Shen Xiling kept her head lowered, but saw Qi Ying’s shadow on the ground getting closer and closer to her. Her palms were sweating and her heart was uneasy until she heard Qi Ying ask: “Are you feeling better?”

His words were brief, revealing no emotion, making Shen Xiling unsure whether he was showing concern for her or reproaching her previous cowardice. She pressed her lips together, slowly raised her head, and mustered the courage to glance at Qi Ying. Seeing his peaceful expression with no trace of coldness, her heart relaxed slightly as she replied respectfully: “Thanks to your care, young master, I’m much better.”

Qi Ying nodded, looked at Shen Xiling again, and said indifferently: “I have some matters during the day. Later this evening, you and I shall have a talk.”

Shen Xiling didn’t know what Qi Ying meant by “have a talk,” but suspected that seeing her health had improved, he wanted her to leave Fenghe Courtyard. This was perfectly reasonable, and Shen Xiling had been prepared for this. Hearing his words, she nodded quite calmly and obediently replied “Yes.”

Qi Ying gave a light acknowledgment and turned to leave. After taking a few steps, he turned back with a slight frown and asked: “Wasn’t someone assigned to care for you? Why are you walking about alone?”

Shen Xiling hadn’t expected Qi Ying to say this, as if he was quite concerned about her. Remembering what Xiao Ziheng had said about Yi Xiang earlier, she pressed her lips together and answered: “I wanted to come out and walk alone. It’s quieter by myself.”

Qi Ying frowned and said: “Before you’re fully recovered, you should have someone with you. Don’t do this again next time.”

Hearing this, Shen Xiling was startled again, feeling somewhat strange. She sensed that Second Young Master Qi’s words implied she would be staying at Fenghe Courtyard for some time longer, which left her feeling confused, so she didn’t think to respond. Qi Ying, however, thought she disliked having people follow her and was opposing his arrangement, so his tone became somewhat stern: “This matter is settled. Don’t be willful.”

Shen Xiling was scolded for no reason and felt bewildered. Coming to her senses, she knew Qi Ying had misunderstood, but since she blamed herself for being distracted earlier, she didn’t explain further and just lowered her head, softly acknowledging “Yes.”

Though she was still young, her features were already extremely beautiful, giving a glimpse of how she would look when grown. The little girl’s “yes” was gentle and soft, and her lowered head made her appear very obedient and sensible, making it difficult for Qi Ying to maintain a stern expression. His demeanor softened somewhat as he asked: “Do you remember the way back?”

Shen Xiling originally didn’t want to trouble Qi Ying and planned to reluctantly say she remembered, but she feared that if she truly couldn’t find her way back, it would cause him even more trouble and displeasure. So she could only lower her eyes and shake her head with some embarrassment. She heard Qi Ying sigh and say: “Come with me then.”

Qi Ying turned and left along the stone path. Shen Xiling raised her head to watch his retreating figure, and in a trance remembered when she first met him as he stepped down from his carriage. At that time, she thought it would be just a passing encounter, never imagining there would be several subsequent meetings. Thinking of this, she became somewhat dazed. Seeing she hadn’t followed, Qi Ying stopped and looked back at her. Seeing the little girl standing there with a blank expression, not knowing what she was thinking, he gestured for her to “come over” and said aloud: “Come.”

Shen Xiling snapped out of her reverie. Seeing Qi Ying in white robes standing under the plum trees looking back at her, she couldn’t quite describe her emotions at that moment and hurriedly caught up.

Fenghe Courtyard was extremely large with many servants. Shen Xiling followed behind Qi Ying through layers of flowers and trees in the courtyards. Along the way, they encountered many servants in the estate, all of whom bowed to Qi Ying while secretly observing Shen Xiling and whispering among themselves after they passed. Shen Xiling felt somewhat uncomfortable, but when she and her mother frequented pawnshops in the past, they had faced even more blatant scrutiny and whispers. She was somewhat accustomed to it, so she pretended not to see or hear, silently following Qi Ying.

After walking for a while, they finally reached the courtyard where she had been staying. Qi Ying stopped at the courtyard gate and turned to ask: “Can you go in by yourself?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling immediately nodded: “Yes… thank you, young master.”

Their commotion at the gate alarmed Yi Xiang, who was resting in the courtyard. She came running out and was shocked to see Qi Ying there as well, quickly kneeling to pay her respects.

Qi Ying glanced at Yi Xiang and gave a brief instruction: “Before she’s fully recovered, follow her wherever she goes and take proper care of her.”

Yi Xiang was extremely alarmed and acknowledged with her head bowed. Qi Ying then turned to Shen Xiling and said: “You rest first. Later I’ll have Qing Zhu come fetch you.”

Shen Xiling obediently nodded. Qi Ying glanced at her once more indifferently and turned to leave.

Fenghe Courtyard was built against Qingji Mountain, with the entire mountain scenery serving as the back garden. The back garden had mountain springs that cascaded down according to the terrain, gathering into streams on level ground. In spring, cherry trees on both sides of the brooks would bloom magnificently, creating spectacular scenes of falling petals—a very secluded and elegant place.

Before Qingji Mountain became Second Young Master Qi’s private residence, this place had been a sacred site for spring poetry gatherings of literati and scholars, with beautiful tales of floating wine cups along meandering streams. Because these poetry gatherings were so famous, they had virtually become a tradition for literati throughout Jiankang and even all of Jiangzuo. Qi Ying couldn’t simply stop this tradition, so he separated the mountain springs and cherry trees into a different part of the garden. During poetry gathering seasons, he would allow literati to ascend the mountain for meetings. During normal times, this became an excellent venue for gatherings of aristocratic friends. Servants would arrange small tables and cushions on fragrant grass, with everyone sitting on the ground—very much in keeping with Jiangzuo’s romantic atmosphere and quite appealing.

When Qi Ying arrived at the back garden, his other friends had already taken their seats and begun drinking. Seeing him arrive, Xiao Ziheng laughed and said to the others: “I told you he had something going on with that little girl—otherwise why would he arrive so late? He must have said many words to her!”

A man in a dark-colored robe laughed and replied: “Second Brother is indeed of age to marry, but from what Your Highness described, that girl seems not yet of age—isn’t that somewhat too early?”

“What of it,” another man holding a small golden cup laughed, leaning his arm on the table. “Even if she’s not of age, she’s still in her cardamom years. If Second Brother likes her, there’s no harm in raising her first.”

The man in dark robes was the legitimate eldest son of the Han family, Han Feiyu, courtesy name Boheng. The man with the small golden cup was his younger brother from the same mother, Han Feichi, courtesy name Zhongheng. Earlier, when Xiao Ziheng deceived Shen Xiling, he had borrowed the name of the Han family’s second son, Han Feichi.

The Han and Qi families had always been on good terms. The two legitimate sons of the Han family were now twenty and eighteen years old respectively, similar in age to Qi Jingchen, and had been close since childhood. Han Feiyu had passed the metropolitan examination last year and would take the spring examination again soon—he was the descendant most valued by the Han family of this generation. Han Feichi was more dissolute; having his elder brother ahead of him, he didn’t take studying or imperial examinations seriously, causing great headaches for his father, the current Han family head Han Shousong.

After these two brothers finished their banter, a man in flowing blue robes sitting at the other end laughed: “You two shouldn’t talk nonsense. Given Jingchen’s character, how could he act in such a way?”

This man had an elegant appearance with the bearing of a refined gentleman. He was Fu Zhuo, the legitimate son of the Fu family and currently serving as Investigating Censor. This young master was four years older than Qi Ying and was also friends with Qi Yun. They had even studied under the same teacher. He was very prudent and kind by nature. Before Qi Ying gained fame throughout Jiangzuo at age thirteen by achieving second place in the imperial examination, this young master had been the most promising of the four great families’ generation.

Qi Ying took his seat amid everyone’s teasing. Qing Zhu served him tea, then withdrew to stand behind him. Qi Ying picked up his teacup, tasted the tea, and said indifferently: “Just a little girl I picked up—is she worth all this talk from you?”

Han Feiyu laughed heartily: “Whether picked up or not doesn’t matter much, but His Highness said that girl is extremely beautiful. In that case, no wonder we’re thinking too much.”

Xiao Ziheng twirled a blade of grass between his fingers with a casual expression: “Indeed beautiful. Where did you pick her up? I’ll go pick one up for myself someday.”

Everyone laughed again. Qi Ying was helpless and wanted to change the subject, but Han Feichi brought it back. Sitting carelessly and half-leaning on the table, he said: “Picking up a girl is a small matter, but I fear if the princess finds out, there might be quite a commotion. That would be entertaining.”

Xiao Ziheng smiled: “I mentioned this to Jingchen earlier. Today Ziyu even said she wanted to come with me. I told her Rong’er was busy today and couldn’t come, and it wouldn’t be proper for her to be alone among men, so she gave up.”

Xiao Ziheng looked at Qi Ying with schadenfreude: “If she had come today, she might really have made a scene with you.”

They were discussing Princess Xiao Ziyu, the sixth princess of Great Liang. Princess Ziyu was now sixteen years old, Xiao Ziheng’s younger sister, and her mother was the current Imperial Noble Consort from the Han family—the emperor’s most beloved daughter. Qi Ying had once been Xiao Ziheng’s study companion, so he had known Princess Ziyu since childhood. As they grew older, the sixth princess’s feelings toward Qi Ying had changed. When she came of age last year, she had asked Emperor Liang about making Qi Ying her prince consort, but the timing was unfortunate—that year coincided with the great war against Wei, and Great Liang suffered a crushing defeat at Stone City, so the matter was postponed.

It was precisely because of last year’s great defeat that Great Liang’s military and political structure underwent dramatic power shifts. Not only did the Privy Council change leadership, but many personnel changes occurred among military officers as well. Recently, the Shen family had collapsed completely. Though Great Liang appeared peaceful and prosperous on the surface, it was actually in turmoil. According to Great Liang’s customs, after marrying a princess, a prince consort would no longer be given substantive positions. At this time of crisis when capable people were needed, Emperor Liang relied on Qi Ying to resist foreign threats and naturally couldn’t let him become an imperial son-in-law and waste his talents. Therefore, he could only disappoint his daughter. No matter how much Princess Ziyu pleaded, he never issued an edict for the marriage.

For these reasons, the relationship between Princess Ziyu and Qi Ying had become delicate: everyone knew marriage between them was impossible, yet everyone also knew the sixth princess’s feelings for Qi Jingchen. What their current relationship actually was remained unclear to all. However, one thing was very clear and certain: if Qi Ying truly became close to any woman, the sixth princess would definitely not tolerate it.

Despite Xiao Ziheng’s teasing, Qi Ying’s expression revealed nothing. He only asked: “How has His Highness the Third Prince been lately?”

Emperor Liang had seven sons. The eldest died young, the second was established as crown prince early on, married a Shen family daughter as crown princess, and later became involved in the Shen family corruption case. He had now been deposed and imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court. With the crown prince position vacant, both the third and fourth princes were potential heirs. Though the third prince’s maternal family wasn’t as prominent as the fourth prince’s, he had a reputation for intelligence and wisdom from a young age and was much trusted by the emperor. The fourth prince was naturally dissolute and casual, seemingly uninterested in the heir apparent position. Currently, it was heard that the third prince had been assigned by the emperor to conclude the Shen family case and was extremely busy lately. There were also rumors in court that the emperor intended to establish the third prince, Xiao Zihuan, as heir.

Xiao Ziheng wasn’t particularly concerned about these matters. He drank a cup of wine and replied casually: “What could be wrong? He’s just busier. Today I asked him to come with me, but he was too busy to spare time.”

Though the speaker was unintentional, the listener took it to heart. Xiao Ziheng’s casual remark stirred some ripples in the hearts of those present.

Third Prince Xiao Zihuan had previously been friendly with aristocratic young masters like the fourth prince, but now the situation was somewhat delicate. Though Emperor Liang had the support of three families when eliminating the Shen family, he had already demonstrated his intention to shake aristocratic power. Now having the third prince conclude the Shen family case—was this hoping the third prince would inherit his will and continue cutting aristocratic wings after ascending the throne someday? Today’s absence from the Fenghe Courtyard gathering—was he truly busy, or beginning to distance himself from aristocratic families?

Upon hearing this, Qi Ying’s expression didn’t change much; he only gave a light acknowledgment. But Fu Zhuo’s eyes grew deeper, Han Feiyu’s gaze also flickered, while only Han Feichi continued drinking and admiring plum blossoms as if completely oblivious to these subtle undercurrents.

Xiao Ziheng probably didn’t notice anything unusual either and laughed as he said to Qi Ying: “Jingchen, you’d better think carefully about how to treat me today, lest I tell my sister what I witnessed—let me give you a hint: do you still remember that brush washer incident?”

Qi Jingchen smiled and shook his head. Han Feiyu at his side laughed: “Your Highness has such a broad heart—for the sake of a brush washer, you can even deceive your own sister?”

Xiao Ziheng laughed heartily, still with his fox-like expression. The men joked and raised their cups, beginning to enjoy a rare peaceful banquet on this winter day blessed with warm sunshine.

After seeing Second Young Master personally escort Shen Xiling back, Yi Xiang’s heart had been uneasy.

She pondered the relationship between Shen Xiling and Second Young Master while worrying that Shen Xiling might have complained about her, feeling quite anxious. After much thought, she felt she still needed to curry favor with this little girl. Just as today’s medicine had finished brewing, she attentively presented it to Shen Xiling, even specially placing a small dish of candied fruits beside it. She said to Shen Xiling, who was reclining on the bed: “Good girl, quickly drink this medicine so you can recover your health soon.”

Though Yi Xiang deliberately tried to conceal her fawning, Shen Xiling still detected it. Though young, having grown up witnessing the fickleness of human nature alongside her mother, she wasn’t a child ignorant of worldly affairs. Though she saw through it clearly, she bore no resentment in her heart and had no intention of exposing it to embarrass anyone. She just gently thanked Yi Xiang and drank the medicine.

After she drank the medicine, Yi Xiang remained by her side without leaving. Shen Xiling knew she wanted to get close to her, but since she couldn’t think of what to say and the awkwardness was truly uncomfortable, she said to Yi Xiang: “Sister, you’ve been busy on my account for half the day. You should go rest. I’m almost completely recovered.”

Yi Xiang replied: “How could that be proper? I’m not tired at all. I’d rather stay here and keep you company to relieve your boredom.”

Shen Xiling thought for a moment, smiled at Yi Xiang, and said: “Then, if sister doesn’t find it troublesome, could you possibly find the clothes I was wearing when I arrived?”

After Shen Xiling fell ill, someone had helped her change clothes while caring for her. When she woke up, she discovered her original clothes were gone.

Yi Xiang replied: “Oh, that dress? Wait a moment, I’ll go get it for you.”

Shen Xiling thanked her, and Yi Xiang hurried out. Before long, she returned holding Shen Xiling’s dress, handed it to her, and asked with a smile: “Look, is this the one?”

Shen Xiling took the dress, and suddenly those painful memories rushed at her again—mother’s increasingly weak breathing during the journey north to Langya, the cold and heartless words of mother’s family, the wordless tombstone before father’s grave in the small courtyard… Shen Xiling’s heart immediately crumpled into a ball, making it hard for her to breathe.

Seeing her face suddenly turn pale, Yi Xiang was startled. Fearing she might suffer some mishap and she herself would be blamed, she asked with great concern: “Girl, what’s wrong with you?”

Shen Xiling came to her senses and forced a smile at Yi Xiang, shaking her head to indicate she was fine.

Yi Xiang still looked at her worriedly and asked: “What made you suddenly think of looking for these clothes? Are the ones you’re wearing uncomfortable?”

Shen Xiling’s original clothes were brought by that wandering knight when she escaped prison—just ordinary cloth garments, far inferior to what she was wearing now. But Shen Xiling thought that after meeting with Qi Ying today, she would have to leave Fenghe Courtyard, and it wouldn’t be proper to take their clothes with her. It would be better to change back early. However, Shen Xiling had no intention of explaining so much to Yi Xiang, so she just smiled and answered: “Sister is overthinking. Everything here is very good, and I’m very grateful.”

Yi Xiang felt that though this little girl was young, she didn’t have the manner a child should have. Not only was she quiet and taciturn, but her expression was always melancholy. Apart from being pretty, she really wasn’t likeable. Yi Xiang didn’t know what else to say to Shen Xiling, and seeing that she also seemed unwilling to talk much, she gave her a few words of care and then withdrew.

When it was time to light the lamps, Qing Zhu came.

He was a very thin young man. Though similar in age to Shen Xiling, he was more than half a head taller than her. Despite his young age, it was clear that the servants of Fenghe Courtyard all respected him greatly. Yi Xiang was much older than him, but she was very polite when speaking to him.

Qing Zhu only responded indifferently to the servants’ flattery, showing no expression on his face, and had only come to fetch someone. Shen Xiling had already changed back into her own clothes and emerged from the inner room. Qing Zhu glanced at her from head to toe indifferently, still showed no reaction, and only said: “Come with me.”

Shen Xiling followed Qing Zhu through winding paths, and as expected, they arrived at Wangshi again.

At the entrance to Wangshi, Shen Xiling once again saw Bai Song. He stood at the door holding his sword and merely nodded when he saw Shen Xiling, showing no other reaction. However, Shen Xiling had much she wanted to say to him—for instance, to ask about his injuries, and also to thank him. But just as she was about to speak, she saw Qing Zhu had already pushed open the great door of Wangshi and was standing aside, saying to her: “Go in.”

Helplessly, Shen Xiling glanced at Bai Song. He was originally a very cold person, but now Shen Xiling wondered if it was her imagination—she felt Bai Song’s expression was gentle, with a hint of encouragement for her, which made her heart even more grateful. Qing Zhu was already showing impatience, and Shen Xiling couldn’t delay any longer. She nodded to Bai Song and walked up the steps into Wangshi.

Wangshi was the same as when she had come last time—tall bookshelves on all four walls, bright and warm inside. Qi Ying still sat in the same position as before, with many scrolls piled on the desk, still working on official documents with his head lowered.

The sound of Shen Xiling entering disturbed him. He looked up at Shen Xiling, set down his scroll, and beckoned for her to come closer. Shen Xiling pressed her lips together and walked over, then heard Qi Ying ask: “Have you had dinner?”

Shen Xiling hadn’t expected him to ask this. Feeling somewhat nervous, she answered truthfully without thinking: “Not yet…”

Qi Ying nodded and said: “Then let’s eat together.”

Shen Xiling was stunned. While she was still in a daze, Qi Ying had already ordered dinner and had Qing Zhu add a seat for her, right beside his left hand. When the maidservants served the dishes, they kept their heads down and dared not look much. When Qing Zhu came in to add the seat, he also showed no expression, but Shen Xiling somehow felt extremely uncomfortable, as if thorns were pricking her back. She only felt better after everyone had left.

Qi Ying said “Please, help yourself” to Shen Xiling, then picked up his chopsticks first. Shen Xiling had no intention of dining at the same table as Qi Ying, feeling it was very improper, but if she didn’t eat now, it would seem even more discourteous. After deliberating for a while, she finally picked up her chopsticks and ate silently.

Shen Xiling didn’t know much about aristocratic household expenses, but seeing Qi Ying’s meal still surprised her somewhat.

The Qi family was a luxurious household that rang bells and struck tripods. Second Young Master Qi had such a distinguished position that she had thought his meals would certainly consist of delicacies from land and sea, and the etiquette would be extremely formal and complicated. Unexpectedly, it was quite the opposite. His meal was extremely simple—just a bowl of vegetarian soup and two small dishes, things commonly seen on ordinary household tables, nothing particularly precious. While eating, he continued reading through the scrolls he had set aside earlier, picking up his brush to make annotations when he reached important passages, his brow sometimes tight, sometimes relaxed.

Shen Xiling ate in small bites, occasionally stealing glances at Qi Ying. She saw that he didn’t properly begin his meal until he had finished reading the document in his hands, setting the scroll aside. He ate at a moderate pace with very elegant movements. Although what he was eating was so ordinary, watching him dine made one mistakenly think he was eating some extremely precious delicacies. In a trance, Shen Xiling remembered her father. Though he was always very simple when with her and mother, the elegance and nobility in his bearing were very obvious, quite similar to Second Young Master Qi’s current appearance.

Shen Xiling had a very small appetite and was full after just a few bites, but seeing that Qi Ying hadn’t finished, she kept holding her chopsticks without setting them down. Only when Qi Ying put down his chopsticks did she follow suit. The servants entered to clear away the bowls and chopsticks. Only then did Qi Ying get to the point, saying to Shen Xiling: “I called you here today to discuss the future—do you have any plans for yourself?”

In the bright candlelight of Wangshi, Qi Ying’s appearance seemed even clearer. Shen Xiling’s heart grew nervous again, but fortunately, she had thought he might ask this question today and had prepared herself. She steadied her emotions, stood up from her seat, and slowly bowed, saying: “All matters recently, starting from the day of the prison escape, have depended entirely on your care, young master, causing you much trouble. I truly don’t know how to repay your kindness, and I dare not trouble you further. I can leave Fenghe Courtyard today. In the future, if there’s anything you need me to do, I will certainly do my utmost without any refusal.”

After speaking, Shen Xiling bowed again, then knelt on the ground with her head lowered, waiting for Qi Ying’s reply.

Qi Ying looked at her kneeling figure, his fingertips slowly tapping the desk as other matters came to mind.

He remembered that on the first day of the New Year, after returning home from the palace New Year greetings with his father and brother, he had barely entered his study when servants came to report that an old man was requesting an audience. They couldn’t drive him away, and the old man had given the servants a slip of paper, saying that Second Young Master Qi would naturally agree to see him once he saw this item.

At that time, Qi Ying frowned as he unfolded the paper, seeing only one line written on it: “Shooting down the poisonous bird by the river’s edge.”

“Shen.”

The servant who came to report saw Second Young Master staring at the paper and squinting, his expression inscrutable. After a moment, he actually had someone bring the old man in and dismissed everyone else to speak privately.

The old man had an ordinary appearance and somewhat shabby clothing, but when he met Qi Ying, he was neither humble nor arrogant. He took out a small wooden box from his bosom and presented it to Qi Ying. Qi Ying examined it for a moment, then opened the box to find it contained a thick stack of land deeds and bank notes, and even red deeds for several salt and tea estates. The amount was so large that even Qi Ying, born into an aristocratic family, was shocked—this small wooden box probably contained enough wealth to buy all of Jiankang City.

Qi Ying looked at the old man with slightly furrowed brows: “This is…”

The old man bowed to Qi Ying and answered respectfully: “Forgive my abrupt visit, young master. I was originally Prime Minister Shen’s personal attendant. Following the Prime Minister’s instructions, I must deliver this item to your hands.”

Qi Ying closed the wooden box and pushed it back in front of the old man: “Sir, I fear there’s been a misunderstanding. After visiting Prime Minister Shen at the Tingwei Prison that day, he already had someone deliver a wooden box to me. This box should have another owner.”

What Qi Ying said was true. A few days after he visited Shen Qian at the Tingwei Prison, one of Shen Qian’s former subordinates delivered a wooden box to him, which also contained various land deeds and bank notes, but the amount was far less shocking than the box before him now, and it didn’t include red deeds for tea and salt estates. Qi Ying wasn’t someone who coveted wealth. At the time, he had no intention of accepting that wooden box, but since Shen Qian had insisted from prison, he couldn’t refuse further and accepted it. But today, another of Shen Qian’s former subordinates brought another wooden box with more than ten times the value—it was truly shocking.

Seeing Qi Ying so calmly push back the wooden box containing shocking wealth, a flash of admiration passed through the old man’s eyes. He bowed to Qi Ying again: “Young master doesn’t know—that previous wooden box was to thank you for escorting the lady and young miss north to Langya. Prime Minister Shen’s feelings for the lady and young miss were very deep, and he planned far ahead for them. He had already anticipated that the lady’s family might cause trouble, so he specially prepared another wooden box and instructed me that if the lady and young miss returned to Jiankang and received your kindness again, I should present this box as well.”

Qi Ying was speechless.

He truly hadn’t expected Shen Qian to have such deep feelings for his concubine and illegitimate daughter, planning so thoroughly for them. Though he had long known the Shen clan had controlled Jiangzuo’s financial networks for years, he hadn’t imagined Shen Qian could be so capable—even after the Shen clan was confiscated and exterminated, he could still preserve such a shocking amount of wealth. Now it seemed Shen Qian’s former subordinates had probably been secretly following Shen Xiling all along; otherwise, the timing couldn’t be so coincidental. He had just pulled Shen Xiling back from death’s door at Fenghe Courtyard last night, and the next day this wooden box was delivered to his desk.

If he hadn’t gone to check on Shen Xiling last night, or if he hadn’t kept her at Fenghe Courtyard before, this wooden box presumably wouldn’t have been delivered to him—what was this? A test Shen Qian had left for him?

Qi Ying felt somewhat displeased: “What does Prime Minister Shen mean by this?”

The old man answered: “The lady and young miss were what Prime Minister Shen’s heart was set on in life. Now that the lady has passed away, we can only hope for the young miss’s safety and smooth life.”

Qi Ying frowned and asked: “Does Prime Minister Shen want to use this money to buy my sheltering of his daughter?”

“Not so,” the old man answered. “If the Prime Minister had intended this, he would have presented this wooden box from the beginning. Why wait until now?”

Indeed. It seemed Shen Qian didn’t want to use this shocking wealth to buy safety for his beloved daughter. He understood that security bought with wealth doesn’t last long. Ultimately, Shen Qian didn’t completely trust Qi Ying either, which is why he had his former subordinates wait until Qi Ying truly developed compassion for Shen Xiling before presenting this wooden box.

Understanding worldly affairs so well—Shen Qian was no ordinary person.

After a moment of silence, Qi Ying asked again: “Since Prime Minister Shen had the foresight to leave such wealth, why not give it directly to his beloved daughter? Wouldn’t that be more secure?”

The old man smiled a weathered smile, his eyes full of insight and understanding: “Worldly wealth can only be protected by power. The young miss is now just an orphaned girl. Wealth would be a disaster, not good fortune for her. Prime Minister Shen declared before his death that Second Young Master has an upright heart. He was willing to gamble that you would also be the most powerful person in Jiangzuo in the future—only such a person could protect the young miss for life.”

Qi Ying fell silent, then smiled faintly and asked back: “What if Prime Minister Shen gambled wrong?”

The old man answered: “Then we would accept the loss.”

Qi Ying asked again: “What if I hadn’t kept her at Fenghe Courtyard that night?”

The old man looked at the wooden box on the desk and said calmly: “Nothing more than burning it all and scattering the wealth.”

Qi Ying closed his eyes and sighed deeply, feeling a weight of thousands of pounds on his heart, and for the first time began to consider Shen Qian very seriously.

Initially, he had thought this Prime Minister was just an incompetent and weak man. Within aristocratic families, filth was hidden everywhere—among Qi, Shen, Fu, and Han, which family could claim to be clean? Only the Shen clan’s descendants were the most absurd, ultimately due to the family head’s failure to maintain discipline—lacking virtue for their position, harming others and themselves. However, that brief meeting at Tingwei Prison made Qi Ying understand that Shen Qian had great vision. He saw through Great Liang’s current situation completely, while other aristocratic family members—including his own father Qi Zhang—were probably still dreaming.

Shen Qian could not only see the situation clearly but also see through him, Qi Jingchen. Not only could he see clearly, but he dared to place his bet on him. If such a person had originally devoted all his thoughts to court politics, the Shen family definitely wouldn’t have ended up dead and laughed at by the world as they were now. But he had no heart for such things—his mind and eyes were full of his wife and daughter.

Thinking of this, Qi Ying again looked down at Shen Xiling, who was kneeling before him at this moment.

Shen Qian had taught her very well. Though she hadn’t been raised in an aristocratic family, her etiquette was proper. Even better was her character—she knew propriety, understood human feelings, yet didn’t calculate everything or harbor wild ambitions. She was very good, and if she weren’t so good, he wouldn’t have felt compassion for her.

In the long silence, Qi Ying said nothing. Shen Xiling kept her head down, not knowing what he was thinking. The silence made her uneasy, but she didn’t dare look up at his expression, so she endured in silence. After an unknown amount of time, his hand suddenly appeared in her narrow, downward field of vision—slender, clean, and well-defined—and she heard him say: “Get up and speak.”

Qi Ying’s tone was gentle, with a hint of sighing. Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, hesitated, then placed her hand in his palm and stood up with his help. She saw that under the candlelight, his features were relaxed, making him appear especially handsome and noble.

Qi Ying glanced at Shen Xiling and saw the little girl looking at him wordlessly, like a well-behaved kitten, making it impossible not to feel affection for her. He couldn’t help but sigh again: “If you leave here, what do you plan to do afterward? The small courtyard where you and your father used to live can’t be returned to—have you thought about this?”

Shen Xiling was stunned, then suddenly understood.

…She hadn’t thought about it.

She had originally planned to return to that small courtyard after leaving Fenghe Courtyard, but hearing Qi Ying say this, she realized that place was no longer accessible. Though she didn’t know what method Qi Ying had used to help her and mother escape from prison, she was undoubtedly a fugitive now. Returning to that small courtyard would be tantamount to revealing her identity and walking into a trap.

Seeing the little girl’s bewildered expression, Qi Ying could tell she hadn’t thought of this before. After a moment of silence, he asked Shen Xiling: “Since you can’t return there, what do you want to do?”

What to do?

Shen Xiling thought about it. Both her parents had died, her paternal clan was destroyed, her maternal clan was indifferent. Suddenly, she felt that in this vast world, there was nowhere for her to find shelter. She silently lowered her head, her eyes showing confusion.

Then she heard Qi Ying say: “Are you willing to return to Langya?”

Shen Xiling bit her lip, suddenly remembering her uncle and aunt’s mockery and humiliation of her mother, her fingers clenching tightly.

“Or…” Qi Ying’s voice carried a hint of hesitation, “…are you willing to stay here?”

Shen Xiling suddenly looked up at Qi Ying.

Qi Ying’s expression was somewhat uncomfortable—this was the first time Shen Xiling had seen such an expression on his face. He coughed and continued: “The Shen family case isn’t closed yet, and even when it is, once someone discovers you’re Prime Minister Shen’s daughter, you could face great danger at any time. If you’re unwilling to go to Langya and want to stay in Jiankang, then you’ll lose your freedom and can never be too far from me. You can only stay where I allow you to stay—if that’s the case, are you still willing to stay here?”

Shen Xiling stared blankly, her mind completely blank, only seeing Qi Ying’s phoenix eyes looking at her—extremely deep, as if containing endless mountains and rivers, vast and stable. In that moment, she suddenly felt a long-lost sense of peace, then heard herself answer “Yes.”

Shen Xiling suddenly felt her nose sting: “…I’m willing.”

Seeing her eyes redden while still trying hard to control herself and not cry, Qi Ying felt that tender feeling toward her rising again, which even he found somewhat puzzling.

He vaguely felt he had been manipulated by Prime Minister Shen. What he thought was casual assistance now seemed like he would have to care for someone’s daughter for life—quite like being on a pirate ship that’s easy to board but hard to leave. He wanted to comfort the little girl with a few words, but though Second Young Master Qi had great fame throughout Jiangzuo, he truly had no talent for comforting others. Seeing the little girl’s red-rimmed eyes, he didn’t know what to say. After much deliberation, he could only pat the little girl’s shoulder like an elder and say: “Well, then stay.”

Outside Wangshi, the bright moon hung high. Bai Song, holding his sword and leaning against the railing below the Wangshi steps, suddenly smiled, causing Qing Zhu on the other side to glance at him and ask: “What are you smiling about?”

Bai Song shrugged. Qing Zhu looked at his slightly moving ears, snorted, and said: “You have exceptional hearing, but you don’t need to use it all for eavesdropping on the young master, do you?”

Bai Song glanced sideways at Qing Zhu without speaking. Qing Zhu snorted coldly and continued: “Looking at your expression, the young master probably agreed to let her stay—why do you support her so much? What’s it for?”

Bai Song looked up at the moon while holding his sword: “Can’t it just be doing a good deed daily?”

Qing Zhu snorted again, scoffing at Bai Song’s words: “You and I both know the young master’s temperament—he’s the most indifferent and hardest of heart. Though for some unknown reason he’s developed compassion for that girl, it can’t last long. Can you support her for a lifetime?”

Bai Song’s ears moved again, seemingly hearing some movement from the room. He shrugged again: “The days are long—let’s see what fate brings her.”

Author’s Note: Shen Qian: I’m willing to pay extra for cheats! Qi Ying: ? Father-in-law, there’s really no need Bai Song: I’m willing to invest additional capital! Qi Ying: ? Well, that’s…