After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

"You're crazy, you're crazy! Do whatever you want, it's not me who's going to die anyway."

Xiang An decided to completely ignore it, plopped down in a chair, closed his eyes, and decided to simply ignore it.

Just as she expected, Master Xuanqing was so angry that his beard almost bristled. He blocked the doorway and refused to let lunch and dinner in, saying all the time, "That poor wretch is so poor that he's almost dying and still has to rely on this old Taoist to feed him. So what if this old Taoist cuts off his food for a day? So what?!"

The words were spoken to the eunuch who brought the food, but his eyes kept glancing at Xiang An, his words practically screaming, "Pay up!"

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Xiang An punched Master Xuanqing twice in the stomach: "Damn Taoist, what are you doing, making veiled accusations? If you want to curse someone, curse them! Why are you cursing me? It's not like I stepped on them!"

"Ahhh! You think this old Taoist priest is easy to bully? If something is broken, you have to pay for it. If you can't pay, can't I at least curse you a bit to vent my anger?"

Master Xuanqing wasn't intimidated. He rolled up his sleeves and charged forward, shouting, "What did I say? Did I name you or your surname? You're just trying to pin this on me?!"

The two men, brimming with menacing energy, didn't provoke a tense standoff; instead, it was like two madmen fighting the air. The only difference between the two madmen was that one was a madman that could be seen, while the other was a madman that could not be seen.

The former, the madman Master Xuanqing, was restrained by the guards, while the latter, the madman Xiang An, arrogantly stepped on Master Xuanqing's head in provocation, laughing maniacally: "You can't hit me, you can't hit me, I'll make you angry to death!"

"Make way, make way, I'll give Master Xuanqing an acupuncture treatment, and he'll be fine after a nap." A royal physician squeezed through the crowd, holding a silver needle about five inches long.

"Sleep, sleep, sleep! Who wants to sleep in broad daylight! Don't sleep! This old Taoist is going to beat her up! I'm so angry! Let her go, let her go!!"

Master Xuanqing struggled frantically, but the guards holding him down were all skilled in martial arts and incredibly strong, making it impossible for him to break free. With the imperial physician administering an acupuncture needle, he had no choice but to fall asleep.

After subduing him, the guards who were holding down Xuanqing Daoist's limbs exchanged glances and thought to themselves, "It's really terrifying when a Daoist goes mad." As soon as they breathed a sigh of relief, they hurriedly carried him out.

As night fell, Changfu arrived alone. Just then, Fu Qingbai finished drinking his medicine and the lamps were lit. He bowed and said, "Greetings to Princess Miankang and Marquis Anwu."

Xiang An was taken aback. Fu Qingbai frowned, put down his bowl, and gave a nonchalant "hmm".

Changfu quickly handed over a few candied dates. The pitted dates were coated with glistening syrup, their color as golden as amber, and the patterns on the dates were clear like gold veins. They were bright and transparent, and the sweetness was overwhelming. Fu Qingbai did not refuse and ate three or four in a row. The bitterness of the medicine dissipated, and her tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"Thank you."

Changfu bowed with a smile: "Is Your Excellency feeling any better?"

"Fortunately."

"That's good. His Majesty thinks of the Marquis every day. If it weren't for the fact that he is too busy with state affairs, His Majesty would have come to visit the Marquis long ago."

Fu Qingbai fell silent, then spoke sarcastically to An: "Your ability to lie through your teeth is too strong. When my father was alive, I never realized you were such a smooth talker."

Changfu, who was always observant, sensed something was amiss. His eyes darted around, and he said with a smile, "The Marquis is injured and is feeling frustrated, so His Majesty can understand why he wants to destroy some things. Once or twice, His Majesty will not interfere for the sake of the princess. But, Marquis, please stop now."

With dark pupils and a sharp look in his eyes, Fu Qingbai asked, "Is the young emperor throwing a tantrum?"

Upon hearing these familiar words, not only Xiang An was stunned, but Chang Fu was also taken aback, instinctively glancing warily around at the air: "My Lord..."

Fu Qingbai: "There's no one outside, speak."

“The princess…” Changfu hesitated, his gaze wandering through the air, searching for the legendary, unseen Xiang An.

Fu Qingbai waved his hand: "She already knows more than just this one thing."

"Yes." Changfu was relieved. "It seems that the Marquis trusts the princess very much."

Trust her?

Upon hearing this, Xiang An couldn't help but want to laugh. Whether she believed her or not, she couldn't leave.

His pupils contracted, and Fu Qingbai looked dazed. He didn't immediately respond, but after a moment, he replied, "...Hmm."

Judging from their practiced conversation, it's not hard to see that Changfu is Fu Qingbai's man.

It was unexpected and completely surprising.

Changfu grew up alongside the emperor, and after the emperor's death, he worked under Xiang Xin in the same position as before. This shows that he must have been very capable and tactful in dealing with people, otherwise Xiang Xin would not have trusted him without any reservations.

It's hard to imagine that such a favored eunuch who served two emperors could be subdued by Fu Qingbai, who was only twenty years old.

Changfu no longer hesitated: "His Majesty did indeed get very angry, but he held back because the princess was by your side."

"I didn't expect the young emperor to value Princess Miankang so much." Fu Qingbai chuckled, but only slightly raised the corners of his mouth. "Indeed, emperors all value these kinds of ghosts and monsters."

"Yes."

"What are the young emperor's plans next?"

"Not long ago, Master Xuanqing woke up. His Majesty dismissed everyone in the room and talked with him alone for more than an hour. When he came out, His Majesty was in a very good mood. Now Master Xuanqing has left the palace with his token."

"Understood." Fu Qingbai tapped his fingers lightly, seemingly lost in thought, while Changfu bowed quietly and left.

Piao sat on Fu Qingbai's shoulder and said to An, "Changfu, you've accepted them all. You've kept them well hidden."

Tonight is a peaceful night. Snowflakes drifted and fell quietly all night. When I went out this morning, the whole yard was covered in white, as if the whole world was incredibly clean and pure.

Suddenly, a pile of ritual implements appeared in the corner of the courtyard, covered with a thin layer of snow. Clearly, this was brought back by Master Xuanqing.

Just after breakfast was finished, rows of Imperial Guards in black armor, carrying heavy swords, surrounded the courtyard. A moment later, a bright yellow sedan chair carried by eight men arrived through the snow. After a chorus of "Greetings, Your Majesty!", two people stepped out of the sedan chair, which was surrounded by layers of gauze curtains—Xiang Xin and Daoist Xuanqing.

Xiang Xin was draped in a heavy gold and black cloak, with a band of white and black velvet trimmed around the collar and cuffs, and the edges embroidered with gold thread. His eight-foot frame was made even more imposing by the cloak, and his refined face softened somewhat. Now, in the snow, he looked more like a wealthy young master braving the snow to pursue his studies.

"Looking like a human but acting like a dog."

Xiang An sat on the wall, coldly observing this grand spectacle.

Master Xuanqing looked up in response, his face blooming like a chrysanthemum, his wide smile causing the snow clinging to his beard to fall: "Princess, isn't the snow scene up there beautiful?"

It's colder today than yesterday. A gust of cold wind swept in, and three or four snowflakes were about to hit my face, making it feel numb and tingly.