Holding the script, I want to give up.

On the night before the Lantern Festival, Song Yao had a palace maid deliver a fine zither to Shangguan Zitong.

"Why is it taking so long to arrive? Is there some kind of hint?"

"Ah Li, can you find out her due date?"

Shangguan Zitong touched the strings; it was indeed a fine instrument.

[Most likely tomorrow.]

"Is she only sending the violin now because she hopes I can escape?"

【possible. 】

Regardless, proceed according to the original plan.

【it is good. 】

"Let me test if my piano skills have become rusty."

Shangguan Zitong picked up her zither and played a piece called "The Sound of Falling Snow." She made several mistakes, but overall it was still quite good.

"Looks like I'm still getting used to it."

After she finished playing the piece, she was about to get up and put the instrument away.

I'll teach you.

The white-haired boy appeared behind her, pressed down on her shoulder, and gestured for her to sit down.

"You can play the piano too!"

Before Shangguan Zitong could react, the young man sat down beside her, took her hand, and led her in playing "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate."

"!!!"

"Phoenix...Phoenix...Seeking its mate!"

She was so surprised she couldn't speak, her eyes widened like saucers, her fingertips trembled, and she almost forgot how to breathe.

Yes, it's "The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate," so do you understand my feelings?

The young man gently turned her body to face him, looking at her with deep affection.

"Huh? I...I...I, cough...cough."

Shangguan Zitong's stuttering face turned red, and she coughed a few times to ease the embarrassment.

【I like you. 】

Seeing her embarrassment, the boy covered her eyes with one hand, stroked the hair on the back of her neck with the other, and gently kissed her lips.

Shangguan Zitong's heart was pounding, and her mind was in complete chaos.

"Aaaaaah, how could this be! Someone tell me, is the system even a person? Are there any cases of people falling in love with a system? Wait, what am I thinking? Shangguan Zitong's mind was in turmoil."

"Damn it, stop, stop, stop!"

"That scared the hell out of me!"

Shangguan Zitong pushed him away.

"Holy crap, you like me?"

"I have to admit you're really good-looking, exactly my type, but..."

"We've only met a few times, why do you like me?"

She was so excited that she couldn't express herself clearly and began to doubt his intentions.

Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you.

No rush, you can take your time to think it over.

Don't worry, I'll always be with you.

The boy was not discouraged when he was pushed away. He got up, picked her up, and walked to the bedside.

"What...what...what are you doing?"

Shangguan Zitong wrapped her arms around his neck, as if afraid she would fall.

You should go to sleep.

The young man gently placed her on the bed, covered her with the blanket, and tucked her in. There was no need to take off her shoes. After being placed under house arrest, she would wear shoes when she was first allowed to go out for a stroll, but now Huangfu Hongxi wouldn't let her leave the palace at all, and she rarely wore shoes.

"Oh, goodnight then."

She looked at him for a while, then closed her eyes because she was sleepy.

【Well, good night.】

He transformed into a fox to keep her company as she fell asleep.

The following day, Huangfu Hongxi couldn't resist coming to Cining Palace.

"I heard you played 'The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate'. Who was it for?"

"Besides me and Hongjin, you don't know any other men in this palace. Is this for me?"

Huangfu Hongxi felt a glimmer of hope, thinking that she had come to her senses.

"I told you, if I see you again, I'll hang myself in front of you."

"What do you think? I'm playing for my sweetheart, what's it to you?"

Shangguan Zitong smashed a vase, picked up a shard, and threatened him with it against her own neck.

The system was secretly delighted upon hearing this.

Do you think Yibo can hear you?

Huangfu Hongxi questioned her.

"My beloved, who died young, he must be able to hear me."

"What, you have an opinion?"

"Shut up if you have any opinions, I won't listen to a word you say."

Shangguan Zitong followed his words.

If he's my ideal man, then what am I?

A birthmark?

What! Hmph~ A fickle woman.

"Okay, stop fooling around, I was just teasing you." "I only like myself, after all, you have to love yourself first before loving others."

"...Don't get agitated, put down the porcelain shard."

"Today is the Lantern Festival, and I came to take you out to play."

Huangfu Hongxi said in a gentle tone.

"I don't want to go if you're here."

"I would rather stay in the palace and enjoy the snow."

She put down the porcelain shard and rolled her eyes at him.

"Then I'll have Hongjin go with you, I won't go."

"You've been staying here too long, go out and have some fun."

An unreadable emotion flashed in Huangfu Hongxi's eyes, as if he had a feeling that she might disappear.

"Then have Hongjin untie me."

Shangguan Zitong thought it was a waste not to go, since she was leaving anyway, she might as well take a look at the market in Beiji.

......

In the bustling market, Shangguan Zitong, dressed in a peach-pink Warring States period robe and carrying a pink gauze fan embroidered with butterflies and a purple lacquered fan with a gold-painted handle, walked along the street. Huangfu Hongxi watched her every move from the distant city gate.

"It's so boring. I always feel like there's a pair of eyes watching me."

Shangguan Zitong wandered around aimlessly, looking at this and touching that, but not buying anything. She didn't want to trouble Hongjin behind her.

[Remove the "I think" part; it should be Huangfu Hongxi.]

"Like someone is sick."

When Shangguan Zitong got tired, she leaned against the bridge to rest, watching the colorful fireworks in the sky, her eyes reflecting the dazzling colors.

"These fireworks are quite nice."

"Pretty lady, would you like to buy a flower?"

A little boy selling flowers gently tugged at her sleeve.

Wow, little kid, you're so cute!

Shangguan Zitong squatted down and rubbed his head.

"Hehe~ Sister, can I buy a flower?"

The little boy grinned, revealing two sharp canine teeth, his dark eyes slightly narrowed but shining brightly. He handed the flower basket to her.

Ahhh! He's cheating! How can he be so cute?! Should I buy him or not? But he called me "sister" and smiled at me! Shangguan Zitong's heart was filled with sweet pink bubbles. Never mind, what bad intentions could such a young child possibly have?

"Oh my, you're so cute, you've really captured my heart."

"Just for your innocent smile, I absolutely have to buy it."

Shangguan Zitong carefully selected a pink hyacinth wreath to wear on her head, and held a red wintersweet in her hand.

"No need to look anymore, your smile is very healing."

She placed three gold leaves in his flower basket and then got up and left.

"Thank you sister!"

The child bowed in the direction she had left.

"You're welcome."

"Goodbye."

After hearing his thanks, Shangguan Zitong turned and waved at him with a smile. Meanwhile, those on the city gate, witnessing her vibrant life, mocked him, realizing he was less than a child in her eyes. She rarely smiled at him like that; her smiles were always insincere...

After she returned to the palace, Huangfu Hongxi watched from outside the hall as Hongjin locked her door before leaving and closing it.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has given birth. Would you like to go and see her?"

When Leqi saw that Song Yao was about to give birth, she rushed to Cining Palace to find Huangfu Hongxi. Fortunately, she found him, otherwise Song Yao would have made a scene again.

"She can't escape, so there's no need to send anyone to guard this place."

"Hongjin, withdraw all the men."

After Huangfu Hongxi finished speaking, he went to wait outside Yikun Palace.

"Yes."

The maids and guards who were guarding the gate had all left, and Hongjin had even locked the gate.

After everyone had left, Shangguan Zitong calmly played a piece called "Yangchun Baixue" and finished the piece.

"Ah Li, set it on fire."

"Add some more bone ash and blood."

"Leave this gold bracelet here."

【it is good. 】

The system transformed into a large fox, unchained her, released her, then chained her again. It removed the gold bracelet from her ankle and casually tossed it near the chains. It then draped an invisibility cloak over her and carried her out of the palace to witness this scene.

The palace was engulfed in flames, yet no one noticed as everyone was busy working inside the Yikun Palace. It wasn't until they saw the raging fire that they rushed to put it out.

"His Highness is inside, let me go, I need to save His Highness."

Leqi yelled at the other maids who were blocking her way.

"Look closely, with such a huge fire, that person definitely didn't survive."

One of the maids who was blocking her way said.

"Your Highness...it's my fault."

Leqi collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

"Shangguan Zitong, come out here."

Huangfu Hongxi and others rushed over upon hearing the news before Song Yao had even seen what the baby looked like after giving birth. Seeing that Cining Palace was on the verge of collapse due to the fire, they ran into the palace like madmen.

"Your Majesty, danger!"

"Please don't go, let me go."

Hongjin stopped him.

"What are you all standing there for? Put out the fire for me!"

Huangfu Hongxi roared at the palace maids and eunuchs.

"Your Majesty, there's no way she can get out. You locked her up, and I locked the door again. She has no way to escape."

"It was because she started a fire inside the palace that things turned out this way... She... didn't want to live anymore..."

"Your Majesty, please calm down and think about it."

Hongjin stopped him and analyzed the situation rationally.

......