However, she knew she had to persevere and fight for survival.

Day after day, Xu Yuehuai lived a mundane life in the palace. She kept a close eye on Bei Ye's news, but never received any word from him.

Meanwhile, the presence of the bodyguards grew stronger, and they kept a close watch on her every move.

In the quiet depths of the palace, a palace maid hurried along the long corridor, the sound of her rapid footsteps echoing on the stone bricks beneath her feet. Her destination was the courtyard where Xu Yuehuai lived.

A gentle breeze stirred the curtains, bringing a touch of coolness. Xu Yuehuai was pruning the flowers and plants in the yard.

Suddenly, a palace maid rushed in, flustered. "Sister Yue!" the maid called out breathlessly, "Come here quickly!!"

Xu Yuehuai was startled upon hearing this, and almost dropped the scissors in her hand.

"What happened?" she asked anxiously.

The palace maid shook her head: "I don't know the specific reason either, I just heard that the emperor was furious."

"Miss Xiaoyue, please come with me to the palace quickly," the palace maid said breathlessly, her expression showing a hint of anxiety.

Xu Yuehuai was in a state of utter confusion, not knowing what to do. She knew all too well that the Emperor's temper was unpredictable and capricious; what if he took his anger out on her...? The thought sent a chill down her spine.

A hint of doubt flashed across her brow. "But the king did not summon me." Her voice was gentle, yet tinged with confusion.

The palace maid took a deep breath, seemingly sighing inwardly, "The king won't listen to anyone these days. He... he's taken a liking to you lately and will definitely want to see you. Please come with me quickly."

Her tone carried a hint of helplessness, as if this was something she herself did not wish to do. A ripple stirred within Xu Yuehuai's heart. She understood the palace maid's intentions and knew the temperament of King Wuhanqing.

After hesitating for a moment, she sighed softly, "Alright, I'll go with you."

Outside the palace, sunlight slanted in, casting golden rays that shimmered brilliantly on the jade steps. Palace servants stood solemnly on either side, their robes fluttering, creating a scene of still beauty.

When they saw Xu Yuehuai approaching, they all wore relieved smiles, as if they had seen a savior in her.

A sense of foreboding swept through Xu Yuehuai's heart as she stepped onto the stairs, each step feeling exceptionally heavy.

The air inside the palace seemed oppressive, a stark contrast to the tranquility outside.

As soon as he stepped into the palace, a teacup flew at him, accompanied by an angry shout: "Don't come in!"

Xu Yuehuai dodged to the side, and the teacup shattered on the ground, shards flying everywhere. Her hand trembled slightly, and the premonition in her heart grew stronger.

King Wuhanqing sat on his throne, his face gloomy. He glared at Xu Yuehuai, his eyes filled with anger.

"Why are you here?" he asked coldly.

Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil. "I rushed here immediately after hearing the news."

Her voice was steady, with a hint of humility in it.

King Wuhanqing snorted coldly, "Don't think I can do whatever I want to you. If you dare to trespass again, I will not let you off easily." His voice was stern, clearly still angry.

Xu Yuehuai silently lowered her head, "I know I was wrong." Her heart was filled with mixed feelings; she had clearly been pushed into this situation to take the blame!

The air inside the palace seemed to freeze; no one dared to utter a sound.

Xu Yuehuai stood still, pondering her next move.

She was aware of her situation and knew King Wuhanqing's temperament.

Everything had to be done with extreme caution in this palace. Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and the atmosphere in the palace seemed to ease somewhat.

Xu Yuehuai raised her head and looked at King Wu Hanqing, having already made up her mind. Standing in the main hall, Xu Yuehuai felt a tightness in her heart as she sensed the anger emanating from Wu Hanqing.

She asked, "Your Majesty, what has happened? Why are you so furious?"

Wu Hanqing acted as if he hadn't heard her words, and stepped down from the throne, approaching her step by step.

His face was ashen, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent. Xu Yuehuai involuntarily took a few steps back, but Wu Hanqing quickly grabbed her shoulders, pinning her to the spot.

"I'm asking you, what is your view of the Great Zhou Kingdom?" Wu Hanqing's tone was icy, and the force in his hand grew heavier.

Xu Yuehuai was startled. She didn't know why Wu Hanqing would suddenly ask such a question, but she had to answer carefully.

She is currently disguised as a woman from the Underworld Moon Kingdom, and she cannot afford to give herself away.

“I…” Xu Yuehua hesitated for a moment, then said, “I think the Great Zhou Kingdom is far inferior to the Mingyue Kingdom.”

"Where exactly is the deficiency?" Wu Hanqing stared intently at her, as if trying to see through her heart.

Xu Yuehuai took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She looked up at Wu Hanqing and smiled slightly: "The people of the Great Zhou Kingdom are all all show and no substance. They look impressive, but they're actually useless. But the people of our Mingyue Kingdom are all heroes, with strength and a sense of responsibility."

Wu Hanqing remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering her words. Xu Yuehuai nervously swallowed, unsure if her answer was appropriate.

Suddenly, Wu Hanqing burst into loud laughter. His laughter echoed throughout the entire hall, sending chills down everyone's spine.

Xu Yuehuai was stunned; she didn't understand why Wu Hanqing had suddenly become so cheerful.

"Good, well said!" Wu Hanqing patted Xu Yuehuai's face with a smile. "I love hearing people praise our great nation. But you must remember, those people from small countries are nothing but ants in the eyes of our great nation."

Xu Yuehuai seemed to be frightened by his laughter and words, and was speechless for a moment.

Seeing her expression, Wu Hanqing laughed even harder.

He released his grip on Xu Yuehuai's hand and turned back to his throne.

Xu Yuehuai stood there, her heart still pounding. She couldn't understand what Wu Hanqing was thinking. Did he want to go to war with the people of the Great Zhou Kingdom again?

She could only stand silently to the side, waiting to see how things would unfold.

The atmosphere in the main hall became eerie and tense. Wu Hanqing sat on the throne, head bowed in deep thought.

Xu Yuehuai felt as if she were frozen, unable to move. Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

After a long while, Wu Hanqing suddenly raised his head and looked at Xu Yuehuai: "You are very good. I admire you. But you must remember that this is not the back alley outside. You must learn to adapt to the rules and customs here. If I find out that you have any wicked thoughts in the future, I will chop you up and feed you to the wild beasts in the back mountain."

Xu Yuehuai's heart skipped a beat; she understood what Wu Hanqing meant. She nodded: "Yes, I will remember."

Wu Hanqing nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. You may leave."