His tone was light and shallow, his smile thin and cool. Yet the gaze he directed at Feng Zhiwei carried no vigilance or hostility, only one part mockery, one part derision, one part cruelty—like a tiger emerging from the forest, looking at a fox that could not escape from beneath its claws.

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes and looked at herself. Her clothes still bore mud from rolling on the ground earlier, and between her fingernails remained grass juice from hiding among the flowers and trees. To say Ning Yi hadn’t recognized her—only a ghost would believe that.

Of course, he recognized her from their earlier exchange, not the real her. No matter how formidable Ning Yi was, he couldn’t see through the human skin mask to her face.

Taking a breath, Feng Zhiwei smiled faintly and bowed: “Is it Prince Chu? To travel together with you is truly an honor.”

This time Ning Yi finally looked at her with some surprise, his heart stirring. He felt this young man before him had extraordinary bearing and seemed somewhat familiar, but at this moment his mind was full of concerns, so he didn’t think much about it. He only secretly laughed—this person was also quite bold. What was he relying on?

Then he saw Feng Zhiwei turn around and ask Chunyu Meng with a smile: “Earlier Lin Shao said he wanted to show me something good. Brother Chunyu, do you know where he is? We might as well all go together—when the Director punishes us, we’ll have more people to share the burden.”

Chunyu Meng was very pleased and laughed heartily: “Those two brothers are just ahead. You’re right—if we’re going to be unlucky, let’s be unlucky together. Let’s find them.”

He raised his voice to shout: “Brother Lin! Brother Lin! We’re here!”

From over there came the sound of hurried footsteps. Lin Shao’s crisp voice rang out from afar: “Hey, hey, waited for you so long! It’s about to start—it’s being held at the Literary Discourse Hall. Hurry in, hurry in!”

At this moment, the smile at Ning Yi’s lips grew several degrees colder. Taking advantage of Chunyu Meng going to meet Lin Shao and engage in conversation, he said with a forest-cold smile: “You know far too much.”

Feng Zhiwei blinked, smiling without speaking.

She dared not talk much. After all, Ning Yi was familiar with her voice. Though she had learned the method of changing voice through energy manipulation from the wide-robed guest, if she spoke too much she feared making mistakes.

The two people’s gazes met—one with hidden killing intent, one with slight smile. The one with hidden killing intent was calculating how to dispose of this disaster who suddenly appeared and would find human shields everywhere. The one with slight smile was calculating how to escape alive from beneath this smiling tiger’s hidden killing intent.

Opposite them, unaware of the situation, Lin Shao cheerfully ran over. Somehow, Lin Ji was not beside him. Lin Shao looked at Feng Zhiwei with eyes jumping and shining. Feng Zhiwei met him with a smile, making him even more joyful and encouraged, completely unaware that Feng Zhiwei’s smile was the happy smile of seeing a human shield.

Feng Zhiwei stepped forward and lightly pulled Lin Shao’s sleeve. Bringing and turning him without trace, she had already turned directions, positioned precisely between her and Ning Yi. Then she smiled: “I was just looking for you. Let’s go together.”

Lin Shao was stunned. Feng Zhiwei had always been gentle and polite yet extremely distant—warm as spring breeze yet far as sea and sky in her treatment of people. Such closeness was the first time since they had become acquainted. He lowered his head slightly, looking at his sleeve being lightly held, then looking at the smiling eyes of the young man beside him. The area around his ears suddenly turned slightly red.

Ning Yi turned his head to look at Feng Zhiwei, then suddenly also smiled at Lin Shao: “Eleventh Brother, seeing me yet not showing respect?”

Lin Shao was startled, looking at Ning Yi with some confusion, seeming surprised why Ning Yi would violate their agreement and reveal this. But Feng Zhiwei was inwardly cursing—your brother is not a good thing! This is deliberately exposing your identity so I can’t walk alongside you, can’t use you as a human shield!

Cursing in her belly, but her face remained composed as usual. Blinking, she said with naive ignorance: “Ah, Brother Shao, are you a distant relative of Prince Chu?”

Lin Shao, hearing that address “Brother Shao,” was radiant with joy and became even more quick-witted. He immediately smiled: “Yes, I’m a distant cousin from His Highness’s maternal family. Counting it out, His Highness is my distant maternal cousin. My apologies—greetings, Elder Cousin.” Saying this, he made a show of bowing.

Ning Yi smiled at Lin Shao and said slowly: “Yes, Eleventh Cousin, don’t forget later to pay respects to your distant imperial cousin-in-law by marriage.”

Lin Shao stiffened. When he raised his head again, his face had become like a bitter melon.

Feng Zhiwei and Ning Yi’s second confrontation—the human shield Young Master Shao was twisted into a pretzel…

The Literary Discourse Hall was named a hall, but was actually an enormous plaza. White stone paved the ground, black stone formed the platform. Above was a large building with translucent tiles. On all sides, windows provided places for people to rest and also to open windows to view the scenery. Generally this was a venue for emperors and royal nobility to observe ceremonies. At this time, all windows were covered with white gauze. From outside one couldn’t see inside, but from inside one could take in everything outside at a glance, demonstrating imperial mystery and nobility.

Around the grounds below, awnings were set up for use by officials at various levels. As for students, regardless of their status outside, all stood waiting uniformly outside the wooden railings.

The Literary Discourse Hall opened once a year. Feng Zhiwei previously didn’t know this arrangement. Seeing it now, her heart immediately bloomed with joy. Seeing the grounds surrounded by a sea of people, with students almost all arrived, she was even happier.

Several students hurriedly squeezed past from behind them, running while saying: “Quick, quick! I heard Prince Chu is also coming today. We need to be more attentive!”

Someone said: “Really? I heard His Highness, ever since falling out with Director Xin three years ago, hasn’t come to the academy.”

“Matters between noble persons—why do you care so much!” The student who spoke first rolled his eyes. “Though Prince Chu hasn’t been managing affairs much these years, his learning remains. He’s always associated with noble literati and important scholar-officials. Don’t you want to enter the Hanlin Academy? If you catch his eye today, it would be more useful than any other path to advancement!”

A group of Political History Academy students squeezed past excitedly. More people were discussing how to be noticed by His Majesty, how to please the Crown Prince, how to gain the favor of the martial Second Prince the Prince of Qi, how to curry favor with the lofty and steady Seventh Prince… Because this academy examination could be said to have the highest standards of any previous one, the students were all very excited.

Not coming to Qingming Academy? Last night he was still wandering in the academy’s underground passages…

Bad relationship with Director Xin? In the early morning hours, Director was still waiting for him in the small building…

Feng Zhiwei grumbled internally, but on the surface said excitedly: “Ah… His Highness truly has an illustrious reputation. To travel together with His Highness is truly fortune this student cultivated over three lifetimes.”

Chunyu Meng, reminded by this statement, immediately smiled: “Your Highness, that’s right—here we must part ways with you. If we keep walking with you, I’m afraid we’ll get beaten up out of jealousy.”

He seemed very familiar with Ning Yi, speaking with a casual tone. Feng Zhiwei had already bowed with a smile, in a very good mood as she moved to the side.

“What are you afraid of?” Ning Yi looked askance at Chunyu Meng with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “You’re a Military Academy student—if you’re going to curry favor, it should be with Second Brother. Besides, you’ve already been commissioned. What does it matter if you get close to this Prince?”

He pulled Chunyu Meng and smoothly draped an arm over Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder, smiling: “This Prince is too lazy to be stifled up there. I’ll just sit down here in the officials’ awning. You all come too.”

Feng Zhiwei froze.

That person’s hand, at the most opportune moment, seemingly casually suddenly draped over her shoulder. With that drape, half her shoulder immediately went numb.

She was so foolish!

Clearly knowing she faced possibly the number one fox in the Tiansheng Imperial Dynasty—why had she just now been so carried away with success, clearing the path, leaving Lin Shao’s side, giving him an opportunity to exploit!

At her shoulder, a cold, dark breath invaded, penetrating blood vessels. Joints and flesh immediately became sluggish in flow, yet still could move. She slowly raised her head and smiled through gritted teeth: “Many thanks for Your Highness’s favor.”

Chunyu Meng and Lin Shao looked at her somewhat strangely, surprised why her movements had suddenly slowed. But they also thought—Wei Zhi of ordinary birth had suddenly caught Prince Chu’s eye and was “overwhelmed by favor,” stunned with joy, so being somewhat slow in reaction was also normal.

Because Ning Yi’s voice just now wasn’t low, at this time the two people’s conversation had already been noticed by the crowd. The students swooshed and turned around uniformly. Seeing Ning Yi, they hurriedly prostrated themselves. Chunyu Meng and Lin Shao hastily retreated backward. Only Feng Zhiwei, having been undermined by Ning Yi and held by him, wanted to retreat but couldn’t.

She stiffened there, cold sweat dripping. Ning Yi said faintly: “All rise.” From start to finish he didn’t release her. When everyone stood up, the looks directed at Feng Zhiwei were all wrong—envy, jealousy, resentment, disdain… Those gazes of unclear meaning but mostly full of hostility instantly submerged the unfortunate Feng Zhiwei.

Watching Feng Zhiwei who in the blink of an eye had become a target of public criticism, Ning Yi’s lips curved. His smile was elegant yet enchanting, like snow-white demon-red mandala flowers quietly blooming at midnight. Everyone stared transfixed—while Feng Zhiwei only wanted to ruthlessly destroy this flower.

Unfortunately, His Highness was completely unmoved by her gaze. Smiling, he draped his arm over her shoulder and walked through the eyes of the multitude. He casually sat in the officials’ awning, “intimately” sitting beside her. The position he chose was in the middle of the awning. No one around them dared sit again. Lin Shao wanted to follow, but was pulled away by Chunyu Meng. Before leaving, the two winked and made eyes, meaning they were avoiding arousing suspicion—Feng Zhiwei should seize this opportunity to properly curry favor.

Feng Zhiwei inwardly cried bitterness. She could only bathe in the needle-prick-like gazes of ten thousand people. At first she still felt suffering, then became composed—common people don’t understand the thorough comprehension and transcendence of those about to die.

“His Majesty arrives—”

From afar, a thin, long voice came singing loudly.

All sides suddenly quieted. When the ten thousand held their breath waiting that instant, a condensed, solemn, murderous atmosphere arose of itself.

Everyone stood uniformly, about to prostrate. Feng Zhiwei also wanted to rise. The person beside her suddenly leaned over, pressing upon her shoulder. Gorgeous, cool breath like fallen flowers and snow approached closely. Beneath his sleeves, his hand moved and had already grasped her hand.

Feng Zhiwei’s heart became dazed for a moment. Then she heard that person murmur in a low voice beside her ear. His posture was charming, his voice even more gentle and light, floating like an illusory dream, asking with a smile:

“Why is your palm completely covered in sweat…”