What was the benefit of being good-looking? It meant that when He Chang’an said something like this, everyone would think he was dashing and unrestrained. Hua Chun’s face went a little red, but she wasn’t angry.

If someone ugly had said this, Hua Chun would have already smashed a plate of spinach into his face! She was a man now, and he was a man too, a man telling a man he was easy on the eyes… brother, are you trying to hit on me?

She smiled awkwardly and lowered her head. “Marquis, you should focus on your meal.”

He Chang’an chuckled softly. “Don’t take it to heart, I just like to joke around.”

“Mm.” Hua Chun nodded and kept shoveling food into her mouth.

Watching her red ears and her prissy way of eating from the side, Yuwen Jie felt a surge of irritation and put down his chopsticks with a cold expression.

Once the Emperor put down his chopsticks, naturally no one else at the table could keep eating. He Chang’an turned his head and looked at him innocently. “Has Your Majesty finished?”

“Mm.” Yuwen Jie nodded. “Come walk with me in the garden. Prime Minister Hua may leave the palace now.”

She could leave the palace! Hua Chun’s eyes lit up, and she immediately jumped up to bow. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s boundless grace!”

Damn it, now even something as ordinary as leaving the palace required this much gratitude. Life really wasn’t easy for her!

He Chang’an hadn’t eaten his fill, but since the Emperor seemed to have something to say, he had no choice but to follow him out. As he stood up, he noticed rice grains on Hua Jinghua’s lips and couldn’t help but reach over to wipe them off. “Travel safely, Prime Minister.”

“Thank you, Marquis.” Hua Chun smiled stiffly, goosebumps rising on her skin.

Couldn’t someone this good-looking have come to flirt with her back when she was a woman? She would have been delighted! But given her current identity, this kind of gentleness from him just made her deeply uncomfortable.

There was a certain guilty feeling of being a shameless woman disguised as a man trying to get close to a male god!

Taking two steps at a time, Hua Chun scurried out of Zichen Hall in a flash.

In the Imperial Garden.

The Emperor’s expression was grave as he looked at the man before him. “Chang’an, are you…”

“Your Majesty.” He Chang’an could tell from his expression what he was about to say and hastily raised his hand to stop him, then said, “Don’t overthink it. I merely feel that Prime Minister Hua has a particular quality about him that makes people want to get close to him, nothing more. I have no beloved woman, but I won’t have a beloved man either.”

He was a normal man, with no inclination toward men!

Looking at his earnest expression, Yuwen Jie still felt half-convinced.

Still, Hua Jinghua had changed quite a bit recently, transforming from an iceberg into someone almost foolish. If not for the mole still being on the back of his neck, he’d have suspected it was a different person entirely.

This current version… wasn’t as annoying as before, but was far more effeminate. He almost wanted to throw him into the military camp to properly toughen up his masculinity!

As long as Chang’an didn’t go astray, it would be fine. Though the customs of Great Liang were open-minded, someone with a preference for men would still face criticism or even demotion. They’d been close friends for so many years — he couldn’t just watch his friend ruin his own future.

“Oh, right.” Glancing around, He Chang’an lowered his voice. “Any leads on the assassination attempt at Zichen Hall?”

“Mm.” Bringing up that matter darkened the Emperor’s expression. “There are leads, but not enough evidence. They didn’t even leave us a body, so we’ll need to think of another way.”

“What do you plan to do?”

Yuwen Jie said, “The scenery in the capital is fine these days. Why don’t the two of us go out incognito, without guards, and take a look around?”

“That’s a good idea.” He Chang’an clapped approvingly. “I’ve been wanting to wander around anyway. With Your Majesty watching over me, I’ll naturally feel much safer.”

“Then come to Zichen Hall tomorrow after court.”

“As you command.”

Hua Chun, rubbing her round belly, followed the palace attendant leading the way toward the palace gate, feeling quite content. Before they’d even passed Xuanzheng Hall, a young palace maid caught up with them from behind, dismissed the guiding attendant, and approached her. “Prime Minister, my mistress asked me to bring you a small gift.”

What? Hua Chun looked at her, puzzled. The young maid promptly pressed a purple jade pendant into her hand.

“Who is your mistress?” Glancing at the jade pendant, Hua Chun asked.

“Naturally, Consort Huo Zhaoyi.” The young maid smiled. “My lady said the Prime Minister works tirelessly for the country and its people, and this small gift is nothing much — please don’t refuse it, Prime Minister.”

With that, she ran off immediately, as if afraid Hua Chun would stuff the item back into her hands.

Frowning slightly, Hua Chun felt this was going to be troublesome. She never accepted gifts — if the Empress Dowager found out, wouldn’t she be doomed? But she’d already accepted it; returning it now would create bad blood, wouldn’t it?

This was really causing her trouble! The jade pendant looked quite valuable — even without knowing much about antiques, its cool touch and quality were clearly not ordinary.

What should she do?

For the first time in her life receiving such a generous gift, she ended up not sleeping well that night, and the next day she stood in court with two dark circles under her eyes, and promptly fell asleep standing up.

“Prime Minister?” Yuwen Jie glanced sideways at her.

Eyes closed, Hua Chun swayed forward, backward, and side to side; once she reached a certain angle, she’d right herself automatically, looking exactly like a pen spinning in a pen holder.

The court fell silent, and everyone looked toward Prime Minister Hua. Grand Tutor Tang, standing behind her, panicked and quickly tugged at her robe. “Prime Minister!”

With a start, Hua Chun opened her eyes and looked up in a daze, meeting the Emperor’s murderous gaze head-on.

“…” She was innocent! She truly hadn’t slept well the night before, only managing about two hours. Her greatest wish right now was to go home and sleep the moment court ended.

With a mournful face, Hua Chun knelt down. “This official admits her fault!”

“Prime Minister Hua works so tirelessly with state affairs, it seems even more exhausting than being Emperor,” Yuwen Jie said flatly.

Everyone was startled to hear such a phrase applied to a prime minister, but the kneeling Prime Minister Hua showed no trace of fear, instead saying with complete composure, “If my sleepless nights can grant Your Majesty peace of mind, this official feels it is worthwhile.”

Li Zhongtang and the others let out a breath of relief, secretly giving her a thumbs up. They no longer needed to worry about the current Prime Minister Hua — look how skillfully she spoke, calm even in a crisis, more than capable of handling the Emperor’s provocations.

“The Prime Minister’s loyalty truly moves me.” The Emperor nodded. “Since that’s the case, after court ends, please come to Zichen Hall. I have matters that require your assistance.”

“This official… obeys.”

Hua Chun’s heart was breaking inside. She only wanted to be a beautiful young lady peacefully sleeping at home — why did the Emperor have more business for her again? This felt exactly like a teacher keeping the class late after the bell rang, incredibly annoying!

But there was no way around it — he was the boss, and she could only follow orders.

Forcing her eyelids to stay open until court ended, she followed the palace attendants to Zichen Hall like a walking zombie, arms hanging limp.

“Oh, right.” Remembering something, Hua Chun quickly straightened up and looked at the attendant beside her. “Could you help me deliver something to the Empress Dowager?”

The attendant paused, then nodded.

Hua Chun handed over the letter she’d had someone write that morning, along with the purple jade pendant, to the attendant.

This was the best solution she could think of — give the jade pendant to the Empress Dowager, saying it was from Consort Huo Zhaoyi. Whether the Empress Dowager accepted the favor or not was none of her business, and if Consort Huo Zhaoyi found out, she’d understand this was Hua Chun trying to earn her goodwill, so she wouldn’t blame her.

Truly killing two birds with one stone.

Only someone as clever and resourceful as herself could bear the heavy responsibility Hua Jinghua had left behind!

But while preparing to write the letter that morning, she’d realized that although her calligraphy resembled Hua Jinghua’s, anyone observant would surely notice the difference — like the Emperor, for instance.

She needed to find a way to avoid ever having to write again, to ensure she wouldn’t be exposed and could live safely.

“Prime Minister Hua.” He Chang’an had already arrived at the rear hall of Zichen Palace. Seeing her come in, he grabbed her and pulled her inside, closing the large doors of Zichen Hall.

What was going on? Hua Chun was startled and stared at him with wide eyes.

“Change your clothes.” Yuwen Jie stood inside and glanced at her. “Today we’re going incognito. Since the Prime Minister is so eager to share my burdens, I’ve decided to bring the Prime Minister along.”

Hua Chun was stunned.

Incognito… touring?

Hearing those words, all she could picture were assassination scenes from television dramas — men in black flying everywhere, swords and staffs all aimed at the Emperor.

And those accompanying him would either die protecting the Emperor from assassins, or be executed for failing to protect him adequately. Either way meant death!

She wanted to cry. “Your Majesty, why the sudden urge to leave the palace? There are many hidden dangers outside, it’s not very safe…”

“Is the palace safe?” the Emperor asked.

Remembering that night on the roof beam, Hua Chun shook her head heavily.

“There you go.” Yuwen Jie glanced at her. “Isn’t the Prime Minister supposed to never fear death? Why is she being such a coward today?”

“Heh heh…” Hua Chun pinched her own thigh hard and gritted out through clenched teeth, “This official isn’t afraid. This official obeys…”

“Good.” Yuwen Jie had already started undoing his own robe buttons, and casually tossed a garment to her. “Put this on.”

The two of them were alone with him in this vast rear hall — not even a maid to help them change. He Chang’an had already gracefully changed into an ordinary long robe, and the Emperor’s dragon robe was already half-undone.

A chill ran down Hua Chun’s back. She looked at the robe in her hands and swallowed. “Change here?”

“Yes.” He Chang’an smiled. “So no one finds out where we’re going, we’ll have to manage on our own… Does the Prime Minister not know how to change clothes by herself?”

Her face flushed slightly, her heart in near-collapse, Hua Chun forced herself to shake her head. “At home, the maids always helped me change…”

And that had been behind closed doors and windows, with only one maid attending her while she changed!

Having removed his dragon robe, Yuwen Jie was left in only a thin inner garment. Hearing this, his brow furrowed again, and without even putting on his own outer robe, he strode over and grabbed the buttons on her clothes directly.

“A grown man who doesn’t know how to change his own clothes! Prime Minister, you’re an embarrassment to our great Tang! Shall I personally attend to you?”

Hua Chun’s face went deathly pale, and she boldly pushed away the Emperor’s hands.

Damn it, someone was going to die today!