A Shocking Revelation

He Suosi cast his gaze toward Pei Nishang’s small courtyard, a thoughtful expression settling upon his face.

Past events unfolded before his eyes, one after another. Many details he had previously overlooked were now filled in, revealing an incredible secret. His eyes widened just as the door to Pei Nishang’s room burst open with the fastest speed he could muster.

He Suosi, who had been conversing with Luo Guanjing in his soul space, jumped in surprise in the physical world. He stared in shock at Yuan Zhigong, who had suddenly burst into the room. As a vase by the door shattered from the force of Yuan Zhigong slamming it shut, He Suosi couldn’t help but wonder if Yuan Zhigong had also been possessed.

[Tell me, have you also taken over Yuan Zhigong’s body?] He mentally questioned Luo Guanjing.

Luo Guanjing’s face was etched with disdain. [Hah? Who? Do you think I’d just possess any random cat or dog?]

He Suosi couldn’t spare Luo Guanjing another thought. After that fleeting mental retort, he realized that Yuan Zhigong’s agitation might stem from knowing his true identity.

Instantly, his entire body tensed. He mobilized every organ, determined to perfectly portray the role of a delicate, ailing beauty.

Yuan Zhigong’s gaze swept over the pale face on the bed.

Beneath the light green bed curtains, the young woman’s face was devoid of color, her brows slightly furrowed. Disheveled hair framed her gaunt face and shoulders, presenting the very picture of a fragile willow swaying in the breeze.

Undoubtedly, the person on the bed bore no physical resemblance to He Suosi whatsoever. This was unquestionably Pei Nishang. Yet, Yuan Zhigong recalled the rumors circulating outside: He Suosi’s body is intact, but his soul is gone. Thus, the rumors claim he died from Qi deviation while practicing a soul-related spell.

But what if he had merely undergone soul detachment?

A fragile soul typically couldn’t exist independently for long. However, if it were He Suosi, he might know a method to possess someone else. Therefore, perhaps the person on the bed was indeed Pei Nishang in body, but simultaneously He Suosi in soul.

Yuan Zhigong clenched his fists.

Thinking back, after drinking that soup the other day, even though he had choked Pei Nishang in a rage, the Moon Spirit artifact on his person had not activated. It was the exact same reaction as when he had faced Yu Anlin. He had initially thought Yu Anlin was special, but now, he realized the Moon Spirit must have detected the true anomaly in the other’s soul.

Considering the Moon Spirit favored He Suosi and disliked him, it made perfect sense that it hadn’t warned him of the imposter.

Yuan Zhigong unclenched his fists, a smile he couldn’t suppress spreading across his face.

He Suosi eyed Yuan Zhigong suspiciously. The man’s lips curved upwards, his eyes brimming with a wide smile.

‘This expression doesn’t look like he’s discovered anything.’

‘…It looks more like he’s gone mad.’

He cleared his throat, his voice weak. “Immortal Monarch, what has come over you?”

Yuan Zhigong walked to the bed and sat down naturally on the edge.

He Suosi froze. ‘…What the hell? Didn’t he used to want to stay at least a meter away from me?’

He shuffled further back into the bed, but before he could move even a centimeter, a warm palm landed on his forehead.

‘-=口= Has… has his character setting changed?’

He Suosi’s lips trembled in fright. He feigned shyness, looking at Yuan Zhigong, and stammered, “Imm—Immortal Monarch… you…”

Yuan Zhigong lowered his head, looking at him with an unsettling gentleness that sent shivers down He Suosi’s spine.

‘Did Pei Nishang poison Yuan Zhigong without my knowledge? Some kind of love potion? Given that woman, it wouldn’t be surprising if she did something like that.’

Yuan Zhigong slowly moved his hand from He Suosi’s forehead, cupping his face. He seemed slightly dissatisfied, his brow furrowing momentarily before relaxing. A subtle smile returned to his lips.

He spoke with a soft sigh, “It’s truly wonderful that you’re unharmed.”

He was naturally speaking to He Suosi, but He Suosi believed he was referring to Pei Nishang. He thought with surprise, ‘Could it be that after facing death, Yuan Zhigong discovered his true love was actually Pei Nishang, and now he’s here to display sappy affection?’

‘He must be sick in the head, so obsessed with tragic love stories.’

He had no desire to enter a late-night emotional drama. He quickly adopted an expression of blissful near-faintness, then pretended to lose consciousness.

However, even though he had fainted, Yuan Zhigong remained seated by the bed, silently watching him. He Suosi felt the other’s gaze, so scorching it seemed to pierce his skin and see his very soul.

Unable to bear it, He Suosi simply “woke up” languidly. After all, fainting could also just involve a momentary blackout. He opened his eyes, looking at Yuan Zhigong with a pained, incredulous gaze. His voice was already tinged with a sob. “I… I seem to have had a dream just now, Immortal Monarch.”

Yuan Zhigong’s expression softened. Even though he knew the other was merely acting, the thought that the person making this expression was He Suosi made Yuan Zhigong feel like he could agree to anything. He reached his hand under the blanket and grasped the other’s hand.

“I’m the one who’s dreaming,” he said.

He Suosi concluded that Yuan Zhigong must have suffered Qi deviation. Not only had he spoken such sickeningly sweet words, but he had even… even held his hand! He Suosi felt a wave of goosebumps ripple from their clasped hands, stopping only at his neck.

‘Yes, you really must be dreaming,’ He Suosi thought. ‘You must still be sleepwalking.’

Despite these internal thoughts, He Suosi’s words were naturally full of deep affection. “Will you forget all of this when you wake up?”

Yuan Zhigong extended his right hand, gently caressing He Suosi’s cheek.

“Never.” ‘I will never let go again.’

He Suosi felt an itch on his face, and an inexplicable sensation of being targeted.

‘Heh heh, the one being targeted is just Pei Nishang, anyway. At worst, I’ll just finish my research quickly and escape, then rush to fulfill the destiny of these tragic lovers.’

With that thought, he felt that sacrificing a little integrity was fine. He Suosi, with a blissful smile, clasped Yuan Zhigong’s hand in return, intertwining their fingers, his index finger gripping tightly.

Yuan Zhigong looked at their clasped hands, struggling with all his might to suppress the urge to embrace him.

‘Perhaps, I should first retrieve his body,’ Yuan Zhigong thought, looking at “Pei Nishang’s” soft profile.

Yuan Zhigong stayed until evening, watching He Suosi drink his medicine sip by sip. Then, he sat down and shared spirit fruit pastries with him. And then…

‘Is he not leaving?’ He Suosi was inexplicably shocked.

However, he quickly realized his shock was quite logical. This man had never spent the night at any of his concubines’ residences! What made the impotent—ah, no, the Guangyu Immortal Monarch—suddenly decide to stay overnight in Pei Nishang’s courtyard?

Just because he had a sudden realization this afternoon that Pei Nishang was his true love?

In that case, He Suosi could only say, ‘True love truly is the most mysterious and unpredictable thing in this world. The ancients truly didn’t deceive me…’

‘But didn’t he notice that his true love is currently in poor health and can’t serve him in bed?’

He Suosi soon realized his own thoughts were too vulgar. Yuan Zhigong had no intention of doing anything to Pei Nishang. He was simply sitting by the bed like a father, having an innocent chat with his daughter.

He Suosi then felt that perhaps his analogy was the problematic one.

Yuan Zhigong asked him, “How have you been doing here?”

He Suosi was startled. This question didn’t sound like it was meant for Pei Nishang, who had been here for hundreds of years.

Before he could answer, Yuan Zhigong added, “Although it’s been several hundred years, the number of people has grown, and you must be very tired.”

This addition made it sound like it was directed at Pei Nishang again. Perhaps Yuan Zhigong was asking this to show his concern after realizing she was his true love. He Suosi hesitated before replying, “It’s… it’s alright.”

Yuan Zhigong then said, “For over a hundred years, it has been a mixed bag of people in the harem. Although the inner residence is within the inner sect, they are not truly connected. You alone have been in charge, and it must not have been easy.”

He Suosi’s eyes lit up. ‘Is this the rhythm of getting me some help?’

However, Yuan Zhigong then said, “Moving forward, I’ll have to trouble you again.”

“…” ‘Go to hell! Trouble whoever you want! I’m certainly not getting involved.’

But verbally, he still had to say with tearful gratitude, “Thank you for your trust, Immortal Monarch.”

Yuan Zhigong gently stroked his hair and said, “Why don’t you call me by my name anymore?”

‘You never called me by your name before, either, did you?!’ He Suosi eyed Yuan Zhigong suspiciously.

Yuan Zhigong then said with a nostalgic expression, “I still remember, when you first met me, you called me Big Brother.”

“…” ‘How disgusting. The Guangyu Immortal Monarch is so disgusting. He really is a lolicon.’

Yuan Zhigong, unaware that he had been branded a lolicon, continued recounting memories that He Suosi was certain were fabricated. “Didn’t you love playing with me the most? We used to cause trouble for father’s concubines together, and secretly go to the mortal realm to play. It’s a pity…”

“It’s a pity…?”

Yuan Zhigong paused slightly, then said, “It’s a pity that you are so distant from me now.”

He Suosi felt that Yuan Zhigong was indeed suffering from a split personality. This must be his second personality, no doubt. He thought for a moment, deciding that since he wasn’t Pei Nishang, he shouldn’t exploit Yuan Zhigong’s ‘true love.’ So he said, “Immortal Monarch, you are now the Sect Master, after all. Besides, the entire inner residence does not consist of just me.”

The faint smile on Yuan Zhigong’s face receded. He looked at He Suosi for a long while, until the flickering candlelight had burned down a noticeable amount. Finally, he spoke.

“Do you still remember the reason you came in here?”

He Suosi hadn’t expected such a question to trap him. How could he know the reason Pei Nishang had entered the harem? Anything Pei Nishang had told him must have been false. For a moment, he was truly flustered. He stared blankly at Yuan Zhigong for a while before slowly lowering his head, wondering if he could claim amnesia.