April has passed, the fiery red peonies have faded, tender yellow and green buds have blossomed, and pink peach blossoms are in full bloom. The four seasons cycle in order, and time flows by in an orderly fashion.

As the weather gradually warms up, pedestrians on the streets are changing into spring and summer dresses and robes.

To welcome this warm and beautiful season, the girls all wore butterfly hairpins, applied fragrant powder, and tied flowing ribbons around their waists, vying for beauty like flowers.

It's the rainy season right now, and street vendors are setting up stalls to sell things like oil-paper umbrellas, sachets, and peach wood swords and pillows for warding off evil and bringing good fortune.

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival, and steamed bun shops and pastry shops have already started preparing glutinous rice, dates, and bamboo leaves for making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).

Inside the Northern Liang imperial palace, the palace maids hung mosquito nets to repel insects and mosquitoes in the sleeping quarters of the various concubines. The incense used was changed from the floral scent commonly used in winter and spring to a fresher and more elegant lotus scent, which is more suitable for summer.

Inside the main hall, Chen Yuan knelt on one knee, reporting something to Baili Yingfeng, who was sitting in the main seat.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Right Wise King has gone to the Northern Frontier and has made contact with the Prince of Jin." Chen Yuan's voice was low, seemingly revealing unease.

"Old man, you're quick on your feet."

"It's quite something that he dared to leave his lair on his own," Baili Yingfeng sneered.

"I'm worried that if the Right Wise King really joins forces with the Prince of Nanyang, he might be difficult to deal with in the future!" Chen Yuan sighed, looking at Baili Yingfeng with concern.

“Although the Prince of Jin has no real power or military authority, he is still a prince. If he joins forces with ministers who have military power and the Right Wise Prince to attack the capital, I’m afraid we won’t be able to withstand it,” Chen Yuan said with great concern.

"Yes, continue to secretly recruit soldiers in the western suburbs."

"Your Majesty, rest assured, the troops in the western suburbs have been well hidden, and I have also ordered people to secretly select a suitable commander."

"Yes, keep a close eye on the developments in Nanyang. Have you arranged people around the Right Wise King?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, everything has been arranged."

Baili Yingfeng nodded. "We're beset by internal and external troubles now, Achen. Wait a little longer. Once I've unified the Central Plains, I'll come to be with you."

"Your Majesty, the matron from Yiqin Palace says she has something to ask of you," a eunuch announced as he entered.

"Yiqin Palace?" Baili Yingfeng looked at the eunuch who had come to announce the arrival with a puzzled expression, seemingly unable to recall who lived in Yiqin Palace.

"Your Majesty, this is Consort Nan's bedchamber," the eunuch replied, bowing his head.

[Nanfei?]

"Let her in." Baili Yingfeng's eyes narrowed slightly.

What is this woman up to now?!

"This old servant greets Your Majesty!" The old woman, whose face was full of wrinkles and whose smile resembled a chrysanthemum, knelt on the ground to pay her respects.

The old woman didn't look up. She only felt a chill as soon as she entered the king's palace, as if a cold air rushed from her feet to her head, making her bones feel tingly and numb.

"What is it?" Baili Yingfeng asked, sipping his tea without looking at the old woman.

“Replying to Your Majesty, this old servant, uh, this old servant,” the old woman stammered.

"Why are you so nervous? The king is asking you a question, just answer truthfully," Chen Yuan interrupted her.

"Yes, yes, this old servant deserves to die. This old servant found this under Consort Nan's pillow while tidying up her palace. This old servant thought that this might be a matter of great importance that could endanger the foundation of the country, so I hurriedly came to report to Your Majesty. Please forgive this old servant's rashness."

The old woman spoke earnestly, still kneeling on the ground, head bowed, presenting something with both hands.

Those rough hands, covered in wrinkles and age spots, trembled slightly.

After listening to her words, Baili Yingfeng gave her a meaningful look.

Chen Yuan was also deeply surprised. How could someone who had spent so much time in the deep palace know what things could threaten the foundation of the nation?

"Bring it here," Baili Yingfeng said calmly, showing interest in what the nanny was saying and what she was holding.

Chen Yuan nodded slightly, walked down the steps, and took the item from the old woman's hand.

It was a dagger about the length of two hands. The dagger looked very exquisite, with intricate and complex patterns engraved on it.

Baili Yingfeng pulled the dagger from its brownish-green scabbard. The dagger gleamed with a chilling light, exuding an aura of coldness.

This dagger is a top-quality item; it's extremely sharp.

He examined the dagger closely. He remembered that when Nanfei came from Hongxiu, he had ordered people to search all the things she brought with her. Among her belongings, there did not seem to be a dagger like this, which would leave a deep impression with just one glance.

This dagger must have been given to her by someone else, but she had never left the palace.

Could it be a minister from the palace?

By the way, Consort Nan once visited Nanyang.

This dagger doesn't look like a product of Northern Liang, nor was it given to her by someone from the Northern Liang royal family.

He looked at the dagger in his hand again, and suddenly he noticed that the tip of the dagger was engraved with the character "cloud".

His head suddenly throbbed, his pupils dilated, and he stared intently at the tip of the dagger, a chill creeping into his heart.

[She has such audacity! She's not even a fraction as good as her sister!]

Seeing that Baili Yingfeng remained silent, only staring intently at the dagger with unfathomable eyes, the kneeling old woman hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, please forgive this old servant for being so talkative. This old servant did not intend to cause trouble, but Consort Nan has hidden this dagger under her pillow, and this old servant is truly worried about Your Majesty's safety!"

"I just came to the main hall to report this. If I have disturbed Your Majesty, this old servant deserves to die. Please spare my life, Your Majesty!" The old woman thought this was a great achievement, but she did not expect the king to react this way. She was very annoyed that she should not have acted so impulsively.

In the palace, silence is the best way to save your life.

"Hmph!" Baili Yingfeng threw the dagger to the ground.

Chen Yuan saw that Baili Yingfeng's expression was very ugly. He picked up the dagger from the ground, looked at it, and said, "Your Majesty, although this dagger is from Consort Nan's palace, there must be a reason for it."

"Yes, to assassinate me."

Baili Yingfeng gripped the teacup on the table tightly, veins bulging on his hands. "In this world, everyone wants my life, so why is it that no one truly cares for me?"

"I feel that Consort Nan does not seem to be that kind of person."

"Not that kind of person? Do you really know her well?!"

"I misspoke, but Consort Nan is kind-hearted and doesn't seem like the kind of person who would assassinate His Majesty," Chen Yuan said boldly.

He could tell that since Consort Nan arrived, although the King ignored her and treated her poorly, he didn't seem as lonely anymore.