Chapter Forty: Reverse Deduction

Year Seven of King Zheng of Qin, Third Month, Eighteenth Day

Li Yu quietly slipped out from Lady Mingzhu’s embrace. Recalling the wild passion of the previous night, he still felt his legs trembling. Ever since that day, Chaosiyue seemed to have unlocked her inner desires, her longing growing ever more intense. Li Yu had planned to leave by afternoon yesterday, but her insistent pleas kept him there until well past midnight. She truly deserved her reputation as the Tidal Enchantress. Li Yu himself had become utterly entranced by her tender charms, experiencing a pleasure beyond anything he’d known before. He thought to himself that this journey to Han had been more than worth it.

His only worry was whether Chaosiyue might become pregnant. He remembered all too well how Zhao Ji and Liu Feixu had conceived within just over a month. As this thought crossed his mind, Li Yu glanced at Lady Mingzhu’s alluring, bewitching waist, and his gaze instantly softened.

Li Yu shook his head vigorously, reminding himself not to linger any longer, or he’d be trapped here all day again. He dressed swiftly and straightened his appearance. The palace maid who opened the door for him wore her usual impassive expression. Li Yu couldn’t help but suspect that even if he forced himself upon her, she wouldn’t so much as flinch. He rather admired Lady Mingzhu’s talent for training her servants—she’d make a perfect CIA director in modern times.

Li Yu was about to retrace his steps when he heard a long-missed, melodic laugh. It was Honglian’s voice, playing somewhere nearby. He immediately took a different corridor, patting his chest in relief—if he were caught sneaking out of Lady Mingzhu’s chambers at dawn, his reputation would be utterly ruined. Why wasn’t this girl sleeping in?

As he walked, Li Yu soon found himself lost. The Han palace, though not as grand as Xianyang’s, was still vast, and with all the palace maids and eunuchs coming and going, Li Yu stuck to side passages whenever possible. Soon, however, his way was blocked by a wall. He could only hope that the other side led outside the palace. Climbing over in one swift motion, he landed on the other side—only to hear a startled cry.

“Who’s there?” someone exclaimed.

Without hesitation, Li Yu bolted away, leaving only the faintest trace of his presence behind. What a mess! Spotting a nearby residence, he darted through a window, deciding to hide first and plan his next move later.

No sooner had he entered than he froze, struck by the old saying that misfortune comes at the worst times. The room was awash in pink, and so was its occupant. A pair of fox-like, bewitching eyes stared at him in shock. Just awakened, she radiated a languid charm that only made her more seductive. The King of Han was certainly a lucky man, Li Yu thought—though now, she was his.

“Have you seen anyone enter the room, my lady? One of us saw a shadow climb over the wall and run this way just now,” a voice called from outside.

Li Yu quickly leaped over and covered the young woman’s mouth as she prepared to cry out. “Forgive me, fair lady. I have admired you for long, and sleepless nights have driven me to this desperate act,” he whispered, scooping her into his arms and rolling onto the bed, pulling the covers tightly over them.

Outside, the searcher, finding no sign of movement, opened the door and entered. Seeing the tightly bundled bed, she called softly, “Lady Hu?”

A fox-like face peeked from under the covers, gazing at the intruder. “Taohong, what is it?” she asked.

Taohong, noticing Lady Hu’s flushed cheeks, asked with concern, “Are you unwell, my lady?”

“I caught a chill yesterday. I just need to sweat it out,” Lady Hu replied calmly.

Li Yu, hidden beneath the covers, marveled at her composure as she chatted with the other woman. Meanwhile, in distant Xianyang, another Li Yu, grumpy from lack of sleep, was exercising with Concubine Yan, while the Li Yu under the covers was suffering in misery.

Slowly, his body inched downward. Lady Hu felt the scoundrel beneath the blankets begin to move, so she shifted her feet, pretending to settle against the headboard. Taohong hurried forward to adjust her pillows. Lady Hu suddenly felt something warm and electric at her most sensitive spot and clamped her hand over her mouth to stifle a cry. Taohong looked at her in surprise, but Lady Hu quickly feigned a cough.

Her heart pounded furiously, and she found herself overwhelmed. Unable to bear it any longer, she devised a way to send Taohong away. “I’m feeling worse. Go brew me some medicine to drive out the cold, right away.”

Recognizing her mistress’s discomfort, Taohong quickly left, closing the door behind her to keep out the morning chill.

As soon as her maid was gone, Lady Hu pressed through the blankets to push away the offending head, her own head falling back as if trying to contain something unspeakable. When the footsteps faded, she threw off the covers, finding that head still in place. Her gaze grew hazy, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing his chance, Li Yu moved up, pressing the beautiful woman beneath him and diving straight to the heart of the matter. Like dry tinder meeting a raging fire, their desires spun them into a torrent, caring nothing for past or future, giving themselves wholly to instinct.

***

It was only today that Lady Hu truly understood the pleasures of being a woman—so intoxicating, so inescapable. The difference between her aging former husband and this virile, handsome youth was like night and day, both in body and soul. Lady Hu had lost count of how many times she soared to the heavens.

It wasn’t until Taohong returned with the medicine that Lady Hu, reluctantly, let Li Yu slip behind the bed. Taohong, seeing her mistress flushed and covered in sweat, was reassured.

“My lady, someone broke in just now. No idea who it was. Maybe just a petty thief, but he was bold to sneak into the royal palace. What could he be after?”

“Stealing a person…” Lady Hu thought to herself, her body tingling again at the thought.

“My lady, you wouldn’t believe it—just now, the whole sky turned purple! An auspicious sign appeared again. I wonder if something good is about to happen.”

After drinking the medicine, Lady Hu handed the bowl to Taohong and told her she wished to rest and was not to be disturbed. She covered herself and closed her eyes. Only after her maid’s footsteps faded did she open her fox-like eyes, meeting the gaze of the youth who now smiled at her from his hiding place.

“You truly are as beautiful as your name suggests, my lady,” Li Yu praised her sincerely, admiring the alluring woman before him.

“My real name is Hu Shuangxue; ‘Beauty’ is just a title.”

“Oh? Hu Shuangxue? Then is your sister called Hu Siyue?” Li Yu smiled, recalling something.

“No! I do have a sister, but her name is Hu Ningyue, not Hu Siyue. How did you know?”

“Ningyue does sound better than Siyue—I just guessed.”

“So, when did you first start harboring such designs on me? You even dared sneak into the palace for it—do you have no fear for your life?” Lady Hu asked, her cheeks flushed.

“From the very first moment I saw you. Especially that stark contrast when you stood beside King An of Han—I knew I had to steal you for myself. Only I am worthy of you,” Li Yu replied with a nostalgic smile.

“And you weren’t afraid I’d turn you in?” Lady Hu chided, tapping his shoulder.

“You wouldn’t dare. Besides, you like me. I knew it the first time we met,” Li Yu said confidently.

He was right—not only because she feared King An’s neglect, but because Li Yu’s first impression had been unforgettable. In the lonely midnight hours, her mind always wandered to him. For women of the deep palace, such longings only grew. King An, now old and weakened by years of medicine abuse, was long past his prime.

That was why King An clung to Lady Mingzhu—only in her arms could he feel like a man again.

“How do I find you again?” Li Yu now raised a practical concern. It was best not to mention Lady Mingzhu to Lady Hu just yet.

“My sister is the wife of Sima Liu Yi. I stay with her one night every seven days. We can meet there,” Lady Hu replied, her fox-like eyes darting with cunning. It was a scenario straight from the pages of *The Golden Lotus*.

Li Yu found it thrilling beyond compare. Perhaps this was the old saying come to life: a wife is not as alluring as a concubine, and a concubine not as tempting as a stolen love.

Gazing at the enchanting beauty before him, Li Yu rolled onto the bed once more. As flirtatious giggles echoed, the bed began the symphony of its own life.

Leaving the Han palace, it was already afternoon. Supporting himself against the wall, Li Yu could think only of returning and getting some sleep. He hadn’t slept all night, and with the time spent with Yanfei in Xianyang, he felt like a perpetual motion machine. The idea of splitting himself grew ever more appealing—not just to multiply his presence, but because the “Twelve Arts of the Yellow Emperor” also significantly boosted his mental strength. After the last session, his spiritual power had increased by an entire level. If he could recall his duplicate now, he wouldn’t be so exhausted.

Whom should he practice the Twelve Arts with next? Zinu? Nongyu? Jingni? But not Jingni—she was pregnant, and he dared not risk it. Zinu, then. The wise elder sister—perfect.

But for now, all Li Yu wanted was to return home and sleep. He made his way to his temporary residence. Seeing Jingni’s concerned expression, he kissed her to reassure her, then collapsed into bed.

It was not until deep into the night that Li Yu woke again, feeling refreshed. Looking at Jingni sleeping beside him, he was filled with tenderness and gently drew her into his arms, drifting off to sleep once more.

In Xianyang

Li Yu gazed out the window at the bustling crowds. When a certain figure appeared, a faint smile crossed his lips. Soon, Liu Feixu’s voice came from outside the door: “Husband, Lord Zhao is here.”

Opening the door, Li Yu saw Zhao Gao with his signature wild hairstyle, and even felt a pang of nostalgia. He embraced him and said, “Brother Zhao, you’re looking well. Is your new organization progressing smoothly? Have you picked a name?”

“Office of Internal Affairs,” Zhao Gao replied.

“…Why not the Eastern Depot?” Li Yu mused. Ying Zheng was a bit too much of a narcissist, naming it after himself.

“Eastern Depot? I still think Office of Internal Affairs is better. It’s the king’s own private agency,” Zhao Gao said.

“Brother Zhao, what do you think of the Peasant School?” Li Yu got to the point.

“They’re just a bunch of bandits, though they do have numbers,” Zhao Gao replied, clearly unimpressed.

“I plan to infiltrate their ranks. Brother Zhao, help me prepare some people to blend in.”

“It’s easy to get into their lower ranks, but the upper echelons are all their own family members. Very hard to break into,” Zhao Gao analyzed.

“I have an informant inside. She’s the bride-to-be of one of their hall masters,” Li Yu explained frankly.

“Oh? She must be quite a beauty,” Zhao Gao teased with a sly grin.

Li Yu hadn’t expected Zhao Gao to joke, and laughed. “How could I keep any of my affairs from you, Brother Zhao?” Throwing an arm around his shoulder, he continued, “Help me with one more thing. Find out about a woman named Gongsun Liji—not Gongsun Linglong, don’t mix them up.”

“And don’t tell Zheng about this!” Li Yu added as an afterthought.

“Zheng?” Zhao Gao took a second to realize who he meant, his mouth twitching.

“Brother Zhao, we’re in this together—let’s support each other, right?” Li Yu bantered as Liu Feixu brought them water.

“Thank you, madam,” Zhao Gao said courteously, knowing well that Li Yu was easygoing with him, but the women were his Achilles’ heel.

“So, Brother Zhao, I do have a favor to ask…”

“You want to see the Empress Dowager?” Zhao Gao smiled for once.

***

“Yes. It’s been too long since I’ve seen Mother. I miss her dearly,” Li Yu said, gazing out at the sky as if envisioning the Empress Dowager’s stunning face.

“In a few days, I’ll be going to the Grand Zheng Palace. You can come with me,” Zhao Gao said after a brief pause.

“Thanks!” Li Yu replied, patting him on the shoulder.

He felt no need for formalities with Zhao Gao—their interests were too closely bound, the kind of friendship forged in fire.

That afternoon, as usual, Li Yu went to visit the Palace of the Moon Goddess. He was well acquainted with the place and soon arrived at Yanfei’s chambers. Today, Yanfei was sitting at her dressing table, adorning herself. Li Yu was curious and crept up behind her, embracing her gently.

Yanfei shivered instinctively. “It’s me,” Li Yu whispered in her ear. Realizing who it was, Yanfei turned her face aside, blushing. She was acting oddly today—perhaps because she was about to return to the Yin-Yang clan?

Li Yu realized he’d soon be away from this lovely woman, and, overcome with emotion, lifted her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers. “My lady, I love you—forever, until the end of time.”

He kissed her deeply. Yanfei was so bashful today, he found her all the more endearing. Sweeping her up in a bridal carry, he bore her to the bed.

But as he began to taste her lips, Li Yu sensed something amiss. Could it be? Even as he savored the sweetness before him, his mind raced. This was too thrilling to be true. He had to cover his nose to keep his composure.

If she was willing, he could hardly be blamed.

At the sound of a sharp cry, Li Yu feigned shock. “Who are you?” he exclaimed, trying to rise, but the woman beneath him clung tightly, refusing to let him go.

“You’ve ruined my virtue and want to run away?” she protested. As her voice faded, Yanfei’s true identity was revealed.

“It’s you? Lady Moon, who is this?” Li Yu asked, feigning surprise, immediately distancing himself. He’d heard of the tensions between Moon Goddess and Yanfei, and Moon’s behavior was clearly suspicious. He had to be careful not to be drawn into her schemes.

“Brother-in-law, are you planning to seduce and abandon me?” Moon Goddess, now embracing her own role, tried her hand at seduction for the first time. That single utterance nearly made Li Yu lose all composure, electricity running through his body.

Given the circumstances, there was nothing left but to see it through. All restraint forgotten, he gave himself over completely.

As Moon Goddess drifted into unconsciousness, Li Yu quietly gathered his clothes and slipped away. He was, without a doubt, a scoundrel.

***

Strolling through the streets, Li Yu gazed at the pale purple clouds in the sky, replaying the recent events in his mind. It was his first time seeing Moon Goddess’s true face, unveiled and far more alluring than her usual mysterious self, especially with her role as his sister-in-law—enough to drive any man mad.

Thankfully, he had reacted quickly and decisively. Otherwise, if entangled, he wouldn’t know how to face what might come next.

Li Yu had planned to develop feelings for Moon Goddess gradually, but now things had progressed all at once. Just what was she after? He still couldn’t fathom her intentions. For now, he’d just have to take things as they came. Yanfei seemed to have returned to the Yin-Yang clan, and Li Yu planned to lie low at Grand Zheng Palace in the coming days.

Being too handsome was such a burden—even women chased after him. Li Yu couldn’t help but savor the thought.

Meanwhile, back in the Palace of the Moon Goddess, the Lady herself awoke to the chaos on her bed. She let out a soft sigh, tinged with loneliness and melancholy. Fortunately, Li Yu was gone; otherwise, with his tender, sentimental heart, he might not have been able to bear it.