The moonlight, like water, bathed the courtyard.

When Liu Heng came out of the study, he saw the moonlight covering the ground like a layer of frost.

He took a deep breath, and the fatigue from a long day's work was swept away by the gentle breeze.

When Liu Heng went to Yanqing Palace, he sat in a palanquin and did not have anyone follow the usual route. Instead, he bypassed the Hall of Supreme Harmony and passed through a quiet garden.

The group marched forward in a grand procession, brightly lit from afar. The number of guards and eunuchs accompanying them was large, yet they remained orderly, with only the sound of footsteps heard along the way.

As Liu Heng passed by a dark palace wall, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a clear song.

"Thinking back now, the jade carvings and red flowers have faded. I casually write on my sheepskin skirt, waiting to tie it when the new geese arrive. I fear that in haste, I will not be able to send it and will miss our promise."

The singer's voice is pure and beautiful, but the lyrics are poignant and melodious. In the quiet night, the singing, along with the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, creates a unique sense of coolness and tranquility.

Just as Liu Heng frowned, the eunuchs and guards at the front immediately picked up their lanterns and looked over.

"Who dares to be so bold as to not move aside in front of His Majesty's carriage!"

Startled by the eunuch's shout, the singing palace maid paused for a moment before Liu Heng saw a flustered figure rush out and kneel in front of the carriage.

“I was so grief-stricken that I did not notice anything amiss. I was shocked to see Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

The palace maid's face was ashen, as if she were filled with sorrow. Her eyes were wide and her brows were furrowed with tears. She wore a saffron-colored palace dress and her figure was delicate and graceful.

In the moonlight, everyone was somewhat moved by her beautiful and extraordinary face, and they all felt a momentary slumber.

Seeing that Liu Heng remained silent for a long time, two clear tears streamed down the palace maid's face.

"Even if Your Majesty does not forgive this servant for offending Your Majesty, rather than end my own life due to unbearable humiliation, I would be willing to die honorably in accordance with Your Majesty's punishment."

After bowing and speaking through sobs, the palace maid remained kneeling before the carriage without rising.

Hearing her words, which seemed to contain a hidden story, Liu Heng's eyes darkened, and he asked her for details.

"I am the daughter of a disgraced official, named Hanyu. I was sent to the inner palace in the thirtieth year of Jianwu. I am currently working in the laundry room. The head of the laundry room, Chen Yuping, is of despicable character and often bullies men and women in secret. He has also noticed my frail appearance and has frequently bullied and tried to harass me. I cannot bear the humiliation and escaped tonight. I would rather end my own life than be controlled by him!"

Han Yu knew that she was exceptionally beautiful, and if she remained trapped in the cold palace, she would inevitably suffer humiliation sooner or later. So she decided to take a big gamble.

As expected, Liu Heng was furious upon hearing Han Yu's words. He had already carried out a thorough purge of the harem, dealing with the eunuchs found to have engaged in misconduct. He hadn't expected that there would still be some who had slipped through the net in the laundry room.

Liu Heng believed that there were more than one person like Chen Yu, as the palace maid had mentioned, in the harem. It seemed that the last purge hadn't been thorough enough, and soon enough, some treacherous individuals had resurfaced.

Since they are still secretly driven by greed and unwilling to give up, then he will launch another crackdown with greater intensity and scope.

Originally intending to go to Yanqing Palace, Liu Heng, considering the many matters that still needed to be arranged, ordered people to temporarily settle Han Yu and returned to Zhengqing Palace.

While Liu Heng was dealing with palace affairs, Han Yu's background and all her movements had already been investigated. Taking the investigation report delivered by the secret guard, Liu Heng looked at the few lines inside, lost in thought, his knuckles unconsciously tapping the table.

"Zhang Hanyu, whose father was the late Minister of Justice Zhang Liang, was executed for treason in the thirtieth year of Jianwu, and his female relatives were taken into the inner palace..."

This palace maid turned out to be a descendant of Zhang Liang, which greatly surprised Liu Heng.

He knew Zhang Liang. This man was born into a military family and rose to prominence through military industry. He was known for his courage and heroism, and had served as General of the Cavalry and General of the Chariots. He also made contributions when Emperor Jianwu ascended the throne.

In the eleventh year of Jianwu (868), he served successively as the governor of Bin, Xia, and Fu prefectures. In the seventeenth year of Jianwu (868), he was promoted to Grand Master of the Palace and Governor of Xiang Prefecture. In the twentieth year of Jianwu (868), he was appointed Governor of Qiong Prefecture. In the twenty-sixth year of Jianwu (868), after the former Minister Hou Junji was executed for plotting a rebellion, Zhang Liang became Minister of Justice and participated in court affairs.

Before being arrested on charges of treason, Zhang Liang enjoyed the trust of Emperor Jianwu and had considerable connections in the court. However, he was always outspoken and offended many people. He once attracted considerable attention for publicly criticizing the deposition of the crown prince.

When Liu Heng was still a boy, Zhang Liang was a powerful minister and one of the few people who did not distance themselves from him because of the power of the deposed crown prince. Instead of looking down on him because he was weak and alone, Zhang Liang took the initiative to befriend him, and Liu Heng liked his generosity.

Zhang Jinshu, the governor of Xiangzhou whom he had recently promoted, was a protégé recommended to him by Zhang Liang. At that time, Zhang Liang had just left the palace and established his own government, and was merely the Duke of Huaiyang. He had neither powerful backers nor capable men under his command. Liu Heng had always been grateful for the support Zhang Liang had given him.

However, the rebellion case in the thirtieth year of Jianwu's reign began too suddenly and ended too quickly. Emperor Jianwu was furious, and no one in the court dared to speak up for him. At that time, Liu Heng was also weak and powerless, and dared not speak up for him. Liu Heng always felt guilty about this.

Liu Heng never believed Zhang Liang's alleged treason, and after ascending the throne, he investigated and found it to be a false accusation. However, after his accession, he was bound by the three-year rule of not changing his father's ways, and also by the dignity of Emperor Jianwu, he could not publicly exonerate Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang was not problematic in matters of principle, but he had one flaw: he was fond of women. After becoming the governor of Xiangzhou, he abandoned his first wife and married a second wife, Li.

Li was beautiful and charming, which pleased him greatly. However, Li was fond of witchcraft, and various fortune tellers and Taoist priests frequently visited her home.

At that time, Xingyang, Zhang Liang’s hometown, was often rumored to be a “strategic location where a king would rise within a few years” because someone discovered a prophecy that “a ruler with the bow and long hair will be born in another capital.” Zhang Liang had also privately discussed these sensitive topics with fortune tellers. After someone secretly found out, they reported it to Emperor Jianwu.

Furthermore, Emperor Jianwu subsequently received news that Zhang Liang had secretly raised three hundred brave men as his adopted sons. Coupled with the influence of the prophecy, Emperor Jianwu was determined to eliminate Zhang Liang as soon as possible.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, ministers in the court who had old grudges against Zhang Liang advised Emperor Jianwu, "Zhang Liang has three hundred adopted sons. What is he planning to do with these people? He is just about to rebel."

Therefore, Emperor Jianwu ordered Zhang Liang's execution on charges of treason and confiscated his property. Since there was indeed no other evidence besides the prophecy and the matter of his adopted son, Emperor Jianwu dared not delay and quickly closed the case.

Considering that he could not exonerate Zhang Liang in the next few years, and that his old friend only had one daughter, Liu Heng wanted to make amends and therefore decided to treat Han Yu well.

The next day, upon hearing that Liu Heng had appointed a palace maid from the laundry room as a fourth-rank female official to manage the imperial library in the Zhaoren Hall, the Empress was both surprised and delighted.

Is the era of Lin's exclusive favor finally coming to an end?

This suddenly rising female official named Hanyu became a hot topic in the harem, overshadowing the news of another round of purges of palace maids and eunuchs.

Lin Yuqiao also soon heard the news. Seeing the worried faces on the faces of Granny Jiang, Qingming, Guyu and others, she couldn't help but feel a little sad.

"What are you all worried about! Don't you have any confidence in me?"

She wasn't under any pressure for the time being. Knowing Liu Heng as she did, the scenario of love at first sight was simply impossible for him. Even she herself had to put in a lot of effort to catch his eye and win his heart.

"But, Your Majesty, I've heard that this female official named Hanyu is indeed exceptionally beautiful!"

Mangxia, who always managed to get insider information, carefully observed her expression and added.

"Am I prettier than you?"

Hearing that she was a great beauty, Lin Yuqiao proudly tossed her hair, causing the hair ornament on her hair to sway slightly, making her even more alluring.

Now that she has given birth, she has a fuller figure and no longer has the naivety of her teenage years. Her eyes and brows are more charming, and her smile is sweet. She is alluring yet youthful. Looking at herself in the mirror, she sometimes falls in love with herself.

Therefore, this stage is precisely when self-confidence is at its peak.

"Your Majesty is indeed stunningly beautiful, unmatched by anyone else. However, the origin of this Cold Jade is indeed suspicious. Your Majesty should be careful."

Granny Fang couldn't help but offer some advice.

She was secretly anxious. Although the Imperial Concubine was very beautiful, His Majesty had seen so many beautiful women over the years that even the most beautiful woman was no longer novel. As the saying goes, "the grass is always greener on the other side," and with another beautiful woman appearing, it was hard to guarantee that His Majesty wouldn't change his mind. For women in the harem, beauty alone was not enough to ensure their safety.

Jiang Mama and Fang Mama shared the same sense of urgency. They thought that the Third Prince was growing up, and it was time for the Consort to conceive another son.

Only a son can be a woman's greatest support.

"You're really boosting the morale of others while diminishing your own!"

Influenced by the attitudes of those around her, Lin Yuqiao couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

After eating a bowl of steamed sweet cheese, she finally calmed down. She was quite at ease with Liu Heng; he had pulled through her year-long pregnancy, so there was no reason for him to suddenly collapse now.

So when Liu Heng went to Yanqing Palace that night, Lin Yuqiao didn't show any reaction and acted as usual.

A few days later, at noon, Liu Heng remembered that he needed to check and verify some information, so he left the Imperial Study and went to the library in Zhaoren Hall.

Seeing a beautiful woman in palace attire standing under the "Tianlu Linlang" plaque at the entrance, Liu Heng suddenly realized. Then he remembered that he had indeed arranged for Han Yu to be here.

The weather was fine and the sunlight streamed in through the window. The beautiful woman in the crimson dress had a stunningly beautiful face and a natural grace. Even when she leaned closer to serve tea, Liu Heng could smell the sweet fragrance emanating from her, which stirred up all sorts of romantic thoughts.

How have you been lately?

Upon seeing Han Yu, Liu Heng was reminded of Zhang Liang and felt a sense of familiarity, so he asked in a gentle tone.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am doing well. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and have no way to repay it."

Stealing a glance at Liu Heng's handsome and gentle face, Han Yu's heart pounded wildly, her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head in response. She had only intended to escape the laundry room, but she hadn't expected His Majesty to be so handsome and young, and her heart was filled with excitement.

With her beauty, she was sure to win His Majesty's heart. Han Yu smiled sweetly, but beneath her sleeves, her ten fingers clenched tightly.

Upon arriving at Zhaoren Palace, she learned about the current state of the harem. Only Consort Lin enjoyed the emperor's favor; the others were all long-serving veterans who had served her since her days as a prince. The harem was short of beauties, a golden opportunity that could allow her to rise to prominence.

Feeling that Han Yu was quite polite, Liu Heng became interested and chatted with her for a few minutes.

Through their conversation, Liu Heng was surprised to find that Han Yu was quite insightful and resonated with him. He couldn't help but marvel at how Han Yu, being from a prestigious family, possessed an innate elegance.

After a brief chat, Liu Heng ordered someone to bring him the book he wanted to read and quietly sat by the window to read. Han Yu and Li Silai also stepped aside and stood silently.

Catching Han Yu's furtive glance at His Majesty, Li Silai's brow furrowed. It seemed the harem was about to undergo a change. He thought to himself, "Han Yu is an exceptionally beautiful lady; she won't be far from gaining favor."

Even as evening approached, seeing that Liu Heng was still engrossed in his book, Han Yu couldn't resist speaking up to make her presence known and urge him to take a break.

Thinking that he could make a good impression in advance and build a positive relationship in the future, Li Silai secretly winked and gestured to Han Yu with his eyes. After attracting Han Yu's attention, his lips moved silently.

"Don't disturb them."

After understanding Li Silai's meaning, Han Yu knew that this was Liu Heng's habit. She smiled gratefully and continued to wait with her head down, no longer thinking of reminding him.

After reading for about half a cup of tea's time, Liu Heng stopped, gestured for Li Silai to take the remaining books he hadn't finished reading with him, and then left.

In the following days, Liu Heng visited Zhaoren Hall several more times.

"Your father is a great general of the court, a blessing to the nation."

When talking about Zhang Liang, Liu Heng looked at Han Yu and said with emotion.

Hanyu was the daughter of Zhang Liang's divorced ex-wife. She was never very close to her father. After Zhang Liang married his second wife, Li, she became even less noticed in the household.

Sensing that Liu Heng spoke highly of his father, Han Yu racked her brains to talk about him, which drew Liu Heng's frequent glances.

"If my father knew how much His Majesty valued him in the afterlife, he would surely rest in peace. If there is an afterlife, he will surely obey His Majesty's wishes and repay His Majesty with his life."

Her eyes were slightly red, and Han Yu bowed her head to Liu Heng in gratitude. Her movements were fluid and graceful. Her palace dress was tightly cinched at the waist, accentuating her slender figure, and her breasts were full, her body as delicate as a willow swaying in the breeze.

He caught that sweet fragrance that made his body feel hot again, and Liu Heng lowered his eyes, ending the conversation about sex.

He glanced at the sky outside and then got up to leave.

Reluctantly watching Liu Heng's departing figure, knowing he was going to the Imperial Concubine's Yanqing Palace, Han Yu bit her lower lip, her eyes unconsciously darkening.

Perhaps she should take the initiative; waiting like this is too agonizing.

Hanyu was neglected by her parents from a young age. In order to have a better life, she tried her best to please her stepmother after she came to live, and naturally learned a set of skills in reading people's expressions. Later, when her father was convicted, she was taken into the inner palace and studied hard to learn all kinds of rules in order to gain the favor of the head maid.

Later, her efforts finally paid off. After Liu Heng ascended the throne, a group of palace maids and eunuchs who had behaved improperly were punished, and others were assigned to various palaces. When the laundry room was short of people, the head maid took her place.

After finally escaping the inner palace, life wasn't as good as she had imagined. Chen Yu, the manager of the laundry room, coveted her beauty and repeatedly used various means to coerce and seduce her, trying to make her submit to him.

However, Han Yu was always ambitious, so how could she possibly be interested in Chen Yu, that old eunuch with little power? In order to find out the route Liu Heng's carriage would take in advance, she would find a place to wait whenever she saw the lights and procession in the distance.

After waiting for half a month, she finally had the opportunity to meet the emperor. Her hard work paid off, and her singing voice attracted Liu Heng's attention.

To seduce Liu Heng, she deliberately applied aphrodisiac perfume to her neck and wrists, a gift from an older woman she had known when she was in the Imperial Household Department. This woman, also a relative of a convicted official, had always been kind to her, and it was she who gave Han Yu confidence and a goal.

"Yu'er, you are so beautiful, you shouldn't suffer here. You must go out when you have the chance. If His Majesty is lucky enough to meet you, you might become a concubine. At that time, I hope you will take care of me."

Her sister-in-law's words still echoed in her ears. Touching the things she had brought from outside the palace as keepsakes, Han Yu thought that since Heaven had not let her wait down and allowed her to be discovered by His Majesty, then what follows would surely grant her her wish.

After hearing that Liu Heng frequently visited Han Yu, the female official, at Zhaoren Hall, Lin Yuqiao was somewhat anxious, but she still tried to find various reasons to comfort herself.

"To be fair, even before Han Yu, the lady-in-waiting, His Majesty often went to Zhaoren Hall to read books."

Lin Yuqiao frowned, not wanting to listen to Jiang Mama and the others' conspiracy theories anymore, and tried her best to defend Liu Heng.

She could control the people in her own palace, but she couldn't ignore the gloating faces of the Empress and the others in the harem. They all seemed to think she was about to become a thing of the past, making her daily greetings a torment.

"Where did this demon come from, trying to steal my meat?!"

Lin Yuqiao was furious, but she knew even more clearly that she needed to remain calm and collected, especially now. If she reacted too strongly to Han Yu, it would only deepen her impression on Liu Heng, and she might even stir up trouble where nothing had happened.

Moreover, Liu Heng still frequently visits her Yanqing Palace, and his nighttime activities are normal; it's not time for her to be nervous yet.

That night on the bed, Lin Yuqiao couldn't help but silently vent her emotions through their passionate lovemaking, fiercely biting Liu Heng's neck and turning over with him with extra effort, wishing she could drain him dry in one go.

Her initiative ignited the desire that had been suppressed by reason. Liu Heng gripped her waist and thrust in and out with wide, forceful movements. His eyes were burning red, and beads of sweat rolled down his face, landing on her fair skin, which was rosy and alluring.

Her fingernails scratched his back, and the slight pain only made him more aroused. It wasn't until they had made love three times that Liu Heng finally rolled off her, satisfied.

Among women, the greatest competitive spirit is towards men, followed by beauty.

Lin Yuqiao, who had been holding back, was also eager to see the female lead in the scandal and wanted to know who was more beautiful.

Before she could even restrain herself, Han Yu came to her door on her own.

One day, while Lin Yuqiao was watching the koi in the pond in the Imperial Garden with Mengmeng, they happened to "coincidentally" meet Hanyu, who was also in the Imperial Garden.