Liu Chan pursed her lips and began trying hard to recall yesterday’s events.
She truly needed to think carefully, for to her present self, everything before entering the chamber felt like distant history, the details already blurred in her memory.
“This humble maiden has little tolerance for wine. When the palace maids assisted me into the room yesterday, I was already unconscious. When I awoke again, Your Majesty was already… pressing upon me.” Her cheeks gradually flushed crimson, her voice growing softer with each word. “I was so frightened that the intoxication vanished instantly. I could only focus on resisting—how could I have any other sensation?”
Xiao Lin watched intently as she wore that delicate yet earnest expression of deep contemplation, then suddenly curved his lips into a slight smile.
The irritation in his heart dissipated in an instant.
Fortunately, when Liu Chan looked up, he had already regained his usual aloofness. “Since that is the case, I shall restore your innocence.”
Liu Chan acknowledged with a soft “Yes.”
Seeing that Xiao Lin had fallen into thoughtful silence, she considered for a moment before turning to take her leave. “This humble maiden shall take her leave now.”
Just as she turned away, Xiao Lin suddenly questioned, “If it wasn’t you, then was it Jing Guifei who orchestrated this?”
Liu Chan whirled around, her delicate face showing traces of anger. “Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness, but who would send another woman to the bed of the man they deeply love? My sister has given you her unwavering devotion and sincere heart—how could you think of her in such a way!”
Her cheeks puffed with indignation, clearly enraged.
“Your Majesty may not understand—we illegitimate daughters are born into disregard. Especially those like me, who lost their birth mothers upon entering this world—our lives are particularly difficult. If not for my sister suddenly summoning me to the palace, I might never have experienced affection in this lifetime. I implore Your Majesty to suspect anyone but my sister.”
Having spoken her piece, she turned and strode away without regard for Xiao Lin’s thoughts.
However, she wore only thin sleeping garments, and with the Di Long heating system blazing in the chamber, she felt no chill.
But outside… she would likely freeze.
Xiao Lin glanced at Huang Jiu beside him, who reacted uncharacteristically slowly. “Your Majesty’s meaning?”
“Are you not going to escort her back?” Xiao Lin glared at him.
Seeing Huang Jiu still hesitating, he hissed in a low voice, “Go quickly!”
Huang Jiu rubbed his ear, a jumble of thoughts swirling through his mind, before darting after Liu Chan.
He offered an apologetic smile. “Miss Liu, this humble servant will escort you back.”
Behind them, Xiao Lin watched until the two had exited the chamber before returning to sit by the bed.
After a long silence, he suddenly reached out and opened a hidden compartment beside the bed, retrieving a scroll from within.
Xiao Lin carefully unrolled the painting, revealing a vividly rendered woman bearing a striking resemblance to Jing Guifei. Dressed in white robes, she held an orange cat in her arms while swinging on a garden swing, her smile radiant and joyful.
“Jing’er, everyone schemes against me… only you treated me with genuine sincerity…” He traced the woman’s face with his thumb.
According to Huang Jiu’s investigations, Liu Chan already had a fiancé—how could she have been sent into the palace?
And just happened to appear in his bed.
Rulers are inherently suspicious—he never believed in coincidences.
The Liu family was the Empress Dowager’s maternal clan. With the noble consort having produced no heir after all these years, they had exhausted all schemes, now even calculating with their own illegitimate daughter.
Thinking of the Empress Dowager, a cold light flickered in Xiao Lin’s eyes.
Over the years, that old woman had employed countless venomous schemes to control him, even causing Jing’er to lose her life to her machinations…
It was time to curb her excessively inflated ambitions.
Liu Chan, wrapped in the Xuan Black Daqiu, walked lightly along the path back to Weiyang Palace.
When she had been brought here, it was by the shadow guards—wearing only her sleeping garments, without even shoes on her feet.
Huang Jiu had kindly ordered someone to fetch her a pair of shoes and provided her with a thick Daqiu…
Thus, Huang Jiu, holding a horsetail whisk, followed half a step behind her at a leisurely pace, making casual conversation.
“I heard that Miss Liu is already betrothed. When the wedding day arrives, you must send word to this humble servant so I can come drink a cup of celebratory wine,” Huang Jiu said deliberately.
Hearing this, Liu Chan sneered inwardly.
Huang Jiu was as shrewd as they come—otherwise he wouldn’t have served as Chief Eunuch by Xiao Lin’s side for so many years. His opening remark was most likely probing on Xiao Lin’s behalf.
Simply put, he was the worm in Xiao Lin’s gut!
So Liu Chan replied with utmost sincerity, “My family has set the date for the second month of next year. Counting the time, it’s approaching soon. I’ll be sure to notify you when the time comes.”
It was already the twelfth lunar month, leaving just over two months until the wedding.
As she spoke, she infused her tone with a trace of bridal joy.
Huang Jiu naturally knew all about her wedding date, whom she was marrying, and even the character of her betrothed.
Miss Liu’s fiancé was a ne’er-do-well from the capital named Meng Xun, the legitimate son of the second branch of Anyang Marquis Manor. However, he typically bullied men and harassed women, and was a regular patron of brothels… In short, he was no good.
Thinking this, Huang Jiu asked another question, “Miss Liu, do you know what kind of person your fiancé is?”
Liu Chan paused mid-step for a moment, a bashful smile spreading across her face. “He is quite handsome and one of the capital’s Four Great Talents. Truthfully, I’m the one marrying above my station. Though he has something of a reputation for being flirtatious, since our betrothal, he has been devoted only to me.”
How could someone with such a reputation remain devoted to just one person?
Huang Jiu curled his lip at this and sighed. “Miss Liu, if a man acts disgracefully before marriage… he won’t change after marrying either. ‘It’s easier to move mountains than to alter one’s nature’—you must have heard this saying.”
At these words, Liu Chan’s expression shifted.
“Eunuch Huang, mind your words! You don’t know my fiancé, how can you judge him so freely? I believe in him!”
Having said this, she tugged her garments and hurried forward.
Huang Jiu stopped where he stood, momentarily stunned. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
Only one thought occupied his mind now:
This Miss Liu seemed genuinely sincere—likely not the type to actively scheme her way into someone’s bed.
Yet, such a naive temperament was about to be deceived by that hypocritical libertine… What a pity.
Huang Jiu shook his head with regret.
When Liu Chan returned to Weiyang Palace, palace staff who had already gathered information reported her arrival to Jing Guifei, who was waiting for her.
Huang Jiu left after seeing her to the entrance, while she was brought before Jing Guifei.
The Jing Guifei before her had already loosened her robes and removed all hair ornaments—she had genuinely risen from her bed to wait for her. Liu Chan even noticed her yawning as she entered.
“Chan’er, what did His Majesty want with you?” Jing Guifei asked with apparent concern, though suspicion lingered unmistakably in her eyes.
She could not arrange for anyone to enter the Taiji Hall where Xiao Lin resided, so she could only have the spy wait outside the hall.
Therefore, when Liu Chan came out, the spy hurried back to report to her, catching her completely off guard.
Jing Guifei was also extremely nervous.
After all, the events of the previous day had been planned by her own hands, and… the incense burner that had been burning the aphrodisiac incense still had not been found. If she guessed correctly, it had likely been taken away by Xiao Lin’s people.
Pretending not to notice Jing Guifei’s tension, Liu Chan softly explained, “Sister, as soon as I woke up, I was in the Taiji Hall. His Majesty asked me a few questions and then ordered Eunuch Huang to escort me back.”