A family of three had become a couple. After parting ways with the mother and child, had Xiao Heng automatically erased a part of it from his memory? After all, people have strange possessiveness. Xiao Heng subconsciously rejected the idea of becoming a father, yet he believed he had a wife.

Xiao Heng gave Xie Chaoyun a cold look. Was this all he pursued—fantasizing about someone else’s wife?

What was truly disheartening was that he couldn’t effectively refute Xie Chaoyun. He could only say, “I only remember that when I had a headache, there was always someone by my side. Whoever she is, that’s enough for me.”

Whether she married or not, whether she had children or not, he was only responsible for repaying her. Over the years, there had been many who added to his happiness, but those who had been a source of comfort in his times of need were few and far between.

The search for clues had reached a dead end, and the whereabouts of the seal of Authority remained unknown. Xie Chaoyun proposed a different approach—bringing the woman to them.

Xiao Heng agreed, and from that day on, a corner of the Regent’s residence was opened specifically to receive her.

The news spread throughout Great Chu: the Regent had been injured when he left the city in early October and was saved by a woman in yellow. Unfortunately, upon waking up, the Regent had forgotten the woman’s appearance. Now, a substantial reward was being offered to find her, and whoever succeeded would be granted the title of a county princess.

Not to mention a county princess, with the Regent’s power, even a princess title was possible!

For a time, this woman became the object of envy for everyone in Great Chu. The stories were all the same—someone as stern as the Regent would be extraordinary when it came to showing favor. To be favored by him was like ascending to the heavens!

The position of the Regent’s consort was waiting to be filled! This woman was the most illustrious in all of Great Chu, surpassing even the empress!

All the women were racking their brains, trying to remember if they had been wearing yellow clothes and had left the city in early October to save a stranger.

Xiao Heng was concerned that this might bring trouble to the woman, so he had Xie Chaoyun find a few female subordinates to impersonate her relatives.

Sure enough, the first few women who approached the Regent’s residence were inexplicably surrounded on the way there.

Many factions wanted to take advantage of the situation to threaten the Regent, but they all found that they had captured the wrong person.

Gradually, these factions ceased their activities and sought other avenues.

It was clear that most of the women who came were simply trying their luck and were exposed after a few questions. The Regent didn’t remember anything about the woman, and those who managed to find her had simply been lucky.

With so many people secretly gathering information, Xie Chaoyun deliberately released some false information to different people. The next day, women who fit the description began to show up at the door.

Xiao Heng perused the list compiled by Xie Chaoyun and sneered, “Go and hint that I’ve lost an important heirloom.”

The big fish was about to take the bait.

…

The news reached Chu Zhaoyou’s ears, but he didn’t know how many versions had circulated.

He had been at odds with himself these days.

Nausea and vomiting had persisted for several days. At first, he had been stubborn and refused to take the medicine, but later he found that the imperial medical center was somewhat effective. Although it couldn’t cure him, it at least helped him eat more easily.

Cui Geng finally showed a bit of loyalty by buying him delicious candied fruit from outside the palace, a large bag of different varieties every day.

It was so sweet that he could just about force himself to take the medicine.

With a poor appetite, Chu Zhaoyou felt like a frostbitten eggplant, not wanting to move at all. He lay in bed, tossing sour plum seeds and raisins into his mouth.

Cui Geng quickly wrote: “Today, Your Majesty consumed another two taels and three maces of candied fruit from the Fruit Fragrance Shop. The superintendents are only allowed to settle accounts once every five days, and the Fruit Fragrance Shop’s prices are high. The superintendents’ pockets are tight and can only support this for four days.”

Chu Zhaoyou asked, “Minister Cui, is there any gossip from outside that I can listen to?”

Cui Geng thought for a moment. The Regent had said that the outside news was too false. For example, there were rumors that “after the Regent finds a queen, he will usurp the throne.” He advised not to inform His Majesty of these messy rumors.

“There isn’t.”

Chu Zhaoyou got up, took a deep breath, and said, “I can’t lie down anymore. I want to go out for a walk.”

The last time he had been given the medicine, he had made up his mind not to speak to the Regent. Later, this old rascal might have been plagued by a guilty conscience in the middle of the night and sent a few people over the next day.

These people were to serve him in the future, obeying His Majesty’s orders and taking him wherever he wanted to go.

Chu Zhaoyou remained unshaken in his heart, still holed up in the Funing Palace, gradually losing weight due to the torment of nausea.

Upon receiving Chu Zhaoyou’s daily menu, the Regent began to doubt where all that food was going.

Was he sick from anger? Was his temper so bad? Finally, Xiao Heng even hinted that if he felt stifled, he could leave the palace to relax, but he should bring more people with him.

Chu Zhaoyou had been lying in bed for a few days. Although the Regent hadn’t come over, he had been quite generous, which had left him deeply impressed. He even thought about lying there until the New Year to see if the Regent would return the military power.

It could also be the calm before the storm. Chu Zhaoyou pinched himself—don’t drift away.

Dressed in white, he left the palace with a group of people and saw a lively scene at the back door of the Regent’s residence.

Plump and slender, alluring and charming.

Chu Zhaoyou narrowed his eyes. “Is the Regent choosing a consort?” Such a big event, and Cui Geng said it was nothing?

“More or less,” someone next to him chimed in. “He’s looking for someone. The Regent was injured and unconscious outside the capital in early October, and a woman took care of him for a long time. After finding her, the Regent wants to grant her the title of a county princess!”

Looking for him? Chu Zhaoyou’s pupils contracted, and his heart beat violently for a few moments.

The hottest topic in the capital right now, and Chu Zhaoyou had just mentioned it in passing. Immediately, everyone was talking about it, each with a different version, but the core content remained the same—the Regent was devoted and righteous, and that woman would definitely be the Regent’s consort in the future. Even if she married someone else, she would still live a life of luxury.

Devoted and righteous?

What a joke. Chu Zhaoyou walked over, still not remembering anything?

Behind were several long tables, each with a stack of white paper. Due to the large number of people trying their luck, an initial verification was necessary.

“Today’s question is whether there is any embroidery on the cuffs of the yellow robe, and if so, what is embroidered.”

The women confidently answered on the white paper.

Chu Zhaoyou walked among them to take a look.

The guard who was about to drive people away suddenly noticed that it was Chu Zhaoyou accompanied by his superior’s, the Regent Prince’s  close guards.

The close guard made a subtle gesture, feeling uncertain himself, but thought that it shouldn’t be a problem for His Majesty to take a look. After all, it wasn’t about looking at the answers.

Covering his nose, Chu Zhaoyou moved through the various mixed scents and looked at several answers.

There was a wide variety, with all sorts of things written.

Stupid, Chu Zhaoyou thought. It’s a four-leaf orchid.

Author’s note: Responsible person: Here’s the pen, you write.