Hua Chun paused, looking at him in confusion: “Do I have to pretend not to know him even when there’s no one else around?”

“There are no walls in this world without cracks for the wind to slip through.” the Emperor said. “You’d do better to think more about your own life.”

As he spoke, he released her hand, helped He Chang’an into a chair off to the side, casually took a small porcelain bottle down from a nearby shelf, and pressed a pill into his hand.

He Chang’an swallowed it down with tea, eyes half-closed, and murmured: “Your Majesty is truly formidable.”

A flicker of guilt passed through him; Yuwen Jie looked away.

Hua Chun didn’t quite catch the meaning behind He Chang’an’s words, but the atmosphere between the two men had suddenly turned awkward.

“Is the Marquis certain he’s alright?” she asked. “Should we not call for the imperial physician?”

“No need. I simply didn’t sleep well last night.” He Chang’an said flatly. “If Your Majesty has no further instructions, this servant will take his leave.”

“Rest a while first.” the Emperor said, pursing his lips. “It’s likely a chill. I had wanted to discuss the matter of Tang Yue with the two of you, but it seems you’ll need to go recover for a time.”

“If Your Majesty has any instructions, you may simply say them outright.” He Chang’an said. “Once I’ve recovered, I will of course see to it.”

Digging at her ear, Hua Chun leaned toward the Emperor and murmured: “Is it just me, or does it feel like the Marquis is upset with someone?”

Yuwen Jie pursed his lips and gave her a light push. “Go back to the inner chamber and wait there. I’ll see Chang’an out of the palace myself.”

“Oh.” Hua Chun nodded, though she cast a worried glance toward the Marquis of Gongyu.

He didn’t look back at her, his eyelids lowered, long lashes sweeping down like a broom, as he rose and followed the Emperor out, his steps unsteady.

Discovering she was a woman had probably dealt him quite a blow. Hua Chun pursed her lips—she’d sensed before that he might have feelings for Hua Jinghua, likely assuming himself to have fallen for a man, and now, discovering she was female, was forcibly straightening himself out again. All this back-and-forth really was exhausting for a person.

For now, all she could do was be a proper, obedient member of Yuwen Jie’s harem. The Emperor’s reasoning did have some logic to it—if she’d become a maid while her body already belonged to Yuwen Jie, she truly wouldn’t be able to face He Chang’an.

Ai, truly, fate had played a cruel joke on her.

After a while of melancholy reflection, Hua Chun lay back down on the bed to quietly wait for the morning meal.

In the palace corridor.

The Emperor and He Chang’an rode together in the imperial carriage, the atmosphere inside heavy.

Having wronged him first, the Emperor didn’t try to bluster through it, and spoke up on his own: “What happened with her—that was Us who wronged you.”

He Chang’an said flatly: “Your Majesty did nothing wrong. In a matter like this, naturally, the fewer who know, the better it is for her.”

But he shouldn’t have kept it from him while he suffered so terribly over his feelings—shouldn’t have let him go marry someone else, only to turn around and take her into the harem himself.

Such conduct, no matter whose shoes one stood in, would be unforgivable.

The Emperor was silent for a moment, then said: “I will protect her well from now on.”

Was that meant as a promise? He Chang’an nodded: “Since she already belongs to you, you naturally should protect her well. There are so many people in the harem, and now that the Hua family is gone too—if she suffers any wrong, she won’t even have a family to return to.”

Yuwen Jie pursed his lips. “You may rest assured.”

How was he supposed to rest assured? He Chang’an couldn’t help himself, turning to face him directly, his expression severe: “Setting aside anyone of use to you—the women you’ve favored before could line up from the palace gate all the way to Mountain Sea Tower. How long will you favor her, this time?”

Yuwen Jie thought about it seriously, and said: “I don’t know.”

He Chang’an was nearly beside himself with anger, his eyes reddening: “Allow this servant to count the others for you. Three years ago, Consort Xi was most favored—but within three months, you brought in Attendant Xu, favored intensely for five days, then cold to the harem for half a year after. Then came Noble Consort Qian, whom this servant personally escorted into the palace—within a month she was in the cold palace. After that, Zhaoyi Lan, favored for half a year, and after she miscarried, you scarcely saw her again. And more recently there was Attendant Huo—wasn’t she quite favored not long ago? In the end she too was cast off to the Palace of Eternal Fortune!”

“Now it’s finally Jinghua’s turn—how long will she hold your favor? Half a year? A year?”

The Emperor looked at him in surprise: “You really do have a good memory.”

He himself couldn’t even recall those women’s titles anymore, yet Chang’an could recite them all by heart.

He Chang’an’s face darkened; though his lips were pale and he looked quite weak, he still radiated an unyielding intensity: “Can Your Majesty grant this servant one thing?”

“What is it?”

“This servant wishes to formally adopt her as a younger sister. If, in the future, Your Majesty no longer favors her and wishes to cast her aside, this servant wants her to have a home to return to.”

The Emperor froze, then frowned. “Have you truly thought this through? Formal adoption isn’t such a simple matter.”

“This servant understands.” He Chang’an said. “She currently has no household registration, so entering the He family’s register would be quite convenient.”

Once formally adopted, Hua Chun would fall within He Chang’an’s extended clan—that would be true shared fortune, shared hardship.

Yuwen Jie studied him deeply, suddenly quite grateful he had acted decisively—otherwise, once He Chang’an had come to his senses, what chance would he have had?

“Very well. If you’ve truly decided, I’ll have people see to it.” Yuwen Jie said. “Though, nominal siblings and blood siblings are still different—you understand that, don’t you?”

He Chang’an laughed bitterly: “Your Majesty and I have known each other this long, and still you don’t trust this servant?”

What was the meaning behind every word laced with such wariness? Afraid he’d steal her away? If he truly could have stolen her away, would Hua Jinghua even be in the palace now, one of his consorts?

Growing angrier by the thought, He Chang’an said coldly: “This servant will be recuperating at home these next several days. All matters at hand can be handed to the newly appointed Prime Minister.”

“Mm, rest well.” Yuwen Jie nodded, having half-expected this outcome.

Knowing He Chang’an as he did, he wouldn’t be found for the next several days at least—which would conveniently serve as a good test of Tang Yue’s abilities.

Watching He Chang’an leave through the palace gates, Eunuch Qin said with great concern: “Your Majesty, should this servant send some gifts to the Marquis’s estate?”

“No need.” the Emperor said, lowering his eyes. “That would only draw more attention to what we’re trying to conceal.”

He had only concealed Hua Jinghua’s identity, after all—toward her as a person, there had been no scheming, no deception, no trickery, only a conquest earned through his own means. No real wrongdoing. He Chang’an’s anger was understandable, but once he calmed down, he’d understand too.

If Hua Jinghua hadn’t held even the slightest feelings for him, she never would have yielded without resistance in that jail cell.

With that thought, the Emperor’s mood brightened, and he turned to head back.

Hua Chun was in the middle of her morning meal. Having exhausted so much energy the day before, she ate two bowls of porridge along with two plates of side dishes and several buns in front of a group of palace maids, leaving the young attendants staring in astonishment.

“Your Highness… are you still hungry?” one maid asked quietly.

Smacking her lips, Hua Chun said: “I’m full, but I feel like something’s missing.”

Someone pushed the door open and entered, carrying a small dish, respectfully setting it before her: “Please enjoy, Your Highness.”

Hua Chun looked down to see a plate full of spicy dried fish, seeming to smile up at her in greeting. Her eyes lit up, and she looked up happily at the maid who’d entered: “How did you know—”

Before she finished, she was struck dumb by the sight of the woman’s face.

“You… Qing—”

“This servant, Xiaoqing, greets Your Highness.” Qing Niao smiled at her. “By His Majesty’s order, from today onward, this servant is to be Your Highness’s chief attendant.”

What? Hua Chun was stunned, and instinctively reached out to touch the other woman’s belly. Wasn’t she still pregnant? How could she possibly be in the palace serving as a maid now?

No, that wasn’t the point—the point was, why was she so calm about it? Right now Hua Chun herself was dressed entirely as a woman—had she not been surprised at all to discover she was female?

“Your Highness, close your mouth—you’re about to drool.” Qing Niao bent down, gently wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. “Now that you’ve been granted the title of Zhaoyi, you should mind your manners.”

Hua Chun snapped back to attention, nearly biting her own tongue, and stammered to those around her: “You may all withdraw first.”

“Yes.”

The hall doors closed. Hua Chun stared at her, wide-eyed: “What is going on here?”

Qing Niao blinked, her expression suddenly turning forlorn: “This servant’s child is gone.”

“What?!” Hua Chun jumped, startled, immediately standing to look at her. “How could it be gone? What happened?”

“It’s a long story.” Qing Niao sighed, gripping her hand, eyes glistening. “The Hua estate is gone now, the Prime Minister’s residence is gone too. His Majesty took pity on this servant and said he’d bring me into the palace to serve you, as a surprise for you—yet it seems you’re not too pleased to see me.”

So this was the surprise the Emperor had mentioned? Hua Chun blinked, realizing, and quickly comforted her: “No, no, I’m very happy to see you—it’s just… there were things I lied to you about before…”

“This servant already knows all of it.” Qing Niao smiled. “You needn’t take it to heart. This servant can accept it.”

Such an accepting nature? Hua Chun clicked her tongue. If it had been her, discovering the person she’d married turned out to be a woman, she’d surely be furious—might have slapped the person right across the face.

Qing Niao really was too kind-hearted.

Somewhat moved, Hua Chun said: “Alright then, I’ll continue looking out for you from now on. Whatever comes up, you can tell me, and as long as I’m able, I’ll definitely help.”

“Many thanks, my lady.” Qing Niao smiled.

“But.” Hua Chun glanced down at her belly. “You just lost the child—is it really alright for you to be up and about like this?”

Her smile stiffened slightly, but Qing Niao quickly recovered: “It’s fine. This servant took a folk remedy, so I can go about my duties normally.”

What kind of folk remedy was that powerful? Hua Chun’s eyes widened, wanting to ask more, but just then the hall doors opened, and Eunuch Qin’s voice called out: “His Majesty arrives—”

For some reason, hearing that signal that Yuwen Jie was coming now made her face flush.

Side effects, ugh, side effects!

“Why only the two of you here?” the Emperor entered, glancing between them. “Sharing secrets?”

Hua Chun stood, instinctively moving to fold her hands in a bow, but was gently kicked by Qing Niao.

Realizing something was off, she recalled how the other women of the harem performed their bows, curled her fingers into an orchid gesture, placed her hand at her waist, and bent her knee: “Ten thousand blessings upon Your Majesty.”

Disgust immediately flooded the Emperor’s eyes: “No need for that.”

“Then how should it be?” Hua Chun blinked, pulling out a handkerchief and draping it over her shoulder with a flourish. “Like this?”

The Emperor narrowed his eyes, reached out, and pulled her over, sitting down beside him with her in his arms: “Do as you please, just don’t be so deliberate about it. I’m not used to it.”

She wasn’t used to any of this either! Hua Chun pouted, shifting her seat slightly. “Did the Marquis say anything else?”

“Nothing much.” the Emperor said. “He’s ill and needs to recuperate for a few days. During that time, everything will be handed to Tang Yue.”

“Mm, tomorrow when Prime Minister Tang comes to the palace, I’ll give him the materials I’ve organized.” Hua Chun said. “This handover alone is a huge workload—he’ll need at least half a month to get his bearings, and with the Marquis resting too, Your Majesty had better promote a couple more people to help out.”

Yuwen Jie said: “Don’t you count as help?”

With her around, why would he need to promote anyone else?

Hua Chun laughed dryly, studying him for a long moment before asking: “Does Your Majesty mean that I’m to handle official business for you during the day, and also attend to you at night?”

The Emperor nodded with an expression of complete naturalness, as though it were obvious.

Damn it, why should that be fair? Hua Chun was displeased—other consorts got to sit around and be pampered, so why did she have to do double duty as a prime minister’s aide too, without even getting paid for it?

“I’ll have your monthly stipend specially looked after.”

Before she could voice a protest, the Emperor said, straightforward as ever: “Only more, never less. You will absolutely not be shortchanged.”

All her resentment dissolved instantly at that. Hua Chun immediately smiled: “Your Majesty is so considerate. Being able to follow you truly is my great fortune.”

Yuwen Jie looked at her with an expression of despairing exasperation.

Everyone else understood how crucial it was to compete for favor in the harem—with his favor, what couldn’t be accomplished? And yet here he was, stuck with someone so shallow she only cared about her stipend!

“Ow!” Her waist was pinched; Hua Chun immediately quieted down, and glanced around at the magnificent palace hall, saying somewhat dazedly: “Starting today, am I supposed to call myself ‘this concubine,’ and just wait around in this hall for you to visit, like everyone else?”

Something jolted inside him; Yuwen Jie instinctively tightened his hold on her. “If you wish to see me, you needn’t wait—just come find me directly.”

“I see…” Hua Chun nodded. “Alright then.”

As Emperor, granting her such a privilege was already an act of great generosity. She couldn’t force modern-era expectations of exclusivity onto him—after all, even in the modern world, the rich and powerful had mistresses scattered everywhere, let alone a noble emperor in this ancient era.

She probably could never have all of him—but for now, the feelings were strong, and she could endure it. As for what path lay ahead… she’d take it one step at a time. At least she was still alive; this drama hadn’t reached its finale yet.

Qing Niao and Eunuch Qin quietly withdrew. Hua Chun, feeling a bit wistful, suddenly felt something strange slip between her legs.

“What are you doing?” She quickly pressed her legs together, her face going pale. “That’s genuinely still sore!”

“I know, I’m only looking.” the Emperor said, expressionless. “It’s not as if I haven’t seen it before—why so nervous?”