“Chancellor Li and his wife have arrived!” an attendant announced loudly.

Chancellor Li and the First Lady walked into Prince Anqing’s residence with pleasant smiles. After paying respects and being seated, Chancellor Li said modestly, “My unworthy daughter has been troublesome, disturbing the residence for so many days, this—”

Prince Anqing glared and cut him off. “In-law, that’s not right at all. If the villains hadn’t abducted A’Luo three years ago, my son would have already married her into this household. Now that she’s safely returned to Wind City, this residence is her home. No need to stand on ceremony!”

“Yes, yes indeed. In-law’s treatment of my unworthy daughter is truly generous. This official is deeply grateful.” Chancellor Li, seeing Prince Anqing’s attitude, felt a great weight lift off his chest.

Liu Jue stepped forward and bowed. “A’Luo’s constitution is delicate. Once she’s recovered further, Father-in-law may come fetch her back to the Chancellor’s estate, and we can arrange the wedding then—how does that sound?”

Chancellor Li smiled. “Prince Pingnan’s sincerity is admirable. That’s exactly as it should be.”

“Prince Li has arrived!” another announcement rang out.

Liu Jue thought to himself, he really did come quickly! As his thoughts turned, Zili strolled in leisurely. “Greetings, Uncle. Chancellor is here too?”

Chancellor Li’s scalp tingled; he gave an awkward chuckle. Seeing Prince Anqing and his son appearing calm and composed, he thought, let them fight it out—whoever wins, wins. With the old fellow around, I’ll just watch the show.

Zili turned to Chancellor Li with a humble bow, startling him so much he leapt from his chair. “Your Fourth Highness, how could this possibly be proper!”

“I originally intended to visit the Chancellor’s estate to propose formally. Since the Chancellor is here now, and Prince Pingnan too, this prince will speak plainly. A’Luo—this prince has decided on her. I hope the Chancellor will grant this.”

“Prince Li, you go too far!” Liu Jue’s face turned icy with rage.

“Fourth Highness, your uncle here isn’t dead yet! Even your late father never treated me with such contempt! You—you’re infuriating me to death!” Before he’d even finished speaking, Prince Anqing had pulled off his boot and thrown it at Zili.

Zili tilted his head, dodging it. “Uncle. Zili lost his mother from a young age, and Uncle cherished me, watched me grow up. Now I’ve come to love a certain woman—won’t you grant me this?”

Outside came an “Ah!” and someone burst in. Only then did an attendant stammer out the announcement: “Chan—Chancellor Gu has arrived!”

“You there, Prince Li! You married my daughter, and then paid her no mind, no care, for three whole years? And the moment you’re back, you want to take a concubine? What’s wrong with Tianlin? What has she done to wrong you? I raised such a good daughter, and you—you’re infuriating me to death!” Chancellor Gu, unable to contain his curiosity after hearing rumors that Prince Li had disregarded propriety to snatch away Prince Pingnan’s betrothed, had gone to Prince Li’s residence that very morning only to learn that Zili had arrived in Wind City the night before without even returning home to see Tianlin. His temper, already simmering, could no longer be suppressed. He’d resolved to come to Prince Anqing’s residence and see for himself this daughter of Chancellor Li who had bewitched two princes. Before he’d even entered, he heard Zili opening his mouth to propose marriage, and then watched him dodge Prince Anqing’s boot. Chancellor Gu’s face turned livid with rage, and without caring whether it was proper, he snatched up Prince Anqing’s boot and hurled it at Zili too.

Zili frowned and dodged aside, saying as he evaded, “Has Chancellor Gu forgotten to teach his daughter not to be jealous? What’s wrong with a man having multiple wives and concubines? A’Luo and I are of one heart—Tianlin should be supportive!” He deliberately did not address him as father-in-law, instead using his official title, meaning to remind Chancellor Gu of his place.

Chancellor Gu chased after him a couple of steps, blood rushing to his head, and upon hearing this, promptly fainted.

Prince Anqing jumped up and rushed over, shouting urgently: “Physician! Someone, quickly!”

Several attendants rushed in from outside to help support Chancellor Gu, pressing acupressure points and offering tea. Chancellor Gu slowly came to. He let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, panting.

Chancellor Li watched, dumbfounded, thinking to himself: good thing he hadn’t given A’Luo to Prince Li—otherwise, he’d have offended both Prince Anqing and his son, and deepened his enmity with Chancellor Gu even further.

Liu Jue secretly smiled to himself, thinking, even if this is all an act, you’re still suffering plenty for it. Who told you I claimed her first? The corner of his mouth curled up in smug satisfaction.

Then another announcement rang out: “His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess have arrived!”

Liu Jue and Zili exchanged a quick glance—the main players had arrived!

A jingling of jade ornaments sounded. The Crown Prince and Wang Yanhui slowly entered the hall. The Crown Prince smiled. “Uncle, your residence is quite lively today.”

Everyone stepped forward to pay their respects. Prince Anqing put his boot back on. “Crown Prince, you’ve come at just the right time. This unfilial younger brother of yours is fighting an old man for his own daughter-in-law! Outrageous!”

“Uncle, that’s not quite right. Back then, Yun Zhi and Zili made an agreement on the grasslands—that if A’Luo didn’t like him, he wouldn’t force the matter. Could it be that Prince Pingnan intends to go back on his word?” As he said this, Zili’s eyes had already taken on a cold edge.

Liu Jue laughed furiously. “Ha! Prince Li truly jests! This prince already sent the formal betrothal gifts through the three letters and six rites—A’Luo already belongs to this prince’s household. You’re forcibly seizing another man’s wife! Have you no sense of shame or propriety left at all!”

The two glared fiercely at each other, one with a face gone iron-grey, the other cold as still water. Simultaneously, they said: “Chancellor Li, what do you say?!”

Chancellor Li inwardly groaned. Prince Pingnan had already sent the betrothal gifts, but what if Prince Li—how on earth should he answer? He glanced sideways at Chancellor Gu. “Oh dear, this old headache of mine is acting up again.” The First Lady quickly supported him. “My lord, is your head hurting badly? These two princes are still waiting for your answer.”

Wang Yanhui said with a smile, “Fourth Brother, don’t be upset. Prince Pingnan, don’t be anxious. Why don’t we first have the two Chancellors escorted home to rest?”

Given this opening, Chancellor Li and the First Lady quickly bowed and hastily said, “We entrust our daughter to the old prince’s care!” and slipped away without delay. Chancellor Gu sighed—a married daughter is like spilled water, he thought; could he really prevent Prince Li from taking a concubine? His figure looked forlorn as he bowed and left.

Watching this, Liu Jue thought of what A’Luo had said, and a pang struck his heart—with a father like that, no wonder she so despised the Chancellor’s estate! But aloud he sneered coldly: “This son-in-law will surely not disappoint Father-in-law’s trust!”

“Hmph! With a father like that, perhaps this marriage should be called off after all. A’Luo surely wouldn’t be willing to marry you. What’s the point of marrying a woman who doesn’t like you!”

“Fourth Brother, that’s where you’re in the wrong. However you look at it, Prince Pingnan sent his betrothal gifts first. Isn’t this you forcibly seizing another man’s wife?” the Crown Prince spoke sternly.

“Imperial Brother! It’s not that this subject disregards propriety—it’s that Prince Pingnan seized her by force! A’Luo and I are of one heart, yet Liu Jue insisted on inserting himself between us. If not for that, would A’Luo have dared flee her own wedding!” Speaking of this, Zili thought of A’Luo, and his heart couldn’t help aching, his expression far from pretense.

“You speak nonsense! How could A’Luo be the fickle, inconsistent woman you describe? The one she cares for in her heart is me—otherwise why would she go to Linnan City to find me!” Liu Jue answered arrogantly.

“That’s because heading to the border was a straight, open road—if she’d headed toward the border, she wouldn’t have gone a hundred li outside Wind City before you intercepted her and brought her back! Little did I expect, you actually abducted her to Linnan City, then hypocritically sent her back to Wind City, and still have the gall to say she went looking for you!”

Prince Anqing stared, dumbfounded, then suddenly shouted: “Go fetch the Chancellor’s Third Young Lady here! With a daughter-in-law like this, I, Prince Anqing, can’t afford to have her!” His old face had already flushed red with anger.

“Father!” Liu Jue cried out urgently.

“What are you so anxious about? Afraid A’Luo will expose your lies?!” Zili said, looking down at Liu Jue disdainfully.

Liu Jue drew his sword in fury. “I’ve already sent the betrothal gifts. She is destined to be my woman! Nothing you say changes that!”

The Crown Prince hastily intervened: “We’re all family in this room. Qingluo is like a sister to me too. Why don’t we let her speak for herself?”

Before long, a slender figure ran into the hall. Zili suddenly turned around and was struck dumb. He had always known she would be beautiful enough to take his breath away, but he hadn’t known that seeing her now, that beauty would transform into waves of heartache. In three years, every single day of longing hadn’t been enough to capture the fullness of her true appearance. He knew he didn’t need to perform for anyone. His heart was entirely hers. Sweet, clever, lively as sunlight scattering the shadows in his heart. After more than three years, she finally stood before his eyes—not in a painting, not in a dream, but standing there alive before him.

Her face showed panic, her eyes just as they were in his dreams, glistening and shimmering, brows slightly furrowed with a trace of wronged feeling, just like every time before when she’d begged him to teach her to ride, to drive a carriage, gazing at him pleadingly. Zili’s heart ached, and his hand reached out uncontrollably. “A’Luo, big brother is here, don’t be afraid!”

A’Luo, seeing Zili, didn’t know what to feel. In the instant he looked at her, his eyes burst with brilliance, tinged with pain, hiding a trace of worry and yearning. He was the Zili who had played the flute in harmony with her, who had ridden horses with her at full gallop, who had doted on and cherished her. If only she could have never known him—how much better that would have been. Thinking of the moment he had vanished into the night in his red robes, heartache swept over her too. She had only wronged him, and a tear gathered on her lashes, about to fall, as she called out softly: “Big brother!”

Zili walked forward just as the tear fell; he reached out and caught it, its heat burning straight into his heart, melting the ice that had sealed it shut. It burned that soft place until it overflowed with tangled, deep affection, and no longer caring about anyone else in the hall, he pulled A’Luo into his embrace.

Wang Yanhui’s eyes flickered, and she sighed inwardly—that expression appearing on Prince Li’s face, that trace of melancholy in his flute music, had all along been tied to Li Qingluo. As her thoughts turned, her gaze had already shifted ahead of time to Liu Jue.

Liu Jue watched as Zili embraced A’Luo with such emotion, and the expressions between the two were unmistakably genuine, not feigned at all. Furious to the point that the veins on his forehead bulged, he let out a long cry and thrust his sword toward Zili.

Zili, holding A’Luo, dodged aside, a piece of his robe sliced away. He stared at Liu Jue and said word by word: “This time, I absolutely will not let go!”

Prince Anqing grew suspicious in his heart—was this all an act put on for the Crown Prince to see?

A’Luo started, catching the meaning behind the words, yet not daring to act rashly, her heart racing as tears streamed down: “Please, don’t fight!”

“A’Luo, with big brother here, no one can force you into anything!” Zili’s tone was firm. He gripped A’Luo’s hand tightly.

Prince Anqing’s eyes flashed. “This is truly infuriating! I absolutely refuse such a daughter-in-law! You brat, call off the engagement!”

Liu Jue’s handsome face flushed crimson, his expression resolute. “Father, forgive your unfilial son, but Liu Jue vows he will marry only Li Qingluo in this lifetime! You—let go of A’Luo!” As he spoke, his sword point aimed at Zili, without a trace of tremor.

“You—you insolent brat! You—how did I raise a son like you!”

“Father, weren’t you the same with Mother?” Liu Jue didn’t even turn his head, glaring fiercely at Zili.

The Crown Prince and Wang Yanhui exchanged a glance. Wang Yanhui slowly walked over and took A’Luo’s hand. “Sister Qingluo, tell us—who do you love in your heart? Your sister will decide this for you!”

A’Luo’s eyes darted about, her heart panicking greatly—this hardly felt like acting at all. She lowered her head. “I… big brother!” Her gaze avoided Wang Yanhui, looking tearfully instead toward Zili.

The voice was as small as a mosquito’s hum, yet everyone in the hall heard it clearly. Zili’s spirits soared, and he laughed loudly. “Did you hear that? Prince Pingnan? Do you still wish to continue?”

Liu Jue could no longer tell if this was acting or reality; his face turned deathly pale in an instant, the pain of losing her suddenly surging up within him. His eyes reddened faintly, and a killing intent radiated from his body. With a sharp whistle, the Black-Clad Cavalry rushed forward. The Crown Prince said angrily: “Prince Pingnan! How can you be so unreasonable!”

Liu Jue said proudly, “Once this prince has sent betrothal gifts, there is absolutely no such thing as calling off the engagement. To force myself to hand over my own woman with my own hands—I cannot do it! Crown Prince, forgive Liu Jue’s rudeness!” He walked to Wang Yanhui’s side and said to A’Luo: “No matter who is in your heart, in life you are mine, in death you’ll be a ghost of my household!” His hand had already clamped onto A’Luo’s arm, forcefully pulling her toward himself.

A’Luo felt a sharp pain in her arm and cried out: “It hurts!”

Zili’s body moved, but the Black-Clad Cavalry surrounded him tightly. He looked toward A’Luo beyond the wall of men, as if Liu Jue were tearing a piece of flesh from his own body, the pain twisting the muscles of his face, yet he had already steadied his heart, a faint smile rising. “A’Luo, wait for me. I will come for you and take you away! Liu Jue! Don’t say I never gave you a chance—the fifteenth of the third month, Yellow Water Gorge outside the western city, a duel! If you lose to my blade, don’t you dare trouble A’Luo again! Let go of her right now! Do you intend to break her arm?” By the end, he was speaking through gritted teeth, pain and sorrow evident on his face.

Having said this, Zili gazed deeply at A’Luo one last time, bowed to Prince Anqing and the Crown Prince, and said, “This is a private dispute between this subject and Prince Pingnan. Imperial Brother need not persuade further.” He then swept his sleeve and left.

A’Luo burst into tears, her heart consumed with guilt. She hadn’t meant to. She hadn’t wanted to see Zili so hurt. Zili wasn’t pretending—his deep feelings for her, how could she not sense them? She regretted ever wading into this muddy water. Zili, those eyes stained with pain and sorrow—how much more suffering would she bring him still!

The Crown Prince sighed deeply. “Sister, don’t grieve too much. If you don’t wish to stay here, coming into the palace to relax might do you good.”

Liu Jue had already regained his composure and quickly replied: “Your Highness need not worry too much. I absolutely will not let A’Luo take a single step out of this residence. Prince Li can forget about seeing her again.”

Wang Yanhui said with concern, “You and Fourth Brother are blood relatives after all—why must it come to this?”

“Your Highness is mistaken. Prince Li issued the challenge—I, Jue, must accept it!”

The Crown Prince said, “Uncle, please don’t be angry. Remember back when you yourself…”

“Hmph, could it be that my son, Prince Anqing’s son, can’t even win a fight over a woman? Crown Prince and Crown Princess, your concern is appreciated. It’s been a tiring day for everyone—best to return to the palace and rest early!” Prince Anqing was still fuming, glaring furiously.

Wang Yanhui smiled gently. “Take good care of yourself, sister. I can see Prince Pingnan’s devotion to you is entirely genuine. This matter of the heart is truly difficult to untangle.”

The two took their leave and departed.

A’Luo was still unable to stop weeping. Liu Jue roared furiously: “Is it an act or is it real—I can’t even tell anymore! Whose idea was this!”

Prince Anqing rubbed his head. “Too many people today, made me dizzy. Qing Ying, help this old man rest a while. Ah, my head hurts!”

As the crowd in the hall dispersed, Liu Jue, still fuming, watched A’Luo standing there, deeply sorrowful, and with one motion swept her up into his arms and carried her back toward Pine Wind Hall.