It’s just that hanging cloth strips on a nearly dying peach tree looked rather foolish.

In front of the peach tree, a young lady was desperately standing on tiptoe, trying to tie her wish strip up, but the lowest branches were already full while the higher ones were out of reach, making her face flush red with frustration.

Other young ladies who couldn’t reach also laughingly asked their senior brothers for help, but this particular girl looked on shyly without daring to speak up.

Tie Ci’s gaze fell on the girl’s clothing. Though she wore Celu Academy’s uniform, the shoes were her own—she wasn’t wearing the soft-soled boots suitable for long walks, but only a pair of hand-stitched thousand-layer sole blue cloth shoes, covered in dust, the blue fabric washed until it was nearly white.

Ever since Yueli Academy produced the Crown Princess, other academies in Great Qian had also begun accepting female students, even making exceptions to allow daughters from poor families to enroll. The girl before her was likely one of these.

But studying was originally a path only those from well-off families could attempt. Children from poor families, especially girls, entering academies to study would inevitably face constraints whether in interpersonal relationships, resources, or personal temperament.

Tie Ci watched for a while, then stood up, took the cloth strip from the girl’s hand, and helped her hang it up.

The girl’s face turned bright red as she lowered her head, not daring to look at her.

Tie Ci said gently: “If you can’t reach and feel embarrassed to trouble your senior brothers, you can ask the person selling wish strips to help. If you’re still too embarrassed to trouble others, then climb the tree.”

The girl stared at her speechlessly.

“Academy rules don’t forbid tree climbing. Don’t worry about what others think of you—accomplishing what you want to do is most important.” Tie Ci smiled and walked away.

Everyone had their own choices and fate. She was just passing by and lending a hand—she wouldn’t interfere too much.

The Crown Princess surveyed this batch of students and scholars with the gaze of someone looking at fresh, tender cabbage in her own vegetable garden. Meanwhile, Murong Yi had already diligently roasted the garlic, letting Tie Ci relive this delightful treat.

The two sat on a large rock eating roasted garlic, listening to Qi You calculate the remaining journey for everyone. He suggested that those with poor stamina could stay overnight here, and announced lodging prices—Master Dongde’s courtyard was the most expensive, while A’Hei’s house, farthest from Master Dongde’s, was cheapest.

However, the main room in Master Dongde’s courtyard was sealed off and entry forbidden, so everyone competed for the side rooms and ear rooms, cramming seven or eight people into each side room.

Ironically, no one wanted the little shed where Tie Ci and Murong Yi had actually stayed, so they moved back in.

They were staying another night to confirm whether the Lingquan Village people had truly all left, whether they might have simply moved to live nearby, and whether any traces remained.

But seeing the current noisy tourist attraction situation, even if the Lingquan Village people were still around, they couldn’t possibly return.

That evening the two made a floor bed, watching the students in the courtyard—some wandering about, some composing poetry in the wind, trying to find some romantic inspiration for writing love poems in the “Crown Princess’s former residence,” while others argued about what capacity Tie Ci and that Master Rong had entered Lingquan Village.

Originally, “The Benevolent Heart Chronicle” had erased Murong Yi’s existence, but the restless Murong Yi had used the pirated volumes seven, eight, and nine to colorfully highlight his own presence. Now most people knew of Master Rong’s existence during the Crown Princess’s academy journey. Combined with the Yannan trip, where Tie Ci had publicly revealed her relationship with this Master Rong without much concealment of Murong Yi’s true identity, as news gradually spread from Yannan, a considerable portion of people already knew that the Master Rong beside the Crown Princess was the Liaodong heir.

“I heard they entered Lingquan Village as husband and wife, living together day and night.”

“If that’s the case, the Crown Princess’s happy event must be near? I heard she’s already returning from Yannan. After reaching the capital this time, she’ll surely announce to the world that the imperial family has joyous news.”

“You think this is good news?”

“How is it not?” Someone else joined the conversation. “Talented man, beautiful woman, equal status, supporting each other throughout their journey—truly deep and meaningful love.”

“Have you forgotten that person’s identity?”

Silence fell beneath the peach tree.

After a long moment, someone said: “This identity matter shouldn’t be a problem, right? The Liaodong heir inherits the princedom, Liaodong submits to Great Qian like Yannan—isn’t that perfect for everyone?”

“What are you thinking? If even you can see this outcome, doesn’t the Prince of Liaodong know? Have you asked if he agrees? His Murong family has occupied Liaodong for generations—Liaodong has become a nation unto itself. Would you give all your family assets to a son destined to squander them?”

“Then… the Liaodong heir simply won’t be heir anymore. The Crown Princess won’t treat him poorly.”

“The Prince of Liaodong has no other sons—this heir killed them all!”

“…”

After a long pause, someone said quietly: “…With no choice, yet unable to let the family assets be ruined by a wastrel son, if I were the Prince of Liaodong, what would I do?”

“I don’t know what he’ll do, but he definitely won’t do nothing.” Someone snorted coldly. “Looking at it this way, do you still think this is good news?”

Another person said: “I have another thought. Brother Ming just mentioned that this Liaodong heir killed all his brothers to gain the heir position—clearly he’s a ruthless, unscrupulous ambitious hero. Would such an ambitious hero truly give up his princedom and territory for love, abandon supreme honor, and willingly become a woman’s appendage and harem member?”

Someone else said softly: “How do we know this deep love isn’t false—just a means for this ruthless, unscrupulous Liaodong heir to seduce the Crown Princess and thereby seize high position or even Great Qian itself? After all, at eighteen with awakening emotions, a young girl’s heart is all poetry.”

Another silence.

Obviously this speculation wasn’t a fresh theory—no one present refuted it, but not everyone dared voice it.

After a while, someone sighed: “But let’s hope His Highness remains clearheaded and can distinguish truth from falsehood…”

Someone immediately countered: “When women are trapped in love, where is reason and clarity? My family has a distant relative whose daughter was known since childhood for being learned, proper, and well-regarded. One year during spring outings, she met some penniless fellow who bewitched her with sweet words until she was completely infatuated. From then on she seemed like a different person—crying and making scenes daily, seeking death, with family members taking turns trying to persuade her to no avail. Finally she eloped with him. I heard recently she’s living quite poorly…”

“Why compare the Crown Princess to ordinary women? What kind of person is His Highness!”

“His Highness is still a woman in the end!”

“I say you’re all worrying needlessly. That Liaodong heir and the Crown Princess have traveled together through wind, rain, life and death—how can that compare to ordinary romance? Looking at those volumes seven, eight, and nine of ‘The Benevolent Heart Chronicle,’ has he ever harmed His Highness? Has he ever made any improper demands of His Highness? If he truly wanted to harm His Highness, why wait until today!”

“You believe that heap of fabricated legendary fiction, and it’s not even officially published!”

“Perhaps his schemes are so grand that he’s proceeding step by step!”

…

More and more people gathered, chattering and arguing.

Tie Ci looked at Murong Yi, guarding against him losing his temper and suddenly lashing out.

Under the moonlight, Murong Yi turned his head, showing only half his refined jawline and skin more lustrous than moonlight. A faint smile could be discerned at the corner of his lips—mysterious as a udumbara flower yet distant as fine snow.

He said: “Why are you looking at me? Am I a murderous maniac in your heart?”

Tie Ci heard the barb in these words and just smiled, squeezing his hand. “Which of us isn’t a murderous maniac?”

Murong Yi laughed and squeezed her hand back. “Iron Murderous Maniac, these people are slandering me behind my back. Why doesn’t this ignorant girl infatuated with me go beat the shit out of these bastards’ mouths?”

To his surprise, Tie Ci straightforwardly said: “Fine.” And actually rolled up her sleeves, preparing to go over.

Murong Yi watched with amusement as she was about to step into the lamplight over there, then pulled her back with one motion. Tie Ci spun and crashed into his embrace. The two kissed in the dark shadows of the small courtyard’s grass shed, with people coming and going around them, lights crisscrossing, voices mixing—only their corner remained silent, dark, passionate, and subtly fragrant.

There was an atmosphere of shared understanding and tenderness, as if the whole world didn’t understand but only the two of them knew each other’s hearts.

After a long while, Murong Yi finally caught his breath and leaned against Tie Ci’s shoulder, his black hair spilling over her shoulder. Tie Ci breathed rapidly several times, her cheeks slightly flushed as she praised his lung capacity.

Murong Yi leaned by her ear and said quietly: “It shouldn’t be like this.”

Tie Ci knew he wasn’t questioning her assessment of his lung capacity and kissing skills. Having traveled together this long, they needed no excessive explanation to know what the other meant. This was also her inner worry.

Since she had publicly revealed her relationship with Murong Yi in Yannan, she had actually considered that paper couldn’t wrap fire. Continuing to conceal this matter would definitely be used by those with ulterior motives to make trouble. Taking advantage of the Yannan trip and the popularity of the pirated “Benevolent Heart Chronicle” throughout the land, with public opinion and popular foundation nearly established, she had taken the opportunity to legitimize their relationship, cutting off possibilities for certain people to cause trouble while establishing their public image.

To act meant acting comprehensively. So before this, besides the pirated books, Tie Ci had also asked her senior brother for help, using Gui Qizhai’s branches throughout the country to promote this matter positively. She had also written to Little Bug in the capital, having him contact the capital’s pleasure quarters. Murong Yi’s side had spared no effort either, with his shops and businesses throughout the country working hard.

Under normal circumstances, in ancient times when information flowed slowly, having the opinion-shaping power of books, pleasure quarters, and commercial shops was already most effective. The two had thought that by the time they returned from Yannan, the people and court should have largely accepted this matter.

But now the direction was clearly somewhat wrong.

She reached back to grasp Murong Yi’s hand hanging over her shoulder, fingers intertwining. “Afraid?”

“What do you think?” Murong Yi chuckled softly by her ear, palm pressed tight against her palm.

“Ultimately, this is really just a matter between you and me. It would be best if the people and court could accept it, and I’ve indeed been working toward that end. But if they truly cannot accept it,” Tie Ci said slowly, “to hell with it all.”

Murong Yi laughed aloud by her ear, his gorgeous voice pleasant as music, but said nothing, only kissing her earlobe.

His Tie Ci—perhaps there were places where their personalities clashed, perhaps there were things she couldn’t agree with him on, but she never tried to change or train him. She would worry about and even retreat from the sharp swords and harsh criticism they might face, but once she decided to confront them, she would go forward even against ten thousand.

What could he do? Just accompany her.

As long as she trusted him, what did the world’s distrust matter?

He didn’t even have interest in explaining.

The two climbed over the wall out of Master Dongde’s courtyard, following the small path behind the wall up the mountain. When Lingquan Village was attacked at night, they had also taken this path. At that time, to avoid assassins, Tie Ci had been pushed into a cave by Murong Yi while he chose to hide in the water pretending to be a lotus flower.

It was a small mountain pond with vines concealing a small cave nearby. When Tie Ci walked over, she felt something trip her foot. Worried about tripping Murong Yi, she kicked it aside.

Naturally there were no lotus leaves in the pond water now. Tie Ci stood on the mountaintop looking at the bustling crowds below, quite moved. Suddenly she heard Murong Yi say: “Come look at this.”

Tie Ci turned back to see the small cave where she had hidden. The vines showed signs of having been moved, and when Murong Yi pulled them aside, some seemingly chaotic lines appeared on the stone wall.

The lines were quite disorganized. After looking for a long time without understanding, Tie Ci said: “What is this? A bunch of dots and specks—sesame seeds on a flatbread?”

Murong Yi scoffed: “Didn’t the roasted garlic fill you up? Why does everything you see look like food?”

Tie Ci protested: “Then what do you say it looks like? This big patch of dots and specks, with a flat, round shape beside it.”

“You know it’s beside it—have you ever seen a flatbread with all the sesame seeds picked out and placed beside it? This flat, round thing looks more like… a footprint?”

“A dinosaur footprint? So huge and fat?”

“What’s a dinosaur? A terrifying dragon? Then that would be you.”

“Thank you for your high evaluation. Speaking of which, I suddenly think this pattern looks a bit like a bear paw.”

“It’s over—the child is truly starved. “

“Don’t you think it looks like one?”

“It does, very much so. Unfortunately there are no bears in these mountains, or I’d hunt one and roast it for you, saving you from this obsession.”

“I remember your region produces these things—one of Liaodong’s three treasures…”

Tie Ci suddenly stopped speaking and turned back with Murong Yi.

They saw a large dark mass of people coming up the mountain path, led again by that “senior tour guide” Qi You, climbing while pointing this way: “Alright, we’ve reached Wishing Pond. Originally, the Crown Princess and Master Rong fled here at night and hid in the pond. Afterward, countless paired lotus flowers bloomed in the pond, showing their fated connection moved heaven itself. So for lovers, making wishes here at midnight is most effective. Come, come line up… Wait, which bastard removed the sign I nailed here?!”

Tie Ci: “…”

Looking down, she saw half a sign lying by the roadside. She seemed to have been tripped earlier and kicked this “scenic spot sign” in half?

At this moment, everyone looked up and saw Tie Ci and Murong Yi, as well as that broken sign.

“It’s them!”

“Coming at midnight to destroy the Crown Princess and Master Rong’s love pledge site!”

“I noticed their strange expressions earlier, sneaky and suspicious!”

“Right, right! When Brother Qi asked them to make wishes earlier, they even cursed!”

“Definitely jealous of the Crown Princess, harboring ill intentions! Drive them out!”

“Yes, drive them out!”

Crackling sounds—curses and stones fell like rain.

The Crown Princess and Murong Yi, at their own legendary scenic spot, were beaten into fleeing in panic.

…