Slept here last night?

Situ Xin’er, unable to read the situation at all, nearly blurted out something at the hint of jealousy in Ziqing’s voice — but then heard Jun Beiyue say flatly, “Where this prince sleeps is now your concern to report on?”

At this, Situ Xin’er brightened at once, growing even more emboldened, straightening her back beside Jun Beiyue and looking down at Ziqing with haughty superiority.

“Of course not — this humble consort merely thought that Miss Situ, being an unmarried young lady after all, a military tent being essentially her private chamber, well — never mind sharing it alone with her, but Your Highness staying overnight here at all seems rather improper. If word got out, Your Highness would find it difficult to explain to the Situ family, wouldn’t you agree?”

Ziqing said this flatly, showing not a trace of jealousy — instead sounding entirely reasonable, generous, and thorough in her consideration.

Wasn’t this a world that valued a woman’s chastity as though it were her very life?

Wasn’t everyone forever measuring a woman’s worth by that single yardstick?

Even this man, who had defied all convention to make her his princess — hadn’t even he been unable to escape those two words, “purity”?

Well then — this time, let her be the one to explain to them exactly what purity meant!

The moment Ziqing finished speaking, everyone in the tent was struck with shock. Jun Beiyue’s cold eyes narrowed sharply — how could he fail to recognize that Han Ziqing was threatening him?

He’d been so utterly exhausted last night, so drained he couldn’t even tell whether it was his body or his heart that ached more. The moment he’d collapsed onto the couch, he hadn’t wanted to move at all, hadn’t even wanted to speak. Sleep? How could he possibly sleep?

He’d kept his eyes closed, but he’d never actually fallen asleep, not once.

Situ Xin’er, too, froze — why hadn’t she thought of that herself?

If this got out, it would be no small matter — the first person to come after her would be her father, and the second, without question, her brother.

She stood frozen for a moment — and then suddenly leapt to her feet, her face lighting with delight!

Wonderful! Even if Father and Brother came to scold her, there was nothing they could actually do about it!

The bigger this scandal grew, the more it would mean she had no choice but to marry Beiyue-gege!

Situ Xin’er nearly burst out laughing, and only the sight of Jun Beiyue’s icy expression kept her from losing all control.

She held it in, glanced around at everyone, and settled obediently back into her seat — but she truly couldn’t help herself, the corners of her mouth kept lifting again and again despite her best efforts to compose herself.

She’d stopped paying attention to anything happening around her entirely, lost in her own thoughts.

Han Ziqing, how dare you come demand answers of Beiyue-gege — you’re bringing this trouble on yourself. Once I, Situ Xin’er, walk through the doors of the Prince Yao estate, your good days will be numbered!

Jun Beiyue still hadn’t spoken, glancing sidelong at Situ Xin’er — he, too, understood full well how serious it would be if this ever got out.

He was about to speak when Ziqing beat him to it again. “Your Highness, last night Miss Situ confessed her feelings for you in front of three entire armies — that could hardly be called anything but the truth spoken plainly. And Your Highness still hasn’t answered this consort’s question from last night.”

This wasn’t a threat from Ziqing — how could she possibly dare threaten him? She was simply offering a reminder!

An unmarried young lady, drunk in front of a crowd, pouring out her true feelings before tens of thousands of witnesses — surely word of this had already spread far and wide.

Add to that the matter of last night’s overnight stay — if Jun Beiyue didn’t marry Situ Xin’er now, who in this world would ever take her hand?

Wasn’t this precisely the standard of chastity the whole world had always forced upon women?

Wasn’t this exactly what every man in this world demanded — absolute loyalty, absolute purity, from a woman?

And now, was Situ Xin’er’s situation truly any different from her own?

Jun Beiyue said nothing, the tension in the tent stretching to its absolute limit. If this matter could be kept quiet, it was nothing. But if it caused a stir, if word spread, it would become an enormous problem.

It could go either way — and Ziqing’s clear intention now was to make it explode.

Everyone stood there, anxious and astonished. They’d all assumed the Princess would come storming in consumed with jealousy — no one had expected this.

Her true meaning was unmistakable — she wanted Jun Beiyue to formally take Situ Xin’er as a consort!

Everyone’s eyes turned to Jun Beiyue at once, only to find his deep, icy eyes fixed unwaveringly on Han Ziqing, utterly unreadable.

Finally, he spoke, flatly. “Everyone out.”

Yingzi and the others exchanged glances, but no one dared object, filing out obediently. Only Situ Xin’er remained seated — she was, after all, party to this matter, so surely she didn’t need to leave.

But to her surprise, Jun Beiyue said flatly, “Xin’er, you go too.”

“Me! Beiyue-gege, I’m not leaving — she came here for me, I won’t go!” Situ Xin’er protested angrily.

Jun Beiyue, far from angry, only gave a helpless smile, gentle as could be. “Be good, Xin’er. Go on out first.”

At this, Situ Xin’er turned obedient at once. In this whole world, only three men’s anger could make her back down — Father, Brother, and Beiyue.

But in this whole world, only one man’s gentleness could utterly subdue her completely — and that was Jun Beiyue.

“Fine!” She nodded with great energy, and as she passed by Ziqing, she paused briefly to shoot her a provocative glance before striding off.

At last, the tent fell silent, leaving only Jun Beiyue and Ziqing.

Ziqing waited calmly, wondering — was his gentleness last night really the same as what she’d just witnessed?

She had no idea why Jun Beiyue had sent everyone away — she waited, expecting an answer.

But to her surprise, Jun Beiyue didn’t bring up the matter at all, as though nothing had happened, lazily propping his head on one hand, glancing up at her, and casually tossing over a stack of banknotes, saying flatly, “This is payment for both missions. Count it and see if it’s enough.”

Ziqing was faintly startled, staring at the notes on the table, momentarily caught off guard. This was exactly what she’d always wanted, what she’d always pressed him about — and yet now that it was actually here, it felt so strangely unfamiliar.

This man — had he sent everyone away just to remind her of the transactional nature of their arrangement?

Having said his piece, he rose lazily, straightening his robes at an unhurried pace, and moved to leave.

Ziqing turned at once. “Your Highness, you still haven’t answered this consort’s question.”

She was both a hired mercenary and Princess Yao — she had every right to ask about that matter. And she absolutely intended to get a clear, definite answer.

“This prince will discuss the matter personally with the Situ family. You needn’t concern yourself with it. Go make your preparations — we set out for the capital soon,” Jun Beiyue said flatly, and walked off without a backward glance.

Ziqing stood frozen for a long while, and then finally gave a laugh. Wasn’t this all for the best? Since he wasn’t going to address it, they might as well keep to their own separate lanes going forward, in everything.

Ziqing gathered up the banknotes and turned to leave as well.

Outside, everyone else had already scattered, leaving only Hongyi waiting anxiously.

The moment she saw Ziqing emerge, she hurried over. “Miss, why are you being so foolish? Aren’t you just handing Situ Xin’er a free advantage? What did His Highness say?”

“Go pack our things. We’re setting out for the capital,” Ziqing said flatly.

“Miss, do you have any idea — if this really reaches the Situ family, Situ Xin’er really will end up married to him!” Hongyi fretted.

“Silly girl. I’m nothing but a fading, discarded flower. If he wants her, he’ll simply push through every objection and marry her regardless — and if he doesn’t want her, he’ll just as easily push through every objection and refuse her. Who could possibly stand in his way?”

Ziqing laughed at herself, her hand unconsciously drifting up to touch her own face, tracing that thin, invisible film covering it. She wondered — before she left, whether he married Situ Xin’er or not, would there ever be a clear answer either way?