Though somewhat distracted, Ziqing and Yelu Qianqian still managed to search through the entirety of Changle Palace.

Frustratingly, there was still no sign of the zither anywhere.

“Why not ask Yanzi directly? If the item ended up in my brother’s hands, it would most likely be kept here,” Yelu Qianqian suggested seriously.

Ziqing nodded. Yanzi was being held captive under Sha Qiuzi, courtesy of Jun Beiyue — asking her shouldn’t be difficult.

The real concern was if Yanzi herself didn’t know either — then things would truly become complicated.

The moment Ziqing stepped out of Changle Palace, she suddenly found herself retching again, an inexplicable wave of nausea rising without warning.

“Han Ziqing, something’s definitely wrong with you! Let’s go to my place first, and have the physician take a look at you!” Yelu Qianqian hurried over, patting her back.

Ziqing waved her off. “I’m fine, probably just the smell of that medicinal poison earlier. I’m not fond of that scent.”

Perhaps it wasn’t just the scent that had made her sick — perhaps it was the horror of what that inscription had described, too.

Just the thought of it made her want to retch again.

But that didn’t quite add up either — this nausea had come out of nowhere, and she hadn’t eaten anything unusual at all.

Ziqing didn’t dwell on it further, though her mind remained somewhat unsettled.

“You really should get checked, though! We still have some time before the banquet — might as well calm your nerves while we’re at it!” Yelu Qianqian said, still visibly shaken herself, yet still trying to comfort Ziqing.

“It’s not convenient right now. You should head back, and I need to get going too,” Ziqing said flatly. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how Jun Beiyue would react if he learned what was inscribed in that hidden chamber. She didn’t deliberate over it — she simply chose to keep it secret.

Whatever happened, she would never allow such a thing to come to pass. Everything would vanish along with those destroyed white jade slabs.

And she would absolutely never allow her own descendants, the people of the isolated island, to ever face such danger, to ever endure such humiliation. She silently resolved, once and for all, to uncover every single secret of the isolated island.

She would find a way, once and for all, to completely eliminate the practice of cultivating human gu creatures.

Yelu Qianqian couldn’t talk her out of it, so she had no choice but to head back first. By the time Ziqing returned to her quarters, Jun Beiyue had just gotten back as well.

“Didn’t find it?”

“Searched everywhere. Have Sha Qiuzi ask Yanzi.”

“Alright.”

Jun Beiyue nodded, pulling Ziqing down to sit beside him. “What’s wrong? You look pale.”

“Couldn’t find what I was looking for. Not in a good mood,” Ziqing said with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry. You got your zither back — I’ll definitely help you recover the bloodstained one too!” Jun Beiyue said earnestly, trying to reassure her.

Ziqing nodded, and to avoid further questions, quickly changed the subject. “How did things go with the Emperor of Xijing?”

“What else could he do?” Jun Beiyue shot back.

Ziqing laughed. It was true — the Emperor of Xijing really had no other options left, even if he wanted to act, he had no power to do so. The only thing he could do now was throw everything he had, wholeheartedly, into supporting Situ Haonan on the distant battlefield.

Just as they were talking, the Emperor of Xijing sent someone to invite them to the banquet.

Jun Beiyue wasn’t in any hurry. He had Ziqing drink some ginseng broth, eat a light snack, and told her to rest.

Banquets had never interested Ziqing much. She lounged lazily on the warm couch, watching the guards standing motionless at the door, lost in thought.

Jun Beiyue sat across from her, and seeing her like this, couldn’t resist reaching over to pinch her cheek. “Don’t want to go?”

Ziqing nodded honestly. Whatever business needed discussing, Jun Beiyue had already handled it with the Emperor of Xijing — tonight’s banquet would undoubtedly be a dull affair.

She’d much rather talk with Jun Beiyue instead, hear about what had happened on the northern battlefield while she’d been away.

She’d heard from Yingzi that Hongyi had gone to the military camp.

Seeing Ziqing nod, Jun Beiyue rose to his feet and told the guard outside, “Go back and inform the Emperor of Xijing — this prince appreciates the invitation, but there’s no need to wait for us.”

The guard stood there, dumbfounded, not even daring to ask why, as Jun Beiyue shut the door with a sharp click.

Prince Yao was, indeed, Prince Yao — if he didn’t feel like gracing an occasion with his presence, he simply didn’t, no explanation needed.

The room fell silent, just the two of them.

Jun Beiyue personally prepared hot water for Ziqing’s bath, having unconsciously come to know this woman’s habits well by now — the scent of flowers she preferred, the exact temperature of the water she liked.

At that moment, Ziqing’s brow showed traces of fatigue, her posture relaxed and languid, as she watched Jun Beiyue moving busily about.

Though deep down she was very much the commanding, queenly type, this particular body of hers wasn’t quite suited to that role. And yet, watching Prince Yao bustling back and forth attending to her, one couldn’t help but think — she truly was a queen. Undeniably so.

Once the hot water was ready, Jun Beiyue crouched down beside her and said simply, “Feet.”

Ziqing looked at him, a hint of joy curling at the corners of her lips, a contented, sweet, peaceful expression settling over her face. She carefully extended one curled-up foot.

Watching Jun Beiyue kneel on one knee to remove her boots, she still felt a strange flutter of nervousness.

Once the long boots slipped off, a cool draft swept in. Standing on the couch, she towered over him by a full head. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her high, high into the air, drawing helpless, delighted giggles from her.

Compared to the Emperor of Xijing’s banquet, the true feast lay between the two of them.

They both knew that time waited for no one — tomorrow morning, they would have to part ways again. Neither of them said it aloud, but both understood.

Domineering as he was, when he turned gentle, it was like the warm water enveloping Ziqing right now — once you sank into it, you never wanted to leave, especially in the depths of winter, when you found yourself wishing you could stay soaked in that warmth forever.

Mist curled through the air. Ziqing leaned against the edge of the bathtub, her face nearly touching Jun Beiyue’s as he leaned in the same way.

“Tell me about the campaign on the northern front. I heard the Empress of Dong Qin was the first to lose her nerve at Yandang City — how did you manage to force her out?”

Jun Beiyue leaned back slightly, but answered without hesitation. “Because of a woman.”

“A woman? What do you mean?” Ziqing startled slightly. This man was practically immune to the opposite sex — how could this possibly involve another woman?

Jun Beiyue didn’t hide anything. He’d always been the type to own up to his actions, open and unashamed, and he trusted, too, that no third party in this world could possibly come between him and this woman.

“It’s exactly as it sounds. She’s currently confined within the army,” Jun Beiyue said flatly.

“Bai Mengmeng. She likes you,” Ziqing said with utter seriousness — so serious, in fact, that Jun Beiyue almost felt as though the person speaking wasn’t really his wife at all.

Though relieved by this woman’s understanding, her reasonableness, he had to admit — he’d expected her reaction to be far more intense.

How was he supposed to respond to a statement like that? Jun Beiyue could only nod in silence.

Yet Ziqing remained entirely serious, even sighing thoughtfully. “That’s probably the best way to handle it. It gives General Bai Hu some closure too — after all, she’s his last remaining hope in this life.”

In the hazy delay before he could respond, Jun Beiyue’s expression visibly shifted.

“By the way, why did Hongyi end up going to the military camp too?” Ziqing suddenly asked.

Only then did Jun Beiyue remember — he’d forgotten to mention that earlier. “She was stabbed while guarding Bai Mengmeng. She’s been sent back to the capital, still unconscious as far as I know.”

“What!” Ziqing cried out sharply, nearly springing to her feet.

Jun Beiyue repeated the story once more. The more Ziqing listened, the angrier she became. “Why should someone else bear the consequences for a mistake she made herself? Her own family died because of what she did — what right does she have to shift the blame, what right does she have to raise a hand against anyone! Attacking a girl who couldn’t even fight back — what kind of woman is she?”

“What kind of woman…”

Jun Beiyue found himself puzzling over why that phrase sounded increasingly off to him, but Ziqing had already lost her patience entirely, her voice turning cold. “This isn’t something that can just be brushed aside so easily!”

Finally, Jun Beiyue rose to his feet, crossing his arms and stepping back, saying seriously, “Han Ziqing. Do you consider a maid of yours getting stabbed more serious, or your husband being thrown himself at by another woman more serious?”

Jun Beiyue had to admit — there was something about this woman’s particular brand of “composure” that he genuinely disliked.