In that eternal moment of eye contact, Jiang Zhiyi gazed at Shen Yuance as scenes from the past flashed through her mind.

The earliest was at the post station on the way to Hexi, when she had been jabbed by the ornament hanging from his waist belt. He had gotten off the bed, saying he would go to the bath chamber to remove his belt. The most recent were these past days when he embraced her to sleep—their upper bodies inseparable, while their lower bodies diverged in opposite directions, worlds apart…

Jiang Zhiyi stared intently at the changing expression in his eyes, her ears buzzing. In an instant, her face turned as red as a ripe apple.

The slightly warm May breeze blew in through the half-open lattice window, brushing her cheeks. Jiang Zhiyi’s wavering gaze hesitantly glanced down again at the area below Shen Yuance’s belt.

At this glance, one person’s eyes burned while the other was burned by those eyes. Both quickly turned around, their backs facing each other.

In the deathly silence, Jiang Zhiyi looked down at the mess on the floor. Without moving her lips, she made a series of soft, modulated sounds: “Mmmmmm?”

Xiaoman was momentarily confused, but vaguely understood the meaning behind those muffled sounds—Hurry up and clean this! She hastily knelt to pick up the book.

In her haste, she fumbled, and the half of the book that hadn’t been opened unfolded with a rustle.

Xiaoman was startled and desperately tried to fold the lengthy pages, but the more she rushed, the less successful she was.

Jiang Zhiyi stiffly turned her eyes to look. More poses of intertwined bodies leaped off the pages. Intimate scenes burst through the paper, rippling and floating in the early summer morning light.

Though these were images of other people’s passion, as she looked, Shen Yuance’s face appeared before her.

Raising her eyes again, she discovered that Shen Yuance had also half-turned his head, glancing sideways at those pictures just like her.

Their gazes collided in midair, and both felt scalded again, each turning away.

The flustered Xiaoman finally managed to close the book, exhaling in relief.

With her back to Shen Yuance, Jiang Zhiyi stammered: “I-I won’t be going to the military camp today. You—eat well, drink well, don’t overwork yourself.”

“You too,” Shen Yuance nodded, raising his boot to walk out.

This man, who could stride fearlessly through mountains of swords and seas of fire, stumbled over the threshold. He steadied himself by grabbing the doorframe, straightened his collar while staring straight ahead, then raised his foot again and strode out.

Jing Zhe and Gu Yu noticed that Jiang Zhiyi’s face remained red all morning. They asked several times if she was suffering from the summer heat or feeling unwell, but received no response. Unable to contain their curiosity, they asked Xiaoman what had happened that morning. Xiaoman stammered, her face as red as a boiled shrimp.

By lunchtime, the mistress and servant who had witnessed Princess Baojia’s grand gift had somewhat recovered their composure.

At the dining table, the three maids attended to Jiang Zhiyi together. It was a moment of many emotions—the last time the three had gathered like this was the night before Jiang Zhiyi’s encounter with mountain bandits last winter.

Jiang Zhiyi thought of this too and told them not to stand around serving her but to sit down and dine with her.

The three repeatedly declined, but finally couldn’t resist the princess’s command and sat down awkwardly.

After spending the entire morning in a daze, Jiang Zhiyi had finally regained her senses and continued to inquire about affairs at the Marquis’s residence.

Xiaoman answered each question, saying that ever since news of the disappearance of all the Zhong family’s male members had spread, the Madam seemed to have lost her spirit. Even after the Marquis had released her from the Buddha hall, she had little interest in managing affairs. Many of the household matters were still temporarily managed by Madam Xu.

The eldest young master’s legs had healed, but he had forgotten the pain once healed. He spent his days frequenting brothels. The Madam, seemingly having lost her soul, didn’t control him. The Marquis, rolling up his sleeves, cursed the eldest young master as a scourge and punished him every few days.

Fortunately, Madam Xu’s two sons born of concubinage were fairly promising. Both had participated in this year’s spring imperial examinations. However, she didn’t know if they had passed, as she had already departed for Hexi before the results were announced.

After Xiaoman had recounted everything in detail, Jiang Zhiyi asked, “Has Uncle been staying at home all this time? Hasn’t Imperial Uncle assigned him any new tasks?”

“Yes, Princess,” Xiaoman said, lowering her eyes. “His Majesty is considerate of the Marquis, who was building canals in the south before the New Year and couldn’t even return to the capital for the festival. He allowed him to rest well this year.”

“That’s good. Health is more important than promotion,” Jiang Zhiyi nodded and muttered, “But since Uncle has been free at home lately, when I encountered the assassination attempt, I specifically sent news of my safety to prevent him from being frightened by rumors. How is it that he hasn’t written back…”

“The Marquis hasn’t replied to you?” Xiaoman’s pupils contracted. Seeing Jiang Zhiyi looking at her, she avoided her gaze, lowering her head. “Th-then perhaps after I left, the Marquis received a new assignment…”

Seeing Xiaoman’s nervous expression, Jiang Zhiyi’s chopsticks paused mid-air. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu also looked over.

Among the three of them, Xiaoman was the most honest.

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Zhiyi was startled. “Has Uncle been assigned some troublesome task?”

“…Your servant left the capital in mid-March and doesn’t know about later events.”

“Then why are you stammering? If you don’t know, I won’t blame you.” Jiang Zhiyi frowned.

Jing Zhe’s face also grew stern: “Xiaoman, do not conceal anything from the Princess. Don’t forget, the Princess is your mistress.”

“Your servant wouldn’t dare!” Xiaoman immediately stood up and knelt.

Looking at the trembling person at her feet, Jiang Zhiyi suddenly recalled that this morning, when she had asked Xiaoman about her uncle’s health, Xiaoman had said “everything is fine” and then quickly changed the subject, telling her about the package sent by Princess Baojia. She also remembered how anxious her uncle was to marry her off—

Jiang Zhiyi’s heart quivered. She slowly put down her chopsticks: “With all your hesitation… has something happened to Uncle’s health…?”

“Your servant doesn’t know…”

“Then what do you know?” Jiang Zhiyi stood up anxiously. “Get up and speak.”

Xiaoman stood up, keeping her head lowered: “Princess, I only learned after you left the capital that the Marquis didn’t rush back for the New Year because the work wasn’t completed, but because he was accidentally injured in the back and waist by a huge stone during canal construction before the New Year. On his way back to the capital, his injury worsened, which delayed his journey…”

Jiang Zhiyi listened in a daze, processing Xiaoman’s words twice in her mind. Her face paled, and she swayed. Jing Zhe and Gu Yu quickly supported her from both sides.

Jing Zhe continued questioning on Jiang Zhiyi’s behalf: “How was the Marquis’s condition before you left the capital? Tell us everything you know.”

“I heard that in the first month, General Shen sent Doctor Li to examine the Marquis. Before leaving, he left some medicinal oil. The Marquis occasionally experienced discomfort in his tendons and bones, but applying the oil would ease it. However, Doctor Li said that the Marquis’s injury had affected his internal organs, and he needed to stay warm… Later, in the second month, when it was warm one day and cold the next, the Marquis went out one night to bring the eldest young master home and caught a cold. He had a high fever for quite a while. After that, the Marquis continued to cough, and occasionally ran a fever…”

Jiang Zhiyi held onto the edge of the table, breathing rapidly: “Such a significant matter, everyone knew but no one told me?”

“The Marquis instructed that no one should tell you… Princess, don’t worry. Perhaps the Marquis is just too busy to reply to your letter. Before your servant departed, the Marquis’s fever had subsided…”

Just as she finished speaking, a voice called “Young General” in the courtyard. Jiang Zhiyi turned to see Shen Yuance, who should have been at the military camp, approaching with a solemn expression and hurried steps.

With a sudden sense of foreboding, Jiang Zhiyi released Jing Zhe and Gu Yu’s support and went to meet him: “Has something happened?”

A quarter of an hour later, in a room with just the two of them, Jiang Zhiyi stared blankly at a table of cold food.

Shen Yuance had told her that his trusted subordinate, whom he had sent to Chang’an to investigate the matter of the storybook, had returned news today. The investigation had made no progress—they had not identified the Jianghu Daoist, and there were no new clues from the bookshops or clothing stores. Daoist Zhang from Taiqing Temple had left the capital to travel shortly after spring began. Finding the person now would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Thus, they had come to ask whether to deploy manpower for a search.

Additionally, the letter mentioned that physicians had been frequently visiting the Marquis of Yong’en’s residence lately. The Marquis had been repeatedly running fevers and had been bedridden for a long time.

“I’ve already spoken with Li Dafeng about this matter. He had previously examined the Marquis and, based on the Marquis’s current symptoms, diagnosed several possible conditions. He gave prescriptions for each. Shortly, an urgent letter will be sent back to the capital, asking his old acquaintance, an imperial physician, to determine which prescription to use based on the pulse and to adjust the dosage. This should stabilize the Marquis’s condition.” Shen Yuance said, sitting at the dining table.

Jiang Zhiyi nodded blankly, but her eyes showed no happiness.

Recalling the dangerous words—boulder, injury, internal organs, high fever… When she had been living happily and obliviously in the capital, her uncle had nearly crossed the threshold of death.

And now she was a thousand li away, unable even to see her uncle.

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes gradually filled with tears. She blinked lightly, and tears fell: “Why is Uncle also like this…”

“Hiding things from me, telling me nothing, afraid I’d worry, afraid I’d be concerned. But didn’t he consider how painful it would be for me to learn about it afterward?”

Shen Yuance’s throat tightened. He opened his mouth wanting to say something, but couldn’t, because he too was among those Jiang Zhiyi was referring to.

“If I continued to be kept in the dark like this, would I suddenly be struck by terrible news one day? Would I learn from someone else’s mouth that the last time I saw him was truly the last, that I left the capital when he was still not recovered from a serious injury…” Jiang Zhiyi spoke incoherently.

Shen Yuance reached out to wipe her tears, and saw her raise her listless eyes: “You should return to the military camp. Tell them not to come in either. I want to be alone for a while.”

Jiang Zhiyi stayed alone all afternoon. The three maids waited outside, ready to serve. Even by dusk, they hadn’t heard the princess call for them.

As the sky darkened and lamps were lit in the courtyard, with still no sound from inside the room, Jing Zhe paced back and forth with worry. Just as she was about to knock, the screen door suddenly opened, and Jiang Zhiyi emerged.

Her eye sockets were slightly red from crying, but the tears on her face had dried. It seemed her mood had somewhat improved.

“Has Shen Yuance returned to the residence?” Jiang Zhiyi’s first question was about him.

“You were crying so sadly. General Shen didn’t go to the military camp at all. He’s still in the residence. Shall I ask him to come?”

“I’ll go to him.” Jiang Zhiyi took a deep breath, seemingly having made a decision. She walked alone to the main courtyard and knocked on the door of Shen Yuance’s study.

Shen Yuance opened the door and immediately noticed Jiang Zhiyi’s determined expression. His eyes moved slightly.

Jiang Zhiyi entered the study. After he closed the door, she looked up at him: “With Uncle in such a condition, I cannot but return to Chang’an.”

“I know.”

When he had received the news, he had already anticipated this. Telling her this news was choosing to hear her decision.

“This afternoon, I’ve already had people prepare for the journey,” Shen Yuance raised his hand and brushed her reddened eyes. “But I cannot leave Hexi at the moment, so I can’t accompany you back.”

Jiang Zhiyi nodded: “I understand that too, which is why before leaving, I want to tell you what I’ve been thinking these days.”

Shen Yuance, not surprised, lowered his eyes to look at her earnest eyes: “Have you decided what you want?”

He had indeed heard her conversation with Pei Xueqing in the tent that day.

Jiang Zhiyi nodded solemnly.

Shen Yuance, like a man awaiting judgment, dropped his hands and stood quietly.

“I’ve decided that there probably isn’t a second person in this world who would forgo a good night’s sleep for me, or carry me for hours on mountain paths in the rain. Nor would there be a second person who would make me both laugh and cry, feel both secure and insecure… So even if he is a dangerous man,” Jiang Zhiyi shook her head, “I can’t bear to let him go.”

Shen Yuance’s eyes flashed, fixed on her eyes that were glistening with moisture, as brilliant as stars.

“But for me to marry him, there is one condition.”

“What condition?”

“My journey back to Chang’an isn’t just for Uncle. I was thinking that to solve a problem, one must go to its source. Perhaps only I can uncover the truth about the storybook. Also, you want to deal with the Military Governor of Hedong and the Second Prince. While my title as princess still carries some weight, I also want to do something…” Jiang Zhiyi pursed her lips, her expression resolute.

“I don’t want to be kept in the dark anymore, knowing nothing, like when I was a child, like today, only able to anxiously wait behind high walls for sudden news of my loved ones’ fortune or misfortune. So the man I marry, to whom I entrust my life, must also entrust his life to me. From now on, his affairs are my affairs. We will face storms together, share life and death. If you are willing to let me face these things with you, then this time, I will truly accept your proposal.”

Shen Yuance stood dazed on the spot, not coming to his senses for a long time.

When he had thought she would argue with him, she had embraced him and kissed his scars.

When he had thought it would be understandable for her to retreat in the face of his uncertain future, she had said she wanted to brave storms and share life and death with him.

Shen Yuance silently gazed at the person before him for a long time, then suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Jiang Zhiyi, held so tightly by his arms that it hurt, let out a light hiss and raised her head: “What does it mean to act without speaking? Does this mean you’re willing, or unwilling?”

Shen Yuance lowered his eyes, looking steadily at her: “Jiang Zhiyi, my life was originally not worth much, but if your life is tied to it, I’ll become someone who fears death and cherishes life. Would that reassure you?”