The improved female villains regained their memories.

Eunuch Shi led him here and then left, leaving him alone. Just as Yang Pingsheng was hesitating whether to go in, a voice came from behind the beaded curtain inside.

"Since you're here, why stand there? Come in."

Last night, Yang Pingsheng asked Ling Yan'er what kind of woman she was.

The system thought for a moment and replied:

"She is good at singing new songs, with a sweet voice and beautiful melodies that are the envy of many; when she is drunk and dances, her eyes are full of affection, her hair is slightly disheveled, and her charming appearance is captivating."

She was born with a seductive charm, possessing the allure of a courtesan.

Gentleness and tact are the outward appearance of someone who brings disaster to the country and its people.

Yang Pingsheng said helplessly, "Are you sure you want me to show tenderness in front of her?"

"Correct."

"In front of the female villain?"

Interrupted from his recollection, Yang Pingsheng stepped into the inner room.

It was only natural for Eunuch Shi to step down, but he was most likely not free; rather, he was following Ling Yan'er's orders to summon Xu Anlu.

I wonder what changes will occur when Xu Anlu arrives.

Chapter Seventy-Three: Goodbye

A yellow gauze dress, embroidered with five-colored gold threads depicting a phoenix soaring towards the sun and moon, was paired with a yellow phoenix-tail skirt adorned with butterflies and flowers. A row of dragon and phoenix hairpins adorned her hair in a phoenix-tail style, with a dew-kissed rose tucked behind her. A jade-like hand parted the beaded curtain, and a person emerged from behind it.

"My life."

As she spoke, her cloud-like hair swept across the room, revealing a pair of bright eyes beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows. Her delicate lips parted slightly, and the song of a lark resonated deep within the heart.

"There's no need for us to be so formal with each other, is there?"

"Empress Dowager." Yang Pingsheng bowed his head, paid his respects to the youngest Empress Dowager in the history of the Great Yan Dynasty.

"How dare you bow to me! Please rise quickly!" she exclaimed, rushing forward to support Yang Pingsheng. Her breath, warm as a current, filled his eyes. "I've already told you, there's no need for such formality between us. Pingsheng calling me Empress Dowager, does that mean you're becoming distant?"

"Your Majesty is too kind."

Yang Pingsheng kept his head down, too hot to move: "Etiquette must not be neglected."

The system's voice rang out: "It's tenderness, not estrangement."

The system is in a hurry and can't stand this kind of half-hearted resistance.

Yang Pingsheng had no choice but to look up, meet a pair of watery eyes, and forcefully say, "Yan, Yan'er..."

He thought the task was nothing when he arrived, but now he realizes how difficult it is.

"You've finally decided to call me that?" She smiled, tilting her head playfully. "I thought you'd keep pretending to be so serious."

She moved closer, her delicate hands encircling his back, and gently leaned her head against him, saying, "This time was truly perilous; I really thought I would never see you again."

The aroma was enticing, but Yang Pingsheng felt as cold as if he were in a cellar and dared not move.

"Yan'er, I... I miss you too..."

It took me a lot of effort to finally say those words.

Xu Anlu, who was entering the palace, suddenly shuddered and stopped in her tracks.

It sounds like the Grand Tutor's voice.

Something suddenly broke out in my heart, and all those memories rushed out, bringing back the sadness of parting.

It was the Grand Tutor's voice.

She couldn't have misheard.

The Grand Tutor is inside!

She lifted her leg again, quickening her pace.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting shadows. Demons seemed to linger, whispering secrets. The entire scene was distorted and illusory, until it froze in time.

Xu Anlu stopped and stood there blankly.

She saw Yang Pingsheng and Ling Yan'er embracing each other.

That person's figure was so clear, as if it were being forcibly etched into her very bones.

"Xiao Lu?"

The man reacted, looked at her, and uttered these words.

At that moment, the normally hard ground trembled and cracked into deep trenches.

The earth shook violently, and the thunderous tremors shook Xu Anlu's mind.

No...no...

It shouldn't be like this.

Why was the Grand Tutor hugging his mother?

Ling Yan'er reacted, raised her head, looked at Xu Anlu who was standing there in a daze not far away, and a look of disgust flashed in her eyes.

"Why didn't you announce your arrival? Have you forgotten the rules?"

"Mother, Imperial Concubine, I..."

"Sweating profusely, you went to practice martial arts again? Didn't I tell you to stop doing those things?"

Ling Yan'er pointed at Xu Anlu and cursed, but the latter did not defend herself and just stared blankly at Yang Pingsheng.

The system's voice rang out: "Continue with tenderness."

"...Yan'er, don't be angry. It's not good to get sick from being angry."

It's a bit disgusting.

He was so disgusted that he could hardly stand it anymore.

The initial shock subsided, but what followed was immense trauma. Xu Anlu pursed her lips and took a step back.

When their eyes met, the light in those eyes had already faded, leaving only a heavy gray.

"Okay, since you've said so, I won't be angry anymore."

Ling Yan'er giggled, looked at Xu Anlu, and waved her hand impatiently:

"You go down."

That's like a rag, used and then thrown away without any pity.

Xu Anlu bowed her head hastily, stepped back, turned and left without saying a word. Her figure looked somewhat disheveled, and her steps were unsteady.

"I thought we'd get along really well, that's why I invited her. But it seems we're just average now," Ling Yan'er's voice rang in my ears, warm and gentle.

“He’s just a little kid. All I can see is smoke,” Yang Pingsheng replied.

"How annoying, Pingsheng, you're still the same~" Ling Yan'er laughed, but her eyes held an ambiguous meaning.

-------------------

Yang Pingsheng moved into his palace.

The servants who took care of him were all found by Ling Yan'er, who said that these people were considerate and skilled at taking care of people, and that she trusted them.

That sounds nice, but it's still just for surveillance.

Night fell, the moon hung like a hook, and he dismissed the servants, sitting alone in his room.

A gentle breeze rustled the shadows of the trees outside. Moonlight bathed the palace walls, and within it, a red figure flashed by.

There was a noise outside, and the servants shouted that the fire was burning, causing a commotion. Yang Pingsheng looked up and saw that the window was open, and Xu Anyin was standing there.

It wasn't about controlling Xu Anlu's body, but rather completely transforming it into his own.

Her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind as Xu Anyin looked at Yang Pingsheng, her tone tinged with resentment:

"You said you'd be here in a few days."

"Some things have been delayed."

"You made my sister cry."

"Unexpectedly, as you know, I am also a reincarnated person, and I have no interest in Ling Yan'er."

Yang Pingsheng met those eyes frankly: "I said, the person I support is you."

"Hmph, who would believe that?"

She said this with a slight pout, but the look in her eyes had softened a bit.

"I thought you weren't coming."

"How could that be?" Yang Pingsheng stood up, stepped forward and touched her hair. "Xiao Yin, you know, I will only think about things before my rebirth for you."

Before her rebirth, he saved her when she was at her most helpless.

"And then you just dump a mess on me." Xu Anyin slapped his hand away. "I'm not a little kid anymore, don't touch my head!"

She was all puffed up, which was kind of cute, like a cat.

She probably didn't even realize that she was like this with everyone she was close to. She was an awkward person, so awkward that even asking for comfort was awkward.

"Do you know I almost died this month? That woman is insane, she just wants to kill me!"

She practically shouted it out, her voice filled with grievance—"You damn liar! You said you'd come in a few days, but you stood me up! I almost died, you know that?!"

Half a year of getting along, the explanation of Sun Tzu's Art of War, the lessons on benevolence and righteousness, the life-saving benefactor, and finally, the little bit of fate that led to rebirth—such an influence has been profound enough.

"Xiao Yin".

Yang Pingsheng stepped forward and hugged her.

"I saved your life, and no one can take it away from you."

As he spoke, he casually placed his hand on her head and stroked her bright red hair.

"I will always stand by your side."

After he finished speaking, he looked down and saw steam rising from Xu Anyin's head, shooting straight into the sky.