After all, it was New Year’s Eve. Having eaten and drunk their fill, everyone was preparing to go outside the city together to watch the fireworks.

Yet Jiang Xuening felt somewhat dazed and confused.

She vaguely remembered that both Yan Lin and Shen Zhiyi had come to speak with her about something, and she had responded with her usual composure. But when she turned around, she couldn’t remember anything at all. It wasn’t until the cold wind in the courtyard blew against her face that she suddenly came to her senses.

The banquet had ended.

Everyone had gone to watch the fireworks.

She made an excuse about being tired and didn’t go with them, instead going up the corridor alone. But when she focused her eyes now, she discovered that this was not the path back to her own room at all, but rather the way leading to Xie Wei’s courtyard.

The colorful festive lanterns hung in abundance throughout the outer courtyard, bustling and lively, but reaching this secluded area, it appeared cold and desolate.

The branches stripped bare of leaves stretched obliquely beside the corridor.

The dim yellow light cast down at her feet, suffusing her shadow upon the ground.

Jiang Xuening truly didn’t want to think about it, yet Shen Zhiyi’s words from the banquet kept echoing in her ears, impossible to dispel, stirring her mind into chaos and irritation.

At that time and moment in the palace…

Who knew her birthday, and who had the ability to command the imperial kitchen, and could dispatch a young eunuch to deliver a bowl of noodles to Yangzhi Studio without anyone knowing?

It wasn’t the most likely person.

Then, someone who had this ability but shouldn’t have had this possibility became the only possible person.

But how absurd was that?

She stood still on the corridor, her fingers hanging at her sides trembling uncontrollably.

In her past and present lives, all sorts of causes and experiences flashed through her mind.

One moment it was Xie Ju’an in the deep night palace restrictions, smiling with that ethereal “Your Majesty, please conduct yourself with propriety.” The next moment it was early summer in the Lecture Hall when he pulled her back fiercely, that sentence containing hidden forbearance bordering on pleading: “Jiang Xuening, don’t go…”

Suddenly again, heavy snow stretched endlessly.

It was him forcefully choking her neck in the dark cave, then shifting to the gold hairpin falling to the ground in Kunning Palace, gradually stained by the blood pooling and spreading…

That kind of pain, that kind of cold, seemed never to have left her despite being reborn.

Jiang Xuening raised her hand, pressing hard against the side of her neck.

As if the pulsing blood vessels there had been cut by a sharp dagger, and if she didn’t press tightly, fresh blood would gush out. It hurt so much, so very much.

She hadn’t even forgotten the wounds Yan Lin had inflicted in her past life—how could she be willing to jump into another mountain of knives, another sea of flames?

From the moment of her rebirth, certain things had been deeply branded upon her.

She was destined never to completely escape the past.

Without those past experiences, there would be no present Jiang Xuening.

Even though what she encountered in her past life could be considered self-inflicted, bringing disaster upon herself—in the end, it was he who had forced her to death!

The things flickering in her mind continued to transform endlessly.

Jiang Xuening nearly bent over in pain, bowing down, only moving with floating steps, stumbling and staggering as she turned around, wanting to find her way back to her own room.

But after just two steps, she recalled that day.

When Xie Wei asked her what made Shen Zhiyi worth her pouring out everything and braving dangers, and she answered “His Highness treats me very well,” there was Xie Wei’s silent gaze that watched her for a long while…

Her footsteps ultimately couldn’t help but stop.

That feeling of extreme torment captured her, making her feel an inescapable pain. Enduring to the utmost limit, it instead transformed into a determination that suddenly surged forth.

Some things were no longer what she sought in this life.

Though she claimed to have lived two lives, both lives added together were only a nominal twenty-seven years, still one year and some less than Xie Ju’an in this life. Moreover, she possessed only average intelligence—how could she compare with Xie Ju’an’s heavenly talent?

If she didn’t make things clear and sever them cleanly, the one who would suffer in the end would ultimately be herself.

Jiang Xuening stood in the cold silence for a long while, slowly clenching her fingers, forcibly dispersing the trembling that crept up, then turned around again, heading toward the other end of the long corridor.

Under the eaves, tree shadows were sparse.

Jian Shu, who usually stood guard outside Xie Wei’s door, tonight for some unknown reason stood with his sword in the courtyard outside. Seeing her figure, he was already startled: “Miss Ning?”

Jiang Xuening said, “I have something to discuss with the teacher.”

Jian Shu was immediately taken aback, instinctively wanting to say something, but looking at her once, ultimately said nothing.

That gaze had an indescribable quality.

But Jiang Xuening had matters weighing on her mind and didn’t think deeply about it. Seeing that although Jian Shu didn’t answer, he didn’t stop her either, she walked straight past him. Reaching the tightly closed door, only then did she stop.

No light shone from inside the room—it was pitch black, with only the vague sound of water.

She took a deep breath and lightly knocked on the door.

Inside, the sound of water immediately stopped.

Listening, Jiang Xuening felt confused for a moment, yet still said, “Master Xie, this student has something to ask.”

Inside the room was silence without a trace of sound.

She almost thought the faint movement she’d heard earlier was her own illusion, and that Xie Wei had probably already gone to sleep.

But a moment later, she heard a “splash” of water, much more distinct than before.

The tightly closed door quickly opened.

Xie Wei emerged from the ice-cold water, not even having dried the water traces on his body. He only casually draped a deep blue robe outside, his hair mostly wet, and along with his face, neck, and Adam’s apple, water dripped everywhere.

He wore no shoes, his bare feet stepping on the ground.

The front of his robe hung open, completely unlike his usual properly dressed appearance. Following down from his Adam’s apple, it even exposed a portion of his firm chest. His thin lips pressed tightly together, one hand resting on the doorframe, a pair of eyes looking toward her, actually giving one a thrilling and heart-stopping feeling.

Though no lamp was lit inside the room and it was pitch black, lanterns hung in the corridor outside.

That light shone in, and Jiang Xuening had already seen him clearly.

Only then did her mind react: Xie Ju’an had just been bathing in his room!

She immediately knew this timing was inappropriate. Hurriedly restraining her gaze, not daring to look anywhere else even slightly, she only lowered her eyes to fall upon her own feet, quickly saying, “This student has been presumptuous. I’ll come again another day.”

Having said this, she was about to retreat.

But Xie Wei grasped her arm, firmly restraining her, only saying, “Are you so afraid of me?”

His entire body had clearly been soaked in cold water, without a trace of heat visible, yet the palm that gripped her arm transmitted an alarming temperature. Even through a layer of soft silk, it made one tremble.

Jiang Xuening felt increasingly that something was wrong.

She barely maintained her composure, saying, “Originally I only had some unresolved doubts and wanted to come ask the teacher. It was just that I had a few too many cups of wine at the banquet and became muddled, actually coming to disturb you so late at night. I hope the teacher will forgive me.”

Hearing her still use such a distant tone, and hearing the word “wine” in her words, Xie Wei’s eye corner twitched slightly. The displeasure that had accumulated since he left the banquet midway until now finally accumulated to a peak, surging forth magnificently. He applied force to his hand, directly pulling her into his embrace and burying his head to kiss her.

The lips soaked ice-cold by water made Jiang Xuening shudder.

His dripping wet embrace also left her covered in moisture, yet the chest pressed tightly against her was a taut, scalding heat.

Lips and tongue invaded.

Hidden anger lurked within.

Not leaving her half a moment to catch her breath, like a violent storm that made it difficult to resist, revealing an unprecedented danger. Even more so than that day when they encountered heavy snow and were trapped in the mountain cave!

Beyond deep anger, there lurked a profoundly trembling desire.

His tongue tip pressed and knocked against her teeth, then bit her lips, causing her to groan in pain. Taking advantage of this opening, he forced her to tilt her head back to endure this deep kiss that nearly suffocated her.

When their lips finally parted, she only had strength left to gasp.

Seeing his posture of not listening to a single word, Jiang Xuening knew things were bad. She wanted to push him away, but was instead gripped even tighter by him.

A cold smile floated on Xie Wei’s lips: “Now you know to be afraid and want to run. Where’s that boldness from earlier when you served me wine without even a glance?”

Beyond her panic, Jiang Xuening was utterly confused: “What wine?”

Hearing this, Xie Wei felt even more stifled. Too lazy to explain to her, without letting her argue, he pulled her, struggling to escape, through the door.

Jiang Xuening was furious to the extreme. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face—a “crack” sounded in the darkness. In a cold voice she rebuked, “Late at night, please conduct yourself with propriety, teacher!”

Xie Wei was struck by her slap, his head turning slightly to the side.

She turned to rush out the door.

However, Xie Wei’s eyes were deeply cold. Already ahead of her, he seized both her hands and restrained them. With his other hand he pressed the door closed. His body covered in water was like a wall, trapping her in the narrow gap between himself and the door, looking down at her from above: “Propriety?”

Inside the room it became even darker.

Only the light from the corridor dimly shone through the window paper.

His outline also appeared ambiguous and unclear.

Jiang Xuening opened her mouth to speak.

But Xie Ju’an’s hand had already climbed upward along her slender waist that couldn’t be fully grasped. Burying his head, his lips pressed against hers, the wandering of his palms ice-cold, yet his voice seemed like a low murmur: “Jiang Xuening, even sages have tempers.”

Though he abstained from wine and meat, the disturbances of the seven emotions and six desires were common to all people.

It was just that he endured and bore it, unwilling to let evil thoughts and improper desires invade his body.

But tonight she served him that cup of wine, disturbing his pure heart. A bucket of cold water submerged him, yet failed to suppress and relieve it. With his anger at its peak, she still came before his eyes, provoking him. Not three words exchanged before making him so angry his chest ached with pain.

At this moment, how could he be willing to forgive her?

Xie Wei harbored a heart of punishment. Yet the closer he drew to her body, touching soft jade and warm fragrance, it was like pouring oil on fire, instead making him lose some control.

Jiang Xuening’s body was truly weak and sensitive.

Just from him touching her twice, she’d already lost most of her strength. Her heart held both panic and grievance, and gave rise to several points of dark fear. From between her lips escaped several low whimpers, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes.

Those warm teardrops fell onto his fingers gripping her chin.

Xie Wei’s movements restraining her stopped.

At this moment, it was hard to say whether there was more pity or more anger. His bodhisattva heart almost arose, wanting to let her go, to let her leave. However, the fire throughout his body hadn’t dissipated, and he was truly vexed and resentful toward her, unwilling to let her off so lightly.

So gritting his teeth, gripping her waist, he turned her around to face outward, pressing her against the door panel, pinning her tightly. His lips and tongue kissed her slightly cool earlobe.

Jiang Xuening went so soft her legs trembled.

If not for being pressed against the door like this, she probably couldn’t even stand steadily, let alone move.

Xie Ju’an’s voice was exceptionally low and hoarse, harshly asking her, “You tell me, what did you want to ask me?”

Jiang Xuening’s fingers weakly clawed at the diamond-patterned window lattice, only feeling something burning pressed at her lower back, not daring to make the slightest rash movement. Yet recalling in her mind her purpose for coming tonight, she finally still said, “I wanted to ask the teacher… to make a bowl of noodles…”

The lips that had fallen on her earlobe paused for a moment.

But the next moment they transformed into a bite tinged with blood, falling on her jade-white earlobe, even more intensely than before, leaving a clear tooth mark, then moving toward her slender neck: “The confused fool also has moments of clarity. Unfortunately, those who should have been angered to death by you are already dead.”

Jiang Xuening couldn’t see his expression, could only hear his voice and feel that one hand seemed to be rustling with movement behind her. At first, her mind was too chaotic to notice, but when the breath exhaling on her skin gradually grew heavier and more disordered, she suddenly understood something.

A “buzzing” exploded in her mind, instantly becoming blank.

In her confusion, she hardly knew how time passed.

Until a certain moment when he heavily pressed against her, his forehead against the back of her neck, using considerable force to bite that section of spine inside the collar he’d pulled back, finally releasing something as he panted heavily. Only then did she hazily awaken with a shock, trembling as she called out: “Xie Ju’an!”

However, Xie Wei had never done such a thing to anyone before. He also knew such behavior was not honorable. Slightly regaining clarity, he knew it was shameful. Actually, before she could erupt in anger, he opened the door, pressed down on the back of her neck, and pushed her out, his voice hoarse: “Remember to change your clothes tomorrow.”

Then the door closed.

Pushed out the door, Jiang Xuening simply couldn’t believe what Xie Wei had done to her, even less could she believe this was what people praised as a “sage.” For a moment, with disheveled clothes and unsteady legs, she stood in the corridor. Reaching back to touch her skirt hem, what she felt only made her face suddenly burn red.

Overwhelming shame surged up, already beyond mere anger.

Standing outside the door, she had long forgotten what her original purpose was. Unable to endure any longer, she kicked toward the door, cursing loudly: “How dare you! Despicable, shameless, indecent!”

Behind the door, there was no movement.

Xie Wei bent one leg, sitting with his back against the door crack, letting Jiang Xuening curse a few times. After a while, he heard her stamp her foot, as if worried this was late at night and fearing someone might see, then through gritted teeth repeated “indecent” once more, before her footsteps became chaotic and she fled as if escaping.

He lowered his head, recalling his reckless behavior just now.

Enduring several times, in the end he still couldn’t hold back. His chest cavity shook once, and he laughed out in a muffled, deep voice.