40. How remarkably convincing, this cross-dressing.

Night at the Nuptial Chamber in the Linyan Kingdom’s Imperial Palace.

In truth, the Nuptial Chamber did not have many eunuchs on duty. Adding four at once would inevitably arouse suspicion. Moreover, eunuchs were generally restricted to serving outside and were forbidden from entering the inner chambers. Faced with this, Eunuch Mi proposed an idea. Bowing to Zhao Chengxian, he whispered, "Your Highness, you cannot enter the inner chambers dressed as eunuchs. Would it be possible to inconvenience everyone by having you dress as palace maids?"

In this conservative era, the mere suggestion of men dressing as women was scandalous, a far cry from the modern world. Eunuch Mi knew Zhao Chengxian and his men might refuse, but he felt compelled to try.

Before Zhao Chengxian could speak, Haiyang immediately retorted, "No, absolutely not! How could a real man debase himself by dressing as a woman? It’s utterly improper!" Haiyang was adamantly opposed, and Chen Gui also looked troubled. Yue’er, while hesitant to reveal her true gender before Zhao Chengxian, knew that personal feelings paled in comparison to the interests of the state, so she remained unbothered by the request.

Their reactions left Zhao Chengxian in a difficult position. After a moment of thought, he asked Eunuch Mi, "Can we have just one person dress as a maid? One can pose as a eunuch to keep watch outside, while the other two return to the secret passage to await the others." Eunuch Mi nodded. Zhao Chengxian turned to Chen Gui and Haiyang with a solemn expression. "You two return to the secret passage and wait. The top scholar and I will proceed to gather intelligence." He knew Yue’er would have no issue reverting to her female attire, and since Haiyang and Chen Gui were resistant, he would not force them—though he certainly did not want them seeing Yue’er in her true form, as it would risk exposing her secret.

Chen Gui looked uneasy. "Your Highness, it is too dangerous. Let me stay behind; you should be the one to return to the secret passage." As Zhao Chengxian’s bodyguard, he could not simply abandon him.

Zhao Chengxian smiled at him. "If an emergency arises, do you truly believe you could handle it? Enough, follow my orders. Execute them at once." Knowing he lacked Zhao Chengxian’s wit, Chen Gui stopped arguing and left with Haiyang. Zhao Chengxian then instructed Eunuch Mi, "Go and find a set of clothes suitable for the top scholar."

As Eunuch Mi departed, the room fell silent, leaving only Zhao Chengxian and Yue’er. Zhao hesitated, wondering whether he should tell her that he already knew her secret.

Yue’er spoke first. "Your Highness, I would appreciate it if you could step outside while I change." In truth, Zhao Chengxian would have done so regardless, but her request caught him off guard. Perhaps not expecting her to be so forward, he looked at her with surprise. Sensing her request might have seemed odd, Yue’er explained with a smile, "It is a habit I have kept since childhood—I never change clothes in front of others." She feared Zhao might think it didn't matter since they were both "men."

Understanding her motive, Zhao Chengxian did not press further. "Understood. I shall wait outside." The atmosphere grew stiflingly intimate until Eunuch Mi returned, shattering the tension. Zhao Chengxian watched as the eunuch brought in a set of water-red maid’s robes. After ensuring they were placed correctly, Zhao pulled Eunuch Mi out of the room. Before leaving, he cast one last glance at the blushing Yue’er. Eunuch Mi, meanwhile, remained bewildered; he sensed that the air between them had shifted, though he could not put his finger on why.

It had been two years since Yue’er had worn women’s clothing, but she had not forgotten how. She quickly changed, letting her hair down and arranging it into a simple, elegant bun. She was once again the woman she had been two years ago, though without a mirror, she could not see her own reflection. Outside, Zhao Chengxian suddenly felt a wave of trepidation. He feared that seeing her in woman’s attire would make it impossible to suppress the urge to reveal that he knew the truth. Reason and emotion waged a war in his mind.

The door creaked open, and Yue’er stepped out. Their eyes met, and it was as if they had been transported back two years in time. They could only stare at one another in silence, separated by an invisible lake—an expanse that could not sever the tether between their hearts. They could only pray in silence that the waters would one day recede.

Eunuch Mi’s voice broke the delicate spell. "The top scholar truly makes for a convincing palace maid!" Seeing Zhao Chengxian’s transfixed gaze, he chuckled to himself, *The scholar looks quite beautiful indeed; no wonder the Prince is so captivated.*

Will their mission be a success? Will Zhao Chengxian finally confess that he knows Yue’er’s secret? Stay tuned!