Qing Xia carefully lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside. She saw crowds of people surging through the streets, the roads broad with shops and stores lining both sides, and the endless calls of vendors hawking their wares. Songs and dances, acrobatics, and noisy music all converged together. Street performers displayed various eye-catching acts – many classic routines that could be seen in modern television dramas were present here, such as balancing spears on the throat and crushing stones on the chest, a dazzling array of performances. On the Wei River that flowed through the city, lanterns, dragon boats, and fireworks lit up the black night bright as day. Countless small vendors shouted along the riverbank to attract business, selling cooked wine and tobacco, tea and clothing, fruits and vegetables, household utensils, medicinal herbs and fresh flowers, cosmetics and fireworks – every delightful little trinket was available, everything one could want.

Qin Zhiyan leaned against the soft cushions. A brazier in the corner emitted rich fragrance, making the carriage warm and cozy. The finest fritillaria’s clear scent mixed with the aroma of fruit and herbs, drifting through the air. Qin Zhiyan watched Qing Xia, a faint smile at the corners of his mouth, but suddenly his brow furrowed and he began coughing softly.

Quickly lowering the curtain, Qing Xia turned back and nimbly poured a cup of warm lung-moistening medicinal tea, bringing it to Qin Zhiyan’s lips as she said urgently: “Did you catch cold? I’ll have someone bring another brazier.”

“No need.” Qin Zhiyan shook his head, took a sip of the medicinal tea, and said softly: “It’s fine, don’t be nervous.”

Qing Xia pouted slightly, saying seriously: “If you want me not to be nervous, you need to take care of your health. Eat more, exercise regularly, and don’t think too much about troublesome matters.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled warmly: “Eating and sleeping more while not being productive – wouldn’t that make me fat?”

Qing Xia reached out to smooth the wrinkles on his robe front, not looking up as she said crisply: “If you could truly become a healthy fat man, I would thank heaven and earth.”

Qin Zhiyan shook his head with a smile, not contradicting her, letting Qing Xia cover his knees with another blanket. The carriage moved slowly forward, the noisy crowds gradually left behind. After entering the inner city, the bustling voices gradually disappeared. Towering plane trees stood in rows around the inner city, blocking out most of the noisy clamor. Guards were stationed every few steps – the Qin army’s capital garrison troops in iron armor stood sentry at each gate of the inner city. Even someone as powerful in Great Qin as Qin Zhiyan had to stop repeatedly for inspection.

Fortunately, most of these soldiers had been trained by Qin Zhiyan and didn’t make things difficult, merely requiring identification tokens as a formality.

During her last palace visit, Qing Xia had been restricted everywhere with various incomprehensible limitations. She had been cautious and careful with her words and actions, never seeing the full scope of the Qin Taihe Palace. Now traveling along this route and observing carefully, she couldn’t help but secretly marvel at the palace’s magnificence.

The customs of Qin and Chu differed, so their palace architectural styles were also different.

Chu palaces favored exquisite craftsmanship with artificial mountains and gardens everywhere, small bridges over flowing water, and extremely refined pavilions and halls – every spot was scenic, each scene like a painting. The Qin Taihe Palace favored grandeur, filled with the magnificent northern heroic spirit. The palace walls were thick and heavy with simple colors, and the palace buildings mostly used gold and red as primary colors – the tones were bold and the totems fierce, truly fitting the saying “southern refinement, northern expansiveness.”

The Taihe Palace was completely quiet at night. The weather had been changeable recently – just a few days ago it was sunny like spring, but this afternoon it had snowed lightly. The Forbidden Square of Taihe Palace was covered in white, and the majestic main hall of Taihe Palace crouched like a fierce tiger at the end of the imperial road. Lights blazed brilliantly on both sides, with the faint sound of strings and woodwinds drifting out. Those with good eyesight could even see the flying sleeves and soft waists of dancing girls inside.

Qing Xia felt somewhat dazed, and for some unknown reason, a trace of nervousness arose in her heart. By all rights she shouldn’t be afraid – in modern times she had assassinated terrorists and protected heads of state and political dignitaries. Even after coming to this era, she regularly encountered imperial relatives and nobles from various countries, having long since developed nerves of steel. But for some reason, as she drew closer to that majestic palace, her palms began to sweat more and more, her fingers gripping the window frame tightly as she stared outside with bright, wide-open eyes, unblinking.

A pair of cold hands suddenly reached from behind, grasping her small hands tightly in their palms.

Qing Xia was slightly stunned and turned back to see Qin Zhiyan’s warm, calm eyes. The man smiled faintly, his expression gentle, his voice warm like flowing water: “Don’t be afraid – I’m here.”

Knowing they were entering the Qin palace for the family banquet, he had said this phrase countless times. Qing Xia looked at Qin Zhiyan’s calm expression and handsome face, unconsciously nodding: “Mm, with you here, I’m not afraid of anyone.”

Qin Zhiyan chuckled softly, indulgently touching her nose tip, his eyes curved like crescents.

At this moment, a shrill voice outside called in a drawn-out tone: “Prince Xuan, Third Highness, arrives!”

Qing Xia’s heart sank – what was meant to come had come. Adjusting her mindset, she bent her legs and climbed up. The personal guards outside lifted the curtain, and Qing Xia jumped down first, immediately turning back to support Qin Zhiyan’s hand and help him down from the carriage. She then went behind him to drape a pure white ermine fur coat over his shoulders. On the brightly lit imperial road, Qin Zhiyan’s white fur coat gleamed faintly with golden light, making him appear even more like a jade gentleman of divine bearing, incomparably handsome.

Great Qin had favored black since ancient times – military banners, palaces, and various ceremonial divine tablets were all primarily black. Therefore, at various large imperial gatherings, black was basically the main color. Since the Qin King was only holding a family banquet today, Qin Zhiyan had simply worn a moon-white robe inside with a jade crown.

But since this was her first time entering the palace to have an audience with the Qin King, Qing Xia was dressed quite formally. She wore a fitted wide-sleeved brocade robe, primarily black with gold thread embroidery, lotus-leaf wide collar trimmed with white plum blossom patterns. The robe’s front went from left shoulder to right waist, hanging diagonally at the hem and extending to form the skirt tail, trailing long behind her. Her skin was like snow, her neck like jade, with a small oval face, bright brows and white teeth, eyes curved like crescents. On her snow-white earlobes hung two strings of black jade earrings from Beijiang Fengya, dangling long over her slightly exposed collarbones, appearing uniquely seductive. Her full head of black hair was piled high in the style of Qin noble ladies, quite reminiscent of flying celestial goddesses – bound high with extremely light hollow white jade from the Mo River supporting it from behind. A chicken-heart fire-red pendant hung from her forehead, particularly striking and distinctive against the black and white colors.

Qing Xia had never dressed so formally. The carriage had been dim earlier so she hadn’t seen clearly, but now Qin Zhiyan looked up and down at Qing Xia, who seemed somewhat uncomfortable, his lips curving in a faint smile.

Qing Xia could wear black combat clothing and kill without hesitation or sound. But facing Qin Zhiyan’s gaze now, she blushed slightly and said uneasily: “What are you looking at? Don’t look at me like that.” She stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and reached out her pale small hand to cover Qin Zhiyan’s eyes. Seven or eight thin black jade bracelets clinked against each other on her slender snow-white wrist, making crisp, pleasant sounds.

Qin Zhiyan laughed heartily, pulled down Qing Xia’s hand, swept his long sleeves to embrace her, and pressed his lips to her tender earlobe. With quite a bit of carefree and unrestrained air, he said softly: “I never knew that my Yima’er was such a devastatingly beautiful woman.”

A current of electricity flowed from Qing Xia’s earlobe to her brain. Qing Xia’s face instantly flushed red as she struggled uneasily, only provoking Qin Zhiyan’s hearty laughter without any effect.

“Awake, grasping the killer’s sword; drunk, lying on a beauty’s lap. Third Brother is dashing and elegant, a romantic scholar – truly makes this younger brother envious.” A clear voice suddenly sounded behind them. Qing Xia was startled and stood on tiptoe to look back over Qin Zhiyan’s shoulder, seeing a tall man in dark green robes with gold patterns, graceful bearing, and bright starlike eyes walking forward.

Qin Zhiyan smiled faintly, imperceptibly releasing Qing Xia as he turned to the man and said casually: “So it’s Sixth Brother. When did you return from Tianshui? Why didn’t you visit my manor?”

Qing Xia thought to herself that this must be the Sixth Highness Qin Zhiying, the only prince in Great Qin who had established his own residence at fifteen but still hadn’t been enfeoffed as king. Qing Xia had originally thought he must be some idle, dissolute prince, but unexpectedly he was also a jade gentleman of clear elegance and outstanding handsomeness. It seemed the Qin family’s feng shui was indeed excellent, and their bloodline even purer – all their children were rare beauties of their generation.

“I just entered the city at dusk and thought I’d come directly to the banquet, so I didn’t visit Third Brother’s manor to pay respects. When Third Brother swept through Bailu Plains recently, this younger brother was so delighted hearing about it that I wished I could have followed behind Third Brother’s horse and charged into battle with sword in hand.”

Qin Zhiyan smiled indifferently, patting his shoulder: “Sixth Brother’s business is thriving in the Tianfu region. You now manage half of our Great Qin’s treasury – how could you spare the time to charge into battle? If anything happened to you, our financial god, Father Emperor would settle accounts with me.”

Qin Zhiying waved his hand: “Third Brother always exaggerates. You’ve only been back in the manor for five days and already forced several of my merchant houses in Xianyang to nearly close down. Are you still going to tease your younger brother? I heard from your manor’s southwestern textile manager about the current operational methods of the prince’s manor. Even just hearing about the external systems, I was already impressed beyond measure. Today I finally have the chance to meet the mastermind – I must seek your guidance.”

Qin Zhiyan shook his head: “You know I’ve never liked matters of money and goods. If you want to ask about these things, you’ve found the wrong person.”

Qin Zhiying frowned in confusion, saying heavily: “If it’s not Third Brother’s strategic planning, could the prince’s manor really have such capable people? Then I really must broaden my horizons.”

Qin Zhiyan’s eyes shifted, a sharp gleam flashing and disappearing as he turned to look at Qing Xia. Qing Xia didn’t avoid his gaze but stepped forward openly, cupping her hands in salute like a man: “Yesterday at Jingyang Weapons Manufacturing Treasury, I didn’t know they were Sixth Highness’s people and caused much offense – truly inexcusable.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Zhiying was immediately stunned, his expression becoming awkward. He had recently heard rumors that Prince Xuan’s manor had changed its head steward, with all external affairs transformed and new operational methods that were quite innovative. But such changes couldn’t show results in just a day or two – his earlier words were merely exaggeration. He had sent spies to various merchant houses of Prince Xuan’s manor to investigate, but yesterday’s operation had been discovered immediately. Now that this woman had come forward to speak these words, she had obviously guessed the identities of those servants. The meaning was self-evident – since he already knew everything, why continue this charade? Better to keep quiet so everyone could have peace. Fortunately, he was smooth and diplomatic, showing no anger. After making some excuse, he took Qin Zhiyan’s hand and walked toward the main hall of Taihe Palace.