A short night is hard to please! A stunningly handsome prince dotes on her exclusively.

Inside the Feiying Hall of Yuheng Palace, Xie Cangming was lounging on a chaise lounge, with thick smoke billowing from the incense burner beside him, filled with ambergris, a fragrance reserved for emperors.

He was a strange man; he loved the incense in Yuan Huaijun's bedroom, and it had to be a strong fragrance. Fortunately, the emperor was generous and gave him all the ambergris that had been presented as tribute last year, which allowed him to be so extravagant. Ordinary palace servants couldn't stand the smell and would never dare to approach Feiying Palace.

Before Xin Moling even reached the door, she frowned instantly, covered her nose with her hand, and pushed open the door. She saw Xie Cangming lying on the couch, his long, snow-white hair hanging halfway in the air, his eyes slightly narrowed, seemingly unaware of her arrival.

"Xie Cangming, I need to talk to you."

"..."

He didn't respond politely by calling Xie Cangming by his full name, but Xie Cangming ignored him as if he were fast asleep.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Xin Moling walked directly to the incense burner, picked up the teacup on the table, and was about to pour water into it.

"Wait...wait, have mercy."

Xie Cangming suddenly opened his eyes, quickly stood up and snatched the teacup from his hand, angrily saying, "You are really ruthless! That ambergris is a royal treasure. If you destroy it, I will definitely have His Majesty punish you severely."

"Ha! Put out that incense, it's suffocating."

Xin Moling's eyes were full of disdain. After speaking, she walked to the side and sat down.

“What an impolite fellow,” Xie Cangming glared at him angrily, but still took the lid of the incense burner and covered it up. “I’ve watched you grow up since you were a child, and you don’t even address me properly. Look at Mo’er, she’s only met me for the first time, and she’s already calling me uncle in a very sensible way.”

Upon hearing this, Xin Moling's anger flared instantly, and she coldly said, "I haven't even settled accounts with you yet, so why are you avoiding me? And why did you scare Yan'er that night?"

"When have I ever avoided you? Or frightened her?"

Xie Cangming turned around and sat back on the couch, raising one leg and propping it up on the table next to him, looking lazy and relaxed.

"I ask you, what exactly did you do that night at Yuheng Palace with Yan'er?"

"Of course it's to save her!" Xie Cangming raised an eyebrow and said casually, "Xin Moling, if you hadn't begged me that night, I wouldn't have saved Mo'er. Now that she's become so radiant, shouldn't you be happy and live a peaceful life with your sister? Is that not enough?"

"No! Xie Cangming, tell me, who exactly is Yan'er?"

"You're really funny. Do you think I could replace your sister with someone else right under your nose?"

Xie Cangming stretched out two fingers and rubbed his aching forehead.

Xin Moling hesitated. Xie Cangming's words were true. Yan'er was indeed Yan'er. She had a small cinnabar mole on the back of her neck, which he had known since the day Yan'er was born. But... Yan'er was not Yan'er.

"Alright! Stop dwelling on this. Just live well with Mo'er. You know, it took all my life to save your sister that day. I almost lost my life. I spent a month in deep treatment and haven't fully recovered yet. You should be more polite to me."

"That's why you rejected me that day."

"Of course!" Xie Cangming spread his hands. "I have no reason to sacrifice my life for others."

"On the day Yan'er was born, you and your master came. He clearly said that Yan'er would face a calamity when she turned eighteen. If he wasn't there then, he would need your help. You have that ability, so why did you lose your life?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Cangming immediately sat up straight and cursed, "Don't listen to that old man's nonsense. He knows this matter is dangerous, which is why he pushed me to step in. Look at all these years, he hasn't dared to show up even once."

Xin Moling listened, her doubts growing stronger. "Yan'er was only drowning, why are you making it sound so dangerous?"

His lips curled slightly as he stared at Xin Moling with a meaningful smile. He then said, "Xin Moling, you are as clever as you are. You already have the answer in your heart, so why ask me? I will only make one thing clear to you: Mo'er is indeed your sister now. If you still remember the few words Master said that day, then you don't need to worry."

Xie Cangming was right; he did have a certain answer in his heart, but he just wanted to hear it from Xie Cangming's own mouth.

Seeing his furrowed brows and silence, Xie Cangming pressed him again: "Or... do you not like the current Mo'er?"

“How could that be! Whether it was the Yan’er of the past or the Yan’er of the present, she is still my sister, Xin Moling.” Xin Moling answered him without hesitation.

After listening, Xie Cangming's face gradually showed satisfaction, and he continued, "Well, then cherish it."

Then, he lay down on the couch and waved his sleeve at him, "Let's leave Mo'er's matter here. You can go back now."

"I have another question for you."

"Ugh~ Why are you so fussy? I'm not answering, I'm tired, get lost!"

Xin Moling wasn't annoyed. Instead, she sat up straight and stared intently at Xie Cangming—no, she should be described as scrutinizing and appraising him.

Why are you looking at me? What do you want to ask?

He stared intently into Xie Cangming's eyes and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Who exactly are you?"

Xie Cangming was slightly taken aback, then came to his senses and laughed, "Me? Of course I am the Grand Preceptor of Yuanqi."

"Before becoming the Imperial Advisor, who were you? Where did you come from?"

"What are you talking about? Do you think I'm going to pop out of a rock?"

"Don't try to fool me. Where are you from? Why can't I find your place of origin?"

Seeing his seriousness, Xie Cangming could only say helplessly, "Sigh~ To be honest, I was an orphan since childhood, and then my master picked me up, which is how I achieved what I have today. As for which country I am from, I don't know either. Don't ask such boring questions. Hurry up and go back. Mo'er is getting anxious waiting for you."

Xin Moling stopped asking questions, but the person who could bring Yan'er back to life was definitely not simple!

Seeing him stand up, Xie Cangming quickly asked, "I heard that Mo'er recently opened a shop. If you have some free time, you can bring her to the palace for a small gathering."

He paused, looked up at him, and warned, "I will not allow Yan'er to get close to you. You just focus on being the Imperial Advisor. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"No matter what, I have held Mo'er in my arms and even saved her life last month. Mo'er is so cute and adorable, I like her."

“In these eighteen years, you have never had any contact with Yan’er. Don’t think that just because I begged you for help that day, you are that familiar with Yan’er.”

"Tsk~ If Mo'er finds a husband she likes in the future, will you still be this domineering and unreasonable?"

"Ha! That's for the future, you're too old."

"So... you think I have ulterior motives? I'm only about ten years older than Mo'er, surely you and your siblings don't make me sound like I'm old but still vigorous?"

Xie Cangming raised his hand to touch his cheek. He thought he looked alright. Was he really that old?

Xin Moling ignored him and turned to leave Yuheng Palace.