Upon returning to the imperial palace, Yan Qige brought Yusang and headed straight to Chengqian Hall. Outside the great hall, there was only one eunuch guarding the door, with no guards in sight.

Seeing Yan Qige, the eunuch approached to pay his respects and greet him. After inquiring, he learned that Imperial Consort Chen was currently inside the hall. She had dismissed all the guards, palace servants, and eunuchs, declaring that the Emperor would not receive any court officials today.

Yan Qige waved his hand and placed a talisman on the eunuch, freezing him in place. He then took out a small red embroidered pouch from his sleeve and handed it to Yusang, saying, “I need to attend to some matters. I need your help.”

“What is it?”

“Go to Yongze Hall, to that secret passage. Tear off the paper talismans from the phantom barrier, then take this and wait for me there.”

“Secret passage? So… so last night wasn’t a dream.” Yusang exclaimed in surprise. Just as she was about to ask questions, Yan Qige appeared very anxious. He stuffed the small red embroidered pouch into Yusang’s hands and quickly ascended the steps toward Chengqian Palace.

Chengqian Palace wasn’t far from Yongze Palace. When Yusang arrived, the place was completely deserted, saving her from having to sneak around. She made her way skillfully to the Buddha statue in the hall, found the second lotus petal, turned it, and once again fell hard down the secret passage.

Yusang complained in her heart about Yan Qige. If only she could use magic at this moment, she wouldn’t have to suffer like this. She groped her way down the passage until she reached the underground palace pool she had visited the night before. Yusang walked up to the high platform where the imperial palace model was placed and looked through the barrier into the world inside. She happened to see a large group of miniaturized palace servants running back and forth inside. A group of people dressed in azure-blue eunuch robes surrounded a person in bright yellow dragon robes, moving quickly between the palace walls. It seemed something significant was happening in the imperial palace world within this barrier.

Out of curiosity, Yusang took another step forward and bent down to get a clearer look. Somehow, it felt as if someone pushed her from behind. She suddenly pitched forward and tumbled toward the barrier. Yusang cried out in alarm, thinking she would surely smash the imperial palace model to pieces. But when she landed, it was soft and gentle, completely painless, and she even felt warm all over.

When Yusang opened her eyes, she was immediately stunned in place. Just moments ago, she had been standing in the underground palace pool, but now, before her rose towering green-tiled red walls. The sun blazed overhead, and palace servants carrying pots of chrysanthemums bustled back and forth everywhere, apparently preparing for something.

“Hurry, hurry! If you delay tonight’s chrysanthemum viewing banquet, watch your heads,” a eunuch with a sharp voice said, gesturing with orchid fingers as he stood on the steps scolding to establish his authority. He then walked down toward where Yusang stood. Frightened, Yusang quickly tried to dodge but ended up rushing toward another palace maid.

“I’m sorry…” Yusang’s apology was on her lips, about to be spoken, when she was shocked to discover that her body had passed right through the palace maid.

“They cannot see you,” a voice suddenly came as Yusang stood bewildered, startling her into quickly turning to look for the source. She saw a white-robed, otherworldly male spirit standing atop clusters of chrysanthemums.

“Yan Qige, how are you here? Weren’t you at Chengqian Palace?” Yusang called out in surprise and delight, leaping to land beside him.

“Yan Qige?” The man frowned, his face full of confusion and bewilderment. Faced with Yusang’s familiarity, he appeared very surprised and then asked, “Miss, do you know me?”

“Stop playing around. If you’re going to pretend not to know me, pick a better time for it.” Yusang waved her sleeve and rolled her eyes at him.

“I have been trapped here for a long time. No one has ever been able to see me. You are the first person, and also the first to call me by that name.”

The man’s face remained confused. He truly didn’t seem to be joking, and Yan Qige’s personality wasn’t one to make such jokes either. Yusang frowned and looked around, suddenly realizing a serious problem. She might no longer be in the mortal world—she had inadvertently entered the phantom barrier of the imperial palace.

“How did you get trapped here?”

“I don’t remember. It seems I woke up and found myself here.”

“Then what should we do?” Yusang asked, feeling puzzled and confused.

“May I borrow your palm?” The man extended his hand.

Yusang didn’t understand but still extended her hand. The man grasped Yusang’s hand and cut across her palm. Yusang’s hand immediately bore a wound, and blood began to seep out.

“What are you doing?” Yusang exclaimed as she pulled back her hand. But before she could say more or blame the person before her, she was shocked and opened her mouth wide. She saw her blood fall onto the chrysanthemums covering the ground, and the wind began to swirl there. The wind force then increased, forming the embryo of a tornado that expanded.

“Quickly leave this place.” The man grabbed Yusang’s hand and swiftly ran across the flowers. Yusang then heard thunderous roars behind them. The sky suddenly changed, with thunder and lightning flashing. The previously clear blue sky was replaced by dark clouds and storms, with torrential rain pouring down.

“What did you do?” Yusang asked loudly as she ran alongside the man.

“Your blood helped me break the forbidden curse. I am now a free spirit and can enter the next life. Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude, and if there’s ever an opportunity, I will surely repay you.” The man beside her smiled, then she saw him transform into a golden light and enter the palace ahead.

Yusang stood stunned in her tracks, standing in the pouring rain, watching that light disappear at the top of the palace. Then the sound of a baby’s cry came from the great hall, and palace servants ran out joyfully to kneel before the yellow-robed man waiting outside the door, saying, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! Felicitations, Your Majesty! Imperial Consort Yan has given birth to a prince!”

Before the emperor could speak, a eunuch ran past Yusang through the rain, bringing water all over his body as he knelt at the bottom of the steps and loudly declared, “Report to Your Majesty, the Empress has successfully given birth to a prince. Her Majesty the Empress sent this servant to report the good news and requests Your Majesty to bestow a name.”

“Excellent! This time our imperial family has gained two more males—truly a joyous occasion of弄璋 [having sons]. The Empress’s prince shall be bestowed the character ‘Zhang’ and granted the title of Crown Prince. As for the prince born to Imperial Consort Yan…” The emperor slightly raised his chin, looking at the imperial palace through the rain with apparent hesitation.

“Yan Qige.” Yusang somehow couldn’t help but speak up.

“Imperial Consort Yan’s child is my seventh child. Imperial Consort Yan is skilled in singing, so let him be bestowed the character ‘Ge’ [song], granted the title of Prince of the First Rank, with the posthumous title Yan.” The emperor announced loudly, after which everyone knelt to pay their respects and offer congratulations. Yusang stood in the rain watching this scene, slowly opening her mouth wide in shock, not even closing it as rainwater fell into her mouth.

It wasn’t that Yan Qige didn’t remember her, nor was Yan Qige deliberately pretending not to recognize her. The Yan Qige from earlier had not yet reached the time when he would know her. This phantom barrier placed beneath the imperial palace had actually frozen time at twenty-five years ago—the day Yan Qige and Zhao Zhang were born.

Yusang walked forward, ascending the palace steps to enter the great hall. She saw palace servants busily going in and out inside. On a bedspread with luxurious brocade silk bedding sat a woman with a pale complexion, holding a tender, crying baby in her arms.