In the pitch-black night, a shadowy figure darted swiftly across the rooftops, heading straight for the imperial palace.
His movements blended perfectly into the darkness, making him nearly impossible to spot—and that was exactly the point of his getup.
Only dressed like this could he get things done.
After a while—
The shadowy figure arrived at the north gate of the palace. In the Soaring Phoenix Realm, the east gate was for welcoming honored guests—that was the main entrance.
But the north gate was basically the back door. Still, even as a back entrance, the guards here were everywhere—just as tight as the east gate.
In the darkness, the figure pulled down his black face scarf, revealing a devastatingly handsome face.
“Damn it, why are there so many people here?” Adrian Night muttered, annoyed.
Yep, that shadow was none other than Adrian Night. He’d lied. He promised Ivy he’d leave and never come back, promised to meet her at the Martial Conference.
He knew he should trust Ivy.
He should trust her skills.
He should trust her abilities.
But...
But even so, he couldn’t help worrying about her—even though he knew she was probably stronger than him.
But so what? Worrying is worrying. Even if he was useless, he’d still worry.
He just couldn’t rest easy leaving her to fight all alone in there.
So, he’d lied and told the others it was safer to split up—less likely to get caught by the enemy.
Truth was, he just didn’t want the others to know. If they did, they’d never let him go through with this.
“Sorry,” Adrian sighed, as if apologizing to those six idiots. He knew if they found out, they’d probably beat him up!
But even if they scolded him, even if Ivy herself yelled at him, he was still coming.
Ivy—the one he missed day and night—he just couldn’t help worrying about her.
He looked up at all those guards posted in the distance. Adrian Night knew this place was seriously dangerous.
Danger...
That’s right—because it’s dangerous, he had to come even more.
“Ivy, I’m sorry, but I still came.” Adrian’s lips curled into a tiny smile as he thought: Even if it’s hell, wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be. Wait for me!
The next second, he quietly crept closer. He needed to knock out a guard, steal his gear, and sneak inside.
Right now, the most important thing was waiting for the perfect moment—for one of those guards to step aside. That was the only time they’d be relaxed.
*******
"Your Highness, time to rest! We’re heading back tomorrow," Charlie Qiao yawned.
"Tomorrow you’re going back alone. Oh, and tell my mom to prep more medicinal herbs, got it?" Caleb Miles replied, busy with something, not even looking up.
"Huh?" Charlie, who was stacking chairs to get ready for bed, froze at Caleb’s words. Next second, he came over, confused, and asked, "Your Highness, you’re not going back tomorrow?"
"Mm." Caleb kept working, fingers flying over the abacus, jotting notes in a ledger with his other hand.
"Wait, why though? If you’re not going, where are you headed?" Charlie just didn’t get it. Weren’t they supposed to go home and talk with the Queen about that poison recipe?
Caleb paused for a second, frowned at his notes, then bent his head and kept writing.
"Your Highness? Your Highness..."
"Just go home like I said. I’ve got stuff to do."
"Huh? What stuff? Is it the Martial Conference? But that’s still ages away!" Charlie and Caleb had been friends since childhood, so their relationship was more like brothers than master and servant.
"I’m going into the palace to see Ivy."
"What? You’re going into the palace?" Charlie froze. "Your Highness, you’re not serious, right? The palace! Didn’t Adrian Night just say it’s a deathtrap? Why would you go?"
"Duh, obviously I’m going to see your boss—my princess consort." Caleb shot him a look, clearly thinking that was a dumb question.
"Huh?" Charlie was stunned. Sure, Ivy was technically his mistress, but... but the palace was way too dangerous!
"Your Highness, Adrian Night said the princess consort is safe. She told us to wait for her at the Martial Conference. If you barge into the palace and ruin her plan, what then?" Charlie tried every argument he could think of—he really didn’t want Caleb to go. That place was just too dangerous!
"Just because that guy says she’s safe, I’m supposed to believe it? He made that place sound like a deathtrap before! She’s my woman—I’m not trusting anyone else’s word!" Caleb grumbled.
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Your Highness, she’s their woman too!"
"Shut up!"
"Hey, don’t be so stubborn! You know Silver Consort’s in there. If she catches you, she’ll probably kill you." Silver Consort cares about her disciple Song Zhijue, so if it comes down to a fight, you’re definitely the one who’ll get hurt.
"Her?" Caleb paused, suddenly remembering—oh right, his aunt was there too. But so what?
She had her own people to protect. He did too.
"Your Highness..."
"Just tell Mom to get everything ready. And don’t forget the antidotes," Caleb reminded him.
"Your Highness, if you do this, the Queen will be mad!" Charlie tried to reason with him, since Caleb clearly wasn’t listening.
Caleb stopped what he was doing and looked at Charlie, then burst out laughing.
"What’s so funny?" Charlie felt uneasy at Caleb’s weird grin.
"You idiot. My mom already loves Ivy—do you really think she’d object? She wants me to be a real man, someone who takes responsibility!" Caleb shot him another look and went back to his notes.
Charlie froze, remembering that scene from before...
"Go for it, Caleb! You have to protect my daughter-in-law—don’t let her get hurt! Be a real man! And hurry up and give me grandkids!" Mabel Miao cheered, waving her hands.
"What’s wrong?" Caleb asked, noticing Charlie’s blank stare.
"Heh, heh heh..." Charlie laughed awkwardly, at a loss for words.
"Now you get what Mom wants, right?" Caleb could tell Charlie was remembering that scene.
"But... but I’m still worried! What if Silver Consort turns on you, or Song Zhijue catches you?" Charlie said anxiously.