Chapter 100

Proofreader: Mim

The palace was bustling with activity, preparing fervently for the grand evening banquet.

Using the official insignia of the Palace Director, Li Zhi passed through Cheng’an Gate without issue and entered the palace.

Two officials of the Directorate were stunned to see her.

“I’m here to check on how everything is progressing,” Li Zhi said, her tone calm yet authoritative. “The Emperor’s Longevity Banquet concerns the dignity of the nation; not a single mistake can be tolerated.”

The two officials bowed respectfully in response.

The evening banquet was jointly organized by the Six Departments and the Palace Administration Bureau. The Directorate was primarily responsible for maintaining order during the event, as well as overseeing the performances prepared by the Music Bureau.

Li Zhi reviewed the banquet arrangements submitted by the officials once more.

She then went to inspect the Music Bureau’s rehearsals. Back and forth she went, and as time passed, the sky gradually darkened.

A crescent moon climbed over the corner towers of the Imperial City. The moonlight spilled softly over the green-glazed tiles, while the brightly lit Palace stood out amidst a sea of people. Towering crape myrtle trees were in full bloom, their smoky pink flowers casting a hazy glow over the rows of beast-shaped roof ornaments atop the palace.

The sound of gentle silk and bamboo instruments drifted in the night breeze.

One after another, the concubines and princes took turns offering their birthday blessings to the Emperor sitting on the throne, a symbol of ultimate authority.

“May your blessings be as vast as the East Sea and your life as enduring as the Southern Mountains.” Though these were formulaic phrases, Emperor Xie Shencong still enjoyed hearing them. A faint smile lingered on his face as he listened to words that, if pondered carefully, were clearly exaggerated impossibilities.

When the performances arranged by the Music Bureau concluded, it was the turn of the imperial consorts to showcase their talents.

The Emperor’s harem wasn’t large. Counting those who had passed away or were confined to the Cold Palace, there were only twenty-one women in total.

However, these twenty-one women were each unique, rare beauties in their own right.

The first to perform was Noble Consort Yi, the consort with the highest rank in the harem.

With her usual air of pride, she lifted her ornate gown and walked to the center of the grand hall. Palace attendants brought in a guzheng and an ivory screen. Noble Consort Yi sat gracefully in front of the screen, lightly plucking the guzheng strings with her ornamental nails, and began singing Nian Nu, a song expressing longing.

Her petite shadow was cast against the creamy white ivory screen. Her voice was melodious and lively, as sweet and charming as the trill of a nightingale.

The hall, illuminated by flickering candlelight, fell silent. Everyone was entranced by her performance.

Xie Fengshao’s gaze, however, followed the song and involuntarily drifted to a young woman standing quietly in the corner of the hall.

Li Zhi stood amidst the silent palace attendants, her eyelashes lowered, her expression calm and detached.

Her brows, her voice—they were clearly the same person. Even her demeanor was unmistakable. But the gentle warmth that once moved him was now utterly absent.

Was it because of the ordeal of exile?

Was it because he had failed to save her family, leaving her changed beyond recognition?

The more Xie Fengshao thought about it, the more his heart twisted in pain.

Did he still have a chance to make amends? Could he still find a way back to what they once had?

When the song ended, the hall erupted in applause.

Xie Fengshao snapped back to reality and joined in the clapping, but his thoughts remained fixated on Li Zhi.

This song, Nian Nu, was the same one Noble Consort Yi had performed during her first talent presentation upon entering the palace. Back then, their love had been intense, inseparable.

Now, many years later, hearing Nian Nu again, Xie Shencong was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions as memories of those days resurfaced.

“Changxi, come sit by my side. I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve had a proper look at you.”

Noble Consort Yi’s original name was Su Changxi. After entering the palace, only the Emperor would call her by her given name when he was in a good mood.

It had been a long time since she’d heard him call her that.

The sudden sound of the familiar “Changxi” left Noble Consort Yi pleasantly surprised and flustered.

Afraid the Emperor might change his mind, she quickly ascended the platform and sat beside him.

“Your Majesty rarely visits Yaohua Palace anymore,” Noble Consort Yi said coquettishly. “How could you possibly have had a chance to see me?”

The other concubines below clenched their teeth in anger at Noble Consort Yi’s shamelessness: The Emperor spent half the month resting in Changqiu Palace and the other half in Yaohua Palace—how could that possibly be considered “rarely visiting”?

“Your Majesty, what about me?” Consort Lu, one of the younger concubines, pouted. “While Sister Yi still has the Prince Feng to keep her company, I’m all alone down here!”

Noble Consort Yi shot her a glare, but Xie Shencong only laughed.

Two stunningly beautiful women vying for his favor—how could he not enjoy such a display? It was a testament to his charm, after all.

“Alright, alright. You come sit by my side as well.”

Consort Lu beamed with delight and joined them on the platform.

Currently, Lu Yao and Su Changxi were the two most influential figures in the imperial harem. While Lu Yao dared to challenge Su Changxi openly, the other concubines did not. They could only look on enviously at the two women seated beside the Emperor, longing for the day when they might receive his favor as well.

After Noble Consort Yi’s performance, the other concubines took turns presenting their talents.

However, with Noble Consort Yi’s stellar performance as the opening act, none of the subsequent performances, whether songs or dances, managed to capture the Emperor’s attention.

“Your Majesty, these programs are so boring,” Consort Lu said, playfully wrapping her arm around Xie Shencong’s. “They’re not nearly as entertaining as watching Jianxi [her cat] in my palace.”

On stage, Lin Baolin had just finished presenting her meticulously crafted “Map of Rivers and Mountains” embroidery, a piece she had worked on for over half a year, when Consort Lu made her unexpected suggestion. Lin Baolin’s eyes reddened instantly.

“That’s true,” Xie Shencong agreed casually. “I’ve grown tired of the same old things. Is there anything new or exciting?”

The emperor’s offhand comment left the gathered concubines exchanging uncertain glances.

Every year, the routine was the same: those who could sing would sing, those who could dance would dance, and those without talent would copy Buddhist scriptures, claiming it was to pray for the emperor’s blessings. What fresh ideas could anyone possibly come up with?

“Even if it’s a palace maid, as long as the performance pleases His Majesty, I promise they’ll be richly rewarded,” Consort Lu added with a teasing glance toward Li Zhi.

The room erupted into hushed whispers at the notion of palace maids performing.

Noble Consort Yi, frowning, retorted sharply, “What nonsense are you talking about? The performances by the Bureau of Music are already over!”

Xie Shencong showed no outward displeasure and rested his chin on his hand. “I don’t see why not.”

From the shadows where the palace servants stood, Li Zhi stepped forward and knelt in the center of the hall.

“This servant once practiced water dancing at home with her sisters. I am willing to perform for His Majesty’s amusement.”

“Water dancing? You?” Noble Consort Yi scoffed. “Do you think you can outshine the Bureau of Music?”

“You won’t know unless you let her try,” Consort Lu interjected with a playful smirk.

“And if it turns out to be a waste of everyone’s time, can you bear the blame, Consort Lu?” Noble Consort Yi snapped.

Raising a delicate brow, Consort Lu leaned closer to Xie Shencong, resting her head against his shoulder. “But what if it turns out to entertain His Majesty? Who would bear the blame for ruining His Majesty’s mood then, Noble Consort?”

As someone born into an aristocratic family, Noble Consort Yi, though adept at coquettish gestures, would never dare cling to the emperor so openly. Watching Consort Lu’s audacious display, she cursed her as “Lu the Temptress” under her breath and was about to fire back when Xie Shencong murmured thoughtfully.

“Water dancing… Dancing on water?”

“Precisely,” Li Zhi said, bowing her head.

“How long do you need to prepare?”

“Two sticks of incense.”

“Very well. Let’s see it.”

Xie Shencong’s unexpected interest left everyone stunned.

Performances like drum dancing or water dancing were not unheard of in the palace, yet the emperor had never shown much enthusiasm for such shows in the past.

But now, some began recalling old rumors.

Before Li Qiaonian, the former Minister of the Secretariat, fell from grace, there had been whispers of his intent to send his eldest twin daughter into the palace to compete for imperial favor.

Could it be…

The hall was rife with speculation.

Since water dancing couldn’t be performed on solid ground, the gathering followed the emperor to Zhuoying Lake in the imperial gardens, where the night banquet continued at the lakeside pavilion.

Meanwhile, back at Li Manor, the main courtyard of the east wing was in chaos. Xie Lanxu was jolted awake by a splash of cold water.

“Your Highness!” Li Xiangsheng set the teacup down and hurriedly helped him to his feet.

Xie Lanxu’s brows furrowed as he struggled to focus his blurred thoughts.

Not far away, the doors to the Main Hall stood wide open, revealing a mess within. Li Cien lay unconscious on the threshold, her chest faintly rising and falling.

Though still groggy, Xie Lanxu quickly grasped the situation.

“…Where is Li Zhi?” he growled through gritted teeth.

Li Xiangsheng hesitated briefly before answering, “My sister has gone to the palace.”

“What is she doing at the palace?” Xie Lanxu demanded, using Xiangsheng for support as he forced himself upright.

“I don’t know exactly what she’s planning… But I can tell she harbors a death wish. Perhaps only you can stop her now.”

A dreadful realization struck Xie Lanxu like lightning, and a terrifying thought crossed his mind.

Shoving Li Xiangsheng aside, he staggered toward the main gate.

The drug still hadn’t worn off entirely—his limbs were heavy and numb, and he stumbled several times. But sheer willpower propelled him forward.

Bursting through the gate, he climbed into a carriage, startling the driver. His voice was low and strained, but his command was resolute: “To the palace.”

“Quickly!” he barked.

The startled driver cracked the whip, and the carriage sped toward the imperial palace.

Seated inside, Xie Lanxu was consumed by fear and rage, desperate to reach Li Zhi.

Now he finally understood why she had remained tight-lipped about her plan for revenge.

But why couldn’t she simply tell him outright? Why would she resort to drugging and evading him? Did she truly think he still harbored familial ties to the man they both despised?

Hands clenched into fists, his nails dug into his palms. Fear and anger burned away the drug’s lingering lethargy and numbness.

Images of what might be happening at the palace flooded his mind, all of them terrifyingly centered around Li Zhi. Every possibility involved her demise.

Without the treasure map, was she really so hopeless about living on? Was vengeance the only thing tethering her to life?

It felt as though a taut string inside him was about to snap, yet he could do nothing but watch helplessly as it frayed further.

The short journey to the palace was agonizing—each moment longer than a lifetime of suffering.

Physical pain, no matter how severe, had never moved him. Fire, water, blades, or poison—all were mere trifles.

But this—this searing agony spreading from his heart to his fingertips—was unbearable.

In this moment, as she resolved to leave him behind, Xie Lanxu realized with utter clarity.

He couldn’t lose Li Zhi.

No one else would ever touch his heart the way she had.

No one else had shared three thousand miles of exile with him, stood alongside him beneath the divine peaks of the Xian Naiyue mountains, or embraced him in a mountain stream.

Without her, he would be left to face an eternity of loneliness.

And loneliness was the only thing he truly feared.

For someone who had never known the pain of loneliness, who had once assumed that solitude was simply a way of life, Xie Lanxu had tasted the warmth of companionship.

And now, there was no going back.

Sitting rigidly in the carriage, his heart gripped by an unparalleled fear, he felt the weight of the moment crush him as the speeding carriage finally came to a halt before the imperial palace.

Stumbling out of the carriage, Xie Lanxu pushed forward, his steps unsteady, toward Changqiu Palace, where the night banquet was being held—only to be told that the emperor and his court had moved to Zhuoying Lake, where Li Zhi was performing.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and hurried toward Zhuoying Lake.

As he approached the lake, the ethereal sounds of flutes and strings reached his ears. Ignoring the sharp pain in his chest, Xie Lanxu pushed through the entranced onlookers who gasped in awe, making his way to the lake’s edge.

Not far away, the emperor sat with his consorts in an elaborately decorated lakeside pavilion.

Xie Shencong held a cup of tea in his hand, though he seemed to have forgotten it. His heavy gaze was fixed on the figure dancing across the water.

The vast expanse of the lake was dotted with emerald-green giant water lilies. The crescent moon seemed to sink beneath the water’s surface, surrounded by clouds resembling shimmering fish scales.

Amid this dreamlike scene, a young woman danced on the water lilies. Like a dragonfly skimming the surface, her movements sent ripples across the water. Like a butterfly fluttering its wings, her flowing snow-purple ribbons painted arcs in the moonlit air.

She was light as a feather, like a celestial maiden descended to earth, leaping and twirling freely upon the lilies.

Each tremble of the water lilies beneath her feet created waves that echoed across the still lake. The moonlight seemed drawn to her, as if the lake carried its glow to embrace her figure.

Even Xie Lanxu, filled with dread moments ago, found himself momentarily captivated, just like everyone else.

The dance concluded. With delicate precision, Li Zhi stepped off the water lily pads and lightly landed on the pavilion.

The emperor’s gaze fell to her bare feet, adorned only with tiny bells, white and flawless, untouched by even a drop of water.

If it had been her sister, she wouldn’t have danced so well, he thought.

If only her sister…

If only her sister were still alive.

A wistful sadness flickered in Xie Shencong’s heart.

“Your servant has finished her dance. What does Your Majesty think?” Li Zhi tilted her head slightly, a mischievous smile gracing her lips as she looked up at the emperor on his throne.

Xie Fengshao, seated nearby, felt his turbulent emotions come to an abrupt halt at this unfamiliar expression. By contrast, Xie Shencong was visibly shaken, staring at Li Zhi, momentarily speechless.

“How dare you—”

The outraged voice of Noble Consort Yi was swiftly silenced by a raised hand from the emperor.

Xie Shencong’s eyes remained fixed on Li Zhi. After a moment, he began to clap, slowly at first, then more vigorously.

“Good… Very good! It has been a long time since I’ve felt so delighted. Speak—what reward do you desire?”

Noble Consort Yi’s face darkened, her displeasure palpable.

Li Zhi glanced at the emperor’s heavily guarded entourage and replied calmly, “What this servant desires as a reward is something I wish to tell Your Majesty alone.”

The emperor regarded her thoughtfully. After a pause, he stood, extending his hand toward her.

“Come to me.”

The unexpected gesture left the pavilion’s occupants stunned.

Xie Fengshao, clearly unsettled, gripped the edge of his seat. Several times, he seemed on the verge of speaking up but ultimately held his tongue.

He could only watch as Li Zhi stepped closer and closer to the emperor.

The closer Li Zhi drew to Xie Shencong, the more she felt the heat radiating from the golden hairpin atop her head.

Inwardly, she prayed to her departed twin sister for guidance. But what was she truly asking for—blessing her to tread which path?

She had left herself two paths, both daunting.

One path was to kill Xie Shencong publicly, revealing her identity to the world. Yet this path came with the cost of turning herself and her twin sister into mere gossip for the masses. In their eyes, they might become nothing more than malicious “femme fatales.”

The other path was undoubtedly the better one—but it wasn’t a path she could walk alone.

Which path would fate choose for her?

She was about to find out.

Li Zhi extended her hand, reaching toward the emperor’s outstretched palm.

But before she could place her hand in his, another hand appeared, snatching hers from the air.

Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd as Xie Lanxu appeared, his fingers tightly interlocked with Li Zhi’s. Together, they knelt before Xie Shencong.

“Your subject, Xie Lanxu, has endured trials and hardships with Li Zhi. We have come to understand and rely on one another deeply. I have already resolved to marry her and none other.

“Because palace rules forbid marriages between officials and palace attendants, I am willing to resign from my position as Left Minister of the State and retire to the countryside, renouncing my career.”

The pavilion erupted in chaos, echoed by the murmurs and gasps of the spectators onshore.

A second-rank official willingly giving up his position for the sake of a disgraced minister’s daughter? Unthinkable!

Unmoved by the commotion, Xie Lanxu bowed his head deeply, his voice steady and resolute.

“All I ask is for Your Majesty to act as our elder and grant us your blessing to marry.”

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Translator’s Note: Sorry for the long long wait… I’ll upload all the remaining chapters i.e 15 chapters of the main story, somewhere around this weekend. The Extras of this novel are yet to come from being proofread so y’all have to wait for awhile or do you want me to just upload them w/o proofreading? Let me know in the comments.