Before even entering the central hall, a hearty laugh rang out. Chu Qiao immediately halted, her brows furrowing slightly. Zhuge Yue cautiously turned his head to look at her. Though he couldn’t see her expression beneath her thick veil, he keenly sensed her hesitation. Zhuge Yue raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at her quizzically, but didn’t continue walking forward.

Just then, hearty laughter emerged from inside the room. A young man wearing a sapphire blue robe of superior embroidered brocade, with elegant bearing and leisurely steps, walked towards them laughing and saying loudly: “Brother Zhuge, you’ve come to Woopeng without informing me—that’s too unfriendly!”

Jing Han was still the same as always, perpetually smiling, with a mischievous mouth and high, straight nose. He opened his arms, about to embrace Zhuge Yue like an old friend, very affectionately.

Zhuge Yue’s expression remained unchanged as he imperceptibly stepped back, not allowing Jing Han to get close. He nodded slightly and smiled faintly, maintaining a neutral distance: “So it’s the Young Prince who has arrived.”

Jing Han’s embrace met empty air, but he didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He smiled and said: “It’s been two months since we last parted, and Brother Zhuge still has the same elegant bearing.”

“How could the Young Prince be any less magnificent?”

Hearing this, Jing Han laughed heartily, slowly walking over. His eyes swept over Chu Qiao’s strange attire, then he extended his hand and punched Zhuge Yue’s shoulder, saying in a low voice: “You sly Zhuge Four, I was wondering why you didn’t inform me. Turns out you were lost in a romance. When that old fellow Tian Ruchen told me earlier, I couldn’t believe it.”

His punch landed directly on Zhuge Yue’s wounded shoulder, causing Chu Qiao to immediately furrow her brows. The dagger bound to her forearm shifted, and she nearly drew it out on the spot.

However, the typically pampered fourth young master of the Zhuge family showed no reaction. He glanced at Jing Han sideways and said flatly: “Since you know, why wake me up in the middle of the night?”

“I was just curious,” Jing Han looked Chu Qiao up and down, his eyes narrowing like a cat’s, wondering aloud: “I wanted to see what kind of beauty could captivate you so completely. She must be extraordinarily gorgeous.”

As he spoke, he reached out to lift the veil covering Chu Qiao’s face.

“Even if she were a celestial fairy, it would be none of your business,” Zhuge Yue decisively knocked away Jing Han’s hand, smiling as he said: “Who told you to arrive a step too late?”

“Don’t stand in the corridor, you two. I’ve prepared food and wine. Two old friends reuniting should share a drink,” Tian Ruchen stood at the doorway with his large belly, his physique no longer as martial as in years past, having become bloated and obese. Jing Han put one arm around Zhuge Yue’s shoulder and smiled at Tian Ruchen: “Old Tian, you keep all the beauties for the Fourth Young Master and completely forget about me.”

Tian Ruchen was familiar with Jing Han, showing none of the nervousness he displayed with Zhuge Yue. He laughed and said: “Young Prince Jing if you want beauties, would you ever need my help?”

Everyone walked into the central hall amid laughter and conversation. Chu Qiao stayed close to Zhuge Yue throughout. Tian Ruchen was surprised when he first saw her, not expecting the female slave he had arranged to be so favored by Zhuge Yue. Looking at Chu Qiao, he nodded slightly in approval.

The spacious central hall was set with three seats arranged around a round table with no distinction of rank. On the table sat an enormous roasted whole lamb.

Jing Han smiled and said: “Old Tian has become more generous with age. I thought people from Bian Tang ate like those from Huai Song—eighty or ninety small dishes, picking at meat slivers with toothpicks.”

“Haha,” Tian Ruchen laughed heartily: “Young Prince forgets, I used to guard the frontier in Great Lv. You could say I’m half Great Xia by blood.”

“Come, everyone try this,” Tian Ruchen first poured a cup of bamboo green wine for Zhuge Yue and invited: “This is the dining style of the bandits from Pingui Wilderness. To learn their recipe, I specifically sent my subordinates to join the bandit gang. It took more than two months to master this cooking technique.”

Jing Han laughed: “I hear that merchant groups from Bian Tang and Huai Song spend enormous fortunes each year to suppress these bandits. Yet you went through all that trouble to plant a spy just to infiltrate their kitchen as a cook. If the Tang King found out, he’d surely skin you alive.”

“What else could I do? Besides the regular army, even local officials’ forces dare not provoke the bandits of Pingui Wilderness. Me? I’d rather not try.”

“Eh?” Jing Han raised his eyebrows slightly: “Brother Zhuge, why aren’t you eating?”

As he spoke, Jing Han drew the small silver dagger from the table, cut a large piece of meat, and placed it in Zhuge Yue’s bowl. Then he cut another piece and put it in Chu Qiao’s bowl, smiling as he said: “Beauty, please eat.”

Zhuge Yue’s shoulder was injured, limiting his movement. Chu Qiao quickly reached out and gently tore off a strip of meat, bringing it to his lips. Jing Han sighed dramatically nearby, praising the beauty’s grace and wisdom. Zhuge Yue’s eyes looked down from above, then he lowered his head and opened his mouth. Briefly, his lips lightly touched Chu Qiao’s cold fingers.

A flash of confusion passed through Chu Qiao’s eyes. She frowned slightly, tearing the meat into strips without showing any reaction, though her heart felt somewhat troubled.

Meeting Jing Han here had truly caught her off guard. The Zhuge family and Prince Jing had always supported each other in court. When they first met, Chu Qiao had noticed the particularly close relationship between the young master of Lingnan, Jing Han, and Zhuge Huai. But that was because, at the time, the Mu He clan was at its peak, and the Wei faction could compete for dominance, while the Zhuge family acted moderately, staying outside the vortex of power, with a very friendly attitude toward the feudal princes. But now, the Zhuge family had leaped onto the political stage. How could Jing Han, representing feudal interests, maintain such apparent closeness? It was certain that their harmony was merely superficial.

However, Chu Qiao didn’t know whether to exploit this point. Rationally speaking, Jing Han truly had no reason to kill her immediately. The rise of Yan Bei couldn’t be considered a bad thing for Prince Jing’s fief. The Great Xia regime differed from the history Chu Qiao knew. Essentially, Great Xia’s society was already quite refined, with productivity levels far beyond those of a slave society, complete with officials, laws, armies, and a vast population—completely lacking the conditions for a slave system to exist. But there was one point: the origins of the Zhao royal clan. They came from the grasslands beyond the pass, with fierce customs, inherently aggressive and racially advantaged, further enabled by the weakness and military frailty of those within the pass. The current Great Xia resembled the historical Great Yuan regime, possessing bloodiness, hegemony, and a strict hierarchical system, while simultaneously bearing fatal instability.

Therefore, whether it was Yan Bei or Prince Jing, Prince Ling, or Prince Xiling, they all possessed Zhao’s royal blood, whether directly or collaterally related and all harbored fantasies of inheriting the throne. Moreover, with the current Great Xia regime unstable and royal status declining, it was the perfect opportunity for various factions to rise. So, theoretically, compared to the several great clans who depended on and stood above the Great Xia regime, the various feudal princes had no desire to see Yan Bei swiftly destroyed. On the contrary, at necessary times, they might quietly lend Yan Bei a helping hand.

Then, if Chu Qiao were to subtly hint to Jing Han now and be taken away by him, staying by his side, it would be safer than with Zhuge Yue. Furthermore, they had already met on Zhan Manor’s boat and reached a short-term consensus.

But Chu Qiao didn’t do so, despite what rationality dictated.

Compared to this smiling Prince Jing whose true intentions remained impenetrable, Chu Qiao would rather trust Zhuge Yue, with whom she shared an inexplicable history of favors and grudges. Emotionally, although they had clashed repeatedly and nearly fought to the death several times, Chu Qiao felt that Zhuge Yue would not harm her.

This was truly an absurd and dangerous thing, but at this moment, she decided to trust her intuition. Because this intuition had saved her many times before.

“Brother Zhuge, I met someone on the road who I think will interest you greatly, so I brought him for you to see.”

Jing Han clapped his hands, and a man was brought up in custody. The man was covered in blood, missing one hand and one ear, emaciated, being dragged on the ground, constantly groaning, looking extremely wretched.

Chu Qiao was startled at the sight. If not for the missing hand, she would hardly have recognized him. This person was the chief steward of the Zhuge family, Zhu Shun, with whom she had deep hatred.

Good people don’t live long, while scoundrels live a thousand years—he was still alive!

When Zhu Shun saw Zhuge Yue, his face instantly turned as white as paper. His entire body trembled uncontrollably, his lips pale like a dried-up fish on the beach. His eyes were wide open, looking at Zhuge Yue in terror, so shocked that he couldn’t make a sound.

Zhuge Yue frowned slightly, his eyes sharp as an eagle’s. Suddenly, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he said lightly: “Young Prince, this gift is indeed precious.”

Jing Han smiled as he said: “No need for thanks, it was just a small effort.”

“Yue Qi, take him away,” Zhuge Yue turned around, not looking at him again, and said: “Find a place to bury him.”

“Yes.” Yue Qi came forward and grabbed Zhu Shun by the collar.

Only then did the man become terrified, struggling and shouting: “Fourth Young Master! Spare this slave’s dog life! Spare this slave’s dog life! Let me go…”

The shouts gradually faded away. Jing Han smiled, raising his cup and saying: “I heard Brother Zhuge has been looking for him for a long time. No wonder you couldn’t find him. This fellow had joined a horse gang in Pingui Wilderness and even became a manager. If I didn’t have dealings with that horse gang, I couldn’t have easily captured him.”

Zhuge Yue raised his cup and said: “Zhuge Yue owes you a favor.”

Jing Han smiled: “Then I’ve truly gained a lot. Everyone in Quan Zhen Huang knows that you, Fourth Young Master Zhuge, honor your promises with gold.”

As the drinking continued, Jing Han suddenly asked, seemingly casually: “Old Tian, I heard your manor was attacked by an assassin today. Is that true?”

Chu Qiao and Zhuge Yue both stiffened upon hearing this, appearing calm while listening attentively. Tian Ruchen laughed and said: “Indeed, security has been poor lately, with many outsiders.”

“Oh? Was there any damage? Was the assassin caught?”

“No significant damage. The assassin was quite skilled, engaged with Young Master Zhuge, but eventually escaped.”

“Oh?” Jing Han’s interest was immediately piqued, and he smiled: “Brother Zhuge fought and still let him escape? That assassin must be truly exceptional!”

Jing Han’s eyes flickered as he smiled at Zhuge Yue. Zhuge Yue remained unruffled, gently swirling the wine cup in his hand, saying lightly: “Indeed, her skills were excellent.”

“Did Brother Zhuge see the assassin’s face? Could you tell the assassin’s origins from the fighting style?”

“I am slow-witted and had no chance to see the assassin’s face, nor could I guess their identity or origin.”

Jing Han’s eyes were like a fox’s, his high hawk-like nose giving him a somewhat gloomy appearance. He smiled and nodded: “Is that so? What a pity.”

“Old Tian, I came today because I have a favor to ask of you.”

Jing Han suddenly turned to Tian Ruchen.

“Whatever I can help with, just say the word.”

“It’s like this,” Jing Han chuckled, slowly saying: “This time, I came with Zhan Manor’s ship…”

“No need to say more,” Tian Ruchen rubbed his temples and said: “I know what you want to say. You must have admired the beauty of Zhan Manor’s fourth miss, so you boarded her ship. Now you want to stand up for the beauty and retrieve her maid from me.”

Jing Han clapped his hands with a bang and laughed: “Old Tian, you truly understand me.”

Tian Ruchen smiled bitterly: “Understanding you isn’t difficult. Just think of everything in terms of women, and I’ll be right. People say Prince Li Ce is the most romantic man in the world, but I think you, Young Prince Jing, are not far behind.”

“So, will you do me this favor?”

“Since you’ve asked, how could I refuse? Though I’ll have a difficult time in the coming days.”

Tian Ruchen sighed heavily. Chu Qiao knew that this city governor had a notoriously fierce wife. Seeing his worried expression, she couldn’t help but find it somewhat amusing.

In a moment, three women were brought up, all pale-faced, clearly frightened, though they bore no visible injuries.

Chu Qiao couldn’t immediately identify which one was Cai Qin, but since the matter was being resolved this way, it saved her a lot of trouble. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but look toward Jing Han, only to see him turn his head to look at her, deliberately winking.

Chu Qiao was startled, wondering if he had recognized her. She didn’t dare raise her head again.

At that moment, a series of urgent gong sounds suddenly came from outside. Tian Ruchen, who had been smiling broadly, stood up abruptly upon hearing this, his expression changing dramatically, all previous tranquility gone.

A guard hurriedly ran into the inner chamber, saying in a panicked tone: “Sir! The bandits from Pingui Wilderness have come to raid the city!”

“What?” Tian Ruchen was shocked and quickly asked: “How many have come?”

“Not many, just one bandit group, fewer than two thousand men.”

Tian Ruchen then relaxed, walking swiftly to the wall on the left and grabbing the battle saber hanging there. He said in a deep voice: “Come! Follow me out to meet the enemy!”

“Sir,” the young soldier trembled, saying quietly: “There seem to be traitors in the city. Those two thousand bandits have already broken into the city.”

In an instant, intense screams rang out from outside. Everyone turned to look and saw countless torches burning high in the dark sky. The entire Woopeng City had fallen into a frenzy of slaughter.

Tian Ruchen’s face instantly turned pale.

“Young Master!” Yue Qi suddenly ran in with furrowed brows, saying deeply: “Someone with over two hundred men has taken Zhu Shun away.”

With a “snap,” a bamboo chopstick was suddenly broken by Chu Qiao. Zhuge Yue looked down at her, and even through the thick veil, he could feel the woman’s no-longer-concealed anger.

He reached out his hand and pressed it on her shoulder.

Outside, a sea of lights blazed. In this era, slaughter seemed always to be commonplace.

War to end war, there was no other way. Some hatreds were destined to be unforgettable.