Meanwhile, Jun Beiyue had only just returned to East Splendor Palace when Yanzi arrived close behind him.

White gauze veiling her face, revealing only a pair of stunning phoenix eyes, lowered demurely to conceal every trace of her sharpness!

She truly did possess remarkable nerve—knowing full well that Jun Beiyue was scouring the entire world for her, she strolled calmly and unhurriedly right up to stand before him, having just clashed violently with Yingzi mere moments ago, now standing before him as though nothing whatsoever had happened.

She thoroughly relished this particular skill of hers!

As the maidservant Rouge, she used her own true voice—sweet and genuine. But as Yanzi, whether facing Jun Beiyue, Han Ziqing, Xuanyuan Lige, or anyone else, she always spoke in an altered voice.

She was certain that, one day, she would finally tell Jun Beiyue with her own true voice, in Rouge’s own voice, “I am Yanzi.”

But for now, the time hadn’t yet come.

“My lord, Young Master Situ, this was sent by Princess Qianqian’s own maidservant. She said Young Master Situ would understand.” She said, carefully drawing out a wolf-fang pendant necklace from her sleeve, presenting it respectfully with both hands to Situ Haonan!

The moment Situ Haonan saw it, he was immediately startled—he certainly recognized this item. It undoubtedly belonged uniquely to Yelu Qianqian, and carried tremendous personal significance besides!

That girl had once told him that without this pendant, she’d never truly consider herself married—she’d rather not marry at all!

Though he’d initially harbored some suspicion toward this unfamiliar maidservant, the moment he saw the pendant, every ounce of his guard dropped instantly.

Though Yelu Qianqian was Yelu Chenyi’s own sister, he’d have staked his very life on the certainty that Yelu Qianqian would never do anything to harm them!

Jun Beiyue glanced briefly at the necklace, then turned to Situ Haonan, who nodded. “This is definitely hers. It’s something she treasures deeply.”

“Do you understand what she means by this?” Jun Beiyue asked—that was the real question he wanted answered.

Situ Haonan looked embarrassed, stammering awkwardly. “I… how would I know what she’s up to.”

“She said you’d understand.” Jun Beiyue raised an eyebrow, finding a rare moment of teasing amusement despite his foul mood.

Situ Haonan found this genuinely puzzling, but too flustered in the moment to think it through carefully, he said impatiently, “Heaven only knows what that wretched girl’s up to. She’s practically married off already, and she’s still playing these childish games!”

Yanzi sneered coldly inside, yet outwardly maintained her demure, timid maidservant demeanor, holding the token with both hands, appearing to tremble slightly. “Young Master Situ, Princess Qianqian has been confined under house arrest within the palace. She marries in five days, and until then, aside from the Sand Worship Ceremony, she’s forbidden from stepping even a single foot outside the main palace. Princess Qianqian wishes to see you both, and also wants… to speak with you privately. She’s sent this servant to inform you—tomorrow, at noon, once the Sand Worship Ceremony begins, there will be a brief interval of rest. At that time, you need only follow this servant.”

Hearing this, Situ Haonan was immediately alarmed, and before he could stop himself, he lunged forward and seized Yanzi by the collar, nearly tearing her veil away in the process. “What did you just say? She’s under house arrest?”

Yanzi hadn’t anticipated such a reaction from Situ Haonan and stumbled backward in genuine alarm. “Young Master Situ, please control yourself! This servant is unmarried!”

By Xijing custom, an unmarried woman’s veil could never be removed by an unfamiliar man!

Only then did Situ Haonan release his grip. “She isn’t marrying willingly?”

Yanzi simply nodded, feigning distress, quickly tightening her veil back into place.

Jun Beiyue watched silently, his gaze deep and unfathomable as the ocean, utterly impossible to read.

“She…” Situ Haonan stood frozen in place, feeling as though he’d been struck by a thunderclap out of nowhere, everything about him suddenly off-balance. His mind flooded with memories of Yelu Qianqian’s various pleading looks and subtle hints back in Nanzhao!

Yet he’d never once picked up on it!

Or perhaps, more accurately, he’d never even thought to take it seriously!

That girl had been forced into this marriage to Xiliang all along, and here he’d assumed she’d been carefree and unbothered, eager to become the future Empress of Great Xiliang, thoroughly delighted about it all!

“Prince Yao, Young Master Situ, this servant cannot linger any longer—it wouldn’t do well if His Highness the Crown Prince found out. Tomorrow at noon, this servant will come find you both.” Yanzi said, still maintaining her flustered demeanor, and with that, she rose to take her leave.

Once she’d gone, Situ Haonan finally picked up the wolf-fang pendant from where it had fallen to the ground, staring at it in silence, his handsome brow furrowed deeply.

Yet Jun Beiyue’s gaze remained fixed on Yanzi’s retreating figure, lost in thought. “Tomorrow—will you go?”

“I’ll go.” Situ Haonan answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Not worried you might not come back?” Jun Beiyue teased.

“You suspect…” Only then did Situ Haonan grow genuinely serious, saying, “This item isn’t fake. Earlier at the banquet… Qianqian actually told me herself that a maidservant would come find us.”

“She told you directly?” Jun Beiyue’s brow furrowed.

“Mm, she said it herself, right at the banquet, when she danced close to me.” Situ Haonan finished, then suddenly slapped himself hard across the face. “How did I not realize she was under house arrest!”

Jun Beiyue remained silent, deep in thought, brow furrowed. Yet Situ Haonan continued, “The Sand Worship Ceremony runs three full days. I’ll go speak with her, gather what news I can—perhaps she can even help us track down Yanzi!”

Jun Beiyue nodded, turning to leave, but paused, adding with a teasing note, “She’s practically getting married, and you’re still going off to meet her in secret? Why not just carry her off entirely, while you’re at it.”

Situ Haonan had always been keenly aware of the vast gap in their respective statuses, and had always understood the weight and importance of Yelu Qianqian’s marriage. He’d always been a rational man—he could never bring himself to do what Jun Beiyue had done, offending the entire world for the sake of one woman.

Situ Xin’er had already gone crying to their parents about him. Before he’d even left Da Zhou, he’d received dozens of letters from home, every single one written personally by his father, every single one interrogating him about his relationship with Yelu Qianqian, every single one furiously scolding him.

For Jun Beiyue’s sake, for disciplining Situ Xin’er, he’d had ample confidence to reason with his father directly. But for Yelu Qianqian’s sake, defying his father outright—that, he simply couldn’t do. He didn’t have the nerve for it.

If he actually carried Yelu Qianqian away, that wouldn’t just offend the Xijing royal house—it would offend Xiliang as well!

The Situ Cheng clan held the position of leader of the martial world—they couldn’t afford to lose such face, nor could they afford to bear such a burden of responsibility on the martial world’s behalf!

“Let her marry whoever she’s meant to marry—we’re here for our own business. What secret meeting nonsense are you talking about!” Situ Haonan said irritably, then turned and walked away.

Night deepened gradually, the entire oasis city filled with the whistling sound of blowing sand. The western wind had grown fiercer by the moment—come tomorrow, the singing sands would surely be audible!

At that very moment, just outside the tall city gates, a horse-drawn carriage slowly came to a stop. Baili Weisheng glanced briefly at the tightly shut gates, then let out a long, helpless sigh. “So very tall…”

“Tomorrow is the Sand Worship Ceremony. We must enter the city tonight.” A low voice came from within the carriage—unmistakably Xuanyuan Lige, his voice rather hoarse, though his tone had lost much of its previous volatility, evidently having compromised significantly. Heaven only knew exactly what had transpired along their journey.

“Indeed, we absolutely must enter the city tonight. However…” As Baili Weisheng spoke, he simultaneously steered the carriage toward the right instead. “However, I really must first take you to see a physician and get you properly settled before I can feel at ease entering the city.”

At these words, Xuanyuan Lige immediately erupted in fury. “Baili Weisheng, you—! You—! You…!”