The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 45

Chapter 45: Live Broadcast Site (13)

…movement.

You Ruo gently let out a breath and realized that the two of them were practically “lying flat” on the water’s surface.

Lie Ruyang below her was immersed in the water up to half her body, but You Ruo, who was protected by her, only had the hem of her skirt wet. She was perfectly fine after getting ashore, far from losing composure.

The several antu (Dark Disciples/Secret Guards) above had successfully subdued the assassins. Qin Mang and You Ze descended the bridge. Seeing You Ruo unharmed, Qin Mang glanced at Lie Ruyang nearby and asked, “Are you hurt?”

Lie Ruyang shook her head, her deep, clear voice carrying a bright, clear laugh. “Of course not.”

Lie Ruyang raised a hand to rub her back and added, “It’s just that the water in this pond is quite cold.”

The clothes on her back were almost entirely soaked, clinging slightly to her body and revealing a remarkably shapely figure.

You Ruo swallowed at the sight of that contour, then blinked at You Ze. “Brother, can you give me your robe?”

Understanding You Ruo’s intention, and considering that this person had just saved his sister, You Ze had no objection to parting with an outer robe. He responded with a simple “Mhm.”

Seeing him agree, You Ruo quickly reached out and stripped off the robe before You Ze could move. She ran over, stood on her tiptoes, and draped it over Lie Ruyang.

Lie Ruyang was slightly startled. She turned back and met the young girl’s slightly flushed face and pursed lips.

After helping her put on the robe, You Ruo said, “Thank you.”

Lie Ruyang curved her eyes. “You’re too kind, Princess.”

This was their first conversation, the simplest form of polite greeting, yet You Ruo’s heart rate instantly soared.

That night, staying in the Shiyu Palace, You Ruo had a dream.

The dream was filled with the fragrance she had smelled that day: a clear, cool scent with a hint of warmth, like a mix of sunshine and herbs.

It was the scent exclusive to Lie Ruyang.

She tossed and turned in the dream, enveloped and consumed by it, sinking from a gentle warmth into a scorching heat.

When she woke up the next day, You Ruo knocked on You Ze’s door, and the very first sentence out of her mouth was: “Brother, I’m in love.”

As a modern-minded young woman, You Ruo had known for a long time that she wasn’t straight.

But she also knew that not just any woman could make her heart beat as fast as Lie Ruyang did that day.

Of course, You Ruo also realized that the accelerated heart rate and feeling of deep affection might have been an illusion triggered by the crisis.

But You Ruo also thought, Love has always been a product of timing and circumstances. Was that moment of rescue during a crisis not also a kind of perfect timing and circumstance?

So, You Ruo was determined to try.

Perhaps they were blessed by fate, a match made in heaven.

You Ruo said, “Screw the blessings of fate. It’s a destined match for a ghost.”

Hearing the Emperor suddenly utter two such random statements, the few palace staff who followed all bowed their heads, pretending not to hear.

You Ruo was accustomed to this reaction and muttered to herself, “I see you simply refuse to turn back until you hit the southern wall and realize there’s truly no way through.”

Just then, a chill wind swept past. You Ruo shivered from the cold, and the last few words were slightly off-key.

The young palace maid standing behind hadn’t reacted yet, but the little eunuch next to her reached out, took the cloak from the maid’s hand, and draped it over You Ruo’s shoulders.

The young maid was startled, looking suspiciously at the eunuch for overstepping. She then concluded he was just trying to steal credit and curry favor, and didn’t think much more of it.

You Ruo didn’t turn around and didn’t know who had put the cloak on her. She just reached up to pull it tighter and continued to stare at the lotus-less pond for a few more moments.

Ultimately, it was too different from her memory.

You Ruo curved her lips in a self-mocking smile.

She had chased her for so long, but in the end, Lie Ruyang hadn’t left her anything.

Even if she wanted something to look at and miss her by, she couldn’t find a single object.

No sooner had this thought settled than, as if to cooperate with You Ruo’s desire to recreate the memory, several masked assassins suddenly rushed out from the rock garden nearby.

The accompanying guards fell under the blades, the palace maids’ screams rose and fell, and the scene instantly spiraled out of control.

When a three-foot silver flash chopped down toward her head, You Ruo subconsciously closed her eyes, but then felt no pain.

When she opened her eyes again, a piece of gray cloth was in front of her. Then the little eunuch stepped back, saying calmly, “Your Majesty, it’s alright.”

It was the patrolling guards who arrived in time and subdued the assassins.

You Ruo watched in a daze. “…Good, good.”

The head of the guards bowed. “We were late in rescuing you, causing Your Majesty to be startled.”

You Ruo had heard this line countless times in TV dramas and had once thought it a bit overly dramatic. Now that she heard it herself, she was deeply moved.

“It’s fine. At least you came.”

One step later, it wouldn’t have just been a fright; it would have been a blade.

You Ruo blinked, recalling the previous moment.

The blade had clearly been about to fall toward her.

And now, there was a strong smell of blood in the air.

Not just from a distance, but seemingly close by, too.

You Ruo asked, “Who saved me just now? Are they injured?”

The palace staff all shook their heads blankly. The scene had been chaotic. Some were frightened out of their wits, and their minds were still reeling.

You Ruo glanced at the little eunuch closest to her. He remained calm, with lowered brows and eyes, and did not appear to be injured.

You Ruo instructed the head of the guards, “Take these assassins away and investigate them thoroughly.”

She added, “I… will sit in the hall for a little longer.”

Having just gone through such an ordeal, she wouldn’t be able to sleep right away even if she returned to her sleeping quarters.

Part Two: Yang Ruo

Returning to the hall, the same little eunuch was still following behind her.

You Ruo walked to the table, tilted her head to look at the person following her, and asked, “Were you scared just now?”

Those young palace maids’ faces were white with fear.

The little eunuch paused his steps and obediently nodded.

You Ruo looked at him again. “You are injured.”

It wasn’t a question; it was a statement.

You Ruo said, “Being injured while saving the Emperor—what a glorious thing. Why didn’t you say anything?”

The little eunuch replied, “Reporting to Your Majesty, it is only a minor injury.”

Truly a strange person.

Did their professional training include a rule against seeking recognition?

“Never mind. Let me see…” You Ruo reached out to pull at the clothing on the eunuch’s shoulder, trying to get him to turn around. “Where are you hurt?”

You Ruo did not get her way.

The little eunuch did not comply this time. Instead of turning, he quickly retreated a step, saying flatly, “Your Majesty, please do not insult your servant.”

You Ruo was silent for a moment. “Your reaction… anyone who didn’t know would think you were disgusted with me.”

The little eunuch was about to kneel down. You Ruo waved her hand to stop him, but then said, “…She was like this too.”

On the day they first met, You Ruo hadn’t noticed the smell of blood on Lie Ruyang in time.

Leaving with You Ze’s robe draped over her, Lie Ruyang had first taken a detour to the stables.

Lie Ruyang stood by the side, saw the expected figure in the training area, waved her hand, and smiled. “Princess.”

Le Zhao tugged the reins, turned, and headed toward her. “What is it?”

Lie Ruyang curved her eyes. “I came to get some medicine, the kind you gave me last time.”

Le Zhao asked, “Where are you hurt this time?”

She had a lot of medicine given to her by Si Qingyu. She had used it on Lie Ruyang once after discovering her injury before, and the effect must have been good, as it had virtually become Lie Ruyang’s supply source afterward.

Le Zhao took a small medicine bottle from her sleeve and handed it over. She looked at Lie Ruyang, who was wearing a strange outer robe and looked a bit disheveled. “Did you win the fight this time?”

Lie Ruyang often sparred with Ye Suhan, the number one ranked antu, and insisted he not go easy on her. With such highly skilled sparring, minor bumps and injuries were common.

Le Zhao assumed Lie Ruyang’s injury this time was also from a match with Ye Suhan.

But Lie Ruyang confessed, “This time it wasn’t with him. I ran into a group of assassins just now.”

Hearing Lie Ruyang say this, Le Zhao frowned. “Then Imperial Father?”

Lie Ruyang unscrewed the medicine bottle and sniffed it. “Don’t worry, he’s fine.”

Le Zhao nodded and dismounted. Before going to see Qin Mang, she said to Lie Ruyang, “Is it serious? Let me see.”

Lie Ruyang said, “It’s not serious.”

Her tone was consistently light and smiling. She then raised her right hand toward Le Zhao, indicating that only this hand had a small problem.

Le Zhao rolled her eyes at Lie Ruyang, then unexpectedly grabbed the arm and decisively pushed the sleeve up.

What followed was the sight of several circles of silver thread wrapped around Lie Ruyang’s white, lotus-root-like skin.

The silver threads were layered, looking like a large bracelet. Le Zhao quickly looked, but didn’t see any injury. She then reached out and shifted the circle of silver threads, only then spotting the problem.

The underlying silver threads had been tightly embedded in the pale skin, seeping out fine threads of blood. As Le Zhao moved them, the deeply cut wounds were pulled open slightly, and the unobstructed deep cuts rapidly dripped crimson.

Lie Ruyang gently gasped, reached out to pat the back of Le Zhao’s hand, and smiled. “Be gentle.”

Not expecting the wound to be so deep, Le Zhao paused. “…How did it get this bad? Were those assassins that good?”

Lie Ruyang peeled off all the silver threads, revealing the wound beneath. “No. It’s just a new little gadget I’ve been working on. I hadn’t figured out how to use it yet, and I impulsively tried it out today.”

Lie Ruyang looked at the silver threads and offered an evaluation: “The effect was quite flashy, but there’s a small price. If I use it again, I’d better wear a wrist guard.”

Le Zhao was so annoyed by her lighthearted attitude that she sighed. “You just cause trouble for yourself.”

She added, “You’re a girl, after all. If you get all these scars, aren’t you afraid it will affect your marriage prospects later?”

Le Zhao could see Qin Mang’s intention; he treated the antu almost like his own children and would surely let them leave the palace someday to find a good future.

But hearing this, Lie Ruyang paused in applying the medicine, subconsciously repeating, “Later?”

The two short words seemed to carry a heavy chill, causing Le Zhao to freeze for a moment.

But before she could think about it, Lie Ruyang looked up and smiled again, saying with a perfunctory tone, “Got it. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

It was as if the sense of heaviness just now was Le Zhao’s imagination.

And besides, how could the usually carefree Lie Ruyang have that kind of tone?

Thinking this, Le Zhao said, “I’ve given you this whole bottle of medicine. I’m going to check on Imperial Father.”

Lie Ruyang nodded. “Thank you. Have a safe walk, Princess.”

Watching Le Zhao turn and leave, Lie Ruyang put away the smile on her face and lowered her head to continue applying the medicine.

The next day, You Ruo realized something was wrong after smelling the medicine.

After confessing her feelings to her somewhat shocked and confused older brother, You Ruo had to spend a long time explaining the principle that love is not limited by gender before You Ze reluctantly nodded with a frown, indicating he understood.

She then went to find Qin Mang, specifically asking to see the antu who had saved her yesterday.

She didn’t dare state her true intention directly, only saying she really wanted to “make friends” with the person.

Qin Mang seemed delighted after hearing her, immediately calling Lie Ruyang out to spend time with You Ruo.

During their time together, You Ruo followed the scent of the medicine and, despite Lie Ruyang’s attempts to hide and obstruct, discovered the wounds on her wrists. Recalling the scene from the previous day, she understood what had happened.

Staring at the scars that looked painful just to look at, coupled with the fact that Lie Ruyang had concealed them, You Ruo was immensely heartbroken. She fantasized a whole dramatic scene in her head of Lie Ruyang silently enduring her injuries, until her nose felt a little sore.

When she looked up at Lie Ruyang again, tears nearly spilled out.

You Ruo looked up at the little eunuch nearby and said casually, “If you won’t let me see, then let the Imperial Physician take a look.”

Just as she was about to give the order, she saw Qin Shu walk in from outside.

Qin Shu scrutinized You Ruo from head to toe. Seeing that there were no issues, she slightly relaxed. She glanced at the little eunuch standing next to her and said to You Ruo, “Were you startled?”

You Ruo shook her head. “No, I’m perfectly steady.”

“Then why don’t you go back to rest?”

You Ruo said, “I’m going back now.”

Qin Shu said, “I should also find some Dark Guards for you. The guards in this palace are too useless.”

The previous Dark Guards had all gone to the temple with You Gu and hadn’t returned.

You Ruo thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. “That is necessary.”

She still valued her life very much.

The two chatted for a few more sentences. When You Ruo was ready to return to her sleeping quarters, she noticed that the little eunuch was no longer in the hall.

Not seeing the figure anywhere, You Ruo muttered, “Hey, he seemed very obedient. Why did he just sneak off like that?”

But she didn’t dwell on it.

Since he could walk away fine, the injury probably wasn’t too serious.

Back in her own hall, Qin Shu dismissed the attendants and said, “Little Yang, come out.”

The little eunuch in gray clothes flipped down and said, “Aunt Qin.”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“I need some wound medicine.”

“Injured?” Qin Shu turned to find a few medicine bottles and looked at Lie Ruyang. “Where are you hurt?”

Lie Ruyang reached up to loosen the black belt around her waist, exposing the gray clothes underneath that were stained red.

Lie Ruyang said, “I was hit by a small hidden weapon. It’s not poisoned; a minor issue.”

She had been in a hurry to protect You Ruo and didn’t want to expose herself, so she hadn’t managed it in time.

Qin Shu handed her the medicine. “What minor issue? You’ve bled so much. Go apply some medicine quickly.”

A few days ago, when Lie Ruyang suddenly appeared, Qin Shu thought she had finally figured things out and had returned for You Ruo. However, Lie Ruyang immediately stated that she didn’t want You Ruo to discover her and wanted to stay under a different identity.

Seeing her determination, Qin Shu didn’t try to persuade her further, only saying, “But as long as you’re here, Little Ruo will eventually find you.”

Qin Shu knew how good You Ruo’s nose was. She had once mentioned that even when Lie Ruyang covered herself in perfume, You Ruo still smelled her out.

But Lie Ruyang curved her eyes. “Not this time.”

She took several small bottles from her sleeve. “Si Qingyu gave me these. I’ve been taking them for over two months, and my body odor has already changed.”

This was similar to the body-fragrance pills consumed by the noblewomen in the palace, but it was personally developed by Si Qingyu. It didn’t have the side effects of those pills and was harmless to the body.

Since Lie Ruyang was so meticulously prepared, Qin Shu sighed and eventually arranged a newly appointed little eunuch’s identity for her.

After a few twists and turns, Lie Ruyang was assigned to be by You Ruo’s side.

After treating her wounds, Lie Ruyang looked at Qin Shu. “Aunt Qin, I heard you talking about recruiting Dark Guards?”

“Mhm.”

Lie Ruyang said, “Then can you help me change my identity again? Can you let me be a Dark Guard this time?”

It had been difficult to simply insert Lie Ruyang into the palace guards before, and since a new batch of little eunuchs was arriving, Qin Shu had included Lie Ruyang in that.

Now that they were looking for Dark Guards, changing her identity again shouldn’t be too hard.

But Qin Shu scrutinized Lie Ruyang for a while. “Little Yang, what exactly are you thinking?”

“You clearly came back, but you said you don’t want Little Ruo to find you. I thought you only planned to stay for a while and then leave, but now you seem to be planning a long stay and want to be Little Ruo’s Dark Guard.”

Qin Shu was confused. “If you returned for Little Ruo, and she still cares for you, why don’t you reveal your identity directly? She would surely be very happy.”

Lie Ruyang paused, then cautiously said, “Aunt Qin, do you know that Princess You Ruo’s feelings for me are…”

Qin Shu nodded. “I know.”

You Ruo had explained everything to her thoroughly after Lie Ruyang’s first return.

Lie Ruyang nodded in agreement. “But my feelings for her are not like that.”

Qin Shu asked, “Then why did you return?”

Lie Ruyang paused again, vaguely saying, “I… wronged her before, so this is just compensation…”

Qin Shu asked, “You say you wronged her, is it because of what happened that night…”

“Aunt Qin!” Lie Ruyang quickly interrupted her. The tips of her ears, not covered by the mask, seemed slightly flushed, but she still insisted, “My feelings for You Ruo are not like that. I’m just making amends. There’s no need for her to see me again…”

Lie Ruyang softened her tone. “Even if she still has feelings for me now, she will gradually forget. Besides, she is the Emperor now. What kind of person can she not have?”

Qin Shu looked at her. “She wants you, and she can’t have you.”

Lie Ruyang was momentarily choked up, biting her lower lip in embarrassment.

After a long time, Qin Shu sighed. “I understand. I’ll let you be a Dark Guard. Some of the royal families below have been restless lately, and You Ze went to Shiyu with Mu Bai. With you watching over Little Ruo, I can feel more at ease.”

Qin Shu said, “You should rest here for a bit first.”

Lie Ruyang curved her eyes. “Okay, thank you, Aunt Qin!”

Following Qin Shu into a hidden small room, Lie Ruyang closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed, raised her hand to touch the wound on her waist, and slowly let out a breath.

In the quiet small room, Lie Ruyang gradually recalled the conversation with You Ruo in the hall earlier.

She had refused once, and You Ruo hadn’t pushed, although she still suggested letting the Imperial Physician take a look. But the concern in her words was ultimately not too much.

Leaning back onto the bed, Lie Ruyang thought, So this is You Ruo’s reaction when she sees someone other than me getting hurt for her.

Part Three: Yang Ruo

On the day of their first encounter, when You Ruo discovered Lie Ruyang’s injury, she observed the young girl for a long time, then looked up with red eyes and asked if it hurt a lot. Lie Ruyang blinked, shook her head, and felt a sense of novelty.

Based on this novelty, Lie Ruyang thought You Ruo’s personality was quite nice and was happy to play along with her, which completely gave You Ruo the chance to get close to her.

And at that time, Lie Ruyang didn’t know how much “trouble” this temporary “novelty” would bring her in the future.

Initially, during the few days she stayed in Shiyu, You Ruo began to pester her frequently. At that time, Lie Ruyang thought it would end once You Ruo returned to Shuiyan.

But to her surprise, You Ruo returned to Shuiyan, but the letters kept pouring in like running water.

Those letters were even more detailed than Qin Mang’s daily records, interspersing all sorts of the young girl’s small thoughts into her everyday life.

Receiving such heartfelt letters, especially from the princess of a neighboring country, Lie Ruyang had no choice but to find a way to write back.

But unlike You Ruo, who seemed to have a head full of things to write about, Lie Ruyang found herself unable to put into words what she could easily speak.

When she received a response, You Ruo became even more enthusiastic.

More and more letters arrived from Shuiyan. In this vicious cycle, Lie Ruyang became so troubled by writing replies that she gradually started to dread receiving You Ruo’s letters.

Lie Ruyang opened her eyes when it was still dark.

She reached into the sleeve of her eunuch uniform and found a letter.

With the passage of time, the letter paper was slightly worn.

Lie Ruyang stared at the letter in the darkness, muttering to herself, “Once I give you back, it will be completely over.”

After a moment of silence, Lie Ruyang sat up and lit the lamp.

Before returning it…

Let me read it one last time.

When You Ruo first started pestering her, Lie Ruyang hadn’t realized You Ruo’s intentions, only thinking of her as an enthusiastic friend.

Too enthusiastic, to the point of making her feel overwhelmed.

It wasn’t until one letter, in which You Ruo confessed her affection for her.

The letter spanned many pages. You Ruo articulated her feelings from various angles and details. Even though Lie Ruyang had always thought that love was only between a man and a woman, she finally sensed that something was wrong after reading it.

After finishing it, Lie Ruyang quickly put the letter away. Her first thought was to burn it, but she later abandoned the idea.

When she met Le Zhao and was asked what kind of letters You Ruo had been writing recently, Lie Ruyang didn’t answer, quickly turning away and saying goodbye.

In her past life, Lie Ruyang had never encountered anyone like You Ruo.

The first days she remembered were in that dark, sunless prison.

Most of the time was filled with slaughter and bloodshed.

Later, when she came to the palace, although Qin Mang treated her well and the antu got along, the antu rarely spoke, and even when they did, they were all as cold as ice.

Le Zhao was the one who talked to her the most, but she was, after all, a princess with her own reserved thoughts.

Therefore, no one had ever expressed their emotions to her as openly and directly as You Ruo, with feelings so full that they overflowed.

Her gaze swept to the last line. Lie Ruyang sighed and folded the letter.

No matter how many times she read it, the letter still made her want to gasp.

Lie Ruyang tucked the letter back into the envelope, then felt inexplicably warm and reached up to touch her cheek.

In fact, if she could see herself at this moment, she would realize that unlike when she first read the letter, she wasn’t just gasping; her ears and cheeks were both turning red.

A few days later, Lie Ruyang successfully changed her identity and became You Ruo’s Dark Guard.

Before officially taking up her post as a Dark Guard, Lie Ruyang wrote a farewell letter and secretly slipped it into You Ruo’s sleeping quarters.

She placed it along with the letter You Ruo had given her that year, under You Ruo’s dressing table.

Lie Ruyang thought that this would be a final goodbye, allowing You Ruo to forget her sooner.

You Ruo discovered the letter two days later.

Initially, a palace maid accidentally knocked the letter under the table while cleaning, hiding it temporarily. Later, You Ruo dropped something on the floor and found the letter when she bent down to pick it up.

When she pulled the letter out and saw the familiar handwriting, she was somewhat incredulous, her fingers trembling slightly.

But upon reading the content of the letter, her smile, which hadn’t even fully risen, completely vanished.

After finishing the letter and reading the one she had sent to Lie Ruyang, You Ruo asked, “Who… delivered this letter?”

Her tone was slightly trembling, unsure if it was due to anger or sadness.

“Investigate… Investigate for me…”

The palace staff who had been coming and going recently were all questioned, and the palace was practically turned upside down.

The result, naturally, was that nothing could be found.

You Ruo sat in the hall, listening to the guard report the results of the search, who also offered an apology. She waved her hand, telling them to stop: “If she came herself, it’s normal that you couldn’t find her.”

Then she said, “You can all withdraw.”

You Ruo stayed alone in the hall for an entire night, finally emerging with red eyes.

During this time, Lie Ruyang hid in the dark, listening to the faint sobs coming from the hall, her heart utterly restless. Her palms clenched and unclenched, breaking out in a thin layer of sweat.

Assuming it was just her clothes being too heavy, Lie Ruyang frowned, pulled at her collar, and leaned out to catch the cool breeze, prompting the Dark Guard next to her, who was huddled and shivering from the cold, to look at her several times with confusion.

In the days that followed, You Ruo attended court, dismissed court, reviewed memorials, and dealt with state affairs as usual.

But the palace staff who attended to her closely understood that their Emperor seemed to be having some issues.

Once court was dismissed, she no longer spoke, and after finishing the necessary tasks, she would return to her sleeping quarters and stare at those few pages of letters.

She was listless every day. Her favorite dishes were placed before her, but her appetite was still alarmingly small.

After enduring this for half a month, it was rumored that the Emperor finally laughed in court.

The laugh came because an official suggested that a suitable partner should be sought for the Emperor to fill the harem.

You Ruo just laughed, a cold laugh that silenced the crowd below.

Upon learning of this, Qin Shu frowned and came to persuade You Ruo for a long time, hoping to help her resolve her emotional distress.

You Ruo agreed to everything, appearing well-behaved and receptive, but seeing the lack of spirit in her eyes, Qin Shu didn’t know if she truly listened.

That night, after lying down in bed, after a while, You Ruo asked, “Who is it today?”

The Dark Guards had a schedule, and different people were on duty each night.

Today happened to be Lie Ruyang’s turn.

Lie Ruyang lowered her voice. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Seventeen.”

This was the Dark Guard’s code number, and also their name.

You Ruo repeated, “Seventeen, huh…”

The next day, the palace staff found that their Emperor seemed to have been persuaded and had completely cheered up.

In court, the officials also noticed that the Emperor’s complexion seemed better today.

And You Ruo immediately stated, “I want to fill the harem. But I don’t want men.”

She said, “I want women.”

Within a few days, You Ruo had a group of women.

The selection of maidens was still ongoing, but some people had already sought out various types of women and sent them in to curry favor with her.

You Ruo placed those women in one palace and specially ordered small renovations to be made to the palace.

After court, You Ruo returned to her sleeping quarters to change clothes, intending to go to that palace.

Before leaving, she casually asked, “Who is it today?”

A voice replied, “Little Five.”

You Ruo said, “Has it rotated all the way back?”

“There are too many of you. Can you adjust the schedule? Let’s do it week by week. Pick one person to follow me closely each time. Don’t keep rotating. I can’t remember the names.”

Little Five: “Mhm…”

You Ruo said, “Let’s start with that person, Seventeen, last time. Start with him.”

Lie Ruyang followed You Ruo into the palace where the beauties were hidden.

The intense fragrance in the hall caused Lie Ruyang to slightly frown. She thought that You Ruo, who was sensitive to scents, would surely be extremely disgusted by this smell. She was ready to leave with You Ruo, but saw You Ruo smile widely, opening her arms and walking in.

Lie Ruyang was stunned, flying up to hide herself inside the hall.

The hall was adorned with colorful curtains and canopies everywhere. Soft, plush couches were laid out beneath, sprinkled with fresh flower petals.

The candlelight was dim, further enhancing the ambiguous and seductive atmosphere.

Amidst this atmosphere were several women in colorful clothes with beautiful faces.

Seeing You Ruo arrive, everyone rose to pay their respects, then surrounded You Ruo. Their laughter sounded like many small bells clashing together.

In the dead of winter, the clothes on these women were so thin they could barely cover their graceful figures. Their pale skin, exposed by their deliberate movements, flashed before the eyes, dazzling and seductive.

Lie Ruyang hid on the roof, watching in surprise as these delicate and charming women crowded toward You Ruo, pulled her to sit among the petals, and fed her grapes and wine.

You Ruo would not like women like this.

That was Lie Ruyang’s first thought.

The person You Ruo liked should be like her—if not powerful, then at least more…

But before Lie Ruyang could continue her thought, she saw You Ruo open her mouth to accept the fruit, smile as she swallowed the wine, and reach out to pull the woman next to her into her embrace.

She even placed a kiss on one of the woman’s cheeks.

Lie Ruyang lowered her eyes, frowning completely.

However, even if she looked away, her ears were still working.

Lie Ruyang remained still, listening to the sounds below, until You Ruo said, “You are the best at serving people? Then you start. Let me see if it’s true.”

Lie Ruyang was startled, suddenly looking over.

She saw You Ruo leaning slightly, one hand propped on the low table, a cup of wine clipped between her fingers.

Her other hand rested on a woman’s shoulder. As she raised her hand, she pulled down the thin veil on the woman’s shoulder, her eyes full of a captivating smile.

Lazy, seductive, and extremely alluring.

Lie Ruyang widened her eyes, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity.

Even on that night… the drunken You Ruo had never shown her such an expression.

The woman, having received permission, immediately thanked the Emperor and actively pulled down the sheer fabric on her other side, moving closer to You Ruo and beginning to stroke her.

The woman pulled down You Ruo’s outer robe, revealing her thin undergarment. Then she pulled open the cuff of the undergarment, revealing a patch of snowy-white skin.

Unexpectedly catching sight of that scene, Lie Ruyang’s breath hitched, and she instantly retracted her gaze.

In such cold weather, she came here wearing only these few layers?

The woman also paused, her voice soft. “Your Majesty, weren’t you cold on your way here?”

“Cold,” Lie Ruyang heard You Ruo’s smiling voice. “But I thought I’d have to take them off when I arrived anyway, so there was no need to wear so much.”

All the women laughed immediately. The one leaning by You Ruo’s side said sweetly, “Then let me warm you up.”

The hall was very warm as a fire was constantly burning. The woman placed her warm hands on You Ruo’s chilling neck, slowly moving down.

She whispered in her ear, “Your Majesty, is this alright?”

You Ruo raised her hand and tightly grasped the edge of her skirt, her fingernails digging into her palm through the thin fabric, but she forced a relaxed smile and replied, “…It’s barely acceptable.”

She added, “Your strength… can be heavier.”

The woman was startled, then understood, taking it as You Ruo’s personal quirk.

When the pressure increased, the previous sense of flirtation diminished significantly.

You Ruo maintained the smile on her face, silently enduring the treatment that felt almost like being scrubbed down.

Seeing that You Ruo seemed very satisfied with her movements, the woman increased her strength and continued to pull You Ruo’s clothes further down.

You Ruo slightly held her breath, feeling her lapel gradually opening to an X-rated degree. However, she bit her lip, lowered her eyes, and tacitly allowed the movement.

The smooth line of her fragrant shoulder was exposed to the air. The snowy white skin continued to spread, reaching the curve of her chest.

But it stopped just in time.

Amidst the screams of the women, a figure in black arrived like the wind. Lie Ruyang reached out, grabbed the hand of the woman who was touching You Ruo, and flung her to the side.

Part Four: Yang Ruo

Soft couches were spread all over the hall. The woman landed in a soft spot and was not injured.

However, being naturally delicate, it was the first time she had been treated so abruptly. She was dazed by the fall.

She couldn’t bother to get up, remaining prone on the floor, staring blankly at Lie Ruyang.

The other women did not know Lie Ruyang’s identity. Seeing a person in black suddenly appear and act, they were instantly terrified and scattered, completely forgetting You Ruo, who was still facing Lie Ruyang.

Looking at those who only cared about their own escape, Lie Ruyang twitched her lips, her eyes filled with obvious mockery.

You Ruo also fell silent, but seeing the person who had finally appeared, You Ruo collected her thoughts and asked, “Are you Seventeen?”

Lie Ruyang lowered her eyes and kept her voice low. “Yes.”

“Then what are you doing?”

No answer.

You Ruo asked again, her tone slightly heavier. “I’m asking you, what is the meaning of your actions just now?”

Although her tone had deepened, it wasn’t really a reprimand or a question. It was more like an attempt to coax the other person into saying the answer she wanted to hear.

But Lie Ruyang looked up at You Ruo, met the faint red mark on You Ruo’s collarbone, and forced her voice to be flat and calm. “She injured Your Majesty just now. I was stopping her.”

You Ruo was slightly taken aback. “…What?”

She then raised her hand to press her collarbone, feeling a slight pain, and realized that the movement just now had likely left a mark.

Lie Ruyang lowered her eyes. “As Your Majesty’s Dark Guard, I must ensure your safety.”

You Ruo remained silent. After a long pause, Lie Ruyang slightly looked up and saw You Ruo with her head down, her expression unclear.

Lie Ruyang was about to speak again when she heard You Ruo say, “Is that the only reason?”

Lie Ruyang was stunned.

You Ruo asked, “If I hadn’t been injured, would you not have come down?”

This question was asked softly, yet it sounded much heavier than the initial words.

Lie Ruyang lowered her eyes, mentally reviewing the question carefully.

It doesn’t seem so.

Before taking action, she hadn’t actually clearly seen that small red mark on You Ruo’s body.

In fact, whether or not that woman had caused the mark, Lie Ruyang knew that she would have acted in that instant. It seemed like some unclear emotion had suddenly dominated her actions.

But she couldn’t figure out the reason for doing so, or rather, she couldn’t accept it yet.

Lie Ruyang moved her wrist. Her fingers still retained the feeling of flinging the person aside just now.

Then, Lie Ruyang’s mind wandered, recalling her time at Black Cloud Stronghold.

She had followed Luo Qi to find Bai Yao and later found that Luo Qi had injured a bandit because the bandit had touched Bai Yao.

The memory skipped again to Luo Qi sitting under the eaves, saying to her, “My feelings for Yaoyao are that kind of affection.”

Between women…

On the other side, seeing Lie Ruyang remain silent for a long time, You Ruo clenched her palm and said, “Answer me.”

Lie Ruyang’s thoughts were in chaos. She frowned slightly but still said, “…Yes.”

You Ruo was completely stunned by this answer. She then quickly got up, heavily let out a breath, casually grabbed two women from the floor, and pulled them toward one of the soft couches.

The two women stumbled after her, saying, “Your… Your Majesty… What are you going to do?”

“Of course, I’m going to do something fun with you,” You Ruo said as she pulled them along, while also…