For a moment, the person before her seemed infinitely close to the image of the tyrant in the book.

But even tyrants aren’t born tyrants; they’re gradually driven mad by migraines.

…Migraines.

But this was destined not to be a pleasant topic. The other person was still ill, so she ultimately just said gently: “You’ve had a difficult day today.”

Xiahou Dan sipped his porridge listlessly and casually replied: “It was fine, apart from the acting I didn’t do much. Oh right,” he smiled, “I also had Yang Duojie drag out that old man from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to observe the night sky and write a memorial.”

Among the scholars from before, Yang Duojie was equal to Li Yunxi in learning and similar in temperament, both being hot-headed troublemakers. But after Xiahou Dan read articles from both of them, he discovered Yang had one advantage over Li Yunxi: his eloquence.

Li Yunxi, being straightforward, would only say what was on his mind directly. Yang Duojie, however, could quote extensively, speak with flowery eloquence, and boldly cite countless examples from heaven and earth to convince you. For anything he believed in, he could make black appear white.

So he was assigned to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Yang Duojie was quite dissatisfied with this arrangement at the time. He had entered the court to participate in governance and affairs of state, not to compile some ghost of a calendar.

Xiahou Dan convinced him with one sentence: “We are currently few in number and weak in strength, so we have no choice but to borrow power from ghosts and spirits.”

“It turned out he really could write—something about Jupiter and Saturn in conjunction, something about the northwestern Jupiter being red with horns—in short, the message was that we should make peace, and continuing to fight would lead to a crushing defeat. Very intimidating; even some from the Empress Dowager’s faction were frightened.”

Yu Wanyin smiled: “It sounds like everything’s going smoothly. Now we just wait for the envoy delegation.”

Xiahou Dan: “…It’s not that simple.”

He fumbled beside his pillow and handed Yu Wanyin a letter: “This is from Wang Zhao. It arrived almost simultaneously with the letter from Yan, and the content is somewhat strange.”

Wang Zhao’s handwriting was dense and sloppy as if written in haste.

After entering Yan, he conducted an investigation and found the situation largely as rumored: Yan King Zha Lue Wahan and his nephew Tu’er were in a tense relationship, neither submitting to the other. Tu’er was young and strong, more popular among the people; the one-eyed Yan King, unwilling to relinquish power, was getting cozy with the Queen of the neighboring Qiang state. Though Qiang was small and weak, they were skilled with poisons. When it came to underhanded tactics, they gave the brute-force Yan people quite a headache, so the Yan King used this to consolidate his position.

Previously, Great Xia had pushed them back three hundred li in one stroke, driving them out of Yumen Pass. The Yan King, gradually aging, felt his strength failing after this defeat and began to sue for peace. Tu’er, on the other hand, was ambitious and an uncompromising war hawk.

Xiahou Dan hadn’t placed all his hopes on peace talks. His previous instructions to Wang Zhao were: if he couldn’t facilitate peace talks, then stir up trouble and try to instigate internal strife in Yan. This way, when the drought years came, Yan would be too preoccupied with its problems to have the resources to take advantage of Great Xia’s troubles.

The result was even more ideal than he had anticipated—the Yan King agreed to send envoys.

But Wang Zhao felt inexplicably uneasy.

In his letter, he pointed out that the conflict between the Yan King and Tu’er had already reached a boiling point, to the degree that one mountain could not contain two tigers. But regarding this diplomatic mission, Tu’er surprisingly hadn’t voiced loud opposition. Given this man’s fierce temperament, such silence was highly unusual.

He was now departing with the Yan envoy delegation but worried about possible ambushes along the way. Therefore, he sent this letter ahead to warn Xiahou Dan to be prepared with support.

Xiahou Dan: “What do you think?”

Yu Wanyin shook her head: “This plot isn’t in the script anymore; I can’t offer much advice.”

“No matter, we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Yu Wanyin sighed. Having departed from the original script, she felt empty and without guidance, always feeling that something would happen. But having come this far, with everyone relying on their true abilities to battle wits and courage, how much value could she add?

“Stop talking; Daner, you’re not allowed to use your brain anymore today.” Bei Zhou brought over a wooden tray with several small dishes and handed Xiahou Dan a cup of warm water. Yu Wanyin was sent to eat on the side, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Xiahou Dan take two medicinal pills.

She asked in surprise: “A Bai found medicine so quickly? Is it effective?” How could they treat it without even diagnosing the condition?

Xiahou Dan paused, then replied vaguely: “It’s not very effective, just treating a dead horse as if it were alive.”

“Don’t take random medicine. What if it makes things worse…”

Bei Zhou: “It’s fine, I’ve tested it.”

It has already worsened, Xiahou Dan thought.

In truth, whether he took medicine or not, whatever medicine he took, it wouldn’t stop these headaches from intensifying year by year.

From occasional, slightly annoying dull pain, it had gradually transformed into a persistent, nail-driving-into-the-brain torture.

Most of the time, he endured it without showing any change in expression.

But there were always times when he couldn’t endure. Fortunately, his public persona was that of a tyrant, so if he suddenly lost his temper and smashed a bowl, no one would find it strange.

Later, such moments became more and more frequent.

And later still… he gradually couldn’t distinguish whether he was still acting or not.

Until that day.

Xie Yong’er persisted, again trying to seduce Xiahou Dan several times, but without success.

She dressed more alluringly with each passing day, but her expression grew more withered day by day.

Before long, it was the first day of the month again, when all the consorts went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. They all kept their heads lowered obediently—everyone knew the Empress Dowager was in a foul mood lately, and no one wanted to provoke her.

As a result, when the Empress Dowager saw this funeral-like atmosphere, she became even more furious.

She couldn’t defeat Duke Duan and couldn’t prevent the Yan people from sending envoys for peace talks.

As soon as the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s memorial was written, she received word and immediately summoned those old men, pressuring and enticing them to suppress the memorial.

The old men left, nodding and agreeing, but at the next morning’s court session, the memorial was read aloud without a single word changed.

She flew into a rage and summoned Xiahou Dan directly, scolding him for being short-sighted in negotiating with tigers, and for being unfilial and disloyal by defying her wishes and submitting to Duke Duan.

Xiahou Dan asked in surprise: “So Mother Empress’s meaning is that to prevent Duke Duan from getting his way, we should resume the war and let the central army be dragged to death?”

The Empress Dowager’s eyebrows shot up in anger: “The Emperor has learned some skills!”

Xiahou Dan wore a face of complete indifference: “Thank you for the compliment, Mother Empress.”

The Empress Dowager hated him to the point of grinding her silver teeth.

She even began to miss Yu Wanyin. When Yu Wanyin had the exclusive favor of the Emperor, she was such a useful weak point—she only had to slightly threaten that girl, and Xiahou Dan would obey.

Now that Yu Wanyin had entered the Cold Palace, who else could she use?

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and said softly: “That Consort Xie has been too conspicuous lately, too eye-catching. I’d like to discipline her.”

Xiahou Dan: “?”

Xiahou Dan: “Please do as you wish.”

Just thinking about this made the Empress Dowager’s fingernails dig marks into her palm.

She glanced at Xie Yong’er and picked on her: “Why does Consort Xie look so repressed when seeing me?”

Xie Yong’er was startled, hurriedly saying: “Please calm your anger, Mother Empress. Yong’er… Yong’er was just feeling a bit unwell.”

Empress Dowager: “Oh? Where are you unwell? Tell me.”

Xie Yong’er muttered a few words.

The Empress Dowager hadn’t heard clearly when suddenly Xie’s expression changed. She abruptly stood up, rushed to the side, bent over, and with a “wa” sound, vomited.

The Empress Dowager’s brows twitched, revealing a hint of surprise.

Xie Yong’er vomited everything she could, then continued dry heaving repeatedly, unable to stop for a long time. With tears in her eyes, she could only kneel to beg for mercy.

The Empress Dowager, finding the sight offensive, frowned and waved her hand: “Help her go rest.”

After all the consorts had withdrawn, the Empress Dowager remained seated motionless, leisurely picking up a longan from the fruit platter and eating it.

She asked softly: “Wasn’t she given the contraceptive soup before?”

There were no secrets in the imperial harem. Xie Yong’er’s morning vomiting episode was common knowledge by noon. By nightfall, even Yu Wanyin in the Cold Palace had heard about it—Xiahou Dan was the one who shared this gossip with her.

Yu Wanyin’s eyelid twitched: “Do you know what this usually means?”

“Pregnancy?” Xiahou Dan shook his head, “That’s what everyone’s saying now, but I never touched her.”

Yu Wanyin’s expression became complicated.

Xiahou Dan realized: “…Ah.”

Yu Wanyin patted him.

“So recently when she sees me and pounces like a hungry tiger, it was to make me an unwitting father?”

This wording successfully hit Yu Wanyin’s funny bone. She tried to hold back her laughter and sympathetically said: “That’s probably it.”

Xiahou Dan asked in confusion: “But she drank the contraceptive soup, right in front of me, a whole cup.”

“That cup of tea contained not only contraceptive medicine but also a mind-befuddling drug. Perhaps the drug properties conflicted and partially cancel each other out. Besides, Xie Yong’er is the chosen one, exceptionally gifted. In the original work, despite the oppression from the Empress Dowager and various harem factions, she stubbornly became pregnant—by the way, the child wasn’t yours either.”

“Whose was it?”

Yu Wanyin patted him again.

Xiahou Dan was speechless: “I can’t believe Duke Duan would be so reckless. I overestimated him.”

“Well, she had taken the contraceptive soup, so both sides felt safe. He might have thought that even if she did get pregnant, he could pass it off as yours. After all, who could have imagined that you would… remain so chaste, not even allowing anyone to touch you.”

Recalling Xiahou Dan’s “I-dream-of-killing” expression when he had awakened startled, her smile couldn’t help but carry a hint of teasing.

But then remembering how he had politely declined Xie Yong’er, she felt a secret joy.

She was a grown adult from modern society, not bad-looking, and had dated before arriving in this world. Since Xiahou Dan had previously been an actor, in an industry full of romantic entanglements, the possibility of him having always been single was even lower.

She didn’t mind the existence of exes. But having exes was one thing; becoming an emperor and conveniently embracing a harem was another matter.

The former was still in the realm of relationships; the latter was almost on a moral level.

Before, she hadn’t succumbed to love-brain, so she hadn’t paid particular attention.

Now she had downgraded herself. She despised herself.

Xiahou Dan said calmly: “I don’t like her anyway.”

“I can see that. You’re quite the gentleman—truly a breath of fresh air in this man-eating imperial palace.” Yu Wanyin half-jokingly praised him.

But she didn’t receive the expected response.

She looked up in surprise, just in time to catch Xiahou Dan lowering his eyelids. He seemed to delay half a beat before smiling: “Thank you for the compliment. I think so too.”

Yu Wanyin was momentarily stunned.

In front of her, Xiahou Dan rarely showed such a false smile.

After half a month of maneuvering by all parties, the Empress Dowager, perhaps not wanting to be seen as disregarding the bigger picture, finally relented and agreed to allow the Yan envoys to enter the court for New Year greetings.

As autumn deepened, the Ministry of Rites had already begun preparations for the winter Millennium Festival.

The Millennium Festival was the Emperor’s birthday, which should, in principle, be a national celebration. But after that scene at the treasury gates, Xiahou Dan had seized the opportunity to propose frugal governance. Since building the Empress Dowager’s mausoleum had cost enormously this year, his birthday banquet would be simplified in every way.

When this news spread among the common people, along with several policies implemented this year, Xiahou Dan’s reputation greatly improved—as for how the Empress Dowager reacted to being subtly criticized by him, that remained unknown.

But regardless of how simplified it was, the celebratory banquet was unavoidable. This year, in addition to court officials, envoys from several neighboring small countries were arranged to attend and present gifts.

The Ministry of Rites was bustling with activity, and consequently, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau also had much more work.

Yang Duojie was overwhelmed.

As a newly entered low-level clerk in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, he was naturally assigned the most exhausting tasks—rushing between two places daily, coordinating with the Ministry of Rites to determine auspicious times, object placements, and ceremonial sequences.

What dissatisfied him most was that this work created no actual value; it was all about keeping up appearances.

Like Li Yunxi, Yang Duojie valued practical work and deeply despised these excessive, formalistic rituals. While he eloquently provided eight different justifications for a meal time, internally he was suffering terribly and even began to question whether entering the court had been worthwhile.

Under these circumstances, Xiahou Dan still ordered during a small group meeting: “Official Yang, please try to participate when the Ministry of Rites designs the reception procedure for the Yan envoys.”

Yang Duojie completely balked.

His way of balking was more artistic than Li Yunxi’s: “Your Majesty, if the Yan come with ill intentions, no matter how meticulously we receive them, I’m afraid we cannot change their minds.”

Xiahou Dan expressionlessly placed a letter on the table: “This was sent by Wang Zhao shortly before the envoy team departed and only received a few days ago.”

Everyone was shocked after reading it.

Wang Zhao indicated that he had temporarily changed his plans and would no longer return to Great Xia with the envoy team. The reason was that the Yan King was hospitable and repeatedly invited him to stay longer to enhance the friendship between the two countries.

Er Lan: “Brother Wang, he…”

Xiahou Dan: “There is no other news.”

The emperor and his officials looked at each other, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Anyone with a brain could sense something fishy.

Yang Duojie struggled: “Even in war, we don’t kill envoys. For Yan to not send Brother Wang back, could it be that he has already…”

But Xiahou Dan was calm: “We never expected them to have good intentions. Soldiers block soldiers, earth blocks water—we’re not entirely unprepared on our side. That’s why you must participate in receiving them, so you can act accordingly when the time comes.”

The chief palace maid beside the Empress Dowager closely observed Xie Yong’er for a period and reported: “Consort Xie behaves as usual and hasn’t vomited again in public. But she’s very alert. I tried several times to deliver abortifacient medicine, but perhaps the smell was off—she poured them all out directly.”

The Empress Dowager snorted coldly.

The chief palace maid quickly knelt: “The contraceptive soup was personally delivered by this servant. It’s said Xie Yong’er had a strong reaction after drinking it. Having drunk it, there shouldn’t have been any mishap. Consort Xie may not necessarily be pregnant…”

“Oh?”

The chief palace maid lowered her voice: “His Majesty’s bedroom affairs have always been… Otherwise, back then, the little Crown Prince wouldn’t have been so rare.”

The Empress Dowager, reminded of something, gave a scornful laugh: “Useless thing.”

The chief palace maid laughed along, crawling over to peel longans for her: “Sigh, His Majesty was frightened by that assassin beauty, and probably since then… hehe… has had some difficulties.”

The Empress Dowager picked up the plump fruit flesh: “What do you know? He knows he’s just a puppet. He doesn’t obey, so I want a smaller, more obedient puppet. With a little Crown Prince, he loses his value.”

The chief palace maid said in surprise: “Master means to say His Majesty has been acting from the beginning?”

The Empress Dowager said coldly: “Acting or not acting, what difference does it make? He still has to obey my arrangements. Hmph, after being a discarded pawn for so many years, in the end, he thinks his wings have finally hardened, daring to oppose me?”

She bit into a longan, juice splattering: “Peace talks? I’ll let you negotiate until heaven collapses and earth cracks.”