At dusk, a light rain fell on the peak of Mount Tai. Half of Qing Di Palace was submerged in clouds, the nanmu wood corridors were all moist, and the agate chess pieces felt slightly cool to the touch.

Fucang slowly placed a chess piece on the board. Qing Di across from him drew in a breath and smiled bitterly: “Your chess strategy has had a very heavy killing intent lately.”

Fucang answered silently, placing the agate pieces into the box one by one, then asked: “Another game?”

Qing Di shook his head and sighed: “No more. This isn’t like usual. Are you still angry with me for agreeing to arrange the match with the Zhuyin Clan?”

Fucang poured a cup of Nine-Nine Return to Origin tea and pushed it before him: “Father, I’ve already said I have no interest in such matters for now.”

“Oh?” A trace of a smile appeared in Qing Di’s eyes. “Then is it that you’ve encountered difficulties in the sword dao again?”

“No, actually I seem to have gained some insight recently. I need to calm my mind for a period of time to break through to a new realm.”

“Could it be that you have another goddess you fancy in your heart?”

“…No.”

“Bad mood because of the rain?”

Fucang looked up helplessly: “Father, losing at chess doesn’t require finding so many excuses.”

Qing Di blew on the jade leaves floating on his tea and spoke leisurely: “From childhood you’ve liked to put on a cold face as if your father doesn’t love you and your mother doesn’t care for you. Those who don’t know would think I’m as strict as a ghost. Last time I encountered Chi Di, he said I managed you too strictly, making you taciturn and quiet. I don’t know when I’ll be able to clear myself of this injustice.”

Fucang lowered his head and smiled slightly: “With those whose words are tasteless, naturally one cherishes words like gold.”

“It seems there are too many whose words are tasteless.” Qing Di wiped away the wet traces on the chess board, then suddenly seemed to remember something and continued: “Speaking of the Zhuyin Clan, that Zhongshan Dijun truly has formidable methods. I heard that when Wangshu Shennu refused to heal the Zhuyin princess’s injuries, he actually detained Feilian Shenjun and wouldn’t release him, sending a handful of bloodstained moon sand to Wangshu Palace every day, which made Wangshu quite angry.”

Speaking of this, Qing Di laughed again: “This Zhuyin Clan is truly sinister and domineering. In my view, if he had detained him for a few more days, Wangshu probably would have had no choice but to submit. That young girl is no match for the Zhuyin Clan. Unfortunately, he ended up releasing Feilian afterward.”

Fucang turned his head to drink tea and didn’t say a word.

Qing Di observed him with interest: “Last time when you came back from Huahuang’s immortal island, you even complained to me a few sentences. How is it that now whenever I mention the Zhuyin Clan you don’t speak? By the way, I still haven’t seen that little princess of the Zhuyin Clan. I heard she has elegant and beautiful looks, and noble bearing. Is that true?”

Fucang curved out a nearly mocking smile. Noble bearing?

He suddenly took out the agate pieces from the box again, placing them on the box lid one by one, and said flatly: “Why must Father always mention the Zhuyin Clan? How about playing three more games with me instead? Best two out of three. If I win, there’s one matter I’d like to request of Father.”

“Best two out of three?”

Qing Di was astonished. Where had his son learned this approach?

Fucang had always maintained the Huaxu Clan’s propriety and nobility with calm elegance, watching almost everything from the sidelines with detachment, never becoming entangled in any disputes. When he should receive guests, he received them politely. When he should take a teacher, he went to apprentice without hesitation. When Tian Di arranged a match with the Zhuyin Clan princess, he also went without declining.

He had always only done what came naturally—however, best two out of three? What was this wager with its implication of competing to win?

Qing Di only felt his interest grow stronger and couldn’t help but laugh: “What matter would you request of me?”

From childhood, Fucang had made his own decisions about his own affairs. He almost never interfered. As a father, he had always been very assured about him. Today, suddenly bringing up a request—he was instead extremely curious. Speaking of which, since apprenticing to Baize Dijun as a teacher, Fucang had subtle changes that were hard to describe, as if porcelain had gained a breath of life. He didn’t know if this was good or bad.

Fucang’s eyes flowed with light as he smiled shallowly, gently placing an agate piece on the board and saying slowly: “Win or lose, after Father finishes playing chess with me, you’ll naturally know.”

—

Slowly unwrapping the thin white cloth wrapped around her nails, then peeling away the henna silk cotton stuck to her nails bit by bit, Xuan Yi raised her hand and looked at it before her eyes with satisfaction for a moment.

Under the sunlight, the five fingernails were a nearly transparent pale pink peach color. Compared to the previously bright red henna, this color appeared more delicate and tender. The half year’s effort hadn’t been wasted.

The days when her leg injury prevented her from walking were so boring—only grooming and dressing herself could make her enthusiastic.

With a sweep of her long sleeves, instantly the entire room was filled with floating clothes. From elegant frost color to richly gorgeous crimson purple, all kinds of colors were available. When she had come to Mingxing Hall that day, just to pack her clothes had required a full twenty large chests. Unfortunately, she still felt she was missing a few pieces.

Xuan Yi struggled to choose for a long time and reluctantly selected a dress the same color as her nails. The hem was dyed with evening glow-colored camellias, paired with flowing cloud gauze draping—it was barely acceptable to look at… Sigh, she should make some new clothes.

After dressing completely in front of the grooming mirror, just as she inserted decorative gold rings into her hair bun, she heard the immortal servant calling from outside the hall: “Princess Xuan Yi, breakfast has arrived.”

Her face immediately fell. She pushed open the window to look at the food box in the immortal servant’s hands and slowly sighed: “…Is it still Ten-Perfection Tonic Soup?”

The immortal servant’s face clearly showed a gloating smile no matter how you looked at it: “That’s right. This is the heartfelt consideration of Gu Ting Shenjun and Zhi Xi Shennu. The princess was injured and can’t walk. Only when the injury heals will you not need to drink Ten-Perfection Tonic Soup anymore.”

Hmph, even this arrogant princess finally had a day of being tormented! The immortal servant looked at her bitter melon face and felt quite happy.

Xuan Yi took the food box and slowly opened it. Unsurprisingly, inside was only a bowl of thick catfish herbal soup.

As it happened, because her leg injury prevented her from moving, she had slept in Zifu for two months. Previously when she constantly stayed in Zifu she hadn’t felt bored, but now somehow—probably having gotten addicted to watching the excitement—she actually quite missed Mingxing Hall. Once the wound stopped bleeding, she came back to continue attending classes.

Who knew the nightmare would arrive with her. After returning to Mingxing Hall for over a month, Gu Ting and Zhi Xi didn’t know where they found some ancient folk remedy. They collected a pile of medicinal herbs and had the immortal servant use catfish from the Celestial River to stew Ten-Perfection Tonic Soup for her every day. Supposedly because she was injured by the long whiskers of a catfish demon, catfish soup was most effective.

Whether it was effective or not, she couldn’t tell. She only had the feeling that she never wanted to see catfish again for the rest of her life.

Xuan Yi was silent for a moment, and her eyes slowly reddened.

“I want to eat Agate White Jade Cake, Peach Blossom Hundred Fruit Cake.” She looked at the immortal servant with tearful eyes.

Crying again! He wouldn’t be fooled! The immortal servant staunchly puffed out his chest: “Those tea snacks have no particular benefit for the princess’s injury. Please endure, Princess.”

“Then Mung Bean Cool Cake is also fine.” She changed to another option quite reluctantly.

“Princess, when injured…”

“Golden Chestnut Paste Cake isn’t bad either.”

“Princess…”

“Can’t you even bring Hundred Herbs Mint Cake?” She was on the verge of tears.

“Fine… alright.” The immortal servant’s upright chest spinelessely shrank back down. He dejectedly went to find the cakes for her.

When he came running back panting with a plate of tea snacks, the Ten-Perfection Tonic Soup in the bowl was already completely empty. The gracefully charming Zhuyin Clan princess sat quietly on an ice bench admiring her fingernails.

“…Princess, you finished the Ten-Perfection Tonic Soup?” The immortal servant looked at her very suspiciously.

Xuan Yi took a small bite of Golden Chestnut Paste Cake and smiled like a spring breeze: “Yes, I finished it.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Why couldn’t he believe her at all! The immortal servant vigilantly swept his gaze around the entire courtyard. There must be some trace left behind. He absolutely would not believe this sinister and devious princess!

“Eh? Tea snacks to eat so early in the morning?” A sweet and gentle voice came from the hall entrance.

Xuan Yi happily waved to him: “Shao Yi shixiong, you’re back.”

She had been back at Mingxing Hall for over a month, but this divine lord of the Qingyang Clan didn’t know where he was off enjoying himself and actually hadn’t returned to attend classes. What was strange was that Baize Dijun actually didn’t care about him.

“Yes, did you miss me?” Shao Yi walked over slowly and first picked up a tea snack to toss in his mouth.

Xuan Yi smiled and poured a cup of tea to hand over: “I did.”

He smiled: “Good girl. My rushing here to attend class as soon as I got back wasn’t in vain.”