After the New Year, despite it being spring, the snow hadn’t stopped. After falling all night, the courtyard was covered in a layer of frost.

When He Yan woke up, Xiao Jue was already gone again.

Strangely enough, she hadn’t originally been one to sleep in. When staying in the barracks at Liangzhou Guard, among a room full of men, she was always the first to wake before dawn. But perhaps it was because Xiao Jue’s bed was exceptionally soft and warm, making her sleep so sweetly at night, or perhaps because Xiao Jue woke up far too early – either way, whenever she awoke, the space beside her was empty.

He Yan sat up rubbing her eyes, lifted the blanket, and got out of bed. After a simple washing up, she put on an outer robe and opened the door, only to be greeted by a flash of cold light.

Xiao Jue was practicing swordplay in the courtyard.

This man clearly understood the principle that three days without practice makes one’s skills rusty. Though no longer at Liangzhou Guard, he hadn’t abandoned his daily training. He Yan decided to lean against a pillar to watch him, taking the opportunity to see how his swordsmanship had progressed over the years.

Though the morning was cold, Xiao Jue wore only a frost-colored plain garment. When he wore dark clothes, he appeared cold and reserved, but in light colors, he was especially bright and elegant, reminiscent of that perpetually top-ranked beautiful youth from the Xian Chang Academy years ago.

The Xiao family courtyard was extremely spacious. Besides the pomegranate tree outside Xiao Jue’s study window, there were no other plants. The empty ground was perfect for sword practice. With each sweep of his sword, the accumulated snow in the courtyard scattered in all directions from the sword’s energy. The Yin Qiu sword gleamed brilliantly, making him appear as if he had stepped out of a painting, his flowing movements dazzling.

As He Yan watched, she too began to feel the itch to practice. She returned to the room in a few steps and grabbed the Qing Lang sword hanging on the wall.

Since retrieving Qing Lang from He Rufei, she had polished it many times but never used it – there simply hadn’t been any occasion to do so. After all, Shuo Jing wasn’t like the battlefield; one couldn’t just draw swords and compete at will. But today was perfect – since Xiao Jue was practicing anyway, why not see if the gap between the top student and the last-ranked student of Xian Chang Academy remained as unbridgeable as before?

He Yan removed her outer robe and, carrying Qing Lang, let out a light laugh as she walked out. Xiao Jue had his back to her when she suddenly drew her sword and thrust it toward his back, calling out, “Xiao Jue, let me test your sword!”

The young man turned abruptly, meeting Qing Lang with his Yin Qiu sword, producing a crisp clash before both parties retreated several steps.

Xiao Jue looked at her, raising his eyebrows slightly. “A sword match?”

“Afraid?” He Yan’s toes lightly touched the ground as she charged forward with a hearty laugh, swinging her sword at him.

“My pleasure.” His voice carried a warmth that sounded particularly pleasing on the snowy morning.

Qing Mei, holding a broom, came out to see them practicing in the courtyard and froze in amazement. Though she knew He Yan was formidable, she had only heard it from others and never witnessed it herself. Now, seeing He Yan’s fluid sword movements, she was both amazed and nervous, muttering, “Young Master must show mercy, our Young Mistress is delicate…”

Fei Nu, who had just walked in from outside, heard this and couldn’t help but glance at He Yan, who was currently dodging Xiao Jue’s Yin Qiu sword by turning sideways and kicking off the pomegranate tree trunk. That seemingly casual kick made the entire trunk tremble, causing snow to scatter everywhere.

He looked away, unable to see how the words “delicate” applied at all.

He Yan turned her head to look at Xiao Jue.

Sparring with Xiao Jue was an incredibly exhilarating experience.

His swordsmanship had been exceptional years ago, and after so many years, it had become even more sophisticated. There was a subtle similarity to He Yan’s style, after all, her initial sword training had come from his guidance, and traces of those earliest lessons remained. However, that clumsy person who used to get accidentally hit on the head by sword sheaths in the moonlit bamboo grove now wielded his sword like a flying dragon or swallow, moving with incredible agility, matching the young woman strike for strike in an evenly matched duel.

“Guard Fei,” Qing Mei asked the person beside her, unable to discern, “is the Young Master going easy on the Young Mistress?”

“No need,” Fei Nu replied, slightly amazed. “The Young Mistress’s swordsmanship is excellent.”

He Yan’s sword technique was intricate, with peculiar angles. When Liu Buwang first discovered she was a woman, he noted her style emphasized “variation,” not adhering to rigid forms but constantly changing. With Qing Lang in hand, she moved like blue-green clouds, dazzling to the eye. Xiao Jue’s style was more “steady,” with powerful sword energy that grew stronger against strong opponents. Even when He Yan circled him, he could counter every move, his Yin Qiu sword gleaming cold like the snow beneath their feet, mirror-like and icy.

After exchanging another dozen moves, He Yan suddenly retreated, clutching her chest with a low cry.

Seeing this, Xiao Jue hesitated, immediately sheathing his sword and stepping forward to support her, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Being half-embraced by him, He Yan suddenly looked up with a mischievous smile. Xiao Jue froze, and in the next moment, she struck with her palm. Though he raised his hand to block, he was still forced back several steps.

“A wise general attacks the enemy’s emotions. Use beauty to confuse their mind and weaken their body – thus defeat can be turned to victory.”

The girl held her sword proudly, declaring, “Commander Xiao isn’t doing well – you can’t even see through a beauty strategy.”

“Beauty strategy?” he slowly questioned, then chuckled after a moment before lunging back with his sword.

He Yan raised her sword to defend herself.

They exchanged dozens more moves.

Xiao Jue restrained He Yan’s arm from behind, and while holding her hand, he still had the leisure to tease in her ear, “Calling yourself a beauty? You’re quite confident.”

“A warrior can be killed but not humiliated.” He Yan suddenly turned around, pulling her hand free, pressing forward with her sword, then spinning back to thrust.

The young man’s eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly withdrew his sword behind his back, standing directly in the path of her sword tip. His withdrawal was so unexpected, and He Yan’s sword came with such force that its tip was about to pierce his chest. He Yan’s heart jumped in alarm, and she forcefully pulled back Qing Lang. However, the sword’s momentum carried her forward, leaving her no room to dodge as she fell straight into Xiao Jue’s embrace.

Xiao Jue was forced to catch her in his arms.

“What are you doing?” He Yan demanded angrily.

Xiao Jue replied unhurriedly, “One who doesn’t harm themselves cannot be truly harmed.” He looked down at He Yan, his lips curving slightly, “General He isn’t doing well – you can’t even see through a self-sacrifice strategy.”

“Self-sacrifice strategy?” He Yan fumed, “You’re a Right Army Commander – is it appropriate to use such tactics?”

“All’s fair in war,” he replied calmly.

He Yan sighed, “That’s too underhanded.”

The man before her looked down at her, his dark eyes containing traces of humor. He Yan stared in surprise as he slowly bent down toward her, and in her shock, she quickly closed her eyes.

The next moment, she felt a slight tremor in the chest she was pressed against. Opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Jue watching her with suppressed laughter, having stopped just a hair’s breadth away from her. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Beauty strategy?”

He Yan immediately felt the shame of being accused of losing her wits over desire. Without a word, she turned to leave.

But Xiao Jue pulled her back and placed a light kiss on her forehead, saying, “General He is formidable. I concede defeat.”

Qing Mei: “…”

She quickly turned her head away, covering her eyes with her hand, muttering softly, “…how suddenly…”

Chi Wu, who had arrived at some unknown time and had been watching for who knows how long, frowned and spoke up, “This isn’t sword practice at all, it’s clearly flirting. Young Master, how could you treat Yin Qiu’s sword like this?”

Hearing this, Qing Mei seemed to just notice Chi Wu’s presence, and remembering what He Yan had told her on New Year’s Eve at the He family home, she silently left with her broom, not even glancing at Chi Wu.

Chi Wu was puzzled and asked Fei Nu, “I didn’t offend her, did I? What’s wrong with her?”

Fei Nu: “…”

He patted Chi Wu’s shoulder without saying anything and left as well.

That morning, the Crown Prince’s residence also received a visitor.

When Chu Zhao was led into the hall, Ying Xiang was kneeling on the ground, pouring tea for Guang Yan. Seeing Chu Zhao, Guang Yan merely glanced at him and asked, “Why are you here?”

Regarding Chu Zhao, Guang Yan didn’t hate him, but couldn’t say he liked him either. Things were better when Xu Jingfu was around, but after Xu Jingfu’s death, when Guang Yan looked at Chu Zhao, all his previous displeasure surfaced. Yet if asked how Chu Zhao had offended him, there wasn’t much – thinking it through, Guang Yan simply disliked his humble, lowly origins and his excessively handsome appearance.

“To help ease Your Highness’s worries.”

Guang Yan sneered, “Ease my worries?” He slowly sat up straight, looking at Chu Zhao, “If you kill that fool Guang Shuo right now, that would count as easing my worries.”

Recently, Guang Shuo had been staying mostly in the palace, never without his guards – Guang Yan’s words were merely spoken in anger.

“Is Your Highness growing impatient?” Chu Zhao asked gently, showing no sign of anger.

“Chu Zilan!” The Crown Prince waved his sleeve impatiently, “Now that Xu Jingfu is dead, is it his student’s turn to teach me how to handle matters?”

Chu Zhao replied, “This servant only wishes for Your Highness’s well-being.”

“Then stop with the useless talk!” The Crown Prince seemed to have anticipated what he would say, fixing him with a heavy gaze, “Don’t forget your place, Chu Zilan. If something truly happens to me, you won’t escape either. Don’t think about walking away unscathed. Your job now is to properly assist me in succeeding, not holding me back from behind. As for those lectures, keep them all to yourself, otherwise, Xu Jingfu’s fate today will be yours tomorrow!”

Ying Xiang stood quietly to the side, head lowered submissively, though a careful observer would notice her slightly pale fingertips.

“You may leave,” Guang Yan rose impatiently, “Stop hovering before me, it’s irritating!”

After a moment’s silence, Chu Zhao’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled and rose to bow, “Then, this servant shall take his leave.”

“Wait.” Guang Yan suddenly stopped, glancing at Ying Xiang with deep meaning, “Ying Xiang, escort Fourth Young Master Chu out.”

Ying Xiang’s body stiffened slightly before she responded gently, “Yes.”

She walked to Chu Zhao’s side and said softly, “Let’s go, Fourth Young Master.”

The two walked out of the hall together.

Though the sun was out today, it was still very cold. Their footsteps left thin prints on the ground.

“Have Manbu’s people been coming these past few days?” Chu Zhao asked quietly.

“Yes,” Ying Xiang answered, “Last night when the Crown Prince returned from the palace, those people came again.”

They walked one behind the other, maintaining exactly one step’s distance, appearing from the side like mere acquaintances keeping a polite distance.

“It seems the Crown Prince has made up his mind,” Chu Zhao sighed.

Ying Xiang looked ahead, “What does the Fourth Young Master plan to do?”

Chu Zhao said, “Do my best.”

“This servant heard that Fourth Young Master met with Lady He once at night before,” Ying Xiang suddenly changed the subject. “You should know that Lady He is now Commander Xiao’s beloved. If the Fourth Young Master were to use Lady He as bait, it could at least solve the immediate crisis and give you leverage to negotiate with Commander Xiao. Why does Fourth Young Master give up this opportunity?”

“There’s no need.”

Ying Xiang stopped walking.

Seeing this, Chu Zhao turned to look at her.

“Fourth Young Master once told this servant that Lady He would become Commander Xiao’s weakness.” The woman before him was strikingly beautiful, but her eyes contained ice – both fragile and cold. Her voice remained gentle, but her words were sharp as swords, “But now, Young Master was wrong. She isn’t Commander Xiao’s weakness, but yours.”

Chu Zhao gazed at her quietly. After a while, he looked ahead and asked softly, “Ying Xiang, how are you faring in the Crown Prince’s residence?”

Ying Xiang was startled. The cold intensity that had gathered in her eyes instantly dispersed like smoke. Her expression became somewhat bewildered, and after a moment, she lowered her head and said, “This servant is doing well.”

Chu Zhao smiled, “If you’re doing well, that’s good.”

He continued walking forward, and after a brief pause, Ying Xiang followed.

The carriage was waiting at the entrance of the Crown Prince’s residence. Chu Zhao turned to look at her, “Go back now. If you stay out too long, His Highness might become displeased.”

Ying Xiang raised the corners of her mouth in a smile, though it carried a hint of sorrow.

Chu Zhao boarded the carriage, which gradually carried him away. Ying Xiang didn’t immediately return. She stood at the entrance, watching the direction where the carriage had disappeared until she could see nothing. Only then did she slowly turn around and walk back inside step by step.

The hall was already empty. A serving girl told her, “Miss Ying Xiang, His Highness wants you to go to his bedchamber.”

Her body trembled slightly, her lips turning pale. After a moment’s pause, she lifted her skirts and walked toward the bedchamber.

As soon as she entered, she saw Crown Prince Guang Yan reclining on a couch. Seeing Ying Xiang enter, he said with malicious amusement, “Why were you gone so long?”

Ying Xiang walked over naturally, raising a smiling face, “Was it long? It was only half an incense stick’s time. Your Highness shouldn’t find fault with this servant so.”

She knelt halfway before Guang Yan, nestling against his knee. In the past, he had loved her appearing pitiful and cute like this at his knee. But today, as his hand stroked through Ying Xiang’s hair, his tone was unsettlingly gentle, like the calm before a storm, “Half an incense stick’s time is enough to do certain things. For instance, reporting all the matters of my Crown Prince’s residence to Chu Zilan?”

“Your Highness?” Ying Xiang widened her eyes in shock, “What do you mean?”

The hand that had been gently stroking her hair suddenly tightened, gripping her throat. Ying Xiang’s neck was delicate and white, appearing so pitifully lovely. Now in his grip, it seemed as if it might break at any moment, powerless and tragically beautiful.

“How did Chu Zilan know to come today about this matter? He’s not a worm in my belly to know my thoughts. I went to the palace yesterday, and today he rushes over. Ying Xiang, ah Ying Xiang,” Guang Yan stared at her viciously, “I underestimated you!”

Chu Zhao’s timing was too coincidental. Of course, perhaps it was because he was too anxious to stop him, which ended up exposing things. Guang Yan had always been suspicious by nature. The reason he had never suspected Ying Xiang before was because this woman’s appearance was truly deceptive. She seemed no different from any other woman in the residence trying to win his favor through desperate flattery. And because she was sent by Chu Zhao, with no one to rely on, she served him with exceptional devotion.

To be fair, Guang Yan’s fondness for Ying Xiang wasn’t without reason. Her beauty was such that even in the palace, few could compare. But now, upon discovering she had been secretly passing messages to Chu Zilan within his Crown Prince’s residence, that fondness turned to rage and humiliation at being betrayed!

“Whore!” He suddenly released his grip and struck her hard across the face, sending her crashing to the ground, where she remained for a long while without getting up.

“I should have known. You’re so beautiful, and he was willing to give you up when I asked for you. All these years, he never touched you.” A vulgar smile spread across Guang Yan’s face. “This Chu Zilan has grand ambitions, keeping you like this, just as a tool, waiting for the right time to send you out to curry favor. But Ying Xiang,” he slowly crouched down in front of her, yanking her hair to force her to look at him, “Haven’t I treated you well? Since you entered my residence, why do you still think of working for him? Have you forgotten that your master now is me, not Chu Zilan!”

Ying Xiang looked up at him. Her face bore a deep red mark from Guang Yan’s slap, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, and her neck showed purple bruising. Yet her expression showed neither anger nor fear. She remained as gentle as ever, gazing at Guang Yan with deep emotion, saying softly, “This servant belongs to Your Highness.”

It was hard to imagine that a woman of such enchanting beauty and radiance would not have a similarly domineering and willful personality, but instead appeared like a helpless white rabbit, forever pitiful and submissive.

Guang Yan released his grip, and she fell again, only to be kicked in the chest.

“Even at this point, you’re still putting on an act before me. You’re certainly loyal and devoted to Chu Zilan. But he doesn’t seem to care for you as much as you care for him.” Guang Yan stood up, his voice sinister, “Tell me, if I were to kill you, would he avenge you?”

“This servant… belongs to Your Highness in life, and will be Your Highness’s ghost in death, with no connection to Fourth Young Master Chu,” Ying Xiang answered softly.

“Well said!” The Crown Prince clapped in delight. “No wonder I’ve favored you for so long, with such a way with words.”

“However, you worthless thing, you should know,” his eyes flashed with malice, “What I hate most in this life is disloyalty. If you want to be a pair of adulterous lovers with Chu Zilan, I won’t stop you. But whatever you’ve done, you must pay the price.”

He turned to look at Ying Xiang.

Ying Xiang raised her head, meeting his malicious and violent gaze, and couldn’t help but shudder.

“I won’t kill you, but I won’t let you have an easy time either,” he said.