Love and Crown

In the eighth year of the Virtuous Blessing era of Great Wu, on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, Empress Dowager Liu issued an edict declaring the passing of the Virtuous Blessing Emperor and seized control of the court, intending to enthrone Prince Yu, Xiao Qianhong, as a child emperor.

In the first year of Virtuous Blessing, on New Year's Day, Empress Ling Shi successfully staged a coup with the aid of troops borrowed from the Jurchen vassal state beyond the frontier. Empress Dowager Liu was defeated and imprisoned. Prince Chu, Xiao Qianqing, holding a secret decree from the Virtuous Blessing Emperor and enjoying widespread support, became the Regent Prince. This event was historically known as the "Guichou Palace Coup."

After the coup, Prince Chu, in his noble virtue and remembrance of the Virtuous Blessing Emperor, decreed that no new era name would be established during his regency. This year was thus recorded in history as the "Ninth Year of Clear Governance."

In the tenth year of Virtuous Blessing, the Virtuous Blessing Emperor, who had been missing for over a year, returned to court. Prince Chu led the officials out of the Great Martial Gate to welcome him, kneeling to personally return the Imperial Jade Seal. The world praised his wisdom and virtue, calling it the "Tenth Year of Returned Governance."

After reclaiming the throne, the Virtuous Blessing Emperor devoted himself to diligent governance and sweeping reforms. From the eighth year of Virtuous Blessing onward, the empire, which had endured disasters, wars, mutinies, and changes of power, gradually regained its vitality.

Now, it was the twenty-third day of the seventh month in the eighteenth year of Virtuous Blessing—the day of the grand court assembly held every three days. The gilded and painted furnishings of the Qianqing Palace, after long hours of sitting, appeared dull and heavy to the eye.

Seated behind a curtain that only faintly revealed the figures of the ministers below the Imperial Throne, I rested my hand on the armrest, propping up my chin.

To my side, the grand Imperial Throne stood empty. Slightly to its right, on a large chair temporarily added, sat a small, slender figure.

Unfazed by the vacant throne, the ministers below the steps were engaged in fervent discussion.

They were enumerating the crimes of Qi Chengliang—the Marquis of Weiyuan, who had guarded the frontiers for over a decade, deterring the Jurchens from setting foot in the Central Plains, repelling multiple Tartar invasions, and quelling three rebellions in the southwestern borderlands, leaving the neighboring states trembling in fear.

About ten days prior, Li Yan, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Court of Censors, submitted a memorial impeaching Qi Chengliang for embezzling military funds and supplies, delaying critical military intelligence, and attached what were claimed to be twelve irrefutable pieces of evidence. After this secret memorial was withheld for five days without response, Li Yan submitted a second impeachment, which landed on the imperial desk. Over the next three days, impeachment memorials from the thirteen Censor Officials of the Court of Censors to the censors of the Six Offices piled up like a mountain on the Grand Secretariat’s table.

With no response from the emperor, these core officials of the empire had grown impatient, condemning their former comrade as a traitorous villain.

Amid the impassioned debates, the small figure before me, wrapped in bright yellow court robes, shifted slightly—so subtly that not only did the ministers below the steps fail to notice, but even Feng Wufu, the Director of the Ceremonial Directorate who had served as the palace’s chief eunuch for over two decades, remained unaware. The high-ranking inner court official stood slightly bowed, head lowered, his posture even appearing somewhat hunched.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice barely audible: "Lian'er, are you tired?"

Seemingly surprised to hear a voice behind him, he hesitated before shaking his head. Then, lowering his head further, he replied softly, with a hint of grievance: "A little bored."

No wonder he was restless. An eight-year-old child, rising at the hour of the Tiger (3–5 a.m.) to prepare, then sitting motionless in the hall from the hour of the Rabbit (5–7 a.m.) for two full hours, listening to such tedious court discussions—it was only natural to feel weary.

After a pause, I continued: "Do you remember what I told you before we came?"

Another slight hesitation, then a very faint nod.Though I knew he wouldn't see it, I nodded gently and said, "Go ahead."

Though Lian lacked some steadiness in temperament, he had always been decisive. Once permitted, without regard for the ministers still chattering below the imperial steps, he immediately waved his hand and declared in a clear, slightly childish voice, "We'll discuss this another day. Court is dismissed for today!"

"By His Highness's decree, we'll discuss this another day. Court is dismissed for today!" Feng Wufu's voice rose as he loudly announced the order.

For a moment, silence fell below the steps. Then, as if suddenly realizing, one minister after another knelt and kowtowed, calling out, "Long live the Crown Prince!"

"Long live the Crown Prince, long live, long, long live!"

After the somewhat scattered cries faded, I hesitated no longer. Rising with Lian, we stepped out from behind the curtain and descended the high platform via the steps beneath the Imperial Throne.

Within the grand, imposing hall, rows of ministers in their Court Robes knelt in perfect order. Their robes of purple, blue, green, and red stretched densely all the way to the gloomy sky outside the hall.

This vast assembly of officials remained silent, like a soundless cloud pressing down upon an empty plain, the stillness almost suffocating.

Eight years had passed. In those eight years, some had come and gone, some changes had occurred, and affairs had shifted. Yet the empire's civil officials still gathered punctually every day in the square outside the Qianqing Gate, paying their respects to the emperor, discussing state affairs, submitting memorials and Draft Recommendations to the inner palace, and executing decrees with clockwork precision—like an immense, flawless machine that truly governed the empire.

I had never liked these people.

Without lingering, I turned and walked with Lian past the towering golden pillars adorned with coiling dragons, heading toward the rear hall.

Indeed, eight years had changed some things.

Five years ago, my father, then the Grand Secretary, had pleaded declining health and handed over governance to the Assistant Grand Secretary, the sixty-year-old three-dynasty veteran Yang Tingjie, before retiring to his hometown.

Four years ago, Zhang Zhuduan, the Vice Minister of Personnel who had already distinguished himself in debates on foreign affairs and tax reforms, entered the Grand Secretariat at the age of twenty-nine, becoming a minister. He reached the pinnacle of power a year earlier than my father, who had been the fastest-rising talent in the empire's history, renowned as a once-in-a-generation genius.

Two years ago, another young grand academician under thirty, Wu Qiying, the top scholar of the eleventh year of Virtuous Blessing, was also appointed to the Grand Secretariat by Imperial Edict.

Whether by circumstance or design, the core of power was increasingly occupied by younger faces.

My thoughts halted as we descended the high platform of the Qianqing Palace. Lian impatiently jumped down from the palanquin that had carried him down and ran to mine, remembering just enough to address me properly: "Mother Empress, Mother Empress, take me home with you!"

I signaled the eunuchs carrying my palanquin to lower it as well and patted Lian's head. "No, go to Jingyang Palace first and do your lessons. Yan and Xiao Xie are both waiting for you there."

Lian's face fell instantly, and he muttered something under his breath, clearly reluctant.

I knew what he was thinking, and my heart softened for a moment. Still, I patted his head again, my tone firming. "I said go, so go!"

With a disgruntled "Oh," Lian shook his head and climbed back into his palanquin.I signaled for them to take Lian's sedan chair directly to Jingyang Palace. The court session had dragged on for too long, well past the time for the Crown Prince's lectures. Lian didn't have time to change out of his court robe. After the sedan chair was carried away, a group of young eunuchs followed, carrying his casual clothes for changing, trailing behind like a long tail.

Finally seeing Lian off, I also stepped down from my sedan chair and dismissed the bearers, then walked toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Passing through the Gate of Mental Cultivation, I came upon a small courtyard that had been rebuilt to stand almost independently.

After returning to the palace in the tenth year of Virtuous Blessing, since the rear palaces would no longer house imperial consorts anyway, I had several walls torn down to connect the Hall of Mental Cultivation with the Yongshou and Qixiang Palaces behind it. Now, Qixiang Palace had been converted into a garden, while Yongshou Palace was slightly renovated for the children to live in.

This courtyard was the place the children usually called "home."

Walking straight through the front hall, I was greeted by Jiao Yan, who smiled at me and said, "Her Majesty the Empress has returned."

Xiaoshan had married outside the palace five years ago, and now Jiao Yan had taken her place as the female official of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Court Robe, making her practically the highest-ranking auntie in the palace.

I smiled back at her. "Am I back late? Has he..." I didn't finish the sentence because my quick steps had already brought me to the entrance of the front hall. Through the open door, I could see the person standing under the rear hall's corridor.

He sat behind the vermilion railing, dressed in plain white casual clothes. Because the weather was gloomy, he had draped a layered blue outer robe over his shoulders, with dark purple embroidery peeking out from the sleeves and collar.

Hearing footsteps, he set aside what he had been reading halfway and looked up with a smile.

The fresh scent of flowers and herbs instantly filled my nose, and the melancholy and frustration that had built up all morning vanished without a trace.

The garden was full of blooming onion lilies, their snow-white flowers scattered like stars across the ground. At the other end, he smiled softly at me.

It was a bit silly—suddenly, I couldn't tell whether it had been mere hours or centuries since we'd last been apart.

Leaving Jiao Yan behind, I almost ran through the flower beds, leaped over the railing, and wrapped my arms around him through the heavy court robe.

Only after feeling the warmth from his body in my embrace did I remember to lift my head and demand, "Why did you get up so early? Why are you sitting out here so early?"

He just kept smiling at me. "It's almost noon..."

Only then did I realize—that interminably long court session had ended, so of course it was almost noon. Still, I insisted, "Noon is still too early!" I reached out to touch his cheek. "See? Still cold as an ice stick, isn't it?"

He laughed, as usual, not arguing with me, quietly resigned to listening to my continued scolding.

I took a deep breath, ready to recite all the complaints about how he always pushed himself too hard, never took care of his health, and worried others—but the words died on my lips.

Burying my face back into his collar, I smiled. "Let me hold you for a while. You'll warm up soon."

He didn't speak, quietly reaching over to encircle my shoulders.

The body in my arms was familiar, the faint scent of Dragon's Brain lingering at his sleeves.

Moments like this, wrapped in quiet embrace, were too beautiful to break with words.

Truthfully, in the past eight years, he had rarely given me reason to worry about his health.Eight years ago, after finding him returning from the southern border in Daiyu City while I was pregnant with Lian, I knew his health had suffered greatly during that year of wandering the Martial World and his time on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Yet in the years since returning to the capital, his condition had remained stable. Even when occasionally unwell, he would recover within days. Moreover, with our children being born one after another, much of my energy was diverted, and my attention shifted more to the younger ones.

That's why, this spring, despite being pregnant again, I insisted on going to Jiangsu to resolve a dispute between Phoenix Come Pavilion and the Suzhou-Zhejiang Merchant Guild. This forced him to set aside court affairs and accompany me.

Originally planned for ten days at most, the trip was delayed to nearly a month due to Ran and Can's birth and other trivial matters. After returning from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, even with the wet nurses' help, I was overwhelmed by the newborns' constant fussing, waking up several times each night to soothe the restless little ones.

Thus, when the children finally grew a bit older and became closer to their wet nurses, no longer needing me by their side every night, I thought I could finally catch my breath. That's when it happened.

At the beginning of this month, after we had each finished our daily tasks as usual, I went to the front hall to fetch him so we could retire together, seizing the rare moment after putting the children to sleep.

Seemingly surprised to see me there, he smiled but didn’t let me wait, urging me to rest first. Unconcerned, I checked on the children in the neighboring courtyard before returning to the front hall to wait for him outside the warm chamber.

Yet even late into the night, he still hadn’t emerged. Unable to bear it any longer, I stormed in, snatched the memorial from his hands, and forced him to leave with me.

He gave me an apologetic smile, rose from the desk, but before taking a single step—without warning or sound—collapsed before me.

His face drained of all color, his breath faint, his pulse barely detectable—when I rushed to lift him, my mind went blank. It was Feng Wufu, hearing the commotion and bursting in, who kept his composure and ordered someone to fetch Yang Tai, the current head of the Imperial Hospital.

He didn’t wake until the following afternoon. The first thing he did upon regaining consciousness was find me at his bedside and smile apologetically. "Cang Cang, don’t worry."

I had sworn I would never cry in front of him again in this lifetime. Yet when I saw my reflection in his eyes, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

I had vowed never to let him bear anything alone in silence, yet for various reasons, it wasn’t until he collapsed that I learned from Feng Wufu how poor his appetite had been since returning from the south and how often he worked late into the night, unable to sleep.

At that moment, disregarding the many people around, I clung to him and sobbed helplessly, my body trembling beyond control.

Though Yang Tai repeatedly assured us it was merely exhaustion from overwork and that careful recuperation and rest would suffice, in the days that followed, he could barely eat and was so weak he drifted in and out of sleep.Only in the past few days had his spirits improved slightly, allowing him to get out of bed in the afternoon and no longer vomit everything he ate as he had before.

Holding him tighter, I could feel his thin frame beneath the fabric before loosening my grip a little.

"Cang Cang," he called softly, amusement in his voice, "too tight."

Relaxing my hands, I took a deep breath and glared at him after lifting my head. "You'll have to bear it! Since when can a Male Concubine complain?"

He laughed, sighing lightly with resignation. "Then tight it is..."

Unable to hold back a chuckle, I finally released him and tossed the cumbersome Court Robe to the floor before squeezing onto the chair beside him. Putting on a stern face, I fired off a series of questions: "Did you rest in bed after waking up? Did you drink the stomach-nourishing soup before breakfast? Did you vomit after eating? Did you take your medicine on time after breakfast? Did you secretly leave most of it again?"

"Did all that. Ate breakfast well, no vomiting. Haven’t dared to leave medicine since last time I was caught..." He chuckled softly, looking as though he was waiting for me to continue nagging.

Long past being fooled by his diversion tactics, I glared at him again and grabbed the stack of papers he'd seemingly absentmindedly placed behind the chair. Waving the thick memorial in front of him, I asked, "Did you use what little energy you had to look at this?"

Clearing his throat slightly in embarrassment, he averted his eyes. "Mmm, saved up quite a bit of energy for this."

I hadn’t expected such a shameless reply. Torn between irritation and amusement, the stern expression I'd struggled to maintain faltered as I held the memorials.

While I was still stunned, he suddenly asked quietly, "Did He Yi say anything at court this morning?"

Recalling the composed Minister of Justice—one of the few who had remained neutral during the entire session, neither criticizing Qi Chengliang nor defending him—I shook my head. "Nothing at all."

He nodded lightly, his tone indifferent. "The first impeachment came from a third-rank censor-in-chief. Such a scale is unprecedented since the founding of Da Wu."

Qi Chengliang had only become the target of officials' attacks after his illness. Worried about his condition, I'd kept it from him, but now it seemed he'd noticed anyway.

I stayed silent, quietly studying his profile as his brows furrowed slightly, his pale lips pressing into a thin line.

Raising my hand, I traced the contours of his face with my fingers and smiled wordlessly. "Brother Xiao..."

"Hmm?" Startled out of his thoughts, he blinked in rare confusion. "Cang Cang?"

"Nothing," I replied, smiling with half-lidded eyes. "Just suddenly thought... my Male Concubine keeps getting more handsome—hard to believe he's a father of five..."

After another pause, he finally laughed, the crease between his brows smoothing as he nodded noncommittally. "Oh? Doesn’t seem like it?"

"Mhm, mhm!" I nodded solemnly, then even more gravely added, "Quick, say I don’t look like a mother of five either. Make me happy too."

He laughed harder, shaking his head repeatedly. "You don’t, not at all. Cang Cang doesn’t seem like one in the slightest."Not satisfied with his answer, I pressed with a firmer tone, "Hmm? Not like what?"

The dark clouds dispersed, and the sky gradually brightened. The white spider lilies in the courtyard seemed to glow bit by bit, and even the narrow crimson corridor appeared to grow brighter. Amidst all these luminous things was a pair of deep, bright eyes, shimmering with a misty smile, reflecting the clear sky like rippling water.

This man, who still greeted me with a warm smile eight years after our reunion, was Xiao Huan.

At noon, I had lunch with Xiao Huan.

First, I stubbornly forced him to finish a bowl of chicken and hibiscus porridge, then threatened him not to hold back if he felt like vomiting. Naturally, he responded with that faintly amused gaze.

I knew he was silently laughing at my inconsistency. How dare someone who had let himself become so thin have any opinions? I glared back fiercely.

Next, I watched him frown as he struggled to finish his medicine. After resting for a while, we finally walked hand in hand to the courtyard behind the hall where the children were.

It was break time, and the little rascals had just finished their meals. Those unwilling to nap were running around the courtyard. When they noticed us approaching, they froze in place for a moment.

Xiao Xie, who had been digging for ants under the crabapple tree, was the first to tear up. She dropped her little shovel and rushed over, throwing herself into Xiao Huan’s arms and clinging to his legs. Her tender voice trembled with sobs, "Daddy, Xiao Xie missed you so much..."

Lian and Yan also hurried over, their dark, bright eyes glistening with unshed tears as they looked at Xiao Huan, though they didn’t cling to him like Xiao Xie did.

Bending down, Xiao Huan hugged Xiao Xie and gently patted her shoulder, soothing her in a soft voice.

I also crouched to stroke Xiao Xie’s cheek, then pulled her from Xiao Huan’s arms into mine and lifted her up. Nodding at Lian and Yan, I said, "Good kids, hurry inside and find your dad a comfortable place to sit!"

The two little ones obediently dashed into the room.

Carrying Xiao Xie, who was still sniffling against my shoulder, I walked inside with Xiao Huan. True to form, Lian and Yan had already prepared the cushioned seat by the window, their faces full of anticipation as they watched us from the doorway.

Setting Xiao Xie down, I let her drag Xiao Huan toward the seat while I couldn’t help grumbling, "When I used to leave for trips and didn’t see them for over ten days, they never missed me this much. Isn’t this favoritism a bit too obvious?"

Xiao Huan, already pulled onto the seat by Xiao Xie, looked up at me with a smile. "Cang Cang..."

No matter how pitiful I acted now, the three little ones wouldn’t spare me a glance. With a huff, I walked over and sat on the adjacent cushioned seat.

Meanwhile, the three children had already clambered onto Xiao Huan’s lap, squeezing together in a pile.

After Xiao Huan fell ill this time, his condition had been so poor that he hadn’t seen the children at all, leaving them restless and upset. So I had promised them that after lunch today, I would bring Xiao Huan to visit.

Over the years as the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion, I often had to leave the children behind when unavoidable duties called. Xiao Huan, despite his busy schedule with political affairs, made it a point to spend time with them every day. Gradually, the children grew less attached to me and far more attached to him. Xiao Xie, in particular, was utterly dependent on her father. More than once, she had carried her pillow to our room in the middle of the night, insisting on sleeping with her dad. Just when the two of us were comfortably asleep, this little girl would wedge herself between us, leaving me fuming but helpless.Not having seen their father for over ten days, the three children had countless things to tell him. The air was soon filled with their lively chatter. Lian was talking about the difficulties he'd encountered in his studies these past few days, while Yan occasionally chimed in somewhat shyly with some new allusions he'd learned. Xiao Xie, tugging at Xiao Huan's sleeve, was reciting the newly memorized "Song of Everlasting Regret" to him in her clear, crisp voice.

Resting my chin on my hand, I sat watching them chatter and play. Before long, Xiao Huan, who had seemed too occupied by the children to spare any attention, looked up and smiled at me. Then he gently patted Yan and said, "Would you like to tell your mother the story Mr. Wu told you about 'Cherishing Hawks to Show Respect for the Worthy'?"

Between the two children, Lian and Yan, Lian was more lively while Yan was more well-behaved. Hearing Xiao Huan's words, Yan immediately climbed over from his lap and timidly tugged at my sleeve, his dark eyes glistening as he looked at me. "Mother, will you listen to Yan'er tell the story? Please?"

Smiling, I pinched his little cheek and nodded. "Of course, Mother would love to hear Yan'er's story. I'm sure it will be wonderful.Encouraged, Yan's face flushed with excitement, and he immediately began to clearly recount the story of Emperor Taizong of Tang cherishing hawks to show respect for the worthy.

Just like that, the five of us chatted and laughed together for about half an hour.

After coaxing the reluctant children into their rooms for their nap, I went to the wet nurse to check on Ran and Can. The two tiny infants were teething, and after feeding, they closed their eyes and blew little bubbles with their lips.

By the time I finished making the rounds to see all the children and returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, nearly two hours had passed.

Back in the room, I sat down and did nothing but lounge on the soft couch, watching Xiao Huan sip the freshly brewed ginseng tea.

After watching for a while, I finally made him set down his teacup. With a somewhat helpless smile, he said, "Cang Cang... you've been staring at me ever since we returned from court..."

"If staring could make you gain weight, I'd stare even harder..." I retorted offhandedly, moving closer to stuff a soft cushion behind his back before leaning against his shoulder myself. Taking his hand in mine, I asked, "Brother Xiao, you're worried about the court affairs, aren't you?"

He paused before replying with a faint smile, "Cang Cang, you know the court hasn't been stable these past few years."

I fell silent. Indeed, the political situation over the last few years wasn't as peaceful and harmonious as it appeared on the surface. While the civil official factions still maintained their usual pattern of numerous cliques coexisting through compromise, the increasing divergence in interests and governance policies, along with the unusually rapid promotions of young officials, had disrupted the delicate balance. Led by the two most authoritative Grand Secretaries, the court had gradually split into two major factions, colloquially dubbed the "Old Grand Secretaries Faction" and the "Young Grand Secretaries Faction."

What was unusual this time was that both factions seemed united in their attack on Qi Chengliang. The first impeachment memorial was submitted by Li Yan, a fellow graduate of Zhang Zhuduan, while the most vehement criticisms later came mostly from Yang Tingjie's faction. The factions were now clearly defined, and their open quarrels in court had become commonplace. If only one faction had launched the attack, it would have been understandable, but the fact that the usually opposing factions were now united made it impossible to guess what they were really plotting.

The most frustrating part was their timing—why did they have to stir up trouble now of all times!

The thought made me angry, and I snorted coldly. "A bunch of troublemaking parasites."

He didn't continue the discussion, only smiling and saying, "There's still time. Would you like to take a nap to catch up on sleep?""No need, it's fine." His mention of it reminded me, "Su Qian agreed to meet me at the headquarters this afternoon to discuss the Canal Gang matter. I should hurry over."

As I spoke, I stood up and leaned down to grasp his arm. "Brother Xiao, come with me."

He nodded with a smile. "Alright, it's been a while since I last visited."

"Then let’s go for a change of scenery," I said, grinning. "I’ll go get ready."

Over the past few years, Xiao Huan had often accompanied me to the Phoenix Come Pavilion. It wasn’t far, so the trip was easy.

The carriage was quickly prepared, taking us out through the Xuanwu Gate. Before long, we turned into the grand courtyard of the Phoenix Come Pavilion’s headquarters. Passing through gardens and buildings, we finally stopped at the gate of the One Water Courtyard, deep within the grounds. Though the layout of this courtyard differed from the old headquarters in Jinling, I had insisted on placing the Pavilion Master’s residence and office near the lotus pond and naming it the One Water Courtyard. Su Qian and Mu Yan had teased me endlessly about it.

As soon as we stepped out of the carriage, I saw Su Qian already waiting at the courtyard entrance. The moment she saw me, she didn’t hold back: "I thought you’d dawdle until nightfall before showing up!" Then she noticed Xiao Huan behind me, steadying me by the waist, and her expression immediately shifted to one of deference. She clasped her hands respectfully. "Su Qian greets the White Pavilion Master."

Xiao Huan smiled. "No need for formalities, Xiaoqian."

Su Qian remained bowed, stepping aside to make way. "Please enter, Pavilion Master."

This "Pavilion Master" definitely wasn’t referring to me. I rolled my eyes. Not just Su Qian and Mu Yan, but even the other five who weren’t often at headquarters—the whole group knew how to suck up to Xiao Huan. You’d think I was the actual Pavilion Master, but the moment Xiao Huan showed up, I was instantly sidelined.

Eight years ago, not long after Xiao Huan and I returned from Daiyu, before the restoration ceremony could even be held, Su Qian had urgently summoned me to headquarters. Thinking it was something serious, I rushed over, only to find the seven hall masters lined up inside, all wearing solemn expressions. Their opening line was unanimous: "We want to see the White Pavilion Master."

When they finally met him, it was even more ridiculous. The seven of them stood in a row, clasping their hands in perfect unison: "Pavilion Master, it’s been a while." Not a single glance was spared for me standing off to the side.

Still silently fuming over the past, I felt someone take my hand. Looking up, I saw Xiao Huan give me a faint smile, gesturing for me to follow him inside.

As we entered, we found Mu Yan already waiting. Seeing us, he stepped forward to greet Xiao Huan with a bow before turning to me to discuss business.

The matter wasn’t particularly complicated. Recently, the Canal Gang had accused the Phoenix Come Pavilion of encroaching on their business and had seized several of our cargo ships without permission. Song Weixiao, stationed at the Jinling branch, had led disciples to negotiate, resulting in a clash between the two sides.

Though the incident wasn’t major, letting it escalate would only harm relations between the factions. Song Weixiao had reported to headquarters, seeking guidance on how to proceed.

Su Qian advocated for standing firm, and Mu Yan agreed. The three of us decided that Song Weixiao should assert our position firmly and resist any concessions. We also instructed Nie Hanrong at the Hangzhou branch to prepare disciples to respond if the situation worsened, providing support to Song Weixiao in Jinling.After a few words to make the decision, it took no more than a quarter of an hour to settle everything. Having finished, I sighed in relief and turned to look at Xiao Huan. He had sat down on a nearby Eight Immortals chair as soon as he entered, sipping the freshly served ginseng tea, which he had only taken two sips of. He smiled at me and said, "Xiao Fen just signaled to me that some fresh fruits have arrived. Would you like to try them?"

Xiao Fen was the same mute maid who had served in the One Water Courtyard back in Jinling. When the headquarters moved, she and the others came along. I walked over to him with a smile and nodded to Xiao Fen, who was still standing in the room and hadn’t withdrawn yet. "Sure, bring some over."

After handing over the position of Pavilion Master to me all those years ago, Xiao Huan still accompanied me to the headquarters, but he seemed to appear merely as the current Pavilion Master’s family member. Even though we often discussed matters openly in front of him, he never offered any opinions on my decisions or methods. In the beginning, I would unconsciously watch his expression, afraid I might have done something wrong. Later, I noticed he would always quietly read books or set up chess games from chess manuals, his face showing no reaction at all—it was unclear whether he was even listening to our discussions. Only then did I gradually let go of my inhibitions.

That was why I had insisted he come with me to the Phoenix Come Pavilion this afternoon. If he stayed in the palace, no matter how much I opposed or scolded him, he would inevitably sneak off to go through the piles of memorials piled high on the imperial desk. It was better to drag him here, where he could truly relax.

Xiao Fen quickly brought two plates of exquisitely preserved peach slices and bayberries. After sitting with Xiao Huan for a while over tea, I went to the adjacent study to handle some official documents.

Although Su Qian had taken care of most of them, my stay in the palace these past few days had left some matters unresolved. After hastily finishing my notes, a disciple came to report that Daoist Yi Wei of the Qingcheng Sect had arrived. I hurriedly rose to greet him at the door, exchanging pleasantries before realizing Yi Wei had only come to spar with Mu Yan. I immediately turned to call Mu Yan and left the visitor to him.

Just as I was about to catch my breath, another report came—the Chief Escort of the Golden Dragon Escort Agency from Tongzhou had arrived. Once again, I rushed to the door to receive him.

This Chief Escort Zheng of the Golden Dragon Escort Agency seemed to find Tongzhou too dull, making frequent trips to the capital and dropping by the Phoenix Come Pavilion as if it were more familiar than his own agency.

I had already shared countless cups of tea with him, each time leaving me dizzy from his rambling tales of distant lands. But since I happened to be here, I couldn’t avoid him. Reluctantly, I ushered him into the study, only to find Xiao Huan sitting leisurely in the central chair, flipping through a book.

Before I could speak, Chief Escort Zheng gasped in shock, as if he’d seen a ghost. "Bai... Bai, Bai Chi Fan!"

Xiao Huan remained indifferent, not looking up. I cleared my throat. "Chief Escort Zheng, please refrain from addressing our former Pavilion Master by his given name."

Only then did Chief Escort Zheng realize his impropriety, though his voice still wavered as he kept glancing at Xiao Huan. "My apologies, my apologies..."

I smiled. "No need, no need." Then I walked over to Xiao Huan and took his hand. "I’m sorry for startling the Chief Escort. This is my husband. His appearance bears some resemblance to our White Pavilion Master, which might cause misunderstandings."Chief Escort Zheng finally seemed to calm down a bit. "So that's how it is."

I leaned down to hug Xiao Huan's shoulders and said softly to him, "Brother Xiao, are you tired? Do you want to go back and rest a little more?" Then I looked up and smiled at the opposite side. "Apologies, Chief Escort Zheng. My husband isn't in the best health and can't keep you company for conversation."

Chief Escort Zheng stammered, unable to respond.

Xiao Huan stood up, slightly bowing his head as he smiled at him. "Zheng Yangwu, Chief Escort Zheng, I must take my leave." Without waiting for the other man's widened eyes, he turned and walked into the inner chamber.

This was the shortest visit Zheng Yangwu had ever made to the Phoenix Come Pavilion—just one cup of tea before he hurriedly excused himself, his face red, repeatedly refusing my offer to see him out.

After seeing Zheng Yangwu off, I returned to the inner chamber and couldn't help but chuckle. I threw myself onto Xiao Huan, who was sitting on the soft couch. "Brother Xiao, thank you for helping me get rid of that annoying guy!"

He set down the book in his hand and smiled at me. "Oh? You didn't seem impatient all this time. I thought you didn't mind him."

To be honest, because no one had ever seen me bring my husband around, quite a few single or widowed leaders from the Martial World had been frequenting the Phoenix Come Pavilion over the past two years, making small talk with me. Even someone as slow as me could sense something was off. I had to deflect them left and right, unable to outright tell them to get lost—it was quite a headache. I’m not sure when it started, but one day, when I brought in the leader of a sword sect, I found Xiao Huan already sitting inside. That day, the sect leader’s mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg, and he never came back after that.

After this happened two or three times, rumors began spreading outside that the current Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion kept a male concubine who looked strikingly similar to the late former Pavilion Master, Bai Chi Fan.

I snorted with laughter. "Oh, my beauty, I was waiting for you to get jealous!" I scrambled up, narrowing my eyes as I lifted his chin with one hand. "Did my beauty knock over the vinegar jar? Come here, let this lord pamper you properly..."

He didn’t dodge, just slightly raised an eyebrow. "My lord, it seems someone is watching."

I quickly turned my head and saw Mu Yan standing at the doorway, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "I say, you two Pavilion Masters, if you want to flirt, please take it back to your Hall of Mental Cultivation. People still need to come and go here."

Still half-sprawled over Xiao Huan, I shot back without hesitation, "Ever heard of 'turn away from impropriety'? When you see a married couple being affectionate, you should immediately turn around and leave, pretending you saw nothing!"

Mu Yan continued rolling his eyes, clicking his tongue at me. "You put on such a proper front in front of outsiders, but in private, you’re still this shameless. You’re a mother of five now—honestly, I don’t know where all these years went for you."

"And you’re a father of three! I don’t see you making much progress either," I retorted, giving him a sidelong glance. "What are you here for? Spit it out!"

"Nothing much. Just reporting that Yi Wei has been dealt with by me," he said with a rather smug grin. "That’s the eighth challenger I’ve defeated this year. What do you think? Pretty impressive for the current top fighter of Phoenix Come Pavilion, huh?"

Clearly mocking me for being the Pavilion Master yet never having anyone challenge me, I huffed coldly. "Oh, big deal—just sparring with people. Fine, we get it, you’re the fight king!"Mu Yan immediately shook his head and launched into his usual spiel about how martial arts contests were not mere brawls, but the highest and most profound state of combat, utterly incomparable to ordinary fights, and so on.

I huffed and interrupted from the side, and the two of us happily bickered back and forth until Xiao Huan finally stepped in with a smile to break us up.

The half-day at Phoenix Come Pavilion passed in a mix of busyness and leisure.

For dinner, we hurried back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to eat with the children. Even though we had seen them at noon, the little ones were still overjoyed and clung to Xiao Huan, chattering nonstop after the meal.

By the time we finally managed to soothe and send them off, it was already quite late.

He smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Shall we turn in early?"

I hadn’t thought much about it, but now that he mentioned it—having woken at mao hour (5-7 AM) and been on the go all day—I really did feel drowsy. I grinned and hugged his waist in return. "Brother Xiao, I want to sleep with you."

He chuckled softly. "Of course. Though I tied the sash of my inner robe a bit tight today. Should I loosen it first?"

He was teasing me again about how I always unconsciously undress him in my sleep! Who knows when he started enjoying mocking me like this… I shot him a glare. "No need. I’m used to untying it."

In bed, I clung to him as drowsiness took over. As usual, in my half-asleep state, I had already undone his inner robe and pressed my face directly against the bare skin of his chest.

A trivial, ordinary day came to an end with the faint scent of Dragon’s Brain lingering in the air.

Enveloped in the quiet warmth of his embrace, I always slept soundly when he was near. Deep in slumber, I faintly heard some rustling noises but paid them no mind.

I slept straight through until the next morning. Hazily, I thought I heard the bell for morning court—but today wasn’t a grand assembly day. Why would the bell be ringing?

As I grew more awake, I realized the bedding was neatly arranged, but Xiao Huan was nowhere to be seen.

Sitting up and propping my head, I heard Jiao Yan’s voice from beside the bed. "Your Majesty is awake? His Majesty instructed me to wait here for you. It’s still early—would you like to sleep a little longer?"

Throwing off the covers, I jumped out of bed. "Where is His Majesty? When did he leave?"

"His Majesty went to court," Jiao Yan replied. "Before yin hour (3-5 AM), he summoned the Brocade Uniform Guard to notify the ministers for a grand assembly."

Without another word, I snatched the clothes she had prepared for me and hastily pulled them on, my mind spinning with panic.

What urgent matter had made Xiao Huan summon the ministers so suddenly?

Qi Chengliang! A chill ran through me as the realization hit—Qi Chengliang was supposed to have been escorted to the capital last night.