Spring came and autumn followed, but it had only been a few hurried months.

Qiyun Tian recalled three months ago when envoys from the Northern Star Kingdom came to express their friendship. They congratulated the Queen Consort on her recovery from illness and subtly informed him about the ambitions of the Western Phoenix and Eastern Yue nations. Qiyun Tian understood the intricate relationships involved. Compared to the other three nations, both the Northern Star Kingdom and his own country lacked natural barriers. It relied on whether the rulers of each country desired peace or war. Additionally, the Northern Star Kingdom and the Kingdom of Qicheng had always been concerned about the well-being of their respective people.

Therefore, Qiyun Tian reluctantly agreed to cooperate with the Northern Star Kingdom, but he had another thought in mind. It was the person in the Northern Star Imperial Palace who bore a striking resemblance to Pojun.

"Master," Mie appeared silently once again.

"How has she been recently?" Qiyun Tian asked calmly.

"This woman is vastly different from Pojun. If Pojun is like flowing water, she is like a swift current. And..." Mie hesitated, unsure whether to reveal everything. After all, if she remained silent and still, she would become even more like Pojun. The woman's outward demeanor is completely that of a delicate lady, something Pojun could never achieve.

"Go on," Qiyun Tian said, realizing for the first time that Mie always spoke in fragments.

"She is lively and active by nature, and her personality is also quite willful. This woman appeared in the Northern Star Imperial Palace just four years ago, and everyone in the Northern Star Kingdom knows about the monarch's favor towards her. When the Northern Star Emperor brought her back, hardly anyone knew about it. They only knew that there was an ailing concubine in the harem, given the title of Noble Concubine Jing. Her name is unknown." Mie revealed all the information she had gathered truthfully.

"In that case, Concubine Jing is truly a mysterious person." Qiyun Tian calculated carefully, and the timing coincided perfectly. However, in many other aspects, they were completely different, especially in terms of their personalities.

"I also discovered that this woman seems to have experienced some kind of trauma that caused her amnesia. She has no knowledge of her own past and future." Mie continued to provide additional details.

"Amnesia..." Qiyun Tian repeated the word repeatedly, as if searching for some kind of balance.

"And, when the Northern Star Kingdom faced a dual crisis from the Western Phoenix and Eastern Yue, she displayed brilliant strategies to calm the conflict. I don't understand how she managed to do so, considering that the harem is not allowed to interfere in political affairs. Despite monitoring her for several days, I haven't seen her discussing state affairs with the Northern Star Emperor. She only spends her leisure time reading books about military strategies and deployments. Yet, she unexpectedly has a thorough understanding of the military and weaknesses of various countries," Mie also couldn't comprehend it. Could it be that her beauty was not the only thing resembling Pojun, but her intelligence as well?

Could it be her? Did the person who fell into the Northern River survive and was rescued by the Northern Star Emperor? Qiyun Tian repeatedly speculated on the possibilities, but it had long been announced to the outside world that Pojun had died in the northern frontier. If it was her, what should he do? Even if he found out, he couldn't make any moves.

"Mie, listen carefully. To determine if she is Pojun, it's simple. I gave her a unique pendant as a gift back then. If you see her wearing a silver chain with a radiant stone pendant, then it's confirmed." Qiyun Tian revealed the only clue to her identity, but he felt conflicted inside.

"Yes, I understand." After receiving the clue, Mie was about to leave when Qiyun Tian's icy voice rang out, stopping her footsteps. "If you find out that she poses a threat to the Kingdom of Qicheng, eliminate her immediately."

Mie felt a chill run through her body. After all, she knew better than anyone else about the relationship between her master and Pojun. She understood that her master would sacrifice anything for the Kingdom of Qicheng, including... Pojun.

"Your Highness, where are you?" A seductive and captivating voice interrupted Mie's response, and she quickly disappeared from sight.

Qiyun Tian turned around and saw the alluring figure approaching. A smile melted away the coldness on his handsome face as he spoke with affection, "Beloved Consort, I am here."

A fiery red figure, upon hearing Qiyun Tian's response, quickened her pace and dashed to his side.

"Slow down, you haven't fully recovered from your illness," Qiyun Tian gently embraced her, his magnetic voice uttering words that warmed the heart.

The person cherished by Qiyun Tian was none other than the Queen Consort, Yang Shi, who had recently been bedridden and critically ill.

"I've been resting in the palace for long enough. Since you don't want to accompany me, I had to come find you myself," Yang Shi pouted, showing her displeasure while gazing at her husband with a pitiful expression.

"Haha, my dear Consort, are you blaming me for not accompanying you to explore the sights of Qicheng?" Qiyun Tian had only recently discovered that the person in his arms also enjoyed playing.

"That's alright. It has been a while since I visited the border city. In a few days, I will take you there for a stroll." When Qiyun Tian first arrived in Qicheng, Yang Shi was still seriously injured. Coupled with Pojun's death, his heart was burdened with heavy thoughts. Now, he decided to let go of everything and relax.

"Really? That's wonderful," Yang Shi, upon hearing Qiyun Tian's words, buried her head in his embrace, rubbing against his tall and slender body. She thought to herself, "Now, no one can compete with me anymore. He can only belong to me." A smile as intoxicating as a Mandala flower quietly bloomed on Yang Shi's lips. This beautiful flower carried both beauty and lethal poison.

The Northern Star Kingdom

After a few days of calm, I slowly realized that my feelings for Xiao had become very ambiguous. On one hand, I selfishly enjoyed the unique emotions he bestowed upon me, but on the other hand, I didn't want to give anything in return. This feeling had been growing deeper recently, and now Xiao practically stayed overnight in the Queen's Chamber every day. And yet, I didn't feel even the slightest discomfort? Was I truly a magnanimous woman? Moreover, when Xiao used to stay in the Quiet Moon Palace, I strongly disliked any overly intimate interactions with him. Xiao was considerate and never forced anything in bed. This eased my worries, but deep down, I knew it was wrong. True couples shouldn't be like this, and this thought made me wonder about my past self. Whenever I thought about it, my head felt as if a thousand horses were galloping, causing unbearable pain and making it impossible for me to think clearly. It was as if another consciousness was trying to stop me.

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Facing the tall palace walls, I couldn't help but think, "If only I could fly."

"What are you thinking, Your Majesty?" Qinglian, who was behind me, looked at me gazing at the palace walls without saying a word, wondering what I was up to this time, staring at the wall in silence.

"Qinglian, do you think we still have a chance to leave?" I said in a soft voice, the loneliness in my words piercing to the core.

"Once you enter the palace, it's as deep as the sea, and you are the beloved consort of the Emperor. How could you run off to the common people again?" Qinglian lowered her head, her eyes showing a hidden despair.

"But he promised me. How can he go back on his word like this?" I said, filled with resentment, although my expression remained calm.

Qinglian, of course, knew who I was talking about, and she deeply resented the Emperor for this. Why did he promise the Queen Consort to take her out of the palace? Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so fixated on it. However, Qinglian had to speak up, "If the Emperor is willing to take you out of the palace, it is possible. But lately, the Emperor has been busy with state affairs, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer."

Busy? Busy with what? Lately, I've only seen him diligently entering and leaving the Queen's Chamber. He must be busy expressing his affection to the Queen.

Boredom overwhelmed me, and I looked down at the small snowball by my feet, which was energetically performing various funny actions. It seemed like it wanted me to pay attention to it. I realized that the little creature was also lonely.

If only I could leave the palace on my own. A spark of inspiration flashed through my mind. Lately, I had been exploring various parts of the palace and discovered many interesting places.

With this thought in mind, a big smile appeared on my delicate face. The corners of my mouth curved even more, and Xiao, since you're unwilling to take me out of the palace, then I'll leave on my own to have fun.

With a determined mind, I grabbed Qinglian, who was startled by my actions, and quickly returned to the Quiet Moon Palace. I mysteriously instructed a palace maid to bring several sets of men's clothing. These clothes naturally belonged to Xiao.

When Qinglian finally snapped out of her daze, she found that her precious Queen was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a dashing and elegant young gentleman stood before her. Qinglian had never been so shocked in her life. Just a moment ago, the Queen had a melancholic expression, but now, in front of her, was a man with a mischievous smile, reminiscent of a cat that had just stolen a fish. The man and her Queen were the same person.

"Majesty... What are you doing?" Qinglian managed to say with a slightly swollen tongue, hoping that the Queen wouldn't act on her initial thoughts.

"My dearest Qing, what do you think I should do?" I wore a wicked smile on my face and spoke in a frivolous tone.

Qinglian was once again frightened by my flirtatious words, standing dumbfounded, unable to comprehend how the Queen could transform from a melancholic state to a smiling demeanor.

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you. Change your clothes quickly. If you don't move faster, don't blame me for leaving you behind," I said, pulling out a green male robe from the bundle and stuffing it into Qinglian's arms, then nudging her to change behind the folding screen.

"Your Majesty, are you planning to leave the palace secretly?" Qinglian clutched the clothes to her chest, her eyes pleading, hoping to hear me say the words "no, I'm not." However, I gave her a confident smile, leaning close to her ear and whispered, "My dear Qinglian, you're right. It seems like taking you along was the right decision."

Under my gaze, Qinglian reluctantly took off her palace maid attire and put on the male clothing. I even disheveled the hair bun she had carefully done and found a silver hairband that matched her hair color, tying her long green hair, which reached her waist, into a bundle hanging on her shoulder.

A handsome and refined young attendant appeared before me, and I nodded in satisfaction. I grabbed the bundle that I had prepared when I initially planned to leave the palace with Xiao, and pulled Qinglian, who was unwilling, along. In addition, I brought a small dog that sneaked around in the palace's backyard.

With mischievous eyes filled with excitement, I followed closely behind the furtive duo in front of me. It was as if heaven was helping, as I successfully slipped out of the palace where I had stayed for over four years.

As I rejoiced in my good luck, Qinglian suddenly uttered the words I least wanted to hear, "Your Majesty, by doing this, the Emperor will worry."

"Qinglian, do you think I look like a woman?" I straightened my posture proudly, my face losing the previous coquettishness. For a moment, it seemed as if the familiar Pojun had returned, the Divine General descended once again.

Qinglian looked at me with astonishment, seeing the Queen standing before her with hair reaching her knees entwined by a silver hairband. Strands of hair floated in front of her chest, and the red peony on her forehead was gently covered by the hairband. She wore a fitted black robe with elegant golden embroidery on the cuffs and collar. A silver belt clasped her slim waist, adorned with a green dragon and phoenix jade pendant. She wore shoes of the same color. This sight made Qinglian's heart flutter. Would anyone suspect that this person was a woman if they saw her?

Of course not. After all, Pojun had been living as a man for over a decade. Dressing up as a man was effortless for him, which shattered Qinglian's attempt to persuade her mistress to return to the palace. In the end, Qinglian resigned herself to following her mistress on this journey to explore the beautiful scenery, unaware that they had already been quietly watched from behind.

Chendu

I walked with light steps, carefree and relaxed. Following me was Qinglian, carrying a bundle on her back, and in her arms, a peculiar-looking small dog. Naturally, she was my companion for this journey.

As we walked along, people were curious about the identity of this noble young gentleman. His handsome appearance and the fact that he was accompanied by a person who looked disgruntled but comically held a small dog attracted the attention of many bold young ladies.

Hehe, this is truly wonderful. I should have come out earlier. The air outside is so fresh and pleasant. I took a deep breath, relieving the long-suppressed frustrations in my chest. I turned to look at Qinglian, who had a look of "we're done for," and found it amusing. I picked up the little snowball struggling in Qinglian's arms and said helplessly, "Qing, we're here to have fun. Can't you stop looking so stern? Look, you scared away a girl with your expression." To prove my words, I pointed at a blushing girl on the other side, looking shy and embarrassed, who trembled all over when she noticed me pointing at her with a fan handle.

Qinglian lowered her head in resignation, thinking that the Queen truly attracted trouble wherever she went. When she dressed as a woman, the Emperor became infatuated with her, and now, in men's clothing, it was even more outrageous. Countless girls had expressed their feelings for the Queen, and some bolder ones had even taken the initiative to approach her without hesitation. If not for narrowly escaping danger, she might have lost her life countless times. But it always worked out at critical moments. It seemed like divine intervention. They always managed to escape unscathed.

Now the Queen didn't seem to care at all. She continued to play her coquettish role, seemingly enjoying herself. She didn't worry in the least that the Emperor must have discovered her disappearance by now, and who knew what chaos was unfolding in the imperial city. Thinking about this, Qinglian's heart grew cold.

"Your Majesty, shouldn't we go back home?" Qinglian regretted not stopping the Queen that day. Seeing how the Queen seemed to have completely forgotten about returning home, she couldn't help but feel remorse.