The Weiyun Temple, in its entirety, bears a resemblance to a celestial abode, enshrouded in a veil of mist. Perched atop the peak of Weiyun Mountain, it truly seems like a wonderland on earth. If the existence of deities were real, this would undoubtedly be the most ideal place to welcome them. Not all of the accompanying servants ascended the mountain. A dozen or so remained to attend to her personally, while the rest made their arrangements at the foot of the mountain, awaiting the return of Her Majesty the Empress.

　　The abbot of the Weiyun Temple assigned her a quiet chamber on the left side of the temple. It was a place of great tranquility. When one pushed open the window, a precipitous cliff that was difficult to scale came into view. In the early morning, upon waking, a thick mist would fill the air. With spring just around the corner, there was still a slight chill in the air. Shen Zhi couldn't help but rub her shoulders with her hands. Qingxi, noticing this, promptly fetched a cloak and draped it over Shen Zhi.

　　Shen Zhi couldn't help but sigh with admiration. The Prince Regent was truly remarkable. All those under his command were capable individuals. Rong Quan, with his high - level martial arts skills, was one thing, but even the maids by her side were so well - trained. They were not only good - looking but also understanding and charming. Lüzhi was more composed than Qingxi, being both brave and resourceful, and she was skilled at cooking delicious food.

　　Although Qingxi was a bit impetuous, she knew how to act appropriately. She was aware of what to say and what to do within the palace. Such women were not only suitable to be maids but could even be considered for the position of concubines in the palace. Placing them by her side seemed like a waste of their potential. What a pity, she couldn't help but shake her head, feeling sorry for them.

　　In fact, strictly speaking, she wasn't really feigning amnesia in front of the Prince Regent. At that time, she truly knew nothing about Yue Chen's past. Moreover, due to the head injury, she was genuinely dazed, and the confusion on her face was not an act. Who could claim that they could adapt immediately after being transmigrated into an ancient - like dynasty? She merely used a bit of guile to make the Prince Regent think that she had lost her memory due to hitting her head. Shen Zhi believed that the Prince Regent treated her well because she occupied Yue Chen's body. Having already lost Yue Chen once, losing her again would likely be unbearable for him.

　　Furthermore, considering the circumstances at that time, the original owner had been consigned to the cold palace and had even died once. If she woke up without seeking a backer, who could come to her rescue? Coincidentally, the Prince Regent was present at that moment, so he was the only option. After all, she didn't want to die again right after arriving in this world!

　　Not seeing the Prince Regent for a while was actually a blessing. Everyone around her was his subordinate, so he must have known about her recent actions and likely harbored doubts in his heart. He just hadn't found a reason to face her yet, which was why he hadn't made an appearance. Since the Prince Regent wasn't showing up, she might as well play it safe and keep a low profile.

　　When Shen Zhi offered incense, she looked at the statues of the Three Pure Ones enshrined in the main hall. She focused intently on the act of offering incense and worshipping the deities, without any specific requests. Since she had come to this place, she intended to live well. The past was like a passing cloud, dissipating into nothingness. She didn't have much attachment to that previous world. Having grown up alone, she was used to being on her own.

　　Behind the Weiyun Temple was a secluded path. Wild grass grew thickly on either side, thriving vigorously. Shen Zhi hitched up and secured her long skirt to prevent it from hindering her steps. The deeper she walked, the narrower the mountain path became. Her clothing was overly cumbersome, with four or five layers, making it rather inconvenient. So, she simply removed her cloak and outer garment. Lüzhi promptly stepped forward to take them, and Shen Zhi casually expressed her gratitude.

　　Lüzhi's eyes flickered slightly. She lowered her head and softly replied, "Miss, you're being too kind. This is but my duty."

　　In Shen Zhi's view, Lüzhi placed too much emphasis on hierarchy. Her every move was meticulous in adhering to etiquette, never stepping out of line. She was much more reserved than Qingxi, and at this moment, Shen Zhi had no intention of correcting her.

　　The ancient forest was even more lush, retaining its natural state with few signs of human interference. As they walked, the chirping of spring birds could be heard, and small insects would jump underfoot. The slightly warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, causing a thin layer of sweat to form on Shen Zhi and the others.

　　Among the dense dark - green trees, as spring brought warmth, the large trees were sprouting new buds vigorously. Amidst the layers of greenery, there were also a few flower - bearing trees. The branches of these flower - bearing trees were bare, with green emerging from the forks, and flowers blooming at the tips. The pink - and - white flowers stood out vividly against the backdrop of the green leaves, making them more prominent in this expanse of green forest.

　　Shen Zhi stopped to take a closer look and exclaimed with delight, "Flowers should bloom like this to be truly beautiful. The flowers in the imperial gardens, although clearly cultivated, are beautiful but lack that natural vitality."

　　"They should grow tall, on the branches, making people look up to them, and not be easily picked." Shen Zhi tilted her head upwards, a distinct smile on her face. Such naturally - grown flowers represented their original state. No matter how beautiful the flowers in the palace were, they were all carefully pruned by others, losing their natural charm and ultimately becoming playthings for the high - ranking.

　　Rong Quan, who had been following behind, as the only male among the four, consciously took on the responsibility of protection when they were outside the palace. However, after Shen Zhi took off her outer garment, he turned around, gathered his inner energy, and leaped onto a branch thickly covered with leaves. Although there was no one around, it was still important to respect a woman's reputation. Besides, Yue Chen now had personal maids to protect her, so he thought it was better for him to keep his distance.

　　She truly relished the days outside the palace. Ever since she heard the news of being able to leave, the smile on her face had never faded. At this moment, she felt like a bird set free. The palace gates were closed tightly. Although it was magnificent, it was also strict. Even if she held the position of the empress, she couldn't stop the concubines in the palace from vying for status. This endless strife trapped her within the palace.

　　Upon hearing Yue Chen's words, Rong Quan pondered in his heart. Perhaps this was the reason why she couldn't afford to lose the position of the empress. Her maternal family had been completely exterminated by the emperor, yet she had to endure and remain in the palace, by the side of her father's killer. What an ordeal this must be. Since she woke up, she had feigned indifference towards everything. He believed this was just a pretense, a way for her to avoid facing such a cruel reality. After all, he had heard that she had tried to end her life in despair in the cold palace.

　　One must reach the highest position to avoid being at the mercy of others and possess the ability to protect oneself to prevent being in a passive position. She was using the flower as a metaphor for herself, and she should have done so earlier. If she had always been like this, she wouldn't have had to go through all that she did before. People only change when they reach a desperate situation, but the price for this change was rather high.

　　Rong Quan couldn't help but think of his own prince. His prince, although he hadn't participated in the power struggle for the throne, held real power in his hands. The emperor, wary of him, turned a blind eye to his unannounced return to the capital. The emperor must be secretly plotting to gradually strip the prince of his power. Now that Yue Chen had become more astute and seen through the true nature of the emperor, perhaps the prince's act of saving her was like planting a spy within the palace. In the event of a future rift and power struggle, she might be able to lend a hand.