After Xue'e woke Tang Huan from his afternoon nap, the two prepared a carriage and headed to the capital together.

Outside the Meridian Gate, Tang Huan asked Xue'e to wait there while he leisurely strolled into the palace.

"I haven't seen Xiao Shen today. Could it be that he's already been promoted and made a fortune in just a few days?"

Without the familiar eunuch Shen to guide him, Tang Huan had to walk alone in the palace, which was quite boring.

He skillfully entered the Imperial Study, but found no one there.

"Where has the Empress gone? She's always been the most diligent student, why is she nowhere to be seen?"

If it were anyone else entering the palace, they would have already been stopped by the Imperial Guards on the way, and after a few words, they would know where the emperor was.

Unfortunately, Tang Huan had Wu Lanxi's jade pendant, which allowed him to come and go without hindrance. Several times he encountered the imperial guards, but they did not approach him and acted as if they had not seen anything.

After searching around, I finally learned from a palace maid that His Majesty was in the Imperial Garden.

Tang Huan met Wu Lanxi here. She was sitting in the pavilion, gazing at the lake in front of her.

Tang Huan walked over with a grin, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Wu Lanxi turned her head. "What is it now?"

"Your Majesty, those barbaric witches from the Northern Region have been too hateful these past two days. They set up a fighting arena in the city and made everyone lose face. Today, thanks to Your Majesty's blessing, my guard Li Da Kui was able to win. I have come to report the good news to Your Majesty."

"A witch? Does Lord Tang think I am a witch?"

The voice, tinged with a coquettish tone, sent a chill down Tang Huan's spine.

Just then, Gongyang Tingbai was walking over from not far away. She had been standing behind the artificial hill, unnoticed by Tang Huan.