Crows cawed outside the window, and the moonlight slanted down, casting sparse shadows across the window.
After an unknown amount of time, Chu Changning got up and walked into the inner room.
She lay quietly in the hot spring, thinking of the past, and the warmth flowed down her cheeks.
After a long while, she took a deep breath, suppressed her emotions, and got out of the bath.
She came out wearing a thin gauze dress, reclining on the soft couch, gazing absently at the moonlight outside the round window.
After taking a bath, Yan Beimo came out wearing a black robe.
He casually sat down opposite her and lightly tapped the tatami table.
Chu Changning snapped out of her daze and looked at him.
Their eyes met, and he raised an eyebrow and spoke.
"Did they lose their minds from fighting?"
Chu Changning snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.
"What are your plans for the next step, my lord?"
Yan Beimo asked with a smile, "Let them fight, how about I take you back to Li Bei?"
He was testing her.
Chu Changning fiddled with the tea on the table, hummed in agreement, and said nothing.
Now that the Eight Princes are in chaos and the Central Plains are in turmoil, Yan Bei Mo's ambitions are obvious. With the backing of powerful families, how could he possibly return to Li Bei?
"Or what do you want me to do?"
He knelt on one knee, reclining on the chaise longue, a smile on his face. His dark hair was draped behind him, backlit, and his face seemed to be covered with a layer of shimmering light and shadow. A cool breeze blew in from the window, blowing a few strands of hair, adding a touch of unrestrained elegance.
Chu Changning said, "The eight princes of the North have rebelled, and my husband's great cause is about to be accomplished. Why not attack the border directly?"
Yan Beimo suddenly chuckled and stared straight at her.
Chu Changning pursed her lips and lowered her head.
The four powerful clans of Yandu valued their reputation and would not openly attempt to usurp the throne. Moreover, these aristocratic families had always ruled the country together with the emperor.
Yan Bei Mo wants the throne, and someone will inevitably have to be his scapegoat. The rebellion of the Eight Princes is the perfect excuse.
He will not take the initiative to attack the Central Plains, but someone will share his burden.
Which of the Eight Princes are actually from Yanbei Mo?
She thought about it for a moment, lost in thought.
Yan Beimo was annoyed that she was distracted, so he stretched out his leg and shoved her foot.
Chu Changning winced in pain, glared at him, got up, and walked towards the bed.
Before they had taken two steps, he suddenly lifted her into the air and carried her horizontally onto his lap.
The warm lamplight illuminated his clear features, making him look like a gentle and refined nobleman.
"Chu Changning, do you think I'm just driven by lust?"
Seeing his displeased expression, she felt a slight chill in her heart, quickly cleared her throat, leaned against him, and spoke softly.
"I'm just ignorant about warfare. I might have said something wrong, please don't be angry."
Yan Beimo pinched the soft flesh on her side and said coldly, "I think you're incredibly audacious."
Chu Changning felt pain from his rough pinching and pushed him away, muttering something.
"I'm sleepy, I want to go to sleep."
"Sleep what?" He pretended to pry open her eyelids with the hook and said, "Look at the moon."
Chu Changning, "---"
She quickly twisted her waist to avoid him, fearing that he would actually use the hook to pierce her eyes.
Yan Beimo grabbed her waist, preventing her from moving, and threatened her with a serious expression.
Chu Changning buried her face in his chest, avoiding the hook.
Yan Beimo looked down at the lump in his arms, remained silent, and after a moment, casually tossed the hook aside, grabbed the back of her neck, and kissed her.
The Prince of Huainan has been coming to the mansion these past few days, and it's unclear what he's secretly plotting with Yan Beimo. His daughter, Princess Pingyang, is also frequently pestering Yan Beimo.
Chu Changning had witnessed the two traveling together for several days, and to avoid seeing them, she frequently visited the military camp.
Although the thirteen capitals of the Eastern Kingdom were in chaos, the city itself remained prosperous.
She pretended to go to the military camp, but actually secretly slipped away to the Mo Ruo River.
The river was dotted with painted boats. She stood on the dock and looked around for a while before her gaze settled on one of the boats.
"Princess."
Just then, an inconspicuous painted boat swam towards her.
She went up the deck onto the pleasure boat and walked inside.
Xiao Yan closed the boat door and spoke to her respectfully.
"The secret guards went to Kyoto, but they couldn't find the little princess's body."
Chu Changning stood by the window, recalling the rumors, and his expression turned slightly cold.
To keep a death a secret and imprison someone in an ice coffin—is this something a human being would do?
Has Shen Yan gone mad?
She took a deep breath and lowered her head in distress.
"Princess, everything you asked us to arrange has been done."
Chu Changning snapped out of his daze. Just then, the sound of fighting suddenly came from outside, and someone jumped in through the window on the other side.
Xiao Yan immediately drew his knife, but she stopped him.
"Ah Wan, it's been a long time."
Chu Changning turned around, saw who it was, and gestured for Xiao Yan to leave.
"Young Master has great courage."
They actually dared to sneak into Yanbei Mo's territory.
The door closed, and Helian Ye walked towards her with a light laugh, speaking to her.
"Now that things are as you predicted, does our previous plan still hold true?"
Chu Changning glanced at him and slightly curled her lips.
"nature."
The two stood side by side by the window.
He looked down at her, "What are you after?"
"Would it be alright if I asked him to die?"
Chu Changning blurted out coldly, his gaze fixed on the distance not far outside the window.
Helian Ye smiled and followed her gaze, spotting a magnificent pleasure boat.
The painted boat was extremely large, with two-story pavilions, carved beams and painted rafters, and was magnificent and resplendent.
On the terrace of the second-floor pavilion, several officials stood. Inside the boat, long windows on both sides revealed several people sitting, with beautiful maids serving them at a table.
The man in the dark white robe held a wine cup in his hand, with Princess Pingyang sitting beside him, and the man opposite them, his eyes agape with a wide smile, was none other than the Prince of Huainan.
Helian Ye narrowed his eyes slightly; Yan Beimo actually had private dealings with the Prince of Huainan.
He chuckled coldly, leaned against the window, looked at the person beside him, and clicked his tongue.
"With beautiful wives and concubines, life is so carefree."
Chu Changning closed half of the window, raised an eyebrow, and remained silent.
Helian Ye suddenly leaned forward, his intense pressure drawing her closer. She abruptly stepped back and looked at him seriously.
"stand up."
He didn't move, but pinned her against the window, giving her a devilish smile.
"You're lying to me, you're using me."
"---"
Chu Changning was slightly taken aback, then quickly regained his composure. "Young Master, what makes you say that?"
"You never intended to cooperate with me, did you?"
He smiled, tilted his head, glanced at the man on the painted boat not far away, and raised an eyebrow.
"You just want to use me to help you deal with him and leave him."
Chu Changning looked at him calmly, without saying a word.
Helian Ye asked with a smile, "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Since the young master doubts me, then let it be."
As soon as he finished speaking, his icy fingers suddenly pressed against her lips, and his warm breath, like a snake's tongue, coiled around her neck. The soft, almost inaudible sound sent a shiver down her spine.
Chu Changning reached out to push him, but he grabbed her hand.
"You don't need to lie to me, I'll help you."
Um?
Chu Changning was slightly taken aback, but his expression remained indifferent.
Seeing that she remained silent, Helian Ye casually raised his eyes and whispered.
"He seems to be looking at us."
From a nearby pleasure boat, Yan Beimo looked down at the inconspicuous little boat on the river.
The window was half open, and two figures could be vaguely seen.
The man, dressed in a red robe, looked at him with a hint of provocation in his eyes.
He recognized Helian Ye, and a ruthless glint flashed in his gentle eyes as he stared intently at the woman beside him.
"Do you think he recognized you?"
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