Xiao Yunjing hugged her tightly, fearing she would disappear again. Without her by his side, everything seemed dull and tasteless.

He said, “Don’t worry, Li’er, I’ve already sent someone to invite a powerful Daoist Master skilled in exorcising ghosts. Perhaps he can expel the Original Host from this body, but before that, I’ll find a way to let her meet Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su.”

“Mhm, but be careful,” Gu Qingli said. “The Original Host hates you deeply; she believes all her misfortunes are your fault.”

“I know,” Xiao Yunjing replied. “That’s why I’ve kept her locked up in Fengqi Palace and haven’t shown my face. I’m worried she’ll spread malicious gossip if she gets out. If she leaves, and you’re left to clean up her mess, how could I allow that?”

Their statuses were different before. It didn’t matter what was said then—ghosts or demons, it hardly affected them. Now Li’er is the Empress of a nation; there absolutely cannot be any slanderous rumors about her. Talk of demons and ghosts must never be allowed to spread. He couldn’t silence the entire world. That would go against his original purpose. Not only would it fail to provide Li’er with a safe environment, but it would also plunge her into an even more difficult one. He would not permit that.

“How are our little dumplings doing?” Gu Qingli asked. “I wanted to go see them, but then I thought if I went over and *she* woke up, it would be troublesome, so I resisted the urge.”

Gu Qingli dearly missed their three little ones. Thinking that her sons also couldn’t see her, she held Xiao Yunjing tightly, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She cried out all her anxiety and longing from the past few days.

“Don’t cry, Li’er. They’re doing very well. Just hold on for a few more days.” Xiao Yunjing’s heart ached as he listened to Gu Qingli’s heartbreaking sobs. He cupped her face, kissing her repeatedly, kissing away the tears on her cheeks.

Gu Qingli nodded through her tears. After crying for a while, she said, “Yunjing, you should leave now. I think she’s about to wake up.”

“Alright.”

Xiao Yunjing laid her on the long couch, kissing her, reluctant to leave. Gu Qingli gently pushed him, and only then did he depart Fengqi Palace, his heart heavy with unwillingness.

After Xiao Yunjing returned, he sat alone in the Imperial Study, not even in the mood to look at the memorials. He was pondering what Gu Qingli had just said.

How could he arrange for the Original Host to meet Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su while ensuring she wouldn’t reveal Li’er’s secret? With the Original Host’s deep hatred for him, she would become agitated the moment she saw him. Trying to communicate with her was definitely out of the question. He mulled it over and decided it was better to ask Wuyou. Wuqing, that stoic-faced fellow, just stood there day in and day out. His relationship with the Original Host wasn’t good either. Even if Wuqing spoke, she probably wouldn’t pay him any mind.

Wuyou was summoned to the Imperial Study. Xiao Yunjing explained the situation to her, “Wuyou, can you think of a way to keep her quiet and allow her to meet Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su, all without exposing your Young Miss’s secret?”

After a moment’s thought, Wuyou said, “Your Majesty, how about we say she’s ill? We can press her mute acupoint, then let Lord Gu and Madam Su enter the palace to visit her. What do you think?”

In her opinion, they should just wait for Daoist Master Sanqing to come and expel the Original Host from the Young Miss’s body. Why let her meet anyone? What if she caused some trouble?

Xiao Yunjing listened with a speechless expression. He waved his hand at Wuyou. What a terrible idea. Even if the Original Host’s mute acupoint was pressed, she could still write! This foolish girl. It seemed he would have to handle this personally.

Back in Fengqi Palace, sure enough, not long after Xiao Yunjing had left, the Original Host woke up, and Gu Qingli returned to her Space.

Upon waking up, the Original Host was unaware of Xiao Yunjing’s visit and simply thought it had all been a dream.

However, she felt a strange sensation on her lips, as if Xiao Yunjing’s scent lingered there.

She didn’t know that Gu Qingli had dealt with it.

Gu Qingli had deduced from their earlier conversation that the Original Host currently couldn’t share memories with her. So, she had carefully removed any trace of Xiao Yunjing’s scent, fearing that if the Original Host realized she and Xiao Yunjing had kissed, she would go berserk.

Nevertheless, the Original Host was still repulsed by the faint scent of Xiao Yunjing. She quickly had Wuqing bring her water to wash up, only feeling clean after the scent was gone.

“Wuqing, did Xiao Yunjing come here?” the Original Host still asked.

Wuqing shook her head. “This servant does not know. When you were sleeping, this servant went out for a while. You were still asleep when this servant returned.”

Wuqing lied without batting an eye. Since the Original Host was asking, it was clear she didn’t know the Emperor had come. Why should she tell her then? ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⟡𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⟡𝓷𝓮𝓽

“That’s strange,” the Original Host muttered to herself. She shook her head and had Wuqing bring in her meal.

「Taiqing Palace」

After dinner, Xiao Yunjing, seeing that the Original Host in Fengqi Palace was likely not yet asleep, made his way there.

The moment the Original Host saw Xiao Yunjing enter, she cried out agitatedly, “Xiao Yunjing, let me out of here, now!”

Xiao Yunjing raised a hand to cut her off. “No need to shout. I came precisely for this matter.”

“Are you willing to let me out?” The Original Host was surprised.

“It’s not about letting you out. It’s about letting you meet your parents. However, I have one condition. If you agree to it, I will grant your request.” Xiao Yunjing deliberately phrased it as her ‘request,’ not her ‘wish.’

“What condition?”

Xiao Yunjing stated gravely, “You must not reveal anything concerning yourself and Li’er. If you agree, I will arrange for Lord Gu and Madam Su to enter the palace tomorrow for you to meet.”

When the Original Host remained silent, he continued, “And don’t entertain any foolish hopes. If you dare tell Lord Gu and Madam Su about Li’er, then don’t blame me for taking action against *them*. You understand what it would mean for Li’er and her children if her secret gets out. So…”

Xiao Yunjing stared coldly at the Original Host. Let’s see if she truly cares about Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su. If she genuinely cares for them, she will undoubtedly agree to my condition. To the Original Host, my condition is a trivial matter, hardly worth mentioning. Of course, if she *did* tell Gu Xicheng and his wife, I would absolutely keep my word: Gu Xicheng and Ms. Su would not live to see another dawn. For Li’er and my three little ones, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill a few more people.

Meeting Xiao Yunjing’s icy gaze, the Original Host felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew this man was dead serious; he wasn’t joking.

She nodded. To see her parents, she had no other choice. “Alright, I promise you. I won’t say anything about Gu Qingli. But you must agree to let my mother stay in the palace for a few extra days.”

She yearned to spend a few good days with her mother. She had a premonition that she wouldn’t remain in this body for much longer. These past few days, without absorbing that comforting energy, her spirit had weakened considerably. Despite her immense reluctance, she knew she didn’t have many days left. The thought that she was truly going to die filled her with an intense hatred for the man before her. If it weren’t for him, how could she have lost her life so prematurely?

“Very well,” Xiao Yunjing replied. “I hope you keep your promise. Tomorrow, I will arrange for Lord Gu and Madam Su to enter the palace.”

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