Jiangning was hammered by a heavy rain.

Jiangning also saw a massive fire.

Ever since the Purple Green Treasure Ship that docked at the Chu Li Border sailed upstream into Jiangning, this land of prosperity that had enjoyed peace for over 60 years was no longer tranquil.

Overnight, news that Prince Jiangning, Xie Zhisu, had secret communications with Li Kingdom and betrayed the envoys of Chu Country spread through every street and alley. From the elderly to young children, almost everyone knew the cause and effect of the ambush on the Fan Yin Temple mission. The capital newspapers were urgently printed in hundreds of thousands of copies, and Fangyuan Square operated at full capacity. In just over a dozen hours, everyone was informed of the secret relationship between "Jiangning Prince Mansion" and Nalan Xuance.

Going back three hundred years.

Saint Tanluan ventured to the west, building with his own flesh and blood the "peaceful" bridge between Chu Country and Li Kingdom.

From that time on, the enmity between the two countries gradually faded, with exchanges and trade prospering.

But in recent decades,

The Chu Li Border was no longer peaceful.

Jiangning was prosperous, Qian State was fertile, and these two regions were often compared together. Now that the news of Prince Jiangning's collaboration with the State Preceptor of Li Kingdom had been released, the entire Jiangning was in an uproar.

Advice poured in like snowflakes, flooding into the Imperial City.

It was just a pity.

The great formation of Ren Shou Palace was properly erected.

The heavy snowfall could not penetrate it by even a hair's breadth.

...

...

Golden lines in the Book Tower intersected, with the light flickering on and off.

Chu Yin, dressed in black and gold attire, barefoot after removing her shoes, stood in front of a vast bookshelf. The golden light emitted by the Roundness Instrument filled the Book Tower, except for this spot, which remained dim.

There aren't many places where she can let down her disguise and be herself.

One such place is the "Wind Flower Snow Garden" her father built ten years ago.

Another is this Book Tower, with her teacher presiding over it.

Only these two places.

If she were to go elsewhere to meet with a secret visitor, she would have to trouble the Snow Master, using the power of Grotto Heaven to bring the Red Pavilion along.

Chu Yin took off her hairpin, letting her long hair fall loose.

The nobility of Great Chu, who care about status and etiquette, whether male or female, all need to grow their hair out. Chu Yin had wanted to cut her hair short, but as an empress holding imperial authority, since her body, hair, and skin were gifts from her parents, she did not have the right to cut her hair, let alone the freedom to take off her hairpin and let her hair down in public.

After letting down her hair, it almost touched the ground.

She picked up a book from the shelf and quietly began to read, undisturbed on this leisurely day.

The teacher was handling official business at the Green Jade Table. She integrated herself into the Book Tower's shadows, becoming a secluded shadow unnoticed by anyone... Such days are rare, seen perhaps once a year. Chu Yin sometimes envied the "Book Tower Dark Children" who could openly become shadows.

The teacher doesn't allow her to have contact with the outside world.

Otherwise, Chu Yin would really like to stop a "Hidden Guard" and ask them what it feels like to be a shadow.

Everyone in the world envies her.

She envies everyone in the world, too.

If possible, Chu Yin doesn't want to be the empress; she wants to leave every inch of land touched by the sun.

Just like now.

Standing in the dark, unnoticed, unasked, unknown.

At least at this moment, she can feel the freedom that belongs to herself.

An hour later.

The official business at the Green Jade Table was completed, and in fact, Chen Jingxuan had already dealt with these trifles half an hour ago… The thoughts that Chu Yin kept deep in her heart, Chen Jingxuan has actually seen all along.

It's just a pity.

Some people in this world just don't have a choice.

The only thing Chen Jingxuan could do was to let Chu Yin rest for a while longer in the Book Tower.

"Snap."

The hanging bamboo slips fell one by one, and Chen Jingxuan raised his tea cup, slowly taking a sip.

On the other side.

Chu Yin, who had been standing in the shadows of the bookshelf, consciously put down the book. She stepped out of the shadows, tidied her long hair, and with her clothes and cap in order, her demeanor was calm and dignified.

"Your Majesty."

Chen Jingxuan took the initiative to speak, saying softly, "The situation in Jiangning has been smoother than expected. Although there is currently no movement in Ren Shou Palace, she must eventually give the people an explanation after some time."

Chu Yin nodded her head.

She spoke slowly, "I have heard. The campaign in Jiangning went very smoothly... Most importantly, Xie Zhisu did not retaliate."

Upon Chen Jingxuan's request,

Even when they were alone, she had to learn to refer to herself as "I" in a regal manner.

She is different from everyone else.

She was born to sit on the throne, to carry the weight of ten thousand catties, and she cannot afford to be negligent in any matter.

"Xie Zhisu has always been good at enduring,"

Chen Jingxuan said with a smile, "If he could endure the pain of the Great Yue Kingdom's loss of their prince recently, then he can naturally endure this bad reputation. He is a smart man, and he knows very well that the collusion with Nalan Xuance is true. No matter how he explains it, it cannot be reversed. To step forward now, any counterattack would just compound his errors."

In recent days, the Holy Lands and Great Families that had good relations with the Jiangning Prince Mansion have one after another severed ties with him.

But...

That is just the surface.

Everyone is watching the attitude of Ren Shou Palace.

If Ren Shou Palace raises the issue high and then lets it go lightly, then who would dare not to give Prince Jiangning face?

"What a pity. In this Great Chu, how can there be only one Xie Zhisu?"

Chu Yin lowered her eyes, with a hint of self-deprecation.

She saw clearly that the fire ignited in Jiangning seemed turbulent but actually was pale. Although the collusion between Xie Zhisu and Nalan Xuance to betray the envoys of Chu Country was heatedly discussed across the Four Realms... The Great Families sitting behind the scenes were just "watching with cold eyes." This mission was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

Before the mission entered Li, there was a sensational assassination by the Imperial City Department that has not yet been settled.

Imperial City Chief, Yuan Jimo, has not been seen for several days now.

The real blaze always burns in silence.

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