Tie Ci didn’t want to go to the Li residence—she wanted to enter Cangsheng Tower. But in the end, she only glanced at County Magistrate Li and left with Dan Shuang and Chi Xue.

The assassin she had thrown out was caught by Dan Shuang, but the moment she caught him, he died.

When Tie Ci examined him, she discovered that he too had been stabbed to death. With so many people around at the time, it seemed someone else had been mixed in the crowd and silenced him.

The lead was cut off, which was within expectations.

The beauty seemed to have received a tremendous shock. Although she was finally willing to come down from Tie Ci’s arms, she refused to leave her side and insisted on following her. Tie Ci asked for her name and where she came from, tactfully suggesting that following her wasn’t very convenient, and offering to escort her home instead.

The beauty then tearfully said, “This humble woman is called Feiyu, a lady from Fuchun Tower. I also came to pray for blessings today, but arrived quite early when the tower gates were still open. I wandered upstairs but didn’t see anyone. Who knew that later the door would be locked, and I couldn’t get out or find the masters. When I stood by the window planning to call for help to those below, someone suddenly pushed me down… sob sob sob.”

She covered her face and began crying in a delicate, affected voice. Tie Ci’s mouth twitched—her upbringing was good, so she said nothing. But Dan Shuang couldn’t stand such affectation and said coldly, “Can’t you speak without pinching your voice like that?”

Miss Feiyu chuckled.

Without pinching her voice, she might scare you to death.

However, being called out like that made her more natural. When Tie Ci said she’d escort her back to Fuchun Tower, she pulled at Tie Ci’s sleeve coquettishly: “Sir, sir, don’t send me back yet. Going back means more entertaining guests, accompanying those old, smelly fellows. Aren’t you investigating a case? I’m the victim! You need to question me about how I fell, right?”

Tie Ci sighed and pulled her hand away, saying, “Miss, I can’t afford your time.”

Chi Xue looked at Feiyu, exchanging glances with Dan Shuang. Dan Shuang frowned and said, “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a fancy to my young master’s youthful beauty and are harboring fantasies of social climbing? I say, aren’t you thinking a bit too much?”

Miss Feiyu shyly lowered her head.

No, she could think even more.

No matter how Tie Ci coaxed and reasoned, she simply wouldn’t leave. One moment she said the madam would beat and scold her, the next she said she feared the person who pushed her down the tower would retaliate when she was alone. This latter reason did catch Tie Ci’s attention, as she felt it was indeed a real concern. She glanced at the beauty, thinking that if something really happened, her conscience wouldn’t be clear either. If she wanted to follow, let her follow—keeping her in sight meant she couldn’t cause trouble, right?

So she brought Miss Feiyu to the Li residence. On the way, Miss Feiyu finally removed her veil. The moment her face was revealed, everyone’s expressions turned strange. Chi Xue, who had always prided herself on her good skin, touched her own face. Dan Shuang snorted coldly and turned her head away, jealous light shooting from her eyes. Tie Ci smiled as she appreciated the view, thinking she was even more beautiful than imagined—though a patrol inspector’s salary couldn’t support her, Ruixiang Hall wouldn’t mind sweeping the couch to welcome her.

She was rather envious of the other’s height. She herself was considered tall, but this lady was several inches taller than her without appearing awkward. There was a natural, perfect quality to it.

The carriage stopped in front of the Li residence. The Li family’s servants poured out to receive them, clustering around Tie Ci as they headed to the rear courtyard with an air as if welcoming a new son-in-law returning home.

Tie Ci, who had always been good at adapting to environments, asked if they had suitable robes she could change into, as her clothes were covered in blood and dirt. They requested that Tie Ci’s group settle in the small hall while they sent someone to fetch clothes.

Before long, the person bringing clothes arrived—not just one person, but a whole group. Leading them was someone with lotus steps, personally carrying clothes and medicine. Who else could it be but Miss Li?

Before the person had even turned around the partition, Tie Ci could already see a corner of light red embroidered skirt. She sighed inwardly, glanced at Miss Feiyu who wasn’t eating or drinking the refreshments but was playing with her fingers, quickly walked over and sat beside Miss Feiyu. She picked up a piece of fruit paste sesame leaf cake, smiling as she fed it into her mouth: “Come, have some refreshments.”

Miss Feiyu was startled, then smiled, opening her mouth to take the cake and very skillfully throwing Tie Ci a flirtatious glance.

Tie Ci mentally applauded her swift and accurate response—truly worthy of being a top courtesan! Such high professional standards!

Looking up again, she saw the light red dress had stopped at the doorway. Miss Li obviously wasn’t a match for the top courtesan—every feature showed surprise and disappointment, and her eyes quickly filled with watery tears.

Tie Ci felt a headache coming on.

But Miss Li’s sadness and disappointment were quickly dispersed by a sharp scream. She rushed over, nervously pointing at Tie Ci’s wrist: “Blood… blood…”

Tie Ci looked down to see that her wound had somehow split open again, blood flowing freely.

A constantly reopening wound would be very troublesome. She couldn’t change clothes now—she had to treat the wound first. She gestured to Dan Shuang, who skillfully took out a needle and thread kit from her chest, opened a small bottle, and disinfected the needle.

Miss Li stood three steps away, watching in horror with an expression of both heartache and fear.

She didn’t know what to do, but Miss Feiyu glanced over and, seeing the group of people standing in a daze, said in a melodious voice: “What are you standing around for? Quickly bring clean water, cloth for washing, and bandages!”

“Ah, ah, hurry and get them!”

Hot water was brought, along with snow-white cloth folded in layers. Dan Shuang cleaned the wound and applied a layer of anesthetic their master had given them. Miss Feiyu leaned over with great interest, staring at the bottle containing the anesthetic.

Dan Shuang picked up the needle and thread to suture the wound—this was the wound treatment method their master had taught them. Miss Li looked like she was about to faint again, so Tie Ci sighed: “We warriors who lick blood from blade edges shouldn’t frighten the young lady. Perhaps you should step away for now.”

But Miss Li refused to leave, standing in place wringing her fingers. Dan Shuang didn’t hesitate, quickly making two stitches with rough movements and ugly stitches. Miss Li gasped.

But Tie Ci didn’t mind. She’d had torn wounds before, all carelessly sewn by Dan Shuang, looking like earthworms. There was no helping it—Chi Xue was nimble but couldn’t do this work. She used to faint at the sight of blood, and though she’d improved somewhat after following Tie Ci for years, she still couldn’t handle such heavy responsibilities.

Tie Ci didn’t mind, but someone couldn’t bear to watch. Miss Li trembled for a long while, her face pale, struggling several times before finally saying: “…This… perhaps… I should do it…”

Dan Shuang looked back at her and laughed coldly, truly throwing down the needle and thread: “Go ahead!”

Miss Li’s face went even paler, as if she were being forced. She stepped forward to pick up the needle and thread, her hands shaking as she gestured for a long time without daring to begin, gradually becoming transfixed by Tie Ci’s wrist.

Though the wound was ghastly, it made the surrounding skin appear white and delicate, the wrist bone exquisite, the forearm beautifully lined yet not lacking in strength. As Miss Li watched, her cheeks gradually reddened.

But Dan Shuang couldn’t stand it anymore. She reached out to snatch back the needle and thread: “Miss, are you here to help or to ogle men?”

Miss Li’s face instantly burned with embarrassment. She stammered while holding the needle and thread, and it looked like new tears were about to well up in her eyes. Tie Ci was developing a headache when suddenly a hand reached over, took the needle and thread, and with a swift motion began stitching. The needle moved quickly and rhythmically, her fingers almost becoming a blur between rises and falls. She stitched with such beauty that the completed suture was equally beautiful. More wonderfully still, Tie Ci noticed she had achieved the effect of suturing and tightening with the fewest stitches possible—not only skillful and bold, but obviously quite clever too.

She couldn’t help praising: “I never expected Miss Feiyu to be so skilled at needlework.”

Feiyu glanced at her sideways, flicked her finger to send the needle and thread flying back into Dan Shuang’s needle box, while her other hand pressed against Tie Ci’s wrist, stroking back and forth as she said casually: “What needlework? I never learned any. Such simple work—you can do it just by watching, can’t you?”

Tie Ci looked down at her wrist—this top courtesan’s finger was pressing on her skin, slowly stroking back and forth, yet her eyes looked elsewhere as if completely unaware of what she was doing. Was this a habit of petting animals, or was she a perverted maniac?

Either way, quite handsy!

She looked at her wrist, then at Feiyu.

Feiyu’s finger paused, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. She quietly moved her finger away, picked up the small bottle of anesthetic, and applied another layer with natural skill. Then she rolled her finger and very naturally tucked it into her sleeve.

Chi Xue suddenly smiled: “Oh my, Miss Feiyu should hold that bottle carefully.”

Even more naturally, she reached out and pulled the bottle back.

Caught red-handed, Feiyu didn’t even blush, praising Chi Xue: “You’re so considerate. Even Mama Yang in our courtyard isn’t as meticulous as you.”

Chi Xue also acted as if she hadn’t understood the insult, smiling modestly: “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. My apologies.”

Tie Ci listened to their verbal sparring, inwardly amused while maintaining a calm exterior. Dan Shuang helped her wrap the wound tightly, and she got up to change clothes.

She turned behind the screen. Dan Shuang glared fiercely at both Miss Li and Feiyu. The former lowered her head in shame, while the latter smiled and winked at her.

Tie Ci quickly changed clothes and washed up briefly, then began questioning Miss Li. This time she sat far from both women, formally asking Miss Li to bring out the white plum blossom for her to examine, and asking where it had first appeared and how.

“…I don’t know either. My maid Luqi suddenly cried out, and that’s when we discovered there was an extra white plum blossom on the courtyard gate…”

Miss Li’s maid stepped forward and presented a white plum blossom on a tray.

Tie Ci leaned over to look. The previous white plum blossoms had all been incomplete, and the third corpse had no white plum blossom at all. This time she had to examine it carefully.

She looked left and right.

After a long while, Tie Ci sat down, supporting her forehead with her hand and sighing.

In this beautiful spring weather, wasn’t there anything better to do? Even going back to tangle desperately with bedding would be better!

“Young master, is… is there something wrong? Am I going to die…”

“No, I’m afraid everyone in this room could die of old age and you still might not die.” Tie Ci’s gaze went blank as she said gently and numbly, “Miss, young lady, sir—didn’t you notice that this isn’t a white plum blossom, but a pear blossom!”

Miss Li: “…”

In the complete silence, she looked ready to cry: “But… but… pear blossoms don’t have this kind of red center…”

“I just passed through the front courtyard and saw a red-centered delicate pear tree planted by the hanging flower gate. The more mature this type of pear blossom becomes, the redder its center gets. It was probably blown over by the wind from far away. Since you rarely go beyond the hanging flower gate, you wouldn’t know about this type of pear blossom in your own residence.” Tie Ci stood up. “I should have realized earlier—if it were really a white plum blossom, you should be a corpse by now… Since there’s nothing wrong, I’ll take my leave.”

Though it was a false alarm, she breathed a sigh of relief and quickly walked outside. Miss Li looked helpless, lifting her skirt to chase after her, soon becoming breathless: “Young master… Master Mao… it’s not like that… we heard sounds outside…”

Tie Ci smiled without speaking. Dan Shuang said: “If you want to see our young master, you don’t need to go to such elaborate lengths! One word from you would have people running their legs off, wouldn’t it!”

Miss Li became even more flustered. In her anxiety, she couldn’t speak, and just as Tie Ci was stepping over the threshold, a sharp scream came from the distance.

Tie Ci froze, then rushed toward the sound. She found a green-clothed maid collapsed on the ground. She checked her pulse—fortunately, she had only fainted.

After reviving the maid, they learned she was Luqi. Luqi covered her head, saying confusedly: “I was just going to get refreshments when I saw a black shadow jump out of the young lady’s courtyard. Before I could see clearly, everything went black…”

A nearby servant woman added: “This old woman heard something wrong and hurried over, shouting loudly. I saw a black shadow crouching beside Luqi. When it heard my voice, it ran away.”

Luqi said gratefully: “If not for Mama arriving in time, I might have been killed…”

Tie Ci made no comment, ordering someone to help her rest. She turned to see Miss Li staring at her with a pale face, swaying as if about to collapse. She sighed: “Don’t be afraid, miss. I won’t leave. I’ll keep watch for you tonight.”

Miss Li immediately transformed from worry to joy. She said she was afraid and asked Tie Ci to come into her courtyard. Tie Ci no longer declined, but insisted that since men and women should be separate, she would only rest and guard in the courtyard. Miss Li had no choice and couldn’t very well sit with her in the courtyard the whole time, so she went into her inner chamber but left the window open, sitting by the window to embroider while gazing from afar at Tie Ci’s back in the courtyard. Her loving eyes frequently fell on Tie Ci’s not-very-broad back.

Tie Ci pretended not to notice. Since childhood, because of her beauty, she had been subjected to all kinds of gazes from both men and women. There was really no need to make a big fuss about it anymore.

Though she said she was guarding, there was no need to sit rigidly upright. Miss Li, worried she would be tired after her injury, had someone bring a reclining chair. Tie Ci sat down without ceremony. Glancing around, she saw that Miss Feiyu had somehow also gotten herself a reclining chair and was occupying one side of the courtyard, swaying leisurely.

Tie Ci turned her head to look at her, discovering that the two of them were swaying at the same frequency. She smiled inwardly, thinking this was also an interesting person.

The sunlight was warm, and she was tired from recent days. Understanding in her heart that the assassin wouldn’t come now, Tie Ci just closed her eyes slightly and fell asleep.

When she fell asleep, Chi Xue and Dan Shuang, who had been sitting on small stools talking quietly, immediately stopped speaking. Chi Xue got up to ask the host family for a thin blanket. Miss Feiyu, who had appeared to be dozing, suddenly opened her eyes, quietly walked to Tie Ci’s side. Dan Shuang immediately stood up alertly. Feiyu ignored her, taking out her veil—a long purple gauze that trailed on the ground—and draped it over Tie Ci.

Dan Shuang frowned at her, reaching to remove the veil. Feiyu made a “shh” sound: “Don’t be like a prickly hedgehog. I’m caring for my patron, just covering him with a blanket. You should learn something—being a woman means being like me: suitable for home, gentle and considerate. Understand?”

Dan Shuang: “…”

There were too many points to criticize; she really didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

She raised her hand to remove this gentle, considerate, home-suitable top courtesan’s useless gauze cover, but Feiyu suddenly pulled the gauze up a bit, half-covering Tie Ci’s face, and whispered with a smile: “Look, with the veil on, he looks more like a young lady than I do.”

Dan Shuang’s heart jumped and her hand paused. Feiyu had already returned to her reclining chair and resumed swaying.

Chi Xue returned with a thin blanket. Seeing Dan Shuang’s strange expression, she inquired with her eyes. Dan Shuang jerked her mouth toward Feiyu.

Chi Xue understood and said quietly: “Don’t bother arguing with her—she’s not worth it.” She covered Tie Ci with the blanket, but also used a support pole to hold up the veil above Tie Ci’s head, shielding her from the direct sunlight.

When Tie Ci opened her eyes again, she saw a purple-red sun with the sky’s clouds forming a band of deep black. Everything was shrouded in a layer of dreamlike, ethereal color with heavy, blurred outlines. At first glance, it looked like the apocalyptic mechanical style her master had once painted.

Only when her vision focused did she realize it was just a purple veil over her head. Looking through that purple gauze, she turned her head sideways to see the veil’s owner also sleeping. Her profile showed a nose like a knife edge—high and straight—but the jawline was even more distinct than her nose. Such a profile had a sharp quality, but her fine, slightly curled eyelashes softened this feeling, while her soft red lips were three shades more vibrant than the peach blossom hanging by her cheek.

She was like some great evil from demon mountains and enchanted seas, neither male nor female, with one hand holding red fire and the other ice, half peach blossom and half snow, a blood-colored cloak covering a round of clear moon, her flower-pinching fingertips scattered with black poison.

Tie Ci admired this for a while, caught the scent of food, and then saw the top courtesan who had been sleeping as if unconscious suddenly sit up with a whoosh.

Did she have food radar installed in her body?

Miss Feiyu got up and walked toward the table, suddenly turning back to throw another flirtatious glance at her.

Had she discovered the voyeurism just now?

Tie Ci felt no guilt and sat up openly, going to the table to eat. At a glance, she saw Miss Li had actually taken the main seat—she was going to dine with them.

Well, she still had to eat. Tie Ci sat down with Miss Li on her left and Feiyu on her right.

The meal was quite lavish. Tie Ci picked up her chopsticks when Miss Li suddenly said softly: “Since the young master is injured, let me serve you food.”

“I injured my left hand, which doesn’t interfere with holding chopsticks. At worst, I have my atten…” Tie Ci’s words weren’t finished when a pair of chopsticks reached over, carrying a pigeon egg that was fed—no, shoved—into her open mouth.

Tie Ci: “…”

She’s going to choke me to death.

I knew the consequences of being fought over were serious, but I didn’t know choking to death was one of them.

Miss Feiyu seemed completely unaware of the violence in that chopstick thrust, withdrawing her chopsticks and glancing at Miss Li with a smile: “The story just now teaches you: if you want to feed someone, do it quickly; if you want to compete, do it immediately. Otherwise, by the time it’s your turn, the day lily will be cold.”

Miss Li looked ready to cry again.

Dan Shuang said coldly: “Right, if you want to choke someone to death, do it quickly. This is how the gentle, considerate top courtesans from famous brothels are trained. Understand?”

Tie Ci wanted to applaud her.

Ever since she became the beauty champion at age twelve and was pursued relentlessly, she had miraculously avoided too much harassment, largely thanks to having such a fierce, sharp-tongued senior maid.

Only now did Miss Li understand Feiyu’s identity. Her complexion paled considerably, and she no longer competed with her.

Feiyu wasn’t affected by this disdain either, eating methodically. Tie Ci breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that as long as this person didn’t cause trouble, she could have a good meal. Besides, her troublemaking wasn’t entirely bad—it helped block Miss Li’s unbearable attentiveness.

For a while, there was almost no sound at the table. Chi Xue stood to one side serving food when she suddenly frowned slightly.

She noticed that the only one making slight sounds with bowl and chopsticks was Miss Li, currently the only proper young lady at the table.

Tie Ci, coming from the royal family, had palace training and protocols that gave her dignified bearing—she never made sounds while eating. But why was that top courtesan also eating completely silently?

While she was pondering this, the top courtesan couldn’t stay quiet for long and began causing trouble again. She suddenly glanced at Tie Ci’s rice bowl and said: “You’re a grown man, eating so little? On this whole table of dishes, is there nothing you like?”

Tie Ci ate in the palace style, taking only three chopstick-fulls of each dish and never more. Even Chi Xue and Dan Shuang didn’t know what she actually liked. Chi Xue had been careful to disguise this today, naturally not giving Tie Ci three chopstick-fulls of each dish, but habitually served a balanced selection. Miss Feiyu’s question was quite meaningful—she not only saw the pattern in the food serving but even noticed that Tie Ci had no favorite dishes at all.

Tie Ci looked up and tapped her bowl: “Then you, a woman, eating so much? Quite an appetite.”

Feiyu said: “When I was little, my mother wouldn’t let me eat much, saying girls who ate too much would be laughed at, and only slender waists could be considered beautiful. Back then, I was hungry for most of the year. When companions gave me food and my mother found out, I’d be starved even more severely. Later when I grew up, she thought I should eat more. I ate more each meal—at first I couldn’t manage it and would vomit, but stuffing and vomiting, stuffing and vomiting, gradually my appetite grew. But I can also eat little. My stomach can handle hunger and fullness, bend and stretch. Going seven days without food is fine, holding three jars is also fine. It’s truly a resilient and useful thing.”

She spoke lightly, but Tie Ci was somewhat stunned listening, couldn’t help saying: “How can your stomach be good after such treatment?”

But Feiyu smiled again: “Then why can’t you eat much?”

Tie Ci had ten thousand ways to deflect and evade, but at this moment, still thinking about the other’s abused stomach, she casually said: “Eating too much clogs the intestines and stomach, causing blood to concentrate there and affecting brain function. Once a person becomes stupid, they might never recover.”

Chi Xue coughed lightly.

Tie Ci immediately realized her mistake, feeling both annoyed and surprised.

Having grown up in the palace and weathered many storms, she really wasn’t someone who spoke carelessly. Yet now she had said something she shouldn’t have.

Was it because the spring night and moonlight were too peaceful, or because the focused gaze of the person smiling across from her was too beautiful?

Feiyu was stunned and thought for a moment: “That’s such strange talk. I can sort of understand the general meaning, but every word is so peculiar.”

She said she could understand, but Miss Li clearly had no comprehension at all, staring blankly.

Tie Ci knew the top courtesan was quite perceptive, but didn’t expect her to be perceptive to this degree. She mentally slapped herself, picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of spareribs in Feiyu’s bowl: “This is well-known medical theory. Come, these plum-flavored spareribs are good—if you like them, eat more.”

Feiyu smiled and glanced at her, saying nothing more. But Miss Li’s gaze followed that piece of sparerib, jealous light threatening to shoot from her eyes. Seeing this wasn’t good, Tie Ci thought they mustn’t create another drama scene. She saw Miss Li’s maid behind her couldn’t help herself and said coldly: “Since when can brothel women sit at the same table as our young lady?”

Feiyu wasn’t angry either. She bit into the sparerib and leaned back, her eyes flowing as she glanced at Miss Li with a smile: “Oh my, seeing your jealous faces makes me so— happy—”

Tie Ci: “…”

No, I’m not happy.

How did I end up rescuing such a troublemaker?

Feiyu wasn’t finished with the already red-faced Li family master and servant. She suddenly bumped Miss Li’s shoulder, saying with dancing eyebrows: “Do you know why I alone have won Master Mao’s favor?”

Tie Ci: “…”

No, wait, when did I favor you? How do I not know about this?

Miss Li moved away from Feiyu, saying stiffly: “What are you talking about, miss!”

Feiyu rested her elbow on the chair back, her face nestled in her arm, smiling as she drew out her words: “Because you’re not more womanly than me!”

Miss Li angrily set down her chopsticks. Turning her head, she was confronted with a beautiful, pure lotus face at such close distance that her skin remained flawless. The perfectly arched upturn at the corner of her eyes, half-hidden by those dense lashes, made her look perpetually half-drunk and languid, like scattered moonlight and broken starlight, ready to draw one’s soul to that soundless romantic place.

There are many beauties in the world, but enchantresses are rarely seen. Miss Li felt a moment of what could be called shame at her own inadequacy.

She wordlessly set down her chopsticks, nodded reluctantly to Tie Ci, and returned to her room.

Tie Ci didn’t know whether to feel relieved or more worried.

After hurriedly finishing the meal, Miss Li’s room soon went dark. Tie Ci sat in the courtyard appreciating the moon, with Feiyu also sitting down beside her.

She sat very close. Tie Ci, out of security habits, never liked sitting too close to people, so she moved over.

Feiyu then scooted closer again.

She moved again.

Feiyu scooted again.

Seeing they had reached the edge of the steps where moving again would mean falling off, Tie Ci sighed and stopped moving.

Better than sitting on her lap, anyway.

Before this thought was complete, she heard the top courtesan say coquettishly: “Sir, at the brothel, when it’s dark and windy like this, you should pull this slave onto your lap…”

Tie Ci: “…Thanks for the invitation. But miss, you’re too heavy.”

The top courtesan sighed resentfully, murmuring: “Haven’t even redeemed me yet and already complaining I eat too much. Truly, men have been heartless since ancient times…”

Tie Ci smiled.

Whether men are heartless or not, I don’t know.

That you’re extremely theatrical, I know.

Feiyu was quiet for a while before entering the next round of troublemaking, saying: “Since we’re fated to sit shoulder to shoulder admiring the moon, we should at least say something to go with the meal, right?” She pulled out a bag of sunflower seeds from her bosom.

Tie Ci went with the flow: “Alright, then tell me about something that’s made you very unhappy recently.”

Feiyu: “…Your lordship is truly unique.” She shook the bag, pouring seeds for Tie Ci.

Tie Ci: “You flatter me—likewise.” She extended her palm to receive the seeds: one, two, three…

Dan Shuang’s eyes nearly rolled to heaven—she’d never seen anyone so stingy, even afraid of pouring too many sunflower seeds!

Fortunately, Tie Ci wasn’t afraid. She patiently kept her palm extended, forcing Miss Feiyu to pour them one by one, two by three, until she’d poured out half the small bag.

Finally, Feiyu’s lips were trembling. She had to admit defeat and put the bag away early.

Tie Ci smiled as she cracked sunflower seeds, the sound very crisp. She understood that the most vicious way to irritate a miser was to eat quickly and with obvious enjoyment at this moment.

Amid the vindictive seed-cracking sounds, Feiyu also viciously cracked a seed: “Recently, what made me unhappy? There’s this ugly monster who dared to request my services. She doesn’t lack for people, so why reach so far? Interfering with my money-making business is unforgivable. When I see her in the future, I’ll definitely castrate her… What about you?”

“Me?” Tie Ci thought about it. There were too many unhappy things, so she could only pick the most inconsequential to mention: “I met an extortionist and thief who stole my most important possession and even fought with me. When I see them in the future, castration would be too mild—after all, I don’t even know if it’s male or female, probably some hermaphrodite. Better to sell them to Elephant Country; maybe they could win a beauty queen contest. When they get the prize money, I’ll take half.”

After both finished speaking, they looked at each other and smiled, both finding the other’s imagination peculiar, language lively, and quite delightful yet detestable.

The two sat harmoniously shoulder to shoulder, cracking sunflower seeds in the moonlight. After a while, Feiyu suddenly seemed to remember something and asked: “I heard the maid here say earlier that you’re from an official family in the capital? Have you seen the Crown Princess?”

Tie Ci methodically cracked her seeds: “Haven’t seen her. I’m just the son of an unranked third-rank official—how would I have the chance to see the Crown Princess?”

“But you should have heard about her, right?”

“Oh? Which aspect do you want to hear about?”

“Any aspect will do.”

“Then I’ll tell you. The Crown Princess is naturally beautiful beyond compare, her talent is first-rate, her temperament is gentle, her character noble, she’s diligent in governance and loves the people, practices self-restraint and frugality, is modest, benevolent and filial, and has precious moral character…”

Feiyu burst out laughing and said leisurely: “How strange. The Crown Princess I heard about is completely different from what you describe.”

“Oh? Please elaborate.”

Feiyu cracked a pile of seed shells, gathered all the kernels together, ate them in one mouthful, and after contentedly crunching away, delivered her final verdict: “Ugly and useless!”

Tie Ci fell silent. Useless was bearable—she couldn’t stop people from saying that openly or secretly. But ugly?

Feiyu pointed to her own nose: “Anyone not as good as me counts as ugly.”

Tie Ci looked at her: “Oh.”

She wouldn’t argue, but Feiyu felt uncomfortable with the lack of response. She bumped Tie Ci’s knee: “What do you mean, ‘oh’?”

“I’m thinking.” Tie Ci, unlike Feiyu, peeled her seeds one by one, maintaining the same rhythm as she said slowly: “The water spewing from your mouth now will all become tears flowing down your cheeks later. The ancients did not deceive me.”

Feiyu laughed, full of disdain ready to float away.

Tie Ci smiled benevolently at her, thinking: You woman, keep spouting nonsense slandering me. Sooner or later I’ll tie you to the phoenix bed in Ruixiang Hall and do this and that and that and this to you, making you cry out helplessly to heaven and earth, wanting to die every day but living on, wanting to live but being devoured alive, swallowing sounds and choking back tears…

Probably Feiyu couldn’t see the darkness flowing like oil beneath her benevolent expression. After a while, she yawned. Tie Ci felt a weight on her shoulder and turned to see the top courtesan had rested her head on her shoulder and fallen asleep.

Tie Ci looked at her thick, dark lashes like dense fans. When this woman’s eyes were open, her appearance was gorgeous and beautiful with a noble air, but when closed, she seemed elegant and refined. Her temperament had a subtle contradictory quality. Tie Ci couldn’t help reaching out to pinch her eyelashes. Feiyu swatted at her hand like shooing a fly. Not to be outdone, Tie Ci moved her hand down to pinch her cheek. The touch was surprisingly smooth, making her both envious and resentful as she clicked her tongue.

She waited a while longer until Feiyu seemed to be sleeping deeply, then took off the cloak Chi Xue had given her and draped it over Feiyu’s head. She pulled over a stool for Feiyu to lean against and quietly stood up.

Since you want to sit here and keep watch, then keep watch for me.

She planned to go check out Cangsheng Tower.

She had only half-risen when suddenly a hand shot out from under the cloak. The previously deeply sleeping Feiyu lightning-fast grabbed her, then her arm quickly climbed up to Tie Ci’s waist. Looking down, Tie Ci saw Feiyu still had her eyes closed, murmuring coquettishly: “Sir… don’t leave… haven’t paid the night crossing fee yet…”

Tie Ci: “…”

She’d heard of clients running off in the middle of the night to avoid paying, but never thought she’d play that role herself today.

This lady was truly professional.

Just as she was about to pry off Feiyu’s hands, she suddenly heard a sharp whooshing sound!

The sound was too familiar. In that instant, Tie Ci couldn’t think of anything else and suddenly leaned backward.

The wind sound brushed past her nose tip, bringing bone-chilling cold, then with a “whoosh” shot through the courtyard flowers and trees, exploding countless green fragments and petals before flashing away.

When Tie Ci fell backward, Feiyu was still holding her waist. This fall caused Feiyu to land on top of her. Tie Ci raised her hand, the cloak covering them both, then the wind sounds continued in succession, mixed with Dan Shuang’s angry shouts.

Tie Ci called out: “Dan Shuang, protect Chi Xue!”

Her moment of distraction in speaking allowed the wind sound to approach. Feiyu, riding on top of her, suddenly pressed down against her chest. With a “hiss,” the wind sound passed over both their heads, silently tearing a slit in the cloak.

Tie Ci tightened her arms, hugged Feiyu close, and rolled violently. The cloak, along with both of them, tumbled through the air. With another “crack,” another beam of light pierced through, and they dodged another sharp wind.

With a “bang,” both crashed to the ground, this time with Tie Ci on top of Feiyu.

The cloak slowly settled, still covering them both, and the third wind sound arrived. This time it was like violent rain and fierce wind, coming from all directions.

Feiyu seemed very flustered, reaching around blindly. She suddenly pressed down on Tie Ci’s wrist, right on Tie Ci’s wound, causing Tie Ci’s whole body to go weak from pain. Feiyu was already holding her, rolling continuously. Tie Ci heard “thud thud thud thud” sounds following their rolling movement, constantly shooting into the ground where they had just been. The closest shot had its cold arrow shaft already pressing against her waist. But Feiyu’s rolling, though appearing panicked, was indescribably agile. Each time they barely, barely scraped by. Sharp weapons piercing the ground kicked up endless dust mixed with a strange smell that seeped through the torn gaps in the cloak. Tie Ci couldn’t hold her breath at this point and choked on several mouthfuls. After rolling several more times, they finally stopped, and this time Feiyu was back on top of Tie Ci.

The wind sounds finally stopped. Tie Ci took a breath, finding that strange smell even stronger. The Feiyu on top of her suddenly shuddered all over, then actually braced her legs and tried to stand up on Tie Ci’s body.

This position was truly strange. Tie Ci, worried she would become an enemy target standing like that, kindly pulled her down. Feiyu was caught off guard and fell back onto her. In that instant, Tie Ci suddenly felt something hard poke her. She couldn’t help but freeze—did Feiyu have weapons on her?

But that sensation didn’t quite seem like…

She was puzzling over this when she heard Feiyu seem to gasp, then apparently grit her teeth before suddenly pushing her away.

The moment she pushed Tie Ci away, there was a “whoosh” as the wind sound rose again. This time it was like a heavy object with an extremely heavy and fierce wind sound, heading straight for Tie Ci’s head.

From the sound, that thing was frighteningly heavy—the kind that would break bones even with a glancing blow.

Tie Ci’s anger flared from her heart.

Was this lady trying to push her out as a human shield?

She had always been someone who didn’t take losses lying down. The moment she was pushed out, she grabbed Feiyu’s hand and swung her toward the direction of the wind sound.

But Feiyu was also a troublemaker. Being swung out, she instantly hooked onto Tie Ci’s belt.

The two had just been cooperating against the enemy but instantly turned to mutual sabotage, dragging and pulling each other in a chain. Just as something massive darkened the sky above them and crashed down, mixed with Dan Shuang’s furious roar.

“Crack. Crack.”

Two crisp sounds rang out, but they didn’t sound like breaking bones. The two figures rolled apart, glaring at each other.

Another “bang” echoed as dust rose and settled. Somehow, two reclining chairs had appeared in the courtyard, one on each side, supporting a boulder. The chairs had already shattered under the massive stone, breaking into a pile of brittle bamboo and wood fragments.

In that final moment, each had hooked over a reclining chair, using the chairs to support the boulder for a moment and successfully rolling out of the kill zone.

Dan Shuang rushed over and, seeing the scene clearly, breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she looked toward Feiyu.

The two reclining chairs had been placed left and right in the courtyard, but not everyone could have such quick thinking in a life-or-death moment, especially with a massive stone above and a burdensome companion below.

It wasn’t surprising that the Crown Princess had this ability, but for this brothel woman to be so clever was quite remarkable.

Tie Ci gripped her injured wrist—after that series of intense movements, half her body was now numb. She rarely showed a stern expression, but now stared grimly at the boulder half as tall as a person.

Such a heavy stone would be very difficult for even a master to throw from such a distance, unless… they used a catapult.

A catapult was siege equipment!

How could siege equipment appear in the middle of the night at an ordinary residence? To go to such elaborate lengths to kill her—had her identity been discovered?

Chi Xue, who had cleverly hidden earlier, also came out. Seeing the boulder, she immediately understood the gravity of the situation, her face pale as snow.

All three pairs of eyes turned to Feiyu. She was half-kneeling with her wide skirt spread like a tent, blocking her entire lower body. Her face looked even worse than theirs, though her cheeks bore a strange flush.

This posture was somewhat odd, but she maintained it without getting up.

Tie Ci didn’t focus too much attention on Feiyu. Though this lady was somewhat mysterious, this incident shouldn’t be related to her—after all, those flying arrows and boulders hadn’t avoided her either.

She suddenly realized something was wrong.

With such a commotion in the courtyard—like a siege battle—how could the inner chambers remain completely silent?

Chi Xue also noticed, hurrying up to the gallery to knock on the hall door.

No response.

Tie Ci’s pupils contracted as she slowly stood up. Dan Shuang suddenly said: “Someone released drugs. The smell isn’t right.”

Tie Ci knew the smell was wrong—she had detected it earlier, but aside from feeling a bit drowsy, she hadn’t experienced any other unusual sensations.

She was about to push open the door when suddenly there was a commotion outside, firelight blazing, followed by a “bang” as the courtyard gate was smashed open.

Tie Ci’s hand was still on the door when she turned back to see County Magistrate Li rushing in with people, torches blazing. In the firelight, the magistrate’s face was full of fury as he shouted: “It really is you! What are you doing! What do you want to do to my daughter!”