Mi Shan was silent for a moment, a faint sadness welling up in her heart.

Although she didn't like the Empress or approve of what she did, she was still someone who had a bond with her mother. Her departure left her feeling empty.

"Her departure was inevitable. Li Shengyuan discovered her true thoughts and would definitely not keep her around for long. Every extra day she lived would only be another day of torment," Xie Ling said.

Mi Shan nodded, agreeing with what he said.

"Then why have you come to find me?" Jialu asked.

"To tell you the truth, Mother, we already know about your affair with Li Shengyuan. You built that secret passage, so you must know how to destroy it."

Why destroy it?

“Only by leaving Li Shengyuan nowhere to hide can we kill him completely,” Mi Shan said.

"If you want him dead, why go through all this trouble? Isn't this the best opportunity? The night of the full moon is when he is at his weakest."

So it turns out my mother knew all along.

Mi Shan frowned: "You mean, we'll deal with him outside?"

Mi Shan pondered for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and came up with a good idea.

She shared this idea with Xie Ling.

“Using his longing and feelings for your mother? That seems feasible…” Xie Ling pondered.

“There’s no better way,” Mi Shan said. “You also said that Li Shengyuan has only ever been careless once, allowing him to fail to hide on the night of the full moon, and that was because of my mother. Since I can’t do it, my mother certainly can, because she has already proven herself successful once.”

If Li Shengyuan knew that she was still alive

He definitely won't want to leave this place.

He would then be unable to return to his underground palace on the night of the full moon.

Then you can put your plan into action.

Mi Shan finished speaking.

Both of them thought it was feasible.

“However,” Mother had another concern, “in my current state, he might not still fall for me. I look so old, so ugly, and I have so many scars on my face.”

"But you are still you, unique and irreplaceable. If you're worried about that, let's not let him see your face for now."

Mi Shan explained the complete plan.

After the agreement was made.

Prince Rui sought an opportunity to lure Li Shengyuan to this place.

Prince Rui did not ask Xie Ling why he always had so many secrets. He seemed to trust his second brother unconditionally, and this brotherly affection was indeed precious.

On the contrary, Prince Rui was not so willing to obey Li Shengyuan.

The next day.

The emperor, who had originally planned to return to the capital a day later, before the arrival of the new full moon, came to Changbanpo.

He heard a familiar song.

Looking into the distance, a familiar figure could be seen on the hillside.

"Basket!"

Li Shengyuan was struck dumb, as if by lightning, and stood there stunned, determined to climb the slope regardless of the consequences.

Xu Ninghai, who was standing nearby, kept telling him to be careful.

Mi Shan and Xie Ling also tried to persuade him.

But Li Shengyuan seemed to have lost his mind, and went to that house and frantically banged on the door.

An impatient voice came from inside the door:

"Who's making such a racket outside?"

"Lower, it's me, it's me, I. Don't you remember me? You're still alive, please come and see me."

"I am? I don't know who you are. Don't disturb my life. Don't try to force your way in, or I'll die."

“Your Majesty, this is a virtuous and chaste woman, please do not act rashly—” Xu Ninghai said.

"Alright, I won't go in, but I want to see you and confirm if you are the person I'm looking for."

"I don't want to see anyone," Jialuolou said firmly.

Her voice drove Li Shengyuan absolutely crazy.

"When will you finally see me?"

"I don't know, maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, it depends on my mood, maybe never."

Seeing the emperor's attitude, Mi Shan knew that he could not escape.

Whether it's true or false, he's determined to find out.

That night.

The emperor couldn't sleep all night.

They didn't leave; they stayed at the foot of Changban Slope with their men for a whole day.

Mother and A-Qiu were very patient and did not leave the house. They said that if they did not leave, they would rather starve to death inside than come out, and if anyone forced their way in, they would kill themselves by crashing their heads into the ground.

Li Shengyuan was also afraid.

He thought that his beloved woman might still be alive, still singing beautiful songs and dancing gracefully as before, and he couldn't bear to ruin this beautiful moment.

He dispersed everyone.

The decision to return to the capital in triumph was cancelled.

Just like when I first encountered the galo basket, I went to pick flowers and placed them at my doorstep.

Go hunting.

Go and carefully make small gifts.

Throughout the day, many gifts were delivered to her doorstep.

I just want to see her once.

Finally, Jialuolou was moved by her.

"Tomorrow night at 10 PM. See you in the bamboo grove."

Tomorrow night?

But tomorrow night... the day after tomorrow is the night of the full moon!

If it's past midnight, he'll turn into an old man the next day.

At that time, his safety was one issue, but what if he scared Lou'er? Or perhaps she wasn't Lou'er at all, but just looked like her and had the same voice?

Li Shengyuan hesitated, clutching the letter. After a long while, he asked a question:

Are you really a fool?

"This is the last time I'll forgive you. If you don't come, we'll never see each other again in this life. I'll make sure you never find me again."

"Our meeting was a mistake from the start. I shouldn't have saved you, nor should I have gone to that peach grove."

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