Outside the gate of Qingfeng Pavilion, two eunuchs were covertly peeking inside, their backs pressed against the door. "Madam, isn't this improper?"

A "little eunuch" named XueE followed closely behind the bold imperial concubine, clutching onto her sleeve. His heart was pounding heavily, fearing that if His Majesty were to find out that the noble concubine was wandering around the palace dressed like this, the consequences would be far from as simple as being confined to face a wall for three months.

"Princess, please come down!" While Xue'e silently mourned for her beloved princess, the princess of her household had already climbed onto the palace wall. Helplessly, Xue'e followed after her, tears welling up in her eyes. "Princess, what if you fall? What will we do then?"

Xue'e, hurry up, stop dawdling, quickly come over and join me," Shui Qingling urged, a bit worried about her having to jump such a high wall alone. She looked down and saw Xue'e still lingering there. "Hurry up."

"Yes." Xue E helplessly stomped her feet and jumped onto the top of the wall in one swift motion. She then gracefully launched herself off, landing firmly in the courtyard, and extended her arms gracefully towards the water on the wall.

"Xue'e, be prepared to catch me." Shui Qingling closed her eyes, wearing an expression of complete resignation, and jumped down. Xue'e didn't understand. Although Madam was clearly so afraid, she insisted on coming to see this new gentleman."

"Your Majesty, you can open your eyes now." Xue Er caught the Water Spirit gently and steadily.

Shui Qingling opened her eyes and curiously surveyed this secluded little courtyard. It was different from the grandeur of the palace; it looked more like the backyard of a scholarly family. Especially that small patch of bamboo, just looking at it made people feel comfortable. Presumably, the owner of this courtyard would not be as indulgent and unreasonable as Jinghua.

As she continued to gaze, Shui Qingling suddenly froze. The sight of a white figure in the bamboo forest captivated her attention, as if an ethereal being from another world standing there. Shui Qingling couldn't help but become transfixed, no matter how much Xue'e called her, she couldn't snap out of her daze.

The figure in white slowly turned around, and its ethereal appearance instantly captivated Shui Qingling. Xia'e, who was calling out to Shui Qingling, also froze when she saw the person's face. In her entire life, she had never seen someone so good-looking.

Jinghua Gongzi is as bewitching and exquisite as a fox. The young master in front of me exudes a refined and gentle demeanor, as smooth and delicate as jade. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he is ethereal like a celestial being.

The young master before me is as elegant as bamboo. As he approaches, even the gentle water feels as if it carries a whiff of bamboo fragrance, penetrating into the depths of my heart, bringing a sense of comfort that makes me completely forget that I am here as a trespasser.

"The man opened his mouth and spoke, his voice flowing into the heart like a clear spring, completely pulling Shui Qingling back."

"Um, um, just passing by... passing by." Shui Qingling's excitement got the better of her, causing her words to become incoherent. This time, she was caught red-handed.

"Miss, have a seat and have a cup of tea!" Tang Yu smiled lightly and sat on the stone chair, greeting Shui Qingling. The tea was already poured, and no outsiders had visited this courtyard for quite some time. Since that morning, Song Jianglin had not come to see him, only sending the medicinal soup every day. However, because of the mistake that happened last time, the person delivering the medicine every day was dressed in black clothes.

It is said that the person is an undercover guard under Song Jiang Lin's command.

"Uh, alright... alright!" Shui Qingling sat down without any hesitation. The nearby young palace maid, Xue'e, furrowed her brows. When will our mistress overcome this problem of being enthralled by good-looking people and regain her sense of direction?

After a cup of tea, Shui Qingling sat uneasily in front of him. This... why is she even more nervous than when she saw Brother Jiang Lin?

"I'll play a song for you!" Tang Yu said, thinking of a good way as he watched her nervous expression.

"Yeah," Shui Qingling nodded absentmindedly.

Tang Yu's flute sound resembles his person, clear and crisp like a spring, yet resonant and melodious like an empty valley. Shui Qingling was once again captivated by its divine allure.

"Your Majesty, it seems that the young lord Yu is in a good mood today." Standing outside the door, Song Jiang accompanied Jiang Gonggong as they lingered on the road, listening to the melodious flute music drifting from the Qingfeng Pavilion. Jiang Gonggong smiled brightly and said.

"Hmm." Song Jiang agreed and reluctantly glanced at the glossy red gate before turning around and walking in the opposite direction.

"Your Majesty, why have you returned?" Jiang Gonggong asked, puzzled. The Emperor had wanted to come and see Lord Yu for a while now, and Jiang Gonggong clearly understood this. Otherwise, he wouldn't have disguised himself as a concealed guard and personally delivered medicine to Lord Yu."

At this time, he probably doesn't want to see me," Song Jiang sighed with disappointment. If Tang Yu is in the mood to play the flute, it means that he is in a good mood today. If I were to meet him, my mood would inevitably worsen. It would be better for me to finish dealing with the Xuantian Xin matter first before meeting him.

"This..." Grand Tutor Jiang followed along but couldn't find any words to say. It was the first time that His Majesty had shown such consideration for a person, yet unfortunately, that protagonist just didn't appreciate it.

When Song Jiang arrived at the study, Jinghua was already waiting there. His mood was somewhat downcast. Instead of going forward to meet Song Jiang as usual, he remained in place and respectfully greeted him.

"Hua'er, what's wrong with you today?" Song Jiang asked knowingly.

"Your Majesty, I have a request." Jinghua suddenly kneeled down, and Song Jianglin had never seen such a determined expression on his face before.

"Hua'er..." Song Jiang's heart suddenly ached as he felt more and more indebted to Jing Hua. "If I could only let you choose between him and me, whom would you choose?"

Jinghua kept her head down, biting her lip. On one hand, there was her father, the only person who would acknowledge him. On the other hand, there was the person he loved with all sincerity. Jinghua knew Xuantian Xin's ambitions were great, that he amassed power, but he was still his father after all.

"Hua'er, I will give you time, until the day Xuantian Xin falls from power, I will still treat you as I did before."

Song Jiang walked over and helped Jinghua up from the ground. As he looked at Jinghua's somewhat pale face, he couldn't help but think of another person. What exactly was Tang Yu in his heart? A beloved concubine, or someone even more significant?

Jinghua knew that once he chose Xuantian Xin, he would lose everything he had now, including Song Jianglin's love. All he would gain was a single life granted by Xuantian Xin.

Inside the Green Grain Hall, an elderly man hurriedly paced back and forth, moving about within the hall. When he caught sight of a figure dressed in green, he quickly rushed forward and greeted, "Your Majesty, what do you have to say?"

"Dad, I've advised you many times, why do you just refuse to listen!"

Jinghua looked at the old man with a grumbling expression. If it weren't for him not despising him because of his mother's identity, he wouldn't bother with him. But unfortunately, he had agreed to his mother's dying wish of being filial to Xuan Tianxin just like he had been filial to his mother. Thus, he had no choice but to fulfill it.

"Since we have come this far, then help me with one final task, Father."

In Xuantian Xin's eyes, there was almost a madness of destruction. It seemed that he was prepared to make a final desperate struggle, but this gamble required Jinghua's cooperation. He greedily gazed at everything inside the palace, knowing that it would all belong to him. His family had been loyal to the emperor for generations, supporting and assisting the emperor. However, Song Jianglin had weakened his military power and intended to strip him of his official position. He would definitely not be willing to accept this.

"Dad, what do you want me to do?"

Come over here." Xuantian Xin beckoned Jinghua over and whispered a few words into his ear, looking around at the empty surroundings.

Jinghua looked at his father with a blank expression and asked, "Do we really have to do this?"

"Child, this is your father's last hope. Don't forget what you promised your mother, okay?"

Xuantian Xin pointed at Jinghua and said, the image of a kind father in the past has disappeared, replaced by that of a frenzied demon. Jinghua looked at him, knowing that this would be the final encounter. Tang Yu's position in the emperor's heart was only a speculation. "I obey your command, Your Majesty!"

"Hahaha!" Xuan Tianxin laughed while watching Jinghua, then he took big strides and left the Qinghe Hall.