Yao Ji settled in Li City and, after careful consideration, finally asked the Princess Consort to find a good family to foster her child. Previously, when at the Marquis of Muyang’s household, she would rather have died than give up her child, knowing that the child alone in the Marquis’s household would never have a good life. Even with Mu Yang’s love for the child, there would be times of negligence, and just one oversight could cost the child’s life.

Now settled, Yao Ji had more time to consider things. While staying with Mu Yang wasn’t good for the child, having her as a mother might not be the best thing either. Moreover, while supporting a child alone wouldn’t be difficult, raising a boy to grow up happy and well-adjusted wouldn’t be so easy. Boys… especially need their fathers. Besides, Yao Ji had a persistent feeling that the matter with the Marquis’s household… wasn’t over yet.

The Princess Consort indeed found a good family – a childless couple in their forties, from a scholarly background, not extremely wealthy but comfortable. Yao Ji secretly checked on them several times and saw that the couple truly treated the child as their own.

Watching her son grow up in a complete, peaceful family, Yao Ji smiled faintly, her heart filled with genuine joy and peace.

Three months later, Yao Ji opened a restaurant in the city. The money came from the Princess Consort as a loan, with only half to be repaid – the other half making the Prince’s mansion a partner. Yao Ji had no objections; aside from her lifelong debt to the Princess Consort, what better backing could she have in the Prince’s territory than the Prince’s mansion itself?

With years of experience managing Chengfang House, although running a restaurant was completely different from managing an entertainment house, Yao Ji proved capable of handling social relationships and customer service. Sure enough, the restaurant soon established itself in the city. Yao Ji gradually withdrew from the front, truly retiring to work behind the scenes.

Yao Ji wasn’t sure how she became familiar with Qin Feng. She only remembered that when the restaurant first opened, he often came to show his support. He wouldn’t do much, just order a pot of wine and a few dishes, sometimes sitting for hours. His presence meant that despite her being an outsider with a new establishment, the city’s young nobles and competitors didn’t dare cause trouble. After all, who in Ruyang City didn’t know Qin Feng was the Princess Consort’s guard?

As time passed, they naturally exchanged words, becoming more familiar. When Yao Ji finally realized what was happening – when Qin Feng, with his stern expression feigning indifference yet brooking no refusal, tossed that purple jade hairpin into her hands – she panicked. She immediately, almost without thinking, requested from the Princess Consort the mission to assist Leng Haoyu in the capital. Only much later, after she had calmed down, did she suddenly realize that facing Qin Feng had become more difficult than facing Mu Yang again, even with the possibility of crossing swords. That’s why she chose to flee to the capital.

The Princess Consort hadn’t immediately granted her request, and that evening Qin Feng came to see her. His visit didn’t surprise Yao Ji. Given his position in the Prince’s mansion and the Princess Consort’s trust in him, he couldn’t have been unaware of such matters.

“If I’m causing you trouble, then… I can take it back,” Qin Feng said deeply, looking at the woman in light purple before him, his calm gaze falling on the touch of purple in her hair.

Yao Ji started, then shook her head gently, “It’s not… not entirely that.” She wasn’t lying, at least at that moment she didn’t feel she was lying to herself. Yao Ji understood clearly that the Prince and Princess Consort were different. The Princess Consort herself might not approve of her going to the capital, but the Prince wanted her to go. Over these years, she had interacted with the Prince several times. As a woman, she could only envy the Prince’s feelings for his wife. But the Prince’s methods toward those who had hurt or intended to hurt the Princess Consort were chilling. Yao Ji also knew… when the Princess Consort had nearly died falling from a cliff, the commander of those troops had been the Marquis of Muyang. Each time she saw the Prince’s thoughtful expression when looking at her, Yao Ji understood – he hadn’t forgotten this matter.

Though the Prince hadn’t spoken directly, Yao Ji understood his meaning. If she wanted her Jing’an to live peacefully, she would have to deal with the Marquis’s household herself. She might not handle it as cleanly as others could, but she and the child she bore could cause the Marquis’s household and Mu Yang more pain.

Yao Ji wasn’t a kind person, and she felt neither resentment nor anger about this, just as she would feel no guilt or sorrow if the Marquis’s household was truly destroyed because of her. This world… was simply survival of the fittest. When she couldn’t match the Young Madam, she could only lie in the villa with her child waiting for Mu Yang to save them or waiting to die. When the Princess Consort lacked military strength, she could only jump from the cliff and gamble with her life. So when the Marquis’s household provoked the Prince but lacked the strength to withstand him, only destruction awaited them. She wanted to give her child a peaceful life – what did others matter to her?

Qin Feng remained silent, not trying to persuade her further. He only said, “Come back alive. Don’t forget… you still have a child. I… will wait for you.” Seeing Yao Ji about to speak, Qin Feng calmly added, “I’ll wait for your return before making any decisions.”

Yao Ji shook her head, gritting her teeth, “I know you’re good to me… but I don’t know how many years this will take. You’re not young anymore, you should…”

Qin Feng turned to look out the window, saying quietly, “The decision is yours to make, the waiting is mine to do. The Princess Consort has ordered me to escort you to the capital. Rest early. We leave tomorrow morning.” Without giving Yao Ji a chance to refuse, he turned and walked out.

Watching his straight figure leave, Yao Ji smiled bitterly to herself: Yao Ji, you really should have… just rejected him directly…

Years passed in the blink of an eye. Emperor Mo Jingqi, who had spent his life trying to suppress the Prince’s mansion, passed away. When the Northern Rong and Northern Territories invaded, Great Chu, without the Prince’s mansion’s support, couldn’t resist and retreated south of the river. While the Prince’s mansion defended the homeland, the Southern Chu Regent Prince Mo Jingli allied with Northern Rong and Western Ling against the Prince’s mansion, and the Marquis of Muyang’s household… was finished.

When she watched Mu Yang close his eyes in resignation before her, Yao Ji felt no joy of revenge or satisfaction, not even grief – only a silent desolation in her heart. The war continued, and Yao Ji returned to Li City with her adopted son Qin Lie and her desolate heart, resuming her former peaceful life. Only when secretly watching her son, now studying in a private school, did she feel a slight comfort.

Though removed from worldly affairs, news of the frontline battles still reached Yao Ji’s ears. Each day she sat in the restaurant, at the table in the private room Qin Feng had frequented, listening to people passing below discussing current events.

Though the Mo family army faced many setbacks, they ultimately defeated all enemies and returned triumphant.

“Mother! Mother, quick, come!” Qin Lie rushed in, grabbing Yao Ji and trying to pull her out. Yao Ji quickly stopped him, saying helplessly, “What’s the rush?” Qin Lie rolled his eyes and said, “Father’s back! Let’s go welcome him!”

Originally, Qin Lie had called her foster mother and Qin Feng’s foster father. But since returning to Li City, Yao Ji suddenly found that the previously steady Qin Lie had become much more lively. His way of addressing her and Qin Feng had changed to “Father” and “Mother,” terms that could cause misunderstanding. Yet he persisted despite correction.

Yao Ji pulled her hand away, sighing softly, “Today is the triumphant return of the Mo family army. With so many people, why should we join the crowd?” Qin Lie pouted unhappily, “What do you mean to join the crowd? What’s wrong with welcoming Father’s return? Father will surely be happy to see us.”

Yao Ji shook her head, “You go ahead, I won’t go. Just convey my congratulations to Commander Qin.”

Qin Lie’s face immediately fell, seeing that his mother still wouldn’t accept his father. Qin Lie thought his foster father was surely the most faithful and devoted man in the world – who else would pursue a woman for seven or eight years? How could Mother not appreciate him? Then thinking of certain items Mother often secretly looked at while in Chu capital and Jiangnan, it didn’t seem like she didn’t care at all.

Could it be… The mother had some concerns.

“If you’re not going, I won’t go either,” Qin Lie sat dejectedly across from Yao Ji, staring at her hopefully. Yao Ji helplessly reached out to pat his forehead, “What mischief are you up to, you little rascal? You know my background – wouldn’t going out there just embarrass Commander Qin? And you, running around calling us that in public… shall I give you a beating?”

“I don’t believe you will,” Qin Lie said with a grin. “Father said I might be his only son in this life, and I’ll be the one taking care of him in his old age, so of course I should call him Father. And you – ‘Foster Mother’ feels so distant. Right, Mother?”

Yao Ji felt utterly helpless, waving her hand, “Anyway, go welcome your foster father. I’m not feeling well, so I won’t go.”

“Not feeling well?” Qin Lie looked at her doubtfully.

“Yes. Go quickly now. I really can’t go.”

Qin Lie nodded solemnly, “I understand, Mother, I’ll go first.” Leaving the room, he looked back at Yao Ji sitting lost in thought at the table, muttering to himself, “Not feeling well means… Father should come to visit personally?”

In the courtyard behind the restaurant, Yao Ji sat alone under a tree playing the qin. The usually beautiful, flowing music was intermittent and unclear. The person beneath the tree wasn’t focused on the strings, absently plucking while lost in thought.

Steady footsteps approached from the courtyard entrance. Yao Ji started and looked back to see Qin Feng in black clothes, standing calmly at a distance, watching her. For some reason, Yao Ji felt inexplicably guilty.

Qin Feng walked forward, looking down at her, and after a long while asked, “Why didn’t you come outside the city?”

Yao Ji stood up nervously, saying, “I… I had to watch the restaurant.” In truth, almost everyone in the city had gone out to welcome the returning Mo family army. Even though her restaurant was among the best in Li City, there hadn’t been a single customer all morning.

“You’re lying,” Qin Feng said quietly, watching her. As the Qilin Commander, if he couldn’t tell when someone was lying, he might as well give up his position.

Yao Ji felt flustered, gritting her teeth before saying firmly, “Fine, I’ll say it… I don’t think we’re suitable. We should see less of each other from now on. Here… take this back!” Yao Ji extended her hand toward Qin Feng, holding the purple jade hairpin.

But Qin Feng didn’t anger, his expression didn’t even change as he said quietly, “Too late.” Yao Ji started, “What’s too late?” Qin Feng replied, “Years ago before you went to the capital, you didn’t return it to me, so I took that as acceptance.”

“I… I…” Yao Ji, who had always been skilled at social graces, whose city-toppling dance had amazed the capital, who could manipulate everyone from Southern Chu officials and noble ladies down to the entire Marquis of Muyang’s household, couldn’t string together a coherent sentence before this quiet, calm man. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, “I told you, we’re impossible! What’s your status, and what’s mine? If you married me, you’d be laughed at by everyone!”

“Who dares laugh at me?” Qin Feng said unconcerned. There weren’t many in this world who dared laugh at him. He was the commander of the Prince’s most elite Qilin force and the Princess Consort’s most trusted confidant. Now with the realm newly settled, everyone knew his prospects were limitless.

“Public opinion is fearsome. You should go. These years if anything… it was my fault,” Yao Ji said, lowering her head. She didn’t know when she had let this man into her heart – perhaps during his silent companionship day after day at the restaurant, perhaps during his quiet comfort in Jiangnan, or perhaps when he was willing to risk her hatred by personally dealing with Mu Yang to spare her trouble. Or maybe… it was now when she was moved by his feelings yet unwilling to hinder his future and subject him to mockery.

Qin Feng nodded, “Good that you know your mistake, and knowing means you should correct it. Come with me.” Qin Feng took Yao Ji’s hand and walked toward the courtyard exit. Yao Ji naturally couldn’t match Qin Feng’s strength, though he wasn’t using much force.

“Where… where are we going?”

“The Prince’s mansion, to ask the Prince and Princess Consort to grant our marriage,” Qin Feng replied calmly.

In the Prince’s mansion:

Ye Li looked calmly at the two people before her and asked, “Have you both thought this through?”

“No…” Yao Ji said anxiously – she hadn’t expected Qin Feng to bring her before the Princess Consort. Before she could finish, Qin Feng interrupted, “In response to the Princess Consort, this servant has thought it through. I request the Princess Consort’s blessing.”

People have degrees of closeness, and Ye Li naturally valued Qin Feng’s wishes more than Yao Ji’s. She just smiled and said, “But I see Yao Ji hasn’t agreed. Qin Feng, do you know the punishment for forcing a free woman?”

“At worst, one hundred strokes and exile for three thousand li.”

Ye Li smiled pleasantly, nodding with satisfaction, “You’re my trusted aide, so we’ll waive the exile. However… the law applies equally to all, so that’s three hundred strokes. Do you accept?”

“I accept. Please, Princess Consort, grant this.”

Ye Li was immediately amused, smiling as she looked at Qin Feng, “You think if you endure three hundred strokes, I’ll give you Yao Ji’s hand?”

Beside her, Mo Xiuyao, who had been watching the show, suddenly spoke, “Ah Li, if Qin Feng can truly survive three hundred strokes, it shows he’s not meant to die – we could give him face. And Yao Ji, don’t worry, you’re a meritorious servant of our household, I won’t push you into disaster. After Qin Feng takes his three hundred strokes, I guarantee he won’t get up again in this lifetime. After that… won’t you be free to do as you please?”

Yao Ji couldn’t quite process what was happening – how had things suddenly developed to the point of beating Qin Feng? Seeing the Princess Consort about to call someone to take Qin Feng away for punishment, Yao Ji quickly called out, “No! Please don’t, Princess Consort, Qin Feng didn’t force me!”

Ye Li raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Then what were you about to say ‘no’ to earlier?”

Yao Ji was speechless, looking at the Prince’s eager expression, as if ready to have Qin Feng dragged away for a severe beating at any wrong word. Yao Ji carefully said, “I… I meant this matter needn’t trouble the Princess Consort.”

Ye Li smiled gently, “What trouble is this? You have no family, and Qin Feng is alone as well – naturally, the Prince’s household should arrange your marriage. Qin Feng, go tell Steward Mo later, hmm… arrange it according to the standards for a first-rank general.” As Qilin’s Commander, Qin Feng’s status was equivalent to an army general.

“Moreover, Yao Ji is our household’s meritorious servant and manager of southern intelligence and has worked hard these years. Prepare her dowry according to the rank of a county princess. Hold the wedding in the Prince’s mansion, this August – how’s that?”

“Thank you, Princess Consort. Everything as you decide,” Qin Feng agreed promptly.

After leaving the Prince’s mansion, Yao Ji still felt dazed, even forgetting to worry about gossip from walking with Qin Feng in broad daylight. Qin Feng looked at her with a smile, “Now that the wedding is set, be good and wait at home for your marriage.”

“You…” Yao Ji’s expression was complex. She was no longer young. A woman past thirty no longer dreamed of wearing red wedding clothes and marrying like ordinary women. But the man before her had given her everything she had dreamed of. In his eyes, she could see he truly didn’t care about possible gossip and mockery. If… if there was such a man willing to stand with her this way, why should she refuse the happiness within reach?

“You’re not still thinking of running away from the wedding, are you?” Qin Feng frowned.

“No, I’m not. I… I’ll wait for you,” Yao Ji said firmly, collecting herself.

Qin Feng’s expression softened as he smiled, “Good, let me take you home first.”

“Qin Feng, do you… know my real name?”

“Of course I do.” The tall man took the woman’s delicate hand, walking as he smiled gently, “Isn’t it Shen? Shen Yao.”

“Yes, I’m Shen Yao.”

She was Shen Yao, no longer Yao Ji.

Qin Feng’s Shen Yao.