“What is this thousand-year-old fox spirit playing at, suddenly pretending to be a holy maiden? Who does she think she’s fooling?”

Xiahou Dan froze for a moment, his expression softening. “My beloved consort has such intentions?”

She fooled him!!

The palace servants around them breathed rapidly.

That day, Yu Wanyin’s name spread to every corner of the back palace.

After hearing the maid recount the conversation from the scene, Xie Yong’er’s brows furrowed, revealing a confused expression.

How could the tyrannical emperor trust Yu Wanyin to such an extent?

Even stranger, why didn’t Yu Wanyin implicate her?

Was it because she was too stupid to suspect her? That seemed unlikely.

Was it because she had no evidence, and couldn’t harm her with just words? But given the tyrant’s nature, he never needed any evidence…

Yu Wanyin had let such a perfect opportunity to eliminate a rival slip away.

Xie Yong’er recalled her words about “looking out for each other” and felt her heart tremble, then found it somewhat laughable—in “East Wind Releases a Thousand Trees,” Yu Wanyin navigated between the emperor and the prince, dancing gracefully through politics, leaving no loose ends, while the other consorts all became stepping stones on her path to success.

With such acting skills, not a single word she said could be trusted.

That night, the first Spider Cave work exchange meeting was successfully convened over hot pot.

Yu Wanyin: “The alliance work isn’t going smoothly. Xie Yong’er seems to have built high mental walls against me, firmly believing I’m just a paper character.” She sighed, “And I dare not risk being discovered by Prince Duan by telling her we’re all real people…”

Xiahou Dan: “That’s not it.”

Yu Wanyin: “Huh?”

Xiahou Dan: “Think carefully. You’re real, but she isn’t. She’s a character from ‘Transmigrating as the Demon’s Favored Consort.’ Her transmigrator identity was given by the original work, including her personality and thought patterns—they’re all preset. Trying to persuade her to switch sides will probably be very difficult.”

Yu Wanyin hadn’t thought in this direction before. Now that he pointed it out, she realized she had subconsciously been treating Xie Yong’er as one of her kind.

So they weren’t the same after all.

She felt discouraged for a moment, but struggled to stay hopeful: “Let’s not jump to conclusions so quickly, we’ll see. How did your talk with Xu Yao go?”

Xiahou Dan: “I told him recalling his father was just a matter of one word from me. He’s a smart person, he knows what to offer in exchange. But when he left, he seemed distraught, probably shocked and still struggling with whom to trust.”

“Good, good, keep going in this direction. You don’t have your power base now, you must survive in the cracks by stirring up trouble.” Yu Wanyin analyzed for him, “These past few days I’ve been wracking my brains to remember the original text. Among the court officials, seven-tenths are the Empress Dowager’s faction, and three-tenths are Prince Duan’s faction.”

Xiahou Dan: “Could the Empress Dowager possibly help me?”

“Dream on. She’s your stepmother, young and arrogant. She finds you disobedient and keeps the young crown prince by her side, wanting to become Empress Lu Wu herself. But don’t worry, in the book she kept making a mess of things, never amounting to much even at the end. You were still killed by the prince…”

Xiahou Dan asked in shock: “Young crown prince?”

“Your son.”

“I have a son?”

“…”

Yu Wanyin: “Yes, just one. You had him when you were fifteen, he’s seven this year.”

Xiahou Dan took half a minute to digest this news.

Xiahou Dan: “Then, my son’s mother…”

“Dead. Seems she died from illness after giving birth.”

Xiahou Dan smiled bitterly: “I’m not even married in real life.”

Yu Wanyin: “Don’t worry about such details.”

The Empress Dowager wielded great power, with her relatives controlling the court, forming cliques, and attacking dissidents, making everyone in court fear for their safety. But this faction was mostly made up of vulgar sycophants, spending their days in corruption, only skilled at sweet-talking and making the tyrannical emperor dizzy with their words.

Meanwhile, the group of military officials, clumsy with words, had long been oppressed by Empress Dowager’s civil officials and had unknowingly been quietly gathered under Prince Duan’s wing.

Yu Wanyin: “I’ve thought it over again and again, there’s only one way: make them fight among themselves. After all, those with nothing to lose fear nothing. You can freely sow discord, best if you can get them to kill each other in chaos, then take advantage of the situation. As for how to act it out…”

Xiahou Dan made an “OK” gesture: “I’ll improvise.”

The first Spider Cave conference concluded successfully.

After finishing the hot pot, Yu Wanyin remembered something else: “Actually, the biggest trigger for your throne being usurped was a drought.”

“When? Next year? The year after?”

“I don’t know, it was around two-thirds through the book.”

Xiahou Dan: “…”

Yu Wanyin, who had skimmed through the book without careful reading, felt somewhat guilty and tried to make up for it by recalling details: “When the drought came, the treasury was empty and the people couldn’t survive. Not only did you fail to find ways to provide disaster relief, but you also listened to corrupt officials’ suggestions and built some kind of divine temple for heaven worship. When too many people starved to death, rebellions broke out everywhere, throwing everything into chaos… then you were stabbed.”

Xiahou Dan: “But you don’t remember who the assassin was, or which day it happened.”

Yu Wanyin: “…It was in the last dozen or so pages.”

Xiahou Dan held his forehead: “Can you remember anything useful?”

Yu Wanyin angrily said: “It’s too late to talk about this now, but something is better than nothing! Anyway, after you were stabbed, Prince Duan entered the palace under the banner of protecting the emperor, but your injuries were too severe to treat. The officials proposed that with the nation in crisis, the crown prince was too young to take responsibility, and asked him to become emperor to stabilize the country. So he took the throne in this crisis, governed diligently, and ultimately became a wise ruler.”

Xiahou Dan: “I can tell you liked Prince Duan when reading the book.”

Yu Wanyin: “…Perspective, perspective determines stance.”

Yu Wanyin continued trying to make up for her oversight: “I think we can prevent this disaster from the root! Let’s search for drought-resistant crops now and find ways to encourage large-scale planting.”

Xiahou Dan gave a thumbs up: “Yuan Longping.”

Yu Wanyin: “This matter is crucial and must be done secretly. I don’t trust anyone else with it. I want to look through materials in the Imperial Library.”

Xiahou Dan: “Then I’ll find an excuse, say you’re compiling a book, and send you in.”

Yu Wanyin: “Alright.”

Yu Wanyin secretly rejoiced.

This Imperial Library was built at the edge of the palace, with two main doors—one facing inward and one facing outward—to allow officials access to reading.

She had to leave herself an escape route. If Xiahou Dan couldn’t outmaneuver Xiahou Bo, when the loyalty-protecting army marched in, she might still be able to play the crafty hare with three burrows.

Just as Yu Wanyin thought of this, she heard Xiahou Dan add: “This is good too. If I die someday, you can disguise yourself in the Imperial Library and might escape with your life.”

Yu Wanyin froze, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.

That morning at court, General Luo of the central army returned triumphant.

General Luo was brave and skilled in battle. Earlier when Yan’s country invaded, he had driven them back three hundred li—this book’s geography was fictional, roughly setting up some small countries around the borders.

Xiahou Dan sat slouched on the dragon throne, one hand pressing his temple, perfunctorily offering a few words of praise before saying: “Many thanks to Minister Luo for taking care of my royal brother.”

General Luo: “Your subject is unworthy.”

Xiahou Bo stood diagonally behind him, head lowered respectfully without looking up.

Xiahou Bo had previously served in the military at the border, sharing life and death with the soldiers until they became as close as brothers. But before General Luo returned, he had heard Prince Duan’s instructions to appear unfamiliar with each other before the emperor.

Xiahou Dan said perfunctorily: “Hmm, what reward should we give…”

“Your Majesty, I have a matter to report!” The Minister of Revenue stepped forward, “General Luo’s recent request for military pay was somehow two-tenths more than previous years.”

This Minister of Revenue was one of the Empress Dowager’s corrupt officials, clinging to the lucrative Revenue Ministry and growing fat on its profits.

“This year’s harvests were poor, and half the granary’s stores went to disaster relief. Now General Luo makes such excessive demands…”

At once, the Empress Dowager’s faction came out to fan the flames, picking at General Luo from all angles. While Prince Duan’s faction, accustomed to lying low, had no one step forward to reveal their allegiance.

General Luo was a simple military man, unable to counter so many civil officials. His face turned purple-red, barely containing his killing intent as he stared directly at the emperor.

Xiahou Dan: “What does my royal brother think?”

Xiahou Bo: “?”

Xiahou Bo hadn’t expected the usually arbitrary emperor to suddenly pass the ball to him, and after gathering his thoughts responded: “Since grain stores are insufficient and Your Majesty cares for the people, the central army should help ease Your Majesty’s burden.”

Xiahou Dan’s lips curved almost imperceptibly, his eyes full of mockery.

It seemed this righteous prince hadn’t truly taken his soldiers to heart either.

Xiahou Bo calculated that letting the general first harbor resentment toward the emperor while he had stored some private grain that could be secretly distributed later would work. Although divided among so many soldiers it would be a mere drop in the bucket, at least the gesture would be made.

He wanted to say something more to appease General Luo but heard the tyrant on the throne suddenly ask: “What I don’t understand is, the military pay has been the same amount every year, so why suddenly not enough this year? Could it be that life at the border has become too comfortable and everyone’s gotten fat?”

The Minister of Revenue led the laughter, filling the court with a jovial atmosphere.

General Luo finally exploded: “Your Majesty, please allow your subject to present something, so Your Majesty can see what your soldiers eat every day!”

Two sacks were presented. An Xian stepped forward, reached into a sack grabbed a handful, then brought it before Xiahou Dan. Among the withered yellow rice grains were mixed three-tenths of fine sand and stones.

General Luo: “This is the military pay from the Revenue Ministry!”

The Minister of Revenue laughed shrilly: “Where did you get such coarse rice from, that you dare to twist black and white and deceive His Majesty? His Majesty’s judgment is precise—how could he believe you!”

The civil officials who had fooled the emperor for years joined in the cold mockery and hot ridicule, filling the court with a jovial atmosphere.

Xiahou Dan stood up.

He walked to the imperial guard’s side, casually drew the guard’s long sword, and strode down the jade steps, walking straight toward his officials.

The emperor was having another fit. The Minister of Revenue had been enjoying the spectacle at first, but gradually noticing the direction of his footsteps, his smile began to fade: “Your Majesty!”

Xiahou Dan charged at him with the sword.

The Minister of Revenue stumbled backward several steps, fell sprawling, and then scrambled up while fleeing and shouting: “Your Majesty!”

Xiahou Dan pursued relentlessly.

The Minister of Revenue circled a pillar.

The guards who had been watching in shock finally reacted, rushing forward to pin down the Minister of Revenue, one binding his hands, another pressing his feet, fixing him in place, and then looking back at Xiahou Dan.

Xiahou Dan stopped, panting, and smiled at the guards: “What, waiting for me to do it?”

The guards: “…”

A guard ended the Minister of Revenue’s life with one stroke.

The court was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Xiahou Dan stumbled slightly, pressing his head as he sat back on the dragon throne: “He laughed too loudly.”

The officials: “…”

Xiahou Dan pointed at General Luo: “You, go collect the military pay from the Revenue Ministry yourself.”

General Luo hadn’t yet recovered his senses, and after a long while finally kowtowed: “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

The Empress Dowager’s faction cast meaningful glances at Xiahou Bo.

Xiahou Bo remained standing in his original spot with lowered brows, his face full of concern for the country and its people, showing not the slightest trace of satisfaction.

Xiahou Bo returned to his prince’s mansion and summoned his strategists to discuss the matter.

Xiahou Bo: “Was the emperor’s sudden madness coincidental? Now that the Minister of Revenue is dead, the Empress Dowager’s faction will surely blame me for this and retaliate.”

Xu Yao: “…At least the central army soldiers can eat well now, that’s a good thing.”

Xiahou Bo gave him a strange look as if surprised by his sudden naivety: “If the central army soldiers eat well, they won’t hate the emperor anymore.”

Xu Yao had always believed that great achievements required overlooking minor details, and he was grateful for Prince Duan’s recognition. He had never felt there was anything wrong with their scheming.

However, at this moment, he felt a chill run up his spine as the mad king’s words echoed in his ears: “Who was it who, with a face full of pity, took you in as a watchdog…”

Xu Yao could feel Xiahou Bo watching him. He quickly changed the subject: “The emperor’s actions today were indeed unusual. What kind of person is this Consort Yu he’s been favoring recently?”

Meanwhile, after the court had ended, Xiahou Dan was discussing Xiahou Bo with Yu Wanyin: “An evil person, absolutely evil, whether transmigrated or not, still evil.”

Yu Wanyin: “This is dangerous, we must find ways to be more evil than him.”

Xiahou Dan: “Xu Yao under him will probably investigate the past events these days. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence against Prince Duan…”

Yu Wanyin: “Evidence is something that can be fabricated, you know.”

Xiahou Dan: “Brilliant.”

Yu Wanyin grinned wickedly as they high-fived.

Xiahou Dan: “No, on second thought, things like ‘slandering and framing loyal officials’ usually don’t leave traces. If he could find evidence, that would be suspicious.”

Yu Wanyin: “Then let’s do this: first tell him that to avoid Prince Duan’s suspicion, we can only secretly bring back his father, and mustn’t let Prince Duan know… then deliberately let some details slip during the process of bringing back his father, making him think it’s already leaked.”

Xiahou Dan understood: “And finally have someone attempt to assassinate his father, pinning it on Prince Duan?”

Yu Wanyin added: “But your people must save his father through tremendous difficulties, barely escaping with their lives.”

Xiahou Dan: “Brilliant.”

Yu Wanyin grinned wickedly as they high-fived again.

The Imperial Library was built beside the water, with sparkling waves visible through the windows—quite a nice view.

Yu Wanyin completed her entry procedures and took her seat with full authority.

She spent two hours fully focused on researching crop materials without success, her attention gradually scattered. Her office worker instinct to slack off overcame reason, and she began doodling on the paper.

Just then, a young eunuch announced from outside the library: “Prince Duan arrives—”

To avoid suspicion, Yu Wanyin’s desk was set up in a window corner on the second floor, where others couldn’t access without written permission.

But palace servants were skilled at reading the wind, knowing who should be accommodated. Yu Wanyin vaguely heard some voices from downstairs, not knowing what Xiahou Bo said, then footsteps climbing the stairs.

The footsteps were neither hurried nor slow, each step very steady. Yu Wanyin peered through the gaps between bookshelves toward the stairway entrance and saw Xiahou Bo enter.

Today he was dressed in the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties, with loose robes and wide sleeves, his long hair half-bound and half-loose. Walking so casually, he truly was as brilliant as the moon, with an air of natural elegance. As heaven’s chosen one dominating with his looks, even though Yu Wanyin knew what would happen later and how terrifying his methods could be, at this glance she couldn’t help but praise him as a “beauty.”

A few seconds later another person followed up the stairs, dressed as a commoner scholar, with a face full of deep grudges. Looking carefully, his appearance seemed somewhat disguised—probably Xu Yao.

What were they doing here?

Yu Wanyin sat motionless in her spot, carefully considering how she should act if she were the original character.

—Oh right, the original had a crush on Prince Duan.

Those two appeared to be seriously looking for books, glancing left and right, slowly approaching Yu Wanyin’s corner.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Time to act, and act hard.

Xiahou Bo finally turned his head casually, as if just noticing Yu Wanyin’s presence, and said in surprise: “Consort Yu.”

Yu Wanyin hurriedly stood up, greeting him with shy bashfulness: “Your Highness Prince Duan.”

According to the original story setting, Xiahou Bo and Yu Wanyin had met once before she entered the palace, at the Lantern Festival night market. She had sneaked out to play in the streets and happened to meet Xiahou Bo in disguise.

Thus the young lady fell in love at first sight with the mysterious handsome youth, and after returning home she became lovesick, refusing to enter the palace as a consort. While Xiahou Bo, though he had enjoyed their interaction, soon forgot about it.

Later Yu Wanyin was forced by her family to enter the palace with resentment, and the scene where she met Prince Duan again in the cold palace was erased by Xie Yong’er. As a result, in “Transmigrating as the Demon’s Favored Consort,” Yu Wanyin remained in unrequited love throughout, while Xiahou Bo’s heart was as cold as iron, loving only Lady Xie.

Yu Wanyin wasn’t sure if the Xiahou Bo before her was the original, nor could she guess why he had come to find her.

To be safe, you better stick to the script.

Yu Wanyin secretly raised her eyes to look at him, her eyes carrying a hint of misty sorrow: “Why has Your Highness come here?”

“I was looking for a book but couldn’t find it just now, perhaps I remembered wrong,” Xiahou Bo said without hesitation.

Yu Wanyin: “Then, could Your Highness tell me the book’s name? I could help look for it.”

Xiahou Bo didn’t take this bait, smiling as he looked at her: “I hear the Consort is compiling a book here?”

Yu Wanyin lowered her head: “Just organizing some poetry and prose. His Majesty saw I was bored staying in the side palace all day and found something for me to do.”

“The Consort’s literary talent is admirable.”

Up close, one could see that Xiahou Bo and Xiahou Dan were indeed brothers.

They were both very fair-skinned, with seven or eight parts similarity in their features. However, Xiahou Dan’s paleness carried a hint of illness, his eyes gloomy, just short of having “villain” carved on his forehead. Xiahou Bo, on the other hand, seemed carved from jade, clear and warm like sunshine after rain.

It was hard to believe he was the one carrying hatred and plotting maliciously.

Yu Wanyin tried to judge from his expression whether he was the original, and unconsciously stared a bit too long, then saw Xiahou Bo smile: “At the palace banquet the other day, Consort also looked at me this way, as if puzzled.”

Yu Wanyin’s heart skipped a beat, her mind spinning rapidly while her face showed a gentle sigh: “I was just shocked, never expecting that the young master I happened to meet at the Lantern Festival night market would turn out to be the renowned Prince Duan.”

Reasonable and convincing, no one could find fault with it.

Xiahou Bo also sighed in accompaniment: “I was traveling in disguise then and couldn’t reveal my identity. I hope the Consort will forgive me.”

Current score 0:0.

Yu Wanyin continued probing: “News doesn’t reach inside the palace—I wonder if my family is still well?”

—According to the original text, her father was a minor official who had worked for many years without advancement, and Xiahou Bo knew him too. If he were the original, he should be able to answer this.

Xiahou Bo recalled for a moment: “Last time I saw him, Minister Yu was quite healthy, and seemed to have recently taken an interest in the tea ceremony.”

The current score remained 0:0.

Yu Wanyin continued to look at him hesitantly, rapidly thinking of her next move.

Xiahou Bo took the initiative, sighing: “Since that Lantern Festival parting, seeing the Consort again, I almost couldn’t recognize you.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Her character’s setting was supposed to be a white lotus flower, to be outshone by the made-up Xie Yong’er. And because she pined for Prince Duan, she had always both feared and hated the tyrant, only turning to palace intrigue later to take revenge on Xie Yong’er.

But now she had preemptively taken the path of a seductive consort, laughing and joking with the tyrant in front of Xiahou Bo, intimate and close…

Yu Wanyin’s heart suddenly leaped.

In the original text, Prince Duan hadn’t cared about Yu Wanyin at all, so how would he notice such changes?

You’ve only seen me twice, yet you observe so carefully—surely something’s wrong?

Though the evidence wasn’t conclusive yet, let’s call it 0.5:0.

Yu Wanyin tried to make up for it, realigning with the white lotus personality, smiling bitterly: “Who can enter these deep palace gates and not change? The sisters who remained unchanged have all become flower soil beneath these vermillion walls. I…” she seemed somewhat lost, “I still want to live.”

Xiahou Bo paused: “Consort, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Please don’t mention it to others.”

Yu Wanyin hurriedly covered her mouth, glancing fearfully at Xu Yao behind him: “I spoke out of turn.”

Xiahou Bo smiled: “This is my good friend, he won’t speak carelessly.”

Yu Wanyin nodded.

Beautiful! Leading 0.5:0.

Xiahou Bo bowed to her again and was about to take his leave when his gaze turned toward the desk by the window: “Is the Consort drawing?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Yu Wanyin: “……”

The scoreboard in Yu Wanyin’s mind collapsed with a crash.

She had been nodding off and slacking earlier, drawing a turtle on the paper with kindergarten-level skill.

It had already been seen, too late to cover it up. Yu Wanyin could only pretend to be embarrassed in front of her crush, her face reddening with shame: “Just now I saw something swimming in the pool outside the window, so I casually sketched it.”

Xiahou Bo stared at the turtle, his eye corner twitching by the width of one pixel.

Xiahou Bo: “This drawing, um…”

Yu Wanyin’s ears were red enough to drip blood as she gripped the paper, gritting her teeth and about to tear it up: “Please don’t look anymore, Your Highness.”

Xiahou Bo stopped her: “It has its childlike charm in its naivety. Tearing it up would be too wasteful.”

Yu Wanyin, who was struggling to maintain her expression: “?”

Are you even listening to yourself?

Yu Wanyin probed: “Does Your Highness like it?”

Xiahou Bo: “I find it quite delightful. Since the Consort doesn’t wish to keep it, might I have this masterpiece?”

Yu Wanyin sensed a trap but had to go along: “If Your Highness doesn’t mind, please take it.”

Xiahou Bo smiled: “Thank you, Consort. I shall certainly present a return gift another day.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Yu Wanyin glanced at the newly embroidered sachet at his waist. In the original text, this was a token exchanged between him and Xie Yong’er.

Keeping the balance even, truly worthy of being Prince Duan.

Stringing along one side while flirting with the other—what was he plotting?

Xiahou Bo left with the drawing.

After leaving the Imperial Library, he asked Xu Yao quietly: “Did you notice anything?”

Xu Yao thought for a long while: “Just from this meeting, I couldn’t see any particular scheming ability. However, her eyes were cunning and lively—she probably has many thoughts, no wonder she could win the emperor’s favor.”

Xiahou Bo: “Did you find anything strange about her words and actions?”

Xu Yao started: “Strange? What does Your Highness mean?”

Xiahou Bo smiled slightly, saying nothing more.

He held the turtle drawing up to the light, seeming to find it quite interesting, then instructed: “Go check if she left any writings or drawings before entering the palace.”

Yu Wanyin headed straight to her side palace, calling for her maid Xiao Mei: “Do you remember if I used to draw?”

Xiaomei was stunned: “Miss used to draw?”

Yu Wanyin danced with wild joy: “Good that I didn’t, good that I didn’t!”

This day was the first of the month when the palace consorts had to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.

By rule, this should have been a morning and evening duty, but the Empress Dowager enjoyed peace, changing the custom to require visits only on the first and fifteenth of each month. Needless to say, these two days each month had become essential fixed episodes of palace intrigue.

When Yu Wanyin arrived, she found everyone except the Empress Dowager had come early.

Wei Guifei sat upright in the hall, examining tea leaves in her cup while casting a sidelong glance at her: “Consort Yu is quite popular now, no wonder she comes so late, keeping us sisters waiting.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

It begins.

Noble Consort Wei’s maid: “The noble one forgets, she’s been promoted to Imperial Consort Yu now.”

Noble Consort Wei laughed lightly: “Ah, no wonder.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

She thought for a while about who this person was before finally remembering.

After the Empress’s death from illness, the position of Imperial Consort remained vacant until now, and this Noble Consort Wei was currently at the top of the pyramid. She was Minister Wei’s sister, deeply favored by the Empress Dowager, and relying on her family’s power to tyrannize the back palace.

In about five chapters she would be defeated by Xie Yong’er, disappearing without a trace thereafter.

Yu Wanyin looked at her as if looking at a dead person, going through the motions without any emotional ripple: “Sister was delayed by something on the way, I hope the other sisters won’t mind.”

Noble Consort Wei smashed her teacup with a “bang”: “What kind of look is that in your eyes?”

Yu Wanyin lowered her gaze demurely, working up a crying tone: “Sister admits her fault.”

Consort Zhuang behind Noble Consort Wei sneered: “She says she had something—what kind of important matter could it be? Surely not meeting some servant in the peony garden again?”

Consort He beside her played along: “Sister, we shouldn’t speak carelessly about such things, lest she cry to His Majesty again and then—”

Xiahou Dan: “And then what?”

All consorts: “…”

The scene erupted in a cascade of kneeling.

Xiahou Dan sat down in Noble Consort Wei’s former seat, beckoning Yu Wanyin forward: “What were you all discussing just now?”

Yu Wanyin hesitated: “Your Majesty…”

She was asking with her eyes: why are you joining in this drama?

Xiahou Dan lifted his chin: don’t mind me, keep acting.

Yu Wanyin thought for a moment, then bloomed into a white lotus on the spot: “Your Majesty, just some idle sister chat, nothing worth mentioning.”

Xiahou Dan: “Is that so?” He extended his slender finger, pointing at Consort He, “You tell me.”

Consort He was still kneeling, her face pale with fear, not daring to say anything more: “This consort knows her crime.”

Xiahou Dan: “That works too, saves trouble.”

He made a gesture, and the guards moved forward with practiced ease, Consort He’s crying fading into the distance.

Xiahou Dan pointed to Consort Zhuang next: “Then you speak?”

Consort Zhuang nearly fainted, almost collapsing: “This consort… this consort was just reminding sister to serve Your Majesty wholeheartedly…”

Xiahou Dan’s hand raised again.

Yu Wanyin quickly coughed.

She didn’t understand why Xiahou Dan suddenly added this scene. Had he gotten so into his role that he wanted to stand up for her?

Yu Wanyin used to read palace intrigue novels just to pass the time, but now that she was here living day-to-day uncertainly, she felt more empathy for other characters. After all, they were all victims of the system. Consort Zhuang and Consort He clung to Noble Consort Wei’s protection simply to survive.

If these two had done something truly harmful it would be one thing, but right now they had only spoken a few harsh words, yet were being sent to their deaths. Yu Wanyin felt somewhat uncomfortable about it.

But she also feared Xiahou Dan was performing this scene with deeper meaning, and that her intervention might ruin things, leaving her uncertain what to do.

Yu Wanyin hadn’t spoken, but Xiahou Dan glanced at her and lowered his raised hand.

Xiahou Dan: “Send them to the Cold Palace.”

He asked the guards: “The one just dragged out hasn’t been buried yet, right?”

Guards: “…”

Guards: “This servant will go stop them.”

Among the kneeling consorts, Xie Yong’er quietly raised her eyes, glancing at Yu Wanyin with momentary surprise flashing across her face.

With two cannon fodder characters off stage, everyone thought the crisis had passed and was secretly relieved, when they saw Xiahou Dan’s finger point to a third person.

Xiahou Dan asked with exquisite courtesy: “Noble Consort Wei, why don’t you tell us?”

Noble Consort Wei was thunderstruck.

No, he couldn’t—she was the Empress Dowager’s person!

Noble Consort Wei trembled: “Your Majesty…”

Xiahou Dan: “Hmm?”

A woman’s voice came from behind the pearl curtain: “Hmph, my son shows quite the authority.”

The Empress Dowager finally appeared to protect her own.

The Empress Dowager appeared only thirty-five or thirty-six, dressed in majestic splendor, leading a seven-year-old boy by the hand.

The young Crown Prince strongly resembled Xiahou Dan, his small face tightly composed, eyes fixed straight ahead, raised by the Empress Dowager into an exquisite, obedient little puppet.

Yu Wanyin glanced at Xiahou Dan.

Xiahou Dan was looking at his nominal son with an expression that said “What is this thing,” his face indescribable.

Fortunately, according to the original story setting, the young Crown Prince had always been kept by the Empress Dowager’s side and hadn’t met him many times, so this wasn’t out of character.

The Empress Dowager sat in the highest seat, receiving obeisance from Xiahou Dan and the consorts, then said coldly: “My son brings his authority to my door today—for what reason?”

Xiahou Dan seemed to freeze for a moment, then spoke slowly with humiliation: “This son was overcome with anger for a moment and offended Mother Empress.”

Yu Wanyin: “?”

The Empress Dowager’s dissatisfaction with Xiahou Dan had reached its peak.

Because he had gone mad in court the other day, executing the Minister of Revenue, who was her man.

This emperor had been unruly since childhood, wild and hard to tame. After years of tug-of-war, she still couldn’t completely control him, so she had settled for the next best thing—grooming the young Crown Prince.

She knew she wasn’t the only one who wanted Xiahou Dan dead; Prince Duan was also plotting gradually.

Prince Duan’s power was unfathomable, and if she assassinated Xiahou Dan now, she couldn’t guarantee she would be the one to take power.

Just as she was locked in a fierce struggle with Prince Duan, this mad emperor suddenly killed one of her key officials—how could she swallow this?

The Empress Dowager had already planned to make an example of this, giving him a warning, but hadn’t expected him to deliver himself to her door.

The Empress Dowager’s angry gaze swept the hall before landing on Yu Wanyin: “I hear my son has recently been so bewitched by this woman that he’s lost himself, making shocking moves.”

Yu Wanyin figured she should kneel.

She was halfway down when Xiahou Dan pulled her up again.

Xiahou Dan: “Indeed.”

Empress Dowager: “?”

The Empress Dowager slammed the table in rage: “Very well! It seems you increasingly don’t see me as your mother empress. Today I shall teach you on behalf of the late emperor about the hierarchy between young and old! Come!”

A group of guards emerged in a rush, surrounding Yu Wanyin.

Xiahou Dan: “I dare anyone to try!”

The guards’ steps faltered as they looked questioningly at the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager laughed coldly, her dominance at its peak. This emperor had long since been emperor in name only, and today she had determined early on to make him recognize this fact. She waved her hand with exceptional force.

The guards moved past the emperor to drag Yu Wanyin.

Xiahou Dan’s breath caught as if struck by a sudden realization, finally becoming somewhat clear-headed: “Mother Empress!”

His breathing rapid, he took several seconds before compromising to show a fawning smile, going to serve her tea: “When this son said ‘indeed,’ I meant my temper is indeed detestable. Why should Mother Empress anger herself over a mere palace consort? Come, come, have some tea, we can talk this over.”

That this tyrant could squeeze out such words truly meant the sun was rising in the west. Had he been bewitched by that seductive consort, willing to pay any price to protect her?

The Empress Dowager examined Yu Wanyin with new eyes.

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Xiahou Dan continued flattering: “Thanks to Mother Empress’s virtue reaching in all directions that this son could entrust the Crown Prince to Mother Empress’s teaching.” He stiffly raised his hand to pat the young Crown Prince’s head, squeezing out a child-coaxing voice, “How are the Crown Prince’s studies lately?”

The Crown Prince was even stiffer than him, glancing fearfully at the Empress Dowager. Without receiving her instructions, he could only tentatively reply: “Father Emperor, your son’s studies are passable.”

The Empress Dowager’s thoughts turned, and she suddenly showed a meaningful smile: “The Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent, only his horsemanship and archery have fallen behind. No wonder—learning these alone must be lonely. I hear General Luo has a young son about the Crown Prince’s age.”

Xiahou Dan: “Mother Empress means?”

Empress Dowager: “Why not summon him to the palace as a companion for the Crown Prince?”

The Crown Prince already had study companions; this young son would enter the palace without title or position, purely as a hostage.

General Luo was Prince Duan’s key general. The Empress Dowager’s words had brought the conflict into the open, determined to make Prince Duan pay a price for the Minister of Revenue’s death.

Xiahou Dan hesitated: “General Luo? He was just fighting at the frontlines defending the country, wouldn’t this be somewhat—”

The Empress Dowager looked at Yu Wanyin for the third time.

Xiahou Dan instantly changed his words: “This son will draft the edict when I return.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Yu Wanyin was brought out of Empress Dowager’s palace completely intact by Xiahou Dan and finally understood what his performance today was about.

It was to make the Empress Dowager think that weakening Prince Duan was her initiative, while the emperor was muddleheaded, only thinking about his seductive consort.

Xiahou Dan could not only deceive the Empress Dowager but also Prince Duan. Because Xie Yong’er was present today, she would certainly report to Prince Duan.

Yu Wanyin: “I didn’t realize your mind was so sharp.”

When Xiahou Dan came today, he had calculated that the Empress Dowager was angry, so he simply further provoked her, actively giving her an opportunity, to bring this about.

Xiahou Dan asked softly: “What do you think?”

Yu Wanyin: “Very good, very good. Wait until they bite each other to mutual destruction, then quietly cultivate your power base. But this matter requires balance—cut a little here, chop a little there, you must be like water balancing on both sides—like Prince Duan.”

Xiahou Dan glanced at Yu Wanyin, his expression somewhat gloomy, speaking vaguely: “Sorry for putting you through that today.”

Yu Wanyin: “It’s not a big deal.”

She wasn’t stupid either, having already seen Xiahou Dan’s other purpose. His public display of such favoritism toward her was nothing but pushing her to the front as a decoy while creating a false weakness.

Yu Wanyin smiled: “Someday when an assassin holds a knife to my throat to force you to yield, you can tell them: ‘Fool, I don’t care about her.’ Then run us both through like a candied haw stick…”

Xiahou Dan froze.

“You… if you think that way, why aren’t you angry?”

Yu Wanyin truly didn’t mind.