People are divided into high and low, noble and base—a heart is not.

When I give you my heart, what I hope to receive in return is simply a true heart—it has nothing to do with whether you’re a prince or the future emperor.

I don’t want to be one among your many consorts.

Spending every day with the sole task of waiting for you to have time to cast me a passionate glance.

That’s not who Li Buyan is.

My mother said: The sky is so blue, the sea so vast, the mountains so high—you must go see them, walk among them.

I gave birth to you not so you could revolve around one man, bearing a pile of children, constantly jealous and petty, consumed by daily necessities and trivial household matters.

“Your Highness, that day at the Ji family estate, so many people walked toward me, yet I spotted you at a single glance.”

Li Buyan looked at him calmly.

“I thought to myself then: how can such a man exist in this world? So handsome that I want to study even his hair. I cannot control my liking for you.”

But that can only be liking, nothing more.

“Buyan.”

When Zhao Yishi heard that last sentence, hope kindled in his deep gaze.

She did like him.

“Could you not compromise for me, just a little? As long as you understand in your heart that I…”

“I cannot.”

Li Buyan: “No one can make me compromise—not even you.”

Zhao Yishi froze, his face turning pale instantly.

He hadn’t expected Li Buyan to answer so readily, speaking so resolutely.

Father, Prince Han, His Majesty, the warfare in the northwest… these days he’d been busy to the point of mental exhaustion. Adding the sudden bestowed marriage, he was already at his limit.

One “I cannot” became the last straw breaking him.

Why “you can’t either”?

I’m the Grand Prince, the future Son of Heaven. How many women kneel before me, begging for my favor?

Zhao Yishi’s heart filled with strange fury.

But he would never display his anger before anyone.

His imperial grandfather had said: ordinary men can show joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness freely, but emperors cannot.

Once an emperor reveals emotion, those ambitious ministers and favor-seeking consorts will use your revealed emotions to glimpse your true inner thoughts.

“Li Buyan, have you thought this through clearly?” His voice turned cold.

Li Buyan looked at him.

After a long moment, she took a deep breath and smiled with curved lips. “Your Highness, I will not regret this.”

Zhao Yishi’s dark pupils dimmed, revealing cold, chilling glimmers.

He said nothing more and turned to leave.

“Safe travels, Your Highness. I wish Your Highness a bright future.”

Li Buyan curtsied.

If Zhao Yishi could turn back now, he’d discover that Li Buyan’s curtsy was executed so flawlessly that even the palace’s strictest etiquette governess couldn’t find fault.

Having completed the curtsy, she straightened, lifted her head, and watched that dark figure step by step walk from her sight, walk from her life.

When even the last trace of shadow vanished from view, her body suddenly went soft, as if all strength had been drained from her.

“Thank goodness I had Tangyuan prepare wine.” She spoke to herself.

…

Zhu Qing rushed into the courtyard.

“Third Master, Young Master Pei, the Grand Prince went toward the second gate.”

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao exchanged glances, both sighing simultaneously.

Intuition truly is damn accurate—that troublemaker really does disdain being a concubine.

Xie Zhifei: “Should we go after him?”

Pei Xiao: “Go!”

With Xie Zhifei’s foot not yet fully healed, how could he catch up?

When they reached the corner gate, the alley was empty—no trace remained long ago.

Thinking of Huairen’s temperament, Xie Zhifei said, “He should have returned to the villa. Shall we go keep him company?”

Pei Xiao: “Alright.”

“Who goes there?”

Just then, Zhu Qing suddenly shouted, drawing his blade. As his foot lightly touched down, he leaped onto the wall.

He surveyed all directions.

Under the moonlight, only a dark figure could be seen fleeing across the rooftops.

Zhu Qing shouted to Ding Yi, “Watch the masters well—I’m giving chase.”

Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao were both shocked by this sudden turn of events.

Someone had been lying in ambush around this residence?

Who?

Who were they targeting?

What were they here for?

Xie Zhifei felt his head throb with waves of pain, so painful he could barely breathe.

He forced himself to breathe, keeping his voice low. “Ding Yi, immediately inform His Highness of this. Also send someone to notify Zhu Yuanzhao—fearing complications from delay, tell him to depart immediately.”

“Yes!”

Ding Yi wanted to say “I’ll wait for Zhu Qing to return,” but turning his head, he saw Li Buyan running over with her sword.

With Li Buyan present, Ding Yi felt reassured. He quickly leaped onto his horse and galloped away.

Li Buyan approached and asked, “What happened?”

Pei Xiao quickly answered, “Someone was lying in ambush nearby, eavesdropping on us.”

“Who were they targeting?”

Li Buyan asked the exact same question. Xie Zhifei and Pei Xiao couldn’t answer.

If they were targeting Huairen, it wasn’t a major issue—nine out of ten times it would be Prince Han’s people.

But if they were targeting this afternoon’s matter…

The sky would truly be falling.

As the three exchanged bewildered looks, Zhu Qing returned from his pursuit.

“Master, I couldn’t catch them. This person’s footwork was too skilled.”

Xie Zhifei’s face darkened as he pondered for a moment. “Come, let’s discuss with Yan Sanhe.”

…

In the study, Yan Sanhe had prepared wine, waiting for Li Buyan. Instead, she received this news.

While alarmed, she contemplated briefly before quickly calming down.

“It’s not about this afternoon’s matter. Everyone on our side is trustworthy. The three Zhu brothers wouldn’t lift a rock to drop on their own feet.”

“As long as it’s not about this afternoon, that’s good.”

Young Master Pei collapsed into his chair, clutching his chest weakly. “Half my life was nearly scared away.”

Yan Sanhe walked to Xie Zhifei’s side, her tone extremely serious.

“If they were targeting the Grand Prince, once he left, they should have followed. They wouldn’t have stayed here to be discovered by you.”

Hearing this, Young Master Pei sat bolt upright in his chair. “Could they be targeting me and Xie Fifty?”

At these words, Xie Zhifei and Zhu Qing’s faces simultaneously turned deathly pale.

They thought of that assassination half a month ago. If this were true, it might be the same group.

“Xie Zhifei.”

Worry filled Yan Sanhe’s eyes. “Some people probably already know about you and Young Master Pei secretly helping the Grand Prince.”

Before Xie Zhifei could respond, she continued:

“Recently you and Young Master Pei have been frequenting the Zhu residence. In those people’s eyes, the Zhu family has probably become part of your group too.”

Even the Zhu family was being watched?

Xie Zhifei felt a bone-deep chill.

“The Zhu family matter involves the Former Crown Prince. At this critical juncture, if the Zhu family is being watched…”

Yan Sanhe shook her head. “This bodes very ill.”

Young Master Pei’s expression looked as if someone had him by the throat. “Aiya, what should we do now?”

“Yan Sanhe.”

Xie Zhifei made a snap decision. “Prepare yourselves quickly. I’m sending you out of the city right now.”

Yan Sanhe was shocked. “At this hour?”

“This very hour. Through the hidden waterway.”

After speaking, Xie Zhifei glanced at Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing nodded. “Master, I’ll go prepare immediately.”