rokumi’s note : This is a side story of Lu Xunche x An Bai couple. I put all three chapters into one post to make it easier for people who might want to skip.

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As a virtuous scholar, one should resolve the worries and difficulties of the monarch; as a gentleman, one should hold the world in one’s heart.

This was what An Bai’s teacher had always taught him, and it was what he had always adhered to.

He had never known who his parents were. It was said that he had been abandoned when he was just a few months old. At the time, Great Yan was suffering from a flood. Whether it was because his parents couldn’t raise him or because they had already passed away was unknown. In any case, when he was picked up by a reclusive scholar living in a bamboo forest, there was not a single item on him that could prove his identity.

Eventually, he took on his teacher’s surname, with the given name ‘Bai’ (meaning ‘white’ or ‘pure’), in hopes that he would remain unstained by the filth of the world, and not lose himself for the sake of worldly matters.

As for the position of Grand Chancellor—he had the ability to bear the responsibility, and it happened to align with his teacher’s teachings. So when Jun Yulin came to him with the offer, that was exactly what he thought:

In any case, he had nothing else he needed to do.

The emperor of the Great Yan dynasty was a teenage girl. Though not particularly outstanding, she was diligent enough.

And she was steadily leading Great Yan toward a new height.

And he, as the Grand Chancellor of this dynasty, would witness Great Yan stepping over that threshold.

That’s what he had always believed.

Until he met ‘him.’

It could be said to be a twist of fate.

The first time they met, An Bai was discussing official matters with several court ministers in a restaurant. Their behavior was somewhat suspicious, and Jun Yulin had even warned him beforehand to keep an eye on them.

So he didn’t refuse their invitation.

And by coincidence, he saw the young man in the neighboring room.

He looked only to be in his teens, with a wicked smirk on his lips, a lazy and careless air about him. Yet those eyes were as clear and luminous as glass, untouched by even a speck of the world’s dust.

Very unique.

That was what An Bai had thought at the time.

Later, he learned the young man’s name.

Lu Xunche, the current emperor’s cousin—said to be the only truly clever and spirited young master of this generation of the Lu family.

Later on, due to official matters, An Bai found himself in closer contact with the Lu family, and naturally saw Lu Xunche a few more times.

Lu Xunche always wore a mocking smile, full of nonchalance, but those eyes—those eyes were as pure and transparent as the sky.

An Bai didn’t know what that feeling was, exactly. But he liked it.

He really liked those eyes—just like the ‘Bai’ in his own name. So pure.

Later, he was invited to be Lu Xunche’s etiquette teacher. In truth, he was often far too busy to take on such a task, but he agreed anyway.

Lu Xunche was interesting—bold, free-spirited, often teasing An Bai with a few words. Dazzling, like sunlight. Though unruly, Lu Xunche gave off a sense of purity.

Lu Xunche was too pure. If he liked something, he liked it. If he didn’t, he didn’t. Sometimes he cursed and even raised his hand when irritated, but he never stooped to bullying the weak. In fact, when in a good mood, he might even stand up for justice.

So intense, yet so pure. It was a contradiction that was hard to look away from.

And so An Bai’s gaze was irresistibly drawn in.

Falling for a man…

It was ridiculous. And yet, it felt so natural.

But Lu Xunche didn’t like him. He could feel it clearly.

Whatever it was—be it those who antagonized him or those who treated him well—Lu Xunche’s attitude remained the same, as though everyone in the world looked the same to him.

No, perhaps there was one exception.

The young emperor, who had suddenly changed in ways no one could quite grasp—becoming ever more elusive and unreadable.

For the first time, a different kind of emotion rose in An Bai’s heart.

Watching the two of them so close together, watching that guy—who always seemed indifferent to everything—speak to Yan Luo with light in his eyes.

The emotion that surged within An Bai was—jealousy.

It was then that he began to understand what kind of thoughts were taking root in his heart.

An Bai, who had once vowed to remain pure and untainted for life, ended up stained by the colors of the mortal world. And he accepted it willingly.

Later, when news came that the neighboring kingdom was colluding with bandits, only he was available to go investigate. Jun Yulin had to stay behind to support the young emperor.

No one knew how long the mission would take. As he thought of Lu Xunche’s unconcerned expression, he couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

Until he saw Lu Xunche in the study, snacking on a tray of pastries. Those sweet, sticky things—he’d always thought only girls liked them.

But surprisingly, Lu Xunche enjoyed them. One moment he’d be smirking and throwing punches, the next he’d be happily munching on something like rice candy.

And it didn’t seem strange at all. Actually, it was kind of cute.

Then, when the matter of the bandits came up again, Lu Xunche somehow got wind of it too, and that made An Bai panic.

—Ridiculous!

But in the end, because of a selfish urge in his heart, An Bai let Lu Xunche come along, even though he could’ve insisted on saying no…

The distance from the capital was significant, and their march was fast and rough.

It wasn’t until they arrived that they realized just how dire the situation was.

One plan after another was deployed, but they still fell into the enemy’s trap.

An Bai was indeed skilled in strategy, but when it came to martial arts, he only had a superficial grasp.

And so, he was rescued by a young girl and brought her back to their camp.

Though he was a complete mess, he still saw Lu Xunche rush out of the tent, scolding the others, “How could you let that guy lead a team alone?!”

Then Lu Xunche saw him. Lu Xunche clearly froze for a second, then immediately turned a deeply hostile gaze toward the girl beside him.

An Bai investigated for some time and found nothing suspicious about the girl. And since she had saved him—even though he wouldn’t have been in serious danger without her—he let her stay.

Maybe because… watching Lu Xunche stomp around in frustration was amusing?

For once, Lu Xunche’s emotions toward someone weren’t the same as toward everyone else…

But then, just a few days later, Lu Xunche killed the girl.

At the time, An Bai couldn’t understand it. He’d fallen for the Lu Xunche who was pure, clear, someone who had a temper but also had boundaries.

But the person before him then felt like a stranger.

An Bai still remembered Lu Xunche gripping his sword, raising an eyebrow, and smiling coldly and cruelly as he said: “I’ve never been pure or clear.”

In that moment, it was as if he stood in darkness. His eyes were still bright, but that brightness was completely overshadowed by cruelty.

And strangely, An Bai… still liked Lu Xunche.

For An Bai, it was as if he were sick. He couldn’t understand himself. He got angry—at Lu Xunche, at himself.

Until the truth finally came out.

Panicked, he went to find Lu Xunche again, but Lu Xunche wouldn’t even give him a smile. Lu Xunche just lounged lazily, barely acknowledging him, treating him like a total stranger.

And that was when his heart truly fell into chaos.

It was as if everything he had clung to—purity, clarity—was a joke.

There was never such a thing as absolute purity or clarity.

Too bad he only realized that then.

Later, after returning to the capital, he didn’t know how to coax Lu Xunche

He also treated Lu Xunche with the same indifference, and then came that scene in the study.

The anger in his heart suddenly reached its peak.

He could endure Lu Xunche not liking him, and he could endure Lu Xunche’s cold remarks, but he couldn’t endure seeing Lu Xunche smile like that at someone else, couldn’t endure watching Lu Xunche hold someone else in his arms.

He, An Bai, was ultimately human—not a god—with emotions, desires, anger, and jealousy.

What exactly should he do for those pure eyes to finally reflect him?

After overhearing the conversation between Lu Xunche and Jun Yulin, he finally understood what the man was planning. He had some suspicions about the relationship between Jun Yulin and the young emperor before, but he hadn’t expected…

Looking at Jun Yulin’s face, barely suppressing his fury, An Bai couldn’t help but sneer inwardly at himself. His own expression was probably no better than Jun Yulin’s.

They eventually reached a consensus—to eliminate Lu Yan and the power behind her, to truly restore peace to Great Yan. Jun Yulin also agreed on leaving a way out for the Lu family.

They—An Bai and Lu Xunche—would act together from then on. Surely Lu XUnche couldn’t continue ignoring An Bai now, right?

But it was useless. Lu Xunche seemed to have reverted to how he was before, lazily smiling, but no longer saying those outrageous things that now made An Bai blush just thinking about them.

It felt as if Lu Xunche had realized something—realized An Bai’s intentions, realized his feelings… so Lu Xunche was deliberately avoiding him?

As things neared their conclusion, his unease only grew, the feeling that Lu Xunche was about to disappear becoming stronger and stronger.

He didn’t want things to continue like this. He didn’t want to let Lu Xunche keep running away.

He thought he must have gone mad. He only barely restrained Lu Xunche with the help of drugs, and then—

He occupied Lu Xunche’s body.

The youth’s body was unexpectedly beautiful—the slightly heavy breathing, every detail made An Bai lose himself in fascination.

Later, when the drug wore off, he was inevitably knocked out, apparently punched in the face too. The man furiously cursed by his ear, saying things he didn’t quite understand—

Something like “Next time, I’ll definitely make you pay”…

It didn’t feel like the disgust or revulsion he had feared.

He couldn’t help feeling a bit secretly delighted—maybe Lu Xunche didn’t hate him that much after all.

Later, they subdued the rebellious King Jin. The Lu family was demoted, Lu Yan was sent to a remote mountain temple to be put under watch, and everything seemed to have finally come to an end.

But then Lu Xunche, while An Bai was distracted, requested resignation from Yan Luo and vanished. No trace of Lu Xunche could be found anywhere.

Without Lu Xunche, everything felt meaningless.

An Bai also resigned from his position and began a directionless search.

But no matter where he looked, he couldn’t find him.

An Bai was no longer the man he used to be. He gave up helping the ruler solve problems. He gave up his so-called concern for the world.

That high and untouchable figure, like a banished immortal, had at last been pulled down from the clouds so lightly.

But why… why couldn’t he still find Lu Xunche? How could Lu Xunche be so cruel, to leave like that regardless of love or hate?

He really wanted to tell Lu Xunche—Don’t go, okay? Even if you hate me, even if you don’t want to be with me, just let me watch you from afar…

Love was like a demon. In the end, it made him into someone he no longer recognized. It completely destroyed his reason.

---

It wasn’t until later that he finally understood what Lu Xunche meant by those words he had said before.

He was going to leave this dimension too. It had to be said—this little guy was still just as ruthless.

With that innocent, lazy face, Lu Xunche stirred up all his emotions, teased him until he couldn’t think straight, and then patted his butt and walked away.

He should have been taught a good lesson, but An Bai couldn’t bear to. In the end, it had all started as his fault.

---

Later on, both Lu Xunche and An Bai became bold, vivid figures in the annals of Great Yan’s history—never seen again.

Rumors that followed gradually took on a fantastical tone.

Especially about An Bai, who seemed like an immortal descended to the mortal world—his sudden appearance and disappearance, and the brilliance Lu Xunche displayed later, none of it seemed human.

In the end, the people all said: “Where have the immortals gone? No one knows.”

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rokumi’s note : Hats off to all BL translators out there. I really got myself dizzy translating this chapter, seeing only he, him, and his everywhere. Yet BL translators must deal with this kind of chapter all the time. Also hats off to GL translators who must be dealing with the same kind of chapters, only with she and her everywhere.

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Chapter 427 – Regent Uncle, We’re Not On The Same Page (End)

And this man, Jun Yulin, was simply too much. He climbed into her bed and still had the audacity to act like it was perfectly natural, without reducing even a single point of his blackening value.

Every night, he promised to let her take the initiative, but before long, he’d start acting shameless, and things would inevitably escalate into all kinds of indescribable acts.

The worst part was—she couldn’t beat him. Once they were on the bed, all that decorum between monarch and minister seemed to vanish from his mind. And come morning, he’d put on this innocent face and say things like, “Let’s try again tonight,” and she—like a fool—kept believing him.

It was infuriating.

Some time later, when the ministers of Great Yan were still worrying that the emperor hadn’t properly filled the imperial harem, a royal edict was finally issued: the Regent, Jun Yulin, was formally granted the title of Emperor’s Consort. The satisfied His Highness the Regent accepted the decree with pleasure, and after giving thanks for the imperial favor, he immediately planned to put his new role into action—

Only to be sternly rejected by Yan Luo.

Finally, the blackening value dropped to 10.

Great Yan’s handling of King Jin this time was swift and forceful, serving as a warning to the neighboring nations who had been eyeing Yan Luo as an easy target. After that, everyone quieted down considerably.

The empire flourished.

Later on, Yan Luo, for the first time in her dimensional travels, experienced what it meant to be a mother—giving birth to a lovely little prince. However, a certain possessive someone, who was still absurdly jealous, never let her spend much time alone with their son.

Finally, when the child had just turned twelve, she managed to toss all the court matters onto his tiny shoulders.

Then she and Jun Yulin went off traveling around the world together.

Jun Yulin’s blackening value continued to hover around five, but Yan Luo wasn’t in any rush.

It was another early spring. Mist and rain mingled, falling in a gentle drizzle outside. Yan Luo and Jun Yulin stood in a small pavilion, watching the rain gradually lighten. The faint scent of peach blossoms drifted toward them.

She couldn’t help but remember that spring—when one of them hadn’t yet turned eighteen, and the other hadn’t fully figured out his own feelings.

Misunderstandings hadn’t been resolved, and sometimes he could still see wariness and fear in her little emperor’s eyes. Even so, the two of them—each with their own thoughts—had agreed to go see the peach blossoms together.

Much like the scene before them now.

Only this time, the blossoms weren’t in the palace, but nestled in the beautiful mountains and rivers.

Jun Yulin still didn’t talk much. He usually wore a stern face, but after spending so much time with him, Yan Luo had gotten used to his awkward nature and that stony expression. Honestly, if he ever smiled cheerfully one day, she’d probably think the world was ending.

And her man—he had to be coaxed, had to be read like a riddle. If she made him upset, he wouldn’t say a word. He’d just sulk, then torment her endlessly at night. It was exhausting.

Still, looking at the scene now, even Jun Yulin couldn’t help but lift the corners of his lips.

The world may change and be full of uncertainties, but just as he once said—this person had become his and his alone: his little emperor.

And that was a wonderful feeling.

“Royal Uncle, viewing the blossoms at this time every year feels like looking back on the past. You’re still just as awkward—not even a little bit changed,” Yan Luo said by his ear, half-complaining.

Jun Yulin’s lips curved faintly. He casually reached out and pulled her into his arms, replying with a soft sentence, “Then shall I accompany Luoluo to see peach blossoms every year from now on?”

Still not straightforward, still couldn’t say any sweet words. Even hearing an ‘I like you’ required his drunken state.

Yan Luo gave him an exasperated glare.

But for the first time, he smiled brightly—though there was one more sentence he never managed to say aloud:

—That day, that glance, that smile of yours, it already conquered my world.

---

Jun Yulin’s fluffy head rubbed against Yan Luo’s neck before finally calling out softly, “Luoluo…”

It seemed like he was about to start rambling again.

But this time, he didn’t say much—just complained a little about the ministers’ proposals—then that wolfish paw reached for the front of her robes.

His body was rubbing and nuzzling against hers.

From past experience, once this guy rubbed against her and mumbled a bit, he’d usually fall asleep. So Yan Luo didn’t think too much of it.

Until—

Her chest was suddenly cupped, kneaded skillfully, and hot lips and tongue wandered wantonly.

It was only then, when she realized this man showed no sign of getting sleepy, that Yan Luo stared wide-eyed in shock. He had already stripped most of their clothes off in a flash.

His lips pressed down at that moment, his body following, muffling Yan Luo’s cry of pain.

There was not a trace of alcohol in his kiss.

He was clearly acting!

She’d wondered why the ‘honest Xiao Gege’ from earlier suddenly felt so much like his sober self—there was barely any of that cute mumbling, and all he did was get handsy the moment he got close. Big liar!! Rotten scoundrel!!

Meanwhile, Jun Yulin, who had finally gotten his wish, smiled with innocent smugness, stating that he had never actually said he drank any wine today.

Passionate heat intertwined and lingered through the night.

The next morning, the usually diligent little emperor naturally didn’t attend court.

And the ministers, who during this time had begun to get a clearer sense of the Regent’s intentions, could only click their tongues in vague understanding as they left the palace in their own sedan chairs.

At this moment, Yan Luo was dozing off on Jun Yulin’s arm, dazed and drowsy, while Jun Yulin’s lips curved in satisfied contentment. It was the first time he had relaxed like this without the help of alcohol.

To him, this little one in his arms was like fine wine: rich, intoxicating, irresistible. She made him lose control and willingly sink into her.

In his heart, he could only keep silently repeating: I really like you. I truly, really like you. You said you liked me too. You can’t go back on your word.

Everyone else had someone. And when he was all alone, he finally met her. He didn’t like being alone, as it was cold and lonely. It reminded him too much of his younger years, studying far away all by himself, swallowed by days of solitude. After he finally returned with his skills perfected, all he found was a broken home and ruined family. As for kinship—he honestly didn’t feel much. It had always been too distant. He couldn’t even clearly recall his parents’ faces.

He only remembered his father once instructing him not to show emotions, to be the pillar of the nation, to ensure Great Yan would prosper…

But the martial world was vast, and the court chaotic. There was nowhere one could truly settle.

Like he’d said before, he didn’t like being alone. But no one else had ever caught his eye.

Looking at the peacefully sleeping Yan Luo in his arms, a gentle warmth filled his eyes.

Thankfully, in the end, there was a place where his heart could find rest.

And then?

Then he got thoroughly scolded by Yan Luo once she woke up.

Using the pretense of drunkenness to lower her guard—how sneaky could he be!

The tricked emperor resolved to counterattack that evening!

But after several days of attempts, she finally discovered… when it came to the Regent Prince—whose martial skills were unfathomable and whose scheming was endless—

Counterattack in this dimension… was simply impossible, not in this lifetime.

And in this dimension, ‘counterattacking’ could only mean being pounced on again… and again…

After several consecutive days of this, Yan Luo’s initial enthusiasm turned to horror as she pleaded, “Don’t come any closer…”

She was truly pitiful.

---

Not only was Great Yan unaffected, it even managed to reclaim a piece of land that had originally been granted to the external king.

The information the court ministers received was simply that the emperor had discovered a traitor colluding with outsiders in the imperial court, and because King Jin was showing signs of restlessness, she had collaborated with the Regent to stage such a performance.

As for the Empress Dowager, Lu Yan, she was frightened by this incident and was sent by Her Majesty to a remote and quiet mountain temple to recuperate. It was unclear whether she would ever return to the capital.

But having to listen and watch as the Great Yan—whose destruction she had so earnestly desired—continued to prosper, was already the best punishment for Lu Yan.

As for the Lu family, who had committed quite a few wrongdoings as well, they were discreetly exiled to a remote region. Lu Xunche resigned from all his official positions and took his leave from Yan Luo.

All his tasks had been completed, and naturally, he needed to move on to his next dimension.

However, Yan Luo, who had already sensed something about the relationship between him and An Bai, saw no ripple of emotion in Lu Xunche’s eyes.

Such a nasty personality, yet those eyes were so clear and bright, full of nonchalance and roguish charm, his lips always curled with a faintly wicked smile, as if he didn’t quite belong to this dimension.

When asked about it, he only said he was very sensitive to people’s auras—unlike her. When Yan Luo curiously questioned further, he simply refused to elaborate. A gentle look seemed to flicker briefly in his eyes before he waved his hand and walked away.

An Bai arrived a bit too late. Upon hearing that Lu Xunche had left without him, his face darkened. He quickly took his leave from Yan Luo as well, resigned from his position as Grand Chancellor, and hurriedly departed. From then on, both of them disappeared without a trace.

And after everything came to an end, Jun Yulin’s darkening level dropped to 30.

Now, His Highness the Regent, who still had no official status, once again wore a gloomy expression all day long. He saw people around him getting married and raising children. Only he, following the little emperor around all day, but still got nothing but an innocent look in return.

It was enough to make him grit his teeth.

But he didn’t know what to say. A few times he deliberately got drunk, just to try and break some taboo boundary. Yet every time he got drunk, it would only last a short while before he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. His plans failed again and again. Now full of pent-up desire and nowhere to vent it, the Regent’s expression grew even darker.

Steeped in the grief of ‘it seems I’m the only one in the whole world without a status,’ he still had to fend off the ministers’ persistent suggestions to his little emperor that now she was of age and the world was stable, it was time to expand the harem.

—Say that again and I’ll exile you.

It was all terribly frustrating, but he still had to keep a stern and dignified face.

He was hopelessly awkward.

Every time Yan Luo saw it, she couldn’t help clicking her tongue in amazement. How could someone be this awkward? Constantly stewing in jealousy, and the fluctuation of his blackening value has become a daily routine. She was starting to get used to it.

How could she get her dear, adorable Regent Uncle to be more honest?

Another night came. After sending the attending maidservants away, the candlelight flickered softly in the room. Already very used to this routine, Yan Luo turned her head and saw her dear Royal Uncle standing behind her, staring intently.

His eyes were sparkling, and there was a faint smell of alcohol on him.

Drank on purpose again? Trying to use drunkenness as an excuse to make moves?

Honestly, she was already somewhat used to this tactic of his.

Yan Luo blinked, and the next second, he pounced on her.

---

“Lan Zhi, has the news been spread?” With a faint smile on her lips, Lu Yan glanced sideways.

The palace maid standing nearby respectfully lowered her head. She looked quite old, as she was someone who had followed Lu Yan since childhood.

“Your Highness, yes, the news has already been released. Now the entire court knows that the Regent has overstepped his authority, placed His Majesty under house arrest, and intends to usurp the throne.”

Lu Yan let out a soft laugh, then seemed to recall something. She raised her brows and asked, “Right, what about Yan Luo?”

“Her Majesty didn’t seem well today. I heard she’s already fallen unconscious and is unresponsive.”

They both knew how potent that medicine was. Once unconscious, there would be no waking up again.

“Is that so,” Lu Yan’s lips still held a gentle smile, with not the slightest trace of sorrow. “The army has already reached the outskirts of the city. It’s time I said something. This Great Yan Dynasty…

She slowly stood up, refusing the support of the palace maid beside her, her lips curving into a smile of excitement, though her tone sounded more like a sigh.

“…should’ve perished long ago.”

Such incompetence, such corruption—it should’ve ended, along with her love.

Just then, the doors were suddenly pushed open. Lu Yan froze slightly, then frowned and smiled, “Jun Yulin.”

The figure entered, casting a disdainful glance around. Behind him stood soldiers. His calm and unhurried demeanor made a strange light flash through Lu Yan’s eyes.

“Plotting to harm the emperor, colluding with foreign enemies, framing loyal officials—Lu Yan, do you admit to these crimes?” Jun Yulin’s voice was cold and indifferent, his face still expressionless as he looked at her.

With her plan interrupted, Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. “Regent, what are you talking about? If we’re talking about harming the emperor, everyone in court knows you were the one behind it.”

Jun Yulin didn’t reply. He simply raised his hand, signaling the soldiers behind him to arrest Lu Yan. Lan Zhi frowned and swiftly kicked several guards away, but before she could do more, a single palm strike from Jun Yulin sent her flying to the side.

The situation was now beyond saving. Lu Yan paused briefly, then sat back down and let out a soft laugh.

“Who asked her to be born into the royal family and to sit on that throne in the end?

Her eyes widened as she looked at Jun Yulin.

“Every emperor of Great Yan deserves to die! And the Lu family, the Jun family… it doesn’t matter. Everything I wanted to do is already done. Great Yan is finished.”

A soft sigh came, and a figure stepped out from behind the door, standing beside Jun Yulin. With phoenix-like eyes, she gazed at Lu Yan.

“It’s easy to accuse others of being ambitious, but in truth, the one with the greatest ambition was you, wasn’t it, Mother?”

Only now did Lu Yan panic. The moment she saw Yan Luo, she realized she had been tricked.

They had known—long ago. They had known about her plan, her true purpose… But what about King Jin’s army? The court was already in chaos. Even if it wasn’t enough to destroy Great Yan, then surely enough to shake its foundation?

But Yan Luo answered that question for her. “The invading foreign enemies have already been dealt with by the Grand Chancellor and Lu Xunche. Great Yan will not fall. It will instead usher in true peace.”

With that, the Yan Luo and Jun Yulin said no more and left the Empress Dowager’s palace. The matter had finally come to an end.

The corrupt officials bribed by Lu Yan were also exposed. Those who needed to be investigated were investigated, and those who deserved exile were exiled.

As for King Jin, thinking victory was assured, he had personally led the expedition—only to walk straight into a trap laid by Lu Xunche and An Bai.

---

Isn’t that basically inviting a wolf into the house? Who would be so kindhearted?

Yan Luo looked at the so-called ‘action guide’ in the palace maid’s hand. Though she sat on the chair looking slightly weary, the aura surrounding her made the maid unable to meet her eyes.

“Your Majesty, Her Highness said that treacherous ministers now control the court. To truly take command of the government, we must overthrow them. Right now, this is our only option. King Jin is someone we can trust. Please, Your Majesty, consider this carefully.”

“You may go. Tell the Empress Dowager that I will think it over,” Yan Luo replied softly, with a trace of fatigue in her voice. Yet when it rang in the maid’s ears, it carried undeniable authority.

The maid was briefly stunned. Though she wanted to say more, she swallowed her words in the end and softly answered:

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Then, with a few swift movements, she disappeared without a trace.

Clearly, her martial arts skills were extremely high. No wonder she had managed to enter the sleeping quarters without alerting the guards outside.

Yan Luo rubbed her temples slightly. Just then, Little Pink’s voice rang in her ears, warning of the presence of poison. At that very moment, the space before her flickered, and a figure appeared.

It was unknown when he had arrived, but Jun Yulin, who had overheard some unknown portion of their conversation, stood there with a dark expression, staring at the letter beside her.

He said nothing, simply stepped forward, raised a hand, and scattered some kind of powder onto the letter. Yan Luo followed behind him, watching as the white powder turned black. Jun Yulin’s face darkened even more.

Poison. And strong poison at that.

It was the same type he had previously detected faint traces of from Yan Luo’s father, the former emperor. But this time, the dosage was many times higher.

Although it still wouldn’t take effect immediately, it would gradually weaken Yan Luo’s body, until she died silently and without a trace.

Lu Yan’s calculation should be that once Yan Luo received the letter, Yan Luo would keep it on her at all times as a precaution against him.

This poison’s most devious trait was that it would slowly degrade over time, eventually leaving no trace of residue, no matter where it was searched for.

A death that left no mark.

“Luoluo, I said I’d spare her life. But beyond that, you’re not allowed to interfere,” Jun Yulin said.

He felt a little scared. Lu Yan’s methods were far more ruthless than he had imagined.

If he hadn’t had that earlier conversation with this little girl, would they still be caught in mutual misunderstanding? Would Lu Yan have taken advantage of that opportunity?

He didn’t dare imagine it.

Yan Luo only felt the emotions of the original owner roiling inside her, and a dull pain spreading in her chest. But eventually, it faded. She simply nodded and said nothing more.

Three days later.

Imperial physicians were seen entering and leaving the emperor’s bedchamber.

Five days later, news spread that the young emperor was gravely ill.

The court fell into chaos. The emperor’s condition worsened—and at the same time, someone seemed to have thrown open the gates, allowing foreign troops from a neighboring nation to enter the capital with the intent to breach the city.

In the Empress Dowager’s quarters, Lu Yan sat listening to her confidante report all this. Reclining on the soft couch in her room, a glint of excitement shone through her otherwise gentle features.

She raised her hand to admire her slender fingers—fair, flawless, painted crimson with rouge. Beautiful and delicate, maintained like the hands of a maiden in her prime.

She had always cherished her hands the most, because the man she loved once said what he likes the most about her was… her hands.

---

Later, in order to cooperate with Jun Yulin’s plans and create chaos in the court to make Lu Yan think there was an opportunity, such rumors began to spread within the imperial court:

—The Regent held control over state affairs, while the young emperor, having gradually grown stronger and more capable, was placed under house arrest. Almost none of the civil or military officials in court had seen the emperor in a long time.

And at that moment, the so-called ‘house-arrested’ young emperor was comfortably reclining on a soft couch in the palace, with freshly tributed fruits beside her. In front of her sat a certain someone who usually wore a stern expression, looking through documents that were originally meant for her to review. From time to time, he would glance up, pick a fruit or two from the platter, peel it, and feed it into Yan Luo’s mouth.

Sleeping in every day with no need to attend morning court sessions and having everything taken care of—Yan Luo was very satisfied with such a lifestyle.

“Lu Yan might make a move soon, so I won’t come by for a while. The guards outside were all arranged by me, but I still can’t guarantee absolute safety. Be careful,” Jun Yulin said, clearly in a good mood, as if he felt he was finally close to shedding his single status.

Yan Luo swallowed the fruit he handed her and nodded slightly, though the emotions lingering from the original owner still made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

After all, the original owner had genuinely treated Lu Yan as her biological mother for over a decade.

After so many years together, this kind of discomfort was only natural.

“Royal Uncle, in the end, my mother…” she began. Jun Yulin, understanding what Yan Luo was thinking, paused briefly and reached out to poke her cheek.

“I can spare her life,” he said.

But only that.

The former emperor had died early, and although Jun Yulin hadn’t used any extreme methods at the time, he had always found the situation suspicious. Eventually, he vaguely uncovered that the emperor had likely been slowly poisoned over time.

The massacre of over a hundred members of the Jun family—Lu Yan had played a major role in that.

As for the Lu family, Lu Yan had harbored deep resentment and was set on revenge. Over the years, she had provided them with countless advantages, lifting the Lu family to glory while secretly collecting all the evidence of their corruption and crimes.

As for Yan Luo, Lu Yan’s goal was to use her to gain a legitimate title to overthrow Jun Yulin, the Regent. So it was expected that she would make her move against Yan Luo before long.

Lu Yan was essentially already insane—not in a hysterical, obvious way, but with a chilling, calm madness that made her more dangerous and harder to guard against.

Her goal was to destroy the entire Great Yan. Whoever had taken away the happiness that should have been hers, she would destroy them in return—even at the cost of her own destruction.

But in the end, she was still just a lone woman. No matter how vicious her schemes, without support, she couldn’t achieve much. The one helping her was a external king of Great Yan with wild ambitions. Jun Yulin had not acted yet because he was waiting for both sides to make their move, so he could wipe them out all at once.

After a long silence, Yan Luo finally said, “If she really crosses the line, you don’t have to hold back for my sake.”

That’s what Lu Yan’s supposed to repay.

And just as Jun Yulin had predicted, not long after, one of Lu Yan’s trusted aides somehow fooled the guards at the door and quietly snuck into Yan Luo’s palace chambers.

She stated her purpose: to ally with Yan Luo in overthrowing the Regent. The external king was supposedly someone Yan Luo should call uncle. Lu Yan’s side claimed that he had had some connection with Lu Yan in their younger days, and that he was willing to bring his troops to help them. When the time came, there would be chaos in the palace, and all Yan Luo had to do was expose Jun Yulin’s crimes.

It all sounded nice on the surface. However, letting someone else’s troops enter to eliminate Jun Yulin for them? And then what? Those troops would just leave peacefully after helping?

---

Back when the baby was switched with Yan Luo, her father wasn’t yet the emperor, which was why everything went so smoothly.

And it had to be said, Lu Yan was truly bold.

Yan Luo’s eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her lips pressed together. What exactly was Lu Yan trying to do now?

Colluding with an external king, betraying Great Yan, what benefit could that bring her or the Lu family?

As if he could see what Yan Luo was thinking, Jun Yulin continued speaking.
“Her goal isn’t to help anyone succeed. It’s to destroy the Lu family, to destroy Great Yan… including both you and me.

“Before she married into the royal family, she had someone she loved—a low-ranking military officer. The Lu family looked down on his status and told him that only if he made a name for himself would they marry their daughter to him.

“Later, that man went to the battlefield and had an accident. My father was the commanding general at the time, and Lu Yan had already been forcibly sent into the palace by the Lu family to become the crown prince’s consort.”

So she resented everyone.

She resented the heartless Lu family.

She resented the royal family for forcing her hand.

She resented the Jun family for sending her beloved to die on the battlefield.

She resented the entire Great Yan.

And as for Yan Luo, because of her seemingly close connection with Jun Yulin, she was nothing more than a pawn in Lu Yan’s revenge.

In just a few words, Jun Yulin explained the complicated situation, and then he fell silent, watching Yan Luo, who was furrowing her delicate brows and quietly thinking.

But instead of the frustration that usually came with revealing such things, he actually felt relieved, as if a burden had lifted.

He waited a long while, but Yan Luo still didn’t respond. Jun Yulin grew impatient.

Anxious and awkward, he pursed his lips, and finally forced out a sentence:
“I’ve already explained everything to you.”

—So you promised, you said you’d keep liking me.
—You can’t go back on your word.

His face was gloomy and stiff with awkwardness. If Yan Luo hadn’t already figured out that his ‘gloomy face’ was mostly for show, she might’ve actually been scared by his expression.

And also… this kind of serious topic… do we really need to talk about it in this position?

Jun Yulin, however, was still firmly pressing down on her, refusing to let her move.

Honestly, now that she understood his personality better, this side of him was kind of… cute.

Suddenly, Yan Luo laughed. She lifted her hand and, under Jun Yulin’s confused gaze, cupped his face.

In a tone like she’d just uncovered a secret, she said to him:

“So, Royal Uncle… all those tantrums and sulking, the gloomy face every day… you were just jealous, weren’t you?”

Jun Yulin: …

“I wasn’t.”

“You weren’t?” Yan Luo tilted her head. “I still think Royal Uncle is way more honest and cute when he’s drunk.”

Jun Yulin: …

“Oh, right,” Yan Luo added with a sweet smile, gently pinching his cheek. “Royal Uncle, your face is really red.”

Was he… blushing?

Jun Yulin : !!!

He suddenly straightened up, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he stared at her. This girl who had just teased him and was now innocently getting up to straighten her clothes, clearly with no intention of attending morning court and planning to go back to sleep instead.

He glared at her for a while, then finally said, “You seduced me again.”

Yan Luo: …

“I did not.” She looked back at him seriously.

“You did.”

As he said this and looked at the girl in front of him, it felt like something between them had finally broken through. Jun Yulin couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of his lips. He pressed it down, only for it to curl up again.

[*Ding*—Jun Yulin’s blackening value -15 (52/100)]

---

But when emotions are suppressed for too long, that taut string is bound to snap. Right now, Jun Yulin felt like the string in his heart was on the verge of breaking.

His hand tightened slightly, yet he restrained himself from hurting her. His pair of dark eyes stared straight at her.

Yan Luo blinked slowly, thought back carefully, and then, with a completely serious and sincere expression as if asking for trouble, said, “I didn’t.”

“You did!” This time, Jun Yulin replied instantly.

That one sullen sentence blocked anything else Yan Luo might’ve said.

Looking at the man in front of her, Yan Luo finally deflated and collapsed back onto the bed. “Royal Uncle… can I like you?”

Given the current circumstances—

Of course you can. Jun Yulin pressed his lips tightly together, his eyes shifting with complicated emotions. In the end, he admitted defeat and spoke: “You’re not.”

There were some things he didn’t want to tell her. Nor was there any need to drag her into it.

All he had originally intended was to resolve these matters so she could peacefully be the little emperor she is. Later, when he found himself falling in, he still just wanted to settle everything so she could be his little emperor.

As long as things were settled…

But he hadn’t expected her to already know. However, some things were rooted too deeply. She probably hadn’t fully uncovered the truth. Otherwise, she wouldn’t say something like that to him. But at a time like this, it seemed he had to be honest with her, didn’t he?

Even though he lost control when drunk, everything he said then was the truth from his heart.

He liked her, liked her seriously and wholeheartedly, yet had no experience—always wearing a cold face, not knowing how to handle her.

He hadn’t even figured out how to explain it to her once things were over, and now it had all suddenly been exposed. After a long silence, under Yan Luo’s confused gaze, he finally opened his mouth:

“You’re not my enemy.”

He wasn’t used to being this honest, especially when sober. Jun Yulin pressed his lips slightly. “Or let me put it this way, you’re not Lu Yan’s child.”

Yan Luo’s eyes widened slightly, and in that moment, all the oddities surrounding Lu Yan, and Jun Yulin’s complete lack of hostility toward her, suddenly clicked into place.

That’s why Jun Yulin chose to support her among the previous emperor’s children. That’s why she couldn’t sense any hate from him. That’s why Lu Yan behaved so strangely, her gaze never quite like that of a mother looking at her own child.

“You…” Yan Luo stared at him, eyes wide.

Jun Yulin licked the corner of his lips lightly. “You actually didn’t need to know any of this. Lu Yan’s fate was already sealed. She colluded with an external king¹, provided intelligence, and harmed loyal officials. She was deeply involved.

—It was all almost over. Afterward… I’ll handle the tedious affairs for you, remove the people you dislike. You only need to live freely in my arms.

“You were never supposed to know any of this, never meant to be involved. All you needed to know was that no matter your bloodline, no matter your background, you are the most honored person in the world.”

It was indeed shocking, something Yan Luo had never imagined. And for something this big, of course it had been kept secret. It wouldn’t have been easily explained to her. She pursed her lips slightly and asked, “Then who am I? How did Lu Yan dare to be so bold?”

“It’s been too long… Luoluo, I couldn’t find the exact details of your identity either. It seems you were an abandoned orphan, and when Lu Yan gave birth to a stillborn, she happened to take you in and secretly switched you out.” Jun Yulin spoke softly.

---

1. 外姓王 (wàixìng wáng):
   外姓 (wàixìng): Literally “external surname” or “different surname.” In historical Chinese contexts, this typically refers to someone who is not of the imperial family’s surname/clan. This distinction is crucial because the imperial family (the “internal” surname) held the legitimate right to the throne, while “external surnames” were powerful figures, often regional lords or military commanders, who were not direct blood relatives of the emperor and thus could be seen as rivals or threats.
   王 (wáng): “Prince” or “king.” In the context of “外姓王 (wàixìng wáng),” it usually means a powerful feudal lord or regional ruler who has been granted the title of “king” but is not of the imperial clan. ↩︎

---

A certain someone wore a gloomy expression, but inside, he felt extremely wronged. He stared fixedly at Yan Luo.

Yan Luo’s brows furrowed even tighter. Suddenly, she closed her eyes and sighed, then opened them again—her gaze had returned to its usual calm. “Since you won’t explain it clearly, then I will.

“After Emperor Father passed away, all the royal children, no matter who they were, fought with everything they had for the throne. Being born into the royal family—if you don’t fight, you’ll end up like some of my siblings today.

—Either dying in the struggle for the throne, or stripped of all power and exiled.

“In such a murky and treacherous pool, it was Royal Uncle who pulled me out. Of course, I’m grateful, but I was also confused. I wasn’t outstanding, and we had barely interacted. Why did you choose me of all people?”

Yan Luo’s gaze was steady and calm. That gaze made Jun Yulin feel a bit uneasy, but he kept his lips tightly shut, hiding his thoughts.

“Until later, when I began reinvestigating the massacre of the Jun clan.

Jun Yulin’s body stiffened slightly.

“You should know what I’m talking about. But no matter what you intend to do, I won’t oppose it. I owe you. My father, my mother—we all owe your Jun family. Whatever you want, just take it.

“After all, the world knows that the Regent holds power above all. This empire can do without me, but it cannot do without you, Jun Yulin.

Jun Yulin looked down at the young girl beneath him. She spoke with a composed, unwavering tone and steady eyes. His hand unconsciously tightened into a fist. He wanted to tell her, that’s not how it is.

But his nature wouldn’t allow him to say it.

“Do whatever you want. Take whatever you please. I won’t interfere—but enough is enough. I have my own temper. I’m not something you can control at will, play with as you like. Now, get out!”

She was truly angry. Even the way she addressed him had changed. Her phoenix eyes were filled with seething rage, without a hint of gentleness, as she drove him away.

Jun Yulin froze slightly. A wave of helplessness surged in his heart. He had underestimated the young emperor’s abilities. Those events… by right, the truth should have long been buried. But judging from Yan Luo’s words, she clearly knew everything.

So… was that why her attitude toward him had changed?

But that’s not how it was—not at all.

He pressed his lips tightly together, his mind in complete chaos.

The man didn’t budge an inch. Yan Luo frowned and began to struggle to get up, but he pushed her down again with one hand.

There was no sign of his blackening value” increasing, but he still pressed her down, hand tightening slightly, his voice hoarse.

His lips parted a few times, his expression taut like he was containing something terrible. Finally, he spoke in a choked voice:

“You clearly promised… you said you’d like me.”

—You broke your word…

His hand stubbornly clutched her wrist, lips pressed into a thin line as he continued to suppress the tide of emotions in his heart.

He wasn’t allowed to show emotions—that would be a weakness. It was what his father had always taught him. After suppressing things for so long, he’d forgotten how to express himself.

Only when he was drunk… maybe because he usually held everything in so tightly, alcohol affected him more than most. He’d get drunk easily—and once drunk, he couldn’t hold back anymore, spilling out everything he’d buried deep.

That was why he rarely drank.

The only reason he had this time—

Was because of her.

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