On a day of continuous spring rain, Wei Kai, the eldest son of the Wei family, lifted his robe and closed his umbrella as he entered a wine shop. A waiter had been waiting expectantly under the outer corridor and led Wei Kai to a private room.

Wei Kai looked up to see Yan Shang sitting there brewing tea beside a golden brazier that emitted wisps of blue smoke.

Yan Shang smiled, invited Wei Kai to sit, and poured him tea, saying, “My health hasn’t been good recently, so I cannot drink wine. Though we’re in a wine shop, I can only offer tea. I hope the young lord will forgive me.”

Wei Kai was indifferent.

He observed Yan Shang. They had no prior relationship, connected only through the Wei family’s Seventh Young Master who stood between them.

But Wei Seventh Young Master, Wei Shu, was an exception in the Wei family – unsociable, independent, and had never helped build connections between Yan Shang and Wei Kai. Fortunately, Yan Shang was skilled at making friends, and Wei Kai was interested in building good relations with Yan Er Lang, who now held great power in court, so he accepted this dinner invitation.

After three cups of tea and some casual discussion about recent court matters, Yan Shang slowly brought up his intention to cooperate with the Wei family. Compared to Wei Shu, Wei Kai truly represented the attitude of the Wei clan in Luoyang. Yan Shang’s desire to cooperate with Wei Kai naturally stemmed from his recent investigation of the Northern Quarter, which had offended the noble families.

But the noble families were not impenetrable.

Though he was pressuring the Hai family and had support from his teacher’s Liu family, he still needed another supporter.

Wei Kai refused as expected: “Since Second Young Master Yan is close to my seventh brother, you should know that our Wei clan never gets involved in these political struggles. Second Young Master Yan has approached the wrong person.”

Yan Shang countered: “Never getting involved in political struggles, keeping to oneself, offending no one – doesn’t that mean offending everyone? If the Wei family truly stood with no one, how could it have lasted so long? When noble families are reshuffled, some fall while others rise. I’ll be frank with you – in this Northern Quarter matter, the Hai family will certainly be the scapegoat. The Northern Quarter’s connections run too deep. If no noble family takes the lead to stabilize the situation when they panic, how can the Wei family remain uninvolved?”

Wei Kai listened to the pattering rain outside for a long while before slowly saying: “You want to suppress the noble families, yet seek their cooperation. If people knew, the Wei family would be criticized for having no backbone or integrity.”

Yan Shang: “Who says I want to suppress the noble families?”

Wei Kai started, his eyelid twitching slightly.

Yan Shang continued: “Those from humble origins rely entirely on support from others to establish themselves. Since the Late Emperor instituted the imperial examinations, it’s been only twenty-some years. Not even one generation of officials has been completely replaced. A child has only just reached the age to take the examinations. The foundation of humble families is shallow. Those who can participate in examinations now though said to be of humble origin, are mostly from wealthy rural families. Even in my case, it was only because my father was already a jinshi scholar, and my family in Lingnan was not poor, that I had the opportunity to study.

“That’s why I promote education and establish private schools – to allow more people to study and wash away the noble families’ controlling influence. Before the path of education and imperial examinations truly reached all common people, there was not much use in opposing the noble families. Even in the examinations, noble families produce more successful candidates than humble families… Not because the court favors noble families, but because their channels and centuries of foundation truly enable them to easily cultivate excellent disciples.

“The talents easily cultivated by noble families are accomplished in both civil and military arts, possessing both vision and character. While students from humble families who study for decades master only book learning. The gap between them is so great, how could it be eliminated in just ten or twenty years?

“The Late Emperor was too eager to eliminate noble families and support those of humble origin. But he was truly too hasty… This is not something that can be accomplished in just ten or twenty years. It may require the efforts of several generations of emperors, perhaps not even resolving in decades. Governing the realm may need to rely on noble families for decades to come. Though I support those of humble origin, I know noble families cannot be destroyed.

“As fellow scholars, both sides haven’t reached the point of fighting to the death.”

Wei Kai listened quietly. Noble families that had lasted over a hundred years naturally had a long-term vision and would not obstruct the rise of those from humble origins. Still, Yan Shang surprised him.

Before coming, knowing this man was silver-tongued and extremely eloquent, Wei Kai had been wary of him. But Yan Shang’s words still moved Wei Kai, who represented the noble families – who doesn’t like hearing praise about their family’s numerous outstanding talents? Who doesn’t like being praised for noble family character?

Moreover, Second Young Master Yan was sincere and open with him.

Wei Kai somewhat understood why Yan Shang’s actions were always intense, why everyone at court was wary of him, yet many officials couldn’t help but like him.

Wei Kai said: “It seems you seek mutual benefit rather than suppressing any side.”

Yan Shang smiled bitterly: “My methods were radical in my youth, likely causing people to fear me. I hope the young lord can tell the noble families after returning that I do not intend to destroy them this time. Just noble families like the Hai clan who are close to the palace eunuchs cannot remain, and Liu Wenqi who accumulates money and land, runs rampant in his domain – his greed grows daily, and noble families who ally with him cannot remain.”

Wei Kai: “I heard you and Liu Wenqi are fellow townsmen, old friends. Why won’t you cooperate with the palace eunuchs, but instead want to cooperate with us?”

Yan Shang: “Because scholars naturally share the same position. No matter how fiercely noble and humble families fight, they will certainly unite against palace eunuchs when facing them. But opportunities to reshuffle all three sides using the Northern Quarter don’t come often.”

Wei Kai said coldly: “Reshuffle all three sides? I can see the noble families being reshuffled – getting rid of the Hai family, Liu Wenqi’s faction being damaged. But won’t those of humble origin become even more powerful because of your actions? I don’t see how this will restrain them.

“As Second Young Master Yan’s power and prestige grow higher, those of humble origin will become increasingly arrogant. We cannot accept being looked down upon by them.”

Yan Shang said: “When this matter ends, I will resign from office.”

Wei Kai fell silent, then understood.

If Yan Shang resigned, those of humble origin would lose their leader and naturally need time to settle. Or without Yan Shang’s control, they might become arrogant… but without Yan Shang’s control and the Princess’s support, how could they have the courage to be arrogant before noble families?

Wei Kai stared deeply at Yan Shang and said: “I thought you represented those of humble origin, but it seems you don’t stand with them?”

Yan Shang smiled without answering, turning to watch the drizzling rain outside. He stood with no one; he stood for justice in his heart. Though uncertain of right and wrong, he sought to live without regret.

Thus, after detailed discussion with Yan Shang, Wei Kai politely said he needed to return home to think before giving an answer. After returning home, Wei Kai discussed cooperation with Yan Shang with the Wei clan members in Chang’an. Only Wei Shu didn’t come – Wei Kai knew this brother was angry with him over the matter of Noble Consort Zhao, but paid it no mind.

Everyone discussed Yan Shang’s actions, and Wei Kai’s uncle asked about him.

Wei Kai thought for a while and said: “Looking at him, he seems unlike ordinary officials, more like the current Prime Minister.”

Like a Prime Minister, wanting to coordinate the overall situation.

The Wei family members pondered this, and the next day took Yan Shang’s message to communicate internally with various noble families. Only the Zhao and Hai families were excluded-

The Hai family was being forced by Yan Shang to deal with the Northern Quarter, but they didn’t want to offend either Yan Shang or the noble families. The Hai family was complacently watching the struggle between Yan Shang and the noble families over the Northern Quarter matter. Whether those of humble origin were suppressed or noble families were suppressed, the palace eunuchs would win. The Hai family representing noble families’ good relations with palace eunuchs was a good opportunity to return to the noble families’ ranks.

Everything seemed under their control.

Just as Beauty Hai in the palace thought.

Beauty Huo appeared weak and pitiful, and the Emperor grieved for her miscarriage. She wept before the Emperor. While he was already troubled by the opposition between Yan Shang and noble families at court, returning to the inner palace to see his beauty so pitiful, his manly compassion arose, and he ordered a thorough investigation of this matter.

The Crown Prince had poisoned the medicine given to Beauty Huo, causing her miscarriage. No one would blame a child, especially a prince. Everyone’s gaze fixed on Chunhua. They surely thought Chunhua must have said something to the Crown Prince to make a child take such a risk.

Mu Wanyao wanted to thoroughly investigate this matter. The Emperor hesitated but agreed under Beauty Huo’s tears.

Chunhua sought an audience with the Princess, but was refused; sought the Empress, but was scolded and told to admit guilt. She was separated from her son – palace people were forbidden to let her see the Crown Prince, fearing she would incite him. With nowhere to turn, Chunhua sought Liu Wenqi, currently favored in the palace.

Though she was Noble Consort Xian, she was so humble before Liu Wenqi, crying like rain, lamenting her abandonment, expressing worry for her son, and saying she had never harmed Beauty Huo. Someone must be framing her, but she couldn’t find evidence.

Liu Wenqi wore a bamboo-green robe, his face white and beardless, his figure tall and slender. Standing in Noble Consort Xian’s deep palace chambers at night, he looked not like a eunuch but like a young gentleman meeting her privately.

He looked at this lady who had once made his heart ache with love, with a strange, complex gaze.

She was still beautiful, gentle. But she was also unfamiliar… She sought his help with teary eyes, both making his heartache and arousing a savage-like pleasure in his heart.

He stared at her, no longer able to find traces of the palace maid who had once turned back to gaze at him and smile. She was the Emperor’s consort, the Crown Prince’s mother, but not Liu Wenqi’s woman.

Liu Wenqi’s tone was strange: “You ask for my help? What right do you have to ask for my help?”

Chunhua lowered her head, ashamed in her heart, crying without words.

Liu Wenqi felt both pleasure and coldness in his heart. He walked toward her, his expression cold. All palace people had been sent away by Chunhua. As the gauze curtains flew, his oppressive approach made Chunhua’s heart fearful. Chunhua stepped back until she was against a golden pillar with nowhere to retreat.

She was terrified and panicked, yet had to gather courage.

She said: “I beg you to help me!”

Liu Wenqi gripped her chin in one hand, forcing her to look up. She was pale, clearly uneasy at his outrageous action. He watched her with a sadistic heart, his knuckles scraping her chin, almost drawing blood.

Liu Wenqi said hatefully: “You were solely devoted to your Princess. When you entered Prince Jin’s mansion for her sake, did you ever think there would be a day she would abandon you? From beginning to end, only I never gave up on you! Only me! Yet today you come to beg me… Why don’t you go beg your Princess? Why don’t you ask her why she’s using you as a chess piece?”

Chunhua closed her eyes and said with difficulty, her voice trembling: “Her Highness must have her consideration. Perhaps Her Highness feels Beauty Huo is more useful than me…”

Liu Wenqi interrupted: “Yet you were still abandoned!”

Chunhua had no words.

Liu Wenqi looked down at this woman who had once haunted his dreams, wondering why he had liked her so much before. She was just an ordinary palace woman, shallow, weak, pitiful, humble… Liu Wenqi murmured: “What makes you think I would help you?”

Chunhua said softly: “If you help me… I’ll do whatever you command.”

Liu Wenqi was stunned. At first, he didn’t react, but seeing her face flush red, even his fingers gripping her chin could feel the burning heat of her skin. He stared at her for a moment, and after years in the deep palace, he instantly understood her meaning… Whatever he commanded meant anything was possible.

Liu Wenqi mocked: “Even going to bed?”

Chunhua remained silent.

Liu Wenqi: “What’s wrong, think I’m not capable, looking down on me?”

Chunhua suddenly looked up, breathing rapidly: “I’ve never looked at you that way! You’re no worse than others, you just had a bad fate, I…”

Liu Wenqi feared seeing her eyes, spring-water-like full of tenderness, brilliant as starlight. He shoved her away: “Don’t look at me with those eyes! Those eyes of yours make me want to gouge out your eyeballs…”

Chunhua was stunned.

She had been pushed to the ground by his force and looked up at him uncomprehendingly. She saw the malevolence in his eyes and suddenly realized her decision tonight was wrong. She shouldn’t have sought help from a former lover who had become unrecognizable – he would humiliate her, look down on her, and think she looked down on him too.

Chunhua’s hands trembled, her heart trembled, all her blood seemed to freeze. Shaking, she felt everything was too absurd, completely wrong.

She suddenly said: “Leave, pretend I said nothing tonight.”

She would go question the Princess! Go beg the Princess!

Going to ask the Princess would be better than anything…

Liu Wenqi looked down coldly, seeing her regret. His face twisted momentarily, muscles trembling with the grotesque expression, that gloom passing through his eyes. His heart unbalanced, he sneered: “You’ve already made me despise you, made me sick! Now you’re not worthy of me… A consort who says ‘whatever you command’ to a eunuch behind the Emperor’s back, you’re already completely filthy!”

Chunhua felt as if plunged into an ice cave.

She was so angry her fingers trembled as she pointed outside the palace. Shaking, she cried: “Get out! Get out—”

Liu Wenqi gave a cold laugh, swept his robe and turned to leave without lingering, striding toward the palace exit. He walked so quickly, as if abandoning all emotion would let him abandon all feelings. Feelings were all obstacles, feelings were of no benefit to him. In the past, he had given up because of Chunhua, been castrated for helping Chunniang…

What had he done wrong?

It was all because his emotions had run wild, his sympathy had run wild… He didn’t understand why, when he couldn’t even pass the imperial examinations back then, he had the mood to like a lady, to sympathize with a lady, to run after Prince Jin’s carriage, begging that lady to turn back and look at him once.

All was an illusion.

Only power mattered most.

Chunhua was truly foolish, indeed a consort who had been ruined by life in the deep palace. She thought Mu Wanyao had abandoned her, so she came to beg him… But things had barely begun! Mu Wanyao’s target was Beauty Hai, not Chunhua at all.

Mu Wanyao even wanted to see, Liu Wenqi’s, attitude.

To see if he would kick someone who was down, or lend a helping hand.

Whether Chunhua could become Liu Wenqi’s weakness!

That was what Mu Wanyao wanted to see!

Princess Mu Wanyao with her coldness, Yan Shang with his grasp of great power and hypocrisy… they had all changed, all playing with people’s hearts and power as they pleased. They would casually abandon Chunhua, use her as a chess piece… If he helped Chunhua, wouldn’t he be handing leverage to Mu Wanyao?

Then Mu Wanyao would forever hold leverage over him – private dealings with a consort.

Confirming old feelings.

Either Chunhua would die, or Liu Wenqi would die. And Liu Wenqi couldn’t let himself die, but if he chose Chunhua’s death… why should Liu Wenqi help Chunhua?

Hateful Mu Wanyao!

Liu Wenqi suddenly stopped walking, standing with an ugly expression under a parasol tree, abruptly turning back to look at Noble Consort Xian’s palace quarters. The eunuch following behind him kept his head down, not daring to ask what had happened to make the lord so agitated at Noble Consort Xian’s place.

Liu Wenqi stared at Chunhua’s palace quarters, at those black-lacquered buildings – in his mind, he thought of her face again.

She turned back to look at him, smiled slightly, standing under the simple corridor of the Yan family home, graceful as jade, smiling like a spring stream.

Liu Wenqi closed his eyes, and clenched his fists, forcing his cheeks to tighten – the more he couldn’t have her, the more he couldn’t forget her!

He held a high position and great power, why should he be unable to forget a woman?

Liu Wenqi’s face dark, suddenly turned and strode back toward the palace quarters he had left behind. He dismissed the eunuch following him, his sleeves flying with his movement. Though he walked toward her, he was gloomy and murderous, no longer having that excitement and blushing of the past when seeing her.

Chunhua sat crying on the ground, wiping away her tears, hugging her knees, feeling herself pathetic. She heard footsteps and looked up through tearful eyes to see Liu Wenqi had returned.

Before she could cry out, he had crouched down and gripped her cheeks, kissing her.

Chunhua was greatly shocked, her face flushing red, frightened stiff. She pushed and hit him, terribly afraid. She opened her mouth to bite him, wanting this hypocritical villain to release her.

Liu Wenqi finally let her go, his fingertip pressing the blood beading on her bitten lip.

His expression was still ugly.

But he said carelessly: “Fine, I’ll help you this time. I’m going to hell anyway… Chunhua, come to hell with me.”

Liu Wenqi’s betrayal caught Beauty Hai in the palace completely off guard.

At the same time, the noble families took sides, with the Hai and Zhao families ending up opposite the other noble families. Because of Wei Shu’s protection, the Zhao family wasn’t completely targeted, but the Hai family was forced to become a sacrifice. Yan Shang’s cleanup of the Northern Quarter and investigation of officials who frequented it included both noble and humble families’ sons.

Of course, there were more from noble families.

And this time, noble families led by the Liu and Wei families cooperated. Noble families with ambiguous attitudes went along with it. The Hai family was surrounded by the Court of Judicial Review and the Court of the Imperial Clan over the matter of plotting against the prince.

Liu Wenqi testified that Beauty Hai had plotted against the prince, betraying his alliance with the Hai family to join hands with those of humble origin and Mu Wanyao. With his help, Beauty Huo’s miscarriage case had a result.

The Emperor had been wavering, unsure who to help, but Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao chose him. He felt relieved for a moment and immediately questioned the Hai family.

Beauty Hai in the palace never imagined that though she had done nothing, Liu Wenqi would fabricate evidence – besides exchanging a few words with Chunhua, when had she ever touched Beauty Huo?

Mu Wanyao, the Emperor, and Liu Wenqi held a joint interrogation. Chunhua knelt on the ground, telling how Beauty Hai had provoked her, and how Beauty Hai had looked down on Beauty Huo.

Beauty Huo, supporting her fragile body, stood behind Mu Wanyao. Having gained the Princess’s support, she clutched her heart tearfully, falling into the Emperor’s embrace with soft cries: “Beauty Hai, how could you be so cruel? Even harming an unformed child… Yes, your family has always liked to plot against princes, your family…”

Beauty Hai broke down and shouted: “Nonsense! Nonsense! I would never dare plot against a prince! I would never dare!”

She wept greatly, crawling to kneel before the Emperor, clutching his legs, looking up with tears streaming down: “How would I dare harm a prince? Your Majesty, how would I dare? Our Hai family bears such a crime – we returned to Chang’an wanting to clear the crime from our name, to clear people’s prejudice against us!

“Before we harmed a prince, our whole family was banished, and the noble families looked down on us. Since then, our family’s children couldn’t learn orthodox classics, had no classics to pass down through generations, and couldn’t enter the mainstream.

“We lived in remote regions, unable to gain recognition from the Central Plains, and all our family members’ official careers were cut off. All because of harming a prince!

“About what happened back then, I won’t say who was wrong, people have already judged! I just want to plead for my Hai clan… We’ve suffered enough punishment, we wanted to return to Chang’an, wanted to rejoin the ranks of noble families! Now that we’ve gained Your Majesty’s favor and returned to Chang’an, how would we plot against a prince again, and walk the same path as before?

“Your Majesty, please see clearly! I could never harm a prince! It was Noble Consort Xian! It was Noble Consort Xian!”

Beauty Hai knelt on the ground, crying like rain-laden pear blossoms. All the consorts watching sighed in sympathy, even the Empress sighed, feeling she was pitiful. The Emperor originally wanted to simply end the matter – Beauty Hai’s such emotional state made him hesitate for a moment. His suspicious gaze turned toward Chunhua, and Mu Wanyao stepped forward.

Mu Wanyao stared at Beauty Hai and said harshly: “When you murdered my second brother back then, you think being banished for over ten years was enough punishment? Do you still feel wronged? Everyone knows His Majesty’s grace extends across the realm, who doesn’t know his merciful heart? His Majesty wanting you to return was pardoning your crimes, but you don’t know gratitude, plotting against a prince again – what were your intentions? How could I not know?

“Why would you plot against a prince? Of course, you would plot against a prince! Because you fear my control over the court, you just wanted to bear a child yourself, to use the child to bind His Majesty! You and Beauty Huo entered the palace at the same time – Beauty Huo bore a royal child before you, and you worried your position wasn’t secure!

“The Hai family received His Majesty’s grace, then wanted to use a prince to get closer! You took advantage of His Majesty’s tolerance, repeatedly provoking him! Thankfully Lord Liu was prepared and guarded against you… but it still failed, and you succeeded!”

Beauty Hai screamed: “It’s not like that! The evidence is fake! Ah, I understand now, you want to protect that maid who once left your courtyard… Your Majesty, she has ulterior motives! The Princess has ulterior motives!”

Mu Wanyao remained unmoved, facing the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at Liu Wenqi, then at Mu Wanyao, and finally at Beauty Huo and Beauty Hai.

Beauty Hai knew she had been betrayed by Liu Wenqi, representing the Hai family’s abandonment. Her heart panicked, knowing her support was gone, so she cried even harder, clutching the Emperor’s legs, begging him to see her fragility, to spare her for the sake of her service.

The Emperor saw Beauty Hai’s tears and thought of countless nights of the beauty’s tenderness. He had never been able to intervene in court matters, only finding solace with palace beauties. When court officials berated him like a grandson, Beauty Hai had comforted him in her embrace countless times with her sweet voice and gentle manner.

They had countless times imagined the day when they could trample those officials underfoot, freely doing whatever they wanted.

For a moment, the Emperor’s heart softened, and he actually pleaded with Mu Wanyao: “Yaoyao, the Hai family are just women, what do they understand? The palace people must have used her. I can vouch for her, she’s very kind…”

Mu Wanyao interrupted the Emperor’s mumbling: “Your Majesty, she harmed your offspring! If you don’t mind, what can I say?”

The Emperor was stunned, about to be pleased, when Liu Wenqi said indifferently from the side: “If the ministers learn Your Majesty spared Beauty Hai, they will surely come to see Your Majesty.”

The Emperor immediately deflated.

He feared those powerful ministers, feared their endless lecturing. He wasn’t free as Emperor – he stopped looking at Beauty Hai and angrily swept his sleeve: “Do whatever you want! You’ll do what you want anyway!”

Beauty Hai wept loudly: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty—”

Her Emperor swept away his sleeves and left. Mu Wanyao paused, giving a look to signal Beauty Huo to follow and comfort the Emperor. Mu Wanyao herself certainly couldn’t appear to comfort the Emperor, but didn’t the Emperor just love gentle tenderness? Beauty Hai was gentle enough, and Beauty Huo, coming from an acting background, was even better at reading people’s moods—

The Emperor didn’t have much leisure time as Yan Shang sought an audience, again about dealing with the Northern Quarter. Yan Shang wanted to restrict court officials’ casual visits to the Northern Quarter, saying officials revealed too much when drunk. If enemy spies learned of it, the nation would be endangered.

The Emperor, having just been lectured by Mu Wanyao and now being petitioned by Yan Shang this way—

He knew Yan Shang and the noble families seemed to have reached a subtle reconciliation, which made his anger flare: “Why don’t you just close down the Northern Quarter! No one can go there, and everyone stays clean!”

Yan Shang maintained his usual gentle tone: “The Northern Quarter can’t be closed. Following my personal feelings, I want to close it. I’ve never liked such places of sensual pleasure. However, the Northern Quarter represents Chang’an’s greatest prosperity, to the point of being one of Chang’an’s symbols of prosperity among neighboring countries. Officials consorting with courtesans can’t be flaunted, that’s already a restriction. If we go too far, the public backlash would be too great – that wouldn’t be good.”

The Emperor mocked: “Second Young Master Yan speaks such reason.”

Yan Shang pretended not to understand.

The Emperor said: “So, you’ve dealt with the noble families, your wife has killed Beauty Hai, your humble-born faction now dominates alone, and even the noble families listen to you. Second Young Master Yan is truly glorious now. You’re doing well in my position as Emperor!”

By custom, faced with such mockery, Yan Shang should have fearfully apologized, said he had interfered too much, said he would restrain his wife. Yan Shang should have knelt to admit guilt, should have explained himself to the Emperor. After Yan Shang had pacified the Emperor sufficiently and his mood improved, then he would receive some small favor.

Between ruler and minister, this pattern had become very familiar.

But this time seemed different.

The Emperor didn’t wait for Yan Shang to remove his hat and kneel. Yan Shang stood tall with hanging sleeves, staring at the Emperor for a while before saying: “Those of humble birth won’t dominate because of this, Your Majesty need not worry.”

The Emperor looked at him.

Yan Shang said: “This subject’s health is poor and wishes to resign, returning to Lingnan to recuperate. Her Highness the Princess will leave with me. Your Majesty need not worry, those of humble birth won’t dominate.”

The Emperor was stunned.

He became confused and angry: “What? How can you leave? If you leave, what will I do, who will help me handle matters? You were the Prime Minister designated by the Late Emperor – are you blaming me for not directly giving you the Prime Minister position? Are you threatening me, Yan Suchen?”

Yan Shang looked at him.

He sighed, utterly weary.

This ruler could not be relied upon.

This ruler was weak, suspicious, incompetent, narrow-minded, stubborn yet indecisive, petty, and clingy… This ruler could not be relied upon – better to withdraw and keep to oneself.

Yan Shang bowed to the Emperor, resigned: “How would this subject dare threaten Your Majesty? Does Your Majesty really view this subject this way? There are too many people who can help Your Majesty handle matters – this subject has recommended many people to Your Majesty… It’s just that Your Majesty doesn’t use them, Your Majesty doesn’t trust this subject’s recommendations. What else can this subject do?

“This subject’s resignation and departure is truly due to poor health, not any grievance against Your Majesty.”

In the deep palace, after the matter of Beauty Hai, Mu Wanyao finally met with Chunhua.

Chunhua still couldn’t believe Mu Wanyao would treat her this way. She spoke of her devotion to the Princess, asking why the Princess would help Beauty Huo harm her.

If not for Liu Wenqi…

Mu Wanyao said coldly: “If not for Liu Wenqi what?”

Chunhua fell silent. She suddenly remembered her deal with Liu Wenqi, but faced with the Princess’s ice-cold gaze looking down at her, she couldn’t speak of it.

Mu Wanyao said lightly: “Is this how you view me?”

Chunhua bit her lip: “I don’t want to think Your Highness treats me so cruelly, but Your Highness would rather send another beauty to His Majesty than arrange for me, and now use me as a discarded piece…”

Mu Wanyao: “Why don’t you consider that I don’t use you because you were never my chosen gift for Prince Jin? I never wanted to send you away – your character wasn’t what I had specially chosen for His Majesty… Chunhua, I never arranged for you, never thought of you doing anything for me by His Majesty’s side.

“I chose more suitable people. You weren’t that person.”

Chunhua’s voice quickened: “But this time… if Liu Wenqi hadn’t stood up, His Majesty would have eliminated me! Because I have no power or influence, because Your Highness abandoned me, I’m already useless!”

Mu Wanyao said softly: “So what? Is being abandoned by His Majesty such a bad thing?”

Chunhua was stunned.

The two stood on a curved corridor over the lake, watching the lotus buds covering the pond. Willow catkins flew onto their shoulders as Mu Wanyao turned to her, her gaze serene: “Once I couldn’t decide your fate, letting you be forcibly taken from my side to become Prince Jin’s woman. Now I have the power to bring you out… I can let you be abandoned, and I have ways to keep you alive, to bring you out of the back palace.

“I can bring you out of that world, but you no longer want to leave, do you?”

Chunhua stared blankly at her beautiful Princess.

After a long while, she said with difficulty: “I’m already married, I have a son, how can I leave…”

Mu Wanyao smiled faintly.

She said: “So, you don’t want to leave anymore.”

She walked to Chunhua, standing before her. Chunhua always took a maid’s posture when facing her, always humble. Mu Wanyao gazed at her, and she instinctively lowered her head to let the Princess examine her. But then Chunhua remembered she was now Noble Consort Xian – facing the Princess, perhaps she needn’t be so lowly.

So she raised her head.

Mu Wanyao observed her change and smiled: “Vulgar.”

Chunhua was stunned: “What?”

Mu Wanyao reached out, her ice-cold fingers resting on Chunhua’s cheek. Mu Wanyao studied her, gazing at how the once-spirited maid had been forced to become a vulgar ornament.

Mu Wanyao: “Chunhua, I failed you. If you were still my maid, staying by my side, I could have carefully cultivated you. But now you’ve strayed too far from me, trapped in the back palace, spending your days maneuvering between the Empress, Emperor, and Crown Prince.

“You’re no longer the maid who accompanied me back from fighting in Wuman. Your heart has been worn away by nearly ten years of life in the back palace. You no longer have a discerning gaze, and dreams, have any thoughts of your own. You’re trapped in the back palace, having lost yourself, becoming just another ordinary, unremarkable woman full of hidden resentment, waiting for her husband to look back at her once.

“I feel I destroyed you, harmed you. But perhaps you’re still satisfied with your life. I want to pull you out, but you’ve already given up on yourself.

“I’ll give you one more chance – are you willing to leave the back palace with me? I have ways to give you a new life, to show you new sights. But do you have the courage to come with me?”