Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Your Majesty, I've finished approving it. Is it acceptable?"

Song Yao gently nudged the already sleeping Huangfu Hongxi. Her heart was filled with mixed feelings. She knew he was doing it on purpose, yet she still indulged him.

"Hmm, let me see."

"Not bad, it's acceptable."

Huangfu Hongxi got up, casually picked up a stack of papers, looked at them, and then gave his evaluation.

"Where are you going?"

Song Yao saw that he seemed to be leaving.

"Isn't it obvious? Leave the palace."

"Your Majesty, you have done a good job. I will now entrust the affairs of the palace to you."

"I am at ease. For some reason, I always have a feeling that you are more suitable for this position than I am."

Huangfu Hongxi was telling the truth. Song Yao was more capable than him, but she was trapped in the palace because she was a woman. If she were a man, perhaps he would have appointed her as prime minister or imperial advisor.

He walked over and sat down next to Song Yao, just quietly watching her.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

Song Yao felt that Huangfu Hongxi was too pessimistic, thinking that he was going to follow Shangguan Zitong in death.

"It's just a bit of a feeling."

"If anything happens to me, there is a gift under my bed in my palace for you."

"You can only go to it after something happens to me, understand?"

Huangfu Hongxi put his hand on her shoulder like a close friend and patted her shoulder twice.

"I understand. Go ahead if you want to go. She doesn't have many days left anyway."

Song Yao had come to terms with it and magnanimously allowed Huangfu Hongxi to see her. In reality, she had her trusted confidants spread rumors that the Crown Princess was a sorceress who had come back to life and possessed a young woman...

The rumors spread like wildfire, with all sorts of versions circulating, such as the spirit possessing another's body to claim a life, or the spirit transforming into a vengeful ghost. The city was thrown into a panic, and everyone wanted to go to the Crown Prince's residence to find out what was going on, but they were deterred by the heavily guarded presence outside.

"Well then, I'll be going."

Huangfu Hongxi got up and went to the Crown Prince's residence. He was unaware of the rumors circulating in the city, nor did he know that Song Yao was behind them.

Inside the Crown Prince's residence, a skilled swordsman attempted to enter to investigate, but was apprehended before even scaling the wall! Although the defenses were tight, His Majesty decreed that anyone captured should not be killed, but released. Left with no other option, the swordsman had to return and diligently practice his martial arts.

After waking up, Shangguan Zitong quietly groped her way to the kitchen. Not having eaten enough, she went to steal some food. Before she even entered the kitchen, she heard the servants talking. Bored, she started eavesdropping.

"Hey, have you all heard?"

A maid serving dishes started the conversation.

"What? What's wrong?"

The eunuch carrying the tray didn't understand what she was saying.

"It's that white-haired woman in our manor! I heard she's a female ghost who came back specifically to take His Majesty's life."

The maid serving the dishes continued to whisper, afraid that if someone overheard and it reached His Majesty's ears, she would be in big trouble.

"That's impossible! How could His Majesty not know about these things? He still comes to take care of her every day. Don't gossip, or you'll lose your lives."

The head chef said.

“I think what she said might be true. Doesn’t His Majesty always call her Zitong? Isn’t that the name of the deceased Crown Princess?”

"That's what another chef in charge of cooking said."

"Exactly, if it's true, that would be terrifying."

A maid came to the kitchen to listen to their chatter and joined in, nodding in agreement with what they said.

"Furthermore, His Majesty instructed us to address that woman as 'Your Highness,' and I heard from people in the palace that they also call that person 'Your Highness'! Could it really be the same person?"

One of the guards gave a very reasonable analysis.

"It's possible. There are many strange things in this world. She might really be a witch. We should stay away from her."

The maid who started the conversation and served the dishes said, "I don't want to be killed myself."

"I'm hungry. What are you whispering about? Can I hear what you're saying?"

Shangguan Zitong couldn't stand it anymore; the more they talked, the more outrageous it became—these people were actually gossiping about her behind her back! She groped her way into the kitchen.

"Your Highness, what would you like to eat? We'll make it for you right away."

The younger chef spoke up, and the others, seeing this, didn't bow, since she couldn't see them anyway, and quickly ran out to do their jobs.

"A bowl of porridge will do!"

Shangguan Zitong heard them running away, but she pretended not to hear it. It wasn't a big deal; everyone has a gossipy side!

"Your Highness, I'm afraid that won't work. We must wait for His Majesty to arrive before we can proceed!"

The older head chef said that His Majesty had instructed him not to give her special treatment, or he would be punished.

"Why? I'm really hungry!"

"Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for us. This is His Majesty's order, and he should be here soon."

"Why don't you wait a moment? I'll make it for you as soon as he arrives."

The young chef realized what was happening and spoke up promptly.

"Okay, I understand. Even getting a meal has become difficult. When he arrives, I'll ask him why he gave you these instructions."

Shangguan Zitong was speechless. The food was right in front of her, but she wasn't allowed to eat it. A sense of powerlessness welled up inside her. She returned to Tangxi Pavilion to wait for Huangfu Hongxi's arrival.

......

"Zitong, the people in the kitchen said you're hungry?"

"It was my fault, and I have come here specifically to apologize to you."

"This is a silky crabapple cake that I made myself. Try it and see how it tastes."

Huangfu Hongxi seemed to have forgotten that Shangguan Zitong had long lost her sense of taste, and was still waiting for her response like a child. He placed the food box on the wooden table, waiting for her to taste it.

"Ugh...it tastes like chewing wax!"

"Don't you know I can't taste the difference?"

"But thank you anyway."

Shangguan Zitong groped for a piece and ate it. It was soft and delicate, which was quite nice, but it just didn't have any flavor.

"Sorry, I was too busy and forgot."

"You'd better stay home as much as possible these days."

"The rumors about you are getting worse."

Huangfu Hongxi sat on the wooden chair and looked up at the crabapple tree.

"Are you calling me a witch?"

"I understand. Anyway, it's only a few days left. It's the same whether I'm in the manor or outside."

"By the way, I have a question for you."

"Why can't the chefs in the manor prepare special meals for me? What if I starve to death by the time you arrive?"

Shangguan Zitong was speechless, but more than that, she was suspicious. It was possible that he had secretly put something in her food while she had lost her sense of taste.

"It was my instruction. You've been eating too much lately, so this is to prevent you from getting indigestion."

Huangfu Hongxi could lie without batting an eye.

"Really? Show me your hand."

Shangguan Zitong became increasingly skeptical of his words, waiting for him to extend his hand so she could take his pulse. She did know a little about pulse diagnosis, after all, she had to frequently visit traditional Chinese medicine hospitals for her illnesses in her original world, and she had gradually learned a bit about it.

"You've been watching for so long and still haven't figured it out? Could it be that you're using this as an excuse...?"

"If you wish, I can do it, but your health..."

Huangfu Hongxi looked at her with a shy expression, glanced at her complexion, and for the first time felt that her illness was a real hindrance. Shangguan Zitong, being unable to see, naturally missed the change in his facial expression.

"Um... what's in your head?"

"It's all useless stuff!"

Shangguan Zitong withdrew her hand, her lips curling down in a silent smirk, while inwardly rolling her eyes countless times.

"..."

Huangfu Hongxi looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Why are you so weak? Tell the truth?"

Shangguan Zitong couldn't understand how such a vibrant person could have a pulse like someone who was about to die.

"It's because I've been having too much sex lately, so I'm feeling weak!"

"What, you don't believe me? Try it with me and you'll see."

Huangfu Hongxi asked cheekily, with a hint of probing jest.

"Um... there's really no need for that."

Shangguan Zitong shook her head in refusal. At that moment, she felt he was like a beast in heat, treating Song Yao like this. If he was like this, then what about Song Yao...? She dared not think any further...

“But your pulse doesn’t sound like that of someone who has been indulging in excessive pleasure; you look more like someone who is about to die.”

"I can't be wrong. You'd better tell the truth, or I won't eat or drink anything from now on."

"I'd rather fast and die early than be kept in the dark."

Shangguan Zitong did not believe his explanation and remained steadfast in her suspicions.

"I...please don't blame me if I tell the truth!"

"Mu Rongyi told me that my heart's blood could extend my life by a few days, so I..."

"I just wanted to give it a try, but I didn't expect your health to actually improve, so I..."

Huangfu Hongxi whispered, afraid that she would get angry, and then chose not to eat or drink.

"Ugh... shit."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Zitong felt a chill run down her spine. She stood up, squatted down, and gagged, trying to vomit up everything she had eaten.

......