s side and spoke in a rush, "Mr. Li... His Majesty came here today not to drag you all into court faction struggles. To put it bluntly, those who sit idly in their positions—including the imperial family—can die for all I care. But what have the common people done to deserve this?"
The scholars stared at her in shock.
Did you just say including who?
Yu Wanyin continued, "But now the situation is dire—unequal taxes, corrupt officials, rampant greed, an empty treasury. Our abilities are limited, and even desperate measures won’t be enough in time. We need your help."
She bowed deeply, pleading earnestly, "Wan Yin is not eloquent, nor can I speak grand principles. I only beg you all—not for the sake of any Tyrant or bewitching consort..."
The scholars turned their shocked gazes toward Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan showed no reaction.
Yu Wanyin: "...but for the sake of your hometown elders!"
She bowed deeply again. When she straightened, she found Li Yunxi staring at her with an unreadable expression.
Yu Wanyin wiped away tears, surprised at her own acting. But on the other hand, she wasn’t sure if she was still acting.
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort." A quiet, thin scholar spoke up.
"This humble commoner was born with a severe illness and has only two or three years left to live."
Yu Wanyin remembered—this man was Cen Jintian, an agricultural prodigy. In the original story, he wasn’t exactly part of the Prince Duan faction, but he had a pure heart and dedicated himself to the nation for two years.
Then a drought came. Watching the withered crops and starving corpses littering the land, he died with regret, lamenting his ill-fated time.
With his death as a catalyst, Prince Duan offered a ceremonial toast before the crowd, swore vengeance in his name, and rebelled.
Cen Jintian asked, "May this humble commoner ask Your Majesty—will I live to see clear rivers and peaceful seas, years of harmony and abundance?"
Xiahou Dan met his gaze for a long moment before solemnly replying, "This is the promise of your Emperor."
Cen Jintian smiled faintly and knelt. "I pledge my humble service to the Son of Heaven."
In the end, all the scholars sat together peacefully, discussing with Xiahou Dan for two hours before raising cups of strong wine in a final toast.
Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin personally escorted them back to their fishing boats, watching as they donned their disguises and rowed away.
Before the two could turn back to the cabin, a loud crack echoed.
The fishing boat not far from them began sinking rapidly before their eyes.
The suddenness of it stunned everyone.
Xiahou Dan whipped around. "Shadow Guard, turn back and save them!"
A few scholars who could swim abandoned their boat and swam toward the Painted Boat, while the others frantically tried to bail water.
Then the calm surface of the water suddenly churned—the swimming scholars began choking and flailing as assassins emerged from nowhere behind them!Yu Wanyin let out a scream as a dark red stain spread through the water—Du Shan had just had his throat slit from behind by an assassin.
Xiahou Dan's Shadow Guards leaped into the water to engage the assassins, trying to protect the students.
Bei Zhou stood at the bow of the boat, his sharp gaze sweeping across the scene before pointing to a spot on the lakeshore. "There," he said tersely.
No sooner had he spoken than something shot from his raised sleeve with a "whoosh," streaking like lightning toward the shore!
A loud "clang" immediately rang out from the shore as someone blocked the projectile.
Only then did Yu Wanyin finally see the figures standing where Bei Zhou had pointed—one of them shielded by the others.
Though she couldn't make out their faces, it was undoubtedly Xiahou Bo.
A series of "whooshes" followed from Bei Zhou's sleeves as he unleashed a relentless barrage. Xiahou Bo's guards raised their swords to block, but they soon began to falter, forced to dodge left and right as they protected him. One fell almost immediately.
The assassins in the water, sensing the danger, sent several men to intercept Bei Zhou.
Seizing the advantage, Xiahou Dan's Shadow Guards quickly herded the panicked students toward the Painted Boat.
Yu Wanyin glanced around and spotted two wooden rescue buckets tied with ropes. She grabbed them and threw them toward the struggling figures. "Hold on!"
Li Yunxi, being the strongest, swam fastest without needing the Shadow Guards' help and managed to grab one bucket. Yu Wanyin immediately pulled the rope back.
The slack rope suddenly went taut!
An assassin, wounded and disarmed in the chaos, had been lurking underwater, waiting for an opportunity. He now surfaced abruptly, dragging Li Yunxi down. Li Yunxi thrashed violently, but the assassin clung to him stubbornly, trying to pull him under.
Choking on water, Li Yunxi finally gasped, "Hel—cough—!"
Yu Wanyin strained with all her might to pull the rope. "Don't let go!"
Unable to counter the weight on the other end, she slid toward the edge of the boat. Another pair of hands reached from behind and grabbed the rope alongside hers.
Xiahou Dan gritted his teeth. "I can't pull him up either."
Yu Wanyin snapped, "Shut up and tug-of-war!"
"Prince Duan is here. How's your experiment going?"
"I don't care anymore."
Whether he had foreseen this or tracked them here, Xiahou Bo had come.
And now, right before their eyes, he intended to kill every student.
It was control—and intimidation.
He wanted to shatter their courage, to ensure they would never dare resist again.
By her own cowardly nature, Yu Wanyin should indeed be terrified.
But extremes meet.
She was furious.
She had always believed that, from Prince Duan's perspective—having suffered abuse from the Empress Dowager and bullying from Xiahou Dan since childhood, barely surviving until he could establish his own residence, and then witnessing the corruption of the court—his actions made sense.
But these people struggling in the water were the future key officials, the pillars of the nation, the last hope to stabilize Daxia.
If he was just a Paper Doll, then this was senseless slaughter.
If he came from a higher plane, fully aware of who they were, and still ordered their deaths so easily—then for the sake of his own ambitions as a warlord in a chaotic era, he had just condemned countless victims of the drought to an early death!
"I can't out-evil him—he wins there," Yu Wanyin muttered through clenched teeth, her palms torn and bleeding as she clung to the rough rope. "But even if he's a god, I will never surrender to him!"
Xiahou Dan's hands were also bloodied from the friction. Hearing her muffled words, he asked, "What did you say?"Yu Wanyin's veins bulged as she roared at the sky, "Fuck him!!!"
The shout nearly tore her throat, its echoes carrying far across the empty lake.
Yu Wanyin glared straight at the figure on the shore. Though they were too far apart to discern each other's features, she somehow sensed—with inexplicable certainty—that the other person was smiling with amusement.
Yu Wanyin's fury surged, and a burst of brute strength erupted between her hands. The assassin in the water had been struggling with Li Yunxi for a long time and was already exhausted. Caught off guard by her sudden attack, he was yanked forward, helplessly drifting toward the Painted Boat.
Blood seeped from between Yu Wanyin's fingers, dripping down the rope.
The opposing force abruptly vanished, and she staggered back a step, colliding with Xiahou Dan.
The assassin finally lost his strength and released Li Yunxi, sinking alone into the depths. Li Yunxi clung to the wooden barrel as he surfaced, coughing violently.
Just as the group began to relax, a pair of hands emerged from the water, viciously clamping around Li Yunxi's neck!
The assassin had feigned death!
Yu Wanyin locked eyes with Li Yunxi, whose own were bulging in terror. A wave of dread overwhelmed her, and she cried out in despair, "Save—"
The next moment, a figure swept past like a fleeting shadow, delivering a kick to the assassin's crown. A sickening crack echoed as the man was sent to his grave.
Bei Zhou had finally dealt with his own adversaries and now had the leisure to clear the battlefield.
Yu Wanyin trembled as she scanned the surroundings. Apart from Du Shan, who had been killed at the outset, the remaining scholars had all been rescued.
The assassins had initially outnumbered Xiahou Dan's Shadow Guards by several times, yet their grand entrance had ended in a swift and anticlimactic defeat. The skirmish concluded abruptly, and the figures on the shore had retreated unnoticed.
The remaining assassins in the water lost all will to fight, turning to swim toward the shore.
Bei Zhou glanced at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan said, "Leave none alive."
Bei Zhou nodded, executed the fleeing assassins, then dove back underwater to search for any stragglers. He soon surfaced with one who had been holding his breath and swiftly dispatched him.
Corpses floated haphazardly, staining the lake crimson.
The scholars reboarded the Painted Boat, each bearing injuries to varying degrees. Drenched and shivering, they huddled in the cabin as the Shadow Guards tended to their wounds.
Bei Zhou retrieved a bottle of medicinal powder from his robes and said to Xiahou Dan and Yu Wanyin, "Hold out your hands."
As four hands extended, the Shadow Guards dropped to their knees in unison. "We deserve death."
Bei Zhou sprinkled the powder, his eyes reddening. "That bastard died too quickly earlier."
Yu Wanyin shook her head and looked down at the nearby shrouded corpse—Du Shan had been retrieved from the water.
Just a quarter of an hour ago, this man had been brimming with ambition, sharing strong drinks with them. In the original story, though somewhat timid and fearful, his pride had driven him to endure hardships rather than lose face before his peers, ultimately growing into a virtuous official who benefited the people.
Yu Wanyin forced herself to look away and walked to a corner of the cabin.
Er Lan sat curled up, having refused treatment from the Shadow Guards, her expression tense as she stared at the floor.
Yu Wanyin removed her outer robe and draped it over Er Lan's shoulders. "Are you alright?"
Er Lan looked up sharply, her face guarded. Yu Wanyin offered a reassuring smile and whispered, "It's alright, just for cover."
Er Lan returned the smile.
Xiahou Dan remained leaning against the cabin wall, lost in thought.
Once the scholars had been bandaged and given hot tea to calm their nerves, he finally spoke. "The assassins lurking in the water are all dead. Even if they overheard our conversation, they couldn't have relayed it. Moreover, you've all been disguised, so Prince Duan should have no way of identifying you—but I can't guarantee it. If he discovers whom I met today, your names may already be on his assassination list."Yu Wanyin looked up at him along with the scholars.
Xiahou Dan: "After this ordeal, do you still wish to risk entering the imperial court? To avoid drawing attention, those who take office now must change their names, abandon their past reputations for talent, and may not return home for a long time. During next year's imperial examinations, I will arrange for others to assume the names you once bore, completing this deception."
Yu Wanyin thought to herself: That's actually quite clever. Prince Duan and Xie Yong'er have never seen these candidates' true faces—they only know their names. This way, when Prince Duan searches for them using Xie Yong'er's list, he'll only find impostors.
Xiahou Dan shifted his tone: "If any of you now wish to withdraw, that would be understandable. However, since you've already been exposed to state secrets, I cannot simply allow you to return home freely. I hope you'll forgive this."
Li Yunxi, touching the purple-black fingerprints on his neck, seemed thoroughly deflated: "Then what does Your Majesty intend to do? Draw your sword and kill me as you did earlier?"
Xiahou Dan smiled: "No. I will relocate you far from this quagmire, without forcing you to actually serve as strategists. You need only study in peace. Once the capital's situation stabilizes—no matter who ultimately secures the throne—you will remain pure, untarnished talents ready for service."
The scholars exchanged glances.
Some time later, in the carriage returning to the palace.
Xiahou Dan: "Does your hand still hurt?"
Yu Wanyin hesitated briefly before shaking her head: "Uncle Bei's medicine works well. What about you?"
"I'm fine too. We'll clean it with alcohol when we get back." Unaware of her unusual mood, he remained absorbed in his own thoughts. "What do you make of Prince Duan's behavior?"
Yu Wanyin: "He's a Paper Doll."
"Certain this time?"
"Yes. After calming down, I figured it out."
Yu Wanyin continued: "He lacks the higher perspective—that's why he simultaneously sent people to both locations A and B, and clearly underestimated Uncle Bei's combat ability. His choice to kill someone before our eyes was meant as intimidation, right? If you claim even his defeat was part of some grand scheme, I don't buy it. Today's disastrous retreat only boosted our morale while making me question his competence—it brought him no advantage... though it certainly benefited you."
Her last words carried pointed meaning.
Before parting, after Xiahou Dan's speech, every scholar without exception chose to enter government service.
The radical Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie from the original story led the way, followed by the more steady Wang Zhao and Er Lan. Finally, Cen Jintian said: "This commoner has little time left—I cannot afford to wait."
Not even Yu Wanyin had anticipated today's negotiations would proceed so smoothly.
Though they'd lost one scholar, Xiahou Dan had gained the loyalty of all the others.
Watching the fighting spirit burning in their eyes, Yu Wanyin's own agitation gradually cooled.
It had been too smooth.
Unnaturally smooth.
Xiahou Dan: "True. With these helpers, we can finally introduce Yanshu, and have advisors for economic policies. No more just the two of us brainstorming together..."
Yu Wanyin sat opposite him, wrestling with herself for several seconds before speaking: "Dan."
"Hmm?"
"As a Paper Doll, Prince Duan could only have learned our whereabouts through a leak. But today only Uncle Bei and the Shadow Guards knew our itinerary—and in the original story, they remained loyal to you until the very end. The scholars didn't even know your identity before meeting you, so they couldn't have leaked information. Which means..."Xiahou Dan pondered, "I've been thinking about that too. But in the original text, Prince Duan wasn't this unscrupulous, was he? When he was the male lead sailing smoothly, he didn't need to be a villain. But now that we're here and circumstances have changed, he's changed as well, hasn't he?"
Yu Wanyin slowly withdrew her gaze. "You're right. It seems we'll have to investigate carefully."
Could Xiahou Dan have been the one to lure Prince Duan here?
There was another question: Was the person on the shore really Prince Duan?
Was it possible that Prince Duan had been kept in the dark all along, only going to location A, while everything that happened in the lake at location B was orchestrated by Xiahou Dan himself?
Sacrificing a Paper Doll for greater gains... After all, when he was in the palace, he didn't seem to value the lives of Paper Dolls much.
But even if she, Yu Wanyin, were to burn incense, bathe, and ascend to sainthood on the spot, Paper Dolls would still die—by the thousands. They would perish in droughts, in the flames of war, on Prince Duan's path to power.
To prevent all that, perhaps sacrificing one Du Shan now...
A sharp pain shot through Yu Wanyin's palm as she realized her hand had unconsciously clenched into a fist.
A wave of inexplicable anger rose within her. She hadn't even found any concrete evidence yet, and here she was, already making excuses for Xiahou Dan.
In the end, she shouldn't have expected any genuine kindness or virtue from Xiahou Dan in the first place. A Corporate drone wouldn't demand such qualities from a colleague. Such expectations were usually reserved for... she didn't want to think about who.
Bei Zhou had been seen displaying his skills by Prince Duan today. To obscure the truth, he reactivated his bone-shrinking technique and transformed into a woman, becoming the new matron in the Imperial Concubine's Palace.
Xiahou Dan couldn't deviate from his new persona of exclusively favoring Consort Xie, so he didn't accompany them back to the Imperial Concubine's Palace. Yu Wanyin tended to her injured hand alone and made up a quick excuse to placate the alarmed Xiao Mei.
Xiao Mei: "Miss is injured like this. How will you perform at the Flower Festival banquet in a few days?"
Yu Wanyin: "Perform? Why would I need to perform?"
"Because His Majesty has requested Consort Xie to dance! She's been stealing the spotlight lately—we can't let her outshine us!" Xiao Mei fretted. "How about singing a song instead?"
Yu Wanyin was disinterested and only wanted to probe for the original host's skills. She tested the waters: "How do you think my singing is?"
Xiao Mei hesitated. "...There are still a few days left. Maybe Miss can practice hard?"
Great, no skills to speak of.
Zhang San had been transmigrated for a while now, living in hell mode.
Every minute, every second, he silently observed the words and actions of the ancients, terrified that a single misstep would expose him. The Little Crown Prince had daily lessons, and he had to cram, starting with calligraphy, not to mention those incomprehensible classical texts.
Fortunately, the original Little Crown Prince seemed to have been quite taciturn, so no one found it strange that he played mute every day. As for his studies, no matter how poorly he performed, no tutor dared to scold the Crown Prince—perhaps the only silver lining in this new life.
Yet his soul was merely that of a middle schooler, and now his body was even younger. Navigating this eerie palace, he constantly felt vulnerable and unsafe.
Before transmigrating, he had only glanced briefly at the novel's synopsis. He vaguely remembered the protagonist was a transmigrated concubine, but he couldn't recall her name.He had tried to find this fellow transmigrator, scrutinizing every concubine he occasionally encountered. However, as the Crown Prince, it was inconvenient for him to interact with the Emperor's harem, and those few seconds of observation yielded no clues.
Once, he took a risk. When the concubines were paying their respects to the Empress Dowager, he shamelessly lingered by her side. During a lull in their Imperial Harem Intrigue, he boldly declared in front of everyone, "Imperial Grandmother, the weather has been unbearably hot lately. Your grandson feels like living in an icehouse and never coming out."
Was the hint obvious enough? Would another transmigrator pick up on it?
All the concubines remained demure, still immersed in their power plays, not even sparing him a second glance.
Only the Empress Dowager sternly reprimanded him, "As the heir apparent, you should not fear heat or cold, nor indulge in comfort."
Zhang San: "..."
This wasn’t working.
He had to leave a conspicuous mark—one only a fellow transmigrator would recognize.
The theme of the Flower Banquet was quite creative. Each concubine chose a flower to adorn her hair, with her attire and accessories matching accordingly. The banquet hall was a picturesque scene of blooming beauties, fragrant and dazzling.
Perhaps deeming the event unsuitable for minors, or perhaps to avoid any interaction between Xiahou Dan and his son, the Empress Dowager did not bring the Crown Prince along.
Xie Yong'er, the Lady of the Crabapple Blossom, gracefully took the stage and performed a solo dance titled "To the Moon."
She had prepared thoroughly, even instructing the musicians beforehand to learn the accompaniment. However, as she couldn’t quite remember the tune herself, the final rendition was slightly off-key.
Surprisingly, Xiahou Dan managed not to laugh this time—perhaps because he genuinely hadn’t heard the song before. He remained composed throughout, even mustering an infatuated expression.
Xie Yong'er finished her fan dance with a flourish and bowed alluringly.
Xiahou Dan: "Marvelous, simply marvelous. Come, sit here."
Xie Yong'er bypassed Yu Wanyin and took the seat to the Emperor’s right, then cast a coy glance at Yu Wanyin. "Consort Yu, might this humble sister have the honor of witnessing your dance?"
Yu Wanyin: "..."
In the original story, Xie Yong'er had uttered these same words, though their roles were reversed. Back then, it was the rising star Yu Wanyin who had deliberately called upon Xie Yong'er to dance, hoping to embarrass her. Instead, Xie Yong'er stunned the crowd with "To the Moon," thwarting Yu Wanyin’s scheme.
Who would have thought that even with fate altered, Xie Yong'er would make the same choice?
Whether in favor or out of it, she just couldn’t resist the intrigue. Why was she so obsessed with Imperial Harem Intrigue?
After attending the Emperor in bed that night, Xie Yong'er woke up with no memory of the event. She was told by the palace maids that she had been terrified out of her wits, acting like a madwoman.
She knew she wasn’t that fragile—there must have been something wrong with that Birth Control Concoction. Labeled as such, it might well have been poison.
What had she babbled in her delirium?
Judging by the fact that the Tyrant hadn’t been angry afterward and had instead launched a rustic charm offensive, she probably hadn’t said anything too dangerous.
Still... Yu Wanyin had tricked her into drinking that concoction. She’d definitely had ulterior motives!
Having figured this out, Xie Yong'er was done being merciful. Though she didn’t care for Xiahou Dan, in the palace, one had no choice. If she didn’t secure the Emperor’s favor, she’d be the next one crushed in the power struggles.
Yu Wanyin sighed softly, hiding the wound in her palm. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, this humble consort is unskilled in dance and fears she cannot perform."The Empress Dowager snorted coldly. "The Noble Consort has quite the airs about her. Must this old one invite you personally?"
Xie Yong'er's new followers exchanged knowing glances.
A plucked phoenix is not even as good as a chicken. Yu Wanyin curtsied pitifully. "This concubine... this concubine has only learned a minor tune recently, and sings poorly..."
Xie Yong'er froze, as if facing a formidable enemy.
The original text of East Wind never mentioned the female lead could sing!
Yu Wanyin took several deep breaths, recalling the melody she'd hastily learned from Xiao Mei, struck a pose, and began: "By riverside are lovers parting..."
Her voice was shrill and unadorned, as robust as a boat tracker's chant.
Xie Yong'er: "..."
Empress Dowager: "..."
Determined to disgust them, Yu Wanyin howled through the entire song before weakly saying, "This concubine has caught a chill and lacks breath control. Sniff . I beg His Majesty's punishment!"
She looked at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan stared at her blankly, his expression one of astonishment that seemed to say, "How pure and unpretentious she is, so different from those other gaudy sluts."
Yu Wanyin's gaze met his for barely half a second before she hastily looked away. She feared one of them would burst into laughter first.
Xiahou Dan coughed gently. "Since the Noble Consort is unwell, there's no need to keep us company. Go rest."
Yu Wanyin fled in panic.
Xiahou Dan was simply too ridiculous in moments like these, making it hard to imagine such a person capable of sinister, cunning schemes.
Yet she also knew this judgment was entirely emotional.
For the hundred and eighth time, Yu Wanyin reminded herself inwardly to stay alert , paying no attention to where her feet were taking her until a familiar voice called from nearby: "Wan Yin."
Yu Wanyin instantly sobered up.
What must come would come.
Xiahou Bo led her to a familiar old room—the very one where he'd secretly met Xie Yong'er before. Apparently, this was still his stronghold within the palace.
Yu Wanyin feigned ignorance. "Where is this?"
Xiahou Bo spoke gently. "When I was young, before leaving the palace, if I was beaten by palace servants, I would hide here until late at night before returning."
Here it comes—the villain's monologue.
Now certain he wasn't an omniscient deity and still needed her, Yu Wanyin felt much more confident and could calmly play along. She wore a moved expression before finally saying, "Last time we met, Your Highness mentioned..."
Xiahou Bo: "Hmm. Have you made your decision?"
Yu Wanyin tested him: "Can Your Highness clearly see the outcome of my consideration?"
Xiahou Bo played the mystic. "What do you think?"
Yu Wanyin lowered her head and produced a scented sachet. "I... in my panic that day, my words were disrespectful to Your Highness. This is my apology... I embroidered it myself."
She'd rushed to finish it in the past two days. The embroidery was atrocious—a bright red background with two figures stitched in pitch black.
The man had one arm, though the shoddy craftsmanship made it unclear whether this was intentional or a mistake.
They rode together on an enormous bird, likely an eagle.
Though she now knew Prince Duan wasn't at the top level, she needed to be more thorough—to confirm he wasn't in the middle tier either, but merely a paper doll at the very bottom.However, she didn't want to test him with something as blunt as asking "how are you." Prince Duan was still putting on airs as a demigod, thinking he had her completely fooled. If she asked "how are you" and he couldn't answer, he'd realize he'd been exposed.
She needed a more sophisticated test.
This scented sachet was the puzzle she'd devised. Any transmigrator who saw it would immediately exclaim, "The Condor Heroes?"
Xiahou Bo: "'Swallows flying in pairs?' Quite ingenious indeed."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Yu Wanyin immediately smiled. "I'm glad Your Highness likes it."
Well, your disguise is completely blown now.
Though she still couldn't figure out how a Paper Doll could identify three transmigrators, though she still felt fear facing this clearly more dangerous being whose methods surpassed her own.
After days of countering his moves, her courage had grown inch by inch, until she finally took the crucial step: she was going to deceive him.
She wagered that Prince Duan didn't have the concept of "transmigrators." In the original story, Xie Yong'er had never revealed her origins to him, always vaguely claiming, "I calculated it," whenever offering advice.
So in his eyes, was Xie Yong'er a reincarnated Zhuge Liang, or some demonic spirit?
Perhaps he was still puzzling over this himself? Maybe her slip about "different species" that day had given him even more to imagine?
There was another question. Prince Duan already had Xie Yong'er helping him wholeheartedly, yet didn't fully trust her, and still sought to recruit her. No matter how preternaturally intelligent he was, he couldn't possibly have deduced she was superior to Xie Yong'er out of thin air. So why was he so fixated on her?
Yu Wanyin decided to probe Prince Duan's inner world.
Steeling herself, she slowly asked a question she'd been refining for days.
Yu Wanyin: "When did you open your Heavenly Eye?"
Xiahou Bo: "..."
In that half-second, Yu Wanyin could almost see the gears turning furiously in Prince Duan's handsome head, sparks nearly flying from the friction.
Xiahou Bo calmly replied, "Not long ago."
Yu Wanyin: "I thought as much. When Your Highness suddenly pointed out that I could foresee certain futures, it startled me. Only upon reflection did I realize Your Highness must have also glimpsed the great illumination. It's just that Your Highness's demeanor and speech remained unchanged—unlike the rest of us—which made me hesitant to acknowledge it."
The gears in Xiahou Bo's mind spun rapidly again: "To avoid unnecessary complications, I had to maintain some pretense. My apologies for the deception."
"Now that we understand each other, we can speak plainly. What futures has Your Highness foreseen for yourself?"
Without changing expression, Xiahou Bo said, "How do you think I found you today, Wan Yin?"
Yu Wanyin asked suspiciously, "Anything beyond that?"
"..." Xiahou Bo, clearly wary of misspeaking, didn't immediately respond.
Yu Wanyin's reasoning was simple: according to the original story, Prince Duan should be solely focused on dismantling the Empress Dowager faction and wouldn't spare a thought for the mad Emperor. His current suspicion arose because he'd unexpectedly discovered that Xiahou Dan, along with Consorts Yu and Xie, were all behaving differently than before—and Xie Yong'er's clairvoyant suggestions had further convinced him these three were extraordinary.
If she wanted to continue lying low, she needed to allay his suspicions.
But at this point, simply insisting "I'm ordinary" or "my abilities are negligible" would only make her seem more suspicious.Why not mix truth with deception to lead him to the conclusion that "this so-called Heavenly Eye isn't all that impressive"?
Yu Wanyin pressed on, guiding him step by step: "Your Highness has only just awakened the Heavenly Eye, so you're not quite used to it yet, right? Do you sometimes see strange visions in your dreams but can't decipher their meaning?"
Xiahou Bo played along: "Indeed, they appear quite blurry."
Yu Wanyin smiled. "Interpreting dreams is a profound art, and no one can claim to fully understand it. They say those of the highest attainment can perceive all beings across the six realms—with a single closing of their eyes, they pierce through illusions. But in reality, everyone's innate abilities differ, so what each person sees varies."
Feigning great interest, she probed, "Since Your Highness is a prince, can you see further into the future?"
Xiahou Bo understood now.
What he saw, she couldn't—so she could spin any tale she wished.
Xiahou Bo said, "I fear telling you would only bring sorrow."
Yu Wanyin: "!"
Yu Wanyin tensed. "Please, speak freely."
Xiahou Bo slowly clasped his hands behind his back. "I saw war raging across the land, countless dead and wounded, the dynasty's line severed. Wan Yin, I also saw Xiahou Dan fleeing the palace in haste—without you by his side."
Good heavens, what a difference in perspective. Even his lies carried grandeur, opening with such a sweeping scene.
Yu Wanyin summoned a lifetime's worth of acting skills to conjure an expression of shocked disbelief.
Xiahou Bo played along earnestly. "You didn't see this?"
"I..." Yu Wanyin hesitated. "I can only glimpse minor, recent events."
"Such as?"
Yu Wanyin pretended to think. "Once, in a dream, I saw Xie Yong'er embroidering a Scented Sachet stitch by stitch—likely the very one at Your Highness's waist now."
Xie Yong'er had secretly stitched this sachet, keeping even her personal maids unaware. Yu Wanyin knew solely because the original text had described it.
With a tinge of jealousy, she added, "Your Highness once mentioned Xie Yong'er also awakened the Heavenly Eye? But how could she know you, let alone craft a sachet to court favor?"
Xiahou Bo paused. When presenting the sachet, Xie Yong'er had said: "Yong'er dabbles in divination and once foresaw Your Highness as Heaven's chosen one, the true Son of Destiny."
Internally, Xiahou Bo grew more convinced by Yu Wanyin's account, though outwardly he soothed, "It must have been a mistaken vision."
Yu Wanyin insisted, "Impossible! I saw the embroidery threads clearly!"
"Oh? Are the images in your dreams always so vivid?" Xiahou Bo continued assessing.
"Well..." Yu Wanyin's mind raced. "Yes. Another time, I distinctly saw Your Highness being ambushed."
Xiahou Bo: "?"
Yu Wanyin: "This was soon after I entered the palace, when Your Highness was still garrisoning the borders. I saw a burly man attack from behind—fortunately, Your Highness reacted swiftly, turning to block... Then I woke in alarm, worried sick until Your Highness returned safely later."
Xiahou Bo recalled the incident she referenced.
The "attacker" had been General Luo, a frequent sparring partner. Their so-called ambush had merely been playful banter.
So she truly possessed the Heavenly Eye, but could only glimpse fragmented scenes—their meanings remaining beyond her grasp.
Analyzing silently, Xiahou Bo asked neutrally, "Wan Yin, has His Majesty ever shared what he's seen?"
Yu Wanyin had prepared for this. "Once he woke startled, claiming he saw me as his empress, standing beside him as the nation flourished."
Xiahou Bo dismissed this. "You're clever—even without visions, you'd recognize Great Xia's internal strife and external threats hardly herald resurgence. Since His Majesty awoke alarmed, how did he appear then?"
Yu Wanyin lowered her eyes mournfully.Xiahou Bo spoke in a tone that suggested, "Your company is about to go under—why not jump ship to mine?" "After all the ups and downs you've faced in the palace, do you still regard His Majesty as a wise and benevolent ruler?"
"...Wan Yin is merely a pitiful soul who happened to glimpse a sliver of divine insight. The distant future is nothing but a haze to me. What does Your Highness hope to gain from me?"
Xiahou Bo narrowed his eyes, studying her pale, downturned face.
Today, for the Flower Festival banquet, she had dressed as the Peony Fairy, adorned in dazzling gold and red. Yet her expression was as wilted as frostbitten eggplants, timid and indecisive.
A far cry from the woman he'd seen at the lake that day.
Standing on the shore, he had heard her heart-wrenching shout—"Screw him!"—and even now, he wondered if he'd misheard the exact words. But the sheer audacity in her voice had cut through the air like a blade. It was as if she had shattered some inner shackles, glowing from within.
It made him inexplicably... want to seize that light.
Moments later, Yu Wanyin returned to the Imperial Concubine's Palace, her face ashen.
Xiahou Bo had just said, "A few days ago, I dreamed of His Majesty boating on the lake with you, conversing with a few commoners. Concerned for your safety outside the palace, I sent men to follow you. To my surprise, His Majesty had a new expert by his side—one who slaughtered many of my Shadow Guards without hesitation."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
She had never met someone so shameless.
Xiahou Bo had even asked her matter-of-factly, "Who were those people you met? And who was that expert? Have you seen him before?"
Yu Wanyin still needed to bide her time and couldn't afford to openly antagonize him. Swallowing her anger, she replied meekly, "I merely wished to learn folk songs, so His Majesty summoned a few commoners to teach me. As for the expert, I've never seen him in the palace."
Xiahou Bo: "Is that so? Then could you use the Heavenly Eye to divine his whereabouts?"
Yu Wanyin quickly countered, "Does Your Highness not know that the visions in dreams are bestowed by divine will, chaotic and unpredictable? They are not something we can control."
Xiahou Bo was stumped.
After a pause, he reached out slowly, caressing her face with feigned tenderness. "Try for me, won't you? Perhaps soon, you'll realize who your true benefactor is."
Yu Wanyin mustered every ounce of self-control to keep from recoiling.
His words, translated, meant: My patience has limits.
The moment she returned to the Imperial Concubine's Palace, Yu Wanyin summoned a trusted Shadow Guard and ordered, "Place more warding talismans and demon-repelling items along Consort Xie's usual paths."
The Shadow Guard was startled. "Your Highness, is Consort Xie... a demon?"
Yu Wanyin replied cryptically, "She knows what she is."
The guard pressed, "Are there any specific requirements for the talismans?"
Yu Wanyin: "No, just make them as terrifying as possible. And scatter some stories about Taoist masters vanquishing demons—the grislier the demons' fates, the better."
Prince Duan was meticulous and trusted no one—not even Xie Yong'er completely. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sought her out as a backup.
Her earlier bluff wouldn't fool him entirely. He'd surely cross-check with Xie Yong'er.
She needed to preemptively scare Xie Yong'er into paranoia, so that when Prince Duan probed her, she wouldn't spill everything carelessly.
As for what lies Xie Yong'er would spin and whether they'd align perfectly with her own story—that was beyond her control. After all, Prince Duan didn't trust Xie Yong'er either. Between truth and lies, let him stew in his own suspicions.If he were to completely lose trust in Xie Yong'er's prophecies, that would actually be great news.
All day long, wherever Xie Yong'er went, she encountered terrifying and bizarre sights. Those inexplicably appearing storybooks continued to frighten her: You, the demon, have been targeted and will be burned with talismans.
Who? Who exactly wanted to harm her?
Did the Emperor suspect her songs and dances had dubious origins? No, given the Emperor's temperament, if he became suspicious, he would have simply buried her alive without going through such elaborate hints.
Was it some jealous concubine? No, concubines would only secretly report to the Emperor—why alert her?
It wasn't until evening, when Prince Duan came for their secret meeting, that the truth dawned on her. Amidst their affectionate exchange of poetry under the moonlight, he suddenly asked, "Yong'er once mentioned you often foresee events?"
Xie Yong'er froze.
Yes, she had only ever told him that.
Could it be that these ancients ultimately couldn't accept such claims and had labeled her a demon? Were those exorcism objects earlier meant for her?!
Xie Yong'er: "...N-not often... and not always accurate..."
Xiahou Bo: "When you divine, what does it feel like? Do you hear heavenly voices?"
Xie Yong'er dared not tell the truth now and mumbled, "It's not that mystical—just vague feelings."
"Feelings?"
"Mmm..."
Xiahou Bo glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her tightly clenched, whitened fingers before he took her hand and said gently, "Don't be afraid. I'll keep your secret."
Then why test me in the first place? Amidst her panic, Xie Yong'er felt a surge of resentment. She had devoted herself wholeheartedly to him, yet in the end, she couldn't even earn his honesty. This man's mind was far too inscrutable.
Xiahou Bo: "Yong'er, can you divine what His Majesty is planning?"
The Emperor? Xie Yong'er was taken aback. "Nothing particularly special, it seems."
In the original story, the Emperor basically did nothing but eat, drink, and wait to be overthrown.
Had he done something recently that she'd forgotten after reading the original?
Afraid Prince Duan would think she was slacking, Xie Yong'er added, "Some things can't be divined—what I see depends on fate... In fact, accuracy also depends on fate."
Yu Wanyin had managed to send Prince Duan away and kept a low profile for a few days.
The library was still under renovation, leaving her with no books to read, so she hid away practicing calligraphy. Xiahou Dan sometimes joined her, though not every day.
To better monitor Xie Yong'er, his current role was "wavering between the white rose Consort Yu and the red rose Xie Yong'er"—bestowing jewelry on one today, pushing the other on a swing tomorrow. The palace staff all knew the Tyrant's spring had arrived, and even his temper had improved slightly.
Yet in truth, during their private moments, Yu Wanyin hadn't recaptured the boisterous warmth of their little hotpot meal for a long time.
Prince Duan had asked her about Bei Zhou, clearly pressuring her to become a spy.
The more she refused, the more wary Prince Duan would grow of Xiahou Dan. Once he realized Yu Wanyin could never be of use to him, he would eliminate her without hesitation—just as he had done with Xu Yao.
So now... she had to become a double agent?
How could a mere corporate drone like her manage such a thing? Moreover, between the two Xiahous, one was undeniably evil, while the other... she couldn't quite figure out anymore.
The assassin by the lake that day had indeed been sent by Prince Duan.But he didn’t truly possess the Heavenly Eye, so how had he managed to find his way to the lake? Could it have been Xiahou Dan deliberately leading him there?
Yu Wanyin felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and exhaustion.
Xiahou Dan had clearly noticed her avoidance but hadn’t said anything about it.
One day, he brought Yu Wanyin into the Imperial Study, replacing the guards on duty with Shadow Guards, before speaking in a low voice, “Those five scholars have all successfully entered the court, securing minor positions in various ministries. Today, I’ve called two of them for a small meeting.”
Li Yunxi and the others were either well-versed in governance or skilled in finance, but each came from humble backgrounds, with no access to hereditary privilege or the means to pass the hollow formality of the imperial examinations.
Thus, Xiahou Dan had to step in, changing their names, fabricating identities for them, and providing funds to purchase official positions through the grain contribution system.
In the past, if scholars had heard of such a method to become officials, they would have scoffed in disdain and walked away.
But after the incident at the lake, they had clearly matured.
The attendees were Li Yunxi and Cen Jintian. Dressed in court robes and official hats, they looked nothing like their former selves in simple attire—now exuding the aura of corporate drones.
Xiahou Dan swiftly excused them from formalities. “Ministers, please be seated.”
Yu Wanyin, familiar with small group meetings, found a seat at the lower end of the table, setting out ink and brush to take notes.
Unexpectedly, Li Yunxi glanced up and saw her, his eyes widening in disbelief. “The Noble Consort is also here?”
Xiahou Dan: “What of it?”
Li Yunxi’s stubbornness flared up again as he eagerly courted death. “This humble official requests Her Highness to withdraw.”
Xiahou Dan: “?”
Cen Jintian couldn’t bear to watch and tugged at his sleeve.
Li Yunxi ignored him. “Her Highness’s presence on the boat that day was already an overreach. Now she has entered the Imperial Study? For a woman of the inner court to meddle in state affairs—what kind of propriety is this!”
Xiahou Dan casually smashed a teacup at his feet. “Get out.”
Li Yunxi seemed to relish this chance to display his unyielding integrity, tears welling as he kowtowed. “Your Majesty, this official is willing to die in remonstrance!”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
The acting tyrant had finally met his match today.
Yu Wanyin was torn between laughter and exasperation.
Having read the original text, she knew Li Yunxi was just this stubborn—convinced of his own righteousness, his ideal being to dash his head against the palace steps and be remembered for eternity.
So she leisurely turned her palm upward, stroking the scab that hadn’t fully healed. “I forgot to ask earlier—how were your injuries after falling into the water that day, Lord Li? Have you fully recovered now?”
Li Yunxi: “…”
Yu Wanyin poured him tea. “Lord Li, calm your temper first. You can remonstrate later—oh dear.” Her hand trembled, spilling half the pot onto the table. With a long sigh, she added, “This hand is practically useless now.”
Li Yunxi: “…”
After sloppily filling half a cup, she stood and handed it to him. “Lord Li, drink this first. Then this consort shall withdraw.”
Li Yunxi: “…………”
“Wan Yin!” Xiahou Dan lamented dramatically. “You’ve toiled tirelessly for the nation and its people—I’ve seen it all. Why bother with this ungrateful wretch?”
Yu Wanyin smiled sorrowfully. “This consort is but a woman. In this kingdom, there may be no place for me. Great kindness and righteousness have nothing to do with me, do they?”
Xiahou Dan: “Sit. Sit right beside me. As for this fool who can’t even grasp basic reasoning—let him dash his head if he wishes.”Li Yunxi's face turned beet red, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long while.
Yu Wanyin thought this person might still be useful—better not let him die of a stroke from anger—and was about to say something nice to coax him up.
With a loud "thud," he kowtowed heavily again: "Your Highness is most noble! This humble official is willing to atone with death!"
Yu Wanyin: "?"
So you just want to die, huh?
In the end, everyone sat down with tea to hold a meeting.
Yu Wanyin raised the most important question first: "Lord Cen, I heard you... um, are quite skilled at farming?"
According to the original description, this sickly scholar had unusual interests. Perhaps knowing he wouldn't live long, he didn't waste time composing poetry or passionately discussing politics.
Since his youth, he had traveled extensively—not to sightsee, but to pick up a hoe and farm wherever he went. Though Yu Wanyin doubted how his frail frame could manage such labor.
Cen Jintian hurriedly replied, "This official is not adept at farming. Over the years, my visits to the fields were for this."
He presented a thick ledger to Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan flipped through it, his face showing astonishment: "How long have you been compiling this, Minister Cen?"
Cen Jintian: "About ten years."
"The Ministry of Revenue hasn't accomplished what you have, Minister Cen. I am truly ashamed."
Yu Wanyin roughly understood Cen Jintian's research method. Simply put, he left small experimental plots across Daxia, planting various staple crops while controlling variables—studying the effects of soil, climate, planting times, irrigation methods, and other factors on yields.
After ten years, he had developed a comprehensive theory on what and how to plant in different regions.
When reading the novel, Yu Wanyin hadn't paid much attention to Cen Jintian's character, only recalling him vaguely when he died with regrets.
Now, holding his ledger like a lifeline, her hands trembled: "Lord Cen, does this include records of Yanshu?"
"Yanshu? There might be scattered mentions. It's not common in Daxia, mostly considered livestock feed..."
Yu Wanyin grew anxious: "What about other drought-resistant crops?"
Cen Jintian's expression shifted slightly: "Why does Your Highness ask this?"
Yu Wanyin looked at Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan propped his head on one hand, massaging his temple: "The Imperial Observatory's calculations predict ominous celestial signs—a great drought in the coming years."
Both officials paled instantly.
Xiahou Dan glanced at them coolly: "This matter is top secret."
Throughout history, natural disasters were seen as divine punishment for a ruler's misdeeds, often accompanied by political turmoil or even the fall of dynasties.
Yet here was the ruler himself speaking of it, as if foretelling his own demise.
Yu Wanyin added to the setup: "Your Majesty, how accurate are the Imperial Observatory's predictions?"
Xiahou Dan: "They haven't been wrong in many years."
Even Li Yunxi dared not offer further remonstrance: "This official will not breathe a word of it."
Xiahou Dan chuckled: "What's there to fear? It hasn't happened yet. If we prepare countermeasures now, no one will starve when it comes. Minister Cen?"
Cen Jintian gazed steadily at Xiahou Dan, as if inspired, and smiled: "This official will compile the records immediately. Though Yanshu tastes poor, it yields two to three harvests a year. Widespread planting could indeed save lives during drought."
Hearing his calm tone—not at all clueless—Yu Wanyin felt slightly reassured.Li Yunxi added, "Daxia doesn't have Yanshu. If we want to start planting now, we'd first need to gather seeds."
Yu Wanyin asked, "So we'd have to get them from Yan?"
Li Yunxi's eyebrows twitched. "Your Majesty, now is not the time for war!"
Yan had been repeatedly invading, and the gradually weakening Daxia was already struggling to cope. The Central Army had barely managed to repel the enemy once, and everyone was hoping the border would remain peaceful for a couple of years.
Moreover, with nearly all military power currently in Prince Duan's hands, Xiahou Dan wouldn't be able to mobilize troops even if he wanted to.
Xiahou Dan waved his hand. "No need for war." He knew when Yu Wanyin said "get," she was definitely thinking of diplomacy.
Most likely, another grand performance was coming.
But this wasn't something he needed to discuss with these two. For now, he brushed it off: "Let's set aside the seed issue for now. Minister Li, assuming we've acquired enough seeds, what's the next step?"
"Next step?"
"We can't let anyone know a drought is coming. When the time arrives, what reason can we use to persuade the people to plant Yanshu?"
Li Yunxi repeated what Yu Wanyin had once said: "Perhaps the court could purchase—"
"The treasury is empty. The court has no money." Xiahou Dan dropped another bombshell with a straight face.
Li Yunxi: "..."
Cen Jintian silently glanced back at the tightly shut doors of the Imperial Study.
Would they even make it out alive after this discussion?
How many more years could this dynasty last? Would it be enough time for him to farm?
Li Yunxi furrowed his brows in deep thought, remaining silent for a long while.
Yu Wanyin had gone to great lengths to find these experts. Seeing them at a loss, her heart sank. "Minister Li..."
Li Yunxi looked up. "What about the Open Border Policy?"
Xiahou Dan: "..."
Xiahou Dan: "Open what?"
Li Yunxi ultimately spent two hours explaining the details and answering questions.
After he and Cen Jintian took their leave, Xiahou Dan slumped down from his seat. "My head..."
Yu Wanyin looked somber, pausing for a few seconds before asking, "Does it hurt?"
Xiahou Dan half-draped over the chair, glancing at her with a hint of expectation. "A little."
Yu Wanyin hesitated another moment before silently sitting beside him and pressing her fingers gently against his temples to massage them.
Xiahou Dan closed his eyes, his expression easing slightly as the corners of his lips curled up. "Thank you, my beloved consort."
"It is merely this humble consort's duty."
Xiahou Dan chuckled.
As she continued massaging, Yu Wanyin said, "I think these officials are quite reliable. If we follow their suggestions step by step, we might actually prevent the drought."
"And Prince Duan."
"And Prince Duan," Yu Wanyin echoed.
Xiahou Dan drowsily tilted his head, eyes still closed, and murmured, "Lately, I've been thinking—since we already have Xu Yao's book and now have allies, could we thwart Prince Duan's schemes one by one?"
"No, at most we can only thwart him once." Yu Wanyin briefly recounted the joke about the "Heavenly Eye." "Prince Duan is already watching me, but he doesn't yet know the extent of my abilities or whether I can be of use to him. If we fail even once, he'll blacklist me completely. After that, all his plans will change again, filled with decoys just to counter me."
Xiahou Dan: "So, we have to let him do as he pleases."“Not a big problem. Most of his plans are currently aimed at the Empress Dowager. Let them fight it out while we stay hidden and grow stronger in secret. That one chance to thwart him must be used at the critical moment.”
Xiahou Dan remained silent.
Yu Wanyin stared blankly at the notes on the table, only realizing the silence had stretched too long after a while. She looked down.
Xiahou Dan had already lifted his gaze, his dark eyes fixed quietly on her.
Yu Wanyin stiffened slightly. “What’s wrong?”
“We made great progress today, but you don’t seem too happy?”
Yu Wanyin forced a smile. “Not at all. Congratulations on finally gaining a right-hand man. You won’t be fighting alone anymore.”
Xiahou Dan chuckled and slowly straightened up. “Wan Yin, who do you think leaked the news of our meeting by the lake to Prince Duan?”
Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat. “I’ve been wondering about that too.”
“You think it was me, don’t you?”
Yu Wanyin: “…”
Xiahou Dan understood. “You think I’d sacrifice a key official—and the people he could have benefited—just to compete with Prince Duan in ruthlessness. Oh, and do you also suspect I set the library on fire? After all, it did force Xu Yao into a corner and make him hand over that book.”
Yu Wanyin was shocked. “Absolutely not.”
Xiahou Dan’s expression at this moment was utterly unfamiliar to her. His eyes seemed unnaturally dark, devoid of any reflection, his striking features now as vivid and menacing as a painted skin. “Your thoughts are written all over your face, Wan Yin.”
The hairs on Yu Wanyin’s neck stood up—a reaction usually reserved for Prince Duan.
She wanted to laugh it off and ask, “Why are you acting with me too?” But her lips felt frozen.
After a long silence, Xiahou Dan finally spoke softly. “Have you considered that your suspicion might be exactly what Prince Duan intended? He didn’t know who we met by the lake—he wanted to kill them to intimidate us. But when he heard your furious outcry, he realized it was the perfect opportunity to drive a wedge between us.”
Yu Wanyin: “What…?”
“He deliberately withdrew, making the outcome favor me. Because he judged that your loyalty was more valuable to him than a few commoners. When you saw how much I benefited from Du Shan’s death, would you still work with me unreservedly?”
Yu Wanyin had no answer.
Xiahou Dan spread his hands. “One can prove what they’ve done, but not what they haven’t. If I say I didn’t leak the location, would you believe me?”
Yu Wanyin knew what she should do now.
She should feign sudden realization and remorse, curse Prince Duan’s treachery in front of Xiahou Dan, and reconcile with him.
She’d performed this act for Prince Duan several times—she was practiced at it.
But she didn’t want to.
Not even for this clearly unhinged version of Xiahou Dan.
Perhaps the accumulated mental strain of maintaining facades on both sides had reached its limit. The words spilled out before she could stop them: “It’s not just about Du Shan—it’s not only about Du Shan.”
Xiahou Dan: “Hmm?”
Yu Wanyin: “That day on the boat, we talked with the scholars for two full hours. Today in the Imperial Study, another two hours—about taxation. You spoke at length, displaying considerable knowledge, yet your grasp of economics is as poor as mine.”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
“Which company were you CEO of? What did it do? When did it go public? What was its market cap before you transmigrated?”
Xiahou Dan: “…”
Don’t ask any further, Yu Wanyin thought. He’ll kill you.
Yet she heard her own voice continue: “Who are you really?”For five long seconds, a thought lingered in Xiahou Dan's mind: just tell her everything.
But he couldn't.
Even if Yu Wanyin had no choice but to cooperate with him, he still couldn't.
Telling her everything would mean that her small, fragile trust and closeness would vanish without a trace.
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