Chapter One Hundred: The Enchanting Sorcery

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She stretched out her limbs, forming a star shape as she collapsed onto the floor. "T3, whatever it is, it's just a dream..."

A dream! Enraged, he gripped the corner of his garment. Heartless woman—she had taken liberties with him and dismissed it as a mere dream.

"Don't cast spells on me again," she mumbled with her eyes closed, speaking erratically. "A man and woman alone... if anything happens between us willingly, don't come looking to me for responsibility..."

His face instantly darkened with fury. Was this what a woman said?

"And one more thing," she said half-asleep, "don't lay your hands on my gold..."

"Gold?" He chuckled dryly. "Are you referring to the treasures stored beneath the floor?"

"Ah?!" She rolled over abruptly to a sitting position, staring at him in disbelief. "How do you know?"

He grinned triumphantly. "You're quite clever to hide it there. Who would suspect secret silver beneath the floorboards?"

"Hey, don't touch my things!" She glared nervously. "Those are private property, touching them could land you in prison!"

"Oh really." He sneered. "Seems the laws of the Central Palace don't quite reach the northern citizens."

"You're unbelievable!" She snapped fully awake, anxiously probing the loose floorboards. Noticing his smirk, she paused suddenly, a thought striking her. "You weren't really aware, were you? You just wanted to frame me deliberately?"

He smiled faintly. "My bugs crawl everywhere. Some always find their way under the floor. Do you think I’m the lying type?"

She muttered in her heart. A man who constantly deceives with spells claims he never lies. Truly unbelievable. And that mischievous little servant of his—speaking of whom, she hurriedly said, "Prince Huo, we're family. It's fine for you to know, but that little devil in the barracks—make sure he never learns this secret."

"When did we become family?" He took control, deliberately ignoring her and turned away to pour some tea. "You just said you won’t take responsibility."

Enlightened was unsure how he had offended the prince. For the sake of her private silver, she humbled herself. "Fine, I was wrong to say that. If anything happens, I will take responsibility!"

"What could possibly happen?" Huo said calmly, continuing to pour tea. "Have you really forgotten what just happened?"

Enlightened opened her eyes to meet his. He tilted his head, glancing sideways.

"You mean the thing just now... the thing about embracing you?" she stammered.

"You remember," he sneered. "Looks like that little bug of yours isn’t so easy to fool."

She sat back on her heels, "I was a little overheated, please don’t be angry, Your Highness... Actually, you were at fault too. You’re cold and thin, which made me hallucinate..."

"Hallucinate!" He glared fiercely, and she swallowed her next words.

"Just a casual word like hallucinate, and you ruin my innocence..."

"Ah?" She was shocked, staring at him strangely. He was properly dressed—how could she have ruined his innocence? What a strange man.

She chuckled awkwardly. "It’s not that serious, is it?"

"Then you don’t want to take responsibility!" He glared sharply.

She clutched her chest, terrified, stammering, "Your Highness, how exactly do you want me to take responsibility?" She wondered secretly, could he mean marrying me?

"Of course not marrying you," he said, seeing right through her thoughts, causing her to exclaim, "Ah?"

"Being able to read others’ minds is a necessary skill for a Gu master," he said slowly, and only then did she come fully awake.

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“Mind-reading?” She hesitated, looking at him with eager anticipation. This man truly possessed extraordinary powers!

Huo pressed his lips tight, teasing her curiosity.

"Fine!" She slapped her knee and declared loudly, "Guess what I’m thinking now!"

He snorted, "I don’t waste my time on such boring things."

"Then you’re saying your magic doesn’t work?" She scoffed disdainfully.

"It’s witchcraft, not magic," he corrected calmly. “By the way, your gold—minus one ingot.”

"Hey, why!" She nearly jumped up. "Those were earned with great hardship..."

"I heard the emperor granted a thousand taels of gold as a reward," Huo slowly blew on the tea cup in his hands. "You say you’ll take responsibility for me, so consider this a form of compensation."

"Compensation with gold!?" Now she truly jumped up, stomping her foot furiously. "Damn it! What did I do to you that I have to pay you back with treasure? I just hugged your waist and maybe kissed your lips..."

He glared, and she abruptly stopped, confused as she touched her neck. "Did we really do that?"

"What do you think?" he growled.

"No way!" She sat down sullenly, crossing her arms and pouting. “If it really happened, why don’t I feel a thing?”

"Because you’re still dreaming!" He said coldly.

Enlightened thought for a moment. "True enough." She looked up at him and smiled slyly. "So the prince wants to take responsibility for something that only happened in a dream? Sorry, but this ridiculous notion won’t be accepted!"

"Minus another ingot!" Huo ignored her. "From the moment we started talking, the agreement is in effect."

"Ah, that’s a one-sided, tyrannical clause, you..."

"Enlightened," Huo interrupted suddenly, "Since you care so much about your treasures, how about we try a different approach?"

"What? Different?"

"Simple. I ask questions, you answer. If I’m satisfied with your answers, you keep your gold. If not, you’ll guard your treasure day and night and still lose it."

Enlightened chuckled, "Why didn’t you say so earlier? That’s much simpler. Ask away—I’ll tell you everything I know."

"Good." He smiled faintly. "Actually, I just want to know if the National Policy Pearl is really as miraculous as the legends say."

"National Policy Pearl?" Enlightened was surprised. How did the conversation shift to that? Could this be the real reason he asked?

"You’re asking me, but you should be asking someone else," she said with a smile. "I only know hearsay, no more than you."

"What kind of hearsay have you heard?"

"They say if all five palace pearls are gathered, the national policy will appear. That’s what’s passed around."

"So, the national policy is really hidden within the pearls?" He frowned. "Then why is the Northern Palace’s pearl like that?"

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"What?" She didn’t understand.

"Enlightened, what characters are inscribed on the Central Palace’s pearl?" Huo asked suddenly.

"There are characters on the pearl?" She was even more surprised. He sighed, clearly asking the wrong person.

"The National Policy Pearl the Central Palace emperor cherishes so much is actually useless to the Northern Palace," Huo sighed deeply. "No need to raise an army. Even if the Northern Palace hands it over willingly..."

"Eh?" She asked curiously. "Why? Don’t you want to find good policies for governing?"

Huo sneered. "The Northern Palace’s court is rotten. No matter how many good policies there are, the emperor won’t adopt them."

"If the National Policy Pearl is useless to you, why send you here? Why present tribute?"

"That’s the scheme of some treacherous Northern Palace officials," his voice turned colder. "I once commanded troops and held considerable prestige and power. Since I don’t collude with them, the Northern royal family sees me as a thorn. They plan to remove me and curry favor with the Central Palace—killing two birds with one stone."

Enlightened hesitated, "Even if the Northern Palace ceases to exist, they don’t care?"

"What did you say?" Huo’s eyes shot daggers, his face darkening. "What do you mean no Northern Palace in the future?!"

She sighed. "If a wise ruler with ambitions to unite the five palaces appears, what will the Northern Palace do?"

Huo scoffed. "Those with ambition are hardly wise rulers. That’s ridiculous." He paused thoughtfully. "If such a figure truly emerges, I will first take over the Northern Palace, proclaim myself emperor in the north, and never surrender."

"Emperor in the north?" Enlightened laughed. "Looks like I’ve underestimated you."

A cold smile tugged at his lips. "Storms can change overnight. How could a mortal like you foresee the heavens’ secrets?"

"Heavens’ secrets? Haha!" She grumbled in disbelief at his cold tone. "If you’re so capable, why not escape the Central Palace? Why stay here as a hostage?"

Huo smiled coldly. "If I wanted to leave, I could at any time. The Central Palace can’t hold me."

"Big talk again!" She slapped her thigh laughing. "I know you’re a chameleon, but I didn’t know you’re also a big talker!"

His expression darkened, clearly displeased by those words.

"By the way," Enlightened winked slyly, "you keep asking me about the national policy. Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you as a spy to the emperor?"

"You wouldn’t." A faint smile appeared on his face. His blue eyes half-closed, revealing a smile that would be considered the most genuine even in the modern world.

"Ah, beauty doesn’t affect me," she joked. His smile seemed to entice her.

"Not beauty." He slightly raised his eyelids. A subtle ripple stirred in his eyes—tiny yet deeply alluring. Enlightened couldn’t look away.

The small wave grew, filling her mind. She felt immersed in his gaze, her face unconsciously adopting a dazed, foolish expression.

"Forget what happened tonight," Huo approached, eyes shimmering. He whispered in her ear, "You heard nothing, and you said nothing."

"I heard nothing, said nothing..." She repeated, her gaze vacant.

Satisfied, Huo smiled and brushed her temple gently. "Good girl. Go now."

Enlightened rose immediately and left the room.