Ji Fengli’s injuries had not fully healed, nor had his martial arts completely recovered. Every few days, he needed to supplement with rare medicines and have his true qi circulate through his body for twenty-four cycles in a secret chamber. During this time, no one could disturb him, or he would risk qi deviation with unthinkable consequences.

This day, when Ji Fengli emerged from the secret chamber, night had already fallen. He went to the bathing pool to wash away his fatigue, dressed properly, and put on his mask. On the table, the maidservants had already prepared his dinner.

Having returned to Yudu in Nalan Xue’s identity, to avoid revealing any flaws, all the attendants around him were people from Yue Shi. Lan Bing, Tang Yu, and Tong Shou had all disguised themselves as hidden guards following in secret.

Nalan Xue sat at the table with his chin propped up, motionless before a table of delicacies. Ji Fengli felt Nalan Xue was somewhat strange today. A trace of confusion crossed his eyes as he asked, “Nalan, what’s wrong with you?”

Nalan Xue glanced at him, hesitation flickering in his eyes. He opened his mouth but after a long while only let out a long sigh.

“You eat first. I’ll tell you in a moment,” he said hesitantly.

Ji Fengli asked urgently, “Nalan, what exactly has happened?”

Nalan Xue held back for a long while before finally saying quietly, “That… that Yuan Bao was executed today.”

Ji Fengli froze for a moment, slowly placed the jade chopsticks in his hand on the table, and smiled with curved lips. “Nalan, when did you learn to joke?”

Nalan Xue slowly stood up from his chair and sighed. “It’s true. I didn’t expect Huangfu Wushuang to be so ruthless! He was beheaded outside the Meridian Gate at noon today, his corpse thrown at the vegetable market. They say he really was a man, not a eunuch at all.”

The smile at Ji Fengli’s lips gradually froze. His beautiful phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, inexplicable flames flickering in their depths. These flames slowly extinguished when they met Nalan Xue’s grave expression. In an instant, his deep dark eyes were like snow falling on a cold pond – cold to the extreme, deep to the extreme.

He rose without a word and quickly walked outside. Going downstairs, rounding the decorative mountain in the courtyard, he was at the embassy gate in a flash. He didn’t take a carriage but walked quickly along the roadside, faster and faster, until finally he began running wildly.

The maidservants in the embassy wanted to follow, but Nalan Xue stopped them, saying slowly, “Someone will follow him. If you go too, it will attract attention.”

Perhaps because his internal energy hadn’t fully recovered, or perhaps because he had completely forgotten to use internal energy, Ji Fengli ran wildly through the streets like someone with no martial arts at all. He ran so fast, as if putting all his strength into running. Only when he reached the vegetable market did he seem nailed in place, leaning against a roadside tree, gasping for breath. The wounds he’d been nursing for days burst open, blood slowly seeping throughout his body.

“Master, perhaps it’s fake,” a black shadow silently landed not far from Ji Fengli’s side.

Ji Fengli raised his head. The moonlight was cold as frost, reflecting on the mask on his face. He had no tears, only two trails of blood winding silently down from his eyes, sliding along the cold mask. His vision instantly turned blood red.

Lan Bing gasped in shock and hurriedly stepped forward with worried expression. “Master, your eyes!”

Ji Fengli seemed oblivious, slowly asking, “Where is he now?” His voice was calm and ethereal, like wind blowing from another world, carrying no emotion, no ripples, only feeling cold.

“He?” Lan Bing took a long time to react, finally understanding that the “he” he spoke of referred to Yuan Bao’s corpse.

“He was taken away early. This subordinate questioned the local residents. They said several people wearing wind caps took him away,” Lan Bing answered slowly.

Ji Fengli reached up to wipe the blood from his mask and slowly walked forward along the vegetable market road. He had no idea how he was walking – each step felt insubstantial, as if stepping on swampland.

The night was cold with bitter wind. His robes fluttered constantly in the wind’s stirring. He felt that wind was pale blue, like wind from the netherworld, strand by strand carrying the cold breath of the underworld, pressing toward him.

The night was very quiet. From the residences on both sides of the distant street came laughter and voices carried on the night wind, yet around him was deathly silence, vast emptiness.

Whether it was real or fake, even if it was a trap or scheme, he could not accept such a result.

The surging qi and blood in his chest slowly calmed. Hazy night mist gradually drifted over. In the night mist, he raised his eyes, his pupils shrouded in a faint red hue yet clear without a trace of shadow. He suddenly curled up and collapsed on the cold ground, his body trembling constantly. His eyes closed, his elegant brows twisted together in pain. Inside his body, the eight extraordinary meridians that had been severely damaged last time began hurting again, growing cold again. Yet this pain could not compare to the pain in his heart.

He finally understood that sword wounds, blade wounds, having his lute bones locked, damaging his eight extraordinary meridians – all these pains combined could not compare to heartache. Heartache was the cruelest torture in the world, making him feel as if he were in purgatory.

In the back garden of the Nie residence, green trees swayed gracefully among countless spring flowers, red and white.

By the vermillion railings beside the water, Hua Zhuyu stood silently, staring at the pool of clear water before her. A gentle breeze wrinkled the pool of green water and scattered the blossoms from a tree. The chaotic petals clung to her robes and dark hair. Yet she remained like someone in a dream, completely unaware.

Huangfu Wushuang gazed at her from afar. The rocks, ancient trees, abundant flowers, green bamboo, and her – they formed a painting, one that never tired the eye. He stared unblinkingly, sighing softly in his heart.

A gust of wind stirred Hua Zhuyu’s robes. As her sleeves fluttered, she suddenly stepped up onto the vermillion railing. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed that figure by the decorative rocks in the distance, and her lips curved in a cold smile.

She stood on the railing, spreading her arms wide, her broad sleeves catching the wind and flapping loudly.

Huangfu Wushuang’s heart seemed suddenly seized, filled with panic.

He rushed quickly toward the lake, hearing a splash as Hua Zhuyu had already fallen into the water, slowly sinking down.

All the guards had been dismissed by him earlier – he had been secretly watching her here. He hadn’t expected her to suddenly jump into the water. Without even thinking, he followed her into the lake.

The lake water in March was icy cold and bitter.

Choking on water through mouth and nose brought unbearable suffocation. Yet Hua Zhuyu’s mind was clear as a mirror.

She knew Huangfu Wushuang had also jumped into the water. She felt him slowly swimming toward her, felt his arms firmly grasp her body and struggle to lift her to the surface.

Voices gathered around them. She felt several people jump into the water and pull both of them up.

Huangfu Wushuang coldly commanded, “All of you back away!”

Her body suddenly felt light as he carried her across the flower beds, through the nine-turn corridor, all the way to her boudoir.

She lay on the bed while Cuixiu changed her out of her wet clothes and wrapped her cold, damp body in brocade quilts.

The bronze tripod beside the bed was lit with charcoal again, filling the room with warmth.

“How are you?” A cold voice sounded in the room, carrying a trace of exasperation.

Hua Zhuyu turned her head to see Huangfu Wushuang, completely soaked, quickly entering. Several little eunuchs following behind him held dry clothes but stood trembling, not daring to approach.

“Your Majesty… you should change clothes first, or you might catch cold…” one little eunuch said boldly.

“Get out!” Huangfu Wushuang turned and shouted coldly.

The little eunuch’s face turned deathly pale as he retreated.

Huangfu Wushuang walked quickly to Hua Zhuyu’s bedside with hands behind his back, his dark hair still dripping wet. He leaned down, his dark eyes wide and round, asking coldly, “Why did you lose hope?”

A cold smile bloomed at Hua Zhuyu’s lips as she narrowed her eyes. “Huangfu Wushuang, do you think I can still live? You destroyed my martial arts – those were skills I practiced for years. But you’re the emperor. I have no way to kill you, I cannot kill you, I also cannot kill you. But I don’t want to see you anymore. Besides doing this, what other choice do I have?”

Huangfu Wushuang’s expression stiffened. He reached out to grasp Hua Zhuyu’s ice-cold hand, his lips curving in a brilliant smile. “I just don’t want you to leave, only want you to stay by my side.”

“For this, you had to destroy my martial arts?” Hua Zhuyu said with a cold laugh, suddenly raising her palm to slap Huangfu Wushuang’s face.

Finger marks immediately appeared on Huangfu Wushuang’s handsome, fair face, showing she had used all her strength in that slap. He reached up to slowly wipe away the blood from the corner of his lips. He leaned down and embraced Hua Zhuyu’s body. “As long as I can keep you, I’ll do anything!”

Hua Zhuyu’s whole body trembled as she lay on her side in Huangfu Wushuang’s embrace. Large tears continuously fell, dropping onto Huangfu Wushuang’s silk robes. Before they could spread, they silently slid down and fell onto the brocade bedding with soft splashes.

Huangfu Wushuang felt his heart break along with them.

He had never known her tears had such power, making him sad with her sadness. He reached out to wipe the teardrops from her cheek. Those wet tears seemed to soak his entire heart. He frowned and said slowly, “Little Bao’er, don’t cry anymore! Whatever you want to do, I’ll comply with you.”

Hua Zhuyu slowly raised her head and looked at him steadily. “I want to see Qiluo.”

Huangfu Wushuang sighed. “Fine. Tomorrow I’ll have Song Qiluo leave the palace to accompany you.” He rose reluctantly, releasing her, and turned to call out, “Someone come!”

Cuixiu hurriedly entered from outside and knelt in salute to Huangfu Wushuang.

“Cuixiu, take good care of the young lady. If anything like today happens again, I absolutely won’t spare you!” He commanded coldly, then said gently to Hua Zhuyu, “I’m returning to the palace.”

Hua Zhuyu lay on the bed without raising her head. Only when his footsteps gradually faded did she slowly lift her head from the pillows, wiping the tears from her cheeks. A trace of cold severity flashed in her dark eyes.

Huangfu Wushuang kept his word. The next day, he sent someone to bring Dan Hong out of the palace to visit her.

After not seeing her for several days, Dan Hong looked much more haggard. The moment she saw Hua Zhuyu, she covered her lips with her sleeve, sobbed once, and tears poured from her eyes, sliding down her cheeks in large drops.

Hua Zhuyu quietly watched Dan Hong, rose and went to take her hand. Her lips curved slightly, showing a sorrowful smile. “Silly girl, why are you crying? I’ve worried you these past days! How is the child? Huangfu Wushuang didn’t do anything to the baby in your womb, did he?”

“No, I’m fine, Miss. I thought I would never see you again. When I heard the news that the general had been executed, I…” Dan Hong said chokingly, tears continuously sliding from her eyes.

“Aren’t I perfectly fine now?” Hua Zhuyu looked at Dan Hong’s pale face and said with heartache.

Dan Hong nodded through her tears.

Hua Zhuyu glanced at Cuixiu standing at the door and said quietly, “Cuixiu, go bring the pastries the kitchen made yesterday.”

Cuixiu agreed and went out lifting the curtain.

Dan Hong glanced at Cuixiu and said, “General, how did you become a young lady of the Nie residence?”

Hua Zhuyu sighed lightly and said somewhat puzzledly, “I’m also very confused. I originally thought Huangfu Wushuang would restore my original identity.”

Dan Hong sat in the chair, pondering silently. The room was quiet for a while.

“General, I learned from An that the Northern Emperor has arrived in Yudu,” Dan Hong said quietly.

Hua Zhuyu was slightly stunned but not particularly surprised.

When Huangfu Wushuang eliminated Ji Fengli, his excuse was that Ji Fengli was betrothed to a Northern Dynasty princess. If Xiao Yin learned this news, he couldn’t possibly not come to the Southern Dynasty. Because Hua Zhuyu knew that Xiao Yin’s feelings for his long-lost sister were extremely deep. Now that he had news of his sister, he would definitely come looking for her.

Last time in the Northern Dynasty, when she met him, she thought Jin Se was dead. Today, when he came to the Southern Dynasty, she had lost track of Jin Se. She had originally wanted to return Jin Se to him completely, to return a sister to him, but heaven always played tricks on people.

“This means relations between the Southern and Northern Dynasties should be temporarily eased. This is also good,” Hua Zhuyu said indifferently.

Dan Hong nodded. “General, what do you plan to do?”

Hua Zhuyu slowly stood and walked to the window. Through the green gauze window, she could see spring flowers blooming abundantly in the back garden, green trees swaying gracefully. The wind that met her face also carried rich, light fragrance. The scenery in the back garden was beautiful, yet it also concealed danger everywhere. She wouldn’t leave, but Dan Hong must go. Dan Hong had no need to remain in that deep palace full of hidden currents for her sake.

“Dan Hong, don’t return to the palace this time. I’ll send you to Ping and the others,” Hua Zhuyu stood up from the chair, walked to Dan Hong, and said seriously.

“Send me away? General, aren’t you leaving?” Dan Hong looked up blankly and asked.

A gust of wind stirred the loose hair by Dan Hong’s temples, revealing a light red birthmark behind her ear. She turned her head and said firmly, “General, if you leave, Dan Hong will also leave; if you stay, Dan Hong will also stay.”

But Hua Zhuyu slowly released her hand and sat on the bed with a shocked expression.

Her vision was somewhat dizzy, as if the ground was covered with brilliant white sunlight. She lowered her lashes, and after a long while raised them again, her lips curving in a smile. “Dan Hong, I cannot ruin your life!”

Dan Hong lowered her head and choked up. Hua Zhuyu opened her arms and embraced Dan Hong. She narrowed her eyes slightly and seemingly casually brushed her finger through the disheveled hair behind Dan Hong’s left ear. A light red birthmark suddenly came into view. Her hand trembled slightly, the black hair fell down, and the birthmark was covered.

Hua Zhuyu’s heart rose and fell in that instant.

“I want to know, how did you know I wasn’t Princess Zhuo Ya?” Hua Zhuyu asked with a smile.

Lady Bai Ma turned back with a smile and said, “Zhuo Ya has a red birthmark behind her left ear.”

“Miss, this is something Jin Se has worn since childhood, a token for reuniting with family. Jin Se’s greatest wish in this life is to reunite with her family. This matter is entrusted to you, Miss, to fulfill for Jin Se.”

Jin Se! Could it be that Jin Se wasn’t Northern Dynasty Princess Zhuo Ya, but Dan Hong was?

After reuniting with Jin Se last time, she hadn’t looked to see if Jin Se had a red birthmark behind her left ear. But Dan Hong’s birthmark behind her left ear was definitely not a coincidence.

Jin Se was someone she rescued from outside, Dan Hong was someone she rescued from a brothel. Both Jin Se and Dan Hong were people around her. She had always believed that the matter of Jin Se being a Northern Dynasty princess was exposed by Wen Wan.

But thinking about it now, was this really how things were?

She had always suspected but never dared believe. The reason she dared not believe was simple: she didn’t believe that her two rescues years ago were both planned by him. She dared not believe that the people around her had been placed by him long ago. Most of all, she dared not believe that when Jin Se substituted for her, it was also planned by him from the beginning, sending Jin Se, this so-called Northern Dynasty princess, to Ji Fengli’s side.

But with how things had developed today, there was nothing she couldn’t believe anymore.

Her heart felt suffocated as if lacking oxygen!

“Dan Hong, since you insist on staying, then stay. But in the palace, you must be very careful,” Hua Zhuyu said with a light laugh.

The shock in her heart hadn’t subsided, yet she spoke with a smile. She almost admired herself – when had she gained such skill at concealing emotions? After being in this game for so long, even if she wasn’t an actor, she had become one.

Dan Hong’s eyes slowly became clouded with mist, so sorrowful, so desolate. Such emotions couldn’t possibly be feigned. In her heart, Dan Hong was a kind and strong woman. Even if everyone around her betrayed her, she still wouldn’t believe Dan Hong would betray her.

“Miss, the pastries are here,” Cuixiu entered carrying a plate of cakes.

“Put them on the table,” Hua Zhuyu said with a beaming smile, turning to Dan Hong. “Try some.”

Dan Hong picked up a piece of cake with her fingers and slowly put it in her mouth. Finding it soft, sweet, and quite delicious, she nodded and smiled. “It’s good.”

Hua Zhuyu looked at Dan Hong’s brilliant smile and felt confused in her heart.

Early one morning, Hua Zhuyu left the residence by carriage under the pretext of going to burn incense.

Since Hua Zhuyu jumped into the lake, Huangfu Wushuang had stopped deliberately restricting her movements, perhaps because Dan Hong was still in the palace, or perhaps because he was certain that without internal energy, she couldn’t escape even if she tried to flee.

It had just rained, and the road surface was somewhat slippery, so the carriage moved slowly. Hua Zhuyu sat in the carriage and lifted the curtain to look outside. The carriage was now traveling on a mountain road with jagged rocks alongside and layers of green willows and blooming peach blossoms.

Behind the carriage, four armed guards rode horses, following at a steady pace. Seeing the carriage pass through the mountain path, the gate of Huangjue Nunnery was already visible in the distance. Hua Zhuyu gently lowered the curtain, catching a glimpse of Cuixiu lifting the curtain to look outside.

Hua Zhuyu’s fingers secretly flicked, shooting several silver needles from her hand to hit the rumps of the carriage horses. One horse was startled, neighing loudly and began galloping wildly while pulling the carriage. The other horse was also frightened and neighed while running in another direction. The carriage was pulled by the two horses and immediately tilted.

Seeing the situation was wrong, Cuixiu was about to help Hua Zhuyu. When the carriage suddenly tilted, Hua Zhuyu took the opportunity to bump Cuixiu, causing her to fall out of the carriage. The accompanying guards saw this and some leaped onto horseback to subdue the frightened horses.

Hua Zhuyu sat in the carriage and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

“Miss, how are you? Are you injured?” a guard asked anxiously outside the carriage.

“I’m fine!” Hua Zhuyu lifted the curtain, covering her shoulder as she crawled out of the tilted carriage. “I protected my head with the brocade cushion the whole time and wasn’t really hurt, just my shoulder aches a bit. How is Cuixiu?”

“Cuixiu is here,” a guard then had time to look for Cuixiu.

Cuixiu was lying by the roadside with an injured leg bleeding through her skirt hem and a cut on her forehead that was also bleeding. Hua Zhuyu went over to help Cuixiu up and ordered a guard to carry Cuixiu on his back. “Let’s go to the nunnery first and find a room for the nuns to bandage Cuixiu’s wounds.”

The group arrived at the nunnery. Hua Zhuyu didn’t bother to burn incense but helped Cuixiu to a side room. The little nun from the nunnery brought wound medicine. Hua Zhuyu had the guards stand outside the door while she applied medicine and bandaged Cuixiu’s injured leg. After everything was settled, Cuixiu had fallen asleep. Still not at ease, she pressed Cuixiu’s sleep acupoint. Finally rid of this inseparable shadow, she breathed a sigh of relief and quietly climbed out through the window.

The back courtyard of the nunnery was where the nuns held morning prayers. During the day when people came to burn incense, this place was empty. At this moment, under a peach tree in the courtyard, a person stood with hands behind his back – tall in stature, wearing luxurious and noble purple robes. Hearing movement behind him, he slowly turned around.

His features were handsome yet cold and cruel, his overall bearing proud and wild. Seeing Hua Zhuyu, his deep purple eyes suddenly contracted, a trace of deep confusion flashing in them. He narrowed his eyes, pupils deep as the sea, gaze sharp, staring fixedly at Hua Zhuyu.

Being stared at by such a gaze, Hua Zhuyu felt slightly flustered in her heart. She took a deep breath before smiling with curved lips. “I apologize for keeping you waiting.”

Xiao Yin’s profound gaze looked at Hua Zhuyu thoughtfully, coldly silent with hands behind his back. After a long time, he smiled with curved lips. “So the commanding General Bao who dominated battlefields is actually a beautiful woman.”

“General Bao is already dead,” Hua Zhuyu said indifferently.

Xiao Yin nodded and slowly asked, “You sent someone to arrange this meeting, saying you would tell me Zhuo Ya’s whereabouts. Where is Zhuo Ya?”

A few days ago when leaving the residence, Hua Zhuyu had secretly sent a message to Ping, asking him to find a way to arrange for Xiao Yin to meet her at the nunnery. She looked at Xiao Yin, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and said calmly, “If you saw her, would you be able to recognize her?”

Xiao Yin slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the brilliant blossoms on the tree to look at the clear blue sky. He sighed lightly. “I don’t know! I only remember that at that time, she was very small, held in mother’s arms, always liked to wave her little hands at me. Her eyes were like black grapes, smiling like two crescents, very beautiful and lovely.”

After speaking wistfully, he suddenly turned his head, his sharp gaze falling on Hua Zhuyu’s face as he narrowed his eyes. “Last time in the Northern Dynasty, you told me she was very beautiful, with willow brows carrying heroic spirit and almond eyes showing intelligence. She didn’t like to smile much, was very kind, and very loyal. You also told me that to save you, she had already left this world. But now I hear that Ji Fengli committed treason for wanting to marry her, yet she mysteriously disappeared. I originally thought you were her beloved, which was why she would sacrifice her life to save you. I believed your words that day without doubt. But now you’ve transformed into a woman. Tell me, can I still believe your words?”

His tone grew increasingly sharp, his expression increasingly cold. Hua Zhuyu looked up at him, her heart growing more and more desolate. She knew that man who called her “girl” would probably never return.

“Speak! What exactly is the relationship between you and Zhuo Ya? Where exactly is she?” Xiao Yin’s sharp words pressed toward her.

Hua Zhuyu’s lips carried a light smile as she quietly looked at him, looking at him who was so close, looking at the depth and sharpness in his eyes.

For some unknown reason, Xiao Yin’s heart suddenly felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, hurting terribly. He suddenly turned around, reaching out to support himself against the tree behind him. The trunk swayed gently, and the blossoms on the tree floated down and scattered on his shoulders, carrying a kind of departed beauty.

Hua Zhuyu reached out to pluck a fallen flower from his back, staring blankly for a moment. She took out a roll of cloth from her sleeve and said slowly, “Look at this. Is this Zhuo Ya?”

Xiao Yin turned to receive the cloth Hua Zhuyu handed him and gently unrolled it.

He focused, frowned, focused again, frowned again…

In the painting was a young woman who was indeed as she had described – very beautiful, with willow brows carrying heroic spirit and almond eyes showing intelligence. However, seeing this face, he felt no familiarity whatsoever.

“Look at this one too,” Hua Zhuyu took out another roll of cloth from her sleeve, extending her hand to give it a gentle shake. With a swoosh, the cloth unrolled, revealing a painting of a woman with a charming smile.

Xiao Yin looked up, his purple eyes suddenly narrowing.

Looking at this painting, a beautiful face appeared before his eyes.

“Mother, you’re so beautiful! More beautiful than all the women on the grassland!”

Mother smiled and answered, “The women on the grassland are also very beautiful. Mother’s beauty is just different from theirs!”

“I like mother’s kind of beauty,” he said stubbornly.

Only when he grew up did he learn that his mother’s mother was from the Central Plains. Mother was very much like grandmother – a beauty pure as spring flowers, gentle as hibiscus.

The painting before his eyes resembled his mother by eight parts – the mother who had left him when he was seven years old.

Xiao Yin’s fingers trembled slightly as he slowly caressed the woman in the painting, asking in a deep voice, “Where is she?”

Hua Zhuyu’s heart clenched. Indeed, Dan Hong was Zhuo Ya, was the Northern Dynasty princess. Confirming this point, her heart felt especially heavy.

If she had never heard Lady Bai Ma mention that Zhuo Ya had a birthmark behind her left ear, she would never have known this, would never have known that it was all a scheme.

“Xiao Yin, I want to ask you for a favor,” she suddenly looked up and said slowly, word by word.

Xiao Yin quietly listened to every word Hua Zhuyu said, his lips curved in an ambiguous smile.

“Good!” He nodded lightly. For some unknown reason, he felt no aversion to what she said, or even to her calling him by name directly.

“I want to ask one more thing. Why did Wen Wan return to the Southern Dynasty from the Northern Dynasty? Isn’t she the woman you love dearly?” Hua Zhuyu asked indifferently.

“She is not!” He looked at her steadily. Brilliant sunlight shone into his eyes, and passionate flames surged in the depths of his purple eyes, more dazzling than sunlight. “I once thought she was, but later discovered she was not!”

Hua Zhuyu frowned slightly, an indescribable heaviness surging in her heart. She avoided the light in his eyes and turned away. “Please remember your promise just now. I take my leave.” She walked slowly away, her skirts fluttering in the wind, and soon disappeared from Xiao Yin’s sight.

Xiao Yin suddenly stepped back two paces, supporting his chest with one hand, pressing his heart and trying hard to endure. Finally, he still coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood that scattered on the ground, shocking to see. Supporting himself against the tree trunk, he gently wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, a trace of confusion flashing in his purple eyes.