Chapter 61 - 70

Once the entire hall was empty, Murong Wei slid down from the pillar, carrying her canvas bag.

She had already searched the entire Wushang Palace. If Bai Wushang had hidden Ye Bao in the palace, where else could he have hidden it?

She pondered this as she headed towards Jingxuan Palace.Full novel: Greedy Baby: Abandoned Wife Mother Becomes a Concubine — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠

Meanwhile, Xuan Yuanche and his entourage were in the Ziwei Pavilion, directly behind Jingxuan Palace.

This Ziwei Pavilion was separated from Jingxuan Palace only by a small garden, with a long corridor connecting the front and back. It was named for the abundance of crape myrtle flowers in the garden. Behind the pavilion was a natural hot spring, a favorite of Consort De.

The group stopped outside the pavilion. Xuan Yuanche had already gone in. The previously humble Consort De quickly reverted to her arrogant demeanor, raising a cold eyebrow and glancing at Ning Ran and Long Xiao. She calmly said, "You may all leave. No need to serve. Without my permission, no matter how important the matter, you are not allowed to disturb us from tonight until tomorrow!"

"Yes," Ning Ran replied respectfully.

Long Xiao nodded with a forced smile and left with Ning Ran.

Consort De snorted coldly, meticulously grooming herself at the door, adjusting her hair and clothes. Not satisfied, she pulled a maid aside and hurriedly asked, "How is it? Does it look good? Is your hair messy? Are your clothes wrinkled?"

"Your Highness Consort De is as beautiful as a fairy. Even if your hair is messy and your clothes are wrinkled, you'll still win Prince Qi's favor," the maid quickly replied. "

Such a sweet tongue? All that nonsense!" Consort De scolded sharply, looking at another maid.

That maid quickly said, "Your Highness Consort De is too kind. This servant will go fetch a mirror and cosmetics!" With that, she hurried away, afraid of being punished.

Consort De, however, was satisfied, patiently waiting and carefully observing the maids serving her.

After much deliberation, she dismissed several rather attractive women. Although she had borne Prince Qi two daughters and a son, she had only visited him three times. He hadn't even appeared on her wedding day or at the birth of her child.

This was her fourth time seeing him, and she certainly couldn't let such an opportunity slip by, nor could she give anyone else a chance!

Soon, several servants brought in a bronze mirror, rouge, face powder, and various headdresses. The scene was utterly comical. Right at the entrance of the Ziwei Pavilion, Consort De sat on the back of a servant, dressing up in front of the mirror. After meticulous grooming, there wasn't much difference; her long eyebrows reached her temples, and her eyes were alluring. Her features were striking, but she was also mean and petty.

Only when she was satisfied and had consulted several more servants did she dare enter the Ziwei Pavilion, only to find Murong Wei standing at the second-floor window of Jingxuan Palace, having witnessed everything.

She felt that Murong Lan had gone mad, completely mad. A man with many wives and concubines, no matter how high his status or how handsome he was, was not worth such madness. What a woman wanted was nothing more than a simple, devoted heart. A man you had to compete with other women for was merely a trophy, not a lover.

Murong Wei smiled helplessly, for the first time feeling no hatred towards Consort De, but rather pity.

However, she didn't see that right across from her, at the window on the second floor, the white-clad man had been standing there for a long time, watching her intently. He had little expression, indifferent and aloof. Only when she turned to leave did a faint smile appear on his lips.

Consort De reached the second floor and, seeing Xuan Yuanche standing at the window, eagerly took a robe and went upstairs, whispering, "Your Highness, it's chilly."

She then tiptoed and carefully draped the robe over him, naturally losing her balance as the dark robe pressed against Xuan Yuanche's strong and broad back.

"Ah..."

A startled cry followed. Xuan Yuanche had already turned away, not even helping her as she leaned on the deck, and went straight to the couch beside him, not even glancing at her, whether in public or private.

Consort De propped herself up, her face pale but not daring to show any anger. Still holding the robe, she walked over and knelt at Xuan Yuanche's feet, saying, "Your Highness, if you catch a cold, neither I nor the Han Kingdom can bear the responsibility."

As she spoke, she held the robe high, making it clear that she would kneel until he put it on.

"No need to serve me anymore, go down," Xuan Yuanche said lazily, leaning back on the high pillow and waving his hand.

"Your Highness, I will remain silent and serve you from the side," she said, straightening up and taking it upon herself to drape the robe over him, gently massaging his calves. After a long while, seeing him squinting and silent, she finally relaxed.

She felt he would still give her some face, after all, she was not only his concubine but also a symbol of his support for the Han Kingdom.

"This place is called the Purple Rose Pavilion?" he suddenly asked.

Her heart leaped with joy, and she quickly replied, "Indeed, because this courtyard is always adorned with purple roses, and behind the pavilion is a hot spring always covered in purple rose petals, hence the name Purple Rose Spring."

As she answered, her small hand moved towards his thigh. Their previous three meetings had all taken place in bed; she had been summoned, carried there naked, and received his favor in complete darkness. In the midst of pleasure, she couldn't even see his face clearly.

Such a detached person—to call him a gentleman was far from fitting; to call him a celestial being fallen to earth was so real.

Even his principal wife, facing him at such close range, would feel the same way—unapproachable nobility, unapproachable aloofness, as if no one could ever reach his heart, no one could ever speak a true word to him.

"Ziwei...isn't Zi your name?" he asked calmly, letting her hand slowly move upwards, his indifferent eyes showing no ripples.

She, on the other hand, panicked slightly and nodded hastily, "Yes, that's part of the reason. That's why I chose a small pavilion. Though small, it's very elegant."

Seeing that he didn't speak, she hurriedly added, "Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you soak in the hot springs for a while to relax? My father and mother will be coming to pay their respects soon, and many ministers from Han Kingdom are lining up."

He lifted his robe, seemingly gently but with little force, and easily lifted her hand. It was merely a matter of the robe being lifted, seemingly without any harm, but only she knew the pain.

He rose and said calmly, "You receive my greetings on my behalf." He then left. Before Consort De could recover from the pain, he was already at the door. That

was just how he was; even his dissatisfaction, even his hurt, was expressed with such quiet indifference, such gentle calmness. A flash

of hatred crossed her eyes, and without thinking, she rushed over and hugged his legs. "Your Highness, it hurts! My hands hurt so much! Your Highness, please don't go!"

Consort De knelt on the ground, enduring the pain in her arms, tightly hugging Xuan Yuanche's legs, pleading, "Your Highness, my hands hurt so much, please apply the medicine for me, okay?"

Women want many things:

title, wealth, status, affection, even power.

She was now a concubine of the Prince of Qi, and although her status in Xuan Yuan was not high, in the surrounding vassal states, even the king himself had to serve her. In the hearts of women throughout the land, she was second only to the Prince of Qi's principal wife. What

she wanted now was affection, affection shown in the smallest details.

She could hardly imagine the scene where one day, this god-like, unapproachable, and inviolable Prince of Qi would kneel on one knee before her bed to apply medicine for her.

Xuan Yuanche did not answer, looking down at her, his eyes still calm and indifferent.

"Your Highness, you hurt me just now, my hands were almost ruined," she said coquettishly, her eyes alluring, even her chest rubbing intimately against his legs.

"Rest if it hurts. Let them come to pay their respects tomorrow," he said calmly, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes. He reached out and gently pushed her away, pressing down on her shoulder.

Just like before, seemingly silent and effortless, yet all the real force flowed into her shoulder, causing her to open her mouth wide but unable to cry out. She pressed her shoulder and slumped heavily to the ground.

He turned and walked away slowly, clapping his hands lightly. His handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he patted his robe before stopping. He said calmly, "Jin Chan, prepare the bath."

A one-eyed man in blue robes appeared out of nowhere and landed behind him, respectfully saying, "The only clean bath in the palace is the artificial bath in Jingxuan Palace, of the same size."

He nodded, his steps still light and unhurried, while Jin Chan immediately went to prepare.

In a short while, the once empty Jingxuan Palace was deserted. Jin Chan and Cai Zai guarded the front and back doors. His so-called "serving" was merely taking care of everything; like a meal, he disliked anyone getting too close.

The bathing pool in Jingxuan Palace was located on the right side of the first floor. Clean clothes lay by the pool. He was naked, his refined body appearing and disappearing in the thin mist rising from the water. His skin was like snow, or perhaps a flawless piece of mutton-fat jade. Such skin on such a strong physique, yet so perfectly harmonious—words failed to describe his beauty.

He turned, his bare arms revealing immense strength. He removed the ink-black jade hairpin, and his long, ink-black hair cascaded down, obscuring his breathtakingly beautiful back.

Murong Wei covered her nose, bright red blood seeping from between her fingers. She truly hadn't meant to; she was exhausted from running around the palace and had fallen asleep on the roof beam.

She only woke up to the sound of water, and groggily looked down, seeing that refined and voluptuous body. She clung tightly to the pillar once more.

The palace was so vast; the Purple Rose Pavilion even had a naturally formed, incredibly romantic Purple Rose Pond filled with blooming flowers. Why did this guy have to come here to offer her such a… beautiful bathing scene?

Yes, he had emerged from the bath.

Murong Wei immediately closed her eyes. In modern times, how many… well… men had she seen?

In ancient times, she had even seen a monster like Bai Wushang, though that time she had focused on the poison in his body and, with professional ethics, ignored many things.

But she was still a seasoned veteran, wasn't she?

Why couldn't she resist this Xuan Yuanche? Her small hands were hot and wet, her head was spinning, and she didn't know if it was from the stuffy air and the rising heat, or from blood loss. She kept her eyes tightly shut, then felt blood slowly flowing from her nose, and loosened her grip, covering her nose again.

At that moment, something happened that required slow motion to see clearly.

Blood slowly seeped from between her fingers, forming a droplet that dripped down, growing heavier with each breath.

Finally!

The droplet could no longer bear the weight, broke free of the flow, and fell…

In slow motion, everything seemed to stand still, only the droplet of blood dripping from the high roof beam bearing witness to the passage of time.

He, dressed in a clean white brocade robe, his well-defined chest still damp with water, appeared to truly need no maidservants. He held a clean towel, head bowed, drying his hair as he walked.

Murong Wei was truly disheveled, one hand clinging to a pillar, the other covering her nose, listening intently to his footsteps, waiting for him to leave.

But suddenly, his footsteps stopped abruptly.

He stopped, his handsome brows furrowing slightly. He slowly raised his arm, a single drop of bright red blood staining it, barely visible, like dried water.

His eyes suddenly darkened, and his voice sharpened, "Jin Chan, seal off the entire Jingxuan Palace!"

"Yes!" A respectful yet equally cold voice came from outside the door.

At the same time, startled by the sudden shout, Murong Wei lost her balance and opened her eyes abruptly, only to find herself plummeting downwards.

"Whoosh..."

The rope snapped heavily, leaving her hanging in mid-air, her legs entangled in the rope, falling headfirst. He seemed to have anticipated this, stepping back. Although face to face with her, he didn't even glance at her, continuing to wipe the blood from his arm.

A nightmare!

Murong Wei sighed inwardly, forcing a fawning smile onto her blood-stained face.

She knew that his indifference didn't mean she could climb back up like a spider, pretending nothing had happened.

How she wished the man before her wasn't Prince Qi, Xuan Yuanche, but the kind and lovable Lord Bai Wushang.

If it were the unruly Bai Wushang, he would surely smile at her with narrowed eyes, jokingly clinging to her and demanding she take responsibility.

If it were the understanding Xiao Bai, he would have threatened her again, making her steal something for him.

If it were the vain and boastful Xiao Bai, he would have asked her with a smile, "Weiwei, don't I have a good figure?"

Xuan Yuanche was still wiping his arms, while Murong Wei could no longer smile, and was on the verge of tears.

Finally, she couldn't help but cautiously and timidly open her mouth, "Your Highness Qi... um... do you have enough bath towels? Or... should I go get them for you?"

"No need, my black jade hairpin fell into the water, I found it for me." He said indifferently, and went to the warm couch where the black jade belt was placed.

Murong Wei was shocked, her legs went weak...

"Thump..."

She fell straight to the ground. Even though she was quick and tried to turn over in a second, she couldn't turn over completely, and her arms hit the ground heavily, a tragic sacrifice...

A loud "bang"

was followed by the rustling sound of ropes falling.

Murong Wei lay sprawled on the ground, her arms seemingly broken, limp and powerless. The all-powerful hook had struck her, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

Not far away, the stunningly handsome man was slowly fastening his black jade belt. Black jade was a type of jade of the highest quality, its green hue turning black, an extremely precious material. To use a black jade hairpin was already extraordinary, but to use it to inlay a belt was truly unbelievable.

He was fully dressed, only his still-wet black hair hanging loose. His entire outfit consisted of only two colors, white and black, so simple that all other colors paled in comparison.

He turned, frowned at the woman lying unconscious on the ground, his expression unchanging. He walked to her side, looking down at her condescendingly, and said indifferently, "Your hand is broken. If you don't get up, I'll sever your hamstrings."

Such ruthless words, yet he spoke them so calmly, as if everything was insignificant to him.

Murong Wei's eyes were tightly closed, motionless, seemingly having fainted from the pain.

A faint smile played on his lips as he raised his foot and stepped on the back of her hand. Before he even applied pressure, Murong Wei immediately rolled away, looking at him warily.

"Come here," he said calmly, neither hasty nor angry.

"Your Highness, I accidentally fell asleep up there. It wasn't intentional. I didn't see anything. Heaven and earth bear witness! Please forgive me, Your Highness!" Murong Wei said hastily.

"Come here," he said, still in that indifferent tone, beckoning her.

The most ferocious dog is the one that doesn't bark, and the most ruthless master is the one who doesn't get angry. Bai Wushang can even smile, but this guy is just expressionless.

Murong Wei had to walk over cautiously, head down, not daring to look at him.

"Are you the musician I saw in Wushang Palace today?" he asked casually, not minding her dirty appearance as he took her broken hand.

"This servant is Murong Wei, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy and the Minister of Rites and Music." Murong Wei answered truthfully.

"Since you are a subject of Long Xiao, you are a subject of Xuanyuan. How can you call yourself a servant? You are not my maid." He retorted, seemingly very serious. "

This humble subject is foolish, Your Highness Prince Qi, please forgive me." Murong Wei still kept her head down, watching him examine her fingers as he held her hand.

Some abrasions on her arm and palm were nothing to her, and even a broken hand wasn't a big problem. However, in this situation, she couldn't avoid it.

How could it be such a coincidence?

It really wasn't her fault; this was her territory, and he had barged in without permission!

"It was my fault for entering Jingxuan Palace without your permission." He didn't even make things difficult for her; he even took the initiative to…apologize!

Was this guy really that enlightened?

A thought flashed through Murong Wei's mind, and she immediately looked up, her teary eyes pleadingly meeting his. "Your Highness, my hand hurts so much. I have to perform for you tomorrow; could you please allow me to go back and heal?"

"This is your territory. Where do you want to go back?" Xuan Yuanche actually smiled, but Murong Wei didn't see it. As she spoke, she pitifully lowered her head again.

"Please allow me to return to the Imperial Hospital first. As for the place where I offended Your Highness, I'm willing to accept Your Highness's punishment after the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet." Murong Wei said, her head lowering even further, her sweet voice choked with sobs.

Xuan Yuanche's smile deepened, like a vintage wine, intoxicating to behold.

"As the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, you must be highly skilled. Can't you heal yourself with a broken arm?" he retorted.

"Idiot!" Murong Wei thought to herself, but her words were still restrained. "No matter how skilled the doctor, he can't do without these hands. I can guarantee that the music will be performed at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet tomorrow night, as long as Prince Qi allows me to return to the Imperial Medical Academy now."

Murong Wei herself found these words laughable. A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal; how could it possibly recover in a day? If she left Jingxuan Palace, she would flee without looking back.

"Hehe, I also know a little about medicine. Why don't I give it a try?" Xuan Yuanche said, grabbing her hand with one hand and suddenly pulling her with the other.

"Ah..." Murong Wei immediately cried out in alarm, instinctively defending herself. Unable to move her hands, she kicked Xuan Yuanche hard.

Xuan Yuanche nimbly dodged, giving her no chance to breathe, grabbing her other hand and pulling her hard again!

"Ah..." Murong Wei screamed again. Jin Chan and Cai Zai, who were guarding outside the door, were curious but dared not rush in.

Ignoring Murong Wei's screams, Xuan Yuan Che remained gentle and picked her up, carrying her to a warm couch.

Murong Wei didn't see the intense smile on his lips from just now, nor did she see the hint of heartache that flashed in his eyes.

She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, completely bewildered. Was this the legendary Prince Qi, who was always aloof, cold, and indifferent? What did he want to do?

Holding her and lying on the warm couch, Xuan Yuan Che knelt on one knee in front of her, took out some ointment from his sleeve, carefully applied it to her skin, and gently massaged her.

The ointment was cool and refreshing, similar to the one Bai Wushang had given her before. The pain in her arm was quickly replaced by the cool sensation. However, she was completely unaware of either the pain or the coolness. She was staring wide-eyed at Xuan Yuanche, who was intently massaging her arm, his delicate brows furrowed. She felt this scene was very familiar, but she couldn't quite place which period drama she had seen it in.

The male lead was so caring, so gentle.

She didn't say a word, just stared blankly. Compared to the previous two times, this time she was closest to him and noticed that his handsome face was flawless, his features perfectly proportioned. She also noticed that Ye Bao's childhood expression, features, and temperament were so, so similar to his.

Suddenly, he looked up and met her unfocused, dazed eyes.

She froze, immediately lowering her head, her face flushing with embarrassment, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest.

Perhaps it was this feeling that made him, even with a harem of wives and concubines, still have women willing to give him everything, to stop at nothing for him.

"Alright, keep this medicine with you. Remember to massage it before bed tonight. If you can't play a piece that satisfies me tomorrow night, I'll cripple these hands," he said calmly, rising to leave.

Murong Wei's mind remained blank, while he, at the door, didn't reply, still indifferent, saying calmly, "And also, these hands of yours belong to me from now on."

When they met Prince Qi again, it was already the following night.

Murong Wei, holding a brand-new pipa, waited quietly on both sides of the main road for him to appear. According to Long Xiao's arrangement, Xuan Yuanche would pass by here. As soon as she saw him, she would hide to the side and play the pipa, using it as a guide to lead him to the main seat.

At this time, the entire Imperial Garden was like a sea of ​​lights, with clusters of colorful lights like clusters of flowers blooming in the night.

A red carpet was laid on the main road, leading directly to the center of the Imperial Garden. What was originally a bamboo grove had been leveled and a stage and banquet had been set up.

The bright moon hung in the sky, and with the brilliant lights, the entire Imperial Garden was as bright as day. The main seat was high in the center, with Consort De's seat on the right and Long Xiao's seat on the left. The Murong family followed on Consort De's side, while the court officials followed on Ning Ran's side, forming an oval shape. At this time, apart from the serving maids, the entire garden was empty, with no guests in sight.

In the distance, a group of people were slowly approaching along the main road.

Two eunuchs led the way with lanterns, while Xuan Yuanche and Long Xiao walked side by side. Long Xiao was diligently explaining the treasures displayed on both sides, all of which had been obtained from Bai Wushang at the request of Consort De.

However, Lord Wushang, who knew these treasures best and was most capable of explaining them, was still nowhere to be seen.

"Your Highness, take a look at this Moonlight Box. Legend has it that it can travel through past and present lives at will. Although it's just a legend, its wonder lies in the fact that on every full moon night, under the moonlight, the box will automatically open, revealing an illusion of a box full of gold and silver treasures." As Long Xiao spoke, he carefully lifted the black silk cloth covering a brocade box.

Sure enough, just as he had said, as soon as the moonlight shone on the brocade box, the lid opened automatically, revealing a pile of gold and silver treasures, like a treasure box in the hands of the God of Wealth.

Everyone around gasped in amazement, and even Consort De, who had been wearing a somber expression, finally showed a change in demeanor.

However, Xuan Yuanche didn't even glance at it and continued walking forward.

Long Xiao shook his head helplessly. He had seen many similar treasures, but none had yet caught the eye of this precious Prince Qi. He pulled a eunuch aside and whispered unhappily, "Where is Bai Wushang?"

"Your Majesty, Lord Wushang went out of the palace to search for treasures and hasn't returned yet," the eunuch replied truthfully in a low voice.

"Quickly send someone to urge him! Tell him that if he doesn't return, I...I...Oh dear, hurry!" Long Xiao was anxious but helpless. He had never known Bai Wushang's whereabouts after leaving the palace.

Without waiting for the eunuch's reply, he shoved him aside and looked to Consort De for help.

Consort De only glared at him and didn't speak.

Suddenly, Xuan Yuanche stopped and said calmly, "Long Xiao."

"Your Highness is here!" Long Xiao immediately stepped forward.

"Where is Bai Wushang? I've heard of his great name for a long time, but why is he nowhere to be seen today?" Xuan Yuanche asked, admiring a delicate white jade rabbit. The rabbit was no bigger than a palm, and under the moonlight, it was translucent, revealing the crescent moon mark hidden within its body.

"That boy just left the palace the day before yesterday, saying he was in a hurry to find a treasure for Your Highness. I don't know if he can return in time. If he can't, please forgive me, Your Highness, and I will definitely have him personally deliver it to the Qi Prince's residence another day," Long Xiao quickly explained.

"What treasure, that you're in such a hurry to find? Is it the Han Hai Key of your Han Kingdom?" Xuan Yuanche smiled faintly, taking the white jade rabbit and not even glancing at the other treasures.

Long Xiao's expression changed instantly, and he hurriedly said, "Your Highness, as you know, the Han Hai Key is just a legend. If I really had that treasure, I would have presented it to you long ago."

Xuan Yuanche glanced at him, said nothing more, and strode forward.

At this moment, not only Long Xiao, but everyone behind him breathed a sigh of relief, especially Ning Ran.

The group walked quickly, and Long Xiao gave a signal. Soon, a melodious pipa tune drifted from ahead. Long Xiao, captivated, nodded with satisfaction before chasing after Xuan Yuanche, smiling and saying, "Your Highness, does this tune sound familiar?"

"Where is she?" Xuan Yuanche asked calmly.

"She's up ahead." Long Xiao gestured for him to proceed.

Xuan Yuanche smiled faintly and strode forward.

"The Prince of Qi seems quite satisfied with Doctor Murong," Ning Ran whispered.

"I'm satisfied too. Let her lift her veil and take a look later. If the Prince is pleased, then let Long Xiao part with her," Consort De said coldly.

Those ahead had stopped; blocking their path was a group of beautiful young women carrying pipa (a type of Chinese lute). Slender and graceful, they wore ethnic-style, low-cut, form-fitting dresses with flowing sleeves like ribbons. Their hair was styled in a seductive way, exuding elegance and nobility. Each woman, with lotus-like feet, danced lightly on the red carpet, her pipa swaying gracefully. From afar, under the tranquil moonlight, the flowing ribbons made them appear like celestial maidens descended to earth.

A gentle yet powerful sound, the clear notes of the pipa, rang out. From within the flowing sleeves emerged a woman with a golden veil. She held a golden pipa as if it were a golden butterfly, fluttering gracefully. She held it, lifted it, swung it, and even held it upside down, supporting its weight with one hand while her other hand's jade-like fingers weaved nimbly through the strings.

She danced gracefully, the zither's melody ringing out, slowly approaching him amidst the flowing, colorful sleeves. The zither rose higher and faster, stirring the heart.

Suddenly!

The zither stopped abruptly, and she, abruptly, fell, prostrating herself at his feet, hands behind her back, the pipa held high, its melody rising once more!

The zither music was clear and bright, the melody growing increasingly lively before suddenly shifting dramatically. Murong Wei's fingers moved with practiced skill, the music like a sudden downpour, gripping everyone's hearts, as if they were being held on by a thread, pulled higher and higher, unable to let go, unwilling to exhale.

"The pipa played in reverse!" Long Xiao and Xuan Yuanche exclaimed in unison, and everyone around them gasped in astonishment, their hearts pounding with the increasingly rapid music!

Murong Wei's slender waist bent and bent as she slowly rose from the ground, but without stopping, her hands still holding the golden pipa in reverse. Her body began to spin, from slow to fast, her long, flowing sleeves dancing like clouds in a colorful circle. The surrounding dancers swarmed around her, scattering fragrant petals like rain and snow, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers!

Murong Wei spun faster and faster, but the pipa remained perfectly still, growing faster and faster with her movements. Everyone around held their breath, afraid to exhale.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

After a long while, the splendor faded, and she finally slowed down, her pace gradually slowing until she came to a stop. With her exceptional balance, she stood firmly, still playing the pipa. The music faded, clang, clang, clang…

Xuan Yuanche stood before her, his deep eyes so captivated that they held only her image. He instinctively reached out, as if to lift her veil, but in an instant, he quickly withdrew his hand, as if struck by lightning.

“Excellent! Murong Wei, you have far exceeded my expectations!” Long Xiao, completely absorbed in the moment, disregarded Xuan Yuanche's presence and clapped his hands repeatedly in praise.

Murong Wei, dressed in a shimmering golden dance costume, accentuated her graceful figure. She bowed slightly with a faint smile and said, “Your Highness, this way please.”

Xuan Yuanche glanced at her hands, smiled, and strode forward without saying anything more.

Once everyone had settled down, they drank and chatted merrily. Murong Wei finished her performance and was about to leave when she was stopped by a eunuch beside Long Xiao. "Your Excellency, don't rush off. His Majesty has instructed that you accompany Prince Qi in a little while."

"Accompany what?" Murong Wei asked

, frowning. "To drink and entertain. His Majesty said that as long as you can make Prince Qi happy tonight, whatever you want, His Majesty will give you." The eunuch whispered.

"Yes." Murong Wei reluctantly nodded and took a seat to the side.

Singing and dancing began, and soon the entire Imperial Garden was bustling with activity.

Long Xiao sat beside Xuan Yuanche, serving him with utmost respect, bowing and scraping. Consort De, on the other hand, was much more subdued, sitting upright, still maintaining a bit of the airs of a concubine.

"Your Highness Prince Qi, this dance is called 'The Tide is Calm on Both Banks,' which praises the grace of Xuan Yuanche to the surrounding vassal states. This was composed by me personally, and choreographed by the last dance master of the Han Kingdom." Long Xiao explained.

However, Xuanyuan Che's mind wasn't on these trivial matters. In such a lively and grand occasion, he poured himself a drink, his expression indifferent and aloof, treating everyone around him as if they were invisible.

"Your Highness Prince Qi?" Long Xiao asked tentatively.

Xuanyuan Che didn't speak, silently raising his cup to the moon, and the officials on either side of him followed suit.

From afar, Murong Wei felt that Xuanyuan Che at this moment resembled an emperor, not a prince without official position. Rumor had it that he possessed the talent to govern but lacked the will to do so. Why? Rumor had it that Emperor Xuanyuan Lie relied on him; with such a status, controlling explosives and mines, how could he remain untainted?

After finishing three cups of wine, Xuan Yuanche looked at Consort De and said calmly, "Consort De, do you have any impromptu performance?"

"This humble servant is foolish and incompetent; how could I presume to show off my meager skills before Your Highness? Perhaps Your Majesty could offer a piece?" Consort De quickly declined. Her singing, dancing, and musical skills were passable, and her martial arts were not bad either, but she was utterly unskilled in poetry and prose.

"Would you mind performing a dance, with the musician from earlier accompanying you?" Xuan Yuanche said again, his calm voice carrying a sense of pressure.

Hearing this, Consort De's heart sank. The Prince's words were clearly a slap in the face to everyone, belittling her to the same level as Murong Wei, or even lower.

"Could it be that you were frightened by that dance? I remember when you were at your maternal home, your singing and dancing skills were renowned throughout the Han Kingdom." Xuan Yuanche actually smiled, seemingly in a good mood. Renowned

throughout the Han Kingdom for his singing and dancing skills?

Consort De was puzzled. Because of this marriage, her fourth sister had never left the palace since childhood, and no one had ever witnessed her singing and dancing. Even Long Xiao had never seen her in person. How could she possibly be renowned throughout the Han Kingdom for her singing and dancing?

"Your Majesty, I will make a fool of myself," Consort De said, unable to bear the word "fright." She rose and glanced coldly at Murong Wei, who was bowing her head, before gracefully walking to the center of the red carpet. Although it was beneath her status, it was a rare opportunity to perform before the Prince of Qi.

She looked at Murong Wei, who was holding a pipa, and said generously, "You don't need to cooperate with me. I will follow the rhythm of your melody. Play as you please."

Murong Wei was immediately astonished. This woman actually possessed such skill and confidence. She nodded without speaking.

Consort De removed her robe, straightened her dress, and asked a dancer for a wide, long, bright red silk ribbon. She struck a pose with practiced ease, her right foot tiptoeing forward, her weight lowered, one hand behind her back, the other forming a lotus finger gesture above her head. Her movements were noticeably stiff, as if she hadn't moved her shin in a long time, as she awaited Murong Wei's performance.

"Awesome," Murong Wei muttered, picking up the plectrum to play, when Xuan Yuanche spoke up, "Lord Murong, what are the names of that piece and dance?"

"They don't have individual names. The song and dance are collectively called the 'Rainbow Feather Dance,' also known as the 'Rainbow Feather Robe Song.' It's neither a song nor a dance. What I just played was only a small part. The entire dance depicts a mortal ascending to immortality and meeting fairies dancing in the moon palace," Murong Wei replied.

"From your hand?" Xuan Yuanche asked, somewhat surprised.

"The work of an old friend," Murong Wei quickly explained. Unlike some idiot transmigrators who deliberately steal works by ancient or modern people to attract attention, she didn't want to cause trouble.

"An old friend?" Xuan Yuanche asked, seemingly very interested.

"A deceased person who didn't want to leave their name, only this piece of music," Murong Wei replied confidently.

"If you don't dance or sing, then what, perhaps you'll sing?" Xuan Yuanche asked again, seemingly forgetting about Consort De, who stood motionless like a fortress to the side.

"Yes." Murong Wei had no choice but to nod. She only knew how to dance and play the zither; as for singing, she really had to borrow from others.

"Please." Xuan Yuanche smiled, looking at Murong Wei, completely ignoring the resentful look on Consort De's face below. All the ministers below looked up, ignoring Consort De, and some even began to whisper, saying that Murong Wei was the treasure the king was preparing to present to Prince Qi.

Murong Wei, however, did not ignore Consort De. She felt that Xuan Yuanche was doing it on purpose, but she couldn't find any reason.

She raised her hand, and the zither music began. Consort De below could finally change her posture. It seemed that her legs were weak from standing for so long, and her dancing was stiff and not smooth. However, this woman still had some skill. She kept up with the rhythm and did not miss the beat. Her movements and footsteps complemented her melody, and she gradually entered a better state, winning back many eyes.

However, Xuan Yuanche's gaze remained fixed on Murong Wei the entire time, distracting her from tormenting Consort De.

She was terrified that if she played the wrong note, he would truly sever the tendons in her hands as he had promised the night before. She simply couldn't understand how such a gentle and aloof prince, seemingly carefree and untouched by worldly affairs, could harbor such a cruel heart.

She couldn't bear his blatantly interested gaze. The melody abruptly changed, beginning a new prelude. She opened her mouth to sing, but a murmur of surprise rippled through the audience.

Had the melody changed too quickly? Embarrassed, she avoided Xuan Yuanche's gaze and quickly looked down at the audience. She saw Consort De's movements completely chaotic, seemingly trying desperately to salvage the situation. She didn't stop, but her efforts were futile, drawing sighs of disapproval from the spectators who disregarded Prince Qi.

At that moment, Consort De looked like a clown.

Murong Wei chuckled, taking the opportunity to avoid Xuan Yuanche's amused gaze. The melody quickened as she began:

"Clouds yearn for her garments, flowers for her face; spring breezes caress the balustrade, dew is heavy;

if not seen atop Jade Mountain, she would be met beneath the moon on Jade Terrace;

a beautiful flower and a captivating beauty, both pleasing to the eye, often seen by the smiling king;

explaining the boundless sorrow of spring, leaning against the railing north of the Agarwood Pavilion,

leaning against the railing north of the Agarwood Pavilion..." The song ended, the zither music ceased, yet the lingering aftertaste was unforgettable. The original melody had a long prelude, and Consort De, lacking the skill,

couldn't bear it. Silence fell around her, all eyes fixed on Murong Wei, who was still swaying her hips and waving her long sleeves, utterly embarrassed. If she were a dancer, she would have respectfully stepped back, giving the limelight to Murong Wei.

But she was a princess, the noble concubine of Prince Xuan Yuanqi; if she stepped back, wouldn't she truly become a dancer?

The entire city was silent. Murong Wei's heart pounded, and she dared not look up. She thought Xuan Yuanche must still be watching her, and Long Xiao must be watching Xuan Yuanche. That fat Long Xiao would definitely push her towards Xuan Yuanche, and she would have no chance to get close to him and obtain the Han Hai Key!

What should she do? However, she was wrong.

Xuan Yuanche was looking at Consort De at that moment and spoke calmly.

His words showed Murong Wei what true venom was. It turned out that this man was not only two-faced like Bai Wushang, but also cunning and ruthless!

He still spoke in that calm tone, "Consort De, are you still planning to jump until dawn?"

In the ensuing silence, Xuan Yuanche's calm voice rang out clearly. Consort De's hand, holding the ribbon, froze in mid-air, her raised leg also halting.

All eyes were immediately drawn to her, including Murong Wei's.

Consort De's delicate face flushed crimson with embarrassment. She slowly lowered her limbs, head bowed, neither wanting nor daring to speak.

"Step down," Xuan Yuanche said calmly, devoid of any emotion.

"Your Majesty, I obey," Consort De bowed slightly, then limped away. She had injured her leg during the dance, but had persevered, only to end up like this. She angrily winked at her maid, then stormed off alone towards the Ziwei Pavilion. A moment later, Xuan Yuanche's clear voice echoed behind her, causing everyone to stop and turn back.

"Haha, what a beautiful sight! A beauty that could topple kingdoms, both pleasing to the eye, often seen by the king with a smile!" Xuan Yuanche clapped his hands in praise, this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet seemed to have become Murong Wei's domain.

"It's an old friend's work, I'm merely borrowing it," Murong Wei quickly explained, referring to Li Bai's poem.

At this moment, a maidservant brought in a bowl of hot tea, respectfully saying, "Your Excellency, you've worked hard. This tea has a soothing effect on the throat; His Majesty specifically instructed us to have it."

Long Xiao was bewildered, not remembering giving such an order. Seeing that it was a maidservant who served Consort De, he felt uneasy but dared not utter a sound.

After speaking, the maidservant stepped forward and presented the hot tea to Murong Wei.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Murong Wei dared not move; if she moved, the maidservant would have a chance to act.

However, at this moment, everyone's eyes were on her, waiting for her to accept the hot tea. She couldn't help but sigh, wondering if she owed Murong Lan in her past life, or if Murong Zi owed her, her elder sister, in this life. Trouble after trouble, big and small, was constantly lurking, impossible to avoid; she truly hated her.

"Your Excellency, this tea was personally prepared by the King. Don't let His Majesty's kindness go to waste," the maid said with a smile. Long Xiao was now helplessly wronged; compared to Murong Wei, Consort De was someone he couldn't afford to offend.

Meanwhile, Xuan Yuanche sat there, drinking his tea silently.

Murong Wei looked at the maid, giving her signature slight smile, then suddenly pointed to the right and exclaimed, "Look, a shooting star!"

Instantly, everyone turned to look. Murong Wei deftly took the hot tea and placed it in front of Xuan Yuanche. Facing the crowd who had already turned around, she chuckled and said, "Shooting stars are always fast."

"Haha, yes, yes, shooting stars are great, shooting stars are great!" Long Xiao laughed heartily, while Xuan Yuanche put a hand to his mouth, unable to suppress a smile, a doting grin playing on his lips. The maid's scheme failed, and she could only retreat dejectedly.

"Lord Murong wishes to drink with me?" Xuan Yuanche said, personally pouring out the tea and filling a cup with wine. He said with great pleasure, "Someone, bring a seat!"

Long Xiao hurriedly brought a stool and placed it beside Xuan Yuanche, shamelessly grinning and whispering, "Your Highness Prince Qi, is this treasure I prepared to your liking?"

"Treasure?" Xuan Yuanche raised an eyebrow at him.

"Your Highness Prince Qi, Lord Murong is not only a skilled physician, but also possesses exquisite talents. Moreover, there are endless surprises waiting for you to discover!" Long Xiao whispered, his fat face utterly lewd.

"I heard Lord Murong has a child?" Xuan Yuanche asked.

"Misconception! Misinformation! Lord Murong is still young and unmarried, how could he have a child?" Long Xiao quickly clarified.

Murong Wei didn't speak, unsure whether to advance or retreat. She could only lower her head, nervously cursing Bai Wushang inwardly. He had promised to arrange everything for her, but now, he hadn't been seen for days.

"Why are you wearing a veil?" Xuan Yuanche asked again, and Murong Wei finally snapped out of her daze, becoming even more nervous.

Xuan Yuanche was quite strange. He hadn't asked her anything when he saw her in Wushang Palace, nor when he saw her again in Jingxuan Palace, he still hadn't asked much, showing no curiosity about her veil. Yet, he waited until now, in front of everyone, to ask.

However, it was precisely this question that caused Long Xiao to lie again, stammering out a reply.

"Your Highness, my right side is completely disfigured, extremely ugly. I've always worn a veil, firstly to conceal my ugliness, and secondly to avoid frightening others," Murong Wei said respectfully, showing a newfound fondness for her disfigured face.

Xuan Yuanche looked at her for a long time, but didn't pursue the matter further. He simply raised his cup and invited her to join him. Murong Wei was startled, then quickly rose and raised her cup in a toast.

"Murong Wei, what a pity..." he sighed, calling her by her full name for the first time. He finished his cup of wine, turned, and left. Murong Wei suddenly felt a sense of loss, somewhat inexplicably. Xuan Yuanche was gone just like that? It seemed too fast.

"Oh dear!" Long Xiao waved his sleeve in disappointment, shaking his head helplessly as he quickly followed.

However, two people had suddenly appeared behind Xuan Yuanche: Jin Chan and Cai Zai.

"Your Highness, I have prepared a tea banquet, which will be enjoyed for moon-viewing. Along the way, there are jade rabbit lanterns that I specially found from Xuan Yuanche." Long Xiao said solicitously, not daring to get too close. Jin Chan, carrying a long sword, walked at the very back, his face not visible, but his back alone exuded a cold and serious aura.

Xuanyuan Che simply waved his hand, not turning his head, and said, "Tell Consort De to go back on her own. I have important matters to attend to, so I won't linger."

"Your Highness Prince Qi!" Long Xiao chased after him a few steps, utterly disappointed. He had been eagerly anticipating sitting down with Prince Qi at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to have tea and chat, but before they could even discuss anything serious, he had already left.

This Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was clearly just a formality. Consort De was the unfortunate one, while Murong Wei became famous. After tonight, throughout the court and the palace, everyone knew the name Murong Wei. Of course, that's a story for later.

Seeing Prince Qi leave in the distance, Murong Wei didn't care anymore. Her heart, which had been pounding, finally settled. She had put on such a great performance today; surely he wouldn't hold her accountable for last night's score.

She watched the dejected Long Xiao slowly walk towards her amidst the sympathetic gazes of the ministers, and couldn't help but clench her hands together, stretching her limbs.

The real show at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was just beginning!

After Prince Qi left, the concubines of the harem arrived one after another, surrounded by palace maids. After all, they also had their own Mid-Autumn Festival banquet to attend.

Ning Fei, as the head concubine, sat in the seat that had originally belonged to Consort De, while Ning Ran undoubtedly occupied the seat that had originally belonged to Long Xiao.

Murong Wei sat very close to the main seat, ignoring the suspicious and warning glances from the other concubines. Having warmed up her muscles, she picked up her pipa and began to play, the melody quite strange: "Zheng! Zhengzheng! Zheng! Zhengzheng!, Zheng! Zhengzheng!"

Long Xiao stopped, looked up, and frowned slightly.

"Your Majesty, Prince Qi has departed. Your humble servant will play a Mid-Autumn Festival tune for you," Murong Wei said with a smile. As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Dezi led a group of beautiful young women out from both sides. These were the same dancers from the Wu Ni Chang Yu Yi Fang dance earlier. They still wore flowing robes and trailing skirts, but instead of carrying pipa, they held plates of pastries—some round, some crescent-shaped, a golden-brown color, with what appeared to be words printed on them. The original floral fragrance was now tinged with the aroma of baking, a completely unfamiliar scent to everyone, so enticing that it made one's mouth water.

These were called mooncakes.

The women danced lightly and playfully beside Long Xiao. The pipa music Murong Wei played was not as grand and majestic as before, but rather light and lively, making everyone who listened want to dance along.

Another group of women appeared, all scantily clad, clapping to the rhythm, their steps zigzagging back and forth, their hips swaying, dancing joyfully as they clapped along, "Boom cha-cha! Boom cha-cha! Boom cha-cha!"

"Hehe, interesting!" Enticed by the beauties, delicious food, and the music, Long Xiao's earlier gloom vanished, his cheeks jiggling with laughter, his steps following the dancers' rhythm.

The lead dancer carried a large platter with a strange set of cutlery—knife and fork—on it. A large mooncake was cut into pieces. A dancer knelt on one knee, about to take a fork.

Just then, Long Xiao suddenly retreated abruptly, his smile turning cold, and he shouted sharply, "How dare you draw your knife before me!"

With a roar, the dragon roared, and instantly, the surrounding guards swarmed forward. The ministers retreated in panic, while the concubines watched with schadenfreude as Murong Wei calmly continued playing the pipa.

Murong Wei rose, playing a cheerful tune as she approached the dragon.

"Your Majesty, this is something new, no less delicious than what Lord Wushang presented," she said, giving a wink to Xiao Dezi, who was standing nearby. Xiao Dezi quickly stepped forward, skillfully using a knife and fork to cut the mooncake, and respectfully offered a small piece to Murong Wei.

The dragon watched suspiciously, then relaxed his guard. Seeing how much Murong Wei enjoyed the food, he couldn't help but swallow, then waved for the guards to leave.

Murong Wei smiled, took a mooncake with her hand, and presented it to Long Xiao. She then demonstrated how to use a knife and fork in slow motion before handing the exquisite, gleaming silver knife and fork to him, saying with a smile, "Your Majesty, these are rare items from overseas. There's only one set like this in the entire Divine Continent."

For this, for tonight's performance, and for Bai Wushang's so-called "seduction," she had been quite busy last night outside Jingxuan Palace, searching the roof beams, asking Xiao Dezi for help training the dancers, and busily making mooncakes. She was only ready by this evening, with no time to rest.

Long Xiao looked on with curiosity. Having encountered countless new things before, he wasn't flustered. He imitated Murong Wei's mannerisms, holding a knife in his right hand and a fork in his left, his arms slightly raised, cutting a small piece of mooncake and putting it in his mouth. After tasting it, he exclaimed in admiration.

"Your Majesty, this is freshly baked, definitely not made with last year's filling. This is called a mooncake, a traditional snack eaten by people overseas during the Mid-Autumn Festival. A mooncake should be cut into quarters so you can eat it with the skin and the filling," Murong Wei said, demonstrating again.

Long Xiao, curious and eager to learn, diligently followed along, quickly mastering the technique. He cut a large piece of mooncake and exclaimed happily, "Interesting! Haha, truly interesting! Lord Murong is so thoughtful!"

"Your Majesty," Murong Wei said with a smile, "while you enjoy your mooncake and admire the moon, I will present you with a new composition."

"Good! Very good!" Long Xiao was overjoyed. He was about to take a seat with a plate of mooncakes when Murong Wei stopped him and whispered, "Your Majesty, there's something else good in Jingxuan Palace called cola. I'm a cold drink from overseas, just a few cups. Why don't we move to Jingxuan Palace to avoid any conflicts between the women over the distribution?"

Murong Wei spoke in a way that made her seem less like a woman, giving Long Xiao a meaningful look.

"Very... good!" Long Xiao also whispered, completely excited. Bai Wushang hadn't found his weakness, but Murong Wei had. His biggest weakness was his love of food; otherwise, how did he get all this fat?

"Leave now? That stuff has been sitting in the well for a long time. It won't be cold anymore after we just took it out," Murong Wei whispered.

Long Xiao, however, had his arm around Murong Wei's shoulder, their intimacy bordering on brotherhood rather than romance. He whispered, "Lord Murong, please go and wait for me. I've already dealt with a group of women; I'll be there in a moment!"

"Your humble servant obeys!" Murong Wei smiled, subtly pushing Long Xiao's hand away, bowing slightly, and then retreating with Xiao Dezi.

"Your Excellency, will the King really come?" Xiao Dezi asked in a low voice, leading Murong Wei closer.

"Want to make a bet?" Murong Wei was in a good mood.

"Your Excellency, I dare not bet with you; I can't afford to lose!" Xiao Dezi said helplessly, still respectful.

"Don't keep calling me 'Your Excellency,' just call me Weiwei," Murong Wei said, munching on a mooncake.

"Yes, Your Excellency," Xiao Dezi replied respectfully.

"You... you're such a loser!" Murong Wei said helplessly, quickly moving forward.

However, no sooner had she approached Jingxuan Palace than Long Xiao, completely lacking the demeanor of a monarch, chuckled and panted, like a clumsy bear running in alone.

Upon entering, he inhaled deeply, exclaiming repeatedly, "Fragrant! This smell is unparalleled!"

Murong Wei turned around, smiling to greet him, but inwardly she wondered, could expired cola powder really produce such an unparalleled aroma?

"Lord Murong, you truly suit my taste!" Long Xiao said, his lecherous gaze suddenly lunging forward. Murong Wei paled and quickly dodged, only to see Long Xiao rush past her through the side door behind her!

This guy, is he crazy?!

"Your Majesty, why are you acting like you're possessed?" Murong Wei asked, puzzled.

"Probably from being hungry at the banquet. Since Prince Qi wasn't eating, no one dared to touch their chopsticks," Xiao Dezi whispered.

Murong Wei followed, finding a table laden with delicious food in the backyard. It was all meat, steaming hot, fragrant, and succulent, all grilled. A simple barbecue grill had been set up nearby. Coke bottles were in glass containers, some on the table, others soaking in the well water! As soon as

Long Xiao entered the backyard, he immediately immersed himself in the food, completely ignoring Murong Wei's Coke and the fact that all the chairs were chaise lounges.

It seemed meat was all it took to entice him!

Murong Wei sighed, turning to him and whispering, "Xiao Dezi, go and close the gate. Have Yinling and Bao'er guard it. Without the King's permission, even if Consort Ning comes, stop her."

"Yes!" Xiao Dezi smiled and withdrew.

Murong Wei personally locked the backyard gate, calmly walking over to sit behind Long Xiao. She smiled and poured him a Coke. Before him lay a pile of bones, a large plate of grilled chicken wings, and the grilled chicken cutlets were all devoured.

Murong Wei was horrified, but still smiled and said, "Your Majesty, try some first. It's refreshing and thirst-quenching, with a unique flavor."

Long Xiao then looked up, coughed a few times, clapped his hands, and said, "This is the cola you were talking about?"

"Exactly," Murong Wei replied.

Long Xiao didn't drink it, so Murong Wei steeled herself and took a small sip. Seeing this, Long Xiao dared to try it, and once he did, he was hooked. He immediately downed a whole glass, exclaiming inwardly, "Good stuff! It lives up to its name! Cola, cola! Haha!"

"Isn't it a good thing?" Murong Wei smiled throughout, her gaze meeting Long Xiao's eyes, her voice fading.

"Exactly!" Long Xiao looked at her happily.

"There's something even better, Your Majesty, would you like to see it?" Murong Wei asked, her alluring eyes revealing a seductive intent, her voice becoming captivatingly deep and magnetic.

"Yes, yes!" Long Xiao nodded repeatedly, as if bewitched, his gaze fixed on her eyes.

"If you want it, Your Majesty, please lie down first, shall we?" Murong Wei asked enticingly.

"Okay." Long Xiao agreed.

"Come, slowly, lie back, it's safe here." Murong Wei said, getting up and guiding Long Xiao to lie back.

At this moment, Long Xiao was not only half-bewitched, but also completely sleepy.

He lay reclining, with Murong Wei sitting beside him, a crystal pendant dangling from her hand, swaying gently in front of his eyes. "Come on, listen to me, look at this thing, look at it intently, and as you look, when you feel your eyes getting tired, you'll fall asleep… Gradually your eyelids will get heavy… Your eyes will get tired… so tired you can't keep them open anymore, and you'll fall asleep… asleep…"

Murong Wei guided him softly. She had observed that this fat man was easily influenced by suggestion; general hypnosis was effective on him. However, to extract his deepest, unspoken secrets, deep hypnosis was needed, requiring medication in the short term. She had added powder to his cola; otherwise, the plan might not have succeeded.

After a while, the fat man finally closed his eyes. Murong Wei breathed a sigh of relief, lazily stretching, but her relaxed expression immediately turned alert. She almost cried out in alarm when she saw a man sitting on the wall ahead, looking like a rogue, smiling at her… Bai Wushang!

The bright moon hung high in the sky, its light like a ribbon. In the quiet courtyard, Long Xiao reclined on a chaise lounge, so still he seemed to be asleep.

Beside him, Murong Wei stood motionless, like a statue, watching the golden-clad man silently leap down from the wall and slowly approach her.

Every time he looked at her, his smiling eyes held a hint of amusement, his handsome face, adorned with a beauty mark, was incredibly charming. He should have been a man of understanding and wit, yet he was utterly oblivious to her charms, or perhaps he used her as a source of amusement.

He was once again clad in opulent gold, lost somewhere in his romantic escapades.

Before she could even react, he was already before her. He glanced at Long Xiao, about to speak, when Murong Wei quickly covered his mouth, glaring at him angrily.

Bai Wushang understood and nodded. Only then did Murong Wei release her hand, pointing to the gate behind her, her meaning clear without a word.

The two spoke in tacit agreement. Bai Wushang shook his head, then lazily reclined on the chaise lounge, a hint of weariness in his handsome features, as if he hadn't slept for days. He smiled innocently at Murong Wei and gestured for her to follow

. Murong Wei's eyes darkened; she was helpless against this rogue, and had no time to waste arguing with him. Reluctantly, she sat down and continued the hypnosis.

Her voice was soft and seductive, each word a spell, possessing an inexplicable force that compelled her to obey.

She said, "Close your eyes, which you can never open again, and listen. All around is quiet, only the sound of the wind, rustling... You hear the wind, and my voice. You only hear these two sounds... The wind grows weaker, and the sound grows weaker until you can't hear it anymore... Now, you can't see anything, you can't hear anything, you can only hear my voice. I am your most trusted partner, you completely trust me..."

Bai Wushang was already exhausted. Even without looking into Murong Wei's eyes, he gradually lost focus listening to her soft, gentle voice. It wasn't until Murong Wei spoke her last sentence that he suddenly snapped back to attention and frowned sharply.

Murong Wei was very close to Long Xiao, her voice low and gentle, a command that seemed both seductive and tender. She said, "Long Xiao, from now on, you will answer my questions without reservation..."

Bai Wushang sat up straight, frowning as he looked at Murong Wei, his eyes filled with doubt. Was this woman a witch? She actually knew such bewitching arts.

At this moment, Murong Wei spoke up, "Does the Han Kingdom's royal family truly possess the Hanhai Key?"

"Yes," Long Xiao actually replied, as if talking in his sleep.

"Where is it?" Murong Wei asked again softly.

"The Imperial Garden, at the bottom of Hanhai Lake," Long Xiao answered again, his tone devoid of any emotion, even somewhat rigid.

Murong Wei wasn't familiar with this place and frowned at Bai Wushang.

Bai Wushang quickly leaned closer and whispered, "Hanhai Lake is the center of the royal palace. It's a saltwater lake, its water coming from the Hanhai Sea, belonging to the Hanhai water system, hence its name. The lake is extremely deep; those who go into it have never come ashore. There must be something fishy about what he's saying."

Murong Wei nodded, then asked softly, "Where is at the bottom of the lake?"

"I don't know," Long Xiao answered.

Murong Wei and Long Xiao were both shocked, exchanging bewildered glances. How could this be? Could it be that this thing truly only exists in legends?

Murong Wei leaned closer to Bai Wushang and whispered, "Does that thing really exist?"

"It certainly does. Perhaps, even he doesn't know," Bai Wushang said, moving even closer to Murong Wei, his thin lips almost touching her ear. However, Murong Wei didn't notice the coldness of his lips. He whispered something, and Murong Wei nodded repeatedly.

Soon, she coughed lightly a few times, regaining her deep, gentle voice, and asked, "What is the Han Hai Key?"

"It's the key to starting the Gate of the Evil Dragon, imprisoned at the bottom of Han Hai Lake. Once it leaves Han Hai Lake, the Han Kingdom will face a catastrophe," Long Xiao replied.

"Have you ever seen the Han Hai Key?" Murong Wei continued to ask.

"Never seen it," Long Xiao answered. Bai Wushang, standing to the side, seemed thoughtful. He had gone to great lengths to obtain this thing, even kidnapping Long Xiao and holding a knife to his neck to force him. Long Xiao had said the same thing then—he had never seen it; it only existed in legends.

Murong Wei's eyes narrowed, and she asked softly, "Who is Bai Wushang?"

Bai Wushang was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile. This woman was wary of everyone after all.

"The City Lord of Vast City," Long Xiao replied simply.

Murong Wei didn't ask any further questions. She patted his arm and said softly, "Sleep...sleep soundly. When the sunlight shines on your face tomorrow, you will wake up."

Long Xiao didn't speak again, remaining quiet, as if he had simply fallen asleep.

Bai Wushang opened his mouth, wanting to speak.

Murong Wei reclined lazily, saying, "It seems things aren't so simple. It's a legend, but the legend doesn't specify a location. Long Xiao knows it's at the bottom of the Vast Sea Lake. This must be a royal secret, known only to successive monarchs."

"Interested?" Bai Wushang asked with a smile, sitting down beside Murong Wei. The chaise lounge wasn't large enough for one person to lie down comfortably. Murong Wei got up unhappily and pushed him away, saying, "Didn't we agree before that I'd contribute, and what benefits would we get in return?"

"Did you say we'd split it 50/50?" Bai Wushang asked, standing and looking down at her.

Murong Wei felt a sudden sting, so she simply stood on the chaise lounge and said, "Let's talk seriously, shall we?"

"Sure, let me see your treasures first," Bai Wushang said.

“No problem! Wait a moment, I’ll go get it.” Murong Wei was generous, fetching a canvas backpack and casually tossing it to Bai Wushang, saying, “Take a look.”

“So fast, I thought you’d be gone for a long time.” Bai Wushang said with a smile, though only he himself understood what he meant, as he emptied the contents of the canvas bag.

There were tissues, wet wipes, compressed biscuits, fries, juice powder, bread, and hamburgers—all unfamiliar to him. He could recognize the Swiss Army knife as a weapon, but he couldn't identify the miniature bombs at all.

"So many sleeping pills?" He picked up a handful of orange juice powder and asked suspiciously.

"These are Ye Bao's. These, and those, are all of them. There's none for you!" Murong Wei said, grouping all the vacuum-packed food items together. She had plenty of stock, but much of it was expired.

"Food?" Bai Wushang didn't believe her.

"Anyway, they're Ye Bao's. Here, take this. It's a multi-purpose knife." Murong Wei took out the Swiss Army knife, pulled out folding scissors, and showed them to Bai Wushang.

"This design is ingenious; it's a good thing. But what are these for?" Bai Wushang pulled out a USB port and asked, puzzled.

"I don't know either. Use it however you find it convenient." Murong Wei said, too lazy to explain, and unable to explain anyway.

"How many of these are there?" Bai Wushang asked again, weighing the bombs in his hand.

“Explosives.” Murong Wei narrowed her eyes, looking very mysterious.

“Explosives? What about the fuse?” Bai Wushang asked, carefully examining the object with great curiosity.

“No fuse needed. This one can be timed, this one explodes upon impact when thrown, and this one explodes upon contact with a laser.” Murong Wei explained.

“Laser?” Bai Wushang’s brows furrowed; he was faced with far too many new things.

“This is a laser.” Murong Wei said, taking out her Swiss Army knife and pulling out a miniature laser emitter. With a gentle press, a beam of red light shot forward.

Bai Wushang exclaimed in amazement, “Is that all?”

“That’s all. It’s a bit little, but with me and my son Ye Bao, we can at least share half the treasure, right?” Murong Wei asked.

“You don’t even know what I’m looking for, and you’re already thinking about getting a piece of the pie?” Bai Wushang laughed.

“What Lord Wushang wants must be something good, enough to buy a lot of gold.” Murong Wei also smiled.

“Smart, let’s go. We need to get this guy to wake up and head down to the Vast Sea Lake.” Bai Wushang said, turning to leave.

“Lord Wushang, it seems we haven’t reached an agreement yet. It’s a 50/50 split, clearly written down in black and white. And shouldn’t you tell me where Ye Bao is?” Murong Wei’s voice turned cold.

Bai Wushang didn’t turn around, smiling, “Weiwei, your memory seems to be a bit off lately. I’ve already told you, I’m threatening you, not cooperating with you. You won’t see Ye Bao until we get the Vast Sea Key.”

Murong Wei’s eyes narrowed, and she sneered, saying, “As long as you keep Ye Bao safe, I don’t mind if you take him hostage. Not only the Vast Sea Key, but we can cooperate in the future as long as we split it 50/50.”

Rather than worrying herself about protecting Ye Bao and hiding from the Murong family and Xuan Yuanche, who was very likely Ye Bao’s biological father, it was better to hand Ye Bao over to the Bai family, killing two birds with one stone.

Bai Wushang stopped, clearly surprised by Murong Wei’s decision.

Murong Wei stepped forward, her tone still calm, and said, "Lord Wushang, whatever Weiwei has and whatever Weiwei knows, I can definitely lend you a hand. Why not have another partner?"

Bai Wushang still smiled and said, "Weiwei, I don't think I've made myself clear. I like you and hope you'll stay by my side for life. So, even if the Sea Key is found, you can only see Ye Bao."

As Bai Wushang's smile deepened, Murong Wei's eyes darkened. She had been talking until her throat was dry, but this guy still wouldn't budge. He was simply shameless and utterly shameless!

She almost gritted her teeth as she said, "Lord Wushang, forced love is never sweet!"

"It's better than not being able to force it at all! Weiwei, let's go, accompany me to the Sea Lake!" Bai Wushang said, seemingly helpless himself, and took her hand.

Murong Wei immediately shook him off, genuinely wanting to slap him a few times.

"Hehe, come here yourself. I'll count to ten by the lake. If you don't show up, your meeting with Ye Bao will be postponed by a year." Bai Wushang still had that same smirking, irreverent look, but he didn't forget to take a mooncake with him, and didn't forget to ask, "Did you make this yourself?" "

Get lost!" Murong Wei roared, but then disappeared first.

When Bai Wushang arrived at the lake, Murong Wei was already there, dressed in simple, form-fitting night clothes. She was sitting by the lake, fiddling with something, a bunch of things he couldn't understand in front of her.

"Give me the Swiss Army knife," Murong Wei said, holding out her hand.

"What?" Bai Wushang didn't understand.

"That Swiss Army knife, hurry up." Murong Wei seemed to be in a bad mood.

Bai Wushang handed her the items, suspiciously asking, "What are you fiddling with?"

"The water's deep, and it's nighttime. We won't see anything down there. There's an LED diving flashlight in here. It can last a few days on the surface, but only two days underwater at most. We need to use it sparingly." Murong Wei said, taking the LED flashlight off, threading a cord through it, and tying it to her arm.

Bai Wushang had no idea what she was talking about, forcing a smile, "Weiwei, my lord, I'm just curious. Could you explain it more clearly?"

"No, did you bring a dagger?" Murong Wei asked again, her tone sharp, her whole demeanor suddenly becoming capable.

"How about a hundred ingots of gold?" Bai Wushang asked tentatively, sizing up Murong Wei. He felt she was completely different. They say men look handsome when they're serious, but women can also be quite elegant when they're serious.

"Ye Bao," Murong Wei replied simply. Bai Wushang immediately shut up and continued observing her.

"Did you bring a dagger?" Murong Wei frowned and repeated.

"Yes, I brought a longsword, a dagger, and hidden weapons," Bai Wushang said.

"How long can you hold your breath?" Murong Wei asked, looking at the dark water with her back to Bai Wushang.

"A quarter of an hour is my limit," Bai Wushang answered.

"You stay here, I'll go down and scout first," Murong Wei said, about to jump into the water, but Bai Wushang grabbed her, saying, "What's the rush? We're just scouting tonight. I'll go down with you."

"No need. Save your energy. Once you see that red light shooting out, come down immediately," Murong Wei said seriously.

"Tonight is just scouting," Bai Wushang emphasized again.

“Even scouting can go wrong. This Vast Ocean Lake has only ever seen those who accidentally fall in; no one has ever actually gone down. No one knows if those who fell in truly drowned or if there's more to the story. Also, the royal city isn't close to the coastline, and this lake is part of the marine system, so there could be undercurrents or even a deep trench at the bottom. Furthermore, if the Vast Ocean Key isn't just a legend but truly exists, then someone must have placed it at the bottom of the lake. So, it's possible for someone to go down; the key is how to avoid the traps and hidden weapons.” Murong Wei explained earnestly, each word clear and spoken quickly.

Bai Wushang looked at her, his eyes filled with amusement. Indeed, appearances can be deceiving. Now he finally believed that she was indeed an assassin, and a meticulous and serious one at that.

"Anything else? It's always good to be prepared beforehand, anticipating all possible problems and devising solutions. That way, you can be confident and relaxed when you're actually doing something. That's my style. I hope we can work together seamlessly in the future. Also, even though I'm currently under your control, we're still partners. You don't need to spend your whole life searching for what you want. I hope you'll return Ye Bao to me as promised." Murong Wei said, giving Bai Wushang a thumbs-up.

Even though Murong Wei was serious, Bai Wushang was still damn careless. The thumbs-up was still no proof. "Weiwei, actually… actually, you look quite good with a veil over your cold exterior."

Murong Wei almost collapsed, giving him a disgruntled glare, and repeated, "Anything else?"

"No problem." Bai Wushang said easily.

“I can only hold my breath for a quarter of an hour at most. If I don’t see the red light after a quarter of an hour, something terrible has happened. Take care of my Ye Bao for me, tell him I’m going far away, and that he should come find me when he grows up,” Murong Wei said earnestly.

“You really are willing to abandon Ye Bao,” Bai Wushang said.

Murong Wei sat by the lake, glanced at Bai Wushang, and said, “How about Lord Wushang gives us, a widow and her child, some travel money so we can travel far away without a care in the world?”

As she spoke, she smiled contemptuously, took a deep breath, and without waiting for Bai Wushang’s reply, slowly slid into the water

. “Travel far away, without a care in the world…heh.” Bai Wushang muttered to himself, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He didn’t wait, and silently followed Murong Wei into the dark water.

Soon, the surface of the water returned to calm, and the bright moon slowly peeked out from behind the clouds. Under the moonlight, the calm lake surface was like a smooth mirror.

But beneath this calm, unrest had already begun.

Murong Wei clasped her hands above her head, her slender body darting through the reeds like a shuttle. The diving flashlight strapped to her arm had a long range, illuminating depths up to a hundred meters. The numbers on the flashlight constantly changed, indicating the water depth. Soon, it emitted a faint blue light—a warning that she had reached fifty meters. She kicked off

the water, hugged her knees, and rolled over, finally bringing her head upwards. Her small mouth was tightly closed, and her eyes, illuminated by the flashlight's white light, shone with an even sharper, cold glint. She had no time to waste; she deftly removed the flashlight, securing the rope around her neck to prevent it from falling. Using both the laser and the flashlight, she scanned her surroundings.

This movement was slow; she had estimated the radius of the circular lake to be about fifty meters. Regardless of whether she was in the exact center, she could see the lake wall. Using the light, she focused intently, as if the collapse of the sky or the cracking of the earth wouldn't affect her.

Despite this expression, she remained vigilant and wary, holding a flashlight in one hand and a waterproof revolver tightly in the other. Fortunately, she had grown up on an island in her previous life, and all her equipment was accustomed to being waterproof. The creatures in saltwater lakes were far more dangerous than those in freshwater lakes; who knew if a shark might be swimming in through a trench connecting to the ocean?

The dazzling white light slowly swept along the circular lake wall. All she could see were rocks, seaweed, and many fish swimming by—nothing particularly unusual.

As she flipped down, she attached the flashlight to her arm again and continued diving until the blue light on the flashlight flashed again; she had reached a hundred meters. This was the limit of the pressure the human body could withstand. The most capable individuals could only reach a maximum of one hundred and fifty meters without any protective equipment. Having not trained for so many years, she dared not descend further even at a hundred meters.

She continued diligently scanning the stone wall. In this environment, her vision was limited to about fifty meters, yet no surprises appeared within those fifty meters.

If it truly was a hidden treasure, it wouldn't exceed human limits; if it wasn't hidden but buried, it would surely be submerged at the bottom of the lake.

If it was the former, it would definitely be hidden on the lake wall; if the latter, it would only draw out the entire lake's water. Bai Wushang must have his concerns for not doing so.

Another fifty meters would provide the answer. At this moment, Murong Wei's face was pale, her small mouth tightly pressed together as if it might loosen at any moment. She was making a decision; she could only wait for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. She had no time to hesitate!

She closed her eyes, still moving with practiced ease. Her graceful body, her thin clothes, made her look like a mermaid in the water's shimmering light—exquisitely beautiful.

Bai Wushang was already below her, quietly watching her approach, somewhat worried, somewhat infatuated…

The blue light from her underwater flashlight flickered incessantly, a warning signal. One hundred and fifty meters deep was far beyond the limits of ordinary mortals; she couldn't stay that long.

Yet, her face was serious and focused. Holding the flashlight, she slowly swept it in a circular motion, her other hand gripping the gun tightly.

Inch by inch, she had to be even more careful here than before. Regardless of Bai Wushang's coercion or excuses, she had promised and was determined to fulfill her duty.

The bright white light shone on the stone wall. The aquatic plants were sparse; the rocks were covered with parasitic shellfish, and plankton was abundant, obstructing her vision. She had to look even more intently.

She had already scanned most of the area, still finding nothing. She remained focused, undeterred and unhurried.

Suddenly, the slowly moving light stopped, and a large iron gate appeared on the stone wall not far ahead!

There was no joy in her eyes; she remained cautious and serious. She slowly approached, and just then, unhurriedly, bubbles began to rise from her nose.

Yes, she couldn't hold her breath any longer and started exhaling. If she didn't surface soon, she'd only inhale water!

More and more bubbles appeared; undoubtedly, she was losing control of her speed. If she still had the energy, she could catch her breath.

In this situation, she remained calm and swam to the iron gate with near-professional skill. She pointed one of her laser transmitters upwards, sent a signal, and gently knocked with the other. She pulled the doorknob, but the gate remained locked, completely still.

In this life-or-death situation, if she swallowed water, at this depth, even if he could carry her, it would be too late. This woman was damnably calm, so calm that even he, who always considered himself calm, felt a pang of jealousy.

Bai Wushang, who had been hidden in the darkness, finally swam over hastily, a hint of urgency and panic he himself didn't even realize. However, when he was still ten meters away from Murong Wei, Murong Wei suddenly raised her gun.

She had her back to him, one hand still gripping the iron gate, the other holding a gun to the target, her eyes narrowed in a wary gaze, bubbles still rising from her nose.

He immediately noticed her wariness and readiness to attack; she must have mistaken him for a water monster. However, he couldn't speak underwater, and at ten meters, she wasn't holding an arrow, and that small, strange thing in her hand couldn't possibly hurt him. Thinking this, he deliberately made a louder noise and continued swimming towards her.

Hearing the increased commotion, Murong Wei suddenly turned around, bracing her legs against the iron gate, ready to use the momentum to push off. At the same time, she pointed her short gun straight at the target without hesitation.

"Bang..." A muffled explosion rippled through the water, creating a white spray. The water resistance meant the bullet wasn't fast, but it wasn't slow either, disappearing instantly into the white bubbles. Without hesitation or curiosity, she used the iron gate as leverage, pushed off hard, and darted out like a shuttle.

The light rose rapidly, and the water quickly returned to its original darkness. It was unclear whether the white bubbles had dissipated; everything was so calm. Yet, within this calm, the stench of blood gradually intensified, growing stronger and stronger. Then, movement returned to the water; it seemed large fish, submerged at the bottom, were rising to the surface, struggling for something.

At a depth of 150 meters, the surface of the water was completely obscured by the night. Murong Wei's hands, white and wrinkled from being submerged, clung to the lakeshore. Her entire body was still submerged, and she was panting heavily, her eyes too weak to open.

However, she dared not rest for too long. Given Bai Wushang's nature, he should have been showering her with insincere concern by now, perhaps even taking advantage of her distress to threaten her. But now, all was silent. Where was he?

She forced her eyes open and glanced around. The entire circular lake was empty and deserted.

She was startled. Could it be that the guy saw the laser and went into the water, missing her? But surely he wouldn't be so blind as to not see the bright white light she shone up from him!

The commotion underwater must have been caused by a huge and extremely dangerous beast. If he went into the water, even the best martial arts skills would be useless!

What should she do?

Just then, a commotion came from the flower bushes not far away. It seemed that Yinling Bao'er, who was guarding the area, had gotten into a conflict with someone. Anyone

who could get into a conflict with these two girls must be extraordinary. Murong Wei's first thought was Consort De, who hadn't left yet!

She was alarmed. With her current strength, sinking into the water would only lead to death.

She had to get ashore. Hiding her flashlight and gun in her wet sleeves, she gritted her teeth, clung tightly to the shore, and slowly, bit by bit, climbed up. She had to start exercising and learning martial arts every day. Otherwise, her body was already weak, and if she continued like this, she would be unworthy of her identity as a professional assassin.

The veins on her forehead, nose, and the back of her hands stood out, her originally pale face flushed red, and finally, most of her body was lying on the riverbank. Swimming is extremely energy-consuming, let alone diving. She had made thorough preparations, but she had neglected her tacit understanding with Bai Wushang.

She took a few deep breaths, steadied herself, rolled over, and moved her legs outward, finally reaching the shore. At this moment, that sharp, piercing voice became clear.

"I'm in a bad mood tonight. If you know what's good for you, get out of my way, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Yes, it was Murong Lan, the most noble woman in the palace after the departure of Prince Qi.

"Your Highness, it is said that monsters often appear in Hanhai Lake, especially on the night of the full moon. This servant advises you not to go. If something happens, our Han Kingdom will not be able to explain it to Prince Qi!" Yinling earnestly advised.

"Water monster? Yinling, have you been in the capital longer, or have I? I've only ever heard that Hanhai Lake is a sacred place in the Han Kingdom. Those who accidentally fall into the water are worshipping the gods. Isn't your talk of a water monster blasphemy against the gods?" Consort De coldly questioned, and before Yinling could explain, she shouted sharply, "Guards! Drag this filthy servant who blasphemes against the sacred place away and give her thirty lashes!"

"Your Highness Consort De, since Hanhai Lake is a sacred place, isn't your moonlit night cruise on Hanhai Lake also blasphemy against the gods? No boats are ever allowed on this lake, and no Han Kingdom has ever had this authority," Abao spoke up, blocking the approaching guards for Yinling.

"Does my status compare to that of the King of Han? You should know that the god of Han is Xuanyuan, and it is my husband, King Qi. It was King Qi who repeatedly protected Han before the Emperor. My presence at Hanhai Lake is an honor for Han. If you obstruct me again, don't blame me for killing you all! Your heads will be offered to the gods of Hanhai Lake!" Consort De arrogantly looked down on Yinling and Bao'er with an air of disdain.

Upon hearing this, Yinling and Bao'er almost burst into laughter, but the situation forced them to buy their mistress more time.

Yinling winked at Bao'er and still spoke in a polite tone, "Your Highness Consort De, this servant heard that King Qi..."

Before she could finish, an old nanny beside Consort De hurriedly said, "Smell it! Isn't it the smell of blood? It's coming from Hanhai Lake!"