A faint smile appeared on Shen Changge's pale face as she apologized, "I'm sorry, Duke Gao. It's my fault for causing trouble for you."

The paragraph translates to: "General, you're too kind. For the sake of the general, this old servant is willing to brave any danger."

Shen Changge smiled gratefully.

He actually didn't do anything, it's just that back then when he was young, he went to the palace to play with his father and saw High Eunuch Gao, who was just a young eunuch at the time, being punished by a powerful concubine for a trivial matter.

The Grand Eunuch was beaten so badly that blood poured from his head, and he came close to losing his life. Unable to bear witnessing such a bloody incident unfold, he secretly went to bring the late Emperor and his father over, only then did he manage to save the Grand Eunuch's life.

Ever since then, Gao Gonggong had been endlessly grateful to him. Even when Gao Gonggong later became a trusted servant of the emperor, an object of flattery and fawning by the palace people, he never forgot this debt of gratitude.

The person I saved casually is able to repay me wholeheartedly, while the person I wholeheartedly tried to please has hurt me to the point of being deeply wounded.

In the cold palace, everything is lacking, and there is only a thin quilt on the bed.

Gao Gonggong rubbed his hands together, and seeing Shen Changge's lips turning white from the cold, he quickly took off his own coat and covered it over him.

"General, please do not disdain the attire of this old servant. It's just that the weather is too cold today, and I'm afraid you might catch a cold."

Shen Changge smiled and said, "Gao Gonggong, you should still wear it yourself. It's just the two of us. If you were to collapse, wouldn't I be even more isolated and helpless?"

Grandfather Gao thought to himself and then reluctantly took it back.

"This palace is too cold. Eunuch, go to the Internal Affairs Department and fetch two new quilts."

"Okay, okay." Grandpa Gao understood his intention, evidently having his own share in it.

Gao Gonggong has been in the palace for a long time. Day in and day out, people treat him like an animal, calling and ordering him around, or treat him only as a tool to climb up the social ladder. But General Shen treats him like a human being. How could he not be grateful and moved by this?

"By the way, let's ask for more charcoal fire. It's just too cold here. If we don't have fire, I'm afraid we won't even survive through the night."

Grand Tutor Gao readily agreed and proceeded to carry out his instructions obediently.

Shen Changge covered her mouth and coughed. She didn't know why, but lately, she always felt a inexplicable pain in her chest. As the days went by, the pain intensified.

In the Hall of Chengze Palace.

Nangong Chi was practicing calligraphy.

He appeared to be in a state of disorder, with large patches of ink blots spreading across the rice paper, accompanied by a few sporadic strokes.

This was a rare day when Shen Changge was not by his side after returning to Beijing.

He remembered what Shen Changge had said today.

The highest achievement causing an overwhelming influence—a true knot in his heart.

If Shen Changge is just a penniless commoner, then it wouldn't hurt to keep him by my side.

But unfortunately, he is not.

He has a glorious military record and a renowned reputation that stretches far and wide. With a tight grip on power, he can easily stir up a storm within the Zhou Kingdom.

As the emperor, Nangong Chi was wary of him.

On the other hand, Shen Changge is too outstanding. Just his exquisite appearance alone, countless people are infatuated with it. Nangong Chi cannot imagine him being involved with someone else, nor does he want to place him in a place beyond his reach.

As a lover, Nangong Chi wanted to possess him.

Two fatal factors converged, which meant that Nangong Chi could no longer allow him to come and go as freely as before.

He wanted to keep Shen Changge by his side, under his control within his visible range.

At the end of the day, it was nothing more than his selfishness at play.

But there are some people who cannot be imprisoned in a cage. They are like sparrows - even if they die desperately in the cage, they will never be held in someone's palm and played with.

He knew that if he let his desires continue to develop, Shen Changge would eventually be destroyed in his hands.

But he couldn't control himself.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he would be reminded of that dream. In the dream, Shen Changge and Tuobaxiaogou were together, while he himself was dismembered.

After countless hardships, he finally managed to grasp onto the throne. With this supreme position in hand, he could make someone like Shen Changge submit to him.

Once he loses these external blessings, he will fall into a state of complete passivity.

If there were a drug that could make people obedient, it would be great. It would make Shen Changge forget his identity and wholeheartedly be the person by his side, revolving around him alone from now on.

And he will also give Shen Changge the best of everything - gold and silver treasures, luxurious silk and satin. He will give her whatever she wants.

Except for freedom.

He couldn't possibly let go of Shen Changge. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he knew that no one else could ever catch his attention.

Once there was an unrivaled individual who rendered all others as second-rate.

But he is such a contradictory person. He loves the elegant and heroic image of Shen Changge, yet he does not want her to don armor and wield a sharp weapon to embark on a distant expedition.

He was captivated by Shen Changge's appearance, but it was like a farmer who had found a rare gem - he only wanted to hide this treasure in a box and admire it every day, not letting others see.

Another heavy stroke, the ink spreading across the rice paper in large black patches, mirroring the melancholy in his heart as it slowly diffused.

Forget it, let's cultivate a new commander. In a few more years, when the Mobei Army and the new leader have adjusted to each other, Shen Changge's name will naturally be forgotten.

At that time, everything, both sorrow and joy, would be stirred up solely by himself.

Nangong Chi grabbed a sheet of rice paper and lit it with the candle flame on the imperial desk.

His eyes flickered in the light of the fire, like an approaching storm of great intensity.

Unconsciously, over half a month had passed.

Recently, the Miaojiang region has been very restless, repeatedly invading the borders of the Great Zhou. Due to the approaching winter, there have also been occasional incidents of officials and soldiers seizing food from the common people in the West Tujue region, although they are not very severe. On the other hand, the northern barbarian tribes, in a stark contrast, have been unusually quiet, as if they are hibernating and preparing for some major event.

Nangong Chi looked at the military book that had arrived from the Mobei region in his hand.

Ever since Bai Yanyang won a few battles in the northern desert, his haughty temperament has become even more uncontrollable. The military reports are filled with his self-praise and self-promotion, constantly comparing himself to Shen Changge and believing that even if Shen Changge were here, he wouldn't necessarily perform better than him. The descriptions of the actual battles, however, are only briefly mentioned.

Nan Gongchi felt nauseous as he looked at it, almost throwing the military book away.

He originally dispatched Bai Yanyang to go there for two reasons. First, he valued his family background, which was similar to Shen Changge's. Second, he appreciated his youthful vigor and believed that Mo Bei was a good place for him to demonstrate his skills.

But unexpectedly, among the disciples of the Jiangmen Sect, there were many, yet there was no second Shen Changge.

Bai Yanyang could not replace Shen Changge, not even close.

Just all talk and no action.

Nangong Chi took a vermilion pen and wrote official documents on the military book.

Each major clan has its own strengths in terms of warfare, and in this highly contested region of the Northern Desert, apart from the Shen Clan, only the Bai Clan is most familiar with it.

Even if he cannot stand Bai Yanyang, he still needs to find a suitable person to replace him.

Perhaps it would be the next Imperial Examination for the title of Martial Champion, or perhaps it would be during the cultivation of new blood in the prestigious families.

As he paused his writing, he couldn't help but think of Shen Changge again.

He had been waiting all this time for Shen Changge to lower his head and admit his mistake, hoping to hear him apologize.

Shen Changge refused to be regarded as a palace concubine, but in the eyes of Nangong Chi, his status was unparalleled, equivalent to that of an empress.

He couldn't appoint a man as his consort, and the Shen family couldn't bear such a great humiliation.

But there's always a way, at worst, fake your death and assume a new identity, that's just a simple switcheroo.

Shen Changge's sharpness and untamed spirit would never allow her to agree to become a concubine, as long as she remained unresolved even for a day.

If he admits his mistake and submits humbly, Nangong Chi would immediately release him from the cold palace and allow him to live in Chengze Hall in a dignified manner.

Apart from herself, Shen Changge was the only person who could stay in this palace.

Unfortunately, he was unable to wait for what he wanted. He simply turned a blind eye when he heard that Gonggong Gao had gone to collect supplies from the Internal Affairs Office a few times.

He never had to worry about his food and clothing, but his parents just wished for him to experience some hardships and learn from his mistakes.

Half a month had passed, and Nangong Chi couldn't help but miss him. She wanted to see how he was doing, whether he felt cold or if he was eating well.

The more my thoughts churn, the harder it is to restrain my longing. In the end, I can't even sit still, wishing I could just throw aside this pile of documents and go see him.

However, even if I were to go, I couldn't go in a high-profile manner.

Take advantage of the quiet night to go, just take a quick look.

It was his own command, only if Shen Changge came to apologize, could he save face.

In the cold palace.

Shen Changge lay at the edge of the bed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief as she coughed violently.

Suddenly, a sweet sensation rose in his throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted out from between his lips and teeth.

He took off the towel and looked at the large black bloodstain on it. Seemingly accustomed to it, he calmly folded it neatly and hid it in the crevice at the head of the bed.

Grand Duke Gao personally looked after his daily life day and night. If he were to be discovered, it would only add to his worries.

But if there were truly someone concerned about his life, how could they let him end up in such a dire situation.

Over the past half month, his physical condition has been deteriorating. He sleeps more and more, and the frequency of vomiting blood has increased. Even though Shen Changge is reluctant to believe it, he has to admit that he has been poisoned.

He pays great attention to his diet, and the food in the palace has also been inspected by the kitchen. Upon careful examination, the only thing he has eaten with unknown origins is the medicine given by Nangong Chi.

Did you want him dead that early?

Ridiculous, to be considered the supreme power just because of one's achievements.

He, Shen Changge, had tens of thousands of elite soldiers under his command, but when has he ever had the intention to betray?

He exhausted all his efforts and wisdom for the Zhou Kingdom, but when he turned around, he was imprisoned as a traitor.

Even this deadly poison was personally fed into his mouth by Nangong Chi.

Do you not want it anymore? Or are you tired of playing with it?

Because he had lost the last bit of his usefulness, he was abandoned without hesitation.

Because she was tired of his body, she wanted to poison him and replace him with someone else.

Shen Changge smiled sadly and lay back on the bed.

The cold handcuffs pricked his skin, reminding him of the cruelty of human nature.

Having nothing to do, he was locked in here all day. He could only keep recalling the happy times he had with Nangong Chi in the past. However, the comparison between the fragments in his memory and the tragic reality made the coldness of the world even more apparent.

Alright, it's just a life. If Nan Gongchi wants it, then take it.

In the end, he considered himself fulfilling his duty as a loyal subject. He hoped that in his next life, he would be reborn cleanly and never encounter such a situation again.

It was already late into the night, and Gao Gonggong was also requested to rest first.

Although the charcoal fire was burning in the room, it was still bone-chillingly cold.

Shen Changge had no choice but to bury his entire body under the blanket in order to preserve that warmth. Gradually, drowsiness overwhelmed him, causing him to fall asleep.

Under the moonlight, a black shadow delicately pushed open the window and leaped in from outside.

The man's face gradually revealed itself, and to my surprise, it was actually Tuoba Xiao.

The Northern Barbarian envoy team should have left long ago, but they are still lingering in the capital. It is evident that Tuoba Xiao is concerned about something.

With longing and yearning, only for Shen Changge alone.

Tuòbá Xiāo stood by the bed, gazing silently at the person sleeping peacefully on it. Although that person looked noticeably thinner, they still possessed a beauty that could captivate one's soul.

Tuo Ba Xiao had been to the Cold Palace before.

Ever since the incident of being interrupted by Nangong Chi during an intimate moment, and learning that Shen Changge was imprisoned in this remote palace, his mind became active once again.

He knew that their plan had worked, and he also knew that Shen Changge had been poisoned by the Miaojiang witch.

He was taking a risk by coming to this deep palace, but he couldn't restrain the throbbing in his heart. He liked Shen Changge too much. This powerful and beautiful man had captured his attention since their first meeting, making his heart flutter with longing.

So he repeatedly risked his own safety, just to catch a glimpse of Shen Changge.

It's almost time, almost. As long as Nangong Chi completely loses trust in Shen Changge, he will be able to take her back to Beiyi.

When the antidote for Shen Changge is given at that time, everything will be fine.

At the thought of this, his heart softened a lot, so he took off his shoes and climbed into the bed, holding Shen Changge tightly.

Every night, Shen Changge would have nightmares, a fact known only to him.

Because there is not only poison in "Chunhong", but also a hidden type of gu worm. The poison will cause him to vomit blood and gradually weaken, while the gu worm will torment him with nightmares every night.

Tuoba Xiao likes to get close to him at this moment because it makes him feel that he is needed by him.

[System Prompt: Supporting character Tuoba Xiao's affection value +10, regret value +20. Current Tuoba Xiao's affection value is 90, regret value is 70.]

Shen Changge, feeling extremely cold, approached any source of heat he could find. He had been sleeping poorly, with countless demons and monsters fighting to devour him in his dreams. He also had to witness the gradual decline of the territory of Zhou, watching as the people suffered and struggled to survive.

This filled him with great fear and a sense of utter helplessness.

He shrank into the arms of the person next to him and unconsciously shouted, "Chong Lin, Chong Lin..."

Tuoba Xiao didn't like being called that, so he leaned close to Shen Changge's ear and said, "It's not Chonglin, call me Mingzhi, Tuoba Mingzhi."

Shen Changge continued to call out, "Chonglin, Chonglin..."

Tuoba Xiao had no other choice but to give up and hugged him to provide warmth.

Nan Gongchi, although wanting to quickly free himself to go and see him, still underestimated the thickness of the official documents.

He stayed up reading straight through until the early morning before finally finishing processing that stack of documents.

Fortunately, the second day was a day of rest, so even if they stayed up all night, it wouldn't delay the morning court assembly.

After staying up too late, the drowsiness also dissipated. Unable to sleep, he called for a nearby servant to change his clothes and prepared to go and see Shen Changge.

This night, for Tuoba Xiaoe, was both painful and sweet.

The person he liked was in his arms, but he couldn't take any further steps to get closer to him.

Wanting to step back, but reluctant to distance oneself from that trace of tenderness.

Later on, the scent of Shen Changge lingered on the tip of his nose, and he gradually fell into a deep sleep.

This was the latest he had ever stayed up, until he was awakened by the sound of the door opening, and he realized that something was wrong.

Nan Gongchi, with weariness from a sleepless night, rushed over to see Shen Changge with great anticipation. But when he saw the scene in the cold palace, his scalp instantly exploded.

He had thought that with Shen Changge's attitude, not much would have happened between him and Tuoba Xiaozhi.

To my surprise, it had only been a few days since we last met, yet he had already ended up in bed with Tuoba Xiao.