Shaoshang sat exhausted, her back against the desk they’d kicked over during the scuffle, panting while watching Huo Buyi bandage her wound. Circles of cloth strips wrapped properly around her arm, the thick breathable fine linen presenting a comfortable beige color that made Shaoshang’s arm appear white with a tinge of blue by contrast. And Huo Buyi had also been torn up quite badly—hair disheveled, face and neck scattered with fine red scratch marks, his left hand’s back bearing a shocking bite wound—actually they’d scuffled many times before, but never seen blood and bone like this time.

Shaoshang’s gaze moved downward, noticing a plain-colored brocade pouch lying on the floor. She was very familiar with this kind of pouch—though it didn’t look large, it could hold many things. She’d seen Madam Xiao personally wash fine linen strips many times, drying and ironing them, then rolling them into tight cloth rolls, stuffing them into this kind of pouch together with top-quality wound medicine.

Military people were prone to external injuries. Even without going to battle, sparring matches at the training grounds could easily cause harm. People of the time already knew using unclean things to wrap wounds was extremely inappropriate, so military officers often carried these items with them.

Huo Buyi sensed Shaoshang’s gaze and smiled slightly: “You promised to make me one, but never delivered it.”

Shaoshang came to her senses. Seeing the wound was nearly wrapped, she said coldly: “It’s done. I’m leaving now.”

Huo Buyi pressed one hand on her shoulder: “I haven’t finished what I wanted to say.”

Shaoshang was speechless with anger. She sneered: “Fine, speak. I’m listening.” As if her saying ‘I won’t listen, won’t listen, just won’t listen’ would make him let go—didn’t she see that with just a light press on her shoulder she couldn’t move?

Huo Buyi sat beside the girl with bent knees, sighing softly: “Meeting you was beyond my expectations.”

These simple eight words made Shaoshang’s tears instantly fall—she turned her head aside: “I believe those words. Meeting you was my calamity. Meeting me was also your misfortune.”

“No. Meeting you was the best thing since I was six years old.” Huo Buyi didn’t look at her, instead gazing toward the halo of light on the floor not far away. Pale daylight filtered through the winding carved window lattice, like her smiling eyes and brows, soft, charming, and bright.

Shaoshang laughed mockingly: “That’s right. I even had to defend you before His Majesty regarding the Huo family massacre case.”

Huo Buyi’s smile was ambiguous: “You’re right.”

Shaoshang reacted, saying with chagrin: “No, you saved me first. At least that time when Uncle Wan was ambushed in the forest passage—without your rescue, I’d probably have lost my life.”

They’d only been together a few months, yet examining it closely felt like a lifetime, entangled and inseparable.

“I carry deep blood feuds. I never planned to marry. For years I only worried about how to deflect His Majesty’s generous kindness.” Huo Buyi learned from Shaoshang, also leaning back against the overturned desk. “Hearing you and Lou Yao were engaged, I felt relieved—otherwise it would truly be difficult. Actually, I greatly admire Lou Yao. Though his talents are ordinary, he’s upright and honorable, proper and respectful. But later, hearing you follow him calling me ‘elder brother’ repeatedly, I wanted to strangle him to death.”

Shaoshang straightened, her tone emphatic: “A’Yao is a good person.”

“Mm, so he lives well. I even planned to attend your wedding feast.”

Recalling the past was like a previous life. Shaoshang sighed softly.

Once she had been so eager to establish a family and career, become independent, work hard to live well and show Madam Xiao. In the blink of an eye, several years had passed. Lou Yao and He Zhaojun might even have three children by now, while she was still entangled with her former ex-fiancé. Truly, ideals colliding with reality—her well-planned life permanently aborted on the ridiculous path.

“I never thought of hurting you. During that period, having received news from the Huo family’s surviving old subordinates, I thought I could properly resolve the Ling clan and had the thought of marrying you.” Huo Buyi said.

Shaoshang said angrily: “Couldn’t you have waited until you’d truly dealt with Ling Yi before coming to find me?!”

“I couldn’t wait.” Huo Buyi lowered his eyes. “People are always like this. Something you’ve longed for—if there’s absolutely no hope, that’s one thing. But as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, you become impatient.”

Shaoshang felt she’d suffered eight generations of bloody bad luck. She made to rise: “Are you finished? If you’re finished, I’m leaving.”

“There’s more…” Huo Buyi grasped her hand, discovering her fingertips had blood threads. He frowned: “You never used to keep long nails.”

“How can I apply flower juice without keeping nails?!” Shaoshang didn’t even know why she was saying this.

“You never used to paint your nails either.” Huo Buyi pulled her to sit properly facing him. Sharp weapons weren’t permitted in the palace, so he could only help the girl pick clean the broken nails, then apply medicinal powder to each fingertip.

Shaoshang extended her hand for him to apply medicine. From this angle looking over, his nose bridge was high and straight, his lashes thick and long. She suddenly grew irritated: “Whatever else you have to say, say it all at once. I can’t possibly delay returning to the banquet indefinitely.”

Huo Buyi paused, then said: “Luo Jitong isn’t a good person. If she writes you letters or says anything to you, don’t believe any of it.”

Shaoshang was shocked: “What?!” She’d only thought Luo Jitong’s character was poor. But if Huo Buyi said someone ‘wasn’t a good person,’ they must have done something major.

Huo Buyi raised his head: “The one who killed the maid Chun Tiao back then wasn’t the Fifth Princess—it was Luo Jitong. That’s right, she also participated in framing you. I suspect the scheme to frame you came from her. The Fifth Princess doesn’t have such good scheming ability.”

Shaoshang’s mouth opened slightly.

“Also, the death of her former husband, the Jia family’s Seventh Son, can’t be separated from her involvement. In any case, you must be careful of this person.”

Shaoshang’s hair stood on end. She couldn’t help crying out: “Since you knew all this, why were you still planning to marry her?!”

Huo Buyi smiled slightly: “I never planned to marry her. I only used her as a front. Otherwise, would His Majesty and the Crown Prince have let me peacefully pass these six years at the border?”

“That makes sense.” Shaoshang nodded, then suddenly startled: “Hey, wait! A front can’t last a lifetime. Even if you don’t marry Luo Jitong, you’d still have to marry some other person. Rather than wasting time with a woman of poor character, you should properly find someone virtuous and kind…”

She looked at his calm yet profound eyes, her heart trembling. “You did it deliberately. You never planned to take a wife. You, you’re not going to marry in the future…?” She’d guessed the reason but didn’t dare guess his intention.

“You’re mad! The Huo family is waiting for you to continue the family line. If you dare remain alone all your life, His Majesty will eat you alive!” She lowered her voice, shocked beyond words.

Huo Buyi smiled with clear mountains and rivers, completely unconcerned.

Shaoshang’s eyes moistened. She coaxed gently: “Can’t you be more open-minded? What’s past is past. We each go our separate ways, establish families, have children. After ten or twenty years, when old friends gather to chat and laugh—wouldn’t that be wonderful?” If he lived a lonely, solitary life forever, what about her? Just watch like this?

Huo Buyi pulled her slender back into his embrace, holding her tight, saying in a muffled voice: “I won’t be old friends with you. We’re going to be an old husband and wife.”

Shaoshang felt a searing breath rush toward her, a warm head burying into the hollow of her neck, surrounded by clean masculine scent mixed with familiar herbal fragrance and the bloody rust smell of iron.

She silently shed tears, then hardened her heart, forcefully pushed him away, stood up straight, and said coldly: “If you want to take a wife, take a wife. Whoever you want to marry, marry her. It has nothing to do with me! Everything’s been said. I’m leaving.”

Huo Buyi grabbed her in one motion, kneeling on one leg, firmly encircling her slender waist, pleading: “Don’t be so heartless. Six years ago I wronged you. Others don’t understand, but I understand—you’ve never been willing to trust others, never willing to depend on others. But I forced you to accept me. When you were wholeheartedly ready to spend your life with me, I abandoned you…”

Shaoshang shed tears again, the scabbed-over wound in her heart torn open another crack.

In her heart stood a high wall built of solid ice. On this side of the wall she was alone—no one could enter. Six years ago, Ling Buyi had shattered this ice wall with overwhelming force, saying they could warm each other from then on. She’d used all her strength to believe him. And the result…? She’d already made up her mind—for this lifetime she would never come out again!

“I absolutely won’t forgive you!” She cried, grinding her teeth, saying viciously: “Stop dreaming! The reason I can live well until now is by being hard-hearted. I absolutely won’t forgive those who wrong me. Once unfaithful, never used again. Six years ago you could abandon me—how do I know you won’t repeat the pattern in the future! I know everyone is helping you speak, openly and secretly, including my own family. But I deliberately won’t let you have your way! Without you, I can live very well. I absolutely won’t trust you again. Never!”

Huo Buyi also shed tears, pleading humbly: “They’re not helping me speak—they’re helping us. Take a mirror and look at yourself. The way you look at Yuan Shen is completely different from how you look at me. I’m not blind, and others aren’t blind either!”

Shaoshang’s tears fell like rain, choking, unable to speak: “Without you, I can live well. Yuan Shen and I will grow old together, spend our lives together…”

Huo Buyi said softly: “Yes, I deserve a lonely life. You’ll always be able to forget me.”

Shaoshang’s throat felt unbearably blocked.

Huo Buyi looked up at her: “I never thought of hurting you. I’ve always hoped you could have a smooth life, joyful and worry-free. Back then I’d even found the posting location for you and Lou Yao—where mountains are clear, waters beautiful, folk customs pure. If you liked firing bricks and tiles, you could fire bricks and tiles. If you liked brewing wine, you could brew wine. No one would criticize you.”

“These six years I’ve kept having a dream—dreaming that my parents and siblings are all alive and well, that the massacre never happened. I went to your home to propose marriage. You agreed. Then we happily became husband and wife—”

Shaoshang’s eyes blurred with tears, thinking how wonderful it would be if Huo Chong and his wife were still alive, if everyone were still alive.

Huo Buyi would certainly be the most valiant and cheerful youth in the entire capital. They’d still meet at the lantern market, but this time he wouldn’t have misgivings. Instead, he’d walk over openly and directly. And she, seeing his face, would definitely become a complete flower-crazed fool.

Perhaps Madam Xiao would think him rash, Old Master Cheng would think him abrupt. But given the Huo family’s illustrious status, she’d ultimately marry over anyway. When children surrounded their knees, she’d tell everyone: actually, the cabbage made the first move.

Huo Buyi’s eyes reddened, tears condensing on his lashes. He grasped her hands and placed them on his own cheeks: “Don’t be so heartless. I beg you, don’t be so heartless to me.”

Shaoshang could no longer maintain her cold pretense. She cried like a child, tears and snot, utterly lacking image. Today she was utterly defeated, powerless to fight back.

At this moment, a burst of noisy conversation suddenly came from outside, as if many people were walking this way. Leading was the Third Princess’s loud laughter tinged with intoxication—”Qu Lingjun left too quickly! She didn’t even eat Mother Empress’s palace’s iced sweet fruit and chestnuts. And Cheng Shaoshang—who knows where she ran off to.”

The Second Princess said: “Lingjun is carrying a child—you think she’s you? Eating and playing endlessly without rest. Shaoshang probably returned to Yong’an Palace. I heard recently the Grand Empress Dowager’s health has gotten worse.”

The Princess Consort of the Heir of Ruyang said: “Today’s spring weather is wonderful. Why don’t we set up the banquet in the rear garden, blowing in the breeze to sober up from the wine?”

The Third Princess laughed cheerfully: “The spring weather is good, but mosquitoes are plentiful too. This palace room is better—the partition screens on three sides can be removed. Then we can equally enjoy the breeze and scenery.”

“Oh my, Third Imperial Sister is so thoughtful and considerate now!”

“Get lost! No respect for seniority!”

The ladies laughed heartily.

Both Huo and Cheng were crying somewhat dazedly. In the blink of an eye, the palace room’s door panels were whooshed open. Inside and outside eyes met. They saw Shaoshang standing upright in place, Huo Buyi kneeling on one leg before her. Both had tear-streaked faces, sporadic blood stains on their clothes, the desk on the floor and its furnishings scattered in disarray.

The ladies were unprepared to see such a scene and simultaneously drew in breath.

After a moment of stillness, no one spoke. As the lady of highest seniority, the Princess Consort of the Heir of Ruyang felt obligated to speak, saying woodenly: “Uh… you, you’re also here. What a coincidence…”

These words were worse than nothing. Inside and outside the door fell into silence again. After a moment, everyone came to their senses. Whispered discussions arose, interspersed with suppressed light laughter.

The ladies thought: Could these two be having a tryst here? But looking at this scene of chaos, clothes bearing blood—more like fighting and brawling. Then looking at these two’s posture, one standing one kneeling—was this earnest pleading? But would Huo Buyi, such a proud young minister of power, kneel to beg someone?! …Uh, they couldn’t guess this puzzle.

Shaoshang’s head buzzed, at a loss, completely unsure how to respond.

Huo Buyi very calmly rose slowly, sheltering the girl behind him, his gaze toward the ladies indifferent. He made this gesture of complete protection—the soft laughter and whispers outside the door immediately quieted. Given their birth and status, they naturally weren’t market gossipmongers who only knew how to watch excitement. They still had the appropriate awareness.

The Second Princess laughed softly and stepped forward, saying gently: “Zicheng, we’ve drunk too much today and want to sober up here.”

Huo Buyi’s expression softened. He suddenly said inexplicably: “…Second Princess, do you still remember that year in the palace lane—you, me, Shaoshang, and Third Princess, the four of us met?”

The Third Princess remembered.

She scratched her ear, rolled her eyes. She’d long forgotten the embarrassing past event—why did Huo Buyi have to bring it up again? Really!

The Second Princess said: “I remember. That was Shaoshang’s first day by Her Majesty the Empress’s side to learn and receive instruction.”

Shaoshang also remembered. At that time it was the same—Third Princess wanted to trouble her. He’d sheltered her behind him, like a tall, upright mountain ridge, blocking all wind and rain.

Huo Buyi’s expression was coldly severe and serious: “Before parting that day, the last words I said—I wonder if Second Princess still remembers?”

The Second Princess looked at him quietly, then smiled: “…I remember. Rest assured.”

She turned to look at the ladies, her gaze authoritative yet gentle: “Zicheng and Shaoshang haven’t seen each other for many years, so they have things to say. I hope what everyone saw today won’t generate gossip outside.”

Smart people needn’t say much—they naturally understood. The ladies immediately comprehended that if they went out talking nonsense, they’d not only make an enemy of Huo Buyi but also of the Emperor’s most beloved Second Princess. So they all laughed it off, pretending ignorance.

Shaoshang slowly clenched her fists. She remembered everything. That day, what Huo Buyi said last to the two princesses was—Until I met her, I first had thoughts of marriage. Other than her, there is no one else.