"Yin Li, escort His Majesty to the Huajing Pool for a bath!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, please follow me!"

"Your servant takes his leave!"

Li Qingmu followed Yin Li out of Rong Si’s bedchamber, heading towards the direction of the Huajing Pool.

It was near evening, and although the sky hadn’t darkened yet, a stroke of sunset had already crossed it. People who had gone out for recreation earlier were returning in twos and threes. Upon seeing the Emperor’s arrival, they hurriedly bowed in greeting.

"Where are they headed?"

The crowd watched as Li Qingmu’s Dragon Carriage moved in one direction and began to murmur amongst themselves.

"That direction appears to be towards the Guangqing Pool. It seems to be for a fragrant bath. Who is fortunate enough to serve His Majesty?"

"It’s a wonderful opportunity. If His Majesty takes a liking to someone, at the very least, a concubine position awaits!"

"..."

These voices gradually faded with Li Qingmu’s departure, but people didn’t abandon their thoughts. Their eyes gleamed with various schemes in mind.

...

Long Yue returned to her quarters.

She placed the Jade Pendant on the table and paid it no further attention.

The jade was exquisite, but it did not interest her.

Or rather, apart from things given by Li Qingmu, nothing else caught her interest.

"Ah!"

You’er stood beside Long Yue, gently nudging her, pitifully like a child who had done something wrong.

Long Yue looked at the copper mirror reflecting a different but equally unmatched face and then turned to You’er, "What exactly happened?"

To be honest, she didn’t believe You’er would steal something, yet this matter seemed somewhat related to him. She had protected him outside, but now that they were back, she needed to ask clearly.

"Ah..."

You’er’s emotions were low, with drooping ears and head.

Long Yue’s gaze flickered slightly, and she spoke softly, "Go on, sister won’t blame you!"

After saying that, Long Yue somewhat regretted it.

Unexpectedly, You’er sat on the ground, took off his boot, and shook out a piece of ink jade.

This mischievous kid... really stole it!

Long Yue rubbed her forehead, feeling quite helpless. She couldn’t beat him and couldn’t scold him. Looking at his pitiable appearance, she was reluctant to do either and could only complain to him, "Why did you steal this ink jade?"

If those people had searched You’er’s boots back then, wouldn’t it have been exposed?

Where would her face go? Her reputation?

"Ah!"

Feeling Long Yue’s slight anger, You’er hurried over to nuzzle against her, then picked up the ink jade.

He made a shushing gesture, then fiddled with it. A "click" sounded as if a secret mechanism had been activated, and suddenly a silver needle shot out from one end of the ink jade!

"Zzz!"

The silver needle embedded into the carpet on the ground, and instantly, with the needle as the center, a half-foot circle radiated outwards; the carpet within this circle completely turned black and rotten!

Instantly, Long Yue’s face turned ashen!

This ink jade was actually a hidden weapon?

It’s truly bizarre; an ink jade harboring a concealed weapon, yet why did those people claim it was a translucent treasure?

Curious, Long Yue took the ink jade from You’er and held it up to the light.

Indeed, the ink jade was very transparent, allowing light through, which meant there were no impurities within to begin with?

Let alone a bunch of needles.

Then, where did the needle come from? Or was there a secret Long Yue wasn’t aware of?

Additionally, did those people who carried the ink jade know about its mechanism, or were they unaware? If they knew, what were they planning?

A flood of questions suddenly overwhelmed Long Yue.

Just as she was pondering over the ink jade, "knock-knock," a knocking sound came from outside.

Long Yue hurriedly hid the ink jade, stood, and went to open the door.

The visitor was her nominal father, Wei Yan.

Long Yue bowed, "Greetings, father. May I know what brings you to Yan’er at this hour?"

Wei Yan looked at this daughter with a complicated expression. Though the old madam repeatedly confirmed that they saw her at the time, surely it couldn’t be wrong, Wei Yan somehow always felt this daughter didn’t quite seem like his own.

However, it didn’t matter.

He needed this daughter to be a stepping-stone for Dai’er.

He said, "Tonight, His Majesty will be bathing in the Huajing Pool at the Guangqing Pool, and there will certainly be someone serving drinks. Yan’er, your father wants you to go."

Long Yue’s heart skipped a beat, me?

She forgot about etiquette, raised her head, and looked at him.

Those large, dark eyes were filled with disbelief and a hint of fear.

Such a look was expected, and Wei Yan wouldn’t suspect anything. He spoke earnestly, "Yan’er, this is a great opportunity. Your father worked hard to arrange it, you’ll slip in as a palace maid."

Long Yue bit her red lips tightly, displaying a shy and hesitant demeanor.

"Father, aren’t you worried I might inadvertently offend the Emperor? They say he is..."

"Silence!"

Wei Yan shouted sternly, stopping Long Yue’s words. He quickly looked around, ensuring no one else was present, then felt reassured.

They say walls have ears, and if this reached the Emperor, the Wei State Duke Mansion would surely suffer.

Of course, You’er was naturally ignored by him—a mute, unable to speak, posed no threat.

Feeling he had been a bit harsh, Wei Yan softened his tone, "Yan’er, this is a rare opportunity. If you catch His Majesty’s eye, you’ll become a concubine and rise above others! And our Wei family could flourish, it’s a glory to our ancestors!"

Glory to the ancestors indeed!

Long Yue silently rolled her eyes in her heart. She really didn’t feel much of a connection to the Wei family.

She approached Li Qingmu not to benefit herself but because she genuinely wanted to be near him and assist him!

Seeing Long Yue remain silent, Wei Yan’s heart sank, thinking this girl might be having second thoughts?

"Yan’er, this matter..."

"Father, I understand. Since you’ve already decided, I will follow through with it!"

"Haha, good, good, that’s my good daughter! Now, prepare yourself! Someone, help the young lady bathe and change!"

Wei Yan laughed heartily, gave his instructions, and left.

Since she was to serve the Emperor, she needed to cleanse herself thoroughly. Long Yue knew what to do without being told.

After bathing and changing, Long Yue quietly sat before the copper mirror, her hair styled in a palace maid’s bun, waiting for someone to pick her up.

As night fell, the area outside the Beilu Palace was illuminated with bright lanterns, shadows of people bustling back and forth, and a group of palace maids carrying various trays advanced slowly.

They were headed towards the Guangqing Pool!

"Ah, ouch, my stomach hurts!"

A palace maid at the rear suddenly clutched her belly, half stooping in pain, even appearing to spasm a bit.

Another palace maid passing by, said, "Sister, how about I carry your tray while you visit the restroom?"

The palace maid nodded repeatedly, "T-Thank you, younger sister. Oh, it hurts, I can’t take it, I must go to the restroom. Gosh, the opportunity I fought so hard for, wuwuwu..."

The palace maid howled, stumbling towards the restroom, leaving behind a trail of unpleasant odor.

The woman carrying her tray smiled faintly.