The carriage stopped in front of an inn located in the bustling market of Su Sha city. Yi Xiao curiously lifted the curtain to peek outside. Before she could ask, the maid smiled and held the curtain for her, saying, “The most dangerous place is often the safest place, Commander Fu. Please, after you!”

Following the maid to the third floor, they occasionally encountered groups of people. Yi Xiao couldn’t help but admire Xia Jingshi’s meticulous planning once again. The third floor consisted of luxurious “Tian” classrooms, with even the attached servants’ quarters more lavish than the “Di” class guest rooms. The occupants were all wealthy merchants, entering and exiting with great fanfare, drawing much attention. Who would suspect that among these ostentatious guests was the returned Marquis of Zhen Nan, Xia Jingshi?

After knocking three times with no response, the maid was about to push the door open when a waiter’s voice came from around the corner, “Madam, Master Shi just went out.” Yi Xiao was momentarily stunned, but the maid quickly called out, “How could he have gone out? Are you sure you saw it correctly?”

The thin waiter hurried over, his eyes sweeping over Yi Xiao’s luxurious attire. He quickly put on an ingratiating smile and said, “Master Shi did go out. He mentioned that an honored guest was coming and asked me to get some fresh fruit. I saw some nice bananas in the market and bought some, but Master Shi said the guest doesn’t eat bananas, so…”

Hearing this, Yi Xiao smiled slightly. “That’s enough, I understand. You may go about your business.” The waiter hurriedly opened the door with a smile, “Please enter, Madam. Master Shi should be back soon—”

Even after entering the room, as the maid closed the door, they could still hear the waiter muttering to himself outside, “I was indeed foolish. How could such a noble lady eat the same food as us?”

The maid covered her mouth and laughed, “Commander Fu’s noble air might even surpass Princess Xi Yang’s…” “Stop this nonsense,” Yi Xiao frowned and gently rebuked. The maid immediately pouted in disappointment and dared not speak further.

Seated in the room, Yi Xiao became calm. All the experiences of these years passed through her mind like a lantern show. It was because she had experienced love and being loved, and had learned to love, that she understood what she truly needed. She had finally found the person most suitable for her, someone she could spend her life with.

Now she finally understood what Uncle Ning had once said: to be happy, one must learn to let go.

What’s lost, don’t seek. What’s dropped, don’t pick up. What’s in your hand is the true treasure.

Lost in thought, the maid came forward to clear the leftover tea on the table and bowed to Yi Xiao, “His Highness will be back soon. This servant will go prepare fresh tea. Please wait a moment, Commander Fu.” Yi Xiao absently agreed, and the maid left.

Xia Jingshi was a rational person, clearly distinguishing between what should and shouldn’t be done. Feng Suige was completely different – he always acted on his impulses, doing things first and thinking later, just like inexplicably abducting her to Su Sha.

As for Feng Xi Yang, Yi Xiao never understood why she fell in love with Xia Jingshi at first sight. She even doubted such feelings, thinking she might have misunderstood. In her understanding, loving a man meant focusing all attention on appreciating his soul, not worshipping him like a god…

Suddenly, Yi Xiao felt inexplicably anxious, accompanied by a wave of heat. Looking around, she realized all the doors and windows in the room were tightly shut. No wonder she felt stifled in the summer heat.

She stood up and casually walked to a window, reaching out to push it open. To her shock, it didn’t budge at all!

Yi Xiao leaned in for a closer look and broke out in a cold sweat – the window was fixed shut with large iron nails! She turned and rushed to the door, forcefully pulling the bolt – the bolt came loose, but the door was blocked from the outside.

It was a trap!!!

No one knew where the fire started, but people walking in the marketplace suddenly noticed flames erupting from the roof of the inn. Fanned by the wind, the fire spread quickly, soon engulfing the entire roof. As the massive beams crackled and burned, a column of smoke shot into the sky.

Panic-stricken people ran about, shouting, and throwing buckets of water at the spreading fire dragons, but it was like pouring a cup of water on a burning cart. They watched helplessly as the eaves were devoured by flames, and in moments, the entire inn was wrapped in a raging inferno.

Suddenly, the sound of a whip crack and hoofbeats came from the end of the street. Onlookers scattered as two agitated men almost simultaneously leaped from their horses, shouting in unison, “Where are they?!”

The crowd stirred – the newcomers were none other than Earl Jian Xin, Ye Duanfang, and the Regent Prince, Feng Suige.

A man with half-wet clothes pointed fearfully at the flame-engulfed building, “Your subordinate saw them go up to the third floor, but didn’t see the Concubine come out when the fire started…” Before he could finish, a dark shadow flashed before their eyes. Amid the crowd’s terrified cries, Feng Suige plunged headlong into the sea of flames.

Ye Duanfang stood dumbfounded for a moment, then suddenly roared, “What are you all standing around for? Get more water hoses here!!!”

The licking flames seared Feng Suige’s face painfully as he rushed up, beating out the fire on his clothes, and climbed the not-yet-burned wooden stairs straight to the third floor.

“Yi Xiao!!!” He dodged a wobbling wooden window, shouting hoarsely, “Answer me if you can hear me!!! Yi Xiao!!!” Turning at the stairs, his eyes suddenly widened. Outside a burning wooden door, four thick wooden pillars, now charred, were propped against it.

Feng Suige rushed forward, kicking away the still-burning wood, and threw himself against the door. A wave of heat hit his face as he saw a motionless figure lying on the floor, about to be consumed by flames. Even in the terrible light, Feng Suige could instantly recognize that familiar form.

The scorching air stung Feng Suige’s nostrils, leaving him unable to make a sound. He took a step forward, reaching out, almost afraid to touch that quiet body.

Several creaking sounds snapped Feng Suige back to awareness – the main beam was about to collapse!

Feng Suige darted forward, scooping up Yi Xiao’s body in one motion. The falling beam grazed his arm as it crashed heavily onto the floor. As the beam fell, with a loud crack, half the roof caved in, revealing half a sky thick with rolling smoke.

Feng Suige rolled with Yi Xiao’s body. His forehead, already injured somewhere, seemed to hit something hard again. Fresh blood flowed out, trickling over his eyelashes and cheeks, finally dripping onto Yi Xiao’s face.

Yi Xiao’s previously unconscious body suddenly moved. Her slightly confused eyes met his. “Feng Suige?” “It’s me,” Feng Suige gritted his teeth, roughly wiping the blood drops from her face with his sleeve. “You damned woman, once I get you out of here, I’m going to give you a good spanking!”

Yi Xiao coughed twice and sat up. “Your forehead is bleeding,” she said. Feng Suige helped her stand, patting out the fire on the edge of her clothes. “We’ll talk once we’re out…” Before he could finish, the floor beneath them suddenly tilted. With a tremendous cracking sound, the inn’s main beam collapsed. All the furniture and floorboards in the room scraped against each other with a grating noise, sliding towards the lower end.

Feng Suige held Yi Xiao tightly against him. After a quick look around, he pointed to the collapsed back wall and barked, “Quick, jump down from there!”