The next morning, dawn broke, and morning clouds gathered.

In front of the ruined Xuan family residence, over ten wine jars lay scattered in disarray, as if a drunk person had temporarily arranged them in some incomprehensible formation – chaotic and disorderly. Some still intermittently leaked bright wine, seeping into the weed-covered ground.

Amid the intoxicating wine fragrance, Su You casually propped his elbow on a red brick, his eye corners showing peach blossom-like coloring, like two heart-stirring strokes carefully painted. As the sun rose and moon set with morning light scattering down, he squinted toward the sunrise on the horizon, appearing indescribably lazy and languid.

“Young lady, it’s dawn.” After watching for a while, he turned to look at Xue Yu, his voice slightly hoarse, his words seeming to diffuse a rich, mellow fragrance, sweet and deliberately alluring: “Let’s go back.”

Xue Yu nodded. Rising, her gaze swept the surroundings once more, slightly raising her brow tips: “From now on, can you forget it all?”

Sunlight scattered down, creating a seven-colored halo in mid-air. Standing within the light circle, even the coldly inserted hairpin showed a soft, fuzzy tenderness.

“I can’t forget.” Su You’s features relaxed and stretched like branches and leaves saturated with rain and dew, showing a green, verdant vitality completely different from before. He used his peripheral vision to gradually trace Xue Yu’s silhouette, his thin lips moving slightly: “But I won’t think about it anymore.”

Those obscure, rotting, irrepressible evil thoughts would forever remain in the past, in last night.

Today, and hereafter, across the vast world without asking about the return journey, he would follow her everywhere.

The two walked toward the morning sun through mountain winds and dense forests. Babbling water brushed past their ears, and rustling sounds from treetops flowed by in waves. Xue Yu shook the two thin case files in her hand, looking down to ask: “The position of Young Master – do you understand it?”

As her words fell, Xue Yu rarely fell silent.

Before Su You came, this position had always remained vacant. First, both Chao Hua and Chou Li indeed had their respective shortcomings and needed more experience in their conduct. Second, this position was special.

If Palace Guard commanders specialized in serving her and managing all affairs of Baizhong Mountain, then the Young Master had to serve in two capacities. Managing Yedu’s private prison affairs, managing Baizhong Mountain, and helping share the burdens of difficult problems under the Yedu Lord.

Equivalent to one person holding multiple positions, and excelling in each one.

“Two days ago, I asked Chao Hua and Chou Li about their thoughts on the Young Master position.” Xue Yu spoke truthfully: “Chou Li said her qualifications were still shallow and needed tempering, recommending you and Chao Hua for the position. Chao Hua declined, stating frankly that time in exile would prove everything – since ancient times, the capable should rise, so it should rightfully be you.”

She paused, looking toward Su You seriously: “I’ll speak truthfully – the higher you stand, the more you must bear.”

Therefore, this position, in her previous life and this life, she had never given to anyone.

Su You’s fingertip traced across a half-person-high mountain herb growing luxuriantly. He made a low, light sound from his throat, then raised his eyes to ask: “If I’m promoted too quickly, will it cause people to be dissatisfied with the young lady?”

“No.” Xue Yu answered quickly and decisively: “Everything follows Yedu’s rules, but your pressure will be great.”

These words were true.

But the path he wanted to walk inevitably required standing at a sufficiently high position to tentatively reach for the corner of her clothes and occupy part of her attention for a long time.

After a night of drunkenness, his eye corners brimmed with rippling smiles. Speaking word by word, he revealed a charm that stirred hearts: “Willing to share the young lady’s burdens.”

They walked the mountain and water path unhurriedly.

Xue Yu could see that Su You was truly somewhat drunk. When discussing serious matters, he could still muster his spirits, but once he relaxed, he showed a lazy languor, unable to gather energy. His peach blossom eyes that usually drooped upward were raised, creating several shallow creases. That sharp edge was completely dispersed, revealing an extremely agreeable, ready-to-answer-anything appearance.

He was never like this normally.

Crossing another mountain stream, Su You suddenly slowed his pace. As if remembering something, he spoke frankly: “The day before yesterday, Song Heng came to find me.”

Xue Yu hadn’t expected this. Hearing that name, she instinctively frowned: “What did he want with you?”

“He said I didn’t deserve the commander position, didn’t deserve the young lady—” He pressed his brow and smiled very lightly, continuing: “to care for me like this.”

Xue Yu took a deep breath: “He has some nerve.”

She didn’t know how to curse. All the meaning of phrases like “shameless” and “have no face” was concentrated in this cold, stern sentence.

The lively morning seemed to quiet down with these few words, and some things, once begun, had natural reasons to continue.

With the snap of a dead branch, Su You pressed his lips together and suddenly asked: “How did the young lady and he become acquainted?”

If both were clear-headed and discussing only official business seriously, he couldn’t ask such questions and had no opportunity to, but carrying the scent of alcohol gave him a layer of excuse to slightly overstep bounds.

Leaping sunlight fell below her eyelids, forming a bright, small circular spot. Xue Yu thought of those hastily passed thousand years, feeling like a dream slowly peeling away details and gradually blurring.

She remained silent for a long time.

Rounding the final mountain, the town’s outline was within reach. Before turning into the tavern, Su You thought Xue Yu wouldn’t say much more on this topic. Just as he lowered his eyes, he saw her stop her increasingly hurried steps and stand under the tavern’s eaves, as if deliberately waiting for him.

Su You stepped closer.

Xue Yu handed him a white porcelain bottle, giving concise instructions: “Take it.”

Su You pulled out the bottle stopper and poured out a white pill. He thought it was sobering medicine, but the moment he swallowed it, his fingers resting on the porcelain bottle inevitably paused.

He felt that the string which had controlled his life and death, manipulated his will since coming down from the judgment platform, snapped with a clear sound at this moment.

The Jade Green Pill’s effects were lifted.

Su You suddenly looked up, only to see her blink expressionlessly and say in a low voice: “Same as you.”

“I cultivated him for a long time.”

A full thousand years.

Entering the tavern, Chen Longzhi, who had been frequently looking outside, finally withdrew his gaze. He cupped his hands toward Xue Yu with some ceremony: “Half an hour ago, the Xihe Holy Son took his people back.”

“We can return now.” Xue Yu glanced behind him at the space, seeming to realize something, and asked: “Feng Shangyu hasn’t gotten up yet?”

Chen Longzhi, eager to fly to Yedu, immediately said: “Your Highness, please wait. I’ll go call him.”

Going upstairs, Chen Longzhi patiently knocked on the door. Getting no response, he directly pushed the door open.

The room was dim. Feng Shangyu sat on the bed edge with one leg straight and one bent, his palm resting on his knee, eyelids drooping lazily. A spirit talisman of unknown duration glowed before him. Both sides seemed trapped in some confrontational silence, the atmosphere so tense it was terrifying.

Seeing this, Chen Longzhi immediately understood something and patted Feng Shangyu’s shoulder. The latter waved at him before speaking hoarsely: “So Chu Yaoxiang, what do you mean?”

Hearing these words, Chen Longzhi felt his scalp tingle. With Nine Phoenix’s temperament, she’d find fault even when praised, let alone with such aggressive questioning.

Sure enough, Nine Phoenix immediately exploded. Rustling sounds came from the other side, as if someone had suddenly sat up straight, followed by sharp words: “What do you mean, what do I mean? Haven’t I spoken enough to you?”

Feng Shangyu closed his eyes, feeling uncontrollable anger rising in his chest, making his voice particularly cold: “You should know there’s less than two months until Feiyun Peak opens. Because we demon capital don’t do Tianji Book missions, our entry procedures are especially complicated, requiring us to arrive in Yedu over a month early each time. At this time, you want to go to the mortal world to find someone?”

“I know what I’m doing.” Nine Phoenix remained unmoved, retorting sharply: “His spiritual consciousness he left with me, has problems. I can’t contact him now, and I won’t feel at ease without making a trip.”

“Him? Who is he?” Feng Shangyu scoffed disdainfully: “The peach blossom demon who has you so distracted and enchanted?”

“Feng Shangyu!” Nine Phoenix slammed down her folding fan with a crack: “I don’t want to argue with you today, and I’m not discussing this with you. I just want you to include me when verifying identities. Help if you want to help, don’t if you don’t want to. Are you interrogating a criminal here?!”

From childhood to adulthood, when it came to arguing and losing temper, Nine Phoenix had never lost to anyone.

Look, this was the direct descendant of the demon capital’s first noble family. In terms of strength, family background, and talent, each aspect was impeccable when taken out, so she had the confidence to come and go freely with emotions as she pleased.

She did whatever she wanted, uncontrollably.

Feng Shangyu laughed coldly: “After finding him, then what? Will you bring him back to the demon capital and keep him under your nose? What position do you plan to give him – attendant lord or secondary lord?”

Nine Phoenix narrowed her eyes, saying word by word: “What’s wrong with that?”

As if hit by a sudden storm, Feng Shangyu fell silent for a long while before saying: “Chu Yaoxiang, have you thought about me?”

Nine Phoenix said almost matter-of-factly: “Whatever the primary lord should have, the Nine Phoenix family will provide completely.”

“I thought we were well-matched.” He suddenly spoke, each word steady: “Chu Yaoxiang, embracing left and right, surrounded by beauties – who can’t do that? The Feng family may not compare to the Nine Phoenix family, but it’s not bad either. Do I, Feng Shangyu, have no other choices?”

After a wordless silence, Feng Shangyu moved his fingers and extinguished the spirit talisman.

Having witnessed this entire drama, Chen Longzhi didn’t know whether to stand or sit. As a friend, he could only pull over a chair to the bedside, sit down, consider his words carefully, and say: “Why get angry? Nine Phoenix has this personality – you haven’t known her for just one day. Come on, bear with it, bear with it.”

Feng Shangyu took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth: “Haven’t I endured enough?”

“How do I usually treat her?”

Hearing this, Chen Longzhi couldn’t help but sigh. He looked at Feng Shangyu’s extraordinarily handsome face, then at his overall bearing: “Logically, your face, though it can’t compare to mine or that commander outside, should still attract many girls to flock to you. But there’s no helping it – who told you to encounter the Nine Phoenix family?”

“What she said just now was indeed wrong, but think about the environment she’s in. Her aunt, her mother – as long as they’re from the Nine Phoenix family, which one isn’t romantic?”

The implication was that forget one person – even ten or eight, as long as they wanted them, it was just a matter of one sentence.

“You’re good at comforting people.” Feng Shangyu looked at him coldly: “Her family is her family, she is she. If she does this, whoever wants to make this marriage alliance can go ahead.”

“Fine, you’re only tough with words. With her temperament, saying there’s not half your contribution to it, I wouldn’t believe.” Chen Longzhi patted his shoulder: “Get up quickly. We’re going to Yedu – they’re waiting for you.”

From Shanzhou to Yedu took them most of an hour.

Finally reaching the familiar mountain foot, the group entered the Sun-Moon Wheel. The view opened up magnificently. Xue Yu first stamped her great seal on Chen Longzhi’s construction documents, then rushed nonstop into the Yedu Lord’s study.

Su You stepped into the Palace Guard Command.

The Palace Guard Command remained busy. Chao Hua and Chou Li sat at their respective desks. The former listened to the latter’s sighs, sparing a glance from her busy schedule: “What happened at Baizhong Mountain again? Why are you sighing?”

“That troublemaker Qin Qingchuan.” Chou Li tugged at her hair, gritting her teeth: “His transit documents are all stamped, but he stubbornly won’t leave. Not leaving is one thing, but he keeps picking fights with Dangkang from the neighboring peak. I…”

Chao Hua, who managed Yedu’s great prison while she managed Baizhong Mountain, said: “Anyone who encounters Qin Qingchuan loses ten years of life.”

After speaking, she looked up to see Su You approaching another desk, immediately set down her brush on the inkstone, and raised an eyebrow: “Oh, Young Master You has returned.”

She then glanced around, seeing the Palace Guard Command entrance empty, and half her smile disappeared: “Where’s the young lady?”

“Council Hall.” Su You pulled out the chair in front of him and sat down, smiling: “I don’t deserve being called Young Master by you two commanders.”

Chou Li looked him up and down, extended her thumb in a “you’re amazing” gesture, then, after a while, moved the mountain of memorials on her desk to his table: “Here, these are from our Palace Guard Command. That pile over there is from the lord’s subordinates, all waiting for you to handle.”

“And mine too.”

Chao Hua placed her large stack in front of him on his desk. At this point, that poor desk was piled full – if not for his tall stature, it could have completely buried him.

Seeing Su You’s unchanged expression, Chou Li couldn’t help but admire: “This Young Master position truly makes one’s heart race, but it’s also truly frightening.”

Just this mountain of documents that could take half one’s life – looking at it made one’s scalp tingle, unable to bear such fortune.

Because of the ten-year Feiyun Peak period, all three had their tasks. After briefly exchanging words, they each buried themselves in writing again.

After a long while, Su You suddenly closed the manual spread on his desk, slightly pushed back his chair, and asked: “Has Your Highness ever rescued anyone from the judgment platform before?”

Chao Hua looked at him with surprise, answering decisively: “No, you’re the first.”

Hearing this, Su You spread open that manual again and scanned it once more. Indeed, every word was clear.

None meant none.

Before him, she had never rescued anyone from the judgment platform.

As for romantic affairs, there wasn’t even a hint of news or a sign. Even applying this term to her would freeze it in ice.

Meanwhile, in the study of the Council Hall’s side chamber, the Yedu Lord sat while Xue Yu stood. Father and daughter faced each other. The former rubbed his furrowed brow: “I heard from Chao Hua that your mission this time wasn’t simple. You completed it so quickly?”

Xue Yu made an acknowledging sound: “There was an incident midway. It was somewhat opportunistic, barely passing.”

“Good.” The Yedu Lord praised, then said, “I heard you promoted Su You to Young Master?”

Honestly, the Yedu Lord only learned about Su You within the past ten days or half a month. It was after news spread of his emergence from exile after ten years and several months, and his appointment as Palace Guard Commander, that he heard of him.

“Yes.”

The Yedu Lord tapped the long table thoughtfully twice: “Half a month from Palace Guard Commander to Young Master – isn’t this promotion speed too fast?”

“This is what he deserves.” Xue Yu spoke officially: “His abilities warrant this.”

Seeing the Yedu Lord about to say more, she added: “He previously suffered false accusations on the judgment platform, then followed me. I once promised him that if one day I believed his nature had calmed and he wouldn’t harm others randomly, I would grant him freedom.”

“He’s a demon clan with extraordinary talent and ability. Ten years ago, Nine Phoenix asked me for him several times. Once Feiyun Peak opens, the demon capital people and I might encounter each other.”

“So.” The Yedu Lord heard the implication, raising an eyebrow: “A Palace Guard Commander can abandon his duties, but a Young Master cannot.”

“You’re not only preventing him from leaving, but also wanting him to help you do more work?”

Xue Yu rarely remained silent for a while before arguing: “I explained the reasons to him. He’s willing to help me.”

The implication was: I didn’t deceive him into working for me – this is all voluntary.

The Yedu Lord rarely saw such complex, vivid emotions from her. He was delighted and laughed: “Fine, having many capable ministers under you – how could father not be happy?”

“Feiyun Peak opened early. This trip will last ten years.” The Yedu Lord’s expression grew serious: “When you emerge, father plans to issue an edict naming you Crown Princess.”

Xue Yu wasn’t surprised by this. In her previous life, she also became Yedu’s Crown Princess after emerging from Feiyun Peak.

Only the process was quite tortuous.

She thought for a moment: “Before that, let’s announce the cause of Uncle’s death. Explain Prince Su’s faction, which has been continuously suspicious.”

The Yedu Lord’s smile froze momentarily.

“My lord, Prince Su’s faction has quite a few capable ministers. I don’t move against them because they haven’t made major moves. But when ministers have different hearts, rulers dare not use them. As long as the truth of uncle’s death isn’t announced, they won’t settle down for a day.”

At this, the Yedu Lord sighed softly: “It’s time indeed.”

Talking about Xue Su inevitably brought thoughts of the deceased Xue Rong. Father and daughter both fell silent. After a while, the Yedu Lord waved his sleeve, emerging from his emotions: “Not discussing this. Father called you here for another matter.”

The Yedu Lord looked at his daughter who had grown graceful and elegant, then thought of her eyes full of official business without half a trace of personal feeling, rarely even showing a smile, and coughed while covering his mouth with his fist. He stood and opened a side drawer, taking out a palm-sized album: “A Yu, take a look at this.”

Xue Yu took the album and casually opened a page. On the moderately-sized paper was drawn a man’s appearance, with rows of small text below introducing his name, family background, age – everything clear at a glance.

“You’ll inherit the Sacred Land and become Yedu’s empress, so naturally you cannot marry out. Those in this manual are all young men of appropriate age and suitable family backgrounds. Father has reviewed them – all very good. If you like any, you can pick two to bring to Yedu first to get acquainted and see how it goes.”

The Yedu Lord stood with hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, sighing with emotion: “In a blink, our A Yu has grown so much. It’s time to consider marriage.”

Hearing such words, Xue Yu knew that if she didn’t accept this manual today, the Yedu Lord could continue sighing and coaxing, performing a one-man show until dawn.

She closed the manual and graciously accepted: “Alright, I’ll look when I have time.”

Having time to look was better than outright refusal.

The Yedu Lord was satisfied and stopped talking.

Leaving the side chamber study, it was already deep night. The moon hung mid-sky, autumn wind rustled. Xue Yu changed direction and walked toward the Palace Guard Command.

The Palace Guard Command now only had Chao Nian guarding the gate and Su You writing busily with his ink brush.

Xue Yu entered silently. Chao Nian immediately straightened his spine properly: “Your Highness.”

Su You’s movements stalled slightly. He raised his eyes from the tall stack of memorials, then pressed his throat and hoarsely called: “Your Highness.”

Xue Yu acknowledged with a sound, casually tossed the album in her hand to Chao Nian, then glanced at the passage leading to the Palace Guard Command’s private prison: “I’ll go in and take a look.”

The moment she stepped into the passage, Chao Nian curiously flipped through the album in his hand. At first glance, his sleepy eyes immediately widened as he whispered: “This is – Your Highness is choosing consort lords?”

He flipped several more pages, saying: “So the previous rumors were true – even the He family’s eldest son is among the candidates.”

Chao Nian couldn’t help but click his tongue. If not for certain concerns, he might even say something like “Your Highness is truly blessed.”

Su You’s eye corners pressed out a cold, heartless crease. His upright figure stiffened momentarily. After a while, he leaned his spine against the chair back and dropped his ink brush heavily onto the inkstone with a “snap.”