This world has never lacked people who rush into flames like moths. Li Anlan had now made preparations to rush into the fire. Just moments ago, her Father Emperor decided to marry her to someone called Meng Zha. He was from Lingnan, a native king controlling Nine Mountains and Eighteen Stockades. Having just lost his wife, he boldly petitioned the Emperor for marriage. What had originally been a hopeless notion became reality the moment the Emperor agreed.

Li Anlan only glanced at Meng Zha once before returning to her small tower. She had no say in marriage matters.

Perhaps ever since she told her father she wanted to marry far away, her father in his fury had casually chosen someone for her. She didn’t care—everything was already casual anyway. Casually find a teacher, casually find a small tower, casually let her wander the palace, casually find her a maidservant, and casually finding her a husband was nothing special either.

Except for her maidservant, nothing made Li Anlan happy.

Ambition was like grass—once it showed its head, anyone could see it, let alone her father who dominated the realm and her mother whose mind was meticulous as hair. Her own weak mother only knew how to dress beautifully and sit in the deep palace waiting for Emperor Father’s favor, completely disregarding the wrinkles at her eye corners and already sagging skin. Every day she held the greatest hope while waiting, always extinguishing her candle and retiring to bed only after all the palace concubines’ lights had dimmed.

Standing in her small tower, she could see her mother’s lonely silhouette cast on the window in the distance, even the hairpins on her head clearly distinguishable. Li Anlan saw her Father Emperor had gone to the Empress’s residence again, so Mother was destined to wait in vain again today.

Watching her mother extinguish the candle, Li Anlan lay flat on her back on the small tower’s terrace, enjoying the most beautiful time of her day. Even though she’d received terrible news today, it couldn’t make her abandon this enjoyment.

She had spent nine years naming all the stars she could see. Only they were somewhat mischievous, constantly changing positions. Several times she had nearly gotten them mixed up.

Tonight Qiongqiong was the brightest star. Li Anlan stretched out her hand to greet it. She remembered very clearly that Qiongqiong was the first name she’d given a star. That day, her teacher had just taught the lines: “The lonely white rabbit runs east and west looking around. Clothes are not as good as new, people are not as good as old.” These four verses of poetry, and told her these were the most beautiful words. As long as one recited these four verses before an old friend, the old friend would remember former relatives and friends, and harmony would be restored.

Li Anlan believed her teacher’s words and hurriedly ran to her father to recite these four verses. The result—Father didn’t think of Mother. The beautiful Princess Qin praised Li Anlan for reciting the poem well and even rewarded her with a sachet. The stubborn Li Anlan returned to Mother’s residence in tears, telling Mother that Teacher was a liar, a big liar.

The brilliant Milky Way hung at the sky’s edge, emitting splendid light. On moonless nights at the beginning of the month, having it seemed sufficient. The enormous black curtain was studded with crystalline gems. The Milky Way was like the most beautiful necklace—who knew who could wear it? If anyone could wear it, this necklace would surely make her the most beautiful, most dazzling beauty.

A black shadow flashed at the corner of her eye. Without thinking, she knew it was Little Lingdang, again wearing her Kunlun slave mask to frighten Li Anlan. Though they’d played this game for three years without novelty, Li Anlan still prepared to be frightened because Little Lingdang never tired of it.

Little Lingdang pounced. Li Anlan tried hard to put on a frightened expression—very simple, just open her mouth, close her eyes, and emit a scream. That was enough to satisfy Little Lingdang completely.

After playing around for a while, Little Lingdang obediently lay still in Li Anlan’s embrace. Together they enjoyed this rare leisure time. Li Anlan actually greatly envied Lingdang—she could always find ways to make herself happy.

Though not good at studying, she could casually name all the plants in the imperial palace. She loved eating, but unfortunately Li Anlan didn’t have much good food to give her. Though Lingdang envied other palace maids who had meat to eat, it was only envy—just drooling was enough.

She had her own joys. Plucking a morning glory flower, she’d suck the sweet nectar from the back. She could eat locust flowers all day without getting tired of them. Plump elm seeds were her favorite. She loved teasing fat bees, even when stung until she cried out, she wouldn’t stop.

Getting a few kumquats from Mother, she could also eat them with relish. Li Anlan only took one bite—the sour and astringent juice made her teeth uncomfortable all day. But Lingdang seemed not to care at all. As long as it was food, that little mouth of hers could swallow it.

Li Anlan unconsciously hugged Lingdang tighter. This was the only person she could completely possess and depend on.

“Princess, are you really going to marry that native king from Lingnan? He’s so ugly and so short. Most frightening is his teeth are all black. He’s not worthy of you. Princess, why don’t you marry Young Master Yun instead?”

“What’s so good about Yun Ye? He and my Father Emperor, and the Crown Prince are all the same type of people. Father Emperor’s pride shows outwardly. The Crown Prince is the same. Only Yun Ye’s pride emanates from his bones. Lingdang, don’t marry proud men. They won’t care about women’s feelings. I’d rather marry a mediocre good person than marry a proud genius.”

“But Young Master Yun is a good person! He not only made us delicious food, that time I accidentally walked to the Eastern Palace, he didn’t have anyone punish me and even helped me save Snowball. At the time Snowball was filthy all over, like a dirt ball. Who knew after washing it clean, I discovered Snowball was white. Princess, won’t you marry Young Master Yun? I’m afraid just seeing that monkey from Lingnan.”

“It’s too late, Lingdang. He’s getting married next month. If the incident of offending the Grand Emperor hadn’t happened, there might have been a chance. Now Father Emperor has already issued the decree. I can only marry the native king. But it doesn’t matter. This stupid fellow—I’ll clutch him tightly in my palm. In the future we’ll seize all his Nine Mountains and Eighteen Stockades. We’ll be in charge ourselves. Men can’t be relied upon. We can only find our own solutions.”

“But we’re only two people. We can’t beat them. I also heard Xiao Yue say they’re savages who eat people when hungry. Princess, let’s not go to Lingnan. We’ll die. I’m scared.”

Lingdang’s whimpering cries made Li Anlan’s heart ache. She herself had nothing. Besides her body, what else could be used? But thinking of the native king’s dark, scrawny body about to press on her, all her body hair stood on end.

Wiping away tears, Li Anlan tried hard not to think about the native king. She cast her gaze toward the distant depths of the universe. That star in the Milky Way called Dudu blinked at her, seemingly mocking her weakness and incompetence.

Having been strong for so many years, Father Emperor’s single decree immediately threw her into the eighteenth level of hell. She didn’t even have room to fight back, could only be manipulated at will. Li Anlan didn’t want to die. She’d rather live facing hell than die. To her, death was the most humiliating expression.

Dudu blinked unchangingly. Li Anlan cried unchangingly. Yun Ye said though Dudu looked small, it was actually much bigger than the land they inhabited. Lies—big liar.

Snowball climbed up the stairs, nestled at Lingdang’s feet. Lingdang, who never worried, for the first time had no smile, listlessly fidgeting with Snowball’s soft ears.

Who would care about my life? Who would care about my body?

People in desperate moments always burst forth with powerful resentment. This resentment fermented into anger in Li Anlan’s chest. She clenched her fists, the knuckles turning white from excessive force.

On her taut hand was a pale red mark, a full inch long. A strange notion suddenly arose in Li Anlan’s mind—perhaps no one cared about her life, but surely someone cared about this body?

She suddenly sat up, bit by bit recalling the origin of this scar. It was from when she accidentally cut herself while practicing swordwork. The wound was deep. She hadn’t paid attention, just wrapped it with a handkerchief—anyway, in the palace she couldn’t find an imperial physician for treatment either.

When Yun Ye came to the palace to visit her and saw this wound, he was actually furious, loudly rebuking Li Anlan for not knowing how to care for her body. How could this continue? After speaking, he rode his fast horse home to get medicine, treating the wound properly and thoroughly. To avoid leaving a scar, Yun Ye split silk thread into fine strands and used the finest needle to carefully stitch the wound bit by bit. At the time, she had even praised his good medical skills.

Yun Ye only glanced at her coldly. That’s right—just a cold glance. No concern, no love, only reproach. It seemed he only cared whether the body was harmed, but was completely insensitive to her pain.

Dragon-eye-sized pearls, crystal clear—he didn’t hesitate to crush them to powder with a medicine pestle, mixed with honey and stirred into a paste to wrap around the already healed wound, saying this way it wouldn’t leave a scar.

People couldn’t withstand scrutiny. When Li Anlan’s memories retreated to their first meeting, that “wife” he’d called her revealed far too many clues.

Li Anlan unfastened her garments, even removing her underclothes. Just like that, she stood naked on the terrace. Little Lingdang cried anxiously, wanting to put clothes on the Princess. Li Anlan evaded Little Lingdang, thrusting out her full bosom and asking Lingdang: “Lingdang, don’t be afraid. I’m not crazy. I just want to ask you—is my body beautiful?”

The spring evening breeze lifted Li Anlan’s long hair. Her high breasts were exposed in the night. Through the swirling hair strands, two red beans could faintly be seen trembling in the night wind. Her slender waist could barely be grasped in one hold. Her rounded buttocks and long legs made Little Lingdang’s face flush red.

Li Anlan laughed mockingly, yet her eyes were cold as ice. Allowing Little Lingdang to drape an outer robe over her, she gently stroked Little Lingdang’s hair and said: “Now the trouble of this body is no longer ours—it belongs to another person. I believe even if he has to eliminate the native king, he won’t let the native king’s dirty hands touch this body even once.”