Ning Yi smiled as he glanced at old Hu, then smiled as he looked toward Feng Zhiwei.

Feng Zhiwei smiled bitterly, honestly saying, “This truly does me far too much honor.”

Ning Yi laughed heartily and was just about to take her hand to be seated when, unexpectedly, a blue shadow flashed, and a hand violently struck his hand away. Then a gust of wind swept past, and someone was already seated in the second seat.

Gu Nanyi and his Gu Zhixiao.

Young Master Gu sat there calmly and calmly said, “I’m sitting with her.”

Everyone looked at each other—to practice cut sleeve ways to this extent, only this Young Master Gu who had always shocked the world could do it.

Ning Yi’s steps stopped. His gaze looked deeply at Young Master Gu, then he suddenly smiled. “Fine, you sit with her.”

With that, he pulled Feng Zhiwei to the third seat.

“…”

Young Master Gu was about to powerfully rise and pursue to the third seat when his Gu Zhixiao grew displeased. She stubbornly stayed in place, refusing to move, and shouted loudly, “Daddy sits with Zhixiao.”

Across from them, Ning Yi smiled as he toyed with his wine cup, saying leisurely, “One seat accommodates at most two people. Must the four of us squeeze together?”

Feng Zhiwei smiled bitterly, making a “it’s fine” gesture to Young Master Gu.

Young Master Gu didn’t move again. He was no longer the person who would act without regard for consequences whenever he wanted to do something. He had gradually learned to yield and endure. However, Feng Zhiwei always felt that what he worried about didn’t seem to be her safety, but something else…

The banquet resumed. Officials of various ranks from other private rooms also came upon hearing the news, flowing continuously in an endless stream to toast. With so many people and such haste, Feng Zhiwei couldn’t remember them all. She only knew there were people from all Six Ministries, as well as subordinate officials from the Nine City Military Command and the Five Army Commander’s Office, and so on. Although her alcohol tolerance was good, she gradually became somewhat overwhelmed. The Seventh Prince insisted on bringing up old matters, hauling over those three enormous rattan wine cups and grabbing Feng Zhiwei. “Don’t think that changing seats will let you escape drinking. First drink these, then we’ll talk.”

He pulled Feng Zhiwei’s sleeve. Feng Zhiwei smiled and yielded slightly. The Seventh Prince’s fingers unintentionally slipped, actually feeling the skin beneath quite smooth. His heart couldn’t help but pause. Before a thought could even flash through his mind, a moon-white sleeve suddenly crossed over, and then he heard Ning Yi laugh. “Seventh Brother, you’re bullying people. If you’re claiming to toast, how can you not drink first yourself?”

Feng Zhiwei quickly stood up and smiled. “How could I dare let Your Highness toast this official? I’ll drink first as a sign of respect.”

She very readily reached for the cup, planning to drink it all in one go, vomit conveniently on Ning Yi, then gloriously pass out drunk, and finally everyone would go their separate ways home. Perfect.

A hand once again emerged from thin air, steadily blocking in front of her and forcibly seizing that cup of wine. Ning Yi laughed in her ear. “Lord Wei has been drinking very readily today. This prince is somewhat worried about his own clothes… This cup of wine, let me take it for you instead.”

Feng Zhiwei looked up, thinking—what are you trying to prove? You who pass out after one cup, if you drink this cup, the one suffering will be my clothes.

She suddenly remembered this person had actually drunk wine at her residence before and hadn’t truly passed out after one cup. Did he always take hangover pills or similar medicine before drinking in public?

While she was thinking, Ning Yi had already taken her wine cup. The Seventh Prince refused to comply and raised his hand to snatch the cup. Ning Yi’s body shifted and he drank it all in one gulp, holding up the empty cup to show him with a smile. “Seventh Brother, if you won’t give me face again, that copy of ‘Immortal’s Pouch’—I won’t give it to you.”

The Seventh Prince smiled helplessly. “Sixth Brother is skilled at threatening people.”

On the other side, the Second Prince seemed to smile but didn’t. “Seventh Brother, you lack discernment. Who in the world doesn’t know that the Sixth Prince and Lord Wei are on good terms? That friendship earned fighting for their lives in Nanhai and the northern frontier—look, I’m not joining this commotion.”

Ning Yi supported his forehead with his hand, laughing lazily. “Second Brother, you’re clearly just afraid of wine cups as big as vats, afraid of falling in and drowning.”

Amid everyone’s boisterous laughter, Ning Yi suddenly seemed unable to hold his liquor and tilted his body, half-leaning on Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder.

Feng Zhiwei immediately wanted to quickly tilt to the side as well, but that person under the table suddenly tightly pinched her waist. His fingers tickled, and she who was ticklish nearly laughed aloud—how could she still think of dodging?

Just as she was thinking this person had gone mad, taking advantage of her so brazenly in public, she suddenly heard Ning Yi’s voice in a thin thread pressing close to her ear. “Tonight you absolutely must not return to your own residence.”

Feng Zhiwei was startled. She quickly raised her fingers to signal Young Master Gu across from her not to act rashly, while keeping her expression unchanged as she giggled and poured wine. Hiding her mouth behind the wine cup, she asked, “Why?”

“Don’t think today was a coincidence. And don’t think the coincidence was because of you.” Ning Yi took her wine cup and toyed with it at his lips. “Those wanting to give you notes to seek connections wouldn’t do so at this occasion… Listen to me, leave with me later.”

Feng Zhiwei pondered, thinking that this person’s position ultimately wasn’t on her side—should she really just follow him like this?

Unable to ask in front of so many people, she laughed heartily, picked up the wine pot and stood up, swaying east and west as she cupped her fists to all four sides. “…Brothers… need to relieve myself… excuse me…” Clutching the wine pot, she left.

Behind her, the Second Prince laughed loudly. “Lord Wei, going to relieve yourself while still carrying wine—aren’t you afraid the stench will taint it… Wrong, wrong… Wrong direction!”

Ning Yi stood up with a smile. “Enough, look at how drunk Lord Wei is—we can’t have him mistake the kitchen for the latrine. This prince… might as well go along.”

His steps also somewhat unsteady, he went over and grabbed Feng Zhiwei’s hand. Two drunkards supporting each other, amid the Second Prince and others’ mocking laughter, they swayed crookedly out. Behind them, the roomful of people were in high spirits, some playing finger-guessing games, some competing in drinking. The noisy clamor surged far into the distance.

At the entrance, waving away the attendants and servants who wanted to follow and serve them, Ning Yi tightly clutched Feng Zhiwei. The two hooked shoulders and staggered toward the latrine. Half of Ning Yi’s body practically leaned on Feng Zhiwei, his long hair teasing her face. Feng Zhiwei only felt waves of soreness in her shoulder and gritted her teeth to endure. Yet that person wasn’t content—prostrate on her shoulder, he intermittently blew on the stray hair at her ear, blew on her earlobe. Heat pressed over in layers. Her already softened body lost several more degrees of strength. Her originally feigned stumbling steps now truly had some real stumbling.

Beside her, Ning Yi laughed lowly, his laughter deep and alluring, seemingly in a very pleasant mood. Feng Zhiwei glanced sideways, raised the wine pot, and said drunkenly, “…If only the host could make me drunk… I know not where… is a foreign land, Your High… drink another cup with me!”

As if her hand went limp, the wine pot tilted and wine poured out with a splash, splashing toward Ning Yi’s face.

With a light laugh, as if Ning Yi had anticipated this, he suddenly tilted his head and pinched Feng Zhiwei’s shoulder well point. Heat penetrated and Feng Zhiwei cried out as her hand trembled. The wine poured down, all onto her own shoulder.

Feng Zhiwei’s mouth twitched. For an instant, she had a strong impulse to smash the pot in her hand down. But Ning Yi had already leaned close with a low laugh, while randomly pointing in directions saying, “…Lord Wei… this way… this way…” while smiling shallowly by her ear, his voice nearly a murmur, yet his tongue tip had already lingeringly curled around the wine on her earlobe, gently sucking with a smile. “So mellow… so fragrant!”

Feng Zhiwei burst into flames with a whoosh.

After not seeing him much for a year, this person’s shamelessness had upgraded!

Previously he would at least consider the occasion somewhat. But what time and place was this now? This rear courtyard of Feast of Spring tonight was crowded with people, not much different from a marketplace. People came and went everywhere. With their two special identities, pulling and tugging along like this already drew everyone’s sidelong glances. Yet he still dared to openly flirt!

Though he had always been half-raising his sleeve, though she had always used the wine pot as cover, as long as someone was bold enough to walk a bit closer, they could see everything clearly. Then tomorrow throughout the Imperial Capital’s streets and alleys, Wei Zhi would again be chewed over until nothing remained.

Feng Zhiwei squeezed the wine pot until it creaked—he’d better truly have urgent news to convey, otherwise… hehe!

That person murmured and licked by her ear—each lick made Feng Zhiwei’s heart pound and body soften. Her earlobe was already her sensitive zone. In the faint wine fragrance’s moist dampness, his gorgeous cool breath penetrated to her bones. Deep in her heart arose steaming restless winds that turned everything to ash wherever they blew. Feng Zhiwei knew that if she weren’t wearing the human skin mask, her face right now could definitely roast sweet potatoes.

She turned her head in annoyance, covering her mouth with the wine pot, saying lowly, “Ning Yi, you really dare! This Feast of Spring has plenty of beauties—don’t use me to make up the numbers!”

Ning Yi paused, resting his chin on her shoulder, puffing out his cheeks to blow and stir her temple hair. Though smiling, his voice was cold. He said lightly, “Feng Zhiwei, I feel I’m the one you use to make up numbers. You refuse to look at me properly. Fine then, I’ll show you what degree I dare reach.”

Feng Zhiwei fell silent, then smiled. “Taking advantage of the situation to bully—does this count as ability?”

“This is bullying?” Ning Yi met her head-on. “Feng Zhiwei, please—don’t wear a mask so habitually that you think you’re a fake person. Feel your own heart—for whom does it beat most fiercely?”

“Oh?” Feng Zhiwei held the wine pot at an angle, her gaze drifting like this spilling wine liquid. “I thought I already had no heart.”

“Let me help you find it back.”

The March spring breeze passed through halls and entered doors, winding through nine-curved corridors. A pair of man and woman feigning drunkenness and supporting each other, bumping from the east end to the west end, suddenly both stopped simultaneously.

After a moment, Feng Zhiwei, who had never answered that statement, pushed open a door. “We’re here.”

Then she closed her eyes, charged forward, and began vomiting spectacularly into a certain pit. The steaming wine vapor spread out. The men originally relieving themselves in the latrine quickly fastened their pants and left.

After everyone left, Ning Yi fell heavily backward, blocking the door.

Feng Zhiwei wiped her mouth and turned back, eyes clear. “Your Highness, we can’t occupy the latrine too long. Please make a long story short.”

“This year’s spring examinations were delayed somewhat. Originally it was set for the previous Minister of Rites.” Ning Yi spoke clearly. “By rights, he was the internally appointed chief examiner, so he’d already received many notes and promised much special care. Naturally he also received many lavish gifts and heavy gold. But you suddenly returned and immediately took over as Minister of Rites. Naturally all that special care went down the drain. Some gifts can be returned, but some cannot. Vested interests cannot be touched—otherwise some people can’t give explanations.”

“So they want to move against me?”

“You became famous young with sharp talent, yet have always been unable to distinguish court factions clearly. Everyone wants to recruit you, yet everyone is somewhat wary of you. But the Crown Prince and Fifth Prince both fell at your hands one after another. That some people want to move against you is natural.”

“How will they move?”

“I couldn’t investigate in such detail.” Ning Yi said. “So I want you not to return to your residence. Simply pretend to be drunk and follow me back to the prince’s manor. Most likely they’ll make their move tonight. You can’t be at home, otherwise when something happens, no one can provide you with proof. You also can’t be at the Ministry of Rites, because the previous minister operated there for many years—most people are unreliable. You can only be with me, or simply stay at Feast of Spring and not return all night. But staying at Feast of Spring drinking and making merry all night will inevitably draw impeachment from censors and will also ruin the futures of these Qingming students. You’d better come with me.”

Feng Zhiwei pondered and asked, “Who do you think is behind this?”

“Either Second Brother or Seventh Brother.” Ning Yi said. “Others lack the weight. In past years’ spring examinations, everyone placed people in the court—first to expand their power, second to pacify subordinates. Previously the Crown Prince took the lion’s share, then the various houses divided benefits equally. This year no one can determine your position. Plus since you entered government, all the princes have never gained anything from you—instead each suffered losses. Many suspect you’re only His Majesty’s person. You’ve risen so rapidly—how can some people feel at ease?”

“Oh?” Feng Zhiwei seemed to smile but didn’t. “The one least at ease is probably you.”

“I’m only uneasy about when you’ll run away.” Ning Yi said lightly. “I’d rather you overturn heaven and earth before my eyes.”

Just as they were speaking, someone suddenly banged on the door—bang bang bang—then the Seventh Prince’s laughter was heard. “These two can relieve themselves for half a day—are they deliberately trying to make us burst?”

Ning Yi opened the door with a smile. “Little Wei is quite drunk and is vomiting.”

“If that’s the case.” The Second Prince had also followed over. “Let’s disperse, let’s disperse. Tomorrow we still have morning court.”

Ning Yi and Feng Zhiwei exchanged a glance. Feng Zhiwei’s eyes brightened when she saw Gu Nanyi who had followed behind the Second Prince. Greatly delighted, she rushed over and grabbed Gu Nanyi’s sleeve, shouting incoherently, “Brother Gu, one more cup!”

Everyone laughed. Behind the veil, Gu Nanyi’s eyes also seemed to brighten. It was rare for Feng Zhiwei to so actively approach someone. Then he felt Feng Zhiwei holding his palm, quietly writing several characters.

He paused but immediately reacted. With some reluctance, he looked at Feng Zhiwei’s hands grasping both his arms, then somewhat unwillingly swatted them away with one stroke. Holding Gu Zhixiao, he strode toward the latrine and with a bang shut the door.

Everyone looked at each other. They all knew this bodyguard Gu had a strange personality and exceptional martial skills—almost untouchable. No one dared to share the latrine with him, so they could only return to Snow Sound Pavilion. By this time, the banquet had fallen into disarray. Everyone had drunk their fill. The Second Prince and Seventh Prince said it was time to disperse.

Ning Yi glanced at Feng Zhiwei, just about to think of a way to bring her back to his own residence, when Feng Zhiwei clutched the wine pot and charged straight at the Second Prince, shouting, “No good! I’ve heard Your Highness is unparalleled at drinking games. How can this official not witness it today?”

Several princes all paused. Ning Yi frowned slightly, not quite understanding Feng Zhiwei’s plan—no matter what, she couldn’t keep dragging several princes at Feast of Spring through tonight. If she really could keep dragging them, they could just make their move the next day instead. What was the point of this?

The Second Prince’s expression was somewhat uneasy. Blocked by the “drunken” Feng Zhiwei clinging like death insisting on witnessing the world’s number one drinking games, he had no choice but to play several rounds, yet seemed somewhat distracted.

During this, Gu Nanyi returned from the latrine and sat back in his original seat. Feng Zhiwei didn’t even glance at him, concentrating on playing. Ning Yi borrowed the pretense to move a bit closer and faintly smelled on him a light scorched odor.

Lamps were lit in the room—blue and white porcelain lamps shaped like crabapple flowers with built-in smoke-guiding tubes so not a wisp of smoke escaped. The lamplight was pale yellow, hazy as mist, enveloping Feng Zhiwei who couldn’t hold her liquor and was propping her cheek half-leaning. Though in youthful countenance, her graceful bearing and deep charm, combined with eyes that after drinking became even more water-bright and rippling, looking over with a smile under night colors and ornate lamps—the sight made one think of beautiful poetic phrases like “even without feeling she still moves hearts.”

The Second Prince had originally been impatient and wanted to leave. Yet watching the exquisite countenance of the youth across from him, somehow his heart also rippled. He had no cut sleeve inclinations, but people possessed an instinct to appreciate and become immersed in beautiful things. So he stayed another moment.

But it was only half a quarter-hour. The Second Prince resolutely stood up with a smile. “I suddenly remembered tonight my brother-in-law wants to see me to report spring harvest from the estates. I’m sorry, but next time I’ll accompany you all in drinking games.”

His status was noble—eldest among the princes. Even Ning Yi had to yield him three parts. No one could repeatedly obstruct him. Feng Zhiwei laughed heartily and stood, swaying as if to see him off. But the Second Prince casually took her hand. “I see you’re also quite drunk. Better return early. Right now you’re about to be appointed chief examiner. Tonight it’s inappropriate to remain at Feast of Spring drinking and making merry all night—it doesn’t look good. Wait until the spring examinations are finished—I’ll personally invite you. You can play at the prince’s manor for three days!”

“…Then… that would be wonderful…” Feng Zhiwei didn’t struggle either, being led by him all the way out. Gu Nanyi stared at those clasped hands. If his gaze were a sword, the Second Prince’s hand would probably have been chopped into ten thousand pieces long ago. Yet for some reason, he never moved.

Suddenly someone beside him laughed lowly. “Brother Gu has become much more temperate now. This prince thought Brother Gu would definitely go up and sever it with one sword stroke.”

Gu Nanyi didn’t turn back. The light veil on his face slightly stirred. After a long moment, he said, “If I want to stay by her side, I cannot act entirely on my own impulses. This principle—I finally understood after arriving in Pucheng.”

Ning Yi trembled slightly, falling silent. Finally, for the first time he seriously examined Gu Nanyi.

Gu Nanyi didn’t meet his gaze at all. His gaze now passed beyond one foot three inches before him, but only reached Feng Zhiwei’s retreating figure.

“Her life is destined to walk the danger of tightropes, traverse the breadth of rivers and seas, pass through the treachery of clouds and smoke spreading overturning wind and rain. The paths she walks and things she does—ordinary people cannot keep up with, let alone… you.” After a long moment, Ning Yi said lightly. “Brother Gu, do you think you can?”

Gu Nanyi remained silent, holding his Gu Zhixiao, tightly following Feng Zhiwei ahead. Just as they were about to reach the entrance, when Ning Yi thought he wouldn’t answer this question, he suddenly stopped, turned his head, looked into Ning Yi’s eyes, and said clearly:

“The me of before could not. However now, all changes—as long as she needs them, I can make them all.”

All of them.

He could extend his gaze far for her, could open up heaven and earth for her, could abandon persistence for her, could achieve for her all those things he’d never understood before—forbearance, grievance, yielding, and compromise.

Before powerful emotions that penetrate deep into the heart, all stubbornly frozen ice could be shattered.

Ning Yi fell silent.

His posture leaning against the tree also resembled a solitary tree, lonely in the March spring breeze.

In the distance, Feng Zhiwei who had left through the door finally separated from the Second Prince. Then she turned back, her gaze searching through the crowd.

Gu Nanyi at the very back strode over.

Before walking away, he suddenly turned back and glanced at Ning Yi.

“For her sake, Gu Nanyi can not be Gu Nanyi.” He said calmly and flatly. “Ning Yi—can you not be Ning Yi?”

Ning Yi’s hand trembled.

Gu Nanyi seemed completely unaware that this statement of his carried the force of a boulder sufficient to smash a thousand armies. He turned around indifferently, catching up to Feng Zhiwei, throwing Ning Yi’s shadow far behind.

The moon rose above willow tips. Before the Feast of Spring entrance amid flower shadows, crowds surged—people seeing off and bidding farewell in clusters and groups. Everyone’s faces steamed with wine vapor and liveliness and joy. No one noticed that smiling, elegant person who, though in the center of the crowd, cast a lonely shadow.

He paled in the pale moonlight, as if that statement caused him slight pain as he pressed his hand to his heart.

The purest question from a pure-hearted person, because it was unpolished, was all the sharper and more cutting.

Ning Yi… could he not be Ning Yi?

Feast of Spring’s red lanterns spun in the wind with a whir. Red light spread, shining on the willows before the shop entrance—there, empty with no one present.

Yet there was a sigh, seemingly present yet seemingly absent, scattered in the midnight spring breeze.

“…I can.”

Night had deepened.

Because the spring examinations were imminent, the Ministry of Rites hosting this session’s examinations had particularly strict gate security. They had specially transferred bailiffs from the Imperial Capital Prefecture to take shifts keeping night watch. Especially on the road to the Ministry of Rites’ secret vault chamber where exam questions were stored, it was practically one post every three steps, one sentry every five steps.

The spring examination questions were the empire’s top secret. Every time they employed first-class defenses, but nothing had ever gone wrong—because the secret vault chamber had three keys. The Minister and two Vice Ministers each held one. The secret cabinet storing the exam questions worked the same way. Only on the day the spring examinations began, when all three arrived together, could the cabinet be opened. Before that, even if someone passed through layers of defenses, it wouldn’t be easy to gather all three keys.

Tonight the Vice Director leading the night watch shift didn’t take it too seriously. The Minister was still on leave, and of the two Vice Ministers, one was ill on sick leave while the other wasn’t on duty rotation. Though the heavy responsibility fell on this Vice Director’s shoulders, he didn’t treat it as important. After the third watch, he brought several people and routinely carried lanterns to circle the vault once.

Lamplight drifted leisurely along the small path.

The paper lantern suddenly began spinning. The candle in the lantern trembled as if about to extinguish. The Vice Director reached out to shield the lantern and suddenly felt a gust of wind pass overhead.

He looked up and saw a black shadow flash atop the wall and disappear.

The Vice Director was greatly alarmed and quickly led people to rush over. Suddenly his vision went dark—something whooshed down over his head, apparently a burlap sack. Faintly he heard struggling sounds behind him, as if the people he’d brought had also been covered with sacks. The Vice Director tried to call for help, but through the sack the other party extremely accurately sealed his mute acupoint.

Unable to make a sound, the Vice Director’s heart sank several degrees. He thought—could this be the legendary acupoint sealing? Such profound martial arts even the palace’s master experts couldn’t perform. Who was this person?

Then he felt himself hoisted onto someone’s shoulder, walked for a while, then walked downward for another while before being heavily thrown down. He hit the ground’s uneven surface and nearly broke his buttocks.

Dizzy and disoriented, through the sack the Vice Director felt around while recalling the route. He vaguely felt they hadn’t walked outside the Ministry of Rites’ boundaries. This place seemed to be a cellar in the rear kitchen of the Ministry of Rites’ back courtyard, dug to store winter vegetables and such. Wasn’t there a radish under his buttocks?

This person abducted him, didn’t kill him, and threw him in a cellar?

Then the Vice Director remembered—the Ministry of Rites had earlier been a Da Cheng noble’s grand courtyard. This cellar was originally an ice storage cellar, dug extremely secretly. Those not quite familiar with the Ministry of Rites, people from outside, wouldn’t know about it at all.

Thinking this, the Vice Director’s heart suddenly pounded twice. Vaguely he felt danger approaching, pressing down heavily—what was there to covet in this poor, simple office?

Except for the spring examination questions.

Realizing this, the Vice Director broke into a sweat. If something went wrong with the spring examination questions, heads would roll. He frantically struggled on the ground, rubbing against radishes—scrub scrub scrub. But the sack wasn’t very tight. After rolling several times, it came loose. His acupoint also automatically unsealed. He crawled out and saw several guards all trapped in sacks going “wu wu.” He quickly freed them and charged straight for the secret vault storing the exam questions.

He rushed over anxiously, imagining the doors would be broken open with chaos everywhere. But when he arrived, everything was surprisingly calm. The great iron lock on the door remained secure as before. Everything was exactly as it had been before he was abducted.

He suspiciously moved closer to look but truly discovered no problems. Could it be those people ran to the Ministry of Rites just to stuff them in sacks and throw them in a cellar, then did nothing and left?

His heart was full of puzzlement, but he truly couldn’t find anything wrong. Before the spring examinations began, no one was permitted to approach the secret vault storing exam questions. He didn’t dare go find the Minister or Vice Ministers to open it and verify. After thinking for a long time, he could only give up.

But this person was also cautious. He called a guard to go to the Imperial Capital Prefecture and Nine City Military Command to file a report. The Imperial Capital Prefecture sent people over, asked a few questions, made a record, looked around on all sides but didn’t see any clues, and left.

The Nine City Military Command impatiently sent away the one reporting.

“No losses? If there are no losses, what are you running here for? We’re busy!”

“Your Minister’s residence is on fire!”

Minister Wei’s residence was on fire.

Flames rose from various parts of the courtyard, spreading extremely rapidly. Almost instantly, they surrounded the entire compound.

This residence had been purchased by Yan Huaishi when Feng Zhiwei first entered officialdom. According to Yan Huaishi’s intention, naturally he would buy a large mansion. But at the time, Feng Zhiwei first didn’t want to be ostentatious, and second, for convenience, wanted to live across from the Qiu Mansion. So she only bought what had been a Right Supervising Secretary’s residence—just three courtyards with a small garden. Not large, it burned easily.

The fire arose suddenly and fiercely. Fortunately, Lord Wei returned late and, being drunk, had been making a fuss for a long time. When the fire started, everyone hadn’t fallen deeply asleep yet. For a time everyone was awakened in chaos—some fighting the fire, some grabbing belongings. Then they discovered the drunkard hadn’t been rescued and in alarm went back to find Lord Wei. Gu Nanyi had long since flown out with one under each arm.

Feng Zhiwei woke from confused drowsiness and outside the main gate stared dumbfounded at her own residence engulfed in a sea of flames. Her snow-white face was blackened with soot so her features couldn’t be seen—only a pair of eyes blinking repeatedly in astonishment, quite comical.

Minister Wei’s residence catching fire was naturally a major matter. Almost immediately, people from the Imperial Capital Prefecture and Nine City Military Command rushed over. Upon arrival, they saw Lord Wei wearing only underclothes with a robe draped over, sitting on a rescued small stool, propping his head with one hand while directing firefighting with the other. They quickly ordered people to go carry over fire dragons.

Fetching fire dragons also alarmed the Ministry of Works. Then the Second Prince in charge of the Ministry of Works heard of this matter and naturally had to show concern for important ministers, rushing over in the middle of the night. The Seventh Prince’s Mountain Moon Study was right nearby, so naturally he also got word and rushed over.

When the princes arrived and saw the great fire, they all stamped their feet and sighed, repeatedly asking how the fire could have started. Feng Zhiwei squinted her eyes, with the lingering air of wine, answered three times, knowing nothing each time.

The Second Prince gazed at the great fire, his complexion changing unpredictably in the firelight. After a while he said, “Lord Wei, this residence looks like it can’t be saved. But it’s nothing. Tomorrow when Father Emperor knows, he’ll certainly allocate another residence. He said long ago he would reward you.”

Feng Zhiwei pulled together her soot-covered robe and sighed bleakly. “Right now I’m homeless…”

The meaning of these words was quite obvious. The Seventh Prince thought about it and smiled. “Lord Wei, why don’t you and Lord Gu temporarily stay at this prince’s manor? We can also talk through the night by candlelight. Lord Wei is the court’s pillar of state—it’s just right for this prince to consult you face to face.”

The Second Prince also said, “This prince’s place is closer. Or Lord Wei could temporarily rest at this prince’s manor.” He only said this one sentence then closed his mouth, not as enthusiastic as the Seventh Prince.

Feng Zhiwei rubbed her hands and laughed heartily. “Seventh Highness and the Princess Consort are the Imperial Capital’s most loving couple, reportedly inseparable even for a moment. How could I, this unwelcome guest, have the nerve to disturb them?”

With her saying this, the Second Prince’s face froze, because his Princess Consort had recently passed away and he hadn’t remarried yet. Right now in his manor were just him and family—most quiet and unrestricted. Now with Wei Zhi saying Seventh Brother was inconvenient, wasn’t this saying he was convenient, wanting to stay at his place?

His heart burned with anxiety, but he couldn’t show it at all on his face. He forced a smile. “That’s right. Seventh Brother, your place is both far and inconvenient. Better to temporarily stay at my place, though it’s too simple—the outer courtyard is occupied by a group of martial men…”

“Not simple, not simple.” Feng Zhiwei beamed with joy, immediately cutting off his words. She smiled as she stood up, picked up Gu Zhixiao and kissed her face. “Zhixiao, tonight we have a place to sleep. Aren’t you going to thank Uncle Prince?”

Gu Zhixiao’s eyes smiled into crescents, looking quite similar to Feng Zhiwei’s expression. “Uncle Prince is so good! Give you a hug!”

With that she lunged over. The Second Prince had no choice but to catch her, though his smile looked quite awkward no matter how you looked at it.

Feng Zhiwei praised greatly in her heart, thinking the little devil was sly as a thief. Though not yet understanding much, she already knew how to read expressions. It was also rare that this girl normally refused to let others touch her.

Looking again, Gu Zhixiao was lying on the Second Prince’s shoulder, smiling at her Clothes Daddy, holding up two fingers.

Feng Zhiwei didn’t understand what it meant. After the Second Prince walked away first, Gu Nanyi calmly said, “Sleep with her twice.”

“…”

Feng Zhiwei solemnly patted the shoulder of Young Master Gu who had made such a huge sacrifice, then left him behind and ran off.

Chasing the Second Prince, she followed tightly to the prince’s manor. By the time the Second Prince arranged lodgings for Feng Zhiwei and the others, it was already nearly the fourth watch. Just as he said he wanted to sleep a bit, Gu Zhixiao, clinging to him like an octopus, suddenly seemed to find the Second Prince pleasing to the eye and insisted on sleeping with him. The Second Prince had no choice and couldn’t get angry at a small child, so he could only bring her to his own bedchamber and arrange a small bed in the outer room. But Young Master Gu also followed over, saying he wasn’t at ease with Gu Zhixiao—she sleepwalked and stepped on people, so he had to watch over her. But it was inappropriate to enter the prince’s bedchamber, so he’d just guard outside the door. The Second Prince repeatedly tried to dissuade him. Gu Nanyi slowly ate walnuts while gazing up at the moon. “Or Prince, shall we have a heart-to-heart talk?”

The Second Prince fled in disarray…

That night, with Young Master Gu guarding the Second Prince’s bedroom door, never mind stray cats breaking tiles or stray dogs crawling through wrong holes—even insects didn’t get a chance to chirp once…

Near dawn, the energetic Feng Zhiwei came to remind the Prince it was time for morning court.

The two had just finished dressing and were about to exit to board their sedan chairs when suddenly the sound of galloping horse hooves swept through the long street. A troop of Imperial Forest Army with bright armor and gleaming long halberds, their hoofbeats shaking heaven and earth, charged straight toward Feng Zhiwei’s residence still billowing with black smoke.

“By sacred command, arrest the Minister of Rites Wei Zhi for privately leaking spring examination questions!”