Joy of Life: Starting by clinging to the eldest princess's coattails!

Chunmei led Wu Feng to a secret room inside the main hall.

When Wu Feng pushed open the hidden door, he smelled a mixture of old paper and ink.

The secret room was not large, with tall wooden shelves on all four walls, neatly displaying many books and files.

On the shelf against the wall, Wu Feng even saw quite a few martial arts manuals.

Just by looking at the title, you can tell it's just ordinary stuff.

Of course, this is from his current perspective, after all, he possesses the Qi Scripture, a top-tier mental cultivation method.

If these martial arts techniques were released outside, they would definitely be fought over by people in the martial arts world.

"What kind of information do you want to see?" Chunmei's voice echoed in the secret room, sounding somewhat cold.

After a moment's thought, Wu Feng said to Chunmei, "It's about Ye Qingmei, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress."

Chunmei gave him a deep look, then led him to a shelf at the very back of the secret room.

"Everything you want to know should be here," Chunmei said.

"Thank you, Sister Chunmei," Wu Feng said.

Chunmei did not leave immediately, but turned around to face Wu Feng.

The room was dimly lit, with only a few oil lamps in the corner emitting a dim yellow light.

Her face was half-lit and half-shadowed in the light and shadow.

"Xiao Wuzi," Chunmei's voice was very low, "Her Highness has been very pitiful since she was a child. Her heart... is very fragile."

Wu Feng looked up at her.

Chunmei's eyes turned cold: "I know you have great ambitions. But if I find out you have betrayed His Highness, I will not let you go."

After saying that, she stopped looking at Wu Feng and turned to leave the secret room.

The hidden door closed gently behind her with a dull thud.

Wu Feng looked in the direction Chunmei had left and pondered for a moment.

Chunmei's cultivation level wasn't particularly high, but she was definitely the most loyal to Li Yunrui, truly worthy of being his personal maid who had grown up with him since childhood.

He snapped out of his thoughts and picked up a book from the shelf.

As a time traveler, he knew the general direction of many things, but he was not clear about the specific details.

So he read it very carefully, turning the pages one by one.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Outside, Chunmei returned to Li Yunrui's side.

"From your perspective," Li Yunrui's voice was soft, tinged with a languid quality, "is Wu Feng worth nurturing?"

Although she now feels that Wu Feng is somewhat different from others and is also very smart, she still treats him as a toy.

A toy that is incredibly daring, yet she has it firmly under her control, and occasionally it allows her to find exciting things.

She wanted to hear Chunmei's opinion on Wu Feng.

Chunmei thought for a moment before answering, "Your Highness, ever since he was transferred to Guangxin Palace, he has been trying to curry favor with you. Moreover... he seems to know Your Highness's preferences very well. But it's been too short a time; all I can see is that he has great ambitions."

A lazy smile appeared on Li Yunrui's face.

"His ambitions are indeed great," she said softly. "If he weren't a eunuch, with his intelligence, he would have achieved a great deal in our Qing Kingdom."

"Your Highness should still be wary of him," Chunmei suggested in a low voice.

Li Yunrui did not respond.

She lay down on her side on the soft couch, her dark dress sliding down her body's curves, the shape of her waist faintly visible beneath the soft fabric.

She had her eyes closed, as if she was thinking about something.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

About fifteen minutes later.

The secret door to the secret room opened again, and Wu Feng walked out.

When they returned to the main hall, Li Yunrui was still lying on the soft couch, with Chunmei standing quietly to the side.

Wu Feng glanced at the main hall; only the three of them were there.

"Finished reading?" Li Yunrui opened her eyes and asked softly.

"I've finished reading it," Wu Feng replied.

"Then tell me," Li Yunrui said softly, "tell me why you find it strange."

Wu Feng took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Your Highness, His Majesty's decision to personally lead the expedition... I suspect," he said in a deep voice, "that this is a plan by His Majesty, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress against Ye Qingmei."

Li Yunrui instantly sat up straight on the soft couch.

Even Chunmei looked at Wu Feng with disbelief on her face.

Li Yunrui narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at Wu Feng.

"Do you know," her voice turned cold, "that the child in Ye Qingmei's belly is His Majesty's?"

"Do you know..." Her voice held a complex emotion, a mixture of anger and pain, "Your Majesty... loves Ye Qingmei very much?"

She could understand that the Empress Dowager and the Empress would target Ye Qingmei and want to kill her. But the idea that His Majesty would be involved...

She doesn't believe it.

After all, her elder brother was willing to abandon his sister for Ye Qingmei.

Wu Feng made no attempt to avoid Li Yunrui's gaze.

He took another deep breath and said, "Your Highness, as I said yesterday, Ye Qingmei could overturn the entire world at any time if she wanted to. His Majesty... he is the emperor, he will not allow such a thing to happen."

Li Yunrui asked coldly, "Provide me with evidence that will convince me."

Chunmei also stared intently at Wu Feng.

Ye Qingmei was too outstanding; she couldn't believe that the Emperor, who deeply loved Ye Qingmei, would kill her.

Wu Feng continued:

"Your Highness, please think about it carefully. Of the forces Ye Qingmei possesses, Fan Jian and the Tiger Guard have been transferred to the Western Hu to join the army, Chen Pingping and the Black Riders have been transferred to the north to defend against the Northern Qi, the Jiangnan Navy is unable to support the capital, and Ye Chong of the Ye family, who have a good relationship with Ye Qingmei, has been transferred to Dingzhou."

He finished speaking in one breath, then paused: "No one but His Majesty could have accomplished this series of things."

"I suspect that His Majesty's decision to personally lead the expedition is precisely to arrange these matters," Wu Feng's voice deepened, "...to take advantage of..."

"Taking advantage of what?" Li Yunrui asked immediately.

Wu Feng took another deep breath and said in a deep voice:

"Taking advantage of Ye Qingmei's pregnancy. Ye Qingmei will be at her weakest during childbirth. He wants to kill Ye Qingmei, and even... their child, while she is at her weakest."

Chunmei's eyes widened in shock.

Li Yunrui's mind went blank.

She knew her brother was ruthless because she was the one who did many of the things he did.

At the same time, her brother also deeply loved Ye Qingmei and treated her very well.

This is also why she was jealous and resentful of Ye Qingmei, because she felt that Ye Qingmei had taken away what originally belonged to her!

But now, someone is saying that His Majesty wants to kill Ye Qingmei.

The reason is that Ye Qingmei possesses too much strength.

She seemed unable to refute the reasons given by Wu Feng.

"Your Highness," Wu Feng continued, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet main hall, "Although it may seem somewhat treasonous, I still want to say that His Majesty may... not love Ye Qingmei. In fact, he may not love anyone, nor truly trust anyone. In his eyes, everyone may simply be a tool to achieve his goals."

He looked into Li Yunrui's eyes.

"Including...Your Highness."

The moment the words left her lips, Li Yunrui looked at Wu Feng with icy eyes.

There was no anger or shock in his eyes, only a bottomless chill.