As the Northern Dynasty’s capital, Shangjing had three rings of city walls. The innermost ring was the imperial city, the second ring was the inner city, and the third ring was the outer city. Xiao Yin’s Crown Prince Manor was located in Shangjing’s inner city. When Xiao Yin led his retinue back to the Crown Prince Manor, night had already fallen.

From afar, they could see many people standing before the manor gates. Drawing closer, they saw a group of maidservants surrounding a woman. The woman appeared to be in her fifties, with dignified features and wrinkles carved by time’s weathering at her eyes and forehead. Seeing Xiao Yin, her lips curved upward with a joyful, loving smile.

“Mama,” Xiao Yin leaped down from his horse and bowed to the woman.

Hua Zhuyu remembered that Xiao Yin’s birth mother had died very early. This woman called “Mama” should be the Madam Bai Ma that Hui Xue had mentioned—Xiao Yin’s wet nurse. Xiao Yin showed extreme respect for this woman.

“Xue Ji pays respects to Your Highness,” said a young woman supporting Madam Bai Ma, bowing to Xiao Yin. Orange lamplight illuminated the woman’s charming, delicate features. She wore a light smile at her lips, gazing at Xiao Yin with gentle coquetry, her eyes filled with tender affection.

“A Yin, you’ve finally returned. Mama has been so worried these days. Who is this…?” Madam Bai Ma noticed Hua Zhuyu and asked with some surprise.

Xue Ji originally hadn’t seen Hua Zhuyu. Hearing Madam Bai Ma’s question, she finally moved her gaze that had been glued to Xiao Yin, directing it toward Hua Zhuyu.

Xiao Yin turned back, glancing at Hua Zhuyu with casual indifference: “Mama, she’s just a servant.”

A trace of puzzlement clearly flashed through Madam Bai Ma’s eyes, but she didn’t ask anything more, merely nodded lightly and turned to enter the manor with Xiao Yin.

From then on, Hua Zhuyu lived in Xiao Yin’s Crown Prince Manor, residing in a side hall of Xiao Yin’s bedchamber, becoming a servant in the Crown Prince Manor with the duty of chambermaid.

According to Hui Xue, a chambermaid’s job was specifically to make Xiao Yin’s bed and arrange his bedding. When it was cold, she would also need to warm the bedding before Xiao Yin slept. Hui Xue also said this was a coveted position that maidservants competed for.

Though Hua Zhuyu’s home had many servant girls, this was her first time hearing of “chambermaid” and warming bedding. Perhaps because she had grown accustomed to hardship outside and never enjoyed luxury, she didn’t know that wealthy households had maidservants with such duties.

Warming bedding—wasn’t this what Ping, An, Kang, and Tai casually called “bed-warming” in their conversations? Did this mean she had to crawl in first to warm it up, then let Xiao Yin sleep in it? Not only would she never do this, even thinking about it was embarrassing.

She absolutely would not do this job.

It was now late spring in March. Even in the northern frontier, the weather was gradually warming. Bed-warming shouldn’t be necessary. By this year’s harsh winter, who knew where she would be? But for now, she had to do this chambermaid duty. She needed to keep a low profile in the Crown Prince Manor, peacefully recover from her injuries, and couldn’t afford more punishment.

Being a chambermaid was indeed a coveted position—she only needed to prepare Xiao Yin’s bedding each evening before he retired, then tidy it the next morning after he rose. Though the work was easy, it inevitably meant frequently encountering Xiao Yin. Maidservants who secretly admired Xiao Yin would be overjoyed. But for Hua Zhuyu, it was undoubtedly torment. What made it even harder to bear was that gradually, rumors and gossip about her began circulating.

This day, taking advantage of the quiet noon hour, Hua Zhuyu slipped to the Crown Prince Manor’s back garden to survey the terrain. Her hand injury had gradually healed and could move freely—she planned to find an opportunity to escape.

The season had entered April. Though spring came late to the northern frontier, it had finally arrived. The Crown Prince Manor’s back garden also displayed bright, beautiful scenery. Various flowers bloomed, attracting colorful butterflies dancing among the blossoms. Clear bird songs occasionally emerged from the verdantly green woods.

Though the back garden’s scenery was beautiful, it wasn’t as quiet as Hua Zhuyu had imagined. By the pond ahead, a group of maidservants clustered around a woman.

Hua Zhuyu recognized this woman as Xue Ji, who had supported Madam Bai Ma that night. She heard Xue Ji was Madam Bai Ma’s daughter who remained unmarried and lived in the Crown Prince Manor with her. Hua Zhuyu circled around a flower bed, heading in another direction. She had wanted to avoid these people, but someone sharp-eyed spotted her.

“Oh, isn’t that the vixen who seduces His Highness?” a maidservant beside Xue Ji said coquettishly.

Hua Zhuyu frowned lightly and continued walking. She didn’t want to conflict with anyone right now.

Xue Ji clearly hadn’t expected Hua Zhuyu to treat her as if she didn’t exist. She rose angrily and led the group of maidservants in pursuit.

“Stop right there! You’re a servant—why don’t you kneel when you see this young lady? Don’t think that just because you serve His Highness nightly, he favors you. Look at yourself—even strolling the garden, you’re all alone without a single maidservant. Clearly, His Highness doesn’t value you. A military prostitute is still a military prostitute. His Highness is just playing with you—he’ll never give you any status.” Xue Ji’s voice mixed disdain with indescribable jealousy and hatred.

Hua Zhuyu suddenly understood—this Xue Ji was infatuated with Xiao Yin and wanted to become the Crown Prince Manor’s mistress. She stopped walking and turned with a cold smile. It was the height of blooming season—peach blossoms clustered thickly on branches. Her smile appeared especially cold amid the rouge-colored fire of blossoms.

“What did you say?” Hua Zhuyu frowned coldly, her tone carrying heart-stopping authority.

Xue Ji stopped, hands on her hips, laughing: “Do you think no one knows what you’re doing? Using the chambermaid position as an excuse to seduce His Highness nightly! Too bad you’re just a military prostitute. His Highness never touches prostitutes. Though momentarily bewitched by you, he’s just playing around. I advise you not to get carried away.”

Hua Zhuyu didn’t know she had been slandered so badly.

Chambermaid became bed-warmer? These people certainly had vivid imaginations!

She also hadn’t expected them to know about her being a military prostitute, hurling “military prostitute” as an insult.

When would such humiliation stop? This was all thanks to Xiao Yin!

She raised her eyebrows with a cold smile: “Miss Xue Ji, you also know His Highness never touches prostitutes, but this time he made an exception for me. Perhaps His Highness will continue making exceptions for me! Don’t you think?”

The disdainful expression on Xue Ji’s face froze. She stared wide-eyed as the woman before her walked away through flowers and willows.

That night, Hua Zhuyu gazed through the window lattice at the courtyard outside.

A flowering tree in the courtyard bloomed fully, appearing ethereal as mist in the pale moonlight. Fragrance penetrated through the window lattice into the room—rich and floating.

Xue Ji’s words from the daytime echoed again, generating irritation in her heart. She clearly understood she had become an obstacle preventing Xue Ji from winning Xiao Yin’s favor. If she continued staying in the Crown Prince Manor, those rumors would probably bring endless troubles.

Though Xiao Yin was detestable, he was ultimately a grown man—even when punishing or tormenting her, he was straightforward. But women’s competition for favor involved not direct attacks but hidden arrows. Given her current situation, she probably couldn’t guard against them all.

While she was lost in heavy thoughts, Xiao Yin’s personal guard Liu Feng suddenly came to summon her.

It was already late, and she had just finished preparing Xiao Yin’s bedding. Why was she being called now? Before she could think further, she had arrived at Xiao Yin’s bedchamber.

Lamps were lit inside. Xiao Yin sat in a chair reading, warm yellow light tinting his sharply defined handsome face. His cold, sharp aura had completely vanished in the soft light—he appeared very leisurely.

He was indeed handsome—no wonder Xue Ji and the maidservants schemed and competed daily to climb into his bed. But what did this have to do with her? She had been innocently dragged into it.

Liu Feng brought her over, bowed to Xiao Yin, and withdrew. Hua Zhuyu was feeling annoyed, so she stood in the room pressing her lips together without speaking.

The room was momentarily quiet except for the sound of burning candles.

Suddenly, a low eagle cry broke the indoor silence.

Hua Zhuyu focused her gaze, noticing the sea eagle she had seen on the battlefield now perched on Xiao Yin’s shoulder. It tilted its head studying her, its pair of ink-black eagle eyes appearing quite intelligent.

She coldly glanced at the sea eagle. If the master wasn’t good, this bird probably wasn’t good either!

“Come here and grind ink for this crown prince!” Xiao Yin set down his scroll and ordered coldly.

Hua Zhuyu’s clear eyes moved, seeing the attending maidservants acting as if they hadn’t heard—those serving tea continued serving tea. Was Xiao Yin asking her to grind ink? Indeed, only she stood idle. Sure enough, seeing her motionless, Xiao Yin glanced at her: “What? This crown prince can’t command you anymore?”

“This servant dares not!” Hua Zhuyu lowered her eyes: “This servant is a chambermaid.”

Xiao Yin’s lips curved mockingly as he squinted: “From today, you’re no longer a chambermaid. Now that your hand injury has healed, you’ll be this crown prince’s personal maidservant! Grind ink!”

Hua Zhuyu frowned. He wanted her to be his personal maidservant? Hui Xue was Xiao Yin’s personal maidservant—except for rest periods, she served him all day. During meals, she arranged his dishes; when he handled official business, she held lamps and ground ink; when he traveled, she accompanied him. She had to carefully attend to him all day, and if he was in a bad mood, she’d be scolded. Moreover, if she became his personal maidservant, she’d have even less chance of escape.

“This servant is slow-witted and probably cannot serve as Your Highness’s personal maidservant!” Hua Zhuyu lowered her posture and said slowly.

Xiao Yin’s purple eyes narrowed as his sharp gaze locked onto Hua Zhuyu. “Your Highness, this servant has something to report!” A maidservant emerged from the inner room and stood before Xiao Yin.

Xiao Yin snorted coldly, his gaze still focused on Hua Zhuyu’s face as he slowly asked: “What is it?”

“This servant was just adding incense in the inner room and inadvertently discovered…” The maidservant paused, glancing at Hua Zhuyu with complex eyes before hesitating: “Discovered that the bedding the chambermaid prepared for Your Highness has…”

Hua Zhuyu’s heart tightened as her sharp gaze swept toward the maidservant. She recognized this maidservant—she was responsible for burning incense for Xiao Yin.

“Has what?” Xiao Yin seemed somewhat surprised, asking in a low voice.

“Has bloodstains, like a woman’s monthly flow!” The maidservant hesitated before finally speaking.

As her words fell, the other maidservants in the room all gasped. When imperial concubines had their monthly flow, they couldn’t share the emperor’s bed. Leaving such feminine impurities on the master’s bedding was a grave offense. The crown prince hadn’t summoned anyone to share his bed—only the chambermaid had touched the bedding. Could it be that those rumors were true? Had the chambermaid really been sharing his bed nightly? Accidentally leaving such things on His Highness’s bedding—even if His Highness favored her, punishment would be unavoidable.

“Bring the bedding here!” Xiao Yin’s face turned cold, his stern gaze sharp as a blade.

The maidservant hurried to the inner room and brought out bedding with indeed some scattered red stains.

“What do you have to say?” Xiao Yin sat back down, asking with piercing eyes.

Hua Zhuyu smiled coldly—she hadn’t expected hidden arrows to fly at her so quickly. However, for this frame-up to succeed, there was a prerequisite: that she had actually shared his bed.

Actually, Xiao Yin knew this matter clearly. She had never shared his bed—she only arranged bedding. How could she leave such things on it? But apparently, Xiao Yin didn’t intend to spare her. He sat leisurely in his chair, seemingly planning to watch her performance.

Hua Zhuyu really wanted to kick him flat and beat him with random sticks.

“Your Highness knows clearly in your heart—why must I say anything?” Hua Zhuyu retorted.

Xiao Yin snorted coldly, rising from his chair as his purple eyes emanated dark light, cold as ice and snow.

“You won’t be this crown prince’s personal maidservant, and you can’t even do chambermaid work properly—truly extremely stupid. Since that’s the case, go to the laundry to do hard labor!” He coldly threw down these words and returned to the inner room.

Hua Zhuyu withdrew from Xiao Yin’s bedchamber under the pitying, sympathetic gazes of several maidservants.

Moonlight poured like water into the courtyard. Flowering trees danced gracefully in the night breeze, their fragrance faint. She thought that tomorrow, the Crown Prince Manor would be full of rumors about her falling from favor and being punished to the laundry. But others wouldn’t know that this so-called punishment was actually liberation for her.

Hua Zhuyu quickly returned to her side hall and rapidly packed her belongings. Hui Xue was already waiting outside her door. After she finished packing, Hui Xue led her to the courtyard where laundry women lived.

Low houses surrounded a small courtyard with no flowers or trees—only bamboo poles for drying clothes, hung with various garments. The courtyard was filled with a faint soapberry scent. In the center was a well where several servant girls were washing clothes. The sound of beating clothes echoed heavily and coldly in the quiet night.

Indeed hard labor—so late at night, they still hadn’t rested and continued washing clothes.

Hui Xue led her into a room—a simple three-person quarters, much inferior to her previous chambermaid lodging. But she felt relieved. After spreading her thin bedding, she turned to see Hui Xue still standing in the doorway.

“I see you’re also intelligent—why be so stubborn, always offending His Highness? Working here isn’t like serving in His Highness’s bedchamber—you’ll probably suffer hardships. If anything happens, you can send someone to find me. If possible, I’ll help you!” Having spoken, Hui Xue turned and left.

“Newcomer, come work!” someone in the courtyard shouted. Hua Zhuyu responded and rose to wash clothes in the courtyard.

Hua Zhuyu had endured hardships since childhood and didn’t mind such rough work. She just hadn’t expected this washing to continue until dawn. After returning to rest briefly, new work arrived.

Such day-and-night laundry work was indeed difficult to endure. No matter how tiring the work, people needed rest. Continuing like this, there would eventually be a breaking point. However, even if tired, Hua Zhuyu felt it was better than serving Xiao Yin. Moreover, she had already planned her escape.

The laundry women said that in a few days, it would be Xiao Yin’s wet nurse Madam Bai Ma’s birthday.

It was said that Xiao Yin’s mother empress died early. At that time, Xiao Yin’s father king was busy with warfare and had no time to care for him. From age seven, Xiao Yin was raised by Madam Bai Ma, and he showed extreme respect for her. Every year on Madam Bai Ma’s birthday, Xiao Yin would hold grand banquets in the manor to celebrate.

Hua Zhuyu planned to take advantage of that day’s many guests to slip away. This time was different from the military camp with nowhere to hide. Once out of the Crown Prince Manor, she would first find a place to hide. In such a large Shangjing city, it wouldn’t be easy for Xiao Yin to find her.

Several days passed quickly. Early that morning, the manor was decorated with lanterns and colored banners—extremely lively.

However, the weather wasn’t good that day. By evening, the sky was covered with surging dark clouds like waves, obscuring the setting sun’s afterglow as night fell.

That day happened to be Hua Zhuyu’s turn to deliver clean clothes to various courtyards. This was an excellent opportunity for her—she could take advantage of delivering clothes when no one was paying attention to leave.

However, Hua Zhuyu hadn’t expected that while she planned to leave, others also planned to scheme against her.

It was still early—Hua Zhuyu originally planned to wait until after delivering clothes and complete darkness before acting. But when she delivered clothes to Snow Garden, an unexpected incident occurred. Snow Garden was where Xue Ji lived. The maidservant at the door immediately went in to report upon seeing her. Xue Ji immediately emerged from inside, and seeing Hua Zhuyu carrying clothes, a cold smile curved her lips.

“Oh my, Miss Xue, your clothes are torn!” A maidservant took the clothes from Hua Zhuyu, examined them, and suddenly held up a light red palace dress with dark patterns of cloud brocade.

Xue Ji walked to Hua Zhuyu with satisfaction, extending her henna-painted delicate fingers to point at Hua Zhuyu’s hands: “Haven’t seen you for a few days—these hands have become so rough. The laundry work isn’t easy, is it?” Her eyes turned to focus on the torn garment as she said sternly: “This garment was bestowed upon me by Brother Yin—there’s no second one like it. I originally planned to wear it to tonight’s banquet. You lowly slave, even as a laundry woman you’re not honest—still trying to frame this young lady. Without this cloud brocade dress, what am I to wear tonight? Someone come! Lock this lowly slave in the woodshed and give her twenty heavy beatings!”

Hua Zhuyu smiled coldly. She understood that she had previously checked—all clothes were in perfect condition. If it was torn now, it could only be that this maidservant had deliberately damaged it to frame her. Even though she was now just a small laundry woman, someone still wouldn’t let her go. This Xue Ji—sending her to the laundry wasn’t enough; now she wanted to beat her to death.

“Wait!” Hua Zhuyu said coldly. “Miss Xue Ji, if you want to become crown princess, go please His Highness instead of scheming against me here. I am indeed a servant, but I’m still the marriage princess from the Southern Dynasty. If punishment is needed, it’s probably not your place!”

Xue Ji’s expression changed dramatically—she hadn’t expected Hua Zhuyu to be a marriage princess, but still said through gritted teeth: “Fine! Lock her in the woodshed and guard her well. Wait until I report to His Highness before punishment!”

The guards received orders and immediately escorted Hua Zhuyu to the woodshed. She was now just a small maidservant whom anyone could punish—no wonder Hui Xue said working in the laundry was different from serving in Xiao Yin’s bedchamber. If she hadn’t revealed her identity as marriage princess, she probably couldn’t have escaped those twenty beatings. However, now that Xue Ji knew she was originally a princess who came for political marriage, she would probably intensify her efforts against her. But she no longer cared about these things—sooner or later, she would leave here.

The woodshed was cold and damp inside, filled with firewood and broken tables and chairs not used daily. There was only one small window, but it was nailed shut with wooden boards. Strange-shaped torture implements hung on the woodshed walls—apparently, this was ordinarily where errant servants were confined, equivalent to a small torture chamber.

Hua Zhuyu moved a broken chair and stepped on it to push at the window. It was nailed shut tight, unmovable. Her heart immediately felt dejected. The chair beneath her feet suddenly tilted, unable to bear her weight, and collapsed with a crash. She fell heavily to the ground, covered in dust. Just then, she heard the woodshed door lock rattle and creak open.

Looking out from inside, the sky hadn’t yet darkened completely, but dark clouds filled the sky as if rain could fall at any moment.

Two guards strode quickly into the room and said coldly: “His Highness has ordered that you damaged Miss Xue Ji’s clothing and should be severely punished. However, today is Madam Bai Ma’s birthday—it’s inappropriate to see blood, so you’re punished with three days without food. After three days, further punishment will follow.” Having spoken, they locked the door again.

In the quiet night, melodious string and wind music drifted from afar—beautiful and ethereal.

She leaned against the wall, feeling hunger beginning to gnaw at her stomach.

In the laundry, every meal was extremely poor with no meat or fish. She was always hungry before mealtime. She probably couldn’t last three days—she had to find a way to escape.

She held her breath, listening to see if guards were stationed outside.

“I heard something happened to Marquis Pingxi Hua Mu of the Southern Dynasty. Do you know?” one guard asked quietly.

“How could I not know? If not for him, we might have won this war against the Southern Dynasty. Now he’s been sentenced to complete family execution. With the Southern Dynasty losing this great general, it’s wonderful news for our Northern Dynasty,” the other guard said joyfully.

Accompanying the two guards’ words, lightning flashed across the sky, tearing through heavy dark clouds. Thunder crashed, followed by the patter of rain.

The Northern Dynasty, usually dry with little rain, was experiencing rainfall in early spring.

Dizziness struck. Hua Zhuyu’s vision blurred, her ears fell silent, and the world instantly became chaos before her.

After a long while, the sound of pattering rain finally reached her ears again.

Complete family execution?

Hua Zhuyu suddenly stood up, violently shaking the woodshed door and calling hoarsely: “Open up!”

Her voice was very cold, carrying uncontrollable trembling—seeming both afraid of losing something and panicked.

The two guards outside were startled, thinking something terrible was inside the woodshed. Though His Highness wanted to punish this servant, he hadn’t intended her death. So they took out keys and opened the woodshed door. As the door opened, a slender figure quickly flashed out. One guard was caught off guard—his neck was already grasped by delicate jade hands.

Such cold hands, freezing his heart.

“What crime did you just say Marquis Pingxi was sentenced for?” The woman’s voice was extremely cold and sharp, with murderous intent that suffocated.

The guard’s heart trembled as he obediently answered: “Hua Mu was sentenced to complete family execution for treason. In ten days, he’ll be publicly executed in Liang Zhou!”

“Is what you’re saying true?” Fierce energy burst from Hua Zhuyu’s delicate body—so intense it was suffocating.

“Every word is true. They say the Southern Dynasty has already posted imperial proclamations!” the other guard carefully answered from behind her.

Seeing Hua Zhuyu gripping the guard’s neck, his heart jumped. This woman’s aura was shocking—not something ordinary people possessed. Only those tempered on battlefields with thousands of troops could have such suffocating killing intent. Hua Zhuyu’s hand slowly loosened. That guard stood motionless like he was stunned.

The rain gradually intensified. Between heaven and earth, everything was pitch black—endlessly dark.

She stood in the darkness.

She stood in wind and rain.

Darkness and cold rainwater pressed down on her overwhelmingly.

Her clothes were soaked through, outlining her slender waist and thin shoulders. Her pale face showed no expression, her ice-soul-like eyes dark without any light.

Why was this happening?

Was this the so-called “when birds are gone, the good bow is stored; when cunning rabbits die, hunting dogs are cooked”?

After a long while, low laughter spilled from Hua Zhuyu’s tightly pressed lips—beyond her control, unable to stop. Gradually, her laughter grew louder, wild and cold. Yet tears glimmered in her eyes.

She laughed until she could barely breathe, then suddenly swept her sleeve to wipe tears from her eyes.

Now was not the time for grief.

She quietly turned back, her water-clear eyes holding only coldness.

“I want to see Xiao Yin!” she said coldly.

“His Highness is currently at a banquet and won’t see you!” The guard, frightened by Hua Zhuyu’s earlier aura, now recovered and answered gravely.

Hua Zhuyu coldly glanced at him, ignored him, and strode forward.

“You cannot leave here!” The two guards quickly stepped forward, blocking Hua Zhuyu’s path.

“Get out of the way!” Hua Zhuyu’s dark eyes focused, instantly revealing fierce energy.

As her words fell, Hua Zhuyu suddenly moved. Though she had no internal energy, her martial arts techniques remained, and her body was still agile.

Silver light flashed before their eyes. A bloody hairpin was already withdrawn from the left guard’s ribs as hot blood splattered and he collapsed. Before the other guard could react, she delivered a hand chop to his neck.

This series of movements was much slower than before, but sufficient for dealing with these two guards of average martial skills.

She picked up a sword from the fallen guard and stepped over the two bodies to continue forward. Through corridors and courtyards, she walked to the front courtyard where Xiao Yin was entertaining guests.

String music drifted through misty rain like reality and illusion to her ears. As she approached, the music became clearer—melodious and joyful to the extreme.

There were bright lights.

There was wine, qin, song, dance, and laughter…

Sorrow belonged only to her.

At the entrance of the brilliantly lit hall, guards stood in a line, their swords and blades gleaming coldly in the lamplight.

Hua Zhuyu approached expressionlessly with her sword. The lead guard shouted: “Who goes there?”

“Tell Xiao Yin to come out!” Hua Zhuyu said coldly.

Xiao Yin’s guards drew their swords—instantly, cold light like snow and killing intent filled the air.

“Audacious! How dare you speak His Highness’s name? Seize her!” the lead guard angrily ordered.

The guards immediately surrounded her step by step, soon forcing her under a osmanthus tree.

Hua Zhuyu’s cold eyes narrowed as a trace of cold light flashed through her clear gaze.

Under the tree, blade light flew and cold gleams flickered.

Under the guards’ thunderous assault, though Hua Zhuyu wounded several guards, her left arm was also pierced by a sword, immediately bleeding profusely. Without any internal energy, relying only on sword techniques, she could barely handle the two guards Xue Ji had sent to watch her, but facing Xiao Yin’s personal guards, she definitely couldn’t win. Her right shoulder hurt again—another blade wound. Her clothes were covered in blood—whether hers or others’!

“Stop!” Suddenly a cold rebuke rang out as Xiao Yin’s personal guards Liu Feng and Hui Xue slowly emerged from the corridor.

The guards sheathed their weapons and solemnly withdrew.

Hua Zhuyu stood in the courtyard, her sword still dripping blood.

The rain had stopped at some point. Dim light from corridor lanterns illuminated Hua Zhuyu—a blood-red dress, disheveled black hair, cold eyes showing neither sorrow nor joy. Carrying her sword, she slowly walked toward the corridor.

“You want to see His Highness?” Liu Feng asked gravely.

Hua Zhuyu glanced at him and continued toward the corridor.

“Dan Hong, how is it you?” Hui Xue finally recognized the woman as Hua Zhuyu and was extremely shocked. In her eyes, Hua Zhuyu had been a proper, rule-abiding maidservant during her time at the Crown Prince Manor, if somewhat stubborn. Tonight’s Hua Zhuyu completely overturned her previous image, beyond imagination.

Hua Zhuyu coldly passed her, about to step into the hall. Hui Xue quickly blocked her path: “Dan Hong, if you want to see His Highness, you must let me announce you first. What’s the matter? Can you tell me?”

“Fine. I need a fine horse, provisions for ten days, and tonight’s city exit permit. If possible, prepare them immediately. If not, don’t block me.” She needed to leave the city immediately, couldn’t wait until tomorrow. Exiting the city at night required a permit.

“You want to leave?” Hui Xue was stunned—naturally she couldn’t make this decision. “Wait, let me announce you first.”

“No need!” Hua Zhuyu passed her, striding into the hall without looking back. Xiao Yin definitely wouldn’t see her now—she had to force her way in.

Upon entering the hall, string music, laughter, and beautiful singing flooded her ears, along with incense, powder fragrance, and wine aroma.

Hua Zhuyu looked up and through curtains saw golden candlelight burning. Several gorgeously dressed dancers swirled in the hall while a woman sang with a melodious voice. She lifted the curtains and slowly walked inside, rainwater and blood dripping from her dress onto the beige carpet, spreading with a faint bloody smell.

Hua Zhuyu’s entrance was like a discordant note suddenly inserted into beautiful, flowing music. The dancers stopped dancing, the singer stopped singing, and everyone looked at her.

Under candlelight, the originally harmonious gathering suddenly changed atmosphere due to her arrival.

From the moment Hua Zhuyu quickly exited, Hui Xue knelt before Xiao Yin and reported: “Your Highness, Dan Hong has urgent business and wanted to see Your Highness. Hui Xue couldn’t stop her!”

Xiao Yin sat upright in the central golden chair with Madam Bai Ma on his left and Xue Ji on his right. Xiao Yin’s cold, sharp gaze swept across Hua Zhuyu’s face as his purple eyes narrowed with a trace of darkness. He nonchalantly picked up his wine cup and drained it. Xue Ji beside him quickly extended her delicate hands to refill his cup from the wine pot.

“Why did the dancing stop?” He glanced at the dancers and asked lightly.

The dancers recovered, quietly glancing at Hua Zhuyu.

Hu qin music sounded, dancing resumed, and singing began again.

Xiao Yin leaned against his table, holding his wine cup and playing with it casually, his gaze focused on the dancers in the hall. Candlelight flickered, making the smile at his lips especially clear.

Hua Zhuyu snorted coldly. Her white hand lifted, cold light flashed, and with a “ding,” several hu qin strings snapped simultaneously. Music ceased—without musical accompaniment, the dancers and singers also stopped.

Xiao Yin’s face immediately became frosty as he snorted coldly: “Audacious!”

As his words fell, two figures emerged from the shadows. Hua Zhuyu felt pain behind her knees and collapsed to the ground as two bright blades pressed against her neck. Her attackers were Xiao Yin’s personal guards Qing Yun and Bi Yue. In her current state, she was definitely no match for them.

A maidservant brought another hu qin, and immediately song and dance resumed.

Waiting!

The wound on her arm, soaked by rainwater, burned painfully. The anxious fire in her heart burned even hotter. But except for waiting, she couldn’t do anything! Thoughts flashed through her mind like lightning—how could she make that man sitting in the high position smoothly let her leave?

After an unknown time, song and dance finally stopped, voices and laughter gradually faded, and the hall fell momentarily silent.

“What matter is worth making yourself look like this to see this crown prince?” Xiao Yin’s voice, deep with unknown coldness, drifted over.

Hua Zhuyu looked up, quietly gazing at Xiao Yin leaning in his chair, and said coldly: “I want to return to the Southern Dynasty!”

“It seems you’ve heard about Hua Mu’s matter. That’s the great crime of treason. If you return now, aren’t you afraid of being implicated? Do you want to rescue him? Just you—are you planning to storm the execution ground?” His narrow purple eyes squinted, flashing with cold sharpness and mockery.

“Correct!” Hua Zhuyu said firmly.

“You dare!” Xiao Yin’s expression changed as he spoke coldly, his suddenly raised voice making the room fall silent. Only candlelight continued flickering, casting warm yellow light into the room.

Liu Feng, Hui Xue, Qing Yun, and Bi Yue all held their breath and quietly stepped back. They had followed His Highness for years, always seeing him calm and composed—never witnessing him this angry.

“You’re truly a loyal servant who remembers old kindness. Oh right, this crown prince forgot—you were originally a prostitute who served Hua Mu and his generals. Unforgetting of your old lovers, so devoted you’d storm an execution ground, truly…”

“Shut up!” Hua Zhuyu suddenly looked up, her usually water-like clear eyes full of frost.

Xiao Yin paused, his lips slowly curving into a smile. Several personal guards could hardly believe their ears—their Highness had been shouted at by a servant. What stunned them more was that His Highness wasn’t angry!

“I must leave tonight! I hope you can help me!” Hua Zhuyu suppressed her anger and said coldly.

“What makes you think this crown prince would help you?” Xiao Yin sat in his chair, supporting his chin with one hand and asking coldly: “Hua Mu is my formidable enemy. I’d be delighted if he were executed—why would I help you rescue him?”

“If you help me, I’ll willingly help you in the future.”

“Ridiculous—what does this crown prince need your help with?” Xiao Yin seemed to hear a tremendous joke and raised his eyebrows.

“You do! First, your position in the Northern Dynasty isn’t stable. Second, three tribes in your northern frontier haven’t submitted—they’re your constant worry. I can help you achieve both!” During her time in the Northern Dynasty, Hua Zhuyu hadn’t wasted time—she understood the Northern Dynasty’s situation very clearly.

Xiao Yin’s mother empress died early. His father king Xiao Chong currently favored Consort Ye, who had also borne a son named Xiao Lu. Though only four or five years old, he was greatly beloved by Xiao Chong. Consort Ye’s family was a major Northern Dynasty clan with her father serving as an official. Meanwhile, Xiao Yin’s maternal grandfather’s family had died in battle years ago fighting alongside his father king. Consort Ye probably constantly schemed to eliminate Xiao Yin, while Xiao Yin surely viewed her as a thorn in his side.

Hearing Hua Zhuyu’s words, Xiao Yin stood up from his chair, quickly walked to her, and squinted as he studied the woman before him. Blood-stained clothes draped her slender body, her hair hung disheveled, and her face was spattered with blood. She looked as wretched and miserable as when he first saw her. However, her clear eyes were full of firm, compelling light that made people unconsciously believe and follow her!

War was men’s business. Yet she, a woman, could follow Ying Shuxie and stay in Hua Mu’s army for two years. Moreover, playing qin once on the battlefield could greatly boost Southern Dynasty soldiers’ morale. Perhaps she really could help him!

“Fine! This crown prince agrees, but you must also keep your promise!” He looked down at her and said solemnly.