Early the next morning.
Zhang Yuan had slept again. When he woke, the source of warmth was still in his arms, and a noisy argument drifted in from outside.
"Hey, you can't go in! This is the young lady's bedchamber."
"Please, miss, we're only following orders. We've come specifically to escort His Majesty back to the palace. Couldn't you make an exception...?"
"I said no, and I mean no. Take your silver back! Even if you're going to lie, at least think up a better excuse. What do you mean, His Majesty is in the young lady's room? Are you slandering her good name?"
"I wouldn't dare! The His Majesty I'm talking about is Zhang Yuan, Daoist Zhang. You haven't heard, have you? Our Bright Dawn Kingdom changed rulers last night."
"Go on, get out of here! Where did this bunch of lunatics come from? Go back wherever you came from, and don't disturb our young lady's rest..."
Outside the door.
Hong Sha was leading several pretty, curvaceous palace maids in an argument with a maid of the Wei Residence, trying to persuade her to let them inside.
While the women argued without end, the door creaked open, and Zhang Yuan stepped out of the room.
For a moment, every gaze turned toward Zhang Yuan in unison.
"What's all this racket so early in the morning?" Zhang Yuan said.
The Wei Household's maid stared blankly, unable to understand why a man had emerged from her young lady's room.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Hong Sha's eyes lit up at the sight of Zhang Yuan, and she hurriedly called out to him.
Only then did Zhang Yuan turn his gaze toward Hong Sha. His brows knitted as he said:
"What Majesty? Are you talking about me?"
Hong Sha immediately nodded. "Yes, Your