She was about to resist when she suddenly felt the burning heat from his palm. Reaching out to touch him, indeed, his body was alternating between hot and cold again. She instinctively tried to probe his inner energy, but he blocked her.

The backlash of inner energy caused by deviating into madness was no trivial matter—it could lead to various symptoms. She felt anxious and climbed up to check his condition. He looked feverish, with an unnatural flush on his face, his lips slightly chapped, appearing parched and irritable.

She heavily slapped the bedside, startling those people, who rushed over to look and all laughed: “Look at this weak body, actually seems to have a fever.”

Jing Hengbo slapped the bedside to signal for water. Seeing Gong Yin ill, those people felt relieved instead. Seeing Jing Hengbo’s fierce expression, fearing she might cause trouble if displeased, they immediately arranged for someone to fetch medicine and water. Jing Hengbo snatched the water basin, wrung out a wet cloth, and personally wiped his sweat to cool his fever, though she dared not give him medicine casually.

After wiping just a few times, his body turned cold again. She couldn’t tell if the cold meant he was returning to normal or having chills, but that deathly lifeless feeling frightened her. She immediately threw away the water basin and towel, pulled over the quilt, covered them both completely, and embraced him under the blanket.

Everyone in the room watched with amusement, exchanging glances, all thinking this “imperial uncle” seemed temperamental and arrogant, but toward his friend called “Chrysanthemum,” he was truly deeply devoted.

Watching Jing Hengbo actually pull the quilt over them in public, everyone couldn’t help laughing, interestedly watching the quilt—it bulged high in a large lump and kept rolling around. Surely they weren’t… in public…?

Jing Hengbo couldn’t care less what others thought. Hiding under the blanket, she embraced Gong Yin, first vigorously rubbing his palms, feeling his circulation was poor, then tried to probe the inner energy in his lower abdomen. Gong Yin’s consciousness wasn’t very clear, but he still knew to push away her hand, protecting that area. Jing Hengbo snickered at this guy acting like he was protecting a pregnant belly, then turned to his chest, wanting to understand what that extreme coldness at his heart was about, whether it was the source of his deviation. Gong Yin’s hand blocked her again. She became angry, pushed away his hands, pressed them to the sides, and pressed her own hands down, putting her face against it. Immediately she felt half her face go numb from the cold.

He struggled slightly. She felt her actions were like a rogue about to assault a weak woman, though heaven knows who was really dominant—even injured and ill, he still managed to push her away.

She resentfully thought that nowadays, everything was backwards! What kind of situation was this! But she didn’t dare climb around randomly again, afraid that even in his illness he’d be concerned about resisting her, wasting energy and becoming even weaker. She could only obediently lie beside him, using her bottom to pin down his wrist while reaching her hand behind her back in this bizarre position, trying to regulate his breathing.

The moment she touched his inner energy, she felt the bone-chilling cold. Even covered by the quilt, it was still as cold as running naked in winter. That inner energy was too fierce—her barely gathered bit of inner energy was immediately scattered. Her teeth chattered as she refused to let go, feeling even her bottom was frozen, when he suddenly turned over and embraced her.

With this embrace, her hand was moved away. She wanted to try again, but he whispered lowly in her ear: “Just hold me… that’s enough…”

She sighed inwardly, resentfully thinking that while her supernatural abilities were impressive, she had started practicing internal skills too late. Fatigue overtook her now, and she couldn’t help closing her eyes to sleep. Even asleep she was restless, constantly having nightmares. Sometimes she dreamed of being strangled by ropes—that was Gong Yin holding her too tightly; sometimes she dreamed of being roasted by fire—that was Gong Yin’s fever rising again; sometimes she dreamed Gong Yin had died, lying cold beside her, gradually freezing into an icy corpse. She’d wake in fright and immediately reach to feel his lips—when he had episodes, only his lips remained slightly warm.

She slept uneasily that night, and the group searching for her was also uneasy. No one believed she would die, but the ruins couldn’t be cleared quickly, so they expanded the search range, even looking outside the palace.

Jing Hengbo wanted to notify them but currently lacked the ability, and didn’t dare leave Gong Yin’s side even for a moment. Previously she’d had thoughts of parting ways with him, wanting to be alone and quiet for a while, but now she couldn’t think of such things anymore.

Near dawn, she was awakened by crying sounds—reportedly, a favored consort in this palace had died suddenly.

Sudden death in the palace was a deadly serious matter. All the servants would immediately be moved to side palaces or simply sent out of the palace entirely. Jing Hengbo glanced at the Yi Kingdom spies who were laughing happily, thinking her suspicions had indeed been confirmed, though it was a pity about such a beautiful woman.

The palace servants were all to be moved out, already lined up in the courtyard. After being inspected by the Shen Tie royal army, they sat in large carts to be expelled from the palace together.

The Yi Kingdom people supervised them getting up. Gong Yin showed his exhaustion completely in front of her, but with outsiders present, he still stood straight, that aloof and distant temperament making even the kidnappers unconsciously reluctant to approach.

Jing Hengbo hesitated. She wanted to take Gong Yin back to her place—at least there he could receive good care. But Gong Yin grasped her hand and whispered in her ear: “I don’t want to show myself. I plan to follow the Yi Kingdom people for a while first. If you don’t want to go, just notify your most trusted person.”

Jing Hengbo snorted coldly: “Who says I don’t want to go? I’ll leave in a heartbeat.” But her feet didn’t move.

Gong Yin merely curved his lips slightly, raising his hand to smooth the loose hair at her forehead.

Because there were many people forming a long queue, the several Yi Kingdom people sandwiched Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin in the middle, appearing to support them while knives in their sleeves pressed tightly against them. Seeing how the two seemed completely oblivious to the knives, maintaining their composure with natural bearing, they all thought: whoever this really was, the more they looked, the more he seemed like an imperial uncle.

These Yi Kingdom people originally felt the mission was difficult and didn’t want to risk going to the State Preceptor to find people. Encountering Jing Hengbo wearing an intricate mask that only an imperial uncle could make, they thought to capture her first to handle their assignment. Now they wondered—could they really be this lucky to encounter them?

While the palace servants were leaving the palace, Jing Hengbo’s subordinates were still anxiously searching. Jing Hengbo saw Ying Bai directing soldiers to clear the ruins, Seven Kills digging through the ash piles, and even Zirui had rolled up her skirt hem, bare-handed clearing away broken wood and debris, her delicate fingers stained black with ash.

She felt guilty, thinking how worried she must have made them through the night—she’d need to find a way to secretly signal that she was safe.

Gong Yin suddenly said softly: “Do you know when you can see people’s true nature most clearly?”

Jing Hengbo’s heart stirred.

Death.

Only death could make people drop their pretenses.

She smiled with satisfaction, because from what she could see, her subordinates and friends were all very loyal.

Most of the group anxiously searching hadn’t noticed this group of palace servants leaving, because in their thinking, Jing Hengbo couldn’t possibly leave rashly at this time.

Tian Qi suddenly rushed in from outside the palace, covered in sweat, calling out from afar: “Found anything?”

A dejected answer came from inside: “Not yet—”

Tian Qi rushed out again, moving so fast he nearly knocked over Gong Yin. Gong Yin stepped aside, and Tian Qi didn’t look at him, casually reaching out to steady him, hurriedly saying sorry, then turned and swept out again.

“Is he anxious for me, or for you?” Jing Hengbo said coolly.

She glanced sideways at Gong Yin, who showed not the slightest discomfort, making Jing Hengbo’s teeth itch with frustration.

At the ruins of the great hall, Ying Bai suddenly straightened up and glanced at this queue.

He had caught that scene from the corner of his eye and felt something was wrong.

Then he met Gong Yin’s gaze.

Gong Yin’s gaze swept past lightly, as if nothing had happened, but Ying Bai stood on the ruins, frowning.

Tian Qi ran out and searched for a long while, always feeling something was off. After thinking for a long time, he suddenly raised his arm and sniffed his sleeve.

His sleeve carried a clear, light fragrance that reminded one of flowers blooming over snow and ice.

This scent—he hadn’t encountered it many times, but it was unforgettably memorable.

Tian Qi stood stunned for a while, suddenly remembering the person he’d bumped into at the plaza.

He frantically ran back, but by then, Jing Hengbo and Gong Yin had already left the city…

At this time, the queue of palace servants had already passed the plaza in front of the great hall, leaving his line of sight.

At the front, the palace gates stood open with large formations of Shen Tie troops standing guard. Before the palace gates, Tie Xingze sat on horseback, organizing the formations.

Opposite, Yelu Qi led the Jade Illumination Dragon Cavalry over. The Yan Kill Army had gone to pursue Cheng Gumo, so he had come to the royal palace earlier, searching the ruins for a long time. He believed more firmly than others that those two wouldn’t meet with disaster, and demanded soldiers quickly clear the ruins to see if there were any tunnels underneath. But clearing the ruins would take time, so he brought soldiers to search around the palace city.

Unlike Tian Qi’s frantic city-wide searching, he only patrolled around the palace city, believing that Jing Hengbo hadn’t eaten properly for three days and nights, had endured enormous pressure, and her physical strength was already depleted—even teleportation couldn’t take her far. Finding nothing now, he returned to the palace.

He had been traveling for days, also showing signs of travel fatigue, his brows weary. Jing Hengbo saw him leading the Jade Illumination Dragon Cavalry and, surprised, understood what had happened, couldn’t help but look at him gratefully.

Who knew that with just this one glance, Yelu Qi, still several zhang away on horseback in the crowd, seemed to sense it and quickly turned his gaze over.

Jing Hengbo hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive and was somewhat stunned. Beside her, a certain big vinegar jar suddenly hummed softly, deliberately moving slightly to block her.

Jing Hengbo didn’t dare raise her head, hearing Gong Yin whisper softly in her ear: “If you can’t control your joy, you might as well go with him.”

Jing Hengbo blinked, thinking how sour he was!

To deliberately provoke him, she also whispered: “Seeing him like this does make me happy.”

After speaking, she watched his reaction. Gong Yin didn’t meet her gaze, turned his face away, and suddenly coughed, his voice muffled and hollow. She immediately felt regret—he was seriously injured and ill, still having to work hard to conceal his identity, why provoke him further?

She quickly explained: “I’m happy that he’s helping you despite past grievances…”

Before she could finish, she saw him turn his face back, no trace of gloom between his brows, saying calmly: “Mm. I know you’ve always favored me.”

Jing Hengbo was exasperated—who was it that once thought he was like a proud flower of the high peaks, snow among mortals? Clearly he was a narcissistic, scheming emperor who could use pathetic tactics!

In anger, she turned her head away, chin pointed at him, forgetting this gesture was very characteristic of her. Yelu Qi’s head had already turned away, but suddenly turned back, his gaze burning as he stared this way for a long while, then urged his horse toward them.

Jing Hengbo silently cried out in alarm, urgently thinking how to remedy the situation. Though she didn’t quite understand why Gong Yin wanted to hide like this, she absolutely didn’t want to ruin his plans.

Seeing Yelu Qi getting closer and closer, just as she was getting anxious, suddenly a cry erupted from behind.

She was startled, turning to look, and Yelu Qi’s attention was also attracted, reining his horse to look.

Behind them at the palace gates, another group emerged—this group wore brocade clothes with cloud-like hair ornaments and flower-like faces, each accompanied by eunuchs and palace maids, but all looked sorrowful, covering their faces wordlessly. One among them was pale-faced, crying as she rushed toward Tie Xingze on horseback before the palace gates.

Tie Xingze sat on his horse, motionless, gazing distantly at the approaching woman.

His gaze was indifferent and cold, no longer showing his usual warmth and kindness.

Shen Tie soldiers quickly blocked her, cold knives and spears forming a barrier that stopped the white-clothed woman, then with a push, the woman was sent tumbling to the ground.

She didn’t get up, lying on the ground sobbing pitifully.

“Xingze… Xingze…” Her voice was mournful. “…You… you’ve misunderstood me… That day… that day I was forced… The king said if I didn’t come see you… didn’t say those words… he would kill you… I… I…” She suddenly raised her tear-stained face, urgently saying, “When I married him, it was also because he said if I didn’t marry him, he’d send assassins to kill you! Xingze! I couldn’t let you die! Couldn’t let you die!”

The plaza before the palace gates fell completely silent, only the woman’s mournful weeping echoing in the wind.

Tie Xingze didn’t move, his riding whip slowly winding around his palm, once, then again.

The Shen Tie Imperial Guards all lowered their heads silently. Most locals knew that the heir had once had a romance with Miss Guan, daughter of the former minister, but the heir had a betrothed fiancée and had to go to Di Ge as a hostage. Miss Guan had waited for him many years, but when the old king died suddenly, Miss Guan suddenly became the new king’s concubine. Then circumstances changed dramatically, and now the heir was back in power. Miss Guan was now to join the other widowed former royal concubines in being relocated to a nunnery outside the palace.

Many showed signs of sighing. Some lamented how unpredictable worldly affairs were—until the very end, no one could see the outcome; some pitied Guan Xiulong’s bad luck—after waiting so many years, she took one wrong step at the end and lost her chance at becoming queen. Others mocked women for being fickle and impatient—if you knew this day would come, why did you do it in the first place?

Jing Hengbo had heard reports of this matter before and knew the whole story. Toward Guan Xiulong, she didn’t have too many thoughts. She knew that in this world women were disadvantaged—whether Guan Xiulong should wait or marry sometimes wasn’t entirely up to her. People always blamed women, never thinking about who was there to help during the most difficult times.

However, she was very curious about how Tie Xingze would react.

Tie Xingze seemed to have no reaction. He slightly raised his head, squinting, as if through the current cloudy sky, he could see past beauty, or through the current cloudy sky, see future coldness.

After a long while, he waved his hand, and someone came forward to help Guan Xiulong up.

Guan Xiulong looked up with surprise, then Tie Xingze’s next words dimmed her eyes.

“No need to send Madam Guan to the nunnery,” Tie Xingze said lightly. “Send Madam Guan home instead. Have her family treat her well. Whether she wishes to practice at home or remarry, it’s all up to Madam Guan—no need to force her.”

Everyone praised the king’s benevolence, but Guan Xiulong’s face turned deathly pale. Just the title “Madam” told her that Tie Xingze hadn’t forgiven her. Not going to the nunnery meant returning home, but without Tie Xingze’s forgiveness, how could this orphan girl live peacefully in her uncle and aunt’s house?

The winter ground was ice-cold, that coldness piercing through her knees like arrows, seeming to freeze into her heart.

Originally… she truly hadn’t wanted to let Tie Xingze down.

But her uncle and aunt threatened her, the king threatened her, and Xingze… since leaving Shen Tie to become a hostage in Di Ge, Xingze’s treatment of her was no longer like before. As correspondence gradually became sparse, her resolve grew weaker and her inner hope dimmer. Those old vows of eternal love were gradually pierced full of holes by wind and frost. She didn’t know his return date, didn’t know his intentions, didn’t even know how he planned to handle his fiancée… How much youth does a woman have to endure such hopeless daily consumption?

She had yielded, thinking in her heart this might also be freeing him. His fiancée was of higher status than her and more suitable for him.

When the king demanded she come provoke Tie Xingze, she dared not refuse—after marrying, one’s husband was heaven. Not angering the king was also a form of protection for him. She thought her feelings remained, just expressed in a different way.

But he wouldn’t accept it, wouldn’t accept it.

But worldly affairs changed so quickly, so quickly.

She knelt on the ground, feeling completely stiff and cold, all her grievances and regrets spreading endlessly like morning frost.

“Your Majesty!” Still unwilling to give up, she crawled forward on her knees, trying to get past the soldiers’ blockade to embrace his hanging robe hem. “Look at me, look at me, I’m Xiulong, I’m the Xiulong who waited five years for you! How can you bear to treat me like this…”

“Guan Xiulong!” Suddenly a female voice cut off her tearful plea.

Guan Xiulong’s crying stopped abruptly. She looked up in confusion, and Tie Xingze’s gaze flashed as he slowly turned his head.

A sedan chair was carried to the front of the plaza and stopped. The curtain lifted, and a young woman emerged. Without looking at Tie Xingze, she stepped forward, pushed aside the soldiers’ weapons, and helped Guan Xiulong up.

“Guan Xiulong.” She said clearly, “You made one wrong step—don’t make a second. Men’s hearts can be hard as iron when they harden. Why torture yourself here begging pitifully, throwing away even your last bit of dignity?”

Guan Xiulong’s face grew even paler, stammering: “Miss Xuanting…” then lowered her head.

She felt too ashamed to face Yao Xuanting.

When she was forced to marry the king, Yao Xuanting had faced the same threats. But unlike her reluctant entry into the sedan chair, Yao Xuanting returned the betrothal gifts, sternly refused the palace eunuch’s proposal, showed no fear of the notoriously brutal king, and in front of the king, arranged her hair in a married woman’s style to show she would marry no one but Tie Xingze. After refusing the proposal, she immediately moved all her family members out of Shen Tie royal city overnight, hiding them. She then organized all her family guards and actively worked to rescue Tie Xingze.

So she too was covered in dust with disheveled hair, but when the richly dressed Guan Xiulong saw her, she felt so ashamed she wanted to burrow into the ground.

Originally, the king had first threatened Yao Xuanting, and when that failed, turned to her. Yao Xuanting came from a prominent family, was descended from meritorious officials, was related to the royal family, and was famous for her talent, beauty, and character—the king ultimately hadn’t dared go too far.

Yao Xuanting’s fierce nature highlighted her own selfishness. Guan Xiulong felt dead inside, unable to help covering her face and weeping.

Jing Hengbo had been watching coldly, but now found it interesting—Tie Xingze’s romantic debts looked quite troublesome.

“Look,” she said to Gong Yin, “I told you not to incur too many romantic debts. See how tangled this is.”

“Mm.” He said lightly and coolly, “It’s good that you understand.”

Jing Hengbo was annoyed again and immediately retorted: “At least all my romantic debts are normal, better than some people who appeal to both men and women.”

“A thousand delicacies,” he said leisurely, “this humble person only takes one bite.”

Having said this, he seemed to glance at her meaningfully.

That glance was directed at a location… better left unsaid.

Jing Hengbo flushed instantly—ah ah ah shameless! So shameless! Getting more and more shameless!

Ah ah ah saying such highly suggestive things while maintaining that aloof, snow-pure demeanor and tone—it was very disconcerting and contradictory!

Where was the Gong Yin who used to jump away at a touch and blush at the slightest contact?

How did he manage to perfectly combine the completely different qualities of abstinence and seduction? Hm?

At this moment, if it were Jun Ke, she’d probably blush and pretend not to hear; if it were Wen Zhen, she’d eventually poison the cake—eat it, let you eat; if it were Taishi Lan, she’d definitely be considering whether to just eat him first.

Jing Hengbo seemed roguish but wasn’t ruthless enough, and certainly wasn’t willing to take a loss.

She simply met Gong Yin’s gaze directly, puffed out her chest, propped up her chin and raised her pinky finger, saying mellowly: “I’m not afraid people won’t eat, just afraid they’ll want to eat but can’t, heh heh heh.”

Gong Yin seemed to choke…

The Yi Kingdom people couldn’t hear what they were saying, only seeing them constantly whispering and bickering, all thinking these truly were a pair of lovers, and a pair of devoted lovers at that…

Over there, Yao Xuanting pulled Guan Xiulong up and turned to face Tie Xingze. Tie Xingze had already heard from his subordinates about Yao Xuanting’s deeds, and now finally dismounted, stepping forward with a bow, saying warmly: “Miss Yao.”

Hearing this address, Yao Xuanting’s heart also sank heavily, but unlike Guan Xiulong, she neither mentioned her hardships nor brought up the past. She brushed her temples and smiled: “Your Highness, Xuanting has a request.” Without waiting for his response, she pointed to Guan Xiulong: “If Miss Guan is returned to her original home, living under others’ roofs, her days won’t be easy. Please allow her to continue residing in the palace.”

Tie Xingze glanced at Guan Xiulong, who looked ashamed and pleading, then turned back to Yao Xuanting: “Miss Yao truly has a benevolent heart. I haven’t heard of any past friendship between Miss Yao and Madam Guan before, yet now you would plead for her.”

“Because I know that she hasn’t had it easy these past few years either.” Yao Xuanting’s tone was faintly melancholy. “Previously, I greatly admired her.”

Tie Xingze acted as if he hadn’t heard the meaning in her words, suddenly smiling: “I haven’t yet thanked Miss Yao for working to help rescue me.”

“That was proper.” Yao Xuanting seemed reluctant to dwell on it, only saying: “We women can do so little after all.”

She suddenly smiled: “Not everyone is the Black Water Queen, able to contend with men.”

To the side, Jing Hengbo stroked her chin, smiling as she thought this Yao Xuanting was quite talented. Not inferior to Xia Zirui.

Of course, she wouldn’t admit it was because the woman praised her that she thought well of her.

Tie Xingze lowered his head in thought, then told his guards: “Send Madam Guan back to the palace.”

Guan Xiulong’s face lit up with wild joy, while the other concubines around looked envious and sorrowful. Jing Hengbo frowned, feeling Tie Xingze’s action was somewhat indecisive. There were many ways to care for her if he wanted to. Keeping her in the palace was inappropriate. Guan Xiulong’s feelings for him remained unchanged, and she had a delicate, clinging nature—there would likely be more trouble.

Due to certain reasons, she had no good feelings toward any white lotus-type women. Thinking about it, Tie Xingze’s decision wasn’t surprising—after so many years of affection, and he had always been gentle by nature.

The palace maids were about to escort Guan Xiulong back to the palace when Tie Xingze suddenly said: “Wait.”

Guan Xiulong stopped in bewilderment, her heart in her throat waiting for his instructions. But Tie Xingze didn’t look at her, only saying to Yao Xuanting: “I granted Miss Yao one request, and now I have a request myself. I’d like to ask Miss Yao’s opinion.”

Yao Xuanting stared at him, her face gradually paling, but she straightened her chest, bit her lip, and said word by word: “Please speak.”

Tie Xingze smiled, saying nothing more, and whispered some instructions to someone beside him. That person hurriedly left to carry out the order.

At this moment, the inspection queue had all stopped in the plaza because they were waiting for Tie Xingze’s final approval to leave. The attention of Yelu Qi and others was also drawn to the plaza events, no longer coming over.

On the plaza, one man and two women faced each other in this public love triangle that was quite captivating. Jing Hengbo watched with burning interest, thinking she had once promised to help him resolve this matter, but now it seemed he would resolve it himself.

She just didn’t know what his plan was. Jing Hengbo naturally knew Zirui had some feelings for Tie Xingze, but she always felt Tie Xingze’s romantic relationships were too complicated. Even now, she still wasn’t very optimistic.

White lotus flowers and green tea bitches had too much destructive power—her Zirui wouldn’t be a match.

Speaking of Zirui, there was Zirui. Jing Hengbo caught sight of Zirui following that attendant, hurriedly emerging from the palace with confusion still on her face.

Seeing Tie Xingze, a gentle light flashed in her eyes, bright as stars.

Seeing that brilliance, Jing Hengbo immediately sighed.

It was over.

This woman had truly fallen for him.

She had clearly thought Zirui only had favorable feelings before—when had it become so obvious? Matters of the heart sometimes came so quickly.

She couldn’t help glancing at Gong Yin, thinking matters of the heart didn’t just come quickly and inexplicably, but also left people unable to cope.

Gong Yin seemed to sense her gaze. Without turning back, he squeezed her hand.

She really wanted to shake it off, yet felt reluctant. Feeling reluctant made her somewhat unwilling, so she pinched and pinched with her fingers in his palm. Pinching lightly didn’t relieve her anger; pinching hard felt inappropriate, so she used her fingertips to stroke and stroke.

She made these small movements finely and fragmentedly while he looked back at her once, his eyes holding faint amusement.

Over there, Zirui saw Tie Xingze and approached, but seeing those two women, she stopped.

The slight tension on her face quickly disappeared as she stood dignifiedly in place, bowing to Tie Xingze.

Jing Hengbo smiled. She felt Zirui’s grace and bearing were truly the finest—a glory to her face as queen. Of course, Zirui also had this awareness, so she always paid attention to her performance, wanting to uphold such glory for the queen.

Seeing her arrive, Tie Xingze actually dismounted and personally approached, smiling: “Zirui, I’d like to introduce two people to you.”

Xia Zirui’s face reddened, somewhat embarrassed and uneasy, not understanding his meaning. But those two women’s faces completely changed.

Such distant addresses for them, then summoning this female official in front of them and addressing her so intimately. Women were all sensitive—they immediately understood what was happening.

Guan Xiulong’s face showed despair hidden beneath ash-gray resignation and unwillingness. Yao Xuanting gazed at Xia Zirui and smiled faintly.

“Lady Xia, is it?” She took the initiative to greet her, her smile no less dignified and noble than Xia Zirui’s. “I’ve heard of you. You’re a female official beside the Black Water Queen, the first and most trusted person to accompany her from Di Ge to Dai Mao. Now meeting you, your reputation is well deserved.”

Xia Zirui didn’t know who she was, only humbly returning the courtesy with modest words. Yao Xuanting continued: “Since Lady Xia has come, I happen to have a matter here—perhaps Lady Xia could serve as witness.”

Now not only Xia Zirui was confused, even Tie Xingze was stunned.

He had asked Xia Zirui to come naturally to introduce her in front of those two entangled women, request the dissolution of his betrothal, and express his intentions to Xia Zirui. But it seemed Yao Xuanting didn’t intend to follow his script.

Yao Xuanting straightened her back, not looking at him, and slowly paced two steps in the plaza, facing the rising morning sun.

At this moment, only Jing Hengbo clearly saw her expression.

A moment of confusion, a moment of heartbreak, a moment of despair, a moment of mourning the past.

The past was over ten years of secret love and waiting—like the morning clouds, it had once illuminated her youthful years, but would ultimately fade away as that new sun rose.

But even if destined to scatter and fade, she must stage her own perfect farewell.

Facing the sunlight, she began to undo the hair arrangement on her head.

Only then did everyone notice she wore a married woman’s hairstyle. Except for Xia Zirui who didn’t know her identity, everyone else roughly guessed what she was about to do. Their expressions showed surprise and admiration, various complex emotions.

Jing Hengbo sighed softly.

Though Zirui was her female official, she still felt that Yao Xuanting was truly excellent.

Love was never determined by who was better, was it?

Yao Xuanting, under everyone’s gaze, facing the sunlight, undid her married woman’s hairstyle, her raven-black long hair cascading down, lustrous as a mirror.

Then, with her hair loose, she turned toward Tie Xingze and said clearly: “Your Highness, Xuanting has been betrothed to you since childhood. However, marriage requires mutual consent. Now Xuanting has no thought of family matters and only wishes to serve her parents and retreat to the mountains. Please allow Xuanting and you to dissolve our betrothal.”