Perhaps because the days were getting shorter, or perhaps because it was an overcast day, usually by now the skies would long since have grown bright, but today, it was still misty. It was as if the early morning light had been broken by the palace eaves, and atop the golden tiles had gathered a layer of white dew. The wind anxiously blew the fallen leaves in circles on the stone steps, and just then, by chance, they stopped before Jiang Changbai and Song Juguang. Here, there was only the sound of the wind. It was as if the two were competing, staring fixedly at the other, seeing their own reflection in the other's eyes. Yet neither was willing to speak first. The servants by the side had been scared stiff by the sight, holding their breaths and watching with rapt attention, hoping the two wouldn't vent their ire on them. "Why don't you leave," Jiang Changbai suddenly said. Song Juguang, hearing these words, felt her heart suddenly sink, and it was as if her entir...

Translator's note: My real life responsibilities have eased a great deal, so hopefully I can return to regular weekend updates! This chapter is going up early since the next one is five thousand characters and will require a little more time (though I plan on having it up before the end of the weekend!). Thanks again to everyone for your patience. -  An entire person naturally couldn't simply disappear like that. At this moment, Liang Jiwen was sitting in Chen Xun's room, sipping that tea worth a thousand gold. "Her majesty wants to murder my Royal Father?" She looked at Chen Xun in disbelief, the anxiety on her expression increasing. "If you say something like that without thinking, you'll lose your head." "Is Dianxia worried about me?" Chen Xun chuckled, "since I dare to say it, of course it's true. The smokescreen on this final nail in the coffin will only last so long—it can only be maintained for a month. Regardless, from here...

The sunlight spilled through the window lattice, casting floral patterns across the tiles. Spirals of dark smoke rose from the censer, but they weren't able to conceal the heavy atmosphere in the imperial study. The hem of Song Juguang's crow-black official's robes were dirtied with dust, and it was clear that she'd taken the journey at haste. “Bixia." Song Juguang intentionally turned slightly to the side, just happening to place herself between Sheng Yunxing and Jiang Changbai. Hearing this, Jiang Changbai raised her head, her gaze flitting rapidly across the confession that Song Juguang had brought her. Her long, slender fingers tapped against the surface of the desk, her thumb ring making a dull sound as it struck the tabletop. "Shejin," she muttered, the final syllable becoming a sneer. As one matter was settled, another rose; it was as if, as soon as something was related to Shejin, it became far more trouble. In the past, Shejin had caused trouble ...

A split second after the whip snapped, the two struggling over it fell to the ground. People, who had been hiding who knew where, emerged one after the other, and before Ulan could scramble up, pressed her to the ground. How could Ulan have known her identity had been exposed? She continued struggling, shouting, "Let go!" "Every issue has its origin; we've slighted you, and I hope Daren doesn't take offence,"Song Juguang said, standing by the railing, looked down on the two from the pavilion; but though her words were an apology, her tone wasn't the slightest bit apologetic. "In a bit, someone will take you to the Palace, and at the banquet, this regent will most certainly toast to you." Only now did Su Ya see Song Juguang up in the pavilion, and suddenly understood that everything had been seen in its entirety by this person. She'd never met Song Juguang, and moreover, didn't know that she was the "God of Death" renowned by t...

Though she'd said she was to teach the rules, everything the old woman said, Su Ya had learnt while in the Shejin Royal Palace. There was nothing the old woman could teach her, and so, saying, "In a bit, someone will come to fetch you," she left, leaving Su Ya and her maid to ruminate in the room. But though she'd said "in a bit", Su Ya's wait was quite long. This room, like the Prince's manor, was dilapidated and empty, without a sense of vitality. Su Ya didn't even know how much time had passed; she only knew that she'd remained in this room for a long, long time. "Is this how the Great Li treats an Envoy?" Su Ya's maid was the first to be unable to hold out. From her childhood, she'd followed by Su Ya's side, and she'd never seen Su Ya so wronged. Su Ya raised her hand, gesturing downwards to indicate that the maid clam herself. She herself rose, and paced a few circles in the room. The furnishings of this room w...

Translator's note: Sincere apologies for last week's missed updates. I had assumed that my currently lighter schedule would make posting on schedule easier, but I underestimated the burden of my current courseload. I'll do my best to keep on top of things, but if I miss a week again in the future, I apologise in advance and thank you all for your understanding.  -  The day grew shorter and shorter, and at this moment, a few beams of moonlight spilled into the room through the window. Liang Jiwen hid behind the curtain, the joints of her unconsciously tightly curled fingers faintly white. Liang Jiwen recalled the words that Bi Yushuang had just spoken, and as a result, at this time, she instinctively turned her head to look towards the copper mirror on the eastern wall. But where she was was clearly the blind spot of the mirror, and everything was obstructed by the curtain, and nothing could be seen at all. As she thought, Liang Jiwen's throat unconsciously tightened, an...

The maid had only just finished speaking when the expressions of those in the room all chilled. Bi Yushuang's fingers unconsciously tapped against the table, making a soft pattering sound. Assuming that it had been that she'd been too hasty on the way here, leading the Envoy's people here, Liang Jiwen's gaze immediately concentrated on Tao Li and He Miao. But Bi Yushuang only lightly raised her hand, and said to the maid, "Let's go and meet the guest in the front courtyard." "A Shuang—" Liang Jiwen raised a hand, about to obstruct her, but before she'd even finished speaking, she was cut off by Bi Yushuang. "Set your mind at ease and stay here; when is there ever such a coincidence? You're being as guilty as a thief." Bi Yushuang turned her head to look at her, and saw that Liang Jiwen's complexion was as pale as a sheet of paper, and the panic in her eyes was even harder to mask. But when she realised that Bi Yushuang was l...