Qin Zhiyan’s gaze was like layers of ocean waves as he laughed contentedly, clasping Qing Xia’s hand in return and smiling: “Yima’er, I’m very happy – I’ve never been as happy as I am now.”

Qing Xia’s smile was warm as she nodded, saying: “Me too.”

Incense smoke curled in the warm room, several braziers steaming with heat, and everywhere was filled with the thick scent of medicine. Qing Xia picked up a white cotton robe and helped Qin Zhiyan put it on, then supported him to sit on the bed. After thinking for a moment, she suddenly took off her shoes, climbed onto the bed, and half-knelt behind Qin Zhiyan, taking up a comb to brush his long black hair.

“Zhiyan, have I ever told you that the men from our place don’t keep long hair?” Qing Xia suddenly asked.

Qin Zhiyan was holding a small bowl containing the fritillaria, lotus seed, and snow pear soup that Qing Xia had made, drinking it spoonful by spoonful in a refined manner. Hearing this, he was slightly stunned and said: “Don’t keep hair – are they all bald?”

Qing Xia laughed despite herself, saying: “No, they cut it very short – very sharp-looking. If you also cut your hair short and wore a suit with a tie, you’d definitely be very handsome.”

Qin Zhiyan shook his head with a smile, turning to look at the long hair on his shoulder, laughing: “I really can’t imagine what I’d look like with short hair.”

“That’s easy!” Qing Xia said with a smile: “When you have time tomorrow, I’ll draw you a sketch – I’m very good at drawing.”

“Sketch?”

“Yes,” Qing Xia said: “It’s different from your ink wash paintings. Sketches are realistic – what’s drawn looks almost like the real person. I just don’t know if you can make this kind of pencil here. Oh, I should have asked Zhu Yuanqing and the others to help me make one.”

“The prince’s manor also has many skilled craftsmen. Tomorrow I’ll have Uncle Xiang introduce them to you.”

“Really?” Qing Xia said happily. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly noticed a large clump of hair tangled in the comb. She froze immediately, feeling as if a needle had pierced her heart, her eyes stinging and nearly shedding tears.

“Yima’er, what if I stop being this prince and accompany you to travel famous mountains and great rivers, or set sail on the seas? Wherever you want to go, I’ll accompany you – would that be good?”

Qing Xia was stunned, the unease in her heart growing even heavier. She put down the comb in her hand, embraced Qin Zhiyan’s waist from behind, and pressed her face against his back. A tear fell, wetting his white shirt and spreading into a large water stain.

“Good. When your illness is cured, we’ll travel to all the beautiful scenery in the world. When we find a place we like, we’ll settle down there. When we get tired of it, we’ll go somewhere else.”

Qin Zhiyan’s voice was very light, seemingly weak and powerless. Qing Xia couldn’t see his face, only feeling the tremor of his back as she heard him say: “I used to always think that dying for Great Qin after doing my utmost wouldn’t be anything to regret. But now, if I were to die without having accompanied you anywhere or seen anything with you, I would definitely die with great regret.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Qing Xia angrily shouted, releasing Qin Zhiyan’s body and coming before him, saying in a heavy voice: “Who said you would die? You can eat and sleep – you don’t know how well you are. How could anything happen to you? Zhu Yuanqing is contacting the Seven Qingpeng Tribes for me. You know they’re all people with extraordinary abilities – there will always be a way to cure your illness.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled warmly, noncommittally.

Qing Xia nervously gripped his hand, widening her eyes as she said loudly: “Qin Zhiyan, do you trust me or not?”

Qin Zhiyan smiled and nodded. Qing Xia said firmly: “When I was beheaded by the military department, I never gave up the desire to live. Look – I could live even without a head. Why can’t you? As long as we have hope, there will definitely be a miracle. You definitely won’t have problems, and you can’t have problems. If you leave me alone, I’ll hate you.”

Qin Zhiyan nodded and smiled, saying: “Alright.”

“What do you mean ‘alright’?” Qing Xia said angrily: “Not a bit of sincerity!”

Qin Zhiyan patted her head amusingly, coaxing like one would a child: “Alright, I won’t die. I’ll definitely always stay with Yima’er, until you no longer want to remain by my side.”

“There will never be such a day.” Qing Xia suddenly reached out to embrace Qin Zhiyan, burying her head in his chest, her voice trembling slightly as she said: “We’ll be together forever. This is our home. I’ll always cling to you – until I’m too old to walk, until my teeth fall out, until I become bald – I still won’t let you go. We’ll have our own children, and the children will have children, and then we’ll watch a bunch of little ones running around us, happily drinking sweet soup. We’ll travel to every corner of the world – you’ll play the flute for me, I’ll paint for you. When we’re old, we’ll move to live in the Qingmu Hall of the imperial mausoleum. The fruits there taste very good, and the hot springs are very warm. Qin Zhiyan, it was you who gave me hope, gave me a home. You can’t break your word.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled slowly, slightly closing his eyes as he embraced Qing Xia’s waist. His warm breath fell on the top of her head – everything was like a great dream.

“Yima’er, no matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side.”

The low voice came slowly. Qing Xia’s tears immediately slid out. Qin Zhiyan smiled warmly, shaking his head: “Silly girl, why are you crying?”

The pale woman raised her small pointed face, pouting as she said: “Qin Zhiyan, as a man of honor, you must keep your word.”

“Mm.” Qin Zhiyan nodded with a smile, then slowly lowered his head to kiss Qing Xia’s lips.

If all this is just an illusory dream of a floating life, then please never let me wake up.

At this moment, he didn’t want to think about anything else – not the turbulent winds and clouds of Qin, not the cold blade edges lurking in corners, not even that face sealed away in the depths of his heart.

I have walked through life in solitude, traveling rough and difficult paths. Now let me use my own life as a wager to love someone wholeheartedly. Even if the waters of the Yellow Springs overwhelm this world, even if the mountains of the Nine Provinces collapse and crumble, even if the ice and snow of the Northern Abyss sweep over all things, I will not waver or turn aside. Since I’ve chosen to walk side by side, I will never look back.

The next day, Qin Zhiyan claimed illness and stayed in the manor. Qing Xia was excited all day. She had people clear out a corner of the northwest courtyard’s flower-planting suspended building and accompanied Qin Zhiyan inside for tea and refreshments. The craftsmen of Prince Xuan’s manor were indeed extraordinary – Qing Xia only gave slight hints, and by afternoon, they had made dozens of pencils. Although they were still somewhat different from modern ones, they still made her happy for a long time. Spreading out white paper and setting up an easel, Qing Xia sat in front and began painting in earnest.

Qin Zhiyan lay leisurely on a soft chair, covered with a white blanket, casually reading a miscellaneous record. From time to time he would raise his head to look at Qing Xia’s serious appearance. Every time he wanted to chuckle, he would be driven back by her angry glare.

Compared to people of this era, Qing Xia’s painting was indeed realistic. After two days, it had taken considerable shape – a person-high scroll dragged long on the ground. The man in the painting was handsome and elegant, wearing a suit and leather shoes, holding a wine glass, with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. That face was unmistakably Qin Zhiyan’s.

Servants from throughout the manor came in batches to the suspended building to observe, all sighing in amazement. Seeing Qing Xia’s proud expression, Qin Zhiyan couldn’t help but laugh despite himself.

This afternoon, Qing Xia was in the kitchen directing several cooks to make cake according to her requirements. Unfortunately, this super agent who was proficient in various assassination techniques and had mastered knowledge from all walks of life was uniquely unable to make desserts. Due to Qin Zhiyan’s illness treatment, his food was prohibited from being spicy, and even salty foods should be eaten sparingly. Having figured out his preferences, over the past few days Qing Xia had researched various dessert recipes, teaching the cooks everything she knew. Fortunately, she was articulate and the cooks were extremely talented – most of the desserts they made were decent, except for today’s.

“Failed again,” Qing Xia said gloomily. “It seems we really can’t do without an oven – the heat is hard to control. Let me think about it more carefully.”

At this moment, Bi’er suddenly ran into the kitchen and said to Qing Xia: “Miss, court officials have come and sent you many clothes.”

“Court officials sent me clothes?” Qing Xia was stunned, her eyebrows slightly raised as she asked in a heavy voice.

“Yes,” Bi’er said. “Many people came, and there are also imperial physicians from the inner palace.”

“Come on, let’s see what they’re up to.” Washing the flour from her hands, Qing Xia led the way running toward the manor’s main hall.

Just as she turned the corner of the corridor, she saw a crowd of court attendants respectfully withdrawing from the main hall, walking outside.

Qin Zhiyan stood at the entrance of the main hall, wearing a light purple robe that made him appear particularly ethereal and refined. Seeing Qing Xia, he smiled and walked forward, reaching out to gently wipe her left cheek. His eyes narrowed into an attractive arc as he smiled and said: “Look at you – your face is covered in flour.”

“Zhiyan, what did they come for?”

Qin Zhiyan shook his head, saying: “Nothing – you don’t need to worry.”

“Liar,” Qing Xia grabbed Qin Zhiyan’s robe, saying stubbornly: “Showing excessive courtesy when there’s no reason means either treachery or theft. Bi’er said they also sent me clothes – tell me.”

Qin Zhiyan thought for a moment and said in a heavy voice: “Tonight Father Emperor is having a family banquet and wants you to attend.”

“Me?” Qing Xia was stunned, pointing at her own nose with wide eyes.

Qin Zhiyan said amusingly: “Mm. If you don’t want to go, it’s fine – I’ll help you decline.”

Qing Xia shook her head, saying: “You can avoid the first day but not the fifteenth – if we must go, let’s go.”

Qin Zhiyan grasped her small hand, giving it a comforting squeeze: “Don’t be afraid – I’ll be there.”

The midday sun hung bright in the sky, casting down the warm gentle rays of early spring.

It was now early March. The north had just entered early spring, and the days were still quite short – the sky darkened early. The carriage moved slowly through the streets, with Yan Character Battalion personal soldiers guarding both sides of the carriage on horseback, clearing the way. Xianyang had no curfew, and at this time the streets were lively and noisy, but wherever Prince Xuan’s manor carriage passed, everyone competed to make way, falling silent.