Looking at him with a smile, Qin Chang Ge answered modestly, “How could I dare, how could I dare?”

“No problem, no problem.” Yu Zixi gently extended his hand, actually reaching out to hold hers.

“That won’t do, that won’t do.” Qin Chang Ge pulled back her sleeve.

“No harm, no harm.” Yu Zixi smiled even more sweetly. When he couldn’t reach her sleeve, he reached for her neck.

“This, this…”

“Quite fragrant, quite fragrant!”

Just as Yu Zixi’s smooth skin was about to touch Qin Chang Ge’s neck, she swiftly sidestepped, strode out of the sedan chair in one step from his side, and with a quick push, shoved Yu Zixi, who was leaning halfway into the sedan, completely inside. She immediately dropped the curtain and called out, “Lift the sedan!”

The sedan bearers immediately lifted the sedan.

Qin Chang Ge quickly waved her hands, expressing reluctant farewell, while her feet had already slipped through the Grand Tutor’s mansion gates.

At the moment of closing the door, thinking about how unusually accommodating this fox was today—pushing him in and he obediently listened—she couldn’t help but look back, only to see the sedan curtain lifted and Yu Zixi’s divinely beautiful face, both pleased and reproachful, smiling at her as he cheerfully instructed, “Since the Grand Tutor has lent me his sedan, I should naturally enjoy a good ride. It would be such a waste to only go across the street. Come, take me to Wind Full Tower.”

Qin Chang Ge fell silent.

It seemed like Rong’er had mentioned going to the shop today?

She wasn’t confident about Rong’er facing this fox alone without exposing their secret.

Smiling as she descended the steps, Qin Chang Ge slowly rolled up her sleeves, making a show of preparing to return to her mansion, saying casually, “Wind Full Tower has indeed introduced some excellent dishes recently, quite stylish to eat with special preparation methods. Your Highness shouldn’t forget to taste them.”

“Special preparation methods?” Yu Zixi’s eyes immediately lit up as he said delightedly, “Then I must try them. Come, my treat.”

“That wouldn’t be proper,” Qin Chang Ge demurred hypocritically, “How could I impose such expense on Your Highness?”

“Come on, come on,” Yu Zixi emerged from the sedan to pull her, “You must teach me the preparation methods. If I eat them wrong, wouldn’t that disgrace our Xiliang royal family’s reputation?”

Qin Chang Ge allowed herself to be half-pushed, half-pulled forward, still modestly protesting, when she inadvertently turned and saw Chu Feihuan hurrying from the rear corridor. Seeing her with Yu Zixi, his expression changed and he made a gesture.

Qin Chang Ge raised an eyebrow, indicating with her eyes that she understood, then turned and bumped into a prominent nose.

Yu Zixi had somehow suddenly appeared behind her.

He looked over her shoulder, craning his neck to peer into the mansion gates, “Hey, who are you looking at so affectionately? A lover?”

The mansion gates suddenly slammed shut with a bang.

Qin Chang Ge smiled and linked arms with Yu Zixi, “Your Highness, I only look affectionately at generous patrons willing to pay. Come, let’s go eat seafood.”

“Generous patrons?”

“That refers to those types who most enjoy paying for others, like Your Highness’s current behavior… Ah, Your Highness, your chest feels terrible. Would you like to get breast enhancement surgery?”

“This is seafood? This is eating raw flesh and drinking blood!” In Wind Full Tower’s elegantly appointed private room—where just sitting down cost five hundred silver taels—Yu Zixi rarely opened his perpetually half-closed, infinitely alluring eyes wide, staring in shock at the clams in the dish. Using a special small clamp to poke them, blood immediately flowed from the shells.

Yu Zixi picked up a clam and carefully sniffed the red liquid that dripped out, looking very suspicious that it might be pepper water. Then the faint fishy smell unique to seafood made him raise his eyebrows as he watched Qin Chang Ge across from him skillfully pry open shells and extract meat, devouring the bloody clam flesh with elegant posture and calm expression, a bit of fierce fresh blood remaining beautifully at the corner of her mouth.

Yu Zixi hissed and drew in a breath. The clam on his clamp fell back onto the plate with a clang.

Qin Chang Ge smiled gracefully and sweetly reminded him, “Your Highness, be careful. The plates are ten taels of silver each, the clamps fifty taels each—together they’re enough for an ordinary family’s yearly living expenses.”

Yu Zixi immediately pulled out a stack of banknotes, the top one worth a thousand taels, spreading them one by one under the plate as he looked at Qin Chang Ge sideways with a smile, “Now do I still need to be careful?”

Qin Chang Ge looked solemn as she pushed the entire plate over, “Please, please smash away.”

Yu Zixi drew another breath looking at the pile of things in the plates, glancing around. Of the ten tables in the outer hall, eight tables of diners were at a loss with the fierce and strange-looking seafood, while two tables, like Qin Chang Ge, nonchalantly wielded their utensils against the clams. This seemed to be the difference between new and regular customers.

“Eat, eat up, Your Highness, why aren’t you eating?” Qin Chang Ge smiled as she served food, clanking bloody clams into Yu Zixi’s plate with blood spattering everywhere, “Express ships from Liguo carried them, preserved with giant ice blocks. Of three thousand jin that arrived in Xiliang, only three hundred jin are edible. Currently exclusive to Wind Full Tower, three thousand taels of silver per table, limited supply. If you don’t eat, first the three thousand taels are wasted, and second, all those people waiting for tables outside will definitely beat you up—I heard some have been waiting a long time. I only got this table through back-door connections.”

Yu Zixi collapsed onto the table, his chin resting before the plate, his complexion pale as he said weakly, “Raw…”

“Raw is what makes it refreshing,” Qin Chang Ge waved her hand, “Besides, this dish has a beautiful name too. This,” she pointed to a dish of razor clams, “this is called ‘Stunning Shot.'”

“…Where’s the stunning part?”

“We must look at substance, not decoration. Razor clams are long, so they barely count as guns.”

Yu Zixi muttered, “If guns looked like this, we’d definitely lose every battle we fought.”

Qin Chang Ge pretended not to hear and pointed to the clams again, “This is called ‘Bright Blood Moon Over the Sea.'”

“Don’t insult my beloved blood moon.”

“Sorry, let’s call it ‘Red Moon Over the Sea’ then,” Qin Chang Ge continued pointing to sashimi, “This is called ‘Light Snow After Clear Weather.'”

Yu Zixi rolled his eyes weakly, “So cold…”

Looking up at her bloody introduction of these perversely named beautiful dishes, then staring gloomily at the bloody clams in his own plate for a long while, he hissed through his teeth, “I’d rather eat cooked human flesh!”

Qin Chang Ge immediately waved, “Bring human flesh!”

“Coming!” Baozi the proprietor personally carried the dish, bearing a plate of steaming hot meat as he ran up. Standing on tiptoe with a wave of his hand in an extremely stylish pose, he announced loudly, “This dish is called: ‘Dragons Have Nine Sons, Each Different!'”

Yu Zixi leaned down to examine the meat, which appeared normal and actually smelled quite rich, unable to determine what type of meat it was. He asked Baozi, “Why is it called that? Human flesh?”

“Don’t listen to her scare you. This meat is made from Eastern Yan’s rare treasure ‘Earth Dragon’ meat mixed with Central River’s famous dish ‘Bamboo Fragrance,’ purchased at great cost and rarely found in the world!” Baozi’s eyes sparkled as he smiled and advertised, “Your Highness, this is cooked, just arrived today, the first serving in all of Ying Capital. With your noble status, you’re most suitable to be the first to try this meat. Please, please!”

Qin Chang Ge crushed a clam shell with a crack—you little rogue! Who taught you to talk like that? I’ll deal with you later!

But Yu Zixi was already beaming from Baozi’s flattery. Seeing that the meat was indeed cooked, he confidently picked up a piece.

“Mm, good!”

“Delicate and smooth, fresh and rich!” After just one bite, Yu Zixi couldn’t help but praise enthusiastically, frequently using his chopsticks while asking Baozi the proprietor with glowing expression, “Earth Dragon? Bamboo Fragrance? What are these things?”

Baozi looked at him with a smile, his gaze pure and kind, his expression gentle.

“Earth Dragon is earthworms, Bamboo Fragrance is bamboo rats. Simply put, it’s earthworms and mice.”

The brightest scenery of Ying Capital, the most brilliant demonic banner of Ying Capital, the most arrogant and wicked one who had always chased others while remaining elegantly composed, always smiling as he watched others’ embarrassment—Prince Yu Zixi of Ying Capital.

Suddenly, as if bitten on the rear by a dog or having his pants burned off, he shot out with a whoosh.

People in the main hall only felt a flame sweep past, and the next moment he had vanished without a trace.

“Wow, Prince Jing’an’s lightness skill was exceptional today!” Baozi clapped.

Qin Chang Ge sympathetically put down her chopsticks and sighed, “He’s probably gone somewhere to vomit… what a waste of good food.” She grabbed a few cloves of garlic to eat, glaring fiercely at Baozi, “I asked you to serve seafood, and you actually served it all raw. If I get dysentery, I’ll confiscate your Wind Full Tower!”

She hurriedly stood up, thinking of Chu Feihuan’s urgent gesture earlier—danger—feeling somewhat uneasy, she ordered Baozi, “You return to the palace. Don’t stay here.”

Baozi whined and dawdled, reluctant to leave. Qin Chang Ge grinned at him and said, “If you don’t go back, Youtiao’er will completely disappear tomorrow. That comment about ‘first try’—he taught you that, didn’t he?”

Baozi immediately scurried away like a mouse, his speed rivaling the frantically fleeing Prince Yu.

As he ran, he called back over his shoulder, “Uncle Heng didn’t come to the shop today, said he was ill. He recently bought a new house on West Mansion Street, and supposedly… hehe, if you pass by there, please check on him?”

After Qi Fan left Xiliang, Qi Heng hadn’t followed. He had grown accustomed to life in Xiliang. Beitang Ming had so many sons that he wouldn’t miss one more. Why return to be just another unnoticed prince in the royal mansion? So he remained in Ying Capital, managing Huang Meng’s business and occasionally helping Baozi run Wind Full Tower.

The Qi brothers were both shrewd and reserved. Qin Chang Ge had always valued them highly. Hearing that Qi Heng was ill, she immediately decided to visit him.

Behind her came the sound of a curtain being lifted. Chu Feihuan, who had been silently waiting in the main hall, entered the private room. He carefully examined Qin Chang Ge and said softly, “Where are you going?”

Hearing that Qin Chang Ge wanted to visit the sick Qi Heng, he said, “I’ll accompany you to see him.”

“That’s not necessary,” Qin Chang Ge smiled, “I know you probably have some ominous premonition, but look, Yu Zixi has already left, and Rong’er mentioning Qi Heng was completely coincidental—no one could have predicted it. Qi Heng doesn’t know martial arts and is one of our absolutely trustworthy old hands we’ve known for ages. What problem could there be? If something were to happen, it wouldn’t be there.”

She glanced in the direction Baozi had disappeared, seeing plainclothes guards quickly following, then thought and said, “Feihuan, are your feelings accurate? You’re just somewhat uneasy, aren’t you? Could it be about Rong’er?”

Chu Feihuan paused, thought carefully, and said, “As you know, my premonitions aren’t very accurate and are quite vague. I can’t determine exactly who might be in danger.”

“Then I think it might be about Rong’er,” Qin Chang Ge said, “How about this, Feihuan—please follow Rong’er and escort him back to the palace. I’m worried those guards won’t be adequate. I’ll check on Qi Heng then come find you. There are also some matters I want to discuss with you.”

Chu Feihuan frowned and hesitated for a long moment before saying, “Come back after seeing Qi Heng. Don’t go anywhere else. I’ll come find you immediately after escorting Rong’er back to the palace.”

“Don’t worry,” Qin Chang Ge smiled brilliantly at him, “I always have Huang Meng guards with me.”

Her radiant smile bloomed in Chu Feihuan’s eyes, making him slightly dazed. In his trance, he saw that woman like a white bird in autumn waters and reeds flying close, startling his calm heart lake, causing endless ripples as she flew again and again through his life.

Just like now, with light, quick steps, she walked out of his sight.

West Mansion Street’s Octagon Alley—what a coincidence—housed exactly eight families.

The new house Qi Heng had bought was the innermost one, also the most exquisitely appointed.

Looking over the courtyard wall, a peach branch curved gracefully outward, tracing a beautiful arc above the blue-black roof tiles, hanging down beside the black-lacquered gate. The branch was laden with peach blossoms—red petals with pink stamens, brilliant as morning clouds, set against the bright black lacquer of the door and golden bronze knocker, colorful and festive, dazzling to the eye.

Qin Chang Ge casually picked a peach blossom hanging near her cheek, laughing, “Who would have thought little Qi Heng was so good at tending flowers? Everyone else’s peach blossoms have already fallen, but his are still blooming so magnificently.”

Behind her, several Huang Meng guards exchanged glances and showed knowing smiles.

But Qin Chang Ge didn’t see this as she gently knocked the door knocker. Soon footsteps approached, sounding quite light.

Raising an eyebrow, Qin Chang Ge stepped back. With a creak, the door opened and a delicate young face appeared, with double hair buns and colorful clothes, looking somewhat shyly at the visitors. She appeared to be just of age, a young maid.

She didn’t recognize Qin Chang Ge but seemed familiar with the guards behind her, hurriedly greeting everyone with smiles and invitations. Qin Chang Ge looked at her, then at the neat and spacious courtyard, shaking her head with tsk-tsks, “A garden full of peach blossoms brings spring colors, colorful sleeves delight the guest’s heart… This boy Qi Heng knows how to enjoy life—such good fortune.”

She waved her hand, “You few seem to be regular visitors? Then rest in the front courtyard and await my summons.”

Everyone smiled in agreement. Qin Chang Ge lifted her leg to walk inside, and the little maid stepped forward to stop her but was quietly pulled back by a guard, so she gave up, giggling as she served tea and fruit to everyone.

One guard smiled, “Where’s the old man? Doesn’t he like to sunbathe in the front courtyard? If he’s free, please ask him to come tell us some old stories! He truly lived up to his reputation as Ying Capital’s most famous storyteller back then. Now that he’s retired to enjoy happiness with his daughter, even Four Seasons Spring’s business seems much quieter.”

A cook emerged from the kitchen with a grin, wiping his hands with a rag, “Brother Sima, how about a game? It’s rare you have leisure to visit today. What’s interesting about listening to stories?”

The guard surnamed Sima smiled. Being rather cautious, he didn’t answer directly, only pointing toward Qin Chang Ge’s departing figure, “We brothers have duties to attend to.”

The cook looked sideways at Qin Chang Ge and smiled, “Brother Qi’s friend? Quite young. Oh, last time you promised to help me get some Eastern Yan red ginseng directly from ‘Heng Records’—do you have any in stock?”

The guard said apologetically, “I did get the goods, but coming here unexpectedly today, I didn’t bring them. How about this—I’ll have someone deliver them to you next time.”

“Then I thank you!” The cook beamed, rushing into the kitchen to bring out several plates of pastries, “Come, eat, everyone eat.”

He carefully helped a white-bearded old man who was tottering over to sit before everyone.

“Old master, Brother Sima and the others rarely visit and are thinking of your stories. Would you tell us something good to hear?”

“Certainly!” The old man slowly lit his copper pipe, the thing polished to a bright shine, gleaming golden yellow in the sunlight.

A wisp of blue smoke drifted leisurely from the pipe, mingling with the steam rising from the pastries on the table, weaving together as it dissipated into the air.

“When did you get such a comfortable nest, you rascal? I didn’t even know!” Qin Chang Ge knocked on the door with a light laugh, teasing before she’d even seen Qi Heng’s face.

The person who opened the door looked up—a bright, radiant face.

Qin Chang Ge was momentarily stunned, then looked more carefully and couldn’t help but laugh, “Who else could it be? I wondered why that boy was being so mysterious. Turns out he’s keeping a beauty in a golden house! After listening to stories at Four Seasons Spring for so long, he finally won the beauty’s heart?”

Qi Heng half-sat up from the bed, his face slightly red as he said, “Why didn’t you send word you were coming? I would have gone out to greet you properly. Like this… it’s really improper. Wancui, come meet Young Master Zhao.”

The girl shyly approached to bow. Qin Chang Ge saw she wore silk and embroidery, her figure graceful, with jet-black hair and peach-blossom cheeks, naturally carrying herself with elegant charm. Remembering how she had been somewhat thin and sallow when singing at Four Seasons Spring, nowhere near her current glowing beauty, she couldn’t help but click her tongue in admiration, laughing, “Indeed, good flowers need care and support. But Qi Heng, your eye is quite good—not wasting all that nosebleeding you did over Miss Wancui back then.”

Qi Heng’s face exploded red, but he didn’t dare get angry, only awkwardly changing the subject by instructing Wancui to serve tea. Qin Chang Ge noticed a bowl of freshly prepared medicine on the bedside table and frowned, “What’s wrong with you? Let me see.” She stepped forward to take the medicine bowl, sniffing lightly, “A cold?”

Qi Heng nodded admiringly, “You truly are extraordinary. Since you’ve condescended to visit, I’ll presume to ask you to check my pulse.”

Qin Chang Ge laughed, “Now that you’ve won Wancui, you’re indeed showing off, speaking more and more properly.” Just as she was about to reach out to check his pulse, she saw Wancui bringing tea over. Qin Chang Ge rose slightly to receive it, glancing at her hands—lustrous nails, delicate skin on the backs of her hands, with some calluses faintly visible on the palms, and the middle finger joints particularly pale. Overall, they were the hands of a woman from poor origins who later paid attention to maintenance. Qin Chang Ge relaxed as she took the tea, though she didn’t drink it, casually setting it aside before checking Qi Heng’s pulse.

While taking his pulse, she asked about his daily routines. Qi Heng answered everything, and after a few questions, he couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re really too careful…”

He suddenly paused.

Terror appeared in his eyes.

In the depths of his dilated pupils, a slender, graceful shadow suddenly appeared—a shadow silently thrusting a gleaming dagger toward Qin Chang Ge’s back!

Then black shadows appeared on all sides like ghosts!

With a cry of alarm, Qi Heng suddenly sat up.

Qin Chang Ge stared into his eyes and laughed coldly. Without looking, she reached back and caught the woman’s hand behind her, then with great force flung her, sending Wancui’s entire petite body flying through the air to crash heavily to the ground!

Wancui’s black hair scattered with a whoosh, swaying like a black banner in midair. She gritted her teeth and flicked her hand, instantly spreading a giant black net that, following Qin Chang Ge’s motion, covered everything like a canopy. Qin Chang Ge’s swinging motion had trapped herself under her own net.

Qin Chang Ge immediately released her hand, kicked off the bed to fly backward, and in a flash had passed through the black net’s range. She tilted her head back and let out a low, sharp whistle that carried far throughout the three-courtyard compound.

But the entire compound remained completely silent.

Qin Chang Ge’s body moved like lightning, about to shoot out the door!

With a creak, the door suddenly closed, closing with perfect precision just before Qin Chang Ge reached the threshold.

Bang! Qin Chang Ge’s back struck the door panel heavily. The object she hit felt nothing like a wooden door—thick and solid, heavy as a thousand jun. That violent collision seemed to displace all her internal organs.

Qin Chang Ge drew her soft sword from her waist and slashed horizontally. Sparks flew as the door shed its surface paint, revealing the black interior—it was extremely thick wrought iron!

As Qin Chang Ge paused in shock and was about to leap toward the window, she suddenly heard grinding sounds from behind. Knowing something was wrong, she immediately ignored her unsteady breathing and threw herself to the ground.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—four feathered arrows flew over her, with murderous intent coldly stabbing three inches into the ground, two on each side—if she had been a step slower, her body would now have four more bloody holes.

Qin Chang Ge exhaled and rolled, about to leap up, when fine grinding sounds arose from all directions, chattering and cutting, carrying cold intent and the metallic smell of blood as they ominously approached.

The ceiling, front and back, and floor were all trembling slightly—not like an earthquake, confined to this seemingly ordinary room.

Amid the strange sounds, Wancui laughed shrilly.

“Give up hope! This entire room is one giant mechanism. The inner walls on all four sides are refined iron! Not even the greatest immortal could escape or enter! Just wait to be crushed to death!”

She laughed triumphantly, her hand gripping a low table beside the bed.

“Zhao Moyan, we’ve been waiting to kill you for a long time!”