Li Zhaoting rushed over extremely quickly.

But someone was faster.

He frowned looking at the black boots in front of him.

“Your Majesty, are you going to kill this ‘bastard child’ as well?” Sang Zhan’s voice blocked in front of the baby girl. “That day this humble citizen saw that ugly consort and was curious – with such appearance, how could she still remain by Your Majesty’s side? When I asked Chancellor Quan, he said she was Your Majesty’s former fiancée, that Your Majesty had privately dissolved the engagement.”

If Li Zhaoting had paid attention now, he would have noticed the other’s voice was not at all the attitude of a subject addressing the Son of Heaven – austere and cold as frost. If he had looked up, he would have seen the arrow-like murderous gleam in the other’s eyes and the killing intent that flashed by.

But his mind wasn’t on that.

After a slight shock, he walked to the doorway and commanded: “Have the imperial kitchen prepare some rice soup, summon several palace governesses, and immediately send people outside the palace to find several wet nurses.”

Si Lanfeng let it pass, but Liang Song and Xiao Si, listening, opened their mouths in shock. The old eunuch dared not make a scene, then quickly gave orders.

Li Zhaoting returned, his expression dark and uncertain: “I will keep this bastard child. Killing her easily would be too cheap…”

His voice suddenly stopped.

Ahead, Sang Zhan was holding the child up, somewhat flustered. The child was also soaked through – this was because Li Zhaoting had earlier carried her through the rain, not allowing others to hold umbrellas.

The child suffered from cold but was extremely well-behaved, having endured for so long before starting to cry.

But strangely, in an unfamiliar man’s inexpert embrace, she quickly quieted down, sucking her mouth and staring fixedly at him with round, dark eyes – so adorable.

Sang Zhan’s brow furrowed more tightly. He put her down again, quickly removed his outer robe and spread it on the couch, then stripped off her soaked, cold outer wrapping and garments.

The child wriggled her white, tender body. Sang Zhan, fearing she’d catch cold, quickly wrapped her up tightly.

The little thing looked at him and smiled with her toothless mouth.

Sang Zhan was about to pick her up when Li Zhaoting said coldly: “Young Master Sang is truly kindhearted. You may go first. Court matters… I’ll summon you later. Thank you for accompanying me in conversation today.”

Sang Zhan lowered his eyes slightly for a moment. He suddenly asked something. Li Zhaoting paused, replied quietly, and finally Sang Zhan looked deeply at the child once more, put her down again, said “Take care, Your Majesty” and took his leave.

When he reached outside the hall, he said something quietly. Li Zhaoting didn’t notice, and he didn’t repeat it.

The hall doors closed. Li Zhaoting walked over and slowly picked up the child.

But soon she cried “wah” again. His face tensed – he wanted to throw her to the ground!

But in the end, he slowly stayed his hand.

He thought it was because his body was too damp, so he walked to the bed and changed into clean casual clothes.

“Your Majesty, the wine is ready. Should this servant bring it in now?” At this time, Xiao Si’s timid voice came from outside the door.

He replied coldly: “No need, take it away.”

“Yes.” Outside, Xiao Si said furtively and fell silent.

He walked back to the couch, looking at the child. The child seemed either to dislike him or was tired from playing, her eyes half-closed, ignoring him. Li Zhaoting stared at her, his gaze constantly changing – sometimes fierce, sometimes murderous.

Sang Zhan’s outer robe around the child suddenly came loose. Feeling irritated, he unconsciously reached over. The child suddenly grasped one of his fingers, opened her eyes, and suddenly giggled. He couldn’t help being stunned.

“Your Majesty, they’ve arrived—”

Just as he was thinking of picking up this little devil, Liang Song reported outside the door.

He quickly withdrew his hand and had them enter.

The three palace governesses naturally knew nothing of the morning’s palace secrets. They all paid respects to Li Zhaoting, then secretly glanced at the child on the couch, all extremely surprised. This… the Empress and talented lady were also recently pregnant – how could there suddenly be another baby in the palace!

Moreover, this child wore coarse cloth clothing, not resembling any imperial relative’s offspring.

Of course, too many palace matters had no answers. Everyone looked but kept their mouths shut until they heard the Emperor say indifferently: “Tell me about feeding matters. Also, from today, you three will take turns on duty outside…”

…

Half an hour later, Xiao Si brought in rice soup made from fine meat broth prepared by the imperial kitchen. He stole a glance at Li Zhaoting, not daring to say anything this time. Li Zhaoting rather clumsily held the child with one hand, glanced at the rice soup on the table. A governess, reading his expression, immediately brought it over. She was also clever, scooping out half a spoonful, blowing on it before offering it, not presuming to feed the child herself…

The child seemed hungry, immediately looking over. Li Zhaoting took it, about to bring the spoon to her mouth when suddenly his hand and leg warmed – something flowing down. His expression changed, and a governess couldn’t help laughing “pft,” then immediately knelt in fright, repeatedly saying: “Your Majesty, forgive me…”

Liquid flowed down his robes… Li Zhaoting’s face was iron-blue, but the child laughed happily, kicking her legs toward him.

Sang Zhan didn’t immediately leave the palace. He first returned to his quarters. Upon entering, he threw several heavy punches at the wall, his hands bloody and torn yet seeming unaware, then slowly sat down, covering his face with his hands.

After an unknown time, he finally slowly lowered his hands, his eyes completely red. He turned aside, picked up the wooden carving from beside the pillow, held it to his chest, his five fingers gripping until they turned white.

After a while, he placed the carving back beside the pillow, carefully covering it with the quilt as if she needed to rest and sleep. He rose to grind ink, wrote two letters, casually found an outer robe to put on, then hurried out of the palace.

Reaching the inn, he gave the letters to Aqi and the others, instructing them to send them out immediately. He then went to purchase some fine wood.

At evening, Hong Xiao had Xiao Sishan invite Li Zhaoting to dine with her.

Xiao Sishan reported that the Emperor said he was still recuperating and wouldn’t come, telling the Empress to take good care of herself and the dragon heir.

Mei’er was very disappointed, but Hong Xiao said indifferently: “Expected. He always needs time to calm down.”

She was about to order the meal served when palace servants reported Sang Zhan requesting an audience.

She was startled, then said: “Admit him.”

When Sang Zhan entered, she invited him to sit, ordered tea served, and asked with a slight smile: “Young Master probably also wouldn’t visit without cause.”

Sang Zhan rose, bowed with both hands: “Your Majesty is perceptive. This humble citizen indeed has an unreasonable request, hoping Your Majesty will help.”

“Oh?” Hong Xiao was somewhat surprised. Sang Zhan gave the impression of someone who wouldn’t ask others for favors, but since he had approached her, she was inwardly pleased, though she said deliberately: “Young Master is favored by the Emperor – what could you possibly need to request from this palace? Are you jesting with me?”

Sang Zhan smiled bitterly: “This humble citizen is of lowly status – how would I dare jest with the Empress? I truly wouldn’t dare trouble Your Majesty, but when I sought audience with the Emperor today, His Majesty’s spirits weren’t good, giving no response to my words. I didn’t dare ask further, so boldly come to request Your Majesty’s help.”

Hong Xiao, seeing his slight frown and fearing his displeasure, said gently: “Though Young Master often keeps people at arm’s length, this palace feels… an immediate kinship with you. Please speak.”

“Thank Your Majesty. Sang Zhan still has several household servants outside, all who have never left my side since childhood. I hope to bring them into the palace.”

Hong Xiao smiled slightly: “Young Master isn’t accustomed to palace servants, understandably. As a clan leader, you should have people attending you.”

Sang Zhan lowered his eyes: “Your Majesty overstates – this humble citizen is merely a commoner. How would I dare command palace servants?”

Hong Xiao, seeing his humility, was reminded somewhat of Li Zhaoting of old, and in a trance recalled another person, her heart mixing love and hate. After a long moment, she slowly said: “Mei’er, fetch my phoenix seal from over there.”

Mei’er responded, walked to the dressing table, opened one of the drawers, and took out a jewel-encrusted cosmetic box.

She pressed several gems, and only then did the lid spring open – it had a mechanism. If operated incorrectly, not only might there be arrows or poison inside, but it would probably never open.

Xiao Sishan personally prepared paper and ink for Hong Xiao. She wrote two lines, stamped it with the seal, and handed it over. Sang Zhan’s lips curved slightly as he immediately expressed gratitude, his eyebrows carrying gentle winds, his features deep and serene. Hong Xiao couldn’t help feeling momentarily lost.

“Your Majesty acted so convincingly – the Emperor would certainly be jealous if he saw.” After the guest left, Xiao Sishan and Mei’er laughed.

But Hong Xiao’s brow half-furrowed. Even regarding her own thoughts, she suddenly couldn’t distinguish truth from falsehood.

As Sang Zhan left the Central Palace, he suddenly looked back once, his gaze no longer holding any trace of the previous moment’s demeanor – dark as pitch-black cold night.

The next day, Hong Xiao again welcomed this guest’s visit.

Sang Zhan also brought several servants.

Anu respectfully presented several boxes, saying: “Your Majesty, these are what my master asked me to bring, just…”

She stole a glance at Hong Xiao, seeming somewhat embarrassed. Hong Xiao narrowed her eyes: “Just what?”

She looked at Sang Zhan.

“Just that Sang Zhan’s clan also suffered disaster previously, with finances tight. Though we selected with utmost care, what we brought isn’t precious – Your Majesty might find it laughable.” Sang Zhan said slowly.

These words “selected with utmost care” pleased Hong Xiao. Having lived in luxury for years, she naturally lacked nothing, but still lowered her head for a look.

“There’s almond tofu, mung bean cake, and lotus root starch osmanthus cake…” Anu explained beside them, laughing: “This lotus root starch osmanthus cake is delicious – Young Master loves it most. This servant only tasted it once in the capital – we don’t have these where we’re from.”

Hearing this, Hong Xiao froze. This lotus root starch osmanthus cake was her and Lian Yu’s favorite – she used to make it for him often.

Anu, being lively by nature and unafraid of strangers, added: “Pity this servant can’t make it, otherwise I could make it for Master often.”

Hong Xiao, remembering past events, smiled self-mockingly: “This palace knows how, and makes it quite well. Even the Emperor… enjoys it.”

Anu immediately exclaimed excitedly: “Your Majesty, could you teach this servant how to make it?”

The next section has another major turning point, involving Lian and Su… and also… Sachima