After Yang Jin and Ye Rufeng left, they were never heard from again.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and Lengyue is shivering every day. He'er is starting to doubt Lengyue's age.

"Your Majesty, are you still a child? Why are you so afraid of the cold?" He'er complained mercilessly as she fetched a hand warmer for Leng Yue.

"Yes, I am, but I'm a child who's afraid of the cold!" Leng Yue wasn't embarrassed at all.

"When the plum blossoms were in bloom, I asked you to go to the Imperial Garden to admire them, but you wouldn't go, saying you were afraid of the cold and the slippery ground. But now it's already the beginning of spring, why are you still so afraid of the cold?" He'er said as she busied herself placing tea and snacks next to Leng Yue.

"Sigh, daughters really are hard to keep at home once they grow up. He'er, I think you should find someone to marry." Leng Yue was wrapped in a quilt, holding a hand warmer in one hand and eating some snacks in the other. She was extremely content, but she felt that He'er was being a bit nagging.

"Your Majesty, what nonsense are you spouting?" He'er stomped her foot in anger. "I'm ignoring you!"

He'er stormed out, finally giving Leng Yue some peace and quiet. Leng Yue sighed; she didn't want things to be this way, but for some reason, she was becoming increasingly sensitive to the cold. Leng Yue didn't say anything, but she knew there was probably something wrong with her body.

Leng Yue didn't want He'er to know, nor did she want to make a fuss; she just wanted to be willful one last time. Anyway, she was just afraid of the cold, so she could just wear more clothes!

A short while later, He'er returned and said, "Your Majesty, Guard Zhan has arrived."

"Okay, please let him in." Leng Yue put down the pastries in her hand and waited for Zhan Wudi.

Zhan Wudi saw Leng Yue sitting cross-legged on the bed, wrapped in a quilt, holding a hand warmer, and even had a small table on the bed with food and drink. He couldn't help but twitch his lips a few times. This young master really was born to enjoy life.

"Your humble servant greets you..." Zhan Wudi cupped his hands, preparing to perform the salute.

Leng Yue stopped him, "Never mind, He'er, please take a seat."

He'er moved a chair over, and Zhan Wudi sat opposite Leng Yue.

"What is it?" Zhan Wudi hadn't dared to get close to Leng Yue for a long time, so Leng Yue suddenly felt a little uncomfortable with his sudden, open entry.

Zhan Wudi glanced behind him, He'er looked at Leng Yue, and Leng Yue nodded. He'er then led the people out, closing the door behind her.

"Speak," Leng Yue said, pulling the blanket tighter around herself.

Zhan Wudi's eyes flickered slightly, and he lowered his gaze, saying, "Regarding the death of Miss Qingluan, I have finally found some things."

“You say,” Leng Yue said, then unconsciously yawned again.

“These past few days, after investigation, I have discovered that Eunuch Li is a person of Consort Hui, but he is also in a relationship with Cui Jin, who serves Empress Dowager Feng. Lan Xiang is a person of Consort Xiao, and it was Lan Xiang who pushed you into the water before. He'er is a person of Empress Dowager Feng, but now she is more inclined to favor you. The others also have their own masters, but none of them have made any moves.” Zhan Wudi first reported the backgrounds of Leng Yue’s people.

Leng Yue nodded. "Is it related to Qing Luan?"

"There are both, and neither," Zhan Wudi said, unsure how to phrase it. "After my investigation, I discovered that Miss Qingluan's identity is not simple. Miss Qingluan seems to have connections with forces outside the palace, even those of enemy states, yet she has done nothing wrong. I wonder what the situation is?"

“Outside the palace? Could they be descendants of Liu Fei?” Leng Yue replied softly.

Zhan Wudi shook his head, "This humble subject does not know this. What I can confirm from Eunuch Li is that Miss Qingluan was imprisoned by the Empress Dowager before her death. However, because of the power behind Miss Qingluan, no action was taken."

“Then Qingluan is…” Leng Yue hugged the gradually cooling stove and couldn’t help but shiver.

"According to Cui Jin, Qing Luan died suddenly, as if her soul had suddenly left her body. They said... they said Qing Luan's soul was... was taken away by Yama, the King of Hell..." Zhan Wudi still found it unbelievable when he recalled Xiao Li Zi's expression at the time. How could someone be alive and well and suddenly lose their soul?

Leng Yue perked up upon hearing this. "Really? But if there really is a King of Hell, why doesn't he arrest these people who harm others? Why arrest Qingluan? Did they use some kind of poison we've never heard of, and are they just making a fuss here?"

Zhan Wudi shook his head, "It doesn't seem like it to me. At that time, Eunuch Li was already half-drunk and unconscious, and Cui Jin's relationship with him was unusual, so he shouldn't have been hiding anything."

"What if Cui Jin doesn't know either?" Leng Yue asked, perking up.

“No, Cui Jin is Empress Dowager Feng’s confidante. She would know anything about anyone in Empress Dowager Feng’s palace.” Zhan Wudi was extremely certain.

Leng Yue nodded, then tugged at the blanket around her. "Then do you know... why Qingluan was imprisoned?"

“Eunuch Li said… he said that Empress Dowager Feng and Imperial Physician Feng… had an unusual relationship. Miss Qingluan happened to witness it that day, so…” Zhan Wudi found it difficult to speak. The relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Physician… this was a crime of illicit relations within the harem.

"Professor Feng? Aren't they from the same family?" Leng Yue had always thought they were relatives.

Zhan Wudi was speechless. "They are somewhat related, but Director Feng is from a collateral branch of the Feng family, so they can't be considered relatives..."

“Even if we’re not relatives, it won’t work. Empress Dowager Feng is so young, and Chief Physician Feng is so old…” Leng Yue wanted to purse her lips, but she was too cold and her face was stiff, so she had to give up.

"Your Majesty, isn't your focus a bit off?" Zhan Wudi reminded him helplessly. It's not like we're doing matchmaking and betrothal with all the rules about social standing. These two are having an affair, why are there so many other things to consider!

Leng Yue forced a smile, her lips trembling. "Um... please continue. Is there anything else?"

"Empress Dowager Feng and Imperial Physician Feng have been seeing each other more and more frequently lately, as if they are discussing something important!" Zhan Wudi thought for a moment.

"Didn't Little Li say?" Leng Yue put down the now-cold heater and clutched the quilt with both hands.

"This is all I have found out. I doubt Eunuch Li knows anything else." Zhan Wudi had been drinking with Xiao Li and it had taken him quite a bit of effort to find out all this.

"Alright, I understand. Let He'er in." Leng Yue felt like she was about to freeze to death.

Zhan Wudi glanced at Leng Yue again, then went out and called He'er. "What's wrong with Your Majesty?"

He'er looked at Zhan Wudi and said, "He's just afraid of the cold. I'll go and change the heater for His Majesty."

"Isn't this a bit too much? It's not as cold as it used to be." Zhan Wudi spends most of his time outdoors and is most familiar with temperature changes.

He'er shook her head, "This servant doesn't know." After saying that, He'er went inside. She knew how afraid Leng Yue was of the cold lately, so she didn't dare to delay for a moment. Holding the new hand warmer, she ran towards Leng Yue. "Your Majesty, here's a hand warmer for you."

"He'er, you're so adorable, you're my savior." Leng Yue hugged the new hand warmer, tears welling up in her eyes.

Outside the door, Zhan Wudi listened to the conversation between the two and paused slightly.

Zhan Wudi now mostly obeys Yang Jin's orders, but he's unsure whether he should tell Yang Jin about Leng Yue's situation. After all, everyone has their own selfish motives, and he doesn't want Yang Jin to be burdened by unnecessary matters!

In the end, Zhan Wudi shook his head and left, pretending he knew nothing.