After her luck was taken away, she fell in love with the woman who traveled through time.

"...He knew that the emperor still had deep feelings for the late queen, but he still wanted to marry someone with the same name and surname. Naturally, I don't like him." Qian You was worried, so he brought up the matter again.

The matter of Liang Tan was like a thorn that always stuck in the emperor's heart. After hearing what Qian You said, his good impression of Shen Mushen disappeared again.

Qian You's mind raced, and he finally lowered his voice and urged, "Your Majesty, now you have two more right-hand men. They will surely replace Shen Mushen in time. You don't have to be afraid of Shen Mushen's manipulation anymore. It's time to get everything back on track."

The emperor's eyes moved slightly.

In the Imperial Household Department, Liang Tan glanced at the eunuchs who were sneaking around outside the courtyard, pursed his lips, and walked into the house. When he was about to reach the door, he turned his head and looked at the palace servants on the side: "Ask the kitchen to cook two bowls of glutinous rice balls tonight. The seal holder said yesterday that he wanted to eat some."

"Yes." The palace maid quickly responded.

In the evening, Shen Mushen came back at dinner time and smelled a sweet scent as soon as he entered the door.

A smile flashed in his eyes, and he sat down directly opposite Liang Tan: "Did you cook glutinous rice balls for me?"

"Cooked in the kitchen." Liang Tan glanced at him.

Shen Mushen took a bite and said, "It's delicious."

Liang Tan curled the corner of his lips and did not respond to him.

Shen Mushen keenly noticed that she was in a bad mood and immediately frowned: "What's wrong?"

Liang Tan stared at him for a long time, and finally sighed: "Someone has been sneaking around outside the courtyard for some time, don't say you don't know."

Shen Mushen was silent for a moment, and looked at her with a much gentler look: "Are you scared?"

"Mu Shen, have you really thought about what to do?" Liang Tan asked with a frown, "The emperor sent those two people to follow you, obviously wanting to divide your power. When they grow up, they will kick you away. How can you still help them so wholeheartedly? Do you know how those two people are respectful to you on the surface, but now they look down on you behind your back?"

Even she, who never leaves the house, knows how arrogant those two people are. She doesn't believe that Shen Mushen is completely unaware of it.

As expected, Shen Mushen was not too surprised. He just said, "Now that they have sent their families out of the capital, they have no worries. With the support of the emperor, they naturally don't take me, the seal, seriously."

"You know all this, yet you still teach them so diligently?" Liang Tan had a headache.

Shen Mushen was used to doing things without consulting her, but when he saw her frowning brows, he pursed his lips and said, "The emperor has ordered that I will no longer review memorials starting tomorrow."

He paused for a moment and said, "Within ten days, they will make a big mistake. By then, the emperor will not be able to protect them and will have to beg for mercy from me."

Liang Tan was stunned, but seeing his determined look, he realized that he was indeed ready.

"So don't worry, I will protect you." Shen Mushen comforted slowly.

Liang Tan looked at him steadily, wanting to ask what would happen after the emperor begged for mercy? Even if the emperor learned his lesson and never dared to touch you again, he would die one day. If the world didn't end after his death, how could you bear the anger of the court officials and the new emperor that had been accumulated for many years?

However, when the words came to her lips, she said nothing.

Shen Mushen looked at her steadily, and suddenly felt a little uneasy. He had originally planned to talk about it in a few days, but now he could no longer hold back: "I bought a mansion."

Liang Tan paused slightly.

Shen Mushen's eyes were full of tenderness: "It's in the suburbs of Beijing. As you said, they've planted many flowers and trees, and built a beautiful small kitchen. It's right next to your bedroom. You can come anytime..."

"Shen Mushen, you want to send me out of the palace at this time?" Liang Tan asked coldly.

Shen Mushen stopped talking before he could finish his words.

After a moment of silence, he coaxed in a low voice: "After this period of time, I will take you back."

"Do you think I'm holding you back?" Liang Tan frowned.

"Of course not," Shen Mushen denied without thinking, and pursed his lips after meeting her unhappy eyes, "The emperor has recently thought that he has me in his hands, and the next step will definitely be bad for you. I just want you to go out for a while, and wait for me to deal with those two people, and then take you back."

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, with helplessness in his eyes: "Liang Tan, I can't protect you all the time, only this way can I feel at ease."

"But I won't feel at ease if I do that," Liang Tan glanced at him, "Don't even think about leaving the palace. I won't agree to it."

After that, without giving him a chance to persuade her, she lowered her head and started eating the dumplings. Shen Mushen had no choice but to give up and arranged more people to protect her in the yard.

The next morning, Liang Tan discovered that there were obviously more people in the yard.

"What's going on?" She called someone over.

The man hurriedly said, "The Master Seal Master ordered us to come and protect the Master."

Liang Tan raised his eyes and looked at everyone. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Did he say that no one can take me away?"

"That's right." The man thought she knew everything, so he nodded in acknowledgement.

"What if the emperor comes?" Liang Tan raised his eyebrows.

When the man heard this, his expression did not change much, the answer was obvious.

Liang Tan fell into deep thought and returned to his room after a long time. After standing quietly for a long time, he took out the medicinal powders that Shen Mushen had secretly hidden and began to rub them one by one.

When Shen Mushen came back, he saw that she had wiped the bottles and jars very clean and placed them neatly on the table.

"Why did you suddenly think of taking care of these?" Shen Mushen was curious.

Liang Tan smiled and said, "I just find it interesting. I haven't asked you yet, what is this purple bottle?"

Shen Mushen took a look and said, "Ganweizi, I used it many years ago. Do you still remember it?"

Liang Tan blinked his eyes and said, "Then you have to tighten it up. Don't let the powder escape, otherwise you and I will be embarrassed."

Shen Mushen couldn't help but smile as he recalled the past. He pulled a chair over and sat down beside her, and began to teach her the functions of these bottles and jars. Liang Tan listened absentmindedly, occasionally asking a few more questions when she was interested, and Shen Mushen answered them very patiently.

The two chatted for a long time, and no one mentioned the matter of the guards in the courtyard. The atmosphere was quite harmonious.

They lived in peace like this for two or three days. One morning when Shen Mushen got up, he glanced at Liang Tan who was sleeping soundly on the bed. He suddenly felt that it was okay for her to stay. As long as he was careful enough, he could protect her.

Liang Tan, who was in his sleep, opened his eyes as if aware of something. When he saw it was him, he snorted softly, "Is it time to go on duty again?"

"Ah."

"Will you come back for dinner tonight?" Her voice was still vague.

Shen Mushen raised his lips: "New Year's Day is coming soon. I've been very busy lately and I'm afraid I won't be able to come back." Yesterday, the two young eunuchs suddenly got stomach upset. Today, he was the only one dealing with affairs. I didn't think he would be able to sneak out early to accompany her like he did in the past few days.

Thinking about it this way, the existence of those two people is not without benefits.

He chatted briefly with Liang Tan and then left, entering the imperial study and began to read the memorials. Although he told Liang Tan that he might not go back at night, he still sped up his work and rushed to finish all the affairs in the evening.

However, before he could leave the imperial study, the emperor came in person and placed a Buddhist scripture directly on his desk.

"After you finish reading the memorial today, copy this Buddhist scripture ten times. I will go to the Buddhist temple to pray for blessings tomorrow." After he said that, he turned and left.

Seeing this, the palace servant who was waiting on the side hurriedly and cautiously said, "Master, let me copy the seal."

"No need." Shen Mushen returned to the table and sat down. Now that the net was about to be closed, there was no need to offend him for such a small matter.

Upon hearing this, the palace maids dared not persuade him any further.

Shen Mushen lowered his eyes as he copied the scriptures. The scriptures, which were beneficial to self-cultivation, made him more and more irritated the more he copied them. He also felt vaguely uneasy in his heart, as if something was going to happen.

When he copied it for the fourth time, it was already dark outside. He finally stood up and walked out.

However, as soon as he reached the door, he was stopped by someone.

"The emperor has ordered that the seal holder cannot leave until the copying is completed." said the guard at the door.

Shen Mushen's face suddenly turned cold, and he rushed out. The guards were shocked to see him, but they didn't dare to stop him, so they could only chase him hurriedly. However, after a few steps, Shen Mushen disappeared. Everyone had no choice but to run to the bedroom to complain to the emperor.

Shen Mushen rushed back to the Imperial Household Department. When the guards in the courtyard saw him, they knelt down in fear. His sharp eyes pierced through the void like a knife, and he looked directly at the wide-open door. His eyes were instantly frozen like ice that had been there for thousands of years.

"Didn't I say that I would protect you with my life?" Every word he spoke was like a blade mixed with ice, cutting everyone's body with bruises.

Everyone shuddered, and only the palace servant who had been serving in the courtyard replied tremblingly: "The master... left of her own accord, and the servants could not stop her at all."

Shen Mushen was stunned and his face suddenly turned ugly.

Outside the bedroom, the guard knelt down and reported.

Liang Tan had already sat on the dragon bed. After listening to what was said outside, he looked at the emperor with a smile: "The seal holder is just too concerned about me, so I am confused. The emperor will not blame him, right?"

"Like, too much like..." The emperor looked obsessed, panting and holding her hand, "Don't call yourself a slave. From today on, you are my woman. Call yourself my concubine."

"Minister, concubine." Liang Tan opened her red lips and slowly said these two words.

When Shen Mushen broke into the bedroom, the palace servants at the door were all shocked. After they realized what was happening, they tried to stop him and persuade him, and the place suddenly became a mess.

"What are you arguing about?" A woman's voice came from the room. Everyone suddenly fell silent. Shen Muchen suddenly looked up and stared at the closed door.

After a moment, a palace servant timidly replied: "Replying to... Madam, the seal is coming."

When Shen Mushen heard her addressing Liang Tan, blood almost seeped out of his eyes.

The room was silent for a moment, and then Liang Tan's voice was heard: "The emperor said to let him in, you just stand guard at the door, no need to follow him."

"Yes."

Shen Mushen rushed in immediately, quickly passed through the outer room and rushed into the room. The next moment he saw Liang Tan sitting on the bed in dishevel, and the emperor had fallen asleep.

The string of reason in Shen Mushen's mind was completely broken. Without thinking, he took down the sword on the wall and was about to stab the emperor. Liang Tan was startled and quickly protected the sleeping emperor: "Mushen!"

"Get out of the way, I want to kill him, I want to kill him..." Shen Mushen's voice began to tremble.

Liang Tan was helpless: "Why kill him? He didn't touch me."

Shen Mushen was stunned.

"As soon as he touched my hand, I drugged him and made him faint." Liang Tan said, throwing a small porcelain bottle to him.

It was one of the powders he had stored earlier.

Shen Mushen stared at her blankly. After not seeing any marks on her body, he took a deep breath and said, "I will take you away now."

Then he extended his hand towards her.

Liang Tan looked at his hand without moving.

Shen Mushen's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly remembered what the palace maid had said, "The master left voluntarily." His fingers, which had been frozen in mid-air, began to tremble.

Liang Tan felt uneasy and sighed, "I'm sorry, Mu Shen, I can't leave."

"…Why?" he asked in a hoarse voice.

Liang Tan looked at him and said, "For our future, I must return to the throne."

Shen Mushen stared at her intently.

Liang Tan had no choice but to explain himself: "I know your plan is perfect, and I also know that once it succeeds, the emperor will never dare to plot against you and me again, but what about the future? The emperor will grow old and die, and a new emperor will ascend the throne. How will you and I cope with it then?"

"...I will protect you," Shen Mushen said, then realized that he had repeated this sentence too many times, so he added anxiously, "I have already found a candidate, the youngest son of Prince An, who is only five years old now and very easy to control. Prince An is weak and not a threat. As long as I help him ascend the throne, I can control the world for at least another ten years."

"What about ten years later?" Liang Tan was helpless.

"Kill the new king and appoint a crown prince." Shen Muchen's eyes were dark, as if he had gone mad.

Liang Tan shook his head: "You should know that the political situation changes rapidly, and it is impossible for everything to go as you wish. Once you make a mistake, you will die without a burial place."

"So what? You think I can't protect you, so you cling to the emperor again, hoping to give birth to a prince?" Shen Muchen's words suddenly became sharp, but after he finished speaking, he felt that it was too much and apologized with red eyes.

Liang Tan felt that if he didn't explain it clearly, the child might really go crazy. After a moment of silence, he said, "I have a disease and can't have children."

Shen Mushen was stunned.

"But I can fake a pregnancy and bring back an orphan from outside the palace in ten months," Liang Tan looked at him, "Since everyone in the royal family may be our enemy, then we don't want them to be emperors. You and I can raise a child together to succeed the throne and ensure a stable life. What do you think?"

Shen Mushen stared at her and refused to say a word.

Liang Tan softened his voice: "It's only a year, or even less than a year. After confirming that I'm 'pregnant', the emperor can stay in bed, right? I believe you can always find a way."

"...In short, you have made up your mind." Shen Mushen used a declarative sentence.

Liang Tan looked at him silently.

After a long while, Shen Mushen agreed in a hoarse voice: "...Okay."

After saying that, he turned and left. Liang Tan watched him walk away and suddenly had the urge to call him back. However, she opened her mouth several times and finally held back.

This world is so difficult. She sighed and lowered her head, feeling indescribably lost.

Just when she was feeling uncomfortable, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her. She looked up as if she had sensed something and saw Shen Mushen returning to her again.

"Mu Shen?" Her eyes were full of surprise.

Shen Mushen plucked one of her hairpins expressionlessly and stabbed it directly into his own arm. Liang Tan was stunned and saw him dripping blood on the bed.

"Since you want to be the queen, you can't have any stain on your body." There was a trace of pain in his eyes, but it was not because of pain. "When he wakes up, you can say that you are not my concubine, but you just want me to send you out of the palace, so you stayed in the Imperial Household Department."

Liang Tan stared at the bloodstains on the bed, then smiled helplessly after a long time.

Shen Mushen had already turned around to leave, but he stopped abruptly when he heard the laughter behind him.