With a creak, the door was slowly pushed open, and a beam of cool moonlight squeezed into the dimly lit room.

Li An returned to his residence in a daze, only to find that the lamp he usually left on for himself was gone.

A chill ran through him, and an indescribable sense of loss welled up inside him.

Did Dongling really go to seek refuge with the former Empress Qin Sheng? Did she really abandon him after all?

Li An stroked the pill in his hand, a bitter smile rising in his heart, before silently swallowing it.

At that moment, he suddenly felt utterly exhausted, as if all his strength had been drained away. He had had enough of living on the edge of a knife every day.

To outsiders, he was the most powerful eunuch in the imperial court, enjoying unparalleled wealth and honor. However, only he knew that he lived each day in constant fear and trepidation.

Ang Lee sighed helplessly, and without even taking off his boots, he went straight to bed fully clothed and lay down quietly. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating half of his face, making him appear as white and luminous as a sculpture.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally closed his eyes wearily and gradually fell asleep...

After an unknown amount of time, Ang Lee's consciousness gradually faded, but he remained vigilant.

Suddenly, he heard soft footsteps at the door, as light as walking on cotton. His long-standing vigilance jolted Li An awake; he immediately sat up and listened intently to the faint sound.

From the rhythm and intensity of the footsteps, Ang Lee deduced that it was a woman.

A look of joy suddenly appeared on his face. Could it be that Dongling has returned? This thought flashed through his mind, instantly igniting a flame of hope deep within him. An indescribable excitement surged within Li An; he clenched his fists tightly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He sat up quickly, his muscles tensing, holding his breath for fear of missing a single sound.

The footsteps grew closer, each step like a tug at his heartstrings, making his heart pound even faster. Finally, the footsteps stopped at the door, and the room fell into a deathly silence. Li An's heart was racing; he could even feel the rush of blood through his veins, clearly audible in the quiet room.

The door was gently pushed open, making a soft creaking sound.

A familiar figure came into Ang Lee's view.

It was indeed Dongling! She carried a dim palace lantern, its soft light illuminating her face. She looked somewhat tired.

"Dongling?" Li An's voice trembled slightly; he couldn't believe his eyes.

Dongling nodded gently, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. "Master, I'm back." Her voice was as gentle as ever.

Ang Lee jumped off the bed, walked quickly to Dongling, and pulled her into his arms.

Dongling didn't resist; instead, she hugged him tightly. This was the first time the two had embraced. It felt like many years had passed.

“I thought you wouldn’t come back.” Li An awkwardly released her, his voice trembling slightly.

Dongling gently shook her head. "My lord is my savior. How could I possibly abandon you? I just had some things to take care of, so I came back a little late."

Li An released Dong Ling, his eyes filled with concern. "What happened?"

Dongling was silent for a while, then slowly said, "Miss Qin Wen has encountered some problems. I promised the Emperor that I would take care of her, so I went out of the palace and went to the laundry department."

Li An nodded. Qin Wen was in the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution). Her aunt, Liu Wanyi, was also originally in the Jiaofangsi, but she offended a son of an official and was beaten half to death. It was Li An who intervened and got Liu Wanyi transferred to the laundry department.

He gently held Dongling's hand, his soft, high-pitched voice carrying a hint of tenderness.

"Dongling, you don't need to do these things yourself. I'll handle dealing with the people. Don't get your hands dirty."

Dongling smiled slightly, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thank you, sir, but things have calmed down now."

Li An got up to light the lamp, but Dongling stopped him, saying, "Master, the moonlight is quite bright. Let me help you undress!"

Ang Lee hummed in agreement. For some reason, he found the moonlight tonight to be incredibly enchanting, and a sense of anticipation stirred within him.