I didn’t think I’d ever wake up again.

I only managed a quick glance at the elegant wooden cabin around me before a scratchy, painful throat sent me into a coughing fit.

Despite the painful coughing, no sound escaped my lips. I touched my throat. Had I lost my voice?

A maid entered. I looked at her in surprise—she was *the* maid from that mysterious man’s residence!

She set down a bowl of porridge. I tried to speak to her, but no sound came out.

“My name is Xiao Ju. You almost drowned, and my master saved you. The lingering poison in your body flared up. Your inability to speak is temporary; half a month of acupuncture will fix it.”

I nodded and managed a grateful smile. Xiao Ju left quickly.

A faint laugh echoed from nearby. I looked up, startled to find the man leaning back in a golden nanmu chair, watching me with a smile, arms crossed.

His beauty was cool and refined, as radiant as the moon in the clouds, so handsome he seemed otherworldly.

His beauty was overwhelming, the pressure immense. I involuntarily lowered my head, but then I caught a scent of pine and cypress. He had approached without me noticing.

He used his fan to lift my chin, the interest in his eyes intensifying. “I didn’t expect you to be so spirited, preferring to jump into the river rather than return with Qin Yiheng.”

Qin Yiheng… I pursed my lips. Hearing that name again now felt like another lifetime.

I kept my head down, but it was clear this man had no intention of letting me off the hook.

He said leisurely, “Qin Yiheng wants me to help him ascend to the throne. I demanded a woman from the Lan family in return. I didn’t expect him to exploit a loophole.”

“Lan Niantang, do you know what you’ve missed? Qin Yiheng is the Heaven-destined Emperor. You might have given up the honor of being a noble consort.”

What’s so great about a noble consort? These are not what I seek at all.

I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, my mind was clear.

“You truly are a strange woman. Should I call you devoted or ruthless?”

He stared at me unblinkingly, as if he absolutely had to get my answer.

I gestured for paper and a brush, but he didn’t move. Instead, he lazily extended a hand. “Begrudgingly, I’ll lend you my hand.”

I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him, and disregarding any propriety, I directly grabbed his hand and used my finger to write on his palm: None of your damn business.

His face stiffened. I seized the chance to move away.

He slowly withdrew his hand. I could almost hear his knuckles crack as he clenched his hand.

A moment later, he said through gritted teeth, “Fine, very well. I, Yuwen Zhao, do not tolerate idlers. Since you have such backbone, then go grind medicine for me!”

I looked up in surprise—I didn’t expect this man to be Yuwen Zhao!

Yuwen Zhao, an unparalleled recluse who embodied all the world’s talents and knowledge. Legend had it that whoever gained his favor could conquer the world.

I never thought I would wake up again.

I observed the elegant wooden house around me, but before I could take in much, an itchy, painful sensation in my throat triggered a fit of coughing.

Even though the coughing was agonizing, I couldn’t make a sound. I touched my throat—had I lost my voice?

A maid entered. I looked at her in surprise; she was the same maid from the mysterious man’s residence!

She set down a bowl of porridge. I tried to speak to her, but not a sound came out.

“My name is Xiaoju. You drowned, and the Master saved you. The residual poison in your body has flared up; your inability to speak is temporary. Half a month of acupuncture will fix it.”

I nodded and squeezed out a grateful smile. Xiaoju left shortly after.

A faint laugh came from the room. I looked up and was startled to see that man leaning against a golden nanmu chair, arms crossed, watching me with a smile.

He was cold and handsome, as ethereal as the moon behind clouds—too beautiful to be mortal.

His appearance was so striking, the pressure so intense, that I couldn’t help but lower my head. Then I caught the scent of pine and cypress; he had walked over without me noticing.

He used his fan to lift my chin, his eyes glinting with interest: “I didn’t expect you to be so headstrong—preferring to jump into a river rather than go back with Qin Yiheng.”

Qin Yiheng… I pursed my lips. Hearing that name now felt like a lifetime ago.

I kept my head down, but it was clear this man had no intention of letting me go.

He said languidly: “Qin Yiheng wanted me to help him ascend the throne, and I demanded he trade a woman of the Lan family for it. I didn’t expect him to find a loophole.”

“Lan Niantang, do you know what you’ve missed? Qin Yiheng is the destined Emperor. What you’ve given up might have been the status of an Imperial Noble Consort.”

What was so rare about being a consort? That wasn’t what I wanted at all.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, they were clear once more.

“You really are a strange woman. Should I call you devoted or heartless?”

He stared at me without blinking, as if he had to have an answer.

I gestured for him to bring me paper and a brush, but he didn’t move. Instead, he lazily extended a hand: “I’ll lend you this for now.”

I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. Ignoring any sense of propriety between men and women, I grabbed his hand and used my finger as a brush to write: None of your business.

His expression stiffened, and I took the opportunity to scramble away.

He slowly retracted his hand. I could almost hear the cracking of his knuckles as he clenched his fist.

After a long while, he said through gritted teeth: “Fine, very well. My rule, Yuwen Zhao’s rule, is that I don’t keep idlers. Since you have such backbone, go grind the medicine for me!”

I looked up in surprise. I hadn’t expected this man to be Yuwen Zhao!

Yuwen Zhao, the legendary recluse, a man who possessed all the wisdom in the world. It was said that whoever gained his favor could gain the world.

The narrator begins to understand the situation better as they witness the interactions between the characters. The mention of the narrator’s efforts to help and the attention from others adds depth to the narrative.