Speaking thus, she led Tie Ci into the small building. Right in front of Tie Ci, she touched the little bird of a bronze boy statue and opened a secret passage.

The passage was simpler than imagined—it looked like an underground space with small rooms behind closed doors, some containing the crackling sounds of tool operations. The passage was pitch black without lights, with remnant light filtering down from above. Tie Ci saw something made of iron piled in a corner by the wall, looking like a monster—iron-black body, half a person’s height, indiscernible shape, somewhat crooked, most likely scrap.

She didn’t look much. Master’s underground secret chamber seemed simple, but this was her first time seeing it, indicating it was very important to Master.

She didn’t care whether other senior or junior fellow disciples had seen this place. She only knew her identity was special, and Master opening the secret chamber to her was the greatest trust.

Yun Buci stopped before the last secret room, went in to rummage around. Tie Ci stood outside the door, hearing rummaging sounds mixed with muttering like “Eh… where did I throw it… I remember it was here…” She couldn’t help but sweat.

It couldn’t be tampons, could it? Last time she heard Master mention them once, saying they were useful and being researched. When they came out, she’d give her a pack—no more troubles with jumping and tumbling during menstruation.

Tie Ci thought that thing wasn’t bad either. As Crown Princess mingling among male officials, periods were indeed troublesome. She could also give packs to good female friends.

Or perhaps the aphrodisiac Master had mentioned. Master often said life was short—earning three bushels of gold and silver daily wasn’t as good as regularly sleeping with young wolves.

Tie Ci thought she could look forward to this too.

After quite a while, Master emerged disheveled and dusty. Seeing her appearance, Tie Ci felt her expectations for the gift needn’t be too high.

Yun Buci handed over a gray cloth bundle. “Usage and maintenance methods are inside, figure it out yourself. Keep it safe normally, be careful of misfiring.”

She added: “Used it once before, now only two left. Use sparingly, don’t use unless absolutely critical.”

Tie Ci realized it was the aphrodisiac. Though she felt it unnecessary, she still thanked her and accepted it.

The thing was quite heavy, heavier than imagined. Two pills with this weight—could they have added lead?

Anyway, she wouldn’t be taking them. In the future, if she fancied someone, she’d invite them to have one.

Having given the gift, Yun Buci rubbed her hands: “Little Ci, how about a round?”

On ordinary days, Tie Ci wouldn’t mind being a money-delivery tool. She gambled with Master and senior brothers, losing nine out of ten times—not because she was stupid, but because her cunning and roguish skills weren’t enough. Today, however, she had other matters.

But she replied: “Sure, let’s call Third Senior Sister too.”

Yun Buci immediately lost interest: “Never mind then.”

When it came to money matters, Third Senior Sister recognized no family ties. No one could out-calculate her at the gambling table. As Master, being repeatedly crushed on the ground wasn’t very dignified.

Tie Ci took the opportunity to bid farewell. Yun Buci glanced at her and said slowly: “Being driven out isn’t necessarily bad. The vast world has much to offer—perhaps you’ll find your opportunity. Stay calm. Those who achieve great things in ancient times not only had extraordinary talents but also unwavering determination. Right?”

“That last sentence is quite high-level. Master has depths.”

“Of course.” Yun Buci proudly thrust out her depths.

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Considering I won’t expose your plagiarism, after I leave, please look after Father Emperor and Mother Consort.”

“Bah! Did I plagiarize? For scholars, is that called plagiarizing? Don’t you know copyright expires fifty years after death?”

“I know. It won’t be free care—daily wages calculated, set whatever price you want.”

“Put it on the tab then.”

Tie Ci tucked the gray cloth bundle into her chest and bid farewell. Seeing her movement, Yun Buci was startled and was about to warn her, but Tie Ci, afraid of gambling, had already left like the wind.

Yun Buci shouted behind her: “Be careful! Watch for misfiring—don’t kill anyone!”

Tie Ci casually waved to show she understood.

Kill someone? She’d just support them—what’s the big deal?

…

The abbot of Qingjing Temple personally escorted Tie Ci out again. The old monk didn’t treat her differently because of her status—purely because of his good relationship with Yun Buci, who called herself Master Buci. Otherwise, he wouldn’t let a nun stay in a monk temple.

But how a monk could have a good relationship with a nun, Tie Ci felt should be viewed with pure thoughts. Obviously, Master Buci was profound in Buddhist teachings.

Otherwise, how could Master have instructed her to worship Buddha at Qingjing Temple when she needed to become Crown Prince at the crucial moment when the Empress Dowager faction and small Emperor faction were at a stalemate? Then the old monk cooperated with Master to create the spectacle of iron trees blooming when she stepped from her carriage, thus achieving her Crown Princess position.

Tie Ci felt that just for Master’s sake, she must secure the imperial throne under her bottom, lest she be unable to repay the accumulated bills in the future.

Leaving Qingjing Temple, Tie Ci didn’t immediately return to the palace. Taking Dan Shuang and Chi Xue who were waiting outside the temple, she went to eat crispy duck at Jumei Tower in the capital.

This crispy duck was purely literal.

Tie Ci had a dedicated private room at Jumei Tower, reserved under Xiao Chongzi’s name. In front of her, Xiao Chongzi was Little Bug, but outside the palace, he was the widely courted Companion Long.

Companion Long dashed ahead to the private room to order food. Tie Ci followed a step behind, and passing a half-open private room door, she suddenly heard her own name.

“…That Tie Shiba is truly a woman—petty and vindictive. Just because you called off the engagement, does she need to spread rumors about you citywide like this?”

“Exactly. So what if she’s Crown Princess? We just don’t admire the imperial family! Prince Consort sounds nice, but can’t even enter court—wouldn’t that waste my versatile brother Wang? What are Tie Shiba’s intentions!”

“Women, I say, are born to support husbands and teach children, to be proper. Marry and bear children at appropriate times, manage household affairs, serve husbands, attend to parents-in-law. Ancestral rules cannot be broken—how can weak yin suppress strong yang?”

“It’s just Tie Shiba’s good luck. With no male heirs in the dynasty, the hen crows at dawn. A woman becomes Crown Princess, daily mingling among male officials—over time, inevitably becomes arrogant and deviant, wanting to compete with men. Even started holding selection ceremonies, but in the end, isn’t she slapping her own face? Look, those succession of cancellation letters—aren’t they just slapping her face with resounding smacks? Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

“Two days ago on Pixiu Street, galloping horses wore down the ground—doing what? Rushing to deliver cancellation letters!”

Wild laughter erupted in the room. Someone said: “But I hear the Crown Princess is a rare beauty—quite a pity then.”

“Bah! Before age twelve maybe, but after twelve, the Crown Princess wears iron masks for court sessions, hunts, and such. Why wear masks for no reason? Probably gradually grew ugly in that palace!”

“Never mind ugly or not—just that height isn’t flattering. A woman standing tall like a pillar, taller than men—where’s any feminine charm?”

“Right, with Brother Wang’s talent and family background, what beauties can’t he find? Why compromise himself? Brother Wang isn’t like that person—he’s gentle-natured and graciously provided a way out. I heard that Northwest Young Wolf King really cursed viciously in his cancellation letter!”

Everyone praised and complimented Wang Ran’s magnanimity. Someone asked: “Brother Wang, you must act convincingly with this leg, or if those old scholars from the Eastern Palace Administrative Bureau discover…”

Suddenly a voice said: “No fear, it’s just a broken leg.”

Everyone in the room was startled—this voice didn’t sound like the marriage-canceling Wang Ran. Turning their heads, they saw someone lifting the curtain to enter. A gentle breeze lightly lifted her hem, and everyone suddenly felt their eyes full of legs legs legs.

Those long legs smiled and nodded to everyone. The young masters thought she was someone’s friend, stunned by her bearing, and nodded back dazedly. They watched those long legs circle around twice, bypassing the crowd straight to Wang Ran sitting innermost, stopping before him. Just as Wang Ran was about to rise and bow, those long legs suddenly extended a hand—now holding an iron rod—smiled showing teeth at him, then raised the hand and brought down the rod.

Crack! The crisp sound of bone breaking.

Complete silence filled the room.

After a long while, Wang Ran’s sharp scream burst from the private room toward the street, making crowds on the street turn back in alarm.

In the private room, amid the screaming, iron-rod-wielding Tie Ci said with a smile: “See, now you won’t worry about being exposed.”

Preview: About to switch to male beauty perspective.