Between making her doubt and making her despair, he chose doubt.
The headache had become unbearable. Black spots swam before Xiahou Dan's eyes as he forced a roguish smile. "I don't remember."
Yu Wanyin turned and walked away.
The last things Xiahou Dan recalled were the sound of her opening the door to leave and the Shadow Guard's questioning voice outside. After that, there was only darkness.
"Crown Prince."
Hearing the voice, Zhang San quickly turned and bowed properly. "Imperial Grandmother."
The palace servants he'd been directing in the distance also stopped their work to pay respects.
The imposing woman glanced behind him. "What is all this?"
"Reporting to Imperial Grandmother, the Flower Festival was recently celebrated. When this grandson saw the decorations in the Imperial Garden, I conceived an idea to plant some flower seedlings for you."
Having eavesdropped on ancient speech patterns daily, Zhang San now sounded somewhat more natural. "By your birthday, these flowers should bloom, perfect for offering longevity wishes."
The Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly. "This arrangement of seedlings seems rather deliberate."
Zhang San smiled modestly. "Imperial Grandmother sees clearly. This forms the pattern of Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl, symbolizing good fortune."
A long silence followed.
Zhang San looked up anxiously.
The Empress Dowager's face was icy. "The Great Xia dynasty needs only one true dragon."
Zhang San: "..."
How am I supposed to respond to that?!
The Empress Dowager observed his flustered expression before finally showing something akin to pity. "Your mother died young, and the Emperor has already taken new favorites. Soon there will be a new empress, and then a new crown prince. In this vast palace, only I care for you."
Only one thought filled Zhang San's mind.
Today, he absolutely had to please this Empress Dowager. Because those flower seedlings were his only hope of identifying his fellow transmigrators.
Inspiration struck like divine intervention as he pledged allegiance: "Imperial Grandmother misunderstands. Those two dragons represent you and this unworthy grandson."
The Empress Dowager: "..."
Zhang San waited nervously.
The Empress Dowager smiled. "Now that's my good grandson. Rest assured, no new imperial princes will be born in this palace."
Given Xiahou Dan's recent pattern of alternating between them, tonight should have been Xie Yong'er's turn to attend the Emperor in bed.
Xie Yong'er arrived at the bedchamber in full regalia, only to be stopped at the main gate.
The guard said, "His Majesty has already retired."
So early?
Xie Yong'er was puzzled, suspecting Yu Wanyin's interference. Gritting her teeth, she fished out a silver fragment from her sleeve. "Brother guard—"
The guard's sword slid three inches from its scabbard with a metallic hiss.
Xie Yong'er recoiled in shock.
"Ah, Consort Xie." Chief Eunuch An Xian emerged with a smile. "Unfortunately, His Majesty suffers from a headache and has ordered no visitors today. Please return."
"Eunuch An, speaking of which, Yong'er has studied some massage techniques." Xie Yong'er offered an ingratiating smile and reached for her sleeve again, only to see An Xian frown and shake his head while looking at her.
She froze in place.
Inside the bedchamber.
Bei Zhou finally couldn't bear it any longer. Applying medicinal oil to his palms, he rubbed them warm and reached toward the figure lying motionless with closed eyes.
Before his fingers could touch the temples, an ice-cold hand clamped around his wrist.
The closed eyes flew open—dark pupils swirling with violence that was painfully suppressed upon recognizing the visitor. "Don't touch me, Uncle Bei."Bei Zhou said with a pained expression, "You're in such agony. Let Uncle massage it for you, it'll help."
Xiahou Dan only gripped his wrist tightly.
Bei Zhou sighed, "Ah, why did the illness flare up so suddenly..." After entering the palace, he had already checked every nook and cranny, tested all of Xiahou Dan's meals, yet found no trace of poison.
Xiahou Dan curled his pale lips into a faint smile: "Perhaps there's a tumor in my brain."
"Nonsense, didn't Uncle already check your pulse? There's nothing there."
Xiahou Dan muttered, "Need a CT scan."
"What?"
"Never mind. Uncle, I want some sweet congee."
Bei Zhou immediately stood up: "Uncle will make it for you."
After he had gone far, a figure quietly approached and knelt by the bedside.
Xiahou Dan stared blankly at the bed curtains for a long while before sighing: "Go invite Master Bai."
Xie Yong'er walked a long distance, still unable to believe she had been driven out.
The Emperor had been infatuated with her, letting her wield power in the harem, having just cleared away a group of thorns in her side. How had the situation changed overnight? Even that sycophant An Xian dared to give her attitude now!
As if following the standard script of Imperial Harem Intrigue, rain began to fall from the sky.
Xie Yong'er, without an umbrella, walked alone in the bitter wind and rain, her mind playing a mournful erhu melody.
Now she had to find out whether behind the tightly shut doors of the Emperor's chambers hid a bewitchingly beautiful Yu Wanyin.
Xie Yong'er circled around to the Imperial Concubine's Palace.
Never could she have imagined that not only was Yu Wanyin in the palace, but she was also sitting alone in the corridor, holding a palace lantern while gazing up at the rain, her wet hair clinging to her cheeks, her radiant face now pale.
Xie Yong'er: "..."
In this kind of scene, how dare you look more pitiful than me?!
Xie Yong'er paused mid-step, considering a tactical retreat, but Yu Wanyin had already noticed her and exclaimed in surprise, "Is that you, Yong'er?"
She beckoned Xie Yong'er under the corridor for shelter: "Sister, weren't you supposed to attend His Majesty tonight? Why are you here?"
Xie Yong'er lowered her head: "His Majesty is unwell and has already retired."
Xiahou Dan is sick? Yu Wanyin was taken aback.
That afternoon in the Imperial Study, he had indeed mentioned a headache. Had it worsened after she left?
Or perhaps... he was just feigning illness.
She had begun to doubt his identity, so he was playing weak to evade the issue.
Yu Wanyin regretted leaving the Imperial Study immediately. What good would exposing him do her? All along, she had tried to ignore the inconsistencies about him—wasn't she also avoiding the fear and helplessness of being utterly alone in this moment?
Xie Yong'er observed Yu Wanyin's expression. She hadn't expected the Imperial Concubine to genuinely be unaware.
So, the Emperor really was ill?
A thought crossed Xie Yong'er's mind, and she suddenly feigned concern: "Sister Imperial Concubine, why don't you go see His Majesty? He seemed quite distressed earlier and mentioned wanting to see you."
She didn't want to be the only one who had suffered the humiliation of being turned away by the guards.
Yu Wanyin's reaction surprised her—there was no smugness or eagerness on her face, only a furrowed brow, as if wrestling with inner turmoil.
Xie Yong'er, afraid she might back out, was about to urge her further when Yu Wanyin took the bait: "In that case, I'll go see him."
With secret satisfaction, Xie Yong'er watched as Yu Wanyin turned and walked away.Yu Wanyin raised her paper umbrella and stepped into the rain, then suddenly turned back. "Little sister, please rest here for now. I'll have Xiao Mei bring you a change of dry clothes and send you back once the rain stops. Thank you for coming to tell me about this."
Xie Yong'er smiled even more brightly and said slowly, "Sister warned me not to drink the Birth Control Concoction. That kindness is something Yong'er has always remembered."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Was she being genuine?
Now that she thought about it, compared to those two Xiahous, Xie Yong'er's level of scheming was so low it was almost endearing.
A twinge of guilt rose in Yu Wanyin's heart, and she said gloomily, "I never thought the day would come when you and I could speak heart-to-heart."
Xie Yong'er: "..."
Was she being genuine?
Could it be that her warning back then was truly out of goodwill?
From the perspective of someone from ancient times, it was indeed hard to imagine anyone deliberately refusing the emperor's seed. So her poisoning back then had been entirely self-inflicted?
But... if the original scheming female lead had completely abandoned her villainous ways, wouldn't all her own preemptive struggles turn into one-sided persecution?
Yu Wanyin had already started walking toward the imperial chambers. Xie Yong'er opened her mouth in confusion toward the curtain of rain but ultimately made no sound.
Thunder rumbled, and a bolt of lightning split the sky, casting a pale glow on the guards' swords.
Guard: "Your Highness, please return. His Majesty is seeing no one."
Yu Wanyin had originally been hesitating, unwilling to face Xiahou Dan. Seeing this situation, her heart skipped a beat. "What's wrong with His Majesty?"
The guard remained tight-lipped.
Yu Wanyin's Palace Lantern had long been doused by the rain, and the paper umbrella couldn't shield her from the downpour coming from all directions. Drenched and shivering, she hunched her shoulders. "Could you please inform... Uncle Bei..."
"Consort Yu?"
Yu Wanyin turned around. Bei Zhou, dressed as a matron, was about to enter the chamber carrying a bowl of sweet congee.
She quickly pulled him aside and whispered, "Uncle Bei, let me go in and see him."
Bei Zhou gave her a scrutinizing look, perhaps recalling her bold declaration on the boat that day, and his expression softened slightly. "Follow me."
Xiahou Dan had curled up entirely under the blankets, forming a ball. Bei Zhou called out twice before pulling back the covers to reveal his head. "Wan Yin is here."
Yu Wanyin was startled.
Xiahou Dan's hair was disheveled, his face as pale as paper. With effort, he glanced at Yu Wanyin and said hoarsely, "Thank you, Uncle. Just leave the congee for now."
Bei Zhou tactfully withdrew.
Yu Wanyin sat on the edge of the bed and asked cautiously, "Should I feed you?"
Xiahou Dan made a motion resembling a nod but immediately gritted his teeth and froze, veins bulging on his forehead as if even that slight movement caused excruciating pain.
Yu Wanyin flusteredly reached out to steady him but didn't dare apply too much pressure. After a long moment, Xiahou Dan mustered the resolve to prop himself up. Yu Wanyin hurriedly arranged two soft pillows behind him.
She reached for the bowl of congee but was stopped by Xiahou Dan.
Xiahou Dan took a long, deep breath and spoke in a gentle tone, "Let's talk."
"There's no hurry. Rest first—"
"You guessed right," he interrupted. "I'm not some CEO."
Xiahou Dan: "Before crossing over, I was a third-rate actor who spent years playing extras without ever making it big."
Yu Wanyin stared at him in astonishment.
That would explain why his portrayal of the Tyrant had been so convincing."But if that's all, why did you go out of your way to deceive me?"
"I didn’t mean to deceive you. At the time, you guessed I was the CEO, so I just went along with it."
"Why?"
Xiahou Dan smiled, his lips devoid of color: "I’ve always had terrible luck. So the moment I transmigrated here, my first thought was that I was going to die in this godforsaken place. And then you appeared—like a savior descending from the heavens, holding the script, brimming with confidence, immediately launching into plans for a dramatic comeback… Watching you, I finally felt like there was hope for me."
He closed his eyes briefly, his Adam’s apple bobbing with difficulty. "I was afraid of losing you. Once you realized what a useless failure I am, you’d leave me, wouldn’t you? If you left, I’d be finished."
Yu Wanyin fell into a flustered silence for a moment. "...That’s not quite what I imagined."
"Hmm?"
"I thought you were carrying some profound secret."
Without missing a beat, Xiahou Dan chuckled softly. "Seems this lousy acting still came in handy after all."
He sighed and met her gaze openly. "But now you know—I don’t stand much of a chance. Even if Prince Duan is just a Paper Doll, his cunning surpasses mine a hundredfold. So my promise still stands: if you choose to leave, I’ll understand completely and won’t stop you."
He tilted his head against the pillow, his gaze as harmless as a big dog’s.
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