The rain slanted sideways, striking Gu Yi’s face. Raindrops ran down her hair, converging into small streams that flowed down her forehead and cheeks, pouring into her neck, ice-cold.

She knew that she must look extremely disheveled at this moment, but she couldn’t worry about that now.

She blinked, and the water mist condensed on her eyelashes barely dispersed enough for her to see a cyan figure walking along the palace path outside Huan Yi Ju, not far away.

It seemed this plot point hadn’t changed!

She remembered that on the third night, she had successfully staked out the female protagonist here before. The two had strolled along the garden’s stone path together, bidding a reluctant farewell at the lakeside fork in the road.

And Xiaoyan would appear on the opposite shore moments later, across the rippling lake.

Since he wasn’t coming to Xiu Yidian, she would have to wait here with the female protagonist, like waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump.

If he didn’t pass by this lake tonight, even if she had to go to the front hall, she would try.

At worst, she would be charged with the crime of disrespect to a superior. Either way, the outcome would be the same!

Gu Yi couldn’t help but tighten her right hand inside her sleeve, clutching the white rabbit jade pendant firmly in her palm.

Zhao Wan held a paper umbrella, hugging the water-blue silk in her arms. Looking up, she saw Beauty Gu, soaking wet, hurrying toward her.

She halted her steps and said anxiously, “Why has the beauty come? This servant was just about to go to the west side hall of Xiu Yidian to deliver the silk to the beauty…”

Gu Yi impatiently grabbed her wrist, “Come with me.” She pulled Zhao Wan toward the lakeside stone path.

Tao Jia hurriedly followed, holding the oil paper umbrella over Gu Yi’s head. Even so, Gu Yi’s lotus-colored double-breasted long shirt and cyan gauze skirt were already soaked by the rain, clinging to her body.

Tao Jia did not forget to advise, “Beauty, why are you walking so hurriedly? Where are you going? With this rain, the lakeside must be extremely slippery. The beauty should be careful!”

Gu Yi turned to look at Tao Jia and saw that she too was already drenched like a drowned rat.

Tonight’s actions were indeed quite risky, so it was better not to bring her along.

Gu Yi snatched the silk from Zhao Wan’s arms and handed it to Tao Jia, saying, “You’re not needed now. Take this bolt of silk and return quickly to the west side hall of Xiu Yidian.”

Tao Jia exclaimed in shock, “What about the beauty? Isn’t the beauty going back? The rain is so heavy, there’s no joy in strolling by the lake!”

Gu Yi waved her hand, “Don’t worry about me, just go back.” As she spoke, she stuffed the silk into Tao Jia’s arms and turned quickly, pulling Zhao Wan along.

Tao Jia bit her lip, not daring to disobey, and could only walk back alone, carrying the cloth.

Another clap of thunder rolled across the sky, illuminating the lake surface beside them with a flash of blue light.

Gu Yi turned to look and glimpsed a procession of people at the slanting bamboo shadows by the lake.

The front man stood tall, dressed in bright yellow.

A long line of palace attendants followed behind.

It was the Emperor.

The plot truly doesn’t deceive me!

Gu Yi suddenly felt as if she had been injected with adrenaline. Pulling Zhao Wan, she quickened her steps to meet them!

Zhao Wan, of course, had also seen the person wearing the bright yellow everyday clothes.

She anxiously tried to break free from Gu Yi’s left hand, struggling and pleading, “May the beauty forgive me! This servant is covered in rain and dirt, and to appear before the Emperor would be disrespectful! This servant… this servant…”

But Gu Yi interrupted her, “Haven’t you always wanted to see him? Since you can see him tonight, why not?”

Zhao Wan was so shocked her eyes widened, “Beauty…” How did she know…

Gu Yi felt indignant inside, holding back a surge of anger.

Come on, plot, let’s hurt each other!

Eunuch Gao had sharp eyes and immediately saw two figures hurriedly approaching through the rain curtain.

Two women.

Although they held a paper umbrella, both had wet hair clinging to their cheeks, and they were soaked from head to toe, looking like water ghosts.

What kind of people are these, dressing like this and still daring to seek favor!

Eunuch Gao glanced sideways, and immediately two palace guards jogged forward to drive them away.

Xiaoyan passed through the rain curtain, his steps originally very quick. Seeing people approaching on the path ahead, he frowned slightly and halted his steps. The palace attendant behind him, who held the umbrella and fan, stopped abruptly, barely steadying the umbrella handle, afraid that rainwater would drip onto the Emperor.

“Make way for the Imperial Procession!” the palace attendant shouted as he approached Gu Yi.

Gu Yi promptly knelt, bowing deeply, and forcefully threw the white rabbit jade pendant from her sleeve!

It slid out in an arc, falling into a small puddle formed by the rain, splashing several raindrops, and stopping just before the Emperor’s feet about ten paces away.

This white rabbit jade pendant—the key prop that the female protagonist had agonized over for half the book, forty-five chapters of “should I show it to him or not”—was thus thrown before Xiaoyan.

The progress bar of the plot was now being dragged by her!

Gu Yi had figured it out. In the previous cycle, she had diligently and conscientiously preserved the plot and its progress, but in the end, it was all for nothing.

This time, she would take the initiative!

Seeing the Emperor’s slight movement, Zhao Wan immediately bowed her head and knelt.

Xiaoyan’s gaze swept over the two figures kneeling in the rain, stopping on the white jade before his dark boots.

The white rabbit form seemed familiar.

His long eyebrows slightly gathered as he bent down to pick up the white jade and held it in his palm for careful examination.

The reclining rabbit jade was smooth to the touch. His heart stirred slightly as he turned over the pendant and his index finger carefully traced the brand engraved in the lower right corner—an extremely small character for ‘jade,’ each stroke light and faint, integrated into the white jade. If not carefully examined, this heart, this intention, would never see the light of day, never be known.

The Jade Sighting Rod points to mid-winter, how numerous the stars.

Xiaoyan began to laugh, a clear laugh but sounding almost mad. He laughed only twice before stopping.

“This jade… this jade… to whom does it belong?” His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet distinctly audible in the pouring rain.

Zhao Wan bowed deeply and said, “This jade… this jade belongs to this servant.”

Xiaoyan looked at her carefully, seeing her eyebrows and eyes lowered, her face hidden in shadow. “Raise your head.”

Zhao Wan slowly straightened her back and raised her head.

The emperor before her, with frost and snow in his eyes, coldly stared at her, “Who are you?”

Zhao Wan answered softly, “This servant is Zhao Wan, a palace maid from Huan Yi Ju.”

“Zhao Wan…” Xiaoyan laughed softly, “So, you are the descendant of Zhao Jie…”

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat. This progress bar was being pulled too fast.

The mystery of the female protagonist’s background, hidden for sixty chapters in the book, was revealed so quickly…

Weren’t they supposed to be childhood playmates who had known each other since they were young? Had that just been skipped over?

This progress bar pull… had she pulled too hard?

She’d messed up…

She lay prone on the ground, not daring to move.

Seeing that Zhao Wan’s face had turned pale and she wasn’t answering, Xiaoyan turned his gaze to the figure kneeling beside her.

He saw her with her head bowed, kneeling on the ground, with four plain white pearl flowers pinned to her pitch-black hair, washed over by the rain, lying limply among her tresses.

“And who are you?”

Hello, I’m Gu Leifeng, who saved you before.

Gu Yi grumbled inwardly but answered, “This concubine is Beauty Gu from the west side hall of Xiu Yidian.”

Xiaoyan made an “Oh” sound. “So it was you who threw the jade just now?”

His tone was even colder than in her memory.

She didn’t dare raise her head and only obediently said, “This concubine’s hand slipped just now… it was accidentally thrown…”

“Insolent.”

Gu Yi trembled upon hearing this, the words falling heavily with great anger.

It was not the tone of Xiaoyan from her memory.

She swallowed and bowed, “This concubine spoke wrongly, may Your Majesty forgive the crime.”

Xiaoyan held the white jade, his thoughts turning.

If this Beauty Gu had deliberately schemed to use this jade as leverage, she could not be allowed to remain.

He glanced again at her lowered head, seeing a few strands of black hair falling beside her ear, revealing a small, snow-white earlobe.

Yet the word “kill” could not leave his mouth.

Thunder rolled on the horizon, and the heavy rain pounded the ground with continuous pattering sounds.

After a moment of silence, Xiaoyan said, “Zhao Wan, of exceptional beauty, is promoted today to Beauty Wan, assigned to reside in the west side hall of Xiu Yidian.”

Eunuch Gao was pleased upon hearing this and was about to respond when he heard the Emperor continue, “Beauty Gu of Xiu Yidian harbors ill intentions, has shown disrespect before the Imperial Presence, and is demoted to Talent, to be moved out of Xiu Yidian.”

Gu Yi prostrated on the ground, blinking. This outcome was within her expectations.

After all, she had so blatantly brought the female protagonist to cause trouble and had used the key prop to provoke Xiaoyan. She couldn’t possibly escape unscathed.

She even suspected that the original Beauty Gu had met her end like this.

At present, she had only been demoted in rank, which, it must be said, was still somewhat fortunate.

But the good thing was, the plot was on track. Although it seemed to have fast-forwarded through sixty chapters, it was on track.

Zhao Wan bowed, “Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

Gu Yi also bowed, “Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

She soon heard footsteps growing fainter and fainter. Only when she could no longer hear them did Gu Yi raise her head.

Zhao Wan stared at her unblinkingly, “What exactly was Talent Gu’s intention?”

Gu Yi stood up, her wet clothes clinging to her body, feeling thoroughly uncomfortable. She gave a slight smile, “Beauty Wan got what she wanted, isn’t that good?”

Zhao Wan frowned and asked, “Who exactly are you?” Why would you help me?

Gu Yi laughed, “Just an insignificant person in the back palace. I wish Beauty Wan a brilliant future.”

With that, she left for Xiu Yidian without further delay.

Since it had been said that she was to be moved out, the Palace Attire Office would send people tonight to relocate her from Xiu Yidian.

The heavy rain suddenly ceased, and the summer breeze blew away the deep, dark clouds.

A bright, clear moon hung high in the vast sky.

In the imperial city, the third watch drum was struck in succession.

Gu Yi’s anxious heart finally settled completely.

With operations as fierce as a tiger, she had truly survived the initial thirty-six hours.

Thank heaven, thank earth, thank spoilers.

Those bedtime readings of “The Heartless Emperor Falls in Love with Me” had not been in vain.

Thinking of this, she looked around, examining this unfamiliar palace chamber.

Pingcui Palace was a small palace in the northwest corner of the Western Garden. Due to years of disrepair, it appeared quite dilapidated, almost equivalent to the Cold Palace.

The wooden couch in the hall was old, and the cabinet was covered in dust.

But none of this mattered, after all, she had pulled forward the progress bar of the main emotional plotline.

She would stay in the Cold Palace for a while, and perhaps the main plot would soon be completed.

By then, she could leave the palace to become the happy, wealthy woman she aspired to be.

Gu Yi changed out of her wet clothes, inside and out, and looked up to see Tao Jia carrying a basin of hot water into the hall, her eyes slightly red.

She asked in surprise, “You’ve been crying?”

Tao Jia shook her head, set down the basin, and said with a slight choke in her voice, “This servant hasn’t cried. This servant just can’t understand why, when everything was fine, the beauty was demoted to a Talent and moved to the Western Garden?”

Gu Yi wanted to comfort her, “Blessings and misfortunes come hand in hand. Perhaps this is a blessing, not a misfortune.”

Tao Jia, with a bitter face, only responded with an “Mm.”