Zhang San suddenly opened his eyes, his heart racing.

The sunlight dazzled him, and from not far away, a voice was calling: “Your Highness…”

Zhang San doubted he was dreaming. Five minutes ago, he had been drowsing in math class, secretly scrolling on his phone to stay awake. He had randomly clicked around, seemingly landing on some web novel link called “Transmigrating into a Book as the Demon’s Beloved Consort”—obviously trash.

Zhang San skimmed the synopsis with boredom, and was about to exit when suddenly the world spun, and everything went black.

“Your Highness,” that voice calling him drew closer, “Crown Prince?”

Zhang San looked up with a sense of foreboding and discovered he was lying face down on a writing desk.

A young eunuch looked at him with concern: “Your Highness, please don’t sleep. The Empress is coming to check your studies.”

Zhang San: “…”

Crown Prince? Empress?

While he was secretly pinching his thigh, a magnificently dressed woman with a stern face walked in and coldly said: “How has the Crown Prince’s studies progressed today?”

The young eunuch bowed and called out: “Empress Dowager.”

Zhang San: “…”

He was doomed.

He was just a middle school student who slacked off in class—how would he know how ancient people spoke?

The Empress Dowager before him, seeing his prolonged silence, showed displeasure: “Why don’t you answer?”

Zhang San’s heart was almost jumping out of his throat. With trembling hands, he pushed forward the half-written paper before him and tentatively said: “Just… just this much.”

The woman took it and glanced at it a few times. Whether she was satisfied or not was unclear as she spoke indifferently. Zhang San could only understand scattered words like “emperor,” “diligence,” and “righteousness” among the classical Chinese phrases.

He half-listened, his mind in chaos, only able to consider three questions: what happened, could he go back, and what should he say to avoid death?

The other person was the Empress Dowager, and he was the Crown Prince—were they in a grandmother-grandson relationship? Should be, right? There couldn’t be a mistake, right?

Seeing that the woman had finished speaking and was waiting for his answer, he stammered nervously: “Yes, thank you, Grandmother Empress.”

Three long seconds passed.

The woman nodded and left.

Zhang San slowly exhaled, only then realizing his back was drenched in cold sweat.

So where exactly should he start learning how to speak?

Yu Wanyin had wracked her brains but couldn’t remember what those exam candidates were called.

However, she thought of another method.

Bei Zhou now resided in the Noble Consort’s palace, not only providing close protection for Yu Wanyin but also training the secret guards in his spare time.

One day, Yu Wanyin knocked on his door: “Uncle Bei, what are you busy with?”

Bei Zhou responded affectionately: “Making two cloaks for Dan and you.”

Yu Wanyin: “…Uncle is truly both skilled and wise. Uncle, having roamed the jianghu for so long, and having mixed in brothels, do you happen to have any truth serums that can make people speak honestly?”

Bei Zhou thought for a moment: “I do have some drugs, but they’re only slightly stronger than strong liquor. They can make people confused and babble, but whether what comes out is truth, that can’t be guaranteed.”

Yu Wanyin: “If someone drinks it, will they remember what they said after they wake up?”

Bei Zhou: “That’s a bit difficult. If you want someone to forget after waking, the dosage needs to be very large, but such a large dose in tea or wine would have an unusual taste, and would be hard to conceal.”

Yu Wanyin: “No problem, I have a way.”

She felt she was truly a genius, with everything under control.

After getting the drug from Bei Zhou, she went to the Imperial Study to find Xia Hou Dan—now everyone in the palace knew Noble Consort Yu was at her zenith, and there was basically no one who would stop her from going wherever she wanted.

Xia Hou Dan was reading through memorials: “One of the Empress Dowager’s faction has submitted a report against your father, saying he was bribing under the name of gambling cards. It seems the Empress Dowager wants to make an example of your father. Should we deal with it?”

Yu Wanyin indifferently replied: “Dealing with it is fine, demote him.”

Xia Hou Dan: “That’s so heartless?”

Yu Wanyin shrugged: “He’s not my real father. I don’t even know him, and he doesn’t serve any purpose in the plot. Demoting him today will let the Empress Dowager lower her guard, and might even spare him from greater suffering.”

Xia Hou Dan: “That works.”

And so they happily decided on the matter.

Xia Hou Dan picked up his vermilion brush to write comments on the memorial. He wrote slowly, but his characters were quite proper.

Yu Wanyin curiously watched for a few moments: “You’ve practiced calligraphy?”

Xia Hou Dan: “Not very well, but enough to get by. I can only write short sentences now. Want me to teach you?”

Yu Wanyin quickly replied: “Yes, yes, yes, I need to learn quickly too.”

Seeing the topic drifting, she suddenly remembered her purpose for coming: “By the way, can you summon Xie Yong’er to serve you in bed tonight?”

Dead silence.

Xia Hou Dan stared at her for a long time without speaking, his brush suspended in mid-air for a while, dripping a drop of thick ink.

Yu Wanyin: “?”

Xia Hou Dan asked word by word: “You want me to find another woman to serve me in bed?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Why was the atmosphere so strange? It was as if she were a poor, heartless man, idly staying at home doing nothing, kicking his wife out to be a prostitute—with Xia Hou Dan playing the wife.

Yu Wanyin’s scalp tingled: “Not to really serve you in bed. When she comes, you just drug her, and then it will be easier to get information. It’s like this: I don’t remember the exam candidates’ names, but she does. She’s read ‘East Wind Releases a Thousand Trees at Night’ and knows which virtuous and talented candidates will die unjustly. When next year’s imperial examination comes, it’s still she who will provide the list of candidates Prince Duan wants to poach.”

She explained her plan in this manner.

Xia Hou Dan reluctantly said: “Fine, but you have to hide nearby and watch the whole process. Don’t leave.”

After speaking, he gave her a resentful glance.

Yu Wanyin’s scalp tingled even more.

When did Xia Hou Dan start acting so strange? Thinking back and forth, she felt it was after returning from the brothel adventure.

It must be the suspension bridge effect, right? It must be.

If someone here had to be love-brained, it shouldn’t be Xia Hou Dan.

Yu Wanyin occasionally read romance novels to pass the time, but she had long passed the age of believing in “the overbearing CEO falls in love with me” type of plot. As a working-class person, she had already grasped the truth of this world. There are barriers between classes, and CEOs are all clear-headed and wouldn’t bother with poverty relief for no reason.

Unless it was because, in this survival game, someone who had read the script like herself had value slightly higher than a mere working-class person?

He needs to establish a closer connection with me. She analyzed the situation almost coldly, to kill the inappropriate stirring in her heart.

Yu Wanyin hesitated for a moment, then tactfully said: “CEO Dan, you don’t need to be like this. We’re already in the same boat, and I’ll help you all the way.”

Xia Hou Dan: “.”

Xia Hou Dan didn’t say anything more, just waved his hand: “I still have some memorials to read. You go back first.”

Yu Wanyin walked out a few steps and then looked back, feeling that his sitting posture revealed a bit of desolation.

Xie Yong’er was sewing a new sachet when the Emperor’s chief eunuch An Xian came with a message: “Tonight His Majesty wishes to summon you to serve him in bed. Prepare yourself well.”

Xie Yong’er was stunned.

Since Yu Wanyin had risen to power, Xia Hou Dan had never summoned anyone else.

Her first reaction was that something had happened to Yu Wanyin. After sending her maid out to gather information, she received the latest intel: Yu Wanyin’s father had been demoted, and consequently, she had fallen out of favor.

Xie Yong’er thought to herself, truly emperors are heartless.

But now she had to submit to such a dog of an emperor.

Xie Yong’er was thoroughly annoyed. During their private interactions lately, she had already developed feelings for Xia Hou Bo. But this incredibly intelligent chosen one hadn’t fallen in love with her as easily as she had imagined; instead, he kept her at arm’s length, being ambiguous.

She was already in a bitter mood, and now this imperial decree was like adding frost to snow.

Just then, her maid announced: “Noble Consort Yu has arrived.”

Yu Wanyin sat in the hall with a face full of worry, looking thoroughly devastated.

Xie Yong’er lightly inquired about her father, only to see her shed tears and say: “I’ve said before, we’re all just drifting duckweed in this palace, our fates not in our own hands. Sister Yong’er, I heard you are to serve His Majesty tonight?”

Here it comes, Xie Yong’er thought. Which palace intrigue would be played out?

Unexpectedly, Yu Wanyin’s next line was: “You must be feeling very bitter right now.”

Xie Yong’er: “…”

Xie Yong’er was almost moved.

She had to repeatedly remind herself: a paper character doesn’t understand my spiritual pursuits; pretending to understand me is just an act.

Yu Wanyin saw all her changing expressions and continued her script: “Listen to your sister’s advice. If anything in the imperial bedchamber has a strange taste, do not drink it.”

Xie Yong’er: “What does sister mean by this?”

Yu Wanyin whispered: “Do you know why, after so many years, His Majesty has only the Crown Prince as his son? The Empress Dowager exerts pressure, and every consort who serves in bed must drink contraceptive soup. When the time comes, you should pretend to drink it and find a chance to pour it away. Otherwise, you will never be able to conceive a royal child…”

I will definitely drink it, Xie Yong’er thought.

The Empress Dowager’s head palace maid had received orders to make Yu Wanyin take contraceptive medicine.

The formula for this prohibited medicine was a bit complex, with several ingredients that couldn’t be obtained openly. Fortunately, the head palace maid was not handling this for the first time. She sent people to buy secretly, and quickly prepared a packet of powder. Next, she just needed to pour it into soup or tea for the consort to consume, and she wouldn’t be able to conceive for at least a year.

But she couldn’t find an opportunity.

Now Yu Wanyin took her meals and tea in the Noble Consort’s palace, and those guards at the Noble Consort’s palace were even more stringent than at the Emperor’s bedchamber, making it impossible to interfere.

The head palace maid was still worrying when she suddenly heard news: Yu Wanyin had left the Noble Consort’s palace and gone to the Emperor’s bedchamber.

Wasn’t today Consort Xie’s turn to serve? Going there now to compete for favor seemed too foolish. If the Emperor was already tired of her, he wouldn’t see her.

The head palace maid sneaked to the back door of the bedchamber and asked a familiar little palace maid, who whispered: “His Majesty let Noble Consort Yu in.”

The head palace maid: “…”

What was going on? Calling two consorts at the same time, could it be… the Emperor wanted to play with variations?

Thinking of the treatment those serving consorts had received before, the head palace maid shuddered and dared not guess anymore.

The little palace maid took the powder: “Sister, so who should drink this contraceptive medicine?”

The sudden development left the head palace maid with only one dose of medicine. She hesitated for a moment, thinking that following the Empress Dowager’s instructions would absolve her of responsibility: “Give it to Noble Consort Yu.”

Before Xie Yong’er arrived, Yu Wanyin performed a scene of jealousy and sorrowful pleading to retain the Emperor’s affection in front of the palace servants.

Xia Hou Dan impatiently waved his hand, uttering words to move ghosts and gods: “Then you stay too, both of you together.”

Yu Wanyin: “Oh, thank you for Your Majesty’s mercy.”

The surrounding palace servants’ pupils dilated in shock.

After Yu Wanyin had fooled the palace servants, she pressed close to Xia Hou Dan’s ear, softly saying: “I’ve brought the truth serum.”

Xia Hou Dan: “OK.”

Yu Wanyin sat beside him, and a little palace maid astutely offered a cup of hot tea.

The little palace maid’s fingers trembled slightly, but Yu Wanyin, preoccupied with her own schemes, didn’t notice.

Xia Hou Dan dismissed the palace maid, watching as Yu Wanyin took out the truth serum from her sleeve and poured it into the hot tea before her.

Yu Wanyin: “Remember to make her drink it.”

Xia Hou Dan: “I’ll try my best. What if she refuses?”

Yu Wanyin confidently: “Just tell her directly to drink, and she will.”

She carefully swirled it until the powder completely dissolved, then carried the tea to the back of the bedchamber, placing it on the small table in front of the dragon bed.

As she turned to walk to the front of the hall, the little palace maid from earlier emerged from the corner, looking at that cup of tea with horror on her face.

Not only had Noble Consort Yu not drunk that cup of tea, but she wanted to give it to Consort Xie. Had she already discovered the contraceptive medicine? Impossible! This contraceptive medicine was difficult to prepare, precisely because it blended seamlessly with tea, leaving no unusual taste. Even drinking it all wouldn’t reveal anything.

Or perhaps Noble Consort Yu was deeply scheming, guessing that the Empress Dowager would make such a move, so she was letting Consort Xie be the scapegoat?

This little palace maid had a weakness that the head palace maid knew about, so she absolutely dared not disobey her. Seeing that the mission was about to fail, she gritted her teeth, tiptoed forward, and picked up that cup of tea.

Yu Wanyin prepared the truth serum and returned to the front hall to sit with Xia Hou Dan for a while. Seeing that it was getting late and Xie Yong’er should arrive soon, she said: “I’ll hide at the side of the hall to avoid arousing her suspicion. Call me out when the drug takes effect.”

Xia Hou Dan: “Then sit comfortably for a while, let them bring you some tea and snacks.”

Yu Wanyin sat behind the screen at the side of the hall, and a little palace maid quickly brought tea and snacks.

Yu Wanyin dismissed everyone and leisurely began cracking melon seeds.

Xie Yong’er arrived and was greeted with perfect etiquette.

Xia Hou Dan lounged at the front of the hall, still with that neurotic and dangerous demeanor, giving her a sinister look. Without exchanging pleasantries, he valued words like gold: “Come.”

Xie Yong’er humiliatingly followed him toward the dragon bed in the depths of the sleeping chamber. Xia Hou Dan sat on the bed, his pale fingers pointing at the teacup on the table, and uttered another word: “Drink.”

Here it was, the contraceptive soup Yu Wanyin had mentioned.

Xie Yong’er couldn’t ask for more, picked it up, and gulped it down in one go.

Xia Hou Dan: “…”

So eager?

Xie Yong’er swallowed the tea, didn’t taste anything strange, assumed Yu Wanyin’s description was inaccurate, and inwardly cursed.

Xia Hou Dan, seeing her drink so readily and then wearing an expression of “shall we proceed now,” preparing to undress with the resignation of facing death, quickly said: “Consort Xie.”

Xie Yong’er paused: “Your Majesty?”

Xia Hou Dan: “…”

Couldn’t you drink more slowly, to give the truth serum time to take effect?

Xia Hou Dan had no choice but to open his imperial mouth: “That day at the palace banquet, I heard you perform a piece that was quite memorable. Since Consort Xie appreciates elegant music, why not sing a tune to enhance the mood?”

Xie Yong’er thought with disdain: Could you even appreciate the songs I sing?

She composed herself, and with a feeling of desolate loneliness, began: “When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky…”

Xia Hou Dan started pinching his thigh again.

Xie Yong’er’s singing echoed in the empty bedchamber, drifting into the side hall.

Yu Wanyin, who was cracking melon seeds, choked, covering her mouth to stifle her coughs, and took a sip from her teacup.

“Pfft—”

Xia Hou Dan waited for half a song, saw that Xie Yong’er’s eyes remained clear and her behavior normal, and couldn’t help but glance again at the teacup in her hand.

Suddenly, muffled coughing sounds came from the side hall.

Xia Hou Dan paused, then stood up.

Xie Yong’er’s singing stopped, and she looked at him in confusion. Xia Hou Dan casually said: “Wait here,” and walked out.

He strode to the screen at the side of the hall and whispered: “What’s wrong?”

Yu Wanyin, between coughs, said: “We have a big problem. Xie Yong’er’s cup wasn’t the truth serum—this one is! I just realized when I took a sip!”

Xia Hou Dan: “Why?”

“I don’t know either, I clearly… never mind, now is not the time to dwell on this.” Yu Wanyin handed him the teacup. “Fortunately, I only took a small sip, so it’s not a big issue. Quickly go and make her drink it while it’s hot.”

“She just drank one cup, and now another? Do you think she’s stupid?”

Half a minute later.

Xia Hou Dan: “Drink.”

Xie Yong’er took the new teacup and downed it in one gulp again.

Xia Hou Dan: “?”

This time Xie Yong’er noticed the taste was off and thought this must be the real one.

Then again, could the previous cup have been a mistake? Did this tyrant have intelligence issues? Was this setting in the original text…

Just as this thought crossed her mind, her eyes began to lose focus.

Xia Hou Dan waited a few seconds, and waved his five fingers in front of her face: “Consort Xie?”

Xie Yong’er, feeling dizzy as if floating on clouds: “Hmm.”

Xia Hou Dan: “How many fingers?”

Xie Yong’er exclaimed in shock: “You do have intelligence issues?”

Xia Hou Dan: “…”

Xia Hou Dan turned and called to Yu Wanyin: “Come out, she’s addled.”

Yu Wanyin had only taken a small sip of the truth serum earlier and didn’t feel much effect yet. This drug was just a stronger version of strong liquor—discussing toxicity without considering dosage was pseudoscience. Such a small amount shouldn’t be a problem.

Hearing Xia Hou Dan call her, she put on the fox mask she had prepared in advance and gracefully walked up to Xie Yong’er, speaking in a muffled voice: “Ma Chunchun, how have you been?”

Xie Yong’er had already slumped to the ground and hiccupped: “Who are you?”

Yu Wanyin crouched down to look at her as if making a scam call: “You don’t even remember me?”

Xie Yong’er stared at the mask for a while, then seemed to realize something: “You know my name, so you must be the author of ‘East Wind Releases a Thousand Trees at Night’?”

Yu Wanyin was startled: this person had quite an imagination.

She played along: “That’s right. I never thought that after transmigrating into my book, you would stir up such a storm…”

Xie Yong’er suddenly interrupted: “How are my parents?”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Yu Wanyin: “They’re fine, but you should worry about yourself. I never thought you would stir up such a storm…”

Xie Yong’er interrupted again: “What place did my idol end up getting?”

Yu Wanyin turned to look at Xia Hou Dan, who was hiding to the side.

Xia Hou Dan mouthed: “Tell her what she wants to hear.”

Yu Wanyin: “First place.”

With a crisp sound, Xie Yong’er angrily smashed the cup: “Impossible! That dog-ass platform is never fair! You’re lying to me!”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Was this paper character’s personality a bit too well-developed?

Yu Wanyin regrouped, deepening her voice to show authority: “Let’s get to the point. I never thought you would stir up such a storm, fooling Prince Duan in circles and messing up the plot of the book. How will you take responsibility?”

Xie Yong’er spat: “If I followed your plot, I would only die early as cannon fodder.”

Yu Wanyin guided her persuasively: “You shouldn’t have spoiled the names of those failed exam candidates to Prince Duan. Although Prince Duan protecting them and bringing them into the court would save them from unfair treatment, it also deprives them of the opportunity to be tempered by hardship. As the saying goes, heaven puts heavy burdens on those it favors…”

Xie Yong’er flew into a rage: “Dog author, you think I don’t remember the original text?”

“What about the original text?”

Xie Yong’er: “In the original text, Li Yunxi and Yang Duojie were beaten to death with sacks over their heads right after they exposed that scoundrel’s cheating; Er Lan, who disguised herself as a man, was discovered, suffered humiliation and harassment, was driven out of the capital, and committed suicide in resentment; and there’s also…”

Yu Wanyin turned back to Xia Hou Dan, frantically gesturing: Write this down! Write this down!

Xia Hou Dan: I’m writing, I’m writing.

Xie Yong’er rattled off five or six names in one breath: “What ‘heaven puts heavy burdens’? They’re like me, just cannon fodder you created casually and killed off casually. Are we not allowed to resist?”

But Yu Wanyin was no longer listening to her impassioned speech.

Yu Wanyin moved to Xia Hou Dan’s side, looked at the names he had just written down, and said with satisfaction: “That’s right, it’s them. Find these talents, and Yan’s millet yield will reach 1,800 per mu. We won’t fear drought or inflation.”

Xie Yong’er sat in place, drunkenly shouting: “Dog author? Nothing to say?”

Xia Hou Dan: “But these ambitious scholars must hate the incompetent emperor to death, otherwise they wouldn’t be so easily poached by Prince Duan. How to trick them into serving me before the imperial examination still needs more thought.”

Xie Yong’er turned her head, looking around: “Where is everyone?”

“Coming!” Yu Wanyin perfunctorily called out, then said quietly to Xia Hou Dan, “I’ve thought about it. It will depend on your acting skills. And after gaining their trust, you’ll need to convince them to change their names. Otherwise, once these people enter the court as officials, Xie Yong’er, who knows their background, will notice something’s amiss.”

“Dog—author—you’ve—ruined—me—so—badly—” Xie Yong’er’s shouting began to turn tearful.

Yu Wanyin’s head was pounding: “Coming, coming.”

Having no experience comforting drunk people, she could only crouch down, pat her shoulder, and stroke her head: “Don’t cry. Things could be worse—Yu Wanyin is the truly miserable one.”

The more she was comforted, the more grief welled up in Xie Yong’er, who cried loudly: “Prince Duan doesn’t trust me at all, I’m just a tool…”

She cried so loudly that Yu Wanyin, afraid the palace servants would hear, was about to cover her mouth when suddenly she heard her mumble something indistinctly.

In that instant.

In that very instant, all the blood in Yu Wanyin’s body went cold.

She casually turned her head, glancing at Xia Hou Dan.

Xia Hou Dan was deep in thought over the names he had just written down, not paying attention to the commotion here.

Yu Wanyin’s heart pounded like a drum as she brought her ear closer to Xie Yong’er: “What did you just say? Be good, say it again.”

Xie Yong’er: “I said he doesn’t trust me… wah, I taught him to use aphrodisiacs on the Deputy Commander, but I overheard him telling his strategist that he wanted to poison that person’s horse…”

Xie Yong’er giving Prince Duan advice to win over Deputy Commander Zhao of the Imperial Guards was a plot in “Transmigrating into a Book as the Demon’s Beloved Consort.”

According to the original text, Prince Duan should have adopted her suggestion to use aphrodisiacs to incapacitate the Deputy Commander, and then lure him to molest the favorite concubine of the Commander of the Imperial Guards. Finally, he would arrange for the Commander to discover this scene, creating an irreconcilable feud between them.

The Deputy Commander was a brainless fool; to protect himself, he would have no choice but to ally with Prince Duan, kill the Commander, and take his place. By controlling him, Prince Duan would control the forces of the Imperial Guards.

Yu Wanyin remembered this plot to win people over but couldn’t recall the specific process.

Now hearing Xie Yong’er’s words, she suddenly remembered that Prince Duan in the original text did indeed do this.

—So why, in Xu Yao’s record, was there a different plan?

After her drunken outburst, Xie Yong’er fell asleep immediately.

Yu Wanyin and Xia Hou Dan each carried one end—one her head, one her feet—and placed her on the dragon bed, even messing up the sheets and her clothes to create the appearance of an aftermath scene.

“She drank so much truth serum, she won’t remember anything when she wakes up,” Yu Wanyin said. “When the time comes, scold her a bit, tell her she was so frightened that she went mentally unstable and raved all night or something. Just make her believe it.”

Xia Hou Dan: “She won’t believe that. If she went crazy and I didn’t bury her, there must be something fishy.”

Yu Wanyin felt a bit dizzy and impatiently waved her hand: “Then just act that part, you know, the ‘Woman, no one has ever dared to treat me like this, you’ve caught my attention’ bit.”

Xia Hou Dan: “…Are you serious?”

Yu Wanyin: “Improvise as you like… I’m tired, I’m leaving first.”

Yu Wanyin hurried back to the Noble Consort’s palace.

With trembling hands, she opened Xu Yao’s book, clinging to a faint hope as she confirmed, and her last shred of hope was shattered. Xu Yao had indeed recorded: “Invite Deputy Zhao for a drink, poison his horse, make the crazed horse trample the late emperor’s ceremonial equipment.”

That ceremonial equipment had been bestowed upon Prince Duan by the late emperor to commend his military achievements and had always been enshrined in the central courtyard of Prince Duan’s mansion.

The crime of destroying an imperial gift was far greater than “toying with the Commander’s concubine” and would be enough to terrify Deputy Commander Zhao.

Yu Wanyin closed the book and looked blankly at the flickering candlelight.

Why?

Why had Prince Duan deviated from the original script, no longer trusting Xie Yong’er, and even modifying a plan he should have followed?

She shook her head in disbelief, trying to shake away the increasing dizziness, and opened the book again, checking line by line from the beginning.

More than just this one plan had been modified.

The changes were all small details, such as something done on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the original text being delayed by one day; or the location for assassinating a certain minister being changed from one villa to another.

If not for tonight’s events, she might never have noticed these detail changes, or if she had, would have assumed her memory was wrong.

Without Xu Yao’s book, she would have been forced to rely on the plot of “Transmigrating into a Book as the Demon’s Beloved Consort,” directing Xia Hou Dan to charge left and right, trying to foil Prince Duan’s schemes, yet always missing crucial details, ultimately falling into an irredeemable abyss…

Yu Wanyin realized she was trembling. She moved her hands closer to the candle to warm them but trembled even more violently.

Why?

She thought she had anticipated the enemy’s moves, so why could Prince Duan predict her predictions?

Could it be that when she believed herself to be at the highest level, Prince Duan stood on an even higher plane, looking down at her with a smile?

Did he know all of this?

In his eyes, was she just a paper character too?

Had his previous feigned ignorance been a deliberate ploy to confuse her?

Would he also see what happened tonight—seeing it as clearly as if reading a book?

Then, he would only need to change another date, and another location, and they would once again be mice toyed with under a cat’s paw.

Yu Wanyin collapsed into her chair, feeling her body continuously sinking, plunging into a dark quagmire…

Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder.

That hand gently patted her: “What’s wrong with you?”

Yu Wanyin stared blankly: “I’m finished, it’s all over, GG.”

“Why do you say that?”

Yu Wanyin didn’t hear, continuing to mutter to herself: “Just wait to die, don’t struggle. Prince Duan is the real person, and us? We’re just a few Chinese characters, the kind that disappears with one press of the delete key…”

Xia Hou Dan moved from behind her to the front, frowning as he observed her expression.

That small amount of truth serum had finally taken effect.

Perhaps because it had reacted with ingredients in the contraceptive soup, the truth serum came on fiercely. Yu Wanyin had only taken one sip, but now she felt as if lost in a thick fog, completely unaware of her surroundings.

She heard a calm voice asking: “So, do you want to give up?”

“I…” Yu Wanyin struggled to think, then had a sudden inspiration, “I still have one path—I could raise the white flag now and join Prince Duan! Do you think he would accept me?”

No response.

Yu Wanyin suddenly remembered something else and said dejectedly: “No, that’s wrong. He already knows everything, he doesn’t need me at all.”

The silence continued for a while.

Then that voice said: “Perhaps you could make him fall in love with you.”

Yu Wanyin laughed: “Reclaim my female lead script? Haha, no way, he has Xie Yong’er already.”

“Xie Yong’er is not as good as you.”

“That’s true indeed.” Yu Wanyin nodded quite objectively, “Your suggestion isn’t completely impractical.”

Xia Hou Dan looked at her quietly: “So, will you try?”

“Hmm…” Yu Wanyin sank into contemplation.

As if a century had passed, she showed confusion: “I don’t seem to be very willing.”

“Why?”

“He’s too frightening.” Yu Wanyin lowered her head, “He could use some mind games to make me fall head over heels for him, then give my all for him, exhaust my remaining value, and finally throw myself in front of him to block a knife, or an arrow, dying in his arms without regrets or complaints.”

She flapped the wings of her imagination, describing herself so tragically that tears fell: “Then he’d shed a few tears, give me a grand burial, and go back to Xie Yong’er… That’s how men accomplish great things!”

Xia Hou Dan: “…”

Xia Hou Dan reached out to wipe away her tears, asking extremely slowly and gently: “What about Xia Hou Dan?”

“Him? He wouldn’t, would he? He said so.”

Previously, when Yu Wanyin rose to prominence, the entire Yu family benefited from her success.

Yu Shaoqing was merely an insignificant transparent figure in the court, barely counted as part of Prince Duan’s faction, yet still marginalized.

Seeing Yu Wanyin rise to the position of Noble Consort at an unprecedented speed, the once-deserted Yu residence suddenly became lively. People who previously wouldn’t even glance at them now came to test the waters and say kind words.

Yu Shaoqing, having been invisible for so many years, became a bit carried away after receiving some flattery and began to envision a wonderful future of promotions and titles. So he established connections with several high officials and offered some bribes under the pretext of gambling cards.

Little did he expect that the very next day, the Empress Dowager would catch this minor slip and deal with him directly.

With his demotion, the Yu residence once again became deserted.

While everyone in the household was sighing with grief, they suddenly heard an announcement: “Prince Duan has arrived—”

Yu Shaoqing was overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.

At such a time, why would the illustrious Prince Duan condescend to visit? Could it be that he still had some unexpected value to the prince?

Xia Hou Bo maintained his image of a humble gentleman. After taking the seat of honor, he spoke kindly: “How has Master Yu been lately?”

Yu Shaoqing wiped away elderly tears: “This official is fine, but I worry whether the Nob… Noble Consort might lose the Emperor’s favor because of this and suffer difficult days…”

Xia Hou Bo played along, comforting him: “I’ve heard that Noble Consort Yu is wise and virtuous, deeply favored by His Majesty. When this prince next enters the palace, I will also inquire about her well-being for you.”

Yu Shaoqing expressed a thousand thanks, waiting for his follow-up.

But there was no follow-up. Xia Hou Bo chatted politely for the time it took to drink a cup of tea, then courteously took his leave. From beginning to end, Yu Shaoqing couldn’t guess the purpose of this great deity’s visit.

After Xia Hou Bo left the Yu residence, two shadows approached from behind and followed him into his carriage.

Xia Hou Bo: “Found it?”

His subordinate presented a small piece of paper: “This is what this subordinate found in Yu Wanyin’s maiden chamber.”

On the paper were poems and essays that Yu Wanyin had copied before entering the palace.

Xia Hou Bo glanced at it for a few moments, then his subordinate presented another sheet of paper: “This was found in the Imperial Library.”

After the fire in the Imperial Library had somewhat subsided, Prince Duan had sent his men in under the pretense of fighting the fire—first to confirm that Xu Yao was dead, and second to see if there was any evidence detrimental to him near the corpse.

His men didn’t find anything on Xu Yao, but they brought out a piece of paper from Yu Wanyin’s writing desk.

The edges of the torn paper were already charred, with several blurred ink marks on it.

Xia Hou Bo compared the two pieces of paper and smiled faintly: “Do you see anything?”

Subordinate: “…Are these two pieces of writing really by the same person?”

Xia Hou Bo tapped the papers: “It seems it’s time to meet her.”

Yu Wanyin opened her eyes and then closed them again, suddenly turning over and burying her head under the pillow.

Last night she had only taken a small sip of the truth serum and hadn’t blacked out. On the contrary, she remembered all the conversations very clearly.

Prince Duan might be at the highest level.

She had originally wanted to investigate this matter without telling Xia Hou Dan, but instead had told him directly: “I could raise the white flag and join him…”

Fortunately, in the end, she had still pledged her loyalty to Xia Hou Dan, otherwise, she would probably already be buried in the ground by now.

However, the way she had pledged that loyalty…

Yu Wanyin covered her ears with the pillow like an ostrich.

After saying “he wouldn’t, would he? He said so,” she had completely passed out, falling headlong toward Xia Hou Dan.

Xia Hou Dan hadn’t said anything more, had carried her to bed, and seemed to have even covered her with a blanket before turning and leaving.

Yu Wanyin didn’t know how to face him. She found it incredible.

After transmigrating, Yu Wanyin had warned herself three thousand times not to trust anyone—she couldn’t afford to play that game. She couldn’t be love-brained, couldn’t act impulsively, couldn’t play with life. If the chosen one died, this book would be cut off at the waist; if she died, the book would lose three pages at most.

—So when exactly had she subconsciously sold herself out?

Selling out was one thing, but letting him know about it! It was like waving a handkerchief at Xia Hou Dan: I’m a foolish chess piece, come and use me.

This couldn’t continue…

“Miss?” The maid Xiao Mei urged by the bedside, “It’s time to get up. Today you’re to have an audience with the Empress Dowager.”

While Yu Wanyin was dressing and applying makeup, Xiao Mei gossiped beside her: “I heard that early this morning, a little palace maid in His Majesty’s bedchamber was severely interrogated and then dragged away. It seems she put contraceptive medicine in the tea. Miss, are you alright?”

Yu Wanyin mentally reviewed the details of that cup of tea and understood the cause and effect.

“It’s fine, I only drank a tiny bit. Most of it was consumed by Consort Xie.”

Xiao Mei paused, then tactfully said: “She is now Concubine Xie.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Xiao Mei’s eyes reddened: “How could His Majesty be so outrageous, to have both of you on the same night… and still elevate her to concubine! How heartbroken your father and mother must be, wuwuwu…”

Yu Wanyin remembered that she had asked him to perform an “overbearing CEO falls in love with me” act for Xie Yong’er.

Xiao Mei continued indignantly: “I heard she pretended to be afraid and declined repeatedly, and then His Majesty said, said he had never seen a woman as special as her.”

Yu Wanyin: “…”

Xia Hou Dan had indeed performed.

When all the concubines paid their respects, he appeared again, but this time without giving Yu Wanyin a single glance, sitting directly beside Xie Yong’er.

Xie Yong’er uncomfortably moved to the side, and he moved closer again.

Xie Yong’er served him tea, and he deliberately touched her hand while accepting it.

Sitting to the side, Yu Wanyin instantly felt countless glances stealing looks at her, including the Empress Dowager’s. She very convincingly lowered her head desolately.

The Empress Dowager was calculating that she should prepare a new contraceptive soup.

Empress Dowager: “The Flower Festival is approaching. Does the Emperor have any plans?”

Xia Hou Dan: “At that time, let Concubine Xie dance.”

He narrowed his eyes at Xie Yong’er: “I’ve heard Concubine Xie play music and sing, but I haven’t yet appreciated your dance.”

Yu Wanyin thought: What if she danced “Gokuraku Jodo” (Extremely Happy Paradise)? Could Xia Hou Dan keep a straight face?

At that moment, Xia Hou Dan casually glanced at her, as if imagining a similar scene, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

Yu Wanyin quickly looked away to avoid breaking into laughter.

Regardless, Xia Hou Dan as a teammate was far more reliable than Prince Duan.

Xia Hou Dan sat for a while longer and then left.

When Xie Yong’er filed out with the other consorts, she discovered that An Xian had not left with the Emperor but was waiting outside.

Seeing her emerge, An Xian smiled: “Concubine Xie, this servant will escort you back.”

The Emperor’s chief eunuch had given his support to Xie Yong’er!

Yu Wanyin once again felt countless gazes upon her. She smiled sadly and walked away alone.

In the original text, this old eunuch had trampled on Xie Yong’er when she fell out of favor, all to curry favor with Yu Wanyin. Later, when Xie Yong’er won their struggle, An Xian tried to flatter her but was sent to prison by her.

Now, without the fall from grace, Xie Yong’er hadn’t formed a grudge with him, and instead astutely walked to his side.

After all, she was the demon’s beloved consort herself, and though she was impatient with being favored, she would make full use of it.

Why not first use An Xian to remove a few thorns in her side?

After walking a distance, Xie Yong’er asked pitifully: “May Chief An enlighten me, what exactly did His Majesty see in me?”

An Xian smiled: “His Majesty said that last night he saw you acting wild and crazy, with a sense of vitality different from other consorts. And this morning, you viewed the position of concubine as worthless dung, so pure and adorable.”

Xie Yong’er: “…”

How crude!

Yu Wanyin ignored this crude little drama and walked alone to the Imperial Library.

The Imperial Library was being rebuilt on its original site, progressing rather slowly.

She gazed at the craftsmen working meticulously, lost in thought for a while, calculating Prince Duan’s affairs when suddenly she heard someone call: “Noble Consort Yu.”

Yu Wanyin turned her head to find a person dressed as a craftsman beside her, who without further words stuffed something into her hand: “Please accept this.”

Yu Wanyin looked down in confusion—it was a letter with no signature on the envelope.

“This is…” When she looked up, the person had already disappeared.

Yu Wanyin walked to a secluded spot and opened the letter. It contained only a few words: “Midnight, Imperial Garden, behind the stone mountain.”

At the signature, the spot was drawn a turtle.

The guards patrolling around the Imperial Garden seemed to have been sent away. Yu Wanyin did not bring a lamp or candle, groping her way forward in the moonlight when she heard a warm voice from behind the stone mountain: “Wanyin.”

Xia Hou Bo was indeed waiting there, dressed in white robes like a banished immortal in the moonlight.

Yu Wanyin, coming alone to the appointment, felt somewhat anxious. She had wanted to bring someone for protection, but whether it was Bei Zhou or the secret guards, they would certainly report to Xia Hou Dan, so she had to sneak out alone.

She had to know which level he was on before deciding her next move.

She took a deep breath, calmed herself to enter her role, and showed a bashful expression: “Your Highness, how can you address me so.”

Xia Hou Bo smiled without answering, only saying: “Earlier today I met Master Yu, who was quite concerned about how you’re faring in the palace.”

Yu Wanyin sighed deeply: “This morning His Majesty elevated Xie to concubine.”

Saying this name, she glanced at Xia Hou Bo, but in the dimness couldn’t discern any change in his expression.

Yu Wanyin decided to ask directly: “What does Your Highness think of Concubine Xie?”

“She is His Majesty’s concubine; I dare not comment rashly.”

“…Then what about me?”

“You?” Xia Hou Bo slowly stepped closer to her, “Wanyin, we’ve known each other for so long now, shouldn’t some things be said plainly?”

Yu Wanyin acted tenderly: “Such as?”

Prince Duan, also appearing emotionally moved, said: “Such as, who exactly are you.”

Hold your ground, Yu Wanyin thought.

Xia Hou Bo: “And also, who is His Majesty, who is Xie Yong’er.”

Yu Wanyin couldn’t control herself and stepped back.

The worst suspicion had come true.

He could see through Xie Yong’er, perhaps because this love-brained Xie Yong’er had let something slip. Seeing through herself further, perhaps because she had shown her hand somewhere. But there had been no opportunity to see through Xia Hou Dan, that acting master.

He could only be standing on a higher level.

Xia Hou Bo smiled: “No need to be so nervous. I’ve never had ill intentions toward you. You can also foresee some things, so you should understand that choosing me is a wise decision.”

Yu Wanyin: “You… since you know everything, what do you need me for?”

Xia Hou Bo paused slightly: “You misunderstand. I seek you out not to learn anything, but because I’m fond of you.”

Yu Wanyin felt utterly absurd: “We’re not even the same species; how could you be fond of me?”

Xia Hou Bo seemed to hesitate for a moment: “That doesn’t matter.”

Yu Wanyin: “Ah? So you like this character of mine?”

Xia Hou Bo smiled gently: “That’s why I sought you out from the beginning.”

In the imperial bedchamber, a small light glowed like a bean.

“Noble Consort Yu went to the Imperial Garden. I followed her to take a look—she was meeting privately with Prince Duan,” Bei Zhou stated directly. “I was too far away to hear clearly what they said, but the atmosphere seemed quite intimate.”

Xia Hou Dan: “…”

Bei Zhou worriedly said: “Dan, if this person has already defected to the enemy, wouldn’t it be better to dispose of her? Uncle knows you like her, but she is your bedfellow. Once her heart changes, it becomes too dangerous.”

Xia Hou Dan used one fingertip to play with the candle flame, saying nothing.

A secret guard kneeling nearby asked routinely: “Shall this subordinate take care of it?”

Xia Hou Dan slowly said: “Have you considered that from her perspective, following Prince Duan is indeed more secure?”

Bei Zhou was confused: “Why? Haven’t you already grasped Prince Duan’s plans?”

Xia Hou Dan gave a bitter smile.

Last night, Yu Wanyin had hurriedly excused herself and unsteadily fled back to the Noble Consort’s palace, then discovered Prince Duan’s secret. At the time, she hadn’t planned to tell him, but that cup of truth serum had made her speak the truth.

She trusted him, but she was too afraid of Prince Duan.

“Wanting to survive is only human nature.”

Bei Zhou sighed: “You shouldn’t let personal feelings cloud your judgment… Is that woman so important?”

Xia Hou Dan: “She is my lifeline.”

Bei Zhou and the secret guard looked at each other in confusion.

How had she become a lifeline?

The secret guard, never having encountered such a situation, probed: “Your Majesty, shall we bury her?”

Xia Hou Dan: “If you ask one more word, I will bury you.”

Yu Wanyin groped her way back to the Noble Consort’s palace, each step weighing a thousand pounds.

Her mind was a mess, all her plans, all her ambitions, and even all her self-awareness completely shattered into countless fragments.

She didn’t want to play anymore—how could this game continue?

Perhaps when he read her like a book, he genuinely liked her as a paper character? Although it sounded strange, it was absolutely good news for her. He had extended an olive branch, so she might as well defect to him early, showing her sincerity…

However, deep in her consciousness, a sense of incongruity lingered.

Her steps grew slower and slower until she finally stopped in place.

Something wasn’t right.

Her brain, seized by fear, began to laboriously function again.

If Xia Hou Bo truly was on a higher level, why would he let them see Xu Yao’s book?

Taking pains to forge a book, deliberately letting them see it, thus making them suspicious of his identity—what benefit would that bring him?

To defeat Xia Hou Dan, the simplest way would of course be to let them know nothing.

Why not simply destroy that book?

Like ice breaking from a single crack, once this question arose, more questions came flooding in.

If he knew she had transmigrated, he could have told her directly. Why test her repeatedly?

When she said “not the same species” tonight, hadn’t he hesitated for a moment?

…

Yu Wanyin started walking again, moving faster and faster.

There was another explanation for all this, which was that Prince Duan was still a paper character.

But, through some means, he had noticed something unusual and guessed that they had “changed cores.”

In his eyes, they might be like demigods with divine sight who could foresee the future and perceive some of his secrets.

So Prince Duan didn’t trust her and Xia Hou Dan, nor did he trust Xie Yong’er—to him, the three of them were the same kind.

From Xu Yao’s book, it was clear that he had modified the details of all the suggestions Xie Yong’er gave him. Could this be a kind of test, to see exactly how far they could foresee?

But he wasn’t confident that changing these details would allow him to escape their divine sight.

That’s why he had to approach her, put on airs to extract information from her, and then win her over…

But there was still a doubt: how could a paper character come up with such an avant-garde concept as “changed cores”?

Even Xie Yong’er couldn’t identify others like herself, yet he had suspected all three of them.

Could this be explained by mere “exceptional intelligence”?

Without more evidence, it was impossible to determine which scenario was true.

After thinking back and forth, Yu Wanyin secretly made a decision.