"Thump...thump..."

As dawn broke, the death knell tolled in the capital. People who should have been heading to the early market remained at home, their doors closed, and the streets were eerily quiet.

When the Chu emperor died, the people were not saddened.

Although he was a wise ruler when he ascended the throne, the allure of power led him to impose heavy taxes in his pursuit of immortality and the increasingly chaotic state of public order. His faults far outweighed his merits in the eyes of the people.

What the common people were more eager to know was whether the new emperor's ascension to the throne would bring anything to their impoverished lives.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation at this moment.

"Your Majesty, I have a request."

"Please feel free to speak."

Chu Yanjun, dressed in white with slightly reddened eyes, looked at Lou Mu, who was dressed similarly to him, with an indescribable complexity in his eyes.

He waved his hand: "Lord Lou, there's no need to be so formal. Just be yourself."

"I wish to resign from my post, and I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."

"This..." Chu Yanjun put down the memorial in his hand, "As Lord Lou also knows, everything is in need of rebuilding, and we are in dire need of..."

"Has Your Majesty heard of Mars guarding the heart?" Lou Mu lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes concealing the worry in them. "The actions of the late Emperor have released many demons and monsters. If we do not intervene, the consequences will be unimaginable. Your Majesty is enough for the court. I also want to do my part."

Chu Yanjun stood up, staring silently into Lou Mu's eyes. After a long while, he sighed, "Very well, since you have made up your mind, I will not keep you any longer. But you are dedicating yourself to the Great Chu, so I will keep your current official position. This will also make things easier for you on your journey. What do you think?"

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Lou Mu bowed respectfully.

A voice announced from outside the door: "Your Majesty, Princess Huaining requests an audience."

"My dear minister, you..."

Chu Yanjun had heard about Princess Huaining and Lou Mu, and wondered if Lou Mu should be avoided.

"It's alright." He said lazily, not taking Chu Yanjun's worries to heart at all.

Inside the Prime Minister's residence, Tang Nian sat up, panting heavily, her eyes still showing signs of shock, whether awakened by the sound of the bell or by a nightmare.

As she listened to the chimes of bells coming in from outside the window, all the events of yesterday flooded back into Tang Nian's mind.

She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that everything was finally over.

It seems I was influenced by Lou Mu in my dream; subconsciously, I thought it was the sound of a bell coming from Kunlun Mountain.

It turned out to be the death knell of the Chu Emperor.

It's strange, she has lived at the foot of Kunlun Mountain for so many years, and she has only heard the bell once. What does the bell mean, and why is Lou Mu so afraid?

There was a rustling sound outside. Tang Nian listened carefully and heard the sound of servants sweeping the floor.

It was still dark, but she was no longer sleepy and lay blankly on the bed staring at the beam.

Why would I dream about things from my childhood?

Could it be because of what she said to Lou Mu last night?

She remembers that year very clearly. She had the worst illness she had ever had. When she woke up, she was already in the Xiangliu tribe, with a splitting headache. She couldn't remember anything that had happened outside.

She inexplicably lost her memory of that period of her life.

My mother said that she was brought back by her master, but her master did not say where he picked her up from.

Her master also brought back the bag she had taken. Originally, her father was going to punish her for stealing the forbidden books from the library, but Tang Nian had a high fever after returning, and she would suddenly develop injuries on her body. At her worst, she was vomiting blood continuously.

The father couldn't bear it and kept the matter a secret.

Suddenly one day, her injuries disappeared, her illness was cured, and she lay quietly in bed. If it weren't for the rise and fall of her chest, she would have looked no different from a corpse.

Another week passed before she woke up, but she knew nothing about it, only that she had left behind something very important.

But she couldn't remember what it was.

Her mother also asked her why there was a red mark on her hand that hadn't disappeared for so long.

All she knew was that seeing that mark made her heart clench with pain.

This time, when Tang Nian dreamed of her forgotten memories, she realized just how stupid she had been.

Not to mention taking the fox spirit as a pet, the contract alone is enough to give her a headache.

How can she face Lou Mu now?

The book contained many contracts, all forbidden techniques passed down from ancient times. She looked through it when she grew up, but could never remember what she had done with it.

If what happened in her dream was real, then what she used was a symbiotic contract.

A symbiotic contract means that both parties live and die together. Any injuries sustained by one party will be transferred to the other party simultaneously, and the severity of the injuries will be halved.

Her vomiting blood, high fever, and the sudden appearance of injuries are all evidence.

In other words, Lou Mu was seriously injured after she left Qingqiu.

Wait, did she forget something important?

Tang Nian frowned and thought for a long time but still couldn't come up with a solution.

However, she has more important things to do now.

Let's get out of here while we can!

Tang Nian slapped the bed board, jumped up, and began packing her luggage.

She didn't bring much stuff, and it didn't take her long to pack. When she finished and opened the door, she saw Jing Yao waiting outside.

Jingyao stood straight, her head nodding slightly. Hearing the door open, she turned around and bowed, her eyes still heavy with sleep.

"Jingyao, why are you up so early?"

Tang Nian didn't expect Jing Yao to be there. She chuckled awkwardly and hid her luggage.

"The princess has sent someone to invite Miss to the palace for a chat." Jingyao looked tired, as if she hadn't slept all night.

Upon hearing this, Tang Nian felt a wave of dizziness and glanced at her luggage.

They should have run away last night!

Jingyao blocked the doorway, while Minghuan was still fast asleep somewhere.

She can't leave even if she wants to.

When did you arrive?

"The princess said there's no rush, and the time will be decided by Miss. However, the princess's maid is waiting at the manor."

Tang Nian resigned herself to her fate and had no choice but to call Jing Yao in to do her makeup and get ready.

"Where...where is Lou Mu?"

Tang Nian asked, seemingly casually.

"Senior didn't sleep all night and went to the palace early to arrange the enthronement ceremony. Does Miss have something to discuss with Senior?"

No, no, no.

A smile spread across Tang Nian's eyes and brows, and she couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth.

Jing Yao tilted her head, not quite understanding why Tang Nian was so happy.

Could it be that the two of them really had a fight last night?

But when the senior left, he repeatedly told her to take good care of the young lady.

"Jing Yao".

Tang Nian pursed her lips, looked at the two people in the bronze mirror, and called out softly.

"What's wrong, Miss?" Jingyao leaned closer, looking at Tang Nian in the bronze mirror. "Are you unhappy with your makeup today?"

Tang Nian turned to look at the bronze mirror.

The reflection in the bronze mirror revealed a gentle yet alluring beauty. It was a makeup look she had never tried before, yet it matched her casually thrown-on clothes perfectly.

"No, I just wanted to ask you, did something major happen in Qingqiu more than a thousand years ago? Something related to Lou Mu?"

"Miss, how did you know?!" Jing Yao's mouth gaped slightly; this was a secret of Qingqiu!

"Lou Mu said it." Tang Nian coughed awkwardly twice.

Jing Yao didn't think much of it, and pondered, "Back then, there was a traitor within Qingqiu who wanted to seize the Fox King's throne. The Jing family risked their lives to send our senior away from Qingqiu, but somehow, he came back. He hid it very well, and by the time the elders in the family found out, it was too late."

"Was Lou Mu injured in that major incident?"

“What you said is true, Miss. Senior was captured and tortured by the evil fox. My mother said that when he was rescued, he was barely alive. Everyone thought he was going to die, but he was saved. However, after that, he didn’t want to stay in Qingqiu anymore. It was only because my mother wanted me to go out and gain experience that I found him.”