Changling was so shocked by this bold hypothesis that her ears buzzed, unable to even register the rumbling thunder in the night sky.

Who was Fu Yangui? He was gentle and steady, unflappable in the face of change, thorough in all matters. And Fu Liujing… from the first time she met him in the lush bamboo forest, he was a cheerful, lively person full of endless chatter, yet extremely clever.

For a moment, she struggled to overlay these two diametrically opposite people.

But then again, who could say the Fu Liujing she knew was real?

The true face beneath that human skin mask—she had never actually seen it.

Just as he had imperceptibly lured her into being poisoned with the gu, making vows of living and dying together on Beiming Peak…

Wait a moment.

The Concentric Gu?

As if grasping something crucial, she lifted her sleeve. The scar on her right arm glowed with a luminous purple sheen in the dim light—the Concentric Gu had peculiar properties, leaving scars more distinctive than ordinary ones, shaped like flying butterflies, pale purple in color, extremely unique.

That day, Fu Liujing had been infected with the Concentric Gu to trick her into the trap. If Fu Yangui was indeed him, there should be a similar scar at the three-cun position on his left wrist.

Her wildly beating heart calmed slightly, and the surrounding scenery flooded back into view.

Changling raised her eyes.

Rain splashed into the jade lake, drumming in her ears. Wind carried water mist, drifting ethereally.

When Fu Yangui returned to the residence, the night was deep and rain continued to patter ceaselessly.

The carriage went straight to the rear courtyard. As soon as he got off, the steward held up an umbrella to greet him. In two or three steps, he crossed under the eaves. While flicking water droplets from his sleeves, Fu Yangui asked: “Was everything well in the residence today?”

“All was well. Madam Qiong heard Miss Nan came to the residence as a guest and arranged a small banquet to invite Miss Nan.”

Fu Yangui froze. “Miss Nan went?”

“She went. They just chatted about ordinary matters. After the meal, Miss Nan returned to the separate courtyard. Nothing special happened.”

Fu Yangui nodded thoughtfully, pausing at his bedroom door. “Fine, nothing more is needed here.”

“Does Master require a bath?”

“It’s already past the hour of the Rat… no need. You all go rest as well.”

After days of non-stop travel, then handling official business for half a day upon returning to Jinling, Fu Yangui was truly exhausted. He simply washed up briefly, extinguished the oil lamp, and closed his eyes drowsily to the clamor outside the window.

Another thunderclap—lightning like a blade’s light illuminated the ceiling clearly—on the beam above crouched a woman, precisely Changling.

Tonight she had only intended to find an excuse to check if he had a scar on his wrist. She hadn’t planned to be sneaky, but unexpectedly this wait lasted over two full hours. By the time he returned, it was deep into the night.

Appearing in a grown man’s bedroom in the middle of the night—this lie could not be rounded out no matter what. Changling could only leap out the window first. After hearing the breathing inside the room gradually even out, she quietly slipped back in under cover of the thunder.

Originally she shouldn’t have returned, but she was too anxious—eager to verify whether those baseless suspicions in her heart were fact.

Anything concerning Fu Liujing, she couldn’t wait even a moment.

Thanks to this heavy rain, these movements didn’t wake Fu Yangui. He slept with closed eyes, not seeing the person on the beam.

Changling lightly descended and walked to the bedside, crouching down.

Fu Yangui lay on his side on the bed, wearing thin clothing. His left arm hung long at the bed’s edge—the perfect time and place, there for the taking.

She pinched his sleeve hem and extremely slowly rolled it up… one cun, two cun, three cun.

Nothing.

Forget one scar—the skin was so smooth there wasn’t even a mosquito bite mark.

Changling was startled.

Before coming, she’d been sixty percent certain this person was Fu Liujing, even prepared to slit his throat the moment she saw the scar. Yet having seen nothing at all, she momentarily froze.

But she only froze for that instant. The next moment, the wrist dangling before her suddenly flipped, grasping her by the back of the neck. Changling’s reaction was quite fast—five fingers reversing to clasp his left arm, left palm striking toward his face—but still a step too slow. Two major acupoints at the back of her neck, Fengfu and Fengchi, were poked by fingertips imbued with true qi. Her body uncontrollably stiffened and she was heavily pressed onto the cold floor, head to tail.

A flash of light before her eyes—at some point, Fu Yangui’s fingertips held a blade the size of a throwing dart. He thrust forward mercilessly. Just as the blade’s edge came within a hairsbreadth of her throat, he clearly saw who it was and his movement abruptly stopped. “Nanxu?”

“…Yes, it’s me.”

Changling’s expression wasn’t great. At this moment, Fu Yangui’s entire person pressed down on top, one hand still holding her neck, his breath mere inches away. If not for both her hands being powerless, she really wanted to give him several solid punches.

Fu Yangui withdrew the blade, staring at her blankly. “You… how are you here?”

“Can you first help me unseal the acupoints?”

“Sorry…” Only then did Fu Yangui help her sit up. His warm fingertips lightly brushed across her shoulder and neck. “I thought an assassin had infiltrated the room…”

“It’s fine.” Changling rubbed her own head. “I didn’t make a sound—I thought you were asleep.”

“I was asleep…” Seeing Changling soaking wet with water droplets still hanging from her forehead hair, Fu Yangui quickly grabbed the outer robe from beside the bed and draped it over her. “I was awakened by water dripping from you.”

Changling froze, now understanding—earlier when she went out and back in, she’d gotten a bit wet from the rain. While lifting his sleeve, she hadn’t paid attention. Fu Yangui, half-asleep, felt water droplets and thought his luxurious residence couldn’t possibly be leaking, which made him bolt upright.

“You still haven’t answered me.” Fu Yangui also threw on a middle garment. “In the middle of the night, how did you come here? Why did you…” His gaze glanced at the half-open window, very graciously omitting the words “climb through the window.”

Changling coughed lightly and recited the draft she’d prepared earlier: “I came… just to see how wide your wrist is.”

“What?”

“I want to weave a bracelet for you.” Changling said without blushing or racing heart. “My hometown has this tradition—a woman must personally weave a bracelet for her fiancé before marriage, symbolizing a harmonious union for a hundred years.”

Fu Yangui’s face said: I believe your nonsense.

“Hm? You don’t believe it?” Changling pointed at Fu Yangui’s left wrist. “After I came in, aside from lifting your sleeve, I didn’t do anything else.”

“Miss Nan could wait until daytime to ask me…” Fu Yangui struggled to maintain his gentle and refined demeanor. “If you appear like this in the dead of night, if I had accidentally injured you, wouldn’t that…”

“Then there’d be no surprise, would there?”

“…”

Seeing Changling repeatedly maintaining this “believe it or not, this is the truth” expression, Fu Yangui finally gave up the futile struggle. “In that case… thank you for Miss Nan’s thoughtfulness.”

“You’re welcome.” Changling stretched her hand to cover half a yawn. “You continue resting. I’m going back to sleep too. It’s just two steps away—no need to see me out.”

Having said this, ignoring whatever expression he wore, she walked out through the door with perfect composure. By the time Fu Yangui thought about the rain still falling outside and stepped through the threshold, Changling’s figure had already vanished.

He stood in place for a moment. His bewildered expression faded, gradually replaced by threads of cold intent in his eyes.

“Give the order.” Fu Yangui summoned the steward. “Watch the separate courtyard closely. If there’s any movement, report immediately.”

While the Prime Minister’s Residence was thrown into high alert by this incident, the troublemaker had no sense of crisis about being exposed. She leisurely changed clothes and lay on the bed with her hands pillowed under her head, beginning her pre-sleep meditation.

Changling wasn’t optimistic enough to think Fu Yangui hadn’t become suspicious, but as long as this person wasn’t Fu Liujing, everything was negotiable.

Recalling the earlier situation, she couldn’t help but realize another matter—with such minimal internal force, encountering a true master, she could only sit and wait for death.

Earlier, if Fu Yangui had harbored killing intent, her life would already be forfeit.

Her skills had always been heaven-defying. Disparities between enemy and self weren’t within consideration. Even recently when she couldn’t easily use her internal breath, she’d never truly feared facing enemies—at most, she’d go all out. There was no one Yue Changling couldn’t kill when going all out.

But now the problem was… she couldn’t even go all out if she wanted to.

Unless the Mahun Powder was resolved, forget revenge—if she wanted to stay safely in this Prime Minister’s Residence, she’d still need countless lies and schemes.

Thinking of this, she inexplicably felt anxious.

In the past when encountering such troublesome matters, she’d just have Yue Changsheng handle it and everything would be smoothly resolved. Now forget trustworthy people—in this Jinling city, even finding an acquaintance…

Changling’s mind stuttered, suddenly opening her drowsy eyes.

“Right! How did I forget about that guy?”

Ye Qi—that is, He Yu—wasn’t he the young marquis of Eastern Xia?

In Yan Kingdom, she’d transferred so much true qi to him. The person probably wasn’t dead yet, right? Someone shrewd and cunning like him—if he was also in Jinling city, perhaps he could think of a way to help her resolve the Mahun Powder?

Changling wasn’t an indecisive person.

Having thought of a path, she simply stopped overthinking and covered herself with bedding to rest and recuperate. The next day she rose early, and after eating began pondering how to sneak out of the Prime Minister’s Residence.

The reason for using “sneak” was because another serving maid named Huiyun had appeared at the separate courtyard. Just from her walking posture, one could tell she was trained in martial arts—the young girl looked harmless and served quite properly, but from morning onward stuck to her like glutinous rice cake, following wherever she went. When asked, she only said the steward sent her to accompany the young lady in familiarizing herself with the Prime Minister’s Residence.

Without thinking, Changling knew that after last night’s incident, Fu Yangui had become wary of her and specially sent someone to watch her.

Just as she pondered how to quietly knock out this Huiyun, she suddenly heard the sound of blade breaking through air ahead. She walked forward and immediately spotted Fu Yanyang practicing swordsmanship in the water pavilion.

The youth wore light cyan martial attire. The steel sword in his hand traced an elegant arc in midair—quite beautiful to watch.

Changling shook her head slightly.

Even the most basic bow-stance straight thrust was weak and insubstantial. It seemed this Prime Minister Residence’s second young master fundamentally wasn’t martial arts material.

Fu Yanyang performed a beautiful finishing pose. Looking up to see Changling watching, he grinned and trotted over. “Miss Nan, what do you think of my sword?”

“The sword is fine.” Changling said. “But doesn’t your brother usually teach you martial arts?”

Fu Yanyang was somewhat surprised. “Ah… why do you say that?”

Changling noncommittally raised her brows. Only then did Fu Yanyang react, sheathing his sword and murmuring: “I’m naturally weak. I can’t use much strength bare-handed. I can’t learn my elder brother’s martial arts style. But I studied sword for two years at Taixu Sect under Sect Leader Yang. I’m much better now—at least I can lift this sword.”

“…” If Yang Xuzi taught for two years and produced this level, Taixu Sect probably wasn’t far from annihilation either.

“Alas, unfortunately my elder brother doesn’t use swords. If he could teach me, why would I need to run around learning martial arts… “

Changling froze. “He doesn’t know swords?”

“He does. When I was small, I saw him compete in swordsmanship with the sect leader of Canghai Sect…” Fu Yanyang said. “But later for some reason, he suddenly stopped using swords… Hey, Sister Nan, can you use a sword?”

Changling vaguely hummed. “A bit.”

“Your Five Poisons Sect is renowned throughout the realm—your swordsmanship must also be extraordinary.” Fu Yanyang’s eyes brightened. “In a few days is the martial examination at Qingcheng Academy. Maybe if you teach me a few fresh moves, I can muddle through.”

“You’re taking the martial examination?”

“No, no. I just want to enter Qingcheng Academy to see the world…” Fu Yanyang rubbed his nose. “All my playmates went. They’ll definitely all pass. If I’m the only one left behind… I’d be bored to death…”

Changling remembered Fu Yangui saying prestigious families could enter through recommendation. “Since you’re the Prime Minister’s son, just have your elder brother arrange it for you.”

“Cough, my elder brother doesn’t want me entering Qingcheng Academy…” Fu Yanyang’s voice inevitably weakened. “And this is already the entrance examination for gentleman academy students…”

“Oh, you mean even you gentry must take exams to enter Qingcheng Academy? Just slightly easier than for ordinary academy students…”

“…More than slightly easier…”

“…”

Seeing his face full of embarrassment, Changling glanced at Huiyun a few steps away and suddenly had an idea. “Helping you isn’t difficult. But I have one condition.”

“Name it.”

The Prime Minister’s Residence was located in the city center. Leaving Taiping Street led to the eight streets and nine markets, with carriages and horses like dragons.

When the Fu family’s second young master wanted to take a residence guest out, naturally the little maid couldn’t stop them. She could only follow at a distance. After wandering around just twice, she lost them, frightening Huiyun into searching the streets everywhere unable to find anyone.

“Huiyun is really good at tailing people. In the past when I skipped lessons, my brother always sent her to drag me back.” Fu Yanyang hid in an alley corner, watching Huiyun’s departing figure. “You made just a few moves and shook her off—truly capable!”

“It’s nothing.” Her skills in evading detection were honed in military camps. Against someone at Huiyun’s level, she could easily shake off ten more.

“Alright, you brought me out. I won’t go back on my word—I’ll help you pass the martial examination.” Changling turned around. “But I have other urgent business now. After I finish, I’ll come back to find you.”

As she finished speaking and was about to leave, Fu Yanyang grabbed her sleeve. “Sister Nan, if you just slip away like this, my brother will definitely break my legs…”

Changling watched him shake her arm. “What do I have to run from?”

At least before figuring out Fu Yangui’s true identity, she had no need to prematurely leave and draw attention, creating unnecessary trouble.

“Then if you need to go out, just tell my brother directly.” Fu Yanyang gripped her hand tightly. “Don’t be fooled by my innocent appearance—I’m actually very clever. I could tell early on that your heart isn’t with my brother at all…”

Changling froze, only to hear him say: “You’re堂堂 the Five Poisons Sect Leader, so breathtakingly beautiful—how could you possibly fancy my brother?”

“…” Just how deep was his misunderstanding of the Five Poisons Sect…

“I’m just looking for someone.”

“What person requires hiding it from my brother?” Fu Yanyang began wildly imagining. “Could it be… a lover?”

Changling now began regretting: I could have just escaped by myself—why did I need to bring along this hindrance?

“The person I’m looking for is named He Yu. You’ve heard of him, right?”

Now it was Fu Yanyang’s turn to freeze. “You want to find Young Marquis He?”

“You know him too?”

“Know him, I know him…” In Fu Yanyang’s “innocent” eyes actually emerged a complex meaning. “But our two families’ relationship is rather ambiguous…”

“Ambiguous what?”

“It’s complicated… Hey, do you really have to find him?” Fu Yanyang waved his hands. “If my brother finds out, he might be unhappy…”

“What? Your elder brother and He Yu don’t get along?”

“Saying it’s bad isn’t bad, saying it’s good… also… Hey, are you really going to find him?”

Seeing Changling turn and walk away, Fu Yanyang hurriedly trotted after her. “Sister Nan, you’re new here and surely unfamiliar with the roads. The Marquis Residence happens to not be far from here. If you want to go, I can take you.”

“Aren’t you afraid your elder brother will be angry?”

“Aiya, if you don’t say and I don’t say, how would he know?”

Changling’s gaze fell on him hesitantly. Now she belatedly realized—perhaps this foolish boy was the person Fu Yangui truly sent to spy.

However, going to the Marquis Residence wasn’t anything shameful. If Fu Yangui wanted to know, let him know. At most, later she’d coordinate her story with Ye Qi. As long as Nanxu’s identity wasn’t exposed, it was fine.

“Then, alright.”

Fu Yanyang hadn’t expected Changling to agree so readily. His brows lifted with joy as he immediately bounced along leading the way.

The Marquis Residence truly wasn’t far. After just walking for half an hour, standing on the bustling Zhenhuai Bridge, one could see the impressively magnificent Marquis Residence at a glance.

Changling was slightly surprised.

She’d known that with the Marquis Residence master’s flamboyant personality, his residence surely wouldn’t be low-key. But seeing those towering walls, a whole street of cherry blossom trees planted outside, and the stone lions before the residence gate imposing to the extreme, she instantly felt it couldn’t belong to the unreliable Ye Qi.

On the way here, Fu Yanyang had bought a square of red paper and was now writing a visiting card against the wall. Seeing him so serious, Changling couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Since you’re from the Prime Minister’s Residence, visiting a young marquis—do you really need to write a calling card?”

“I am from the Prime Minister’s Residence, but my face doesn’t have it written on it who I am. Do you think those gatekeepers announce everyone who comes?” Fu Yanyang neatly wrote his name. “Marquis He would be exhausted to death.”

“Oh? Just a young marquis—putting on such airs?”

“Just? That’s He Jinzhi! Even the current Emperor respects him greatly. Of all the nobles in our Jinling city, who else would dare build a residence like this… Done. Let’s go.”

The Marquis Residence indeed had many rules. After submitting the name card, the two stood outside in the northwest wind for quite a while before the steward in charge of reception finally arrived unhurriedly. Upon seeing Fu Yanyang, he respectfully bowed. “The residence has many affairs today, keeping Young Master Fu waiting… And this is?”

“She’s Miss Jing from the Jing family.” Fu Yanyang answered for Changling. “We’ve come to see the Marquis on urgent business. Have you announced us?”