[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - 19

Chapter 76, Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden...

Li Yue thought that all the imperial palaces in the world were probably similar, equally vast and boundless, equally deathly silent. The only difference, perhaps, was the people who lived inside.

Nanfo had a bewitching Jinlu adding color to its palace, Xiwu had nothing, and Dongyi, well, Yan Huang alone was enough to be the soul of its palace.

Today was another sunny day. Early in the morning, she was received by someone sent by Yan Huang and brought to the palace. The imperial physician examined her pulse, prescribed medicine, and told her to rest more, but how could she be one to stay idle? As soon as the physician left, she slipped away.

The palace was heavily guarded, and she didn't want to cause trouble in Yan Huang's territory, so she brought a palace maid with her to prove her identity.

The image Yong'an had left her with was always gentle and refined; in this magnificent palace, only the picturesque imperial garden could be described as gentle and refined.

Suffering from internal injuries and lacking strength, Li Yue felt weak as soon as she reached the Imperial Garden. After wandering around for a while, she noticed a waterside pavilion in the middle of the lake, connected by wooden corridors and surrounded by white gauze. A gentle breeze caused the gauze to float like clouds, creating a uniquely elegant and charming scene against the backdrop of the surrounding blue water and blooming flowers.

She was about to walk towards it when a palace maid quickly stopped her, saying, "Miss Qin, you can't go there."

"Why?" Li Yue asked.

The palace maid cautiously replied, "That's where the Emperor rests in the afternoon. Apart from the Emperor, even the two imperial concubines dare not enter casually." "

Two imperial concubines? Are they your Emperor's consorts?" Li Yue narrowed her eyes.

The palace maid said, "Exactly."

Li Yue paused, then felt relieved. After learning that Yan Huang was the Emperor, she hadn't thought he could still be single. Hearing that he only had two consorts was a little surprising; she had expected more.

Heh, how to put it? Her admiration and affection for him were limited to the present moment; she hadn't considered the future at all. For her, the thought of being surrounded by a bunch of women in the deep palace, waiting day after day for the same man's favor, was utterly unimaginable.

Yan Huang was a breathtaking sight; she paused for him, but never considered staying long.

Thinking of this, a slight sadness welled up within her. In truth… though young, she felt a weariness in her heart, longing to find a good place to settle down permanently, no longer needing to wander.

She yearned for a simple, pure life like Mo Ling's.

Just then, a figure flashed amidst the blooming flowers in the distance. She looked up and froze.

A man in a pale gold brocade robe stood beside a magnolia tree, his beauty astonishing. Under his radiance, the bright spring light silently dimmed; only he, alluring and undeniably, filled everyone's gaze.

Seeing Li Yue, he was clearly also momentarily stunned, then gracefully reached out and slowly smoothed his long hair, smiling slightly.

A very simple gesture, performed by him, exuded boundless charm.

Li Yue snapped back to reality, observing him silently.

He approached with a graceful, almost otherworldly air, his beauty becoming increasingly captivating with closer inspection. While his face wasn't as strikingly beautiful as Jin Lü's, his unparalleled charm was unmatched by anyone Li Yue could find.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before her. The palace maid beside Li Yue bowed but remained silent, leaving Li Yue utterly puzzled.

He didn't speak. Li Yue looked up at him, his dark pupils radiating a mesmerizing halo, swirling like a vortex that seemed to draw one in. Li Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily averted her gaze, offering a faint smile: "What? Have the chrysanthemums bloomed in the Eastern Palace?" A

faint, enigmatic glint flashed in his eyes as he replied, "No, this place only has my guest."

A guest? He was gay, and the Eastern Palace had his guest?

A eunuch who was neither male nor female shouldn't be considered a man. The only real man in the palace was Yan Huang. Could Yan Huang also be… a homosexual? No way?

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden seemed to sense Li Yue's hesitation. She smiled slightly, about to speak, but then suddenly turned her head to look behind Li Yue.

Li Yue turned around as well. Yan Huang was standing there, his bright yellow nine-dragon imperial robe shimmering in the sunlight, making it almost impossible to see his expression.

But Li Yue still saw it clearly. The expression on his face was one she had never seen before—neither cold nor angry, but definitely not gentle either; it was an indescribable hostility.

"I warned you not to appear before me," he said expressionlessly, looking at the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.

The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden seemed completely oblivious to his displeasure, saying calmly, "I just didn't expect His Majesty to come to the Imperial Garden immediately after court. I couldn't avoid him in time, I apologize." With that, she turned gracefully and walked away.

Looking at the two, a chilling realization suddenly surfaced in Li Yue's mind: Yan Huang so despised him yet dared not touch him—could he be… the legendary male favorite of Yan Huang's mother, the current Empress Dowager?

He had a close relationship with Su Yingge, yet was also connected to the Dongyi royal family… This man was no ordinary person. She'd ask him next time she saw Su Yingge.

"You look so pale? Why aren't you resting?" Yan Huang's gentle voice rang in her ears.

Li Yue looked up at him; he had clearly composed himself and regained his usual refined elegance.

Li Yue sized him up. This man, without his dragon robes, was a dashing and elegant scholar; with them, he was a majestic and imposing king. Though young and constrained, she firmly believed that given time, he would achieve great things.

Unfortunately, he was ultimately someone else's man.

A smile played on her lips as she lazily said, "I am a little tired. I'd like to rest over there." She pointed to the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

“Let’s go.” He naturally took her hand and walked towards the waterside pavilion, ignoring the stunned expressions of the palace maids and dragon servants behind them.

*

On the other side of the Imperial Garden, at Yujing Pavilion.

Pei Yanxi, radiant with happiness, nestled close to the Empress Dowager, while Yu Wuchen sat behind the first table on the right.

He had thought that meeting Prince Chen and his wife would be enough, but the real drama was yet to come. Just as he was preparing to return to the ancient city, the Empress Dowager of Dongyi sent someone to fetch him to the palace, saying she wanted to host a banquet for him and then keep him in the palace for two days, and it seemed she had no intention of letting him leave.

He had a headache, but the Empress Dowager, known for her iron-fisted methods, treated him with meticulous care. As the saying goes, it’s hard to refuse such hospitality. Even if he wanted to find an excuse to leave the palace, he couldn’t find a suitable opportunity to speak. He couldn’t help but admire the Empress Dowager

a little. Since he was old enough to understand, she was the first person who could make him uncomfortable yet impossible to refuse.

He knew she was keeping him around only so Pei Yanxi could observe him. Based on what he'd seen and heard in the past two days, he felt the Regent Empress Dowager seemed to dote on her niece a little too much.

Pei Qingyao sat there gracefully; seven years hadn't left many marks on her face. At first glance, this nearly forty-year-old Empress Dowager seemed more captivating than the youthful Pei Yanxi.

She had thought two days would be enough to see through a boy not yet twenty, but now she knew she was wrong.

This boy named Yu Wuchen was indeed like a piece of jade, possessing an incomparably smooth and perfect shell. He looked good from afar, but if you wanted to peel back that shell to see what was inside, you had to destroy him first.

However, this did not diminish her admiration for him. Born into a renowned military family in Yong'an, she had served as a concubine and then as the Empress Dowager. She had seen countless people, but over the years, no more than ten had dared to look her directly in the eye when they spoke to her. Especially after she became the Empress Dowager, apart from Pei Bangqing, Pei Yanxi, and Yan Huang, she had not been looked at so directly by a stranger for a long time.

This young man had no love for Pei Yanxi, not even a hint of liking. He made no attempt to hide this from her; a few subtle glances sufficed, no need for many words or actions.

But she didn't care. A life of mutual support and respect was the perfect marriage only a young girl could dream of. In her eyes, Pei Yanxi liked him, and she had the ability to fulfill his wish—that was enough.

Of course, given his background, this might take some time, but for Pei Yanxi and him, there was plenty of time, wasn't there?

Prince Chen, Pei Bangqing, arrived after court. He was a handsome, powerful, and energetic man, two years older than Pei Qingyao. Yu Wuchen's first impression of him was: very shrewd and unfathomable.

"Where is the Emperor? Why didn't he come with you?" Pei Qingyao asked, as she was used to keeping track of Yan Huang's every move.

Pei Bangqing said, "Hasn't he arrived yet? His Majesty left before me."

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingyao turned to look at her trusted confidante, Wu Jia, who was standing outside the pavilion. The capable woman in her thirties walked over and whispered something in her ear.

Pei Qingyao raised an eyebrow slightly, for a very brief moment, before returning to normal and saying, "Send someone to invite both of them over to me."

Wu Jia agreed and left.

*

In the breezy pavilion, there were bookshelves and a long couch.

Li Yue leaned against the couch, flipping through the "Heart Forging Manual" in her hands, and looked up to ask Yan Huang, "Didn't he say anything else when he gave it to you?"

Yan Huang sat at the foot of the couch, and upon hearing this, smiled slightly and said, "He only said it would be useful to you. He's not a talkative person to begin with."

Not talkative? When he was with her, he was always very talkative.

But now... Huangfu Shuhua is a good woman.

Li Yue felt a little emotional. Lowering her eyes, she had no mind to read the contents carefully. She turned over, found a comfortable position, and lay down, glancing sideways at the fluttering white gauze. She asked, "Yan Huang, why don't you let your concubines come here?"

Yan Huang turned his face away, and after a long pause, slowly said, "There's not much space that truly belongs to me..."

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?" Long Nu called cautiously from outside the pavilion.

"What is it?" Yan Huang asked in a deep voice.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager requests that you and Miss Qin go to Yu Jing Xuan." Long Nu said respectfully.

Chapter 77, A Night of Romance...

Yu Jing Xuan.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty." Yan Huang stood tall and graceful, bowing to Pei Qingyao. Li Yue stood beside him without moving.

"No need for formalities." Pei Qingyao looked at Li Yue and said gently to Yan Huang.

Li Yue, oblivious to everyone else, stared intently at Pei Qingyao. This woman before her was unlike any woman she had ever met before. She possessed a unique aura that set her apart from the ordinary masses, giving her an unapproachable presence. It was distinctive, and...strange.

She couldn't quite put her finger on it; she wasn't used to it, nor did she like it.

Yu Wuchen looked at Li Yue. Her face was pale, as if she were injured. In just two days, who could have hurt her? Could it be that Ye Qianxun, after being rejected, had forced himself on her? He wondered how badly she was injured. And why was she here with Yan Huang? Did she really want to become Yan Huang's concubine?

No, no, that wasn't her nature.

"You audacious commoner! You dare not kneel before the Empress Dowager?" Pei Yanxi felt displeasure the moment she saw Li Yue. During their chance encounter at Zhu Wu Gate, she knew Li Yue had a close relationship with Yu Wuchen and was a potential threat. Now, seeing Yu Wuchen staring at her without blinking, her jealousy and anger surged.

Li Yue snapped out of her daze, glanced at Pei Yanxi's angry glare, smiled calmly, and said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "I'm sorry, but I will only kneel to one person in this life, and that is my mother."

"Insolence! Does the Empress Dowager not even compare to your mother?" Pei Yanxi had intended to force her to kneel to intimidate her, but seeing her refusal, he became even more enraged.

Li Yue had come with Yan Huang, and Pei Bangqing had paid special attention to her. Seeing that she refused to bow to the Empress Dowager, he deliberately observed the Empress Dowager's reaction. He then noticed a strange phenomenon: the girl's facial features were almost identical to the Empress Dowager's.

"The Empress Dowager is indeed noble, but what does that have to do with me? I have neither received her favor nor any kindness from her, nor am I her subject. However, for Yan Huang's sake, I may greet her with the courtesy due to a junior." Li Yue said, gracefully curtsying to Pei Qingyao, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. My name is Qin Li Yue, and I am Yan Huang's friend."

"You..." Pei Yanxi could hardly believe that she dared to speak to the Empress Dowager in such a playful tone. Just as she was about to explode, Pei Qingyao reached out and lightly pressed her hand on the back of hers.

If there was anyone in Dongyi that Pei Yanxi feared, it was only the Empress Dowager. With this touch, Pei Yanxi, though unwilling, could only forcefully suppress her aura.

Pei Qingyao withdrew her gaze from Li Yue, then glanced at Yan Huang, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "I didn't expect Your Majesty to know how to make friends," she said. "You've really grown up. Please sit."

Yan Huang led Li Yue to sit down, then calmly addressed Pei Qingyao, "Mother, because I admire Miss Qin, I secretly brought her into the palace without consulting you. Please forgive me."

Upon hearing this, not only did Yu Wuchen's expression stiffen, but even Li Yue was somewhat surprised, glancing sideways at Yan Huang. Yan Huang, however, only looked at Pei Qingyao, his face full of sincerity.

Pei Yanxi glanced at Pei Bangqing, his eyes filled with disbelief. Yan Huang's aversion to women was well-known in the palace. At sixteen, under the Empress Dowager's arrangement, he participated in a selection of hundreds of women, choosing only two, and he remained childless to this day.

Today, he actually publicly declared his liking for Qin Li Yue—what was so good about this woman? Even if she was beautiful, she wasn't breathtakingly so, so why did Yu Wuchen and Yan Huang treat her differently?

Pei Qingyao smiled happily and said kindly, "Really? That's a good thing. May I ask who Miss Qin's parents are, and where she lives?"

Li Yue disliked people prying into her family history, and seeing the Empress Dowager's aggressive stance, she quickly said, "Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. Yan Huang's 'liking' is probably just friendship. Besides, I already have someone I love, so I don't need Your Majesty's concern."

Yu Wuchen breathed a sigh of relief, but then his heart skipped a beat. Who was this "someone I love"?

Pei Qingyao's smile faded, and she looked to Yan Huang for confirmation: "Is that so?"

Yan Huang smiled smoothly, without the slightest embarrassment or awkwardness, and said, "For now."

For now? That was a rather ambiguous answer.

Li Yue really wanted to kick him.

Pei Qingyao glanced at the two of them and said, "The palace has its own rules; Your Majesty should remember them."

Yan Huang said, "Your Majesty, I invited her here to discuss literature. I beg Your Majesty's understanding."

Li Yue's expression turned cold, and she gave Yan Huang a sidelong glance.

Discuss literature? Couldn't he find a better excuse? If the Empress Dowager were to test her, wouldn't he be exposed on the spot?

Across from them, Yu Wuchen picked up his teacup, lowered his head, and sipped his tea, a faint smile visible on his lips.

Pei Qingyao didn't continue to ask, only saying, "Your Majesty should decide on the appropriate measure."

Yan Huang lowered his head and agreed.

Pei Qingyao also sipped her tea, and asked without raising her eyes, "Yesterday, the Prime Minister's son was kidnapped by villains and seemed to be seriously injured. I heard that Your Majesty forbade the dispatch of people to apprehend the culprits. Why is that?"

Before Yan Huang could answer, Yu Wuchen stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Since the Empress Dowager and Your Majesty have important matters to discuss, I will take my leave."

Pei Qingyao looked over with clear, bright eyes and smiled slightly, "Young Master Wuchen, please sit down. We're all family here."

So soon they're not outsiders anymore? Ha, is she really going to be a live-in son-in-law? Li Yue leaned back in her chair, looking at Yu Wuchen with a playful gaze.

Hearing the Empress Dowager's words, Yu Wuchen was clearly surprised, but he quickly understood that the Empress Dowager was subtly expressing her meaning and waiting to see his reaction.

So he declined, saying he wasn't a subject of Dongyi, and it would be inappropriate for him to stay.

Having said that, who could force him to stay? So he left Yujing Pavilion as he wished. Pei Yanxi, seeing him leave, couldn't sit still any longer and chased after him.

Only Li Yue, completely oblivious to the fact that she was also an outsider, sat brazenly next to Yan Huang, eavesdropping. She couldn't help it; she was the mastermind behind this. Since the Empress Dowager had asked her directly, she likely already knew this. How could she leave Yan Huang alone to deal with this?

Yan Huang remained calm and composed, saying, "Mother, the reason I forbade them to apprehend the criminals is because it was I who ordered this."

Li Yue was stunned, turning to look at Yan Huang's handsome profile.

Pei Bangqing and Pei Qingyao exchanged glances, clearly not believing him.

"Why?" Pei Qingyao asked calmly.

"He infringed upon my interests," Yan Huang said.

"What do you mean?" Pei Qingyao's eyes deepened.

"I heard that those he captured and brought back to the Prime Minister's residence are all beautiful and charming. In a few years, some of them could very well become my concubines, but he beat me to it. I am furious." Yan Huang spoke with conviction, leaving Li Yue stunned. (Still using your hands? How can that be satisfying?) Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video of Fan Bingbing's genitals, molded to a highly realistic shape, with soft and delicate skin! Built-in large bumps closely mimic female anatomy for a more realistic experience... Intense and irresistible! Click to enter.

Honestly, isn't that reason... a bit too far-fetched?

The Empress Dowager, however, seemed completely oblivious to the impropriety in his words, simply saying, "Even so, how can you, as the Emperor, use such despicable means to punish him?"

"Mother, if not forced, I wouldn't want to do this. I wanted to imprison him and sentence him according to the law, but the facts I witnessed while traveling incognito outside the palace, when investigated by the Ministry of Justice, always resulted in 'no evidence found.' I find those incompetent officials in the Ministry of Justice useless and want to replace them, but Mother disagrees. Under these circumstances, I have no other choice but to find another way. Furthermore, I didn't give specific instructions on the implementation process. There's always a way around the rules; isn't this a common characteristic of our Eastern Yi court? I thought Mother was already used to it." Yan Huang's face was full of filial piety, but his words were barbed.

Pei Qingyao looked at him, then shifted her gaze to Li Yue beside him.

Noticing her gaze, Li Yue blinked in confusion, thinking, "Why are you looking at me? It's not like I asked your son to oppose you."

She didn't know that before her arrival, Yan Huang had never spoken to Pei Qingyao in such a subtly sarcastic tone; he had always been obedient and filial.

"Alright, I understand. You may leave now," she said slowly after a long pause.

Yan Huang rose, bowed, and left with Li Yue.

Pei Qingyao stared blankly at Li Yue's slender and graceful figure beside Yan Huang. After they had completely disappeared outside the pavilion, she dismissed the palace maids, leaving Pei Bangqing alone by her side.

After a long silence, she asked, "What do you think of Yu Wuchen?"

Pei Bangqing replied, "He possesses the bearing of a dragon and the grace of a phoenix, a natural talent unmatched in the world. However, he is shrouded in mystery and difficult to fathom. Entrusting Yanxi to him would be unsettling. Therefore, I still agree with the Empress Dowager's previous suggestion to betroth Yanxi to the Emperor as Empress."

Pei Qingyao rubbed her temples and said, "Yan Huang and she only have brotherly and sisterly feelings for each other. Moreover, she now has someone she loves. If we force her to enter the palace as Empress, I'm afraid she won't be happy."

"Temporary unhappiness is better than a lifetime of misfortune. It seems that Young Master Wuchen has no affection for Yanxi," Pei Bangqing said.

“I see it too.” Pei Qingyao looked up at the vibrant spring scenery outside the pavilion and murmured to herself, “How could my daughter, Pei Qingyao’s daughter, not be loved?”

Pei Bangqing pondered for a long time upon hearing this, then said, “Yanxi has been pampered since childhood, so I’m afraid her temper is a bit spoiled.”

Pei Qingyao glanced at him, and after a moment, suddenly asked, “Do you think Yanxi resembles me or the late Emperor?”

Pei Bangqing was stunned.

He had considered this question before, but he dared not say it aloud. Pei Yanxi… in terms of appearance, whether it was her figure, face, eyebrows, features, or even personality, she was vastly different from Pei Qingyao in her youth, and bore no resemblance whatsoever to the late Emperor. If it weren’t for the petal-shaped pink birthmark on her right shoulder, he would almost doubt that she was Pei Qingyao’s daughter.

But, having raised her as a daughter for so many years, it would be inappropriate to bring this up now.

In fact, more than her, he was more concerned about his son, Yan Huang, whom he had exchanged with her.

Yes, Yan Huang is his son.

His wife and Pei Qingyao became pregnant around the same time. When they were five or six months along, a highly experienced midwife, said to be able to determine the sex of the fetus based on the pregnant woman's physique, secretly consulted this midwife at the Pei residence, which was then the General's Mansion. The midwife declared that his wife was carrying a boy, while Pei Qingyao was carrying a girl.

The Pei family immediately and secretly executed the midwife. However, this prophecy weighed heavily on Pei Qingyao's mind. She then discussed with him the possibility of exchanging children, if the midwife's prediction was true, for the sake of her position in the palace and the future of the Pei family.

To conceal their plan and ensure its success, Pei Qingyao claimed to have dreamt of divine guidance and needed to return to the Pei family's ancestral home to pay respects to their ancestors and ensure the blessing of her unborn child.

The Pei family's ancestral home was not in Yong'an, but in Hua'an County in northern Dongyi. The late emperor initially didn't want her to travel such a long distance while pregnant, but after enduring her persistent pleading, he sent a large contingent of imperial guards and attendants to accompany her.

Several months later, his wife indeed gave birth to a baby boy in the palace. He was overjoyed, but remembering Pei Qingyao's instructions, he lied and said she had given birth to a daughter. Half a month later, good news arrived from the northern part of Dongyi: Pei Qingyao had given birth to a prince for the emperor while passing through Changhuai County on her way back to the palace.

Before Pei Qingyao returned to Yong'an, the two families completed a secret exchange, and his son entered the palace as a prince. Seventeen years passed in a flash. Yan Huang's growth filled his biological father with joy, and he couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be if he could one day have Yan Huang call him "father."

While he was filled with hope and joy, Pei Qingyao felt the exact opposite.

Seven years ago, the scene of her executing her wet nurse, Madam You, haunted her mind. She cursed her daughter with a life of misfortune. At the time, she didn't care, only because she saw the birthmark on Pei Yanxi's shoulder. That birthmark was the most vivid memory she had of seeing her daughter for the first time during the excruciating pain of childbirth.

However, as time passed, Pei Yanxi, who had once resembled her with her round eyes and brows, had grown into an even more beautiful and charming woman. Yet, there was no longer any resemblance between them.

And the sweet dimples on her cheeks were what bothered her most. For generations, no one in the Yan family or her own Pei family had ever had dimples. She had asked her trusted imperial physician about this, and the physician said that dimples were generally hereditary, and the probability of them forming naturally was extremely low.

Her heart sank at that moment.

The task of exchanging babies with the Pei family was entrusted to Madam You. She couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine, wondering if Madam You had switched her daughter halfway through. Was the birthmark on Pei Yanxi's shoulder just a fake?

But could Madam You really have had the audacity to do such a thing?

Or had she seen through her ruthlessness from the start, knowing she couldn't survive helping her with this switch, and thus hid her real daughter to save her life in a critical moment?

Yes, she had said before she died, "One life for one life"...

Unfortunately, everyone involved in this affair had been slaughtered by her, and whatever Madam You had done back then, she had no way of

verifying it. Oh no, she couldn't think any deeper.

In her entire life, she had never feared anyone or anything, but this time, she was truly afraid.

She feared the truth was as she suspected: she feared the daughter she had doted on for seventeen years wasn't her biological daughter, and that her real daughter was nowhere to be found, how she was doing…

Without the care of her biological parents, all alone, she couldn't possibly be happy…

No, she didn't want to think about it anymore. Seventeen years had passed; whatever the truth was, it was too late.

She preferred to believe that Pei Yanxi was her biological daughter, definitely… yes.

*

That night, Li Yue was meditating and healing in her room when she suddenly heard a soft breath beside her. She opened her eyes and saw Yu Wuchen standing by the window, gazing at the full moon. The silvery moonlight shone on his cloud-like white robe, the warm halo blurring the night scene outside.

She had known he was unassuming, but she hadn't expected his lightness skill to be so remarkable; she hadn't even noticed him enter.

She stopped, her voice cold, "In the past, I was always the one who went to your Linfeng Pavilion to meet you. What's going on these days? Why does Young Master Yu visit my residence so frequently?"

Yu Wuchen turned around, a slight smile appearing on his moon-like face, and said, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—that can be used to describe our relationship."

Li Yue pondered the meaning behind his words, her thoughts in turmoil, and remained silent.

"You don't look well. Who hurt you?" Yu Wuchen asked.

Li Yue smiled coldly, saying, "Times have truly changed. Now, you even know to check my complexion and ask who hurt me."

Yu Wuchen lowered his eyes, turning his face slightly away. She still resented him after all. During the five years at Jiuhua Mountain, she had been injured more than once, and her complexion had been poor more than once. He saw it all but never asked or showed any concern. He was thinking of keeping his brother from noticing anything amiss, but in her eyes, he must have been heartless and cruel.

“Liyue, I know about the past…”

“The past doesn’t need to be mentioned anymore. I just want to know, why did you come here?” He had barely begun to speak when Liyue interrupted him.

“I missed you.” He stared at her intently, his eyes deep.

Liyue was slightly taken aback by his directness, then lowered her eyes, smiling wryly as if to herself, and said, “When I liked you, you were indifferent. Now that I no longer like you, you say you miss me… Ha, Yu Wuchen, can I say you’re being pathetic?”

Hearing her say she no longer liked him, though expected, still saddened Yu Wuchen, who whispered, “Whatever you say, it’s not an exaggeration.”

"I know, maybe the fault isn't yours. It's just that I'm an orphan, with no family or friends, and I'm used to being selfish. I only know that if I like someone, no matter who they are, no matter who they're against, no matter if they're right or wrong, strong or weak, I will always stand by their side and live or die with them. I used to think that if I thought this way, others should think the same way, but in the end, I realized I was wrong. Not everyone is an orphan like me, not everyone only cares about the person they love and doesn't care about the lives of others. Yu Wuchen, what I can do for you, you can never do for me, because you're not an orphan. So, don't say you miss me anymore, don't come looking for me anymore, we should have ended it a long time ago." Li Yue looked at the man she had fallen in love with for the first time, her words so calm that even she was surprised.

Yu Wuchen met her gaze, his heart turning icy. He stood there stunned for a long time before finally asking, "Are you so certain you can find the kind of love you desire?"

Li Yue laughed again, a smile tinged with mystery and playfulness. "I no longer pursue love. Now I only pursue carefree happiness, a life of freedom. I enjoy men's flattery, and the ease of leaving when I'm tired. I don't pursue anything more."

Yu Wuchen felt a pang of pain. Had he ruined her? Back on Mount Jiuhua, she had been so sincere and persistent, but now, he couldn't find a trace of her. She no longer gave her heart; she played the field, seeking neither true love nor the desire to be loved… It was all his fault.

Yet, he also knew she was telling the truth. He couldn't give up everything for her, couldn't live a carefree life with her. He had parents and siblings; he wasn't alone.

But why wasn't he an orphan? If he wasn't an orphan, why did he fall for such a resolute woman?

He turned away almost hastily, overwhelmed with grief, yet still managed to speak calmly, "I'm returning to Xiwu tomorrow. Take care." With that, he pushed open the door and left.

Li Yue looked up at the tent ceiling, and after a long while, let out a long sigh.

Only she knew the desolation in her heart. Rejecting him now wasn't out of spite or revenge; it was simply a matter of necessity.

Without a future, there was no need to continue the entanglement.

She ran her hand through her hair, no longer caring about healing. She got out of bed and went outside, using her lightness skill to sneak into the Imperial Garden.

Night had fallen, and apart from the patrolling palace guards, few people walked in the Imperial Garden.

Li Yue wandered aimlessly among the flowers and willows, wondering: Where is Yan Huang now? With his concubine?

Ha…

She shook her head, laughing self-deprecatingly. She had come to clear her mind, not to invite trouble.

Now that she had obtained the "Heart Forging Technique," she should leave for Tianyi Island once her injuries healed.

She could put everything else aside for the time being, but martial arts were something she couldn't wait to improve.

After wandering around for a while, weariness crept in. She pulled herself together and was about to turn back when she heard faint moans.

She frowned suspiciously and quietly followed the sound.

Silently parting the rose vines deep within the path, Li Yue looked to the other side of the vine barrier and saw a man and woman making love against the artificial rock under the moonlight. The soft moans were coming from the woman.

Li Yue narrowed her eyes, wanting to see who was having an affair in this dark and windy palace garden, but the man seemed to sense her arrival and turned his face slightly.

When she saw his handsome face, which was filled with lust yet still sharp in its gaze, she was startled. For this person was none other than the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.

He clearly recognized Li Yue as the newcomer. His movements continued, but a seductive smile played on his lips. He deliberately tilted his upper body slightly to one side, allowing Li Yue to see the woman beneath him. When Li

Yue saw that the woman, her face flushed with desire, was Pei Yanxi, she was utterly shocked.

How could it be her? Could it be that she was unsatisfied by Yu Wuchen during the day and had come to the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden to satisfy her?

Li Yue glanced at them; neither of them were of interest to her, so she quickly lost interest. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.

This startled her greatly. Li Yue spun around and launched a deadly attack on the neck of the person behind her.

(Chapter 78, Imprisonment...)

Li Yue had intended to choke the person behind her, but the other person reacted faster, grabbing her wrist and saying, "Li Yue, it's me."

Seeing that it was Ye Qianxun, Li Yue was taken aback. Hearing a commotion from the artificial hill behind her, she gestured for Ye Qianxun to be quiet and pulled him away.

The two silently bypassed the palace guards and arrived at Li Yue's residence. Li Yue pressed him down into a chair and asked, "Didn't you leave? Why are you back?"

Ye Qianxun said, "You know that my Blood Shadow Palace has dealings with the Murong family. This time they changed their leader, and I came to see that scoundrel Murong Juan. I knew that negotiating with him would only lead to trouble, so I wanted to return to Xiwu. Unexpectedly, he sent someone to stop me, saying that we could continue our alliance."

Hearing this, Li Yue felt a pang of bitterness. Murong Juan was actually willing to take the initiative to show goodwill to Ye Qianxun. Did this mean he wanted to let her go? "That's for the best. Yu Wuchen is gone, and he... is gone too. Putting aside that loneliness, the fewer people in your life, the simpler life becomes.

" "Liyue, you don't look well? Are you injured? Who did this?" Under the lamplight, Ye Qianxun suddenly noticed Liyue's paleness, his heart clenched, and his voice rose sharply.

Liyue quickly covered his mouth, frowning, "Keep your voice down, I'm fine. I just accidentally suffered a backlash while practicing."

"A backlash? That's terrible! Liyue, come back to the Blood Shadow Palace with me. The environment there is conducive to staying clear-headed while practicing, preventing you from going into qi deviation," Ye Qianxun said, pulling her hand.

Li Yue shook her head, glanced at the "Heart Forging Manual" beside her pillow, and said, "This is enough."

Ye Qianxun walked over, quickly flipped through a few pages, and suddenly remembered a question. He grabbed Li Yue and asked, "Aren't you pregnant? Why are you still practicing martial arts?"

Li Yue was annoyed and kicked him in the shin, cursing, "Pregnant my foot! You want me to be pregnant with someone else's child, do

n't you?" "Of course not." Ye Qianxun ignored the burning pain in his leg and continued to hold her shoulders, saying, "I don't want you to stay in Yan Huang's palace either. When are you leaving?"

"None of your business! If you have nothing to do, just leave!" His mention of the child made her mood worse, and she grabbed him and pushed him towards the door.

"I have something to do, Li Yue, I have something to do." Ye Qianxun stood still.

"What is it?" Li Yue asked irritably.

Ye Qianxun remained silent, turning her around and quickly pressing several acupoints. He then thrust his palm forward, powerful internal energy surging into those acupoints. The intense pain caused Li Yue's body to go limp instantly, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

Ye Qianxun reacted swiftly, catching her as she slid down and sitting her down on a nearby chair.

Li Yue endured the pain for a long while before finally glaring at him, her voice trembling slightly, "Ye Qianxun, what the hell did you do to me?"

Ye Qianxun stiffly wiped the sweat from her forehead with his sleeve, saying, "Bear with it. Practicing that martial arts manual requires opening several key points. With your current skill level, it will probably take you at least a year and a half."

"What's it to you? Why did you have to be so impulsive!" Li Yue retorted angrily, ignoring the throbbing pain in her meridians, and raised her hand to punch him.

“Li Yue, I don’t need your gratitude. Everything I do for you is voluntary. You don’t owe me anything.” Ye Qianxun grabbed her hand, looked into her eyes, and said affectionately, “I just like you and want to be good to you. You don’t need to feel burdened.”

Li Yue looked at him and realized that this man seemed less and less like the one she first met. What had made him change so much?

“Ye Qianxun, what’s wrong with you?” she asked.

Ye Qianxun raised his hand and placed her hand against his cheek, saying, “I also find it strange. I feel like I’m not like I used to be at all. But I just can’t control myself. Compared to the satisfaction and happiness I feel when I’m with you, all other insistence and resentment seem meaningless. If I’m in front of you and your gaze still lingers on other men, then it must be because I’m not good enough, right? Li Yue, I will try to do better. You believe me.”

Li Yue looked at him. His eyes were dark and deep, but she could see through them. She saw the sincere love and loyalty in his eyes. This man truly loved her wholeheartedly. Such a domineering person, yet she felt inadequate because of her lack of devotion…

“As for my sister, we are related by blood but not by love, but I have to take care of her because it was my father’s dying wish. If you insist on asking who is more important to me, you or her… I can only tell you that if one day you kill her, I will feel guilty and in pain, but I will not hate you, and I will not touch you. But if she kills you, I will choose to die with her.” Ye Qianxun lowered his eyes and spoke quietly.

“Kiss me.” After a moment of silence, Li Yue suddenly said.

“…?” Ye Qianxun looked up, somewhat taken aback.

“I told you to kiss me.” Li Yue looked at his bewildered expression and smiled slightly.

She never hesitated to reciprocate the sincerity of those who were truly kind to her, and she thought she was prepared for the possibility of further hurt.

Never give all your heart to one man, and never reject the sincerity of other men just because you already have one in your heart.

A man can tell every woman in his life, "I'm truly in love with you," and the woman will foolishly believe him. So why can't a woman tell every man in her life, "I'm truly in love with you"? Whether the man believes her or not depends solely on the woman's methods.

Does Qin Liyue possess such methods? Perhaps... she'll give it a try.

Perhaps to them it's cruel, but to her it's self-protection, and this self-protective instinct was instilled in her by the men who had loved and hurt her.

As the saying goes, "Every man for himself," and she felt she had a clear conscience.

*

Behind the artificial rockery in the Imperial Garden, Pei Yanxi was now fully dressed, his expression shifting from tense to somber.

"If our affair reaches the Empress Dowager's ears, you should know what the consequences will be." The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden hadn't vented her anger, but he remained calm and composed.

Pei Yanxi glanced at him. She knew, of course, that this man was one of the Empress Dowager's favorite male favorites in recent years. If the Empress Dowager found out about her affair with him, while she wouldn't be punished, her favor towards her would certainly diminish.

Actually, besides the Empress Dowager, she was even more afraid of Yu Wuchen finding out. She loved Yu Wuchen, and her involvement with the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden was merely an impulsive act of youthful infatuation. Every time they made love, she would imagine him as Yu Wuchen, and he didn't seem to mind, which was why they could maintain this relationship.

Women don't live fulfilling lives solely on love; sometimes, they need physical comfort. The Empress Dowager was like that, and so was she.

Seeing her hesitation, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden chuckled and said, "If I remember correctly, the Emperor is going to Qicheng Mountain, more than two hundred miles away, to offer sacrifices to Heaven the day after tomorrow. He won't be back for at least ten days to half a month. At that time, as long as you transfer Murong Juan away from Yong'an, with your status and the blood feud between her and the Murong family, eliminating her should be a piece of cake, right?"

Pei Yanxi narrowed his eyes and said, "You seem to know her very well."

"Don't try to understand someone casually. Sometimes, it's dangerous." The Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden whispered with a mysterious look in her eyes, then turned and quietly left.

*

The next morning, when Li Yue woke up, she felt refreshed all over. Even her internal injuries seemed to have healed a lot. She wondered if it was because Ye Qianxun had helped her open her Xuan Guan (a point on the body's energy channels) the night before.

Recalling his frustrated expression after their kiss the previous night, aroused yet unsatisfied, she couldn't help but laugh. Sometimes, men really are simple creatures, at least when it comes to desire; tormenting them is easy.

With the *Heart Forging Manual* tucked away, Li Yue took the same palace maid from yesterday with her for a walk.

They unintentionally came across a palace called Yuan Yu Palace. Hearing it was Yan Huang's bedchamber, Li Yue considered going inside for a look, but having the maid with her was clearly inconvenient. Thinking this, she signaled to Tan Lang, who was beside her, to create some chaos. Tan Lang understood and slipped away silently.

"Oh dear, where's my dog? My dog is gone!" Li Yue cried out dramatically once Tan Lang had completely disappeared.

The maid, hearing this, hurriedly helped her search around, but couldn't find Tan Lang. Turning around, she found Li Yue gone too, assuming she had wandered off looking for the dog, and rushed over in a panic.

Li Yue strolled through the magnificent palace, gazing at the opulent decorations and furnishings, bathed in the glow of shimmering light and sparkling with jewels. She sat somewhat bewildered on the enormous bed, large enough to comfortably seat seven or eight people side-by-side.

She thought that perhaps happiness wasn't necessarily linked to one's birth. As a child, when she and her mother huddled together under a tattered blanket on a small bamboo bed, hungry and cold, she had thought that if she had been born into a wealthy family, and her mother had been a carefree noblewoman, they would surely be very happy.

In terms of birth nobility, surely no one in Dongyi could compare to Emperor Yan Huang? But was he happy?

No, at least not now.

Thinking of Yan Huang and the Empress Dowager, she couldn't help but recall their meeting yesterday. At the time, she only felt something was strange, something felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. Afterwards, upon careful reflection, she discovered the crux of the matter.

She was unusually sensitive to her mother's gaze. Yesterday, when the Empress Dowager looked at Yan Huang, her eyes, though loving, were utterly calm, unlike a mother's. But when she looked at Pei Yanxi, she saw a hint of that familiar motherly gaze, faint yet certain.

Why was this?

Suddenly, the palace doors opened.

She hurriedly rose and quickly hid behind the dragon bed.

"All of you, leave. No one is allowed to enter without my summons," Yan Huang's voice was steady yet brief.

Faint sounds of agreement could be heard outside the palace, then the doors closed again.

For a long time, the palace was shrouded in endless silence. Just as Li Yue was about to go out to see what he was doing, she suddenly heard the sound of a zither.

Having grown up in a brothel, and with a mother who was a courtesan skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, Li Yue's memories of music were limited to her childhood. She was only familiar with some ornate and decadent tunes. But the piece Yan Huang was playing...

was outwardly serene yet inwardly passionate, outwardly beautiful yet inwardly obscure. Behind every beautiful note seemed to lie a lonely soul, and every pause in the melody seemed to be a struggle against fate.

She didn't know what piece he was playing; she only saw a person suppressing his loneliness, struggling, repeatedly rising to his feet only to be repeatedly crushed by brute force, until he was nearly broken.

This music stirred up memories of her past, but those memories were too agonizing, so she refused to listen any longer.

Yan Huang sat at the zither, eyes closed, brows furrowed, his long, slender fingers gliding almost frantically across the strings. Suddenly, a book came crashing down, and with a "clang," all four strings snapped simultaneously, the broken strings cutting his fingers.

He looked up at Li Yue standing by the bedpost, his eyes deep, yet unsurprised.

This was the second time Li Yue had seen him so unkind; he was suppressing his emotions, to the point of almost losing control.

Meeting his gaze, Li Yue walked over, bent down to pick up the "Heart Forging Manual," and had just stood up when he pulled her into his arms.

His strength was immense, and Li Yue didn't try to struggle, so she half-reclined on his lap.

"Why did you smash the zither?" he asked, lowering his gaze, staring intently at her.

"It was meant to please, but it conveyed pain. I don't like it," Li Yue said quietly.

Yan Huang's slightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. Amidst the faint scent of ambergris, he asked, "Then what do you like?"

Li Yue didn't answer, but instead took his injured hand. A drop of crimson blood had gathered at the tip of his middle finger. She gazed at it for a moment, then placed it in her mouth, gently sucking it. She smiled faintly and said, "I like to use other people's blood to soothe the unhappiness they caused me."

Yan Huang looked at the girl lying on his lap. Her lips, tinged with blood, smiled like a demon, yet possessed a captivating allure and cold beauty beyond her years.

Her eyes told him that she was not only his confidante but had also shared his fate. Therefore, she understood his music and he understood him.

This scene was not suitable for romance, yet for the first time in his life, he felt an urge to kiss a woman.

On her lips, he tasted his own blood for the first time, and for the first time, he tasted the sweetness born of love.

Li Yue responded to him; not only did she respond, but she also reached out and embraced him.

Yan Huang, this outwardly glamorous man, concealed a deep and unspeakable pain. This reminded her of herself. She knew how comforting it would be if someone held her tightly like this when she was in pain. She had never received such comfort, but she was willing to give him it, because this man deserved it. He

wasn't very skilled at kissing, and after a passionate embrace, he was slightly out of breath.

He didn't explain why he kissed her, but simply reached out and gently touched her smooth cheek, asking, "Are you feeling better?"

Li Yue raised an eyebrow: "What? Are you trying to get rid of me?"

Yan Huang shook his head, saying, "Tomorrow I'm going to Qicheng Mountain to offer sacrifices to Heaven, and I'm afraid I won't be back for ten days."

He was afraid that someone in the palace might harm her while he was away.

Li Yue smiled and said, "I'm much better. I was just about to say goodbye. Since you're going to offer sacrifices to Heaven tomorrow, then I'll also leave the palace tomorrow."

*

The next day, Yan Huang indeed led a large entourage out of the palace early in the morning to Qicheng Mountain.

Li Yue hesitated for a while in the palace, wondering whether to say goodbye to Murong Juan. She didn't know that Murong Juan had already been sent to Yong'an by the Prince Chen's residence yesterday.

After much deliberation, she decided she should see him. To let go of a relationship, she first had to face it, whether it was joyful or sorrowful.

After quickly packing, she was about to ask the eunuch Yan Huang had arranged for her to escort her out of the palace when a palace maid suddenly reported that the Empress Dowager summoned her to Yu Jing Xuan.

The Empress Dowager summoned her? To go or not to go?

If she didn't go, she feared she wouldn't be able to leave the palace smoothly. Well, she would go then. Since it was a legitimate summons, they wouldn't resort to any underhanded tactics to harm her. She neither wanted to become a concubine nor wanted to get involved in their palace affairs, so what was there to fear?

The palace maid from her quarters didn't accompany her, saying the Empress Dowager had instructed her to go alone.

Li Yue thought to herself that she had been to Yu Jing Xuan once before and knew the way, so she didn't need the maid's company. She then went alone with Tan Lang.

As soon as she entered the Imperial Garden, she looked up and saw Pei Yanxi walking gracefully towards her, accompanied by several palace maids.

Li Yue felt nothing but disgust for this woman; she glanced at her and walked on with her head held high.

Unexpectedly, just as the two passed each other, Pei Yanxi suddenly shouted, "Assassin! Help!"

Li Yue turned around and saw a bloodstained dagger lying on the ground, while she herself was clutching her shoulder and retreating rapidly.

This woman wants to harm her!

Li Yue narrowed her eyes, spun around, and was about to grab her.

But a dark figure suddenly appeared from the side and blocked her way, a gust of wind rushing towards her face with a flick of his sleeve.

Seeing him strike with his palm, Li Yue reached out to catch him without thinking, but unexpectedly, this person's martial arts were far superior to hers. Before the true energy hidden in her palm could even materialize into a weapon, it was forced back by his palm. Li Yue's right arm throbbed with pain, and her chest churned with blood from the impact of the internal force. The recurrence of her internal injuries caused blood to well up in her throat, which she swallowed forcefully, taking a few steps back to look at the person who had come.

Murong Ting, Li Yue had seen him by Yan Huang's side more than a year ago.

Now it seemed that he wasn't working for Yan Huang, but rather for the Chen Prince's Mansion.

In a very short time, the nearby guards rushed over and surrounded her.

Li Yue endured the excruciating pain in her right arm, warily guarding against Murong Ting, her mind racing.

Such a setup was clearly premeditated by Pei Yanxi. The timing, the location, the people—all were perfect. This woman, seemingly foolish, was actually quite ruthless. But what was her motive? Was she afraid she would tell Yu Wuchen about last night's events?

Ha, she knew curiosity killed the cat, but she hadn't expected to become that unlucky cat today.

If Murong Ting weren't there, she might have been able to capture her and help her escape the palace, but that was clearly impossible now. Even when she wasn't injured, Murong Ting's martial arts were definitely superior to hers, let alone now that she was wounded.

Fighting to the death would inevitably result in injuring or killing these palace guards. She had two possible outcomes: first, being killed on the spot; second, being captured. If she was captured, Yan Huang would definitely come to rescue her, but if she killed the palace guards, it would undoubtedly make his rescue more difficult.

Surrendering might result in some physical pain, but as long as she wasn't killed on the spot, she believed she still had a chance of survival. There were three reasons for this: First, although she had severed ties with Yu Wuchen, Pei Yanxi didn't know. Out of respect for Yu Wuchen, she wouldn't openly kill her in the Imperial Garden; imprisoning her and using underhanded tactics was more in line with her character. Second, she had been brought to the palace by Yan Huang's men; no matter how arrogant Pei Yanxi was, she couldn't completely disregard Yan Huang's feelings. Third, no one noticed that Tanlang had escaped.

As it turned out, her decision was correct. Because she gave up resisting, she was imprisoned alive.

*

In the Jade Tea Palace, Pei Qingyao was admiring a newly blooming golden jade butterfly when she heard Wu Jia's report behind her. Her hand, which was about to touch the flower, paused, and she turned around to ask, "Assassination? How is Yanxi now?"

"The princess only suffered a minor shoulder injury and is otherwise fine. Also, Murong Ting reported that the woman is the murderer of Murong Xian," Wu Jia said.

Pei Qingyao glanced at her and said, "Although that woman is skilled in martial arts, she is no match for Murong Xian… but Murong Xian is lecherous, so it's hard to say." "

Empress Dowager, that woman is currently in prison. Judging from the princess's expression, it seems she wants her dead. What is Your Majesty's opinion?" Wu Jia asked.

Pei Qingyao slowly sat down at the table, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Summon Murong Juan," she said, "and tell him it's an imperial decree from me. Have him interrogate this suspect who killed Murong Xian." "

Does the Empress Dowager suspect he knew about it but didn't report it? He's been poisoned by the Moon Gu; he probably doesn't have the guts," Wu Jia asked doubtfully.

"I've seen plenty of people who outwardly comply but inwardly defy me. Just do as I say," Pei Qingyao said coldly.

Wu Jia accepted the order and was about to leave when Pei Qingyao suddenly asked, "How's the situation in Xiwu?"

Wu Jia replied, "Your Majesty, my men have found clues about the man. They wanted to arrest him, but discovered they were being watched, so they didn't act rashly and are now keeping a close watch on him."

"Being watched? Who?" Pei Qingyao frowned slightly.

Wu Jia nodded, "It's still unclear, but the other party seems to be quite powerful, acting mysteriously and possessing high martial arts skills; they are no ordinary people."

Pei Qingyao stood up, clasped her hands together, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let them lie low for now, waiting for an opportunity to act. They must not reveal their purpose. If they are captured, they should know what to do."

Wu Jia accepted the order and withdrew.

*

In the afternoon, the sacrificial procession had already traveled more than eighty li outside the city.

After a short rest, Yan Huang boarded the imperial carriage. The procession had just resumed its journey when suddenly a dog barked.

Yan Huang lifted the carriage curtain and looked in the direction of the sound, only to see Tan Lang chasing after his

imperial carriage, barking incessantly at him. A guard nearby, thinking it was a mad dog, drew his sword and rode forward to kill it.

"Stop!" Yan Huang shouted, quickly dismounting from the imperial carriage.

Seeing him dismount, Tan Lang turned and pounced on him, biting the hem of his magnificent brocade robe and dragging him towards Yong'an.

The surrounding officials and guards were completely bewildered, but Yan Huang's heart tightened: Had something happened to Li Yue?

He immediately disregarded the matter of the sacrificial ceremony, pulled a guard off his horse, and was about to mount and return to Yong'an.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you can't turn back halfway! The timing was all arranged..." Long Nu rushed over and clung to his leg.

"Get lost!" Yan Huang kicked him several feet away, nimbly mounted his horse, and with a flick of his whip, galloped towards Yong'an.

Chapter 79, I Will Return...

In the Longhua Hall of the Eastern Palace in the Southern Buddhist Empire, Jinlu was having a private discussion with her confidants when a report came from outside. Li Shi went out for a moment, then returned and whispered something in Jinlu's ear. Jinlu remained calm, raising her eyes and saying, "You may all leave."

After a dozen or so people filed out, Li Shi took out a slip of paper from his sleeve. Jinlu unfolded it and read only a few words, but his heart tightened: Qin Liyue was in danger in Yong'an, her life in peril.

"Where did the news come from?" he asked.

"Unknown. The carrier pigeon was found in the garden, already dead when it was found," Li Shi said.

Jinlu rubbed her forehead, her usually bright eyes now showing faint dark circles. She said, "The situation is tense. These past few months I've been so busy dealing with Jinwei that I've neglected her. Immediately send a message by carrier pigeon to Su Yingge. Regardless of whether the news is true or false, in a month, have him bring Liyue to Shengyang to see me."

Li Shi hesitated, "Is it appropriate to send Miss Qin over now?"

"Su Yingge is becoming increasingly unreliable. Until we find a more suitable person to protect her, it's best to keep her by my side. Go," Jinlu instructed calmly.

*

The dimly lit cell was filled with the damp air, thick with the smells of rust and blood, and the pungent stench of the jailers' sweat.

To be more precise, it was a torture chamber, not a prison cell.

Liyue was bound to a cross-shaped wooden stake, her body stained with blood, yet she still held her pale face high, staring at the jailer who was whipping her.

Perhaps it was her chilling gaze, or her unyielding expression, that caused the jailer, who was supposed to whip her all afternoon, to give up after only an hour, citing sore hands as a reason, and be replaced by another.

Internal and external injuries tormented her, almost causing her to faint. But she felt no sadness or anger; she had no energy for it. All her thoughts and strength were focused on fighting the pain and maintaining her sanity.

No matter the circumstances, if she could face everything with clarity, she would never faint. This was the principle she had set for herself.

She seemed to have an extraordinary tolerance for pain; perhaps it was her strong will, or perhaps she had simply grown accustomed to it. In any case, she endured an hour and a half of whipping by two strong jailers without ever fainting.

The two jailers seemed quite surprised as well. She overheard them whispering between shifts: "Why hasn't she fainted yet? It's been so long." "I don't know. If the princess comes and sees this, she'll think we went too far." "That's right, a little harder, I don't believe we can't beat her unconscious..."

After whipping her for another half hour, the two jailers had the same thought: perhaps only death could close the eyes of this woman.

Just as Li Yue was nearing her limit, Pei Yanxi arrived.

Stepping into the filthy torture chamber, she covered her mouth and nose, frowned, glanced at the pale-faced Li Yue on the rack, and then laughed: "Not bad, her hair is still dry. She didn't faint?"

The two jailers trembled and said, "Your Highness, we have done our best, but she just won't faint."

Pei Yanxi looked at the torn flesh under her tattered clothes and said, "That's because you are not worthy to make her faint. Get out of here!"

After the jailers left, Pei Yanxi slowly walked up to Li Yue, suddenly reached out and grabbed her chin, her sharp nails digging deep into her flesh. Arrogant and vicious, she said, "You say I'm all looks and no brains? You're not that big-breasted, but you're not exactly smart either. You dared to come to Yong'an after offending me. Are you looking for death?"

Li Yue remained silent. At this moment, threats and insults were meaningless. She didn't want to have any communication with her except to kill her.

Pei Yanxi saw the disdain in her eyes, smiled coldly, released her chin, and slowly wiped the blood from her fingernails with a handkerchief. "Don't want to talk to me? Then who do you want to talk to? This might be your last chance to speak. Say what your last words are, because I really don't know if you'll live to see tomorrow's sun."

Li Yue didn't look at her, secretly calculating the time. So much time had passed and there was still no movement. Tan Lang must not have gone into the city to find Murong Juan, but had gone out to find Yan Huang.

When she was in trouble, it wasn't even noon yet. Yan Huang and his group must not have gone far. At Tan Lang's speed, he should be able to catch up with Yan Huang by the afternoon. Yan Huang should be riding back. If everything went smoothly, Yan Huang should already be back in Yong'an, and perhaps he'll come here soon.

No matter what this woman did to her, she just needed to endure it a little longer. As long as she could get out of here alive, she would avenge herself a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

Therefore, her current petty triumph was not worth getting angry over.

A slight metallic scraping sound reached her ears, and her gaze shifted to Pei Yanxi, who was standing before the brazier, fiddling with the red-hot branding iron.

"I've always been curious, what does it feel like to have this branding iron pressed against flesh? But no one can tell me clearly. Since you are so unique, so strong, why don't you tell me?" She glanced back at Li Yue with a faint smile as she heated the iron over the fire.

"If you can stay conscious, I might consider letting you live a couple more days." She walked up to Li Yue, holding the branding iron, looking down at her with the air of a victor.

The red-hot iron, even just touching her nose, brought an unbearable burning sensation; the scorching heat almost brought tears to her eyes. She closed her eyes, staring at Pei Yanxi.

"Or, if you just beg me, I'll let you go." Pei Yanxi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Looking at the woman's face, so similar to her mother's yet so different in expression, Li Yue's pale lips curled into a slight smile.

She had killed her mother, yet this woman's striking resemblance had once stirred a pang of pity within her, leading to this predicament. She truly had only herself to blame!

Come, let the pain intensify. Only she knew that with each stroke of pain, the softest corner of her heart diminished, and the weakness that could cause her to stumble diminished.

She felt like a sword, becoming smoother with each hammering, more rounded with each tempering. She had been hammered and tempered for seventeen years; it was time to look forward to the day she was forged into steel.

"What are you laughing at?" Pei Yanxi's expected weak plea for mercy did not materialize; instead, Li Yue laughed, which inexplicably angered him.

"You think I wouldn't dare?" She raised an eyebrow, pressing the branding iron closer to Li Yue's nose.

A sharp pain shot through her with a "sizzle."

Li Yue didn't even flinch, but Pei Yanxi herself was so frightened that she moved her hand away.

Looking at the small burn on Li Yue's nose, she paused, then cried out weakly, "Aren't you going to beg for mercy?"

"Princess, Princess!" A maidservant guarding outside the prison suddenly ran up, breathless.

"What is it?" Pei Yanxi asked unhappily.

The maidservant, panting for a while, finally clutched her chest and said, "It's terrible! The Emperor is here!"

Pei Yanxi frowned. Wasn't Yan Huang supposed to be at the sacrificial ceremony? And after capturing Qin Li Yue, she had ordered the city gates guarded, preventing anyone from escaping to inform Yan Huang. Why would he return?

A thought flashed through her mind, and she immediately realized that if she didn't act now, she might never have the chance. Yu Wuchen cared about her, wasn't it all for her face? Today, she would ruin her!

Despite her trembling hands, she steeled herself, raised the branding iron, and pressed it against Li Yue's cheek.

Li Yue, who hadn't reacted until now, suddenly turned her head to avoid it. Just then, Yan Huang arrived at the cell door and, seeing this, was shocked and shouted, "Stop!"

Pei Yanxi ignored him and, while Yan Huang was still outside, reached out to scald Li Yue's face again.

A loud "bang" rang out as Yan Huang kicked a thick prison bar, sending it flying. It struck Pei Yanxi squarely in the waist, catching him off guard and causing him to stumble and fall. His grip on the branding iron loosened, and it grazed Li Yue's face before landing on her own leg.

"Ah—!" The injury to her waist and the burn on her leg immediately made her scream in agony.

"Princess!" A maid cried out in alarm, rushing in to help her.

Yan Huang, his face grim, quickly untied Li Yue from the rack and, without a word, carried her out of the cell.

"Summon the imperial physician immediately!" Arriving outside the prison, Yan Huang, ignoring who was beside him, roared as he carried Li Yue towards his Yuan Yu Palace.

"Yan Huang, don't call the imperial physician, take me out of the palace, immediately." At this moment, Li Yue could finally relax her nearly broken nerves, enduring the sudden, excruciating pain as she whispered to Yan Huang.

"I shouldn't have left you in the palace and gone first. I've made a mistake once, I don't want to make a second. They're the ones who should pray for themselves, not you!" Yan Huang's breathing was rapid and labored, clearly furious.

"There are people in the palace you can't touch. Don't act impulsively for my sake." Li Yue, in great pain, managed to plead.

"I can't care about that anymore!" Yan Huang said bitterly.

*

At Yuming Palace, Pei Qingyao washed her hands and was preparing for dinner when Wu Jia suddenly reported, "Empress Dowager, the Emperor rescued Qin Liyue from prison, and I heard he even injured the Princess."

"What? Is that so? Where is Prince Chen? Wasn't he accompanying him? How could he allow the Emperor to turn back halfway?" Pei Qingyao asked in surprise.

"Prince Chen is currently at Yuanyu Palace, saying he couldn't stop the Emperor," Wu Jia reported.

"How is Yanxi's injury?" Pei Qingyao asked.

"The imperial physician has examined him and said the bruise on his waist is quite serious; he'll need at least a month or two to heal, and the burn on his leg will likely leave a scar," Wu Jia said.

"Outrageous!" Pei Qingyao slammed her hand on the table, her jeweled ornaments trembling slightly with anger, and turned to say, "Prepare the carriage for Yuanyu Palace!"

*

Yuanyu Palace was deathly silent.

The scene inside was somewhat chaotic.

Li Yue lay on Yan Huang's bed, a royal physician lying not far away, a sword wound in his neck, crimson blood pooling on the floor.

Long Nu knelt trembling at the palace gate, watching with trepidation as Yan Huang rested the sword on Prince Chen's shoulder.

Pei Bangqing stared directly at Yan Huang, calmly saying, "Your Majesty, this woman attempted to assassinate Yan Xi in the Imperial Garden. Many can testify to this. You cannot favor her."

"I once said, I personally witnessed the Prime Minister's son abduct someone. How did Prince Chen argue with me in court then? Evidence? Confessions? My words are less credible than those of your servants? You can protect those you want to protect, but I can't protect those I want to protect? Fine, let's see today who truly is the Emperor of Dongyi!" Yan Huang's words were cold and resolute, clearly showing his determination to fight to the death.

Pei Bangqing looked at the ruthlessness and determination in his eyes, feeling both moved and saddened. After all, he was a member of the Pei family; none of them willingly allowed themselves to be manipulated. After enduring so much, he finally snapped.

Tragically, to uphold the Yan family's imperial power, he placed a sword against his own father's neck.

"Your Majesty, remove the sword! You can't kill me!" he pleaded.

Yan Huang narrowed his eyes and said, "At this moment, it's not a matter of whether I want to or not, but whether I can or cannot! Step back, or don't blame me for being merciless." He knew the man beneath his sword was his own uncle, but before the emperor's dignity, inappropriate kinship was always a casualty.

Besides, given the threat the man posed, he had wanted to kill him for a long time.

In an instant, Pei Bangqing felt boundless despair.

Power, fame, status… he possessed everything a high-ranking official could have. After enjoying it for so many years, he even felt these things were dispensable. Now, the only thing he truly cared about was this outstanding son.

And now, he clearly saw his own son harbor murderous intent towards him… This feeling was indescribable.

At that moment, he made a decision. He decided that, in his lifetime, he would make Yan Huang know that he was his father, that he was Pei Bangqing's son, not the late emperor's! Since he had become accustomed to being emperor, then he would make the world bear his surname, Pei, and truly hold power in his hands. If that were the case, everything would be perfect.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a voice suddenly announced from outside the door: "The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

Pei Qingyao stepped into the palace and, seeing the scene before her, exclaimed in shock: "Your Majesty, what are you doing? Put down your sword!"

"He trespassed into my palace, which is tantamount to treason. I will kill him," Yan Huang said coldly.

Pei Qingyao was furious and said, "He is your uncle! Are you crazy? You're falsely accusing him like this!"

"Mother, I am the emperor. In my eyes, there are only ruler and subject, not uncles!" Yan Huang stared at Pei Bangqing, his expression devoid of emotion.

"Then do you even have me, your mother, in your eyes?!" Pei Qingyao shouted.

"That depends on whether Mother considers me her son!" Yan Huang said calmly.

Pei Qingyao stared at him for a long while, then suddenly fell silent. She glanced at Li Yue lying on Yan Huang's bed and shouted, "Guards!"

More than twenty imperial guards rushed into the hall.

"Go, arrest that woman!" Pei Qingyao pointed at Li Yue.

The imperial guards obeyed and were about to step forward when Yan Huang turned around, sword in hand, blocking the bed. He said, "Anyone who dares to step forward will be killed without mercy!"

"Emperor, haven't you killed enough people today?" Pei Qingyao glanced at the imperial physician on the ground and questioned him.

"Those who don't treat me as emperor, killing more is never too many!" Yan Huang's attitude was firm, but a trace of sadness was hidden in his eyes.

"Fine! Then kill them!" Pei Qingyao stepped forward and walked firmly toward Yan Huang.

"Mother! Don't force me!" Yan Huang's eyes filled with pain.

"No one is forcing you. Don't you want power? I'll give it to you." Pei Qingyao said as she walked.

Yan Huang's sword trembled slightly, and his body trembled as well.

"If you can't bring yourself to do it, hand over the woman behind you. She's lying in the wrong place." In the blink of an eye, Pei Qingyao walked up to Yan Huang and reached for the sword in his hand.

"No!" Yan Huang raised his hand to resist, but suddenly froze and fell silent.

Someone had pressed his pressure points from behind.

Those in the hall were stunned when Li Yue, her face ashen, peeked out from behind Yan Huang. She slowly got out of bed, forced herself to stand, and looked coldly at Pei Qingyao, saying, "Yan Huang yields step by step because he loves you, but you, relying on his love for you, relentlessly pressure him, completely disregarding his feelings. Empress Dowager, are you truly his mother? The entire Dongyi clan kneeling before you isn't enough; you must force your own son to bow down to you before you're satisfied? Don't treat him like this. Physical wounds, as long as he doesn't die, will eventually heal; but wounds in the heart will never heal, even in death."

Li Yue's words, seemingly insignificant to others, struck a nerve with Pei Bangqing and Pei Qingyao, both harboring ulterior motives.

Yan Huang was stiff and unable to move. Looking at Li Yue's frail figure and listening to her heartfelt words, his heart burned with anguish.

Why had she acupunctured him? Did she even realize that without his protection, she would surely die?

Why? His closest relatives didn't care if it left a wound in his heart? Why would she risk her life to stop him? He already had wounds in his heart, some shallow, some deep. But if she died like this, a new wound would be added to his heart, a wound that would never heal!

Pei Qingyao gave Li Yue a deep look, turned away without a word, and said to the guards, "Take her away."

Li Yue turned to look at Yan Huang, smiled slightly, like a pear blossom drifting with the current, fragile and beautiful, and said softly, "I'm sorry, Yan Huang, I can only repay the debt I owe you in the next life." With that, she grabbed the sword from his hand and faced the guards who came to arrest her.

Her condition was far worse than it had been in the Imperial Garden that morning, but she chose to resist because she knew she was doomed. Waiting to die was not in her nature, so she chose to die in resistance.

Seeing Li Yue lunge at the guards with her sword in her left hand, Yan Huang was both shocked and pained, and tears involuntarily streamed down

his face. If she died, he would never find a soulmate like her again in this life. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing the woman he loved so much die before his eyes, and being powerless to stop it. For the first time in his life, he contemplated suicide because of his inability to control his own destiny.

Li Yue was already at her limit, and this lunge to seize the sword had almost exhausted all her strength. The guards, seeing her fierce attack, dared not take it lightly. One of the guards who was closer turned and grabbed her by the collar. She tried to fall, but he pulled her up and swung his sword back. The guard leaned back and forcefully threw her away.

After an afternoon of whipping, her clothes were already tattered. With this throw, the collar of her clothes tore open, revealing her scarred shoulders.

Pei Qingyao's gaze swept over her, noticing a patch of crimson on her right shoulder. A thought struck her, and she quickly shouted, "Stop!"

The guards who had surrounded her to grab her halted at her voice. Pei Qingyao looked closer and realized that the crimson that had caught her eye was actually a tattoo—an extremely beautiful and alluring flower.

Li Yue fell heavily, and coupled with her recurring internal injuries, she couldn't control the churning pain in her chest.

She collapsed to the ground, vomiting several mouthfuls of blood. She was already too weak to stand, but remembering that Yan Huang was watching her, she didn't want him to see how much pain she was in. So, she wiped the blood from her mouth and turned to look at Pei Qingyao expressionlessly.

Pei Qingyao met her gaze, and the turmoil that had just begun to subside in her heart began to clear up again.

This girl, so ruthless, so strong, was clearly on the verge of collapse. Yet, looking into her eyes, there was no hatred, no resentment, no sorrow, no self-pity, only stiff, unyielding thorns—a defiant stance, a pride that even death could not trample upon.

Conversely, such a gaze might make you feel ashamed of bullying the weak and outnumbering others.

Pei Qingyao looked at her, and for a moment, she seemed to see herself.

If she were treated like this, she would probably react the same way. How many women in the world could be like this?

They must be extremely rare.

But why was it such a coincidence? Why did she have to meet one?

She walked over and looked at her closely, finding the girl increasingly familiar. The curve of her hairline, the corners of her eyes and brows, clearly bore a resemblance to the late emperor, and the contours of her face…

Her heart trembled. She almost couldn't resist turning her over to examine the tattoo on her shoulder, but with so many guards and maids around, she couldn't do so.

To conceal her unusual behavior, she asked, "You said you only kneel before your mother in this world, where is she now?"

"Dead." Li Yue glanced at Yan Huang, whose eyes were filled with tears, and continued, "I've always envied other children who have mothers, but today I realized that not all children whose mothers are alive are worthy of envy."

Pei Qingyao suddenly turned around, and seeing Pei Bangqing staring at her, she composed herself and said, "You may all leave." She walked to Yan Huang, whose cheeks were streaked with tears, released his pressure points, and without a word, led everyone out of Yuan Yu Palace.

Yan Huang strode to Li Yue's side, picked her up, and asked anxiously, "How are you?"

"I'm alright..." Li Yue tried to comfort him, but a sharp pain in her chest became unbearable, and she fainted after uttering only two words.

*

To avoid any complications, after giving Li Yue simple first aid in the palace, Yan Huang secretly sent someone to contact Nan Fo while taking her out of the city that very night.

No one in the palace stopped him. Whether it was the Empress Dowager's pangs of conscience or her fear of another massacre, the journey from leaving the palace to leaving the city went smoothly.

For the first few days, Li Yue was very weak, rarely speaking to Yan Huang except to rest with her eyes closed. On the fourth day, feeling she had regained some strength, she spoke her first words to Yan Huang, who had been carrying her the whole way: "Yan Huang, I will come back." She hadn't intended to get involved in Dong Yi's affairs, but having suffered such a great loss at the hands of the Pei family, she had no reason not to seek revenge.

The usually noble and gentle man now appeared somewhat haggard, yet his expression remained elegant and composed.

He looked down at her, gently smoothing the hair on her forehead, suppressing the pangs of heartache at the sight of the branding marks on her delicate cheek, and said, "Don't come back until I have power. When I come to bring you back, I hope you'll never leave again."

Li Yue smiled slightly and said, "I don't like being controlled, what can I do?"

Yan Huang reached out and cupped her uninjured cheek, softly saying, "I don't want you to get hurt in front of me again. I hope there will be a day when I can keep you, that's all, not that I want to control you."

Eleven days later, Yan Huang encountered Su Yingge, who had come to pick up Li Yue.

Sitting in the carriage, Su Yingge coldly watched Li Yue, covered in wounds, smiling as she waved goodbye to Yan Huang.

Only after Yan Huang had gone far away did Li Yue turn around to look at Su Yingge.

"Hey, what's with that expression? Did you step in dog poop on your way here?" After more than ten days, Li Yue's injuries had improved somewhat, and she had the strength to be fierce again.

"Yeah, it's huge!" Su Yingge felt both heartache and jealousy, and without any gentleness, she grabbed her and pressed her onto the cushion inside the carriage.

"Ah! What are you doing? You pervert!" Li Yue screamed.

"I'm going to use the drug on you, not the other way around, why are you yelling!" Su Yingge said irritably.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? You scared me half to death, did you want to die?" Amidst the rustling sounds, Li Yue retorted.

"Your face has been ruined, and you're still being so fierce!"

"I'm doing it my way, what's it to you? What are you doing? You're just itching to be a masochist and you expect me to be grateful? Ugh, what did you put in my mouth?"

"I just stepped in dog poop!"

...

Amidst the arguing, the carriage gradually drove away, eventually disappearing into the depths of the green grass leading to Nanfo...

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