Li Hua sat in the carriage the whole way, looking expressionless, but her hand on her knee kept tapping around without stopping for a moment.

His eyes held a deep, swirling abyss. Zhongli Zhengzhen knew everything so quickly, yet he didn't expose him, which surprised Li Hua.

However, Li Hua naturally understood what Zhongli Zheng was really planning.

But if he doesn't step in to help him now, Li Hua really can't think of a better way to hold off the Regent.

Back at the princess's residence, Li Hua got off the carriage, and Sweetie, who came forward to help him, immediately sensed that something was wrong with his mood.

Sweetie has been by Li Hua's side for a long time and knows that Li Hua is in a very bad mood right now.

Therefore, Sweetie speaks softly and always mentions the princess.

Sure enough, after only a few words, Li Hua's expression softened considerably.

Then, when he returned to his room and was about to summon Sanjiu to prepare some things, suddenly his vision blurred and Sanjiu drew his knife. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the person who had come was someone from Princess Duanrong's side.

The man knelt directly in front of Li Hua, having been waiting for him for a long time.

He presented a letter with both hands and said to Li Hua, "Princess, please have me personally deliver this letter to your husband."

Li Hua took the letter, and the person then flashed out of the window and disappeared quickly.

Li Hua glanced at San Jiu, and San Jiu turned and went out as well.

But when he reached the door, his expression was a little stifled. He had been by his master's side for so long, and his master had no secrets that he could keep from him.

Since Princess Duanrong came into the picture... well, they're a married couple, Sanjiu is speechless.

He really can't stand this kind of jealousy.

Li Hua took the letter, sat down at the table, and solemnly opened it, assuming that Gan Qiongying had something in the palace that needed his attention, which was why she was in such a hurry to send him a letter.

Before Li Hua opened it, he was thinking that no matter what it was, he would do his best to get it done.

But after reading a few lines, his expression gradually changed, and he read until the very end.

Li Hua's face looked the same as before, but his ears had quietly turned red.

He watched it several times in a row, and his ears became redder and redder, and this redness spread from his ears all the way to his neck and into his collar.

By the time Li Hua had read it for the fifth time, even the fingers holding the letter were covered in a layer of powder.

Not a single word in this letter mentions Gan Qiongying's situation in the palace; instead, it is entirely filled with longing for him.

Li Hua read the letter ten times from beginning to end, wishing she could engrave every word on it in her heart and relive it again and again with each heartbeat.

He carefully put the letter away, pressed it against his chest, and his whole body was still burning hot.

How could he not miss her?

Li Hua wished he could grow wings and fly into the palace to be by her side.

However, the more Li Hua sensed that Gan Qiongying never mentioned anything about palace affairs, the more she felt that it was difficult for her to manage things in the palace.

Li Hua did not choose to reply to Gan Qiongying. Firstly, he had no way to send the letter into the palace. Secondly, Gan Qiongying did not have the person she sent wait for him to retrieve his reply, which clearly meant that she did not need his reply, or rather... it was inconvenient for her to receive his reply.

But when Li Hua returned to the Princess's residence from Phoenix Tower, her initial hesitation was completely spurred into a firm resolve by this letter.

Unable to enter the palace to assist Gan Qiongying, he would definitely try to hold off the Regent outside, no matter what method he used.

Li Hua summoned San Jiu back, and then called Tian Jiao in as well. The three of them discussed things in the room for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Then Sanjiu and Tianjiao split up and quickly left the princess's residence to run errands.

Li Hua then began to collect some useless account books, preparing to use them to deal with Zhongli Zhengzhen.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Hua transported out some account books in a rather elaborate manner using a horse-drawn carriage.

Finally, he arranged to meet Zhongli Zhengzhen at Phoenix Tower and asked her to wait for him.

He said he would take some last important things, and then he would leave as instructed.

Zhongli was waiting at Phoenix Tower before nightfall, but Li Hua finally arrived only after it was completely dark and rain had started to fall.

He was wearing a black robe tonight, with animal patterns subtly visible as he moved.

The door to the private room opened, and Zhongli looked towards the door. Li Hua was wearing a cloak and a mask, completely covering his face.

Zhongli Zhengzhen had no doubts whatsoever, and was even slightly relieved, understanding that Li Hua was preparing to leave, which was why she was dressed so discreetly.

Li Hua walked in through the door and stood next to Zhong Li Zhengzhen. A strong sandalwood scent wafted towards them.

Zhongli Zhengzhen was caught off guard and took a sniff, then asked Li Hua with a smile, "Why is the fragrance so strong? Did you go to pray to Buddha before you came, brother?"

Li Hua stood opposite Zhong Li Zhengzhen, without removing her cloak or mask. She remained silent for a while, then looked at Zhong Li Zhengzhen and took three breaths.

Only then did he speak, saying, "This doesn't smell like fragrance; it's a hallucinogenic drug."

"If used in small amounts, it will not cause any harm to the body, and may even be beneficial."

Li Hua’s voice was very soft, but there was a hint of cruelty in her tone: “It is obtained by feeding a kind of poisonous insect with sandalwood for many years. It smells the same as ordinary sandalwood, but if you smell it too much and do not take the antidote, you will lose your mind and lose your ability to resist in a short period of time.”

Upon hearing this, Zhongli Zhengzhen's expression froze, and he immediately held his breath, but it was too late.

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly felt that Li Hua's figure in front of him was actually distorted!

He opened his mouth to call for help, but Li Hua grabbed his chin.

Zhongli Zhengzhen had never known that Li Hua had such strength. He was forced to open his mouth, and something was thrown into his mouth. Li Hua's finger ground against his throat, and Zhongli Zhengzhen swallowed subconsciously.

Then his whole body went numb, and he slumped uncontrollably in the chair, unable to move anything except his eyeballs.

Only then did Li Hua release Zhongli Zhengzhen, slowly raising her jade-like and bamboo-like fingers to untie the ties binding her skin.

Li Hua grabbed the cloak with both hands and lifted it from the top of her head.

His hairstyle was actually the Jinchuan style, with many fine braids on his head, adorned with numerous gemstones.

His gold and jade hair ornament was extravagant and luxurious, completely unlike his usual style.

When the cloak he was wearing finally touched the ground, Zhongli took a deep breath, but that was all he could do at that moment.

His eyes were fixed on Li Hua, because Li Hua was wearing a beast-patterned sea map robe that only princes of Jinchuan could wear, exactly the same as what Zhong Li was wearing at the moment.

Li Hua raised her hand, grasped the mask on her face, and slowly removed it.

Zhong Li's eyes widened even more, and his eyeballs became bloodshot.

When the mask fell to the ground, Zhongli struggled violently, but only managed to make the chair make a loud noise in vain.

Aside from panting heavily, all he could do was stare intently at Li Hua, his eyes gradually shifting from anger to terror.

Li Hua slowly bowed, placing his hands on either side of the chair where Zhong Li was sitting.

She asked him, "We are twins, why are you so surprised?"

In Zhongli's wide-open, bloodshot eyes, Li Hua's attire, identical to his own, was reflected.

And—just like him…a strikingly handsome face.