After Mo Zi left, Yuan Cheng coldly ordered the two seductive courtesans who kept pouring wine and throwing flirtatious glances to leave.

Watching the two depart with lingering backward glances, Jin Yin lowered his eyes to stare at the gemstone in his hand, his phoenix eyes losing their smile. “You’re as boring as ever—a beauty before you yet you turn a blind eye. Yuan Cheng, I thought after dying once, you’d have gained some perspective. Perhaps you’ve developed some improper thoughts toward a certain someone. If that’s truly the case, I advise you to straighten them out properly.”

Yuan Cheng paid no mind. He never harbored excessive desire for beautiful things and knew exactly whom Jin Yin meant by “a certain someone.” What distinguished pleasure boats from ordinary vessels was their many windows open on all four sides, allowing views of the scenery outside, the lantern lights, and that certain someone sitting on the boat’s edge.

Had he developed improper thoughts toward her? Why not? Someone he’d never encountered before—so intelligent that despite being female, she could match any man. Just as she had sought his friendship initially, he too felt a strong desire to cherish such talent. Sometimes he even thought that if losing everything was the price for meeting someone like her, then it was well worth it. His past—climbing to the pinnacle, seemingly all his, yet actually not his. His present—stripped of everything, needing to start from scratch, yet he suddenly felt somewhat weary. Only she could capture his full attention.

Was it about romantic love?

No.

He’d always been emotionally indifferent and prideful, selfish enough to care only about his own survival. Most likely he simply enjoyed the feeling of being her friend—delighted when close, detached when distant.

Toward him, she had none of that infatuated gaze women usually showed. Her attitude was frank and straightforward, her words caring but not excessive, having nothing to do with romantic feelings between men and women. This made him very comfortable.

“Jin Yin, regarding her, you seem to know quite a bit. Unfortunately, you mentioned it a step too late.” The sworn brotherhood with Jin Yin had occurred when both their minds weren’t clear. Afterward, their relationship became neither strained nor close, maintaining minimal contact unless absolutely necessary. The brotherhood claim was more like a joke.

Hearing Yuan Cheng say he was a step too late, Jin Yin immediately looked up with wide eyes. “Yuan Cheng, you… Today is the Qixi Festival, and here you are accompanying her. That girl is uncommonly clever—what methods did you use to deceive her into complete devotion? Did you drug her?”

Yuan Cheng’s lips curved with some mockery. “Why does Young Master Jin project his own thoughts onto me?”

“Then what do you mean?” Jin Yin understood enjoying life better than Yuan Cheng. Since coming out, he never missed any good food or entertainment, his mind active and imagination “rich.”

“She and I interact as friends. When needed, we rely on each other.” He stated it very clearly—the kind of friendship based on mutual benefit.

“Yuan Cheng, do you know who she is?” This fellow’s luck was better than his own—nearly dead yet she came to rescue him. Heaven itself seemed to permit this person to continue wreaking havoc on earth. Not only was he alone before, now he had her as an ally. Jin Yin felt as if dark clouds were gathering overhead.

“When she wants to tell me, I’ll naturally know. Why ask unnecessarily?” Yuan Cheng had never treated Mo Zi as an ordinary contraband dealer or maid. Though curious about her mysteries, he wasn’t urgent about them. Mo Zi was Mo Zi—regardless of anything else, the side she showed him was never false, and that was enough.

“Shall I tell you instead?” Tonight Jin Yin had seen Mo Zi’s true face and finally confirmed his earlier intuition wasn’t wrong—this Brother Mo, this Mo Zi, was the young girl he’d encountered years ago.

Yuan Cheng stood up.

Jin Yin was startled. “You don’t want to know? Why? In the past when dealing with people, you’d never accept their gifts or handle their affairs without thoroughly investigating their background.”

“When I need to accept her gifts and handle her affairs, I’ll come inquire of you then.” For now, he just wanted to simply maintain a cooperative relationship.

“Yuan Cheng, don’t tell me you’ve become a good person.” He wouldn’t believe it even if beaten to death.

“Jin Yin, those three pearls—you voluntarily gave them to me. I accepted them, and you became the sole dominant power among Nande’s banks. The benefit far exceeds their value. Isn’t that so?” His greed required others’ willing consent, never forced. He also chose whom to accept from, because once he accepted, he would certainly handle the matter properly.

Jin Yin didn’t dare speak loudly, pursing his lips. “That’s also because you knew I had this treasure and hinted for me to give it to you before you’d clear all the channels for me.”

“True. I paid two hundred thousand taels from my own pocket to arrange everything properly. Those pearls weren’t taken from you for nothing. If you keep bothering me about this matter in the future—” All of Nande was corrupt. As the number one corrupt official, getting things done for people required even more money.

“Will you sell the pearls to me?” Jin Yin’s eyes brightened.

“I’ll make your Jin Yin Bank close up shop in Nande.” Losing power now didn’t matter. As long as Nande’s corrupt atmosphere remained, he had methods.

If anyone else had said this, Jin Yin wouldn’t have taken it seriously. He wasn’t without influence and connections himself. Over these years, his bank stood unshaken in various countries—naturally he had deep waters. But if Yuan Cheng said this, he could only lament inwardly—why couldn’t he beat this fellow?

Everyone knew that when people leave, tea grows cold. Yet with Yuan Cheng—the person left, but the tea stayed warm. His ten years of political maneuvering, expending almost everything he had, the network of connections established through climbing to the peak position—others simply couldn’t imagine it. The day his home was raided, countless gold, silver, and jewels—contributing to the national treasury? Don’t make people laugh. To solidify his crimes, the treasury even subsidized tens of millions in silver and treasures to make Nande’s citizens deeply believe Yuan Cheng had squeezed the people’s fat and marrow, filthy rich. The title of number one corrupt official was just an empty designation. Though “destitute household” was an exaggeration, compared to other Nande officials, he could absolutely be described as having cool breezes blowing through. So where did all his corruption go? Could only be understood, not spoken. Everyone who gave him silver and gifts knew in their hearts.

Before dealing with Yuan Cheng, Jin Yin also thought he was insatiably greedy like ordinary high officials, only to discover how absurdly wrong he’d been.

“Moreover, I also know why you want to reclaim the pearls. But those rumors are false—you’d better not believe them.” Yuan Cheng understood Jin Yin’s obsession clearly but found it laughable.

Jin Yin’s spirit sharpened. “Yuan Cheng, is there anything you don’t know?”

“Myself.” Yuan Cheng then pointed to the lantern-watching person outside. “And her.”

Jin Yin also stood up. If Yuan Cheng and Mo Zi were both on deck, what point was there in him sitting alone?

“Yuan Cheng, what exactly are your plans?” An imperial pardon decree, inexplicable. His openly serving as an official, inexplicable. Having elite troops protecting him, inexplicable. And suddenly becoming friends with Mo Zi, inexplicable.

“Jin Yin, what about you?” Yuan Cheng asked in return.

The two—one in black, one in white, one plain, one golden—extremely different yet strangely harmonious.

“With Yuling’s country destroyed, what will you do?” Yuan Cheng asked again, his dark eyes brightened by lantern light.

“The old ones should have died long ago, the young one is useless. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. What do you think I’ll do?” Jin Yin’s seductive expression suddenly vanished, replaced by a cruel smile.

“So all three of us—you, she, and I—don’t know our future paths.” Yuan Cheng’s jade-colored face showed genuine warmth. “If you speak fewer pretty words, the three of us could temporarily travel the same road—even the realm itself might be within easy grasp.”

Jin Yin froze on the spot, then heard Yuan Cheng call out, “Brother Mo, would you like to release a lantern and make a wish?”

Even the realm, within easy grasp?

Jin Yin gazed at the backs of the two people ahead. One once wielded overwhelming power, bearing family vengeance, actually toppling a country in retaliation. One hiding in shadows, possessing extraordinary skills, had already caused one country’s downfall. As for himself—not to boast—if he defaulted on what the world owed him, he’d absolutely be rich enough to rival nations. Was the Great Zhou currently blessed or cursed—did it actually depend on their moods?

Thinking this way, treating it as a very interesting joke, Jin Yin couldn’t help but laugh aloud. This Yuan Cheng—evil to his core—better not corrupt an innocent young lady. Stepping forward quickly, he beckoned for the lantern-selling boatman to approach.

“Brother Mo, choose your favorite—I’ll give it to you.” His current position owed much to her advice. One flower lantern was just the beginning.

Seeing both suddenly treating her so well, Mo Zi graciously accepted, though she had a question. “How did Young Master Jin recognize me at a glance?”

“You and I met before—how could I not recognize you?” Jin Yin smiled playfully, not showing a serious face.

Mo Zi assumed he meant the two times they’d met at the bank, crediting his good eyesight. After all, she’d only applied some dark powder to her face—her features unchanged, so recognition was normal. Yuan Cheng had also recognized her at once. She thus asked no more.

Yuan Cheng leisurely said from the side, “Brother Mo, since Young Master Jin is being generous for once, remember to pick the most expensive one and gift me a lantern too.”

Jin Yin truly couldn’t help but retort. “I’m being generous to Brother Mo, not to you. Besides, for someone like you to release lanterns and make wishes would be bringing disaster to all living beings.”

Mo Zi smiled bitterly and spoke frankly. “If you two want to quarrel, don’t do it in my ear. Since you’re sworn brothers, give each other some ground. Continuing like this, even releasing lanterns won’t fulfill any wishes.”

Yuan Cheng said nothing. Jin Yin also fell silent. Out of consideration for Mo Zi, they declared a truce.

After releasing flower lanterns and dismissing the two boat maidens, the three continued drinking. Not knowing what they chatted about, they suddenly hit it off quite well. They even had Bai Liang and Qian Liang bring out the Four Treasures of the Study, wrote something, then burned something. Mo Zi drank more than ever before, got thoroughly drunk, and fell asleep with her head on the table.

She woke in the faint morning light. Jin Yin wasn’t there, Yuan Cheng wasn’t there either. She’d been lying on a soft couch—no wonder she’d slept comfortably. Rubbing her eyes, she went up to the deck and saw the boat had already docked.

People were cleaning the river channel, scooping up flower lanterns and tossing them into baskets. So this was how wishes that didn’t reach the river mouth met their premature end.

She smiled helplessly, then suddenly saw a tall shadow beside her. Startled, she quickly looked over. “Zan Jin, why didn’t you make a sound?” This gentleman had eaten and drunk too much at Yuan Manor yesterday. He’d dozed off in the carriage, and she hadn’t woken him either.

“Brother Mo, you should have woken me. What if we encountered robbers again?” Zan Jin felt very embarrassed. From now on, he’d rather go hungry than sleep from being too full.

“On a boat—where would robbers come from?” Mo Zi prepared to disembark. Seeing one of Yuan Cheng’s carriages still there, she asked, “Did everyone leave?”

“Everyone left, but the Elder Young Master and Second Young Master saw you sleeping soundly, so they had me wait until you woke before disembarking. The Elder Young Master also left a carriage—I can send you back.” Zan Jin followed behind Mo Zi.

Mo Zi found it very awkward. “What Elder Young Master, Second Young Master? Zan Jin, you don’t need to be so formal with them.”

“Brother Mo, since you’ve sworn brotherhood with them, I’m not wrong to call them that. Bai Liang and Qian Liang call you Third Young Master.” Zan Jin now had his own opinions.

Who swore brotherhood with whom? Which idiot wanted to be some Third Young Master? She was female, for heaven’s sake!