The atmosphere around Xie Zhihang in Weiyang Palace was so oppressive it could drip water.
The late emperor had once praised his eldest son as diligent and studious, naturally intelligent, with a spirit that sought to get to the root of everything and pursued perfection. Whenever anything was entrusted to Xie Zhihang, he was always at ease.
There was just one thing—sometimes one need not be too stubborn when viewing matters—
And this was something Xie Zhihang had never managed to achieve.
“What exactly are the conditions for the Rewind? Without understanding this, how can I sleep peacefully?”
Beneath Xie Zhihang’s narrow phoenix eyes lay faint dark circles.
“The most frequent trigger for the Rewind is when consorts are carried into Weiyang Palace. The key must lie therein.”
Was it man-made, or was it fate?
Why was he the only one who retained his memories?
Xie Zhihang raised his hand, sweeping his stray hair back. The blazing candlelight cast his handsome face in an even more gloomy light.
…
After a moment, Xie Zhihang stood up, deciding to take a walk.
Yinglu, who had been waiting outside the door, hurriedly draped an outer robe over the Emperor. Hearing his orders: “I’m just taking a short stroll. There’s no need for any of you to follow.”
“But… the night dew is heavy. Your Majesty’s invaluable health—how could this be allowed?”
Xie Zhihang’s peripheral gaze swept over Yinglu.
Everyone immediately knelt, not daring to say another word.
The palace had maids and eunuchs on duty all twenty-four hours. Xie Zhihang had grown up roaming the rear palace; he knew every brick and tile, finding nothing eerie or terrifying about it. As he walked, suddenly his eyelashes drooped as raindrops began to fall thick and fast. In the blink of an eye, the rain had soaked his robes. After a moment’s thought, he headed towards the nearest Xianfu Palace.
“Your Majesty!”
The maid on night duty spotted Xie Zhihang approaching from afar and, disregarding the muddy ground, hurriedly performed a deep bow.
Xie Zhihang acknowledged with a grunt and walked inside.
At that moment, the overexcited maid asked a question she would regret for half a month: “Has Your Majesty come to see Lady Li Pin?”
Only after the maid’s question did Xie Zhihang remember that Xianfu Palace housed not only Li Pin but also Sun Changzai and…
“Where does Lady Yun reside?”
Xie Zhihang remembered that she had scored full marks on the written examination.
“Replying to Your Majesty, Yun Daying lives in the western side room.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Xie Zhihang headed straight for the western wing.
…
All the world is the king’s land.
The rear palace was even more the Emperor’s private garden; Xie Zhihang could go wherever he wished.
However, some clearly didn’t share this perspective.
When Li Pin learned that the Emperor was heading towards the western wing, she immediately lost her composure. Clinging to a slim hope, she sent a maid to intercept him, hoping to snatch the Emperor’s attention. She assumed that Yun Daying, being newly established in the palace and lacking backing, wouldn’t dare protest if her favor was stolen. But before the maid could get close, Yinglu stopped her. After hearing her words, he laughed in anger: “Where His Majesty chooses to stay—not to mention you, even your mistress has no say in the matter.”
“Sir misunderstands,” the maid said with an apologetic smile, aware that attempting to control the Emperor’s movements was a grave offense. She tried to smooth things over with Li Pin’s words: “My mistress is concerned that the western side room is too cramped and small, fearing it might discomfort Your Majesty. She wishes to invite Your Majesty to the main hall for a brief rest…”
Ahead, Xie Zhihang paused.
He had overheard this and turned back.
The moonlight outlined his aloof face with a hazy golden rim, his voice deep like an evening bell: “Then have the main hall prepared.”
With that, he strode off.
Before the palace maid could even feel a flicker of joy, Yinglu kindly reminded her: “The Western Hall is indeed too humble for His Majesty. If he wishes to summon Yun Daying, it would have to be in the main hall.”
The maid froze.
Wh-what did that mean?
The Emperor intended to summon another woman in Li Pin’s own quarters?
Wouldn’t that mean driving Li Pin out?
Thinking of how Li Pin would vent her anger on them, the maid’s face turned pale.
“But… there’s no precedent for this…”
“Originally, there wouldn’t be. But wasn’t it Lady Li Pin who suggested it? His Majesty is merely accepting her kindness. You should quickly report to your mistress and make preparations early!”
…
Yun Jiao, who had been summoned to receive the Emperor, was utterly bewildered.
She hadn’t even prepared to face the boss, and now the boss was coming for her?
Xue Ya and Gong Mei worked frantically, their fingers nearly smoking, barely managing to dress her up so she wouldn’t appear before the Emperor looking completely plain.
“You must go quickly, my lady!”
Shoved out with an oil-paper umbrella in hand, Yun Jiao stumbled forward.
In her haste, she tripped and fell.
Xie Zhihang: …
He watched as Yun Daying, dressed in pink, tumbled into a muddy heap.
Somehow, this wasn’t quite the image of an ice-and-snow intelligent beauty he had imagined.
Yinglu, standing nearby, inwardly panicked. Just as he hesitated whether to drag away this Daying who had disgraced herself before the Emperor, Yun Daying wiped her face with the back of her hand and pushed herself up from the ground: “Waa, this is so embarrassing! Reload, reload!”
The next moment, time rewound ten seconds.
Xie Zhihang’s eyes widened slightly. In that brief moment of hesitation, he saw Yun Daying gracefully walk out and curtsy to him:
“Your Majesty, greetings to this concubine… I misspoke!”
Time rewound another ten seconds.
This time, Xie Zhihang realized the cause of the time reversal was this little Daying!
The reason why his attempts to visit the rear palace had failed suddenly became clear—this must be her method of fighting for favor, preventing him from consorting with other concubines. His gaze turned cold, but he pretended to be completely unaware, feigning ignorance to avoid alerting her.
When Yun Jiao slowly walked out again, she appeared to Xie Zhihang as someone who concealed great wisdom behind a facade of foolishness.
Yun Jiao properly completed her greetings.
Xie Zhihang: “Raise your head.”
Let me see what the culprit who has been tormenting me these days looks like.
Yun Jiao lifted her face. Thinking she could always reload if needed, she bravely met the Emperor’s gaze: “…Wow! Such a handsome character design!” Realizing her slip of the tongue, she reloaded again.
During the fourth meeting, Xie Zhihang coldly watched as this audacious little Daying tilted her face upward and muttered pitifully: “How come after so many refreshes, His Majesty is still here?”
Through repeated time reversals, he discovered something else.
That Yun Jiao did not wish to serve him.
She believed that by returning to the past, she could make him appear at Li Pin’s or Sun Changzai’s place.
“Hmph.”
Xie Zhihang sneered.
Want him to leave? Not a chance.
After the 31st refresh, Yun Jiao clearly showed signs of exhaustion. She listlessly completed her curtsy and drooped her head.
A slight smile touched Xie Zhihang’s lips: “Rise.”
Yinglu, standing nearby, was astonished to discover that the Emperor, upon seeing Yun Daying, had completely shaken off his previous gloom and frustration, and even wore a rare smile… The Emperor was known for his indifference to women—something even Lady Shufei couldn’t achieve! Looking again at this Yun woman, her appearance was fair, but she wore a dull, withered expression—what exactly about her made the Emperor regard her so differently? Regardless, this Yun Daying was likely destined for great fortune, about to rise rapidly to prominence.
But that wasn’t the most shocking part.
The next moment, the Emperor pinched her chin:
“I won’t go anywhere tonight—I’ll stay here with you.”
Yinglu’s pupils trembled in shock.
This was a never-before-seen, entirely new version of the domineering and charismatic Emperor!