But whether it was distrust or fear, none of that was the issue.

Chu Zhao was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“The King of Zhongshan’s current position is actually due to his identity,” she said. “His identity is inborn, while you, Third Young Master, are different. Your status is something you’ve achieved on your own. Regardless of how others see it, in my eyes, you are more formidable than the King of Zhongshan. Not just you—I view Deng Yi the same way.”

Her words were honest and flattering.

But Xie Yanfang wasn’t looking for flattery. He smiled thoughtfully and nodded: “I understand. People find formidable things and people frightening. So it seems I’ve been scaring Miss A-Zhao all this time.”

Chu Zhao quickly waved her hands: “Not scared—inspired.”

Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Xie Yanfang.

“I’m fortunate to have met someone as formidable as you, which means I must become formidable myself.”

Before Xie Yanfang could respond, she nodded.

“So this incident was my opportunity.”

She paused briefly, then smiled self-deprecatingly.

“Saying it this way, my feelings are the same as the Third Young Master’s. The King of Zhongshan’s rebellion was good for me too.”

She had also gained her reputation by defeating the King of Zhongshan.

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “No, don’t say that. It shouldn’t be viewed that way. Miss A-Zhao seized an opportunity, but didn’t wish for this opportunity.”

Chu Zhao sighed inwardly. This Third Young Master had just claimed he wasn’t a good person, but who wouldn’t consider him good?

He was truly kind-hearted.

“Thank you for your understanding, Third Young Master,” Chu Zhao said gratefully. She didn’t continue the topic—discussing the good and evil within oneself wasn’t important. She continued, “I knew that with you involved, the King of Zhongshan would certainly be dealt with, but I didn’t want to sit by and observe. After all, I am now the Empress, so I analyzed the situation, arranged personnel, and, like the Third Young Master, counterattacked the King of Zhongshan. As for why I didn’t contact you—”

She looked at Xie Yanfang, her gaze bright.

“Third Young Master, you fight for yourself, and I fight for myself. I didn’t want to disrupt your plans, and even less could I allow you to plan for me.”

Xie Yanfang smiled, rotating the teacup in his hand before drinking it all at once. “Even if we each fight our own battles, as long as our goals align, we fight side by side.”

Chu Zhao nodded: “Yes, and—” she smiled again, “precisely because I know how formidable the Third Young Master is, I firmly believed that even if I failed, you would be there to turn the tide, unstoppable in your advance.”

Xie Yanfang laughed heartily and poured tea again, then suddenly said: “Earlier, when I used Master Chu Lan’s past affair without telling you, it was—”

“No need to say more. Even if I hadn’t had my plans to leverage this matter, I know that after revealing the past affair, the Third Young Master wouldn’t let me, Chu Zhao, be tarnished,” Chu Zhao interrupted. “You would certainly have found a way to eliminate any adverse effects on me.”

Xie Yanfang looked at her.

Her eyes were bright and dazzling, with a clarity like snow-melt in their depths.

She trusted him.

“You’re the one being truly honest with me,” he sighed lightly. “You know me, trust me, never resent me. You even understand me better than I understand myself.”

Better than he understood himself? That was too much, Chu Zhao thought as she raised her teacup: “I said before that meeting the Third Young Master in this life is heaven’s mercy upon me. Although the Third Young Master says it’s what I deserve, you may not realize how honored I feel to know you and walk alongside you.”

Xie Yanfang was taken aback, then slowly smiled. This time, instead of praising Chu Zhao, he raised his teacup and gently clinked it against hers.

“I am honored,” he said, and drank his tea in one gulp.

Chu Zhao likewise drained her tea.

“Though we don’t have wine, try these appetizers,” Xie Yanfang said, pointing to the dishes. These are famous local snacks. See if they suit your taste?”

The topic had shifted; the matter was concluded.

Chu Zhao didn’t stand on ceremony and tried them as suggested—one bite sour, one bite spicy, making her furrow her brow.

“Not to my taste,” she said, covering her mouth.

Seeing the girl’s small face all scrunched up, Xie Yanfang laughed heartily and poured her more tea: “One should always try new things.”

Chu Zhao cradled the tea and drank it in one breath, then said: “I must be on my way.”

Xie Yanfang nodded: “A-Yu is eagerly waiting for you. You should return soon.”

Chu Zhao stood up and gazed at the peach grove ahead: “Thank you, Third Young Master, for allowing me to stop and enjoy this beautiful scenery.”

Xie Yanfang reclined against an armrest, also looking at the peach grove: “Thank you too, Miss A-Zhao. I haven’t looked at scenery for a long time either.”

Since that night of being caught unprepared, events had cascaded one after another. Even an eagle soaring at the peak must keep its wits about it at all times.

Chu Zhao turned to look at him and called out: “Third Young Master.”

Xie Yanfang withdrew his gaze to look at her.

“Although the Third Young Master couldn’t personally cut down the King of Zhongshan with a blade,” Chu Zhao said, “I believe you have ten thousand ways to defeat him without bloodshed—clipping his wings, breaking his tendons and bones. The King of Zhongshan is like a mountain, but the Third Young Master could level him with bare hands.”

A smile spread across Xie Yanfang’s face like spring water rippling.

“Indeed,” he nodded, his voice no longer gentle as jade but cold and proud in a way never seen before. “I can.”

…

…

When Cai Bo arrived, Xie Yanfang was reclining against the armrest, gazing at the distant peach grove, while Du Qi sat cross-legged opposite, eating and drinking.

Cai Bo looked into the distance and saw the girl galloping away on the main road, becoming a small dot at the edge of the cloud-like peach blossoms.

“What did she say?” Cai Bo asked. “Is she deliberately opposing us? Does she have a deal with the King of Zhongshan? What are her true intentions? Having become A-Yu’s Empress, why does she distance herself from our Xie family?”

Xie Yanfang’s gaze was fixed on the distant horizon: “Deliberate? Yes, one could say it’s deliberate, but not a deal with the King of Zhongshan, nor is she opposing us. As for distance, indeed there is distance, because even as A-Yu’s Empress, she remains herself. Therefore, she acts primarily for herself.”

Though the words sounded convoluted, Cai Bo understood and said flatly: “So her Chu family isn’t of one mind with our Xie family.”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “We aren’t of one mind with her either.”

Cai Bo sat down, frowning: “It doesn’t matter if she isn’t of one mind with us, but if she’s of one mind with that Deng Yi—”

Xie Yanfang shook his head: “No, no, Cai Bo, you don’t understand. It doesn’t matter who she’s of one mind with. She’s not that type of person.”

“Then what type is she?” Cai Bo asked, puzzled.

Xie Yanfang smiled at him, pointing to himself: “My type.”

He had said this before. How many times now? The third time? Things don’t go beyond three repetitions. Although Cai Bo believed his young master was unique in the world, still—

This girl’s influence was indeed not to be underestimated now.

“Does the young master truly think she’s like you?” he asked.

Xie Yanfang rested his head on his hand, looking at the horizon: “Although I don’t know why, she hasn’t experienced the pleasure of standing at the highest peak, but what she seeks is the same as mine.”

She, too, seemed to take in the whole world at a glance.

So, she too wanted to be above others, with all things under her control.

Hearing this, Du Qi put down his food and said: “Then I’ll go kill her.”

Cai Bo was startled, then amused. He remembered that Xie Yanfang had said before that if this girl were truly like him, he would kill her.

Cai Bo looked into the distance, thoughtful: “Actually, although she has many followers, it wouldn’t be difficult to—”

Xie Yanfang pressed a cup of tea into Cai Bo’s hand and said: “Cai Bo, it’s not a question of difficulty.”

He had indeed said before that if someone was like him, knowing how frightening he could be, he would kill them.

But when he saw this girl standing before him, praising him, guarding against him, she was frank yet evasive, passionate yet dispassionate.

She was like sunlight, aggressive and direct, yet also like a deep pool, profound and engulfing.

Cai Bo held the tea and looked at him: “Then what’s the question?”

Xie Yanfang smiled: “It’s a question of… I can’t bear to.”