Lian Que’s gaze lingered for a long time on that room.

His mood was very complex.

The person he had waited over twenty years for actually didn’t recognize him.

All those various things seemed to have completely dissipated and disappeared, like bubbles.

And all of this—only he alone remembered!

Thinking of this, aside from sadness, he had nothing else.

He didn’t even have the joy of reuniting after a long separation.

Hearing the emotion in his words, Third Master stood up, walked before him, patted his shoulder, and comforted him, saying, “It will get better. Everything will get better.”

But Lian Que’s eyes dimmed slightly.

He remained silent.

…

To avoid drawing the King of Huyi’s attention, Marquis Nanguo had to return to the city before the city gates closed. Over these years, the King of Huyi had continuously planted spies around him. Pairs of eyes constantly watched him, just to prevent him from rebelling or plotting anything. But for these twenty-plus years, he had properly conducted business, bearing the title of Marquis, yet never interfering with court matters, not even asking about them.

In the King of Huyi’s view, he was like a wild beast that had been completely tamed, without any threat.

Precisely because of this, in the list of former dynasty officials that the King of Huyi secretly ordered massacred this time, he was not included!

But—

If the King of Huyi’s spies learned that he had left the city today, and had traveled secretly, it would certainly bring trouble.

So he had to return to the city quietly!

Before leaving, he instructed Third Master, “A’Tang, you all stay here for now. It’s very safe here. As for other matters, after I’ve handled things on my end, I’ll come find you again. We can discuss things then.”

Third Master nodded.

Understanding what “other matters” he was referring to!

Subsequently, Marquis Nanguo looked at Jingrong, sizing him up and down. His eyes revealed shock and admiration as he said, “I never thought that Dalin’s famous Prince Rong would stand before me. I’ve dealt with you several times, yet I completely failed to notice. Truly my apologies.” Jingrong smiled and said, “Since I intended to conceal my identity, naturally you wouldn’t notice. Otherwise, on my first day in Huyi, I would have already attracted many troubles.” “That’s also true. However…” Marquis Nanguo was somewhat worried, saying, “The situation ahead will be extremely perilous. This path will be filled with thorns. How far we can go, no one can determine. And this is, after all, an internal matter of the Huyi royal family. You are, after all, a prince of Dalin. If your involvement in this matter becomes known, at that time, it will inevitably implicate both Huyi and Dalin, and will affect you as well. So…” “The Marquis worries too much. Before coming to Huyi, I had already decided and prepared myself. If I was afraid of provoking anything, naturally I wouldn’t have come in the first place. Moreover…” He looked at Ji Yinshu, smiled tenderly, then held her slender hand and said, “Where my beloved is, how could I not follow? Having experienced so much of life and death, why care about this one matter! Even if it means going through fire and water for her, I wouldn’t hesitate.”

His gaze looking at Ji Yinshu was firm and affectionate.

Ji Yinshu met his gaze, her eyes couldn’t help but moisten.

She knew that this man before her could give up even his life for her.

That kind of love was selfless.

And profound.

Just as she loved him.

Marquis Nanguo looked at this perfect couple before him, feeling very comforted in his heart. He looked at Ji Yinshu and said, “With Prince Rong by her side to care for Yinshu, I as her uncle naturally feel at ease. I also entrust her to Prince Rong.”

After speaking, he raised both hands and bowed to Jingrong.

Then left.

And just after he left, suddenly—

Lang Bo asked, “By the way, where’s Bai Yin?”

Hm?

Indeed, his figure was nowhere to be seen.

Where did he go?

At this time, on the other side of the bamboo house.

Bai Yin stood under a large tree.

Expressionless.

In a moment, a shadow behind him gradually approached.

But stopped three meters away from him and came no closer.

Bai Yin sensed the person behind him but remained unmoved. He just asked with his back to the person, “You already knew?”

Lian Que’s hand gripping the sword suddenly tightened. After a long while, he said, “I wasn’t certain!”

“And now?”

Lian Que’s eyes reddened as he called out, “A’Jin.”

Slowly, Bai Yin turned to look at him.

The moment Lian Que’s face came into his vision, wave after wave of sounds transmitted through his mind.

“Lian Que, Lian Que, Lian Que…”

It was a child’s voice.

Over and over!

He shook his head slightly, bringing himself back to reality.

Then he said directly to Lian Que, “I don’t remember things from before.”

Lian Que’s heart trembled.

His nose tingled with sourness.

He slowly raised the sword in his hand and asked, “This sword—you don’t remember it either?”

Bai Yin looked at that sword, a slight ripple arising in his eyes.

He shook his head.

He didn’t remember. Lian Que walked two steps closer to him, saying as he did, “I remember that day, we were lying on the roof together. I told you I really liked this sword, but in the blink of an eye, you had fallen asleep! I thought you hadn’t heard my words at all. But before long, you came running to find me holding this sword. You had begged your father the King and mother the Consort for a long time to get it, just because… I said one sentence that I liked it. At that time, I held that sword and told you, I would always protect you.”

Bai Yin looked at him.

Continuing to listen.

Lian Que’s tone became somewhat choked: “But I never imagined that when the palace was surrounded layer by layer by troops, I was powerless. I could only watch helplessly as you disappeared from then on. I didn’t fulfill my promise. I wronged you.”

Bai Yin immediately said, “No! You didn’t wrong me. What happened back then—anyone in that situation would have been powerless.”

“A’Jin…”

“Lian Que, I will remember. Everything… I will remember everything.” Bai Yin told him with absolute certainty.

At that moment, Lian Que’s eyes suddenly moistened.

He nodded heavily.

He believed Bai Yin would definitely remember.

…

A carriage sped along the forest path toward the city gate.

Finally arriving before the city gate closed.

There were still quite a few common people entering and leaving the city gate!

But—

Today at Wenqiao Bridge, an assassination had occurred, so now the entire city was under strict guard.

Therefore, everyone entering and leaving the city gates had to be thoroughly inspected.

Marquis Nanguo’s carriage was stopped.

A city gate guard stood at the side of the carriage, inquiring, “Who are you? What’s your purpose entering the city?”

The coachman, unhurried and unperturbed, said, “Commerce. Just happened to arrive at this time.”

“What’s in the carriage?”

“Nothing much, just some goods.”

“Open it. We need to inspect.”

Uh?

Marquis Nanguo, sitting inside, his eyes suddenly tightened!

If… the carriage curtain was pulled open, he would be exposed! At that time, if the King of Huyi’s people learned he was returning to the city this late, they would certainly become suspicious and vigilant!