The more Xie Lin desired, the more cautious he became in his actions.
He wanted all of Jiang Yunshu—from the tips of her toes to the strands of her hair, from her body to her heart.
He wanted those eyes, once lost and now regained, to reflect only his own image.
Just as a hunter crafts a trap based on his prey, Xie Lin thought, he needed to understand what kind of person she was before he could firmly grasp her.
Understanding Jiang Yunshu was no difficult task for Xie Lin. The Chancellor's residence had long housed spies from the Eastern Depot, though their original mission had been to monitor Duan Jinxing.
The more Xie Lin learned about Jiang Yunshu, the more astonished he became.
It turned out Jiang Yunshu had been quietly running businesses in the capital, and the combined annual profits from her ventures amounted to a sum even Xie Lin couldn’t ignore.
Then there was the intricate web of connections she had woven throughout the capital…
But what surprised Xie Lin the most was that behind every one of Duan Jinxing’s successive promotions, Jiang Yunshu’s influence could be traced.
Even Duan Jinxing’s most celebrated policy reforms had Jiang Yunshu’s assistance behind them.
A thick wave of bitterness surged in Xie Lin’s heart. Jiang Yunshu had helped Duan Jinxing so much—she must have once loved him deeply…
And how had Duan Jinxing repaid her? The thought ignited fury in Xie Lin.
He had already uncovered that Jiang Yunshu and Duan Jinxing had been living separately in the Chancellor’s residence for some time. Their estrangement had begun when Duan Jinxing openly entertained courtesans at a banquet.
Thinking of how decisively Jiang Yunshu had cut ties with Duan Jinxing… Xie Lin’s lips curled upward uncontrollably.
Xie Lin’s investigations revealed that after their separation, Duan Jinxing had tried to win her back, only to be met with cold refusal—leaving him both shocked and bewildered!
Xie Lin scoffed. Even without witnessing it firsthand, he could imagine Duan Jinxing’s pitiful state. No doubt the man still saw himself as the wronged party.
In the imperial court, he had seen too many so-called "gentlemen" like Duan Jinxing.
These "gentlemen" treated courtesans as less than human, just as they viewed eunuchs with contempt.
They sneered at young eunuchs, feared the agents of the Eastern Depot…
And as for Xie Lin himself? They regarded him as a demon risen from hell.
Xie Lin’s lips quirked again. He cared little for how those men saw him…
The only reflection he cared about was the one in those clear, water-like eyes.
At this thought, Xie Lin pressed his lips together.
Eyes that sharp would surely perceive every detail with perfect clarity.
But first, he had to step into Jiang Yunshu’s line of sight…
Xie Lin already had a plan.
Between her and Duan Jinxing… Jiang Yunshu must harbor some resentment deep down, no?
Not romantic regret, but the knowledge that Duan Jinxing’s position as Chancellor had been built upon her efforts…
Xie Lin drafted an edict in the Young Emperor’s name—
Summoning Jiang Yunshu to the palace to serve as a female official.
He knew she wouldn’t refuse.
---
Jiang Yunshu, of course, had no intention of refusing the imperial decree!
She immediately made inquiries and learned that the edict hadn’t been issued to her alone—several noblewomen and young ladies from prominent families had also been summoned to serve as palace officials.
The recipients of the decree were uneasy. After all, the Great Qi Dynasty had never before appointed female officials, and they couldn’t fathom why such an edict had suddenly appeared…
They cautiously probed one another for reactions…
Jiang Yunshu wasted no time declaring her stance: "I will go!"
Of course she would!
Though the current dynasty had no precedent, history showed that female officials had been common in previous imperial courts.
Within the inner palace, female officials were far more practical. Influential princesses, too, needed women to handle their affairs.
If the Great Qi Dynasty had no female officials now, then once Jiang Yunshu and the others entered the palace, they would set the precedent!
Jiang Yunshu thought to herself: Whether she excelled in the role or not, simply by becoming a palace official, she would establish a legacy—future women who sought official positions could point to the Jing'an Era of the Great Qi Dynasty as proof that it had been done before!
True, they would serve as inner court officials, not ministers of the outer court.
But where exactly was the line between the inner and outer courts drawn?
The empire’s rulers resided within the palace. As a palace official, she would have opportunities to make her voice heard, to sway decisions…
Without hesitation, Jiang Yunshu entered the palace.
On her first day, she was led by palace attendants to first pay respects to the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord before being presented to the Young Emperor and Empress Dowager Wu.
Jiang Yunshu mused that while the title "Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord" might be flattery when applied to others, for Xie Lin, it somehow felt almost modest…
The true power behind the throne was unmistakable.
Jiang Yunshu had prepared herself mentally before entering the palace. She knew the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord wielded immense authority, but she hadn’t expected the Young Emperor—after years of schooling—to remain so… lacking.
The Young Emperor was vicious by nature.
Time and again, Jiang Yunshu witnessed him running barefoot through the halls—sometimes shirtless, sometimes without pants—laughing wildly as a swarm of frantic attendants chased after him with his clothes.
To the Young Emperor, it was a delightful game. The more people chased him, the more he reveled in it.
His laughter was that of a simpleton.
What Jiang Yunshu found most unbearable was the Young Emperor’s fondness for throwing stones at animals.
Birds, cats, dogs—she once saw him order eunuchs to pin down a dog so he could stone its leg until it broke.
The sight chilled her to the bone.
What kind of ruler would such a boy become once he grew into his power? What suffering would the people endure?
A creature like this should never have been emperor… yet the late emperor had left no other sons…
Empress Dowager Wu had only revealed her pregnancy after the late emperor’s death.
The Young Emperor had ascended the throne as a babe in arms, and Empress Dowager Wu had secured her position as regent.
Now, with the arrival of the female officials, Empress Dowager Wu’s first move was to recruit them to her side.
From what Jiang Yunshu gathered, many of her fellow female officials had accepted the empress dowager’s overtures.
Jiang Yunshu refused.
A thought occurred to her: Had the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Lord issued the edict appointing female officials to counterbalance Empress Dowager Wu’s influence?
Whether that was the case or not, Jiang Yunshu had no intention of aligning herself with the empress dowager. She followed her own principles, and Empress Dowager Wu and the Young Emperor were not allies she could abide.
What Jiang Yunshu hadn’t anticipated was how few others shared her stance.
Nor had she realized just how petty Empress Dowager Wu could be. Mere refusal of her patronage was enough for the empress dowager to mark Jiang Yunshu as an enemy—one to be eliminated.
And Jiang Yunshu certainly hadn’t foreseen the method Empress Dowager Wu would choose.
One day, as she walked through the palace gardens as usual, a bone-chilling drone suddenly filled the air.
Jiang Yunshu turned—and saw a dark "cloud" buzzing toward her.
For a moment, she froze. Then realization struck: This was no cloud. It was a swarm of hornets, homing in on her.
If those hornets reached her, she wouldn’t survive.
Jiang Yunshu sprinted.
As she ran, she tore off her outer robe and flung it as far as she could.
Even someone as slow-witted as her could tell that the hornets targeting her like this was absolutely unnatural. The most likely explanation was that someone had sprinkled a powder on her clothes to attract them. Throwing off her outer garment might have been a solution.
Unfortunately, after testing it, the method proved useless—none of the hornets were drawn to the discarded clothing. They all continued chasing her relentlessly.
Jiang Yunshu was immensely grateful that palace attire consisted of multiple layers. After shedding the outermost garment, she still had enough left to wrap around her head and face for protection.
Now, where should she run? Her feet dared not hesitate for even a moment as her mind swiftly chose a direction.
She would head for the lake!
Diving into the water might save her from this nightmare!
Just as Jiang Yunshu turned to sprint toward the lake, a tall, slender figure suddenly rushed toward her, grabbing her arm and pulling her forward.
Xie Lin?
What was he doing here? And why would he risk his own safety to help her in such a perilous situation?
Jiang Yunshu had always known Xie Lin was highly skilled in martial arts, but the speed and agility he displayed now surpassed her expectations. He moved so swiftly and lightly that it almost seemed like he was flying.
At first, he gripped her arm, instantly doubling her speed. But even that wasn’t enough. Xie Lin adjusted his hold, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her tightly against him—so tightly that Jiang Yunshu barely felt her toes touch the ground as he carried her toward the lake at breakneck speed.
When they reached the shore, she heard only two words: "Hold your breath."
The next moment, Xie Lin plunged into the water with her in his arms.
The cool lake enveloped her chest, neck, nose, and eyes.
Jiang Yunshu’s eyes widened in shock. She clutched Xie Lin’s hand desperately, her gaze screaming that she couldn’t hold her breath for long—she didn’t possess his superhuman abilities. A few more seconds underwater, and she would suffocate.
The air in her lungs was already depleted. She couldn’t resist any longer—she was about to gasp for breath, even knowing it would only flood her lungs with water…
At the very last moment before she lost consciousness, a breathtakingly handsome face leaned in.
The cold water parted as warm lips pressed firmly against hers. Xie Lin’s tongue deftly pried open her teeth, delivering a long, life-saving breath into her mouth.
Jiang Yunshu drank it in greedily.
For the first time, air tasted sweet.
A stream of tiny bubbles escaped her lips as her mind grew hazy. Instinctively, she chased Xie Lin’s mouth, seeking more of that precious oxygen beneath the water…
Then, suddenly, a reed straw was slipped between her lips.
The other end of the straw broke the surface, allowing her to breathe freely.
Jiang Yunshu blinked in confusion. Where had Xie Lin gotten a reed straw?
In her panic, she completely overlooked the fact that if he had a reed all along, why had he kissed her to share his breath in the first place?
She stayed still in the water, gazing up at the surface.
Above, a dark swarm of hornets circled for a long time before finally dispersing, unable to detect any trace of their target.
Only when the hornets were completely gone did Xie Lin tighten his grip and lift her out of the lake.
Back on shore, Jiang Yunshu realized their clothes were utterly drenched.
The thin fabric clung to their bodies, nearly transparent.
Xie Lin’s broad shoulders, firm chest, and narrow waist were all on full display.
Where their bodies pressed together, heat radiated between them…
Jiang Yunshu could even feel the defined contours of his abdominal muscles beneath the soaked fabric.
Her face burned crimson.
It suddenly struck her—underwater, she and Xie Lin had been pressed together like this for who knew how long!
Flustered, she shoved against his chest to break free.
But Xie Lin’s arm around her waist didn’t loosen. If anything, it tightened further.
His breath brushed against her ear, scorching against skin chilled by the lake. The heat sent a shiver through her entire body.
Xie Lin’s voice was low and rough.
"My lady, are you afraid your husband will find out?"
