Imperial palace, side garden.

Huang Rang devoted herself to cultivating the Twin Serpent Fruit tree. She had never cultivated this tree outside her dreams. Now within the dream, she naturally had to expend much effort.

Di Yiqiu never came, and even Li Lu and Bai Qingyun didn’t come again. After Huang Rang waited several days, she sent Dai Yue to inquire again. But Dai Yue couldn’t see Di Yiqiu either—he wasn’t at Si Tianjian.

This day, Dai Yue once again came up empty.

Huang Rang finally couldn’t sit still any longer. She walked out of the side garden. The palace maid at the entrance saw her and quickly said, “Miss Ten, the palace is heavily restricted. One cannot walk about freely. Where are you going?”

Huang Rang was also very amiable toward the palace maid. She slipped a piece of silver over with a smile and said, “The Twin Serpent Fruit saplings are nearly complete, but right now there’s something urgently needed. I’d trouble you to take me to find Eunuch Fu.”

If it was to find Eunuch Fu, that was naturally fine.

The palace maid accepted the silver and, finding her agreeable, also said with a beaming smile, “Since it’s urgent, then it certainly can’t be delayed. Miss Ten, please follow me.”

Huang Rang followed her, walking along the small paths lined with palace walls. Palace attendants occasionally passed by, also hurrying along with eyes straight ahead. She didn’t know the layout of this palace and naturally couldn’t distinguish where she had already traveled.

But right now, to learn Di Yiqiu’s whereabouts, she probably could only personally go ask Shi Wenyu. She didn’t want to see Shi Wenyu. To monopolize power, Shi Wenyu could remove his own flesh and blood from the imperial registry one by one. For longevity, he could inject his own flesh and blood with Hui Snake blood.

Such a person—who would want to seek an audience with him?

But Huang Rang had to see him.

Even if she was now as weak and small as an ant, no matter what, she had to try.

After all, outside her dreams, she owed him some debt of gratitude. How could she stand by and watch?

Huang Rang quickened her pace, hurrying forward anxiously.

At this time, at Yuanrong Tower.

Di Yiqiu had finished weaving five hundred pearl strings. In the small prison cell, candlelight flowed and scattered across the coral beads. He stared at these pearl strings, then looked at his own purple-black hands. His fingernails had all turned pitch black, swollen as if about to fester. He said, “Eunuch Lu.”

Outside the door, Eunuch Lu, who was guarding while dozing by candlelight, suddenly jerked awake and said, “Jianzheng?”

Di Yiqiu said, “These clothes are constricting me.”

“Oh… oh.” Eunuch Lu quickly said, “That’s true. The Jianzheng has been severely swollen recently. These clothes must not fit anymore. Take them off first, and this old servant will find you a looser robe.”

That’s what he said, but how could Di Yiqiu’s official robes still come off?

They were stretched tight on his body like another layer of skin.

Eunuch Lu found a black robe and brought it over. Having no other option, he had to find scissors to help him cut it open. With the sound of scissors cutting through fabric, the skin beneath Di Yiqiu’s clothing was also fully revealed. That purple-black skin that seemed soaked in blood—where was there even half a trace of humanity left?

The snake scales curved and wound, hideously shocking to behold.

Di Yiqiu stared at the fine scales covering his entire body, then his gaze was drawn to the scissors. Those scissors were small and not very sharp. But when candlelight fell upon them, the gleaming points scattered finely.

Eunuch Lu bent his head, cutting the robes for him. He suddenly said, “Eunuch Lu, these pearl strings—I trouble you to deliver them to Miss Huang Rang.”

“Huang…” Eunuch Lu couldn’t recall this person for a moment, but quickly came to his senses. He said, “Miss Ten? Very well, Jianzheng, rest ass—”

Before the word “assured” could leave his mouth, Di Yiqiu suddenly delivered a hand chop, knocking him unconscious to the ground. As Eunuch Lu fell, he still gripped those scissors. Di Yiqiu extended his hand and tremblingly grasped the scissors.

He had shackles on both his hands and feet. These shackles were complex—in his current condition, it was simply impossible to open them. But now, he had a pair of scissors.

Days of suffering and mania all erupted at this moment. Must get out, leave this place!

He gripped those scissors, trembling as he worked on the shackles on his wrists. The shackles had nine layers of locks inside, requiring a specially made key to open. Di Yiqiu laboriously took the scissors apart into two pieces, then used one half to grind the other half.

His hands were trembling. His body hurt—he didn’t know where it hurt. He felt himself rotting. But his hands still carved frantically. A voice seemed to sound in his ears, repeating over and over—leave this place.

Such a complex key, yet his grinding and carving took only half a quarter-hour.

His breathing was frantic, his eyes seemingly unable to see clearly. But that crude key still inserted into the keyhole. He gently turned this half scissor, his mind a complete chaos, thinking of nothing.

Yet his hands seemed to have their own thoughts.

With a click, the shackle opened. Di Yiqiu’s breathing gradually grew rapid. He used this half key to open the remaining shackles one by one. Then he suddenly charged out.

On the first floor of Yuanrong Tower, Qiu Shengbai was writing medical records, reviewing today’s medicine usage. Suddenly a black shadow charged up from the tower’s lower level. Qiu Shengbai froze. After a long while, he finally reacted and immediately shouted sternly, “Someone, quickly, someone! Stop him!”

Di Yiqiu couldn’t hear the sounds around him. Blood rushed up, and his mind was in complete chaos. He only knew to run forward but didn’t know where to go.

His official robes had been cut to tatters. His skin was swollen and purple all over, densely covered with snake scales. His hairpin had long been taken away for fear he would harm himself. His hair hung loose, and he hadn’t even put on an outer robe.

He ran barefoot through the palace paths like a wild beast, like a ghost. Just not like a person.

Qiu Shengbai led people chasing behind him, but he was merely a physician—how could he have such strength? He ran too urgently and fell to the ground. He could only shout sternly, “Quickly catch him! When the poison flares up, he must rest quietly. Otherwise, if his blood flows backward and the poison attacks his heart, he will surely go completely mad and die from exhaustion!”

Hearing this, everyone could only chase. But Di Yiqiu at this moment possessed tremendous strength, and the guards didn’t dare hurt him—how could they catch him?

He had completely lost his sense of direction, his mind deranged, only running chaotically through the palace. As palace attendants pursued, he made a leap and jumped over a palace wall.

Below the wall on the small path, Huang Rang was being led by a palace maid toward Eunuch Fu’s residence.

She walked urgently. Without warning, something suddenly jumped down from the wall and charged toward her. Unable to stop in time, it slammed heavily into her.

Huang Rang only felt an enormous force head-on, knocking her off balance so she sat down hard on the ground, seeing stars before her eyes. If she hadn’t practiced martial arts for several years, this blow would have been enough to seriously injure her. She rubbed her chest and said, “What thing—”

Having gotten this far, her vision cleared again.

In that April of the human world, she saw the person who had collided with her also fall to the ground. Though the tattered cloth on his body was filthy beyond measure, if one looked carefully, one could see its original base color.

…It was purple.

He was barefoot with disheveled hair, prostrate on the ground, not getting up. His tangled long hair covered his face. Huang Rang couldn’t see his expression.

She didn’t walk over. The palace maid beside her grasped her hand and said, “Miss, don’t look anymore. Let’s hurry away!”

The monster on the ground that had lost human form no longer moved. He lay quietly prostrate until palace attendants caught up and pinned him down. They used heavy shackles to lock his hands again. He didn’t struggle. From beginning to end, his entire face remained hidden beneath his disheveled hair.

Huang Rang followed the palace maid past him. He didn’t move at all, as if dead.

The palace maid said in a low voice, “That was truly terrifying!”

“Very terrifying indeed.” Huang Rang’s gaze was downcast. Passing by him, she saw his hands swollen beyond recognition, even his fingernails pitch black. How could those possibly be human hands? Huang Rang’s embroidered shoes stepped past the small path beside his hand. The palace path was clean, making that hand appear incomparably filthy, the snake scales on it even more densely packed, sending chills down one’s spine. She said softly, “I wonder who that person is.”

She followed the palace maid forward. Only after the commotion behind her grew distant did she turn slightly. Behind her, the guards had shackled that person and lifted him by both arms, dragging him away.

His bare feet—his toes had been scraped raw by the palace bricks, leaving an extremely long, thin trail of blood.

She had to use great effort to maintain her smile.

Eunuch Fu was not on duty today.

When Huang Rang entered, he was sitting idly drinking tea. Huang Rang wore a smile on her face and curtsied to him, “May Eunuch Fu be well.”

“Oh my, why has Miss Ten come?” Eunuch Fu set down his teacup and quickly said, “Has the Twin Serpent Fruit tree been successfully cultivated?”

Huang Rang smiled lightly and said, “In response to Eunuch, the Twin Serpent Fruit tree is about to take shape. The Huang family has finally not failed His Majesty. But today there is one matter that remains unresolved, and this commoner woman has no choice but to seek an audience with the Jianzheng or His Majesty.”

“Seek an audience with His Majesty?” Eunuch Fu appeared very surprised but still asked with a smile, “I wonder what matter Miss Ten has that requires an audience?”

Huang Rang took a light breath, making her voice sound no different than usual. She said, “To be frank, just one month ago, the Jianzheng traveled to Immortal Tea Town and publicly proposed to marry a woman of my Huang family. But now, with the wedding date approaching, his whereabouts are unknown. Eunuch knows that for a daughter’s family, this is a lifelong matter. Huang Rang has no choice but to ask His Majesty to make a decision. Or to see the Jianzheng and demand an explanation.”

A difficult expression flashed across Eunuch Fu’s face. Huang Rang naturally saw it. She said, “Does Eunuch have difficulties?”

“Ah.” After a long while, Eunuch Fu said, “These past days, the Jianzheng… I’m afraid cannot come to see Miss Ten. This old servant will report to His Majesty on Miss Ten’s behalf.”

Huang Rang curtsied to him, “Then I will trouble Eunuch Fu.”

Eunuch Fu had been commanded by Shi Wenyu specifically for cultivating the Twin Serpent Fruit tree. When problems occurred midway, he had already been quite fearful and anxious. Now seeing that the saplings were nearly complete, he didn’t want any more complications.

Thus he planned to report back to Shi Wenyu.

At Yuanrong Tower.

When Eunuch Fu walked in, inside was already complete chaos.

“What has happened?” Eunuch Fu’s expression grew solemn.

Qiu Shengbai was also in a terrible state. He dragged Di Yiqiu back into the prison cell at the tower’s bottom. Di Yiqiu didn’t resist. His entire person seemed drained of strength, as lifeless as an object.

Seeing him like this, Eunuch Fu was even more troubled and said, “Ah, Miss Ten just mentioned wanting to see the Jianzheng…”

“Miss Ten… isn’t she cultivating the Twin Serpent Fruit? Why does she want to see the Jianzheng?” Qiu Shengbai directed guards to lock Di Yiqiu up again and sent people to carry Eunuch Lu out. Eunuch Lu had no serious injuries and didn’t require treatment—just waiting for him to wake would suffice.

Eunuch Fu said, “I heard it’s about a marriage with a Huang family daughter. From the looks of it, I can only report to His Majesty on her behalf.”

As the two were speaking, the person before them suddenly moved. Qiu Shengbai tensed. Eunuch Fu was even more frightened and retreated several steps.

“Don’t let her see His Majesty.” Di Yiqiu’s voice was weak and powerless, barely audible.

Eunuch Fu said, “Jianzheng, you’re awake?”

He had thought Di Yiqiu in this state would surely have passed out. Di Yiqiu said again, “Don’t let her see His Majesty.”

This time Eunuch Fu heard clearly and said, “But Miss Ten is after all cultivating the Twin Serpent Fruit for His Majesty. If she’s unwilling to do her utmost, I fear…”

Di Yiqiu’s lips moved, “I… will go see her.”

Eunuch Fu was immediately very conflicted and said, “But the Jianzheng’s current appearance…” Having gotten this far, he naturally also felt it improper and quickly said, “I’m afraid with injuries and illness, catching wind and cold, going out is truly inadvisable.”

Di Yiqiu struggled to stand up. Eunuch Fu wanted to go help. Qiu Shengbai at the side quickly said, “You mustn’t.”

“Why?” Eunuch Fu asked.

Qiu Shengbai said in a low voice, “Last night, young servant Chunzi supported the Seventh Prince and had his neck bitten through by the Seventh Prince.”

Eunuch Fu shivered, knowing these people had clearly undergone great changes in temperament and couldn’t be judged by normal standards. He wanted to step forward but didn’t dare.

Di Yiqiu forced himself to stand on his own. The shackles on his hands clanged as he said, “Prepare a quiet room. I… will speak a few words with her through a curtain.”

Because his tongue was swollen, his pronunciation was also unclear. Eunuch Fu looked at Qiu Shengbai. Qiu Shengbai could only say, “Very well. But the shackles on hands and feet cannot be removed.”

Di Yiqiu, wearing these black chain shackles, walked all the way to the first floor of the tower.

He walked out the tower door. Outside there was no sun, and the light actually wasn’t strong. He hadn’t noticed in his earlier madness, but now with his mind returning, he instinctively turned his head, avoiding the light.

By this sudden daylight, he saw clearly the filth on his body. He had just captured the Hui Snake and immediately entered the palace. After these days of imprisonment and medicine testing, blood and dust had long since become one with him.

Earlier Eunuch Lu had cut open his robes. In his tattered cloth, he no longer had any human characteristics. Like a monster barely surviving in darkness, suddenly appearing in the light of day.

He stumbled into a quiet room, silent the entire way. Eunuch Fu drew a curtain for him. This cloth curtain shut out the faint daylight and also separated him from the April human world he no longer dared look directly upon.

After the curtain was drawn, Di Yiqiu sat down in the quiet room. Only then did Eunuch Fu go to invite Huang Rang.

During the interval of waiting, Qiu Shengbai still felt uneasy. He asked, “How does the Jianzheng feel?” This was naturally to test whether he was truly conscious and clear-minded. After all, he had just suffered a severe manic episode. According to precedent, he should be gradually losing consciousness and dying from exhaustion.

Why had he suddenly recovered his lucidity?

Di Yiqiu seemed to sense himself and said, “Five senses blurred, photophobic, limbs trembling beyond control. Pulse like burning fire.”

Though his pronunciation was unclear, his consciousness was very lucid. Qiu Shengbai recorded his symptoms in the medical record, wanting to ask the reason for his mental recovery but afraid of stimulating him again.

Before long, footsteps sounded outside. Di Yiqiu instinctively straightened his body. He raised his head and saw through the cloth curtain someone approaching gracefully. The distance was short, but each step seemed to tread upon his heart.

“Jianzheng, I trust you’ve been well.” Through the heavy curtain, the woman smiled and gave him a shallow curtsy. Another daughter’s courtesy. When she performed a daughter’s courtesy, it was actually very beautiful—elegant and dignified, ethereal as an immortal.

Her voice came through, as if separated by layers of obstacles. Di Yiqiu could only faintly hear the content, but he knew it also carried a smile, each word full and sweet.

He spoke each word very slowly but very clearly, “My marriage agreement with Dai Yue is hereby canceled. After you cultivate the Twin Serpent Fruit, return to Immortal Tea Town. His Majesty’s rewards will naturally be sent to the Huang family.”

Qiu Shengbai stood beside him, hearing his pronunciation much clearer than before. One could even say this tone was no different from normal times. How could he manage this?

Huang Rang stood outside the curtain, her smile rippling like spring water, “Is that so? Then the Jianzheng will have failed Dai Yue. That girl has been thinking of you these past days.”

The cloth curtain was dense—one could only vaguely see the human form behind it. The figure sat upright, still with straight posture.

Di Yiqiu’s voice said, “Miss Ten need only do what’s within her duties. Go now.”

Huang Rang said with a light smile, “The Jianzheng’s words are truly heartless. Then, we’ll meet again at next year’s spring planting season.”

Next… next year? The person behind the curtain didn’t answer for a long time.

Huang Rang thus said again, “Speaking of which, I’ve learned to brew a type of wine, made with rose fragrance, mellow and beautiful on entry. Next year at spring planting season, I’ll invite the Jianzheng to drink together. Is that acceptable?”

Wine with rose fragrance? Through the cloth curtain, Di Yiqiu gazed at that blurred figure. So beautiful—even this unclear shadow was incomparably graceful. Yet his face was swollen, his skin purple, chaotic snake scales growing wildly all over his body, his entire being suffused with a snake’s fishy stench.

He said, “Unnecessary.”

“If you won’t come, I’ll personally deliver it.” Huang Rang’s voice was like silver bells. She walked to the curtain and said softly, “If you won’t drink, I’ll personally feed you.”

This lingering, soft whisper was gentle as honey.

Di Yiqiu didn’t respond. Huang Rang made another graceful bow. She retreated several steps and looked again toward the curtain. Within the curtain was only a figure, sitting upright and unmoving, with no further words.

She turned around and walked out of this quiet room.

Human world April, flowers and trees verdant. Yet her footsteps carried the weight of a thousand pounds, making each step difficult. Even knowing this was just a dream, even knowing he would certainly turn danger into safety, how could one act as if nothing had happened?

The late spring wind came carrying cold, stirring the palm lines of time, past events crisscrossing.

Di Yiqiu, this is the second time I’ve invited you to drink.

Please… you must come.