After the great fire, the Emperor did four things. First, he reported to the Imperial Ancestral Temple – going to the temple to offer sacrifices to the ancestors and report on this fire disaster. Because the Emperor’s health was poor, he entrusted the entire matter to the Crown Prince to handle on his behalf. Second, the Emperor personally wrote an edict of self-blame, stating clearly that the fire disaster was his own fault and he was willing to bear responsibility. Third, he required all civil and military officials of third rank and above to voice their opinions and offer advice and strategies for this sudden great fire. In history, this was the first time an emperor issued an edict of self-blame because of a fire. Princess Lin’an, in her reckless pursuit of revenge, had done something irreversibly foolish. In this matter, she understood neither human sentiment nor the Emperor’s heart. The Spirit Pagoda was not an ordinary Buddhist tower – it was a political symbol, a symbol of the Yuexi imperial clan. The imperial family worshipped there, enshrined relics – it was glorious and sacred, absolutely not to be defied.

The fourth thing the Emperor did was to punish those who set the fire that day. Although everyone knew the arsonist was Princess Lin’an, she had already been torn to shreds – no one would pursue her fault anymore. Eyes turned to the guards from Princess Lin’an’s household who had accompanied her. Most of the guards had been killed in conflicts with the common people. The few remaining were treated as the chief culprits and executed.

At this time, someone submitted a memorial impeaching Marquis Xiangyang, saying that when he built the Spirit Pagoda years ago, he had focused excessively on aesthetics and used extremely flammable materials. This way, he became a guilty official. Unfortunately, Marquis Xiangyang was already dead and could not be punished further. When the father commits a crime, the son shares the guilt. So the Emperor issued an edict removing his adopted son from office, investigating him, and ultimately exiling him, never to be employed again. You Qingfeng was such a proud person – at such a young age to suffer this injustice. On the road to exile, he took poison and killed himself. Only then did the entire matter come to a conclusion.

Inside the private room, after hearing Prince Xu Yuan Lie’s words, Li Weiyang merely smiled faintly: “Did you send someone to move against You Qingfeng?”

Yuan Lie’s smile was very cunning, but his tone somewhat cold: “Previously, he deliberately leaked information to Princess Lin’an – he harbored no good intentions. Giving him a little lesson was appropriate. However, his suicide truly wasn’t my doing.”

Li Weiyang sighed: “If he hadn’t made that poisonous oath back then, I wouldn’t have blamed him. The fault lies in his excessively narrow mind – going back on his word. Having already promised Marquis Xiangyang to no longer harbor resentment, he still harbored hatred and plotted wickedness. Such was the fate he deserved.” As she spoke, she had already stood up and walked toward the window.

They were currently in a private room on the second floor of a wine house. Below, they could see the bustling street with its heavy traffic. Vendors hawked their wares along the roadside. Beautiful young ladies veiled their faces, appearing and disappearing among the crowd. From time to time, bell-like laughter mixed with the marketplace clamor. Li Weiyang’s gaze finally fell on a scene not far away.

Yuan Lie, seeing her expression seemed unusual, subconsciously stood up. Following her gaze, he only saw a little girl in pink clothing bouncing along holding her father’s hand. In her right hand, she held a candied hawthorn stick, looking extremely happy. She was a very adorable little girl. But why was Li Weiyang watching her? What was special about her? Yuan Lie frowned. A thought flashed through his mind like lightning. He looked at Li Weiyang and smiled faintly: “I suddenly remembered some matters I need to handle. Wait here for me a moment.”

Li Weiyang seemed startled awake. Only then did she look at him, her gaze showing some confusion. Yuan Lie didn’t explain, only smiled and said to her: “You must wait for me.”

Li Weiyang watched him leave, her expression somewhat baffled. She glanced at Zhao Yue: “What urgent matter does he have? Must he go handle it right now?”

When Yuan Lie was with Li Weiyang, he never mentioned having matters to attend to. One could say that as long as he could accompany Li Weiyang, he could set all other matters aside. So this situation occurring was a first. Li Weiyang couldn’t help but feel strange.

Zhao Yue thought for a moment but also shook her head: “Miss, this servant also doesn’t know what matter Prince Xu has. If you want to know, I might as well follow and look?”

Li Weiyang shook her head: “Forget it, let him go.” Having said this, her gaze turned toward that little girl. At this moment, the child had taken a fancy to a spinning pinwheel and begged her father to buy it. When acting cute didn’t work, she circled around the stall, reluctant to leave. Li Weiyang’s gaze became increasingly gentle.

Zhao Yue glanced at Li Weiyang, her gaze also revealing a trace of confusion. Then she quickly thought of something and couldn’t help but understand. That father-daughter pair’s figures had already disappeared from view, yet Li Weiyang still watched silently. Who knows how long passed before footsteps came from outside the private room. Then Yuan Lie had already stridden in with large steps.

Li Weiyang turned to glance at him and froze, because she had already seen the small boy in Yuan Lie’s hands – about four years old, with big, dark eyes, rosy cheeks, and snow-white skin. This child, upon seeing Li Weiyang, immediately reached his hands toward her. Li Weiyang’s heart ached. She quickly walked forward and naturally took the child, hugging him tightly. Then she raised her head to look at Yuan Lie: “How did you bring him here?”

This child was naturally Li Weiyang’s own younger brother, Li Min Zhi. Before this, she had always kept him in a separate residence, entrusting people she trusted to care for him. She hadn’t even mentioned this matter to the Guo family. Only Yuan Lie knew. But how had he brought him here?

Yuan Lie grinned: “I saw you just now staring unblinkingly at that little girl and knew you thought of this little fellow, so I specially brought him to find you.”

Min Zhi didn’t speak, only tightly hugged Li Weiyang’s neck. His manner was very uneasy, as if his sister would quickly disappear.  Li Weiyang’s heart felt somewhat sad. In fact, she had never known how to face her younger brother. Perhaps deep in her heart, she always felt that Tan Shi’s and the Old Madam’s deaths were related to her, Li Weiyang. Indeed, if she hadn’t been too focused on revenge and neglected their protection, how could Empress Pei have succeeded? So every time she saw this child’s clear black and white eyes, she felt they increasingly illuminated the ugliness and unease deep in her heart, along with that deep guilt she had absolutely no way to erase.

Li Weiyang’s eyes dimmed. Just then, a hand pressed on her wrist. Raising her eyes, that person smiled at her: “Don’t blame yourself. If you had been in that residence then, you would only have died together with them. You couldn’t save everyone.”

Looking at those amber eyes containing endless deep affection, Li Weiyang froze. Then warmth surged through her heart. She smiled: “I’m fine. You needn’t worry about me.”

While Li Weiyang spoke with Yuan Lie, Li Min Zhi tilted his head, looking at Yuan Lie with a curious expression. Only then did Li Weiyang notice that teeth marks had actually appeared on Yuan Lie’s hand. She couldn’t help but laugh: “Min Zhi, did you bite Big Brother?”

Li Min Zhi pursed his lips. Tears welled up in his watery eyes. His face also puffed up like a steamed bun. It seemed he didn’t like this Yuan Lie.

Yuan Lie subconsciously glanced at the tooth marks on his hand: “This little fellow is truly fierce. I only picked him up, and without thinking, he gave me a bite. Look, it’s almost bleeding.” As he spoke, he deliberately put his hand before Li Weiyang’s eyes and waved it, as if deliberately making her feel distressed.

Li Weiyang glanced once. How serious could a small child’s bite wound be? So she only smiled: “Min Zhi, next time when someone comes to hold you, just biting him won’t work. Moreover, you didn’t bite the right place. If just now you’d bitten his ear in one mouthful and used some force, his ear would be gone. That’s called revenge.”

Yuan Lie couldn’t help but look at Li Weiyang in shock: “Such a vicious heart – is this teaching a child badly?”

Li Weiyang glared at Yuan Lie, only saying to Min Zhi: “Sister will go out and play with you, all right?”

Zhao Yue, seeing this scene, couldn’t help but sigh in her heart. This past half year, Li Weiyang hadn’t shown particularly close affection toward Li Min Zhi. This was certainly because she had her own hang-ups, but also because after suffering trauma, Min Zhi was overly dependent on Li Weiyang, while his sister wasn’t someone skilled at expressing her feelings. So between the siblings, their relationship actually wasn’t as good as between Min Zhi and Xiao Man. In fact, it was largely thanks to Xiao Man’s companionship that Min Zhi’s temperament had gradually become more cheerful… Not having seen him these days, Min Zhi seemed even more dependent on Li Weiyang. Hugging Li Weiyang’s neck, he absolutely refused to come down. Li Weiyang also rarely hugged him so affectionately.

The group went to the market. Li Weiyang pointed to things the street vendors sold, telling Min Zhi about them, while dividing her attention to speak with Yuan Lie. She kept smiling, appearing very gentle.

“Sister, what’s that?” Min Zhi’s eyes sparkled brightly as he looked into the distance.

Yuan Lie poked his cheek: “You don’t even know this – that’s a sesame cake.”

Min Zhi licked his lips. Li Weiyang smiled and ordered Zhao Yue: “Go buy him one.”

With the sesame cake in hand, Min Zhi’s eyes fell on the malt candy beside it, revealing an extremely covetous expression. Yuan Lie forcefully pinched Min Zhi’s cheek: “Who’d have thought this little fellow was so gluttonous? Walking past one stall, he wants to buy something. I’m afraid before you finish walking this street, your hands will be completely full.” He used force with his hand, but Min Zhi wasn’t afraid of him. Instead, he giggled and reached out his chubby little paws to push Yuan Lie’s hand away. But how could Yuan Lie let him succeed? He simply reached out to tickle him. Min Zhi laughed breathlessly, squealing and shrinking into Li Weiyang’s embrace.

Yuan Lie snatched Min Zhi from Li Weiyang’s arms and lifted him onto his own shoulder: “He’s so heavy – I’ll hold him instead. My arms are getting sore.” Li Weiyang glanced at him. He hugged Min Zhi tightly: “Let’s go.” As he spoke, he even reached out to hold one of Li Weiyang’s hands. Li Weiyang paused slightly but didn’t refuse among the crowd. Looking at Yuan Lie’s smile and Min Zhi’s jubilant appearance, Li Weiyang’s heart couldn’t help but feel a trace of warmth.

Min Zhi, perched on Yuan Lie’s shoulder, looked around very happily in all directions. These past days, besides the maids responsible for caring for him, he had seen absolutely no outsiders. Those people, following Li Weiyang’s instructions, never let him run outside. So seeing so many fresh things, he couldn’t help but be jubilant and very excited. But after all, he was a small child. After staying on Yuan Lie’s shoulder for a while, he felt quite bored and began shaking his head, wanting to come down – insisting on leaving Yuan Lie to walk by himself. Yuan Lie set him down. Who’d have thought this child hadn’t run a few steps before even his shoes fell off? Yuan Lie helplessly crouched down, gathering Min Zhi in his arms, earnestly putting on his shoes. Sunlight shone down, making him appear especially gentle.

Li Weiyang, watching this scene, couldn’t help but freeze. In her view, Yuan Lie very much disliked small children, especially ones with Min Zhi’s temperament that was sometimes happy, sometimes strange – sometimes even she couldn’t manage him. But she hadn’t expected Yuan Lie could care for Min Zhi this way. What was all this for? Without saying, she also knew.

Seeing Min Zhi’s clothing had loosened, Li Weiyang also walked over, fastening Min Zhi’s buttons, then tapped his head: “From now on, if you want to go out, you must wait for Sister. You can’t run around on your own.” But Min Zhi giggled, hugged Li Weiyang’s neck, and planted a kiss – this action was very sudden. Li Weiyang froze.

Yuan Lie couldn’t help but complain jealously: “This child really takes advantage – I don’t even have this privilege.” Before he finished speaking, lightning suddenly broke through the cloud layers, tearing open the heavens, extremely dazzling. Li Weiyang quickly covered Min Zhi’s ears. She heard the sky give another tremendous boom, then continuously transmit rumbling muffled sounds, making one’s heart tremble with fear. It seemed it would rain. The crowd began running in all directions. Vendors at the market began busily packing up their stalls. Parents busily searched for their children, pulling them home. Before long, rain drops as large as beans began falling. Li Weiyang was somewhat dazed. Yuan Lie had already scooped up Min Zhi with one hand and pulled Li Weiyang with the other, quickly walking under a covered walkway. Soon the rain fell. The sound of rain grew louder and louder. Li Weiyang looked at Yuan Lie’s rain-dampened profile, somehow her expression softened considerably.

At this moment, Min Zhi looked at Li Weiyang: “Sister, are you still leaving?” This voice was timid. Those small hands reached out, tightly grasping Li Weiyang’s sleeve. Li Weiyang’s heart warmed, but she didn’t speak. She now lived at the Guo household – she truly had no way to bring Min Zhi along. But continuing to let him stay outside, unable to care for him or let him go out, would eventually cause trouble. Even if all was safe and sound, without anyone teaching or accompanying Min Zhi, what would he grow into later? Li Weiyang’s heart couldn’t help but fall into a dilemma. This was the first time she’d become hesitant.

Yuan Lie patted Min Zhi’s head: “Come live with Big Brother at the residence, all right?”

Li Weiyang froze and looked at him: “You want to take Min Zhi back to live with you?”

Yuan Lie smiled: “This child mixing with me – in the future, he’ll certainly be graceful as jade, loved by all. I’ll hire the best tutors to teach him to be skilled in both civil and military arts. Better than keeping him shut in a small courtyard all day where he’d go crazy even if not foolish.”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang’s gaze contained more hesitation. If Prince Xu Yuan Lie inexplicably adopted a small child, news spreading would certainly cause a sensation. Moreover, Prince Xu’s residence might not necessarily be safe and sound either. Thinking of the strategists left behind by the old Prince Xu, Li Weiyang couldn’t help but shake her head: “Min Zhi’s identity and origins are unclear. Those people will certainly make a big fuss. Perhaps some vicious people will say you haven’t married a principal consort yet but already have an illegitimate son.”

Yuan Lie’s smile carried gentleness. His eyes never left her, yet his gaze was serious: “I don’t care about those rumors and gossip.” Prince Xu had always refused to marry and had quarreled badly with the Old Princess Consort – this matter had long spread everywhere. There was nothing strange about it. Outsiders – some said he was unfilial, some said he was dissolute, some were jealous of him. Of course, even more people feared him.

Li Weiyang shook her head: “It’s not just this problem. I also don’t want to be separated from Min Zhi.” She said this, glanced at Min Zhi’s aggrieved expression, and finally said: “I want to bring him back to the Guo household.”

Yuan Lie couldn’t help but freeze: “You want to bring him back to the Guo household? Now? However magnanimous the Guo family is, this child doesn’t have the surname Guo. Do you think this is appropriate?”

Li Weiyang stroked Min Zhi’s rain-dampened forehead and smiled: “Min Zhi is my younger brother. This point will never change no matter what. I will explain to Madam Guo and will keep Min Zhi by my side to care for him well.”

Yuan Lie looked at her, wanting to speak but hesitating. He always felt this child would be better staying by his side. Moreover, if this child stayed at Prince Xu’s residence, Li Weiyang would naturally come see him. This way, they would have more opportunities to be together. Of course, this bit of cunning small-mindedness hadn’t been implemented before Li Weiyang strangled it in the cradle. He could only sigh deeply: “Very well. If Duke Qi’s household won’t accept him, just send him back to me.”

Li Weiyang didn’t answer him, quietly maintaining a thoughtful appearance. Suddenly, he leaned close, so near that his hot breath blew directly into the space between her neck. She couldn’t help but feel a strange tremor.

“Don’t we seem like a family like this?”

In an instant, Li Weiyang’s breathing halted. A layer of color thinly spread across her face. Yuan Lie’s faint three-part smile appeared at his lips. His words were extremely light: “After you’ve avenged yourself, we should live together.”

The unexpectedly direct frankness made Li Weiyang rapidly calm down. Her mouth opened and closed. Only slowly did sound emerge. Her expression was composed: “Then we’ll talk after I’ve avenged myself.” But her heartbeat had clearly accelerated.

After the rain stopped, Li Weiyang separated from Yuan Lie and brought Min Zhi back to Duke Qi’s household. Guo Cheng, seeing her bring back a child, showed great surprise on his face. Madam Guo, looking at Min Zhi, revealed even more shocked expression.

Guo Cheng glanced at Madam Guo, couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. He spoke: “Jia’er, this child is…”

Li Weiyang smiled slightly: “He is my adoptive mother’s son, also my younger brother. His name is Li Min Zhi. Previously, fearing Mother couldn’t accept this child, I kept him outside. But now I feel it’s best for him to stay by my side where I can care for him.”

Madam Guo’s gaze toward Li Min Zhi was very complex. She only felt some rejection toward this child – not for any other reason but because of the Li family. In her heart had always been a kind of fear. She felt that since Guo Jia grew up in the Li household from childhood, her feelings for that adoptive mother were deeper than for herself. Within this was a mother’s jealous heart. Although she was grateful the other party cared for her daughter, she couldn’t come to terms with the fact that Guo Jia hadn’t grown up by her side. Now seeing Li Weiyang caring for the child so attentively, her heart felt somewhat sad and somewhat sour. At bottom, what Madam Guo feared was that in Guo Jia’s heart, she as birth mother couldn’t compare to the adoptive mother. This kind of feeling – other people couldn’t understand.

Thinking again, Jia’er had already returned to her side. That she so valued her adoptive mother’s child precisely showed she was a child who valued affection and righteousness. She shouldn’t feel sad but should help her care well for Min Zhi. This could also be considered repaying the Li family’s past kindness in caring for her daughter. She thought no more, instead smiling: “Jia’er, bring this child here. Let me have a look.”

Li Weiyang brought Min Zhi over. Madam Guo looked at this child – seeing his refined features and very moving eyes, the more she looked, the more she liked him. She couldn’t help but hold him in her arms. Min Zhi, seeing Madam Guo liked him very much, couldn’t help but smile. With this smile, that small face appeared even more adorable. With a wave of his hand, he accidentally loosened Madam Guo’s hair bun. A hairpin fell down. Dark hair cascaded down all at once.

Madam Guo wasn’t angry at all. Instead, she laughed, continuing to play with Min Zhi: “Our household hasn’t had such a small child in many years. You two also come look – isn’t this child extremely adorable?”

The Guo family’s two daughters-in-law, seeing this situation, both walked forward. Neither of them had yet conceived and given birth, but out of natural maternal instinct, both were very fond of children. Especially Chen Bingbing – she had been watching earnestly just now. Hearing Madam Guo’s summons, she eagerly stepped forward, almost grasping Li Min Zhi’s hand and refusing to let go. She even unfastened the jade pendant at her waist on the spot and stuffed it into Min Zhi’s arms, saying happily: “Jia’er, can I often come play with this child in the future?”

Li Weiyang looked at her second sister-in-law and smiled slightly: “As long as Second Sister-in-law is willing, anytime is fine.”

Madam Guo clearly didn’t agree: “This child can’t stay in Jia’er’s courtyard. Their ages are vastly different. If outsiders knew, they might spread some gossip. How about this – to outsiders, we’ll say this child is my adopted son whom I’ve taken in. Anyway, I often go see those poor children. Outsiders won’t suspect.”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang froze. She hadn’t expected Madam Guo would be so considerate of her, so quickly accepting Min Zhi. Then what had her long hesitation been for? Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but find it laughable. Li Weiyang was after all a suspicious person. She still couldn’t fully understand Madam Guo’s heart. In fact, as long as it was something she liked, Madam Guo never disagreed.

Guo Cheng smiled slightly and stepped forward: “Mother is right. This child Min Zhi still shouldn’t be raised in Jia’er’s courtyard. In my view, having Mother raise him is most appropriate. Anyway, we three brothers are often not home. Mother is alone and lonely. Let this child keep her company.” Hearing this, both Jiang Shi and Chen Shi couldn’t help but show joy. Chen Bingbing said eagerly: “Let me also help care for him, all right?”

Madam Guo smiled: “Of course that’s good. Let you also learn how to care for children. In the future when you have your own children, you won’t be flustered and at a loss.”

Because Jiang Shi was older, she only smiled and didn’t speak. Chen Bingbing’s face showed an indescribable trace of shyness: “Mother, you’re teasing me again.”

Li Weiyang glanced at these two sisters-in-law and couldn’t help but sigh. Her two elder brothers were stationed outside – the couples spent little time together and much apart. So both of them still had no children of their own. This was why they were so delighted with this Li Min Zhi.

Guo Dun on the side fearlessly asked: “Sister, this child – he’s not your illegitimate child, is he?” Hearing this, Guo Cheng kicked him from behind, saying angrily: “What nonsense are you babbling, blockhead? This child is already four or five years old. Where would Sister get such a big illegitimate child?”

Madam Guo was also angry and couldn’t help but scold: “You child, why do you always speak such nonsense!”

But Guo Dun laughed heartily: “If Sister already had a sweetheart and married quickly, in a few years, the child would also be as big as Min Zhi.”

Hearing this, Madam Guo’s heart was touched. Guo Dun was right. If Li Weiyang married early, she could also hold a grandchild early. But looking at the current situation, with Prince Jing and Prince Xu both eyeing her covetously, letting her daughter make her own choice – she always seemed careless. This made her as mother anxious instead. Though the child wasn’t grown, she should still choose a son-in-law early and marry her off to settle this matter on her mind.

That afternoon, Prince Jing Yuan Ying entered Duke Qi’s household beaming, holding a gift. Guo Cheng came forward. Seeing Prince Jing’s very happy appearance, he couldn’t help but smile: “Why so happy today? Could there be some good news?”

The smile on Prince Jing’s face seemed two parts warmer than usual, making him appear even more spirited and devastatingly handsome. He lifted the silk cloth covering the gift, showing it to Guo Cheng like presenting a treasure.

Guo Cheng looked and froze: “Is this the ancient famous zither Zhenlei?”

Yuan Ying seemed even more pleased. He nodded: “Yes. This zither has been missing for a full sixty years. These past days I’ve been searching in many directions. With great difficulty, I finally found a zither-making master. Originally, this zither had always been kept by him – he refused to easily show it to anyone. I offered a price of one thousand taels of gold, but he absolutely refused to sell it to me. After much coaxing and pestering for over half a month, he was finally willing to give me this zither.” Having finished, his attendant beside him said: “Third Young Master, you don’t know – to obtain this zither, my master spent who knows how much effort. In the end, he used his most beloved treasured painting to exchange with that zither master, and only then was the master willing to trade. Oh, also a large mansion…” Before he finished speaking, he was glared at by Yuan Ying. Yuan Ying rebuked: “How vulgar – why do you care about these things so much?”

This attendant had followed by Yuan Ying’s side for many years and was always most capable, so he boldly said this. Seeing Yuan Ying displeased, he quickly shut his mouth and begged forgiveness: “My good Prince, you did a good deed but won’t let people know. What’s the reason for this? This servant just can’t stand seeing you work so hard yet hide in the shadows.”

Yuan Ying no longer paid attention to him, only snorting coldly: “You’re too talkative. Step down.”

That attendant, hearing Prince Jing say this, knew he wasn’t angry anymore and only stood aside smiling with his hands hanging down.

Guo Cheng glanced at the ancient zither: “This zither – it’s not for my mother, is it?” That Madam Guo was skilled at playing the zither was something everyone knew. In the past, Duke Qi had collected who knows how many famous zithers to please his beloved wife – this was also a secret known to all the world.

Yuan Ying froze, then a trace of a smile flashed across his face: “For Auntie’s side, naturally Uncle will be attentive. Why would I meddle? This zither is for Jia’er.”

Guo Cheng’s smile slightly receded. Then he looked at Yuan Ying thoughtfully: “Prince Jing went to such trouble just to send a zither?”

Whether sending a zither or sending affection, even Yuan Ying himself probably couldn’t say clearly. He had gone to great lengths to find this zither precisely to give it to Li Weiyang, without even thinking about his reasons for this behavior. He only wanted to do it, so he naturally did it – this was a different feeling from when he had calculated others in the past, advancing step by step. This was the first time he acted from his heart, also the first time he gave a gift to a girl he liked. Unexpectedly, this feeling wasn’t bad. Thinking this, his smile deepened: “Sending this zither is merely to make her happy. I think she should like this gift. Lead the way.”

Guo Cheng couldn’t help but shake his head. Looking at Yuan Ying, his expression revealed hesitation. Yuan Ying, seeing his strange expression, couldn’t help but say: “Why are you looking at me like this?”

Guo Cheng raised his eyebrows, his expression revealing a trace of unease: “You – you’re not truly in love with my sister, are you?”

Yuan Ying couldn’t help but ask back: “Why couldn’t I be in love with her? ‘A fair maiden is a gentleman’s good match’ – this is an eternal truth. Guo Cheng, you and I have been brothers for many years. Don’t you understand me? If I didn’t like Guo Jia, why would I go to such lengths to find gifts for her? Over all these years, have you ever seen me take such pains for any other woman?”

Guo Cheng’s smile couldn’t help but turn cold: “How would I know? Hearts are separated by bellies. Perhaps you’re doing this for my Guo family’s support…” Before he finished speaking, he saw Yuan Ying’s face turn cold.

Yuan Ying said mildly: “If it were for winning Uncle’s support, there are plenty of other methods. There’s no need to pursue a woman who’s so cold toward me. I, Yuan Ying, haven’t debased myself to that degree. If I weren’t sincerely fond of her, why would I take such pains? Before, I thought you understood me very well. But now, you’ve disappointed me.”

Guo Cheng smiled. Through the earlier probing, he already understood Yuan Ying’s intentions very clearly. By the look of it, he had indeed truly lost his heart to Li Weiyang. It was just that Guo Cheng didn’t know how to remind this brother – Li Weiyang absolutely wasn’t someone he could easily pursue. In this situation, abandoning would be better while Yuan Ying hadn’t fallen too deep yet. Guo Cheng was just about to say something when the two had already arrived before Li Weiyang’s courtyard. He swallowed the words he was about to speak.

The maids at the entrance were about to announce them. Yuan Ying made a gesture, saying to them: “I have a gift to give Miss Guo. You needn’t alert her. If she knows in advance, it won’t be a surprise.” On his face seemed to faintly show several parts of brilliance Guo Cheng had never seen before.

Guo Cheng’s heart couldn’t help but worry even more. This was a Yuan Ying unfamiliar to him. Probably in Prince Jing’s life, there had never been a girl he cared about so much and deliberately pursued. But precisely this extraordinary quality made Guo Cheng very concerned. The two entered the courtyard and saw in the distance on the corridor, Li Weiyang was quietly sitting and reading. Zhao Yue stood guard behind her. Zhao Yue had clearly already seen Guo Cheng and Yuan Ying and was about to remind Li Weiyang when she saw Guo Cheng quietly make a gesture. Zhao Yue, knowing they meant no harm, closed her mouth and didn’t speak.

Yuan Ying was about to step forward when he saw a gorgeously dressed man emerge from beside the flower bed, smiling broadly. In his hands he held a pot of flowers. The blossoms were pure white with very large petals. Large blooms clustered together, extremely similar to peonies, yet lacking peonies’ national beauty and celestial fragrance, instead possessing more quiet serenity.

From the moment Yuan Lie carried it over, one could smell an unusual fragrance floating in the air. Yuan Ying suddenly stopped in his tracks. He quietly watched without making a sound. Zhao Yue’s face showed some confusion.

Because Yuan Lie was in a happy mood, he hadn’t noticed Yuan Ying and Guo Cheng standing not far away. He held the flowers, smiling with eyes full of spring, walked before Li Weiyang, slightly leaned forward, and placed that pot of flowers before Li Weiyang like presenting a treasure. In his deep eyes rippled a smile, like a pool of spring water, carrying a kind of magnificent spirit: “See, I told you – you can’t raise this flower. It needs me to personally come for it to bloom. Look, isn’t it beautiful?” As he spoke, Yuan Lie’s lips curved slightly upward, floating with a trace of a smile.

The smile in his eyes seemed mixed with scattered starlight from the sky, looking so bright. It made even Li Weiyang’s heart flutter. What woman in this world could refuse such a moving smile? Li Weiyang’s lips sketched an extremely gentle smile: “Very beautiful.”

At this moment, Yuan Lie suddenly raised the corner of his eye, seemingly glancing once toward Yuan Ying’s direction. He lowered his head with a mischievous smile. He picked the most beautiful flower, plucked it down, gently pinched it in his hand. After a moment, he tucked that flower into Li Weiyang’s hair at her temple, smiling: “I think this is even more beautiful.”

Li Weiyang’s smile was gentle, but she didn’t speak. She lowered her head, continuing to flip through the book pages on her lap, as if already accustomed to Yuan Lie’s presence. Between the two of them seemed to be a quiet, gentle atmosphere – an atmosphere that outsiders couldn’t interrupt and had no way to intrude upon.

Yuan Ying stood frozen in place. That zither was gripped tightly in his hands. Suddenly, the zither strings let out a soundless whimper – one string had abruptly broken. Hearing this unusual sound, both Li Weiyang and Yuan Lie looked this way. Yuan Ying stepped forward but suddenly stopped, smiling: “Not knowing Prince Xu was here – how rude of me.”

Yuan Lie smiled, looking at the other party. A pair of deep eyes carried a trace of coldness: “Not knowing Prince Jing had arrived – forgive my poor welcome.” Saying this, he was entirely like a host.

Guo Cheng looked at him, then at Yuan Ying. How should this situation be resolved? But Yuan Ying quickly smiled. He lowered his eyes, looking at the zither held in his hands. That smile seemed to carry some frost, but quickly disappeared. He raised his head and smiled faintly: “Jia’er, I went to great lengths to find this zither, preparing to give it to you. But just now I carelessly broke a string. How about this – I’ll go back and repair it properly before bringing it to you.”

Li Weiyang glanced at him. Her face couldn’t help but show a strange expression. She only felt the Yuan Ying before her seemed somewhat unfamiliar. Though smiling, that smile contained endless coldness. She couldn’t help but set down her book, stand up and say: “Prince, your kind intention – Guo Jia appreciates it. It’s just that receiving payment without merit, this zither appears to be no ordinary item. I fear…” Before she finished, Yuan Ying said urgently: “Once I’ve repaired it, I’ll bring it to you.” Having said this, he didn’t even say goodbye, turned and left.

Guo Cheng, seeing this situation, couldn’t help but feel anxious. He said to Li Weiyang: “I’ll come see you again later.” Having said this, he hurriedly chased after him.

Li Weiyang watched his back, revealing a thoughtful expression. Then she turned her head and looked at Yuan Lie: “When did they come in?”

Yuan Lie’s lips curved in a smile. That handsome face nearly stunned the other serving maids in the courtyard into frozen stillness. He smiled slightly: “Who knows? But how did that zither string suddenly break?”

Saying this, Li Weiyang understood something. She sighed: “This truly isn’t like Yuan Ying’s character.”

Yuan Lie glanced at that now-empty courtyard and smiled slightly: “In this world, when men fall into love’s snare, they always do some things unusual compared to their past selves.” Though he said this, a trace of coldness floated in his heart. Li Weiyang belonged to him. She had no other path – she could only stay by his side. Only his embrace was Li Weiyang’s final destination. What was Yuan Ying to dare compete with him? He absolutely couldn’t let his most beloved person be snatched away by someone else. In the world of feelings, the slightest concession would lead to eternal damnation. He absolutely wouldn’t become Tuoba Yu. The person he loved, he must personally protect. Not to mention one step – not even half a fraction could he retreat. Prince Jing Yuan Ying, if you continue so recklessly approaching Weiyang, don’t blame me for being ruthless…