Prince Shao’s outer residence in Yandu Ward was a quiet small courtyard, barely two courtyards deep, with a narrow single gate and not even space for ceremonial guards or carriage parking. Therefore, two additional courtyards on either side had been purchased, usually left vacant and waiting.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Huo Qi Lang eagerly jumped down and rushed forward a few steps before remembering the courtyard’s master hadn’t yet alighted. She sheepishly returned to help Li Yuanying down.

Two maids from the outer residence, Cailu and Cailian, came forward to greet them. Only a few trusted confidants accompanied Li Yuanying, with the rest stationed in the outer courtyard. The main gate closed behind them. Huo Qi Lang craned her neck to look inside, seeing a petite middle-aged woman emerge from the house—she had single phoenix eyes, wore luxurious clothing, and her expression was shrewd and capable.

Seeing this noble lady was nearly fifty years old, Huo Qi Lang was momentarily stunned. She turned her head and whispered to Li Yuanying: “Though I knew Your Highness preferred the mature type, I never imagined the upper limit was this high.”

Li Yuanying had long grown accustomed to this person’s absurd words and behavior. If he took issue with her every time, several livers wouldn’t be enough to resolve his anger. He introduced flatly: “This is my wet nurse, Madam Yu, an outer-appointed court lady of the same rank as Madam Li, enfeoffed as Lady of Guangping Commandery.”

Huo Qi Lang was startled, realizing her mistake, and quickly bowed with clasped hands and an embarrassed smile.

Madam Yu said nothing but stepped forward to welcome Prince Shao. Huo Qi Lang didn’t dare advance rashly again, obediently following behind while looking around, but saw no second noble lady appear.

She thought to herself that this Madam Jing truly had airs—though merely an outer residence woman, she relied on her favor to avoid personally greeting such a magnificent master when he visited.

Madam Yu looked Huo Qi Lang up and down, asking quietly: “Is this the woman Madam Li mentioned?”

Li Yuanying didn’t want to answer yes or no, remaining silent.

Though Madam Yu was worldly-wise, seeing such a sword-carrying wandering knight with facial scars, she momentarily didn’t know how to evaluate her. After consideration, she offered: “She’s quite tall.”

Li Yuanying didn’t respond, asking instead: “Is everyone assembled?”

Madam Yu nodded: “The gentlemen have been waiting for some time.”

Li Yuanying then walked around the flower wall into the room. Huo Qi Lang followed, seeing thick curtains covering all the windows despite broad daylight, with candles lit. Seven or eight people waited inside. Seeing Li Yuanying enter, they all bowed low, respectfully addressing him as “Master” or “Your Highness.”

These people ranged from middle-aged to elderly, dressed in common cloth like ordinary merchants or musicians, some carrying cargo boxes. But their manner was humble and courteous. Observing their complexion and hands, most weren’t accustomed to rough work—more like scholars who handled writing brushes.

After Li Yuanying took the main seat, Madam Yu gave instructions outside, then entered and closed the door, also taking a seat. Soft stringed music immediately began outside, apparently arranged to mask the sound of their secret discussions.

Madam Yu summarized recently obtained classified information, conveying it concisely to Prince Shao. The group then discussed Youzhou’s situation in turns.

Huo Qi Lang was thoroughly confused, realizing these people were actually advisors and spies under Prince Shao. After listening briefly, they had already confirmed information about the imminent rebellion of Liu Kun’s personal guard Right General, even estimating the date quite accurately. Madam Yu’s insight and capability were extraordinary—she seemed nothing like an inner chamber wet nurse, but rather Prince Shao’s right-hand assistant.

The discussion was brief. After a moment, several people rose and quietly departed one by one. Seeing Huo Qi Lang standing uselessly by the wall like a flagpole, Li Yuanying said: “No guards are needed here. You can wander the courtyard and find something to eat.”

Huo Qi Lang emerged looking bewildered, seeing two musicians playing diligently outside with no audience. Hearing familiar voices next door, she opened the door to look, finding Kang Simo sitting inside with a Hu boy beside him with shaved hair and left-folded collar. The two were conversing in an unfamiliar language.

Given Kang Simo’s record of fleeing at Liu Kun’s banquet, Huo Qi Lang quite disliked him, frowning as she asked: “What are you doing here? Who is this barbarian child?”

Kang Simo said smugly: “I have my important mission. This boy? He’s naturally His Highness’s son.”

Huo Qi Lang examined the child dubiously. He appeared at least eleven or twelve, with a round head and stocky build, large hands and feet. If he were Li Yuanying’s child, he seemed somewhat overage, and his features bore no resemblance whatsoever.

Kang Simo laughed: “Didn’t you hear about that evening banquet? The Khitans wanted to marry a princess over, but His Highness refused and casually asked them for an adopted son. Who knew the Ugu Khan would actually agree and send a young son over.”

This was another matter Huo Qi Lang couldn’t understand. She asked: “Would that barbarian chieftain really be willing?”

Kang Simo replied: “Though the Khitans have no written script, they’re not stupid. That evening His Highness sat in the main position—he’s surnamed Li. Who will ultimately rule Youzhou, the Khan understands clearly.”

Huo Qi Lang asked again: “Since he agreed to send his son, why not send him to the Prince’s mansion?”

Kang Simo’s eyes darted about: “His Highness has his reasons—it’s not your place to worry.”

Even the most obtuse person should understand by now. This outer residence wasn’t just for housing concubines—it was an intelligence center. Li Yuanying placed people and matters inconvenient for the Prince’s mansion here. When he went out under the pretext of visiting his outer chamber, he was actually meeting with his advisors and spies here. Madam Yu wasn’t simply a wet nurse either—she was the direct supervisor of this intelligence center.

Huo Qi Lang finally grasped the meaning of Li Yuanying’s words on the road to Yandu Ward: “Once we reach our destination, you won’t be able to get off this carriage again.” She had finally touched upon this deeply scheming person’s most secret domain.

But what about Madam Jing? Was that mysterious outer chamber woman still somewhere in this residence, quietly waiting for her lord to finish his business and favor her?

Huo Qi Lang sat in the flower hall as the orchestra’s sole audience, absently eating snacks while pondering whether her status should allow her to know so many secrets.

The secret meeting finally ended. After everyone departed and Li Yuanying rested briefly, he emerged from the room accompanied by Madam Yu.

Huo Qi Lang stood up, looking at him somewhat at a loss.

Li Yuanying said flatly: “Come along. Don’t you want to meet Madam Jing?” He then walked toward the deepest part of the residence.

Huo Qi Lang followed him to what should be the master’s bedroom. The room burned familiar incense, with light curtains, brocade quilts and embroidered pillows, half-rolled pearl curtains, and various exquisite cosmetics arranged on the dressing table. Beside the bed stood a massive bronze mirror as tall as a person—exactly the bedroom she’d imagined for a high-ranking official’s concubine.

Only the room was completely empty, with no sound of anyone breathing in hiding.

Huo Qi Lang was even more confused. Li Yuanying pointed at the large bronze mirror: “That is Madam Jing.”

Huo Qi Lang looked at him in shock, then at the expensive luxurious mirror. Even without literacy, she could realize “Jing” and “mirror” were homophonous.

The long-anticipated meeting was actually with a cold mirror. Somewhat disappointed, she asked: “There’s actually no person called Madam Jing in the outer residence?”

Li Yuanying said somewhat wearily: “Fortunately not. I couldn’t handle a second Cui Lingrong.”

Madam Yu had learned of the Princess Consort’s poisoning from yesterday’s messenger from the Prince’s mansion. She blamed herself: “Madam Li and I were negligent. Attending the young master daily, we failed to discover the poisoned clothing. If I had been more diligent in making undergarments for the young master, the poisoning wouldn’t have been so severe.”

Li Yuanying shook his head: “That wasn’t your responsibility. Managing this residence is your proper duty.”

Huo Qi Lang thought to herself: no wonder his condition worsened when he previously visited the outer residence. There was no beauty here to help him remove his undergarments—wearing poisoned clothing while busy and tired with scheming, naturally his mood was poor returning home. This chamber was decorated so luxuriously with complete cosmetics—as unnecessary as his precious sword.

But this person never looked in mirrors—why was there such a large mirror in the outer residence?

Just as she wondered whether to ask, Li Yuanying sat at the dressing table and told Madam Yu: “Change my clothes.”

Madam Yu said sympathetically: “Won’t the young master rest a bit longer?”

“No. The people outside the city must see me personally before they’ll act, and the Ugu Khan must receive a reply before lending troops.”

Madam Yu stepped forward, first helping him remove his outer garments, then taking out a set of ruqun robes to change him into, adding false hair over his topknot. Being naturally beautiful with painted eyebrows and features, rouge and powder were unnecessary—only a flower ornament was applied to his forehead.

Under Huo Qi Lang’s extremely shocked gaze, Madam Yu dressed Prince Shao as a stunningly beautiful tall woman. His expression was always serious, and this attire made him appear even more ethereally beautiful and unattainably lofty.

“Bring another set of robes for her—their builds should be similar.” Li Yuanying instructed. He rose and walked to the bronze mirror, examining this outfit.

He deeply hated his contemptible and controversial appearance, so he never looked in mirrors ordinarily. Except for one situation—when wearing women’s clothing, he could glimpse something of his mother’s shadow from years past in the mirror.

He still remembered her wise words and gentle embrace. No matter how skilled the artist, painted portraits never matched his memories. Only seeing moving images in the mirror could evoke deep nostalgia.

Li Yuanying reached out, lightly touching the face of the person in the mirror, calling “Mother” in his heart.

Madam Yu pulled the dazed Huo Qi Lang over, dressing her in robes and arranging a simple hanging horse bun, then wrapping their previous clothes in traveling bundles.

After long speechlessness, Huo Qi Lang said dazedly to Li Yuanying: “This mirror isn’t Madam Jing—Your Highness is Madam Jing.”

Li Yuanying said coldly: “Shut up. This was the body double plan before you came.”

But having opened the topic, Huo Qi Lang couldn’t restrain herself: “Your main wife wants to kill you, Secretary Yang’s daughter died of illness before entering the household, and your only outer chamber woman is Your Highness yourself.”

“Just an expedient for secretly crossing paths.” Li Yuanying keenly sensed she was about to say something infuriating and commanded again: “Shut up.”

“I truly can’t understand—with Your Highness’s appearance, how could your luck with the opposite sex be so ridiculously poor? No wonder in bed…”

“Shut up!!!” Li Yuanying’s face turned slightly green with rage.

Madam Yu was torn between crying and laughing, covering her mouth to suppress laughter while tugging Huo Qi Lang’s sleeve from behind: “The young master still has important matters to handle—don’t provoke him.” She thought to herself: how many years had it been since she’d seen Li Yuanying show such obvious emotions? Though anger harms the liver and lungs, being angry was still energetic—much better than melancholy stillness like stagnant water.

After both were properly dressed, Madam Yu opened a hidden door beside the bed, leading them through a passage to an unfamiliar courtyard where a plain ox cart waited.

When boarding, the skirt robes weren’t as convenient as men’s clothing. Huo Qi Lang helped herself into the carriage, discovering the walls were thicker than ordinary vehicles, with thick tapestries and carpets covering all surfaces.

Madam Yu lit a candle for illumination, instructing: “Speaking in this carriage, outsiders can’t hear clearly, but still be careful of gate inspections.”

After closing the carriage door, the driver asked nothing and drove the oxen toward the road leading out of the city.