He quickly turned around, his expression complex.

“I know you don’t want to see me. I’ll leave,” he said.

Feng Suzhen didn’t speak immediately. When he walked to the door and was about to leave, just as she wanted to call out to stop him, he had already swiftly turned back around, striding to her side. His tall frame pressed her against the door in one motion. “That matter—I can never forgive myself. You can blame me, hate me however you want. I’ll spend my remaining life making it up to you. But Feng Suzhen, you also owe me something.”

He leaned down, his gaze burning intensely, his breathing rapid and slightly agitated as it hit her face. He spoke each word fiercely, one by one.

“What do I owe you?” Her heart filled with bitter sweetness, more with heartache, but she didn’t reveal it, only asking softly.

“You owe me one…”

“A lifetime of peace,” Feng Suzhen interrupted his words.

Lian Yu suddenly froze, seeing her eyes rimmed with red. He couldn’t speak for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips.

After that, everything came rushing forth. All her sounds disappeared in his dense, rain-like kisses. At the final moment, mindful of her injuries, he restrained himself, only grinding slowly. Feng Suzhen was driven to desperation by his grinding, biting down on him. He groaned lowly, letting her bite… This time the torment lasted long. Though they clearly had much to say to each other, she ultimately fell asleep exhausted under his deep, obscure gaze.

She drifted in and out of consciousness, constantly thinking she needed to talk with him. Not knowing if it had been a while or how long, she suddenly startled awake to see him lying beside her, one arm pinned under her. He hadn’t fallen asleep, still quietly watching her deeply.

His eyes seemed to hold scattered, distant starlight. Every point was bottomless affection.

“Lian Yu.” In her drowsiness, she reached out to touch his face. He grasped her hand with his other hand, placing it to his lips for gentle kisses.

Even though they had done the most intimate things before and just moments ago, she still couldn’t help the slight warmth on her face. How strange—between them, it hadn’t started like it had with Li Zhaoting, with that girlish spring-like feeling of anxious uncertainty. Her feelings toward him had evolved from initial awe and dislike, to casual boldness, then gradually being drawn into the whirlpool between man and woman, only then developing those tossing, bashful maiden’s feelings. After becoming husband and wife, these feelings deepened further—making her heart race suddenly, making her think of him day and night, just like a young lady first seeing a man who caught her fancy in her boudoir, just as Xuanwu had described about him. Though she had always felt that between them, with him being several years older, thoughtful and far-sighted, he was lover, brother, lord—how could he have the mindset Xuanwu described?

She wanted to speak lovers’ sweet words to him, but ultimately felt too shy to voice them easily. She could only look at him honestly and say: “What I said earlier wasn’t sincere. I don’t blame you in my heart—never have. It’s just that you’ve been cold to me these past few days, and I felt like a hundred claws were scratching my heart. I was so upset that I deliberately said those things to anger you. Don’t take them to heart. From now on, no matter how we quarrel or even if we fight, I’ll never bring it up again.”

“Also, from now on, whatever I do, I’ll tell you. Lian Yu, I will never leave you again.” Her voice was very low but extraordinarily firm, just short of making a vow.

As she spoke, she lowered her head slightly like a child who had done something wrong. Watching her, Lian Yu’s heart had long since softened into water. Over these years, he had long since been tempered into steel. Except for Lian Xi, nothing brought him joy or sorrow. Only since she returned had he felt that every blade of grass and tree was interesting, that spring flowers and autumn moon all had flavor.

Her words “a lifetime of peace” were exactly what he had been waiting for all these days!

The days she stayed in the palace were a hurdle he could never overcome in his lifetime. But regarding this current standoff, he knew that no matter how hard it was for him to endure, how much his heart ached, how much he was in the wrong, he couldn’t be the first to give in.

What he wanted was precisely her promise!

Only a lifetime of peace could repay all that was owed between them.

Something instantly filled his chest, but just as he had always been able to hide his pain deeply before others all these years, now too he showed not half a trace, only saying word by word: “If you dare abandon Xi’er and me again, I’ll smash my head against that stone table outside. I’m neither joking nor threatening.”

Feng Suzhen was stunned upon hearing this, half sitting up and tightly embracing him.

She said nothing, but her terrified expression completely put Lian Yu’s mind at ease. His worry and fear all disappeared, leaving only tender affection that filled every limb and bone completely.

Though he knew she was tired, his spirits rose like wine bringing pleasant intoxication. He simply got up, slowly crouching down. “Lady Lian, let’s go for a walk outside.”

Seeing the smile piling at his brow tips, truly clear as white snow, Feng Suzhen knew she had fallen into his trap. She couldn’t help but punch him hard, but quickly climbed onto his back. No matter what, she was willing and content!

What he owed her—how could she not owe him and Lian Xi the same?

The two left the courtyard. In the distance outside were elite troops standing guard, and there were clearly people nearby. Hearing the sounds, they first peered over—it was the three: Xuanwu and the others.

Seeing Lian Yu carrying Feng Suzhen on his back, occasionally turning to touch her cheek and neck, the three had never seen their master like this in all these years. They couldn’t help but blush, and without him needing to dismiss them, after paying respects, they hurriedly retreated.

Before leaving, Lian Yu glanced lightly at Xuanwu, who responded with a meaningful look. He chuckled and threw his arm around Qinglong’s neck, walking away while lowering his voice: “Heh heh, now that these two have finished their quarrel, I’ll get rewards again.”

Qinglong asked in confusion. After Xuanwu explained, Qinglong’s heart itched: “Why do all the good assignments fall on your head? Next time let me do it!”

Xuanwu clicked his tongue twice: “You think there’ll be a next time? Let me tell you, Lian Yu only won’t yield to Magistrate Li on this matter. For everything else, you see—when Magistrate Li says one, does he dare say two?”

Qinglong was exasperated.

Baihu ignored their bickering, feeling both happy and sad as she looked back. She saw Lian Yu steadily supporting Feng Suzhen on his back, slowly walking in the opposite direction. Feng Suzhen had her arms around his neck, occasionally whispering something in his ear that made him chuckle softly, his hand patting her bottom in mock punishment.

This person, radiant as clear wind and bright moon—what must it feel like to be loved by him in this lifetime? “Neither envying mandarin ducks nor immortals”—the most common yet most fitting words she’d heard should be like this, shouldn’t they?

Suddenly remembering that Zhuque had once told her to leave. Actually, she didn’t need to leave. Between them, she had never entered their mountains and waters to begin with.

In this world, deep love doesn’t necessarily bring reward. Let her quietly love him then.

She wondered how Zhuque was doing now. That day at the banquet she suddenly disappeared. Their master sent many people to search, but there had been no news until these past two days when scouts in a town heard people discussing a mysterious female doctor who came and went hurriedly. Upon inquiry, they described her as ugly-looking—definitely her. But that female doctor was blind.

Magistrate Li had asked several times these past days about Zhuque’s whereabouts. Their master wouldn’t let them tell, fearing Magistrate Li would worry and couldn’t help but go search for her. They could only claim externally that Zhuque had gone on a mission, to avoid arousing Magistrate Li’s suspicions.

Their master said Zhuque had likely encountered trouble, and that day’s treatment of the princess probably had other hidden circumstances. He couldn’t let Zhuque wander outside, so he sent many more scouts out—he wanted to see her alive or see her corpse.

“Mountains and waters repeat themselves. Zhuque, I hope the four of us can meet and drink together again someday.”

The romantic nonsense of bathing in moonlight at midnight meant that the next day, they woke near noon. Lian Yu was no longer in the room. Feng Suzhen knew his duties weren’t lighter than before, and he was diligent by nature, handling everything personally. Though she felt a bit disappointed not seeing him upon waking, she didn’t blame him. She lifted the covers to get out of bed, but suddenly heard a series of clear ringing sounds. Looking down, she discovered a jade pendant and a small bell had been added to her ankle.

Just then, someone knocked on the door several times.

She paused. “Come in.”

A woman slowly pushed the door open—it was the foreign girl Lian Yu had newly taken in.

Seeing her, Feng Suzhen showed no excitement, even speaking warmly: “What is it?”

The woman almost immediately knelt down: “This subordinate Phoenix greets Master. Hearing the bell’s sound, I knew Master had awakened and took the liberty of disturbing you. This subordinate is Master’s secret agent abroad. These past days I’ve been greatly offensive, and I hope Master will forgive me. Everything was due to this subordinate’s special identity that couldn’t be easily revealed. When Master and Master were in confrontation, I simply had this subordinate play the role to the fullest.”

She raised her head with a slight smile: “This subordinate has admiring feelings toward Master, but absolutely no covetous intentions. Master also instructed this subordinate early on to regard Master as I would regard him.”

Feng Suzhen had been angry before, but upon reflection, she knew Lian Yu couldn’t possibly have other women, so she had put this woman’s matter aside. But hearing of her identity, she was still slightly shocked. Seeing her expression, Phoenix continued in a low voice: “On the surface, this subordinate is a beauty offered to Master by the Qiang tribe, secretly I am a spy for the Qiang lord, but actually I am Master’s agent. The Qiang lord maintains close relations with Great Wei. Though Master has repeatedly defeated the Qiang and once assisted Zhou forces in repelling Great Wei, he remains wary of both, especially Great Wei. This subordinate will shortly use the excuse of returning home to visit my mother to convey ‘military intelligence’ from here to the Qiang lord, while simultaneously gathering information about Great Wei.”

Feng Suzhen hadn’t expected that after being away for several years, the situation between nations had changed again, but Lian Yu was still the same Lian Yu—always having multiple backup plans. From domestic to foreign affairs, this path was even more difficult than before, but thinking of walking it together with him, no matter how treacherous the future, her blood would boil. As she was thinking, she heard Phoenix continue: “There are two more matters to report to Master. We’ve received a letter from Marquis Huo—Marquis Huo will arrive with Miss Wei within the month. But Zhuque… she was very happy to receive news of Master’s return, but due to new developments in her mission, she needs some time before she can return. She asks Master not to worry about her.”

Feng Suzhen had originally planned to find Baihu today to ask about Xiao Zhou’s news, but didn’t expect to receive such news instead. She couldn’t help feeling disappointed, but though she was concerned, she immediately said: “Have someone send word to her that I’ll wait for her here—wait however long it takes. Tell her not to think of me. We have long days ahead, and safety should come first.”

“Yes.” Phoenix immediately replied, then continued: “Master needn’t be disappointed. Master just finished handling military affairs and instructed that in three days he’ll take Master south to meet the young master. Passing through Huai County, he’ll take Master home to pay respects to your parents.”

Feng Suzhen was startled, her eyes involuntarily warming. Soon would be her parents’ death anniversary. Yesterday she had mentioned to him wanting to see Lianzi, but hadn’t yet mentioned her parents’ matter, afraid that her sudden travel would cause him trouble with protection arrangements. She hadn’t expected that he had kept her parents’ matter in his heart all these years.