Chapter 41: The Seductive and Shadowy National Advisor

After finishing her preparations, Jiang Li strolled slowly toward the Court Hall.

Her waist and legs in this body simply couldn’t support a brisk pace anyway.

What drove Jiang Li to persist all the way to court wasn’t just her power-hungry persona in this world. It was also the timely reminder from 123 when she was about to slack off and stay in bed.

[It was only last night. If you skip court today, don’t you think someone as suspicious as Lu Yihuan would get ideas?]

Thanks to those words from 123, Jiang Li’s body, already sprawled on the bed, shot upright. She hastily revoked the order she’d just sent down about resting due to illness for the day.

Rest? No way! Today, she would crawl there if she had to!

The tasks in this world had only just begun. If Lu Yihuan discovered so quickly that Li Ji and Jiang Li were the same person, Jiang Li knew she could never face the dancer role again!

Just looking at 123’s name as the system was enough for Jiang Li to imagine the twisted tasks ahead.

Getting exposed after the very first time that Li Ji was Jiang Li would be sheer torture for her.

She couldn’t very well go from gazing tragically at Lu Yihuan one moment, saying, “You are revered by all, yet I want to lock you away so only I can see you,” to the next second, where the arrogant and domineering Eldest Princess cornered her against the desk, obsessively grabbing Lu Yihuan’s wrist and declaring, “We’re destined for each other. You can only love me.”

That kind of whiplash would be fine if Lu Yihuan didn’t know their shared identity. But if she did? She’d probably think the person was out of her mind.

Jiang Li didn’t want every future meeting with Lu Yihuan overshadowed by skeptical glances.

With that in mind, Jiang Li sat bolt upright from the bed. Her voice hoarse, she called for attendants to help her change clothes.

Even as she walked the whole way, discreetly supporting her waist without a word, she made it on time.

Once inside, Jiang Li was pleasantly surprised to discover—Lu Yihuan hadn’t come!

Her lips twitched upward just as fragments from last night flashed uncontrollably through her mind. Her face flushed red in an instant.

In that moment, Jiang Li realized why Lu Yihuan was absent—likely because of her own helplessness last night, forcing Lu Yihuan to do all the work in the latter half, wearing herself out.

That slender yet powerful waist had barely paused throughout. Later, when Jiang Li couldn’t even muster the energy to lift a finger, Lu Yihuan still had strength left to grip her wrist and grind against her.

Well then. It was her own poor stamina that kept Lu Yihuan away today.

Jiang Li pondered it, feeling like something wasn’t quite right, though she couldn’t pinpoint what.

Still, no matter the reason, not having to face Lu Yihuan today was a blessing for Jiang Li!

She didn’t want to see that woman’s face right now—not in any capacity.

Jiang Li harbored these pleasant hopes.

But reality loved to slap down such nice expectations.

Jiang Li had merely let her mind wander for a moment. When she refocused, the very person she least wanted to see had appeared behind her—and called out to her.

“Eldest Princess, Your Highness.”

Jiang Li wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or if the flushed memories from last night kept intruding, but Lu Yihuan’s voice lingered on the title like it was rolling ambiguously off her tongue.

It hadn’t sounded like that yesterday during the day.

Now, as Jiang Li met Lu Yihuan’s gaze, those deep, shadowy eyes seemed to hold a lingering, amused smile when they looked at her—like they could hook her soul right out.

Had she been recognized after all…?

Lu Yihuan’s call stirred massive waves in Jiang Li’s heart. Yet her face remained composed. She merely dipped her chin politely and replied, “Regent King.”

Was it the pleasure of last night putting her in such a good mood with everyone?

The thought had just crossed Jiang Li’s mind when Lu Yihuan turned and began the daily inquiry.

“Do the ministers have matters to discuss?”

Her expression was icy cold, her words like frozen shards that made everyone rub their sleeves against the chill, wondering which foolish eunuch had dared place ice blocks in the hall in this weather.

The heat in Jiang Li’s mind froze in that instant.

She needed to think ahead about her response…

Gently biting her lower lip, Jiang Li stopped avoiding it and began seriously considering how to handle the matter if Lu Yihuan brought it up.

Seated prominently upfront, she drew countless gazes at every court session.

Though their faces all showed solemn focus, every person here was a battle-hardened old fox. They could tell at a glance that her attention wasn’t fully on the proceedings.

Thus, as the debate in the Court Hall reached a contentious point, someone turned their spears toward her.

“The Eldest Princess is listening so intently. What are Your Highness’s thoughts?”

With someone targeting her, naturally another stepped up to defend.

“This matter should be decided by the Regent King.”

The renewed clamor yanked Jiang Li’s drifting thoughts back. She heard someone calling her name.

She turned slightly. Though she’d been lost in thought moments ago, she had 123 constantly at her side like a cheat code. She was fully up to speed on the endless dispute consuming the court.

It concerned a neighboring kingdom to Jiang Kingdom—Ling Kingdom—which was sending envoys soon, led by their third prince, Ling Yue, to offer birthday felicitations.

In one month, it would be the Jiang Kingdom Emperor’s birthday celebration.

The Court Hall was now split into two factions in heated argument.

One insisted on tactfully refusing the arrival of the Ling Kingdom’s envoys. With Your Majesty gravely ill, what if they saw the ruler so feeble and harbored ill intentions?

The other argued that dodging the Ling Kingdom visit outright would invite disaster. Though Your Majesty was ill, Jiang Kingdom’s soldiers were strong and its people secure. They needed to project fearlessness against any foreign threat.

The two sides argued red-faced, neither yielding. For a moment, the dignified Court Hall felt no different from a noisy roadside market.

Noises buzzed relentlessly in Jiang Li’s ears, the topic repeatedly shoved her way. She was about to deflect when the figure on the dais frowned in evident intolerance of the racket.

With a cold shout, Lu Yihuan commanded, “Silence! All of you, to this king!”

Dead silence fell.

The incessant din around Jiang Li faded the instant Lu Yihuan spoke. No one dared utter another word. Her battered ears finally found peace.

Lu Yihuan’s cold gaze swept the assembly below. She settled the dispute with finality. “His Majesty will recover in due time. All departments, prepare to receive the Ling Kingdom envoys and begin arrangements for the birthday celebration.”

“Understood.”

In the latter half of the court session, Lu Yihuan’s face remained frosty as she dispatched the agenda items with ruthless efficiency—colder than usual, her poor mood plain for all to see. No one dared court trouble by approaching her.

Only when Jiang Li stole a glance upward once did she spot the bite mark on the web of Lu Yihuan’s hand—the one resting openly in front of her, inflicted by Jiang Li herself last night.

Lu Yihuan displayed it boldly.

Jiang Li, the biter and the viewer, didn’t dare let her eyes linger.

Throughout the entire session, Jiang Li felt Lu Yihuan’s gaze drift over her several times. Pretending deep thought, she kept her head down and averted her eyes. She never once met Lu Yihuan’s stare.

Eventually, 123 couldn’t stand her guilty evasion any longer and prompted her: [The more you dodge, the more Lu Yihuan will think last night’s person was you.]

Of course, as an all-seeing system, 123 had no intention of telling Jiang Li that Lu Yihuan had long since pieced together her identity.

It just wanted to watch how these two would tangle every time.

Prompted by 123, Jiang Li realized dodging Lu Yihuan’s gaze wasn’t a good strategy.

So, the next time Lu Yihuan’s eyes swept her way, Jiang Li flicked her own gaze up frankly with a questioning look—what are you staring at?

Their eyes met, and Lu Yihuan actually smiled faintly at her. In that smile, Jiang Li detected a hint of danger.

That sense of peril lingered in Jiang Li’s heart even after court adjourned.

Thus, the moment the session ended, Jiang Li turned on her heel, hiked up her skirts, and bolted.

Lu Yihuan happened to be surrounded by others and couldn’t move right away.

Jiang Li intended to flee straight back to her palace in one go. But just as she descended the steps, a young man in official robes blocked her path. She was about to flourish her sleeve in imperious dismissal.

[Ding. Male lead of this world detected.]

Looking at the handsome Du Qingyuan before her—who made the robes look dashing—she thought, so this was the world’s male lead. Not bad at all.

Du Qingyuan shook out his sleeves and said courteously, “Is Your Highness well?”

“Mm. Why are you blocking this palace’s path?”

His eyes curved amiably as Du Qingyuan beat around the bush for a bit. Jiang Li listened patiently at first but soon grew tired of it. “This palace has pressing matters shortly. If you have nothing important, I’ll take my leave.”

His expression froze slightly. Detecting her impatience, Du Qingyuan grew serious and asked carefully, “Is Your Highness aware of the recent changes to the New Promotion List?”

His mention jogged her memory— that was why he’d come. His sources were sharp.

Recalling that Du Qingyuan’s assignment change stemmed from her entanglements with Lu Yihuan, Jiang Li’s eyes turned shrewd. “No need to worry. This palace promised you the position, and I’ll make it happen.”

That was exactly what he wanted to hear.

A great weight lifted from Du Qingyuan’s heart. After an exchange of polite farewells with Jiang Li, he departed.

Jiang Li watched his retreating back, her feet shifting to follow suit and leave—

When a voice she least wanted to hear right now sounded from behind her.

“You take a liking to Du Qingyuan?”

The voice was flat, betraying no emotion.

It was over. When had Lu Yihuan arrived?

Her body stiffened at the words, then relaxed. Jiang Li acknowledged it with a sound and glanced sidelong at the woman who had silently approached. She had no idea how much Lu Yihuan had overheard.

After a beat, Jiang Li wondered why she was even fretting. She and Du Qingyuan hadn’t said anything noteworthy.

“Keep your distance from him.”

Jiang Li looked at Lu Yihuan in surprise. What did that mean?

“He’s sworn allegiance to you, yet last night he approached this king to borrow influence. A man serving two masters isn’t worth trusting.”

Jiang Li held back a laugh, mirth spilling from the corners of her eyes despite herself. “Is the Regent King sharing intelligence with this palace? Could it be my words from yesterday actually moved you?”

Given their opposing factions, it was surprising for Lu Yihuan to tell her this much.

The corner of Lu Yihuan’s mouth quirked up. Meeting Jiang Li’s teasing gaze, she countered with a question.

“Does Your Highness want to know who else I saw after meeting Du Qingyuan yesterday?”

She leaned in close to Jiang Li’s ear, murmuring softly with a semblance of a smile.

“That person… shared a night of lingering passion with this king.”