The Foolish Agent

Chapter 2

This test only piqued Qingfeng's interest in the man before him further. Qingfeng saw not only amazement in his eyes, but also wisdom. The man's ingratiating demeanor and sarcastic request truly surprised Qingfeng. Having been trapped in this tedious palace for three years, Qingfeng had finally found someone who interested him, and he certainly wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. So, he nodded earnestly and replied:

“Young Master Qingzi and I are old acquaintances, why are you suddenly so distant? We just met this morning, didn’t we? Is there something wrong with your eyes, Young Master? Come, let me take your pulse.”

After hearing his words, Leng Jie became even more certain that this man was the Physician Hu she was looking for, and her heart leaped with joy. However, when he reached out to take her hand and feel her pulse, she thought: "Oh no! If I let him take my pulse, won't I give myself away?" She quickly took a few steps back, dodging his hand. She said seductively:

"Lord Hu, you're such a kind person! Something got into my eye when the wind suddenly picked up, and it's stuck there no matter how much I rub it. You don't need to take my pulse, just check if you can get the thing out of my eye." As she spoke, she rubbed her eyes vigorously, making her already bloodshot eyes look like a rabbit's.

Qingfeng took in every expression on the young eunuch's face, suppressing the urge to laugh. Following his lead, he met the eunuch's large, red eyes, like those of a little white rabbit. He wanted to see what tricks the eunuch was up to. A moment later, he felt a powerful pull in the eunuch's eyes, as if trying to draw him in completely. Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat. He thought: Is this the legendary, lost art of Soul-Capturing? He had heard his master speak of it; it primarily controlled a person's mind, making the captive like a puppet under the spell's manipulation. This wondrous skill, possessed by evil people, had become an evil art condemned by both gods and men. But how could this unassuming eunuch know it? And why was he using it against him? Qingfeng considered himself well-liked and had never made enemies. He desperately wanted to know the eunuch's purpose. He secretly channeled his inner energy into his palm, preparing to finish the man off with a single blow in the final moments before his consciousness was no longer under control. She used a unique calming mantra from her sect to keep herself awake, but outwardly she pretended to be under control.

Seeing that his eyes were already showing signs of confusion, Leng Jie began to guide him:

"You are Physician Hu from the Imperial Hospital. Your medical skills are superb."

"I am Physician Hu, and my medical skills are superb," Qingfeng replied.

"You must take Xiaoqingzi to the Imperial Pharmacy now to fetch medicine for the Emperor, and you must not let anyone know."

I must take Xiao Qingzi to fetch medicine for the Emperor; we cannot let anyone know.

"You lead the way; we're going to the Imperial Pharmacy now," Leng Jie instructed.

Qingfeng, ever the shrewd one, led Leng Jie towards the Imperial Pharmacy...

[Main Text: Chapter Five, Pre-War Preparations]

The spacious imperial pharmacy was filled with the pungent smell of Chinese medicine. Rows of neat medicine cabinets blocked out the light. Even during the day, lights were needed here. Now, with dark clouds gathering outside and dusk approaching, it was even more dim inside. The chief physician was taking inventory of the newly arrived medicinal herbs when he suddenly saw the emperor's favorite, his superior, Physician Hu, leading a young eunuch, rushing over. They went straight to the pharmacy, passing by without even glancing at him. The physician dared not be negligent and quickly got up to light lamps for them.

From the physician's trembling expression, Leng Jie immediately recognized him as a subordinate of the handsome imperial physician before her. Based on her understanding of history, an imperial physician in charge of forbidden medicines was either highly respected, possessed exceptional medical skills, or enjoyed the emperor's deepest trust. This Physician Hu, seemingly only in his early twenties, held such an important position in the palace; regardless of his medical abilities, the emperor's trust was undeniable.

Leng Jie naturally took the lantern from the physician. She winked at him, gestured with her lips, and waved her hand, indicating that he shouldn't disturb them. The physician, being astute, didn't say anything, nodded to Leng Jie, and quietly withdrew.

In the dimly lit pharmacy, only Leng Jie and the puppet-like Qingfeng remained. Leng Jie was in a good mood because having this imperial physician in charge of forbidden medicines at her service was far better than slowly searching through the vast pharmacy for each herb in her memory, preparing it step by step. She directly told Hu Taiyi the prescription and asked him to prepare it according to her requirements. Leng Jie thought that with his status as an imperial physician, he was far better than her, a half-baked expert! Moreover, she was completely ignorant of ancient pharmaceutical equipment. Although they used the same herbs to make the same prepared medicine, in modern times, even a simple step like grinding herbs would be done with specialized machinery, let alone the delicate processes of extraction and preparation.

After hearing the prescription from the young eunuch, Qingfeng immediately knew what kind of medicine he wanted. Qingfeng had always assumed the eunuch had come to ask for poison to carry out some shady secret—a common occurrence in court intrigue. Unexpectedly, the eunuch revealed the formula for a poison and asked Qingfeng to prepare it. Qingfeng was puzzled. If the eunuch possessed the Soul-Capturing Technique, capable of controlling minds, why would he go to such lengths to have him prepare such a low-level medicine? This kind of medicine would be utterly useless against someone with even a little internal strength. However, wanting to investigate further, Qingfeng cooperated and prepared the medicine. He even added two special ingredients to enhance its effectiveness.

If Leng Jie knew that the only prescription she had personally formulated and tested since she began studying traditional Chinese medicine—a prescription that was consistently effective and foolproof, a formula that filled her with immense pride—was utterly childish in the eyes of this ancient imperial physician, would she feel an urge to smash her head against a wall?

Leng Jie was very satisfied with the handsome imperial physician's speed and proficiency with medicines. Watching him calmly and skillfully retrieve, weigh, prepare, and dispense medicines from the thousands of medicine cabinets—the whole process was efficient and measured—reminded her of the bewilderment she felt when she was forced to learn traditional Chinese medicine and had to distinguish between seemingly similar good and poisonous herbs. She couldn't help but smile, revealing the first genuine smile she had shown since taking over this body.

This moment was captured by Qingfeng, who suddenly looked up. Qingfeng was stunned by the innocent smile! He thought to himself, how could such a sweet smile appear on a little eunuch who was sent to the palace at a young age, whose body and mind were crippled, and who was bullied? This made him even more certain that the person in front of him was definitely not the little Qingzi from this morning, and that he might not be a eunuch at all.

Leng Jie finally obtained what she wanted before midnight. She then began to brainwash Physician Hu, erasing his memory of their meeting. She quickly left the Imperial Pharmacy and headed towards her destination, the West Palace. She had spent half a day wandering the palace, and although she hadn't found the Imperial Pharmacy, her exceptional memory and keen sense of direction meant she had already memorized every place she had visited. The West Palace and East Palace were separated only by a garden, so she could easily and accurately locate her target building. However, she was unaware that a tail was following her. It wasn't that her agent's alertness had decreased, but rather that she hadn't yet realized that people in ancient times possessed a different ability than those in modern times who relied on various means of transportation for rapid movement. This ability was the "lightness skill" often mentioned in novels and television dramas. With this skill, one could leap across rooftops and travel thousands of miles a day using only their own internal strength and appropriate external assistance, without the aid of advanced tools.

Qingfeng followed the little eunuch, curious to see what tricks he was up to. She saw him rushing towards the West Palace, the residence of the Emperor's new concubine. Because of the late Emperor's decree, the only remaining concubines in the palace, besides the foolish Empress of the East Palace, were the new woman who had just entered the West Palace that day.

"If he's not from the Eastern Palace?" Qingfeng began to worry, thinking, "Could he be working for the new Consort Shui Rong'er? But what does Shui Rong'er want? Does she intend to harm the Emperor? But why did she only want the drug?" "Oh no!" Qingfeng cried out inwardly. If the little eunuch really was Shui Rong'er's man, then the Emperor was in grave danger! If the Emperor's mind was controlled by their soul-capturing technique, wouldn't the entire Jinghe Palace become the Shui family's domain? She had initially thought the little eunuch was from the Eastern Palace, which was why she let him take the drug. Because that foolish mistress of the Eastern Palace couldn't possibly cause any trouble. But the one in the Western Palace was different; she had the Empress Dowager backing her and the powerful Shui family as her external support.

The Emperor has just ousted the veteran minister Leng, and the Shui family is rising in power. If she harbors any ill intentions, it could be a disaster for the entire Jinghe Dynasty. Thinking of this, Qingfeng regretted not apprehending the young eunuch out of momentary curiosity. Seeing him already rush into the West Palace, it was too late to stop him. He could only hope the Emperor was still accepting toasts from the officials and hadn't yet reached the West Palace. He decided to wait outside the West Palace for the Emperor. Whether the Emperor went in or came out, he had to stop him and tell him to take precautions. He had to nip any potential danger to the Emperor and the people of Jinghe in the bud!

[Main Text: Chapter Six, Medicine Trial in the Western Palace]

When Leng Jie rushed to the West Palace, a magnificent and brightly lit scene was unfolding: a grand spectacle of "many hands make light work." A large group of palace maids and eunuchs were busily working in the garden, tidying up the bright red wedding invitations and lanterns that had been battered and bruised by the storm. The invitations and lanterns, made of the finest Xuan paper, had faded to a pitiful, unsightly white after the downpour. The faded colors pooled on the bright jade floor, forming streaks of blood-red glare.

Leng Jie was secretly delighted. She had been racking her brains for an excuse to sneak in! The current situation presented the perfect opportunity. Leng Jie suddenly sighed, how timely this downpour had been! It was as if it had been tailor-made for her. Not only had it allowed her to encounter Physician Hu, whom she had been searching for so long, but it had also provided her with such a convenient opportunity to enter.

While Leng Jie sighed inwardly, her actions didn't stop. Quickly and silently, she disappeared into the crowd, bending low, head down, using both hands and feet to kick the broken lantern and straighten the tattered double happiness symbol. Her sharp, eagle-like eyes, gleaming with keen light, observed everything around her through the gaps in the crowd.

The architectural layout of the West Palace was basically the same as that of the East Palace, with the main hall in the center, the study on the left, and the sleeping quarters on the right. It was obvious that the bride was currently in her sleeping quarters, eagerly awaiting the emperor's favor. After identifying her target, Leng Jie slowly moved closer to the right.

Leng Jie had to admire the West Palace's strict discipline and high-quality personnel. Although the garden was in complete chaos, the number of guards at the entrance to the Consort's palace was still as high as ever! Three eunuchs and three palace maids stood neatly and orderly on both sides of the palace gate, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Leng Jie thought to herself, "Judging from this situation, it's unlikely I can get in through the main gate." She began moving towards the back garden, and just as she reached the corner, a palace maid walked towards her. She stopped her with a look of surprise and asked, "..."

"Xiao Qingzi, what are you doing at the West Palace? The Emperor has transferred us all away, what will happen to that idiot? Will he suddenly die?"

When Leng Jie saw her, she felt a sense of familiarity, and upon hearing the first half of her sentence, she initially thought she was concerned about the foolish empress! But as soon as she finished speaking, Leng Jie immediately remembered—wasn't she the palace maid responsible for the empress's daily life, whom she had read from the empress's memories during self-hypnosis, the one who had bullied and abused the empress the most? "Hmph! You occupy a significant place in the empress's memories. How could I not repay you for what I've done to this body?" Leng Jie thought to herself.

Leng Jie didn't agree to her request. Instead, she turned and looked around, finding no one paying attention. Then, her eyes flashed coldly as she glared fiercely at the palace maid. With a flick of her right hand, she found the first test subject for the newly acquired medicine.

The palace maid was startled by Leng Jie's icy gaze, then trembled violently, barely managing a shiver. Before she could understand how Xiao Qingzi, who had always been so obedient to her, dared to look at her with such a terrifying gaze, everything went black, her body went limp, and she knew nothing more.

Just as Leng Jie was admiring her masterpiece, she was startled by the sudden swaying of the palace maid. Without thinking, she stepped forward and caught the maid who was about to fall. She then took one of the maid's hands and took her pulse.

Upon feeling the palace maid's pulse, Leng Jie's brows furrowed slightly, her lips curled into a smile, and a rare, bewildered glint appeared in her eyes. She thought to herself, "How is this possible? I clearly prepared a hallucinogenic drug, how did it become a mind-altering drug? Could it be that ancient and modern herbs have different properties? That's impossible too. Isn't modern understanding of the properties of traditional Chinese medicine and most of the sophisticated prescriptions passed down from ancient times? But why has my prescription changed its properties here? Did the imperial physician prescribe the wrong medicine? But I've carefully checked every ingredient, and there's definitely nothing wrong with them. Is it because of the equipment used in preparing the medicine? That doesn't make sense either. Different equipment would at most result in different physical properties of the medicine. They couldn't possibly produce a chemical reaction! Sigh! I'll leave that for later. Now I need to quickly solve the immediate problem."

Completely baffled, Leng Jie had no idea that the handsome imperial physician she admired had, with good intentions gone awry, secretly added two even more potent ingredients to her prescription! These two ingredients, differing by only one character in the name of the medicine, naturally resulted in a vastly different efficacy. For Leng Jie's plans, this undoubtedly turned into a complete disaster.

Leng Jie used her sharp, eagle-like eyes to quickly scan her surroundings, trying to find a place where someone could hide. Her gaze finally settled on a large water vat prepared for watering plants. The vat, which had been dry, was now half full of rainwater again due to the recent downpour.

With great effort, Leng Jie dragged the unconscious palace maid backwards to the water vat. It wasn't because Leng Jie was cruel, but because it was the easiest way. The Empress's body was far too weak; after Leng Jie's torment from afternoon until now, she was utterly exhausted and overwhelmed. She had only managed to hold on until now thanks to Leng Jie's unwavering willpower. Using her last ounce of strength, Leng Jie threw the person on the ground into the water vat. To prevent the person inside from drowning, she found a stone in the flowerbed and smashed a hole in the bottom of the vat, draining all the water.

After doing all this, Leng Jie was completely exhausted. Panting heavily, she leaned against the tub to rest for a moment. Her body remained still, but her mind was racing. She was wondering what to do next.

Her original plan was to first use her most prized, always-effective hallucinogenic drug to induce hallucinations in Consort Shui, and then seize the opportunity to hypnotize her. If she could control the timing perfectly, making Consort Shui temporarily demented at midnight, her lie would be plausible.

The hallucinogenic drug's effects were weak and short-lived. Therefore, by the time the emperor discovered it, even if he summoned the imperial physicians to examine her pulse, they couldn't find any signs of poisoning. At that point, the physicians couldn't find the cause of her illness. They were already preoccupied with the idea that the King of Hell would come to collect her soul. In this way, it was difficult for them not to believe it.

However, the hallucinogenic drug had now become a mind-altering drug. The mind-altering drug would knock her unconscious immediately, and she couldn't hypnotize someone who was completely unconscious, nor could she guarantee that the imperial physician wouldn't detect the toxins in her body. Therefore, her original plan was ruined.

Leng Jie glanced at the water vat behind her and sighed, "But I really have to thank this beautiful, venomous palace maid inside. If you hadn't happened to be there and acted as my guinea pig, I wouldn't have known the medicine had changed. If I had rashly used it on that emperor's new favorite, the consequences would have been unimaginable! Considering you unintentionally helped me this once, I'll be magnanimous and not hold it against you for abusing the empress in the past!"

After saying that, Leng Jie patted her tired back and straightened up to walk towards the backyard.

With midnight fast approaching, what solution will Leng Jie come up with to resolve her current predicament? Stay tuned for the next episode!

[Main Text: Chapter Seven: A Sleepless Night (Part 1)]

Inside the Xinhe Palace, the scene of music, dance, wine, and debauchery had continued for over two hours. Even the princes and ministers, who usually lived such luxurious lives, were exhausted. However, their wise and intelligent emperor, who should have been eager to return to his bride, showed no sign of leaving. The ministers could only force themselves to smile and continue to offer heartfelt congratulations, wishing the emperor and his concubine a long and healthy life, and many sons. While drinking the now tasteless fine wine, they silently prayed that the emperor would remember his concubine waiting for him in the West Palace.

Among these officials, the most anxious was none other than the former emperor's brother-in-law, the current emperor's general, the Minister of War, the father of Consort Shui, Shui Xin, or Lord Shui. While the other officials didn't understand why the emperor was reluctant to leave his seat, he knew perfectly well why.

Outsiders only know that Shui Rong'er is beautiful, talented, and a cousin of the Emperor. They were childhood sweethearts, a match made in heaven! Just from the fact that she was treated with the respect due to an Empress during the day despite being called a Noble Consort, one can imagine how much the Emperor dotes on her. Even Shui Rong'er herself probably thinks so.

However, only Shui Xin knew that everything the emperor was doing was merely fulfilling their agreement. Nevertheless, Shui Xin, confident in his daughter, believed that after seeing Rong'er's beauty and obtaining her, the emperor would truly fall in love with and become infatuated with her. But now, it was past midnight, and the emperor still showed no sign of going to the West Palace, which truly worried him.

Shui Xin casually beckoned to a eunuch and whispered a few words in his ear. The eunuch hurriedly headed towards the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace.

Every single expression on Shui Xin's face was captured by the Emperor's eyes, who was engrossed in drinking.

Xuanyuan Yunlu's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer. He thought to himself, "The old fox finally couldn't hold back anymore! Shui Rong'er, the most beautiful woman in the capital, so what? You're nothing but a pawn of your father, a burden I have to take in. If you're like that fool from the Leng family, obediently and contentedly being your Consort, I can tolerate you and your Shui family for now. But if you're as restless as that old hag from your Shui family... hmph, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

As Xuanyuan Yunlu was deep in thought, the words "The Empress Dowager has arrived" pulled him back to reality.

Then, the sheng and xiao music stopped abruptly, and all the officials shouted in unison, "Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"

Xuanyuan Yunlu sneered inwardly, "They've arrived so quickly!" He then composed himself, resuming his cold expression. He coldly watched the Empress Dowager, this seemingly gentle but venomous old woman, gracefully approaching him with lotus-like steps. He asked the Empress Dowager in a completely emotionless tone:

"Why hasn't Mother rested yet at this hour?"

The Empress Dowager seemed accustomed to the Emperor's attitude and paid no heed to his deliberate coldness. Instead, she spoke slowly and authoritatively to the kneeling ministers:

"It's past midnight, why are you all still in the palace?"

The Empress Dowager's words undoubtedly liberated the officials who had long wanted to leave but dared not. One by one, they rushed to express their gratitude and take their leave. In an instant, the once lively and bustling hall was left with only the two most noble people of the Jinghe Dynasty, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, standing facing each other.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Emperor with loving eyes and said:

"Li'er, today is your wedding day with Rong'er. You should fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as a ruler and husband. I know you still hold a grudge about what happened three years ago. But Rong'er is innocent. Now that you have married her, you should treat her well."

Xuanyuan Yunlu sneered, "No need for Mother Empress to worry. You just need to be a good Empress Dowager. I have my own plans for my affairs." He then looked towards the outside of the hall and said:

"Guards, escort the Empress Dowager back to Cining Palace!"

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor, who viewed her with the same wariness one would show a venomous snake or a ferocious beast, shook her head helplessly, and turned to walk out of the hall. Reaching the hall's entrance, she turned back and said, "Rong'er is a good girl; don't mistreat her. And don't forget, the Shui family isn't as easy to talk to as the Leng family." With that, she turned and left.

Immediately from inside the hall came the clattering sounds of wine cups and bowls falling to the ground. Eunuch Fu, who was guarding the hall door, knew that the Empress Dowager's last words had provoked the Emperor, and hurriedly ran into the hall. Reaching the Emperor's side, he repeatedly tried to console him:

"Your Majesty, please calm down! Your Majesty, please calm down! If you really don't want to go to the West Palace, this old servant will go back to the West Palace and tell you that Your Majesty is drunk and will stay at Jingyang Palace tonight."

"Haha, Eunuch Fu, tell me, am I not a truly pathetic emperor? Not only can I not protect my own women and children, but I also have to marry the daughters of my enemies one by one with lavish gifts, and then raise and support them. Do you think there's ever been such a useless emperor in history?...

Looking at his master, who was laughing heartily and finally letting out the pent-up anger he had been holding in for three years, Eunuch Fu also breathed a sigh of relief. For three years, his master had never mentioned this matter, but he knew that it wasn't that his master didn't feel pain for them, but rather that he had hidden all his heartache and tears deep inside.

Having vented his anger, Xuanyuan Yunlu felt much better. He started walking towards the West Palace. Eunuch Fu followed closely behind.

Just as Xuanyuan Yunli reached the entrance of the West Palace, a figure suddenly leaped down from a large tree by the roadside, blocking his path and obscuring his view. Concentrating on how to deal with Shui Rong'er, he hadn't noticed anyone approaching. The sudden appearance of the figure startled this cold-blooded emperor, who hadn't shown fear even when a knife was held to his throat. His brow furrowed, and without thinking, he unleashed a deadly attack, aiming straight for the opponent's face.

Hey! It's me, Qingfeng! I just scared you a little, are you going to fight me?

Upon hearing the voice, Xuanyuan Yunlu quickly stopped his attack. After recognizing the person, he glared at him fiercely and said coldly:

Are you bored? If you're so bored, why don't you come and drink with me?

The newcomer was none other than Hu Qingfeng, the imperial physician who had accompanied Leng Jie. He had been waiting here for the emperor for a long time. He had seen the emperor approaching the West Palace with a cold expression, accompanied by Eunuch Fu, his face devoid of any newlywed joy. He had intended to frighten the emperor, but unexpectedly, he had actually succeeded. Looking at the still-cold-faced emperor, Qingfeng, undeterred, teased:

"Haha, I have no interest in your wedding banquet. But what's going on today? Did the sun set in the east? Even the Emperor, who is known as the fearsome ruler of ghosts, doesn't feel pain when a knife cuts into his flesh, and was actually frightened by me! Are you so bewitched by that water beauty inside that you've lost your mind and soul!"

After hearing Qingfeng's teasing, Xuanyuan Yunlu's sinister eyes suddenly lit up. He immediately wondered how he could have forgotten what happened at the Eastern Palace. He excitedly asked:

Qingfeng, you're so clever! What do you think would happen if a person lost one of their souls?

Qingfeng was stunned by Xuanyuan Yunlu's sudden change of mood. Before she could react, the emperor had already hurriedly entered the West Palace. By the time Qingfeng came to her senses and remembered why she had been waiting for the emperor there, sounds of laughter and chatter could already be heard from inside.

Greetings to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!

[Main Text: Chapter Eight: A Sleepless Night (Part 2)]

The backyard of the West Palace, though still brightly lit, was eerily quiet. After being washed by the torrential rain and tidied up by hand, the courtyard was clean, fresh, and seemed to have escaped the dust of the world. There was not a trace of worldly noise. The only sound was the natural rustling of autumn leaves in the wind.

A nimble figure swiftly moved to the backyard and stopped in front of a secluded flowerbed. This person was none other than the simple-minded Empress Leng Jie, who was heading to the backyard after dealing with the young palace maid.

Using the flowers and trees as cover, Leng Jie quickly scanned her surroundings. It was so quiet you couldn't even find a chirping insect. She figured it was because of the autumn heat; all the windows facing the backyard were wide open. And this was right outside the Imperial Concubine's bedroom window—Leng Jie thought, that was one reason why the backyard was deserted! Who would be so inconsiderate as to disturb the Emperor and Imperial Concubine's good time? That would be like eating honey with scallions or lighting a lantern in an outhouse—suicidal. However, Leng Jie seemed to have forgotten that she was precisely the one who wasn't afraid of death.

Leng Jie was very satisfied with this environment; at least it provided her with a safe place to hide. She gently moved her heavy body and quietly moved to the window. After concealing herself, she chose the best observation point and quietly observed the situation inside the room.

The room was enormous, more than twice the size of the Empress's palace. Divided in two by a golden embroidered phoenix screen, the inner room, like the East Palace, contained a large mahogany bed carved with dragons and phoenixes, but with the addition of a light pink gauze curtain. The autumn breeze drifted through the window, swirling the curtain and making it appear and disappear, incredibly alluring. Wisps of smoke rose from the incense burner beside the bed, releasing a faint, delicate fragrance.

The furniture, all antique and luxurious, was of the same style. Various rare treasures filled the shelves. But what truly caught Leng Jie's eye was the only source of light in the brightly lit room: a fist-sized luminous pearl, radiating a dazzling light like an incandescent bulb. No, it should be said to be as bright as a 100W incandescent bulb.

The glittering beads made Leng Jie's heart itch. She thought to herself, "The people here are so extravagant and boring! They actually use such a beautiful and lovely treasure as a light bulb! Once I've established myself here, I'll definitely find a way to rescue this treasure from these boring fellows, so I can appreciate it properly and cherish it!"

Those who know Leng Jie know that diamonds and exquisite jewelry are merely tools for her to complete her missions. What interests her most are smooth, round beads, especially luminous pearls that glow in the dark. When friends ask her why she doesn't like the more dazzling diamonds but prefers pearls, she always says self-deprecatingly, "It's an occupational hazard from my childhood training as a secret agent. Secret agents always live in the shadows. That's why I developed a fear of the dark and a love of light."

Leng Jie reluctantly shifted her gaze from the luminous pearl. Through the embroidered screen, she could see a round table in the outer room, laden with various food containers—undoubtedly filled with delicacies. Leng Jie unconsciously licked her lips, her saliva flowing freely. It felt as if an invisible hand was reaching out from her stomach to take the food. Then she remembered that she hadn't eaten anything since arriving in this body. This realization instantly sent a wave of hunger through her entire body.

Not daring to continue, Leng Jie immediately shifted her gaze from the table. Seated formally at the table was a noble concubine dressed in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe. Behind her, a young woman in palace attire rhythmically fanned the concubine, offering her respite from the heat. Though her features were obscured, her posture alone suggested that the woman inside must be a classical beauty of unparalleled grace and elegance. Leng Jie had always admired beautiful things, regardless of gender; anything beautiful was pleasing to the eye, purely visually. However, she didn't have the energy to indulge in fantasies about the beauty inside.

After observing, Leng Jie immediately activated her long-dormant brain, conducting a comprehensive analysis of the current situation. Since there were two people involved, the method of hypnosis was completely ruled out, as she couldn't hypnotize two people simultaneously.

Making a commotion to send one person away? That won't work either; there are still six gatekeepers guarding the outside. Making any noise would be suicide.