The eunuch was too stunned to react in time, but the guards lurking in the shadows behind them reacted with impressive speed. Seeing her try to flee, they leapt out at once and seized her as neatly as catching a chick.

“What are you doing?” Hua Chun’s eyes went wide with fright as her legs kicked helplessly in the air. “Let go of me!”

“My lady!” Rui’er panicked as well, seeing Hua Chun seized, and quickly tugged at the sleeve of the eunuch leading the way. “Who are these people? Let go of my lady this instant!”

The eunuch said apologetically, “Please come with this humble one, my lady. It won’t take long.”

To be seized outright, in broad daylight? Whatever this was leading to, it couldn’t be anything good. Hua Chun’s heart went cold, but the path here was fairly secluded, with no one else around and no palace guards in sight — with only herself and Rui’er, two women, there was no way they could fight off these four or five grown men.

What could she do?

Her mind raced. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down as best she could, and said, “Fine, you want me to go with you, is that it? Let go, I’ll walk myself.”

The guards eyed her suspiciously, then released their grip and set her back down.

She straightened her clothes and pressed her lips together. “Lead on, then.”

The eunuch in front paused for a moment, bowed, turned, and continued walking.

The layout of the harem’s guard patrols had passed through her own hands, so with careful attention she could tell — continuing on this path would lead to the Boyang Palace.

The only person in this palace bold enough to pull off something this brazen was Prince Xi. The Boyang Palace lay outside the harem’s boundaries; even if she were discovered later, Prince Xi would simply insist she had run there of her own accord, that it had nothing to do with him — and then she would be the one branded as a shameless consort who’d scaled the walls chasing after the prince, risking her very life for it.

Why would she be targeted by Yuwen Xi of all people? She hadn’t seen him even once since entering the harem — to him, she should have just been an unfamiliar Zhaoyi and nothing more.

Full of confusion, Hua Chun still kept an eye on the path ahead, noting an upcoming turn where two palace guards would normally be stationed.

Seeing it draw near, she took a deep breath, gathered her energy from her core, and let out a loud shout: “Help—!”

Her voice rang out so sharply that the guards beside her nearly jumped out of their skins, scrambling in a panic to clamp a hand over her mouth and drag her away quickly.

The guards stationed ahead craned their necks curiously to look over, but seeing that the men escorting her wore the distinctive cloud-swirl armor of the Boyang Palace, they held back and did not step in to interfere, only watching as the group carried what appeared to be someone off toward the Boyang Palace.

“So it really was a mistake to trust you so easily!” the eunuch in front snapped angrily. “Hurry, get her back so we can report in!”

Hua Chun rolled her eyes as they hauled her, still struggling, into the Boyang Palace, thinking to herself that at least, even if she ended up framed in the end, she had two witnesses on her side now.

Prince Xi stood in the main hall. Hearing the commotion, he turned to look — and the instant his eyes fell on her face, they went wide as saucers. “Hua Jinghua?”

Hua Chun put her air-headed expression back on and looked at him blankly. “Who is Hua Jinghua?”

Yuwen Xi frowned and strode over, seizing her wrist. “You’re not Hua Jinghua?”

Feigning bewilderment, Hua Chun shook her head. “This one is the new Zhaoyi His Majesty has just taken into the harem. Surname Hua.”

What nonsense! That face was identical to Hua Jinghua’s, down to the last detail! Others who hadn’t seen him often might fail to recognize him, but he himself had observed the man up close many, many times — there was no way he could be mistaken!

Narrowing his eyes, Yuwen Xi lowered his gaze, letting it settle on her prominent chest. “So you really are a woman.”

Goosebumps rose all over her body. Wrenching herself free, Hua Chun crossed her arms over her chest and said, fear in her voice, “Who exactly are you? What do you want?”

“Zhanshui.” Yuwen Xi called out, and the guard beside him immediately twisted her arms behind her back.

Unable to move, Hua Chun watched him warily as he circled around behind her and pressed down on her head, forcing it forward, exposing the pale nape of her neck.

Did he even know about Hua Jinghua’s mole at the back of his neck?

Hua Chun drew a sharp breath, growing tense. A person could resemble another, but if even a mole in such a distinctive spot matched exactly, how could she possibly explain that away?

Just as she began to feel a little hopeless, she noticed Yuwen Xi release her abruptly, an oddly complicated look crossing his face.

What was that about? Hua Chun was baffled — this wasn’t the reaction she’d expected. Shouldn’t he be giving a cold, triumphant laugh right about now, saying “Just as I thought”?

“Quite the passionate mark, isn’t it.” Prince Xi, thoroughly off-script, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his fingers, tossing the comment out with obvious distaste.

Passionate? Hua Chun was confused for a moment before it suddenly clicked — hadn’t the Emperor left a mark on the back of her neck today? Could it possibly have landed right on the exact spot of that mole?

What incredible luck!

Quickly rearranging her expression, Hua Chun went back to staring at him like he was some kind of pervert, her eyes full of unfamiliarity and hostility.

Prince Xi frowned, crossing his arms as he looked at her. “No matter how well you play the part, this prince can still see through you at a glance — you are clearly Hua Jinghua!”

“I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Hua Chun said. “But I need to get back soon — could you have your men let go of me?”

“Want to go back?” Yuwen Xi smiled. “That’s fine. Answer one question of mine correctly, and you may go.”

“What question?”

“What is Consort Shu’s childhood name?”

Hua Xunyue’s childhood name? Wasn’t it simply Xunyue? Hua Chun nearly blurted it out, but caught herself just in time — this, damn it, was clearly a trap! She’d only just entered the palace — how could she possibly know something like that!

“I don’t know.” She shook her head, feigning ignorance, then added anxiously, “Could you ask something simpler?”

Impatient, Yuwen Xi reached out and gripped her chin. “Why is it so hard for you to just tell the truth?”

“Let go!” Hua Chun’s temper flared, and she snapped her jaw as if to bite him. “I don’t know who you are, but judging by your clothes you must be someone of status — insulting a consort of the harem like this, are you not afraid His Majesty will punish you for it?”

“Heh.” Prince Xi sneered coldly. “Whether His Majesty will punish this prince or not is another matter entirely. All this prince knows right now is that the road you’ve chosen is an exceedingly difficult one. If you’re wise enough to confess, this prince might, out of admiration, give you a way out. But if you refuse, and insist on continuing to deceive the sovereign, then don’t blame this prince for cleansing His Majesty’s side of corrupting influence.”

Hua Chun pressed her lips together, a chill running through her at his words, but on the surface she kept up her act of stubborn ignorance, struggling as she said, “I don’t care about any of that — let go of me now!”

“Your Highness.” Zhanshui said in a low voice. “It’s getting late.”

“Mm.” Yuwen Xi nodded. “See her out.”

Huh? Was he really going to let her go, just like that? Hua Chun was startled. Zhanshui hauled her out through the Boyang Palace’s front gate, and she felt a wave of relief.

But as it turned out, she was far too naive. When they said they’d “see her out,” they truly meant nothing more than putting her outside the Boyang Palace’s gate — and then simply walking off, leaving her to fend for herself.