Ever since Empress Dowager Feng and the Imperial Uncle returned from Mingyang Mountain, Leng Yue had a feeling that something was about to happen, and her eyelids kept twitching.

During the daytime court session, Leng Yue casually observed everyone, finding nothing different from usual. Empress Dowager Feng remained seated behind the beaded curtain, seemingly willful, yet subtly exuding a sense of absolute certainty.

Leng Yue had no idea what she had overlooked.

Even at night, Leng Yue didn't dare to truly fall asleep. If before she could dream without a care in the world because she trusted Zhan Wudi, now she was paranoid. The inability to see through him made Leng Yue even more terrified.

Fortunately, practicing the Daoist Heart Sutra allows for breath regulation. Although Leng Yue can't openly sit cross-legged in meditation, practicing while lying down still has some effect. In any case, staying conscious is still achievable.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you can still sleep? What a little fool!" A familiar voice rang out, and Leng Yue looked over and, sure enough, saw the man in black from before.

Leng Yue used her left hand to prop herself up and looked at the men in black. "Why are you here again? Aren't you afraid they'll beat you to death?"

"You little brat, you really have a way with words!" The man in black choked for a moment. "With your character, it's a miracle you're still alive, isn't it?"

Leng Yue couldn't help but roll her eyes. "What exactly are you here for?"

"I heard you were injured, so I came to see you." The man in black didn't stand on ceremony and plopped down on the edge of the bed. "How are you? Aren't you touched?"

"Get out of my way," Leng Yue said, pushing the man in black away with her left hand.

The man in black remained unmoved, grabbing Leng Yue's hand. "You really are easily hurt? Seriously, you're really unpopular! People everywhere want to kill you. Tsk tsk tsk, what a pitiful little thing!"

"So you're here to laugh at me too?" Leng Yue's face darkened. "Please, just turn right when you leave, okay? Goodbye, no, goodbye forever!"

Leng Yue expressed her unwelcomeness to the man in black without hesitation, but the man in black just smiled.

"You little rascal, you're really wicked. Turn right when you go out, isn't that where Zhan Wudi is on guard? You really want me to be caught by him?" the man in black mocked.

Leng Yue replied indifferently, "Don't mention him to me! You're the same, an uninvited guest, goodbye!"

"Oh, oh, oh, you're already angry? You can even rattle off three idioms in one breath, so you're not like the rumors say, are you?" The man in black stroked his chin and said to himself.

Leng Yue was indeed drawn in, "What rumor?"

"Rumors circulating?" the man in black said, shrugging as he continued to tempt Leng Yue. "What, want to hear it?"

Leng Yue certainly wanted to hear it, but as soon as he uttered that cheeky voice, she instantly changed her mind. "No, I'm going to sleep. Thank you for visiting, you can leave now."

As Leng Yue spoke, she grabbed the blanket and lay down on her side. The man in black grabbed Leng Yue's shoulder, "Look at you, you little brat, you're really not cute. It was just a joke, why take it so seriously?"

"I'm here to ask you about what I asked you last time. Have you thought it through? Are you coming with me?" the man in black said seriously, gripping Leng Yue's shoulders with both hands and looking at her intently.

Leng Yue didn't answer, but instead asked, "Why?"

"I find you interesting," the man in black said casually.

"I'm not going." Leng Yue knew the man in black was lying. Why should she go with someone who wouldn't even tell the truth?

"Why? You're threatening me everywhere you go, why don't you leave with me?" The man in black asked, puzzled, and couldn't help but increase the pressure on his hands.

"Ouch, you're pinching me too hard!" Leng Yue reached out to push him away, her expression turning sour.

The man in black paused, then slowly released his grip. "I'm sorry, I just... I just don't understand."

"What don't you understand?" Leng Yue raised an eyebrow. "To me, this is where I was born and raised, this is where my family is. No matter how bad it is here, it's still my root. And you? I don't know who you are, or what your purpose is. I don't even know what you look like. Why should I go with you?"

“You…you’ll find out eventually…I can’t tell you now,” the man in black said after a moment of silence. “You just need to believe one thing: in this world, only I will not hurt you, because…because…”

"Who's inside?" Zhan Wudi shouted, interrupting Leng Yue and the man in black's conversation.

"Why?" Seeing the man in black stand up, trying to leave, Leng Yue couldn't help but grab him. "Who exactly are you?"

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty? Your humble servant will come in to save you!" At this moment, Zhan Wudi suddenly spoke again and pushed open the door to enter.

The man in black knew he would be in trouble if he didn't leave soon, so he shook off Leng Yue's hand and disappeared in a flash.

No sooner had the man in black left than Zhan Wudi arrived. "Your Majesty, were there any thieves who disturbed Your Majesty's presence just now?"

"Hmm, I don't know what it was. I only saw a dark shadow disappear quickly. Search it thoroughly." Leng Yue said nonchalantly. In the candlelight, the figures on the ground seemed to have turned into monsters.

"Yes," Zhan Wudi said, looking at Leng Yue's expressionless face. He then proceeded with the routine task of directing the guards to search the area.

As a result, the guards found nothing. Zhan Wudi frowned, looked at Leng Yue, and cupped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, there is nothing unusual in your palace. This humble subject will go and check elsewhere."

Leng Yue nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Guard Zhan." After saying that, Leng Yue lay down and prepared to go to bed. Zhan Wudi glanced back at Leng Yue one last time before leaving.

Leng Yue lay on the bed, pondering the black-clad man's words, her confusion deepening. She didn't know who he was, or why he had said such things. Moreover, the black-clad man was truly mysterious; why hadn't Zhan Wudi, who had followed her in, found him? What kind of martial arts did he practice? How could he have escaped so quickly?

The situation remains chaotic. The man in black's words today have only added another mystery to Leng Yue's mind.

Lost in thought, Leng Yue neither cultivated nor slept, and before she knew it, it was time for court. As Xiao Li Zi’s shrill, androgynous male voice rang out, a group of palace maids and eunuchs filed in, and Leng Yue once again entered mascot mode.

In the imperial court, everything was the same old routine. Leng Yue, lacking sleep, grew increasingly drowsy as she listened, nodding frequently like a chick pecking at rice. At first, only a few ministers noticed, including Ye Rufeng and the imperial uncle Zhao Liang. Zhao Liang didn't react much, but Ye Rufeng smiled.

Later, more and more people noticed Leng Yue openly sleeping in the court, and the two sides, who had been arguing heatedly, suddenly fell silent. The court was plunged into an unprecedented silence, with only Leng Yue's soft snoring.

Empress Dowager Feng initially didn't notice Leng Yue's lapse in composure. When she saw the ministers suddenly fall silent, she assumed the Regent and her uncle had done something. It wasn't until she heard snoring coming from the dragon throne that she realized Leng Yue had fallen asleep, attracting everyone's attention.

Empress Dowager Feng's face darkened. "Emperor!"

Leng Yue was jolted awake. "I'm here, Mother, I'm not asleep!" Like a student caught by the teacher in class, she immediately sat up straight, but couldn't help wiping away her drool.

Empress Dowager Feng simply couldn't bear to look at Leng Yue. She rubbed her forehead, deciding to ignore it rather than see it. The Imperial Uncle and the ministers all chose to ignore it, only Ye Rufeng had a smile in his eyes.