But he didn’t like pursuing things he didn’t understand, and walked past with indifference.

Early autumn in Yannan was still hot, with blazing white sunlight pouring down overhead. Cicadas shrieked themselves hoarse, and behind the low hill someone kept wiping sweat from their forehead, thinking that since this was a farewell, wouldn’t it be better at a long pavilion, under willow trees, by a stream—open and cool with beautiful scenery? Perhaps if some poet saw it they could even write a few farewell poems to be passed down through the ages. How wonderful that would be! Why hide stuffily behind an airless earthen slope? Those who knew would understand it was a farewell; those who didn’t might think it was an ambush for highway robbery.

Looking again at the person beside him, he saw that figure’s profile was frost-white. In such blazing weather, he still appeared ice-snow pure and clean, not a drop of sweat on his brow, even his snow-white collar spotless.

The lieutenant gave a mental thumbs up: As long as he’s not mixed up with the Crown Princess, our Snow Commander will forever remain pure as ice and jade, lofty as mountain snow.

No monkey-riding, no baldness, no rolling in mud, no running wildly through piles of insects—none of that existed.

Now the Crown Princess had finally left, entrusting the military affairs of Qianzhou and Yannan to Snow Commander. As long as Snow Commander grew back his magnificent hair, he would still be the most handsome man in these two provinces.

The lieutenant secretly glanced at the hat on Xiao Xueya’s head, striving to maintain proper composure.

Two quarters of an hour ago, he had said: “Commander, the carriage is almost here.”

One quarter of an hour ago, he had said: “Commander, the carriage didn’t stop. If you want to go out, hurry.”

Half a quarter of an hour ago, he had said: “Commander, the carriage is about to pass by.”

No one had answered.

Now, dripping with hot sweat, he couldn’t help saying: “Commander, you can barely see the carriage’s shadow now. If you want to chase it, there’s still time.”

Only then did Xiao Xueya emerge from behind the low hill. He looked deeply toward the end of the road, turned around, and mounted his horse.

The lieutenant was devastated.

The previous night they had disembarked from Yizhou dock at Changting Lake, riding hard day and night for two days, arriving this morning outside Kunzhou city. Without entering the city, they had waited on this post road, keeping watch from when the dew had not yet dried until the sun blazed high—just to watch that convoy approach and then pass by?

If he wanted to see them off, as the military governor managing two provinces’ affairs, he could have come ahead of time and joined the Yannan officials lining the roadside for the farewell, even speaking a few proper words with the Crown Princess.

Instead, when the official documents arrived, he claimed military affairs were pressing and refused.

Then he secretly came to spy from behind a hillside.

The lieutenant felt he was getting old and didn’t understand these young men and women’s thoughts, much less the commander’s thinking.

At first he thought the commander disliked the Crown Princess.

Later it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.

Sometimes he even had the illusion that the commander treated the Crown Princess differently.

But to say it was romantic feelings… the commander wasn’t that foolish, was he?

The lieutenant stood in place, his mind full of confusion. Seeing Xiao Xueya had already gone far, he could only chase after him.

Under the blazing sun, that snow-white figure rode away without looking back, as if about to merge into the vast sunlight.

In the carriage, Murong Yi suddenly lifted the curtain to look back, seeming to smirk slightly as he unhurriedly pulled something from his sleeve.

Tie Ci recognized it as fireworks from Gui Qizhai, the specially made expensive kind, the same price range as the hen that laid eggs and earned great merit last time.

She was somewhat curious but too lazy to ask him.

She watched as Murong Yi lifted the curtain, aimed the fireworks toward the rear, and set them off with a bang.

Tie Ci couldn’t help but look, seeing the fireworks ascend and transform into a monk—it should be a monk, anyway, with simple features and a big bald head, just without prayer scars.

Where the prayer scars should be, four characters were written: “All Four Elements Are Empty.”

Tie Ci was baffled, shook her head, and withdrew to continue reading.

At the end of the road, in the direction opposite to her convoy’s path, Xiao Xueya, galloping on horseback, suddenly looked back.

He saw in the distant sky that big bald head and the silent warning: All Four Elements Are Empty.

The lieutenant stopped his horse in bewilderment, not understanding the fireworks’ meaning, only suddenly feeling that the silent commander beside him seemed even colder.

Like a cold plum blossom blown by frigid wind, its petals about to freeze into ice crystals.

…

The convoy stopped to rest a hundred li outside Kunzhou city. Before long, they set out again, but one ordinary carriage stayed behind, turning onto another road.

Dan Shuang and Chi Xue drove the carriage.

After much thought, Tie Ci felt she should bring her demon consort to properly experience the warmth of humanity.

Only this proposition was also difficult for her. After all, traveling the world herself, she mostly encountered conspiracies and cold hardships, not really feeling there was anywhere truly “warm, peaceful, and beautiful.”

After thinking for most of the day, she finally decided to go to Yueli Academy.

Firstly, to see how the academy looked after reconstruction, and secondly because Rong Pu had written to her saying that recently Celu Academy in the capital and Mingquan Academy in Zhongzhou had both sent letters suggesting a joint three-academy literary and martial competition, which he had agreed to.

Those two schools said that to show respect for the Crown Princess, they would choose Yueli Academy for the first year’s competition, which he had also agreed to.

Those two schools also said they wanted to invite court officials as witnesses, and if they could invite the Crown Princess to observe, that would be even better. This he couldn’t agree to on his own, so he asked whether Tie Ci would agree.

Tie Ci originally didn’t want to go. Returning to the capital via Haiyou wasn’t on the way. She understood in her heart that Mingquan Academy, Celu Academy, and Yueli Academy were originally the most famous academies in Great Qian. Only previously, Yueli couldn’t compare to the romantic prosperity at the emperor’s feet in the capital, nor could it match Mingquan’s flourishing culture and outstanding talents in the wealthy Jiangnan region. It had always been somewhat looked down upon by those two schools. But now, because of Tie Ci’s period of study at Yueli Academy, the major case caused by Yueli Academy students during this year’s spring examinations, and new Dean Rong Pu’s sweeping reforms, Yueli Academy had gained great fame with an endless stream of students seeking admission, leaping to become the foremost of the three great academies. Therefore, Mingquan Academy and Celu Academy were uncomfortable.

When uncomfortable, they had to regain face—this was also a necessary means of competing for excellent student sources. Tie Ci originally felt that as long as it was fair competition, having a contest to put some pressure on Yueli Academy would be good. Yueli Academy’s rise these past two years had undoubtedly benefited from her influence, so being squeezed by peers was a necessary process to experience. As the future ruler of the realm, she was no longer suitable to show any bias.

So she had refused Rong Pu.

Of course, whether there was a bit of fear that her demon consort would be jealous and cause trouble was something she wouldn’t say aloud.

Having changed her mind now, going to select talent would be good too.

She didn’t explicitly mention the route change, and that pretentious demon consort, seeing the carriage leave the main group, acted as if he hadn’t noticed, maintaining that languid appearance, not even looking at people directly but using the corners of his eyes.

That evening when staying at an inn, Tie Ci heard Dan Shuang mutter: “Pretentious!”

Mu Si, who had ridden up to join them, nodded: “Exactly!”

Tie Ci deeply agreed.

And felt worried about herself.

Even that arrogant Mu Si had been trained by Dan Shuang into a lapdog—why was her fox spirit still being so difficult?

…

Traveling toward Haiyou, they gradually saw many scholars on the road, some riding horses, some on donkeys, some walking.

Chi Xue went to inquire and learned that the three-academy competition was imminent, being a major literary event of recent years. Yueli Academy had opened its doors wide, welcoming literati and scholars from all directions. Scholars from neighboring provinces were bringing their own provisions to join the grand occasion.

There were also many martial women, riding spiritedly in the wind with high spirits, heading in the direction of the academy as well.

Now that the Crown Princess’s status was ever higher, women skilled in martial arts were also quite respected and sought after.

Tie Ci listened from inside the carriage to those scholars excitedly discussing.

“I heard Fang Huai’an from Celu is coming!”

“Those twin prodigies from Mingquan are coming too—I heard when they compose linked verses together, they can create a hundred couplets in the blink of an eye! No need for deliberation, the tones and rhythms form naturally!”

“None compare to the elegance of Yueli’s Rong Pu and Qi You!”

“Rong Pu is the dean!”

“So what if he’s the dean! Haven’t you seen these heroines—nine out of ten are going for the dean, and I’m going for these heroines!”

Before his words ended, a rider swept past, tumbling that last speaker head over heels. The rider on horseback dropped a clear, cold snort and a faint lingering fragrance.

The scholars had been about to laugh, but now all fell silent as cicadas. Scholars speaking without restraint wasn’t really a great fault, and these people inevitably harbored some romantic fantasies, but clearly these heroines looked down on their so-called refinement.

After that single rider passed, came a group of riders, galloping like wind. Horse hooves kicked up great clouds of dust, sprinkling these people until they were covered in gray dirt. Silver bell-like laughter came: “As if we’re like you lot, each one styling himself as refined, with only romantic affairs in your heads. We’re going for the Crown Princess!”

One scholar, indignant, mustered courage to shout: “Didn’t they say the Crown Princess is returning directly to the capital, not to the academy!”

“Who knows! Besides, we’re not necessarily going to see the Crown Princess herself. Since the academy rarely opens to everyone, can’t we stroll through Lovers’ Grove, tour Lingering Fragrance Lake, sleep in the hanging beds in the woods, and roast some geese and fish!”

The scholars: “…”

Such ambition!

The carriage curtain lifted as Murong Yi said: “We need to hurry. Mu Si, you drive!”

Dan Shuang protested: “What’s that supposed to mean? Am I driving slowly? Ask Mu Si if he’s faster than me?”

Mu Si: “Of course not!”

Murong Yi: “…”

Tie Ci laughed in shock: “Why the sudden rush? Don’t tell me you’re afraid with so many people around, someone might dig up money or love letters you hid at the academy?”

Murong Yi gave a cold laugh and said: “What would I fear? Can the academy still hide private money or love letters now? That white lotus flower would love to strip bare even the swan tail feathers in Wuyu Pool for people to see, all to attract customers and please the shopkeeper.”

Shopkeeper Tie: “…”

It had to be said, when Murong Yi became sarcastic and mean, he was very much like a demon consort too.

“The hanging bed we slept in back then can’t be left for others to discover and sleep in.” Murong Yi chattered on. “Let’s hurry along.”

Tie Ci sighed, very much wanting to tell him that hanging bed was hers. Originally thrown into the water by him, then fished out, fire-roasted, and stuffed back into stone crevices—who knew what condition it was in now? Who would want to sleep on that old broken thing?

Only he treasured it.

But her heart was soft, so she indeed had Dan Shuang drive faster. Toward evening, having passed a small city with no good lodging available, they finally found a modest inn and immediately took the only three upper rooms available.

She and Murong Yi each had one room, Dan Shuang and Chi Xue shared one, while Murong Yi’s guards, who always appeared and disappeared mysteriously, found their own lodging.

Throughout the journey, Murong Yi had pestered her to share a room, all firmly refused by Tie Ci. She lacked confidence in her self-control—if sparks flew, she feared causing casualties.

When others caused casualties, it was just an immediate wedding ceremony. When she caused casualties, it might turn heaven and earth upside down.

Tie Ci remembered that when she first left the capital for training, her master had given her a certain treasure that could prevent causing casualties. Since she felt she wouldn’t need it, she had left it at Ruixiang Hall, not knowing if Little Bug still kept it.

So someone’s fantasy of hitting a home run couldn’t possibly be realized until after returning to the capital at earliest.

After finishing dinner and barring the door, ignoring the wall-knocking from next door, Tie Ci was about to rest when she suddenly heard commotion downstairs—it seemed many people had arrived. She raised an eyebrow.

Before long, someone knocked on her door.

The innkeeper stood outside, wringing his hands, somewhat awkwardly saying: “I shouldn’t disturb the guests, but some nobles from the capital have arrived downstairs. They want to rent the entire inn and are willing to give all lodging guests double compensation. Rest assured, guest—there’s another inn just twenty li ahead…”

As he spoke, some lodging guests were already packing their bundles to leave, obviously thinking it profitable to walk an extra twenty li for double compensation.

Tie Ci looked down at the ground floor and indeed saw a group of young men and women wearing light yellow robes and dresses, with flowing water patterns embroidered on their garments. Led by several middle-aged scholars, they filled the square tables in the hall, talking and laughing cheerfully.

She counted their numbers and said: “There’s no need to rent the entire inn. The rooms that have been vacated should be sufficient.”

The innkeeper said awkwardly: “That would be fine otherwise, but someone among them is unwell and specifically requires an upper room…”

As he spoke, people downstairs had already heard the commotion and looked up. Without seeing clearly who was talking to the innkeeper, one impatiently said: “Friend upstairs, do us a favor. If you’re not satisfied with the money, we’ll add another multiple!”