In the early spring of the eighth year of Xingwu, the dazzling spring light reflected on the rippling lake surface. Golden rays filtered through the window lattice into the pavilion at the center of the lake, scattering mottled shadows across the book pages, making the black characters on white paper appear as blurry as a dream.

Pei Xueqing sat on the beauty chair in the water pavilion, intently reading the medical book in her hands. During a pause between turning pages, she heard her maid Zhuyue speak: “Miss, we’ve been waiting for half an hour now. I’m afraid Young Master Shen won’t be coming today.”

Pei Xueqing replied in a gentle voice: “He’s injured, perhaps it’s difficult for him to move around. No hurry, let’s wait a bit longer.”

“From what this servant has seen, Young Master Shen has been riding his horse through the streets these past few days, clearly having escaped from Tianchong Academy by climbing over the wall. He doesn’t seem to be taking his injury seriously at all. He doesn’t appear to have any difficulty moving…”

“Whether he takes it seriously or not is his business. Since he was injured because of me, I cannot dismiss it.”

“This servant is concerned that you’re associating too much with Young Master Shen. If he starts gossiping with those unsavory friends of his, it could damage your reputation.”

“He’s not that kind of person—” Pei Xueqing lifted her head from her book, wanting to defend the notorious young master of the Shen family, but then realized her defense might be counterproductive, so she stopped mid-sentence.

Zhuyue seemed to be waiting for her to continue, but Pei Xueqing’s thoughts had already drifted away.

Shen Yuance, son of the Military Governor of Hexi, was well-known throughout Chang’an for his unruliness. Even at Tianchong Academy, where noble sons gathered, he was among the top troublemakers. He frequently climbed walls to escape school and defied discipline, spent time cockfighting, gambling, and roaming with dogs. On rare days when he stayed at the academy, he would fall asleep as soon as he opened a book, practice dice games during lessons, and openly defy teachers until they fainted from anger.

“The Shen family has only this one son to inherit their legacy—truly a misfortune for a military household!” This was how everyone in the capital evaluated the young master of the Shen family.

Previously, she had only heard of this name through rumors and had also believed that her brother’s classmate was an irredeemably wayward youth with a terrible reputation—someone she should avoid whenever possible.

Until last month, on the first day of spring, when she went to the mountains outside the city to gather herbs and unexpectedly encountered a wild wolf.

Wolves are nocturnal pack animals that hide during the day. That day, the weather was clear, and she was in a shallow forest where wild beasts shouldn’t appear. So when one moment she was bending down to pick herbs, and the next she heard an eerie animal panting, turning to see a blood-stained lone wolf suddenly appearing in the bushes, she didn’t even recognize what it was at first.

Only when the maid beside her screamed in terror did she come to her senses. She turned to run but remembered reading that running away with your back to a wolf would further provoke its wild nature. So she tried to calm herself, maintaining eye contact with the wolf while holding her maid’s hand as they slowly backed away step by step.

Unexpectedly, the wolf seemed to have been startled not long before, its wild nature already provoked. As soon as they moved, the wolf pounced forward with a powerful leap.

The strong beast’s stench hit her face as she tumbled into the bushes, watching helplessly as the wolf charged directly at her face, her mind suddenly blank.

At this critical moment, an arrow suddenly pierced through the air, striking the wolf directly in the stomach. The wolf howled in agony mid-air before crashing heavily to the ground.

Her heart pounding, she looked up to see a tall, elegantly dressed young man sitting on horseback not far away, holding a longbow, his gaze fixed on the wounded wolf, the bowstring still vibrating in his palm.

The wolf, though wounded by the arrow, was not yet dead. Its nostrils flared as it suddenly lunged up, howling as it pounced toward the young man.

The young man was knocked off his horse but rolled nimbly to the side, avoiding the wolf’s claws, and began to wrestle with the beast.

A desperate beast’s fight was not to be underestimated. She got up, wanting to help, while telling her maid to run quickly to the edge of the forest to call for assistance. Meanwhile, she anxiously picked up a sharp stone, standing by ready to intervene if needed.

Looking back, had it truly come to the point where she needed to step in, both she and the young man would likely have been doomed. Fortunately, as the struggle continued, the young man gradually gained the upper hand. He locked his legs around the wolf’s body, using one arm to block and grip the wolf’s mouth, while with his other hand he drew a dagger and plunged it forcefully into the wolf’s throat.

After its death throes, the injured wolf finally hung its head lifelessly. As the dagger was pulled out, blood sprayed forth, and the heavy smell of blood spread in the wind.

The young man kicked the dead wolf away and lay on his back, gasping for breath.

She hurriedly threw aside the stone and ran to him, asking the stranger whose name she didn’t know: “How are you? Are you injured?”

The young man seemed to notice for the first time her attire, which indicated she was not from the countryside but rather from a wealthy or noble family. He frowned, his narrowed eyes revealing complex emotions.

At the time, she didn’t think much of it, focusing only on checking his injuries. Seeing blood on his sleeve, presumably from the wolf’s claws, she quickly turned to find some cloth to bandage his wounded arm.

Unexpectedly, the young man on the ground suddenly became alert, pulling out the arrow that had pierced the wolf’s belly. By the time she returned with the cloth, he had hastily mounted his horse and ridden away.

Soon, the noise of people shouting and the chaotic sound of hooves approached as a group of finely dressed young men rode up.

Looking at several familiar faces among them, she recognized the group as students from Tianchong Academy, her brother’s classmates.

The group was surprised to see her and the dead wolf on the ground, and they dismounted and rushed over.

Only then did she learn that these students had been hunting nearby that day. The young nobles, unskilled in martial arts but wanting to enjoy the thrill of hunting, had hired people to drive their intended prey into a circle while they competed in archery from outside the circle.

The prey were all supposed to be docile varieties, but one of the young men, named Zhong Boyong, had arrogantly insisted on hunting a wolf. As a result, not only had they failed to hunt the wolf, but it had escaped from their hunting circle.

The students had split up to pursue it, and this group had tracked it to where she was, mistakenly thinking that she, who appeared so delicate, had somehow conquered this fierce wolf, leaving them all astonished.

She quickly explained that it wasn’t her, but remembering how the young man had removed the arrow before leaving, she guessed he might not want his presence known. So she revealed her identity and said the wolf had been killed by a Pei family guard who had momentarily stepped away.

Knowing she was the Prime Minister’s daughter, the group probably didn’t think much of it. They warned her to be careful while gathering herbs, then happily departed with the dead wolf. From their manner, they likely intended to claim the achievement as their own.

After everyone had left, she picked up the dagger the young man had accidentally left behind. Concerned about his injuries, she felt uneasy after returning home. The next day, using the excuse of bringing lunch to her brother, she visited Tianchong Academy.

She guessed the young man must also be a student at Tianchong Academy and wanted to return his dagger and properly thank him for saving her. However, after wandering around the academy for half a day, she didn’t see him.

As she was leaving the academy empty-handed, riding in her carriage past the back gate, she suddenly heard an old master shouting at the top of his lungs: “Shen Yuance—you stop right there!”

That day, she had recognized everyone at the academy except for one who was notorious for never sitting through lessons—Shen Yuance.

Even so, she hadn’t seriously considered this possibility, thinking she must be mistaken. The young man might have just happened to be passing through the forest and wasn’t a Tianchong Academy student at all. Finding him now seemed like searching for a needle in a haystack.

When she heard that name, she merely wanted to see what dispute was occurring outside. But as she looked out the window, she saw a familiar figure leap down from the top of the wall. In the bright spring light, that handsome face with red lips, white teeth, sword-like eyebrows, and star-bright eyes turned in her direction.

She stared at that face in disbelief, more shocked than when she had encountered the wolf in broad daylight the previous day.

Shen Yuance? Was it him?

The young man who had shot that arrow into a charging wolf, fought with it hand-to-hand, and finally slit its throat was Shen Yuance? The same Shen Yuance who, according to rumors, was uneducated and unskilled, had never hit a target in archery examinations, and knew nothing except how to climb walls?

As the carriage rolled forward, she was too stunned to tell the driver to stop. Behind her, Shen Yuance looked at her face, seemingly recognizing both her and the Pei family emblem on her carriage. He turned and walked away, giving the distinct impression of making a hasty escape.

She recalled how Shen Yuance had frowned upon seeing her attire the day before, and suddenly understood.

In that emergency, he had no choice but to shoot that arrow, but he had probably thought she was just an ordinary medicine woman gathering herbs in the mountains. He hadn’t expected to save someone from the capital’s powerful elite.

Saving someone of high status complicated matters.

Because everyone in the capital knew that with Shen Yuance’s amateur skills, he could never single-handedly defeat a fierce wolf.

She pondered these connections as she drifted in thought. By the time she thought to ask the driver to turn back, the young man had long vanished.

After returning home that day, she repeatedly contemplated this matter.

Seeing is believing, and she trusted the Shen Yuance she had seen with her own eyes more than the one described by others. She subtly inquired about the Shen family from her father and brother, forming a theory in her mind.

Hexi commanded substantial military forces, and the Xuance Army was brave and battle-hardened. If the Shen family had another capable son who could be of great use, it would provoke too much jealousy and wariness.

Only if the Shen family’s son appeared incompetent and worthless could others breathe easy, thinking that no matter how talented General Shen was at warfare, without a worthy successor, the family wouldn’t endure.

The young man with the far-reaching bad reputation, who seemed to be learning nothing good at such a young age, wasn’t truly bad—he just couldn’t be seen as good.

The world greatly misunderstood the young master of the Shen family.

And this misunderstanding was exactly what Shen Yuance desired.

Given this, she couldn’t openly go to thank him, as her intended gratitude might cause him trouble.

The next day, using the opportunity to get medicine for her mother from a medical shop, she went into town and spent money to have a gambler deliver a note to Shen Yuance at the gambling house. In it, she invited him to meet at the Tinglan Pavilion, saying she would wait there all day, and he could come whenever convenient.

Knowing she had something of his, Shen Yuance soon came to the pavilion alone.

She immediately rose to greet him and express her gratitude.

“It has nothing to do with me. Miss Pei was simply lucky to encounter my once-in-a-thousand-years blind cat catching a dead rat shot,” Shen Yuance spoke dismissively, holding out his hand, only wanting his dagger back.

She returned the cleaned dagger to him, but couldn’t speak the words she opened her mouth to say.

“Anything else?” He seemed somewhat impatient and urged her, “If you have something to say, say it all at once. My gambling luck is just getting good; if I don’t get back soon, it’ll be gone.”

She had never had much interaction with men outside her family, especially in such a private setting. Feeling nervous, she finally said after a while: “…I wanted to ask how your arm injury is. I have some medical knowledge and brought my medicine box today; I can bandage it for you.”

“It’s already the third day. If I hadn’t bandaged it already, wouldn’t I have bled to death by now?”

She stuttered for a moment, then explained: “I just thought that since you didn’t want others to know about this matter, you probably wouldn’t have asked for medical treatment. Bandaging yourself would be somewhat inconvenient…”

“What does that have to do with you?”

Looking at the prickly person before her, she kindly advised: “Young Master Shen, I have no ill intentions, nor will I tell others about this matter—otherwise I would have sought you out openly. It’s just that I can’t rest easy without seeing your injury myself. If the wound becomes infected down to the bone, and in the future this hand can no longer draw a bow and shoot arrows, then even the chance of a blind cat catching a dead rat would be gone… I work quickly; in the time you’ve been talking with me, I could have already finished bandaging.”

Something in her long speech must have moved him, for he finally sat down grandly on the beauty chair, wordlessly pulling up his sleeve and turning his head away.

She hurriedly came forward to unwrap the messily wrapped cloth, carefully examined his fierce wound, and applied new medicine and bandages. In her haste, she accidentally spilled some medicine, making quite a mess.

He turned his head to look at her, noting the stains spreading across her clothes. Only then did he show a bit of a pleasant expression: “…There’s no need to be so fast.”

She casually wiped her clothes with a handkerchief and continued bandaging: “I didn’t want to delay Young Master Shen’s gambling luck.”

The two said nothing more until the bandaging was complete. As he rose to leave, she called after him: “Young Master Shen, this wound needs frequent changing of medicine and bandages, and it will take some time to heal. Do you think it would be more convenient for me to find you at the academy, or for you to come here to find me?”

Shen Yuance turned his head, furrowing his brow: “Will this ever end?”

She was not one to threaten others, but seeing him like that day’s untamable wolf—all claws and teeth unless firmly handled—she had to say: “If Young Master Shen does not properly heal this wound, I will announce to everyone that it was you who killed that wolf that day.”

“Do you think anyone would believe you?”

“Empty words surely wouldn’t be believed, but the wolf claw wounds on your arm are evidence. You should heal quickly to destroy the ‘evidence,’ and then I’ll have nothing to threaten you with.”

“The Prime Minister’s daughter does have a quick mind.” He looked her up and down, nodding with an appreciative look.

“So is it more convenient for me to find you at the academy, or for you to come here to find me?” She repeated the question.

“Why don’t you come find me at the gambling house?” he asked with a curved smile, hinting at mischief.

“That’s fine, as long as it’s convenient for Young Master Shen.”

He seemed momentarily surprised by her earnest determination: “Would your Prime Minister father allow you to go to such a disreputable place?”

“He won’t need to know.”

“Including today’s secret meeting with a man in such a secluded place—also something he won’t need to know?”

Her face flushed red at his words, and she couldn’t immediately respond.

Then she saw Shen Yuance fingering the note she had sent to arrange their meeting: “Miss Pei, before threatening someone, first consider whether you’ve left any leverage in their hands. My secret and your reputation are bound together. Before exposing me, weigh whether it’s worth it.”

Without waiting for her answer, Shen Yuance walked out with a loud laugh, leaving behind the words: “This place is well-chosen. Let’s keep meeting here.”

He didn’t accept her threat, but he compromised by accepting her offer to regularly change his bandages.

Perhaps because he knew her threat wasn’t malicious, just as she knew that a person who, in the urgency of saving someone, couldn’t even consider his life-threatening secret, would never truly jeopardize a young lady’s reputation.

Zhuyue was worried that Shen Yuance might gossip, but she trusted he wasn’t that kind of person.

The world had not seen his true face for so many years, yet she was fortunate enough to have seen it on the very first day they met.