The carriage curtain was quickly dropped by someone. Never mind the purple-brown robe or the pale rose-colored skirt — both were now hidden away behind it once more.

Some of the onlookers coughed, others gazed up at the sky, all pretending they’d seen nothing. Zhou Heshuo closed his mouth and turned as if nothing had happened. “Since there’s a guest present, we shouldn’t intrude further.”

“Yes, yes indeed,” an attendant chimed in, hurrying to clear the way for him. “Let’s go back to the carriage for tea and music.”

Zhou Heshuo nodded and took a few steps, then glanced sideways. “Jingyun?”

Li Jingyun was still standing by the carriage shaft, seemingly lost in thought. Hearing his name, he stirred but didn’t turn around. “I’ll stay behind — still need to keep looking for someone.”

Zhou Heshuo didn’t press him, only smiling. “Just give the word if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The group walked off in a great bustle. Li Jingyun stared at the carriage curtain for a long moment before saying impatiently, “Well? Aren’t you going to get out here for me?”

The curtain trembled, and then a small hand emerged, hesitantly gripping the edge of it.

Huayue poked half her head out, frowning at him, sniffling. “Why are you here, young master?”

Listen to that — asked so righteously, as though he were the one who’d come to the wrong place.

Li Jingyun was so angry he laughed. “If I weren’t here, how would I ever know how capable you are? That ‘bringing honor to the family’ plaque at the estate shouldn’t be hanging in the ancestral hall — it should be hanging on your forehead instead.”

Huayue: “…”

The curtain was thrown wide open, and Shen Zhiluo’s face darkened as he looked at him. “Third Young Master.”

“Well now, Sir Shen.” Li Jingyun smiled without warmth. “If you’re feeling unwell, you should rest more. Why do you keep fussing over someone else’s maidservant?”

“You yourself said, Third Young Master, that she’s merely a maidservant,” Shen Zhiluo said, eyelids half-raised. “If she’s merely a maidservant, why should you take offense?”

“Never mind maidservant — even if she were a dog.” He licked his back teeth and curled his lip. “As long as it’s something I raised, there’s no reason for it to be wagging its tail at someone else.”

Shen Zhiluo laughed, exasperated, raising his sleeve to press against his forehead. “Is the dog for sale?”

“Not for sale.” He pulled her over, bent down, and grasped her hand, waving it at him. “See you around.”

Yin Huayue wanted nothing more than to bite him.

Shen Zhiluo wanted to say more, but Li Jingyun had already pulled her along, walking back. Huayue’s pale blue-green skirt swept up, tracing an arc through the air as she was dragged along after him like a scattering of blossoms.

He watched, his expression complicated, deep in thought.

Her wrist ached from being gripped, and after stumbling along for a while, Huayue looked up at the man ahead and couldn’t help saying, “I know the way.”

“Which way do you know?” Li Jingyun didn’t turn his head. “The way to the little grove, or the way to someone else’s carriage?”

“Young master.” Huayue found this rather funny. “Nothing I’ve done has gone against the rules of the General’s estate.”

“That’s true enough.” He said, dripping with sarcasm. “The General’s estate hasn’t shamelessly gone so far as to write a rule forbidding broad-daylight impropriety in plain sight.”

“…” Her expression turned unpleasant. Huayue opened her mouth, then closed it again, pressing her lips together and lowering her head.

She’d come to see clearly by now — expecting anything decent to come out of Li Jingyun’s mouth would be like expecting to dig ivory out of a dog’s mouth. No matter how ugly his words got, as a servant, all she could do was endure it.

Hearing no response from behind him, Li Jingyun grew even more irritated. “What, you think I’m wrong?”

“No,” Huayue said obediently. “Whatever you say, young master, is so.”

“Is that right.” He let go of her hand, snorting. “So you’re admitting you’re a dog now?”

She looked up at him and said calmly, “Woof.”

His teeth ground together, making a creaking sound, and Li Jingyun barely managed to hold onto his smile. “So if I say you’ve been carrying on improperly with someone, you’ll admit to that too?”

Huayue folded her hands and bowed to him respectfully. “I admit it.”

Li Jingyun was about ready to explode.

In his twenty years of life, he’d always been the one driving others half mad with fury — this was the first time a little slip of a girl had made him so dizzy with rage he nearly lost his footing.

Earlier she’d at least known to argue back, known to say Sir Shen wasn’t as good as he was — now, apparently having decided to throw caution to the wind entirely, she wore an air of resignation, as though he had no way to deal with her anyway, which only made him angrier.

“What are you even after?” He was thoroughly agitated. “The capital has no shortage of men — if you want to marry, there are plenty of good families to choose from. Why bother with such shameless dealings?”

Huayue thought it over as well, then said, “I suppose because I like it.”

“Like—” Li Jingyun wiped a hand over his face. “Are your eyes blind, or what? How could you like an embroidered pillow like that? Take away Shen Zhiluo’s good looks and what else is there to like about him?”

Huayue only grew more composed as she spoke. “Good looks are enough. Anything else would be useless anyway.”

Blind to what mattered, shortsighted, ungrateful!

Li Jingyun turned and walked off, his stride enormous, his robe sweeping with the force of it. The person behind him kept pace, taking small quick steps, but said nothing further.

Back at the carriage, he sat down and looked up at her as she climbed in, saying coldly, “What are you still following me for? Why not go back and find your dashing, brilliant Sir Shen?”

Huayue knelt gently beside him, lowering her head. “Reporting to you, young master — we’re about to reach the hunting grounds. Per the Madam’s instructions, you should keep hold of this for now.”

The white jade mandarin duck pendant that Zhou Heshuo had given her before had been restrung with a new red cord, neatly placed in a brocade box. She opened it now and held it up before him, still as magnificent as ever.

That thing again.

Li Jingyun looked at it without expression, his eyes dark and deep, and after a moment, hooked a fingertip under the silk cord. “I asked you before whether you’d still wear it if I didn’t like it.”

The mandarin duck pendant swayed before her eyes as he looked through the hollowed-out gap in it.

Huayue lowered her head obediently, her amber eyes utterly devoid of any feeling. She reached out with both hands to take the pendant, hooking her index finger through his sash, drawing the silk cord through, then threading her thumb through to fasten the paired duck pendant into place.

“Fine jade makes a fitting match, may this fair union bring blessings — I wish you every success, young master.”

She bowed again, performing the courtesy in full.

Moments ago she’d still have blushed and stammered, but after that trip to someone else’s carriage, she’d returned wearing this thoroughly hypocritical expression. Li Jingyun watched her through half-lidded eyes, a surge of dark temper rising within him.

Huayue was kneeling at just the right angle, and before she knew it, he yanked her toward him. This time she’d learned her lesson, and without a second thought, drove an elbow into him first.

Li Jingyun’s reflexes were far quicker than Shen Zhiluo’s. The moment she moved, he caught her, pinning her wrists crossed with one hand so she couldn’t move at all.

“What, he can hold you and it’s nothing, but if I hold you, I get hit for it?” He leaned in close, reaching out to pinch her chin. “Where’s the fairness in that?”

Huayue tried to struggle, but gave up after just one attempt, letting him hold her. “Sir Shen gets hit too when he tries something. That’s plenty fair.”

At that moment, what was she supposed to do — move? Shen Zhiluo had suddenly pulled her over before she could even react, her nose hitting his shoulder bone, the pain bringing tears to her eyes, and by the time she’d recovered, Shen Zhiluo had already raised his sleeve to shield her.

Zhou Heshuo had seen her before and knew she was from the General’s estate — if she’d jumped out and shown her face then, wouldn’t that have made her an utter fool, and this young master here would likely have been implicated too.

Grumbling inwardly, Huayue didn’t feel like arguing with him either, saying listlessly, “Yes, I was happy.”

The grip on her wrist tightened suddenly, and the man before her drew even closer, close enough that she could see the flare of temper flickering in the depths of his eyes.

She studied him for a moment and found it rather funny. “To you, young master, I’m nothing more than a foot soldier before your carriage, a plaything in your hand. Why bother getting so worked up over such trivial matters?”

“A plaything.” Li Jingyun’s eyes turned cold. “Have you ever seen anyone apply medicine and feed a plaything? A real plaything gets tossed once it’s broken — no one goes back to retrieve it.”

Huayue thought it over. “Not necessarily. That treasured sword of yours broke too, and you didn’t throw it away — you still polish it often.”

“…”

Driven half mad with fury, Li Jingyun opened his mouth, pulled her back, and bit down hard on the side of her neck, his white teeth pressing into her delicate skin, leaving deep marks with a single bite.

Caught entirely off guard, Huayue cried out in pain, trying to pull back, but he held her fast, arm locked around her shoulders and back.

“You… let go!” She panicked, struggling with all her strength. “If you’re going to kill me, make it quick — my neck will bleed for half an hour if it breaks open like this!”

Li Jingyun ignored her entirely, his dark pupils grim and unyielding, still clamped onto her neck.

So this really was a dog, wasn’t it, Huayue thought miserably. What proper master goes around biting people’s necks? Not satisfied with one spot, he switched to the left side and bit down there too. Warm, damp breath washed over her neck, both itchy and numbing.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t see whether her neck was bleeding, her heart racing with no idea what was happening.

“Was he this intimate with you too, just now?” Li Jingyun released his bite, looking down at his handiwork, asking casually.

Huayue shook her head quickly. “No.”

“Then how was it?” His fingertip brushed over the bite mark, lightly scraping her earlobe. “Tell me — where exactly did you cast your spell on him? I’d like to try it too.”

Huayue found this rather funny. “Why must you dwell on this, young master? I’m merely a lowly servant, my taste hardly refined — saying Sir Shen is good-looking doesn’t mean you’re necessarily inferior to him. Across the whole capital, those who admire you number in the thousands, easily. There’s no need for you to sulk over it.”

If she hadn’t said it, it might have been fine, but now that she had, his fangs came out again. Thousands across the capital all knew he was fine — so why would the dog by his own side be the one blind enough to fall for someone else’s looks, and pick a fight with him over it besides.

Huayue could tell at a glance he was about to bite her again, and quickly said, “Young master, we’re almost at the hunting grounds. Miss Han is up ahead — do restrain yourself a little, so as not to cause any misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding what?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Naturally, that you’re a philanderer, young master, carrying on with the maidservants by your side,” Huayue frowned. “You haven’t even taken a wife yet, and already such rumors are spreading — it does you no good.”

Li Jingyun seemed to grasp this at once, nodding. “Makes sense. Can’t have people misunderstanding.”

Her heart eased, and just as she was about to relax, she heard him continue, “Might as well actually carry on then, so I’m not bearing a false reputation for nothing.”

Yin Huayue: “…”

Earlier, when he teased and flirted with her, she’d still blush and her heart would race, uneasy. But now, no matter how outrageous his words got, Huayue simply took it as him joking around, saying helplessly, “Please, young master, spare me a way out.”

“Following me means good food and good living — how is that not a way out?”

Huayue laughed softly, lowering her eyes to ask him, “Do you still remember, young master, how the scar on my back came to be?”

The recklessness on his face gradually receded. Li Jingyun pressed his lips together, a little irritable. “I wasn’t prepared before. It won’t happen again going forward.”

“I’d rather there be no ‘going forward’ at all.” She struggled for a long while and finally broke free of his grip, rubbing her wrist. “If you speak the word, young master, plenty of people would gladly play along with you. But I only have one life, and I treasure it dearly. Please, be merciful.”

Her hands suddenly empty, and his lap suddenly cold, Li Jingyun slowly straightened his sleeves, puzzled. “Why would it be ‘playing along’?”

Huayue paused, then laughed. “Call it currying favor and pleasing you instead then, no difference — use whichever word you prefer, young master.”

She smoothed her skirt and bowed to him. “I’ll prepare other things. When we arrive, please do me the honor, young master.”

Li Jingyun fell silent.

The bite mark on her neck ran deep, and it wouldn’t fade anytime soon. Anyone else in her place would surely have taken note of it — if not shy, at least a blush would have been inevitable.

But Yin Huayue showed none of that. She took out the small bronze mirror from her box, glanced at it, her expression entirely calm, as though she’d simply been bitten by a dog, and casually wrapped a strip of white cloth around it to cover it up.

Li Jingyun couldn’t understand it — had he not spoken clearly enough, or was his manner not intimate enough? Why would the dog he raised react this way?

The sky gradually darkened, night descending over the horizon, and the Crown Prince’s procession finally arrived at the hunting grounds.

Huayue carried a glazed lantern ahead to light the way, Li Jingyun following behind, his eyes still full of confusion.

“Some time ago, the Madam sent a return gift to the Han estate on your behalf — an agate bracelet. If Miss Han brings it up, just play along, don’t say you don’t know about it.”

“The dining hall is upstairs. Only you and Miss Han will be up there — I’ll withdraw along with the others. If you need anything else, young master, just call out from the window.”

Standing at the foot of the stairs, she turned and pushed the lantern into his hands, saying earnestly, “Don’t leave too early.”

Candlelight shone against the glaze, the light spilling out somewhat dazzling. Li Jingyun hesitated before reaching out to take it, but she had already turned and walked away.

Her steps were light, without the slightest trace of reluctance.

Huayue hadn’t eaten all day. She finally managed to grab a steamed bun from the kitchen, and with no time to spare for anything else, having finished her task, she slipped downstairs to eat, both hands holding the pale white bun, eating quickly and carefully.

Someone sat down beside her and handed her a cup of water.

“Thank you.” Huayue took it and was about to drink, glancing sideways.

The moment she looked, she froze, stopping the cup where it was, embarrassed, and laughed. “Oh, it’s you.”

The little maidservant who had opened the door for them at the Han estate before still wore the same sweet smile, saying softly, “Sister, I’m Biezhi.”

Huayue’s smile turned a little strained. “Does Miss Han need something?”

Biezhi shook her head, sighing with a smile. “This is already the happiest my young lady’s been all day. Naturally she wouldn’t want anyone disturbing her. You and I can hide here and steal a good long rest.”

Huayue nodded along, holding her cup, unsure whether to drink or not.

“Don’t be afraid, sister.” Biezhi tilted her head. “There’s no poison in the water.”

Who knew if that was really true or not — Huayue smiled but didn’t move.

Biezhi pressed her lips together, hands resting on her knees, and said quietly, “Our young lady is quite fortunate — favored by the Princess Imperial since birth, with her backing, no one dares bully her. But she’s also rather pitiable — every time the Princess Imperial takes decisive action, it ends up pinning a reputation for cruelty on her.”

“Sister is Young Master Jingyun’s own attendant. Our young lady would only be eager to please you — why would she want to harm you?”

Huayue raised an eyebrow at this, recalling what Han Shuang had said that time at the eastern courtyard, suddenly understanding. “You mean to say your young lady has never been angry at me?”

“Sister is Young Master Jingyun’s favored servant — in the future you’ll be spending your days alongside our young lady too. Why would she be angry at you? At most she’s angry at the young master for being so heartless.” Biezhi sighed. “Our young lady and Young Master Jingyun have known each other for many years. They used to get along quite well too, but later, the young master misunderstood something and has kept his distance from her ever since.”

“If sister could help out, our young lady surely wouldn’t treat you poorly once she’s married into the household.”

Huayue’s interest was piqued. She set the cup down casually and asked, “What kind of misunderstanding is there between them?”

Biezhi looked troubled, hesitating before saying, “As for the details, even I as a maidservant don’t really know. I’ve heard that Young Master Jingyun got jealous over nothing, and deliberately started keeping his distance from our young lady. No one gave him a way to back down, so he’s never come around either.”

Blinking, Biezhi tugged at her arm, shaking it. “Good sister, you’ll help, won’t you?”

Huayue laughed along with her, her smile even sweeter. “Of course I will. What do you need me to do?”

“That’s simple.” Biezhi said. “Right now what they need most is to understand and grow closer to each other. Why don’t you tell me about Young Master Jingyun’s preferences and daily habits, sister, and I’ll find a way to help our young lady tailor her approach.”

“His preferences, hmm…” Huayue looked at her hands for a moment, smiling. “Nothing special, really. He’s fond of preserved fruit now and then.”

“And his daily habits?” Biezhi leaned in closer. “When does the young master usually go out, and when does he come home?”

“That varies from day to day.”

Biezhi thought about it, then said with a smile, “No wonder, then, on the ninth of the fourth month, when our young lady went to visit, the young master happened not to be at the estate.”

The ninth of the fourth month? Huayue looked up without changing her expression, and happened to meet Biezhi’s gaze head-on. Biezhi’s eyes were a pale color, watching her quietly, holding both appraisal and a hint of probing.

Something stirred in Huayue’s mind, and smiling, she said, “You’ve misremembered — the young master didn’t go out that day, and he didn’t receive any calling cards either.”

Biezhi startled, quickly covering her mouth. “My memory’s failing me — it must have been a different day.”

She didn’t dwell on the slip, only suddenly reaching up to rub at her stomach. “Ohh…”

“What’s wrong?” Biezhi hurried to support her.

“The bun I just ate seems to have gone a little off.” She scrunched up her face, wincing. “Keep watch here — I’ll be right back.”

“All right, sister, take your time.” Biezhi waved her off.

Huayue got up and headed toward the outhouse. The moment she was out of the other girl’s line of sight, her expression returned to normal.

Earlier, seeing Han Shuang, she’d genuinely believed the young lady had feelings for Li Jingyun. But after this little exchange with the girl just now, something felt off.

Asking about his preferences, his habits — that was ordinary enough. But trying to draw out information from her like that — what was that about?

On the ninth of the fourth month, she’d been seized by the Crown Prince and taken to Qifeng Tower. Li Jingyun had likely been somewhere nearby too, though she didn’t know what he’d been doing — but instinct told her not to let that slip out, especially not to a servant whose hands didn’t have a single callus on them.

She glanced back once at the lit second-floor window, rubbing her chin.

The banquet that evening went smoothly. When Li Jingyun came out, his face bore no particular expression. Huayue glanced at Han Shuang and saw she wasn’t crying either, so at the very least, things couldn’t have gone too badly.

Li Jingyun didn’t look especially pleased, though. He glanced at her, handed the glazed lantern back, and went straight to bed without another word.

The next day was the day of “Opening the Mountain” — customarily, the person of highest rank would shoot the rabbit released from its cage, after which everyone could begin the hunt. But this year was different.

The Princess Imperial and the Crown Prince arrived at the hunting grounds together, and by rank, the Crown Prince naturally outranked her — but by seniority, the Princess Imperial should go first. The two sides seemed to be competing for precedence, and as a result, the mountain hadn’t been “opened” for quite some time.

Finally, the Princess Imperial said with a coquettish laugh, “I hear the young master of the Li estate has exceptional archery skills, able to hit a target from a hundred paces. Why not let him do the honors?”

The suggestion was rather absurd, but remarkably, Zhou Heshuo nodded in agreement. “Jingyun, aren’t you going to thank the Princess Imperial for her regard?”

Li Jingyun stepped forward, about to bow, when the Princess Imperial covered her mouth and laughed. “You’re soon to be Shuang’er’s husband — we’re practically family, no need for such formalities. Never mind it.”

Zhou Heshuo looked on with disdain. “Since when was a betrothal settled between the Li and Han families? I’ve heard nothing of it.”

“Little brother, you’re not well informed — matters of marriage are best known by the women of the family,” the Princess Imperial said, stroking the nail guard on her little finger, chin lifted. “Shuang’er is well-read and courteous, and the Li young master is accomplished in both letters and martial arts — there couldn’t be a better match. The Li family’s Madam has already given her nod too.”

“But I’ve heard that Jingyun has recently taken to favoring one particular person exclusively — piling all the good things in the estate into that person’s room.” Zhou Heshuo shook his head. “In matters of marriage, it’s still best for both parties to be willing. What sweetness could there be in forcing a melon off the vine before it’s ripe?”

Huayue stood behind Li Jingyun, breaking into a cold sweat the more she listened.

How had these two officials ended up arguing? And arguing was one thing, but the direction was growing increasingly off-track. What exclusive favorite did the young master have at the estate — why didn’t she know anything about it?

“Your Highness.” Shen Zhiluo suddenly spoke up. “The auspicious hour is almost past.”

Zhou Heshuo came back to himself and waved his sleeve. “Jingyun, go ahead.”

“Yes.”

The feathered arrow flew fast and true, striking the white rabbit in its cage. The gate opened, and the young nobles broke into shouts, spurring their horses up the mountain at once.

Huayue watched with a smile on her face, handing the basket and the aerial-root net to Badou behind her, so he could follow along and collect whatever game the young master brought down.

But Li Jingyun, having retrieved his bow, spoke up directly instead: “You come with me.”

Huayue froze, glancing around, uncertain. “Young master, me?”

“Mm.”

“I’m only a woman.” She gestured, frowning. “I’m no match for Badou’s strength.”

“I want you.” Li Jingyun looked down at her. “What, not willing?”

Huayue shook her head, slinging the aerial-root net over her back, and smiled at him. But just as she was about to follow him, she felt an inexplicable chill at the back of her neck.

She instinctively glanced behind her and saw the dragon banner fluttering fiercely across the hunting grounds, the Princess Imperial seated beneath it, toying with her fingers, her eyes fixed steadily in Huayue’s direction.

“…” Her heart gave a lurch. Huayue said stiffly, “If I said I wasn’t willing, would I still be able to get out of it now?”

Following her gaze, Li Jingyun spotted Shen Zhiluo standing at the edge of the field, holding his cosmic compass, gazing deeply and pensively toward Yin Huayue, as though troubled, wanting to speak yet holding back.

“Want to stay behind and meet someone privately?” His eyes turned icy. Li Jingyun adjusted the net on her shoulder for her, leaning close to say in a low voice, “Dream on.”