Feng Miaojun reached out and deftly plucked the rose. “I have other matters to attend to. State Preceptor, please make yourself comfortable.” She smiled at Yu Haizhen, then departed surrounded by her entourage.

As night fell, the Imperial Censor’s mansion received a visitor.

Chen Dachang was a longtime favorite of the Queen. Remarkably, Feng Miaojun’s favor toward him remained unchanged for ten years—he was both prominent and specialized. The Imperial Censor’s residence should have been bustling with visitors, but Chen Dachang never invited friends for banquets. Even when distinguished guests came to his mansion, they were not allowed to stay longer than half an hour.

The officials all understood his behavior was to prevent the Queen’s suspicion, but as time passed, no one wanted to deal with someone so unapproachable, and they stopped visiting his residence unless necessary.

Thus, the Imperial Censor’s mansion was a rare quiet official residence in Wuser City, with few visitors at its gates.

This inconspicuous gray carriage stopped at the back door. A gray-robed guest wearing a veiled hat stepped down, pushed open the door, and entered. The carriage promptly trotted away, unnoticed by anyone.

Once inside the courtyard, the guest removed the hat and robe, revealing a face as beautiful as a celestial maiden—it was Yu Haizhen.

A large hand extended from the side, taking her outer garments. Someone was leaning against the doorway, with eyes brilliantly illuminated by the moonlight.

Yu Haizhen still remembered that when she first met him, his gaze was just as penetrating, leaving a deep impression.

Except at that time, she had wanted nothing more than to gouge out his eyeballs.

The mansion was eerily quiet. “Where is everyone else?”

“Great-aunt went to visit the elder Lady Liu for a chat and hasn’t returned yet. The maids in the front hall never come to the study or the back courtyard.” The Imperial Censor’s residence had the fewest servants in all of Wuser. Originally, he didn’t even employ female attendants, with only a few laborers and a cook in the residence. When his great-aunt moved here from the Kingdom of Wei, he hired two maids to serve the elderly lady but established strict rules.

Chen Dachang had never enjoyed being waited upon, but now this preference proved convenient for maintaining secrecy.

Just as Yu Haizhen entered the hall, he embraced her from behind. His body heat transmitted through her thin, soft clothing, feeling especially comforting on the cool night.

His breathing was somewhat heavy. In his arms, she appeared particularly petite.

Yu Haizhen felt a tingling sensation run up her back, making her want to lean back against him, but she patted his arm. “I’m hungry. Do you have anything to eat?”

“You haven’t eaten yet?” The sky was already dark; he had waited for so long.

“I have.” She simply didn’t want him to get his way immediately. She pouted slightly, “But I’m not full.”

Chen Dachang immediately released her. “I do.”

That warm embrace retreated swiftly, causing Yu Haizhen’s expression to darken slightly.

Shouldn’t men new to romance cling like glue, impossible to shake off? But the next moment, Chen Dachang grasped her delicate hand and led her to the kitchen.

Passing through the hall, she noticed a wooden vase on the table with a rose in it, vibrant as fire, with dewdrops that seemed to still glisten on its petals.

“That rose looks familiar,” she casually pointed at it. “Where did you get it?” This fellow had remained single for many years for a reason; even if he had nothing better to do, he wouldn’t voluntarily pick roses to put in vases.

“The Queen sent someone to deliver it,” Chen Dachang mentioned, also finding it puzzling. “She said it was the most beautiful flower in the royal garden and instructed me to take good care of it.”

The Queen was truly thoughtful. Yu Haizhen’s lips curved slightly upward. “What about this vase?”

“I carved it myself this afternoon.”

It looked quite nice. She had always known he was the type who lacked eloquence but possessed skillful hands.

In the kitchen, he presented her with a steaming bowl of lotus root dumplings sprinkled with sugared osmanthus. Yu Haizhen’s sharp eyes noticed that the stove had been kept on low heat to maintain just the right temperature.

This blockhead had moments of thoughtfulness.

She ate the dumplings slowly. They were fragrant, with the perfect balance of filling—sweet but not cloying. In all of Wuser City, she was probably the only one who knew of Chen Dachang’s culinary skills. Xie Shuangying had truly missed out on much enjoyment by not marrying him.

The bowl contained fifteen lotus root dumplings, which for cultivators was merely a snack. She scooped one with a silver spoon, bit through the lotus skin, and gently blew on the filling until it was just the right temperature before placing it in her mouth and chewing slowly.

Chen Dachang watched her moist red lips pucker, and his Adam’s apple instinctively bobbed.

As Yu Haizhen ate, she questioned him, “The Kingdom of Yan suffered a major defeat, losing over a hundred thousand men in one battle. What do you think the King of Yan plans to do next?”

Chen Dachang replied without hesitation, “I don’t know.”

She didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Then think about it.”

“He should change his strategy.” Chen Dachang indeed pondered for two breaths. “With Wei’s State Preceptor awakening, the Yan army is no longer invincible. The aggressive approach they’ve employed these past few months should be unsuitable now.”

“Will Yan withdraw their troops?”

Chen Dachang contemplated, “Probably not. If they retreat now, they would also have to return the southern plains they fought so hard to capture back to Wei.”

Yu Haizhen shrugged. “That’s what I thought too.”

She continued eating the dumplings, one after another, slowly and with ladylike grace. Even in the dim light, her skin glowed with whiteness, her delicate chin slightly tucked, her neck’s curve as elegant as a swan’s. Chen Dachang sat across from her, watching, as an inexplicable fire smoldered in his lower abdomen, growing increasingly intense.

She finally finished eating and put down the bowl with a satisfied sigh. Chen Dachang leaned forward, about to embrace her, when Yu Haizhen said, “I just heard movement from the front hall. It seems your great-aunt has returned.”

Chen Dachang hadn’t heard anything. But he knew Yu Haizhen’s cultivation was higher than his, making her senses more acute. He stood up and said, “I’ll go check.”

There was no one in the front hall.

Chen Dachang stood at the entrance for several breaths before striding back.

“No one?” Yu Haizhen showed surprise. “Could I have misheard? That’s impossible—” Before she could finish, she let out a small cry as Chen Dachang swept her up into his arms. “No one and I’ve bolted the door.”

He walked toward his bedchamber. Yu Haizhen didn’t struggle but poked his solid chest with her finger. “Hey, you should bathe first. You’ve just returned from a dusty journey today.”

“I already washed.”

She rolled her eyes. “Then put me down. I need to wash too. I’m not comfortable.” Despite her words, she lay motionless in his arms.

“You smell fragrant.”

“Well?”

Chen Dachang didn’t want to hear more. He lowered his head and silenced her words. By now, he had entered the room, kicked the wooden door shut, and first placed her on the table to kiss her senseless, before saying hoarsely, “Why do you tease me?” He wasn’t foolish—when he went to the front hall and saw no one, he knew she had tricked him.

She was also breathing heavily. “Blockhead, you never take initiative unless pushed into a corner.”

“I don’t?”

“You don’t.”

So Chen Dachang extended his hand and with a “rip” tore her garment in two, revealing her alabaster, graceful figure.

Yu Haizhen was startled, her beautiful eyes widening. “You bastard, you’ve ruined my clothes. How am I supposed to leave?”