Li Ying’s fingers, hidden behind her back, were red with embarrassment.

Biting her lip, she looked at Cui Xun, on the verge of speaking but hesitating. Then she nodded firmly.

Yes, she liked him.

Very much.

She didn’t feel that openly acknowledging love was something shameful. After all, emotions and love are human desires. Even the most noble Princess of the Great Zhou was no exception. Having developed feelings and love, why should she refuse to admit it because of so-called worldly views?

Her frankness made Cui Xun sigh again. “But…”

“Don’t say ‘but,'” Li Ying suddenly spoke up. “Don’t say again that you’re not worthy of me. I don’t want to hear it.”

She paused, then continued, “What about you, Cui Xun, could be unworthy? With your talents, if you took the imperial examinations, you’d be the top scholar. If you joined the army, you could become a commanding general. If not for what happened six years ago, you would now be the most sought-after husband among noble families in Chang’an. How are you unworthy?”

As she spoke, Li Ying felt a sense of distress. The events of six years ago had ruined him completely. There would be no top scholar or commanding general; there was only the Investigation Office Deputy Commissioner Cui Xun, a man with a tarnished reputation and plagued by illness.

She composed herself and added, “So, don’t say ‘but’ anymore. I don’t want to hear it.”

She had said a lot, but Cui Xun just stared blankly. Then he said, “I wasn’t going to say what the Princess thinks.”

This surprised Li Ying. Cui Xun continued, “Last time, the Princess said that after hearing my self-deprecating words, she couldn’t sleep for days. I promised the Princess then that I wouldn’t mention those things again, so naturally, I won’t this time either.”

Li Ying was stunned. “Then what were you going to say?”

Cui Xun said, “I wanted to say that the Princess likes me so much, but I’ve developed a somewhat despicable thought.”

“What… despicable thought?”

“I thought of using the Princess’s affection for me to get her to agree to my request—to deliver the silver to He Thirteen and the others.”

Li Ying came to her senses, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. She was embarrassed because Cui Xun had no intention of self-deprecation, yet she had misunderstood and said so much. She was annoyed because, for the sake of He Thirteen and the others, he would even consider exploiting her feelings.

She turned away, too annoyed to look at Cui Xun. “Why should I agree to your request?”

Cui Xun sighed softly. He slowly walked forward. Despite the shackles, which made his movements slow, he still maintained the elegant demeanor of a noble young man, like a graceful tree of orchids and jade. He slowly approached Li Ying, his eyes glistening like thousands of peach blossoms gradually blooming on rippling water. Li Ying felt her heart pounding. She couldn’t help but step back, but soon she could retreat no further, her back against the wall.

Cui Xun came close to her. He reached out and bent down to take the red string with bound hair that she had hidden behind her back. As he did so, he was very close to Li Ying. She could even feel his breath gently brushing past her ear, creating a tingling sensation. Li Ying’s face reddened again, and she didn’t even notice that the red string with bound hair had been easily taken by Cui Xun.

Cui Xun held the two strands of hair tied together with a red string, gazing steadily at Li Ying. “I beg the Princess to agree.”

As he looked at her, his exceptionally beautiful eyes were like the shimmering autumn waters, reflecting her figure. His pupils were deep black, rippling like gentle waves. Li Ying’s heart skipped several beats. She stammered, “Cui… Cui Xun, are you using your charm on me?”

Caught in the act, Cui Xun’s pale face also flushed a shade of crimson, making him appear even more captivating, like the splendid sunset clouds. He said, “With no other schemes or methods available, I can only rely on the Princess’s slight compassion.”

Li Ying coughed once. “I… I won’t be soft-hearted.”

Even as she said this, she felt somewhat guilty. Suddenly, she became angry from her embarrassment. “You aren’t a good person. You reject me on one hand, and the other, you try to charm me. Do I, Li Ying, appear so easily moved by you?”

Cui Xun nodded and said, “I know that in this world, it would be useless for me to beg anyone else. Only begging the Princess works.”

Li Ying was stunned. She said defiantly, “What do you mean only begging me works? You’re just certain that I like you, that’s why you’re doing this.”

Cui Xun sighed. “I’ve only ever done this with the Princess.”

As he said this, the corners of his eyes and eyebrows showed a hint of bashfulness, but every word made her heart flutter. It was as if in his words, she was the only one, the exception. Li Ying, being a woman, felt her heart skip a beat. But she quickly came to her senses and said resentfully, “Don’t try to deceive me.”

“I’m not deceiving you,” Cui Xun said, his voice somewhat embarrassed. “I wouldn’t do this with anyone else.”

He was too close to Li Ying, and he kept looking at her as he spoke. Li Ying felt that if this continued, she would drown in his captivating eyes. She had to admit that his charm offensive was working.

She suddenly snatched the red string with bound hair from his hand and said, “Fine, I’ll agree.”

She saw those captivating eyes gradually fill with joy. He said, “Thank you, Princess.”

Li Ying still felt somewhat dissatisfied. Had she yielded too easily? But the words had been spoken and couldn’t be taken back. After pondering for a while, she clutched the red string with bound hair and said, “Then let this strand of your hair be my payment. You can’t ask for it back.”

The corner of Cui Xun’s mouth turned up slightly. He had never intended to ask for it back anyway. He said, “All right.”

Li Ying took the box of silver coins to Yu Fuwei. Yu Fuwei had already galloped back to Chang’an from Suzhou. Though his journey to Suzhou had been extremely dangerous, he had also found it exhilarating, especially when arranging for spies to switch the head at Feiyun Relay Station. It gave him a sense of complete achievement, an achievement that was accomplished through his collaboration with Cui Xun.

Cui Xun’s trust in him had also surprised Yu Fuwei. He had provoked Cui Xun several times before and knew that Cui Xun probably detested him greatly. Yet Cui Xun was still willing to entrust his life entirely to him, simply because he believed Yu Fuwei was capable. Such behavior didn’t match the image of the petty, vindictive person described in rumors.

When Yu Fuwei heard Li Ying’s request, he was even more surprised. “Those troublemakers hurt Cui Xun, yet he still wants to send them silver?”

Li Ying looked at the open wooden box. It contained Cui Xun’s salary from the previous month. He hadn’t kept any of it but had given it all. She said, “The Imperial Guards hold a special place in his heart. He may fail everyone else in the world, but he won’t fail the Imperial Guards.”

Yu Fuwei found it incredible. “He only spent three years with the Imperial Guards. Could he have formed such deep bonds?”

Li Ying said, “Perhaps three years is just a fleeting number, but for him, it was a warmth he had never experienced before. He’s the kind of person who, if someone shows him even a little kindness, will repay it with absolute loyalty. How much more so when the brothers of the Imperial Guards were kind to him without expecting anything in return? How could he not be moved? Though he keeps everything in his heart without saying a word, he has never neglected what should be done.”

After hearing this, Yu Fuwei felt a pang in his heart. He said, “Does the Princess understand Cui Xun too well?”

Li Ying paused slightly. She lowered her gaze and said, “Actually, if anyone stayed by his side and observed him for a while, they would know he’s not the kind of person described in rumors. But in this world, no one has the patience to set aside prejudice and understand a notorious villain.”

And wasn’t Yu Fuwei one of those prejudiced people she spoke of?

Thinking of this, Yu Fuwei suppressed the slight bitterness in his heart. He wasn’t foolish; he could see Li Ying’s love for Cui Xun. Logically, because of Li Ying’s choice, he should dislike Cui Xun even more. But although he was a merchant, he had been taught the way of the gentleman since childhood. The success or failure of emotions couldn’t affect his principles in handling matters. He nodded and said, “How should this silver be given?”

Li Ying said, “Cui Xun wanted it to be given as before, claiming it was from their distant relatives. But I don’t want it that way.” Her eyes were clear. “He Thirteen and the others should know who is sending them this silver. Even if they don’t know now, they should know in the future. Master Yu, I hope you can help me with this.”

Yu Fuwei smiled slightly and said, “I understand.”

Yu Fuwei used his name to buy medicine and then distributed it to He Thirteen and the others. He Thirteen, lying on his bed, looked at him in confusion. “Yu Fuwei? I don’t think I know you. Why are you buying medicine for me?”

Yu Fuwei said, “The money for this medicine isn’t from me.”

“Then who is it from?”

Yu Fuwei made no direct response. He only said, “Remember, you owe him a favor.”

And also an apology.

On the fifth day of the fifth month, the Dragon Boat Festival, the convoy carrying Guo Qinwei’s head entered Chang’an.

On the Dragon Boat Festival, it was the day when Qu Yuan of the Chu State was harmed by treacherous officials and drowned himself in the Miluo River, sacrificing himself for his country. It was also on this day that the head of Guo Qinwei, who had died by his sword, was brought to Chang’an. Everything seemed to be destined.

Pei Guanyue sat in a tavern in the Western Market, coldly watching the people on Zhuque Street curiously gathering around the convoy carrying the head, pointing and discussing. He heard comments like “defeated commander,” “disgrace,” “suicide,” and “maintained his integrity.” With an expressionless face, he drank a cup of spring wine.

Before him seemed to appear the scene of two young men parting ways and making a pact:

“I will go to Chang’an and surely become a marquis and a minister!”

“I will go to the frontier and surely become a general!”

“Though we each pursue our ambitions, we won’t forget our brotherhood!”

The first two statements had come true. He had become a third-rank minister, and the other had become the commander of the Imperial Guards. But the last statement had become an illusion.

Pei Guanyue clenched the golden cup. Before coming to Chang’an, he had never imagined that Chang’an would be so vast—so vast that there was no place for a commoner like him. Those noble young men, every one of them wearing gold and jade, extremely dignified, without any real achievements, yet obtaining high positions through their family connections. On what basis was this fair?

The frost of Chang’an had gradually worn away the youthful spirit, leaving only vibrant ambition and desire.

Being equally human, why could they have what he couldn’t?

Since he couldn’t change the corrupt world, he might as well join it—become more corrupt, more despicable than them. Conscience, righteousness, all discarded. As long as he could gain power, it was enough.

Pei Guanyue watched the convoy slowly moving along Zhuque Street. He said, word by word, “Qinwei, don’t blame me. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for choosing the Empress Dowager instead of His Majesty.”

He poured a cup of wine and slowly poured it out in the direction of the convoy, even though he knew full well that the box in the convoy contained only a fake head.

Finally, he said, “And as for your most valued Cui Wangshu, I will soon send him to accompany you.”