As for the imperial decree issued by Chu Yixuan, Yan Xijun accepted it with pleasure. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Anyway, she had never cared about titles and status.

  Her calmness caused Wenqin's confusion. After sending off Luo Gonggong, Wenqin returned and immediately asked her own young lady.

  "Your Majesty, why did you demote me from being a noble to a mere concubine? My status has fallen from the highest position to the lowest rank of imperial concubine. What does Your Majesty mean by this?"

  Wen Qin massaged the young master's leg while puzzlingly asking, "What happened last night? Why did everything change after waking up?"

  "The emperor's mind is unfathomable. It's not for the likes of us to guess what's on His Majesty's mind. Whatever his intentions, since it's already happened, let's just accept it."

  Yan Xijun half-reclined in the rocking chair, calmly closing her eyes to rest her mind. She hadn't slept all night last night and now just wanted to get a good sleep.

  "But, Master." Wen Qin still didn't understand and curiously asked: "Master, how did the wound on your shoulder come about?"

  "Let Wenqin, you withdraw. Let me rest quietly for a while." Yan Xijun changed the subject and said. For some reason, she didn't want to tell Wenqin about what happened last night.

  Her intuition told her that she and Wenqin were becoming increasingly estranged, and now they didn't seem as close as they used to be in the General's Mansion.

  She heard a sound of a zither and slowly retreated out. Although she was also very upset in her heart, she knew that the relationship between her master and her had been getting worse and worse.

  Wen Qin's heart was filled with sorrow, but she also knew that she had done many excessive things. In the end, it couldn't be helped. Many things were required of her by Empress Yan.

  When Wen Qin retreated to the gate, Yan Xi Jun suddenly opened her eyes and said to her: "Wen Qin, go and call Xue Lian over to attend to me."

  "Yes, Master." Xīn Qián's face was full of respect as she replied, but her heart was already in turmoil. What did the master mean by this? Would he rather have Xuě Liàn attend to him than herself? Wasn't this rejecting her?

  Xu Qin reluctantly went to find Xue Lian and then told her to go serve their master.

  "Master, you're looking for me?" Xue Lian squatted down on the ground with a clever smile, massaging Yan Xiu Jun's legs and asking.

  "Uh-huh." Yan Xijun opened her eyes and looked at Xue Lian, who was massaging her legs with her head bowed down. There were many heartfelt words she wanted to say to her. At this point, Xue Lian's importance in her heart had already surpassed Wen Qin's by a lot. Her intuition made her trust her more. She didn't even know when this trust began.

  Yan Xikun looked at Xue Lian and carefully massaged her feet and legs for her. In his heart, he wanted to say something but stopped himself. He didn't know what to say to her.

  "Master, is there something you'd like to say to me?" Xue Lian looked at her gently.

  Yan Xijun nodded and said: "He already knew everything about me last night. The wound on my shoulder was accidentally inflicted by Yi Ling."

  Xue Lian's hands paused for a moment. "The Emperor knows," she said. She knew that something unusual must have happened last night.

  "Uh-huh." Yan Xijun recounted everything that had happened last night, even revealing Chu Chengming's identity and telling her about what had happened between them.

  Xue Lian listened, shocked in her heart. The mysterious white-clothed young master was actually the former dynasty's little prince, now the King of Hell. She felt both moved and suspicious about what her master had told her, so she asked: "Master, why did you tell me these things?"

  "Xue Lian, you're a clever person. I also consider you as one of my closest people. Now, I'll tell you everything. I don't want to hide anything from you. Can you help me investigate something?"

  "What's wrong? I'll definitely try my best to help Master," Xuelian said.

  "Go and find out if the Emperor has captured the King of Hell. Also, is the King of Hell still living in the palace?" Yan Xijun ordered.

  "Yes, Master. I'll go and investigate now." Xue Lian Fu bowed and slowly backed out, then turned to leave.

  Yan Xijun fell asleep on the chaise longue after she left. When he woke up, it was already dusk.

  She hadn't fully woken up yet when she heard a voice saying: "Fourth sister slept really soundly this time, making sister wait for so long."

  Yan Xijun raised her eyes and looked over, only to see the empress sitting beside the tea table, savoring her tea with a pleased expression. She was startled and quickly got down from the chaise longue, curtsying to her: "Younger sister pays respects to older sister."

  "It's all right. Get up." Empress Yan looked at her calmly and said.

  "Thank you, sister." Yan Xijun walked over to the tea table and sat down on the other side, looking at her and saying, "Sister, when did you arrive?"

  "You've been here for a long time. I didn't wake you up since you were sleeping so soundly." Empress Yan said, "What exactly happened last night? Why did you offend the Emperor and get demoted to such a low rank?"

  "Sister, it's hard to say. These are my private matters. Forgive me for not telling you."

  "What's meant by 'your private affairs'? You're now the emperor's consort, a daughter of the Yan family. My sister and I are also on the same side now. We rise and fall together. I hope you understand this relationship."

  "Sister, you're being too serious." Yan Xijun said lightly. What's the meaning of sisterhood? When has she ever treated her as a younger sister? Every time it was just using her.

  "Sister, what you said is true. The guards told me that a strange man appeared in your palace last night and even fought with the Emperor. Who exactly was this man? And what relationship do you have with him?"

  "I don't know who he is either, we have no relationship." Yan Xijun said vaguely. It seems that Chu Yixuan didn't reveal Ming's identity after all. Fortunately, he didn't tell his sister, or else she would really not know how to face her.

  "Yan Xiu Jun, don't deceive me about everything. Even if you don't say it, I will eventually find out." Empress Yan said sternly.

  All right. She was annoyed and ashamed. Yan Xijun said, "Sister, whether you find out or not, it's all up to you."

  "Yan Xijun, don't face Ben Gong with this attitude. Since you entered the palace, Ben Gong has never been worried about you. If it weren't for Ben Gong's protection, you would have died many times already. Do you know that?"

  "Oh. Then thank you for your protection, sister." Yan Xijun said calmly.

  "Yan Xijun, you......" Empress Yan angrily pointed at her for half a day. Suddenly, she stretched out her hand and knocked over the teacup on the table. Then, she turned and left.

  Empress Yan angrily stepped out of Ganquan Palace, her heart filled with indignation. If it weren't for the plan in her mind, she would have punished her for her great disrespect long ago.

  The formerly weak and timid fourth sister, today she actually dares to defy me, and is becoming more and more disobedient. Thinking of this, a murderous intent gradually rises in Empress Yan's eyes. In a flash, she thinks: those who obey me will prosper, those who oppose me will perish.

  She has never been a kind-hearted person. She uses those who can be used and abandons those who are useless.

  Walking on the road back to Kun Ning Palace, Empress Yan already had a plan in mind. A faint, gloomy smile appeared at the corner of her bright red lips.