For some reason, Xiao Chensheng, who had a smiling face during the day, seemed like a different person now. His expression was indifferent, his eyes were dim, and white smoke drifted lightly from his mouth, not filling the entire room, but enveloping his entire body.

The Imperial Guards who rushed in saw him in the room and a look of surprise flashed across their faces.

It seems they didn't expect the perpetrator to be someone other than Xiao Chensheng.

Xiao Chensheng looked indifferently at the person who had barged into the room. The leading Imperial Guard reacted and bowed respectfully to explain, "Please forgive us, Valley Master. Someone just reported that a thief had broken into the Princess's residence. In order to protect the Valley Master's safety, we had no choice but to search carefully. We really had no intention of offending you."

Xiao Chensheng lowered his gaze and ignored his words.

The leader frowned. During the day, his smiling face was unsettling, but now he was acting like a stranger. What was going on?

Since they were the ones who had treated the princess's injuries, they didn't dare to make things too difficult for her. With a wave of their hands, the people who had barged in were all sent flying out.

Although they had retreated, the Imperial Guards remained outside the side room just in case.

Someone did break into the Princess's residence, but the Imperial Guards searched for a long time without finding anyone. The secret agents did manage to track down the person, but the opponent's martial arts skills were clearly superior to theirs.

After making a commotion in secret for about half an hour, they still couldn't find anyone, so they had no choice but to send someone into the palace to inform Emperor Yuanhe.

It was already late at night, and the Imperial Guards stationed at the Princess's residence could only strengthen their defenses.

After an unknown amount of time, even the stars in the sky were obscured by clouds, when a rustling sound cautiously emerged from a corner of the Princess's residence.

Avoiding the spies in the mansion, he leaped onto the roof, removed the tiles, and jumped down, entering Xiao Chensheng's room.

The room was filled with mist, and a faint fragrance wafted into the air.

In the darkness, the figure arrived at Xiao Chensheng's bedside and suddenly knelt down with a thud: "Senior Brother..."

It turns out to be Qiu Nanyan.

A sliver of light appeared at the end of the slender pipe, and the light moved in the darkness, eventually illuminating the candlestick beside the bed.

In an instant, the room was illuminated by this candlelight.

Qiu Nanyan, who was kneeling in front of the bed, was missing an arm. The severed arm had been bandaged, and there was no blood under the bandage, proving that she had treated the wound herself.

Her made-up face showed no sign of her current disheveled state.

Upon seeing her, Xiao Chensheng finally revealed a wicked smile, brushing aside the dark hair that had fallen beside his ear: "You've come at the perfect time."

Qiu Nanyan was injured by Yu Nanqing. Unable to seek revenge on Yu Nanqing herself, she will definitely come to him.

So he doesn't have to do anything, he just has to wait patiently.

"Senior brother! You must avenge me! It was Princess Gong... it was Princess Gong who harmed me like this!" Qiu Nanyan said through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with tears.

"Hmm?" Xiao Chensheng chuckled. "Wasn't it Prince Gong who injured you?"

"It was...it was Su Wanyan who made him do it! If it weren't for Su Wanyan..." Qiu Nanyan clenched her fists. If it weren't for Su Wanyan, how could Yu Nanqing have been so cruel to her?

"I heard that you call yourself the acting Valley Master. I have no idea that there is such a thing as an acting Valley Master in Hundred Nether Valley."

Qiu Nanyan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly explained, "That...that's because you weren't here, Senior Brother, and the disciples in the valley were leaderless, so I stepped forward..."

"It doesn't matter." Xiao Chensheng said calmly, taking a light puff of his pipe, then suddenly smiled and said, "I just happen to be missing a heart."

His heart, which had been injured by Yu Nanqing's internal force, was in excruciating pain.

That's why I said her arrival was just in time.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Nanyan's face darkened instantly. She looked up and met his sinister eyes. A chill ran down her spine, and before her mind could react, her body reacted first.

He leaped backward, putting distance between himself and Xiao Chensheng.

With a loud bang, she burst through the door of the room and fled straight out.

However, outside, Xiao Chensheng was already standing in the front yard, his tall figure looking particularly strange in the dark night, watching her with a fixed smile.

In that instant, Qiu Nanyan felt her legs go weak and cold sweat flow from her forehead to her chin.

In reality, Qiu Nanyan never left the edge of the bed. She remained kneeling on the ground, her eyes already lifeless and empty.

Even her conversations with Xiao Chensheng and the act of lighting the candles were illusions created by Xiao Chensheng for her.

Xiao Chensheng leaned against the headboard listlessly, exhaling smoke from his mouth, seemingly in no hurry to deal with the situation.

The next day, early in the morning.

The sun shines brightly under a clear blue sky.

When Su Wanyan woke up, she saw Yu Nanqing sleeping beside her, gently holding her hand. His long eyes were slightly closed, and his sleeping face was peaceful and defenseless, so beautiful that even the morning sun shining in could not compare.

Su Wanyan admired the scene for a while with a smile, then reached out and shook him awake: "Get up! The sun's high in the sky! Time to go to court!"

"..." Yu Nanqing's brows twitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes the next second.

He wasn't a heavy sleeper, but he could sleep very soundly whenever he was next to Su Wanyan.

Today it was even worse; he didn't even notice that Su Wanyan had woken up.

Opening his eyes, he was greeted by a beautiful sight. Su Wanyan's clear eyes seemed to contain the sun, moon, and stars, shining brightly against the sunlight streaming through the window, making her appear especially dazzling in Yu Nanqing's eyes.

"What are you looking at? Don't you know your wife is beautiful?" Su Wanyan teased him, amused by his dazed expression.

She reached out to wipe the corner of his eye: "There's poop in your eye, let me wipe it off for you."

"..." Eye poop...

Yu Nanqing quickly turned over and covered his face, his ears already turning slightly red. Couldn't Yan'er... give him some face...?

"Why are you shy? It's not much, just a little bit." Su Wanyan reached out to pull him away: "Let me see if there's any more."

"..." Yu Nanqing hurriedly got up, her face flushed, and got out of bed: "I...I'll go get some water."

"...You don't need to do it, the autumn leaves and yellow leaves are definitely ready."

Yu Nanqing seemed not to hear him and walked straight out as if fleeing.

After washing up and having breakfast together, Yu Nanqing obediently went to court. Looking at the sky, the time to arrive at the palace was just right.

After Yu Nanqing left, Su Wanyan stretched lazily in the courtyard, first checking on the vegetable garden and herb garden, then feeding the fish in the stream and watering the beautifully trimmed flowers.

Only then did Xiaobu bring over the list of people Yu Nanqing wanted to win over.

The list collected by Yu Nanqing records various information about the officials, such as how many wives and concubines they have, how many children they have, what they like, what talents they possess, and which aristocratic families they associate with. Everyone's status and position in the capital are clearly written down.

It was so meticulous that Su Wanyan was speechless.

In this way, she wouldn't have to spend any more time investigating.

Just then, Wang Zhang suddenly came to report: "Your Majesty."