Lin Yun stood at the shop entrance, watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade ring on her hairpin.

Sunlight spilled onto the bluestone pavement, casting dappled patterns of light, but it couldn't penetrate her chaotic thoughts.

“Turn it three times counterclockwise…” she murmured softly, her fingers gently moving the jade ring.

With a soft "click," the peony petals on the hairpin slowly unfolded, revealing a delicate hidden compartment in the heart of the flower, inside which lay a lustrous pearl.

Lin Yun was shocked. There was nothing in there before, but now a pearl had appeared.

She designed the mechanism herself, and the blueprints were never circulated. Even the craftsmen she collaborated with only knew part of the details.

How could that person know?

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. The man called himself "Fourth Master Zhao," but his entire demeanor was far from that of an ordinary merchant. Especially the jade pendant with a dragon pattern faintly visible at his waist, and the five-clawed dragon pattern tucked into the collar of his companion's clothes…

These details all point to the least likely identity.

"But historical records say that Yongzheng was already forty-five years old when he ascended the throne. Now it's the third year of Yongzheng's reign, so he should be nearly fifty years old..." Lin Yun frowned as she recalled.

"But that person just now looked to be no more than thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with an upright posture, and showed no signs of old age whatsoever."

She turned back to the counter and gently tapped the three characters "Master Zhao" on the ledger with her fingertips. The ink had long since dried, but it still felt as hot as a branding iron.

Perhaps he was just a member of the royal family? Or perhaps... the historical records are wrong?

Next time he comes to pick up his clothes, I should test him carefully.

---

Meanwhile, in the VIP room of the restaurant, Yongzheng stood with his hands behind his back by the window, his fingertips twirling a white jade thumb ring, his eyes unfathomable.

"Fourth Brother, that Miss Lin is indeed quick-witted." Yinxiang smiled and handed her a cup of tea. "I only glanced at the screen a couple of times before she guessed seven or eight parts of it."

Yongzheng did not respond, but the image that came to mind was of Lin Yun bending down to measure the clothes, with stray hairs falling down her temples.

Her fingertips had inadvertently brushed against his shoulder line; that fleeting touch was as light as a butterfly's wing, yet it made his throat tighten slightly.

What's even more unforgettable are her eyes when she looked up—clear as a pool, yet concealing a sharp edge that was hard to detect, much like the white plum tree standing proudly in the snow in the Imperial Garden.

"Fourth Brother?" Yinxiang couldn't help but call out when he saw him lost in thought.

Yongzheng then came to his senses, took the teacup, and took a sip, but found it tasteless.

He suddenly remembered the cup of tea that Lin Yun had poured—the water was clear and cool, the tea leaves unfurled, and a subtle fragrance seemed to waft from her delicate hand as she gently touched it.

"Her hairpin..." Yongzheng said in a low voice, "is ingeniously designed and even more ingenious."

Yinxiang smiled knowingly: "If Fourth Brother likes her, why not just issue an imperial decree to summon her to the palace? Anyway, she has already guessed your identity."

Yongzheng shook his head, his eyes dark and unfathomable: "If I force her, she will no longer be herself."

He recalled the gleam in Lin Yun's eyes when she talked about business, a radiance that no woman in the deep palace had ever possessed.

She would kneel for her family, but she would never bow to power. Wouldn't it be a pity to confine such a woman in a gilded cage?

But ironically, he developed the idea of ​​taking her under his wing.

Lin Mansion

As night deepened, Lin Yun sat alone on a stone bench in the backyard, gazing at the starry sky in a daze.

She held the pearl in her hand, its coolness seeping into her fingertips.

"Miss, it's late and the dew is heavy. Be careful not to catch a cold," Xiao Tao said softly as she approached, holding a cloak.

Lin Yun adjusted her clothes and suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard of what the current emperor looks like?"

Xiao Tao was taken aback, then lowered her voice and said, "I heard that His Majesty is diligent in his duties, spending most of his time at his desk, and his temples are already gray. However..."

She hesitated for a moment, "Some people say that the Emperor has the bearing of a dragon and the appearance of a phoenix, yet he looks like he is only in his thirties."

Lin Yun's fingertips trembled, and the pearl rolled to the ground.

It really was him. Could it be that I've transmigrated to a fictional Yongzheng era?

The timing doesn't match. Or is it just a coincidence, not the history she knows, but merely a coincidence of names?

Lin Yun found it strange that the other person's age did not match the age of the emperors in her memory.

She clearly remembered that Yongzheng was forty-five years old when he ascended the throne.

The person I saw today, though composed, had a sharp edge in his brows, making him look no more than thirty.

"Could I have misremembered?" she murmured to herself, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade ring on her hairpin.

To verify her doubts, she decided to go to the bookstore and find some history books to read.

The next morning, she instructed Xiao Tao to watch over the shop, while she changed into a simple dress, put on a veil, and quietly went to the most famous bookstore in the city.

The bookseller, seeing her distinguished attire, greeted her warmly: "What kind of book are you looking for, young lady?"

"Are there any books that record the history of this dynasty?" she asked in a low voice.

A hint of surprise flashed in the boss's eyes, but he quickly recovered and took a copy of "Chronicles of the Imperial Dynasty" from the shelf: "This is the latest official history book, which records the major events from the late emperor to the current emperor."

Lin Yun took the book and quickly flipped to the section about Emperor Yongzheng.

The book records the time of ascension to the throne, the reign title, and the decrees, all of which match her memory of history, except for the age discrepancy—the book states that Yongzheng was only thirty-five years old when he ascended the throne, and he is now only thirty-eight, a difference of ten years.

“How is this possible…” She frowned, then pulled out several unofficial histories and notes, only to find that the contents were largely the same.

Seeing her serious expression, the shopkeeper couldn't help but ask, "Does the young lady have any questions about the historical records?"

Lin Yun came to her senses and forced a smile: "I just feel that some of the records are slightly different from what I've heard."

The shopkeeper looked around and lowered his voice, saying, "If you really want to know the secrets, young lady, you might as well take a look at this book."

As he spoke, he took out a handwritten booklet from under the counter, the cover of which read "Unofficial History of the Imperial Court".

Lin Yun took the book, flipped through a few pages, and found that it contained many secrets of the palace. One of them caught her attention: "When His Majesty was young, he met a strange man who taught him the art of immortality. Therefore, his appearance remains unchanged and he does not age with the years."

Her heart suddenly raced. Could it be that the Yongzheng Emperor of this world was different from the history she knew?

After returning to the shop, Lin Yun locked herself in her room and repeatedly read the book "Unofficial History of the Imperial Court".

The book also mentions that before ascending the throne, Emperor Yongzheng disappeared for several months. After returning, his personality changed drastically. He became diligent in governing and loved the people, but his methods were more decisive than before.

"Could he also be a time traveler?" The thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

If he were truly a time traveler, why would he be so surprised by her design drawings? Moreover, his words and actions were completely in line with the demeanor of an ancient emperor.

Just as she was pondering this, the maid Xiao Tao announced from outside the door: "Miss, Master Zhao has sent someone with an invitation, inviting you to a teahouse the day after tomorrow."

Just in time. Lin Yun took the invitation, her fingertips slightly cool. She took a deep breath: When we meet the day after tomorrow, I must find out the truth.