Qin Wan quickly sensed something was amiss. She narrowed her eyes at the matron beside her, “What’s your name? Where do you serve in Shoukang Palace?”

The matron kept her head down. In the dim palace lanterns, Qin Wan couldn’t make out her features, but she noticed the matron’s shoulders suddenly shrink – a sign of fear and guilt. Qin Wan’s eyelid twitched as her heart grew cold. She quickly responded, “The Empress Dowager isn’t critically ill, is she?”

The matron, shoulders hunched, shot Qin Wan a glance, seemingly surprised by her composure despite discovering the deception. She nodded, her voice trembling, “This servant… this servant is indeed from Shoukang Palace, but was acting under orders, Princess…”

The Empress Dowager wasn’t critically ill – it was just a pretext to lure her into the palace…

Qin Wan felt relieved for a moment, then clenched her fists hidden in her sleeves.

She had been led into the palace, with imperial guards waiting there. Who in the palace could issue such orders? Who could use Shoukang Palace’s token? Who could command the imperial guards? The answer was obvious. A bone-chilling cold crept up from Qin Wan’s feet.

The approaching group of imperial guards numbered ten men. Qin Wan watched them draw closer, her bright eyes gradually filling with coldness.

It wouldn’t take ten men to restrain one defenseless woman. She had been tricked into the palace, while Yan Chi had encountered Zhao Yu just as they were leaving – was this coincidence or premeditated? Imperial guards awaited her in the palace, but what awaited Yan Chi outside?

Today was their wedding day, with all of the capital watching this marriage. Both Yan Chi and she had known the Emperor harbored suspicions toward the Prince Rui Mansion, but who could have imagined the Emperor would be so impatient as to strike on their wedding night?

If they wanted to act without leaving traces, the ancestral worship journey in two days would have been the perfect opportunity. But clearly, the Emperor wouldn’t give them any chance.

While they had been calculating the Emperor’s thoughts, the Emperor had surely been calculating theirs. Knowing how much importance Yan Chi placed on this wedding, he guessed Yan Chi would refuse to be controlled afterward, so he chose to strike on such a night. Qin Wan laughed bitterly inside – she had still underestimated the mind of an emperor.

“Princess, His Majesty wishes you to stay in the palace for a few days. Your quarters are in the Northwest Garden.”

Though Qin Wan didn’t recognize the imperial guard captain who approached, she merely narrowed her eyes at his words and said, “I am now Prince Rui’s consort – your form of address is incorrect.”

A glint flashed in the guard captain’s eyes. With only Bai Ying by her side, though Qin Wan had realized something was wrong, she still stood straight and composed, even correcting his form of address. Even as a tall, strong man, he felt an inexplicable reverence.

After a pause, he said, “Princess Consort, please come this way—”

Qin Wan glanced in the direction he indicated – the Northern Garden, in a different direction from Shoukang Palace in the west. It was in the deepest part of the inner palace, also the most secluded and desolate area.

Qin Wan said nothing, didn’t resist, and only remained silent for a moment before walking in the direction the guard indicated.

The snow was falling heavier, with howling wind whirling snow spray in spirals as it fell. Qin Wan’s limbs grew increasingly cold, the warmth from her earlier bath completely gone. This was her wedding night, yet it had come to this. Though her face remained composed, thinking of Yan Chi outside the palace and the Emperor’s murderous intent toward him, she couldn’t help but tremble inside. Biting her lip hard, Qin Wan walked with a determined expression to the palace quarters prepared for her.

It was a single-courtyard residence in the southern part of the Northern Garden. In Qin Wan’s memory, the Northern Garden was almost entirely occupied by lower-ranking palace servants’ quarters and various abandoned palace buildings. However, this courtyard was quite elegant. Though it was deep night, lanterns were lit within, and the matron who had deceived Qin Wan followed them in. The guard captain stood at the courtyard gate and said, “These are the Princess Consort’s quarters. Everything needed for daily life has been prepared inside. As it’s late, please rest.”

His tone was calm, making this effective imprisonment sound casual. Qin Wan didn’t even glance at him as she stepped inside.

As soon as the main door opened, warmth rushed out. Qin Wan’s sharp gaze swept the room, noting two braziers in the corners. She walked in, looking around – though the room was somewhat old, it was very clean, with simple furniture and, as the guard had said, all necessary items.

After Qin Wan entered, Bai Ying followed. When she turned to look back, the matron who had intended to enter shrank back and remained at the doorway.

Bai Ying firmly closed the door. Once it was shut, her forced composure immediately gave way to anxiety.

“Princess Consort, what is His Majesty’s intention? Is His Highness in danger outside?”

That Bai Ying could ask this showed she had some guesses, but even with her background as Yan Chi’s secret agent, she was now panicked.

Having followed Qin Wan for over a year, Bai Ying knew well her wisdom and composure, so even with her own suspicions, she wanted to hear Qin Wan’s thoughts.

Qin Wan walked to the window and stopped, seeing the window couch was very clean and neat, she sat down. Only after sitting did she withdraw her hands from her sleeves. She placed one fist on the table to support her body weight, while her fingertips hidden in her palm trembled slightly.

“His Majesty likely intends to move against the Prince Rui Mansion. Outside the palace, he is in grave danger.”

As she spoke those last four words, Qin Wan’s voice was taut. Bai Ying looked outside, then stepped forward and whispered, “Princess Consort, what should we do?”

Qin Wan gave a bitter smile and turned to look out the window, where snow was flying. She felt somewhat lost.

This was the imperial palace – not just for two women like her and Bai Ying, but even Yan Chi himself would find it difficult to escape. With twenty thousand imperial guards stationed in the palace, and layers of security inside and out, even a mosquito would struggle to fly out. But was there no other way?

“We wait first. He was prepared, now we can only hope he stays safe. There are guards outside this courtyard, but they probably don’t know you know martial arts. We’ll wait for an opportunity.”

Bai Ying forced herself to calm down, and after a moment said, “His Majesty summoned you to the palace and imprisoned you here, is he going to…”

“His Majesty won’t kill me,” Qin Wan narrowed her eyes. “If that were his intention, there would have been no need to trick me into the palace. His Majesty will certainly spare my life.”

Bai Ying frowned, clearly not trusting the emperor’s mind. Qin Wan continued in a low voice, “Because in this world, only I can save the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager’s health continues to decline – if he killed me, there would be no one to save her when she falls ill. Moreover, keeping me alive allows him to control him.”

Bai Ying felt slightly relieved, but her tension hadn’t decreased at all.

The night was already very deep, and snow quickly covered the courtyard in white. In just an hour, the entire palace was draped in a layer of white mourning clothes. At the same moment in Chongzheng Hall, Yuan Qing listened to a report at the door, then turned to walk inside to the Emperor’s side.

“Your Majesty, Princess Yongci is very calm, not crying or making a scene. She has settled in.”

The Emperor, who had been resting with closed eyes, opened them, revealing a deep, inscrutable sharpness.

Qin Family’s ninth daughter, Qin Wan – this young lady had struck him as extraordinary from their first meeting, and this past year proved she hadn’t disappointed him.

The Emperor thought of Qin Wan, even feeling she would have made an excellent Crown Princess. If she hadn’t chosen to marry Yan Chi, she wouldn’t be in her current predicament. He appreciated her talents, an appreciation no less than that for his capable ministers.

Such a pity, the Emperor sighed inwardly.

“Just watch her carefully. Two girls won’t amount to much. Wait for news from Zhao Yu.”

Yuan Qing nodded, “Everything was arranged beforehand. We should have news soon.”

The Emperor made a sound of acknowledgment and closed his eyes again. The night was deep, and the Emperor leaned back in his throne chair with no intention of sleeping. This was no ordinary night – naturally, he couldn’t sleep. There had been many such nights over the past twenty years. Of course, if such sleepless nights went smoothly, they would bring him long periods of peaceful rest afterward.

Such was the imperial family, especially for him – a man who had sat on this throne under another’s name for twenty years.

Thinking back now, even he found it somewhat mythical that he had succeeded.

His elder brother had overshadowed him from birth with his status as the eldest legitimate son and later became everyone’s chosen one. Everyone believed if he became emperor, the Great Zhou would surely enjoy long-term peace and stability. No one saw his existence, but what about now? What was wrong with the current Great Zhou’s peace and prosperity?

This was what he had achieved through his painstaking efforts. Facts proved he could also be a good emperor.

Regrettably, his imperial father and elder brother hadn’t lived to see this day.

Yan Huai… no, Yan Han. Yan Han closed his eyes and furrowed his brow, but after a moment opened them again.

The hall’s lights were somewhat dim, but he didn’t call servants to trim the lamps. He liked such unclear lighting.

Because every time he closed his eyes to darkness, the long-buried memories in his mind became clearer, and if the hall were too bright, he would worry his facial expressions were too strange. Realizing his concern, Yan Han felt a flash of long-surprised anger in his heart.

No one wants to live under another’s name, especially when this achievement would inevitably be recorded by court historians under his elder brother’s name.

This was truly a great regret.

Because of this, Yan Han had thought of changing the Crown Prince.

Bloodline was particularly important in the imperial family. His achievements would not be known to others, so he wanted his own son to sit on the throne. This way, after his death, he would have one less regret on the path to Yellow Springs.

An unfathomable light flashed in Yan Han’s eyes as he suddenly asked, “How is Noble Consort?”

Yuan Qing lowered his eyes and said, “She has been sleeping these past days. The Imperial Physician gave her strong medicine to help her rest peacefully.”

Yan Han nodded imperceptibly, “Have the people from Changxin Palace been dealt with?”

Yuan Qing nodded again, “Yes, all have been handled. Your Majesty need not worry.”

Yan Han’s brow relaxed slightly. He raised his hand to rub his temples, showing some fatigue. When he put down one matter in his heart, he would rarely show signs of exhaustion. Over these twenty years, his nerves had been forged like steel. By now, nothing could make him fly into a rage, nor could anything move him deeply. He could only make himself immune to all poisons, only thus could he continue down this path.

“As long as everything is handled, let Noble Consort sleep. If her illness doesn’t improve, you know what to do.”

Yuan Qing’s eyelid twitched as he gave a low, respectful acknowledgment.

Time ticked by slowly. Putting down the memorial in his hand, Yan Han looked outside. The snow fell like cotton, accumulating thickly in front of the hall, yet still, no news had come from Zhao Yu. “What time is it? Zhao Yu’s news should have arrived by now.”

Yuan Qing glanced at the water clock in the outer hall, “Your Majesty, the Hour of Chou is almost over.”

Yan Han sat up straight, his brow furrowing tightly, “At this hour, it only takes two incense sticks’ time to ride from the southern city to the palace gates. What is Zhao Yu doing?”

Though Yan Han’s tone wasn’t angry, the suppressed heaviness was very intimidating. Yuan Qing hurriedly said, “The snow is too heavy, perhaps it’s causing delays.”

Yan Han narrowed his eyes without speaking, only fixing his gaze on the direction of the hall doors.

Yuan Qing stood to the side, not daring to breathe loudly, watching as the snow outside the hall doors piled layer upon layer.

The water clock in the outer hall dripped steadily, and the warm hall gradually grew cold and heavy. Outside Chongzheng Hall, there was still no sign of guards coming to report. Looking at the vast whiteness, Yan Han felt an ominous premonition in his heart…