In Heluo Palace, Gu Yi heard the palace attendant announce: “His Majesty the Emperor arrives.”

She hurriedly put the “Book of Truth” into a pear wood brocade box.

She never expected Xiaoyan to come so quickly!

She rushed to the palace door and saw Xiaoyan already stepping into the hall. She immediately curtseyed and said, “This concubine greets Your Majesty. Wishing Your Majesty a happy birthday!”

Xiaoyan saw that she was dressed beautifully today in a flowing vermilion gown, with flower hairpins and jade pendants. Three jeweled tassels swayed gently.

With a smile in his voice, he said, “Rise.”

Gu Yi keenly sensed that Xiaoyan seemed to be in a good mood!

After all, he was the birthday star.

She smiled, “Has Your Majesty come to receive your gift? This concubine has been diligently working on it for many days and finally finished it today!”

Xiaoyan swept his robe aside and sat down in the armchair that Gu Yi usually preferred. “Oh? Let me see it.”

“This concubine obeys.” Gu Yi presented the brocade box like a treasure. “Please look, Your Majesty.”

Xiaoyan took it, lifted the lid, and saw a book with the four large characters ‘Book of Truth’ on the cover.

More of her mystical tricks.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Book of Truth? What do these four characters mean?”

Gu Yi cleared her throat slightly. “When this concubine was young, I heard a folk tale that said somewhere west of the Western Regions, there was a person who compiled a Book of Truth. If the book’s holder had doubts in their heart, they could hold this book, sincerely ask their question, and then flip through it. The annotation on the page they landed on would be the answer to their question.”

Xiaoyan laughed, “Concubine Gu certainly knows many folk tales…”

Gu Yi chuckled, “Your Majesty, why not try it and see if it works?”

Xiaoyan took out the book and asked, “Will there be snow disasters this winter?”

Gu Yi watched nervously as his slender fingers flipped through the book and stopped on a page.

She stretched her neck and asked, “Your Majesty, what does it say?”

Xiaoyan’s lips curved slightly, “Swirling winds do not last all morning, heavy snow does not fall all day.”

Gu Yi smiled, “Your Majesty, see how accurate it is!” Her luck was truly incredible!

Xiaoyan laughed, “Gu Yi, don’t tell me this entire book is filled with flattery and sycophantic words?” As he spoke, he was about to flip through the book.

Gu Yi, having been seen through, wasn’t flustered. She quickly pressed her hand on his to stop him from turning the pages. “Your Majesty, this is the Book of Truth. It must only be consulted when there is a genuine question in your heart. Casually browsing through it won’t yield accurate results!” Chicken soup for the soul only works when drunk at the crucial moment!

Xiaoyan saw how serious she was and found it even more amusing. “Very well… Since it’s Concubine Gu’s heartfelt gift, I shall gladly accept it.”

Meanwhile, Eunuch Gao, who had been observing the entire scene expressionlessly, sneered inwardly. One dared to say it, and the other dared to believe it!

Concubine Gu was truly the Great Mu Dynasty’s number one flatterer!

Even he couldn’t compare.

At the hour of You, the Emperor held his birthday banquet in Baohua Hall.

Due to the winter frost, warming braziers were placed in the four corners of the hall. Palace servants arranged lucky tangerines near the braziers, filling the room with a sweet fruit fragrance.

Gu Yi sat in a corner on the west side, closest to a jade incense burner.

Everyone in the Six Palaces knew that Concubine Gu’s jade token had been removed by the Respect Affairs Department. As people’s gazes swept over her, some contained sympathy, some mockery, and some simply ignored her.

No matter how favored she had been, if she couldn’t serve in bed or bear children, as beauty fades and youth withers, life would truly become difficult.

Gu Yi herself seemed completely unaware. Holding a lucky tangerine, she focused her gaze on Consort Su, who sat slightly higher than her.

Consort Su’s face was thickly powdered, making her jade-like complexion appear even whiter. Though she tried her best to maintain a faint smile, her eyes still revealed traces of helplessness.

After all, Qi Huo had been punished with confinement for self-reflection, bringing shame to the Qi family.

Consort De sat beside her, her complexion increasingly rosy, showing her good fortune.

Gu Yi raised her cup and took a sip of hot tea, then turned her gaze toward Concubine Wang. Since Concubine Wang’s last visit to Heluo Palace, the two hadn’t met face to face.

Concubine Wang took the initiative to make small talk: “I heard that my cousin Wang Zibo went to Fuzhou some days ago for the land tax collection matter. Has Concubine Gu heard anything about this?”

Gu Yi shook her head and honestly replied, “No, I rarely exchange letters with my family, so I don’t know.”

The Gu family had indeed never sent her letters, whether due to their official rank or natural caution.

Concubine Wang nodded, “I heard that Fuzhou seems to be warmer than the capital. This winter has been so cold, and it’s only the eleventh month.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Indeed, I sleep with a hot water bottle every night.”

Concubine Wang smiled and turned her gaze to look at Concubine Gong on the other side.

She saw her wearing a new mouse-colored peony-patterned skirt, dressed extravagantly.

Concubine Wang rolled her eyes disdainfully.

Gu Yi followed her gaze and also looked at Concubine Gong.

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Ah, Concubine Gong is going to be in trouble today…

Light a candle for her.

Suddenly, drums and music played in unison as dancers in blue gauze whirled into the hall.

The Emperor sat high on the jade steps, watching as more than a dozen dancers twirled gracefully before him.

Half a moment later, the light drumbeats changed abruptly.

The melody shifted upward, expanding and contracting with perfect control.

Crimson wheels supporting twelve wooden stakes were slowly pushed into Baohua Hall by palace servants.

Twelve three-foot wooden stakes carved with intertwining red plum blossoms stood on the blue brick floor of the hall.

Plum blossom stakes…

Was this the Flying Dance seen at the previous Mid-Autumn Palace banquet?

Everyone turned their gaze toward Concubine Gong, who sat rigidly in the hall.

On that day, Concubine Gong had received rewards for her dance. Today… wasn’t Concubine Gong going to perform the Flying Dance?

Who else… could perform the Flying Dance?

Gu Yi stared at the vermilion-lacquered main door of Baohua Hall and saw a graceful figure slowly enter.

Here she comes, here she comes, the female protagonist has finally arrived to slap faces…

Zhao Wan wore rainbow-colored clothes, her waist as slender as a branch, her skirt swaying radiantly.

With the lightest touch of her toes, she leaped onto the wooden stakes.

She moved with such agility and grace, like a celestial being.

Concubine Gong tightly clutched her embroidered handkerchief, her expression still disbelieving.

The others kept their eyes fixed on Concubine Qi in the center.

When the music stopped, the entire hall fell silent, as if still immersed in the enchanting Flying Dance, unable to break free.

Zhao Wan gracefully descended to the ground and bowed: “Zhao Wan pays respects to Your Majesty. Wishing Your Majesty eternal longevity.” Her voice trembled slightly, still catching her breath.

Xiaoyan’s face beneath the beaded crown showed signs of interest. “Your Flying Dance was excellent… but it seems particularly familiar to me. I wonder why?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Concubine Gong hurriedly interjected: “Has Your Majesty forgotten? This concubine also performed this dance during the Mid-Autumn feast. Your Majesty even rewarded this concubine with mooncakes…”

Xiaoyan acted as if he truly didn’t remember. “Is that so?”

Concubine Wang, seeing the anxiety on Concubine Gong’s face, instantly understood.

What a clever substitution!

She lightly laughed while holding her silk handkerchief. “Your Majesty is so perceptive… Concubine Zhao’s dance style looks familiar to this concubine as well. Not only the movements but even the figure seems familiar…” Concubine Wang feigned surprise and drew in a breath, looking toward Concubine Gong. “Sister Gong, could it be that the person who danced at the Mid-Autumn banquet was Concubine Zhao…”

Bitch!

Concubine Gong smiled, “Sister Wang, is such nonsense because you’ve had too much peach blossom wine?”

Still pretending!

Concubine Wang, seeing her smiling face, turned to ask Zhao Wan, who was still kneeling on the ground, “Concubine Zhao, what do you say? Everyone here in Baohua Hall can bear witness for you today.”

Zhao Wan knelt on the ground, her face like a peach blossom with light powder on her cheeks. She bit her lip gently with her pearl-like teeth, revealing a hesitant expression, but didn’t answer.

Only silence remained.

But at this moment, silence was more powerful than words.

Concubine Gong’s brows furrowed slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Consort De, seated in the place of honor, spoke up: “What’s this? On such a fine birthday celebration, must we have such scheming drama? If Concubine Zhao doesn’t wish to speak, then let it be.” She turned to look at the Emperor with a sweet smile. “Don’t you agree, Your Majesty? There are still many more performances to come…”

With Consort De’s words, Concubine Gong secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Within the entire palace, no one would dare to defy Consort De’s wishes.

Looking up carefully, she saw that the Emperor also appeared indifferent.

This matter would pass lightly…

“Sister Liu, that’s not quite right…”

Consort De was startled by these words and looked toward their source.

It was Consort Su, who usually avoided the spotlight.

Consort Su gave a light laugh and continued, “Whether Concubine Zhao performed in place of Concubine Gong during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she may not wish to say, but everyone present can see with their own eyes. Whether it’s true or not, can’t we tell the difference?”

Her beautiful eyes moved, falling on Zhao Wan, lingering briefly, then suddenly turning to Gu Yi.

“Since Concubine Zhao lives in Heluo Palace, I imagine she and Concubine Gu are as close as sisters. What everyone is discussing, she must have told Concubine Gu…” She laughed softly. “Concubine Gu, what do you say?”

Concubine Gu still didn’t want to say anything!

She just wanted to be a quiet spectator!

Gu Yi saw everyone’s gaze turn toward her and nervously put down the half-eaten tangerine she was holding.

“In reply to Consort Su, Concubine Zhao indeed has not mentioned today’s Flying Dance to me.” Please, don’t drag me into this!

Consort Su’s eyebrows raised slightly, and she laughed delicately. “Then in your opinion, was it Concubine Gong or Concubine Zhao who performed the Flying Dance at the Mid-Autumn Palace banquet?”

After Consort Su spoke, both Concubine Gong and Concubine Zhao fixed their gazes on Gu Yi, nearly piercing through her.

Gu Yi avoided both their gazes, her face smiling. “This concubine is slow-witted. During the Mid-Autumn evening banquet, I was sitting too far away and really… couldn’t see clearly… Therefore, I cannot accurately say who it was…”

Hearing this, Zhao Wan froze, her lips parted slightly, but not a single word came out.

Consort Su sighed in disappointment. “If that’s the case…”

Seeing that the matter was about to be dismissed, Gu Yi felt anxious inside. She looked at Zhao Wan again and saw that she still showed no intention of defending herself.

There was no other way! In the book, this plot was revealed by Zhao Wan herself.

But the current Zhao Wan didn’t want to reveal it. To preserve the main storyline, it was up to her!

Gu Yi took a deep breath and reluctantly said, “However… if Consort Su wants to know, this concubine does have a method.”

Consort Su’s willow eyebrows moved slightly, and she asked with great interest, “Concubine Gu, what method is that?”

Xiaoyan’s cold, clear gaze turned toward her.

Gu Yi thought for a moment, then slowly began, “This concubine once heard from a palace servant in the Production Control Department that these plum blossom stakes, though looking identical on the outside, are quite different inside. Three of the plum blossom stakes, being stepped on the most, actually have copper pillars inside, covered with pear wood. Others cannot tell the difference, but only the dancer, when stepping on them, can see the copper flower imprints embedded in the stakes. If it was indeed the dancer from that day, she would be able to identify which three wooden stakes had copper flower imprints… and also know what pattern these copper flower imprints were…”

After Gu Yi finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.

She modestly lowered her head slightly.

Female protagonist, if you attain wealth and status, don’t forget me!