The Deepest Affection in Qin's Time

However, this has nothing to do with him.

Then Cao Yuan immediately began a clandestine search of Liu Yi's residence.

As for small things like locks on doors, they posed no obstacle to him.

After he had searched a third of the mansion, Liu Yi returned.

Strangely, Liu Yi did not return directly to the bedroom, but instead went to a room that resembled a study.

Cao Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately followed.

A moment later, Liu Yi walked out looking relaxed.

Over the years, he has developed the habit of checking every night.

Although there was nothing left inside...

After Liu Yi left, Cao Yuan immediately sneaked in and entered the secret room very easily, finding the Baiyue treasure chest that appeared in the original story.

However, when he opened it, he found it to be completely empty.

"really……"

Cao Yuan murmured, showing no sign of disappointment.

If there really were anything related to the Seven Mansions of the Azure Dragon inside, if he were Liu Yi, he would have taken it and kept it by his side long ago...

Ok?

Cao Yuan's eyes suddenly lit up. Just because it wasn't here didn't mean it wasn't in Liu Yi's bedroom.

Anyway, let's go take a look.

The night was quiet and still.

Cao Yuan secretly went to the West Garden.

To his surprise, when he arrived at Xiyuan, he ran into Liu Yi, who was coming out looking displeased.

"So what if she has a younger sister who's a beauty in the palace? What's so great about that!"

As Liu Yi walked, he cursed various profanities and complained from time to time, which left Cao Yuan stunned and looking at him with a strange expression.

I never expected Liu Yi, who is so fierce and ruthless on the outside, to be so cowardly.

So many years have passed, and they haven't even held hands. Before and after their marriage, they slept in separate rooms, and later, after Consort Hu gained favor, they slept in separate courtyards.

He felt that Liu Yi could sit at the same table with Han Wang'an, have a good chat, and exchange ideas; he believed they would have a lot in common.

However, after Cao Yuan eavesdropped a few more times, he understood why Liu Yi was so cowardly.

Besides wanting to leave himself a way out and climbing the social ladder through Consort Hu, he also wanted to ask for a favor from Madam Hu, hoping that Consort Hu could put in a good word for him and help him get promoted to Right Sima.

After making his speculation, Cao Yuan was speechless.

Someone like you, nobody would help you...

Cao Yuan stopped thinking about it and entered the West Garden.

Liu Yi's departure made things easier for him; he could first check the situation here, and then go find Liu Yi's other residence.

"...A beauty, aloof and independent. One glance could topple a city, a second look could topple a nation..."

Upon hearing the sorrowful and mournful voice and the familiar verses, Cao Yuan paused for a moment outside a window.

He looked in surprise at the darkened room, and in a split second, the window was pushed open, revealing the face of a beautiful woman with a sorrowful expression.

Through the moonlight, one can see that the beautiful woman is very well-maintained, with a gentle face, typical of a lady from a prominent family, giving people a sense of elegance and tranquility.

Her fair neck, delicate skin, and exceptionally shapely figure, revealed beneath the elegant indigo silk pajamas, were all incredibly alluring.

Even though Cao Yuan had seen many beautiful women, and even though Madam Hu was not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she still gave him a feeling of amazement.

Who could resist a virtuous wife and loving mother who evokes a man's protective instincts and is incredibly endearing?

Madam Hu gazed at the bright moon by the window, reciting poetry with self-pity.

She and her sister heard the poem by chance when they were watching a play, two months ago, after it had been sung from Yan (present-day Hebei and Henan).

It couldn't help but evoke her girlish feelings and sentiments.

"How can one not know the power of a beauty to topple a city or a nation? Such a beauty is hard to find again..."

Madam Hu murmured wistfully, "It's a pity I'm already a withered flower..."

What woman wouldn't want to be a peerless beauty praised by her lover?

"Clap, clap."

Suddenly, the sound of breaking tiles echoed from the West Garden, and the tiles landed right around Cao Yuan.

Cao Yuan's face almost turned black; someone was actually plotting against him behind his back!

But just as he caught a glimpse of a person, that person had already climbed over the wall and disappeared.

"he is……"

Cao Yuan was surprised.

Although he hadn't seen the man's face, his tattered clothes and the fact that he was outside Madam Hu's wall immediately led him to identify Li Kai as the prime suspect.

"Who are you?"

Madam Hu stared in horror at Cao Yuan in the shadows beneath the window. She hadn't noticed him at all in so long; how could she not be terrified?

Cao Yuan tried to put on what he thought was a friendly smile.

Before he could even speak, he heard footsteps and shouts of "Stop thief!"

"Worthy..."

Cao Yuan cursed under his breath and immediately climbed over the window and into Madam Hu's room.

Madam Hu turned pale with fright and instinctively tried to scream, but Cao Yuan covered her mouth.

Cao Yuan embraced Madam Hu and kissed her passionately.

He swore he didn't mean it.

Actually, using your mouth to block someone's mouth is the most time-saving and effortless action.

"Waaaaah..."

Mrs. Hu's heart raced as she was kissed, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Torches were lit outside, and at least a dozen guards stormed into the West Garden.

Cao Yuan bit Madam Hu's fragrant lips, a sudden idea struck him, and he said in a muffled voice, "Madam, you don't want to never see your daughter again, do you..."

Although the "small life" part is a bit low-class, it's undeniably useful.

Madam Hu opened her watery eyes wide, and no longer struggled as Cao Yuan held her.

She stared blankly at Cao Yuan, her mind completely blank.

"Dong dong dong..."

A rapid knocking sounded on the door.

"Madam, are you alright?"

At this moment, Madam Hu realized that Cao Yuan had disappeared.

Her delicate lips trembled slightly as she kept thinking about her daughter.

"I...I'm fine..."

"Madam, please open the door. We need to go in and see what's going on. A thief has broken into the house."

Madam Hu hurriedly smoothed out the silk nightgown that Cao Yuan had wrinkled, and said, "Wait for me to get dressed."

She lowered her voice in the dimly lit room, where only the moonlight shone through.

"Are you hidden well?"

"It's well hidden."

Mrs. Hu was somewhat relieved, not knowing where the voice came from.

After she put on her coat, she opened the door.

"You may go in..."

Madam Hu lowered her eyes, looking worriedly at her bedroom.

She was afraid the guards would find the thief, and she was also afraid the thief was lying to her.

She had heard many rumors about flower thieves, especially the story of the thief crouching under her window at night, and knew that the thief might very well want to take advantage of her.

But she was unwilling to give up this chance to find her daughter.

Even if it's highly likely that she will be humiliated.

But she was willing to sacrifice everything, even her innocence and reputation, just to see her daughter again.

"Madam, Madam, are you alright?"

Liu Yi rushed over, reeking of alcohol.

Madam Hu's face turned cold. "I'm fine. The guards said a thief broke into the mansion and woke me up."

Liu saw that Madam Hu was still giving him the cold shoulder, and he wanted to get angry but didn't dare to.

Because he had once lost his temper and cursed Lady Hu to her face, he was not only warned by Lady Hu, but also criticized by name by King Han, the short and fat man, at the court assembly.

After a while, he had no choice but to endure it, so as not to be laughed at by his colleagues and those nosy nobles.

"It's alright, I'm leaving now."

Liu Yi suppressed his anger and strode away.

After a short while, the West Garden calmed down, and the number of guards in the mansion increased significantly.

Inside the dark room, Madam Hu sat nervously on her sleeping couch.

She pursed her lips, looked into the dimly lit bedroom, and said in a trembling voice, "Are you... are you still there?"

"I'm here, ma'am~"