He spoke lightly and strode forward.

Si Lanfeng didn’t dare neglect and led the imperial guards to follow.

Following behind, he felt Li Zhaoting seemed to walk aimlessly, yet also seemed to be heading somewhere. When they reached the imperial garden, they saw lights blazing in one area with several palace maids gathered in a circle around someone.

It seemed to be a palace concubine, and they could vaguely see her bending over, apparently doing something.

“Who? Who’s there!”

Li Zhaoting didn’t look and was about to leave when one of the palace maids with sharp eyes discovered them.

“Your Majesty… it’s Your Majesty… Greetings to Your Majesty.”

After one voice, the others all hurriedly paid respects, and the concubine’s figure also became visible.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yin’er?” Following her soft call, Li Zhaoting also recognized who it was and immediately stopped, turning to support her.

Miao Yin’s face was deathly pale. Li Zhaoting’s brow immediately furrowed as he asked with concern, “Where do you feel unwell? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”

This woman was naturally Miao Yin. Before she could speak, Fifteen beside her said, “Replying to Your Majesty, Master had a nightmare and felt nauseous and dizzy, so she came out for a walk.”

Li Zhaoting’s brows knitted severely. “Why wasn’t the imperial physician summoned?”

Miao Yin shook her head. “It’s nothing serious, just a nightmare. Why make a big fuss?”

“Today is different from before. You’re pregnant.”

“Lanfeng, have someone summon the imperial physician.”

“Yes.”

“Your Majesty only cares about the child.” Miao Yin laughingly scolded.

“You know whom I care about.” Li Zhaoting drew her into his embrace and spoke slowly.

“I’ll accompany you back. The physician will arrive shortly. What nightmare did you have? Tell me.”

“I dreamed… someone wanted to harm this child…” After a long while, Miao Yin finally said quietly.

Seeing Li Zhaoting lower his eyes without speaking, she forced a smile and said, “Living long in the deep palace, I’ve become overly suspicious and troubled you.”

Li Zhaoting looked up. “No, such concerns are correct. Since ancient times, harem struggles exist only because emperors don’t manage them, whether unintentionally or deliberately. But with me, I know what I’m doing.”

“Rest assured. No one can harm this child, or you.”

He tucked her loose hair behind her ear, his gaze dark and sharp as a blade, so powerful that Miao Yin felt most of her fear disappear, and even tonight’s slight bitterness about his favoring Wei Wuxia gradually vanished completely.

She once thought that Feng Suzhen’s death would leave an unfathomable yet infinitely deep scar on his heart.

After all, that day when she fell to the ground, his eyes instantly turned gray. She could only think of one phrase at the time: heart like dead ashes.

It’s just that he regained composure not long after laying Feng Suzhen to rest. Perhaps this was ultimately a woman who had betrayed him.

Instead, Gu Xiluo… seemed to have affected him more severely. She still remembered the day when Lian Yu returned from the dead and stormed the palace to take Feng Suzhen’s body away – though he and Gu Xiluo exchanged only a few brief words… that day, he was particularly pained.

It couldn’t possibly be for a mere corpse.

But in any case, Gu Xiluo was already in the cold palace.

And she, in his heart, even if she had never amazed the years, would at least bring gentleness to this life.

She smiled slightly in her heart and suddenly remembered something. “Your Majesty.”

“Mm?” Li Zhaoting stopped walking.

“Your Majesty, why were you also out in the middle of the night?” she asked with considerable curiosity.

“Couldn’t sleep, just came out for a walk.” Li Zhaoting paused slightly upon hearing this, then replied softly.

Miao Yin nodded, and the two turned to other topics. But Si Lanfeng noticed that Li Zhaoting’s peripheral vision seemed to vaguely sweep toward a certain direction.

That seemed to be the direction of the cold palace?

The next day, at the Quan residence.

Quan Feitong had just returned from court when the steward approached with a peculiar expression.

“What is it?”

Quan Feitong laughed dryly.

“General Chao sent someone to deliver a gift.” The steward said hesitantly.

“Oh?” Quan Feitong touched his nose. “What gift is so mysterious?”

“Alright, no need to explain. I’ll see for myself. Where is it?”

“Not knowing if the Prime Minister would like it, we didn’t dare take it inside. It’s placed in the front.”

“Very well.” Quan Feitong laughed heartily and nodded.

Indeed, something was placed in the front courtyard.

To be precise, it was a person.

A woman.

In white robes, graceful, standing with her back to him, apparently gazing at the nearby rockery and pond. Judging from her elegantly curved figure, her appearance should be quite good.

Hearing footsteps, the woman’s form moved slightly.

“I thought it was something else – just a woman. This Prime Minister has received plenty before.”

Quan Feitong’s tone was languid as he commanded lightly, “Turn around.”

The woman slowly turned.

The moment they faced each other, Quan Feitong’s expression froze slightly, and he spoke coldly, “Send her out of the residence.”

“Yes!”

Seeing he seemed angered, the steward was startled and quickly agreed. Just as he was about to step forward to lead the person away, he saw Quan Feitong staring at her and saying, “Never mind, let her stay first.”

Three days later.

This day, the city wall guards from top to bottom, inside and out, were all more tense and cautious than usual.

In the cold wind mixed with snow, a yellow robe fluttered and snapped.

The person in front slowly turned to face everyone and said, “You must all be cautious and strengthen defenses.”

“We subjects respectfully follow Your Majesty’s orders.”

The generals bowed their heads in response.

Since the beginning of last month, the emperor had been extremely strict about military affairs. It was said that remnants of the previous dynasty were secretly planning an imminent attack. Though they posed no real threat, one couldn’t be careless!

“Thank you all for your hard work. In the future, I will certainly reward you.”

Though the emperor’s words were light, they were firm and powerful. Seeing that matters had been more or less arranged, everyone was waiting for the emperor to leave when someone stepped forward, smiling and saying, “Your Majesty, some new women have arrived in Swallow Lane. I hear they’re not only beautiful as flowers but skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting – nothing they don’t know. They excel at opera, singing, acting, and fighting – all masterfully done. Your Majesty toils for state affairs. Why not accompany this humble officer there to relax?”

Swallow Lane was a pleasure district. Unlike ordinary rouge quarters, it was famous for women who combined talent and beauty.

Normally, an emperor seeking pleasure among the people wasn’t unusual, and no one dared object. But Li Zhaoting had no interest in such pursuits. Not to mention outside – even in the palace, reportedly only a few concubines could previously enjoy his favor. Last month, the long-favored empress somehow angered the dragon and was confined to the cold palace for reflection. Now, aside from the Wei and Miao palaces, he visited no other concubines’ chambers – whether from heartbreak over the deeply loved empress or some other reason.

This captain was one of Chao Huang’s men, promoted from local positions, unfamiliar with capital customs. This flattery truly hit the horse’s rear end!

The generals secretly shook their heads, Wei faction officers secretly laughed. Just as Chao Huang had stepped away on business with no one to warn him, Li Zhaoting’s face turned iron-blue, increasingly ugly.

Si Lanfeng nearby couldn’t bear to listen and was considering whether to speak up to save a life when the captain became more excited, “This humble officer heard that even Prime Minister Quan took one back to his residence – droopy eyes, flat nose, half a face of freckles, hardly superior looks, yet he’s absolutely delighted. You see, this romance…”

At the Quan residence.

In the garden’s grand chair, Quan Feitong lay lazily on a woman’s lap. The woman smiled at the corners of her mouth, her slender hands plucking at strings, creating a scene of tranquil intimacy. The residence hadn’t seen women coming and going for a long time. Since General Chao sent the musician into the residence, this master had shown rare good spirits. Seeing how he quite favored this girl, sometimes even stealing a kiss – every movement charmingly alluring – the servants serving tea didn’t dare approach, standing far away, afraid to spoil their master’s mood.

“Master, there’s a guest… requesting audience.”

Suddenly, a discordant note appeared in the music. The woman looked up startled, but skillfully didn’t break the melody. Quan Feitong glanced over with cold disinterest, seeing the steward trotting over with another peculiar expression.

“Not receiving visitors.” He waved dismissively.

“Master, this person you’ll want to see – you definitely must see.” The steward said carefully.

Quan Feitong scoffed, “This is truly laughable. Even the current emperor must wait to see if this Prime Minister is in the mood. There’s still someone I must see?”

This wasn’t false. The steward dared not play coy anymore. “Master, this person is none other than—”

“Beauty in my arms makes it hard to receive visitors. Since the Prime Minister won’t see me, I’ll have to return another day to pay my respects.”

A head popped out from behind a distant tree, saying with a grin.

Quan Feitong was momentarily stunned, his head tilting back. After a long while, he finally squeezed out four words from his throat: “This Prime Minister is free.”

He added, “All of you withdraw.”

The musician hesitated somewhat, asking, “Master, must this slave also withdraw—”

“What do you think?” Quan Feitong narrowed his eyes in return.

The musician was startled and immediately rose to pack her instrument. From the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help stealing half a glance toward the visitor. This young man’s appearance was somewhat similar to her own!

Only he had scars on his cheeks and half-white hair, but his eyes sparkled with spirit.

The steward led everyone to quietly withdraw.

Quan Feitong quietly observed her for quite a while. “Why did you return to the capital?”