Qu Xiao-man pressed her lips, hesitated slightly, and spoke very softly, "I was just preparing medicine for the young lady when the Emperor was attacked—by chance, I happened to witness the very moment of the attack." Yun Rao's expression tightened slightly, but she remained composed, glancing around casually as she walked toward the palace. "Did anyone see you?" Yun Rao asked. Since none of the attendants of Princess Xi Yue had any martial training, even if Qu Xiao-man had witnessed the attack, she wouldn't have been noticed if she hadn't stepped forward. The only concern was that Qu Xiao-man might appear too composed, and if people noticed her calm demeanor, they might begin to suspect her. "I think not," Qu Xiao-man replied softly, her voice uncertain. That day, when the Emperor was attacked, she had just returned with the medicine, hidden beneath the veranda, where the bright spring sunlight was partially shaded by the trees—so it should have gone unnoticed. "That's good then." "Yun Rao felt uneasy as well. She didn't have much time left, and she only hoped to spend her final days in peace. If she could simply see Qu Xiao-man and Cui Xi safely escape this imperial court, she would be content—she didn't want any further upheaval. "Qu Xiao-man furrowed her brows, stepping in, yet couldn't quite pinpoint what was off—she simply felt the female assassin wasn't truly aiming to take the Emperor's life. Such a sudden attack, even leaving the Emperor completely unprepared, should have made it easy to strike directly at his heart. Yet the assassin deliberately veered from that aim from the very beginning." "Perhaps there's indeed some underlying reason," Yun Rao replied, showing little concern about the matter. In fact, she found relief when the Emperor was attacked—having to recover from his injuries, he would be occupied for a long time and have little time to attend to the situation at Yuehua Palace, let alone the wedding preparations. After all, life rarely goes as smoothly as one hopes; the more beautifully one plans, the more things tend to go awry. Two days after the attack, while Yun Rao was idly playing the lute in the palace, the imperial steward, Yu, suddenly came to summon her. The Emperor had summoned her and requested that she go immediately to the Imperial Study to see him. Yun Rao felt a bit uneasy. Though she carried the royal bloodline in her veins, she had never faced the imperial court before. Even when she "married" into the palace, the Emperor had quietly had her floral sedan carried in without any ceremony, bestowing upon her the Moonlight Palace with no formal rites—only verbally naming her a Month Consort, then leaving her there. The title of Month Consort was granted to Yun Ze, the beloved Princess of Xicuo, which clearly showed favor to Yun Ze. Yet, such a hasty and informal appointment, so out of step with protocol, inevitably raised whispers among the palace ladies and court officials, especially the other consorts, who both respected and resented her. They were both cautious and, at times, openly delighted by the Emperor’s apparent neglect. Though she had risen through the ranks of the Underworld Valley, the Valley's rules were not as strict as those in the imperial palace, and moreover, the Emperor had summoned Yun Rao precisely at this sensitive moment—she couldn't help but worry it was connected to her having witnessed the Emperor's assassination the previous day. "Little Qu, don't worry. Just help me with my hair," Yun Rao said softly, sitting before the dressing mirror and allowing Qu Xiaoman to skillfully secure a dignified and graceful palace-style braid. After changing into the imperial robes bestowed upon her on her arrival, she lightly applied makeup, and her already stunning appearance was now so refined that it drew the gaze of onlookers, leaving them spellbound. Yu Gong had already sent someone outside to wait, and Yun Rao's face remained calm, though her palms were damp. She followed the attendant dispatched by Yu Gong to the Imperial Study. This was the first time Yun Rao had visited the place known as the Imperial Study. Outside, she heard the younger attendant's sharp voice calling inside, "Your Majesty, Lady of the Imperial Palace has arrived." Soon, she heard a low, familiar yet slightly unfamiliar voice—deep and resonant, rich and slightly husky—distinct from An Zi yuan's clear, melodic tone. Though Yun Rao had never heard this voice before, she could not explain why a strange sense of familiarity stirred within her. The attendant who had brought her there did not give her time to ponder her inner thoughts; he had already bowed and pushed open the door to the Imperial Study, respectfully saying, "Madam, please enter." Yun Rao felt a bit nervous, and as she glanced around the room, she quickly lowered her head upon seeing the bright yellow of the imperial table, then hurriedly knelt to pay her respects, "Your Majesty, I bow to you." She wasn't entirely sure about this self-introduction—she hadn't studied the court protocols thoroughly, having only picked up a few essentials on the spot that day, and didn't quite remember them clearly. A familiar scent of medicine drifted into her nose, prompting Yun Rao to subtly lift her gaze toward the source. There, by the imperial table, a bowl of hot herbal soup was placed, but though the aroma felt familiar, it also seemed strangely foreign; she couldn't quite place it. "Get up," came a low, slightly hoarse voice—not stiff and formal like "Rise," but warm and approachable, almost conversational. The tone eased her inner restlessness considerably, suggesting that the Great Peace Emperor, Yan Jing, wasn't particularly rigid about formalities. Yun Rao thanked the Emperor and rose, standing upright and properly positioned to the side. She remained silent whenever the Emperor didn't speak. Her quiet presence gradually drew the Emperor's attention away from the scroll in his hands and toward her lowered face. "Dè," a soft sound, the brush resting gently upon the page. "Why aren't you speaking?" he asked, his voice low yet warm. Yun Rao still kept her head bowed. "I'm afraid to disturb the Emperor." "Raise your head." A calm, unhurried voice resonated above her, and Yun Rao, obliged, lifted her gaze, momentarily stunned. "What is it?" Emperor Yanjing asked, observing her expression, his tone neither urgent nor detached. "Nothing... I'm fine," she replied, realizing with a start that she had been gazing at him so intently she had almost lost herself. Her stillness wasn't due to the Emperor's dignity or his striking beauty—it was simply that, in that brief instant, she had felt as though she saw An Ziyuan's face reflected in his. She was certain this was the first time she had seen his face, though they were blood-related and both exceptionally well-built, so their features naturally shared some resemblance. "Come this way. Standing here is tiring." "Imperial Prince Yan Jing gently tapped the side seat beside the dragon throne, speaking calmly and composed. Yet in her heart, Yun Rao felt a sudden flutter, shaking her head repeatedly. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll stand instead." "Princess Xi Yue," he began slowly, not calling her "Imperial Consort" but using her formal title by name. "Since you've married into the imperial court, you should follow the formal protocols of Da'an. Surely, when I offer you a seat, I should first ask whether you would be willing?" For a moment, Yun Rao found herself without a word to object, and silently settled herself beside him. The familiar scent of herbs and medicine that had always lingered around her now gently wafted as she sat down. Unconsciously, she furrowed her brows and glanced toward Emperor Yan Jing. He looked back at her, his expression serene. "I heard you've been feeling unwell recently?" "Yes," Yun Rao nodded, her gaze lowered as she sat beside him—she always felt slightly uneasy in such a position. "I've had a mild cold, and it's now fully recovered." "Indeed? I heard from the head steward of the imperial "Still a calm, unhurried tone, as she spoke, the hand—like a piece of white jade—reached out toward the bowl of steaming medicine, lifted it, and brought it to her lips."