In the main hall of Huachao Pavilion, wine cups clinked and singing and dancing filled the air with festivity.

A young wealthy merchant from out of town was spending money like water tonight, hosting a banquet for the prominent figures of Li Du Mansion’s merchant associations, hoping to expand his business in Li Du Mansion as well. No one knew his given name; they only knew his surname was Zhang, so everyone called him “Boss Zhang.”

The young wealthy merchant was handsome and dashing, smooth and diplomatic, his every gesture exuding the carefree elegance of one who played with the world. He seemed like a not-too-shrewd playboy out squandering his ancestors’ wealth, so naturally everyone was willing to deal with such a person, eager to fleece him thoroughly.

As the banquet neared its end, Zhang Yuehui casually raised his eyes amid the toasts and clearly saw a hand extend from behind the bamboo curtain in the back hall. That hand flicked lightly, and the waiter carrying wine was struck in the knee by something. He suddenly stumbled forward, the wine jar in his hands shattering across the floor, causing quite a commotion.

Clap, clap—The young master not only showed no annoyance but actually applauded, laughing: “That looked like winning a full house ovation. There’s a reward.”

The waiter got up from the floor, thanking him with tears of gratitude.

The songstress sitting beside Zhang Yuehui was clearly Chang Yan. Seeing this situation, she rose gracefully, swaying her alluring figure.

“Master, then let this slave girl fetch you another pot of wine.”

Zhang Yuehui stretched out his hand but instead pulled Chang Yan into his embrace.

“Perfect timing with the wine being spilled. I’ve had enough enjoyment today, and spring nights are short, so Zhang will take his leave first.”

With that, he embraced Chang Yan and headed toward the guest rooms in the back.

Chang Yan’s expression changed, but with everyone watching, she couldn’t say anything and could only follow Zhang Yuehui with half-hearted resistance.

As the pearl curtain fell and the sounds of revelry gradually faded, Zhang Yuehui’s expression immediately became clear and alert in the deserted corridor.

A sleeve wind rose, concealing killing intent.

Chang Yan was no ordinary person either and immediately turned half a body width away, avoiding Zhang Yuehui’s sleeve sword.

Zhang Yuehui smiled: “Heh, a woman with such a soft figure—I really can’t bear to strike you down.”

Seeing trouble, Chang Yan immediately reached for the signal whistle at her neck to send an alarm, but before she could even raise her hand, a black shadow flashed behind her.

Cold light flashed, and a blade cut across her white neck.

The next second, Chang Yan’s eyes widened as she softly collapsed, the words in her throat shattered before they could escape.

Arterial blood splattered across Zhang Yuehui’s face.

Zhang Yuehui wiped the blood from his face, frowning directly: “Next time you do the job, don’t make it so bloody.”

The black shadow came around from behind Chang Yan, efficiently dragging the body behind the flower bed.

“Yes, Boss.”

When she emerged again, standing in the lantern light under the corridor, she revealed a face identical to Chang Yan’s.

Examining this face, Zhang Yuehui smiled: “This human skin mask is truly seamless. Indeed, you get what you pay for.”

The fake Chang Yan said expressionlessly: “If Chang Yan hadn’t revealed a flaw when helping Xie Zhu at the banquet, we wouldn’t have found such a good opportunity.”

“Go receive Sixth Miss Xie, don’t let her see through the deception. Afterward, use Chang Yan’s identity to stay by Xie Zhu’s side and gather intelligence on the Bingzhu Division.”

“Yes.”

The fake Chang Yan turned and walked away.

Suddenly remembering something, Zhang Yuehui called her back again: “The person who rescued Xie Zhu at the city gate today doesn’t seem to have been Sixth Miss Xie.”

“If it wasn’t her, then who could it be? Sixth Miss Xie shouldn’t have any other assistance,” she paused, then said, “I’ll investigate.”

“Also, that hidden piece in Wangxue Hut seems to have lost contact. Find out what’s going on.”

The fake Chang Yan was somewhat puzzled: “Boss, isn’t Young Master Queshan right there in Wangxue Hut? Why go through the trouble of investigating?”

Zhang Yuehui pulled up the corner of his mouth in a low laugh: “Him—”

But his words stopped abruptly, revealing not a single word.

“Go.”

…

Xie Sui’an waited in the room for a while before Chang Yan finally came upstairs.

The two worked together to move Xie Zhu into the secret chamber. Only after everything was settled did Xie Sui’an breathe a sigh of relief.

She noticed nothing amiss about the Chang Yan before her.

“Chang Yan, have you discovered anything about the background of that merchant Boss Zhang?”

Any forces entering and leaving Li Du Mansion were under the Bingzhu Division’s observation. This Boss Zhang had arrived so conspicuously, naturally attracting some attention.

It was said he was a merchant who specifically profited from war, earning any kind of money and selling anything.

He dealt with both Qi people and Han people, having influence in both black and white circles, but on the surface, he didn’t take sides.

“Just a merchant. His stance is still unclear.” Chang Yan delivered the prepared response.

Xie Sui’an nodded thoughtfully: “We still need to be wary. He’s staying right here in Huachao Pavilion. Chang Yan, you’re close by, so pay more attention.”

Chang Yan nodded, then asked with feigned casualness: “Sixth Miss, the person who rescued Lord Xie Zhu beneath the city wall today… it didn’t seem to be you?”

Xie Sui’an hesitated, thinking of how Nanyi had asked her to keep her identity secret. After a moment’s hesitation, she said: “How could it not be me? You were too far away and must have seen wrong.”

Chang Yan smiled imperceptibly: “Perhaps so. I thought something had gone wrong with the plan.”

“How could that be—” Xie Sui’an concealed her guilt. “Chang Yan, I’ll head back to Wangxue Hut first.”

“Sixth Miss, be careful of spies within the mansion.”

Xie Sui’an nodded gravely: “I’ll find a way to root out that person. Otherwise, our actions will be restricted at every turn.”

From these words, the fake Chang Yan confirmed that the spy in Wangxue Hut hadn’t been exposed yet, but as for whether it was truly Sixth Miss Xie who had rescued Xie Zhu, she couldn’t completely believe Sixth Miss Xie’s words.

Xie Sui’an and Nanyi climbed over the wall together from the back courtyard to return to Wangxue Hut. Nanyi was now quite familiar with this route. However, tonight was somewhat different…

As soon as they climbed over the high wall, they seemed to trigger some mechanism, and a subtle wind chime sound rang out.

Soon, fires blazed in the garden as Qi guards headed in their direction.

Gusha’s precautions weren’t limited to the city walls. He had guessed that someone from the Xie family would participate in the operation and had also set up mechanisms at the high wall of the Xie family’s back courtyard.

Xie Sui’an and Nanyi had already landed on the ground. Realizing they had stepped into enemy preparations, Xie Sui’an immediately moved to draw her sword to face the enemy.

At that moment, a small figure emerged from behind the bushes.

“Follow me.” The voice was thin and soft, carrying some timidity but absolute determination.

Nanyi and Xie Sui’an looked closely and were surprised to see it was Qiu Jie’er.

“Qiu Jie’er?” Xie Sui’an was amazed.

“I saw it, at the city wall.” Qiu Jie’er was shy and glanced at Nanyi before quickly lowering her head, saying to herself: “Thank you for saving my father. I’ve been waiting here for you to return. I know how to walk to avoid the Qi soldiers’ patrols.”

“Qiu Jie’er, you take Little Six back. My courtyard is in the opposite direction from yours, I’ll go by myself.”

“No way!”

“We’re already back at Wangxue Hut, I can manage on my own.” Nanyi pushed Xie Sui’an. “If all three of us take the long way together, we’ll be a bigger target. Go quickly!”

Xie Sui’an hesitated for a moment but accepted Nanyi’s plan. She was right—splitting up would make it easier to hide.

“Sister-in-law, go through the garden. There’s more cover there.” Qiu Jie’er was concise.

Nanyi nodded, bidding farewell to the two. After they left, Nanyi reached up to touch her left shoulder and felt a handful of sticky blood.

When she had jumped down from the wall earlier, she had been hit by a throwing dart. But she had gritted her teeth and endured it without telling Xie Sui’an. This wasn’t out of any noble sentiment, but because she calculated that if she became a burden, Xie Sui’an would very likely engage in direct conflict with the Qi soldiers to protect her.

Fighting within Wangxue Hut would bring nothing but harm. She wanted to gamble on her guerrilla abilities—as long as she could get back to Zheyue Pavilion, she’d be fine.

Nanyi covered her wounded shoulder and crept through the night garden. Just as Qiu Jie’er had suggested, using artificial hills, trees, and grass as cover, Nanyi avoided several teams of searching Qi soldiers.

Just as she was about to emerge from behind an artificial hill, suddenly she was pulled back by a tremendous force. The person covered her mouth before she could cry out.

Nanyi looked at the person before her in shock and fear—it was Xie Queshan.

By the faint light of distant corridor lanterns, Xie Queshan lowered his head to glance at the throwing dart in Nanyi’s shoulder. The wound was dripping blood, and her garment front was already stained red. He decisively tore off a piece of her skirt hem, the sound of fabric tearing particularly harsh in the quiet night.

Patrolling Qi soldiers heard the sound and came searching.

“Bear it.” Xie Queshan’s hand moved to the dart’s tail, commanding Nanyi without question.

Nanyi understood—he was going to help her remove the throwing dart on the spot. She didn’t understand his intentions for the moment but didn’t dare resist in the slightest, biting her lip to endure. His movements were very efficient. After pulling out the dart, he immediately pressed the torn fabric to her wound to prevent blood from spattering, but the intense pain still made Nanyi groan softly.

Outside the artificial hill, firelight was already flickering over, and chaotic footsteps were approaching.

“Who’s there?!” The leader’s torch was already probing into the hill.

Suddenly a whooshing wind sound arose, and the torch was extinguished. The Qi leader was startled, then saw a pebble fall to the ground. That pebble must have flown out to extinguish the torch—that person’s internal energy was extremely profound. He looked up toward the back of the artificial hill but heard an angry male voice from the darkness.

“I’m having a romantic tryst under the moon, and you want to watch too?”

The leader was stunned. His gaze caught sight of Xie Queshan and a woman behind the hill. The light was too dim to see the woman’s face clearly, but he quickly realized what was happening. No wonder there had been sounds of fabric tearing and a woman’s moans earlier. He quickly stepped back several paces, blocking the soldiers behind him, and bowed his head in salute.

“Young Master Queshan, this humble officer has been presumptuous.”

“Get lost!”

The leader turned and called to his soldiers to retreat.

“Go, go, go, hurry up. You saw nothing, heard nothing.”

Xie Queshan removed his cloak and draped it over Nanyi, lifting her entire body in his arms and walking openly out from the artificial hill.

Nanyi was completely enveloped by his warmth. Small snowflakes began falling in the night sky, drifting directly toward people’s eyes. This was the first time she had seen him from such an angle. He was December’s cold, pristine snow, freezing the bold contours of a young man, cutting his gaze as cold as glaciers. Yet in certain moments, he was also the hearth fire in heavy snow, flames leaping warmly in the furnace—though unable to melt the cold of a thousand mountains, he could warm one person’s hands.