You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

When Manbao returned.

Chu Nianci lay lazily on the large cushion and asked, "How is it?"

Manbao respectfully replied, "It was Xiao Guizi, and the contact was Xiao Luzi. They went to Qiao Yingying's place."

Chu Nianci frowned slightly: "You've only met Xiao Luzi?"

"Yes, this servant also found the gold hairpin that Xiao Guizi left behind."

After saying that, he took it out of his pocket and handed it to Chu Nianci.

Chu Nianci glanced at it and told him to put it away.

Remembering that Xiao Luzi often gambled at the Four Treasurys, she instructed him, "Go to the Four Treasurys and secretly investigate to see if the Cold Food Powder comes from there."

However, she also knew that besides the four treasuries, there were other places in the harem where gambling was secretly set up.

Once you get involved in gambling, you're more likely to get involved in drugs.

If you get involved with either of these, you're doomed.

If we only investigate one place, the problem will still persist elsewhere, and we might even alert the perpetrators.

Now that the emperor has just stabilized the court, the inner palace must remain calm.

If the raid is carried out in a large-scale manner, it may cause unrest.

Chu Nianci pondered for a moment, then asked, "The Four Storehouses are in a remote location, not belonging to the Eastern or Western Six Palaces. Who lives nearby?"

Aunt Lan replied, "Your Highness, the Four Treasurys are very close to the Cold Palace and the Eternal Alley."

"Yongxiang..." Chu Nianci's eyes narrowed slightly. "I just remembered an old friend. Isn't Consort Bai still imprisoned there? She used poisonous insects to harm people, but it backfired and she also offended Consort Shu."

Who would have thought that someone would use the remote Yongxiang Palace to do such a thing?

The commoners in Yongxiang must have come into contact with this kind of thing.

When people inhale the cold food powder, they experience a blissful state, and initially, it is said to have certain effects on the skin, such as fading spots and scars. As a result, many people mistakenly believe that this product is a health-enhancing wonder and are thus deceived.

"Investigate." Chu Nianci's tone turned cold. "I want to see what's hidden inside."

But we haven't received any news yet.

As night fell, Duanmu Qingyu, dressed in casual clothes, floated in like an immortal. If given a little mountain mist, he could ascend to heaven.

Chu Nianci was slightly surprised.

I didn't expect that even though I had already mentioned the Gui Water to him, he still came.

He hurriedly bowed and greeted her. Duanmu Qingyu gracefully took her hand and led her to sit down on the couch. He clapped his hands, and Jingxi placed a food box on the table before bowing and retreating.

At that time, most of the candles in the hall had been extinguished, leaving only a lamp by the bed, its light dim and soft.

In the dim light, Duanmu Qingyu's eyes shone like an inverted galaxy, their light fragmented yet dazzling. When he stared at you with such a dreamy gaze, it was as if the light in his eyes was shining only for you, as if there were only the two of you left in the world.

Chu Nianci looked at him quietly.

In both his past lives, he had never seen a man more handsome than him.

Even without his imperial status, his appearance alone would be enough to make countless women fall in love.

The fierce competition within the imperial harem was partly due to her face.

The two gazed at each other silently for a moment. Duanmu Qingyu reached out and gently tapped the tip of her nose, his voice gentle: "I heard that women experience abdominal pain during their menstrual period, so I had a bowl of red date and goji berry porridge made. Hui'er, come and try it."

Chu Nianci was taken aback.

In her past life with Lin Jingrui, if she was unwell, he would feel disappointed and turn away without even offering to cook porridge or say a word of comfort.

If ordinary men are like this, how much more so the emperor?

Chu Nianci originally thought that the young emperor liked her, but only coveted her body, and that he would not come if he knew that she could not serve him in bed.

Unexpectedly, he was not unhappy at all, and even cooked porridge for me.

Even though she repeatedly reminded herself that the worst thing for someone surviving in the deep palace was to fall in love with the emperor, Chu Nianci still felt a warmth in her heart at this moment.

She lowered her eyelashes and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Duanmu Qingyu filled a bowl, scooped a spoonful himself, and said with a gentle smile, "Come, open your lips, I will feed you."

Chu Nianci's throat tightened slightly: "Your Majesty, please don't be too kind to me..."

She could only repeatedly remind herself of this in her heart.

Don't get carried away by this tenderness and forget that the emperor's favor is like dew, easily scattered and hard to retain.

Why?

"I'm afraid I'll get used to it later," Chu Nianci said softly, her voice choked with sobs.

"Silly girl," Duanmu Qingyu laughed, "When I was sick, Hui'er brewed medicine for me, and now I should do the same for her."

As he spoke, he brought a spoonful of porridge to her lips.

If this were anyone else, their heart would probably have turned to still water.

Chu Nianci lived through two lifetimes and considered himself to have a heart as hard as iron.

At this moment, she couldn't help but skip a beat and quickly lowered her eyelashes. She kept reminding herself that what she really wanted now was status and power.

Never be fooled by sweet words.

Duanmu Qingyu's ability to secure his throne amidst the power struggles of three factions demonstrates his extraordinary cunning.

He admired women who were intelligent and quick-witted and could share his burdens, but these women must never threaten his power.

As for someone like her, from a humble background who aspires to a high position, I must never give her my heart first.

As her thoughts wandered, Chu Nianci's eyes reddened slightly, a hint of grievance and unease rising in them. She slowly finished the bowl of porridge. The sweet porridge was truly sweet, its sweetness warming her heart as well as her mouth.

Her eyes involuntarily welled up with tears.

"What's wrong?" Duanmu Qingyu gently kissed her earlobe, and the pine-like fragrance suddenly became stronger.

Chu Nianci only whispered, "Your Majesty, I am afraid."

"With me here, what is there to fear?"

"No one has ever treated me as well as Your Majesty... I understand your intentions, but I come from a humble background..." Her voice trailed off, almost inaudible, "I am afraid of attracting criticism, and even more afraid of tarnishing Your Majesty's reputation."

She looked up at him, her gaze clear as water, filled with unease, emotion, and admiration.

Regardless of gender, everyone loves to hear words of advice.

Even an emperor, seeing his heartfelt sentiments treated with such solemnity, could not help but be moved.

Duanmu Qingyu's tone was slightly somber: "My reputation will not be damaged because of you."

"Your Majesty," Chu Nianci said, her eyes brimming with tears and her voice choked with emotion, "the six palaces must not become a place of resentment, only then can there be peace and harmony, and the blessings of offspring be continued. I dare not monopolize your favor."

Duanmu Qingyu inhaled the subtle fragrance emanating from her hair, a hint of inquiry flashing in his deep eyes.

Having grown up in the inner palace, he knew that being the center of everyone's affections also meant being the object of everyone's resentment.

He had also told her about the storms she might face.

So, is the beautiful woman in his arms, whom he finds irresistible, afraid of being targeted by the harem, or does she simply not value him at all?

He toyed with a strand of her hair, his tone ambiguous: "You want to push me onto someone else?"

Chu Nianci's voice was mournful: "Your Majesty also fears that one day you will forget me, but I fear even more that Your Majesty will lose the hard-won stability of the court. Therefore, I hope that the harem will not hinder you."

Duanmu Qingyu's heart trembled slightly; it turned out she was thinking of him.

Seeing her anxious and uneasy appearance, he felt a pang of heartache.

"How could that be?" He hugged her tighter again and patted her back gently.

Chu Nianci knew he would agree.

The imperial court and the harem are far-reaching, and it is impossible for him to favor one person exclusively for a long time.

She leaned against his chest and whispered, "Your Majesty has me in your heart, and that's enough for me."

"The affairs of the previous dynasty are already heavy. If the six palaces harbor resentment, it will be like a fire breaking out in the backyard, which will only cause His Majesty trouble." Her voice was soft, but with a hint of reluctance. "If His Majesty neglects others because he favors me, others will inevitably say that His Majesty is cold-hearted and fickle... I cannot bear to let His Majesty be troubled because of me alone."

A night breeze quietly entered, causing the silk curtains to sway slightly, and the candlelight flickered on his handsome face.

Duanmu Qingyu remained silent for a long time, then slowly tightened his arms around her slightly cool feet, and the warmth gradually melted away.

"I understand," he finally said in a low voice, his voice somewhat deep.

A few days later, Duanmu Qingyu frequently summoned Consort Shu and Consort Jia, and even the newly released concubine Qiao was favored by him.

Soon after, Qiao Ying was restored to her noble status amidst everyone's compliments.

Everyone knows that Consort Qiao has offended Chu Nianci.

Now everyone in the palace understood... the emperor had truly neglected Chu Nianci.

A person who was once so glamorous suddenly falls out of favor, and their door becomes deserted. Countless people mock and ridicule them behind their backs, kicking them when they're down.

Especially the next day, when the two met on the palace road, the pretty concubine deliberately smiled and stepped forward: "Oh dear, sister, it must have been half a month since you last saw His Majesty. When I see him tonight, I will definitely convey your feelings of longing to him."

"No one is lucky for a hundred days, and no flower blooms for a thousand days. Sister, you must cherish this good fortune and not break it," Chu Nianci said sarcastically.

The beautiful lady turned pale with anger, and the two parted on bad terms.

Two more days passed. That evening, Manbao came to report: "Your Highness is indeed a prophet. Little Gui has indeed been secretly seeing Zhui'er these past few days. I wonder what he is plotting in secret."

"Manbao, find a chance later and secretly hide that packet of Cold Food Powder in Consort Qiao's Leisurely Moon Pavilion," Chu Nianci said.

"Yes." Manbao accepted the order and left.

"Reunion," Chu Nianci said, "You should talk to Qing'er, the one who shares a room with Zhui'er, and see what Zhui'er has been doing all this time."

"My lady, I've already inquired about this. This hussy has secretly met with her mother three times recently," Tuanyuan said, as if remembering something. "It seems Qing'er said she never takes a bath. I'll go ask her again what kind of demon she is."

After saying that, he withdrew.

"What should we do next?" Aunt Lan asked.

Chu Nianci smiled coldly: "Keep a close watch. Only when the true colors are revealed can we wipe them all out in one fell swoop."

After all, they've already set up the stage; if we don't put on a show, they won't agree.