In his rapid descent, Xiao Huayong tucked his hand holding the Snow Lotus behind his back to shield it from the avalanche’s impact.

The gyrfalcon cut through the surging snow waves, spreading its wings to forcefully push Xiao Huayong’s body aside, helping him escape the storm and avoid the tragedy of being deeply buried under thick snow.

Man and bird tumbled together out of the avalanche’s most dangerous zone, crashing hard into the mountain’s snowbank. Xiao Huayong rolled a bit further before finally stopping, having kept his hand holding the Snow Lotus extended straight throughout to keep it undamaged.

With his internal organs feeling displaced, Xiao Huayong lay exhausted on the snowy mountain, breathing heavily and laboriously, gazing at the hanging sun whose halo seemed covered by a layer of black shadow.

Though exhausted enough to pass out, he knew that if he lost consciousness, he might never wake again. Fighting to stay awake, he eventually gathered enough strength to pull out a signal flare from his clothes, slowly bringing it to his mouth to forcefully trigger it, aiming skyward.

A brilliant flower, as bewitching as a spider lily, bloomed in the deep quiet of the snowy sky.

The gyrfalcon’s massive form perched beside Xiao Huayong. Not seriously injured, its sharp eyes watched the surroundings like a vigilant guard, steadfastly protecting the one it wished to defend.

Xiao Huayong had dared to venture where none would go, to the snow mountain’s peak, naturally making thorough preparations. His men waited below the mountain, and seeing the signal in the sky, knew where he had succeeded and immediately moved to reach him.

During this time, the gyrfalcon drove away two snow leopards and a golden eagle before help arrived. Xiao Huayong was safely escorted to a herder’s home at the mountain’s foot, where the best physician treated his wounds.

“Transport His Highness to Luoyang with utmost speed – the poison in his body is manifesting,” the physician said gravely.

Luoyang had two great medical masters: the recently deceased Bai Touweng, and the retired medical family who had been working to treat the unknown poison in Xiao Huayong’s body, due to his master’s connection.

As Xiao Huayong was being rushed to Luoyang, news of Axi’s death reached Bian Xianyi’s ears.

She had been arranged by His Majesty to recover in a secluded place outside the palace. She couldn’t guess why His Majesty had spared her life, knowing he wasn’t a lustful man – if he had desired her despite her modest beauty, she would have been taken into the palace years ago.

The more she failed to understand the emperor’s intentions, the more anxious she became. Recently, His Majesty had been preoccupied with the case of missing tax grain, seemingly having forgotten about her.

She could move freely within the courtyard, with meals delivered morning and evening, but couldn’t leave the premises.

How did she learn of Axi’s death? Having been in the capital so many days, she naturally had connections. She had asked people to watch over Axi for her, protect him if possible, and if not, at least inform her of his safety.

Having left without bidding farewell to this person meant she was either dead or trapped in the capital.

If he had news of Axi, he would release fireworks from the highest peak – three white ones signifying death.

That night, lost in thought in the courtyard, she saw three connected white fireworks in the west. Though unaware of her exact location, she didn’t believe this was a coincidence – it must be from her contact.

She stumbled to the entrance, kneeling before the guard: “Please, sir, could you inquire about Axi for me?”

The guard reported to the palace, but with His Majesty furious about the still-unrecovered grain, Liu Sanzhi directly refused.

Bian Xianyi gathered materials from around the courtyard to make a sky lantern. On a night with favorable winds, she lit and released it behind the guards’ backs, hoping to signal her location.

“Your Highness, it’s been five days. Will Madam Bian come?” Ziyu asked her daily questions.

“Once she escapes and learns of Axi’s news, she’ll come,” Shen Xihe patiently played with the freshly-washed Duanming, the only time she enjoyed being close to it.

Having discovered the reason, Duanming often jumped into water vats or pools, returning dripping wet. After being rejected and disdained, it gradually understood its master preferred it clean and perfumed at home.

Now after each bath, it would circle the incense burner, waiting for its fur to dry and absorb the fragrance before rushing to Shen Xihe.

Once perfumed, it would only allow Shen Xihe’s touch, biting and scratching anyone else who dared approach.

It seemed to believe everyone except Shen Xihe would sully it and make it smell bad.

“If she comes, will Your Highness take her life?” Ziyu suddenly asked.

Shen Xihe’s hand paused, raising her eyes to Ziyu: “What do you think, should I or shouldn’t I?”

“She’s so wicked, Your Highness can’t easily forgive her,” Ziyu struggled. “But I’ve heard that too much killing offends heaven. Perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?” Of all the maids, Shen Xihe had the most patience with Ziyu.

Those with deep thoughts often unconsciously relax around pure and lovable souls.

“Perhaps Your Highness needn’t give the order. Let Ziyu handle her to vent Your Highness’s anger.” Ziyu’s small face was serious.

That way, any karmic burden would fall on her, not affecting her mistress’s heavenly fate.

Shen Xihe smiled gently: “I don’t believe in fate, Buddha, or heaven – only in myself.”

She never cared about karmic burden or cause and effect.

An absolute master never falls into karmic cycles. When taking action, all future troubles should be cut off – how then could bad consequences arise?

She finished with a soft laugh: “She values her life extremely. Even if she comes, she’ll find ways to atone. Whether I choose to spare her is my affair.”

If Bian Xianyi dared use such methods against her, once she appeared, death would be certain. Shen Xihe would give her no chance of escape.

“Your Highness.” Mo Yuan’s voice came from outside.

“Enter,” Shen Xihe called.

Mo Yuan entered, presenting a letter from the Northwest with both hands.

It was an urgent message from Shen Yun’an, first reporting his safe return to the Northwest, then immediately complaining that Shen Xihe had given their father a cup carved with her likeness, accusing her of favoritism.

He expressed being deeply hurt and would only be consoled if she sent him an identical one!

If she didn’t appease him, he’d avoid vegetables for three months!

Shen Xihe: …

Her brother was three years old, no more.

Shen Yun’an couldn’t live without meat and hated vegetables. Yet since Shen Xihe was in poor health and focused on wellness, knowing that eating only meat without vegetables was unhealthy, she had always watched over him in the Northwest, using various means to make him eat properly.

Now he dared use this to threaten her.