It's already the next day and Xu Yang was having her morning tea in the garden while she admired the beautiful pond filled with koi fish and lotus.

❝Your majesty, this servant found information. ❞Jiang Meng appeared in front of her which startled her a little.

❝Tell me what you found.❞ she said continuing to drink her tea casually.

❝After asking around about young master Wei Zan, I heard a rumor that two weeks ago when his majesty wasn't at the Palace, some people saw a woman that looked like Imperial concubine Mu Jong and Wei Zan together in the town, then they entered a brothel. ❞

Xu Yang couldn't help but smirk.

❝Very interesting indeed, good job, Jiang Meng.❞

The man bowed and left Xu Yang alone with her thoughts.

❝Young Miss, do you feel better today?❞ Ji An asked noticing her Miss smiling from ear to ear.

❝Yes, Ji An, I feel very good today. ❞

The day passed without anything important happening and it was night now. Xu Yang was reading a book about war when her servant, Ji An, rushed inside the room without knocking or noticing her first.

❝Young Miss, I have important news. Look at this. ❞

Ji An gave Xu Yang a letter which she opens and smirk reading the content.
     "My dear,

I will wait for you at our usual place in two days from now at 10 in the night.
                                           Yours, WZ."

❝Who does this letter belongs to?❞ Xu Yang asks

❝The man said it's for Imperial Concubine Mu Jong, young miss.❞ the servant girl said.

Xu Yang laughed a little. Ji An was told by her miss to keep an eye on Mu Jong and her maids for any suspicious activities and report back to her if anything happens.

❝Jiang Meng!❞Xu Yang called in a soft voice.

The guard emerged from the shadows.

❝Yes, miss? ❞

❝Get this letter and hide it in the Emperor's study room. Place in on the table in a book or something of sorts, and please make sure no one sees you. ❞Xu Yang instructed the young man giving him the letter.

Jiang Meng took the letter and disappears to sneak into the Emperor's study. He checked three times before entering the room and places the letter in one of the books as instructed, making sure one of the corners sticks out for the Emperor to see. Jiang Meng knew his young miss is planing something that will shake the peace in the Palace. All he wanted was for her to be safe and not get into trouble and if she gets he will save her by any means.

Xu Yang went to sleep. The next day she went to the Empress Dowager courtyard to serve tea and snacks.

❝Greeting the Empress Dowager. How is your majesty feeling?❞ Xu Yang asks bowing.

❝Sit down, child, sit here. This Empress is doing good thanks to you. You have my gratitude. ❞

❝This daughter-in-law just did what she is supposed to, your majesty. This girl is happy to see her majesty doing good. Long live the Empress Dowager. ❞

Xu Yang sat down facing the Empress Dowager and took her tea cup drinking from it.

❝What does the child think? It's a new type of tea.I received as present on my birthday.❞  The Empress asked smiling

❝It's very good, this daughter is grateful. The aroma is strong, but pleasant and the smell is also sweet, but not unpleasant. A good quality tea.❞ Xu Yang spoke soft smiling

❝Yes, good, good. You're a good child, Xu Yang, I am happy to be your mother-in-law, speaking of this, call me mother from now.❞

❝This child does not dare, your majesty. ❞Xu Yang said bowing

❝Ay, stop being so polite, my child. We are family now, aren't we? What is the purpose for such courtesy?❞ The Empress asked as she placed her hands on top of Xu Yang's.

❝This daughter will comply then, mother. This daughter is grateful for the good treatment.❞

Empress Dowager smiled at Xu Yang's words. This young woman knew how to please her ears and hearts with her sweet tongue and smiles.

They continue to talk for hours before the Empress Dowager left to rest. Xu Yang slowly walked to her Palace and went in her courtyard with her servant.

❝Ji An, bring me the zheng.❞ Xu Yang said sitting on the grass looking at the sky.

Xu Yang loved to play the zheng since she was little. Her mother taught her how to play it and they played together in the garden.

❝Here, Young Miss. ❞

Xu Yang took the instrument and started to pick the strings in a soft and sweet melancholic song. After a while, the melody starts to go faster and more aggressive until Xu Yang stopped smiling while looking up the sky. She remembered some memories from her childhood that made her happy and sad at the same time. She wished she could go back to being a child and playing around with her family without the worries of adult life.

Xu Yang returned to her room and sat at the table.

❝Young Miss, this servant is curious about what young Miss is planing.❞ Ji An asked curious of what's occupying Xu Yang's mind.

❝You will see, Ji An.❞ Xu Yang said smiling.

❝Does Young Miss dislikes the Emperor now?❞ Ji An asked.

❝Dislikes?❞ Xu Yang paused for a moment, her gaze moving towards the moon. ❝I hate him.❞

Zhang Wan entered his study and sat on the chair massaging his forehead. Today was a busy day and he just wished to finish the work and see Mu Jong. Looking at the table he noticed a paper sticking out from one of the books placed on the table.

"Who put this here?" he thought and took the letter in his hand,unfolding it.

"What does this mean?" he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Who this letter belongs to? Who sent it and why was it in his study room?"

❝Your majesty, is everything alright?❞ the eunuch by his side asked after seeing his ugly expression.

❝Who entered my study today?❞ The Emperors asked angry.

❝This lowly one responds to the Emperor.No one entered, your majesty. The guards saw no one here today.❞ the eunuch replied, cold sweat forming on his forehead.

The Emperor left the study and rushed to his chambers.

The next day arrived and his majesty, Zhang Wan, was tired. He couldn't stop thinking about the reason behind the letter in his study. He assumed it was a man who wrote, but to who? And why it was in his study room? It must have something to do with him if the letter was placed there. Is any of his concubines having an affair? But who put the letter there. He couldn't stop thinking and asking questions in his head trying to find answers.

❝My child, is there something on your mind?❞Empress Dowager asked, concerned about her son's pale complexion.

❝No, there is nothing. This son didn't slept well last night, that's all. ❞Zhang Wan responded with a forced smile.

❝If his majesty says so, I will tell the medics to prepare a sleeping medicine for you, son.❞

❝Thank you, mother. Excuse this son, I need rest.❞

Zhang Wan got up, bowed and left going straight to Mu Jong's chambers. She was in the garden drinking tea. His feeling of anxiety didn't left.

❝Your majesty? Is everything alright? You don't pay attention to this concubine...❞Mu Jong said pressing her chest on his right arm and looking up to him.

❝Nothing. Just tired.  This Emperor came to see you, now I will leave to rest.❞

❝Why don't you stay here? Sleep with this concubine.❞ The woman suggested with a sly smile as she batted her eyelashes.

❝Alright, Jong'er. You will make me fell better.❞ he responded with a smile.

He spends his night at Mu Jong chambers and the next day, early in the morning, he goes to his study room to do some work.

❝Did you discovered who sent the letter?❞ The Emperor asks his shadow guard.

❝This servant didn't found anything, no one saw anything, your majesty. ❞

❝Leave. ❞Zhang Wan ordered angry.

Xu Yang was painting in her yard. She looked at the big peach tree and drew it with its beautiful pink flowers.

❝What is your plan, your majesty?❞ Jiang Meng asked curious.

❝Waiting, Jiang Meng. I need to approach this slowly. ❞

The night of the supposed meeting between Mu Jong and Wei Zan came and Xu Yang was already dressed up as a commoner following Mu Jong and her loyal maid in the town. Xu Yang was dressed like a man and had Jiang Meng with her. Ji An remained at the Palace so it be less suspicious, not that anyone would suspect anything, it's night, everyone should sleep by now at the Palace.
They enter the Drunken Heaven, a brothel, following Mu Jong. Trying to look as less suspicious as they could Xu Yang brought some wine for her and Jiang Meng.
Imperial Concubine Mu Jong went in a room at the second floor, the third room and after half an hour Wei Zan entered the brothel's door walking up the stairs and into the third room.

❝Your majesty... they really have an affair. His majesty will be so angry when he finds out about it. What are we doing now? ❞Jiang Meng asked his miss as he kept looking up at the second floor.