"These principles I have never known before. In these years, I have done less for him. For his selection of concubines and for his taking of consorts, I am also his 'woman'. But I must endure the pain to do these things." The Empress Yan said, finally, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

  "Sister, don't be sad anymore. This is fate." Yan Xijun said as she pulled the Empress's hand.

  "Others only see the splendor of the empress, who knows the suffering she endures."

  "You all know, sister. I'm not blaming you for betraying the Emperor. I just fear that you will have worries about your life because of this."

  "It won't happen. My sister is very cautious. As long as my younger sister doesn't say anything, I'm not afraid."

  "I won't say anything." Yan Xijun said faintly. It seems that sister still can't let go of Nan Gonghong. Fortunately, I also advised him earlier and he promised not to bother sister again. She trusts him. What she's afraid of is that in the future, sister will find another man to replace him.

  Her worries were not unreasonable. Later, Empress Yan really found another man to be her person. She was even caught by Chu Yixuan during the adultery. Her fate can be imagined. This is a later story.

  Yan Huanghou saw that her fourth sister had promised to keep her secret and she left with a peace of mind.

  From then on, Yan Xijun spent a few good days in Ganquan Palace. Because of the intervention of Empress Dowager's sister, those concubines also dared not to find her again.

  The calmer the days are, the less she looks for it. These past few days, Yan Xijun has been feeling that something is off, but can't quite put her finger on what's different.

  She had a sensitive feeling, as if something was going to happen again. Her sixth sense had always been accurate.

  When she told Xuelian about these unsettling things, Xuelian smiled incredulously and teased her: "Master, are you still suffering from the aftereffects of your injury from last time? You're always so sensitive. Isn't everything calm and peaceful in the harem now?"

  "It's good, but I always feel that something is different." Sitting in the courtyard on a rattan chair, Yan Xijun gazed up at the starry sky with worry. Her sixth sense wouldn't deceive her.

  "Master, don't think too much about it anymore. From now on, no matter what happens, I will protect you well," Yuki said.

  "Thank you. Xuelian."

  "It's nothing, it's what a servant should do." Her thanks made Xue Lian feel a bit awkward. Xue Lian keenly saw Wen Qin bringing some tea and snacks from the house, and hurried over to help.

  Xuan put down the pastry in her hand, smiled and said: "Master, this is osmanthus cake from the imperial kitchen. Master has always loved to eat it. Tonight, we can enjoy the pastry, drink tea, appreciate the moon and have a heart-to-heart talk."

  "Wow, what a great idea! Huanqin is always so thoughtful." Xuelian heard Huanqin's words and also thought it was a good idea.

  "I also saw Master and you chatting here, so I prepared some snacks." said Wen Qin.

  "Then you all sit down and come. Accompany me to solve this cake, tea and water." Yan Xijun also smiled and said. It's rare for three people to gather together like this to chat and eat.

  "Alright then. I won't be polite." Xuelian plopped herself down, picked up a piece of Osmanthus cake and put it into her mouth.

  Yan Xijun smiled and saw Wenqin still standing, so she beckoned her to sit down, saying: "Wenqin, you'd better sit down too."

  Wen Qin's face revealed a hint of difficulty in expression. She shook her head and said, "Master, I don't have time to accompany you all today. The Empress Dowager's palace maid, Jing Er, has been begging me to teach her embroidery for a long time. Tonight, I must go and instruct her."

  "Xun Qin, your embroidery is famous in the palace. When will you teach me too?" Xue Lian said, picking up a piece of pastry.

  "I'll teach you sometime later." Wen Qin then said to Yan Xijun: "Master, sorry about this. I won't be able to accompany you tonight."

  Yan Xijun felt a little regretful, but still smiled magnanimously: "Never mind, you go ahead, the earlier you leave, the earlier you'll be back."

  "Yes, Master." After hearing Qin say that, she took a step back and left. A sly smile spread across the corner of her mouth.

  Yan Xijun and Xue Lian only saw her back, unable to see the sly smile at the corner of her mouth.

  Xue Lian said, "Recently, Xun Qin has been very busy. One moment it's the palace maid from this palace looking for her, and the next moment it's the nanny from that palace looking for her. She's been rushing around all day."

  "How about it? You're envious of others, being able to eat so well in the palace." Yan Xijun also joked with a smile.

  "What's there to envy? I wouldn't be jealous of her, with my 'nature'. What I dislike the most is others coming to bother me with troubles. If others also come to find me, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it."

  "Haha, you're born this way. It's also something that can't be helped."

  "Hmm." The master and servant were drinking tea and eating pastries while chatting idly about everything under the sun. Before long, they had finished their tea and eaten all the pastries. Xue Lian shook her head and said: "Master, I'm so sleepy. I really want to take a nap."

  "I'm the same too. My eyes feel like they're about to close. Why am I so sleepy?" Yan Xijun also shook her head in puzzlement and said.

  "I don't know. Let's hurry back home and sleep." Xue Lian stumbled over to support Yan Xi Jun as they went back inside.

  Yan Xikun fell onto the bed and soon fell asleep. Xue Lian hadn't even helped her take off her shoes, and she herself leaned against the bed and dozed off as well.

  After the two fell asleep, a dark figure sneaked in and splashed some liquid on the bed and floor. Then it splattered more around the room before knocking over the red candles on the table. In an instant, as soon as the flames touched the liquid, they ignited rapidly.

  In no time, the high-grade carpet on the ground was set ablaze. The flames spread to the light silk bed curtains. With the help of these flammable fabrics, the flames instantly ignited the beams of the roof.

  That black shadow merely glanced at those two sleeping people, then turned around and left quickly without any hesitation or attachment.

  A big fire quickly broke out and slowly spread, with flames spewing out of the wooden window and burning into the adjacent room.

  Thick smoke billowed into the sky. Flames spread everywhere. Those palace maids who were still sleeping were woken up by the thick smoke.

  When I saw the flames in the main hall rising higher than the house, I was immediately frightened awake. I rushed out of the house and ran towards the main hall, shouting "It's not good! It's on fire! It's on fire!"

  Those people outside were in a panic, remembering that their master was still sleeping inside. They hastily carried wooden buckets to the well to fetch water, hoping to put out some of the fire and then rescue their master.

  Some people ran to report the incident to the emperor and empress, while others were only concerned with collecting their own belongings, hoping to move their personal items out before the big fire spread.

  So, Ganquan Palace was originally sparsely populated. Now, there are even fewer people willing to carry water buckets to put out the fire.

  Xue Lian was awakened by the thick smoke. As a martial artist, she was more sensitive. So she woke up first. When she saw the house full of thick smoke and flames everywhere, she was shocked speechless. The thick smoke irritated her eyes, making it hard for her to open them.