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Meng Fuyao nodded and gently pushed her to the door.

She watched how Consort Dowager lowered her head and very carefully, stepped out as per instructed and how she pulled her clothes together and slowly headed towards the correct direction of the toilet. She also watched how Cunzhi intentionally blocked the vision of others while Consort Dowager was walking, step by step, into the female toilet without any interruption.

Everything went so unbelievably smooth.

Meng Fuyao quietly stood by the window and witnessed Consort Dowager's figure fading into the darkness of the female toilet. The tension in her body slightly released and she wondered how happy Consort Dowager would be once she saw Zhan Beiye's face in the window of the male toilet. Zhan Beiye would also be relieved to see his mother safe as sound. She thought hard of how Consort Dowager, although having gone berserk for so many years, became magically clear-minded at the mention of her son, as well as her own experience with Zhan Beiye. When she was around them, she had always witnessed these few noble values that many would not understand or possess - loyalty, faith, respect, and ties.

With tears in her eyes, she smiled and thought with fascination.

Then, Meng Fuyao retreated and laid down on the bed, wearing the clothes of Consort Dowager, waiting for her to come back, or not.

Personally, if possible, she wished that Zhan Beiye would take his mother away as she could protect herself better than his mother could. However, realistically, she knew that Zhan Beiye would not leave her behind.

She laughed, placing her hands behind her head, thinking that she had accomplished a wonderful deed.

But her smile suddenly froze.

Outside the palace, a eunuch's sharp and powerful voice rang in her ears.

”The Emperor has arrived-”

Meng Fuyao immediately sat up with her jaw dropped, and looked towards the entrance.

'Why would Zhan Nancheng leave and return?'

'What went wrong?'

She was on the horns of a dilemma. 'What to do now?'

Meng Fuyao thought hard as she zoned out for a second on the bed, before making a Meng Fuyao-style decision - she was going to murder that Zhan Nancheng.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the Outer Palace had all been hidden behind curtains, but two palace maids lay in front of her bed. Since it would be very suspicious to not have any servants around, Meng Fuyao unsealed their acupuncture points and immediately slept, back-facing them.

The two palace maids rubbed their eyes as they woke up, confused over why they had suddenly slept beside the bed. Seeing that ”Consort Dowager” was sleeping soundly, they carefully retreated.

Zhan Nancheng stepped in at that moment.

He was very troubled, walking into the room with furrowed eyebrows and his hands behind his back. He just received news that Zhan Beiye's corpse was found in the Changhan mountain range, awakening him from his sleep. After thinking for a long while, he could not help but walk over to Xihua Palace.

Meng Fuyao slept on her side and stared at the faint silhouette reflected on the pearl-white wall. She was all ready to attack him, as long as he took a step nearer.

However, Zhan Nancheng stopped at a foot's distance.

He stared at the curvy figure on the bed in a daze. A strange emotion flashed by his eyes, as he waved his hand for the palace maids to leave.

Very soon, there were only two people left in the room, both breathing gently and not moving. At the bedside, layers of smoke drifted from the incense burner and hovered in the air, resembling a translucent and beautiful silk curtain that draped between the two people.

Meng Fuyao laid stiffly, feeling the passionate and powerful gaze behind her. His eyes were darting up and down her body, but he refused to take a step closer. Meng Fuyao was getting anxious waiting for him, yet she was scared that Zhan Beiye would dash in out of concern, and she could not help but curse in her mind.

'If you don't come over now for me to catch you, I will curse your son to have no genitals!'

Zhan Nancheng suddenly spoke.

His first line was a call that seemed like a sigh.

”Consort Jing… ”

Meng Fuyao was momentarily stunned before realizing that it was probably Consort Dowager's previous title. But why would Zhan Nancheng call her Consort Jing instead of Consort Dowager Gongjing?

”I received news… I can finally put down my worries.”

'What news?'

Zhan Nancheng sighed again, ”… Only you left.”

'Huh?'

There was a moment of silence as Zhan Nancheng suddenly took a step back. Meng Fuyao almost jumped, but she vaguely saw Zhan Nancheng dragging over a chair and sitting down on it.

'Sh*t! You even want to engage in a long-term battle!'

Meng Fuyao felt very itchy and uncomfortable under his sweeping glance. While she wished for him to come close, she was also scared of Zhan Beiye dashing in. She was filled with apprehension, but she could not move. The anxiety was as though her entire body was filled with louse, and yet she could not grab or scratch it.

Zhan Nancheng sighed, yet again. Meng Fuyao listened and felt goosebumps crawling on her skin. 'This is one old man who entered menopause early!'

”… I still remember how you looked like when I first met you… ” said Zhan Nancheng, as he abruptly switched the topic and started reminiscing. ”I was the first to attack into the Palace of the Jin Dynasty, and I first headed to Shengyi Palace. When I opened the door, I saw you sitting in a dignified manner on the floor in plain clothes. You slowly raised your head, smiled to me, and said, 'General, it must have been tiring for you to travel for such a long distance'.”