Chu Yixuan ordered someone to go to the imperial kitchen to prepare some light refreshments. He accompanied Yan Xijun and also had a bit of dinner. After eating and drinking enough, Yan Xijun's spirit was slightly better. She asked Xuelian to help her up, and she sat up leaning against the edge of the bed.

  The night had already deepened. After Chu Yixuan waved his hand to let Xue Lian go out, he took off the outer cloak that was draped over his body. A snow-white brocade garment wrapped around his slender and straight figure. Then he slowly walked towards Yan Xijun.

  "You... you... what do you want to do." Yan Xijun stared at him in a daze as he approached. His slender figure was very 'tempting'. His cold and handsome face revealed an innate noble air.

  Chu Yixuan smiled evilly and said: "It's already late at night. What else can I do? Of course, it's time to sleep."

  Yan Xijun thought he was too dangerous a person. She hastily said: "Your Majesty, why don't you go to the harem tonight?"

  "Why must I go? The Zhengyang Palace is my bedroom. It's only natural for me to sleep in my own bedroom."

  "However, I am not feeling well and cannot sleep with Your Majesty. Please forgive me. If Your Majesty insists on resting here, I beg of you to send someone to escort me back to the Ganquan Palace."

  "You want to leave my side so quickly..." Chu Yixuan's face was slightly displeased. He quickly got onto the dragon bed, knelt down and sat in front of Yan Xijun, his eyes angrily staring at her.

  "You're overthinking it, Your Majesty."

  "Hmph. I've thought too much. You clearly want to leave. Do you think I don't know?"

  “……”

  "Whatever, sleep." Chu Yixuan saw that she wasn't speaking and was about to get angry, but when he saw the wounds on her body, his anger subsided. He took a deep breath, reached out with his large hands, and gently placed her on the bed. "Sleep well tonight, I won't do anything to you."

  For several days, Yan Xijun had been staying in the Zhengyang Palace to recuperate her body. She knew it was not proper and had suggested to Chu Yixuan several times that she wanted to move back to her own palace, but he just didn't agree to her request.

  No matter what excuse she came up with, she kept asking to return to Ganquan Palace in a soft and hard way, but Chuyi Xuan just wouldn't allow it.

  Helpless, Yan Xijun had to live with him under the same roof. Every day they ate, slept and lived together. Unbeknownst to her, a month had passed. After a couple of months of rest, her body had almost fully recovered.

  Fortunately, she has been recuperating in Zhengyang Palace for a month and no one dares to disturb her. None of the concubines can enter Zhengyang Palace either. So this month has passed quite leisurely.

  However, this extreme favoritism also put Yan Xikun at the forefront of danger. Her favoritism made countless people jealous and was secretly scolded countless times.

  Although I am in the Zhengyang Palace, I do not go out, but Yan Xikun's heart also vaguely knows that Chu Yixuan's move has invisibly increased countless enemies for her.

  It was a leisurely day. Yan Xijun had breakfast and came to the courtyard with Xue Lian to admire the flowers. The beautiful flowers were no longer as gorgeous as they were in summer. The once green leaves had also turned yellow.

  The autumn wind of September blows, and the yellow leaves fall down in a flurry. Yan Xizhen suddenly lost her mind to appreciate the flowers, but instead noticed a maple tree with red leaves in full bloom in the courtyard.

  "Master, that maple tree is quite unusual."

  Xue Lian saw her gaze always looking at the maple tree, thinking she liked those red leaves, so he said.

  "It's okay, it's a bit special compared to other 'flowers'. Yanzhu Jun withdrew her gaze and sat down on the stone bench, gently shaking a round fan. Looking at the square gate in the courtyard, she said: "Xuelian, when can we go back?"

  "I don't know." Xue Lian shook her head. She took the fan from her master's hand and gently fanned her. "Master, these days the Emperor has been treating you well. And we've also been living comfortably in Zhengyang Palace. Why do you always want to go back?"

  "This place is still good. After all, it's not our haven." Yan Xijun said: "Moreover, being in such an extreme place, I'm afraid our lives will be even more endangered."

  "Master, what you said doesn't make sense either. But don't be afraid. We have the emperor's favor and protection. I believe no one can harm you."

  "Xue Lian, you're too naive. Favoritism is often a double-edged sword. Love stems from it, and so does hate."

  Xue Lian was just about to refute the master's words, when suddenly a commotion came from the gate of the courtyard. She and the master both looked up in surprise, and were shocked to see someone they didn't want to meet.

  Yan Huanghou, dressed in a phoenix coronet and a cloak of misty rainbows, had lost all her former imperial majesty. At this moment, she was furiously scolding the gatekeeper eunuch.

  "You dare to stop me from entering the Zhengyang Palace? I am the Empress, how can I not enter this imperial palace?"

  "Report to the Empress Dowager, this is the Emperor's order. The Emperor has ordered us not to let anyone enter the Zhengyang Palace. So even if it's you, Your Majesty, we dare not let you in." The two guards said respectfully. Their firm attitude revealed their intentions, and they would not allow her to enter the Zhengyang Palace.

  "This palace has come today to find Yan Cairen. As Yan Cairen's sister, can't this palace enter either?"

  "Yes. The Emperor said no one can enter. We are just following the Emperor's orders."

  "You're just a bunch of dog slaves! If I don't give you some color to see, you won't take me seriously, will you?"

  The Empress Yan was furious and the eunuch beside her made a face. That slave was very cunning. As soon as he saw it, he shouted at several small eunuchs behind him: "These two dog slaves actually don't put the empress in their eyes. What are you still doing in the back? Don't hurry up to teach these two people."

  Empress Yan remained silent and motionless, idly examining her own scarlet-colored fingernails.

  One of the eunuchs saw that their master had tacitly agreed, so he plucked up his courage and stepped forward. The crowd immediately surrounded the two guards standing at the gate.

  Two 'guards' were not vegetarians either, relying on being the emperor's personal guards, naturally not allowing people to bully them, so they confronted those eunuchs with swords drawn.

  The atmosphere was tense. They had reached a point where one spark could set off an explosion. Yan Xijun couldn't just stand by and do nothing anymore. He hurried over to mediate.

  "You are all being rude. What kind of behavior is this in Zhengyang Palace?" Yan Xijun looked at the group of people at the gate and said coldly.

  The two guards saw her and were very respectful. After listening to her scolding, they put away the big knives in their hands and cupped their hands: "Yan Cairen's teachings are correct."

  Yan Xijun didn't even glance at the two 'attendants', and directly walked towards Empress Yan, calmly saying: "Sister-in-law, what matter do you have to discuss with me?"

  Empress Yan noticed that the guards' attitude towards her and her fourth sister was vastly different. As the mother of a nation, she couldn't even compare to her three words and two phrases. She thought for a moment and it didn't feel right. Her mouth coldly hummed: "What's going on? Must my sister come find you only when there's business?"