On the second day, after finishing his morning prayers, Yuan Qi summoned Ju Yun and handed him a plate of pastries, but saw that Ju Yuns expression was strange, seemingly annoyed and worried.

  Gu Yun stepped forward and saluted the Emperor, saying: "Your Majesty, I am terrified. Please show mercy and spare this villains life!"

  Yuan Qi found it interesting: "Is that woman really an acquaintance of yours?"

  Qu Yun sighed, with a look of pain and distress: "I have a close friend who I havent seen for a long time. A few years ago, I heard that he had taken in a young girl as an apprentice. Only now, after seeing the token, do I realize its this reckless and impudent lass!"

  Yuanyu looked at his worried appearance, smiled lightly, and gestured to the left and right to give him a seat, saying: "Is it someone from the rivers and lakes? How did you rush into my palace?"

  Qiu Yuns eyebrows furrowed even deeper, and he said with a scowl: "To think that this girl is also pitiful, she actually fell for a heartless young man. Every day, they would make vows to each other, but as soon as things got tough, he would turn his back on her and deny their relationship. He secretly plotted against her from behind her back, causing her serious injury, and then repeatedly tried to kill her. She had no choice but to disguise herself as a palace maid to escape... Listen to what she said: The most dangerous place is actually the safest. What nonsense!"

  Yuanyi couldnt help but smile, her warm and gentle smile, in the dark shadows of the great hall, was as warm as a sunny day, and the palace maid beside her couldnt help but blush.

  "Qiu Ying, this young lady is really interesting - may I ask your name?"

  "Her name is Chenlu... Alas, I really dont know how that old friend of mine brought her up, to be such a foolish and absurd girl!"

  "She has been hiding in the palace for half a year, without revealing any clues... This young lady indeed has extraordinary abilities, go and summon her, I also want to see her."

  ****

  Just after half a cup of tea, a woman came forward with an imperial edict.

  She had changed into a simple white dress, her figure was slender and delicate, she knelt down on the steps, without another word.

  The emperor suddenly remembered that a group of palace maids were waiting to be identified, and it wasnt until then that he realized he had only noticed the one with "a face like a peach blossom", but hadnt taken a closer look at what this woman actually looked like.

  "Look up."

  She lifted her head as promised, and Yuan Qi glanced at her, but was stunned.

  She is not particularly beautiful, her immature face is only delicate, but that pair of eyes is different from others.

  That blackness is profound, with a divine light revolving around it. In the blink of an eye, I feel the chill of ice and snow, but upon another glance, it seems like the melancholy of autumn waters stretching across the sky.

  Just quietly watching, as if being sucked in...

  Yuan Qi immediately calmed down and came back to his senses. He suppressed a smile, waved away the attendants, and didnt call out to her, letting her remain kneeling.

  "Whats your name?"

  "Dew."

  "How dare you be so presumptuous and sneak into the palace, dont you know thats a serious crime?"

  "I roughly understand, Your Majesty."

  Morning dew slightly raised her head, gazing towards the imperial throne. She knelt in the sunlight, it was unclear whether she was injured or not, but her skin was white to the point of being almost translucent.

  "I was seriously injured at the time, my martial arts skills were almost completely useless, and I had no choice but to hide in the palace. Moreover," she looked quietly at the emperor, "Your Majesty must be aware that selecting women from among the common people to enter the palace as servants is something that wealthy families are unwilling to do, and since ancient times, it has been common for them to buy poor families daughters to take their place. Therefore...at the time, I thought that the law does not blame the masses."

  "What a clever and sharp-tongued woman! What if I were to spare you alone?"

  "Your Majesty, you and I both know the truth. That night in the abandoned palace, I saw your secret with Commander Qu. You wont let me leave now."

  "Dont you beg for mercy for yourself?"

  "If you want to spare my life, you must think that I am useful to you, and I indeed have this value."

  "Oh? What can you do? Martial arts or military strategy?" The emperor sneered.

  "One who has no special skills, even if its martial arts, is not much better than a useless person." Chen Lu smiled, with a sharp and refreshing glint in her brow: "But I can become the sharp blade in your hand."

  "I have Wen in the imperial court and Wu among the generals of the four directions, what need is there for you?"

  "Neither the ministers nor the generals can make you feel completely at ease. The bloody head is a sufficient proof of this, not to mention that you dont even stay in your own Qianqing Palace, but instead go to the abandoned palace to plot in secret - if there was no constraint, why would it be like this?"

  In the depths of the grand hall, the girls voice echoed in the air, clear and crisp, yet full of strange temptation.

  Yuan Qi fell silent, though her heart was secretly shaken, her face didnt reveal anything.

  "Youre so arrogant... Fine, Ill let you off on account of Qu Dings face. Let me see your abilities first - follow me for now and do as youre told."

  He summoned the eunuch with a writing brush: "Convey my imperial decree, the palace people of Yuhuayuan are diligent and devoted to their duties, respectful and meticulous in their work, promote them to be Shangyi."

  The dew is very cooperative on this grand Sunday morning.

  Turning back to look at Chen Lu who was calm and composed, the Emperor asked in a low voice: "I havent even asked you yet, what did you go to that abandoned palace for?"

  Morning dew rose, with a bitter smile: "I think Ill go see if there are any ghosts in the world."

  "Ah?" Yuan Qi did not expect her to answer like this.

  "Your Majesty... Dont you know that women in this world are both afraid of and fascinated by ghost stories?"

  Yuan Qiji was shocked and suddenly thought of his childhood, when the nanny who accompanied him would often tell stories about headless ghosts, and he couldnt help but nod off to sleep with a smile.

  His hearty laughter echoed outside the grand hall, and the eunuchs and palace maids couldnt help but exchange glances.

  ****

  Shangyi, also known as Shangyi Yu Shi, is a female official rank belonging to the sixth grade of Zhengpin. It is generally conferred upon the emperors closest confidantes on his left and right sides. Although its rank is not high, it is a relatively important position.

  Yuandi had always been gentle and emotional, and was also fair to the harem, but he never had a personal maid, only a few clever eunuchs like Qin Xi and Tian Wang. The Empress Dowager pitied him, and every time she wanted to grant him something, he would decline with polite words.

  The palace generally believed that the young emperor was afraid to put beautiful women by his side, and the harem would inevitably be jealous and cause trouble.

  ****

  Chenlu listened to Qu Yuns words, with a subtle sarcasm in his smile.

  A person who uses imperial consorts as pawns, how can they consider their feelings?

  As for the matter, he is afraid of nothing!

  Gu Yun looked at her with a worried expression: "The Emperor actually wants to keep you by his side, in such a sensitive position..."

  "By placing the chess piece in a conspicuous position, it can be seen clearly what role it plays and how...the opponent will respond." Chen Lü Man said nonchalantly: "The Emperors move is just a probe, my true strength, and also the power of the other parties. I dare to say that he has not eliminated his suspicion of me at all."

  Gu Yun said with a bitter smile: "I have served this person for over ten years, and he wouldnt easily trust a stranger without going through many trials."

  He sighed lightly and looked at Chenlu disapprovingly.

  "Why stay in the palace? It looks peaceful and happy on the surface, but its actually full of danger and deceit. Once something happens, you wont even have the ability to protect yourself!"

  "Xiao Yun, youre the one whos in danger being alone by the Emperors side! - Do you think I dont know what youre planning to do?!" Chen Lus eyes shone brightly with anger and concern: "That night, as soon as I heard you and the Emperor secretly discussing something, I knew what you were up to! - Why must you provoke her?"

  Yu Yun heard this and gritted her teeth, remaining silent for a while before finally raising an eyebrow in anger.

  "Could it be that shes gloating?! Twenty-six years ago, she killed you... I will remember for all eternity the triumphant expression on her face when she was crowned empress!!!"

  He gazed at the morning dew, his eyes filled with sorrow:

  "Master, you only have two disciples, and now that one of them is gone, I dont have any other attachments. With this thought in mind, I staked my life to make those two men and women lose their heads. After several attempts, which almost succeeded, I finally infiltrated the palace and spent several years working hard to reach my current position."

  He sneered and continued, "The heavens are just, I havent even had a chance to make my move, one of them died early on, leaving this wicked woman, shes enjoyed all the wealth and glory in the world, killing her with one stroke would be letting her off too easy! Ill help her son turn against her, only then will it be satisfying to see her die at the hands of her own flesh and blood!"