Xuanyuan Mo walked out of the palace in a daze, unable to shake the image of the woman’s pale face with that radiant smile. Her overflowing admiration and trust weighed heavily on him.
From the day she entered the palace, he hadn’t spoken a single truthful word to her.
And yet, she believed every word he said.
How laughable. Was it not absurd that someone could believe his every lie?
Clutching his slightly aching heart, he wondered—what was wrong with him? Why did it hurt so much, why did it feel so unbearable, whenever he thought about how he had never told her the truth?
Xuanyuan Mo quickly suppressed these emotions, immersing himself in the complexities of court politics. Only when he was busy could he stop his thoughts from wandering.
He worked late into the night, completely forgetting his plan to inform An Ningxiang about the An family father and son being dispatched to the battlefield.
“Your Majesty, will you be visiting Noble Lady An’s palace tonight?”
Xuanyuan Mo glanced at the time. “Did my brother go to the Imperial Concubine’s palace tonight?”
“Yes, he went quite early.”
A tightness gripped Xuanyuan Mo’s chest. He clenched his fist, suddenly feeling an urge to stop his brother for reasons he couldn’t explain.
But he couldn’t. He and his royal brother were identical in appearance, and under no circumstances could they appear before others at the same time.
The young eunuch, unaware of Xuanyuan Mo’s thoughts, assumed he was considering whether to visit An Ningxiang’s palace. Just as he was about to ask further, Xuanyuan Mo spoke.
“Not tonight. Send someone to inform Ningxiang that the An family father and son will be going to the battlefield. I’ll visit her tomorrow night.” Rubbing his temples, Xuanyuan Mo felt the exhaustion of a long day settling in.
The young eunuch didn’t suspect anything and went off to carry out the instructions.
Xuanyuan Mo entered the secret chamber of his sleeping quarters but did not rest. This chamber connected directly to Xuanyuan Mie’s sleeping quarters.
Xuanyuan Mie’s quarters were a forbidden area within the palace. Apart from Xuanyuan Mo and a few trusted members of the royal household, no one knew that his identical twin brother resided there.
Every day, they met in this secret chamber, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Whenever Xuanyuan Mie appeared before others, Xuanyuan Mo would remain in this hidden room.
This chamber had originally been constructed by the late emperor to foster a bond between the two brothers. He had hoped they could work together in harmony, one in the light and the other in the shadows, to protect the Tianqin Kingdom.
How could the late emperor have known that Xuanyuan Mo would use this place as he did?
To swap identities and send his brother, Xuanyuan Mie, to consort with his concubine.
Ridiculous. Truly ridiculous.
Holding the cold teacup in his hand, Xuanyuan Mo felt a bitterness in his heart.
He thought of her shyly lying in his brother’s arms, and his heart throbbed painfully.
Frustrated, Xuanyuan Mo slapped the table and pressed his lips together tightly. Staring at the faint candlelight, he found this night unbearably long—so long it felt unreal.
“From now on, don’t get too close to that stupid younger brother.”
Xuanyuan Mie was carefully washing Tang Guo’s small hands. “He’s touched other women. It would sully Guo’er’s hands.”
Jealousy, thinly veiled in such an elegant and refined tone.
After drying her hands, he kissed the back of her hand and placed it first on his face, then over his heart. “Guo’er can only touch me, only lean on me.”
“Guo’er…” His eyes gazed pitifully at the stunningly beautiful woman before him, as if he were an abandoned puppy.
Tang Guo raised her brow slightly and pinched his handsome face, saying, “Ah Mie, you’re not being cute.”
Xuanyuan Mie stiffened, quickly holding her small hand and pulling her into his embrace. “Guo’er.”
Tang Guo yawned, glancing at the palace robe that had been reduced to ashes. “Hands are washed, the robe has been burned. Ah Mie, being too greedy isn’t good.”
“Madam, your husband admits his mistake.” Xuanyuan Mie’s lips curved into a wickedly charming smile as he carried the person in his arms to the bed. “Your husband will immediately apologize. Guo’er will definitely be satisfied.”
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