Shocking! The actress was dragged to the regent's bedchamber every night.

Her hand had somehow touched the river lantern again.

Clutching the petals, my fingertips sank into the paper, grinding the thin layer of powder into creases.

The lamp was distorted from being squeezed in her hand, and petals squeezed out from between her fingers, like a flower wilted by a storm.

The paper was too thin to support her strength, and with a "hiss," it tore open, splitting from the edge of the petal all the way to the base.

She heard the sound, her fingers loosened slightly, then tightened again.

The light bulb is completely broken.

The crumpled paper scraps stuck to her palm, each pink piece resembling a crushed flower petal.

The wooden base detached from the paper and rolled onto the bed sheet.

She didn't remember when the lamp broke, only that her hand was still clutching it.

He gripped it so tightly that he didn't even notice the paper was torn.

My hand slowly loosened, and the scraps of paper slipped from my fingers onto the pillow.

It fell onto the mattress, onto the man's shoulder...

Yu Chen looked down at the scraps of paper, then at her.

Her fingers were still trembling slightly.

He took her hand and picked the scraps of paper out of her palm one by one.

The scraps of paper were so small that they stuck in the lines on her palm.

He rubbed it with his thumb, but it wouldn't come off.

Then I rubbed it slowly with my fingertips, and it took several rubs to clean it.

Yu Chen turned her hand over, and there were also scraps of paper on the back of her hand, small pieces of which were stuck to her fair skin.

Like fallen petals.

Su Wuli buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Yu Chen reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Her fingers rested on his chest, but there was no strength in them.

She closed her eyes; pink scraps of paper were scattered beside her pillow.

There was also a wooden base on the bed sheet, rolled around in the corner of the bed, half of it hidden by the blanket.

Some of the scraps of paper were pressed under the mattress, while others drifted to the ground and landed next to his boots.

A bird chirped once outside the window, then stopped.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling onto the floor and onto the scraps of paper.

The pink paper shimmered softly in the light, like petals scattered on the ground.

………………

When Su Wuli opened her eyes again, she saw the hotel ceiling.

She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.

I lay down for a while before slowly sitting up; my back and legs ached.

Coming back means I have to go to the film set soon, and I can't help but grumble to myself.

Blame him.

If we're still at the hot spring resort, then it's fine; we can rest there.

But now that I'm back, I don't have any time to rest.

I picked up my phone, glanced at the time, then put it face down on the bedside table, got out of bed, and went into the bathroom.

My face was flushed and my lips were a little swollen in the mirror.

There was also a faint red mark on her collarbone.

She lowered her head, turned on the tap, and splashed a handful of cold water on her face.

By the time I finished washing up and arrived at the film set, the sun was already high in the sky.

The sun was so bright that it made my eyes sting.

Staff members came and went, and various sounds mingled together.

Su Yuan ran out of the dressing room, holding the script in her hand.

Her hair was tied up haphazardly, and her face showed signs of fatigue from not getting enough sleep for several days.

Upon seeing Su Wuli, he quickly handed her the script.

"Wu Li, the filming schedule is tight these days. The director said we need to be emotionally charged. We'll wrap up filming in a few days."

As she spoke, she flipped open the script, which had several places marked in red pen.

Su Wuli took the script, read it once, closed it, and went into the dressing room.

The makeup artist is already waiting.

Su Wuli sat down and patted her face with powder twice.

The makeup artist suddenly stopped and stared at her neck for a moment.

She didn't say anything, and then used a powder puff to cover the red mark.

Su Wuli was in a hurry to leave today and forgot to cover herself up.

She hasn't noticed anything wrong yet. With her fingers on her knees, eyes closed, she's still going over her lines in her head.

During the photoshoot, she stood on the city wall, her robes fluttering in the wind.

The weather has cooled down recently, and the wind carries a noticeable chill.

The director yelled "Action!"

Su Wuli looked into the distance and began reciting her lines.

The sound wasn't loud but it was very clear, but the director didn't call "cut."

She repeated it again, this time in a softer voice.

Several times in a row, the director still didn't call "cut".

The wind on the city wall was too strong, and it blew her voice away.

The director knew the reason for the problem and called "cut" so she could rest for a bit before coming back.

Su Wuli came down from the city wall, and Su Yuan quickly handed her the water.

Su Wuli took a sip and returned the cup to Su Yuan.

Standing beneath the city wall once more, the wind blew in through the crenellations, making her hair fly wildly.

She reached up and tucked her hair behind her ear, pausing for a moment when her fingers touched her earlobe.

He then lowered his hands and let them hang at his sides, continuing to deliver his lines.

After filming two more takes, the director was finally satisfied.

"Passed."

The next match will begin immediately.

As darkness fell, the director's voice came from behind the monitor, "That's a wrap. We'll continue tomorrow."

After removing her makeup, she changed back into her own clothes.

Xiao Yuan was waiting outside. When she saw her come out, she reached out and opened the car door.

Su Wuli bent down and got in, and the car started.

She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. The car turned a corner, and her body swayed slightly.

I opened my eyes and looked at the night view outside the window.

The wind squeezed in through the cracks in the car window, blowing coolly on her face. She shrank her neck, pulled her coat tighter, and closed her eyes.

She couldn't help but wonder if Yu Chen and the others had returned, since she had suddenly disappeared again.

………………

It was already dusk when the carriage stopped at the gate of the mansion.

Yu Chen got out of the car, his robes still stained with the sulfurous smell of the hot spring resort.

The coolness of the night breeze.

He walked through the corridor, the lanterns casting long shadows around him.

Shadow Falcon followed behind, holding a thin booklet in his hand.

He was no longer surprised by Su Wuli's sudden disappearance.

No one has ever known how people come into being, nor how they leave.

The study door was open, and the candles were already lit.

Yu Chen went in and sat down behind the desk.

Shadow Falcon stood in front of the desk, placed the booklet on the table, and opened it.

"News has come back from the north." Shadow Falcon's voice was not loud. "The rumors that the prince ordered to be spread have already reached the royal court."

"Hmm." Yu Chen nodded slightly.

Shadow Falcon continued, "The two generals on the left and right each had their own version of events, and they even drew their swords and drew blood in front of the tent. The king could not control the situation and has ordered the two men to be transferred to grazing areas in the east and west respectively, and they are not allowed to return to the royal court."

Yu Chen didn't speak, but picked up the booklet and turned a page.

It was covered with names of people, places, and dates, all densely packed together.

His gaze swept over the words, paused at one spot, and then continued reading.

"The provisions have also been taken care of," Shadow Falcon continued to report.

"The grain reserves from the Ministry of Revenue have been delivered, and the border garrison commander has submitted a memorial stating that it is enough to feed the army for half a year."

Yu Chen closed the booklet and placed it on the corner of the table. "The war won't start."

Shadow Falcon nodded.

"The two generals divided their troops and neither submitted to the other. Fearing that they would take the opportunity to cause trouble, the king transferred the elite troops to keep an eye on both sides, and the matter of invading the south was naturally put aside."

Yu Chen leaned back in his chair, the candlelight flickering in his eyes.

Shadow Falcon lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."

After he finished speaking, the study was silent for a moment.

The candle flame popped open with a "crack".

"Where is Xiao Junyi?" Yu Chen suddenly asked.

"The injury is almost healed." Shadow Falcon paused.

"After we cleared out a group of people last time, no one has come looking for him lately. It's quiet on the Grand Secretary's side too, but that girl from the Shen family has come twice more."

"Mm," Yu Chen replied.

Stand up, walk to the window, and open it.

A night breeze blew in, causing the pages on the desk to flip.

Most of the locust tree leaves in the yard have fallen.

"If no one comes, then they're afraid." Yu Chen's voice came calmly from behind. "It's good that they're afraid. Let them continue to be afraid."