"Not what?"

Mi Shan looked at him in surprise.

“I can tell you’re interested in him. The first time you met in Yongxiang, I saw a different kind of sparkle in your eyes.”

Li Changyu no longer hesitated and spoke his mind directly.

"That was the first time I'd ever seen you look at a man like that. What's your relationship with him?"

Goodness, it turns out he misunderstood.

Mi Shan was almost shocked to death by his idea.

The more I think about it, the funnier it gets.

“Your Highness, you really have a vivid imagination. The reason I was so happy when I first met him was because we had known each other since we were children. He is my cousin.”

"Oh, you were injured just now, and the emperor told you to go and rest, so you didn't know that."

"It's alright. I'll tell you now that I don't have romantic feelings for him. Even if I look at him differently when I see him, it's probably because I do admire men like Cousin Qiao."

As Mi Shan spoke, admiration resurfaced in her clear eyes.

That's exactly the look in his eyes!

Li Changyu's gaze faltered as he looked at her, a strange light igniting in his deep eyes.

In his previous life, my cousin never married and was willing to die for the woman he loved.

Such unwavering love is truly rare in this world, comparable to the legendary love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai transforming into butterflies.

It is precisely because it is rare that it is considered precious.

"A devoted lover like Cousin Qiao is truly rare. His attitude towards love is something I admire, but... it's just wishful thinking. After all, true love is hard to find in this world."

After Mi Shan finished speaking, she turned to look at Li Changyu.

"Someone as cold-blooded as you probably wouldn't understand even if you heard it."

"Just because you don't have feelings for him doesn't mean he doesn't feel the same way about you?"

"...Why should I explain so much to you? Think whatever you want." Mi Shan frowned, feeling that he was being very presumptuous.

Li Changyu was also taken aback.

He's never the type to say things like that.

Could it be the effect of this love potion again, or does it mean that he has developed a different kind of interest in this woman?

Li Changyu felt uneasy about his unusual behavior, so he remained silent.

Both of them felt that their shoulder injuries had healed somewhat, and they returned to their respective palaces.

-

Just as Mi Shan expected,

After finishing his official duties, the emperor returned to the inner palace and immediately set off for Bai Lingyu's residence.

They asked her how she was arrested and how she switched places with Mi Shan.

Bai Lingyu had seen a red-eyed crow fly into the palace earlier and immediately sensed the presence of Gu worms inside.

As a fellow demon, she was very sensitive to this.

A crow landed in front of her and spat out a small insect covered in golden armor.

She touched it out of curiosity, and the insect automatically played a sound.

After listening for a while, she understood what had happened in the Golden Palace. When she heard Mi Shan defend Prime Minister Xia, she was initially surprised, but then she thought that Mi Shan must have her reasons for doing so.

So I silently kept it in my heart.

Now that Li Shengyuan was holding her in his arms, still acting as if he loved her and only loved her, Bai Lingyu felt a chill in her heart.

He then reiterated Mi Shan's words from his own perspective:

"Your Majesty, I rise early in the morning to cultivate and absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, hoping to improve my cultivation and help you master the secret method of immortality as soon as possible."

But out of nowhere, an old bald monk suddenly appeared...

I was no match for him and was dragged into a sack. While I was struggling, it was Consort Mi Hui and Prime Minister Xia who discussed and saved me.

After that, I hid back in the palace and dared not go anywhere until Your Majesty came..."

After Bai Lingyu finished speaking, she nestled sweetly in his arms, like a frightened little white glutinous rice ball.

Li Shengyuan's sharp, cold eyes softened just now, revealing a hint of guilt.

The two concubines had never met, so it was impossible for them to give the same answer.

"It seems I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted Consort Mi Hui."

"And the old prime minister, although I have reduced his punishment, he is old and it has not been easy for him."

"But I am the emperor, and a decision made by an emperor cannot be easily reversed."

"Your Majesty, why are you so troubled by this? If you truly feel guilty, why not go to Consort Mi Hui and explain things to her in person?"

“You’re right, I’ll go to Jade Hibiscus Palace right now.”

Li Shengyuan stood up after speaking.

When they arrived at Mi Shan's residence, they saw her standing in the courtyard watering flowers. Although she could only move one hand, her figure was still graceful and elegant.

The bright sunlight shone on her, giving her beautiful profile a soft golden glow.

"Shan'er."

A magnetic and soothing voice came from behind me.

Mi Shan was taken aback. Hearing those two words, she knew who had come.

Li Shengyuan is capricious and his emotions fluctuate, a trait that has remained largely unchanged, both in the past and now.

"Your Majesty..." She turned around and gave a graceful bow.

Li Shengyuan hurriedly said, "My dear concubine, why aren't you resting in bed? Why are you watering the flowers in the courtyard? Can't you leave this to the servants?"

"Don't you have servants in your palace?"

After Li Shengyuan finished speaking, he saw that the surroundings were deserted, except for Xun'er and Achan guarding the door, as well as Xiaomingzi and a few rough workers.

Indeed, I didn't see many people.

"Your Jade Hibiscus Palace is quite large, and you are a concubine, so why do you only have a handful of servants to serve you? Did the Empress not arrange any for you?"

"This matter has nothing to do with the Empress. It's just that I couldn't keep them in the palace. It's alright. These people are enough." Mi Shan lowered her eyes and said softly.

"Your Majesty, you are unaware of this. The first time you visited our Empress's palace, you stayed for a short while and then left. You haven't visited for quite some time since."

,

The servants in the palace are all used to changing sides depending on the wind, so it's not surprising that they ran away. They saw that the Empress was not favored and felt that there was no future in following her.

Who would have thought that even though the Empress holds a high position now, they wouldn't have the face to return, would they?

Xun'er has always been quick to speak, and when the Emperor brought it up, she couldn't help but pour out all her grievances.

Li Shengyuan paused, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

“My beloved concubine, when you first entered the palace, I indeed rarely visited your palace.”

In that case, it was I who was wrong.

I must make it up to you. Tell me, what do you want?

Mi Shan's eyes lit up: "Is Your Majesty's statement true? If I were to make a request, would Your Majesty grant it?"