Chapter 18 Identity

Chapter 18 Identity

Even while staying outside the palace, the emperor's meals were prepared with meticulous care.

The black lacquered dining table inlaid with mother-of-pearl was paired with round stools with enameled seats. The porcelain bowls and dishes were all of the finest official kiln white porcelain. In front of a sandalwood-framed screen inlaid with a playful lion motif stood a gilt bronze tripod charcoal brazier—sturdy and elegant—containing only the highest-grade red-wrapped charcoal, which burned warmly without emitting any odor.

Beside the charcoal brazier was a perfume stand, upon which sat a celadon-glazed vase holding a branch of osmanthus blossoms, their rich fragrance filling the room with warmth and comfort.

Every delicacy on the dining table was exquisitely prepared, delighting the senses. Though the ingredients were not necessarily extravagant, they were all fresh and required great effort to procure.

For instance, the silver shoots were harvested from the tender roots of lotus plants—the stems before they grow into lotus leaves. These were not easily obtained; too early, and they hadn’t sprouted, too late, and they became tough. After hours of painstaking underwater harvesting, barely enough could be gathered to fill a single jade dish, making them a rare and prized delicacy.

A Wu, quite hungry, ate freely, sampling one dish after another.

As she ate, she asked curiously, "What is this vegetable?"

It was fresh and sweet, with a pleasantly smooth texture.

The Jingxi Emperor replied, "This is peacock greens."

A Wu repeated, "Peacock greens?"

The Jingxi Emperor glanced at Fu Tai beside him and inquired, "Called broomweed in the markets, isn't it?"

Fu Tai quickly smiled and said, "You're absolutely right, young master. It is a medicinal herb, but most people call it broomweed. We picked the freshest tips early this morning, quick-boiled them, then tossed them in a broth the chef had prepared earlier. The taste is perfection itself!"

A Wu asked, "Broomweed—the same kind used to make brooms?"

Fu Tai nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes! When it grows older, it can be used for brooms, but what you and the young master are eating now are the tenderest shoots."

A Wu found this even more amusing and proceeded to ask about another dish—a wild vegetable called field lettuce.

Fu Tai was about to elaborate on the field lettuce, but noticing the Jingxi Emperor’s indifferent expression, he quickly fell silent and discreetly stepped aside.

The Jingxi Emperor said, "If you enjoy these wild flavors, I’ll take you for a walk later. The nearby manors are full of all kinds of wild produce. This season is perfect for fruits, and the flowers are in full bloom."

A Wu replied cheerfully, "Great!"

The Jingxi Emperor pushed a small jade dipping dish toward her and remarked casually, "When you came to the capital, did you travel by boat or carriage?"

A Wu answered without thinking, "By carriage first, then—"

She broke off mid-sentence, eyes darting to the man before her, whose tawny eyes twinkled with amusement.

She bit her lip slightly, flushing with embarrassment and vague discomfort.

Why? Because these wild vegetables were native to the capital or the north, and she hadn’t tasted them before—had he guessed her origins?

Though they had shared passionate intimacy, as if they were the closest of spouses, there was still wariness between them. They knew little of each other, and in another moment, they could easily become strangers again.

The Jingxi Emperor asked, "What, are you upset now?"

He served her some fragrant broth with a spoon and coaxed her with unprecedented patience, "It was just an idle question."

Beside them, Fu Tai listened silently, torn between amusement and disbelief.

His Majesty, who was accustomed to unquestioning obedience, now having to justify his words just to avoid upsetting her.

The emperor in his thirties, radiating imperial majesty, had never stooped to this level before!

Was it because this young lady was beautiful that the emperor found himself being swayed, or was it because, away from the capital in the rustic charm of Nanqiongzi’s countryside, he had more leisurely whims?

A Wu also sensed it—the usually stern man showed a rare hint of yielding. She felt she had scored a point.

So she smiled and pressed her advantage: "By the way, what should I call you, my lord? A Wu still doesn’t know your name."

Jingxi Emperor: "Oh?"

A Wu tilted her head: "Otherwise?"

She teased mischievously: "Should A Wu call you 'Rogue Lover'?"

Fu Tai’s eyelids twitched violently nearby.

Such audacity! What a shameless little minx!

The Jingxi Emperor had studied the Six Arts of a Scholar, read the philosophies of the Hundred Schools, and mastered the art of rulership since childhood—a polished gentleman, an emperor who ruled with absolute authority. Yet now, this brazen girl had labeled him with the crude and vulgar title of "Rogue Lover."

Fu Tai turned red holding back, wanting to speak but not daring to.

The Jingxi Emperor, however, was unperturbed. With a harem of three thousand consorts, he was accustomed to prim noblewomen. This bold, untamed girl, like wild mountain fare, held a unique charm.

And she was lovely, just like the tenderest sprout of silver sprouts in the dish.

He gazed at her with amusement but still didn’t answer, teasing instead: "A Wu hasn’t told me where you’re from, nor whether you traveled by boat or horse. Why should I tell you my name?"

A Wu huffed lightly: "But I told you my name, and you didn’t tell me yours. You’re cheating!"

She felt disheartened. He must be someone of high status, dallying with a wildflower, not intending anything lasting—likely to cast her aside once the fun was over.

Afraid of damaging his reputation, he deliberately withheld his name to avoid her entangling him!

So she set down her spoon: "If you don’t want to say, then don’t. I couldn’t care less!"

Jingxi Emperor: "I am third in line. You may call me San Lang."

He said this abruptly. A Wu raised an elegant brow: "San Lang?"

San Lang—another San Lang.

Just yesterday, a certain Nie San Lang had abandoned her in a cave!

The Jingxi Emperor added: "My given name is Ze. If you’d like, you may also call me Zelang."

A Wu: "Ze? How’s it written?"

The Jingxi Emperor dipped his finger in tea and traced the character "赜" on the low table.

A Wu examined it. Though written only with water, his strokes were firm and restrained, revealing his skill in calligraphy.

She remarked casually: "So it’s this character. Quite rare."

The Jingxi Emperor wiped away the water with a white cloth, smiling: "This character isn’t one ordinary people use lightly."

A Wu: "Why?"

Jingxi Emperor: "These words originate from the *Xi Ci* (a Confucian classic): 'The wise and virtuous, having discerned the intricacies (赜) of the world, created symbols to fittingly depict their shapes, and thus these are named images.'”

A Wu said disinterestedly, "I don’t get it."

The Jingxi Emperor replied, "Doesn’t matter if you don’t. It’s nothing important anyway."

A Wu muttered to herself, "Zelang, San Lang, Zelang, San Lang..."

Finally, she declared, "San Lang it is! Zelang sounds weird!"

Beside them, Fu Tai felt like he’d died a hundred times over, while the palace maids and eunuchs were shaking in their boots.

No one had ever dared say that name out loud, nor had anyone ever spoken such words.

The emperor’s name was a taboo for all under heaven—even when written, it had to be replaced with another character.

A Wu’s words today were enough to warrant her head chopped off ten thousand times.

Yet the Jingxi Emperor didn’t mind and simply smiled, "Fine, San Lang it is—whatever you say."

The two chatted and laughed, enjoying themselves. A Wu found the dumplings in broth pretty, so she took a bite—they were delicious.

Noticing San Lang hadn’t touched them, she asked, "San Lang, why aren’t you digging in?"

With that, she placed a dumpling on the white porcelain plate before the emperor.

The Jingxi Emperor was surprised but picked it up with silver chopsticks and took a small bite. He wasn’t fond of sweets, so he couldn’t say whether it was good or not—only that it was different.

In the inner court of Great Hui, meal rules were rigid. If the emperor wished to dine with the empress or a consort, he first had to inform the chief eunuch, who would then notify the Imperial Household Office. Only after the event was recorded could the empress or consort arrive—and upon entering, they’d have to kowtow three times.

Even drinking tea or wine required kowtowing, and as for serving dishes—

More kowtowing.

After the meal, they had to kowtow again before taking leave.

With so many rules tying him down, the Jingxi Emperor himself found it tedious and rarely summoned anyone to dine with him.

Now, in this villa, he cast aside all courtly formalities. Having such a fun little companion by his side brought him a unique pleasure.

He watched the young woman before him—a rare beauty, yet she had zero table manners, eating whatever she pleased without a care for decorum.

In the past, he’d have written her off as vulgar, but now he found her fascinating, even feeling a soft spot for her. He thought she was perfect just as she was—he could let her have her way, letting her do as she pleased.

With this in mind, he decided he shouldn’t take her back to the inner court. Instead, he would keep her in this retreat, surrounded by nature, wild and free.

On days when court affairs wearied him, he could retreat here to enjoy her sweet nothings—now that would be true bliss.

Of course, he would station guards to ensure she saw no outsiders, her heart belonging only to him.

His alone.

He wanted her to smile seductively at him, tremble enchantingly in his arms, and gaze at him with dewy, wanting eyes.

He might even have her taught calligraphy and painting, so she could keep him company in his study while he handled state affairs.

As A Wu ate, she noticed San Lang’s intense, thoughtful look.

She asked, "San Lang, what are you thinking about?"

The Jingxi Emperor sipped his tea and smiled. "Thinking about how to set you up."

A Wu: "Where will you place me?"

Jingxi Emperor: "Since you were an entertainer from another household, it’s improper for you to be seen publicly. Returning to the capital would only invite unnecessary trouble. Why not stay in this villa instead?"

A Wu understood immediately.

Her heart churned with conflicting feelings—she couldn’t tell whether to feel joy or sorrow.

At least this man wasn’t the type to cast her aside after using her. He had some attachment to her, hence his intention to settle her.

But it seemed she was always like this—hidden away, barred from seeing outsiders, left waiting day after day, yearning.

He and the Crown Prince thought alike.

She scrutinized San Lang and suddenly noticed a resemblance in his features to the Crown Prince.

No wonder he had seemed familiar from the start!

The face mirrors the soul—men are all the same.

Jingxi Emperor: "What? You don’t like it here?"

A Wu: "It’s not bad… A Wu just worries that San Lang might be unreliable and abandon me."

Jingxi Emperor chuckled softly: "Do I strike you as that sort of man?"

A Wu: "Who knows?"

Jingxi Emperor rotated the warm teacup between his slender fingers and smiled. "Rest assured, there’s nothing in this world I cannot handle."

************

After the meal, Jingxi Emperor took A Wu for a stroll around the villa.

The autumn scenery in the mountains was rich, with golden leaves drifting through the air, creating a tranquil yet radiant beauty.

But A Wu was preoccupied. She couldn’t stop thinking about the gold she had buried beneath the pine tree, eager to retrieve it, and she also worried about Yanxiang Temple. By now, the temple must have realized she was missing and should be searching for her.

Given the Crown Prince’s temperament, he would likely assist in the search as well.

Yet, for some reason, there had been no trace of any search.

She wanted to fish for information from San Lang but dared not speak too much, afraid of revealing clues about her identity. If San Lang handed her directly to Yanxiang Temple, she would surely meet a grim fate.

Suppressing her thoughts, she feigned casual wandering, picking wild fruits and foraged greens along the way.

Fortunately, the mountains were abundant with wild berries and flowers, and she even managed to catch a few grasshoppers and butterflies.

Toying with a grasshopper, she mused, "If roasted, it would be quite delicious."

Jingxi Emperor glanced at her hands—as slender and delicate as bamboo shoots, with smooth, pretty nails resembling pink seashells.

Yet those very hands were clutching a scrawny grasshopper struggling desperately, while she pondered its flavor with gusto.

Hankering for a grasshopper—like some stray kitten.

He laughed. "What meat could such a puny grasshopper provide? Later, I’ll hunt a deer or pheasant for you. Failing that, there are fish in the water. Anything would be better than eating this."

A Wu: "You couldn’t possibly understand. Eating it is a matter of revenge!"

Jingxi Emperor: "Why? Did it dig up your ancestors’ graves?"

A Wu left it at that. She tossed the grasshopper into the bushes, saying, "We must've been enemies in a past life."

Not in a past life—in this one. Her hometown had first suffered floods, then locusts. Fleeing north, she'd seen crops ravaged by locusts all along the way.

People were so hungry they caught and roasted locusts. They actually had a bit of meat and were quite delicious. A Wu had loved them.

But she didn't dare say more. The man was sharp-eyed; she didn't dare reveal too much.

Jingxi Emperor: "Do you want mushrooms?"

A Wu: "Mushrooms?"

Jingxi Emperor: "There's some over yonder. Come, I'll take you."

A Wu squinted skeptically: "Really? Are there?"

Jingxi Emperor chuckled: "Let's take a look."

A Wu: "Alright!"

Jingxi Emperor hitched up his robe, tucking the hem into his white jade belt. A Wu mimicked him.

But her layered skirts were unwieldy—tucked up, they promptly fell back down.

Watching her struggle, Jingxi Emperor stepped forward to help, making quick work of tucking it and retying her embroidered sash.

As he did, A Wu was surprised. She'd thought someone of his stature wouldn't do such things.

Yet now, as he bent his head to the task, it felt oddly tender.

His fingers were long and steady as he tied a tidy knot for her. Glancing up, he found A Wu studying him curiously.

Her thin eyelids drooped slightly, sunlight pooling in her luminous eyes.

A crisp breeze carried the scent of ripe persimmons, rustling leaves as the young woman's thick lashes fluttered.

Jingxi Emperor smiled lightly: "What are you thinking?"

A Wu pursed her lips, suddenly shy: "A Wu just remembered her father."

Jingxi Emperor's fingers paused: "Oh?"

But A Wu didn't elaborate, instead asking: "San Lang must have kids—how old are they?"

His hands left her slender waist as he stood, casually brushing his robe: "A pair. My daughter will soon have her hair-pinning ceremony."

A Wu blinked in surprise: "You wed young."

She'd thought him barely thirty, in the flower of his youth—who knew his daughter was nearly of age!

He suddenly seemed much older than she'd assumed...

Jingxi Emperor's voice was detached: "Necessity. Big family, big estate, countless rules."

This took A Wu aback, but she knew pushing would get her nowhere.

He wasn't Nie San, nor the Crown Prince. He was sharper than Lu Yunjian, more guarded—utterly beyond her control.

—To him, she was just an entertaining diversion.

She cautiously steered the conversation toward the safest topic, remarking casually, "Your daughter is about to reach her coming-of-age ceremony... She must be quite lovely. San Lang must adore her."

The Jingxi Emperor clearly had little desire to elaborate, responding only with a faint "Mn."

A Wu wanted to ask more but sensed his disinterest in the subject.

Yet the Jingxi Emperor spoke up, "She's been spoiled rotten—her temperament is far too willful."

This was something he found rather displeasing.

Upon ascending the throne, in order to swiftly consolidate power and in accordance with the ancestral traditions of the Great Hui imperial family, he had married early. After his marriage, he dutifully sired heirs to ensure the continuation of the royal lineage.

Despite his efforts, he only fathered two children: the Crown Prince and Princess De Ning.

With the demands of governance, he had little time to spare for them. By the time the court stabilized and he could turn his attention to his children, Princess De Ning was already five years old.

A five-year-old princess, a bundle of childish energy, naturally endeared herself to the Jingxi Emperor.

However, children of that age already possess their own stubbornness, and she seemed particularly willful and coddled—pampered excessively by her mother, Consort Li.

At that time, the Empress Dowager offered to raise Princess De Ning herself to ease her loneliness, but Consort Li refused.

With only two precious heirs in the imperial harem, Princess De Ning, though not equal in status to the Crown Prince, was still enough to ensure Consort Li’s elevated status in the palace. Having carried the child for ten months, she clung fiercely to her position.

The Jingxi Emperor was fairly indulgent of Consort Li, who had borne him Princess De Ning. Since she was unwilling, he dropped the issue.

Great Hui, having stood for over 120 years and learning from the mistakes of previous dynasties, had established a well-established system governing everything from the emperor’s daily conduct to the lives of commoners and the training of soldiers—all strictly governed.

Yet this also brought certain drawbacks. For instance, most imperial consorts in Great Hui came from humble backgrounds, chosen from respectable families but not excessive wealth. Officials were forbidden from presenting women to the emperor, both to curb the power of imperial in-laws and to encourage court austerity, ensuring the imperial family understood the hardships of common life.

Consort Li originally came from a merchant family that supplied velvet flowers to the capital. Selected during the year of the Jingxi Emperor’s marriage, she initially held the minor rank of attendant. Only after bearing Princess De Ning was she elevated to the status of a beauty.

Over the years, the imperial harem remained unremarkable, with favors distributed evenly. Every three years, promotions were granted routinely. Thanks to her daughter, Consort Li rose higher than others, though she remained only a consort.

It wasn’t until last year, considering Princess De Ning’s impending marriage, that the Jingxi Emperor, unwilling to let his only daughter be at any disadvantage, promoted Consort Li to the rank of Consort Kang.

Looking back, the Jingxi Emperor felt some regret about entrusting Princess De Ning’s upbringing to Consort Kang.

Coming from a modest background, unaccustomed to grandeur, Consort Kang had grown overly proud upon bearing a princess of Great Hui, losing all restraint.

Though the princess had her own ladies-in-waiting and tutors, living under the same roof as Consort Kang inevitably influenced her.

At the time, the emperor himself had been young, his thoughts not yet fully matured. He hadn’t realized how deeply a parent’s example shapes a child, nor had he foreseen how the once-cautious attendant would grow so bold.

This was also why he could not tolerate the Crown Prince’s attachment to Lady Ning. Were she merely a concubine, it might have been overlooked, but the Crown Prince was hopelessly besotted. Reports from the imperial guards revealed he often caroused in her quarters, even through the night.

The emperor refused to let his son be ensnared by such a woman, nor would he allow his first grandson to be born of her.

Life is full of idealized expectations. The Jingxi Emperor had imagined his Crown Prince as broad-minded and decisive, his princess gentle and refined. Yet they were not so.

They were his children, but they had their own temperaments—not like potted pines to be pruned at will.

Thus, for his grandchildren, he would intervene at the root.

Hearing his remark about the princess being "willful," A Wu said with a hint of envy, "It must be because you spoil her too much!"

Her words abruptly snapped the emperor out of his reverie. He neither confirmed nor denied, merely gazing distantly at the grass ahead.

A Wu couldn’t help but glance at the Jingxi Emperor. His clothes were so fancy, clearly showing he was someone important. What kind of kids would a dad like that have?

His children must be indulged and willful under his protection.

A Wu felt that familiar jealous pang. She wasn’t usually the jealous type, but sometimes...

The Jingxi Emperor, however, didn’t wish to continue the previous topic. He said to A Wu, "I thought you liked fresh-picked stuff? Look, there are mushrooms here."

Jealousy made A Wu reluctant to pick mushrooms, but she still forced herself to look.

Pouting, her cheeks puffed out, she grumbled unhappily, "I don’t see any! What mushrooms?"

The Jingxi Emperor pointed under a tree ahead. "Look here."

A Wu looked but saw nothing. She huffed, "There’s nothing!"

Her temper flared suddenly, like a cat with its tail trod on.

The Jingxi Emperor’s tea-brown eyes just watched silently.

She felt his cool, assessing look. This was how strangers might look at her—a mirror that showed A Wu her own jealousy.

All her fight left her at once.

She knew she was acting crazy. This wasn’t how you treated someone you’d just met.

She had her own father and her own elder brother.

She believed her father and brother were not dead, that one day they would return on a ship from overseas, bringing her pearls, precious stones, exotic trinkets, and fine silks.

Their family would become wealthy overnight, and she would become a pampered heiress! She would be treasured like gold, doted on by them!

And yet now, this future pampered heiress, the one destined to be spoiled by her father and brother, stood in a foreign land far from home, clutching her skirt before a man who had taken her virginity but with whom they still distrusted each other. Biting her lip, she said, "I just don’t see it... Where? Where is it?"

She pretended to search as she spoke.

The Jingxi Emperor withdrew his gaze from A Wu’s face and pointed to a spot in the grass. "Here."

A Wu finally saw it—there were indeed mushrooms, fresh wild ones, plump and fresh, practically begging to be cooked.

She hurried over and discovered there were so many mushrooms here! She was overjoyed!

The Jingxi Emperor produced a woven basket, and A Wu began placing her freshly picked mushrooms inside.

As she gathered them, she recalled her earlier words and stole a cautious glance at him.

He was half-crouched in the grass, head bowed as he picked mushrooms.

In the shadows of the foliage, his profile was strikingly handsome and imposing. His prominent nose and thin lips gave him an air of aloof detachment.

This was a man of proud nobility.

A Wu had initially thought he might not yet be thirty, but now she realized she must have been mistaken. He was older than she had assumed—after all, his daughter was nearly fifteen, and who knew about his son's age?

The man did not lift his head, yet he seemed to sense it. Without any particular emotion, he asked, "See something interesting?"

A Wu said with forced sweetness, "San Lang, how... how did you know there were mushrooms here?"

She clumsily praised, "San Lang knows everything!"

Jingxi Emperor replied, "To gather wild mushrooms, one must learn to spot the signs."

A Wu asked, "Signs?"

Jingxi Emperor explained, "Yes, where the foliage is thick and fungus roots underground, mushrooms are more likely to grow. And once they grow in one year, they’ll return the next."

A Wu exclaimed, "So that’s how it is! San Lang really knows his stuff!"

Jingxi Emperor barely reacted to this.

He had heard countless flowery compliments, each more sincere and eloquent than hers. Her lame compliments didn't even register.

She actually said that with a straight face?

So he simply said, "Let’s go back."

A Wu shot him a wary look. "Alright."

It seemed he was displeased.

But she wasn't about to coddle him.

She thought men with temper tantrums couldn’t be soothed—or at least, not easily. If he wanted to be angry, let him be.

Thus, the two began walking back. As they neared the villa, they saw a figure ahead—young and strapping, standing at attention, silently waiting.

Curious, A Wu instinctively turned to look.

But Jingxi Emperor raised his hand, grasping her wrist, and muttered, "You cold?"

A Wu replied, "I’m not cold."

Yet Jingxi Emperor pulled her into his embrace, draping his cloak around her without fuss.

A Wu tried to crane her neck, but he pressed her head down.

She squawked in protest.

Through the soft fur collar of the cloak, Jingxi Emperor breathed against her ear, "If you’re afraid of the cold, I’ll hold you."

His voice was deep and warm, his breath making her skin prickle.

A Wu tilted her head away from the overly intimate warmth and huffed, poking at the embroidery on his chest with her finger.

The embroidery featured intricate gold-thread embroidery.

She groused, "Why are you holding me? I want to look!"

Jingxi Emperor gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as he chuckled softly.

Then he lifted his gaze to the newcomer, all warmth gone from his voice as he ordered, "Speak."

The newcomer was Fang Yue.

Jingxi Emperor didn’t want A Wu getting a good look at Fang Yue—firstly because he disliked how her eyes had lit up at the sight of him, and secondly because Fang Yue’s robe was embroidered with blue clouds and silver pheasants. Anyone with some knowledge of official robes could piece together who he really was.

The Jingxi Emperor still wanted to play along, like playing house. Revealing the truth too early would only spoil the fun.

Fang Yue was stunned to see the emperor holding a young woman in his arms. He never imagined the emperor would be so intimate with a stranger.

Instinctively, he glanced around, but no court record-keepers were in sight. Only then did he recall that the emperor had come to Nanqiongzi Temple for blessings, and the record-keepers had not accompanied him this time.

No wonder...

At this moment, he dared not raise his head, kneeling on one knee instead as he said respectfully, "The *Lu Kingdom*—"

A cutting glance from the Jingxi Emperor silenced him.

Fang Yue froze, the word "uncle" left dangling.

The Jingxi Emperor said mildly, "You mentioned the Lu Kingdom. What about it?"

The *Lu Kingdom*...

Fang Yue was quick-witted and immediately grasped the emperor's intent.

He found it absurd, almost unbelievable, but he had no choice but to press on. "Young Master Lu has sent a calling card and is waiting outside."

The Jingxi Emperor replied, "Tell him to wait a moment."

Fang Yue bowed. "Understood."

Once Fang Yue was dismissed, the emperor finally released A Wu.

Seizing the chance, A Wu clung to him, snuggling closer and wrapping her arms around his neck. "*San Lang*, why wouldn’t you let me look earlier?"

The Jingxi Emperor lightly tapped her smooth forehead with a curled finger. "What were those roving eyes of yours looking at? So eager to gaze at other men?"

Deep down, he harbored a darker impulse he was reluctant to admit. She was young—just sixteen—delicate as a new blossom, perhaps even the same age as his own children.

He didn’t like her looking at other young men.

Moreover, the Imperial Guard were all handpicked for their looks, and he certainly didn’t want her staring at them.

A Wu scowled at his words. Lu Yunjian had once said something similar!

She wrinkled her nose and huffed, "Fine, I won’t look!"

The Jingxi Emperor smiled gently. "Stay here for now. A guest has arrived, and I must attend to him."

A Wu muttered under her breath, "But you promised to play with me!"

The Jingxi Emperor reassured her, "I’ll return soon. It’s not an important guest—just a few words, and I’ll send him away."

A Wu gave in grudgingly. "Alright..."

The emperor couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of her pouting cheeks, so full of unwillingness.

She was so spoiled.

***********

As *Ze Sanlang* left, A Wu found herself bored, meandering aimlessly around the estate, taking in the sights, picking flowers, and chasing butterflies.

Amidst her idle play, her thoughts drifted to her own troubles.

The Yanxiang Taoist Temple must have noticed her disappearance by now and reported it up the chain. The Crown Prince had probably already found out—who knew what mess followed?

This San Lang before her eyes seemed powerful, saying he could handle anything—could he really protect her?

In fact, his suggestion today that she simply stay in this villa and avoid outsiders was a pretty good temporary solution.

For now, she could lay low until things blew over, then think of another way later.

As she thought about this, she suddenly heard Fu Tai speak beside her: "Miss, please wait."

A Wu looked at him, surprised: "What is it?"

Fu Tai put on an apologetic smile: "If you wish to admire the scenery, this isn't the greatest view. It would be—"

He stopped himself abruptly, swallowing his words: "—best not to disturb the guest. San Lang is meeting with someone ahead."

A visitor?

A Wu recalled this and perked up with interest: "What about the visitor? Did San Lang tell me I can't see him? Did he say he wanted to control me?"

Fu Tai: "Well, no—"

A Wu: "If he didn’t, then who gave you the right to stop me? If you insist on interfering, I’ll complain to San Lang later."

Fu Tai: "..."

He gaped at the girl, shocked.

Such a lovely, charming girl—perfect in every way, as beautiful as they came—but her temper was so willful!

As the emperor's attendant, even the empress treated him with respect. Never had he been threatened like this before!

But he knew better. Right now, the Jingxi Emperor spoiled this girl rotten. If she lodged a complaint against him, he'd pay for it.

She was not someone to offend!

Besides, the way this young girl acted out was rather endearing—even he found her adorable!

What else could he do but indulge and respect her?

He managed a smile: "Fifth Lady, if you wish to look, it’s not a problem—"

Meanwhile, he panicked inwardly—he had to hurry and warn the emperor! The little beauty he had hidden away wanted to see another man!

That would make His Majesty green with envy!

Seeing Fu Tai try to stop her only made A Wu more curious. She thought, *What if it’s something fishy? I must take a look.*

She strode forward without hesitation, and no one could stop her.

Soon, she reached a pavilion where two figures stood—one seated, the other standing. The seated one was her newly acquainted San Lang, while the standing one—

A Wu’s curiosity instantly froze. A cold dread seeped through the gaps in her spine, enveloping her in an instant.

Her fingers began to tremble, the shaking spreading until her legs weakened, barely able to support her.

Who had she seen?

She had seen Lu Yunjian.

Lu Yunjian!!!!

A Wu felt something explode in her mind, leaving her mind go completely blank.