The heavy rain finally poured down in torrents, the sky was filled with thick dark clouds, giving a sense of "dark clouds pressing down on the city, as if it were about to collapse".

  In the midst of this noisy rain, everything seems to have returned to quietness. Throughout the entire palace, only the high-hanging palace lanterns, under the eaves, exerted themselves to emit a faint light. After several flickers, some finally went out, leaving behind only their outer coverings, which trembled slightly in the wind and rain.

  As the time approached dusk, the sky grew darker and more obscure. Qi Fei had just left when Yuan Qi copied a few sentences from "Zhuangzi". Suddenly, he heard a clear voice under the corridor.

  He almost didn't need to look closely, and he already knew the identity of the person who came. He closed his eyes, imagining her icy beauty, refreshing and elegant, and couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. She was busy investigating the source of the poison, and it had been two or three days since they last saw each other.

  One day without seeing you is like three autumns apart...

  This ancient phrase, originally considered "heroic and short-tempered", has now become his own, yet he still can't help but think of it like a young man.

  Never thinking of each other in life, but once thought of, then troubled by longing...

  He couldn't help but sink into thought, listening to the sound of rain outside the window, only feeling inexplicably melancholy, and his heart couldn't help but sigh with sorrow.

  He put down the brush in his hand, raised his head, and looked at that beauty in his dream. With a clear and refreshing air, she walked from afar, gradually getting closer and closer.

  Her body was slightly wet, with a few strands of black hair falling on her forehead, like black jade, dotting her crystal-like complexion. Her eyes, which were already extremely clear, had become even more radiant and misty due to the heavy rain. Looking at them quietly, it seemed as if they could capture one's soul.

  "How did it become like this?"

  He got up and personally took a clean towel and handed it to Chenluo, indicating that she should wipe herself.

  Chenlu didn't decline, slightly adjusted her appearance and said: "Yixi Emperor's concubine is together with her husband outside the Longsheng Gate, saying that there is an urgent matter to see you."

  Yuan Qi was somewhat perplexed and smiled: "Isn't it that Sun Ming finally gathered the courage to come and make a scene, and my imperial sister came to file a complaint?"

  He imagined this scene in his mind and couldn't help but burst out laughing. Amidst the laughter, there was a hint of mischievousness reminiscent of his youth.

  Chenlu had also heard about the imperial princess, who was said to be strong-willed and very domineering. Some people even vividly described rumors of the crown prince being afraid of his wife.

  She looked at the emperor with a mischievous and mysterious expression, thinking it was really funny, holding back her laughter, she said: "Your Majesty is so cleverly dispatching his own sister, be careful that Princess Di comes to drunkenly beat the golden dragon!"

  After she finished speaking, she was somewhat surprised - did she actually laugh too?

  It seems that, infected by Yuan Zhi's smile as a young man, his own gloomy heart also dyed with a hint of brightness...

  She lowered her head, somewhat embarrassed, and changed the subject: "You'd better hurry up and declare them to come in, although Longsheng Gate has a sheltered place, after all it's windy and rainy!"

  Yuan Qi was like a dream come true, laughing loudly as he ordered Qin Xi: "Quickly invite sister and brother-in-law to come in."

  He remembered the chilly joke of morning dew and found it even more amusing, until the emperor's daughter and her husband arrived at the gate, still unable to restrain himself.

  Chenlu's eyes were cold and angry, staring at him, very regretful, hating that she couldn't swallow back her own words. Only after the two entered did Yuanqi barely manage to compose himself, restoring his usual dignified demeanor.

  ****

  "It's so late, what urgent matter does Imperial Sister and Prince Consort have to report?"

  The princess curtsied and said with a smile: "It's nothing but a big deal, it's just that I haven't come to pay respects to the emperor for a long time, and I'm really uneasy in my heart."

  She gazed straight at the Emperor with her beautiful eyes, and Yuan Qi knew at a glance that she had something important to say. He signaled for his attendants to withdraw, leaving only Chen Lu behind, and said: "Imperial Sister, do you have anything to say?"

  Yi Xun Di Ji looked deeply at Chen Lu, knowing that she was the emperor's confidant. She no longer avoided the subject and recounted today's events, saying softly: "In my opinion, Second Brother is indeed laborious and has great merits, whatever reward he receives would not be excessive. However, there are some sycophants who flatter and fawn on him, if they were to instill any wild ideas in Jing Wang, it would ultimately harm him!"

  Yuan Qi listened quietly and calmly, not getting angry. He stepped down from the throne, came to the front of the princess, personally helped her to the seat, and also gave a seat to the prince consort. Only then did he deeply sigh: "I still have flesh and blood siblings after all!"

  Yi Xun Di Ji listened to this sigh, her eyes turned red, and tears almost fell: "I know, Your Majesty is really in a difficult situation. As your sister, I can't help you with anything. But the crown prince is not an outsider either. He leads the army to guard the capital, as long as Your Majesty issues a decree, no matter how dangerous it is, he will come to rescue the palace."

  "What's so serious about it?"

  Yuanyu couldn't help but laugh, looking at the emperor's slightly anxious expression, he was moved and said: "Imperial sister, don't worry, I am in the nine-layered imperial palace, my heart is like a clear mirror, who are making waves, who are wall grass, this time can be identified one by one!"

  The princess heard him say this, and a stone fell to the ground in her heart. She smiled and said: "It's also my overthinking, the emperor is a true dragon son of heaven, his eyes are like torches, those treacherous people's tricks, there's no reason he can't see through?"

  She turned her head and smiled at the crown prince, indicating that she had expected as much. The emperor's calculations were divine, and he already had his guard up.

  Sun Minghui smiled with a hint of indulgence, as if he had thought of something. He stood up and said: "Your Majesty, there is one more thing that I must report to you."

  He hesitated for a moment, and then said: "In the past few days, there have been rumors among the officials and nobles. Some of the things that have been said are truly outrageous and treasonous - I suppose you've heard something about it?"

  The princess heard him being so direct and bringing up this forbidden topic, she couldn't help but feel a great sense of urgency in her heart.

  Sun Ming held his wife's hand under the table, slightly comforting her, before continuing: "These absurd and bizarre rumors, I really don't believe them, but looking at the trend, they are spreading more and more wildly. I am truly worried that if this continues, public opinion will become unfavorable to Your Majesty."

  He was a martial man by origin, and his words were always direct. After finishing speaking in one breath, he picked up the teacup and took a big sip.

  Yuan Qi listened, and his eyes flashed with a hint of anger, yet he remained calm and composed: "The Prince is indeed straightforward. The rumors in the capital have already reached my ears... As the sage said: 'The virtue of the king is like the wind, and the spirit of the people is like grass.' Since I ascended to the throne, I have been devoted to governing with benevolence and pacifying the people. It can be said that I have widely cultivated virtuous governance, and the people will not be so confused!"

  The young emperor gazed out of the window at the heavy rain and smiled. He looked carefree, as if he had the entire world under his control.

  At this time, the wind and rain were urgent, the morning dew gazed at the emperor, but felt that he was young and proud, yet not losing his composure, knowing that in this game, he was well-prepared.

  She let out a soft sigh, her eyes narrowing slightly, for a moment thinking that the person standing in front of the window was that scoundrel from her past life, but then she was awakened by the emperor's cold smile between his eyebrows.

  Yu Xuan has always been gentle as a spring breeze, he wouldn't have such an expression...

  "Still..."

  Yuanyu called out several times before Chenlu woke up from her reverie: "What is the Emperor's command?"

  Yuanyu looked closely, only to see that she seemed unable to adapt to the dark and gloomy sky, her eyes narrowed like a cat's, leaving only the clear and flowing light flashing through her pupils.

  "What's wrong with you, why so restless?"

  He anxiously asked.

  "I'm a bit dazed..."

  Her voice was faint and seemed to come from afar, amidst the rumbling of the rain.

  "This rain is really unbearable..."