He pondered there gloomily while Tie Ci busied herself bringing him water, finding medicine, looking for clean cloth. Watching her bustling figure, Feiyu’s lips slowly curved upward.

Touching his wound with satisfaction, he thought this stab wound wasn’t a loss. Otherwise, given the earlier situation, this person would have put on her gracious face for several more days.

He didn’t like Ye Ci’s usual magnanimous and composed manner—friendly with everyone but actually maintaining distance from all. If she treated him that way, his heart would feel empty and lost.

After Tie Ci finished bustling around, she finally sat down, tore open his pants leg to examine the wound carefully, and frowned.

She glanced at Feiyu, who was lost in thought with a smile that looked increasingly irritating.

Irritating or not, looking at that deep wound, she sighed inwardly and still took out wound medicine to apply to it, then gave it a hard pat.

Feiyu was caught off guard and yelped.

Tie Ci said expressionlessly, “Does it hurt? How come you didn’t feel pain when you stabbed yourself?”

Feiyu’s expression didn’t change. “What?”

Tie Ci sneered.

Pretend, go ahead and pretend.

I personally sharpened each of those fan bones—how could I not know what kind of wound they would make?

“I’m giving you face by not exposing you publicly.” Tie Ci smiled. “Now, get out. I want to sleep.”

“I won’t.” Feiyu grabbed her hand. “Just now, when I wasn’t here, what did that scoundrel Rong Pu instigate again?”

“Nothing.” Tie Ci said flatly. “You should know that if one is truly beyond reproach, then no amount of instigation works.”

“But that first requires mutual trust.” Feiyu said. “Do you trust me?”

Tie Ci was silent for a while.

Then she said, “I trust you. I trust you more than anyone. I believe that no matter when or where, you would never harm me. Just as I would never harm you.”

Feiyu had just begun to smile when he heard her continue, “But you don’t seem to trust me that much. When I was in the cave with Rong Pu, with so many people outside, what were you thinking that required self-harm? Your extreme and vicious behavior will eventually make me discount my trust in you.”

Feiyu raised an eyebrow. “Why would I harm myself? Because just now, when you looked at me in that cave, I suddenly felt that if I didn’t find a way to get close to you now and speak openly, perhaps you would grow more and more distant from me.” He gripped her hand tightly, with such force that he seemed to want to merge her into his palm. “Tell me, is that how it is?”

Tie Ci stared into his eyes. He had the most beautiful eyes in the world, the most ruthless heart, the most profound thoughts, and what made her unable to let go—the faint loneliness and bewilderment in his eyes.

He was powerful and beautiful, intelligent and fierce, but many times he made her feel he was still that child crying alone on the snowy plains, struggling desperately in the ice cave.

Covered in frost and snow, holding broken fingers while looking around at the vast emptiness, with no relatives in sight.

Such loneliness and desolation penetrated to the bone, buried deep in his heart with that ice and snow. From then on, he no longer empathized with the mundane world and human affairs. Though surrounded by glory in the capital, his heart walked alone.

Having received too little, so he would use any means to grasp even a little.

Possessing too little, so he couldn’t bear to lose even a bit.

Unfortunate people spend their whole lives healing their childhood.

Her heart gradually softened under his gaze that was both pure and mad.

Suddenly she felt calm.

Calmly she said, “Rong Pu said you inherited a huge family fortune from your ancestors, making you quite wealthy. He said you already have a fiancée.”

“I’ve already asked my father, and he’s gone to break the engagement for me!” Feiyu said. “That was my parents’ arrangement—I never intended to honor it. In fact, after meeting you, I sent people to kill her.”

Tie Ci said in shock, “How can your values be so twisted? If you don’t want the engagement, just break it—why must you kill someone?”

“Because her family has considerable power and bullies others relying on their influence. It would be difficult to break the contract easily, so I thought it might be better to just kill her.” Feiyu said. “If you find it displeasing, I’ll spare her.”

Tie Ci said, “Is the woman’s family from Liaodong elite circles? Acting so tyrannically?”

“Even more tyrannical than you imagine.” Feiyu pondered for a moment. “Actually…”

His words were interrupted by shouts from outside: “Eighteenth! Eighteenth! Come out and eat roasted meat!”

Tie Ci didn’t hear the rest of his sentence. She responded and walked outside.

Feiyu sat up, seeing her expression had improved slightly. Thinking his self-inflicted wound had gained this timely opportunity to communicate, and not wanting to create complications, he didn’t continue speaking.

After all, he hadn’t lied to her.

After taking a few steps, Tie Ci turned back at the cave entrance. “Aren’t you getting up?”

“No, I’m an injured person. I’m sleeping in this cave tonight.”

“Come out.” Tie Ci said. “Why compete with Supervisor Rong? So petty.”

Feiyu heard the distinction in her words and was immediately satisfied. He extended his hand like an empress dowager, saying, “Little Ye, come support this dowager.”

Tie Ci couldn’t stand this empress dowager manner and turned to leave.

Feiyu withdrew his extended hand without embarrassment, following her out while muttering, “How did you suddenly get angry again? Ah, the little Ye Eighteen from the academy was still the best—gentle and obedient, respectful to teachers, filial and virtuous…”

He walked out of the cave reminiscing about the filial and virtuous Ye Eighteen, immediately saw that group of idiots had burned the rabbit meat black, quickly tied up his clothes, and went to re-roast meat for his Ye Eighteen, being both filial and virtuous.

While he roasted meat, everyone chatted about this mission and discussed Qiu Wujiu and others. Qi Yuansi said, “Qiu Wujiu was originally just Liaodong’s Grand Chancellor, yet he could privately accumulate so much power to stir up trouble in Western Rong.”

Yang Yixiu said, “Liaodong is rich in minerals, excels at forging ironware, and has fertile black soil. The soldiers have fought against countries like Mao’e for years and are quite fierce. All financial and military supply matters pass through Qiu Wujiu’s hands—as a Grand Chancellor with real power, hiding some personal wealth isn’t difficult.”

Tian Wu asked curiously, “Liaodong is merely a vassal of Great Qian, yet it has a position like Grand Chancellor—isn’t this against protocol?”

Once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

They all glanced at Tie Ci from the corners of their eyes.

Yang Yixiu elbowed Tian Wu and used his eyes to scold him with throat-cutting gestures and winks.

Though everyone knew Liaodong was essentially self-governing, this was a truth that couldn’t be spoken aloud, or where would the court’s face be?

Not to mention the Crown Princess was right here.

Tie Ci naturally sensed everyone’s mood but wasn’t bothered. She smiled and said, “There are many things about Liaodong that violate protocol—the court is temporarily helpless. Those big shots in court follow an appeasement policy, always thinking that with flattery and indulgence, Liaodong will obediently remain a vassal forever. They probably never learned the phrase ‘nurturing a tiger invites calamity’ in their dictionaries.”

Yang Yixiu sighed, “I have a bad feeling…”

Qi Yuansi said, “It’s not just you—everyone does.”

Yang Yixiu said, “No, my feeling might be worse than everyone else’s. I think Liaodong might not only be satisfied with self-governance, but might even possibly…”

Another silence.

Liaodong was already essentially self-governing. If it had further ambitions, that would mean plundering Great Qian.

Tie Ci casually threw branches into the fire, saying, “Why worry? When soldiers come, generals will block them. We studied at Yueli Academy—we can kill strong enemies on horseback and write proclamations on foot. We know all practical affairs—military supplies, provisions, equipment, economics… What’s this for? Isn’t it so that when the nation faces difficulty, even common citizens can guard the pass? If that day really comes, we’ll just roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Her casual manner made her confidence seem even stronger. Everyone’s spirits lifted as they said, “Right, what’s there to worry about? Defend when it’s time to defend, fight when it’s time to fight!”

“If they dare harbor ill intentions, we scholars can also don armor and go to battle!”

“If the court ever hardens its stance and declares that the Liaodong vassal has overstepped its bounds and harbors treasonous thoughts, ordering the reduction of its power, we could join the army right now and strike them down.”

“Right, it’s clearly Great Qian’s territory—why should the court be divided!”

Everyone grew more excited, as if they were ready to mount horses with spears right now, charge to Ruzhou, drag Prince Ding’an from his palace, and demand why a mere vassal prince, having received the late Grand Ancestor’s grace, now dared to exceed his authority and establish independence.

The crowd was in high spirits, all condemning Liaodong and envisioning the future recovery of Liaodong and Yannan, achieving true unification of Great Qian.

No one noticed Feiyu in the shadowy corner, who had originally wanted to come over and say something, now standing with arms crossed and a half-smile.

Half his eyes fell in shadow, making them seem even more unfathomably deep. The corners of his eyes slightly raised, even his smile seemed tinged with mockery.

Rong Pu, who had been silent, shifted his gaze, saw him, and said, “Alright, stop talking. Brother Rong is from Liaodong, and his family still serves there.”

After speaking, he smiled at Feiyu.

Feiyu curled his lips at him.

Everyone stopped talking for a moment. Yang Yixiu said, “So what if he serves in Liaodong? Mr. Rong, you’re from Liaodong but also from Great Qian. As a teacher at the academy, your positions and views should align with ours. I’d say you should abandon darkness for light early. With your talents, the Great Qian court would certainly welcome you. If you’re interested, you could ask Brother Qi to have his father recommend you.”

Feiyu smiled and said, “Thank you, thank you.”

He didn’t continue, and everyone felt awkward, so they changed the topic.

Feiyu came to sit beside Tie Ci, who suddenly remembered his unfinished words and asked him, “What did you want to tell me earlier?”

Feiyu handed over the well-roasted meat, saying, “Nothing.”

What could he say?

In the eyes of these Great Qian elites, Liaodong was a great bandit and rebellious subject—an enemy they would inevitably face in battle.

These pedantic scholars always valued national unity and state affairs above everything else, constantly talking about moral integrity and backbone, willing to put their lives after family and country, let alone mere romantic love.

If she knew his true identity, what would she think?

Would she not mind at all, or would she sever ties thinking of future opposition?

Though she was a woman, she had broad vision and worried about the world, with temperament and insight no less than men’s.

She wasn’t one of those boudoir daughters whose minds were consumed by romance while ignoring everything else.

He didn’t dare gamble.

At least not now.

Tie Ci’s gaze turned to him with suspicion.

She always felt he seemed burdened with heavy thoughts.

This was very unlike him. It wasn’t that he had no concerns, but his concerns usually didn’t last overnight because he would solve them immediately.

But Tie Ci wouldn’t ask. Everyone had the right to keep their thoughts private.

The earlier passionate emotions had dissipated, and everyone ate quietly.

During the meal, Tie Ci found it strange why everyone was intentionally or unintentionally avoiding Feiyu today.

Had he done something that angered both gods and men?

But everyone’s attitude didn’t seem disapproving—rather, they all showed subtle fear and respect.

Tie Ci’s gaze fell on Feiyu’s calf.

A madman.

Probably scared people.

She slowly ate her roasted meat, sighing inwardly.

Born into the imperial family and apprenticed to her master, she had received dual elite education from both traditional and modern perspectives since childhood. Great scholars and classics, as well as palace rules, taught her to act with propriety and dignity, with grace and nobility carved into her bones. Her master taught her to broaden her horizons and gain knowledge, understanding the freedom and dignity of being human.

She had never imagined she would one day like someone like Feiyu.

Their worldviews differed like the South and North Poles.

So different that she dared not take another step to explore the real him.

She wanted to like him a little more, then a little more, perhaps then she could withstand possible storms.

A tender, red, juicy rabbit leg was handed over as Feiyu sat beside her asking, “What are you thinking about?”

Tie Ci shook her head, glanced at the smile in his eyes, felt moved, and said, “If one day I had something that troubled you, made it impossible for you to choose, or required you to give up the most important thing you’d always worked for, what would you do?”

Feiyu sat slightly in front of her, blocking the wind for her. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “Probably except for one thing, I could give up anything in this world for you.”

Tie Ci wanted to ask what that one thing was, but decided against it.

Asking such questions seemed childish and lacking in propriety.

She just smiled and nodded, saying, “I feel the same way about you.”

Looking up, she saw night had fallen like a dome over them.