The man did not answer Wu Hanqing's question. His gaze fell on Xu Yuehuai, and a look of doubt flashed in his eyes.
Xu Yuehuai also looked at the man, a strange sense of familiarity rising in her heart.
"Who are you?" The man stepped forward and looked at Xu Yuehuai. "I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
Xu Yuehuai did not recognize the man in front of her at all, and did not know why he felt that the man looked familiar.
She just stared at him blankly, holding her breath.
The man kept moving closer to her, his eyes filled with a hint of dazedness and infatuation.
The atmosphere inside the palace suddenly became eerie. Everyone held their breath, except for the man and Xu Yuehuai, who formed a striking scene in the spacious hall.
Just then, Wu Hanqing, who was sitting on the dragon throne, suddenly stood up and blocked Xu Yuehuai's path. His eyes were cold, and his tone carried an undeniable air of authority, "Wu Hanbai, have you made enough of a scene?"
Seeing how much his elder brother cared about this woman, Wu Hanbai had no choice but to turn away and leave.
His figure appeared somewhat lonely in the dimly lit hall.
Wu Hanqing watched him leave, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He suddenly lost interest and said to Xu Yuehuai indifferently, "You can go down too."
Xu Yuehuai felt relieved. She bowed and turned to leave. However, as she walked back to her small courtyard in the palace, she suddenly heard a series of footsteps behind her.
Her heart tightened, and she secretly gripped the dagger hidden in her sleeve. The footsteps grew closer, and Xu Yuehuai's heart pounded faster and faster.
Just as she was about to draw her dagger, she heard a familiar voice say, "Miss Xiaoyue, it's me."
Xu Yuehuai turned around and saw that his face was covered in black sweat.
He stood in the moonlight, his face pale and gentle, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.
Xu Yuehuai was stunned. She hadn't expected to run into him here, much less that he would take the initiative to come looking for her.
"What do you need me for?" Xu Yuehuai tried to keep her voice calm.
Wu Hanbai was silent for a moment. "I just wanted to see you." He looked into Xu Yuehuai's eyes, as if trying to see into the depths of her soul. "I have never seen a woman as unique as you!"
His voice carried a hint of intoxication and madness, as if he were drawn by some mysterious force.
Xu Yuehuai looked at him, a surge of inexplicable emotions welling up inside her. She didn't know how to face this unexpected man, nor how to deal with this inexplicable feeling.
As night deepened, the palace lights were extinguished. Only moonlight shone in the courtyard, casting a mysterious silver hue over everything.
Wu Hanbai and Xu Yuehuai stood facing each other, so close that they could almost feel each other's breath.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xu Yuehuai finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been bothering her. "We've never met before, so why do you think I look familiar?"
Wu Hanbai looked at her, a hint of pain and helplessness flashing in his eyes. "I don't know either. It's just that from the first moment I saw you, I felt like we had met somewhere before."
His words made Xu Yuehuai's heart tremble.
She couldn't explain why she had this feeling, but she felt that this man seemed to have some kind of mysterious connection with her.
This feeling both frightened and intrigued her. The two stood quietly in the moonlight, their emotions complex and subtle.
In this unfamiliar palace, they seemed to find some kind of resonance and connection, yet they didn't know how to face and interpret this emotion.
Wu Hanbai looked at Xu Yuehuai, his eyes instantly becoming deep, as if a thousand words were surging in his heart, but they turned into a silent gaze.
Xu Yuehuai felt a slight ripple in her heart as she sensed Wu Hanbai's gaze. She coughed lightly, somewhat awkwardly, and asked, "Is there anything else you wanted to see me about?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Hanbai's face flashed with surprise, as if he had been awakened from deep thought. He pursed his lips, hesitating to speak.
Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai understood. She said calmly, "I'm a little tired and want to go back to the courtyard to rest. If you have something to say, I'll come back to talk to you after I've rested."
After speaking, she nodded slightly, as if to say goodbye.
Wu Hanbai nodded blankly, a hint of barely perceptible disappointment in his eyes. "You..." Wu Hanbai finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "Can I still come to you?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuehuai's heart skipped a beat. She turned around and stared intently at Wu Hanbai, her gaze filled with a complex emotion.
"If you are not afraid of the Emperor's wrath, you may come to me at any time." Xu Yuehuai's tone was calm, but it carried a hint of determination.
She knew very well that it was a serious taboo for a palace maid to meet with an official in private, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Upon hearing this, Wu Hanbai's lips suddenly curled into a smile. That smile carried a hint of bitterness, a touch of helplessness, and a dash of determination.
He took a deep breath and said, "I will."
After saying this, he turned and left, his figure appearing somewhat lonely in the dim palace lanterns.
Xu Yuehuai watched Wu Hanbai's back disappear from sight, her heart filled with mixed feelings.
She sighed softly and turned to walk towards her small courtyard. As night fell, the lanterns along the palace path were gradually lit, casting a long shadow of her.
Upon entering the courtyard, Xu Yuehuai discovered several bodyguards already hidden in the shadows inside the house. They were dressed in black, their faces concealed by black cloths, revealing only a pair of piercing eyes.
Upon seeing Xu Yuehuai's return, they kept a close eye on her every move.
Xu Yuehuai understood immediately and went inside to rest without making a sound. She lay on the soft bed, her mind filled with thoughts.
Today's encounter with Wu Hanbai left her feeling confused, unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse.
As a palace maid controlled by Wu Hanqing, her fate was already closely linked to the palace, leaving no room for negligence.
In the stillness of the night, a gentle breeze blew through the window, carrying a slight chill. Xu Yuehuai tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She knew in her heart that in this deep palace, every slight movement could trigger a huge uproar.
Her delicate relationship with Wu Hanbai is even more precarious, requiring careful investigation before a decision can be made.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Xu Yuehuai's face. She slowly opened her eyes, took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and left the room.
The guards in the courtyard remained on duty, their eyes sharp, constantly alert to any movement around them.
Xu Yuehuai understood that these guards were specially arranged by the Emperor to keep an eye on her. In this deep palace, trust and betrayal were often separated by only a fine line. She had to remain vigilant at all times to survive in this treacherous court.
In the days that followed, Xu Yuehuai remained unable to shake off her inner doubts and fears. She didn't know if she could continue to deceive Wu Hanqing, nor did she know what her future held.
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