Bookworm, when did you figure out that I was indeed Hui Yue'er?

Deep into the night, in the Heqin Hall of the Lin Yan Imperial Palace

The night was quiet and still, and many people had already fallen asleep. Yet Moon sat anxiously beside the round table, waiting for Wurigeng to arrive. This was the first time she had carried out a mission in a foreign land, so it was only natural that she felt somewhat tense. In the past, her missions had concerned only individuals; this one involved the fate of two entire nations. The difference was like heaven and earth.

Still, Moon knew that at least a few people would support her. Zhao Chengxian’s support and protection in particular brought her considerable comfort.

She walked to the window and gazed through the paper screen at the bright full moon hanging indistinctly over the horizon. She could not help recalling the nickname Zhao Chengxian had given her and the crescent-moon bracelet he had presented to her. Smiling faintly, she thought, *Bookworm, when did you realize that I was Hui Yue’er? You certainly know how to keep a secret. You never exposed me, and that must have been difficult for you. Are we really going to go on like this forever?*

When she remembered the look in Zhao Chengxian’s eyes moments earlier, her heart ached, yet there was nothing she could do to change anything. She knew that Zhao Chengxian was also watching her with a heart full of pain. Whatever the reason, to love one another yet be unable to acknowledge that love openly was surely one of the greatest tragedies in this world.

While Moon was still lost in her thoughts, a tall shadow suddenly appeared against the paper window. She guessed that Wurigeng had arrived and asked softly, “My lord, is that you?”

The men on the roof grew tense as well. From above, they could clearly see Wurigeng standing at the door. None of them dared breathe too loudly, for fear of being discovered. Since Eunuch Mi knew no martial arts, Zhao Chengxian and Chen Gui had to hold on to him.

Hearing Moon’s voice, the lustful Wurigeng rushed inside excitedly and grabbed her in his arms. With an obscene grin, he said, “Little beauty, you certainly made me search everywhere for you. Why didn’t you make yourself clearer?”

He leaned in to kiss her, unaware that someone on the roof was already consumed by the urge to kill him.

Zhao Chengxian’s hands clenched into fists. He could only watch helplessly as the woman he loved was teased by another man. He had no choice but to remain silent and do nothing. His feelings at that moment were easy to imagine.

Moon deftly slipped away from him, then took his arm and led him to the round table. Sitting down beside him, she said in a soft, coquettish voice, “My lord, I only wanted to test your sincerity and see whether you truly cared for me. Besides, I was certain that a man as clever as you would be able to find my lodging.”

Her tenderness left Wurigeng weak in the knees. Seizing the opportunity, Moon poured two cups of multicolored wine and said, “Very well, then. Even if this servant was in the wrong, let me offer you a toast.”

She lifted her cup and drained it in one swallow. Then she took out the handkerchief she had prepared beforehand, wiped her mouth, and secretly spat the wine into it. That way, she would not become drunk.

Seeing how readily she had drunk, Wurigeng also raised his cup and emptied it. The moment the wine went down, a fierce pain suddenly seared his throat. He could not help exclaiming, “It truly is potent wine!”

He had never tasted anything so strong.

Moon smiled and said, “This is wine from my homeland. My father once said that, apart from our own people, no one could drink more than three cups of it. I wonder whether you might be able to break that record, my lord.”

She meant to provoke Wurigeng into drinking himself senseless. She knew that some people could not bear being looked down upon.

Wurigeng, as expected, boldly seized the wine jar and declared, “We Tartars grow up steeped in wine. This little bit of strong liquor is nothing!”

Then he drank straight from the jar. His boast was somewhat exaggerated, of course, but the Tartars did indeed possess remarkable tolerance for alcohol.

As soon as he finished, his face flushed scarlet. His head spun, his vision blurred, and his legs felt as soft as cotton. He swayed lightly, as though he might float into the air.

Seeing that he was becoming drunk, Moon asked gently, “My lord, my lord, what position do you hold in Tartar territory? What connection do the Jiaoyang and Lin Yan Kingdoms have?”

That was precisely what she had been waiting for.

Wurigeng sprawled over the round table and said with a foolish grin, “I am the Grand Marshal of the Tartar armies. I came to seize the Lin Yan Kingdom by cunning means. One day, I shall unify the whole world!”

Ambition was not a bad thing, but seeking to invade other nations was simply selfish.

Moon was puzzled by his words. What did he mean by taking Lin Yan “by cunning means”? She immediately pressed him further. “By cunning means? How?”

Could they be planning to conquer Lin Yan without expending many troops? She was completely confused.

In a daze, Wurigeng muttered, “We’ll put Prince Po Li of Lin Yan on the throne. Then he’ll bow before Tartaria and become our vassal. Wouldn’t that mean Lin Yan had submitted to Tartaria? That’s why I used Consort Ping to administer a slow poison to the emperor of Lin Yan. His health will gradually deteriorate, and since he has no sons, once he dies, the imperial throne will naturally pass to his younger brother, Po Li!”

Everyone finally understood. So Po Li was the one who had excavated that secret passage. No wonder it led straight into the Lin Yan Imperial Palace. But why had Po Li gone to the Jiaoyang Kingdom to serve as a deputy general? Was that not rather strange? They would probably find the answer only after capturing him.

Moon asked again, “Why did you try to sow discord between Jiaoyang and Lin Yan?”

Zhao Chengxian carefully recorded their exchange.

Still grinning foolishly, Wurigeng replied, “So that Jiaoyang won’t help Lin Yan when the crucial moment comes. And if the two countries go to war, it will naturally benefit Tartaria…”

With that, he fell asleep, still smiling foolishly.

Moon and the others paid him no further attention. They had no time even to change their clothes before hurrying to the abandoned palace where the secret passage lay, there to reunite with the others.

Zhao Chengxian presented Eunuch Mi with an exquisite jade pendant as a token of gratitude.