Why Was She So Unable to Bear the Loneliness?

Although Di Xin's expression had been rather grim earlier, he had been fairly amiable when reassuring the Imperial Guards and the East Palace guards.

But the moment he saw the Three Ladies, his expression darkened as if clouds had gathered over him. "What are you doing here? The Crown Prince was just abducted, and the Royal Palace hasn't been thoroughly searched yet. We can't risk anything else happening. Hurry back to your respective palaces!"

He wasn't speaking only to Empress Jiang. His words included Consort Su and Noble Consort Yang as well.

Although this was the first time he had seen Niangniang Huang and Noble Consort Yang since transmigrating, he made no effort to look at either of them.

This was only his second time meeting Lady Jiang, and he gave her no warmer a reception.

After speaking, he turned to leave. Then, after a moment's thought, he turned back and added to Empress Jiang, "I'll investigate the Crown Prince's abduction myself!"

Once he'd said that, he left the East Palace without looking back.

He left the three women who had just arrived standing there.

He didn't dare get too close to them. The Crown Prince had already been abducted, and so many Daoist Sect cultivators were eyeing the Royal Palace, waiting for a chance to test him. On top of that, the Jade Pipa Spirit had already appeared in Chaoge. She was more than capable of possessing any one of the women in the harem.

So the less favored these women were, the safer they would be.

Unfortunately, Di Xin knew his cultivation was far too weak to stand against those Daoist Sect cultivators. He wouldn't be a match even for that mid-level puppet. Even if he revealed his strength, it would make no difference.

The Great King had left. Fang Bi brought a large number of Imperial Guards to protect him closely, while Fang Xiang led men in searching the Royal Palace for any remaining accomplices of the assassin.

The three Ladies had no choice but to take the Second Prince with them to the Central Palace. Lady Jiang needed comforting at a time like this, and neither the West Palace nor Xinqing Palace had turned their backs on her.

Di Xin didn't head straight back to Shouxian Palace. Somehow, he found himself in the Imperial Garden again.

The Crown Prince's abduction kept circling through his mind.

In his estimation, this was surely another test by the Daoist Sect cultivators. Since they hadn't killed Yin Jiao on the spot, the Crown Prince should be safe.

But that was only his guess. Who knew if something really might go wrong?

If it did, he would have truly let down his predecessor, Empress Jiang, and his own adopted son.

Restless, Di Xin paced around the Imperial Garden. As luck would have it, he came upon the tree where the White Puppy had lingered earlier, and thought of Yang Jian again.

He couldn't help spacing out for a moment.

Just then, a eunuch hurried into the Imperial Garden.

As he drew near Di Xin, he carefully slowed his steps. "Great King, a strange wind just swept through the Royal Palace. When it died down, a letter fell from the sky. Please take a look..."

As he spoke, the eunuch knelt and presented the letter to Di Xin.

Di Xin looked at it. Four small characters were written on the envelope: "For King Zhou's eyes only."

At the sight of them, Di Xin frowned. A letter falling from the sky had to be the work of Daoist Sect cultivators. He just didn't know which group of Qi Cultivators was behind it.

He took the letter, opened the envelope, and unfolded the white silk inside. It bore just a few words: "If you wish to save the Crown Prince, come alone to Tiger Head Cliff west of the city at noon tomorrow!"

Damn, how clichéd.

Seeing those words, Di Xin actually felt relieved.

Since the other side was indeed targeting him, he no longer needed to worry about the Crown Prince's safety.

Still, he acted as if he were terribly flustered. He stared at the letter for a while, then tucked it into his robe and paced around the Imperial Garden.

At times he circled around in agitation, at times he gazed upward in thought, and at times he sighed.

With acting like that, he was a natural-born protagonist.

After more than half an hour, he finally seemed to calm down a little, as if he had made some sort of decision.

Then he left the Imperial Garden.

He returned to Shouxian Palace.

Di Xin ordered the eunuchs to lay out a feast and began drinking gloomily at the table.

Daji danced gracefully to the music.

Although he'd had quite a bit to drink, Di Xin could still tell that Daji was distracted and performing well below her usual standard. The way she flung her long sleeves was painfully awkward.

"Beloved Consort, is something troubling you?"

Di Xin had no idea what was wrong with this Fox Spirit, so he asked her directly.

Su Daji waved away the musicians and dancers, then came straight to the table and nestled into Di Xin's arms.

Di Xin wanted to dodge, but feared giving himself away, so he could only endure it.

Daji stroked Di Xin's hand and said softly, "Great King, I know everything that happened today. Your hand was bitten by a dog, and the Crown Prince was abducted by an assassin. I know you must be upset, and since I didn't know how to comfort you, I've been feeling down too."

"Mm, you're very thoughtful, Beloved Consort!"

Though he answered her, Di Xin knew perfectly well that Daji was lying.

Zhang Wuji's mother once said that the more beautiful a woman was, the better she was at lying. The woman before him could no longer be described as merely beautiful—she was a true Fox Spirit.

A Fox Spirit couldn't possibly share his feelings. She had come here on a mission, and was a demon who wanted nothing more than to throw the world into chaos.

How could Daji guess what Di Xin was thinking? She continued softly, "Seeing you drink alone like this pains me, Great King. I want to ease your burden, but I don't know where to begin. Why don't you let me attend to you tonight?"

"Uh... Beloved Consort, next time you call me Great King, leave off that final 'why don't you'!" Di Xin lifted a cup without changing his expression and drained it.

"Yes, Great King!"

Daji didn't understand what he meant, but she readily agreed and picked up the wine pot to refill his cup.

"Great King, what I just said... Great King..."

Di Xin shot Daji a glare, his expression darkening. "Beloved Consort, are you really so unable to bear the loneliness?"

At his words, Su Daji looked ready to burst into tears. "Wuwuwu... Great King, you've misunderstood me. I only saw that you were in low spirits and wanted to comfort you!"

"Ahem... I can comfort myself. You can't help me with this. I have something important to do tomorrow, so I need to rest well tonight. And don't forget your eighty-one-day vow."

After speaking, Di Xin flicked his sleeve, stood, and returned to his bedroom.

Sitting on the bed, Di Xin's gaze cleared.

His mind raced as he wondered what Daji's intentions were in acting this way today.

If so many things hadn't happened over the past two days, he might have thought the demon was simply trying to win his favor. But now, things seemed much more complicated.

Goddess Nuwa had lost the Monster Summoning Banner, and Daji happened to be one of her people. Was she trying to test whether he possessed Magic Power by some means?

No, he had to be careful!